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WESTPORT, Conn. – Anyone planning to hit Sherwood Island State Park or Burying Hill Beach in Westport Monday will have to adjust their plans – both will be closed all day due to President Barack Obama’s visit to town Monday evening.
Obama is expected to arrive in Westport Monday night to attend a dinner/fundraiser at movie producer Harvey Weinstein’s home on Beachside Avenue near Burying Hill Beach. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff announced the closing of the beach in a press release Monday morning.
Joseloff said he was informed Monday that the Westport Police Department relayed a request from the Secret Service late last week to close the facility. Signs announcing the closure have been posted at the beach entrance.
Sherwood Island State Park will be closed for a “special event,” a spokesman at the state parks office said Monday morning. Though he did not know what the special event was, it’s been reported that presidential helicopter Marine 1 will land at the park.
“My understanding is that they asked for Sherwood Island to be closed and for Burying Hill Beach to be closed,” Joseloff said in the news release. “And we have complied with the request.”
The $35,800 per guest party at Weinstein’s home is expected to begin at around 6:30 or 7 p.m. According to town records, Weinstein owns a 8,896-square-foot home at 26 Beachside Ave. Built in 1909, the home features six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three half-baths and five fireplaces.
Comments (6)
The Secret Service decides what gets closed when. Period. They do it for Obama, they do it for Romney too. In the past, they did it for both Bushes, they did it for Clinton, they even did it for Reagan.
Complain all you want, but don't be hypocrites.
The guy knows how to raise money and campaign. I give him that. Governing? Nah.
I guess you forgot about the village idiot Bush Jr. 4 times and his father twice
Who is Bush? What is his position in government?
Oh you forget about him..He is the idiot that created the mess that Obama inherited...WOW you republicans really all do have convenient Alzheimer's.
How many other Presidents have come to CT without closing a state park beach during the peak of summer - for a fundraiser no less? I'm sure his campaign will reimburse the state and Westport for the visit! They probably decided against landing on the golf course because he might want to get in a few more holes while he's here. Hoping he at least employs a caddie. If his visit screwed up the beach plans for those that vote for him as much as he's screwed up the economy then I guess that will have to suffice.