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We’ve all heard the mantra: “Shop local!”
We don’t always know how.
Just in time for the holidays, FairfieldCountyShops.com can help. Searchable in many ways — clothing, kids, art, beauty and wellness, home, jewelry, accessories, outerwear, sales and more — it includes Westport merchants like Organachs Farm to Skin, Winged Monkey, West, Age of Reason, New England Hemp Farm, Gioiella Jewelry and more.
New stores are being added all the time.
Two of New England Hemp Farm offers holiday gifts.
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Speaking of shopping local: There’s no better place than Savvy + Grace.
And no better time than today (Thursday). From 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., Annette Norton and her crew host a holiday open house — and an UGG trunk show.
Enjoy raffles, light bites, drinks and fun. Plus free UGG crew socks with an UGG purchase. Just my style!
Annette Norton at Savvy + Grace.
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A few seats remain for this Saturday’s inaugural “Chris Frantz Presents: Emerging Musicians” at the Westport Library. The 7:30 p.m. show (December 4) introduces New York’s Lulu Lewis and New Haven’s The Problem with Kids Today. Both play kick-ass rock, with punk influences.
The collaboration with the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Verso Studios features up-and-coming regional, national and international talent, hand-picked by Fairfield’s (and Talking Heads’) own star.
For tickets and more information, click here.
The Problem with Kids Today (band photo, not an editorial comment).
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Speaking of the library: Registration is now open for the 23rd annual Crossword Puzzle Contest.
Led by legendary New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz himself, it’s a fun (and humbling) way to enjoy an often solitary activity in the company of other nerds, some of whom are even smarter than you.
It’s Saturday, February 5 (1 p.m.). Put down your pencil, and click here for registration and more information. Spots go fast!
Finalists in the 2020 event. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Birchwood Country Club golfers know their pro, Kammy Maxfeldt, is a great teacher.
Now the entire nation knows it.
Golf Digest has just released its list of the top teaching pros in every state. Topping the Connecticut list: our own Kammy.
Voting is done entirely by peers. More than 2,000 teachers across the country weighed in on their colleagues. Click here for the full story.
But that’s not all. Three years ago, “06880” hailed Kammy as an Unsung Hero. She’d just earned a spot in the US Senior Women’s Open tournament — after battling leukemia. Click here for that even more interesting story.
Kammy Maxfeldt
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Former Staples High School English teacher Daniel Geraghty has just published his first book.
According to Amazon, “Cast Away Stones” is “a raw, honest and lucid account of overcoming life’s challenges and developing personal resilience. The book details surviving the attacks of 9/11/2001 in New York City and a choice to serve the American people.
“A victim of violent abuse as a child on the verge of adolescence, Geraghty transformed pain and trauma into focus, drive and motivation. A US Army veteran, Airborne Ranger, Captain, 9/11 survivor, first responder, teacher and leader, he has waged a battle to overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for over 20 years through a dedication to service and his family.
Click here for more information, and to order.
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One of the best toy drives anywhere is the one sponsored by the Westport Police Department Union and Westport Police Benevolent Association. Gifts go to underprivileged children throughout Fairfield County, including St. Vincent’s Hospitals.
Westport police officers will accept new, unopened and unwrapped toys, as well as cash donations, in the parking lot of ASF Sports (1560 Post Road East) on this weekend (December 4-5) and next (11-12), between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
There will also be toy collection boxes in the police station lobby (50 Jesup Road), and at Toyota of Westport (777 Post Road East), now through December 13.
Questions? Email t ANowinski@WestportCT.gov or call 203-341-6000.
What a great gift: a police toy for the police toy drive!
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Save the Sound is hiring for 5 positions:
- Regional director, water protection (Larchmont, New York)
- Director of finance (New Haven)
- Lands communications specialist (New Haven)
- Clean water communications specialist (Larchmont)
- Ecological communications specialist (New Haven).
Save the Sound fights climate change, saves endangered lands, protects the Sound and its rivers, and works with nature to restore ecosystems across Connecticut, Westchester, New York City and Long Island.
For more information, click here.
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Linda Dobson — who ran D&D Refuse here for more than 30 years — died peacefully last month at home, after a long illness. She was 73.
She is survived by Sierra Dobson of Fairfield, brother Malcolm (Donna) Frazier Jr.. granddaughters Erica and Erin Flynn, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Sydney.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Fairfield County, 22 Danbury Road. Wilton, CT 06897, who took compassionate care of Linda. Click here to sign the online guestbook.
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You gotta love this “love tree.”
Sandy Rothenberg spotted — and snapped — it on Greenlea Lane, near Bayberry, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Sandy Rothenberg)
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And finally … this is National Cookie Cutter Week.
This is probably not what the organizers had in mind, but let’s celebrate!
Love your entry for cookie cutter week🤣😂🤣