Happy 4th of July! Here’s the scene at 18 Bulkley Avenue South. Monica Ryan and her family decorated their front door this way — and added plenty of bunting, pinwheels in the yard, flags in the driveway, and sparkling lights at night.
(Photo/Gina Ryan)
Last year, historian Bob Weingarten wrote a story for Greens Farms Magazine, about flags in town.
Three caught my eye. May they continue to wave proudly!
Artists Walter and Naiad Einsel designed Uncle Sam and Miss Liberty, flanking the Stars and Stripes.
Little Barn, on the Post Road.
A replica of Betsy Ross’ original flag, flying on Greens Farms Road.
Ever since youngsters in Homes with Hope’s after-school program turned Hal and Betsy Kravitz’s 77-foot-long South Compo wall into a “hopeful” mural, it’s earned honks and thumbs-ups from passing drivers, bicyclists and walkers.
It also caught the eye of a producer for WABC-TV news.
Which is why — barring breaking news — they’ll run a story on it tomorrow (Sunday, July 5) on the 11 p.m. news.
Channel 7 may include some footage from the video below. Stay tuned!
Harvey Brooks has played with and for Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Richie Havens, Stephen Stills, John Sebastian, Seals & Crofts, Boz Scaggs, Judy Collins, Loudon Wainright III, Phoebe Snow, Phil Ochs, the Fabulous Rhinestones and Fontella Bass.
The bassist laid down some of the most famous lines in music history, including “Like a Rolling Stone” and the hook on the Doors’ “Touch Me.” He’s featured on Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew,” the best-selling jazz album of all time.
And for many years Harvey Brooks lived on North Compo Road, right here in Westport.
A few years ago he and his wife Bonnie Behar moved to Israel. But a good story is universal.
Today — which is also his birthday — his memoir, “View From the Bottom: 50 Years of Bass Playing with Bob Dylan, the Doors, Miles Davis and Everybody Else,” was published. There are tons of musical anecdotes — and lots about his life in Westport too. To order, click here.
The coronavirus brought down the curtain on this year. But the theater — one of the country’s most historic — is not letting the anniversary go unnoticed.
They posed one question to WCP aficionados: “What does the Playhouse mean to you?”
Click below, for some very heartfelt responses.
Happy Birthday, America!
And huge props to the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. They made sure our Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge is decorated appropriately — with, red, white and blue lights.
The photo below does not do it justice. Go see for yourself (after dark!).
The Westport connection? Scott Williams says that decades ago, the longtime TV newsmagazine and entertainment show host rented 121 Sturges Highway house Scott later grew up in.
Hugh Downs, on the “Today” set in 1966. (Photo/Jack Kanthal for Associated Press)
You’ve heard it everywhere. Don’t have a cow. Just wear your mask!
(Photo/Les Dinkin)
And finally … to celebrate America’s birthday, here’s the song that’s been called “our other national anthem.” It’s easier to sing — and the words sure are powerful.
On this Independence Day, the Westport/Weston Clergy Association says:
In recent weeks many of us have come to a greater understanding of the constant, oppressive, life-threatening, structural racism endured by those among us who are black and brown.
Many of our ancestors endured a history of injustice and murder. Our black and brown siblings continue to face injustice and murder on a daily basis. Many of us thought we knew and understood. We have come to realize that we have so much more to understand, particularly those among us who have benefited from a system that favors whiteness.
In 1964 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Westport at the invitation of Rabbi Byron T. Rubenstein. In his address at Temple Israel he said, “One of the great liabilities of life is that all too many people find themselves living amid a great period of social change, and yet they fail to develop the new attitudes… that the new situation demands. They end up sleeping through a revolution.”
Let us not sleep through this revolution.
This 1964 bnewspaper clipping shows Rev. Martin Luther King at Temple Israel. He’s flanked by Rabbi Byron T. Rubenstein (left) and congregation president Dan Rodgers.
Let us learn to oppose racism and bigotry with all our hearts, all our souls, all our might.
Let us become anti-racists, actively dismantling structures of inequality and injustice.
Let us one day look our children in the eye and tell them honestly that we did our part to create a world more righteous than the one we inherited.
Let each of our congregations commit to action, so that black people will no longer be, in the words of Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson of Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, “treated as second-class citizens in the nation of our birth.”
It is not up to us to complete the work of repairing the world. But neither can we absent ourselves from it.
A few 4th of July-themed works are featured in this week’s art gallery.
“06880” is finishing our 4th month featuring readers’ creations. As the world changes, your submissions are as important as ever.
Keep ’em coming. Professional, amateur, old, young — we want it all. Student works are particularly welcome!
The only rule: Your art must be inspired by, reflective of, or otherwise related to the times we’re going through. Email dwoog@optonline.net.
“Happy 4th of July!” (Amy Schneider)
“Welcome Back” (Lawrence Weisman)
Seth Schachter created this collage from discarded items he spotted, in and around downtown. “It’s sad to see litter like this (or any litter for that matter),” he says.”But of course it’s reflective of the times we live in.”
“Out for a Drive in the New Norm!” Bob Weingarten says, “While cleaning drawers, I found cars and figures that our grandkids used.” One result is this photograph.
“First Recital” (oil on canvas). Artist Cindy Wagner says, “I just watched my granddaughter perform a virtual dance recital. It’s still beautiful and made me smile, but I thought about how different it was from her past recitals.”
“The Golden Rule” (Mark Yurkiw)
Untitled. Larry Untermeyer shot this tight closeup of the pistils from within a single bloom of a wild tiger lily that grows on his patio.
You won’t see flags — or anything else red, white and blue — at this year’s fireworks. Westport’s show — along with 80% of similar celebrations around the nation — was canceled, due to COVID.
But Westport PAL — organizer of the annual event — teamed up with Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department, their longtime partner, to sponsor our 1st-ever “4th of July House Decorating Contest.”
Residents were encouraged to decorate the side of their house most visible from the street, showing off the themes of “patriotism” and “America.”
29 families took up the challenge. After intense judging, the winners were announced this afternoon.
1st place goes to Allen Levy and Autumn Waggoner of 19 Fillow Street. Of special note: All decorations were made in America, using recycled items. Their prize: 2 tickets to next year’s fireworks.
1st place: 19 Fillow Street.
The silver medal goes to Michael, Victoria and Giuliana Mirabelli of 1 Quintard Place, off South Maple. They receive 2 free rounds of golf at Longshore.
2nd place: 1 Quintard Place.
Placing 3rd were Nikki, Zoe, Nickolas and Christina Glekas of 20 Bridge Street. They were rewarded with a $50 gift card to Saugatuck Sweets.
3rd place: 20 Bridge Street.
First honorable mention went to the Benson family of 17 Buena Vista Drive. One of their flags was from a World War II general.
1st honorable mention: 17 Buena Vista Drive.
Second honorable mention went to the Sylvester family of 7 Jonathan Lane, off Treadwell.
2nd honorable mention: 7 Jonathan Lane.
Congratulations to all. And special thanks to Max Robbins of Parks & Rec, who made it all happen.
Everyone loves the Yarn Bomber. Now you can learn her secrets.
No, not who she is. Even better: how she does it.
The Yarn Bomber is bringing her talents — decorating trees and street signs in beautiful, uplifting colors — to the masses. She’s created a virtual knitting course, and anyone can join.
For just $50 you get needles, starter yarn, 5 days of instruction (1 hour a day), knitting videos, online tutorials, and a live public socially distanced yarn bomb at a scheduled date. All supplies can be picked up will at Westport Yarns.
The Yarn Bomber can also accommodate custom group sessions for groups (minimum of 6 participants).
Yarn bombing at Compo Beach (Photo/Judy Auber Jahnel)
There are plenty of places to buy coffee in Saugtuck, from Dunkin’ to Donut Crazy.
There may soon be one more.
A sign next to Tutti’s — in the storefront occupied briefly by a kombucha bar — advertises ILSE Coffee. It’s the work of 2013 Staples High School graduate Lucas Smith, and Rebecca Grossman.
They started a Kickstarter campaign. Their goal is to open a “dream cafe and marketplace.” The roastery/market will include specialty coffee, pastries, sandwiches, small plates and to-go food, along with wine, beer, cocktails and retail items. They hope to host coffee cuppings, seminars and workshops too.
The goal is $10,000. The deadline is August 1.
As of yesterday though, the Kickstarter drive was $9,999 short.
Lucas Smith, in the Saugatuck space.
Speaking of Saugatuck — here’s the news you’ve all been waiting for:
The Black Duck is back open!
Just in time for summer, all’s right with the world.
(Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
Uncertain weather today forced a postponement of the Supper & Soul Drive-in/Tailgate Concert. The event — featuring the Tom Petty Project — is now set for Sunday (July 5, 6 p.m.).
Tickets for tonight’s show can be used on the new date. If you can’t make the new date, contact the sponsoring Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce (matthew@westportwestonchamber.com). There’s a wait list for the sold-out show.
During the show, anyone with comments or concerns should call 203-851-2771.
The Chamber and Westport Library will also hold a streaming concert next Sunday (July 11). Part of Supper & Soul, it features the ’80s hair band Mullett. Tickets are $10.80. Click here for details.
In these challenging times, support groups are more important than ever.
But physical distancing and other rules make it challenging for organizations to offer that support.
Positive Directions — the Westport-based prevention and counseling agency — can help. They offer free, weekly virtual support groups for people trying to achieve healthy lifestyles, after battling substance abuse addiction.
There are special sessions too for family members, and young adults. Click here for details.
Kami Evans — who as “Kami’s Kloud” provided tons of Westport information on social media platforms — will move back here with her family in August. She’s been in England since 2018.
Her newest project is working on a global social media campaign, incorporating local artists. Her first video stars Westport’s own Rosie Jon. Born without arms, she paints (beautifully) with her toes.
Rosie’s current project — #WeAreOne — is “so poignant right now,” Kami says.
Click below for Rosie’s video. Click here for links to all of Kami’s platforms.
Westporters Chris and Amy Overman were ready to start a family. Yet at 38, Amy struggled with infertility. For 6 years, the couple tried many treatments.
After 13 failed cycles — including IUI, IVF and stem treatments — Amy read a chapter in her infertility book that many people skip: egg donation.
It’s expensive. But the Overmans received an egg donation. They’re now the proud parents of a son, Ryder.
Two years later, Amy paid it forward. She gave $10,000 to the Norwalk-based Nest Egg Foundation — and called it the Ryder Grant. Now, someone else can benefit from an egg donation.
The Foundation’s application window for the 2020 fertility grant program runs through July 31. Connecticut and New York residents are eligible.
For more information, including grant application eligibility criteria and how to become a donor, click here.
And finally … a fitting tribute to the late John Prine.
Today was supposed to be the 4th of July fireworks (which Westport traditionally celebrates before Independence Day — we’re always ahead of the crowd).
Now that everyone– and by “everyone” I mean normal, non-selfish boneheads — understands the importance of wearing masks, Westport Masks is busier than ever.
For many weeks the ad hoc group has made masks, then donated them to front line personnel and those in need. Recipients include Westport’s Public Works, Parks & Recreation and highway departments; Westport Post Office; elderly residents through Westport’s Department of Human Services; Open Door Shelter in Norwalk; Food Rescue US; Thomas Merton Family Center in Bridgeport; Stamford Hospice, Norwalk Hospital and more.
Dozens of folks cut, sew and deliver. But all involved agree, one volunteer truly stands out.
Ellen Landowne heard about Westport Masks in March through “06880,” and was one of the first to step forward.
Since then she has been a core team member. She’s made masks for many — including seniors — and raised funds for food pantries (through sales to the public, at $12 each).
Pretty good for anyone. Particularly for someone who — like Ellen — is 85 years young.
Ellen Landowne, at her 1942 Singer machine. It once belonged to her mother. She still uses it for all her sewing needs.
Ellen came to Westport in 1967 with her husband Bob Landowne. They were married for 59 years, until his death in 2017. Their 3 children — Deborah, Steve and Judy — all graduated from Staples High School.
After graduating from Mount Holyoke College and then New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center, Ellen became a registered nurse. She stopped working when her children were in school.
In what she calls her “second, ‘unpaid’ career,” Ellen got involved with the Girl Scouts. Funding came from 8 United Ways. She volunteered with the Westport-Weston group as a “foot soldier,” then joined the board. Eventually, she was named United Way of Westport and Weston’s first female president.
Ellen also served on the board of the Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center.
And at age 55, she received her private pilot certificate. She flew with Bob as far as Florida and Ontario.
Ellen Landowne, pilot.
The masks Ellen and her fellow volunteers make have 2 layers of 100% cotton. They’re washable, with a filter pocket for added protection. They have neck ties too, so they can be worn all the time.
Masks can be ordered at $12 each through westportmasks@yahoo.com. All proceeds go to local food pantries, and to purchase supplies for more masks.
Volunteers are always needed. Organizers say: “If you have a working sewing machine, can sew in a straight line and can follow a pattern, we could use your help. Fabric cutting is also greatly appreciated.” Email westportmasks@yahoo.com.
Their next project: In preparation for return to school, the group is making children’s masks for families who cannot afford disposable ones.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome — and appreciated! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to: Dan Woog, 301 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880. Or use Venmo: @DanWoog06880. Thanks!)
