Elaine Clayton is a longtime Westport. She’s been an “06880” reader from the start, 11 years ago. She’s an artist too, with a passion for sketching her home town.
But despite her many years here, Elaine had no idea how strong her roots are. She writes:
Lately my sister has been exploring our family tree on my maternal side.
She asked if I realized we had ancestors in Westport. I did not.
It turns out my 8th great-grandmother was Abigail Sherwood (whose nephew Daniel was the original owner of Sherwood Island).
Sherwood Island (Elaine Clayton)
In the same family line — which includes Ogdens and Jenningses — my g-grandfather was Joshua Jennings I,; my great-etc. uncles were Joshua Jennings II and III. They married into the Sturges, Bulkley and Burr families. Ogden House on Bronson Road in Fairfield was a many times great uncle’s house.
I had fun too contacting a new-found cousin, Peter Jennings.
This fascinates me, because I have gone around drawing as much of Westport and Southport as I could. My younger son is part of the town too, tending to the beaches and fields with the town crew.
Compo Beach, from Soundview (Elaine Clayton)
How far do your roots go back in Westport? Check them out. They may be deeper than you think! Let us know your links — click “Comments” below.
For nearly 30 years, a group of 10 or so swimmers have met at Compo Beach — at 6 a.m. They swim 1 to 2 miles. Several shower there, dress in their (non-bathing) suits, and head to the train station.
They swim from May to November — in wet suits at the start and end of the season. Here they were, last week:
The Kings Highway North Bridge — the one at the light near Canal Street, near several medical office buildings — has been under construction since (it seems) the Truman administration.
Work may last through the Sasha Obama (or Barron Trump) administration.
But it’s important work. The bridge was in dire need of repair or replacement. School buses could no longer legally cross, because of its deteriorated condition.
Last winter, the P&Z explored many options to speed up the process. However, as chair Danielle Dobin notes on Westport Front Porch, work will continue through this winter.
The Frontier telephone lines that go under the sidewalk are being relocated now. Crews will then finish the sheeting, build the footings, set the precast bridge sections, and build the parapet walls (which are designed to evoke the historic design of the old bridge).
If this winter is warm, work could be completed by April or May. Otherwise, it will likely continue through May or June.
Large stones in the abutments beneath the Kings Highway North Bridge may be remnants of a much earlier bridge. (Photo: Wendy Crowther)
Saturday’s Westport Library “Show of Shows” was wonderful. The hour-long program featured tons of local personalities in comedy sketches, humorous shout-outs and musical numbers.
David Pogue MCed the event, and Andrew Wilk produced and directed. It ended with 2 powerful moments: a stirring video created by teens through the library’s media program, and the Staples Orphenians singing “Imagine.”
If you missed the show — or want to see it again — click here.
Who’s that guy stealing wine from 1st Selectman Jim Marpe’s cellar? Find out by watching the Westport Library’s “Show of Shows.”
Wakeman Town Farm’s upcoming offerings are intriguing. Among them: a Little Farmers Parent/Child class, and an Election Day Camp for kids ages 8-12.
Click here to register (search for “WTF”) for programs. Problems? Call 203-341-5152 or email recreation@westportct.gov.
WTF’s holiday pie fundraiser kicks off next week too. To get on the email list for notification, cilck here.
Sighted recently at Compo Beach: a baby shark.
But not in the Sound. This one was displayed on a South Beach picnic table, far from shore.
I’m not sure how it got there. But it sure got my attention.
(Photo/Matthew Levine)
Drivers stopped at the Playhouse Square traffic light often delight in the whimsical, ever-changing costumes worn by the animal sculptures on the Post Road lawn.
This Halloween, the creatures have been joined by a slew of skeletons. Despite COVID, looks like the animal hospital staff are up to their old tricks.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
And finally … Mahalia Jackson was born 109 years ago yesterday. The Queen of Gospel died just 60 years later. But she left a remarkable legacy.
Both Fairfield and Norwalk are now “red” communities: Each has at least 15 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
Westport is “gray.” We have fewer than 5 cases per 100,000.
But Halloween looms. What does that mean for next Saturday’s trick-or-treating? In recent years, hordes of kids — from this town, and elsewhere — have swarmed Westport’s densest neighborhoods. High on the list: Compo Beach.
In an effort to “protect the health and safety of Westport residents, and keep our schools open,” town officials will close Compo to parking at 3 p.m. Only marina slip holders will be allowed in.
These kids are not wearing masks. That’s okay — the photo is from 2014.
“Parents are encouraged to keep all trick-or-treaters in their own neighborhoods, and are strongly discouraged from allowing trick-or-treating in areas that draw a crowd,” says 1st Selectman Jim Marpe.
He adds:
The Centers for Disease Control considers traditional trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity, and should be avoided. It recommends alternatives for celebrating the holiday with lower risk activities and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing.
If you decide to participate in trick-or-treating, it is strongly recommended that it be done with increased precautions. A surgical mask must be worn. The CDC advises against wearing decorative masks over surgical masks. Trick or treaters should be aware that if a home is darkened, it is likely not partaking in Halloween festivities and that decision should be respected. Limit the amount of homes visited.
Hundreds of pumpkins, pounds and pounds of apples, and bushels of art supplies.
It’s all part of Sunday’s “Pumpkinfest” (October 25, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Thanks to he Westport Downtown Merchants Association, Parks & Recreation Department and Westport PAL, hundreds of (costumed) families will have a chance to decorate pumpkins, take selfies in front of hand-painted backdrops (created by the Artists Collective of Westport, MoCA Westport and One River), and take home delicious (well, Cortland orchard) apples, courtesy of Camp Playland.
Pre-registration was required — and space was quickly filled. Earth Animal stepped up to underwrite an extra session, for 30 more families.
Families that want to gamble can stop by, in case there are last-minute openings.
The event is also the inauguration of a new program: Downtown Dollars. Gift cards for local stores will be awarded to families with the most creative pumpkins.
First, March Madness fell victim to COVID. Then the major sports leagues. High school spring sports were canceled — and so was 11-man football this fall.
Now comes news that one of the best sporting events on the planet — Westport Parks & Rec youth basketball — will not be played this winter either.
The department is following recommendations of the state Department of Public Health. They categorize indoor basketball as “moderate risk,” and suggest no team play.
In addition, Parks & Rec does not have access to the school facilities used for the program, director Jen Fava says.
She adds:
We understand this may be disappointing for some, but we must put the health and safety of our youth, and the community as a whole above all else. With the current rise in cases, events moving inside for the winter months and several upcoming holidays, there is uncertainty about what lies ahead. Adding a basketball league is an additional risk we feel should not be taken at this time.
Fava said that Parks & Rec is looking into alternative programs. Some basketball might be played if the DPH changes its recommendations, and school facilities become available.
This is a normal scene — in May, June, July or August.
Late October: not so much.
The beach sweeping crew was out yesterday, as the temperature neared 80.
(Photo/Chip Stephens)
Temperatures will still be in the 60s today and tomorrow. Everyone into the pool!
Tickets are still available for this Saturday’s “Show of Shows” (October 24, 7 p.m.), livestreamed from the Westport Library.
The great David Pogue MCs. Award-winning producer Andrew Wilk is the (very) creative director.
The show includes local personalities, comedy sketches, musical numbers with unexpected twists, and more.
Westport Masks — the volunteer effort begun in the early days of the pandemic — has now made over 5,300 face coverings.
Thanks to sales, they’ve donated $1,500 to local food banks.
And they’re still going strong.
Tomorrow (Saturday, October 24) they’ll have their first pop-up shop mask sale. It’s at 19 Center Street (the corner of Brightfield Lane). Stop by — to keep yourself safe, and your neighbors fed.
And finally … yesterday was the 75th birthday of the Rascals’ Eddie Brigati. The vocalist/tambourine player helped write “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure” — and this classic:
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