Every October for years, the League of Women Voters published a Voters’ Guide.
It was filled with information about every upcoming electoral race: candidates, bios, positions, the works.
It was invaluable — the best resource for countless voters.
The print version is gone. But the Voters Guide is now online. And very easy to use.
Just click on www.vote411.org/lwvct. Enter your address, click “Submit,” the scroll down to “Your Races.”
There you’ll find all you need to know about every race this year: Boards of Selectors, Finance, Education and Assessment Appeals; Planning & Zoning Commission; Zoning Board of Appeals — and all 9 Representative Town Meeting (RTM) districts.
Interest in this election is high. An informal poll shows many voters are still undecided, for many offices. The LWV’s Voters’ Guide is a huge help
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Speaking of politics: Tonight (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Greens Farms Academy) is the Westport Journal’s 1st Selectman candidates debate. Registration is required; click here.
Coming soon:
- Select Board Candidates Debate: October 21, 12 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
- A Seat at the Selectman’s Table: October 21, 6 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by Westport Library Common Ground Initiative. Registration required; click here.
- A Conversation with Board of Education Candidates: October 22, 7 p.m., Toquet Hall. Co-sponsored by League of Women Voters Westport and “06880.”
- A Conversation with Planning & Zoning Commission Candidates: October 23; 7 p.m. Senior Center. Co-sponsored by League of Women Voters Westport and “06880.”
- Candidates Debates: Board of Education, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Assessment Appeals, Board of Finance: October 27, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Westport.
- Candidates Debate: 1st Selectman and Planning & Zoning Commission: October 28, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Westport.
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Speaking still of politics: Yesterday marked our third “06880” Instagram Live interview with candidates for the Board of Selectors.
Kevin Christie and his running mate Amy Wistreich and I chatted for half an hour. Our conversation ranged from their reasons for running, their experience and what being a Democrat means, to what they’ve learned in the campaign, and the controversy over Christie’s recusal in the soccer coaches’ non-renewal appeal.
Plus, their go-to restaurants.
Click here or below to see the full interview.
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Speaking yet again of politics: Christine Todd Whitman was in Westport yesterday. The former New Jersey governor — a co-founder (with Andrew Yang) of the Forward Party — boosted the 1st selectman candidacy of David Rosenwaks.
The Forward Party “empowers local leaders, without regard to ideology.” Their slogan is “Not left. Not right. Forward.”
Whitman and Danielle Chesebrough — 1st selectwoman of Stonington, and chair of Connecticut’s Forward Party — spoke with Rosenwaks at Jesup Green.
“Local officials make daily impacts on people’s lives,” Whitman said. “We’re building a party with a structure to last, from the ground up.”
Whitman, Rosenwaks, Chesebrough and a small group of party officials then had dinner at a local restaurant.
From left: Danielle Chesebrough, David Rosenwaks, Christine Todd Whitman. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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And … one more political note:
The Board of Finance race is uncontested this year.
There are 3 candidates, for 3 spots: incumbent Allyson Stollenwerck, plus Elaine Whitney and Brian Gaines.
But the trio spoke yesterday, to an interested crowd at the Senior Center, about their backgrounds, their experiences in town politics, and the diverse talents they’ll bring to the BOF.
Before that, outgoing chair Lee Caney and current member Liz Heyer described the many functions of the board — from scrutinizing and passing town and Board of Education budgets, to examining leases, and much more.
They also explained how the BOF functions in a bipartisan way. Disagreements, they say, are worked out collaboratively. And they seldom break down along party lines.
The event was co-sponsored by the Westport League of Women Voters and “06880.”
Board of Finance candidates (from left) Allyson Stollenwerck, Brian Gaines and Elaine Whitney. All 3 will be elected. (Photo/Joan Gillman)
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The Slice of Saugatuck is always fun.
It’s also always a fundraiser.
The other day, the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce — sponsor of the popular fall festival — donated $6,000 from its proceeds to Homes with Hope.
That makes a total of $60,000 since the event began — all earmarked for the Gillespie Food Pantry.
The tie-in is significant. The Slice is a feast of food for people who can afford it. The contribution is for those who can’t.
Helen McAlinden — the grateful president and CEO of Homes with Hope — says, “This support allows us to continue providing essential items like milk, eggs and butter to every family who visits our food pantry — ensuring they have the basic staples they need to nourish their loved ones.
“Each week we are seeing more families facing food insecurity. This gift comes at a critical time.”
Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden holds the Saugatuck Slice check. Presenting it are (from left) Thomas Samaranayake, Paris Looney and Katherine Murray of HwH; Matthew Mandell (Chamber of Commerce), Katie Weldy (HwH), and Maurizio Ricci and Bill Rizzuto, owners of Romanaccii and Rizzuto’s, respectively.
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Next Monday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (October 20, 6 p.m., Zoom; livestreamed on http://www.westportct.gov, and Optimum channel 79) will include discussion of a proposed text amendment.
It would modify the Inclusionary Housing Overlay District to allow offsite affordable housing, at the discretion of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and add criteria for consideration by the P&Z.
Click here, then scroll down for text amendment #855.
136 Riverside Avenue is an example of offsite affordable housing.
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St. Paul Westport welcomes Anthony Celia, as their new pastor. He replaces Brad Knorr, who returned to serve in Nebraska after 8 years, to be closer to his family.
Anthony, his wife Tanya and their young son recently relocated from Austin, Texas. They are excited to be part of St. Paul Westport, St. Paul Christian School, and the Westport community.
His official installation is November 16 (2 p.m.).
St. Paul Westport invites residents to 10 a.m. Sunday worship, at 41 Easton Road. Childcare during the service is available for ages 6 weeks to 3 years in the SPW nursery. Children preschool through grade 6 can attend kids’ church during the sermon.
Rev. Anthony and Tanya Celia.
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Dr. Allison Siegenfeld is a very accomplished woman.
The Westport native — who attended Pierrepont and Hopkins, then earned undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry from Harvard — is now a postdoctoral trainee at Harvard Medical School.
She is studying a hallmark of cancer — the dysregulation of messenger RNA levels — to better understand how treatments can target this mechanism of action. Click here or below to learn all about her latest project. (Hat tip: Celia Campbell-Mohn)
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This time of year, our “Westport … Naturally” feature is awash in photos of colorful leaves, and autumnal plants.
Today we pause, for a look at a beautiful creature — also awash, in local waters.
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
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And finally … today is National Dictionary Day! Let’s celebrate …
(Donating to “06880” is as easy as — you knew this was coming — ABC. Just click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
