Westport Dog Festival this Sunday: “Springtime is dog time in Westport”
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce is pleased announce that the 7th Annual Westport Dog Festival will be held on Winslow Park on Sunday May 21st from 10am to 4pm. The festival is once again being produced in association with TAILS the local charitable organization that promotes spay/neutering of animals.
“Springtime is dog time in Westport,” said Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the WWCC. “This festival will be a great day for the family. It’s a three ring circus of activities that will celebrate everything dog, so bring yours.“
The event will take advantage of the large field on Winslow Park, often called the dog park, with multiple informative and exciting demonstrations, goofy competitions, Police K9 presentation, obstacle course, kids activities, food trucks and more.
Demonstrations sponsored by M&T Bank will include guide dogs and training exhibitions and of course the police K9 presentations The obstacle course sponsored by by Garavel Autogroup will have dogs run course and the winner will get a year’s supply of dog food. Completions sponsored by Spot on Veterinary will offer prizes for; best tail wager, best dressed, best kisser, best trick, best lap dog over 50 lbs and dog that most looks like its owner. Judging will be done by many of the Town’s elected officials. There will be adoptables and information about all our outstanding non-profits, sponsored by Earth Animal.
The presenter and lead sponsor of the event is Choice Pet. “We are thrilled to again be the main sponsor of the Westport Dog Festival,” said William Dellipoali, Director of Merchandising and Purchasing. “the moment we opened our Westport location in 2012, it was apparent that this is a community of kindred spirits who truly value the special relationship to their animal companions. The array of activities is absolutely outstanding, and we know that this will be an unforgettable family event for dog lovers, furry and otherwise.”
Surrounding the main activities will be over 60 pet-related vendors, picture taking, caricatures, face painting, balloon bending and lots of give-a-ways as well as an assortment of food trucks. Sponsor WEBE 108 will be broadcasting live from the event and will be offering tickets and prizes on air the week prior to the event.
Parking is available at many of the private lots along the post road graciously offered by neighboring businesses. Look for these designated lots along the post road.
The Festival entrance fee is $10 per person and $30 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). Proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations. So far over $36,000 has been donated by the Chamber to deserving groups from the prior festivals.
Dog owners may register for the competitions online or at the festival. All information about the festival can be found at www.westportwestonchamber.com/dogs. A rain date is set for Sunday June 4th.
Fire Department Bans all Outside Burning due to Wildland Fire Warnings
Effective immediately, Westport Fire Marshal/Open Burning Official Terrence Dunn has banned all outside burning until further notice due to extremely dry conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the entire state.
Fire Marshal Dunn said, “This ban includes all recreational campfires and fire pits. Please recognize that brush fires will spread rapidly possibly threatening homes and property. Do not try to self-extinguish and call 911 immediately.”
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
17th Annual Taste Of Westport Brings Large Crowd To The Inn At Longshore
Great cocktails, amazing food and an awesome band brought Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and former First Selectman Jim Marpe to the Taste Of Westport on Wednesday night, joining CLASP development director Robin Hammond.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport-based nonprofit CLASP, which provides homes for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, held their most important fundraiser of the year last night at the Inn at Longshore in Westport. The 17th annual Taste of Westport was a huge success, welcoming close to 400 guests and surpassing the organization’s fundraising goal.
The highlight of the evening was the delicious food and drink: from savory appetizers and mouthwatering entrees to decadent desserts and signature cocktails, every palate was satisfied. Chefs from more than two dozen local establishments partnered with CLASP to create an unforgettable and exquisite culinary experience, all in support of a great cause.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The event also included an impressive silent auction with items including tickets to Yankees and Giants games, fine wines, diamond jewelry, and dining packages from many local restaurants. In between familiar tunes performed by Fairfield County favorite, the Bar Car Band, CLASP president Tracy Flood thanked guests for attending and encouraged them to bid. “Your generosity enables CLASP to continue providing programs and services that enrich the lives of the people we serve,” she said.
Taste of Westport has grown in the last few years, welcoming not only CLASP family and friends, but many community members who are drawn by the impressive list of participants. “It was heartwarming to see our long-time supporters alongside so many new faces,” Flood said. “It’s truly a testament to the power of our community to come together to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.”
For more information about CLASP and the work they do in the community, visit www.clasphomes.org.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples Girls Celebrate Senior Day With 7-0 Win Over Brien McMahon
The Staples Varsity Girls Tennis team won their 11th match in a row today against Brien McMahon high school, bringing their overall record to 12-2. Their last match is on Thursday against Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. The girls celebrated Senior day with their families before the match.
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"This is a powerhouse group of seniors," says coach Jena Wider. "they are a tour de force on and off the court." Captains Karenna Birns, Caroline Caggiano and Audrey Kercher, all seniors have played on the Varsity squad for the entirety of their Staples careers. Birns is going to Georgetown, Caggiano to Vanderbilt and Kercher to University of Florida. Rounding out the senior lineup is veteran Jenna Kornbluth, who has also played on the Varsity team for her length of her high school career--going to Carnegie Mellon in the Fall.
Lucia Wang, (above, second from right) returning for her second year on Varsity and the school's valedictorian --will head to Duke and Alana Zitomer to the University of Wisconsin. "The team is totally united and it has been a pleasure coaching them this season," says Wider. "we love our seniors dearly and they will be sorely missed."
Other members of the Varsity team include: juniors Chloe Francis and Sarah Marron' sophomores: Rhiya Anand, Maddie Hendley, Lola Lamensdorf, Bridget Menninger and Sadie Yanks, and lone freshman: Isabel "Ruthie" Alfageme. "Our team has a lot of heart," says Wider. "we started off the season with a few disappointing losses, but completely rallied to bring our record to 12-2.”
“The sky's the limit to where this team can go." Karenna Birns and Audrey Kercher have played the latter half of the season as the first doubles team and will pose a significant threat in the upcoming FCIAC and state tournaments.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.