Tag Archives: Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Roundup: Anita Hill, Serena & Lily, Landscape Design …

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Today’s “balloon test” — designed to show what a 124-foot cell tower proposed for 92 Greens Farms Road — has been canceled. No further information is available.

Today’s event at 92 Greens Farms Road is off. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

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Lynn Grossman has a full-time job, as senior vice president, wealth management for Raymond James Financial in Westport.

But she spends nearly all the rest of her time giving back to those less fortunate.

A Westporter since 1985, she runs a non-profit in Queens. She also serves on Fairfield County’s Community Foundation professional advisor council.

The umbrella organization supports many good projects. Lynn is especially excited about the Fund for Women and Girls. Over the past 20 years, they’ve given out $8 million, impacting tens of thousands of females.

She is really excited about April 22 (12 noon, Greenwich Hyatt and virtual). This year’s guest speaker is Anita Hill.

The Brandeis University professor of law, public policy and women’s studies is the recipient of a 2019 PEN Courage Award. Her new book is Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence. In her  autobiography Speaking Truth to Power, Hill shared her story of testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about sexual harassment during her career.

Click here for tickets and more information.

Anita Hill

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A $73 million settlement last week for families of 9 Sandy Hook victims shook 2 worlds last week: the legal one, and the gun manufacturing industry.

It also brought national attention to Josh Koskoff, the Westport attorney who led the long effort.

Yesterday, the New York Times ran a long feature, headlined “How They Did It: Sandy Hook Families Gain Long-Awaited Legal Wins.” The piece explores Koskoff’s strategy, and its implications for similar lawsuits going forward. Click here for the full story.

Josh Koskoff, in his office. (Photo/Monica Jorge for the New York Times)

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A broken sprinkler caused water damage at Serena & Lily. The Elm Street lifestyle store is closed today. They hope to open later this week. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

Serena & Lily

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Mark March 13. Turn your clocks ahead — and at noon (EDT) enjoy an Aspetuck land Trust Sunday “Brunch and Learn” lecture with landscape designer/author/photographer Rick Darke.

He’ll discuss the vital roles native plants play in beautiful, ecologically sound, and broadly functional residential landscape design.

It’s free for members, $18 for non-members. Click here for details, and to register.

Rick Darke

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It’s mid late February. Time for some “Westport … Naturally” color!

(Photo/Judith Katz)

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And finally … happy 64th birthday to singer/songwriter, multi-Grammy-winning — and Brown University graduate — Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Roundup: Compo Entrance, Giving Day, Forest Resilience …

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The Compo Beach entrance looks different these days.

Recently, Matt Murray saw workers clearing brush from the area.

He drove by again yesterday. This time, he noticed, it and at least one tree on Compo Beach Road bordering the turn had been removed.

(Photo/Matt Murray)

By comparison, Matt sent this Google view from 2016:

(Photo courtesy of Google Street View)

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Thirteen Westport-based organizations are among the dozens participating in next Thursday’s Fairfield County’s Giving Day.

The 9th annual event is sponsored by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Since 2014, it has raised $11.5 million for area non-profits. Last year, nearly 15,000 people donated more than $2.25 million to groups offering a wide array of services

The Westport nonprofits raising funds next week are:

  • Beechwood Arts & Empowerment
  • CLASP Homes
  • Homes with Hope
  • Westport Animal Shelter Advocates
  • Westport Astronomical Society
  • Westport Book Sale Ventures
  • Westport Community Band
  • Westport Community Theatre
  • Westport Country Playhouse
  • Westport Downtown Association
  • Westport Museum for History & Culture
  • Westport School of Music

For a full list, and to support any (or all!) groups, click here.

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Want to learn more about “Forest Resilience in the Face of Climate Change”?

Sign up for Aspetuck Land Trust’s “Lunch and Learn” Zoom webinar next Wednesday (February 23, 12 to 1 p.m.).

“Land trusts and other forest owners are facing difficult choices about their cherished trees” in these perilous times, the environmental organization says. “Should we remove and replant? How do we do that?”

The session features the University of Connecticut’s Dr. Juliana Barrett. And Aspetuck Land Trust director of stewardship Lou Bacchiocchi will discuss how he manages 2,000 acres of land.

Click here to register.

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The 2022 Music at MoCA Concert Series — just announced — includes 12 jazz, pop, world music, Broadway, country/folk and classical performances. They’ll  be held inside the museum at 19 Newtown Turnpike, and on the outdoor stage between March and November.

Highlights include performers from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Spotlight series, and the world-renowned Danish String Quartet.

The full schedule:

March 25: Alturas Duo with Gonzalo Cortés (World Music)
April 16: The Figgs (Rock)
April 30: Griffin Anthony (Pop)
May 21: Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet (Jazz) – Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist
June 11: Sean Mason (Jazz) – Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist
June 25: A Tale of Two (Country/Folk)
July 15: Adam Tendler (Classical Contemporary)
July 23: Broadway Through The Ages (Broadway)
August 5: Danish String Quartet (Classical)
August 20: Mariel Bildsten (Jazz) – Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist
September 9: Roman Rabinovich (Classical)
November 19: Heida Hermanns Competition Celebration

Tickets — which include exhibition admission — are available on MoCA’s website, or by calling 203-222-7070. Streaming is available for anyone wishing to watch at home.

Sean Mason, part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist series.

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Speaking of music … oops! Yesterday’s “Roundup” noted John Corigliano’s 84th birthday.

I forgot to mention that the famed contemporary classical composer spent summers here while growing up. His father, John Sr., was concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic for 23 years, and died at Norwalk Hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his 74th birthday party at the family’s summer home on Valley Road. He is buried around the corner, at Assumption Cemetery on Greens Farms Road. (Hat tips: Ann Sheffer, Bobbie Herman)

John Corigliano Jr. (right) with his father John Corigliano Sr. and mother Rose Buzen, an educator and pianist. (Photo/Gabriella M. Langendorff)

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Dog photos are catnip for “06880” readers. Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image comes from Nicola Sharian. Remember: Pooches are allowed at Compo only until March 31. Enjoy it while you can!

(Photo/Nicola Sharian)

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And finally … MoCA’s great concert series lineup (above) includes pop artist Griffin Anthony. Here’s a preview:

Fairfield County Gives!

Fairfield County is filled with folks who give.

But today, they’ll really give.

From now through midnight, we’re celebrating Giving Day. Anyone — including businesses, employee groups, school classes and others — is raising as much as they can, for a few hundred worthy area non-profits.

Hosted by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, and sponsored by Bank of America, it’s a comprehensive, online, one-stop way to make a powerful, collective statement.

Matching funds and prize money is available, heightening each gift’s impact.

Giving Day

Last year — the 1st-ever Giving Day —  drew over $750,000 in donations, from 9,211 people. More than 250 nonprofits benefited.

This year’s goal: $1 million.

The website lists an astonishing array of good causes, in 12 categories. Westport-based organizations include the Animal Shelter, Wildlife in Crisis, the Levitt Pavilion, Westport Arts Center, Westport Cinema Initiative, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Historical Society, Westport School of Music, A Better Chance, Staples Tuition Grants, Westport Astronomical Society, Earthplace, Homes With Hope, Culture of Respect, the YMCA and Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services. (I’ve probably missed a few. Sorry!)

Beyond our town borders are Mercy Learning Center, WPKN, Soundkeeper, Circle of Friends, Jewish Home for the Elderly, STAR, the Merritt Park Conservancy — you get the idea.

But what are you waiting for? Stop reading! Click here.

As every organization knows: Every dollar counts. And there’s no time to waste.