President Biden’s decision yesterday to not seek re-election set social media a-twitter.
Two Westporters were among the many people sharing their thoughts.
Producer/screenwriter/author/CEO Shonda Rhimes wrote about the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee: “I stood behind her in 2016 when she ran for Senate, I was behind her when she ran as @vp and I continue to stand behind her today.”
Designer Cristian Siriano said: “What an honor to create suits for you @kamalaharris and I can’t wait to do it again!”
Both posts drew over 60,000 likes — and plenty of comments. Some were very positive. Others were strongly negative.
Meanwhile, CNBC reports: “Among the top party fundraisers now planning to help Harris is longtime Wall Street executive Marc Lasry, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
“Lasry helped raise money for the vice president when she ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary. He later raised campaign cash for Biden when he beat Trump during that election cycle.”
Lasry — a billionaire businessman and private equity manager — lives on Beachside Avenue. He is the co-founder and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, and former co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
Meanwhile, one Westport voter did not wait for official news. He created his own yard sign with a pair of scissors, on Bayberry Lane:
(Photo/Howard Matson)
(Hat tip: Dave Briggs)
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Everything is set for this coming Sunday’s first-ever Soundview Sidewalk Stroll — including the bands.
The lineup includes:
- 11:30 a.m.: Christian Servance
- 12:30 p.m.: Drew Angus and the Connecticut Songwriters Alliance
- 1:45 p.m.: School of Rock
- 3 p.m.: Rock Paper Soul.
The music is just part of the July 28 day-long festival along the Compo Beach exit road.
The Soundview Sidewalk Stroll also builds on the excitement of the annual fireworks, when for a few hours Soundview Drive becomes a street fair.
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.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — in addition to the 4 bands — youngsters can enjoy face painting, a balloon artist, crafts like shell painting and games like tug of war. Members of the Compo Beach Playground Committee have planned a great day for kids.
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.) The Soundview Summer Stroll is a gift to Westport from the Compo Beach Improvement Association and the “06880” blog, with help from the Westport Police and Parks & Recreation Department.
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The Soundview Summer Stroll is just one of 2 great “06880” beach events this week.
The 11th annual “06880” blog party is this Thursday (July 25). From 6 p.m. until dark, everyone in our community — online and real — is invited to Compo’s South Beach.
It’s a very casual, very fun, bring-your-own-food-and-drink event. Meet old friends; make new ones; watch the sun set, and enjoy a summer evening with people drawn together by this hyper-local blog. See you there!
A small part of the large “06880” blog party crowd. (Photo/Dennis Jackson)
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Speaking of Soundview Drive: When it’s closed to vehicular traffic for this coming Sunday’s Summer Stroll, drivers — human and canine — will have to find another way to enjoy the open air.
(Photo/Dana Tofel)
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While many Westporters were outdoors in the weekend’s wonderful weather, members of the Westport-Weston Community Emergency Response Team attended Red Cross training at Staples High School.
The CERT volunteers — who support our police, fire and EMS first responders during emergencies — joined Elaine Daignault (director of Westport’s Department of Human Services), First Chief Nick Marsan and Deputy Fire Chief Matt Cohen, Westport Deputy Fire Chief, learning how to safely manage shelter operations at Staples, in the event of a widespread electrical outage or other disaster.
CERT volunteers (from left): Juan Rodriguez, Sergio Roque, Ricardo Arce, Mark Rozelle, Molly Alger, Lourdes Roque, Zulma Heidelberg, Mike Vincelli, Juanita Visconti, Steve Levine, Margaret Cain, Quijani Silveira. Missing: David Kinyon, Frank Rosen.
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Sherwood Island State Park was packed yesterday, as the background of the photo below shows.
But there was plenty of room on Long Island Sound, off of adjacent Burying Hill Beach — for this pair to enjoy this special father-son outing.
(Photo/William Weiss)
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One of the most fun parts of a Levitt Pavilion concert is hanging out, waiting for the entertainment to start.
It’s not just the folks on the large lawn. Yesterday, there was this group:
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
They made their own music, cawing to each other.
They happily posed too, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
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And finally … in honor of the photo above:
(Whether you donate to Kamala Harris, Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., all “06880” readers agree: Clicking here to support his hyper-local blog is a great investment in the future. Thank you!)
