The Independence Day fireworks are coming soon.
And tickets are available now.
The annual event — organized by the Westport Police Athletic League and Parks & Recreation Department, and sponsored once again by longtime Westport residents/Staples High School graduates Melissa and Doug Bernstein — is Tuesday, July 2.
Tickets to the fireworks — shot from a barge in Long Island Sound, and the culmination of a day of picnics, parties and fun all along Compo Beach — are available in the front lobbies of both the Westport Police Department on Jesup Road, and the Parks & Rec Office in Longshore Club Park, near the first tee.
Tickets ($50 per car) allow entrance into the Compo parking lots. They are on sale 24/7 at the police station now, and during business hours at Parks & Rec (starting June 1). All sales are cash or check; no credit cards.
Proceeds from the fireworks help fund PAL operating expenses. The organization serves thousands of youngsters each year, through sports programs and scholarships. PAL also runs the ice skating rink at Longshore.
Doug Bernstein (5th from left) hands Police Chief Foti Koskinas the ceremonial first fireworks ticket yesterday. Also on hand (from left): Parks & Rec operations director Carmen Roda, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, PAL president Craig Bergamo, Melissa Bernstein, Parks & Rec interim director Rick Giunta and Lieut. Matthew Gouveia. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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This afternoon (Friday), Westport Police officers will carry the Flame of Hope through town, in support of Special Olympics of Connecticut.
Norwalk Police will hand off the Flame at the Westport/Norwalk town line on Route 1 (Post Road West) at approximately 12:00 p.m.
Westport officers will carry the torch along the Post Road, and pass it off to Fairfield police at the Fairfield border.
Police will escort the torch through town. Residents are encouraged to watch and support this great cause.
The Special Olympics torch run last year: Post Road at the Sherwood Island Connector. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Dunville’s — the 40-plus-year-old hangout in the heart of Saugatuck — celebrated its grand re-opening last night.
The restaurant/bar is now called Little Pub @ Dunville’s. Doug Grabe — the owner of the local chain — is keeping the name and vibe of the well-loved local institution. It’s open 7 days a week, for lunch and dinner.
Cutting the ceremonial ribbon (actually a caution tape) last night, from row from left: RTM member Sal Liccione, Planning & Zoning chair Paul Lebowitz, selectwomen Jen Tooke and Candice Savin, State Senator Ceci Maher, RTM member Matthew Mandell, owner Doug Grabe. Rear: RTM member Andrew Colabella, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, RTM member Andrew Bloom.
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As graduation nears, every night brings a different celebration.
All are special. But the High Honors dinner at Staples last night was particularly meaningful.
Twenty students — the top 4% of the Class of 2024 — were honored for their achievements.
Each invited one teacher or counselor. Each educator spoke for a few minutes about “their” student.
Bonds between the teachers and teenagers were strong and deep. A wide variety of disciplines was represented: English, social studies, science, math and music.
There were stories of STEM students who found loves for literature and government; of conversations about life before and after school that transcended classrooms; of challenges made and surpassed.
Each student thanked their teachers — and their parents — for getting them where they are today.
There are many reasons to be fearful about the future of our world. Last night offered 21 reasons to be very, very optimistic.
The High Honors students were Kathryn Asiel, Emerson Briggs, Coco Crombie, Gabriela de Brito, Eitan Eiger, Dylan Fiore, Peter Loranger, Defne Merih, Neva Mermagen, Connor Ng, Ellen Ou, Mabel Propper, Jeremy Rosenkranz, Jameson Russell, Kaitlyn Seo, Elizabeth Turner, Darren Weng, Gabriel Weng, valedictorian Leigh Foran and salutatorian Andrew Berkowitz.
The teachers and staff members they honored were Rasha Tarek, Will Jones, Deborah Slocum, Noreen McGoldrick, Robert Shamberg, Alexandra McHale, Michael Mezzo, Maxim Kolb, Heather Wirkus, Ann Neary, Jon Shepro, Dominick Messina, Heather Colletti-Houde, Joe Barahona and Brian Tippy.
Staples High School’s 2024 High Honors graduates-to-be.
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The Westport Fire Department responded to a car fire on Long Lots Road at 5:45 p.m. last night.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fully engulfed vehicle.
The fire is under investigation by the the fire marshal’s office. There were no injuries.
Scenes from yesterday’s car fire. (Photos courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
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That wasn’t the only action for the Fire Department last night.
Tyler Errickson writes: “This was my son Oliver’s 3rd birthday. He loves fire trucks.
“I asked the team at Westport Fire headquarters if they would show us around. They did not hesitate — and gave both my boys a day to remember
“I want to thank the entire team at the fire station, and remind everyone how lucky we are to live in this community.”
The Errickson family, at Fire headquarters.
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A friend of a Westport teacher is fostering a 2-year-old dog named Cricket.
Unfortunately, they can no longer care for her. If they do not find anyone to adopt her, she will have to go back to a shelter.
Cricket is well behaved, spayed, and up to date with all vaccinations. “06880” readers interested in learning more should call 203-805-2437.
Cricket
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Sorelle Gallery’s new exhibition, “Summer Crush,” showcases original paintings by artists who draw inspiration from water and the coast in a wide variety of styles, from abstract to hyper-realistic.
The exhibition opens on June 15, 2024, with a reception from 2-4 p.m.
An artists’ talk and Q-and-A at 2:30 features Julia Contacessi, Kelly Rossetti, Nealy Hauschildt and Tony Iadicicco. Light refreshments with a summer rosé will be served.
The show runs through July 6. For more information, click here.
“Summer Crush” at Sorelle Gallery.
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Carl Addison Swanson has seen plenty of violations of this rule.
He reminds “06880” readers: If you raise your hand to traffic at a crosswalk, you have the right of the way.
Drivers: Stop for pedestrians who raise their hands at crosswalks.
But pedestrians: Look both ways, to make sure those drivers have stopped!
Stop for pedestrians!
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Have you seen today’s “Westport … Naturally” deer?
Richard Fogel has. And, he says of this one — seen here at the corner of East Main Street and Whitney Road Extension — it is “a family pet. Crazy. You can walk up and touch it.”
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … today is the final day of National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.
(“06880” is your place for hyper-local news, 24/7/365. Every day, we rely on reader support. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)
Dunville’s ‼️
Dan Hoerlick, Kevin Bradley and the Cho-cho train🍺
Brawley ‼️
And of course Steve Carpentieri ! It’s fearless leader !
For anyone who finds wildlife like this, Please don’t approach or touch wildlife!! A healthy fear of nature keeps people safe. If you see a wild animal in broad daylight that shows no fear of you, something may be wrong. The animal may be diseased or even have rabies! Even if nothing is wrong and the animal is fine, it is not good to teach animals to be pet or fed by people because then they do not keep a healthy fear of humans for their own safety. The best thing to do if you see an animal behaving in a concerning way- call animal control.
your correct. The story is this deer has been fed for a long time by local people. The deer gangs out at their house I have seen the deer walk up their stairs. The deer is domesticated and not sick. The deer kind of acts like a pet. I appreciate your concern and wise thoughts
Nice to see the name Dunville return. Which menu and type of preparation will the food be? Dunville’s or Little Pub?
Menu = Little Pub (which, IMHO, is excellent)
At any crosswalk not controlled by a light or police officer, “each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk.” CGS § 14-300(c). Drivers have to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks whether their hands are raised or not. And, drivers must exercise due care to avoid pedestrians, wherever they may be. CGS §14-300d.
Indeed, I do know the dangers of the crosswalk(s) on North Avenue and the entries to Bedford Middle/Staples. Yesterday, a very polite ABC resident was waiting for five minutes to cross the former and I had to stop traffic so he could cross to the sidewalk. The law clearly states that if a pedestrian raises his or her hand waiting at the crosswalk, he or she has the RIGHT OF WAY. That said, the speed of drivers down North puts any such person in harm’s way. SLOW THE F#@$ DOWN.
Ah, Dunvilles… Many many happy times over the years with that wonderful group of owners and bartenders . Beautiful memories for many years.. Good Luck Little Pub… You have a hard act to follow—but you will do it!!!
Amazing how the politicians get in the picture for a free meal