The Townies — specifically Marcy Sansolo, Darcy Hicks, Jaime Bairaktaris, Melissa Kane and Julie Buoy Whamond — took first place in the Adult Division at CLASP Homes’ Un-Scavenger Hunt last weekend.
With creativity, humor, and an uncanny knowledge of Westport history and culture, a few dozen teams deciphered clues. They then took photos and videos of themselves at some of the town’s iconic locations: the Compo Beach cannons, Toquet Hall, Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge and more.
Townies and friends, at the original YMCA.
The Townies had a great time doing it. They also won a boat cruise on Leigh Overland’s 42-foot yacht.
Marcy Sansoloi (left) and her fellow Townies kick it up after solving the Toquet Hall clue.
They were followed by Team G (Wendy Griffiths; Dragone Motors private tour); Connect Westport (Debbie O’Keefe, Deborah Casey, Kim Sherman; dinner for 4 at Bartaco); Sill Scavengers (Neil Markman; Eric, Nicholas and Noelle Stine-Markman; Lillian’s boat cruise); The Merry Marys (Mary Lou and Chuck Roels, Mary Surette; Bruce Katz Family prize of $250), and ARGenovese (Ariel Genovese, Tim Proctor).
Displaying horse sense at the Compo Beach cannons.
First place in the Student Division went to Team Guiduli. Led by Bruno Guiduli, and fellow Staples High School soccer players Matthew Jordan and Aidan Mermagen, they earned the Leader Family $500 first prize.
1st place in the Student Division (from left): Aidan Mermagen, Matthew Jordan, Bruno Guiduli.
Two other Staples soccer teams snagged the other 2 top spots. La Tortuga (Lucas Carpi, Chase Watkins, Jeremy and Eli Rosenkrantz, James Corridon) won Burt’s Trees’ $300 prize; Santi Alfageme, Avery Mueller and Nate Fridland captured Burt’s Trees’ $200 prize.
Lucas Carpi (lower left) and his team.
Darcy Hicks — a Townie team member — said, “This scavenger hunt was more than just that. It was what we needed after this year — all of us. You have no idea what a gift it was.”
One of the clues was about all the famous bands like the Doors and Cream that played at Staples.
The event was a fundraiser for CLASP Homes. The organization helps people with autism and intellectual disabilities lead full, meaningful lives. The lead sponsor was Keller Williams Luxury.
Several teams made touching videos, for CLASP clients. Others held up signs ofo support.
Organizers hope to make the Un-Scavenger Hunt — there was no time limit, just a premium on fun — an annual event.
The other day, David and Arlene Squires brought their 3 1/2-year-old grandson Grayson to the Greens Farms fire station.
Like many youngsters, he loves firefighters and trucks. His grandparents live right across Muddy Brook from the station, so when he is in Westport Grayson hears the sirens and sees the flashing lights.
Though the visit was unannounced, the crew went all out for their guests. They were thrilled to see Grayson dressed in uniform.
Grayson with his dad, grandmother and firefighter Tim Izzo. (Photo/David Squires)
David reports that the trucks are shiny, the helmets are heavy — and there were no Dalmatians.
Grayson was shy when he met his heroes. And that’s what they are — whether in action, or making a young boy’s day in between calls.
It’s a Ramadan tradition for Muslims to visit civil service offices, meet executive officers in person, and thank them for their contributions.
Yesterday, Feroz Virani, Adil Kassam and Tameeza Asaria — members of the Ismaili Muslim community — presented 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Fire Chief Robert Yost with a gift of appreciation.
At Town Hall …
… Police headquarters …
… and the fire station. (Photos courtesy of Town of Westport)
Westport Republican Town Committee member Jim Campbell has tossed his hat in the ring: for chair of the Connecticut Republican Party.
A former chair of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee whose early and avid support of Donald Trump was chronicled in Evan Osnos’ New Yorker story “How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump,” Campbell is an executive with Frontier Communications.
The cover story for AARP Magazine’s April/May issue is Michael Douglas.
In a long interview about his life and career, the 76-year-old actor mentions his teenage years in Westport:
I was into hot rods, tinkering with cars. I worked at a Mobil station at one point, and my first real award was Mobil Man of the Month. I was also a member of a group called the Downshifters. A little bit like the Jets in West Side Story: [sings] “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way.”
I had a D.A. — when you’d comb your hair to look like a duck’s ass — the D.A., we called it. We were known to spend a little time locating automobiles that had parts that we wanted. Not proud about it, but it kept me out of a lot of other trouble.
Scott Smith writes: “I can’t remember a prettier season for daffodils and forsythia. I read an New York Times article on tulips that suggested the snow cover this winter may have helped. I
“I don’t recall buying any type of daffodil with multiple blooms, though I know some such varieties exist. So when I spotted this pretty bloom in my yard, I wondered if I have some sort of self-evolved mutant. Anybody else around town have this sort of daffodil?”
Speaking of blooms: The Westport Garden Club’s annual plant sale has a new venue: Jesup Green. The date is Friday, May 14 (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Also new this year: the option to pre-order plants online, for curbside pickup. The ordering page goes live May 1, at http://westportgardenclub.org.
Held annual since 1928 (except during World War II, and last year’s pandemic), the event features over 1,000 homegrown perennials from members’ own gardens, with a special section of Connecticut native plants. Club members will be on site, for advice. Each plant has a tag with care information too.
The Westport Book Shop — across Jesup Green — will offer a selection of garden books.
Proceeds from the sale — and the club’s booth at the Westport Museum for History & Culture’s May 1 Spring Market — support the club’s projects, including maintenance of local public gardens and parks. For more information, click here.
Westporter Melissa Bernstein has been very open about her lifelong battle with existential anguish and depression. LifeLines — the multimedia platform recently launched, in collaboration with Doug, her husband and fellow Melissa & Doug toy company founder — has gotten great publicity.
One of the most in-depth and powerful stories was just published in the Washington Post.Click here to read. (Hat tip: Marc Selverstone)
Food insecurity and cancer are both difficult situations. Too often, they go together.
In honor of Mother’s Day, Pink Aid is helping struggling moms feed their families. With every the breast cancer support group will purchase food cards for women battling both breast cancer and financial hardship.
Pink Aid will send every donor’s mother a card acknowledging the meaningful gift. For every donation of $100 or more, they’ll send the donor (or donor’s mom) a reusable insulated grocery bag. Click here to donate.
From the Cincinnati Reds to Greens Farms Academy. That’s the unusual career path for the private school’s new athletic director. Eric Lee — senior director of player development for the MLB team — begins his next job in early July. He replaces Tauni Butterfield, who is moving to North Carolina after 2 decades at the Beachside Avenue school.
Lee’s 8 years with the Reds includes stints at director of baseball operations and senior director of international operations. He played baseball at Haverford, where he earned a BA i political science. He then taught world history and coached coaches baseball at basketball at Hawaii Preparatory Academy before returning to Haverford as an assistant dean of students and assistant baseball coach. He also worked and coached at National Presbyterian School in Washington, DC — and earned a law degree from the University of Maryland.
And finally … on this day in 1965 Luciano Pavarotti mad his La Scala debut in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of “La Bohème.” Here he is, 21 years later:
Ben Shmaruk is an avid outdoorsman and hiker. The 2017 Staples High School grad owes those passions to his father, Alan. They hiked together locally when Ben was a child; at 8, his father took him up Mount Washington.
Soon they ranged farther: Peru and New Zealand. When he was old enough, Ben did a month-long expedition with the National Outdoor Leadership School.
In September of 2019, Alan was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The news shook his family — including Ben’s mother Dawn and sister Julianna — to its core. Yet Alan’s fighting spirit transformed nervousness and uncertainty into positivity.
Dawn, Ben, Alan and Julianna Shmaruk.
His chemo ended in January 2020. But now the cancer has returned, and Alan is once again undergoing treatment.
Ben says, ” I know his attitude will carry him over the line again.” He’s doing his part to help.
When Ben learned last summer that Lafayette College — where he was a rising senior — would conduct all classes remotely, his father encouraged him to take a gap year.
Ben and Alan Shmaruk, in action.
Ben’s longtime dream was to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,650-mile route from Mexico to Canada — through barren desert, over snow-covered mountains and around beautiful alpine lakes — is as daunting as it sounds.
It’s no ordinary trek. Then again, Ben is no ordinary hiker. He’s using the 5-month journey to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research, through the non-profit organization PCT 4 PC.
“Each step I take is not only one step closer to the border, but one step closer to early detection methods that could save thousands of lives,” Ben says.
He’s documenting his hike online. Julianna — a sophomore at Lafayette — is handling Ben’s social media.
Just before he began — late last month — Ben wrote:
Writing this post is a completely surreal feeling. I have been thinking about tomorrow for months and to a lesser extent, years, and now here we are. I’ve spent the last couple days staying with my (vaccinated) Great Aunt Ilene and Uncle Donald outside of San Diego, preparing for the trip. After a last minute REI run and my first food shop of the trip, I am all ready to go tomorrow.
Currently my emotions consist of alternating excitement and nervousness, as I look to settle into a rhythm over the next few days. I hope to update this page weekly with detailed reports of my hiking. That said, if I go a while without posting, it is likely due to service issues, so please do not think the worst has happened.
As for the rest of the night, I’m planning on taking a nice warm shower as it could be my last in a while. When I wake up tomorrow it’ll be time to realize a lifelong dream, and I intend to make the absolute most of this experience over the next few months.
Ben has posted 3 times so far. The first covered Days 1 through 6, from the Mexican border to Mountain Valley Retreat. That was 100 miles. “Only 2,550 to go!” Ben wrote.
Sunset on the Pacific Crest Trail.
His second report, through Day 12, brought him to Idyllwild. The highlight was the chance to eat at Paradise Valley Café, reported to serve “the best burgers on the Pacific Coast Trail.”
But it closed at 3 p.m. A blistering pace over 17 miles brought him there in time for a meal that — fortunately — lived up to its reputation.
Ben’s third post — through Day 19, at Little Bear Springs — recounts his inflamed ankle tendon. Clearly, this is not a walk in the park.
It is, however, vital — to Ben, his family, and pancreatic cancer research.
Click here for Ben’s website, including his trail reports. There’s a “Donate” button on the home page. (Hat tip: Francis Costello)
So Homes with Hope — the umbrella organization for the Gillespie Center, and a much-utilized Community Kitchen — is running a food drive. It’s this Saturday (May 1, 1 to 4 p.m., Gillespie Center, behind Barnes & Noble and Don Memo on Jesup Road).
It’s contactless: Just pull your car up, and pop the trunk.
The most needed items: canned meats (chicken, tuna, salmon, Spam); cold and hot cereals; canned soups and stews; peanut butter and jelly; mayonnaise; pasta sauce, canned vegetables.
In addition, Homes with Hope’s Community Kitchen program is gratefully accepting prepared lunches and dinners, 7 days aw eek. To become a Community Kitchen volunteer, click here. Click here for volunteer guidelines.
NOTE: During COVID, the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place buildings are closed to the public. Staff serves all meals to shelter guests.
The Westport Library’s thought-provoking WestportREADS programming continues with virtual events this spring.
Tuesday, May 4 (7 p.m.): Ty Seidule discusses his new book, Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause, with Maggie Mudd. He describes how he confronted the racist legacy at the core of his identity, and challenges the persistent myths of the Lost Cause. Click here for information, and to register.
Wednesdays, May 5 and 19, June 2 (7 to 8:30 p.m.): Me and White Supremacy: The Challenge Continues. Small group discussions on Layla Saad’s groundbreaking book. Click here for information, and to register.
Thursday, May 6 (7 p.m.).: The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till. The Library hosts a virtual screening of Keith A. Beauchamp’s documentary, followed by a conversation with Beauchamp and the film’s producer, Steven Laitmon. Click here for information, and to register.
Saturday, May 8 (7 p.m.): Beechwood Arts presents the 2nd AMPLIFY Festival at the Westport Library. Black artists present music, song, and theatrical works. Click here for information, and to register.
Tuesday, June 1 (12:30 p.m.): In her book, We Need New Stories: The Myths that Subvert Freedom, Nesrine Malik examines 6 political myths used to deflect and discredit demands for social justice with Catherine Lewis. Click here for information, and to register.
The Connecticut Institute for Communities in Danbury is hosting walk-in clinics for the Moderna vaccine every day this week. Anyone 18 and older who lives or works in Connecticut is eligible.
The location is 132 Main Street, Danbury; weekday hours are 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 2 to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is needed.
Posted onApril 27, 2021|Comments Off on Stand Up (At Home) For Homes With Hope
Homes with Hope has had quite a year.
When COVID struck, Westport’s supportive housing organization moved all their residents from the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place to a hotel. Now they’re back “home.”
Last week, they launched a new website.
Now they’re gearing up for their biggest annual fundraiser, “Stand Up (at Home) for Homes With Hope.”
“it’s time to start laughing again,” HwH says. And they’ll make sure you do. The virtual comedy show streams on June 12 (8 p.m.).
It’s tough to top last year’s event. But they will. The headliner is American Comedy Award winner Kathleen Madigan. She’s joined by Pat McGann (creator and host of The Chicago Stand-Up Project), Ali Siddiq (finalist on NBC’s “Bring the Funny”) and Westport’s own Courtney Davis (“Courting with Courtney”).
Local personalities will make guest appearances. Click here for tickets and sponsorship information. (Limited seats are available for the Westport Library that night. There’s a pre-show cocktail event, with live music by Staples High School and Netflix “Country Comfort” star Jamie Mann.)
Funds raised will support emergency shelters and meals, supportive housing, a food pantry, programs for teenage girls and younger children — and unexpected expenses.
For example, when residents were moved to a hotel during COVID, restaurants provided meals. That was a big — and surprise — cost.
HwH CEO Helen McAlinden says, “We could not have gotten through the past year, and kept all our guests safe, without our supporters. Now that guests are back at the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place (across from the police station), we are glad to see our volunteers back, bringing wonderful food.”
Homes with Hope volunteers, before the pandemic. They’ll soon be back, cooking and serving food.
The new website, meanwhile, was created by Randy Herbertson and Westport’s The Visual Brand. It features recent stories of residents’ successes, and updated information on Homes with Hopes’ housing, food, mentoring and youth programs.
(To donate individually packed lunches or dinners, or for more volunteer opportunities, email mliebergall@hwhct.org.)
Comments Off on Stand Up (At Home) For Homes With Hope
Peter Gold is director of the Westport Transit District, and has lived in Westport for 40 years. He is an RTM member from District 5, and former chair of the RTM Transit Committee — but he is not writing this “Opinion” piece in his RTM capacity.
Wheels2U, Westport’s on-demand shuttle service, launched last October. Riders can download the Wheels2U app. With just a few clicks, they’ll get a ride between almost anywhere in town and Westport’s two train stations.
The Wheels2U shuttles provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way for Westport commuters, reverse commuters and others to link their homes, their Westport employers, and downtown to the train stations.
But now Wheels2U is in danger of being shut down before the end of the year. The Board of Finance recently voted to cut the shuttle’s budget by more than half.
However, Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) meets May 3 to vote on restoring funding to keep the shuttle running for another year.
Many Westport residents already use Wheels2U as part of their commute. Now that commuting is picking up as the world reopens, demand for this excellent service is growing. And there are many opportunities to leverage Wheels2U’s flexibility to address other Westport transportation needs.
Retaining an accessible, efficient and convenient shuttle between almost anywhere in town and the train stations, and allowing it to grow to serve other town needs, makes good sense, and is more important than ever.
It takes a vote of 70% of the RTM members present and voting at a meeting to override the Board of Finance and restore the funding for Wheels2U. If you believe supporting Wheels2U and public transportation in Westport is important, please email the RTM to urge it to restore the funding on May 3. Emails can be sent to the RTM at RTMMailingList@Westportct.gov.
Information about Wheels2U, including hours of operation, service area and how to download the Wheels2U app can be found at Wheels2UWestport.com. Information on the benefits Wheels2U currently provides to users and the town as a whole, and what Wheels2U could become if it is allowed to continue and grow, can be found by clicking this link.
Nearly all of Westport is included in the Wheels2U service area.
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