After 30 years in town, Cathy Walsh knows Westport.
But despite all that time — and her long service on the Planning & Zoning Commission — it took a pandemic for her to really appreciate the things she sees every day.
For the past 9 months, Cathy has walked all over town. The day after Thanksgiving she did a 7 1/2-mile loop to Burying Hill Beach. The next day she took her regular 6 1/2-mile neighborhood walk.
Like many other Westporters, COVID helped Cathy see Westport through new eyes.
Unlike many others, Cathy stopped along the way to take photos. Here are some scenes from last week’s walks.
Burying Hill Beach jetty.
Burying Hill tidal creek.
Nyala Farm.
Greens Farms Church cemetery.
Saugatuck River, behind Belden Place.
Parker Harding Plaza footbridge.
Canoeing on the Saugatuck River, downtown.
Saugatuck River west bank, behind Arezzo.
Riverside Avenue walkway.
Rive Bistro restaurant.
Saugatuck River, looking north.
William F. Cribari Bridge, and Bridge Square.
Seahorse in Saugatuck. (Photos/Cathy Walsh)
Even during a crisis, Westport is beautiful. Thanks, Cathy, for helping us notice so much we don’t always see.
Owner Eric Sierra already had a covered patio, off Riverside Avenue on the bank of the Saugatuck River. Now he’s extended it, making sure tables are 6 feet apart. They’ll serve a full lunch and dinner menu.
During the pandemic, Rive Bistro has been open weekends for curbside pickup only. Starting today, they’ll offer curbside dinners every day, from 4 to 8 p.m. When outdoor dining begins next week, curbside takeout will continue to be available too.
Yesterday at 10 a.m., town officials began handing out face masks at Bedford Middle School.
It was a great idea. It took Eve Potts an hour to get from Long Lots to Bedford — but she reports that the distribution was well organized. And, she says, “we now have a nice supply of masks.” Here was part of the line, spilling out to North Avenue, when distribution began.
(Photo/Eve Potts)
Two weeks ago on “06880,” Drew Angus shared his life as a gig worker in a pandemic. The 2007 Staples High School graduate is a musician. Accessing funds through the CARES Act and PPP was a different tune than for salary and wage workers.
Today he brings us up to date on his efforts. Drew says: “My stimulus check finally came through. So did my SBA loan advance of $1,000, which is technically a grant. No word yet on the loan itself. They are processing applications as quickly as possible. The system is starting to work — slowly.
“On Friday the Department of Labor finally put the PUA application for gig worker unemployment up on their site.”
Meanwhile, Drew continues to work on his music. Here’s his latest project. It’s definitely worth checking out — and forwarding far and wide.
I’m not sure why officials have decided that a good way to honor medical workers is to spend tons of money of military flyovers — rather than, say, PPE — but another one takes place tomorrow (Thursday, May 14).
The Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing will fly C-130s over a Connecticut hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Norwalk Hospital is on the flight path, at approximately 11:37 a.m.
Also on the list: Greenwich Hospital (11:34), Silver Hill (11:39), Bridgeport Hospital (11:43) and Yale New Haven (11:48).
Every year, MoCA Westport sponsors a student art exhibit. It’s always a remarkable show — and wonderful reminder that our arts future is alive and well.
The museum is closed indefinitely. But this year’s show is online — andn as inspiring as ever. Over 60 students from throughout the region submitted paintings, photographs, collages and ceramics. Many address these uncertain times.
Among the artists represented: Staples High School’s Alexandra Lam, Anne Machata and Caroline Rourke, and Greens Farms Academy’s Ryan Boyle and Lulu Wu.
“Quarantined All Year Round” (Emma Costa Norwalk High School), part of the MOCA High School Student Art Exhibition.
Several Staples High School sports teams have provided meals to front line personnel. The latest is the boys hockey squad.
Parents and players partnered with Staples culinary instructor Alison Milwe Grace — who also owns AMG Catering — to have 50 meals delivered to Norwalk Hospital workers.
Each player sent a personal note; the team added a bigger one, thanking the healthcare workers for all they’re doing.
PS: Several players eat gluten-free diets, so they made sure half the meals they donated were gluten-free too.
PPS: Following up on a previous “06880” story: In 11 days, Staples’ girls track team raised over $7,000 (and ran over 190 miles) for the Stamford Hospital. The boys swim team provided sandwiches for Norwalk Hospital too. And girls golf has been involved with Homes With Hope.
Buried deep in Westport’s RTM Rules of Procedure is this: the “first right-hand seat of the left-hand section as you face the Moderator” should be left empty. It’s a memorial to Maclear Jacoby, one of the original members, and to all deceased RTM members.
Now comes word that Maclear Jacob Jr. died last month, after contracting the coronavirus. He was 93, and had quite a life. After growing up in Westport he spent 65 years at Landon — the elite, all-boys prep school in Bethesda, Maryland.
He served in the Navy in World War II, graduated from Trinity College, joined the Air Force and fought for a year in Korea, and became a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. But, the Washington Post says:
In 1955 Jacoby turned his attention to educating children….
During his 65-year career — the longest in Landon’s history — Jacoby served many roles. In addition to math teacher, he was head of Landon’s middle school. As varsity tennis coach, he led the squad to 42 Interstate Athletic Conference titles and produced more than 20 individual championships and team titles.
Even after he retired, Jacoby stayed close to campus, attending nearly every tennis match and keeping stats at football and basketball games.
(Hat tip: Charlie and Sandie Cole)
And finally … yesterday marked 2 months from the day Westport schools closed. Suddenly, things got real.
We had no idea how we would adapt. Could we last a couple of weeks at home? A month without a haircut or styling? How about 2 months of no sports or concerts?
Well, we’ve done it. There may be light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps that’s just the light of a big freight train coming at us.
Either way, we know we’ve been able to do things we hadn’t thought possible. It hasn’t been easy. But now we can all say — like Michael in “A Chorus Line” — “I can do that!”
With everything going on last Sunday — beautiful weather, the opening of the Westport Library, the Tom Petty Project at the Levitt — “06880” readers can be forgiven for not having the “time” to spend on our Photo Challenge.
“Time” is in quotes because Lynn Untermeyer Miller’s image showed a big, handsome, old-fashioned clock. (Click here to see.)
A couple of people thought it was at the train station. A smart guess — but wrong.
Then came many more stabs. I hinted it was “near” the station. More wrong guesses: Bistro du Soleil. The fire station. Bridge Square. Viva’s. Nope!
Finally — on Tuesday afternoon at 3:01 — Jonathan McClure admitted he was guessing, and said: Rive Bistro.
Bingo!
The clock (which is broken — stuck at 12:26) is on the patio outside the Riverside Avenue restaurant. It must be one of those landmarks we all pass, but never notice.
I don’t know why it’s there — or where it came from originally. If you do, click “Comments” below.
And click for this week’s Photo Challenge too. It’s a beautiful house — and still standing. Do you know where?
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