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.
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The Metro-North Transit Museum — next to the stationmaster’s office in Grand Central Terminal — has a new exhibit.
This one includes a photo and writeup about the Greens Farms station:
It’s guaranteed to stop local travelers in their, um, tracks. (Hat tip: Peter Gold)
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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.
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Yesterday’s “06880” Roundup noted a potential new Bravo show, following “rich Connecticut families” and their children.
Among the potential stars: Westport’s actress/blogger Eva Amurri and comedian Courtney Davis.
We missed one other cast member from Westport: Kate Freeman.
Apologies for not being on top of all the local gossip!
The cast includes Westporters (center) Eva Amurri and (right) Kate Freeman.
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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.
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“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.
(Photo/Susan Garment)
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And finally … in honor of Bob Levy’s gift to his YMCA class (story above):
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