Soon after Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, a woman posted anonymously on the Facebook group “Jewish Westport.” During this difficult time, she was finding it hard to find like-minded friends.
Many people responded, suggesting ways to make new friends.
Charlene Zeiberg decided to host a Hanukkah potluck.
When the number of interested women passed 40, she needed a place larger than her home. Weston Field Club offered their great space — for free.
Charlene worked with 2 co-hosts: Westporter Carolyn Cohen, and Weston’s Stephanie Feingold.
From left: Carolyn Cohen, Stephanie Feingold, Charlene Zeiberg.
About 75 women came to Monday’s potluck. They live in Westport, Weston, Wilton and Fairfield.
Rabbi Shirah Sklar of Norwalk’s Temple Shalom — a Staples High School graduate — led a moving group candle lighting.
Attendees spent the evening mingling, and making new friends.
And of course, the food was delicious.
Menorah lighting and mingling at Monday’s potluck.
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The weather will soon turn cold. Westporters will just crank up the heat.
Residents of Lyman — our Ukrainian sister city — don’t have that luxury. They’re facing their second winter in homes and apartments devastated by Russian bombs.
We can help. Our Christmas gift is 2 wood pellet machines — devices that can enable 2,000 homes to be heated, all winter long.
Two anonymous gifts — one for $30,000, the other for $10,000 — got us 2/3 of the way to our $60,000 goal.
Other Westporters chipped in over $12,800 more. Now it’s up to the rest of us to donate $7,200.
For just $30, you can heat one home all winter. $300 will heat 10. There is no better gift for our sister city this holiday season.
Come on, Westport — let’s do this today!
To donate by credit card, click here; then click the “I want to support” box; then select “Westport — Lyman Sister City.” Scroll down on the Donate page for other options: mail, wire transfer and Venmo. Thank you!
Wood pellet heating machine.
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Fetch Dog Rescue — the group that since this past April has found loving homes in this area for over 50 dogs from Southern states who are on the euthanasia list, in high kill shelters with little or no hope of adoption, or found as strays in rural areas – has partnered with Rebel & Rose Tattoo and Piercing in downtown Westport, for a fun event.
This Saturday (December 16, noon to 4 p.m.), they’ll have some adoptable pups at the 155 Post Road East studio. They’ll offer $65 piercings, and a raffle to win a tattoo with owner Amanda Mas.
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Yesterday, “06880” featured Charlie Scott, the Staples High School senior who with Oscar Sales produced a compelling short film, “Limbo.”
The story noted that Charlie has gained a great following with his videos of the school’s sports teams.
Here’s his latest effort. It’s the best 2 minutes you’ll ever see of the Wreckers’ state championship football victory on Saturday. From pre-game rituals to the post-game celebration, Charlie’s video — like the Staples football team — is a winner.
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Calling our veterans!
All servicemembers are invited to a “Veterans Morning Coffee Social” tomorrow (Thursday, December 14, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Westport Senior Center). On the menu: coffee, coffee cake, and socializing.
Veterans from Westport’s VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 will be there too.
Westport’s World War I doughboy statue. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
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A real Westporter talks about the realities of generative artificial intelligence, at the next StartUp Westport meeting.
Dan Bikel — a key member of the AI community at Meta — is the guest of the local tech entrepreneur networking group on January 11 (cocktail reception 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m., Westport Library).
Bikel has worked as a natural language processing researcher at IBM Research, LinkedIn and Google Research. Now an AI research scientist at Meta, he helps lead efforts on large language models.
Bikel has an AB from Harvard in classics (Ancient Greek and Latin), and earned MS and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in computer science.
Click here to register.
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A reader writes:
“Local contractors have been using the historic triangular green across from the Old Hill cemetery, on Kings Highway North, as a parking lot for the last month. Today there were 6 cars and pickups parked in the ‘park.’
“They have damaged a large area of lawn, and been compacting the soil and roots of some beautiful mature trees.
I contacted Mike West, parks superintendent for the Westport Parks & Recreation Department. He’s looking into the situation.”
Contractors’ trucks, at Old Hill green.
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The Westport Community Band takes a road trip this Sunday (December 17, 3 p.m.) — all the way to the SoNo Collection mall in Norwalk.
Their holiday concert program includes “Greensleeves,” “Let Freedom Ring,” and many classics.
The public is invited to listen — and shop.
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Graduations, Veterans Day, the Olympics — the ever-changing, colorful Pumpkin Hill signs don’t miss much.
This week, the display honors Hanukkah.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
But … no real lights for the Festival of Lights?
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Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club lunch speaker was Walter Hlawitschka.
The local resident — a finance professor at Fairfield University — offered investing advice. Basically, he said: “Keep it simple.
For the average person, he noted, that means the best investment vehicles for the long run are index funds — specifically, target date funds.
“Targeted” questions from the audience followed.
Walter Hlawitschka, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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Dogs are not the only ones enjoying Compo these days.
Rabbit twins Leonardo DiCaprio and Shadow Muffin hung out yesterday with Tito and Yogi Bear. They’re today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
We’ve still got a few days before the reindeer arrive.
(Photo/Cathy “Cat” Malkin)
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And finally … in honor of Saturday’s rescue and piercing event (story above):
(Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Donate to “06880” — in a friend or loved one’s name! Please click here. Thank you!)
