In the 6 months since we introduced this feature, we’ve posted before-and-after shots — pre-teardown, and post-new construction — of homes all over town.
Perhaps nowhere is the trend more evident than on Sprucewood Lane.
Nearly every house at the beginning of the small street off Long Lots Road, near the Fairfield County Hunt Club, has fallen to the wrecking ball.
This week series curator and pre-demolition archivist Dave Matlow offers 4 examples, all very near each other. He worked on this project from 2004 to 2020; these images were taken between 2007 and 2013.
A reminder: This is a community blog. Our neighbors live here. Some built those new structures; others are the second (or beyond) owners.
If you comment, please be kind. Taste is subjective. Wherever we live, everyone has loves their home.
Sarah Lyle is a rising junior at Staples High School. The Troop 139 member is working on her Eagle Scout project.
It may be one of the most important in Westport Scout history.
Collaborating with Westport EMS — where she is an emergency medical responder — Sarah is cataloguing the location of every Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in town.
You’ve seen them at Winslow Park, Compo Beach, schools and athletic fields. AEDs help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, when minutes matter.
With the help of volunteers, Sarah will visit known AED locations, take photos, and add them to a digital map.
Tatiana will personally manage the funds, and work with trusted friends and contacts in Colombia to purchase and distribute supplies where they are needed most. ‘
A small part of the devastation from the Colombia earthquake.
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Westporters know how talented our neighbor Kelli O’Hara is.
But how about her daughter, Charlotte Naughton?
The 12-year-old Bedford Middle School student joined her Grammy-winning Broadway actor mother at an outdoor festival this weekend in Kingston, New York that brought the audience to tears.
Other featured performers included Audra McDonald, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Anthony Rapp.
Click here or below, for Kelli and Charlotte’s stunning “Both Sides Now” duet.
Of course, Charlotte has great genes. Her grandfather is James Naughton, the Tony Award-winning actor. Her father Greg Naughton leads the Sweet Remains. And her brother Owen is a noted Staples High School musician. (Hat tip: Tom Prince)
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Speaking of entertainers: Grammy-nominated country/soul singer Maggie Rose’s new record, “Half Moon,” is out.
It’s got 2 Westport connections.
Staples High School Class of 1979 graduate Judd Fuller plays bass. And it was produced by Daniel Tashian. The son of Staples grads Barry and Holly Tashian (he fronted the Remains, then played with the Flying Burrito Brothers and Emmy Lou Harris; Barry and Holly later performed as a bluegrass duo).
The recent “06880” story about dogs on Westport athletic fields — they’re not allowed, in case you missed it — got an “06880” reader thinking about a similar prohibition on Cockenoe Island.
However, judging by the state of a sign on the town-owned isle a mile off Compo Beach, plenty of visitors may not even know.
Fortunately, other signs — warning about bird nesting areas — are in much better shape.
What better way to start the “Westport … Naturally” week than with this photo of an Eastern giant swallowtail.
Our superb nature photographer — and local expert on all creatures that fly, leap, run and creep — says it is the largest butterfly species in North America.
And finally … on this date in 1969, Woodstock came to a close. Among the most memorable performances:
Jimi Hendrix played his iconic “Star-Spangled Banner” on the final morning, August 18.
(Woodstock is just a memory. But “06880” is here — live and in person — every day, since 2009. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, and our musical detours, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
Ken Bernhard is a longtime Westporter. He spent 8 years representing our town in Connecticut’s General Assembly, rising to assistant minority leader. He was 3rd selectman from 1987 to ’89, then served on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Ken Bernhard
Bernhard has been a board member of the Westport Library, Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, Norwalk Human Services Council, Earthplace, Westport Historical Society, Levitt Pavilion, Aspetuck Land Trust, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, and Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. He has also worked with Syrian refugees.
In advance of tonight’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (6 p.m., Zoom), which includes discussion of a text amendment that would permit a fenced dog area to be located within a park, Bernhard wrote to commissioners:
I am writing to respectfully oppose Text Amendment #874, which would modify §40, Dedicated Open Space and Recreation District #1 to permit 2 fenced recreational dog play areas at Winslow Park.
In my view, this amendment is a solution looking for a problem that does not exist. The existing arrangement at Winslow Park has worked successfully for more than 20 years. One area allows dogs to exercise and play off leash, while another requires dogs to remain leashed.
This arrangement provides a sensible balance and allows different park users to enjoy Winslow Park according to their preferences. Before fundamentally changing a system that has worked for decades, the Commission should identify the specific problem this amendment is intended to address and determine whether that problem exists.
If the concern is that dogs might run into the street, there are far simpler, less expensive, and less intrusive solutions than constructing enclosed dog facilities. A modest fence, wall, or other barrier along the roadway could address that specific safety concern without converting a portion of the park into a confined dog enclosure.
The existing off-leash area of Winslow Park should instead be recognized for what it really is: a people park as much as it is a dog park.
Its value is not simply that dogs are permitted to run free. The existing arrangement allows owners to walk, exercise, socialize, and enjoy the natural surroundings while spending time with their pets. People get exercise alongside their dogs, and the dogs get exercise, socialization, and the opportunity to explore. That combination of human recreation, outdoor exercise, nature, and responsible pet ownership is precisely what makes the existing area so valuable.
Winslow Park is for people too.
This is particularly important as Westport experiences growth in the number of apartment residences. Many new residents, as well as existing residents who live in apartments or other housing without large yards, need accessible places where they can walk and exercise their dogs. Winslow Park serves that need exceptionally well because it allows both people and dogs to get meaningful exercise and socialize together.
A fenced dog run does not provide the same benefit. Once a dog and owner enter a relatively small enclosure, the opportunity for a long walk through the park is eliminated. The owner loses the exercise and enjoyment of walking in the park, while the dog loses the opportunity to explore a larger natural environment.
A fenced dog area would therefore reduce, rather than expand, the recreational value of Winslow Park for many dog owners. The goal should be to encourage people to walk and exercise with their dogs—not simply to provide a place where dogs can be contained.
The proposal is particularly questionable because it calls for 2 separate enclosed areas—one for large dogs and one for small dogs. This distinction makes little sense as a means of promoting safety. Aggressiveness and temperament are matters of individual personality and training, not characteristics that correspond reliably to the size of a dog. Separating dogs simply by size does not address the underlying issue of temperament. And what, exactly, is the plan for medium-sized dogs? Creating arbitrary categories raises more questions than it answers.
Winslow Park (Photo/Ron Henkin)
The proposed location raises additional practical concerns. It does not have convenient parking or a readily available water supply. That makes the location particularly inconvenient for dog owners who want to come to the park to walk and exercise with their dogs. The very feature that makes Winslow Park successful — the opportunity for people and dogs to move through and enjoy a larger natural setting — would be diminished by directing users into a fenced enclosure.
Enclosed dog areas can also become soiled quickly, creating sanitation and maintenance concerns. Concentrating numerous unfamiliar dogs in a confined space can produce tension and conflicts that are less likely to occur when dogs have room to move and interact naturally. These are unnecessary issues to introduce into a park system that currently provides a spacious and natural alternative.
I was a Westport resident when the park was acquired decades ago. A similar proposal was considered around that time by the Parks & Recreation Commission and was rejected. This commission should be cautious about revisiting a proposal that was previously determined to be unnecessary, particularly when the existing system continues to function effectively.
The Winslow Park dog community.
Furthermore, approximately half of Winslow Park remains an area where dogs are required to be leashed. This provides substantial space for residents and visitors who prefer not to encounter unleashed dogs.
Finally, I would strongly oppose any effort to commercialize the proposed fenced area or restrict its use to Westport residents. Such a policy would be discriminatory and unnecessarily unfriendly to people from neighboring communities. Visitors who come to Westport with their dogs are not simply users of our parks; they are also customers of our restaurants, retail stores, and other local businesses. Westport benefits from being a welcoming community, and we should not adopt policies that unnecessarily exclude or stigmatize people who live outside our borders.
Additionally, the enforcement mechanism being proposed by the proponents introduces a new regulatory framework that imposes a cost and logistical burden on residents and non-residents alike.
The commission should preserve what already works well, rather than create an expensive, restrictive facility to address a problem that has not been identified. Winslow Park currently offers something difficult to replicate: a place where people can walk, exercise, enjoy nature, socialize and spend quality time with their dogs, while still providing ample space for those who prefer leashed dogs. It is one of Westport’s assets that helps to make our community both unique and a special place to live.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Commission to reject Text Amendment #874, and preserve the existing, successful arrangement at Winslow Park.
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Tonight’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (6 p.m., Zoom) includes discussion of a text amendment that would permit a fenced dog area to be located within a park,
Emme Dorfman — a rising senior at Staples High School — helped devise the plan. Today, she shares background on how the idea began, and where it stands now. She hopes too to clear up some misconceptions. She writes:
I first came up with the idea for a fenced-in dog area at Winslow Park last year, as a junior. For my Rhetoric & Persuasion class, I wrote a speech about why I thought Westport could benefit from having a secure area where dogs could run off leash.
I have 2 dogs. When we take them to Winslow, we are always a little nervous that one could get away.
After the class ended, I decided I wanted to pursue the idea. I connected with Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member Andrew Colabella, who had also been working to bring a fenced-in dog area to Westport.
Winslow Park. Compo Road North is at the bottom. The Park extends further to the south (left), toward the Post Road.
I was probably a little naive at first, maybe because of my age and lack of experience with town government. I thought the idea was pretty simple: Winslow is a large park, so why not fence in a portion of it, giving residents and non-residents the option of using a secure off-leash area if that works better for them and their dogs?
We initially proposed an area at the south end of Winslow. After presenting the idea at a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, it became clear that many regular Winslow users really value that particular meadow. and that some neighbors across Compo Road also had concerns. While we know there will probably never be a location that everyone agrees on, we heard those concerns and began looking at alternatives.
I also want to clarify that the original south end location was the basis for the survey Mark Mathias conducted and has been shared with so many people.
Since then the proposal has changed, which we will share at the next Parks & Recreation meeting. A few weeks ago, Andrew and I met with David Floyd (Parks & Rec chair).
We discussed a possible location on the opposite end of the park, closer to the Compo parking lot and by Post Road. We think this could address many of the concerns we heard. because it would not interfere with the meadow or the way most people currently use Winslow. It would simply be an additional option for dog owners who want or need a secure place for their dogs to exercise. Nothing is official; we are just exploring other options.
One possible location for the fenced-in area: a section near Compo Road North and the Post Road (behind trees in the photo above). It is currently little used by dogs and walkers.
Because of this, I think it is important to recognize that some of the people currently speaking out based on the survey may be responding to information about a proposal that is no longer being considered.
This project is about giving people options. People who love using Winslow exactly as they do today should continue to do that. No one would be required to use the fenced area or change the way they enjoy the rest of the park.
For residents and non-residents who want or need a secure off-leash option, we think there should be one available. We also believe convenience and accessibility for the people and dogs who would use the area are important considerations, alongside aesthetics.
My grandfather is 80 and can’t easily walk around Winslow, but he would love to be able to get out of his car, bring his dog into a secure area, and let him run and get the exercise he needs. My sister recently hurt her knee playing soccer, but she can still enjoy being there with them if they have a secure place to play.
I also understand that some people have raised the point that Winslow is officially considered a park, rather than a “dog park.” But dogs are already clearly part of how Winslow is used. At the entrance there are dog waste bags, a dog water fountain, and signage specifically addressing dogs and their use of the park. Regardless of the official terminology, Winslow already accommodates people using the park with their dogs. We are simply proposing an additional option within that existing use.
We have also adjusted other parts of our original proposal based on feedback. For example, we initially discussed a key-fob access system. We heard concerns about that, so we are no longer proposing it. Instead, the idea would be for dog owners to have the appropriate vaccination and rabies documentation through the town registration process.
Enforcement has also been raised as a concern. That is something we would continue discussing with the dog warden, who we have spoken with, and the town. The fenced area would have clearly posted rules, and users would be expected to behave responsibly, clean up after their dogs, respect other users and follow those rules, just as people are expected to do throughout Winslow today.
I also wanted to clear up one misconception. My mom was at Winslow today and spoke with people who were circulating a petition. She was told that some people are concerned that the entire park could eventually be fenced in. That has never been part of our proposal. We are proposing one designated fenced-in area within Winslow. As information gets passed from person to person, details can understandably get confused, which is one reason I wanted to send this update.
Additionally, no changes would be made to the on-leash versus off-leash areas. Those rules would remain the same.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
We haven’t been providing many updates this summer because when we spoke with Parks & Recreation, we were told that things tend to be quieter during the summer and would pick back up in September. Nothing has been decided behind the scenes.
Our next step is tonight’s Planning & Zoning meeting, where we hope to have a text amendment approved. It would simply allow us to move forward with the process; it does not approve a location or a final dog park plan.
If the text amendment passes, the next step would be to develop and present a specific proposal, including the potential new location, and continue gathering input from everyone — residents and non-residents, people who currently use Winslow, neighbors, and people who may not use Winslow today because they don’t feel comfortable having their dogs off leash.
We would really like to work together as we move forward, so that any future survey reflects the most current proposal, and accurately explains what is and isn’t being considered. We don’t want anyone to feel that their concerns haven’t been heard. Many of the changes we are considering are a direct result of listening to those concerns.
What we’ve learned is that people in opposition may speak up more loudly than the people in support. We understand how important it is to listen, adjust, and try to find a solution that works for as many people as possible.
(“06880” reports regularly on town affairs — political, environmental, human, canine and more. If you appreciate our 24/7/365 work, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Between the difficulty of the image, and the fact that everyone was outside enjoying the beautiful weather, last Sunday’s Photo Challenge drew a perhaps record-low 6 responses.
And none were correct.
John Maloney’s shot of a wooden fence underneath a stone arch was not from Compo Road South by Appletree Trail.
No problem. Every Sunday, there’s a new Photo Challenge. This week’s is moderately similar.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
The “No Dogs on Sports Fields” signs around town are often ignored.
But $77 fines might start getting some owners’ attention.
The Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Animal Control advise the public that they’ll stringently enforce the ordinance in the weeks ahead.
As Parks & Rec staff prepare the fields for the school year, they’ve found what one town official calls “an incredible amount of dog poop.” It’s especially bad at Wakeman Fields, adjacent to Bedford Middle School.
Animal control officer Peter Reid explains: “People can walk dogs on the walkways, but must have verbal or physical control of the dogs. I’ve seen quite a few dogs that stay right at their owner’s side, and those are fine.
“Specifically at Wakeman, people can walk dogs along the perimeter, but the dogs should be leashed. We can’t have dogs romping on the fields anymore, given the large percentage of owners that are not picking up after themselves.”
“And the outfield at the baseball field is part of a playing field. Some walkers were treating that like part of the perimeter.”
We’ve been blessed with several days of spectacular weather.
Yesterday was another perfect day at the beach.
Just another August Saturday at Compo Beach. (Photo/Susan Garment)
Thirsty visitors enjoyed dirty sodas. The non-alcoholic beverages are made by adding flavored syrups, fruit purees, cream or half-and-half, and a fruit garnish.
Three girls — Madeline, Olivia and Zoey — have created a business called (of course) Cherry on Top. They drew a great crowd (including lifeguards, who got freebies).
The girls …
Cherry on Top will be back the weekend of August 29.
… and their menu. (Photos/Jessica Eno)
That was not the only vendor yesterday. These young entrepreneurs sold ice pops (and did not care if you had no cash):
(Photo/Susan Garment)
Meanwhile, on South Beach, there was this wedding (or reception — hard to tell, since we were not invited):
(Photo/Sunil Hirani)
The couple rolled the dice — weather-wise — for this one, and won.
Let’s hope the rest of their marriage sails as smoothly, too.
Over near the cannons, Staples High School’s Classes of 1969 through ’74 gathered for a day-long reunion.
It was a chance to hang with old friends — and meet new ones. Everyone may not have been at school together, but when you’re in your late-60s to mid-70s, you’re all basically the same age.
And hey — those are the same numbers as the graduation years themselves.
Freaky!
Looking good, more than 55 yeas later! (Photo/Susan Garment)
Finally, not far away, these gulls gathered.
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
They were either chatting, waiting to pounce the moment a bit of food was left ungarded.
Or they were imitating the chairs that humans plop down every year, saving space for the Independence Day fireworks.
Next weekend (August 22-23, 1 to 6 p.m.), you can see a wide variety of his images — up close, personal, and much larger than on a screen. The venue is his 11 Riverside Avenue studio, near the Post Road West corner.
The show will feature new works, ready to hang. His style includes photographs that resemble paintings, and photographic wall clocks.
Guest photographer David Stone, also a Westport resident, will contribute recent works.
It’s celebrated every August 16, to commemorate the anniversary of the first vertical loop roller coaster patent (issued to Edwin Prescott in 1898 — but you knew that, right?
Westport families are gearing up for the new school year.
Supply lists are checked off. Backpacks are dusted. First-day photos are planned.
Also ahead: an enormous plastic consumption surge. Single-use snack bags, water bottles, vinyl binders — the waste is about to begin.
Sustainable Westport is ready. The town’s non-profit environmental organization just released its UnPlastic Your Back-to-School Prep guide. It includes practical swaps for everything from classroom supplies to lunch
Students often lead the way.
For example, Staples High School rising senior Sienna Schwartz has turned plastic-free living into a personal project. She founded Speckless, a resource that helps people cut plastic out of their daily routines.
The other day, she gave Sustainable Westport a tour of her own lunchbox drawer and fridge. Watch the full video here.
Sienna’s favorite swaps include:
Lunch containers: Black+Blum stainless steel boxes with a built-in fork and divider, and S’well salad containers that keep dressing and toppings separate from the greens underneath.
Snack & sandwich storage: Stasher reusable silicone bags in place of zip-top bags for packing sandwiches and snacks. They’re dishwasher safe, and reusable all year.
Produce wraps: Beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap, or a Ziploc for something like half an avocado. A little warm water and dish soap after use, and it’s ready to reuse.
Leftovers:Non-toxic Caraway pots and pans in the kitchen, so dinner leftovers like salmon salad are easy to pack for lunch the next day.
Grocery habits: Reusable bags for grocery runs, a small swap her family makes every week.
Sienna cites the biggest opportunity for improvement: plastic water bottles. They’re the largest source of avoidable plastic waste among her peers — and an easy first swap for any student, with a reusable bottle.
A familiar sight at Westport playgrounds and athletic fields.
Sienna’s setup is a reminder that “unplastic-ing” a lunch routine doesn’t require buying everything new at once. Reusing what’s already in the kitchen drawer, and replacing single-use items as they wear out, can make a meaningful dent in a household’s plastic footprint over a school year.
Sienna Schwartz
Sienna’s water bottle callout aligns with work already underway across Westport. This spring, Sustainable Westport partnered with the Parks & Recreation Department to install 2 new water bottle filling stations, at Compo Beach and Winslow Park.
But that’s not all. The organization is fundraising to install more stations at locations including Old Mill Beach, PJ Romano and Wakeman Fields. and the Town Farm complex.
Sustainable Westport hopes Sienna’s routine inspires other families to look at back-to-school prep with fresh eyes. To read the full guide, and see specific product recommendations for lunch and classroom supplies, click here.
Sienna will share more back-to-school tips and recommendations throughout the month. Follow @sustainablewestport on Instagram to catch her videos.
(“06880” regularly reports on the environment, our schools — and, like today, their intersection. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
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