Westport’s drive to supply 2,000 homes in Lyman, Ukraine — our sister city — with heat this winter is nearing its goal.
We set out to raise $60,000 — the amount needed to pay for 2 wood pellet machines. Each provides enough pellets to heat 1,000 homes, all of them nearly destroyed during the long Russian siege.
Thanks to 2 large anonymous donations, and many smaller ones, we are at the $55,000 mark. We hope to raise the final $5,000 this weekend, so the machines can be delivered by New Year’s.
$30 will heat one home. $300 will heat 10. $3,000 will heat 100 homes — and bring us thisclose to 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!
To learn more about the machines from Brian Mayer — the Westporter who co-founded Ukraine Aid International, which delivers aid directly to Lyman — click below:
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On Monday (December 18, 7 p.m., Zoom), the Planning & Zoning Commission continues its discussion of the Long Lots Elementary School building project.
Click here for the Zoom link.
The project continues.
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Sustainable Westport announces its first-ever Community Giving Challenge.
If 100 followers make a gift to the town’s environmental advocacy organization by December 31, a generous Westport has pledged to donate $5,000.
“Reaching our goal will demonstrate our community’s commitment to sustainability and allow us to expand our sustainability programs, educational initiatives, and community outreach efforts,” officials say.
Click here to donate, and for more information.
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Jo Ann Miller was told by her postal carrier that all the mailboxes on Blue Coat Lane — off North Avenue — were hit by a thief. Similar thefts were reported on Greens Farms Road.
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Don’t raise the flag on your mailbox.
To be even more safe — because thefts occur even when flags are not raised: Take your mail to the post office, and deposit it inside.
Pro tip: The Greens Farms post office — in front of the train station — has much easier parking.
Your best bet, any time of year. (Photo/Bobbie Herman
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Oops!
Yesterday’s “06880” reported that — contrary to our previous reporting — Cava would not be opening next to Westport Hardware.
We were right the first time.
The casual restaurant — featuring pitas and bowls — will indeed open, in mid-January.
Meanwhile, a mattress store — which we said erroneously would take over the intended Cava space — will actually move in in the same strip mall, near the UPS Store.
We apologetically eat our words. (Hat tip: Megan Brownstein)
A few offerings from Cava.
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This year’s Martin Luther King Day observance will be special.
Dr. Clarence B. Jones — the slain civil rights leader’s longtime speechwriter and confidant — will be the guest of honor, at Westport’s 18th annual celebration. He speaks at the Westport Library on January 14 (3 p.m.).
Dr. Jones served as legal counsel, strategic advisor, and draft speechwriter to King from 1960 until his assassination in 1968. He wrote the first 7 paragraphs of King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Dr. Jones worked with many leaders of the movement, serving as a liaison between King and Malcolm X, James Baldwin and Robert F. Kennedy, among others.
Dr. Jones carries on King’s legacy. As a lawyer, civil rights leader and business executive, he has maintained close personal friendships and working relationships with Muhammed Ali, James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee and Lorraine Hansberry, among others.
Dr. Jones is chair of the Spill the Honey Foundation, which brings together historic and contemporary voices of the Black-Jewish alliance to achieve social justice non-violently. He also founded the Dr. Clarence B. Jones Institute for Social Advocacy, and serves as the founding director emeritus of the Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco.
In 2021, Dr. Jones received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association, the highest recognition given by the ABA.
The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, Westport Country Playhouse, and the Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy and Council. Click here for more information.
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Speaking of the Library: A full house Thursday enjoyed the 2nd of 3 “Short Cuts Film Festival” evenings.
This month’s theme was “documentaries. Director Luchina Fisher discussed her film with producer Nancy Diamond, after the screening of 4 short docs.
The final “Short Cuts” screening is January 18. Click here for more information, and tickets.
Nancy Diamond (left) and Luchina Fisher, on stage at the Short Cuts Film Festival.
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Connecticut Children’s — the state’s only healthcare system dedicated exclusively to the care of kids — has received a $1 million commitment from the David and Geri Epstein Private Foundation to support the hospital’s Westport Specialty Clinic, as well as research with statewide and nationwide impact.
The infusion center at the new Westport Specialty Clinic was named for Geri Epstein at a ceremony last month.
Infusion Center patient Rhys (left) with his parents, Kia and Ryan; Connecticut Children’s president and CEO Dr. Jim Shmerling, and David & Geri Epstein Private Foundation trustee Karen Hess.
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Here’s Sherwood Mill Pond in late fall, off of Grove Point.
It’s a different angle of a familiar scene — just right for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … news of thefts from mailboxes (story above) brought this classic to mind.
Forget the abysmal, rolling-their-eyes lip synching. Just realize that when he recorded the gruff, blue-eyed soul vocal with the Box Tops, Alex Chilton was just 16 years old.
(Hey: You don’t have to mail a contribution to “06880.” Just click here to donate with a very safe credit card, Venmo or Zelle transfer. Of course, you CAN send a check too. Whichever way: Thank you!)
Dan, how could you! Exposing our hidden gem of the “other” Westport Post Office! Next you’ll be telling everyone that it can handle everything the overcrowded, parking-infuriating Playhouse Square PO can (except passports) with equally-friendly staff and no lines.
My bad.
But just before everyone goes to the Westport (Playhouse Square) post office: Their passport person is out indefinitely, so they’re no processing passports. Plus, they’re out of holiday stamps. Go figure.
There’s always Southport . . . 😉
The postman told us that putting your outgoing box during the daylight hours is, most likely, safe. It is at NIGHT, where the thieves seem to operate. Some 17K$ worth of checks were stolen the other night on Blue Coat and the Westport police seemed to turn their back on the crime. As it is a federal crime, the Postal Inspectors (touted by the FBI as “the best’) have been notified. “Tis the season . . .