Plovers, Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, OH MY!
A few new families have moved to Westport recently, but they will not be staying long. These beautiful little shorebirds are adult semipalmated plovers (thick black neck band) and adult semipalmated sandpipers (no black neck bands).
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
According to Laura Saucier of CT DEEP, “This is a mixed species flock of birds that have stopped to feed whilst migrating through CT.” She told WestportLocalPress, “The semipalmated plover is a cousin to the piping plover, which Westport residents may have seen nesting on Compo Beach and Cockoene Island. Semipalmated plovers are shorebirds that show up in Connecticut during migration. They are only passing through our state either on their way to the arctic to breed during late spring, or on their way to overwintering beaches in the southeastern US south to Central and South America in late summer. This bird can be observed feeding in mixed flocks with other shorebird species. It has a thick black band around its neck as well as on its forehead and around its eye. It is darker in appearance than the piping plover.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.
Saucier added, “The semipalmated sandpiper is also a species that shows up in Connecticut during migration. It has a similar lifesyle to the semipalmated plover but migrates even further and overwinters primarily in South America. It also can be seen feeding in mixed species flocks on our beaches. This sandpiper is similar in size to plovers and can be difficult to identify with different sandpipier species. It has mottled brown/grey plumage on its head and back and is white underneath. This shorebird has undergone population declines recently therefore it is important to give consideration to it while it is resting and feeding on Connecticut beaches.”
These beauties show a a wonderful contrast with the Oystercatchers which have nested at Compo’s South Beach for several years. The one pictured above may be the female which hatched a couple of eggs earlier this year. In the two photos below, a juvenile Oystercatcher which has been banded by CT Audubon keeps the plover company at the shoreline. The juvenile has a beak which has not yet turned completely orange as in the photo at right of an adult.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
These Plovers and Sandpipers, along with the Oystercatchers are protected at Compo’s South Beach by a wire fence erected by CT Audubon and CT DEEP. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection encourages people to share the shore with migratory birds by limiting disturbance to feeding and resting shorebird flocks. Keeping dogs, kites, and bicycles away from the birds allows them quiet areas to rest and fuel up along their long migration.
See WestportLocalPress coverage of the stunningly beautiful Oystercatchers here: Shellfish On The Menu, and here: Busy Oystercatchers
To learn more abut these and other wonderful visitors to our town, visit: Atlantic Flyways.org.
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.
Plein Air Painting With Flags Flying
Local artist John Forgione can frequently be seen around town at his easel with brush in hand, capturing the many wonderful scenes in Westport. On this day he took advantage of the flags of more than 100 nations which were flying on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge for last months jUNe Day celebration (WestportLocalPress jUNe Day).
John’s work has been displayed and sold through a variety of Connecticut art shows and galleries including the Fine Line Art Gallery, NEST Arts Factory, New Pond Farm, Rene Soto Gallery, Mark Twain Library, Metro Art Studios, and out of his home studio and gallery in Easton.
John told WestportLocal, “I've lived right next to Westport nearly my entire life (Weston and Easton), and I've always enjoyed the people, the history, and the amenities the town of Westport has to offer. The international flags being flown on the Saugatuck bridge are a high-energy visual, and I was naturally attracted to the scene ... doing my best to capture the day and express the positive energy with paint and brush.” John added, “My lifelong love of nature, and a strong influence of the French and American Impressionists drive my passion for “Plein Air” Painting. I truly enjoy the emotional and physical challenges of painting outdoors, working quickly and fervently to capture the effects of light, weather, form, architecture and nature in my work.”
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
Food Drive This Saturday At Stop & Shop Westport To Benefit Homes With Hope’s New Food Pantry.
Homes With Hope pantry shelves need filling at our new pantry location at 1655 Post Road East, Westport.
The Westport Police Department, Stop & Shop, the Rotary Club Of Westport and Westport Sunrise Rotary will be hosting a Food Drive to achieve this goal. This important food drive will be held on Saturday, July 20th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Stop & Shop, 1790 Post Road East, Westport. Westport police officers and volunteers will accept non-perishable food items, and other necessities, as well as cash donations in front of Stop & Shop.
All donations will directly support Homes with Hope in order to offer support for residents dealing with food insecurity. The Gillespie Center provides food services to their resident clients, those at risk of homelessness and those in need in our community.
For more information about Homes with Hope please go to: Homes With Hope.org
We thank Stop and Shop and all of our continually generous donors for their support and look forward to seeing you all at Stop & Shop!
Westport-based Homes with Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Fairfield County. The agency provides emergency shelter for men and women, supportive housing for individuals and families, a community kitchen and food pantry, youth development and mentoring programs as tools to achieve and maintain an independent life.
We ask for your support and generosity to help make this food drive a success.
Fireworks Light Up The Sky At Norwalk’s Calf Pasture Beach
One of the many spectacular fireworks shows that took place earlier this month was at Norwalk’s Calf Pasture Beach. The show was the highlight of the July 4th celebration at the beach, which included live music by one of Fairfield county’s favorite bands, the Funky Dawgs who have played many times in Westport.
Fireworks continued the week of the 4th with Ridgefield holding their display on Sunday the 7th after threat of rain postponed their planned Saturday show. Rain also postponed the show at Darien High School set for Friday July 12th and will instead take place this Friday, July 14th.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Signs of patriotism and the celebration of our nation’s founding were everywhere. Norwalk PD marine unit kept boaters at a safe distance.
Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and his first lady Lucia were on hand to enjoy the festivities and the beautiful fireworks show. Kids were having fun with bubble guns, while teens were enjoying the newly popular game of spike ball while others displayed their skill at Pepsi-Pong.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The brilliant shells were varied and many and were reflected in the waters of Long Island Sound.
Some folks went all out on their red, whit and blue. Teens took a moment from their game to show off for the camera. The day was a perfect opportunity for dads to dance with their kids and grandmothers to bond with their grandchildren. Not all who gathered for the event and show were born in the USA. One woman was fully prepared to dig a very large whole. We did not ask what the purpose was. Some may have been too young to fully understand the big party, but they enjoyed it nonetheless.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Always a crowd favorite, CT based Dawgs band. Their website states that they “are one of the premier touring acts on the live music scene today. It is impossible not to enjoy yourself during a show as they play a contagious upbeat mix of original music, hip hop, funk, and today’s top hits with a brass twist.” they have played nationally and have appeared with such notables as Tower Of Power, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Twiddle when they played Westport at the Levitt and more.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a sea of smiles as visitors enjoyed the beach, the music and each other as they awaited the start of the show.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
As darkness approached the excited crowd got their own little start on the show as street entertainers showed their skills.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Please click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Paddlin’ At Compo Cove
This family found respite from the heat recently by paddling at Compo Cove.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Another Example Of Anti-Semitism Appears In Westport
Three of the volunteers from Run4TheirLives hanging new posters showing the faces of the hostages kidnapped in the October 7th attack on Israel to replace the tattered and destroyed posters hung after the October 7th attack. Those posters were torn down earlier this week. No word on if the group will replace them again.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.
The day before the jUNe Day celebration in town of the United Nations and Westport’s commitment to the rights of the peoples of the world and to their freedom and safety, a group of volunteers replaced the tattered posters which had appeared on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge shortly after the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, with new posters.
The more than 100 new posters were laminated to protect them from the weather and were securely hung with strong zip ties, all at the cost of several hundred dollars to the volunteers who are part of the Run4TheirLives organization.
On Wednesday it was discovered that all of the posters had been ripped from the bridge railings, a feat which required some effort as the thickly laminated sheets were attached quite securely, and a fair amount of time depending upon how many individuals were involved in the effort.
The group provided a statement to WestportLocaPress shortly after jUNe Day, where a silent protest (WestportLocal: In Their Silence) of over 100 people appeared at the jUNe Day commemoration to keep attention focused on those victims of the attack:
“In February, many of the hostage posters hung on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge after the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel, were torn down, ripped, and strewn across the ground. Those that remained grew faded in the nine months since the attack. In response, members of the Westport chapter of Run4TheirLives, reprinted and laminated new posters. Today, those posters representing the remaining 116 hostages thought to remain in captivity – many alive, too many dead – were rehung as part of a local jUNe Day silent protest of 150 Westporters against the UN’s abject silence in the face of definitive and graphic evidence of the sexual atrocities Hamas has committed against women on and since October 7th, and the agency’s involvement and complicity in the attack itself, not to mention its refusal to aid in the release of the hostages, representing 54 nationalities.”
Run4TheirLives is a global volunteer organization of humanitarian citizens who march weekly as a reminder of the hostages in captivity. Westport is one of 212 such groups worldwide.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com