Here at “06880” headquarters, we like to mix up our Photo Challenges.
Some Sundays, we test you with obscure, arcane or devilishly cropped images.
Other times, they take a bit of work.
Once in a while, the shot is so recognizable, readers think it’s a trick.
Last week was one of those slam dunks.
Diane Lowman’s photo indeed showed the Green’s Farms train station.* Only 1 reader out of 2 dozen got it wrong (the nearby post office). (Click here to see.)
Congratulations, and a blast of the horn to John Maloney, Rob Hauck, Susan Lloyd, John McKinney, Jan Carpenter, Rachel Sara Halperin, Derek Fuchs, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Ivy Gosseen, Sal Liccione, Jack Backiel, Seth Schachter, Beth Berkowitz, Amy Schneider, W. Gibson, Genevieve Stone, Larry Ackerman and John Kelley.
Of course, the quaint railroad stop — with its small wooden waiting area, and almost rural vibe — is a quiet cousin to the bustling Saugatuck depot.
There may be some Westporters — including recent arrivals — who don’t even know it’s there.
Shhhh. It’s our little secret.
I rate this week’s Photo Challenge as mid-tier. Your mileage may vary. But if you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Andrew Bangser)
*Green’s Farms (as it’s rendered here, with an apostrophe) or Greens Farms (without)? That’s a discussion for another day.
(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!)
Dick Fincher’s impact on Westport’s green spaces is enormous.
So it’s fitting that this Saturday (July 18, 10 a.m.), his life and legacy will be honored with the dedication of a commemorative plaque at the Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum. The public is invited.
As both a private citizen and Tree Board chair, Fincher was a driving force behind the creation of the arboretum at the corner of Stonybrook Road and Woodside Lane, around the corner from his home.
Fincher died in 2024, at 86. In addition to his Tree Board service, he was an Earthplace and Staples Tuition Grants board member, and Christ & Holy Trinity Church vestryman.
Dick Fincher, at the Wadsworth Arboretum.
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Gone, but not forgotten.
That’s the theme of “Looking for History,” MoCA\CT’s summer exhibit. Ellen Harvey is one of 3 artists addressing themes of memory, loss and place.
She’s included 4 places dear to Westporters’ heart: The Remarkable Book Shop, Allen’s Clam House, Cedar Brook Café and Bloodroot.
This Thursday (July 16, 5:30 p.m.; free), MoCA visitors get a chance to talk about them — and many other beloved (and now vanished) local landmarks.
Harvey and Westport preservation advocate Ed Gerber will chat with “06880” founder Dan Woog about the cultural and emotional significance of lost places.
You’ll get a chance to talk about your own “local places” too — restaurants, stores, hangouts and more.
The event is sponsored by the CORA Foundation, whose founder and president is Westporter Robin Tauck. Most grants — which center around arts and culture — are international. This one is local.
Here at “06880” central, we sometimes assume everyone knows everything about every live outdoor music option in the area.
Well, you know what they say about “when you assume…”
So — apropos of nothing, other than an opportunity educate our readers about all things local, and courtesy of the KMS Team at Compass — here are some things you may already know.
And some you may not.
The Levitt Pavilion offers over 50 free nights of programming, at a beautiful venue on the banks of the Saugatuck Rive.
All summer long, the Westport Downtown Association sponsors live music on Friday and Saturday evenings on Church Lane.
A favorite is Music at the Barn, at the Weston History & Culture Center. Kick back with a BYO picnic, and enjoy select Sunday evenings.
Lachat Town Farm also offers monthly concerts, with food trucks and the Barn Bar.
Fairfield’s Sherman Green is the place to be on Thursdays and Sundays, with beachy cover bands and tribute acts. Sweet Sounds of Summer are full of family fun there too, with bands sponsored by Saugatuck Sweets and Al’s Angels.
Norwalk’s First Taxing District has free concerts at the Norwalk Green’s gazebo several Saturdays in the summer.
Catch larger outdoor performances by the shore every Wednesday night at Calf Pasture Beach. Tuesday nights are open jam sessions (time slot sign up at 6:30 p.m.) at Freese Park.
The Wilton Library hosts free, public concerts (indoors) from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Thursdays.
Levitt Pavilion: Westport’s premier outdoor music venue. (Photo/Susan Garment)
An indoor music venue — and not limited to summer — is VFW Post 399 (Riverside Avenue at the Saugatuck Avenue fork).
Every Thursday, the Jazz Society of Fairfield County sponsors “Jazz at the Post.”
This week’s headliner is Mitch Schechter (July 16, shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; doors and dinner service at 6:45). He’s joined by bassist Takashi Otsuka, drummer Charlie Descarfino, and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
This Friday (July 17; doors open 6 p.m., show time 8), 5 talented comedians –John Ziegler, Brendan Ryan, Linda Marcus Smith, Helaine Witt, plus resident comic Joe Pontillo — take the stage.
Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door, with a 1-drink minimum. NOTE: Previous comedy shows have sold out.
And finally … in honor of MoCA\CT’s upcoming event honoring “lost places”:
(“06880” often looks back on the Westport that was — while always providing insights into our town today, and a look at tomorrow. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
Two Representative Town Meeting (RTM) committees — Finance, and Parks & Recreation — meet on January 5 (5 p.m., Zoom).
There is one agenda item: consideration of the Board of Finance’s recommendation to approve $275,000 to fund a settlement between the town and Hook’d on the Sound.
If approved by the committees, and then the full RTM, the lease with the food concessionaire at Compo Beach, and the Longshore pavilion and halfway house, would be terminated before the end of the contract.
The door may close on Hook’d. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Before Paul Newman began filming “Slap Shot,” he learned to skate at Crystal Ice Rink — the bedraggled but beloved Norwalk rink.
We’re not sure whether Richard Gere is prepping for a skating-related movie. (“Oh, Canada,” released last year, has nothing to do with our neighbor to the north’s national sport.)
But there he was at the Westport PAL Rink at Longshore, learning from the master: Mar Jennings.
Many people probably just skated by those 2 guys, all bundled up and having a ton of fun. (Hat tip: Andrew Colabella)
Club203’s holiday celebration was filled with joy, laughter and spirit.
Members and friends of Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities filled the Westport Woman’s Club.
They enjoyed snacks from TCC Catering, music by Kasey Clark, gifts (Club203 backpacks, courtesy of the Woman’s Club), and cookie decorating stations with Avery Horne and MoCA\CT.
Logo backpacks, courtesy of the Westport Woman’s Club.
Kevin Christie and his wife Gina were there too. The first selectman offered a proclamation recognizing the evening, and the spirit of Club203.
Organizers say, “Thank you Westport. What a gift you have given supporting inclusion, and meaningful social opportunities where adults with disabilities can connect, be themselves, and celebrate life together.”
Enjoying the festivities, at the Westport Woman’s Club. (Photos/Stacie Curran)
Staples High School senior Neha Singh has a strong interest in financial literacy education. It is, she says, “not just a practical tool, but an essential vehicle for sustaining communities.”
She recently spearheaded an effort to bring an original multi-session financial literacy module — which she named “Count On It” — to Coleytown Middle School 6th graders.
As co-president of Mu Alpha Theta — Staples’ Math Honors Society — she organized 16 student volunteers. They led the first session for over 140 CMS students.
The 6th graders explored how to make smart spending and saving choices with money. They learned the difference between needs, wants, and waits (items they can save for over time), and discussed the 20 percent savings rule.
Two more sessions will follow.
This is not Neha’s only effort with middle schoolers. For 3 years she’s volunteered at ASPIRE, a Norwalk non-profit serving under-resourced populations.
She developed a bilingual financial literacy curriculum for them. It helps 75 ASPIRE youngsters build strong financial habits. Lessons focus on smart budgeting, real life careers and costs, and staying safe with digital money.
Neha Singh
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An alert but please-keep-me-anonymous reader writes: “The town has changed the categorization of Greens Farms railroad station parking in a row of Lot 1 (effectively the second row adjacent to the tracks).
“I always thought the entire row was for permit holders. But I got a ticket earlier this week for unknowingly parking in a newly deemed day spot.
“The sign they posted is directly behind a space. It could easily be blocked by a large SUV — especially the lower half that specifies this change.”
Greens Farms railroad station sign. Left unresolved: is the spot directly in front of the sign permit parking, or daily?
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shows a bobcat skulking around Ben James’ driveway.
Fashionably Westport just got even more fashionable.
Alisyn Camerota — the award-winning journalist, and former CNN anchor and host — will join fellow TV personality Dave Briggs as co-emcee.
They’ll make this the liveliest “Fashionably” event ever. The Westport Downtown Association-sponsored show (February 28, 7 p.m., Westport Library) — a benefit for Homes with Hope — features the latest styles, from the town’s mot sophisticated and fashion-forward retailers. Models are local friends and celebrities.
Click here for tickets, and more information. To donate silent auctiono items, or become sponsors, email events@westportdowntown.com, or operations@westportdowntown.com.
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Startup Westport — our town’s public/private partnership for tech and entrepreneurial founders and funders — has spawned 2 intriguing special interest groups.
“Women in Tech & Innovation” is led by Tanaz Mody, an experienced venture capitalist and tech startup leader. The group welcomes all women, from experienced pros to those just getting started. Click here for more information.
The “Investor” special interest group is led by Dan Zuller, a VC investor and former entrepreneur. The group is for experienced founders and investors looking to connect, share insights, and engage in high-level discussions on emerging trends, market dynamics and the future of innovation. Click here to sign up for the first event, in March.
Meanwhile, last night’s inaugural first-Thursday-of-the-month social gathering was a smash.
Over 100 people gathered at Nômade for a high-energy night of networking, idea-sharing, drinks and fun.
Enjoying last night’s Startup Westport social event (clockwise from lower left): Jay Norris, Josh Guttman, Paige Parker, Ted Parker, Bari Schrager.
The next step for the proposed Sherwood Mill Pond project walkway project — including discussion of the gate and properties — is Tuesday (February 11, 7 p.m., Town Hall Room 201).
The Representative Town Meetingi Planning & Zoning, and Environment, Committees meet jointly to review plans.
A reminder: Tomorrow (Saturday, February 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stop & Shop), is the Westport Police Department and Sunrise Rotary Club food drive.
All donations support the Homes with Hope, and Westport Department of Human Services food pantries.
Police officers and volunteers will accept non-perishable food items and cash donations.
Suggested items include breakfast bars, baking goods, BBQ sauce, macaroni & cheese, canned vegetables and fruit, coffee, canned meats, canned stew, noodles, cereals, gluten-free foods, granola and protein bars, grated Parmesan cheese, hamburger and tuna helper, hearty soups, instant mashed potatoes, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, oatmeal, cooking oil, pancake mix and syrup, pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, rice, spices, salad dressing, shelf-stable milk, and snacks. (No glass jars.)
Suggested personal care and household items include body wash, Clorox wipes, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, razors, shampoo and oothpaste.
To volunteer, or offer a large pickup, call Anna Rycenga at 203-763-9656.
Volunteers, at a previous Sunrise Rotary Club and Westport Police Stop & Shop food drive.
Bonnie Bradley — the descendant of a famed Westport family, and who retained a lifelong love for this town — died Wednesday in Brentwood, Tennessee. She was 86, and lived in Roxbury, Connecticut.
Born in Bridgeport Ina Trivers Bradley and J. Kenneth Bradley, she grew up in Westport. Bonnie attended the Bolton School and Smith College.
She raised her children in Westport, and was deeply involved in the community. In 1999 she moved to Roxbury, where she continued her lifelong passion for service.
Bonnie was president of the Junior League of Greater Fairfield County, a board member of the Roxbury Senior Center and Friends of the Library, and a docent at the Glebe House in Woodbury.
She was predeceased by her sister, Deborah Donnelly. She is survived by her brother James Bradley; her children Brad Colby of Boca Raton, Florida, Stuart Weise of Brentwood, Tennesse, and Wendy Bradley of Woodstock Valley, Connecticut, and her granddaughter, Ainslie Bradley Tschamler.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday February 13 (10 a.m., Roxbury Congregational Church; click here for the livestream, and to leave online condolences). Burial will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport.
And finally …Gene Barge died Sunday in Chicago. He was 98.
The New York Times calls him “one of the last surviving saxophonists of the golden age of R&B, whose career ran the gamut of 20th-century Black popular music.” Click here for a full obituary.
Among the hits he played on:
(You don’t really need to rescue “06880.” But tax-deductible contributions sure help keep this hyper-local blog alive. Just click here. And thank you!)
The doors to what is now known as Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci swung open this morning. They’ll be there from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The new operators welcome neighborhood residents, beach walkers and joggers and bicyclists, and anyone else in town (and out) to stop by and check them out.
On Tuesday, Donald Lowman headed to New York. Without a sticker, he parked in the Greens Farms station daily lot — up the hill, near the school buses.
When he arrived back at 10:30 p.m., he realized his nice leather shoes were inadequate for going down the hill, across the street and up the next hill.
Suddenly, a Jeep pulled up. The woman in the passenger seat said, “Jump in. We can take you wherever you need to go.”
They would have driven him all the way home. Instead, they delivered him to his car.
The couple said they’d wait to see if his car started. But the door handle was frozen.
The driver got out, found his windshield scraper and handed it over. Don scraped the ice off the handle.
He got in, turned on the defroster, and told his saviors they were a godsend.
“I would not have been able to make it down or up the hills near the station, and would have gotten seriously injured if I tried,” Don says.
“Their simple, timely, random act of kindness was unbelievably important and appreciated. And it offset the admittedly cynical views of other people that I have developed over the past several years of watching increasingly selfish motorists endangering or inconveniencing others.
“There are some truly wonderful people in our town, and it was my luck to run into 2 of the best. Stories like these renew one’s faith in the generosity and selflessness of others.”
Navigating Greens Farms station’s hills is no easy task. Al Willmott captured this scene years ago.
This Sunday, as many people march across America to support women’s rights, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport will sponsor a teach-in on abortion.
REACH (Reproductive Equity, Access and CHoice) will lead the 11:30 a.m., which begins with a free brunch. They’ll discuss abortion access from a social justice point of view, across all communities.
Attendees are invited to wear a pink pussycat hat or other branded item. Questions: Email events@uuwestport.org.
When Parker Greenberg was born in 2016, her parents instantly knew something was not right.
She was born with a very rare genetic condition, HIST1H1E Syndrome that leaves her with severe special needs. Hers was the 8th case diagnosed worldwide, a week before her second birthday.
Daily life is a challenge for the young Westporter. She sees a large team of specialists, has undergone many surgeries, and had plenty of medical scares.
Yet, her mother Kimberly says, “our determined little girl has never given up. She continues to teach us new things daily, including how to stay positive.”
The Greenbergs thank the Star Rubino Center, Stepping Stones Preschool and Coleytown Elementary School for being instrumental to Parker’s success.
Her family set up Parker’s Cure, a non-profit foundation for families facing HIST1H1E Syndrome. Funds raised go to research into the disease.
On January 26, the foundation hosts its 2nd annual Bowlin & Booze Bash (Bowlero Lanes, Norwalk). Tickets (click here) include 2 1/2 hours of bowling, an open bar and food.
There’s an auction too, with sports tickets, autographed memorabilia, JL Rocks jewelry, experiences and more.
Bidding begins January 24 (9 a.m.), and closes at midnight January 27. Click here for more information.
Amy Simon Fine Art is collaborating on an exhibition at Christian Siriano’s The Collective West.
The launch — featuring the art of Amy Genser, Donald martiny and René Romero Schuler — is January 25 (6 to 9 p.m.),
Questions? Email info@amysimonfineart.com, or call 203-259-1500.
Christian Soriano, in The Collective West.
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More art news: Sorelle Gallery is going to the dogs.
A reception and artist talk February 10 (2 to 5 p.m., 19 Church Lane) for their exhibition and artist talk featuring Russell Miyaki will benefit local rescue organizations Dog Star Rescue and Westport Animal Shelter Advocates.
Dogs available for adoption will be on site, along with doggie bags and a raffle by Earth Animal. All pups are welcome, for “bone bar” treats from Pet Pantry.
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Sure, there was a Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day. But the temperature was positively balmy — almost 50.
A group of Westporters plunges often at Compo Beach, all winter long. This week, with the air temperature just 28 degrees, and the water a near-freezing 38, they were at it for their usual 10 minutes or so.
Come summer, they swim for 2 hours.
And, presumably, spend a bit more time chatting afterward.
From left: Derek Yach, Markus Marty, Miroslaw Krzysztof. I’m freezing just looking at this photo.
Stop the presses (pun intended): National Coffee Break Day is January 20.
To celebrate, Green & Tonic offers coffee lovers a chance to win free coffee for a year — and an overnight getaway at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor.
One gold sticker and 6 green stickers will be hidden on the bottoms of Supr Brew Coffee, latte and tea cups. The grand prize winner gets the goods above. The other 6 will enjoy free Supr Brew Coffee for a year.
The contest runs until February 11. Which is, of course, National Latte Day.
Win your free coffee here!
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Registration opens February 1 for the CT Challenge. The July 28 bi7e ride — with distances of 10, 25, 40, 62, 100 and virtual — raises funds for the local non-profit Mission. They help 16.9 million cancer survivors in Connecticut and throughout the US rebuild, improve and prolong their lives through exercise, nutrition, mind-body health and community-building support programs.
Longtime Weston resident Claire Sansone died suddenly and peacefully last week. She was 85.
While attending Queens College, she met Ronny Sansone. She was crowned “sweetheart” of Beta Phi. They married in 1962.
They moved from Floral Park, Long Island to Weston in 1974, and remained in their beloved home for nearly 50 years.
Claire worked for more than a decade as a State of Connecticut Department of Children Youth Services social worker. She placed foster children in safe homes, and arranged adoptions. After retirement, she received many letters and pictures from her adopted and foster placements, thanking her for helping change their lives.
Claire enjoyed spending time with her family. Orchestrating trips was a passion.
She is survived by her children Janine (Stuart), Ronald (Kim) and Robert (Kristina), and grandchildren Isabelle and Sophia Levine and Enzo Sansone. She was predeceased by her husband Ronald, and and brothers Armand and Thomas Rainville.
A private graveside service will be held tomorrow (Saturday, January 20, Willowbrook Cemetery).
Claire Sansone
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Oh, deer!
This one seems to take this week’s snowfall in stride.
Claudia Sherwood Servidio snapped today’s “Westport .. Naturally” shot at Cross Highway. near Main Street.
If you’re at the Greens Farms railroad station, and glance up at a certain utility pole, you’ll see his 1996 campaign sticker.
That was his second presidential campaign. He received 8% of the votes, less than half of his 19% in ’92 (which, some historians believe, tilted the election to Bill Clinton).
Perot’s ’96 run for the White House is long forgotten. But his sticker endures. (Click here to see.)
Alan Shinbaum, Nanette Buziakk Lexow and Andrew Colabella all have seen it at the station, and identified it correctly. They had a lot more success than Ross Perot’s political ambitions.
Today’s Photo Challenge may be another tough one.
But, as I learned long ago: Our “06880” readers are a very observant bunch.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
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: danwoog@gmail.com. Thanks!)
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