Roundup: Small Plane, Car Thefts …

One of the highlights of my summer was a Saturday morning flight over Westport, with 17-year-old pilot Aiden Schachter.

The Staples High School rising (in more ways than one) senior has been very busy, since earning his (flying) license in June.

The other day, he took his father Seth on a tour of New York City.

This young man is clearly going places.

Aiden and Seth Schachter.

==================================================

Hard to believe, but we still have to repeat this.

An “06880” reader writes: “I have heard of 3 instances in the last day of Westporters having their cars stolen from out of their garages during the day, or while on vacation, with keys or credit cards left in the car.

“Readers should take care and lock their cars.”

Absolutely. Whether you’re parked at home or somewhere else, do not leave valuables in your car. Take your keys and/or fob with you. 

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Again. And again. And again.

Take it with you!

=================================================

The Artists’ Collective of Westport sponsors regular pop-up exhibits.

Each includes a variety of artists, genres and styles. Each is special.

The next one is September 7-10 (2 to 6 p.m., Westport Country Playhouse barn). An opening reception (with food, wine, conversations with artists, and Chris Coogan on piano) is September 6 (6 to 8 p.m.).

There’s an artists’ talk on September 10 (5 p.m.).

Participating artists include Ann Brecher-Bogart, Janine Brown, Randijane Davis, Susan Fehlinger, Susanne Keany, Emily Laux, Mary Jo McGonagle, Toby Michaels, Jay Petrow, Diane Pollack, Kim Porio, Mark Schiff, Kris Toohey  and Cynthia Whalen.

==================================================

Betty Dorfman died peacefully at Meadow Ridge in Redding on Tuesday. She was 101 years old.

Westporters with long memories remember her as part of the family that owned the Connecticut Yankee — a clothing store where ASF Sports is now. But there’s much more to her life.

The Brooklyn native was raised by a father who was left an invalid after World War I, and a strong mother who ensured her children the finest educational opportunities.

Betty graduated from City College of New York with a BA in business administration in 1941. She added an MS in 1945.

She married college sweetheart Arnold Dorfman in 1942. While Arnold served in the US Army during World War II, Betty taught high school. After the war they moved around for Arnold’s retail business, and began to raise daughters Merle and Wendy.

The family moved to Westport in 1955, where they opened their Connecticut Yankee store. Betty worked alongside Arnold there. So did her mother Estelle, who had then moved to Westport as well.

Betty became active in the Temple Israel Sisterhood, and served as president of the Fairfield County chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women.

After the Connecticut Yankee closed, she earned a 6th year professional diploma in education. She joined the University of Bridgeport as associate professor of secretarial studies in 1964.

Her career at UB was long and successful. Betty established and directed the nation’s first university-level word-processing major. She shared her expertise with educators, publishers, and executives from around the country.

Betty was a stickler for the English language. She insisted that all secretarial students learned traditional English grammar and punctuation, and later taught journalistic style and usage to students in the Mass Communications Department.

Upon retirement in 1985, Betty was named associate professor emeritus by the UB Board of Trustees. Arnold suffered a serious stroke the following year, and she spent the next 6 years as caregiver. He died in 1992.

During the next 2 decades Betty was an active member of Y’s Women, including co-chair of Trips and Travel for 10 years. She organized day trips and some European excursions with co-chair Dorothy Coen.

She enjoyed playing bridge and taking classes at the Senior Center. Betty also had a rewarding 10-year relationship with fellow Westporter Max Levinson. They had been couples friends for years. Max’s wife Eve had died a year after Arnold.

Betty moved to independent living at Meadow Ridge in 2012, where she remained active as chair of the Activities Committee. She moved into assisted living/memory care there in 2018.

Betty received wonderful care from Meadow Ridge and from her private part-time aide, Andrea Roudenis.

Betty is survived by daughters Merle Spiegel and Wendy Roberts; granddaughters Kate Rosewood (Rich), Jenn Roberts Ma (Roger), and Amanda Pierson (Gene), and great-grandchildren Vanessa and Fiona Rosewood, Owen Ma, and Robbie and Bennett Pierson.

Her family says, “Betty was beloved for her sharp wit, deep intellectual curiosity, kindness, fierce loyalty to friends and family, and impeccable elegance. She was a true force of nature.”

Betty Dorfman

==================================================

Spotted lanternflies continue to be spotted in Westport.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature shows this one, at Jilda Manikas’ house.

Notifications of sightings should be emailed to ReportsSLF@ct.gov. Their website for more information is https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Protection/Spotted-Lanternfly

(Photo/Jilda Manikas)

==================================================

And finally … in honor of Aidan and Seth Schachter’s flight (story above):

(New York is an amazing place. But Westport has something the Big Apple doesn’t: “06880.” Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)