The Parks & Recreation Department’s “Kickoff to Summer” — postponed from last month by rain — is back on the calendar.
The event is this Saturday (June 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The family fun day includes food trucks, touch-a-truck, bounce houses, climbing walls, face painting, raffle prizes and more.
Parks & Rec officials will be on hand, with information about many programs and services.
In addition, the new mural — hung recently on the side wall of The Sandbar concession stand — will be unveiled (10 a.m.). Staples student Luke Bernier is the artist; the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Artists Collective of Westport helped make it happen.
Attendees must have a beach sticker to park. Walk-ins are welcome! And of course: no dogs.
Fun at last year’s Kickoff to Summer. (Photo/Katherine Phelps)
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Speaking of kicking off summer: Staples High School’s annual Pops Concert did that Friday night, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Now the outdoor pavilion is in full swing. A host of free concerts come this month. They include:
- Jumaane Smith Quartet (tonight, June 7)
- West Point Concert Band – America250 (June 9)
- Seth Sikes – Everything’s Coming Up Rainbows – A Broadway Pride Concert – with special guest Rose Levine (June 14)
- Isle of Klezbos – Pride Concert (June 16)
- Luke Tyler Shelton – Full Band Show (June 17)
- Children’s Series Launch: Dirty Sock Funtime Band! (June 18)
- Chris Pierce – Juneteenth Concert Celebration (June 19)
- Grammy Award winner Son Little — City Folk Tour (June 24)
- Children’s Series: Miss Tutti & The Fruity Band (June 25)
- Chaparelle (June 26)
- Circles Around the Sun (June 27)
- Comedy Night #1 – Pride Edition – June 30
Click any link above for free tickets, and more information.
Coming this month, to the Levitt Pavilion.
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Yesterday was quite successful, for 2 Staples High School sports teams.
Bruce Schlegelmilch’s grand slam keyed a 13-2 victory over Norwalk, in the baseball state tournament quarterfinal.
Coach Jack McFarland’s Wreckers, now 17-7, move on to the state semifinals. They’ll face Fairfield Ludlowe on Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.
The boys lacrosse team downed Wilton 10-6, in their state tourney quarterfinal.
That vaults coach Will Koshansky’s squad into their 4th state semifinal in 5 years. Seeded 5th, they meet #1 seed New Canaan on Tuesday, at a site and time to be announced.
Both teams are 17-4. Although the Rams are ranked first, Staples has defeated them 3 times this year. The most recent win came in a nail-biting FCIAC final.
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Lachat Farm’s first Farmers Market is Friday, June 26 (4 to 8 p.m.).
The Weston spot offers a wide array of local vendors — and live music, with the Snake Skin Boots Band.
Many guests buy dinner from the tents and food trucks, plus beverages from the Barn Bar.
New vendors this year include Agape Premium (olive oils), Anchored Homestead (small batch seasonings) and Celtic Cottage (organic breads, scones and treats).
Redding Knives returns too — for sharpening during shopping.
Here is the full list of vendors:
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Craig Ferguson is nearly at the end of his Tartan Trek.
The Scotsman is walking over 3,200 miles across the US. He started in Los Angeles.
Over 100 days later, he’ll finish in Boston — just in time for Scotland’s opening World Cup match. (Next Saturday, June 13, vs. Haiti. It’s actually in Foxboro, 29 miles away. That’s okay — there are buses and trains.)
Fellow Scot David Lyons — now a Westport resident — has been following online. But he did not know that Ferguson’s route would take him through Westport.
Or that they’d meet.
But Lyons was drinking beer with a friend at Little Barn around 5 p.m. Friday, when the intrepid walker walked past.
Lyons rushed out. They chatted. And he made a donation. (The trek is a fundraiser (and awareness-raiser) for Scottish Action for Mental Health.
“Tartan Trekker” Craig Ferguson (right, obviously) and David Lyons.
Ferguson had walked 25 miles that day, with another 9 to go. The day before, he’d met the “real” Craig Ferguson (former “Late Late Show” host) in Central Park.
Click here to learn more about Ferguson and the Tartan Trek — and to donate. Click here or below to watch a YouTube video.
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Another international-comes-to-Westport story: New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer (and 1988 Staples High School graduate) Tyler Hicks took a break from documenting the Ukraine war Thursday night.
He was at the Westport Library, for the opening reception of the Artists Collective of Westport’s summer exhibits, “American Journeys” and “Piece by Pieces.” His sister Darcy Hicks is a Collective member.
He posed (below) with artist Mark Yurkiw. The Westporter has been very active in Ukraine relief efforts.
Photo Mark Yurkiw and Tyler Hicks, NYT photogarapher, taking a break from documenting the Ukraine war To attend a Art fundraiser at Westport Library last night.
PS- There is a musical fundraiser for Ridgefield Responds & UAI this Sunday in Easton
Tyler Hicks (left) and Mark Yurkiw.
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Just in time for the 90-degree weekend, the crane involved in the Ned Dimes renovation project is gone. Much of the work has been completed.
Several readers asked “06880” what happened to the osprey nest, which the raptors built at the top of the crane.
We’re not sure. So we asked ChatGPT. It replied that ospreys are protected under the Migratory Bird Species Act.
“An active osprey nest (with eggs or chicks, or sometimes a nesting pair actively using it) is generally protected under federal law. Construction companies often must coordinate with wildlife agencies before moving a crane, removing a nest, or continuing activities that could cause nest failure.
“However, cranes create a common and well-recognized conflict with osprey nesting. In many cases, project owners work with agencies such as the US” Fish and Wildlife Service or state wildlife authorities to:
- Delay certain activities until nesting is complete.
- Obtain permits where available.
- Install alternative nesting platforms nearby.
- Remove nests before the breeding season begins, when allowed.
“For Connecticut specifically, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may also be involved because state protections can apply in addition to federal law.
“The key facts would be:
- Was the nest occupied by osprey at the time?
- Were there eggs or chicks?
- Was the nest removed, or was construction simply taking place nearby?
- Did the construction company have approval or guidance from wildlife authorities?”
Retaining wall work, on Compo Beach Road. (Photo/Totney Benson)
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The temperature was near 90 yesterday.
But it’s still early June. The water has not yet warmed up.
So while there was a good crowd at Sherwood Island State Park yesterday, only a few brave souls went into the water.
And those who did, did not venture far.
Here’s the view from Burying Hill Beach:
(Photo/Ed Simek)
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Exactly 100 years ago yesterday, Agatha Christie published what the British Crime Writers’ Association called the greatest crime novel ever written: “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”
To celebrate — and promote their upcoming production of the show by the same name — the Westport Country Playhouse has a special anniversary offer.
From now through Friday (June 12), anyone making a $100 donation to the Playhouse will get a free ticket to the play. (Limit 10 tickets per household.)
“The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” — adapted and directed by WCP artistic director Mark Shanahan — runs July 14 through August 1. Click here for information on the promotion, and more.
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Westport’s 2 candidates running for statewide office — John Bolton (attorney general) and Jen Tooker (comptroller) joined fellow Republican Ryan Fazio (governor) in Stratford today.
The campaign season has begun. Bolton and Tooker are stumping — sometimes separately, sometimes together — around the state. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
From left in Stratford: John Bolton, Ryan Fazio, Troy Gargiulo (state representative candidate), Jen Tooker.
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If it’s beach season there must be … rabbits?
You won’t see this guy at Compo. But there he was the other day, enjoying the grass and scenery at Burying Hill.
He paused just long enough to pose for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo.
(Photo/Wendy Levy)
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And finally … of course, there is no better song to celebrate Colin Ferguson’s 3,200-mile walk than this, from his fellow Scots:
(Westport, Weston, Scotland, Ukraine … “06880” is definitely where Westport meets the world. Please click here, to help us continue on this great journey together. Thank you!)
