This is non-profit gala season.
Nearly every night, local organizations host fundraisers. There’s catered food and auctions. Special guests offer inspiring speeches.
All are worthwhile. The amount of good works, and the number of generous Westporters, is impressive.
Even so, A Better Chance of Westport‘s Dream Event stands out.
The 22-year-old program — which brings academically gifted and highly motivated young men of color to Westport, where they live together and attend Staples High School — is one of our town’s shining jewels.
The 2023-24 ABC scholars.
The Dream Event is a chance not only to raise much-needed funds, but to celebrate ABC’s scholars, their families, and the community volunteers who make the program run, as host parents, drivers, tutors and more.
As always, Saturday’s event at the Westport Library was a powerful demonstration of the impact A Better Chance has on these wonderfully dynamic, creative and brilliant young men.
It is an equally powerful demonstration of what Westport gains from them.
The speeches by president Eric Freeman, encee Jay Norris, host parents and others were ringing endorsements of ABC.
A Better Chance of Westport president Eric Freeman introduces emcee Jay Norris (photo on the large screen).
But the words from the scholars themselves were especially noteworthy.
2016 Staples alum Christopher Morales described his path in the world since graduating from Cornell University.
Christopher Morales
Staples senior Nile Jean spoke with insight, warmth and humor about his journey from an ambivalent 9th grader to a soon-t0-be-graduate, who made the rocky adjustment, then thrived, in a very different town and school.
Nile Jean
Nile’s mother’s Nedra Stewart’s loving, passionate words brought the crowd to tears. From an early age, she wanted the program for her son (“I stalked ABC,” she said). Her pride in him was evident.
Nile Jean’s mother, Nedra Stewart. (All photos/Jerri Graham Photography)
And the large crowd was proud that she had entrusted her son to ABC, and to our community.
We will watch him soar, as so many other ABC alumni have done. We are a better community for having them in our midst.
(To learn more about A Better Chance of Westport — including how to volunteer and offer support — click here.)
==================================================
The other day, “06880” noted the pavement-grading activity to the right of the northbound entrance at I-95 Exit 18.
The property near the Sherwood Island Connector is a “reuse stockpile area.” It is a hub for storing dirt and gravel salvaged from the Norwalk WALK railroad bridge site, allowing the contractor to minimize waste and disposal.
Alert and environmentally conscious reader Scott Smith adds: “It’s amazing that the town can spend 10 years or more debating new parking downtown or elsewhere, but the state can throw down a couple of acres of asphalt just like that.”
He is also amazed by “how much land in Westport is heavily used by the state Department of Transptoration and Metro-North, from the takeover of the commuter parking lot further down the Connector to all the action at exit 17.
“It looks like we’ll be a construction zone for years more.”
“Reuse stockpile area” at I-95 Exit 18 northbound. (Photo/Scott Smith)
==================================================
Westport’s newest outdoor sculpture will be dedicated May 4 (4 p.m.).
The public is invited to Pasacreta Park (opposite Saugatuck Elementary School) for a ceremony honoring artist Niki Ketchman, and “Passage.”
The work by the longtime Westport resident is a joint initiative with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, Parks & Recreation Department and Commission, Department of Public Works and the Westport Permanent Art Collections.
“Passage” is on loan for 5 years.
Artist Niki Ketchman (umbrella) supervises the installation of “Passage.”
===============================================
May is Mental Health Month.
TAP Strength invites men — and the people who love them — to a holistic discussion of treatment options.
“Let’s Talk About Men’s Mental Health” (May 15, 6 to 7 p.m., 180 Post Road East) features Jennifer Boyd PA and TAP Strength owner Dr. EJ Zebro.
A $25 donation to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Health is suggested.
To RSVP, email info@tapstrength.com.
==================================================
The Staples Jazz Ensemble headlines “A Night of Jazz.” The May 13 (7 p.m., Westport Library) event features music by Benny Carter, Frank Foster, Dizy Gillespie, Rick Hirsch and Thad Jones — with a world premiere by Dr. Kyle Saulnier.
The free event is part of the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston’s monthly jazz series.
Dizzy Gillespie comes to the Westport Library May 13. Well, the Staples High School Jazz Ensemble will play his music, anyway.
==================================================
Sorelle Gallery’s new floral exhibition is “Awakening.” The opening reception is May 11 (3 to 5 p.m.).
Attendees can explore floral artwork by Kay Flierl, Christine Averill-Green, Linda Bigness, Juniper Briggs, Kelly Rossetti and others; watch a frosting piping demo, and taste cake samples by Harborview Cakes; see a bouquet-building demo and shop flower arrangements by New Petal Flower Market, and enjoy light refreshments (including a specialty floral cocktail).
A percentage of proceeds from partnering organizations and artwork sales will be donated to Earthplace. Click here for more details on the exhibition.
“Awakening,” at Sorelle Gallery.
=================================================
Carl Addison Swanson’s latest “Husk McCormick” series novel — “Sex Trafficking” — is now available on Kindle.
Longtime Westporter and Staples High School graduate Swanson is the best-selling author of 58 novels.
This one focuses on a modern horror: young women who are kidnapped and placed in “modern slavery” for prostitution and other acts.
Swanson’s protagonist Hush McCormick rushes to rescue a Marine buddy’s daughter, who falls victim to a cartel.
Click here to order. Click here for Carl Addison Swanson’s website.
================================================
Speaking of books: The next Westport Book Shop’s Short Story Book Club meeting is May 23 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Attendees will discuss 2 selections from Tim O’Brien’s 1990 “The Things They Carried,” his part fiction, part memoir collection of stories about the Vietnam War.
The selections are “On The Rainy River” and “Speaking of Courage.”
Registration is required, by phone (203-349-5141) or email (bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org.)
=================================================
What could be more natural than a full moon?
Lauren Rothstein captured this once-a-month shot for “Westport … Naturally” a few days ago, at Saugatuck Shores’ Covlee Beach. (Hat tip: Patti Brill)
(Photo/Lauren Rothstein)
==================================================
And finally … the upcoming Staples Jazz Ensemble’s concert (story above) brings to mind the great Dizzy Gillespie:
(“06880” kicks off another week of Roundups — and much more. If you enjoy our work, please support us with a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
This is Carl’s 4th attempt to fictionalize some current social issues: “Agent Orange,” “Homeless”and “Abortion” and now “Sex Trafficking” deal with many issues from a perspective others do not see. More information can be learned via his website http://www.carladdisonswanson.com.
Saw Dizzy both in Montreal and Newport Jazz Fest in the 70’s. Not only was he quite the musician, he was such fun, always engaging well with the audience.
Hard to look at the “sculpture” photo and not wonder why Niki
did not share that huge umbrella with the installer guy….real thoughtless.