Win Allen turned 93 last month.
He’s spent more than half his life — over 50 years — in Westport.
Yesterday, the pioneering financial firm executive was honored.
Allen grew up in Harlem, attended law school, earned a Fulbright Scholarship, then created the first Black-owned Wall Street firm. He has written 3 books, most recently “How I Pried Open Wall Street in 1962.”
Win Allen
The celebration, at The Bridge at Saugatuck, was organized by Westport 10.
That’s a misnomer. The networking and social group for Black men here now has nearly 70 members.
At least one in attendance yesterday works in financial services. “I’m where I am today because of Win Allen,” he said.
Yesterday’s celebration, at The Bridge. Win Allen is 2nd from right (red jacket). Westport 10 founder Jay Norris is next to him, on the right. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Allen — a longtime Westport Rotary Club member — and his late wife Ruby bought their Burritt’s Landing North home in 1975. Built in 1957, it was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s protégé Roy Binkley. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Happy birthday, Win Allen. And thank you for all you have given to our town, and the world.
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The Blondinit provided an incorrect day for next week’s “Stars, Stripes & Shawarma” event.
The correct date is Thursday, June 11. Click here for details.
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And … don’t believe everything you see on the internet. (Duh.)
Yesterday, we linked to a Threads post about Shonda Rhimes’ donation of the Oval Office set from “Scandal,” to the Obama Presidential Center Museum.
Except, it didn’t happen.
Our Westport neighbor clarified — also on Threads — that her donation to the museum was funds to make a replica of Obama’s office.
“And I was proud to do it,” she added.
Erroneous screenshot.
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Sure, there might have been a little traffic jam on the Post Road yesterday.
But it was for a great cause. Westport Police officers carried the Flame of Hope through town, in support of Special Olympics of Connecticut.
They received it from Norwalk Police. After running with the torch through town, officers passed it along to Fairfield Police, at the town line.
(Photo/Carrie Kuhn)
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The Yankee Doodle Fair is a century old.
But there will be a new look June 18, when the beloved Westport Woman’s Club event opens its 4-day run.
The Imperial Avenue parking lot — site of the rides and games, just down the hill from the WWC clubhouse — is being paved this week.
It will look great.
Even after thousands of kids smush popcorn, cotton candy and other goodies into it.
(Photo/Amy Schneider)
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Happy retirement, Eileen Lavigne!
The assistant town attorney’s last day was yesterday. Her colleagues at Town Hall gave her a well-deserved send-off.
Click here for a story about her long service to Westport — and what’s ahead.
(Photo/Matthew Mandell)
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For years, the Westport Library has challenged children and adults to read — and sweetened the offer with prizes for minutes spent reading, and number of books read.
Now they’re doing the same for teenagers.
“Plant a Seed, Read: Summer Reading for Teens” runs now through September 6.
For every 60 minutes of reading, participants will receive a digital ticket to enter for a chance to win a basket of gift cards.
300 minutes earns an ice cream from Van Leeuwen. 600 minutes gets a free advance copy of a soon-to-be-published book from the teen librarian.
The Library is also open tomorrow (Sunday, June 7), from 5 to 8 p.m. for a lock-in for high school students only, to study for finals.
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Speaking of the Library: If you’re wondering whether AI can help doctors detect cancer earlier — and how to separate genuine AI/cancer care breakthroughs from headlines and hype — head there this Thursday (June 11, 7 p.m.).
Dr. Sanjay Aneja speaks about artificial intelligence’s role in cancer diagnosis treatment today — and tomorrow. For more information, click here.
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We’ve featured a number of spring flowers in our “Westport … Naturally” series. Today it’s a stunningly colorful iris.
(Photo/Judith Katz)
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And finally … today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
The Allied invasion of Normandy was the largest waterborne invasion in history. Nearly 160,000 troops cross the English Channel, with 5,000 landing and assault craft, 289 escort vessels, and 277 minesweepers participating. They landed on 5 beaches, and gained a treacherous foothold that helped lead to the eventual conquest of Germany.
(Every day, “06880” brings you stories about interesting Westporters, news of the day, upcoming events — and connects you to the world. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
It’s hard to believe that when I was born there were nazis goose-stepping thru Europe. God bless our brave soldiers of WWII.
Remember DPs ( Displaced Persons.) My grandfather hired DPs to work on his farm. Without mentioning a name, one DP worked on the farm and then transitioned to the golf range. He survived being in a concentration camp.