They’re back!
Well, at least one is.
Right on schedule, an osprey has returned to the perch between Fresh Market and Terrain.
Hopefully, its mate will join soon. Another season of fishing, breeding and hanging out in (and over) Westport awaits.
(Hat tip and photo/Dana Kuyper)
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Speaking of seasonal activities: These days, many Westporters are busy with spring cleaning.
Nine Rotary Club members took time out of their own yards, gardens and garages yesterday to spiff up the Sherwood Island Connector commuter parking lot, and nearby areas.
Led by Peter Helt and Rick Benson, they collected 25 bulging bags of trash.
“This is our town. Please keep it clean!” says Benson.
Rotarians to the rescue!
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Ani DiFranco drew a large crowd last night, to the Westport Library.
The musician, folk-rock legend and cultural icon kicked off 4 days of VersoFest ’26 in a conversation with Westport TV journalist Lindsay Czarniak about her new book, “The Spirit of Ani: Reflections on Spirituality, Feminism, Music, and Freedom.”
Tonight’s headliner is another musical legend: Wyclef Jean. Very few tickets remain for his 8 p.m. performance (click here to purchase).
For the full lineup of music, workshops, talks, art exhibits and more, click here.
Ani DiFranco, at VersoFest. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Downtown traffic may be a little tougher than usual tomorrow.
Two events — the weekly 11 a.m., Ruth Steinkraus Bridge anti-Trump protest, and a “No Kings” 12 noon rally on Jesup Green — could cause delays, along with possible road closures.
Traffic moves slowly when downtown is crowded. (Photo/Jim Honeycutt)
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A truck fire on I-95 southbound yesterday evening, just past Exit 17, caused significant delays.
Smoke could be seen as far east as Greens Farms.
(Photo/Michael Diggin)
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MoCA\CT invites all area teenagers to an open “Mic at the Museum Night” (April 30, 6 to 8 p.m.).
Organized by MoCA’s Teen Council, it’s free — and for teens only. Participants can perform in any medium they choose: music (solo or group), comedy, storytelling, rap, dance or whatever. Click here to sign up.
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Speaking of entertainment: Morningside — a local indie-rock band made up of local dads, who just released their debut album of original music — headlines Stage One at FTC next Friday (April 3).
The band — including Westporters Nick Huber, Sean Spillman and Bobby Schlesinger; Westonite Matt Stine, and Ian Walters of Fairfield — opened for John Oates last summer at the Levitt Pavilion. More recently, they played at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Theater.
Canyon — another Westport musician (and mom) — is the opening act at FTC. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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MyTeamTriumph — the great organization that pairs volunteer “angels” with “captain” athletes with disabilities, so that both can compete in running and bike races, and triathlons — hosts a pre-season warm-up short, friendly run and picnic on April 12 (11:30 a.m., Compo Beach).
They invite anyone interested — captain or angel — to check them out.
Upcoming events include the Women’s League of Westport Minute Man Race 5K and 10K (April 26), Boys & Girls Club of Stamford Corporate 5K (May 14), and Bloomin’ Metric Bike Ride (May 17).
Click here to sign up for the April 12 warm-up event. Click here for more information on myTeamTriumph.
MyTeamTriumph, in action.
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A good-sized group of Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members enjoyed their semi-annual lunch this week, at The Clubhouse.
They time this one for the yearly Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce food contest. (This year’s — for the best sandwiches in town — runs through Tuesday, March 31.)
The other lunch takes place during Restaurant Week.
RTM members (plus former moderator Velma Heller, 2nd from right), at The Clubhouse. Owners Tim and Emily Zobl are in back.
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Last year, the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place — Westport’s men’s and women’s shelters — reopened, after extensive renovations.
This year, they’ve added something else new: an American flag. Peter Jennings installed it Wednesday.
The flag now flies proudly outside Homes with Hope’s Jesup Road building — which also houses a food pantry, and meeting space — in the heart of downtown.
(Photo/Helen McAlinden)
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This winter has been tough on local roads.
The Public Works Department is patching potholes as best they can. The entrance road at Burying Hill Beach has a particularly deep one.
(Photo/Scott Smith)
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Earlier this week the Y’s Women learned about “the power of the Red Cross,” from 2 women who know it well.
Susan Shansky retired from a career in budget management and communications at MIT. She is now a “blood donor ambassador,” having donated 10 gallons (in small increments) to the Red Cross.
Natalie Sustache is an American Red Cross senior recruiter.
The pair described how they bring talented people, to deliver hope and relief every day.
Susan Shansky and Natalie Sustache. (Photo/Vera DeStefano)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is one more in our continuing insistence that yes, spring really is just around the corner.
Though tomorrow’s high will only be around 39, temperatures could reach the 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fingers crossed …
(Photo/Matt Murray)
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And finally … Chip Taylor, who wrote songs as diverse as the Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and Merrilee Rush’s “Angel of the Morning,” died Monday in New York. He was 86.
Click here for a full obituary.
(Be an angel! Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to “06880.” Our hyper-local blog relies on support from readers like you. Thank you!)
Do the osprey couples hang out together all year? like the swans? or just rendezvous for mating? of course I could look myself but this town has such experts I thought I would ask:)
My thanks to Rick, the Rotary and many others for the spring clean up work. It is fairly simple and makes a huge difference. All of us, I already do, should pick up and dispose of trash as we walk about Town. it is rather easy and maybe would catch on with so many that cleaning up will become a regular aspect of the walking efforts of most Westporters. Again, thanks to all who help.
I had a natural history lesson on the habits of ospreys from the northeast nearly completed for Janine. Then it disappeared into the ether. A quick answer – no, the birds separate at the end of nesting season and migrate to South America.
Dan B = When we still had a dog, my husband, Ed, would not only clean-up after our dog, he’d pick-up after others. Warm dog poop is icky, but you get used to it. Cold poop is really disgusting!
I saw an osprey flying over Longshore this afternoon. Wasn’t on either of the nests so may have been the same one.