Special COVID-covered Halloween 2020 edition. Boo!
(Photo/Patricia McMahon)
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
Mike Hibbard and Lynn Wilson (or is it Lynn Wilson and Mike Hibbard?) embrace the spirit (Photo/Carolyn Doan)
Yesterday’s Senior Center pumpkin decorating contest. (Photo/Felicia Smith)
(Photo/Arlene Yolles)
Karen Romano retired yesterday, after more than 30 years at Staples High School. She worked in the library, special education, and as the invaluable, loyal and wonderful secretary to the principal.
In fact, she worked with 7 Staples principals — and made them all look good.
Ah, the stories she could tell!
Karen Romano
COVID and the cold will limit trick-or-treating tonight.
But that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of creative costumes.
For instance, 8-year-old Julian Hinojos is a recycling container. He’s got a solar panel hat, and a costume made out of recycled materials found around the house (and in the recycling container).
Julian’s dad works in solar energy. Julian too is very concerned about the environment. He will make sure none of his candy goes to waste!
Julian Hinojos (Photo/Hilary Nordholm)
Some homes will welcome trick-or-treaters tonight. Others will just keep the lights off.
Here’s one creative way to say “sorry, we’d love to have you — just not this year!”
(Photo/Lee Emery)
The other day, “06880” gave a shout-out to a group of swimmers. For nearly 30 years, they’ve met at Compo Beach — at 6 .m. They swim a mile or so — and they do it from May to November.
Yesterday, before dawn, they celebrated Halloween. I’m surprised no one wore a costume from “Frozen.” (Hat tip: Paula Koffsky)
(Photo/Markus Marty)
And finally … trick or treat! NOTE: This is “Jumpin’ Gene Simmons,” NOT the lead singer of Kiss.
Posted in Beach, Children, People, Staples HS
Unsure if your absentee ballot has been received?
It’s fast and easy. Check it out, and check at least one worry off your list.
And speaking of Election Day:
If you’re not yet registered, but eligible: You can register on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) in the Town Hall auditorium.
Get there early — it takes a bit of time. Bring proof of identity (driver’s license, learner’s permit, Social Security card) and proof of residence in Westport (lease, paycheck, bank statement, property tax bill, naturalization documents, college registration, passport, utility bill, etc.).
Questions? Click here, or call 203-341-1115.
There may be no (or not much of) Halloween this year.
But the time and energy that used to go into costumes has in many cases been turned to making lawns, yards and porches look spooky.
Yesterday was the deadline to register for Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department House Decoration Contest.
All around town you’ll see scenes like this. Whitney D’Angelo’s 10-year-old son Michael designed this, and many other scenes at their Westfair Drive home.
Good luck, Michael — and everyone else who entered the contest! Winners will be announced soon.
(Photo/Whitney D’Angelo)
Russ Mitchell, co-CEO of Mitchells, will be run his 4th New York City marathon this Sunday — well, his own COVID-friendly version, anyway.
Russ will run from Westport to Darien. He’ll raise funds for Shatterproof, a national nonprofit aimed at reversing America’s addiction crisis.
Russ — a Shatterproof board member — has raised nearly $60,000 over the past 4 years. Click here for his fundraising page.
Russ Mitchell
And finally … are you ready for Halloween?
Comments Off on Roundup: Election Day, Halloween, NYC Marathon, More
Posted in Local business, Politics, Sports, Westport life
Tagged Election Day 2020, Halloween 2020, Russ Mitchell, Shatterproof
There’s a lot going on over the next few days. First Selectman Jim Marpe says:
Westporters should know that there has been an increasing number of calls to town departments from residents who do not wish to accept trick-or-treaters at their doors this year. Parents and youth who are considering trick-or-treating this year should consider alternate plans for the holiday, because many homes may not be participating.
The Centers for Disease Control considers traditional trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity and should be avoided. It recommends alternatives with lower risk activities and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing. Reminder: The state has capped the number of attendees at all private indoor gatherings at 25.
To discourage large crowds, Compo Beach and the Soundview parking lot will be closed to parking at 3 p.m. this Saturday.
In addition, today (Thursday) is the deadline to submit photos to the Westport Parks and Recreation Department’s House Decorating Contest (mrobbins@westportct.gov). To register and for more information, click here.
Boo!
This weekend in Westport, you can join the Westport Museum of History and Culture Cemetery Lantern Tour. The ticket fee is a donation to the museum. It’s safe, fun, family appropriate and includes a goodie bag. For more information, click here.
But wait! There’s more!
Election Day is Tuesday (November 3). If you already have a ballot, use the official drop box behind
For same-day voting registration, polling places and additional information, click here.
In-person voters must wear masks. The Westport Police Department recognizes that everyone should be comfortable and feel safe when voting at polling sites, and has taken appropriate security measures.
The drop box behind Town Hall. (Photo/Pippa Bell Ader)
PS: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday!
Once upon a time, kids soaped up car windows on Halloween. (That was the “trick” part, if they didn’t get — or didn’t like — their treats.)
Today we live in a much gentler society. So the only windows painted this year were courtesy of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s annual contest.
Nearly 100 children participated. They painted 55 store windows, all over town. Both are records.
Judges Ruth Mannes and Anne Greenberg call the competition “fierce. It was clear that all the kids who participated really put their all into their artwork,”
The winning windows get ribbons. The winning artists get a certificate — and a gift card to Donut Crazy. How’s that for a treat!
And the winners are …
Elementary
SCARIEST: Perri Schleef, grade 5, Weston Elementary School (Baker Graphics)
BEST HALLOWEEN THEME: Calvin Carreras, grade 1, Long Lots; helpers Julian Carreras and Aaron Slomich (1st Nail Spa)
MOST ORIGINAL (tie): Caroline Hammond, grade 2, Saugatuck (Stiles Market)
Chloe Robbin, grade 2, Long Lots (Fleet Feet)
Middle School
SCARIEST: Sophie Jacques, grade 6, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School (Stephen Kempson)
BEST HALLOWEEN: Sally Nathan, grade 6, Bedford (Cycleology)
MOST ORIGINAL: Hailey Kiperman, grade 6, The Southport School (Restore Hyper Wellness + Cryotherapy)
High School
Most Original
Ella Schweizer: Grade 9, Brien McMahon HS, Norwalk (Greens Farms Spirit)
Comments Off on Halloween Store Painting Windows Announced
Posted in Arts, Children, Local business, Organizations
Who says Westport is no longer an artists’ colony?
Yesterday, store windows all across town were transformed into Halloween-worthy works of art.
The paintings were done by local youngsters. The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event — which was also a contest. MoCA’s Anne Greenberg and Ruth Mannes judged the windows today. Winners will be announced tomorrow.
Calvin Carreras (1st grade, center) was helped by Julian Carreras and Aaron Slomich.
Elsie Mergenthaler (6th grade)
Julia Natarajan (3rd grade)
Sally Nathan
Sophie Jacques (6th grade)
Meanwhile, over at MoCA, Westport artist Trace Burroughs led families as they pained an 8’10” x 20′ canvas. It was part of the the Guinness Book’s world’s largest abstract painting.
The style was all Jackson Pollock. And that’s who held the previous record!
Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell (left) helping validate the painting’s size …
… while young artists work …
… and the finished product!
Posted in Arts, Children, Organizations
Tagged Halloween 2020, MoCA Westport, Westport Downtown Merchants Association
Both Fairfield and Norwalk are now “red” communities: Each has at least 15 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.
Westport is “gray.” We have fewer than 5 cases per 100,000.
But Halloween looms. What does that mean for next Saturday’s trick-or-treating? In recent years, hordes of kids — from this town, and elsewhere — have swarmed Westport’s densest neighborhoods. High on the list: Compo Beach.
In an effort to “protect the health and safety of Westport residents, and keep our schools open,” town officials will close Compo to parking at 3 p.m. Only marina slip holders will be allowed in.
These kids are not wearing masks. That’s okay — the photo is from 2014.
“Parents are encouraged to keep all trick-or-treaters in their own neighborhoods, and are strongly discouraged from allowing trick-or-treating in areas that draw a crowd,” says 1st Selectman Jim Marpe.
He adds:
The Centers for Disease Control considers traditional trick-or-treating to be a high-risk activity, and should be avoided. It recommends alternatives for celebrating the holiday with lower risk activities and small events that allow for reduced exposure and ease of contact tracing.
If you decide to participate in trick-or-treating, it is strongly recommended that it be done with increased precautions. A surgical mask must be worn. The CDC advises against wearing decorative masks over surgical masks. Trick or treaters should be aware that if a home is darkened, it is likely not partaking in Halloween festivities and that decision should be respected. Limit the amount of homes visited.
Click for Halloween guidelines from the state Department of Public Health.
Posted in Beach, Children, Environment, Westport life
Tagged Compo Beach, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Halloween 2020
What’s new on Main Street?
Hundreds of pumpkins, pounds and pounds of apples, and bushels of art supplies.
It’s all part of Sunday’s “Pumpkinfest” (October 25, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Thanks to he Westport Downtown Merchants Association, Parks & Recreation Department and Westport PAL, hundreds of (costumed) families will have a chance to decorate pumpkins, take selfies in front of hand-painted backdrops (created by the Artists Collective of Westport, MoCA Westport and One River), and take home delicious (well, Cortland orchard) apples, courtesy of Camp Playland.
Pre-registration was required — and space was quickly filled. Earth Animal stepped up to underwrite an extra session, for 30 more families.
Families that want to gamble can stop by, in case there are last-minute openings.
The event is also the inauguration of a new program: Downtown Dollars. Gift cards for local stores will be awarded to families with the most creative pumpkins.
For more information, click here.
First, March Madness fell victim to COVID. Then the major sports leagues. High school spring sports were canceled — and so was 11-man football this fall.
Now comes news that one of the best sporting events on the planet — Westport Parks & Rec youth basketball — will not be played this winter either.
The department is following recommendations of the state Department of Public Health. They categorize indoor basketball as “moderate risk,” and suggest no team play.
In addition, Parks & Rec does not have access to the school facilities used for the program, director Jen Fava says.
She adds:
We understand this may be disappointing for some, but we must put the health and safety of our youth, and the community as a whole above all else. With the current rise in cases, events moving inside for the winter months and several upcoming holidays, there is uncertainty about what lies ahead. Adding a basketball league is an additional risk we feel should not be taken at this time.
Fava said that Parks & Rec is looking into alternative programs. Some basketball might be played if the DPH changes its recommendations, and school facilities become available.
This is a normal scene — in May, June, July or August.
Late October: not so much.
The beach sweeping crew was out yesterday, as the temperature neared 80.
(Photo/Chip Stephens)
Temperatures will still be in the 60s today and tomorrow. Everyone into the pool!
Tickets are still available for this Saturday’s “Show of Shows” (October 24, 7 p.m.), livestreamed from the Westport Library.
The great David Pogue MCs. Award-winning producer Andrew Wilk is the (very) creative director.
The show includes local personalities, comedy sketches, musical numbers with unexpected twists, and more.
Click here for information and tickets.
Westport Masks — the volunteer effort begun in the early days of the pandemic — has now made over 5,300 face coverings.
Thanks to sales, they’ve donated $1,500 to local food banks.
And they’re still going strong.
Tomorrow (Saturday, October 24) they’ll have their first pop-up shop mask sale. It’s at 19 Center Street (the corner of Brightfield Lane). Stop by — to keep yourself safe, and your neighbors fed.
And finally … yesterday was the 75th birthday of the Rascals’ Eddie Brigati. The vocalist/tambourine player helped write “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure” — and this classic:
Halloween spider on Yankee Hill Road (Photo/Mary Sikorski)
Greens Farms Halloween collage (Photos/Bob Weingarten)
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