Sustainable Westport is a strong proponent of recycling.
But there’s more to helping the environment than that. Our town’s environmental advocates say:
This Plastic-Free July we are shifting the spotlight – from what we can recycle to what we can simply refuse and reuse.
It’s not just about saying no to straws or remembering our reusable bags. It’s about reimagining our relationship with plastic altogether.
It’s easy to feel like the burden of change falls solely on our shoulders. But this month is a powerful reminder: Our choices can ripple outward and influence bigger systems.
When we choose to use less plastic — and not just recycle more — we send a clear message to businesses, governments and communities that a better way is possible.
Recycling is not enough. The real power lies in refusing plastic before it ever enters our homes.
Join us in starting small, and staying consistent: always bring a reusable water bottle, say no to takeaway cutlery as supported in Sustainable Westport’s Skip the Stuff program, buy bars of soap instead of liquid soap, and avoid pre-packaged fruits and vegetables.
Each swap is a step toward a world that produces less plastic and wastes less overall.
While these swaps may seem small, they matter now more than ever. Microplastics are everywhere — drifting through our oceans, our food, our soil and the air we breathe.
These tiny, often invisible fragments, escape recycling systems. When we say “no” to plastic from the start, we help stop the problem at its source.
Each plastic-free choice we make reduces the pollution we can’t always see, but that touches everything – from the natural world to our own health.
To dive deeper into this urgent issue, join us later this month for a special screening of Plastic People, a powerful documentary exploring the hidden impact of microplastics. It’s July 17, 6 p.m. at MoCA CT. Click here for details and tickets.
And remember: you’re not alone in this. Plastic-Free July is a global movement that empowers millions to take simple, meaningful steps toward reducing plastic waste for cleaner streets, oceans, and thriving communities. Let’s make this July the start of a shift – not just for one month, but for a lifetime.
The Westport Center for Senior Activities offers a number of wellness programs.
Three are dedicated specifically to support people living with Parkinson’s. They include:
Boxing: A high-energy class to improve balance and coordination, taught by fitness instructor and boxer Dan Lewis. Thursdays, 2-3 p.m.; July 10-September 25. $60.
Fitness: A movement-based fitness program to enhance strength, flexibility and mobility, taught by fitness instructor Beth Dalen. First 3 Wednesdays of each month, 10:15-11 a.m.; July 9-September 24.
Support Group: Guided discussions offering emotional support, shared experiences and practical strategies for living with Parkinson’s. Guest speakers address specific topics. The group is facilitated by nurse Diane Bosch. 10:15-11 a.m.; July 23, August 27, September 24.
To learn more, call assistant director Holly Betts (203-341-5096) or program specialist Joe Anastasi (203-341-1066).
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Free entertainment is on tap this weekend, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Early Clover — the former Coasters’ lead singer and Apollo favorite pays tribute to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Otis Redding and more tonight (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.).
Tomorrow it’s Jake Swamp & the Pine, with Kali Stoddard-Imari (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.). Songs range from acoustic anthems to hoedowns to waltzes, drawing on influences from folk, bluegrass and pop.
Speaking of shows: The Old School Revue All-Stars have a great reputation. So does the Weston History & Culture Center’s “Music at the Barn” outdoor summer concert series.
So the band’s appearance on Sunday, July 13 (5:30 p.m.) should be an extra-special evening. They’ll play classic R&B, rock, soul, jazz and swing tunes.
Current and former members have toured and/or recorded with Steely Dan, the Average White Band, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Jose Feliciano, Tower of Power, Hall & Oates, the Blues Brothers, Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin.
Bring a lawn chair, and a picnic (no food truck). Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members; purchase here or at the show.
Marina Drasnin — the photographer and artist who left Los Angeles for Westport after the wildfires, and was featured recently in “06880” — is this month’s guest exhibitor at the Westport Book Shop.
She’ll show her very personal and evocative collection, “ad-DRESSING-life,” featuring her hand-beaded and story-imbued miniature dresses. Each one represents a meditation on love, loss and memory, created during her husband’s 5-year battle with illness.
Marina studied at the Sorbonne. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in Boston, Los Angeles and Paris.
A reception is set for July 16 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Meanwhile, the Book Shop’s Short Story Book Club meets July 24 (6 p.m.) to discuss “A Cup fo Cold Water” by Edith Wharton (1895) and “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather (1905).
Registration is required. Call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
Including — on the steeple, and a flag — Assumption Church.
Work has been going on there for a while. But this weekend, it really catches your eye.
(Photo/Janine Scotti)
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Thursday’s wind storm was brief, but powerful.
Especially at Robin Frank’s house. Two umbrellas on metal poles nearly crashed through the kitchen window while she was making dinner.
This one — reaching the second floor — was especially scary:
(Photo/Robin Frank)
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Leslie Byelas — a noted lawyer, and former assistant US Attorney in Connecticut — died Wednesday in hospice care, at his Fairfield home. He was 88.
The Bridgeport native received an undergraduate degree in 1958 and a law degree in 1961, both from Boston University. He served in Connecticut’s Office of the Judge Advocate, and the US Army Reserve.
Les had a longtime legal practice in Westport. He retired in 2020, after 59 years in the profession.
In addition to his wife Ellen Lubell, Les is survived by his sons Michael and Jonathan, stepdaughter Karina Lubell, sister Ruth Byelas, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Amy Bloom and Bill Mainor, grandchildren Tristan Mareuil and Axel Mareuil, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, the Connecticut Food Bank, and Connecticut Humane Society.
Les Byelas
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We get lots of sunset photos at “06880.”
But Cabry Lueker’s image of Burying Hill Beach is particularly compelling, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Posted onJuly 5, 2025|Comments Off on Online Art Gallery #273
Sure, it’s a holiday weekend.
But our online art gallery is open. In fact, we never close!
Another fact: This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone can contribute.
And as always, no matter what 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, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Please email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
John Fernie drew these New Yorkers arriving at Compo Beach for a vacation in the late 1950s, for what his son Bruce — who sent it to us — calls “a long-forgotten magazine.” The original hangs in Bruce’s home, reminding him of “those great childhood beach days on the Sound.”
Untitled (Duane Cohen; Available for purchase — click here)
“Wonderful Jazz at the Levitt” (Judith Katz)
Untitled (Roseann Spengler)
“Blooming Flowers”– impasto gold leaf on wood (Dorothy Robertshaw; Available for purchase — click here)
“Dragon Flies” — 28 x 22, acrylic foil on canvas (Brian Whelan — Available for purchase; click here)
“Flowerful Thoughts” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
The median sale price of a Westport home is climbing toward $2 million.
The cost of new builds is even higher.
Which is why the appeal of older homes — those with “good bones” and timeless charm — has never been higher.
Our friends at KMS Team at Compass say that a growing number of buyers are bypassing new construction, in favor of the town’s historic and vintage homes.
There are several reasons.
One is affordability and value. Buyers get more space, character and land for their investment, compared to new builds.
This Clapboard Hill Road property includes the original home, and an expansion. Perimeter trees ensure privacy, on the corner of Greens Farms Road.
With a recent increase in housing inventory, and homes staying on the market for an average of 45 days, buyers have more choices and negotiating power than in recent years.
Purchasing an older home can mean a lower property tax basis too — especially if the assessed value is less than a comparable new build.
This translates into significant savings over time, making historic properties even more attractive to price-conscious buyers.
Architectural character and historic charm are considerations as well. Homes in historic districts like Kings Highway North and Old Hill — where they date back to the 19th, even 18th, centuries — feature original woodwork, wide-plank floors and hand-crafted mantels — that are difficult (and costly) to replicate today.
Iconic properties like the Allen and John Osborn Houses showcase enduring craftsmanship and unique design that help define Westport’s architectural heritage.
The John Osborn House – the oldest home in Westport, located on Long Lots Road — took years to restore. It is believed to have been built between 1683 and 1687. (Photo by Larry Untermeyer)
Many of Westport’s older homes are situated on larger lots, with mature trees and landscaping.
They’re often in walkable, established neighborhoods close to the Saugatuck River, downtown and beaches. They offer a sense of community and history that new subdivisions often lack.
Of course, some historic homes need “rehabilitation.” Owners may qualify for Conncticut’s Historic Homes Rehabilitation Tax Credit, which covers up to 30% of qualified expenses (to $30,000).
The home must be a primary residence with a historic designation, and the project must meet certain criteria.
Restoring a historic Westport home — from updating kitchens and bathrooms to restorin original features — means blending modern comfort with classic style.
The rewards are personal. But they also contribute to the town’s legacy.
Today that appeals to homebuyers in Westport of all ages, and from here and far.
(You can see some of those historic, restored properties on our 3rd annual “Historic Homes Tour,” sponsored by “06880” and KMS Team at Compass. The date is November 2. Details will be announced soon.)
Our fireworks are the biggest, best and most fun party of the year. Nearly the entire town turns out.
We think we’re pretty cool.
But our forefathers (and foremothers) knew how to celebrate too.
Tom Lowrie was not around in 1876 (though, born on July 3, 1928, he missed it by only 52 years).
Yet he found this very intriguing news story from The Westporter. Published 4 days after the big centennial anniversary, it gives a vivid description of a very memorable day.
Why a 38-gun salute, and 38 young ladies dressed in white?
That was the number of states in the Union, 149 years ago today.
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
Family members and friends gathered yesterday at his Greens Farms home, to celebrate the longtime resident and civic volunteer.
Rotarians, pickleball players, town officials and others offered best wishes, traded stories, and said “thank you” to one of Westport’s most admired citizens.
Johanna Keyser Rossi “spotted” at least 10 nymphs the other day, walking along the railing on top of the Riverwalk bridge.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
Soon, she says, they will be everywhere.
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This week — just in time for the holiday’s heavy pedestrian and bike traffic — the new solar-powered crossing signals went live, on Compo Road South near Longshore and Compo Parkway.
Let’s hope it helps people crossing the street. And helps drivers slow down!
Speaking of the fireworks: We can’t say it often, or strongly, enough — but our Parks & Recreation Department staff rocks.
After working tirelessly to make our celebration a success — from parking, to picking up garbage throughout the long day — members of the maintenance crew did not take a break.
The moment the last flare faded, and folks began leaving Compo, the guest services and maintenance crews swung into action.
By 5 a.m., the beach was pristine. You’d never that 10,000 people had picnicked, partied, drank and danced just 7 hours earlier.
It’s an astonishing, herculean job — and they do it every year.
Thanks to all who helped, to their supervisors, and to Parks & Rec director Erik Barbieri.
Now it’s up to the rest of us to keep Compo looking good, and trash-free.
Just after dawn, the day after the fireworks. Photo/Andrew Colabella
The Democratic Town Committee meets July 15 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) to officially nominate their candidates for town boards and commissons, in November’s election.
The session is open to the public. However, only DTC members can vote.
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Sure, it’s in Norwalk.
But Westporters have been getting flyers announcing the opening of the new Wegmans.
The 92,000-square foot store opens July 23 at 675 Connecticut Avenue, near Richards Avenue.
Shoppers who know the grocery-and-more chain from outlets in 8 Northeastern states rave about it.
Westporters will surely check it out. Will they shop there regularly?
And if the do, will Wegmans eat Stew Leonard’s — our own, smaller local icon — lunch?
Yesterday evening’s brief — but strong — winds downed at least one tree, and with it utility wires.
It was, appropriately, on Timber Lane.
(Photo/Celia Campbell-Mohn)
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Interested in collecting art — but clueless about where to start? Experienced, but eager to know more?
MoCA CT is presenting a series of panel discussions on the topic. They’re designed for a broad audience, from complete newcomers to seasoned collectors.
The next session — “Building and Managing Your Collection” — is July 10 (5:30 p.m.). Click here to register.
Posted onJuly 3, 2025|Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #2997
Westport’s 10u all star team earned a 5-4 walkoff win againt Trumbull in the Little League district tournament last night. Then they celebrated together at the Compo Beach fireworks. (Photo/Rick Lane)
One other cool look at the colorful show … (Photo/Joanne Precouri)
… plus the view from Old Mill. (Photo/Sue Pfister)
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