Americans discard 20 million mattresses and box springs annually. That’s 55,000 that land in incinerators and landfills each day.
But up to 90% of old mattresses can be recycled into carpet pads, exercise equipment cushions, bike seats, insulation, air filters and steel materials.
Sustainable Westport can help. They’ll host a free mattress/ box spring recycling event on Saturday, April 26 (8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Earthplace).
Dry and unsoiled mattresses and box springs are welcome. Please do not bring those that are damaged, wet, or contaminated (bed bugs, etc.).
If you can’t bring your mattress or box spring, Westport Boy Scout Troop 36 will provide a pickup service for a small donation. Click here to sign up.
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Supper & Soul — the great Westport Chamber of Commerce meal-and-music event — returns Saturday, May 3.
Green River — the Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty tribute show — takes center stage at the Westport Library at 8 p.m.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m. An $85 Supper & Soul ticket includes a 3-course dinner at one of 11 downtown restaurants, plus the concert.
After the concert, show your ticket at any participating restaurant, for happy hour pricing on drinks.
Concert-only tickets are $30. Click here to purchase.
Participating restaurants include Arezzo, Basso, Capuli, Casa Me, Don Memo, Emmy Squared, Il Pastaficio, Nômade, Spotted Horse, Gogi, and Walrus Alley.
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Speaking of restaurants: “06880” reported yesterday that the Original Pancake House has closed.
After that item ran, this notice — with more information — was taped to the door. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
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This Easter Egg yard is not in Westport.
But it’s not far away — 3 East Avenue in Norwalk, just down the hill from Stew Leonard’s, and to the right at the light.
Plus, it’s the artistry of Jalna Jaeger, a 1971 Staples High School graduate.
“Everyone is invited to stop by!” she says.
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Alvin Ailey is coming to the Westport Country Playhouose.
“Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance” takes the stage on May 1 (7 p.m.)
The program features the premiere of “Down the Rabbit Hole,” inspired by the “Matrix” film series exploring the relationship between humans and technology; Alvin Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, and Baye & Asa’s “John 4:20,” an “explosive adrenaline rush.”
Tickets are $75, $80. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
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Westport Transit Director Peter Gold writes: “Westport is in danger of losing the Wheels2U shuttle yet again.
“The Board of Finance once again voted at its March meeting to eliminate all funding for Wheels2U, the WTD’s door-to-train station on-demand commuter shuttle. This will effectively shut down the service as of June 30. (The door-to- door service for the elderly and persons with disabilities will not be affected.)
“The Finance and Transit Committees of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) meet on April 21 and April 22, respectively, to make recommendations to the full RTM regarding the budget for Wheels2U.
“The full RTM meets May 2 to vote on restoring funding to keep the shuttle running for another year.
“Please send an email to the RTM (RTM-DL@Westportct.gov) urging the RTM to restore the budget and keep the shuttle alive.
“Wheels2U provided over 20,362 rides to and from Westport’s 2 train stations to more than 1,230 people since the start of the current fiscal year on July 1, 2024, with 2,590 rides to and from Westport’s train stations in March alone.
“Wheels2U supports Westport residents and businesses and aids economic development by providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way for Westport commuters, reverse commuters and others to link their homes, their employers, and downtown to the train stations.
“It takes a vote of 70% of RTM members present and voting at a meeting to override the Board of Finance and restore the funding for Wheels2U. Every bit of support matters.”
Wheels2U
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Rhododendrons — their beauty, history and landscape use at Blau House & Gardens — are on display at a special May 18 event (9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning at Wakeman Town Farm).
The day includes a box lunch, and guided tour of Blau House, Westport’s hidden gem off Bayberry Lane. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Rhododedrons at Blau House & Gardens.
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Eight members of the Artists Collective of Westport will be part of ARTWorks Gallery’s “Been There” show. It opens April 26 (5 to 7 p.m., 60 East Avenue, Norwalk).
The final day — May 18 — includes a 4 p.m. artists’ walk and talk, at the closing reception.
“Tuesday” — mixed media (Barbara Ringer)
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1975 Staples High School graduate Naomi Schalit and her husband John Christe — co-founders of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting — were inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame last month.
They were honored at the Portland event for their commitment to investigative journalism and public service.
Maine Governor Janet Mills attended the event, to show her support for Schalit and Christie. Speaking of the 1st Amendment, she said, “When it goes, we won’t even know that it’s gone because you won’t be there to report it.” (Hat tip: Douglass Davidoff)
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Genesis says that God created the heavens and the earth.
But who created this Star of David near Roseville Road, the subject of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature?
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … on this date in 1943, Albert Hofmann accidentally discovered the hallucinogenic effects of the research drug LSD. He took the drug intentionally 3 days later.
(“06880” does not endorse hallucinogenic drugs. We do, however, fully support you clicking here, to help support your hyper-local blog. Thank you for joining us on this trip.)
