“06880” continues our Instagram Live conversations with the first selectman candidates tomorrow (Monday, August 25, 4 p.m.). Dave Briggs and I will chat with independent David Rosenwaks.
You can find us on Instagram @06880danwoog. We welcome your questions!
The series began with Republican candidate Don O’Day. Still to come: Democrat Kevin Christie.
David Rosenwaks
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Oh no!
The Fairfield National Little team’s storied run in the Little League World Series ended yesterday.
They lost 8-2 to Las Vegas, in the US championship game. Fairfield had come from behind to beat the same team 3 days earlier, sending the Nevadans to a must-win contest in the losers’ bracket.
Fairfield boasts 4 players with direct Westport connections: Ben Herbst, Colin Curley, Boden Dunlap and Tommy D’Amura.
The defeat in the American title game matches the achievement of a Westport team 12 years ago. They fell to a California squad in the championship.
Congratulations, Fairfield, on a great run. You represented yourselves, your town and our state wonderfully!
Three Fairfield players with Westport ties (from 2nd left to far right).
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Congratulations too to Tom Atkinson, Vance Harrison, John Rhodes, Bill Whidden and John Yingling.
The longtime friends — who met 60 years ago, at Cedar Point Yacht Club’s sailing school, and reunited last week to participate in the Atlantic Class National Championship, hosted by CPYC — finished a hugely respectable 6th overall.
John Kantor — the highly regarded former Longshore Sailing School owner, who knows an enormous about about the sport — calls that result “very impressive. There were a lot of pros in the top 10.”
First place was won by David Peck of Niantic.
At Cedar Point Yacht Club, standing, from left: Bill Whidden, Vance Harrison, John Rhodes, Tom Atkinson. Front: John Yingling. (Photo/Bonnie Housner Erickson)
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Speaking (still) of sports: Today’s (Sunday) Staples High School boys basketball 2nd annual Summer Slam Jam 3-v-3 Tournament for 3rd-8th grade boys of all skill levels runs all day at Bedford Middle School.
There is also a 3-point shooting competition for everyone. Trophies will go to kids (high school and younger), as well as adults.
There are 3 45-minute slots: 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Anyone can enter any of them.
Meanwhile, the boys basketball program seeks contributions, to help imrpove the facilities at Staples. Click here to donate.
Meet and hang out with the FCIAC champs!
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Five new recruits joined the Westport Fire Department on Friday.
William O’Rourke, Stephen Marsan, Drew Haig, Joseph McKay and Patricia Quinn were sworn in, at the Post Road headquarters.
Congratulations. Thank you for your service. And welcome to Westport!
Westport’s newest firefighters.
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From new recruits to older retirees.
After decades of teaching at Staples High School — and now, a decade or two later — a group gets together regularly.
They call themselves ROMEO: Retired Old Men Eating Out.
On Friday — as their still-working colleagues were setting up classrooms, attending meetings and planning lessons — these guys enjoyed their annual “We’re Not Going Back to School” breakfast.
How many can you identify? Their names are in the caption below.
Clockwise from far left: Jim Wheeler, Al Jolley, Jim Honeycutt, Stan Rhodes, John Pepe, Ed Bludnicki, Drew Strauss, Fred Choromanski, Brian Kelley, Bruce McFadden, Pete Van Hagen, Bob Selverstone, Werner Liepolt.
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As summer ebbs, and night falls a little earlier, the days — and evenings — are better than ever.
Perfect weather, low humidity, just the right amount of breeze: These are exquisite times.
And plenty of folks were at Compo Beach yesterday, to enjoy it.
Compo’s South Beach, last night. (Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
Today will be partly cloudy, with a high of 82.
On the other hand, this was the Ned Dimes Marina yesterday, at 2:30 p.m.:
(Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
It was the most beautiful day of the year (perhaps the decade).
If you didn’t take your boat out yesterday: What are you waiting for?!
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Speaking of the beach: A few days ago, our “06880” Roundup noted that the Remarkable Bookcycle’s shelves seemed a bit bare.
You guys came through! Look at it now:
(Photo/John Richers)
However, there are 2 sides to every story.
And to this Bookcycle.
The other side — the one facing the Sound — is still fairly empty.
Come on, Westport. Help out once more. Take a book … bring a book. It’s only fair!
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Sorelle Gallery’s next 2-person exhibition, Serene Moments,” showcases new work by Connecticut artists Tracie Cheng and Stephanie Johnson.
It opens next Saturday (September 6). A reception is set for 3-5 p.m.
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Most of our “Westport … Naturally” images show peaceful, serene scenes: gorgeous flowers, beautiful bushes, cute creatures.
Today we offer this shot, from Jacque O’Brien’s Greens Farms back yard:
(Photo/Jacque O’Brien)
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And finally … in honor of the new recruits, sworn in Friday (story above):
(You know what else is fire? Supporting “06880” — your hyper-local, 24/7/365 blog. Please click here to warm our hearts. Thank you!)
Dan and Dave, here is a question for David Rosenwaks “Do you agree with Don O’Days RTM vote in 2023 that denied the rights of citizens to get items on the RTM agenda by petition?”
A simple question which will tell me a lot of how he views who is the ultimate authority in Westport.
And Kevin Christie should be asked the same question.
For two whole years, you’ve been venting online about your petition being denied by 29 people (Rosenwaks being one of them). You sound like someone who’s been dumped and can’t seem to move on. Exhausting.
Just give up, I guess? Let the overlings run things? Shut up and row? That’s real grit.
Hi Tina, I think you are not posting under your real name. Be brave and do so. Otherwise. STFU.
And Tina (or Don or Jeff or Jen or whoever), you certainly know that Mr Rosenwaks was not one of the 29, as he was elected to the RTM the month after that infamous vote. He has an opportunity to make a clean break of the old way of doing things by speaking out against what almost all neutral observers have said is a clear violation of the town charter.
Go ahead and deflect by trying to make it about me. But your cowardice and ham handed attempt at misinformation is revealing. Westport does not need people like you running the show any more.
How can we miss you if you never go away?
Enjoy your Sunday John, take a break.
David Rosenwaks was not one of the RTM 29.
FYI
But Don O’Day was.
The RTM 29 did not “deny the rights of citizens to get items on the RTM agenda by petition.” We will be hearing two such petitions on September 25.
Jeff, they confirmed your stance (backed up by your lawyer) that you as moderator have discretion over what petitioned items get on the agenda. You know that.
It was a laughable legal opinion and position that could have been written by the current US justice department. Shameful.
In January 2023, during the RTM vote not to overturn the Planning and Zoning Commission rezoning of Saugatuck, O’Day revealed what he thought of voters: “The majority of my District 3 constituents made it clear to me that they are against this proposal. But my job is to do more than read and respond to emails. It’s to make the best decision I can make, with the facts as I know them.”
I’m curious.
What’s the proper role of a representative on the Representative Town Meeting if it’s not to represent—in some representational way—the people he’s supposed to represent?
Don O’Day’s position which you highlighted is pretty typical. The current RTM members clearly do not even try to represent the people in their district. They ignore the reason why the town went from a true town meeting form of government to a representative town meeting government back in 1949.
They are terrible stewards of what was once an important organization.
Time to change how the town is governed, simply changing out the people is mot enough
The photo sure looks more feline than canine to me! Isn’t it a bobcat?
For those interested, there will be a parade in Fairfield on Monday 8/25 to celebrate the Fairfield Little League team. Parade starts at 5:30PM at the Dairy Queen on the Post Road and ends downtown with a ceremony at Sherman Green.
https://www.ctinsider.com/fairfield/article/fairfield-national-little-league-parade-metro-ct-20987646.php
Speaking of FIRE
Let’s not forget the Neville Brothers
” Fire on the bayou”
So great to see Bob Selverstone still going strong. He changed my life in 1968 when I started junior year at Staples where he was my guidance counselor. It was Mr. Selverstone who told me that I could apply to college a year early. Who knew? I did, Yale said yes and my life took a different path. Thank you Bob Selverstone for being there for me at a difficult point in the life of a 16 year old!
Marc,
I agree about the quality of the mentors at Staples. Mr. Wheeler suggested I not study art. Being somewhat contrarian, I ignored his advice, went to Paris, enrolled at the Sorbonne, had a blissful two year interlude (with Catherine Deneuve) and that led to a successful career in sales and marketing. Who knew!!!!
Jacque, meow!! your place or Prospect?? Beautiful animal but probably better NOT to corner!!!