Quack!
Yesterday, Westport celebrated the annual Great Duck Race.
The Sunrise Rotary Club’s signature fundraiser drew its usual big crowd to Jesup Green.
The weather was not great. But it was perfect for ducks — the actual ones, if not the thousands of plastic guys who poured down a Westport Fire Department chute, then bobbed along to the finish line.
The event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, for Sunrise Rotary’s charitable projects.
(Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
jUNe Day visitors get in on the fun. (Photo courtesy of James Delorey)
1st Selectman Kevin Christie (lower left, with microphone) narrates the Great Duck Race. (Photo/Joel Treisman)
One of hundreds of ducks. Who knows how he did? (Photo courtesy of James Delorey)
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Also yesterday (as noted above): For the 61st year in a row, Westport welcomed United Nations personnel to Westport.
A welcoming jUNe Day ceremony on Jesup Green was followed by a soccer match; tennis and golf at Longshore; visits to Earthplace and Wakeman Town Farm; the sidewalk sale, and of course the Westport Rotary Club Great Duck Race.
1st Selectman Kevin Christie and United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut president Bill Hass (below) greeted the guests.
1st Selectman Kevin Christie and United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut’s Bill Hass. (Photo/Sal Liccione)
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A reminder: Kick off the 4th of July/fireworks week — and celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a party today (Sunday) at VFW Post 399.
Together with American Legion Post 63, they’re throwing a picnic from noon to 4 p.m.
There’s (of course) burgers and dogs, music, community spirt — and it’s a chance to support our veterans.
Happy birthday, America! And thanks, VFW and American Legion!
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Want to learn more about Westport beaches’ current and future conditions, upcoming regulatory requirements, and an engineering firm’s beach resiliency planning studies?
The Parks & Recreation Department hosts a public forum on July 13 (6:30 p.m., Zoom). Compo, Old Mill, Burying Hill and Canal Beaches are all part of the plan.
What does the future hold? (Photo/Seth Schachter)
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Speaking of beaches: Westporter Doug Bowen caught this 40-inch striped bass (below) the other day.
Unfortunately, the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection requires all striped bass be thrown back if smaller than 28 inches — or larger than 31.
So there was no fresh catch dinner at the Bowens’ But there was a great fish tale to tell.
(Photo/Ellen Bowen)
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MoCA\CT’s new exhibit, “Looking for History,” opened Thursday to a large, appreciative crowd.
Artists Rick Shaefer and Ellen Harvey — whose works launched the exhibition — spoke with guests about the themes of the show.
On view through November 15, 2026, “Looking for History” invites visitors to move between distinct yet interconnected perspectives.
Rick Shaefer’s “Colossi” anchors the full season. Ellen Harvey’s “The Disappointed Tourist is featured through August 2, followed by Michael Borders’ Connecticut Industry (August 13 toNovember 15).
Throughout the run MoCA\CT will host community conversations, studio visits, film screenings and hands-on workshops.
Enjoying the MoCA exhibit. (Photo/Hanyue Wang for MoCA\CT).
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Speaking of history: Nearly 50 local artists will help the Weston Commission for the Arts celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Their exhibit is on view at the Weston Library from July 3 through 31.
A reception is set for July 8 (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.).
Meanwhile, artist Cindy Wagner offers 2 free classes next month: July 11 (1:30 to 3:30 p.m.), children 8 and older can learn still life drawing.
On July 18 (10 a.m. to noon) Wagner leads an adult still life calss.
Registration is required. Click here to learn more, and sign up.
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As the curtain gets ready to rise July 14 on “Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” Westporters may see a life-size, die-cut Hercule Poirot figure around town.
Recently, Christie’s legendary detective visited the Westport Rotary Club’s Sunny the Duck:
Poirot was also spotted downtown:
Channeling Dame Christie, he was especially excited to see the Union Jack outside Stephen Kempson London. Of course, he had to pop in to say hello to the custom tailor:
(Photos/Kelsey McFarland)
To learn more about the show, and purchase tickets, click here.
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The other day, the Vartuli|Jabick Team of Keller Williams Luxury
Westport hosted “Where Art Meets Connection,” at Clarendon Fine Art.
But the evening was about more than networking over artwork.
The event helped support Real Food CT. The non-profit connects
farms with food pantries throughout Connecticut, helping provide
fresh, locally grown food to families experiencing food insecurity.
An evening at Clarendon Fine Art.
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Positive Directions — the Westport non-profit focused on mental health, substance prevention and peer support — is searching for a Building Resilient Youth and Communities program coordinator.
The full-time position is part of a 5-year project that aims to prevent underage alcohol and cannabis use among Westport youth.
Positive Directions is also hiring a part-time youth peer advocate. The position (for someone ages 16 to 24) is for someone to serve as a role model and advocate, providing peer education and awareness.
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Margaret Watt: mwatt@positivedirections.org. Questions can be addressed to that email address too.
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Laurie Sorensen offers today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo — and a back story:
“This mourning dove perched on our stone wall Friday afternoon. I’m not sure why. It stayed there for a few hours, then flew away at sundown.”
(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)
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And finally … on this date in 1838, Victoria was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days is the 2nd longest in history. Queen Elizabeth II served 7 years longer.
(We probably won’t be around as long as Queen Victoria. Or Queen Elizabeth II. But we’re here now — and we have been, every day since 2009. To help keep up going, please click here. Thank you!)
Hmmm.. I posted a “Duck” comment about 20 minutes ago, buyI don’t see it yet. Oh well…..
* buy= but
The Kinks are my all-time favorite group of all time.
Their classic song: “Ape-man” spoke to me personally.
Dan, I would be so grateful if you would include this in the next issue of “Round-up” along with a clip of “Ape-man” so that our classmates can see it before the August reunion. Be sure to copy the museum of history and culture (I am a proud product of Westport’s unique and eclectic culture).