One of the hot topics this summer will be synthetic turf fields.
Tonight (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Zoom), 2 Representative Town Meeting committees — Environment, and Health & Human Services — meet jointly, to discuss the topic.
It is the first of at least one or two similar meetings.
Members will not present or vote on an ordinance. The focus tonight will be on artificial turf, but they will also hear from someone with success working with grass fields.
Speaking of sports: The FCIAC (league) champion Staples High School boys lacrosse team is aiming now at a state championship. That double has not been accomplished since Darien did it in 2017. It’s never been done by the Wreckers.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) they take on New Canaan, in the “LL” semifinals. The game begins at 5 p.m., at Fairfield University.
Staples’ opponent is Darien — a team they’ve beaten 3 times already this year, including a nail-biting 10-9 FCIAC championship win.
The Wreckers are ranked 5th in the state tournament. In an odd twist — thanks to power rankings and records — the Rams are 1st.
The Staples game is the first of the double-headed. The 7:30 pits Darien against Fairfield Prep. So no matter who wins either contest, an all-Fairfield County final is assured.
Staples celebrates their FCIAC title. (Photo/Greg Raymond)
From 1947 until fairly recently, the Pepperidge Farm property on the Westport/Norwalk line was a magical place.
Some of America’s best loved treats were made there. And if you drove by at the right time, the smell of fresh-baked bread was intoxicating.
These days, the scene is quite different.
One of the most beautifully maintained and recognizable landscapes in the area has fallen into a state of neglect.
It has not been maintened for months. Trash, debris, weeds and overgrown grass and plants have taken over the lot. A king mattress and box spring sat in the parking lot for months.
Neighbors are concerned about ticks, and rodents burrowing in the tall grass.
One view of the old Pepperidge Farms property …
The Campbell’s Company (formerly Campbell Soup Company) owned the property for over 60 years, after acquiring Pepperidge Farm in 1961.
Last year they sold the property to a New York developer, TVG Partners, through an entity called 595 Westport LLC, for approximately $11 million. The developer has proposed redeveloping the site, while retaining some office space.
Westport Auction leased the front of the property in January 2026. The back of the property remains vacant.
Meanwhile, instead of closing eyes to luxuriate in the aroma of just-baked bread, folks close their eyes to avoid an unsightly mess.
Last night’s Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand reading of “A Tailor Near Me” featured the popular actor Jimmy Smits.
How popular?
Playhouse and “06880” photographer Dave Matlow reports that after shooting the play’s rehearsal yesterday afternoon, he met twin sisters on the WCP steps.
Sharon Lowe and Norma Leyden are a few days away from their 74th birthday. For years, they have traveled throughout the US — including California, Chicago, Washington and Broadway — to watch Smits perform.
Sharon Lowe (left) and Norma Leyden. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
They live in the Boston area, and were vacationing on Nantucket. That’s where they first met Smits, 20 years ago.
They drove to Westport yesterday, to watch their favorite actor in the script reading. They were there after the show too, waiting for him to leave.
From the reviews we’ve heard, the sisters — and everyone else in the audience — got their money’s worth.
Matlow reports the comedy was completely sold out. It was written by Michael Tucker, best known as an “L.A. Law” actor. He was part of the reading last night, joined by 2 others from that TV show: Smits and Tucker’s wife, Jill Eikenberry.
This was the last Script in Hand production of the spring. The series resumes September 14.
Curtain call (from left): Jimmy Smits, Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Two of Westport’s most interesting people are on stage tonight, at the Westport Library.
Journalist Dave Briggs chats with former Navy SEAL commander and White House fellow Mike Hayes. They’ll explore how to navigate life’s transitions with purpose. The starting point is “Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose,” Hayes’ practical, inspiring guide to building a more meaningful life.
Also today (Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.): The Exchange Project presents a “Swap Day: Summer Edition.” The host is Abby Jaramillo.
The Exchange Project “redefines luxury resale through thoughtful curation, conscious consumption, and timeless style. (They) extend the life of exceptional clothing by editing the best pieces already in circulation—creating a refined, sustainable marketplace where style never comes at the planet’s expense.”
Fresh pieces are updated hourly, including new arrivals from Balenciaga, Zara, Alo, Frame, L’Agence and more. Click here for tickets; address given upon purchase.
The closure from June 18 through August of Cross Highway near the entrance to Wakeman Town Farm — for replacement of the Deadman Brook bridge — has already been announced.
But it will also be closed this Thursday and Friday (June 11 and 12) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for gas line and utility work. Cross Highway will be open, however, from Bayberry Lane to Wakeman Farm Drive.
To accommodate graduation ceremonies, the road and bridge will be open on June 15 and 16 for events at Staples High School and Bedford Middle School.
Longtime Westport resident Linda Volckmann died peacefully on June 6, surrounded by her family. She was 88.
A native of Yakima, Washington, she earned a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in teaching, both from Stanford University.
She married Carl Volckmann in 1965. His career with IBM took the family throughout the Northeast. They settled in Westport in 1974.
Here Linda developed a love of sailing alongside her Navy husband, formed lifelong friendships, and devoted countless hours to supporting her children’s athletic, music and academic pursuits.
She attended many swim meets, tennis matches and horseback riding competitions. Later, she was on the sidelines for soccer, lacrosse games and wrestling competitions.
Linda loved to travel, and enjoyed adventures throughout Asia and Africa.
When their children were grown, Linda and Carl found a second home in Stuart, Florida, where many friends from graduate school had settled. For nearly 2 decades they enjoyed life as “snowbirds.”
After selling their Westport home of 43 years, they divided their time between Park City, Utah, and Florida.
Linda is survived by her husband, Carl; daughter Karin Goodman (Nick) and their children Kendall, Hayden and Camden; her aughter Tina Perala (Matthew) and their children Kai and Teo; her son Eric and his children Evelyn and Emmett.
Linda is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Lynne Terril, and their children Christopher and Laura; sister, Lila Nielsen and her children Gretchen and Vicki, and nieces Kristen Doerrer, Eryn Cusic and Micheal Cusic .
Her family says, “Linda will be remembered for her intelligence, generosity, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to family and friends. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcome, valued and loved.
A memorial service will take place at the end of the year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Green’s Farms Congregational Church, CT, Mariner Sands Chapel Benevolence Fund, or Make-A-Wish of Seattle (Alaska & Washington chapter).
Linda Volckmann
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Great light makes today’s “Westport … Naturally” image — showing Sherwood Mill Pond — extra special.
And finally … speaking of the Pepperidge Farm property (story above), this seems like an apt song:
(Whether you remember Pepperidge Farm or not, “06880” is your hyper-local blog — a place to remember history, or learn about it. If you enjoy either activity, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
To contact Pierce Brown for grill cleaning, text 203-228-2293.
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The Soundview Summer Stroll returns Sunday, July 26!
For the 3rd year in a row — with the support of “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association — the beach exit road will be closed to vehicles.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Westporters can enjoy live music, food, kids’ activities, and a chance to stroll, bicycle, Rollerblade or otherwise enjoy one of the town’s crown jewels.
New this year: non-profits are invited to set up information booths, all along the road.
Earthplace, the Westport Weston YMCA, MoCA\CT and the Westport Swim Club are already in. If your non-profit would like to participate, email 06880blog@gmail.com.
Just a few days after being harassed while leaving The Blondinit — and posting about it on social media — Jonny Daniels returned to the Israeli restaurant on Monday.
This time, he heard no epithets about Israel from across the street. Instead he met the owners — who had closed briefly, after the incident went viral — and wrote:
“Today we had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary couple who proudly embrace and display their Israeli and Jewish heritage. Their warmth, resilience and unwavering pride were truly inspiring.
“The Blondinit serves exceptional Israeli cuisine in a beautiful setting. While the restaurant is not kosher, it offers an authentic and unapologetically Israeli dining experience that deserves to be celebrated and supported.
“Moments like these remind us that hatred and intimidation will never dictate where we go, who we support, or how proudly we live our Jewish lives.
“In the coming days, we will be announcing a very special evening at The Blondinit, where our community will have the opportunity to come together, support this incredible business, and send a clear message: we do not back down, we are not afraid, and we will always stand proudly as Jews.”
Police are conducting SWAT training today at 6 Coleytown Road, near Temple Israel.
There will be increased law enforcement in the area. Don’t be alarmed — it’s for training purposes only.
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Preliminary work is already underway on the Cross Highway bridge replacement, near the entrance to Wakeman Town Farm and the Wakeman fields.
The road will close on or around June 19, through approximately August 20.
Access to Wakeman and Bedford Middle School will be through North Avenue only.
Residents of Cross Highway, Silent Grove North, Half Mile Common, Woody Lane and Whippoorwill Lane will continue to have access, but there will be no through traffic.
Gruel Britannia and Christie’s Service will remain open and accessible.
Questions? Call town engineer Keith Wilberg: 203-341-1128.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport’s “upcycle online” auction ends tonight, at 7:45 p.m. A reflection of their commitment to reduce, recycle and reuse, it’s a chance to share with others, and keep landfills down.
Sports fans (Patriots, Bayern Munich), college grads (Northeastern, Cal), shoe aficionados (Ferragamo, Sperry), china and crystal (Limoges, Wedgewood), clothing (Talbots Liz Claiborne), toys (Lego, Nintendo) and more (Thule luggage rack, live ficus tree) — there’s something for everyone.
For many neurodivergent teenagers, school provides social connections and routine.
That can be tough to replicate in the summer.
NeuroMind — a Westport-based hub for neurodivergent individuals and their families, offering coaching, counseling, support groups workshops, and resources — can help.
Their in-person social group for 15-19-year-olds meets Fridays at 2 p.m., from July 10 through August 28. Led by a licensed social worker, it offers an opportunity to make new friends, find a community, feel supported and judgment-free, and “be yourself!”
The next Veterans Benefits Luncheon is tomorrow (Thursday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), VFW Post 399).
It’s open to all veterans as part of an ongoing effort to check in on all veterans’ welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.
Representatives will answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.
RSVPs are encouraged (but not required). Email vfw399ct@gmail.com, and include the number of attendees, or call (203) 227-6796.
PS: If you’re not a veteran, but know one: Please pass the word!
Speaking of lunch: Emmy Squared just launched a new promotion.
From Monday through Thursday, they’re selling cheese slices for $1, and pepperoni for $2. That’s “cheaper than gas,” they say — a lot cheaper. (For one gallon, anyway.)
Also on tap at the Church Lane restaurant: Trivia Nights.
They run every other Thursday (June 8 and 22, July 6 and 20, August 3 and 17).
Drinks are happy hour prices all night, on those days.
Though if you drink too much, you might not remember all those factoids. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
Longtime Westporter George Manchester turns 95 in June.
His son Jeff — now raising his own family, in his home town — has planned a special gift. He hopes at least 95 “06880” readers will send his father “Happy Birthday” cards.
George spends summers in Maine. Going to the post office is an important part of his day. Let’s inundate him (and the PO) with cards!
Send to: George Manchester, PO Box 202, South Bristol, ME 04568. And feel free to pass this on to others!
George Manchester in 2017, just before the old Saugatuck Island bridge was torn down after damage from Superstorm Sandy. Decades earlier he was involved in the construction of that bridge, as president of the Saugatuck Shores Island Association (now the Saugatuck Island Special Taxing District).
Elizabeth “Betty” Auber died Sunday in her Westport home, with her family by her side.
She was born and raised in Queens, the child of immigrant Irish/German parents.
After graduation from high School she married her sweetheart, Dick) Auber, and raised 5 children.
She went back to school and obtained a degree in nursing from Norwalk Community College in 1981, then graduated from Fairfield University 4 years later with a psychology degree.
Betty was highly respected for her nursing expertise and compassion. She ended her career as a psychiatric nurse providing compassionate care to vulnerable patients.
Betty retired when she was 76 years old, but continued to be a medical consultant to family and friends, always willing to listen and offer advice.
She and Dick loved traveling with friends, and enjoyed hosting social activities. She was also an active Senior Center and Westport YMCA participant. She volunteered at St. Luke Parish, beginning in 1976. Until very recently, she hosted weekly bridge and canasta games in her home.
Betty is survived by her children Patricia (Tom), Richard (Tatyana), Ron (Cheryl), Judy (Ferdinand) and Christine (Michael); grandchildren Abby, Steven, Jordan, Anastacia, Matthew, Kevin and Mary; great-grandchildren Colden, Keegan, Beckham and Eleanor; sister Patricia Casey and brother Joseph Schick. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Richard.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday (May 30, 11 a.m., St. Luke Church).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to he Parkinson’s Voice Project or The Westport Center for Senior Activities.
Elizabeth Auber
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It arrived late. But some of this spring’s colors — like today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo, from Joann Circle — make the wait absolutely worth it.
And finally … Sonny Rollins, the saxophonist who was a giant of the post-war jazz age, died at his home in Woodstock, New York. He was 95. Click here for a full obituary.
(And finally … if you’re in a sentimental mood — or any other kind — please consider clicking here, to support this hyper-local blog. These daily Roundups, and so much more, don’t just fall from the sky 😎)
Jennings Trail is named in honor of Bessie Jennings. Her family settled in this area around 1650.
A beloved educator and authority on Westport’s past, she originated and led tours of local historic sites, for decades of elementary school students.
Conceived in 1974 as part of Westport’s plans to celebrate the Bicentennial, the Trail was initiated by the Westport Historical Society in collaboration with the Westport Young Woman’s League.
23 markers were installed throughout Westport. Jennings Trail is now under the stewardship of the Westport Historic District Commission.
Four additional markers are now being added. Historian Morley Boyd explores the story behind the most recent one.
At 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 1777, the Meeker household was wide awake.
Thirty-six-year-old Benjamin Meeker stared out the window at a scene that would have defied description. On the narrow, muddy road beside the Meekers’ 50-year-old Cross Highway residence, a heavily armed force from one of the most powerful nations on the planet came into view.
Suddenly there was shouting. The column of 1,850 soldiers – stretching into the darkness for nearly a mile – halted in front of Benjamin’s house.
The expedition was under the command of British Major General William Tryon. Three regiments had participated in the battles of Lexington and Concord. One had been at the Battle of Bunker Hill. These were seasoned professionals.
The “Meeker house” in the 1930s. After the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Meeker built the barn in back. It, and the house, still stand.
Benjamin probably knew that, around 5 p.m. the previous afternoon, a dozen British transports and 3 warships had arrived at the mouth of the Saugatuck River.
Because it had taken 6 hours to get the men and materiel off the ships and assembled, there was time for word to spread. Although the Americans had previously received intelligence that the British — desperate for food, tents and other supplies — likely intended to capture the Continental supply depot in Danbury, no one in those early hours could be completely sure of the enemy’s true plans.
The British had no idea how to get to Danbury, but they were guided by men who did. They also knew the loyalties of every resident in every house along the way.
Though we don’t know the scope of Benjamin Meeker’s efforts during the Revolutionary War, documents and testimony indicate he was a patriot. He would have particular concern about the force now standing outside his house.
After the order was given to halt, there was likely a knock at the door. When there was no response, someone probably started calling for Benjamin.
When that did not have the intended result, a British Regular was ordered to fire his weapon at the heavy plank door. The musket ball imbedded itself, but did not pierce it.
The door today. The hole left by the missing musket ball can be seen on the left side, underneath the knocker.
Benjamin faced a decision. If he continued to resist, his house would likely be set ablaze. Or perhaps the artillerymen would be ordered to open fire on the residence.
Either way, Benjamin knew that continued resistance could put his wife Abigail and their children – Anna, age 10; Sillivant, 8; Rachel, 3, and Benjamin Jr., less than 1 month – in mortal danger.
He opened the door, and was arrested. His older brother Daniel, a sergeant in the local militia, was arrested too.
Though Tryon had issued explicit, written orders forbidding plundering during the expedition, the house was ransacked. The family’s livestock were slaughtered. This kind of treatment (and worse) by British forces was typical near the coast in what is now Westport.
After Benjamin and Daniel were made prisoners, the column resumed its march. Arriving in Danbury the next day, things did not go as planned.
Although the original objective was to carry off everything possible from the Continental supply depot, Tryon’s men could not secure wagons to do so.
British forces landed at Compo Beach, marched to Danbury, headed back south and — after the Battle of Compo Hill — retreated to Long Island.
Then came word that American forces were rapidly closing in on the British position. Perhaps even worse was news that Benedict Arnold was among the 3 American generals preparing to challenge the British, as they attempted to return to their ships at the mouth of the Saugatuck River.
Though Arnold was a pharmacist by trade with no formal military training, he was feared by the British for good reason: In the first 2 years of the war, he had proved to be a brilliant tactician, with astonishing endurance.
With time running out, the British decided to destroy the Continental supplies and get out of Danbury.
Presumably, Benjamin and Daniel Meeker — joined by over 50 other American prisoners — not only witnessed what happened at Danbury, but were dragged along on the harrowing retreat back to Compo.
Exhausted, out of ammunition and pinned down at Compo by American forces, only a do-or-die fixed bayonet charge got the British expedition back to the safety of their ships.
Robert Lambdin’s “The British Landing at Cedar Point, April 25, 1777,” 1955 painting is now part of the Westport Permanent Art Collections.
Although it’s impossible to imagine what the previous 48 hours must have been like for Benjamin, Daniel and the other American prisoners captured along the way, their situation soon got much worse.
As Abigail Meeker watched her arrested husband and brother-in-law disappear into the night, she knew their chances of returning alive were slim.
It has been said that British-occupied New York was more of a gulag than a garrison. After the British filled the debtors’ prison with rebels, they turned the city’s non-Anglican churches into cages. When those exceeded capacity, prisoners were packed into New York’s massive, multi-story sugar warehouses. Finally, 16 decommissioned ships floating off Brooklyn were used to hold American prisoners.
It was a nightmare of brutality, starvation, disease and death. Over half of the estimated 18,000 American prisoners did not make it out alive.
Both Meeker brothers were thrown into a sugar house prison. They managed to survive for 18 months. before being released as part of a prisoner exchange.
The men returned to their families. Life resumed as best it could. When Daniel died 6 years later at age 45, his wife Abby interred him in the Lower Green’s Farms Burying Ground (now the corner of Greens Farms Road and the Sherwood Island Connector).
Daniel Meeker’s headstone.
Benjamin supported the family of his younger brother Stephen, who had just been killed in action in Pennsylvania. He also supported his younger sister Molly, whose husband was badly wounded during the Battle of Stony Point. Benjamin died in 1817, at 75. When the ground thawed that spring, his wife buried him the Green’s Farms Church’s Upper Cemetery.
The Meeker homestead still stands at 188 Cross Highway, bearing silent witness to those who bravely fought for America’s independence.
The Minute Man Monument commemorates the Battle of Compo Hill. It took place 3 days after the British marched past the Meekers’ Cross Highway home. (Photo/John Maloney)
Last week’s Photo Challenge was quite location-specific.
Unless you live in the extreme northeast corner of Westport — near where Cross Highway dips into Sturges Highway — or unless you spend a lot of time driving to, say, the Patterson Club — you would not have know that spot, where what may be our town’s saddest and loneliest stop sign sits. (Click here to see.)
Mark Yurkiw, Lynn Untermeyer Miller and Shawn Liberty — at least 2 of whom have homes nearby — were the only 3 to respond correctly.
I’ll try to make up for that sometime soon. Maybe Saugatuck Shores …
Meanwhile, it’s interesting that neither Cross nor Sturges is an actual “highway” — at least, not in the modern sense of the word.
But the term originally meant simply a main, direct road connecting towns. Back in the day, these were major thoroughfares.
Without the need for even a flimsy stop sign.
Here’s today’s Photo Challenge. If you know where you’d see this, click “Comments” below. HINT: Though it’s near I-95, it’s not at South of the Border.
(Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Nearly every day, “06880” receives emails from residents complaining about reckless, speeding drivers.
But it’s not only a 2025 issue.
Nearly 70 years ago, the Westport Town Crier & Herald — our print predecessor — addressed the problem.
Alert “06880” reader Siobhan Crise subscribes to Shaun Usher’s “Letters of Note.” Each week he emails important, interesting and/or intriguing letters he’s found.
The most recent one caught her eye. It begins:
In 1955, travel editor Richard Joseph and his wife, Morgan, left the intensity of New York behind and settled into the relative calm of Connecticut.
They adapted quickly to the slower pace of life, and before long had welcomed a Basset Hound puppy named Vicky into their home.
One Sunday evening, as Richard took her out for a walk, a speeding car veered off course and struck the 6-month-old dog, killing her almost instantly. The driver didn’t stop.
The following morning, heartbroken and angry, Richard sat down and wrote a letter addressed “to the man who killed my dog” and sent it to the local paper, Westport Town Crier & Herald. To his surprise, it was soon printed on the front page; before long, it had been reprinted across the country. In 1957, it even inspired a book.
I hope you were going some place important when you drove so fast down Cross Highway across Bayberry Lane, Tuesday night.
I hope that when you got there the time you saved by speeding meant something to you or somebody else.
Bayberry Lane at Cross Highway today. The long-dangerous intersection now has several warning signs.
Maybe we’d feel better if we could imagine that you were a doctor rushing somewhere to deliver a baby or ease somebody’s pain. The life of our dog to shorten someone’s suffering — that mightn’t have been so bad.
But even though all we saw of you was your car’s black shadow and its jumping tail lights as you roared down the road, we know too much about you to believe it.
You saw the dog, you stepped on your brakes, you felt a thump, you heard a yelp and then my wife’s scream. Your reflexes are good, we know, because you jumped on the gas again and got out of there fast.
Whoever you are, mister, and whatever you do for a living, we know you are a killer.
And in your hands, driving the way you drove Tuesday night, your car is a murder weapon.
You didn’t bother to look, so I’ll tell you what the thump and the yelp were. They were Vicky, a 6-month-old Basset puppy; white, with brown and black markings. An aristocrat, with 12 champions among her forebears; but she clowned and she chased, and she loved people and kids and other dogs as much as any mongrel on earth.
A basset puppy.
I’m sorry you didn’t stick around to see the job you did, though a dog dying by the side of the road isn’t a very pretty sight. In less than 2 seconds you and that car of yours transformed a living being that had been beautiful, warm, white, clean, soft and loving into something dirty, ugly, broken and bloody. A poor, shocked and mad thing that tried to sink its teeth into the hand it had nuzzled and licked all its life.
I hope to God that when you hit my dog you had for a moment the sick, dead feeling in the throat and down to the stomach that we have known ever since. And that you feel it whenever you think about speeding down a winding country road again.
Because the next time some 8-year-old boy might be wobbling along on his first bicycle. Or a very little one might wander out past the gate and into the road in the moment it takes his father to bend down to pull a weed out of the driveway, the way my puppy got away from me.
Or maybe you’ll be real lucky again, and only kill another dog, and break the heart of another family.
Richard Joseph
Westport, Conn.
(This letter can be found in the book, “Letters of Note: Dogs.” Signed, personalised, gift-wrapped copies can be purchased here.)
Andrew Colabella reports: “Over the last 2 years, a group of volunteers from the Representative Town Meeting planted 500 tulips. Most were at the Minute Man monument.
“In late spring, a landscaper mistook the stems there for weeds. Parks & Recreation Department parks superintendent Michael West was upset, and wanted to make up for it.”
Colabella requested 500 tulip bulbs as replacements. West, and Parks & Rec’s Jamie Boone and Rick Giunta, surprised him with 1,500.
The other day,Colabella and several fellow RTM members planted the bulbs at the Minute Man, and other spots in town like the Compo Beach entrance and Compo cemetery.
In addition, each RTM member who planted tulips took bulbs to plant in a public spot of their choice — without telling the others where it is.
We won’t see the results of their work until spring. But it will be fun to discover, and beautiful to see.
Planting tulips at the Minute Man monument. Front row (from left): Nancy Kail, Kristin Mott Purcell. Rear: Melissa Levy, Andrew Colabella, Don O’Day.
Planting bulbs at Compo Beach. RTM members Claudia Shaum and Julie Whamond flank Parks & Recreation Commission chair David Floyd.
Looking for non-shopping activities over Thanksgiving? Got relatives from out of town, who want to do something Westport-special?
Earthplace is your place.
Their Story and Animal program, Birds of Prey feeding, “Saturdays at Earthplace” and Winged Wonders program are all intriguing. And Earthplace trails and 62-acre sanctuary are open to the public, from dawn to dusk.
The Story and Animal program (Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.; age 5 and under) includes an animal-themed story, and an “encounter” with an Animal Hall resident.
Birds of Prey Feeding (daily, 11 a.m.; all ages), includes information about birds’ eating habits and behaviors.
Saturdays at Earthplace (November 30, noon; all ages; parent or caregiver must be present) is a nature-based arts and crafts activity.
Winged Wonders (December 1, 1 p.m.) is a bird-on-glove demonstration, to learn about raptors. This Sunday features Earthplace’s barred owl, Moody.
Also, starting Sunday, Earthplace participates in Westport Moms’ first-ever Elf Scavenger Hunt The “Earthplace Elf” will hide somewhere indoors, for one week. Spot it between December 1 and 8, and win a prize.
For more information on Earthplace and its programs, click here.
An Earthplace Winged Wonders demonstration.
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The Long Lots School Building Committee meets tonight (Tuesday, November 26, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Room 201/201A).
The agenda includes a project update; work session to review progress on schematic plans, and public comment.
Long Lots School Building Committee, in a meeting last year.
As part of the Cross Highway Traffic Improvement project between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane, the Cross Highway bridge over Deadman Brook is proposed to be replaced with a new bridge.
The existing bridge is in bad shape, and cannot be modified to include the new sidewalk proposed for the corridor.
Construction is proposed for 2025. The goal is to replace the bridge during the summer, when school is not in session.
The town has submitted applications to the Flood & Erosion Control Board, Conservation Commission and Planning & Zoning Commission for an 8-24.
Meetings of those groups are December 4, 11 and 16, respectively. Meeting materials are or will be available on the town’s website for each board.
Questions? Contact town engineer Keith Wilberg: kwilberg@westportct.gov; 203-341-1128.
Cross Highway bridge over Deadman Brook.
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Achtung!
Staples High School German students did more than just showcase their skills and knowledge at the recent University of Connecticut German Quiz Bowl, competing against other high school German programs.
They finished Nummer Eins — Number One!
In addition to the competition, students participated in workshops. They also learned about job prospects with over 150 German companies operating in Connecticut. (Since 2019, Germany has been Connecticut’s number one business partner.)
Staples German students, at the University of Connecticut.
Speaking of school: Last week, Greens Farms Academy broke ground for it new Athletics and Wellness Center.
The 30,000-square foot facility — set to open in the spring of 2026 — will
include 2 full-size basketball courts, 2 wrestling rooms, 2 squash courts with viewing galleries, a fitness center and training room.
It follows the expansion of Lower School facilities, including a new dining and student commons and a renovated assembly room, which opened last year.
The projects are funded through GFA’s Centennial Campaign, which will officially launch next fall 2025 as the school nears its 100th anniversary.
A model of Greens Farms Academy’s Athletics & Wellness Center.
Jazz at the Post celebrates Thanksgiving a day early.
This year’s weekly musical treat is tomorrow (Wednesday, November 27; VFW Post 399), instead of the traditional Thursday.
Bassist Fima Ephrom headlines. He’s joined by his First Light Band: guitarists Idan Morim and Tim Jago, keyboardist William Evans, drummer Ben Silashi and saxophonist Greg Wall.
Dinner service begins at 7 p.m. Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $20; $15 for veterans and students. Click here to purchase.
And finally … Tina Turner was born on this date, in 1939. After a dynamic musical career, first with her husband Ike and then as a solo artist, she died last year, at 83.
(It’s hard to keep up with everything in town. But “06880” tries. If you like what we do, please support us with a contribution. Click here — and thank you!)
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Over 130 Westporters (and friends) had a great time yesterday, at our 2nd annual “Historic Homes of 06880” house tour.
In spectacular fall weather, they toured 4 fascinating properties.
Ed Gerber’s 1764 saltbox on Cross Highway was once the home of George Hand Wright, a founder of Westport’s artists’ colony. Ed proudly showed off his restoration work, which earned a Westport Preservation Award, and a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dan and Nicole Donovan’s 1870 Queen Anne-style farmhouse on Maple Avenue South earned raves for its imaginative restoration, including a welcoming kitchen (where their 6 children gather when they’re all home), and a wine cellar that’s been converted into a pub.
Around the corner on Greens Farms Road, Al and Chris DiGuido’s 1860 Colonial’s renovations were on display. The 4 fireplaces, mahogany ceilings and rooftop balcony competed with the full bar and entertainment center upstairs, complemented by Al’s extensive collection of sports memorabilia.
The fourth house, at 296 Compo Road South, is new construction — a future historic home. Architectural designer Michael Greenberg, builder Peter Greenberg of Able Construction, and owner Kim and Niv Harizman described the work they’ve done, and showed off their open floor plan.
Thanks to the owners who opened their homes; to our friends at KMS Team at Compass, who sponsored the event and made it extra fun; to “06880” board members and Staples Service League of Boys who provided support, and of course all who attended.
Dan Donovan turned a 6,000-bottle wine cellar in his 1870 home into a pub.
Frank Sisson writes: “While I commend the increasing attention being given to bikers’ rights and safety, I wonder if this new sign — one of several I noticed recently that have gone up on Cross Highway near Wakeman Park — was fully thought out.
“It sounds good in principle. But some bikers — particularly younger ones — are likely to take it very literally and ride their bikes in the center of the lane, assuming that vehicles behind them will just have to match their much slower pace.
“I have a feeling that vehicles like this one — not to mention the many impatient tailgating drivers we all encounter in this area — may not ‘get it.”
(Photos/Frank Sisson)
“I fear that our younger bikers will take these new traffic signs too trustingly, and assume that traffic will obey them, but that much of the driving public will not. Wouldn’t the establishment of an official ‘bike lane’ be a much better approach to biker rights and safety?”
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Congratulations to Peter Stern.
Last week, Peloton named the 1990 Staples High School graduate as its new CEO. He takes over in January.
Stern has broad experience managing digital products. He currently serves as president of Ford Integrated Services, overseeing subscription offerings like BlueCruise, Pro Intelligence, and connectivity and security initiatives.
Previously, he co-founded Apple Fitness+, and held significant positions at other major companies, including Time Warner Cable.
Click here for a story from CEO Today. Click here for an “06880” story on Stern from 2019.
Peter Stern (Photo courtesy of Peloton)
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Westport artistw Janine Brown, Jay Petrow and Janet Slom, plus former Westporter Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong, will participate in Bridgeport’s 19th annual American Fabrics Arts Building Open Studio event November 9 and 10 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
The weekend includes art sales, music, and a raffle of original art. Proceeds aid 4 local charities, and food and clothing donations will be accepted for Bridgeport Rescue Mission.
The English choral group Gesualdo Six makes its Westport debut with a program of polyphonic English Motets this Sunday (November 10, 5 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church).
The program will be followed by a buffet and reception, with a chance to meet the musicians before they head back to Europe.
Tickets are available by clicking here, and at the door.
And finally … jazz trumpeter/arranger/composer/record producer Quincy Jones died yesterday in California. He was 91.
He has the third-highest total of Grammy Awards won by a single person (28 — behind Beyoncé’s 32 and Georg Solti is second with 31.) He received honorary degrees from Harvard, Princeton, Juilliard, the New England Conservatory, the Berklee School of Music and many other institutions, along with a National Medal of Arts.
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