Are you aware of AWARE?
It’s one of my favorite local non-profits — though I’m not technically allowed as a member. The acronym stands for Assisting Women Through Action, Resources and Education.
Each year the group selects a women’s cause, then partners with a charity to benefit it. Through a fundraiser, hands-on activity and educational event, AWARE shines a light on a different meaningful women’s issue.
One year for example, AWARE partnered with Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, a Bridgeport transitional home, to support female veterans.
Each month, AWARE volunteers served dinner to homeless female vets there. They assembled diaper bags filled with newborn supplies, for pregnant veterans in need. And they organized a panel discussion in Westport, with female veterans from 4 military branches.
Another year, the partner was Her Time. They help women impacted by incarceration and domestic violence.
AWARE provided monthly dinners in Bridgeport. Members gave presentations on finance, parenting health, low-cost nutrition, special education, writing, mindfulness, family meals and meditation — among many other collaborations.
On Wednesday, members got together at Compo Beach. They’re making plans for the 2025-26 partnership.
And they’re getting ready for a new member coffee. It’s next Thursday (July 31, 11 a.m., location TBD). To learn more about AWARE — including the location of the coffee — email info@awarect.org.
AWARE at Compo Beach.
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Speaking of Compo Beach: Our 2nd annual Soundview Summer Stroll is on this Sunday — rain or shine.
A few showers should not dampen the fun. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Soundview Drive — the beach exit road — will be closed to traffic.
The street will be filled with live music, kids’ activities (face painting, chalking, etc.), a photo booth, food and more. We welcome everyone to walk, stroll, Rollerblade, and enjoy Westport at its best.
The Soundview Summer Stroll is offered free of charge, by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. See you there!
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The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held its annual summer get-together last night, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Members enjoyed conversation and networking; food from A&S, Basso, Calise’s, Rizzuto’s, Spotted Horse, Viva Zapata and Zucca Gastrobar — and a special preview mini-concert by The Moonrise Cartel.
The folk/indie rock/Americana/touch of gospel band played to a full lawn later in the evening.
The Moonrise Cartel, on the Levitt Pavilion terrace. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Packed lawn at the Levitt. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
Chamber gatherings always draw a diverse crowd. Last night’s included a number of local politicians. In the early days of the election season, conversations were low-key, genial — and across the aisle.
Kevin Christie (left) and Don O’Day — both running for 1st selectman — with Abby Tolan, Board of Education member seeking another term. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The upcoming 3 shows are all free.
Tonight (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), it’s Danny Lipsitz & the Brass Tacks: swing, jazz, rock, klezmer, jump blues, and traditional pop.
Tomorrow (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.) features singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Hamilton.
Sunday’s headliner (7 p.m.) is Leonardo Suarez-Pas Piazolla 100 Tango — with a free tango lesson at 6:15.
Click here for free tickets, and more information.
The Moonrise Cartel. (Photo/Sean Bernand)
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Also last night: The well-received opening of “From Broadway to Hollywood,” at the Westport Country Playhouse.
“Broadway” comes to the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Susan Garment)
The concert — celebrating classic stage and screen scores — continues tonight (Friday, 8 p.m.) and tomorrow (Saturday, 3 and 8 p.m.). For tickets and more information, click here or call 203-227-4177.
“Broadway” curtain call. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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“Combat Love” — noted TV journalist Alisyn Camerota’s memoir that is an always frank, often surprising and deeply personal story of her turbulent teenage years, and how they colored the rest of her family life and career path — comes out in paperback on Tuesday.
Since leaving CNN a few months ago, the Westport resident has branched out into Substack writing and podcasting.
But “Combat Love” remains very close to her heart. Click here for more information, and to order.
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Shorefest — Friends of Sherwood Island State Park’s annual fundraiser — is set for Setpember 5 (6 p.m.), at the Pavilion.
Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction help protect the coastal sanctuary, expand wildlife habitat, restore trees, and fund educational outreach. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Shewood Island: Connecticut’s first state park, right here in Westport.
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We’ve featured lots of wildlife (deer, bees, birds, etc.) — and plenty of flowers and foliage in recent “Westport … Naturally” photos.
Today we turn to water. This was the serence scene the other day at Deadman Brook, near the pedestrian bridge between the Levitt Pavilion and Imperial Avenue parking lot:
(Photo/Copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
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And finally … Chuck Mangione — described by the New York Times as the musician “whose limpid fluegelhorn ruled the upper reaches of Billboard’s adult contemporary charts in the 1970s and ’80s with a culture-permeating lilt that helped create the genre known as ‘smooth jazz,’ died on Tuesday at his home in Rochester, New York. He was 84.
Click here for the full obituary.
(Every day, “06880”‘s Roundup delivers news about people, groups, events, random stuff, and all that jazz. If you enjoy this — or any other feature — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
He lived next door to a high school friend of mine in the mid 70’s in Greece NY, outside of Rochester. We would talk to him over the backyard fence about his garden and how happy he was to be home and not touring. He was a humble talented guy.
Huh ?
Another Westport Hater !
Quite frankly I don’t care who your family chooses to support.. at least you choose to support someone.
nômade contributes to copious amazing organizations when asked to, and unsolicited.
Why don’t you pay us a visit and ask Patrick who we last contributed to.
The list will be large. Very large.
So shame on you for legitimately embarrassing yourself on this forum to try and hate on a restaurant who goes out of their way to contribute to our community.
We do not support either the Downtown association or the Weston Westport chamber of commerce for 1 reason !
The same reason most in town do not.
They lied about parking and what businesses need. They are clueless.
Until they, the WWCC and DA change their tune, to allign with the businesses they are meant to covet and protect, no we will not support them.
But we support almost every single other organisation.
You are welcome Liz Zannick !
And by the way ! Nomades “help”. !!!
Thankfully you are not an employer with that nasty ignorant attitude.
I do not call my staff “the help”. They are our team.
In my business I respect my staff and I should hope that was a typo!
Otherwise you are a very large part of the problem.