The Birth of a Hopeful Future at Stamford Hospital
a Note From the Editor
Jaime Bairaktaris
Town of Westport Virtual Meeting Schedule: 12/29/20
There are no meetings scheduled for today.
Haiku Moment from Westport’s Poet Laureate
From Westport’s Poet Laureate: Diane Meyer Lowman
Golden bathed bare trees
Direct my gaze to the sky
To which they aspire
No New COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Reported Today
The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport has added 0 positive or probable COVID-19 cases, and has added 0 new death.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 906 cases. Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 25 deaths.
NOTE: “Due to technical issues, today’s report reflects only partial recent data, therefore the number of cases and tests are lower than anticipated. We expect that the missing data will be accounted for in tomorrow's report.” (CT Data)
Weston’s Cobb’s Mill Inn Opens Once More for Estate Sale
Laura Pappalo Friedman, Owner, sits in what used to be the historic Cobbs Mill Inn upper dining room as a sale of her and her late husband Drew Friedman’s estate takes place.
For the past few weeks, and through Saturday, the historic Cobbs Mill Inn on the Saugatuck River in Weston has opened its doors once again to the community - bringing life back into the shuttered Weston local business. Although the famous restaurant has taken the form of a large private estate sale, many former customers and community members could be found perusing the several floors of items as memories of dinners, weddings, and other occasions in the riverside institution flooded back.
The main floor dining room.
The Inn was purchased by the late Drew Friedman, a Westporter, in 2011 while in foreclosure. After renovations and updates, Friedman re-opened the Cobbs Mill Inn restaurant with live music throughout the week, as well as educational series, forums, and other community based events. The Inn closed down in 2016 after the death of Friedman, and has remained mostly quiet since.
“He loved conversation and education” Laura Friedman said of her late husband, whom she had married in 2013. Laura walked the restaurant dining rooms while talking with customers, listening to stories of anniversary dinners or weddings that they had attended in the space decades earlier over the sound of the waterfall that cascades along the building.
The property has had dozens of owners over the past 200+ years, but began truly as a restaurant in 1934 under the leadership of Alice DeLamar and Jacques DeWolfe. DeLamar’s father was in the salvage business, which allowed her to procure the original pewter bars from the sunken French passenger ship The Normandie, two of which still remain in the restaurant today. The property’s namesake, Frank Cobb (Editor of the former New York World Newspaper), acquired the property in 1912 as a summer retreat.
The waterfall-viewing bar on the lower level of the Cobbs Mill Inn. The bar was salvaged from the sunken ship The Normandie in 1942, and is one of the three surviving Parisian made pewter bars moved to Weston by Alice DeLamar in 1946.
Even with its vast history, the future is unknown for the property. “There’s been a lot of interest in the property the past few weeks” Laura Friedman said when asked about what may happen to the property, although there’s no word on whether the interest is in continuing with its food & hospitality tradition, or using the space for other ventures.
The entrance to the main dining room at The Cobbs Mill Inn.
The Friedman family estate sale, organized by Westport-based Deering Rose Organizers, will continue Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at 12 Old Mill Road, Weston, or online. After Saturday, it’s unknown when the historic Cobbs Mill Inn may open its doors again.
Two Federally Charged After FBI, Westport PD, State PD Investigates Westport & Surrounding Area Car Thefts
According to the U.S. Department of Justice:
“John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that on December 22, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER MULKERN, also known as “Chucky,” 21, and EDWIN CORDERO, 20, both of Stratford, with federal car theft offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, Connecticut State Police and local police are investigating multiple car theft rings in Connecticut. Mulkern, Cordero and others have stolen numerous motor vehicles, and used the stolen vehicles to travel throughout Connecticut and to neighboring states to steal other vehicles and the valuables inside, including credit cards, cellular telephones, and firearms. Mulkern and Cordero typically frequented upper middleclass neighborhoods to go “car-checking” or “jigging,” which involves an attempt to open the door of a motor vehicle and, if successful, steal the vehicle and/or valuables inside.
It is alleged that, on December 1, 2020, Mulkern and Cordero stole a Porsche Panamera from a residence in Westport, Connecticut. Shortly after midnight on December 2, law enforcement in Westerly, Rhode Island, identified the stolen Porsche and attempted to stop the car. The Porsche drove recklessly, at speeds of at least 86 mph, between Rhode Island and Connecticut, and evaded police who, for safety reasons, were forced to terminate pursuit.
It is further alleged that, at approximately 4 a.m. on December 2, Mulkern, Cordero and others used the stolen Porsche to steal a Dodge Challenger from a residence in Milford, Connecticut. In the evening of December 2, Stratford Police spotted and attempted to stop the Porsche. During the pursuit, the Porsche rammed a car stopped at a red light at an intersection, drove up on the sidewalk and through the red light, and then struck a second vehicle, causing the second vehicle to flip onto its roof. The damaged Porsche then traveled on I-95 into Bridgeport, where Mulkern and Cordero were apprehended as they attempted to enter another stolen Audi A4 that was parked on Gregory Street.
It is alleged that a search of the stolen Audi revealed approximately 13 key fobs for other vehicles, and a search of the Porsche revealed five cellphones. In addition, Mulkern possessed two stolen credit cards, and Cordero possessed a key fob for the stolen Dodge, which was subsequently located parked on Main Street in Bridgeport.
Mulkern has been detained since December 2. Cordero, who was released after his state arrest, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 15 and is currently released on a $30,000 bond. Mulkern and Cordero are scheduled for arraignment on January 6 at 1 p.m. via videoconference.
The indictment charges Mulkern and Cordero with one count of transportation of a stolen vehicle and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. Both charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Stratford, Milford, Stonington, Westport, Bridgeport, New Haven, Meriden, and Westerly (R.I.) Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.”
$200,000 Bond Set for Man Arrested for Westport Bicycle Thefts
According to the Westport Police Department:
During the late Spring and early Summer of this year, the Westport Police Department investigated a number of burglaries and larcenies that occurred within the town. In many of these cases, high end bicycles were stolen from either open or unsecured garages. Through an extensive investigation conducted by the detective bureau that included the execution of search warrants as well as working in cooperation with area departments, a suspect was developed. That suspect was identified as Jose Velazquez. Based upon the results of the investigation, several arrest warrants were subsequently sought and granted for Mr. Velazquez.
On December 21, 2020 Mr. Velazquez was arrested at Stamford Superior Court in connection with the active warrants related to this case. Per these warrants, he was charged with three counts of 53a – 101 Burglary in the First Degree; three counts of 53a – 102 Burglary in the Second Degree; 53a – 122 Larceny in the First Degree; two counts of 53a – 124 Larceny in the Third Degree; 53a – 125 Larceny in the Fourth Degree; 53a – 125a Larceny in the Fifth Degree; two counts of 53a – 125b Larceny in the Sixth Degree; and 53a – 115 Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. Bond was set at $200,000.00. Mr. Velazquez was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on December 21, 2021.
Modern Grocery Store, Big Changes to the Former Barnes & Noble Space
A digital rendering of the plaza’s planned grocery store tenant in what was Barnes & Noble Booksellers . (Frederick William Hoag Architect, Planning & Zoning Application).
Customers were met with signs of closure.
Customers noticed this week that Barnes & Noble’s anticipated move downtown had started when they found the bookseller’s doors locked. Today workers moved quickly to remove the lettering from the front of the building, which according to Planning & Zoning applications, is slated to be completely remodeled; the front of the building demolished.
The Post Plaza at 1076 Post Road East has been owned by The Field Group family since 1972 and will undergo many modernizations in the next several months. According to Alix Field, “Our family has owned Post Plaza since 1972 and we’re pretty excited about the renovations and property work to be done there in 2021. We have always enjoyed being a part of the Greens Farms neighborhood and are proud to bring about the first upgrade of the plaza since 1997. We know our community will be thrilled with the changes.”
The Barnes & Noble lettering was removed today in anticipation of the facade’s upcoming demolition.
The application includes architectural designs prepared by Westport’s Frederick William Hoag Architecture firm. The plan shows a new grocery store will be replacing the book store, with local rumours being that Amazon Fresh will be the new tenant. The plaza will also receive new landscaping, pavement, lighting, as well as electric vehicle charging spaces among other updates.
Moon Over Church Lane
Last night’s moon as seen rising above the sunset over Church Lane. Photo by Uzi Greenman for The Westport Local Press.
An Evening in Bedford Square
An evening under the lights in Bedford Square’s Amis Trattoria.