Scott Smith explains his image: “2 bitts (moorings used to anchor boats) long covered by sand at Burying Hill Beach, just west of the walkway easement that leads to Beachside Ave. They at the edge of the beachfront owned by the modernist house overlooking the Sound across the street from Greens Farms Academy.” (Click here to see.)
Pat Saviano, Dr. Ralph Balducci Ph.D., Andrew Colabella, Seth Braunstein and Beth Berkowitz were the alert and maritime-minded readers who knew a good bitt about Scott’s photo.
Pat is a double winner: Her image (below) is this week’s Photo Challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
It’s an Easter tradition: custom-made baskets, filled to the brim and beautifully decorated, from Savvy + Grace.
Savvy shoppers can click here for the website. Call 203-221-0077. Email savvyandgracewestport@gmail.com.
Or go old school: walk in and shop local (146 Main Street).
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Women’s History Month ends Friday.
But “Rise Up, Sisters!” — a traveling exhibit from the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, chronicling a diverse group of women instrumental in the suffrage movement — opens a 3-week run at the Weston History & Culture Center April 16. The exhibit ends May 7. It’s open Sundays and Thursdays, from 1-4 p.m.
The many different stories include the Smith sisters of Glastonbury, who spoke up about injustices against women and helped to spark others to follow in their footsteps, and Alice Paul, who put her life on the line to force the issue on a national level.
Abilis — the nonprofit providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with special needs and their families — celebrates its annual Spring for Abilis Gala April 29, at Darien’s Woodway Country Club.
Leslie Smith Clarke of Westport — mother of a young adult who enjoys Abilis services — co-chairs the event.
Billy Blanks Jr. — a longtime Abilis supporter — is the celebrity emcee. There’s music from ETA, dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions.
It’s the first post-COVID in-person gala. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Bidding opens soon for the Abilis Giving Garden and Art Gallery, with one-of-a-kind artwork created by the program participants, along with silent auction items.
The Giving Garden is also where supporters can purchase items for Abilis’ programs, like diapers, educational games and books for the Birth to Three program.
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Former Staples High School guidance department chair Bob Hanf died last week. He was 79 years old.
The Massachusetts native earned a liberal arts degree from Harvard College in 1965, and a master’s in guidance from the Harvard School of Education a year later.
He began his career in education with the Westport Public Schools, and remained there for 34 years until his 2000 retirement. His impact on thousands of students — and his entire department — was profound.
After retiring, Bob and his late wife Kathy moved to Upper Arlington, Ohio. He helped many students in Columbus Schools prepare for college, as a volunteer with the Project Grad program.
The couple met at a conference. They shared their first meal together at (coincidentally) Bob and Kathy’s Diner. They married in 1998 in Rhode Island where Bob had summered with his family most of his life, enjoying sailing, kayaking, and rooting for the Red Sox.
Bob is survived by his sons Rob (Mary) and Mike (Laura) Zelch; grandchildren Zoe, Chloe, Bailey, Zachary, and Michael; sister Marion DeTora (Andy); niece Andrea DeTora Reagan (Brian)l grand-niece Caitlin and grand-nephew Daniel.
Bob’s life will be celebrated in a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kobacker House Hospice in Columbus, OH.
Bob Hanf
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Longtime Westporter Glenn Gerry, died earlier this month, after a long illness. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Louise (Weezie) in 2011.
The Providence native moved to Greens Farms at 16 with his family. He graduated from Staples High School the next year.
After 2 semesters at Yale University and a 1- year tour of duty in the Navy (where he spent time painting the USS Coral Sea in Chesapeake Bay), he attended the University of Connecticut before moving back to Westport to work as a carpenter to support his growing family.
Glenn never gave up on achieving higher education. He attended the University of Bridgeport at night, graduating with a BS in electrical engineering in 1970.
He worked at the Burndy Corporation and Pitney-Bowes for many years, before becoming a quality control engineer and traveling throughout the U.S. and Mexico. He branched out to freelance contracting before retiring.
Glenn loved music. He was a tenor with the Greens Farms Church choir. He also filled in at the Unitarian Church, and sang with the Westport Madrigal Singers for many years.
His family says: “Known as a constant teacher of all things, Glenn was the person his grandchildren went to with math and science homework. All his children learned to care for a car at an early age. He taught us how to paint a house, bait a hook, identify constellations and skate on our little pond behind our Morningside Drive house, which Glenn built with family help in 1955.
“Glenn was known as a ‘baby whisperer’ among his family. He always had an aura of peace and safety around him. Somehow he was able to impart that peace to a squalling infant.
“He opened his house over decades to his sister, friends of his children and friends of grandchildren as a safe house while they contemplated their next life move. It was also the place to be for Friday folk music sing-alongs in the ’60s.
“Most of all, Glenn should be remembered for his early strikes at social injustice. While working at Burndy during the ’60s he befriended a man of color, and a recently emigrated German man. They had trouble fitting in. He hosted those men and their families to dinner at our house. InclusionGlenn always insisted on inclusion.”
“Glenn will be missed by all who knew his quiet, yet always accepting, self. His ability to commune without words, just sitting together. His way of “taking the back roads, rather than the highway. And always his profound love for his wife, Louise (Weezie), who died in 2011.
Glenn is survived by his children Michael of Riverside, California, Stephen of Redding Ridge, Judith Platt of Randleman, North Carolina and Evelyn Gerry Eastman of Norway, Maine; siblings George (Cliff) Clifford of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Connie Testani of Shelton, and Linda Clifford of Nokomis, Florida; 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 1 great0great grandchild; a nephew and 3 nieces.
To leave condolences for the family, click here. Services will be announced at a later date.
Glenn Gerry
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Laurie Sorensen’s tête à tête daffodils serve as a welcome “Westport … Naturally” reminder that spring is already here.
Years ago, I walked into Atticus Book Store & Café on Main Street. The moment I entered, I sensed something was going on. There was energy and excitement in the place, but I had no idea why.
It took a few minutes to realize that the woman Billboard named “Female Entertainer of the Century” in 1976 was sitting at the counter.
Everyone gave her her space. Just like fellow (but lesser) Supremes Mary, Flo and Cindy knew, you didn’t mess with Miss Diana.
But boy, was it fun watching her eat lunch.
At the 2:05 mark below, Diana Ross’ earring falls off. Watch her catch it like a pro!
(Diana Ross makes everyone smile. You can put a smile on our “06880” face: Please click here to support this blog. Thank you!)
Starting Thursday, VersoFest will draw music and arts lovers from around the region.
But some featured presenters will come from much further.
Longtime collaborators Amilia K Spicer and Edward Romero are flying in from California.
Amilia — a singer-songwriter — opens for the Smithereens on Friday (March 31, 7 p.m.), the second day of the 4-day music, media and more Westport Library event.
On Saturday (April 1, 3 p.m.) she leads a master class in songwriting.
Amilia K Spicer
Veteran screenwriter Romero offers a master class in that subject on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.
Romero has known Library executive director Bill Harmer since high school, and then at Eastern Michigan University. Over the years they’ve shared music videos and news.
When Harmer asked Romero if he’d be interested in VersoFest, the writer suggested Spicer too. He’s been a fan of her Americana/blues/country music ever since hearing her play in an L.A. bar.
Edward Romero
Spicer’s songwriting workshop will focus on “empowering people to find their own voice,” she says. She found hers by “thinking cinematically, in images.”
Romero’s approach is more “nuts and bolts,” he says. He will show members of his workshop how to approach a script with a set of practical tools. He welcomes anyone who “wants to write, is struggling with what they’ve written, or haven’t yet cracked the (industry) code.”
Both look forward to VersoFest.
“I love events that feel grassroots,” Spicer says, “and towns that support the arts.”
“I know how proud Bill is of his library facility,” Romero adds. “It’s so cool what goes on there.”
A lot more will go on starting Thursday, of course. Click here for the full VersoFest schedule of concerts, workshops, panels, a vinyl fair and more.
(From Verso Fest and the Levitt Pavilion to Westport musicians and school concerts, “06880” keeps you up on local entertainment news. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
The tagline for PopUp Bagels is “not famous, but known.”
They’ll be known a lot more soon.
The Westport-based company’s pizza bagels will now be sold at all Citi Field events in 2023.
So that’s Mets games — and NYCFC (MLS soccer) matches, and concerts.
Forget peanuts. To hell with Crackerjacks. Buy me some pizza bagels!
PopUp pizza bagels, and a Mets-ish hat.
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Westport Police responded Thursday to a potential scam at M&T Bank.
A woman had told a teller that she received a call, saying he and her daughter were involved in a motor vehicle accident. The man said he had the woman’s daughter as hostage, and demanded she withdraw as much money as she could.
He warned her not to text or call anyone. In the background, a woman was rying.
The teller sensed something was wrong, and realized this was a scam. The bank called Westport Police, who advised the woman to contact her daughter at work — where she was fine.
This was the third potential scam in the past week, police say. They thank alert bank employees, and offer these reminders:
Do not send any money or gift cards to an unknown person.
Make contact with family who claim to be in danger prior to sending money.
Call the police if unable to contact family members.
“Tomorrow’s trash pick-up (Sunday, March 26, 11 a.m.) is along Greens Farms Road.
“We will park at the Public Works Garage at the transfer station (they are closed) and make our way to Prospect Road. Depending on the size of group, we will continue on to Hillspoint Road. This location is back by popular demand from residents.
“Wear comfortable shoes or boots, and gloves — and bring a trash bag.”
Looking ahead, Andrew says:
“For 3 years our weekend group of residents, elected/appointed officials and town employees has volunteered to do weekend trash pick-ups in Westport. Our last pick was Elaine Road, which is probably the worst area of trash collecting from I-95.
“I have written and called the state. They are aware, and are picking up along the guardrail in the coming weeks.
“However, the trash that has spilt below is overwhelming. Three weekends ago a group of 12 tackled the steep hill. We completed about 1/8 of it. I have obtained further help to complete the job.
“I have just confirmed with SLOBs (Staples Service League Of Boys) group. They are on for an Earth Day trash pick on Elaine Road, where Westport’s Animal Control building is located.
“We will have 45 from that group. I am inviting employees from Town Hall, Westport Police, Westport Fire, Public Works, VFW, Parks & Recreation and other departments to join us on April 22nd, at 10 a.m.
“With 45 people plus others we can clean up the entire hill, and along South Compo where trash has made its way into the gutter line and sidewalk area.
“Wear boots and gloves, bring a garbage bag and pickers if you have them, and prepare to get dirty. Spread the word. All are welcome. Let’s clean up Westport!”
Westport Animal Control building, on Elaine Drive.
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There are 2 weeks left to save 20% on tickets to the 17th annual Taste of Westport.
The event — a fantastic benefit for CLASP Homes (May 10, 6 p.m., the Inn at Longshore) — always sells out.
Particularly when folks can save big, before April 10.
More than 2 dozen establishments provide all-you-can-eat food and drinks.
Click here for tickets, and more information (including a list of participating restaurants, chocolatiers, and wine and spirits shops).
Can’t make it to the event? Click here, to be part of the Toast the Taste campaign.
To learn more about CLASP Homes, click the video below:
Staples High School Counseling Department honors Women’s History Month.
The next episode of their “Spark Your Future!” series features “Women in the Military.
The virtual event is set for this Tuesday (March 28, 6:30 p.m.). The panelists — all Staples graduates — include
Dominica Wardell (Staples Class of 2014) is an officer in the Marine Corps. She earned her Wings of Gold as a naval aviator, and now flies the MV-22 Osprey.
Asia Bravo (SHS ’11) served 7 years active duty in the Army. She has now been selected as a member of the United States Space Force.
Emily Troelstra (SHS ’13) served as a Navy officer aboard the USS Princeton. After medical separation from the military, she is pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training at George Mason University.
Amanda Troelstra (SHS ’18) is an active duty signal officer and satellite communications platoon leader in the Army.
The program is open to students in all grades, and their families. Scan the QR code below to register.
If you are not able to attend live, the webinar will be recorded and shared in a follow-up email.
Bedford Acting Group’s spring production — “Seussical Jr. ” — opened to great reviews last night.
Two more performances are set for today (Saturday, March 25): 3 and 7 p.m.
Directed by Ryan Smith, the story of friendship, loyalty and love comes through strongly with great choreography, an intriguing set, and of course excellent acting by future Staples Players.
Westporter Mike Greenberg — host of ESPN’s “Get Up” and “NBA Countdown” — is off the air for a bit.
He underwent a cardiac ablation Monday. The procedure corrects heart rhythm problems. is slowly on the mend after he underwent a heart procedure on Monday.
His wife Stacy posted on Twitter: “Recovery is slow, he has to do nothing and believe me…. he’s not great at that! We both really, really appreciate all the nice messages.”
“06880” joins Mike’s million-plus Twitter followers in wishing him a speedy recovery. (Hat tip: Jack Krayson)
And finally … Fuzzy Haskins, “a foundational member of the vocal group that morphed into Parliament-Funkadelic, the genre-blurring collective led by George Clinton that shook up the pop music world in the 1970s,” died last week in Michigan. He was 81, and suffered from diabetes. (Click here for a full obituary.)
Today marks the 3rd anniversary of our online art gallery.
“06880” began this feature in the first days of the pandemic. The world shut down — but this was a chance for readers to share their work with others.
Some submissions were dark. Others were hopeful. Artists used a variety of mediums. It was a creative idea in a desperate time.
It worked. Eventually, the terror receded. But the artwork kept coming.
As long as you keep it coming, we’ll continue sharing — every Saturday. (We missed a couple along the way — that’s why this is only Online Art Gallery #154).
We celebrate year #3 with not one but two works titled “Spring Has Sprung.” I can’t imagine a better, more hopeful way to move on.
Meanwhile, as we’ve said since March of 2020: This is your feature. Everyone is invited to contribute. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions.
All genres are encouraged. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage and (yes) needlepoint — whatever you’ve got, email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Share your work with the world!
“Spring Has Sprung!” (Amy Schneider)
“Implications of Flowers” (Tom Doran)
Watercolor artist Eric Bosch writes: “I just completed these for the Westport neighborhood guys I grew up with (Staples High School Classes of 1972 & ’73). This is of our 1970’s basketball team, The Klunkers. We proved ourselves competitive in the Westport Rec & Beach leagues. We play some nice golf and tennis now, but our days of driving to the hoop are behind us.”
“Looking at the World From the Side Door” (Peter Barlow)
“Peace” — child in a Panamanian rainforest (Mike Hibbard)
“Daydreaming” (Lawrence Weisman)
“A Colorful Lady in Waiting” (Steve Stein)
“Naraja” — acrylic abstract (Patricia McMahon)
“Spring Has Sprung” (Dorothy Robertshaw)
(Help us celebrate 3 years of our online art gallery with an “06880” contribution! Please click here — and thank you!)
The other day, alert “06880” reader — and very generous and caring Westporter — Gloria Gouveia had an incident all of us can relate to.
Her reaction to it was noteworthy. So is her willingness to share it with the world.
Gloria writes:
Shortly before 3 this afternoon, in an uncharacteristic and deplorable lack of manners, I honked at a black BMW SUV with Connecticut plates in front of me, for taking too long at the stop sign where Avery Place merges with Myrtle Avenue.
As the vehicle continued toward the light at Post Road East at 15 to 20 miles an hour, it occurred to me that the driver was elderly or unfamiliar with the area.
When the car turned into the right lane going east on the Post Road, I glanced at the driver from the left lane.
I saw a pretty, young girl in the driver’s seat, with a look of trepidation that reminded me of being 16 years old — behind the wheel of our giant family station wagon, sitting on a pillow to see over the steering wheel, white-knuckle driving for months after I got my license.
My regret for honking at her was immediate, and palpable.
I am sending my mea culpa out to the Universe, in hopes that she or someone she knows sees this post, with my sincere apology for being so impatient and impolite.
Thanks, Gloria. Beautifully said.
The next day, I received this, from Steve Mochel. He signed it “Parent, and CEO of Fresh Green Light Driving School.” Steve writes:
One of our instructors, Louise Ortega, works in our Westport location. She’s also a writer, and wrote this based on her experience.
It’s something we all deal with on a daily basis: frustration with slow-moving drivers.
We experience this daily with our vehicles — and they are bright green and say “Student Driver” on them. So I know our young new drivers experience this as well when they’re out with their parents, or just starting out driving by themselves.
Louise says:
Louise Ortega offers tips.
We’ve all seen that vehicle. The one that comes flying around the corner behind you doing 40 mph in a residential zone. The driver races up behind you and starts weaving, bullying you to speed up. Tailgating, gesturing rudely and using their horn inappropriately.
Now imagine your 16-year-old having to deal with this, and learn to drive at the same time.
Driver aggression is a huge problem. Here are a few tips to teach your child to defend themselves in traffic.
Model good driving behavior. I cannot emphasize this enough. Stop at every stop sign. Put your phone down. Do not road rage. Drive at the speed limit. Do not adjust your driving to please aggressive drivers.
Buy multiple “Student Driver” magnets,and put them on every side of your vehicle. Make it clear your student needs space.
Be your student’s eyes and ears. Do not assume they have identified an obvious hazard. New drivers have very narrow vision; all they concentrate on at first is staying between the lines. Their vision will expand with more hours behind the wheel.
Teach your student to scan 360°. They have to learn to watch the car in front of them, observe changes in traffic 15 to 20 seconds ahead, scan for vehicles merging from side roads and businesses, and check their rearview mirror for aggressive lane changers who may cut them off.
Emphasize adequate stopping distance. Extra stopping distance allows students that extra second they need to assess rapidly changing conditions. It also allows the aggressive driver a possibility to pass.
Do not be afraid to steer from the passenger seat. Do not shout if you have to take over for a moment. Use a calm, modulated voice. As a parent, you don’t have the advantage of a passenger-side brake. Make it an inviolable rule that if you say “STOP!” your teenager stops. You can explain why once the car is at a standstill. Students have what we as experienced drivers consider a lag when reacting to changes in traffic around us. We have years behind the wheel and have developed the reaction time to match. A student with 10 hours of driving time has not. If your child needs extra time in school, they will also need extra time behind the wheel.
Allow your teen to make mistakes. If need be, pull over to explain what went wrong. Use positive reinforcement. Shouting is not positive.
Teach your child to defend himself or herself in traffic, and obey road rules under pressure.It will help them pass their test. Their focus should be to follow the rules and please the examiner who sits beside them, not the driver behind them. It will keep them safe, and help them develop good lifetime driving habits.
Remind them that if they get honked they are probably doing it properly. Just because an adult appears angry with them does not mean they are in the wrong.
Do not allow your student to gesture at another driver. Do not engage.Avoid eye contact, and simply pretend that driver is not there.
(“06880” is honored to post public service messages like this. Please support our work by clicking here. Thank you!)
The Playhouse Square light ensures we have plenty of time to enjoy the ever-changing holiday decorations there.
St. Patrick’s Day 2021 at Winslow Park Animal Hospital. (Photo/Molly Alger)
But long before veterinarians named their practice after a neighboring dog park, a restaurant was named for a nearby theater.
The other day in the animal hospital, Bob Weingarten spotted a photo of the building on the mantle.
The local house historian and experienced researcher was intrigued.
Bob asked the Westport Country Playhouse about the photo. Company manager Bruce Miller supplied a few more photos.
Playhouse Kitchen interior.
But the Playhouse archives had no further information about the Kitchen — except to say they had not operated it.
Digging further, Bob learned that the building was moved from Long Island to Westport around 1835, with 2 adjacent structures.
(That was around the time the town of Westport was officially established, breaking off from Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield. The meeting was held at the Saugatuck Congregational Church — directly across the street, where 2 gas stations are now. The church moved diagonally across the Post Road in 1950.)
All 3 buildings were called the “Tannery Cottages.” They were used to house employees for the Morocco Manufacturing tannery, first owned by R. & H. Haight and then Charles H. Kemper until the beginning of 1900s.
In 1931, the tannery behind the cottages was transformed into the Westport Country Playhouse.
The WCP sold the building in 2012. Winslow Park Animal Hospital was established the next year.
Winslow Park Animal Hospital, today.
(“Friday Flashback” runs weekly on “06880.” If you enjoy this — and our other looking-back features — please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
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Both look forward to VersoFest.
As the vehicle continued toward the light at Post Road East at 15 to 20 miles an hour, it occurred to me that the driver was elderly or unfamiliar with the area.
