Recent “06880” Roundups have noted the proliferation of utility wires in Westport. They keep coming — and they never come down.
A related issue: “double poles” (and, occasionally, “triple poles”). These occur when a pole is hit by a car, damaged during a storm, or a larger pole is needed to replace the original one (often due to too many telecom wires already attached to the undersized existing pole.
This could also result from a road widening project like the current one on Post Road East. It can take years for all existing utility wires, and equipment like transformers, to be shifted to the new pole.
The other day, a retired utility executive was doing errands in Westport. In just one part of Westport, he counted approximately 30 double poles.
His route was less than 7 miles. There are more than 147 miles of town and state roads — and around the same number of private roads.
Extrapolating the number he saw, the utility executive estimates there could be 500 or so double (and triple) poles in Westport.
That’s a lot of unused, obsolete — and ugly — wood.
Double poles at Post Road West and Riverside Avenue … (Photo/Ken Warren)
and Compo Road South, near Post Road East … (Photo/Mark Mathias)
… and a “push brace” on Saugatuck Avenue.
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Yesterday started out as a great summer beach day.
By late afternoon — just as we should have been getting ready for Saturday evening South Beach cookouts, or picnic dinners on the sand — storm clouds rolled in.
Nearly everyone scattered.
Along Soundview Drive, only one group remained.
Their umbrella added a bit of color, to an otherwise gray scene.
(Photo/Sunil Hirani)
The wind cracked this tree, on Kettle Creek Road in Weston:
(Photo/Wendy Schaefer)
Eversource reported nearly 1,000 power outages, at the peak. Over 200 customers were still without power this morning.
Today’s forecast is for cloudy skies this morning, with thunderstorms possible this afternoon. They may include gusty winds and small hail. The high temperature is expected to be 83.
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Though the weather was better earlier, not everyone found the going easy.
This was the scene, off Cedar Point Yacht Club:
(Photo/Rob Jackson)
Photographer Rob Jackson empathized with the sailor’s plight. “I have been there too,” he noted.
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It’s the dog days of summer, but MoCA CT is not doggin’ it.
Among the events this month:
- Charles Ives Music Festival (August 6, 7 p.m.)
- Guided gallery tour, with designer Jerry Kuyper (August 15, 2:30 p.m.)
- Family Day, including interactive music experience, art tents, ice cream, and artisan marketplace (August 18, noon to 2 p.m.)
- Kaleidoscope: 2nd annual summer camp exhibition (opening reception August 25, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
There are several art workshop offerings throughout August too.
For details on all of the events, click here.
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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport hosts an “almost-annual” tag sale, to benefit both the church and its outreach programs (Beardsley Elementary School, Mercy Learning Center, the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, and others.
The event is this Saturday (August 10, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; early birds, 8 a.m. with a $20 fee).
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“Pareidolia” occurs when people see images in inanimate objects — for example, faces in rock formations, or animals in grilled cheese.
I had never heard the term. I learned it from alert “06880” reader Chris Corgel, who sends this example:
(Photo/Chris Corgel)
What do I see? A great photo for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature!
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And finally … on this day in 1901, Louis Armstrong was born. For 69 years, he shared this wonderful world with us.
(What a wonderful world this is! And what a wonderful “06880” community — in real life, and online. Thanks for being part of it. PS: Extra thanks for clicking here, and supporting our blog!)
