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One of the earliest casualties of COVID was Chez 180.
The patisserie at 180 Post Road East had been open just a couple of weeks in March 2019. It earned rave reviews, but could not weather the sudden, total town shutdown.
Now — 19 months later — a new tenant is moving in. According to a sign on the door, it’s De Tapas: a “Spanish gastropub.” Details to follow soon.
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Adventure, music, sports and motorcycles — all star in the upcoming Remarkable Theater schedule.
Films at the Imperial Avenue drive-in include:
- “Pirates of the Caribbean” (Saturday, October 16)
- “The Last Waltz” (Monday, October 18)
- “Slap Shot” (with Westport’s own Paul Newman: Tuesday, October 19)
- “Easy Rider” (Wednesday, October 20)
- “Pink Floyd: The Wall” (Saturday, October 23).
All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Click here for tickets and more information.
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As the leaves turn, Earthplace welcomes families for fun events. They include:
Pumpkin carving and painting (Saturday, October 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — click here to register)
Halloween stories and family campfire (Sunday, October 31, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — click here to register)
Bicycle repairs (while you wait: Friday, November 5, 12 to 3 p.m.).
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You should never drive while distracted.
Especially from tomorrow through October 31.
That when the Westport Police Department joins the state Department of Transportation’s “distracted driving enforcement campaign.”
They note that sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph — the average speed on the Post Road, sometimes, ahem — that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
And did you know that driving while texting is 6 times more dangerous than intoxicated driving?
If you don’t care about that, consider this: Tickets for distracted driving are $200 for the first offense, $375 for the second, and $625 for all subsequent violations.
Considering the consequences, that’s low.
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Bob Cooper reports vandalism at the Riverwalk downtown. He noticed a bench that was missing, except for one leg. The other leg, as well as its engraved seat, were in the water.
Fortunately, he says, the bench look reparable. It’s made from 3 piece, and each appears intact.
He also spotted engraved bricks that had been thrown into the brush:
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Yesterday’s Roundup note about the upcoming webinar on the impact of family violence on children (October 18, 7 p.m.) was missing a link. Click here to register.
The event is sponsored by the Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, Westport Human Services Department and Westport Library
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What’s better than shopping and cocktails?
How about shopping, cocktails and supporting breast cancer research?
Savvy + Grace’s fundraiser offers all that. The date is Thursday, October 28; the time is 5 to 7 p.m. (146 Main Street). Funds raised for the Cancer Couch Foundation will be matched 100%.
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Congratulations, Avi Kaner!
The former 2nd selectman and Board of Finance chair has been named to the Algemeiner’s list of “Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life 2021.”
His writeup calls the co-owner of the Morton Williams supermarket chain a “social media activist on behalf of Israel. When ice cream manufacturers Ben & Jerry’s announced in July that its products would no longer be sold to Jewish communities in the West Bank, Kaner went on the counteroffensive, securing agreement from the Morton Williams Board to reduce the Ben & Jerry’s products it sells in its 16 stores in New York and New Jersey by 70 percent.”
Avi Kaner
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Congratulations too to Lucy Dockter.
A Staples High School Inklings editor, and editor of the literary journal Soundings, was quoted at length in a Guardian story about the school surveillance tool Gaggle. The reporter found her through an Inklings editorial she wrote last year. Click here for the eye-opening Guardian article.
Talk about surveillance!
Lucy Dockter
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The outdoor fall fun celebration (with ’70s singalong) at the Unitarian Church in Westport, scheduled for this Saturday, has been moved to Sunday (October 17, 12 to 3 p.m.) due to predicted rain.
The event includes a musical mural, cake carousel, rock painting and bobbing for apples. For COVID safety, bring your own food.
Westport’s Unitarian Church
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The VFW is collecting new hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and socks, for men women and children.
There will be a drop-off box in the lobby (or patio, if closed) at their building (465 Riverside Avenue), from October 23 through November 20. They ask for only those items listed above.
VFW Joseph Clinton Post 399.
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Westporter Jim O’Donoghue died Sunday. He was 83 years old.
The Dublin native captained the rugby team at University College Cork. He earned a bachelor’ degree in electrical engineering there, and also met his wife Margaret.
Working for Quigley steel refractories, Jim travelled extensively, and brought his 3 daughters mementos from all over the world. The company was bought by Pfizer, and the family moved to Westport in 1984.
Jim ran regularly, golfed and rowed. He loved fishing, especially on Waterville Lake. He was a historian, a great conversationalist and a gripping storyteller. Dinner was punctuated with discussions on politics, as well as anecdotes about travel.
Jim wrote several books, including children’s stories, and read avidly. He was a fan of Russian classics and spy novels.
Jim is survived by Margaret, his wife of 58 years; daughters Elina (Dan), Sharon (Jack) and Lisa (Ilair); brother Neil; sister Anne, and grandchildren Ryan, Ciara, Maija and Sophie.
A viewing and farewell is set for Harding Funeral Home in Westport this Sunday (October 17, 3 to 6 pm). Mass will be held at St Luke Church also in Westport on October 18 (11 a.m.) The service will be live streamed (click here).
Jim O’Donoghue
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Fall is all about colorful leaves. But today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo takes us to Bonnie Brook Road, and a different kind of scene.
(Photo/Liz Blasko)
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And finally … Paddy Moloney died Monday in Dublin, at 83.
The New York Times called him “the playful but disciplined frontman and bagpiper of the Chieftains, a band that was at the forefront of the worldwide revival of traditional Irish music played with traditional instruments.”
They won 6 Grammys, and collaborated with everyone from Van Morrison, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney to Luciano Pavarotti. Click here for the full obituary.
Paddy Moloney played the uileann pipes, not the bagpipes.
BDS is a legitimate tool to end apartheid in Israel.
BDS is a legitimate tool to end apartheid and the occupation of Palestine.
Anti-BDS initiatives are legitimate tools to help a sovereign nation secure its borders against terrorists and threats to its existence.