Westport just celebrated our annual, wonderful. warm and welcoming jUNe Day.
So let’s start the week with a jUNe Day complaint.
A reader sends this photo —
— and writes:
“I noticed that the Russian flag is flying on the bridge — next to the American flag.
“Shouldn’t that flag come done while we are boycotting and protesting Russia’s invasion of sovereign Ukraine? Additionally, the Russian flag is right at the center of the bridge, next to the American flag — certainly a special spot. Can the town change the flags to reflect the current state of affairs?”
Well!
I’ve always been told the flags fly in alphabetical order. Right now, 193 countries are members of the UN. I did not count the flags this year. Besides, I’m no flags-of-the-world expert, so I can’t answer whether they are in alphabetical order or not.
(I would have contacted the Department of Public Works, which sets up and removes the flags each year, but they were closed for the weekend.)
My next thought: Maybe Russia still goes by its former name — the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. That would, amazingly, put it smack next to the United States.
I checked the UN website. Nope: It’s “Russian Federation.”
Then I wondered if the DPW simply uses the same list year after year. The wheels of municipal government grind slowly, but I can’t imagine they’d use a list from the last century without anyone noticing.
Finally, I wondered: What are those other flags next to Russia?
The one on its right seems to be Romania — which, alphabetically, comes right before Russia.
The one on the left — interrupted by the US — appears to be Rwanda. Bingo!
Perhaps the American flag is placed smack in the middle of the bridge because, hey, this is our country — and Russia just happens, ironically, to be where it is by the luck of the alphabet.
At any rate, there’s no reason to remove the Russian flag, even if the country is an international pariah.
This was jUNe Day, after all.
хорошего дня!
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But wait!
The photo above was taken yesterday, during the reproductive rights rally.
The day before, Joel Treisman took a video of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. It showed a different arrangement of flags flanking ours:
What’s going on?
Sounds like a case for Interpol!
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A flag kerfuffle and looming constitutional crisis notwithstanding, this was a perfect weekend for a walk at the beach.
My path took me along Bradley Street. I spotted this subtle — but hopefully strong — reminder to dog owners: Their lawn is not a canine crapper.
(Photo/Dan Woog)
I also noticed an astonishing amount of trash left on the tables outside the Hook’d concession stand, under the brick pavilion roof, and on South Beach.
How difficult is it to take your trash 5 steps to the nearby receptacle?
Westporters love to say, “This is our beach.”
Let’s treat it that way!
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The need for blood is constant.
Kick off the holiday weekend by doing something for others. VFW Post 399 hosts its 24th straight monthly Red Cross blood drive this Friday (July 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 465 Riverside Avenue).
Click here for an appointment.
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“Cheese Fries & Froot Loops” — the true, moving and humorous one-man show written and performed by Weston native Chris Fuller about his attempt to make it to the PGA Tour while struggling with bipolar mental illness — debuted at Fairfield Theater Company last month.
It led to an invitation to perform at the United Solo Theater Festival in New York this fall.
First though, Fuller plans 2 shows here, to benefit the Artists Collective of Westport: July 23 and 24, 8 p.m. at the Westport Woman’s Club.
The suggestion donation is $15 a tickets, and includes complimentary wine and cheese.. Funds raised will help provide art supplies and activities to those in need. For reservations, email aspetuck@optonline.net or call 203-349-8786
Fuller — son of famed author John G. Fuller and playwright Elizabeth Fuller — will give away copies of his book “Goodnight, Golf!” after an on-stage putting contest during the show.
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Dennis Poster died at home, surrounded by his family. on Friday. He was 82.
The Syracuse native, and Syracuse University graduate ran specialist books on the New York Mercantile Exchange and American Stock Exchange. He later managed D.B. Poster Associates, working from Connecticut to be closer to his family.
He was on the Executive Committee of Weill Cornell Medicine’s Dean Council, was emeritus chair of the JHE Foundation, and served on the boards of The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, Save our Strays and The Compass Fund. He was also a trustee for The Aronson Family Foundation, which supports education, the arts, healthcare, and animal rescue charities.
Dennis loved golf, Pepe’s Pizza, DQ Blizzards, blackjack, backgammon, Shark Tank, watching CNBC, his cat Shadow, feeding the surrounding wildlife by his home, and most importantly, his family.
He had a near 50-year Father’s Day tradition of mini-golfing with his daughters, and then his grandchildren. He played semi-pro golf, and often joined pro-am golf tournaments with friends. He once shot a 66 at Winged Foot.
Dennis had a big heart, a warm soul and was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. We will miss his contagious chuckle, generosity, sage advice and especially his love.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Joan of 57 years; daughters Meredith and Cindy (David) of Westport; grandchildren Hannah, Lillie, Matthew, Max, Jack and Sam; brother Greg and sister Wendy.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer.
Dennis Poster
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It took 4 years of nursing — inside her house, and on her deck — but Wendy Levy finally got her passionflower to bloom.
What a colorful way to start our “Westport … Naturally” week!
(Photo/Wendy Levy)
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And finally … today is National Orange Blossom Day. How will you celebrate?
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I have also noticed that sign on Bradley Street and find it unintentionally hilarious to think that people should direct their dogs to poop on other peoples’ lawns or interrupt their dog mid-poop by informing them that pooping on this very special property is forbidden.
This sign, like many in town, seems to just be a passive aggressive expression of the owner’s frustration with the cons of where they live than any real effort to stop bad behavior. If you choose to live on Soundview, which is probably the most heavily-trafficked dog walking street in town, your lawn’s gonna get pooped on. No different than people on 136 putting up “drive like you kids live here” signs – it changes nothing but make you look annoying.
Thank you for pointing this out! Of course everyone should pick up his/her dog’s poop but dogs are going to poop on Soundview. One soundview owner was shockingly rude when our dog pooped on the edge of his lawn. You absolutely assume that risk by living there, so please be kind.
Really! Your dog pooped on his lawn and he was “shockingly rude?” How dare he?
Regarding the positioning of USA flag on the bridge, I think I can explain. Our flag is placed mid-span on both sides of the bridge. The video shows the south side. I am guessing the first picture depicted the north side.
Doh!
Richard, sure in neighborhoods with lots of dog walkers, including mine, it is to be expected a dog may have the need to go. BUT why can’t believe clean up after their dogs? Why is it okay to leave a smelly pile of dog poop on someone else’s property, and for all the other dog walkers to have to see. It’s so easy to carry bags to scoop up the poop and it’s rude not to.
Definitely not condoning leaving the poop behind – I’d never do that and don’t really see people doing that at Compo either. The sign, however, is not asking you to pick up your dog’s poop. It’s telling your dog not to poop there in the first place. That’s why I find it humorous.
Beautiful passionflower and image Wendy!
Just a comment on the beautiful flags that are on the bridge. I was always told that our flag should always be flown above all other flags. That is not the case here it is flying at the same height as the others.
You were told wrong.
The US flag should be higher than others **only if they are on the same pole**.
https://www.vfw.org/Flag/
It is worth pointing out that the public right of way is almost always at least 5′ wider than any street in town. And although we all need to clean up after our dogs and be good citizens in doing so, our dogs have the right to do their business on Town property, unless the Town decides they don’t. That particular sign is on Town property and should be moved to this particular taxpayer’s side of the fence. Just because you mow the lawn, it doesn’t make it your property.
Meanwhile in the rest the of the universe, dogs , who have displaced Homo sapiens as the destroyer’s of the ecosphere are caught playing poker, on velvet no less!