Only Homes with Hope could fight furiously to end homelessness — and make it a laughing matter.
A day after the Westport non-profit inaugurated their new 19-unit affordable housing apartment building on Wilton Road, Homes with Hope held their annual fundraiser: a stand-up comedy show.
A packed house at Fairfield University enjoyed Dustin Nickerson’s great routine. They also went about the serious work of raising money to continue Homes with Hope’s mission to fight homelessness and food insecurity in Fairfield County.
Dustin Nickerson, at the Quick Center Saturday night. (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
There was great applause when Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden discussed the Wilton Road apartments.
The evening also honored Connecticut Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno. She has supported Homes with Hopes’ Gillespie Center and Project Return renovations, as well as the Wilton Road purchase.
Nickerson, and all who worked on the event provided a great win-win Saturday night: for those who need shelter, and those who help provide it.
From left: Angel Bruno, Connecticut Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno, comedian Dustin Nickerson, Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden.
==================================================
About 80 people — and a large number of animals — gathered on the Saugatuck Congregational Church’s front lawn yesterday, for the annual Blessing of the Animals service.
In addition to the human and other participants, several animal-related local organizations took part.
Interim pastor Rev. Kari Nicwander offered the blessings.
Rev. Kari Nicewander (right), blessing some dogs. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
=================================================
Tracy Porosoff is a great “06880” photographer.
Yesterday, she volunteered with The Community Synagogue’s “Reverse Tashlikh” project, cleaning the Longshore shoreline.
She and others were struck by the number of golf balls in the grass below the driving range.
She wonders: “Can the town erect better barriers to keep golf balls from getting into Long Island Sound?”
A few of the many Longshore golf balls. (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
=================================================
Today’s spectacular “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from superb nature photographer Lou Weinberg. He writes:
“The common eastern bumblebee mates at the end of summer, and hibernates over the winter. They have a queen, and live in colonies of 300 to 500 bees.
“They learn to solve problems, and can recognize and remember human faces. Of course, they are excellent pollinators. They are particularly effective with tomato plants, employing a technique called ‘buzz pollination.’
“These bumblebees hibernate in the ground, making green open spaces incredibly valuable to their survival.
“This picture was taken in the Long Lots Preserve surrounding the Westport Community Gardens, a particularly biodiverse, and very green, open space.”
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
==================================================
And finally … Kris Kristofferson, the introspective singer/songwriter (and Rhodes scholar) whose songs were hits for dozens of artists — died yesterday on Maui, Hawaii. He was 88.
Click here for a full obituary.
(Help us make it through the day. Please click here to support “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
Yes, this is why we all LOVE Dan Woog! Each of today’s stories highlighted a different way in which we can give to – and benefit – each other in our community: from residents to animals (including bees)!
Thanks for the great Kris Kristofferson Music! One of the all-Time greats!
Thank you Tracy Porosoff for noticing and asking the question about the golf balls! Great idea to think about better ways to keep them from cluttering the environment.
Father Kumar, pastor of St. Luke’s Catholic Church will be blessing pets at 1 pm this coming Sunday in the church parking lot.
I used to get up early in law school and rake the traps on a nearby golf course in Austin. It meant free golf and I had a machine. Soon, I was finding ball after ball in the water or deep rough. I ended up collecting about three large trash cans full of balls. Finally my former wife said enough, and I gave them all to the USGA. Addictive.