Spectacular weather, a great vibe on a crowded beach, enough food to feed an army (though far better than any mess hall), and a sea of red, white and blue provided a perfect backdrop for last night’s 2-days-early 4th of July fireworks.
Westport PAL, Melissa and Doug Bernstein, Parks & Recreation — and everyone else who helped — threw what is always our town’s best party of the year.
And this one was right up there with the best of the best.
Here are some images from the day. Stay tuned for a second set later today.
Compo Beach, from the air. Can you find yourself? (Drone photo/Charlie Scott)
A small part of the large crowd. (Photo/Amy Saperstein)
Young families already know the drill ,,,
… and so do those who have been here a while.
Relaxing, a bit away from the crowd.
Stacie Curran and Jim Izzo.
Lifeguards had a long day. Downtime was always welcome.
Cornhole was fun too, at Old Mill Beach.
Camp Compo artwork. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Mom and daughter: red, white and blue.
Westport PAL president Corporal Craig Bergamo. flanked by PAL representatives Duke Saltus (left) and Andrew Colabella.
… and the view from the water. (Photo courtesy of Linda Mezzullo)
Cool stuff for sale. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Flags and guns, for sale. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted)
The view from Longshore. (Photo/Amy Buckman)
The finale! (Photo/Matt Murray)
(“0688o” celebrates Westport, every day and in every way. But we can’t do it without readers’ support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
The final ticket was just taken for tonight’s fireworks.
Don’t even think of heading to Compo Beach without one.
Folks with tickets, meanwhile, began preparing early for tonight’s fun.
This was Compo Beach at 8 a.m.:
(Photo/Amy Schneider)
Not far away was this scene. (Photo/Abby Gordon-Tolan)
Meanwhile, “06880” reader James Morgan offered these thoughts, in a comment posted earlier today:
“Here we go again, the yearly whine fest from people who assume everybody that doesn’t behave like them is somehow an entitled interloper with no sense of community mindfulness.
“I’m not going this year, but can’t help but feel compelled to share a few observations:
“It’s a Tuesday ahead of what is going to be a long weekend. There are not going to be hordes of people trying to enjoy the beach such that any of these set ups are going to prevent them from doing so. In fact, because of Westport’s decision to schedule away from busy weekend days, this is never an issue.
“Also, because it’s a Tuesday, the world around us is in full swing, with parents working and kids in camp. Preventing people from setting up early would only create more chaos for a major part of our community that don’t have the luxury of sauntering over later in the afternoon
“If you doubt the community spirit of the groups that set up early, come back in the late afternoon. The best of Westport is on display when the beach is full, and I’ve never heard a single story of people fighting over territory or crossing boundaries, or anything else. Instead, it’s sharing drinks and snacks, catching up, making new friends, and appreciating how lucky we are to live in this town
“Oh, and if you are able to make it down to the beach in some capacity during the day today, I’d recommend spending less time worrying about what other people are doing, and more time grateful that life has afforded you the ability to do that.
“That’s certainly my plan when I head over for a run and quick dip later this morning.”
At 6 a.m., the first spots were already reserved for tonight’s fireworks.
(Photo/Pam Kesselman)
This was the scene at 6:30:
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
At 6:40, there was this:
(Photo/Susie Kowalsky)
Ghost encampments will continue to sprout all morning long.
Some will be normal, considerate-of-neighbor-sized. Others will be the Compo Beach equivalent of McMansions.
The upside: The trend of setting up for a party ahead of time has lessened the traffic trying to enter the beach the moment it opens to ticket-holders, at around 4:30 or 5.
NOTE: As of 7:30 a.m., only 15 tickets for tonight’s show remained. They’re being sold today at police headquarters on Jesup Road only.
Organic Krush — the property they were replacing — vociferously said “not true!”
It was. But it took 2 years for it to happen.
The sign is now up. The targeted opening date is the end of this month.
(Photo courtesy of WestportMoms)
As “06880” reported in early June — and WestportMoms alluded to yesterday, in the Sweetgreen announcement — Just Salad is likely to replace Salsa Fresca “before the end of the year.”
Brooks Corner — the 23,945-square foot retail and office complex in the heart of downtown Westport — has been sold.
ARC — a Concord, Massachusetts-based real estate acquisition, development and management firm — bought the property from Westfair Inc., the Brooks family company.
The purchase price was $12,750,000.
Brooks Corner is anchored by Brooks Brothers (no relation to the family that built it), and Lux Bond & Green.
Brooks Corner
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There was no wind, rain or any other precipitating factor.
But a large tree fell just before 9 a.m. yesterday on Easton Road, near Coleytown Elementary School.
Branches hit a car driving past. The driver veered into a stone wall. There were no reported injuries.
More than 50 Eversource customers lost power.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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The Residence at Westport is a senior living community.
But they’ve adopted our town’s youngsters as a cause.
From now through August 31, they’re collecting backpacks and school supplies, to support students in need.
Items can be dropped off in the lobby. The Residence is at 1141 Post Road East, opposite Greens Farms Elementary School.
Westport Rotary Club outgoing president Kenny Epstein passed the gavel to new president Goldie James at the annual traditional dinner on Friday, at Ned Dimes Marina.
Over 70 members ate lobsters, watched the new board sworn in, and enjoyed awards and gifts, as Rotary rang in its 101st year.
Kenny Epstein passes the gavel to Goldie James. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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Ewen Rainer grew up in New Jersey. Jennifer Leigh is from the Branford area. They now live in Charleston, South Carolina.
They planned a religious wedding in Italy. But they wanted a civil one in the US, before heading overseas.
What better place than Westport?
But where? And who would perform it?
They got a list of justices of the peace from Town Hall. They chose Andrew Colabella, based on his close associations with Westport.
In May, the Representative Town Meeting member performed the ceremony on Veterans Green. A dinner, with family members who could not travel overseas, followed at Saugatuck Rowing Club.
The couple is back in the States. They’ve got great memories of Italy — and Westport.
Justice of the peace Andrew Colabella (left), with Ewen Rainer and Jennifer Leigh.
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Wondering how space environments threaten exoplanet habitability?
Dr. Ofer Cohen — an associate professor at the University of Massaschusetts -Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology — answers that question July 16 (8 p.m.), in a free Westport Astronomical Society webinar.
Posted onJuly 2, 2024|Comments Off on Westporter Saves Greek Seagrass
Claudia Sherwood Servidio writes:
I have lived in Westport for 3 years.
I have marveled at a town with water all around. I appreciate having Long Island Sound and the Saugatuck River within walking distance from my home.
Saugatuck River, near Parker Harding Plaza.
I am currently on Lemnos Island, Greece, where I have spent several months every summer for the past 25 years. I free dive, and take underwater photos.
Over that time I have seen changes in the water, including less sea life. This is not just in Lemnos, but all over the planet. It makes me feel both unsettled and motivated.
Claudia Sherwood Servidio, in Lemnos, Greece. (Contributed photo)
Last year I reached out to a Greek non-profit, Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation. I spoke to director Anastasia Miliou, the scientific director of this NGO who is also the Greek Ambassador to the EU for Sustainable Fisheries & Marine Policy.
I spent my winter in Westport communicating virtuallywith the AIMC. Lemnos — the 8th largest island in Greece — has many key resources to protect, including seagrass. They agreed to an expedition to Lemnos in September 2024, based on fundraising.
Mediterranean seagrass (posidonia oceanica near Lemnos).
There is a striking difference between the waters of Long Island Sound where I swim until November, and the North Aegean blue-green waters in Lemnos.
Yet grasses also grow in the Sound, in areas like bays, estuaries and coastal waters. They also hold carbon in their roots.
Seagrass habitats throughout the world are endangered. They need our protection.
Saugatuck River, near downtown.
Seagrasses are amazing plants that are carbon sinks for the planet, even more efficient in storing carbon than the rainforests of the world. Seagrass contributes to the oxygenation of the oceans, prevents coastal erosion, and provides shelter to invertebrate and fish species as well as plants.
Swimming in the Aegean Sea, near Lemnos.
They affect the ecological balance of sea life. When these beds are damaged from anchors or other human destructive behavior, they release the “blue cardon” in their roots into the atmosphere. It can take up to 100 years to regenerate these seagrass beds.
Our pilot program planned for September will bring a research boat and scientific crew to map the seagrass around the entire coast of Lemnos, and do a pilot monitoring of carbon.
Carbon monitoring.
The data collected will be used to create marine conservation programs to share with the community: fisherman, local students, volunteers and tourists. It will create awareness of the importance of protecting seagrass and biodiversity
“Citizen science” is a term used for the community getting involved in their own environment, collecting data and working on projects that offer information that can be useful to scientists.
It educates the population, helps the community understand the scientific process, and creates a sense of well-being and empowerment. Schools also participate in these research activities, as part of their curriculums.
The seagrass map to be created by the institute’s underwater robots will help boats know where their anchors are safe to drop, and not disturb the carbon stored underwater by the seagrass roots.
I formed a non-profit in Fairfield County with a group of Greek-Americans: Lemnos Marine Conservation. We re raising funds through GoFundMe, corporate sponsors interested in green initiatives, and non-profit organizations.
We hope to raise $100,000. The expedition’s cost of $60,000 for 110 days includes 18 researchers, the boat and scientific equipment.
The other $40,000 is to start an educational marine conservation center on the island for locals and tourists, and to share information throughout Europe the US with marine science authorities, such as Rutgers University.
We also plan to create a seagrass and marine conservation prototype to share with other Greek islands.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center in New York is also working with us to develop programs based on climate mitigation, and understanding the spiritual connection between man and nature
If you feel the passion that we do for marine conservation, please click here for our GoFundMe page, and share with others.
We are all in this together. Sometimes grass roots (seagrass roots!) is the best resource.
Tomorrow’s (Tuesday) PAL fireworks display is one of the best days of the year.
And also the one with the heaviest amount of (planned) traffic.
All roads south of Greens Farms Road, between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road, are affected.
Westport Police recommend that attendees plan to arrive early. Traffic delays are inevitable.
The beach will close at 4 p.m. Only vehicles with fireworks passes hanging on rearview mirrors can remain. All others will be ticketed or towed.
The beach should reopen to ticket holders by 5 p.m.
Parks & Recreation staff make entry to the fireworks easy.
For ticket holders:
Access to the fireworks is through South Compo Road only. Hillspoint Road south of Greens Farms Road will be only to residents south of that intersection.
Attendees should display their ticket on the rearview mirror.
All ticket holders must be inside Compo Beach by 9 p.m. No vehicular beach traffic will be allowed south of the Minute Man monument after that time.
Handicap parking is available between the cannons and the pavilion, on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you do not have a ticket:
Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to go any further towards Compo Beach than the Minute Man monument.
Anyone using Uber, Lyft or taxi services will be directed straight past the Minute Man, on Compo Road South. Visitors can walk from Compo Road South and Soundview Drive to the beach.
NOTE: If you use this method of transportation, return service will not be available until after 11 p.m., due to one-way traffic exiting the beach area.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR POST-FIREWORKS TRAFFIC
Just prior to the conclusion of the fireworks display, 2-way traffic will be suspended on Compo Beach Road and South Compo Road to the intersection of Greens Farms Road. There will be 2 lanes of northbound traffic until the beach is cleared.
Residents of this area will encounter delays getting home for approximately one hour, or until traffic has cleared from the beach area.
Anyone planning to pick up people in the beach area should also plan for delays.
There are lots of people at the fireworks (even if they’re not there all afternoon). But after everyone arrives — and the final firework is shot — getting home takes awhile. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Dominique Johnson was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022, to represent parts of Westport and Norwalk in the 143rd District.
The Democratic representative serves as deputy majority caucus chair and assistant majority leader. Representative Johnson sits on the Education, Higher Education & Employment Advancement, and Judiciary Committees.
Before joining the legislature, Johnson serve on Norwalk’s Common Council. Last week, she joined me at the Westport Library for “06880: The Podcast.”
Our wide-ranging conversation included how she ended up in Hartford; what she’s learned and done since arriving there; the differences and similarities between Westport and Norwalk; her take on Westport, and much more.
The beach will be jammed. Folks deck themselves out in red-white-and-blue. There are cookouts, picnics, and flags galore.
“06880” wants to show the world what a Westport July 4th 2nd celebration looks like. Please send photos — of your kids, your decorations, your dog — to 06880blog@gmail.com. The deadline is 10 p.m. tomorrow.
* NOTE: Please stay away from actual photos of fireworks. They pretty much all look the same.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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