Posted onFebruary 12, 2023|Comments Off on Team Velominati Powers Pan-Mass Challenge
In music, there’s the Beatles. In soccer, Messi.
In fundraising, the Pan-Mass Challenge stands far above all others. The Massachusetts bike ride earns more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the US. Since 1980, it’s donated $900 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Last year alone, it was $65 million.
And in the Pan-Mass Challenge, Team Velominati is the Beatles and Messi, rolled into one.
The group — many of them Westporters — raised $675,000. Last year.
Bill Loftus — the founder of Coastal Bridge Advisers, a Wilton Road wealth management firm — is a crucial part of the team. He joined a few years ago.
Instantly, he was hooked.
Team captain Dave Hazard and Bill Loftus cross the finish line at mile 192 in Provincetown last August. Additional Team Velominati members ride in behind them.
Bill is one of 2,500 riders going the full distance: 112 miles from Sturbridge to Bourne on Saturday; then another 90 miles to Provincetown the next day.
Another 3,500 ride shorter distances, for one day.
Up to a quarter of all riders are cancer survivors.
“The human spirit is on full display,” Bill says. “It feels like the entire state is cheering us on.” Streets are filled with spectators. Bands play; cowbells ring.
The energy of the crowd — and the camaraderie of the riders — keeps him going.
Team Velominati always looks for new members. (The group rides in other fundraisers too, like the Bloomin’ Metric. They ski together too, in winter. But the Pan-Mass Challenge is the big one.)
Each team member commits to raising at least $6,500. Some do far more.
Bill notes that 100% of all funds go directly to cancer research. There are only a few paid staff members for the entire Challenge — and their salaries are covered by corporate sponsors.
“When I started, I wondered how I could give up a weekend in the summer,” Bill says.
“But never once did I feel like I missed anything. This is the best possible use of my time. It’s the best weekend of the year.”
(To learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge — and how to join Team Velominati — email dhazard@gmail.com.)
Comments Off on Team Velominati Powers Pan-Mass Challenge
George and Libya Kocadag moved to Westport years ago, from Turkey. Many Westporters know him as one of the friendliest members of the very friendly Trader Joe’s staff. She shares her wonderful baked goods, yogurt and hummus with everyone (those great raspberry cookies at Layla’s Falafel are hers).
Libya’s family lives in Samandag, Turkey, not far from the center of the recent earthquake. In the aftermath of the devastation — with lives lost and houses destroyed — the Kocadags are asking for help.
She set up a GoFundMe page. The goal is $20,000. All money will go directly to Samandag. Click here to contribute. (Hat tip: Danielle Teplica)
A small part of the devastation in Turkey and Syria.
Whether you’re rooting for Kansas City or Philadelphia, or have no idea who’s playing: Everyone is invited to tomorrow’s Super Bowl tailgate party (Sunday, February 12, 12:30 to 4 p.m.).
It’s at the Senior Center — but all ages are welcome. The afternoon includes hot dogs, spring rolls, chips and cake, and a guess-the-score contest.
Former director Sue Pfister will be honored, along with the state champion Staples High School girls soccer and boys lacrosse teams. The Staples cheerleaders will be there too.
The only thing missing: the game. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. — 2 hours after the party ends.
“Little Things Run the World” — and that’s the subject of the next Aspetuck Land Trust free seminar.
“Insects with Benefits: Pollination and Pest Control” is the sub-head of the Wednesday, February 15 event (1 to 4 p.m.).
ALT says: “Learn about the most important part of our web of life, and be inspired to make your yard more welcoming for them. Without our insects, the web of life comes apart. Love our spiders, moths and wasps from the comfort of your home.”
Click here to register, and for more information. (NOTE: The 3 previous sessions were recorded. All are available with registration.)
Registration is now open for the CT Challenge. The July 29 bike ride — with distances of 10, 25, 40, 62, 100 and virtual — raises funds for the local non-profit Mission. They help 16.9 million cancer survivors in Connecticut and throughout the US rebuild, improve and prolong their lives through exercise, nutrition, mind-body health and community-building support programs.
Staples High School offers courses in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Latin and Mandarin.
All will join in, to celebrate World Language Week. Among the events:
The cafeteria will serve themed dishes, and promote international cuisine.
Students are invited to wear t-shirts or sweatshirts supporting the language they’re studying (for example, sports teams, international universities, and souvenir shirts from abroad).
Music will play in a variety of languages before school, during the 5 minutes of passing time, and immediately after school ends.
Students will make morning announcements, in the languages they’re taking.
The library will display world language literature, art and more, and will host international karaoke and a trivia competition.
The “Connections” period will feature trivia games, video links, and basic conversational instruction.
¡Vamos!
Students studying Italian will celebrate World Language Week.
And finally … the recent death from lung cancer of David Harris — the journalist who went to jail for refusing the draft during Vietnam, and encouraged others to do the same — brought to mind the song Joan Baez wrote for and about him. They were married at the time; he had just been sentenced to 3 years in prison. (Click here for a full obituary.)
(To celebrate World Language Week [story above], please consider a donation of euros, pounds, yuans — or dollars — to “06880.” Just click here — and thank you!)
The other day, alert reader Peter Gold noticed that the mural of long-ago Westporters that once hung behind the Banana Republic register — and before that, Klein’s Department store and, way earlier, the Townly restaurant — is gone.
I guessed that Oka — the British furniture and home accessories retailer that moved in right before Christmas — had no idea of its provenance. I also guessed that an email to their headquarters would yield no response.
Surprise! I got this quick reply:
Thanks for reaching out! The beautiful, historic mural has been well-preserved behind a purposely constructed wall that is papered in grasscloth. If you ever stop by the showroom, the manager, Susan Benedetti, would be happy to show you where it is. Hope this helps!
I emailed back, wondering why it no longer hangs where the public can see it.
So far: crickets.
Judging from the video below, there’s no room amid the “timeless” décor for this perhaps time-worn artifact of history.
For the past 2 week, the Westport Winter Farmers’ Market has collected coats, mittens and more for Ukrainian relief.
Shoppers donated generously. In fact, co-organizer Mark Yurkiw says, “Thanks to everyone, we need a bigger truck!”
With donations at the Westport Farmers’ Market, at Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center (from left): Farmers’ Market director Lori Cochran-Dougall, organizer Mark Yurkiw, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Wynne Vaast, who brought many bags from L.L. Bean and his employer, Ring’s End.
But more than 160 employees of Synchrony, the Stamford financial services company — including CEO Brian Doubles — plunged into the 39-degree water.
It was a charity event, for the benefit of Westport-based global community of 30 camps and programs for children living with serious illnesses, and their families. Synchrony employees raised and matched more than $180,000 to the non-profit.
Synchrony says: Everyone into (and out of) the water!
Once again, kindergarteners through 8th graders will learn the basics of running from experts — and have fun, with friends.
Instructors include Coach Alex, who just ran his personal record marathon (2:55). He’s a founding coach at Central Park Running Club, the fastest-growing run club in New York.
Coach Brenn is a collegiate cross country and track athlete. His post-college PRs include a 4:49 mile, 1:22 half marathon and 3:08 marathon. He previously trained with the elite Central Park Track Club.
Coach Dave has competed in 13 Half Ironmans,12 Olympic triathlons, 4 marathons and 1 Ironman. He is a cycle instructor at Equinox Fitness in New York, and runs competitively for Central Park Running Club.
Coach Skye is a graduate of The Joggers Club Jr. She placed second in her age group in the 2022 Minute Man 10k, and has competed in every Turkey Trot since she was 9.
The camp takes places Sundays from 2 to 3:15 p.m., from April 23 to June 11 at the Staples High School track. It is limited to 40 runners.
Before March 1, the fee is $49 for Joggers Club members, $99 for non-members. Venmo @CPRCandTJC (include name, age and shirt size of participant). Then go to www.TheJoggersClub.com, and complete the waiver under the “Members” tab.
And finally … the legendary Burt Bacharach died Wednesday, in Los Angeles. He was 94.
The New York Times calls him “the debonair pop composer, arranger, conductor, record producer and occasional singer whose hit songs in the 1960s distilled that decade’s mood of romantic optimism….
“A die-hard romantic whose mature style might be described as Wagnerian lounge music, Mr. Bacharach fused the chromatic harmonies and long, angular melodies of late-19th-century symphonic music with modern, bubbly pop orchestration, and embellished the resulting mixture with a staccato rhythmic drive. His effervescent compositions epitomized sophisticated hedonism to a generation of young adults only a few years older than the Beatles.
“Because of the high gloss and apolitical stance of the songs Mr. Bacharach wrote with his most frequent collaborator, the lyricist Hal David, during an era of confrontation and social upheaval, they were often dismissed as little more than background music by listeners who preferred the hard edge of rock or the intimacy of the singer-songwriter genre. But in hindsight, the Bacharach-David team ranks high in the pantheon of pop songwriting.” (Click here for a full obituary.)
His most famous songs may be “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”
Here are a few of my favorites. What are yours? Click “Comments” below.
(Speaking of “That’s What Friends Are For”: Please consider a donation to “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Click here — and thank you!)
Once upon a time, summer sleepaway camps were the only thing. Boys and girls played a variety of sports, did arts and crafts, had campfires and color wars — all for 8 weeks in the woods.
Then came sports camps. They offered specialization in one thing — basketball say, or soccer — led by noted college coaches, and their athletes.
It’s hard to find a “sports camp” anymore. They’ve morphed into “ID camps,” marketing themselves as the best way to get onto a college program’s radar — early.
They’re all about competing for coaches’ attention. There’s little instruction. But there is plenty of down time, away from the court or field. Sometimes, athletes are not even on campus. They’re holed up in a hotel, playing video games during down time.
“ID camps” and their cousin, “college showcases,” are now so prevalent that many youngsters feel the need to attend several each summer. Even those who enjoyed a traditional summer camp decide, reluctantly, that they can’t go back. They “have to” travel the country, hoping to shine for at least one college coach.
Jem Sollinger, Jon Deren and Josh Hahn know that landscape well. Owners and directors of 3 highly regarded traditional summer camps — Laurel, Manitou and Somerset respectively, all in Maine (the first 2 with winter offices in the same Brooks Corner building in Westport) — they have seen first hand the demise of “all-sports” camps, and their replacement by “ID” camps.
Academy Camps founders.
Laurel, Manitou and Somerset continue to thrive, with long wait lists. But as Sollinger, Deren and Hahn — longtime colleagues and friends, all of whom grew up playing multiple sports — talked, they wondered if they could create something that combined a traditional summer camp experience with a specialized emphasis on one sport.
They could — and they did.
Academy Camps opens this summer. With an emphasis on 4 sports — soccer, basketball, lacrosse and tennis — at Suffield Academy, using state-of-the-art athletic facilities on a 368-acre campus (but far from the Maine woods), it promises short sessions, excellent coaching, innovative leadership and more.
In other words: “a modern approach to the summer sports camp.”
Besides Sollinger and Deren, Academy Camps has a heavy Westport imprint. This is fertile territory for young athletes who have gone to summer camps, yet felt pressured to travel the “ID camp” circuit.
Mike Maurillo
The executive director is well known here too. Mike Maurillo — a former Fairfield University lacrosse captain, with more than 2 decades experience in advertising, and health and wellness — has spent 12 years in Westport as a volunteer coach in lacrosse, soccer, flag football and rec basketball.
When Academy Camps opens in June, much will be familiar to traditional summer campers. But much will be much different.
There are 3 sessions, for boys and girls ages 10 to 15. Each is 1 or 2 weeks — that’s up to the camper. The first begins June 25; the last ends on August 4.
There are morning and afternoon blocks for the sport of specialization. (With plenty of room: Suffield boasts 2 turf and 7 grass fields, 10 tennis courts and a 30,000-square foot fieldhouse).
Some of the facilities at Suffield Academy.
But athletes need more than just skills training. Academy Camps emphasizes leadership training and wellness too.
The schedule also includes an outdoor ropes course and balance bar, and work on mindfulness, breathwork, visualization, flexibility and mobility.
Former pro athletes and current college coaches will be invited to speak to campers too.
“We’re teaching the ‘character’ skills we as coaches don’t always have time for, or believe happen by osmosis,” Maurillo says. That includes goal-setting, communication, conflict resolution and appropriate reactions to pressure.
Many youth sports experts — and high-level athletes — decry the increasing emphasis on early specialization. Academy Camps provides opportunities for everyone to play flag football, pickup basketball, frisbee golf, floor hockey — the types of games kids enjoy at traditional camps (and whenever they get the chance to be kids at home too).
Another summer camp ritual that Academy Camps continues: color war. Contested each night, in everything from floor hockey to trivia contests, a scavenger hunt and a rope burning game, it’s a way to bring campers of all ages and both genders together.
Academy Camps will incorporate many elements of a traditional summer camp.
Like many summer camps — yet unlike most ID sports camps — this one is “tech-free.” Electronic devices are prohibited — the better to enhance teamwork, teach interpersonal skills, and reduce social pressures (and dependence on parents).
Maurillo ticks off other reasons he’s excited about Academy Camps’ launch: Much of the staff (including nurses, dining hall, maintenance and security) comes from Suffield Academy, so they know the facilities and have a vested interest in its success.
(One non-Suffield name: basketball director Mike Evans. Well known in this area, the former Weston High star founded Full Court Peace, a non-profit that brings diverse teens together to repair courts in low-income neighborhoods from Norwalk and New York to Havana.)
The Suffield academy location is another plus. Two hours from JFK and Logan airports — and just 10 minutes from Bradley — it’s more accessible than most summer camps.
And Academy has the whole school to themselves. There will be no other program during the summer.
Academy Camps will offer a higher level of the sports instruction already offered at many traditional summer camps.
Is there a concern Academy Camps will cannibalize the directors’ existing traditional camps?
No, Maurillo says.
Some youngsters who have enrolled in the sports program will also do a half-session at Laurel, Manitou or Somerset. Others were already ready to move on.
The involvement of Sollinger, Deren and Hahn gives Academy Camps legitimacy and prestige. “This is an ‘and,’ not an ‘or,'” Maurillo says.
And — most emphatically — not an “ID.”
(“06880” covers youth — and youth issues — all over town. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
Registration for Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department’s spring and summer program offerings begins online on March 10 (9 a.m.). Offerings will be viewable soon, at www.westportrecreation.com.
Department officials urge residents to log into their online account now, to verify family information. Once logged in, click “Manage Family Member” on the bottom right. Check that contact information is accurate. (In the personal information box, it is important to make sure that children’s grades reflect the current school year). Cell phone information will be used for class cancellations or location changes.
Address changes should be emailed to recreation@westportct.gov. Additional proof of Westport residency may be required.
Problems? Do not create another profile. Email recreation@westportct.gov or call 203-341-5152.
Residents who find keys often bring them to Westport Police Department headquarters. A plastic bin near the front desk currently holds several dozen keys.
And — this being Westport — plenty of them are for some very nice vehicles.
Carl Addison Swanson continues his crusade for traffic safety. He writes:
“Due to a 53% increase in pedestrian deaths from 2009 to 2018 with 6,283 total nationally, Connecticut passed a new ‘crosswalk law’ which went into effect on October 1, 2021.
“Now, unless there is a traffic signal directing otherwise, a pedestrian always has the right of way at a crosswalk throughout the state. A pedestrian may merely raise their hand to signal any oncoming traffic that he or she is intending to cross the street. Drivers must yield.
“Thanks to the recent passage of SS4A Infrastructure bill and Representative Jim Himes, our Congressional 4th District will receive $450,000 to implement safety measures to insure, among other things, pedestrian safety. We are the only district in the state to receive such funds.
“That said, a tour of the town shows little implementation of any safety measures. While yellow pedestrian warning signs are in place, they are often concealed by untrimmed tree branches.
“Recently a female driver yelled at a runner crossing North Avenue at Bedford Middle School, ‘There is no crossing guard at the crosswalk, so get out of my way!” She sped away, nearly hitting the runner.
“Westport has chosen to spend $200,000 on a study of 2 Cross Highway intersections, at North Avenue and Bayberry Lane. Where and when is our taxpayer money going to be utilized to insure our safety before someone is killed?
“We know stop signs and worthless solar speed limit monitors do not work, at least on North Avenue. So what is next? Little green men? We might start by educating the public, strict law enforcement and some real traffic lights.”
Brien Buckman is the newest member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting. The 33-year-old fills a vacancy in District 6, caused by the death of Cathy Talmadge.
He has lived in Westport since 2020. (Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)
If you’re an X Games fan, you know that Mac Forehand — a member of the 2022 Olympic US ski team — just won gold in big air at the competition in Aspen.
He did it in a big way: with a perfect 50 score, landing a 2160 Cuban that wowed the crowd. He also won silver for slopestyle.
But you may not know that Mac is the son of 1976 Staples High School graduate Ray Forehand.
Mac also made history in 2019, winning the overall World Cup title in slopestyle at just 17 years old. It was his first full season on the World Cup circuit.
Mac grew up in Fairfield, and attended the Stratton Mountain Ski School.
If you knew Ray Forehand, you’ll notice the great resemblance in the video below. (Hat tip: Sam Febbraio)
11-year-old Kathryn is paralyzed by social anxiety. She spends all her time in her basement with her 2 passions: Alfred Hitchcock and stop-motion animation. When a new neighbor moves in, will she be able to share her dream and make a new friend?
That’s the first offering of Westport Country Playhouse’s mobile unit — though this one will be the main stage. “Scaredy Kat Presents” runs for 1 performance only: Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. All tickets are $25. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
It may be February, but the defending state champion Staples High School rugby team is heading outdoors.
They host their 3rd annual College Showcase & Combine this Saturday (February 11, noon to 4 p.m.). They expect 150 high school players — boys and girls — from the tri-state area, and representatives from over 50 college.
The 2-hour combine will be run by the 2 Major League Rugby teams in the area: the New England Free Jacks and reigning champs Rugby United New York.
The “showcase” portion takes place in the school cafeteria. Each college has a table; players and their parents can learn more about their academics and rugby programs.
Meanwhile, the Staples Rugby Club announces Little Barn as their “preferred restaurant partner.” They’ll hold several events there, beginning the weekend of March 11 (a viewing party for the Six Nations matches).
Little Barn will also be the site of post-match celebration, after Staples hosts a top-ranked club from Texas (March 11) and their first international friendly (vs. St. Andrews College of South Africa, April 15).
The state champion 2022 Staples High School rugby team. (Photo/Chloe DeAngelis)
Westport Pride joins with the Department of Justice, FBI and Connecticut US Attorney’s office to explore hate crimes at the federal, state and local levels.
“United Against Hate” — a free training to inform LGBTQ+ community members and allies about those crimes, and how to respond, is set for March 28 (6 p.m., Westport Library; in-person and virtual).
The interactive program also involves the Westport and Norwalk police chiefs, and the Connecticut State Police’s Hate Crimes Unit.
The meeting is part of a national initiative, by all 94 US Attorneys offices. Click here for details on that program. Click here for details of the March 28 event.
Native Westporter Scott Brodie sends along this striking image of his mother’s back yard on Burr Farms Road, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Scott Brodie)
He writes:
“My father built his house on a wooded lot at the north end of Burr Farms Road in 1954. The lots on the southern end of the road had been a working apple orchard and were mostly cleared, but the northern end had been allowed to return to woodlands, interspersed with the remains of low stone walls.
“My parents loved the idea of living ‘in the woods,’ and cut down as few trees as possible. Many decades later, the aerial images of the site on Google Maps and Google Earth show the house and garage nearly obscured by the foliage.
“But looking up at the sky through the treetops in winter, it is striking how the trees seem to ‘respect’ each other, with their elaborate branching patterns carefully avoiding contact with each other.
“This phenomenon, known as ‘crown shyness,’ is frequently observed in hardwood forests, but is not well understood. The trees seem to skillfully avoid encroaching on their neighbors’ space, but the mechanisms which mediate this avoidance remain unclear.”
And finally … Charlie Thomas, a longtime member of the Drifters (and the Rock & Roll Hall Fame), died January 31 in Maryland. He was 85, and suffered from liver cancer.
Thomas was part of the group for over 60 years, from its hit-making time in the late 1950s to the version that toured until COVID struck.
Thomas mainly sang backup. But he took the lead on “Sweets for My Sweet” and “When My Little Girl Is Smiling.” Click here for a full obituary.
(Whatever your musical tastes, if you enjoy our daily musical offering, please click here to contribute to “06880.” Thank you!)
John Starks retired from the NBA in 2002. That’s several years before even the oldest current Staples High School basketball player was born.
But every fan knows of the former New York Knick’s legendary dunk — against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, no less — in the 1993 Eastern Conference finals.
So it was quite an event this past week, when Starks spent an afternoon with the Wreckers’ boys basketball team.
Starks — who still tops the Knicks’ list of 3-point scorers — came to Westport through Brett Tessler.
A 2008 Staples graduate, he started on the varsity basketball team as a sophomore. After a couple of years at the IMG Academy in Florida, he played at Union College. He’s now the Knicks’ director of fan engagement and youth programs.
Tessler is again a Westport resident. When he learned of the exciting season the Wreckers are having he reached out to head coach Dave Goldshore, and offered to help.
Starks spoke to the varsity, junior varsity and freshman squads. He described his route from college taxi squad to the pros; the life of an NBA player, and what it’s like to be a blue-collar, undersized guard defending against Michael Jordan.
(A Staples player asked about his second-toughest opponent. The answer: Clyde Drexler.)
John Starks talks with Staples basketball players.
Starks also answered questions about Knick coach Pat Riley’s practices, his closest friend on the team (Patrick Ewing), and more.
Life was not always easy. Once — in the 1994 NBA finals against Houston — he connected just twice, on 18 shots. He talked about that too, and how he handled nights like those.
The Staples boys basketball team is having one of their best seasons ever. They’re talented, tough and tight. Westporters pack the bleachers, drawn by their skill and spirit.
They’re legitimate contenders for an FCIAC — even a state — championship.
Of course, it’s far from a slam dunk.
But the man who made one of the most famous dunks in history just gave them a big shot.
John Starks (center) with Staples varsity, junior varsity and freshman players. Head coach Dave Goldshore is standing, 2nd from left.
It’s a few yards over the Westport line in Southport. Most folks don’t give it a second glance.
But the S&S Dugout — a scruffy diner on the right side of the Post Road — has been a favorite go-to, for no-nonsense food, for many regulars since 1950.
No more. No more roast beef, hot sausage, home fries, omelets, burgers, dogs, shakes, or bacon egg and cheeses. It wasn’t healthy, but it was good.
The door to the old place is now closed. A “For Lease” sign hangs in the window. Let the memories begin.
Here’s mine: One day when I was a student at Staples High School, and “Ed’s Dugout” was (my friends and I thought) a secret hangout, we walked in and saw Haystacks Calhoun.
The wrestler was 6-4. He weighed over 600 pounds.
And — to our awe — he took up 2 stools. Plus all the space in between.
The Miami Dolphins are not playing in this year’s Super Bowl.
But in 1972, they did something the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles can never match (at least this season): go undefeated all year.
This Thursday (February 9, 7 p.m., Westport Library) longtime ESPN reporter/”E:60″ host/1988 Staples High School graduate/current Westporter hosts a screening of his new film, “The Perfect Machine.”
The documentary includes interviews with 16 members of that history-making team, including Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Bob Griese and Joe Namath.
Afterward, the 11-time Emmy Award winner will answer questions.
The “State of the Town” meeting, with 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein this Sunday (February 5, 2 p.m.; Trefz Forum and livestream).
“Energy Rates”: State Senator Ceci Maher, and State Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Anne Hughes, host a meeting about rising energy prices (Monday, February 6, 7 p.m., Trefz Forum).
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein, at last year’s “State of the Town” meeting.
For 14 years, Earth Animal — the great Post Road store for our 4-legged friends — has supported those of us in need, with only 2.
Their holiday “Mitten Project” raises funds to address food insecurity. For $5, customers buy “mittens,” which they sign to be hung in the shop windows. Holiday items and donation boxes add to the haul.
And Earth Animal matches every penny donated.
Last year’s fundraising was impressive: $38,000.
This year’s was spectacular. Yesterday, Earth Animal owners and employees presented a check for $53,000 to CT Foodshare.
That funds an astonishing 106,000 meals. Thank you, Earth Animal — and all who helped! (Hat tip: Betsy Pollak)
Earth Animal and CT Foodshare officials, at yesterday’s ceremony.
The Westport Young Woman’s League’s “Galentine’s Day” fundraiser returns, for the first time since pre-COVID 2019.
The event is set for February 9 (7 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church). The evening includes prizes and treats. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Proceeds benefit WYWL grants programs. After the previous Galentine’s Day Bing, the organization distributed $80,000 to 18 area charities. Click here for the list.
Longtime Westporter, former RTM member and civic volunteer Peter Nathan died on Saturday. He was 89.
After graduating from the University of Connecticut, Peter served as a captain in the Marine Corps.
He spent his business career of nearly 60 years in the exhibition, conference and event industry. He and his company, Clapp & Poliak, are credited with organizing the first US events in the former Soviet Union and China.
After his company was acquired by Reed Exhibitions, he became the senior staff member at the Javits Convention Center. In 1996 he formed his own firm, PWN Exhibicon, and produced the only 2 exhibitions sanctioned by the American government in Cuba.
Peter helped transform a primarily domestic exhibition industry into a global one. He served on every major board and commission, and received numerous awards. He was a frequent guest speaker at conferences. Videos of him are on display at the Washington Convention Center and McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
He was elected 4 times as a member of the Westport Representative Town Meeting. He also served as an officer and club chairman of the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston; a governor-appointed member of the Connecticut Judicial Review Council, and an advisory member of the Mid-Fairfield County Child Guidance Center and Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lois (Sandy) Nathan; children Tamara, Corynne, Mark and Leslie, and their spouses Gary, Dina and Bryan; 9 grandchildren and their spouses, and 1 great grandchild.
The other day, Deanna Forman sat in her car at Staples High School, waiting for her daughter to finish Players rehearsal. The “face” on this tree caught her eye — and made her think of our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Nearly every day, life-saving supplies are delivered to Lyman.
The latest shipment to our sister city in Ukraine: room furnaces.
Room heater in Lyman. (Photo/LIz Olegov)
They are sorely needed. Much of the town is without heat, following 5 months of Russian occupation.
“They heat rooms so quickly, they are run only a couple of hours a day,” reports Liz Olegov, of Westport’s on-the-ground partners Ukraine Aid International and Alex 21.
That’s great news. Electricity is still spotty in Lyman.
The heaters are part of the $252,000 Westport raised for our new sister city.
Officials there have plenty to do. When the Russians fled, they left chaos and carnage behind.
But leaders took time out to thank Westport, and our leaders.
This proclamation to 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker is on its way to Town Hall:
The next phase of our sister city partnership will involve students. Groups at Staples High School, and Bedford and Coleytown Middle Schools, are preparing projects involving Lyman students.
Other opportunities for Westporters will be announced soon.
After sold-out performances in January, Play With Your Food returns February 14-16.
Audiences will be treated to star power. Theater, film and TV actors Patricia Kalember and Daniel Gerroll take on Tom Stoppard as they perform a scene from his Tony Award-winning masterpiece, “The Real Thing.”
Also on the menu: Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley’s “The Red Coat” and Craig Pospisil’s “Dissonance.” In honor of Valentine’s Week, the 3 plays tackle the complexities of love new, old and somewhere in the middle.
Tickets are nearly sold out for the February 14 performance at MoCA Westport, but are available for February 15 (Pequot Library, Southport) and 16 (Greenwich Art Council). All begin at noon, and are followed by a talkback with the cast and director. Audiences can stay for fresh boxed lunches.
Tickets are $60 each. For more information and tickets, click here or call 203-293-8729.
The Westport Weston Family YMCA is seeking candidates for 2 junior board of director positions.
Junior board directors enjoy full voting rights and participate actively in the governance process. They have the chance to share ideas, learn from older directors who provide insight and perspective into non-profit management, and become aligned with the Y’s mission to strengthen community.
Candidates must be rising high school juniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA (unweighted), active Westport Y members, able to attend monthly board meetings, and commit to a 2-year term, starting this June.
Current junior board members Ava DeDomenico and Riley Twiss will graduate this year from Staples High School. Ava has been involved with the gymnastics program, while Riley is a competitive swimmer on the WRAT team.
Click here for the application. The deadline is February 27.
Riley Twiss and Eva DeDomenico.
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The Denver Broncos are not in the Super Bowl.
But because Walrus Alley does not have a cocktail named for a Chief or Eagle, they’re offering this recipe for one their most-loved drinks: The White Bronco.
Owners Joseph and Angela Farrell suggest it for your Super Bowl party (which they could also cater). The recipe below creates 20 drinks.
1 L your favorite silver tequila
375mL Chinola passionfruit liquor
500mL fresh lime juice
250mL rresh orange juice
100mL agave
50mL Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub
Combine all ingredients. Shake and serve 4 ounces onto rocks, garnishing with a lime wheel.
However, the link associated with “Westport” referred to a case from 2011 — in Westport, Massachusetts.
A statement from the Westport (Connecticut) Police Department says: “Understandably, (we) were disappointed by this article because we feel we have worked hard to build relationships and have never had any incident that resembles what we saw in Memphis.”
Hearst Media deleted the Westport link.
Esdaile apologized to Chief Foti Koskinas, the Westport Police Department and the town of Westport. He said that he meant to reference West Haven.
Esdaile added, “I have had a conversation with the chief along with Harold Bailey, the chairman of the Westport Civilian Review Panel, and we had a wonderful and energetic conversation. I apologized during the call several times, and we are looking forward to working together in the future.”
Koskinas called his conversation with Esdaile “productive, and brought about a positive resolution.”
If you’re a local non-profit organization, the Westport Woman’s Club wants to give you money.
Ruegg Grants provide up to $10,000 for a 2023 project. Proposals should be “high-profile initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the Westport community.
The grants — established in 1995 by an endowment from former WWC member Lea Ruegg — go to projects that enhance social services, health, safety, the arts or education. Recent beneficiaries include the Westport Astronomical Society, Project Return, Earthplace and Wakeman Town Farm.
Click here for the grant application. The deadline is February 28.
The Westport Woman’s Club opens its doors to grant applications.
Franti is a globally recognized musician, activist, hotel owner (Soulshine Bali) and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism.
His hits include “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You.” Spearhead’s 12th studio album, “Follow Your Heart,” debuted last June at #2, behind Harry Styles.
Levitt Pavilion members can purchase tickets now. The public ticket sale begins Friday (February 3, 10 a.m.). Click here for details.
Here in Westport, we take garbage trucks for granted.
In Lyman, Ukraine they are game-changers.
A small part of the $252,000 donated by Westporters recently went to the purchase of 1 large and 1 small used trash trucks.
They’re vital to the reconstruction of our new sister city. When the Russians fled last fall, after 5 months of occupation and carnage, they took or destroyed all the vehicles. Refuse from the occupation — including bombed-out buildings and schools — has piled up ever since.
Katya Wauchope created this video, with footage supplied by Westport’s on-the-ground partners, Ukraine Aid International and Alex 21:
Last August, “06880” highlighted Aiden Schachter. The rising Staples High School junior started a business — creating and selling LED light clouds — that has taken off nationally.
That’s impressive — and time-consuming. But it’s not all Aiden does. He is also a varsity wrestler.
And a pilot: He soloed on his 16th birthday. Next month, he hopes to get his full license.
Westport is justifiably proud of Aiden. Now the whole state can be.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) just posted a video starring Aiden. Check it out (below): The story of this athlete/cloud-making entrepreneur/pilot is truly uplifting.
Family Campfire (February 11, 1:30 to 3 p.m.; $30 member families, $40 non-member families): Learn about animal tracks while roasting marshmallows next to a crackling fire; meet an “animal ambassador,” and participate in a guided activity. Click here to register.
February Break Camp (February 20-24, 27; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., $100/day; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., $150/day; ages 3-12): Spend winter school break outside with nature; animal encounters, and self-chosen activities. Themes change daily. Click here to register.
Maple Sugaring Magic (March 5, $20 per family; 1:30-2:30 and 3-4 p.m.): Take part in a New England tradition. Learn how to identify maple trees on a trail walk, tap a tree and collect sap, and make maple syrup at home. Finish with tasting fresh maple sap, syrups and other maple goodies around the campfire. Click here to register.
Books & Beverages (March 15, 7 to 8 p.m.; free): Participate in a casual discussion about “A Sand Country Almanac,” with naturalist Becky Newman. BYOB and snacks. Weather permitting, it’s outside. Click here to register.
And finally … Barrett Strong, Barrett Strong, whose 1959 hit “Money (That’s What I Want),” helped launch Motown Records, and who later co-wrote “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Ball of Confusion” and “War,” died on Sunday. He was 81. Click here for a full obituary.
(It would be tempting to follow up the item above with a crass plea for donations to “06880,” but I won’t do that. I’ll just say: Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
Posted onJanuary 30, 2023|Comments Off on Sam Paris: International Synchronized Skating Star
Balance is crucial in synchronized skating.
With 16 people performing challenging formations and step sequences, it’s vital to be aware of everything going on all around you, and always be in control.
Sam Paris knows a lot about balance — on the ice, and off.
The Staples High School senior just returned from an international competition in Switzerland. Coming up: competitions in Italy and the US.
Sam Paris, representing the US.
With practices in Stamford Monday through Thursday beginning at 5:30 a.m. — you read that right — plus 16 hours on the ice Friday through Sunday — that doesn’t leave a lot of time for schoolwork.
Yet Sam gets it done (in classes like Engineering and Applied Physics, and Anatomy and Physiology). And — somehow — she finds time to compete in the Sikorsky STEM Challenge for aspiring engineers. And work with 4 or 5 students a week, as a Top Hat tutor.
Sam makes it all seem as easy as gliding along the ice. Yet as anyone who has ever laced up skates knows, there are many ways to fall.
From her first lessons at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford, Sam has enjoyed skating. She fell in love with the demands and satisfactions of the synchronized sport, and at 12 joined the Skyliners juvenile team. Based in New York, they’re one of the top clubs in the country.
Sam worked on her skills: basic skating, and more difficult crossovers and turns. She learned to bring her foot over her head while moving.
Sam Paris and the Skyliners, in action.
In 2018 she qualified for the national tournament, in Portland, Oregon. She thought she was on her way to big things.
But the next year she did not make the intermediate team. “I started late,” she says — age 10 — “and was playing catch-up.”
She did individual training to improve. In 2020 she qualified for nationals, and placed 5th.
The next year she made the novice squad, but COVID prevented training. In ’22, on the novice team, she finished second at nationals in Colorado.
By then her dream to represent the US internationally seemed audacious, but reachable. She continued to practice and train hard.
Yet after tryouts for the junior team, she got a rejection letter — “just like from college,” she says.
“I’d given it everything. I curled into a cocoon, and let myself be sad.”
Then the Skyliners’ senior coach called. He liked her fight, and asked if she wanted to take a chance at the adult level.
Last spring, she got a “trainer” spot on the squad. By the beginning of August, she was on the roster. Sam is one of only two high school students on the senior team. All the others are in college — or older.
Skyliners’ synchronized skating squad. Sam Paris is in the front row, 3rd from right.
“I love the flow of the sport. It’s so creative,” she says.
She loves her team too. “We all push each other. We all feel the same pressure. We really understand each other. There’s so much collaboration: 16 people, all working together to succeed.”
So those 4:45 wake-ups for 5:30 practices at Chelsea Piers, and long weekends on the ice, don’t faze her.
Remember: It’s all about balance.
“I’ve learned to budget my time,” she explains. “I know how to decompress and relax.”
All those hours paid off. The Skyliners finished third earlier this month in Neuchâtel, Switzerland — Sam’s first international event. She looks forward to Milan on February 14, followed by nationals in Peoria, and the world championships at Lake Placid in April.
Her friends and teachers appreciate all she does. They are learning about the sport — “it’s a niche discipline,” Sam admits — and teachers understand her commitments.
Representing her country is wonderful. But you can’t make a living as a synchronized skater.
As Sam looks at colleges, she hopes to continue competing. Those teams perform at a lower level than the Skyliners. But she’ll miss a lot less school.
Though — knowing Sam Paris — she may still be balancing many activities.
Comments Off on Sam Paris: International Synchronized Skating Star
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