Attorney General William Tong spoke to a large Y’s Women crowd yesterday.
He described the impact of state lawsuits against tobacco and pharmaceutical firms. Up next: social media companies.
The AG — one of nearly 2 dozen who have sued Donald Trump and his administration, in several cases — said that the president must follow judges, and the law. States have the “checks and balances” power to keep the executive branch in check, he noted.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong with (from left) Y’s Women president Vera DeStefano and vice president Catherine Albin. (Photo/Jilda Manikas)
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Jake Sussman is not yet 30. But — as founder of Superpower Mentors, an online mentoring program that empowers young people with learning differences to confidently succeed in any environment — he has already made a difference in thousands of lives.
On April 10 (6:30 p.m., Woodway Country Club, Darien) the Westport native will be honored at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities‘ annual gala. Sussman will receive the Norwalk-based non-profit’s “Be the Difference” Award.
Jake has spent thosands of hours personally mentoring neurodiverse youth around the world. He often uses his own experiences with learning differences in his work.
“As someone who once struggled to see my own potential, I know firsthand that the right mentorship can change everything,” he says.
“The world’s biggest problems will be solved by those who think differently. I am committed to making sure every young person sees their differences as their greatest superpower.”
Click here for tickets, and more information.
Jake Sussman
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Sunday’s community conversation about the Representative Town Meeting was informative, insightful and fun. (And I’m not just saying that because I was the moderator.)
If you want to know more about our town’s legislative body — what it does; what motivates people to run; what they get out of it — click below.
PS: RTM members want competitive races. It makes everyone better. If you’re thinking of running for a seat this fall, the video above may motivate you.
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Westport did it again!
On Sunday — in just one hour — residents donated 180 bags of food and household items — to Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Center and food pantry.
Others send supplies through Amazon.
The collection was sponsored by Marcy Sansolo, the Facebook “What Up Westport” page creator and avid town volunteer (and most recent “06880” Unsung Hero).
Along with donors, the Imperial Avenue parking lot collection point was visited by Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service president Jaime Bairaktaris, CLASP Homes president Tracy Flood, Gillespie Center pantry manager Sarah Carusone, and the general manager of Fresh Market.
Fresh Market had offered a great deal to Marcy. She bought 100 pounds of beef, and 100 more pounds of chicken, to augment the other donations.
Marcy got a tour of the newly renovated Gillespie Center. “I was so moved by everyone involved, and in awe of all the goodness surrounding me” she says — referring to the homeless shelter, food pantry, and all who helped with the collection.
Marcy Sansolo and Sarah Carusone, Homes with Hope food pantry manager. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
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More politics (national version): Last Thursday was “Westport Day,” at the prestigious Virginia Festival of the Book.
Historian (and 1972 Staples High School graduate) Talmage Boston, discussed his new book, “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.”
The moderator was 1980 Staples grad Marc Selverstone, the University of Virginia Miller Center of Public Affairs’ director of presidential studies.
Referencing America’s 8 greatest presidents, Boston explored how their leadership traits can be applied today.
In the audience were Dave Harrison, a legendary Staples social studies teacher who taught both Boston and Selverstone, and his wife, former SHS educator Marianne Harrison, along with Selverstone’s parents, Bob and Harriet. Bob — a psychologist — also worked as a Staples guidance counselor and teacher, while Harriet is a retired media specialist and library department chair at Norwalk High School.
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Staples’ recipients for March Students of the Month are senior Massimo Sequenzia, juniors Angela Dellorusso and Vincent Vega, sophomores Hayley Epstein and Igancy Nieweglowski, and freshmen Chloe Endich and Petra Schwartz.
Students of the Month — nominated by their teachers — help make Staples a welcoming place for peers and teachers. They are “the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together.”
From left: Angela Dellorusso, Hayley Epstein, Ignacy Nieweglowski, Massimo Sequenzia, Vincent Vega. Not pictured: Chloe Endich, Petra Schwartz.
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John Basile — the jazz guitarist and composer known for his “soulful melodic playing, sophisticated harmonic sense, and deep conversational approach to improvisation” — headlines this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, March 27; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; VFW Post 399; $20 music cover, $15 for veterans and students; click here to reserve).
Basile has worked withPeggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett. He’ll be joined by bassist Yuriy Galkin, drummer Carmen Intorre Jr., and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
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Speaking of music: pianists Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor perform April 6 (2 p.m.), at Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston co-sponsor the free event, on the church’s Steinway grand piano.
Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor
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Four stone pillars have stood on Morningside Drive South for decades. It’s not going anywhere.
But there’s plenty of ever-changing life all around at least one, as today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows. In a few days, this scene will look very different.
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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And finally … happy 78th birthday, Sir Elton John!
(We’ve got news, videos, music — everything you need. But we need your support. If you enjoy “06880” — your hyperlocal blog — please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Nothing is sadder(*) on Election day than a ballot with four RTM candidates in my district.
(*) I reserve the right to be even sadder on 2026 & 2028 election days.