Category Archives: Staples HS

Superintendent’s Evening Statement

Posted on February 27, 2018 | 6 comments

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Colleen Palmer sent this message tonight, to families of Westport students:

This morning, a student at Staples High School reported to administration that they had overheard some threatening statements by another student targeted at a staff member within the school.  We commend this student for the courage to come forward to share this critical information about our safety. Within minutes of this knowledge, a Staples administrator had the student of concern supervised in the main office, called the police, and called my office.

From that point on, our Central Office administrative team, the Staples High School administrative team, the Westport Police Department, and our first selectman worked hand-in-hand to address the presenting issues throughout the day. As a precautionary measure, police officers were assigned to our high school. It was only several hours later that information emerged that prompted us to shift to our strategy to shelter in place and to dismiss early.

The events of today unfolded dynamically and rapidly. Since this is an ongoing police investigation, there is a need to collaborate with the Westport Police Department in sharing further information so as not to impede their work.

Dr. Colleen Palmer

I would expect that the events at Staples today impacted you in some way, stirring up many emotions. I can only imagine the level of worry that some of you experienced. The idea that we have to even think about the wave of violence that has hit our schools in these times is unfathomable.

Before Staples reopens for a regular day of school tomorrow, I will meet with its staff to debrief and to commend their exceptional service to our students today.  As caring professionals, they remained calm, implemented well-practiced safety protocols, and made every effort to assure our students were comforted and made to feel safe during the events of the day.

To support a conversation with your student regarding these matters, I again attach the helpful guide from the National Association of School Psychologists which provides useful strategies with this communication (see below).

Tomorrow, our professionals will work with our students in developmentally appropriate ways based upon their questions and needs. With our youngest learners, we expect to address individual needs as they emerge. At Staples, support staff will offer small group discussion opportunities, as well as individual support, if needed.

As a community committed to safeguarding its children, we are very fortunate that we were able to work together to keep our students safe and sound today.

Sincerely,
Colleen Palmer

TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT VIOLENCE:

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react.

Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.

1. Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.

2. Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings.

3. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate.

• Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be
balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe and that adults are there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and emergency drills practiced during the school day.

• Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking
questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school.

They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools.

• Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society.

Emphasize the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following school safety guidelines (e.g. not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, reporting threats to the school safety made by students or community members, etc.), communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators, and accessing support for emotional needs.

4. Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk.

5. Observe children’s emotional state. Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort. In most children, these symptoms will ease with reassurance and time. However, some children may be at risk for more intense reactions. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Seek
the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.

6. Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children.

Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.

7. Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.

SUGGESTED POINTS TO EMPHASIZE WHEN TALKING WITH CHILDREN

• Schools are safe places. School staff works with parents and public safety providers (local police and fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, etc.) to keep you safe.

• The school building is safe because … (cite specific school procedures).

• We all play a role in the school safety. Be observant and let an adult know if you see or hear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, nervous or frightened.

• There is a difference between reporting, tattling or gossiping. You can provide important information that may prevent harm either directly or anonymously by telling a trusted adult what you know or hear.

• Although there is no absolute guarantee that something bad will never happen, it is important to understand the difference between the possibility of something happening and probability that it will affect you (our school community).

• Senseless violence is hard for everyone to understand. Doing things that you enjoy, sticking to your normal routine, and being with friends and family help make us feel better and keep
us from worrying about the event.

• Sometimes people do bad things that hurt others. They may be unable to handle their anger, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or suffering from mental illness. Adults (parents, teachers, police officers, doctors, faith leaders) work very hard to get those people help and keep them from hurting others. It is important for all of us to know how to get help if we feel really upset or angry and to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

• Stay away from guns and other weapons. Tell an adult if you know someone has a gun. Access to guns is one of the leading risk factors for deadly violence.

• Violence is never a solution to personal problems. Students can be part of the positive solution by participating in anti-violence programs at school, learning conflict mediation skills, and seeking help from an adult if they or a peer is struggling with anger, depression, or other emotions they cannot control.

NASP has additional information for parents and educators on school safety, violence prevention, children’s trauma reactions, and crisis response at http://www.nasponline.org.
©2016, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway #402, Bethesda, MD 20814

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Watch Press Conference On Staples Incident Here

Posted on February 27, 2018 | 5 comments

THANKS to the Town of Westport’s Facebook page for providing this video (livestreamed by Jonathan Kaner). It includes 1st selectman Jim Marpe, superintendent of schools Dr. Colleen Palmer, Staples High School principal James D’Amico, and Westport police chief Foti Koskinas. 

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Westport Parent: Thank You, Dr. Palmer, Administrators, Teachers And Staff

Posted on February 27, 2018 | 12 comments

In the wake of this afternoon’s lockdown at Staples High School, an “06880” reader — and Westport parent — writes:

To Dr. Palmer and all the teachers, staff and administrators of the Westport Public Schools, thank you for your dedication to my children and all of Westport’s students. You have enormous responsibilities and pressure. You are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated.

Thank you for looking out for my children’s emotional and physical safety as well as their education. In difficult situations and uncertain times you are faced with making quick and real time decisions with incomplete information, knowing you will be criticized by someone no matter what action you have taken. Nevertheless you continue to prioritize your students and greet them with confidence, dedication and optimism each day.

Listening intently to the student speakers at last June’s graduation were (from right) superintendent of schools Colleen Palmer, principal James D’Amico, and assistant principals Pat Micinilio, Rich Franzis and James Farnen.

Westport parents, we need to be supportive of educators, administrators and those within the school system. They prioritize our kids’ safety and we need to trust that they know best how to do that.

We have to be OK not knowing everything and letting the people we entrust our kids to do what they need to do. Information that is ours to know will follow if/when appropriate. It’s not easy, we all have mamma bear and papa bear instincts. But we are only hindering efforts and jeopardizing the safety of the one’s we are trying to protect by demanding information and criticizing action taken and information shared.

To Dr. Palmer, administrators, teachers and staff you have my support and trust. Thank you for prioritizing my children and keeping them safe. You are appreciated and respected for all that you do.

Thanks for writing this. And I’d add my own thanks, to the Westport Police Department. They were superb today as well.

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[UPDATE] Juvenile In Custody For School Threat

Posted on February 27, 2018 | 35 comments

A juvenile is in custody, Westport police said this afternoon, after threats were directed at a teacher, and the entire Staples High School population.

Staples officials called police at 9 a.m. this morning, after the student was overheard stating he had “thoughts” of a mass shooting.

Police said they have found firearms belonging to the student’s father, and locked in a safe. More may be located.

Westport schools are expected to open on time Wednesday.

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[UPDATE] Superintendent: “Abundance Of Caution”

Posted on February 27, 2018 | 16 comments

Staples High School had long planned a lockdown drill for this week. The day and time were unannounced, however, to make it as realistic as possible. It is uncertain whether today’s lockdown at Staples was part of that planned drill, or not.

This afternoon, superintendent of schools Colleen Palmer sent this message:

Dear Families of Westport Students,

 

There is no known threat at this time, but out of an abundance of caution due to some information that has been uncovered during the school day, Staples High School will be dismissed at approximately 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.  Until dismissal, students and staff have been asked to shelter in place.

 

WPD is on site with support.  Please do not disrupt our dismissal by coming to the high school at this time.

 

All after-school activities at Staples are cancelled.

 

Further communication will be forthcoming.

Staples High School (Photo copyright Lynn U. Miller)

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This Is ABC, Part 2: A Scholar, And A Founder

Posted on February 27, 2018 | Comments Off on This Is ABC, Part 2: A Scholar, And A Founder

Yesterday, “06880” introduced a new series. “This Is ABC” is a photo-essay project my sister, Susan Woog Wagner, and I began last fall. The goal is to highlight the many facets of A Better Chance of Westport — the program that provides academically gifted, economically disadvantaged and highly motivated young men of color the opportunity to live in Westport, and study at Staples High School.

Today’s post features an ABC scholar, and one of the founders.

CHARLES WINSLOW: SCHOLAR

Charles Winslow’s dad — a military man, and single father — always stressed the importance of education.

But through most of his elementary school years in Brooklyn, Charles’ main interests were basketball, video games, and hanging out with friends.

In 5th grade, a teacher recognized his academic potential. Encouraged, he began enjoying school and studying. He made the honor roll.

In 8th grade, a guidance counselor told Charles about A Better Chance. He wanted to stay in Brooklyn with his family and friends. But, he says, “I think God spoke to me. He opened my eyes to the opportunity ahead.”

Charles took the SSAT. The first ABC program to offer an interview was Westport. He loved the board members, was impressed with Staples High School — and appreciated the proximity to home.

When Westport offered Charles a spot, his father was fully supportive.

Charles Winslow, as an ABC scholar in 2008.

Yet the night before coming here as a freshman, Charles had second thoughts. He was scared, nervous and couldn’t sleep. “Reality hit me,” he recalls. “I was 13 years old. I asked myself, ‘Can I really do this?’

He would leave family and friends, going to a new, high-achieving school and community where few people looked like him.

“But I’m a very competitive person,” Charles notes. “I told myself, ‘Do the best you can.’”

Glendarcy House was a big change from Brooklyn. Charles had been very independent. Now, resident directors told him when to study, eat and clean.

Charles quickly realized that Staples was quite rigorous. “I had to work twice as hard as before, and twice as hard as other kids,” he says. “There were times I felt insecure.”

He was 13 years old. Hardly anyone understood what he was going through. But as he worked, he thought, “it doesn’t matter where I came from. What matters is grit.” He told himself to stop making excuses. “I became a better, more resilient person,” he explains.

Charles found support: his host family, the Kosinskis. Teachers. His ABC mentor, math teacher Maggie Gomez. “We had lunch once a week,” Charles says. “She got me through tough times.”

Math teacher Maggie Gomez was involved with A Better Chance of Westport from the start. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

He made the freshman basketball team. And then he met Bruce Betts.

The physical education instructor and volleyball coach encouraged Charles to try out for the team. “I realized basketball wasn’t really my thing,” Charles says. “Volleyball was.”

He went to a camp at Penn State with the volleyball team. He made varsity as a sophomore. By senior year, he was captain. That spring, he led the Wreckers to FCIAC and state championships.

Charles also managed the girls volleyball team. He joined indoor track, as a sprinter and high jumper.

He took part in several ABC-sponsored community service projects. A 5K charity bike ride led by Harold Kamins stands out. Charles also participated in mission trips with the Greens Farms Church. Working at an orphanage in Mexico was eye-opening. “It was so humbling,” Charles says. “It made me realize the importance of giving back.”

Each year with ABC, he notes, “I learned more about myself and my capabilities. I became more comfortable in my environment.”

Charles Winslow, in 2013.

However, he adds, “I was still always under the microscope, and different. People still didn’t understand where I came from. Every summer the kids at Staples went to summer camp, or on vacation. I went back to Brooklyn. We came from two different worlds.” One of the most important lessons, he says, was “I couldn’t be them. I had to be me.”

Academically, he continued to work hard and try his best. Charles knew “there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The older I got, the more apparent that was.”

That pot of gold was real. Charles was accepted at his first choice college: Cornell University.

The Ivy League school marked another rigorous academic milestone. “It was challenging. But I kept my balance,” Charles says. “There was less of a microscope. I could be more independent.”

He played club volleyball. He got involved with the black community. He joined Alpha Phi Alpha, an African American fraternity that emphasizes empowerment.

Charles majored in hotel administration. In addition to hospitality courses, he studied finance, marketing and communications.

After graduating from Cornell in 2013, Charles was hired by Goldman Sachs. As a senior analyst, he traveled the world. He led a global project in Tokyo. It was a great opportunity.

Charles Winslow, speaking at last year’s Dream Event. (Photo/Matthew Mintzer)

But after nearly three years, Charles realized his passion lay in education. Inspired by a college Semester at Sea — featuring travel to 13 countries around the globe — Charles and a Cornell friend founded Well Traveled. The company helps schools and community groups provide cross-cultural programming, and offers global education resources.

He also works with Acaletics, to help schools and children close achievement gaps.

As a consultant, Charles says, “I go to schools like the one I went to in Brooklyn. I help kids who were once in my situation reach their potential. They may not all be able to get into A Better Chance, but it’s important to provide as many opportunities as I can.”

Charles’ wife Monet is in medical school. Since meeting at Cornell, he says, “she has been my support.” They live in Orlando.

Though more than 1,000 miles away, Charles stays connected to A Better Chance of Westport. He remains friends with his Glendarcy House “brothers.” Many attended his wedding.

(From left) Charles Winslow, Khalif Rivers and Jonathan Choi, at an ABC event in 2013.

He stays in touch with former board members like Lori Sochol and Steve Daniels.

And in March 2017, Charles spoke at ABC’s annual Dream Event.

“Potential is universal,” he said at the conclusion of a powerful speech. “Opportunity is not.”

A Better Chance provided Charles Winslow with many opportunities. Now he helps provide it to countless others — in Westport, Brooklyn and the world.

BARBARA BUTLER: CO-FOUNDER

Barbara Butler recognizes a good idea when she hears one.

She honed that skill in a host of Westport positions: president of the League of Women Voters; second selectman; co-founder of the Project Return group home for girls, and — for over 20 years — director of the town’s Human Services Department.

Over 15 years ago Dave Driscoll retired from a career spent in strategic planning, at Kraft. Looking for a volunteer project in Westport, Dave — who knew the Wilton A Better Chance founder — thought about starting a similar program here.

He called his friend Barbara Butler. She knew it was a good — no, great — idea.

Barbara and Dave assembled a small planning group, including Lisa Friedland, Peggy Kamins, Ann Pawlick and Unitarian Church minister Frank Hall. They reached out to organizations like the Westport Woman’s Club, and religious social action committees. They held coffees at private homes.

Some of the ABC of Westport founders (from left): Lisa Friedland, Dave Driscoll, Peggy Kamins, Barbara Butler, Ann Pawlick.

Slowly, the plan picked up steam.

It was a mammoth undertaking.

First they had to introduce the public to the idea. That was not easy.

“A group of people in town believed that instead of bringing kids here, we should concentrate on making their home schools better,” Barbara recalls. “They said we’d be drawing away the cream of the crop.”

The organizers’ answer: We have to help however we can. Any opportunity to give young people a boost in life is important.

There were concerns that bringing in scholars would burden the school system. “Adding two kids in each grade has not forced Staples to hire one new teacher,” Barbara says.

Then the founders had to raise money. And buy property.

Steve Daniels and his wife, Cheryl Scott-Daniels, found a house on North Avenue, not far from Staples High School. The mortgage came through. The dream was suddenly much closer to reality.

Glendarcy House, on North Avenue. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

Working with the national organization, Westport’s A Better Chance identified their first group of scholars. They created a network of host families, mentors, tutors and drivers.

Finally, Glendarcy House was ready to open.

Barbara remembers that first barbecue. “We looked at the boys and their families. We thought, ‘What a responsibility!’ Their parents were entrusting their sons to us, in the hopes they’d have better futures.”

Barbara has enormous respect for the scholars. “These kids are as good as gold,” she marvels. “They can’t do things other teenagers do, like go to parties where there might be alcohol.

“They were top performers in their old school. Then they get here, and there’s catching up to do. But they represent themselves and the program so well.”

There were challenges along the way. A couple of neighbors worried about living near a house with eight teenage boys. That never proved to be a problem.

Early on, there was criticism about taking the scholars to a Broadway show. “People called it frivolous,” Barbara says. “But we were just giving these kids opportunities that others have.” Today, activities like those are an important part of the A Better Chance experience.

Barbara Butler (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

In the beginning, she notes, “people thought this was something Westport could do for others. It took a while, but now they realize what ABC does for Westport.”

For example, the scholars “get to know their host families, and their friends — and they get to know the scholars. The kids bring their experiences to Staples, which adds a lot for Westport students and teachers. Plus, they’re role models.”

Barbara credits much of ABC’s success to the careful process of choosing the right scholars. They must have plenty of academic potential, but also strong characters and supportive parents.

Despite all that, coming to Westport — and staying — is not easy. “Some of the kids have tough times,” Barbara admits. “But seeing them pull through — and go on to succeed at colleges like Yale and Duke — is tremendously gratifying.”

Yet the real payoff, Barbara says, comes at the annual Dream Event. “Boys have become young men. They’ve graduated from college — even grad school. They have jobs, girlfriends, wives and children.”

Barbara sees something else at the Dream Event: ABC board members, host families, tutors, drivers and resident directors she doesn’t know. New generations take over from the founders. A Better Chance of Westport moves forward, with ever-stronger community support.

That long-ago good idea turned out to be a great one.

 (More “This Is ABC” stories will be posted tomorrow. For information on A Better Chance of Westport, click here. For information on the Dream Event fundraiser on March 17, click here.)

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[OPINION] Student Feels “Let Down” By Gun Violence

Posted on February 26, 2018 | 23 comments

Yesterday, I got an email from a Staples High School sophomore. She calls herself “quiet,” and says that although she’s not a very good writer, she’s passionate about one subject, and wanted to share her thoughts with the “06880” community.

She’s wrong. She is an excellent writer. And her feelings come through, loud and clear She writes:

I’m not sure when the events at Parkland hit me entirely, but I feel the weight now. I surely did not comprehend it on Valentine’s Day.

I saw the news as an alert on my phone, but I was preparing for a chemistry test and ignored it. That speaks volumes, I suppose. I have become so numb to gun violence that it was easy (easy!) for me to turn my phone off, and instead focus on writing out a chemical reaction.

I read the story in depth later that day, but all I could think was the tragic irony that a mass shooting had happened on Valentine’s Day, which I associate with frivolity…not death.

I struggle now, grappling with my emotions: bereavement, frustration, and fear.

I despise guns with a passion. I used to argue (rather radically) that guns were entirely unnecessary. I thought no one should have one. In recent months, I’ve come to adopt the belief that no one should own some guns. A gun designed for human murder, I think, should not be available for purchase. I think that this stance is more commonplace; I hope that it is.

One opinion, however, that I do feel is more universally accepted (at least among students) is that I feel let down. We are let down due to lack of action.

My opinion is deemed less valuable on the basis of age alone. I am not able to participate in political matters because I have not yet reached the “magical” age of maturity; I am under 18.

My voice should still be respected. In fact, I think that teenage voices should be relevant now more than ever. Students feel personally affected by the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. I’ve broken down this week, as have my peers.

Our safety is in the hands of lawmakers…lawmakers who haven’t made much progress. Lawmakers who have offered up some of the most absurd solutions I’ve ever heard (we shouldn’t be solving guns with guns, that’s just a vicious cycle). And, I should point out, this is not just about student safety. Banning weapons of assault should be viewed as a gain for everyone.

I plan to participate in the national school walkout on March 14, and I’m proud that I attend a school that has such a determined student body. If progress still hasn’t been made, I also plan on taking part in the Connecticut-wide one, intended for April 20th…to mark the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.

Living in fear is no way to live. And I’m certainly scared. But I refuse to become acclimated to tragedy.

Thank you,
A Staples Student

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This Is ABC

Posted on February 26, 2018 | 13 comments

For over 15 years, A Better Chance of Westport has provided academically gifted, economically disadvantaged and highly motivated young men of color the opportunity to live in Westport, and study at Staples High School. Our scholars have benefited enormously – but our community has been enriched at least as equally by their presence.

The ABC story is wonderful, and compelling. It deserves to be told to an audience beyond those most immediately involved – the scholars, and the many volunteers who dedicate untold hours to making the program work.

What better way to tell it than through the words and images of members of the A Better Chance of Westport family?

Study time at Glendarcy House — the A Better Chance of Westport residence on North Avenue. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

My sister Susan Woog Wagner is a very talented professional photographer in White Plains. She’s particularly good with kids. She is always on the lookout for great new projects. When I told her about how important ABC is to our community, she suggested working together on a photo essay.

Starting last fall, I talked with scholars and their parents, host families, resident directors, tutors, drivers, founders, board members, the chef and others. Sue took their pictures. (We also collected photos from previous years.)

The result is “This is ABC.”

Glendarcy House, on North Avenue. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

This project takes many forms. I’m posting my interviews and Sue’s photos here on “06880.” Each day, I’ll post a different story or two. It’s something very different for this blog. Then again, ABC is a very special program.

A video version will be shown on Saturday, March 17 (7 p.m., Rolling Hills Country Club). Staples grad Connor Mitnick and audio instructor Geno Heiter helped produce that compelling piece.

And the photos and interviews will be compiled into a brochure, to give interested Westporters — including potential volunteers — a sense of the depth and breadth of the program.

“This is ABC” tells the story behind the story of an important, enduring institution – one that impacts Westport, and the world far beyond our borders. Enjoy!

NASH OGUTU: SCHOLAR PARENT

In his native Kenyan village, Nash Ogutu milked cows and tended goats. He ran to school, where he was entrusted with the prestigious task of bell-ringing.

He listened to country singers like Dolly Parton. “America is the best place to live,” he and his friends thought. Nash’s dream was to study with “those greatest people.”

He became a registered nurse. But when a missionary group offered the chance to go to America, he instantly said yes.

Nash enrolled in college in New Jersey. At the same time, he worked several jobs. He earned re-certification as a registered nurse here. While supervising a local health department in North Carolina, he was asked to work as a project developer at New York University.

The year was 2001. Nash had custody of his 1-year-old son, Mannasses. He made the move.

It was not easy. Nash worked, continued his studies, and raised his son. He made sure that Manny kept a strong relationship with his mother. And he instilled in Manny a reverence for education.

“Back home, as poor as we were, education worked well,” Nash explains. “Boarding school is the way out.” In fifth grade, he had been selected to go away to school. He studied hard, and succeeded in that very competitive environment.

Nash and Manny Ogutu.

In America, Nash fought for Mannasses to enroll in a gifted and talented program. When his son was in seventh grade, Nash began looking at boarding school opportunities. Someone told him about A Better Chance.

He explored every opportunity for his son. While Mannasses was on the waiting list at prestigious New England boarding schools, father and son traveled to Westport for an ABC interview.

“It was so impressive,” Nash recalls. “I was in tears seeing how involved and interested everyone there was.”

At the end of the interview, Manny was asked if he was interested in Westport. He said yes, and withdrew his applications to boarding schools.

Nash had to convince Mannasses’ mother it was the right move. He also had to deal with his own emotions.

“It was tough. We had been together since he was 1,” Nash admits. “But I always felt I could not allow an opportunity for him to ‘study with the greatest’ to pass by. I believed he needed to be in that environment to be challenged. I did not want to be selfish.”

Saying goodbye was extremely difficult. Nash wanted to drive from Bayonne to check on Manny often, but was told he could not come too soon. The first time together, Nash took him to dinner. Each shared how tough the separation and transition had been. But Nash encouraged his son to work through the difficulties. It was another defining moment in their long journey.

Manny bonded quickly with his host family, the Propps. This photo was taken during freshman year.

Manny fared poorly during his first semester at Staples High School. He was devastated.

But father and son spoke by phone nearly every night. When they could not talk, they texted. That daily connection kept them both going.

So did Mannasses’ growing relationship with his host family. Peter and Suzanne embraced him, physically and emotionally. So did their children, Rose and Bennett, along with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

On one of his first weekends, Suzanne took Manny to a Seventh Day Adventist church in Bridgeport. “We’re not staunch followers,” says Nash. “But that meant so much to him. It helped him keep going.”

It was just one of many small gestures that helped Mannasses feel welcome – and reassured Nash that his son was in good, warm hands.

As the months and years passed, Nash watched his son grow and thrive: academically, emotionally, interpersonally. A major reason, the father says, was “the holistic approach. You can’t get that at any boarding school. Westport did it.”

Nash has 13 siblings. But his relatives live in Kenya. With the Propps, Manny became part of a large, close-knit family.

So did Nash. He was invited to join Manny and all the relatives at a Passover Seder. It soon  became an important tradition. Nash looks forward to going each year – even if Manny can’t get back from college.

Nash Ogutu and Manny’s mother Steph, with Suzanne Sherman Propp and Peter Propp, at last year’s Dream Event. (Contributed photo)

When he describes what A Better of Chance has meant, Nash becomes emotional. “I speak from deep in my heart. Westport is a unique experience. Thank you for being my son’s friend. You inspire us to become better people.”

He laughs as he describes Mannasses’ freshman year at Carleton College. As soon as he got back to New Jersey for Thanksgiving, the first thing he wanted to do was go to Westport.

Back in Kenya, Nash Ogutu had a dream. He wanted to study with “the greatest people” in America.

He did that. Then he passed on his love of education to his son, and watched with joy as it was nurtured here.

His voice thick with emotion, Nash notes, “I achieved my dream of coming to America – when I became involved with Westport.”

MERRILL BOEHMER: CHEF

Merrill Boehmer has come full circle.

She was born and raised in Westport. She graduated from Staples. She ended up as a cook. Now she is the very talented, much loved chef at Glendarcy House. She nourishes the stomachs (and souls) of eight scholars — who (of course) attend Staples

Like the boys’ routes to Westport, Merrill’s was not direct. After Staples (Class of 1990), she majored in art history, and minored in psychology, at Tulane University. But she’d always loved cooking — and kids.

After college she worked at Café Zanghi, the high-end restaurant at National Hall. She moved to Newport Beach, California for a change of scene — and careers. She spent more than eight years as a fashion show producer.

But Merrill missed things like the changing seasons. In 2005 she came back to Connecticut. She joined Velocity Sports, helping plan events like Super Bowls and tennis tournaments.

When the stock market tumbled, she realized she wanted to get back into food. She started her own company: Cooking-In.

The same week her business cards arrived, she heard A Better Chance needed a new cook. Alison Milwe Grace — who Merrill had worked with, and who taught culinary arts at Staples (another high school connection!) — recommended her highly.

She was hired. Almost immediately, she had to prepare the August welcome back party. To her delight, everyone loved it. And they all loved Merrill.

Chef Merrill Boehmer, hard at work. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

She returns the love. Seven years after joining ABC, Merrill calls this “the best job ever!”

She appreciates the freedom. She shops — eyes trained equally on nutrition, taste and budget — and creates her own menus.

In her first two years at Glendarcy House, Merrill never repeated a meal. She had Chinese, German and Mexican nights. She taught the boys about food — and learned a lot herself.

“They’re teenage boys,” she notes. “They love burgers, lasagna, pasta.”

But, she discovered, they also love kale salad, brussels sprouts and sautéed spinach. Who knew?

You can’t keep teenage boys out of the kitchen. Chef Merrill Boehmer welcomes the company. (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

She cooks Monday through Friday, shopping Mondays and Wednesdays. She’s proud of her ability to base menus around the deals in a Shoprite flyer — and that all the meat, produce and fish guys there know her.

“I’m frugal,” she notes. “I’m very conscious that we’re a non-profit.”

She’s in the kitchen when the scholars get off the bus. They help unload groceries. In the bags are breakfast foods, like granola bars, yogurt, oatmeal and bananas; lunch foods (for those who want to make their own lunches), dinner foods and snacks.

She cooks in the afternoon. Some of the boys grab snacks and leftovers before heading off to study. Some linger to chat.

At 6 p.m. Merrill sets out dinner, buffet style. Each dinner includes greens, protein, a starch and dessert. If she’s serving a heavy entrée like steak, there’s fruit for dessert. If it’s fish, she offers cake or brownies.

Dinnertime! (Photo/Susan Woog Wagner)

Meals can be quiet — or filled with laughter. “They’re teenage boys, in a stressful school,” Merrill says. “When I hear them being kids, I love it.”

For weekends, she makes sure there are plenty of eggs, bacon, waffles, bread, milk, juice and cider in the refrigerator and pantry. Saturday dinners are often takeout. On Sundays the scholars eat with their host families.

Merrill has an easygoing relationship with the scholars. On their birthdays, they can choose the dinner menu.

But, she adds, “I’m the recycling queen. The boys know that. And they know how to recycle.”

It’s clear what the ABC scholars get from Merrill: great, nutritional and filling meals. What does she get?

“I love my job. Everyone’s taken me under their wing. The boys are cool, fun and silly. They keep me young. And they’re very appreciative. They always tell me they love my food!”

 (More “This Is ABC” stories will be posted tomorrow. For information on A Better Chance of Westport, click here. For information on the Dream Event fundraiser on March 17, click here.)

 

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Posted in Education, Organizations, People, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Lambdin Mural Hangs In New Home

Posted on February 25, 2018 | 18 comments

For nearly 50 years, a spectacular mural hung just inside the main entrance to Saugatuck Elementary School, on Bridge Street.

Created by Westport artist Robert Lambdin as a WPA project, “Pageant of Juvenile Literature” greeted every visitor to the school. (It was also stared at by generations of mischief-makers, as they waited for meetings with the principal.)

Lambdin is well known for other murals, including a pair called “Saugatuck in the 19th Century” (one originally in a Saugatuck bank, now at Town Hall; the other at Westport Bank & Trust, preserved by the current tenant Patagonia), and “Spirit of Adventure,” which hangs over the entrance to the Town Hall auditorium.

But, says town arts curator Kathie Motes Bennewitz, “Pageant” was Lambdin’s masterpiece. Its complexity, and the wide variety of characters he painted, “touch everyone who sees it,” she says. “People just get pulled into it.”

The left side of the 7-foot high, 20-foot high mural depicts an array of classic fictional characters: Minerva, Huck Finn, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Don Quixote, Robin Hood, Robinson Crusoe.

A closeup of the Robert Lambdin mural… (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Lambdin included himself too — as Long John Silver.

One of his models was Janet Aley, who now — near 90 — still lives in Westport. Another model was Howard Brubaker — great-grandfather of Westporter Brian Crane — who went on to become editor of Colliers.

The right side of the mural portrays great historical figures, like Leif Erikson, Joan of Arc, Pocahontas, George Washington, Clara Barton, Davey Crockett and Abraham Lincoln.

… and the right side.

The middle section shows the history of writing, from ancient Egypt to a quill pen, then a typewriter.

When Saugatuck Elementary School closed in 1984 — due to declining enrollment —  the Bridge Street building was unmaintained. Weather and vandals took their tolls.

In 1992, the town decided to convert the old Saugatuck El to senior housing. The murals were slated for demolition.

But a group of art-lovers — including Mollie Donovan, Eve Potts and Judy Gault Sterling — set out to save the work. Within a month they raised $40,000. That was enough to remove the mural, conserve it, and reinstall it at its new home: The Westport Library.

For nearly 25 years, the Robert Lambdin mural hung above the Westport Library’s Great Hall. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Opened just 6 years earlier, the library was an inspired choice. Hanging above the Great Hall, the mural — with its representations of literature and history — was visible to all.

Plus, back in the day Lambdin had actually been a Westport Library trustee.

More than a quarter century later though, the library is in the midst of its own renovation. A suitable spot could not be found, during or after the project.

Bennewitz and members of the Westport Public Art Collection searched for a large wall, with plenty of foot traffic. They — with architect Scott  Springer — found it, at Staples High School.

Which is how, the other day, the enormous mural was removed from the library, transported, and reassembled near the auditorium lobby. Hung proudly — and even closer to the public than at the library — “Pageant of Juvenile Adventure” will be seen by thousands of students every day, and folks of all ages at plays, concerts and other events.

Moving the mural was no easy task. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Bennewitz praised many groups, for making the move possible. Town Hall, the Westport Library and Westport school system worked together, coordinating manpower and equipment. Support also came from the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Friends of WestPAC.

The mural was installed during school vacation. Students have not yet seen it. But everyone who passed by during the installation was impressed.

That includes Staples custodian Jeff Allen. A former Saugatuck El student, he remembers the mural well. He’s proud to see it back up in the school where he now works.

Staples custodian Jeff Allen admires the artwork.

He and many others will be in attendance this Friday (March 2, 2:45 p.m.). A rededication ceremony will include brief speeches, appropriate music (“House at Pooh Corner”) — and students, teachers and others dressed in costumes. (First Selectman Jim Marpe will portray Abraham Lincoln.)

Anyone who remembers the Lambdin mural from its original location at Saugatuck Elementary School is particularly welcome.

Of course, everyone who loves art, literature and history is encouraged to be there too.

BONUS FUN FACT: Robert Lambdin was not the only Westport WPA artist. During the 1930s, 17 local artists produced 34 artworks, and 120 photos.

Robert Lambdin’s “Pageant of Juvenile Adventure,” in its new home.

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Posted in Arts, Education, History, Library, Organizations, People, Staples HS

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Jimmy Izzo: Customers Are At A Crossroads

Posted on February 20, 2018 | 19 comments

In 27 years at Crossroads Ace Hardware, Jimmy Izzo has seen a lot.

New homeowners move in. Jimmy and his staff help with everything they need: paint, mailboxes, garden supplies. He watches their kids grow up. When they get ready to downsize, Crossroads is there too.

It’s got a Main Street address. But — next to Coffee An’ — it’s not exactly downtown. It is, however, the perfect place to observe local retail trends.

Some of what’s happened to Crossroads Hardware is unique to Westport. Much of it is part of a national movement.

No one knows how it all will play out. Not even Jimmy Izzo. And it’s hard to find a more astute observer of everything Westport than the 1983 Staples High School graduate. (Though his father AJ — himself a Staples grad — might give Jimmy a run for his money.)

Jimmy Izzo prepares for the next snowstorm.

“Today we’re an information society,” Jimmy says. “You can pull out your phone, order anything online, and have it delivered to your home within 24 hours.”

That’s true of nearly everything Crossroads sells. Whether it’s a mop — which you can also buy at Stop & Shop or CVS — or a gas grill, customers have exponentially more options than before.

They often buy the most convenient way. Many times, that’s online.

Then they’ll give Crossroads a call. They need help assembling that grill, or they’ve got questions about how to use it.

Jimmy answers them all. He’ll even tell customers to order online, and ship to Crossroads; he’ll put it together, then deliver it (for a price). Customer service is something a local store does far better than the web.

“If you come in for a can of paint, you leave with a bucket, brush and knowledge,” Jimmy adds. “We make sure you have everything you need, even if you haven’t thought of it.”

Crossroads Hardware is the closest thing Westport has to an old-fashioned general store — a place where folks not only shop, but sit around a pot-bellied stove, tell stories, argue, complain, and solve all the problems of the world.

(There’s no stove, but you get the idea.)

Crossroads Ace Hardware, where customer service is king.

Unfortunately, that’s not the kind of place customers look for today.

“Younger people are searching for ‘experiences,'” Jimmy says. “They want to live where the action is. Look at the Avalon in Norwalk.”

Modern families with kids, meanwhile, run everywhere on weekends. Time once allotted to household chores and maintenance is often filled with travel sports.

“Parents are taking their kids everywhere, every weekend,” Jimmy explains. “We used to see them in here on Saturdays. Now they don’t even have time for that.”

Getting the word out about Crossroads — everything from services like tool sharpening, to products like shovels and ice melt before a snowstorm — has changed too.

The local papers are virtually non-existent. Jimmy relies much more on Facebook advertising and posts, and other social media.

A wintertime Facebook post by Jimmy Izzo reminds customers of what to do when bad weather strikes.

The future — for stores like his, and all of downtown — is “unknown,” Jimmy says. He sees empty stores downtown, and less foot traffic. Part of the reason is that old-time relationships — between landlord, tenant and community — have frayed. Many Main Street properties are owned by out-of-town conglomerates.

“Downtown is looking for ‘wow!'” Jimmy says. “The Gap is not ‘wow!'”

He gives Bedford Square — David Waldman’s new retail/residential complex that replaced the former YMCA — an “11 out of 10.” But the rest of downtown needs a spark, Jimmy says.

“Main Street isn’t dead. It’s just trying to figure out what it is.”

One answer may lie in business-to-business networking — stores handing out coupons or flyers for other stores, say, or Crossroads combining with a lamp shop for an event that teaches how to wire a lamp.

“You have to give the customer a reason to make your place a destination,”  he insists. “Customer loyalty changes instantly these days.”

The retail sweet spot, Jimmy says, is the customer between 30 and 55 years old, with kids in schools.

But they’re not wedded to Main Street — or even a once-essential destination like Crossroads Ace Hardware.

“With technology today, their options are limitless. No one has to shop in a store.”

But if you do buy that gas grill online, be sure to call Jimmy Izzo.

He’ll assemble it for you.

And then make sure you don’t light your entire yard on fire.

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Posted in Downtown, Local business, People, Staples HS, technology

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