When Jen Fava resigned as Parks & Recreation Department director this spring, deputy director Rick Giunta — a native Westporter — took over as interim director. The transition was smooth and productive.
Giunta tells “06880”: “It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as the interim director over the past 5 months. However, due to personal reasons, I have chosen to step back into my role of deputy director.
“I’ll continue to support the department to the best of my ability, as the search for a permanent director continues. I’m looking forward to working with and supporting the future leadership of the department as we move forward.”
A new director has not yet been named.
Rick Giunta
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Westport 10 — the town’s networking and social organization for Black men and their families — met yesterday, at Jay Norris and Chirag Shah’s Content Studio in Saugatuck.
Guests includes State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, and Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
Westport 10 — whose numbers are far more than that — has an active fall planned.
Among the activities: a meeting with merchants through the Westport Downtown Association (October 23), Halloween masquerade ball (October 30), holiday party and more.
At yesterday’s Westport 10 meeting (from left): Ted Parker, Adam Moore, Trey Ellis, Gene Massie, Jay Norris, Chirag Shah, CD Glin, Rene Hart, Anil Nair, Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
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We’ll drink to this!
“Westport Uncorked” — the Sunrise Rotary Club wine tasting event (with great food, and non-alcoholic beverages) that has become one of our town’s most popular events, returns to The Inn at Longshore on October 24 (6 to 9 p.m.).
Attendees can taste 100 wines, curated by The Fine Wine Company of Westport. (Well, there will be 100 wines available, anyway.)
Fine Wine Company experts will be on hand to answer questions. Any of the wines can be ordered for delivery.
Every dollar raised goes to charities supported by Westport Sunrise Rotary. Tickets are limited. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
In other Sunrise Rotary news, the club hosted 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker yesterday morning.
She asked members what issues they were most interested in hearing updates about. Among them: affordable housing, traffic, downtown plan, schools, handicapped access, Longshore upgrades, the Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve, Cribari Bridge, Saugatuck River dredging, and road and sidewalk construction in town.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, at the Sunrise Rotary Club.
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The Westport Library has launched its 2024-25 annual appeal. The fundraising goal of $325,000 would secure full funding for the Library’s operations, and allow it to continue to provide the vast majority of programming for free or low cost.
The town of Westport funds 77% of the Library’s operating budget. The remaining 23% is raised through special events and private donations, like those provided during the annual appeal.
The Library welcomes 350,000 visitors a year. The theme for this year’s appeal is “Invest in Lifelong Learning.”
Click here to donate to the appeal, and for more information.
Westport Library
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The 1st anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel will be honored with a community gathering tomorrow (Sunday, October 6, 12 to 3 p.m., Compo Beach).
The event includes words and songs (1:30 p.m.). 101 chairs will represent the hostages still held in Gaza.
The public is invited.
These chairs at Compo Beach represented the hostages held last November, a month after the Hamas attack. (Photo/Mia Bomback)
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Long time resident Jo Ann Miller has put away her paint brushes and is pounding away at the keyboard.
Her initial novella. “Terrorist Vengeance,” is doing so well that she is out with another short story. “Eulogy” describes the passing of a wannabe billionaire who is hardly praised by his 4 wives and 4 children at his funeral.
“Funny, witty and a super read,” praises the Houston Chronicle. It will be available on Amazon soon.
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Today (Saturday, 11 a.m to 1 p.m.), the Westport Weston Family YMCA celebrates its 10th anniversary of the Bedford Family Center at its Mahackeno site.
The family event includes bounce houses, crafts, live entertainment with a magician, refreshments including birthday cake, and giveaways.
Westport Weston Family YMCA: 10 years old!
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Now that the presidential and vice presidential debates are over, you can watch another one, live and in person, right here at Town Hall.
On Thursday (October 10, 7 p.m),, Westport’s League of Women Voters hosts candidates for State Senate District 26, and State Representative District 136.
Questions can be sent in advance to lwvwestportct@yahoo.com.
The debate is co-sponsored by the PTA Council, Westport Sunshine Rotary Club, Y’s Men, Y’s Women and Westport Rotary Club.
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The Joggers Club has moved back to Compo Beach.
All members are welcome; no beach sticker is needed.
The group meets every Saturday at 8 a.m. Weekly runs can be found on their Strava, Facebook and Instagram pages.
Dues are $50 a year. New members get a free Lululemon shirt ($68 retail). Click here for more information.
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Longtime Westport resident Barbara Macieski died peacefully at home on Wednesday. She was 89.
The Bronx native earned a degree in history at the University of Bridgeport, where she met her future husband Ford Macieski.
They were great dance partners. Barbara was also known for her excellent taste in shows to stream and books to read.
Barbara had a career in commercial lending, but her true joy were her 6 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Her family says, “She guided us, nurtured us, healed us, admonished us, and cheered with us our individual and collective good fortune. A confidante, a therapist, a financial advisor, and an ear to hear our trials and tribulations. We all checked in with her daily.”
Barbara was predeceased by her husband Ford and daughter Katy. She is survived by her children Lisa Mann (Russ), Robert, Daniel (Karen), Joanne Carpenter (husband Rick) and Jessica Aysseh (Alex); grandchildren Katy Mann (Ben Bien-Kahn), Samuel Macieski, Kevin Carpenter (Maggie Rogers), Benjamin Macieski, Becky Wiezik (Don), Maggie DelPresto (Jeff), Ellie Mann, Maddy Mann, Coco Aysseh and Lilly Aysseh, and great-grandchildren Ford Wiezik, Leo Mann, Theo DelPresto and Ford Carpenter.
Memorial contributions may be made to LIV IT UP, which provides support services and programming for neuro-diverse adults.
Barbara Macieski (4th from left), with her children.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shows a birdhouse surrounded by cardinal vine, at the Westport Community Gardens.
“Hummingbirds love cardinal vine,” says photographer Lou Weinberg.
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
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And finally … in honor of Westport Sunrise Rotary’s “Uncorked” fundraiser October 24 at The Inn at Longshore (story above):
(If you think there’s nothing to do in Westport, you’re not reading “06880.” If you ARE reading this hyper-local blog — which of course you’re doing now — please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Its a shame Rick Gunta was not given the position as Director of Parks and Rec. He had covered this position since Fava left and has done an excellent job. If our Selectwoman was a better judge of competency she would have promoted Mr Gunta months ago. I have had several occasions dealing with Mr. Gunta And I have always found him to be knowledgeable, efficient and professional.
I will be watching closely who gets promoted to this position and let’s hope it’s not a patronage deal
It is a shame. But as is biblically well known the expert is not recognized in his hometown. Hopefully, as was in the case of our prior director, we will not be stuck with an unknown opportunist from elsewhere.
Thanks Peter I agree Rick is a wonderful person and a native I ask everyone keep asking questions to our first selectwomen as a former parks and recreation employee rick you Dan always count on him to call you back or meet with you as a rtm member he has been 1 of the best to work with I it looks like I wonder if our selectwomen will hit from the out side I ask all the public to keep asking our selectwomen what is going with this email or or call her office we need to no what is going on from sal liccione rtm member parks and recreation of the rtm
Sal, it specially says that Rick is choosing to go back into his deputy director position by his personal reasons and choice. What is there to question? It’s also up to the Director of Human Resources to hire full time employees, and Rick was appointed by the first selectwoman…enough.
I am happy Rick is still the deputy director. With his institutional knowledge, he is an asset. See you on the water next spring!
Mr. Goldberg, if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you..
BRAVO ZULU JO ANN . . .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Town of Westport, CT Announces Public Charette on Hiring of New Director of Parks and Recreation
Westport, CT – October 5, 2024 – The Town of Westport is pleased to announce a public Charette, facilitated by a leading New York-based HR consulting firm, to gather community input on the hiring of a new Director for the Parks and Recreation Department. The event will take place on October 32nd, 2024, at 8:30 AM at the Westport Library.
The Charette provides an open forum for Westport residents to voice their thoughts and preferences on the ideal candidate for this vital town position. Participants will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the qualities, qualifications, and leadership style they believe the future Director should embody to continue enhancing the town’s parks, programs, and recreational services.
While this event is designed to solicit a wide range of opinions, it is important for the public to understand that participation in the Charette does not guarantee that their views will directly influence the final decision-making process. Public officials will take the feedback under consideration, but are under no obligation to adopt or act upon the recommendations provided during the session.
“We encourage the community to take part in this open dialogue and share their thoughts,” said a town representative. “This is a chance for residents to provide valuable insights, but it is also important to set realistic expectations regarding the role public input will play in the final hiring process.”
Event Details:
• Date: October 32nd, 2024
• Time: 8:30 AM
• Location: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT
The Town of Westport remains committed to a transparent and thoughtful hiring process for the next Director of Parks and Recreation and looks forward to engaging with the public on this important matter.
For additional information, please visit Westportct.gov
Were you the kid who reported your classmates for the smallest transgressions, ran to your parents with a smirk, and continue to do so in your adult life?
You are a bore John.
Nailed it. Have we met?
I can’t make it on October 32nd, but I can on October 34th.
This administration continues to confound me. Here you had a guy who is a lifer, can make anything happen by picking up the phone, and works literally seven days a week. He has run that place for years. We all know that. Well we are lucky to have Rick and I hope he sticks around for a bit.
New Westport continues to snub Old Westport. What happened to the history? What happened to the culture?
Westport sold its soul in 1973 when Stauffer Chemical bought Nyala Farms. Money is paramount now.
You’re spot wthere!
I mean you’re “spot on,”Scooter.
Scooter is absolutely right!!
Scooter, a buddy of mine, Dave Cook’s father was CEO of Stauffer and was a force behind their moving from NYC to lessen his commute. But I’m sure they originally chose to live in Wetspot because it was far enough away from NYC to offer them a good place to raise a family. Oh!!!! The ironies abound!!! And Nyala itself was named after a place in Kenya where the ultimate capitalist ET Bedford liked to hunt wild animals and I can remember my buddies and I being welcomed by the Bedfords to shoot woodchucks from the hillside at Nyala when I was 14. The cops weren’t worried about it nor were the neighbors.
Many corporations were getting the hell out of NYC at that time. Stamford was in a big boom. But Herb Baldwin, Westport’s heroic 1st Selectman for many years as the town started to grow from 12K to 27K, only wanted small commercial businesses here to keep the tax rate down. He DID NOT WANT the town “to be only for the rich.” With the sale of Nyala to Stauffer, that ship would and still is sinking.
I suggest consideration for the position of Parks & Recreation Director be given to Michael West. I also note that I was pleased with the “loss” of Jen Fava.
Always, when seeing reference to “Westport 10”, “Congressional Black Caucus,” “National Black Police Association”, “Black Student Union”,I wonder just what damage such groups do to the concept of, and efforts toward “inclusion.”
Dan, we’ve had this discussion before. No one is advocating all exclusion, all the time. But at certain times, being in a minority becomes exhausting. Whether it’s race, sexual orientation or any other difference, it’s nice every once in a while to be in a setting where you are not in a minority — to be around those with shared experiences, in a comfortable setting.
I live my life in a straight world, and I enjoy that life. But it sure is nice every once in a while to be in a setting with many other LGBTQ people.
I wonder what you think of Club 203, Westport’s social organization for adults with disabilities?
I’m a leftie….where’s the outrage?
Hmmmm; will have to mull over that perspective….as a member of, perhaps, the “largest” minority in the country, I have never thought of that. Have always thought it better to be integrated than separated at all times, but I do understand your reasoning,
Dan.
Thanks for the wake up.
I am with Katz on this one. Each month, week, day or whatever is designated for a specific minority. We are all Americans. Perhaps we would be more united if we thought of ourselves that way? Cuz this ain’t working.
Love it, Scooter; so much better said.
The Fireball’s ‘Bottle of Wine’ … hadn’t heard that in ages!
Nice touch, Dan.
Rick should be the new director Our current administration could definitely use a win. And he could bring that. Five months have passed lets show we can get something good done already.
John M. priceless comment!
keep on keep in’ it real!