Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sue Terrace resident Marc Fischer asks for explanation.
My name is Marc Fischer. My wife Lori and I are 11-year residents of Westport. We live at 9 Sue Terrace. I'm a 48-year-old father of two elementary school age girls and the COO of a financial services firm. We love our town and our neighborhood, but until recently we've not been overtly active in town politics. That has changed. The proposal initiated by Interfaith Housing Association Homes with Hope for the development of the Linxweiler property has garnered a lot of press lately and rightly so. My family and I stand in opposition to the plan. I understand the proposal has been withdrawn, but will likely be submitted again soon, and I'd like to list my points clearly, so they're unambiguously on the record. The proposal in any form …
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/articles/to-the-editor-linxweiler-should-be-rejected-pz-risks-integrity-crisis
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Saturday, March 13, 2010
Westport Patch real estate columnist Julia Broder provides some insight into what buyers are looking for in a new home.
With a busier market these days, smart home buyers are able to pick up wonderful homes in great locations that may just need a little "Tender Loving Care." Investing in a spruce-up gives home buyers a chance to take advantage of new technology that not only affords lower energy costs, but is healthier for living and the environment. There may be an old kitchen that needs to be torn out and made to sparkle with new appliances, flooring, countertops and tile work. So, what would it cost to remodel a typical Fairfield County kitchen? I was fortunate to speak with Bob Simna of J. Tallman Builders, LLC, who said the cost depends on the type of renovation and scope of the property. Here's a breakdown: Level of Construction: …
Westport Weather Whiz Jacob Meisel reports.
Trees are going down all around Westport and many are without power, like I said in my last update. The worst of the storm is really starting and we are in for a wild ride. We have a coastal flood warning, a flood watch, and a high wind warning. The winds will continue through midnight, but will continue to gust heavily through 10 p.m. before they peak. If you think the storm is over, think again, as we still have quite a while to go. Stay tuned! The National Weather Service forecasts damaging winds will continue through this evening. It has issued a high wind warning in effect until 1 a.m. Sunday. Easterly winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph can be expected through tonight, with isolated gusts up to 70 mph. A Coastal Flood …
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The annual event raised more than $130,000 for Special Olympics' programs - more than any other year.
VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS|Thursday, March 11
Thank you, Westport. It is only because members of the Westport community have caring hearts and warmly embrace Special Olympics and its annual Penguin Plunge event that 475 people enthusiastically plunged into the chilly water at Compo Beach on March 6. A record-breaking $130,000 was raised in support of people with intellectual disabilities to fund Special Olympics' local, year-round programs. The Westport Penguin Plunge continues to be the largest plunge in the state for Special Olympics Connecticut and the largest fundraiser of the year for Special Olympics Connecticut, Southwest Region. Yes, it is an event we depend on to ensure we serve our athletes all year round with programs that change attitudes about people with intellectual …
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Compo Rd S & Hillspoint Rd
/articles/to-the-editor-a-plunge-for-the-record-books
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Westport's Green Task Force adopts an alternative route to help finance the green initiatives it recommends to the town.
In my last column, I took a look at how the state budget crisis potentially impacts Connecticut's green future. At times, sustainability goes beyond the environment and is all about the monetary green – dollars and cents. Green initiatives are investments with short-, mid- and long-term returns. And while our town administrators have the best of intentions and have begun making investments in our future (when possible tapping state and federal funding), unfortunately all too often towns like Westport do not have the resources to fully commit to the sustainability investments we should be making. Last week, Westport's Green Task Force took a step forward in addressing this issue. On March 3, the task force adopted a resolution to …
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Inklings Sports Editor Michael Nussbaum learns how the world games can unite nations.
From the Olympic spirit to incredible national pride, Inklings Sports Editor Michael Nussbaum describes an experience to remember when he attended the 2010 Winter Games in Vancover. "From my window I could see the overwhelming Canadian flags, American T-shirts, Russian jumpsuits, Chinese hats, and Korean signs," he writes in his latest column for the Staples High School student newspaper. "But even with those well-known countries dominating the picture, I was still able to distinguish the Latvians, the Netherlands, and Switzerland from the pack. From my beautiful view from my hotel, I never once saw any conflicts between any countries, however, just pure excitement, anticipation, and honest nationalism." Click here to read more of Nussbaum…
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Staples High School
70 North Ave
/articles/inklings-the-olympic-experience-beyond-the-medals
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A former Westport residents sees a different use for the controversial project.
OPINION|Wednesday, March 10
In response to Homes with Hope withdrawing its application regarding plans for supportive housing on the Linxweiler property, former Westporter Karen H. Vollmer sent in the following letter to the editor: I wish there was at least as much doing good for the eldery as for all of these other "at risk" persons, and I would like to see this project changed to elderly housing, which I think all the residents would welcome. If you think about it, responsible elderly persons have been financially ruined by the housing crash. Many never flipped their homes and paid their 30-year mortage off a long time ago. The Linxweiler application is a situation of the reckless getting rescued. I absolutely agree — although I no longer live in Westport but …
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/articles/letter-to-the-editor-linxweiler-property-would-best-suit-housing-for-the-elderly
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The organization pulls its application for the Linxweiler property after P&Z Chairman violates a constitutional right of concerned Westporters.
Interfaith Housing Association Homes With Hope withdrew its application for the much-debated 75-year lease on the Linxweiler property at 655 Post Road East in Westport. It is our neighborhood's belief that the IHA withdrew their application in the hopes of buying some time to revamp it. At last week's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, there was talk of pulling the application and having the IHA re-submit it at a later date when more of the details have been ironed out. I suspect the IHA will submit a new application for the Linxweiler property sooner rather than later. And, since the IHA has pointed out they are most interested in the Linxweiler homestead at this point, and not the other properties that would have been affected by…
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-73.34224
/articles/letter-to-the-editor-homes-with-hope-is-buying-time
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Sunday, March 7, 2010
Westport kids are put through the standardized testing wringer this week.
For any parents whose children are in grades 3 and up, the letters C, M and T ceased to be benign a long time back. CMT stands for Connecticut Mastery Test, a bear of a standardized exam that is being administered this week and next in Westport. Students, teachers and parents dread it all school year. The CMTs have been around since 1984. Mandated by state law, they're a component of the No Child Left Behind Act and are designed to "set high performance standards for all students" and provide "accountability for the Connecticut educational system." It covers editing and proofreading, writing, math and science. Until 2004, the test was administered in grades 4, 6 and 8. Now, students take the test beginning in third grade and continuing …
Westport RTM member Stephen Rubin weighs in on the P&Z's decision to not allow signs at public hearings.
I suggest that this week's hearing of our town's P&Z hit an all time low. Not for a decision on a land use issue, but rather for the conduct board members displayed with the disregard to our Freedom of Speech. Members of the public were forced to be silent when they only and simply held a sign to their chest that stated the word, "NO." They were made to remove the signs or to leave the auditorium. Precedents clearly have been established for this peaceful show of support for other groups such as the YMCA or the town's employees on issues that would directly affect their lives. In the past, members of the public wore colorful shirts to show support and solidarity. These precedents were set with P&Z as well as other town boards. I find the …
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Exactly right. Ron Corwin should be muzzled and leashed. Why can't Westport do better than a middle manager run amok? more ›