Most teardowns in Westport are quick wrecking ball affairs.
The demise of 117 Morningside Drive South — the famed Kowalsky property — seems to be going more slowly. It looks like some of the original construction — the beams, perhaps? — are being saved.
(Photo/David Squires)
It’s the end of an era. “Thousands of kids enjoyed our little local farm,” Greens Farms resident David Squires says.
“But alas, no more. If the walls could speak, I’m certain they’d have tails/tales to tell. Let’s hope the future of this plot retains some of its original beauty and charm.”
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Westport10 is a thriving social community for people of color. Adults attend cultural events, and dine out together; they organize beach parties and other events for their kids.
Once a month, some of the men get together for lunch.
They had a great time yesterday at La Plage. Check out the photo:
Clockwise from far left: Harold Bailey Jr., Rod Simmelkjaer, Craig Melvin, Roy Adams, Kevin Christie, Vincent Spencer, Jay Norris. Harold Bailey III arrived just after the picture was taken. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club is one of Westport’s best-kept secrets.
The 63-year-old club near Saugatuck Shores, with slips for 160 sailboats and powerboats, usually hums with maritime activity.
It’s also a very social place. Members are all ages, and from all different walks of life (“yacht” club is really a misnomer). They gather often in the clubhouse (a former horse stable and carriage house, dating to the 1890s).
They build all their own docks; clean up their own grounds every fall and spring, and invite the marine police to store their boats there.
Last night was something different: an art show highlighting members’ talents. Watercolors, photographs, woodcarvings, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, knitwear and more — all were on display.
It was a great event. Plus, a raffle raised funds for Westport’s Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, and Save the Sound.
PS: The food and drinks were great too!
Glen Heller created these wood carvings. Eva Rosenblatt helped organize last night’s Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club event. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club wasn’t the only organization paying tribute to EMTs last night.
DNR — the ghoulishly named, (almost) all-physician rock band — played their annual Levitt Pavilion concert tribute to Westport EMS, and first responders.
A large crowd danced all night.
And if anyone got too excited, and had a medical emergency — well, that was the place to have it.
Dr. Bob Albtaum, without his stethoscope. (Photo copyright by Ted Horowitz)
DNR rocks the Levitt. (Photo copyright by Ted Horowitz)
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Meanwhile, a few yards away across the parking lot t the Westport Library, StoryFest 2022 got underway.
The largest literary festival in Connecticut attracts authors from across the U.S. The event kicked off with readings and a conversation between best-selling authors (and best friends) Isaac Fitzgerald and Saeed Jones.
The celebration of reading, writing, ideas and community began in 2018. It continues all day today. Click here for workshops, other sessions, and tonight’s final event. (Hat tip: Dave Matlow)
Isaac Fitzgerald (left) and Saeed Jones. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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Last night’s full moon brought out many Westporters’ cameras (and cell phones).
I received tons of photos. Among the best: this one from Steven Rothenberg.
(Photo/Steven Rothenberg)
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Among the items on Monday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting: discussions of the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck project, and the redevelopment of the Westport Inn.
The meeting will be held via Zoom, livestreamed on www.westportct.gov, and shown on Optimum Channel 79 and Frontier Channel 6020. Public comments may be emailed to PandZ@westportct.gov by noon Monday. Click here for the full agenda.
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There’s a full (and healthful) schedule of events next Saturday (September 17), at Downtown Fitness & Health Day.
The Westport Downtown Association event supports local health and exercise businesses, and promotes a healthy lifestyle for all Westporters.
Fleet Feet kicks off the day with a 5k and kids runs at (9 a.m.). Registration is required; click here.
WDA has partnered with many fitness studios, including TAP Strength, Club Sweat, Pure Barre, Row House, Pause + Purpose, Kaia Yoga Centers and Body Shock. They’ll give participants fun, rigorous outdoor exercise classes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., all along Main Street. To register for a free class, contact the individual providers.
The Alzheimer’s Association and Circle of Care for Families of Children with Cancer will be there too.
You don’t have to participate in a class to enjoy the day. Strolling all around downtown is healthy too!
The 2020 Downtown Fitness Fair.
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Whenever some dude — and you know it’s a guy — parks his car like this (behind CVS) …
(Photo/Matt Murray)
… he’s saying, “My car is special. Stay away!”
Hey: Everyone cares about their car.
And if everyone parked this way, there would be half the number of available spots anywhere.
You’re not special. And neither, really. is an Alfa Romeo.
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Never been to Cuba? Wondering what that island just 90 miles off Florida is like?
On Tuesday (September 13, Saugatuck Congregational Church Hoskins Hall; $10 admission). World traveler/adventurer/photographer/local resident Darryl Hawk presents a collection of spectacular photos, from his 6 (!) recent trips there.
He’s tell great stories about them too.
The event is sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and marks their first in-person gathering since COVID struck.
There are appetizers, drinks and dinner at 6:15 p.m.; the presentation begins at 7:30. RSVP: easasso7@icloud.com.
Street scene, Cuba (Photo/Darryl Hawk)
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Everyone is invited to a Japanese Fall Festival next Saturday (September 17, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Jesup Green).
The family-friendly event includes taiko drum performances, a martial arts demonstration, Seiza meditation sessions, traditional Bon dancing, a Japanese water yoyo game, children’s origami, demonstrations of the traditional Japanese Go and Sushi GO card games, and a Japanese language table.
Other features: displays of Japanese tenugui (colorful hand-dyed traditional Japanese), ceramics and kimonos.
Japanese snacks and drinks will be available too.
Click here for more information.
Taiko drums, at the Japanese Fall Festival.
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The Y’s Men of Westport and Weston sponsor a very active tennis group. They play every Tuesday and Friday morning, throughout the summer at Longshore.
Former Y’s Men president Dewey Loselle does the organizing. Here’s a shot (pun intended) after the final session:
(Photo courtesy of Scott Broder)
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I’m batting about .100 identifying Sherwood Mill Pond wildlife lately. So I’ll just say that this handsome bird was spotted just off shore the other day, posing handsomely for Matt Murray and “Westport … Naturally.”
(Photo/Matt Murray)
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And finally … in honor of Darryl Hawk’s very cool Cuba presentation (story above):
=======================================================(“06880” is “where Westport meets the world” — including Cuba. To help support us, please click here.)
Bob Altbaum
Bronx High School of Science wizz kid to Harvard Medical School to best MD in Westport to ROCK STAR 🌟
Quite a career ‼️🙏
The bird is a “great blue heron.”
Saving beams from a house built in the 1960s? Reminds me of the hilarious line from Clueless: “Isn’t my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972!” Anyway, I’m sure there were plenty of people who’d have loved to turn this into open space or develop it in a sensitive way that’s consistent with the surrounding neighborhood, but the owners actually subdivided the property into, I think, 6 different building lots to get the most money possible out of it. That’s their right, but I find the hagiography surrounding what’s happening a bit weird. They’re not losing their property to developers – they chose to make this a subdivision. (And my understanding is far from simple farm folk, this is now a very wealthy family who doesn’t need the money.)
Dan, thanks for the piece about our beloved Saugatuck Harbor Y.C.. Last night’s event was a great display of the talent hidden among the docks at our club. The committee(Lucia, Cindy, Linda, Olga, Kelly, & Ally)worked tirelessly to pull this off, members supported our fundraising efforts generously, & healthy checks will be issued to Save The Sound & Westport EMS. I hope our invited guests enjoyed themselves as well.
Richard Johnson good idea to mind your own business
Westport’s own Derfy Robling was the road manager for Spyro Gyra
As to the handsome bird. Most likely a gray or spotted heron.
Flew a long way from it’s native land
Hey Richard Johnson,
Who’s going to critique YOUR contribution to quality of life in Westport when you decide to cash in your chips?