Yesterday morning, “06880” posted a story on the swearing-in 12 hours earlier of 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, and over 50 other town officials.
There were nice photos too of our new chief executive, Senator Richard Blumenthal, RTM members with their kids, and more.
But we missed the money shot. It showed Christie on stage, with a packed Town Hall auditorium crowd behind him.
It was a selfie — taken by the 1st selectman himself, just minutes into his 4-year term.
Here it is. It’s a day late — but worth the wait.
(Selfie photo/Kevin Christie)
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Bridgeport’s Ralphola Taylor Community Center has a unique way of rewarding youngster for good behavior, and doing homework.
Kids earn points, which they then use to “shop” for gifts for family members at the center’s Holiday Store.
The gifts — all new, for children as well as adults — come from donations. There are several ways to stock the store:
♥ A collection at the Imperial Avenue parking lot (December 6, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
♥ Shop online from one of these links:
- Awesome Toys: Items purchased for the Holiday Store are 20% off
- Amazon
- Savvy & Grace – For all donations, the store will add an ornament with your name to their Christmas tree.
♥ To drop off donations in Westport or Weston, email atlasbethct@gmail.com.
Shopping at the Ralphola Taylor Community Center Holiday Store.
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More holiday help: A&S Westport Fine Foods is partnering with the Southport law firm Conlon Amendola, to donate 50 full Thanksgiving dinners.
They’ll go to student families at Capital Prep Harbor School in Bridgeport, who face food insecurity. The tuition-free charter school has a 100% college acceptance rate.
A&S will prepare fresh turkeys, and trays of sides. The Post Road West market is donating the birds; the law firm is covering other costs.
Westporters who wish to provide funds for dessert (pies) can email A&S (chefalpiz@gmail.com), or call 203-293-4042.
The meals will be delivered Friday, with freezing and reheating instructions.
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One of America’s most urgent civil liberties issues is the focus of a documentary screening and panel discussion this Friday (November 21, 7 p.m.) at the Westport Library.
Director/producer Kim Snyder brings her award-winning, gripping and very timely film “The Librarians” to the Trefz Forum.
It explores “the growing movement to censor ideas, stories, and voices across the country, and celebrates the everyday heroes standing in its way.” Librarians across the country are “fighting on the front lines for the freedom to read and the right to think critically.”
Westport Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writer Trey Ellis, and producer Maria Cuomo Cole, join Snyder and author Oliver Radclyffe on the panel, following the documentary.
Click here for more details. Click here or below to see the trailer.
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Westport has a new golf simulator and lounge.
And this one is members only.
Sticks Westport opened earlier this month at 772 Post Road East, the strip mall that includes TTEndurance and Picture This, between Calise’s Deli and Wheels.
There are no drop-ins. Instead, monthly and annual members get protected time, in a private setting.
The headline feature is a cutting-edge Trackman iO golf simulator. It usees a combination of radar, infrared and high-speed imaging to deliver real-time club and ball analytics.
There is also a big screen TV, comfortable seating area and kitchenette.
Owner Ali Lloyd says, “Sticks’ small, cozy space is meant to feel like an extension of your house. It was born out of the dream of having a golf simulator in our own home.”
She worked with an interior designer, and collected antiques and art to create “a Westport-level space that’s comfortable and inviting.”
Membership will be capped at “a pretty low number.” After 2 weeks, Lloyd says, they are halfway toward being sold out.
For more information, click here. The Instagram is @stickswestport. Interested members can enjoy free rounds, and a tour; email ali@sticks.cc.
Fore! (Photo/Jannae Angelos)
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Golf not your thing?
The UU Players are staging “The Gin Game” this weekend, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport.
The play — featuring Westporters Tom Croarkin and Candace Clinger — centers on 2 “old age home” residents who become friends over a series of card games. In the process they reveal any things about themselves — including their darker sides.
Easton residents Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn opened the show on Broadway in 1977.
Dates are Friday and Saturday (November 21 and 22, 7 p.m.) and Sunday (November 23, 2 p.m.). The suggested donation is $25, cash or Venmo at the door. Questions? Call 203-227-7205, ext. 10.
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Bike Westport is sponsoring a Zoom session on an important topic: “Smart/Safe Cycling for Youth & Adults.”
The event — including topics like e-bike laws, what parents should know about e-bikes for youths, and how to ride safely in traffic — is tomorrow (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.). Click here for the Zoom link.
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Karl Kuechenmeister died on Saturday, surrounded by family. He was 78.
He was a graduate of Staples High School and Dickinson College.
Karl served in the US Navy as a lieutenant and aviator. He was assigned to Flight Squadron 101 — “The Grim Reapers” — where he flew T-2 Buckeyes, F-9 Cougars and F-4 Phantoms.
He later became a senior media sales executive with CBS and NBC Television, Warner Bros. Domestic TV, Lorimar, Time Warner, MTV Networks and Turner Broadcasting Sales.
Karl was a volunteer with Connecticut Special Olympics and a Board Member of the Saugatuck Shores Club. He held dual citizenship with
Ireland.
Working at NBC, he Karl met Elizabeth. They were married at St. Luke Church.
After raising 2 children in Westport and Cape Cod, Karl and Elizabeth moved to Palm Beach Shores, Florida in 2016. He lovd the town, and lunch with “the Gang.”
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; son Lt. Col. Karl Kuechenmeister (Carly), daughter Britt Kuechenmeister (Theo); grandchildren Gavin and Logan; sisters Karen, Janis and Mary, and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
The Veterans Administration Medical Center and VA Hospice Center in West Palm Beach provided exceptional and tender care of Karl.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date. There are no calling hours.
Karl Kuechenmeister
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Organizational psychologist and author Dr. Melvin Sorcher died Saturday in Westport. He was 95.
The Brooklyn native and Korean War US Army sergeant earned a Ph.D. from Syracuse University.
He developed and implemented “behavior modeling” in business and other non-clinical settings. He headed General Electric’s corporate behavioral research group, and served as worldwide director of management development for Richardson-Vicks.
Mel wrote 4 books, and more than 40 articles and chapters. He was honored in 1978 for distinguished professional practice throughout his career, including his work to bring behavior modeling to address the problem of apartheid in South Africa by breaking down racial barriers in industry.
Before retiring at 72, Mel started a consulting firm specializing in CEO and senior management evaluation and selection. His 1 decades of retirement were filled with projects until the last days of his life.
He published another book, to help recent college graduates secure their first jobs, and helped make Westport the first town east of the Mississippi River to ban nonbiodegradable plastic bags.
He was a prolific painter, taught English as a second language, took Spanish lessons, and traveled around the country to see his large family.
Mel is survived by his wife Sylvia; sons and in-laws Michael (Jill) of Overland Park, Kansas; Robert (Nicolas Ospina) of Denver, and Peter (Erin) of Mill Valley, California, and grandchildren Sara (Arie Lipnick), Gary, Danielle, Jessica , Rachael, Caroline, Kaya and Shea.
Funeral services will be held this Sunday (November 23, 12 p.m., Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home, Fairfield. Visitation begins at 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Melvin Sorcher
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Superb nature photographer Lou Weinberg is back, with another spectacular “Westport … Naturally” image.
This one is a downy woodpecker. Check out that beak!
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
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And finally … in honor of “The Librarians” — the documentary film, and the real-life professionals (story above):
(We can’t keep library-quiet about this: “06880” relies on donations from readers! If you enjoy our daily Roundup — or anything else on our hyper-local blog — please click here to support us. Thank you!)
May my friend Karl Rest In Peace. My condolences to Elizabeth and family..
Best of luck Kevin…check with Dan before you do anything stupid 🙏he’s the MAN.
Dan, thanks so much for getting the word out on our Pie Donation effort and Thanksgiving Drive. Much appreciation. Patricia Pizzirusso A&S Westport
Mel Sorcher deserves a lot of credit for the Westport plastic bag ban. In early 2008 he wrote a letter to, and with his friend Dan Wergeles met with, his RTM representatives from District 4 encouraging us to pass an ordinance banning plastic retail check out bags. That was the impetus that, nine months later, Jonathan Cunitz, Gene Seidman and we turned into the ordinance which took effect in March 2009. Since that time Westport has kept more than 60,000,000 plastic bags out of the waste stream.
Liz Milwe & Jeff Wieser
A&S Westport is unlike any other A&S – or for that matter any other gourmet store/ caterer. Their food is incredible. The presentation is beautiful and they are the nicest people.
The owner you mention Patricia lost her husband to Covid 3 years ago, but kept the business going and that she, especially in these uncertain economic times is able to help others at this level is an inspiration to us all.
This is why it’s important to support small businesses, you may get a slightly better deal somewhere else, but you’re not going to get the quality! and recognize that those bigger stores get a huge discount on their goods while small businesses pay a premium. Kudos Dan for always letting us know the good in the world!