If you spend any time at Compo Beach, you know how great the maintenance staff is.
All day long — and into the night — they empty trash, move benches, and do whatever else is needed to keep the place clean. They are hard-working, polite, and eager to please.
Most faces change over time. But one is constant. Scott Smith writes:
I visit the beach to swim or walk most every day during summer (all year-round, really). For as long as I can recall, I’ve noticed the remarkable work of a Parks & Rec staffer making the rounds to empty the garbage/recycling receptables up and down the roadways and sidewalks.
Michael Johnson is. hands down, the most hard-working employee of any organization, company or place I’ve seen. Driving his golf cart utility vehicle from bin to bin, he’s the reason Compo’s notorious seagulls (basically racoons with wings) haven’t completely taken over the beach.
I’m in awe of his energy.
Today I happened to park alongside a garbage cans he was pulling up to. I asked to take his picture.
He took a moment to oblige. He said he has worked at Compo for 18 years, and was on duty until the end of the season.
Michael Johnson (Photo/Scott Smith)
He’s a cheery guy. But soon he was on his way. Duty calls.
If Michael isn’t an Unsung Hero of 06880, I don’t know who is.
He is! Thanks, Scott, for recognizing Michael Johnson. As all of us who go to Compo do — our Unsung Hero of the Week.
(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.)
This year’s official Connecticut 9/11 ceremony — held annually at Sherwood Island State Park’s memorial to the victims of that horrific day — is Wednesday, September 9. It starts at 5:30 p.m.
“06880” reported an incorrect date earlier. The event is held every year prior to September 11, to give families and friends a chance to attend the ceremony at Ground Zero on that date.
The 9/11 Living Memorial at Sherwood Island State Park.
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The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee continues its hiatus.
The September meeting has been canceled, for the 9th consecutive month. The DPIC last met on December 11, 2025.
In January, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie removed Randy Herbertson as chair. A replacement has not been named.
In early July, Christie told “06880,” “we’re aware of the issue and are looking into it.”
Part of the DPIC Master Plan, when it was live on the town website.
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Just 4 days remain before “A Day in the Life of Westport.”
This Sunday (September 6), every Westporter can help create a unique portrait of the town. We’ll do it by taking a photograph that captures one real moment from our day.
Whether it’s a sunrise at Compo Beach, breakfast with family, volunteering at a community event, walking the dog, cheering from the sidelines or enjoying a quiet moment at home, every image will become part of a collective portrait of our town.
“A Day in the Life of Westport” is a collaboration between the Artists Collective of Westport, the League of Women Voters Westport, the David T. Langrock Foundation, and “06880.”
Inspired by the classic Life magazine photo essays documenting “A Day in the Life of America,” the project invites residents of every age to photograph one moment on Sunday, then submit it online with a brief caption describing what the image means to them.
Each participant may submit up to 3 shots, each accompanied by a brief caption describing the moment. For more information and submission details, click here or email Westportphoto2026@gmail.com.
Prospect Gardens — the spectacular 9-acre arboretum-style Greens Farms space featuring flowers, plants — is open to public twice a year. The next date is Saturday, September 19 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The Staples high School Jazz Ensemble plays at 10:30 a.m.
New this season: “en plein air” artists, sitting in the gardens with paints and easels.
Among other treats, visitors can enjoy tall yellow helenium sunflowers, white Queen Anne’s lace, purple asters and evergreens; the very full vegetable garden; apples, quince and grapes in the orchards; water lilies and lotus ponds in the frog ponds.
Like any good town gathering place, Jesup Green hosts a variety of events. Some are political. Some are social.
On September 19, it’s cultural. The Japan Society of Fairfield County sponsors its annual Aki Matsuri fall festival (1 to 4 p.m.; marketplace opens at 12:30).
The family-friendly fest features taiko drum performances, a Japanese folktale dramatization, martial arts, ikebana flower arranging, calligraphy, J-pop dance, traditional Obon dancing, and Japanese-related activities.
New this year: group calligraphy, and a food truck selling matcha, other specialty teas and baked goods.
Speaking of Jesup Green: Since it opened 5 years ago, the Westport Book Shop across the road has featured artists of the month. They exhibit their work, and greet fans at a reception.
This month’s guest artist won’t do that.
George Hand Wright has been dead for 75 years.
But he’s perhaps the most famous Westport Book Shop artist ever. The longtime Westport resident was acclaimed nationally during his life (1872-1951).
Wright was a painter, illustrator and printmaker, and one of the early founders of Westport’s artistic community. His work appeared regularly in Scribner’s, Harper’s, Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post. The Library of Congress holds over 100 of his illustrations.
The selected work is on loan from Ed Gerber. The Wright expert lives in (and has preserved) the artist’s former Westport home, on Cross Highway. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Wright’s nephew Frank Boylan was Gerber’s godfather.
A reception for Gerber, and Wright’s exhibit, is set for September 16 (6 p.m.). Copies of “George Hand Wright: An Artist’s Life Examined” — written by Kirsten M. Jensen, and underwritten by Gerber – will be available for putchase.
Ed Gerber, at the Westport Book Shop’s George Hand Wright exhibit.
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Westporters are an active bunch. Which means our bodies sometimes break down.
Westport Regenerative Orthopedics & Longevity is a new care facility in Westport.
Drs. Michael Cantor and Ilana Etelzon offer non-surgical options and advanced recovery technology for joint, tendon, muscle, back, neck and sciatic pain; sports and overuse injuries, and chronic and lingering issues.
Treatments include Regenexx procedures, PRP injections, bone marrow concentrate, MLS laser therapy, TenJet tendonitis treatment, hormones and peptide therapy, and IV vitamin drips.
Positive Directions — The Center for Prevention and Counseling — has a new executive director.
Kim DiBella-Farber, who has spent over 20 years leading nonprofit organizations in Connecticut and nationally, returns to the state where she began her career.
For 55 years, Positive Directions has offered mental health, substance prevention and peer support services. For more information, click here.
Kim DiBella-Farber
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Long Island Sound sparkles, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
And — thanks to the Mobi-mat — people with mobility issues can make it all the way down the sand, to the shore.
And finally … speaking of the Prospect Gardens open house (story above):
(Mamas, papas, grandparents, children, people without kids — everyone! If you’re reading this, you’re part of our “06880” community. We welcome your support; please click here. Thanks!)
Like many Westporters, Oona Robinson’s life was filled with travel and adventure.
The South Africa native’s management consulting career took her to Toronto, then New York. She met her future husband on a Roosevelt Island tennis court.
They married, had kids, and migrated from the Upper East Side to Westchester, then Westport. Robinson was deputy CFO of Webster Bank, then joined Capital One as CFO of their commercial bank division just before COVID.
Oona Robinson
In 2022 their oldest son graduated from Staples High School. On a trip to South Africa shortly thereafter, her husband had a seizure. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma — an aggressive brain tumor.
She left her job, to care for him. Two years later, he died. She was an empty nester, a widow, and exhausted.
During her husband’s illness, Robinson had reflected on her many roles — including trip planner.
She told her husband about a business idea: an app that takes some of the burden off of the people (usually women) who plan family journeys.
He loved it.
After his funeral, she mentioned the concept to a friend. Encouraged, Robinson began developing it.
She spent much of 2025 creating a prototype, getting feedback and tweaking it. Eric Shapiro — CEO of app developer ArcTouch, paired with Robinson through StartUp Westport‘s mentorship program — helped immensely.
“He gave me courage to lean in, and trust my own voice,” she says.
Pivoting from Wall Street to the web has been eye-opening — and exhilarating.
“My whole career had been spent in aggressive competition,” Robinson says. “There’s a wariness there about who you bring into any conversation.
“This is the exact opposite. Very successful people have been available for always, for nothing in return. They just want me to succeed.”
In July, Robinson launched FliFlo. It’s “a private space for friends and family to plan, experience and remember” every vacation.
Or any other event — a family reunion, baby’s christening, etc. — that requires planning, coordination and communication.
Robinson had not thought of other group activities, like a youth sports tournament. But that’s another opportunity.
People will continually discover their own uses for FliFlo, she says.
(And those who are not going on a trip — someone who is busy or ill, say — can also use the app. They’ll see what they’re missing, and afterward what they missed, hopefully without too much envy.)
Sharing photos and comments.
Despite little promotion, it’s growing organically. Word of mouth has been good. “People try it, they like it, and they tell people,” Robinson says.
That’s the whole idea. If you’re going on, say, a family vacation, one person sends a link to the others. Together, everyone helps plan activities, adding suggestions and comments far beyond a text-based group chat.
As an itinerary is built, details — including confirmation emails and PDFs — can be manually or automatically added in.
Creating a shared itinerary.
“It takes the burden off the uber-planner,” Robinson notes. “It makes the process simpler for everyone, and captures the essence of the experience.”
During the event, everyone can upload comments.
Afterward, the site is a great way to relive the experience.
Right now, the site has no ads. There are no subscriptions either, though that may happen down the line.
But for now, it’s free. (Unlike probably any other part, of any trip.)
Sounds like a plan!
(For more information, and to download FliFlo for an iPhone or Android, click here.)
(“06880” reports often on Westport’s entrepreneurial scene — and interesting Westporters. If you like stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Stephen Sondheim show– about a wrongfully imprisoned barker who returns to London seeking revenge — is dark. The music, which dominates the production, is difficult. Even the English accents are hard to master.
But Staples Players staged it, expertly and excitingly, in the spring of 2015. It was another stunning success for directors David Roth and Kerry Long, and their high school-in-name-only actors.
Media instructor Jim Honeycutt filmed both casts, and created this memorable highlight reel. Click here or below to see:
Many of the actors have since built impressive careers, on stage and off. Among them:
Everett Sussman (Sweeney Todd) is an applied mathematics/computer science graduate of Harvard University. He is now a digital creator. He has acted in regional theater productions, including (again!) “Sweeney Todd.”
Juliet Kimble (Mrs. Lovett) graduated with a BFA from Ithaca College, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She performed in “Richard III,” “King Lear” and “Broken Heart” there.
Jack Baylis (Anthony Hope) graduated from Point Park University’s musical theater program. He has performed in “Legally Blonde,” “Jersey Boys,” “Children of Eden,” “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Caroline Didelot (Johanna) appeared in “Kinky Boots” at Baldwin Wallace University, “42nd Street” at New London Barn Playhouse, and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for Prime Video.
Emma Ruchefsky (Johanna) performs professionally under the stage name Emma Charles (and occasionally EMMMA).She has toured nationally and released acclaimed singles and EPs. Billboard recognized her as a Best Emerging Artist. She continues to write, record and tour.
Jack Bowman (Tobias) earned a BFA in musical theatre from Pennsylvania State University. He worked on stage and screen in New York. Because of COVID, his focus shifted to digital art. Jack is now an animator with a focus in 2D and 3D design, illustration and animation.
Joe Badion (Tobias) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.
Noa Wind (Beggar Woman) 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.
Jacob Leaf(Judge Turpin) is a professional actor. He has appeared in “Mamma Mia!,” “Gypsy,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Eurydice” and more.
Nick Massoud (Judge Turpin) sang a cappella at Yale with the Spizzwinks and the Whiffenpoofs. He now lives and works in New York.
Keanan Pucci (The Beadle) 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.
Mackenzie Lavoie (Fogg, Ensemble) 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.
Christian Melhuish (Quintet) 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.
Remy Laifer (Quintet) is a New York-based actor and musician. A graduate of Northwestern University’s theatre program, he has appeared on television in NBC’s “New Amsterdam.” His film work includes “Escape from Myrtle Broadway” and “3 Worlds, 1 Modern Romance.”
Bailey Claffey(Ensemble) 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.
Avery Mendillo (Ensemble, Soloist) is a New York–based actor and singer with roots in musical theatre, and a career in film and TV. She recently filmed her first feature film.
Jackie Rhoads (Ensemble) is a filmmaker, actor, writer and producer, who studied film at Vanderbilt University. She creates and stars in videos on her YouTube channel, which has over 20,000 subscribers, and supports the development team at Fivestone Studios, a production company based in Nashville.
Zoe Samuels (Ensemble) is an associate strategy director at Edelman. She graduated with a degree in theater and Chinese from Middlebury College.
Amy Shapiro’s 3 young sons are athletes: basketball football, soccer and lacrosse.
While coaches focused on skill and technique, they seldom gave advice on moving well, recovering properly and caring for their bodies.
Tight muscles, limited mobility, nagging aches and minor injuries were the norm for her sons, and their teammates.
Amy encouraged her kids to stretch. But like many young athletes, they did not always listen.
Amy — who has always exercised, and tried to get her boys to join her when she stretched did yoga and foam rolled (they were bored) — had an idea. What if young athletes stretched, and cross trained, as a team?
“The LAB” was born.
Rather than emphasizing sport-specific skills, its comprehensive approach combines performance training, mobility, recovery and mindset development.
Specifically, the “Grind LAB” focuses on speed and agility, footwork and coordination, explosive power, and athletic movement patterns.
The “Mind LAB” combines movement, mobility, stretching, mindfulness, breathwork and recovery techniques. Participants improve flexibility, reduce injury risk, manage stress, and develop mental toughness.
The LAB offers program for 1st grade through high school. Offerings include private training, small group sessions, weekly classes, specialty clinics and seasonal programs.
Classes start at $35. They’re held throughout Westport, including at Forme Barre next to Party Harty, Compo Beach, and private homes and yards.
Instructors include a former Staples High School football captain and pro player, and a woman who has taught over 5,000 hours of movement and mindfulness to children and families.
For more information, email TheLABSportsCT@gmail.com. The Instagram is @TheLabSportsCT.
13-year-old basketball players work on flexibility with a LAB coach.
Speaking of students: Our “06880 Students Speak” feature is gearing up for another school year.
Any youngster in a Westport school, public or private; any Westport student who goes to school outside town, and anyone who is home-schooled is welcome to contribute.
We’re looking for insights into any aspect of your life. Is your school a place of excitement or joy? Or do you hate it? Fear it?
Do you use AI to learn, or about yourself, or because you’re lonely, or to cheat?
Have you overcome body image issues? Were you bullied — or unfairly called a bully?
The goal of “Students Speak” is to give young people a voice. Our readers want to know what and how you feel. You deserve to be heard.
Posts can be anonymous, if desired. What’s important are your insights, your honesty, and the power of your words.
Unsure about your writing skills? We’ll work with you, to make sure it sounds right — while at the same time keeping your voice authentic and true.
To submit a “Students Speak” piece — or to learn more — email 06880blog@gmail.com.
The low-key — but very fun and welcoming — organization has been around since 1963.
It’s a place to socialize, make new friends, discover local treasures, and become more involved in the community. Events include casual gatherings, coffee meetups, book and cooking groups, special events and more.
Neighbors & Newcomers is open to recent arrives, longtime residents and everyone in between.
A $65 annual membership includes invitations to activities, access to the membership directory, a monthly newsletter, entry to the December holiday party and June beach party, and the fun of being connected to town. Click here for more information, and to join.
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All year long, the Westport Farmers’ Market has celebrated its 20th anniversary.
CTbites — Connecticut’s go-to food blog — took note this week. They posted a special video, with insights from a variety of vendors (and longtime director Lori Cochran-Dougall).
Spoiler alert: nearly every interviewee praised the market’s “community spirit.” (And not just customers — many vendors buy from each other, and even hang out together.)
The Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) through mid-November, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
Former resident Joseph Zambelli died July 28. He was 91.
The Iona College graduate served in the Navy from 1952 to 1954. He worked at General Foods for 37 years as a financial analyst, financial planning manager, controller, and consultant. He and his family lived in Westport for 27 years.
An expert in efficiency and cost strategy, Joe analyzed potential acquisitions and streamlined business operations across the US, Europe, South America and Asia. He also mentored scores of colleagues.
Joe loved sailing on Long Island Sound and playing golf at Longshore and in Florida, along with big band swing. He was a member of the Florida State Elks Association, and played in the Stonegate Golf Club men’s league.
Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Zambelli of Poinciana, Florida; children Bara of Asheville, North Carolina, Jean of Westport, Jay Zambelli (Caryn) of Portland, Oregon, and Carolyn of Darien; grandchildren Emma and Tasha Taggart; Isabel and Georgia Nichoson; Katherine, Thomas and Joseph Cavolo, and Freddy Zambelli; siblings Dolly Orza of Briarcliff Manor, New York, and Alfred Zambelli, of Harrison, New York, and many nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his brother Andrew Zambelli, and sisters Mary Riggio, Rose Goldsmith and Jane Lieto.
A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at a later date.
Joe Zambelli
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Every sunrise is special.
But yesterday’s was extra-special.
Matt Murray captured its glory. It’s perfect for our “Westport … Naturally” feature of the day.
Few topics get our readers’ tongues wagging more than dog stories.
Recent coverage of a text amendment to allow fenced-in areas at town parks drew dozens of comments. We won’t rehash them here.
But one came in after all the others. Most readers missed it.
It was not about whether a dog run is a good idea or not. Nor did it concern safety, aggressive dogs, location or anything else.
It was much more basic. Why, the writer asked, do we need a dog park of any kind? He said:
More than 90% of Westport dwelling units are single family homes. With yards. In all our time there, across 3 homes, all with dogs, not once did we take our dog to the park. We would take our Golden to the beach off season so she could jump in the waves, otherwise they were each pretty happy in their own yards and going on the occasional neighborhood walk.
Winslow Park
Then he doubled down, tossing another town amenity into the mix:
I’ll admit I also don’t understand the draw of the community garden. Each of our 3 homes had gardens, some more successful than others based on the quality of the fencing.
I live on the Upper West Side now so I get the allure of dog parks and community gardens where none of us have yards, but in the 06880 where 90%+ can do this all at home, what’s the need for dedicated public space?
Inadvertently, he answered his own question. A dog park and garden are important for basset hounds and tomatoes, sure.
But they are also about people. About society. About — and the word is right there, in the name of the garden — “community.”
Gardening can be a satisfying, solitary endeavor. But the gardeners formed a real community at Long Lots.
They educated and learned from each other. They admired each other’s plots. They shared the “fruits” of their labors (and vegetables and flowers), socializing together and watching birds and sunsets. They cheered each other’s milestones, and supported each other through personal struggles.
Westport Community Garden (Photo/Lou Weinberg)
Similarly, Winslow Park is a place where dog owners and dogs can gather together.
Humans and canines need companionship (and not just of their own kind — dogs meet other people, and vice versa).
As with the community garden, friendships form across generations. And if you want to be alone — but not feel alone — there’s a place for you.
Some people think a downside of suburbia is that people keep to themselves too much, in their own homes and yards. Community gardens and parks are antidotes to that.
But those are not the only spaces we gather, even if we don’t have to.
Many Westporters have backyard pools. All of us have access to Long Island Sound. Yet we swim at the YMCA and Longshore — sharing lanes and locker rooms.
Aquafit class, at the Westport Weston Family YMCA.
We exercise our bodies, of course. But we also exercise our social muscles.
We can all read or study alone. So why do it at the Westport Library? There is comfort in being surrounded by others — even if we don’t know who they are.
It doesn’t hurt either that — although we can make our own coffee — we can also take a break in the Library Café.
Two of the most popular events “06880” sponsors are the downtown winter and Soundview Avenue summer strolls.
What propels someone to leave a warm home in December, or a backyard pool in July, to walk up and down the street?
Music and food, yes. But the real attraction is other people.
Outdoor dining: more social than eating at home.
I could go on and on. We can worship at home, but we go to a church, synagogue or mosque.
We can eat at home, but we take pride in our many restaurants. And the buzz and vibe that is different — but present — in each.
You — and hopefully the “06880” commenter — get the point.
The question is not whether we “need” a dog park or community garden.
It’s what kind of town, or people, would we be without them?
(“06880” covers every aspect of Westport life — from every angle too. If you enjoy stories like this — or any other feature on this hyper-local blog — please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Special education has been in the Westport news lately.
And no one talks about it better than Jake Sussman.
The Westport native — diagnosed with a learning disability while in the Westport Public Schools — had both positive and negative experiences in the district.
He went on to found Superpower Mentors, an online platform supporting youth and young adults with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning diffeences.
Jake has earned the “Be the Difference” Award from Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities (awarded only twice in the organization’s 25-year history). He has been featured on NBC News, and spoken at Harvard.
Last week Jake joined me on the Westport Library stage, for a very important episode of our “06880” podcast. Our conversation should be “must” viewing for all our readers — those with learning differences, their family and friends, and everyone else who shares this world with them.
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!)
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She spent much of 2025 creating a prototype, getting feedback and tweaking it. Eric Shapiro — CEO of app developer 
