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 focus on a space filled with plastic: the kitchen.
Walk into almost any Westport kitchen, and you’ll find plastic.
It’s what you flip pancakes with, wrap leftovers with — it’s even in your morning coffee.
Because plastic is so quiet and convenient, we’ve let it become part of the family.
But this guest has overstayed its welcome. It is leaching into our lives.
Glass products, and a reusable produce bag.
The kitchen is uniquely powerful because of frequent daily use. A small change can have a big impact. A single swap — repeated hundreds of times a year — can significantly reduce waste and exposure.
Focus on High-Impact Swaps
Rather than attempting a fully plastic-free lifestyle, focus on a few changes that deliver outsized benefits:
Stop Heating Food in Plastic: Microwaving or reheating food in plastic containers can release microscopic particles and chemicals into food. Switching to glass or ceramic containers is one of the simplest and most impactful upgrades.
Wrap and Store Food Differently: Plastic wrap and disposable baggies are among the most frequently discarded kitchen items. Beeswax wraps, reusable silicone bags and glass storage containers provide durable alternatives that last for years.
Which wrapping and storage products will you choose?
Upgrade Everyday Cooking Tools: Plastic utensils and cutting boards gradually wear down through heat, friction and cleaning. Wooden, bamboo or stainless steel tools reduce microplastic shedding into the food you consume, while often lasting longer.
Rethink the Morning Brew: Many single-use pods and tea bags are actually lined with plastic mesh that steeps in your cup, while creating additional plastic waste. Switch to a reusable pod, a glass French press, or a stainless pour-over, to ensure your morning ritual is just beans, leaves, and water.
Want some microplastics with that coffee?
Reduce Plastic Before It Enters the Home: Choosing loose produce, bulk items, or products packaged in glass reduces plastic exposure upstream, often without increasing cost.
Progress Over Perfection
One of the biggest misconceptions about sustainability is that it requires dramatic lifestyle change. In reality, incremental adjustments — one swap at a time — create lasting habits and community-wide impact.
By starting in the kitchen, households can lower waste, reduce plastic exposure, and help protect coastal environments. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s awareness, experimentation, and steady progress toward healthier homes.
Are you ready to kick plastic out of your kitchen? Join your neighbors, and take the UnPlastic Pledge. Start with one swap, share your progress, and help us build a healthier, plastic-free Westport.
Tonight, we take a big step on our long slog toward spring.
Daylight Savings Time returns! Remember to turn your clocks ahead 1 hour.
The bad news is: We lose an hour of sleep.
The good news: It won’t be dark at 6 p.m. anymore.
At least, not for another 8 months.
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The judges have ruled, on the Connecticut History Day regional contest.
We’re not sure if these results are historic. But Westport students did very, very well.
Students are encouraged to explore any aspect of history, from local to international. They can work individually or in groups, on topics of their choice. This year’s theme was “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.”
They present projects in one of 5 categories: exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers or performances.
Winners (below) advance to the state competition in May. First and second place finishers there move on to represent Connecticut at the national contest in Maryland.
Staples High School winners include:
1st Place
Noah Bruno (“NASA: How a Space Agency Drove Civil Rights Reforms” — individual documentary)
2nd Place
Alexandra Ben (“Marian Anderson: A Voice That Challenged a Nation” — paper)
Ruby Boroujerdi, Carol Berger, Madeleine Stiber (“Technicolor in ‘The Wizard of Oz’: Revolutionizing the Standards of Cinema” — group exhibit)
Luca Ghedini, Pranav Tamilselvan (“Igniting History: How Gunpowder Triggered a Global Transformation — group documentary)
Cameryn Brink (“We Are Columbine: How Normalized Deviance in Gun Violence has Undermined Effective Gun Reform in School Shootings” — individual website)
3rd Place
Charlotte Hoke, Cali Kingsley (“Progression Toward Gender Equality: Violence Against Women’s Act” — group exhibit)
Serena Goldfarb (“Equality Over Injustice: How Title IX Shaped Female Athletics” — individual documentary)
Honorable Mention
Madelynn Flom, Lilly Ford, Brooklynn Crawford (“The Degree that Sparked Revolution an the Woman Behind It: Elizabeth Blackwell” — group exhibit)
Alexandra Gottlieb (“Southbury vs. Fascism: When a Small Town Took a Stand” — individual documentary)
Graham Lewis, Akshay Rao, Ryan Asiel (“Revolution on the Fairway” — group documentary)
Middle school winners include:
1st Place
Mia Amin, Coleytown (“A Revolution in Medicine: How the Spanish Flu Led to Reform in American Public Health” — paper)
Henry Bach (“The Race to Discover DNA an the Dark Side of Winning” — individual exhibit)
Emily Bernier, Emmeline Cutler, Coleytown (“Lewis Hine and Adding Awareness to Child Labor” — group documentary)
Brandon Sheefel, Olivia Duran, Coleytown (“1810 May Revolution, Voice of the Cabildo” — group performance)
2nd Place
Matilda Jones, Nora Lipschutz, Coleytown (“The Legacy of Lewis Hine” — group exhibit)
Madyan Hemdan, Bedford (“The Radium Girls: Shining a Light on Injustice” — individual documentary
Leanne Wong, Bedford (“The Needle That Saved Millions: The Eradication of Smallpox” — individual website)
Brooklynn Flom, Johanna Lawton, Bedford (“Angel of the Battlefield” — group website)
3rd Place
Sofia Farquhar, Bedford (“The Radium Girls” — individual exhibit)
Honorable Mention
James Ben, Bedford (“Truman vs. McArthur: The Firing That Changed History” — individual exhibit)
Gemma Porrino, Charlotte Carr, Bedford (“A Day to Remember: The Attacks on 9/11” — group exhibit)
Dexter Abrams, Rhys Livingston, Coleytown (“The Reform on Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy” — group documentary)
Thursday’s was particularly insightful. Jeff White — a longtime Westporter, former CFO of Major League Baseball, executive vice president of the New York Mets and CFO of CBS News — offered a frank assessment of MLB”s future.
His topics ranged from gambling risks and a looming labor war, to international expansion.
White called legalized sports betting “an accident waiting to happen,” despite the advertising revenue flowing in. He noted that the people most affected by a work stoppage would be the the 500 to 1,000 game day workers, and 400 to 600 full-time staffers at each club.
And he spoke about his vision to bring the professional leagues of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea into an expanded MLB postseason (a true “World Series”).
Jeff White, at the Y’s Men meeting.
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Staples High School 2006 graduate Max Orland has a speech and language disability.
That has not stopped him from achieving many of his dreams.
His career includes positions with the New York Mets, US Open (center court, for Federer and Serena Williams), Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Northeastern University, and Winged Foot and Tiburon golf clubs, plus retail experience (with many awards) at Legends @ Yankee Stadium, J. Crew, Under Armour, Vineyard Vines and Nike.
Most recently, the University of Delaware sport management graduate has been involved with the Miami Heat, and Special Olympics Florida
He writes: “No one can truly embody how I feel living with my personal challenges in speech and language, but moments like this remind me why it’s so important to keep getting involved, whether through work or in the community.
“Being featured on Heat TV wasn’t just about me. It was about the voice I share and what I represent as part of the Miami HEAT organization, and as an advocate for others. I will keep putting myself out there to speak on the importance of inclusive education and inclusion in the workplace, and to be a face for those who may need one when opportunities arise.
“My first year with the Heat has been about more than just a job. It’s about impact and the drive to help make the world a better place. I never take these opportunities for granted, and will continue striving to create meaningful change.”
Click here or below for a video, including words from Max.
After more than 25, Jane Ross, founder and executive director of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities — retired yesterday.
Since launching the non-profit — which serves many Westport families — in 2000, Ross has helped transform the landscape for families raising children with learning and attention challenges.
At a time when parents often felt isolated and unsure where to turn, she helped provide information, guidance, and a community of supportive families.
As usual, our online art gallery features a wide mix of mediums, styles and themes.
And 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.
“Hattie” — pencil on paper (Bill Fellah)
“Frozen River” (Rowene Weems — Available for purchase. click here)
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
“Forgotten” (Nancy Breakstone — Available for purchase; click here)
“Globalization” (Mark Yurkiw — Available for purchase — click here)
“Bren Playing, Sunshine of Your Love” — watercolor (Eric Bosch)
“Don’t Complain and Don’t Explain” — photo with computer enhancements (Evan Stein)
“Ponytail” (Cohl Katz — Available for purchase; click here)
“Arctic Breath” — acrylic resin on canvas (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (June Rose Whittaker — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled (John Maloney)
“Still Life Blueberries” (Miranda Cameron — Grade 8, One River Art student)
Untitled (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
“Flipping Out About the Snake in His Clothes!” (Mike Hibbard)
“Dream the Impossible Dream” — pencil and crayon (Steve Stein)
Untitled (Martin Ripchick — Available for purchase; click here)
“At Ease” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
We sometimes hear real estate agents brag about “getting both sides of the deal” — meaning they represent both the buyer and seller in one transaction.
It sounds like they score twice the commission, for just a little extra work.
That may not show the full picture. “06880” asked our friends at KMS Team at Compass about “dual representation.”
They said: “The listing agent has a considerably heftier lift — more time, more responsibility, more liability, and more room for misunderstanding.
“Representing both sides responsibly takes deep expertise, patience, and an unwavering commitment to ethics. Yet some sellers even manage to negotiate a lower overall commission rate, should the buyer come direct.
“Buyers may come directly to a listing — unrepresented — not out of manipulation, but because they feel empowered. They may have done a few online searches, think they can navigate the process themselves, and sometimes even expect a discount because ‘there’s no buyer’s agent involved.’
“Maybe they believe the process is simpler with fewer people involved.
This new construction on Dogwood Lane includes 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. The 9,100-square foot home is listed for $10.65 million.
“From the listing agent’s perspective, these direct buyers usually come with a set of challenges. They may be less informed about market conditions, unfamiliar with the intricacies of the buying process, and suspicious that the listing agent is prioritizing the seller’s interests — which, of course, they are required to do (see our blog on agency relationships). This dynamic can create confusion and tension.
“When there’s no buyer’s agent in the mix, all the responsibilities of guiding, educating, and facilitating the buyer’s side don’t go away — they simply shift to the listing agent. Managing the timeline, addressing questions, coordinating with their attorney, lender, appraiser, inspectors, decorators, architects and even liaising with a condo board to complete detailed due diligence are all tasks that fall to the listing agent.
“In a properly balanced transaction, both the buyer and the seller have professional advocates. The buyer’s agent explains market context, strategizes around offers, financing, inspections and contingencies, helps manage overall expectations and makes sure crucial details aren’t missed. Meanwhile, the listing agent focuses on marketing and presenting the property, negotiating in their client’s best interest, and keeping the transaction on track.
“Both roles are separate, but equally crucial. Each agent helps streamline communication, protect their client’s interests, and reduce risk. Great deals happen when both sides are represented by skilled professionals who know their roles, respect the process, and work collaboratively toward a smooth closing.
“Because real estate transactions aren’t just about houses — they’re about people, emotions, and major life decisions.”
(“06880” reports regularly on the Westport real estate scene — and everything else in town. If you enjoy coverage like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Janet Francis Filling — a longtime director of the American Red Cross Westport chapter, who went on to hold important positions at the state and national levels — died peacefully at her home on February 12. She was 91.
A New York native who cherished her Flag Day birthday, Janet graduated from Trinity College in Washington, DC.
She began her advertising career during Madison Avenue’s heyday. She married Jim Filling in 1963, and had a son, Greg. The family moved to Westport, which became Janet’s home for nearly 40 years.
Janet Filling
She built a wide circle of friends and professional relationships, through her work in education, publishing and advertising at organizations throughout Fairfield County, and her membership in the Weston Field Club.
Janet found her true calling when she joined the Westport-Weston Chapter of the American Red Cross, eventually serving as its executive director. She combined a deep commitment to community service with a great ability to bring people together through warmth, loyalty and positive energy.
She was a tireless advocate for the Westport-Weston community and took great pride in supporting its residents and institutions.
Janet was a devoted caregiver to Jim during his struggle with Parkinson’s disease, before his death in 1996.
She continued her Red Cross leadership for another decade, becoming involved at the state and national levels and participating in service trips to China and Honduras.
After retiring Janet returned to Manhattan for 7 years, embracing the city’s many offerings and remaining a constant, loving presence in her grandchildren’s early lives.
Janet moved back to Westport in 2013, and into memory care 10 years later. She remained deeply connected to and engaged, attending social, cultural and family events. She made frequent visits to friends in New York, Cape Cod and Italy, and continued to enjoy travel with her family throughout Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.
Despite the challenges of dementia in her final years, Janet maintained a spirit of gratitude and joy.
She is survived by her son Greg (Kristin), grandchildren Jessie and Ryan, sister Charlotte Lent, and niece Diane Lent-Tucker. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sisters Barbara and Muriel Francis.
Balducci’s is leaving. Sprouts is arriving. Big Y is nearly 1 1/2 years old. Stop & Shop has been here a long time.
Before all those supermarkets and grocery stores — plus Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market and Wholes Foods, of course — Westporters’ shopping choices were different.
A&P, First National, Gristede’s — those were the go-to spots.
They were downtown, or close to it. The Westport Food Center was smack in the middle, on Main Street.
In 1948, Westport artist Stevan Dohanos painted this scene there.
Do you recognize anyone? Do you have any memories of the Westport Food Center — or any other long-gone grocery store?
If you were born long after: What seems different — and the same — about today’s shopping experience?
Click “Comments” below. (Hat tip: Anthony Dohanos)
(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!)
Unless — uh oh — there are any more cancellations between now and then.
Last night, the Board of Education approved superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s recommendations to adjust dates, based on recent weather-related closures.
The school year will now end on Thursday, June 18.
Friday, March 20 will now be a regular school day. It had been scheduled for professional development.
The student calendar will be reduced from 182 to 180 days.
Westport’s delegation in Hartford will look very different next year.
State Representative Jonathan Steinberg announced in January that he would not seek re-election this fall.
Yesterday, State Senator Ceci Maher said the same.
As first reported by “Good Morning Wilton,” the 26th District legislator — who represents Westport, Weston and 6 other towns — said her decision “reflects both personal priorities and a broader belief that public leadership should make space for the next generation.”
She said, “As a boomer, it’s time to get out of the way,” she said.
“I love the job, so it’s hard not to run again, not to legislate again, not to be out in the wider community again. But I really believe if we run just because we can, it keeps the stopper in the system. My belief is the next generation needs to be in it and needs to be learning how to do this.”
Maher is 72 years old. She has 2 grandchildren, with a third on the way. She looks forward to gardening, mentoring and more.
This is her 2nd term. She succeeded Will Haskell, a 2-term senator from Westport.
Alisyn Camerota — the former CNN anchor and Westport resident — is used to interviewing prominent political figures.
Joe Walsh — the Tea Party co-founder who is now an ardent anti-Trumper, and a Democrat — is one of those figures.
But when the pair got together — remotely — for Camerota’s Substack podcast, the topic was “grief.”
The journalist and politician spoke candidly and movingly about Camerota’s 19-month journey, after the death of her husband Tim Lewis to pancreatic cancer.
Walsh has a lot to say about the state of our nation, and Camerota has drawn him — and many others — out about it.
Speaking of track and field: The Joggers Club is warming up for spring.
Their Kid’s Run Club — for kindergarten through 8th grade — meets every Sunday from April 5 through June 7, from 4 to 5:15 p.m. at the Staples track.
Eight coaches lead youngsters — of all abilities — in meets, games and relays. (There’s also an ice cream truck). The price is $199 until March 15; then $250. There is a maximum of 100 participants.
The Joggers Club’s run club of adults meets every Saturday at 8 a.m., at Compo Beach.
There are short runs, long runs, and everything in between. The post-run fun is catered by Village Bagels, with coffee from McDonalds. The cost is $50 — and new members get a free Lululemon shirt (value $58).
Speaking of running: For the second year, Westport’s Positive Directions has been selected as a charity partner for the New York Marathon.
Runners who are not drawn from the bib lottery can apply to run for Positive Directions (and pledge to raise a minimum of $3,500).
Last year, 3 PD runners raised over $19,000.
100% of funds support Positive Directions’ mission to support individuals and families in need, and to de-stigmatize and foster mental well being through individual and group therapy, community prevention, and recovery assistance
New York Road Runners CEO (and Westport resident) Rob Simmelkjaer (3rd from left) with Gianna Alfi, Brian McGarvey and Cam Gaylord. They ran the NY Marathon last year, for Positive Directions.
Brian McGarvey and former Staples High School track star Cam Gaylord — both Westport residents — and Gianna Affi
Speaking still of sports: Oscar Edelman — the Westport native and Greens Farms Academy graduate — has had an excellent season for the Wesleyan University basketball team.
The sophomore — a 6-8 starting center — helped lead the Cardinals to a #1 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) ranking. They open NCAA Division III tournament play tonight (Friday, 6:15) at home vs. Lehman.
State comptroller Sean Scanlon gave an informative presentation yesterday, to business owners and others interested in Connecticut finances.
The event, at the Westport Library, was part of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce “Your State – Your Business speaker series.
Scanlon discussed his role as the state’s primary financial watchdog, the rainy day fund, state pension obligations, and financial issues that impact business owners and residents (rising utilities costs, healthcare, taxes and more).
The comptroller noted his experience as CEO of Tweed New Haven, and as a legislator, in the context of transportation and commuting.
The “Your State – Your Business” series continues March 19th (Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, 11 a.m.) and April 2 (Attorney General William Tong). Click here for more information.
State comptroller Sean Scanlon, and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell.
The Blondinit wishes “Chag Sameach” to its customers — and offers a special Passover menu.
Dishes range from matzo ball soup and salatim to Mediterranean chicken, brisket and pistachio-crusted black sea bass. Options include à la carte trays, or packages for 4–6 or 8–12 guests.
Orders must be placed by March 27. Kosher for Passover wines are available for pickup or delivery. A limited kosher menu is available to dine in, April 1-8.
To order: Click here, call 203-557-3277, or email catering@theblondinit.com.
The newest addition to the Levitt Pavilion’s 2026 lineup is Andy Frasco & the UN and Kitchen Dwellers.
They bring “a wildly eclectic approach (to) navigating funk, jazz, surf rock, blues, swing, gospel, reggae, exotica, and more with horn-blasted positivity and soulful power.”
The opening act is Magoo.
The show is August 23. Tickets go on sale today (Friday), at 10 a.m. Click here to purchase, and for more information.. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the artists’ partner charity, Backline Care (offering mental health and wellness resources for music industry professionals and their families).
By a wide margin, respondents to yesterday’s “06880” Cribari Bridge survey favor “adaptive rehabilitation” of the 143-year-old span. That means improving roadway safety and adding bike lanes, while preserving the 12′ 10″ height to continue blocking heavy truck traffic.
As of 6:45 this morning, 464 readers, or 75% — out of a total of 617 who answered the question — chose that option.
Another 98 (16%) selected “full replacement” (meeting all modern height, weight and flood-resilience standards).
The third option — “no change; leave it as it is” — was chosen by 55 (9%).
Cribari Bridge (Photo/Ferdinand Jahnel)
The survey was unscientific (and a few of the 627 participants did not answer every question). But it offers some insight, as Westport grapples with next steps in a decades-long debate over next step for one of the town’s 3 Saugatuck River crossings.
Readers were given 4 elements to rate as “very important to me,” “somewhat important to me” or “not important to me,” when considering the Cribari Bridge.
The most important, according to respondents, was “the potential for use by large trucks.” That was “very important” to 426 (70%), “somewhat important” to 100 (16%), and “not important” to 85 (14%).
“Safety issues — for example, increasing the width” — was “very important” to 356 (58%) and “somewhat important” to 175 (29%). It was “not important” to 80 (13%).
When considering its future, the Cribari Bridge’s history was deemed “very important” by 277 readers (45%), and “somewhat important” by 257 (42%). Another 79 (13%) called it “not important.”
The fourth consideration was “navigability of the Saugatuck River, including the ability of all marine craft to pass underneath.” 173 readers (28%) called it “very important; 276 (45%) said it was “somewhat important,” and 164 (27%) said it was “not important.”
The Cribari Bridge is the oldest swing span of its type in the nation. It is opened manually, to allow marine craft to pass underneath. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
“06880” readers’ preference for “adaptive rehabilitation” aligns with a sense of the meeting vote taken Tuesday night, by the Representative Town Meeting.
Twenty of 21 RTM members present and voting — 95% — said yes to a bridge that would be wide enough for pedestrian and bike lanes, yet low enough to prohibit 18 wheelers.
The lone “no” vote was cast to reflect a desire for restoration, not replacement in any form. Four members abstained.
The full “sense of the meeting” resolution is at the end of this story.*
The Cribari Bridge. (Photo/Patricia McMahon)
The survey asked 3 other questions.
On the issue of whether the town of Westport should buy the Cribari Bridge — which would mean being responsible for renovation and maintenance, without federal and state funding — the majority (369, or 61%) said no. 236 readers (39%) agreed with the idea.
Even more respondents opposed the idea of moving the bridge elsewhere in town, to serve as a footbridge and preserve its history. That idea was opposed by 392 (65%), supported by 210 (35%).
The final question asked: “If the town negotiates with the state Department of Transportation on the future of the Cribari Bridge, which of the following should NOT be up for discussion?”
The most important non-negotiable item — “allowing large truck traffic” — was chosen by 484 (43%).
“Losing the historic look” was deemed non-negotiable by 266 (24%), followed by “keeping height” (172, 15%), “creating a new alignment” (121, 11%) and adding width (7%).
* The RTM “sense of the meeting” resolution” said:
RESOLVED: It is the sense of the Westport Representative Town Meeting that the Town administration should engage with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to ensure that the Cribari Bridge across the Saugatuck river is restored, rehabilitated or replaced as soon as practicable.
Any upgrade should at a minimum maintain or evoke the historic design of the current structure. The finished structure should be wide enough to include pedestrian and bike lanes and a height restriction to ensure that it will not provide access for semi tractor trucks.
(“06880” reports regularly on the Cribari Bridge debate — and everything else in Westport too. If you appreciate our coverage, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
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