Sherry Jagerson’s memorial service last weekend was an upbeat, uplifting afternoon.
The longtime Westporter — who died earlier this month at 80 — was remembered for her vibrant, can-do, do-it-yourself spirit, and for the many environmental and humanitarian projects she threw herself into, at home and around the world.
Now, she may be memorialized here for decades to come.
Andrew Colabella and Matthew Mandell have started a petition to rename the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve on Hillspoint Road “Sherry Jagerson Preserve.”
One view of Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve … (Photo/Katherine Bruan)
The petition says: “This preserve exists as it is today because of the environmental love and care of Sherry Jagerson.”
In 2009 she — along with Wendy Crowther and Liz Milwe, and Westport’s Parks & Recreation maintenance division — excavated the property, built up the land, and installed a boat launch, saltwater natural plants, and accessible walkways with benches.
Colabella credits Jagerson’s “vision and hard work” from 2009 onward with the preserve’s current look and appeal.
… and another. (Photo/Bobbi Essagof)
Jagerson could be memorialized for many things. She was a steward for Nash Pond, where she lived. She led one of the first initiatives to ban plastic bags in the country. She created the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, helped found the Westbridge Coalition, was a founding board member for United with Kenya, and served on the board of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport.
But naming a wonderful piece of town property “Sherry Jagerson Preserve” is especially fitting.
Sherry Jagerson at Mill Pond Preserve. (Photo/Monique Bosch)
Here’s one more story. Last Sunday — the day after her memorial service — Jagerson’s son, 2 daughters, grandchildren and friends gathered at the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.
They spent the better part of a day weeding, cleaning and planting. As they did, they felt her spirit everywhere.
(The request to rename the property “Sherry Jagerson Park” will go to the Board of Selectwomen. If okayed, it heads to the Representative Town Meeting for final approval. Click here to see and sign the petition.)
Sherry Jagerson’s family and friends at the preserve last Sunday …
… with a pause for a group shot. (Photo/Jen Tooker)
Sherry Jagerson was also an accomplished sailor and racer. She founded a business that taught women how to sail.
Posted onJune 22, 2024|Comments Off on Roundup: “Which Is Which?”, WCP Interns, Winslow Park Statues …
Weston resident Roy Adams is in his 24th year of service as a New Canaan police officer. He spends his free time with his wife and 3 children (11, 3 and 21 months).
Roy always had a passion for writing. He’s written several screenplays of different genres, and reached the finals and quarterfinalist in screenplay contests.
He recently published “Which is Which? Which is Which” — an educational children’s book about homophones. The colorful illustrations and rhyme pattern of make it fun, and interesting for kids to learn.
The idea came during the nightly ritual of reading to his kids before bed. Roy reflected on a poem he had written in high school, titled “Which is Which.” It got him to thinking about vocabulary, and how the English language is more complex than many people realize.
Now Roy is sharing his love for words and writing with kids — and introducing them to the amazing world of homophones.
“06880” gets a dozen or so sunset shots nearly every day. Many are from Compo Beach. Unfortunately, we can’t use 99% of them.
We get fewer moon photos — but still a lot. Submissions spike during a full moon. They’re even harder to photograph, and they tend not to reproduce well in this blog format.
But James White captured a special image last night, over Sherwood Mill Pond.
The color makes it stand out. He writes: “I didn’t think with the weather I would catch the moon. But then I saw this red glow.”
Four aspiring theater professionals make up the 2024 Westport Country Playhouse Joanne Woodward Internship class.
The quartet will gain on-the-job experience working directly with senior staff through July. They were selected from nearly 75 applicants.
Internships have formed a vital part of the Playhouse’s mission since the 1940s. Stephen Sondheim is the most famous alum.
In addition to immersive work in their departments, interns attend seminars with a variety of guest speakers. Interns receive a living wage stipend, and housing.
Interns include Ahnecia Gary (marketing; University of Connecticut ’24, from Stamford); Kiley Snobeck (development/fundraising; Concordia College ‘24.5, from Farmington, Minnesota); Jessi Stier (artistic/engagement; Muhlenberg College ’21, from New Jersey); Matt Thompson (production; Pennsylvania State University ’25, from Dallas/Fort Worth).
Westport Country Playhouse interns (from left): Ahnecia Gary, Matt Thompson, Kiley Snobeck, Jessi Stier. (Photo/Chris Conte)
Most Compo Beach gull photos show them swarming on the sand, or swooping down to steal food.
Recent high school graduate Jay Babina spotted this pensive one, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Jay Babina)
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And finally … on this day in 1633, the Holy Office in Rome forced Galileo Galilei to recant his view that the sun — not the earth — was the center of the universe.
(A quiet Roundup, for once. But “06880” still needs your support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thanks!)
Comments Off on Roundup: “Which Is Which?”, WCP Interns, Winslow Park Statues …
No matter what color (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.
Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Inspire” (Dorothy Robertshaw)
“The Taste of Summer” (Ellen Wentworth)
“Beach Days” — hand-drawn digital composition (Maj Kalfus)
“The Butterflies Are Back!” (Steve Stein)
“Backyard Bird With Trumpet Vine” (Peter Barlow)
Artist Kathleen Burke says: “Southport Village, the former Connecticut Bank built 1832, now a home, design inspired by 2 banks in Philadelphia. Greek Revival, Doric columns.”
“Contemplating” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Brother Jeff Hits a Winner” — watercolor (Eric Bosch)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
Four months ago, family members and friends celebrated Clayton Chalfant, as turned 100.
On July 7 the centenarian and war hero will be feted again, in a big way.
This time, the Consul General of France does the honors.
In a private ceremony at Town Hall, Chalfant will receive France’s Legion of Honor.
Born in Connecticut on February 21, 1924, Chalfant enlisted in the US Army
when he was 18 years old.
Heavy machine gunner Clayton Chalfant.
He was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division’s 486th Armored Anti-Aircraft Battalion. They protected Allied forces from aerial attacks, while providing fire support against enemy infantry, vehicles and fortifications.
He saw action in the Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns.
His battalion encountered every type of German weapon and endured numerous hardships, notably at the Battle of the Bulge.
After returning to Westport, Chalfant married Mary Speer. They recently celebrated their 76th anniversary.
Chalfant and other Westporters helped establish a sister city relationship with Marigny, France. In 1994, officials invited him to visit the historic Normandy town.
The Legion of Honor is the French Republic’s highest honorary distinction. It was created by Emperor Napoleon to recognize men and women who have accomplished exceptional deeds for France and its people.
Two view of Clayton Chalfant.é
In 2004 — the 60th anniversary of D-Day — French President Jacques Chirac decided his country would bestow the award upon all American WWII veterans who fought on its soil
“We feel it is our duty to thank the heroes who helped liberate our nation during
WWII, while we still can. We owe them our freedom, democracy, and way of life,” says Damien Laban, acting consul general of France in New York.
(Click here for a full story on Clayton Chalfant’s 100th birthday, and his century of life.)
(“06880” is truly “Where Westport Meets the World.” Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Among Bill Scheffler’s many hobbies, one of the most interesting — for “06880” readers, anyway — is his collection of postcards.
Dating back to days when they were simple, inexpensive means of communication (and perhaps demonstrating, long before social media and FOMO, that the sender was having a great time), Scheffler’s postcards show scenes of Compo Beach, the Post Road, and a variety of inns.
There are also many private homes. Occasionally they bear names; more often, just an identification like “Greens Farms” or “Saugatuck.”
Here are 3. Most likely, the handsome houses succumbed long ago to the teardown trend.
But if you recognize any of them — or know their back story — click “Comments” below.
“Residence of Jas. Dunne, Sr., Greens Farms, Conn.”
“Residence of Mrs. H. B. Hobson, Green (sic) Farms, Conn.”
The simple message on the other side of the Hobson card, 104 years ago.
There is no identifying information on this postcard. However …
… it was mailed in 1911 from Saugatuck, to “Miss D. Adams,” in Greens Farms (no address given). Could she be related to the Adams Academy family, who lived on Long Lots Road? Or was she Dorothy Adams, longtime principal of the Bridge Street (later Saugatuck) Elementary School?
(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!)
Lynn Flint wrote yesterday: “The ground ozone count for today in Westport is 122 (way high).
“Anything above 70 is considered USG (unhealthy for sensitive groups). Normal is around 10.
“The same high count is forecast for Friday.
“This condition is invisible, not like forest fire smoke. I’ve noticed it the last few days whenever I was outside my eyes started to burn, my vision became blurry, and I started to cough vigorously.”
Be careful out there!
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A reader writes: “Students graduating during the COVID lockdown in 2020 were denied graduation ceremonies, and the accompanying fanfare and celebrations.
“To create alternative markers of these students’ accomplishments, schools produced and distributed lawn signs for each graduate’s family to display.
“Now, 4 years later, I see lawn signs for Staples, Bedford, even Goddard School graduates. Why?
“Can we please stop, for the sake of our landfills? Graduates are able once again to celebrate and be celebrated.
“So let’s end the practice of producing plastic signs that do not get recycled. biodegrade or do anything useful.”
A celebration of Leonard Everett Fisher’s life is set for this coming Monday (June 24, 3 to 6 p.m., Westport Library).
The date is special. It would have been the noted illustrator/artist, longtime civic volunteer and proud World War II veteran’s 100th birthday.
Donations in his and his wife’s name can be made to “Margery & Leonard Everett Fisher Endowment for Children’s Books in the Arts,” c/o Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.
Leonard Everett Fisher (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
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Only 2 athletic facilities in Westport — Paul Lane Field at Staples High School, and PJ Roman Field behind Saugatuck Elementary — have lights.
That may change.
Now that a 10-year agreement with Staples neighbors has expired — and with more demands on fields than ever, due to the growth of sports like rugby and girls lacrosse — discussions are beginning about lighting more places.
The Planning & Zoning Commission Recreation Subcommittee meets next Thursday (June 27, noon, Zoom; click here for the town website livestream).
The agenda includes:
Review of participant feedback on athletic field lighting for properties (seen here).
Discussion of temporary vs. permanent lighting, and times of the day.
Discussion of the next steps in implementing athletic field lighting.
Paul Lane Field (lower right) is Staples’ only lighted athletic facility. the baseball diamond, and adjacent Albie Loeffler Field and Jinny Park Field are not. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Tickets for Billie Jean King’s appearance at the 25th annual “Booked for the Evening” — the Westport Library’s signature fundraiser (September 12) — go on sale Monday, July 15, at 10 am.
Speaking of summer: It was the solstice — and a full moon last night.
Dalma Heyn captured the scene, at Old Mill Beach:
(Photo/Dalma Heyn)
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Congratulations to Katie Augustyn. The longtime Westporter is the Sunrise Rotary Club’s new president for 2024-25. She was inducted Wednesday.
Katie Augustyn (center), at her Sunrise Rotary presidency induction. Looking on are the 2023-24 president Liz Wong, and Robert Friend, Rotary district governor.
The former marketing manager of the Westport Library’s Verso Studios — who is also a film director and musician — has been named director of operations and new initiatives at WPKN, Bridgeport’s free-form, listener-supported FM radio station.
At Verso Studios, Toller helped develop the mission, partnerships, and programming and marketing efforts.
Brendan Toller (Photo/Michael Civitello)
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Jianmei “Jamie” Zheng died June 14 at Yale-New Haven Hospital, with her family by her side, after a battle with lymphoma. She was 61.
She was born in China. After she and Ping Zhou married in 1986, Jamie earned a master’s degree in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
They and their 2 children eventually settled in Westport, where they lived for the past 18 years.
Jamie was a lifelong enthusiast of music and the arts. As a girls she performed traditional Chinese dance onstage, and later developed a love for classical music and opera. She followed that passion through world travel. Locally, she enjoyed MoCA CT, the Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Community Theatre, the Music Theatre of Connecticut and Fairfield University’s Quick Center.
Jamie practiced yoga, and was a founding member of a book club. She also found great happiness at Sherwood Island State Park, and relished in her daughter’s accomplishments.
In addition to her beloved husband Ping of 38 years, Jamie is survived by her daughters Connie (Scott) and Katie, and brothers Jianquan and Jianbin.
A memorial service is set for June 29 (11 a.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport).
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jamie’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Jamie Zheng
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While Westporters sweltered, these swans enjoyed cool Lees Pond.
Amy Swanson spotted them, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
During the Civil War, over 80% of eligible Black men in Connecticut enlisted in 2 “Colored” infantry units.
On Wednesday — Juneteenth, honoring the final end of slavery in the US, when emancipation finally came for 250,000 people in Texas — the Saugatuck Congregational Church and Westport Museum for History & Culture honored those Black Connecticut soldiers.
There was a Westport connection. Their commander, Lt. Louis McDonough, is buried at the church’s Evergreen Cemetery.
McDonough and his men in the 29th Regiment were part of efforts to enforce the freedom of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. That event led to the enactment of the national holiday, nearly 160 years later.
The men from Westport who were part of the 29th were Samuel Benson, Thomas Benson, James Burns, John Frye, Thomas Gregory, Frank Jackson, Joseph H. Jackson, William H. Jackson, William H. Johnson (1st), William H. Johnson (2nd), John Thompson, Charles C. Williams and Charles Yan Tross.
All were privates, except Lt. McDonough and musician Frank Jackson.
The Evergreen Cemetery memorial was unveiled by local veteran Sgt. First Class Buyile Rani, Connecticut Army National Guard (Retired). His participation was organized by Westport’s VFW Post 399/American Legion Post 63.
A young boy (front) added a light touch to Wednesday’s ceremony honoring Westport’s Black Civil War soldiers, at Evergreen Cemetery. From left: Sgt. 1st Class Buyile Rani; Saugatuck Church pastor Kari Nicewander; Dr. Vera Rhimes, Saugatuck Church council member; Westport Museum director Ramin Ganeshram; VFW quartermaster Lt. Cmdr. Phil Delgado. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
left-to-right IDs – SGT 1st Class Buyile Rani CT Army National Guard (Retired), Saugatuck Congregational Church Pastor Kari Nicewander, Vera P. Rhimes, Westport Museum Executive Director Ramin Ganeshram, LCDR Phil Delgado U.S. Navy (Retired)
VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado, Lt. Commander, US Navy (Retired) said, “The veteran community is honored to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifices of the 29th Infantry on Juneteenth. Dedicating a plaque serves as a reminder of the progress made in pursuit of justice and equality for all.”
Saugatuck Church Pastor Kari Nicewander offered a prayer. Saugatuck Church was a meeting place when the town of Westport was incorporated in 1835. The church is partnering with the Westport Museum to shine a light on local history, like Westport’s connection to Juneteenth.
The Museum also sponsored Black history walking tours, and screened the film “The 29th Connecticut Regiment and the Fight for Freedom.” Click below to see the video.
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