Wrapping up yesterday’s great — and weather-dodged — Memorial Day parade:
For the first time since the Spanish-American War, the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston did not win the “Best Float” award.
There’s a good reason: They were concerned that rain might damage their power connections.
Congratulations to the VFW: the new winner of the “Best Float” competition.
Other winners were:
- Best Youth Group: Westport Little League
- Best Community Organization: Staples High School and Bedford/Coleytown Middle School Marching Bands (tie)
- Most Colorful Float: Westport Garden Club.
Congratulations to all!
The winning float. (Photo courtesy of Patty Kondub)
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Our Memorial Day parade is timeless.
Don’t believe me? Check out this video, sent by Mark Comden.
From 1960.
PS: He’s one of the little kids shown in the home movie.
Sure, a few things have changed. The real estate office is gone from the Riverside Avenue/Post Road West corner.
The fire truck that looked so modern in the last year of the Eisenhower administration might have been one of the “vintage” vehicles in yesterday’s parade.
But so much else is so familiar.
And probably will be 64 years from now, at the 2088 parade.
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The Staples High School baseball team are winners on and off the field.
On Sunday, members spent a rare day off buddying with the Westport Winners program.
They were supporting youngsters with disabilities, as they played against (and partied with) the Fairfield Red Storm.
From left: Staples classmates Max Jossen, Harrison Putman and Mikey Linn.
Wrecker head coach Jack McFarland was there too.
It was a grand slam, for sure.
From left: Longtime buddy/player pair Connor Brill and Henry Cashen.
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Want to keep the Saugatuck River beautiful?
Everyone is welcome to join the Saugatuck Church community this Sunday (June 2, 12:30 p.m.), on a clean-up mission.
The meeting place is Riverside Park (427 Riverside Avenue).
The clean-up involves wading in the river. Bring a reusable water bottle, gloves, long sleeves, pants and close-toed shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.
To RSVP, and for questions, email Jberkowsky1@gmail.com.
Saugatuck River (Photo/Luisa Ismert)
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The Westport Police Benevolent Association Scholarship Foundation has awarded grants to 22 students attending college this fall.
Wilbur Scholarship applicants must be children of Westport Police Department officers, who have done community service and have a GPA of at least 3.0.
Recipients are Zoe Koskinas, Samuel and Jonathan Wolf, Madison and Gabrielle Hayes, Brandon Smith, Ava Wooldridge, Olivia and Grace Biagiotti, Sara Sabin, Samantha and Joseph Sabin, Meghan Velky, Jaden Aliberti, Emma and Jacqueline Kelley, Alexis Broderick, April and Edward Nowinski, and Zachary Benson.
The Foundation also awards Deputy Chief John Anastasia and Chief Bill Stefan Scholarships to Staples seniors who enter college in the fall to study law or a law enforcement-related field. The scholarships recognize both community relations and athletic accomplishments.
This year’s honorees are Kervin Joseph and and Juan Nieves, Jr.
The WPBA Scholarship Foundation thanks founders and principal donors Joan Poster and the late Dennis Poster.
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Staples High School’s Project Sunshine Club is part of a national organization that sends trained volunteers to visit children in hospitals nationwide and in Canada, Kenya and Israel.
The students are under 18, so they cannot volunteer themselves. Instead, the Staples club packs activity kits for children with medical challenges.
The 30 members plan a fundraiser that will appeal to many young people: a spikeball tournament. It’s set for June 15 at the Staples High School football field (noon).
Teams of 2 people can register, for just $20. There’s a $500 first prize.
All are welcome. Those who can’t attend (or are not spikeball players) are welcome to donate. Click here for the link to register and/or contribute.
PS: Staples’ Sunshine Club founder Max Saperstein has also helped start 17 similar clubs in high schools around the country. For information on how to start a Sunshine Club, email maxsaperstein@icloud.com.
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An intriguing show comes to Toquet Hall on June 7 (7 p.m.).
“Jackson Crash” is the creation of Jonathan Riedel. The artistic director of Riedel Dance Theater, and lead singer/songwriter of Rubber Skulls, embodies with pathos and irreverent humor a young man’s journey from bullying and parental neglect to discovering his queerness, starting a family, becoming a truck driver, and searching for his own identity -0 all while being chased by a ghost from his past.
After the 90-minute performance and refreshments, Riedel and 2 other creators the show will talk about the writing and development of the story, and how it relates to the audience’s lives.
The event is sponsored by Westport Pride. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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This week’s Jazz at the Post headliners are Harvie S. — a widely recorded bassist — and James Weidman, first call pianist for big names. They’re joined by fiery drummer Malik Washington and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
Shows are Thursday, May 30, at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m., at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399. Dinner service begins at 7. The music cover is $20; $15 for veterans and students.
Reservations are highly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
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Every day, there’s a new bit of beauty to enjoy in Westport.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” scene comes from Roseville Road:
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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And finally …
And finally … happy 79th birthday to John Fogerty. I’ve played tribute to his band — Creedence Clearwater Revival — and I will again. So today I’ll honor his solo work. (PS: Thanks again for that great Levitt Pavilion concert in 2017. I’m still smiling.)
