Several “06880” readers were saddened to report the removal of 3 shade trees at Old Mill Beach.
I asked Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department for the back story. Here’s the answer, from parks superintendent Mike West:
“During last Wednesday evening’s thunderstorms, 1 of the 3 leaders of that Norway Maple came down (see photo).
(Photo courtesy of Westport Parks & Recreation Department)
“When I inspected the tree with our team, we identified other points of concern on both of the remaining leaders.
“Unfortunately, the only way to eliminate any safety concerns was to remove the remaining portion of the tree.
“It was sad to see the tree removed, but we’re lucky no was injured.”
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The Remarkable Bookcycle — the free, funky mobile library that wheels around town — is back at Compo Beach.
It’s been rehabbed by Ryan Peterson. It looks great!
Feel free to grab a book. Or donate one.
Or do both.
(Photo/Ryan Peterson)
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Three Westporters were honored at the White House yesterday, as part of a salute to all 2023-24 NCAA champions.
Staples High School 2021 graduate Paddy Donovan is a goalkeeper on the Clemson University men’s Division I soccer national championship. It’s coached by Mike Noonan, a ’79 Staples alum and star on the Wrecker’s ’78 state title squad. This was the 2nd NCAA title in 3 years for Noonan and the Tigers.
Congratulations to both!
Head coach Mike Noonan (front row, 2nd from left, white shirt), Paddy Donovan (middle row, far right, orange shirt), and Clemson Tigers at the White House.
Also honored: Janna Moore. The Tufts University rising sophomore — and daughter of 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore — was a member of the Jumbos’ Division III national champion crew team.
Janna Moore (2nd from left) with her Tufts teammates.
NOTE: When the visit was scheduled, no one knew it would mark the first official appearance for Kamala Harris, as a presidential candidate. She was subbing for President Biden, recovering from COVID at his Delaware home.
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The Westport Police Department reminds residents to “stay vigilant in locking their cars and homes.”
Last weekend, Westport saw an increase in stolen vehicle attempts and larcenies from unlocked cars.
“Please lock your homes and vehicles, utilize alarm and surveillance systems, and report any suspicious behavior to the Westport Police Department,” the WPD says.
Lock your car! And don’t leave your key in the ignition!
In his new book — “Better Pissed Off … Than Pissed On: Narratives on Fubar America” — prolific Westport author Carl Addison Swanson rants and raves about everything: cell phones in schools, leaf blowers, the rise of pickleball, diminishing manners in this country, bad television, dress codes in daily life, teachers making a difference in one’s life, our money-grubbing health system, love and being a father, the puzzling new array of new products on the shelves, bad skin commercials, why siblings fight after the parents are gone — you get the ida.
“Four stars, a hoot,” says Booklist. Click here to purchase. Click here for Carl’s website.
A Westport boat owner writes: “We found all kinds of ‘critter foot prints’ on our boat after the last storm. So we put a camera in, to see what it was all about.
“This photo says it all. It’s amazing who likes boats in Westport!”
The owner called Animal Control, to get rid of the critter peacefully.
The owner adds: “I’m glad he or she did not have the key!”
Frank Zappa once said, “If you want an education, go to the library.”
On August 1 (6 p.m.), his proteges take his advice to heart. Tribute act Banned From Utopia and the Paul Green Rock Academy bringing the “authentic Zappa experience” to the Westport Library.
General admission tickets are $20. A VIP Meet and Greet ticket ($60) offers early admission to enjoy the company of Banned From Utopia members Robert Martin, Ray White and Scott Thunes, all of whom played in Zappa’s band.
It’s a chance to chat, listen to stories, take pictures, have a cocktail, and hang out with band members who toured with Zappa in his prime.
The office of the Registrars of Voters will conduct memory card and tabulator testing beginning today (Tuesday, July 23, 10 a.m., Town Hall Room 212D).
The public is invited to observe today, or any continued testing tomorrow (Wednesday).
Election Day.
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One of nature’s wonders is the starfish.
This guy happily (?!) posed at Compo Beach, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … in honor of Frank Zappa (story above):
(We may not be as eloquent as Frank Zappa, but our message is just as heartfelt: Please click here to support “06880.” We rely on our readers! Thank you.)
It’s not big. It’s pretty visible — on the much-traveled corner of Kings Highway North and Wilton Road, directly across from the medical center — but easy to miss unless, stopped at the traffic light, you happen to glance around.
It’s the final resting place of some famous folks.
The Taylor family — who gave their name to the neighborhood then called Taylortown (the nearby marsh is still called that) — share a large section with the Marvins (of tavern fame).
Abigail Taylor’s grave.
A non-family member is also interred there: Dinah, a “colored” servant and cook. (That was not a common practice, for sure.)
There’s the Judah family too, among the first Jewish residents of Westport (then part of Norwalk). Michael moved from New York City because of anti-Semitism. His son Henry became an Episcopal minister; Henry’s son, Henry Moses Judah, was a brigadier general in the Mexican-American and Civil Wars.
Earlier this year, Henry Moses Judah — the last Civil War general with an unmarked grave — finally received his headstone.
In 2020, at the request of a reader, “06880” wrote about the debris and disrepair at the Kings Highway cemetery — one of the oldest and most historic in town.
Four years later, another reader reports that the graveyard is still a mess.
Josh Berkowsky has lived in Westport for all his 23 years. He loves local history. And he’s distressed at the state of the burial ground.
Josh writes: “The town-owned cemetery is in abysmal condition. Headstones are subject to all manner of damage — not only the weathering you’d expect from 300-plus years of New England rain and snow, but also chipping, cracking and other structural damage.
(Photo/Josh Berkowsky)
“Some have fallen over completely. Others bend at odd angles. Some are just leaning against their bases.
“I even found a pile of headstones, loosely stacked against a tree together. Another is partially inside a stump.
“The burial vaults, which are one of the site’s most striking features from the road and what drew me to it in the first place, are nearly completely sunk into the ground, their entrances obscured by years of dirt.
“Even worse, among the landscaping issues, which included the usual loose sticks, leaves and overgrown sections you’d expect from decades of neglect, a number of trees have fallen on the property. A few are on headstones directly.
(Photo/Josh Berkowsky)
“Among the maintenance problems I noticed rusting fences, a broken bench, broken plot markers, and missing stones in the border wall.
“I do note with satisfaction that neighboring houses seem to be keeping up with the upkeep for the sections of the wall that border them.
“I find, when talking about it, people tend to know it from the street. But no one I’ve talked to has actually been there.
“I can’t blame them. Parking is non-existent, and busy traffic conditions plus a lack of pedestrian infrastructure make for dangerous walking even if you could park.
“I imagine this is why the site has so little foot traffic, and so few people know about the state it’s in.
“It’s sad that this little piece of history is so neglected. I imagine it might become a nice little spot in our little town, full of so many interesting stories we’re losing to time.”
(Photo/Josh Berkowsky)
Josh is right about those interesting stories. I’ve got one, from my teenage years growing up here.
At a mound not far from the road — perhaps the spot where Benedict Arnold (not yet a traitor) set up a cannon to thwart the British as they returned from their 1777 raid on Danbury (they thwarted him, taking a different route back to Compo Beach) — there was a secret, spooky spot long known to kids like me.
If you lay flat on your stomach, and peered into the area where the ground had shifted, you could see all the way down to the bottom. There — arrayed like a horror film — sat a set of bones.
I’ve forgotten many things about being a kid here.
But as long as I live, I’ll always remember that skeleton.
(“06880” covers Westport — life here today, and yesterday. If you enjoy learning about our history through this blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
President Biden’s decision yesterday to not seek re-election set social media a-twitter.
Two Westporters were among the many people sharing their thoughts.
Producer/screenwriter/author/CEO Shonda Rhimes wrote about the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee: “I stood behind her in 2016 when she ran for Senate, I was behind her when she ran as @vp and I continue to stand behind her today.”
Both posts drew over 60,000 likes — and plenty of comments. Some were very positive. Others were strongly negative.
Meanwhile, CNBC reports: “Among the top party fundraisers now planning to help Harris is longtime Wall Street executive Marc Lasry, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
“Lasry helped raise money for the vice president when she ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary. He later raised campaign cash for Biden when he beat Trump during that election cycle.”
Lasry — a billionaire businessman and private equity manager — lives on Beachside Avenue. He is the co-founder and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, and former co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
Meanwhile, one Westport voter did not wait for official news. He created his own yard sign with a pair of scissors, on Bayberry Lane:
Everything is set for this coming Sunday’s first-ever Soundview Sidewalk Stroll — including the bands.
The lineup includes:
11:30 a.m.: Christian Servance
12:30 p.m.: Drew Angus and the Connecticut Songwriters Alliance
1:45 p.m.: School of Rock
3 p.m.: Rock Paper Soul.
The music is just part of the July 28 day-long festival along the Compo Beach exit road.
The Soundview Sidewalk Stroll also builds on the excitement of the annual fireworks, when for a few hours Soundview Drive becomes a street fair.
With Soundview Drive closed to traffic, Westporters are welcome to walk, bike, rollerblade and play, from the Soundview parking lot to the Compo Road jetty.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — in addition to the 4 bands — youngsters can enjoy face painting, a balloon artist, crafts like shell painting and games like tug of war. Members of the Compo Beach Playground Committee have planned a great day for kids.
Old Mill Grocery & Deli will offer favorites from their menu.
The Soundview Summer Stroll is a great chance to meet old friends, make new ones, join the cool street scene, and enjoy Compo without worrying about traffic.
Best of all: It’s free! (Beach emblem required to park.) The Soundview Summer Stroll is a gift to Westport from the Compo Beach Improvement Association and the “06880” blog, with help from the Westport Police and Parks & Recreation Department.
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The Soundview Summer Stroll is just one of 2 great “06880” beach events this week.
The 11th annual “06880” blog party is thisThursday (July 25). From 6 p.m. until dark, everyone in our community — online and real — is invited to Compo’s South Beach.
It’s a very casual, very fun, bring-your-own-food-and-drink event. Meet old friends; make new ones; watch the sun set, and enjoy a summer evening with people drawn together by this hyper-local blog. See you there!
A small part of the large “06880” blog party crowd. (Photo/Dennis Jackson)
Speaking of Soundview Drive: When it’s closed to vehicular traffic for this coming Sunday’s Summer Stroll, drivers — human and canine — will have to find another way to enjoy the open air.
(Photo/Dana Tofel)
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While many Westporters were outdoors in the weekend’s wonderful weather, members of the Westport-Weston Community Emergency Response Team attended Red Cross training at Staples High School.
The CERT volunteers — who support our police, fire and EMS first responders during emergencies — joined Elaine Daignault (director of Westport’s Department of Human Services), First Chief Nick Marsan and Deputy Fire Chief Matt Cohen, Westport Deputy Fire Chief, learning how to safely manage shelter operations at Staples, in the event of a widespread electrical outage or other disaster.
CERT volunteers (from left): Juan Rodriguez, Sergio Roque, Ricardo Arce, Mark Rozelle, Molly Alger, Lourdes Roque, Zulma Heidelberg, Mike Vincelli, Juanita Visconti, Steve Levine, Margaret Cain, Quijani Silveira. Missing: David Kinyon, Frank Rosen.
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Sherwood Island State Park was packed yesterday, as the background of the photo below shows.
But there was plenty of room on Long Island Sound, off of adjacent Burying Hill Beach — for this pair to enjoy this special father-son outing.
One of the most fun parts of a Levitt Pavilion concert is hanging out, waiting for the entertainment to start.
It’s not just the folks on the large lawn. Yesterday, there was this group:
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
They made their own music, cawing to each other.
They happily posed too, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
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And finally … in honor of the photo above:
(Whether you donate to Kamala Harris, Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., all “06880” readers agree: Clicking here to support his hyper-local blog is a great investment in the future. Thank you!)
When you hear “college basketball,” what comes to mind?
On the men’s side: schools like the University of Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina (and, for fans of a certain age, UCLA).
On the women’s side: UConn again.
Yale?
Probably not.
But Richard Kent is a huge Bulldogs fan. In fact, he avidly follows the entire Ivy League — both men’s and women’s hoops.
Even more impressive: He just wrote a book about it.
“The Madness of Ivy Basketball” was published July 10. It’s an ode to the 8-team conference, which is both a sports institution and an academic reference to those colleges.
The “madness” in the title is a nod to the NCAA’s “March Madness” national tournament. (The Ivy League champion is an automatic qualifier.)
It does not refer to what some consider to be crazy ideas, like the fact that the Ivies still refuse to offer athletic scholarships.
Or that in March, the Dartmouth men’s team voted to join the Service Employees International Union. (Maybe that’s not such a crazy idea, after all.)
In May, Dartmouth officials refused to enter into collective bargaining. A passel of lawyers — Ivy-educated, and otherwise — is now on the case.
Kent is the right man to take on these, and other Ivy League issues, in his new book. A Westport resident since 1992, he grew up in New Haven. He sold pennants and programs at the Yale Bowl; is the color commentator for many men’s and women’s basketball games on Yale radio station WYBC, and contributes stories to Ivy Hoops Online.
He is not, however, a Yale alum. Kent calls himself “the proud owner of a rejection letter” from the school. He graduated from Rutgers University, then earned a law degree at Boston College.
His day job is as a litigator. He specializes in fathers’ rights. He’s written 11 books, on subjects ranging from parental law to Roger Federer.
But college basketball is one of his passions. (Kent also teaches sports law at Fairfield University.)
And as he watched seasons unfold — and saw Ivy hoops in the context of the larger world of college sports, where changes like NIL (an NCAA policy change that now allows athletes to make money from their “name, likeness or image”) are roiling traditions — he realized it was a story he could tell.
The audience is, admittedly, small. This is not a book about basketball powerhouses, or big-name coaches like Mike Krzyzewksi, Dan Hurley or Geno Auriemma.
Still, Kent says, Ivy hoops are nothing to sneer at. The schools attract strong athletes like Xavian Lee, Caden Pierce and Bez Mbeng. They could receive athletic scholarships from other mid-major Division I colleges. But, Kent says, they’re looking for a “40-year return” on their academic investment, rather than a quick (and iffy) route to the pros.
The 2023-24 looked intriguing. Three men’s teams — Yale, Cornell and Princeton — could contend for the top spot (usually there are only 2). There was an intense rivalry on the women’s side too, between Princeton and Columbia.
And a class action lawsuit by one former male player, and a current female athlete from Brown University alleged that Ivy League schools violate antitrust laws, by denying athletic scholarships and compensation for services.
Kent knew he could not write the book alone. He enlisted student sportswriters from Yale and Princeton, and a Harvard Ph.D candidate fascinated by sports analytics, to help.
Richard Kent
He began writing in March. Thanks to the new world of online publishing, it took just 4 months for “The Madness of Ivy Basketball” to appear in print.
What did Kent learn along the way?
“The Ivy League is really dug in, and resistant to change,” he says. “NIL is unstoppable. But the Ivies just look straight ahead. With all these lawsuits, they can’t do it their way. But they’re trying to.”
At the same time, Kent says, the Ivy League level of play is “high.” And the Friday/Saturday schedule of games — unique in college basketball — at iconic sites like Yale’s Payne Whitney and Princeton’s Jadwin Gymnasiums — makes for a special atmosphere.
“The Madness of Ivy Basketball” is not for everyone. But — at a time when most college hoops fans think the only Connecticut teams worth caring about are the men and women Huskies in Storrs — writer/lawyer Richard Kent offers a very different case.
(You never know what you’ll find on “06880.” It’s always Westport-related, though — and we always rely on reader support to keep going. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here. Thanks!)
But because most people are intent on getting somewhere — the Post Road, Saugatuck, I-95, wherever — they don’t see the sights.
Like the river. Or — just in front of it, in a yard opposite Saugatuck Elementary School — 2 sculptures by the late Kelley Spearen, a 1971 Staples High School graduate.
I guess that’s why only 2 readers correctly identified last week’s Photo Challenge, which showed those works on a Riverside Avenue property. (Click here to see.)
Congratulations to Brendan Baker and Andrew Colabella.
For the rest of you: Slow down. Enjoy the view. There’s art everywhere — even on one of the busiest streets in town.
Today’s Photo Challenge is here. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Three couples — Jamie and Phil Rubin. Michelle Ahoubim and Greg Krieger, and
Richelle and Greg Kalnit — have organized a GoFundMe drive for a wonderful nanny and caregiver.
They write: “Our beloved Zenia Gordon, who has been a pillar of strength and love in our community for decades, is facing a profound health crisis.
“This past week, Zenia suffered a severe heart attack that required the insertion of 4 stents. However, the situation quickly escalated as doctors discovered multiple tears in her coronary artery, necessitating urgent airlifting to Hartford on July 19. Her condition is critical, and she is now preparing for what will likely be a complex and lengthy journey, which may include open heart surgery.
“Zenia’s impact on our lives, and the lives of many in our community, is immeasurable. Zenia has been a caregiver for our children. You may know her from Temple Israel, The Learning Community, Gan Izzy, various sports events. She was a pillar of stability during COVID, and has been a trusted caregiver for sick family members during difficult times. Zenia has been there for all of us. Her warmth, kindness and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of so many.”
The GoFundMe page seeks donations for medical and related expenses.
“Zenia is more than just a caregiver; she is family to many of us,” the 3 families write.
“Let’s rally together and show her the same love and support she has given to our community for years. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in Zenia’s journey toward recovery.”
While the Gillespie Center is renovated, Homes with Hope has relocated its food pantry to Sasco Creek Village.
The Post Road East site works well. It’s bright and airy, easily accessible, and very welcoming.
It’s also diagonally across the street from Stop & Shop. The supermarket often hosts Westport Sunrise Rotary food drives.
The latest was yesterday. Shoppers gave generously yesterday, to support Homes with Hope’s pantry.
Volunteers collected non-perishable food and personal hygiene items. Donors also gave $690.10 in cash.
Sunrise Rotary — in coordination with the Westport Police Department and other volunteers — plan another drive this fall.
Sunrise Rotarians (from left) Katie Augustyn, Joe Renzulli, Charlie Haberstroh and Liz Wong, outside Stop & Shop yesterday.
Meanwhile, at the other entrance, Westport Police members joined Chief Foti Koskinas (2nd from left), Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden (2nd from right), and other volunteers.
Clarendon Fine Art — the very cool Main Street gallery — hosts a fun and informative event this Thursday (July 25, 4 to 6 p.m.).
Three speakers — Karen Frome of Rise Project, Jen Berniker of Designport, and Clarendon’s Eve Gianni — will talk about art as “an integral component to interior design.”
The subject matter is intriguing. There will be drinks and snacks. And of course, you’ll get to see the latest art hanging on the gallery walls.
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Upcoming events at MoCA CT:
Fairfield County Dance Festival (July 25, 6:30 p.m.).
MoCA Some Noise: Open Mic Night (Friday, July 26; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.). Acoustic music, poetry, and slam poetry. Everyone is invited to participate.
The Artisan Marketplace Summer Series (Sunday, July 28; noon to 4 p.m.). A great place to support the talent and creativity of local artisans
Artisan Workshop Series and art classes:
Ceramic Multi-Bowls, with Leah Corbett (August 2, 9)
Faces in Clay, with Bianca Barroca (August 2, 9)Thursdays (5:45 to 7:15 p.m.):
Sunset Plein Air (BYOB)
Summer Toddler Tuesdays
Summer Toddler Thursdays
Summer Art Workshops for Kids (Ages 8-12; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)
Candle Making with Oh D’Luxe Candle Company (September 25, October 16; 6 to 8 p.m.).
Charles Ives Music Festival Presents: “INFINITE,” performed by the CIMF artists & guest musicians (August 6, 7 to 9 p.m.).
Family Day Featuring Oran Etkin: Timbalooloo (August 18; noon to 2 p.m.); jazz performance (and an ice cream truck).
And finally … On this date in 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run — the first major battle of the Civil War — began. It was a victory for the Confederate army.
(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. We are “where Westport meets the world.” But we can’t do it without our readers’ help. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Posted onJuly 21, 2024|Comments Off on How Do Your Flowers Grow?
Westport is filled with flowers, all spring and summer long.
They’re everywhere: gardens, roadsides, farm stands and stores.
But 80% of flowers sold in the US are imported. That’s not good news, for florists and designers who want to support local growers.
Local flowers, after all — those sold within a few days of harvesting — are fresher and more fragrant than those flown in, then trucked around from overseas.
Local flowers last longer in vases, and are untreated by harsh preservatives. (They also usually cost less.)
From April through November, Westporters have access to a huge range of local flowers.
That means a lot to Michele Sinacore. The owner of Blossom + Stem Floral Design is dedicated to supporting local growers. (Many are female-owned businesses, which is also important to her.)
Michele works through the Connecticut Flower Collective. Based in Meriden, it enables florists and designers to order local flowers from over 100 growers each week, for delivery or in-person pickup.
Michele Sinacore, shopping at the Connecticut Flower Collective.
In addition, local growers like the Westport Flower Garden sell to both florists and customers. Marisa Zer’s “home micro flower farm” in Greens Farms grows sustainably, and sells flowers to local customers and florists for weddings, events and bouquets.
The Westport Flower Garden can tell a florist like Michele what they have ready to harvest each week, and how many bunches. Varieties change each week.
They include peony style double tulips, Italian ranunculus, anemones, Iceland poppies, garden roses, various hydrangeas, and (coming soon through the fall) dahlias.
Think globally. But grow — and buy flowers — locally.
(Blossom + Stem also offers a subscription program, and private workshops. Click here for details, or email hello@blossomstem.com, or call 203-293-4275. Follow Michele on social media: @blossomstem. Click here to learn more about Westport Flower Garden, or follow on social media: @westportflowergarden.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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