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Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6 — that’s less than six weeks away.
At stake for Westport voters are, of course, the presidential contest, seats in the U.S. Senate and House, and seats in the state Senate and House. In other words, “lots.”
If you’re not a registered voter, here’s an easy way to do it: Simply download THIS FORM on the Secretary of the State’s website.
And if you’re not sure where to vote, here’s a handy “LOOK-UP” tool, also provided by the Secretary of the State.
Hit the beach on the first day of fall.
Even autumn officially starts officials at 10:49 a.m. Saturday, the Westport Rotary has plans to entice a big crowd to Compo Beach that afternoon under what forecasters say should be pretty balmy skies — sunny & temps near 80 — for the club’s first Lobster Fest.
The menu for the event — from 3 to 7 p.m. — includes either two boiled lobsters or steak for adults ($40), with sides of corn, red potatoes, cole slaw, bread and butter, peppermint patties, and beer or wine. There also will be $10 kids’ meals available featuring hot dogs, chicken fingers, chips and soda or water.
And it’s not all self-indulgent. Proceeds go to local charities and community service organizations, as well as to Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio worldwide.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Westport Rotary website HERE, or in person from Rotary Club members, at Joey’s by the Shore, Joey’s at the Pool or Joey’s at the Longshore halfway house; Wells Fargo Bank, 422 Post Road East, or Fairfield County Bank at Post Road East and Compo Road South.
Below average.
That’s what Metro-North Railroad reports on-time performance was for trains on its New Haven Line during July.
According to the just-released figures, trains on the New Haven Line ran on time an overall average of 95.5 percent of the time. That’s nearly 2 percent off the on-time average so far this year, which was 97.3 percent, the railroad reports.
The figures take into account Metro-North’s rather generous definition of “on time” — arrivals within “5 minutes, 59 seconds” of the posted schedule.
The overall average performance for Metro-North trains systemwide was 96.7 percent during the month, including the better-than-New-Haven records by the Hudson Line (97.8 percent) and Harlem Line (97.3 percent).
The evening rush trains on the New Haven Line logged the worst performance of any category in the on-time report, according to Metro-North, arriving on schedule 93.2 percent of the time. The New Haven Line’s best on-time record was turned in by off-peak weekend trains which kept to the schedule 96.7 percent of the time.
The League of Women Voters of Westport plans to unveil a proposed ethics code for town officials and employees during a meeting Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Westport Public Library.
The meeting is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. in the library’s McManus Room. It is open to the public, and the league said the public is encouraged to join the discussion.
A draft code has been written by the league’s Ethics Review Group, and it will be presented during the meeting, the league said in a news release. The league also plans to ask for community support in petitioning to submit it to the Representative Town Meeting.
The league said its intention is to give the RTM a model for review and revision, if the legislative body sees fit.
The league’s review group was formed last year and studied ethics codes of neighboring communities before writing a draft Westport code, the league said.
Westport is one of four communities in the state selected to participate in a solar photovoltaic (electric) and solar hot water pilot program, Solarize Connecticut. This is a time-limited group purchasing program with a pre-qualified solar installer, Encon Solar, according to a release from town officials.
Until Dec. 14, Westporters will have an opportunity to purchase solar electricity and hot water systems at rates that officials say are “significantly below market” prices.
An introductory meeting on the Solarize program is planned Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Earthplace environmental center, 10 Woodside Lane.
The program get under way at 6:30 p.m. with a tour of the recently installed solar photovoltaic system at Earthplace.
The program’s main speaker will be Dan Esty, the commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. There also will be program “ambassadors” on hand to explain the effort and answer questions.
Space is limited. Click HERE to RSVP to ensure a seat. (Note: minors must be accompanied by an adult, according to organizers.)
For more information, contact Westport’s solar vendor, Encon Solar, at 203-375-5228 or check HERE.
The CTWorks Career Coach — a mobile jobs-training center — has scheduled a session Sept. 13 at Westport Town Hall.
During the local visit, the coach will offer a beginner’s class in Microsoft Word 2007 from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by an intermediate class in Word 2007 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Career Coach is equipped with 10 wireless computer labs offering free computer classes to residents in the greater Norwalk area. The mobile unit operates on a monthly schedule of visits to various community locations and is accessible to people with disabilities.
People interested in registering should contact the town’s Department of Human Services at 203-341-1050 or via e-mail at humansrv@westportct.gov.
For more information, including the current Career Coach schedule, check the website, www.ctworkssw.org
Here’s a reminder about lifeguard staffing at Westport’s beaches for the last “official” weekend of the summer season.
While there have been no lifeguards on duty at Burying Hill Beach on weekdays this week, they will be back on duty for the weekend through Monday, Labor Day.
Lifeguards continue to staff Compo Beach through the weekend, including Labor Day.
Downtown Westport will soon be the site of mouth-watering barbecue and live blues as the 5th annual Blues, View & BBQ Festival is set to take place Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The event, to be held by the Downtown Westport Merchant Association on the grounds of the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts and Westport Public Library, will feature two Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned barbecue contests — A “Cookin’ for a Cause” competition on Saturday and a “Kid’s Q” competition on Sunday.
Saturday’s contest will field teams of two to four backyard chefs competing in four categories — chicken, ribs, chef’s choice and dessert. Proceeds will benefit the Westport Woman’s Club Food Closet, which provides more than 500 bags of non-perishable food and over $15,000 in grocery gift cards annually to local families in need.
Sunday’s competition, open to teams of two to four kid chefs with adult supervisors, will give prizes in three categories — burger, hot dog and chef’s choice.
The festival will also feature over a dozen blues performers on the stage of the Levitt Pavilion on both days, according to a news release.
Saturday’s musicians will include Bobby Paltauf Jr. at 11:30 a.m.; Johnny Boots at 12:15 p.m.; Roxy Perry at 1:25 p.m.; Rockin Jake at 2:35 p.m., and Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at 3:45 p.m. The day’s music will continue with Lucky Peterson at 5:10 p.m.; Big Sam’s Funky Mountain; and Anders Osborne at 8:15 p.m.
Sunday’s performers will feature Walter Lewis Blues Trio at 11:30 a.m.; Barbeque Bob and the Spareribs at 12:20 p.m.; Eli Cook at 1:30 p.m.; Popa Chubby at 2:40 p.m.; and Peter Karp & Sue Foley at 3:50 p.m. The weekend’s roster of acts will conclude with Brother Joesphus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra at 5:10 p.m. and James Montgomery & Billy Squier at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to contests and blues performers, the festival will include cooking demonstrations, a Connecticut Blues Society expo and a Melissa & Doug Kids’ Corral with games and other activities.
Sunday-only events will include rib and pie-eating contests and a performance by School of Rock, the release states.
The festival will also have a food court selling fare from local vendors and beverages such as craft beers, lemonade and water as well as a barbecue and music education showcase and marketplace.
Tickets may be bought at the event for $20 per day for adults and $10 per day for students and seniors. Tickets for adults entering with a child or a student between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. cost $10 for adults, $5 for students.
Two-day festival passes may be bought in advance at www.bluesviewsbbq.com for $35 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $95 for a Family Four Pack.
Visit www.bluesviewsbbq.com for information.
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