Tonight’s predicted snowstorm has thrown tomorrow’s Super Bowl party — scheduled for the Westport Senior Center — for a loss.
Officials have already canceled the event.
Snow is expected to start this evening, and continue through tomorrow morning, with perhaps a mix of sleet. Five to 8 inches are expected.
===============================================
Speaking of the Super Bowl: This week the Kings Highway Elementary School PTA, staff, students and Caring Council members hosted their first-ever SOUPer Bowl collection.
Throughout the week, students and staff donated soup (and other canned goods) in their favorite team’s collection box.
Yesterday, all donations were given to the Gillespie Center’s food pantry.
Nearly 500 cans were collected. And the winner was …
Philadelphia Eagles 271 cans, Kansas City Chiefs 214.
Kings Highway PTA member Ellen Mondshine, with her sons Nathan and Owen.
=================================================
Hail to the chief!
At their annual gala March 15, TCS The Community Synagogue will honor Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
“He and the entire Westport Police Department have provided consistent support to our synagogue and the entire Jewish community over the years” says Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn.
“This past year, following the events of October 7, that support has been stronger than ever. We are truly blessed to know that Chief Koskinas and the WPD are always there for us.”
TCS will also honor Dick Kalt, long-time leader of TCS’s Security Committee, and his wife Lydia for their ongoing dedication to the synagogue. The rabbi says, “Dick has played a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the congregation for many years.”
Formerly known as The Conservative Synagogue, TCS recently changed its official name to The Community Synagogue to better reflect its mission and values. while retaining the TCS initials.
“Our membership felt that The Community Synagogue better represented what we strive to be — a wide tent of congregants who grew up secular, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, or not Jewish at all.” Rabbi Wiederhorn says.
“We are an inclusive, egalitarian yet traditional synagogue that is proud to support the people, land and state of Israel. We open our doors to partners and friends throughout the community to celebrate interfaith work, adult education, social action, youth programming, and more.”
For more information about the March 15 gala, and to purchase tickets, click here.
Police Chief Foti Koskinas
================================================
After 3 months of intensive work, Hansen Marine Contractors is nearing completion of dredging operations at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 399, Bridgebrook Marina, and Saugatuck Rowing Club.
The company’s Erik Hansen told VFW quartermaster that they found 2 unexpected challenges in the dredging area near the Saugatuck Rowing Club: a discarded mushroom anchor, and over 30 cubic yards of clam shells.
Hansen says he never saw so many clam shells in his lifetime. “It was like digging up solid concrete.”
Years ago, the site adjacent to the Rowing Club was Mansion Clam House. Delgado wonders if they dumped their clam shells into the river throughout the years.
The source of 30 cubic yards of clam shells?
=================================================
The Westport Library rocked its Winter Dance Party last night.
Christine Ohlman & her band Rebel Montez entertained a large and appreciative crowd.
Ohlman — rhe platinum blonde “Beehive Queen,” and “Saturday Night Live” regular — is no stranger to the Library. She collaborated with Mark Naftalin — the Westport resident and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician — on his “Blue Sunday” series, and has appeared at VersoFest.
She’ll return to VersoFest this year, in a conversaton with Paul Shaffer.
Ohlman’s career includes appearances with Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Smokey Robinsons, Graham Nash, Steve Miller, the B52s and Elvis Costello. She has sold out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s David Bowie tribute and the WC Handy Festival in Muscle Shoals.
She has recorded with Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, George Harrison, Sting, Ian Hunter, Bonnie Bramlett, Ronnie Spector, Charlie Musselwhite, Irma Thomas and Chrissie Hynde, among others.
Christine Ohlman and her band, at the Westport Library. (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
==================================================
Longtime Westport resident Timothy Walker died peacefully on Tuesday. He was 94.
A Boston native and avid sailor, he was a lifelong Red Sox fan.
After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1949, Tim attended Union College. His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. He spent much of his time on the Korean Peninsula.
He returned to Union, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. Tim helped design and build telephone offices for New York Telephone, followed by a long career in management at AT&T.
He left corporate America at age 55 to his own consulting business.
Tim married his wife Betty in 1977. Their partnership lasted almost 50 years. They shared a love of travel, music, friendships, their children and animals.
Tim was an expert in tree care. He climbed and pruned large trees, fought fires as a volunteer. He also participated in disaster relief as a ham radio operator.
Tim was a captain in the Greenwich volunteer fire department, and chief of the Mountain Lakes, New Jersey volunteer fire department.
A Westport resident since 1988, he served on the Flood and Erosion, and Conservation Commissions.
His golden retriever, Clyde, was his constant companion. Tim was a supporter of animal rescue, adopting his beloved great Pyrenees Casey and Bonnie, who were daily visitors to Winslow Park.
Tim is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters (Don Cawrse) and Laurel Risom (Allen Cyr), sons Timothy and Andrew (Sydney), stepdaughter Ruth (Rob Ayles), 9 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; his sister, Sarah Thomson; many nieces and nephews, and his canine companion, Murphy. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Walker.
A celebration of lfe will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club, 304 Main Avenue, Suite 115, Norwalk, CT 06851.
==================================================
Becky Keeler shot today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo a couple of days ago, at Sherwood Island State Park.
At this time tomorrow, the scene will look quite different.
(Photo/Becky Keeler)
==================================================
And finally … if James Dean were still alive, he would turn 94 years old today. The now-legendary actor died in 1955, at 24, after appearing in just 3 major films: “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden” and “Giant.”
(No matter who takes tomorrow’s Super Bowl, if you click here to support “06880,” you’ll be a winner. Go, team! Rah! Thank you!)
