Roundup: Nature Stuff: Birds, Earthplace, Wakeman Town Farm …

Jude Siegel grew up in Westport. Her father owned Westport Pharmacy downtown, across from the Library on Post Road East. Jude is a 1964 Staples High School graduate.

Since 1973, she has lived in Oregon — first on farms in the Willamette Valley, now in Portland.

She has long taught nature and bird journaling — a combination of drawing, watercolor and writing — to children and adults.

“This time of year,” she says, “I get homesick for the land, beaches and beauty of Connecticut.”

Of course, it is beautiful in Oregon too. Jude captures that beauty every year, in a bird calendar she draws and produces.

The cover of Jude Siegel’s 2025 calendar …

“Birds bring such joy to our daily lives,” she notes. “It gives me peace to draw and paint them. I like the idea that they then go out on the calendar pages to people all over, and grace their lives as well.

This year’s calendar is now available for purchase. They’re $30 each, plus $4 per calendar for shipping. Send a cash or check to: Jude Siegel, 7900 SW Landau Street #4, Portland, OR 97223.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the people and animals in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. The ordering deadline is a week before Thanksgiving.

… and one of the months.

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The weather outdoors was gorgeous. There are always a ton of things happening on Saturday mornings.

But a large crowd filled the Westport Library, for the town’s annual Volunteer Fair.

(Photo/Molly Alger)

A combination this year of adult and youth opportunities, it was a chance for non-profits across a wide range of activities to show what they do, answer questions — and sign up a new crop of volunteers.

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service booth. (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)

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Speaking of the Library: They’ve got a display of Halloween-themed books and DVDs, on the Riverwalk level.

(Photo/Dick Lowenstein)

No, they’re not horror fiction, or tales of the occult.

They just happen to all have orange covers.

I will refrain from making a joke about “The Art of the Deal.”

Trick or treat!

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A soccer net — this one at Long Lots Elementary School — ensnared another animal this weekend.

A deer was exhausted after an evening of trying to free himself. He dragged the net over 10 feet attempting to dislodge his antlers.

The young buck was lucky: Westport Animal Control Officer Peter Reid and Police Officer Dominique Carr freed him.

If you see the animal, you’ll notice he still has a bit of net entangled in an antler. Deer shed their antlers in December or January, but it may fall off before then. (Hat tip: Julie Loparo)

Animal Control Officer Peter Reid at work. (Photo/Police Officer Dominique Carr)

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Speaking of nature: October is a great time to enjoy it.

And there’s no better place to do it than Earthplace.

Among the upcoming activities:

• Nature Yoga: Mondays, through December 16 (9:15 to 10:15 a.m.)
• Forest Bathing: October 9, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Craft n’ Sip: Basket Weaving: October 10, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Canoe Paddle” October 13, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Saving an Endangered Butterfly: October 16, 7 to 8 p.m.
• Plein-Air Art Along the Trails: October 19, 10 a.m. to noon
• Tree ID Walk: Bark, Leaves and Seeds: October 19, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Mushroom Growing Workshop” October 20: 1 to 3 p.m.
• Guided Meditation: October 22, 6 to 7 p.m.
• Soundbath: October 24, 6:30 to 8 p..m.
• Family Campfire: Happy OWL-ween: October 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Pumpkin Carving & Painting: October 27, 1 to 3 p.m.

There are plenty of after-school activities too, for elementary through high school students.

Click here for program details and registration.

Pumpkin carving is one of many activities at Earthplace this fall.

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Meanwhile, registration is live for Wakeman Town Farm’s kids sessions in November and December — outdoors.

There are many ways that WTF keeps youngsters engaged with nature, animals, gardens and each other, in the fresh (cool) air.

Programs include: Little Farmers (ages 0-3), Curious Sprouts (ages 3-5) and Fantastic Farmhands (ages 6-10). Click here for details and registration.

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Amazon One Medical — one of Westport’s newest healthcare providers — hosts an open house this Wednesday (October 9, noon to 1 p.m.), at its Bedford Square office.

Primary care providers will be on hand to answer questions. Tours of the new facility will be available.

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We all know the Wild West. It was a couple of thousand miles away, a couple of centuries ago.

But what about the “Galactic Wild West”?

On October 15 (8 p.m., Zoom and livestream), Dr. Cara Battersby — associate professor of physics at the University of Connecticut — saddles up to explore the extreme center of our Milky Way Galaxy.

It’s a chaotic region, filled with dense gas, stars, and a supermassive black hole. She’ll discuss “what we know, some what we don’t, and the questions that drive us forward.”

Dr. Cara Battersby

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Bob Weingarten calls this Center Street tree “the most imaginative Halloween decoration” he’s seen:

It’s a different kind of “Westport … Naturally” image.

Or should we say, “Westport … Supernaturally”?

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And finally … on this date in 1927, “The Jazz Singer” — the first full-length “talkie” (sound) movie premiered. The site was Warner Bros.’ flagship New York City theater.

Wikipedia notes: “In keeping with the film’s theme of a conflict within a Jewish family, the film premiered after sunset on the eve of the Yom Kippur holiday.”

Among the many notable performances in the movie: Al Jolson’s performance of “Mammy.” Though he wore blackface, as other entertainers in the era did, he was known as a strong advocate for racial justice, particularly on Broadway.

(If you think there’s a lot going on in Westport: You’re right. You can read about all of it right here, on “06880.” You can also help us keep covering it, by clicking here to support our work. Thank you!)