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Westport Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:02:58 +0000

One of the country’s most desired residential areas, Westport is a blend of sophistication and charming New England town. It offers its residents fabulous Schools, Recreation, shopping, restaurants and a lifestyle rich in art and culture. A waterfront community just 47 miles from Manhattan, Westport was created in 1835 and was an agricultural community for many years. When the era of farms and mills was ending Westport began a second renaissance. Seeking a retreat from the hectic pace of New York City, many famous artists and writers settled in Westport bringing about a definite change and sophistication. From F. Scott Fitzgerald, Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas to many other famous writers and artists the dazzling newcomers were making Westport legend. In 1930 the Westport playhouse was created and became the venue for tryouts for many new plays that went on to Broadway making Westport the temporary home for many legendary performers.Image and unique qualities

Westport’s image continues to be special because of the people who live and work here. It is the balance between affluent suburb and charming New England town that exemplifies Westport. It is evolving in the new millennium as the town continues to modernize and yet, retains its rural charm.

One of the main reasons for the town’s cosmopolitan nature is that the residents have a real sense of place. Perhaps the most impressive quality is the great number of people who participate in the community, either on a voluntary basis or as elected officials. This energy and vitality with which people tend to this town is what gives Westport its heart and soul.

Recreation
Westport’s recreation commission has dedicated 210 acres of fun space including Winslow Park, Burying Hill beach, the long stretch of Compo Beach & Longshore complex which offers a waterside sailing school, tennis courts and an 18 hole golf course. The beautiful Longshore Inn is available for short term visitors. It also houses the restaurant Splash which offers summer dining on the veranda with views of the water. Sherwood Island State Park is also located in Westport where one can walk or bike the many trails or visit the 9/11 memorial. Levitt Pavilion on the Saugatuck River features concerts and family entertainment throughout the summer.

Schools
Westport consists of 4 elementary schools, Two middle schools, Bedford and Coleytown and one high school, Staples High School. For information on Westport schools at length contact the board of education at www.westport.k12.ct.us

Westport has 5 elementary schools, grades K-5
Coleytown elementary
Kings Highway elementary
Long Lots elementary
Greens Farms elementary
Saugatuck elementary
Westport has two middle schools, grades 6-8
Bedford middle school Coleytown middle school
Westport has one high school, grades 9-12
Staples high school
Special education
Special education programs are available at all grade levels for
eligible students.
Private schools
There are numerous nursery, day care and extended care alternatives as well as private preparatory schools available to Westport residents.Government and volunteers

Fairfield Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:57:34 +0000

Located in Fairfield County, just 60 minutes by train to New York City, is the wonderful town of Fairfield. CNN Money Magazine in the year 2006 named Fairfield, Connecticut in the top 10 towns to live in the United States and # 1 in the Northeast!

In 1639 Roger Ludlow, one of the founders of the colony of Connecticut, established a settlement in Fairfield. Fairfield real estate consists of 16 distinctive neighborhoods with a blend between affluent suburbs of Greenfield Hill and Southport to the fast growing beach area, as well as a mix of older capes and colonials in smaller neighborhoods.

Near the Long Island Sound, is the village of Southport with a charming downtown. The Pequot Library is one of Fairfield’s 3 libraries and contains rare volumes in an impressive Southport edifice. Southport Yacht Club is a private club for boating enthusiasts.

Greenfield Hill is designated by two acre zoning and has stately homes, historic churches, and horse farms. Fairfield is known as The Dogwood Capital of America attracting thousands per year to this event. Many of the town’s programs are offered by The Fairfield Historical Society and include events such as the annual beach clambake, taste of Fairfield, Irish Festival, and Memorial Day Parade. Fairfield also has its own town movie theater that employs many of the town’s youth.

Fairfield is situated on Long Island Sound and has 6 miles of pristine beaches. The town boasts over 1,000 acres of open space for plenty of recreation. There are 6 golf courses, public and private, town tennis courts, 4 main park areas including Owen Fish Park, Sturges Pond, Gould Manor, and Lake Mohegan where residents can ice skate, bike, picnic, hike, fish, cross country ski, or swim in the fresh water.

The town places a strong emphasis on education and Fairfield Schools continue to rank best in the nation. The schools are supplemented with advanced placement courses, music and art programs, and special programs for the handicapped. There are 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The town also offers 10 private and parochial schools. Fairfield has 2 respected universities: Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University. Both offer numerous concerts, sporting events, lectures, cultural exhibits, and performing arts.

There are plenty of shops to visit in Fairfield. Shopping areas like Black Rock Turnpike and Main Street offer everything from national known chain stores to individualized boutiques. There are charming shops, restaurants, and a town green that hosts concerts on the weekends.

Weston Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:56:37 +0000

Weston is located just north of Westport and uses all the amenities of Westport, but has a very different feeling. The two acre zoning laws make for a New England country feeling and a sense of tranquility, while still providing easy access to the conveniences of urban living. Weston has been designated “Best Small Town” in Connecticut for several years, and Weston’s school system has also received the designation of best school system for similar sized towns. Easy access to the Merritt Parkway and train stations in both neighboring towns of Westport and Wilton makes commuting either into Manhattan or Westchester County possible.

Culture
The cultural tone of Weston is intimate, personal and very family-oriented, with an emphasis on activities for children and ties to the many cultural organizations and projects in Westport including Westport beaches. The Weston commission for the arts plans exciting cultural events in Weston each month. Weston is known for its volunteerism and country fairs. Every year Weston has a Memorial Day Fair, Fourth of July Fireworks, Historical Society Easter Egg Hunt, Fire Department Sponsored Haunted House, Weston Women’s League sponsors a Farmer’s Market and many churches sponsor events. Weston is home to many prominent individuals including John Hersey,Robert Redford, Harry Reasoner, Amy Vanderbilt , Keith Richards and Christopher Plumber to name a few. Weston Real Estate provides many options, from antique colonials and farmhouses to newly built Nantucket shingle style homes.

Weston Schools
There is a strong emphasis on education in Weston and a strong partnership between family, community and school with a commitment to excellence and dedication to developing each child’s personal best. The town’s four schools sit on a centralized campus of 125 wooded acres. Weston’s school system recently completed an $80 million expansion in 2006. The schools include: Hurlbutt elementary, K-2, Weston Intermediate School, 3-5, Weston Middle School, 5-8 and Weston High School, 9-12, all have a record of excellence. The campus allows for easy access for teachers, parents and students. Proof of academic excellence in the Weston schools lies in the 92 to 100 percent rate of graduates going on to higher education.

Weston Parks and Recreation
Almost one quarter of the town of Weston is permanently devoted to open space use. Devil’s Den preserve which covers 1746 acres makes it one of the largest nature conservancies in the world. Additionally there is the Katherine Ordway Preserve with 60 acres on the east side of Weston and 645 acres all around town in the Aspetuck Land Trust. This affords lots of cross country skiing, hiking and fishing. Weston also has 53 acre Bisceglie-Scribner Park which provides picnic facilities, a swimming pond, fitness trails and baseball diamonds. Town tennis courts are located on the school campus and Morehouse Park provides soccer fields and more baseball diamonds. Weston residents may also purchase a beach pass to use for Westport beaches. Weston country clubs are: Weston Field Club, Weston Racquet Club and Aspetuck Country Club.

Nursery schools
Nursery schools include Emmanuel Nursery School, Norfield Children’s Center and access to Westport pre-schools as well.

Wilton Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:55:36 +0000

Located in Fairfield county and nestled in the Norwalk river valley, the town of Wilton is graced with winding roads, streams, woods and rolling hills. A commuter town 55miles from midtown Manhattan, Wilton is only one hour from Grand Central Station and runs daily commuter service from the Wilton train station. Wilton real estate affords many choices, from antique colonials and farmhouses to new construction. There is something for everyone in Wilton.

When light industry moved into town a carefully executed plan was put into place in order to provide for orderly growth in business and residential building, keeping in mind that the new families moving in would require new roads, support services, recreational facilities and most importantly excellent schools that are considered among the best in the state, with a high percentage of students accepted in ivy league schools. In addition Wilton schools provide the very best sports facilities, enabling the students to be highly competitive. Wilton has five schools. Wilton High School serves grades 9-12, Middlebrook School serves grades 6-8, Cider Mill School serves grades 3-5 and Tilford and Driscoll both serve K-2.

The town has preserved 1,000 acres for recreational use including many beautiful parks , allowing for the preservation of its rural atmosphere, yet the town center provides an abundance of specialty stores, excellent restaurants, along with service stores and office space, all housed in quaint buildings in keeping with the architecture of New England.

Some of the recreational opportunities in Wilton are at Comstock Community Center, which provides classes for children from 18 months to senior citizens. Merwin Meadows in on 17 acres and has a swimming pond, athletic field, picnic facilities, playground and basketball courts. The town has 12 tennis courts (8 lighted), lighted stadium, and many more athletic fields to service soccer, baseball, softball and basketball. This strong commitment and concern on the part of the community make this town the ideal place to raise a family.

Easton Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:00:59 +0000

Easton is a small rural town located in Fairfield County. The town of Easton was settled in 1757 and maintains a true New England setting with lots of open space for horseback riding, hiking and biking. Easton, while close to New York City, remains a quiet and friendly town. Over 90 % of properties are required to maintain 3 acre zoning.

Easton Real Estate provides choices from newer traditional and contemporary homes to antique farmhouses and early colonials.

Easton has 1 elementary and 1 middle school in town. The high school students are bused to Redding High School, a neighboring town. The class sizes are small and personal unlike some of the larger towns in Fairfield County. Easton has 5 nursery schools, 6 churches, and 7 synagogues.

Easton’s recreational opportunities are plentiful. The Lion Hill Riding Academy provides equestrian instruction. The Connecticut Golf Club, Aspetuck Valley Country Club and Easton Racquet club provide golf, swimming and tennis. Easton Parks and Recreation provides baseball diamonds, tennis courts and 125 acres of open space for horseback riding and cross-country skiing.

Aspetuck Land Trust maintains the agricultural tradition of Easton while protecting open spaces from development. Silverman’s Farm has a long standing family tradition of apple picking, pumpkin picking, and Christmas tree cutting.

Easton is a great destination for a homeowner looking to leave the hectic city life behind. There is a small library and town hall. Easton Real Estate has 1 office owned by The Higgins Group/ CT Select above the infamous Blue Bird Diner. The towns of Westport and Fairfield are a few miles away which offer fabulous restaurants and boutique shopping.

Norwalk Connecticut

CT Select Homes — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:01:58 +0000

Welcome to Norwalk, CT a diverse city of seacoast commerce, education and industry that graces Long Island Sound. Seen by some as a suburb of New York, or indeed a suburb of Stamford, Norwalk is a vibrant, growing city. The sixth largest city in Connecticut and the third largest in Fairfield County, Norwalk attract families and singles who want to enjoy its quiet beauty while still being close to what the entire Gold Coast of Connecticut has to offer.

Fishing and the farming of oysters has long been important to Norwalk, which was once nicknamed “Oyster Town.” Each September, Norwalk holds its annual Oyster Festival at the Norwalk harbor, similar to many state fairs. Norwalk encompasses 36 square miles, of which nearly a third is water. Its neighborhoods range from brick apartment buildings to college dorms, old factory streets and transformed warehouse lofts, yacht havens and golf courses; its people represent nations and languages from all around the world. Indeed, about 25% of Norwalk residents were born in another country and have come here to make their home. The Norwalk public school system website provides translations to many languages, so the city’s multinational population can access school information. Norwalk offers higher education with Norwalk Community College, Gibbs College and the University of Phoenix.

South Norwalk still retains much of its industrial seaport character and important employment base, while the hub called SoNo” is being transformed into a true walking city with busy shops and lively restaurants. The area’s centerpiece is the Maritime Aquarium, a major East Coast aquarium that specializes in displaying the marine life and ecology of Long Island Sound. East Norwalk and Saugatuck, favorite locations for commuters, both offer easy access to Metro-North railroad for an easy commute to Stamford, New Haven and New York City. Also, public transportation is provided by the Norwalk Transit District’s “Wheels” buses throughout neighboring Norwalk and Westport.

Norwalk has a lot to offer to visitors and its residents! In addition to the popular Oyster Festival, the annual summer SoNo Arts Celebration and September’s Norwalk Boat Show are hugely popular with residents and visitors alike. Recreation abounds in ten beautiful parks, especially the 190-acre outdoor Cranbury Park and scenic Calf Pasture Beach. A visitor’s favorite is the historic Lockwood-Mathews Mansion and museum, one of the oldest and finest surviving Second Empire style country houses ever built in the United States.

Great shopping is seen all along the entire Fairfield County coastline, where you can find large chains such as Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Costco, and Home Depot. Norwalk also offers the factory outlets in East Norwalk, and many hand-made and unique items are found in SoNo’s trendy boutiques.

Norwalk is home to many corporate headquarters such as Dooney & Bourke, Kayak.com, Pepperidge Farm, Priceline.com and the famous Stew Leonard’s dairy store whose flagship store is located on Westport Avenue.

Norwalk real estate opportunities are certainly plentiful for renters, investors, seasoned or first-time homebuyers – come and see what we have to offer!

Norwalk History:

The Native American tribes here enjoyed a seacoast environment rich in shellfish and perfect for hunting and farming. European settlers found the same abundance, and purchased two large tracts in 1640-41, between Five Mile River and the Norwalk River, and “between the Norwalk and Saugatuck rivers and a day’s walk north from the sea.” The settlers proceeded to develop the continent’s most famous oyster industry and by 1880 Norwalk boasted the largest fleet of steam-powered oyster boats in the world.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Norwalk expanded and neighboring towns were formed, redrawing old boundaries and incorporating some of the original land purchase. The Saugatuck River is now in Westport, and the Old South Norwalk reservoir is now within the borders of Wilton. Villages clustered around the Sound as well as the river valleys and many small glacial lakes. Industries that still leave their mark were silver mining (today’s Silvermine district), cattle and dairy farming (Calf Pasture Beach), and linen and rope manufacturing (Flax Hill). The whaling industry required powerful lighthouses, such as Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and lent its whaling boats to the Revolutionary and Civil War efforts. As the city grew, it added manufacturing and seacoast trade much as Stamford and other Connecticut cities had done.

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