
A toast to South Beach (Photo/Judith Katz)

A toast to South Beach (Photo/Judith Katz)
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for early this afternoon.
But the evening looks great. The temperature will start cooling off.
Which means: We’re on for our 9th annual “06880” blog party!
We’re still set for 6 p.m. at South Beach — the alcohol-is-fine-except-no-glass-bottles end, furthest from the cannons.
If it rains earlier, we’ll clear off the tables and benches. (If you’ve got an extra folding table, please bring one!)
This is a bring-your-own-food-and-beverages event. If you’ve got something extra to share, feel free!
“06880” provides the rest: a chance to meet commenters and lurkers. Each year we welcome old-timers, newcomers, politicians and normal human beings. It’s a chance to talk, laugh and trade stories about this wild, wacky and only slightly dysfunctional town we share and love.
See you tonight!

At first glance, it looks like a house in the Hamptons. On second glance, it’s the bathrooms at Compo’s South Beach. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
Yesterday’s “Roundup” item about what seemed to be a low number of picnic tables at Compo’s South Beach brought a call from Carm Roda, of Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department.
All 17 tables — plus 4 for handicapped users — are there, he says. Because people move them to make larger tables, it might seem that there are fewer. However, as Michael Calise noted in the “Comments” section, that’s a far cry from the 41 that were there pre-COVID.
And, he notes, they were wooden — some double-size, and all more substantial than the new, plastic ones.
So: If you’re coming to our “06880” blog party this Thursday (July 21, 6 p.m., South Beach), please consider bringing a folding table.
There’s plenty of room for everyone. Just not a lot of tables.

New (foreground) and older picnic tables, in 2018. The concrete grills have all been replaced too; only the smaller ones remain.
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It’s Shark Week at the beach!
Hopefully though, the only shark is on the side of the blimp. It advertises “Shark Week” on TV.
Fingers crossed. Stay safe!

(Photo/Matt Murray)
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Some rites of summer never change.
Bedford Middle School student Aiden Konig writes: “I’m 11 years old. Me and my friends, Liam and Ethan, were hanging out on the beach and made this really cool sand castle. I wanted to share it with your blog.”

Thanks, Aiden. I’m glad you guys are enjoying the timeless fun of the beach. Please be sure your grandkids send a similar photo, in 2092.
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Nearby, Dianne Wildman took a walk.
Compo is a beautiful neighborhood. But one sight disturbed her. Dianne writes:
On Friday at Bradley and Fairfield Avenues, I passed a black squishy plastic pillow covering a drain. A stream of water crossed the street, to another drain. Water gushed out at a healthy rate.

(Photo/Dianne Wildman)
A couple walked by as I was taking photos. They said the gushing had been going on for 2 weeks. All this on a day when the town announced we’re officially in a drought.
The woman said it won’t do any good to complain, because the problem was caused by a builder on the corner working on a new house and digging a swimming pool. The water level is 3 feet, so if you go deeper, it floods. “The town authorities always side with the builders,” they said, citing a similar story when someone built a pool last year.
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Congratulations to the Westport 11U District All-Star team: Section 1 champs!
They beat North Stamford 11-2 yesterday, in the finals. Next up: the state tournament. It’s set for next weekend, in Newington.
Players include Dylan Burdeshaw, Miles Delorier, Henry Ellis, Justin Goldshore, Wyatt Johnson, Christopher Lambert, Chase Landgraf, Jack McGrath, Luke Moneyhon, Torrey Rossetter, Toby Slavin, Grant Theisinger and Nolan Walters. The manager is Justin Walters; coaches are Marc Theisinger and Jon Ellis.

Section champs!
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Michael Szeto is used to seeing egrets at Longshore.
He was surprised, though, to see this one in his Minute Man Hill back yard.
He grabbed his camera, and snapped the scene for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Michael Szeto)
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And finally … Monty Norman, the British composer who wrote the theme tune for the James Bond films, died this week, He was 94.
Mark Yurkiw calls his work “the most memorable score by the most unmemorable composer.” Click here for a full obituary.
The annual “06880″ party is just a week away.
And if you’re reading this: You’re invited.
Next Thursday (July 21, 6 p.m.) is the day and time. The far end of Compo’s South Beach — away from the cannons, near the boat and kayak launch — is the place. (Still confused? See the aerial view below.)
Every member of the “06880″ (as in, this website) community is invited. We welcome frequent commenters and lurkers. Folks who have lived here all their lives, and those who moved here yesterday. People who want the Cribari bridge to stay the same, those who want a new one, and everyone in between. (Don’t worry: We keep the party a politics-free zone.)
The tagline for “06880″ is “Where Westport meets the world.” Next Thursday, that world comes to Compo.
Please bring your own food, beverages, beach chairs and blankets. (If you bring extras to share with others, we won’t say no). Then mix, mingle and enjoy the evening with the “06880″ crowd.
There’s no charge. It’s a “fun-raiser,” not a fundraiser.
A “blog party” — the “06880” version of a block party.
See you next Thursday!
(PS: Because “06880” is now a non-profit, Westport Parks & Rec allows a limited number of out-of-towners without beach stickers. Please email 06880blog@gmail.com to be put on the list. First come, first served!)
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Posted in Beach, Media, Westport life

Low tide, Compo’s South Beach (Photo/Judith Katz)

Dusk at South Beach (Photo/Joel Treisman)

South Beach at dusk (Photo/Tomoko Meth)
I’ve been inundated with sunrise and sunset photos. They’re great — but there are tons of them. Here’s a compilation.
Now let’s call a moratorium on sunrise and sunset photos. At least until winter.

Old Mill Beach (Photo/Matt Murray)

Compo Beach pavilion (Michael Tomashefsky)

Compo Beach, from Soundview (Photo/Jim Hood)

Mid-October, late day, Compo Beach (Photo/Alina Pitchon)

Compo Beach South Beach one day … (Photo/Jane Malakoff)

,,, and another (Photo/Roseann Spengler)

A dog and his sunset … (Photo/Les Dinkin)

… and another (Photo/Melissa Sobil Zitomer)

Several photographers saw the same sailboat (Photo/Seth Goltzer)

… again … (Photo/Judith Katz)

… and one more time (Photo/Brian Sikorski)

One final sunset (Photo/Les Dinkin)
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day
Tagged Compo Beach, Compo Beach pavilion, Compo Beach South Beach