Bridge Rally Marks 300 Days Of Captivity For Israeli Hostages
About 150 people, both Jews and non-Jews gathered for the rally on Thursday evening on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge in Westport. Thursday marked the 300th day of captivity for the Israelis kidnapped by terrorists on October 7th, 2023.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Several groups including the local chapter of Run4TheirLIves joined in organizing the rally, the purpose of which was to keep attention focused on the plight of the Israeli hostages who were one day just living their lives like all of us and the next were thrust into a horrible captivity which has subjected them suffering which we have difficulty even discussing.
Above left, principal organizers (l. to r.) Jennifer Wolff, Melinda Boxbaum and Dori Bomback old one of the posters which were attached once again on the bridge railing. Melinda and Jennifer lead a group which has marched each Sunday morning since the Israelis were kidnapped, from the Westport Playhouse to stand on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial bridge, and has vowed to to so until the hostages are returned home.
Bomback is an Instagram and local Jewish advocate (@strength4israel) was part of a global initiative to Mark 300 days using the artwork in that photo and helped to gather this group of people as a vehicle to stand in solidarity with the families of the hostages. Having many contacts with those families in Israel one of the goals of the group is showing the families that they are not alone, and half a world away people are standing by them, and attempting to encourage the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to rescue their families loved ones. Bomback told WestportLocalPress, “Wherever you are in the world, raise your voice on their behalf and be their voice on August 1, 2024. We cannot let them reach the one year mark! The time is now to demand their release and to continue reminding the world about their captivity. We cannot stop talking about the hostages! “
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a very visible presence by Westport Police including Chief Foti Koskinas, striped shirt, standing with Officer Gunter and several other officers and command staff who were on duty to insure there were no problems with any potential counter protesters. Many passersby honked their horns and waved and cheered in support of the the group’s message.
The rally attendees spent nearly an hour on the bridge and replaced posters, numbering more than 100, of the kidnap victims which were removed by a local woman a few weeks ago (WestportLocalPress, Another Example Of Anti-Semitism) The posters which had been placed at that time were laminated and fastend with zip ties. The Westport PD responded to that activity and recovered the posters the woman had taken down which were returned to the group. They are hoping there will not be a repeat of that episode but acknowledge there are simply no guarantees.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above and below are just a few of the posters showing the innocent victims of the most brutal and devastating attack against the State of Israel since the Holocaust.
Near the end of the event, volunteers were given posters and zip ties to replace those taken earlier. The exact reason the woman who was found taking down the posters a few weeks ago is not clear and is open to speculation.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, right, State Representative from Westport’s 136 district since 2011, Jonathan Steinberg joined the protestors, as did Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore (not pictured)
Vigil Tonight To Mark 300 Days Of Captivity Of The Israeli Hostages
As we all know, on October 7th, 2023 Hamas staged a stunning attack on Israel, taking more than 200 hostages and killing hudreds more. Many of those kidnapped from their homes and from the Nova music festival near Gaza have been held by Hamas ever since.
This evening at 6 PM, Run4TheirLives-Westport and other humanitarian organizations will hold a vigil on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge in Westport. Their Communications Director, Jennifer Wolff, told WestportLocalPress, “We will also be reinstalling hostage posters vandalized and removed by another Westport resident. (see WestportLocalPress: Anti-Semitism) Westport Police will be on hand to protect members of the vigil from any violence that may occur.
In January, Melinda Wasserman created the Westport chapter of Run4TheirLives — leading weekly marches on Sundays at 11 AM starting at Playhouse Square and heading across the bridge and back. According to Wolff, “We have not missed a Sunday since, and will not miss one until all of the hostages are home.”
Story By J.C. Martin
Sunday’s Soundview Summer Stroll A Smash!
The inaugural street festival, the Soundview Summer Stroll was by any measure a great success. Instead of cars streaming down Soundview Ave, which runs from the Compo Beach Parking lot, along the beach and ends at Hillspoint and Compo Rd. South, the well-known and picturesque street was filled with Westporters having fun.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
This wonderful, free, family friendly event was presented by Dan Woog’s 06880 Blog and the Compo Beach Improvement Association, with an assist from Westport Parks & Rec Department and Westport PD.
There were several great bands, including Rock, Paper, Soul which is pictured here which kicked the party into high gear.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The band got folks literally dancing in the street, both the very young and the not-so-young. They played a long set of varied genres, from rock to pop to Motown.
They may have gigs that paid a bit more, but Rock, Paper, Soul have probably never had a better view while they performed.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Crowd estimates over the course of the 6 hour event was as high as possibly 3,000, including town officials (L. to R.) Kristen Mott Purcell, District 1 RTM member who assisted in organizing the event, First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore, Westport Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Matt Cohen, Westport FD’s Jennifer Petrosinelli and co-organizer 06880’s Dan Woog.
The band got folks literally dancing in the street, both the very young and the not-so-young. They played a long set of varied genres, from rock to pop to Motown. The wall was a perfect spot to enjoy the music and watch your friends pass by.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There were some delicious food offerings provide in part by Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci which offered a great menu at the same attractive prices as the store, which is not always the case at many fairs and festivals. There was also delicious OG’s delicious gelato, another offering from Romanacci’s Old Mill Grocery.
Romanacci’s had a long line of hungry festival-goers eager to enjoy their fine food, amazing pizza and delicious Italian-style gelato. Dan Woog (center pic) was one of the happy faces waiting for a treat.
Kids had a ball with lots of activities for the little ones, including face painting, crafts and a chance to create a little street art. There were games like tug-of-war and balloon toss that kept them busy. Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Not-To-Be Missed Soundview Summer Stroll This Sunday
Another great summer tradition (we hope) will begin in Westport on Sunday, the Soundview Summer Stroll which takes place July 28th on Soundview Drive at Compo Beach.
Sound view Drive will be closed to traffic from Compo’s Soundview parking lot to the jetty at the intersection of Compo Rd. South and Hillspoint Rd.
This wonderful family friendly event is presented by Dan Woog’s 06880 Blog and the Compo Beach Improvement Association, with an assist from Westport Parks & Rec Department and Westport PD. the fun kicks-off at 11:00AM and will run to 5:00PM. There will be live music from four bands and the usual kid-friendly activities such as face painting, crafts and a balloon artist.
The Compo Beach Playground Committee will be running the schedule. Planned events will include a tug of war on the each hour, with the Water Balloon Toss to follow 20 minutes later and next, an inflatable relay race. Food will be available menu favorites from Old Mill Grocery & Deli.
The event is free, but a beach emblem is required to park. This will be a great, must be-there event so be sure to stop by and get in on the fun.