Enforcement of downtown parking limits — suspended 4 years ago, during COVID — begins again May 1.
The good news: They’re now 3 hours, up from the previous 1 and 2 hours. (One exception: Post Road East parking remains 1 or 2 hours.)
Enforcement will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week.
Some parking areas are designated for all-day parking.
Click here for a map of all downtown parking lots, including aerial views, and the number of timed, all-day and electric vehicles spots. The map is also shown here:
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More police news: The WPD is investigating a car vs. canine accident last Saturday (April 13), at 11:30 a.m. on Compo Road North adjacent to Winslow Park. A driver struck a dog, then left the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the accident should email jkimball@westportct.gov.
Dogs occasionally run away from Winslow Park. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
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Yesterday’s “06880” story on “Suffs” — the musical about early 20th century suffragists that opened last night on Broadway — highlighted producer Jill Furman, a Westporter.
There’s another local connection: 2008 Staples High School graduate Leo Stagg.
A former Staples Player member (and winner of the Paul Steen Award for Fine Character, Dedication, Honesty, and Excellence in Performance), he is the head carpenter for “Suffs.”
His mother Heli — who runs the Westport Library café — was at last night’s show.
The “Suffs” set.
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Speaking of women’s rights:
State Representative Anne Hughes will discuss reproductive justice issues, in Connecticut and the nation, after this Sunday’s Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport service.
Hughes — whose district includes Weston, Easton and Redding — has sponsored pro-choice legislation that expands the eligibility of trained practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants to provide abortions, and blocks Texas and other states from targeting Connecticut patients, doctors and advocates.
The event is sponsored by UU Westport’s Reproductive Justice Committee. The public is invited to the April 21 10 a.m. service, or the discussion only, which begins around 11:30 a.m.
Questions> Email beth@uuwestport.org, or call 203.227.7205, ext. 10.
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There’s a new “Passage” at Pasacreta Park.
That’s the name of Niki Ketchman’s new sculpture. It was installed yesterday at the peaceful oasis on Riverside Avenue, across from Saugatuck Elementary School.
The work is part of a joint initiative between the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, Westport Parks & Recreation Department and the Parks & Recreation Commission, to beautify town parks. It is on loan for 5 years.
Ketchman — whose work has been exhibited at the Katonah Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, and the Aldrich and Bruce Museums — can visit her work often. She has lived in Westport for almost 50 years.
A public dedication is set for May 4 (4 p.m.).
Sculptor Niki Ketchman (umbrella) watches the installation of “Passage” at Pasacreta Park. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Diamond)
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The Westport Young Woman’s League is sponsoring 2 great — and very different — events.
The 45th annual Minute Man Race Sunday, April 28 at Compo Beach.
The main event includes a certified USA Track and Field 10K run, 5K run, and 5K walk.
Kids Fun Run activities involve a 50-yard dash, 100-yard dash, 1/2-mile run and 1-mile run, featuring a Kids Zone during and after the race.
On-site refreshments include a food truck, ice cream truck and beer truck.
Race net proceeds benefit a number of area charities. Click here to register, and for more information.
The next day — Monday, April 29 (Christ & Holy Trinity Church, 11:30 a.m.)– the WYWL hosts a lunch with chef and TV host Lidia Bastianich.
The 3-course meal features Bastianich’s recipes. All attendees get a gift from Cuisinart. There’s also a free raffle.
VIP ticket holders meet Bastianich in person, take photos and get an autographed copy of her book, “From our Family Table to Yours.”
The event highlights the Young Woman’s League grant program. Click here for tickets and more information.
The start of a Minute Man race.
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The Rock & Roll Legends exhibit — dozens of Michael Friedman’s photos from the 1960s, including the Rolling Stones, The Band, Janis Joplin and more — draws a constant stream of visitors to the pop-up gallery on Church Lane.
On May 14 (7 p.m.), it will draw a large crowd for an Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser. 100% of ticket sales go the non-profit.
The event includes stories from Friedman himself, Q-and-A, and a raffle to win a photograph and signed book.
For tickets ($100), click here; then click “Donate to the Team” once, and — on the next page — “Donate to the Team” again.
Questions? Email mindiroca@yahoo.com, or call 914-806-3090.
Michael Friedman in his pop-up gallery. His photo shows Levon Helm, legendary drummer for The Band.
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Whether you watched this month’s solar eclipse in full totality (amazing, we’re told), or here in Westport (less so), you probably have a set or two of special sunglasses sitting around somewhere.
You can hold onto them for the next eclipse, years from now.
Or you can donate them to Astronomers Without Borders. The non-profit recycles them. Click here for more information.
The nearest collection sites are in Bethel and Shelton.
That’s a lot closer than the sun.
Recycle those eclipse glasses! (Photo/Amy Schneider)
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Seth van Beever ties together today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, and next month’s holiday: “This dogwood tree at 22 Treadwell Avenue was planted for my mom‘s first Mother’s Day, in 1976.”
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And finally … Dickey Betts died yesterday in Florida. He was 80, and suffered from cancer and chronic destructive pulmonary disease.
The New York Times called him “a honky-tonk hell raiser who, as a guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, traded fiery licks with Duane Allman in the band’s early-1970s heyday, and who went on to write some of the band’s most indelible songs, including its biggest hit, ‘Ramblin’ Man.'” Click here for a full obituary.
(Have a great weekend! No matter what you plan, “06880” will be here for you. We’re your 24/7/365 hyper-local blog. We rely on reader support. Please click here — and thank you.)
