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First came Willowbrook Cemetery’s “Miracle Mile.” Then came Debra Kandrak’s town-wide planting project. Now, Westport has become the Daffodil Capital of — if not the world — at least the area.
Among the yellow beauties bringing joy to us all: 7,000 lining Prospect Road.
These were planted, thanks to Debra, to remind everyone about the issue of bullying. It’s just not cool — for victim or the bullies themselves.
Cindy Shumate — who had both a literal and figurative hand in the projects — says that anyone who has suffered from bullying, or knows a person who has, is welcome to clip a bouquet for themselves.
(Please take them only from the roadway in front of #11, 13, 21 and 25 Prospect Road, owned by Melissa and John Ceriale).
“It’s a small token to let someone know that they are safe with you, and to open a conversation if that someone is ready,” Cindy says.
Prospect Road connects Hillspoint Road with Greens Farms Road. It’s worth a drive even without clipping a daffodil bouquet!
Hillspoint Road daffodils (Photo/Cindy Shumate)
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As the Russian war in Ukraine grinds on, Tyler Hicks’ photos continue to illustrate the gruesome state of life and death there.
The 1991 Staples High School graduate’s latest work in the New York Times is from the village of Husarivka. The Pulitzer Prize winning photographer’s images illustrate a story about the depravity of Russian soldiers, as they harass, terrorize and kill farmers and their family members. Click here for the full story, and photos.
Lubov Dvoretska, 62, a biology teacher whose husband was killed in a bombing. Her neighbors buried his body in the garden behind their house. (Photo/Tyler Hicks for the New York Times)
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The Y’s Men attract an A-list of speakers for their Thursday meetings. Last week’s was particularly impressive and insightful.
Congressman Jim Himes offered thoughts on some of the major news stories, then answered questions on a broad array of topics.
Click below to see and hear Himes’ session. All that’s missing are the Y’s Mens’ famous coffee and donuts,
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Emil Gilmutdinov was born in Russia. He moved to New York in 2009. He worked in the food and beverage industry for nearly a decade, but lost his job during the pandemic.
That’s when he rediscovered his passion for drawing and painting. A self-taught artist working with both pencil and oil paint, he constantly experiments and hones his skills. His work includes both black-and-white graphic prints, and oils reflecting nature.
His first-ever solo exhibition is set for Steam, the coffee spot across from the Westport train station on Railroad Place. There’s an opening reception tonight (Monday, April 18, 6 to 9 p.m.).
Emil’s work is on display at Steam, for purchase, through June 12.
Pencil work by Emil Gilmutdinov.
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In a few days, this tree will be bursting with color.
Right now, it’s today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.
(Photo/Matt Murray)
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And finally … Happy Patriots’ Day, to our readers in Massachusetts and Maine.
The official state holiday commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War, at Lexington and Concord in 1775.
Dan — Thank you for including Jim Himes’ talk to Y’s Men in your blog.
The remedy for the missing coffee and donuts is for retired men with connections to Westport or Weston to join us at a meeting, sample our coffee — now DIY from Shearwater — along with the world’s best donuts, from Coffee An’ — Thursdays at the Saugatuck Congregational Church at 9:30 am, and hear an engaging, topical and timely speaker.
This week Westport architect Jim Rountree will tell us about designing energy efficient, low operating cost houses.
The “daffys” are delightful. Oh, but how I miss stone walls like the one that protects the flowers. We don’t have stone walls like that in Oregon
The devastation of this war in Ukraine will forever haunt us…
I loved your story this morning about Anna’s family but when will everyone wake up and see they were the lucky couple.. the 1%… if even…
There are millions living this nightmare.. yet we don’t really see it..
we are an incredibly selfish race… we ignore what we don’t want to see…
I can’t imagine if reality struck and we had a nuke dropped on us courtesy of putin, even if he drops it on nyc, and I do not think the thought is far fetched… wind blowing north with some margin for error,,,, we are right in the sweet spot…
Solidarity and union…. It’s all we have against a tyrant…
We are next..