Roundup: Lifeguards, Main Street, Levitt …

Posted on August 20, 2026 | Leave a comment

Effective today (Thursday), there are no lifeguards on duty at Burying Hill Beach. The beach remains open, with swimming at your own risk. Beach emblems are required at Burying Hill through Labor Day (September 7).

Compo Beach lifeguards continue their regular schedule through September 7. Beach Emblems are required at Compo through September 30.

Burying Hill Beach (Photo/Drew Coyne)

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For over 25 years, “Holiday Time, Main Street, Westport CT” — a festive Main Street. by internationally known folk artist Kathy Jakobsen — has been a favorite of Westporters. Many business names are clear (though most are long gone).

Now Westport River Gallery is offering a few signed and numbered unframed 23×17 serigraphs. The prints were originally $450. These are just $25.

Jakobsen’s works are part of the permanent collections of the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the Smithsonian in Washington. She is a former Weston resident.

Email westportrivergallery@gmail.com, or call 203-226-6934.

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Longtime Levitt Pavilion favorite Frank Mastrone returns to the Levitt Pavilion stage this Saturday (7:30 p.m.).

The Broadway artist’s repertoire — show tunes and American Songbook classics, with a few pop and classical selections thrown in — appeals to a broad crowd.

The Levitt says he’ll be joined by “friends.” We’re not sure who they all are, but we do know 2: Dodie Pettit and Rex Fowler.

After singing and dancing in “Cats,” Dodie performed in “Phantom of the Opera” —  on Broadway, and the national tour. That’s where she met Mastrone.

Fowler — co-founder of Aztec Two-Step — and Pettit are now married. They perform as Aztec Two-Step 2.0.

It should be a great show. And tickets are … free! Click here for more information.

Frank Mastrone

Also on the Levitt calendar:

  • Today (Thursday): Barboletta, Tribute to Santana (7:30 p.m., free)
  • Friday, August 20: The Machine Performs Pink Floyd (7 p.m.; tickets)
  • Sunday, August 22: Andy Frasco & the UN, and Kitchen Dwellers with special guests Magoo (5 p.m.; tickets).

Click here for more information, and tickets. 

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Earthplace welcomes fall with 2 of its favorite events.

The Fall Festival (October 3) and Woodside Bash (October 17) are great ways for friends and newcomers to gather and celebrate nature, while supporting environmental education, conservation, wildlife care and scientific research.

The Fall Festival includes the reopening of Earthplace’s renovated Birds of Prey Exhibit, with new and expanded habitats for raptors, and a more engaging and accessible experience for visitors. .

As always, there are live animal encounters, hayrides, pumpkin-themed activities, food trucks and games, Fpr Fall Festival tickets and sponsorship opportunities, click here. 

The Woodside Bash, meanwhile, transform Earthplace into an adult celebration with live music, a seasonal dinner menu, cocktails, entertainment, and opportunities to support Earthplace’s mission. For Woodside Bash tickets and sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Earthplace serves thousands of children, families, students and visitors each year through its nature center, animal ambassadors, nature-based preschool, Harbor Watch water quality program, summer camps, community programs, and 62-acre wildlife sanctuary.

Hanging out at the Woodside Bash.

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Westporters are great supporters of Mercy Learning Center.

They serve on its board, volunteer at and donate to the Bridgeport non-profit, which impacts countless women’s lives — and those of their families — through education and support services.

So it’s no surprise that MLC’s annual benefit (September 27, 5 p.m., Shorehaven Country Club) has a strong Westport flavor.

The event honors Allison and Tony Allott. Former Westporters and Staples parents, they introduced their Green’s Farms Church congregation to the non-profit. Congregants (including the Allotts) volunteer with MLC on Service Sunday.

Allison has been an ESL and citizenship tutor since 2014. She is also a board and event committee member.

The Mercy Learning Center board chair is Tammy Barry. The event committee includes local residents Gina Beranek, Sara Connolly and Theanne Feldman.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Rach’s Hope — the non-profit honoring the memory of 2015 Staples High School graduate Rachel Doran, which provides nutritious food, lodging, transportation and encouragement to family members when a child is in intensive care — is as active as Rachel herself was.

On Sunday, October 4 (3 p.m., Compo Beach), everyone is invited to join the 5th annual “Walk the Extra Mile … For Rach’s Hope” event.

It’s a fun, community-wide beach walk, with live music, a gourmet pizza truck, wine and beer, dessert and special Rach’s Hope swag.

Click here to buy adult and student tickets.

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The contributions, struggles and sacrifices made by Native Americans during the Revolutionary War are often overlooked.

On October 4 (2 to 4 p.m.), Pocomoke Indian Nation member Drew Shuptar-Rayvis brings his outdoor demonstration station — including artifacts, reproduction pieces and traditional clothing — to the Weston History & Culture Center. He’ll answer questions too, about Native American life.

The free event is is part of the History Center’s “America 250: The Revolutionary Spirit Lecture Series.” For more information, click here.

Meanwhile the Weston History & Culture Center will be open for exhibits, guided tours, children’s activities and more on 3 Sundays this fall: September 27, October 4 and October 25 (1 to 4 p.m.).

Attractions include the interactive “Weston at Work,” the 1940s-era Coley House, and stories from the American Revolution. Click here for details.

Drew Shuptar-Rayvis

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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between August 12 and 18.

A 49-year-old Stamford man was charged with breach of peace, following an investigation into a July incident in which a cyclist became irate about an automobile driver’s driving. The cyclist yelled, used profanity, made obscene gestures and spat on the vehicle. Video did not support his claim that he had been unsafely passed. He was released on a $1,000 bond.

A 31-year-old Oxford, Ohio man was charged with stalking and violation of a restraining order. He allegedly traveled from Seattle to Connecticut after learning from social media that the business he was arrested at was affiliated with a relative of the victim. He was held on a $250,000 bond.

A 45-year-old Holyoke, Massachusetts man was charged with failue to appear, stemming from a previous arrest for felony charges. He was held on a $10,000 bond.

Westport Police also issued these citations:

  • Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 3 citations
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
  • Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 3
  • Improper use of markers: 3
  • Traveling unreasonably fast: 2
  • Failure to register a commercial motor vehicle: 2
  • Violation of town ordinance (dogs): 2
  • Failure to obey stop sign: 2
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
  • Speeding: 1
  • Illegal operation by a motor carrier: 1
  • Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1

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With exactly 14 weeks left before Thanksgiving, John Karrel’s Muddy Brook photo is perfectly appropriate for today’s “Westport … Naturally” image:

(Photo/John Karrel)

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And finally … in honor of Mercy Learning Center’s upcoming benefit (story above):

(If you learn about upcoming events on “06880” — or anything else — we hope you’ll click here to support our work. We rely on support from readers like you. Thanks for showing us a little love!) 

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Posted in Arts, Beach, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Local business, Police

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Red Oak On Hickory: A Tree For The Ages

Posted on August 20, 2026 | 7 comments

David Stalling grew up in Westport, and graduated from Staples High School in 1979.

After forestry school in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, and serving in a Marine Corps Force Recon unit, he moved to Montana in 1986. he has spent most of his career protecting and restoring wild places and wildlife, with an emphasis on and fondness for grizzly bears.

David lives in Missoula, close to his 26-year-old son Cory. He is a writer and photographer. Click here for his Substack page, “From the Wild Side.” David writes:

Some trees are more than just trees.

They become landmarks, witnesses, and quiet members of a family’s history. For me, that tree was the enormous red oak that stood in the middle of Hickory Drive.

For those of us who grew up in that neighborhood — Including my sister Sue and my brothers Ed, Bob and Tim — the “tree in the middle of the road” was part of our lives.

I do not know teh exact age of that tree, but it’s safe to say it was likely 300 years old. Which means it was already roughly 230 years old when my parents (Ed and Barbara Stalling) bought our house in 1956. By the time I was born in 1960, it had already stood there for generations — long before our family arrived, and long before most of the houses and families we knew moved in.

It stood about halfway down Hickory Drive, at the top of a little hill. You would go down one hill, climb another, and just as you reached the crest, there it was: the big red oak, planted by nature likely long before the road was built around it.

So it ended up smack dab in the middle of the road, between the Doland and Deluca houses. Beyond it, the road dropped downhill again.

Red oak tree, smack in the middle of Hickory Drive.

That tree was part of our childhood geography. If you were giving someone directions to our house, you said, “Pass the big tree in the middle of the road, then start downhill, and and when you get to the bottom of the hill we’re the little red-and-white house on the left.”

Everyone knew exactly what you meant.

That tree saw its share of our childhood adventures — and misadventures.

I snuck out in my brother’s 1967 Mustang convertible before I was old enough to drive. One winter night I hit ice, slid, and introduced the Mustang to that great old oak.

I’m sure there were other scars near the bottom of the tree from encounters like mine, although the tree undoubtedly regarded them as little more than scratches from passing generations.

We came close to hitting it in our homemade go-karts, too. We nailed tires onto those things, but had a tendency to fall off at exactly the wrong moment. Add a hill, lack of brakes and youthful confidence, and that big oak became a very important obstacle.

Bicycles on ice. Sleds in winter. Flying downhill with considerably more enthusiasm than judgment. The tree was always there.

I climbed it once, too, almost to the top — a fairly remarkable achievement, considering how enormous it was.

There was even a sign on the tree warning drivers, “Caution — Children.” Another sign said, “Slow — Children.”

Mr. Marshall, a teacher and football coach at Long Lots Junior High, once gave me a ride home and noticed the sign. He looked at it, then me and, smiling, said, “Slow children? That explains a lot.”

The tree was not merely something we had to drive around. It was part of our lives. It was a meeting point, a landmark, a warning to slow down, and a silent witness to all the ordinary things that make up a childhood.

And now it is gone.

The beginning of the end.

My brother Ed recently heard from our old neighbor, Anna DeVito, that the tree had been cut down. We don’t know exactly why. Perhaps it had begun to rot. Perhaps there was concern that a tree that enormous and

old could eventually fall onto the wires, a house, or the road.

Trees, even magnificent ones, eventually grow old and die. Sometimes cutting one down is the safest and wisest thing to do.

But knowing that doesn’t make it any less sad.

That oak probably stood there for 2 or 3 centuries. It survived storms, winters, hurricanes, droughts, countless cars, generations of children, and all of us who thought we were invincible.

It was there through my childhood, my teenage years, and when I graduated Staples High School in 1979. It was there while I served in the Marine Corps in the early 1980s, and it was there when I moved to Montana in 1986.

It was a giant, beautiful old tree. In a strange way, it belonged to all of us who grew up around it.

Another view. (All photos/Anna DeVito)

I can still picture that hill. I can still see the road rising toward the tree, then falling away again. I can still imagine the Mustang sliding on the ice, the go-karts careening downhill, the bicycles and sleds, and a kid climbing as high as he dared into those enormous branches.

That red oak is gone now, but it left behind something that cannot be cut down.

Memories.

For those of us who grew up on Hickory Drive, the big red oak will always be there — standing in the middle of the road, just over the hill, waiting for us to slow down.

(“06880” is a bridge between the Westports of yesterday, today and tomorrow. If you enjoy this hyper-local, all-community blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Looking back

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Pic Of The Day #3409

Posted on August 19, 2026 | 1 comment

Classic Longshore scene (Photo/Susan Garment)

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Posted in Longshore, Pic of the Day

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Unsung Hero #444

Posted on August 19, 2026 | 6 comments

Julie Loparo writes:

One evening last night, Westport Animal Shelter Advocates volunteer Sara Stockman learned that after many hours, a mastiff was still frantically pacing the large fenced-in yard of a Burnham Hill resident.

We headed to the house to see if there was anything we could do to help rescue the dog, who had been on the lam at least 5 days. Her image appeared on several Ring cameras in the area.

At the house, we saw the kind homeowner trying to coax the mastiff to come near. She immediately responded to Sara, as dogs always do.

The dog came near, but not close enough to slip on a loop lead. We realized that professionals were needed.

We contacted the volunteers at CT Doggone Recovery. They have helped trap several difficult Westport dogs.

Jill Bishop and Melissa Carpenter had just returned home after an exhausting day searching for 2 dogs around Norwalk. Their shoes were off, and they were making dinner.

But they did not hesitate. They loaded the CT Doggone Recovery truck with supplies, including a big trap.

They arrived, then set up the trap (loaded with chicken and hot dogs) and a camera.

Preparing the trap …

Sara — the human our new friend trusted most — was in charge of the liquid smoke and guiding the dog to the trap. Within a few minutes, she was in. Very tired, thin and tick-covered, she was ready for transport to Westport Animal Control.

… and heading off to heal.

Officers Peter Reid and Joseph Saponare met us at the shelter. We tucked her in for the night.

The next morning WASA volunteers arrived early to check on her, and the other guests. She had her first WASA-funded vet visit that week.

My nominations for 06880’s Heroes of the Week are: WASA volunteer Sara Stockman, CT Doggone Recovery volunteers Jill Bishop and Melissa Carpenter, and the lovely Westport family – Cindy, Andy and Justin Kaplan — for being so kind and patient, hosting a frightened friend in their back yard and allowing a group of volunteers to crash in at dinner time to secure her safety.

(To donate to CT Doggone Recovery to support their rescue efforts, please  click here. To donate to WASA for vet care needed for our new friend, please click here.)

(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.)

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[OPINION] Dog Park Is No Reason To Unleash The Process

Posted on August 19, 2026 | 19 comments

Jennifer Johnson is in her 3rd term as a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member, from District 9. Previously, she served on the Parks & Recreation Commission. She writes:

Regardless of how one feels about a “dog park,” there is a long-established process for the Parks & Recreation Commission to champion initiatives involving our shared open space.

The PRC clearly followed that process with the recent field-light proposal. Why not for a dog run?

After waiting over 5 hours to speak Monday night, more than 60 residents made clear that this issue deserves a thoughtful process.

The Planning & Zoning Commission already has plenty on its plate. It should not be asked to do the work that should first be vetted by the PRC — including answering basic questions about whether a particular site is appropriate.

And the PRC has already done much of the groundwork. The recently completed, taxpayer-funded $250,000 Parks Master Plan identifies Winslow Park as a possible location for a dog area, but it also specifically identifies Machamux Park, on Greens Farms Road.

Machamux Park (Photo/Andrew Colabella)

Given its size, current use, location, parking, etc. Machamux seems worthy of serious consideration. The plan estimates the cost at $80,000 to $100,000. What remains is to determine the ongoing costs and requirements for maintenance, cleaning, management and enforcement.

Whether Westport residents ultimately want a dog park is a legitimate question. But before we let the dogs out — or put up a fence — we should follow the process.

The PRC should review the recommendations of its own Parks Master Plan, and develop a complete proposal. After it has been publicly vetted and voted on by the full Parks & Rec Commission, bring it to the appropriate town bodies.

Then the P&Z can weigh in.

Winslow Park (Photo/Mark Mathias)

There may be plenty of bones to pick with the idea of a dog park. But asking P&Z to decide now whether dedicated open space at Winslow should become a fenced dog area is putting the cart before the dog.

We have a process. Let’s respect it.

And let’s not leave the Parks Master Plan sitting in the doghouse.

(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog with a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Local politics

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Roundup: Top Hat Tutors, Swim Around Manhattan, Blood Drive …

Posted on August 19, 2026 | 2 comments

Top Hat Tutors — Staples’ High School highly regarded, student-run, very popular (and cool) tutoring service — is gearing up for a new year.

They’re looking for both new tutors, and families needing them.

Top Hat Tutors are juniors and seniors from around Fairfield County. They provide high-quality, in-home tutoring across a wide range of subjects, including science, math, English, social studies, world language, music and SAT/ACT. Last year, they worked with 150 clients.

All tutors have taken the classes they work with — and passed it with at least a 90.

Top Hat charges $50 per hour for individual students. Group sessions are $25 per hour for each additional student ($75 for 2 students, $100 for 3, etc.).

To request a tutor, click here. To apply to become a tutor, click here. 

Questions? Email tophattutors@gmail.com.

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Derek Yach is a 3-time cancer survivor: melanoma, prostate and, most recently, esophageal. He swims regularly at Compo Beach, in summer and winter.

Mary Money — a breast cancer survivor — is a regular swimmer too. (And a baker, famous for her 6 a.m. Friday muffins.)

With prostate cancer survivor Keith Kirkpatrick (who swims mainly at Fairfield’s Penfield Beach) and fellow Westporter Leila Shields (a regular Compo swimmer, and strong supporter of several community based programs), they’ve formed a tight-knit community.

Next month, they’ll take the plunge in different waters, in a far different way — and for an excellent cause.

On September 10, they’ll swim 28 1/2 miles around Manhattan. That’s right: from Battery Park, up the East River, into the Harlem River, then down the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty.

The 8-hour event will raise funds for cancer treatment in underserved Kenyan communities. The Phangisile Mtshali Cancer Center and other health facilities provide desperately needed chemotherapy ports, to deliver treatments.

“As cancer survivors we know that our diagnosis, treatment and follow-up has been successful due to outstanding care available in Connecticut — mostly at Yale Smilow,” says Derek.

“So much care is often taken for granted. My work takes me with the Catholic Medical Mission Board to Kenya, where a rural cancer center lacks most of the critical diagnostics, treatment and even chemo ports we take for granted.”

The swim is especially timely. given recent deep cuts to global health programs. Click here to contribute.

Derek also urges “06880” readers to “join advocacy efforts to urge greater support for cancer care through government, corporate and nonprofit programs.”

And, he adds, “join us in our early morning swims. It’s the best way to promote your health!”

Compo Beach early morning swimmers.

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There’s always something special at the Westport Farmers’ Market.

Tomorrow (Thursday, Imperial Avenue parking lot), winners of the Young Shoots photography contest will be honored at 12:30 p.m.

Photos will be on display throughout the market’s regular hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Michael Veltri’s award-winning Young Shoots photo, 2025.

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The most recent Red Cross blood drive goal was 29 units. They blew past that number, finishing with 44. An impressive 14 donors were there for the first time.

Eight were “Power Red” donations, equating to 16 units. Those are very valuable,  often prioritized for trauma, surgical, and cancer patients.

There were 25 Type O donors, especially critical for their universal compatibility.

But the need for blood is constant. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds. Most of us will need blood at some in our lives

The next Westport blood drive is Friday, August 28 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., VFW Post 399). .

Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments to donate blood or platelets in advance. Click here; then use sponsor code VFWWESTPORT; call 800-733-2767, or use the Red Cross Blood Donor app.

 

 

 

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A small mini-plaza opposite Goodwill includes a popular Italian deli (Gaetano’s), 2 Asian restaurants (Shanghai Gourmet and Yama Fuji Sushi), and a nail salon.

Soon, you can buy all your closet and organizing needs there too.

Around Labor Day, Closet Factory will open a flagship showroom there. The owners — Westporters Dan and Melanie Zuller — already own franchises in Westchester and Fairfield County.

The Westport location will replace the current Darien site. It will occupy half of the former Calico Corners space. The design and fabric store moved to 224 Post Road East in 2021.

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Westport Swim Club — the great, fun program for young swimmers of all abilities in grades 1-8 (and a feeder program for the Staples High School swim teams) — has added 3 tryout dates: Sunday, August 23 (9:45 a.m.), Saturday, August 29 (10 a.m.) and Sunday, August 30 (9:45 a.m.). All are at the Staples pool.

There are 5 practices a week — but they are not mandatory. An option of 1 weekly practice is available, for 50% of the regular fee. Westport Swim Club offers 4 seasons a year. Click here to register for a tryout.

Westport Swim Club fun.

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Speaking of sports: The old(er) guys did it. Congratulations to Team Schur!

They took last night’s Compo League men’s basketball championship was won by Team Schur 59-48, over the younger team of recent Staples graduates.

Both teams prevailed in their semifinal by double digits to advance to the title game. The top 2 seeds were tied 28-28 at the half.

A not-quite-sold out crowd watched the match, held at the Staples fieldhouse due to lighting issues at the beach courts.

Compo Beach men’s basketball champs. From left: Charlie Stoebe, Travis Test, Noah Hammond, Jordan schur, Don Snyder, Baptiste Bataille. Team members not pictured: Zach Gut, Kevin Cline, Michael Carter-Williams, Brandon Barton, Steve Goldenberg, Connor Whelan.

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A reader writes: I was at Compo Beach on Sunday after the storm — Schlaet’s Point, where Soundview Drive runs into Hillspoint/Compo Road South — when I saw something large at the water’s edge.

“I found a large, heavy sign. It is a memorial for a dog, Ollie. It must have been placed on Cockenoe Island, and floated away in the storm.

“Whoever made it would probably want to know where it is — and maybe bring it back.

“I dragged it to the top of the beach, and planted it next to the benches at the corner of Compo South and Hillspoint. My guess is it’s still there.”

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We all know that love rocks.

But here’s literal proof.

Kim Mathias painted some rocks at her Saugatuck Church’s women’s retreat. She placed them — gently and lovingly — around the base of her mailbox, for anyone strolling by (and looking down) to enjoy.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

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Longtime Westport resident Mary Condon died peacefully in her sleep on August 13, in Southport.

Born in Cork City, Ireland in 1944, Mary carried deep pride in her Irish heritage throughout her life. At 14 she emigrated to New York, and lived in the Bronx with her family. After marrying she moved to Westport, where she raised her family.

Mary’s passions reflected both her Irish heritage and her deeply held values. She treasured time spent with friends, loved literature and lifelong learning, and generously supported organizations that were meaningful to her, including the ASPCA, NPR, PBS, Planned Parenthood and the American Cancer Society.

Her daily ritual of drinking Barry’s Tea was a lifelong comfort, and a cherished connection to Ireland.

After surviving breast cancer, she gave back by volunteering for many years at Norwalk Hospital.

Mary is survived by her brother, John O’Donnell; her children Christopher and Claire, and her grandchildren, Ryder and Teagan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the American Cancer Society. A celebration of life will be held at the Gaelic-American Club, 74 Beach Road, Fairfield, Connecticut, on August 28 (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.).

Mary Condon

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Wendy Levy sends along today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, and adds, “Backyard garden veggies still going, despite various animal tastings.”

(Photo/Wendy Levy)

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Frank Beard — ZZ Top’s drummer who, ironically, was the only band member without a beard — died Monday. He was 77. Click here for a full obituary.

(“06880” covers Westport 24/7/365 — and from A to ZZ. If you enjoy even half of what we do, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Beach, Children, Education, Environment, Local business, Obituaries, Sports, Teenagers

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Jason Bird’s Magical Journey: From Vegas To Westport

Posted on August 19, 2026 | Leave a comment

For more than 25 years as a magician and mentalist, Jason Bird did it all.

A Las Vegas headliner, he performed over 9,000 times. He appeared on NBC, Fox and The CW’s “Masters of Illusion.” His work captivated audiences of pro athletes, Hollywood stars and royal families. He’s awed corporate clients like Google, American Express, Microsoft, BMW and AT&T.

What can possibly be next?

Westport.

On October 25, November 22 and December 13, Bird brings his new “Parlor of Impossibilities” show to the Delamar Westport.

The intimate setting — a private room by the Dandelion restaurant — is far different from Bally’s 1,040-seat Jubilee theater, a cruise ship or TV studio.

And Bird can’t wait to work it.

His new show is “much more than card tricks,” he tells “06880.” “Everyone in the audience is involved. It’s thought-provoking. I’m able to relate to every person there.

“I spent years performing big shows in big rooms. But there is something entirely different about magic when the audience is only a few feet away. You can see everything. You can hear everything. People hold the objects. They make the choices. There’s nowhere for me to disappear.”

Connecticut is now Bird’s home. The Wisconsin native spent more than 2 decades based in the desert. He’d fallen in love with magic at 15. At 17, he told his parents he wanted to move where “all the magicians were”: Vegas.

His parents said fine — provided he went to law school. Bird took pre-law courses at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, before beginning his entertainment career.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain,” he admits. “But I got work for 25 years.”

During the pandemic — when no entertainers were working — he and his wife discussed next steps. He wanted to do an off-Broadway, East Coast-type show. Besides, he missed “trees and living things.”

“It was almost like throwing a dart,” Bird recalls. “We didn’t know anyone in Connecticut.”

But after looking at several towns — including Westport, which they loved — the Birds moved to Glastonbury. The schools are excellent, and they admire the state.

“There are beautiful hotels, restaurants, historic towns, and people here who want interesting things to do,” he says.

The next step was designing a show. “Parlor of Impossibilities” blends sleight of hand, psychological illusion, mind reading, impossible predictions, inexplicable coincidences, storytelling, humor and wonder, just inches from the audience.

“Magic has a reputation for being either something for children, or something enormous with fire and dancers and people disappearing from boxes,” Bird says.

“There’s another tradition that I’ve always loved: the magician in a beautiful room with a small group of people, where the impossibility happens right in front of you. That’s what I wanted to bring back.

“Adults become very good at knowing how everything works,” he says. “We Google it. We explain it. We solve it. There are not many opportunities left to sit in a room and genuinely say, ‘I have absolutely no idea how it happened.'”

The Delamar hotels are a perfect partner for “Parlor.” In addition to Westport, Bird will perform 3 shows at another boutique property, the Delamar West Hartford. He’s in talks with the Delamar Mystic too.

Delamar Westport.

The Delamar Westport’s room — with its upscale, luxurious feel — is almost a character in Bird’s show.

It will be decorated with vintage magic and vaudeville posters. A Victrola will play old-time music. The mood evokes private salons and drawing rooms of generations ago.

As for Westport, Jason knew the town’s long relationship with the arts, theater and creative people.

The more he’s learned about it — and the more time he’s spent here — the more it feels like exactly where “Parlor of Impossibilities” belongs.

It’s a place where “people value live performance, great restaurants, theater, art, and the idea of actually going out and experiencing something.”

And because we’re so close to New York, Westporters “know what a great show feels like. I like that challenge.”

He hopes to build upon his first 3 shows, to create “something with roots” here. He wants “Parlor” to be “one of those things people associate with a night out here — something you bring friends to when they’re visiting, something you tell someone they have to experience, something you come back to because no 2 audiences, and no 2 shows, are exactly alike.”

Jaosn Bird is ready. “Parlor of Impossibilities” promises to be a wonder-ful time.

(For tickets to the October 25, November 22 and December 13 Delamar Westport shows, and more information, click here.)

(What “06880” — your hyper-local blog — does every day is not magical. But it’s close. We can’t do it, though, without our readers’ help. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)

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Pic Of The Day #3408

Posted on August 18, 2026 | 1 comment

Jesup Green sculpture, near Westport Library (Photo/John Maloney)

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Posted in Arts, Pic of the Day

Staples Players Rewind: “Bye Bye Birdie”

Posted on August 18, 2026 | Leave a comment

In 2014, “Bye Bye Birdie” — the classic Broadway musical and film — was a sold-out Staples Players summer production.

This fall, it will be the award-winning high school troupe’s mainstage show.

To get ready, we offer highlights from 12 years ago. Former Staples media teacher Jim Honeycutt — who filmed most of directors David Roth and Kerry Long’s shows — created this “nutshell” reel. Click here or below to see.

Many cast members have gone on to successful careers, on stage and off. They include:

Clay Singer (Albert Peterson) has extensive theater credits, including “Masquerade” in New York, “Fiddler On the Roof.””The Band’s Visit” North American tour, “Next to Normal,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Ragtime,” “The Full Monty — and “Into the Woods” in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Elle Duran (Albert Peterson) s a trans and non-binary actor, singer and content creator. She appeared in the film “1660 Vine,” and guest-starred as Alisha in Abbott Elementary. Elle creates queer-affirming, educational social media videos to support the trans community, and co-hosts the “Trans In Love” podcast discussing relationships and trans family dynamics.

Michelle Pauker (Kim Macafee) is a singer and actor. She has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Great Lakes Theatre Company), and “Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse). On Sunday, her band Back to the Garden 1969 performed at the Levitt Pavilion.

Jack Seigenthaler (Conrad Birdie), from Weston, entered Harvard Law School in 2024. He previously spent several years at the ACLU of Tennessee. In Nashville, Jack managed advocacy campaigns and lobbying efforts at the state legislature, before moving to Brooklyn to serve as policy and budget director for a New York City council member.

Caroline Rossi, now McCluskey (Mrs Doris Macafee) works in public relations and marketing. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Will Smith (Mr. Harry Macaque) studied theater and English and Muhlenberg College. He is now an editor at the Empire Design Company, creating trailers for movies and TV shows.

Joe Badion (Hugo Peabody) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.

Nick Rossi (Randolph Macafee) 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.”

Bryan Gannon (Mayor) is an actor and producer best known for his roles as Inspector Lestrade in the film “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Furtive Festivity,” and on “The Deuce” and “Paramount’s Fences.”

Mackenzie Lavoie (Mayor’s Wife) earned a bachelor of science in arts administration, combined arts and a minor in film and media studies at Wagner College. She is a communications and PR professional specializing in strategic storytelling, media relations and brand positioning.

Keanan Pucci (Maude) graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, contributing to virtual production pipelines and visual development for projects like Netflix’s “Escape from Hat.” His film credits include “An Inconsistent Story in Stealing. Click here for a showcase of his interactive and 3D work.

Noa Wind (Nancy) is a vocalist and performer who has appeared as a supporting chorus member and soloist in high-profile concert events with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall.

Jordan Goodness (Deborah Sue) is a baritone with extensive experience in Voice Over.

Christian Melhuish (Freddie) is a singer, actor and dancer in New York.
After graduating from Temple University with a BFA in musical theater, Christian has performed regionally around the country. Credits include Jesus (“Godspell”), Romeo (“Romeo & Juliet”) and Bob Gaudio (“Jersey Boys”). He has also performed Off-Broadway and in cabarets and staged readings.

Daniel Pauker (Reporter 1) is a New York-based technical animator. He graduated from Syracuse University, and has a passion for 3D software and systems.

Bailey Claffey (Reporter 3) graduated from Wagner College’s Theater and Speech Department. She has performed regionally, and sang the national anthem before a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

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

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Roundup: Snag Tickets Now: LobsterFest, Westoberfest, Booked For The Evening …

Posted on August 18, 2026 | 1 comment

You Snooze, You Lose alert: LobsterFest returns to Compo Beach on Saturday, September 19.

Tickets go on sale at noon today (Tuesday, August 18). Click here at 12 — and be quick. They sell out fast.

LobsterFest is a fun-filled day, with over 1,500 guests, plenty of food, live entertainment, kids’ activities, booths and much more.

The Westport Rotary Club event generates over $400,000, all of which goes to local charities and international projects.

Over 250 volunteers help make it all happen. Tasks range from light duty to heavy lifting. Set-up is Friday, September 18; Saturday shifts are 2:30 to 4:45 p.m., and 4:30 to 7. Clean-up crews help out on Sunday, September 20.

NOTE: There is a special need for strong people (18 years and older) for the lobster cooker and cracker jobs.

Click here for more details, and to sign up. 

Volunteers who would like to eat lobster or steak and enjoy beverages should buy a LobsterFest ticket. There are beverages, hamburgers and hot dogs available at no cost for volunteers who do not buy a ticket.

The money shot. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Speaking of tickets: Westoberfest’s are on sale now.

The October 3 Westport Downtown Association event has more beer than ever.

From 1 to 5 p.m., Elm Street will be filled with over 50 beers from more than 20 breweries.

Plus wineries, food, live entertainment and family fun. Click here for early bird pries.

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And … one more set of tickets, on sale this morning (Tuesday), beginning at 10 a.m.: the Westport Library’s 27th annual “Booked for the Evening.”

This year’s signature fundraising event (October 28) features award-winning director, actress, choreographer and producer Debbie Allen.

She’ll be in conversation with Shonda Rhimes. The noted TV creator, producer, author, CEO of global media company Shondaland — and a Westporter — was the 2022 “Booked” honoree.

Click here for tickets, and more information.


Debbie Allen (Photo/Marvin Joseph for the Washington Post)

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As Democratic registrar of voters Deborah Greenberg steps down from her post, the party is seeking a replacement.

Registrar is a part-time elected official responsible for administering all local, state and federal elections. The annual salary is $52,086. There is a $750 transaction allowance, a $6,000 stipend for primaries; a $10,000 stipend for each November election, and a small daily stipend for conferences.

Interviews take place between August 31 and September 1. Email Andrew Nevas (abnevas@gmail.com) with interest.

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“The End of Oak Street” opened earlier this month.

The science fiction survival film is set in Flowervale, Michigan. But a few real residents of the end of Oak Street — the one in Westport, off Clinton Avenue — went to see it the other day.

End of Oak Street residents (from left): Mark Shannon, Kenny Wildstein, Karen Kleine, Barbara Ryan, Edward Boyle, Trish Boyle, Eileen Ludy, Jay Ludy.

That’s not the only Westport connection. The movie stars Anne Hathaway, who lived here for several years.

Though not on Oak Street.

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Dozens of Staples High School football players gathered at Paul Lane Field last week for the 7th annual Murph Challenge.

It was the culmination of their summer fundraising for the Catch a Lift Fund (the non-profit that helps post-9/11 combat-injured veterans regain mental and physical health).

The workout honors US Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy, killed in Afghanistan in 2005.

Over the last few weeks the 100 or so athletes in the football program raised money individually, did team lemonade stands, and prepared for a tough workout.

Coach Matty Jacowleff and the Gridiron Club reiterate the message of both physical and mental fitness, and a team first mentality — the same spirit carried by the veterans served through Catch A Lift.

The event began with US Army Sergeant Jason Smith talking to the players about sacrifice, resilience and commitment.

Sgt. Jason Smith

Then the athletes took on the Murph Challenge. It included a mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another mile run.

The 2026 season begins next month.

Staples players, coaches and Catch A Lift officials, at Paul Lane Field. (Photos/Adam Vengrow)

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Speaking of Staples: We’re proud of all our 2026 graduates.

And we get it: So are you.

(Photo/Dan Woog)

But come on! This is mid-August.

Your kid graduated more than 2 months ago. He or she is either already in college, or has one foot out the door.

It’s time to stop being proud. Start looking ahead.

And proud families of seniors: Order your Class of 2027 sign now.

June will be here before you know it.

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Speaking of Staples grads: It was a Westport reunion, on the Appalachian Trail.

Class of 1982 alum Jon Atwood is hiking the 2,198-mile route, from Maine to Georgia. His son Finn joined him for part of the journey.

Jon’s classmate and longtime friend Chris DiVecchio met them in New York. He did not look like he was ready to hike the entire trail. (Hat tip: Dan Donovan)

From left: Finn Atwood, Chris DiVecchio, Jon Atwood.

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If you thought the New York Knicks’ NBA championship was exciting … well, just wait for tonight’s Compo Beach Men’s Summer Basketball League tourney.

It’s down to the final 4 teams. (And the semifinals have been moved to the Staples fieldhouse, due to lighting issues at Compo). Tip-off is 7 p.m., with the finals at 8.

One semi pits Team Clachko — with recent Wrecker grads Sam Clachko, Derek and Cody Sale, Caleb Tobias, Matty Corrigan and Griffin Kass — against Team Raus.

The other semi features defending champ Team Schur, against Team Dymond. Staples alumni on the court include Jordan Schur, Charlie Stoebe, and Aaron and Josh Shapiro, plus PAL travel coach Jamill Powell and former RTM member Noah Hammond.

Spectators are welcome.

Compo Beach summer league action.

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Westport children’s author Nicole O’Connor is launching the 3rd book in her “Kiera and Lamby” travel-themed picture book series.

It’s based on stories she told her daughter during the pandemic, inspiring her to dream about traveling the world. In each books Kiera and her stuffed lamb take a magic blanket to a different city: New York, Madrid, and now Tokyo). They explore famous landmarks and try new foods, in a playful, accessible way.

The launch includes a book signing and Japan-themed craft (origami ice cream bookmarks!) at Momu: Sunday, August 30 (1 to 3 p.m).

From Tokyo to Momu — with ice cream!

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The latest addition to Riverside Park is this concrete pad.

We’re not sure if it’s for a bench, memorial, or something else. Like checked it out (see photo below), but did not act like a little kid. She left no paw prints.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

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The Village Voice called Dave Stryker “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” He was voted one of the Top Jazz Guitarists in the 2025 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls — for the 15th time.

This Thursday (August 20, shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner service at 6:45; VFW Post 399), he headlines Jazz at the Post.

Stryker is joined by bassist Marcus McLaurine, pianist David Berkman, drummer Steve Johns and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information. 

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Clouds are part of nature too.

Eric Bosch captured this write-your-own-“Westport … Naturally”-caption scene the other day at Compo Beach.

(Photo/Eric Bosch)

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And finally … on this date in 1868, French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovered helium.

(Supporting “06880” is no laughing matter. We rely on readers like you to help us do what we do, 24/7/365. Please click here to help. And thank you for putting a smile on our face.)

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