Longtime Westport resident Bette Hahner died peacefully on March at her home in Chatham, Massachusetts. She was 84.
The New York City native and her husband Jeff spent 28 enjoyable years here. In 2000, they retired and moved to Cape Cod.
Bette loved entertaining and gardening. In Westport she enjoyed throwing clambakes, corporate picnics and dinners for friends and neighbors.
In Chatham, in addition to many hours in her home gardens, she managed luncheons and events for the Chatham Garden Club, Monomoy Yacht Club, Chatham-Harwich Newcomers Club, CONCH and Friends of the Eldredge Library.
She recruited many member to the Garden Club. People loved working with her.
Bette worked seasonally for 15 years in the Chatham permit/sticker office, and knew nearly everyone in town. She then worked at the Freedom Ferry in Harwich Port, as a friendly face in the ticket office. For many years she also sold buttons at First Night Chatham headquarters.
Bette was a past president of the Chatham Garden Club, a board member of the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library, and active on the First Night Chatham Committee. In 2025 she was named grand marshal of Chatham’s July 4th parade.
She is survived by Jeff, her husband of 64 years, and son Tim of Bloomington, Minnesota. She also leaves her dog Emmie.
The family requests that donations be made in her name to the Chatham Garden Club.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday (April 18, 2 p.m.) at the First Congregational Church of Chatham.
Bette Hahner
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And finally … on this date in 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was 63, and in his 4th term.
Woody Guthrie wrote “Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,” in the style of many tribute letters the public wrote to the first lady after his death. There are 15 verses; at the end of each, Guthrie says, “This world was lucky to see him born.”
Guthrie never recorded the song. But Bob Dylan — an acolyte — found it, and rescued it from obscurity. He and The Band performed it at a Carnegie Hall Guthrie tribute concert in 1968. He has never played it since.
(Spring is here! But before you go outside to romp, please take a few seconds to click here, and support your hyper-local blog. That helps keep “06880” alive, through every season of the year. Thank you!)
The town has released the bid document for a new food and beverage concessionaire at Compo Beach and Longshore.
Parks & Recreation Department director Erik Barbieri tells “06880” that he will visit all applicants, to see how they operate their current businesses.
His hope is for the new concessionaire to be ready to operate this summer. If not, interim arrangements will be made for food and beverage services.
It’s a time for “reflection, self-love, and ending relationships that are no longer working.” (That’s what Google says, anyway.)
Sustainable Westport knows a thing or two about breaking up, too.
They’ve rolled out a community-wide initiative to reduce the town’s use of plastics — especially single-use — and expand public water-filling stations.
As part of the “Un-Plastic” movement, they’ve begun a social media campaign to help Westporters “break up” with the synthetic material.
It’s pretty clever. You may recognize several neighbors in the video (click here or below). It’s also available on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Parents: Want to know more about “Today’s Weed and Teen Mental Health”?
That’s the title of a session led by Dr. Amy Swift, who oversees in-patient services at Silver Hill Hospital. The event is co-sponsored by Positive Directions and the Mid-Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project.
It’s this Wednesday (February 25, 7 p.m.), with both in-person (New Canaan High School) and virtual options. Click here for more information.
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After weeks of sold-out houses, standing ovations and enthusiastic word-of-mouth, this is the final weekend for the Westport Community Theatre production of “Looped.”
Performances are set for today (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.) and tomorrow (Sunday, 2 p.m.), in the lower level of Town Hall.
The play is set during a 1965 recording session, where Tallulah Bankhead must re-record (“loop”) a single line of dialogue for a film. What should take minutes stretches into hours as the star clashes with the weary film editor and practical studio manager.
Sharp wit gives way to honesty, revealing the vulnerability beneath the bravado while turning a hilarious backstage story into something unexpectedly moving.
Unsure who to vote for? Clueless about the candidates?
Two events this week can help.
On Tuesday (October 14, 7 p.m., Toquet Hall) the 3 candidates for 1st selectman will answer questions (from moderators and the audience) on stage. The League of Women Voters Westport and Westport Youth Commission are sponsors. This is a special event for students, but adults are invited.
On Wednesday (October 15, 2 p.m., Senior Center) the LWV sponsors “A Conversation with Board of Finance Candidates.”
This Thursday (October 16, 6:30 p.m., Greens Farms Academy), Westport Journal is sponsoring a 1st Selectman candidates debate. Registration is required; click here.
Coming soon:
Select Board Candidates Debate: October 21, 12 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
A Seat at the Selectman’s Table: October 21, 6 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by Westport Library Common Ground Initiative. Registration required; click here.
A Conversation with Board of Education Candidates: October 22, 7 p.m., Toquet Hall. Co-sponsored by League of Women Voters Westport and “06880.”
A Conversation with Planning & Zoning Commission Candidates: October 23; 7 p.m. Senior Center. Co-sponsored by League of Women Voters Westport and “06880.”
Candidates Debates: Board of Education, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Assessment Appeals, Board of Finance: October 27, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Westport.
Candidates Debate: 1st Selectman and Planning & Zoning Commission: October 28, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Westport.
“Someone banged on my door around midday today, a man I did not recognize. I ignored the pounding. He left after a while, but he left a brochure. I’m guessing it was for a campaign.
“I can’t reach it to read it, because I can’t find my grabber. Maybe tomorrow morning I’ll figure out what it’s about.
“This is a very bad time to go around pounding on people’s doors. We’re all a little nervous about strangers. If he is running for an office, he doesn’t understand the right way to do it.
“I had another candidate stick signs on my property, without permission.
“I also think this barrage of signs is distracting to drivers. Should we vote for the first person in the line of signs, the last person or somebody in the middle? Do they really want to look like lawn maintenance or a tag sale?
“The blight committee is so fastidious about the image of Westport. How can they stomach these hideous signs everywhere on our roadsides?
“If people want to know how to vote, it’s much more informative to consider the statements of the individuals and the information put out by the League of Women Voters, don’t you think?”
(NOTE: Campaign signs are free speech, and permitted on town property. However, they cannot be put on private property without the owner’s permission.)
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Hundreds of human beings gathered yesterday at the Westport Library, to discuss their future — at least, as it relates to artificial intelligence.
The in-depth exploration of AI — and its implications across law, business, healthcare, education and technology — was sponsored by Verso University, the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative.
It spanned 3 sessions. Yale Law School professor Scott Shapiro led off with a discussion of AI’s role in legal reasoning, government ethics, and cybersecurity, alongside Kevin Nguyen, features editor at The Verge.
The second session examined the ways in which AI is shaping Connecticut’s innovation landscape, higher education, healthcare, workforce and legislation.
The final session concluded with reflections from Kate Crawford, one of AI’s leading scholars of artificial intelligence and its material impacts. (Hat tip: Les Dinkin)
Kevin Nguyen and Kate Crawford. (Photo/Dinkin ESH Fotografix)
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Westporters will participate in Saturday’s “No Kings Day” national event.
The October 18 protest against President Trump begins at 11 a.m., at Jesup Green. Participants will march to Veterans Green, for speakers and music. The route follows one taken by Westport’s suffragists, in 1913.
One of the organizers, Darcy Hicks, says: “In Westport, No Kings Day is an opportunity to signal to our local leaders who we are and what we hold dear.
Most of us spend much of our time caring for family, whether that is our children, spouses, or parents. This is about them.
“We are marching for the preservation of the water and air they breathe, for truth in their classrooms, for their healthcare, and for their social security. Most of all, we are marching for the rehabilitation of love, and the right for all of our neighbors, regardless of their faith, gender identity, race, or economic standing, to live with dignity.”
A “No Kings” sign, from Westport’s June protest. (Photo/Pippa Bell Ader)
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I’m not sure what “Fish on the Pumpkin” is.
But it’s one of the seasonal specials you’ll find at Basso’s Halloween party.
It’s October 31. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. Manny Montañez and his orchestra will play — with Chef Renato joining in on percussion. Dancing is encourage.
TAP Strength is all about helping people feel more confident and capable in their bodies. A new program supports an important group: neurodivergent teens and young adults.
The next event in their “Effortless Effort” speaker series is this Tuesday (October 14, 6 to 7 p.m., 180 Post Road East). at its Post Road East studio. It’s a conversation between TAP founder Dr. EJ Zebro and Chelsea Elkind and Lauren Rosenblum, founders of Westport-based NeuroMind. They’ve helped TAP design a program that is inclusive, supportive, and grounded in real-world needs.
Renaissance and Baroque dances, folk songs and vocal masterworks from England, France and Italy fill Christ & Holy Trinity Church’s Branson Hall this Saturday (October 18, 5 p.m.
Soprano Sherezade Panthaki joins Parthenia Viol Consort (praised by The New Yorker as “one of the brightest lights in New York’s early-music scene”).
This was not taken at Christ & Holy Trinity Church’s Branson Hall. But that’s where Saturday’s concert will be.
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Duke University’s women’s crew team had a successful High Point Autumn Rowing Festival — thanks in large part to Mia Khamish of Westport.
Competing against international competition from Edinburgh and Oxford in North Carolina, the Blue Devils snagged 2 first-place finishes.
In the afternoon 8 race, the senior coxswain’s decision-making at a crucial moment made a key difference.
Coach Adrian Spracklen called it “very mature, very smart … a tremendous call that you expect from a senior — someone that’s done it before.” To see the race, click here.
The Staples High graduate rowed for the Connecticut Boat Club.
Mia Khamish
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Yeah, yeah, we’ve posted a couple of close-up “Westport … Naturally” photos recently of bees doing their thing with flowers.
And finally … today is the birthday of James “Sugar Boy” Crawford.
The New Orleans R&B musician wrote “Jock-a-Mo” in 1954.
A Mardi Gras standard, it became a hit a decade later for the Dixie Cups, as “Iko Iko.” It was recorded by many other artists too, including Dr. John, Belle Stars, the Grateful Dead, Cyndi Lauper, and (as “Geto Boys”) by Glass Candy.
But Crawford’ s career ended in 1963. A severe beating at the hands of state troopers incapacitated him for 2 years. In 1969, he decided to sing only in churches. He died in 2012, at 77. He is now in the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
(No matter who you vote for, there’s one decision we can all agree on: When you click here to support “06880,” everyone wins! No recount necessary … thank you!)
In 2017, Emma Shannon and Izzy Bodian Connor went postal.
The Staples High School Class of 2002 longtime friends — dating back to Girl Scouts and Bedford Middle School — were appalled by the first days of the first Trump administration.
They created Let’s Go Postal — a “one-stop shop for a postcard protest party.” They designed kits with attention-grabbing postcards, talking points and sample letters for timely isues, along with addresses for users’ congressional representatives, stamps and pens.
Plus a corkscrew. “It helps the drinks — and the ink — flow,” they said.
Izzy Bodian Connor and Emma Shannon.
Let’s Go Postal did not change the world. Or Donald Trump.
But 4 years later, a new president was elected. The ex-president retreated to Mar-a-Lago, blathering about a stolen election.
Emma went back to work as a freelance creative director. Izzy returned full-time to her work as a sales director. All was right, they thought, with the world.
Four years later, Trump is back — with a vengeance.
So are Emma, Izzy, and Let’s Go Postal.
2017 now seems like both “yesterday, and a lifetime ago,” Emma says.
“We had a great run from 2017 to 2020. Then collectively, the nation took a deep breath. We thought we could sit back. Our work was done.
When “2024 happened, we thought ‘4 more years. We’ve been through this. We can survive it.'”
The past 7 months, though, have been “so different, so much worse. The grownups have left the room. Trump has been left to be his most evil self.”
Almost immediately after the inauguration, Emma says, the women realized that they had to “unretire.”
Inspired by protests around the country — including those in Westport, which Emma and Izzy watched with interest from their homes in Brooklyn and Washington, respectively — they went back to work.
“We wanted a way for people in Westport, and the nation, to exercise their right to protest,” Emma says. “Locally and nationally, politicians have to know we are not okay with this.”
And — 4 years is indeed a long time — they added social media to the mix. They signed another former classmate and friend, Carter Downing, to ramp up that presence. The Queens resident is a fulltime social media community manager.
“Instagram stories and reels, TikTok — they are so many more tools to reach our audience now, and collaborate,” Emma notes.
But the goal is still the same: to empower citizens to reach out to their elected officials, at national, state and local levels, on issues large and small.
Everyone’s voice is important, Emma says. Voters in red states need to let their representatives know if they disapprove of current policies; those in blue states need to urge them to keep pushing back.
Those in purple (swing) states have a special duty to make their thoughts known, she adds.
Emma is thinking about the future — and not just for herself. She is 30 weeks pregnant.
Izzy Bodian Connor and Emma Shannon have families, and full-time jobs. But they’re spending lots of time on politics, too.
“We’re only 7 months in” to the Trump administration, she notes. “What will the next 3 1/2 years bring?”
Through Let’s Go Postal, she and Izzy hope to encourage a groundswell of opinion, to help affect change through those with power: elected officials.
What will success look like?
“I would love to retire — for the second time,” Emma says.
(“06880” often covers Staples High School graduates, new business ventures and politics — and sometimes, like today, the intersection of all 3. If you enjoy these stories, please support “06880.” Thanks!)
Sustainable Westport, in partnership with the town of Westport and People’s Action for Clean Energy, has just launched HeatSmart Westport.
The program helps residents in 3 ways:
Improve home energy efficiency by getting a Home Energy Solutions audit from a certified technician. The typical cost is $75. But for everyone who signs up by August 31, and schedules and appointment between now and October, it’s free.
Insulate your home. and make other improvements to its envelope.
Consider switching your heating and cooling source to an energy efficient heat pump.
A typical HES visit includes about $800 worth of services and materials, and can result in over $180 in annual energy savings,
Each resident receives a personalized report outlining recommended improvements, such as insulation upgrades or more efficient equipment, along with rebates.
The program is open to all Westport homeowners and renters. If youve had an HES audit before 2019, you can have another now.
Weston’s Paul Levesque — better known as professional wrestler Triple H — stood on one side of Trump. Vice President Vance was on the other.
The gathering included Secretuary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other famous athletes, including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Triple H — who once coached softball here — currently serves as WWE’s chief operating officer. He is married to Stephanie McMahon — a retired wrestler, WWE executive, and daughter of WWE co-founder Vince McMahon and his wife Linda, Trump’s Secretary of Education.
A news story last fall described Triple H’s opulent lifestyle, including a Weston “mansion,” luxury car collection, and Bombardier Global 5000 private jet. (Hat tip: David Loffredo)
From 1972-75, Longtime Westport resident Ron Schooler spent time in a Cuban prison.
Next Friday (August 8, 1:30 p.m., Westport Senior Center), he and Jim Evans will share their personal stories of that ordeal.
The event is part of the Senior Center’s “This is Your Life” series, presented through the Legacy Project.
Ron and Jim were on a sailing trip, delivering a boat from Rhode Island to Jamaica. But boat damage and bad weathe led them into Cuba waters, where they were arrested as “enemies of the state.”
Fifty years later, they’ll offer their perspectives on survival in a Cuban prison, during a time of political and social transformation.
Ron Schooler and Jim Evans
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Speaking of the Senior Center: They just received a $1,000 grant from the Southwestern Connecticut Transit Equity Foundation.
And finally … on this date in 1981, MTV began broadcasting in the US. The very first video was:
(Video killed the radio star. With our readers’ help, “06880” will keep hyper-local journalism alive. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The last time we checked in with Ben Casparius, he had just earned himself a World Series ring.
It was a storybook finish for the 2017 Staples High School graduate. In just 2 months, he moved from the minor leagues to an important role in the Los Angeles’ drive to the championship.
What’s next for the pitcher? Perhaps League Rookie of the Year.
At least, that’s what the (somewhat biased) TrueBlueLA.com website thinks.
They say: “The season is only about 1/3 complete, so there’s plenty of time remaining. But in terms of NL Rookie of the Year, Ben Casparius has pitched himself firmly into the discussion.”
The reliever threw 3 scoreless innings Friday against the New York Mets, striking out 6 of the 10 batters he faced.
Three days earlier he got the final out of the 8th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, protecting a 1-run edge with the bases loaded.
TrueBlueLA notes: “Stephen Nelson on the Dodgers radio broadcast said something to the effect of any National League Rookie of the Year poll that doesn’t include Casparius is invalid. He’s right.”
Casparius has a 2.94 ERA, with 38 strikeouts and only 6 walks.
Thanks to our sister city of Lyman — a town now just 7 miles from the Russian front — residents and town officials have felt connected to the entire war-torn nation.
Ken Bernhard and Larry Weisman’s relationship goes back even further.
Nearly a decade ago, Bernhard — an attorney, former state representative, and civic volunteer for many causes — taught a class in Ukraine on US constitutional law.
Over the years, he and fellow Westport attorney Lawrence Weisman continued to work with Professor Dmitry Kamensky via Zoom. They spoke to his Ukrainian law students about the American legal system, and the current state of affairs here.
Professor Kamensky has been in the US since April. He’s lectured at several universities, and visited the US Military Academy at West Point.
On Friday, he met a small group of Westporters at Weisman’s home.
Professor Kamensky spoke candidly about the war’s effects on his country, his university and students, and his own wife and young children. It was a first-hand look at a life that includes nightly attacks, daily uncertain, and people who — despite all the devastation — strive to lead as normal lives as they can.
Afteward, he wrote to those met, “I am incredibly grateful for all the support, empathy and kindness that you share with the people of Ukraine. Even more so, with the people in Lyman and other eastern Ukrainian towns, which now face the war carnage daily.
“Thank you all for being with us on this incredibly hard path to freedom and European future. Your dedication, your involvement, your encouragement have no borders. I felt it with my heart today and this is something I will share with my people upon my return home soon.”
A reminder about Westport’s sister city of Lyman: Our connection began through Ukraine Aid International, the boots-on-the-ground non-profit founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer.
They’re supporting 2 camps this summer in the Carpathian Mountains. It’s a chance for Lyman’s displaced children to reconnect with their former schoolmates.
The 10-day July session for 40 youngsters is fully funded. UAI is raising $10,000 for the August camp.All donations are welcome here. (Under “Designation,” select “Westport” from the dropdown menu.)
Let’s do, this Westport!
Professor Dmitry Kamensky (right), with Westporers on Friday.
Plenty of Westporters are attending college reunions this month.
But Tom Lowrie may be the only one going to his 75th.
The longtime Westporter — who stepped down earlier this month as our town’s pickleball ambassador — attended that landmark event yesterday, at Princeton University.
Not only that: With his daughter Anne, he took part in the school’s “P-rade.”
Tom was joined by 5 others, from the Princeton Class of 1950.
They hope to see each other again, at the 80th reunion.
Sixty protesters lined the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge yesterday, in another Saturday protest against President Trump and his administration.
Ages ranged from 26 to 92. One Tesla driver gave the crowd the finger, but other cars honked in support.
Canine protestor on the Ruth Steinkruas Cohen Bridge. (Photo/Pam Docters)
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A couple of miles away, the first beach weekend was a bit chilly. Early in the morning — before families arrived for the Parks & Recreation Department “Kickoff to Summer” and dedication of the new Compo Beach playground — a lone swimmer got ready to take the plunge.
“Pig Party” — Jo Ann Miller’s new book — has just been published.
Carl Addison Swanson provides background: “In 1962, the men of the University of Texas voted famed singer-student Janis Joplin as the ‘ugliest man on campus.’ While the university and Janis were not pleased, the news of the pig party spread fast. Soon, such parties were being held at schools across the country.
Lifelonng Westport resident Malcolm Watson, Jr. died unexpectedly on Sunday. He was 76.
He graduated from Staples High School in 1967, and worked for Nash Engineering in South Norwalk. He served in the Navy in Vietnam during the war, and marched every Memorial Day in the Westport parade.
He owned Nielsen’s Wood Arts, a furniture refinishing business where he performed meticulous antique furniture restoration.
An avid swimmer and sailor, he was a member of the “High Tide Club,” swimming at Burying Hill Beach nearly year round.
He was a member of the Norwalk River Rowing Club, and served as a mentor for generations of younger rowers. He competed as a rower and coxswain all over the East Coast, including the famed Head of the Charles race in Boston.
He is survived by wife Roseann, daughter Amanda (Nathan), son Malcolm III,grandchildren Conrad and Rosie, brother Elmer Sniffen (Patricia), sister Nancy Sniffen, and sister-in-law Kathleen Carusone
A memorial service will be held on June 11, (11 a.m., Burying Hill Beach). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to an organization of your choice.
And finally … in honor of Tom Lowrie’s 75th reunion (story above):
(If Ben Casparius becomes Rookie of the Year, you heard it first here. You hear a LOT of things here first, right? If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
And their pets love the toys. Americans buy them by the millions each year, at stores like Walmart, Target, Petco and RiteAid.
Most Americans don’t know that a majority of those pet toys are designs from LRY Enterprises.
Fewer still know that LRY is run out of the home office of owner Leslie Yellin, right here in Westport.
That makes our town a major player in the pet toy world.
And it puts Yellin on the front line in the recent tariff wars that whipsawed that world — and every other business one.
Leslie Yellin with her latex pigs — the #2 best-selling pet toy in the US.
Yellin has spent her entire working career — beginning with baking dog treats in the back of Lick Your Chops, the Main Street pet store — in the industry.
She has never seen the turmoil she sees now.
For over 30 years she has built relationships with factory owners and companies oveseas. That’s where all her toys are made.
“Maybe once you could manufacture them here,” she says. “But there’s no way you can make a $2 cat toy in the US now, when you’re paying employees $15 an hour.”
Last week, President Trump slapped China with a minimum tariff rate of 145 percent. That stunned the country — and Yellin.
Leslie Yellin with pink pet toys she created to raise awareness of breast cancer.
“We’ve worked with generations of families” in China, Yellin says. “It would be painful to take business from them.”
Painful — but necessary. To survive, she must find factories in other countries.
“No one can do business this way,” Yellin notes.
“My company and big retailers can absorb some of the tariffs. But small companies, and most consumers, can’t. This is impossible. It will kill businesses, and lives.
“We are all in a daze,” Yellin says, speaking of manufacturers in many sectors. “We’re all asking: What’s the end game?”
When the first round of tariffs was announced, Chinese factories offered concessions. “They wanted to help,” Yellin says.
“But no one can absorb 145%. There is an entire group of manufacturers, just waiting and holding our breath.”
Yellin hopes there is a path to negotiation. If so, that must include recognition that China is treated with respect.
“Saving face is important” to those politicians and businesspeople, she says. “That’s the challenge politically,” for an administration that has not showed much respect for trading partners.
She could find manufacturers in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. Trump announced tariffs of 49 and 45 percent on those nations, then paused them for 90 days.
No matter what happens, Yellin notes, “you can’t just flip a switch, and start manufacturing somewhere else. There”s a big learning curve, and a huge supply chain effect.”
In addition, she notes, all materials used in pet toys will still come from China.
“You can shuffle things around all you want, but the cost of goods may be even higher in the end if they have to be exported from there,” to be made somewhere else before arriving in the US.
Looking ahead, Yellin says, “People will spend less. They’ll buy cheaper products.” If the Chinese tariffs hold, “it will be devastating for middle- and lower-class Americans.”
Still, she says, her sector will not be hit as hard as some others.
“When a bad economy hits, pet toys and cosmetics do okay. During COVID our sales were up 25%. Pets are a source of happiness. People don’t let their pets suffer.”
But high tariffs are not a recipe for success overall. Major price increases in areas like medications and healthcare have particularly dire implications, Yellin says.
Meanwhile, she says, “I speak to major retailers all the time. We look at each other and say, ‘What are we going to do?’ Right now, we’re all in a holding pattern. Something has to give.”
Some Chinese factory owners have offered to change their invoices, to hide the source of a product (for, perhaps, a side payment). Some American companies may do that, she says. LRY Enterprises will not.
In this country, Yellin says, “Walmart says they don’t want to raise prices. I commend them. But we’re all going to have to eat these increases.”
Still, life goes on. The toy company owner is doing what she always would at this time of year: designing toys for the 2026 holiday season.
But, Yellin says, “I can’t do that forever. Something has to give. I’d love to know the answer: What’s the end game?”
(“06880” is where Westport meets the world — politically, economically, and every other way. If you appreciate stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Congressman Jim Himes, state Attorney General William Tong, and 1,500 other men, women and children thronged the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge today.
Stretching up and down Post Road East from Main Street to Route 33, it is believed to be the largest political protest in downtown Westport since the Vietnam War.
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
Wearing red, white and blue, carrying signs and chanting, the crowd was part of more than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations in Washington, state capitals and all 50 states.
They sang, too: “This Land is Your Land.” “God Bless America.” And “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
They protested an array of actions by President Trump, Elon Musk and the current administration: the firing of federal workers and closing of agencies, deportation of immigrants, cuts to health and veterans programs, and more.
Passing drivers offered support, honking and giving thumbs-up signs. Some in Teslas yelled, “We bought ours before we knew” about Musk’s actions.
Here are some signs and scenes from the day.
(Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Police Chief Foti Koskinas, ensuring Westport is safe for democracy. (Photo/Alan Shinbaum)
(Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Young protesters … (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
… and 97-year-old Carol Gluckman, who has seen her share. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
Congressman Jim Himes (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
State Senator Ceci Maher (2nd from right), and Democratic Women of Westport.
(Photo/Nicole Klein)
One of the few dissenters. (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
“All I want is peace,” explained this sign holder. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted)
Yesterday’s Federal Communications Commission announcement about anti-Trump comments on media platforms strikes close to home.
As in, “06880” close.
The FCC said that “electronic content providers” — including, but not limited to, “television and radio stations, and operators of websites, blogs, apps and other internet platforms” — would be liable for “any defamatory, libelous, scurrilous or in other ways negative” remarks about President Trump.
This includes, the FCC added, comments made by the “operators, as well as the users” of any such platform.
In other words, I would be liable for anything I wrote perceived as anti-Trump. I would also be responsible for anything written in the Comments section.
I could be fined up to $1,000 — per instance. Jail time is possible for repeated offenders.
Late yesterday, “06880” received an email from the FCC. It reiterated all the information contained in the morning press release.
In a different font, at the bottom, was this: “NOTE: President Trump has received screenshots of comments on ‘06880/Where Westport Meets the World’ that could be considered defamatory, libelous, scurrilous or in other ways negative. If you would like to see those comment [sic], please contact this office at the email below.”
I am weighing my options. I monitor the “06880” Comments section for libelous statements, but generally allow free speech (provided it is on the topic of the story).
This is a chilling development. My first instinct is to resist. However, I do not want to be liable for fines — or possible jail time.
When I decide my response, “06880” readers will be the first to know.
Click here to see the full FCC letter to “06880.” Click here to sign an online petition opposing the FCC plan. Click here send a private message to “06880.”
Dozens of “Hands Off! Mass Mobilization” marches are planned for this Saturday (April 5).
One is planned for Westport. The event, on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge downtown, starts at 11 a.m.
Organizers say: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. Westport is fighting back!
“They’re taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now.
“On Saturday, April 5th, we’re taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!”
They add: “A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
The walkthrough of the potential site for a combined Police/Fire/EMS public safety complex on the Sherwood Island Connector — scheduled for this Thursday, April 3 — has been canceled.
A new date will be announced soon.
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The thermometer hit 77 degrees yesterday, around 3 p.m. Compo Beach was — naturally — packed.
Barely 2 hours later, it plummeted to 49.
The exiting traffic on Hillspoint Road reminded Andrew Colabella of July.
“You’d think the fireworks just ended, and everyone was heading home,” he says.
The Economist’s “Plot Twist” is a weekly newsletter about culture.
Normally, their story about Shonda Rhimes — “The Small Screen’s Biggest Hitmaker” — would not be “06880”-worthy.
Our talented, famous neighbor gets plenty of press. Probably daily.
But this paragraph, by deputy culture editor Rachel Lloyd, caught our eye:
Arranging an interview with a Hollywood bigwig … can be tricky. Usually there is an endless back-and-forth with wary publicists who want to vet all your questions. To my surprise, finding a time to meet Ms Rhimes was easy; no one tried to dictate what I could and could not ask. Ms Rhimes and I met a few weeks ago in a library near her home in Connecticut.
We all know “Ms. Rhimes” has been a huge supporter of the Westport Library.
It’s nice to know that — just like the rest of us who are not world famous, and/or will never be interviewed by The Economist — she too “takes a meeting” at the Library. (Hat tip: Stacie Curran)
In January, Shonda Rhimes hosted a Martin Luther King Day conversation with Trey Ellis at the Westport Library. (Photo/Dan Woog)
“Theatre People” — the last show of the Westport Country Playhouse 2024-25 season — opened officially last night.
The audience responded appreciately to the fast-paced comedy. Directed by WCP artistic director Mark Shanahan, it runs through April 12. Click here for tickets, and more details.
“Theatre People” cast take their bows. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Tomorrow is International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Yesterday, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport hosted an event, with speakers, a panel and a potluck dinner.
The keynote was delivered by Rev. Aaron Miller, of the Metropolitan Community Church in Hartford.
It was a homecoming of sorts, he told the audience. He grew up in Weston, and was part of Staples High School’s last graduating class (1970) to include students from that town.
He transitioned 17 years ago. He said that ever since, his life has been authentic, and filled with joy.
Rev. Aaron Miller
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There are few birds more handsome than an egret.
The other day, one enjoyed a Westport amenity: the Longshore golf course. Johanna Keyser Rossi captured the scene, for “Westport … Naturally.”
And finally … in honor of yesterday’s brief flirtation with summertime:
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“We had a great run from 2017 to 2020. Then collectively, the nation took a deep breath. We thought we could sit back. Our work was done.
Late yesterday, “06880” received an email from the FCC. It reiterated all the information contained in the morning press release.
