The Longshore golf course opened last week. Golfers can practice their swings nearby, a few yards from the water. It’s the only driving range in town.
Back in the day — the 1950s through the ’70s — there were more options.
Two driving ranges were connected to miniature golf parks. Both were on Post Road East. Decades ago, both were replaced by condominiums.
One was near Southport. Today it’s Lansdowne. (An adjacent skating rink was turned long ago into the Westport Tennis Club.)
Interestingly, you can drive golf balls to your heart’s contact — all year long, with indoor simulators — at The Clubhouse, a few yards in the other direction. Quite a coincidence.
The other driving range/mini-golf course (photo below) was operated by the Backiel family. These days, it’s the Regents Park condominiums.
Fore!
(Photo courtesy of Jack Backiel)
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Americans discard 20 million mattresses and box springs annually. 55,000 end up in incinerators and landfills each day.
Sustainable Westport can help.
On May 2 (8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Earthplace), they’re sponsoring a free mattress/ box spring recycling event.
Up to 90% of old mattresses can be recycled into new products, like carpet pads, exercise equipment cushioning, bike seats, insulation, air filters and steel materials.
Dry and unsoiled mattress and/or box springs are welcome. Please, none that are damaged, wet or contaminated (e.g., bed bugs).
If you can’t transport your mattress or box spring, Westport Scout Troop 36 will provide a pickup service for a small donation. Click here to register.
Scout Troop 36 helps with the mattress recycling drive.
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Who says today’s teenagers don’t care about the future of their country?
On Wednesday, the League of Women Voters of Westport partnered with US Vote Foundation to register seniors at Staples High School.
In just 2 1/2 hours, 118 students completed forms. Many others took forms with them, or captured a QR code to register, or make a plan to vote where they attend college.
Voter registration was just one part of Staples’ “Invest in Yourself” program.
The day-long event helped seniors build practical skills, as they prepare for life after high school.
A Financial Reality Fair and series of health and wellness workshops gave students hands-on experience with the kinds of decisions they will face as young adults.
In the Financial Reality Fair, held in partnership with Connecticut’s credit unions, students managed personal budgets based on their chosen career paths and projected net salaries.
At booths staffed by PTA and credit union volunteers, seniors made spending decisions about housing, transportation, utilities and other expenses, before reviewing their financial choices with financial professionals.
The health and wellness sessions included “Know Before You Go,” a sexual violence prevention program presented by the Rowan Center of Norwalk, and a documentary about the dangers of mixing alcohol and prescription drugs.
The sessions were followed by conversations with the Westport Police Department, Positive Directions, and Staples mental health professionals.
In addition Chartwells presented “Nutrition 101″L practical guidance for maintaining a healthy diet away from home.
Van Gogh meets Mr. Brainwash at Clarendon Fine Art in Westport.
This month, the Main Street gallery — the British-based company’s first in the US — unveils a new collection.
Mr. Brainwash — who fuses street art, vibrant color, mixed media and cultural references, in an intriguing intersection of street art and contemporary pop — now reimagines Van Gogh’s most recognizable motifs.
The artist will be at Clarendon April 23 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.). The exhibition is on view through May 3.
Carolyn Doan — Westport’s osprey whisperer — noticed a lot of activity at the Fresh Market osprey nest yesterday. She writes:
“Both raptors were relaxing in the sun. A few moments later they were visited by a third osprey, vying for the attention of the female. It was quickly chased away by the male after 2 low flying swoops.
“The couple then engaged in mating attempts, and relaxed some more in the sun. Mother Nature never disappoints…”
We won’t comment on their mating attempts. But if this spring is like previous ones, we’ll be welcoming another osprey pair back next year.
Speaking of wildlife: Scott Smith has enjoyed several sightings of a large flock of turkeys this spring at the H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve, on the Southport border.
He writes: “I’m happy to stop for them as they cross Sasco Creek Road heading over to the Christmas Tree Farm from the meadow, which is being restored by the Connecticut Audubon Society.
“The big birds roost high up in trees at night, which is why a group of them is called a rafter.”
Scott adds that next week, Audubon will permanently ban dogs from the meadow, as well as the biggest parcel of the property: the open space that goes all the way to the playing fields of Greens Farms Academy.
He adds, “I can see why dog walkers would be upset — but not me, or the turkeys, or all the other field-nesting birds like the indigo bunting that call this rare habitat home.”
Roadwork — repairs, maintenance and improvements — are going on all over town.
This is the scene on Whitney Street, where sidewalks are being torn up, and trees removed, as the first steps in repaving the road and replacing sidewalks.
But “Get Up With It! A Miles Davis Centennial Celebration” kicks off the 2026 season on May 24 (7 p.m.).
The event — honoring the jazz legend’s 100th birthday — features a longstanding project of The War on Drugs drummer (and Greens Farms Academy graduate) Charlie Hall.
Now in its third decade, the 10-person ensemble focuses on 3 of Davis’ most influential albums: 1969’s visionary “In a Silent Way,” the 1970 magnum opus “Bitches Brew,” and 1971’s “Jack Johnson.”
And finally … Wayne Perkins, a guitarist who “injected Southern rock into the reggae of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ breakthrough album, ‘Catch a Fire,’ auditioned for a spot in the Rolling Stones and turned down an offer to join Lynyrd Skynyrd,” died last month in Alabama. He was 74, and had suffered a stroke.
We know that our social media feeds are manipulated by algorithms. The stories, videos, images, ads and clickable links I see are different than yours.
We know we are getting a skewed view of the world — one that reinforces what we already believe, and separates us further from those who believe differently.
We know all that. But — as we scroll, click and scroll again, endlessly and mindlessly — we seldom think about what those seemingly ordinary posts mean to our lives.
We think of social media as a galaxy of free speech.
In reality, it’s a universe of hate speech.
Dr. Matthias Becker has spent years studying those ideas. He just finished a $3 million-plus research grant on antisemitism, and wrote a book about it.
Dr. Matthias Becker
In his new position at New York University as the Address Hate Research Scholar, he is exploring digital hate, implicit communication, and the social impact of AI-driven platforms.
He regularly advises governments and tech companies on ways to mitigate online hatred.
On April 21 (7 p.m., Westport Library), Dr. Becker brings his research and insights to Westport.
“Decoding Bias & Hate on Social Media” is the next in a series of Common Ground Initiative programs. CGI hosts positive conversations on how to encourage respectful, constructive dialogue, and tackle challenging issues.
Dr. Becker is an engaging, thoughtful speaker. His insights are relevant to anyone on social media — in other words, everyone.
But they’re especially important for young people, who gobble up social media constantly, and may be less cognizant of what they see and why. The hate speech they see online — not always identifiable as such — can have an especially pernicious effect on developing minds.
So as part of the April 21 event, the Common Ground Initiative is sponsoring a “Decode Hate Video Challenge.”
Students throughout Fairfield County are invited to meet with Dr. Becker at 6 p.m. Over pizza, they’ll learn about explicit and cover hate and bias online — from obvious slurs to hidden memes.
At 7, they’ll listen to his talk. Then, they’re challenged to make a 1- to 2-minute video, showing any kind of hate, bias or manipulation online.
It can be related to sports, music, movies, pop culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, misogyny — or anything else. The video should be personal, and include ideas on what people or platforms might do differently.
The deadline is May 15. On May 28 the top 5 videos will be judged by a VIP panel — for cash prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500.
“Hate doesn’t announce itself,” Dr. Becker says. “Neither does the AI that’s spreading it.
“Most of what circulates online doesn’t look like the crude hatred of decades past. It look like irony, insinuation, strategic ambiguity — ideas traveling in plain sight, just below the threshold of what most people would call extreme.
“The distinction between free speech and hate speech matters enormously here. And it’s precisely this coded, ambiguous nature of modern hate that makes drawing that line so difficult, and so consequential.
“That also makes these expressions extraordinarily hard to detect, for humans and AI systems alike.”
Dr. Becker’s research addresses 3 elements of the problem: “coordinated bad actors who deliberately exploit divisive issues, and manufacture disinformation at scale”; platform algorithms that reward outrage and amplify emotionally charged content, and elements of online communication itself — anonymity, mutual reinforcement, constant exposure to extremity — that “turn ordinary users into unwitting amplifiers of hate.”
An even deeper problem, Dr. Becker says: “Most public debate about AI and hate focuses on what AI produces — offensive outputs, extremist content.
“That’s real. But it’s downstream of a harder issue: what AI absorbs.
“Every major model shows consistent bias toward hateful associations — not because engineers are hateful, but because models were trained on centuries of human text in which those associations are already embedded.
“You can add guardrails. The underlying associations remain.”
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Last month — before and during the state Department of Transportation public hearing on the future of the Cribari Bridge — residents and Representative Town Meeting members urged 1st Selectman Kevin Christie to form an advisory group.
Today, he did just that.
Christie said that a new Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee would “support the town’s ongoing engagement with the DOT as the state-led process moves forward.”
He did not announce names of committee members, or indicate when and how they would be appointed.
The first selectman noted, “the well-attended public hearing reflected strong community interest and underscored the complexity of the issues involved.
“Traffic, safety, neighborhood impact, historic and neighborhood context, and long-term fiscal responsibility are all legitimate concerns that deserve to be evaluated carefully and in an informed way.”
Residents packed Town Hall for last month’s Department of Transportation public meeting. (Photo/Dan Woog)
While state officials have identified a “preferred option” for the bridge, no final decision has been made. The environmental review process remains open.
Christie said, “the Advisory Committee will bring together technical expertise and community perspectives to help keep Westport’s input grounded in facts and reflective of community priorities. It will evaluate options for the bridge, including structural and design considerations, in the context of community impact, funding implications, and long-term maintenance responsibilities.”
The Advisory Committee will make recommendations to the First Selectman.
However, he noted, “the Advisory Committee will not replace the formal state process or make a final decision on the project. Its role is to support the town’s engagement with DOT by providing a structured forum for coordination, analysis, and public input, with a focus on outcomes that serve Westport’s long-term interests.
“Westport has a real stake in this project for our neighborhoods, our infrastructure, and our fiscal future. This Advisory Committee will build on the Town’s discussions with the DOT by grounding decisions in facts, incorporating community input, and identifying solutions that work for Westport.”
The public comment period on the DOT’s Environmental Assessment is open through April 17. Comments can be submitted online, by email to James.Barrows@ct.gov, or by mail to James Barrows, P.O. Box 317546, Newington CT 06131-7546. Reference Project No. 0158-0214.
Cribari Bridge (courtesy of Connecticut Department of Transportation)
One of Westport’s favorite nights is back, and celebrating a milestone.
With a twist.
The 20th annual Taste of Westport returns Wednesday, June 3. As they’ve done for 20 years, the area’s top restaurants and mixologists will host an evening of great food, drinks and community — all for a wonderful cause.
The fundraiser benefits CLASP Homes. All proceeds help provide group homes and 24/7/365 services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities.
The twist: With the Inn at Longshore — its longtime home — undergoing renovations, the event moves to the Fairfield County Hunt Club.
It’s an intimate setting, with the same — but always fresh — superb food, signature cocktails and fine wines.
The Sherwood Island pavilion — one of the most popular meeting spots at Connecticut’s first state park — will be closed all year.
Maybe longer.
Alert “06880” reader Allan Siegert noticed the pavilion was closed effective January 16 “until further notice.” The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston, of which he is a member, uses it for their annual meeting, and other gatherings.
Park supervisor Cailtin Munson told him: “Unfortunately at this time, we really don’t have any information to share with you. The pavilion is closed until further notice while we undergo assessments for repairs, and we do not anticipate it to reopen for the remainder of 2026.
“While we are hopeful to have it reopened for the 2027 recreation, no information is available to provide an update for a re-opening date, so a timeline does not exist at this moment which is why it is listed as closed until further notice.
“As the Park Supervisor for Sherwood Island, I have the most up to date information regarding the pavilion, however, I still encourage you to also utilize the deep.stateparks@ct.gov email for questions you may have, as some inquiries may get routed to an alternate contact depending on the nature of your questions.
“Sherwood Island does have a smaller picnic shelter near the east beach bath house that is now reservable between May 1sr and September 30th through Reserve America, which may be an option for your gatherings.”
Congratulations to the Staples High School robotics team!
Competing recently their first aerial drone competition, the club placed first overall.
They also took 2nd place in both the Autonomous Flight and Teamwork categories.
The results qualify them for the Northeast Dragonfly regional competition in West Virginia.
They look forward to continuing to improve their skills in piloting, programming and teamwork as we prepare for higher-level competitions.
Of course, there are expenses like equipment and travel. The robotics team’s goal is $2,000. They’ve set up a GoFundMe page, and encourage residents to help support their efforts. Click here to contribute, and for more information.
On Tuesday, MoCA\CT opened their doors wide, hosting a special “speakeasy” night for Club203.
Members of Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities enjoyed casino games, jazz led by talented Staples High School musicians, tasty bites by Calise’s Deli, and art with MoCA (making dice and playing cards).
The current “Art, Jazz + the Blues” exhibit lent a special flavor to the night.
Club203 thanks all who made the evening great — especially, during this Volunteer Appreciation Month, the many volunteers who do so much!
Club 203’s speakeasy night, at MoCA\CT. (Photo/Stacie Curran)
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Comcast continues to wire Westport.
The cable, internet, phone and wireless provider plans to connect nearly 12,000 homes and businesses to their Xfinity network, which currently serves more than 64 million customers.
Westporter Tony Kiniry — executive director of Bridgeport-based nonprofit Recovery Community Development — described his organization’s work and impact at Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting.
The non-profit buys and renovates abandoned homes, then provides housing for up to 12 people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in each.
RCD runs 3 houses in the Bridgeport area. A fourth is planned for Norwalk.
Residents pay a low monthly rent, and stay as long as necessary.
Tony Kiniry, at Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting. (Hat tip and photo/ Dave Matlow)
Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between April 1 and 7.
A 29-year-old Mount Vernon, New York man was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, reckless endangerment and illegal window tinting. In January an officer was alerted by a license plate reader that there was an active warrant for a passing vehicle’s owner. The vehicle exited a Saugatuck train station parking lot, then engaged in a pursuit on Riverside Avenue that included driving through a work zone, off the shoulder, jumping a curb and sidewalk, then over a retaining wall into a private parking lot. The pursuit was discontinued, but after the suspect was incarcerated in Westchester County, New York, he was extradited to Connecticut. He was held on a $35,000 bond.
A 20-year-old Fairfield woman was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs (under 21 years of age) and evading responsibility, following a motor vehicle accident in the parking lot of 100 Post Road East. She allegedly struck a fence, support structure and sign, then rove away and nearly struck another car, before parking extremely close to an adjacent car. She was released on a $1,000 bond.
A 27-year-old Brooklyn woman was charged with larceny, identity theft, criminal investigation, forgery, and conspiracy to commit those crimes, after a complaint that a check had been intercepted and altered. She was held on a $50,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 34 citations (part of a statewide crackdown this month)
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 7
Distracted driving: 6
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 5
Speeding in a school zone: 3
Traveling unreasonably fast: 3
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 3
Speeding: 2
Following too closely: 2
Failure to renew registration: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
Improper use of markers: 2
Evading responsibility: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Failure to register a commercial vehicle: 1
Failure to cancel registration within 10 days: 1
Westport Police issued 34 citations for texting while driving.
Sure, it’s April 9. But some folks here woke up to frost today.
The birds, though, are singing as they always do this time of year. And if the weather is good enough for them — as it is for this blue jay, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo — it’s good enough for us.
Millions of “Today” show fans know Craig Melvin from TV.
Thousands of Westporters know him as our neighbor.
Last night, a capacity Westport Library crowd got to know him even better.
The co-anchor of the 74-year-old TV institution — heir to a tradition that includes Dave Garroway, Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel, and many more illustrious names — spoke for nearly 90 minutes about his life, his career and, especially, his and his family’s life in our town.
For once, he was not the host.
That task fell to Jim Marpe, former 1st selectman and a member of the Y’s Men of Westport & Weston. That also-venerable institution sponsored the event.
Before he took the stage, Craig Melvin (right) and Jim Marpe watch a video of the co-host’s “Today” show career. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Under Marpe’s warm but insightful questioning, Melvin described the route he and his wife, TV journalist Lindsay Czarniak, took to Westport. Searching for a home between New York City and Bristol, Connecticut, where she worked for ESPN, they toured Fairfield County.
Sitting at Mansion Clam House, he thought, “Everyone here is in finance. And white.”
But they rented a place just across the river, on Otter Trail, and fell in love with the town.
As their children grow up here, Melvin has enjoyed participating in their lives: flag football, basketball, gymnastics, dance and more.
He’s also a member of Westport 10. The organization — founded by Jay Norris — brings Black men together, to network and socialize. It’s also a way for their children to meet other Black youngsters in town.
Jim Marpe with “Pops: Learning to be a Son and a Father.” Melvin wrote the memoir about fatherhood, addiction and resiliency. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
There were other serious moments too. Melvin and Czarniak are involved in several cancer-related charities (his brother died of colorectal cancer).
The “Today” anchor grew emotional when describing the recent trauma involving the disappearance of co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother. He described the “family” atmosphere among the show’s cast and crew, and offered insights into the close relationship between himself and Guthrie. (Not long ago, on a trip to Arizona, Melvin visited her mother’s home.)
During the audience Q-and-A, a woman asked for advice on getting into the television industry.
“One thing you can’t learn is genuine intellectual curiosity,” he noted.
A capacity crowd filled the Trefz Forum. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Another woman said that she sees Melvin around town, but doesn’t want to say anything to him.
“That’s rude!” he shot back.
He enjoys speaking with residents, he said — though he appreciates not being approached when he’s with his family.
“Lindsay and I knew what we were getting into” when they went into television, he explained. “Our kids didn’t sign up for this.”
Melvin also gave shout-outs to several Westporters in the audience, including the Rhimes family, Dave Briggs, and Bill Mitchell (“you buy a tie, next thing you know he’s got you doing something for Sacred Heart University”).
“This is not the life I imagined” growing up in South Carolina, Melvin said. One day he’s interviewing Keanu Reeves; the next, Marco Rubio.
But it a life he relishes.
Last night, thanks to Jim Marpe and the Y’s Men, hundreds of Westporters understood why.
Jim Marpe and Craig Melvin, enjoying their conversation. (Photo/Susan Garment)
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Cooper Shapiro is a 4th grader at Long Lots Elementary School.
He’s also the founder of Coop’s Canteen. The pop-up snack stand is quickly becoming a fan favorite among hungry players, parents and siblings.
What started as a simple question —what happened to the snack stand? —turned into a full-fledged business idea.
With the old concession building sitting idle, Cooper saw an opportunity.
He stepped right up to the plate.
This is not, however, your average kid’s lemonade stand. Cooper brought in a very modern business partner: AI.
He used ChatGPT to work through pricing strategy, build a simple inventory tracker, and design an eye-catching logo.
Cooper Shapiro with his sign …
Of course, there’s a Venmo QR code for easy payment.
Yet the setup is more “Leave it to Beaver” than 21st century: a folding table, a lineup of snacks, and a young entrepreneur ready to serve.
The vibe is equal parts baseball, business and community.
You can usually find Coop’s Canteen on Saturdays at the Town Farm fields — somewhere between Kowalsky and White — or at Coleytown Elementary.
(It depends on where his younger brother Asher is playing.)
… and at his table, with his younger brother Asher.
Parents appreciate the convenience. Kids love the independence.
Cooper, meanwhile, is always thinking about his next restock.
What makes Coop’s Canteen special is more than the snacks. It’s the spirit behind it.
Cooper saw a problem. Then he figured out how to fix it.
He smashed this one out of the park.
(Young Westporters are doing remarkable things — and “06880” is your place to discover them. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
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