This morning’s early morning fog at Burying Hill Beach and Sherwood Island, captured by Lucy Zeko:







(Photos/Lucy Zeko)
This morning’s early morning fog at Burying Hill Beach and Sherwood Island, captured by Lucy Zeko:







(Photos/Lucy Zeko)
Over a week past its March 23 deadline — but finally — the illegal chimney has been removed from the long-dormant new home construction at 233 Hillspoint Road.
Work at the house — formerly the site of Positano restaurant — was halted in 2019. More than 3 years of legal wrangling ensued.
The cupola was also ordered removed, by the Blight Prevention Board.
It’s still standing.

The chimney is gone, from the left side of 233 Hillspoint Road. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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The site for Monday’s schools superintendent’s ad hoc committee discussion of a resident’s complaint about material displayed in the Staples High School library has been changed. The new site is the Town Hall auditorium. The date (April 3) and time (3:30 p.m.) remain the same.
This is a follow-up to last week’s session, part of a 9-step process after Tara McLaughin sought the removal of 3 LGBTQ-themed books from the Staples collection.
Public comment will not be allowed Monday. It may be permitted at a later meeting.

Tara McLaughlin is seeking the removal of 3 books from the Staples High School library.
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Over 400 people packed the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum last night, for a VersoFest feature concert.
The Smithereens — and special guest Marshall Crenshaw — rocked the room. With 3 Top 10 hits — including “A Girl Like You” — the group remains a huge draw.

The Smithereens.(Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
VersoFest continues today and tomorrow, with a lineup of workshops, a vinyl swap, a 1:4-scale version of the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound,” and much more.
Highlights today (Saturday) include a keynote address by Steve Lillywhite. The legendary producer of othe Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, U2, the Dave Matthews Band and Phish chats with Chris Frantz, co-founder of both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club at 1 p.m.
Tonight (7 p.m.), Psychedelic Furs front man Richard Butler delivers the Malloy Lecture in the Arts.
Click here for today and tomorrow’s full VersoFest schedule.

Marshall Crenshaw warms up backstage. (Photo/Matthew Mandell)
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Three new officers joined the Westport Police Department yesterday.
Ashley Calvao (age 26) comes from Monroe. A graduate of Shelton High School, she completed coursework at Housatonic Community College. She has family ties to both Westport and law enforcement.
In her previous position at Bridgeport’s Emergency Communications Center, she worked as a 911 emergency dispatcher for both police and fire.
Sean Fitzpatrick (30) lives in Stratford with his wife Taylor. He is a graduate of Housatonic Community College and American Military University. Sean holds the rank of E5 sergeant for the Coast Guard.
Tyler Mingo (30) is a lifelong resident of Norwalk, where he lives with his wife Taylor and children. He completed course work at Norwalk Community College. Tyler is a volunteer firefighter in Darien, and spent the last 7 years with Westport’s Highway Department.

1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Police Chief Foti Koskinas flank (from left) Officers Mingo, Calvao and Fitzpatrick.
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No fooling: As of today (April 1), dogs are banned from Westport beaches.
Yesterday, Bentley enjoyed his final romp at Burying Hill Beach. The Weimaraner met many new friends there, and ran on the new jetty.
He looks forward to October 1, when he’ll be allowed back.

(Photo/Kat Palmer)
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Meanwhile, grooming work continues at local beaches.
A lot of sand is being moved. It will all be de-rocked and smoothed soon, in time for opening next month.

June Rose Whittaker, with a temporary mountain of sand at Compo Beach.
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Also seen at Compo:
Congratulations to Perseid — winner of the race to be the first boat of the season, at Ned Dimes Marina:

(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
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Johanna Keyser Rossi zoomed in on the Fresh Market osprey this week.
When she got home, she noticed her photo included a scarf that the raptor had brought to her nest.
Hey: It gets cold up there at night!

The osprey’s gray scarf is on the right. (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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Want to see a Westport Country Playhouse show for free?
The theater needs ushers to scan tickets, distribute programs, answer questions and direct patrons to seats.
Volunteer ushers must be over 18, unless accompanied by a guardian who works with them. They must be patient, courteous, friendly, helpful — and able to read small print in low light.
For more information, email Kelly Richards Mikolasy, house manager: krichards@westportplayhouse.org, or call 203-571-1296.

The seats are empty. But soon, ushers will be needed to direct patrons to seats.
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Three years ago, Westporter Carly Ridloff combined 2 interests. She created the Exchange Project — a “sustainable shopping event” where people can reduce their carbon footprint by exchanging clothing.
She launched it from her home. The most recent one took place here Thursday.
The movement has grown to several other areas, including New York and Florida. The first kids’ edition launches in Boca Raton this month.
Click here for more information. Follow on Instagram: @the.exchanageproject.

Exchange Project founder Carly Ridloff (right) and event co-chair Kate Freeman.
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Last week’s “06880” story about Harry Houdini and a movie of his 1917 escape from a crate in the water off Longshore made its way to Vermont.
Charles Greene III saw it, and writes:
“I’ve written a book about a female magician/illusionist from 1910 who became a princess. Her son, Frank Tchitcherine, became involved in espionage for the British and Americans. He retired to Westport.
“I’ve spoken to a person who met him. He was quite the character.
“Frank and his mother (a princess) have a connection to the Westport Library. Several years ago, the library had documents from her time in Russia (1914 – 1918). They wound up being sold by a Westport resident through a map gallery in New York.
“Frank died in Westport in 1978.”
“06880” readers: If you remember Frank Tchitcherine (or his mother’s document), click “Comments” and add details.

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Longtime Bedford and Staples teacher Donald DiGennaro died peacefully last Sunday, at the Watermark. He was age 86.
The Bridgeport native — a longtime resident of Trumbull — taught science in Westport for virtually his entire career.
He was an avid gardener and cook, with a love for Italy and Italian food, and greatly devoted to his family.
Don was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Theresa; son Leonard, and brothers Philip and Anthony.
He is survived by his children Philip (Dana Maiocco), Donna Pavitt (David); grandchildren Philip DiGennaro (Sarah), Michael DiGennaro (Kristyn), James DiGennaro, Joseph DiGennaro and Emly Pavitt; great-grandson Donovan DiGennaro, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held privately. To leave an online condolence, click here.

Don DiGennaro
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We usually see deer alone, or in groups of 2 or 3.
But 9 live in or near Bob Weingarten’s Greens Farms back yard.
Here’s fewer than half of them, relaxing for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Hey, at least they’re not destroying his garden.

(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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And finally … happy April 1!
March is not yet over. But the month has already set a record.
Not a good one.
The Conservation Department recorded the most number of violations in the last 2 years. Seven notices of violation were issued for clear-cutting, illegal fill, or dumping in or near Westport wetlands and watercourses.
Conservation director Colin Kelly says his staff “would obviously prefer to change this trend, but (we need) help from town residents.
After centuries of using wetlands as landfills and watercourses as sewers, the importance of these valuable natural resources and the vital role they play in our ecosystem has come to light in recent decades. Although wetlands and watercourses are now afforded the much needed protection they deserve, it is easy to leave them underappreciated and undervalued, and sometimes, overlooked.
Wetlands are valuable to us, but like any system, they can be overwhelmed. Our wetlands and watercourses provide a range of valuable functions to everyday life, including flood control, pollution filtration, and wildlife habitat. This is the reason we establish buffers around our wetlands and watercourses. Buffers are vegetated zones located between natural resources and adjacent areas subject to human alteration. There is a 20-foot protected buffer around wetlands and watercourses that limits the unpermitted cutting of vegetation or dumping of debris.
If there are wetlands or watercourses on your property, please respect these common resources. A permit must be obtained through the Westport Conservation Department if you want to remove any trees in a wetland. However, it is encouraged and advisable to add, rather than remove, vegetation.
If you are able, add to the vegetated buffer between your home, driveway or lawn and the wetland or watercourse. The best mix of buffer vegetation includes a mix of native trees, shrubs, and ground cover.
Even if there is no wetland or watercourse on or adjacent to your property, you can still help improve the quality of Westport’s environment through your landscaping. It is advisable to leave mature trees standing and plant additional trees in your yard.
Some of the benefits trees provide to Westport include supplying oxygen, increasing property values, muffling noise, hiding unsightly views, providing food and shelter for wildlife, preventing erosion, and filtering pollutants thereby improving air and water quality.
Questions? Contact the Westport Conservation Department at 203-341-1170. If requested, they will send someone to meet you in your yard.

A pond near the Partrick Wetlands. (Photo/Scott Smith)
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Speaking of Mother Nature: This is New England. Rocks keep working their way to the surface.
Preparing for the upcoming beach season, crews are hard at work de-rocking the sand.
They were out this week at Compo Beach …

(Photo/Matt Murray)
… and Burying Hill.

(Photo/Art Schoeller)
It’s the kind of work few folks ever see.
But we’d sure notice it if it hadn’t been done.
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Meanwhile, at Burying Hill the sand (and water) was enticing enough yesterday to lure this swimmer in.
He was not wearing a wet suit, but seemed to be enjoying himself — not a rush-in-and-out “polar plunge.” Impressive!

(Photo/Patricia Auber)
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Staples High School is known for its academic rigor.
So it is particularly impressive to graduate in the top 4%.
The Class of 2023 will have 21 students in that elite group, called “High Honors.”
Congratulations to all!

High Honors students, front row (from left): Ryan Salik, Kyle Ambrose, Krishna Reddy, Matthew Shackelford, Tom Zhang, Jaden Mello, Eva Simonte, Quinn Mulvey, Meredith Mulhern, Sharmila Green, Lucia Wang, Rebecca Schussheim, Lilly Weisz. Back row:
Witt Lindau, Colin Morgeson, Nikhil Kanthan, Jet Tober, Katherine Valante, Reilly McCaffrey, Julia Herlyn, Janna Moore,
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The United Methodist Church’s Easter Egg hunt this Saturday (April 1, 2 to 3:30 p.m.) is at “Rabbit Hill.”
That’s not some cute name they dreamed up for the event.
The church sits on property owned earlier by Robert Lawson. As every child knows (or should), he was the author of the book “Rabbit Hill.”
There will be eggs with treats, crafts, face-painting and snacks. It’s the Methodist Church’s gift to families — but they encourage people to give back by bringing donations of cash or non-perishable food items, for local pantries.
All families are welcome — but children only 10 and under, please!

One of Robert Lawson’s many “Rabbit Hill” illustrations.
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Melissa Joan Hart moved from Westport to Nashville.
On Monday, she helped lead kindergartners to safety following a shooting at a private school near her new home. Her children attend another school nearby.
“We moved here from Connecticut where we were in school a little ways down from Sandy Hook, so this is our second experience with a school shooting with our kids being in close proximity,” she said. “Luckily we are all okay.”
Click here to read the full New York Post story. (Hat tip: Tom Greenwald)
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between March 23 and 29.
An officer on patrol initiated a traffic stop on Post Rd East near the Fairfield town line. The officer determined that the operator had an active re-arrest warrant from another jurisdiction. He was taken into custody.
The Westport Police system does not report citations issued.

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The Westport Weston Family YMCA is branching out into video.
They’re creating a series of shorts, highlighting their impact. The first 2 feature the Water Rats swim team.
Competitive director and head coach Ellen Johnston and assistant senior coach Omar Cruz discuss the team, its 70-year history — one of the first 2 in the state! — and how it fits in with the Y’s core values:
The other video features 2 swimmers, and parents. They talk about learning life skills, achieving goals, building friendships — and the Y’s values:
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Among Governor Lamont’s 20 nominees for the Connecticut Superior Court yesterday: Westporter Yamini Menon.
She now works as an assistant state’s attorney in the Civil litigation Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. Previously, she spent 18 years with the Division of Criminal Justice. She has handled criminal trials, habeas corpus trials, habeas corpus appeals, and juvenile delinquency matters. She also served as a legal aid attorney with Connecticut Legal Services. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

Yamini Menon
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Cobb’s Mill Inn has been closed for 7 years.
But while owners Sandra and Kleber Siguenza try to evict 2 people they call “squatters” from the premises –following a Probate Court decision affirming their ownership of the property — the restaurant lives on in Westport.
At least, its sign does.
Anyone walking to Compo Cove by the Sherwood Mill Pond pedestrian bridge can this familiar bit of history, on the side of a house at Old Mill Beach.

(Photo/Jeff Jacobs)
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Staples High School Class of 2009 graduate (and Savannah College of Art & Design BFA) David Silverstein is a multi-disciplinary artist, designer and art director based in New York.
His work ranges from paintings on canvas and sculpture, large scale murals and hand-painted furniture to traditional branding, apparel graphics and print design.
An exhibition of his work opens at the Saturdays gallery today (Thursday, March 30 — confusing, no)? It’s 6 p.m., at 31 Crosby Street in Soho.
For a sample of David’s work, click here. (Hat tip: Dana Kuyper)

Art by David Silverstein.
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Ellen Wentworth’s Highland Road back yard is getting green
This beautiful bird adds a bit of red, in today’s gorgeous “Westport … Naturally” image.

Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … on this day in 1867, Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia. The cost to the US was $7.2 million — about 2 cents an acre.
It was derided as “Seward’s Folly” — until gold was discovered there in 1898. Alaska became our 49th state in 1959, and is prized now for its beauty (and natural resources).
(“06880” ties together Westporters, wherever they currently live. If you feel connected to our town, please support its hyper-local blog. Click here — and thank you!)
Who is buried at Burying Hill Beach?
Local lore says it’s Native Americans.
Dr. Robert Liftig isn’t so sure.
A writer and teacher who has lived in Westport for almost 50 years, he recently retired after 4 decades as a Fairfield University professor. His courses focused on local Colonial history.
He’s done quite a bit of, um, digging, The small Greens Farms beach is beloved by many. Like others throughout town, they’ve often wondered about its name.

Burying Hill (top-center), and beach of the same name. (Drone photos/Brandon Malin)
First, some background.
In 1637, a band of Pequots — burned out of their Groton home — were chased by English settlers to a swamp between what is now the Southport Dunkin Donuts and Equinox. (A small memorial commemorates the Great Swamp Fight, the last battle of the Pequot War.)
They were burned and hacked to pieces in what Liftig calls the continent’s “first intentional genocide.” (A leader, John Underhill, is the man for whom Underhill Parkway is named.)
With the area safe for colonists, Thomas Newton, John Green and Henry Gray obtained a land grant to settle the area in 1648. Daniel Frost and Francis Andrews joined them soon. Andrews came from upstate; he, with Thomas Hooker and others, had founded Hartford in 1635.
The group were known as the Bankside Farmers (for Bankside, England, where some of the 5 came from). The area was later named for one of those 5: Greens Farms.*

An early map of Green’s Farms. The Bankside Farmers’ lands ae shown on Long Island Sound, next to “Burial Hill.”
Andrews hired a servant: 12-year-old Simon Couch. A few years later the boy married Andrews’ daughter Mary. He worked as a tailor, ran a horse saloon, and bought Andrews’ widow’s farm. At his death in 1688, age 53, Simon Couch was a wealthy man.
He also bought Forest Point, a “beautiful hill overlooking the sea.” It became a cemetery — perhaps for Andrews, along with Couch himself, his family, and some of their slaves. (It is unclear whether those slaves were Blacks or indigenous people.)
Liftig cites an excerpt from the book “History of Fairfield.” Simon Couch was
buried in land belonging to him at Forest Point, looking out upon the Sound, which he had set apart as a family burial place and which was long known as the Couch Burial Hill.
This spot could be pointed out until within the last few years [date of publication unknown], but now almost every trace of the tombs & graves have been obliterated.
Liftig believes Andrews — one of the founders of Hartford — is also there: buried below where the beach toilets are now located.

Bathrooms and lifeguard offices, at the top of Burying Hill. (Photos/David Squires)
Simon Couch, meanwhile, is listed on Find A Grave as occupying “Plot #1.”
When Green’s Farms Congregational Church established its first cemetery (at the current corner of Greens Farms Road and the Sherwood Island Connector) in the early 1700s, subsequent Couches were buried there. (One stone honors “Thomas Couch lost at sea, taken by French or pirates.”)
The family grew quite wealthy, from the triangle trade. One branch moved to North Carolina. Another Captain Thomas Couch married into the Boone family, and moved to Kentucky.
Liftig has found that the Couches — and Daniel Boone — are related to his daughters Anya and Dorothy.
Liftig himself grew up in Avon, Connecticut. He joined the Peace Corps, met a “pretty Kentucky girl,” and married her. They moved to Westport.
Delving into the history of his town, he was stunned to find that his wife’s ancestors lived here.
He was even more surprised to learn of the Couch connection to Burying Hill Beach. His daughter Dorothy had a summer Parks & Recreation job, working at the front gate.

The entrance to Burying Hill now floods often. (Photo/Sally Fisk)
Parks & Rec administers the beach because in 1893, the town of Westport purchased the property for a picnic area. Ten years later, they added the swale nearby (called “Ye Olde Battleground”) — between the “burial hill” and what later became the Bedford (and later Harvey Weinstein) homes.
The Couches later married into the Bedford and Jesup families, Liftig says.
But when he inquired about the possibility of a plaque memorializing the bodies buried in the hill — including, possibly, a founder of Hartford — he was told there is no proof.

Cars should not drive on Burying Hill. It is a historic burial ground. (Photo/Rusty Ford)
Yet an old Westport Historical Society publication, “Buried in Our Past,” says:
We can surmise that the Couches shared the hill with some of the early settlers — the Greens, Andrews [sic], Frosts and Grays.
In his book “Greens Farms,” George Penfield Jennings, states he remembers seeing many gravestones on the hill, but by the time the State Legislature established the area as a town park in 1893, only one broken marker remained.
Now that marker is gone. Burying Hill has the distinction of being the first park on the Connecticut shoreline recognized by the State.
Neither Parks & Rec, the Westport Historical Commission nor the Westport Museum for History & Culture confirms Liftig’s findings.
But he is convinced: The burials in Burying Hill Beach are real.
And historic.
(Dr. Robert Liftig can be contacted directly: boblif@aol.com)
*Should there an apostrophe, making it Green’s Farms? That’s been a question ever since.
(There’s plenty of history in Westport’s hills and beaches. “06880” unearths it all. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Last week’s Photo Challenge was a “bitt” tough.
Scott Smith explains his image: “2 bitts (moorings used to anchor boats) long covered by sand at Burying Hill Beach, just west of the walkway easement that leads to Beachside Ave. They at the edge of the beachfront owned by the modernist house overlooking the Sound across the street from Greens Farms Academy.” (Click here to see.)
Pat Saviano, Dr. Ralph Balducci Ph.D., Andrew Colabella, Seth Braunstein and Beth Berkowitz were the alert and maritime-minded readers who knew a good bitt about Scott’s photo.
Pat is a double winner: Her image (below) is this week’s Photo Challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Pat Saviano)

Burying Hill Beach sunset (Photo/Michael Chait)

Looking west, toward Burying Hill Beach (Photo/Wendy Levy)
Less than 24 hours remain, to reach our goal of $250,000!
That would help rebuild every home and apartment in Lyman — our Ukrainian sister city — that can be salvaged. It would give them each a generator. It would provide a water filtration system for the town. (Click here for the first story about Westport and Lyman, with important details.)
It would get them through a dark, dangerous winter. Those brave, embattled men, women and children need to know that they are not alone.
They already know that Westport has their back. They are very, very grateful for what we’ve done.

Westporter Brian Mayer (right) and his on-the-ground support team of Richard von Groeling and Liz Olegov flank Lyman Mayor Oleksandr Zhuravlyov. Brian, Richard and Liz wear protective equipment, because they’ve just been outside. The Ukrainian and Lyman flags will soon be joined by one from Westport.
Now, on Christmas Day, let’s give them everything they need.
$250,000 sounds like a lot. But it breaks down to just $10 for every resident of Westport.
Can you spare that? If not, no worries. Someone who can, will cover you. Right?
Just click here for the credit card “Donate” button. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” You can also scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) Or you can donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
Meanwhile, our online auction for an oil painting of Marigny — our other sister city in France, which joins us in helping Lyman — ends at 11:59 p.m. We began the bidding at $1,000. It is now up to $1,500. Email 06880blog@gmail.com, or click “Comments” to bid; you don’t need to fill out your real (but please include your email).

This Marigny scene is being auctioned to the highest bidder.
Westporters have been supremely generous so far. We are nearing our audacious — but crucial — $250,000 goal. Every dollar helps our sister city of Lyman. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Eversource earned props for putting crews on the road early during Friday’s wind and rain storm. The number of outages in Westport was halved throughout the day, from 700 or so to about 350.
Their performance since then has been less praise-worthy.
An “06880” reader wrote last night, just before midnight:
“I am spending the holidays with my 92-year-old homebound mom on Bayberry Ridge Road. Power has been out for the whole street since 4 a.m. Friday. Despite 40-plus hours elapsing, Eversource still has no projection for repair, citing ‘To Be Determined’ as the date when one inquires.
“They no longer even list Westport on the updated outage report, because over 99% of homes have power. This is cold comfort to residents on this street, who cannot get any information out of this vastly overpaid and underperforming public utility. With zero communication since the beginning, we worry that they’ve forgotten about us entirely.”
The reader responded at 1:04 a.m. that his power was back on. He doesn’t know if it was the result of his phone call, Tweet, or because they were about to do it anyway.
I’m keeping his complaint up though, because it’s not isolated. I’ve heard from other readers in the north end of Westport, who also had issues with Eversource.
Most seemed to understand the severity of the problem. What bothered them was Eversource’s lack of communication about when power was expected to return.
“We just want to be able to plan,” one reader said.
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Compare the situation in Lyman (top story above) with the behavior of one Very Entitled Driver downtown yesterday.
He ignored several “One Way/Do Not Enter” signs. He headed past all the cars, on 2 sides of the street, facing toward him.
Drivers stopped. One rolled down his window, and explained the driver was going the wrong way.
He couldn’t be bothered. Perhaps backing up was too difficult or time-consuming. Maybe doing so would be admitting wrongdoing, or a blow to his masculinity.
So he got out of his car. He had angry words with one of the right-way drivers.
Then he got back in his vehicle, swerved around a couple of cars, and kept driving.
All the way to the Post Road.

Very Entitled Driver — after already being told he is going the wrong way on Main Street.
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Also downtown: Our own Barnes & Noble was featured in the opening seconds of Yahoo News’ recent feature on the chain’s resurgence.
Young readers in particular have driven the opening of new (and newly designed) stores.
CEO James Daunt was interviewed by Dave Briggs. The Yahoo journalist knows what he’s talking about — he lives here in Westport, just a couple of miles from one of those slimmed-down, brighter, more open and less “library-looking” Barnes & Noble’s than the previous one.
Click here for the full Yahoo story.

Screenshot of the Yahoo story
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The Burying Hill High Tide Club has earned an “06880” mention — and props — for weekly swims at that Greens Farms beach, all the way through fall.
Now another group is earning even more awe (and raised eyebrows).
Nico Eisenberger reports: “This year we spawned a crazy cousin of the High Tide Club. Inspired by some of the hardy originals, and carried forward with an unreasonable and illogical vigor, is Club Plunge.
“We’ve done it every week since early November. It’s amazing and wonderful — and makes you think that maybe the extremophiles one sees on YouTube are really on to something.”
The group includes 8 regulars.
“We try to stay in for at least 3 minutes,” Nico says. “The screaming subsides after 1 minute, then picks up again after 2.”
No word on “weather” they ventured in yesterday.

Club Plunge at Burying Hill Beach.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows how a gifted decorator can transform beautiful plants and flowers into something even more stunning.
This is the holiday table at the home of Elena and Richard Nasereddin. She’s Catholic. He’s Muslim.
Both wish everyone in the “0688o” community — in Westport, and cyberspace — “happy holidays, and many blessings in the new year.”

(Photo/Maria Elena Nasereddin)
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And finally … Christmas music ends tonight. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your threshold for jinglyness.
But before we say goodbye (till next year) to Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Helms, Bing Crosby and Gene Autry, let’s tip our Santa hat to Johnny Marks.
He lived for many years on Green Acre Lane, off South Compo. He died in 1985 from complications of diabetes. His son still lives here.
Who was Johnny Marks?
Just the guy who wrote “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
And “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” “Run, Rudolph, Run.” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” And many others.
Not bad for a Jewish kid from Mount Vernon, New York.
Merry Christmas! Oy!
Posted in Beach, Downtown, Local business, Media, Politics, Transportation, Weather
Tagged Barnes & Noble, Burying Hill Beach, Dave Briggs, entitled drivers, Eversource, Lyman Ukraine, Yahoo News
Our 10 a.m. report:
A coastal flood warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. today. Westport Fire and EMS say: “We expect flooding along the shoreline imminently. Please move vehicles now, if they are in vulnerable and low-lying areas.”
Areas to avoid include Morningside Avenue South near Clapboard Hill; Cross Highway between Bayberry Lane and Sturges Highway; Compo Road South near Rockland Place, due to downed trees and wires, and Turkey Hill Road South between Clapboard Hill and Arrowhead Road.
If anyone needs help of any kind, please click “Comments” below. Other readers will do their best to respond.

Saugatuck River, downtown (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)

Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge (Photo/Amy Schneider)

Parker Harding Plaza (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)

Stores in Parker Harding Plaza (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)

Tree down on South Compo, near Ferry Lane East. (Photo/Fred Cantor)

Baker Avenue at Imperial Avenue (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)

Burying Hill Beach (Photo/John Karrel)

Compo Beach (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

Compo Beach (Photo/Matt Murray)

The scene near Soundview Drive. (Photo/Matt Murray)

Compo jetty (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

Schlaet’s Point, on Hillspoint Road (Photo/Jim Hood)

Another view of Schlaet’s Point. (Photo/Matt Murray)

Old Mill Beach near Compo Cove (Photo/Fred Cantor)

No one watched the waves this morning. (Photo/Matt Murray)
Posted in Beach, Downtown, Weather
Tagged Arezzo, Burying Hill Beach, Compo Beach, Muddy Brook, Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, Saugatuck River, Schlaet's Point
In late July, “06880” reported that Tarry Lodge looked closed.
The property was unkempt; there had been no life there for days.
But the website was accepting reservations. A phone recording announced “new hours.”
Readers commented. Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell said he’d spoken to the new manager, who “looked forward to the Slice of Saugatuck and will be one of the sponsors of the event.”
Clark Thiemann added: “Tarry Lodge had a sign on the door they were closed for vacation this week and will be back at the beginning of August.”
It’s now mid-August. Either the restaurant’s vacation has been extended for quite a while — in the middle of outdoor dining season — or plans changed.
Or perhaps management was, you know, lying.
The website still uses Open Table for reservations — though today, none were “available.”
More telling is the paper that covers the windows.
Then again, maybe that’s just part of Tarry Lodge’s “vacation” plans.

Tarry Lodge, in July. (Photo/Patti Brill)
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It wasn’t a mountain. But Julia Marino looked equally at ease Sunday night, on the Fenway Stadium mound.
The Olympic snowboard silver medalist — and Westport native — threw the first pitch, as the Boston Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees.
Julia’s mother Elaine watched proudly from just to the left of the visitors’ dugout — “serious Yankee fan territory,” she says.
Julia had a blast. So did the Sox: They won 3-0.

Julia Marino, on the Fenway mound.
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Speaking of sports: Saugatuck Rowing Club won the women’s points trophy on Sunday at the USRowing Masters National Championship in Sarasota, Florida.
Points are awarded throughout the 4-day regatta for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes. Multiple medals contributed to the win.

Back row (from left):) Coach/general manager Scott Armstrong, Barbara Phillips, Liz Brennan, Kate Weber, Vicki Lopez, Suzanne Dodge, Ellen Knapp, Carrie Mioli, Susan McInerney, Caroline Gill. 2nd row: Susan Quinn, Beth Bass, Linda Mandel, Liz Turner, Wendy Woolf, Bobbi Liepolt, Annamari Mikkola, Front row: Patrice Foudy, Joanna Moody, Silvia Durno, Izzy Sareen, Katie Derose, Kathleen Davis, Celeste McGeehan.
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The last day for lifeguards at Burying Hill Beach is this Sunday (August 21).
Compo Beach will be staffed by lifeguards through September 5.
Beach stickers are required through September 30.

Burying Hill Beach lifeguards’ last day is Sunday. (Photo/Yvonne O’Kane)
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There’s only one day each year when visitors to Sherwood Island State Park can stay past sunset.
It’s Shorefest — Friends of Sherwood Island’s annual fundraiser. This year’s event is set for September 9 (6 to 9 p.m., main pavilion).
Guests enjoy an evening of food, live jazz piano, silent auction — and of course, a spectacular sunset. Catered by Westfair Fish & Chips, dinner options include lobster, steak, salmon, or vegetarian. Burgers and hot dogs are available for kids. Appetizers, salad, beverages and dessert are included.
All proceeds support habitat restoration, education and advocacy. Click here for tickets and more information.

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Longtime Coleytown Elementary School physical education teacher Pearl Marcus died peacefully at home in Westport last week. She was 99 years old.
Her family calls Pearl “a Gigi, Momma and Mom. What a wonderful and beautiful life she lived. She had a fantastic group of friends and a loving family. She was always there for all of us. She will always remain the anchor of our family.”
In addition to decades of teaching at CES, Pearl was involved in the Westport community. She enjoyed traveling, entertaining family and friends, theater and tennis.
She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Marc (Melvin) Marcus. She is survived by 2 daughters and their spouses, 5 grandchildren and two spouses, and 4 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Quick Center for the Arts, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, or Baltimore Squashwise, 2801 Sisson Street, Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21211 (Pearl’s great-niece is executive director).
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Nearly 200 people watched live and remotely last night, as 2 Westporters reported on their efforts to aid Ukraine.
Brian Mayer recently returned from his third extended visit to the war-torn nation, where he was joined by Ken Bernhard. Mayer co-founded UkraineAidInternational.org, a non-profit offering humanitarian relief and refugee rescue.
The pair discussed the importance of their work, and the challenges they face. They noted that tax-deductible contributions can be sent to Ukraine Aid International, 88 Partrick Road, Westport, CT 06880, or made via Venmo: @ukraineaidinternational. (Hat tip: Dave Matlow)

Brian Mayer (left) and Ken Bernhard, on the Westport Library stage. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Meanwhile, some Westporters headed to Georgetown last night, for a special show featuring Jackopierce at Milestone restaurant. The show did not disappoint.
The sold-out crowd included members of Staples High School’s Class of 1987. That’s when Cary Pierce — half of the popular duo, and a Westport native — graduated.
Jackopierce is based in Dallas. A couple of fans from there were at the show too. They enjoyed seeing the singer/guitarists in an intimate setting.

Cary Pierce (right) and Jack O’Neill: Jackopierce, at Milestone. (Photo/Rick Benson)
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Dan Johnson captured today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, in the sky above Imperial Avenue:

(Photo/Daniel Johnson)
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And finally … 53 years ago today, Woodstock was in its second epic day.
Among the memorable performances:
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(From Woodstock to Jackopierce, and Ukraine to Fenway Park, “06880” delivers a daily Roundup. Please click here to help support this blog.)
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