Our “Historic Homes of 06880” tour returns for a third great year!
Save the date: Sunday, November 2 (1 to 4 p.m.).
Once again, we’ll open 4 beautiful — and very different — homes to the public. You’ll see loving restorations, creative touches, and some very cool surprises.
Once again, we’re working with KMS Team at Compass to present this fun (and very popular) event.
The 4 homes will be revealed soon. See you November 2!
This Cross Highway barn was part of our 2023 “Historic Homes of 06880” tour. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Want to help shape the future of Westport’s parks?
As part of the Parks Master Plan process, the Parks & Recreation Department hosts a public workshop on September 30 (6 p.m., Westport Library). All community members are invited. It will be run by the town’s consultants, BL Companies.
The Town’s consultant, BL Companies, will provide residents with the opportunity to engage directly with the consultants, share feedback, and learn more about the planning process.
If you’re between the ages of 6 and 18, and you play music — or want to — or you’re the parent of someone who does, check out the Music Collective’s open house this weekend (September 20-21, 3 to 6 p.m.; 1572 Post Road East).
The Collective (formerly the Gig Center) looks forward to showing off its space. Instructors will be there, attendees can try out some instruments. Or sing into a mic.
Jim Savage plays boogie-woogie piano on Saturday (September 20, 6-9 p.m.).
And a Veterans Benefits Luncheon is set for September 25 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). It’s open to all veterans as part of an ongoing effort to check in on all veterans’ welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.
Representatives will answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.
RSVPs are encouraged (but not required). Email vfw399ct@gmail.com, and include the number of attendees, or call (203) 227-6796.
PS: If you’re not a veteran, but know one: Please pass the word!
Mark Shanahan has earned standing ovations as the Westport Country Playhouse artistic director.
But he works his magic away from the local stage too.
Shanahan is the writer and director of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’s annual Fandango Benefit Gala. It’s this Saturday night, at the Ashford camp in northeastern Connecticut. Shanahan took over the role from the Playhouse’s Anne Keefe, several years ago.
The Playhouse is a strong supporter of the event.
The camp — which creates joy and community for seriously ill children and their families — shares a long bond with the WCP.
Westporters Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward supported both institutions generously. Many Playhouse staff members volunteer at Hole in the Wall throughout the year.
The Playhouse also raises funds for the Camp every December, through audience donations at “A Sherlock Carol.”
Club203 kicked off the 2025-26 year in style Tuesday, at Weston’s Lachat Farm.
Members of Westport’s social club for adults with disabilities kicked up their heels, danced with Marca, and enjoyed great food catered by Carmine Cenatiempo of Calise’s Deli.
MOCA offered art projects, Skip’s Good Humor ice cream added dessert, and the volunteers helped everyone make the most of the great Lachat setting.
Art by MoCA, at Club203. (Photo/Stacie Curran)
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Heating season (and heating bills) are near.
Fortunately, beginning October 1 income-eligible Westport residents can apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program.
Those who previously qualified for assistance through Westport’s Department of Human Services will receive application instructions in the mail. Residents wishing to apply for the first time should call 203-341-1050 or email humansrv@westportct.gov.
To qualify, household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income. The maximum income for households is:
Households of one (1) $47,764
Households of two (2) $62,460
Households of three (3) $77,157
Households of four (4) $91,854
Households of Five (5) $106,550.
Applicants must have recent copies of heating, electric, water, lease or mortgage statements, and other proof of income documents.
On Saturday, 1,500 guests will enjoy lobster, steak, veggie burgers, all the trimmings, beer and wine and other beverages — plus music, kids’ activities and much more — at the Westport Rotary Club’s annual LobsterFest.
At Tuesday’s weekly meeting, longtime member and LobsterFest maestro Rick Benson updated members on logistics. All hands will be on deck, raising $400,000 for charitable organizations in Fairfield County and abroad.
Rick Benson, and his map.
Rotarians also heard from Wendy Petty. The Senior Center director said that 25% of Fairfield County residents are over the age of 65. The Center has seen a commensurate increase in membership over the past few years.
The Senior Center hosts over 100 classes each week, along with a tech hub, nutrition program, and a quarterly veterans’ coffee.
Wendy Petty (Photos/Dave Matlow)
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Westport’s other Rotary Club — Sunrise — celebrates International Day of Peace this Sunday (September 21, 2 p.m.), by sharing peace through music and humor.
The event — “Songs and Reflections on Peace, Kindness and Fun” features performances by the Whirled Peas Band, with members from area Rotary clubs and special guests David Friedman, Shawn Moninger, Eric Šebek and Samantha Talora.
There is a great back story to today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
But first, marvel at this creature:
(Photo/Seth Schachter)
Seth Schachter encountered this massive reptile yesterday on Maple Lane, near Burying Hill Beach.
A neighbor helped him get it to safety. Otherwise, Seth is sure it would have been struck by a car.
Turtles can live well beyond 100 years. This guy might have been roaming Greens Farms at the dawn of the automobile age.
Seth and his neighbor used a broom and a large blue recycling bin — something that was definitely not around when the turtle was born — to move it along.
And finally … sure, we honored this group just the other day, when Mark Volman died.
But thanks to the item above, they’re worth revisiting, with a different song:
(If you enjoy “06880,” we hope you’ll be part of our November 2 “Historic Homes” tour. We also hope you will click here, to make a tax-deductible contribution supporting our work. Thank you!)
In the car ride home after his teenage son played poorly in a tennis match, Jeff Greenwald asked, “What were you thinking out there?”
“My ranking will drop,” the boy replied.
“And then what would happen?” Greenwald asked.
“I won’t get into a good college. I won’t get a good job. And I’ll be homeless,” he said.
He was not kidding. All that had gone through the young athlete’s mind.
Greenwald could relate.
Jeff Greenwald, in his Staples days.
In 1984 — playing #1 for Staples High School — he won a rare triple crown: the FCIAC and state LL (largest schools) singles championships, and the team’s 3rd consecutive state title.
After college, he continued to compete.
Greenwald won the US 35-and-over national singles and doubles championships. He was ranked #1 in the world International Tennis Federation men’s 35 category, for both singles and doubles.
He kept playing — and winning — in older age groups too. In 2019, he was inducted into the NorCal Hall of Fame.
But Greenwald was not a professional tennis player. He’s a clinical and sports psychologist in northern California. So he listened to his son’s fears as a concerned father, a fellow athlete, and a sports psychologist.
He recounts that experience — and many others — in “The Mental Edge for Young Athletes: A World Champion’s Mental Toughness Guide for Athletes, Parents and Coaches in the Digital Age.”
Greenwald’s second book — his first, “The Best Tennis of Your Life,” published in 2007, sold 80,000 copies — is a clear-eyed look at the realities of being a young competitor today.
Things were not easy when he wrote his first book. They’re exponentially tougher today.
Greenwald’s goal was to “pass on the principles I know now — and wish I knew earlier — in a way kids can relate to,” he says.
He does it without preaching or offering checklists, but by telling stories.
His audience is also parents. Greenwald hopes that reading “The Mental Edge” will help them open up conversations with their youngsters.
“We’re human. We have adrenaline. We want to win,” the sports psychologist notes.
“But there are no guarantees we will. The mind doesn’t like that. So we worry about things we can’t control, rather than focusing on the things that can make winning happen.”
Social media exacerbates already-existing pressures.
Jeff Greenwald
“There’s nowhere to hide,” Greenwald says. “All the time, you see the best of the best. You think you could be so much more than you are.
“Then throw in all the money that’s offered now in college — and high school. The pressure all goes in one direction.”
It’s no longer enough for a coach or parent to say, “Just have fun!”
“Just having fun hitting a tennis ball and playing has been decimated,” Greenwald believes.
“It’s become a job. Kids feel, ‘I’ve done this for so long. I’m supposed to do it. I have to keep going.'”
Greenwald believes that focusing on mastery can produce good results. “It’s good to want to win,” he notes. “Just do it in a smarter way.”
“The Mental Edge” helps athletes, parents and coaches strengthen resiliency to excel under pressure; lessen anxiety, and compete with freedom; create a mindset of success and positivity within an entire family, and build focus for peak performance.
Meanwhile, in individual consultations, he finds that “moving the needle with families is harder now. It takes longer to pull them long.” Eventually, parents warm to his approach. “They appreciate having a spot to land,” he says.
But Greenwald warns against too much parental emotional investment in any child’s sport.
His daughter’s passion is track. She recently told her father, “I don’t want you to watch me run. That’s my sport. You don’t need to be there.”
That was hard to hear. But it was a lesson he took to heart, as a sports psychologist.
And a father.
(“06880” reports often on Staples graduates, sports, teenagers — and, as we do today, the intersection of all 3. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Today’s Unsung Hero feature marks a milestone: 400 stories.
It’s fitting that today we honor the epitome of a quiet, generous, truly unsung Westporter. Homes with Hope president Helen McAlinden writes:
You may not know John Walsh by name – and that’s exactly how he prefers it.
But if you’ve ever served a meal at the Gillespie Center, attended an event at Saugatuck Congregational Church or supported Homes with Hope, chances are you’ve felt his quiet, guiding presence.
John Walsh
John doesn’t seek attention or recognition. For decades he’s been one of Westport’s most dedicated and compassionate behind-the-scenes leaders — always showing up, stepping in, and making things happen with humility and heart.
Whether he’s organizing volunteers, supporting local families in need, or lending a steady hand wherever it’s most needed, John leads not with words, but with action.
John Walsh is a perfect choice as Unsung Hero: someone who has made a lasting impact on our community simply by being there for others, day in and day out.
Homes with Hope is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness and food insecurity throughout Fairfield County. John’s involvement started with a simple question.
Nearly 30 years ago he and his wife Sara brought their daughter Connie to serve a home-cooked meal at the Gillespie Center. Connie asked a simple but powerful question: “Why do people live here?”
Rather than offering a quick response, he chose to seek out the real answers. Then he acted.
John began volunteering, donating and listening. His commitment deepened over the years. In 2001 he joined the board of directors.
Not long after, he was invited to serve as board chair. It is a role he has filled with extraordinary dedication and vision ever since.
This year, after decades of unwavering service, John plans will step down as chair. He will pass the baton to Becky Martin, who is already doing an outstanding job as co-leader.
But Homes with Hope is not ready to let John go altogether. And thankfully he is not ready to step away entirely.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership, lifelong commitment and enduring impact, the Board of Directors is proud to name John as Homes with Hope’s first-ever emeritus chair. The new title is reserved for those whose contributions have been transformative.
We extend our deepest gratitude to John, Sara and their family for the legacy they’ve built together, and for the compassion, generosity and integrity they’ve brought to our mission for nearly 4 decades. Their impact will be felt for generations to come.
John’s professional life was spent in executive leadership roles at Pfizer and Warner-Lambert. He retired in 1997 as president of Pfizer’s Schick/Wilkinson Sword Division, Consumer Healthcare Division, a role that demanded vision, clarity and steady hands.
He brought all of that and more to Homes with Hope.
John led the organization through 3 Presidents: Pete Powell, Jeff Wieser and Helen McAlinden. Each one leaned on his insight, strategic mind, and above all his belief in people.
Homes with Hope stalwarts (from left): Pete Powell, Willie Salmond, John Walsh, Helen McAlinden, Jeff Wieser.
Personally, John is the kindest, most genuine, loyal and supportive leader I’ve ever worked with. He is behind so many of our biggest successes, quietly. I am forever grateful to John for his support and guidance.
As a dedicated member of the Homes with Hope board, he doesn’t just lend his voice — he leads by example. When he encounters someone in need, he stops to help. When the organization faces a funding shortfall, he steps in to bridge the gap.
In a testament to his quiet generosity and deep commitment, he and his wife established the John and Sara Walsh Fund. It ensures that every client — especially the children in our housing programs — has access to basic necessities, and the resources they need to succeed. It removes barriers and creates opportunities, embodying his belief that no one should be held back by circumstance.
John Walsh (seated, 2nd from left), listens to Governor Ned Lamont at last year’s dedication of 122 Wilton Road. Its 19 affordable apartments — run by Homes with Hope — are home to 52 residents.
John’s wife Sara is also a dedicated and tireless volunteer. Her commitment and partnership have been integral to our mission.
Their daughter Alexandra plays a vital role too, serving as coordinator of the Community Kitchen at Saugatuck Congregational Church. The church was part of a compassionate community response in 1983, when people experiencing homelessness sought refuge in the pews of Westport’s churches and synagogues. That was the genesis of Homes with Hope.
When the Saugatuck Church suffered a devastating fire in 2011, the Walsh family quietly stepped in to lead the rebuilding effort.
The church’s full restoration is a testament to the same quiet spirit John brings to everything he touches: care, community, and quiet perseverance.
If you would like to become part of the Homes with Hope tradition, just as the Walsh family did so many years ago, we invite you to attend Stand Up for Homes with Hope on October 17. The special benefit evening features comedian Tom Papa. (Click here for details.)
At this event, we will proudly honor John for his decades of exceptional service and visionary leadership. Join us as we celebrate his lasting impact on our community; while the evening promises plenty of laughs, our appreciation for John is no joke!
John Walsh never set out to become a hero. He just wanted to answer a child’s question and make life better for people in need. Westport is a stronger, kinder town because he did.
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
Years ago, the tenant in one of Westport’s most prominent buildings – most recently leased by Patagonia – was Westport Bank & Trust Company. Their motto was “A hometown bank, in a town of homes.”
The next tenant will sell those homes.
Next spring, Compass Westport will move into the red brick space with 20-foot ceilings (87 Post Road East, at the junction of Church Lane). The real estate firm is currently across the Saugatuck River, at 54 Wilton Road.
Their “new” building was built in 1924 — a year after the Westport YMCA (now Anthropologie), a few yards away. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The bank vault downstairs has been repurposed as space for Pink Sumo restaurant, which will remain.
Two large murals by noted artist Robert Lambdin — a handsome backdrop in the bank, and retained by Patagonia — will continue to be displayed.
The Patagonia building has been vacant since Christmas Eve, 2023. The Westport location opened in 2005.
87 Post Road East recently …
… and as Westport Bank & Trust on Christmas Day, 1975. (Photo/Fred Cantor)
Hollywood — and the world — is mourning the death of Robert Redford.
Westport and Weston residents are remembering him as a neighbor. He lived in this area for a while, and visited frequently with his great friend and frequent co-star, Paul Newman.
Twenty years ago, they settled into the Westport Country Playhouse’s red velvet seats, and were filmed for a Sundance Channel documentary, “Iconoclasts.”
Paul Newman and Robert Redford. (Photo courtesy of Westport Country Playhouse)
If you have a local memory of Redford, click “Comments” below.
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They’re all over the place. You can’t ignore them. And there will be more to come.
No, not spotted lanternflies.
Political signs.
What — if any — are the regulations regarding those ubiquitous placards?
Free speech (including political signs) is protected. It is not regulated by zoning — unlike signs advertising businesses and special events (which are regulated).
These general guidelines apply to all temporary signs (including political ones):
No sign may be placed on any public school property without permission from the superintendent’s office.
No sign may be placed within the interior of Compo Beach or Longshore Club Park.
No sign may be placed on Town Hall property.
No sign may be placed on trees or utility poles.
No sign may interfere with traffic visibility.
PS: Do not steal political signs! You may not agree with another candidate, but that’s not cool.
Political — and non-profit — signs from a past election.
“Hot Sauce Hangout” (September 24, 6:30 p.m.; $40): Learn to make your own from farm fresh produce, with music and a nosh.
“Friday Fun for Kids” (September 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; $65): Grill and chill cooking class; ages 7-12. After gathering herbs and veggies from the garden: marinated grilled chicken, corn skewers, baked potato bar, and apple fritters.
“Family Fall Beer Garden (October 12, noon to 4 p.m.; $15 adults, kids free; food beverage, crafts available to purchase; proceeds benefit WTF educational programs). Music, lawn games, bubbles, animal encounters, pumpkin crafts and more. Pizza by Tony Napolitano; Food Truck Refinery; gelato from Fatto a Mano; adult beverages from Greens Farms Spirit Shop.
Rach’s Hope — the non-profit honoring the memory of 2015 Staples High School graduate Rachel Doran, which provides nutritious food, lodging, transportation and encouragement to family members when a child is in intensive care — is as active as Rachel herself was.
On Sunday, October 5 (3 p.m., Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach), everyone is invited to join the 5th annual “Walk the Extra Mile … For Rach’s Hope” event.
It’s a fun, community-wide beach walk, with live music, a pizza truck, beer and wine, dessert, and special Rach’s Hope swag.
Need more incentive? In celebration of his 84th birthday, Rachel’s grandfather Michael Isenberg completed his pledge to walk 1,000 miles for Rach’s Hope.
He’ll be there. He invites everyone to “walk the extra mile” with him — or come cheer others on.
And finally … on this date in 1630, the city of Boston was founded.
(Whether Westport’s your home — or Boston, or anywhere else — you’re here because you enjoy “06880.” But publishing this blog every day takes work! Please click here to support us. Thank you!)
It’s particularly noteworthy for Heather Frimmer. She is a radiologist, specializing in breast imaging.
The Weston resident is also an author. Her third medical fiction novel, “Always Hope,” will be published October 14.
The tale of healing and hope explores the intricacies of medicine, law and redemption. It’s told through 3 characters: an obstetrician haunted by trauma, a mother raising a child with cerebral palsy, and an attorney striving for redemption.
Frimmer combines professional expertise with detailed research, to tackle themes like the fallibility of doctors, the complexity of parenthood, and the healing power of foregiveness.
Dr. Heather Frimmer
Her routes to medicine — and writing — were hardly foreordained. She had no family members or friends in medicine. But Brandeis University had an excellent pre-med program, so she studied to become a clinical psychologist.
During Cornell/New York Presbyterian medical school, residency and fellowship, she pivoted toward radiology. Her focus now is on reading breast mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs, and performing image-guided breast biopsies and localizations.
During her intern year she met Ben Frimmer on Jdate. They clicked, and married. He was raised in Westport (and graduated in 1988 from Staples High School), and they soon found a home in Weston.
They have 2 teenagers, a lazy goldendoodle, and just celebrated their 23rd anniversary.
In 2014, Frimmer took an introductory writing class at Westport Writers’ Workshop. Supported by that warm community, she found the talent — and courage — to publish novels.
This year, she joined the Writers’ Workshop board, to give back to a place that she loves.
With a demanding job, 2 kids and a dog, finding time to craft a novel is not easy. Writing on her days off (Wednesdays), weekends and vacations, she finishes a rough draft in just over a year. She spends the next year revising and polishing her words.
Though Frimmer is a physician, she has not had first-hand experience with the “medico-legal system” (she adds, “knocking on all the wood over here”).
However, 1 in 3 US doctors wil face a malpractice suit during their careers.
Frimmer has seen friends and colleagues navigate perilous journeys through “the confusing and frightening world of medical malpractice law.” She has seen lawsuits shake physicians to their core, “wreaking havoc on their hard-earned confidence, relationships and mental health.”
In “Always Hope,” she shows how a malpractice suit affects both the plaintiff (who claims to have been harmed by the medical system), and the physician pinned with the blame.
As part of her research, she interviewed 5 obstetricians about their experiences. “Their honest and often heartbreaking testimonials added color, pathos and authenticity” to the book, Frimmer says.
This novel is not about her. But, she says, “certainly threads of truth from my life are woven throughout hte narrative.”
Like the main charcter, she too has been sandwiched between ailing parents and teenage children, all vying for her attention while she also cared for her patients.
Like her main character too she has a non-binary child whom she supported as they navigated their gender transition, and changed their name and pronouns.
The audience for “Always Hope” is “anyone who has ever set food in a hospital or doctor’s office,” Frimmer says.
Fans of medical TV shows like “ER,” “Lenox Hill” and “The Resident, and books like “Miracle Creek” and “Ask Again, Yes” will also appreciate it.
Meanwhile, the author is gearing up for a busy October. She’ll be at the Westport Library’s StoryFest on the 18th, hosts a release party later, and is set for a signing at New Canaan’s Elm Street Books on October 25 (2 to 4 p.m.).
She wants “06880” readers to know that for average risk women, screening mammography should begin at age 40. Those with increased risks should start earlier.
And if you have symptoms — a lump, skin changes, nipple discharge, change in consisency or any other breast changes, no matter what age — tell your doctor.
(“06880” covers books, medicine, people, events — and much more. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
And residents continue to rashly leave their keys in unlocked cars.
Three vehicles were reported stolen between September 9 and yesterday. That makes 51 incidents since January 1.
Thefts occur in parking lots, and private driveways.
Westport Police say: “Under no circumstances should a vehicle ever be left unattended and running, unlocked with the keys inside it, or with valuables left in plain view.
“Unfortunately, nearly all stolen vehicle and vehicle burglary reports involve an unsecured car with keys immediately accessible.”
This is not the first time “06880” has conveyed this message from the WPD. It’s probably not even the 50th time.
We hope it’s the last. But we won’t hold our breath.
There will be many opportunities this fall to hear — and question — candidates for 1st selectperson.
Some will be general sessions. Others — like the one sponsored by Sustainable Westport and Earthplace — have a narrower focus.
The October 6 event (6:30 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church) centers on the environment. All 3 candidates — Don O’Day, Kevin Christie and David Rosenwaks — will participate.
Topics include clean energy initiatives; waste reduction strategies; climate resiliency planning, and Westport’s long-term sustainability goals.
Following the moderated discussion, attendees can continue the conversation informally at Emmy Squared. Click here to submit questions.
StoryFest — The Westport Library’s annual literary festival — kicks off its 8th year by celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
It includes a book launch for “We Survived the Night,”a memoir by noted filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat.
He will be joined by Ramin Ganeshram, executive director of the Westport Museum for History & Culture, for a keynote conversation on October 13 (7 p.m.).
The event comes the day before the book’s official release.
Tickets are $30, and include a copy of the memoir. (The price is the same for 1 or 2 seats, and 1 book). A signing follows the talk.
StoryFest — the largest literary festival in Connecticut — draws scores of authors and hundreds of readers, writers and fans each year. With an interdisciplinary career that defies creative boundaries, NoiseCat’s work aligns with the mission: a celebration of storytelling in all forms, across all types of media.
NoiseCat’s journalism has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post and The New Yorker. In 2021 he was named to Time Magazine’s “100 Next List of Emerging Leaders.”
His film “Sugarcane” was nominated for an Academy Award. It follows an investigation into abuse and missing children at the Indian residential school NoiseCat’s family was sent to in British Columbia.
StoryFest runs from October 13 to 20. It opens with NoiseCat’s book launch, and ends with a 10th anniversary celebration of Shonda Rhimes’memoirYear of Yes.
The Board of Finance holds a special Zoom meeting today at 4:30 p.m., with one item on the agenda: the Hook’d on the Sound concession lease, at Compo Beach.
The public notice says the BOF anticipates discussing this in executive session.
This year, Hook’d rebranded itself as Bluestone.
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Speaking of the shoreline: Work has begun to renovate the tidal gates and pedestrian bridges at Sherwood Mill Pond, leading to Compo Cove.
Equipment is in place at the Compo Beach Soundview parking lot, in the Old Mill lot, and at the garages on the Mill Pond.
The job is expected to be completed next May.
Compared to the Post Road East project, that’s warp speed.
Equipment at the Old Mill garages. (Photo/Tammy Murray)
Jazz at the Post’s September “Piano Madness” continues on Thursday (September 18), with David Hazeltine.
Called “the most recorded contemporary jazz pianist of our time,” he has 35 CDs as a leader, and hundreds more as a sideman.
He’s joined by trombonist Steve Davis, bassist Boots Maleson, drummer Jason Tiemann and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
Tickets are $20 for the early show ($15 for veterans and students); $10 for the late show. A buffet dinner, including vegetarian options, is $25. Click here for tickets.
And finally … in honor of the Board of Finance’s upcoming discussion of the Hook’d contract:
(Another day, another Roundup packed with news you can use. It’s one of the many “06880” features we provide, several times a day. If you like even part of what we do, please support our work. Thanks!)
Right now, Westport is led by a Board of Selectwomen. Since 2021 — and for the first time in town history — the 3 members are all female.
From left: Jen Tooker, Candice Savin, Andrea Moore — our 1st, 3rd and 2nd selectwomen, respectively. (Photo/Dan Woog)
In November, we’ll have a new 1st selectman. All 3 candidates for the top spot are males.
But 2 of the men running — Don O’Day and Kevin Christie — are joined on the ticket by women (Andrea Moore and Amy Wistreich, respectively). David Rosenwaks is on the ballot without a running mate.
Which puts a blogger like me in a difficult position.
What’s the best way to describe the job they’re all running for?
It’s a bit 1950s-ish to call it the “Board of Selectmen,” when there are women in the race.
But “Board of Selectpersons” or “Board of Selectpeople” is a mouthful. Plus, it sounds like a mandate from the Grammar Police.
2025 candidates (from left): Democrats Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich; Independent David Rosenwaks; Republicans Andrea Moore and Don O’Day.
For a few weeks now, I’ve equivocated.
I’ve called it the Board of Selectpersons (or Selectpeople). Someone suggested “Board of Selectmen/women.” I’ve tried various ways to avoid calling it anything, like “the town’s executive branch.” I haven’t been happy with any of those references.
Finally, I’ve come up with a solution. And it’s as simple as, um, 1-2-3.
From now on, I will call it the “Select Board.”
I know that’s not official. But how different is it from calling the Westport Weston Family YMCA just “the Y”?
Making the change official — and why not? — will take some doing, of course.
It might need a revision to the Town Charter, and perhaps approval by a couple of town bodies.
So it sounds like a job for the next Select Board.
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He recounts that experience — and many others — in “The Mental Edge for Young Athletes: A World Champion’s Mental Toughness Guide for Athletes, Parents and Coaches in the Digital Age.”
With a demanding job, 2 kids and a dog, finding time to craft a novel is not easy. Writing on her days off (Wednesdays), weekends and vacations, she finishes a rough draft in just over a year. She spends the next year revising and polishing her words.
Meanwhile, the author is gearing up for a busy October. She’ll be at the Westport Library’s StoryFest on the 18th, hosts a release party later, and is set for a signing at New Canaan’s Elm Street Books on October 25 (2 to 4 p.m.).
