Siding was delivered yesterday to 233 Hillspoint Road. That’s the house at the foot of Compo Hill — the site of the former Positano restaurant — that has been swathed in Tyvek since approximately the Ford administration.
No word on when the next phase of construction will be completed. But for neighbors — and the thousands of people who pass by daily — it can’t come soon enough.
The quirky cottage at 246 Hillspoint Road bears a demolition notice.
The hydrangeas are (thankfully) next door. Let’s hope they frame whatever (big) house replaces this one as beautifully as they do, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” image.
And finally … on this date in 1957, a school pal invited 15-year old Paul McCartney to listed to 16-year-old John Lennon’s skiffle group, the Quarrymen, play at a Liverpool church event. Soon after, Lennon invited McCartney to join the band.
The world was never the same.
Though they shared writing credits on dozens of songs, most were written primarily by one or the other. Among the songs they both contributed equally to:
(It’s a holiday weekend. But “06880” never takes a day off. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
We have some colorful submissions. But, surprisingly, nothing directly Independence Day-related.
Of course, it’s a big, wide art world out there.
No matter what color (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.
Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
Yesterday, “06880” ran 2 photos of the 4th of July at Sherwood Island.
Actually, it was the nearby Connector, and I-95 exit ramp. Cars were parked all along — and on Greens Farms Road — because the state park parking lot filled up by mid-morning.
Instead of giving up, hundreds of people hauled umbrellas, chairs and coolers all the way to the shore.
(Photo/John Karrel)
They were not the only out-of-towners to enjoy a Westport beach.
Compo was also packed. There’s a limit to the number of daily passes that the Parks & Recreation Department sells each day. They met that number — 125, at $70 each — early, and stopped any more sales the morning of the holiday.
Folks lucky enough to get in headed for South Beach. They set up tents, spread blankets, grilled, and enjoyed a great holiday with friends and family, at a beach with plenty of amenities.
And plenty of room.
It was a wonderful scene.
I walked by on the pedestrian path, from the kayak launch to the cannons, in mid-afternoon.
I saw people of all ages playing and swimming. I smelled delicious foods. I heard music and chatter.
Most of it was not in English.
It was wonderful.
I was happy to see so many people enjoying our beach. They were there for the day, and they made the most of it.
The rest of the beach — from the cannons to the wooden pavilion– was crowded, but nowhere near the night of the fireworks. There was plenty of space all along Soundview.
I was glad to see our town jewel getting so much enjoyment, by residents and those without regular access to a beach.
Welcome to Compo! (Photo/Ed Simek)
Not everyone shared my joy.
Social media sizzled with comments. Many were disparaging. Some were ugly. (The worst were, thankfully, removed.)
But some people pushed back.
One of the strongest comments came from Dan Roberti. A 2000 Fairfield Prep graduate (and before that, Kings Highway Elementary and Bedford Middle Schools) who spent his high school years as a Compo Beach (and Longshore and YMCA) lifeguard, then moved back to town in 2018 with his wife (Hilary Lister, Staples ’05), he wrote:
“After reading some of the negativity regarding Compo Beach, I want to share my overwhelmingly positive experience, say how grateful I am for Compo Beach, and thank all the town employees who work to make it such a great experience.
“As a counterpoint to the complaints about out-of-towners at Compo, let me offer that as a resident I drove in yesterday at the high point. I had an easy time finding a parking space right on the beach, between the cannons and the pavilion, after being greeted with friendly smiles and waves by multiple Parks & Rec employees at both the entrance and checkpoint. (They undoubtedly had to spend a lot of time turning out-of-town families away, which I’m sure was not easy).
“Despite the beach being significantly fuller than usual, my family had no trouble finding a comfortable spot in the sand for our chairs, umbrellas and toys. Our friends even had room to pitch a tent.
“It’s great having a half mile stretch of beach minutes away from anywhere in town that I have full access to, even on the busiest beach-going day in the entire country.
Sometimes Compo Beach is crowded. Many times, it’s not. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
“The lifeguards, marine police and other emergency personnel did an amazing job of keeping everyone safe yesterday (an additional shout out to the massive effort Tuesday night for the fireworks).
“I love being in a town with a long record of being able to fully staff its beaches with lifeguards, when so many other beaches have faced shortages for decades.
“It was wonderful to see so many people, both from in town and out of town, respectfully enjoying the beach yesterday. I saw families playing catch, sharing meals, building sand castles, walking out as far as the sandbars would allow them, and discovering shells and crabs in tide pools.
“How nice it was of the 3 older kids on the playground who, after talking to each other about how amazing this playground was and how they are so glad they came down to this fun beach today, noticed my 4-year-old waiting to use the ship wheel they had been playing on.
“It’s your turn, little guy,” they happily shouted as they ran off to a different part of the playground.
Kids of all ages — and from Westport and beyond — enjoy the Compo Beach playground.
“Yes, it is true that on this one very busy day some things were inconvenient, like the bathrooms and concession stands (for a 90-minute stretch at the absolute height of the day. But they returned to normal after that point.
“It was otherwise a truly remarkable place to spend the day. And to think, it was only an 8-minute drive from my house, and I spend most weekends at this amazing beach where the parking lot is more than half empty.
“And wow, what a job the Parks & Rec maintenance teams do! Trash cans are regularly emptied; the beach was well groomed (as well groomed as a rocky New England beach can be!); the pavilion, boardwalk, basketball courts, skate park, marina, pickleball courts, picnic areas and bathrooms were clean and safe.
“What a great way to spend the 4th. Thank you to the many hardworking people who made it possible!”
Thanks, Dan. We are indeed lucky to have Compo Beach right here, in (almost literally) our back yard.
And for those lucky enough to snag an out-of-town spot on Thursday: I hope it was your best 4th of July ever.
Yesterday — July 5th — South Beach was back to “normal.” There were plenty of grills for everyone. And Westporters were back to reserving the non-reservable picnic tables. (Photo/Dan Woog)
E.T. Bedford is one of the most famous names in Westport.
“06880” has looked back at the director of Standard Oil — and philanthropist of (among others) Bedford Junior High, Bedford Elementary School and the Westport YMCA — often.
We’ve written about his Beachside Avenue mansion and outbuildings, on property that stretched to Nyala Farm and beyond; the horse race track on his property, and much more.
The Bedford estate, and gardens.
But we’ve never seen the interior of his Green’s Farms estate.
Until now.
This morning, Adam Stolpen sent along a YouTube video, from the “This House” series.
Titled “From Vaseline to Vast Estates” — referencing the product that helped give him his industrial entrepreneurship start — it’s a fascinating look at the man, his life, and his 2 magnificent mansions. (The other was in Brooklyn.)
Click below for a tour of both.
The interior is a bit overdone, for my taste.
But I sure would have loved to seen it, in real life.
Band director at Staples High School is one of the most important — and most visible — positions in town.
Phil Giampietro resigned this spring. He accepted a similar position at Hall High School-West Hartford, closer to his Cheshire home.
His place will be taken by Kevin Mazzarella. A press release says:
“Following interviews with a number of exemplary band directors, Kevin emerged as the unanimous choice of our students and Staples staff. He instantly connected with the students and brings to our program a unique blend of energy, warmth, and outstanding musical talent.
“Kevin was recently named Coventry Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for 2024, where he taught Middle School Band for the past 3 years. Previously, at Cutler Middle School in Groton, he earned the 2018 Teacher of the Year award and was a quarter-finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Under his leadership, the Cutler Jazz Band was selected as a Showcase Ensemble at the 2020 CMEA Conference.”
Mazzarella is a graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. He holds masters’ degrees in music education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and educational technology from the University of Saint Joseph. He completed his graduate certificate in trumpet performance from the University of Connecticut in 2023.
His extensive performance credits span genres from jazz to early music
His previous principal Ross Sward, a former music educator, calls him “one of the best music teachers I’ve ever known.”
Despite morning clouds, it did not take long for the Sherwood Island State Park parking lot to fill up yesterday.
That happens on holiday, and/or hot, days.
But what happened next was new: Drivers pulled to the side of the Connector — and both sides of Greens Farms Road. There were vehicles all the way to the commuter lot.
They parked, picked up their chairs, coolers and umbrellas, and walked to Sherwood Island.
(Photo/John Karrel)
There were even cars on the I-95 exit ramp. A sign there said it was “closed to walkers.”
We see a lot of different types of watercraft off Compo Beach, from jet skis to mega-yachts.
Outrigger canoes — not so much.
But there was one yesterday, off South Beach. The Ke Aloha stopped by, on its way from New Jersey to Milford. From there it will trailer the boat to Gloucester, Massachusetts, to complete in the Blackburn Challenge Race.
During his 50-plus years in Westport, Paul Newman was everywhere in town.
We saw him in supermarkets, shops and restaurants. He and his wife Joanne Woodward handed out popcorn at the Westport Historical Society. He picked up hitchhikers (including me, 3 times).
Newman’s daughter Melissa is a giver in her own right. For 20 yeas, she volunteered at a woman’s prison.
She was casual friends with a social worker there. More than a decade ago, he handed her the gift.
It was a framed poster of her father. Looking straight at the camera — and pointing sternly — the young actor urged all “Young Citizens for Johnson” to register to vote.
Melissa had never seen that poster. “It was one of the best presents I ever got,” she says. She hung it on her kitchen wall. It’s been there ever since.
Four years ago, Melissa’s friend Miggs Burroughs helped change the message to “Research. Register. Vote.” Melissa put that message — with her father’s pointed finger — on t-shirts.
Now she’s doing it again.
As in 2020, she wants the message to be non-partisan. Besides, LBJ is no longer on the ballot.
Click here to order a short- or long-sleeve Paul Newman/Vote t-shirt. There’s also a link in Melissa’s Instagram bio (@melissamudandmusic).
It’s not only non-partisan — it’s non-profit. Melissa will donate $5 from every sale to The Civics Center. The non-profit promotes voting and civics education for young people.
So far, she’s given given them $1,250.
The ordering deadline is July 31. They’ll be ready the last week in August.
With plenty of time left to wear them. And to register, and vote.
For thousands of Westporters, yesterday’s menu was as as American as it gets: burgers and hot dogs.
But as our “Westport … Naturally” photo shows, others opted for fish:
(Photo/Seth Goltzer)
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And finally … on this date in 1996, Dolly the Sheep — the first mammal cloned from an adult cell — was born. It was a mammary gland cell, and whe was named after Dolly Parton.
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He moved away after 3rd grade — at Bedford Elementary School.
For more than 40 years, that’s been Town Hall.
Charlie left Bedford 30 years before that — in 1944.
From the 1920s through the ’70s, Town Hall was Bedford Elementary School.
But he’s alive and well (“tarp as a shack,” he reports). He writes, reads, travels, cooks, bakes, and enjoys life in Arizona.
Now, at 88 years young, he’s looking for local information.
Charlie moved here when his father was transferred from a job in Milwaukee to New York. The family moved first to Murvon Court near Compo Beach, then later to a home on Main Street, a short walk from school.
Charlie Hoke: Easter 1940, at Murvon Court.
His father was involved here with the Saugatuck Toy Company. In 1944, the family moved when he was transferred to Detroit.
Many decades later, Charlie is working on a personal history, and would like to know the names of his 1st grade (1941-42), 2nd grade (1942-43) and 3rd grade (1943-44) teachers.
He has several memories from Westport. One is from December of 1941: listening on a big radio, as President Roosevelt delivered his Pearl Harbor speech.
Charlie also recalls a trip to the fire station (now Bedford Square, across from Pink Sumo), where he pet the firefighters’ Dalmatian, Patches.
Charlie Hoke, at Compo Beach.
Charlie’s uncle, Jimmy DeMaria, was a well-known barber downtown (and was the model once for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post — I’m guessing in an illustration by Westporter Stevan Dohanos),
Charlie recalls 2 Bedford El friends: Mary Bennett, a redhead he adored from a distance, and Bobby Brooks, a “child prodigy drummer.”
Bobby strutted down the street with Charles DeMaria, who was in his Army Air Force uniform, home on leave.
Charlie Hoke’s cousins Bill, Jean and Charlie DeMaria.
How did Charlie come to find “06880,” and request help with the names of his long-ago teachers?
A few months ago, on an Antarctic cruise, he met Westporter Barbara Siemon. They realized both had attended Bedford Elementary School (she more than a decade later than he).
Charlie mentioned his long search for teachers’ names. They’ve been emailing since the cruise, and the other day she mentioned “06880” as a possible help.
So, readers: Go for it.
Charlie Hoke
If you remember the names of Charlie’s Bedford Elementary School teachers — or recall any teachers from that era — click “Comments” below.
If anyone can help, it’s this online community.
And even if you can’t, I’m sure you’ll add some interesting tales from back in Charlie’s — and your — day.
(“06880” is where Westport meets the world — yesterday and today. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Several “06880” readers want to know: How did the American oystercatchers — whose nests are protected on Compo’s South Beach — fare during the fireworks?
Jess Esposito-Halka — coastal water bird technician with Audubon Connecticut — reports: “Overall, the event went well. Everyone we chatted with was happy to know we were there to monitor the birds, and most were respectful of keeping their distance from the fence line.
“A couple of drone issues were resolved as the evening went on. No birds were injured.
“The actual display was quite traumatic for the chick, who was left alone while the parents fled the area. But all was okay after the display’s finale, and the parents returned.
“I went back yesterday morning to check in. The parents and chick were resting along the lower fence line, likely exhausted from the late night.
“Six fish crows were causing some disturbance due to some trash inside the fenced area, I removed it this morning before I left.”
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Speaking of the environment: Nikola Freeman writes with a message about a very common invasive plant — the tree of heaven — and the very invasive spotted lanternflies that feed on it.
In his yard, and throughout his neighborhood, Nikola saw them everywhere.
“Now is a great time to take action,” Nikola says. “The flies are still small and grouped together.
“Spray the flies with vinegar to kill them off, and cut down as many of these weeds as possible whenever you see them. This helps take their food source away.”
Spotted lanternflies on tree of heaven, at Winslow Park last year. (Photo/Michael Mossman)
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Accessory dwelling units are now legal.
What to know more about these detached structures, which open Westport’s housing stock to residents looking to downsize, those who cannot afford to rent larger homes, and those who want to move into a smaller place on their own property, while renting out their larger home? (They’re also great for au pairs and nannies.)
A Westport Library program (July 10, 7 p.m.) features Sheri Koones in conversation with Danielle Dobin, former Planning & Zoning Commission chair.
Koones’ book, “ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution,” profiles 25 attractive, well-designed and energy efficient ADUs across North America.
Sunday morning will be a quiet time at Compo Beach — especially compared to Tuesday’s fireworks, and today’s (dependent on the weather) holiday crowd.
But it’s the perfect spot for the summer 8:30 a.m. community worship service. This week’s host is the United Methodist church of Westport and Weston, led by Rev. Heather Sinclair.
Pivot Ministries — a faith-based residential treatment program in Bridgeport and Norwalk — will provide inspiring music and testimonies. An offering will be collected to support their ministry.
Services run every Sunday through August 18, each week hosted by one of four churches: Green’s Farms Congregational, Norfield Congregational, Saugatuck Congregational Church and UMC.
A beach pass is not needed; tell the gate attendant you are there for worship. Bring a beach chair. Dress is casual. All are welcome.
Rev. Heather Sinclair leads a Sunday beach service last year.
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Speaking of Compo Beach: By yesterday morning — just hours after the last blast — Parks & Recreation crews had cleaned every pizza box, flip-flop, tent and table left behind.
It’s a remarkable transformation. And it meant that couples like this one could go back to enjoying the sun and sand, without sharing their space with 10,000 other people.
Google says there are 42,998 Subway locations worldwide.
It would have been just 1 shy of 43,000, but the Westport location closed a couple of years ago. (It’s now Savvy Smoker. Go figure.)
But there’s one fewer Subway on that list. The Southport location, a few yards over the border — where Westport teenagers and others craving a turkey, tuna or other have had to go — closed Monday.
The nearest one now is on Route 1 in Norwalk, near Marshalls, Truly Greek and the Staples office supply store.
Southport Subway. (Hat tip and photo/Seth Schachter)
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Jolantha — Weston’s favorite pig — celebrates today. Looking red, white and cute!
Photographer Julie O’Connor is the Westport Book Shop exhibitor for July. A reception is set for July 17 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Julie O’Connor
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Ruth Hartmann Kaufman — a longtime Westport resident, and former Staples High School teacher — died last month. She was 93.
The Passau, Germany native arrived with her family in June 1938 through Ellis Island. She lived in Troy and Albany, New York from 1938 until 1948, when she received a scholarship to Cornell University.
After graduating she married Arthur Kaufman. They were together for 77 years ,and married for 72.
Ruth earned a master’s degree from New York University in 1970. That year she began teaching new and somewhat controversial courses at Staples High School: Values Clarification, Family Relations, and Human Sexuality.
She continued teaching for more than 2 decades at Staples with her mentor and friend, Robert Selverstone.
Her family calls Ruth “a good teacher, listener and friend to hundreds of young students as they flourished in their lives, relationships, ambitions and personal development.”
After teaching at Staples she became a travel agent. She explored the world with her husband, visiting cities, forests and countries on every continent.
She enjoyed tennis, rollerblading, skiing, hiking and baking desserts. Ruth and Arthur moved to Seattle in 2000, joining their daughter and grandchildren for another 25 years of hiking in the Pacific Northwest.
Ruth was grateful for the beauty of Westport all her life and spoke warmly of her many friends, the town’s beautiful beaches, and her family’s homes on West Ambler Road, High Point Road, and Covlee Drive.
Ruth is survived by her husband; their children Kenneth, Ronald, Douglas, Theodore and Catherine, and 18 grandchildren. Ruth’s family can be reached by email: Ron@RonKaufman.com.
Ruth Kaufman
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It’s Fresh Market osprey time again at “Westport … Naturally.”
Nearly every photo we’ve run has shown a color close-up of the magnificent raptors.
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