As “06880” reported more than 2 weeks ago, the state Department of Transportation is changing the near-century-old Merritt Parkway exit numbers.
The new ones — “20” for our familiar Exit 41, and “21” for 42 — conform to federal standards, which mandate that exits show the approximate mileage from a starting point. With the Merritt, that’s the New York border.
Old habits die hard. This may take some getting used to.
Fortunately, for at least 2 years small signs underneath the larger ones will say “old Exit 41” or “42.”
Fingers crossed that GPS picks up on the change pretty quickly.
(Photos/Adrian Mueller)
In a couple of years, an even bigger change is coming.
Say goodbye to Westport’s I-95 exits 17 and 18. (Hat tip: Bill Dedman)
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All is ready for Alo’s opening.
The “activewear brand,” offering “studio-to-street clothing, yoga gear and luxury skincare,” replaces Oka — previously Banana Republic, and before that, Klein’s Department Store — tomorrow (August 1).
Can’t wait? There’s an Early Access Shopping event today (Thursday, July 31, 4-7 p.m.), at their “newest sanctuary.”
There’s a DJ, yoga performances, beverages, and a $500 Alo gift card giveaway.
The first 100 shoppers get an “exclusive gift” with their purchase.
RSVPs are required. Click here to register.
But that’s not the only new activewear store opening downtown tomorrow.
Or the only one with a special opening event.
Beyond Yoga opens their second Connecticut store (after Greenwich) near Lux Bond & Green, in the “Elm & Main” shopping plaza (formerly called Brooks Corner).
They’ll host their own preview party tonight (Thursday, July 31, 5 to 7 p.m.), with their own DJ, light bites, sips, 20% off purchases, and a gift with any purchase of $300 or more. Click here to RSVP.
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LobsterFest is one of our town’s greatest parties.
The Westport Rotary Club event features lobsters (duh), steak, drinks, live music, kids’ activities and much more, all on a beautiful late summer day at Compo Beach. (This year it’s September 20.)
Over 1,500 guests help raise over $400,000, for nearly 50 community organizations.
But all that fun takes work.
At least 250 volunteers are needed — and as hard as Rotarians work, there are not that many club members.
Volunteers can purchase a lobster or steak ticket, or get a free hamburger or hot dog. All volunteers enjoy free drinks too.
All ages (youngsters and up) are needed for set-up on Friday, September 19 (3 to 6:30 p.m.) and Saturday, September 20 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.); shifts during the September 20 LobsterFest (from 2 to 7:30 p.m.), and clean-up on Sunday, September 21 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
Click here for details, and to volunteer. Questions? Email
lobsterfestvolunteers@gmail.com.
Those lobsters don’t recycle themselves! (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Town officials celebrated Eileen Zhang last night.
Westport’s director of information technology retires today, after 31 years of service.
Zhang built the town’s IT systems from the ground up, and helped transform how our local government serves residents.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker says, “her dedication, leadership and impact will be felt for years to come.”
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (left) and Eileen Zhang.
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Also last night: A very “clubby” party.
The Clubhouse — Westport’s very popular sports simulator/big TV screen/ karaoke/rooftop event space hosted Club 203’s volunteers.
The town’s social club for adults with disabilities, and their partner Westport’s Department of Human Services, said “thank you” to the men and women who make each monthly gathering special.
“They are the glue to all of our celebrations. We would be nothing if not for them,” says Club203 co-founder Stacie Curran. She also thanked owners Tim and Emily Zobl of The Clubhouse, for their help.
Volunteers were the first to see the 2025-26 calendar. The year kicks off with a bash at Lachat Town Farm in Weston, and continues with Halloween, Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings. January brings a night at Westport Country Playhouse.
Click here for details, and more information about Club203.
Club203 celebrates in the dart room.
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Temperatures reached the mid-90s again yesterday.
And — because heat rises — it must have been even hotter on this Morningside Drive South roof.
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
But work had to be done. And this man was doing it.
Let’s hope he took frequent water breaks.
Today’s forecast is for a high of 81, with thunderstorms possible this afternoon.
Tomorrow’s high is expected to be only 75.
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Susie Kowalsky spotted this yesterday:
(Photo/Susie Kowalsky)
It’s on the bank of the Saugatuck River, behind the Levitt Pavilion.
She worries it may become a hazard.
“06880” often reminds drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians: “Be careful out there.”
Now we’ll add rowers and boaters to the list.
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest bewteen July 230 and 29.
A 40-year-old Norwalk man was charged with failure to appear. The warrant stemmed for a previous motor vehicle arrest. He posted a $10,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 4 citations
- Failure to obey stop sign: 2
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 2
- Failure to renew registration: 2
- Criminal trespass: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
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Noted lawyer and 1959 Staples High School graduate Michael Cardozo died July 23 in White Plains, after a short illness. He was 84.
His career included over 45 years at Proskauer Rose, and 12 as New York City’s corporation counsel (appointed by Mayor Bloomberg). He also served as president of the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, and on many non-profit boards.
He earned a BA political science in 1963 from Brown University, and a JD 3 years later from Columbia Law School.
Michael is survived by his wife Nancy Cardozo; daughters Hedy Cardozo (Michael Rosenblut) and Sheryl Cardozo (Adi Diner), and grandchildren Lucy, Josh and Ellie.
Michael Cardozo
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo asks the age-old question: “what’s for dinner?”
Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … happy 82nd birthday, Lobo!
(Sure, the Merritt Parkway may switch numbers. But “06880” will never change. We’ll keep delivering news, features, history, photos an much more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Congratulations on retiring Eileen!!! Thank you for everything. ❤️🇺🇸
Instead of changing the exit number 42 to mile marker 21, it would make more sense to post mile marker 21 to the exit 42 sign; there is no logic to the Bureaucracy we have to deal with on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, although SOME of the signs for our exits on the Merritt Parkway have the additional small signs designating an “old exit” number, other signs for the same exits have none.
That was the situation as of 10 a.m. Thursday.
But only northbound.
Southbound, all the new signs were still covered, so Exit 20 northbound is still Exit 41 southbound.
Be careful out there.
The 1958 movie “The Tunnel of Love “ has a segment of a car exiting the Merrritt Parkway in Westport clearly showing the exit sign. Anyone watching that movie will see exactly how the road exit looked in 1958! As a side note, I was good friends with the DeVries family and was good friends with Jon, Jan and the sister that passed away.
Emily DeVries passed away of leukemia in 1961? while she was in 5th grade at Burr Farms School.
Never question, Jack ‘enough about you, let me tell you about me Backiel…he is after all, Westport Royalty from back in the day
Tim, I bumped in to Peter DeVries at the Greens Farms Post Office around 1993, and what I came away with is that “Time Heals Nothing”
John, I was good friends with Jon and Jan. I knew Emily and there was another brother I think was named Derek. Maybe Tim could read the book “Blood of the Lamb” which was written after Emily died. He can learn a little about Westport’s rich history!
Way to go Eileen‼️
The most well informed person in town hall. Knows all about all the skeletons. Hope Eileen writes a book 📖
But what will we call Exit 43, now? (And will the band change their name, if they are still around?)
A Westport News/CT Insider story a couple of days ago on Vince McMahon’s accident (he was driving a Bentley, and was charged with reckless driving and following too closely) originally said it occurred near Exit 43. It’s seen been changed to Exit 41 (but not to Exit 20). https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/vince-mcmahon-wwe-ct-westport-merritt-parkway-20792932.php
Congratulations to Eileen, 31 is an impressive number! Enjoy your retirement!
As for the fallen tree in the Sagutuck, the city public works should hook a cable off a crane, drag it up to a spot on the bank, cut it up and haul it off.
If the Town waits for some other state agency to do that, it will have rotted and floated as a deadhead down the river in a heavy rain flow and cause other damage to boats and structures down the river.
Several months ago I was driving for an initial visit to the office of a doctor located in Bridgeport. The printed instructions from the practice contained driving instructions to get off Exit 4 on Route 8.
Foolishly, I disregarded my GPS instructing me to get off at an exit bearing a different exit number. Only later, after going on a wild goose chase, did I learn of the new exit numbering system. On my next visit to that doctor, I noted a tiny sign below the large exit sign stating “Old Exit 4.”
I guess the moral of the story now is to disregard any printed directions and follow GPS directions to the street address.
I asked the state Department of Transportation why some of the new signs do not have the “old exit” number. Here’s the reply:
“For the ‘OLD EXIT’ signs, it has been our practice to put 1 sign at an advance guide sign (1/2 mile or 1 mile type sign) and 1 sign at the gore (sign at the location where the ramp has split from the mainline). From our experience, less tends to be more. We have received more complaints about having too many signs, than not enough. These ‘OLD EXIT’ signs are only temporary and are intended to help adjust to the switch. After a two year period they will be reassessed if they should remain any longer. DOT Traffic Engineering”