It’s mid-February — Valentine’s and Presidents Day season.
Which makes it the perfect time to talk about … sailing.
Gina Lewis’ children have participated in local programs for years. They’ve made friends up and down Long Island Sound.
As parents start to think about summer programs, Gina wants to spread the word about her kids’ sport. She writes:
There are a million reasons Westport is special, but one of the most extraordinary is our incredible access to the coastline — and with it, the sport of sailing.
From first tacking at Longshore Sailing School to competing at a championship level at Cedar Point and Pequot Yacht Clubs, Westport youngsters have an unparalleled opportunity to embrace a sport that builds life skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships.
Fun …
Longshore has been a rite of passage for generations. It’s the perfect introduction to sailing, where countless kids have learned to read the wind, navigate the water, and fall in love with the sport.
But many families don’t realize that once their young sailors are ready for the next level, both Cedar Point and Pequot Yacht Clubs offer incredible junior sailing programs.
You don’t have to be a member to learn to sail. Their programs are open to non-members.
Starting in Optimists — small single handed boats, led by high school and college sailors — kids learn the basics of sailing and navigation. For a few hours every morning they are taught to rig sails, understand the wind and handle a boat out on the water.
The pride and independence they develop is amazing to see, when they bring their parents along for the annual sunset sail.
… independence …
Once kids grow out of Optimists, they have a choice to sail a Laser (single- handed), or partner with a friend to sail a Feva or a C420.
These boats are more complex and faster, allowing young sailors s to continue to grow throughout their teenage years.
… a group lesson …
In the summer, young sailors participate in Junior Sailing Association of Long Island races. They meet and race against peers from Larchmont to Milford, and across the Sound to Oyster Bay and Centerport.
At Staples High School, sailing team members race C420s in the fall (club season) and spring (varsity season).
The team practices at Pequot, and sails in regattas against local high school once a week. (Their Instagram is @staples.sailing.)
… catching the wind …
Our kids enjoy their summer program so much, they now sail year-round with a local team. Sailing has introduced them to people and places from all over the country. They have been fortunate enough to experience amazing places and cultures through sailing.
Both Pequot and Cedar Point boast superb coaching staffs, and an environment where older sailors mentor and guide the next generation. That’s a testament to the camaraderie and character-building the sport fosters.
Westport’s coastline is unmatched. But it’s the access to sailing — and the friendships, skills, and memories it cultivates — that make it even more special.
… and they’re off!
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In yesterday’s story about the 2024 Grand List, “06880” included a list of Westport’s top 10 taxpayers.
As it always does, Connecticut Light & Power (aka Eversource) was in first place.
We noted that much of their property consists of utility poles.
It does. But that’s not the full story.
Chris Swan — Eversource’s now retired director of transmission siting (and 1967 Staples High School graduate) — says that the largest item in their property portfolio is the double set of underground 345,000-volt transmission cables, installed in 2009.
They run from the Fairfield border, mostly under the Post Road, traversing town into Norwalk across from Whole Foods, en route from Bridgeport to the Norwalk substation at the junction of Routes 7 and 123.
Eversource also owns the 4 substations in town. The newest (the Sherwood Substation) was built on New Creek Road adjacent to the Greens Farms train station in 2009.
Chris adds: “Most of the company’s facilities are overhead poles and wires. But the biggest taxable valuation is in the underground transmission lines and substations.”
Eversource’s Main Street substation, behind Coffee An’.
Floods like these are becoming more prevalent. (Photo/Geralyn Rella Breig)
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“Native Gardens” — the Westport Country Playhouse comedy that runs February 18 to March 8 — is about fences and neighbors.
In the spirit of community-building, several special events are planned. They include:
Taste of Tuesday (February 18, 6 p.m.): Reception pairing food from Harvest Restaurant,plus wine. Exclusive for “Taste of Tuesday” season ticket holders. Click here for information.
Together at the Table (February 19, 5:30 p.m.): For $15, a family or group* enjoys a communal pizza dinner and casual conversation before the 7 p.m. show. Call 203-227-4177 for reservations.
Pride Night (February 20, 6 p.m.): Pre-show cocktail party for the LGBTQ+ community and friends, including a limited open bar and appetizers from Gruel Britannia. Use code GARDENSPRIDE online or call 203-227-4177 for reservations.
Opening Night Post-Show Reception (February 22): Celebrate with the cast, crew and creative team.
Sunday Symposium (after the February 23 3 p.m. show): No ticket necessary — open to all.
Stay tuned for an update on the speakers! No ticket necessary — open to all.
Open Caption (March 2, 3 p.m.): Deaf and hard of hearing audiences enjoy the performance while watching a digital screen with actors’ dialogue.
Backstage Pass (after the March 5 2 p.m. performance): Learn how the technical staff brought “Native Gardens” to life. No ticket necessary — open to all.
Thursday Talkback )after the March 6 7 p.m. performance: Q&A with cast members. No ticket necessary — open to all.
For more information on “Native Gardens,” click here.
Youngsters interested in sailing — and parents who want their kids to learn – are invited to a “Junior Sailing Bagel Bash” (March 1, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Cedar Point Yacht Club).
No experience is necessary. The Cedar Point program is open to all junior sailors — members and non-members, beginners to experienced.
Speaking of kids: Long QT Syndrome — a potentially life-threatening heart condition — affects 1 in 2,000 children. Early detection can help prevent serious complications.
Connecticut Children’s and Hearts in Harmony are sponsoring free EKG screenings this Saturday (February 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Westport Specialty Care Center, 191 Post Road West).
Children with abnormal EKG results will receive expedited follow-up appointments with Connecticut Children’s cardiologists.
The event includes kid-friendly activities, a fashion show, food and more.
For more information, contact Dr. Robyn Matloff at 917-439-8941.
Attention, Westport Library e-book and audiobook users: With a transition from CloudLibrary to Libby, patrons can access more digital titles than ever.
The transition takes place March 18. CloudLibrary. The last date for holds to be placed through CloudLibrary is February 15. (See below for important dates and FAQs.)
The Library will offer online and in-person tutorials from March 18 to March 21 (3 to 4 p.m), to help users with the transition. An “Anyone Can Use” class focused on the Libby app is set for the Library on March 19 (11 a.m. to noon).
The Westport Board of Education Policy Committee’s next meeting is February 12 (9 a.m., Town Hall Room 201A).
Discussion items include:
Second reading of possible revisions to the suicide prevention and intervention policy.
First reading of possible revisions to existing policies involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, non-discrimination, and sex-based discrimination and harassment.
First reading of a possiible new policy on transportation.
Discussion of a policy on survey of students/student privacy.
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Westport police made no custodial arrests between January 29 and February 5.
Police issued these citations:
Traveling unreasonably fast: 8 citations
Speeding: 6
Operating an unregistered motor vehcile: 3
Failure to renew registrations: 3
Texting while driving: 2
Failure to obey stop sign: 2
Failure to obe traffic control signals: 2
Reckless driving: 1
Failure to yield to pedestrian: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension:
Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1
Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. Even those pedestrians (and crosswalks) that are less visible.
Longtime Westporter and noted writer Barry Tarshis died peacefully at home Tuesday, with his family by his side. He was 86.
His obituary says, “He endured 2 years of brutal health challenges by drawing on a bottomless wellspring of optimism, charm, kindness, generosity, and a weak spot for mediocre jokes. Five days before he died, confined to his bed and afflicted with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, he was asked by his hospice nurse if he was comfortable. ‘I make a decent living,’ he replied.”
He grew up in Pittsburgh. His father Max was a musician who instilled in Barry a lifelong love of music. Even into his final months, Barry retained his ability to play Bill Evans on the piano, sing along with Pavarotti, and harmonize with Elton John and Jim Croce.
Barry overcame his childhood shyness to star in his high school production of “Guys and Dolls,” play basketball, and capture the heart of his future wife, Karen Ross, who he began dating at the age of 15.
After leaving University of Pittsburgh 1 credit short of graduation, Barry traveled across Europe on a motorbike, appeared as an extra in “La Dolce Vita,” lived on an Israeli kibbutz, and moved into a Greenwich Village hovel to embark on a career as a writer.
After marrying Karen and serving in the U.S. Army in New Mexico, he settled into a 30-plus year career as a freelance author. He wrote a dozen books and hundreds of articles for the New York Times, Playbill, Playboy, Town & Country, and Tennis, among other publications.
Herallied with Chris Evert, walked on hot coals with Tony Robbins, traveled to India, Russia, Colombia and Micronesia, and interviewed a mystic who specialized in casting love spells.
He taught writing, led communications seminars for business leaders, and created the grammar and writing website Communications Fitness.
His family said, “The shaping forces of Barry’s career were an eagerness to learn and his genuine curiosity about and respect for all kinds of people — from tennis champions to the students who took his writing classes at public schools in the South Bronx. He brought these same qualities into his most prized creative endeavor, his family.
“While most fathers dream of their children achieving fame and fortune, Barry’s oft-stated parenting goal for Lauren and Andrew was to ‘raise children he would want to hang out with when they were older.’ They wanted to hang out with him, as often as possible.
“Well into his last weeks, he woke up each day with a renewed sense of life’s possibilities, deep gratitude, and an eagerness to uplift his family, his friends, and anyone lucky enough to cross his path.”
Barry is survived by his wife of 62 years, Karen; children Lauren (David Dreyfuss) and Andrew; grandchildren Leo Dreyfuss (Rebecca Goldman), Jeremy Dreyfuss (Shira), Dylan and Valerie Dreyfuss; Lily, Evi, and Ruby Tarshis, and his sister Carole Cohen.
A private celebration-of-life is planned. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, or tell someone a mediocre joke.
The final summer meet-up for Club 203 — Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities — is Monday (August 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m.) at MoCA. The evening includes a chance to make art.
Season 2 begins September 20. Details will be announced soon. Click here for more information on the club.
As crabbers flock nightly to Sherwood Mill Pond and Old Mill Beach, they’ve lost one species: horseshoe crabs.
Yesterday, Governor Lamont signed a bill banning the harvest of horseshoe crabs in Connecticut waters.
The legislation was sought by advocates who say that the population in Long Island Sound has plummeted in recent years. Thousands of horseshoe crabs are captured each year, often for use by fishermen as bait in traps to catch whelk and eels.
Many are also captured by the biomedical industry, which uses blood from horseshoe crabs for vaccine research.
The population decline has also raised concerns from organizations dedicated to the conservation of birds, who say that migratory shorebirds like the red knot rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food during their annual migration to the Arctic.
New Jersey, Delaware and South Carolina have adopted similar bans.
Compo Beach horseshoe crab (Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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One of the most enjoyable sites for a fundraiser is the main pavilion at Sherwood Island State Park.
That’s the site for Shorefest. Set for September 8 (6 to 9 p.m.), it’s the only time of the year guests can stay at the park past sunset.
The evening includes food, live jazz piano, a silent auction (and of course, a Sherwood Island sunset).
Catering by Westfair Fish & Chips includes lobster, steak, salmon or vegetarian, plus appetizers, salad, dessert and beverages. Burgers and hot dogs are available for youngsters.
All proceeds support the habitat restoration, education and advocacy work of Friends of Sherwood Island State Park. Click here for tickets, and more information.
MoCA’s annual benefit — set for September 30 (7 p.m.) — has a special theme: “The Surrealist Soirée.”
The evening includes imaginative décor, avant-garde performers, a DJ, auction, and catering by Marcia Selden. Guests are encouraged to “dress creatively in line with the evening’s surrealist theme.” Click here for tickets, and more information.
Rosie Lundberg of Westport won gold recently, in the women’s U19 4+ race at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Paris.
Two other SRC athletes competed as well. Fairfielderes Ella Casano placed 4th in the women’s U19 8+, while Fairfield’s George Bentley was 5th in the mens’ U19 4+. Both are coxwsains.
The World competition followed SRC’s strong performance at the US Rowing Summer Nationals in Ohio last month.
Rosie Lundberg (center) and her Saugatuck Rowing Club gold medal-winning teammates. (Photo/Row2k)
If you’ve always wondered about “Uncovering the Non-Spherical Shapes of Bodies Beyond Neptune,” you’re in luck!
Darin Ragozzine — associate professor at Brigham Young University — will discuss that exact topic on next Tuesday (August 15, 8 p.m.), through the Westport Astronomical Society’s free science lecture series.
And finally, musical giant Robbie Robertson died yesterday in Los Angeles, after a long illness.
The lead guitarist and chief songwriter for The Band — the seminal Americana folk/rock/country/gospel group (including 4 Canadians, and only 1 American) — was 81.
The New York Times obituary quotes him: “I wanted to write music that felt like it could’ve been written 50 years ago, tomorrow, yesterday — that had this lost-in-time quality.” Click here for the full story.
(From Westport to Neptune and beyond, “06880” is your hyper-local blog — and a non-profit. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Toby Slavin’s 2-out, bases loaded grand slam helped the Westport 12U Little League team win the district title yesterday.
They beat a very tough Fairfield National squad, 6-2 in 9 innings (regulation is 6).
And they did it even though the home team had a runner on 2nd with no outs in all 3 extra innings.
Oh, yeah: After his grand slam, Toby pitched his 2nd straight scoreless inning, to secure the win.
This is their third straight district championship, after winning at U-10 and U-11 . But it’s the first 12U district title for Westport since 2013, and only the third 12U title since 1957.
The sectional tourney — the next stop on the road to the Little League World Series in Williamsport — is tomorrow (Monday), 5:45 p.m. at Unity Park in Trumbull.
Congratulations to players Henry Ellis, Chase Landgraf, Toby Slavin, Grant Theisinger, Evan Sealove, Nolan Walters, Christopher Lambert, Luke Moneyhon, Jack McGrathm Torrey Rossetter, Miles Delorier and Justin Goldshore, and coaches Jonathon Ellis, Justin Walters, Marc Theisinger and Thomas Whelan.
Rachel Doran — the 2015 Staples High School graduate who died just before her senior year at Cornell University after a rare reaction to common medication — will be honored on August 12.
Cornell Human Ecology will remember her contributions to the campus through her “intellect, creativity, warmth and sense of humor.”
Her legacy will be recognized through the naming of an exhibit space in the Human Ecology Building, where she developed her talents as a curator.
Rachel Doran, at Cornell University.
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Johanna Keyser Rossi is a frequent contributor to “Westport … Naturally.” With images like these, it’s easy to see why.
They posted one archival image from each state. Readers were given a clue, and invited to guess which state was represented.
Here’s Connecticut’s image:
The caption says:
The 1993 Thistle Atlantic Coast Championships, seen here, kicked off at the Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Conn. Fifty Thistle sailboats — 17-foot-long, single-masted, centerboard crafts, normally crewed by three people at a time — participated. Thistles are well suited to the light-air sailing encountered on calm summer days along the Constitution State’s shore.
It’s great that Times editors chose this photo to showcase our state.
Personally, I would have chosen a throwback tollbooth.
(Click here to see the entire Times piece. Hat tip: Jeff Manchester)
Cedar Point Yacht Club’s OneDesign Regattas have gotten so big, there are now 2 of them.
The first of Westport’s big summer sailboat races was held this past weekend. The second event — for smaller boats — is set for late September.
CPYC hosted 450 sailors. They were supported by 100 volunteers.
Cedar Point Yacht Club was organized 132 years ago, in 1887. In 2019, it’s still going strong. It was just named US Sailing’s OneDesign Club of the Year.
Here’s some of this past weekend’s action.
(Photo copyright Stephen R. Cloutier)
(Photo copyright Stephen R. Cloutier)
Aerial view of Cedar Point Yacht Club (Photo copyright Stephen R. Cloutier)
And all helped earn the Saugatuck Shores organization the 2018 National One-Design Award from US Sailing. The sport’s national governing body honored CPYC in Jacksonville, Florida last month for advancing sailing in this area — thanks in part to efforts like those.
Bob Karpel — commodore of the 132-year-old club — accepted the award.
Cedar Point Yacht Club sunset. (Photo/William Adler)
US Sailing cited specifically Cedar Point’s success in growing its fleet, and hosting regattas that draw sailors from around the nation. Last year those included a multi-class one-design race with 560 sailors, the 66-boat Thistle Nationals, and Connecticut Olympics.
The club also supports youth sailing, with events like the 142-boat JSA of Long Island Sound Race Week, and a 78-boat Opti area championship.
This summer, CPYC will host the Atlantic National Championships. In 2020: the Flying Scot Nationals.
Congrats to all. May the wind be always at your back!
Action from last year’s Cedar Point Yacht Club races.
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