The Westport Weston YMCA is for everyone. Including — especially — cancer survivors.
On May 9, they introduce the Y’s Livestrong program. The free, 12-week program of physical, educational and social activities is for adults living with, through and beyond cancer
Small group sessions meet twice a week. Goals include rebuilding muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, reducing fatigue, and improving confidence and self-esteem.
The Y staff is trained to customize the program to individual needs. Participants may use the Y for free throughout the program.
For information, click here or contact Judy Klein: jklein@westporty.org; 203-571-6035.
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After a 2-year COVID hiatus, Walk & Roll for STAR — a family “FUNdraiser” with face painting, kids’ crafts, DJ, dancing, t-shirts, games, food and more — returns to Sherwood Island State Park this Sunday (May 1, 9 a.m. to noon).
It’s a benefit for STAR Lighting the Way, the great local organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.
Click here for more information, including how to register and start a team.
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Of many great nonprofit evenings, A Better Chance of Westport’s Dream Event is one of the best.
Each year, graduating seniors from ABC — the program that brings wonderful young men to Westport, to attend Staples and give back to the community — are honored. Their speeches — and those of alumni — are inspirational.
The energy in the room is contagious. It’s a feel good time for everyone.
A few tickets remain for this year’s event (Friday, May 13, 6:30 p.m., Shorehaven Golf Club). The price includes entertainment, live and silent auctions, dinner and cocktails.
Click here for tickets, and donation and sponsorship information.
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Westport women roar.
And no one helps them find their voice more than JoyRide.
On May 13 (5 p.m., 1200 Post Road East), the popular spinning and fitness center hosts “Westport Women Roar: Local Leaders Share Their Female Professional Paths.”
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Granola Bar founders Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain, Party City chief marketing and experience officer Julie Roehm, Rebel & Rose Tattoo owner/artist Amanda Mas, and Westport Police officer Lt. Jillian Cabana will inspire women, with stories of blazing professional paths in male-dominated areas.
Tickets are $20. Venmo @joyridecycling, or click here.
Just a few days later (May 21, 11:30 a.m.), JoyRide sponsors an Out of the Darkness fundraiser, for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Donations are $25 and up. Click here to register.
And on June 4 (9:30 a.m.), JoyRide’s Mackenzie Pretty leads a HIIT + Strength class outdoors, at the Compo Beach Pavilion. It’s free, bur registration is needed: info@westportmoms.com,
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Parking in Brooks Corner is always tight.
With the Baldwin Parking lot closed for renovations — as it was yesterday — things got even tighter.
There’s still plenty of parking downtown. You may have to walk a few yards more than usual — and it may not be in Brooks Corner — but it’s there.
Don’t be this guy. There’s only enough room to squeeze by on the best days. Park your truck, and walk.
(Photo/JM Nevin Jr.)
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MyTeamTriumph — the wonderful program pairing children, teens and adults with disabilities (“captains”) with volunteers (“angels”) who help them participate in triathlons and road races — has a busy schedule.
On Saturday, they participate in the Westport Young Woman’s League’s Minute Man 10K and 5K Runs, and 5K Walk.
On May 15 it’s the 25K (about 15 miles) Bloomin’ Metric bike ride at Sherwood Island State Park. Click here to sign up. For more information, email KZiebell@myTeamTriumph-CT.org, or call 203-216-1146.
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Noted Westport landscape designer Jay Petrow leads Aspetuck Land Trust’s next “Lunch & Learn” session.
“Transforming Your Lawn Into a Meadow” (Friday, April 29, noon to 1:15 p.m., Zoom) will show you how to replace part of your lawn by planting or seeding a native meadow garden. You can introduce plants that are beneficial for pollinators and birds, are mostly deer-resistant, are more drought-tolerant than your lawn — and look beautiful.
Click here to register.
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JL Rocks is expanding its cult following of fine jewelry lovers to the younger set. Its new line of 14K gold and enamel earrings, bracelets and necklaces, called Rock Candy — get it? — offers a colorful range of options for kids ages 7 to 13.
Owner/founder Jamie Camche made the move after seeing so many new clients, with young children. They were particularly interested in earrings, so the gold and enamel studs take the form of emojis, ice cream cones and empowering statements like “Yes.” Necklaces and bracelets come in rainbow hues.
Click here to purchase and for more information, or check out Jamie’s 292 Post Road East or Greenwich stores.
Kids’ bracelets and earrings at JL Rocks.
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Hot on the heels of another trip to Guatemala, Builders Beyond Borders hosts an open house for students and parents interested in learning more about the travel-and-work program.
It’s this Sunday (May 1, 3 to 4:30 p.m., 66 Fort Point Street, Norwalk), Click here to RSVP, or email b3news@buildersbeyondborders.org.
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Mila Grieb — well known locally for her 45 years as a realtor — died April 17.
Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, she considered herself to be from Shreveport, Louisiana where she spent most of her youth. She then lived in Weston and Westport for more than 65 years.
Mila worked at Helen Benson Associates for 15 years, before founding Mila Grieb Village Realty in 1984. The boutique agency succeeded due in part to her creative promotions and advertising. She sold it to Coldwell Banker after more than 15 years. “We were proud to have her on our team,” Coldwell said.
Her friends and associates in real estate industry called her “a class act … She was an amazing woman who achieved great success in a challenging business while still maintaining her grace, charm, kindness, humor, and integrity.”
Mila graduated from Northwestern University. She was a former Conover model and a stage actress. She and her husband Warren were co-presidents of the Weston PTO. They founded the Weston Memorial Day Fair, which continues today.
During the 1970s, she and Warren also owned and operated the Arnold Palmer Driving Range and Miniature Golf Course in Westport. Mila was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Westport, CT.
Mila’s family calls her “a good friend, a fabulous mom, and a wonderful and supportive wife. She made a tremendous difference in the lives of those who knew her. She will be remembered for her outgoing personality, creativity, kindness, humor, wit, and deep love of family.”
Mila is survived by her daughters Nancy Joy (Evan) Wilsnack of Boynton Beach, Florida, Janet Adams-O’Keefe of Westport, and Wendy Grieb (Robert) Moore of Coronado, California; grandchildren Justin Hopfer of Los Angeles, Jarrod Hopfer of Bozeman, Montana, Christopher Wilsnack of Bentonville, Arkansas, Alisha Holden of Boynton Beach, Weston Moore of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Sarah Moore of Coronado, and 7 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First Church of Christ Scientist Westport, 55 Compo Road South, Westport, CT 06880 or the Humane Society of Connecticut, 455 Post Road E, Westport, CT 06880. Mila will be remembered and celebrated privately by her family.
Mila Grieb
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Today’s graceful, peaceful “Westport … Naturally” image comes from Wendy Levy, at choppy Compo Beach:
(Photo/Wendy Levy)
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And finally … today is the birthday of Sergei Prokofiev. The Russian pianist, composer and conductor was born in 1891. He died in 1953. Among his most famous works:
I moved away from Westport 34 yrs ago but I just want to say that it’s great that the Livestrong program is being offered in town . As a 10 yr cancer survivor I took advantage of this program at the Farmington Valley Y in Granby, CT and it really changed my life around . After battling and beating breast cancer and completing chemo , my body was spent . I’m normally an active person who played tennis and walked a lot and worked out , I could barely walk down the street sometimes . This program got me back on track little by little to help with my balance and also my mindset , encouraging me and others to persevere and not give up . I highly recommend any cancer patient to try this program for your mind as well as your body and am glad you were able to highlight it . It can be discouraging when you can barely get out of bed sometimes after cancer but the Livestrong program was a lifesaver for me .
Mila Grieb was a pleasure to know. I met her when she worked for my mom, who sold her the Village Realty.
Mila Grieb was the epitome of grace. I had the honor of working with her at her real estate office on Main Street and her kindness and caring of others was what made her office feel like home. I will always remember her.
The Livestrong program at the Westport Y filled up fast—I believe due to your post. They had 25 applications for eight slots. Just over the border, The Wilton Y will be starting the same program the first week of June. There are presently five spots open and anyone, regardless of town residency, can sign up. Would be so nice if some who got closed out of Westport’s program, knew about Wilton’s. The contact there is Mary Ann Genuario, magenuario@riverbrookymca.org