All morning yesterday, and through 2 p.m., the Stop & Shop parking lot was packed.
Residents responded in droves to calls from the Westport Rotary Club and Sunrise Rotary to bring supplies of all kind — food, tools, medical items, generators and more — for victims of Hurricane Helene.
An enormous truck was packed. By mid-afternoon, it was on its way south.
(Photos/Connie Belta)
Many folks contributed cash too, for the Rotarians to buy more supplies.
The Rotary Clubs — and countless hungry, hurting folks in North Carolina — thank all who helped.
And if more is needed for Florida, we’ll be there too.
(Photo/Gina Giannone)
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On December 14, 1807, a comet landed in Weston.
Over 200 years later — on October 18-20 and October 25-27 — Lachat Town Farm will be transformed into a modern-day, supernatural site.
Visitors will walk through a strange landscape, encounter disturbing creatures, and see scary stuff. They’ll be challenged to “solve the mystery behind the meteor before it’s too late.”
The special, immersive Halloween adventure includes a 45-minute interactive walking tour filled with live actors, horrific scenes, and chilling surprises. Lachat says: “Experience the ‘almost true’ story of the meteor, and discover Weston in a completely new light.
In a nod to 2024, seasonal treats and drinks will be available for purchase.
Parental discretion is advised, with a recommendation for ages 12 and up. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Thirty people will be accommodated per time slot. For tickets and more information, click here or call 203-246-8431.
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Candidates for Westport’s State Senate seat, and the 2 State Representative districts here, will face each other on the Westport Library stage.
The October 22 debate (12 p.m.) is sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. Executive director Matthew Mandell will serve as moderator.
Kami Evans and Ceci Maher are vying for State Senate District 26. Jonathan Steinberg and John Bolton are running for the State House in the 136th District; Peter Bang and Dominique Johnson are in the 143rd District race.
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First it was Waldbaum’s.
Then Barnes & Noble.
For a while it was supposed to be Amazon Fresh.
On October 24, the anchor tenant of Post Plaza is once again a supermarket.
BigY opens that day, at 1076 Post Road East. A “grand opening” celebration is set for November 7.
Opening soon. (Photo/Arthur Hayes)
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MoCA’s Photography Fine Art Fair will attract a large crowd (October 18 and 19, noon to 4 p.m).
An early access ticket (October 18, 11 a.m. to noon) offers a chance to browse and buy one-of-a-kind and limited edition photos from talented and emerging photographers.
Click here for early access ($100) and general admission ($10) tickets.
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Supper & Soul returns to the Westport Library — and 12 downtown restaurants.
The event — which combines a 3-course dinner, rock/jam band concert at the Library, and happy hour prices for after-show drinks — is Saturday, November 9.
The band, Pajamas, will make their much-anticipated Connecticut debut. They have roots in the Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Phish and Goose.
This is the 11th dinner-and-concert event sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
One ticket ($84) covers a 6 p.m. meal at participating restaurants, the 8 p.m. concert, and drinks at those restaurants afterward. Concert-only tickets are $32.
Participating restaurants are Arezzo, Basso, Capuli, Casa Me, Don Memo, Emmy Squared, Il Pastaficio, Mexicue, Nômade, Spotted Horse, Goji and Walrus Alley.
For more information and tickets, click here.
Pajamas headlines the November 9 “Supper & Soul.”
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We may see Ben Casparius in the World Series.
The 2017 Staples High graduate has been added to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ National League Division Series roster. They face the San Diego Padres.
Casparius replaces another right-handed pitcher, who is injured.
The 25-year-old was called up from the minors in August. He was 2-0 in 3 relief appearances, with a 2.16 ERA. He struck out 12 batters and walked 4, in 8 1/3 innings. (Hat tip: Jeff Mitchell)
Ben Casparius
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For 17 years, Earth Animal’s Mitten Project has helped CT Foodshare tackle food insecurity.
Once again, the Post Road store will match every dollar donated by customers.
Last year’s drive raised $65,000. This year’s goal is $70,000.
The Mitten Project will run through December 31. The campaign begins with “Pumpkins for Good.” All proceeds from this month’s sale of pumpkins and gourds at Earth Animal will go to CT Foodshare.
It will be followed by the sale of handmade fair-trade mittens, dog treat Advent calendars, and a “Shop & Give” program involving local businesses.
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The latest “Little Free Library” — small roadside structures, courtesy of private homeowners — is at 69 Morningside Drive South.
It’s like others around town — filled with books to borrow (with an invitation to donate your own) — but with a twist.
This one has a bench. So you can start reading even before you get home.
69 Morningside Drive South. (Hat tip and photo/Bob Weingarten)
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Robert Steven Williams’ new documentary, “To the State of the Good Life,” is as timely as a film can be.
An intimate look at the American Dream through the story of a DACA recipient in Nebraska, it highlights the struggles of over 600,000 similar immigrants.
It will be shown at the Westport Library on October 17 (7 p.m.). Afterward, Williams moderates a panel discussion with experts — and Raúl Arcos Hawkins, who is featured in the video.
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Also at the Library: a special 9/11 event.
Tom Canavan worked on the 47th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. As he escaped the wreckage on September 11, 2001, he was caught under the collapse of the adjacent 110-story South Tower.
Digging his way out of steel and debris, Canavan became one of 19 people to survive the collapse of the Twin Towers.
On December 3 (7 p.m.), Canavan will share his story in an interview with Christie Seyglinski and Andrew Colabella.
Colabella is a Westport Town Representative Meeting member, and civic volunteer.
Seyglinski grew up in the shadow of the Twin Towers. When the 9/11 Memorial opened, she became a volunteer. She is a close friend of Canavan’s.
Tom Canavan, and the Twin Towers.
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Yesterday’s Westport Rotary Club lunch speaker, Shannon Calvert, is ab amateur astronomer, photographer, and president of the Westport Astronomical Society.
The WAS hosts viewing nights on Wednesdays at their Bayberry Lane observatory, and provides classes and workshops in astronomy, telescope training and astrophotography.
They also organize monthly online public Zoom call with experts from around the world, representing different scientific fields.
Calvert’s magnificent photos of nebulas, galaxies, star clusters and supernovas are aesthetically beautiful, scientifically informative — and the highlight of his presentation.
A Shannon Calvert photo of the universe.
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Tracy Porosoff describes today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo: “My sunflowers may look dead to us, but to the goldfinches, they look delicious! They are visiting and munching away.”
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … on this day in 1701, the Collegiate School of Connecticut was chartered in Old Saybrook. The school later moved to New Haven, and changed its name to Yale University.
(When was the last time you heard about the Weston meteor? You never know what you’ll learn on “06880.” But we can’t do it without our readers’ support. Please click hre to contribute. Thanks!)
Love the little libraries. We have been using and stocking the one by Compo Beach all summer. Always surprised by how many good books and in what good condition the books are in. We always take a couple books to donate to it even if we don’t find one to read. These little libraries are gems.
What a great job was done to support the victims of Hurricane Helene. Kudos to those who organized it and to the people who collected it and filled the trucks…including the Y’s men volunteers.