Category Archives: Categories

Decoding Hate And Bias On Social Media — With A Twist For Teens

Posted on April 10, 2026 | 2 comments

“06880” readers are bright people.

We know that our social media feeds are manipulated by algorithms. The stories, videos, images, ads and clickable links I see are different than yours.

We know we are getting a skewed view of the world — one that reinforces what we already believe, and separates us further from those who believe differently.

We know all that. But — as we scroll, click and scroll again, endlessly and mindlessly — we seldom think about what those seemingly ordinary posts mean to our lives.

We think of social media as a galaxy of free speech.

In reality, it’s a universe of hate speech.

Dr. Matthias Becker has spent years studying those ideas. He just finished a $3 million-plus research grant on antisemitism, and wrote a book about it.

Dr. Matthias Becker

In his new position at New York University as the Address Hate Research Scholar, he is exploring digital hate, implicit communication, and the social impact of AI-driven platforms.

He regularly advises governments and tech companies on ways to mitigate online hatred.

On April 21 (7 p.m., Westport Library), Dr. Becker brings his research and insights to Westport.

“Decoding Bias & Hate on Social Media” is the next in a series of Common Ground Initiative programs. CGI hosts positive conversations on how to encourage respectful, constructive dialogue, and tackle challenging issues.

Dr. Becker is an engaging, thoughtful speaker. His insights are relevant to anyone on social media — in other words, everyone.

But they’re especially important for young people, who gobble up social media constantly, and may be less cognizant of what they see and why. The hate speech they see online — not always identifiable as such — can have an especially pernicious effect on developing minds.

So as part of the April 21 event, the Common Ground Initiative is sponsoring a “Decode Hate Video Challenge.”

Students throughout Fairfield County are invited to meet with Dr. Becker at 6 p.m. Over pizza, they’ll learn about explicit and cover hate and bias online — from obvious slurs to hidden memes.

At 7, they’ll listen to his talk. Then, they’re challenged to make a 1- to 2-minute video, showing any kind of hate, bias or manipulation online.

It can be related to sports, music, movies, pop culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, misogyny — or anything else. The video should be personal, and include ideas on what people or platforms might do differently.

The deadline is May 15. On May 28 the top 5 videos will be judged by a VIP panel — for cash prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500.

“Hate doesn’t announce itself,” Dr. Becker says. “Neither does the AI that’s spreading it.

“Most of what circulates online doesn’t look like the crude hatred of decades past. It look like irony, insinuation, strategic ambiguity — ideas traveling in plain sight, just below the threshold of what most people would call extreme.

“The distinction between free speech and hate speech matters enormously here. And it’s precisely this coded, ambiguous nature of modern hate that makes drawing that line so difficult, and so consequential.

“That also makes these expressions extraordinarily hard to detect, for humans and AI systems alike.”

Dr. Becker’s research addresses 3 elements of the problem: “coordinated bad actors who deliberately exploit divisive issues, and manufacture disinformation at scale”; platform algorithms that reward outrage and amplify emotionally charged content, and elements of online communication itself — anonymity, mutual reinforcement, constant exposure to extremity — that “turn ordinary users into unwitting amplifiers of hate.”

An even deeper problem, Dr. Becker says: “Most public debate about AI and hate focuses on what AI produces — offensive outputs, extremist content.

“That’s real. But it’s downstream of a harder issue: what AI absorbs.

“Every major model shows consistent bias toward hateful associations — not because engineers are hateful, but because models were trained on centuries of human text in which those associations are already embedded.

“You can add guardrails. The underlying associations remain.”

(“Decoding Bias & Hate on Social Media” is free. Click here for more information, and to register.)

(“06880” covers upcoming events, technology, cultural trends — and, like today, their intersection. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Library, Politics, technology

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[OPINION] Explaining The Cribari Bridge Process

Posted on March 24, 2026 | 3 comments

As a Bridge Street resident, Werner Liepolt has followed the Cribari Bridge project closely. He writes:

Many people in Westport wonder: Could this project change the kind of traffic that moves through our neighborhood — especially trucks?

It’s a legitimate question. And it’s more important than it might seem, because the answer is not just a matter of opinion or preference. It is supposed to be part of a federal review process.

Westport has been here before. From the construction of I-95 to earlier debates over the bridge itself, residents have long wrestled with how large infrastructure decisions affect the character of their neighborhoods. Past leaders have emphasized the importance of seeing full information and hearing public input before major decisions are made.

The Cribari Bridge. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

That expectation — that process should be clear, transparent and responsive — remains just as important today.

Four key groups are involved in the process.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) designs the project and prepares the Environmental Assessment, and identifies potential impacts (traffic, right-of-way, neighborhood effects).

The State Historic Preservation Office reviews impacts on historic properties and districts, and participates in Section 106 consultation.

The Federal Highway Administration ensures compliance with federal law; oversees environmental and public review, and must consider and respond to public comments before decisions are made.

The public (residents and consulting parties) provides comments and local knowledge; raises concerns, and becomes part of the official record agencies must consider.

Each of these roles matters. The process works best when every part is carried out fully and transparently.

One way to make sense of the process is to translate the terminology into plain language.

A federal law (the National Environmental Policy Act)requires that before a project is approved, agencies must look carefully not just at what will be built, but at what may change because it is built.

That includes traffic patterns, safety, noise, and how a place is experienced over time.

So when residents ask whether a new bridge might change traffic — possibly including truck patterns — that is not outside the process. It  is the kind of question the process is supposed to answer.

When there is an issue on I-95, traffic backs up on Bridge Street. (Photo/Werner Liepolt)

At the March 19 public hearing, another issue brought the question of process into sharper focus.

It surprised many to hear that approximately 10 properties and a dock may be affected by right-of-way acquisition. Yet no map or specific identification of those properties was presented.

Moments like that can be unsettling — not because projects never have impacts, but because understanding those impacts is essential to meaningful public participation.

When information emerges late or without clear context, residents may wonder whether they are seeing the full picture, or how their own property or neighborhood might be affected.

That too is part of what the review process is intended to address: ensuring that potential impacts are clearly identified and available for public understanding before decisions are finalized.

Because Cribari sits within the Bridge Street Historic District, another federal requirement also applies: Section 106.

Bridge Street is part of a Historic District.

This part of the process asks a different but related question: How might a project affect not just a structure, but the character of a historic place?

To answer that, agencies define an Area of Potential Effects — the area where the project could reasonably have an impact.

If a project could change traffic patterns beyond the immediate footprint of the bridge, it is reasonable to ask whether the area being studied should also be broader.

If right-of-way acquisition is under consideration, it may also be appropriate to consider whether those properties should be clearly identified and included in the analysis.

There is also a sequence to how these decisions are supposed to be made. The process is not decide → build → address concerns later.

Instead, it is meant to proceed in this order:

  1. Avoid impacts where possible.
  2. Minimize impacts where they cannot be avoided.
  3. Mitigate impacts as a last step.

If that sounds like common sense, it is. It is also federal regulation.

At a December 18 meeting, discussion appeared to move quickly toward potential mitigation measures associated with a replacement bridge. Options such as relocating the existing structure were raised, and demolition was referenced as an alternative.

While mitigation is an important part of the process, it is intended to follow a full consideration of ways to avoid or minimize impacts. When the conversation centers on mitigation before those earlier steps are clearly resolved, it can give the impression that key outcomes are already taking shape, rather than remaining open to evaluation.

The Cribari Bridge is 143 years old. (Photo/Robbie Guimond)

A petition requesting federal oversight of this process has gathered about 1,500 signatures in a matter of weeks.

The purpose of that petition is sometimes misunderstood. It is not asking that a particular outcome be imposed, nor is it opposing infrastructure improvement.

Rather, it reflects a shared concern that potential impacts — especially those that extend beyond the bridge itself — be fully and transparently evaluated before decisions are made.

It is a request that the existing federal review process be applied as intended.

As the Cribari Bridge project has evolved, the design has become more defined and more aligned with current engineering standards. That is a natural and expected part of any infrastructure project.

At the same time, some residents are asking whether the analysis of potential impacts — particularly indirect effects like changes in traffic — has evolved at the same pace.

That is not an argument against the project. It is a question about whether the process is keeping up with the project.

It is also understandable that some residents feel the process can be difficult to follow, or that decisions may be moving ahead of public understanding.

At the beginning of the March 19 public comment session, attendees were directed to provide comments at tables for transcription. As the session unfolded, speakers instead came forward to the podium to offer comments directly.

Moments like this can add to uncertainty about how best to participate. Clarity in how public input is received is an important part of ensuring that residents feel their voices are heard — and that their comments become part of the official record.

The public comment period exists for exactly this reason. It is one of the few points at which residents can ask that questions be fully addressed before decisions are finalized, rather than after.

Home page of the Connecticut Department of Transportation Cribari Bridge website.

The comments residents submit become part of the official record that federal agencies are required to review and respond to.

That is how the process is designed to work. It works best when people use it.

You do not need to master the terminology, and you do not need to agree with your neighbor on every point.

But if you are concerned about how this project could affect traffic, safety or the character of the neighborhood, there is a simple and meaningful way to participate: Ask that the impacts be fully studied before decisions are made.

Even a short, clear and respectful comment helps ensure that those concerns are considered as part of the process. Comments become part of the official record that federal agencies must review and respond to before moving forward

In the end, this is not only about a bridge. It is about how decisions are made, how places are understood, and how communities participate in shaping what comes next.

That participation does not require expertise — only a willingness to ask the right questions at the right time.

Public comment on the Cribari Bridge project (#0158-0214) is open through April 17. Comments can be made online (click here); by email (James.Barrows@ct.gov); voicemail (860-594-2020), or mail (James Barrows, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131).

To learn more about the Cribari Bridge project, click here.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Hoop Dreams

Posted on March 23, 2026 | 6 comments

Wow. Wow. JUST WOW!

Three “wow”s don’t do justice to the triple-overtime loss the Staples boys basketball team endured Saturday night, in the Division I state championship game at Mohegan Sun.

The defeat — the first 3-OT contest in Connecticut final history — ended the Wreckers’ quest for a perfect (27-0) season.

And for their first state hoops crown since 1937, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the White House. (Also, 9 years before the founding of the National Basketball Association.)

(Graphic courtesy of @Staplesboysbasketball Instagram)

But the sting of that loss — a game in which Staples camethisclose near the end of regulation time, and all 3 overtimes — should not take away from what coach Dave Goldshore’s squad accomplished, all year long.

They inspired our entire town. The stands were packed with classmates, many of whom stood inches from the sideline, cheering on the gritty Wreckers.

On the other side of the gym were dozens of younger players. They cheered raucously, stomped their feet, and asked their heroes for autographs.

Cheering Staples on, all season long. (Photo courtesy of @Staplessuperfans Instagram)

At the end of the marathon at Mohegan Sun, they — like those heroes — were in tears.

It was a bitter, Hollywood-style ending, for a Hollywood-esque year.

I had the privilege of serving as the team’s PA announcer. I had a front-row, courtside seat as the squad enjoyed a season unlike any other in the century that Staples has had a basketball team.

Over the past 4 years, Goldshore molded the team in his image. They battled for everything: every tipoff, every loose ball, every pass.

They played smothering defense. They shot the lights out.

Most importantly, they did it together.

One of the top scorers in Staples history, Sam Clachko, regularly dished off assists to teammates. All 5 starters scored in nearly equal measure; each game, it seemed, someone different had the most.

When a sub took the floor, support from teammates was as loud as if — well, a triple-overtime title was on the line.

And wow, were they resilient. That quality was apparent to all at Mohegan Sun Saturday. Four times — at the end of regulation time, and in all 3 overtimes — Staples battled back from deficits, with talent, grit, composure, and a palpable belief in themselves, and each other.

When it was all over — when the last shots did not go in, when the final buzzer sounded, when the Blue Devils celebrated their hard-earned victory — the feeling of emptiness must have been brutal.

Anyone who has been in a game like that — in any sport, at any level — knows what it’s like.

The boys — “young men” is a better term — on the Staples basketball team dedicated everything to their quest.

For some, it began even before their 4 years in high school. For all, it was an all-consuming journey, beginning the moment last season ended, continuing through the spring, summer and fall, and roaring into high gear the day tryouts began in November.

It will take a while for the sting to ease. It will be tough to hear well-meaning parents and friends say, “What a tough loss.”

What will be toughest is knowing that — from the moment West Haven celebrated wildly — never again will this group share practices, shootarounds, games, bus rides, pregame meals, and everything else that makes a sports season special — with their best friends in the world.

That’s the essence of sports. It makes the joy even sweeter when you win, and more agonizing when you lose.

Coach Dave Goldshore, and the Wreckers.

The Staples boys basketball team lost Saturday night.

But that was only on the scoreboard.

What they’ve won — in memories, in life lessons learned, in the magic they brought the town, all season long — will live on long after they leave the gym.

Thank you, coach Goldshore.

Thank you, Jared Sale, Austin Heyer, Mason Tobias, Jack Jacob, Dhilan Lowman, Sam Clachko, Henry Veislid, Matty Corrigan, Drew Hill and Oliver Vynerib, Gavin Mayr, Aaron Schorr, Ryan Marcus, Declan Jandora and Declan Mayr.

You won our hearts, with your heart.

You are our champions.

Celebrating, after a second straight FCIAC (league) championship. (All photos courtesy of Staples boys basketball, unless otherwise noted)

OVERTIME: Coach Dave Goldshore told The Ruden Report: “Being part of one of the greatest high school basketball games in the state of Connecticut history is special.

“The kids just battled. They battled and sometimes things don’t go your way. The world judges you sometimes on results, but I judge this team on their process. I judge this team on their heart. I judge this team on their ability to be resilient. That’s what the heart of a champion is.”

“Tonight was my favorite part of the season Under incredible pressure and incredible adversity, they showered incredible commitment. Sometimes the results don’t go your way, but the toughness never goes away.”

Staples (far side, white uniforms). The thrill and memories of playing at Mohegan Sun will last a lifetime. (Photo/Diane Lowman)

DOUBLE OVERTIME: Click here or below for highlights from the game. It begins with a short clip of Staples senior Demeil Betfarhad, who gave a stirring rendition of the national anthem.

(“06880” covers high school sports — and much, much more — and often goes behind the scenes to tell our stories. If you appreciate posts like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Sports, Staples HS

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Photo Challenge #586

Posted on March 22, 2026 | 7 comments

There was an added mystery to last week’s Photo Challenge.

In addition to guessing where in Westport the image was — the date “1806,” carved in concrete set in a red brick building — readers tried to figure out why it was there.

The structure — the Bank of America branch on Post Road East, next to Design Within Reach (the old post office) — clearly does not date from the early 19th century. (Click here to see.)

Ed Davis — one of 5 readers who correctly guessed the site — has what sounds like a plausible answer:

Didn’t that building used to house Connecticut National Bank in the 1960s-1970s? According to Google, CNB used to the the Bridgeport Bank, which was founded in 1806. Maybe it is to commemorate the founding of the bank (and not the building).

Mystery solved! (Perhaps.)

Congrats to historical sleuth Ed, along with Pat Saviano, Morley Boyd, Lynn Untermeyer Miller and Seth Schachter. You can bank on them to know many answers.

This week’s Photo Challenge  doubles as a really nice image of Westport.

If you know where you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/John Maloney)

(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Local business, Photo Challenge

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Online Art Gallery #309

Posted on March 14, 2026 | 1 comment

From the Cribari Bridge in Westport to a Buddhist temple in Asia, this week’s online art gallery once again spans the world.

It also covers a wide variety of mediums, styles and themes.

Please join us — not only as a gallery-goer, but an artist.

As always, we invite you to be part of next week’s exhibition. No matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.

Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.

“Cribari” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)

“Into the Woods” — leather hot tool drawing (Dorothy Robertshaw — Available for purchase; click here)

“Dave Playing Cream’s 1968 ‘Crossroads'” — watercolor (Eric Bosch)

Untitled — collage (Lauri Weiser)

“Metamorphosis” (Ava Rock — age 14, One River Art student)

“New National Bird” (Mark Yurkiw — Available for purchase; click here)

“Spaghetti” — oil on canvas, 32 x 32 (H. Schoelhammer — Available for purchase; click here)

“FarmaCity” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)

“Artistic Candles” (John Maloney)

“Walkabout” — acrylic on original metal sign (Jerry Kuyper)

“Pelagic Reverie” (Nancy Breakstone — Available for purchase; click here)

“Buddhism is Well Rooted in Many Countries” (Mike Hibbard)

“Good Housekeeping Seal” (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)

“Sketching” — watercolor (Steve Stein)

“Eminence Gris” (Lawrence Weisman)

“Drawing of Aphrodite’s Bust” — pencil on paper (Bill Fellah)

 

(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)

 

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Posted in Categories

“06880” Turns 17. Thank You, Readers!

Posted on March 2, 2026 | 11 comments

This week, “06880” turns 17 years old.

Whether you remember that first post or discovered us yesterday, we hope you enjoy our 5 a.m. lead story; the morning Roundup and evening Pic of the Day; features like Unsung Heroes, Friday Flashback, online art gallery and Photo Challenge, plus breaking news and much more, throughout the day.

“06880” is your 24/7/365 hyper-local, full-service blog. We haven’t missed a day since we began, way back in 2009.

Here’s an important question: How much do you pay for this service?

From the beginning, “06880” has followed the NPR model. We rely on your support, at whatever level you feel comfortable. (Click here to skip the rest of this appeal, and contribute directly.)

Some readers pay $50, $100 or $365 a year. A few pay more.

Some contribute $10, $20 or $30 a month.

Several “06880” readers donate through personal foundations. Others give matching grants, through their employers.

The vast majority of readers, though, give nothing.

They read “06880” every day. They love it. But for whatever reason — forgetfulness, not realizing our funding model, the thrill of getting something for nothing — they don’t contribute to Westport’s most popular source of news, events, features, profiles, history, and bad parking jobs.

Reader support allows “06880” to survive and thrive. It pays for internet hosting, computer software and IT help, insurance, freelancers — and the salary of the founder and executive editor, yours truly.

I’m 17. Well, my blog is, anyway. (Photo/Pam Einarsen)

“06880” is a labor of love. For 17 years I’ve researched, written, edited, taken and cropped photos, monitored the comments section, and answered your emails.

Along the way I’ve posted over 20,200 stories. I’ve publicized your organizations and fundraisers; helped you through blizzards and hurricanes; written about you and your kids; made you smile, cry, think and act.

With “06880”‘s growth, this is now my full-time, 8- to 10-hour-a-day, 7 days a week job.

So whether you’re a loyal supporter (thank you so much!), an occasional contributor (ditto!), or one who (ahem) prefers to spend all your money elsewhere — thanks for reading this far.

This is our annual fundraising appeal. Now just read a little bit further, to learn how to contribute to your favorite — and several times daily — hyper-local blog.

As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, we offer tax-deductibility to the extent allowed by law. In addition to individual contributions, we can accept corporate matching funds, and foundation grants.

You can donate by PayPal or credit card: click here. It’s easy, safe — and you don’t even need a PayPal account. 

Checks can be mailed to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881.

We’re also on Venmo: @blog06880

You can even scan this QR code:

Whichever method you choose: Thank you!

And tomorrow we go back to our regular programming.

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Posted in Categories, Media, Westport life

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Karen Giblin: Westport’s New Red Hot Mama

Posted on February 19, 2026 | 3 comments

When Karen Giblin was in her 6th year as Ridgefield’s first selectwoman, she had an emergency hysterectomy.

Removal of her ovaries caused immediate menopause. She was 40 years old.

“I was moderating meetings having hot flashes,” Giblin — now a Westport resident — recalls.

“I had night sweats. I was fatigued and depressed. I felt lost.”

Karen Giblin

Searching for information and support, she found little.

Giblin’s background was in politics. She grew up in Baltimore, where her family was friendly with the famed D’Alessandro family.

After college, she worked for Mayor Thomas D’Alessandro. (His sister Nancy Pelosi moved to San Francisco, and became the first female Speaker of the House.)

Giblin knew little about medicine. But she learned quickly, and for the past 30 years has been a leading menopause educator. Her in-depth program — covering a wide spectrum of health and wellness topics — is used by hospitals across the country.

Her organization is Red Hot Mamas. That’s what her daughter Rachel called her, when Giblin — face red, suffering hot flashes — was in the throes of a hormonal reaction she knew little about.

The first meeting, at the Ridgefield Public Library, drew 50 people. They soon moved to larger quarters, in a church.

When Danbury Hospital asked Giblin to present a program, 600 women showed up.

Red Hot Mamas was off and running. Over 250 hospitals have licensed it since.

Topics include many effects of menopause: cardiovascular, osteoporosis, sleep, weight gain, urinary and more.

After leaving the Ridgefield selectwoman’s office, Red Hot Mamas became Giblin’s full-time gig.

She is a member of The Menopause Society, The International Menopause Society, and The Menopause Priority Setting Partnership, a global alliance of researchers, clinicians, and policy and advocacy groups from 41 countries.

Giblin runs the RedHotMamas website, edits a monthly newsletter (“The Menopause Minute”), writes books and publishes research. She has testified before Congress, and appears frequently on TV.

“Six thousand women a day enter menopause,” Giblin notes. “It’s a natural life transition, or it can happen surgically or through chemotherapy. But very few women are prepared for it. It can be mysterious and intimidating.”

Doctors — pressed for time in today’s healthcare environment — have little time to talk to women about the symptoms, moods and brain fog that can accompany menopause. Many lack sufficient training themselves, from medical school or residency.

If women don’t understand it, they may not be compliant with hormone or other therapies, Giblin says.

They may be less able too to make informed decisions about how to protect their long-term health. Osteoporosis, for example, is a common result of declining estrogen.

“Knowledge is power,” Giblin says. “If a woman is crying all the time, sad, with hair loss or hot flashes — that affects her life. We provide education.”

Funding comes from organizations that license the program. Red Hot Mamas supplies the turnkey program; hospitals provide the space and clinicians.

An important part of Red Hot Mamas is its medical advisory board.

Locally, the next chances for education come March 18, April 15 and May 20, at Norwalk Hospital. The topics are osteoporosis, sleeplessness and urinary concerns, respectively. Click here for details.

The programs are free. Spouses and significant others are welcome. “If you’re living with someone who can’t sleep and has mood swings, that affects you too,” Giblin points out. (One section of the website is called “Man Cave.”)

The hospital is next door to Westport, where Giblin moved recently. She and her husband had been in New Jersey for work, after she left Ridgefield politics.

When he retired last year, they wanted to return to Connecticut. Westport seemed like a natural choice.

It has not disappointed.

Giblin has quickly learned to appreciate the “cool blend of culture, nature, coastal charm, strong community spirit, shopping and dining. And it has less of a suburban vibe than other towns.”

Almost as soon as she moved in, Giblin attended the State of the Town meeting at the Library.

She heard about the issues affecting Westport — affordable housing, traffic, the environment — and realized they were not much different from those she grappled with more than 3 decades ago, as Ridgefield’s 1st selectwoman.

Giblin would love to find a way to get involved in local affairs. She has plenty of expertise and experience.

Let’s give a warm Westport welcome to this Red Hot Mama.

(For details on Red Hot Mamas — including the newsletter, questions for medical experts and more — click here.)

(Every day, “06880” shines a light on the people, events and organizations that make Westport special. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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[OPINION] Save 11 Beachside Common!

Posted on February 15, 2026 | 19 comments

The Wall Street Journal wrote about it.

So did “06880.”

Last weekend, curious residents headed over to Beachside Common, to see #11 for themselves.

An estate sale drew them to the home of biotech entrepreneur/investor/scientist Alan Walton and his wife Elenor.

They bought the 1970s contemporary overlooking Burying Hill Beach in 2000, for $6.3 million. It was expanded and “reimagined” in the 1990s — for $13 million.

One view of he exterior …

With its floating staircase, periscope skylights, rainbow glazing purple carpet — and a 150-foot multicolored tile pathway that “meanders” through the house — it was not for everyone.

Alan died in 2015. Elenor died last February. The couple was a much-admired part of their tight-knit neighborhood.

In her will, Elenor told her children to sell the property.

They did. Now it’s slated for demolition.

,,, and another …

The other day, an anonymous Westporter — calling him or herself “Concerned Quirky Citizen” — emailed the Planning & Zoning Commission, Westport Downtown Association, and various other town and state officials. The writer urged “the Town of Westport and any relevant boards, commissions, and elected officials to reconsider” the teardown.

That’s a heavy lift. The Historic District Commission can only vote to delay demolition of a structure older than 50 years, for 180 days. In theory, that buys time to find a way to save a home.

In nearly every case, the owner — who presumably brought the property intending to tear it down — waits out the delay, then brings in the wrecking ball.

That will probably happen to 11 Beachside Common. But here is the anonymous resident’s plea:

“From everything that has been shared publicly, this home is not only an extraordinary piece of residential architecture, but also a physical record of technological, cultural, and artistic history.

“This property appears to represent a rare convergence of design, innovation and local heritage.

… with one view of the interior …

“The house underwent an extensive and highly considered transformation by a noted architect, resulting in a structure that functions more like a livable gallery than a conventional home. It stands out for its unconventional forms, light-filled interior spaces, and the way it integrates with its coastal setting.

“Many visitors and community members have described it as unlike anything else in the area, which suggests it may be eligible for recognition as a historically or architecturally significant resource.

“In addition to its architectural value, the home is closely associated with individuals whose work shaped modern science and technology, including contributions connected to NASA’s Apollo program and to early MRI development.

“When a building has direct ties to people whose work has had a global impact, and when that building has been consciously designed and redesigned with that legacy in mind, demolition is not just a private decision with private consequences. It is the permanent erasure of a cultural asset that could otherwise benefit the town, the state, and the broader public.

… and another …

“I fully recognize that the property is privately owned and that owners have important rights. At the same time, towns routinely treat certain structures and landscapes as part of the public good and subject them to additional review or protection when they meet criteria for historic, architectural, or cultural significance.

“I am asking that Westport, in coordination with its relevant boards and commissions, explore all available mechanisms to:

  • Evaluate whether 11 Beachside Common meets local, state, or national criteria for historic or architectural significance.
  • Consider interim measures (such as a temporary delay of demolition) to allow proper study and public input.
  • Engage with the current owner and any interested preservation organizations to explore alternatives to total demolition, such as adaptive reuse, partial preservation, sale to a preservation-minded buyer, or creative public–private partnerships.

“Preserving this structure, or even a substantial portion of it, could provide Westport with a unique cultural and educational asset. Possibilities might include limited public tours, curated events, collaborations with architectural schools or design programs, or partnerships with arts and science institutions that could interpret the technology and innovation stories embedded in the home.

… and a third …

“Many communities have successfully turned singular private properties into sources of civic pride, tourism, and long-term economic and cultural value while still respecting ownership and neighborhood character.

“Respectfully, it is hard to understand how a town benefits from losing a one‑of‑a‑kind coastal landmark that has captured the imagination of so many residents and visitors. Once demolished, it cannot be recreated. Even a modest pause, serious assessment, and transparent public conversation would be far better than allowing such an asset to vanish without a full understanding of what is being lost.

” want to be clear that I am not accusing any individual or entity of wrongdoing, and I recognize that the property may be proceeding through the standard approval and permitting channels.

“My concern is that, even when all legal requirements are followed, the loss of a culturally and architecturally significant home can still be a preventable tragedy, and I am asking that every available option be explored before an irreversible decision is carried out.

… and one more.

“At minimum, I ask that the town publicly communicate what steps, if any, have been taken to evaluate 11 Beachside Common for historic or architectural protection, and what opportunities exist for public participation in any remaining processes.

“Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your service to the community. I would be grateful for a response describing whether there are any upcoming meetings, hearings, or procedures related to this property, and how members of the public can best participate constructively.”

(Our “Opinion” pages are open to all. Please email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com.)

(“06880” regularly covers Westport’s broad, always interesting real estate market — and every other part of local life. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Looking back, Real estate

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UnPlastic Westport: Spotlight On … Your Bathroom

Posted on February 7, 2026 | 3 comments

Last month, “06880” introduced Sustainable Westport’s newest project: “UnPlastic Westport.”

The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics, and expand water-filling stations around town. The goal is to “turn shared intention into measurable, community-wide change.”

Once a month, we’ll help them highlight an area of daily life where single-use plastic is most common, along with practical ideas to use. This month, we head to the bathroom.

The bathroom is one of the rooms where single-use plastic shows up the most. From shampoo bottles and toothpaste tubes to disposable razors and cleansers with microbeads, much of this plastic is hard to recycle.

How many of these plastics are in your bathroom?

It can make its way into waterways, where microplastics accumulate in rivers and Long Island Sound, harming our wildlife and ecosystems.

This February, Sustainable Westport invites you to “Pledge to UnPlastic” by starting with simple bathroom swaps. Small changes at home can make a real difference for our waterways. Which will you try first?

  • Start using bar soap or bar shampoo
  • Select cleansing products without microbeads
  • Replace plastic toothbrushes with bamboo or replaceable heads
  • Try refillable or concentrated products
  • Opt for a natural loofah (you can even grow your own!)

Ready to pledge to UnPlastic? Already pledged and taking steps to UnPlastic? Click here — you could be featured here next month!

(“06880” keeps an eye on Westport’s environment — and every other part of town. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Categories, Environment

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Photo Challenge #579

Posted on February 1, 2026 | 13 comments

Last Sunday’s Photo Challenge was appropriate.

We posted a classic rooster weathervane, atop a 4-sided wooden bell tower on a snow-covered roof. (Click here to see.)

Appropriate, because last Sunday we were in the middle of a classic New England snowstorm.

Surprisingly — because there was not much else to do that day, but curl up beside a fire with “06880” — only a few readers hazarded guesses.

A few were wrong. It was not the Westport Country Playhouse, or Wright Street.

Diane Lowman’s photo showed the roof of Bridge Square — the small plaza with popular destinations like Kawa Ni, Rainbow Thai and 99 Bottles.

Gabriela Hayes, Seth Schachter, Ben Meyer (whose office sits just underneath,  and whose brother-in-law helped repair it), Susan Lloyd and Elaine Marino all answered correctly.

Susan added some very intriguing history: She says it was the bell tower of the original Saugatuck firehouse. Today — with a different bell tower — it’s a few yards away, on Riverside Avenue.

But it’s very old. So this one, at Bridge Square, must be really old.

What’s new? Today’s Photo Challenge.

If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/John Maloney)

(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

13 Comments

Posted in Categories, Photo Challenge, Saugatuck

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