Tonight’s the night!
From 6 p.m. until dark, everyone in our community — online and real — is invited to Compo’s South Beach, for our 11th annual “06880” blog party.
It’s a very casual, very fun, bring-your-own-food-and-drink (and chairs) event. Meet old friends; make new ones; watch the sun set (if the clouds part), and enjoy a summer evening with people drawn together by this hyper-local blog. See you there!
PS: Don’t worry. The clouds will be gone by the time we begin 🙂
Bring yourselves (and a bit of food) to tonight’s “06880” blog party! (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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But the fun doesn’t end when our blog party is over.
This Sunday (July 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) marks the first-ever Soundview Sidewalk Stroll.
The family-friendly street festival is a gift to Westport, from “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. We’ve got help from the Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Police.
With Soundview Drive closed to traffic, Westporters are welcome to walk, bike, rollerblade and play, from the Soundview parking lot to the Compo Road jetty.
In addition to music from 4 great bands, youngsters can enjoy face painting, a balloon artist, craftsand more.
Volunteers from the Compo Beach Playground Committee will run this schedule, all day long:
- On the hour: Tug of war
- 20 minutes after: Water balloon toss
- 40 minutes after: Inflatable relay race.
Old Mill Grocery & Deli will offer favorites from their menu.
The Soundview Summer Stroll is a great chance to meet old friends, make new ones, join the cool street scene, and enjoy Compo without worrying about traffic.
Best of all: It’s free! (Beach emblem required to park.) Don’t miss this one!
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Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice got a raise, and an additional year on his contract, this week.
The Board of Education vote was unanimous. His new salary — retroactive to July 1 — is $321,661. His contract runs through the 2026-27 school year.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice
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Speaking of education: Coleytown Middle School has a new principal.
Her commute will scarcely change. Janna Sirowich moves to her new post from Coleytown Elementary School, where she has spent the past 16 years as principal. Before that, she was a literacy leader and classroom teacher in Westport.
“While Janna is overwhelmed with gratitude for her years at CES, she is equally excited about this new opportunity and what lies ahead for her and CMS,” says superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
Janna Sirowich
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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between July 17 and 24.
A 58-year-old Westport man was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and tampering with a witness following a June incident at Birchwood Country Club. An employee was pushed to the ground by the man, who he did not know. Despite being warned not to contact the complainant, he did so twice.
A 48-year-old Westport man was charged with driving under the influence following a complaint by a passenger in the vehicle.
A 22-year-old New Britain man was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and larceny, and conspiracy to commit those crimes, following the early morning theft of an ATM from the Wheels gas station and convenience store on the Post Road in February.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to obey state traffic control regulations: 17 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 8
- Failure to obey stop sign: 6
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 6
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 5
- Driving while texting: 3
- Illegal shellfishing, closed area: 3
- Illegal shellfish taking at night: 3
- Violation of local shellfish regulations: 3
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
- Reckless driving: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Failure to yield to a bike at an intersection: 1
- Following too closely: 1
- Driving while texting, 2nd offense: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Failure to carry a license: 1
- Failure to have headlamps: 1
Watch out for bicyclists at intersections!
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This beautiful butterfly flitted past Lauri Weiser.
It alit just long enough for her to catch it, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … John Mayall, the pioneering British bluesman best known for influencing some of rock’s biggest names, died Monday in California. He was 90.
Click here for a full obituary.
(“06880” looks forward to 2 great events: tonight’s “blog party,” and Sunday’s Soundview Summer Stroll [stories above]. As always, we look forward too to readers’ support. Please click here. Thanks!)
