We all love eating at the Compo Beach pavilion. It’s a wonderful spot, with a beautiful view.
So why don’t some people let everyone else enjoy it too?
The crew at Joey’s does a fantastic job cleaning up. But some folks give them more than they can handle.
Oh, yeah. One more thing.
When your umbrella breaks — or you decide you just don’t want it anymore — get rid of it yourself.
Or at least carry it 10 feet to a trash can.
Well, at least no one can take this from us:
We’ve seen the rockets’ red glare. The bombs bursting in air.
We’ve left our beach chairs, tents, flip flops and food in the Compo Beach sand.
But Westport’s Parks and Rec crew is up to the task. They see our garbage, and in a fantastic show of coordination, energy and grit they remove it.
Betsy P. Kahn was up at 6 this morning. She lives on the shore, and took her regular dawn walk. Today, she brought her camera. Here’s what she saw:
Meanwhile, here are 2 more looks back at the night before the morning after:
(All photos/Betsy P. Kahn)
Posted in Beach, Organizations, Westport life
Tagged Betsy P. Kahn, July 4th fireworks, Parks and Recreation Department
It’s our biggest party of the year: the fireworks.
But there’s so much more to Westport’s Greatest Day of the Year than that. Here’s how we kicked off the 4th of July weekend:
This is one very patriotic dog. (Photo/David Squires)
It’s a fireworks tradition: reserve your spots early!
Andrew Colabella and Shelley Welch make a patriotic pair.
These guys — Sam Seideman, Graham Day, Lorenzo Rinaldi, Chris Chamberlin and Kyle Chamberlin — set up a stand on Soundview Drive. They sold food, drinks, necklaces and more — and ran a raffle. Part of the proceeds went to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. That’s the American spirit!
A drum and dance corps from White Plains rehearsed in the parking lot. After donning their uniforms, they wowed the crowd.
“06880” readers know Betsy P. Kahn for her great photos. Here she is with her husband Dan — in front of the Soundview Drive house she photographed for “06880” yesterday.
Connie Anstett is 93 years old. She remembers when the fireworks were shot off by the cannons — and kids watched from the tops of their parents’ station wagons.
Police patrolled on foot, motorcycles — and bikes. Ned Batlin was stopped everywhere by students, who know him from DARE programs and coaching.
Music Theater of Connecticut’s Glee group performed, to the delight of a large crowd near the pavilion.
Daisy Mae offered glitter tattoos and metallic jewelry. For some reason, red, white and blue were popular colors. (Photo/Audrey Hertzel)
This was one of the biggest crowds ever — perhaps 15,000. Not a lot of room to move, but no one cared.
Hooray for the red, white and blue!
Bipartisanship: Democratic Board of Education member Elaine Whitney and Republican Planning & Zoning Commissioner Al Gratrix. (Photo/Martin Gitlin)
And the obligatory fireworks shot! (Photo/Betsy P. Kahn)
It’s a beautiful morning — and the forecast is for great weather most of today.
Westport is awash in red, white and blue — in many shapes and forms.
Bob Weingarten hung this replica flag over the barn door of his house:
Look closely. There are 15 stars and 15 stripes — not 13.
This American flag was used from 1795 to 1818. It was created when 2 new states — Kentucky and Vermont — joined the union.
It’s called the “Star Spangled Banner Flag” because — after being raised above Fort McHenry to celebrate a crucial victory over the British during the War of 1812 — Francis Scott Key was inspired to write our national anthem.
When 5 more states were added to the union, they got stars too. But we went back to 13 stripes, for the original colonies. Today of course our flag has 50 stars, and 13 stripes.
Bob flies the flag over his barn doors because it was originally built in 1805 as a “chaise house.” That meant it housed a chaise — an 1800 coach with a driver and seats. Back in the day, that was a luxury item.
Nearly a century later — in 1900 — this home was built on Soundview Drive:
(Photo/Betsy P. Kahn)
It’s one of the last original beach cottages — and is still in the same family.
Decked out in bunting, it looks beautiful and serene. Tonight thousands of folks will stream by, on their way to the fireworks.
It will be a beautiful night, too!
Posted in Beach, Real estate, Westport life
Tagged "Star Spangled Banner" flag, July 4th, Soundview Drive
Tomorrow is the 3rd of July. Cue the fireworks!
In May, I asked “06880” readers to crowd-source Memorial Day photos. Dozens came in. By early afternoon, I posted a selection. It was a great way to see the parade, through many different eyes.
Let’s do the same tomorrow. As you get ready for the fireworks — picnicking, painting faces red-white-and-blue, playing with sparklers — send your photos (email: dwoog@optonline.net). Deadline: 10 p.m. Please include brief identification if needed, and of course your own name.
I’ll post some (not all!) by early morning.
Be creative! We want special photos, for our special day. Just one request: Go easy on the fireworks photos. No offense, but unless you’re a real pro they all look the same.
It’s not a fireworks celebration without American flag wear…
…or a flag top hat.
The weather was cloudy and chilly. A number of potential guests were home celebrating Ramadan.
But Westport’s 50th annual jUNe Day drew nearly 200 United Nations workers and their families to Westport today.
Assistant Secretary-General Carole Wainaina of Kenya and 1st Selectman Jim Marpe traded welcomes at Saugatuck Elementary School. But this was nothing like a General Assembly meeting.
A little music and a few munchies later, everyone was off: to downtown, Longshore, Compo, Earthplace, Wakeman Town Farm and all points in between.
No translation was needed — beyond the word “fun.”
Flags from around the world replace the Stars and Stripes on jUNe Day. Too bad there was no breeze to flutter them. (Photo/Jim Chillington)
No matter where you’re from, if you’re a little kid it’s all about the food. (Photo/Adam Stolpen)
Visitors from Peru, Spain, Portugal, the Philippines and more enjoyed a tour of Wakeman Town Farm — including an expanded chicken coop, productive beehive, and edible marigolds that protect the gardens from insects. (Photo/Elizabeth Beller)
A pair of Olympians got into the spirit. Bill Steinkraus — brother of jUNe Day founder Ruth Steinkraus Cohen — was an equestrian in 6 Olympics. He won 1 individual gold medal, and 2 silvers and a bronze as a team member. Ann Marie Flynn of Westport was a high jumper in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. (Photo/Adam Stolpen)
For 50 years, Westport soccer teams have taken on their UN counterparts. This trophy is a recent addition to the rivalry. (Photo/Adam Stolpen)
Posted in Beach, Entertainment, Longshore, Organizations
Tagged Ann Marie Flynn, Bill Steinkraus, Carole Wainaina, jUNe Day, Ruth Steinkraus Cohen, United Nations
It’s been a hugely eventful week. The Supreme Court handed down 2 momentous decisions; President Obama delivered a spectacular eulogy.
I’m not sure why, but Betsy P. Kahn’s photo of Compo seems a fitting way to end this emotional Friday:
(Photo/Betsy P. Kahn)
Tuesday’s post-storm clouds sent a lot of Westporters scurrying for their cameras.
Most photos ended up on Facebook or Twitter.
Stephen Wilkes’ found its way to National Geographic — and then to the magazine’s very popular Instagram feed.
(Photo/Stephen Wilkes)
Alert “06880” reader Danielle Dobin spotted it, and sent it to “06880.”
“Natgeo” included Wilkes’ comment: “I was fortunate to see this remarkable sunset from Compo beach, after days of summer storms.” It included the hashtags iPhoneonly, CompoBeach, Connecticut, surreal, clouds, color — and skyporn.
In just 2 hours it’s garnered 167,000 likes, and over 1,150 comments. Most are along the lines of “awesome.” One person called it “weird.” Another said, “where we got married!!”
A woman wrote, “I want to go there.”
The comments came from around the globe. One person said “Lijkt beetje op jouw lucht,” which Google Translate changed from Dutch to “Seems little air on you.”
That’s not as weird as this comment — 刚刚在他家买了一只沛纳海 很牛逼 大家要买表找他，最靠谱的卖家 朋友圈都有标价 — which Google Translate believes says “He just bought a house very fast hardware you buy a Panerai watch to find him, the most likely price the seller has a circle of friends.”
On the other hand, “06880” readers don’t need a translator to look at Stephen Wilkes’ image and say, “that’s our Compo!”
Posted in Arts, Beach, Environment, Media, People
Tagged Compo Beach, Instagram, National Geographic, Stephen Wilkes
This Saturday (June 27), Westport marks its 50th jUNe Day.
For half a century on the last Saturday of June, we’ve welcomed guests from the UN. Lawyers, staff members, security guards — they and their families come here for a full day of sports, beach-going, shopping and fun.
You’d think the organizers would go all out to celebrate 50 years. They’d plan great new activities. Shoot off fireworks. Bring Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to town for a ceremonial something.
Not gonna happen.
Longshore is a favorite destination for jUNe Day guests. (Photo/Carroll Hubbard)
In keeping with the theme of jUNe Day — a low-key chance for UN workers to get out of the city, and Westport to show off its beauty and hospitality — the event will consist of the usual: a brief hello at Saugatuck Elementary School (10:30 a.m.), then the rest of the day filled with soccer, tennis and golf; tours of Earthplace, the Westport Historical Society, downtown and the Westport Arts Center — and of course, Compo Beach.
Okay, the welcome ceremony will include Senator Richard Blumenthal and recent UN special coordinator for the Ebola risis Tony Banbury. But Banbury lives in Westport. And Blumenthal shows up anywhere there’s a camera.
Children of UN staffers enjoy Wakeman Town Farm. Many UN families seldom leave New York, jUNe Day organizers note. (Photo/Carroll Hubbard)
For all the joy, fun and relaxation it brings more than 300 UN folks and their families, jUNe Day is organized by a tiny group. Just a few core volunteers plan everything. (UN, and every other governmental organization: Take note!)
Michaela MacColl got involved 15 years ago, at the invitation of jUNe Day founder Ruth Steinkraus Cohen. MacColl — whose day job is children’s author — liked what she saw. When Steinkraus Cohen died, MacColl took over.
“I love Westport, but sometimes I’m frustrated by the homogeneity,” MacColl — a 20-year resident — says. “For one day, things are different.” Last year, 35 countries were represented at jUNe Day. (Their flags are the ones you’ll see flying on the appropriately named Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge this Saturday.)
On jUNe Day, the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge brims with flags from around the world. (Photo/Jeff Simon)
“It’s always nice to see people gob-smacked by Westport’s beauty,” MacColl says. “But they also meet very kind people here. Westporters really like showing off the town, and they help out in any way they can.”
Local businesses do too. Most of the food is donated by area businesses. (The kitchen is run by a teenager, William Amon.)
Little things stand out. A Syrian family is always the first to arrive, MacColl says. They’ve come every year since their son was born. He’s 20 now.
The weather is usually fantastic. One year though, it rained hard. A Filipino man came, with 2 small children. He told MacColl he’d considered staying in New York. But when he thought about how much work Westport put into the event, he realized he had to be here.
Fifty years is indeed a great achievement. But you won’t see or hear jUNe Day organizers boasting about it on Saturday.
They’ll be too busy helping 300 guests, from all over the globe.
(Volunteers are always needed. To help, contact Andrea Dostal: 203-526-3275; andreasusa@yahoo.com. For more information, contact Michaela MacColl at 203-227-9461, or Bill Hass at 203-454-7685.)
Mark your calendar: Thursday, July 16 (6 p.m.). That’s the date of the 3rd annual “06880” party.
Last year’s event was a great success. It was a true community gathering — a chance to meet and mingle with the diverse “06880” community (both online and real).
This year’s party will be even better. The 3rd time’s the charm, and all that.
We’ll gather at Compo Beach — the alcohol-is-okay end. Bring your own food, beverages, beach chairs and blankets. Like the website, “06880” simply provides space to get together, have a good time, chat, laugh, and of course bitch.
We expect a big turnout at our “06880” party on July 16Sa.
There’s no charge. It’s a “fun-raiser,” not a fundraiser.
The “06880” tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.” We call this party “where ‘06880’ meets each other.”
PS: We picked a Thursday because the beach is not as crowded as on weekends. As alert readers know, “06880” does not believe in reserving tables.
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