Roundup: Coalition For Westport Candidates; Beach Bar Mitzvah And Sunday Worship …

The Coalition for Westport has nominated and endorsed 2 candidates for the Planning & Zoning Commission.

One — Michele Paquette — has already been nominated by the Republican Party for that seat.

The Coalition says, “she brings over 2 decades of executive leadership and strategic vision to her candidacy. Originally from the Midwest, Michele moved to the East Coast more than 25 years ago to advance her career in biotechnology, where she rose to become an executive — earning 10 awards for excellence in leadership and innovation.

The second Coalition candidate is Michael Chaney. The Coalition calls him “a serial entrepreneur, primarily in the digital marketing space.” He was founder and CEO of Piston, a digital marketing agency with offices in San Diego and New York. He served on the board of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter for 3 years.

A press release said, “These candidates share the Coalition’s long-held emphasis on careful, imaginative, and comprehensive planning that addresses the inevitability of future growth and development at a scale appropriate to Westport.

“The Coalition believes these candidates will energize and present new ideas and perspectives to our town.”

Michele Paquette and Michael Chaney

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Compo Beach is many things, to many people. It’s a place to walk, swim, tan, grill, and enjoy ourselves in a variety of other way.

For some, it’s also a place to feel close to God.

Yesterday, Compo was the site of a bar mitzvah.

For a 75-year-old man.

He lives in Los Angeles. But his children recently moved to Westport. So when he wsa planning his ceremony — 62 years later than most — he wanted it to be near them.

Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel performed the rite.

A few hours earlier, Green’s Farms Congregational Church led the morning beach service. Churches rotate hosting each week.

Yesterday, Bridgeport’s Pivot Ministries were special guests.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

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In addition to the upcoming Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service course beginning September 9 announced in yesterday’s Roundup (click here for details), there is a special Emergency Medical Responder course, for high school students ages 14-15.

It introduces freshmen and sophomores to teamwork and life-saving skills, creating a pathway to future EMT certification by allowing them to take ambulance shifts alongside EMS crews.

For more information or to register for these programs, click here.

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Karina Rykman played the Levitt Pavilion on Friday night. The New York bassist is a rising star on the jam band scene.

This was her 4th appearance in Westport since her debut in 2022.

(Photo/Matthew Mandell)

This week’s schedule:

Tuesday (August 17, free): Dirty Sock Funtime Band: Children’s Series

Wednesday (August 18): Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, with Bhi Bhiman

Thursday (August 19, free): Skorts, wth Pond View

Friday (August 20): John Oates & the Good Road Band.

All shows are at 7 p.m. Click here for free tickets, to purchase tickets for the August 18 and 20 shows, and more information.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is larger than life-size.

Eric Bosch says, “This ‘Star Wars’-looking fellow was perched on one of our hydrangea bushes. He’s only an inch long.”

(Photo/Eric Bosch)

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And finally … on this date in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified. It only took 133 years for American women to earn the right to vote!

( Great news! Women can vote! Even better: Everyone can contribute to “06880”! Just click here to support your favorite hyper-local and all-inclusive blog. Thank you!)

3 responses to “Roundup: Coalition For Westport Candidates; Beach Bar Mitzvah And Sunday Worship …

  1. Jack Backiel

    I wonder where Michele got her degree? Our daughter, age42, has a degree in BioMedical Engineering and there weren’t many universities that offered that degree. Georgia Tech didn’t even offer it. She ended up at R.P.I.

    • Tracy MacMath

      She went to Michigan State, but I don’t think she majored in biomedical engineering – she’s a CPA. She provides “Biotechnology Executive Advisory and Operating Support Services”, according to LinkedIn.

      • Tracy, Thank you for the clarification.My daughter is definitely working in a different area. She works in DC for the D.O.D.