A reminder: Tomorrow (Sunday) is our special “Day in the Life of Westport” day.
Residents of all ages are invited to take up to 3 photos of any kind, illustrating life in Westport. They can be taken anywhere in town, at any time from midnight to 11:59 p.m.
Suggestions include neighborhoods, work, traditions, celebrations, acts of service, family life, recreation, arts, faith — whatever happens on a Westport Sunday.
Submitted photos will become part of an online community archive and digital image library (and featured on “06880”).
Organizers also plan to create a large photographic mosaic incorporating every submission, with selected images potentially featured in a public exhibition and/or commemorative book.
Photos must be taken tomorrow only, then submitted by midnight to dayinthelife2026.artcall.org. The submission website will accept photographs only on the day of the event.
For more information and submission details, click here or email Westportphoto2026@gmail.com.
“A Day in the Life of Westport” is a collaboration between the Artists Collective of Westport, the League of Women Voters Westport, the David T. Langrock Foundation, and “06880.”
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Homes with Hope is an avid supporter of “A Day in the Life of Westport.” And to show how many people are involved, they will pose for a photo at 2 p.m. tomorrow, outside the Gillespie Center men’s shelter.
They’ve invited members of the Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Clubs. All volunteers — those who prepare and serve meals, those who donate to the food pantry, etc. — are welcome to join in the photo. Town officials will be there too.
It’s a great way to demonstrate the town’s support for Homes with Hope.
And to be part of the historic “Day in the Life of Westport” too.
Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place will be filled with Homes with Hope staffers and volunteers tomorrow.
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Last month, Paulie Veneto began pushing an airline beverage cart in Boston.
The retiree — who was working on September 11, 2001 — is honoring the memory of his colleagues who were killed that day by pushing the cart 210 miles, to Ground Zero in New York.
This is the 5th tribute walk for “Paulie’s Push,” to raise awareness of their heroism in the face of unimaginable danger.
Once again yesterday, the Westport Fire Department offered a welcome pit stop for lunch and hospitality, at their Post Road East headquarters.
Yesterday, his route took him through Westport. He stopped briefly at fire headquarters on the Post Road.
After a brief ceremony, and a meeting with firefighters, he was back on his trek. Westport public safety officials, and 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, escorted Paulie to the Norwalk town line.
At Eno Lane on Saugatuck Avenue, resident Mike Sharpe brought neighbors together to show support and appreciation — and have the honor of helping push the cart.
Carolyn King reports, “It has become a meaningful tradition, and a beautiful reminder of the importance of coming together.”
Paulie will reach in New York by Friday.
Paulie Veneto (white shirt), his cart, and Westport firefighters and officials.
Paulie Veneto and 1st Selectman Kevin Christie push carts down Riverside Avenue.
With Paulie, on Eno Lane.
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Well, this stinks!
Thursday’s “06880” story about the 40th anniversary of the Westport Library’s “new” location next to Jesup Green — on land that was once the town dump — mentioned a tea party that etiquette expert Amy Vanderbilt once hosted atop the trash.
Right event. Wrong dump.
Hers was at the dump across the Saugatuck River. With the Taylor parking lot dump closed by court order (neighbors complained — that was a thing 70 years ago too), and nowhere to put the quickly growing town’s garbage, the Westport Woman’s Club agreed to allow limited dumping on landfill next to their Imperial Avenue clubhouse, where a new parking lot was being built.
In response to negative public opinion, sportscaster and Westport resident Win Elliot organized an October 1957 event. Vanderbilt presided; there was a grand piano, and a sterling silver tea set.
Elliot said, “At a well-run dump you can hold a tea or a formal ball. There is absolutely no smell.”
A year later, that dump was filled to the height specified in the agreement. The town moved its dump to a site off Saugatuck Avenue.
The Imperial Avenue parking lot has had many uses since: for commuters, as the site of the Remarkable Theater, the Westport Farmers’ Market, and of course the Westport Woman’s Club’s signature event, the Yankee Doodle Fair.
A hat tip to longtime WWC official Dorothy Curran, for setting the record straight.
And not dumping on us for the error.
Imperial Avenue parking lot — and former dump — built on landfill adjacent to the Westport Woman’s Club (white building, center right).
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Yesterday’s Westport Sunrise Rotary meeting went to the dogs.
Brute — a Belgian Malinois, and member of the Westport Police Department K-9 corps — was the star of the morning meeting.
He graciously let his handler, Corporal James Loomer, do the talking.
Loomer joined the WPD in 2010. With Brute wagging his tail encouragingly, Loomer discussed his background in K-9 operations, patrol, and narcotics and explosives detection.
Corporal James Loomer, and Brute. (Photo/Katie Augustyn)
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Michal Amzallag has spent her career in banking law, financial crimes and commercial negotiation.
Then she had kids. And she realized no one was teaching them about money. “Understanding money at 8 instead of 28 is the biggest head start anyone gets, and almost nobody does,” she says.
So she is building the courses she kept looking for.
“Compound Kids” is 8 weeks of hands-on money skills, for youngsters age 8 to 13.
They use real money — part of the registration fee — and real activities. There are no worksheets or lectures; just hands-on activities.
There will be 2 courses this winter, at the Westport Library, divided by age (8-10, and 11-13). Click here for more information.
Michal Amzallag
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Speaking of money: We normally would not mention an upcoming meeting of the Pension Investment Committee and 401(k) and Defined Contribution Plan Investment Committee.
They do important work, sure. But it’s not the headline-grabbing, dog park-, athletic field lights- and Saugatuck redevelopment-type work of, say, the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Still, one agenda item from their next session caught our eye: “Aristotle Discussion.”
We got very excited. Would the Pension Investment Committee and 401(k) and the Defined Contribution Committee actually sit around discussing the Greek philosopher’s thoughts on formal logic and syllogisms?
Nope.
Turns out Aristotle is a family of mutual funds.
We learn something new every day.
Or, as a famous Greek philosopher once said, “All men by nature desire to know.”
Aristotle, the mutual funds guy.
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Speaking of meetings: The Blight Prevention Board meets September 10 (7 p.m.; Zoom).
They’ll consider 3 properties:
- 20 Center Street
- 20 Meeker Road
- 7 Hockanum Road.
20 Center Street
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Mihali made a triumphant return to the Levitt Pavilion last night. Their 11th show at the outdoor theater may have been their best yet.
Tonight (Saturday, 7 p.m.), Hollywood Nights brings their acclaimed Bob Seger Experience to Westport. Click here for tickets.
Summer vibes continue this coming week with 3 free shows: ever-popular DNR (the almost all-doctor rock band; Thursday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.); the equally popular Sweet Remains (Saturday, September 12, 7:30 p.m.) and the Brian López Electric Trio (Sunday, September 13, 7 p.m.).
Click here for more information.
Mihali entertains …
… and a young fan is mesmerized. (Photos copyright DinkishESH Fotografix)
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It’s a sight we never grow tired of: an eagle soaring above the water.
Gabriela Hayes spotted it — then snapped this beautifully composed shot, for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Gabriela Hayes)
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And finally … as Westport gets ready to celebrate “A Day in the Life” tomorrow (story above):
(If you read the news today — or any day — on “06880”: Oh boy! Here’s your chance to support this hyper-local blog. Please click here. And thank you!)
