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Jersey Mike’s — the “fast-casual sub sandwich” shop in Compo Acres Center — has closed permanently.
That’s what a sign on the door says. The location — which opened in September 2015 — is already gone from the website of the 2,171-store chain.
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Meanwhile — not far away — an osprey has returned to its Fresh Market perch.
Alert “06880” reader Wendy Crowther reported last evening: “He was primping the nest as I passed by just now. I drive by Fresh Market to and from work or doing errands nearly every day. I always look in that direction.
“This is my first sighting since he left for parts south last fall. I was in my car so I don’t have a photo.”
So this one from last year will have to do:
(Photo/Carolyn Doan)
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Like many Westporters, Stephan Taranko has followed the news from Ukraine closely.
He has a special interest: His family is from there.
Earlier this month, he ordered 50 flags, to hand out at the Stand With Ukraine rally on Jesup Green.
They did not arrive in time. When he finally got them, he did the next best thing: He put them on his mailbox, with a sign inviting people to take one.
Steve lives on a private road, off Sturges Highway. Yet all 50 were taken quickly.
Westporters around town are also decorating their homes and yards with Ukrainian flags. Several line Prospect Road, in a show of support for that courageous nation.
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The Kiwanis Club is one of Westport’s less publicized civic groups. But they’ve been around for decades, aiding everything from Safe Rides and local playgrounds to gear for the EMS bicycle unit.
Very quietly, they continue to enrich our town.
The other day, they donated $5,000 to Save the Children’s relief efforts in Ukraine. Now Kiwanis is gearing up for their grant program for high school seniors. Funding comes from their annual family-friendly Mini-Triathlon at Compo Beach.
The Kiwanis College Grant application is open to income-qualified Staples High School who have demonstrated academic excellence and service to the community. Click here for an application. The deadline is April 15.
The Triathlon is open to all ability levels. It includes a point-to-point swim at Compo Beach, followed by short bike and run courses in the Compo neighborhood.
The event is great for first-timers, and families wishing to race together. To register for the September 11 event or donate to the college grant program, click here.
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What do Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, Golda Meir, Jackie Kennedy, Peggy Guggenheim and Mother Teresa have in common?
All will be celebrated this Saturday by Westporter Suzanne Tanner, in her inspiring millinery musical “Voices of Herstory.”
The event (March 26, 3 p.m., St. Andrew’s Church, Kent) coincides with Women’s History Month. And it’s for a great cause: Proceeds benefit Ukrainian refugees, honoring the memory of Tanner’s daughter Tess.
PS: Wear a hat!
Suzanne Tanner
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We all know how “Romeo and Juliet” ends, right? (Spoiler alert if you don’t: badly.)
On April 8 and 9 (7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively; Sacred Heart Community Theatre, Fairfield) you’ve got a chance to change Shakespeare’s 425-year-old classic. Internationally renowned pianist — and Westport neighbor — Frederic Chiu is a Prokofiev expert. Among his most noted works: the piano suite from the composer’s “Romeo and Juliet” ballet.
Almost 30 years ago, Chiu discovered the original score. Written entirely for the piano, it contained a revised ending. The lovers do not die.
Twenty-five years later, he commissioned choreographer Sandra Shih Parks to collaborate on “Romeo & Juliet: The Choice.” The audience votes on which ending — Prokofiev’s original happy one, or the traditional dismal version — will be performed.
It debuted at Drexel University in 2018, with Chiu playing the entire ballet on piano, while dancers performed — and the enthralled audience waited for the outcome.
Now, WSHU brings it to Fairfield. Click here for tickets and more information.
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Staples High School’s Zero Waste Committee is wasting zero time making an impact.
In addition to next month’s pop-up thrift shop, countering the wasteful “fast fashion” shopping trend, co-chairs Kayla Iannetta and Jenn Cirino are partnering with Sustainable Westport and ZenWTR for a Compo Beach cleanup on April 30.
This is the first time all the Zero Waste Committees from different Westport schools join together for one effort.
ZenWTR is the first beverage in the world to be certified plastic negative (meaning they remove more plastic from the environment than they produce, by investing in sustainable programs). ZenWTR is sold in the Staples High School cafeteria.
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A new store — Bobbles & Lace — has opened their first Connecticut location in Bedford Square.
Lindsay Rose Rando launched the store 14 years ago in Marblehead, Massachusetts. B&L offers “modern fashion forward designs at affordable prices.” There are other outlets in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.
Rando says she “loves the sense of community” in Westport, and calls her Church Lane location “bright and beautiful.”
Bobbles & Lace is opoen Monday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bobbles & Lace, Bedford Square. (Photo courtesy of Inklings News)
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Yesterday’s Roundup noted that Michael Bolton was representing Connecticut, in last night’s premiere of NBC’s “American Song Contest.” The show is a US version of the long-running Eurovision competition.
We missed the trailer — which features our neighbor touting his home state’s charms. It includes a few shots from his Westport home.
Alert reader Ann Marie Holm sent it along:
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A few seats remain for this year’s Westport Library “Booked for the Evening” gala. The June 1 honoree is television producer/screenwriter/ author Shonda Rhimes — twice named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.”
Click here for tickets, and more information.
Shonda Rhimes
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Earlier this month, “06880” reported on Coleytown Middle School students headed to the state Mathcounts competition.
A followup: Vikram Sarkar finished first in Connecticut. He leads the 4-person Connecticut team that will compete in the national event, in Washington. Ayush Rudra finished 9th overall.
Vikram Sarkar
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While driving on Roseville Road the other day, Bob Weingarten spotted this unusual sight on a tree.
He has no idea what it means. But he figures at least one “06880” reader might know.
If you’ve got a clue, click “Comments” below.
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The first day of spring was Sunday.
Right on time, here’s a very vernal photo for our “Westport … Naturally” series:
(Photo/JD Dworkow)
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And finally … in honor of Frederic Chiu’s choose-your-own “Romeo and Juliet” ending (story above):
It’s a whimsical example of “tree face art”. Google that to see other examples.
Thanks Steve. I did Google and found other examples – Interesting! But whoever put this up – may have a different meaning to it – so I will still look at all the comments.
That Osprey is a treasure. They do not roost just anywhere. Our grandchildren built an Osprey nest directly overlooking Camden (Me) Harbor
two years ago. We are all still waiting for the first Osprey family. Maybe
this year……
Too bad to lose Jersey Mike’s. While I enjoy Subway, I found Jersey Mike’s to be my preference. But when one closes, another opens up in Danbury: https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/westport/business/jersey-mikes-subs-to-hold-grand-opening-in-fairfield-county/828440
Of course, we lost Subway a few months ago too…
Noooo not Jersey Mike’s! 🙁