All Westporters are invited to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, in a townwide vigil following the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington this week.
The gathering is set for Jesup Green this Tuesday (May 27, 6:30 p.m.).
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The Planning & Zoning Commission continues its discussion of the Hamlet at Saugatuck project on June 2 (6 p.m.; live streamed on www.westportct.gov ; also on Optimum Channel 79 and Zoom link, with meeting ID 849 2904 0375 and passcode 521369).
The Representative Town Meeting’s first review of the Long Lots Elementary School building project — with updated plans, elevations, financial information and timing requirements for the upcoming funding and appropriation — takes place at their June 3 session (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
The RTM Finance Committee then meets June 10 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall room 201) to discuss a request to appropriate $98.8 million for construction of the new Long Lots School.
And on June 11 (7 p.m., Town Hall Room 201), the RTM Environment Committee follows up on an earlier discussion regarding a possible ordinance banning new artificial turf athletic fields.
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It may not feel like it — but this weekend marks the official opening of town beaches.
Also — just in time for beach openings — Save the Sound has released its 2024 grades of 200 Long Island Sound beaches, including Connecticut, and Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Water quality is graded in 4 categories, based on pollutants found in dry and wet periods.
The report is released every 2 years. Three in Westport dropped from both 2020 and 2022.
During that period, Compo Beach declined from A, to B+, and now B-.
Burying Hill dropped from 2 consecutive A+s, to the current C+.
Sherwood Island remains at B+, after ratings of A+ and B+.
Old Mill Beach was not included.
You can download the full report here.
Meanwhile, everything — including lifeguard chairs — is in place for Westport’s Memorial Day weekend beach openings.
(Photo/Totney Benson)
Now all we need are people.
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A state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind gelato and sorbet machine is enjoying a “soft” launch at the Westport Library.
The Solato machine is like a Keurig coffee maker (but cooler). Choose your pod — 2 are featured each day — and watch as a Library Café worker slides it into the machine.
A minute later: There’s your gelato or sorbet, made specially for you.
Gelato flavors include banana maple, vanilla bean, coffee, salted caramel and dark chocolate, and mango and strawberry sorbet, plus frozen yogurt. All are locally sourced, and free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
Keurig cups are criticized as wasteful, because they’re single use. The Solato pods double as the serving dish. And each is served with a wooden — not plastic — spoon.
The Solato machine was donated by Lisa Weitzman and Howard Edelstein.
Gelato, on demand. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The Westport Country Playhouse is more than a venue for plays.
It’s a concert hall. A site for script readings. And — this summer — it’s a movei theater.
Five classic films from the 1950s through ’70s will be screened:
- “Roman Holiday” (June 18, 7 p.m.)
- “Singin’ in the Rain” (July 14, 7 p.m.)
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (August 6, 6 p.m.)
- “The Sting” (August 18, 7 p.m.(
- “Psycho” (October 10, 7 p.m.).
Tickets are $20 each (3 or more films: $10 each). Seats are available here.
Paul Newman returns to the Westport Playhouse, in “The Sting.”
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Our friend Ruben at the post office warns “06880” readers of a scam.
Online companies offer to “prepare paperwork” for a passport application, for $160 each.
That’s bogus. You can do it for free, online.
Ruben said a woman came in with her family of 5. She had paid $160 for each — $800 total.
Like every passport applicant, she still had to pay the $35 USPS fee, and the $130 filing fee, for each. But she could have prepared all the information herself, at the USPS website.
Beware! And while you’re at it: continue to hand all your mail to the post office clerks. You still can’t trust the drop box: Thieves still are fishing for checks there.
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A flower garden in memory of Cathy Talmadge — a founder and longtime friend of Wakeman Town Farm — will be dedicated across the street from there on June 28 (1:30 p.m.).
The longtime Representative Town Meeting member, civic volunteer and environmental advocate died in January 2023.
First selectwoman Jen Tooker and Westport poet laureate Donna Disch will speak. Friends are invited to share memories. RSVP: nancyp311@gmail.com
Cathy Talmadge, at Wakeman Town Farm.
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Joe Lamp’l — aka “Joe Gardener” — presents “Digging Deeper: Ecological Gardening for Beauty and Biodiversity” on June 23 (7 p.m., Westport Library).
The final event of Sustainable Westport’s “Your Yard, Our Climate” initiative, it will help residents transform outdoor spaces into eco-friendly havens. Topics include soil health, reducing lawn size, minimizing chemical use, and the significance of native versus invasive plants.
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Chabad of Westport’s first-ever Community Golf Outing (June 30, Great River Golf Club, Milford) is notable for 2 reasons.
The entire community is welcome.
And IDF soldiers will be special guests, offering “an opportunity to show support and solidarity with Israel.”
Golfers (and non-golfing guests) will enjoy on-course snacks and refreshments; lunch; a cocktail/dinner reception; raffles and giveaweays, and a $25,000 hole-in-one prize.
Proceeds benefit Israel, local youth services, and Camp Gan Israel. Registration, sponsorships and more are available here.
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Westport music teacher Jenny Ong invites the town to the annual Children’s Piano Spring Concert June 1 (elementary 9:15 a.m., advanced 10:45 a.m., Faust Harrison Pianos, Fairfield).
The event, showing young pianists from Westport and nearby, raises funds for the Connecticut chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. RSVP: jennyong.music@gmail.com.
Part of Jenny Ong’s recital.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo follows up on the lifeguard image above.
Compo Beach looks empty now. But it won’t be for long — or for the next few months.
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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And finally … in honor of Paul Newman’s “return” to the Westport Country Playhouse (story above):
(It’s a holiday weekend. But “06880” never rests. We’re here for you, 24/7/365. If you appreciate our coverage of all things Westport, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Do we know why/where can we find out why our water quality has dropped in the past few years? Feels like details I’d like to know.
if you use the link Dan provided in his report, you will have access to all information available to the public.
$98.8 million for construction of the new Long Lots School.. Does that include the demolition of the old school and removing it from the area? Could there be a possibility of a 10% increase of the cost? How about any money for fixing up the outside with plants and grass and pavement? Could tariffs inject an uncertainty in the cost? The cost being 98.8 million dollars seems unreasonable.
After all these years ,as many others, I Still Love the ending of ‘The Sting’!!!
‘Nuff said..:-)