Here’s the latest update from Westport Parks & Rec:
Starting Wednesday, July 1, lifeguards will staff Compo and Burying Hill beaches from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All regular beach rules will be enforced, in addition to all COVID-19 rules. Boogie boards and skim boards are permitted.
The Longshore pools will remain closed, due to state restrictions and limited staffing resources.
Parks and Rec director Jennifer Fava says her department “will continue to monitor the guidance from the state, Should restrictions ease, and we can staff appropriately, we will reevaluate the possibility of opening the pool complex.”
Starting tomorrow (Saturday, June 27), 2 players may share a golf cart. Both must wear face coverings in the cart, and the same person must drive the cart the entire time. Exception: members of the same household are not required to wear face covering in a cart, and valid drivers may alternate.
Also starting tomorrow, all tennis courts at Longshore, Staples High School, Town Farm and Doubleday (behind Saugatuck School) are open for both singles and doubles play. All platform tennis and pickleball courts are open for singles and doubles too.
During the lockdown, town officials emphasized: “We’re all in this together.”
That’s the message during reopening too. To drive it home, they asked a variety of people to make personal promises for keeping everyone healthy.
Anthony John Rinaldi taped those promises. He’s making them into a series of videos, all tagged #ILoveWestport.
In the first one, restaurant owner Bill Taibe promises to keep cooking. Farmers’ Market director Lori McDougall promises to support local vendors. Police Chief Foti Koskinas promises to keep Westporters safe.
There are more too, in this quick video — including a special “06880” appearance. Click below to see.
Like many Westporters, Serkan Elden kept his “Proud Family of 2020 Staples High School Graduate” sign up, even after the ceremony 2 weeks ago. He is justifiably proud of his daughter Deniz, a great member of the senior class that went through so much this year.
Someone else is proud too.
The other day Deniz found an envelope in the Eldens’ mailbox. It was addressed simply: “The Graduate.”
Inside she found a note: “Congratulations 2020! Hope this is a Winner! Good Luck. From, Anonymous Lyons Plain Rd. Neighbor.”
Attached was a Double Match lottery scratch card.
She did not win. đ But odds are good that this is a gift Deniz will remember long after the coronavirus is history.
If you missed last weekend’s “Stand Up (At Home) for Homes with Hope” comedy show — no problem.
An encore presentation is set for Wednesday (July 1, 8 p.m.). Four very funny comedians joined Staples grad/noted songwriter Justin Paul for a wonderful hour of entertainment.
Click here to register. And if you saw the show the first time around, you’ll receive an automatic link to watch again.
There are no 4th of July fireworks at Compo Beach this year.
And, the Westport Fire Department warns, there should be none anywhere in town.
The note that all fireworks are illegal in Connecticut, expect sparklers and fountains.
Also illegal: items like party poppers, snakes, smoke devices, sky lanterns and anything that emits a flame. Possessing or exploding illegal devices could result in a fine or jail.
Note too: Extremely dry conditions make it easy for fireworks, sparklers and fountains to cause brush fires.
And finally … as other states find themselves in the same situation Connecticut was in 2 months ago, we here are thinking of our friends around the nation.
Looking good, Dan!
Anybody know when they’ll open the parking access to the mill pond on Hillspoint? Love to put my kayak in.
Great question! I don’t know …
What about old mill?
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Dan – What’s the story on the Compo concession that was awarded back in April? There is zero visible activity on the closed-up premises, leading one to believe that the concessionaire has gone bust — and the deal with Parks & Rec along with it. Now that Joey’s is operating at Elvira’s just a block up the road, perhaps the town should consider an alternative use for the space: perhaps leasing it to an arts organization for small performances and/or renting it out for private events.
Further reason for my suspicion: if you Google “Upsilon Ventures LLC Larchmont NY” — the concessionnaire approved by the town on April 30 — you get a red box saying “Permanently Closed.”
Good questions, Peter. Let me find out.