Over 100 people celebrated Easter this morning, with a traditional sunrise service at Compo Beach.
Here’s to a wonderful day, to all who celebrate.
(Photo/Rick Benson)
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Meanwhile, nearby, Banksy — or someone like him — has come to Westport.
An intriguing bit of street art — more aptly, “boardwalk art” — appeared recently, at the Compo Beach lifeguard shack.
Print at the lifeguard shack. (Hat tip and photo/Andrew Colabella)
No one seems to know who is behind the print. But it sure adds color and interest, a few weeks before the guards arrive.
Meanwhile, a few yards away, a number of fence pickets — relics of the previous playground renovation — remain. They’ve been offered to families and organizations who bought them, to help fund the 2009 rebuild.
The 2025 re-do begins tomorrow. New pickets are part of the project. They may be available to donors in the 2040s.
(Photo/John McCarthy)
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Yesterday’s protest was not as large as the one 2 weekends ago.
But — on the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord — over 100 people gathered at the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. As with the earlier demonstration, they held signs decrying a number of actions by the Trump administration.
Once again, many — but not all — drivers honked in support.
Another protest is planned next Saturday.
(Photos/Adam Stolpen)
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David Pogue left Westport last year, for Bedford, New York.
But he’s back (almost) for the 4th annual Norwalk Earth Day Festival.
The “CBS Sunday Morning”/PBS “Nova”/New York Times tech writer (and much more) returns on April 26 (11 a.m., Mill Hill Historic Park), for a talk on “Climate Hope.”
Organizers promise “10 surprising reasons for hope,” and 10 impactful actions anyone can take to help protect our planet. Click here for tickets.
The event, on the Norwalk Green, also includes vendors, healing arts, kids’ activities, a labyrinth, picnic grove, tree planting, “trashion” show and beer garden. Click here for more information.
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Speaking of the environment: Weston’s EcoFest is set for May 4 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lachat Town Farm).
The day of environmental service, celebration and education includes community members, local businesses and organizations, showcasing sustainable products and initiatives.
There’s live music by high school bands; food trucks and vendors; family-friendly games and activities; mini-speaking series on topics like pollinator planting, eco-gardening, electrified lawn care and recycling, plus a live animal presentation.
There’s also a bottle and can drive,with raffle (marking Weston’s collection of its millionth bottle and can). Every 25 redeemable containers offers a chance to win $250.
Click here for all EcoFest details.
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Speaking (still) of the environment: Westport’s Shellfish Commission takes care of the land, as well as the water.
The other day, members Jamie Walsh and Jesse Harte, plus former Conservation Department director Alicia Mozian and interested Westporter Heather Walklet collected 5 large bags of trash — plus assorted large sections of styrofoam — at Longshore’s Hendricks Point.
Jamie Walsh, Alicia Mozian and Heather Walklet, picking up our trash.
It’s an annual clean-up for them.
And an annual reminder to Westporters: Pick up your own trash, please! That’s not the Shellfish Commission’s job!
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And speaking of environmental cleanups: Sustainable Westport invites volunteers to help along the Longshore waterfront and surrounding areas next Saturday (April 26, 2 to 4 p.m.; meet at the pavilion).
It’s part of the town-wide Earth Day clean-up, organized by the Parks & Recreation Department. Click here to volunteer.
Last year’s Longshore coastal cleanup. (Photo/Brandon Malin)
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Camp season is creeping — okay, zooming — up on parents.
Some kids love sports. Others are passionate about arts.
For STEM-minded boys and girls in grades 1-8, there’s a week-long Daley Genius STEM Camp (June 25 to July 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Content Studio, 20 Saugatuck Avenue, next to the Goddard School).
Click here for more information.
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There are several “free libraries” around town: small structures (and one “bookcycle”) that offer books to anyone who wants them. (Or, of course, wants to donate volumes to them.)
Most patrons are people walking or biking by.
There is one at the corner of Hillandale Road and Morningside Drive South. Neighbor Bob Weingarten sees plenty of pedestrians look at the kiosk. However, he says, until the other day he had never seen someone stop their car, and browse.
He was so intrigued, he took this photo:
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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The concert by pianists Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor at Saugatuck Congregational Church — postponed earlier this month — has been rescheduled for April 27 (4 p.m.).
The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston co-sponsor the free event, on the church’s Steinway grand piano.
Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor
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Longtime Westport resident Jeanne Nylen died April 15. She had suffered a stroke 2 weeks earlier.
The Fairfield native and Wheaton College graduate married Samuel Nylen in 1962. They moved here 2 years later.
Jeanne served as a Girl Scout leader, Nature Center docent, teacher’s assistant, and head of the Hillspoint Elementary School PTA.
Later, she pursued her passion for exploring by becoming a travel agent with Westport Travel, and visiting Hong Kong, Morocco, the Arctic Circle, and much of Europe.
After Sam died in 1999, Jeanne opened her home to visiting Chinese teachers. She hosted 8, through a Staples High School program.
In retirement Jeanne cared for her grandchildren, and enjoyed the theater, symphony and opera, her book group, and tennis. She was also a decades-long member of the Green’s Farms Congregational Church.
Jeanne is survived by her daughter Wendy (James Hopkins) of Bridgeport; step-grandson Samuel Hopkins (Krissy) and 2 great-grandchildren of South Glastonbury, and son Toby (Gail) of Sutton, Massachusetts, and grandchildren Dallas, Victoria and Sam Nylen.
A memorial service will be held later.
Jeanne Nylen
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It’s that time of year: American oystercatchers have returned to the eastern end of Compo’s South Beach, to nest.
Once again, that area has been roped off, to provide the shorebirds the space and quiet they need to breed.
Matt Murray spotted these important signs, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Matt Murray)
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And finally … well, you knew this was coming, right?
(Happy Easter, to all who celebrate! And whether you do or not, feel free to click here, to fill our basket with a joy. And also a contribution to “06880.” Thank you all!)
With regard to “free” libraries, don’t forget that MetroNorth commuters can avail themselves of free books at the Westport train station kiosk.
Happy Easter friend and foe 🙏🛐
The print at the lifeguard shack is by Mr. Brainwash, who appeared at Clarendon Fine Art in town last year and which has his works.
Maybe the protesters and rich white Westport socialist liberals should house some of the MS-13 gang members and Kilmar Abrego Garcia and they would get bigger crowds. Seems like the democrats support this and his sex trafficking.
Hypocrites as usual on the Bridge. What a joke!!
Hope it’s ok to say Happy Easter in Westport.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
It’s ok to say Happy Easter here in Westport – the difference is that it’s also ok to say other things like Happy Passover, Eid Mubarak or NOT to say Happy Easter at all if you so choose.
You clearly have a sick obsession with trolling Dan’s blog – really borderline fetish – almost like you’re a closet liberal longing for his progressive hometown but stuck in red country where you feel like you need to show your MAGA cred somehow. But don’t worry, we’ll take you back with open arms when you’re ready to come clean 😉
Can you say “due process”?
Or is that concept “foreign” to you JA?
Besides, no doubt those on the bridge yesterday had a lot more on their minds than just demanding that the tenets in the Constitution be upheld. Would you like a list of their likely concerns? Might be long and varied. But you seem to know it all.
You used words like democrats, socialist, liberals, rich, hypocrites in your aggressive screed.
Surely you believe in “small d democracy” where one believes in the social/political equality of all. Right?
In that context then it’s okay to be a Democrat, a socialist, a liberal, or even rich. Right?
Just because folks on the bridge might not be aligned with your vitriolic sentiment they have a right to their own opinions and to express them in a democracy. If you can’t accept those essential principles maybe it’s time to find another domicile.
Mostly agree with your sentiment, however there was no due process when the Biden administration opened the borders to let in an unvetted 10M, flying more than 300K all over the country including dozens of plane loads into HPN. No one followed due process on their illegal entry, whilst I usually side with the courts, don’t really care if we follow due process on their way out.
Think your use of the term “due process” is misplaced.
Also, wonder what source you have to ascribe the 10 million unvetted, the 300K all over the country, dozens of plane loads to HPN?
There are lots of alleged facts that get tossed around in the ether that are not “fact checked” and are often false and therefore actually not facts at all.
Finally, if someone is not given due process “on their way out”, where their identity is not confirmed, what’s to stop the misidentification of individuals who are not “illegals”.
What you seem to “forgive” is the behavior of a police state, not a democracy.
Living in a democracy isn’t always easy. But it beats most, if it not all other forms of government if it’s a real democracy.
Do you agree DL?
Here’s the first data point I found on Google. Off to enjoy the rest of the holiday.
https://homeland.house.gov/2024/04/30/new-documents-reveal-airports-used-by-secretary-mayorkas-to-fly-hundreds-of-thousands-of-inadmissible-aliens-into-u-s-via-chnv-mass-parole-scheme/
Uhm…a report from a Republican run Congressional committee that was part of a concerted effort to run DHS Secretary Mayorkas out of office.
Unsuccessfully.
Nice try. Do better.
Happy Easter.
Your ridiculous link’s source is another stupid link to…wait for it…a FoxNews report which has been completely discredited:
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-immigrants-parole-biden-trump-musk-dbd634820b3f8d07b859b8a05b2b20a7
At least your “source” wasn’t Laura Loomer.
I await your personal attack. Happy holidays!
Thanks RG. Why am I not surprised?
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/more-migrant-children-being-flown-to-ny-but-what-happens-to-them-after-they-arrive/3336641/?amp=1
NBC NY work for you? This was less than a year into that clown’s administration. It only accelerated.
It was the #1 election issue. Most Americans could not care less how they’re sent home, as long as they leave.
Feel free to welcome them all to Whiteport.
10 million, 30 thousand, you’re not even sure what you’re alledging. Homeland security, FoxNews or MSNBC might be your source but hey, what’s the difference when you’re just making stuff up. That MSNBC piece is beaut:
“Two [UNNAMED} senior U.S. officials confirmed that flights to the New York area have increased as the number of migrants — minors in many cases — coming to the country’s southern border have greatly increased this year. The [UNNAMED]officials told NBC New York that the numbers arriving in the U.S. are the largest in 15 years.
And then you got this beauty: “Former Westchester County Executive and current New York gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino said that the children have been pouring into the area on flights chartered by the federal government, and is demanding answers”.
Wow, that’s convincing. You really should see what Laura Loomer has to say. She’s right up your alley.
The Constitution and Supreme Court of America disagree with you. I suppose 7 of the Supreme Court justices support him too! Wow! Maybe Pete Hegseth could join him foe being a threat to American security plus he has more tatoos! Oh wait, Trump has a recoed of more felony counts!
Happy Easter to you! We have freedom of religion still. You seem to really hate Westport! Hope your life is better..
We take advantage of the mobile library at Compo Beach. We have both given and taken books. Each time we look there we find a book to enjoy. Some of the books are those we would never of chosen, but once we do would do again.
As Dan wrote, we’ll be gathering on the bridge this coming Saturday at 11 o’clock and EVERY Saturday at 11 o’clock. Join us! It’s empowering to protest!