Westport’s 2 budgets — $136,287,710 for the Board of Education (plus $7.7 million in debt service), and $81,932,340 for other town operations — were approved unanimously last night by the Board of Finance.
They now head to the Representative Town Meeting for final approval.
For a detailed look at the 2023-24 budget numbers approved by the Board of Finance on Thursday, click here and here.
Where our money goes …
… and the town operations (non-education) portion of it.
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One team’s fans will drive 2 miles. The other will drive 80.
But Staples High School’s boys basketball supporters will be out in force Sunday, when the Wreckers take on St. Bernard’s-Uncasville at the Mohegan Sun arena, in the state Division II basketball championship game.
Tipoff is 6:15 p.m. (March 19). The game can be heard on WWPT-FM (90.3) and wwptfm.org. You can watch it on the proprietary Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) website, but must subscribe ($11.99 a month; cancel anytime) — click here for details.
Staples is going for their first Connecticut boys hoops crown since 1937. No wonder plenty of Westporters will make the trip to the casino/arena.
And … if you missed Wednesday night’s astonishing comeback — down by 18 points in the 4th quarter, they beat Fairfield Warde in overtime — no problem. Click below for the entire, did-they-just-do-that?! game.
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Last night marked the official launch for Startup Westport.
Tech and other entrepreneurs gathered at the Westport Library, to discuss ways of making Westport a “special, suburban center of an ecosystem of tech people and investors.”
Click here for details of this public/private partnership.
Leading the way at last night’s Startup Westport kickoff (from left): Matt Gorin, Sam Hendel, Jay Norris, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Stefano Pacifico, Peter Propp.
Staples High School junior Tucker Peters (right) was at the Startup Westport event, to soak up ideas. He met Jay Norris, a co-founder and Westport Library trustee.
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Also last night:
The actual porch at The Porch at Christie’s rocked, as owners Bill and Andrea Pecoriello hosted over 100 Club 203 members for a St. Patrick’s Day Eve bash.
The event included Irish dancing, bagpiping, green-themed food and desserts, a “lucky rock project” from MoCA Westport, and boundless energy from many volunteers.
Club 203 is the local organization for adults with disabilities. Click here for their website.
Club 203’s St. Patrick’s Day party, at The Porch. (Photo courtesy of Stacie Curran)
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And one more from last night. Doris Ghitelman writes:
Yesterday around 6:18 p.m., a SpaceX Falcon 9 streaked across Westport. The mission was Stronger Together, for Capella Space. They sent 2 satellites into low earth orbit (Leo).
She sent this photo …
(Photo/Doris Ghitelman)
… and says: “The white streak is the contrail. If you expand the image you will actually see the black SpaceX rocket.”
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The Westport Weston Family YMCA has long championed inclusivity for people with disabilities and other differences.
This spring, they’ll run 4 great programs: Adaptive Gymnastics, Adaptive Yoga, Soccer Shots Empower and Adaptive Swim.
The goal is for youth of all abilities to learn new skills, enjoy different experiences, make friends, and have fun in a safe, welcoming environment.
Click here for more information, or contact Kathy Giglio: kgiglio@westporty.org; 203-571-6040.
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Westport has seen several excellent restaurants open recently.
But occasionally restaurants close.
The latest: Parker Mansion.
It’s been shut for a week. A phone call last night was not answered.
Parker Mansion opened in 2016. It replaced Mansion Clam House, a mainstay on Riverside Avenue by the William F. Cribari Bridge for decades.
Parker Mansion (Photo and hat tip/JD Dworkow)
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Did you miss Wednesday’s State Legislature hearing on HB 6890 — the “Live Work Ride: An Act Concerning Qualifying Transit-Oriented Communities” bill that proposes withholding, withdrawing, and possibly clawing back discretionary state infrastructure funding from communities that fail to adopt regulations permitting greater density, with limited parking and a prescribed affordability component, around transit?
No problem! Just click below.
Be sure to allow some time, though. The hearing was 6 hours long.
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Kids love the Grinch, Horton, Cat-in-the-Hat. Dr. Seuss had it right: Let kids be kids.
Which is one reason Bedford Acting Group director Ryan Smith chose “Seussical Jr.” as this spring’s 6th grade production.
He’s created a safe, inclusive environment, helping young performers find and nurture skills.
It’s a BMS community effort. Parents are designing fish, while each ensemble member crafts their own props, to suit their personality.
The set was designed by Joe DeTullio — who does that stuff professionally for “Saturday Night Live.”
“Seussical Jr.” will be performed March 24 (7 p.m.), March 25 (3 and 7 p.m.), and March 26 (3 p.m.).
Families with young kids can purchase an add-on ticket to enjoy a Saturday matinee pre-show soirée (March 25, 2 p.m.), with a character meet-and-greet, crafts, sweets and more.
For tickets and more information, click here.
The cast — and set — of “Seussical Jr.”
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Yesterday was an important one for caregivers — and the kids they care for.
Cultural Care au pairs visited Westport Fire Department headquarters. The fire marshal’s office taught them how to keep their host children safe — and gave them fire safety takeaways, to bring home and share with their families.
Westport Fire Department officials, with au pairs and their children.
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There’s nothing better for a sweet tooth than Rice Krispies treats.
Unless they’re topped with candy.
Westport moms Melissa Rutstein and Rachel Dymond combined their passions for food, entertainment and fun. The result is SugarKrisp: a “sushi-themed candy company.”
SugarKrisp treats
Both women moved to Westport in 2020. A mutual friend got them together. The rest is confectionary history.
SugarKrisp has quickly become a local favorite. They’ve also partnered with a number of non-profits and schools, offering auction items to raise money. Sweet!
Follow them on Instagram @SugarKrispco.
SugarKrisp founders Melissa Rutstein and Rachel Dymond.
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Weston EMS celebrates their 60th anniversary on March 25, at Rolling Hills Country Club. The event includes 2 auctions: silent and live.
And the silent auction is already, well, live.
There are items from Don Memo, Earth Animal, NEST, Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse, Nômade, Bridgewater Chocolate, Bartlett Tree Experts and Karen Callan Jewelry, along with golf at top-ranked clubs and more.
Over 70 prizes Fairfield County artists, rounds of golf at top-ranked golf clubs, local Fairfield County retail favorites and many great lifestyle items.
Click here to bid on silent auction items (and buy raffle tickets). Both are open through March 25.
Click here for tickets to the gala. Questions? Email gala@westonems.com.
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Westport Animal Control officer Peter Reid joined Westport Animal Control “guest” Parker in matching green plaid sweatshirts on a day when everyone – including canines– is Irish.
Parker is just one of several dogs available for adoption. Click here to learn more.
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One more St. Paddy’s Day item:
It’s not a holiday unless Jolantha gets dressed up. Here’s Weston’s favorite pig, wearin’ the green:
(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)
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Turning to another animal, today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature highlights this guy, on Rayfield Road:
(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
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And finally … Irish or not, let’s all St. Patrick’s Day, with this beautiful rendition of “my” song:
(You can celebrate today — or any day — with a contribution to “06880.” Please click here — and thank ye!)
“My kids are 6, and almost 4,” he says. “They’re just starting in school. But wouldn’t it be phenomenal if, when they get to Staples, they have access to all kinds of tech startups, right here in Westport?