This week, Dave Matlow’s photographic chronicle of Westport’s homes — those that were demolished, and the ones that replaced them — takes him to what was once called “Westfair Village.”
One of the town’s earliest post-war developments, off Bulkley Avenue North and behind Westfair Shopping Center, it’s a tight-knit neighborhood with smaller-than-Westport-average lots.
During its near-80-year history, it’s seen many generational turnovers. Today — once again — it’s filled with families with young children.
Three homes from that neighborhood are featured today. The fourth — Blue Coat Lane — is off North Avenue, near Bedford Middle School.
Forty seniors were honored yesterday, at Staples High School’s 25th annual Scholar-Athlete dinner.
The coach of each varsity sport nominates one person, who also excels in the classroom. In a unique format at the ceremony, each answers one question about his or academic, athletic or extracurricular life. Individually, each is special. Taken together, they paint a robust picture of several dozen remarkable teenagers.
The scholar-athletes for the fall season are: Sofia Gomez (cheer), Harrison Sydor (boys cross country), Sarah Bogdan (girls cross country), Catherine Cirasuolo (field hockey), Justin Halky (football), Gus Palmer (boys golf), Gabe Hellmann (boy soccer), Isabelle Wasserman (girls soccer), Isabella Wasserman (girls swim & dive), Naalie Sipsma (girls volleyball), Brady Nahmias (boys water polo).
The winter scholar-athletes are: Oliver Vynerib (boys basketball), Emma Asiel (girls basketball), Katelynn Mitchell (cheer), Nathaniel Armstrong (fencing), Mia Cochran (gymnastics), Uzi Greenman (boys ice hockey), Jade Reejhsinghani (girls ice hockey), Rahan Sekhar (boys indoor track & field), Taylor Black (girls indoor track & Field), Chase Cammeyer (boys skiing), Alexis Robinson (girls skiing), Aiden Hill (boys squash), Olivia Cohn (girls squash), Nolan Franics (boys swim & dive). Kai Schwartz (wrestling).
Spring scholar-athletes are: Connor Brill (baseball), Riley Sklar (girls golf), Aidan Lapatine (boys lacrosse), Sadie Lowe (girls lacrosse), Gray McGuinness (boys outdoor track & field), Lila Boroujerdi (girls outdoor track & field), Michael Wang (boys rugby), Mia Chatterjee (girls rugby), Zach Gillman (sailing), Olivia Schwartz (softball), Robert Jacob (boys tennis), Devyn Peffer (girls tennis), Gabriel Schorer (boys volleyball), Olivia Kuliga (girls water polo).
Also honored were Oliver Samuel (Thomas DeHuff Award), Taylor Block (Jinny Parker Award) and Dylan Lehrer (Junior Leadership Award).
Taylor Block also earned the $10,000 Laddie Lawrence Scholarship, while Gabe Duque received the $10,000 Coleman Brothers and $2,000 Loeffler Scholarships.
Athletic director VJ Sarullo cited Bill Mitchell, the longtime Westporter and co-owner of Mitchells Stores, for his role in inaugurating the Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago.
Bill Mitchell (left), who helped create Staples’ Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago, is honored by athletic director VJ Sarullo. (Photo/Dan Woog)
=================================================
The Staples baseball team are winners — in many ways.
On Saturday they thrashed Norwalk 13-2, in the state tournament quarterfinal. They’ll face Fairfield Ludlowe tomorrow (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Municipal Field, Waterbury) in the “LL” (extra large schools) semifinal.
Yesterday — less than 24 hours after their big win, and just a few hours after the senior prom — the entire Wrecker squad headed to Meyer Field.
They buddied up with the Westport Winners — the Little League program for youngsters with disabilities. They enjoyed baseball, a barbecue — and a chance to hang out with some of their youngest, and most rabid, fans.
Play ball! Staples Wreckers, and Staples Winners. (Photo/Beth Cody)
With primary elections near, and the general election just a few months away, the Westport League of Women Voters offers a program on our town’s electoral process.
On June 10 (2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Senior Center), registrars of voters Deborah Greenberg and Marie Signore provide the inside story on how they prepare for and run the process; results of the last election, including an election audit and recount results; how early voting is working, and the August primaries and fall elections.
Attendees can also learn what’s required to set up the polls, the training needed — and how to volunteer.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
================================================
Over 250 customers in the Juniper Road area lost power last night around 9:30 p.m., due to downed tree limbs.
Power was restored in the early morning hours. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Westport Pride invites the Westport community — LGBTQ, allies and friends — to its annual Pride celebration this Sunday (June 14, 12 noon, Jesup Green).
The family-friendly event includes live music, food trucks, local artisan vendors and information booths. Let your colors shine!
Rainbow colors are encouraged, but not required. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The Museum of Contemporary Art\Connecticut closed out its “Art, Jazz + The Blues” exhibit Saturday night, in appropriate fashion.
A packed house enjoyed a jubilant performance by Grammy Award-winning bassist and bandleader Endea Owens + The Cookout.
Owens — famous for his “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” work — brought warmth and artistry to the stage, alongside with special guest powerhouse Brianna Thomas, and a jazzy backing band, The Cookout.
Endea Owens and The Cookout, at MoCA\CT. (Photo/Roger Young)
Namhee Stokvis is the mother of 2 children. She moved to Westport 2 years ago from New Jersey, in large part because of the school’s special education program. She writes:
My son is 11 years old, and requires round-the-clock support. He is greatly impacted by the adults who guide him.
Since he entered public education at age 3, his communication, socialization and learning skills declined significantly. At age 5, within just 2 months he came home with 2 ripped jackets, a torn backpack, and tears in his eyes.
We raised concerns, offered strategies, and asked for collaboration. Instead, we were dismissed or minimized. The dominant tone was, “You are a hot parent” (their actual language), “and we are the experts who know better.”
Namhee Stokvis
In 2021, without our agreement, the district moved our son to a different classroom and changed his program. When we discovered this, the response was simply “exercise your rights,” a phrase that made clear nothing would change unless we pursued legal action.
We were frightened and confused. We had worked collaboratively through COVID, and believed partnership was possible. But from that moment on, what we encountered was nonchalance, ignorance and deception.
We met other parents experiencing similar problems, but most were too afraid to confront the district directly. They feared retribution. They kept their struggles private. We felt completely alone. Every day became painful and unbearable.
We began searching for a better place — somewhere our son could be safe and supported. After years of comparing districts, we chose Westport. We sold our home, and left everything we had built.
When we arrived in the summer of 2024, the district contacted us within days. We took that as a good sign.
And when we met our son’s new child study team, we felt something we had not felt in years: relief. Every teacher, therapist, paraprofessional and administrator treated our son with care and professionalism.
For the first time in a long time, my husband and I could focus on our work without worrying whether our son was safe or respected. He adjusted quickly, something that surprised us given his history. Our gratitude for Westport grew with each passing month.
But as we approached the one year mark, my worries returned.
Once my son’s adjustment and well-being were established, I began advocating for his education. I noticed that most decisions were already made before I entered the room. My role was often to be informed, not to make decisions.
When I requested an expert observation, it was denied. When I asked to observe my son myself, I was allowed 30 minutes in an isolated room — nowhere near the environment where he learns, plays and struggles.
I found myself worrying: If I advocate more strongly, will we still be treated collaboratively? If I raise concerns about the academic program, will I be ignored or misled? Will the same patterns that traumatized us in New Jersey repeat themselves here?
I am too afraid to test that boundary.
This year, during a community discussion at the Westport Library, I met parents who described the exact problems I experienced in New Jersey: ignorance, defensiveness, and dismissive narratives about families who speak up.
Narratives like “those parents are crazy,” “we are perfectly professional,” and “sue us if you don’t like it.”
It feels like the nightmare is returning. Sleepless nights, financial strain, and the emotional toll of simply trying to do right by my child.
I ran from New Jersey, believing Westport would be a safe place. Are we safe here?
Screenshot from Westport Public Schools’ special education page.
When a district denies and minimizes issues to avoid accountability, we lose our space to have honest conversations. And when parents are pushed toward legal battles, we are at an inherent disadvantage.
No parent has more financial power than a school district (unless you are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos). And even when parents “win,” children still lose. The critical time for intervention passes. Opportunities to learn and grow disappear while we fight.
That alarms us. It suggests that problems are being handled through conflict rather than collaboration, consuming time and resources that should be utilized for our children.
Some parents are scared. Others are already suffering, just as I once was.
We chose Westport because we believed it is a better place for our family. And in so many ways, it truly is. The dedication of teachers and professionals here is extraordinary. I bow to their daily devotion. The richness of this town, its food, art, music and people, has made us feel welcomed and grateful.
But we can do better in how we handle conflicts and communications in special education.
When we improve the way we resolve disagreements, everyone benefits.
Students gain stronger outcomes. Teachers feel supported and confident. The district’s reputation grows. And children who rely on us the most receive the timely interventions and education they desperately need.
This is not about blaming. It is about responsibility and courage. It is about refusing to let fear, defensiveness, or bureaucracy stand in the way of our children’s future.
Let’s do better together.
(Our “Opinion” page is open to all readers. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To make a tax-deductible contribution to this hyper-local blog, click here.)
Two decorative spheres — one on each side of the entrance road — greet visitors to Longshore (or “Longshore Club Park,” as no one except town officials call it).
One of them was the subject of last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see).
It was an easy one. Seth Schachter, Diane Silfen, Brian Taylor, Jonathan McClure, Ed Creevy, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Michael Szeto, John McKinney, Pat Saviano, Matt McGrath, Amy Schneider, Seth Braunstein, Andrew Colabella and Tom Feeley all checked in quickly with the right answer.
FUN FACT: For decades, a pair of small “foo dogs” (also known as “Chinese guardian lions”) sat behind the marble globes. How and why they go there were mysteries, but the few folks who noticed them always wondered.
There’s no great back story behind today’s Photo Challenge. But if you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Bruce McFadden)
(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!)
The Parks & Recreation Department’s “Kickoff to Summer” — postponed from last month by rain — is back on the calendar.
The event is this Saturday (June 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The family fun day includes food trucks, touch-a-truck, bounce houses, climbing walls, face painting, raffle prizes and more.
Parks & Rec officials will be on hand, with information about many programs and services.
In addition, the new mural — hung recently on the side wall of The Sandbar concession stand — will be unveiled (10 a.m.). Staples student Luke Bernier is the artist; the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Artists Collective of Westport helped make it happen.
Attendees must have a beach sticker to park. Walk-ins are welcome! And of course: no dogs.
Fun at last year’s Kickoff to Summer. (Photo/Katherine Phelps)
Yesterday was quite successful, for 2 Staples High School sports teams.
Bruce Schlegelmilch’s grand slam keyed a 13-2 victory over Norwalk, in the baseball state tournament quarterfinal.
Coach Jack McFarland’s Wreckers, now 17-7, move on to the state semifinals. They’ll face Fairfield Ludlowe on Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.
The boys lacrosse team downed Wilton 10-6, in their state tourney quarterfinal.
That vaults coach Will Koshansky’s squad into their 4th state semifinal in 5 years. Seeded 5th, they meet #1 seed New Canaan on Tuesday, at a site and time to be announced.
Both teams are 17-4. Although the Rams are ranked first, Staples has defeated them 3 times this year. The most recent win came in a nail-biting FCIAC final.
Lachat Farm’s first Farmers Market is Friday, June 26 (4 to 8 p.m.).
The Weston spot offers a wide array of local vendors — and live music, with the Snake Skin Boots Band.
Many guests buy dinner from the tents and food trucks, plus beverages from the Barn Bar.
New vendors this year include Agape Premium (olive oils), Anchored Homestead (small batch seasonings) and Celtic Cottage (organic breads, scones and treats).
Redding Knives returns too — for sharpening during shopping.
Here is the full list of vendors:
================================================
Craig Ferguson is nearly at the end of his Tartan Trek.
The Scotsman is walking over 3,200 miles across the US. He started in Los Angeles.
Over 100 days later, he’ll finish in Boston — just in time for Scotland’s opening World Cup match. (Next Saturday, June 13, vs. Haiti. It’s actually in Foxboro, 29 miles away. That’s okay — there are buses and trains.)
Fellow Scot David Lyons — now a Westport resident — has been following online. But he did not know that Ferguson’s route would take him through Westport.
Or that they’d meet.
But Lyons was drinking beer with a friend at Little Barn around 5 p.m. Friday, when the intrepid walker walked past.
Lyons rushed out. They chatted. And he made a donation. (The trek is a fundraiser (and awareness-raiser) for Scottish Action for Mental Health.
“Tartan Trekker” Craig Ferguson (right, obviously) and David Lyons.
Ferguson had walked 25 miles that day, with another 9 to go. The day before, he’d met the “real” Craig Ferguson (former “Late Late Show” host) in Central Park.
Another international-comes-to-Westport story: New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer (and 1988 Staples High School graduate) Tyler Hicks took a break from documenting the Ukraine war Thursday night.
He was at the Westport Library, for the opening reception of the Artists Collective of Westport’s summer exhibits, “American Journeys” and “Piece by Pieces.” His sister Darcy Hicks is a Collective member.
He posed (below) with artist Mark Yurkiw. The Westporter has been very active in Ukraine relief efforts.
Photo Mark Yurkiw and Tyler Hicks, NYT photogarapher, taking a break from documenting the Ukraine war To attend a Art fundraiser at Westport Library last night.
PS- There is a musical fundraiser for Ridgefield Responds & UAI this Sunday in Easton
Tyler Hicks (left) and Mark Yurkiw.
===============================================
Just in time for the 90-degree weekend, the crane involved in the Ned Dimes renovation project is gone. Much of the work has been completed.
Several readers asked “06880” what happened to the osprey nest, which the raptors built at the top of the crane.
We’re not sure. So we asked ChatGPT. It replied that ospreys are protected under the Migratory Bird Species Act.
“An active osprey nest (with eggs or chicks, or sometimes a nesting pair actively using it) is generally protected under federal law. Construction companies often must coordinate with wildlife agencies before moving a crane, removing a nest, or continuing activities that could cause nest failure.
“However, cranes create a common and well-recognized conflict with osprey nesting. In many cases, project owners work with agencies such as the US” Fish and Wildlife Service or state wildlife authorities to:
Delay certain activities until nesting is complete.
Obtain permits where available.
Install alternative nesting platforms nearby.
Remove nests before the breeding season begins, when allowed.
“For Connecticut specifically, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may also be involved because state protections can apply in addition to federal law.
“The key facts would be:
Was the nest occupied by osprey at the time?
Were there eggs or chicks?
Was the nest removed, or was construction simply taking place nearby?
Did the construction company have approval or guidance from wildlife authorities?”
Retaining wall work, on Compo Beach Road. (Photo/Totney Benson)
=================================================
The temperature was near 90 yesterday.
But it’s still early June. The water has not yet warmed up.
So while there was a good crowd at Sherwood Island State Park yesterday, only a few brave souls went into the water.
And those who did, did not venture far.
Here’s the view from Burying Hill Beach:
(Photo/Ed Simek)
=================================================
Exactly 100 years ago yesterday, Agatha Christie published what the British Crime Writers’ Association called the greatest crime novel ever written: “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”
To celebrate — and promote their upcoming production of the show by the same name — the Westport Country Playhouse has a special anniversary offer.
From now through Friday (June 12), anyone making a $100 donation to the Playhouse will get a free ticket to the play. (Limit 10 tickets per household.)
Westport’s 2 candidates running for statewide office — John Bolton (attorney general) and Jen Tooker (comptroller) joined fellow Republican Ryan Fazio (governor) in Stratford today.
The campaign season has begun. Bolton and Tooker are stumping — sometimes separately, sometimes together — around the state. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
From left in Stratford: John Bolton, Ryan Fazio, Troy Gargiulo (state representative candidate), Jen Tooker.
Susan O’Brien is a licensed clinical social worker. She has a master’s degree from Columbia University School of Social Work, and over 35 years’ experience supporting children, adolescents and adults across both private practice and public counseling settings. Her expertise extends to school consulting.
Susan leads discussion groups focused on child development and parenting, providing guidance and insight to families navigating the challenges of raising healthy, resilient children. She specializes in sleep, nutrition, anxiety and discipline strategies in young children.
With summer near, she looks at the way children will spend their time — and parents’ expectations for it. Susan writes:
Every June, I start hearing the same worries from parents. They feel like they need to line up camps, classes, sports and activities so their kids have a “good” summer.
I understand that. But in my work, I also see how much some children need a break — not just from school, but from always being on the go.
Susan O’Brien
Of course, camps and organized activities can be wonderful, and many families need them. But when every hour is planned, kids do not always get much time to just be kids.
A little boredom is not a bad thing. It is often when children get creative, figure things out on their own, or learn how to make their own fun.
In Westport, it can be easy to feel like summer has to be packed and productive. But a good summer does not have to be impressive. Sometimes it is a slow morning, a bike ride, time at Compo Beach, or a stop at the library. Those simple moments can do more for a child than we realize, especially when they also give families time to slow down together.
I have seen kids who are exhausted by the end of the school year move right into a summer that feels just as busy. I have also seen how much children respond when life gets a little quieter.
They open up more. They seem less tense. And parents often tell me that the best parts of summer end up being the small, unplanned ones.
That said, a slower summer is not realistic for everyone. Many parents are working, and doing the best they can.
This is just a reminder that children do not need every minute filled. Even a few quieter moments, dinner together, a walk after work, sitting outside at the end of the day, can go a long way.
What kid doesn’t like climbing on the lifeguard stand? (Photo by Ashley Carcara; editing by Melody Stanger)
For many children, what matters most is not the big outing or the perfectly planned day. It is feeling noticed. A real conversation in the car, sitting together at the beach, making dinner, or just putting your phone down for a few minutes can help a child feel connected and valued. Those small moments often stay with them longer than we think.
Years from now, kids usually will not remember every camp, class or activity. They are more likely to remember the feeling of summer at home — lazy mornings, popsicles after the beach, catching fireflies, or having the time to simply hang around with the people they love. That is often what makes a summer feel full in the first place.
A lot of parents want to give their children more unstructured time, but honestly do not always know how. Summer can feel like something that has to be managed, especially when there is pressure to keep kids busy, off screens, and “making the most” of every week.
For many families, unstructured time sounds good in theory but feels uncomfortable in practice, because no one really taught parents how to leave space without feeling like they are falling short.
Sometimes it helps to think of unstructured time as leaving breathing room in the day instead of doing nothing at all. Parents can protect a few open hours with no planned activity. Keep simple things available, like art supplies, books, balls, or sidewalk chalk, and resist jumping in too quickly when a child says, “I’m bored.”
Let kids find books — then settle down to read.
A little guidance is fine. But children often do better when adults set the stage, and then step back.
The goal is not to create a perfect free-range summer. It is to make enough room for imagination, rest, and ordinary family life to happen.
We all want to give children what they need. Sometimes that means opportunities and structure.
But sometimes it also means letting them be bored, letting them slow down, and giving them more time with the people who make them feel safe.
That may end up being one of the most important parts of summer.
(Our “Opinion” pages are open to all. Send submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)
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 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 an important summer spot: your backyard.
June is finally here — meaning backyard barbecues, graduation parties, and more great outdoor gatherings.
But summer entertaining often includes an unwelcome guest: a mountain of single-use plastic waste.
Just in time, Sustainable Westport has released its “UnPlastic Your Backyard Guide.” Click here for practical advice on trading out cheap disposables for cleaner alternatives that protect local soil and waters.
Tips include using jute plant ties, bamboo plant stakes and markers, and what to do with all those nursery pots.
But local sustainability isn’t just theory. Westport’s youth are leading the charge.
The Staples High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse teamstood out this spring, by completely rethinking their traditional team dinners.
Knowing how much waste those weekly events generate, the team created a reusable “Hospitality Kit.” Passed from host to host, it eliminate single-use plastics.
It includes:
Swapping out flimsy plastic tablecloths and plastic forks for washable cloth linens and stainless steel cutlery.
Utilizing large beverage dispensers and stainless steel cups, eliminating more than 50 plastic bottles per dinner.
Setting up a dedicated sorting station for cutlery, cups, trash and food waste.
The result? Each team dinner generated less than one light, dry garbage bag of actual waste.
A sustainable Staples lacrosse team dinner.
The team’s sustainable success highlights a core tenet of the plastic-free movement: It doesn’t require a 100% waste-free event to make a massive impact.
Recognizing that replacing disposable plates with reusable ones put too much of a laundering burden on the host families, the team compromised. They opted for unlined paper plates instead of plastic or Styrofoam ones.
Feeding up to 50 hungry athletes every week throughout the spring season means the sheer volume of single-use plastic diverted from local landfills by just this one high school sports team is staggering.
(The Staples boys lacrosse team are winners on the field too. They’re FCIAC [league] champions. Right now [Saturday afternoon] they’re playing at Wilton, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Go Wreckers!)
Stainless steel cups, and large dispensers. Think of how many plastic water bottles were saved at this one dinner!
As outdoor party season swings into action this month — graduation! Father’s Day! block parties! — Sustainable Westport hopes the lacrosse team’s creativity inspires other Westporters to look at their own celebration setups.
(Don’t forget balloon-free decor! Ditching balloons is a huge plus for the environment.)
Small actions, multiplied across a community, can have a powerful impact.
Even without spectacular weather and a stunning venue, last night’s Pops Concert would have been a home run.
But superb talent, off-the-charts energy and the clear love of teenage musicians and their teachers for each other made the event — a beloved tradition, and a gift of the Staples High School music department to the town — a grand slam.
A jam-packed Levitt Pavilion crowd was thrilled by small ensembles, the Symphonic Band & Orchestra, Jazz 1, Choralaires, Sonora, Orphenians and the Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra.
It was hard to tell who enjoyed the evening more: the students, conductors, or the large audience.
As emcee James Naughton said at the end: “What a way to start the summer!”
From left: Levitt Pavilion executive producer Carleigh Welsh, Staples principal Stafford Thomas, orchestra director Jeri Brima, choral director Lauren Pine, townwide arts coordinator Steve Zimmerman.
2-time Tony Award winner James Naughton served as emcee.
Owen Naughton — James’ grandson — on keyboard, with the Jazz 1 group.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
For the first time in a long time, my husband and I could focus on our work without worrying whether our son was safe or respected. He adjusted quickly, something that surprised us given his history. Our gratitude for Westport grew with each passing month.
