It’s that time of year again: People put tax payments in the mail.
And once again: Other people are stealing them, from the mail.
Our friends at the Westport post office say: Hand all important mail directly to the clerks behind the counter.
That’s right. It’s not only dangerous to use your own mailbox, and the one outside the post office in Playhouse Square — it’s also risky to use the drop box inside.
It’s a sad state of affairs. But you’ve been warned.
The only upside: Our postal clerks are the best, and friendliest, anywhere. It’s always nice to have that little bit of human interaction.
Nope! Don’t use the drop box inside the post office. Hand important mail directly to a clerk at the counter!
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From Mediterranean to pancakes to Japanese.
That’s the journey of the 2-floor restaurant at 43 Main Street.
Yuzu has opened its doors, at the Parker Harding Plaza side of the “Tunnel of Love” connecting the parking lot with Main Street. The spot was most recently the Original Pancake House. Before that is was Acqua, preceded by Boca.
Yuzu brings “a fresh take on Japanese cuisine,” featuring “a premium cuisine and omakase experience.” Their goal is to create “a welcoming space where Westporters can gather, and enjoy high-quality dining.”
Yuzu is the newest in a recent spate of Main Street restaurant openings. Just last week Felice debuted, in nearby space previously filled by Mexicue.
Click here for Yuzu’s website, with menus and more information.
Inside Yuzu.
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Musicians get most of the headlines at VersoFest.
But the Westport Library’s annual music, media and more extravaganza includes plenty of non-artists, headlining intriguing panels.
The newest addition is “Coffee with the C-Suite: Creators, Technologists, and Music’s AI Frontier” (Sunday, March 29, 10:30 a.m.).
Executive-level leaders from across music tech, rights investment, AI creation tools and licensing platforms will discuss the seismic shifts redefining the industry.
Speakers include Westporter Sam Hendel, managing partner at Chord Music Partners and Dundee Partners (and co-founder of StartUp Westport); Paul Sinclair, chief music officer at Suno; Daniel Rowland, vice president of strategy and partnerships at LANDR, Danny Newcomb, CEO and co-founder of Incantio. Music industry veteran and Westport resident Dick Wingate will moderate the free panel.
For more information on this AI panel, click here. For the full VersoFest schedule, and more information, click here.
Sam Hendel
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Speaking of music: The Mamas and the Papas, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Doors, Crosby Stills & Nash, Neil Young, James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell and the Eagles all come to the Westport Country Playhouse on March 22.
Well, maybe not the actual artists.
But their music will sure be there.
“Live from Laurel Canyon – Songs and Stories of American Folk Rock” is an evening of live music and narrated stories of some of the most influential songwriters who lived in Laurel Canyon in the 1960s and ’70s. them.
It’s a tribute evening — and much more. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Great bluegrass comes to the Levitt Pavilion on June 11.
Greensky Bluegrass is the latest addition to the outdoor summer series lineup.
The quintet’s underground die-hard fans pack venues across the country. The group has sold out multiple-night runs at venues like Red Rocks and the Ryman. Tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow (March 13, 10 a.m.). Click here to purchase, and for more information.
The Levitt also added a new free ticket show. Circles Around the Sun — tangibly linked to Grateful Dead history, and “sharing shelf space with post-rock, psych-rock, jazz-funk and good old fashioned psychedelia” — has been booked for June 27. Click here for free tickets, and more information.
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TOPSoccer — the program for youngsters with physical or learning differences — returns for a second spring season.
Blake Serotta — a freshman player at Staples — leads the program, in conjunction with the Weston Soccer Club and Westport Soccer Association.
TOPSoccer is open to boys and girls in grades K-8. It runs Saturdays, 11;30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from April 11 through June 6 at Morehouse Farm Park in Weston.
The program is run by Coach Felipe of Ole Soccer, and includes fun games, drills, and small-sided games. Each child is paired with a buddy, who stays with them on the field.
High schoolers are welcome as volunteers and buddies.
To learn more, and sign up as a player or buddy, click here.
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Speaking of sports: The Westport Swim Club’s first “Candy” meet of the year last Sunday got the season of to a fun, energetic start, at the Staples High School pool.
The intra-squad meet for swimmers in grades 2-8 was a first for many. Candy Meets are a friendly introduction to competitive swimming. Participation, confidence and fun come first (with a little candy as motivation after each race). Staples swimmers volunteer, and help the youngsters learn to cheer for each other.
There is still room for young swimmers (and divers). Click here, or email swimwestport@gmail.com.
All smiles at the Westport Swim Club “Candy Meet.”
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Miggs Burroughs has had quite a career.
And on Tuesday, the Staples High School graduate, noted artist/graphic designer/photographer/civic volunteer took the Y’s Women through it all.
He spoke about his engineering studies at the Carnegie Institute of Technology; working at Pepperidge Farm; designing a stamp for the US Postal Service, and his many efforts on behalf of countless local organizations.
And he did it all with his trademark good humor, and great modesty.
Miggs Burroughs (Hat tip and photo/Vera DeStefano)
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Westport Police made no custodial arrests between March 4 and 11.
They did issue these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 15 citations
- Failure to renew registration: 10
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 6
- Texting while driving: 5
- Distracted driving: 5
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 5
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 3
- Speeding in a school zone: 2
- Reckless driving: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Disobeying the signal of a police officer: 1
- Interfering with a police officer: 1
- Passing in a no-passing zone; 1
- Following too closely: 1
- Failure to yield right of way 1
- Unreadable license plate: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Disobeying the signal of a police officer is against the law.
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Speaking of police: We don’t know what this driver did to get booted.
But here’s a sight you don’t see every day, at the Westport train station:
(Photo/Michael Diggin)
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Speaking still of police: Where were they Tuesday at Compo Beach, when this egregious breach of the law occurred?
(Photo/Nancy Lewis)
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Staples High School graduate Jeffrey Ruden and his family have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
His mother Carole suffered. That journey inspired Jeffrey and his brother Dave to help others. They have chaired the CT Walk for Alzheimer’s, and Jeffrey served on the CTALZ board for several years.
Jeffrey wishes he had known about CaringKind during his mother’s illness. With over 45 years of experience, they work directly with community partners to develop information, tools, training and support for caregivers.
Now he is chairing an inaugural “Hope Blooms” gala for CaringKind (May 14, Fairfield County Hunt Club).
For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, click here or email jmruden@yahoo.com
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It’s that time of year.
A mother hawk trains her fledgling near Bayberry Lane, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.
Hopefully, they won’t go after Carl’s chickens.
(Photo/Carl McNair)
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And finally … just to reinforce the Post Office alert (story above):
(The good news: You don’t have to mail a check to support “06880.” Click here for the many ways to contribute to your hyper-local blog. Thank you! PS: Be careful out there.)
So the Post office can’t guarantee safety of mail INSIDE of the building, using the inside dropoff box?!?! Thats nuts!
Similar question: What’s the risk of putting mail in the outside mailbox? Or the inside one?
Bad guys fish out envelopes. And for some reason security cameras are not allowed inside.
Mailboxes used to be safe sacred protected locations where no one would dare trespass because you were going to jail for a long time.
Wha happened?💣🇺🇸
During the first week of December I put a card int o the mailbox outside of the postal box building on Ketchem St. in Saugatuck approx. one hour prior to the scheduled pickup time. It never arrived in Oregon. And yes stupidly it had cash in it.
The colored envelopes are a greeting card target for mailbox thieves.
Miggs has stayed grounded despite his success.
Well done Miggs👍🇺🇸