Roundup: Organic Market, Hook’d, Community Care …

No, The Organic Market has not closed.

They’ve just changed owners.

Westport’s favorite — well, organic market — is healthier than ever.

The new owners — longtime chef Talin Bozuklu and her partner Mary Tas — share the same values, and commitment to quality and wellness, as Maggie and Charles Vosgueritchian, who retired after 38 years.

And of the owners before that — Sally Simmons and Beverly Marshall — who founded the Playhouse Square institution nearly half a century ago.

Organic Market owners Talin Bozuklu and Mary Tas.

Yesterday, manager Yeraz Bozuklu — Talin’s daughter — showed off some of the updates.

The front of the market has been opened up. They’ve gotten rid of plastic in the produce section, and are reducing — on the way to eliminating — aluminum in the hot foods section.

The new owners gave the market a deep scrubbing last weekend. They reorganized certain sections. The juice bar board will be updated, to “fit the vibe.” Other small touches are on the way.

But, Yeraz emphasizes, all the food — and the staff — remain the same.

“The Organic Market has been special to customers, and the community, for so long,” Yeraz says. “We know how important that is, and we look forward to seeing everyone soon.”

PS: The Organic Market is the first retail outlet in the country selling House of Yes, the protein bars for youngsters (and everyone else) created by Westporters Sarit and Michael Lewis (profiled earlier this month on “06880”). Until now, all sales have been online only.

Yeraz Bozuklu, with a photo of the 3 sets of Organic Market owners.

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Speaking of food: It’s official.

Last Friday, the Select Board approved a settlement between the town and Hook’d on the Sound.

The much-maligned Compo Beach, Longshore Pavilion and Longshore halfway house concessionaire’s lease has been terminated early.

Parks & Recreation Department Erik Barbieri will be seeking a new operator. He hopes to have one in place by this spring.

But if not, no one will go hungry — perhaps thanks to food trucks, if necessary.

The door has been closed on Hook’d. (Photo/Matt Murray)

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The close cooperation between Westport’s Police Department and Department of Human Services is about to get even closer.

A new Community Care Unit has been created. It’s led by Lieutenant Sereniti Dobson and Officer Ruta Pratt.

Since the fall, the pair have tracked the increasing volume and complexity of calls involving people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises.

The new CCY aligns police responses with established Human Services referrals, follow-up, and care coordination processes.

It enhances the WPD’s ability to identify people who may benefit from additional support, and helps connect them to Human Services and community resources. They include mental health care, addiction services, and other social service interventions.

While Police and Human Services have collaborated for decades, the CCU formalizes and expands this partnership by clarifying roles and strengthening follow-through.

Police officers remain focused on managing immediate safety concerns, while Human Services leads resource navigation, referral and ongoing engagement.

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Former 1st Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker has dropped her campaign to become Connecticut’s governor.

But the newest Republican candidate also has Westport ties.

Former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey — now a Greenwich resident — told the Stamford Town Committee last night that she’s in the race, CT Mirror reports. She has not yet registered officially.

McCaughey was born in Pittsburgh but grew up in Westport, Wikipedia says. She is 77 years old.

Her father Albert was “a factory janitor (who) did maintenance and later engineering work at a nail clipper factory.

Wikipedia adds: “McCaughey attended public schools in Westport through the 10th grade. After receiving a scholarship, she transferred to a private Massachusetts boarding school, the Mary A. Burnham School, for her last two years of high school, rarely visiting home, then or during her college years.”

Click here for the full CT Mirror story.

Betsy McCaughey (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

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The Parks & Recreation Commission’s January 21 meeting (7:30 p.m., Town Hall Room 201) has a full agenda.

Among the topics:

• Longshore Capital Improvement Plan (maintenance facility update)
• Proposed golf cart fee changes
• Allowing the sale of alcohol at the Longshore golf course
• Adding 2 more firepit rentals at Compo Beach
• Proposed change requiring parking emblems at Canal Beach
• Proposed fee changes for summer camps.

Canal Beach: Westport’s smallest. (Photo/Gene Borio)

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Westporters already know and love Faith Sargent for her high tea parties, her Wreathing for Community (through which donated florals are transformed into wreaths, given away to spread cheer). and Faith’s Cottage Kitchen (a licensed home bakery offering small-batch breads, brownies, marshmallows and seasonal treats).

Now she’s launched “Treat Tuesday”: a community initiative to spread sweetness around town.

Each Tuesday, she brings homemade treats to a town office or local nonprofit. “It’s a simple way to say thank you,” Faith says.

Last week she delivered Neapolitan marshmallow brownies to Town Hall. This week she brought homemade marshmallows to the fire station.

Do you have a place to recommend? Text Faith: 603-219-2773.

She may be overwhelmed with requests. So: Keep the faith!

(And thank you!)

Town Hall treats!

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For more than 4 decades, The Susan Fund has provided college scholarships to Fairfield Country residents who have been diagnosed with cancer at some time in their life, and attend (or plan to) enroll in an institution of higher learning.

The Fund was established in 1980 in memory of her Susan Lloyd, a Staples High School graduate who lost her battle with cancer. Since its founding, the organization has provided over $2 million in scholarships to more than 300 students.

Applications for the 2026 school year are open now, through April 1. To apply or to learn more about the Susan Fund, click here.

The 2025 Susan Fund awardees.

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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests, between January 7 and 13.

A 25-year-old Brooklyn man was charged with the illegal sale/manufacture of cannabis. His arrest followed multiple complaints about illegal marijuana sales at Savvy Smoker. In April, Westport Police and the state Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division executed a search warrant, and seized various types of illegal marijuana and THC-containing products. He was held on a $150,000 bond.

A 51-year-old Stamford man was charged with larceny, following a complaint that he was paid $3,250 as a contractor for work that was never performed. He attempted to make restitution with a check that was returned due to insufficient funds. He was released on a $7,500 bond.

A 25-year-old Bronx man was charged with failure to appear. He was released on a $15,000 bond.

Westport Police also issued these citations:

• Traveling unreasonably fast: 9 citations
• Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 6
• Texting while driving: 3
• Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
• Failure to renew registration: 3
• Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
• Speeding in a school zone: 2
• Failure to obey stop sign: 2
• Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
• Passing a standing school bus: 1
• Speeding in a school zone (2nd offense): 1
• Speeding: 1
• Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
• Failure to renew license: 1
• Unsafe passing: 1
• Defective windshield: 1
• Improper use of markers: 1

Scene of the crime.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from a wintry Compo Beach.

They show some very unnatural tire tracks.

No problem — the sand grooming machine will be there in 4 months!

(Photo/Jeanette Moore)

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And finally … in honor of the end of a not-great chapter in beach concession history:

(Another day, another Roundup filled with news you can use. If you enjoy this daily feature — or anything else on “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)