Today’s edition of Westport homes — teardowns, and their replacements, courtesy of photographer Dave Matlow’s archives and follow-up — takes us to the Compo and Old Mill Beach neighborhoods.
Those areas have seen more changes than many in town. Among them:
PopUp Bagels — the Westport start-up that popped up during the pandemic, roared into regional and now national prominence, and has clearly outgrown its motto — “Not famous, but known” — is in the headlines again.
Bloomberg reports that Tiger Global has agreed to invest — at a $300 million valuation.
That’s “roughly 5 times what the startup was quoted at as recently as 5 months ago.”
“The buzzy bagel brand races to turn its TikTok-fueled hype into a national presence,” Bloomberg adds.
It describes the brand as developing “a cult-like following around its smaller, fluffier bagels, sold in limited flavors with a minimum order of 3.”
PopUp Bagels plans to open up to 300 locations across the US in the next 4 years.
The 30th store opens Friday in Chicago. Number 31 follows the next week, in Dallas.
Donations have already funded 2 public water bottle filling stations: one at the Compo Beach basketball courts, the other at Winslow Park. Both will keep tens of thousands of plastic water bottles out of landfill.
Rendering of the water bottle filling station at Winslow Park …
Five more “priority locations” have been identified:
Burying Hill Beach
Old Mill Beach
Grace Salmon Park
PJ Romano Field
Town Farm Little League fields.
Three “wish list locations” — requiring more logistical planning — are the Wakeman Fields, Longshore and downtown.
The cost and installation of each station ranges from $5,000 for an in-wall unit, to $15,000 for a standalone, ADA-compliant one.
“Love + War” — the remarkable documentary about the professional and personal lives of Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur fellowship winner (and 1991 Staples High School graduate Lynsey Addario — has been nominated for 4 Emmy Awards.
The nominations include the biggest category — Best Documentary — along with others for Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Sound, and Outstanding Promotional Announcement.
Addario congrats her team — including National Geographic — and adds, “It took me years to feel comfortable letting a film crew into my life. Even then, it never felt entirely natural as someone who’s usually behind the camera, not in front of it. So thank you to our cameramen.”
She cites their “gorgeous (and subtle!) cinematic eye (and) powerful footage from Ukraine, often shot while under fire.
“It’s been amazing to share this film with so many different people across the world. I hope ‘Love + War’ continues to stand as a testament to a profession that became my calling, while also being clear-eyed about the complexities and sacrifices that come with it.”
Winners will be announced at Lincoln Center on May 28. “Love + War” can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.
===============================================
As models get fitted, styled, and practice their runway strut, a few tickets still remain for “Fashionably Westport.”
The Westport Downtown Association-sponsored evening (April 25, 7 p.m., Westport Library) is a benefit for Homes with Hope. It features an actual runway, with friends-and-neighbors models from all over town, wearing outfits from over 20 local stores.
(Spoiler alert: One of those models is yours truly. Please don’t laugh — but please come to the show!)
And finally … on this date in 1742, George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” had its world premiere in Dublin.
If you’re free for the next 2 1/2 hours — enjoy!
(Hallelujah! “06880” is your 24/7/365, hyper-local go-to blog — “Where Westport meets the world.” We rely on reader support. Please click here to donate. And thank you!)
One of Westport’s favorite nights is back, and celebrating a milestone.
With a twist.
The 20th annual Taste of Westport returns Wednesday, June 3. As they’ve done for 20 years, the area’s top restaurants and mixologists will host an evening of great food, drinks and community — all for a wonderful cause.
The fundraiser benefits CLASP Homes. All proceeds help provide group homes and 24/7/365 services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities.
The twist: With the Inn at Longshore — its longtime home — undergoing renovations, the event moves to the Fairfield County Hunt Club.
It’s an intimate setting, with the same — but always fresh — superb food, signature cocktails and fine wines.
The Sherwood Island pavilion — one of the most popular meeting spots at Connecticut’s first state park — will be closed all year.
Maybe longer.
Alert “06880” reader Allan Siegert noticed the pavilion was closed effective January 16 “until further notice.” The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston, of which he is a member, uses it for their annual meeting, and other gatherings.
Park supervisor Cailtin Munson told him: “Unfortunately at this time, we really don’t have any information to share with you. The pavilion is closed until further notice while we undergo assessments for repairs, and we do not anticipate it to reopen for the remainder of 2026.
“While we are hopeful to have it reopened for the 2027 recreation, no information is available to provide an update for a re-opening date, so a timeline does not exist at this moment which is why it is listed as closed until further notice.
“As the Park Supervisor for Sherwood Island, I have the most up to date information regarding the pavilion, however, I still encourage you to also utilize the deep.stateparks@ct.gov email for questions you may have, as some inquiries may get routed to an alternate contact depending on the nature of your questions.
“Sherwood Island does have a smaller picnic shelter near the east beach bath house that is now reservable between May 1sr and September 30th through Reserve America, which may be an option for your gatherings.”
Congratulations to the Staples High School robotics team!
Competing recently their first aerial drone competition, the club placed first overall.
They also took 2nd place in both the Autonomous Flight and Teamwork categories.
The results qualify them for the Northeast Dragonfly regional competition in West Virginia.
They look forward to continuing to improve their skills in piloting, programming and teamwork as we prepare for higher-level competitions.
Of course, there are expenses like equipment and travel. The robotics team’s goal is $2,000. They’ve set up a GoFundMe page, and encourage residents to help support their efforts. Click here to contribute, and for more information.
On Tuesday, MoCA\CT opened their doors wide, hosting a special “speakeasy” night for Club203.
Members of Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities enjoyed casino games, jazz led by talented Staples High School musicians, tasty bites by Calise’s Deli, and art with MoCA (making dice and playing cards).
The current “Art, Jazz + the Blues” exhibit lent a special flavor to the night.
Club203 thanks all who made the evening great — especially, during this Volunteer Appreciation Month, the many volunteers who do so much!
Club 203’s speakeasy night, at MoCA\CT. (Photo/Stacie Curran)
=================================================
Comcast continues to wire Westport.
The cable, internet, phone and wireless provider plans to connect nearly 12,000 homes and businesses to their Xfinity network, which currently serves more than 64 million customers.
Westporter Tony Kiniry — executive director of Bridgeport-based nonprofit Recovery Community Development — described his organization’s work and impact at Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting.
The non-profit buys and renovates abandoned homes, then provides housing for up to 12 people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in each.
RCD runs 3 houses in the Bridgeport area. A fourth is planned for Norwalk.
Residents pay a low monthly rent, and stay as long as necessary.
Tony Kiniry, at Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting. (Hat tip and photo/ Dave Matlow)
Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between April 1 and 7.
A 29-year-old Mount Vernon, New York man was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, reckless endangerment and illegal window tinting. In January an officer was alerted by a license plate reader that there was an active warrant for a passing vehicle’s owner. The vehicle exited a Saugatuck train station parking lot, then engaged in a pursuit on Riverside Avenue that included driving through a work zone, off the shoulder, jumping a curb and sidewalk, then over a retaining wall into a private parking lot. The pursuit was discontinued, but after the suspect was incarcerated in Westchester County, New York, he was extradited to Connecticut. He was held on a $35,000 bond.
A 20-year-old Fairfield woman was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs (under 21 years of age) and evading responsibility, following a motor vehicle accident in the parking lot of 100 Post Road East. She allegedly struck a fence, support structure and sign, then rove away and nearly struck another car, before parking extremely close to an adjacent car. She was released on a $1,000 bond.
A 27-year-old Brooklyn woman was charged with larceny, identity theft, criminal investigation, forgery, and conspiracy to commit those crimes, after a complaint that a check had been intercepted and altered. She was held on a $50,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 34 citations (part of a statewide crackdown this month)
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 7
Distracted driving: 6
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 5
Speeding in a school zone: 3
Traveling unreasonably fast: 3
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 3
Speeding: 2
Following too closely: 2
Failure to renew registration: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
Improper use of markers: 2
Evading responsibility: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Failure to register a commercial vehicle: 1
Failure to cancel registration within 10 days: 1
Westport Police issued 34 citations for texting while driving.
Sure, it’s April 9. But some folks here woke up to frost today.
The birds, though, are singing as they always do this time of year. And if the weather is good enough for them — as it is for this blue jay, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo — it’s good enough for us.
The Shoah Memorial — an inspiring sculpture honoring the bravery of 4 women in the face of Nazi horrors — comes to Fairfield University in July.
The Westport Library offers a companion program. They say:
“In an era of rising division, how do we transform the lessons of the past into a shield for the future? Join us for an exclusive first look at the Shoah Memorial, a landmark project coming to Fairfield that seeks to honor history while actively stemming the tide of hate. Discover how this local initiative aims to make a global impact.”
A special event — postponed from January by snow — is set for this Sunday (April 12, 2 p.m., Trefz Forum
It includes a conversation between Dr. Mindy Hersh and her mother, Judy Hersh, a Holocaust survivor, followed by a panel discussion featuring Shoah Memorial artist Victoria Milstein; Shelly Krieger, the founding educator of the Holocaust Research Center; Holocaust survivor Michell Schell, and Marla Felton of Common Circles.
The Shoah Memorial Fairfield University project began when Paul Burger attended the unveiling of the original “She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots” sculpture in Greensboro, North Carolina. Moved by its powerful message, he decided to bring the memorial to his community, to ensure its broader impact.
Fairfield University is already home to the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, and offers a Judaic Studies program.
Anyone who was at VersoFest — or any other Trefz Forum concert — knows how loud the place gets.
But every once in a while, the volume is turned down.
This Saturday (April 11) is one of those days.
From 1 to 5 p.m., a traditional, tranquil atmosphere will be encouraged library-wide.
Residents can bring their current read, or borrow something new. Find a cozy corner, enjoy some wordless picture books in the Children’s Library, or participate in quiet, all-ages crafting at a build-your-own bookmark station.
The event is part of the Library’s We Read initiative.
================================================
Back to the noisy Library: Supper & Soul returns May 2.
Vanessa Collier — an international touring blues artist — returns also. She played the second Supper & Soul, in in 2018.
The Supper & Soul series, presented by The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Library, returns this spring with Vanessa Collier, an international touring and multi-nominee for Best Blues Artist. Vanessa returns to Westport for an encore Supper & Soul show having played the second one back in 2018.
A $90 ticket to the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event includes a 3-course dinner at one of 11 downtown restaurants, plus the concert.
Participating restaurants are Arezzo, Blondinit, Capuli, Emmy Squared, Finalmente, Il Pastaficio, Massi Co, Nômade, Spotted Horse, Walrus Alley and Yuzo Sushi.
Concert-only tickets are available for $35.
Dinner is at 6 p.m. The show starts at 8. After the concert, a ticket is good for happy hour pricing on drinks at any participating restaurant.
Yesterday’s Easter sunrise service included 3 pastors.
All are new to town. It was the first sunrise service here for all 3.
Pastor Jinho Choi (United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston), Rev. Sophie Beal (Greens Farms Congregational Church) and Rev. Dr. Steven Savides, (Saugatuck Congregational Church) led worship together.
Rick Benson carefully tended the fire. It was definitely not his first sunrise beach service.
From left: Rev. Sophie Beal, Rev. Dr. Stephen Savides, Pastor Jinho Choi.
Former Westporters Kent and Pegi Bernard died, following an automobile accident last May at their second home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Pegi died on impact. She was 73. Kent fought for 10 months before succumbing to his injuries on March 20. He was 75. They were married for 49 years.
Kent moved with his parents to Westport from New York when he was 9. A few years later he was accepted by Juilliard for opera. But allergies sent him on a different path: to Colgate University, and a career in law.
Pegi’s military family moved often. In Virginia, she pursued her equestrian dreams. She was jumping at near Olympic levels, but suffered an ankle injry.
She graduated from the Morven Park International Equestrian Institute in 1973, while also a student at LeMoyne College in New York.
It was less than 40 miles from (then all-male) Colgate. On a trip to LeMoyne, Kent met Pegi.
Kent graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1975. Pegi joined him after she graduated. They were married that August.
In 1980 they, and their young son Adam, moved to Kent’s hometown of Westport.
Kent joined the legal division of Pfizer Inc., and spent his career there. He retired as vice president and assistant general counsel in 2007.
The family was diehard New York Mets fans. Kent and Adam traveled to half the Major League Baseball stadiums.
When Adam began taking martial arts classes, Kent and Pegi joined. They became 3 of the highest ranking black belts in Connecticut.
After Kent retired from Pfizer he joined Fordham University School of Law as an adjunct professor. He spent a decade teaching and mentoring future leaders.
Kent and Pegi supported many charitable organizations. A scholarship at Fairfield College Preparatory School is in the family name, and Pegi was on the advisory board at Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding.
They are survived by their son Adam, and a Norwegian forest cat named Bragi.
And finally … a toast to our Westport Library, which can be both quiet (item above) and loud (VersoFest): Shhhh … boom!
(It’s the start of another week … and that means plenty of “06880” stories, features, photos and more. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
“Primary Trust” — the next Westport Country Playhouse production, about change, friendship, quiet courage and mai tais — opens April 14.
As always, the Playhouse has planned special several events. They include:
Taste of Tuesday (April 14, 6 p.m.): Season ticket holders enjoy snacks, beverages, and casual pre-show conversation.
PRIDE Night (April 16): A pre-show gathering for the LGBTQ+ community.
Opening Night (April 18): A post-show reception, open to all ticket holders.
Sunday Symposium (April 19, after the 3 p.m. matinee): Panel discussion and Q&A about community, isolation and behavioral health with artistic director Mark Shanahan, Rev. Richard Williams of Pivot Ministries, and a representative of Silver Hill Hospital.
Taste of Tuesday Wine Tasting (April 21): Pre-show sampling of wines from The Grapevine, with snacks.
Together at the Table (April 26, $15): Families and groups enjoy a communal pizza lunch and discussion of the play before the matinee show.
(“06880” is your hyper-local blog — weekdays, weekends and holidays, 24/7/365. If you appreciate our efforts, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
