Roundup: YMCA Ice Rink Update, Leaves & Yard Waste, FCIAC Soccer Champs …

Posted on November 5, 2026 | Leave a comment

plans progressing for red barn ice arena

In June, the Westport Weston Family YMCA announced plans to develop its Red Barn property into a year-round ice rink.

Since then, they’ve hired an architecture firm, and are evaluating construction partners. A fundraising campaign is in the works.

As part of the site preparation process, the Y will begin demolition of the current buildings on the property, including the former Red Barn Restaurant.
The new structure, which will incorporate design elements and memorabilia from the original restaurant, will be “a modern facility built to current building and fire code standards, offering a state-of-the-art experience for skaters and families,” the Y says.

It will also be located closer to the center of the property, and outside the flood zone where the former Red Barn Restaurant currently sits.

The demolition process will begin after the standard 180-day notice period required by the town.

Though the town demolition ordinance provides an opportunity for a property owner to seek a waiver of the 180-day notice, the YMCA will not seek such a waiver.

The Red Barn Ice Arena will feature public skating, classes, figure skating, youth and high school hockey, adult leagues and specialty summer camps.

For more information, including updates, click here. 

Artist’s rendering of the Red Barn Ice Arena.

CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION BEGINS; YARD WASTE SITE EXTENDS HOURS

The Department of Public Works has begun its annual curbside leaf collection.

All leaves must be placed in bio-degradable paper bags safely near the curb of a town street by December 1 to guarantee pick-up. Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be picked up, as plastic contaminates the composting process.

Residents living on private streets must place their leaves behind the curb of an intersecting town roadway.

There is no need to call and schedule a pick-up. Crews will complete pick-ups as schedules allow.

For further information, contact the Department of Public Works (203-341-1120), or click here.

Coming soon, to a street near you.

Meanwhile, with fall in full swing, the Yard Waste Site at 180 Bayberry Lane now offers extended Saturday hours — 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. — from now through December 12.

Westport residents with valid proof of residency may dump up to six 30-gallon bags (or similar size containers) full of leaves without a fee. Plastic bags are not accepted.

A van, pickup or tag-along trailer exceeding the 6-bag limit will be charged $40 per load.  Any vehicle or trailer larger than a conventional pickup with a 4-foot by 8-foot bed will be charged $90 per ton. Vehicles with a 9-foot body or changed to significantly enlarge their factory design size will also be charged $90 per ton.

Dump tickets may be purchased at Town Hall Public Works Department weekdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Yard waste at 180 Bayberry Lane. 

FARMERS’ MARKET: TOSS PUMPKINS HERE!

Speaking of waste: It was fun picking out, carrying home and carving your pumpkins.

It’s less fun disposing of them. Which is why they’re probably sitting right now — still — on your front steps.

Tomorrow (Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center, Sylvan Lane), the Westport Farmers’ Market offers a chance to compost those perhaps-already-rotting pumpkins.

Just bring ’em down; the Farmers’ Market and friends will do the rest.

NOTE: No decorated or painted pumpkins, please!

STAPLES BOYS SOCCER: FCIAC CHAMPS AGAIN!

Congratulations to the Staples High School boys soccer team!

The Wreckers repeated as FCIAC (league) champions last night. In a scintillating match, they topped Stamford 3-2. The Black Knights are the only team to blemish Staples’ stellar 18-0-1 record, with a 0-0 regular season draw.

Adrian Rodriguez scored twice, and Noah Rossoni once, before a packed crowd at Fairfield Ludlowe High. Stamford’s 70th-minute goal sliced the Wreckers’ seemingly secure margin. Coach Liam Witham’s defending champs held off a furious challenge in the final 10 minutes.

The FCIAC title was Staples’ mind-boggling 29th, over the 65 years the tournament has been held. It’s their first back-to-back championship since the three-peat of 2008, ’09 and ’10.

The Wreckers now set their sights on repeating as state champions. Ranked 1st in the “LL” (extra large schools) division, they have a 1st-round bye. On Monday (2 p.m., Wakeman Field), they host the winner of Friday’ Danbury/East Hartford match.

FCIAC boys soccer champions — again. (Photo/Dan Woog)

celebrating veterans day at town hall & vfw

A color guard, speakers — including an always-impressive Staples High School senior — and recognition of veterans highlight Westport’s Veterans Day ceremony.

The event is in the Town Hall auditorium on November 11, at — appropriately — 11 a.m.

The public is invited afterward to a free Veterans Day luncheon at VFW Post 399 (465 Riverside Avenue). There too, our servicemembers will be honored for their service.

Honoring our veterans, 2024 (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)

QUEST FOR PEACE: donate CLOTHES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

For many years, Westporter Bill Evans has supported people in need, through CT Quest for Peace.

The Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Clubs are building on that generosity. They encourage residents to donate clothing, household items and basic medical equipment, to help people facing economic hardship in Bridgeport, Appalachia and Central America.

The drive takes place Tuesday, November 10 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Friday, November 13 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), in the parking lot of Green’s Farms Congregational Church.

Specifically, the Rotary Clubs ask for

  • Clothing and footwear: New or lightly used clothing, shoes and boots (all ages).
  • Linens: Sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, towels and similar household items.
  • Toiletries: Toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, deodorant and other personal hygiene products (unopened).
  • Medical supplies: Walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, bandages and other useful equipment and supplies.

Questions? Call Rob Hauck, Sunrise Rotary Club (203-241-7029) or Peter Helt, Westport Rotary Club (203-295-5060).

wheels2u records record-breaking month

October was a record-breaking month for Wheels2U.

Westport’s on-demand, door-to-door shuttle service delivered 3,124 rides across town. That puts them on pace to another record: 34,000 rides for the fiscal year ending June 30.

For $2 a trip, residents and visitors get a clean, reliable and sustainable ride between home and work or the train station, Senior Center, Compo shopping centers and Library.

Midday and midweek service has been expanded to accommodate hybrid workers, flexible commuters and day trippers. The Westport Transit District’s offer of 5 free rides for new riders, and 10 rides for the price of 9, also contributed to the increase.

Riders can book trips in real time, track driver progress, and manage payments through the Wheels2U app. For more details about Wheels2U, including service hours, promotions for new riders, discounts for frequent riders, and links to download app, click here.

Wheels2U (Photo/Rick Jaffe)

CLOTHES GALORE AT WOMAN’S CLUB SALE

The Westport Woman’s Club opens it doors soon, for its “Epic Clothing & Accessories Sale.”

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, November 13-14 (9 to 10 a.m. Friday, $10 early bird shopping), and 11 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 15.

Funds raised support the WWC Food Closet, need-based student scholarships, and grants to local charitable organizations.

Westport Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Avenue.

SPECIAL VETS’ JAZZ BENEFIT SET AT VFW

Thursday nights’ “Jazz at the Post” shows regularly attract great performers to the VFW.

Next week, those sounds do more than entertain. They’ll help a great cause.

On November 12 (7 p.m.), the Jazz Society of Fairfield County hosts a “Day After” (Veterans Day) benefit concert. All proceeds directly fund crucial veterans’ services, including counseling for PTSD and other combat related disabilities, benefits advocacy, career coaching and more .

Master drummer and Vietnam era vet Joe Corsello leads a stellar ensemble: Joe’s Army buddy cornetist Don Hahn, Grammy-winning bassist Phil Bowler, pianist Dave Childs and Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall on saxophone.

The evening’s emotional heart centers on special guest musician Hank Bolden.

Now 89, the saxophonist spent decades overcoming severe physical disabilities from his time as an “atomic soldier” during nuclear tests. His music carries the weight of history, survival and ultimate triumph.

Click here or below for a PBS feature on Bolden.

A great dinner from chef Derek Furino is available too. For tickets ($20) or to donate, click here.

westport artists open bridgeport studios

Every year, the American Fabrics Arts Building hosts an open studios event, at a historic former lace factory.

This weekend (November 7-8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), art-lovers are invited to the American Fabric Arts Building (1069 Connecticut Avenue, Bridgeport).

Among the 24 artists showing and selling their work — showing off their studios — are Westporters Janine Brown, Kelly Rossetti, Jay Petrow and Holly Hawthorn, and former Westporter Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong.

There’s live music, art raffles and more. Click here for details. 

Jay Petrow with “Metamorphosis” (acrylic on canvas).

SPLASH TRAIN BACK ON TRACK

It’s taken several months. But the miniature train has returned to regular service at Splash Car Wash.

Now, what about the one at Dunville’s?

And — with the holiday season approaching — who remembers the elaborate set in the Swezey’s Jewelers window on Main Street?

All aboard!

Splash Car Wash. (Hat tip and photo/Bill Dedman)

“WESTPORT … NATURALLY” & SONG OF THE DAY

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo reminds us that it may be November, but there’s still time to play the Longshore golf course.

And it makes us wonder: How many days are left?

(Photo/John Maloney)

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And finally … in honor of leaf pick-up and yard waste (items above):

(The leaves that were green are turning to brown. Before they fall, please honor our coverage of all things Westport — including our amazing foliage — by clicking here to donate. Thank you!)

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[OPINION] Say Yes To “No Through Trucks”

Posted on November 5, 2026 | 9 comments

Shannon Taylor and her husband purchased their Bridge Street home in 2022, where they live with their 2 young children. Walks, stroller rides and scooter trips to Saugatuck restaurants and Luciano Park have made her aware of the neighborhood’s traffic and pedestrian safety challenges. These experiences inspired her to advocate for practical solutions that protect the families who live, walk and play in the area. She writes:

For years, Westport residents have debated the future of the historic Cribari Bridge. Should it be rehabilitated or replaced? How do we preserve its character, while ensuring it remains safe?

But beneath these disagreements, one concern has emerged with remarkable consistency: We do not want tractor-trailers using Bridge Street and the surrounding neighborhoods as an alternative to I-95.

I live on Bridge Street with my family. Like many neighbors, I worry about what happens if a reconstructed bridge makes our residential streets an attractive shortcut for heavy commercial traffic.

I am not opposed to necessary improvements to the bridge. But I am opposed to allowing my family’s safety, and the safety of our neighborhood, to depend entirely on the physical limitations of a 142-year-old structure.

Traffic is tight, on the Cribari Bridge. 

As it turns out, Connecticut already has a process designed to address this exact concern. The Office of the State Traffic Administration can establish “No Through Trucks” restrictions on qualifying roads.

These restrictions can prohibit trucks from passing through a community while allowing vehicles with legitimate local destinations, including deliveries and moving trucks, to continue accessing the area. Most importantly, this process is separate from the decision to rehabilitate or replace the bridge.

State Department of Transportation project manager James Barrows II confirmed that a “No Through Trucks” restriction is an available option, and has already been discussed by the project team.

However, the project team cannot initiate the process itself. A formal request must come from Westport’s Local Traffic Authority, currently the Board of Selectpersons.

Once requested, OSTA would investigate roadway conditions, including width, curves, sight lines, traffic volumes and surrounding development, to determine whether a restriction is justified.

There is even local precedent: Portions of Route 136, including a section in Westport, already have approved “No Through Trucks” restrictions. Approval is certainly not guaranteed, but this seems like a reasonable path.

In 2019, Westport had an opportunity to pursue this exact solution. Instead, it chose to wait. At its February 13 meeting, the Board of Selectpersons considered authorizing then-1st Selectman Jim Marpe to request “No Through Trucks” restrictions for Bridge Street, Compo Road South and Greens Farms Road.

According to the meeting minutes, the board determined that pursuing the restriction was premature while the Cribari Bridge rehabilitation project was still ongoing. By a unanimous 3–0 vote, it tabled the discussion “until a date to be determined.”

Compo Road South, between Post Road and Greens Farms Road/Bridge Street (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)

That was nearly 8 years ago.

Since then the bridge debate has continued, proposals have evolved, and residents have repeatedly expressed the same concerns about heavy commercial traffic. Yet I recently received confirmation from OSTA that no formal request has been received for a restriction in this area.

In other words, we postponed a potential solution because we were still debating the bridge. And nearly 8 years later, we’re still debating the bridge.

It’s time to separate these 2 conversations.

With CTDOT preparing to present its selected bridge alternative on November 12 (7 p.m., Town Hall), this question feels particularly urgent.

At Monday evening’s RTM Transit Committee meeting, I raised this alternative and was encouraged by the response. Committee chair Melissa Levy and other RTM members expressed interest in examining how the town could pursue enforceable truck restrictions, rather than relying solely on bridge design.

The RTM has already demonstrated overwhelming agreement on this issue. In March 2026 members voted 20–1, with 4 abstentions, in favor of a resolution calling for improvements to the bridge, while maintaining a height restriction to prevent tractor-trailer access.

Cars were (very) briefly banned from the Cribari Bridge last month, during the Walk Bike Westport Bridge to Bridge ride.

That vote suggests something important: Even among residents and representatives who disagree about the bridge’s future, there is substantial common ground when it comes to keeping heavy through-truck traffic off our neighborhood streets.

A “No Through Trucks” designation would not resolve every concern about the bridge. It would not eliminate the need to consider preservation, environmental impacts, traffic circulation or pedestrian safety. Any restriction would also require a thoughtful enforcement plan. But it could address one of the most contentious issues independently of the bridge’s ultimate design.

We should not have to choose between a safe, functional bridge and safe residential streets.

I have written twice to First Selectman Christie and the Board of Selectpersons requesting clarification about the 2019 proposal, and asking whether the town would consider initiating an OSTA review. As of this writing, I have not received a response.

The Board of Selectpersons — currently Amy Wistreich, Kevin Christie and Don O’Day — serve as Westport’s Local Traffic Authority.

I appreciate the RTM’s willingness to examine this alternative. But ultimately, the authority to initiate the state review rests with the town’s Local Traffic Authority.

This is where Westport residents can make a difference.

If you believe our neighborhood streets should be protected from unnecessary heavy commercial traffic, ask 1st Selectman Christie and the Board of Selectpersons to revisit the proposal tabled in 2019, and formally request an OSTA investigation.

Contact your RTM representatives, too. Ask them to support this effort, and encourage town leadership to act. Whether you favor rehabilitation or replacement, historic preservation or modernization, this is an issue on which we can work together.

We are not asking the state to guarantee a particular outcome. We are asking our town leadership to initiate the process so the state can evaluate the merits, examine the traffic and safety data, and determine whether a restriction is warranted.

Let’s stop treating a structural height limitation as our only protection against heavy commercial traffic.

Westport has spent years making clear what we don’t want.

Now it’s time for all of us to ask for what we do want.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Send submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support “06880” with a contribution, click here.)

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Pics Of The Day #3486

Posted on November 4, 2026 | Leave a comment

One view of the Saugatuck River … (Photo/Matt Nathanson)

… and another 

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Unsung Heroes #453: Special Edition

Posted on November 4, 2026 | 3 comments

As many Americans waited anxiously yesterday to see if the midterm elections would be disrupted, interrupted or otherwise messed with, Westporters were not worried.

We knew our voting rolls — and our votes — would be safe, secure, and counted properly.

Which is exactly what happened. (All across the country, too.)

Early voting — and the stress test our democracy has faced — placed special demands on our registrars of voters.

But as they’ve done year after year year — since, presumably, 1836, when there were Democratic and Whig candidates on our town’s first presidential ballot — our registrars, their staffs and their many helpers came through with flying colors.

Hurray for the red (white) and blue!

Democratic registrar of voters Deborah Greenberg (left) and Republican Maria Signore (right) with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. Elected to another term yesterday, she oversees all elections in the state. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Retiring Democratic registrar of voters Deborah Greenberg and her Republican counterpart Maria Signore deserve a huge round of bipartisan applause.

So do their assistants. And each tabulator monitor, greeter, moderator, the transport teams, the regular workers at all 5 polling places, and every other person who ensured that the 2026 election was conducted flawlessly.

It was done so well, most Westporters probably never thought about all the preparation, the day-of work, and all the details that ensured that flawlessness.

Fun fact: Westport was one of the quickest towns in Connecticut to report results.

That doesn’t just happen either.

So to everyone who had anything to do with this year’s election: Thank you. You are Unsung — and very professional and patriotic — Heroes.

(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com. “06880” is proud to honor them — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to help us do that, by supporting this hyper-local blog.) 

In 2023, registrars of voters Deborah Greenberg (left) and Maria Signore worked with students like Spencer Yim to enroll Staples High School voters.

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Unsung Heroes #452

Posted on November 4, 2026 | 2 comments

Like many Staples students, the scholars at A Better Chance of Westport are very busy.

Seniors are applying to colleges. Freshmen are adapting to high school. Everyone is balancing academics, extracurriculars, and everything else.

Plus, the young men in ABC’s Glendarcy House live away from home, with all the adjustments and stresses that brings.

Still, they have time to give back to their adopted community.

“It’s really important, because they’ve gotten so much support from the town,” says resident director Tamika Thompson.

“They want to help. And they have fun doing it.”

The A Better Chance scholars outside Glendarcy House …

The A Better Chance scholars volunteer in many ways. In September they helped set up the Westport Rotary Club’s LobsterFest. The year before, they served food there.

They’ve sorted food and filled bags at Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Ceter.

They’re always looking for other opportunities too.

The ABC program sometimes flies under the radar. The young men who leave their home towns, live together, and are thrown into the challenging but exciting maelstrom of Staples High School do not get the credit they deserve for their achievements in the classroom, on the stage and playing fields, and elsewhere.

And they certainly don’t get it for the hours they give back to Westport.

Thank you, Anderson, Jeffrey, Mehiel, Alan, Ismael and Yashai. You are this week’s Unsung Heroes!

(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com. “06880” is proud to honor them — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to help us do that, by supporting this hyper-local blog.) 

… and inside.

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Roundup: Election Results, Santa Run Sign-ups, Paris Looney Thanks …

Posted on November 4, 2026 | 3 comments

dems win big in state, town

Connecticut voters mirror much of the nation.

Democrats representing Westport won the 3 races for the state General Assembly. As with statewide races, margins were generally 2-to-1.

Weston 1st selectman Sam Nestor will replace retiring 26th District Senator Ceci Maher. With 99% of the votes counted, she leads Westport resident Alma Sarelli 65.4% to 34.6% (28,572 votes to 15,114).

Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein has a substantial lead over resident Doug Ouellette, in her bid to replace retiring 136th District Representative Jonathan Steinberg, 72.9% to 27.1% (7,309 to 2,722, with 99% of the votes in).

The 143rd District includes the westernmost part of Westport. Incumbent Dominique Johnson returns. With 99% of the returns counted, she leads Greg Helms 6,308 to 3,195 (66.4% to 33.6).

Democrats also swept statewide offices. Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Congressman Jim Himes all return to office. With Democrats taking control of Congress, Himes is in line to become the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

The blue wave spelled defeat for 2 Westporters on the statewide ballot.

Former Westport 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker lost her bid for comptroller to Sean Scanlon. With 93% of the votes in, the incumbent led 744,608 to 444,399 (62.5% to 37.5%).

Former Planning & Zoning Commission member John Bolton failed to unseat Attorney General William Tong. With 92% of votes counted, the incumbent was ahead 745,403 votes to 442,975 (62,7% to 37.3%).

Probate judge Lisa Wexler ran unopposed. Westporters also elected Michael Durkin and Maria Signore as Democratic and Republican registrars of voters, respectively. Turnout in Westport was over 57%.

Click here for all Connecticut results.

Candidates Sam Nestor (3rd from left) and Lee Goldstein (5th from left) posed yesterday at Coleytown Middle School’s polling place with (from left) Westport Democratic Town Committee chair Michelle Mechanic, retiring State Senator Ceci Maher, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and DTC vice chair Robin Weinberg.

SANTA RUN SIGN-UPS START AT 10 TODAY

The Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation “Santa Run” is one of Westport’s most cherished  — and amazing — traditions.

For a $50 donation to the Foundation, Santa arrives by fire truck to drop off a present at a (limited number of) children’s houses.

(Kids, stop reading here! The gift is dropped off at the firehouse previously, by the parents.)

This year, Santa will be in town December 2-5 and December 9-12, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Signups begin today, at 10 a.m. — first come, first served. Click here to register.

Be quick. Santa’s spots go very quickly!

Santa popped out of his fire truck to delight these youngsters (and one oldster).

PARIS LOONEY SAYS THANKS

Last month, “06880” posted a link to a GoFundMe for Paris Looney — the longtime and much-loved vice president and chief operating officer of Homes with Hope — and her family.

Her daughter Tausha had just donated a kidney to her brother Don, suffering from stage 5 kidney disease. The funds would help pay for medical bills, lost income, rent, groceries, utilities and transportion.

The fund raised $19,465. Paris says:

My son’s follow up appointments are going well, as he continues to heal with the new kidney donated by his sister. Some days bring a bit more pain and discomfort, but he continues to work through it.

My daughter is doing well in her recuperation and with your support, can slow life down to focus on recovery. We are extremely grateful that both are on the path to full and complete recovery.

We have a way to go, and I have no doubt we will get there. Your overwhelming support has been invaluable to me and my family, and we are profoundly grateful to you all. Thank you!

Don and Tausha Looney

westport book shop salutes compo

Sure, it’s November. But all year long, Compo Beach is one of Westport’s favorite spots.

“See You at Compo” is this month’s featured Westport Book Shop art exhibit. Jason Pritchard is showing new original oil paintings of Westport’s shoreline.

He works both en plein air and in the studio to capture its light, weather and quiet moments.  “See You at Compo” follows his 2024 “Westport Skies” exhibition at The Westport Library.

Pritchard began going to Compo as a child. And one of the paintings in the show, “History through Young Eyes,” started with his son looking up at the cannons on the beach where British troops landed in 1777.

He says, “Born in Britain myself, I was struck by how differently history looks to a child. I hope people feel their own connections in these paintings.”

A reception is set for November 12 (6 p.m.). All artwork on display is available for purchase. To see more of Pritchard’s work, click here.

Jason Pritchard

WHAT’S UP DOWN AT LACHAT FARM

December will be a busy month at Weston’s Lachat Farm.

Among the activities:

  • Handcrafted holiday gifts, grades 2-5 (December 1)
  • Wreath-making (December 4)
  • Holiday block printing (December 8)
  • Winter market (December 13)
  • Fireside concert with the Gingersnaps (December 18)
  • Candy cane hunt (December 19)

 

bedford community: “between the lines”

Fantasy and reality collide, when Bedford Theater Community kicks off its season next month

“Between the Lines Jr.” is a musical about “finding your voice, discovering where you belong, and having the courage to rewrite your own story.”

It runs December 11-13 at Bedford Middle School. Tickets go on sale November 14 (click here). This is only the second school staging of the show in Connecticut.

Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha van Leer, the show follows Delilah, a teenager struggling to find her place at a new school
following her parents’ divorce.

Feeling like an outsider, she escapes into the pages of her favorite fairy tale and discovers something extraordinary: Prince Oliver, the story’s handsome hero, can actually speak to her.

“Between the Lines Jr.” resonates with dreamers of all ages — particularly young people navigating friendship, self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up.

Bedford’s young cast gets ready.

medical aesthetics brand comes to town

A national medical aesthetics brand is coming soon to downtown.

JECT — which specializes in “full-face consultations and deeply
individualized treatment plans” — will move into 24 Taylor Place, opposite Green & Tonic.

JECT already operates New York, California, Florida and New Jersey.

Vacancy will soon be filled. 

“westport … naturally” & song of the day

Westporters don’t agree on much.

But we pretty much all think this has been one of the most spectacular falls in years.

Today’s beautiful “Westport … Naturally” image comes from Sherwood Island State Park.

(Photo/Karen Kim)

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And finally … the story about Westport firefighters’ Santa Run (above) got us thinking about our first Christmas song of the year.

There’s no “Santa Run” tune — but this comes very close:

(You don’t have to run — or even walk — to support “06880.” Just click here, to help this hyper-local blog keep chugging along. Thank you all!)

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Water Flows Downhill. Is There Any Way To Stop It?

Posted on November 4, 2026 | 9 comments

“People move here because they love the country. Then they get rid of everything that’s country.”

That’s Ken Novenstern’s pithy analysis of Westport homeowners.

The attorney speaks from experience. His home off Kings Highway North sits downhill from new construction, and property with far fewer trees than when he moved in 10 years ago.

It’s also a short walk from downtown. There, he’s seen the effect of ever-more-frequent flooding — caused, as his own neighborhood’s is, in part by the ever-more-frequent removal of trees.

A home near the Novensterns’, before teardown …

Novenstern does not think there’s a better way — he knows there is. From 1988 through 2013 he lived in New Castle, New York. He served as a councilman, and on its Conservation Board. on its Conservation Board. He was a member too of the Saw Mill River Audubon board.

Though New Castle is just 34 miles from Westport, right over the border in Westchester County, regulations are far different, he says. There, they prohibit — or at least strongly discourage — clear-cutting and similar actions. “There has to be a good reason to take a tree down, especially in a buffer.”

They also regulate the size of new homes.

“There’s less regulation in New England,” he says. “That translates to little power for planning boards to prevent taking down trees.”

… and after trees were removed, for new construction. 

Near his own home, one uphill property owner removed a number of trees to create a play area. Meanwhile, he says, he can “almost touch” a new nearby home.

A pair of Capes have been replaced by 5,000-6,000 square foot homes. During construction, “they cut down every tree and weed on the property.” When flooding resulted, “the contractor put gravel in a drainage ditch. That was it.”

Last week, “a couple took down a beautiful oak tree. The wife didn’t like acorns falling on their cars.”

Several years ago, Novenstern sought advice from Town Hall. He says an engineer told him simply, “Water flows downhill.”

Water flows downhill, long after the rain ends. 

He learned that in Connecticut, a tree warden can only protect trees on public property and rights of way. “What percentage of town is that?” he asks rhetorically.

“Planning boards need more power to protect and preserve,” Novenstern reiterates. “It’s incredible there is no oversight, planning or thought given to the impact on neighboring properties of removing trees.”

Too many people, he says, “don’t seem to appreciate the significance of trees. ‘We have enough,'” they seem to think. “If take down a few, it won’t matter.”

The problem, Novenstern notes, is not simply this administration’s.

“It probably goes back decades. No one has ever addressed it.

“No one in New England wants to be told what they can do on their own property. I thought our society was premised on the common good.”

Another view near the Novensterns’ home. 

Thirty years ago in Westchester, Novenstern says, he helped pass legislation including building bulk, limiting impervious surfaces, and expanding wetland buffers. He also helped secure an Open Space Preservation Fund.

Later, involved with a community land trust, he helped develop strategies for runoff in open spaces.

“I’ve been here 10 years,” he says. “It seems like there’s no plan at all. It doesn’t seem like the Planning & Zoning Commission does much more than tell people they can do pretty much as they want. Maybe they don’t have the power to do more.

“It’s crazy,” Novenstern concludes. “No one is watching the store. If it’s this bad today, what will it be like 15 or 20 years from today?”

(“06880” often covers the environment, and real estate — and, like today, their intersection. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Pic Of The Day #3485

Posted on November 3, 2026 | Leave a comment

Sunset on the Saugatuck (Photo/Becky Keeler)

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Staples Players Rewind: “Back To The ’80s”

Posted on November 3, 2026 | Leave a comment

A jukebox musical is perfect summer entertainment.

In 2019, Staples Players presented “Back to the ’80s.” The show featured pop tunes — and a rap song from the musical’s writer Neil Gooding. It was directed by David Roth and Kerry Long.

Click here or below to enjoy Jim Honeycutt’s highlight reel.

Here’s what some cast members are up to, 6 years later:

Mia Kobylinski (Tiffany Houston) is a designer at Snake River Interiors. Her love of travel and photography help her gather design inspiration from all over the world.

Nick Rossi (Michael Feldman) is a professional singer, actor and musician. He has appeared regionally in “Master Harold … and the Boys,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Pericles,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Jersey Boys.”

Sam Mandelbaum (Billy Arnold) is an actor and writer working in independent films and creative projects, including “Dinner Date,” “The Awakening of Edwin Lorde” and “Pinky.”

Georgia Wright (Debbie Fox) is a non-binary, New York-based emerging playwright, actor and director. They have written and staged several independent and festival plays.

Bridget Looby (Laura Wilde, Ensemble) graduated from Colgate with a degree in political science and government. She is an assistant account executive in New York..

Daisy Brackett (Ms. Sheena Brannigan) earned a master’s degree in advanced classical acting training from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Her credits include short films, independent projects, showcases and reels.

Camille Foisie (Cyndi Gibson, Ensemble) graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, with a BFA in drama. She is working professionally as an actor.

Colin Konstanty (Huey Jackson) is an actor and musician. He appeared in the Off-Broadway and Disney+ productions of “Trevor: The Musical.” An alumnus of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, he has also appeared in projects like “Caravan,” and released original music.

Ryan Porio (“Jitterbug” and “Love Shack” soloist) is an actor, filmmaker and musician. He graduated from the Emerson College School of Film, where he collaborated on short films and experimental media.

Emily Desser (The “Go Go” Trio, Ensemble) is an actress, writer and NYU Tisch Drama student. She worked on “Murder in Maplewood” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”

Chloe Manna (The “Go Go” Trio) is a stage and screen actress. Her credits include “Peace, Love and Cupcakes: The Musical” at the New York Musical Festival.

Max Ardrey (Ensemble)) is an actor, writer and media arts production student at Emerson College.

Ellery Bodell (Ensemble) is a singer/songwriter and performing arts student, who has performed in local short films and theater projects. Professionally active under the name Echo Bodell, they studied performing arts at SCAD and trained with Cynthia Gibb’s Triple Threat Academy.

Melody Stanger (Ensemble) is an actress and model based in New York.

Max Evans (Ensemble) is a director, actor, stage manager and administrator. He is playing Roy in “The Odd Couple: at The Legacy Theatre in Branford.

Annabel Kavetas (Ensemble) is an entertainment, production and beauty professional who has worked in digital media, audience coordination and television production. She has been involved with “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Juliette Schwebel (Ensemble) graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2023. After the theater, she transitioned into a career in elementary education.

(If you like these nutshells — or any other “06880” feature — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Election Day, 1st Amendment, Halloween Rager …

Posted on November 3, 2026 | Leave a comment

it’s election day! have you voted yet?

After 2 weeks of early voting, the traditional Election Day is here.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. Click here to find your polling place.

Not sure what voting district you’re in? Click here.

Ready for voters, at Greens Farms Elementary School. (Photo/John Karrel)

 

THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND YOU

Speaking of democracy: The First Amendment touches everyone’s lives, in more ways than we may realize.

It’s long been a bedrock of our democracy. But how secure is it?

On November 17 (6:30 p.m.), the Westport Library and CT Mirror — winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting — present a panel exploring the issue.

Connecticut Superior Court Judge Daniel Klau; Emily Bazelon, staff writer at The New York Times, and Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition will discuss challenges faced by local journalists, First Amendment issues on college campusesthe impact of AI and more.

The event is free. For more information, click here.

“westport uncorked”: Now more magical than ever

The other day, Jason Bird astonished 2 sold-out audiences at the Delamar Westport with some gobsmacking magic and mental feats. I was there, and I still can’t believe what I saw.

If you missed it — or were there, and want to see more — you’ll get a chance Thursday.

Jason will join the Sunrise Rotary Club’s 35th annual “Westport Uncorked” (November 5, 6 p.m., the Inn at Longshore).

The evening always features special wine and great food. This year, Jason will ensure it’s even more “magical.”

Proceeds are donated to charities and local organizations. For tickets and more information, click here. 

HALLOWEEN RAGER

“All available” Westport police officers responded to a teenage Halloween party — and needed help from Weston, Norwalk and Wilton too.

According to WTNH-TV, “upwards of 500” teenagers were at a Heron Lake Lane party.

A Westport woman was cited for allowing minors to possess alcohol, while the party’s organizers were cited for alcohol violations. Click here for the full WTNH story.

 

 

This is not a scene from the Westport Halloween party.

special westport art on sale for holidays

As the holidays come into view: Here is perhaps the coolest, most “Westport” gift of the year.

Westport River Gallery has commissioned a special digital work: “Westport USA.”

Several artists have collaborated on a piece that blends iconic locations of yesteryear, with some of our town’s most recognizable names: Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward, Anne Hathaway, Patty Hearst, Martha Stewart, Rodney Dangerfield, Neil Sedaka, Michael Bolton, Norman Rockwell, Liz Taylor (with her home), Don Imus, Christopher Lloyd, Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas.

The price is just $49, unframed. Email westportrivergallery@gmail.com, or call 203-226-6934 to order.

STAPLES BOYS SOCCER SQUAD INSPIRES BRIDGEPORTERS

The Staples boys soccer team are winners — on and off the field.

On Friday — just hours before their FCIAC semifinal match against Greenwich — the Wreckers traveled to Bridgeport.

They spent quality time with boys and girls in the GZS (Generation Z Soccer) Academy. They high schoolers helped with training, shared a meal, and donated soccer gear — and had just as much fun as the youngsters.

Lucas Alarcon has volunteered with GZS for several years. He and his family helped organize the event.

Perhaps it inspired him. The next day he scored a rare “Olimpico” — a corner kick that goes directly into the goal — that was the game-winner. Tomorrow (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Fairfield Ludlowe High), he and his teammates play for the FCIAC (league) championship.

Staples soccer players, with GZS youngsters. 

POLICE PROMOTE 2

A pair of Westport Police Department officers will be promoted tomorrow (Wednesday, 12 noon). The public is invited to the ceremony, in the classroom at Jesup Road headquarters.

David Scinto will become a sergeant. He joined the WPD in 2013. He has served in leadership roles with the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team, With Westport’s K-9 unit, he earned the Daniel Wasson Memorial Award for his apprehension of a robbery suspect. He also received a Meritorious Service Award from the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut for rescuing a woman from the icy Saugatuck River.

In 2025, Sergeant Scinto established the WPD’s Street Crimes Unit, contributing to significant reductions in motor vehicle thefts.

Samuel Sabin will also be promoted to sergeant. He first joined the Westport Police Department in 2001. After moving to the private sector, he rejoined it in 2012. Scinto has been honored for apprehending a vehicle burglar while off-duty. He has also been recognized for his technical proficiency in the use of Stop Stick tire deflation devices, including one that resulted in 2 arrests after the robbery of an armored car driver

In 2018 he was recognized with a Meritorious Service Award by the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut for his rescue of an individual from a fully involved structure fire.

Sgts. David Scinto (left) and Samuel Sabin.

COLEYTOWN COMPANY’S “PURE IMAGINATION”

Katie Bloom’s first show as director of Coleytown Company is a “Pure Imagination.”

The 14 numbers in the musical revue include selections from “Willy Wonka,” “Frozen,” “Shrek” and more.

Show dates are this Thursday and Friday (November 5, 6 p.m. and 6 (7 p.m.). Click here for tickets.

Coleytown Company gets ready for the curtain to rise.

GRAMMY WINNER TOOTS HIS HORN AT VFW

A Grammy Award-winning trombonist is coming to VFW Post 399.

Steve Davis brings his hard bop to Jazz at the Post this Thursday (November 5, shows at 7 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 6:15).

He’s joined by pianist Maki Nientao, bassist Matt Dwonszyk, drummer Jason Tiemann and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall, in a brassy tribute to J.J. Johnson, Melba Liston, Slide Hampton,and Curtis Fuller. Davis will also perform his own compositions.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

“WESTPORT … NATURALLY” & sONG OF THE DAY

It doesn’t get more autumnal than this.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo shows the planter in front of Colonial Druggists in Westport.

Similar scenes can be found all over town.

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

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And finally … in honor of Jason Bird’s upcoming appearance in Westport (item above):

(There’s another magical moment ahead: when you click here, to make a tax-deductible contribution to this hyper-local blog. There’s no mystery to it — just profound thanks, from “06880”!)

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