Several years ago, Earthplace lost its longtime supplier of donated raptor food.
Now they have to raise $24,000 each year, to feed birds of prey that have found a home at the environmental and educational non-profit.
Among them: Moody and Marble. The barred owls arrived at Earthplace 12 years ago, with injuries that prevented them from surviving on their own.
They’ve been cared for ever since. Today, they are beloved by all who visit.
Generous donors have pledged a match up to $12,000. Between now and July 31, all tax-deductible gifts are doubled. Reaching that goal would feed all the Earthplace raptors for a year.
Click here to contribute, and for more information.
Earthplace owl.
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Speaking of nature: Linda Montecalvo read yesterday’s Roundup item about the return of spotted lanternflies.
She sends a photo of young ones, who seem to be everywhere. “People might want to ID them in their yards, since they look so different than the adults,” she writes.
Here they are — looking both beautiful and gross:
(Photo/Linda Montecalvo)
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The end is here for 246 Hillspoint Road.
The century-old cottage — the last of its kind facing Old Mill Beach — is being demolished today.
In its place: a new home. Surprisingly, given the town=wide trend, it will be non-overpowering, non-towering, and designed with its tiny lot in mind.
Early this morning … (Photo/Totney Benson)
… and less than an hour ago. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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“06880” likes to highlight local businesses, and their community work.
Suzanne Sherman Propp gives a shout-out to Nice Threads.
Tim Nash’s Kings Highway North company Nice Threads provides custom- decorated merchandise to schools and businesses around New England. Their logo-wear and swag is well known and popular throughout Westport.
Suzanne — who often uses Nice Threads to create materials for Greens Farms Elementary School, where she teaches — recently recommended Nash’s firm to he rsister Caroline, whose Broadway show “Empire The Musical” opened off-Broadway yesterday. (Spoiler alert: It’s about construction of the Empire State Building.)
Caroline and Suzanne’s niece Sophia Sherman (Staples High School Class of 2018) created the “Empire” logo. Her father Alex Sherman (Staples ’85) created the slogan: “A New Musical Based on a True Building.”
Tim helped Caroline put the logo and slogan — which has been plastered on taxis, buses, billboards and garbage cans throughout New York — on hats, water bottles and t-shirts.
It’s a great partnership. But even though 2 generations of Shermans were involved, Tim’s family has a much longer Westport pedigree.
Daniel Nash helped found the town, in 1835.
And his relatives have been in what was then Norwalk — on the pond that now bears their name — since at least 1701.
The “Empire” logo on New York buses is available on locally made swag too.
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Helen McAlinden returned this week from the National Conference on Ending Homelessness, followed by a day of meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill.
Both events provided opportunities for service providers, leaders, advocates, and people with lived experience of homelessness to learn from each other, discuss best practices, and share innovations in the field.
McAlinden — the CEO of Homes with Hope, Westport’s non-profit organization addressing homelessness and hunger — met personally with Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman Jim Himes, and aides to Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Helen McAlinden (3rd from left) and Rep. Jim Himes (far right), in the Connecticut congressman’s Washington office.
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Tonight’s free Levitt Pavilion show is a don’t-miss event, for fans of many musical genres.
Black Opry Revue honors the significant, and often overlooked, contributions of Black artists to country, blues, folk and Americana music.
The lawn opens at 6:30 (Friday, July 12). The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Click here for information, and free tickets.
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between July 3 and 10.
a 20-year-old Weston man was arrested for larceny, identity theft and receipt of goods from illegal use of a credit card. He allegedly stole credit cards from a Westport Weston Family YMCA locker room, then used them in the SoNo Mall.
Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 15 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 9
- Failure to obey stop sign: 9
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 8
- Driving while texting: 3
- Distracted driving: 3
- Failure to renew registration: 3
- Simple trespass: 3
- Speeding: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
- Reckless driving: 1
- Illegal entry to a limited access highway: 1
- Improper turn: 1
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Failure to carry a license: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
Not everyone can drive on the Merritt Parkway. Trucks, buses and other large vehicles are prohibited.
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Pink Aid is a wonderful organization. They do wonderful work, supporting women and families in the area impacted by breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Pink Aid provides compassionate support, critical resources and emergency financial assistance.
But they can’t do it alone.
On July 22 (11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), a “Play 4 Pink Aid” event at Rolling Hills Country Club will raise crucial funds.
They’ve covered all their bases. “Play” opportunities include golf, tennis, pickleball, mah jongg and canasta.
Every attendee receives a code for a $125 shopping spree from fashion sponsor Golftini. Click here to register, and for more details.
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MoCA CT’s Artisan Marketplace Summer Series continues this Sunday (July 14, noon to 4 p.m.).
It’s a chance to support local artisans and their creations — jewelry, pottery, textiles, artwork — in an outdoor setting. Click here for details.
MoCA’s unique building, on Newtown Turnpike.
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Playing with Legos is a growing-up experience for many children. Their parents participate with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Abby Margolis Newman dreaded the time her middle son Aaron spent with the interlocking pieces.
But he loved it — so much so that it became his career. He found an adult community of Lego lovers, learned Danish, was hired by the company as a designer, and has built a career with them.
Recently, Abby — a 1979 Staples High School graduate — got a glimpse into her son’s world, on a trip to New York. She writes movingly about her new understanding of the importance of Legos in his life, in an essay published Monday in the Los Angeles Times. Click here to read.
Abby Margolis Newman
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Before the town of Westport bought Longshore in 1960 ($1.9 million, including the golf course, tennis courts, pool, Inn and more), it was a failing country club.
That’s about $16 million, in today’s dollars.
Seth Schachter spotted a remnant of those 1950s-era days on eBay. This pin is for sale, for $59.90. (In 1960, it would have gone for $7.50.)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” comes from Wakeman Town Farm.
Alice shows off her 3-day-old baby, Raisin. (She has another baby, named Apricot.)
They’re the newest additions, at the always-exciting Cross Highway farm.
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … Rod Argent — founding member, keyboardist and songwriter of one of the most underrated ’60s groups, the Zombies — will retire from touring, after a recent stroke. The band canceled all upcoming tours. (Hat tip: Michael Taylor)
(It’s always the time of the season to support “06880.” Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thanks for your help!)
A couple of months earlier, Abby tackled a topic few “mommy blogs” address.