Labor Day Cabriolet Cruise On Hillspoint Road
Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
We spotted Melissa and Doug Bernstein cruising down Hillspoint Road at the end of Labor Day after enjoying the holiday. The Bernstein‘s were founders of one of America’s most successful and beloved toy brands, Melissa and Doug, which they started in their basement and at Doug’s parents garage. The products were all designed in their Wilton Connecticut headquarters. Thirty years later the couple sold Melissa & Doug to Spin Master, a publicly traded entertainment company in Canada, for $950 Million. Never folks to rest on their laurels the dynamic couple has embarked upon a new business venture, launching Lifelines, a company that creates wellness products for tweens, teens, and adults. To learn more visit: www.lifelines.com.
Melissa and Doug are one of Staples High and Westport true success stories. Doug became a resident at 4 years old, with Melissa arriving at age 16, and both graduated from Staples High school. Doug’s parents lived in Westport for 60 years and Melissa and Doug have carried on the family tradition, raising their six children in Westport.
Compo Lifeguards Labor Day Farewell
Labor marked the end of this year’s Compo Lifeguard service. A bittersweet moment for the kids, saying goodbye to their days at Compo Beach, keeping us safe and yellow to high school and college once again.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
They were not jumping for joy, but they did give us a great parting photo.
Main Street Show-Stopper
Shoppers who strolled Main St. looking for Labor Day sales and bargains found a rare vintage truck looking like it just rolled off the assembly line, then made a stop at a custom car shop to achieve a one-of-a-kind finish. This beautiful 1979 International Scout II found its way to Keith M. of Fairfield by way of his Uncle Richard from Redding, an avid car collector. Only 44,434 Scout II’s were built in ’79 which was the last production year for this vehicle. The car drew quite the interest from passers-by with several taking photos and selfies with this fine automobile. The Scout caught the interest of Kate from Stamford and her two sons Tucker, age 13 and Jack, age 11 who noticed some interesting feature found in the interior.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
This scout was restored from the ground up by a friend of his uncle’s in Phoenix who was a highly skilled restorer of vintage Ferrari’s, and upon the completion of a 1973 Ferrari Dino, the Scout needed to find a new home which is how it made it’s way to Redding. Keith has owned the truck for 11 years, kept her garaged to insure she stayed in pristine condition and she has just over 63,000 original (he believes) miles on the odometer.
The power plant is the original 345 cid V8 with only a top-end rebuild and the original rally wheels were fitted with BFG 32.5” all terrain tires. The vivid plaid interior prompted closer inspection which revealed a working CB radio and a rotary telephone reminiscent of the kind of mobile phones which were in use at that time. Although it currently is non-functional and is just a visual accessory, Keith is hoping to find a say to get it on-line at some point. He also added a bluetooth radio which he installed in the glovebox.
You’re Invited: Sherwood Island’s Annual Shorefest
Previous event photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress
The Friends Of Sherwood Island host a wonderful event each year at the beautiful waterside Pavilion overlooking Long Island Sound. Each year more than 100 friends and family members gather to enjoy the delicious food, great live music all to support the programs provided by the Friends Of Sherwood Island. This important fundraiser offers entree choices of lobster, steak or salmon, along with appetizers, delicious deserts and a variety of beverages. The silent auction is a fun way to help support this wonderful gem in Westport. Funds raised from the event go toward the Friends' many activities at the park, including dune restoration, 100 Trees for 100 Years, paid internships at the Nature Center, educational programs for all ages, and the Friends' yearlong efforts to protect one of our State's irreplaceable natural resources
A look at a previous event: WestportLocal Shorefest
Proceeds from Shorefest impact Sherwood Island’s ability to protect this scarce coastal sanctuary space in Fairfield County, and expand, protect, and care for the park’s wildlife habitat.
This beautiful park offers one of the few beaches open to all CT residents with no entry fee or parking charge. Wildlife thrives in this waterfront sanctuary including nesting Osprey each year, bunnies all along the paths and the Pavilion is home to the Sherwood Island 9/11 Memorial
This historic CT landmark was purchased in 1914 and Sherwood Island is Connecticut's first state park. Its 234 acres are divided into a distinct east side (including a sandy beach, tidal marsh, nature trail, and the popular model airplane field) and west side (hiking trails, picnic tables, marsh, and forest).
For tickets and to learn more visit:: friendsofsherwoodisland.org/event/shorefest-2025/