Tag Archives: Dogs

Pics Of The Day #3431

Posted on September 10, 2026 | Leave a comment

One view of Winslow Park … (Photo/Mark Mathias) 

… and another (Photo/Cat Malkin)

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Roundup: Dogs On Fields, Action On Compo, Chait’s Photos On Display …

Posted on August 16, 2026 | 7 comments

The “No Dogs on Sports Fields” signs around town are often ignored.

But $77 fines might start getting some owners’ attention.

The Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Animal Control advise the public that they’ll stringently enforce the ordinance in the weeks ahead.

As Parks & Rec staff prepare the fields for the school year, they’ve found what one town official calls “an incredible amount of dog poop.” It’s especially bad at Wakeman Fields, adjacent to Bedford Middle School.

Animal control officer Peter Reid explains: “People can walk dogs on the walkways, but must have verbal or physical control of the dogs. I’ve seen quite a few dogs that stay right at their owner’s side, and those are fine.

“Specifically at Wakeman, people can walk dogs along the perimeter, but the dogs should be leashed. We can’t have dogs romping on the fields anymore, given the large percentage of owners that are not picking up after themselves.”

“And the outfield at the baseball field is part of a playing field. Some walkers were treating that like part of the perimeter.”

NOTE: Those $77 fines are per dog, BTW.

Warning! (Photo/Alexandra Gay”)

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We’ve been blessed with several days of spectacular weather.

Yesterday was another perfect day at the beach.

Just another August Saturday at Compo Beach. (Photo/Susan Garment)

Thirsty visitors enjoyed dirty sodas. The non-alcoholic beverages are made by adding flavored syrups, fruit purees, cream or half-and-half, and a fruit garnish.

Three girls — Madeline, Olivia and Zoey — have created a business called (of course) Cherry on Top. They drew a great crowd (including lifeguards, who got freebies).

The girls …

Cherry on Top will be back the weekend of August 29.

… and their menu. (Photos/Jessica Eno)

That was not the only vendor yesterday. These young entrepreneurs sold ice pops (and did not care if you had no cash):

(Photo/Susan Garment)

Meanwhile, on South Beach, there was this wedding (or reception — hard to tell, since we were not invited):

(Photo/Sunil Hirani)

The couple rolled the dice — weather-wise — for this one, and won.

Let’s hope the rest of their marriage sails as smoothly, too.

Over near the cannons, Staples High School’s Classes of 1969 through ’74 gathered for a day-long reunion.

It was a chance to hang with old friends — and meet new ones. Everyone may not have been at school together, but when you’re in your late-60s to mid-70s, you’re all basically the same age.

And hey — those are the same numbers as the graduation years themselves.

Freaky!

Looking good, more than 55 yeas later! (Photo/Susan Garment)

Finally, not far away, these gulls gathered.

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

They were either chatting, waiting to pounce the moment a bit of food was left ungarded.

Or they were imitating the chairs that humans plop down every year, saving space for the Independence Day fireworks.

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Readers love Michael Chait’s photos on “06880.”

Next weekend (August 22-23, 1 to 6 p.m.), you can see a wide variety of his images — up close, personal, and much larger than on a screen. The venue is his 11 Riverside Avenue studio, near the Post Road West corner.

The show will feature new works, ready to hang. His style includes photographs that resemble paintings, and photographic wall clocks.

Guest photographer David Stone, also a Westport resident, will contribute recent works.

“Downtown Noralk” (Michael Chait)

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Wendy Levy’s 4 words — “Oh no! Too soon!” is the only caption today’s “Westport … Naturally image needs.

(Photo/Wendy Levy)

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And finally … happy National Roller Coaster Day!

It’s celebrated every August 16, to commemorate the anniversary of the first vertical loop roller coaster patent (issued to Edwin Prescott in 1898 — but you knew that, right?

Wheeeee!

(About the only thing more fun than an amusement park is supporting “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Just click here to have the ride of your life. Thank you!)

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Posted in Arts, Beach, Environment, Sports, Staples HS

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Roundup: Dog Safety, E-Bike Safety — And Fun …

Posted on August 14, 2026 | 2 comments

Recent discussions about a possible fenced-in dog run at Winslow Park (or elsewhere), plus a debate over dogs in stores and restaurants, have Westporters barking about canine safety.

Cat Malkin — a local animal communicator, pet loss grief counselor and animal Reiki teacher/practitioner — has created a “Guide to Staying Safe Around Dogs.”

It’s free, and filled with practical tips to help children, adults and families better understand dogs, respect boundaries, and feel safer around them. Click here to download.

You can also click here for here blog post: “Staying Safe Around Dogs.”

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Speaking of safety: An increasing number of Westporters are alarmed at the increasing number of electronic bikes, being driven recklessly and thoughtlessly all around town.

An “06880” reader sends this photo from the Post Road near ASF …

… and writes: “Technically, I think this is legal.

“But it feels like an episode of ‘Lost in Space,’ where something’s bound to go wrong. I am very concerned about the safety issues presented by this.”

We’re glad the young riders are wearing helmets. And they are riding single file.

But we hope they’ve been properly instructed — and reminded, over and over — about the rules of the road.

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Harvest Fest is one of Westport’s best parties ever.

Wakeman Town Farm’s biggest fundraiser (and food & wine) event of the year includes tons of seasonal fare from local farmers and chefs, wine and signature cocktails, live music, an auction with culinary and travel experiences, and much more.

It’s the closest thing our town has to an old-fashioned barn-raising party. And proceeds help WTF provide education to folks of all ages, incomes and abilities.

This year’s event is September 26. Tickets go on sale Monday (August 17) at http://www.wakemantownfarm.org. Get ready — they always sell out fast!

Harvest Fest scenes.

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Looking for a fun kids’ activity for this fall — and far beyond?

Westport Scout Troops 39/139 invite students in grades 5-12 (and their families) to Compo Beach on Thursday, September 3.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., they’ll make pizzas with their camping ovens. They’ll have a fire pit (with s’mores!). Scouts and leaders will answer questions, and share experiences.

The troops note, “We’re organization. Almost all of our Scouts do other activities — sports of all kinds, Staples Players, music and more. Scouts can choose to do some or all of our activities they find most interesting, and that fit with their schedules.”

The civic and outdoor-oriented troops’ 2026-27 calendar includes:

  • Hiking in the Adirondacks, and part of the Appalachian Trail
  • Biking the Rail Trail in Trumbull
  • Haunted Lake Compounce
  • Sleeping on a battleship
  • Visiting the Eastern State Penitentiary
  • Winter cabin camping
  • Skiing
  • Weekend campout on Block Island
  • Helping with Lobster Fest, veterans’ grave flags and wreaths, myTeam Triumph
  • And more!

Questions? Interested, but can’t be there? Email Troop39westport@gmail.com.

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An upstairs leak damaged the Westport Book Shop Thursday night.

The popular Jesup Road store lost its entire vinyl section, along with some furniture and books. But an extraordinary morning effort by staff, neighbors and volunteers helped clear the damage.

They opened at their regular time. Last night, they hosted a reception for guest artist Gregg Ziebell.

While full restoration of the music section and damaged areas will take a few weeks, the non-profit bookstore is open to all. They offer a massive “thank you!” to all who jumped in to help.

Westport Book Shop clean-up.

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We’ve got one more photo of this week’s solar eclipse.

This is from Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where Diane Lowman — Westport’s first poet laureate, and a prominent Shakespeare scholar — observed the phenomenon.

As the Bard said in “King Lear”: “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us.”

(Photo/Diane Lowman)

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Financial Times reports that Goldman Sachs is buying NEOS. The deal is worth up to $2.3 billion, and is expected to close early next year.

NEOS — based in Westport — is an asset management/ETF firm. Its SEC filings showed about $14.7 billions in assets under management as of last September. Click here for the full FT story.

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Our “Westport … Naturally” photo series includes natural phenomena of all kinds.

Including this 70-foot tree near Cross Highway and North Avenue. It was burned and flayed by lightning last weekend. Huge shards landed up to 30 feet away, and buried themselves into the ground.

(Photo/Jonathan Rosenoer)

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And finally … in honor of Diane Lowman, and everyone else in Europe was saw much more than we did (story above):

(From safety to fundraisers, “06880” has Westport covered. If you enjoy our daily Roundups — or any other feature on our hyper-local blog — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Local business, Transportation

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And The Dog Survey Says …

Posted on August 11, 2026 | 4 comments

Westport should not be going to the dogs.

That’s the result of a (highly unscientific) survey, conducted by “06880.”

The poll — spurred by readers’ emails about a noticeable increase in dogs being brought into public places — was posted Sunday.

As of yesterday afternoon, there were nearly 200 responses.

The first question was simple: “Should leashed dogs be allowed in indoor public places?”

Almost exactly 2/3 of respondents — 67.6% said no. Only 32.4% answered yes.

An increasingly common Westport scene. (Photo/Charles Rosoff)

The second question was only for those who said “yes” to the first one. It offered 9 specific choices, about where leashed dogs should be welcomed.

Proponents hardly gave carte blanche to pets, however.

More than 9 in 10 — 90.5% — thought outdoor restaurants should allow dogs.

But the only other spots garnering more than 50% approval were retail stores (63.5%), the post office (also 63.5%) and luxury stores (54%).

Lagging behind were business offices (47.6%), small markets/convenience stores (39.7%), supermarkets (20.6%) and indoor restaurants (also 20.6%).

Dogs would be least welcome in doctors’ offices (19%).

Some of the more than 2 dozen commenters noted that in Connecticut, dogs are prohibited from indoor restaurants and grocery stores. However, employees are sometimes hesitant to enforce the law with customers. One reader pointed out that dogs are not allowed in the Westport Farmers’ Market.

Dogs are not allowed at the Farmers’ Market. (Photo/Sam Levenson)

There were comments about the difference between service dogs (trained, allowed everywhere) and emotional support dogs (often untrained, not allowed everywhere).

In one additional discussion, a reader noted that some people bring dogs into indoor spaces because it is too hot to leave them in a car.

Another countered, “If it’s hot, leave your dog home.”

(Click here for the original story, including all comments.)

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. If you appreciate stories like this — or any other one about this town we all share — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Westport life

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Dogs In Public: What Do Humans Think?

Posted on August 9, 2026 | 34 comments

It’s an increasingly common scene in Westport: a dog on a leash.

But not in Winslow Park, on a sidewalk, or Soundview Drive (skirting by centimeters the no-dogs-on-the-beach rule).

These pooches are in indoor spaces: the post office. Downtown stores. Markets.

Westporters are noticing. A few readers contacted “06880,” asking about the trend.

Shopping at Trader Joe’s.

They raise interesting questions.

  • Why are more people bringing dogs into spaces they’d never take them before?
  • Where and how do owners’ rights intersect with the rights of others to be in a dog-free zone? (A related issue: What about people who for whatever reason don’t like — or are scared of — dogs? Including children?)
  • Do any laws — either actual or social — regulate when, where and why a dog can or should be in a public space?

Dog stories are catnip for “06880” readers. We know there will be many comments. Please keep them civil. Dogs can’t read, but their owners — and non-owners — can. We’re all neighbors.

This is also a great topic for an “06880” survey. Please click here to respond. 

We’ll fetch all the replies, and report back soon.

(If it’s happening in Westport — or people here are talking about it — you’ll find it on “06880.” But we can’t do this without readers’ help. support. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Westport life

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Roundup: Saugatuck Church Card, Woman’s Club Grant, A&S Gift …

Posted on December 20, 2025 | 11 comments

Saugatuck Congregational Church is bringing back its greeting card.

So what, you say?

But this is not any greeting card, sent by mail (or, ugh, email).

It a short video message, projected (weather permitting) on the front of the church, now through Tuesday.

There’s audio too. Just tune your car radio to 89.3 FM as you drive past.

The public is invited to 2 more traditional church events too. Both are Christmas Eve: a pageant at 5 p.m., and a candlelight service at 9 p.m.

Saugatuck Church, and its “greeting card.” (Hat tip and photo/Mark Mathias)

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The Westport Woman’s Club Ruegg Grants are generous gifts, to non-profits that (like the WWC itself) provide important community services.

On Thursday, they honored VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399, with a $10,000 check.

The VFW will use the funds for its monthly free Veteran Benefits and Welfare Check luncheon program.

It reaches veterans facing challenges like PTSD, aging concerns or financial hardship. Many veterans are unaware of the benefits and support services available to them.

In addition to this outreach, Post 399 recently hosted its 66th consecutive monthly American Red Cross Blood Drive, and the Wreaths Across America program that placed American flags on the graves of over 1,200 local veterans.

Other VFW projects include Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies. The post is also helping plan 250th birthday events for the USA.

VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado (2nd from left), and VFW and Westport Woman’s Club representatives, with the $10,000 “check.”

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Building on its Thanksgiving meals for students at Capital Prep Harbor School, A&S Westport and Conlon Amendola did the same for Christmas.

Twenty families received a full meal, each serving 6 people: ham with glaze, macaroni and cheese, lasagna, chocolate and red velvet bûches de Noë

Many Westporters helped with donations. Once again, Dr. John Corino of Norwalk Dental Arts gave a significant gift.

Dr. Joan Miller of Capital Prep Harbor School (center), with honor students who helped distribute the meals.

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Sunrise Rotary Club’s Friday morning speakers are always interesting.

But Rachel Precious — well, aw, shucks.

The 2006 Staples High School graduate, and conservation biology major at the University of Massachusetts, now owns Precious Oysters (I know, right?).

She told the Rotarians  (nearly) everything there is to know about oysters.

Then she gave a shucking demonstration. And — at a time when most Westporters are drinking coffee and eating breakfast — the members sampled some.

Rachel spent 5 years farming oysters in the area, including Sherwood Mill Pond.

Today she runs her own oyster catering business, and is building her own oyster restaurant. She also serves as chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, sits on Senator Murphy’s Long Island Sound Advisory Council, and leads an adaptive climbing club at a rock climbing gym.

Rachel Precious, and an oyster. (Photo/Katie Augustyn)

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The other day, I posted an item about the new trend of bringing large dogs into stores. (Barnes & Noble, to be specific.)

They’re in other places too. Charles Rosoff says, “I would love it if I had a nickel for every time I saw a dog in a grocery store, ice cream store and restaurant. What is wrong with people?”

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Last summer, “06880” gave a shout-out to a unique new business. Kiin Sauna is mobile — it comes to you.

That story showed owner Ginger Richardson, with her portable sauna at the beach.

It’s no longer beach weather. But Kiin Sauna is still a hot ticket. Check out Dave Briggs’ sizzle reel, here or below:

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The water is very shallow — or these guys are walking on it.

Either way, it’s an interesting Saugatuck River photo, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.

(Photo/JD Dworkow)

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And finally … on this date in 1915, he last Australian troops were evacuated from Gallipoli. It was one of the most significant — and consequential — battles of World War I.

(As you plan your year-end giving, please consider “06880.” Your hyper-local blog relies on reader support, for our 24/7/365 work. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)

 

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Posted in Local business, religion

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“Students Speak”: Dogs — And Owners — Deserve A Fence

Posted on December 14, 2025 | 36 comments

“Students Speak” offers Westport teenagers a chance to share their thoughts and insights with the broader “06880” community.

Emme Dorfman is a junior at Staples High School. She is a member of the varsity soccer, ski and lacrosse teams. While working on a speech for her Rhetoric and Persuasion class, she realized she could actually make this idea happen.

She’s launched a survey (link at the bottom of this story). Emme writes: 

I technically only have one sibling. But in my heart, I have three.

One is a freshman. The other two have 4 legs. They spend their days chasing tennis balls and begging for food. Their names are Bode and Ozzie.

Emme Dorfman, and “siblings.”

As much as I love my dog Bode, if he sees a squirrel, I’m done for. In fact, I almost broke my arm while chasing after him at Winslow Park because there was no fence to stop him.

While I did get some good cardio in, it was  one of the scariest days of my life. Ever since, I’ve been very distrustful of letting Bode off leash anywhere in Westport.

According to the Animal Humane Society, about 10 million pets run away from their owners each year. That’s millions of families facing horrible moments that could be prevented.

If there were more places for dogs to safely run around and play, this number would drop drastically. For a town that prides itself on being safe, family friendly and community-oriented, it’s bizarre that Westport doesn’t have a single fenced-in dog park.

Although we have public areas for dogs to run around, like Winslow Park, Sherwood Island and Compo Beach, there isn’t one secure, fenced-in dog park, which almost every town around us has.

Dogs love Compo Beach. But they can’t be fenced in there. (Photo/JC Martin)

Weston has one, New Canaan has one, Trumbull has one. It’s time Westport has one too.

Just like humans, dogs love their social time. They need to be able to run around freely to get the mental and physical stimulation they need to stay happy.

Without it they can develop bad behavioral patterns like barking, leash-pulling or anxiety. Not only would this space be amazing for dogs, but it would also be creating a place for residents to connect and bond with one another.

So today, I’m asking that our town representatives consider my proposal to build a fenced-in dog park in Westport.

The average size for a fenced-in dog park is about ¼ of an acre. Winslow Park is 29 acres. With all that space, doesn’t it make sense to dedicate just a small portion to something that would bring so much value to our community?

Winslow Park has fences. But not the kind that keep dogs from running wherever they want. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

To see how a project like this would move forward, I talked to Planning & Zoning commissioner Michael Cammeyer, who expressed his full support for the idea.

While you might argue that constructing it would cost the town a lot of money, the reality is that a dog park doesn’t have to be a financial burden on the town. With all the money our residents spend on dog walkers, doggy care, let alone just toys, we would be able to come up with the funds through a combination of grants from the town and community donations.

This proposal is very realistic, and it fits directly into Westport’s community goals. Two primary objectives of our town’s Plan of Conservation and Development are to enhance the development of our town, while also encouraging sustainable patterns of land use.

To add to that, part of the Parks & Recreation mission statement is to achieve the standards that Westport residents expect of parks. By building a fenced-in dog-park, Westport would be fulfilling both of these missions and prioritizing the desires of its residents.

I understand the feeling of having to stare down your dog anytime you let them off leash, and that’s why I know how relieved dog-owners would be to have a place their dogs can socialize safely.

I’m hopeful we can build Dog-Port, a place where dogs can finally play freely and owners can actually relax. It’s time that Westport takes this idea off-leash, and makes it a reality for our four-legged siblings!

What do you think? To respond to Emme’s survey, click here.

(To submit a “Student Speaks” — or for questions about this feature — email 06880blog@gmail.com. We will work with students — at Staples, private schools or home-schooled — to help craft their story. Anonymity, if requested, is assured.) 

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Posted in Beach, Environment

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Roundup: Dogs And Wheels …

Posted on November 30, 2025 | 25 comments

A number of social norms have been broken lately.

Public language is coarser. Dress codes for Broadway shows are looser.

And dogs are having their day.

We see them everywhere: Stores. Supermarkets. Even restaurants.

(And no — they are not all service animals.)

Most are on the small side.

Some are not.

This was the scene yesterday, at Barnes & Noble:

Let’s crowd source this.

What’s the appropriate etiquette for dogs in public indoor spaces? Does it vary by size, or type of establishment? Why do owners want to bring their dogs everywhere? Why would others object? And who should make the call?

Click “Comments” below. Please use your full, real name — and let us know whether you own a dog, or not.

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Speaking of dogs: Cat Malkin writes, “Yogi Bear enjoyed seeing Santa and eating delicious treats at Earth Animal yesterday. He (Yogi) supported supported their holiday wreath sale — with 100% of the proceeds going to CT Foodshare.

“Yogi wants all pet-loving Westporters know they can bring pet food — and old towels and blankets — to Earth Animal. They’ll make sure it goes to pets in need.

“You can also bring dog and cat food to the Homes with Hope food pantry (Gillespie Center on Jesup Road, behind Barnes & Noble) and the Connecticut Humane Society (now at 863 Danbury Road, Wilton).

“Yogi says, ‘Woof, woof, woof. Happy Holidays to all!'”

Yogi and Santa. (Photo/Cat Malkin)

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Speaking of Santa: The transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas occurs smoothly.

And everywhere.

This was the scene yesterday, at Compo Beach:

(Photo/Regi Kendig)

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Last month marked the 5th anniversary of Wheels2U service.

From its beginning in 2020 during the early months of the COVID pandemic — serving a handful of riders in a portion of Westport — it has grown to cover the entire town, providing a record 3,069 rides in October alone.

Wheels2U is projected to book over 31,000 rides in the fiscal year ending June 30.

Commuters to and from Westport, seniors and families across Westport rely on it every weekday.

For just $2, the service offers curb-to-curb and curb-to-platform transportation to destinations including the Saugatuck and Greens Farms train stations, Senior Center, Jesup Green and Imperial Avenue Farmers’ Market.

Key features include:

  • Seamless technology: An app-based booking system allows riders to schedule trips and track vehicles in real time.
  • Sustainability impact: Transitioned in November to more comfortable and fuel-efficient vehicles, saving an estimated 4,100 gallons of fuel and reducing 80,000 pouds of CO₂ emissions annually (equivalent to the yearly energy use of 5 homes). A switch to electric vehicles this spring will further reduce emissions
  • Expanded service hours: Extended morning service to and from the 2 train stations to 10:30 a.m., and evening service to 9:30 pm.  Added service Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to downtown locations.
  • Exceptional rider satisfaction: Maintains a 4.9/5 average ride rating, with 95% of all reviews at 5 stars. The average wait time for a pickup is under 12 minutes.

Wheels2U

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Oyster Turkey tail mushrooms make their first appearance in our “Westport … Naturally” series today.

Nancy Axthelm spotted these edible fungi at Winslow Park.

(Photo/Nancy Axthelm)

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And finally … you may have guessed this was coming:

(Yogi Bear says, “You don’t need to be smarter than the average bear to help ‘06880.’ You just need to click here, to support the hyper-local blog that every person and dog loves. Arf!”

 

25 Comments

Posted in Beach, Local business, Transportation, Westport life

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To The Man Who Killed My Dog

Posted on August 3, 2025 | 6 comments

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.

The driver was never found.

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To The Man Who Killed My Dog:

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.)

6 Comments

Posted in Looking back, Media, Westport life

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Keep Fido Safe During Fireworks

Posted on June 30, 2024 | 3 comments

Cathy Malkin is both a longtime Westport resident, and a lifelong animal lover.

For 30 years, she has given them a “voice,” as an animal communicator. She is also an animal Reiki master teacher and practitioner, pet meditation master teacher, and a pet loss and grief counselor.

As America gets set to celebrate Independence Day — with plenty of fireworks, of course — she worries about pyrotechnics’ effects on animals. Cathy writes:

Animals have much sharper hearing than humans. Sudden loud noises like fireworks can trigger their fight-or-flight response, causing them to run for their lives and hide from the scary noises.

This can happen even if your animal hasn’t reacted to fireworks before. Their fear can come on suddenly.

It’s like someone turned the volume way up on a scary movie they don’t understand.

The worst part is that they might not hear your voice or respond to your usual calming techniques.

That’s why some pets end up chewing through crates, slipping out doors, jumping fences, or even breaking windows in their desperate attempt to escape the noise.

Here are some tips to create a safe, secure environment for your animal family during the 4th of July holiday:

✅ Microchip and ID Checkup:

  • Make sure your pet’s tag and microchip are current.
  • Take a picture with your pet for easier identification at animal shelters should they go missing.
  • For an extra layer of security, consider attaching an AirTag or other GPS tracking device on their collar for real-time tracking.
  • Make sure your animal is wearing their ID.

✅ Communication is Key: Let your animal family know what is in store for them, and reassure them that you will keep them safe. Talking with your pet during an animal communication session can reduce their fear and anxieties, and help you create a calming strategy together.

✅ Create a Safe Haven: Keep your pet indoors in a quiet, secure room, with windows closed and shades drawn during fireworks displays. To reduce anxiety further, use a thundershirt, play calming music, or give your pet a rescue remedy for added comfort.

✅ Project Calm: Your pet picks up on your emotions, so do your best to stay calm and reassuring. Meditating or sharing Reiki can help both of you stay grounded and present as fireworks explode.

✅ Vet Talk Now: If your pet has noise phobias or you have any concerns, discuss your options with your vet today.

Don’t wait until the fireworks frenzy begins to reduce your pet’s stress and ensure everyone has a safe and, hopefully, enjoyable 4th of July.

Click this American Kennel Club website for more information.

(To learn more about Cathy Malkinn’s work with animals, click on her website, Animal Muse.)

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