The Question Box — “06880”‘s newest feature — is a hit.
Where does the name Compo come from? Who tags Canada geese? When did Carvel open?
These are all legit questions. I — and our online community of avid Westporters — do our best to answer them.
But those are not the only questions I get.
Not by a long shot.
Readers seem to think I know everything. Or they think I am the reference desk at the Westport Library. Or that it’s easier to ask me than Google. Or Siri.
Sure, the “06880” tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.” Welcome to mine.
Enjoy this sampling of some of the emails I’ve gotten over the past couple of months. They are 100% real. You can’t make this stuff up.
Well, you can. I can’t.
Which Westport restaurants have invested in HEP filters?
I’m having a hard time finding an NPR station. Any suggestions?
Is Phil & Tim’s Good Humor truck still in business?
I once ran a photo of Phil & Tom’s (not Tim’s) ice cream truck. I did not follow their career after that.
I saw your story about the Staples High School Class of 1977. Please send a list of students from that class.
Can you connect me with any British mystery writers living in the area?
I have an old Staples High megaphone. Do you know who would want it?
I need a tutor in public speaking for my daughter.
Someone takes down all the notices in the common area of my condo. What can I do?
Do you have the recipe for the seafood salad at Peter’s Weston Market?
There is a drone above my house. Is it the police?
Whose drone? How the !@#$%^& would I know?
Levitt Pavilion tickets are sold out. Will they release more?
Could you ask the appropriate state legislators to start fixing the Saugatuck bridge while the traffic is light during COVID?
Please let me know how to get in touch with Christopher Plummer.
I was in a Kings Highway production of “Twelfth Night” in 1970. Do any photos or articles exist regarding this event?
I can’t log on to the library website. Can you contact them, and ask them to get in touch with me?
Does the Farmer’s Market allow dogs?
There was an electronics repair service on Riverside Avenue in the early 1970s. I spent a lot of time there, and became an electrical engineer. His kindness altered my life, but I can’t remember his name, or the shop’s. Do you?
What cemetery is [name redacted — an artist] buried in? His granddaughter is visiting, and we want to find his gravesite.
All of a sudden I’m a cemetery expert? (Photo/Justin Cheng)
I wonder if you might have a picture from the start of the 1970 Thistle championship at Cedar Point Yacht Club.
Where can I drop off extra Halloween candy?
Traffic is much worse on the Post Road. Can you do something about it?
As I sit here making meals during COVID-19, I wonder how many more of us were taught to sew by Mrs. Narramor at Bedford Junior High. Are you able to find out?
I know you are always super busy, but I would consider it a great favor if you could find out what class my mother [name redacted] was in at Staples?
Do you know why the Minuteman statue does not have his Christmas hat on? Many of us look forward to it every year.
The Minute Man, in “hattier” days.
Why is the new South Beach bathroom closed during winter?
[From a realtor]: We are having a large event here at a new listing. It will be a very special broker open, and I would love to get a little buzz going about it. Can you give me a call and we can discuss details?
I want a high quality photo of the original Westport Pizzeria on Main Street. Where can I get one?
It’s very strange that my weather app shows Westport with an unhealthy air quality: 172. New York’s air quality index is 90. What’s that about?
How many electric vehicles were sold in Connecticut in 2016, 2017 and 2018?
In the 1970s I can’t remember which year exactly, but I took a belly dancing class with others. We performed at Longshore. I know there was an article about it in the Westport News. I was just wondering if there was a way you could find it. It’s just a fun memory for me.
How often has Westport had a Category 2 storm with winds over 90 mph?
I spotted this parrot in the tree behind my place [photo attached]. Lost pet? Indigenous? Any ideas?
I’ll be 75 this June, and been reminiscing about Westport. I lived there for only 3 years, but I enjoyed Staples, Class of 1963. Do you have any information about a lovely family for whom I babysat, mostly in the summers, until I left for college? Their surname was [redcacted], and their delightful kids names were [redacted]. I have a blank as to the address. In my old age I feel like touching base, as the parents and kids and I got along so well. If you can give me a lead as to their wheerabouts, I’d really appreciate it. There might be a good story in this too.
My father passed away [name redacted], and I need to write an obituary. We are fuzzy about his Staples football career. He played in [year redacted]. Any info you can find that would help such as his position, record for the years he played and what records he holds would be appreciated. The obit is due this Friday. Thank you.
This is not your father, the Staples football player.