Tag Archives: Hebrew Conversation Group

Roundup: Winfield Street Deli, “Next To Normal”, Hebrew Conversation …

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Winfield Street Coffee has gone big time.

The deli just over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge opened its 9th location Monday, on the 86th Street/2nd Avenue Q line subway station platform in New York.

Upper East Side Patch reports: “Eager customers gave the business a warm welcome, lining up to buy hot coffee, nitro cold brew, bagels and pastries from a booth that had previously been home to a standard newspapers-and-coffee kiosk.

“‘People are so excited to have something before they hop on the train,” said Kathryn Greaves, Winfield Street’s district manager.”

In the works: coffee stands at the 72nd Street and 96th Street Q line stations.

So commuters can get their first coffee of the day here on the way to the train, then a second one on their way to work.

Winfield Street was in Westport, long before New York City.

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Opening day is near for the Westport Country Playhouse’s 2022 season — the 92nd, in its storied history.

The curtain rises on the 3-time Tony Award-winning musical “Next to Normal,” on April 5.

The multi-racial cast is headed by Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Tony winner for his portrayal of Angel in “Rent”) and Darlesia Cearcy, (Erzulie in the Tony-winning revival of “Once on This Island”).

For more information and tickets, click here.

The “Next to Normal” cast.

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Can we talk about the Hebrew Conversation Group?

One of the longest-running Westport Library language groups, they’ve just celebrated their 10-year anniversary.

They got their start — and are still supported by —  Israelis in CT. The non-profit social organization provides native speakers, who offer help and guidance to people of all level who want to practice and improve their Hebrew proficiency. The group meets twice a month, all year round.

Some members have participated the entire time, including facilitators Susan Cutler and Charles Halasz; Hebrew mavens Moshe Berman and Israelis-in-CT  president Relly Coleman, and Sue Collin. 

Before Covid pushed everyone onto Zoom, they were joined by Young Israeli Emissaries, who helped with ever-evolving Israeli slang.

One benefit of the virtual format: reuniting with members who had moved away. They, and newcomers, now participate from across the US and Canada, South America, Europe, Africa — and of course Israel.

Newcomers — from beginners to native speakers are welcome. For information, email israelisinct@hotmail.com or call 203-226-8739.

A pre-COVID meeting of the Hebrew Conversation Group.

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Millie Hardy’s death last week devastated her many Minute Men Cleaners customers. They adored her — and were honored to call her a friend.

Now they’re helping the woman who spent over 50 years of her life helping them.

A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for her funeral, and to honor her. Click here for details, and to donate.

Millie Hardy

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Lynsey Addario’s photo of the Ukrainian family killed by a Russian mortar attack has stunned the world, since it was published on Sunday by the New York Times.

That one photograph by the 1991 Staples High School graduate — a Pulitzer Prize winner and MacArthur fellow — has captured the horrors of the invasion like no other. It has been the focus of worldwide television reports, and been reposted on social media around the world.

But who were the people murdered, as they tried to escape the shelling? Yesterday, the Times told us. The riveting story describes the lives of a mother, her 18-year-old son, 9-year-old daughter, and the church volunteer with them.

Her husband was in another part of Ukraine, tending to his mother who has COVID.

Click here to read about the 4 people Lynsey captured for posterity — and the loved ones they left behind.

The photograph that shocked the world. (Photo/Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

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After yesterday’s snow, a flock of turkeys made tracks — literally — in Jerry Kuyper’s yard.

He found them visually intriguing. Then he decided to add a touch of his own.

It’s a different type of “Westport … Naturally” photo today — a bit political. But always welcome.

(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)

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And finally … speaking of peace: Here’s a great video from Playing for Change. The multimedia project — which weaves together musicians from around the globe, playing familiar songs in incredible harmony — posted “Peace Train” last September.

It was well before Russia invaded Ukraine. But the message is even more relevant today.

Spoiler alert: There’s a great appearance near the end by Yusuf/Cat Stevens himself.