Westport Grand List Released with 1.9% Increase
Westport Town Assessor Paul Friia announced today that he signed the October 1, 2022 Grand List as required by state statute.
The net 2022 Grand List of $11,312,004,303 represents an increase of approximately 1.9 percent from the net 2021 Grand List of $11,100,020,664. The Grand List is the sum of the net assessed value of all taxable property – real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property. Motor vehicles and personal property are valued annually, while real estate is updated based on the market values determined as of the town’s last revaluation date of October 1, 2020.
The current adjusted 2022 Grand List totals. Increases in the Grand List were in all three categories to include real estate, motor vehicles and personal property. The 1.4 percent increase in real estate assessment is a result of continued residential and commercial new construction as well as renovation activity that occurred within the last assessment year. Construction continues on the 32 condominiums located at 41 Richmondville Ave and the 12 condominiums at 60 Wilton Road. In addition, improvements to buildings on Main Street and the construction of approximately 66 new homes contributed to the increases in the 2022 real estate Grand List. Personal Property increased approximately 14 percent, suggesting a reinvestment in local new and existing businesses to include equipment and leasehold improvements. Motor Vehicles increased a total of 4.7 percent. Although less of an increase than the previous year, it reflects a return to a more typical market. This year’s overall increase is an indication that Westport continues to remain a community of great interest to businesses and new residents.
The Grand List will be used for fiscal year 2023-2024 town budget calculations. The above figures are subject to change based on the outcome of the Board of Assessment Appeal hearings in March and further changes due to corrections or pending lawsuits. The above figures reflect an adjustment made to the Grand List after the signing due to an error discovered in a personal property account.
The top 10 taxpayers in Westport. ContributedMorning Weather Report
Today
Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
A chance of snow showers before 10pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10pm and 11pm, then a chance of rain showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. South wind 7 to 9 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Kindergarten Registration Open for Westport Public Schools
The 2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration is underway. If your child turns five years of age on or before January 1, 2024, please register him/her as soon as possible. Registering now allows the District to optimally plan for your new kindergartener. All registration information is located on the district website, via the “Kindergarten Registration” link under the Parents tab. It is also available on the district website via Quicklinks.
Parents and/or caregivers of registered children will be invited to attend a school-based informational meeting about Kindergarten on Friday, March 10 from 10:00-11:00. At this time, you will have an opportunity to hear more details about Kindergarten from kindergarten teachers and other staff members. This event is for parents and/caregivers only. In May, an orientation session will occur at your child’s elementary school for both you and your child. A school specific invitation will be sent to all registered kindergarten families. If you are unsure about the elementary school your child should attend, please go to our school locator.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Superintendent’s office at (203) 341-1026.
TEAM Westport Announces 2023 Essay Contest: “The Dialogue Challenge: Effective Engagement on Race, Ethnicity, Religion and LGBTQIA+”
TEAM Westport, the Town of Westport’s diversity engagement committee, has announced the topic for its 2023 Teen Diversity Essay Contest. Now in its tenth year, the contest asks teens to address “The Dialogue Challenge: Effective Engagement on Race, Ethnicity, Religion and LGBTQIA+”. Prior years’ challenges which tackled topics from ‘White Privilege’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’ to ‘Micro-Aggressions’ and ‘Stereotypes’ have drawn widespread attention and engagement in Westport and beyond. Students attending High School (Grades 9-12) in Westport or who live in Westport and attend High School elsewhere are invited to participate.
The Westport Library is co-sponsoring the event and winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Library targeted for 6pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Entry deadline for the essay contest is 11:59 pm on Friday TUESDAY, February 28, 2023 . Subject to the volume and caliber of entries received, at the discretion of the judges, up to three cash prizes will be awarded. The first prize is $1,000, second prize is $750, and third prize is $500.
This year’s prompt which is available along with contest entry rules online at www.teamwestport.org or www.westportct.gov/teamwestportessay, is as follows:
Team Westport’s Mission is to make Westport a more welcoming community with regard to race, religion, ethnicity, and LGBTQIA+. In order to achieve its Mission, one of TEAM Westport’s goals has been to promote opportunities for people to come together in dialogue to better understand each other’s experiences, decrease bias, and learn what we have in common. Meaningful dialogue depends on a good faith effort to set aside preconceived beliefs or what we think we know about other people.
In 1,000 words or less, reflect on your own interactions with people who have different racial, ethnic, religious, and/or LGBTQIA+ identities and/or perspectives. What kinds of conversations were particularly helpful in prompting you to rethink your beliefs or opinions, perhaps causing you to change your mind or enabling you to better understand others' points of view? Based on these experiences, what specific actions would you suggest that individuals, schools, and/or Town entities in Westport take to promote good-faith dialogue, reduce bias, and foster understanding?
“With the controversy and misinformation surrounding dialogues on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from National to Local levels, there is nothing more important than what works for effective connection and genuine understanding,” stated TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey, Jr. “Now at the advent of our first decade of the Teen Diversity Essay Contest, TEAM Westport welcomes the opportunity for Westport youth to weigh in on this critical question.”
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said, “I encourage the youth of our town to participate in discussions and programs that will enhance their experience in Westport, and ultimately, in the world beyond. I am confident that through their words, they will demonstrate that Westport is a community that welcomes conversation.”
“The Westport Library has made a fundamental commitment to creating and supporting inclusive communities, spaces, collections, and programs,” commented Westport Library Director Bill Harmer. “The annual TEAM Westport essay contest supports and extends our obligation to social justice, and ensuring a culture where all people are welcomed, valued and encouraged to succeed.”
ABOUT TEAM WESTPORT: With members appointed by the First Selectwoman and partners from the leadership of key Westport organizations, TEAM stands for Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism. TEAM Westport has developed a unique role by engaging the community in and drawing attention to issues surrounding multiculturalism and diversity -- making the invisible, visible. In addition to initiatives it implements directly, TEAM Westport partners with a wide range of municipal government and community institutions. Examples include co-programming with the Westport Library, the Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Schools, Westport Police, the Westport Museum, the Interfaith Clergy, the Interfaith Council, Westport MOCA, Westport Pride, AAPI Westport, Westport Housing, Westport P&Z Affordable Housing Subcommittee and the Levitt Pavilion.
The State Of Westport is FABULOUS Says First Selectwoman Jen Tooker
More than 100 people filled the Westport Library's Trefz forum on Sunday to hear the First Selectwoman and Board Of Education Chair Lee Goldstein give residents a comprehensive report on the state of the town including a detailed presentation on all things education and schools related.
Photos and story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The town officials were introduced by the moderator, Tony McDowell a former president of Westport Sunrise Rotary a co-sponsor of the event along with Westport Rotary, a second Westport based club of Rotary International and the Westport Library.
The primary themes of Tooker's presentation were five matters of strong concern to Westport residents. They included: Traffic and Pedestrian Safety, The Longshore Park Capital Improvement Plan, Downtown Revitalization, Flood Mitigation and Stream Management, and Quality of Life issues including diversity and inclusion, emotional wellbeing which Tooker said was a concern due to the widespread effects of the pandemic. Alsoaddressed by the First Selectman was public safety and policing, noting the achievements of the Westport Police Department and our Chief Of Police Foti Koskinas who was recently recognized by CNN as a Champion for Change along with the department "for their community policing strategies and techniques which are setting the standard across CT and well beyond."
When it comes to the issue of traffic, Tooker was candid, saying there are some things we can correct but others we cannot. She did mention one important achievement saying "Most notably we were awarded $450,000 through the Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan Grant. This will help us continue to be strategic in making improvements to our traffic issues. A shout out to Fire DC Nick Marsan who led the effort to obtain this grant.". There is now a report on the issue available on the town website.
Downtown improvement plans were conceived by the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee (DPIC) and are available on the town website at: https://www.downtownwestportct.com.
As for the Longshore Tooker spoke about a "10 year plan is currently under consideration which wold include " pickleball courts, paddle courts, better vehicular and pedestrian circulation, pool renovation and a clubhouse for the golfers among other improvements."
Flood Mitigation and Stream Management is a high priority said the Selectwoman, "given we are a coastal community with the beautiful Saugatuck River running through us - along with 7 streams." AS for these issues Tooker said, "As you can imagine, this work is complicated and long-term in nature. I want to thank DPW, Conservation and P&Z departments for their leadership."
Tooker also provided an update on affordable housing efforts including Suzy's House, a town-owned building leased and operated by Homes With Hope, saying " In addition to these renovations, the Town deed-restricted it for 40 years so it could be officially counted as affordable housing. This was a win-win-win. Homes with Hope is able to fulfill their mission. The Town is able to increase their affordable housing. And young women will have a safe and nurturing place to live. We will continue to look for opportunities like this as the conversation around affordable housing continues." Also a topic was the recent efforts to support our sister city of Lyman (pronounced Lee Mon) in Ukraine, telling the audience, "This was driven by two men who grew up in Westport, Brian and Marshall Mayer who have founded the non-profit Ukraine Aid International. They reached out to me to see if we could help. Dan Woog and a group of concerned and active residents were also on that initial call. Not only did they immediately get on board to help, Dan became the master communicator and fundraiser behind the effort. He’s been amazing. We’ve raised over $250,000 of private money from you – our incredibly generous community. Our police chief and fire chief are providing supplies that are obsolete to us, but vital to them. We’re in regular communication with the Mayor and Police Chief in Lyman."
Photos and story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Tooker also touched on enhancing the towns tech capabilities which include efforts by town resident's Cliff Sirlin and Stefano Pacifico in their goal of making Westport "the tech startup hub of Connecticut, saying, "Westport is the home to many technology businesses, leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. Startup Westport (which is what we are calling this initiative) will build on our reputation and network to grow the local ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation in information technology and related fields.", also mentioning the newly launched DiscoverWestportCT.com which provides a portal to the many great reasons to live and do business in Westport.
BOE Chair Goldstein lead off the discussion providing a detailed report on the current status and activities of the Westport Public School system. She spoke about the importance of Westport's highly regarded educational system as one essential reasons for the recent growth and high desirability of the town as a premier place to live in Fairfield county.
Goldstein addressed the need to increase the education budget which is now at just over 136 million dollars for 2023-2024, saying, in part, "over the past three years, we have seen explosive growth in our elementary student enrollment. Since fiscal year 2020, we’ve increased 262 elementary students, which has worked out to 13 more classroom sections. She informed the audience of the many accolades awarded to the Westport school system in both academic and athletic achievement. Said Goldstein, "We see state and national - arts awards, newspaper and literary magazine and student science journal awards, individual and group student awards, teacher awards, best school district and individual schools first place rankings by niche and usa today and us world news, sports championships for both our girls and boys teams, coaches awards, music awards, achievements in world languages, financial literacy, academic awards in every discipline – the list goes on and on…"
Also addressed were the effects of the pandemic on students and staff including the increase nationally of "anxiety and depression rates among young people [which] are skyrocketing". The school sytem's efforts to address these issues include "…an increase in the total number of school psychologists, comprehensive training in dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapies for all school psychologists, counselors, and social workers, and continued partnerships with kids in crisis, liberations and Westport human services. We have also successfully implemented Effective School Solutions, which provides intensive, in-school clinical support, for 20 students at a time at Staples, and extending to both middle schools next year."
At the conclusion of their prepared remarks, Tooker and Goldstein engaged in a question and answer forum with inquiries from the audience submitted to the moderator McDowell.
Photos and story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Compo Beach Dogs and Their Humans Enjoy a "Balmy" Sunday Afternoon
With the frigid temps and sub-zero wind chills ending on Sunday and the mercury reaching the high 30's Compo Beach once again became the busy playground for dogs and their pet parents which it normally is on nice sunny Sunday afternoons.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Although high 30's is not the perfect temperature visitors were heard commenting on how pleasant it was to actually exercise themselves and their pets without the risk of frostbite! The dogs seemed unconcerned by the freezing water, diving in to chase tennis balls and each other. Dog breeds at play included a pair of Red Merle Mini Aussie Shepherds and a grey Labmaraner, which is a hybrid breed and is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Weimaraner and a black German Shepherd puppy. Even a couple of adorable children were enjoying being outside for a change.
Low tide made for quite the buffet for throngs of seagulls who were seen feasting on what were most likely slipper shells, or slipper snails are an important shorebird food source which are easy pickings as they have only one shell and don't require being dropped from high above onto rocks or the parking lot as is required by the gulls to enjoy the Sound's clams and mussels.
They day came to an end with another spectacular Combo Beach sunset.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Increasing clouds, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph.
Tonight
Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind 5 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 27. North wind 6 to 9 mph.
Kat Evans named Westport Book Shop’s February Artist
The Westport Book Shop is pleased to welcome artist Kat Evans as guest exhibitor for the month of February at the Book Shop’s Drew Friedman Art Place.
Kat is exhibiting three of her recent luminous Color Field paintings — a 48”x36” painting, and two 20”x20” collages of painted canvas cutouts affixed to a painted canvas base.
Kat’s vibrant, large-scale paintings are a celebration of the expressive possibilities of color. Inspired by Josef Albers and the Color Field Movement, Kat Evans creates vibrant paintings with luminous hues and raucous color. Using bold brush strokes and often collage effects, she explores the interplay of color and texture to evoke an emotional response in each composition. Her artwork has been shown in numerous juried solo and group exhibitions, and her paintings can be found in collections throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Mexico. Kat is a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, as well as the Rowayton Arts Center and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists.
Kat Evans’ artwork will be on exhibit at the Book Shop through February 28, 2023. All artwork on display is available for purchase. To see more of Kat’s work, visit her website: www.kevansart.com
Westport Book Shop, a nonprofit used book store, is downtown Westport’s only source for gently used and antiquarian books, vintage vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and audio books. It is located at 23 Jesup Road, right across Jesup Green from the Westport Library.
The Book Shop’s “Drew Friedman Art Place” is an area of the store dedicated to exhibiting the work of community artists year-round, on a rotating basis. Miggs Burroughs, a Trustee of the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center, and a founding member of The Artists
Collective of Westport, is curating these exhibits, which change monthly. The art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shop’s business hours: Sundays and Mondays from Noon to 5 p.m., and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Westport Book Shop, and the Westport Library Book Sales, are operated by Westport Book Sale Ventures, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit enterprise with the dual social mission to provide meaningful employment for adults with disabilities, while raising support for The Westport Library, through used book sales. In addition to the nonprofit Westport Book Shop, gently used books are also offered for sale online on the company’s website www.westportbooksaleventures.org/shop and through our eBay store at www.ebay.com/str/ westportbooksalesct, as well as at periodic large book sale events (the next book sale event is scheduled for May 5 through 8, 2023, inside the Westport Library). For more information, or to make a charitable donation, please visit our website at www.westportbooksaleventures.org
Westport Country Playhouse Presents Script in Hand Playreading of Stinging Comedy, “As Bees in Honey Drown”
Press ReleaseWestport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of the stinging comedy, “As Bees in Honey Drown,” on Monday, February 13, at 7 p.m., written by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Mark Shanahan.
In “As Bees in Honey Drown,” a young, gay, struggling writer named Evan Wyler catches the eye of a fabulously outrageous and wonderfully mysterious woman named Alexa Vere de Vere and is drawn into a whirlwind adventure, hobnobbing among the ‘90s’ New York art scene. Alexa, part Auntie Mame, part Holly Golightly, is a self-described promoter of up-and-coming artists and hires Evan to write a screenplay based on the story of her life. But who is she, really? Even as Evan gets caught up in the romance of Alexa’s promises of fame and fortune, he begins to suspect that all may not be what it seems.
“Douglas Carter Beane’s fine-tuned wit once again delivers a terrific, laugh-out-loud comedy,” said Mark Shanahan, director, and curator of the Playhouse’s Script in Hand series and Playhouse Radio Theater. “Yet, even as Alexa Vere de Vere seduces us all with her madcap persona, Beane’s play cuts deeply, exploring that nefarious question, ‘fame at what price’?”
Shanahan added, “I know our Script in Hand audience will love joining Evan Wyler on his quest to uncover the truth about Alexa Vere de Vere in this fun-filled, social satire...perfect for a winter night at the Playhouse!"
The cast includes Steve Pacek as Evan Wyler. Pacek’s recent credits include regional theater productions of “The 39 Steps,” “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” “Titantic,” “Hand to God,” “Metamorphosis,” “Clybourne Park,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Mary Poppins,” and the world premiere of “See Monsters of the Deep.” He is an alumna of Ithaca College. www.stevepacek.com
Nina Hellman portrays Alexa Vere de Vere. She was in Westport Country Playhouse’s Script in Hand reading of “Bedroom Farce.” Her Off-Broadway work includes “The Internationalist,” for which she received a Lortel nomination, and “Trouble in Paradise,” for which she earned an Obie Award. Film includes a regular role on Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer.” Television includes a recurring role on “Nurse Jackie.”
Others in the cast are Seth Andrew Bridges in multiple roles of photographer, Swen, Royalton clerk, and Kaden (Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand playreading of “Murder by Misadventure”; Off-Broadway’s “The Daughter-in Law”; Showtime’s “Billions,” Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”; BFA from NYU-Tisch; www.sethandrewbridges.com); Camden Gonzales in multiple roles of Amber, backup singer, secretary, Bethany, Ginny, a second muse (associate choreographer for “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” in the US; national tours of “Hamilton” and “Matilda the Musical”; Broadway’s “Groundhog Day The Musical”; BA in theater from UCLA); Stacie Morgain Lewis in multiple roles of writer, backup singer, Carla, newsstand woman, Denise, Illya, a muse (Westport Country Playhouse’s Script in Hand playreadings of “The Savannah Disputation,” “Dot”; Broadway’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Wicked,” “Urinetown,” “Titanic”; Chicago’s “Wicked” as Glinda; created Harmonize Kidz, BFA Ithaca College); and Caesar Samayoa as Ronald, skunk, Mike (Broadway’s “Come From Away,” “Sister Act,” “The Pee-Wee Herman Show”; Off-Broadway’s “Los Otros,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost”; television’s “The Blacklist,” “Ray Donovan”).
Playwright Douglas Carter Beane earned five Tony nominations and one Olivier nomination. Beane’s plays include “The Little Dog Laughed,” “The Nance,” and “Shows for Days”; musicals include “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” “Lysistrata Jones,” “Sister Act”, and “Xanadu.” He wrote the film adaptation of his play “Advice from a Caterpillar,” as well as the screenplay for “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.”
Script in Hand curator and director Mark Shanahan appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in “Around the World in 80 Days,” “Tryst,” “Sedition,” “David Copperfield,” “Journey's End,” over 20 Script in Hand playreadings, and directed readings of “Butterflies Are Free,” with Blythe Danner and Jonathan Groff, and “The Greatest Gift” by Weston playwright David Wiltse. He is the creator and curator of Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater and writer/director of the Playhouse radio adaptation “A Merry Little Christmas Carol.” New York acting credit includes “The 39 Steps,” “Small World,” “Checkers,” “Tryst,” “The Shaughraun,” “As Bees in Honey Drown,” and “The Internationalist.” His directorial work has been seen at Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Virginia Stage, Arkansas Rep, White Heron, Fulton Opera House, Weston Playhouse, Florida Rep, Penguin Rep, Merrimack Rep, The Cape Playhouse, and many more. He has written numerous radio plays for White Heron’s Ghost Light Series (featuring Christopher Plummer and Judith Ivey, among others), and is the playwright/adaptor of the Off-Broadway and regional hit comedy, “The Dingdong“; as well as “A Merry Little Christmas Carol”; “The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd”; “See Monsters Of The Deep” and “A Sherlock Carol,” which was nominated as Best Play 2022 by the Off-Broadway Alliance Awards and plays this holiday season at New World Stages Off-Broadway and at the Marylebone Theatre in London. www.mark-shanahan.net
Stage directions will be read by Kavin Panmeechao, a New York/L.A.-based actor and writer, who penned “The Return” for Westport Country Playhouse’s Radio Theater and performed in a Playhouse Script in Hand playreading of “A Merry Little Christmas Carol.” Stage manager is Kevin Jinghong Zhu, who was assistant stage manager for “Kim’s Convenience” and stage managed a reading of “Tribes,” both at Westport Country Playhouse.
Tickets for are $25. Running time is approximately two hours, including one 15-minute intermission.
Upcoming Script in Hand playreadings will be on Monday, March 13 and June 12, titles to be announced. Script in Hand playreadings offer intimate storytelling as professional actors bring the words to life without sets or costumes.
The Script in Hand Playreading Series is supported by Stephen Corman and the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.
For full details on the Script in Hand playreading of “As Bees in Honey Drown,” visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/script-in-hand-beesinhoney/
All dates, times, titles, and artists are subject to change.
Masks are encouraged, but not required. For updates on Covid-19 health and safety protocols at the Playhouse, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/covid19safety/
For more information and to buy tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), Instagram (@wcplayhouse), YouTube (WestportPlayhouse), and Twitter (@wcplayhouse).
Morning Weather Report
Today
A chance of flurries before 7am. Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 14 by 5pm. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. Blustery, with a northwest wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 2. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 27 by 4am. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph.