One often-overlooked element of the discussion on the future of the Cribari Bridge is climate change.
As the Saugatuck River rises by a few inches over the next decades, clearance under the 143-year-ol span will diminish.
The state Department of Transportation is considering that, in its plans for rehabilitation or replacement.
But the rise will not be confined to the Cribari Bridge alone.
Consider the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge downtown.
Very little river traffic now passes underneath the Post Road — a few kayaks and canoes, mostly at low tide.
But CTDOT is looking ahead.
A project (formally #0158-0980) would replace the current structure with a drawbridge:
Artist’s rendering of proposed Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge drawbridge.
Steve Lance — the “06880” reader who spotted the plan, while searching for information on the Cribari Bridge — reached out to CTDOT.
James Barrows, who serves as manager for the Cribari project, responded.
“Work would not begin until #0158-0214 (the Cribari Bridge) is completed,” he said. “CTDOT would not want to disrupt traffic on two major crossings simultaneously.
“However, we see it as an important next component in making the Saugatuck River navigable as far upriver as possible.”
Barrows said that while the drawbridge would initially be open only far occasional traffic, it could adopt a regular schedule to allow more watercraft to pass through than currently do.
He noted that the entire operation would take “only 6 to 8 minutes.” Traffic disruption would be “minimal,” he said.
Barrows — who was at DOT’s recent public meeting at Town Hall — said, “our intention is to involve residents, business owners and other stakeholders as early and often as possible” in the project planning.
Though he grew up in Southern California, this town gave him “a comfort level like a favorite sweater,” he says. He was “smitten by Westport from my first day.” And he still calls this “my adopted home town.”
In his 6 years here — when not freelancing in New York as a graphic designer — David took many photos in Westport and Weston.
Along the way, he met “some really wonderful people.” Photographer Alan Fontaine became a close friend, and convinced him to start his own portrait studio. In 1995, he did. He quickly got plenty of work, thanks to his signature black and white style.
At 81 years old — and a cancer survivor — he wants to share some of his photos with “the lovely people of Westport who welcomed me, and nurtured our friendships so unconditionally.”
Here are a few of those images. Though 3 decades old, they are timeless.
Well … except for the first two.
Remarkable Book Shop, Main Stree
Allen’s Clam House, Hillspoint Road
Sherwood Mill Pond
Compo Beach boardwalk
Compo Beach pavilion
Compo Beach in fog
Longshore cemetery
Saugatuck Rowing Club
Saugatuck River, downtown (All photos/David Ohman)
As a homeschooled middle schooler, Quinn Fitts was vaguely aware of Toquet Hall.
Yet until, as a Staples High School freshman, she heard youth board members of the town’s teen center talk about an upcoming “’20s Night” — 1900s, not 2000s — she had never gone.
But she climbed the stairs to Toquet (it’s in one of those if-you-know,-you-know locations, in the alley between the Post Road and Jesup Road by the Westport Book Shop).
Toquet Hall’s funky exterior.
Quinn walked into the wide-open room, with couches, a stage, video games and snacks. She played table games, and card games.
“It was pretty cool,” she recalls.
Toquet Hall: the view from the stage.
Two years later, Quinn is on the Toquet Hall youth board herself.
They meet weekly. They plan, and run, events. “It’s a great way to get involved in the community of Westport,” she says.
And to offer fun, low-key activities to middle and high schoolers here.
As the youth board has done for nearly 3 decades — ever since the center opened in 1998, in a 19th-century building that was once an opera house — they’ve tried to get the word out that it is a great place to hang out.
Plenty to do for everyone, at Toquet Hall.
One of the first big events Quinn helped with was “Spicy Twos” — a “Hot Ones”-esque evening. More recently, she worked on another “20s Night.”
On Friday, March 20 Toquet Hall is open from 5 to 10 p.m., for board games, card games, video games (there’s a Switch, Wii, and 3 types of Smash Bros), pool, or just talking with friends.
Pool, video games, and much more.
The next event (Saturday, March 21) is “Jeopardy Night.” In the works: a “Star Wars” movie.
And of course, there is music.
The Townies get ready to play.
Toquet also offers events for middle schoolers. (Tonight — Friday — there’s a Super Smash Bros. tournament, from 7 to 9 p.m.). And it’s open for drop-ins after school for that age group too.
Quinn is part of Staples Players. Her friends enjoy Toquet Hall (and serve on its youth board).
She wants other friend groups to come too.
“It’s a fun place to hang out,” she notes. “We don’t have other places where you can just exist for free, except the library.”
(“06880” often covers Westport’s youth scene — plus everything else in town. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Yesterday’s stunning weather (and extra hour of daylight) turned many Westporters’ thoughts to the outdoors.
Including activities like dining al fresco.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Board of Selectpersons will be asked to approve a request from the Westport Downtown Association for the annual temporary closure of Church Lane between Elm Street and Post Road East, for outdoor dining (and music).
The street would be closed to all but emergency traffic from May 8 to October 1. Musicians would entertain on Fridays and Saturdays (5:30 to 9 p.m.), from June 5 to September 26.
In a WDA survey last year, respondents were asked if the Church Lane closure is a benefit to the town, and something that should be continued.
2,033 — that’s 92.2% — said yes. 171 (7.8%) said no.
This would be the 7th year for the street closure and outdoor dining downtown. The tradition began during the pandemic.
Outdoor dining at Spotted Horse. (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
=================================================
Speaking of eating: Foodies collect many things: recipes, cooking equipment, leftovers .
They also collect books.
Cookbooks, non-fiction, food memoirs — you name it, they’ve got it.
But food books — like food — are meant to be shared.
This Thursday (March 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center), the winter Westport Farmers’ Market hosts a “foodie book swap.”
Bring your favorites. Trade them for something new.
The WFM puts it best: “Come hungry for stories, and leave inspired in the kitchen.”
A celebration of the life of Richard “Deej” Webb – the Westport native, teacher and historian who turned his lifelong fascination with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s summer here into a book and documentary — is set for March 20 (1:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Compo Beach Improvement Association. Funds will help beautify Deej’s adult and childhood playground. Venmo: @CBIA-KristinPurcell-Tsr.
Deej Webb
=================================================
Bedford Middle School is taking “The Little Mermaid” to new heights.
Literally.
On March 19-22, the musical production will include — with help from ZFX Flying Effects — young actors soaring across the sage.
That’s in addition to the immersive underwater world, with dynamic lighting, projections, bubbles and theatrical effects.
Americans know Alisyn Camerota as an award-winning broadcast journalist and author.
Westporters know her as our neighbor.
On the weekend of April 10-12, a small group of women will know her as someone who helped reinvent their lives.
On a weekend retreat in the Catskills, Alisyn and Michelle Blieberg — a global talent manager and artist — will guide a fun, exciting experience to “design your future with purpose and confidence.”
Creative exercise and activities will help attendees map their next act.
The setting — the Menla Retreat and Spa, 330 acres — offers yoga, hiking, healing therapies, spa services and gourmet meals, along with Alisyn and Michelle’s expert guidance.
For more information, email info@reinventyourlife.biz. To register, click here.
Alisyn Camerota
==============================================
Sure, “06880” is “where Westport meets the world.”
But Wikipedia has a much wider reach.
And of those 100 million or so who use it daily, any who click on the “Secondary Schools” page will learn everything they need to know about high schools — or senior schools, or whatever else they’re called around the globe.
There’s plenty of text, all with the necessary Wikipedia citations.
There’s only one photo, though.
And of all the images that could have been used to illustrate high schools on the planet, the one that’s used is … Staples High School.
Staples High School, on Wikipedia’s “Secondary school” page.
The reader who alerted us to this remarkable/impressive/crazy fact writes: “At first I thought it was some kind of location-based gimmick, where the website would just display whatever school was closest to your location.
“But having looked at the editing history of the page, it actually is just the picture that they chose!”
Whether blowing bebop with the Charles Mingus Band or improvising with Anthony Braxton, Michael Rabinowitz has changed the conception of what a bassoon can do.
This Thursday (March 12, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m., dinner from 7), he’ll bring his talents ot “Jazz at the Post.”
Rabinowitz will be joined by pianist Stebe Sandberg, bassist Michael O’Brien, drummer David Alvarez and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Earthplace. Luisa Francoeur was at the bridge by Frog Pond. “It was interesting to see the reflections, and how they made the image difficult to decipher,” she says.
And finally … Country Joe McDonald — the Navy veteran whose rousing “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin-‘t0-Die Rag” served as both a symbol of Woodstock and an anti-Vietnam War anthem for a generation — died Saturday in Berkeley, California.
He was 84, and suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
After his band — Country Joe & the Fish — broke up in 1970, he had a long solo career, in a variety of styles.
Click here for a full obituary. It includes the fascinating nugget that his parents — who were communists — named him after Joseph Stalin.
After a professional development day, winter break, then 2 more blizzard snow days, Westport schools were finally back in session this morning.
It did not start out well.
A parent of a student reports, “Cars were driving 5 miles an hour on the way to school. Many were sliding all over the place. Scary!”
A Staples High School senior adds, “Wild school opening. 4 students in my first period class. Roads covered in snow. Couldn’t see the center line on the Post Road.”
The good news is: The sun will peek through this afternoon. The temperature will be about 40.
The bad news: Snow showers are predicted, Sunday through Tuesday.
Car and school bus navigate snow-covered roads very carefully this morning. (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
The Board of Education “Community Conversation” scheduled for noon today at the Westport Library has been postponed.
A new date will be announced soon.
=================================================
And 2 delays: The Senior Center will open at 10:30 a.m. today, 2 hours late.
The Westport Library opens at 11 a.m.
================================================
Residents caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia often feel alone.
There’s help available. The Residence at Westport and Westport Library are collaborating on a monthly support group, with professional facilitators.
It’s a chance to share stories with others who understand the challenges, in a safe and supportive environment.
Educational presentations may be provided, and participants will help choose discussion topics.
It meets the second Tuesday of every month (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Westport Library). No RSVPs are necessary; it’s a drop-in group.
Questions? Email mledney@residencewestport.com.
================================================
For the second time this winter, SCA Crowley lent a clean-up hand.
The property management firm and Penna Construction — both longtime Westport-based firms — lent vehicles and crews yesterday night. Together, they cleared some of the snow that remained on downtown streets and sidewalks.
It takes a village. Thanks, SCA and Penna, for helping make ours a little less treacherous!
Many Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading selections are contemporary works.
The next one is a classic — and an encore presentation.
“The Subject Was Roses” — winner of the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a Tony Award for Best Play — comes to the storied stage on Monday (March 2, 7 p.m.).
It was produced at the Playhouse in 1966, then again in 1982.
“Roses” is set in May of 1946. As World War II draws to an end, a young soldier returns to the Bronx apartment where he was raised. Hoping his homecoming will repair his parents’ troubled marriage, he presses for small acts of reconciliation, only to expose years of resentment and emotional distance. As tensions rise, the family confronts the truth of their relationships and the life they share.
But it jammed up — and she has no idea who can fix it.
If you know a typewriter repair person — or can do it yourself — email cohlita@yahoo.com.
Who knows — she may write a nice thank-you note on it!
Kids: Do you know what this is?
===============================================
Dogs in a Pile — the 20-somethings band with “old souls and limitless chops,” brings their psychedelic-tinged jazz/funk/rock to the Levitt Pavilion on July 17.
Touring is in their blood: They’ve averaged 130 shows a year since 2022.
And finally … on this date in 1873, 4 years before the invention of the phonograph, Enrico Caruso — the most popular operatic tenor of the early 20th century, and the first great recording star — was born. He died in 1921, at 48, from peritonitis.
(Where else but “06880” can you find Dogs in a Pile and Enrico Caruso in the same place? There’s lot more every day too, on your hyper-local blog. Please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
In other blizzard news: The Westport Library will open today (Tuesday) at 12 noon. That will give them (and their employees) a little more time to dig out.
The works are very creative, wildly eclectic, and always thought-provoking. The energy level is high. The artists are eager to chat. And the food and drink is free.
The next one is next Tuesday (March 3, 6 to 8 p.m., Sheffer Barn at the Westport Country Playhouse). Broadway music conductor and composer Caren Cole will play.
The gallery is then open March 4-8 (noon to 4 p.m.). An artist talk (on inspiration, medium, process and more) is set for March 8 (4 p.m.).
This show features works by members who recently joined the Collective:
Laura Appelman, Peggy Dembicer, Tim Eaton, Ira Hara, Julie Hicks, Tom Kretsch, Shelly Lowenstein, Paula Morgan, Erwin Ong, Butch Quick,
Jodi Rabinowitz, Elizabeth Hiltz Thomas, Michael Tomashefsky and Rowene Weems. (Some of those names are familiar to “06880” readers, for their wonderful photos.)
Pianist Ted Rosenthal has performed worldwide as a soloist, with his trio, and with greats including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, and James Moody.
He joins a quintet — bassist Martin Wind, drummer Tim Horner, trumpeter Alex Norris and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall — this Thursday, for Jazz at the Post (February 26; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7; VFW Post 399). Click here for tickets, and more information.
With all the snow, we need a bird photo to remind us that spring is not far away.
At least, we hope not.
Outstanding wildlife photographer Lou Weinberg snapped this mourning dove, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(And yes, it’s “mourning” — not “morning.” The name comes comes from its melancholy coos. But it’s not a sound of grief — it’s a courtship call from the male.)
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.
