Tag Archives: Westport train station

Roundup: Affordable Housing, Utility Poles, Pride …

A follow-up on the Representative Town Meeting’s recent “Community Conversation on Affordable Housing” promises to be as important and illuminating as the first.

“Our Town’s Affordable Housing Needs and Solutions: What Westporters Should Know and How They Can Help” will be held — virtually — on Wednesday (May 17, 7:30 p.m.).

RTM moderator Jeff Wieser will lead a panel of men and women who know the topic intimately: State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Planning & Zoning Commission chair Danielle Dobin, RTM Planning & Zoning Committee chair Matthew Mandell, and Westport Housing Authority chair David Newberg.

As with the first session — which drew 200 people — there will be plenty of time for public questions.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

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Paul Rohan writes:

Over the years, I have read many comments, complaints and suggestions about utility poles on “06880.”

I am reminded of them all each day on my morning walk, as I pass by this set of seemingly unstable utility poles on Hillspoint Road between Harding Lane and Valley Road.

For over 5 years, I wondered when the appropriate utilities will transfer all their lines to the newer replacement pole and remove the decayed one.

It seems it will never happen. But lately there has been some progress: a new black nylon band has been added to somehow supplement the existing the wooden brace clamp, the metal support arms, and bands of rope!

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A crowd of nearly 300 “walked the line” to see Johnny Folsom 4’s tribute to Johnny Cash Saturday night, at the Westport Library.

A record 126 people had dinner at 10 downtown restaurants before the show, as part of “Supper & Soul.” The downtown dinner and concert series is produced by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.

Johnny Folsom 4 (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)

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Just in time for Pride Month, Westport Pride has a new web presence.

The colorful, easy-to-navigate site (www.westportpride.org) builds on the non-profit’s mission to “elevate, educate and empower” the town about LGBTQ issues and community members.

Upcoming events include

  • Pride Celebration (Sunday, June 4, noon-4 p.m., Jesup Green)
  • “Light Up the Night” drag show (Saturday, June 17, 5 p.m., MoCA)

An oral history project — organized in conjunction with the Westport Museum for History & Culture — is looking for people to interview about their lives and times: in school, at the Brook Café, or anywhere else in the area. Email cmenard@westporthistory.org.

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The Westport Rotary Club recently joined Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, to rebuild a house in Bridgeport. The project helps residents  become homeowners.

This was the first time Westport Rotary volunteered at Habitat. It was so popular, a return visit has been scheduled for next year.

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Saturday’s list of National Merit Scholar winners omitted one name: Liyana Asaria-Issa.

The Greens Farms Academy senior joins 3 other Westport residents as recipients of $2,500 scholarships. Congratulations, Liyana!

Liyana Asaria-Issa

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Sholdr is a new clothing brand.

Co-founder Christian Montgomery — a 2018 Staples High School graduate — is creating quality, comfortable clothing, inspired by the oceans.

His goal is to build a community around the brand — and one that supports mental health awareness.

One of the founders lost a friend to suicide. He had recently joined the military. So Sholder is donating 5% of profits to the Headstrong Project. The non-profit provides mental health resources to active military members, and veterans.

This Saturday (May 20, noon to 4 p.m.) they’ll run their first pop-up event at the Two Roads Vendor Market (1700 Stratford Avenue, Stratford). Sholdr will be in the hopyard talking about their mission, and selling shirts and hoodies.

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Between the trains, weather and riders, the Westport train station gets plenty of use.

It usually looks pretty good. But it doesn’t clean itself.

This weekend, Les Dinkin spotted a crew, working hard to make sure it’s ready for Monday.

(Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)

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“Westport … Naturally” begins the week with this colorful view from Ellen Wentworth’s window:

(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)

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And finally … Saturday’s “Supper & Soul” included a great concert by Johnny Folsom 4, a Johnny Cash tribute band (story above).

That’s a great segue into a song from the Man in Black himself:

(It’s a new week — and another reminder that “06880” relies on reader support. Please click here to donate. Thank you!) 

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Next stop: Greens Farms! (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

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Saugatuck train station (Photo/Gene Borio)

Roundup: Wilton Road, Weston History, “06880” Book Launch …

The latest Westport clear-cutting project took some Westporters by surprise,

In fact, it’s part of an 8-30g project approved before the moratorium took effect.

122 Wilton Road — the 1.16-acre parcel bordered by Wilton Road, Kings Highway North, the Saugatuck River and Taylortown Salt Marsh — will be the site of a 3-story, 19-unit,  20,078-square foot apartment complex..

In 2018, the state Appellate Court denied a plan by Garden Homes of Stamford to build a 7-story, 48-unit apartment complex.

The developer returned with the smaller, 19-unit proposal, which included an 8-30g component.

Again the P&Z rejected the request. The scale was still too big; there were still traffic and fire safety issues.

But Garden Homes appealed, and a court overruled the P&Z. According to 8-30g, affordability trumps traffic and safety concerns.

COVID pushed back the schedule. But eventually the Conservation Department, Water Pollution Control Facility and Building Department issued permits.

This was the scene Monday:

And yesterday:

(Photo/Chris Tait)

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Bill “Mr. Memorial Day Parade” Vornkahl notes that many organizations have not yet replied to invitations to participate in the Memorial Day parade.

So, organizations: If you want to be in Westport’s best parade of the year, contact Jamie Boone at the Westport Parks & Recreation Department: jboone@westportct.gov; 203-341-5091.

Don’t be left out of the Memorial Day parade!  (Photo/Jodi Harris)

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MoCA’s Spring Thursday evening “Cocktails and Conversation” series has begun. It features compelling speakers, within the context of MoCA’s current exhibition.

The current show — “Rainbow in the Dark,” with works by German contemporary artist Anselm Reyle — runs through May 28.

“Cocktails and Conversation” includes:

April 27 (6 p.m.), “Creativity and Climate Action”: 4 Bridgeport artists show (and offer for sale) the projects they’ve created.

May 4 (5 p.m.), “The Wellness of Style” with Gayle Perry, exploring “the noise that our clothes and spaces create for us, with 15-minute style sessions.

May 11 (6 p.m.), Iraqi multi-instrumentalist Ameen Mokdad.

May 18 (6 p.m.), Conversation with “Rainbow in the Dark” curator Emann Odufu, followed by a concert by rock band Darling.

May 25 (6 p.m.), Barbara Sallick of Waterworks and Shari Lebowitz of Bespoke Designs on female entrepreneurship, home design trends, and the blending of function and style.

Most events are free for MoCA members, $10 for non-members. For more information click here, or call 203-222-7070.

Emann Odufu

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Time for a church barn dance!

‘The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport sponsors its 4th one on Saturday, April 29 (5 to 9 p.m.). Billy Fischer is the caller, accompanied by Wry Bred.

All ages are invited. There’s pizza and cake too. Donations ($5 per person, $15 per family) are requested. Questions? Call 203-227-7205, ext. 10. Swing your partner ’round!

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Speaking of concerts: The Weston History & Culture Center’s outdoor summer concert series “Music at the Barn” returns for its 8th season. Concerts are set for June 4 and June 25, July 9 and July 23, and September 10.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for food, history, crafts and fun. Music starts at 5:30 p.m., and ends at 7.

The bands are from throughout Fairfield County. Kids will enjoy the crafting table, historic games and a walk through the sculpture garden. Adults can explore history with tours of the Coley House and “Penned, Painted & Sculpted: Weston Artists 1900 – 1965” exhibit.

Music at the Weston Historical Society.

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Reminder: The launch party for “Pick of the Pics” — the “06880” book highlighting over 100 of our blog’s best Pics of the Day — is this Sunday (April 30, 2 to 4 p.m., Savvy + Grace, 146 Main Street).

Books will be available for purchase at a special price of $20 (regular Amazon price: $24.95).

I’ll sign copies; so will Lyah Muktavaram, my “06880” intern who did 99% of the work on it.

Photographers featured in the book can pick up a free book at the launch party too.

Can’t wait? Click here to order!

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Totally random, but interesting:

Alert reader Jim McKay writes: “In 1982, when the Saugatuck train station rain shelters were installed, the Ukrainian flag colors were used. Long before Ukrainian independence.”

(Photo/Jim McKay)

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Last week, Amy Schneider captured — on camera, that is — today’s “Westport … Naturally feature: a snowy egret, perched over the Saugatuck River.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

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And fiinally ,,, Harry Belafonte, whose life was defined as much by his work on civil rights as by his popularizing of calypso music in the pop realm, died yesterday in New York of congestive heart failure. He was 96.

Belafonte attended fundraisers here, during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Click here for a full obituary of this remarkable man.

(If you enjoy our daily Roundups, please support “06880.” Just click here — and thank you!)

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Train station stairs (Photo/Trey Ellis)

“Westport Madness”: Semifinals Are Here!

Our “Westport Madness” tournament is racing to a close.

Who (actually, “what”) will be crowned the quintessential piece of our town?

Your quarterfinal votes are in.

You chose these semifinalists:

Compo Beach over Westport Library (80.3% to 19.7)

Westport train station over YMCA downtown (53.9 to 46.1)

Remarkable Book Shop over Grass fields (72.8 to 27.2)

Saugatuck over Gold’s (59.2 to 40.8).

Click here to vote. Polls are open through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 29.

On we go!

Click on or hover over to enlarge.

(If you like this — or any other — “06880” feature, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Friday Flashback #334

Two Westport icons combine in this 1980s-era 1967 photo: the Saugatuck train station, and revered Staples High School English teacher/noted photographer Karl Decker.

The image was reproduced widely, on posters and postcards. This version was sent by 1992 Staples graduate Tracy Stein Hinson.

(Photo/Karl Decker)

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Train station sunset (Photo/Susan Thomsen)

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Train station sunset (Photo/Gabriela Bockhaus)

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Rainy Thursday at the train station (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)