Tag Archives: Winslow Park

Roundup: Town Budget, Jesup Green, Solar Eclipse …

Posted on March 26, 2024 | 2 comments

In today’s “Westport … What’s Happening” podcast, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker covers a topic of great interest: the recently approved town operating budget. She describes what it involves, and explains the 1.8% increase over the current fiscal year.

Click below to listen, courtesy of the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston:

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The Representative Town Committee Transit Committee meets next Monday (April 1, 7 p.m., Westport Library Room 216).

They’ll review, and make recommendations to the full RTM for its April 9 meeting, on a request by Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich to approve $630,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), for design and permitting of the redevelopment of Jesup Green and the Imperial Avenue parking lot.

This area of Jesup Green may be redeveloped for parking. Green space would then be added at the lower lot, closer to the Saugatuck River.

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Most of the damage from Saturday’s storm came from heavy rain.

The predicted high winds did not materialize … mostly.

One place they did was in Winslow Park. This was the scene yesterday, at the path by the southern edge, near the Compo Road North parking lot.

(Photos/Patricia McMahon)

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While Connecticut is not in the path of the April 8 total solar eclipse, we will experience 85% to 90% coverage.

The eclipse begins at 2:10 p.m., with peak coverage (the sun most hidden) at 3:26 p.m. The eclipse end around 4:35 PM.

The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be August 23, 2044 (save the date!).

The Westport Public Schools have purchased solar eclipse glasses for all elementary school students and staff, including preschool.

Classroom teachers and science coaches will prepare students through age- appropriate lessons, practicing proper use of the glasses and sharing information on their morning news.

Some schools are making this a “Spirit Day,” asking youngsters to wear black to represent the moon (or yellow, for the sun).  Teachers will take their students outside for a short period of time between 2:15 and 3:15, for observation.

The district asks parents to talk to their children about what to expect, and the importance of looking up at the sun only when wearing the solar eclipse glasses.  Click here for more information on solar eclipse safety.

Parents who want to experience the event with their child away from school can have an excused absence for an “educational experience,” if requested in advance.


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Speaking of schools: The graduation date for Staples High School was reported incorrectly yesterday on “06880,” due to a press release error.

The Class of 2024 will graduate this year on Monday, June 10. Are we the first to say “congratulations”?!

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The Parks & Recreation Commission meets tomorrow (Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m., Zoom). The agenda includes discussion of the Compo Beach playground renovation project.

Click here for the meeting link.

Compo Beach playground.

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Five days after taking part in a dramatic rescue of more than 2 dozen Saugatuck Rowing Club teenagers, the Westport Fire Department was back at Compo Beach.

This time, the event was planned: testing all hoses for leaks and pressure loss. It is a 2-day — and very important — process.

(Photo/Ed Simek)

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Double L Market — the Post Road spot beloved for sourcing clean, healthy food from local farms and artisans — has expanded. Double L now delivers fresh fruits and vegetables, artisanal food and gourmet products directly to Greenwich residents.

Double L was founded in 1985 by Lloyd Allen, as an outdoor farm stand. It’s now an indoor market next to Calise’s, run by Allen and his wife Gianna Bavido.

Click here for delivery options (in Westport too). The local store is open Monday through Saturday, for in-person shopping.

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For several years, Lorenza Arnal’s homemade salsas, matcha, guacamole and more — under the name of Alma’s Mexican Foods — have been one of the Westport Farmers’ Market’s most popular items.

For good reason: she was born and raised in Mexico.

One day, a WFM customer suggested she offer culinary tours there. Soon, Capitana Adventures was born.

Last year, Lorenza took her first group of foodie travelers to Mexico. Her guests were very impressed. One said that even if they had seen and done half of what was offered, she still would have been thrilled.

She is booking tours now for next fall and winter. Click here for more information. (Hat tip: Amy Ancel)

¡Salud! in Oaxaca.

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Trumpeter Michael Mossman has done it all — almost

After apprenticing as a youngster with jazz legends Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey and others, he served as music director for Blue Note Records’ Out of the Blue, while still in his 20’s. He then forged a brilliant career as a soloist, arranger, music director and educator.

There is one thing left, after Mossman’s Jazz at the Post shows this Thursday (March 28, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m. on; VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399; $20 music cover; $15 for veterans and students).

That is: marrying Westport’s own Nancy Kail. That takes place the next night!

Joining Mossman are guitarist Bob DeVos, bassist Boots Maleson, drummer Sylvia Cuencal and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi.”

Reservations are highly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.

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If the big crowds at VersoFest aren’t your thing, consider a quieter alternative on Saturday, April 6.

Voices Café at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport presents the Deep River Ramblers. The trio “roams between” the eclectic music of Doc Watson, Nanci Griffith, Levon Helm, Muddy Waters and John Prine, using instruments like fiddle, guitar, mandolin, dobro and bass.

Tickets are $25; click here to buy, and for more information. Proceeds benefit StreetSafe Bridgeport, a street-based, non-law enforcement program focused on reducing youth violence.

Guests can bring their own beverages and snacks; coffee and sweet treats are available for purchase. Groups of four or more can reserve table space.

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In today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo, Yogi Bear enjoys Compo Beach.

His buddy Cathy Malkin does not have the heart to tell him he has only a few days left there.

(Photo/Cathy Malkin)

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And finally … in 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in Palmyra, New York.

(From Westport to the sun, “06880” has you covered. We also help you cover your eyes. If you appreciate our “coverage,” please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Children, Downtown, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Local business, Local politics

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Pics Of The Day #2496

Posted on February 17, 2024 | Leave a comment

Scenes from today’s perfectly timed, just-the-right-amount, and absolutely beautiful snowfall:

One birdhouse … (Photo/Elisabeth Levey)

,,, and another … (Photo/Lauri Weiser)

… as a beach toy adds color … (Photo/Robin Frank) 

… along with this colorful sky at Old Mill … (Photo/Matt Murray)

… and nearby Sherwood Mill Pond … (Photo/Nicole Gorman)

… while, not far away, Compo Beach … (Photo/MaryLou Roels)

… and, closer to town, the view from the Westport Library … (Photo/Molly Alger)

… and at the adjacent Levitt Pavilion … (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

… to, a bit north, Winslow Park … (Photo/Mark Mathias)

… while this was the classic view from inside a home … (Photo/Wendy Levy)

… and this was a welcome sight for anyone needing help. (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)

 

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Pics Of The Day #2492

Posted on February 13, 2024 | 5 comments

A classic winter scene on Rayfield Road … (Photo/Jerry Kuyper)

… and Winslow Park … (Photo/Mark Mathias)

,,, near where one dog guarded some kids’ creation … (Photo/Mark Mathias)

… though just a few yards away, there were more kids than dogs … (Photo/Molly Alger) 

… but no biking today at the Audubon Tree Farm on Sasco Creek … (Photo/Aiden Schachter)

… however, there was snowman-building at the Compo Beach playground … (Photo/Rick Benson)

… while here is the view from Meadowview Drive South … (Photo/Diane Quagliariello)

… and then by late afternoon at Compo Beach, the sun was out … (Photo/Judith Katz) 

… while the last sledders got ready to leave Winslow Park … (Photo/Jo Shields Sherman)

 

… leaving us with memories of one bright scene on Abbotts Lane … (Photo/Dianna Broady)

… and one frosted window … (Photo/Rowene Weems)

… and a classic, cozy winter scene. (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)

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Roundup: Judy Collins, Badass Bagels, Super Bowl …

Posted on January 20, 2024 | 2 comments

Judy Collins — the singer/songwriter who has entertained and inspired fans since the 1960s — is coming to the Westport Country Playhouse.

She’ll be onstage April 12 (8 p.m.). Encore Club members can buy tickets now; public sale begins January 26 at noon. Click here for more information.

Also ahead at the Playhouse: “All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.” Written by Rupert Holmes, it’s a one-woman play in which the Supreme Court justice welcomes a friend of the family to her chambers to convey a sense of her career, and personal life.

The show is May 3 and 4 (8 p.m.), and May 5 (3 p.m.). Click here for more information.

And on July 25 the Bacon Brothers bring their unique mix of folk, rock, soul and country music to the Playhouse. Click here for more information.

Judy Collins

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Westporters — especially seniors and those with low to moderate incomes — can once again take advantage of the town’s no-cost full-service AARP/VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program.

On-site personal counseling is available by appointment at Town Hall (Mondays from 1 to 7 p.m.) and the Senior Center (Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), starting January 22. Call 860-590-8910 for an appointment, or click here.

The “SimplyCT” counselor group that services Westport prepared and filed more than 7,000 returns last season – almost all electronically. Federal refunds of over $10 million were received by their clients..

The program is administered by Westport’s Department of Human Services.

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Cold, slick trails and snow cover caused cancellation of tomorrow’s trash pick-up at Winslow Park.

Organizer Andrew Colabella will announce a new date soon.

Snow buries trash at Winslow Park. (Photo/Patricia McMahon)

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An incident that began when 2 people illegally entered a home and attacked 3 others on Friday morning in Old Saybrook ended in Westport.

One, armed with a baseball bat, injured the homeowners. The suspect then removed an adult woman from the home against her will, and fled.

Old Saybrook police sent an alert to law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a car with New York license plates carrying the victim.

Westport police located the vehicle when it was getting gas. They arrested the suspects, seized the bat, and took the woman who had been taken from her home to Norwalk Hospital, with non-life threatening injuries.

(Click here for the full story. Hat tip: Betsy Pollak)

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Remember the I-95 Saugatuck River bridge replacement project last fall?

Relive all the key moments — in a lot quicker time than it took (though of course, kudos to all who accomplished the work in just 2 weekends) — in this very cool video, from the Connecticut Department of Transportation:

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Badass Bagels — the popular shop in the Sugar & Olives space just over the Norwalk line, owned by Westporter Jennifer Balin — has just opened a new location in Armonk, New York.

“It’s totally our brand,” she says.” The space is warm, cozy, and decked out with vintage furniture from Bridgeport’s Mongers Market (where they have another location).

Badass’ expanded sourdough bagel offerings include 10 varieties: everything, whole wheat everything, golden sesame, black sesame, Himalayan blue poppy, smoked sea salt, plain, cinny raisin, pumpernickel caraway everything, and naked whole wheat. (Ramp bagels are offered in May.)

There are plenty of spreads and butters too, like “sweet and lovely” with Westport honey.

Badass Bagels also sells coffee beans and whole espresso/coffee.

Stores hours in Norwalk and Armonk are Wednesdays through Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. They sell at the Westport Farmers’ Market and Double L Market too.

Badass Bagels’ badass bagels.

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The Senior Center Super Bowl “tailgate party” is a great one. And you don’t even have to hang out in the parking lot.

It’s indoors. This year’s event (February 11) includes a “final score contest,” and a Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities Service Award presentation to the wonderful Patty Kondub, who does so much in so many ways for the senior community.

The menu includes hot dogs, chips, spring rolls and dessert.

Staples High School state champion football and field hockey teams, and Staples and Westport PAL cheerleaders will be there too.

All ages are welcome. Lunch is at 12:30; the party begins at 1:30.

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Thursday’s Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event drew a large crowd to VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399.

VFW Auxiliary member Patty Kondub’s meatballs complemented the fun vibe, filled with networking opportunities and great music afterward (Jazz at the Post).

 
Enjoying Business After Hours (from left): Virginia Ferrari, Paul Liebowitz, Patty Kondub, Sal Liccione, Matthew Mandell.

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Colleen Sadick is a beloved Coleytown Elementary School professional. The CES community has rallied around her as she battles bone marrow cancer.

As Colleen has had to step back from her 2 jobs (she is also a behavioral mentor), her income has been impacted. CES organized a GoFundMe page to help the family with medical expenses, transportation, post-treatment care and daily costs.

Click here for more information, and to help.

The Sadick family.
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After a number of interviews, the Democratic Town Committee nominations committee will recommend Abby Gordon-Tolan for the Board of Education vacancy, and Joe Scordato for the Zoning Board of Appeal vacancy.

The full DTC will vote Monday on the recommendations.

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Merrill Jay Forgotson – an accomplished community banker and fierce advocate for justice and equal opportunity – died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 17, at his Westport home. He was 81.

The New York City native credited his mother and father, a World War II hero, for challenging him to lead a life of purpose, centered on education.

He earned a BS in finance from Northeastern University followed, by a JD from Boston University and an MBA from Western New England College.

Jay paid his way through college and law school by washing dishes, serving ice cream, and packaging newspapers and magazines overnight for early morning delivery.

Motivated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainright in 1963, which affirmed a constitutional right to legal counsel for anyone charged with committing a crime, Jay started his career as a defense attorney

He transitioned into finance, starting at Mass Mutual and advancing to become general counsel at Barclays Business Credit.

In 1990 Jay joined People’s Bank as senior vice [resident/chief credit administration officer. He also served as chair of the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League, where he shaped diversity programming to combat hate and discrimination in all their forms.

In 2000, Jay left People’s to run Cornerstone Bank in Stamford. Running the profitable mission-centered community depository was one of the joys of his professional life.

During a brief sabbatical, Jay served as dean of the business school at the University of Bridgeport. But community banking kept calling. Jay served as CEO of BNC Financial Group, and started the Bank of Fairfield and Stamford First Bank.

After retiring in 2013 he enjoyed family and friends in Connecticut and Sarasota, Florida; volunteered for non-profits; consumed current events and advocated for fairness, and photographed.

Jay is survived by his wife, Janis Reader-Forgotson; sons Nathaniel, Josh and Matthew; grandchildren Evan, Ianto, Floriana, Zachary and Benjamin, and dogs Lola and Cimba. He was predeceased by his younger sister Barbara Garavuso.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to ADL Connecticut. A Memorial Service will be held tomorrow (Sunday, January 21, 12:30 p.m., Temple Shalom. Norwalk).

Jay Forgotson

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There’s a reason people like raccoon coats: They’re warm.

Raccoons knw that for sure. This guy — today’s “Westport … Naturally” star — was unbothered during the recent cold snap.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

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And finally … Peter Schickele, a serious concert musician and also the genius behind madcap PDQ Bach, died Tuesday near Woodstock, New York. He was 88. Click here for a full obituary.

(How to amuse yourself on a cold winter weekend? Read about everything happening in town, now and in the future. If you like what we do, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Local business, Local politics, Obituaries, Police, Westport Country Playhouse

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Roundup: De Tapas, Warming Centers, Trash Pickup …

Posted on January 18, 2024 | Comments Off on Roundup: De Tapas, Warming Centers, Trash Pickup …

De Tapas is closing.

The Spanish gastrobar on the Post Road next to Design Within Reach will serve its last meal on Sunday, January 28.

Owner Carlos Pia opened right after COVID, 2 winters ago. The restaurant was a leap of faith, after a career in corporate America. Click here for his compelling back story.

Then go say goodbye, and thank him for enhancing our dining scene.

Carlos Pia in his handsomely decorated De Tapas.

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Governor Lamont has activated Connecticut’s severe cold weather protocol. It remains in effect through noon on Monday. 

These Westport locations are open to the public as warming centers:

Senior Center: (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Westport Library: (Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

Westport Museum for History and Culture: (Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Westport/Weston Family Y: (weekdays, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; weekends, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

Westport residents facing hardships due to the cold weather should contact Human Services for assistance: 203-341-1050 weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Just in time for the new year: Westport’s trash pickups begin again.

Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella has organized the first 2024 session for Winslow Park. It’s this Sunday (January 21, 11 a.m.).

Volunteers will pick up garbage, and remove hazards from the walking paths. All are welcome. Dress warmly and appropriately!

A little snow should not deter Sunday’s trash pickup at Winslow Park.

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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between January 10 and 17.

A woman was arrested for larceny and identity theft, after a complaint that 9 checks had been stolen and fraudulently deposited into a bank account.

A man was arrested for identity theft and forgery, plus criminal attempts to commit larceny, identity theft and forgery, after a check for $249.65 was stolen, altered and deposited in the amount of $17,262.37.

A man was arrested for violation of a protective order and assault on an elderly victim, following a domestic disturbance.

Westport Police also issued these citations:

  • Traveling unreasonably fast: 11 citations
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 6
  • Speeding: 3
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
  • Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 3
  • Failure to obey stop sign: 2
  • Criminal trespass: 1
  • Following too closely: 1
  • Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1.

Slow down!

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For over a month last fall, an exhibition by 2 Westport artists enthralled visitors to the United Nations lobby.

Miggs Burroughs’ “Signs of Compassion” — 30 lenticular photos, showing local residents using sign language to recite Emily Dickinson’s poem of the same name, and Mark Yurkiw’s accompanying Braille “prayer wheel” mantra, based on those he saw in Bhutan (including a wheelchair-accessible element) — were displayed on a 102-foot curved wall.

On Tuesday, the two men described their accomplishment — the first-ever UN exhibit not sponsored by a member nation — at the Westport Rotary Club’s weekly lunch.

Their next project: sending the exhibit to venues around the world.

Mark Yurkiw and Miggs Burroughs, at the Rotary Club meeting. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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Speaking of art: Longtime Staples High School teacher and mixed media artist Camille Eskell is featured in a new exhibit — (Re) Work it!: Women Artists on Women’s Labor,” at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.

The show explores the many types of labor that women are often expected to manage – caring for their family, participating in the labor force, negotiating beauty standards, handling emotional labor and more.

A reception for the 30 artists is set for January 21 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The show runs through May 19. For more information, click here. To learn more about Eskell, click here.

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Save the date: This year’s Dream Event, benefiting A Better Chance of Westport, is April 27 (6 p.m., Westport Library).

It’s one of the best fundraisers of the year — and features inspiring speeches from some amazing young scholars.

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Four of the 6 new members of the Westport Country Playhouse board of trustees are from Westport or Weston

Dave Altman is a principal for Bernstein Private Wealth Management.

Ben Frimmer is a theater arts educator with over 30 years’ experience, and the director of Coleytown Company. He produced the  Playhouse fundraiser “An Evening with Justin Paul & Friends with Kelli O’Hara & James Naughton,” and will produce and direct “Voices for Volunteers of Fairfield County” on January 24.

Anne Keefe has served the Playhouse in many capacities since 1973, including associate and co-artistic director with Joanne Woodward. She initiated and curated the Script In Hand series. Formerly she stage managed at Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, and on Broadway, and served previously on the Playhouse board.

Jonathan Levy is a Westport native, and an attorney who built a venture capital business.

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Speaking of the Playhouse: Nearly everyone knows the name Vince Lombardi. The Super Bowl trophy is named for the legendary football coach.

Now you can learn the story behind that name.

The Broadway play — based on the book “When Pride Still Mattered,” by David Maraniss — kicks off the Westport Country Playhouse’s Script in Hand series on February 5 (7 p.m.).

Click here for more information, and to purchase tickets ($30).

Vince Lombardi

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Diana Blau lives in Westport with her husband, daughter Charlotte, son Eli and dog Jettie.

All are characters in her new children’s book.

“Beary & Tinker: Young at Heart” stars her and her husband’s childhood teddy bears.

“It’s a story about the desire to experience joy at any age,” Blau says.

Click here for more information, and to buy.

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Following up on October’s Westport Library presentation on helping families and communities prepare for emergencies, Voices Center for Resilience offers a free webinar.

“The Ripple Effect of Trauma” (January 23, 7 p.m.) explores how children experience tragedy, including building resilience.

Click here for more details, and registration.

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In a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” here is today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

Call it “The Gulls.”

(Photo/Jim Hood)

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And finally, A.A. Milne was born today in 1882. The English author — best known for “Winnie-the-Pooh” died — in 1956.

(We’ve got the arts — and the cops — covered. If you enjoy “06880,” please consider a contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Compo Beach Playground, Rach’s Hope, Busta Rhymes …

Posted on January 17, 2024 | 4 comments

While assisting with a tree that fell across Compo Road South yesterday, the Westport Fire Department responded to a house fire nearby.

All occupants were safe, but a pet was killed in the blaze. Residents were unable to return home last night.

House fire on Compo Road South

Utility crews worked late into the night to replace multiple poles on South Compo, damaged by the downed tree.

(Photo/Alex Sherman)

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What do you want — or not want — in the Compo Beach playground renovation project?

All Westporters are invited to an open house this Saturday (January 20, noon to 1:30 p.m., Bedford Middle School cafeteria).

Play by Design, an offshoot of the original playground design company, is leading this project. Lisa Deshano will present the preliminary designs. A Q-and-A session and comments from key committee members follows.

The renovation is the centennial project of the Westport Rotary Club, which constructed the original playground in 1986 and subsequent renovation in 2006. Both were done in conjunction with the Westport Young Woman’s League.

The Compo Beach playground is quiet in winter. Soon — with community input — it will be hopping again. (Photo/Dave Dellinger)

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Clarence Hayes saw this morning’s “06880” post by Scott Smith — about clear-cutting trees before building new, large homes — and immediately thought of Newtown Turnpike.

He sent this photo, calling it “a perfect picture to illustrate mindless cutting for the convenience of a developer.”

(Photo/Clarence Hayes)

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Each year, Milford‘s Foran High School wrestling team chooses a charity to support. This year they selected Rach’s Hope — the non-profit that honors the memory of the 2015 Staples High School graduate who died just before her senior year at Cornell University after a rare reaction to common medication.

Rach’s Hope provides nutritious food, lodging, transportation and encouragement to family members when a child is in intensive care

The Foran wrestlers helped at the annual Walk for Rach’s Hope at Compo Beach in October. They sold t-shirts with the tagline “We Choose Hope,” which they designed.

Last week, they dedicated their home opening match to Rach’s Hope. The gym was filled with supporters.

Team captains eloquently shared the story and mission of Rach’s Hope — and then presented Rachel’s parents, Alan and Lisa, with a $5,000 check.

“The love and support in the gym from spectators and the team were palpable,” says Lisa.

“The wrestlers wore Rach’s Hope singlets with pride. It was an extraordinary event.

“What an incredibly warm group of high school students. They are not only dedicated and empathic to both their sport and our cause, but the effort they put into raising funds for Rach’s Hope was over the top.”

Next up for Rach’s Hope: the 5th annual PJ Gala (FTC in Fairfield). Click here for tickets. Click here to learn more about Rach’s Hope.

The Foran High School wrestling team. The backs of their shirts say, “We Choose Hope.”

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COQODAQ — a new fried chicken “concept” — opened recently in the heart of New York’s Flatiron district. Mayor Eric Adams cut the ribbon, and Busta Rhymes delivered a surprise performance.

The “06880” connection: Staples High School graduate and returned-to-Westport resident Jacqueline Broder Hensel is a partner in Gracious Hospitality Management, which developed COQODAQ.

Romilly Newman (“the Gen-Z Martha Stewart”), Jacqueline Broder Hensel and Busta Rhymes. 

Grub Street says they

turned the space that once housed Rocco DiSpirito’s reality-TV restaurant into a glittering room dedicated to the veneration of this humble bird: A series of luminescent golden arches form a nave under which two banks of booths scallop out, and the walls are covered in a dermis of subtly textured golden panels.

“We wanted to create a cathedral of fried chicken,” (award-winning restaurateur  Simon) Kim says.

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Westport Writers’ Workshop picked the perfect spot for their 3rd annual Pitch & Publish Conference (March 16): the Westport Library.

The event is aimed at anyone seeking a literary agent, hoping to be educated about the industry at large, or looking to meet and be inspired by authors, agents and editors. T

Keynote speaker Leigh Stein is a fiction writer, poet and memoirist.

The conference begins Friday, March 15 with a welcome party at WWW (25 Sylvan Lane), followed by Saturday’s panels, one-on-one pitches, and a wrap party.

New this year: Each agent will read 5 pages of a writer’s work (in addition to their query letter); a mini “practice your pitch” session, and a catered lunch.

The after-party is at Basso.

Individual tickets for the conference only are $350 each (walk-ins accepted); tickets for the conference plus 2 one-on-one pitches with literary agents are $600 each before February 9, $675 each thereafter. Click here to register, and for more information.

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Longtime Westport resident Nancy Wilder died peacefully on January 6. She was 95.

A 1949 Mt. Holyoke College graduate, she remained active throughout her life keeping alumnae connected with each other, and the school.

Nancy was married to Milo Wilder for over 50 years. They had 2 sons, Sandy and Scott (“Hoover”). Scott died in 2008, after becoming a quadriplegic in 1974. They joyfully cared for him all those years until Milo’s death 2000. She then selflessly cared for him alone for the rest of his life. Sandy now lives in the St. Louis area. Nancy lived in Westport for the last 67 years.

Nancy is survived by her grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Duncan Wilder, Holly Wilder, Katharine Burgdorff Tyler, Lauren Burgdorff Frederick, and Douglas James Burgdorff.

Nancy was very active in her boys’ education, serving on many PTA boards and traveling often to watch their sports events from childhood through college. She was primarily a stay-at-home mom, although she did bookkeping for her husband’s company for many years.

Nancy adored her many golden retrievers and cats, was an active boater with her husband, and played tennis weekly with many good friends for much of her adult life. She loved watching tennis, golf, the New York Yankees and University of Connecticut women’s basketball.

Her (and her family’s) favorite place is Southwest Harbor, Maine. She went there every summer of her life. She met her husband-to-be there, and has ancestors in the region dating to the 1600s. She felt especially grateful that she got to spend all of July and August there last summer. Her favorite activity was visiting with family on the deck, looking out at Norwood Cove, the Causeway Club, and the mountains of Acadia National Park.

Nancy loved to do jigsaw puzzles, read, and visit with family She had a special knack for helping people feel deeply valued and appreciated independent of their age, like a cheerleader of the soul.

She had many friends she kept in touch with. After Scott’s death, many of his friends adopted her as their “second mom.”

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held March 2 (2 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s memory can be made to Community Servings, Euphrates Institute or Rumphius Foundation.

Nancy Wilder

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As winter weather finally sets in this week, Pam Docters captured this “Westport … Naturally” image.

It shows the Saugatuck River downtown, looking toward Gorham Island. For the first time in a while: brrrrrr. (With apologies to our friends in Buffalo, where it actually is cold.)

(Photo/Pam Docters)

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And finally … it’s a short hop from COCODAQ (story above) to “06880.” Welcome to Westport (or at least, our hyper-local blog), Busta Rhymes!

(To honor Busta Rhymes’ first appearance in our “06880” pages, please click here. You can donate in honor of anyone else on earth there too. Thank you!)

4 Comments

Posted in Beach, Environment, Obituaries, Real estate, Restaurants

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[OPINION] Pet Protections Needed At Winslow Park

Posted on January 6, 2024 | 41 comments

Katerina Medina is the mother of 3 young girls. She writes:

When we moved to Westport in the summer of 2022, I could no longer withstand my daughters’ pressure to get a dog.

Our beloved Mishka is now a 1-year-old German shepherd. He is growing into his name, which means “Little Bear.”

A few short months back though, Mishka looked more like a fluffball who all humans wanted to pet — and some not very friendly dogs aggressively wanted to show him his place in the dogs’ hierarchy.

So with Mishka came not only joy, but also worries and responsibilities. After enjoying the local beaches last winter, we were forced to search for a new venue to walk Mishka in spring.

Mishka enjoys a Compo Beach sunset. 

That is how we discovered Winslow Park. From the first glance it struck me as an underdeveloped gem in the middle of Westport.

While some may prefer to see Winslow the way it is now, underutilized and not well maintained, I could not help but think how this park would benefit from having an enclosed dog space where young puppies, small breeds, fragile old dogs with health issues or dogs still learning to come back on recall, would run and play safely.

There would be well-paved roads, and beautifully landscaped native shrubs and flowers; maybe even a playground in a corner field at the Post Road and Compo Road North, while leaving most of the park and its trails to the hikers and responsible dog owners who may stroll the park instead of having their pets play in a confined space.

This vision was reinforced by an aggressive dog, who bit Mishka.

While most dog owners and their pets were friendly and happy to provide dog training advice, a very few did not belong in an open play area.

Having fun at Winslow Park. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

I did not feel safe having curious young Mishka attempting to interact with their aggressive, imposing dogs. After seeing another puppy injured by the same dog that attacked Mishka, we stopped visiting Winslow Park until recently.

And while dog bullies are less likely to pick on Mishka now, I still think an option to separate vulnerable dogs from all others would be a great addition to Winslow Park.

If the above is not a convincing argument, think of public safety. There are no barriers at Winslow Park to prevent dogs from running away. It is not surprising to read about runaway dogs, or those saved from traffic by good Samaritans.

While we are lucky to live in such a caring community, safety measures must be in place.

An accident last month prompted me to share my concerns with the community.

My mother was visiting. She was driving home from Trader Joe’s when a dog running away from Winslow jumped on Compo Road North, right in front of her.

She swerved to avoid hitting the dog. She hit the curb instead, getting a flat tire.

While she was shaken by the experience, I thought of how this event ended in the least bad scenario of all possible ones.

What if she jumped a curb and hurt someone else, or damaged someone’s property? What if she ended up injured? What if a dog was killed?

Winslow Park (Photo/Laura Robinson)

It is my opinion that the town should apply all efforts to prevent these sorts of situations in the future. With the growing human population, the dog population grows too. While most dog owners are responsible and caring, we as a public cannot count on their pets always acting as directed.

Local authorities should consider putting an enclosed dog play area at Winslow Park, or redeveloping it altogether to accommodate a wider public while still allowing our beloved pets their space.

41 Comments

Posted in Environment, Local politics

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Pics Of The Day #2443

Posted on December 26, 2023 | Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #2443

Town Farm Little League field, in yesterday’s fog …

… and Winslow Park … (Photos/Jo Shields Sherman)

… and Main Street. There’s a full moon tonight — though it might be very hard to see. (Photo/Charlie Scott)

 

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Posted in Downtown, Environment, Pic of the Day, Sports, Weather

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Roundup: ‘Twas The Day After Christmas …

Posted on December 26, 2023 | 7 comments

So there’s no such thing as Santa?

Well, how do you explain this:

For the past 4 years, Santa has posted on a Westport Facebook page. Parents can request him to come to their home. He visits as many as possible — greeting kids personally — on Christmas Eve (presumably before he does his chimney thing).

It’s amazing how much this Santa resembles Josh Philip — the Westport dad who volunteers his time as a PAL football commissioner.

Come to think of it, the Santa who appeared at the WestportMoms holiday event at The Porch at Christie’s looked a lot like Josh too.

But … nah.

Just a remarkable coincidence.

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So there’s no such thing as Santa (Part 2):

Well, how do you explain this scene yesterday, on Compo Hill at Sterling Drive?

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

Clearly, the Big Guy was in the midst of work. Looks like his sleigh broke down, and he had to transfer all his toys to an auxiliary one.

Either that, or he saw the big blue Tyvek-wrapped house on Hillspoint, and just gave up.

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After all the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, this was the Main Street scene yesterday morning:

(Photo/Sal Liccione)

Today — 24 hours later — downtown is back to normal.

Just think of all those wrong size, wrong color, wrong style gifts to exchange!

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A few hours later, Compo Beach was packed.

(Photo/Molly Alger)

The temperature was in the mid-50s. There was not a snowflake in sight.

Merry Climate Change Christmas!

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Sorry to get all grinchy, just the day after the holiday.

But this was a “gift” someone left yesterday  at Winslow Park:

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

Really, someone? This is what you think of your park, your town, and everyone in it?

Too bad there are 364 days left until Christmas. Santa really needs to bring you some decent human values, and the basic concept of understanding that the world does not revolve around you alone.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image is a study in, well, nature, from Lansdowne Condominiums:

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

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And finally …Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, died in an automobile accident in Texas on Friday. She was 65.

Click here for a full obituary.

(Looking for a way to celebrate Boxing Day? Please click here to support “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

 

7 Comments

Posted in Beach, Downtown, Environment, Totally random

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Pic Of The Day #2437

Posted on December 20, 2023 | 2 comments

The AED is gone from its box at Winslow Park. Traditionally, it’s removed for the winter, because the weather is too cold. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

2 Comments

Posted in Environment, Pic of the Day

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