Izzy Dines Out
Puppies as we all know are usually the very epitome of adorable. Samoyed puppies have to be on the list of MOST adorable puppies. Izzy, the 14 week old Samoyed here proves that point. On this night he accompanied his humans to The Whelk, well-known restaurateur Bill Taibe's upscale Saugatuck dining hot spot for an al fresco fine dining experience. He became a magnet for dinner guests passing by and for people enjoying an ice cream treat at Saugatuck Sweets, just across the plaza. Izzy, who was dapperly attired in his red harness and matching leash, reveled in the attention and enjoyed feeling the love from his new admirers.
The Samoyed dates back to 1000 BCE, and he hasn't changed much in appearance or temperament in all that time. The breed is named for the Samoyede people, a nomadic tribe that lived on the tundra of northern Russia and Siberia, near the Arctic Circle. The tribe used the dogs they called bjelkiers to herd reindeer, pull sledges, and occasionally hunt bears.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Osprey Update: It's Triplets!
One of the Osprey returns to the nest at the Terrain/Fresh Market platform on the Post Rd. in Westport.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The two Osprey chicks in the photos above are two of the apparently three which successfully hatched recently at Westport's famous Terrain/Fresh Market platform, located between the two stores on the Post Rd. Osprey fans have reported seeing a third but we could not catch a glimpse of baby number three, perhaps because he hatched later than these two and is not big enough to see over the edge of the nest as his siblings are able to do.
The mouths of the the chicks are open wide as they yell relentlessly, “feed me, feed me” which many Moms can relate to. Terrain’s customers can hear them calling out loudly as they go to and from their vehicles. Staff often tell their customers about the birds with a distinct sense of pride that they are here.
Above, right and left, the male Osprey hangs out in his favorite perch, a tree behind Terrain before fortuning to the nest to help deal with “babies”
The first chick may hatch as many as five days before the last one, and the oldest chick often dominates over the younger nestlings. The chicks will fledge about 55 days after hatching but will use the nest as home base until they migrate in September. Young ospreys will stay dependent on their parents until the young are able to fish for themselves.
While most baby animals are adorable, these little ones have been compared to baby Velociraptors from Jurrasic Park films. Some of us do actually think they are cute however we may be in the minority.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Drama in The Skies
Mama Osprey returns to her chicks after dispatching an intruder.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
An intruder entered the nest area of the Terrain Osprey recently and Mama Osprey "flew" into action. The unwanted visitor perched on the antenna array at the Westport FD headquarters nearby which was to close for comfort for her. She went on the attack and what ensued was a dramatic dogfight of sorts with multiple close calls or outright contact. The intruder appeared to be uninjured despite the aggressive Mama bird having a set of razor-like claws which could have caused some real damage. Papa Osprey was nowhere to be seen, which was probably a stoke of luck for the intruder. Perhaps he went for take out at the Saugatuck.
Jazz Society Will Award Inaugural Memorial Scholarship On Thursday At Westport VFW Post 399
PRESS RELEASE JUNE 18, 2023
The Jazz Society of Fairfield County (JazzFC), CT's premier Jazz presenting and service non- profit, is proud to announce the first recipient of JazzFC's Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship is Ciara Bustillo-Rodriguez of Bridgeport. The award will be given at JazzFC's June 22 presentation of Jazz at the Post, at VFW Post 399, 465 Riverside Ave. Westport at 7:30 PM.
The concert, the finale of the 2022-23 season, will feature world renowned NYC based pianist Janice Friedman and her quartet. Ciara will perform a few pieces with Janice and her group, which features bassist Leon “Boots” Maleson, drummer Brian Floody and saxophonist Greg Wall. Dinner by Latina Cantina will be available; for reservations email JazzAtThePost@gmail.com.
The Micky Golomb Memorial fund was established in memory of Myron “Micky” Golomb (1931-2019), a Jazz saxophonist (Art Mooney and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras) and educator (Regency Music Studios, Rye Arts Center) who moved to Westport in 1978 with his wife Kathy and their family.
Presenting the award, which is a $5000 scholarship, will be Kathy Golomb and her daughter Becky.
Ciara Bustillo-Rodriguez - Contributed photo
JazzFC has been producing weekly Jazz performances in Westport featuring internationally known performers since 2015. They started their partnership with the VFW in April of 2022, and it has become a premier destination for discerning Fairfield County music fans.
JazzFC also conducts outreach and educational activities. In April, May and June, JazzFC artists conducted workshops for Jazz students from Westport's Staples High School, and Bridgeport's KEYES MUSIC Jazz program. These featured such noted artists as Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, Tim Horner, Greg Wall, Vinnie Sperrazza and Tony Lombardozzi.
JazzFC's weekly Thursday night presentations will resume on September 7, with a performance by guitar master Paul Bollenback. For complete schedule and info visit www.JazzFC.org