No Revenge For Westport Football Club Against The Visiting UN Team
The fierce rivalry on the Soccer pitch between the Westport Football Club and a talented United Nations team, comprised of soccer players from all over the world took place once again last week as part of jUNe Day. The match took place at Saugatuck school and although Westport fought valiantly, victory once again eluded them.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The UN coach Aliamane Bacar Said described the match this way:
“This year’s game was announced as a grudge match with the Westport FC soccer team wanting to avenge their 9-7 loss of last year against the UN Soccer Team. However, the UN Soccer team got up early to a 2-0 lead thanks to two goals from Markus (from USA), just before injuring his hamstring and puling out of the game. Westport FC came back into the game thanks to an own goal from the UN center back. The game went to half time with the UN leading 2-1. The UN Team had over 20 players, and that required a lot of rotation by the UN coach Said (from the Comoros Island).”
“The Westport team seized the opportunity and pushed to tie the game. However, they were denied multiple times by the UN’s excellent goalkeeper, Salah Areikat (from Palestine). This push left more space in their defense and allowed AJ (from Nigeria/USA) to use his speed and score his two goals in the second half, in addition to the goal of a young midfielder (from Morrocco) who came in to give captain Mirko Montuori (from Italy) a breather. This ended the game with the score of 5 to 1 in favor of the UN Soccer Team who retained the trophy from last year.”
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The game was not a as physical as last year’s and both teams fielded younger and more technical squads. Unlike last year, the UN Soccer Team brought their own goalkeeper, a young player from Palestine who made 2 big saves with the Westport striker advancing alone on goal. He made many other saves to ensure this time that the UN Team did not concede any goal from a Westport player. The game ended with friendly handshakes and a group picture of both teams. The UN Soccer Team expressed its appreciation for the warm welcome received from the people of Westport and the spirit of friendship and fair play that was expressed during the entire game.
Westport FC coach Damien McClave added:
This was a close game played in great spirit. The first half saw Westport go down 2.0. We scored first in the second half with a great goal by Peter Dorgai our Man of the Match. That goal was assisted by Dario "Kaka" Decarvalho. As the game went on the UN team’s youth and speed were a big factor and they ran out 5.1 winners. Honorable mentions go to Mariusz Jasinski "goalie" on a fine performance. As well as Ritchy Jean Pierre, Brian Diez and Chris Gavrielidis on fine performances. Let just say the better team won but we'll be back next year for the 50th anniversary game.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Happy 248th Birthday America!
Photo by J.C. Martin and Story By The Founding Fathers For WestportLocalPress.com Click on the image to enlarge.
How Old Is America? The Simple Answer:
The simple answer is that as of the July 4, 2024, the United States is 248 years old. The United States is 248-years-old because the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the US Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The passing of the Declaration of Independence meant that the thirteen original British colonies in North America ceased to be colonies and officially (at least according to them) became a sovereign nation.
Today is a great day for parties, barbecues, etc. It is also a great day to read the Declaration Of Independence.
But there is more to it than that.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the Declaration in type and print approximately 200 copies.
The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4th but wasn't actually signed until August 2nd. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August. Two of the Declaration's signers died 50 years to the day (July 4, 1826) after the document was adopted. Both were presidents -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They died within hours of each other. More can be found on the National Archives Website.
Below is a start and the link to the full Declaration, one of the greatest documents ever written by man.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Here is the link: The Declaration Of Independence
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.
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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.
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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.