Earthplace Westport
Red Tail Hawk
Town of Westport
► Looking for a new home in Westport, CT?
Westport is located in Fairfield County on beautiful Long Island Sound. This coastal Connecticut town was first inhabited by American Indians and so many of the neighborhoods, streets and landmarks still hold historic American Indian names. The first non-American Indian settlers were a group of five farming families. The Bankside Farmers arrived in 1648 and settled in what is now known as Westport's Greens Farms area, named after farmer John Green. Westport continued to grow as colonial settlers from surrounding towns moved to the area.
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Westport, CT - Compo Beach
► Looking for a new home in Westport, CT?
Westport’s Compo Beach is nothing short of local gem. This 29 acre-park has lovely sand beaches along both the borders of the Saugatuck River as well as Long Island Sound. Residents of this area are welcome to enjoy the Ned Dimes Marina, the pavillion, the boardwalk, the playgrounds, the volleyball and basketball courts, and picnic areas as well as the many other amenities available at Compo Beach year round.
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Still Time to Sign Up for Programs at Earthplace
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Earthplace is offering new programs for the upcoming school year and there's time to sign up.
One is an all day pre-school that goes from 7:30 in the morning to 6 at night.
The program is added to the list due to a new demand in the community. For years, the Westport-Weston Family Y offered a pre-school, but that is currently being dropped upon their move to a new location.
Following the mission of all Earthplace programs, students will be hands on with nature, going on trail hikes and learning about animals.
And, another answer for working parents is Earthplace's After-School Enrichment Program. Children can unplug after school by exploring nature. It runs Monday through Friday from 3-to-6 pm for k through 5.
You can still sign up for both of these programs and others by going to Earthplace dot org.
Produced By: Diana Blass
Westport Residents Invited to Discuss Changes to Bus Service
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The Westport bus service could see some big changes in the near future. But, transit officials want to hear from you first.
In planning studies like this, public participation is one of the most cirticial components, said Craig Lader of the South Western Regional Planning Agency.
The South Western Regional Planning Agency will host an open house next Thursday at Westport's Town Hall, where new improvements for Westport's public transportation will be debuted and discussed.
Because there are going to be budgetary impacts, we're leaving it to the town to decide how they want to allocate the limited funding that they have for transit and which services they want to dedicate that towards, said Lader.
Craig Lader and others at the agency have been studying the public transportation (in Westport) for about a year.
We've studied ridership and gone out into the town and met with various stakeholder groups, he said.
And now it's your turn. The agency is looking to gain real-time feedback from you.
We as a study team don't want to speak for the people who really matter, he added.
The bus study will conclude in about three months and from there the findings will be handed to the Westport Transit District, along with the rest of the town government. They will decide how the budget can accomodate any improvements.
As the project manager I want to be to help those who are using the system and people in the town to get the most out of it, said Lader.
The open house will be held on Thursday, April 9th at 7:30 pm at Westport's Town Hall.
Produced By: Diana Blass
Westport Locals Brainstorm on the Future Downtown
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You start to imagine that downtown isn't just what's in this little box. It's much bigger than that. And when it's bigger and it has two sides of the river - it's way more interesting, said one presenter.
Today Westporters coming out to Bedford Middle School to hear plans for the new downtown. Improvements have been in the works for sometime now, and today residents can hear those plans and voice what they like and what they don't like.
For four hours, town residents sorted through pictures and powerpoints, determining how they want to see their future downtown.
Well, as you can see here, we have photographs of our downtown. We had stacks of those photographs and we - in groups of five or six - we looked at them, commented collectively and wrote our comments on the back of the card, said one Westport resident and committe member, Ken Bernard.
Today's group brainstorm follows the release of an online survey, so far getting more than 2000 responses.
I had a lot of thoughts already but in the conversations to the table with people new to the process -they brought other ideas and my ideas I were able to evolve as well, said Bernard.
You want people to really accept the results at the end of the day and the only way that happens is by having strong public participation, said Dewey Loselle.
The Downtown Steering Committee is leading the campaign, taking over from the former leader : Downtown 20 -20. As the chairman of the committee, Dewey Loselle tells me the missions is to generally upgrade the current downtown enhancing its experience. The mission is not to create new business.
There is nothing really wrong with our downtown. We have a wonderful downtown. Most people in other states would be thrilled to have it. But the reality is that while we have a great downtown, it could be improved and be much better than it is, he said.
And here's what we learned today:
By taking the existing downtown area, the committee is looking to improve parking and utilize more of it's open space. Some of that can be done by including more alley ways like this one here. By the end of it Westport will be more walkable, with better parking and allow for greater enjoyment of its river views. And that gives residents even more incentive to get outdoors in this beautiful weather.
Produced By: Diana Blass
CERDEC Math and Science Summer Camp 2014
The 2014 CERDEC Math and Science Summer Camp program came to a close August 19. Check out some of the fun and exciting things our campers did this summer!
Now in its 20th year, the CERDEC Math and Science Summer Program uses a fun, hands-on approach to learning, which enhances children's interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The curriculum for each session is structured to help entry-level students achieve this goal. All programs are taught by state-certified teachers.
Maker Space Faire Coming To Westport
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It's a show and tell fit for all ages, and it's coming to Westport Library this Saturday. Better known as the Westport Mini Maker Faire, thousands of tech fans and tinkers will come share their latest creations.
This year we have a brand new attraction called things that fly. So, people get to come and make a wind an air foil and test it in a real wind tunnel. We have also a middle school teacher who will let students make foam rockets and launch them with rubber bands, said Mark Mathias, founder of the Westport Mini Maker Faire.
It's the event's third year here at the library, each year growing significantly from the last. This year, around four thousand curious minds are expected plus 100 makers.
You get makers from all around and then you provide that venue that you get to see really very creative people, said Vladimir Mariano of Fairfield County's Makers' Guild.
Looking around the tent is really empty right now. But come Saturday you are going to see thousands fill this event with their latest inventions.
This is basically a 3-d printer robot. It will go forward until it sees an obstacle.
That's just one of the makers you can find on Saturday. Alongside others, like Westport's Sunrise Rotary Club.
Basically we are going to have a peace wall where people can bring their ideas on how to make peace, said Dennis Wong.
And, this year's youngest maker will be this Westport second grader.
I have an imaginery dream remote. Like if you wanted to pick a dream but you didn't have an idea. You could press one of these dream ideas on the bottom of the remote, said Logan, whose last name was requested not to be used.
Governor Malloy has even honored Saturday as a special day for makers. A ceremony will be held at 10 a.m to kick off the event.
Produced By: Diana Blass
The Connecticut Challenge: A United Fight Against Cancer
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I want to be safe today. I want you to have a wonderful day. I want you to think of those loved ones today who are surviving. God blessed us with having a cloudy day, so we can do another ten miles. So, put it in - have fun- and thank you for being here today, announced Bobby Valentine at the beginning of the Connecticut Challenge event on Saturday.
Today's fundraising events go directly back to all the programs that support local cancer survivors at the Survivorship Center in Southport, said Brett Jones.
I mean I have many, many family members who are cancer survivors and I think it's an amazing organization, said one participant.
Yea, I mean I think it's an issue that touches so many people you can't not have a connection it, said another.
So I used to ride my bike a lot and then it went away. And, part of that is because I am a two-time cancer survivor - two different cancers. The guys at Sherpa have really helped me get back on a bike. I'm probably welling up right now because it is just so emotional. But, to feel this support for the rest of your life is just a really great whole to close up, said Wendy Crowther.
From an experienced rider standpoint, I am just impressed by how many people show up and ride hard and really push themselves. This is my fourth year in a row doing this now and you go into it like this is another day in the office. Then, reality sets in you click in - you roll out and you see all the new faces and that elation sets in and you realize why you did it every year. Really, for a local fundraising event, it is genuinely pretty impressive, said Brett Jones.
Produced By: Diana Blass
Westport Still Struggling to Provide After-School Bus Service
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The Federal Transit Authority recently ruled Westport's after-school bus service as an unauthorized use of public funds. And now, with just days remaining before the start of school, there's still no town answer on how to transport these students.
But one after-school program is taking action.
Earthplace says it will provide private transporation for its After-school Enrichment Program. It's a relatively new program, which promised to include transporation for all students in attendance. And now, despite the sour news regarding the Norwalk Transit District, Earthplace Executive Director Tony McDowell says the organization will still live up to that promise, fully funding the rides without placing the burden on the customers.
Funding for the after-school bus service, operated by the Norwalk Transit District, was cancelled in July when the FTA deemed those routes to be non compliant with federal transit regulations. They say the bus lines are similar to a school bus service.
In a statement released by Selectman Jim Marpe, he says it is unlikely anything will be resolved with the FTA before the start of the school year, but he remains hopeful the service can be restored.
Right now two hundred families and up to several hundred students remain impacted. Meanwhile, the school clock is ticking with classes set to begin on Monday.
Produced By: Diana Blass
Mates of State- Beehive State (cover)
Earthplace//Westport, CT
Harbor Watch / River Watch
The Earthplace River Watch / Harbor Watch team monitor water quality in the Norwalk River and harbor by checking which fish species matain habitats there.
Camp Borrego
Anza-Borrego Institute 5th Grade Environmental Education Tent Camp
Westport's Take on Minimum Wage
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President Obama's minimum wage hike has big approval from Connecticut voters. In fact a recent study says around 70 percent support the measure. And, here in Westport, many think it is a good idea.
If you survey the businesses around here, many would say they want the minimum wage to increase, said resident Sal Liccione, also a member on the town's Democratic Committee. 10.10 is really not that much, he continued.
That's just one of the voices I heard today. Liccione says the eight dollars an hour wage right now is unrealistic.
In Connecticut you have a high cost of living, he said.
Now - the state government already approved a wage hike this year that will boost the minimum wage to nine dollars an hour. President Obama's proposal would add another dollar and ten cents to that.
Too many Americans are working harder than ever just to keep up, said President Obama during a speech earlier this week regarding the topic.
We've always felt that our employees aren't minimum wage people, said small business owner Steve Silver.
Silver already pays his workers above the minimum wage mark, and he says it has its benefits. His workers have stayed with him for years.
We care. We care about them, they care about me. And I don't think that's a minimum thing at all, he said.
And across Connecticut that sentiment is largely the same. In a poll released by Quinnipiac University on Tuesday, seventy-one percent are in support of the hike; many of whom are women and Democrats.
Produced By: Diana Blass
Hurricane Sandy at Compo Beach
Some footage I took just before (Oct 28), during (moonlight) and after (Nov. 3)Hurricane Sandy. I used garden hose to protect the dock lines so the sailboat would stay put. It definitely helped. Those piles of sand the bulldozer pile up before the storm do not work. It actually made more of a mess than if they did not do that. Power went out about a hour after the storm hit and was not restored for about a week.
Two tracks...
Keys: One track of my NORD STAGE 2 (split keyboard mode for bass and piano at the same time) in D minor, same notes as C Ionian (major) except a Bb instead of a B..
Drums: One track of Sonar Session Drummer.
A Snapshot of Westport Real Estate
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Westport's real estate market is showing signs of an uptick, that's according to Judy Szablak, a realtor with Coldwell Banker..
I have to see enough of a trend to be able to tell you if things are going in one direction or another, whether it's going up or not. But things are starting to look, and then also we have the season, she said.
Judy tells me homes sales in Westport usually jump in September or October, with many transactions closing by December. And, that makes her optimistic on what's to come.
Norwalk's numbers are pretty good right now. It's definitely a sellers market. Their percentage of deposits are stronger in Norwalk than they are in Westport. Same thing in Trumbull. But, we are watching a change, she continued.
More than three hundred homes are sitting on the market today in this Fairfield County town, ranging from around 400 thousand all the way up to around 12 million. And, one area in particular is leading the sales.
The Hunt Club is hot. I think the location because it's pretty easy to get to. All your transportation needs. That's probably it. Accessability and privacy, said Szablak.
But, what's interesting to highlight: When it comes to selling these homes, often times realtors are not hosting open houses.
You get a lot of gawkers and you have to be respectful of the sellers' property. Ask anybody you know who has recently had an open house for feedback. Their agent will say- oh you're neighbor came by. Yea your neighbor came by because they want to see how you decorated. There are better houses for open houses than others. For an upper priced home - I would say no, she said.
It is interesting to compare what's happening in Westport to what's happening nationally. Today the Commerce Department released a report showing a drastic 8.1 percent drop of new home sales from last month. That report being released the same week as a report by the National Association of Realtors concerning existing home sales, showing a rise from last month.
Produced By: Diana Blass
RWSD 2019: Part 5 of 5: Panel Discussion
Regional Workshop on Sustainable Development
Ensuring Sustainable Production and Consumption Patterns
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Earthplace, Westport, Connecticut
Fishing for Facts with Copps Island Oysters
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It's not the type of farm you would normally envision.
Oysters, clams and lobsters. They're all harvested here at Norm Bloom and Son Copps Island Oysters in Norwalk, coming from one of Connecticut's largest food sources: the Long Island Sound.
It's just after nine in the morning, but already the place is bustling with action. Except this time, there is a tour taking note of the scene.
This tour, if nothing else, alerts them to the types of problems we're facing here, said Dick Harris of Earthplace.
Dick Harris leads a Harbor Watch Program on behalf of Earthplace in Westport, closely monitoring the water quality in the sound.
To lose your bottom fish, to have a harbor go down to zero in the northern end: those are serious issues, he said.
Some of our everyday activities are contributing to those concerns. But, as Sate Senator Bob Duff reminds us, some simple changes can have a big impact.
Try not to use lawn chemicals, try not to put brush in rivers or streams, or leaves in rivers or streams, said Duff.
We want to return the waters to a point where organisms can live in it, added Harris.
That's why tours are put on constantly here at this farm. Whether it's rainy, windy or more preferably a picture perfect day, people see with their own eyes how the health of the Long Island Sound dictates a multi-million dollar industry for the state of Connecticut.
It's a lot to learn, a lot going on in the industry. So, it's an eye opener, said Don Bell of Copps Island Oysters.
This tour comes on the heels of some good news. A recent study shows for the second summer in a row water quality is improving. You can learn more about that study by going to LongIslandSoundStudy.net
Produced By: Diana Blass
Wesport Public Library, LWATW.dyndns.org
Video footage of the Westport Public Library located in Westport, CT. Visit Libraries Worth a Thousand Words.
PushUps for Charity: Honoring Armed Forces Day at SISU on Westport Ave in Norwalk
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All around the country today, Americans paid tribute to our men and women in uniform, honoring Armed Forces Day. It's a day started by President Truman back in 1950 - and since then it's become synonymous with parades, air shows and - more recently- pushups.
Inside SISU Elite Fitness, people are pushing themselves to make a difference. It's called Pushups for Charity, a nationwide fundraiser run by a non-profit known as The Boot Campaign. The whole idea being that with each push, we remember the sacrifices made by our veterans.
I think there's no greater cause than people coming out and supporting our troops and military. Gets people involved in fitness and also donate money for doing pushups, said one participant.
The day started out with the national anthem, followed by a moment of silence - and then with 90 seconds on the clock the fun began.
You know pushups are a universal movement basically anyone can do them, said owner Tommy Baker. And also it's such a military thing.
Owner Tommy Baker hopes to rake in around ten thousand dollars for the campaign.
We thought it was a great opportunity to have a local event but also be part of something greater and really maximize the awareness, he said.
And, not too far away on the mat, stands his father: a veteran of the navy.
This event is very important it causes us to reflect on the importance of armed forces in the country. What they've done for us and they dedicated their lives to making this country a better country and making it a unique country, said Warren Baker.
The Boot Campaign started this event five years ago, and since then it has raised more than 600 thousand dollars. The goal this year is to raise $1 million, and you can still donate! You can either visit SISU Elite Fitness or go to pushupsforcharity.com
Produced By: Diana Blass