The day before Christmas, a crowd gathered at Balducci’s to honor Charlotte.
The 93-year-old Balducci’s cashier — perhaps the most beloved store clerk in Westport — was celebrated by several dozen admirers. They love her warm smile, her kind words, and her long service to generations of shoppers. (She began in the bakery, back in the Hay Day days.)
Charlotte was surprised by the attention and praise.
She was amazed when Dan Frank — an Instacart driver inspired by his near-daily interactions with Charlotte — announced that dozens of her admiers had contributed money for a Christmas gift.
She was even more stunned when Dan told her the amount: $28,950.
He handed her a large, symbolic check.
Dan Frank hands Charlotte her check. (Photo/Ryan Allen)
On Friday, the real funds came through.
It took awhile for GoFundMe to transfer the money, Dan explained. But now she had her Christmas gift, for real.
Click below to see Dan giving Charlotte the good news.
And to watch her genuine joy — along with the smile that has endeared her to generations of customers, during Charlotte’s decades in Westport.
But fires on the West Coast are a huge concern here too. Many Westporters know relatives and friends affected by the blazes.
And disasters like these can lead to increased insurance premiums nationwide.
Realtor Judy Michaelis says, “it’s essential to take steps now to understand and mitigate risks where possible.”
She assesses property risks through Risk Factor, a tool from the non-profit First Street Foundation.
While wildfire risk in Westport is very low, flooding is a more pressing concern. Judy says that 3,074 properties in Westport — 35% of all properties — risk flooding within the next 30 years.
Enter your address on the site to access a free, detailed flood risk report. This resource is invaluable for understanding and addressing your property’s vulnerability.
Even if your risk is low, Judy adds, you should check in with your insurance agent to ensure your coverage is adequate for replacement costs. They’ve increased significantly recently.
Floods are increasingly frequent in Westport. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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Governor Ned Lamont has activated the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, in anticipation of upcoming plunging temperatures.
It’s in effect from tomorrow (January 19, 6 p.m.) through Friday, January 24, noon).
Westport has several warming centers. They include:
Westport Senior Center: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Westport Library: Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Westport Museum for History & Culture: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. through 5 p.m.
Westport Weston Family YMCA: Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
MoCA Westport: Thursday, 12- 8 p.m.; Friday, 12-4 p.m.
For assistance, contact Westport Human Services at 203-341-1050 Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Y is one of Westport’s 5 warming centers.
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Another topic of interest for all residents is traffic.
The Safe Streets for All (SS4A) draft of the Westport Safety Action Plan, prepared by consultants, is now available for review and public comment. Click here to read it.
Comments can be sent to SS4A@westportct.gov online or by attending the public meeting scheduled for January 29 (not yet on the town calendar).
Meanwhile, across the green from the Library, Pause + Purpose — the Jesup Road yoga and meditation center — is closing its studio.
However, gatherings will continue to be held elsewhere.
A note to clients says, “Pause + Purpose is not a building; it’s us. It’s the spirit we’ve created together. This evolution is not an ending but a continuation—an opportunity to serve not only this cherished community but many others in deeper, more impactful ways.
“Our mission, our heart, is not confined to walls. Wherever we gather, Pause + Purpose will remain a place for healing, connection, and belonging.”
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Orin Ganz’s daughter Eden Zechariah was murdered by Hamas, after the terror group invaded Israel.
Since then, she has dedicated herself to “defeating the darkness.”
Tomorrow (January 19), the Schneerson Center for Jewish Life CT (11:30 a.m., 228 Saugatuck Avenue) presents a “lunch and listen” event.
Ganz will speak via Zoom from Israel about “Flying with Broken Wings; Tools for Coping with Life’s Challenges, and Developing Mental Resilience.” Click here for more information.
Eden Zechariah
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Former Westport resident Madeleine Conway died recently. She was 87, and lived in Delray Beach, Florida.
A native of the Netherlands who moved to Long Island in 1940, she graduated from Bryn Mawr College, and Columbia University’s School of International Affairs.
Madeleine helped artists launch their New York careers in the 1970s. She wrote
prominent in the art world She co-wrote “The Museum of Modern Art Artists’ Cookbook” and “Gourmet to Go: The New York Guide to Dining Out at Home.”
She was a trustee emeritus of The Perez Art Museum in Miami. Her family, art, reading and travel were her biggest passions.
Madeleine was predeceased by her husbands Paul Conway and Stanley Rubenfeld, and her good friend Victor Rubino. She is survived by her son Andrew Conway (Jill), daughters Victoria Newman and Alexandra Conway Marks (Steven), 7 grandchildren, and sisters Dorothy Bennett (Richard)
and Jacqueline Walker (Arthur).
Donations may be made in Madeleine’s name to Colorectal Research Foundation
at Memorial Sloan Kettering (c/o Dr. Lagunes Reidy or eheald@pamm.org at the
Perez Art Museum.
Madeleine Conway
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As temperatures are set to drop, let’s not forget our feathered friends.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows the importance of keeping everyone — and everything — fed and healthy.
And finally … A. A. Milne was born on this date, in 1882. The English author, poet, and playwright died in 1956.
(“06880” helps you prepare for all kinds of weather — and brings you all kinds of news. That’s the way we roll, 24/7/365. To support our hyper-local coverage, please click here. Thank you!)
Many of our online gallery’s favorite artists return. They offer their usual — but always new and fresh — works, to entertain “06880” readers on a cold winter morning.
No matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Just email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
Untitled (Tom Doran)
“The Winter Waterscape” — encaustic wax (Dorothy Robertshaw)
“Ludlow Dreaming” (Rowene Weems)
“Credit Card Collage” (June Rose Whittaker)
“Georgia on my Mind” (Michael Tomashefsky)
“Dew Drops Off of Hillspoint by Schlaet’s Point” (Matt Murray)
“Herreshoff S-boat ‘Tonic’ — oil on Masonite (Peter Barlow)
“Yankee Baseball” — at Westport River Gallery (Fazzino)
“Happy Hour” (Lawrence Weisman)
“A Polar Bear Scene at Compo” — pencil and charcoal (Steve Stein)
Untitled (Duane Cohen)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
The Staples High School gym rocked last night, as the basketball quad-captain scored the 1,000th point of his career.
And he’s only a junior.
Clachko’s milestone came on a twisting layup, early in the 4th quarter of the Wreckers’ 85-53 demolition of Darien.
Sam Clachko scores hsi 1,000th point.
After a slow first quarter start — which began with him 31 points away from 1,000 — Clachko caught fire. Teammates set him up, knowing the next 2 games will be away. A raucous student section — letting loose after the last day of final exams — urged him on.
But Clachko was unselfish. Several times he fed teammates, rather than taking a shot.
The last previous boys basketball player to reach 1,000 points was John Baumann, in 2004. Arianna Gerig is the most recent Wrecker, on the girls’ side.
When Clachko scored his 1,000th (and 1,001st) points, his teammates mobbed him. He received the game ball, as a momento. Coach Dave Goldshore gave him the rest of the night off.
Staples is now 9-0. Another goal lies ahead: the FCIAC and state tournaments.
Sam Clachko, with coach Dave Goldshore after the game. (Photos courtesy of StaplesBasketball.com)
More than 5 years ago — in November 2019 — our Pic of the Day was not a typical beautiful Westport scene.
It was the abandoned, rusted shell that once held a SNET pay phone, at the Merritt Parkway Exit 42 commuter parking lot.
(Photo/Bill Dedman)
I wrote then: “It’s been a while since anyone used a pay phone. It’s been longer since SNET removed the phone from this commuter booth.
“In fact, who even remembers SNET? It’s now part of Frontier.
“So Frontier, if you’re listening: You bought this eyesore. Please be a good neighbor, and haul it away.”
That was not the phone booth’s first appearance on “06880.” As far back as April 2009 — one month after this blog began — I ran this photo:
They eyesore is still there. It’s not getting better with age.
The other day, Charmian Hall sent another view:
(Photo/Charmian Hall)
She wrote, “It would be great if we might find a reader who knows how to go about requesting its removal.”
Indeed it would. Barack Obama had been president for less than 3 months the first time I ran a shot of the phone booth. And it looked then like a relic from the Ford administration.
SNET ceased to exist in 2005 — nearly 20 years ago. Frontier’s MO for phone booth removal seems the same as for their obsolete utility cables: We can’t be bothered. We don’t care. Not our problem.
Is it a major issue?
No. Climate change, the Mideast and the price of eggs are all more important.
But is it a quality of life issue?
Yes. There’s no good reason Westporters need to see this every day.
Nor should it be the first impressions visitors have of our town, when they pull off the parkway.
So I’ll repeat Charmian’s request. If anyone knows how to get rid of this eyesore, please click “Comments” below.
Back in the day, the Merritt was a parkway — not a parking lot.
This was the scene for one of the few motorists taking advantage of its wide-open spaces. back in the 1940s or early ’50s.
Look closely at the sign (in the days before federally mandates for such things).
Those sharp edges must have done quite a number on any vehicle unfortunate enough to hit them.
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
But residents attending a meeting of the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee last week raised another issue: the condition of the seawall along Old Mill Beach.
The area — about 35 feet south of the parking lot — shows deterioration and damage, the committee was told.
After discussion, the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee recommended that the Public Works and Parks & Recretion Departments inspect the area, and develop a plan to address the damage.
Members said that a failure of the wall would cause erosion of the beach, and lead to more sand near the Mill Pond’s western tidal gate — leading in turn to an impact on the entire pond.
Yesterday’s Roundup reported on the efforts by Corri Neckritz — owner of the Groove clothing shop on Post Road West — to collect and ship clothing, shoes and more to victims of the Los Angeles fires.
Right on time yesterday morning, a 26-foot truck — donated to the cause — appeared at her home.
Dozens of bags were loaded. The truck was soon on its way west.
Today, another truck — this one twice as large — will come, and haul even more bags away.
A huge Westport thank you to Corri, and everyone else who made everything possible.
Ready to roll! Corri Neckritz is on the right; her husband Seth is at far left.
This weekend, Westporters will reflect on Martin Luther King’s life. They’ll remember his commitment to action.
On Sunday evening, teenagers have a chance to make a small difference in other people’s lives.
The Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy Association invites all high school students to a packing party for Dignity Grows.
The goal is to pack 200 tote bags with menstrual hygiene products, for distribution to local food pantries, shelters and organizations.
Interested volunteers should meet on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston (49 Weston Road). Pizza and snacks are provided!
The Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand season contnues next month with “BackTalk.”
The romantic comedy “dives into the hilariously complicated world of first impressions, second chances, and the voices in our heads that just won’t let us be.”
All tickets are $30. Click here for more information about the February 3 event.
Westporter Margie Gillis is a nationally recognized literacy expert.
On February 8, she’ll speak locally. She will deliver the keynote address at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities’ parent conference. She is a co-founder and former president of the non-profit organization.
The event, at Sacred Heart University, also includes interactive breakout sessions with strategies for parents, resources from sponsors and exhibitors, an “Ask the Experts” panel, and more.
Several sessions are aimed at parents of newly diagnosed children.
Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club speaker addressed a difficult, but very important, topic.
In 2020, Stephen Panus‘ son Jake died in a terrible accident. Panus turned his “pain into purpose.” His book “Walk On” describes his family’s choice of hopefulness. All proceeds benefit scholarships in Jake’s name, at the University of South Carolina and the for the Lakota Native American community.
Stephen Panus, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
There was only one item on last night’s Board of Education meeting: the budget.
At the beginning of the session, however, a Staples High School senior addressed the members.
Granted more time than the usual 2 minutes given to the public, by prior arrangement with chair Lee Goldstein, he told the board about a physical altercation with an assistant boys soccer coach, at a pre-season retreat over Labor Day weekend.
He also alleged verbal abuse and initimidation by 2 other coaches in the program.
Assistant coach Harry Ocampo vehemently denies the allegations. He sent this email to “06880”:
I am writing to formally address and categorically deny the allegations of physical abuse and physical assault that have been brought against me by [a player and his family] during the Board of Education meeting on January 16.
The allegations in question stem from events taking place on Saturday, August 30, at the Staples boys soccer retreat. These accusations are entirely untrue, and are being fabricated to exaggerate the incident that took place in front of 30+ witnesses.
I want to state unequivocally that I have never engaged in any form of physical abuse or assault toward [the player making the charges] or any player, ever. Such actions are completely against my values and principles.
I am committed to treating all individuals with respect and dignity, and never resort to violence or harm.
I want to be clear, during the incident on August 30 between myself and [the player], at no point did I ever make physical contact with him.
The incident in question only involved yelling after I was hit in the face during a team kickball game. After being hit in the face, the game concluded at which point [the player] mocked and antagonized me.
This upset me and I responded by yelling back at him. There was no physical assault or abuse as alleged.
After a brief moment, both teams shook hands. I asked [the player] if he felt comfortable speaking with me so that we could clear the air, to which he agreed.
In that conversation, he and I both apologized for disrespecting one another, and verbalized that we weren’t thinking rationally but rather were being emotional.
Later that evening, I spoke to the team at a meeting to offer my apologies for the actions that they witnessed.
I explained to them that [the player] and I had been able to apologize to one another and clear the air about the incident that took place, which he confirmed to the team. He apologized to them as well.
These allegations are deeply distressing, not only because they are baseless but also because they have the potential to significantly harm my reputation and relationships. I am confident that a thorough and impartial investigation will reveal the truth and exonerate me of these false claims.
To ensure full transparency, I am prepared to cooperate fully with any investigation into this matter. I am willing to provide any evidence or testimony necessary to demonstrate my innocence. I encourage anyone involved in this process to approach the matter with fairness and objectivity.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.
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The incident in question only involved yelling after I was hit in the face during a team kickball game. After being hit in the face, the game concluded at which point [the player] mocked and antagonized me.