Animal control officer Joe Saponare asks residents: “Please stay away from a baby deer at Grace Salmon Park, on Imperial Avenue.
“The mother deer is close by. But she will not come for her baby, with a lot of people around it.
“Please keep your dogs on a leash there too, for the next few days.”
Animal control officer Joe Saponare, with baby deer.
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“Sunday Gravy” has rapidly become one of the most popular talk shows on WICC-AM and 95.9 FM.
Hosts Chris O’Dell, Mac DeVito and Brian Philpott banter easily about “men’s lifestyle” topics. But they dive deeply into serious issues, and address them with nuance and perspective.
The topic this past Sunday was the non-renewal of Staples boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense.
O’Dell had a special interest in it: The longtime freshman coach was also not renewed.
But the show was not a gripe session. It focused on process and policies — and broader implications, for Staples and Westport.
You can listen here. (NOTE: The actual show starts about 8 minutes in, following the news.)
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Residents of Wilton Road between Partrick Road and River Lane heard an enormous boom yesterday afternoon. The ground shook.
The wind brought down an enormous oak tree, and entangled power lines. Dozens of customers lost power.
In just a couple of months, The Clubhouse has become Westport’s go-to spot for golf-and-more simulators, huge screen TV sports, karaoke, good food, corporate meetings, parties, and a rooftop lounge.
Now there’s more: a big new mural.
This was the scene the other day, as the colorful work took place:
Whether working remotely, recently retired, or an empty nester, it’s easy to lose touch with community life.
The Westport Weston Family Y’s new Storied Connections Program is a fun and meaningful way to reconnect, by sharing stories about professional journeys (based on weekly prompts).
As renovations of the Inn at Longshore continue, La Plage — the adjacent restaurant — is now open 7 days a week. The patio is also open (weather dependent).
Drummer Matt Wilson is well recognized for his style. He is also a gifted composer, bandleader, producer and teaching artist.
Bassist Harvie S has appeared on over 400 recordings as a sideman, 20 of his own albums, and another 15 as co-leader. He has played with nearly every major jazz artist over the past 45 years.
Both musicians — along with pianist Luis Perdomo and saxophonist Greg Wall — bring their talents to this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7; music cover $20; $15 for veterans and students). Reservations are available here.
Today’s way-too-cute “Westport … Natrually” feature comes hopping along, from Wendy Levy’s yard:
(Photo/Wendy Levy)
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And finally … on this day in 1927=, Charles Lindbergh took off for Paris from Roosevelt Field in Long Island. His Spirit of St. Louis landed in Paris 33 1/2 hours later: the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic.
More than 2 decades later, he, his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh and family arrived on Long Lots Road. They lived there for several years, near the Fairfield border, before moving to Darien.
(“06880” will be as lucky as Lindy, if you click here to donate to Westport’s hyper-local blog. Thank you!
If the Staples High School Orphenians’ trip to Spain this summer is half as successful as last night’s “Cabaret Olé,” it will be one of the famed a cappella group’s most legendary events ever.
Christ & Holy Trinity Church was filled for the fundraiser. They got their money’s worth.
Mary Kate Morrissey starred in “Wicked” on Broadway.
All-star entertainment — including the Orphs together and as solo acts; Broadway’s “Wicked” star Mary Kate Morrissey and music director Dan Micciche; future Broadway “Stranger Things” star Jamie Mann (Staples ’21), and world-renowned VOCES8 (just off a plane from California), accompanied by super-talented keyboardist Andrew Maskoff (Staples ’25) — were on stage for nearly 4 hours.
Orphenians conductor Lauren Pine (left) leads her singers, in a combined number with Mary Kate Morrissey (back row, right).
Students from chef Cecily Gans’ Staples culinary classes provided fantastic Spanish tapas, desserts and more.
Staples grad Jamie Mann makes his Broadway debut next month in “Stranger Things.” The show is in previews now.
NOTE: Silent auction bidding remains open until 9 p.m. tonight. Click here to see the many great items, or to donate to the fundraiser itself.
¡Bravo! ¡Felicidades! ¡Olé!
Staples senior Andrew Maskoff, at the keyboard. (All photos/Dan Woog)
The other day, “06880” highlighted Westporter Bill Shakos’ informative, behind-the-scenes new podcast “What Do I Know.”
We won’t be mentioning every episode. But the fourth one — which dropped this morning — features a guest dear to our hearts.
Me.
Titled (a bit grandly) “Legacy of the People: One Man’s Generational Advocacy Shaped Our Town’s Culture and Identity,” it’s a look — led by Bill’s gentle but crisp questioning — into my “06880” blog, life in Westport, LGBTQ advocacy and more.
The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and the web, all from this handy link. Click below for the trailer.
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The Westport Book Shop’s Short Story Club meets April 24 (6 p.m.). They’ll discuss “The Elephant Vanishes” by Haruki Murakami, and “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima.
Registration is required. Call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
Also next month at the Westport Book Shop:
Puzzle Night (April 3)
Book signing and conversation with Chef Alison Milwe Grace, author of “Savor: Recipes to Celebrate” (April 10)
Book reading and signing with Marsha Temlock, author of “Tuesday’s Mah Jong” (April 16).
Book reading and signing with Ira Joe Fisher, author of “The Birth of Snow’ (April 17).
All events are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
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Last week, Staples High School Class of 1991 graduate Lynsey Addario’s photo from Ukraine ran on page 1 of the New York Times.
Yesterday, her fellow Pulitzer Prize-winning Times photographer Tyler Hicks contributed his own image, in the same upper-left page 1 corner.
The 1988 Staples alum’s shot showed Ukrainian soldiers.
It — and others inside — illustrated a major Times story on America’s efforts in the war against Russia. (Hat tip: Arthur Hayes)
There will probably be a large crowd Saturday, for a “Hands Off!” anti-Trump rally on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge downtown.
This past Saturday, one Westporter got a jump on the event. He exercised his First Amendment rights, and showed his patriotism with a large American flag.
(Photo/Bean Corcoran)
He was a lone figure.
But he may have been a familiar one.
More than 50 years ago, Rex Fowler co-founded Aztec Two-Step, the legendary folk-rock duo.
He’s still playing and singing — this time in Aztec Two-Step 2.0 — with his wife, Dodie Petit.
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It was almost 80 degrees Saturday.
It was not anywhere near that yesterday.
But a sailboat race was full speed ahead, off Compo Beach.
Laurie Sorensen captured the chilly scene:
(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)
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Today, dogs are allowed on Compo Beach.
Tomorrow, they’re not. The ban is in effect through September 30.
This guy — the star of today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo — is not, technically, on the beach. He’s on the Soundview Drive wall next to the beach.
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
Is he okay?
Probably. But a leash would help.
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And finally … speaking of what we learn about trees (story above):
(As you start another week of Roundups, did you ever think: “Wow, I really should pay for this stuff?” If so, it’s your lucky day. Just click here to support our work. Thanks for keeping this blog alive!)
Comments Off on Roundup: Salmon Trees, Orphenians’ Ole, Shakos Podcast …
Many of our Photo Challenges show a small part of a larger whole.
They’re — well, challenging. Put not particularly artistic.
Last week’s image was another small part. But it was gorgeous.
No wonder. The photographer is an “06880” pro: Patricia McMahon.
Her shot showed an ancient-looking sundial at Grace Salmon Park on Imperial Avenue, framed by berries. Click here to see her colorful work.
Congratulations to Kelly Pollard, Jeff Jacobs and David Feig. They knew exactly where to find it.
This week’s Photo Challenge can be found on one of Westport’s most interesting buildings — architecturally, as well as historically.
If you know where you would see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Seth Schachter)
(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!)
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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