Burger King is long gone from Westport. (Spoiler alert: It’s the Starbucks drive-thru.)
But now Matthew Mandell can call himself our new Burger King.
As executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, he oversees events like The Great Burger Contest. Twenty restaurants competed, in 7 categories.
But Matthew didn’t just sit in his office. He went whole hog.
He visited all 20 restaurants, during the 31 days of March. He ate a burger at every one (and tons of fries, too).
Matthew Mandell: 20 burgers in 31 days.
Voting ended at midnight last night. Results will be announced soon.
We’ll also announce how Matthew is feeling.
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Jay Norris is a busy man.
The Westport resident is co-founder and CEO of Guesst, the real estate and restaurant leasing software platform. He also co-founded BlackLight, the world’s first search engine for Black-owned businesses nationwide.
In addition, he helped start Startup Westport, the public/private partnership whose goal is to make our town the tech entrepreneurial capital of Connecticut. He founded Westport10, the social and networking organization for Black men and their families.
And he’s a board member of both the Westport Library, and the Westport Weston Family YMCA. Oh, yeah: He also volunteers as a mentor with A Better Chance of Westport.
Now he’s added a new gig.
Jay was just named co-chair of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Focusing on innovation and technology, he’ll work to connect tech leaders in New York, and help them come up with solutions for the city and their small-to-medium- sized businesses.
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Sergeant Dan Paz, Corporal Craig Bergamo and Officer Dominique Carr represented the Westport Police Department yesterday, at the Long Island funeral of Jonathan Diller.
The New York Police Department officer was killed Monday, during a traffic stop in Queens.
The trio helped with the escort, in Massapequa Park.
More than 200 police motorcycles, and thousands of officers from around the country, attended the service.
“It really hits home for the officers working the road, and their families, any time an officer is killed,” says Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
“But even more so when it’s so close to home. We are very fortunate to have the unwavering support of our community.”
Dan Paz, Dominique Carr and Craig Bergamo, at Jonathan Diller’s funeral yesterday.
Westport’s Lighthouse Church children’s choir kicked off Easter weekend yesterday with a double dose of joy.
They sang for seniors and nursing home staff at Cambridge Health & Rehabilitation Center in Fairfield, and Northbridge Healthcare Center in Bridgeport.
But the egg hunt fun continues next Saturday (April 6). At 10:30 a.m., the Westport Book Shop hosts kids and families on Jesup Green, across the street from their popular store.
In addition to eggs, there’s a reading and signing by children’s author Diana Blau, face painting and snacks.
Reserve a spot by email (bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org) or phone (203-349-5141).
Later in the month (April 25, 6 p.m.), the Book Shop’s Short Story Book Club discusses 2 short stories about parent-child relationships, and parents’ aspirations for their children.
They’re “Rules of The Game” by Amy Tan (originally part of her novel “The Joy Luck Club”) and “I Stand Here Ironing.” Copies of the stories are online, and included in many short story compilations.
Space is limited. Email bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org, or call 203-349-5141.
The Westport Book Shop hosts events inside, and on Jesup Green.
This fall, the state’s public television channel will air television premieres of two short films produced by the 1971 Staples High School graduate.
“The High School That Rocked!” explored the magical years when great bands — the Doors, Yardbirds, Cream, Rascals, Remains and more — played at Staples.
The award-winning film was the only documentary short selected to screen at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Film Series in 2018.
Cantor’s latest documentary, “It’s a Hollywood Life!,” focuses on longtime Westport resident Susan Granger’s 80-plus years connected to the movie business.
But you don’t have to wait until fall for that one. The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival screens the Hollywood film May 18. Immediately after, there’s a Q-and-A with Granger, Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon, and the directors. Click here for tickets.
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In the 13 months ending in February 2024, President Biden raised $3.17 million in individual contributions from Connecticut residents. Donald Trump brought in $1.4 million.
But, CT Mirror reports, Trump leads in the number of individuals who donated since last April: 31,708 to 5,925.
Westport is one of only 2 Fairfield County towns in which Biden drew more individual donations than Trump: 188 to 99. The other town is Sherman (10 to 2).
Click here for the full story, including an interactive map.
Donation map, showing which candidate had more donations in each Connecticut town. Biden is blue, Trump is red.
Just in time for Easter, the full soundtrack for “Dante: Inferno to Paradise, Part 2: Resurrection” is available for streaming.
Emmy- and Grammy-winning composer (and Staples High School Class of 1971 graduate) Brian Keane scored the music — his latest success, in a wide-ranging career of writing, producing and recording.
Matthew Modine (“Oppenheimer,” “Full Metal Jacket”) will be at the Westport Library for a free screening of his new documentary, “Downwind” (April 11, 6:30 p.m.)
He’ll be joined by his producing partner, Adam Rackoff. They’ll discuss the movie afterward, then answer audience questions.
“Downwind” tells the story of what happened after the events depicted in “Oppenheimer.” It focuses on Mercury, Nevada, the testing site for 928 large-scale nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992.
Featuring members of the Shoshone Nation and many others affected by the radioactive fallout from those tests, the documentary “uncovers the US government’s disregard for everyone and everything living ‘downwind.’”
“Downwind” currently holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Dr. Alice Paul was one of the early 20th century’s most prominent women’s rights activists.
She was one of the keys to the passage of the 19th Amendment, and in 1923 introduced the Equal Rights Amendment.
Dr. Paul was a 40-year resident of Ridgefield.
On April 13 (2 p.m.), the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport hosts a talk with Darla Shaw, who worked with Dr. Paul for many years, here in Fairfield County. The public is invited.
Last year’s 1st-ever National Drinking with Chickens Day was such a success, Wakeman Town Farm is bringing it back.
Next months event (May 23, 6:30 p.m.) features live music by Luke Molina, light bite including pizza by Tony Napolitano, craft cocktails by mixxed.by.ed, and guest appearances by the WTF flock.
Tickets to the hen party are $100 each. Click here to register … then shake a tail feather.
Bobbi Essagof spotted this dove — today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature — on her Saugatuck Avenue deck.
“Peace ahead?” she wonders.
From her lips to …
(Photo/Bobbi Essagof)
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And finally … speaking of chickens (see story) above:
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Billie Jean and Roger enjoy Compo Beach : romping, seeing their canine friends, soaking up the sun. They’ve got just 2 more days of fun, though. New rules are in affect Monday (April 1) through September 30. (Photo/Nancy Lally)
A great new summer event has just been added to Westport’s calendar.
On Sunday, July 28, Soundview Drive will be closed to vehicles. The beach exit road will turn into a street fair, with live music, kids’ activities (face painting, balloon artists, etc.), food, fun and more.
The first annual “Soundview Summer Stroll” is a collaboration between “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association.
We’re throwing a party. And the entire town is invited!
The idea came from the July 4th fireworks, when vehicular traffic is prohibited starting in late afternoon.
“06880” wondered: Why not celebrate summer the same way another day too?
Compo residents Sunil Hirani and Kristin Mott Purcell loved the concept, and got the ball rolling. The Parks & Recreation Department and Police offered their insights and ideas.
Yesterday morning, the Board of Selectwomen approved the idea unanimously.
More details will be announced soon. For now: Get ready to stroll!
Soundview Drive before the fireworks. On July 28, it will again be closed to traffic, for the “Summer Stroll.” (Photo/Diane Yormark)
It’s May 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Jesup Green). In addition to home-grown perennials, native plants, vegetables and herbs, there are Mother’s Day garden-themed gifts, creative planters, baked goods and fresh bouquets.
Last year, the Garden Club moved the long-running event from Friday to Saturday. That drew a whole new crowd of families.
This is the 100th anniversary of the Westport Garden Club. It’s also the “Year of the Peony,” so there will be plenty of those flowers for sale too.
The state Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting April 16 (7 p.m.), to provide information on the proposed rehabilitation of the Saugatuck railroad bridge.
Work would include the mechanical and electrical systems responsible for lifting and lowering the span. Construction is expected to begin the fall of 2025.
Dartmouth College just received a huge gift: $150 million, from the estate of Glenn Britt. The former president and CEO of Time Warner Cable died in 2014; his wife Barbara passed away last year.
Both lived for many years on Long Lots Road, in the house once owned by Harry Reasoner — and before that, Nat and Lee Greenberg (who rented it one year to Elizabeth Taylor). In Westport, the Britts were very generous supporters of Earthplace.
The bequest — the largest dedicated entirely to scholarship in Dartmouth’s history — will enable it to raise its annual family income threshold for a “zero parent contribution” for undergraduates from $65,000 to $125,000, Forbes says.
Glenn Britt graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth, with a degree in economics. He also received an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
About 350 undergraduates will receive the new Britt Scholarships. Click here for the full Forbes story. (Hat tip: Joan Gillman)
Glenn Britt
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“Burst-Goldtop Believers” — a Facebook group dedicated to guitar aficionados — celebrated yesterday’s 56th anniversary of Cream’s Staples High School concert with this post about Eric Clapton (he was playing a Goldtop).
Comments ranged from “the guitar is a 56 because of that bridge” to “Westport, where?”
Eric Clapton with Cream, at Staples: March 27, 1968.
Elsewhere on Facebook — “Remembering Concerts at the Pinecrest & Other Fairfield County venues” — Matthew Mandell spotted this post:
For more on that concert — and many other bands that played at Staples in the 1960s and ’70s — click here.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between March 20 and 27.
A man was charged with violation of a protective order, following a domestic disturbance.
Another man was arrested for disorderly conduct, following a domestic disturbance in which the victim was pushed, striking their head on a radiator.
A man was charged with larceny, after a shoplifting complaint from HomeGoods.
“06880” previously reported the arrest of a man for reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, resisting arrest, burglary and larceny, and conspiracy to commit burglary and larceny, following a motor vehicle theft in the Compo Beach area. Two juveniles were also involved in that incident.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Traveling unreasonably fast: 9 citations
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 4
Failure to obey state traffic control signals: 3
Speeding: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Failure to display lights: 1
Failure to return license plates: 1
Failure to renew registration: 1
Larceny: 1
Possession of a vicious dog: 1
Possession of a vicious dog is a misdemeanor. Angela Simpson’s print does not show a vicious dog.
Speaking of guitarists: Unforeseen circumstances have forced the postponement of Jon Gailmor’s songwriting workshop at the Weston History & Culture Center.
Jon sends his regrets to young musicians in the area, and hopes to reschedule soon.
A few spots remain for La Plage’s 3-course prix fixe Easter menu.
Click here for the menu. The price is $95 per person, $55 for young adults. Reservations are required: 203-684-6232.
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Former Westporter David Feliciano died earlier this month in Florida. He was 75, and had been in hospice care.
The native of Puerto Rico had a career in law enforcement.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years Lorraine, and son Brian; sister Claire Beam; grandchildren Amanda (Hamilton) and Christopher, and great-grandchild Carter. He was predeceased by his grandson David.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Naples, Florida on April 3 (10 a.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
David Feliciano
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The birds are back!
This one took a rest from building a nest in one of Laurie Sorensen’s trees, to pose for a “Westport … Naturally” photo:
One of the best things about Westport is the Parks & Recreation Department amenities.
And one of the best things about spring is the chance to get outside and enjoy them.
Here is just a sampling of what Parks & Rec offers:
Longshore Golf Course:
The course opens Monday, April 1 (no fooling — and of “course,” weather permitting). To book a tee time, click here.
18th hole. (Drone photo/John Videler for VidelerPhotography.com)
Beach parking stickers: Vehicle parking emblems are required for all town beaches beginning May 1. They can be purchased online, or at the Parks & Recreation office (at Longshore, near the golf course 1st tee) weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
(Photo/Mark Marcus)
Dogs at town beaches:
Animals are not allowed at Compo, Old Mill or Burying Hill beaches, in or out of vehicles, from April 1 through September 30.
Soon to be a scene of the past (for a while). (Photo/Nicola Sharian)
Compo Beach playground renovation project: The Compo Beach Playground Committee, led by the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Young Woman’s League, will renovate the iconic structure.
They’ll present a proposed plan to the Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday, March 27 (7:30 p.m., Zoom). Click here for information.
Compo Beach playground.
Annual Clean-Up Day:
Westport Parks & Recreation’s Annual Clean-Up Day is set for Saturday, April 27. Past participants will receive invitations this coming week.
If you or your civic group have not participated in the past but want to get involved, email jboone@westportct.gov
Parks and Recreation Programs: Some spaces are available in spring and summer programs. Click here for information.
Boating:
Residents who have a slip at a town marina may bring their boats in starting April 1. If you need assistance docking, contact the dockmaster on VHF channel 11 or by calling 203-341-1062. Boaters must send a copy of this year’s boat registration to Rick Giunta (email rgiunta@westportct.gov, or deliver to the Parks & Rec office at Longshore, near the 1st tee).
Dry stall assignees:
Dry stall decals will be mailed to you before May 1. Place the decal on your vessel where it can be seen by staff. Dry stall vessels may be placed on storage racks beginning May 1. Any vessel stored before May 1 will be removed, and may be auctioned off.
If you’re interested in a place to store your kayak, sunfish, paddleboard or other small boat for the summer season, click here for a dry stall application. Wait times are 1-2 years.
Kayaks at Compo Beach. (Photo/Eric Bosch)
Animals on town athletic fields, playgrounds, beaches and Longshore Golf Course:
Animals are prohibited from all athletic fields and playgrounds at any time, including the Longshore golf course. Animals are prohibited from town beaches from April 1 through September 30.
Dogs at Wakeman Field. (Photo/Marc Katz)
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