Monthly Archives: November 2017

Westport Scores For Bridgeport Tennis

Posted on November 14, 2017 | 2 comments

Last March, “06880” featured an unlikely sports story.

Bridgeport’s Central High School had boys and girls tennis teams. Had is the right word — budget cuts eliminated funds for both sports.

Andrew McConnell swung into action.

Andrew McConnell

His story is as unlikely as his team’s. The longtime Westporter spent 2 decades on Wall Street. But a decade ago he switched careers. He’s now a 9th grade social studies teacher at Central — and the tennis coach.

Because tennis was life-changing for some of his players — it builds confidence, and teaches leadership and character — he set out to save Central tennis.

Stop & Shop donated Gatorade and bagels (home teams provide food for themselves and their opponents). The Connecticut Alliance for Tennis and Education pitched in with racquets.

One of the biggest costs is transportation. McDonnell — who is on the board of First Serve Bridgeport — got that after-school program to serve as a conduit for fundraising.

He had a bold idea: Buy a van. That would not only help with transportation fees (school buses are exorbitant to rent); it could also be used by First Serve throughout the year.

McConnell set up a GoFundMe page. The “06880” story brought an outpouring of donations, including a substantial gift from Westporters Mike and Becky Goss.

That helped purchase — and renovate — a van.

Then, First Serve Bridgeport endowed the team with its first college scholarship. Girls captain Phonsavanh Keophannga now attends Fairfield University.

But there’s more: FCIAC coaches honored the girls team with the league’s Sportsmanship Award.

And McConnell was named Boys Tennis Coach of the Year.

Voicing support for Central’s program was Staples state champion boys coach (and former FCIAC awardee) Kris Hrisovulos. He cited the Bridgeport school’s effort, sportsmanship and character.

McConnell returns the compliments. “My team and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to compete with the best teams in the state — and more importantly, to allow our players a chance to excel on and off the court,” the Westport educator/coach/mentor says.

(Click here to learn more about First Serve Bridgeport.)

A collage of Central High School’s boys and girls tennis teams.

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Posted in Education, People, Sports, Teenagers

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Madison Lemone’s Theater Links

Posted on November 14, 2017 | 1 comment

Chris Lemone was Staples High School’s beloved outreach counselor. His death 2 years ago from a heart attack — at age 49 — left a hole in the lives of countless students who found his office to be a warm and welcoming place for advice, support, compassion, love (tough and gentle) and laughter.

It also ripped a hole in his family. Chris’ middle daughter Madison was a Bethel High School sophomore when her dad died suddenly that October weekend.

Madison’s passion was always dance. Ballet, tap, jazz — she did it all with Broadway Method Academy. The Fairfield-based non-profit offers classes, private coaching and performance opportunities to children and teenagers interested in acting, singing and dancing.

One of the Broadway performers Madison worked with was Westport star Kelli O’Hara.

Madison Lemone

After her father died, Madison says, “I struggled a lot. But BMA helped me through a really tough time. The arts have always been there for me, and it was one place I could really express myself. It was like an encouraging community that kept me sane.”

So Madison is especially pleased that BMA is now the Westport Country Playhouse‘s resident conservatory.

The partnership will help the Playhouse offer musical theater training, masterclasses and a mainstage show.

The collaboration began in July with 3 days of seminars, panels and activities, all focused on the technical world of theater prior to the Playhouse production of “Grounded.”

The Westport Country Playhouse.

For the upcoming November 27 “Broadway Sings” fundraiser, BMA students will share the Playhouse stage with Broadway talents.

During the mainstage production of “Evita” (January 28 through February 11), professional actors will team up with BMA students.

Also ahead: a 6-day March masterclass.

“My dad had a strong influence on Westport,” Madison says. “I’m really excited to see how my world combines with his in Westport.”

She adds, “I know I’m not the first person with a story. BMA allows each person to come out of their shell. A lot of times, we hide what we’re feeling. BMA lets each student show what they’re going through. It allowed me and others to heal, onstage and off.”

Now, through the Playhouse, Madison says, “I’m excited to see BMA influence other kids, in Westport.”

An enthusiastic Broadway Method Academy performance.

She has found a home in Broadway Method Academy. She looks forward to feeling grounded at the Playhouse too.

Madison graduates from Bethel High in June. She’s applying to musical theater colleges. If that doesn’t work out, she may study psychology.

“My dad loved shows,” Madison says. “But he really knew a lot about people too. We’re a lot alike.”

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Posted in Arts, Organizations, People, Staples HS, Teenagers, Westport Country Playhouse

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Pic Of The Day #210

Posted on November 13, 2017 | 5 comments

The 1st home ever built on Compo Cove. It was moved to its current location on Sherwood Mill Pond from its original site across the path, facing Long Island Sound. (Photo/Betsy P. Kahn)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

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Only 41 Shopping Days Till Christmas

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Posted on November 13, 2017 in Local business, Westport life

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David Adipietro Helps California Rise

Posted on November 13, 2017 | 1 comment

The day after devastating fires swept through Napa Valley, David Adipietro was upset.

The Staples High School junior had friends in Calistoga. Over the summer, he visited them. The house he stayed in had burned to the ground.

David’s classmates in Carla Eichler’s Advanced Design class were working on a travel poster project.

David Adipietro, at work in Carla Eichler’s Advanced Design class.

He scrapped his initial plan, which included photos he’d taken in northern California. By the end of the class period, he’d transformed his concept into a fundraising campaign.

Within days, he’d created a website. He posted his designs. The theme is simple: “Let’s Rise from the Ashes.”

His photos are available for sale on the site, as downloads. David is donating 90% of the proceeds to charities in California. The remaining 10% covers his costs.

A Yosemite poster available on David Adipietro’s website.

Eichler’s Advanced Design class is great. It appeals to clever, creative students.

And, apparently, to at least one very caring and compassionate teenager.

(Click here for David Adipietro’s “California, Let’s Rise” website.)

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Posted in Education, Staples HS, technology, Teenagers

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Ethan Walmark Rocks The Kennedy Center

Posted on November 13, 2017 | 5 comments

When you are 6 years old, a YouTube video of you playing “Piano Man” goes viral.

You perform live on the “Today Show.” You’re one of only 14 people worldwide — and the youngest — to receive a “Genius of Autism” award. Then you win it again.

The Huffington Post names you 1 of 20 “Child Prodigies.”

You help Yoko Ono flip the switch to light the Empire State Building blue for World Autism Awareness Day.

You’re on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’s “Early Show.” You sing the national anthem in front of 25,000 fans at Red Bull Arena.

What do you do for an encore?

If you’re Ethan Walmark, you follow Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Billy Joel and Elton John at the 1st-ever Autism Awareness Gala Fundraiser at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

And you bring down the house.

The 12-year-old Coleytown Middle School student/piano prodigy did that last week. He performed 4 songs, closing with “You are the Sunshine of My Life.” Ethan dedicated it to his sister Eliza, who was in the audience.

So if you’re Ethan Walmark, what will you do next?

“Finish 6th grade,” he says.

Click below for a YouTube video of Ethan’s set:

 

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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, Organizations, People

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Westporters Chill Out. And Restore.

Posted on November 13, 2017 | 25 comments

Andy Udell stood in a tall tank-like chamber. He wore just a robe, socks and gloves. Only his head was visible.

Super-chilled air — minus 220 degrees Fahrenheit — swirled around him.

His body went into vasoconstriction, reacting to ancient cues to protect itself. His heart raced. Adrenaline surged.

Blood rushed to Andy’s core, protecting vital organs. Toxins were drawn out, making his blood nutrient-dense and oxygen-rich. Endorphins and anti-inflammatory proteins also coursed through his body.

Andy stayed inside — shivering and laughing. That was his reaction to both the seeming absurdity of his situation — volunteering to stand inside a ridiculously cold chamber — and the fantastic way he felt.

Andy had just undergone 3 minutes of cryotherapy. Now the rest of us can too.

Andy Udell, midway through his 3 minutes of cryotherapy.

Restore has come to the former Radio Shack store, on the Post Road across from the Sherwood Island Connector. The grand opening is tomorrow (Tuesday, November 14).

Owned by a group of local investors — including Andy — the new business is a franchise of an Austin, Texas-based company. The nearest location is Virginia.

Restore has taken over a large space. (I guess Radio Shack stored a ton of batteries and fax machines in the back.) And Restore offers a lot more than calorie-burning, skin care, pain-reducing, endurance-enhancing cryotherapy (in whole body, localized and facial versions).

There’s drip therapy. A personalized cocktail of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants helps burn fat, relieve inflammation and dehydration, and provide energy.

Two signs, in the drip therapy room.

And an infrared sauna makes you feel good by — pardon the analogy — cooking you from the inside out, like a microwave.

And a hyperbaric chamber delivers highly concentrated oxygen, while compression therapy offers leg, hip and arm sleeves. Both promote healing, particularly after races, games and workouts (for high-level athletes as well as weekend warriors).

The hyperbaric chamber.

But it’s the cryotherapy that will draw most people to Restore.

“I feel like I can do handsprings,” Andy — who back in the day was a Staples High School soccer star and is still very fit but, like many of us, now stands on the sidelines — says, emerging from his probably-felt-a-lot-longer-than-3-minutes cryo session.

“The energy boost is great. It helps my mental focus. It lasts all day, and I sleep better too.”

That sounds like quite an endorsement. Of course, you’d expect that from an investor.

So try it yourself. It sounds really cool.

I mean, freezing.

The Restore team includes Lauren Winchester, director of operations; Donna Toth, Westport manager, and lead investor David Kass.

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Posted in Local business, People, Sports

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Pic Of the Day #209

Posted on November 12, 2017 | 4 comments

Compo Beach jetty (Photo/Mary Gai)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

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Townee Tees Help Billy Hess

Posted on November 12, 2017 | 2 comments

A few months ago, “06880” reported that Billy Hess — the longtime and very popular summertime fixture at Joey’s by the Shore, and winter manager of Joey’s at the Longshore ice rink — was seriously ill with lung cancer.

Billy’s many friends and fans rallied to help. He’s still battling — and Westporters can still help.

Townee — the local t-shirt, tank top, hoodie and fleece company — has designed a special edition shirt. Proceeds help pay Billy’s medical expenses.

It’s extra-special, because it features the same logo Billy designed, and etched in the Joey’s counter years ago. If you’ve ever bought burgers, fries or lobster rolls at the beach — and who hasn’t? — you’ve seen it there.

The unisex crew-neck gray tee sells for $30. How appropriate — Billy has worked at Joey’s for 30 years.

As for the colors: Billy was part of the design process. He requested red and blue, to show his patriotism.

Remember, every summer he dresses up as Uncle Sam.

(To order a Billy Hess t-shirt, click here. To contribute to his GoFundMe page, click here.)

Billy Hess with his wife Gina and daughters.

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Posted in Beach, People, Restaurants

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Photo Challenge #150

Posted on November 12, 2017 | 16 comments

Compo Road South is home to 2 beautiful town-owned properties.

Everyone knows Baron’s South. A few “06880” readers thought last week’s photo showed rocks and woods on that land a few steps from downtown, once owned by perfume mogul Walter Langer von Langendorff.

Nope. As Leigh Gage, Alec Head and Jamie Walsh knew, it was Haskins Preserve — the much-lesser-known gem on Green Acre Lane, off South Compo. It’s just as lovely as Baron’s South, and easier to access. Click here for the back story; click here for Wendy Cusick’s photo.

Equally rustic is this sign, commemorating Westport’s founding as a town. In fact, it looks like it dates all the way back to 1835. If you know where in Westport you’d see it, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Bob Weingarten)

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Posted in Environment, Photo Challenge

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