The Parks & Recreation Department held its annual Lifeguard Olympics yesterday morning, at Compo Beach.
Under the direction of Michael Giunta (waterfront foreman) and Danilo Sierra-Giraldo (lead lifeguard), the guards competed in a friendly competition that utilized all their skills.
Operations director Carm Roda notes: “In the eyes of Parks & Rec, all of our lifeguards are gold medal winners.”
A Lifeguard Olympics competition begins …
… and the crew poses. (Photos/Rick Giunta)
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Common Ground — the Westport Library’s project to bring civility back to civic discourse — sponsors a timely topic next week.
“Communicating to Open Minds” (Monday, August 5, 7 p.m.) features Steve Parrish in conversation with Sally Susman, Pfizer’s chief corporate affairs officer. They’ll discuss ways to share information in ways that encourage agreement, and avoid confrontation.
During the pandemic, Susman was charged with rolling out Pfizer’s vaccine to an anxious and polarized world. She’ll offer insights learned about leadership and connectivity.
The event is free. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Sally Susman’s book.
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The Westport Winners and Fairfield Red Storm — both Little League Challenger teams — attended a private Junior Mets clinic on the Citi Field diamond yesterday.
The day included hitting, fielding and base running — plus high fives for all after the clinic.
The Challenger athletes, at Citi Field …
… and a special day for all.
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The Westport Book Shop Short Story Book Club meets August 22 (6 p.m.). They’ll discuss 2 authors’ manifestations of technology in the future:
One is “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury, published in 1950. The other, “Mika Model” by Paolo Bacigalupi, was published nearly 70 years later, in 2016.
Registration is required. Call 203-349-5141, or email bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org.
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First Folk Sunday — the monthly Saugatuck Rowing Club afternoon of good music and a fun vibe — always showcases excellent talent.
It’s even better when it’s local.
Singer/songwriter Lisa Bastoni — a Westport girl now living in Northampton, Massachusetts — comes “home” on August 4.
Rozanne Gates and Suzanne Sheridan, who created First Folk Sunday, saw Bastoni perform in 2023 in Northampton. They were impressed with her songwriting, musicianship and connection to her audience.
They invited her to be a guest artist at First Folk Sunday — not knowing she is from here.
Lisa knew them both. She had heard Sheridan sing at a 2001 anti-war rally on Jesup Green.
Bastoni has had great success since then. Click here for her website. Click here for tickets to the August 4 First Folk Sunday, and more information.
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Whether it’s waterfowl or humans, the story’s the same: Guys preen, trying to impress the ladies.
It seldom works.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Burying Hill Beach, courtesy of Ed Simek.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
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And finally … Jerry Miller, a guitarist and founder of Moby Grape, the San Francisco group that never achieved the success many predicted for them, died last Sunday in Tacoma, Washington. He was 81.
Click here for a full obituary.
(Here’s common ground all Westporters can agree on: click here, to support “06880.” Your hyper-local blog relies on readers like all of you. Thanks!)
At Compo in the summer of 1965 we had half the number of lifeguards including two women. But Pete Brown made sure everyone was on their toes. We never lost a swimmer that summer.