Category Archives: Organizations

Remembering Jo Fuchs Luscombe

Posted on September 12, 2025 | 8 comments

Jo Fuchs Luscombe — a force of nature who, in a lifetime of work and volunteer efforts, accomplished everything from 5 terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives (including minority whip) and Westport’s 3rd selectwoman, to leadership (and boots-on-the-ground) service in nearly every major organization in town — died last weekend. She was 94.

An official obituary has not yet been released. But in 2017, “06880” hailed her as one of our first Unsung Heroes. I wrote:

If you’ve been in Westport for any length of time, you’ve probably heard — and met — Jo Fuchs Luscombe.

She’s been involved in every aspect of life here — politics, education, community service. If it needs doing, Jo has done it.

But how many people know her back story?

A Dallas native, she was just a year old when her father — an oilman — moved the family to Venezuela. Jo grew up speaking Spanish — and gaining an important, real-world view of life.

She went to boarding school and college in Texas, headed to Katherine Gibbs secretarial school, got married at 19 and had a child at 20.

Jo Fuchs Luscombe

Her husband was in oil too, so they headed to Libya. Jo learned Italian there, and was once more immersed in a very different culture.

In her mid-30s, after moving back to the US, Jo and her husband divorced. Encouraged by Rev. Dana Forrest Kennedy, she threw herself into every aspect Christ & Holy Trinity Church. She became president of the Women’s Guild, served on the vestry, and ran fundraisers.

She got interested too in the Westport Historical Society. Jo was a driving force behind the acquisition and restoration of Wheeler House — owned at the time by her church — as the organization’s headquarters.

In 1980, Jo was asked to fill out an unexpired term on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Public speaking did not come easily. But — as with everything else in her life — she worked to master it.

She won a full term on her own, then was appointed to the vacant post of 3rd selectman.

In 1986, Jo managed her friend and fellow Westporter Julie Belaga’s campaign for governor.

Jo’s next step was the state House of Representatives. She served 5 terms — from 1987 to ’97 — and rose to assistant minority leader and Republican minority whip.

At the same time, she was involved in the League of Women Voters (1989-2011). She was a member of Westport Sunrise Rotary from the 1988 beginning, and was the first female president (1991-92).

Retirement from state politics did not slow her down. As a 10-year member of Westport’s School Building Committee (and chair) she helped oversee 5 major construction and renovation projects (including the new Staples High School).

Jo Fuchs Luscombe (Photo courtesy of Westport Woman’s Club)

Remarriage did not slow her down either. Jo was president of the Westport Woman’s Club from 2003-05 (where she helped run major events like the art show), and was active in the Greens Farms Garden club, and countless others.

As a Westport Weston Family YMCA board trustee from 1998 to 2015, she helped shepherd the new building on its long, torturous journey from downtown to Mahackeno. She earned a “Faces o Achievement” Award from the Y in 1999.

She was even a justice of the peace.

Her husband John says there is one reason she accomplishes so much: “She doesn’t sleep.”

There’s one more thing: Jo Fuchs Luscombe is one of the nicest, most always-smiling people you’ll ever meet.

Congratulations, Jo. And thanks from all of us, for all you’ve done in so many ways.

(Hat tip: Bobbie Herman)

Cards can be sent to Jo’s son, Edward Fuchs: 52 St. James Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. A full obituary will be published when available.

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Come To (Tom) Papa: Comedian Headlines Homes With Hope Benefit

Posted on September 5, 2025 | 1 comment

Tom Papa’s debut as a comedian was at a small New York club.

There were 10 people in the 5 p.m. audience. Five were his friends.

He told a few jokes he’d written. The tiny crowd laughed.

Papa was filled with intensity and excitement. He said to himself, “I belong here!”

Recently, he sold out the historic Beacon Theater.

“It was not lost on me that it took 30 years to go 5 blocks, from that first set to the Beacon,” he says.

Next month, Papa — who toured with Jerry Seinfeld, been a frequent guest of Jay Leno and David Letterman, performed on “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” hosts a Sirius XM radio show, and does dozens of live shows a year — brings his prodigious comedic talent to Fairfield University’s Quick Center.

The New Jersey native headlines “Stand Up for Homes with Hope.” The October 17 event — an annual fundraiser for the Westport non-profit that battles homelessness and food insecurity — is always a highlight of the fall calendar.

Tom Papa

More than a decade ago, Papa was one of the first comedians at a “Stand Up for Homes with Hope” show. He’s traveled far since then — metaphorically and literally.

Yesterday, he spoke with “06880” about his career, and next month’s gig. The night before, he’d done a private corporate show. In a couple of hours, he would be in a theater.

“You never know what you’re walking into,” Papa notes. “Every group has its own culture.” Fortunately, he says, “last night the lumber salesmen were great.”

Papa’s route to the stage began in 7th grade. He heard Steve Martin and George Carlin in the same week.

“Wow!” he thought. “Making people laugh can be a grown-up job. You can make money at it!”

From then on, he was “funny with a purpose.” In the cafeteria, he made his friends laugh. In the classroom … well, he learned that being funny sometimes “helped charm me out of situations.”

Of course, being funny takes work. “You have to write a lot, perform a lot, and fail a lot,” Papa says. “There’s a certain repetition in standing up in front of people who say, ‘Make me laugh.'”

He honed his style, which he calls “observational humor. It’s rooted in family and humanity — everyday relationships, the annoyances of being a human being.”

He does not do a lot of political humor. But his routines “brush up against current events.”

(In our interview, he acknowledged the current “kerfuffle” over NPR funding. “The ‘Wait, Wait …’ audiences are such nice people. They wear Birkenstocks and carry tote bags. These people are dangerous?”

(And although being on Joe Rogan was “fun for a while, things got weird.” He no longer appears on the podcast.”)

Looking back on his eventful career — and ahead to the Homes with Hope fundraiser — Papa says, “there is something special about comedy. When you leave a show, you feel a little less alone.

“And when you can connect comedy with a cause, you leave laughing. And you feel like you’re a good person.”

“Stand Up for Homes with Hope — An Evening with Tom Papa” is Friday, October 17 (Quick Center). Tickets are $200 (includes cocktails and supper, 6:30 p.m.) and $50 (performance only). Click here for tickets, and more information.

 

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“06880” Podcast: Rick Benson

Posted on August 25, 2025 | 2 comments

Rick Benson wears many hats. He is “Mr. Rotary” in Westport, overseeing everything from LobstersFest to projects around the world.

He has also served on many town boards, the United Way, YMCA, Boy Scouts, and not one but two Congregational churches.

I could have listed many more accomplishments when I introduced him at our recent “06880” podcast, but I preferred to spend the time chatting.

Click here or below, to hear the many things we talked about.

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DoDo & Jim’s Kitchen: Nourishing Westporters In Need, For 40 Years

Posted on July 21, 2025 | 3 comments

On Saturday, relatives and friends from as far away as British Columbia packed Assumption Church for a memorial Mass celebrating the life of Dolores “DoDo” Bacharach.

The matriarch of a beloved and longtime Westport family died in May, at 97.

She lived her Catholic faith fully and well. She was involved with Westport’s pioneering Intercommunity Camp, along with Caroline House, the Interfaith Council, Assumption’s Senior Advisory Council and Social Concerns Committee.

After raising 5 children — and being a surrogate mother to many of their friends — she earned a master’s degree in social work at age 60. DoDo worked for Catholic Social Services, and established SAGE Associates, a private social work practice.

Father Tom Thorne — her former minister, who now lives in California but was asked by the family to officiate — said, “she would have been a wonderful nun.” But then, he noted, she would not have had her nearly 3-dozen children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to share with the world.

Dolores “DoDo” Bacharach

The night before, it was Homes with Hope‘s turn to honor DoDo and her late husband Jim. The Gillespie Center’s newly remodeled kitchen now bears the couple’s names.

It’s not their first recognition from Westport’s supportive housing non-profit. The Bacharach Community comprises 3 single-family homes in Westport that provide stability and a fresh start for formerly homeless mothers and their children.

Over 40 years ago, the Bacharachs were founding members of the Interfaith Council’s homeless shelter project, greatly expanded today and part of the Homes with Hope umbrella.

For more than 40 years, DoDo cooked and served meals at the Gillespie Center kitchen that now has a plaque with her name.

Rev. Pete Powell spoke at the Gillespie Center dedication. His words are worth noting — and not just because they offer important details about DoDo and Jim Bacharach’s contributions.

They also shine a light on the remarkable 40 year history of Homes with Hope. Whether you remember the first homeless shelter at the former Vigilant firehouse (now OKO restaurant), or recently moved here and just learned of Westport’s long tradition of helping those in need, this is a stirring reminder of what it means to be part of a great community.

And to do whatever possible to help make that community even better.

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Rev. Powell said:

What makes Westport different? People like Dolores Bacharach.

In 1982 she and her husband Jim, along with other volunteers, including many fellow parishioners of hers at Assumption Church, opened the Community Kitchen in the parking lot and community room of Save the Children on Wilton Road.

Jim and DoDo Bacharach

Hunger in Westport? Westport was a wealthy Gold Coast suburb even then. Of course, Westport has never been comfortable with that designation.

Comfortable or not, we are one of the 4 wealthiest towns in Connecticut. Could there be hunger here? In the midst of so much, could people from here lack for food?

Yes, they could.

How to respond? Dodo and those who volunteered with her took their Christianity seriously, and opened a feeding program. We are standing today in a future they could never have imagined.

However, they had enough imagination to meet a current need. They opened a basic program entirely run by volunteers and operating out of iffy places.

Who did the feed? I can only imagine.

In 1982 I had never heard of Westport. I was rector of an Episcopal church in Prince George’s County, Maryland, just outside of Washington. Dolores and Jim, Sister Maureen, Ann Rully, Kathy Romano and many whose names I can no longer recall, responded to the words in Matthew’s Gospel: “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’”

DoDo Bacharach and Rev. Pete Powell, in 2014.

What did Westport look like then? There was no shelter for homeless people. However, homeless people were sleeping in Saugatuck Church.

Residents were worried that a feeding program was a solution to a problem that didn’t exist, and instead would be a nuisance attracting the needy to Westport.

Fortunately, these worries did not dissuade Dodo, Jim and the others who had the courage to act on the principles of their Catholic faith. They opened the Community Kitchen. We are standing in the heir to those efforts.

In the early years the reputations of the Bacharachs and others made it hard to challenge them. The Community Kitchen was lay-led — no clergy involved, as near as I can tell.

The founders took the Gospel seriously. As part of that they also reached out to Jews. Quickly, Temple Israel joined the churches in Westport in supporting this effort.

Their actions paved the way for the opening on Christmas Eve, 1984 of the Westport Emergency Shelter in the Vigilant Firehouse at 6 Wilton Road.

The Vigilant Firehouse on Wilton Road, circa 1977. Several years later, it was the first site of Westport’s homeless shelter.

It was a mess. The Community Kitchen volunteers worked out of the second floor in a space that had been condemned. They fed people in the parking lot outside of the firehouse and eventually in the bay of the firehouse.

By 1984 the kitchen had moved downstairs. It consisted of a refrigerator, microwave and utility sink. Food was prepared elsewhere, and served at the firehouse.

When I arrived in Westport in 1985, and was hired by the Interfaith Housing Association in 1988, the kitchen was a functioning and important part of the community. All of the religious congregations participated in providing dinner, 5 nights a week.

When we moved out of the Vigilant Firehouse and opened the Gillespie Center on Jesup Road in 1989, we were able to improve the kitchen facilities. Ultimately the kitchen served food, entirely provided by volunteers, from the religious community and many civic groups: 3 meals daily, 7 days a week.

The Gillespie Center in 2021, before a recent renovation. (Photo/June Rose Whitaker)

One of the people who prepared and served meals her entire life, from 1982 until very recently, was Dolores Bacharach. Her faith and the way she lived it is inspirational.

What difference did a feeding program make in Westport? Dodo and all who served with her gave people dignity. The founding principle of her work and that of this agency is that people deserve to be treated with dignity as human beings.

Whatever the reason for dining here, the people fed from this kitchen since 1982 were accepted and treated as an equal to those providing food. Dodo was not afraid of homeless people. She saw them as children of God.

Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden (far left) community members like these, who frequently volunteer to serve meals. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)

Our work today is to continue to see the people fed through this kitchen as people of God who deserve the very best we have to offer.

DoDo and Jim’s Kitchen is not a place for charity. Charity is giving of our excess; giving of what we have left over. DoDo and Jim’s kitchen is a place of dignity, where we restore to people who are hungry and have real human needs a place where their needs and condition are honored and respected.

We do not give them charity. We give them what we have received: food to sustain life.

That’s the takeaway I have from knowing Dodo since 1985: Treat everyone with respect. She has been a blessing to all who came in contact with her.

She was humble. She was confident. She was present. She blessed us by her life and her giving her life to us.

So, let us pray: Bless this kitchen, Lord, and those who gather here each day. Let it be a place where we can meet to love and laugh and pray. Help us to live up to the example Dodo gave us, and meet each person with caring and dignity so that not only is the food a blessing in their lives, but their presence is a blessing in ours.

Members of the extended Bacharach family, and friends, at Friday’s Gillespie Center ceremony. The kitchen was named in Dodo and Jim Bacharach’s honor.

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Homes With Hope: Help Is A Family Affair

Posted on July 1, 2025 | 1 comment

School is out.

But hunger never takes a vacation.

Food insecurity affects millions of Americans. Some are right here in Westport.

Homes with Hope — our longtime non-profit provider of emergency and supportive housing — also operates a community kitchen.

Families, individuals, and groups working with civic organizations and houses of worship have always provided the bulk of volunteers to serve meals at the Gillespie Center, the shelter behind Barnes & Noble.

It’s a rewarding experience — one that inspires first-timers, and keeps them coming back regularly.

For the past 10 years Alex Cohen — a Staples High School graduate now raising his own family here, and a member of the Westport Rotary Club — has served meals several teams a year.

A few years ago, he had signed up for a shift but had no childcare. Unwilling to cancel, he brought his 2 young children. They helped out — and loved it.

Alex, Winter and Bodhi Cohen, in the Gillespite Center kitchen. Alex’s fellow Rotarian Lennart Antell (right) made 200 meatballs by hand, for the patrons.

They begged to go back. Alex brought them a second time.

Bodhi is now 8 years old. Winter is 7. They’re still coming.

When a man asked for seconds, Winter said, “Wow, Daddy. He was hungry! And he loved your pasta.”

During a recent renovation, the Gillespie Center’s pantry was enlarged. They can store more items now — non-perishables, as well as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, and personal hygiene and household items.

After touring the new pantry, Bodhi asked his dad if they could buy “extras” on their next grocery trip. Of course, they did.

Bodhi Cohen helps restock the food pantry shelves.

Alex’s story is a great reminder of the needs in our back yard — and the many ways anyone can help.

To volunteer to serve lunch or dinner — individually, as a family or group — click here.

For information about the food pantry, click here. Drop-offs can be made weekdays (except Wednesday), from noon until  p.m.

Questions? Call 203-226-3426. Click here for the Homes with Hope website.

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Jake Rosenblum’s Skincare Story Pays “Dividends”

Posted on June 27, 2025 | 1 comment

Like many people fleeing New York during the pandemic, Jake Rosenblum expected to return soon.

He and his girlfriend Lauren came here to live with her parents. They figured a couple of weeks.

They’re now married. And still here.

But they left so quickly, Rosenblum did not even bring his “generic” CVS skincare products.

He started using his girlfriend’s. They were better than anything he’d ever tried.

Why, Rosenblum wondered, had they never been marketed to men?

Jake Rosenblum

He knows a thing or two about promotion. A former classical music agent who is now an executive at Live X, the Tucson native explored the world of men’s skincare.

He realized there were 2 types of products: “bottom shelf” like the ones he’d been using, or “overly masculine, with macho branding.”

Nothing was aimed at men who wanted great skincare, without heavy scents, demanding routines, or over-the-top promotions and promises.

Rosenblum assembled a team of experts. Over 2 years, they worked to perfect a line of products — called Dividends — that men would like.

And a marketing strategy that speaks to them.

They got help from StartUp Westport. The town’s public/private partnership for innovators and entrepreneurs offered networking and ideas. Ted Schachter — chair of the direct and interactive marketing program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a founder of StartUp Westport’s mentor-to-business program — was particularly helpful,

“It was nice to get perspectives from someone not in the skincare business too,” Rosenblum syas.

Dividends’ soft launch — including cleanser, moisturizer, retinol and sunscreen — sold out last month. It’s now been rolled out, to men on the wait list.

A full launch is set for July.

Dividends’ product line. (Photo/Handover Agency)

As for Westport: Rosenblum and his wife love it.

They’ve found a great group of friends. They’re near the railroad pedestrian bridge over the river, so they can walk to Saugatuck. There is plenty to do here, for them and their toddler (another is on the way).

Though there may be a future in other wellness products, Dividends remains a side gig. Live X is his day job.

Besides his foray into men’s skincare, there is one more unintended consequence of COVID: Rosenblum works from home.

Just a few steps from the bathroom, where Dividends products provide the routines and results Rosenblum believes millions of men want, and deserve.

(To learn more about Dividends, click here.)

(“06880” often shines a light on interesting residents, businesses and organizations — and, like today, the intersection of all 3. Please click here to support stories like this. Thank you!)

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Jim Marpe: There Is Life After Town Hall

Posted on May 21, 2025 | 10 comments

When their terms are up, first selectpersons leave Town Hall.

Many leave Westport entirely.

Most recently, Doug Wood headed to Oregon. Joe Arcudi moved to South Dakota. Diane Farrell scooted off to Washington, and now lives in Easton.

Gordon Joseloff was an exception. A Staples High School graduate, whose family had owned Post Road property — including the Fine Arts Theater, now Barnes & Noble — since the mid-1900s, he continued to publish his popular WestportNow news site.

Another exception is Jim Marpe.He stepped down in 2021, after 2 successful terms.

Jim Marpe, at the 2021 Memorial Day parade. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)

But he did not step away. He still contributes to the town. He uses his skill set — and his experience — in a variety of ways.

Just about the only difference: “I don’t have to sit through meetings till midnight,” he jokes.

This retirement is actually Marpe’s second. He enjoyed a long career as a partner with what is now Accenture.

He and his wife Mary Ellen moved to Westport in 1989, drawn by the schools, beauty, amenities, and similarity to their previous homes in Copenhagen and on Chicago’s North Shore.

Marpe volunteered for the construction of the first Compo Beach playground. But not until he retired from Accenture in 2002, in his late 50s, did he have time to get heavily involved in other activities.

He joined the Y’s Men, and chaired the Stamford Symphony Orchestra board. A vacancy arose on the Board of Education, and he got the appointment. He was elected to the seat in the next cycle, and soon became chair.

Jim Marpe, at a 2009 Board of Education meeting.

“I’m a firm believer that being retired doesn’t mean you only play golf and go to bed early,” Marpe says.

When Joseloff retired in 2013 after 2 terms, Marpe saw another way to make an impact on the communtiy.

“As much as my professional carer meant to me, being 1st selectman was a truly great honor,” he says.

It’s a highly visible position. Critiques are quick, and constant. But Westporters were comfortable with him, and 4 years later he won re-election.

His biggest challenge was the pandemic.

“There was no playbook for that,” he notes. “But I’m proud of the way our staff performed. We helped get people outdoors, and they’re still there.”

Marpe also steered the town through several natural disasters — including Tropical Storm Isaias, which struck just a few months after COVID.

Tropical Storm Isaias was one of several weather-related disasters Jim Marpe dealt with. (Photo/John Kantor)

Four years ago, he decided not to run again.

“I knew it was time to give space to fresh thinking and younger blood,” Marpe says.

“I’m the same age as the current president, and younger than the previous one. I wasn’t worried about nuclear codes, or the war in Ukraine. But it was time to move on.”

Now, he notes, “I’m liviing my best life. And it’s a result of being 1st selectman.

“I met and got to know people in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise. They came from all walks of life. They’ve enriched my life, socially and intellectually.”

People still seek Marpe’s advice. “I’m not sure how long that will last. But I’m happy to give back my thoughts — without the hassle of a midnight RTM meeting.”

From left: Former 1st selectpersons Jim Marpe and Marty Hauhuth, and current 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.

Three years ago, he teamed up with Steve Parrish and Westport Library director Bill Harmer to start the Common Ground Initiative. The forum for public discourse on topical issues is a way to encourage respectful, constructive dialogue, and tackle challenging, controversial topics.

Recently he collaborated with Staples junior Jake Shufro, on a parallel intergenerational discussion group called Bridge Builders.

“I try to hang out with people of all ages,” Marpe notes. “Too many people my age just want to see people our age. If you don’t see young people, you get old pretty quickly.”

From left: Jim Marpe, Jake Shufro, Sienna Schwartz and Tucker Mays, at last month’s Bridge Builders meeting.

Marpe is also on the Y’s Men board of directors. The near-600 member group, all in their 60s or older, is “amazing,” he says. “Executives, lawyers, physicians, entrepreneuers — people who were very successful in their careers. The speakers alone are worth the price, but there are so many other activities.”

Marpe is responsible for the grouup’s community service activities. “We’re not the Rotary Club” — another group he’s active with — “but we give back on cleanup days, the Library book sale, VFW blood drives … that sort of thing.”

As 1st selectman, Marpe got to know Ned Lamont well. The governor has appointed him to the Contracting Standards Board, established in the wake of Governor John Rowland’s contracting scandals to oversee all state procurement.

He has turned his former work as a Board of Ed chair, and as a member of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, into mentorship. He now works closely with new Board of Ed chairs around the state, helping them navigate their complex jobs.

He offers advice to his former 2nd selectwoman — and successor — Jen Tooker. “But only when asked,” he emphasizes. “I don’t show up at Town Hall on my own.”

The former 1st selectman is a frequent attendee at fundraisers, Library talks, Westport Country Playhouse productions, and many other events.

On June 1, he’ll join Congressman Jim Himes, and TV journalists Alisyn Camerota and Rebecca Surran on a Library panel exploring media coverage of the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

“That’s the beauty of Westport,” he says. “If you’re bored in Westport, you’re just not trying.”

Of course, there are grandchildren. Their daughter, son-in-law and their kids live with Marpe and his wife. Having them nearby — seeing their events, taking them to the pediatrician — is one of the joys of retirement from Town Hall.

Jim Marpe and his grandson Charlie, at last year’s Soundview Stroll. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Marpe does not stay solely in Westport. He and Mary Ellen travel often. They head to Tuscany this summer, and have a Japan cruise planned for the fall.

“You can’t be afraid of change. You have to always explore new opportunities,” Marpe advises.

“When one door opens, you need the courage to step through. Moving to Denmark was a scary door. But for me, life has been much more interesting as a result.

The Town Hall door closed 4 years ago. Jim Marpe walked through many more in his second retirement, and very enjoyable third act.

(Westport is filled with interesting people — and “06880” covers them all. If you enjoy feature stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

 

 

 

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Westport Pride: Celebrating Rainbows, Despite National Clouds

Posted on April 18, 2025 | 3 comments

Five years ago, Brian McGunagle wondered: “Where is Westport’s LGBTQ community?”

After 4 years in town, he and his husband Stephen Gustafson were happy. They felt safe and supported. Through a Facebook group for same-gender parents, they had arranged playdates for their nearly 2-year-old son.

But they wanted more than a quiet, open suburb.

Five years later, much has changed.

Westport Pride — the group Brian founded — has thrived. It’s organized 4 large Pride celebrations; the fifth is set for June 22, on Jesup Green. A party will follow.

Staples High students, at the 2024 Pride celebration on Jesup Green.

Under the leadership of Kayla Iannetta, Westport Pride has partnered with Gender Sexuality Alliances at Staples High School, and the 2 middle schools, and helped organize “UBU” days at the elementary level; worked on Westport Library programming; brought a rainbow crosswalk to Jesup Road, and sponsored 3 drags shows.

A number of LGBTQ parents moved to town during COVID. McGunagle estimates there are at least 2 dozen families with same-gender parents here now — and that is probably low.

Plus: Their son now has a younger brother.

Brian McGunagle (sport coat), his husband Stephen Gustafson and their sons, at the Jesup Road rainbow crosswalk. 

But not all the news is positive. The changing national climate has made young transgender Westporters feel unsafe. Some students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning also stand in the shadows.

There is “a lot of fear with parents of LGB — and especially trans — youth,” McGuangle notes.

He says the Supreme Court may take up a case in which parents of trans youngsters could be held criminally responsible for child abuse.

There is “more open bullying” around sexuality issues, he says, in schools and on social media like Westport Back Porch.

Temple Israel had one of the many booths at 2024 Pride.

LGBTQ Westporters without families — singles and seniors — are also looking for a community.

As the father of a 6-year-old and a future Stepping Stones Preschool student, McGunagle continues to search for ways parents like him can connect with each other, and for LGBTQ kids to find others they can identify with.

He has spoken to the Westport PTA Council — the umbrella organization for all 8 PTAs — and with the chairs of their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.

McGunagle uses the “PTA” letters to describe the groups he wants involved: (P)arents and (T)eachers who identify as LGBTQ, and (A)llies like parents of LGBTQ children.

The DEI Committee has welcomed Westport Pride’s participation, he says. He hopes to find 2 representatives from every school, so that the LGBTQ group can be formalized, much like Special Education is now.

A “playground playdate” for same-gender parents is set for May 4, 3 to 5 p.m. at Saugatuck Elementary School.

“DEI is under fire, at the national level,” McGunagle acknowledges. “But the district seems to be behind it still, in Westport.”

Meanwhile, he says,Westport Pride is always looking for volunteeers: at the board level, and to help with events and fundraising. If interested, email westportctpride@gmail.com.

(“06880” regularly covers every aspect of Westport life. If you enjoy reading about neighbors you know, and those you have yet to meet, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Former “Poor House” Enriches Lives

Posted on March 24, 2025 | 2 comments

Westport’s “poorhouse” has a rich history.

In 1864, Charles Kemper — the tanner whose barn later became the Westport Country Playhouse — moved his home from that site to 124 Compo Road North.

The town bought the property in 1901. According to former Westport Historical Society house historian Bob Weingarten, officials were spending more money for “indigents” by renting space in individual homes than if the town owned a house for their use.

Buying the home — and an 11-acre farm — for $2,750 as an “almshouse” would save at least $1,000 a year.

“Town Poorhouse,” circled on a 1911 map. Compo Road North was known then as East Main Street.

It remained a “poorhouse” with 5 paupers (also called “inmates”) until 1957, when it was rented out to other residents. Officials then considered it for the site of a Highway Department garage. Instead, in 1974 the “Town Farm” tennis courts were built nearby.

It was eventually abandoned. Infested with racoons, squirrels and mice, it was slated for demolition.

But assistant superintendent of schools for special education Kate McGraw and Department of Human Services director Barbara Butler had a vision. With help from grants writer Barbara Heatley, architect Ed Campbell and carpenter Ed Canning, the dream became a reality

In the mid-1980s the house was renovated into Project Return, a home for Westport girls whose parents could not keep them at home. Susie Basler ran the program for 30 years.

When she retired in 2016, the one-time “poorhouse” got a new name: Susie’s House.

A photo of Susie Basler has a place of honor, near the front door.

That year, the state eliminated funding for group homes. Homes with Hope — which already ran Westport’s homeless shelter and food pantry — took over the program, under then-CEO Jeff Wieser.

During COVID, girls were placed in hotels. The house once again sat empty.

Early next month — following extensive renovations — the former “poorhouse,” now Project Return/Susie’s House, begins a new chapter.

Six young women, ages 18 to 26, will move in. All are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

One of 6 private bedrooms, at Susie’s House …

Each will have her own room, bathroom and small refrigerator. There’s a handsome living room, modern kitchen, washer/dryer, basement with computers and games and a reading nook, and offices where Homes with Hope staffers can help the young women find jobs, meet with mentors, and transition to their own housing.

A porch in back overlooks the Town Farm tennis courts and Little League fields.

… and the kitchen, with washer/dryer in the rear.

For some of the women, this will be the first stable housing of their lives.

The program will focus on education and employment. Young women will leave the home knowing how to earn income, and move onto self-sufficiency in their own apartments.

The house will have 24-hour support. It will be managed by a seasoned social worker, who will guide the women along their path.

The other day, Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, COO Paris Looney, director of marketing Katharine Murray, social worker Carmen Ayala and board co-chair Becky Martin showed off the bright, airy space.

Carmen Ayala and Paris Looney.

Paint was fresh. Bedrooms were newly furnished. The living room had just been outfitted, with donations from GL Design, Serena & Lily, Knock on Wood Antiques and Redi-Cut Carpet & Rugs.

Before the first residents moved in, Homes with Hope was preparing to show off the space. Neighbors and former Project Return volunteers visited on Saturday.

Longtime supporters, Homes with Hope staff and volunteers, and neighbors visited on Saturday. Susie Basler (center, with flowers) was among the delighted guests. (Contributed photo)

This Wednesday (March 26), Westport’s 2 Rotary Clubs get tours. On Thursday (March 27), Project Return/Susie’s House welcomes town officials, and Homes with Hope’s builders.

The 6 women who will move in soon include 2 from Westport, now being assisted by our Department of Human Services. Some of the new residents are in college; some are working.

None have parental support. They live in shelters, or are couch surfing.

Each will have a 1-year lease. Those who are working will pay 30% of their salary for rent.

Food will come from the Homes with Hope pantry, and donations from groups like the Rotary Clubs.

Susie’s House, Compo Road North: ready for a new chapter. 

In addition to staff, they’ll benefit from community support. Volunteers will offer cooking lessons, writing workshops and more. M&T Bank branch manager Matt Cummings will teach financial literacy. Artists Miggs Burroughs and Nina Bentley will volunter their talents too.

Funding for the renovations came from the Connecticut Department of Housing. Town officials have been “outstanding” in providing help with the process, McAlinden says.

Susie’s House is deed-restricted. For the next 40 years, it is mandated to serve populations in need, like this one.

The porch looks out on Little League fields — and beyond, the “Town Farm” tennis courts. (All photos/Dan Woog)

Homes with Hope CEO McAlinden says, “These young women have been through a lot. They’ve had trauma. This is their home now, and their hope for the future.”

The town’s former “poorhouse” has left a rich legacy indeed.

(A large part of Homes with Hope’s funding comes from community members. Click here to learn more, and donate. The annual “Gather ‘Round the Table” luncheon at Shorehaven Golf Club on May 14 is a fundraiser for Project Return/Susie’s House. Click here for more information. To learn more about Susie’s House, or arrange a personal tour, call Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden: 475-225-5292.)

Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden and board co-chair Becky Martin, in the brightly furnished living room.

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After Eventful Earthplace Decade, Tony McDowell Steps Down

Posted on February 23, 2025 | 3 comments

A big change is coming to Earthplace.

But not quite yet.

After a decade at the helm, Tony McDowell is stepping down as executive director of the vibrant non-profit environmental and educational center.

He’ll transition into a volunteer role on the capital campaign committee, and work on improvement projects. Until a successor is chosen, he’ll stay on — and then work with the new director, to ensure a smooth handover.

Tony McDowell

McDowell’s leadership has “brought Earthplace into an exciting new chapter, leaving the organization in an incredibly strong position,” says board chair Mo Tooker.

“Under his guidance, Earthplace has experienced tremendous growth, both in financial health and programming.”

Among McDowell’s accomplishments:

  • The preschool and summer camp now accommodate working parents, with full-time programs for children ages 6 months to 5 years old.

  • Nature-based school programs include over 4,000 youngsters from Norwalk and Bridgeport.

Earthplace campers enjoy a downpour. (Photo/Jaime Bairaktaris)

  • Harbor Watch has come under the Earthplace umbrella. Environmental scientists expand their reach with water quality monitoring from Stamford to Milford, and lead the Long Island Sound Pathogen Monitoring Network with a testing lab and research teams stationed at Earthplace.

  • Facility upgrades include a new amphitheater, Harbor Watch lab and research vessel, pond teaching platform, and interpretive signs for visitors to 84 acres of walking trails.

  • Operating revenue has more than doubled in 10 years. Cash reserves have more than quadrupled.

McDowell’s new focus will be on fundraising, donor stewardship, and program and exhibit development for a new environmental science center.

“I am proud of all we’ve accomplished over the past ten years, and I am confident that Earthplace is in a strong position for continued success,” he says.

“I look forward to supporting the organization’s next chapter, focusing on the capital projects and fundraising that will help us continue to thrive.”

For more information about Earthplace, click here. For more information about the executive director search, and to nominate candidates, email s.pollmann@earthplace.org.

A small section of Earthplace’s 82 acres. (Photos/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

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