Posted onJuly 27, 2025|Comments Off on Soundview Summer Stroll Is On Today!
Sure, there’s a chance of showers midday, and possible rain late in the afternoon.
But that shouldn’t keep anyone away from today’s Soundview Summer Stroll.
The Compo Beach exit road will be closed to trafffic, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bands will play rock, pop and funk music. A face painter (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), photo booth (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and plenty of special kids’ activities will add to the fun.
Romanacci’s will sell food, and gelato.
And — with Soundview Drive closed to cars — it’s a perfect opportunity to stroll (with or without a stroller), Rollerblade, meet old friends and make new ones.
The 2nd annual Soundview Summer Stroll is a gift to Westport from “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association, with plenty of help from our Parks & Recreation Department.
It won’t be too hot. Bring an umbrella (just in case…).
We look forward to seeing you at the Stroll!
Scenes from last year’s Summer Stroll. (Photos/Benji Porosoff)
Comments Off on Soundview Summer Stroll Is On Today!
It’s late July. If you’re a youth sports parent, this may be one of those rare times: a weekend without your kid’s “elite” team playing a couple of games, or traveling to a “showcase” tournament.
Maybe your child’s batting, shooting or goalkeeping coach is on his own vacation.
But the clock is ticking. The fall season — for youth and high school sports — starts in a few minutes. The 11 1/2-month cycle begins again.
Much of it is driven by one goal: to catch the eye of college coaches.
Dave Smith has an important perspective on it all.
He and his wife Jeanne have lived in Westport for over 15 years. Their 4 children played multiple sports, including football, basketball, lacrosse, baseball and volleyball.
Caleb (Staples High School Class of ’24) is playing lacrosse at Boston University. Nathan, a Staples senior, will play football at Trinity College. Chloe is a Staples sophomore, while Noah looks forward to being a freshman there next fall.
From left: Nathan, Caleb, Dave, Noah, Chloe and Jeanne Smith. Caleb and Nathan starred on Staples’ 2024 state champion football team.
Dave played basketball and ran track at Trinity. He runs a leadership coaching practice. Today — with years of youth sports experience behind him — he offers these insights into college recruiting:
Lots of parents shell out lots of money, while trekking all over the country to help their kids succeed in sports.
“Two in 10 youth sports parents,” the article says, “think their child has the ability to play Division I college sports.”
Playing college sports is a terrific dream, one our family has pursued for all our kids. And we contributed mightily to the youth travel industry along the way.
Recently, my oldest Caleb and I were on an “06880” panel discussing the challenges of navigating youth sports. The notoriously opaque process of college recruiting can be even more bewildering. Having stumbled through recruiting with 3 of ours, my perspectives may be helpful for parents mapping out your child’s journey.
Staples High School sports signing day ceremony, 2024. College sports is a goal for many young athletes (and their parents). But the road is far from smooth. (Photo/Lynda Kommel-Browne)
√ With the NCAA athlete settlement in June, universities opting in (to avoid future litigation) will have roster limits (no more walk-ons), and pay athletes a portion of the school’s revenues. NCAA football and basketball will become the equivalent of baseball’s minor leagues. To play at these Power Conference schools, D1 recruits typically attend specialized private/prep schools, and oftentimes “re-class” (repeat a grade) to have a chance.
√ For smaller D1 schools who don’t opt in (like the Ivy and Patriot Leagues), competition for recruitment is fierce. Even at this level, if you don’t fit the D1 football or basketball measurables for size and speed, you’re unlikely to be considered, regardless of your high school career success or performance at showcases and camps.
√ Some college sports – such as swimming, rowing (erg stats) and track – recruit solely on times.
√ Lacrosse (boys and girls) remains the most viable college recruitment path for Fairfield County public school athletes. The Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) is one of the top high school lax leagues in the country. Size does not matter as much as speed and athleticism, making lacrosse viable for many more athletes. As a result of Title IX, the path is easier for girls (125 D1 lax programs) than boys (73 D1 lax programs).
√ Rugby is an up-and-coming sport, with a blossoming youth league and a nationally ranked program at Staples. Size is less of a factor in rugby recruiting than in football.
√ College coaches still value multi-sport high school athletes. They demonstrate a variety of skills, and can adapt to play multiple positions — providing teams with the flexibility needed in today’s college game.
Playing more than one sport is appealing to college coaches. Athletes learn how to deal with a variety of pressure situations, and learn from various coaching styles — while avoiding burnout and overuse injuries. (Photo/Mark Conrad for Ruden Report)
√ D1 recruiting for most sports is heaviest after one’s junior season. Communication with college coaches is conducted through the high school coach. D1 lacrosse recruiting (boys and girls) is heaviest after their sophomore season, and is conducted through their summer club team coach.
√ College coaches prefer not to communicate through parents. In fact, pushy parents are seen as a negative, and can hinder prospects. In my view, college recruiting firms are not worth the money.
√ Lastly, D3 sports are grossly underrated. The quality of competition is tremendous, much better than when I played. Most D3 schools participate in both conference tournaments and national D3 championships. D3 may be an ideal target for public school athletes, especially those who are undersized by D1 standards.
Playing a sport in college is a fantastic experience, and an awesome goal for any athlete. But I try to remember what Tony Boselli, a National Footbal League Hall of Fame lineman and All-American at the University of Southern California told an audience of all-staters: His fondest memories across his entire football career were those high school Friday nights, running onto the field representing his classmates and his town.
Yes, work for the future. But be sure to enjoy the present!
Some Staples High School lacrosse players will continue in college. All will always remember their state championship. (Photo/JC Martin)
Our 2nd annual Soundview Summer Stroll is on tomorrow.
A few showers should not dampen the fun. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Soundview Drive — the beach exit road — will be closed to traffic.
The street will be filled with live music, kids’ activities (face painting, chalking, etc.), a photo booth, food and more. We welcome everyone to walk, stroll, Rollerblade, and enjoy Westport at its best.
The Soundview Summer Stroll is offered free of charge, by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. See you there!
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Westport Police can’t say it enough: Don’t leave your keys in your car.
Especially if it’s a Bentley.
One was taken Thursday, from the Westport Country Playhouse parking lot. between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Police are reviewing surveillance tape.
Not necessarily the stolen vehicle.
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Want clean water, and a thriving Long Island Sound? And a chance at prizes worth over $1,000?
All you need is a kayak, paddleboard or canoe — and a place to launch from.
Between August 1 and 10, paddlers of all experience levels can join the 10th annual “Paddle for the Sound.”
Paddle at your own pace, from any location. Track your miles, and submit your progress.
All proceeds from registration fees (and any other team or friends fundraising) will support Save the Sound’s work to protect the Sound and its rivers, restore vital habitats, fight climate change, and preserve the lands that sustain the region’s wildlife and communities.
Long Island Sound is home to over 100 plant species, 1,200 invertebrates, and 170 fish species. Birds and wildlife make their homes along its shores and islands. It’s important to the regional economy, and a great resource for swimming, fishing, paddling and connecting with nature.
It faces serious threats from pollution, habitat loss and warming waters, which Save the Sound works to solve.
Paddlers will compete for prize packages worth more than $1,000, based on total distance paddled.
And finally … today is a musical birthday bonanza. Darlene Love turns 84. Mick Jagger is 82. Bobby Hebb, Dobie Gray and Brenton Wood were all born on July 26 too.
Rather than single any one entertainer out, I’ll honor another anniversary. On this date in 1775, the office that later became the US Post Office was established by the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin was named our first Postmaster General.
PS: Alex Chilton was just 16 years old when he sang lead on this #1 hit. He and the rest of the Box Tops did not even pretend they were faking it on this show.
Posted onJuly 26, 2025|Comments Off on Online Art Gallery #276
We welcome 4 new artists — including 2 teenagers — to this week’s online art gallery.
Their submissions underscore what this weekly feature is all about .
No matter how young (or old) you are; 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.
Untitled (Duane Cohen — Available for purchase; click here)
Untitled — colored pencil (John Jannotta — 18 years old)
“Self-portrait” — pencil on paper (William Fellah)
“the Blind Date” — digital illustration and composition (Ken Runkel — Available for sale; click here)
“Pink Patio Flower Pot” — watercolor (Eric Bosch)
Untitled — watercolor (Jo Ann Davidson)
“Still Life of a Lemon” (Jenny Sherinsky Stein)
“The Curl” (Tom Doran — Available for purchase; click here)
“Light Dance” — photograph (Jerry Kuyper)
Untitled — photograph (Cohl Katz)
“Footsteps on the Beach” — oil on canvas (Lindsay Kulla)
Untitled — photograph (Beth Cody)
“Ceremony of Friendship and Hope” (Mike Hibbard)
“Ready to Wade, Bathe or Gossip” (Steve Stein)
“Handful” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
A reader writes: “Since returning to Westport 5 years ago, I have heard people say ‘New Yorkers ruined this town.’
“Having lived in several other places, I know for sure that this is not a ‘ruined’ town! But I wonder: Is there any data on the makeup of Westport? How many people have lived here 20+ years? Where are new residents coming from? Is Westport really ‘overrun’ with New Yorkers?”
Good questions, all. For answers, I turned to our friends at KMS Team at Compass.
Their data for the last 5 years shows that a clear majority — 58% — come from … Connecticut.
And some — perhaps even many — of those moves involve residents already living in Westport. For reasons ranging from a need for more space (or less) to a desire to experience a different part of town, they sell and buy properties only a couple of miles away.
It’s true that New York is the most popular outside feeder state for Westport. But KMS agents say that many of those buyers are returning home. They grew up in Fairfield County — some even in Westport — and then moved to New York as they began careers and families.
Longevity is also challenging to measure. But using the SmartMLS Tax System, KMS says: “Because we know people continually move within the town, it is safe to say that 20% of Westporters have lived here over 25 years, and 50% have been here at least 10 years.
“Although nearly a quarter of our housing stock changed hands in the last 5 years, a mere 6.4% of the buyers (646) were from New York.”
The chart above also provides interesting school district data. While KMS notes that many clients have an affinity for one elementary school, the staying power within each district is essentially the same.
Median sales prices within the districts, however, have changed dramatically:
Home selling prices are influenced by the quality and availability of homes for sale. This data is obtained from the SmartMLS. KMS says that private sales are not reflected in these numbers. Off-market transactions have become increasingly popular since the onset of COVID, and persist as clients value their right to privacy and discretion.
New home construction and custom builds (which are also often off-market transactions) are also a factor.
As the market remains tight, buyers are pleased to close sales.
Wherever they come from.
(“06880” reports regularly on real estate news and trends. If you enjoy our coverage — or any other features of your hyper-local blog — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
This afternoon’s brief — but fierce — Compo Beach storm left this aftermath … (Photo/Liz Bloch Lindecke)
… while this was the scene not far away, at Sherwood Island State Park. Photographer Chris Swan explains: “The large cumulonimbus cloud passed over Sherwood Island and Burying Hill at 3:45 p.m. The interesting weather was caused by heat, humidity and a front approaching from the Hudson Valley.” … (Photo/Chris Swan)
… and the view from Burying Hill Beach (Photo/Wendy Levy)
The other day — July 4, in fact — Mark Mathias spotted this plaque, hidden away on the broad front lawn of the Saugatuck Congregational Church:
The message is straightforward: 49 years ago — to commemorate America’s bicentennial — a time capsule was buried.
It was to be opened 50 years later, on our semiquincentennial (250th birthday).
Presumably, it’s buried underneath the plaque.
The church has a year to figure out how to dig it up, and what kind of ceremony to hold. Mark has already notified the church moderator and council.
(NOTE: The plaque refers to the Saugatuck Church as the site of the founding of Westport, in 1835. That’s true. But at the time, the church building was located diagonally across the street, where the gas station and bank are now.)
(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!)
It’s one of my favorite local non-profits — though I’m not technically allowed as a member. The acronym stands for Assisting Women Through Action, Resources and Education.
Each year the group selects a women’s cause, then partners with a charity to benefit it. Through a fundraiser, hands-on activity and educational event, AWARE shines a light on a different meaningful women’s issue.
One year for example, AWARE partnered with Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, a Bridgeport transitional home, to support female veterans.
Each month, AWARE volunteers served dinner to homeless female vets there. They assembled diaper bags filled with newborn supplies, for pregnant veterans in need. And they organized a panel discussion in Westport, with female veterans from 4 military branches.
Another year, the partner was Her Time. They help women impacted by incarceration and domestic violence.
AWARE provided monthly dinners in Bridgeport. Members gave presentations on finance, parenting health, low-cost nutrition, special education, writing, mindfulness, family meals and meditation — among many other collaborations.
On Wednesday, members got together at Compo Beach. They’re making plans for the 2025-26 partnership.
And they’re getting ready for a new member coffee. It’s next Thursday (July 31, 11 a.m., location TBD). To learn more about AWARE — including the location of the coffee — email info@awarect.org.
Speaking of Compo Beach: Our 2nd annual Soundview Summer Stroll is on this Sunday — rain or shine.
A few showers should not dampen the fun. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Soundview Drive — the beach exit road — will be closed to traffic.
The street will be filled with live music, kids’ activities (face painting, chalking, etc.), a photo booth, food and more. We welcome everyone to walk, stroll, Rollerblade, and enjoy Westport at its best.
The Soundview Summer Stroll is offered free of charge, by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. See you there!
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held its annual summer get-together last night, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Members enjoyed conversation and networking; food from A&S, Basso, Calise’s, Rizzuto’s, Spotted Horse, Viva Zapata and Zucca Gastrobar — and a special preview mini-concert by The Moonrise Cartel.
The folk/indie rock/Americana/touch of gospel band played to a full lawn later in the evening.
The Moonrise Cartel, on the Levitt Pavilion terrace. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Packed lawn at the Levitt. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
Chamber gatherings always draw a diverse crowd. Last night’s included a number of local politicians. In the early days of the election season, conversations were low-key, genial — and across the aisle.
Kevin Christie (left) and Don O’Day — both running for 1st selectman — with Abby Tolan, Board of Education member seeking another term. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The upcoming 3 shows are all free.
Tonight (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), it’s Danny Lipsitz & the Brass Tacks: swing, jazz, rock, klezmer, jump blues, and traditional pop.
Tomorrow (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.) features singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Hamilton.
Sunday’s headliner (7 p.m.) is Leonardo Suarez-Pas Piazolla 100 Tango — with a free tango lesson at 6:15.
Also last night: The well-received opening of “From Broadway to Hollywood,” at the Westport Country Playhouse.
“Broadway” comes to the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Susan Garment)
The concert — celebrating classic stage and screen scores — continues tonight (Friday, 8 p.m.) and tomorrow (Saturday, 3 and 8 p.m.). For tickets and more information, click here or call 203-227-4177.
“Combat Love” — noted TV journalist Alisyn Camerota’s memoir that is an always frank, often surprising and deeply personal story of her turbulent teenage years, and how they colored the rest of her family life and career path — comes out in paperback on Tuesday.
Since leaving CNN a few months ago, the Westport resident has branched out into Substack writing and podcasting.
Shorefest — Friends of Sherwood Island State Park’s annual fundraiser — is set for Setpember 5 (6 p.m.), at the Pavilion.
Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction help protect the coastal sanctuary, expand wildlife habitat, restore trees, and fund educational outreach. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Shewood Island: Connecticut’s first state park, right here in Westport.
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We’ve featured lots of wildlife (deer, bees, birds, etc.) — and plenty of flowers and foliage in recent “Westport … Naturally” photos.
Today we turn to water. This was the serence scene the other day at Deadman Brook, near the pedestrian bridge between the Levitt Pavilion and Imperial Avenue parking lot:
And finally … Chuck Mangione — described by the New York Times as the musician “whose limpid fluegelhorn ruled the upper reaches of Billboard’s adult contemporary charts in the 1970s and ’80s with a culture-permeating lilt that helped create the genre known as ‘smooth jazz,’ died on Tuesday at his home in Rochester, New York. He was 84.
(Every day, “06880”‘s Roundup delivers news about people, groups, events, random stuff, and all that jazz. If you enjoy this — or any other feature — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
People, organizations, events, businesses, history, photos, entitled drivers — if it happens here, we post about it.
We throw an occasional bone to Weston too. Keith Richards, José Feliciano, Devil’s Den, the Museum & History Center — all are worth covering.
Very occasionally, we’ll mention something about Fairfield (their 8-30g battles) or Norwalk (Stew Leonard’s, Wegmans) — provided there is a clear and important connection to “06880.”
Today is one of those days.
Manresa Island is that piece of land we see from Compo Beach. Its most prominent feature is a power plant.
Manresa Island (smokestack in the distance), can be seen on a clear day from Compo Beach.
In fact, the reason the island has grown from its original 23 acres to its current 144 is because Connecticut Light & Power (now Eversource) filled in the titdal flats with coal ash.
One view of Manresa Island …
The plant — converted from coal to oil (which subsequently spilled, causing significant environmental damage) — was sold to NRG Energy in 1999, and severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It closed the next year.
Manresa Island has a fascinating history.
At one time, it was owned by the Jesuits. The established the Manresa Institute, a retreat for prelates and laymen.
… and another.
For a sight so prominent in our vista, most Westporters know nothing about Manresa Island.
Including the fact that a year ago a non-profit organization acquired the property. They hope to remediate the coal ash and asbesetos, and turn it into a park.
That vision of a wealthy couple, Austin and Allison McChord, began as they kayaked past Manresa. They created a non-profit to carry out their dream.
The transformation would open 1 3/4 miles of Norwalk’s shorefront to the public. The 125-acre park would include trails, a canopy walk, a public beach, play spaces, boat rentals, and a lawn for concerts.
Plans for Manresa Island …
The power plant would be turned into a large space with climbing walls, an indoor water park, food vendors, enviornment educational center, and flexible event space.
Demolition of the 3 7.5-million gallon steel oil tanks that sat empty for over a decade was completed last month. The smokestack will remain.
… including new uses of the turbine building …
Proponents call the project a model for the adaptive reuse of industrial sites and resilient waterfronts globally. It is expected to be fully completed by 2030.
Manresa Island is ecologically important. Undeveloped portons include a coastal forest and intertidal estuaries — some of the last remaining undisturbed marine habitats on the Fairfield County coast.
Wetlands serve as breeding grounds for migratory birds, and are home to 200 or so bird species. Waters around the island are essential habitats for many fish.
… and outdoor educational and recreational areas.
Yet Manresa is not the only Norwalk Island in the news.
ROAN ventures — developers of the Saugatuck Hamlet project — recently bought 4-acre Betts Island and 1.5-acre Calf Pasture Island. Plans for the islands are unclear.
Those for Manresa Island, on the other hand, are very clear.
Even if many Westporters — just a couple of miles across Saugatuck Shores and Long Island Sound, as the gull flies — have absolutely no idea what lies next to the smokestack.
Or what lies ahead.
(To learn more about Manresa Island’s future, click here.Hat tip: Janine Scotti)
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