Westoberfest - Food, Fun and Lots & Lots Of Great Beers
Westoberfest Craft Beer and Fall Festival made its return on Saturday, September 21st, marking its seventh year of celebration in downtown Westport. The event ran from 2 to 5 PM, attracting beer enthusiasts with a wide array of over 50 local and regional beers. Attendees had the opportunity to sample a variety of styles including crisp lagers, bold IPAs, rich stouts, and refreshing non-alcoholic options, catering to diverse tastes. In addition to the beer offerings, live music contributed to the festive atmosphere, fostering community camaraderie among participants.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
WestoberFest offered an array of attractions beyond its remarkable selection of craft brews. Attendees indulged in a variety of culinary delights from local favorites, ensuring that there was something to please every palate. The atmosphere was further enlivened by live performances from One Bad Oyster, encouraging guests to dance and enjoy the vibrant sounds.
The beer tasting tables had lots of visitors getting an education as well as quenching their thirst. Attendees included many families including journalist and anchor at NBC News and MSNBC, and Today Show co-anchor Craig Melvin and wife Lindsay Czarniak, an EMMY-Award winning sportscaster along with their two children and their handsome family dog.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Two separate areas adjacent to the beer festival were designated for family activities and on-site shopping. Families to to participate in a variety of activities, including face painting, hair tinsel application, pumpkin decorating, and flower crown making, ensuring an enjoyable experience for children of all ages. In addition to the family-friendly options, a selection of vendors were on-site, offering unique products and gifts for attendees to browse and purchase. Westoberfest had lots to offer everyone, making it a perfect destination for a fun-filled day. And not festival would be complete without some very nice looking dogs.
Westport’s Best Pumpkin Chunkers Rose To The Challenge
Pumpkin Chunkin' also took place on Saturday, attracting a diverse group of competitors eager to showcase their skills in pumpkin launching. Contestants included men, women and a few of eager children in hopes of achieving maximum distance with their pumpkins.
Above, Lonnie Quinn, CBS News Weather Anchor and a proud Westport resident, emceed the event, energizing the crowd with his lively commentary. He gathered the contestants before the competition began, outlining the rules and sharing words of encouragement to help them get in the zone. Pumpkins flew through the air prompting cheers from spectators who applauded the contestant’s competitive spirit.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Contestants started off by being assigned a numbered pumpkin which was determined by young assistants pulling numbers from a jar. Then the competitors demonstrated their skill with a variety of styles of “chunkin”. The contestant above commited a “foot fault”, crossing the limiting line.
Despite a mighty heave, pumpkin number 13 was quite lucky and was not shattered upon hitting the target zone.
This competitor lost the “handle” on her toss, and although the rules allowed just one attempt, she was given a Mulligan and did much better.
Pumpkins were at the ready before the start of the big event.
The kids had a chance to fling their pumpkins as well, giving it an enthusiastic try. Lonnie Quinn gave it a shot as well after the competition had finished.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above left, Don Sheldon puts his back in to it so to speak. Center, Lonnie raises the hand of the runner-up, Alex Westwood, then the winner Don Sheldon who is holding his basket of goodies.
Above, the excited spectators found a great viewing spot to watch the big contest.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
One Bad Oyster got the crowd fired up with their high energy performance.
A couple of festival attendees took up the challenge of a game of Jenga, which for some reason, did not last too long.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport Fire Department To The Rescue
Early Morning Truck Crash Requires Extrication And Hospitalization
A crash on Roseville Rd. at 6:15 Am today required multiple units from Westport Fire and EMS
Contributed Photos By Westport Fire Department
WFD Press Release:
Westport firefighters were dispatched to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving two trucks. Dispatch advised responding units that one occupant was trapped inside one of the vehicles and there was a truck was rolled over. The initial fire dispatch was Engine 2, Rescue 3, and the Shift Commander. Engine 6 was added based on the report of extrication.
Car 3 arrived and reported a utility truck with heavy front-end damage and one occupant trapped inside with an active diesel leak and a roll-off truck with heavy damage on its side. Due to the diesel leak, a protective hose line was deployed. Engine 5 was special called for additional manpower. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle in place and used battery-operated rescue tools to extricate the trapped occupant in under 10 minutes. At the same, time other firefighters worked to stabilize the roll-off truck. A total of five occupants from both vehicles were evaluated by WEMS, with three being transported to the hospital.
CT DEEP was contacted due to the diesel spill and responded to oversee the cleanup. Westport PD remained on scene throughout the incident to investigate and assist with traffic control. The last fire department unit cleared the scene at 10:27 AM. Roseville Road remained closed for approximately six hours during the incident and cleanup.
Scavengers From Redding Descend On Westport
You may have spotted these colorfully clad girls running all over town on Sunday. They were not making a dry run for Halloween. They are actually members of Redding’s Joel Barlow Girls Volleyball team who were on a scavenger hunt as part of a team building excercise. They have been doing this in Westport for at least five years. We were told that there were nearly 2 pages of tasks which the girls were challenged to accomplish. Who don’t know for sure who won but we’re confident they had lots of fun together.Scavengers From Redding Descend On Westport.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Tiger Tamers: Wreckers Rout Ridgefield
The State Champion Wreckers, who were ranked 7th in last weeks Sports Illustrated CT Coaches rankings and 4th on the MaxPreps list, met the Tigers who are in a rebuilding year with a 13 game win streak and breezed past Ridgefield 35-7 with both a high octane offense and a highly motivated defense. Top left: Junior QB Nick Weil puts the ball in the air to Shane Sandrew (top, right) wide receiver, for one of the senior’s two touchdown receptions. Bottom left: the stifling defense allowed only one Ridgefield score in the first period, and junior wide receiver Justin Halky celebrates one of his two touchdown receptions on the heels of his 102 yard reception performance.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
QB Nick Weil was on fire passing for 279 yards completing 21 of 29 attempts, and kept the defense on their toes by scrambling for another 48 yards with 7 carries, a record for the junior. The defensive wall which held the Tigers to a single score and standout senior Jack Stoler picked off two Ridgefield passes paving the way for Weil to connect with Sandrew who also set a record gaining 143 yards on 12 receptions.
Staples opened the scoring late in the first quarter and the Tigers answered early in the second for their only touchdown of the game. Staples found the end zone two more times including less than a minute before the halftime break, with a TD by senior Kody Goldman.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Senior running back Jarett Deluca receives medical attention for a leg injury and fortunately was able to walk off the field. Two enthusiastic fans showed some of their own athleticism in the stands, smiling broadly as they watched their team’s spectacular performance on the field.
The Staples Cheerleaders didn't let the sparse Wreckers crowd stop them from bringing the energy to counter the large Ridgefield crowd.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers cheerleaders as usual showed they got game as well.
The Staples faithful showed their delight as they watched their team dominate it's opponents.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Ridgefield Cheer & Dance Dazzles
The Tigers may not have been firing on all cylinders against the Wreckers, however the halftime performance by the Ridgefield Cheerleaders and Varsity Dance Team was something special.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
With excellent athleticism and challenging stunts, the Ridgefield Cheerleaders got the crowd on their feet and cheering. Their training and hard work was readily apparent, with their flyers soaring into the air and even doing flips.
The Dance team showed their high level of skill, executing complex choreography with precision, focus and top-notch showmanship, all with great smiles.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
