Every elementary school kid in town, it seemed, raced onto PJ Romano Field yesterday morning, for the annual Day of Champions.
Their parents were there too. All were decked out in costumes — just one part of the offbeat, fun and very important competition.
A small part of the large Day of Champions crowd.
In just a few years, the Day of Champions has become one of Westport’s favorite traditions.
Jordan Schur’s GOATS team.
The event raised over $150,000 for Experience Camps, the Westport-based network of activities for children who have lost parents or siblings.
This boy named Will, his twin sister (not pictured) and younger sister lost their dad in 2022. Will gave an inspiring speech, about the importance of Experience Camps in his life.
So who was the big winner, when all the games were over?
Experience Camps, for sure.
Crushin’ it, at the Day of Champions. (All photos/Dan Woog)
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A few yards away from Winslow Park — and just a few hours later — Bernadette Peters wowed a sold-out Westport Country Playhouse crowd.
The Tony Award-winning stage, film, television and recording star gave shout-outs to the historic Playhouse (where she has performed before), as she offered unique interpretations of beloved Broadway songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein and others.
Her haunting “Send in the Clowns” was a special highlight.
Peters referenced the Dog Festival, when she talked about co-founding Broadway Barks with Mary Tyler Moore. Unfortunately, she said, she didn’t make it over to the park; she was doing her sound check.
It was a warm, wonderful evening. And one more sign that the Westport Country Playhouse’s 93rd year will be one of its best ever.
Bernadette Peters (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The Westport Sunrise Rotary Club joined Saturday’s international Day of Service.
Working with Westport’s Department of Human Services, volunteers cleaned up a Westport yard that needed help. They filled 30 large lawn and leaf bags — a small act that made a big difference.
Sunrise Rotarians (from left to right): Bob Galan, Bruce Fritz, Rob Hauck, Bruce Paul and Ted Freeman.
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Also yesterday: the Staples wrestlers’ car wash, at the Shell station across from Winslow Park (and the well-attended Dog Festival).
Many high school teams raise funds this way.
But not many do it with the grapplers’ style: They all wore their singlets.
At least, they started out that way.
(Photo/Jennifer Rosen)
PS: This is not the only way the wrestlers help the community. They’re well known for taking on a variety of heavy labor tasks, like moving furniture or hauling rocks. Whatever people pay goes right back to their program.
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Meanwhile, some folks are not contributing to their community.
Cindy Blount send this photo …
… and writes: “Walking my dog in Winslow park on Saturday, I was astounded to find a number of dog poop bags left on the side of the trails in the woods.
“I picked them up. How about a reminder to dog owners to either drop them in the trash cans provided at the park, or take them home and toss them?”
It is astonishing that people will take the time to clean up after their dog — perhaps because someone is watching — but can’t be bothered to carry it a few more minutes, or yards, to a trash can.
I’ve written about this before. It doesn’t seem to make a difference.
The people who need to read this, don’t.
Or if they do, they just don’t care.
What a sad way to live your life.
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Also yesterday: the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club’s Bloomin’ Metric event.
There were 4 rides — 25, 40, 75 and 100 kilometers — starting and ending at Sherwood Island State Park.
Attendees enjoyed food trucks, bike inspections and vendors.
Among the booths: Bike Westport.
Markus Marty, a founder of the local group — which advocates for safer streets throughout town, for riders, pedestrians and drivers — brought his “smoothie blender bike.”
He gave out free smoothies, to raise awareness of the cause.
Well, Markus, notes, “they weren’t completely free. People had to work for them.”
How? As the photo below shows, the smoothie blender worked not on electricity, but on people pedal power.
Which made the drink even more enjoyable.
(Photo/Markus Marty)
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There hasn’t been a lot of sun for the past few days (weeks) (months).
But when there is, this green frog (rana clamitans, according to Morgan Veltri of Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center enjoys it.
And — while posing for our “Westport … Naturally” feature — also blends in well with the surroundings.
(Photo/Morgan Veltri)
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And finally … on this date in 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets. Strauss went on to form a company to manufacture them, which is why today they are called “Levis,” and not “Jacobs.”
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