Simply SPECTACULAR! Compo PAL Fireworks Thrill Once Again
Thanks to Westport PAL, the town, and of course the continued tremendous generosity year after year by Westport's Melissa and Doug Bernstein and their eponymous company, the skies lit up once again on Tuesday night.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
As usual, PAL and Melissa & Doug provided a beautiful show with stunning visuals and an explosive finale.
Among those strolling Soundview Ave. were RTM member Kristin Schneeman, former First Selectman Jim Marpe, RTM member Jimmy Izzo, a random guy passing buy who jumped in the photo-op, along with Karen Persau, second selectwoman Andrea Moore and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Some brought chairs and blankets, other erected illuminated tents and tables adorned with various forms celebrating Old Glory. They began arriving earlier in the day to stake out their patch of the beach, returning later with all manner of refreshments and their delicious food to get the party started. Some of Compo’s lifeguards had the night off to relax and enjoy the festivities.
For several years, this group of friends have gathered and made it clear they are celebrating the birth of the United States with a gigantic American flag brilliantly lit when the sunset.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
As always, a sea of Westporters cover every inch of Compo beach waiting for the big show.
Among those showing their red, white & blue was RTM’s Andrew Collabella with his favorite holiday pants.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
We thought something looked a little off when the barge carrying the fireworks showed up off the beach. We wondered if they noticed it was pointing toward Long Island, and how long it would take to correct.
As it turned out, the skillful tug boat captain had it all figured out and spun the barge around in just a few minutes, with what looked like an assist from WPD Marine Division.
And there it was, ready to fire the first shots of the show with the sponsor, Melissa & Doug’s logo glowing in the evening light.
The young and the even younger made sure their patriotism statement was seen by all.
Quack! Quack! Quack! Duck Race Greater Than Ever!
The Sunrise Rotary held one of Westport’s favorite events, The Great Duck Race and family festival at Jesup Green, and the crowd was one of the biggest ever. “Sales” of the ducks continued well past the 1:00 PM planned start time for the race making the event a tremendous fund raiser for the sunrise Rotary. The crowd filled the hill behind the race course all the way up to the entrance of the library, clearly showing the excellent turnout.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, the more than 3,000 Ducks were placed into the bucket of the A J Penna front loader which then drove carefully to the start of the sluice. The Ducks were first dropped into the holding pond area before being released to head “down stream” into the finish box where the 10 winning ducks were plucked out by Duck Race volunteers and were then carefully placed in plastic bags numbered one through ten. First Selectwoman Jen Tooker acted as emcee during the race which was documented by News 12.
Westport Fire Department gave the ducks a helping hand by generating a current toward the finish line and spectators watched excitedly as the ducks “raced” toward their destination.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Camera phones of the spectators and even the volunteers captured all the excitement as the Ducks slowly found their way toward the finish line.
There were lots of games and activities for kids at the event including creative games like toss the beanbag into the toilet, which hopefully will not be duplicated at home. When the race had concluded it was time to breakdown the “course”, and some of the kids decided to splash and play in the water as it slowly drained out.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The event is made possible each year through the generosity of the many sponsors. Great food was available all day from food trucks.
Tomorrow’s Fireworks Will Draw Thousands And Heavy Traffic
Scenes from last years Fireworks by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.
Westport Police Department issued it’s yearly advisory to alert everyone for what to expect, what to know and what to do.
WPD Press Release 7.1.24:
The annual PAL fireworks display is set for Tuesday July 2, 2024, with a rain date of Wednesday July 3, 2024. This is the largest annual Westport event featuring heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic affecting all roads south of Greens Farms Road between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road. It is recommended that spectators plan to arrive early as traffic delays are inevitable. Daytime Compo Beach visitors are reminded that the beach closes at 4:00 PM. Only those vehicles with fireworks passes hanging on their rearview mirrors will be allowed to remain within the beach. All others will be ticketed or towed. The beach should reopen to ticket holders by 5:00 PM, however this determination will be made by Westport Parks and Recreation staff.
Pedestrians attending the fireworks are reminded not to walk on the roads and to use sidewalks when going to and from Compo Beach. It is recommended that pedestrians wear bright clothing and parents please always keep an eye on small children!
For ticket holders:
Access to the PAL Fireworks display will be through South Compo Road only. Hillspoint Road south of Greens Farms Road will be open to only those with residences south of that intersection.
Firework attendees should display the ticket prominently on the rearview mirror so it can be seen clearly when traveling to the event.
All ticket holders must be inside Compo Beach by 9:00 PM. No vehicular beach traffic will be allowed south of the Minuteman statue after that time.
Handicap parking is available between the cannons and the pavilion. Handicap spaces are limited and will be provided on a first come first served basis.
For those who do not have tickets:
Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to go any further towards Compo Beach than the Minuteman statue.
Enjoy this wonderful event!
jUNe Day 2024: Westport Welcomed The World
On Saturday June 29th Westport held it's 59th annual welcome to the people of the world in conjunction with The United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut and the International Hospitality Committee. In the background of this photo, a large group of protesters appears presenting their opposition to the UN’s position on the Israel/Gaza situation. See WestportLocal: They Spoke Loudly…
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Delegates to the UN as well as staff members were given a warm welcome once again and were offered the opportunity to visit some of Westport's exceptional amenities such as Wakeman Town Farm, Compo Beach, Earthplace and the Longshore Golf Course among others. They also got to witness first-hand a Westport Institution, The Sunrise Rotary's Great Duck Race.
A fierce rivalry on the Soccer pitch is also an annual event where The Westport Football Club took on the United Nations team, comprised of soccer players from all over the world at the Saugatuck school. (story and photos to follow, check WestportLocalPress later this week)
Each year flags from countries the world over are flown on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge in downtown Westport. Ms. Cohen (1920-2002) was a highly accomplished woman who was deeply involved with the UN and was a staunch champion supporting NGO affiliates at UN Headquarters. This year about 170 flags were flown representing most of the 193 member nations of the UN. The countries are selected in conjunction with the town and they excluded the flag of Russia in 2022.
Ms. Steinkraus Cohen founded the UN Association of Southwestern CT which co-organizes the event each year. This event celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter which was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on October 24, 1945.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The jUNe Day program began with a greeting from Mr. Willard Hass, President, NA-USA Southwestern CT Chapter. Mr. Hass was followed by First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker who welcomed the international contingent to Westport. A message from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was delivered by the Guest of Honor, Mr. Christian Saunders. Mr. Saunders is the Under-Secretary-General, Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The important highlights from the message of UN Secretary-General Guterres which which were delivered by Under-Secretary-General Saunders were:
“Every June, the Town of Westport welcomes UN staff members, delegates and friends to join together and celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. This annual event stands as a reminder of the essential role the Charter plays in ensuring peace, stability and cooperation in a difficult and fractured world. The values embodied by the Charter are timeless: peace, dialogue, human rights, international law, and solutions through solidarity.
We need these values more than ever, as we grapple with huge global challenges like conflicts, climate change, poverty, hunger and inequality.”
“The work that you all do has embodied this essential call to action. I urge you to continue championing the vital causes of peace, sustainable development and human rights for all. Together, we can build a better future for everyone, everywhere. “
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
UN visitors and jUNe Day volunteers listen to the remarks by the speakers including Under Secretary-General Saunders and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Tooker welcomed everyone saying “It is my pleasure to welcome you to our beautiful town as we have done for over 50 years.” She added, “I know this is an opportunity for you all to get out of the city” and that “This is the perfect place to do just that.” Booker referenced the pro-Israel silent protest telling the crowd, “People here embrace freedom of expression as you see here today. And this is the way we do things in Westport, respectful, civil, peaceful, adding, “Many members of our community have experienced deep, acute and lasting pain since the horrific attack on October 7th. Just as the UN promotes robust dialogue, so do we here inWestport. And that is what you see here this morning.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.