What does the town look like? Here are a few images from today.
Compo Beach, near Hillspoint Road and Compo Road South …. (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)
… and not far away, off Hillspoint Road. (Photo/Marie Gross)
Not making it down Canal Road in Saugatuck Shores … (Photo/Amy Buckman)
… and here’s why. (Photo/Amy Buckman)
Burying Hill Beach (Kat Palmer)
Hillandale Road (Bob Weingarten)
(As always during severe weather, “06880” is your hyper-local source for news, information and dramatic photos. If you appreciate our coverage, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
The Riverwalk — the path extending from the Westport Library’s lower level, all the way around behind the Levitt Pavilion, ending near the parking lot — is one of Westport’s hidden gems.
Occasionally overgrown, but maintained better now than in the past, it offers special views of the Saugatuck River, from ever-changing angles. and a surprisingly diverse array of flowers and bushes.
A sometimes hidden sculpture along the Riverwalk was last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)
Lynn Unitermeyer Miller, Diane Bosch, Seth Schachter, Sal Liccione and Andrew Colabella — all longtime Westporters, and all very familiar with some of Westport’s more unfamiliar places — correctly identified the location.
If you were stumped: Whenever the weather clears, take a walk along the Riverwalk!
Today’s Photo Challenge is a tough one. It’s from a mural — but which one?
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Jay Dirnberger)
(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!)
With significant storm impacts expected to continue through today, Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department has closed all town parks, athletic fields, beaches and racquet facilities.
Staff will assess conditions, and provide an update regarding Monday operations.
Residents are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. Remain alert for downed trees, falling branches, flooding and potential power outages.
Do not drive through flooded roadways, or drive around barricades or road closures. Barricades are in place for your safety. Turn around and use an alternate route.
For additional storm information and preparedness guidance, click here.
One reason Compo Beach will remain closed today. (Photo/Eric Bosch)
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Meanwhile: It’s tough to see in this photo, but there was one surfer on Long Island Sound yesterday afternoon.
(Photo/Shelley Lowenstein)
Let’s hope he made it to shore safely.
And did not endanger any rescuers in the process.
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Congratulations to this year’s inductees in the Staples High School football program’s Wall of Fame.
Honored earlier this season were:
Ryan Bohling: In 2004 and ’05 as a running back, he helped lead Staples to 2 state championship. A 2-time All-FCIAC pick, he was a 4-year varsity player at Middlebury College. He now lives in Westchester County with his wife and 2 sons.
Ryan Bohling
Scott Clukies; Co-captain of the 1996 team that posted the first winning season in 12 yeas; 2-year All-FCIAC pick, playing fullback and outside linebacker. After playing at Bates College, Scott now lives in London with his wife and 2 daughters.
Scott Clukies
Doron Stember: Co-captain of the 1991 team; running back and special teams star; Block “S” MVP. Doron played at Tufts University, and is a urologist. He livs in New York with his family.
Bill Kashetta: One of the greatest athletes in Staples history (football, basketball, baseball). First team All-State in football; earned a Division I scholarship to the University of Idaho. A stalwart Staples sports fan who died in 2020, his 2ons David and Daniel also played for the Wreckers.
Bill Kashetta
Jack McFarland: Joined the football staff in 1994; with coach Marce Petroccio, their teams won 3 state championships and 5 FCIAC titles. As head baseball coach since 2005, he has won 3 state and 4 FCIAC crowns. A grade level assistant at Staples, he lives in Monroe with his wife and 4 daughters.
Jack McFarland
Jesse McCray: Joined the football staff in 1993; with coach Marce Petroccio, their teams won 3 state championships and 5 FCIAC titles. Now the head girls track and field coach, his teams have won 3 state and 4 FCIAC championships. A grate level assistant at Staples, he lives in Hamden with his wife and 2 sons.
Save the date: CraftWestport returns to the Staples High School fieldhouse November 7 and 8.
Over 165 artists and makers will be there, for “handmade holiday shopping.”
It’s a major fundraiser for the Women’s League of Westport, which provides financial support to area non-profits.
One of over 165 booths at CraftWestport.
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Longtime Westport resident Fausto Carusone died peacefully. surrounded by his family. He was 78.
Born in Italy, in 1969 he married Stefana.
For more than 30 years, Fausto was a Connecticut state marshal. He was respected for his strong work ethic, professionalism, and dedication to public service.
He is survived by his sons Salvatore (Sarah), Fausto Jr. (Rachel) and Steven (Athena), and grandchildren Madeline, Eugenio, Lia, Isa and Christian.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday (September 30, 10 a.m., Assumption Church). Entombment will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday (September 29, 4 to 7 p.m., Harding Funeral Home).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Fausto Carusone
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Many Westporters hunkered down in yesterday’s storm.
Diane Lowman was out — and spotted this creature by the Cribari Bridge, posing for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … on this date in 1825, the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives — the Stockton and Darlington — was opened. The engine “Locomotion” pulled wagons with coal and passengers from Shildon to Darlington to Stockton.
Staples High School’s Internship Program is a win-win-win.
Every spring, talented and eager seniors leave school 3-4 weeks before graduation. They spend the final month out in the real world.
They work everywhere: retail, salons, restaurants, non-profits, medical offices, financial firms, design shops, farms, marketing companies, photography studios, publishers … you name it. If there’s a job to be learned and done, they do it.
(And not just in Westport. Interns head to New York City — even beyond.)
Luke Della Valle and Anderson Seo interned with the Westport Conservation Department last year.
The work and real life experience they gain is invaluable. The energy, creativity — and help — they bring to the workplace is huge. And the internships get them out of high school at a time when senioritis would otherwise kick in (that’s the third “win”).
Sadie Katzner and Freya Harvey worked with Strong Girls Training.
But as hard as they work, the program coordinators work equally hard right now arranging 420 or so internships.
So they’re asking the greater “06880” community: Can you help?
Do you need a senior (or two, or three) for daily onsite (or remote) work? Perhaps you’re beefing up your social media presence. Or looking for research help, design work, web content, data entry. Or hundreds of other tasks.
You can be a small, medium or large size firm– or a single proprietor. Maybe you were an intern once yourself, and want to give back.
Matthew Anto rocked the School of Rock.
Internships begin May 17, and run through June 7. Students are expected to work 5 hours a day onsite, remotely or in a hybrid model. Program leaders provide guidance and oversight.
If interested, or to learn more, email program directors Lauren Goldshore and Jessica Larit: shsinternship@westportps.org.
Hannah Bitsky interned at the Westport Police Department.
(“06880” often covers Westport businesses and non-profits, and of course our schools. Sometimes — like today — they all intersect. If you like stories like this, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Conditions are expected to intensify overnight, with stronger winds, periods of heavy rain and continued coastal flooding.
Another high tide is expected around midnight tonight. Residents in low-lying and coastal areas should remain alert for flooding. Moderate coastal flooding is also expected around Sunday’s noon high tide.
With saturated ground and winds increasing overnight, downed trees, limbs and power lines are possible.
Please avoid unnecessary travel overnight. Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Treat all downed wires as live and stay well away.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve Sunday afternoon. Please continue to monitor official town updates.
So far, much of Westport seems to have escaped the worst of the predicted nor’easter.
Of course, there is still more than a day to go. The forecast calls for 2 or more inches of rain through tomorrow evening, with strong winds. They’ll be at their peak tomorrow morning.
As predicted, there are high tide and flooding issues. Those will persist too.
Here are a few scenes from around town.
Compo Beach (Photo/Eric Bosch)
Sherwood Mill Pond, near garages (Photo/Matt Murray)
Canal Road and Marsh Road on Saugatuck Shores — well before high tide. (Photo/Sheri Gordon)
Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, Post Road East (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
Cribari Bridge. Photographer Robbie Guimond predicts, “At midnight tonight, conditions will get dangerously close to the green electric motors. This will trigger serious and very costly repairs, along with span test openings and traffic closures — critical issues that often go unnoticed.”
Compo Road South, near Bluewater Hill (Photo/John McKinney)
Eleish Van Breems celebrates books, design and “The Rooms with a View Class of 2026” on Monday (6 p.m.). The public is invited.
The authors of 4 new design books will be on hand, to sign books: Cathy Kincaid (“Memorable Rooms”), Douglas Wright (“From Hand to Home”), Isabel Molster (“Beyond Color”) and Patrick Sutton (“Tailored Interiors”).
Got design books to donate? Bring them in!
A portion of the evening’s book sales will be donated to Rooms with a View.
And finally … in honor of the happy (and lucky) couple married last night (item above):
(Stay dry! Stay safe! And if you get a chance, take a minute to click here to support “06880.” It will help us continue our coverage of this storm — and everything else we do, 24/7/365. Thank you!)
Stay dry! Wander through this week’s online art gallery.
To our artists: No matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we want your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in.
Egret (Amy Schneider)
“New Day Dawning” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (John Maloney)
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled — mixed media collage (June Rose Whittaker — Available for sale; click here)
“The Nonconformist” — horseshoe crab art (Eric Bosch — Available for purchase; click here)
“Sent into the Woods” (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase; click here)
“Beak Envy” (Mike Hibbard)
Untitled (Martin Ripchick)
“A Branch and Leaves For Our Sukkah Roof” — graphite and watercolor (Steve Stein)
“Say So Long to Summer” (Laurie Sorensen)
Entrance is free to our online art gallery –as it has been for 6 years. But please consider an anniversary donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
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: danwoog@gmail.com. Thanks!)
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