Outpost Pizza Reopens Following Accident, Community Support: “It was at that moment when I realized that Westport is a great town.”
Owner, Joey Dedovic Stands Outside Outpost PizzaOutpost Pizza has officially reopened following a car crash that forced the business to close in late June. Over the last month, the owners, staff, and community worked tirelessly to get the eatery up and running. The father-and-son owned restaurant was as crowded as ever Friday, thanks to the locals' cravings for Outpost’s delicious pies.
Owner, Joey Dedovic described some of the challenges he faced when trying to get the business open again. From paying money from his own pocket to restore the building and decor, to keeping his employees, rebuilding was not easy. Many of the employees took jobs with local competitors once word got out that Outpost Pizza closed. “I'm just trying to get back to where it was, from day one, if not better actually. People were lining out the door from the start.” He also mentioned his economic struggles, “If this was my only source of income, this place would still be closed.” Outpost Pizza has another location in Stamford which has been open for 14 years. Dedovic is also looking forward to the future, he plans on obtaining a liquor license for the restaurant. He also wants to add more tables for people to dine in.
Dedovic became emotional when describing a key moment in his opening day. He mentioned that an eight-year-old girl brought him an envelope with money that she made from her lemonade stand to help him reopen. “That meant more to me than anything.” He was stunned that a person, especially a child could be that selfless. “It was at that moment when I realized that Westport is a great town.”
With such a strong community backing Outpost Pizza, it seems that success is inevitable for the locally owned pizza shop. Why should one visit? Take it from Joey himself, “It’s good pizza.”
Photos & Words by Caelan Chevrier for The Westport Local Press. Westport 19U Baseball Team Wins First Game in State Tournament
Photo by Caelan Chevrier
Westport defeated Stratford 4-2 in Tuesday night’s baseball game at Staples High School. A big second inning at the plate, and solid pitching allowed Westport to secure the victory. First Baseman, Ethan Glennon said that his team “got the fundamentals down today.” Pitcher Alex Petrsoric couldn't be happier considering the fierce rivalry between the teams. “It was a great team win,” he added.
The Westport 19U team is back at it Wednesday at 5:30 hoping to advance in the tournament once again. With a roster filled with such great talent, it is feasible that their momentum will continue.
Stamford Arts Fest Attracts Large Crowd
Thousands of people gathered at Harbor Point for the Stamford Arts Festival Saturday to take in paintings, sculptures, crafts, and photography from 85 different artists from around the area. There was also incredible jewelry, woodwork and glass pieces to enjoy. Executive Director Sue Brown Gordon was cheerful about all of the interest in the works by the harbor. “We’re back and bigger than ever,” she said. After shutting down last year due to COVID, she made note of the diverse community at this year's showing. “We’re getting a lot more young people who are expressing their interest in art.”
The festival was accompanied by live music from three different musicians including Staples graduate, Luke Molina.
There was something for everyone to enjoy today. The Festival will be continuing tomorrow from 10-5. If you can’t make it, The SONO Art Festival will feature a majority of the same artists from August 7-8.
Photos & Words by Caelan Chevrier for The Westport Local Press. Westport 12 U Little Leaguers Fight Hard this Season
Photos and words by Caelan Chevrier Fairfield American defeated Westport 8-4 Friday night in the District 12s championship game in Trumbull. Westport will have another chance to advance in the double-elimination district title game tomorrow at 11:00 AM.
Despite the loss, fans displayed some of the most passionate and energizing sportsmanship. Mothers wore earrings with their sons' baseball numbers on them. Parents, grandparents, and just those who enjoy the game all cheered in unison after nearly every pitch. From bleacher-wide chants, to the ringing of cowbells, dedication and emotion were found on the side of the field.
Head Coach Joe Leonard remains confident in his team. “We can beat these guys, there’s no doubt about it.” He noted that the level of talent of his players is exceptionally high, and he is excited to come back today.
The winner of today’s game will move on to the sectionals tournament, where they will face more opponents eager to seek a spot in the Little League World Series.
Westport’s 11 and 12 year-old players made it to the famous Williamsport Little League World Series in 2013, advancing through the series until the very end. Although a Tokyo, Japan team ultimately claimed victory - they returned home to a parade as local heroes.
Quiet Afternoon on Church Lane
Drizzling rain brought quiet to Church Lane this afternoon as only a few families enjoyed the outdoor seating along the social avenue of restaurants and shops. Photo by Caelan Chevrier for The Westport Local Press.
Farmers’ Market Busy Ahead of Independence Day
Photos & Words by Caelan Chevrier for The Westport Local Press. The first hot and humid day of July brought hundreds of community members down to Westport Farmers’ Market. Shoppers could purchase produce, meats, loaves of bread, dairy products, and beverages, from over 50 local vendors. Due to the holiday weekend, Thursday’s turnout was even larger than normal. Every tent and truck attracted a line of enthusiastic visitors. Accompanied by a live acoustic set by a local musician, it seemed that Westport Farmers’ Market is the place to be on early Thursday mornings this summer.
Mae Farrell, who runs the Get Growing program for the market said that her favorite part is seeing all the shoppers. “It is such a great community of people,” she said. “You get your regulars and not just people from Westport, but people from all over the place traveling down here.”
Mackenzie Brandt, who works for the Riverbank Farm in Roxbury, CT, understands the importance of buying locally. She likes the market because she knows the food is high quality. “In some markets, they are not always organic, or they are not using the most sustainable practices. I think that local food is a lot more important than people give it credit for, a lot of the lettuce that we sell was just picked yesterday. Buying locally is healthier for you, it helps the environment, and community, you never know what the labor practices are with other larger companies.”
Westport Farmers’ Market will be open Thursdays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM until November 11th this season.