Category Archives: Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge #233

Posted on June 16, 2019 | 23 comments

Back in the day, the Saugatuck River lapped up against the backs of stores on the west side of Main Street. Pipes discharged raw sewage directly into the river.

And no one really thought twice about it.

Parker Harding Plaza was built in the mid-1950s. Now the river is much narrower — hemmed in by concrete on the eastern side.

Yet water is still dumped into the river — as shown in Amy Schneider’s image, aka last week’s Photo Challenge. Of course, it’s a lot cleaner today.

Brett Adams, Diane Silfen, Seth Schachter, Seth Braunstein, Jonathan McClure, Patrick Church, Joelle Malec, Fred Rubin, Brian Senatore, Amelie Babkie and Bobbi Essagof all knew that Amy’s shot was taken near the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, close to Starbucks. It’s a fairly common sight — if you know where and when to look. (Click here for the photo.)

Today’s image is not hard to identify. It’s a glorious aerial autumn view of Staples High School, by Larry Untermeyer:

But that’s not the challenge. The question is: Where in Westport would you see this photo?

If you know, click “Comments” below.

23 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #232

Posted on June 9, 2019 | 13 comments

Sylvan Road is well named.

Last week’s Photo Challenge — courtesy of Tom Lowrie — showed a pastoral scene. The flowers, bushes and rock gardens are on a main road. But where?

They’re on Sylvan Road South, near Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens. Marion Kelly, Amy Schneider and Darcy Sledge were quick with the answer. Though I gotta say, last Sunday was gorgeous. They shoulda been outside gardening. (Click here for the photo.)

This week’s Photo Challenge also has a nature’s feel to it. Kinda, anyway.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

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

13 Comments

Posted in Environment, Local business, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #231

Posted on June 2, 2019 | 7 comments

Last weekend was the Memorial Day holiday. In honor of all the Westport service members who gave their lives, the Photo Challenge showed a plaque honoring PFC Michael Cherub. He was killed during World War II, when he was 26 years old.

I gave a hint: It’s not one of the memorials at Veterans Green, opposite Town Hall.

Sadly, only one person — Bob Grant knew where PFC Cherub’s plaque is.

Equally sad is the fact that — although it’s at VFW Post 399 — it’s mostly hidden behind the building, on the banks of the Saugatuck River.

Two other memorials are nearby. Perhaps it’s time to move them to a spot where more Westporters can see them. (Click here for the photo.)

This week’s image is not your garden variety Photo Challenge.

No — it’s a garden!

(Photo/Tom Lowrie)

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

7 Comments

Posted in Organizations, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #230

Posted on May 26, 2019 | 7 comments

Last week’s Photo Challenge was straightforward.

Molly Alger’s image showed a handsome stone pillar. It’s flanked by a road on one side, and a long, hilly driveway on the other. (Click here to see.)

Westporters drive by it all the time. It’s on South Compo Road, near Park Lane.

Many folks don’t know, though, that it’s the main entrance to Baron’s South.

We — as a town — own that great 22-acre property between South Compo and Imperial Avenue. It’s open sunrise to sunset. Now you know how to get into it.

Andrew Colabella, Seth Braunstein, Jonathan McClure and Amy Schneider already know. They correctly answered last week’s Photo Challenge.

Today’s Challenge honors the many Westporters who have given their lives, while serving our country. If you know where you’d see this inspiring plaque, click “Comments” below.

HINT: It’s NOT at Veteran’s Green, opposite Town Hall. But you should go there tomorrow, immediately after the Memorial Day parade. The brief ceremony is moving, and important. And there you’ll see many plaques with the names of Westporters killed in action. But not this one.

(Photo/Jay Dirnberger)

7 Comments

Posted in Environment, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #228

Posted on May 12, 2019 | 9 comments

I’ve been worried there hasn’t been a lot of foot traffic inside Bedford Square. Are people cutting from one part of downtown to another, bringing life to the businesses ringing the courtyard?

At least 23 people do.

Pat Saviano, Matt Murray, Ben Sturmer, Molly Alger, Stephanie Mastocciolo, Fred Rubin, Tulika Chandra, Patti Brill, Karen Como, Jonathan McClure, John F. Suggs, Andrew Colabella, Cindy Zuckerbrod, June Whittaker, Karen Kim, Marlen Paolini, JoAnn Flaum, Martin Gitlin, Seth Braunstein, Mandy Germishuys, Joelle Malec, Sandra Rosen and Debra Zager all knew that last week’s Photo Challenge — Katherine Bruan’s image of a big, handsome covered table and seats — was located right there in the courtyard. (Click here to see.)

But readers were divided as to whose restaurant it belongs to. Some said Amis; others, Wafu.

I don’t know the answer. But I do know this: Judging by the photo (and the comments), it’s a great spot for a meal.

This week’s Photo Challenge has been suggested several times before, by different photographers. This shot comes from Daniel Martino.

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

(Photo/Daniel Martino)

 

9 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Photo Challenge, Restaurants

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Photo Challenge #227

Posted on May 5, 2019 | 27 comments

I threw a hint — a very subtle one — into last week’s Photo Challenge.

“Where would you find this?” I asked.

Usually, it’s “Where in Westport would you find this?”

Seth Schachter’s shot showed a Minute Man. He strongly resembled the one at our Compo Beach monument, and on our town flag.

But this guy was in Fairfield. Specifically, he’s carved into the front of the Bank of America building near the center of town.

No one knew that “06880” Photo Challenge.

Though to be fair, I should have called it the “06824” Photo Challenge.

This week’s Photo Challenge — believe it or  not — is definitely in Westport.

If you know where, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Katherine Bruan)

27 Comments

Posted in Local business, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #226

Posted on April 28, 2019 | 19 comments

Last week’s Photo Challenge was fairly easy. Plenty of women — and men — knew that the gazebo photographed by Tracy Porosoff can be found at 44 Imperial Avenue. (Click here for the photo.)

That’s the site of Bedford Hall, the Curio Cottage, the Yankee Doodle Fair, and the handsome white home of the Westport Woman’s Club.

But only Rosalie Kaye, Diane Bosch, Bobbie Herman, Carla Foster, Linda Amos, Amy Schneider, Lynn Untermeyer Miller and Barbara Raffel called it that. Linda added, “The gazebo was donated in 2000, in memory of long-time member Ronnie Kennedy by her family. It continues to be a lovely addition to the beautiful grounds.”

Many other readers got the name almost correct. Fred Cantor, Diane Silfen, Robert Mitchell, Andrew Colabella, Will Luedke, Jonathan McClure, Michelle Saunders, Seth Braunstein, Wendy Cusick, Shirlee Gordon. Kaye Leong and Bruce Salvo all said it was the Westport Women’s Club.

That actually makes more sense. It’s a club — and since 1907, a great and important one — for Westport women.

Not just one “woman.”

But Westport Woman’s Club it is. If anyone — woman or man — knows the story behind the name, please click “Comments” below.

Click “Comments” too if you know where you would find this week’s Photo Challenge.

(Photo/Seth Schachter)

(Hint: This morning, the Westport Young Woman’s (ahem) League — a different organization altogether, though its roots were in the Westport Woman’s Club — held its 41st annual Minute Man Race. This photo has nothing to do with that. But it’s a nice tie-in.)

19 Comments

Posted in Organizations, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #225

Posted on April 21, 2019 | 26 comments

Once upon a time, there was a thriving post office in Saugatuck.

A couple, actually. The first was at Desi’s Corner. Then it moved across Riverside Avenue, to the building now anchored by Bistro Du Soleil restaurant.

For a while the PO operated out of a pathetic little trailer, in the back of a Saugatuck Avenue parking lot.

It’s in fancier digs now — though not by much — at the corner of Franklin and Ketchum Streets.

The sign outside was last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see). Martin Gitlin, Michael Calise, Molly Alger, Mark Jacobs and Moira Eick all knew the answer.

But what about the sign’s initials: “DBU”?

Do they stand for “Don’t Bother Using”? “Do Be Understanding”? “Definitely Bad Usefulness”?

Nope. According to Michael Calise, this is a “Post Office Box location only.” He thinks DBU stands for Destination Box Unit.

That makes sense, though it is not particularly grammatical. After all, a couple of miles away — at the cramped, main post office in Playhouse Square — there is a sign saying “No Dogs Allowed. Service Dogs Welcome.”

And so it goes. This week’s Photo Challenge is much more scenic. Click “Comments” below  if you know where in Westport you would see this:

(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

26 Comments

Posted in Photo Challenge, Saugatuck

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Photo Challenge #224

Posted on April 14, 2019 | 20 comments

I’ve lived in Westport my whole life.

I know Routes 1, 33, 53 and 136. Of course I know I-95, and I know the Merritt Parkway is officially called Route 15. (I gave up on News12 once when a reporter called it that.)

But I never had a clue that the Sherwood Island Connector is an official state route.

Yep: It’s 476.

That’s one amazing factoid I learned from Patrick Laffaye. I also was impressed with the 2 images he supplied for last week’s Photo Challenge. They show dirt roads, and an impossibly overgrown path (with signs pointing in opposite directions).

All were taken at Sherwood Island State Park. (Click here for the photos.)

Very impressively, Brian Stern posted the right answer just 2 minutes after it went live. (He did not, however, mention Route 476.)

Nor did Diane Bosch, Jalna Jaeger and René Fontaine, when they checked in with the correct answer.

But Wendy Cusick knew that arcane Route 476 fact. Well done!

This week’s Photo Challenge is from the other end of town (duh). But where in Saugatuck is it? If you know, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Jeff Manchester)

20 Comments

Posted in Environment, Photo Challenge

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Photo Challenge #223

Posted on April 7, 2019 | 10 comments

On the one hand, it might be called cheating that Rick Benson immediately knew the site of last week’s Photo Challenge.

Alec Head’s image showed the Rotary International symbol in cement. Rick said it was at a bus stop shelter — either in front of Super Stop & Shop, or on Kings Highway North near Canal Street. (It was the latter. Click here for the photo.)

Rick should know. As a longtime Westport Rotary Club member — he’s active at the state level too — he was a driving force behind both shelter projects.

On the other hand, it’s not cheating when we’re highlighting such good works. So let’s give Rick — and all of Rotary — a hand!

This week’s Photo Challenge is a 2-fer. They’re both taken in the same area. And — believe it or not — both are near a state route running through Westport.

If you think you know where you’d see these sights, click “Comments” below.

(Photos/Patrick Laffaye)

10 Comments

Posted in Organizations, Photo Challenge

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