Westport’s great end-of-school-year/start-of-summer tradition — Staples High School’s Pops Concert at the Levitt Pavilion — is back!
This year’s show is Friday, June 7 (lawn opens at 6 p.m.; concert at 7; BYO chair; food trucks on site). The always sold-out event features the Staples Symphonic Orchestra and Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orphenians, Choralaires and other small group ensembles.
Once again, media personality David Pogue will serve as the warm, welcoming emcee.
Tickets are free, but a suggested donation of $15 per ticket is suggested to offset the production costs.
Tickets are available at staplesmusic.org beginning next Wednesday, May 29 at 9 a.m.: first-come, first-served! In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be performed in the Staples High School auditorium at 70 North Avenue, where tickets will be honored.
This year’s graphic was designed by Staples senior Shivali Kanthan.
==================================================
Which Westport beach is the best? We can debate that all summer long.
Of course, there are many ways to define “best.”
But if you’re looking at water quality alone, Save the Sound has an answer.
It’s Burying Hill Beach.
Their grades — based on 2023 date from 197 public and private beaches, in Connecticut and New York — gave an A+ to the small Greens Farms spot.
Compo Beach and Sherwood Island State Park both earned a B+.
Click here for an interactive map of those and other Long Island Sound beaches.
Burying Hill: #1 for water quality in Westport. (Photo/Ed Simek)
==================================================
Since they began in 2007, Westport Animal Shelter Advocates has watched with dismay as the number of abandoned animals her grows.
Recently, a little puppy was left in a shopping bag near the Volvo dealership.
WASA brought it up to date on vet care. After an adoption process involving an application, meet and greets and a home visit, it was adopted by a loving family.
On Wednesday, WASA was notified of 3 kittens abandoned in a box at the transfer station. They were kept safe there by long-time employee Bud Valiante.
WASA arrived quickly. The kittens were examined, vaccinated, treated for tick infestations, and are now in the care of a skilled and wonderful WASA volunteer.
They are about six weeks old, and doing very well
Interested adopters should call WASA (203-557-0361), or email wasa1@optonline.net.
To make a donation so WASA can continue its important work, click here.
3 kittens need adoptive families.
==================================================
There are many important days on the Westport Rotary Club calendar.
But this past Tuesday was extra special. Members handed checks to Fairfield County charities they support.
Nearly 100 people attended the luncheon, at which 41 non-profits received a total of $200,000.
That’s a Westport Rotary Club record. Congratulations to the hard-working members — and the recipients.
Rotary Club members and recipients. (Photo/Peter DePalo)
==================================================
Over 4,000 teams from more than 50 countries competed in the recent Wharton Investment Competition, sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania.
Using an online stock market simulator, they learn about strategy building, teamwork, communication, risk, diversification, company and industry analysis, and many other aspects of investing.
Upholding Westport’s hedge fund “capital” reputation, the Staples High School team placed second.
Congratulations to the young financiers (names in caption below):
From left: Eli Lesser, director, Wharton Global Youth Program; Andrew Rebello and Srish Popuri, Staples co-presidents; Alex Sod, founder; Mack Haymond, Henry Watson, Will Boberski, Sam Rossoni.
==================================================
Kings Highway Elementary School officially opened its Outdoor Learning Center yesterday.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice joined principal Tracey Carbone, vice principals Catherine Carmona and Jame’el Lawrence, PTA presidents Denise Acampora and Arielle Leighton, and past PTA president Jeni Bianco, for the ceremony.
The Outdoor Learning Center will be used for activities like reading, morning meetings, writing, snack breaks and more.
Students enjoy the Kings Highway Outdoor Learning Center.
=================================================
Congratulations too to the recipients of a Westport Green Building Award for Achievement in Sustainable Design and Construction. It goes to a Saugatuck Shores home damaged by a tornado in 2020, and rebuilt for resilience and sustainability.
The project team includes lead Patricia Miller of Residential Design; Marc and Joseph Fuscaldo of Fuscaldo Builders, and smart home designer Barry Reiner of InnerSpace Electronics.
The award, given by the town and Sustainable Westport, recognizes residential and commercial projects that make significant contributions to sustainability, and Westport’s future as a net zero community.
Click here for details of the Saugatuck Shores project.
To nominate a project for the Green Building Award, click here.
To learn more about how to make homes more sustainable, click here, then follow the link to “Guidance for Applicants.”
Celebrating the Green Building Award, on Saugatuck Shores.
==================================================
This spring, the Westport Transit District updated its Wheels2U app. Users who downloaded it before March 26 need to update it. New riders are encouraged to download it now.
To thank everyone for downloading or updating, rides on Wheels2U are free for all riders next week (Monday through Friday, May 20-24). The normal $2 fare will be waived.
Click here for a link to the app, and more information.
Riders use the Wheels2U Westport app to request a pickup between 5:45 and 10 a.m., and between 4 9:30 p.m. for rides between the Westport or Greens Farms train platform and their front door. Pickups should be requested about 20 minutes before you would normally leave to drive to the station.
Wheels2U
================================================
For underserved people with writing talent, finding resources is no laughing matter.
But “Lit & Wit” is. The comedy night fundraiser is a Westport Writers’ Workshop initiative to raise funds for pro bono writing workshops in underserved communities.
The brainchild of WWW writers Aline Weiller and Alyssa Katz, plus WEstport comedian Jerry Kuyper, it’s set for June 6 (7 p.m., Saugatuck Rowing Club).
Tickets are $55. More than a dozen top comedians will entertain guests (see below). The evening also includes snacks, a food truck (starting at 6 p.m.), cash bar, comedy trivia for prizes, and door prize gift basket. Click here for tickets, and more information.
==================================================
Meanwhile, things were in a bit of a pickle yesterday, outside the rear entrance to Rye Ridge Deli:
The mess was cleaned up quickly, before birds or other animals could dine.
==================================================
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from busily traveled Riverside Avenue, near Sylvan Lane.
We should all slow down and enjoy the beautiful scene.
Even though the impatient drivers behind us might not appreciate that.
(Photo/Dan Souza)
==================================================
And finally … Perry Como was born on this date, in 1912. He sold over 100 million records worldwide, and hosted a weekly musical variety television show, during a 50-plus-year career. He died in 2001, age 88.
(It’s the weekend, but “06880” never rests. Here’s another information-filled Roundup If you appreciate our hyper-local coverage, please click here to support our work. Thank you)
