Westport is a very electric vehicle town.
Now alert “06880” reader Jamie Walsh has seen his first Candela — all-electric — boat. It was moored yesterday at Compo Beach’s Ned Dimes Marina.
(Photo/Jamie Walsh)
Jamie says: “Pretty cool! Those 3 things protruding in the air are the hydrofoils. They lower into the water as the boat accelerates, greatly reducing drag and rocking normally associated with most boats.
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14-time Emmy-winning ESPN reporter — and 1988 Staples High School graduate, and current resident — Jeremy Schaap has covered just about every event.
In 30 countries, on 5 continents.
Including, in our (almost) back yard, the annual 4th of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Is it a sport? Is Joey Chestnut the Tiger Woods of eating?
Yesterday, another noted Westport journalist — Dave Briggs — sat down with Jeremy to chat about that topic.
And much more.
Their wide-ranging talk included Caitlin Clark envy, transgender sports in America, and much more.
Click here or below, to see and hear it all.
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Last fall, I had myself scanned — and underwent other tests — at Longevity Powered by DexaFit.
The company — nestled inside Sherpa. the personal fitness and training gym across from Border Grille (not their health food partner) — uses those analyses to help people understand their bodies, and improve fitness.
A Dexa scan is a quick analysis of body composition, detailing muscle mass, bone mass, fat and visceral fat. The report provides insights into a person’s T-score (bone density), ALMI, FFMI, A/G Ratio, and BMC (bone mineral content).
If you don’t know what all that means — neither did I.
But manager Amy Julien explained it all.
The other day, I went back for a follow-up. I had taken some of Amy’s recommendations to, um, heart — and the results showed improvements in areas like muscle gain.
Whew! My improved fitness regime had paid off.
Plus, I did not want to disappoint Amy.
I had not taken up a couple of her other recommendations though, like walking with a weighted vest. She (very) gently tsk-tsked me, and provided a few options.
The good news: I’m in pretty good shape.
On the other hand, I’m not Mr. Olympia.
On the third hand, I don’t want to be. I still have my day job, which keeps me from spending 5 hours a day at the gym.
In the meantime, I’ll keep working out. I’ll follow a few of Amy’s other recommendations. I may (or may not) buy that weighted vest.
And in 6 months, I’ll go back to Longevity to see how I’m doing.
Amy Julien and yours truly. Long may we both live.
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Westporters are not pleased with the state Department of Transportation maintenance facility construction project, off the Sherwood Island Connector behind Walgreens.
But at least the DOT got into the patriotic holiday spirit this weekend:
(Photo/Tammy Barry)
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Early Clover — the former Coasters’ lead singer, and Apollo Theater favorite –brought his soul/R&B/Motown show to the Levitt Pavilion last night.
The youngsters he brought up on stage were born decades after Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole and Otis Redding were alive.
But — with a little encouragement — they got right into those legends’ classic grooves.
(Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Bert Reisman — an accomplished journalist, businessman, and longtime Westporter whose volunteer efforts ranged from the Library to Little League — died June 25, at his Southbury home. He was 96.
The Brooklyn native (and passionate Dodgers fan) graduated from New York University in 1941 with a degree in journalism.
At NYU he met his first wife, Sydelle Silver. They were married for 43 years before her death.
They left New York for Colorado, where he was a reporter for the Durango Hearld. Bert then wrote for the St. Joseph (Missouri) Gazette and Rochester (New York) Times Union. His feature subjects included Willie Mays, Jonas Salk and Robert Oppenheimer.
Bert left journalism in 1959 for corporate communications. He spent 30 years at IBM, where he spearheaded the public relations launch of the IBM 360.
He was also responsible for award-winning campaigns that featured Charlie Chaplin and the M*A*S*H characters.
In his final position, Bert he oversaw IBM’s advertising, media relations and market research. After reaching mandatory retirement age, he spent 6 years as a senior consultant at Burton Marsteller.
During his 35 years in Westport, Bert was active in local politics, served on the Westport Library board of directors, and was a Little League organizer, umpire and manager.
He met his second wife, Louise, when he moved to Stratford. They were married for 16 years, before her death in 2021.
Bert split his time between Connecticut and Carefree, Arizona, where his passion for golf flourished. He enjoyed being part of the Mulligans, a group devoted to golf, community service and laughter.
He is survived by his children Robin of Westport, Jodie (Mark) Naber of Sanibel Island, Florida, and Mike of Westport, and grandchildren Samantha Sydelle of Providence and Charlie Reisman of Los Angeles.
A funeral service will be private. Donations in Bert’s name can be made to the Amazin’ Mets Foundation. Type in mikereisman@outlook.com when prompted.
Bert Reisman
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Slava Leykind died Wednesday, from complications after participating in a mountain endurance event earlier in the week. He was 43.
Born in Minsk, USSR, in 1982, he emigrated with his family to Minneapolis in 1988.
In 20024 he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Slava joined General Mills. In 2006 he joined the boutique investment banking firm Sawaya Segalas, and rose one 3 senior partners at what became Sawaya Partners. When it was acquired by Canaccord Genuity in 2021, Slava became co-head of US consumer investment banking for the broader firm.
Yet Slava’s role as a husband and father was his greatest achievement, passion and pride. He is survived by his wife Amy Keller Leykind; children Charlotte, Eloise and Jonah Leykind; parents Art and Nelly Leykind; brothers Gene and Max; parents-in-law Bonnie and Alex Keller; in-laws Nina Leykind, Laura and Alan Isenberg, and Rachel Leykind, and nephews and nieces Deia Leykind, Coby Leykind, Jackson Isenberg, Esme Isenberg and Blake Leykind.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. July 8 at Temple Israel. A private burial will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a fund in Slava’s name is being established at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Details will follow.
Slava Leykind
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It was hard not to have fun this weekend.
And that goes not just for guys and gals. Gulls, too.
Wendy Levy spotted this pair at Burying Hill Beach. They swooped past, posing just long enough for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Wendy Levy)
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And finally … happy 50th birthday, to 50 Cent!
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About DOT allegedly eventually replanting trees on their construction site in the Hillandale area. According to what I read about that aspect, it sounds like they plan to replace the native habitat they destroyed by planting decorative arbor vitae. They should be planting native trees…oak, maple, native firs etc. to replace the habitat for birds and other creatures including humans. Does anybody have any information about that or do you think it is too soon for them to have established a reliable and firm plan? Said question derives from my hope they possibly would and/or could get it right.
I would speak with the First Selectman’s office to make sure they are looking into and going forward on native plantings there. It makes total sense!
At the other end of the state, in New London County, the phrase “electric boat” means either a nuclear submarine or the shipyard where they were built.
Since boat owners have free power at the marina, are we, the tax payers, paying to charge their luxury boat?