Gobble, Gobble, Gobble! Happy Thanksgiving From Westport Local Press!
Scenes from last year’s Stamford Balloon Spectacular. Photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocaPress.com.
We know that many folks in town will be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as they prepare today's feast. Stamford presents it's Balloon Spectacular each year to celebrate the holiday. We were unable to cover this year's parade but we would like to share our coverage from last year with our readers.
Click here: to view last year’s article: Stamford Balloon Spectacular Happy Thanksgiving everyone from Westport Local Press.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com.
Westport Sunrise Rotary Uncorks Wines And Generosity For Local Charities
The 35th annual Westport Uncorked Wine Tasting hosted by Westport Sunrise Rotary and held at the Longshore raised over $20,000 for 30+ local charities. Over 300 local movers and shakers enjoyed some unique wines and wonderful food pairings. There was even a surprise appearance by the beloved Sunny the Duck mascot to announce next year’s Great Duck Race on June 28.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Wine: The Fine Wine Company of Westport, led by Cory D’Addario, again provided the extraordinary wines for Westport Uncorked. It is their portfolio and their wine point of view. Cory offered over 100 wines for our tasting. The wines were chosen for specific reasons, never chosen for price or just to have more wines available.
Cory is committed to offering wines with sustainable, organic or bio-dynamic practices in the respective vineyard. She is very selective, tasting every wine and looking for qualities beyond price. The Fine Wine Company of Westport believes in integrity from the vineyard to the supplier and in the store. The Fine Wine Company (as Fine Wine and Liquor Locker) has been our wine host for over 30 years, and we are truly grateful for their commitment to this event.
The Exceptional Venue: The Inn at Longshore was once a private estate built in 1890 and is one of the premier locations in Fairfield County to host an event. A wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, holiday party, corporate seminar, company picnic, or yearly charity event all make sense in this incredible, well-loved space. A world class chef and the engaging inn staff provide welcoming service, and unique opportunities for enjoying an event in a historic and vibrant venue.
The Inn at Longshore is still considered a "Jewel" of Westport, CT and is nestled between an 18-hole golf course and Long Island Sound. Year round views of the water and surrounding landscape are breathtaking, and truly unexpected.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Field Of Flags Tributes Honor Those Who Served For Veterans Day
500 American Flags wave proudly at Veterans Park in Norwalk
In Fairfield County, tributes to our military veterans have been created for Veterans Day each year in area cities and towns.
One of the most prominent displays of patriotism and appreciation for their service can be seen at Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave., East Norwalk just before the drawbridge to SoNo. It is a truly inspirational sight. 500 large flags wave in the breeze which is nearly constant from neighboring Long Island Sound.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The 2024 Norwalk tribute (photos above and below) began ten years ago by the Norwalk Exchange Club and consisted of 100 flags and has expanded each year to its current total of 500. This event has been recognized as a regional site by the Veterans Day National Committee and is one of only 56 sites in the U.S. and the only one in Connecticut that honor those who have served with this awe inspiring display.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The line of flags lead past a monument to recipients of the purple heart which is flanked by benches for visitors to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of America’s heroes.
The town of Fairfield creates their Field Of Valor each year in Jennings Park, near the Bob's shopping center on the Post Road.with more than 300 American Flags The Kiwanis Club of Fairfield organizes the event and the cost is offset by contributors who may sponsor a flag for $25.00 which they can keep or donate back for use next year. A dedication ceremony was held on Sunday, November 3rd and the inspiring display will be on view through November 17th.
The Town of Westport and VFW Post 399 will host Veterans Day services on Monday, November 11 at 11:00 AM in the Town Hall auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue. The public is invited.
At 10:30 AM, the Westport Community Band will present a “Patriotic Salute to All Veterans” program which will include marches and patriotic tunes.
To the north in Danbury, the Student Veterans Organization at Western Connecticut State University has placed more than 2,000 flags at the university's downtown campus on White Street with the assistance of Danbury Police and Danbury Fire Department personnel. Those flags will can be viewed until Tuesday, November 12th.
Another view of the 500 American flags at Veterans Park in Norwalk.
Halloween Parade Turns Main Street Into Treat Street
We know that the presidential election is probably stressing out one side or the other, or perhaps both today, so we thought a look at the smiles and joy and unity everyone felt at one of Westport's favorite family events might be a wonderful diversion.
Here are the photos of all the clever, inventive and very cute trick-or-treaters who stormed the Main St. merchants in waves to fill their buckets and bags with Halloween goodies.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.comClick on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
This adorable row of future trick-or-treaters were getting their first glimpse of their futures on Halloweens to come.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
In row two above, the photo on the right shows Staples Players who are promoting their upcoming show, ELF The Musical, a hilarious show based upon the contemporary classic film starring Will Ferrell. Santa is being played by Yusef Abdallah and Chloe Carson is playing Jovie.
Seamus Brannigan is playing the lead, Buddy The Elf and he told WestportLocalPress, “it’s one of the most fun roles I have ever played. Seeing the show come together in the rehearsals is getting me more exited than ever for opening night. This family friendly friendly show is great for all ages.”
Tickets are available at www.staplesplayers.com
After storming Main St., the crowd gathered at Veteran's Green for more treats and give-a-ways courtesy of Westport Parks & Recreation, the Police Athletic League and the Westport Downtown Merchant's Association.
The DJ got the crowd dancing in between enjoying the treats everyone received on the way.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Letter from the Editor: Follow the Leader
Birds following their leader high above Main Street on Sunday evening.
From the Editor:
On Halloween night I was able to hand out candy in the Compo Beach neighborhood with one of my fellow EMTs. Though I thought I bought enough candy, we ran out at around 7:30 - just as a group of teenagers walked towards us and our EMS vehicle.
“We’re all out” I shouted, anticipating them turning around or pelting me with eggs.
One of the boys kept walking towards me; I braced for impact as he opened his pillowcase and said “Here! Take what you want for other kids.” As he did this, another boy rushed over and offered his candy, too. If I could have given them every piece of candy that we handed out that night, it still wouldn’t have been enough to show how impacted I was by their act of kindness.
A while later, a toddler ran up to us holding out two Reese’s Cups - his grandfather explaining to me that the child wouldn’t go back to the house without us taking his Reese’s. We ate them immediately as he ran back to his stoop to wave to us as we drove away; peanut butter stuck to the roofs of our mouths.
—I knew I wanted to write an email ahead of the election tomorrow, but knowing that people will be upset regardless of who “wins” challenged me. So I wrote down “candy” in my Notes app as a story for this email, because regardless of any election and who are leaders are: we will be in charge of our own kindness, and we always have been.
Yesterday I sat at Gold’s and, after botching the Wordle, noticed a table of three teenagers. They sat amongst Dunkin Donuts bags and other garbage all over the table. I got annoyed thinking that they would be leaving it to be cleaned up by the staff.
And then, again, I was proved wrong. One stood up, wiped his crumbs into his plate, and took his trash to the bin. The other two followed. They all went back to push in their chairs, and checked to make sure it was clean before they paid and left. I added the phrase “cleaning table” to my Notes app before I walked out, too; making sure my spot was clean, too.
Those two good moments sit amongst an unknown amount of good in our community - some of it noticed, some unnoticed. I’d like to think there’s more good than bad, but that’s just me. I’d also like to think that they have nothing to do with who’s elected because in that moment: they were the leaders; they can’t even vote.
Those two good moments also sit against a stark backdrop of tension and division that unfolds ahead of any political season. I see it in the news, in social media, in conversation. You may see it, too. They aren’t just political comments - they’re personal and designed to hurt. I’d also like to think that they, too, have nothing to do with who’s elected because in those moments: we are the leaders. We are responsible for the hatred or anger that we foster or push.
—I am not confident in what tomorrow’s election will bring.
I am confident that whatever happens tomorrow - however you vote/d - our community will still have good in it come Wednesday morning because our kindness is not reliant on who’s elected, or who isn’t elected.
We always have a choice to follow “the leader” - to fall in line behind them. Who is a “leader”?
I hope as we go through this week, that we all follow the leaders who guide us to be better humans - not just political leaders - but our own local leaders, right down to our local teenagers and toddlers who lead us to remember that we are in control of our own kindness.
Go vote if you haven’t already, and regardless of who our next elected officials are: we are in charge of our kindness, not them.
I’ll remember that every time I have a peanut butter cup stuck to the roof of my mouth.
In partnership,
Jaime Bairaktaris
Westport Celebrates Halloween!
A home in this downtown neighborhood shows it's halloween spirit.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.ei downtown neighborhood
Whether it is the annual Halloween Parade on Main Street, a family favorite in town for years, or the wonderful elaborately decorated Halloween homes all over town, Westport celebrates their love for this fall holiday in a big way. Here are just a few of the spookiest and scariest best!
These Compo Beach neighborhood animatronic cats flexing their muscles certainly gave pause to any canine passers-by who might think of taking them on.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The folks at this Bradley Street home certainly spared no expense or effort in creating an attention grabbing display with this beautiful presentation to show their Halloween spirit.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.