Westport Animal Shelter Advocates is one of our town’s hardest working, most effective nonprofits.
Their primary focus is attending to the needs of impounded dogs at Westport Animal Control. WASA provides funds for vet care, exercise and training.
They perform home and reference checks, to ensure the canines are placed safely in loving homes.
WASA runs a small fostering network for homeless dogs from other Connecticut animal control facilities, or that come from Fairfield County residents and must be rehomed.
WASA also assists pet owners who struggle financially to provide vet care and adequate nutrition for their pets.
Whether you’re a dog owner, dog lover, or stay far from Winslow Park and off-season Compo Beach, WASA’s year-end video is well worth watching.
It was produced by Staples High School Class of 2021 graduate Brandon Malin. He began volunteering with WASA at age 7, and has been a great fantastic friend to them (and their dogs) ever since.
Brandon is also an exceptionally talented photographer and videographer.
WASA notes: “We ‘stay in business’ because of the support we receive from Westport residents, businesses, and town departments. We are not subsidized by the town of Westport.”
Click here to support WASA. Click below to see Brandon’s great WASA ’24 video.
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Attention, Staples Orphenians alumni — and everyone else who loves our high school’s elite a cappella group!
An “Orphs Alumni” Christmas caroling event is set for downtown Westport, this Friday (December 20, 3 to 4 p.m.).
Singers will meet at the Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church parking lot.
Orphs: Bring your voices. You’ll have a great time.
Downtown shoppers: Bring your ears. You’re in for a treat.
In 1980, George Weigle led these Orphenians on a downtown Christmastime caroling stroll. Will some alumni from this group — now 60 years old — be back on Main Street on Friday?
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Speaking of the Staples Music Department: With musicians and audience members still on a high after this weekend’s Candlelight Concert (and everyone else kicking themselves for not getting tickets), here’s one more look at the 84th annual gift to the town.
Kevin Mazzarella is in his first year as band director at the high school. But it’s clear from the photo below — as he leads the symphonic band, symphonic orchestra and choral ensembles (including dozens of alumni) in Saturday’s rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” finale — that he’s as excited by Candlelight as everyone else from the past 8 decades.
(Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
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For a while, strange drones have been spotted over New Jersey.
Now there are reports that they’re hovering above other Northeast states.
Richard Fogel spotted this in the Westport sky, around 8:50 p.m. Saturday night.
Is it a drone? A plane? An Unidentified Anomolous Phenomenon (previously known as “UFO”)?
Click “Comments” below. But please: No tin hats!
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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Speaking of strange sights: Our “06880” tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.”
But we never expected to see this sight, from deep in the heart of Texas (Plano):
Ellen Wentworth’s cousin spotted it, and sent it to her.
Yee haw!
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With its winter semester near, Westport Library’s Verso University has announced 8 new courses. They are:
Poet of Wonder: Robert Frost (January 8, 15, 22; 10:30 a.m. to noon). Explore Frost’s work with Westport poet laureate Donna Disch in a 3-part seminar. Delve into all that is “lovely, dark and deep.” Each session will focus on a different selection.
Suspicious Papers: A Vintage Ephemera Collage Workshop Series (January 8, 15, 22; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Artist and ephemera dealer Alesia DiFederico explores mixed media collage using authentic bits of history, inks, paints, and imagination. Creating art is for everyone; the joy is in the do
Exploring Wines of Italy (January: 9, 16, 23, 30; 3 to 4 p.m.). Sommelier Barbie Messa leads a wine tasting class that dives deeply into Italy’s rich traditions.
Storytelling for TV and Film (January 9, 16, and 23; 6 to 7:30 p.m.). Scriptwriter Gigi Rios New helps explore the fundamentals of storytelling for the small and big screens, plus script formatting techniques.
Leadership Literacy (February 5, 12, 19, 26; 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.). Harvard leadership scholar Barbara Kellerman focuses on studying literature about concepts of power, authority and influence.
Tarot 101: A Journey to Self-Discovery (February 5, 12, 19, 26; 2 to 3 p.m.). Author, astrologer, and tarot expert Maria Sofia Marmanides teaches the 78 cards of tarot.
Write, Craft, Create: A Wellness Practice in Making Handmade Cards
(March: 5, 12, 19; 1 to 2 p.m.). Instructor Kerstin Rao, the Westport artist behind Vivid Cottage, provides a safe space for participants to tap into their feelings and craft earnest messages.
Introduction to Ikebana (March: 13, 20 & 27; 10 a.m. to noon). Sogetsu Ikebana is a modern form of the ancient art of Japanese flower arranging, using living materials. Shizue Pleasanton teaches the aesthetic discipline and traditional principles of the form.
For information on Verso University courses, including registration, click here.
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First, an owl was affixed to the Westport police station tower.
Now an eagle has joined them.
Okay, it’s not a real one. But it still qualifies for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … in honor of the newest addition to the police station tower (story above):
(When we figure out Westport drone mystery, you’ll read about it first on “06880” — just like you do so often, on so many topics. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
As it relates to the drone sightings: A more plausible explanation is that this is a DHS action to ferret-out potential WMD locations with a reluctant government to admit to it in order to not cause mass hysteria. No, I am not wearing a tin-foil hat.
listening devices tying into telephones ?
exactly what technology can sniff out a WMD up in the air? typically you need to be closer, e.g., on the ground, at least is my understanding. if there was a WMD, you’d think they’d be looking for it day and night, right? i dont think that is a plausible explanation but anything is possible, right?
Looks like a blurry picture of a thrown hot dog.
This is the Chinese spy balloon panic all over again. Good grief.
My theory: some guys in New Jersey were having fun with their drones and got lots of attention. Some guys in Connecticut (and elsewhere) saw the attention that the guys in New Jersey were getting, called their drone buddies, and said “let’s have some fun!”
Can a sharpshooter take one of these out? If the government comes, we’ll know it was them. If not, we’ll know it was hobbyists.
Who else is old enough to remember the UFO hysteria of the ’70s?
I thought you had already moved to Iceland?
The WASA story is heart warming and bravo to Brandon for standing strong for our animal friends. I work with senior citizens mainly to match the right dog for them, helping them train and bring the dog home and get adjusted. It takes time. Lots of time and patience. Many people get animals on a whim, and now pet abandonment is at an all time high. In cruel, unfeeling ways too. It is so hard to witness. Education is the key for good pet parenting. I almost never use anymore the term owner. They are sentient beings who deserve all the love and respect as we do. We are fortunate to have these animals in our homes. Yay Brandon👏👏
Apparently, the flight tracker apps confirmed that most were just airplanes.
def like that people know to leave in Westport dogs they can’t take care of, says a lot about how very much people equate Westport with generosity and dogs (no matter how many people in WSPT seem to kvetch about dogs on the beach, off leash …).
In downtown NYC – it sounds so odd but since it’s happening in WSPT you’ll get it – in Tribeca that’s happened more than people would think and the dogs are never dropped off at the shelter but neighbours figure out who can ‘foster’, emails go out and within a week the dogs are with their new furever families.
i think the real story is 99%+ of everything being seen/posted is: lens artifact, reflection, plane, helicopter, star, planet, neighbor’s drone, a satellite, meteor, etc.
there were dozens of posts saturday night on dozens of facebook pages with people freaking out there is a drone overhead when it was simply a helicopter, easily seen visually, and on flight tracking data. its very easy to reference flight data, for a flight with a transponder on, via ADSB, and Flightradar24. FR24’s app even has a AR feature that makes it even easier. keep in mind governmental craft dont usually have their transponder on. There are also apps for seeing planets and stars, such as Google Sky Maps.
depending on elevation, one can be inland and see planes lined up for approach to LGA that are over the middle of the long island sound. there are also visual effects such as parallax that can make an aircraft appear as if it is hovering.
Dont forget your neighbors might own a hobby drone. I have seen them around the area day and night over the past year.
Of course, something weird could be happening…I have no doubt that our airspace and sensitive areas have had incursions by adversaries or spies. In the past week alone there have been multiple arrests on both coasts with people flying drones over sensitive areas.
*governmental craft dont usually have their transponder on when conducting official business but you can see them some times training and on normal routes. press U on ADSB.
Great Eagles song. Could never figure it out 🎶🇺🇸
Stevie Van Zandt on MSNBC last week had a good solution to the drone scare: “MAKE THEM ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Dan, for the important WASA post. Both Julie Loporo of WASA and Peter Reid from Westport Animal Control are tireless treasures for needy dog (and cat) rescue and homing…Always, contributions to WSA are needed and put to great use.
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said,”THE GREATNESS OF A NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRESS CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED.”
The Texas “My heart is always home in Westport” is also a Boston college alum. Quietly expressing the pain of exile from New England by “signing.”