Submissions to our online art gallery cover the waterfront — and not just Compo Beach.
Westport artists and photographers roam far and wide. Today, for example, we featured not one but two photos from Key West. (They’re the first and last below, which you probably could have guessed.)
We always appreciate everyone’s submissions — wherever they come from. This feature is open to all readers. Whatever your age and level of experience — professional or amateur, young or old. In every medium, and on every topic.
All genres are encouraged. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, lithographs, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage and (yes) needlepoint — whatever you’ve got, email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Share your work with the world!
I have no idea. All I know is it’s a nice street off Whitney. And I think Michael Douglas lived there — at least for a while — with his mother.
For that matter, who was Whitney? The Abbott of Abbott’s Lane? The The Pamela and Plunkett of their Places?
This should keep the Answer Box of our Question Box filled. If you know the back story of interesting Westport road names (though not, obviously, Main Street, North Avenue or the like), let us know!
I think a young Michael Douglas once lived near Webb Road, on Whitney Street.
I think I know the rivers and reservoirs in our area. But I wonder: Does any map show the creeks, streams and brooks? All I found is that you can step over a brook, jump over a creek, wade across a stream and swim across a river. (Jeff Jacobs)
Muddy, Willow and Deadman — those are 3 of our brooks (which I’ve always thought of as “streams” too). I’m not sure if we have a creek.
There’s our old friend Google (as in Google Maps). You’ll need to zoom out or in, depending on your settings.
But maybe there’s a geological survey or topographical-type map that’s better. If you know of one, please share!
Deadman Brook flows into the Saugatuck River by the Levitt Pavilion. I’m not sure if you could actually “step over” this. (Photo/Judy Jahnel)
There’s a big rock off Saugatuck Shores named Seymour Rock. Any idea who Seymour was? (Jack Harder)
Nope. And to be honest, I’ve never heard of Seymour Rock in my life.
But a quick search confirmed it. Last year, Westport Local Press ran a photo of Longshore Sailing School students exploring it — as a “rite of passage” — off Bluff Point.
So ask John Kantor. Or Jaime Bairaktaris. They’ll rock it.
Seymour Rock (Photo courtesy of Westport Local Press)
MaryLou Roels spotted this the other day at Compo Beach, near the kayak launch. She has no idea what it is, or how it got there. If you know, click “Comments” below. (Photo/MaryLou Roels)
Last week’s Friday Flashback featured one of Westport’s favorite long-time restaurants: Allen’s Clam House.
Readers flooded the Comments section with memories.
Another seafood spot — The Clam Box — was not as long-lived as Allen’s. (Not much else was, either.)
It wasn’t on the water. But its Post Road location, near what eventually became the Sherwood Island Connector near I-95 (“Connecticut Turnpike”) Exit 18 made it a popular spot to meet and eat. Owner Steve Zakos was the well-known host.
It was also a popular spot for local politicians. For years they met in the upstairs dining room, and hammered out deals. They may or may not have had the blinds drawn, but this was way before the days of “sunshine laws.”
The Clam Box burned down, was rebuilt, and eventually became Tanglewoods and then Bertucci’s. Now the big space at the foot of Long Lots Road has been divided. It houses Ignazio’s Pizza, Shearwater Coffee, and One River Art + Design.
But before all that, the spot looked like this:
Yep — that’s the building that eventually became the Clam Box, on the right. A hay truck trundles up the Post Road, toward Roseville Road.
Thanks to Bob Grant, who posted this photo on Facebook. And thanks to all the “06880” readers, who will now post Clam Box memories on the Comments page.
A controversial plan to subdivide one of the last remaining parcels of private open space in Westport hit a roadblock Wednesday.
As first reported by Westport Journal, the Conservation Commission will report negatively on the proposal to put 6 houses on the 12-acre Kowalsky property on Clapboard Hill Road, between Morningside Drive South and Turkey Hill Road South.
Earlier, the Flood &Erosion Control Board expressed concerns about an underground drainage system, built earlier on the property without a permit.
I was a judge at the first-ever Queer Cook-Off. The fundraiser for Westport Pride drew over 100 people to Aitoro Appliance in Norwalk. They watched 3 teams of local celebrities — headed by an area professional chef — whip up an appetizer and entrée, using items from a mystery box.
I was honored (and well-fed) to be a judge, along with Matt Storch (chef/owner of Match and Match Burger Lobster), Brian McGunagle (founder of Westport Pride), and store owner Tony Aitoro.
Bill Taibe (Don Memo, Kawa Ni and The Whelk) and Jes Bengtson (Amis, Terrain) and their teams created some outstanding food. But the Top Chef award went to Arik Bensimon (Monogram Design Center) and his crew.
Meanwhile, everyone enjoyed great food and drinks. Thanks to all who participated. I was “proud” to be a food taster there!
Westport 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (far right) joined chef/restaurateur Bill Taibe (left) on a team for last night’s Queer Cook-Off.
Local artists are on display tomorrow and Sunday (May 21-22, 2 to 6 p.m.) at the Westport Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Avenue). Their annual art show is free, and open to all. All works are available for purchase.
Curated by Miggs Burroughs, the popular show features a variety of works and styles. Participating artists donate a portion of their sales to fund WWC community service grants, scholarships and programs.
Artists in the show include Ola Bossio, Trace Burroughs, Ann Chernow, Susan Fehlinger, Larry Gordon, Tom Kretsch, Arpad Krizsan, Paul Larson, Erzsebet (Bet) Laurinyecz, Jena Maric, Jon Puzzuoli, Peter Savarine, Gay Schempp, Oksana Tonasiv and Larry Untermeyer.
There’s also a drawing of the artists’ work, plus a special drawing of a piece by the late artist Howard Munce.
Musician Mark Naftalin — a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band — will play piano both days.
For more information on the Westport Woman’s Club and art show, click here.
This work by Gay Schempp will be on display at the Westport Woman’s Club art show.
Longtime Westporter John Luscombe — the husband of former State Representative Jo Fuchs Luscombe — died on Sunday, at Danbury Hospital. He was 86.
The Oahu native was an electrical engineer. He was proud to work on many government contracts. One was part of the Apollo Project, which resulted in the first moon landings.
John was a devoted sailor and boater. For many years he was part of a local group, he “Ancient Mariners.”
He served as treasurer and commander of the Saugatuck River Power Squadron, having achieved the grade of senior navigator. He was also treasurer of the Minuteman Yacht Club.
An avid tennis player, for a number of years he ran the summer program for Y’s Men, playing both indoors and outdoors.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his niece, Debbie Harding MacInnes,; nephew John Harding; grand-nephews and grand-nieces, and Bill Abrams, brother of his late first wife, Cornelia Abrams Luscombe.
Services be will announced at a later date. Click here to leave condolences for the family.
Between the 1970s and 2000s, thousands of kids grew up in Westport.
Barbara Rose knew most of them.
As the owner of the Sea Squirts summer camp at Compo Beach, and the Shore Squirts daycare/nursery school she operated in her Greens Farms home, Barbara was a calming presence for generations of local children.
And their parents.
The camp and childcare are gone. But Barbara is still going strong. Next month, she turns 90 years old.
Young Barbara Rose
A New York City native, Barbara moved with her family to Hutchinson, Kansas during World War II. Her mother was Bolivian, part of a diplomatic family involved later with the United Nations. Her father helped train pilots for the war.
After the war, the family moved back east. They spent summers in Westport, eventually settling here permanently. Their first house was on Easton Road.
Barbara graduated from the Bolton School, a small private institution on the corner of Wilton Road and Kings Highway North — currently the site of medical offices — that was a predecessor of Greens Farms Academy.
Always an active athlete, in her 30s Barbara discovered skiing. She soon became an instructor, in Vermont.
That’s where she met her longtime best friend, Adrienne Shields — and future husband, fellow instructor Robert Rose.
They and the O’Donnell family of Westport bought a restaurant/bar nearby: The Sticky Wicket. Bob and Barbara had 3 children: Peter, Deering and Scott.
The couple divorced after 12 years. Barbara raised her children in Westport in the 1960s and ’70s. In the summer she took them to Compo Beach. That’s where she got the idea for a beach-themed camp for young kids.
Soon, she had a fleet of counselors, and a bursting roster of infants to 12-year-olds. When the weather was bad, campers headed to Barbara’s church, Trinity Episcopal in Southport.
Sea Squirts’ morning sessions grew into a full-day Lazy Days camp for 8-12-year-olds. The preschool followed soon thereafter.
Barbara played in the town softball league, and adult soccer, well into her 50s. She was also a founder of the Westport Soccer Association, in 1976. She is still an avid Aquafit member, at the Westport Weston Family Y.
As her children grew up, playing a variety of sports, she never missed a game. She often brought a preschooler or two along, in a VW bus or woodie wagon.
Barbara and her children, in her VW bus.
In her spare time, she and her family — which included 4 others through marriage, and now 8 grandchildren — headed to Watch Hill, Rhode Island. She was never far from the water.
Barbara’s children have planned a 90th birthday celebration for June 4 (4 to 7 p.m.) — appropriately, near the brick pavilion at Compo. Peter, Deering and Scott say: “Whether you were a camper, student, counselor or parent, we and she would love to see you!”
A beach sticker is not required. After all those years, the town has graciously allowed time-limited free parking for the party. Just tell the gate attendant you’re one of Barbara’s Sea Squirts!
Earlier this morning a student who missed their bus walked to the Dattco bus yard and requested a ride to Bedford Middle School. Personnel at the bus yard mobilized to provide transportation for this student.
Some time thereafter, personnel at the Dattco bus yard contacted the school district’s transportation coordinator to inform the coordinator about their plan to transport the student, but unfortunately provided incomplete and inaccurate information regarding the student’s identity and school. Our transportation coordinator immediately contacted the BMS and central office administration.
The administration then swiftly contacted our Westport Police Department School Security Officer (SSO) and School Resource Officer (SRO), and the Staples administration. After investigating to determine the identity and location of the student through video surveillance, our SRO discovered that the student was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but then left the bus and walked towards Staples High School.
As a precaution, our SSO and SRO then sought additional resources from the Westport Police Department. Both schools were placed in a shelter-in-place.
Through collaboration with the school and district administration, the student was then correctly identified, interviewed, and it was determined that the shelter-in-place could be lifted.
The administration is committed to identifying the breakdown of the Dattco bus yard communication and protocols in this incident.
Again, I have complete confidence that at no time were our students and staff in danger. Additionally, it is clear that the positive and collaborative relationship we enjoy with the Westport Police Department, and the swift actions of our Bedford and Staples administration, along with our transportation coordinator and central office administration, all contributed to the timely resolution of this matter.
Posted onMay 19, 2022|Comments Off on “Suspicious Person” Caused School Shelter-In-Place Order
The Westport Police Department says:
At approximately 9 a.m. today, the Westport Police Department’s School Security Officer and the Staples School Resource Officer began to investigate a report of a suspicious person on school grounds.
An unknown male who appeared to be in his teens was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but the person then left that campus and walked towards Staples High School.
The incident was deemed suspicious because at the time no one recognized this individual, and it was unknown what he was doing on school property. Out of an abundance of caution, the school’s superintendent placed both Bedford Middle School and Staples High School in a shelter in place status.
Several patrol officers responded to make sure that students at both schools were kept safe, and to look for this unknown person. Westport detectives also went to the scene and worked with school officials to attempt to identify the party.
It was ultimately determined that the person in question was in fact a Staples student. The student was simply running late and after managing to get a ride to Bedford, he walked over to Staples.
Chief Foti Koskinas said that “this was the best possible outcome,” and that the timely resolution of this incident is a testament to “the excellent working relationship that the police department has with the school system.”
Comments Off on “Suspicious Person” Caused School Shelter-In-Place Order
The shelter-in-place order for both Staples High School and Bedford Middle School has been lifted.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice said moments ago: “the matter is resolved. A follow up message is forthcoming.”
Twenty minutes earlier, he wrote:
“I would like to provide an immediate update to the community. Immediately after calling for a shelter in place, the Westport Police Department swiftly dispatched all resources to the Staples/Bedford campus, while also maintaining the capacity to respond to all schools if necessary.
“I was personally assured of this by our Police Chief. Police resources are all over our campus and school buildings. We will remain in a shelter in place until there is final resolution established in collaboration with the Westport Police Department.”
Scarice’s initial email, shortly after 10 a.m., said:
“Moments ago, as a precaution, and in collaboration with the Westport Police Department, the school district put Staples high school in Bedford middle school in a shelter in place. A report came to the districts attention of a potential person on campus that warranted this response. All students and staff are secure and we will report back to the community when the matter is completely resolved.”
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The couple divorced after 12 years. Barbara raised her children in Westport in the 1960s and ’70s. In the summer she took them to Compo Beach. That’s where she got the idea for a beach-themed camp for young kids.
