Nearly 60 years later, the synagogue prepares to host another internationally known guest.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak will speak on September 20 (7:30 p.m.). He will discuss current events, including Israel’s coming election and the war in Ukraine.
Click here for details, including in-person and livestream registration.
Ehud Barak
Barak, who became the most decorated soldier in the history of the Israel Defense Forces over a 36-year career, served as the nation’s prime minister from 1999 to 2001.
He also has held other prominent posts in Israel’s government, including as defense minister and as minister of internal and foreign affairs.
For more information, contact Temple Israel at 203-227-1293.
“06880” has been buzzing recently with stories (and comments) about broadband (and prices).
Western Connecticut Council of Governments — a planning organization for 18 area town, including Westport — is conducting a quick survey on internet service and pricing.
Residential and business customers can complete the survey. Click here for the link.
“In our Weston garden stands a majestic old Japanese pagoda tree (also called scholar tree).
In summertime when it is in full bloom, you can ‘hear’ the tree from far away. It is the happy humming sound of thousands of busy bees. They are not only in the tree but also on the ground, which is covered with blossoms. It’s not a good idea to walk under the tree at that time.
“But during the last years we noticed a sharp drop in the bee population.
“This summer the tree is again in full bloom –- but completely silent. Hardly any bees at all. Sadly, the prophecy made by Rachel Carson in her 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ has come true — right here in our garden, where we never use insecticides or herbicides.
The usual swarms of bees are gone from Hans Wilhelm’s garden.
For nearly 75 years, Westport PAL has served youngsters with sports programs and scholarships. That’s impressive.
And for 60 years, they’ve raised funds through the Chief Samuel Luciano Golf Tournament. That’s impressive too.
This year’s event is September 12. The day includes continental breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon shotgun starts, cocktails, dinner, a raffle and prizes.
Single, twosome and foursome spots are available. Click here for more information, including registration and sponsorships.
Sunday’s New York Times included a great review of Mary Rodgers’ new memoir, “SHY: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers.” Jesse Green continued working on it for years, after her death in 2014.
Mary Rodgers Guettel is Richard Rodgers’ daughter. They lived in Fairfield, just over the Westport line. She became an apprentice at the Westport Country Playhouse in 1950. She later earned fame writing the music for “Once Upon a Mattress.”
In 2009, the Playhouse honored Rodgers Guettel, at their annual gala. Among the celebrants: Stephen Sondheim, a fellow 1950 apprentice.
Also on hand that night: Weston’s Jim Naughton, and Westporter Kelli O’Hara.
Rodgers’ son, Adam Guettel, wrote “Light in the Piazza.” The musical starred O’Hara — whose father-in-law is Naughton.
The memoir includes references to Rodgers’ internship. She describes their intense work schedule (which she enjoyed), and that afterwards they wanted to go drinking.
However, she wrote, “In Westport, everything closed up tight as a drum at one in the morning.” So the interns frequently “ran our own bar at Frank Perry’s house at night, often accompanied by a low-stakes poker game.”
Yes, that Frank Perry. The future film director (“David and Lisa,” “The Swimmer,” “Diary of a Mad Housewife”) was another member of that amazing Class of 1950 Westport Country Playhouse apprentices. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
Richard Rodgers’ daughter (2nd row, 4th from left) posed with other Westport Country Playhouse apprentices in 1950, at the Jolly Fisherman restaurant. Other notables in the photo: Stephen Sondheim (crouching, top of photo) and Frank Perry (front row, left).
The pandemic was tough on some teenagers. Stuck at home, they stalled academically, socially and emotionally.
Others took the lockdown lemon, and made lemonade.
Or — in the case of Aiden Schachter — they made LED lightclouds. And built a thriving, national business.
In the spring of 2020 he was a Bedford Middle School 8th grader, spending more time than usual in his room.
LED light strips — the wireless bedroom decoration that changes colors and looks cool — were hot. Aiden took a stuffed, falling-apart penguin, and created a prototype.
Today, he says, it looks like “a piece of junk: a stuffed animal in a ball.” But to his 8th grade eyes, it was impressive.
He made a few more. His aunt bought one. Aiden wondered if he could sell to non-relatives.
One of Aiden Schachter’s LED light clouds.
He thought about eBay. But Etsy — the homemade-and-craft site — seemed more appropriate.
At that point, you or I might simply have made a few LED light strips, taken quick photos, and posted them on Etsy.
But you and I are not Aiden Schachter.
The young teenager conducted market research. He watched videos. He read articles. He learned how to sell online.
His first ads were “not very descriptive,” he admits. But quickly, he discovered how to engage potential customers.
He tailored his ads to a variety of platforms: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Google.
Studying Etsy’s analytics to find out who was buying, he crafted different ads for different niches — “dorm room décor,” say, and “baby gifts.”
Screen shot of Aiden Schachter’s Etsy StormcloudLEDs page.
Aiden learned photographic techniques too. He’s taken 2 courses at Staples, to hone his skills.
Aiden’s mother taught him how to use spreadsheets, to pay taxes.
He was selling enough to make serious money. The 2020 holidays were a breakout period: 123 orders. With a wide price range — $60 to $180 — appealing to a wide range of customer, his product took off.
Aiden works hard. Each LED cloud light takes 20 to 40 minutes to make; each is made to oder.
He uses recycled tin cans (sourced on the Nextdoor neighborhood app), attached with spray adhesives.
Everything except the cans comes from his Amazon business account. “I’m a big fan of 2-day shipping,” Aiden says. “And Prime Day is huge.”
The rising Staples High School junior handles every aspect of his business. After making what he calls Stormclouds, he has to package and ship them.
Aiden moved from using old Amazon boxes to ordering cardboard boxes in bulk. He invested in a label printer, which helped a lot. Now, he seals each box with custom tape, bearing his logo.
Aiden Schachter heads to the post office.
Aiden’s lessons included customer service. Etsy is a person-to-person site. “I’m a teenager. I’m always on my phone,” he notes. “I can respond instantly to everyone.”
Not that customers know they’re dealing with a high school student.
An early review said, “it looks like a teenager made this.” Aiden laughs, “Well, yeah, I’m a kid in my parents’ basement making it.”
Now though, his average rating is 4.9 stars (out of 5) — with over 100 reviews.
Other lessons came through the process of incorporating (via LegalZoom) with the state of Connecticut. His LLC is LEDCloudLight.com.
“As a 16-year-old, I struggled to learn tax and legal stuff,” he notes. (Welcome to the club.)
There’s more ahead. Aiden has just been accepted into the Westport Young Woman’s League’s indoor craft fair (November 5-6, at Staples High). That’s a big deal: It’s the longest running event of its kind in Connecticut, and extremely tough to break into.
In addition to his usual holiday sales, Aiden will make plenty of money at the fair. But he’s as philanthropic-minded as he is creative.
Last year, he donated $500 to combat climate change — a gift that was tripled by the Climate Reality Project.
He’s donated Cloudlights for charitable raffles, and is looking for more local organizations to partner with.
Aiden’s numbers are impressive. He’s sold 312 lights this year, up substantially from 219 in 2021. Orders have come from all 50 states.
He’s serious about what he does. He’s spent 6 to 7 hours a day at his business this summer. During the school year, it’s 2 to 3 hours.
Yet as impressive as this is, it’s not all that Aiden does.
He’s also a Staples High School wrestler. That’s an incredibly demanding sport, physically and mentally.
Aiden Schachter (left) on the wrestling mat.
But there’s even more to Aiden’s story.
Long before he got involved in LED lights, he wanted to fly. Now, in addition to making Cloudlights, he’s soaring — literally — into the clouds.
From a flight simulator in 7th grade, he’s advanced to lessons. On his 16th birthday in March, he soloed.
Aiden has flown — by himself — from Stratford’s Sikorsky Airport to Groton and Poughkeepsie. His goals are to get his full pilot’s license at 17 — and eventually, fly commercially.
Aiden Schachter, about to pilot a Cessna 172.
Back on earth, Aiden is working on Cloudlights enhancements. He’s developed lights that can be controlled by Alexa and Google Home. (They’re already controlled through an app.)
Aiden Schachter’s app to control his lights.
He’s also building up stock for the craft fair. And training for the upcoming wrestling season.
Aiden Schachter has a lot to look forward to. Thanks to him, kids and parents all over America have a lot to look up to, as well.
Westport began as a farming community. We’ve moved from onions to everything under the sun.
Along the way we added manufacturing, then arts, marketing and hedge funds.
But we always go back to our roots.
The other day, I sat at the Westport Library with Liz Milwe. A native Westporter and active volunteer who served on the RTM for over 10 years, she’s best known now for her work as co-chair of Wakeman Town Farm.
We talked about WTF’s growth over the past decade; its role in Westport; our town’s commitment to sustainability, and much more.
Hidden around town are 18 pieces of art, all inspired by town monuments, buildings and more that are part of the bicentennial quilt.
It’s part of a display in the Westport Museum of History & Culture. The show — in conjunction with MoCA Westport and CAMP Gallery — features textiles and other quilt-inspired artifacts. The hunt runs through August 20. Click here for details. (Hat tip: Dave Matlow)
1st Selectwoman and Police Chief Foti Koskinas hunt for clues. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Happy 88th birthday to former 2nd Selectwoman, Apple Festival founder and organizer, super-involved and multi-tasked civic volunteer, and all-around wonder woman Betty Lou Cummings!
She celebrated yesterday with her husband Tom. Not pictured below: all her tens of thousands of Westport fans.
When Cary Pierce was a student at Staples High School, he got his first big break.
Hall & Oates failed to appear for a 1985 concert at Longshore — to be fair, they never signed a contract — so Cary’s band, Pseudo Blue, entertained instead. (Click here to read all about that strange day in Westport history.)
Cary went on to graduate from Staples in 1987. He kept playing guitar, and singing.
For nearly 35 years, Cary and his Southern Methodist University classmate Jack O’Neill have fronted Jackopierce. The band has shared stages with Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Matchbox Twenty and Widespread Panic. They’ve performed in clubs and at colleges across America — and before 500,000 people at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Next Monday (August 15, 6 p.m.), Jackopierce comes to Milestone restaurant in Georgetown. The venue is small, so tickets will go quickly. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
No word on whether Hall & Oates will sit in too.
Jackopierce: Cary Pierce (right) and Jack O’Neill.
The Staples High School Class of 2011 graduate — and star on the Wreckers state championship team — finished Juneau’s Ironman Alaska yesterday in an astonishing 10 hours, 18 minutes and 48 seconds.
He ignored stunning views to swim 2.4 miles in Auke Lake in 36:33. He biked 112 miles along the Glacier Highway in 5:49.09. Then he ran 26.2 miles through the lush Mendenhall Valley rainforest in 3:29:42.
That was good (great!) for 23rd place, out of 733 competitors — and 3rd out of 36, in his men’s age 25-29 age group.
Congratulations, Mikey. Now take a well=deserved rest!
Lifelong Westporter Anthony Gilbertie died last week, from complications of Parkinson’s. He was 84.
He was the 5th member of the Gilbertie family to serve on the RTM.
Anthony was devoted to Assumption Church, where he was a cantor for 13 years. Most recently, he was a US Postal Service carrier in Weston. Anthony enjoyed history, current events and the New York Yankees.
He was predeceased by all his siblings: John Jr, Mario, Linda Gilbertie-Bullard and Michael, and baby siblings Thomas and Gloria.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Diane Taylor-Gilbertie; children, Tom (Anne). Peter (Dee) and Nancy Gilbertie-Loshuk, and grandchildren Griffin Gilbertie, William Gilbertie, Thomas Gilbertie, Christopher Gilbertie and Jack Loshuk.
Anthony’s wake will be held Friday (August 12, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Harding Funeral Home). A Mass of Christian Burial will follow there at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Assumption Cemetery on Greens Farms Road. The family asks that all attendees wear masks, as some family members are immunocompromised.
Longtime Westporter Jeanne Wylie Crist died last week. She was 99 years old.
Jeanne married her Albany high school sweetheart, Robert “Mike” Crist in 1947 after working with the Naval Department in New York City. Two sons were born there before they moved to Westport, where Karen was born in 1956.
They lived in Westport for nearly 50 years before moving to Lenox, Massachusetts to be close to their daughter in 2011, when Mike’s health faltered.
They were members of Saugatuck Congregational Church, loved walking Compo Beach and cherished many friends. In retirement they purchased a cottage on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont, where Mike had enjoyed his childhood. Jeanne and Mike also traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Jeanne was preceded by Mike in 2011, and their son, Robert “Lee” Crist in 1983 and Jeffrey Crist in 2017. She is survived by her daughter Karen (Matthew Miller), grandchildren Chas (Ashley), Geoffrey (Michelle) and Kaylee Wylie, and great-grandchildren Charley, Nuala, Declan, Wylie and Penelope.
A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Westport, where she will be interred with her beloved Mike and 2 sons. To share memories and stories click here,
Jeanne Wylie Crist
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Tracy Porosoff thinks this dramatic photo shows a wasp beetle eating a cicada at the Compo Beach baseball fence.
Whatever it is, it’s a perfect way to start off our “Westport … Naturally” week.
With the temperature climbing toward the mid-90s on Saturday, Old Mill residents sought relief.
Some enjoyed cold drinks at the deli. Some sat under umbrellas on the beach. Some stayed indoors, the AC blasting.
No one thought of running up and down Compo Hill. Not one time — and certainly not 50.
No one, except Chris Kelly.
Chris Kelly is all smiles — after running up and down Compo Hill 55 times, in 90-plus heat.
The entrepreneur lives in Aspen, Colorado. He was visiting his mother Marion, who lives nearby. With a race coming up soon, he figured he’d get in a bit of training.
This is no ordinary race. The Leadville Trail 100 — set for August 20, just 5 days after his 40th birthday — is, yes, a 100-mile run.
But this is no ordinary 100-miler. Starting at 9,219 feet in the Colorado Rockies, and reaching a peak of 12,532 feet, its climbs and dips cover nearly 16,000 feet of elevation.
It begins at 4 a.m. it ends 30 hours later, whether you’ve finished or not. A thousand runners — chosen by lottery — start. Three hundred finish.
Chris’ goal is 25 hours. For that, he’ll earn a large belt buckle.
Chris’ workout was no ordinary training. He chose Compo Hill — from Old Mill Grocery up to the end of Buena Vista Drive, then back down — because it’s the steepest, toughest one around.
Chris Kelly, in action.
It was a grueling physical challenge — made even more difficult, because Chris strapped a vest filled with 2 500-ml water bladders, and pockets for food, sunscreen, etc. on his back, to get used to the weight.
But the Leadville 100 is a mental test as well.
So Chris tested himself that way too. He planned his 50 “laps” up and down the hill — equivalent to a full marathon, including the run to and from his mother’s house at Compo Beach — to be repetitive and monotonous. He wanted each one to be as close to the same time as possible.
He succeeded. His fastest time was 4:08; his slowest, 4:28.
Except, that is, for his final ascent and descent. After hours in the blazing heat, he covered that in a blazing 3:46.
“I’m more proud of my ability to focus, and hit those numbers consistently, than anything else,” he reports. (We spoke a couple of hours after he finished. He sounded as if he had just gotten up from an afternoon watching a Mets game.)
A few of Chris Kelly’s stats.
Chris had another goal: to do all 55 laps in 4 hours. He made it, with 2 minutes to spare.
His total time on Compo Hill was about 5 hours. He stopped from time to time at OMG, for water and bananas. The Leadville 100 also includes stops too, of course, for food, hydration and changes of clothes.
As the day wore on, word spread. People asked questions. Neighbors offered water. There were plenty of cheers.
There were refreshments too. Chris’s mother and children set up a lemonade stand nearby. They raised $457, which they’ll donate to UNICEF’s Ukrainian children’s aid.
Chris Kelly’s mother and children, at their lemonade stand.
As he ran, Chris invited anyone to join him. Go figure: No one did.
The Leadville 100 will not be Chris’ first rodeo — er, insanely long race. He’s done several marathons (his best was 2:44, twice, in Chicago and London). He’ll run both the New York and Tokyo marathons later this year.
And — oh, yeah — he also completed the Grand Canyon Rim-to Rim-to Rim. Those 47.5 miles include a descent of 9 miles, a 7-miles run across the floor, and 7 miles up a 15% – 20% grade. The temperature is over 100.
I got exhausted just typing that paragraph.
Why does he do it?
“The simple answer is: because you can,” Chris says.
“It’s possible, but not easy. It tests the outer boundaries of the human capability. You find all the human emotions out there on the course, at one time or other.”
And, Chris notes, “I live a privileged life in Aspen, just like people in Westport. To voluntarily put yourself in a position of real strain brings joy to the rest of your life. When you do this, you can appreciate every day as something special.”
He paused.
“This is what I do for fun.”
(“06880” relies completely on reader contributions. Please click here to keep stories like these coming.)
For an out-of-the-way, neglected property, plenty of people know Golden Shadows.*
The former home of Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his wife — sometimes described as a “mansion” or “estate” — sits high on a hill, in the middle of the 22-acre property between Compo Road South and Imperial Avenue, known as “Baron’s South.”
(The baron — who may or may not have been actual royalty — also owned 32 across the Post Road; it’s now known as Winslow Park, in honor of a previous owner.)
The town has owned Baron’s South for over 20 years, but has yet to decide what to do with it. Hiking trails are overgrown; invasive species have invaded, and the baron’s home suffers from water leaks, foundation cracks and general neglect.
The house may not be at the top of the town’s plans. But it’s well known to the 17 “06880” readers who correctly identified Molly Alger’s image as last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)
Congratulations to Michael Calise, Gloria Gouveia, John Karrel, Seth Schachter, Jerry Kuyper, Dave Eason, Fred Cantor, Martha Witte, Dan Vener, Andrew Colabella, Richard Stein, Mary Ann Batsell, Dick Lowenstein, Tara Curruto, Seth Braunstein, Bruce Salvo and Linda Amos. You win a weekend retreat for 2 at the mansion.
This week’s Photo Challenge is not neglected at all. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
*Not “Golden Showers.” Please — this is a family-friendly blog.
(“06880” has covered Baron’s South news since our founding, in 2009. As always, we rely on reader contributions to keep us going. Please click here to contribute.)
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