
Compo Beach, low tide … (Photo/Danielle Liebenstein)

… and a Saugatuck Shores sunrise (Photo/Stephanie Tang)

Compo Beach, low tide … (Photo/Danielle Liebenstein)

… and a Saugatuck Shores sunrise (Photo/Stephanie Tang)
Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #3066
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day
Tagged Compo Beach low tide, Saugatuck Shores

Heading to the Sound … (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)

… and a Cedar Point Yacht Club sunset … (Photo/Nathalie Jacob)

… and a Saugatuck Shores morning (Photo/Michael Fortuna)
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

Scenes from Saugatuck Shores: Canal Road …

… off of Cross Way …

… and looking toward Longshore from Bluff Point, near Cedar Point Yacht Club (Photos/Pam Docters)
On Friday night, Judy Collins came to the Westport Country Playhouse.
I headed to the historic theater, not knowing what to expect. I wanted to see the legendary singer/songwriter, whose songs were so important as I grew up.
But she’s 84 years old. Did she still have her voice, her energy, her marbles?
Others in the lobby before the show wondered the same thing.
We need not have worried. It was a fantastic evening.
Judy Collins told compelling stories, with wit and depth. She sang old songs and new ones, in a voice still beautiful and on-key. She laughed at her foibles, and brought us along on a journey through her life.
It was just Judy Collins on stage with a pianist and guitarist, for a wonderful 90 minutes. Brava!

Judy Collins, at the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
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Let’s tee it up for our veterans!
VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 and American Legion Post 63’s annual golf tournament is June 10 (9 a.m., Longshore Club Park). Funds raised will support local veterans and their families.
The day includes friendly competition, camaraderie, and giving back.
Registration for the shotgun scramble format ($150 per person) includes 18 holes, cart, putting contest, goody bag, prizes, and a BBQ lunch at the VFW.
For information on registration, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, click here or contact Patty Kondub: patty.kondub@gmail.com; 203-767-3778.

Longshore hosts the VFW and American Legion’s June 10 golf tournament. (Photo/Dave Dellinger)
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Dan August is not yet 40 years old.
But the 2003 Staples High School graduate is well known in the sports industry.
Now Sports Business Journal has taken notice. The publication has named August — a former Staples High School tennis and track athlete, Dartmouth College graduate, and Los Angeles Rams executive — to its “40 Under 40” honor roll.
As executive vice president of consumer revenue and strategy, August oversees the Rams’ ticketing sales, service and operations, analytics, and all facets of game day, including stadium operations, guest experience, food and beverage, and retail. He also leads strategic initiatives.
August serves on the Rams’ leadership team. He joined the organization in 2016, after 8 years in the National Football League front office.
He and 39 others will be featured in the publication’s June 17 issue, and recognized at a November 22 Chelsea Piers gala.
Click here for more details. (Hat tip: Charlie Stoebe)

Dan August
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Friday’s Pic of the Day showed a view from Covlee Beach. The tiny spot on Saugatuck Shores — just off Covlee Drive — may be Westport’s least known, and least exclusive beach.
Here’s a shot of the entrance:

(Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Peter Hirst lived there long ago. The 1968 Staples High School graduate is now a long-time Northern Californian. But he still keeps up with his hometown, via “06880.”
When and why, he wonders, did the original spelling — “Covelee” — morph into the very odd, and meaningless, “Covlee”?
Peter sends photographic proof. He helped his father place this metal sign on the beach shack, around 1955:

He sends this photo of a life ring too. Though at first glance it reads “Covlee,” it’s clear the strap hides the “E.”

Peter had a great time growing up there, with neighborhood kids like Lindy Hirst, Barbara Pryor, Murray Rosenberg, Chris Herman, Lucia Donnelly, Mickey Masterson, Lane Haviland, Bobby Rich and Martha Laslett.
His home was 12 Covelee Drive — he calls it “12 Cove Lee.” It looks very much the same today, though the garage is new.

But there are other newer and bigger houses, like the one on the left.
Maybe with all that construction, there wasn’t room for one more “E.”
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image is as spring-y as it gets.
All week long, Westporters — at least those who have not skedaddled for the school’s week-long break — will enjoy scenes like this:

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … in honor of the last day of National Robotics Week:
(“06880” — your hyper-local blog — relies on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Yesterday’s rain was an annoyance to many Westporters.
To residents of Saugatuck Shores, it meant another high tide flood.
This was the scene looking north on Canal Road:

(Photo/Matt Fortuna)
A few hours later, Canal Road looked like this:

(Photo/Yulee Aronson)
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The Brubeck Brothers Quartet rocked the Westport Library last night, for a special fundraiser. Proceeds support the Library’s vast array of free programs and offerings.
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is led by Chris (bass and trombone) and Dan Brubeck (drums), sons of the jazz legend who lived in Wilton. They recorded their first album in 1966. Rounding out the group is guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb.
Chris told stories about the family. Home movies added to the warm atmosphere.
The group has performed across North America and Europe, including Newport, Detroit, Montreal, The Hollywood Bowl, and Monterey Jazz festivals.
Now they can add the Westport Library to the list.

Brubeck Brothers Quartet, at the Westport Library. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
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Last year, 7-year-old Evelyn Sullivan was a leading participant in the Westport Weston Family YMCA Race4Chase triathlon training program. It honors Chase Kowalski, a victim of the Sandy Hook shooting.
Head coach Robin Myers worked with Evelyn and 18 other youngsters, strengthening their swimming, biking and running skills, while they enjoyed team building and learned about nutrition.
Evelyn and her mother Sarah raised over $700 for the Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski Foundation. Illness and bad weather kept her from her first 2 triathlons, but she’s resilient. She’s ready for this summer.
The Race4Chase program returns to the Y this summer — at no cost to participants. It runs 5 days a week from June 24 to August 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, and registration, click here.

Westport Y 2023 Race4Chase triathlon program participants.
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Sure, the new apartments going up on Wilton Road at Kings Highway North corner have everyone talking about the massive change coming to the already congested intersection, a few yards from wetlands.
But it wouldn’t be worth an “06880” photo without the massive amount of utility lines, hanging all around the site.

(Photo/Terry Brannigan)
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In the waning days of winter, “Northern Lights” come to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport.
That’s the name of a concert this Friday (March 15, 7:30 p.m.). It features choral and bell music inspired by the Northern Lights, stars and sky, plus music and composers from northern countries.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; click here to purchase. Children and students are free.

Northern Lights
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We’re a long way from Thanksgiving.
But yesterday was Turkey Day at St. Vincent’s Health Services on Long Lots Road.
Meredith Holod caught all the action, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Meredith Holod)
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And finally … in honor of yesterday’s flock (photo above):
(“06880” is your hyper-local blog — and we rely on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

Soon, Christmas wreaths and ornaments will disappear. But for now, decorations like these on Saugatuck Shores brighten our slowly lengthening — yet still mid-winter — days. (Photo/Patricia McMahon)
Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #2451
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day
Tagged Christmas wreath, Saugatuck Shores
Flying into Westchester Airport the other day, Adam True was surprised to find this great view of Westport.
In the middle we see the sharp curve of Compo Beach. Next to it is the Longshore golf course; across the Saugatuck River we see Saugatuck Shores.
To the northeast (left) of Compo is Schlaet’s Point, Sherwood Mill Pond and Compo Cove.
And of course, out in Long Island Sound is Cockenoe Island. What a view!

(Photo/Adam True)
Posted in Beach, Longshore, Pic of the Day
Tagged Compo Beach, Compo Cove, Saugatuck River, Saugatuck Shores, Schlaet's Point, Sherwood Mill Pond
Last week’s Photo Challenge definitely showed Saugatuck Shores.
But where exactly?
Answers were all over the, um, map.
It was not on Saugatuck Island itself. And definitely not at Cedar Point Yacht Club.
The correct responses were: “The beach on Harbor Road near the wood bridge, looking across the bay to the Saugatuck river, with power stanchions over the train tracks,” and “46-52 Harbor Road.” (Click here to see the photo.)
The good news is: There are lots of little private beaches in the western-most part of Westport that look like this.
And plenty of Westporters are familiar with this otherwise out-of-the-way but very cool slice of our town.
Pat Saviano, Kenny Gilbertie, John Brawley, Rob Jackson, Heidi McGee, Dan Vener, Vanessa Bradford, Glen Cummings, Tom Feeley, Mary Ann Batsell, Andrew Colabella, Jamie Walsh, Jay Tormey and Howard A. Potter all correctly identified exactly what the challenge showed.
Even if they all described it in different ways.
Today’s Photo Challenge is also different. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Ed Simek)

From Harbor Road, looking toward Cedar Point Yacht Club (Photo/Howard Edelstein)
It’s nearly 5,000 miles from Westport to Lahaina.
But the distance does not matter to the Westport Downtown Association. The non-profit is collecting donations for Maui United Way, to help support relief efforts from one of the worst wildfires in American history.
Click here to contribute, and for more information.
To show our appreciation for donors, the WDA will randomly select 4 people to receive a pair of tickets to the annual Westoberfest New England Craft Beer and Family Fun event (Saturday, October 14).
In other Maui news, 2 former Westporters have told “06880” that their homes on the island were not affected by the blazes. Both, however, note the immense suffering by their neighbors.

Maui wildfire.
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There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
There is, however, free excess garden produce.
At least, there was yesterday on Bermuda Road.
Pam and Mike Dedona set out their bounty, with a simple sign, for their Saugatuck Shores neighbors.

(Photo and hat tip/Denise Paul)
Their simple gesture made a sunny day even more beautiful.
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Speaking of a great beach day: Yesterday might have been the nicest of the entire summer.
The temperature was Goldilocks: not too hot or cold. Humidity was low.
And it was a Sunday!
Pam Kesselman captured this everyone-into-the-water scene, at Compo:

(Photo/Pam Kesselman)
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Speaking of beach scenes: If you like our new header (the photo at the top of every “06880” story), thank William Weiss.
He submitted the wide-angle shot yesterday.
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The recent near-death experience of the Westport Country Playhouse focused attention on the perilous state of live theater.
Next Monday (August 21, 7 p.m., Westport Library), the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston host a public meeting on that subject.
They’ve enlisted 2 experts: Broadway actors/local residents/WCP friends James Naughton and Carole Schweid.
They’ll discuss the background of live theater, its current condition, and what lies ahead.
It’s a double feature. Guests will also see a 16-minute fictional drama film, “Not the Same Clarence.” The film features Jim and his son Greg Naughton depicting the realities of caring for a parent with dementia, and its impact on their lives.

Carole Schweid and James Naughton.
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Fleet Feet’s weekly “Zoomerangs Kids’ Fall Program” starts this Sunday (August 20).
Meet-ups are from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Staples High School Laddie Lawrence Track, through October 1. The cost is $99.
Geared to youngsters ages 5 to 14, the program teaches the “fun”-damentals of running, with running drills and light-hearted competition.
Demo shoes from Diadora will be available at the kickoff session.
Click here to register, and for more information.

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Wakeman Town Farm is one of the best spots around for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Today’s colorful image comes courtesy of Susie Klau.

(Photo/Susie Klau)
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And finally … John Gosling, the Kinks’ keyboardist and vocalist from 1970-78, died last week. He was 75.
He joined the band after auditioning on the song “Lola.” Not a shabby start, at all. Click here for his obituary.
(We are lucky to live in a town like Westport. And “06880” is lucky to have readers who support our work. Please click here for a link to contribute. Thank you!)