Saturday’s Roundup included news about Walter Fischel.
The Westport resident was carjacked and shot in the face in South Africa. His passport, phone and credit cards were stolen.
A GoFundMe page has been created, to help with travel, medical expenses, and living expenses for him and his family.
Many Westporters know the Fischel family. Many also know Valerie Fischel — the name of Walter’s sister.
But the Westport Valerie Fischel, and Walter’s sister Valier — who lives in Maryland — are not related.
Our Westport Valerie Fischel does not have a brother. But — like all of us — she hopes the unrelated man who shares her family name makes a full recovery.
Walter Fischel
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Back when I was a Westport teenager, my friends and I spent a lot of time dodging cops.
Today, that phrase means something different.
Next Monday (November 20, 5:30 p.m., Staples High School fieldhouse), students and police join together, in the Westport Youth Commission’s annual Dodge-a-Cop dodgeball tournament.
Five students play at once, along with a Westport officer. There are winner and loser brackets, with the winners earning prizes. There’s food and drinks too.
The 16 teams will be filled fast. Tickets are $10 per student. The event is sponsored by Gault and Mitchells; all funds raised go to the Homes with Hope and Westport Woman’s Club food pantries.
Tickets are being sold at Staples, during lunch. Questions? Contact Cabry Lueker, Youth Commission chair: cabry2006@gmail.com.
Last year, Staples school resource officer Ed Woolridge (back row, white shirt, blue headband) was on the winning Dodge-a-Cop team. The winners posed with RTM member Andrew Colabella (far right).
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Yesterday, Staples’ Service League of Girls packed over 200 boxes with toys for needy children around the world, as part of Operation Christmas Child.
They filled colorful shoeboxes with items like solar calculators, toothbrushes, Baby Yodas and stuffed animals, then labeled each by age.
The SLOGS initiative — led by Emma Morris and Lily Ashford — enlisted nearly 2 dozen girls.
SLOGs, with their holiday boxes.
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Clemson University won its 2nd ACC championship in 4 seasons yesterday, in a penalty kick shootout over the University of North Carolina — and there were 2 Westport connections.
The Tigers are coached by Mike Noonan. The 1979 Staples graduate (and a star on their ’78 state championship team) won his third overall ACC championship overall. In 2021, he led the South Carolina school to the NCAA Division I title.
Paddy Donovan (Staples ’22) is a reserve keeper on the squad.
The Tigers earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Seedings are announced at 1 p.m. today.
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Over 2 dozen retailers, restaurants and merchants have signed up for the 3rd annual “06880”/Westport Downtown Association Holiday Stroll — and it’s still 3 weeks away.
The Saturday, December 2 (5 to 7 p.m.) event is very family friendly. There’s a visit from Santa, special kids’ activities, photo booth, holiday music from the Orphenians, caroling and more. Headquarters is a tent outside Savvy + Grace.
Among the treats:
- Arogya Holistic Healing & Tea: Hot tea to go
- Awesome Toys & Gifts: Giveaway (TBD)
- Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar: 15% off for guests mentioning the “06880” Stroll (seating between 4 and 6 p.m.)
- Castle Wine & Spirits: Expert wine pairings, with hand-picked selections
- Clarendon Fine Art: Bubbly, tasty treats, décor and music; framed, limited edition still life from Tim Fowler (valued at $300)
- Don Memo: Festive holiday beverage
- Fred: Holiday treats
- Gordon Fine Arts: Light hospitality and hot mulled cider
- Hummingbird Healing Center: Discounted Harmonic Egg session of $99.99; free gift to everyone visiting the center on the 2nd floor
- Kerri Rosenthal: 20% of all KR products; rosé and Prosecco
- Naturino Kids Shoes & More: 25% off single item all day long
- Party Harty: 10% of all Westport-related merchandise
- Savvy + Grace: A “north Pole” mailbox for kids’ letters to Santa; holiday cookies
- Scout & Molly’s: 20% off total purchase
- Serendipity Labs: Complimentary week of co-working
- Sorelle Gallery: 20% off in store, all day
- Stretch Zone: Stretches and free stretch vouchers
- The Tailored Home & Studio Café: Complimentary Santa’s cookies and hot chocolate; 50% off on all pillows
- Town of Weston Ukraine Sister City Partnership: Apple cider, water, bracelets, ornaments
- Toy Post: Free giveaway to children
- Vivid Cottage: 5 free holiday cards with purchase
- WEST: $50 gift card for holiday shopping, through December 31
- Whip Salon: $10 gift card for stopping to say hi (18 and over); holiday treats
- Williams Sonoma: Hot apple cider and peppermint bark
- Winfield Street Coffee: $3 hot chocolates with candy canes
- Merchants and restaurants wishing to participate should click here, to fill out an online form.
Questions? Email Huong Belpedio (operations@westportdowntown.com) or Jessica Isaacs (marketing@westportdowntown.com).
See you at the Stroll!
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The thermometer struggled to reach the mid-40s yesterday.
But a number of sailors were out on the Sound.
I thought it was part of the Frostbite series.
Apparently though, it must be a lot colder for those races.
(Photo/Pamela Docters)
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Brilliant fall sunshine yesterday at Willowbrook Cemetery highlights today’s “Westport … Naturally” image:
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
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And finally … on this day in 1940, Walt Disney released “Fantasia.” It was an experiment in animation and classical music, and took a while to become a classic.
There is probably no connection between the Fantasia below and the Disney film, but today is one of the most boring days in history.
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