SWEET P
As the holidays near — yep, that’s right — there are many ways to give.
With Sweet P Bakery, you can give gifts. And give back.
The non-profit — founded in Westport by Bill and Andrea Pecoriello, and the recipient of StartUp Westport’s Community Impact Innovator Award — trains and employs people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
They bake great cookies, as anyone who has had them at the Westport Country Playhouse, Longshore or Yankee Stadium knows. They’re on sale too at Bridgewater and Goldman Sachs.
And — of course — online. Sweet P ships nationwide.
The kitchen now employs 19 men and women with disabilities. They hope to expand that, as sales grow.
So: Consider cookies as a special gift. The more orders Sweet P has, the more hours they can provide for their very special bakers. Click here to order, and for more information.
OMG! Sweet P!
uncle sam and miss liberty: trashed?
Last week, “06880” reported on the plight of a local woman who had donated historic family heirloom kewpie dolls to the Westport Museum for History & Culture. She wants them back, but has not been able to reach anyone at the institution.
Her plea echoes that of other residents, who wondered about the status of their gifts. For several years, they believe, the Westport Museum has “de-accessioned” — sold or otherwise gotten rid of — donated uniforms, furniture and other memorabilia.
On Saturday, Paul Delano spotted 2 of the most iconic items. For years, “Uncle Sam” and “Miss Liberty” — kinetic sculptures created by Greens Farms artists Walter and Naiad Einsel — graced the front porch of the former Westport Historical Society.
Now, Paul found, they sit broken and neglected, in the back.
(Photo/Paul Delano)
SIGNS OF COMPASSION: WESTPORT TO TAIWAN
“Signs of Compassion” — the work by local artist Miggs Burroughs with 30 lenticular photos showing local residents using sign language to recite Emily Dickinson’s poem of the same name, and fellow Westporter Mark Yurkiw’s accompanying Braille “prayer wheel” mantra — was first shown at the Westport Library, in 2017.
Four years later it went big time. It was displayed at the United Nations, on a 102-foot curved wall — the first time any work had been shown without sponsorship by a member nation.
“Signs of Compassion”
Now it’s really going international. From November 13 through January 26, “Signs of Compassion” will be shown at the Hsinchu City Art Museum in Taiwan.
The 30 Westporters (including yours truly) who signed words to the poem won’t be at the opening reception.
But Miggs and Mark will be. Just one more example of how 06880 — the town, not the blog — truly meets the world.
WTF! BEER GARDEN DRAWS FAMILIES
It was called a “Beer Garden.”
But yesterday’s Wakeman Town Farm event was actually a family friendly fall festival.
A crowd of 400 — plenty of them way too young to drink — enjoyed live music, lawn games, bubbles, animal encounters and crafts. Plus plenty of food.
Of course, there were frosty local beers and adult beverages too, sponsored by Greens Farms Spirit Shop.
Beer Garden fun at Wakeman Town Farm.
But that was just half of the WTF day.
At night, they hosted a smaller version of the original Harvest Fest (rained out earlier this fall). Another crowd of about 250 enjoyed food, drinks, music, and a chance to support one of our town’s true jewels.
Putting on a delayed Harvest Fest was a great gesture — one the Farm did not have to do. But that’s the way they roll: serving, educating, entertaining and feeding the community.
Several Wakeman family members were at last night’s WTF event, including Louise Wakeman Remlin (right). She was joined by Susan Perrotta.
Fire pits and friends warmed the chilly night. (Photos/Susan Garment)
CATCH A LIFT RETURNS TO WESTPORT
For more than a decade, Westport has had a special relationship with Catch A Lift Fund. The national non-profit provides gym memberships and home gym equipment to help wounded post-9/11 service members heal physically and mentally, through physical fitness.
Westporters have donated funds, welcomed veterans, and joined in workouts at venues like the police station, VFW, beach and Birchwood Country Club. The vets give plenty back in return — as inspiration, and serving as “angels” for children, teens and adults with disabilities through myTeamTriumph.
Recently — honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and 250th birthday of the United States — Catch a Lift returned to Westport.
The major fundraiser included a stirring talk by US Army combat medic Amanda Dove. Click here or below, for her inspiring speech.
FILE THIS!
Is your desktop a digital junk drawer? Is “Untitled Document” a file on your computer?
On Wednesday (October 21, 11 a.m.), the Westport Library offers an “Anyone Can Use: Smart and Simple Computer File Management” class.
Topics covered include setting up main folders so files stop floating around; sorting and viewing your files by name, date or type; filtering search by file type instead of scrolling forever, and building a monthly habit of clearing out the trash bin and old files.
WOMAN’S CLUB MAKES STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Yesterday, for the 17th year, the Westport Woman’s Club joined thousands of others in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Sherwood State State Park.
WWC members, family and friends showed support — and raised funds — for breast cancer research.
As thanks for their contribution, the club received a great banner, with their name.
ZOMBIE JAMBOREE
All over town, Westporters are getting ready for Halloween.
One of the coolest displays is on Partrick Road:
(Photo/Susan Garment)
If you see some great decorations, send a photo: 06880blog@gmail.com
Boo!
burying hill’s header
Our new header — visible on every page of “06880” — is an interesting view of the Burying Hill Beach pier. The photographer was William Weiss.
We change our header every few weeks. If you’ve got a great (very) horizontal shot, please email 06880blog@gmail.com.
“westport … naturally,” & song of the day
Our fine fall foliage “Westport … Naturally” series continues. Today we feature Whitney Street.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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And finally: The Partrick Road Halloween zombie photo (above) made us think of:
(Don’t be a zombie! Please click here to support “06880” — your hyper-local source for news, events, photos, history, education, inspiration, and much, much more. Thank you!)
Unfortunate about the sculptures – if nothing else, probably could have sold them to help raise the money they need. Now, not so much. Whoever made that decision to “toss them out back” seem like poor stewards of both history and money.
This disturbing news makes one wonder how much else has gone missing.
What is going on over there? Who’s in charge?
Naiad and Walter Einsel were not just Westport residents, they were famous artists, both inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. The mistreatment of these iconic kinetic structures is deeply disturbing and shameful. Something is very, very wrong at the Museum.
Category 2019 2024 Change
Revenue $205,436 $153,112 −25.5%
Expenses $473,705 $714,703 +50.9%
Annual deficit $268,269 $561,591 +109.3%
Executive director salary $79,738 $155,315 +94.8%
A salary bump of 95% in five years, and continues to grow into 2026…
the Director needs to resign, and the board needs to be replaced asap. They are just as culpable as the Director, who voted and allowed such exorbitant spending.
95% pay increase in 5 years is way out of line. Also, I went to school ( Greens Farms) with a Teddy Wakeman probably born in 1947. The last time I saw him was maybe late 1960s.
What Westport Chooses to Keep
This piece about the Westport Museum of History and Culture’s discarded artwork and the story of Miggs, David Kramer and Dan’s resurrection of the Remarkable Man lead me to consider what happens to the things that help make Westport recognizable to itself.
One describes Walter and Naiad Einsel’s “Uncle Sam” and “Miss Liberty,” once familiar presences on the porch of the Westport Historical Society, now reportedly broken and neglected behind its successor.
The account deserves a response. What is their condition? Is restoration planned? If the museum can no longer care for them, could another institution provide an appropriate home? Before drawing conclusions about their fate, we need answers.
The other story offers an encouraging example of what responsible stewardship can accomplish.
The Remarkable Man, remembered by generations from the façade of the Remarkable Book Shop, has found a new home at Staples High School. Its survival reflects a succession of people willing to take responsibility for it. Now students are photographing it, posing beside it, and beginning relationships with a piece of Westport history that predates them.
The bookstore is gone. Something of its spirit remains available to a new generation.
As a former Westport teacher, I find that particularly heartening. A school can help young people discover that local history belongs to them, too. A familiar figure on a wall can open a conversation about books, artists, gathering places, and the people who shaped this town.
That same willingness to care should inform our decisions about larger inheritances: the Cribari Bridge, the Bridge Street National Register Historic District, and the public spaces around them.
These places carry more than visual familiarity. They hold relationships among buildings, streets, river, landscape, and people. Decisions about traffic, construction, and public land can change those relationships profoundly. They deserve current evidence, meaningful public participation, and a serious examination of alternatives.
Westport also inherits commitments.
The September 7, 1988 Stipulation and Withdrawal resolving litigation over the Saugatuck School conversion specified a maximum of 36 dwelling units, required the adjacent playing fields to remain open to the public with access assured, and provided for at least two nearby nonexclusive public parking spaces.
I was one of the 61 plaintiffs. Those provisions were part of the agreement that resolved the dispute. Any proposal affecting the field should begin by making that agreement available and explaining, publicly and specifically, how the proposal would comply with it. Questions about its legal requirements deserve documented answers before decisions advance.
A proposal may have a worthwhile purpose and still require careful scrutiny of its location, effects, and obligations.
The Remarkable Man shows that change can carry memory forward. People recognized its value, found a suitable setting, and did the work necessary to give it a continuing life.
We should bring that care to the Einsels’ sculptures, to our historic bridge and district, to the volunteers willing to work on our transportation future, and to the promises governing our public spaces. There are many people willing to do this work, and institutional leadership should not ignore them.
Stewardship becomes visible in practical decisions: repairing something vulnerable, finding it a home, examining an alternative, honoring an agreement, and following through on work undertaken. Westport’s character depends on people and institutions willing to take those responsibilities seriously.
I never understood the ownership structure of the historical whatever it’s called now. I just assumed the Town ran it. When we decided to renovate our 1901 victorian farmhouse in 2004 they were extremely helpful. In a file they had an original photo which we copied, and they connected us with architect David Preusch who did an amazing job restoring and evolving 18 IHR.
As it rolls forward, it should have connective tissue with both the Westport Public School system and the Westport Center for Senior Activities. Connect the young with Wepo history. Educational programs, volunteer opportunities.
This thing has clearly been run into the ground, but it creates a tremendous opportunity for Westport to re-invent history.
The image of Miss Liberty and Uncle Sam left for dead behind the Westport Museum really says it all. If this is what the crew running the place thinks of one of Westport’s most recognizable sculptures, why would ANYONE trust them with ANYTHING? What a complete disgrace.
‘..they sit broken and neglected, in the back.’. They look more alive than the Yankees (Judge), NJ Jets (anybody on that team), and NJ Giants (Winston, Skatterbo)!!!
As the new stewards of Walter and Naiad Einsel’s home on Morningside, I was genuinely sickened to see their generously donated artwork left to deteriorate. We would be more than happy to restore these pieces, if possible, and give them a place of honor on the porch of what was once their home, where their legacy can continue to be appreciated and celebrated. It’s heartbreaking to see their work treated with such disregard by the very institution entrusted with preserving it.
My mother who volunteered for decades at The Westport Historical Society is rolling in her grave. What a slap in the face….
I volunteered at the Historial Society on the the Exhibits Committee. Luckily, I am not yet rolling in a grave ( as above comment) but I am disgusted by the ignorance of what it means to be the caretaker of historical objects, which is not a role to be done so cavalierly. I suppose one could build luxury condos at Pompeii or knock down the pyramids to make way for a shopping mall. They were built by slave labor after all…so someone may decide its time to renovate. “Never underestimate the power of stupid people” as that sage, George Carlin, said.