Thanks to all who came to last night’s “06880” blog party. We hope you had a good time!
The weather was perfect. The sunset was gorgeous. The turnout was diverse, the chatter fun.
The “06880” gifts — Bluetooth speakers, sourced by Annette Norton, of Savvy + Grace — were very well received.
Thanks, as always, to Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department. Their front office staff — and the young people in guest services — went way out of their way to make things run smoothly.
The next “06880” event: the Soundview Summer Stroll on Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The entire beach exit road will be closed, for music, food, and tons of kids’ activities. See you there!
Terry Brannigan grabbed Warren Bloom’s guitar, and picked up where the veteran singer left off. His brother Eamon Brannigan, photographer John Videler, and “06880” board member Annette Norton enjoyed the show. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The fun continues this Sunday, with the 1st-ever Soundview Summer Stroll. It’s co-sponsored by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
As (almost) always at the “06880” blog party, there was a magnificent sunset. (Photo/Ken Schwarz)
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Compo Beach wasn’t the only place to be last night.
The Bacon Brothers drew a full — and very enthusiastic — house, at the Westport Country Playhouse.
They played autoharp, electric cello, mandolin, 4 electric ukuleles, harmonica, drums, bongos — and sang “Footloose” as an encore.
Just a year after facing near-calamitous financial difficulties, the Playhouse has enjoyed a spring and summer with a wide range of artistic and musical productions.
The Bacon Brothers, at the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Susan Garment)
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Speaking of entertainment: Tower of Power is the newest addition to the Levitt Pavilion lineup.
The funk and soul band — recording and touring favorites for over 55 years — come to the amphitheater (itself celebrating 50 years) on Saturday, September 21 (7:30 p.m.).
For this event, chairs will be provided for all ticket-holders. There will be a full bar and food trucks, too.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
There’s plenty going on at the Levitt before then, of course. This weekend, for example:
Tonight (Friday, July 26, 7:30 p.m.): NYC SKA Orchestra. Click here for free tickets, and more information.
Tomorrow (Saturday, July 27, 6:30 p.m.): Westport’s own Chelsea Cutler; opening acts Jake Minch and Lisa Heller. Click here to purchase tickets, and more information.
Sunday (July 28, 7 p.m.): Singer-songwriter Griffin House. Click here for free tickets, and more information.
Tower of Power
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In April, “06880” reported that Oliver Bub made the US Olympic rowing team.
Now the 2016 Staples High School graduate is in Paris.
The first heat for his men’s pair is Sunday (July 28, 5 a.m. EDT). Click here for the full schedule. Click here for a story from Dartmouth, where Oliver rowed in college.
Oliver Bub
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The Sunday Compo Beach worship service is always meaningful.
This week’s event (July 28, 8:30 a.m.) is even more special.
The United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston is sponsoring a food drive. Attendees are invited to bring non-perishable items to the area near the cannons. All are welcome; bring a beach chair!
The UMCWW will also collect food tomorrow (Saturday, July 27) at the church (49 Weston Road), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The goal is to stock the Homes with Hope pantry with cereal, pasta, peanut butter, tuna, soup, fruits and veggies.
United Methodist Church, 49 Weston Road. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Carl Addison Swanson has a warning for Westporters. He writes:
“I am not a scientist (although I did get an A in 11th grade Chemistry at Staples.)
“Both of my maternal grandparents were chemists and professors at Harvard, with an actual building named after them (Esselen) before it crumbled to the ground.
“That said, my recent run down North Avenue and some of its side streets revealed to me a number of little yellow signs on lawns indicating caution, for pesticides had been just sprayed.
“I decided to do some research on what they are spraying. The most popular: 2,4D, organophosphates, carbanmatees and other phemaxy and benzoic acid herbicides.
“I have no idea what these are. But if you cannot pronounce them, beware.
“And my research indicates you all should beware! 2,4D, for example, causes cancer, birth defects, and a whole slew of bad stuff. If your kids and/or pets are frolicking in the grass, this is not good.
“I respectfully suggest Westporters ask your landscapers what they are spraying for.
“They told us in Vietnam that the 19,000 pounds of Agent Orange was harmless. More than 300,000 vets have died from its exposure since we left in 1975.”
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Coming up this weekend at Sherwood Island State Park:
Saturday (July 27, 1 p.m.): The Nature Center hosts Cia Marion of Westport. The avid monarch butterfly “nurturer” will speak discuss its life cycle. If the timing works, she will show actual eggs, larvae, chrysalis and adults she has watched grow this summer.
Sunday (July 28, 1 p.m): Master wildlife conservationist Paul Colburn discusses Eastern coyotes in Connecticut.
Monarch butterfly (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 94 million pairs of shoes to people in need.
Westporters have done their part, donating over 3,000 pairs.
That means 3,750 pounds of shoes have been diverted from local landfills. Westport’s donations created $27,150 of economic opportunity for families and communities around the world, through the non-profit’s “4Opportunity” program.
In countries like Haiti, Honduras and Guatemala, Westporters’ donations provide consistent, quality food, housing and education for 3 families for an entire year.
Ken Bernhard (left) and Ted Freeman, with June’s Soles4Souls shipment.
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Bear — the dog that hangs out at Westport Hardware — is away this week.
But he’s not far from the heart of customers. This sign hangs in the popular store, during his absence:
(Hat tip and photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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John Eric (Jeb) Ball — a well-known graduate in Staples High School’s Class of 1983 — died peacefully July 19, surrounded by his family. He was 59, and lived in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
While always active and healthy, Jeb was suddenly diagnosed with a serious infection that required heart valve surgery. Despite fighting extremely hard for his life for 3 weeks in intensive care, Jeb passed away due to complications from endocarditis.
In the days and weeks before Jeb’s hospitalization he played golf with his sons, went horseback riding in Utah, traveled to Australia for business, and celebrated his 32nd wedding anniversary in Maine with Ginger.
Jeb was born in Tokyo on January 14, 1965, and grew up in Westport. He earbed a BA from Wabash College in 1988.
Jeb held executive leadership roles in the printing industry before moving into HVAC, where he served as vice president of sales and marketing at Fieldpiece Instruments.
Jeb is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Ginger (Grace) Ball; children Jack, Bridget and Colin (24; his mother Stephanie of Cotuit, Massachusetts; brother Scott of Cotuit; sister Jacqueline Vitaro of Duxbury; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Robert.
A celebration of Jeb’s life is set for August 12 (noon to 4 p.m., Marshfield Country Club).
His family says, “All will remember Jeb for his sense of humor, sharp style, quick-tempered wit, passion for the art of conversation and debate, and sly dancing. It is our wish for everyone to spread Jeb’s big personality in all that they do.”
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association. For an online guest book, driving directions and more, click here.
Jeb Ball
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes straight from Tracy Porosoff’s garden.
It’s a vibrant way to end this colorful week.
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … as Oliver Bub, the rest of the US athletes, and thousands from around the world gather in Paris: Let the games begin!
(From our beach party and Soundview Stroll, to the Olympic Games with Oliver Bub, “06880” is where Westport meets the world. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The warning about pesticides is really something to consider. This is one ban that really could make a tremendous difference in Westport citizens’ lives! We stopped using pesticides at our home about 2 years ago, and we’ve been blessed with the return of butterflies, dragonflies, and all sorts of things we did not know we were missing. Yes our grass is not as pretty as it was with pesticides, but I no longer have to think about when anyone can walk on it!
I don’t want to be a pest about this, but I do want to emphasize that pesticide applications like this kill bees. Honey bees send out thousands of bees to pollinate every day, and sprayed pesticides spare no one.
If you must spray, spray after sundown when the bees have returned to their hives.
Thanks for the beach party last night! As you previously promised, the clouds DID part in time for us to see the sunset! It’s always great to meet new people, see old friends and share food and stories. Great tradition!
An alarming article on pesticides and TFA. We’re doomed…
https://apple.news/A309vAFWURq22KXzgDkLpFQ
(The Washington Post)
Thanks Dan it was a great time yesterday I had so fun to see everybody
Thanks to all involved for the pesticide warning. (Among other issues, be aware that the substances find their way into the aquifer and into well-water, etc.) This is so important to personal and public health.
Lawn pesticides have been linked to leukemia in children, Parkinson’s in landscapers, and cancers and neurological problems in dogs, among other things. There are times we need pesticides (think wasp infestation), but I’d sure love to see a ban on “cosmetic “pesticides.
No 2 cycle engine on a leaf blower does a tenth of the damage that does one quarter acre sprayed with any chemical that kills “weeds” and gives a “beautiful” lawn…we oughta’ ban pesticides if we really care about the town’s environment.