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Friday is October 1. Which means that Fido — and all his 4-legged friends — will once again be allowed at Compo Beach.
For the next 6 months, they can enjoy the off-leash area (south of the pavilion, including South Beach), and the leashed area north of that. They’re prohibited from the pavilion, playground and walkways.
It goes without saying, but Parks & Rec says it anyway: Pick up all poop.
Violations will cost you $77.
Looking forward to Friday.
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Tyler Hicks is an internationally known New York Times photographer. Fittingly, he just won (another) international prize.
The Staples High School Class of 1988 graduate (and 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner) captured the 2021 Visa d’Or Award for Best Digital News Story. He won for his COVID coverage on the Amazon River.
Hicks spent over a month last summer traveling on a riverboat with health workers, entering villages where the dead were uncountable.
The Visa d’Or international news photography awards are presented in Perpignan, France, after a series of jury reviews.
This is Hicks’ second Visa d’Or News Award. He won in 2014 for his coverage of the Westgate Mall massacre in Nairobi, Kenya.
Click here to see his prize-winning Brazil photos.
COVID in the Amazon (Photo/Tyler Hicks for New York Times)
The Westport Library’s Fall Book Sale returns — live and in person — Friday, October 8 through Monday, October 11.
Thousands of “gently used books” include dozens of categories. A few examples: children’s, literature and classics, fiction, mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, art, photography, history, math, science, psychology, religion, biography, business, cooking, gardening, performing arts, travel, foreign language and antiquarian. Tons of DVDs, CDs and vinyl records will be available too.
Everything Sunday (October 10) is half-price. On Monday (October 11), you can fill a bag for just $5.
Early bird admission on Friday (October 8, 8 a.m.) is through a pre-paid $15 ticket. It’s sold online only; click here. For more information about the Book Sale itself, click here. To help, email volunteers@westportbooksales.org.
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“The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” was a 1962 film. The Joggers Club is anything but lonely.
It’s a great way to get outside, get exercise, meet people and have fun.
Need a push? This Saturday (October 2), the Joggers Club hosts a free “Welcome to Running” party.
Runners of all levels are invited to Compo Beach. The run begins at 8 a.m.; the party follows at 9 a.m.
Click here for more information, or follow on Instagram: @thejoggersclub.ct.
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After your jog, check out WestportMoms’ first-ever Fall Family Fun Festival (Saturday, October 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Greens Farms Academy).
The $20 per family ticket price includes music, sports, a ninja course, pumpkin decorating, crafts, tattoos, food trucks and more. Run on over!
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After that, you can cruise over to the Westport Police Benevolent Association’s 3rd annual Car Cruise (Saturday, October 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Westport train station Lot #1.
Cars of all years, makes and models are welcome. The fee to enter and display a car is $20. The first 100 cars to arrive will receive a gift bag.
The family-friendly event includes music, food, trophies and raffles.
Westport PBA car cruise.
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Carly Novick Ridloff’s 1st “Sip, Shop, Swap” clothing exchange was a hit.
So she’s doing it again. The socially conscious (and very social) way to get rid of (and find) gently used clothes takes place October 28 (12 to 4 p.m., 82 Roseville Road).
A portion of the proceeds goes to Sustainable Westport. For more information, email carlyridloff18@gmail.com or search on social media: @the.exchangeproject.
Come to the clothing exchange!
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There’s something for everyone at this Sunday’s “Smart Walk for Smart Kids with LD” (October 3, 12 p.m., Sherwood Island State Park).
In addition to crafts, games, ice cream, music and tai chi, Piglet — the blind, deaf, pink dog with the positive attitude — will make an appearance. And Stephanie Bass will sign copies of her book of pandemic signs, Driveway Showcase.
Click here for more information, and to register.
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Last week’s “Unsung Heroes” honored Rosie and Lou, 2 post office employees who always go above and beyond.
We should also note E.J Butner III. The long-time Westport USPS employee retires this week, after many years of loyal service
His family has a long postal history. His grandfather, Edward J. Butner, served as postmaster at the previous Post Road location (now Design Within Reach). (Hat tip: Pam Jones)
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Child’s Pose Yoga helps youngsters connect their bodies, minds and health. To help, they’re partnering with “mindful expert” Denise Zack on a workshop: “Setting Your Child up for Success with Mindful Skills.”
The goal is to help children develop emotional resilience. Parents will learn specific, useful strategies.
It’s October 8 (10 a.m., 8 Church Street South).
Tickets are $40 each. Registration is required; DM @childsposewestport.
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Meanwhile, look what crawled up Molly Alger’s window the other day. It posed long enough to be our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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And finally … on this day in 1836, Thomas Crapper was born. The English plumber held 9 patents, including the ballcock, leading to the invention of modern plumbing. [Insert your own juvenile joke here.]
Since Stephanie Bass and her book are mentioned in the piece about Smart Walk for Smart Kids, here is the link if you can’t make it to the event on Sunday at Sherwood Island – https://www.amazon.com/Driveway-Showcase-Blackboard-Comedians-Lockdown/dp/1949122182/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=driveway+showcase+by+stephanie+bass&qid=1631706159&sr=8-1
That white dog captured in midair is my 11 yr old Nina! Would the photog be kind enough to share a higher-res image with me? (Dan knows how to fine me!)
This Abbey Road song could have also been used to complement the earlier announcement of the Police Chiefs’ retirement.(listen closely to the lyrics.)
This tempted me to look up the specific song lyrics and their rumored meaning. I don’t think there’s much relevance to the Westport Police retirements — unless I missed something in the past about crazed fans breaking into the Police Chief’s country estate!
For the record, it was just the lyric: “And so I quit the Police Department, and got myself a steady job.”
The photos by Tyler Hicks, and the accompanying story – is important reading. It’s also absolutely heartbreaking. Westport should be very proud of the Staples graduate.