Tag Archives: Easter Sunday

Roundup: Easter Joy …

Posted on April 5, 2026 | 2 comments

Gruel Britannia made sure that Easter was joyful, for families shopping at Homes with Hope’s food pantry.

The popular Cross Highway spot donated Cadbury Easter eggs — the best, as anyone who has had them knows — for clients.

“Scott and Karen are so generous,” says Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, referring to Gruel Britannia’s owners and operators.

“And the kids were so happy!”

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Meanwhile, early today, worshipers gathered at Compo Beach for the annual sunrise service.

The air was chilly. But they were warmed by the promise of the holiday, the fellowship of faith — and a fire.

(Photo/Thomas Samaranayake)

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“Primary Trust” — the next Westport Country Playhouse production, about change, friendship, quiet courage and mai tais — opens April 14.

As always, the Playhouse has planned special several events. They include:

Taste of Tuesday (April 14, 6 p.m.): Season ticket holders enjoy snacks, beverages, and casual pre-show conversation.

PRIDE Night (April 16): A pre-show gathering for the LGBTQ+ community.

Opening Night (April 18): A post-show reception, open to all ticket holders.

Sunday Symposium (April 19, after the 3 p.m. matinee): Panel discussion and Q&A about community, isolation and behavioral health with artistic director Mark Shanahan, Rev. Richard Williams of Pivot Ministries, and a representative of Silver Hill Hospital.

Taste of Tuesday Wine Tasting (April 21): Pre-show sampling of wines from The Grapevine, with snacks.

Together at the Table (April 26, $15): Families and groups enjoy a communal pizza lunch and discussion of the play before the matinee show.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Are you ready for Mothers Day?

The Westport Book Shop is. They’re celebrating with a card, featuring artwork from their talented employees.

Just click here. Choose your donation amount, and who it’s from and to. They’ll do the rest.

Westport Book Shop Mothers Day card.

More news from the Westport Book Shop: Their Short Story Club meets April 22 (6 p.m.).

This month’s selections are by Irish authors:

“As Kingfishers Catch Fire” by Colum McCann
“Foster” by Claire Keegan
“The Piano Teacher’s Pupil” by William Trevor.

To register, call 203-349-5141 or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.

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Hey, at least yesterday morning was nice.

Claudia Sherwood Servidio snapped this shot for our “Westport … Naturally” feature, on a long walk through Longshore.

(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

The week ahead looks up and down. The temperature will drop to 29 on Tuesday night, then rise to 66 by Friday.

Welcome to springtime in New England!

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And finally … happy Easter, to all who celebrate!

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog — weekdays, weekends and holidays, 24/7/365. If you appreciate our efforts, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

2 Comments

Posted in Beach, Local business, religion, Westport Country Playhouse

Tagged Easter Sunday, Gruel Britannia, Homes with Hope food pantry, Westport Book Shop

Roundup: Westport Burgers, Weston Budget …

Posted on April 1, 2024 | 5 comments

Burger King is long gone from Westport. (Spoiler alert: It’s the Starbucks drive-thru.)

But now Matthew Mandell can call himself our new Burger King.

As executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, he oversees events like The Great Burger Contest. Twenty restaurants competed, in 7 categories.

But Matthew didn’t just sit in his office. He went whole hog.

He visited all 20 restaurants, during the 31 days of March. He ate a burger at every one (and tons of fries, too).

Matthew Mandell: 20 burgers in 31 days.

Voting ended at midnight last night. Results will be announced soon.

We’ll also announce how Matthew is feeling.

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Jay Norris is a busy man.

The Westport resident is co-founder and CEO of Guesst, the real estate and restaurant leasing software platform. He also co-founded BlackLight, the world’s first search engine for Black-owned businesses nationwide.

In addition, he helped start Startup Westport, the public/private partnership whose goal is to make our town the tech entrepreneurial capital of Connecticut. He founded Westport10, the social and networking organization for Black men and their families.

And he’s a board member of both the Westport Library, and the Westport Weston Family YMCA. Oh, yeah: He also volunteers as a mentor with A Better Chance of Westport.

Now he’s added a new gig.

Jay was just named co-chair of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Focusing on innovation and technology, he’ll work to connect tech leaders in New York, and help them come up with solutions for the city and their small-to-medium- sized businesses.

Congratulations, Jay!

Jay Norris

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In this week’s “What’s Next in Weston” podcast, First Selectwoman Sam Nestor details the proposed FY 2024-25 Weston town budget.

Click below, for the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston feature:

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Yesterday’s Easter sunrise service warmed the hearts of all who headed to somewhat chilly Compo Beach.

Among the scenes:

(Photos/Rick Benson)

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No, this is not an April Fool’s joke.

The Westport Fire Department is not pretending to fill Ned Dimes Marina with water.

They were just down at Compo this weekend, testing out their hoses.

Looks like they work!

(Photo/Lisa Gold)

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Sherwood Island State Park is the scene for today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.

In just a few short weeks, the same spot will be packed with people.

Enjoy the serenity while you can.

(Photo/Susan Leone)

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And finally … happy April 1!

(Don’t be fooled: Information is not free. “06880” relies on reader support. We’re serious! Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you.)

5 Comments

Posted in Beach, Restaurants, Weston

Tagged 1st Selectwoman Sam Nestor, Easter Sunday, Jay Norris, Matthew Mandell, Ned Dimes Marina, Westport Fire Department, Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce

Roundup: Easter Sunrise, Real Estate, Rotary …

Posted on April 9, 2023 | 10 comments

Happy Easter!

Nearly 100 worshipers greeted the sunrise with a beautiful service at Compo Beach.

Green’s Farms, Saugatuck and Norfield Congregational, and the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, joined in the celebration.

(Photo and hat tip/Dale Najarian)

(Photo//Saugatuck Church)

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A few real estate statistics from March:

Unit sales: 18 (down 47% from March 2022)
Median sales price: $2,011,000 (down 19%)
Median sales price per square foot: $509 (up 5%)
Inventory: 93 (down 5%)
Days on market: 105 (up 91%)

56% of the properties sold within 90 days of listing.

And 78% sold for at least 95% of the listing price. (Hat tip: Meredith Cohen)

The most expensive home on the market is this 11,000-square foot, 6-bedroom, 7 1/2-bath property on 3.45 acres on Charcoal Hill Road. It is listed for $12.5 million.

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Good Friday was a great one, for members of the Westport Rotary Club and Bridgeport families striving to become homeowners.

Rotarians participated in a service day with Habitat for Humanity. They hammered, sawed, and helped their neighbors realize dreams.

Westport Rotary Club, with Habitat for Humanity in Bridgeport.

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When it comes to road races, no one beats the Pequot Running Club.

Though based in Southport, they’ve got a strong Westport presence.

For 45 years, thousands of participants have whetted their appetites at the Thanksgiving Day 5-Milel Race. Half of the course winds through our town.

Pequot also initiated, and strongly supports, the Laddie Lawrence Scholarship Fund. Named for the longtime (and legendary) Staples High School coach, it has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving athletes.

Pequot also assists with the Staples track and field program, and Westport Road Runners Summer Series.

The other day, Pequot Running Club stepped out of its lane. They presented a check for over $100,000 to First Serve Bridgeport. The organization provides tennis, educational and growth opportunities to underserved youngsters in Bridgeport.

Congratulations, Pequot — and may you run forever.

Pequot Running Club founder Packer Wilbur presents a check to Charley Briggs, First Serve Bridgeport board member.

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A New York Times story this morning on former President Trump’s lawyers included the man at his immediate left in Tuesday’s historic arraignment, Westporter Joe Tacopina.

A photo caption said that Trump praised Tacopina for his television appearances.

The piece concluded: “(Trump’s) former attorney general, William P. Barr, shook his head at the sight of the defense table on Tuesday.

“Mr. Barr, who sat for an interview with the House select committee investigating Mr. Trump’s efforts to stay in office, explained that lawyers working for Mr. Trump tend to come to one conclusion.

“’Lawyers inevitably are sorry for taking on assignments with him,’ Mr. Barr said on Fox News. ‘They spend a lot of time before grand juries or depositions themselves.’”

Click here for the full Times story.

Attorney Joseph Tacopina sat at former President Trump’s left hand, at yesterday’s arraignment. (Photo/Curtis Means for EPA)

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Plants are “springing” back to life. Mark Mathias provides today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, from Deadman Brook just south of Evergreen Cemetery.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

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And finally … Happy Easter!

(Happy Easter, Passover and Ramadan, to all who celebrate. Whatever your faith — or none at all — “06880” welcomes everyone. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

10 Comments

Posted in Politics, Real estate, religion, Sports

Tagged Easter Sunday, Habitat for Humanity, Joe Tacopina, Pequot Running Club, Westport Rotary Club