Roundup: Saugatuck Sweets, Valentine’s Sweets, Haiku …

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Last night’s Saugatuck Elementary School 5th grade orchestra and chorus concert was the first such in-person event in 2 years.

To celebrate afterward, kids and parents headed to Saugatuck Sweets. To their dismay, they learned their favorite shop closes at 8 p.m.

To their delight, owners and employees kept the place open late.

Grateful parent Felicia Sale says, “Thank you Saugatuck Sweets!”

Celebrating at Saugatuck Sweets.

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United Way of Coastal Fairfield County has awarded the town of Westport $2,000. The funds — and a supply of KN95 masks — support residents impacted by COVID, along with a supply of KN95 protective face masks.

This is the third round of United Way grants to help during the pandemic. It brings to 6,500 the number of masks donated to residents.  A previous award of gift cards helped ease the way for struggling residents.

United Way has also helped area agencies, including Homes with Hope, during COVID.

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Westport ❤s Local to Market. And the aptly named food-and-more store celebrates upcoming Valentine’s Day with a few specials this weekend.

This Saturday (February 12, 1 to 4 p.m.), Locavore Kitchens offers the debut of heart meringues, and tastings of shortbread cookies.

Dustin Lowman — one of Westport’s favorite singer/songwriter/guitarists — plays Saturday too, from 2 to 4 p.m.

And, of course, there’s a full array of Valentine’s goodies, from BE Chocolat and Knipschildt.

Dustin Lowman

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Speaking of the Lowman family:

Poet laureate

Presents great haiku workshop

At Wakeman Town Farm

It’s not great haiku. But that’s what’s happening February 28 (7 p.m.) at Wakeman Town Farm.

Westport’s own Diane Lowman (aka Dustin’s mother) will help you learn to write concisely and beautifully — well, at least more beautifully than my effort. The Farm will serve as inspiration. Click here for details and registration.

Haiku, by Westport poet laureate Diane Lowman

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Fans of Mark Twain and/or music will enjoy the Westport Library’s February 27 event.

Westport composer Barbara Backlar Reis will present songs and commentary from her original collaboration “My Millionaire.” The musical is based on Twain’s short story, “The Million Pound Bank Note.”

The show explores the themes of money and power and how people behave toward those who possess them. Click here for details, and registration.

Coming (sort of) to the Westport Library

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The family of Roberta Eggart writes that their “proud stage manager, assistant to Michael Sottile, writer, dancer, sister, mother of 3, widow, comedy texter, giver of gift cards to strangers and collector of stray humans, died peacefully on January 26 at the age of doesn’t matter. She will be missed by all who interacted with her.”

She lived in Westport for 3 decades, and knew nearly everyone. She is survived by her children Kat, Casey and Jesse Eggart, and grandson Kai.

Kat calls her mother “one of a kind, and a huge influence in so many people’s lives. She loved to dance, sing and write. She was  the best stage manager in the world, and the coolest mom in town!”

The family adds, “A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Light a candle and wish her well. That’s how she rolled.”

Roberta Eggart

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Nancy Prevo Andersen — believed to be the last surviving member of Staples High School’s Class of 1941 — died recently in Texas. She was 98 years old.

A noted illustrator and artist who showed frequently in the Southwest and Mexico, she was married to Bill Andersen (Staples ’42). Nancy’s father-in-law, Einar Andersen — longtime president of Westport Bank & Trust — helped put together financing for the town’s purchase of Longshore in 1959.

Nancy and Bill had 4 children: Nonnie, Lee, Diane and BJ. Further details on survivors and services were unavailable. (Hat tips: Carl Addison Swanson, Tom Allen)

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Jerry Kuyper sends along today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, with this comment: “At our feeder, birds of a different feather flock together.”

(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)

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And finally … to get you in the mood for Dustin Lowman’s appearance this Saturday at Local to Market (above), check out this video:

2 responses to “Roundup: Saugatuck Sweets, Valentine’s Sweets, Haiku …

  1. Lisa Girden-Barkan

    Thanks Dan for posting about Saugatuck Sweets! The two employees that were there getting ready to close were very excited to have the kids come. During the winter and during the week the store is only open till eight and on the weekends it’s open till nine on Friday and Saturday until the weather changes again. But if we knew that a concert was going to play the store would be ready for them to come open and happy to hand out ice cream and candy! Thanks.

  2. Thanks Dan…..we appreciate the support of the local schools and are happy to stay open and serve these great kids ! If you are a parent of a school age child having a concert…it would be GREAT to let us know when the concerts will be held so we can be sure to stay open (as we have always done) in the future to serve ! Thanks for your ongoing support – love Al & Chris DiGuido