Collection: Incoming 6th Graders Feature Their Journalistic Skills While in Town
Note: All words and photographs are by the individual students.
The Flags of America:
This photo shows the flags of America basking in the sun on a Sunday morning. The flags talk to each other and say, “we have a lot in common, we both have brothers and sisters, we both have the same favorite book (the Constitution), and our very first hero was Abraham Lincoln. We see each other day and night, dark or bright - we are so beautiful every year. Even if we have bad grandparents that cause a lot of trouble, we overcame these challenges because we are America!”
Photo and words by Lucas Pollack.
The Purple Flowers:
Small, purple, sun-shaped with dozens of tiny pollinated pedals. Its tiny, hairy, pollen-filled body smells of lavender and resembles a tarantula’s abdomen.
Photo and words by Sam Kalnit.
Saugatuck Swan:
On August 14th, a group of young photographers spotted two swans floating in the Saugatuck River. Most of the time spent at the river, ducks were photographed, so the swans were a wonderful surprise. Many citizens have noticed swans and other wildlife in the river. In an interview, a Westport resident said, “I always see swans, geese, ducks, and Horseshoe crabs.” These animals are mainly visible at low tide. However, it is important to notice that these animals are not all friendly. The same Westport resident informed us, “I heard that the swans and geese can peck you.” So, make sure not to irritate these wonderful creatures. Most people describe swans as “graceful and elegant.” So, fellow Westporters, I think we can agree that it is very good luck that we can see all of these beautiful creatures on a daily basis. Please remember not to bother the local wildlife, including deer and rabbits. For readers who are interested in seeing these animals more, lots of them swim next to the Saugatuck River around 5:00 pm.
Photo and words by Zana Tarsi.
Purple and White Flowers by Tiffany & Co.:
Beautiful purple and white flowers filled the boxes next to the Tiffany & Co. store in town. Amazingly, numerous Westporters stopped to admire the colorful plants.
Photo by Max Landau.
Sunday Morning Visitors on The Saugatuck River
Numerous ducks gathered besides the Saugatuck River this early sunny Sunday morning. Photo by Cami Vynerib.
“Only in your State” Features Westport’s Viva Zapata; “Will Take You Straight To Taco Heaven”
One Of The Oldest Mexican Restaurants In Connecticut Will Take You Straight To Taco Heaven
August 12, 2022 by Lisa Sammons
We have plenty of delicious Mexican restaurants in Connecticut, and one of the oldest and most delightful is Viva Zapata in Westport. This delicious eatery is set up in a historic home that looks quite tame from the outside. Inside, however, you’ll find a peppy and colorful spot with unique decor and incredibly tasty food. It’s no wonder that it’s been around for over half a century.
Charles “Charlie” Crooks, 23, Died; Fairfield Native, “Not many get the chance to live that way.”
CHARLES HEW DALRYMPLE CROOKS: August 15, 1998 - July 29, 2022
Born in Lima, Peru on August 15, 1998. Died in a flying accident on July 29, 2022, in Raleigh, NC.
Raised in Fairfield, CT, Charlie attended Osborn Hill Elementary School and Roger Ludlowe Middle School. After completing his freshman year at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, he made the brave journey across the continent to Mill Bay, British Columbia to complete his high school education at Brentwood College School, his father's alma mater. He was admitted to Bucknell University, graduating in May 2020 with a BA in Political Science.
Charlie had numerous interests and talents. Several weeks each summer were spent at his grandparents' cottage on Gloucester Pool, where he honed his unique swimming style of bobbing with chin partially submerged. While he loved the water, Charlie lacked the necessary buoyancy to pursue swimming as a sport. Instead, he had the great fortune to meet Master KJ Ha of World Champion Tae Kwan Do in Fairfield. Through many years of dedication on the part of both master and student, Charlie was proud to achieve his second-degree black belt.
Leaving home for boarding school required a leap of faith, but Brentwood provided the environment in which Charlie truly began to excel academically, physically, artistically, and socially. He joined the cross country running club and was proud after much dedication to move "from the shame of being stuck in the slow group to feeling confident as a solid member of the medium-slow group." He tried his hand at rowing, competed on the debate team, and perhaps most importantly learned from his band of brothers in Rogers House to give and receive true friendship and to have confidence in his unique gifts. His time at Brentwood culminated in the ultimate honor of being elected by his classmates to give the valedictorian speech for the class of 2016. Delivered with his trademark combination of self-deprecation and sly wit, his final moments at Brentwood were spent walking from the stage wearing a giant smile, to an explosion of cheers and a standing ovation. At Bucknell, Charlie joined the Bison Battalion, Bucknell's chapter of ROTC, completed Basic Camp at Fort Knox, founded the Bucknell chapter of Young Americans for Liberty, competed on the ski team, and discovered a gift for art and sculpture.
Aviation was Charlie's overriding passion practically from birth. He read every flight book he could get his hands on and was known occasionally to wear one on his head for transcranial absorption of knowledge. As a young teenager, he built an actual flight simulator and developed a love for flying remote control planes, but the real fun began when he took his first flying lessons at Three Wing Aviation in Stratford, CT. He continued his training throughout college in Williamsport, PA, soloing in August of 2017. Facing a complete lack of demand for pilots during the early phase of the pandemic, Charlie doggedly, yet cheerfully, pursued his dream of becoming a professional pilot, earning various advanced ratings and qualifying as a Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor before landing a job in May 2021 as a flight instructor at Flightgest Academy at the Raleigh-Durham Airport. He was greatly admired by his students and colleagues for his teaching style. His celebrated whiteboard drawings made even the most complex concepts both humorous and easy to understand; many have been photographed and preserved by his fellow instructors. In April 2022, Charlie accepted his dream job as a First Officer with Rampart Aviation, a specialist contractor primarily conducting support operations for the Department of Defense. He was very proud of the company and pleased to announce to his family that he had earned the nickname "Tuna," signaling his full acceptance as part of the Rampart team. When not on the job, Charlie fused his love for art, technology, and aviation, producing custom designed, 3-D printed components that he shipped to other flight simulator enthusiasts around the world.
The resume of Charlie's life could never fully describe the legacy he leaves. He was guided always by a strong moral compass; a fierce love for and loyalty to his family and friends; and a heart that was open and forgiving. He gave everyone a chance. His sense of humor was legendary – the far side of The Far Side. As a boy, he insisted on being the Batmobile in proud and practical support of his younger brother's and sister's Batman and Robin for Halloween. Charlie reveled in the eclectic, with a taste in music that ranged from bossa nova to King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard. Without guile or affectation, he nonetheless enjoyed putting on a suit for wine night with friends, sometimes with trademark aviator glasses and empty pipe, an inside joke. This spring he used his new regular paycheck to purchase a reliably unreliable 1978 Fiat convertible. He spent many hours and more than a few dollars trying to keep the car roadworthy while avoiding tetanus.
There was so much joy. Earlier this year he posted an update to friends on Instagram that began "Long time, no life updates so here's the recap," and ended with "This has been a very eventful year, and while there have been challenges, I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life and I wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world."
Charlie's wonderful friends in Chapel Hill, aka The Terrace Club, were central to his sense of fulfillment and belonging. Only days before his death, Charlie shared with his parents that he was exactly where he wanted to be doing exactly what he wanted to do. Not many get the chance to live that way.
Charlie is survived by his parents Hew and Kate, brother Crawford (22), his sister Mary (20) of Fairfield, CT, his maternal grandmother Mary Zipser of Savannah, GA and his paternal grandparents Art and Mary Jane Crooks of Lethbridge, Alberta, his aunts Melissa Zipser Murray, Claire Crooks Goodall (George), and uncle Morgan Crooks (Aimee), first cousins Katherine and Elizabeth Murray, Finn, Sydney, Grady, and Tilly Goodall, Riley and Andrew Crooks.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 13th at 11 am at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 75 Church Lane, Westport, CT. A reception will be held in Branson Hall in the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the charity Above the Clouds (abovethecloudskids.org).
Morning Weather Report: Spectacular
Today
Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 5 to 8 mph. High Tide: 12:56 PM.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Low Tide: 7:11 PM
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
12:25 AM / 12:56 PM
Low Tides
6:50 AM / 7:11 PM
Westport Property Transfers: July 25th - 29th; Highest Sale on Edgewater Hillside at $4.3 Million
Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $66,948.28
Total Sales: $27,978,538.66
Highest Transfer Price: 30 Edgewater Hillside: $4,300,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 19 Newtown Turnpike: $105,000
Transfers:
30 Edgewater Hillside: $4,300,000
6 Evans Court: $3,950,000
19 Sturges Commons: $3,735,310.36
85 Old Road: $3,525,000
6 Coach Lane: $3,500,000
1 Peters Lane: $2,070,000
127 Imperial Avenue: $1,750,000
5 Birchwood Lane: $1,575, 000
50 Kings Highway South: $1,300,000
86 Regents Park: $969,000
229 Lansdowne: $719,228.30
79 Strathmore Lane (Norwalk Taxed): $480,000
19 Newtown Turnpike: $105,000
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 7; State Positivity Rate, Hospitalizations Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 7 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was up to 12.32% while 335 people remain hospitalized around the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,664 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 39 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 12.32% [up from 12.07%]
State COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 335 patients [up from 325]
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 7 to 13 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind around 8 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
12:05 PM
Low Tides
6:00 AM / 6:19 PM
COVID-19 Cases Up 5; State Positivity Rate, Hospitalizations Down
The State Department of Public Health reported 5 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was up to 12.07% while 325 people remain hospitalized around the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,657 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 39 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 12.07% [down from 11.97%]
State COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 325 patients [down from 353]
Evening Calm
Another sunset brings calm pastels to the skies above the Compo kayaks. WestportLocal.com photo