
Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/Pam Docters)

Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/Pam Docters)

Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/Pat Saunders)

Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/John Maloney)

Sherwood Island State Park model planes (Photo/Susan Garment)

Sherwood Island State Park (Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
So much for Sherwood Island State Park being a Westport “secret.”
A near-record 28 readers nearly instantly answered last week’s Photo Challenge. Joanna Keyser Rossi’s photo showed a remote-controlled model airplane, flying above the field that — who knew? — so many Westporters know and love. (Click here to see.)
Congratulatiosn to Ed Simek, Susan Iseman, Pat Saviano, Andrew Colabella, Jeff Wieser, Erik Østbye, Jerry Kuyper, Seth Schachter, John McKinney, Seth Braunstein, Sal Liccione, Jack Krayson, Robert Mitchell, Amy Schneider, Lynn Wilson, Jill Brody, Richard Hyman, Bruce Geller, Joyce Barnhart, Jalna Jaeger, Beth Berkowitz, Alicia Kronick, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Paul Cahill, Clark Thiemann, Matt McGrath, Jon Sinish and Brooks Sumberg.
You’re flying high!
This week’s Photo Challenge promises to be a tad bit harder.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Seth Schachter)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Our “06880” Instagram Live conversation with the 1st selectman candidates continues today (Tuesday, 3 p.m.). Dave Briggs and I will chat with independent David Rosenwaks.
You can find us on Instagram @06880danwoog. We welcome your questions!
The series began with Republican candidate Don O’Day. Still to come: Democrat Kevin Christie.

David Rosenwaks
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A couple of hunded people lined both sides of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge yesterday, and spilled into downtown.
They were part of over 1,000 “Workers Over Billionaires” rallies nationwide, on Labor Day. Participants held signs and chanted, opposing President Trump and billionaires “taking over the U.S. government.”

(Photo/Pam Docters)

(Photo/Rowene Weems)

Rally on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (Photo/Mark Friedman)
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The state’s annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony is set for this Thursday (September 4, 5:30 p.m.).
As always, the event will be held at Sherwood Island State Park’s 9/11 Memorial. The site was chosen because the park was the staging area for the Connecticut National Guard that day. Sadly, their rescue efforts were not needed.
Governor Ned Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz will lead the ceremony. Names of the 161 people killed in the terrorist attacks with Connecticut ties will be read aloud.
The ceremony is held before the actual anniversary, so that family members and friends can attend the ceremony on September 11, at the World Trade Center.

9/11 Living Memorial, at Sherwood Island State Park. (Photo/David Squires)
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The fall Jazz at the Post season begins Thursday (September 4, VFW Post 399) — a few days before fall, but who’s counting?
It’s “Piano Madness,” with Janice Friedman, Mike Campenni, Dave Kingsnorth and Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner service begins at 7. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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“Who” can resist a shot like this?
“Westport … Naturally” takes a field trip to Weston today, for this shot, taken wisely by Sandy Rothenberg.

(Photo/Sandy Rothenberg)
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And finally … Billy Preston was born on this date, in 1946. The keyboardist and singer backed artists like Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and recorded solo hits too. He died in 2006, age 59.
Billy Preston’s keyboard was an important part of this performance, in the Beatles’ famous final rooftop concert. Too bad he does not appear for more than 1/2 second in it:
(Nothing from nothing is not good for “06880.” We rely on readers’ contributions to get back to what we do best: connect Westport and the world. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

This afternoon’s brief — but fierce — Compo Beach storm left this aftermath … (Photo/Liz Bloch Lindecke)

… while this was the scene not far away, at Sherwood Island State Park. Photographer Chris Swan explains: “The large cumulonimbus cloud passed over Sherwood Island and Burying Hill at 3:45 p.m. The interesting weather was caused by heat, humidity and a front approaching from the Hudson Valley.” … (Photo/Chris Swan)

… and the view from Burying Hill Beach (Photo/Wendy Levy)
Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day, Weather
Amy Schneider warns: “Don’t sit on the Westport Library patio!
“There is a swarm of spotted lanternflies there. Some flew on us.”
Not enough to make you consider taking your café coffee elsewhere?
Check out her photo:

(Photo/Amy Schneider)
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Speaking of creatures: Chris Swan enjoyed Jay Dirnberger’s photo of the Sherwood Island lifeguard chair — painted with a turtle — in yesterday’s Roundup.
Chris loves Westport’s first state park. He’s there nearly every day.
And, he notes, all 3 lifeguard stations are painted.
The eastern side (#1) shows a snail:

The western one (#3) is a starfish.

“I believe these were made a few years ago by kids at the Friends of Sherwood Island’s Nature Center,” Chris says.
“There are terrariums there, with jellyfish, terrapin turtles and starfish on display.”
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Now you see it.
Now you don’t.
In a scene repeated nearly every week in Westport, a demolition crew turned an entire house — bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, garage, roof — into rubble yesterday.
It does not take long.
John Richers watched yesterday on Pond Edge Road, as this home met its end.
Here it was at 7 a.m.:

Then, a couple of hours later:

By 3 p.m., it was all gone:

(Photos/John Richers)
All that was left was loading the remains into the back of a trailer-length dump truck.
And memories.
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John McCarthy sent this photo from the Baldwin parking lot downtown to “06880” …

(Photo/John McCarthy)
… and writes: “These wires have been there, unconnected to any device, since the reconstruction several years ago.
“Looks to me like they could have been intended to connect to surveillance cameras. Maybe. Why wasn’t the job finished?”
I asked town operations director Thomas Kiely. He says: “Correct. The poles were wired to include security cameras in the future.
“I do not have a time frame for installation. That would be coordinated through the Police Department and Department of Public Works.”
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Wakeman Town Fam’s final “Pizza on the Patio” event of the summer is set for August 27 (6:30 or 7 p.m.). Anthony K of Tony Pizza Napolitano will do the honors.
Each order includes 2 personal pizzas (select at checkout) and 1 bottle of wine (dtto). plus taxes and service fees. A limited number of single tickets, and additional bottles of wine or pizzas, is also available. Click here to order, and for more details.

Pizza at Wakeman Town Farm.
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We’re not sure what this guy at Sherwood Mill Pond is squawking about.
But he’s sure making a scene.
And also making today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.

(Photo/Nikki Gorman)
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And finally …in honor of next month’s “Pizza on the Patio” at Wakeman Town Farm (story above):
(When you click on the link, after pizza and a drink: that’s amore! What link? The one that helps you donate to “06880.” Grazie mille!)
Westport was one of several Connecticut communities participating in yesterday’s “Good Trouble Lives On” day of action.
The event on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge marked the 5th anniversary of the death of Congressman and civil rights ledaer John Lewis.

(Photo/Pippa Ader)
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The Westport Farmers’ Market is in full swing.
Yesterday, the Imperial Avenue parking lot was packed — as usual.
And — as they do every Thursday — the WFM put out a “Grow a Row” cooler.

(Photo/Dan Woog)
Grow-A-Row is a volunteer effort to grow and donate fresh produce.
Since 2020 members have planted, tended, harvested and collected nutritious donations of fresh fruits vegetables and herbs to benefit food-insecure people and families throughout Fairfield County.
So: Buy a little extra. Walk a few steps, and drop donations in the collection area at the center of the market.
Every week, let’s all help Grow-a-Row grow.
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Also yesterday: VFW Post 399’s monthly Veterans Benefits Luncheon.
The free event is open to all veterans. It’s part of the VFW’s effort to check in on their welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.
Representatives answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.

Yesterday’s veterans’ lunch, at the VFW. (Photo/Sal Liccione)
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A reader writes: “Last Thursday (July 10), around 2:55 p.m. I was walking my dog north on the southbound side of Compo Road South.
“I looked carefully at Baker Avenue. A car on Baker had its right turn signal on. The driver swiveled his head, and appeared to see me. Seeing several cars and cyclists heading south, I got ready to cross.
“The car slowly crept forward; then the driver accelerated into me. He must have been trying to pull out into the line of cars/
“I was hit, but my dog was okay. The driver rolled down his window and said, ‘I didn’t see you.’
“He slowly turned onto South Compo as though he would pull over, but took off. I am fairly certain I left a dent in the hood on the driver’s side.
“The car was a mid-range blue SUV (Toyota, Honda, etc.), with a faded American flag sticker. It had Connecticut plates. The driver was a male with white hair and blue eyes. An elderly woman was in the passenger seat.
“A woman and her adult son were in a pickup truck behind the offending vehicle. They got out to sit with me while I calmed down. I’ve forgotten their names, but I would love to reconnect with them. The woman said she lived by Longshore.
“I filed a police report and went to urgent care. If you have any information about the incident, please notify Officer Carr of the Westport Police Department.”

Baker Avenue, at Compo Road South.
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A new home at 5 Fraser Road, off North Avenue, has sold for $10.25 million.
According to SmartMLS, that’s the highest residential price ever in Westport — north of I-95, that is. (Hat tip: Bross Chingas Bross)

Record-setting sale at 5 Fraser Lane. (Photo/Turn Key Media)
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Most lifeguard stations are utilitarian: ladder, seat, umbrella.
They’re almost always all white.
Sherwood Island State Park is an exception.
Jay Dirnberger is intrigued by this one:

(Photo/Jay Dirnberger)
If you know the back story, click “Comments” below.
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Pam Docters serves up today’s “Westport … Naturally” treat.
She spotted these raspberries off Post Road West and Sylvan Road North, near the Pierrepont School.

(Photo/Pam Docters)
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And finally … Connie Francis — the most popular female singer in the US between 1958 and the British Invasion — died Wednesday. She was 87. Click here for a full obituary.
PS: Westport connection: Former resident Neil Sedaka co-wrote her hits “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are.”
(Everybody’s somebody’s fool. But you don’t have to be ours. Just click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880,” and you’ll be a genius. Thank you!)
Posted in Beach, Environment, Police, Politics, Real estate
Tagged Sherwood Island State Park, VFW Post 399, Westport Farmer's Market