Category Archives: Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge #264

Posted on January 19, 2020 | 7 comments

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: “06880” readers are good.

I was sure that last week’s Photo Challenge would stump almost everyone. Susan Ross’ image showed a flip-flop, tea cup, cameo jewelry, and random other, less identifiable objects. (Click here for the photo.)

It was colorful. But how could anyone identify it?

Almost immediately, Seth Schachter did.

He was followed, rapid-fire, by Jennifer Kobetitsch, Betsy Kahn, Sarah Halevi, India Penney, Julie McMahon, Tina Green, Luke Garvey, Michelle Vitulich, Leslie Petersen, Polly Temple, Darcy Sledge and J. Seideman.

All nailed it: The mosaic surrounding one of the parking garages behind the houses on Old Mill Beach. It’s just to the left of the first footbridge heading to Compo Cove.

I know the bridges and walking paths between Sherwood Mill Pond and Long Island Sound are a popular — if hidden — Westport gem.

But the parking garages are off to the side, little noticed, even obscure. And the mosaic is at the end of the lot. Most people’s attention is focused on the water.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Congratulations to our eagle-eyed readers. A special shout-out to Betsy Kahn — a gifted photographer herself — who added this information about the artist, Claudia Schattman:

“She is one of the coolest artists in town. And people can hire her for special mosaics, pottery and photography. She does installations with all mediums and sizes.”

This week’s Photo Challenge is far less colorful. Will it be as easy? If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

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Posted in Arts, Beach, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #263

Posted on January 12, 2020 | 17 comments

No one is alive today to remember, but in 1906 the cornerstone was laid for a new Westport Public Library.

Since 1877, residents had had access to books, magazines and newspapers — contributed by their neighbors — on the 2nd floor of the Hurlbutt building on State Street (Post Road). That’s the block between Taylor Place and the entrance to the Taylor parking lot, by the river.

There were very few volumes, however. The public could check out books on Tuesdays and Fridays only.

The 1906 library was a gift from Morris K. Jesup. He donated land opposite the Hurlbutt building — near the corner of the Post Road and Main Street — plus $5,000 for construction.

Two years later — on April 8, 1908 — 300 Westporters turned out for the dedication. Morris Jesup was not there. He had died 4 months earlier.

In 1986 the library moved across Jesup Road — to landfill not there in Jesup’s day. Two renovations later, it is the pride of the town.

But back in another century, so was Jesup’s. The cornerstone still stands, though the building now houses an art gallery and other tenants. (Starbucks and Freshii are in an addition, from the 1950s.)

That cornerstone was last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see). Dan Vener, Robert Mitchell, Tom Trisch, Christine McCarthy, Chip Stephens, John Hartwell, Elaine Marino, Bobbie Herman, Seth Schachter, Seth Goltzer, Linda Amos, Bruce Salvo, Susan Huppi and Mary Ann Batsell all knew exactly what the photo showed.

You could look it up. But they didn’t have to.

As for this week’s Photo Challenge, here’s a hint: It has nothing to do with a library. Obviously.

(Photo/Susan Ross)

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

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Posted in Downtown, Library, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #262

Posted on January 5, 2020 | 21 comments

Seems like there are a lot of wrought iron fences in town.

One surrounds Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Another sits outside “Fort Apache” — the medical center on Kings Highway North,near Wilton Road.

Neither of those fences was last week’s Photo Challenge, though. Amy Schneider captured the one at Winslow Park. It was built for a previous use of the rolling land bordered by North Compo and the Post Road: originally handsome estate for Henry Richard and his wife Mary Fitch Winslow (click here for that amazing back story), then part of the mysterious and spooky Westport Sanitarium (click here).

The first person to correctly recognize that fence was Fred Cantor — though he qualified “Winslow Park?” with a question mark.

We see that fence all the time, stuck at that Post Road/Compo traffic light. Next time, look a bit more closely.

It’s beautiful.

Today’s Photo Challenge is a cornerstone. No one is alive today who remembers it being laid — but it was an important one. Click “Comments” below if you know where it is.

(Photo/Dan Woog)

21 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Looking back, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #261

Posted on December 29, 2019 | 12 comments

Pierrepont’s building is well known.

The school itself is not.

Last week’s Photo Challenge showed a bit of handsome Mediterranean architecture. A slew of “06880” readers knew immediately that it was the building at the foot of Sylvan Road North, by Post Road West.

Some identified it by name. Others just noted the location.

It’s been home to Pierrepont School since 2002 — 3 years after the private school’s founding. With just 159 students in grades K-12, a 3-to-1 student/teacher ratio, and a rigorous yet flexible curriculum, it’s Westport’s best-kept educational secret.

Before Pierrepont, the building served for many years as international headquarters for Lindblad Expeditions. Andrew Colabella — the first reader to correctly identify the photo — calls it “the old Colgate building.” I’ve never heard that before, and have no idea if it refers to the toothpaste, the college, or something else entirely.

Peter Barlow says it’s the “Post House” — named for the builder, a man named Post.

Besides Andrew and Peter, other correct responses came from Jonathan McClure, Fred Cantor, Rich Stein, Michael Calise, Seth Braunstein, Mary Ann Batsell, Torrey Brooks, Susan Siegelaub Katz, Diane Silfen, Linda Amos, Carol Hanks, Daryl Styner-Presley, Darcy Sledge, Tom Ryan, Stephanie Ehrman, Christine Freeman, Seth Goltzer, Jessica Newshel and Karen Root. Click here for the photo (and all the wrong guesses too).

Last week’s Photo Challenge came courtesy of Amy Schneider. She shot this week’s image too, making her a rare back-to-back Photo Challenger. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

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Posted in Education, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #259

Posted on December 15, 2019 | 17 comments

The Unitarian Church is a Westport treasure — both spiritually and physically.

For well over half a century, the congregation has been at the forefront of many social justice battles. They’ve provided a home for folks of many faith traditions, and those with none at all.

Throughout that time, they’ve done it in a building that looks as beautiful and modern as the day it opened.

Set back in the woods — unnoticed from nearby Lyons Plains Road — its soaring sanctuary and large windows provide gorgeous, inspiring, ever-changing views of the world.

David Vita’s image of those woods in autumn — framed by church windows — was last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see). Fred Cantor, Andrew Colabella, Molly Alger, Bill Barron, Stephen Axthelm, Rosalie Kaye, Seth Schachter, Annie Haskel, Richard Hyman, Jill Turner Odice, Carol Hanks, Luke Garvey, Peter R. Powell, Tom Risch, Bobbie Herman, Mari-Eleanor Martino, Susan Miller, Jo Ann Flaum, Jalna Jaeger and Stephanie Ehrman all knew exactly where those woods were.

At least some of those readers are not Unitarian Church members. But at some point, nearly every Westporter has found his or her way there — for a wedding, funeral, service, meeting or program.

If you haven’t been there yet: godspeed.

This week’s Photo Challenge is a tougher one. If you know — or think you know — where in Westport you’d find this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Jay Dirnberger)

17 Comments

Posted in Categories, Environment, Photo Challenge, religion

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Photo Challenge #258

Posted on December 8, 2019 | 22 comments

Last week’s Photo Challenge was perfect.

Tracy Porosoff’s image of a stone bridge over a small creek drew a number of varied responses. (Click here to see.)

Readers thought it might be on Richmondville Avenue, near Willowbrook Cemetery; at Burying Hill Beach, or nearby across Beachside Avenue; at Winslow Park; Bridgewater headquarters by Ford Road, or Gorham Island.

All good guesses — and all wrong.

But an equal number of readers knew exactly where it is: Morningside Drive South, at the Post Road.

It’s the bridge over Muddy Brook — near Greens Farms Elementary School, just east of the Barnes & Noble shopping center — that floods often, and high.

Kudos to Matt Murray, Bobbie Herman, Morley Boyd, Bob Stalling and Jonathan McClure. You know your bridges!

Today’s Photo Challenge was taken just about 3 weeks ago. (The seasons change quickly around here.) If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/David Vita)

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Posted in Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #257

Posted on December 1, 2019 | 17 comments

Was it the rainy weather? Too many things to do 4 days before Thanksgiving? The fact that virtually no one knew where the toy donkey pictured in last week’s Photo Challenge could possibly be?

Whatever the reason, Rose Porosoff’s image drew only a few guesses. But 2 were right: Rod Smith and James Lupo knew the curious scene could be seen at the Greens Farms fire station, on Center Street.

It’s a random shot in an out-of-the-way location — unless you live in Greens Farms — so click here to see what you’ve always missed (or never knew existed).

This week’s Photo Challenge stays in the Porosoff family. It’s from Rose’s mother, Tracy. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

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Posted in Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #256

Posted on November 24, 2019 | 6 comments

There are some sights in Westport we pass by often, but don’t really “see.”

Once we spot them, though — or someone points them out to us — we will never again not notice them.

That’s the case with last week’s Photo Challenge. The wooden “06880” sign is part of a larger one that sits above the stores in Bridge Square, at the foot of the William F. Cribari Bridge where Bridge Street meets Riverside Avenue.

Once upon a time, it hung over Peter’s Bridge Market. There are other businesses there now — a Japanese restaurant and health food spot, for example — but much about Bridge Square remains unchanged. It’s a throwback, for sure. (Click here to see the image.)

Andrew Colabella, Robert Mitchell, Arthurt Hayes, Jonathan McClure, Amy Schneider and Mary Schmerker all knew that the “06880” sign is in Saugatuck. The next time you’re stopped in traffic there, look up.

You’ll never not notice it again.

Have you noticed this week’s Photo Challenge? If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Rose Porosoff)

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Posted in Photo Challenge, Saugatuck

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Photo Challenge #255

Posted on November 17, 2019 | 13 comments

First there were the library windows.

Then there was the point behind Levitt Pavilion, on the Saugatuck River.

Last week — for the 3rd Photo Challenge in a row — our image showed a bit of that beautiful, active slice of Westport just steps from downtown.

Johanna Rossi’s shot was of the charming, underused bridge spanning Deadman Brook (which honors not a no-longer-living person, but someone long ago with the improbable last name of Deadman).

It connects the Levitt/library parking lot with another lot, off Imperial Avenue. (It is transformed every Thursday from May to November, into the Westport Farmers’ Market.)

Johanna took the photo at night. The lights threw some readers off. Incorrect guesses included the Sherwood Mill Pond bridge heading to Compo Cove; the wooden bridge extending from Parker Harding Plaza over the Saugatuck River; Bridgewater headquarters off Weston Road; Saugatuck Shores, and Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach.

Louis Weinberg, Dan Vener, Andrew Colabella, Fred Rubin, Ralph Balducci, Jonathan McClure, Jo Ann Flaum and Jalna Jaeger all knew that the bridge is actually downtown, over Deadman Brook.

To see the photo, click here. To see it in real life — which you really should — head downtown. Any time, day or night.

Today’s Photo Challenge comes courtesy of Seth Schachter. If you know where in “06880” you’d see it, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Seth Schachter)

 

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Posted in Downtown, Library, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #254

Posted on November 10, 2019 | 17 comments

Last week’s Photo Challenge showed a spot not far from downtown that most Westporters have never gone.

Though it’s a place everyone should see.

Sandy Rothernberg’s image was of the point at the Riverwalk path behind the Levitt Pavilion where Deadman Brook flows into the Saugatuck River.

It’s beautiful, serene — and open to the public. You’ll get a different perspective there of the water, and our town’s relation to it.

Since the Levitt renovation, the path now winds all the way around — from the library to the Imperial parking lot side. Midway there, you’ll see the scene Sandy captured. Or click here for the closeup.

This one was tough. It took nearly 24 hours before the first readers guessed correctly. Congratulations, Madison Malin and Steve Dopp!

This week’s Photo Challenge, meanwhile, may be our first-ever nighttime shot. If you know where in Westport you’d find this — night, day, whenever — click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Johanna Rossi)

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Posted in Downtown, Photo Challenge

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