Former 2nd Selectman and Board of Finance chair Avi Kaner and his wife Liz are in Israel, during these precarious times. Avi told “06880” this morning: “We arrived last night to spend a week, and flew into a country at war.
“The primary purpose of our visit was to dedicate a Torah scroll, which my grandfather rescued, to the Yad Vashem Holicaust Museum on Wednesday.
“This is a very resilient nation. All the terrorists succeeded in doing is reuniting the people.”
Liz added: “During our flight to Tel Aviv yesterday Israel became embroiled in war. I got teary-eyed at airport after seeing a young Israeli family – blond hair/ blue eyes — meeting their safta (grandmother). What did they do to elicit such hatred?
“This is so emotional, but I wouldn’t trade being here tonight for anything. We bonded with Avi’s cousins while going to and from bomb shelters 4 times.
“We witnessed the sights and sounds of rockets being launched by Hamas, which were then diffused by Iron Dome. First was the hissing of the rockets and then the “boom boom” of their decimation….
“While in the bomb shelter Avi’s cousin started singing ‘Am Israel Chi (The People of Israel Live’), which reinforced our love for and solidarity with Israel.”
The Kaners sent 2 emotional videos. Click below for their first-hand report:
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David Meth writes:
“My wife and I just returned from a very pleasant Friday night walk along Main Street for ice cream at Cold Fusion.
“Well, pleasant to a point. As we see often, some very negligent parents let their tweens and early teens loose and alone to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards and electric 1-wheelers on Main Street. No helmet. No regard.
“Because … why bother to make sure their own children are safe? The kids uninhibitedly take their chances against traffic, zipping in and out of lanes and between cars, cutting them off without a thought.
“So it was very nice to see Officer Shawn Booth on foot patrol watching over the street, pedestrians, and diners coming to and from the restaurants, as well as checking on stores to see that all was usual.
“But a foot patrol is not usual, although it is absolutely necessary on weekends to prevent these children from causing an accident, getting hurt oe, God forbid, killed.
“The parents obviously won’t take care of their children, so let us thank the Westport Police Department for keeping their children safe.
“They must be kept away from and out of traffic and casual strollers on Main Street.”
Westport Police Officer Shawn Booth
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The “Fairfield County Talks Housing” series continues with October 17 (7 p.m., Westport Library), with a conversation called “Housing Matters: Connecting Housing and Education.”.
The discussion about the relationship between a resident’s address, quality education and opportunity includes Connecticut House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, CT Voices for Children executive director Emily Byrne, and ConnCAN executive director Subira Gordon.
The event is sponsored by the Fairfield County Center for Housing Opportunity and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.
In Connecticut, Zip Codes and educational opportunity are tied closely together.
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After many months, Westport is getting a … nail salon.
The Nail Factory reopens Monday, next to CVS.
Owner Quiyang “Amber” Tian moved to the US from China in 2015. She worked as a cashier, then became a nail technician in the Bronx, Long Island and Orange (commuting from Queens.
She and a co-worker bought an established nail business in Westport in 2019, now known as The Nail Factory, where they became known for their designs. COVID struck soon, shuttering them for 3 months.
The property owner did not renew her lease after 3 1/2 years. She has built out her new location, investing in all new equipment. Welcome back! (Hat tip: Charlene Reiss Zeiberg)
The Nail Factory opens tomorrow. (Photo/Molly Alger)
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After decades of getting ready for the opening. bell, retired teachers have the luxury of sleeping in.
But former Staples High School educators find a variety of ways to stay active and engaged. They lead full, interestinglives.
Every so often they get together (though a bit later than dawn) to compare notes, and talk about their lives then and now.
They call themselves ROMEOs: Retired Old Men Eating Out.
How many of the legendary teachers in the photo below do you recognize?
They are (clockwise from lower left): Al Jolley, Jim Wheeler, Tom Owen, Bruce McFadden, Barry Curseaden, Pete Van Hagen, Stan Rhodes, John Pepe, Werner Liepolt, Jeff Lea, Bill Brookes, Ed Bludnicki.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is as natural as it gets.
Peter Swift snapped this shot. He writes: “Never mind the politics — the show goes on at Westport Community Gardens. Early Saturday. Compost stacked. Birds singing. Bees buzzing. The compost guy.”
(Photo/Peter Swift)
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And finally … on this day in 1956, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history.
(Here’s a perfectly good idea: Please support local journalism, by clicking here. Thank you!)
I want thank Shawn for walking main st and Westport pd .I would love to see more of this as someone who lives of main st on church lane ? I would request from our wonderful department have a patrol officer come with me and meet our wonderful employees and owners of businesses who work in Westport. ? Thanks Westport pd from sal liccione
Thank you Kaners for that powerful first-hand reporting amid a terrible situation
Way back when there was always a WPD walking beat downtown on the evening, or 4-12 shift. ( as well as the 8-4 shift). He handled parking issues and checked doors after the businesses had closed. It was great checking in on the stores and shooting the breeze with owners and employees and handling various issues. Some of the “2nd precincts” were Charlie Nichols and later Andy Marrone at Economy Liquor, the girls at Aspasia, Mel and Joe at Westport Pizza, Dave and Russ at Dorain Drug, Dan and crew at Sportmart and Cissie always had the coffee on at C’est Gold. There’s an old saying in the Police world, “a good cop never gets cold, wet or hungry” lol.. Those were nice days..
Ah! The teacher stroll down Staples memory lane from class of 74….Mr. Jolley, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Lee…all wonderful and dedicated educators. And cheers to my remarkable class mate Tom Owen!
Re: the Kaner’s story of the airport in Tel Aviv: why does it matter that the family meeting their grandmother was blonde-haired and blue-eyed? Would it have made a difference if they had been Sephardic, or dark eyed and dark-haired? I don’t understand why that detail was considered important.
Mara, the detail is insignificant-just my commentary. We left on a trip to Israel and only when we landed did we learned of the terrible massacre by Hamas. I was caught up in emotions when I saw these beautiful kids-regardless what they look like! Surprised you would harp on such an insignificant detail when there is so much to try to grasp about Israel’s plight.
I’m sorry for the comment by Mara. it’s inappropriate I wish Israel well and your family. it is incomprehensible sorry.
No need to apologize for me, thanks. It’s important to check our own biases, and it isn’t okay to suggest that someone is more innocent or empathy-triggering because of their physical traits. Everyone in this situation in Israel is equally deserving of our compassion, regardless of their appearance.
Agreed. I thought it was a very bizarre thing to remark on given the circumstances. What do blond hair and blue eyes have to do with any of this? It could have easily been omitted.
Liz, thank you for your videos with your husband. I feel protective of you reading this. Good grief, anyone can tell you were being descriptive and included the details of the scene as you were experiencing it. It is so emotional right now. I’m sure you would have included the descriptive details no matter what the color of the children. Not everything should be considered offensive. What have we become as a people to be so offended by an innocent comment in the middle of a horrible situation with lives at stake. You were brave and generous to share what you were experiencing.
As we learn in composition writing 101, describe the scene and include the details so people can experience it with you. Include outine, color, etc. Some of my husband’s family have lived in Israel for 40+ years. His grandfather was born there and was a prominent Rabbi back in the day. So we are following closely.Haven’t heard back from family members yet. Hope you all are safe and get home soon.
thank you Kaner family. I admire your courage.
Mr. Fogel, shouldn’t you be bullying FS Tooker or you taking the day off?
Tooker. her Democratic challenger overtook her. hello friend
and her Democratic challenger will not over look her
Andrea. hi. I know you adore my comments and thank you.
What a great picture of the great teachers from Staples. I’m pretty sure I had at least 5 as teachers, one as a coach and one as my first ever boss at Continuing Education! Happy to see them all doing so well.
Well said Chris! Even though Werner and I have disagreed with civility on most town issues, all great teachers who deserve our thanks for helping mold us. Great photo and post Dan.
Huh? Clark not Chris. The only times I disagree (civily) with representatives is when they fail to represent.
Stay strong Israel and Kaner family. You are all in so many of our prayers throughout the day and night during this horrific time.
That’s a lot of pretty serious criticisms being lobbed at the parents of these horrible tweens and teens that almost ruined a perfectly good ice cream cone.
As an alternative explanation, maybe these kids, like every generation before them – including, I’m sure, the first hand reporters – back to the times of cave dwellers, were acting out and testing g boundaries away from their parents. And if that behavior was so risky or appalling, perhaps do what normal people do and address them. It takes a village and all that.
Perhaps after the events of this weekend a little perspective is in order.
Thanks, James, for your important touch of sanity.
Thank you to the Kaner family! We must all pray for Israel and for peace! Am Yisrael Chai!
Where does town leadership such as Tooker stand on Israel? Are they going to show the same support as has been shown for Ukraine? There is a much deeper and more direct Westport connection with Israel and I am surprised at the lack of “I stand with Israel”? I am am hoping to see Tooker and town leadership name a sister city, go visit on the ground there, and show much support in the weeks and months to come.
Mara I support your right to question the point of including this in Mr. Kaner’s post. I also think maybe people should look at the daily lives of the occupied in Gaza and the West Bank. I’m ready to be vilified but I really don’t care.
Let’s just flesh out what you’re saying here: “The poor living conditions of the people of Gaza imposed by the Israeli government justify the killing and hostage taking of Israeli civilians.”
It’s precisely this inane viewpoint that prolongs this conflict indefinitely – one side justifies the actions of their preferred side based on the behavior of the other.
Well done.
If you continue to bomb refugees in an open air prison this will never end.
Likewise, if you continue to attack innocent civilians in a sovereign state, you will continue to invite retaliation, resulting in what is unfortunately likely to transpire over the next several weeks/months.