One of the joys of Westport is a wedding on the beach.
Many of us have been thrilled, at random moments, to see a couple sharing vows on the shore. We have no idea who they are, but it makes our day.
One of the joys of Lou Weinberg’s wedding on the beach yesterday was an unexpected visitor.
The wedding party, on a Compo Beach jetty.
Lou was married there yesterday. As assistant town attorney (and justice of the peace) Eileen Lavigne Flug performed the ceremony, she noticed the sand moving.
Eileen Lavigne Flug, flanked by the newlyweds.
Turtles were hatching.
Suddenly, 7 little ones — diamondback terrapins, Lou thinks — emerged.
5 of the 7 baby turtles.
“It was perfect,” Lou says, “I’m a nature boy.” (In his spare time, Lou volunteers as chair of the Westport Community Gardens.)
Lou then went one step further. Right after the wedding, he called Dan DeVito at the Parks & Recreation Department. Quickly, Dan called down to the beach. Within moments, an employee strung caution tape around the area.
Lou thought this would make a nice story. He also hopes it warns people that turtles are hatching at Compo.
“This is incredibly rare, valuable and important,” Lou says. “People need to be aware, and stay away.”
A tiny diamondback terrapin.
Lou calls last night’s hatching “a fortuitous start to our married life together.”
It is a great story. I’m honored to pass it along.
But in the interest of journalism, I emailed Lou back. I wanted to include his new wife’s name too.
I haven’t heard back yet.
Hopefully, he’s on his honeymoon.
Or else he’s saving even more wildlife somewhere out there too.
UPDATE: The bride’s name is Marjorie Donalds!
Congratulations, to Lou and Marjorie!