Roundup: Staples Internships, Board Of Finance, Fair Rent Commission …

Staples High School’s Internship Program is a win-win-win.

Every spring, talented and eager seniors leave school 3-4 weeks before graduation. They spend the final month out in the real world.

They work everywhere: retail stores, salons, restaurants, non-profits, medical offices, financial firms, design shops, farms, marketing companies, photography studios, publishers … you name it. If there’s a job to be learned and done, they do it.

(And not just in Westport. Interns head to New York City — even beyond.)

The work and real life experience they gain is invaluable. The energy, creativity — and help — they bring to the workplace is huge. And the internships get them out of high school at a time when senioritis would otherwise kick in (that’s the third “win”).

But as hard as they work, the program coordinators work equally hard right now arranging 420 or so internships.

So they’re asking the greater “06880” community: Can you help?

Do you need a senior (or 2, or 3) for daily onsite (or remote) work? Perhaps you’re beefing up your social media presence. Or looking for research help, design work, web content, data entry. Or hundreds of other tasks.

You can be a small, medium or large size firm– or a single proprietor. Maybe you were an intern once yourself, and want to give back.

Internships begin May 20. Students are expected to work 5 hours a day for 3-4 weeks, onsite, remotely or in a hybrid model. Program leaders provide guidance and oversight.

If interested, or to learn more, email shsinternship@westportps.org.

Staples High School internship opportunities include local farms.

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The Board of Finance holds a special meeting this Monday (December 11, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).

There is one agenda item: “Second discussion of the Long Lots Building Project.” It’s a discussion only; no vote will be taken.

The Long Lots Elementary School building project’s next step is the Board of Finance. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)

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Speaking of local politics: 1st Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker is seeking residents registered to vote in Westport to serve on the Fair Rent Commission. This group, was recently established by the Representative Town Meeting.

Five members will be appointed to staggered 4-year terms. Click here for the full language of the ordinance, including its makeup and powers.

In addition to the Fair Rent Commission, Westport residents with varying interests, talents, backgrounds and political affiliations are encouraged to volunteer to serve on other appointed committees that currently have vacancies or upcoming member term limits:

• Architectural Review Board
• Arts Advisory Committee
• Blight Prevention Board
• Commission for Senior Services
• Conservation Commission
• Flood and Erosion Control Board (Alternates)
• Historic District Commission
• Parks Advisory Committee
• Tree Board
• Youth Commission

Click here for descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of these appointed boards, commissions and committees.

Registered voters seeking any appointment should submit an Interest Form,   including a brief description of your background, biography or resume to selectwoman@westportct.gov.

Questions? Contact 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore: amoore@westportct.gov.

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Westport’s November residential home real estate market was stronger than a year ago.

There were 25 unit sales — up 8.7% compared to November 2022.

The median sales price of $1,75 million was up 9.7%; the median sales price per square foot of $434 is a 3% increase.

76% of homes sold for 95% or more of the list price. 84% sold within 90 days of listing.

The inventory of 91 homes represents a 12.5% decline compared to a year ago. The days on market — 48 — is a 15.8% decline. (Hat tip: Meredith Cohen/Raveis)

This 5-bedroom, 5 1/2-bathroom house at 2 Owenoke Park is listed for $8.795 million. It is 4,820 square feet, on 0.47 acres.

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La Plage celebrates the holidays with 2 special dinners.

There are 3-course prix fixe meals on Christmas Eve (4 to 10 p.m.) and Christmas Day (noon to 7 p.m.; $90 per person; $55 for 12 and under; $20 for kid’s menu). Click here for the menu, and reservations (required).

New Year’s Eve features a la carte seating from 5 to 7 p.m. A gala dinner, with 5- course tasting menu, is served from 8:30 on. Click here for the menu, and reservations.

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Speaking of the holidays: It will be a cold one in Lyman, Ukraine. For the second winter in a row, our sister city is dealing with the effects of Russia’s invasion.

Brian Mayer — the Westporter who co-founded Ukraine Aid International — is in Lyman this week.

Yesterday, he sent a video. It shows both the destruction, and the opportunity to help.

Our goal this month is to raise $60,000. That would pay for 2 wood pellet machines. Each provides pellets to heat 1,000 homes. In just 96 hours, “06880” readers have donated nearly $51,000.

With your help, the machines can be funded — and delivered — by Christmas. $30 will heat one home all winter. $300 will heat 10. $3,000 will heat 100. And 3 of those $3,000 donations will enable us to reach our goal.

To donate by credit card, click here; then click the “I want to support” box; then select “Westport — Lyman Sister City.” Scroll down on the Donate page for other options: mail, wire transfer and Venmo. Thank you!

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Pizza and a play.

That’s on the menu December 20. Westport Country Playhouse hosts “Together at the Table Family Dinner,” before a performance of the holiday production “A Sherlock Carol.” Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a pizza dinner, followed by the show at 7.

Families can enjoy a communal dinner in the Playhouse’s rehearsal barn and a casual conversation with an artist from the show before the performance together – all for $10 per ticket (must attend as a family, with student-age children. For reservations, call 203-227-4177.

“A Sherlock Carol” runs from December 19-23. Click here for the full schedule, and more information.

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Former 1st Selectwoman Diane Farrell returns to Westport.

This time, she’s the deputy under secretary for international trade, in the office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce.

She’ll speak to the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club this Friday (December 15, 7:45 a.m.,; coffee, bagels and muffins at 7;  Green’s Farms Congregational Church).

The public is invited. To RSVP or for questions, email info@WestportSunriseRotary.org.

Diane Farrell

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Kerri Rosenthal turns its attention from women’s clothes to women’s work.

On Tuesday (December 12, 6 to 8 p.m.), the Main Street store hosts a launch and discussion for Dr. Hilary Berger’s new book, “Work Like a Mother: Rewriting the Script for a Mother’s Career and Wellness Journey.”

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Congratulations to Staples High School’s December Students of the Month: seniors Deneil Betfarhad and William Lacend Duprey; juniors Elsa D’Elia, Christina Kavanah and Kelpin Gomez Ramos; sophomore Reese Rein, and freshmen Lila Roach and Simon Van Aken.

Students of the Month “help make Staples a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the ‘glue’ of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.”

Staples Students of the Month (from left): Simon Van Aken, Lila Roach, Kelpin Gomez Ramos, Deneil Betfarhad, Christina Kavanah, Elsa D’Elia, William Lacend Duprey. Missing: Reese Rein. 

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Speaking of Staples: 1979 graduate and Clemson University men’s soccer head coach Mike Noonan is headed to the NCAA championship.

His Tigers beat West Virginia University 1-0 yesterday in the Division I semifinal. They face Notre Dame in Monday’s final (6 p.m.).

Noonan had a legendary soccer career at Staples, helping lead the Wreckers to the 1978 state championship. After earning All-America status at Middlebury College, he played professionally — including in Louisville, where the Final 4 is being held.

Several of Noonan’s former Staples teammates and friends made the trip there for yesterday’s match, including Rich Hiltz, Eric Strausser and Dan Donovan. Donovan’s son Paddy is a reserve goalkeeper for Clemson.

Mike Noonan greets Westport fans after yesterday’s NCAA Division I semifinal win.

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The Westport Astronomical Society’s free online lecture series continues December 19 (8 p.m.), with an out-of-this-world topic.

Dr. Catherine S. Plesko will discuss “Planetary Defense: Using Supercomputers to Prevent Asteroid Impacts on Earth.” She is the principal investigator for planetary defense at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Click here to watch via Zoom. Click here to watch via YouTube.

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Claudia Sherwood Servidio offers today’s “Westport … Naturally” image from Main Street near Willowbrook Cemetery, with this comment: “There’s still color out there!”

(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

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And finally … in honor of Dr. Hilary Berger’s book launch (story above):

(Once again — as we’ve done every day since 2009 — “06880” delivers tons of useful, hyper-local news and information. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)