Author Archives: Dan Woog

Golfers Give Back

Posted on April 13, 2017 | 6 comments

While many Westport students are on spring break, Staples High School athletes remain in town. They’re practicing and playing.

The Wrecker girls and boys golf team made the most of their week — and gorgeous weather — yesterday. They hosted young golfers from Bridgeport’s Sheehan and McGivney Centers.

The Stapleites introduced their guests at Longshore to the game of golf, with a fun clinic. They also gave them equipment, which had been donated through Golf to Give.

The organization is the brainchild of Sophie Carozza, a Staples junior on coach Patty Kondub’s team.

There were smiles all around yesterday, as Staples’ girls and boys golf teams hosted Bridgeport youngsters at Longshore.

Golf to Give plans more events — and they’re still collecting donations of clubs, balls, shoes, etc. They’ll even pick up at your house! Click here, or email sophiecarozza@gmail.com for more information.

Sophie Carozza, with some of her first donations.

6 Comments

Posted in Children, Longshore, Sports, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Imperial Springtime

Posted on April 13, 2017 | 5 comments

It seems like most of Westport is away this week, for the public schools’ spring break.

You could roll a bowling ball down the Post Road and not hit anyone.*

That’s a shame. The weather has been great — at least as good as in Turks and Caicos, Zermatt or wherever you are — with different spring stuff popping up every day.

Alert “06880” reader Fred Cantor snapped this photo on Imperial Avenue yesterday:

(Photo/Fred Cantor)

See what you’re missing?

*Not that I’m suggesting you do this.

5 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Weather

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Re-opening A Cold Arson Case

Posted on April 13, 2017 | 15 comments

“06880” readers often email me with unusual questions. What was the name of that restaurant somewhere on the Post Road in the mid-1950s? Can you forward this email to my old English teacher? Will the Greens Farms firefighters have their annual Easter egg hunt this year?

But Peter Jennings Talbot’s recent request might be the most unusual of all:

In November of 1966, a person or persons set my great-grandparents’ (Erwin Morehouse and Mabel Sanford Jennings) home at 4 Beachside Avenue on fire. I believe that someone in Westport must know who did this. Would you be able to write a story about it and see if anyone would come forward with comments about it?

It’s simply out of curiosity.  Certainly the statute of limitations for the crime has long passed, but I, my mother Ellen F. Jennings, and her Jennings cousins have always wondered about it.  They spent great times at the house and on the property and have wonderful memories.

O-kay!

Helpfully, Peter sent along a front-page Westport News story from November 17, 1966. In it, Fire Chief Harold Shippey asked the Police Department for help investigating the possibility of arson, in the “spectacular fire Tuesday night which totally destroyed a vacant old house on the Jennings estate.”

A Westport News photo with the story, from November 17, 1966.

It started at 8 p.m., and lasted over 4 hours. As firefighters left the station, they could already see the blaze.

The house — the oldest on the property, and called Red Oaks — contained 17 or 18 rooms. Built around 1890, and abandoned for several years, it had been the target of vandals. The news story said all the windows were broken, and the floors and walls defaced. There was no light or heat. Neighborhood children referred to it as “haunted.”

Although the building had a replacement value of around $100,000, its assessment at the time of the fire was only $3,700.

The home at 4 Beachside Avenue, before the fire.

Peter says he could never understand why “such a wonderful and remarkable house was simply abandoned” — especially since the house owned by Erwin’s brother’s Henry was occupied next door.

That’s all I — and Peter — know.

He hopes at least one “06880” reader knows more. If you have any information on this long-ago, still-unsolved arson case, click “Comments.”

Or email me privately: dwoog@optonline.net.

Fire away.

15 Comments

Posted in Looking back, Places, Police, Totally random

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Metro-North Scores With Hockey Fans

Posted on April 12, 2017 | 12 comments

If you ride Metro-North long enough, you see everything.

But until yesterday, Tom Feeley had never seen the Stanley Cup.

The longtime Westporter — whose own sport at Staples High School was wrestling — was heading home on the 4:11. As the train left Grand Central, the conductor said the National Hockey League’s most famous trophy was along for the ride.

Tom thought he was kidding. But sure enough — in Greenwich — a big white-gloved guy walked through, carrying the cup.

It was headed for Stamford. NBC Sports is headquartered there, and they’re promoting the playoffs.

Let’s go to the video!

Most people seem blase. But look closely at the end.

You’ll see Tom touch the Stanley Cup.

12 Comments

Posted in People, Sports, Staples HS, Transportation

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Westport Women Raise Epidemic Awareness

Posted on April 12, 2017 | 3 comments

Astonishingly, 52% of all American children are diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

That’s a broad definition — it includes allergies, ADHD, Asperger’s, irritable bowel and celiac disease, Lyme, hay fever and obesity — but it caught the attention of Jennifer Boyd and Julie Blitzer.

The women share the same initials, the same Westport hometown, and a desire to do something for that large population of kids with chronic diseases — and their parents.

They’re dissatisfied with most conventional treatment methods.

Julie Blitzer

They joined forces through Epidemic Answers, an organization that believes the rise in children with chronic diseases stems from “insidious environmental factors (beyond just ‘pollution’) that have been introduced slowly into our lives over the course of the past few decades.”

Epidemic Answers says these environmental influences destroy kids’ immune systems, affect their growth and development, and prevent them from living full lives.

The founder of the organization “recovered” her child from chronic illness. She now helps other mothers do the same for their kids.

Three years ago Julie — a therapeutic dance teacher — founded Authentic Matters. The group organizes classes, workshops and events for women who “seek to live with heightened awareness/ consciousness.”

Julie met Jennifer — a wellness practitioner — who says she “recovered” her 2 children from Lyme disease. Jennifer is now chair of Epidemic Awareness’ national board.

Another board member is Westporter Maria Rickert Hong. Jennifer says Maria “recovered” her child from sensory processing disorder.

Jennifer Boyd

“The first step is taking people down the rabbit hole of diagnosis,” Jennifer says.

“The next step is focusing on environment. There’s a saying: ‘Genetics loads the gun. Environment pulls the trigger.'”

She means the total environment — internal too. “It’s important to think about things like diet and gut flora,” she notes.

Next month (May 4, 7 p.m., Mora Mora in South Norwalk), Epidemic Answers sponsors a dance party. The goal is to raise awareness (and funds) for the organization’s film project, “Documenting Hope.” Jennifer is on the video’s advisory board.

Designing a dance party is important to the 2 women. Both are trained in dance therapy. (The event features “consciously curated appetizers and spirits” — along with a DJ.)

“There’s a gluten-free bread crumb trail to follow,” Jennifer says, referring to her belief that chronic illnesses need not last a lifetime.

“There’s hope to recover your child.”

(For more information on the “Dance for Hope” event, click here.)

 

3 Comments

Posted in Children, Environment, Organizations, People

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Meet M.EAT

Posted on April 11, 2017 | 12 comments

When Saugatuck Center opened a few years ago, Saugatuck (now Fleishers) Craft Butchery helped deliver the buzz.

Now — as Bedford Square attempts to draw folks downtown — it’s adding its own field-to-table butcher shop.

M.EAT Organic Beef & Provisions opens this spring. The “old-school meat market with new school fundamentals” offers high-quality beef and lamb from Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.

In addition to hand butchering, M.EAT will feature a “burger bar,” where customers can choose their own grind of meat types and fat content, accompanying organic cheeses and produce, as well as seasoning products, and cooking and equipment aids.

M.EAT will also carry domestic organic meat and chicken, with ingredients from local farmers and artisans.

It’s expected to open in late May.

12 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Environment, Local business, Saugatuck

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Acorn Squash Soup Still Mmmmm Good — After 240 Years!

Posted on April 11, 2017 | 1 comment

The Spotted Horse is not an old-fashioned place. It’s got a fresh menu, and a lively bar scene.

But it does call itself a “tavern.” It’s housed in a 215-year-old building.

And now it’s serving a dish from the Revolutionary War.

No, the acorn squash soup wasn’t made all those years ago. But it was popular then. And all the ingredients date from 1777.

The soup is tied in to the current Westport Historical Society exhibit. “The British Are Coming!” celebrates this month’s 240th anniversary of the Redcoats’ landing at Compo Beach.

(They were headed for Danbury, to burn an arsenal. We — well, some of our ancestors — surprised them along South Compo on the way north, then engaged them in a big battle on Compo Hill when they returned.)

As part of the exhibit, WHS board member Ed Hynes asked the restaurant to feature something from that period. They chose the soup.

Acorn squash was plentiful here then. Allspice — another key ingredient — was a popular import from the Caribbean.

Both Hynes and WHS immediate past president Ed Gerber have enjoyed the Spotted Horse soup. They call it “delicious.”

It will be featured all month.

At a 2017 — not, unfortunately, 1777 — price.

(For a full list of all “The British Are Coming!” events, click here. The exhibit runs through May 29.)

Acorn squash soup

1 Comment

Posted in Downtown, History, Organizations, Restaurants

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The Race Is On!

Posted on April 10, 2017 | 3 comments

It’s early in the race for 1st selectman.

But the first returns are in. The initial financial disclosure statements, that is.

Democrat Jonathan Steinberg — whose campaign committee is called “Jonathan for Westport” — has raised $100 since January 1.

Republican challenger Mike Rea (“Michael Rea for Westport”) more than tripled that figure. He pulled in $375.

Incumbent Jim Marpe and his new running mate Jennifer Tooker (“Marpe-Tooker for Westport”) are waaaaay in the lead. Since January 1, they’ve hauled in $13,930.

There’s still time to contribute. Election Day is November 7.

 

3 Comments

Posted in Local politics

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“Heart Moms” Pay A Bummer Bear Forward

Posted on April 10, 2017 | 3 comments

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) occur in 1 out of every 100 births. The impact on babies — and their families — is profound.

Westporter Britt Sheiber is the mother of twin boys, Evan and James. They turn 1 on April 27 — her birthday.

It’s been quite a year. During Britt’s pregnancy, a 16-week ultrasound revealed Evan’s CHD. His type — “half a heart” — is extremely rare.

The Sheibers searched for the best treatment. They found it at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Evan was in the NICU for a few weeks. Britt drove to Westport every other day for a few hours, to see James and her 2 older children.

Finally, Evan came home. But he caught a cold, and ended up in the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital ICU.

A Bummer Bear.

That’s where he received a “Bummer Bear.” Passed on by the (coincidentally) Westport mother of another boy with CHD, it’s a special teddy bear. His zipper — representing the surgery scar — opens to reveal a tiny red heart, with little white stitches.

The mom sent an inspirational letter too.

The gifts gave Britt hope, and made her realize she was not alone. They helped her through Evan’s first open heart surgery — along with calls and texts from Ali Marcus.

Ali is another Westport mom whose son West was born with CHD. The women had  been introduced by mutual friends right before Britt gave birth to Evan, as West was preparing for his own surgery.

After Britt received her Bummer Bear for Evan, she paid it forward by sending one to Ali for West.

West Marcus loves his Bummer Bear.

Not long ago, the women heard about Fatemeh Reshad. The 4-month-old Iranian child — born with a congenital heart defect — was flying with her parents to Oregon for a life-saving procedure.

But when President Trump’s executive order banned travel from 7 countries, they had to cancel the surgery.

The women were stunned. As “heart moms,” they would go to the ends of the earth to get their children the best treatment possible. They knew Fatemeh’s mother was doing the same.

Britt and Ali posted Fatemeh’s story on social media. They reached out to their contacts at Yale-New Haven and Boston Children’s for help. After Governor Andrew Cuomo and the International Refugee Assistance Project intervened, the federal government allowed Fatemeh and her family into the US.

The women quickly sent Fatemeh a Bummer Bear, plus other gifts: a personalized pillow, cheerful button-up onesies, a pacifier/lovey for her chest, and cozy socks for Fatemeh’s mom. They added encouraging letters too.

Bummer Bear and assorted donations for Fatemeh, thanks to Westport’s “heart moms.”

Today, Britt monitors Evan’s oxygen numbers daily. They see his Boston cardiologist every few months. Evan will need another open heart surgery in a couple of years.

Britt takes care of him — and many others. Realizing the lack of awareness (and funds) for children with CHD, she founded Evan’s Heart Fund. All money goes to single ventricle research. This winter at JoyRide, she raised $27,000. Another fundraiser is in the works.

James (left) and Evan Sheiber today.

As for West: He’s a happy 1-year-old, chasing his 3 big brothers and 1 big sister. He too must be monitored every day for the rest of his life.

“Our family has been changed forever by this,” Ali says. “We are grateful for our hearts every day. What an incredible organ!”

So she, Britt and other moms stand ready to help the next heart mom, and the one after that.

It’s the heartfelt thing to do.

3 Comments

Posted in Children, Local business, Organizations, Politics

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Photo Challenge #119

Posted on April 9, 2017 | 14 comments

Last week’s photo challenge was posted the day after April Fool’s.

It was a bit of a joke — a postcard image labeled “View along Main Street, Saugatuck.” (Click here to see.)

Of course, there’s no Main Street in our Saugatuck. But there is in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Fred Cantor, Bobbie Herman, Peter Hirst, Rod Hurtuk and Mary Palmieri Gai all knew that there’s more than one Saugatuck in the world.

But wait! Elaine Marino — who seems to be Westport (Connecticut)’s foremost expert on Saugatuck, Michigan — commented that the postcard was mislabeled. She said it was actually the corner of Butler and Mason Streets. She added a few more factoids, including that the Michigan town’s founder was originally from Hartford. Yes, the Connecticut one.

Then Morley Boyd pointed out that there actually was a Main Street in our Saugatuck. It’s the same one that’s downtown today. The address was once Main Street, Saugatuck, because Westport was not named (and incorporated) until 1835.

However, we still do not have a Butler or Mason Street.

On now to this week’s photo challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this strange sign, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Ed Simek)

14 Comments

Posted in Photo Challenge, Places

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