Roundup: Medical Supplies, Vanishing Mural, Dumpling House …

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Last week, “06880” reported that Wakeman Town Farm, Lachat Town Farm in Weston and Wilton’s Ambler Farm are collecting medical supplies to send to Ukraine. An Amazon link made ordering easy.

Ted Horowitz notes that the huge retailer is out of certain items, and says others will not be available to meet the March 18 deadline for shipping to the farms.

However, he found a website that seems able to ship medical items in time. Click here to help. Click here, then scroll down, for more information on donations through Wakeman, Lachat and Ambler.

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Last summer, 5 members of the Artists Collective of Westport — Susan Fehlinger, Jana Irejo, Day Moore, Dale Najarian and Tammy Winser — headed to Beechwood Arts, the non-profit on Weston Road.

They painted a “vanishing mural” of endangered native species of butterflies, birds, bees and plants, to highlight the Green Corridor and Pollinator Pathway projects that Beechwood had committed to follow. (Aspetuck Land Trust gave free native species plants to attendees).

Checking on the mural during the last snowstorm, Beechwood founders Jeanine Esposito and Frederic Chiu found it quite vibrant.

“It’s a good reminder for people to look up those initiatives as they plant new gardens for spring, to help save our local pollinators and native species,” Jeanine says.

Beechwood Arts’ vanishing mural.

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An “06880” reader nails it: “I sure hope all those people waiting with their motors running on the Post Road for their $5 lattes at Starbucks aren’t the ones complaining about $4 gas.”

(Photo/Robert Hauck)

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Gery Grove — one of the organizers of Experience Camp’s great “Day of Champions” — is a 2nd-generation Westporter. Her mother attended kindergarten through 3rd grade here, way back in the day.

Gery’s mother and her 4 siblings lived in a house designed and built by her her father, at 1 Timber Lane. Whenever she visits Gery, she drives past it.

The other day, Gery planned to meet an art dealer, who had sold her a photograph. He said he’d be coming from Westport, where his mother lives.

Gery asked where. “A little road off Roseville — Timber Lane,” he said.

Yes — his 81-year-old mother lives in Gery’s grandfather’s house. The art dealer said his mother would welcome Gery’s mother any time she is in town.

1 Timber Lane

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Little Dumpling House — the popular takeout-only spot behind Cycle Dynamics, near Carvel — is now open for lunch. They’ve added plenty of new items, too.

Among them: Katsu Sando (Chicken katsu on a buttermilk biscuit, curry mayo, sesame slaw); Poke Bowl (big-eye tuna, sweet sesame ponzu, cucumber, avocado, edamame, watermelon radish, cilantro, scallion, sushi rice, wasabi mayo) and Szechuan tofu shiitake dumplings. 

Click here for the menu, or check out Instagram: @little_dumpling_house.

Katsu Sando at Little Dumpling House.

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Staples High School’s boys indoor track team earned its 2nd All-America performance in 3 days yesterday, at the New Balance national meet at the New York Armory.

The 4 x 800 meter relay team of Rory Tarsy, Ben Lorenz, Bruno Guiduli and Jalen St. Fort finished 6th overall, in a blazing 7:51.28. Guiduli and St. Fort had already earned All-America status, finishing 6th in Friday’s sprint medley relay.

Clockwise from upper left Ben Lorenz, Rory Tarsy, Bruno Guiduli, Jalen St. Fort.

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Speaking of sports: Shane Lowery’s hole-in-one at the Players Championship yesterday was a feat shared by only a handful of PGA players.

Carl Addison Swanson notes that one of them was Brian Claar. The 1976 Staples High School graduate carded his ace in 1991.

Claar went on to be a rules official for the Senior PGA tour. These days, Swanson says, he’s a marathon runner, finishing high in his age group at the Boston Marathon.

Brian Claar

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Monsignor Andrew Varga, a well-respected pastor of St. Luke’s Parish in Westport, died last Monday. He was 69 years.

The Bridgeport native was baptized at Saint Stephen Church there. He made his First Holy Communion and received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stratford.

He attended Fairfield Prep and Fairfield University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in psychology. Msgr. Varga received his priestly formation at Catholic University, receiving a master of arts in theology. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis at Saint Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport in 1978.

His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Matthew Church in Norwalk. In 1983 he was transferred to St/ Theresa Church in Trumbull, where he had served as deacon. Subsequent assignments included St. Leo Church in Stamford and St. Joseph Parish in Brookfield. He began his last assignment as pastor of St. Luke Church in 1997, a position he held for 25 years.

In 1982, he was awarded a doctor of ministry degree from Catholic University. Throughout his years of priestly ministry in the Diocese, Msgr. Varga served on the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. Bishop Caggiano appointed Monsignor Varga as Territorial Vicar for Vicariate II in 2014.

He chaired the Diocesan Liturgical Commission for many years, served on the Sacred Arts Committee and was an active team member of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, speaking at workshops around the country. In addition, Msgr. Varga taught homiletics in the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program for many years. He was a member of the committee appointed by Bishop William Lori for the preparation and catechesis for the new English translation of the Roman Missal in 2011.

In 2008, Msgr. Varga was named Chaplain to His Holiness.

He was a gifted liturgist and homilist, though what energized him most was ministering to the people in his parish communities. He shared willingly in their joys and challenges. He journeyed full circle with many of those he baptized who later came to him for marriage and the baptism of their own children, and laying to rest their parents and loved ones.

He loved a good joke and could tell a great story, a talent which could bring a smile or lighten a burden.

Msgr. Varga’s body will lie in repose at St. Luke Church on Thursday (March 17) from 3 to 7 p.m., when Mass will be celebrated. The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, will celebrate the Funeral Mass on Friday, March 18 (11 a.m). Interment will be private.

Condolences can be sent to Monsignor’s sister, Elizabeth Robinson (15 Andre Drive, Succasunna, NJ 07876). In lieu of flowers, give of your time, talents and/or treasures to your local parish and community. To sign his online guest registry, click here.

Monsignor Andrew Varga

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Crockett Johnson’s 1955 children’s book “Harold and the Purple Crayon” — about a young boy with a magical crayon — is being developed into a stage musical.

Both Johnson — who also wrote the comic strip “Barnaby” — and his wife, writer Ruth Krauss, lived in Westport. (Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)

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What better way to start off the “Westport … Naturally” week than with this hopeful photo from Matt Murray:

(Photo/Matt Murray)

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And finally … news of William Hurt’s death yesterday made me think of his role as a troubled Vietnam vet in “The Big Chill.” It’s a great film, with a fantastic soundtrack — particularly if that’s the music you grew up with.

Here are 3 of its most memorable songs: