The print version of the Westport League of Women Voters’ voter guide has gone the way of much of the print media: It’s disappeared..
But the LWV still provides important information. And it works for anyone, anywhere in the United States.
Just click on vote411.org. Enter your address. You’ll see every race being contested at your polling place. Clicking any office and candidate’s name brings up plenty of background information.
It’s a rich resource. And a lot better way to decide who to vote for than yard signs. (Hat tip: Charles Wiseman)
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In August, the Board of Finance unanimously approved funds for a traffic and safety study of Cross Highway, at the North Avenue and Bayberry Lane intersections.
Monitoring devices have been installed. They’ll measure things like traffic volume and patterns.
No — they’re not cameras catching stop sign violators.
Although that might not be a bad idea.
Traffic monitoring device at North Avenue/Cross Highway stop sign. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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Westport Chinese Takeout — the bare bones, simply named but popular restaurant on Saugatuck Avenue at Franklin Street, closed recently.
The location is historic. It was the original site of the Arrow Restaurant. The Nistico family eventually moved their famed Italian eatery to larger digs on Charles Street.
When the Arrow’s run ended there, it became Jasmine — a Chinese restaurant. When that closed, the owners opened the much smaller Westport Chinese Takeout — in the Arrow’s first spot.
Jasmine then became Blu Parrot, and later Mystic Market. Now it too is gone.
And the original Chinese Takeout owners sold to others too.
For now, a phone message says: “We’re sorry. Westport Chinese Takeout is no longer in business. In the meantime, we’re getting ready to bring you the best of Peruvian food at this location. We’ll see you soon!” 9(Hat tip:
Westport Chinese Takeout is now closed.
Halloween alert: Tomorrow (Saturday, October 29, 2 to 4 p.m.) — not Monday — the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston hosts their annual (and very popular) “Trunk or Treat,”
The parking lot will be filled with car trunks from church and community members, Staples PRIDE, and more, decorated for (non-scary) Halloween. Kids (up to age 12) can pick up candy and other goodies.
It’s free for the community — but there’s a chance to give back too. The church is collecting canned goods for the Person to Person food pantry. A donation of 5 cans of food per child attending is requested.
All (kids up to age 12) are indeed welcome at the United Methodist Church’s “Trunk or Treat” tomorrow. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Speaking of Halloween: Wednesday’s downtown parade was a smashing success.
We can’t ask the kids — they’re still devouring their candy — so here’s the perspective of a parent. Tyler Errickson writes:
“Westport is a special town, and my son Henry had a special time at the Halloween parade. He was proud to mount the Westport fire truck, on a very special day.”
Henry Errickson, on a fire truck at the Halloween parade. (Photo/Tyler Errickson)
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Jonathan Alloy reports on a long-running projecct:
“The bridge on Bayberry Road North Extension saw major progress on Thursday: The deck rails arrived.
“Each of the 7 concrete and steel rails is more than 50 feet long, and weighs over 19 tons.
“They came from Vermont, each on its own special 24-wheel trailer truck. A portable crane lifted them into place.
“Instead of being flat, the rails are built with a camber (arc) to allow for flex with weight and weather. Inside the concrete, steel cables allow for that bending.”
The trucks caused a traffic mess on Bayberry. Westport Police soon straightened things out.
Plenty of work remains. But yesterday marked a big step forward.
Trucks line Bayberry Lane yesterday morning …
… and work is completed yesterday afternoon. (Photos/Jonathan Alloy)
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Everyone in the world knows about TED Talks.
Everyone in Westport should know about TEA Talks.
The free Thinkers, Educators, Actors — “TEA” — event returns to the Westport Library on Sunday, November 6. Among the notables: an Emmy-winning composer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, former Westport Teacher of the Year, and many more.
They’ll share the Trefz Forum stage, to explore provocative, topical subjects in the arts. Particularly apt for an event impacted for 2 years by COVID, they’ll consider the effects of recent history on creativity in film, music and visual art.
Were home-bound artists more or less creative? What new ways were discovered to express one’s creativity? Does the public now consume the arts differently from the way it did before?
Westport textile and fashion designer Shobana Mani converses with Oscar-nominated New York City filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr.
Dr. Richard Epstein (Westport musician, dentist and WPKN radio host) speaks with Emmy Award-winning composer, music supervisor and pianist Michael Whalen
Westport 2013 Teacher of the year Cecily Anderson discusses the state of the arts with Westport artist Tom Berntsen and Norwalk street-muralist 5ive Fingaz.
TEA Talks is sponsored by the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. An audience Q-and-A and refreshments follow the presentation. For more information, click here.
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There’s a big honor ahead for The Conservative Synagogue‘s Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn and his wife Riki.
Next month, the New York Board of Rabbis presents the Westport couple with Humanitarian Award.
They’ll be in good company. Receiving the same award: former US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
The event is November 16, at the Pierre Hotel. Click here for tickets and more information. (Hat tip: Avi Kaner)
Riki and Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn.
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Speaking of honors: The Westport Garden Club earned several honors at this week’s Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s 93rd annual awards luncheon.
The club received the Certificate of Achievement – Arboreal for planting a swamp white oak at Grace Salmon Park for “Oaktober 2021.”
They also won a Certificate of Achievement – Historic, Memorial and Public Gardens for their 2022 renovation of the Nevada Hitchcock Garden at the Cross Highway/Weston Road intersection. The garden — established in 1941 — was reworked to focus on native and pollinator plantings.
Two members received individual awards. Andi Turner was given a Certificate of Individual Achievement for her work as horticultural chair. At each meeting, she shares well researched and informative best practices .
The Tribute Award in Landscape Design went to Ellen Greenberg, a Westport Garden Club past president, for her leadership in the club and community, involving a diverse array of partners including the Waltersville School Garden Project with Pivot Ministries, Wakeman Town Farm Pollinator Gardens, a Kaboom playground project in Bridgeport, and Aspetuck Land Trust’s Green Corridor Initiative and Haskins Preserve Project.
Westport Garden Club members at the Nevada Hitchcock Garden.
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Many Westporters know Pippa Bell Ader for her environmental activism.
She’s also a talented potter. Next Thursday (November 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), she’ll sell her work at the Westport Farmers’ Market (Imperial Avenue parking lot).
All money raised at the “Urban Farming and Food Justice” fundraiser go to Green Village Initiative. The non-profit grows food, knowledge, leadership and community, through urban gardening and farming, to create a more just food system in Bridgeport.
Can’t make it to the Farmers’ Market, but interested in helping Pippa and GVI? Email bellader@gmail.com.
Pippa Bell Ader’s pottery.
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MoCA Westport’s next 2 “Cocktails and Conversation” events are set.
On November 3 (6 p.m.), Diana Mashia — founder and CEO of Invest In Her Art — discusses “the power of story, and the role that narratives play in shaping identity, fandom, advocacy and positive social impact.” She’ll lead a conversation around “how to better utilize stories and the arts to build awareness and advance women and non-binary people.” Click here to register.
On November 10 (6 p.m.), exhibition co-curators Tom Berntsen, Liz Leggett and Ruth Mannes describes the design and installation of MoCA’s current exhibition, “From the Pen to the Knife,” and the fascinating story of artist Marian Christy. Click here to register.
Both events are free; advance registration is requested. Access to the exhibit beforehand is free; cocktails and drinks are available for purchase.
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You may have to slow down to read this Halloween-themed sign on Bridge Street, near the Cribari Bridge:
(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
It says “Fast Drivers are Scary.”
That’s true all year round. But especially now when it gets dark early, but people are still out walking, running and riding bikes.
Slow down — particularly on Halloween!
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Here’s another Halloween photo:
(Photo/Anne Bernier)
Anne Bernier explains: “Anyone has seen ‘Stranger Things 4’ episode 3 (or has heard the Kate Bush song ‘Running Up that Hill’) will understand the floating Halloween decoration my 8th grader Luke created. Hopefully it won’t scare off any potential trick-or-treaters.”
Beware: It’s in the Old Hill neighborhood.
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Yogi Bear has appeared in “06880” before.
But never like. Cathy Malkin snapped this great “Westport … Naturally” photo the other day.
Because what’s more natural than a pair of skeletons hanging out in lawn chairs on Fairfield Avenue?
(Photo/Cathy Malkin)
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And finally … Charlie Daniels was born on this day, in 1936. The singer/ songwriter/guitarist/fiddler died in 2020, at 83, after a stroke.
(Once again, “06880” is jam-packed with stuff. Once again, we hope you’ll click here to support our work.)
