When wildfires fires displaced thousands of Angelenos, WestportMoms swung into action.
Melissa Post and Megan Rutstein — the indefatigable overseers of our town’s mothers-and-more resource — put out the call for donations. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, makeup, diapers, formula, onesies, cribs, school supplies, sports equipment, bags, books, bedding — whatever anyone needs to rebuild their lives, Westporters were asked to give.
Fortunately, Melissa and Megan picked the perfect partner for dropoff and shipping.
The UPS Store at 606 Post Road East (opposite Fresh Market, next to Cava and Westport Hardware) never hesitated.
Don, the owner, said, Sure! We’d be happy to collect what people drop off. We’ll send it off. And if people need boxes, we’ll help them pack it.
Don, Nelson and WestportMoms, at the UPS Store.
They expected to send 4 pallets west.
In one day — just 24 hours — Westporters donated enough goods for 8 pallets.
That was double what was expected.
Don said Fine! We’ll cover the extra thousands of dollars. No problem.
Just like that, thousands of pounds of donations were on their way to the YMCA in Van Nuys, to be distributed to men, women and children who had lost everything.
There are plenty of Unsung Heroes in this story.
The hundreds of Westporters who donated so much. WestportMoms, who came up with the idea and, almost instantly, made it happen.
And Don, Nelson, and everyone else at the UPS Store. They went far beyond the final mile, ensuring that relatives, friends and strangers 3,000 miles away can have a little bit of their tremendous burdens eased.
That was not the only local effort to aid fire victims.
Corri Neckritz — owner of Groove, on Post Road West — organized her own effort. With donations from her store, and customers, 2 enormous trucks (one donated, one paid for by Corri) headed west last week.
She and her customers share our Unsung Heroes honors too.
Corri Neckritz (far right), her husband Seth (left), and the crew that helped haul Groove’s donations to California.
Long Lots Elementary School 2nd grader Austin Resnick wanted to help fire victims too.
With the help of his parents, Jen and Zach Resnick, they had an idea: a Hoops Challenge basketball fundraiser last Friday, after early dismissal before the holiday weekend.
They rallied Austin’s Recreation basketball team, the Golden State Warriors. It was last minute, but word spread.
Two other 2nd grade Rec teams joined in: the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks.
The boys asked for pledges from family and friends. In return, they’d complete challenges including 1-minute layup and dribbling drills, plus trick shots.
The Resnicks thank PAL Basketball president Jordan Schur, and Staples High School basketball coaches Dave Goldshore and Chris Pickens, for their help.
Sixteen players attended — and raised $11,653.
All of the funds go to Baby2Baby, a non-profit providing emergency supplies for the most vulnerable children and families who lost everything in the LA fires.
sCongratulations to the boys, for making a difference!
2nd grader basketball heroes, at their fundraiser.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
But residents attending a meeting of the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee last week raised another issue: the condition of the seawall along Old Mill Beach.
The area — about 35 feet south of the parking lot — shows deterioration and damage, the committee was told.
After discussion, the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee recommended that the Public Works and Parks & Recretion Departments inspect the area, and develop a plan to address the damage.
Members said that a failure of the wall would cause erosion of the beach, and lead to more sand near the Mill Pond’s western tidal gate — leading in turn to an impact on the entire pond.
Yesterday’s Roundup reported on the efforts by Corri Neckritz — owner of the Groove clothing shop on Post Road West — to collect and ship clothing, shoes and more to victims of the Los Angeles fires.
Right on time yesterday morning, a 26-foot truck — donated to the cause — appeared at her home.
Dozens of bags were loaded. The truck was soon on its way west.
Today, another truck — this one twice as large — will come, and haul even more bags away.
A huge Westport thank you to Corri, and everyone else who made everything possible.
Ready to roll! Corri Neckritz is on the right; her husband Seth is at far left.
This weekend, Westporters will reflect on Martin Luther King’s life. They’ll remember his commitment to action.
On Sunday evening, teenagers have a chance to make a small difference in other people’s lives.
The Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy Association invites all high school students to a packing party for Dignity Grows.
The goal is to pack 200 tote bags with menstrual hygiene products, for distribution to local food pantries, shelters and organizations.
Interested volunteers should meet on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston (49 Weston Road). Pizza and snacks are provided!
The Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand season contnues next month with “BackTalk.”
The romantic comedy “dives into the hilariously complicated world of first impressions, second chances, and the voices in our heads that just won’t let us be.”
All tickets are $30. Click here for more information about the February 3 event.
Westporter Margie Gillis is a nationally recognized literacy expert.
On February 8, she’ll speak locally. She will deliver the keynote address at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities’ parent conference. She is a co-founder and former president of the non-profit organization.
The event, at Sacred Heart University, also includes interactive breakout sessions with strategies for parents, resources from sponsors and exhibitors, an “Ask the Experts” panel, and more.
Several sessions are aimed at parents of newly diagnosed children.
Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club speaker addressed a difficult, but very important, topic.
In 2020, Stephen Panus‘ son Jake died in a terrible accident. Panus turned his “pain into purpose.” His book “Walk On” describes his family’s choice of hopefulness. All proceeds benefit scholarships in Jake’s name, at the University of South Carolina and the for the Lakota Native American community.
Stephen Panus, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
All are also made (of course) by hand. That’s why the Italian-born baker calls his business Fatto a Mano (“made by hand”).
Until now, his many fans could buy his fresh-baked goods only at the walk-up window of his commissary kitchen behind Cycle Dynamics, or at the Westport and Ridgefield Farmers’ Markets, and Wakeman Town Farm.
Now Pierluigi is taking the next step, turning a long-time dream into reality.
He’s opening a retail location at 1835 Post Road East, next to Fjord Fishery across from Stop & Shop.
Breads and other baked goods will be delivered hot out of the oven from his kitchen, just a couple of minutes away.
Pierluigi plans to add specialty coffees, cooking classes, menu tasting, a selection of high-end retail products (local and important), and Farmers’ Market foodie collaborations to the menu.
He’ll start with breakfast and lunch, probably Wednesdays through Sundays. He’s shooting for a soft opening before Valentine’s Day.
Pierluigi knows Westporters are hungry — for his breads, and the opening of his new place. “06880” will feed you all the details. (Hat tip: Peter Gold)
Many Westporters have donated clothing to vicitms of the Los Angeles fires.
Corri Neckritz is donating 2 entire truckloads.
As the owner of 2 Groove stores (in Westport across from Whole Foods, and New Canaan), she’s got plenty of clothes.
Her customers have more.
When she heard how many Angelenos lost everything, Corri decided to help. Her daughters helped her contact people in California, who could accept and distribute donations.
She posted on social media. She expected a few hundred views, and a few donations.
It went viral: over 60,000 views.
People — customers, and those who’d never heard of Groove — dropped off enormous bags of clothes at her shop. She took them all — plus more, off the store floor — to her garage. It’s now overflowing with clothing, shoes and bags.
Corri Neckritz’s garage, 3 days ago. There are even more bags now.
Someone donaated a 26-foot truck. Corri got a very reduced rate on another — this one 58 feet long — which she is paying for.
This morning, the first truck will arrive, load up and depart.
Tomorrow, the larger truck will come. Corri has rounded up volunteers to help load it.
“I just want it all to get there soon,” Corri says.
Thanks to her — and generous customers and strangers — it will. (Hat tip: Joan Lipson)
Groove, on Post Road West.
=================================================
Another day, another animal rescue.
Yesterday, Westport animal control officer and Wildlife in Crisis intake director Peter Reid responded to a request for mutual aide from Wilton Animal Control.
A bald eagle had been sighted for a few days in the area. It was flying a bit, but staying on low branches. Yesterday, the eagle sat on a stone wall.
Officer Reid caught him safely. The eagle was very skinny and weak.
He was taken to Wildlife in Crisis, where he gorged on a large bowl of beef heart.
Officer Reid thinks the bird may be suffering from a bacterial infection, or be a victim of rodenticide poisoning.
Soon, hopefully, the eagle will soar again above our skies. (Hat tip: Westport Animal Shelter Advocates)
The Board of Education has one item on its January 16 agenda (7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).
But it’s a big one: the board will discuss the proposed 2025-26 budget.
The meeting can be viewed on Cablevision Channel 78, will be livestreamed at http://www.westportps.org.
=================================================
The Westport Library kicks off Super Bowl week with a talk by Jeff Benedict.
On February 3 (7 p.m.) — 6 days before the big game — the author/producer/ commentator will discuss his book on the New England Patriots, “The Dynasty.” (Spoiler alert: The Pats will not be playing in New Orleans on February 9.)
Benedict spent 5 years inside the team. Sports Illustrated says he “slips inside, lowers the drawbridge, and waves us in to see the ramparts, towers, turrets, and castle keep where the Brady-Belichick-Kraft trinity ruled.”
The event is free. Click here to reserve a seat (and, if interested, purchase a copy of “The Dynasty”).
==============================================
Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between January 8 and 15.
A 58-year-old Newtown man was charged with breath of peace, criminal attempt at assault on an elderly victim, and threatening, following a road rage incident near the Post Road East/Roseville Road intersection.
The 62-year-old complainant admitted that he instigated the incident, by blowin his horn and following a vehicle in front with the intent to harass. Both vehicles pulled into a parking lot and assaulted each other. The complainant shoved the other man, who pulled a boxcutter. The complainant returned to his vehicle, where the other man slashed at his jacket with the boxutter through an open window, ripping his jacket and undershirt.
The man who instigated the incident wsa given a misdemeanor summons for brach of peace, and following too closely with intent to harass.
A 56-year-old Fairfield man was charged with driving under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane, after an investigation into a single vehicle crash on Beachside Avenue last June.
A 19-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with larceny and identity theft, after a complaint about fraudulent checks totaling more than $5,600. He was held on $100,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Traveling unreasonably fast: 12 citations
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 6
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
Driving while texting: 4
Speeding over 70 mph: 3
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 3
Assault: 1
Disorderly conduct: 1
Breach of peace: 1
Identity theft, and conspiracy to commit: 1
Illegal possession of personal ID information, and conspiracy to commit: 1
Reckless driving: 1
Failure to remove snow/ice from motor vehicle roof: 1
Failure to renew registration: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Improper turns: 1
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
It’s the law: You must remove snow and ice from your vehicle.
On May 18, Schoke Jewish Family Service celebrates 50 years of service to Fairfield County . The, with a gala at Temple Beth El in Stamford.
What began in the late 1970s with one secretary, a part-time director and a part-time social worker primarily focused on helping Russian immigrants resettle, has grown into a diverse service provider.
Schoke JFS now offers a wide range of programs, including counseling, geriatric care services, emergency assistance, and initiatives to combat food insecurity. The agency is also home to the Freedberg Family Kosher Food Pantry and the Kosher Mobile Food Pantry, Connecticut’s only kosher food truck.
An Evening with Schoke JFS features a cocktail reception, dinner, awards presentation and dessert.
And finally … in honor of Peter Reid’s heroic rescue yesterday:
(From Westport, Connecticut to Winslow, Arizona, “06880” is your hyper-local blog. If you enjoy our work, please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here — and thank you!)
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
