A great new summer event has just been added to Westport’s calendar.
On Sunday, July 28, Soundview Drive will be closed to vehicles. The beach exit road will turn into a street fair, with live music, kids’ activities (face painting, balloon artists, etc.), food, fun and more.
The first annual “Soundview Summer Stroll” is a collaboration between “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association.
We’re throwing a party. And the entire town is invited!
The idea came from the July 4th fireworks, when vehicular traffic is prohibited starting in late afternoon.
“06880” wondered: Why not celebrate summer the same way another day too?
Compo residents Sunil Hirani and Kristin Mott Purcell loved the concept, and got the ball rolling. The Parks & Recreation Department and Police offered their insights and ideas.
Yesterday morning, the Board of Selectwomen approved the idea unanimously.
More details will be announced soon. For now: Get ready to stroll!
Soundview Drive before the fireworks. On July 28, it will again be closed to traffic, for the “Summer Stroll.” (Photo/Diane Yormark)
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Put this on your calendar too: the Westport Garden Club‘s annual plant sale.
It’s May 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Jesup Green). In addition to home-grown perennials, native plants, vegetables and herbs, there are Mother’s Day garden-themed gifts, creative planters, baked goods and fresh bouquets.
Last year, the Garden Club moved the long-running event from Friday to Saturday. That drew a whole new crowd of families.
This is the 100th anniversary of the Westport Garden Club. It’s also the “Year of the Peony,” so there will be plenty of those flowers for sale too.
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The state Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting April 16 (7 p.m.), to provide information on the proposed rehabilitation of the Saugatuck railroad bridge.
Work would include the mechanical and electrical systems responsible for lifting and lowering the span. Construction is expected to begin the fall of 2025.
Click here to register for the meeting. Click here for the YouTube livestream.
Railroad bridge over the Saugatuck River. (Photo/Patricia McMahon)
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Dartmouth College just received a huge gift: $150 million, from the estate of Glenn Britt. The former president and CEO of Time Warner Cable died in 2014; his wife Barbara passed away last year.
Both lived for many years on Long Lots Road, in the house once owned by Harry Reasoner — and before that, Nat and Lee Greenberg (who rented it one year to Elizabeth Taylor). In Westport, the Britts were very generous supporters of Earthplace.
The bequest — the largest dedicated entirely to scholarship in Dartmouth’s history — will enable it to raise its annual family income threshold for a “zero parent contribution” for undergraduates from $65,000 to $125,000, Forbes says.
Glenn Britt graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth, with a degree in economics. He also received an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
About 350 undergraduates will receive the new Britt Scholarships. Click here for the full Forbes story. (Hat tip: Joan Gillman)
Glenn Britt
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“Burst-Goldtop Believers” — a Facebook group dedicated to guitar aficionados — celebrated yesterday’s 56th anniversary of Cream’s Staples High School concert with this post about Eric Clapton (he was playing a Goldtop).
Comments ranged from “the guitar is a 56 because of that bridge” to “Westport, where?”
Eric Clapton with Cream, at Staples: March 27, 1968.
Elsewhere on Facebook — “Remembering Concerts at the Pinecrest & Other Fairfield County venues” — Matthew Mandell spotted this post:
For more on that concert — and many other bands that played at Staples in the 1960s and ’70s — click here.
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“Fashionably Westport” hits the runway tonight at the Westport Library. The event benefits Homes with Hope.
No ticket? No problem! The silent auction is on now. Click here to see — and bid on — a wide variety of items.
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Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between March 20 and 27.
A man was charged with violation of a protective order, following a domestic disturbance.
Another man was arrested for disorderly conduct, following a domestic disturbance in which the victim was pushed, striking their head on a radiator.
A man was charged with larceny, after a shoplifting complaint from HomeGoods.
“06880” previously reported the arrest of a man for reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, resisting arrest, burglary and larceny, and conspiracy to commit burglary and larceny, following a motor vehicle theft in the Compo Beach area. Two juveniles were also involved in that incident.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 9 citations
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 4
- Failure to obey state traffic control signals: 3
- Speeding: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Failure to obey stop sign: 1
- Failure to display lights: 1
- Failure to return license plates: 1
- Failure to renew registration: 1
- Larceny: 1
- Possession of a vicious dog: 1
Possession of a vicious dog is a misdemeanor. Angela Simpson’s print does not show a vicious dog.
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Speaking of guitarists: Unforeseen circumstances have forced the postponement of Jon Gailmor’s songwriting workshop at the Weston History & Culture Center.
Jon sends his regrets to young musicians in the area, and hopes to reschedule soon.
Jon Gailmor
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A few spots remain for La Plage’s 3-course prix fixe Easter menu.
Click here for the menu. The price is $95 per person, $55 for young adults. Reservations are required: 203-684-6232.
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Former Westporter David Feliciano died earlier this month in Florida. He was 75, and had been in hospice care.
The native of Puerto Rico had a career in law enforcement.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years Lorraine, and son Brian; sister Claire Beam; grandchildren Amanda (Hamilton) and Christopher, and great-grandchild Carter. He was predeceased by his grandson David.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Naples, Florida on April 3 (10 a.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
David Feliciano
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The birds are back!
This one took a rest from building a nest in one of Laurie Sorensen’s trees, to pose for a “Westport … Naturally” photo:
(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)
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And finally … although there is no video of Cream’s 1968 concert at Staples (story above), there is this:
(“06880” is the cream of hyper-local blogs. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
As to the DOT public meeting on the Saugatuck RR Bridge. The walking path on the bridge is not in play here. It may have some temporary closures during the work, but it will remain intact. We need to have them confirm that at the meeting though.
The future full reconstruction of the bridge is not for many years off and when that design gets underway it will be imperative for people to make it clear the walking path must remain as part of the bridge. I believe the DOT understands that, but we should never take a chance with something as important as this.
Matthew Mandell
RTM D1