Posted onSeptember 5, 2025|Comments Off on Slice Of Saugatuck Postponed
A threat of rain — including severe thunderstorms — has postponed the Slice of Saugatuck.
The event — originally scheduled for tomorrow (September 6) — will now be held Saturday, September 13. The time is the same: 2 to 5 p.m.
Hey, we need the rain!
The family-friendly event features food tastings, retail experiences, seven bands, four bouncy houses, a balloon bender, face painter, antique fire truck, 2 beer/wine gardens and more.
The price is $15 per adult, $5 for children under 13, age 5 and under free. They are available onsite.
The sponsoring Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce donates proceeds to the Gillespie Center food pantry. This year will push the total toward $60,000.
For more information on the event, including participants and a map, click here.
The Sherwood Mill Cove tide gate project — including repair of 2 gates and a spillway, plus reconstruction of a wooden pier and the seawall — begins shortly after Labor Day.
It will continue through Memorial Day.
Ten spaces in the Old Mill parking lot, and 20 spots in the Compo Beach Soundview lot, will be used for staging.
The work is conducted in coordination with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Repairs begin soon, at Sherwood Mill Pond. (Photo/Judith Katz)
Speaking of the water: As the weather starts to cool, we won’t have to worry about beach closures due to contaminated water.
But next year, we won’t have to worry about extended closings, either.
Parks & Recreation Department director Erik Barbieri looked at the state testing schedule — which sometimes meant the town had to wait 5 days for a result — and knew there had to be a better way.
He found one. Starting with the most recent closure, and moving forward, re-testing will be done on a much more timely basis, with labs that are closer.
Details will follow next spring. In the meantime: Thank you, Erik!
This sign may be seen less often next year. (Photo/Seth Schachter)
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Want to see all the classes, meetings and special events offered next month at Wakeman Town Farm?
Speaking of fall activities: Westport PAL football is offering a new flag football program, for high school boys and girls.
It’s part of the NFL Flag program, so every participant receives an NFL flag jersey and flag set.
Teams are coached by the players. Games are Saturday afternoons and evenings; practice days will be determined. The sites are Staples High, and PJ Romano Field.
The cost is $275, and includes professional referees. Registration closes September 15. Games begin the week of September 20. Click here to signup. Questions? Email westportpalfootball@gmail.com.
The next Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand playreading is a darkly funny, deeply moving new play: “The One Good Thing or ‘Are Ya Patrick Swayze?'”
It’s September 8 (7 p.m.).
Script in Hand curator and Playhouse artistic director Mark Shanahan calls it “a beautifully crafted, intimate, 2-character play full of Irish wit, emotional depth, and the kind of quiet revelations that stay with you long after the curtain falls.”
Carlos Capellán writes: “We moved to town a few years ago, and did not know about Richard Scarry’s connection to Westport. (Click here for that back story.)
“I have a very old copy of ‘What Do People Do All Day’ from my childhood. The title page shows the sign for the Remarkable Book Shop.” (The author of the 1968 classic, and many other beloved books, lived here for a while. He was friendly with Esther Kramer, owner of the beloved Main Street book store — now Eleish van Breems — and her husband Sidney, who was the author’s representative.)
Check out the lower right.
Carlos adds: “My children love our beat-up old copy held together with tape, and while reading it to them one night I made one more small Westport discovery. In one story, Betsy Bear mails a birthday letter to her grandma. The bottom right of the page shows the letter being postmarked. Right above it is a letter addressed ‘To Humphfrey Girls, Westport.’
“So, one more Westport easter egg in Scarry’s books. But also a small mystery: The spelling of ‘Humphfrey’ is unusual. Maybe some old-timers remember this family, and maybe even their connection to Richard Scarry?”
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Check out the letter above the one to “Granda Bear,” also lower right.
Drivers cutting between North Avenue and Roseville Road know there are always interesting signs on Pumpkin Hill Road.
They’re “Signs of Happiness” — that’s what the sign nearby says.
The current array honors the first day of school. All 8 in Westport — plus Stepping Stones Preschool — are included.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
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Speaking of the beginning of school: Since its here, you’ll be seeing lots of cars decorated like this around town:
(Photo/Mary Sikorski)
It’s a decades-long tradition … but only for senior girls.
We’re not sure how or when it started.
But if you see a senior driving this car, honk!
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Speaking of cars: The Board of Assessment Appeals meets September 17 (6 to 7 p.m., Town Hall Room 201), to hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments for the 2024 grand list.
Residents should drive there in the vehicle they are appealing.
Kevin Burke — called “one of the greatest living Celtic fiddlers” by the New York Times — headlines First Folk Sunday on September 7 (12:30 p.m., Saugatuck Rowing Club).
When Staples High School graduate Wendy Newton owned Irish music-focused Green Linnet Records, she released several of his records.
Suzanne Sheridan — the founder of First Folk Sundays — and her wife Rozanne Gates heard one of Kevin’s CDs, while visiting Wendy in Northampton. Wendy helped arrange his appearance here.
“In the realm of Irish fiddle musicians, that’s like saying Yo-Yo Ma will be playing in Westport,” Rozanne says.
He’ll be joined by John Brennan. The rock guitarist has played with Graham Nash, Chris Hillman and Poco.
And finally … if you know “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” you understand how brilliantly Pete Seeger’s lyrics come full circle.
Turns out, he didn’t actually write all of them.
Joe Hickerson — a singer, songwriter, and the lead archivist for folk music at the Library of Congress for more than 25 years — actually gave Seeger the last 2 (very important) verses.
Hickerson died earlier this month in Oregon, at 89. According to his New York Times obituary:, he is responsible for:
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, every one.
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
and
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, every one.
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
The Slice of Saugatuck has carved out a great niche: The best, most walkable and tastiest street festival in town.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce snagged a great date, too. The second Saturday in September is almost always guaranteed to be gorgeous.
Today’s event — the 10th one — may have been the best ever. The weather was the most perfect. The food and drink was the most plentiful. The crowd may have been the biggest, and the post-worst-of-the-pandemic smiles seemed the broadest.
It’s on until 5 p.m. today. If you miss it, head down to Saugatuck anyway, for post-slice fun. Many restaurants will have happy hour prices, and special menus.
Any way you slice it, it’s a great day.
Tickets ($15 for adults; $5 for children 5 to 12) helped raise funds for the Homes with Hope food pantry.
Some restaurants offered pasta or tacos. Dunkin’ had donut holes. Kawa Ni went big: fried octopus.
One of 4 bounce houses.
A steel band played on the plaza between The Whelk and Saugatuck Sweets.
Elaine Marino joined the crowd at the Black Duck.
Double-barreled treats at Tutti’s.
Slice-goers of all ages enjoyed the beer garden on Railroad Place.
There was a strong sustainable presence at the Slice of Saugatuck. Staples High School students helped festival-goers use 3 different bins to separate trash.
Saugatuck Financial sponsored a raffle to benefit the Catch-a-Lift Fund, aiding post-9/11 wounded combat veterans.
Jr’s Hot Deli & Grill is technically not in Saugatuck. But they’re honorary members, and their food truck was a welcome addition to the Tarry Lodge patio.
This vintage car was not part of the Slice of Saugatuck ticket. But it could be yours for $25,000.
Staples High School boys ice hockey players sold lemonade to raise money for Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, at the Saugatuck firehouse.
State Senator Will Haskell campaigned for Ceci Maher, who hopes to succeed him. She is running against Toni Boucher.
Matthew Mandell tests out Viva Zapata’s margarita maker. As he pedaled, the chain powered a blender. Drink up! (All photos/Dan Woog)
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