As the Compo Beach playground renovation project kicks into high gear, young artists have a chance to help.
And win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Students in kindergarten through 5th grade who live in Westport or Weston can enter the playground’s logo contest. The winning entry will be used on the website, social media, t-shirts and signage, through the September build,
Despite yesterday’s rain and cold, Westport’s first Run For Their Lives event drew 20 people (and 3 dogs).
Organizer Melinda Wasserman made signs, provided red beanies, and pinned “115” (the number of days Israeli hostages have been in captivity) on participants’ backs, as though they were running a marathon (which to them it seems like).
Jennifer Wolff provided coffee and Munchkins.
The group walked from Winslow Park to town, then across the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge and back.
Many drivers honked in support. At a stop light, a woman played a melodic rendition of “Hatikva” (the Israeli national anthem) from her car window.
“We’ll do it again and again, until we don’t have to,” Wolff says. To join the WhatsApp phone chain for upcoming events, click here.
Participants in yesterday’s “Run for Their Lives” event.
The Boston Globe has run a long story on Lynda Bluestein’s fight to die on her own terms — in Vermont, because Connecticut has no medical aid in dying legislation.
For several months, a reporter and photographer followed the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport member’s battles against ovarian cancer, and in the Green Mountain State courts.
The Globe story also documents her final project: a wind phone project, through which families and friends can “speak” to loved ones who have died.
It is a nuanced, moving account of Lynda’s final days, accompanied by poignant photos. Click here to read (paywall).
On the morning of Lynda Bluestein’s death, her husband Paul told her how much he loved her. They waited for the rest of their family to arrive, so she could say goodbye and take medication to end her life. (Photo/Jessica Rinaldi for Boston Globe)
MoCA Westport celebrates its “Sixties Mod” exhibit with a Community
Conversations. Curators Kathleen Bennewitz and Ive Covaci, of the Westport Public Art Collections committee, will be at the museum on February 8 (6:30 p.m.).
Pre-registration is required, with a suggested donation of $10 for
non-members.
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Last month, “06880” noted that “The Wiz” is being revived on Broadway — with 2 Westport connections.
The original script was by Bill Brown, a longtime resident. And the revival is co-produced by 1994 Staples High School graduate Ari Edelson.
Now another Staples alum is involved. Benjamin Zawacki has built Wayne Brady’s costumes for the show. He is a professional draper, whose love of the arts was nurtured at Staples.
Performances begin March 29. Click here for more information. (Hat tip: John Dodig)
The 16th annual Darwin Day Dinner returns to The Inn at Longshore on February 10 (6 p.m.).
The event — for people “interested in learning about evolutionary biology and how science impacts society” (and who love a party) — includes a very un-party-like presentation, on “Carbon Dioxide Removal and Understanding Earth’s Natural Systems for Regulating Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere,” by Dr. Matthew Eisaman, professor at Yale’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture.
It is, organizers say, the “best science party this side of the Kuiper Belt.”
And finally … on this day in 1886, Karl Benz patented the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.
(You don’t have to buy “06880” a Mercedes-Benz. We’re happy for any tax-deductible contribution, of any kind, to support our work. Please click here. Thank you!)
If it’s mid-winter, it must be time for the “State of the Town” forum.
The annual event — featuring 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein — is Sunday, February 4 (2 to 3:30 p.m., Westport Library; click here for livestream).
As always, it’s a co-production of Westport Sunrise Rotary, and the Rotary Club of Westport.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein.
Leaders of the 1989 and 2006 Compo Beach playground committees joined leaders of the 2024 committee yesterday at Bedford Middle School, to show their support for the proposed design improvements to Westport’s most popular playground.
Among the attendees: former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Parks & Recreation Commission chair David Floyd, Parks & Recreation Department director Jen Fava, Representative Town Meeting member Julie Whamond, architect Lisa Deshano of Play by Design, and members of the public, from young parents to grandparents.
Westport Rotary Club’s centennial gift to the own is serving as lead sponsor for renovations of the playground. Fifty members of the public participated yesterday, offering suggestions to make the playground more accessible, more open, more code compliant and more suitable for the next generation of Westport youngsters.
This renovation marks the third time Westport Rotary has partnered with the Westport Young Woman’s League to build and enhance the playground.
Participants in yesterday’s Compo Beach playground renovation meeting (from left): Alison Reilly, Suzanne Dodge, Rick Benson, Totney Benson, Bridget Flynn, RB Benson, Samantha Owades, Josh Sterling (and son), Alex Cohen. RB and Samantha were 4 and 3 years old, respectively, when their parents worked together on the 1989 playground.
Tickets are on sale for the 4th annual Fashionably Westport runway show. Presented by the Westport Downtown Association, it features styles from dozens of Westport merchants and salons. Models — local friends and celebrities — walk a raised runway in the Trefz Forum. The night includes music, cocktails and light bites.
A portion of the proceeds benefit Homes with Hope, the local non-profit dedicated to ending homelessness in Fairfield County. Enjoy a social night of fashion, music, cocktails and light bites.
Why did Joe Tacopina leave Donald Trump’s legal team?
In what he said was his only interview on the subject, the Westport attorney told MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday: “It was just my time. I had to follow my compass. My compass told me it was my time there was done. There are a lot of personal reasons that went into that. Things that I can’t and won’t discuss.”
Click below for a longer clip.
Tacopina: I left the team because it was just my time. I had to follow my compass. My compass told me it was my time there was done. There are a lot of personal reasons that went into that. Things that I can't and won't discuss. pic.twitter.com/B1u2z9vHSA
Medieval music through a sacred lens comes to Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on February 3 (5 p.m.).
Eya — lauded as “remarkable” and “gorgeous” by The Washington Post —has been featured on Voice of America and NPR.
Their concert by candlelight will reflect the themes of flame and light that characterize St. Brigid’s feast day on February 1 and Candlemas on February 2.
Eya will be accompanied on clársach (wire-stringed harp), with additional support from Brigid’s Circle, a volunteer women’s treble singer ensemble formed for this performance.
A workshop for the Brigid’s Circle singers will be held for experienced choral singers the evening before, and be part of the performance if desired. For more information, email vshields@chtwestport.org.
What do you want — or not want — in the Compo Beach playground renovation project?
All Westporters are invited to an open house this Saturday (January 20, noon to 1:30 p.m., Bedford Middle School cafeteria).
Play by Design, an offshoot of the original playground design company, is leading this project. Lisa Deshano will present the preliminary designs. A Q-and-A session and comments from key committee members follows.
The renovation is the centennial project of the Westport Rotary Club, which constructed the original playground in 1986 and subsequent renovation in 2006. Both were done in conjunction with the Westport Young Woman’s League.
The Compo Beach playground is quiet in winter. Soon — with community input — it will be hopping again. (Photo/Dave Dellinger)
Clarence Hayes saw this morning’s “06880” post by Scott Smith — about clear-cutting trees before building new, large homes — and immediately thought of Newtown Turnpike.
He sent this photo, calling it “a perfect picture to illustrate mindless cutting for the convenience of a developer.”
(Photo/Clarence Hayes)
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Each year, Milford‘s Foran High School wrestling team chooses a charity to support. This year they selected Rach’s Hope — the non-profit that honors the memory of the 2015 Staples High School graduate who died just before her senior year at Cornell University after a rare reaction to common medication.
Rach’s Hope provides nutritious food, lodging, transportation and encouragement to family members when a child is in intensive care
The Foran wrestlers helped at the annual Walk for Rach’s Hope at Compo Beach in October. They sold t-shirts with the tagline “We Choose Hope,” which they designed.
Last week, they dedicated their home opening match to Rach’s Hope. The gym was filled with supporters.
Team captains eloquently shared the story and mission of Rach’s Hope — and then presented Rachel’s parents, Alan and Lisa, with a $5,000 check.
“The love and support in the gym from spectators and the team were palpable,” says Lisa.
“The wrestlers wore Rach’s Hope singlets with pride. It was an extraordinary event.
“What an incredibly warm group of high school students. They are not only dedicated and empathic to both their sport and our cause, but the effort they put into raising funds for Rach’s Hope was over the top.”
Next up for Rach’s Hope: the 5th annual PJ Gala (FTC in Fairfield). Click here for tickets. Click here to learn more about Rach’s Hope.
The Foran High School wrestling team. The backs of their shirts say, “We Choose Hope.”
COQODAQ — a new fried chicken “concept” — opened recently in the heart of New York’s Flatiron district. Mayor Eric Adams cut the ribbon, and Busta Rhymes delivered a surprise performance.
The “06880” connection: Staples High School graduate and returned-to-Westport resident Jacqueline Broder Hensel is a partner in Gracious Hospitality Management, which developed COQODAQ.
turned the space that once housed Rocco DiSpirito’s reality-TV restaurant into a glittering room dedicated to the veneration of this humble bird: A series of luminescent golden arches form a nave under which two banks of booths scallop out, and the walls are covered in a dermis of subtly textured golden panels.
“We wanted to create a cathedral of fried chicken,” (award-winning restaurateur Simon) Kim says.
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Westport Writers’ Workshop picked the perfect spot for their 3rd annual Pitch & Publish Conference (March 16): the Westport Library.
The event is aimed at anyone seeking a literary agent, hoping to be educated about the industry at large, or looking to meet and be inspired by authors, agents and editors. T
Keynote speaker Leigh Stein is a fiction writer, poet and memoirist.
The conference begins Friday, March 15 with a welcome party at WWW (25 Sylvan Lane), followed by Saturday’s panels, one-on-one pitches, and a wrap party.
New this year: Each agent will read 5 pages of a writer’s work (in addition to their query letter); a mini “practice your pitch” session, and a catered lunch.
The after-party is at Basso.
Individual tickets for the conference only are $350 each (walk-ins accepted); tickets for the conference plus 2 one-on-one pitches with literary agents are $600 each before February 9, $675 each thereafter. Click here to register, and for more information.
Longtime Westport resident Nancy Wilder died peacefully on January 6. She was 95.
A 1949 Mt. Holyoke College graduate, she remained active throughout her life keeping alumnae connected with each other, and the school.
Nancy was married to Milo Wilder for over 50 years. They had 2 sons, Sandy and Scott (“Hoover”). Scott died in 2008, after becoming a quadriplegic in 1974. They joyfully cared for him all those years until Milo’s death 2000. She then selflessly cared for him alone for the rest of his life. Sandy now lives in the St. Louis area. Nancy lived in Westport for the last 67 years.
Nancy is survived by her grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Duncan Wilder, Holly Wilder, Katharine Burgdorff Tyler, Lauren Burgdorff Frederick, and Douglas James Burgdorff.
Nancy was very active in her boys’ education, serving on many PTA boards and traveling often to watch their sports events from childhood through college. She was primarily a stay-at-home mom, although she did bookkeping for her husband’s company for many years.
Nancy adored her many golden retrievers and cats, was an active boater with her husband, and played tennis weekly with many good friends for much of her adult life. She loved watching tennis, golf, the New York Yankees and University of Connecticut women’s basketball.
Her (and her family’s) favorite place is Southwest Harbor, Maine. She went there every summer of her life. She met her husband-to-be there, and has ancestors in the region dating to the 1600s. She felt especially grateful that she got to spend all of July and August there last summer. Her favorite activity was visiting with family on the deck, looking out at Norwood Cove, the Causeway Club, and the mountains of Acadia National Park.
Nancy loved to do jigsaw puzzles, read, and visit with family She had a special knack for helping people feel deeply valued and appreciated independent of their age, like a cheerleader of the soul.
She had many friends she kept in touch with. After Scott’s death, many of his friends adopted her as their “second mom.”
A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held March 2 (2 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church).
As winter weather finally sets in this week, Pam Docters captured this “Westport … Naturally” image.
It shows the Saugatuck River downtown, looking toward Gorham Island. For the first time in a while: brrrrrr. (With apologies to our friends in Buffalo, where it actually is cold.)
And finally … it’s a short hop from COCODAQ (story above) to “06880.” Welcome to Westport (or at least, our hyper-local blog), Busta Rhymes!
(To honor Busta Rhymes’ first appearance in our “06880” pages, please click here. You can donate in honor of anyone else on earth there too. Thank you!)
The design for the Compo Beach playground renovation is underway, but not yet finalized.
A charrette will be held Saturday, January 20 (time and location TBD). Residents can share thoughts directly with designer Lisa Deshano.
The plan will be presented to Westport’s Parks & Recreation Commission on February 21, for approval.
Announcement of a logo contest for elementary school students will be made soon.
Compo Beach playground (Photo/Katherine Bruan)
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Ted Gangi graduated from Staples High School in 1983. Starting in junior high, he did statistics for the football team.
Ted is in his 19th year as owner of CollegePressBox.com, the official media website of Division I football and the College Football Playoff.
On Monday, as the 2024 champion Michigan Wolverines left the field, he posed with Westport’s newest football hero: Staples Class of 2020’s Jake Thaw. (Hat tip: Ned Batlin)
In addition, Tony “Pizza” Napolitano will be at the WTF brick oven every Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., for pickups. To order a pizza, check out his Facebook page on Mondays.
Congratulations to Staples High School’s January Students of the Month: seniors Brendan Dellorusso, juniors Logan Noorily and Jada Shelley, sophomores Daniel Arava and Catherine Cirasuolo, and freshmen Katherine Mannino and Thomas Scott.
Students of the Month “help make Staples High School a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the ‘glue”’of the Staples community — the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.”
“Students of the month are nominated by their teachers, who are asked to think of those students who come to school regularly, are friendly to the staff and to fellow students, and make positive contributions in class as well as the Staples community. In short, these students are all-around good citizens of our school.’
Students of the Month (from left): Thomas Scott, Jordan Noorilly, Jada Shelley, Katherine Mennino, Catherine Ciraduolo, Brendan Dellorusso. Absent: Daniel Arava.
In November, 18 Rotary travelers and their guests spent 2 weeks on a Westport Rotary Club “Back Roads Service Trip” to Uganda.
At this week’s meeting Lyla Steenbergen, chair of the International Giving Committee, reported on the trip — and shared great photos.
The group covered over 1,650 miles in 2 weeks in off-road vehicles and small planes. They went to national parks, tracked chimpanzees and gorillas, and trekked through a swamp at night.
They also visited 5 projects that Westport Rotary has supported with grants, including schools, hospitals and a water project, and engaged in hands-on service projects at those facilities.
Westport Rotary Club, in Uganda.
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From Stanley Steemer to Marian the Librarian: that’s Mia Gentile for you.
The 2007 Staples graduate — whose various impressions of the Stanley ad became an internet sensation — plays a more demure role in the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “The Music Man – Concert Version” (February 10, 7:30 p.m., Norwalk Concert Hall).
Mia also played Carrie Pipperidge in NSO’ production of “Carousel” last year.
Three Mia Gentiles: She played an all-girls group in one of her Stanley Steemer “ads.”
And finally … Scott McKenzie was born on this date in 1939. He had a long career as a singer/songwriter, but will always be known for this era-defining classic:
He died in 2012, age 73, from complications of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
(In 1967, all the cool people wore flowers in their hair. In 2024, they’re donating to “06880.” Please click here to join the crowd. Thank you!)
Two dozen residents heard an update last night from the Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Task Force, at Town Hall.
Representatives from the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments, and town operations director Tom Kiely, offered updates on the coordinated effort to identify and address trouble spots.
They provided statistics — 491 special enforcement details over the past 6 months, and 2,526 traffic stops — along with tangible actions, like a new 4-way stop sign at Hillandale and West Parish Roads, and sidewalks on Main Street, Compo Road North and Cross Highway.
Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Task Force members (from left): Deputy Fire Chief Nick Marsan, Police Staff Corporal Al D’Amura, Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson, town operations director Tom Kiely, town engineer Keith Wilberg, Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich. 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker also attended. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Then many residents offered trouble spots of their own.
Several mentioned Kings Highway North (east of the speed humps). Others spoke about Bayberry Lane, Imperial Avenue, Thomas Avenue, and Harbor Road on Saugatuck Shores.
A resident wants a traffic agent at Treadwell Avenue starting at 3 p.m., to handle Saugatuck Rowing Club traffic.
One person asked police to teach children about pedestrian safety. Another wondered how Westporters can help push the state Department of Transportation to move beyond its glacial pace. (One example: The town has been requesting left-turn arrows at the Compo Road South/Greens Farms Road/Bridge Street light for 3 years.)
One resident suggested painting “Don’t block the box” rectangles at intersections like Post Road West/Riverside Avenue/Wilton Road, then installing cameras and fining miscreants.
Another wondered why she never sees police ticketing drivers who run red lights on the Post Road near Trader Joe’s and Compo Road.
One Westporter urged Public Works to request more staff.
Last night’s meeting followed 9 other Task Force sessions — one for each Representative Town Meeting district — last year, and a town-wide summary meeting.
“We’ll be back again in 6 months,” promised Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson.
The map on the left shows the location of “enforcement details” between April and October of this year. The one on the right shows the location of traffic stops. (Photos/Dan Woog)
As planning progresses for the Compo Beach Playground makeover, organizers want Westporters’ input.
From all ages.
The Westport Rotary Club and Westport Young Woman’s League are partnering on the rebuild. They’re the same great groups that developed the original playground in 1986, and renovated it a couple of decades later.
The Compo Beach Playground Rebuild Committee designed a survey to capture ideas. It doesn’t take long. But residents’ input will help create a fun, safe and much-loved playground.
But act soon! The survey closes Monday (October 30). Click here for the link.
Compo Beach playground: ready for a rebuild. (Drone photo/David Szymanski)
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VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 kicks off Halloween weekend tonight (Friday, October 27, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; $5 cover ) with a Happy Hour special.
Beer and wine is $6, with chances at free drinks every hour. The food is (as always) great, and there are prizes for best costumes.
Matt Zako — founder of The City’s Backyard podcast — is host.
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Halloween weekend continues tomorrow (Saturday, October 28, 8 p.m., Westport Library), with a Halloween Concert and Costume Ball.
Costumes are encouraged. Prizes will awarded for best outfits, in several categories. Specialty cocktails, beer and wine complement music by Bella’s Bartok, a funk/pop/folk band.
It is, says the sponsoring Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, an event “to die for.”
Tickets are $20. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Bella’s Bartok
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Speaking of Halloween: Wednesday’s kids’ parade downtown — sponsored by Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department, Westport PAL and the Westport Downtown Association — included these trick-or-treaters, at Town Hall.
Andrew Wilk’s “Library Medical Series” continues Monday (October 30, 7 p.m., Westport Library), with the second of a 3-part series on the brain.
“Headaches and Migraine: Better Understanding the Diagnosis and New Therapies Available” features Dr. Dario Zagar and Dr. Robert Altbaum. A Q-and-A follows their presentation.
The Saugatuck Rowing Club Junior Program had its best-ever overall showing at the Head of The Charles regatta in Boston this month.
Current and former rowers, now competing for their colleges, contributed to the success.
In a very close finish, the men’s 8+ boat, including Westporters George Bentley, Ben Whelan, Campbell Cohen and Jack Kiely, plus Gavin Marshall of Weston, placed second, behind a late entry from the U.K. That makes them the current fastest men’s youth 8 boat in the US.
The men’s youth 8+ boat.
The women’s U17 4+ boat, with Rylie Cordell and Kate Weitz of Westport, and Anne Studnicky of Weston, captured gold. That continues SRC’s’ national streak in the category.
The women’s U-17 4+ boat (from left): Grace Baker Kate Weitz, Madeline Casano, Anne Studnicky, Rylie Cordella, coach Cody Silvester.
In other Saugatuck Rowing Club women’s junior news, the public is invited to a special event on November 7 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lululemon).
Rowers from novice and varsity teams will talk about their experiences, and demonstrate their rowing machine workouts. Coaches be available to talk about the benefits of the program. The event includes giveaways from Lululemon and Saugatuck Rowing Club, and treats from GG & Joe’s.
All are invited (schools are not in session, for Election Day).
Yesterday’s Roundup included a photo of a porta-potty, nestled in one of the Old Mill garages near Sherwood Mill Pond, and the pedestrian path to Compo Cove.
There’s a back story. (There always is.)
A homeowner on the Cove is having work done. Either the bathrooms don’t work, or they don’t want workers using them. So they set up the portable toilet.
Of course, those potties need to be serviced. Vehicles are not allowed on the Cove.
That’s why it’s there, in the garage.
And here is what that cleaning looked like yesterday:
She told “06880”: “I was asked by a member of the public if I was endorsing Camilo Riano. And I responded no, I am not endorsing him. That’s all I said.”
Others stayed home for the virtual Parks & Recreation Commission meeting on the future of Longshore — including the gardens, a new baseball diamond and the controversial siting of new pickleball courts. (They were disappointed. A “technical problem” ended the once-rescheduled meeting once it was clear it could not begin.)
The best time was had by the sold-out crowd at the Levitt Pavilion. Max Weinberg — longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band — brought his “Jukebox” show (with 300 songs that each audience picks) to the banks of the Saugatuck River.
The weather was beautiful. They played for 2 1/2 hours.
And at the end, he invited the audience up on stage, to join the fun.
Max Weinberg and friends, on stage at the Levitt. (Photo/Susan Garment)
Speaking of fun: In preparation for the Compo Beach playground renovation, Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department is looking for ideas.
A planning survey has been sent to Westport and Weston residents. The goal is to “improve the structure, visibility and accessibility” of the popular site, and to add new features.
The project is a partnership with the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Young Woman’s League.
Click here for the survey. It will be live through October 30. For project updates, on Instagram, follow @compobeachplay.
Compo Beach playground.
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Speaking of the beach: As the Hillspoint Road streetscape has changed over the years, there has been one constant: #246.
The tiny wooden shotgun house has stood — if not tall, then proudly — as all its neighbors have been torn down and replaced by far larger homes.
The end is in sight, though, for the 2-bedroom, 1-bath, 695-square foot house that sold last year for $1.5 million.
As the piece noted, our 7-decade relationship began in the aftermath of World War II. Two Westport soldiers — gun sergeant Bob Loomis and heavy machine gunner Clay Chalfant — moved through the Normandy town, just 25 miles from Utah Beach, on their way to Belgium.
Alert reader Mary Manning sent this welcome news along: Clay Chalfant still lives in Westport.
He and his wife Mary are in Greens Farms. In February, they’ll celebrate his 100th birthday.
Best (and early) wishes, sir!
And thank you, all those years ago, for helping begin a transatlantic friendship that flourishes still.
From left: Clay and Mary Chalfant, with then-1st Selectman Jim Marpe.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between September 27 and October 4.
A 27-year-old man was charged with disorderly conduct, assault, threatening and strangulation, after a domestic violence argument about a cell phone. He punched, pushed and choked the victim. After leaving, he threatened harm if police were notified.
A 57-year-old woman was charged with disorderly conduct, after arguing with a family member. The victim was assaulted, and injured during a fall.
A 28-year-old woman was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane, following a 1-car crash on Sylvan Road North.
A 34-year-old man was charged with burglary and larceny, after taking keys, checks and paperwork from Westport Auto Craft. Mamaroneck police arrested him during a burglary the same day, and found the items from Westport in his possession.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 6 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 3
Larceny: 1
Disorderly conduct: 1
Operating a motor vehicle while texting: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Earth Animal has a long history with both CT Foodshare and the Mitten Project. Together, they tackle food insecurity.
Once again this year, the Post Road East store will match every dollar donated.
Last year, Earth Animal raised $53,000. This year’s goal: $60K.
CT Foodshare sources healthy food donations from the food industry, retail stores, farms, and generous donors. They are donated through a network of over 480 food pantries, community kitchens and meal programs.
The first part of the fund drive is “Pumpkins for Good.” Locally grown pumpkins and gourds will be sold all this month at Earth Animal.
During the holiday season, the store will sell ornaments, handmade mittens and dog treat Advent calendars. They’ll sponsor other fundraisers too. Stop in to Earth Animal to learn more.
Wakeman Town Farm and Patagonia are partnering to show short film about how food connects to climate change. “Unbroken Ground” screens on October 23 (7:30 p.m., WTF Tim’s Kitchen).
After the film, Ellie Angerame od Green Village Initiative leads a discussion on how a community can make a positive impact.
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Westport Book Shop’s October guest artists are Jane Lubin and Toby Michaels. Both are survivors of the disease.
A reception is set for October 18 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Their art is on display at the Jesup Avenue store through through October 31. All work is available for purchase. To learn more about Toby and Jane, click here.
Jane Lubin and Toby Michaels, at the Westport Book Shop.
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It’s a cappella for all! (And for a great cause too.)
The Princeton Nassoons sing at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport October 18 (7 p.m.). The Beachside Express is their excellent opening act.
Admission is free. But voluntary donations support UU’s social justice partner, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
The Nassoons are one of the country’s oldest collegiate singing groups. And the vocal coach for Beachside Express — Greens Farms Academy’s elite group — is Mike Costantino, a longtime UU Westport member.
With so much controversy in Westport — the Community Gardens, the meaning of “shall,” Board of Education candidates and more — now is a good time to take a deep breath, step back, and admire what we have in Westport.
Nancy Lally’s “Westport … Naturally” photo for today is a great place to start.
And finally … the songs in the photo of Max Weinberg’s Jukebox show (story above) is just a sampling of the 300 he offered last night to Levitt Pavilion concert-goers.
Here, for your listening/dancing/air guitar pleasure, are 3 of them:
(Whew! There sure is a lot going on in Westport. And “06880” covers it all. If you believe in local journalism, please support this hyper-local blog. Just click here. Thank you!)
It’s hard to believe, but the Compo Beach playground was almost not built.
When the plan was proposed in 1988, some neighbors and others in town feared everything from a “ruined vista,” to a horde of out-of-towners, to our own teenagers hanging out there, drinking and doing drugs.
Honest.
They sued to stop its construction. As soon as a court injunction was lifted, volunteers of all ages went to work.
The result was one of Westport’s biggest attractions. (For kids — not out-of-towners or frisky teens.)
Parents lead children through the Compo Beach playground.
About 20 years later, another community-wide effort gave it an update and facelift.
Now, another rebuild is on the (still unspoiled) horizon.
The Westport Rotary Club and Westport Young Woman’s League will lead the project. They partnered on the original construction, and the first rebuild too.
Longtime Rotary volunteer and local builder Rick Benson is spearheading the effort.
He helped build the original playground more than 3 decades ago. He still calls it one of the best experiences of his life.
He and his wife Totney were new to town. They met other families. His children also made friends during the construction. Some of those relationships remain today.
(Youngsters were involved in the playground from the start. They helped design it, with noted architect Robert Leathers, and worked at the site. The littlest ones organized boxes of screws.)
The Compo Beach playground is popular many months of the year.
Rotary has chosen Play By Design to help with the “new” playground. It will include modern structures and features, as well as upgrades like replacing damaged boards resolving unsafe and accessibility issues, and improving visibility.
Right now, Rotary is assembling a steering committee (non-Rotarians are welcome!). Areas include:
General coordinators (2)
Volunteers coordinators (2)
Fundraising
Public relations
Special needs
Donated materials
Purchased materials
Food coordinator
Childcare coordinator
Site coordinator
Crew leader
Art and special features
Children’s representative
Rotary is also looking for volunteers for 3- to 4-hour on the build day next spring. Children can help. There will also be childcare and other activities.
Click here to volunteer for the steering committee and/or build day. For more information, follow @compobeachplay on Instagram
An initial meeting is set for Saturday, September 9 (9 a.m., at the wooden pavilion by the Compo Beach playground).
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