By Susan Granger

What you think you know about how Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger skillfully glided his disabled U.S. Airways flight 1549 onto the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, is only the beginning of the story.

Which is why director Clint Eastwood begins this harrowingly realistic, compelling re-creation with the “Miracle on the Hudson,” after which Sully was widely acclaimed as a national hero.

Though it was kept secret at the time, skeptical members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) seriously questioned Sully’s judgment, accusing him of needlessly endangering his crew and passengers with a forced water landing.

Based on sensor readings of the Airbus 320’s left engine, computer simulations showed that the commuter jet could have safely returned to New York’s LaGuardia or made an emergency landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

The fifth annual Slice of Saugatuck, a celebration of the section’s shops, restaurants and its integral place in the history of Westport, is scheduled for Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., with 47 local businesses and 26 restaurants participating.

Saugtuck Slice visitors line up outside Tarry Lodge last year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The event goes from Railroad Place to the fork of Saugatuck and Riverside Avenues, featuring food samples from participating eateries for those who walk the Slice.

New this year will be two beer gardens, one on Bridge Square and the other on Railroad Place, according to Matthew Mandell, Slice creator and the executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event.

In addition, Mandell said there will be eight bands playing in six locations throughout the afternoon, demonstrations by Makerfaire in Luciano Park, “climbing, walls, an obstacle course, a balloon vendor, Hula Hoop Lady and a boucy house.”

Scenes from today’s second and final day of the ninth annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association.  J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos

The Revivalists, a seven-piece New Orleans roots-driven rock band, tonight closed out the ninth annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Addie Teolis, 13, of the New Canaan School of Rock was among performers in the Westport Library parking lot today on the second and final day of the ninth annual Westport Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The High and Mighty Brass Band was one of the afternoon performers today at the second and final day of the Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Marc Broussard, a rock-soul artist whose “Bayou Soul” sound is a mix of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and pop, was a crowd pleaser today at the ninth annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival in Westport sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Executive Chef Mike Hazen of Pearl at Longshore restaurant today demonstrates cooking of grilled oysters at the CTbites.com booth at the Westport Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival. He is helped by Andrew Dominick while Ellen Bowen (r) does the play by play.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo