Tag Archives: Rich Dean Boxing & Fitness

Roundup: Parking Survey, Women Of Westport, 50 Cent …

Everyone has an opinion on parking in Westport.

Now the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee wants to hear yours.

A 30-question survey is live. It covers respondents’ use and knowledge of parking options, metered parking, a deck and more.

Several questions have the opportunity to expand on answers.

The aim of the survey is to vet the recommendations already developed by consultants and DPIC. Final recommendations will be presented by DPIC to the Board of Selectwomen next month.

To take the survey, click here.

Some of the parking survey questions cover a parking meter app.

=================================================

It’s not easy to pass a bill in Hartford.

But for months, Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein plugged away.

The Staples High School juniors — founders and co-presidents of the local Make Our Schools Safe chapter — pushed for a law to authorize the purchase of emergency response communications systems and personal emergency communication devices for school personnel.

Yesterday, their efforts were rewarded. The state House of Representatives voted unanimously — 145 to 0 — to pass the legislation. 

Passed earlier by the Senate, it now goes to Governor Lamont for his signature.

Congratulations to Zander, Elijah, the entire Staples MOSS club, and our own Senator Ceci Maher, its sponsor.

Elijah Falkenstein and Zander Bauer, with “stop the bleed” kits — another Make Our Schools Safe project.

==================================================

The Planning & Zoning Commission continues its dizzying round of meetings, on a series of controversial projects, next Monday (June 9, remote).

This time, it’s the Long Lots Elementary School project. Commissioners will consider a new 8-24 request from the town, and a new special permit/site plan.

Long Lots Elementary School site plan.

==================================================

Every year. Westport Lifestyle magazine celebrates outstanding “Women of Westport.”

But they do more than just highlight business owners, civic volunteers and others in their pages.

With sponsorship from Saugatuck Financial, they throw a great garden party.

Last night’s bash honored the 2025 women: Mary Dobson, Arvia Few, Sharon Finkel, Bridget Flynn, Ashley Freeman, Kira Greenfield, Joanna Manfro, Liz McKay, Rachel Mila, Tara Welch, Ambar Zaatar and Becca Zipkin.

Congratulations to all. Women of Westport rock!

A few men joined the Women of Westport, at the Westport Lifestyle party. “06880” founder Dan Woog and Monique Hodges enjoyed one of the Vespas on display. (Photo/Jerri Graham)

==================================================

Rich Dean and Nas Dean are known for their great work, training people of all ages at Rich Dean Boxing & Fitness on Post Road East across from the Saugatuck Church.

Now they’re known as philanthropists, too. The pair just donated $6,000 to Westport PAL’s scholarship fund.

Thank you both!

Nasir and Rich Dean.

================================================

What does 50 Cent have to do with Westport?

About $1 million.

According to The Source — a hip hop site — the rapper/actor/producer/ entrepreneur recently won a legal victory. He can now seize the Main Street home belong to Mitchell Green, a former executive with 50 Cent’s Sire Spirits Champagne and cognac company.

Green reportedly owes the firm more than $7 million, following an alleged kickback scheme. Read more details here. (Hat tip: John McCarthy)

50 Cent may soon own a Westport home.

===============================================

Speaking of entertainment: Steely Dan comes to Weston on Sunday.

Well, at least Logical Pretzel — a cover band — does.

They’ll kick off the 10th season of the Weston History & Culture Center’s “Music at the Barn” series (June 8, 5:30 p.m.).

Tony Pizza Napolitano’s food truck will be there. Bring your own lawn chairs and beverages for the outdoor event. Tickets are available at the door, or here. 

Logical Pretzel

==================================================

A bit more than a year ago, Bond Vet replaced Freshii, in the Parker Harding Plaza space near Starbucks.

The veterinary chain — with locations from Boston to Washington, and Chicago too — has closed its Westport and Fairfield offices.

A representative in Bond Vet’s call center said she did not know the reason for the closures.

==================================================

The 2nd annual Pickleball To Slam Alzheimer’s event is set for June 20 (6 to 8 p.m., Intensity Racquet Club, Norwalk).

All proceeds from $100 tickets go toward the October 26 Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Sherwood Island State Park.

The pickleball event is hosted by Westporters Mary Sue Teplitz, Dina Upton and Lori Snow. Mary Sue’s mother died from the disease in 2012. Dina’s partner, Gary Cosgrave, passed away from it this year.

Tickets and more information is available here. Esthetic Dental Group of Westport, Saatva, cieTrade and Intensity are sponsors.

Carolyn Rothenberg and Gary Cosgrove.

=============================================

Hopkins is a popular private school option, for Westport families.

The New Haven school held its prom last night. Some attendees began with photos at Compo Beach. (Tessie the dog does not go there.)

Congrats to all the upcoming graduates, wherever you live!

(Photo/Richard Abramowitz)

================================================

You could travel far north to see the aurora borealis.

But on Sunday, you didn’t have to.

The northern lights were visible across much of Connecticut. Here’s what Steve Stein saw, near Wilton Road:

(Photo/Steve Stein)

==================================================

Seen on Facebook yesterday, in the Marketplace section under the “Casket & Casket Trailer” tab:

The description says: “Selling a couple caskets that were used in haunted houses. Casket trailer has some dents and rot and the inside is stripped – $300 Blue casket is in great condition overall on the outside but has some scratches and the inside is stripped – $600 Pick up in Westport, CT.”

There’s always a back story. If you know this one, click “Comments” below. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)

==================================================

We’ve showcased lots of interesting animals in our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

But we’re hard pressed to find any as intriguing as barred owls.

This one posed willingly for Lee Bollert. In fact, she says, it stared right at her — through a window — for 10 minutes.

(Photo/Lee Bollert)

=================================================

And finally … in honor of the items currently for sale on Facebook, from right here in Westport (story above):

(From downtown parking to caskets, and barred owls to 50 Cent: If there’s a Westport connection, we’ll find it. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Roundup: Westport Rotary Club, Slava Archie, Playhouse Boxing …

On the exact (to the day) 100th anniversary of their founding, the Westport Rotary Club celebrated with a gala dinner last night, at the Inn at Longshore.

Rotarians from near and far, town officials and friends honored the club’s long and storied history, from the early days (largely, but not always, strait-laced), to the easing of membership rules and the admission of women, to the current strong and generous nature of the club.

(Everyone received a book by Ron Henkoff chronicling Westport Rotary’s first 100 years, too. Click here for details.)

Videos and slides showed the enormous, multi-million dollar impact Westport Rotary has had on Westport, and the world.

As the next 100 years begin, the Westport Rotary Club prepares for its centennial gift: lead sponsor of the renovation of the Compo Beach playground.

Congratulations to all who made last night (and the reason for the celebration) possible. Special shout-outs go to longtime Rotary organizer and advocate Rick Benson, and last night’s MC, former president Jeff Wieser. Well done, all!

Twenty Westport Rotary Club presidents — representing exactly 1/5 of the club’s 100-year history — gathered for a photo at last night’s celebration. The oldest living former president (1968), George Damman, sent video greetings from Florida. 

MC (and former president) Jeff Wieser models 100-year glasses. (Photos/John Videler for Videler Photography)

==================================================

The Long Lots School Building Committee posted this update yesterday:

The deadline for submission of Request for Proposals/Quotes qualification statements from interested construction managers and architects was February 22.

The committee met on March 5 to discuss the submissions. They agreed on which respondents would be invited to submit proposals and be interviewed by the LLSBC.

Each of the selected firms will be contacted this week. The interview process is expected to be completed over the next 2 weeks. The goal is to select a construction manager and architect by the end of the month.

The design phase can then begin.

The Long Lots School Building Committee is moving forward to select a construction manager and architect for the project.

=================================================

On Wednesday, Ukraine Aid International — the non-profit founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer, which organizes and delivers aid to residents and first responders — hosted a roundtable for officials and volunteers in Fairfield County towns that have sister city relationships with that war-torn nation.

Westport — whose sister city, Lyman, was UAI’s first such project — was well represented. Police Chief Foti Koskinas described his trip there last year, and emphasized the importance of his ongoing relationships with his counterparts in the Donetsk region.

Just hours earlier, he said, he had been texting with the Lyman police chief. The Ukrainian chief — who says often that Westport’s support inspires everyone in his town — proudly wears with a Westport Police Department patch.

Lyman police chief, with the Westport Police logo.

But the star of the event, held at the Ukrainian-American Club in Southport, was 4-month-old Archie Wauchope.

The son of Staples High School graduate Clyde Wauchope and his wife Katya, UAI’s director of development, he wore a bib that said — in Cyrillic letters — “Slava Ukraini! Slava Archie!”

In other words: “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Archie!”

Archie Wauchope, his bib and his parents.

To learn more about Ukraine Aid International, and donate to Westport’s sister city Lyman, click here.

==================================================

As the Norwalk Transit District — which oversees the Westport Transit District — “re-envisions” bus service here, they invite Westport residents to a meeting March 12 (7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).

The charrette-session format will include remarks from Transit District officials, then a chance for attendees to give feedback on improvements they’d like to see.

==================================================

“Supper & Soul” returns April 20.

The unique Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Saturday night entertainment — dinner at one of 12 downtown restaurants, then a dance party with 8-piece funk and soul band West End Blend at the Westport Library — followed by post-concert happy hour pricing for drinks at any of the 12 participating restaurants (Arezzo, Basso, Capuli, Casa Me, Don Memo, Emmy Squared, Goji, Il Pastaficio, Mexicue, Nômade, Spotted Horse and Walrus Alley.

Tickets ($87) include the concert, dinner, tax and tip (drinks are not included). Tickets for the concert only are $35. Click here to buy, and for more information.

================================================

Aargh!

There was another confusing date in yesterday’s item about beach emblem sales. Here is the re-corrected info. “06880” apologizes for the confusion:

Beach parking emblems go on sale online, and in the Westport Parks & Recreation Department office, at 9 a.m. next Monday (March 11) for Westport and Weston residents. The number of sales to Westport and Weston residents is not limited, and they are not required until May 1.

Sales of emblems to people not living in Westport or Weston begin online, and in the Parks & Rec office, at 9 a.m. next Wednesday (March 13). A limit of 450 will be sold.

If you have purchased emblems or registered for Parks & Rec programs in prior seasons, you already have an online account established. Click here to log into your account. Then choose memberships; in the search box, type “Resident.” This brings all Westport resident vehicle packages to the top page. Weston residents should type “Weston” in search box.

After verification (Parks & Rec may request a copy of your current registration, or updated proof of residency), online purchases will be mailed to you. It may take 14-21 days.

Office hours are weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions? Email recreation@westportct.gov.

==================================================

It was a madhouse — but fun — Wednesday evening, in the Staples fieldhouse.

Over 70 Westport Little League boys and girls practiced skills and did drills with the big Wrecker players.

Coach Jack McFarland and the Diamond Club oversaw the event. It was a grand slam!

This is the closest they got to “posing” for a photo at the Staples baseball event. (Hat tip and photo/Stacie Curran)

==================================================

When I say “boxing,” odds are you do not think “Westport Country Playhouse.” Or “The Westport Woman’s Club.”

But the 3 very different worlds meet on April 6. Rich Dean Boxing will present “Gloves For Good,” a night of boxing to support the WWC.

It’s a first-ever USA Boxing-sanctioned event, with boxers from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

The evening includes 10-plus bouts of boxing, live music, a silent auction, and a VIP dinner and drink service courtesy of Gabriele’s Steakhouse.

Click here for tickets, and more information. (Hat tip: Ross Levin)

==================================================

Longtime Westport resident Phyllis Markoff died Tuesday. From 1982-88, she served proudly as president of Temple Israel.

She is survived by her children John (Laurie), Cathy (Jim Bessent), Janet and Nancy (Jeffrey Burt); grandchildren Alisa (Andy), Bill (Anita), Briana, Lily, Jack (Hanna Wallace), Kane (Lana Holley) and Blaze, and great-grandchildren Aaron, Alec, Sophia, Lydia, Isabella and Axel. She was predeceased by her husband Del.

The family will hold a private memorial service next month.

==================================================

Today is International Women’s Day. In its honor, Westport-based non-profit Nest Egg Foundation is sponsoring a free online chat about women’s health and reproductive care (including in vitro fertilization).

The event begins at 3 p.m. today (March 8). Click here for the Zoom link.

==================================================

We see deer all the time. (And our “Westport … Naturally” feature includes lots of them.)

It’s far rarer to see an albino deer — even a partial albino, like the one Molly Alger spotted on Whitney Street.

(Photo/Molly Alger)

==================================================

And finally … in honor of the inaugural boxing exhibition taking place next month at the Westport Country Playhouse (story above):

(“06880” is your one-stop spot for news about beach stickers, buses, boxing, and much much more. Please click here to support this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

Roundup: Jackie O’s Piano, Backpacks, Boxing …

Frank Mastrone returned to the Levitt Pavilion last night, for another standout evening of Broadway, Frank Sinatra (and Tom Jones, Adele and Michael Bublé) tunes.

Frank Mastrone and Westport’s own Terry Eldh. (Photo/Dan Woog)

But there was another star on stage too: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ baby grand piano.

It was there, white and beautiful and sounding great, courtesy of Yury Feygin Amadeus Piano, the Levitt’s piano partner.

Jackie Kennedy’s piano, before the audience arrives.

“All my pianos are special,” he says. “But this is my personal one. It has been with me since my dad bought it for my first piano lesson.”

The piano debuted Thursday, for the Pete Muller & the Kindred Souls show. Mastrone and his friends — including Westport’s own Terry Eldh — put it to great use last night, before an appreciative (and very full) audience.

=======================================================

Children who live in the Domestic Violence Crisis Center safe houses need many things. Among them: school supplies.

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday, July 19), and running through next Tuesday, you can donate:

  • New backpacks
  • Notebooks
  • Pens, pencils, highlighters an dcrayons
  • New lunch boxes
  • Graphing calculators.

They can be left in a collection bin in the Westport Police Department headquarters lobby (50 Jesup Road).

For more information on the Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, click here.

=======================================================

Three-time light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson was in Westport yesterday. He was part of a fundraiser at Rich Dean’s Boxinf & Fitness.

Dean is raising money Westport Police Department’s Mike Ruttenber who will be running the NYC marathon for St. Jude’s. (Hat tip: Kevin Carroll)  ‘

Chad Dawson (right) instructs.

=======================================================

Carol Longmuir Meier died peacefully on Tuesday, with her son Douglas and his wife Valerie by her side. The former Westport resident was 80 years old.

Growing up in Westport, she became active with Girl Scouts. That led her to the Mariner Scouts, where she developed a love for sailing.

Her family was also active with the United Methodist Church of Westport, where she attended youth group meetings. It was there that she met Frederick Meier Jr.

They were grade school sweethearts, and were married for 33 years. Fred died in 1994, age 52. Carol loved him until the day she died.

After graduating from Staples High School, Carol entered Yale’s Grace New Haven School of Nursing.  Growing up she became active with the girl scouts that led her to the Mariner Scouts where she developed a deep love for sailing.  Her family was also active with the United Methodist Church of Westport where she attended the Methodist Youth Group Meetings.

Fred’s career with the American Diabetes Association included several moves. Carol to hold nursing licenses in several states.

She started out in general nursing, which led to pediatrics. She became  infectious disease coordinator for Holy Redeemer Hospital outside of Philadelphia.

She moved on to the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield, as head nurse and then director of nursing. In Virginia she joined a visiting nursing service. Her final nursing shifts in New Jersey began with her as a visiting nurse. At the age of 60 she went back to school to earn a degree as a certified diabetic educator.

In New Jersey she was active with the Whitehouse United Methodist Church, participating in bible study and book club.

She enjoyed hiking, bird watching, reading and trips to Nana’s beach.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They include Kelly Arciola, her husband Sam III and their sons Sam IV and Dominic;  Megan Meier and William Bodie, BBF and grand dog Yager; John Meier, his wife Lauren and their children Adrianna, Harper and Jack; Nana’s twins Lillian and Brieanna;  Sean O’Shea, Robert O’Shea and his son Michael. Carol is also survived by her brother Robert Longmuir and his children. The family thanks Sandy Hack, who was Carol’s caregiver and dear friend.

he family will receive friends tomorrow (Tuesday, July 19, 4 to 8 p.m., Harding Funeral Home). A funeral is set for Wednesday (July 20, 11 a.m., United Methodist Church of Westport). Interment will follow in Willowbrook Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association. Click here to leave online condolences.

Carol Meier

===================================================

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature features a couple of bunnies.

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. Based on what everyone knows about bunnies, I wonder how many there are now.

(Photo/Carol Cederbaum)

=======================================================

And finally … in honor of yesterday’s appearance of a world champion here:

(“06880” is completely reader-supported. Please click here to help.)