We seldom start the Roundup with a photo.
But this one — by longtime Westporter and internationally known artist Larry Silver — showing yesterday’s rainbow over kids playing at the Compo Beach playground is too good to pass up.
(Photo/Larry Silver)
Today may not be great beach weather: partly cloudy.
But the temperature will be in the mid-80s.
We’ll take it.
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The town of Westport website is very functional. There’s tons of information on departments, commissions, permits, beaches, affordable housing, etc., etc., etc.
It’s where you go to access livestreams of meetings, get voter information, find emails and phone numbers of town officials, etc., etc., etc.
The website has been tweaked over the years. There have been incremental improvements.
But things are not always where you’d think they’d be. There are inconsistencies. It can be clunky. And no one has ever called it “pretty.”
That may change.
Officials are seeking “proposals for Municipal Website Redesign.”
Bids are open through 11 a.m. April 2026, in the Finance Office at Town Hall.
Click here for the RFP documents.
Partial screenshot of the http://www.westportct.gov home page.
Now, if there could be an RFP to redesign the town of Westport’s “W” logo (at the top of the graphic above).
Or just go back to the old one …
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Speaking of government: Congressman Jim Himes will speak — and take questions — this Saturday (April 18, 8:30 a.m.), at Weston’s Norfield Congregational Church.
The event is sponsored by the Weston Kiwanis Club.
Congressman Jim Himes
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On Saturday, “06880” announced the 7th edition of Soles4Souls.
The project — organized by Ken Bernhard, Ted Freedman and Rick Jaffe — encourages Westporters to check their closets, and donate new or slightly worn shoes. The non-profit keeps shoes out of landfills, provides footwear for people in need, and creates micro-business opportunities in places of poverty.
Collection boxes are in place at Town Hall and the Senior Center.
Westport definitely has a soul.
In just 3 days beginning Monday, over 150 pairs have been collected.
That’s outstanding generosity.
And it’s just the start.
The collection boxes will be at Town Hall and the Senior Center through the first week in May.
That’s plenty of time for many more residents to help many more souls, with soles.
Donations at the Senior Center. From left: director Wendy Petty, Meghan Tapley, Nicole Rolnick ,,,
… and at Town Hall, Paul Byson.
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The Westport Country Playhouse has announced 2 new shows for kids, and the May Script in Hand play reading.
“Pinkalicious” (June 7, 1 and 4 p.m.) is perfect for kindergartners through 2nd graders.
“Mutts Gone Nuts” (June 21, 4 p.m.) features 6 amazingly talented canines. The cast includes a Guinness World Record holder, an “America’s Got Talent” favorite, and other dogs that dance, prance, flip, and skip.
The Script in Hand reading (May 4, 7 p.m.) is “One Slight Hitch” by Lewis Black — yes, that Lewis Black.
He’s written “a farce that feels both wildly entertaining and all too familiar to anyone who’s ever navigated family, love, or the chaos of a wedding day.”
Click here for details, tickets, and more information on other Westport Country Playhouse offerings.
Pinkalicious
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The Revolutionary War returns!
On May 16 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the 5th Connecticut Regiment will stage an encampment, at the Weston History & Culture Center.
The day — part of Weston’s America 250 celebration — includes soldier drills, a kids’ musket march, blacksmithing, weaving, wool spinning, woodworking, cooking demonstrations and fashions.
Even a Revolutionary War surgeon.
All events are free. For more information, click here.
Preparing for the children’s musket march. (Photo/5th CT Regiment)
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As fighting in Ukraine rages, 2 events will focus on that long-running war. Donations for relief efforts through Ridgefield Responds will be gladly accepted.
“Words From the Front” (Sunday, April 19, 2:30 p.m., Easton Library) is a staged reading of a play by Nancy Herman an Lynda Sorensen. It uses the actual voices of Americans, Ukrainians and Russians, in correspondence.
The following Sunday, also in Easton (April 26, 4 to 6 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 200 Center Street), “A Taste of Ukraine” — organized by Westport artist Mark Yurkiw — includes pierogi, desserts, and an art sale.
Yurkiw — who has collected medical supplies for Ukraine — will give an overview of the crisis, and discuss his own and other aid efforts. There is a suggested donation of $30, with seating limited to 50 people.
Mark Yurkiw
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Cybersecurity fraud was the talk of the Westport Rotary Club on Tuesday.
Fortunately, it hadn’t happened — at least, not to the club itself.
But a pair of financial crimes specialists — Westport Police Department Sergeant James Baker and Detective 1st Class Marc Heinmiller — shared their expertise.
Baker said the most common types of crypto-crimes include financial account takeovers), investment scams, ransomware, dark markets (human and narcotics trafficking), and money laundering.
Heinmiller cited “bad actors,” including Russian ransomware groups, North Korean hackers, drug cartels and global scam organizations.
Detective Marc Heinmiller. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between April 8 and 14.
A 55-year-old Westport man was charged with electronic stalking of a domestic partner. In September a victim found an electronic tracking device in the trunk of their car. An investigation identified the suspect, who denied intentionally placing it there. He was released on a $50,000 bond.
A 38-year-old Waterbury woman was charged with assault, following an investigation into a 2023 incident at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services. The victim said there was no provocation, but the assault included repeated strikes to the head using both fists and knees, and continued after the victim became unconscious. She was unable to post a $75,000 bond.
As the monthlong state crackdown on texting while driving continued, Westport Police issued these citations:
- Texting while driving: 47 citations
- Distracted driving: 11
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 10
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 6
- Speeding in a school zone (2nd offense): 4
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
- Failure to renew registration: 2
- Failure to obey stop sign: 2
- Reckless driving: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Drinking while driving: 1
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
- Failure to reinstate license after 60 days: 1
Illegal!
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This week’s very warm and wonderful weather has brought great crowds to Compo. (They’d be greater still if most of the town was not far away, for the schools’ spring break.)
But, as this gull proves in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature, the beach still belongs to him and his fine feathered friends.
They can fly all over the place. They can swoop down and take your food.
And they can sit and hang out wherever they please.
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … in honor of the Westport Country Playhouse’s upcoming production of “Pinkalicious”:
(“06880” relies on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. We’ll be in the pink!)
