In 1923, Edward T. Bedford built the YMCA, in downtown Westport.
As a boy decades earlier, he’d watched from outside as men played pool in the Westport Hotel — the social (and, in a way, geographic) center of town, at the intersection of State Street and Main Street.
The Y served anchored that spot — and provided healthy, community activities for boys and men (and later, girls and women) — for the next 90 years.
It expanded north, on Church Lane. It weathered all the changes that 9 decades bring (including the renaming of State Street to the Post Road). Through it all, a large concrete logo announced what it was, to all.
In 2013, the Y — now called the Westport Weston Family YMCA — moved to land it owned off Wilton Road, next to its Mahackeno Outdoor Center.
Anthropologie — the new tenant of the original Bedford building — kept the old logo.
It’s not very prominent. It’s propped up against a wall, inside.
But it’s still there. It was the subject of last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see).
And Cat Malkin, Andrew Colabella, S. Jonas, Jonathan McClure, Seth Schachter, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Tom Feeley, Sal Liccione, Katie Carmody, Richard Hyman and Matthew McGrath all knew exactly where it sits.
We’d give you a prize — like a free membership to the Y. Except:
We don’t give anything to Photo Challenge winners (beyond recognition), and
The Y is so popular, they’ve had to cap membership and start a wait list.
So instead, our winners — and everyone else — can turn their attention to this week’s Photo Challenge. (It’s more difficult.)
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
An update on the AWARE event May 30: The acronym stands for Assisting Women Through Action, Resources and Education. Each year the organization selects a women’s cause, then partners with a charity to benefit it. Through a fundraiser, hands-on activity and educational event, AWARE shines a light on a different meaningful women’s issue.
This year, they’re working with Susie’s House.
The 124 Compo Road North residence is run by Homes with Hope. Named for former director Susie Basler, it provides stable, affordable living for 6 young women ages 18 to 24 who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
Susie’s House helps resident get back on their feet through education and employment, eventually moving on to independent living. Each woman has a mentor, community support and case management.
The goal for this event is to raise $12,000 in educational scholarships — $2,000 for each of the 6 women. Grants go toward educational expenses such as 4-year or community college, driving classes or professional training.
Pop-Up Bagels and Granola Bar will provide brunch. Local experts will offer gardening tips. And 2 women graduating from college will be celebrated too.
And area residents can get ready, at a special event with Wakeman Town Farm, Blau House & Garden, and the Connecticut chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
On Sunday, May 17 (10 a.m., Wakeman Town Farm)Melissa Finley, senior curator at the New York Botanical Garden, will speak on “Rhododendrons: From Wild Roots to Modern.”
Guests then head to Blau House — the spectacular garden off Bayberry Lane — for a private tour.
For nearly 20 years, the Staples High School boys lacrosse team has sponsored a “Sticks for Soldiers” game. 100% of funds raised go to a military veteran who was injured in combat.
This year’s honoree is Master Sergeant (ret.) Joseph Deslauriers. The Massachusetts native and Silver Star recipient lost one arm and both legs, and suffered a traumatic brain injury and PTSD after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan.
The game is May 19 (5 p.m., Paul Lane Field) against Wilton — an important one.
A custom store is open, for special shirts and hats that youth players and families can wear to the game. $8 from each sale will also be donated to Sgt. Deslauriers. Sales close tonight!
Speaking of Staples: Congratulations to Elijah Falkenstein and Zander Bauer!
The 2 seniors are winners of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Ralph J. Monaco Memorial Award for excellence in civics education and civic engagement.
They were recognized at the annual Law Day Ceremony last week, at the Connecticut Appellate Court in Hartford. Each student received a $1,000 grant.
The honor is presented to one or more Connecticut high school students who demonstrate a significant commitment to advancing civic engagement, civics education, and/or the rule of law. .
The pair co-founded the first Connecticut chapter of the national non-profit Make Our Schools Safe. It empowers students and staff to help create a culture of safety and vigilance, while advocating for laws that promote safer schools.
Last year, Zander and Elijah testified before the state legislature, for a bill calling for installation of silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement, which dramatically reduces response time. The legislation passed.
This year they traveled to Washington. They advocated for passage of Alyssa’s Act, which would set national standards for emergency response systems.
Elijah Falkenstein and Zander Bauer with “Stop the Bleed” kits — another project of the Make Our Schools Safe club.
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The Clubhouse has everything: golf and other sports simulators. A bar and restaurant. Karaoke. A rooftop lounge.
Plus speed dating.
A special event is set for May 13, 7 to 9 p.m.). It includes a casual mixer kickoff, guided conversational ice-breakers, and a “simple matching system.” Mutual matches receive contact information the next day.
It’s advertised for singles ages 35-49. But, organizers — the private Sips & Sparks group — say, “it’s not a strict rule. If you feel like you’d vibe with this crowd, you’re welcome to join. Our goal is to create a well-balanced group where connections actually make sense.”
For its first 9 years, the Dog Festival has advertised itself with yard signs, a banner at the Winslow Park site, emails, and (of course) mentions on “06880.”
This year, the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce — the hard-working sponsors — add YouTube (and AI) into the mix.
The host Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce has produced a short, cute video starring “Wrex” (a play on Staples Wreckers, and a typical dog’s name).
Click here or below to view. But if you need another reminder: It’s next Sunday (May 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Winslow Park).
We are seeing a return to more warmth emerging over the last 1 1/2 to 2 years. People want peace and quality, in a place that invites them to settle in and get comfortable.
Real estate staging can often look the same over time. Something more personal or unique stands out.
Now, in a sea of sameness — at almost every price point – more interesting interiors and exteriors have emerged. People want homes and furnishings with a story or personality.
New construction, with old-fashioned front porch and shutters. (Photo/Michael Mombello)
There is a new leaning toward collecting over time with an eye toward enduring quality, not a price tag.
People seek out homes that do not feel similar or mass marketed. They want their residences to be more curated, like their travel and vacations.
New net-zero construction on Westport Avenue. It just came on the market.
There is always a mix. If we had to summarize, it feels a bit like Modern Farmhouse is giving way to a warmer, more earthy Modern Cottage vibe.
Things are moving away from stark minimalism. More natural materials and textures are being employed: natural stone, plaster, mixed woods and linen.
Natural look, with plenty of light.
Defined rooms are coming back in favor. There is a preference for fewer, better things, collected over time. Enduring quality and design integrity stand the test of time.
Exterior
Shutters are back, and can offer “from the curb” distinction
Dormers and shed dormers add roofline interest, and provide additional light on upper floors
Patios and crushed stone areas are favored over decks
Patio on Katydid Lane, Weston (Photo/Estative Media)
Outbuildings: for both work and play, they add “compound cool” to a parcel of property
Porches: front, back or side, they are appreciated. Covered and open, they grant shade and protection from the sun or a summer storm.
Ceiling fans keep the air moving, and the bugs away
Raised, protected garden and vegetable beds
Raised bed and organic garden. (Photo/Borgatta Photography)
Flower choices and gardens that respect the natural landscape
Garden antiques: Well-worn pieces that appear to have been there forever give the yard a sense of history and timelessness
Interior
Natural materials and textures
Beams
Wooden, unpainted casement openings in walnut and oak
Mid-tone flooring, not too white or bleached, or too dark and lifeless
Butcher block-topped islands and counters
More color, but strategically used
Family room; darker shade on walls, planked wood ceiling. (Photo/Christian Vinan for 360 Virtual Photography)
Vintage, tribal type oriental carpets and rugs
Warm and earthy palettes, and more lived-in interiors.
Softer whites — restaurant tones like butter yellow or light cream
Small, behind-the-scenes service kitchens or butler’s pantries
Dining rooms
Antique finishes on contemporary forms, and the return of silver accents
Free-standing showers that feel spa-like
Natural wood kitchens, and wood in general
New kitchen. (Photo/Estative Media)
Additional tile details in kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms and entry halls
Cast iron enameled sinks and tubs
One other trend to note: The first-time home-buying age has steadily increased over the last few years — dramatically. Depending upon what you read, the median age is now 40.
(“06880” covers Westport real estate — and much more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Jesup Green, the sale features over 1,000 homegrown perennials, Connecticut native plants, herbs, tomatoes and Mother’s Day gifts, along with a “fancy bakeshop.” Proceeds support local civic beautification and environmental projects.
Garden Club members will advice on plant selection — and each plant is tagged with care information.
Plus: Sustainable Westport has a booth, Earthplace sponsors a children’s table with nature-inspired activities, and Book Sale Ventures offers garden-related books for sale.
The Westport Garden Club plant sale is on — rain or shine!
The event (May 28, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church Branson Hall) can help post-high school, and current or graduated college students, build networking skills and learn job search strategies.
It’s hosted by Lisa Cukier and Katie Gervasio, co-founders of the Westport Professionals Network.
For more information and to register, email WPNMixer@gmail.com.
Dozens of Little League players enjoyed Colony pizza — and a great game — at yesterday’s special Staples baseball days.
Down by 3 runs, the Wreckers scored 5 in the bottom half of the final inning — keyed by a Connor Brill’s 2-run homer — to down Fairfield Ludlowe, 11-9.
The young players chased foul balls — and autographs from their new heroes, after the game.
Little Leaguers line up at Staples. (Hat tip and photo/Beth Cody)
Among the many great programs at the Westport Weston Family YMCA, the “Knock Parkinson’s Out” program stands near the top. Twice a week, 35 boxers work with 4 trainers and 7 volunteers, to gain strength, balance and confidence, and enjoy connection.
Bob Levy is a stalwart volunteer. Recently, he gave t-shirts to everyone. The Y made a great poster out of the photo. It was unveiled this week, and now hangs on the wall outside the boxing class.
Class members, trainers and volunteers — some wearing the blue t-shirts — pose by the photo outside the boxing room.
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Emmy, Grammy and 6-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald returns to the Westport Country Playhouse May 19, for an encore evening of music
The singer/actor — a National Medal of Arts recipient, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People — last appeared here in February of 2024.
Only voters registered in the Democratic or Republican parties can vote then. The deadline for changing party affiliation is this Monday (May 11). To switch parties, click here, then follow the instructions.
Every month during the school year, longtime Westporter/Shakespeare scholar/former town poet laureate Diane Lowman visits Chris Cormier’s 3rd grade class at the Edison School in Bridgeport.
She teaches them a Shakespeare play. They love learning about the Bard.
But his plays were written to be seen, not read. So Diane and Chris discused how the students could see them performed.
Last year, Staples Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long, and members of the award-winning high school drama ensemble made it happen, performing scenes from “Macbeth.”
The tradition continued this week. Roth’s acting class presented scenes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
An added bonus: Max Samuels joined them. Earlier this year, the 2011 Players alum visited Edison. This time, he invited the 3rd graders to stand on stage to try their voices at some of the most famous lines from the play (“What fools these mortals be!”).
Afterward, the high schools and youngsters ate pizza and hung out together.
With generous contributions from Westporters, the program will continue for years to come.
Staples and Edison students. Drama teacher David Roth is in the top row, far left. Diane Lowman is in the middle row, far right. (Photo/Kerry Long)
There’s always something going on at VFW Post 399.
Next Wednesday (May 13, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6), JB’s Deli & Pizza offers a full Italian men’s dinner. The menu includes antipasto, salad, sausage and peppers, penne vodka, chicken Francese, eggplant parm, traditional desserts and wine.
Westporters who donated to the care of Onyx, the retired Westport Police K-9 dog — and everyone else — will be glad to hear that the operation on her eye was successful.
And her tumor was not cancerous.
We wish Onyx a speedy recovery, and a frisky retirement. (Hat tip: Kevin Smith)
The 1984 Staples High School graduate — an attorney who earned national attention by winning lawsuits for Sandy Hook families against Remington Arms — explained the groundbreaking case that bankrupted the gun manufacture.
Senator Richard Blumenthal also spoke, praising CAGV for its grassroots, low-key but very effective advocacy work.
Candida Massimino Innaco — a Westport native and gifted musician who returned to her home town, and spent her professional life as a music teacher in the school district — died April 28 in Bridgeport. She was 65.
After Hillspoint Elementary, Long Lots Junior High and Staples High School, the Class of 1978 graduate earned a bachelor of arts in music education from the University of Dayton, and a master of music in saxophone performance from Kansas State University.
She played in bands outside of the university too, including Dixieland and the Fred Robinson Big Band.
Candi dedicated over 35 years to music education in the Westport Public Schools, retiring in 2021. She taught concert band at Bedford Middle School, served as assistant band director at Staples, and band director at Saugatuck Elementary School.
She also directed chamber music and provided private instruction at the high school in support of the concert band, jazz ensemble, and chamber groups. Additionally, she pioneered and coordinated the Westport Youth Arts Collaborative.
Teaching in her hometown was especially meaningful to Candi. She believed“You can’t teach the child until you reach the child,” a principle that shaped her approach to music and mentorship.
Outside of her career, Candida was active in fitness and wellness. She participated in Thrive, a nonprofit that provides supportive care to those facing cancer like herself.
She shared resources with others through her initiative, “Candi’s Corner.” She enjoyed cooking, gardening, publishing music, maintaining an active lifestyle, and caring for animals, especially cats.
Candi is survived by her husband, Curtis, and children Christopher, Olivia and Serena.
Friends are invited to a visitation on Tuesday (May 12, 5 to 8 p.m., Spadaccino & Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe_). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, May 13 (10 a.m., St. Lawrence Parish,505 Shelton Ave, Shelton).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oncology Fund at Smilow Cancer Center.
Candida Innaco
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Most of our “Westport … Naturally” egret photos show them standing around on spindly legs, looking handsome but stationary. Occasionally they might wade.
But Gabriela Hayes spotted this egret in flight, making the most of a Compo Beach low tide.
The bird’s reflection makes this image twice as cool.
And finally … yes, as we noted earlier, today’s Westport Garden Club plant sale is on — rain or shine. So …
(Rain or shine, day and night, “06880” is here for you. And any time — 24/7/365 — you can support our work. Just click here. There will be no sound of silence; instead, you’ll get a nice thank-you email!)
Last week’s art gallery opened with a political statement.
This week it’s an environmental one.
Of course, art can be many things. As always, “06880” showcases it all. Our online artists’ community is broad, creative, and very, very talented.
Remember: No matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we want your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in.
“Earth is a Dumpster” (Amy Schneider)
“Beach Daze” (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
“Send in the Clouds” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
“Awakening III” — photograph (Rowene Weems — Available for purchase; click here)
“Light Play” (Jordan Kuyper, acrylic painting; Jerry Kuyper, photo)
“Spring Has Sprung” — jewelry — encaustic wax collage embellished with birch tree, bark and beautifully dried tree (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase; click here)
“The Hershil Island” — 11″ x 14″ oil pastel (Angelina Wu)
“This and That” — collage (June Rose Whittaker — Available for purchase; click here)
“Swimming” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled — watercolor (Lucy Johnson)
“The Owl” (James Shorten — age 9, One River Art student)
“Beautiful Mother and her Sweet Baby — Peace and Love!” (Mike Hibbard)
“Brinn” — 10″ x 7″ mixed media (Werner Liepolt)
“Taking a Break” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Zulu” (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)
“Our Very Colorful Town” (Steve Stein)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery –as it has been for 6 years. But please consider an anniversary donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics, and expand water-filling stations around town. The goal is to “turn shared intention into measurable, community-wide change.”
Once a month, we’ll help them highlight an area of daily life where single-use plastic is most common, along with practical ideas to use. This month, we focus on not a space, but a season: summer.
We’ve all reached for that bin in the garage — the one saying “Beach/Pool” — only to see a tangle of cracked plastic shovels, half-empty bottles of expired sunscreen, and a mountain of single-use waste from last August.
Beyond the clutter, there’s a hidden “scary” factor: leaching.
When plastic sits in a hot garage or 100-degree car, it begins to break down. Chemicals like BPA and phthalates are released into the same things we put on and in our bodies.
Sustainable Westport recommends a Great Summer Reset.
Everyone wants a “simple” summer. But we may start by buying a 24-pack of plastic water bottles, and a bag of disposable snacks.
This year, let’s try a different strategy. Let’s audit our summer gear not just to declutter, but to improve the health of our families and the planet.
The Sunscreen Audit (The “Goo” Factor)
The Friction: You find 3 half-used plastic bottles of sunscreen in your bag. One is leaking, one is expired, and all are destined for landfill because that specific plastic is a nightmare to recycle. Plus, heat and time cause the plastic packaging to leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals directly into the lotion you’re about to rub into your skin.
The Fix: Look for plastic-free packaging like Raw Elements, Little Hands Hawaii and All Good. Tins and cardboard sticks are becoming the new standard. They don’t leak in a hot car, they take up half the space in your “go bag,” and they use “non-nano” zinc, which is safer for your bloodstream and Long Island Sound.
Sunscreen comes in tins, too.
The Beverage “Buy-In-Bulk” Trap
The Friction: The urge to buy “flats” of Costco plastic water bottles is strong in May. It feels like “being prepared.” In reality, it means you’ll trip over plastic cases in the pantry all summer.
Meanwhile, single-use plastic bottles are often made of PET. Exposed to summer temperatures, these bottles can release chemicals and microplastics into your drinking water.
The Fix: This is the month to invest in a hydration kit. Ensure everyone in your house has a high-quality reusable bottle, and a stash of powdered mixes. It’s the preparedness of a 24-pack, without the storage headache or recycling bin overflow.
The Picnic Prep (Breaking the Zip-Top Habit)
The Friction: We spend May buying boxes of plastic baggies and pre-packaged snack packs, because they feel like the only way to survive a park play date.
The Fix: Before the schedule gets crazy, grab a few sets of stainless steel or sturdy glass containers. If you kit out your kitchen now, you’ll reach for the reusable option by habit in July when you’re too tired to think.
Convenient — but an environment-killer.
The Bottom Line: Future-You Will Thank You
May is about systems. By swapping out plastic “crutches” now, you set yourself up for a summer that’s cleaner, healthier and less cluttered.
Let’s leave single-use plastics in the past. Start this season with a bag that’s actually ready for the long haul.
But when Spinnaker Real Estate bought 2 of the properties that had been slated for development — the rectangle anchored by Minute Man Cleaners, and the private parking lot now filled with boats above Luciano Park — Westporters knew that new ideas would be proposed.
Today, we have our first look at Spinnaker’s plans.
The Norwalk-based firm has filed a pre-application with the Planning & Zoning Commission. It includes 157 units of rental apartments, with a mixed-use component, on the 1.5-acre parcel at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Charles Street (the current dry cleaners, locksmith and parking lot). Eighteen — a bit over 10% — of the units would be affordable, based on state definitions.
The view from Riverside Avenue. Charles Street is on the right.
Working with Beinfield Architecture — a firm that has designed many multi-family buildings (including The Mill on Richmondville Avenue), residential homes, restaurants and offices in the area — Spinnaker envisions buildings of varying heights.
Those facing Riverside Avenue would be 3 1/2 stories. Buildings behind it would be taller.
Two levels of screened parking would accommodate 283 vehicles.
The view looking at Railroad Place. The train station is at far left.
Spinnaker’ traffic engineers, AKRF, say that an initial review suggests the plan would generate “substantially fewer vehicle trips than earlier submittals.” A full analysis is underway now.
Construction staging would be done at Spinnaker’s other property, the lot on Franklin Street currently used for boat storage.
The plan also includes environmental remediation of the site (before its current use as a dry cleaners, it was a car dealership), along with right-of-way and pedestrian improvements.
Along with the P&Z pre-app, a preliminary presentation to the Architectural Review Board is planned for later this month.
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As we prepare for another beach season — and Old Mill Grocery & Deli gets ready for its busiest time of year — we’re reminded of the history of the 107-year-old market/community center.
We’ve posted many photos of past iterations — particularly when Ken Montgomery owned it. Here’s a rare photo of the man himself:
Here’s one of our favorites, from the very early days:
(Photos courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
It shows how much has changed on Compo Hill.
And how little has really changed, at one of Westport’s favorite institutions.
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