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Longshore Sailing School has a great reputation. The staff is knowledgeable, courteous, friendly and hardworking. Even when they’re swamped (ho ho), they handle everyone — students, renters, people who have no idea what they want — with care and concern.
So things must have gotten really bad for them to post this last Saturday, on social media:
The physical and emotional well-being of our staff and customers is our number one priority. We reserve the right to ask any renter/student to cease visiting our facility if their behavior is deemed to be inappropriate, especially when directed at another customer or Longshore Sailing School employee.
After dozens of “likes,” they added:
We love what we do, and we lover our staff. When you visit, we ask for kindness and readiness for a good time! Get ready for a stellar Sunday! Forecast is looking gorgeous.
It was a great weekend. Let’s hope whoever has been harassing the staff got the message, and took a hike.
Or at least took their obnoxious, entitled behavior elsewhere.
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Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick is back in Westport. He just completed a 2-week wildfire assignment with the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew, battling wildfires in Minnesota and Montana.
Westport Fire Chief Robert Yost says, “I’m proud to welcome back our deputy, who epitomizes Westport’s values of sacrifice and service to others. When communities and states need help, we can support our neighbors in their time of crisis battling dangerous wildfires. The experience and knowledge he gained in working a large-scale incident are invaluable to us.”
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick, in action out west.
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Another longtime Westport business is closing.
Silver Ribbon — for 45 years, a favorite destination for jewelry and more — will shut its doors in the small shopping plaza next to Fortuna’s when its merchandise is gone.
Signs outside say “Going Out of Business.” Inside, they talk about a “Retirement Sale.”
Good quality goods, at all price points, are still available.
Silver Ribbon, next to Fortuna’s.
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The headline on yesterday’s Atlantic story was strong: “The Taliban’s Return is Catastrophic for Women.”
The subhead was even stronger: “As a photojournalist covering Afghanistan for two decades, I’ve seen how hard the country’s women have fought for their freedom, and how much they have gained. Now they stand to lose everything.”
The byline read “Lynsey Addario.” As usual, the Staples High School Pulitzer Prize- and MacArthur “genius grant”-winning photojournalist delivered even more than she promised.
Click here to read the full, harrowing piece. (Hat tip: Kathie Motes Bennewitz)
An Afghan woman (Photo/Lynsey Addario, courtesy of The Atlantic)
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The hits just keep on coming for Courtney Kemp.
The talented writer/producer /creator of Starz’ “Power” franchise — and 1994 Staples High School graduate — has just signed a “high 8-figure overall deal” with Netflix. She’ll “create new series, and develop other projects for a global audience through her End of Episode banner,” says Deadline. Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Judith Hamer)
Courtney Kemp
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COVID knocked the Westport Writers’ Workshop classes onto Zoom. But now they’re back — and in a great new location.
The new gallery-like teaching and event space is 25 Sylvan Road South — just down the hill from the previous site. It’s perfect for workshops, readings, publishing events and collaborations with other nonprofits.
Remote options are still available. Click here for fall schedules — and mark your calendars for an open house on September 9 (6 to 8 p.m.).
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Piglet — Westport’s very famous deaf, blind rescue puppy — will appear with Melissa Shapiro, the veterinarian who made him famous — at the 3rd annual Smart Walk for Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. The event is October 3, at Sherwood Island State Park.
Shapiro will talk (and Piglet will watch) about her new best-selling book, “Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family.”
“We can’t wait to share a little positive Piglet Mindse with everyone after the walk,” Shapiro says.
The Smart Walk is a day of crafts, games, music, ice cream — and the fundraising walk. Click here for more information, and to register.
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It’s pretty tough to come up with an all-new category for “dumb parking.”
But Rich Stein thinks he’s found one:
(Photo/Rich Stein)
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Longtime Westporter Barbara Reis has spent over 50 years writing musicals.
They’ve been produced at the White Barn Theater, Fairfield Playhouse, Orpheum in New York and others.
She and collaborator Nancy Tobin have just completed “My Millionaire.” The musical is based on a Mark Twain short story.
They believe a presentation at Mark Twain’s former house would be great. They’re also looking for other ideas. Unfortunately, her agent has died. So she’s looking for help from “06880” readers, to move the show along.
If you’ve got ideas — or are interested in learning more — email barbarasmusic@sbcglobal.net
Produce this man’s short story musical!
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Our “Westport … Naturally” feature has never included sports. There’s always a first time …
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … Nanci Griffith died last Friday, at 68. The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter “kept one foot in folk and the other in country, and was blessed with a soaring voice equally at home in both genres,” the New York Times says. Click here for a full obituary.
Thanks Deputy Chief Kronick. We have family that was in the path of the Trout Brook fire near Absarokee MT. Your assistance helped save their lives, property, home and horses. Very grateful and impressed.
I’ll bet Deputy Chief Kronick’s father is/was named Tom. Tom Kronick was in my parents’s wedding party in 1946.
Regarding Deputy Chief Kronick, thank you so much for your service to others. What a hero!
Regarding Longshore Sailing School, I am heartened and not surprised LSS has taken steps to protect employees from customer’s inappropriate and unfortunate behavior. Our two daughters worked at LSS for four summers each and enjoyed every minute. Well, maybe almost every minute. Kudos to staff for standing up to harassment of any kind.
I strongly recommend Lynsey Addario’s article, that Dan supplied a link to. A heartbreaking tale of Afghan women under the Taliban. However each of us believe we’ve arrived at this point, none of us can deny the tragedy of the past, nor apprehension for the future.
I’m not ashamed to say these words and images brought tears to my eyes.
Will Westport open its doors to the Afghan refugees? Is there a virtue signaling gathering planned for Jessup Green showing support? Anyone seen/heard from Kamala?
Apologies in advance to John D McCarthy for any typos.
James, I’m afraid I don’t know the answers to your first two questions. The third is easier to answer…it seems the Vice President has been largely and disappointingly silent over this matter. I intentionally kept my original comment politics free, as Lynsey’s article is powerful enough without having to stir the hornet’s nest. I’m sure those from both sides of the aisle can acknowledge the dark Taliban history and the awful future that most probably awaits the women of Afghanistan.
Lynsey’s article is outstanding and heartbreaking. Mary Condon