Marilyn Katz - ABR, e-PRO - WestportCTProperties.com

When you think of Westport, Connecticut, it doesn't usually conjure up a bargain hunter's paradise. For Westport residents, however, a hands-down, favorite bargain is Longshore Town Park. For $35, residents can obtain a handpass, which allows them to sign up for recreational programs, have free use of the Longshore swimming pools and for nominal additional fees, golf, play tennis and obtain boat launch permits.

For tennis lovers, however, today was free!! One day, each summer, Longshore hosts a Family Tennis Festival, to introduce town residents to this wonderful facility.

The Festival offered something for everyone. There were Junior Clinics, starting with the 3-5 year old, PeeWee class. Watch out Rafael and Venus. There are new champs in the making, just warming up.

There were also adult clinics, and for those preferring non-supervised hitting, the opportunity to demo some new Wilson tennis racqets. Those with a competitive spirit, took part in a World Team Tennis Round Robin Tournament.

All that activity was a sure way to work up an appetite. Not to worry - Joey's By the Sea, the Compo Beach concession stand, provided hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and drinks.

The Longshore facility comprises 9 HarTru soft courts. During the summer, the courts are open from 8 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. Courts are available for reserved play for 1 1/2 hour sessions. On weekends and holidays, 7 courts are available for two morning sessions of Open Doubles, from 8-9:30 and 9:30 to 11:00.

There's still time to "shop 'til you drop", this weekend, in Westport, Connecticut. Today was the first day of another of Westport's popular weekend summer events - The annual Sidewalk Sale.
Many shops, along Main Street and the Post Road, displayed their wares, outside their storefronts. Others cheated the "Sidewalk" title, a bit and invited you inside, out of the heat, to take advantage of the weekend sale prices.

As a welcome contrast to the soaring gas prices, Westport vendors offered the opportunity to make selections from "50% off" racks, $10 per item" tables, 3 greeting cards for $1, choices and other sale and discount enticements

The weatherman is predicting a perfect weekend to stroll downtown Westport. The sale continues through this Sunday, July 13.

Westport is a terrific town to live in, year round, but, during the summer, it really shines (pardon the pun.) A definite sign that summer is arriving (beside this week's 90+ degree weather), is the opening of the 101st Yankee Doodle Fair.

The Fair runs from Thursday, June 12 thru Sunday, June 15. It is sponsored by the Westport Women's Club and serves as their major fundraiser, of the year. All net proceeds benfit local charities.

The Yankee Doodle Fair offers something for kids, of all ages.


There are rides and kiddie game, weekend crafters, a food court, bake sale, plant sale and Sunday, farmer's market.

The Westport Women's Club is located at:
44 Imperial Avenue, Westport

Fair hours are: Thursday 6-11 PM
Friday 6-11 PM
Saturday Noon - 11 PM
Sunday Noon - 5 PM

The Yankee Doodle Fair is only one of Westport's many summer attractions. Later in June, there is the June Benefit Horse Show, at the Fairfield County Hunt Club. July brings the annual, weekend sidewalk sale, the Italian Festival and the 35th Annual Outdoor Fine Arts Festival. Throughout the summer, you can enjoy the free concerts, at the Levitt Pavilion. Or, if your taste runs to more formal entertainment, catch a show at the Westport Country Playhouse.

For visitors and residents alike, summer in Westport is a summer vacation.

It was 5 o'clock and time to call it a day. Before getting in my car, I went to the trunk, to retrieve everything I had tossed there, earlier, before taking out this afternoon's buyers. There it was, the library book I forgot to return, this morning. Should I wait 'til tomorrow and incur the 25¢ late fee. I couldn't do it - I'm a REALTOR® - in this market, we can't afford to waste any money. So, I took the slight detour and headed for the library.

What was going on? As I pulled in, I was greeted by a parking lot filled with fire trucks. A couple of dozen people were milling around. Parents held on to their small children, waiting to hear when they would be able to retrieve their belongings.

There were firemen spread around the area, but there didn't appear to be any sense of emergency. I parked and cautiously approached the front door. Perhaps I could get to the dropoff slot after all - I was still determined to save that 25¢.

As I approached the front door,I spotted a librarian, that I knew.

What happened? "It's a false alarm. They're just waiting to rearm the system."

Do you know what caused it? "Yes, a boy pulled the alarm."

Was it intentional, or just a little kid, fooling around? "It was an 11 year old and he was here with his mother."

I wonder what the mother said to her young son. A fire, in a public building, potentially could involve lots of innocent people. No wonder so many trucks responded. Did his mother explain that by diverting all that fire and rescue personnel, those resources were not available, if a real emergency took place? We go about our daily lives and take it for granted that these rescuers will be there, when we need them.

I went home and looked up the statistics. The Westport Fire Department responds to approximately 4,000 incidents, each year. They not only respond to the obvious fire calls and motor vehicle accidents, but they are ready, when needed for medical emergencies, animal rescues, chemical spills, lockouts and bomb threats. In our wonderfully treed community, when the storms show up and the winds pick up, they are on call for the inevitable downed power lines. Living along Long Island Sound, their dive teams are always on alert for water resues.

Fortunately, false alarms are rare, in our town. But, if one should be called in, when a true emergency exists, it can still spell disaster. I hope that young man learned that lesson, today.