Five days remain to complete the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee survey.
Questions include the use and knowledge of parking options, metered parking, a deck and more.
The aim is to vet recommendations already developed by consultants and DPIC. Final recommendations will be presented by to the Board of Selectwomen next month. To take the survey, click here.
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Speaking of downtown: The Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge — the gathering place for Westport protests — is the site Saturday (June 14, 11 a.m.) for a “No Kings” rally.
The event is part of a national anti-Trump effort. Organizers — including know Indivisible, 50501 and others — say: “Bring posters.”
On the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, for an anti-Trump rally in April 2025. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Club203 partied hard last night.
Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities closed out their year with a celebration at Ned Dimes Marina.
The Parks & Recreation Department provided the venue. Westport Rotary Club volunteered joined those from the club. MoCA helped attendees make costers for cocktail cups. Susan Wright led everyone in movement and music. And Super Duper Weenie cooked up over 100 meals.
After a summer off, Club203 picks up right where they left off in June.
One group of Club203 partiers …
… and another. (Photos courtesy of Stacie Curran)
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The Levitt Pavilion kicks off its Children’s Series — 11 great (and free!) shows for kids and their families tonight (Wednesday, 7 p.m.).
Divinity Roxx blends upbeat tunes with positive messages that inspire creativity, confidence and self-expression. She toured and performed with Beyoncé, as her bassist and musical director. Divinity has now expanded her mission of inspiration to children’s music. More details on tonight’s show are available here.
The Children’s Series runs on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays now through August. Pre-show activities include giveaways, and a new “Touch-A-Truck” experience.
The lineup continues highlights like the ever-popular Hall Family (June 25), and an August 25 special needs community celebration and back-to-school spectacular.
Free tickets are available at www.LevittPavilion.com, and in advance and on the day of show at the Levitt box office (open 2 hours before showtime, on show days). Click here for more information on the full Children’s Series.
An ice cream truck is always on site. And, as always, picnics are encouraged.
Click here or below to see and hear Divi Roxx in action.
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Meanwhile, at the other edge of the age spectrum: Leo Botwin turns 103 years young today.
He’s lived in the same Westport home since 1967 — but that’s just over half his life.
He and his wife of 71 years, Roberta — who, like Leo, is still very healthy — will celebrate with dinner in Westport. On Saturday, there’s a big family-and-friends party at their daughter Ellen’s home in Guilford.
Birthday wishes can be emailed to 2ontheaislebdwy@gmail.com.
Leo Botwin with his great-granddaughter Ava. She was born 2 weeks before his 102nd birthday.
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Veteran TV journalist and Westport resident Anne Craig writes: “Many of us take clean laundry for granted. Endless folding and putting away make it a dreaded chore for many, like me.
“But for many families, it’s a luxury they can’t afford. So 10 local congregations are bringing ‘Laundry Love’ to more than 150 families in Bridgeport.
“That’s a full day of free laundry, on the third Tuesday of each month at the Bridgeport SuperSaver.
Volunteers are always needed. Click here or below to learn more.
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There are dozens of trees in Winslow Park.
If you want to know what some of them are — or if you know, but would like to learn more about them — check out the Westport Tree Board’s new project.
They’ve posted small informational signs to a few. They’re not obtrusive. But they are very educational.
And each includes a QR code, to learn more.
(Hat tip and photo/Mark Mathias)
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The Parks & Recreation Commission meets June 18 (7:30 p.m.; Zoom).
The agenda includes reports from the golf, parks and racquets advisory committees, followby updates on the Longshore capital improvement plan project, and the parks master update plan.
Aerial view of Longshore.
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For years, Lorenza Arnal has shared her love of Mexico through food. She created her own brand of salsa macha, and sold homemade guacamole at the Wesport Farmers’ Market.
Now she is helping others experience her home country in a deeper, more personal way: through journeys that celebrate the history, culture and tradition of Mexico.
What started as small culinary tours has blossomed into immersive travel. Lorenza is booking several tours now for the fall.
They include a celebration of Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca; a Jewish heritage trip through Mexico City, and corporate retreats with personalized itineraries, culinary experiences and wellness-focused excursions.
Click here for more information, and reservations.
Scenes from Oaxaca.
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Tomorrow’s Jazz at the Post celebrates the life and music of Wayne Shorter. Artists include pianist Jen Allen, bassist Essiet Okun Essiet, drummer Sylvia Duenca, trumpeter Andy Gravish and saxophonist Greg Wall.
Dinner service at the VFW begins at 7 p.m. Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Music cover is $20 ($15 veterans and students). Click here for reservations.
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Beth Keane calls this her “trellis tree.”
Last week it was in full bloom. Today it’s our “Westport … Naturally” feature photo of the day.
(Photo/Beth Keane)
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And finally … in honor of the Staples High School Class of 2025:
(You were expecting “Pomp & Circumstance,” not the Beach Boys? That’s “06880”: always surprising — and hopefully delighting — you. If you enjoy our work, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
Regarding Saturday (June 14, 11 a.m.) for a “No Kings” rally. It is pathetic that there is a focus to circumvent the “will of the people” against a duly elected POTUS. Shame on all who participate in this. Once again, who is behind this? Who is paying for this? Where are these people from; certainly not a majority are from our town as our townspeople are better than this.
Ruth doesn’t have protests, she has art exhibitions for portfolios 😜
The founding fathers are behind this, that’s who, as they and our newborn country, fought to free ourselves from the tyranny of a king. We the people, are free to criticize the president as protected by the first amendment. We the people, unlike the president, believe in the constitution and the rule of law that afford due process to “any person”, not to just to any “citizen”.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
We have been rallying EVERY Saturday at 11 a.m. on the bridge. Please join us, especially this Saturday. It’s important to have our voices heard against this very dangerous administration.
Its a waste of time. Grump
was voted into office . Dem list on their policies.
What’s next? Keffiyah clad masked terrorists throwing Molotov cocktails at Trump supporters? Deporting illegal immigrants is following the law. The left are the real authoritarians.
prosecute the builders and their subcontractors who hire undocumented. Prosecute hiring firms that supply Tyson and Purdue chicken plants with undocumented labor. Prosecute mothers and fathers who hire undocumented to care for their children. Prosecute restaurant owners who hire undocumented cooks. dishwashers and wait staff. Prosecute lawn maintenance companies owners who hire undocumented. Prosecute roofing company owners who hire undocumented. Prosecute nail salon and reflexology owners. Prosecute the owners of Mason and painting companies who hire undocumented. All the aforementioned owners are on 06880. Stop picking on the good hard working law biding undocumented people. Republicans don’t want to stop undocumented workers. Republicans want the rhetoric and news clips. If Republicans really want to stop undocumented workers they should go after all the owners who make tons of money on the spine and skill of undocumented labor. 06880 would fall apart without undocumented labor. Many car detail companies thrive on the good work and skill of undocumented labor. the USA is short 500000 manufacturing workers. Whatcwould happen if all undocumented labor ceased to function in 06880 and the USA. ? Most citizens don’t realize how much their lives depend on the good work and skill of undocumented labor. How do fruit and vegetables get into your house ?
Keffiyah clad hahaha. Yeah I’m terrified pal. I wear mine so be careful.
About my trellis tree: 30 feet of climbing hydrangea.
Gosh. Graduation Day by the Beach Boys is a terrible song.
You nailed it 🤮 Brian
Sounds like a dirge 😜🇺🇸
Regarding the aptly named Parker Harding design …
As someone who participates in designing office spaces, and additions to houses facing the Saugatuck River: it is ALL about the view. Currently Parker Harding, one of the prettiest views in downtown Westport, is enjoyed mainly by empty cars overlooking the river and the birdlife. Yes, there is a small nature walkway out onto the river, but the majority of the current parking lot (for decades) faces the river.
I’m not sure the overall solution (i.e. is there an alternative place to put the equivalent parking?), but if it would be ideal to have a wider pedestrian path along the river, with more public amenities.
For any stores or perhaps rooftop restaurants/apartments above those stores I’d try to find a way to move them a bit closer to the river to improve their view. Again, it’s all about the utilizing the view and connectedness. And wouldn’t it be nice if there were a few places for kayaks to tie up for a couple hours as an alternate way to visit downtown? Just my 2 cents.
Gotta love the party that protects illegals more than the American people.
Most of you have fences and stone walls on your estates. But support the party with open borders that let millions of illegals in. Hypocrites.
I guess getting illegals that have committed rape and murder off the streets is a bad thing if your a democrat.
Look at the polls. 2026 will be great for the republicans.
In California they don’t want ICE or Water in that state Lol!
Will you Wesport liberals have your masks on like they do in other liberal states.
Maybe try to get into Mexico illegally and see what they will do to you. Look up the laws they have.
Maxine Waters, Newsom and AOC are the faces of the New Democratic Party. How’s that working out for you?
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Imagine supporting the guy that completely disregards our system of government, is weakening our institutions by putting unqualified lackeys in positions of power, is dismantling the alliances that have paved the way for 80 years of global peace and prosperity, whose sole governing philosophy is petty grievance and revenge, and takes glee in targeting the weakest and most marginalized members of our society, and then punctuating it with American flag emojis.
That may be your vision for this country, but it’s not mine, and I’m glad to be able to exercise my first amendment rights to gather with others that agree with me to publicly express our displeasure.
Which, it’s worth noting, is a right our President has made very clear he does not recognize. Not noted above is that the protest was timed to coincide with the unprecedented military parade our president is throwing for himself through the streets of our nation’s capital. And just like the authoritarians he’s emulating by putting on this circus, he has already announced that he will respond to any protests of his parade with force.
Which is just about as un–American as it gets.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I picture a magnificent huge (like the Hamlet) and futuristic designed combo mall – beautiful parking garage with rooftop restaurants and grassed and treed 🌴areas. Sail awnings for shade and rain.
Hold a design contest for starters ❓
134 million dollars for the greatest parade in the history of the world! Kim Jung Un will be jealous!
Waste, fraud and abuse, now available in one convenient package!
how much damage will the tanks cause to our roads?
Not too much more $$$ than a new school, right Jack!
And the parade won’t have a garden either! 🙂
Many of us are looking forward to the 250 anniversary and attending the parade in celebration and continued actions by the current administration.
Donyou know how far the USA stock market trails China ? Europe ? Canada ? Mexico in returns on money ? USA is a big looser on comparison
I’m obsessed with the trellis tree! What kind of tree is that? We may have one in our community… not sure. Absolutely beautiful.
So, anything the beach boys have ever done can ever be totally terrible. The tightest harmonies and sound are unrivaled, even in the one Dan posted which was not a popular BB song that I remember. Nothing they ever produced could be so bad.
And Brian Wilson passed today and my heart hurts. Beach Boys are us on the beach in the 60s and the 70s. Compo and beyond.
God only knows what we’ll do without Brian. Broken today at the news.
Hope you post God Only Knows, Dan.
Hi, RJ, It was a 90-plus ft. oak tree until it was determined that the tree is hollow. Bartlett Tree removed the top 60 ft, thereby sparing my 30 ft. of climbing hydrangea.
Cheers,
Oops, sorry….BJ not RJ.
You lucked out with this beautiful chance of nature! We have a tree in our neighborhood out here in PNW that looks similar with the white flowering blossoms all the way up tree, however not this that you have.. I’ll try to send a photo. Thanks for explaining. I do traditional rug hooking and hook a lot of photos that I sketch from saved photos onto linen canvas, then hook with wool. This tree deserves a rug hooking canvas. It’s an old fiber arts form from another century making a comeback.
I think you need to read the WSJ or Bloomberg. Over the last 10 years…S&P 500 – 235% MSCI Europe – 172.87% Shanghai Composite – 118% USA will always come out on top!
Jeff today’s Wall Street journal says Trump has no China trade strategy. Please take your own advice. Read it and report back to 06880 what it said. You can look up the results of Canada. Mexico and European stock markets to date using the Wall Street journal and report back the results to 06890. I find it amazing how you can quote a source and insinuate it’s different then your feelings. feelings are not facts.
That is patently false; numbers do not lie. Anyone can look up the index values and calc a compounded RoR (that’s rate of return for your edification). I just happened to have done such for the past 10 years. Trump has at least ‘tried’ to establish a framework to work through what is a very difficult situation in that we have funded the rise of our enemy. Just so we can have more ‘stuff’ or less expensive ‘stuff’ or more choices of ‘stuff’. I will be the first to admit that it has been wonderful to be the beneficiaries of such. However, this has obviously been not without its consequences that are playing out in real time. As for being “insinuate”– well, I am certain not trying to be subtle or manipulative– just stating the facts. In the end we’ll likely end up with the equivalent of a VAT in terms of tariffs that will help to balance out the desire for certain goods against what is affordable to help balance out the deleterious effects of continuing to fund China which will use our wealth to destroy us (ultimately) since that is what they believe their destiny should be.