Westoberfest had all the elements of an early fall (okay, last day of summer) celebration on Saturday.
Beer (from 22 breweries) and pumpkin crafts drew perhaps the largest crowd in the 7-year history of the Westport Downtown Association event, to Elm Street and environs.
But plenty else kept them there, including 2 dozen vendors, 6 food trucks, music, and kids’ activities.
Westoberfest has quickly become one of the highlights of the WDA — and entire Westport — calendar.
We’ll drink to that!
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When Kyle Martino was growing up in Westport, he played pickup soccer with and against much older players — including college stars who had graduated from Staples.
The training worked. Martino went on to become 1999 National High School Player of the Year; MLS Rookie of the Year; a teammate of David Beckham’s on the Los Angeles Galaxy, and an 8-time US men’s national team player.
Martino’s passion for the game continues unabated. He has developed a unique retractable goal that turns any basketball court or blacktop into a small-sided field, and a non profit (Over Under Initiative) to bring soccer to underserved communities.
On Friday Martino was in Westport, discussing his ideas, seeking input and help, and encouraging his home town to be a national leader in the movement back to small-sided soccer, and encouraging informal play by all ages.
He brought some heavy hitters to the meeting at a private home: Cobi Jones, his former Galaxy teammate and the all-time leader in US men’s national team appearances (164), plus Edson Buddle, his longtime friend from New Rochelle who scored over 100 MLS goals.
Dave Briggs was at the meeting. He asked Martino to explain his mission. Click below to listen:
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According to Reproductive Equity Now, anti-abortion centers — also called “crisis pregnancy centers” — are “facilities that pretend to be reproductive health clinics, but in reality, exist to dissuade people from accessing abortion care using deceptive advertising, abortion stigma, and medical disinformation.” REN says that in Connecticut, they outnumber “legitimate abortion clinics’ nearly 2 to 1.
On October 16 at MoCA CT, the organization will screen “Preconceived.” The new documentary “exposes anti-abortion centers’ deceptive and dangerous practices.”
There are 2 showings: 10 a.m. (click here for tickets) and 7 p.m. (click here for tickets). The evening event includes light refreshments at 6:30, and a brief post-screening panel with elected officials and providers.
All proceeds benefit Reproductive Equity Now.
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Regular visitors to Burying Hill Beach know that the entrance road floods routinely.
But the breadth of yesterday’s water — particularly in the absence of any rain — surprised even veteran beach-goers.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
As with Saturday’s flooding at Quentin Road and Compo Beach Road, we may be heading into a new “new normal.”
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Adam Vengrow gives a shout-out to Billi at the Post Road East Mobil station, across from Playhouse Square.
Adam writes: “I popped a tire yesterday, and couldn’t find where.
I went right tot he best. It was Sunday morning, but Billi stopped what he was doing and fixed us right up. Love them!”
(Photo/Adam Vengrow)
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Visitors can relive the golden age of Weston at The Peter Thorp House on Sunday (September 29, 4 to 7 p.m.).
The Weston History & Culture is hosting a fundraiser, with guided tours of the historic property, a cocktail party in the rose garden, a musical performance, and raffles.
Early bird tickets ($125) include 5 raffle tickets; click here.
Peter Thorp House garden.
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The Pantry — the Fairfield market very popular with Westporters — has reopened, following a recent fire.
Owners were buoyed by support from local merchants. Westport’s Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center sent parsley, basil and edible flowers. Harry’s Wine & Liquor offered beer and wine for the clean-up crew. Other businesses helped too, Mary Condon reports.
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The only downside to Saturday’s LobsterFest were the spotted lanternflies covering trees at nearby Compo Beach South Beach.
They landed on a few attendees, who brushed them off, then squished them.
“You hate to do it, because they’re really so pretty,” one festival-goer said.
“But they really are gross.”
And invasive.
Here’s a “Westport … Naturally” photo of a dead lanternfly. It is indeed both pretty and gross.
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And finally … songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler died this past week in North Carolina. He was 91. Click here for a full obituary, and click below for his most famous song.
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