Sure, we post 3 to 5 (or more!) stories a day, about anything and everything.
We’ve added a podcast, 2 Strolls (summer and winter), and Instagram Lives and reels.
Today we roll out our latest community-building innovation: celebrations and collaborations with some of Westport’s most interesting people, places and businesses.
The first one is at Kiin Sauna. It’s both a hot event — and very, very cool.
On October 10 (5 to 7 p.m., 1555 Post Road East), “06880” invites you to “Community, Connection and Contrast.” KiiN is next to Sherpa, Longevity, Zion and CT Sports Recovery — all wellness businesses too.
Kiin Sauna
You’ll see friends and neighbors. Enjoy complimentary beverages. Meet KiiN founder Ginger Richardson, who will tell you all about the benefits of a sauna and cold plunge.
If you feel adventurous, you can try a sauna and cold plunge yourself. (Sauna and plunge space is limited; click here to sign up.)
Ginger and her crew are great hosts. It’s a fun way to learn about a new spot in town.
Dave Briggs and I will host more events soon, all over town. We look forward to this new series.
We have just 2 requests: If your business would like to collaborate with us, email us: 06880blog@gmail.com.
And we need a clever name for this series. If you’ve got one, send it along: 06880@gmail.com.
This morning’s “06880” lead story — about Sunday’s flooding at Compo Beach — noted that 1st Selectman Kevin Christie had not responded to a request for comment.
Shortly after 6:30 a.m. today, he emailed: “I saw this email from Sunday evening, but did not get back to you while we were still in active emergency response mode.
“We recognize the significant impact the flooding has had on residents and businesses throughout town. We have been looking into this as part of our broader post-flood assessment, and we’ll follow up when we have more complete information.”
Compo Beach floodwaters.
More details on Sunday’s storm: Westport emergency responders handled 130 flood-related calls, rescued 13 people from vehicles, and evacuated 5 residents from a care facility.
Town officials continue working to document the extent of the damage to residences, businesses and public infrastructure.
“We recognize the disruption and damage this event has caused and sincerely thank Westport residents and businesses for their patience, cooperation and understanding,” says 1st Selectman Kevin Christie.
“We are incredibly grateful to our first responders, Public Works crews, emergency dispatchers, utility workers, volunteers and everyone who worked tirelessly to protect our community and begin the recovery process.”
Flood waters have receded. Damage assessments continue.
We talk a great deal about what it takes to make a democracy work, and how one participates.
Next week, we have an opportunity to hear from leaders who wrestle with the question — and are doing something about it.
Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University; Rajiv Vinnakota, president of Citizens & Scholars, and Daniel Lugo, president of Trinity College, are part of a national effort, involving more than 140 college leaders. They focus on preparing the next generation for active participation in our democracy.
The event — “Civics and the Next Generation of Changemakers” — is September 23, Westport). A reception begins at 6 p.m.; the panel follows at 7.
Speaking of the Library: Monday marked the dedication of its newest sculpture.
“Circle of Peace” has been drawing plenty of attention, outside the upper level entrance.
The work was donated to Westport’s Public Art Collections by an anonymous donor. It was installed at Save the Children headquarters, until the organization left Westport in 2014.
Triple Threat Academy students Sophie Goldman, Carlos Velasquez Escamilla and Camilo Velasquez Escamilla cut the ribbon. The brief ceremony ended with children singing “Song of Peace.”
1st Selectman Kevin Christie (left), Westport Arts Advisory co-chair Nancy Diamond (rear), former Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles and Westport Library director Bill Harmer with children, at the sculpture dedication.
And … the “Career Coach” will be in the Westport Library parking lot tomorrow (Thursday, September 17), for a session on “Tips for Resumés and Cover Letters.”
There are 2 sessions ( 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) each day; both are 2 hours long. Registrants can choose one.
The service is available to people who are exploring career opportunities, actively looking for a job, or seeking additional part-time employment. Click here to reserve a spot.
Among the casualties of Sunday’s 7 inches of rain: the Green’s Farms post office.
A sign on the door yesterday said they were closed, due to a power outage. Patrons were advised to use the Westport, Southport or Fairfield post offices.
If you have a PO box there though, you were out of luck.
And there’s no information either on how long the much-loved branch will be shut.
Green’s Farms post office door. (Photo and hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)
But preparing for the annual Westport Rotary Club fundraiser takes time.
This was the scene yesterday, at Compo Beach:
(Photo/Ed Simek)
If you’ve got tickets: See you there.
If you don’t: You’re out of luck.
The event sold out — as it always does — almost instantly.
In that case, we’ll see you in 2027.
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Seen — but not seeing well — at the Post Road/Sylvan Road intersection:
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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Last year, Zhu Wang and Ye-Eun Hyun took top honors at the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition, held right here at MoCA\CT.
They embarked on a worldwide tour.
Now, ln Friday (September 18, 7 p.m.) the 2 young pianists return to Westport, for a special laureate concert. Their program includes Beethoven, Brahms and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The Westport Woman’s Club Ruegg Grants are generous gifts, to non-profits that (like the WWC itself) provide important community services.
On Thursday, they honored VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399, with a $10,000 check.
The VFW will use the funds for its monthly free Veteran Benefits and Welfare Check luncheon program.
It reaches veterans facing challenges like PTSD, aging concerns or financial hardship. Many veterans are unaware of the benefits and support services available to them.
In addition to this outreach, Post 399 recently hosted its 66th consecutive monthly American Red Cross Blood Drive, and the Wreaths Across America program that placed American flags on the graves of over 1,200 local veterans.
Other VFW projects include Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies. The post is also helping plan 250th birthday events for the USA.
VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado (2nd from left), and VFW and Westport Woman’s Club representatives, with the $10,000 “check.”
Building on its Thanksgiving meals for students at Capital Prep Harbor School, A&S Westport and Conlon Amendola did the same for Christmas.
Twenty families received a full meal, each serving 6 people: ham with glaze, macaroni and cheese, lasagna, chocolate and red velvet bûches de Noë
Many Westporters helped with donations. Once again, Dr. John Corino of Norwalk Dental Arts gave a significant gift.
Dr. Joan Miller of Capital Prep Harbor School (center), with honor students who helped distribute the meals.
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Sunrise Rotary Club’s Friday morning speakers are always interesting.
But Rachel Precious — well, aw, shucks.
The 2006 Staples High School graduate, and conservation biology major at the University of Massachusetts, now owns Precious Oysters (I know, right?).
She told the Rotarians (nearly) everything there is to know about oysters.
Then she gave a shucking demonstration. And — at a time when most Westporters are drinking coffee and eating breakfast — the members sampled some.
Rachel spent 5 years farming oysters in the area, including Sherwood Mill Pond.
Today she runs her own oyster catering business, and is building her own oyster restaurant. She also serves as chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, sits on Senator Murphy’s Long Island Sound Advisory Council, and leads an adaptive climbing club at a rock climbing gym.
Rachel Precious, and an oyster. (Photo/Katie Augustyn)
They’re in other places too. Charles Rosoff says, “I would love it if I had a nickel for every time I saw a dog in a grocery store, ice cream store and restaurant. What is wrong with people?”
And finally … on this date in 1915, he last Australian troops were evacuated from Gallipoli. It was one of the most significant — and consequential — battles of World War I.
That was followed by food trucks. Pizza, hot dogs, tacos, gyros — all (and much more) now comes to you.
But those are small potatoes compared with the newest service: a mobile sauna.
Yep.
You can summon a sauna right to your beach (or corporate event, or party).
The newest addition to your beach party.
And — while you’re at it — you can make it a real Finnish experience, adding a cold plunge.
Plus a shower.
Kiin Sauna may be the hottest (and coolest) new business idea of the year.
Ginger Richardson, with her mobile sauna.
Kiin Sauna is the brainchild of Ginger Richardson. A Canadian native who moved to Texas, she and her husband came to Westport in 2010 for his New York job.
That was “before everything got fancy,” she says. They lived here — loving the nature and this “adorable town” — and in Weston for 11 years. After their divorce, she moved to Fairfield.
By profession, Ginger was an interior designer. She also worked at Local to Market (the former Main Street store across from Cold Fusion), and helps the Westport Farmers’ Market with sponsorships.
But she was always interested in wellness. In 2017 she earned certification as a health coach.
All along, she was a sauna-goer. She was a faithful visitor to an infrared one (now closed) near Jesup Green; then she bought one for her home.
Three years ago, a friend invited her to a cold plunge at Fairfield’s Jennings Beach. She was hooked.
She organized a group to jump in the water all winter long, followed by a sauna at her home.
She began coaching cold plunging. She helped people “tap into their breathing, and find inner strength.”
Native American, Scandinavian and Japanese cultures all understand the benefits of contrast therapy, Ginger says. Coincidentally, she learned that she has Finnish heritage. (Also coincidentally, her son’s name is Finn.)
All the stars aligned.
A mobile sauna (and cold plunge) is a way for people to “do something good for themselves, outside in nature.” Dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine flood a user’s nervous sytem. they feel alert, but also calm.
Kiin Sauna’s cold plunge tub.
A year and a half ago, she bought a sauna tent. It was a start — but flimsy.
Ginger wanted more. She learned of a woman in Maine with a mobile sauna business.
“I was 52 years old. I sold my house, and invested in myself,” Ginger says.
She found a contractor, and designed her own mobile sauna.
Now she’s upgraded to a full mobile unit. It comes complete with a wood-burning stove, solar battery-powered LED lighting and sound system, and shower with a hose hookup. A compressor chills the water in the inflatable cold plunge tub.
Ginger designed the mobile sauna herself. It is a way, she says, to create a beautiful space, one that travels to other beautiful spaces.
Kiin Sauna rolled out — literally, hitched on a trailer to her Toyota 4Runner — 6 weeks ago.
She did a private birthday party at Compo Beach. Guests cold plunged, took a sauna, then watched the sunset. It was “magical,” Ginger says.
Her first big public unveiling was last weekend, at Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield. Ginger offered several 1-hour sessions. The sauna seats 7.
When the last group was done, Ginger joined them in the beer garden for dinner.
“It was a pinch-me moment,” she says. “Everyone chatted about their lives, in a casual, joyful way.”
For her and her clients, Kiin Sauna offers a safe space for a healthy activity, and a chance to share human connections.
Fairfield officials have already approved a permit for Southport Beach. She’ll offer regular hours there, after Labor Day.
Meanwhile, Ginger is lining up private events all over the area. Along with her mobile sauna and cold plunge tub, she can arrange for food trucks, yoga sound baths, massages and more.
(“06880″often covers new businesses — the more interesting, the better — and established ones too. If you enjoy stories like these, plesae click here to support our work. Thank you!)
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