Sasquanaug
Quarterly Issue | Spring 2021 | sasquanaug.org | @sasquanaug
Photo courtesy of The Southport Globe, @thesouthportglobe
Local musician Billy Ruegger records for Music for the Merchants
supporting our Community The Sasquanaug fund for southport merchants
earth day
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is preventing us from gathering for our annual Southport Clean-Up Day. Instead, we encourage you to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up your own neighborhood or a public space in town. Please take photos & tag us to be featured on our digital platforms (@Sasquanaug)!
Newsletter
MARCH 27 Passover begins
calendar
The Sasquanaug Association works to preserve and protect the historic nature of Southport. A critical aspect of this mission is supporting the valuable presence of the Village merchants, many of whom were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, we launched the Sasquanaug Fund for Southport Merchants in Spring 2020. The Fund sought to raise money from local residents and businesses, with Sasquanaug matching all donations up to $5,000. Additional contributions were raised through Music for the Merchants, a digital music series created by Southport native Molly Murphy, that was filmed at the Pequot Library and featured the musical stylings of four local musicians. Now, almost one year later, we are pleased to report that the Sasquanaug Fund for Southport Merchants raised over $24,000, which we distributed to 16 local merchants. Thank you to all who supported!
APRIL 2 Good Friday 4 Easter More information on p. 3 Passover concludes 6 Meditation, (6:30-7pm every Tuesday on Zoom, register on Trinity website) 10 Southport Historic Walking Tour (10-11:30am, Meet on Pequot Library lawn, register on library website) 11 Meditation (5:20-6:30pm every Sunday on Zoom, register on Trinity website) 16 Sandlot Movie Night (7pm, Haydon Softball Field, organized by Fairfield Parks & Rec) 20 Spring Fling Book Sale (10am-4pm, Pequot Library, through April 26) 22 Earth Day See details on Earth Day in Southport at left
Finalizing your Mother's Day gifts or sending love by mail? Visit Switzer's for a nice selection of colorful gift wrap and thoughtful greeting cards (at left), some soothing bath oils and salts, or a festive bottle of wine or champagne!
This spring, Lattice House is filled with lovely items for the green thumbs or aspiring green thumbs among us. The store is currently carrying clay pots by Ben Wolff (top right), who is the son of famous potter Guy Wolff, as well as a variety of vintage garden pots, planters and urns. A highlight of the store is the pottery by Zach Dunn (bottom right), who creates one-of-a-kind pieces for Lattice House several times a year.
Now is the perfect time to get ahead on your Mother's Day shopping and Southport is a one-stop shop for all of your gifting needs. The merchants in town are stocked with treasures to suit every mother's tastes, so don't let May 9th sneak up on you! We connected with the Fairfield Women's Exchange, Lattice House, and Switzer's Pharmacy for a preview of their Mother's Day selections. It's safe to say that mom will not be disappointed to receive something from one of these wonderful shops!
Need some inspiration for the mom who has everything, or the mom who is impossible to shop for? Look no further than the Fairfield Women's Exchange, which offers a curated selection of unique antiques, accessories, and food items. The store shared several wonderful items that are currently available for purchase, including antique china (top left), cookbooks, gourmet chocolates, handbags (bottom left), jewelry, and more.
Southport traditions blessing of the fleet
MAY 8 Southport Historic Walking Tour (10-11:30am, Pequot Library lawn, pre-registration required) 9 Mother's Day 22 Southport Historic Walking Tour (10-11:30am, Meet on Pequot Library lawn, pre-registration required) 31 Memorial Day
APRIL, ctd. 29 Of Human Bondage: History of Slavery in Connecticut (6pm, Zoom register on Pequot Library website)
Organized each June for over 25 years, the Blessing of the Fleet and Southport Street Parade are charming traditions reflecting our town's unique character. The tradition started out of the Pequot Yacht Club, with local clergy blessing boats under the scenic water arch of the Southport Fire Department. After taking a break in 2020, we are thrilled this tradition is back on June 12 - follow @sasquanaug for more info!
LATTICE HOUSE 411 Pequot Avenue, (917) 520-0120 latticehousehome.com | @latticehouse
We're always looking to feature shops and restaurants in Southport. If you have a favorite merchant you'd like to see featured in an upcoming newsletter, reach out to Sasquanaug (sasquanaug@gmail.com)!
MERCHANT SPOTLIGHT MOTHER'S DAY SHOPPING IN THE VILLAGE
SWITZER'S PHARMACY 322 Pequot Avenue, (203) 259-7891
JUNE 4 Southport Garden Stroll (10am-3pm at Pequot Library) 12 Blessing of the Fleet 13 Fairfield Farmer's Market (10am-2pm, Sherman Green, recurs every Sunday through 10/3) 20 Father's Day
FAIRFIELD WOMEN'S EXCHANGE 332 Pequot Avenue, (203) 259-5138 thefairfieldexchange.com | @the.fairfield.womens.exchange
Despite the pandemic, our Board is busier than ever working to preserve the historic character of Southport and the quality of life in our community. We're blessed to have four new directors who have joined the Board, bringing with them a youthful enthusiasm to modernize our marketing and outreach, participate in improving pedestrian and cyclist safety on Pequot Avenue (in partnership with the Southport Conservancy), address the cleanliness of the Village and surrounding area, and provide fresh eyes on other improvement projects under consideration. A hearty thanks once again to those members and friends who supported our effort to sustain our Village merchants during the most difficult and uncertain part of the pandemic. Our merchant friends are most grateful. The Village is a gem and its preservation will always be at the heart of our mission. A few steps from the Village center on Main Street is historic Robinson Cottage, the 226-year old house we've owned, managed, and maintained since 1929. With a structure this age, our investment in its maintenance is ongoing.
Fire Department's water arch at annual Blessing of the Fleet
A few steps in the opposite direction is Southport Park, which is a popular place for children to play and for people of all ages to walk the wooded paths. In 2013, the park was transformed from a woodland through the generosity of many in our community, including the Friends of Southport Park, the Aspectuck Land Trust, the Southport Conservancy, and the Southport Area
From jack ijams, president of the sasquanaug association
The Sea Lodge Photo courtesy of The Southport Globe (@thesouthportglobe)
SERVICES Southport Congregational Church - Maundy Thursday: 7:30pm, Virtual on SCC YouTube channel - Good Friday: 12pm, Virtual on SCC YouTube Channel - Easter Sunday: Sunrise Service, 7am at Sasco Beach; 9am service - SCC invites the community to tune into the livestream on YouTube Trinity Episcopal Church - Maundy Thursday: 6:30pm, Trinity Lawn - Good Friday: 12pm, Trinity Lawn - Easter Sunday: Sunrise Service, 6:30am at Southport Beach; 9am and 11am service on Trinity Lawn (pre-registration required) EGG HUNTS The Town of Fairfield's Bunny Bundles drive-through event on April 1st features a visit with the Easter Bunny and to-go kits for your own Easter egg hunt. On Easter morning, Trinity is hosting an egg hunt on their playground at 10am.
Association. Together with our non-profit partner, the Friends of Southport Park, we've made improvements to the paths and have plans for a new path to celebrate the history of the Great Swamp Battle that ended Pequot War in 1637. This has been an ongoing effort since 2018 in partnership with the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the National Parks Service, and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. We are also pleased that the Sea Lodge has been certified to be on the State Register of Historic Places, a tribute to its architect Roswell Barratt and with many thanks to
Historic Robinson Cottage on Main Street Photo courtesy of The Southport Globe (@thesouthportglobe)
Easter week in southport
the efforts of Jack Franzen, whose help has been invaluable in attaining the designation. Despite the pandemic, the Sea Lodge operated at a near normal level last year, with similar plans in place for 2021. Finally, and of utmost importance, we continue to work with our state representatives to advocate for a sensible balance between state mandated land use and housing policy (i.e., 8-30g statute and newly proposed statewide affordable housing legislation) and our town and community's land planning and use. We sincerely thank all our members for your support and, if you are not already a member, we encourage you to join our Association and welcome input on how we can be most effective. As always, feel free to contact me directly at musicman8156@gmail.com.
Since our founding in the late 1800s, the Sasquanaug Association has worked to preserve and protect Southport and its historical surroundings. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory, and continue to contribute to the community's day-to-day enjoyment of Village life.
new resident's guide to southport public outdoor spaces
www.sasquanaug.org sasquanaug@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: @sasquanaug
2020 was a year like no other, but one positive of the pandemic was the influx of new residents to Southport. Sasquanaug is excited to welcome you to town, and to provide insider tips through our newsletters, so you can quickly start living like a local!
Sasquanaug is interested in hearing what you think are the most important issues or opportunities in Southport! We are also looking for input and involvement, and encourage you to contact us and let us know how you'd like to get involved.
Sasquanaug Association PO Box 471 Southport, CT 06890
Photos courtesy of The Southport Globe (@thesouthportglobe) Clockwise from top left: Southport Beach, Perry Green, Ye Yacht Yard, Southport Park
As a charitable organization, we rely on membership dues to drive our efforts to protect and preserve Southport. To learn more and support the Sasquanaug Association, please visit our website, sasquanaug.org.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Join Sasquanaug today!
Southport Beach Southport Beach is 2.5 acres of quiet, public beachfront on Long Island Sound. Be sure to get your beach sticker before Memorial Day Saturday (May 29th), as this is a requirement to park in the lot through Labor Day and will also allow you to visit the town's other beaches. Visit Fairfield Parks & Recreation website to purchase. Parks Southport's three public parks offer a lovely destination for fresh air and social distancing. Located on the Old Post Road, Southport Park is an 11 acre recreation area including trails, a playground, and a picnic area. The Park is owned by Sasquanaug and managed in coordination with the Friends of Southport Park. Southport's two waterside parks on Harbor Road—Perry Green and the Lower Wharf—provide breathtaking views of the harbor, as well as several benches and ample space for a picnic. Ye Yacht Yard Located at the end of Harbor Road just before the Lower Wharf, Ye Yacht Yard is one of two public marinas in town, offering boat slips (currently on a wait list), a launch, and kayak racks, in addition to benches and picnic tables.