Mark Yurkiw thought it deserved to be seen by “06880” readers who might have missed it there. It sure does. The Post‘s Alex Putterman wrote:
One night in early January, Gabriela [identified only by her middle name] was at Norwalk Hospital receiving treatment for a broken jaw, accompanied by her son. A stranger heard her tell a nurse she couldn’t afford a ride home and approached with an offer to help. Her name was Courtney Davis.
Courtney Davis
Davis inhabits the opposite end of Connecticut’s divide as Gabriela. She lives in Westport with her husband — a real estate developer she met years ago when she worked as a personal assistant to Jared Kushner — and their two kids.
On Instagram, she shares her mostly glamorous life with more than 22,000 followers. One recent post showed her blasting 2Pac from her Mercedes.
Davis and her husband often eat out around the corner from a Westport homeless shelter, and she says she sometimes feels strange sipping an expensive cocktail so close to people who can’t afford basic essentials.
“I’m surrounded by millionaires, and right next door this is happening, where people can’t even buy any food for their family?” she said. “It’s crazy.”
And so after meeting Gabriela at the hospital and hearing her story, Davis offered to pay for an Uber to take her home, and the women exchanged contact information. Shortly after, Davis took Gabriela and her son to Target, where she bought them coats, pajamas, snacks and toys. She posted about the encounter on Instagram and started a GoFundMe for her new friend.
Months later, they still talk regularly and consider each other friends.
“That little act of kindness, it meant so much to me,” said Gabriela, who says she hopes to repay Davis one day.
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
Karen La Costa — a Westport Community Gardens gardener — also volunteers at Caroline House in Bridgeport.
They help women and children “reach the fullness of their potential through education in English language and life skills.”
On Monday, Karen invited co-worker Francisca, her children and Caroline House students for an afternoon in the garden.
They enjoyed identifying squash, eggplant, watermelon, peppers and all types of flowers. They were amazed at the size of Karen’s soon-to-bloom giant sunflower.
Donations of potatoes and onions from a fellow gardener were turned into Welcome Home Soup for Francisca’s mom, who arrived that night from the Dominican Republic.
Caroline House visitors, with sunflowers.
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A year ago, Bob Levy and his wife Doree joined the Westport Weston Family YMCA. They swim up to 5 times a week, and love it: the welcome at the front desk, the lifeguards, all the staff.
Six months ago, Bob noticed a woman teaching someone how to box. She introduced herself as Brenda Waldron, the instructor for a class of people with Parkinson’s.
Despite never having hit anyone (or been hit) in his 77 years of life, he told her he’d love to volunteer.
“The class has a great group of people,” Bob says. “It’s filled with positive energy and camaraderie. Boxing makes people stronger, gives them better balance, even helps with memory.” He has witnessed its benefits for people with Parkinson’s first hand.
A couple of weeks ago, he gave shirts to the group. He gave Chalk Talk Sports of Norwalk a slogan — “Knock Parkinson’s Out”; quickly, they provided a design.
On Monday, Bob handed out the shirts. Members were delighted.
“This class is a perfect example of of when one gives, they receive much more,” Bob says.
The “Knock Parkinson’s Out” class, and their classy shirts.
Two officials from the Bridgeport Rescue Mission were guest speakers at the Westport Rotary Club’s lunch meeting yesterday.
The organization provides meals, safe housing, clothing, free health care (including mental and dental), and access to other human services organizations.
Volunteer coordinator Sarah McDonagh was particularly impactful, as she discussed her personal experiences as a resident in the Addiction Recovery Program.
Bridgeport Rescue Mission development director Craig Adler and volunteer coordinator Sarah McDonagh at yesterday’s Rotary Club lunch.
The Joggers Club is warming up for the fall season.
They start with (of course) a party on Saturday, September 2 (7 p.m.).
Then they’ll begin their fun runs (which, as always, end with coffee, bagels and muffins). The season “runs” every Saturday (8 a.m. at the Greens Farms train station — “all weather, all seasons, all good”).
Track Nights are held every Thursday (6:30 p.m., Staples High School). The season “runs” from September 9 through June 29.
The Joggers Club is for all paces, distances and levels. All are welcome. Their motto is: “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.”
The cost is $50 for the season. New members get a free custom Brooks racing shirt ($32 value).
For more information, including membership, click here.
“Quiet Places” — the new show at Amy Simon Fine Art — opens Saturday (August 19), and runs through September 23.
Featured artists are Barry Katz, Paul Shakespear and David Skillicorn.
“No. 6,” encaustic over plaster (Barry Katz)
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Patricia Burrows died Monday, at her home Weston home. She was 77.
A psychotherapist for more than 50 years, she was very involved in her communities of New York, Weston, Mendocino, California, and Mount Holly, Vermont. She was also a highly regarded “surrogate mother.”
She is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Milton Wolfson; children Jordan, Jessica, Jody Emmet and Tracy; brothers Jonathan (Annie) and Kenneth (Erica Jong), and grandchildren Maximiliana Warburg, Henri Emmet, Hana Zeramby, Dylan Zeramby, Lucas Lovelace and Naomi Lovelace, and puppy Lucy.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Thursday, August 17, noon, Abraham L. Green and& Son Funeral Home, Fairfield, CT). Visitation with the family begins at 11 a.m.
A reception will be held immediately following the service at the family home in Weston.
Shiva is planned for Weston (Friday and Saturday August 18-19, 2 to 6 p.m.) and New York (Sunday, August 20, 2 to 6 p.m.).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Homes with Hope.
Patty Burrows
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We sometimes think of May as “flower time” around here. That’s certainly a month of riotous colors.
But — as Susan Garment’s “Westport … Naturally” photo reminds us today, there’s plenty of vibrancy in mid-August too.
“Real Housewives of New York” star and “Apprentice: Martha Stewart” runner-up Bethenny Frankel is pitching Bravo on a new show.
According to the New York Post‘s Page 6, it “would follow rich Connecticut families — including, a source pointedly notes, their children.”
Sources tell “06880” that potential stars could include 2 Westporters: actress/blogger Eva Amurri, and comedian Courtney Davis, controversial MC of this past spring’s Fashionably Westport benefit.
Despite several issues, Page 6 says that Bravo remains “theoretically interested in the comings and goings of Westport’s most delectably nepo-licious residents.”
Sources say the show has already begun filming, though that has not been confirmed.
Eva Amurri
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After 24 years, Westport PAL basketball has a new president.
Jordan Schur — a former Staples High School Class of 2001 hoops and soccer star — will continue the program that longtime head Howie Friedman brought to great heights.
Schur’s plans include off-season programs, and increased youth engagement and synergy between high school and youth players.
To start, PAL is endorsing fall clinics for boys and girls in grades 3 to 8. Click here for details, and follow on Instagram: westport_palhoops.
Jay Norris — the Westport entrepreneur and CEO of Guesst, the creative leasing platform — shared his insights into his work with News12 Connecticut. Click here for his interview.
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Picnic on the 4th of July!
No, that’s not a late announcement (or a very early one).
It’s the name of the band providing entertainment this Friday (August 18, 6 to 9 p.m.), as part of the Westport Downtown Association’s “Summer Music on Church Lane” series.
The string band — which specializes in traditional American roots and bluegrass, with a dose of rock, folk, jazz and blues — features guitars, banjo, harmonica, bass and vocals.
They’ve been together 10 years, playing bluegrass festivals, farmers’ markets, porch fests and private events.
Plus — now — the streets of Westport.
Picnic on the 4th of July (from left): Martin Daniels, Louis Fuertes, Pat Blaufuss, Jeff Carroll. (Photo/Amy Daniels)
Westport firefighter Peter Nichio is also a veteran. After serving in Afghanistan, returned home from Afghanistan with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Injury.
He has amazing resilience. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy has helped him deal with traumatic situations on the job.
Peter is the perfect choice as MC and auctioneer for the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team’s first-ever benefit.
“Beyond the Call: Supporting the Mental Health of First Responders” is set for New Canaan’s Waveny House on October 12 (6:30 p.m.).
There’s the usual food and drink. But attendees can also chat with public safety professionals from fire, law enforcement, EMS and animal control.
Trauma therapists will answer question, and describe the intersection of trauma therapy and emergency response.
Keynote speaker and professional athlete Todd Blyleven — son of Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven — will discuss his experience as a survivor of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting that killed 60 people, and injured more than 400.
Blyleven will also moderate a panel of local first responders.
Click here for tickets and more information on the event. Questions? Email Linda Rost: lrost0411@gmail.com.
And finally … on this day in 1939, “The Wizard of Oz” premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.
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