Category Archives: Beach

The good news: In less than 2 weeks since its debut, our new “06880” AI widget has field hundreds of questions.

The less-than-good news: Many readers are using it like Google search, rather than the much more robust engine it is.

Queries like “geese,” “Players,” “Staples,” “Hamlet” and “library” are not the best way to interact with our AI widget.

To get a much deeper answer — one that scrapes all 17 years of “06880” content, as designed by Westport-based Thought Partnr — you should ask things like:

• “How do they manage geese at Longshore?”
• “What is Staples Players known for?”
• “Why was the Hamlet at Saugatuck plan rejected?”
• “What activities are planned for VersoFest?”

Here’s a great example of a query from yesterday: “I’m thinking of moving to Westport with a young family. What are the pros and cons I should consider?”

Think of it as a conversation starter. The widget will respond; you can then continue the conversation, refine it, or simply walk away more knowledgeable about a local subject.

We’re all used to typing in a word or two in a search engine. We get a list of links that we then plow through.

But that’s not our AI widget. It responds in complete paragraphs, and invites an ongoing dialogue.

Bottom line: Take a few extra seconds to frame your question — just as you would with a friend. Give your AI buddy enough information to offer a complete, detailed response.

The more you use it, the better you’ll get.

And the smarter our AI widget will become too.

PS: Coming soon: AI for our “06880” app.

The arrow points to our AI widget.

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Emmy, Grammy and 6-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald returns to the Westport Country Playhouse May 19, for an encore evening of music

The singer/actor — a National Medal of Arts recipient, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People — last appeared here in February of 2024.

Tickets are on sale Tuesday (February 24, 1 p.m.). Click here for more information, and to purchase.

Audra McDonald

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For 4 hours yesterday morning, volunteers from the Saugatuck Congregational Church Missions Board, the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Sunrise Rotary unloaded supplies at the church, then packed 12,500 shelf-stable meals — with oatmeal/apple/vitamin packets — for a program run by EndHungerNE.

Norwalk and Wilton Rotarians helped too, along with other Westporters.

Then, they delivered the cases: 22 to the Gillespie Center, 20 to Open Door in Norwalk, and 14 to a food pantry in Norwalk.

At a time of rising food insecurity, they will fill a great need. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)

Assembly line volunteers, at Saugatuck Church. (Photo/Katie Phillis)

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Yesterday’s Roundup included an item about a new bird flu in the tri-state area. It’s killed more than a dozen geese, at Compo and Burying Hill Beaches.

That’s not all. A dead red-breasted merganser was found in a yard near Compo.

The disease does not seem to affect humans. But be careful out there!

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Longtime Westport teacher and women’s issues volunteer Patricia MacBride Hendrickson died peacefully at her Maine home in June. She was 95.

After graduating in 1952 as a biology major from Brown University, she worked in microbial genetics at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. After traveling solo in Europe, she married Donald Hendrickson, a chemical engineer, in 1955. They lived in Westport for 40 years before moving to a retirement community in Topsham, Maine in 2006.

For 2 decades, Pat taught advanced biology and ecology courses at Staples High School. She was enriched by her students, and her passion for the subject  inspired many to choose careers in the sciences.

She received honors for her work as regional director of the Brown University National Alumni Schools program.

After retiring in 1991 Pat was active in politics, serving as president of the Democratic Women of Westport. She was one of 6 founders of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale. She served on the board for 6 years, including positions as vice president, president and admissions director.

A passionate believer in women’s personal liberty, she initiated in 1993 an all-volunteer security escort service for the Summit Women’s Center in Bridgeport, and coordinated the effort for a decade.

She received awards and recognition from CT Naral, CT NOW and the National Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

In 2003, she was co-founder and president of the Rosie Fund, the first abortion fund in Connecticut, which supports needy women’s right to choose. She was a longtime board member and then the President of the Y’s Women of Westport, a large women’s group in Westport.

Pat enjoyed travel, the natural world, wildlife, birding and botany. She traveled extensively, including Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, Alaska and the Virgin Islands.

After the death of her husband in 2012 she remained engaged in national and local politics. She traveled to visit family, hosted friends and family at her home, and took excursions and vacations to beautiful locations in Maine.

Pat is survived by her children Andrew, Laura Hendrickson (Rupert Stasch) Rupert Stasch and Julia, and granddaughter Madeleine. She was predeceased by her husband Donald, fraternal twin sister Pamela MacBride Colgate, and a brother, Roger MacBride.

A private burial will be held at the family plot on Cape Cod. Contributions may be sent to The Brown University Elise Lea MacBride Memorial Book Fund, Office of Planned Giving, PO Box 1893, Providence, RI 02912.

Patricia Hendrickson

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows Burritt Cove:

(Photo/Richard Jaffe)

It was tough to navigate yesterday.

It will be a lot harder today.

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And finally … today marks the actual birthday of George Washington.

The Father of Our Country was born on this date 294 years ago — in 1732.

For decades, Americans celebrated this as a federal holiday. It has since morphed into Presidents Day, on the third Monday in February. The idea is to honor all Presidents (including Abraham Lincoln, born February 12) — and give everyone a 3-day weekend, while goosing sales of mattresses and cars.

An instrumental piece called “The President’s March” was composed by Philip Phile in 1789 to honor Washington’s inauguration. Joseph Hopkinson added lyrics in 1798. The song became very popular, and was often performed at official events.

(Hail to George Washington! Hail to “06880”! We cannot tell a lie: We really, really hope you click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)