The sight of a human being walking his 100-pound chocolate lab near downtown did not frighten this very chill deer, It never moved. (Photo/Jansen van Arsdale)
Meanwhile, things were much more active at the Taylortown Marsh, near Kings Highway North and Wilton Road in downtown Westport. (Photo/Ed Simek)
Westporters’ habit of dropping our trash wherever we want has caught the eye of the New York Times.
In fact, it’s the first anecdote in a story on a growing worldwide problem: PPE litter.
Yesterday’s story begins:
Helen Lowman looks at litter a lot. It’s her job. But while walking her dog in Westport, Conn., in March, she noticed an alarming trend. First she passed some dirty wipes on the ground. Then there were gloves. And finally a mask. Four months later, she said the litter of personal protective gear has only gotten worse….
“This pandemic is causing the face of litter to change,” said Ms. Lowman, chief executive of Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit group that organizes cleanups. “We’re seeing a real shift in what is in the litter stream.”
Click here for the full story. Then clean up after yourself!
Seth Schachter created this collage from discarded gloves and masks he saw, in and around downtown.
Want to see the comet Neowise — bright and visible for the next couple of weeks — but not sure where to look?
Click here. Hat tip to Chris Swan. “06880”‘s go-to guy for much information now adds “astronomer” to the list.
Comet Neowise, as seen from Saugatuck Elementary School (Photo/Elyse Heise Photography)
And finally … the Beastie Boys famously belted, “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).” Governor Cuomo disagrees. Based on recent news out of Greenwich and Darien, he has a point. Westport, stay smart — and safe. (But you can still enjoy the song.)
Every Westporter knows Compo Beach.
Many know Old Mill; most know Burying (or is it Burial?) Hill Beach. Unless you live on Saugatuck Shores, you’re probably unaware of Canal Beach.
Of course we’re also blessed with Sherwood Island, the beautiful state park on Long Island Sound between Burying Hill and Old Mill.
But Alvord Beach? Who ever heard of that?
Hardly anyone.
It was news to me too when Amy Schneider sent a photo of it. Turns out that’s the official name of “East Beach” — the section of Sherwood Island closest to (and separated only by a channel from) Burying Hill. (Click here to see.)
“Where is Alvord Beach?” was last week’s question, accompanying Amy’s photo.
Jonathan Maddock and Jalna Jaeger correctly identified the image as Sherwood Island. But only Chris Swan knew the exact location there.
How did Chris — one of the state park’s biggest fans — have the answer?
He looked in his membership package, from Friends of Sherwood Island.
So who was Mr. (or Ms.) Alvord?
That’s still a mystery. If you know, click “Comments” below.
Which is exactly what you should do if you know where you’d see this week’s artsy, almost-painting-like (but vaguely familiar?) Photo Challenge:
(Photo/Harrison Gordon)
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day
Tagged Alvord Beach, Friends of Sherwood Island, Sherwood Island State Park
Hot, humid weather drove hundreds of Westporters to Compo Beach yesterday.
And yes, they were nearly all Westporters. No day passes are being sold.
In an added effort to keep crowds to a COVID-safe number, Parks & Recreation officials closed (and patrolled) the dropoff (aka Uber) area across from the Soundview parking lot …
… and erected barricades along Soundview Drive.
They even put stanchions in front of the pumping station at the Longshore exit, near the Minute Man monument. Savvy folks have been parking there for a while.
Police also ticketed cars parked illegally on side streets.
Meanwhile — very quietly — Parks & Rec has re-opened the very popular playground.
They also returned a few (well distanced) tables to the two pavilions.
Westporters wasted no time going back to their old habit of dumping all their stuff all over the place, then leaving …
… and at South Beach, where Parks & Rec added a few picnic tables and even grills, Westporters quickly returned to the pre-pandemic ritual of completely ignoring the signs saying “Tables Are Not Reservable” — on each table! — and reserving them.
(Photos/Dan Woog)
Some things never change.
Posted in Beach
Tagged Compo Beach, Compo Beach pavilion, Compo Beach playground, Compo Beach South Beach
Peter Blau is a marketing consultant. He grew up in Westport, lives in Weston, and bikes often. He writes:
I’ve been out cycling a lot recently. So have lots of other people. And way more pedestrians too, than before COVID.
Trouble is, traffic is back with a vengeance now that retail and recreation is reopening. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed or seriously hurt. Here are some of the most dangerous things I see:
Drivers approach a biker, pedestrian or even a pedestrian/stroller duo, and swerve across the yellow line without slowing down. Sometimes they’re actually accelerating to “make it” before the oncoming car passes. I have seen near misses, and fear that someday one of these drivers will swerve back into his lane and kill whoever is walking or cycling by.
Pedestrians who walk well into the roadway, with their back to car and cycle traffic, sometimes while distracted by operating their mobile device. Or pedestrians who use the road when there’s a sidewalk available.
That was the case in a near-miss between my bike and a jogger in the road on Hillspoint just north of the beach. The guy yelled at me to “watch out!”” even though I could not swerve away from him, because a car was passing. My only choice was to brake, but he could have easily moved onto the sidewalk, or the grassy verge in between.
Group cyclists riding 2 or more abreast so they can converse more easily. This prompts unnecessarily wide swerving by cars. When there’s lots of oncoming traffic, it forces drivers to move at a snail’s pace, sometimes provoking angry motorists into an aggressive driving maneuver.
Now that COVID is less of a worry around here, we all need to focus on sharing the road safely. Remember: Let’s be careful out there!
Myrtle Avenue scene (Photo/Ed Simek)
The latest reopening is a big one: the Compo Beach playground.
Everyone — except those under 2 — must wear a mask. Social distancing must be observed.
Other than that: Have fun!
The Neowise comet got plenty of publicity when it first arrived.
It’s still visible — all the way through August 15. In fact, says Elyse Heise — who took the great photo below, at Saugatuck Elementary School — it just hit peak brightness yesterday.
The view tonight should be as bright as the day this past week, when she took this shot.
(Photo/Elyse Heise Photography)
Three downtown galleries — Amy Simon, Pop’TArt and Sorelle — are sponsoring an art walk this Thursday (July 30, 5 to 8 p.m.). There’s live music and refreshments (masks required, of course).
If this one goes well, more are planned for future Thursdays.
Amy Simon Fine Art
For decades — and very quietly — Westport PAL has impacted thousands of lives.
In addition to organizing 10 sports for 2,000 kids each year, supporting Staples High School sports, helping with field enhancements, organizing the 4th of July fireworks and Main Street Halloween parade, PAL awards college scholarships. Since 2003, they’ve handed out $400,000 in aid.
Their fundraisers are low-key. Unfortunately, their biggest — the fireworks — was canceled this year.
But the 58th annual Chief Samuel Luciano Golf Tournament is still on. Set for September 14 at Longshore, it’s more important — and fun — than ever. Click here to register, and for more details.
In these tough COVID times, EnergizeCT has expanded their rebates and incentives. The popular — and free — Home Energy Solutions program helps state residents save on bills by reducing waste.
Virtual visits (“pre-assessments”) offer a look into a home’s energy efficiency situation, so experts can make suggestions and explain how the rebates work.
There is no co-pay, regardless of how the home is heated. And the insulation rebate rate is now $2.20 per square foot — more than twice the previous $1 rate.
For more information, click here or call 877-947-3873.
This week’s #FridayFlowers — courtesy, as always, of the Westport Garden Club — adorn the entrance to Longshore.
(Photo/Topsy Siderowf)
And finally … play ball! Baseball is back! There’s new grass on the field …
Comments Off on Roundup: Compo Playground; Comet; Art; PAL; More
Posted in Arts, Beach, Children, Downtown, Environment, Local business, Longshore, Organizations, Sports
Tagged Comet neowise, Compo Beach playground, Energize CT, Westport Garden Club, Westport PAL
The Remarkable Theater’s remarkable summer series continues.
And there are some outstanding coming attractions.
The Imperial Avenue drive-in — the surprise smash of the season — announces “Christmas in July.”
This Thursday (July 30), the theater shows “Elf.” Movie-goers are invited to decorate their car in a Christmas theme, and dress in Christmas-themed clothing.
The group with the best decor and costumes receives a free ticket to an upcoming film of their choice.
Other upcoming shows include:
BONUS FEATURE: The idea for the “Elf” contest came from Remarkable board member Joanna Borner. She said, “We can all use a little Christmas right now.”
Great ideas come from anywhere — and the theater wants to hear all of them. Email info@remarkabletheater.org, or call 203-349-3414.
Click here for tickets and more information. Tickets may not yet be available for all shows. (Don’t wait! Last night’s screenings of “Goonies,” and tonight’s of “Grease,” are both sold out.)
Comments Off on Remarkable Theater Adds New Features
Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Organizations
Tagged "Elf" movie, Remarkable Theater
It’s mid-summer. But this is a great arts town. Readers of all ages keep sending work, for the Saturday morning gallery that began in early spring.
Professional, amateur, old, young — we want it all. Every medium is welcome. We especially love student art!
The only rule: Your art must be inspired by, reflective of, or otherwise related to the times we’re going through — or the times we’ve lost. Email dwoog@optonline.net.
John McKinney spotted this patriotically decorated storm drain on Fairfield Avenue, near Compo Beach.
Rebecca Ross drew this of her cousin, who works on the front lines at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
While staying home, Jana Ireijo has painted murals in her backyard. She created this, on her garage, in reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement. The charcoal (sent to her from a bushfire site in Australia) is not permanent. It will wash away in the rain.
“If Wishes Were Hugs” (Ellin Spadone)
“A Sign of the Times” (Karen Weingarten)
“Another Sargent” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Create Balance” (Amy Schneider)
Comments Off on 0*6*Art*Art*0 — Week 19 Gallery
Tagged Amy Schneider, Karen Weingarten, Lawrence Weisman, masks, Rebecca Ross
COVID-19 is everywhere.
After the US, Brazil has the highest COVID death toll in the world. People are as likely to fall ill in Amazon River villages as in New York City.
Tyler Hicks — the 1988 Staples High School graduate who has earned international renown (and multiple Pulitzer Prize winner) for his New York Times photojournalism — traveled from his home in Nigeria to the Amazon Basin.
His images illustrate an important story, published online today. Along with powerful text and graphics, the piece demonstrates the global reach of the pandemic.
(Photo/Tyler Hicks for The New York Times)
(Photo/Tyler Hicks for The New York Times)
Click on or hover over the photos to enlarge them. Click here for the full story, and all photos.
(Photo/Tyler Hicks for The New York Times)
Posted in Environment, Media
Tagged Amazon basin, Coronavirus, COVID-19, New York Times, Tyler Hicks
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