Yesterday morning, the “06880” Roundup asked:
Can we get $3,348?
That’s all that’s needed for Westport to reach its goal of $60,000. With just $3,348 more, we can fund two wood pellet machines — and provide heat, all winter long, to 2,000 residents of our sister city: Lyman, Ukraine.
Within minutes, we got it.
A generous and swift gift from a Westport couple — of exactly $3,348 — ensured that both wood pellet machines will be delivered almost immediately to the war-torn town.
Each machine provides wood for 1,000 people, living in badly damaged apartments after nearly 2 years of Russian attacks.
One of the wood pellet machines helping to heat Lyman.
With other donations that followed, Westport’s holiday fund drive has raised $62,672.14.
That’s on top of last winter’s $252,000, and a summertime “thank you” party that brought in nearly $50,000. Those funds have paid for an enormous variety of much-needed aid: emergency communication equipment, police and trash vehicles, meals, bulletproof vests for utility workers, children’s gifts, repairs to hundreds of apartments, portable heaters and more.
The sister city relationship between Westport and Lyman grew out of a similar project with Westport and Marigny-le-Lozon, France. That one began nearly 80 years ago, in the aftermath of World War II.
For 2 decades, Westporters helped our French friends rebuild. Youngsters who received Christmas gifts never forgot our town’s generosity. In 2022, when officials named a room in their Town Hall after Charlotte MacLear — the Staples High School French teacher who was an instrumental bridge — they suggested that Westport and Marigny join together to help a Ukrainian town. Russia had invaded that nation less than 3 months earlier.
Brian and Marshall Mayer — Westporters who founded Ukraine Aid International, a non-profit that ensures goods and supplies are delivered where they are needed most — identified Lyman, in the Donetsk region, as a place in desperate need of help.
Westport is proud of its relationship with Lyman. In addition to 3 separate fundraising drives, Bedford Middle School students sent artwork and letters. They were delivered by 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Police Chief Foti Koskinas, who last spring became the first American officials to travel east of Kiev, when they visited their counterparts in Lyman.
Marigny too has been very generous. Beginning this summer, they collected 500 toys.
Thanks to Ukraine Aid International, they’re being delivered in time for Christmas.
For the second year in a row, Lyman residents are spending the holidays under siege.
But — thanks to Westport and Marigny — for the second year in a row, they know they are not alone.
Aid to Lyman is always welcome. 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!
trump and the Republican Party are Putin supporters. Trump and republicans are likely to repeat Russian talking points. Russian news praises Fox tv and Trump. 06880 supports Lyman and Ukraine. It appears to me that many 06880 and the USA. do not support Ukraine.
Speaking only about Richard Fogel’s Post:
Not 1 sentence you said is true, not 1; in fact, all that’s correct is your spelling.
Trump and Putin are usually adversaries but neither under estimates the other, i.e., that doesn’t make one the supporter of the other; it does mean that if Trump were now In Oval Office Putin wouldn’t be gaining power and influence by moving in to Europe via UKR.
Exactly What Russian news media outlets are you even referring to as praising Fox News and Trump?
Dan Woog’s blog got Westporters to raise $70k for ‘wood chippers’ to fuel homes in some town in Ukraine that has probably never had that quality of fuel (‘never’ meaning even before Putin decided to move in on Europe via UKR) while UKR Govt has gotten $75B in aid (USA$44B of that is strictly for military, apparently none of the rest of it went to wood chippers to provide fuel to UKR People), and you’re ridiculing Westporters lack of support for UKR?
If anyone hasn’t/isn’t supporting UKR well enough it’s UKR’s own govt, own elites.
didn’t Trump say he trusts Putin more then the USA fbi. Justice department. CIA. didn’t Trump say Putin gave a strong response to the Russian election interference and Trump believes Putin over the USA intel agencies ? Regardung the documents stolen by Trump. do you know what’s missing ? the Russian intelligence gathered by the USA intel agencies. Trump removed those files/ reports
research article material from Russia investigation went missing New York Times.
Russian TV thanked the Republican Party and specifically mentioned Mitch McConnell for praise! Trump said Putin was a genius and savvy after Putin invaded!
my writing made enough logic for you to respond. Trump has threatened to pull out of NATO several times. Trump has been aligned with Russia and Putin and his oligarchs. Russian news media has praised Trump and the former speaker of the house. I am grateful that selective people in 06880 support Ukraine. the Trump and Republican supporters in 06880 will not support Ukraine. I’m sure you are aware the Republican house bill in support of a Israel and Ukraine funding is dependent on USA border security contingencies in the bill. The republicans refuse to pass a clean funding bill for Ukraine. The current house speaker has made many issues over the funding to Ukraine and has changed his tune from pro Ukraine at first to a highly skeptical support of Ukraine now. The democrats want a clean funding bill for a Ukraine and are willing to vote yes on it.
If the Orange Menace wins in 2024, you can bet Putin, with his teeny, tiny fingers, will be victorious! And speaking about immigrants, tRUMP has a lot of nerve dissing them because his three wives were all immigrants. (I’m not sure about his mistresses, but his wives definitely were.)
Time for the corrupt Ukrainian government to wave the white flag and spare the rest of its population. This proxy war has cost them a generation and more to a useless quest. NATO never wanted Ukraine and they are proving it now. As far as Mr. Putin he’s a choirboy compared to Netanyahu and his fascist government.
THANK YOU WESTPORT! Please do not bury the lead here! We CAN and HAVE made a difference in the lives of many innocent victims of war. This is up close and personal. At this time of year, especially, and any time, it’s empowering to know that 06880 has the will to do this. Just when you think you can’t make a difference in the world, remember Marigny and now, Lyman, and take joy in the knowledge that YOU DID.