You know all those daffodils that make Westport look so beautiful every spring?
They didn’t just fall from the sky.
They weren’t even planted randomly.
They’re part of a years-long project. Debra Kandrak — the energetic visionary behind it — says: “Once again fall is upon us. Before the weather gets too cold, we need to plant daffodils all around town for our traditional community-wide event called ‘Paint the Town Yellow!’
“I started this years ago to remember loved ones who have passed on, including our fur babies.
“It has been well received over the years. Residents, businesses and local community groups participate, and for that I say thank you. So let’s keep the tradition going and plant more!”
Daffodils have already been planted in many areas, like traffic islands, the Minute Man Monument, Compo Beach, and (of course) Willowbrook Cemetery.
More can be planted just about anywhere. A great place is the edge of your property, by a road,
This is a great time of year. And there’s only a few months until spring.
Daffodils on Riverside Avenue. (Photo/Debra Kandrak)
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Speaking of how good Westport looks: The outdoor sculptures just keep coming.
“Queen of Hearts” — the newest addition — will be dedicated on Wednesday (3 p.m.), at the Senior Center.
Artist Carole Eisner will share the inspiration behind her work — one of hundreds of sculptures and paintings showcased in parks, museums and gardens throughout the Northeast.
Suzanne Sheridan will sing a song she wrote specially for the occasion.
The Westport Arts Advisory Committee is — as always — behind the outdoor art project, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Center for Senior Activities.
“Queen of Hearts” by Carole Eisner, at the Senior Center.
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Quietly but consistently, the Westport Library’s Common Ground Initiative has been offering programs that enhance positive, respectful and constructive conversations on challenging and/or controversial issues.
Up next this Thursday: a “Community Conversation on Understanding Jewish Identity, Antisemitism, and Allyship” (November 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.).
Project Shema — a training and support organization — will lead a presentation and Q-and-A that provides historical and modern realities of antisemitism, emphasizing its evolving expression in contemporary culture and politics.
The evening will provide “an accessible but powerful introduction to the historical and modern realities of antisemitism, with an emphasis on its evolving expression in contemporary culture and politics. By creating space for collective reflection and inquiry, the evening aims to foster a shared vocabulary and a common starting point for deeper community dialogue.”
The goal is to promote a better understanding of the effects and impacts of antisemitism, to strengthen allyship for and within the Jewish community, to gain a greater appreciation of different lived experiences, and to increase awareness, promote empathy, and encourage dialogue.
“Allyship” is a key element of the Common Ground event. Everyone is welcome, including Westport residents of all faiths, families, clergy members, and anyone who wants to learn more about antisemitism in an open and welcoming environment.
The event is free. For more information, click here.
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SNAP benefit reductions during the government shutdown have caused long lines at local food pantries.
Quickly, AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources & Education) high school students took action.
AWARE clubs in Fairfield County — including Staples and Weston — organized a food drive.
They collected kid-friendly snacks, pasta, peanut butter and other pantry staples. Volunteers then gathered for a joint packing event to assemble bags for families served by Homes with Hope.
Residents can continue to support Homes with Hope, and built on the AWARE students’ efforts. Food donations can be dropped off at the Gillespie Center (Jesup Road, behind Barnes & Noble) any time. Click here to donate cash, enabling Homes with Hope to purchase food.
AWARE students, with bags for the Homes with Hope food pantry.
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Congratulations to Dylan Mogelof!
The Staples High School swim and dive team sophomore made waves last week, breaking a 26-year-old diving record at the CIAC Class “LL” (extra large schools) state championship.
She scored 456.50 points on the 1-meter, 11-dive event, surpassing the previous record of 452.75 set in 1999 by Corey Pagnotta. Her performance earned All-LL State and All-America honors.
Teammates Mikaela Snow and Avery Nissenson also qualified for the LL meet.
Mogelof’s record came under new Staples swim and dive coach Grace Slama. Next up for her: This week’s state open championship.
To learn more about Staples’ girls (fall) and boys (winter) swim and dive teams, email head coach Mike Anderson: swimmike@usa.net.
Dylan Mogelof
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Congratulations too to Staples cross country runner Sarah Bogdan. The Wreckers’ first runner since 2016 to qualify for the New England Championship, she ran a great race and finished 6th, at Vermont’s Thetford Academy. Click here, then scroll down for a video.
Sarah Bogdan, at the New England Championships. (Photo courtesy of MySportsResults.com)
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Speaking still of sports: It’s a big week for 2 Staples teams.
Both field hockey and boys soccer compete in the state tournament semifinals tomorrow.
Coach Ian Tapsall’s field hockey girls — seeded #1 in the state “L” tourney — take on #4 Fairfield Ludlowe Tuesday, 4 p.m. at Brien McMahon High School.
Coach Liam Witham’s soccer boys — #4 in the “LL” competition — meet #9 Hall-West Hartford at Newtown on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Good luck to both teams!
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This afternoon at the Fairfield Library (Monday, 4 p.m.), Ukraine Aid International founders and team members offer “Stories of Connection: Connecticut the Donetsk Region, Building Bridges of Hope Together.”
Our state, and the Donetsk oblast in Ukraine, have built powerful partnerships. Behind it is UAI — created by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer, backed by many local residents.
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Despite the existence of a fence, it can be confusing to know where dogs are allowed on leash, or off leash, at Compo Beach — and where they are not allowed at all.
Fortunately, the Parks & Recreation Department has posted a clear, aerial map showing the 3 different areas:
Unfortunately, it hangs too high for dogs to see it.
But at least they can read the sign.
(Photos/DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Speaking of Compo: A few yards away, this was the scene on a basketball court:
(Photo/Tammy Barry)
Some people must have time on their hands.
Way too much time.
As anyone who has ever tried to move one of those benches knows: They’re heavy!
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shows a Cooper’s hawk, on Diane Lowman’s deck.
She did not have to snap her photo quickly. The bird sat on the railing — posing — for nearly 30 minutes. “What a treat!” Diane says.
(Photo/Diane Lowman)
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And finally … when you saw the name of the sculpture being dedicated at the Senior Center this week (item near the top of this Roundup), you had to know this song was coming:
(Arts, sports, the beach … it’s your usual mix of Westport stories, in the Roundup. If you enjoy this daily feature — and who doesn’t? — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Oh Common Ground Initiative.. how I wish you had reached out to me regarding your scheduled 11/13 event on anti-semitism. I could have helped you with a much more appropriate group than the Shema Project.
The Shema Project discusses anti-semitism with no mention of Zionism and the role that Israel plays in Judaism. This is inexcusable as the two are inextricable. Antizionism is Antisemitism and the world needs to understand this.
It promotes a biased view that, quite frankly, I am sick of. It’s time that the library, the school system and the town are educated about this matter.
We the Jewish people trace our heritage back to the lineage of Abraham and Sarah, the first Jews from ancient Canaan. In the Torah, the land of Canaan refers to the territory promised by God to the Jewish people and that area is Israel.
It is described as stretching from the Mediterranean sea in the west to the Jordan River in the east and from Sidon, or southern Lebanon, in the north to Gaza in the south. It is our promised land.
As the biblical covenant goes, Hashem called to them Avram and Sarai to leave their homeland and journey to the land he would show them promising to make them the “father of many nations” and bless their descendants— making them more numerous than the stars in the sky.
This was almost 4000 years ago. And this was the birth of the Jewish nation. It was the birth of Zionism.
This is the reason why Judaism and Zionism are inextricably linked. There is no separating them and there is no denying the facts.
Critics of Israel will falsely argue that Zionism is a modern political ideology that has little to do with Judaism. They will say “I can be a Jew and still reject Zionism.”
These statements negate the deepest historical, religious, and emotional connection between the Jewish people and the land. It’s a convenient disassociation.
Why? Because Judaism, unlike other religions, is an identity that is both faith-based and nationalistic. In the Bible, the Jewish people are not only called to worship one God, but are bound together by a shared covenant, a collective destiny and a specific land- Eretz Israel.
Connections back to the land and what happened there appear in every aspect of Jewish life and customs from breaking the glass at a Jewish wedding to remember the destruction of the second temple, to the Seder table where we say ‘next year in Jerusalem’, to our prayers which we always say facing East toward Jerusalem.
Even the flag of Israel is an homage to this timeless connection. The flag purposely resembles the Talit, or Jewish prayer shawl. The wearing of a Talit is a direct commandment from the Bible.
The land of Israel is and has always been the gravitational center of Jewish identity, the north star that guides Jews home.
So you see, those who argue against the connection between Judaism and Zionism or try to claim that Zionism is a form of colonialism are dead wrong. They are ignorant and attempt to erase over 3000 years of direct Jewish connection to the land as proven through the Bible, the language, and the laws and customs of Judaism.
Common Ground, Bill Harmer, The Westport Library Board, First selectpeople elects Christie and Wistreich, the BOE it’s time to be forthright about this subject.
Watch my videos to learn: @strength4israel
Dori- your summation is spot on. Thank you for the time you put into this comprehensive and important response.
Common Ground Initiative- please Consider conferring with members in the Westport Jewish Community when inviting speakers on the subject of antisemitism. Unfortunately, the Shema Project is not commensurate with “Allyship“ for many Westport residents. Project Shema’s stance that “anti-Zionism is not antisemitism” is a chasm that’s difficult (at best) to get past.
Apropos to Dori’s statement, Dr.Robert Rozett, Senior Historian in the International Institute of Holocaust Research, Yad Vashem says:
“… being anti-Zionist is being antisemitic because it deprives the Jewish people – all people – to their right to self-determination. Especially given the history of the Jews in the 20th century – and it’s important to have the context – because we could never really divorce anything from the context of history. ….antizionism is very much tied up into antisemitic ideas”.
I’m not sure there should be a purity test for those trying to fight antisemitism. And saying zionism is the same thing as judaism is a gross simplification of an incredibly nuanced issue. Just look at Chabad. The whole movement has had a famously nuanced relationship with zionism. Chabad is incredibly pro israel (in the colloquial sense) – don’t get me wrong. But just look at some of the Rebbe’s perspective on this. I don’t believe he (or most rabbis) would agree that “The land of Israel is and has always been the gravitational center of Jewish identity”
I have seen too many people call any criticism of the modern state of israel, antizionism. It is not. And it doesn’t help us to not allow this distinction, even if it is abused over and over by idiots and bigots. I believe anti-modern-Israel stances to be mostly ignorant and misguided, and often aligned with antisemitism. Antisemitism is different, and worse. Let’s not attack people who are fighting antisemitism even if you think they don’t fight it in your way.
I agree with Dori Bomback. It’s nice to see that the library is addressing this issue, a bit of a mea culpa perhaps, especially after bringing in the recent U.N. speaker, Christian Saunders, whose ties to the UN and to UNRWA made his appearance offensive to the Westport Jewish community. However, Project Shema is the wrong group for this Initiative. When Organizing a Jewish event of this kind, the Westport library and other applicable groups should lean heavily on Westport’s vibrant Jewish community for recommendations.
hopefully WSPT is keeping USA 1st (and by a long distance), you’re probably all USAs, so try not ltg Gaza’s issues play out too intensely here in USA, not in NYC, not in your library and schools in WSPT, CT.
With respect to Ms. Farley, schools in Westport and everyplace else should each world history without looking through a USA first lens–indeed a lot of this history happened before there was a USA. People should be able to understand where other people are coming from. Our nation is not perfect and pretending that it is and that it is better than all of the other nations is not constructive and offensive to other countries. We need to view our nation objectively and teach it’s history honestly, warts and all.
I dont disagree with you entirely, I’ve always asked other nations if I can get a look at their maps of the world too, but as an USA, USA 1st, i.e., our map weigh more and should weigh more for every USA and every nation that generates more revenue fr USA than fr it’s own nation. as a USA solider surgeon ami of mine always says – and he’s 1st gen usa borne fr cuba and greek legal immigrants – and he’s put back together many members of many military fr all over the world, our guys matter most, our people matter most (and in the real active world priorities need to be established).
What an ignorant viewpoint. Antisemitism (or as Shema puts it, Anti-Judaism), like many other forms of hate, occurs in this country to Americans (or “USAs” as you put it). The basis for this may be rooted in events that happen abroad, but it very much impacts the lives of current Americans. And in a town with a sizeable Jewish population (most of whom are “USAs” as you say), the library’s programming is entirely appropriate and consistent with the idea that “our guys matter most.”
Give me a break, Matt. No one’s denying antisemitism exists – that’s not what this was about. The point was how we teach and discuss these issues, not whether Jewish Americans matter. You’re twisting it into a moral test that no one signed up for.
That’s an incorrect and frankly lazy reading of my comment Ryan. Nowhere did I contend that anyone denies antisemitism exists. Rather, Ms. Farley implied that the library erred in programming a session on anti-semitism, as this topic was too tied up world affairs and not in “keeping USAs first.” My argument is that this programming is entirely appropriate as it impacts the lives of many Westporters.
If I have mischaracterized Ms. Farley’s assertions and she does actually support the library’s programming, I’m happy to have HER clarify her own comments.
Please, … Common Ground Initiative … We are certain you are trying to obtain the same objective as we all are by addressing antisemitism in our community. It may be in our best interest to discuss potential speakers with some of our local Jewish educators and advocates especially someone of Dori Bomback’s credentials.
Well this is nonsense. But of course if you question Israel you’re a Jew hater. Btw the book isn’t a deed.
Bamback’s diatribe is so hostile, so fucking angrily presented, that one is tempted to dismiss it all; valid points and the considerable bullshit.
Hi Dan- I am neither hostile nor do I present anything angrily. I am simply passionate and everything I say and do is founded in fact. I’m sorry you deem fact to be threatening. I wish you well.
How is it possible to discuss and educate on “historical and modern realities of antisemitism” without discussing and educating on Zionism? What disingenuous nonsense..