J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Staples Wall Of Fame Inducts 10 New Members At Halftime Ceremony

10 New members were inducted into the Staples Wall Of Fame Friday night at halftime of the Staples-Trumbull football game.

The Staples “Wall of Fame” was unveiled November 23, 1995, and was built to serve as a very public and important display of the many players, coaches and other whose skill, dedication and excellence have withstood the test of time and brought positive notice to themselves,

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Staples High School, Wreckers Football. and the Town of Westport since its first season of 1930.  With the first year class of 1995 seeing 13 members admitted to the football "Hall of Fame" the list now contains 71 names representing the best 82 years of Wreckers football. The new members inducted, included Staples Assistant Principal James Farnen.

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Wrecker Girls Soccer Falls To St. Joe’s In FCIAC Championship Heartbreaker

The Staples Wreckers Girls Soccer team fought valiantly in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Conference championship game in New Canaan yesterday against an undefeated St. Joe’s of Trumbull team but were defeated 2-1 in overtime.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The efforts of both team’s goalkeepers resulted in a scoreless game in regulation, and the Cadets scored two goals in the overtime. It looked grim for the Wreckers but they continued a very physical battle and answered with a goal by Evelyn Chudowsky but were unable to achieve that second goal in the OT period. St. Joe’s won their second straight FCIAC championship.

Coach Barry Beattie was effusive in his praise of his team, telling WestportLocalPress, “Last night was a hard fought loss against a good team. It marks another successful season so far with the Staples girls. They continued their great run with another final appearance. This group of seniors have played in every championship final that has been on offer since they started as freshman so I can only be proud.  All season long they have train hard everyday with a focus to compete at the top end of the table & hopefully be in a position to win a trophy”.

“From the start of the season we’ve had goals from the Chudowsky sisters, Neva Mermegan, & Annabel Edwards. The midfield with Leigh Foran and Talia Moskowitz is relentless in the work rate and the back forth is always so consistent with Coco Crombie and Gaby DeBrito at central defense. We have reliable players that are full of talent, dedication and skill that all want to represent their school in the best way possible”   Beattie continued saying, “Yet again they done that this season”.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

“With the state tournament round the corner we have more games to look forward to and we will be working hard to make sure we are in with a chance of winning it again. As their coach in very proud of this team and their accomplishments but I’m more proud of how they represent themselves on the elite level at every given chance”.

The Wreckers will attempt to round from this disappointing loss at home on Wednesday @ 2pm against the winner of the Hall v. Brien McMahon match in the CIAC State Championship series where they are seeded third. We wish them the best of luck as they take the pitch next.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Traff-Aggedon Returns As Southbound I-95 Bridge Replacement Proceeds This Weekend

A view of I-95 from Hillspoint Rd. last time shows  free flowing northbound lanes with a slow moving parking lot southbound. Expect a mirror image this weekend.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click To Enlarge Images.

The I-95 bridge slide-in bridge replacement for the north-bound lanes took place as scheduled last month and as we all know, traffic was horrendous. The replacement was completed hours ahead of schedule however there was still bumper-to-bumper traffic all over town well into the evening.

That early completion did not affect the major traffic congestion all over the area as anyone trying to get their destination can attest to.

Westport PD advises motorists be aware that this weekend will a pretty similar situation. Drivers, no matter what their destination in or out of town, should be prepared for the kind of delays we experienced last time. Craft Westport the annual event presented by the Westport Young Women’s League returns to Staples High School on North St. which will probably see increased traffic both Saturday and Sunday as a result of the bridge work.

The Ruth Steinkraus Cohen bridge was a parking lot at 6:00 PM.

Post Road East approaching Compo Rd. was also backed up as late as 6:00 PM. There is every reason to expect similar scenes this weekend.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click To Enlarge Images.

Even east-west roads in northern Westport such as Coleytown and Lyons Plain were not immune from the bumper-to-bumper traffic. One Westport police officer told WestportLocal that it took him over an hour to get to his job from Monroe, even though he knew all the back roads and short cuts (under normal circumstances).

Even east-west roads in northern Westport such as Coleytown and Lyons Plain were not immune from the bumper-to-bumper traffic. One Westport police officer told WestportLocal that it took him over an hour to get to his job from Monroe, even though he knew all the back roads and short cuts (under normal circumstances).

A Westport Fire Department call which took the engine company onto Coleytown/Lyons Plain Rd. was fortunately able to pass the long line of west-bound lane cars in the clear east-bound lane. We dared not venture into Saugatuck even as reports there presented a not-so-pretty picture.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click To Enlarge Images.

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Craft Westport Returns To Staples High School This Weekend

Spend the day with family and friends shopping for one-of-a-kind and uncommon items.

Craft Westport, presented by the Westport Young Woman’s League, is a thoughtfully curated shopping event featuring 200 modern American artists and makers!

CraftWestport is the longest running indoor fine crafts event in Connecticut. For 46 years, this show has been the perfect venue for unique, holiday shopping. This curated Show features 175 artists and artisans from across the country, in genres including jewelry, ceramics, photography, fine art, works on paper, glass, metal, fashion and accessories, and sculpture. 

Show hours:

Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM at Staples High School, 70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880.

BE ADVISED: The I-95 bridge replacement will cause traffic delays all over Westport for much of Saturday and Sunday. Allow extra time to arrive!

Visit the WYWL website for more information: WYWL.com

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Meanwhile, Just Over The Line In SoNo, Norwalk Hosts Halloween Nightfair

During both weekend days the city hosted its inaugural “Halloween Nightfair On Washington Street. Washington Street, along with sections of North and South Main Streets were closed beginning Saturday morning for the event, which featured many family activities such as magicians, a bounce house, pumpkin painting and trick or treat bag decorating. A grammy winning band, Goodboys performed along with DJ Laidback Luke.

Anna Breault, special event coordinator for the city helped create the event as a community celebration of the popular holiday and spent many thousands of dollars for the DJ’s, sound systems and stage lighting.

Later that night, the South Norwalk Entertainment District, known as SoNo, which runs along Washington Street and onto North and South Main Streets was crowded with hundreds of Halloween celebrants on Saturday night, with several of the bars hosting costume contests.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Just over decade ago the district was thriving with many shops, restaurants and clubs. Over time, there was a bit of a downturn with some long standing business closing down. Now however it seems the crowds have returned perhaps larger than ever with the addition of several new latin clubs adding to the mix. Tablao, a Spanish oriented restaurant and bar sits alongside Bandido Mexican restaurant on Washington Street.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

There was plenty to see, great music and drinks with the streets filled with party people hanging out and enjoying the holiday.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

There was no shortage of creativity and imagination not to mention sexy styles.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Westport Library Leads Westport’s Saturday Night Halloween Celebrations

Bella's Bartok, a band known for raucous theatrical performances on stage at Saturday’s epic Halloween Party at the Westport Library.

The Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce and The Westport Library presented a very special Halloween event Saturday night featuring a live performance by Bella's Bartok, a band known for raucous theatrical performances. This band was beyond question every bit of that adjective, bringing many of the 200 Partiers to the dance floor in the library’s Trefz Forum, many of them dressed and accessorized for the celebration of All Hallow’s Eve. The creativity was quite apparent with some very unusual and striking “ensembles”.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Bella's Bartok kept the party rockin’ all night.

Judges with the help of the crowd, determined the contest winners of the night, with winners in the categories of best costume, best couple and most imaginative taking home $50. gift certificates donated by the local restaurants the Spotted Horse, De Tapas and Kawa Ni.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Several of the contest winners with judges Sheriff Matt Mandell and Library Executive Director Bill Harmer.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com 

Strolling Down Main Street…

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Basso’s on Jesup Green had a great NYC band, Manny Montañez and his Boogaloo Orchestra, an excellent 7 piece band plus Basso Chef and owner Renato Donzelli on the congas.

The Festivities Over In Saugatuck Were Spooky, Scary Or Just Plain Weird

The scene over at Dunville’s.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Around the corner At Pancho Villa’s the patio was busy.

And Of Course, What Halloween Night Would Be Complete Without The Black Duck And Their Live Band

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Flag Waving Against The Full Moon Backdrop

The flag atop the former Westport Bank & Trust building, now home to Patagonia waves proudly in the light of Saturday’s full moon.

Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Not Quite A  Full Moon

On Thursday October 26 the beautiful waxing gibbous moon was about 95% full. A waxing gibbous moon is in the sky before it's dark and lights up the early evening. Photo is actually a full color image.

Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

Main Street Invaded By Creatures; Cute, Scary And Adorable

Hundreds of youngsters, their parents and grandparents flooded downtown Westport Wednesday for the  annual Downtown Westport Halloween Parade.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Sponsored by Westport Parks & Recreation, the Police Athletic League and the Westport Downtown Association who provided what seemed like an endless supply of treats to the eager and very determined children.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

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J.C. Martin J.C. Martin

The Halloween Party Continued On Veterans Green

After gathering all the candy they could carry, the Halloween Parade-goers met on Veterans Green for music, dancing, and more fun!

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

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