Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Quick Article Index . . .
Second-time around!
Trimming the trim at the new fire station.
A frightfully fine day for a run!
Second-time around!
EverythingWestport.com
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The second-time around may be the charm for Lees Supermarket as they prepare to
launch a Blockbuster Express DVD rental kiosk sometime in January of 2010.
Following the success of the Redbox kiosks in other chain supermarket operations,
most notably Massachusetts-based Big Y, the NCR-built Blockbuster kiosk should fill
the local void created by the departure of Village Video this last October.
Read about the closing of Village Video and the turmoil in the video rental business.
According to Video Business Newsweekly, Blockbuster is expanding its customer reach with a deal that
will put Blockbuster Express DVD rental kiosks in Big Y grocery stores throughout Massachusetts and
Connecticut.
NCR, which partners with Blockbuster on the kiosks, anticipates the Blockbuster Express machines will
be in all 57 Big Y stores by Sept. 3, the company said in a statement today.
NCR expects to have a total of 500 Blockbuster Express machines in operation by the end of the month,
including the rebranding of some of its 2,000 The New Release kiosks located in the Publix chain in the
Southeast and other outlets, according to previous reports.
Blockbuster Starts New Grocery-Store Kiosks -- And May Save Itself In The Process. Read more.
Blockbuster Express kiosks rent DVDs for $1 a night, the same price as kiosk market leader Redbox.
Redbox's low rental price has been a sore point for some studios, which have imposed title restrictions,
including delayed street dates, on the kiosk segment. Redbox has sued Universal Studios Home
Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video over their kiosk rental
window of 30 days or more.
Other studios have signed deals with Redbox to give them guaranteed market share in the kiosks. On
Aug. 25, Paramount signed a trial deal with Redbox. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Lionsgate
already have agreements with the kiosk leader.
The restrictions Universal, Fox and Warner have placed on Redbox extend to the entire kiosk channel
and so would also affect Blockbuster Express machines. Still, Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes applauded
Warner's decision to delay new release to kiosks because it helps the No. 1 retailer's bricks-and-mortar
rental business.
Rental kiosks helped fuel rental growth in the first half of the year. Consumer spending on kiosks was up
more than 150% in the first quarter, according to Rentrak. NPD Group forecasts that kiosks will control
30% of the overall DVD/Blu-ray rental market next year.
Blockbuster announced in September that it will be rolling out grocery-store kiosks, a move that could
take out upstart Redbox and re-establish its foothold in middle America. The relatively old-fashioned DVD
push is infinitely smarter than pushing into the crowded digital space or continuing its losing mail-order
battle against Netflix.
Lees Market changes the formula and re-introduces in-store video rentals.
A few years back Lees tried a full in-store video operation when it picked up the tape and DVD inventory
from Jake Rodrigues when he closed The Big Picture at the beginning of the new millennia. They shut it
down a year later and gave the inventory to Village Pizza’s Tony Ferreira.
Rumor had it that Lees had considered Redbox, so the introduction of Blockbuster’s kiosk was very
timely.
Got a monster flat-panel TV for Christmas? Then Lees might just make it a bit easier for you to see new
release movies, save some coin, and get tasty snacks and drinks to boot!
Trimming the trim at the new fire station.
EverythingWestport.com
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Shawn cuts, notches,
assembles, glues and
screws the Azek trim as
work progresses on
Westport’s new
southend fire station.
“We buttoned up the
facility just in time,” said
Owner’s Manager Peter
Koczera. “It allowed us
to use gas heaters to
continue working on
internal construction
and system
implementation.”
“It’s cold but the guys
are working.”
With any luck, weatherwise, outside shingling
will start in January.
Meanwhile, the septic
leaching field is being
installed along with a
2000 gallon septic tank.
“It’s a traditional septic
system”, Koczera said,
“just like the one for
your home, only a little
bigger.”
Left: The apparatus bay is stuffed with Azek trim boards. Right: Sheetrocking has begun, aided by internal gas heaters to
keep things warm.
Left: A base of sand is being laid down in the septic leaching field. Right: The building is all buttoned up, with windows
and doors installed, just in time as sub-freezing temperatures have set in. The new pavement makes work a lot easier with
no dust, mud or frozen ground with which to contend.
A frightfully fine day for a run!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, January 02, 2010
View the road race photo album now 104 photos
| Dial-up speed | Broadband/DSL speed |
Little Compton - The weather outside was frightful, but that didn’t stop Eric Lonegan of North Kingston
from setting a blistering pace of 26:51, five seconds shy of a full 3 minutes ahead of the field, to win the
2010 Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race. Lonegan was 1:46 off last year’s record-breaking run of
25:06 by Bronson Venable.
Michael St. Thomas of Attleboro was second overall at 29:46.
Westport-raised Anne Kugler of Providence (sixth overall) shook off South Kingston’s Claire Gadrow to
capture the Women’s title at 30:49, an amazing twenty seconds better, considering the weather
conditions, than last year’s winner, Christine Anderson. This was Kugler’s first attempt at the annual Little
Compton event.
Claire Gadrow was second female overall at 31:52.
There was some question that the race would go forward, with snow accumulation over the last two days
and flurries in the air at race time.
But race officials fired the starting gun at 10:00 a.m. and 198 runners hit the pavement. There were 40 no
shows.
The weather was challenging for the field as temperatures hovered around 25 degrees Fahrenheit, with a
strong north wind and snow flurries taunting the runners. “It was particular tough coming back up West
Main Road,” women’s champion Anne Kugler said, “as the wind and snow was right in my face, stinging
my eyes.”
The registered field was 198 strong, almost a third off from last year’s 274. Most completed the 4.8 mile
course. See the course.
“I anticipated profits would be down from last year, reflecting the weakened economy. We had a decent
pre-registration, but had 40 no-shows because of the weather,” said Matt Allder, one of the organizers of
the road race. “We are, however, very grateful to our sponsors without whom this race would not be
possible.”
All runners received t-shirts, and cash prizes were awarded to the top three men and women. The top
three in each category got some neat stuff too!
Some of the choicest warm soups and chowders from some of the area’s finest restaurants were
available to all runners at the finish of the race. There were also drinks, apples, bananas and bagels to
replace all those calories burnt in pursuit of the prizes!
“This is the third running of The Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race which returned after taking a
few years hiatus,” Allder explained. Allder worked closely with Meredith Nelson of Organization Plus, the
official timekeeper of this event. “We are excited to be teaming up again with Meredith and Ray Nelson
from Organization Plus Road Race Management Services to offer this classic winter road race once
again,” he said.
From the left: (1) Anne Kugler (left) accepting her first place cash prize; (2) Matt Allder with second place women’s winner
Claire Gadrow; and (3) youngest runner, Theresa Gallagher of Little Compton, 13.
The folks at Organization Plus did a fabulous job in officially recording and reporting times and finishes of
all the runners who completed the course. The number caller and time recorder worked with three others
to keep the runners in line as they entered the finish chute. Three youngsters ran the completed time
sheets one by one into the Wilbur McMahon School where Meredith Nelson entered them into a laptop.
Times and runners’ numbers were carefully coordinated to insure accurate placement results. The 4.8
mile course was measured by Ray Nelson.
Click here to read Matt Allder’s 2010 thank you letter
Click here to view race results now.
PDF
Contact: organizationplus@cox.net when you need to get ready for your next race!
All proceeds from the event benefit the Little Compton Education Foundation (LCEF) and students at the
Wilbur McMahon School. Click here to read more about the Little Compton Education Foundation.
The Top Three Finishers – Men and Women
Congratulations Eric Lonegan, 24 (26:51) – below left
Michael St. Thomas, 26 (29:46) - below center
Mike Sawyer, 48 (29:49) – below right
Congratulations Anne Kugler, 41 (30:49) – below left
Claire Gadrow, 40 (31:24) - below center
Jane Couto, 29 (34:48) – below right
Photos/EverythingWestport.com
Left: Nancy Crowther (left) of Tiverton, 46th overall at 40:11,with friend Mindy Davis of Fall River, 132nd overall at 53:48.
Center: Dave Schaad (left) of East Greenwich, fifth overall at 30:06, with 71-year-old Fred Zuleger of Coventry, 65th overall
at 43:22. Right: Scenic United Congregational Church.
This year’s 2010 Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Run and Walk truly lived up to its name. And thanks
to the efforts of many, the event was a big success. One hundred fifty runners, plenty of volunteers and a
number of spectators and supporters turned out on Saturday, January 2 to take part in the 4.8 mile road
race that started and ended right in front of the Wilbur McMahon School.
Sponsored by the Little Compton Education Foundation, the race’s proceeds will benefit the students at
Wilbur McMahon School by supporting enrichment programs. A special thank you goes to the dedicated
volunteers from throughout the community who helped the Little Compton Education Foundation with this
event despite the inclement weather. Thank you to the almost 150 participants, without whom, there
would be no race, and finally to our sponsors who continue to give year after year:
• Lees Market
• Randall Poirier, ChFC, Financial Planner
• Blount Fine Foods
• Country and Coastal Properties
• C.S. & M. Tele-systems, Inc.
• Madden Electric
• Steeple View Garden Services
• Goulart Petroleum
• Valcourt Heating
• USA Track & Field
• Peckham’s Greenhouse
• The Law Offices of Michael J. Harrington
• The Law Offices of Robert H. Humphrey
• Katharine H. Leary, CPA
• James L. Gallagher Inc.
• McKinnon Design
• East View LLC
• Little Compton Real Estate
• Walkers Roadside Stand
• Sparks Company
• The Little Compton Grange #32
• Adamsville Wine & Spirits
While the proceeds to benefit the school are wonderful – the sense of community in the Wilbur McMahon
School gym on January 2 was an even greater reward. Everyone pulled together and provided a great
day of fun for all those who took part.
To see photos and results from this year’s race, or to learn more about the Little Compton Education
Foundation, please visit our website at
www.lceducationfoundation.org.
Thank You
Matt Allder
Little Compton Education Foundation Road Race Committee Chairman
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