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Don’t Drive Like David Pogue
At the risk of turning “06880″ into an all-David-Pogue-all-the-time blog — though there’s nothing wrong with that — I couldn’t let his latest CNBC/New York Times video go unmentioned. As everyone knows...
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Don’t Cross At The Green
For decades, pedestrians have reached Main Street from the Post Road by crossing to the YMCA from — first — Colgan’s and Thompson’s Pharmacy; then Ships, and now Tiffany. No more. The crosswalk was...
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Y Moves Closer To Mahackeno
The fat lady may not have sung — yet. But her spotlight is on. She’s warming up her vocal cords. And she’s ready to step onstage. A Stamford Superior Court decision seems to have removed the last...
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Minding The (Y’s Funding) Gap
“No one wakes up in the morning and asks, ‘How much money should I give the Y today?’ People don’t walk into the lobby with bags of money.” Too bad. If they did, Paul Bernetsky’s job would be a lot...
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Y Sets Groundbreaking, Demolition And Construction Plans
The new Westport Y at Mahackeno is moving much closer to reality. The Y emailed a press release minutes ago. They’ve announced a February 5 groundbreaking — and included photos of prep work that’s...
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Y No Childcare At Mahackeno
Last week, families with children in the Westport Y’s Early Learning Programs received a letter from Tasha Dennison, senior director of child care. In September, she wrote, the Y had “great hopes” of...
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Mahackeno Y Opens August 29; Long Journey Ends, New Road Begins
The new Westport Family Y at Mahackeno faced years of approval and litigation delays. But once construction began 17 months ago, the Y raced ahead. Now — ahead of schedule — the new facility is almost...
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Y Announces $5 Million Social Responsibility Fund
Pat Riemersma has been CEO of the Westport Weston Family YMCA for only a week. But her 1st announcement was a big one. The Y’s 91st annual meeting yesterday was highlighted by the formation of a new...
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New Y CEO: A “People Person” Moves Forward
Pat Riemersma likes to tell stories. There’s the one about the 300-pound woman in Minnesota. She came into the YMCA where Riemersma was a top executive, and could not even stand up to fill out forms....
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Red Barn Is NOT Closing
The rumors have swirled for weeks: The Westport Family Y bought the Red Barn. It will be torn down, and used for parking. The Y is not talking. But the lights were off last night, the parking lot...
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Red Barn — Revisited
Last week — based on a phone call to the Red Barn — I reported that the rumors of the restaurant’s closing were wrong. I said — based on what I’d been told — that the kitchen was being revamped. New...
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UPDATE: Y Purchases Red Barn
Confirming a rumor that has circulated for months, the Westport Weston Family Y announced this morning that they have purchased the Red Barn property. Update: “06880” reported this morning that earlier...
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Olympic Swimmer Hits The Y
Chad le Clos is a swimmer. But not just any swimmer. The South African is an Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion. He’s ranked 1st in the world in the 50, 100 and 200 meter butterfly — and is the...
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Changing Of The Guard
As he promised, David Waldman retained the facade of the old Westport YMCA Bedford building. But as his Bedford Square project nears completion — it’s slated to open this spring — changes are evident....
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Unsung Hero #28
Everyone knows Patty Kondub. And everyone loves Patty Kondub. But she’s one of those people who everyone kind of takes for granted. We shouldn’t. Which is why Patty Kondub is this week’s Unsung Hero....
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Photo Challenge #162
If you’ve ever been to the Westport Weston Family Y, last week’s photo challenge was a slam dunk. Ed Simek’s photo showed the cow that sits on the flat roof. You see it from the spinning room, and by...
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Arborcide? You Decide.
It took just a couple of days. Last week, huge machines swept onto the south side of the Merritt Parkway at Exit 41. Loudly, insistently, they demolished dozens of trees. Suddenly, the tranquil buffer...
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Fitness Week Kicks Off Sunday
Restaurant Week — the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s promotion of all things culinary — ended recently. If you think the Chamber will celebrate the successful event with a cocktail or two, think...
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Fathers And Daughters Dance In The Spotlight: The Sequel
Two years ago, the Westport Weston Family YMCA sponsored a “Father Daughter Dance.” I was surprised. I wrote: This is 2017! How could they single out fathers? What about girls whose dads were away on...
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Pics Of The Day #954
Ever since the Westport Weston Family YMCA moved to Mahackeno, members heading downstairs to the fitness center, pool, classrooms and lockers have enjoyed this great view of nature: But as the Y...
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Positive Employment News: Westport Y Pays During Shutdown
The order came quickly on March 12: The Westport Weston Family YMCA must shut down, effective that night. Just as quickly, the executive committee met. They voted to continue paying all employees, for...
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Y’s CEO Steps Down
Pat Riemersma — the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s CEO who saw the organization through expansion, the renovation of Camp Mahackeno and its ongoing response to COVID-19 — will leave her post this...
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