Tom Kretsch is a longtime Westport, a retired teacher — and a noted photographer. He writes:
The warmth of the holiday spirit was alive and well in Branson Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church last Wednesday evening.
Festive decorated tables, a tasty dinner, a large assortment of home-baked desserts, holiday music drifting through the air, and of course the arrival of Santa Claus for young ones.
The occasion was Homes with Hope‘s annual holiday party for the many people blessed to have the help and services of this fabulous organization.
In addition to Gillespie Shelter for men and Hoskins Place for women, they offer affordable housing for those in need, meals, a food pantry, counseling, tutoring and so much more.
It was a joy to be there as a guest and a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, which had organized a special “Art from the Heart” project. Through donations by members, every family at the party could choose a piece through a free raffle.
As dinner wound down, it was time for folks to choose their favorites. Everyone had time to view the art beforehand.
Admiring art, before the raffle.
Watching all this evolve was heartwarming. A mother and daughter chose a piece of gorgeous mystical flowers.
A man dressed in holiday clothing chose a stunning portrait of a horse. He held it, then raised it over his head as if he had just won the Super Bowl, singing out in glee.
I walked up to a woman who had chosen one of my photographs, a huge Ferris wheel taken in Wildwood, New Jersey. I introduced myself and told her a little about the image. She was so pleased, and asked to have a picture taken of us.
Tom Kretsch’s Ferris wheel photo.
Ken Runkel, an artist who donated a piece, also spoke with the people who had chosen his. He too was touched by the warmth and gratitude of the recipients.
And so, it went on until the last piece was taken.
As many were gathered by the piano singing holiday songs, I chatted with Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope. With her sweet Irish accent and always positive spirit, she is a dynamic and charismatic leader.
As we talked, she told me in a whisper that one of the people who had gotten a photograph said to her, “I wish I had a wall to put it on.”
I almost couldn’t comprehend what I had just heard. Is this possible? Here in Westport, someone does not have a wall of their own to put a picture up. He has no personal space.
That touched the core of my being.
Art can do so much for a person — whether making it or looking at it. It can help comfort, soothe, inspire, create, think, imagine, hope, change, care, heal and smile.
The Artists Collective of Westport made a nice step toward bringing art into people’s lives who might not have the means to purchase it through its holiday “Art from the Heart” project.
The next morning Helen took me on a tour of the Gillespie Center. She showed me the fantastic food pantry, and all the facilities of the recently renovated center. I had not been there in a while.
As we walked through the men’s shelter, I passed several of the beds. Lying on them were the pieces of art they received the night before.
I am sure the wish for a “wall of their own” was also in their thoughts.
Phil Ochs wrote a song some years ago, called “There but for Fortune.” It speaks to the fragility of life:
I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
And there but for fortune go you or I, you and I.
As we look at our walls, may we all remember our own good fortune.
Today’s Unsung Hero feature marks a milestone: 400 stories.
It’s fitting that today we honor the epitome of a quiet, generous, truly unsung Westporter. Homes with Hope president Helen McAlinden writes:
You may not know John Walsh by name – and that’s exactly how he prefers it.
But if you’ve ever served a meal at the Gillespie Center, attended an event at Saugatuck Congregational Church or supported Homes with Hope, chances are you’ve felt his quiet, guiding presence.
John Walsh
John doesn’t seek attention or recognition. For decades he’s been one of Westport’s most dedicated and compassionate behind-the-scenes leaders — always showing up, stepping in, and making things happen with humility and heart.
Whether he’s organizing volunteers, supporting local families in need, or lending a steady hand wherever it’s most needed, John leads not with words, but with action.
John Walsh is a perfect choice as Unsung Hero: someone who has made a lasting impact on our community simply by being there for others, day in and day out.
Homes with Hope is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness and food insecurity throughout Fairfield County. John’s involvement started with a simple question.
Nearly 30 years ago he and his wife Sara brought their daughter Connie to serve a home-cooked meal at the Gillespie Center. Connie asked a simple but powerful question: “Why do people live here?”
Rather than offering a quick response, he chose to seek out the real answers. Then he acted.
John began volunteering, donating and listening. His commitment deepened over the years. In 2001 he joined the board of directors.
Not long after, he was invited to serve as board chair. It is a role he has filled with extraordinary dedication and vision ever since.
This year, after decades of unwavering service, John plans will step down as chair. He will pass the baton to Becky Martin, who is already doing an outstanding job as co-leader.
But Homes with Hope is not ready to let John go altogether. And thankfully he is not ready to step away entirely.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership, lifelong commitment and enduring impact, the Board of Directors is proud to name John as Homes with Hope’s first-ever emeritus chair. The new title is reserved for those whose contributions have been transformative.
We extend our deepest gratitude to John, Sara and their family for the legacy they’ve built together, and for the compassion, generosity and integrity they’ve brought to our mission for nearly 4 decades. Their impact will be felt for generations to come.
John’s professional life was spent in executive leadership roles at Pfizer and Warner-Lambert. He retired in 1997 as president of Pfizer’s Schick/Wilkinson Sword Division, Consumer Healthcare Division, a role that demanded vision, clarity and steady hands.
He brought all of that and more to Homes with Hope.
John led the organization through 3 Presidents: Pete Powell, Jeff Wieser and Helen McAlinden. Each one leaned on his insight, strategic mind, and above all his belief in people.
Homes with Hope stalwarts (from left): Pete Powell, Willie Salmond, John Walsh, Helen McAlinden, Jeff Wieser.
Personally, John is the kindest, most genuine, loyal and supportive leader I’ve ever worked with. He is behind so many of our biggest successes, quietly. I am forever grateful to John for his support and guidance.
As a dedicated member of the Homes with Hope board, he doesn’t just lend his voice — he leads by example. When he encounters someone in need, he stops to help. When the organization faces a funding shortfall, he steps in to bridge the gap.
In a testament to his quiet generosity and deep commitment, he and his wife established the John and Sara Walsh Fund. It ensures that every client — especially the children in our housing programs — has access to basic necessities, and the resources they need to succeed. It removes barriers and creates opportunities, embodying his belief that no one should be held back by circumstance.
John Walsh (seated, 2nd from left), listens to Governor Ned Lamont at last year’s dedication of 122 Wilton Road. Its 19 affordable apartments — run by Homes with Hope — are home to 52 residents.
John’s wife Sara is also a dedicated and tireless volunteer. Her commitment and partnership have been integral to our mission.
Their daughter Alexandra plays a vital role too, serving as coordinator of the Community Kitchen at Saugatuck Congregational Church. The church was part of a compassionate community response in 1983, when people experiencing homelessness sought refuge in the pews of Westport’s churches and synagogues. That was the genesis of Homes with Hope.
When the Saugatuck Church suffered a devastating fire in 2011, the Walsh family quietly stepped in to lead the rebuilding effort.
The church’s full restoration is a testament to the same quiet spirit John brings to everything he touches: care, community, and quiet perseverance.
If you would like to become part of the Homes with Hope tradition, just as the Walsh family did so many years ago, we invite you to attend Stand Up for Homes with Hope on October 17. The special benefit evening features comedian Tom Papa. (Click here for details.)
At this event, we will proudly honor John for his decades of exceptional service and visionary leadership. Join us as we celebrate his lasting impact on our community; while the evening promises plenty of laughs, our appreciation for John is no joke!
John Walsh never set out to become a hero. He just wanted to answer a child’s question and make life better for people in need. Westport is a stronger, kinder town because he did.
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
In 1864, Charles Kemper — the tanner whose barn later became the Westport Country Playhouse — moved his home from that site to 124 Compo Road North.
The town bought the property in 1901. According to former Westport Historical Society house historian Bob Weingarten, officials were spending more money for “indigents” by renting space in individual homes than if the town owned a house for their use.
Buying the home — and an 11-acre farm — for $2,750 as an “almshouse” would save at least $1,000 a year.
“Town Poorhouse,” circled on a 1911 map. Compo Road North was known then as East Main Street.
It remained a “poorhouse” with 5 paupers (also called “inmates”) until 1957, when it was rented out to other residents. Officials then considered it for the site of a Highway Department garage. Instead, in 1974 the “Town Farm” tennis courts were built nearby.
It was eventually abandoned. Infested with racoons, squirrels and mice, it was slated for demolition.
But assistant superintendent of schools for special education Kate McGraw and Department of Human Services director Barbara Butler had a vision. With help from grants writer Barbara Heatley, architect Ed Campbell and carpenter Ed Canning, the dream became a reality
In the mid-1980s the house was renovated into Project Return, a home for Westport girls whose parents could not keep them at home. Susie Basler ran the program for 30 years.
When she retired in 2016, the one-time “poorhouse” got a new name: Susie’s House.
A photo of Susie Basler has a place of honor, near the front door.
That year, the state eliminated funding for group homes. Homes with Hope — which already ran Westport’s homeless shelter and food pantry — took over the program, under then-CEO Jeff Wieser.
During COVID, girls were placed in hotels. The house once again sat empty.
Early next month — following extensive renovations — the former “poorhouse,” now Project Return/Susie’s House, begins a new chapter.
Six young women, ages 18 to 26, will move in. All are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
One of 6 private bedrooms, at Susie’s House …
Each will have her own room, bathroom and small refrigerator. There’s a handsome living room, modern kitchen, washer/dryer, basement with computers and games and a reading nook, and offices where Homes with Hope staffers can help the young women find jobs, meet with mentors, and transition to their own housing.
A porch in back overlooks the Town Farm tennis courts and Little League fields.
… and the kitchen, with washer/dryer in the rear.
For some of the women, this will be the first stable housing of their lives.
The program will focus on education and employment. Young women will leave the home knowing how to earn income, and move onto self-sufficiency in their own apartments.
The house will have 24-hour support. It will be managed by a seasoned social worker, who will guide the women along their path.
The other day, Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, COO Paris Looney, director of marketing Katharine Murray, social worker Carmen Ayala and board co-chair Becky Martin showed off the bright, airy space.
Carmen Ayala and Paris Looney.
Paint was fresh. Bedrooms were newly furnished. The living room had just been outfitted, with donations from GL Design, Serena & Lily, Knock on Wood Antiques and Redi-Cut Carpet & Rugs.
Before the first residents moved in, Homes with Hope was preparing to show off the space. Neighbors and former Project Return volunteers visited on Saturday.
Longtime supporters, Homes with Hope staff and volunteers, and neighbors visited on Saturday. Susie Basler (center, with flowers) was among the delighted guests. (Contributed photo)
This Wednesday (March 26), Westport’s 2 Rotary Clubs get tours. On Thursday (March 27), Project Return/Susie’s House welcomes town officials, and Homes with Hope’s builders.
The 6 women who will move in soon include 2 from Westport, now being assisted by our Department of Human Services. Some of the new residents are in college; some are working.
None have parental support. They live in shelters, or are couch surfing.
Each will have a 1-year lease. Those who are working will pay 30% of their salary for rent.
Food will come from the Homes with Hope pantry, and donations from groups like the Rotary Clubs.
Susie’s House, Compo Road North: ready for a new chapter.
In addition to staff, they’ll benefit from community support. Volunteers will offer cooking lessons, writing workshops and more. M&T Bank branch manager Matt Cummings will teach financial literacy. Artists Miggs Burroughs and Nina Bentley will volunter their talents too.
Funding for the renovations came from the Connecticut Department of Housing. Town officials have been “outstanding” in providing help with the process, McAlinden says.
Susie’s House is deed-restricted. For the next 40 years, it is mandated to serve populations in need, like this one.
The porch looks out on Little League fields — and beyond, the “Town Farm” tennis courts. (All photos/Dan Woog)
Homes with Hope CEO McAlinden says, “These young women have been through a lot. They’ve had trauma. This is their home now, and their hope for the future.”
The town’s former “poorhouse” has left a rich legacy indeed.
(A large part of Homes with Hope’s funding comes from community members. Click here to learn more, and donate. The annual “Gather ‘Round the Table” luncheon at Shorehaven Golf Club on May 14 is a fundraiser for Project Return/Susie’s House. Click here for more information. To learn more about Susie’s House, or arrange a personal tour, call Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden: 475-225-5292.)
Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden and board co-chair Becky Martin, in the brightly furnished living room.
The renovation is done. Everyone is ready. The move-in date for the remodeled Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place is Monday (January 6).
Homes with Hope — the non-profit that oversees the homeless shelter and food pantry on Jesup Road, between Tiffany and the police station — is proud of the new facility.
Rooms and furnishings are completely redone. The space includes a new kitchen, spacious food pantry, and a meeting room available for non-profits free of charge.
Homes with Hope CEO and president Helen McAlinden is offering tours to the public on Friday and Saturday (January 3 and 4, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Reservations are required. Call or text Helen at 475-225-5292 to reserve your spot.
Helen McAlinden, outside the newly renovated Gillespie Center. (Photo/Dan Woog)
But if you’re looking for somewhere to watch today’s Peach and Rose Bowls, VFW Post 399 is your spot.
They’ll welcome you any time between noon and 7 p.m. Good games, great food and drinks, fun company … the perfect way to “kick off” 2025. (Hat tip: Andrew Colabella)
Football, food and fun, from noon to 7 p.m. today.
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There were as many ways to welcome 2025 last night as there are Westporters (including, unusually, thunder).
Everett Bierman took this view:
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Pizza meets politics on Monday.
That’s the date (January 6, 7 p.m.), and Pizza Lyfe is the place, for the next League of Women Voters o Westport event.
The non-partisan organization invites residents to a free pie — and a chance to meet our town’s state legislators, to find out what’s happening in Hartford.
The LWV says “bring questions and a guest.” They’ll supply the pizza.
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids — the Westport-based national haircut chain — has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
It’s both a fundraising effort, and a way for Sharkey’s to impact many of the communities where franchises are located.
Over the past 40 years, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have raised more than $9 billion for 170 facilities across North America.
The Sharkey’s partnership includes participation in local events that unite families and support local hospitals; themed fundraising events; franchise donations; special events like a “Day of Beauty” or free haircuts for pediatric cancer patients, and more.
Claudia Sherwood Servidio calls our New Year’s Day “Westport … Naturally” image “Spring in Winter.”
She shot this on Main Street near Cross Highway, at Willowbrook Cemetery.
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
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And finally … today, as we begin the second quarter of the 21st century, let’s look back 45 years.
In 1979, the Village People released “Ready for the ’80s.” Its thumping disco beat and turn-the-decade lyrics were relentlessly upbeat.
Take my dream and hitch it to a star In the ’80s we will travel far We will realize just who we are We can move as one.
Im ready for the ’80s, glad to be alive I’m waiting for those magic numbers to arrive I’ve got myself together, got myself in gear I’m gonna be the first out there, to greet those fabulous years.
Sure, the Berlin Wall fell.
But the ’80s also brought AIDS, the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Challenger space shuttle explosion, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, John Lennon’s murder, and a lot more.
Still, a new year always brings optimism. Right?
(Are you ready for 2025? “06880” sure is. And to ensure another year of hyper-local journalism, please click here. Thank you!)
Today’s Unsung Hero is one of those I-can’t-believe-she-hasn’t-been-recognized-before honorees.
Helen McAlinden — president and CEO of Homes with Hope, Westport’s non-profit working to end homelessness and food insecurity — nominates her colleague Paris Looney.
Paris is well known, and much admired, by the hundreds of Westporters who have been served by, volunteer at or otherwise know Homes with Hope. Helen writes:
As we celebrate Paris Looney’s 20th anniversary with Homes with Hope, we also celebrate her incredible achievements and unwavering dedication to helping those in need.
Paris is an exceptional vice president and chief operating officer, because she has worked in nearly every role within Homes with Hope’s wide continuum of services.
Paris Looney (back row, center) with Homes with Hope colleagues …
No one understands the challenges of each job better than someone who has done them all. This unique perspective allows her to empathize with the workers who perform these tasks daily, and understand the diverse needs of the clients we serve.
Paris’ journey with Homes with Hope began as a case manager at the Gillespie Center (our emergency shelter for men and women). Over the past 2 decades she has worked tirelessly on behalf of homeless individuals and families, rising through the ranks to become vice president and COO.
Throughout her tenure Paris has made an immeasurable impact on countless individuals and families, always greeting them with warmth, respect, and a deep commitment to their well-being.
She approaches each person with empathy, no matter the challenges or barriers they may present. Her caring nature helps disarm those who are hesitant to engage, and her dedication to creating positive change has transformed many lives.
She coaches, supervises, and leads the staff and clients with patience and tolerance, setting clear boundaries and holding people accountable.
… and (near the left in rear, holding flowers) at a celebration marking her 20th anniversary at Homes with Hope, earlier this month at Christ & Holy Trinity Church.
One of the most important lessons Paris teaches is how to meet clients’ needs without simply solving their problems for them. Instead, she focuses on building skills and connecting clients with the resources they need to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Through her guidance and leadership, she has helped both clients and staff move forward with confidence and dignity.
I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the “06880” Unsung Hero award than Paris Looney. She is a true role model, and her influence has touched many lives.
As president and CEO of Homes with Hope, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Paris. I know that her impact on Connecticut’s homeless population will continue to inspire others for years to come.
She is a true gem to Homes with Hope’s work, ensuring that the people we serve with food and housing insecurity are treated with dignity and respect. We love you, Paris. People like you are one in a million!
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
As the housing crisis worsened last year, Westport’s Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place — the downtown site with beds for 15 men and 4 women, respectively — closed.
The reason: much-needed renovations. Homes with Hope — the non-profit that for 40 years has housed the homeless, provided meals and a food pantry for the hungry, and offered other supportive services — moved its residents into Linxweiler House (on the Post Road between McDonald’s and Fresh Market), and other shelters.
HwH is a ray of hope for unhoused people — and the working poor, who also face difficulties finding a place to live. CEO Helen McAlinden says a person must earn $42.50 an hour to afford a studio apartment in Fairfield County. Many Homes with Hope clients, meanwhile, make just $15 an hour. Even with 2 or 3 jobs, they cannot pay rent.
Gillespie Center, before renovations. (Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
Linxweiler House has been a temporary solution. After initial hesitation, Crescent Road residents have embraced their new neighbors.
But soon, the Gillespie Center will be back in operation. After months of construction, it will be more functional, efficient and welcoming than ever.
It’s not just for homeless people, either. A large, well-lit new conference room will be available, free, for non-profits to use.
The other day, McAlinden showed off the space. An entirely new kitchen will enable volunteers — individuals, families, organizations, and Cecily Gans’ Staples High School culinary classes — to not just serve, but also cook, meals.
Clients can use it too, to learn or improve their cooking skills.
Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, in the new kitchen …
An ADA-compliant bathroom means that people with disabilities can shower and take care of themselves too.
An isolation room is available for clients who get sick. When not in use, it can be used for extra beds.
The men’s dorm has been split into 2 rooms. The result is more privacy — and light.
The women’s shelter now shares a hallway with the men’s. Previously, women had to leave the kitchen or community room and walk outside, to a separate entrance.
The second floor food pantry — open to the public — is now served by a dumbwatier. “No more hauling sacks of potatoes up the stairs!” McAlinden explains.
… and food pantry …
The pantry will have have a refrigerator and freezer, allowing it to store milk, cheese, eggs and meat.
There’s space too for toiletries, like toothpaste and soap.
The refrigerator and toiletries have been some of the most popular features of the temporary pantry at Sasco Creek Village. It’s been a great success, since moving there in May.
But McAlinden looks forward to getting the pantry back under the Gillespie roof. And the Westport Housing Authority, which oversees Sasco Creek Village near the Southport line, will be happy to get its community room back.
“This is an unbelievable, state-of-the-art facility,” says McAlinden proudly. The bulk of the funding caem from a federal Department of Housing ARPA grant. An anonymous gift paid for the dormer conference room that will be used by any non-profit that needs it.
… and outside the entrance. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Westport Department of Human Services director Elaine Daignault played a key role in the project. She wrote the grant, coordinated efforts with the town, and managed the project with McAlinden.
“So many people have been so supportive,” McAlinden notes.
Final construction, including wiring, plumbing, floorng and painting, is underway now. Beds will be delivered soon. Clients are expected to move back in before Christmas.
The Gillespie Center — and Homes with Hope — continue to be the gift that keeps on giving.
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With Governor Lamont noting that “a home is more than a roof over your head; it’s a community,” Westport inaugurated 122 Wilton Road this morning.
The ceremony — attended by Congressman Jim Himes, other officials, and local housing advocates — marked the official welcome for the town’s newest apartments.
All 19 units are affordable, under a state formula. Residents will include “the working poor”: retail workers, landscapers and others who struggle to find housing in what many speakers noted is a national crisis.
Nearly 400 people applied for the 19 apartments, located at the Wilton Road/ Kings Highway North intersection.
While praising Westport as being “a welcoming town in a welcoming state,” Governor Lamont noted, “we have to do a lot more of this.”
Governor Lamont, speaking at 122 Wilton Road this morning. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Other speakers echoed that theme.
Connecticut Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno — who came to the US as a single mother at the age of 24 — said that without housing assistance, she would have been unable to obtain a master’s degree in urban studies, or complete a fellowship at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said that his parents divorced when he was 6. His mother had no car or education, but through assistance made sure he grew up in “every apartment in Guilford.”
“When we build housing, we build Connecticut,” said the man who “signs the checks” for projects like these.
The ceremony’s host, Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope — the non-profit working to end homelessness, which oversees the project — greeted the 100 guests. She gave a special welcome to the families that have already begun moving into 122 Wilton Road.
The apartments were built by Richard Friedman, president of the Garden Homes Fund. The private foundation focuses on affordable housing.
Rev. Pete Powell also spoke. A founder of the Interfaith Housing Association — Homes with Hope’s predecessor — he reminded the audience that one of the first locations for Westport’s homeless shelter was at the Vigilant Firehouse (now OKO restaurant), a few hundred yards away on Wilton Road.
“This has been an unimaginable journey,” Powell said.
He cited the many men and women who have worked to alleviate housing in Westport in the 40 years since the IHA began, and were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new apartments.
Representative Jim Himes spoke of the importance of addressing housing shortages nationwide.
“If Westport can do 19 units, and every town does the same, we will move the needle,” the US congressman said.
After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Homes with Hope offered tours of the building.
Among the ribbon-cutters, from left: Rev. Pete Powell (bowtie), Interfaith Housing Association founder; State Representative Dominique Johnson (blue blazer), 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore (with scissors), Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, Congressman Jim Himes, Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Governor Ned Lamont, Garden Homes Fund builder Richard Friedman. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Jonathan Steinberg was not a fan of 122 Wilton Road.
Like many Westporters, the state representative thought the new apartment building at the Kings Highway North corner was too big for the land, and too close to wetlands.
But when Steinberg learned who will be moving in, he changed his mind — dramatically.
He’s betting many other Westporters will too.
The 19 Homes with Hope apartments were distributed by lottery to “working poor” individuals, and their families.
Nearly all have ties to Westport, through jobs and/or families.
Some work in local supermarkets; others for landscape companies, and cleaning homes.
One apartment will be rented by a Ukrainian family. They’ve been underhoused, since arriving in Westport as refugees.
122 Wilton Road apartments.
According to Helen McAlinden, CEO of Homes with Hope, an individual must earn $42.50 an hour to afford a studio apartment in Fairfield County.
Someone making Connecticut’s minimum wage of $15.69 an hour — and working 2 jobs — cannot come close to that.
Nineteen of those workers — and, in some cases, their families — will now have secure housing. For some, it’s the first time in their lives.
Every resident of 122 Wilton Road is “a productive member of society,” McAlinden says. They have at least one job. They work hard, serve employers and customers, pay taxes, and have hopes and dreams for the future.
“This building will allow these people an opportunity to live in this wonderful town,” where some already work, McAlinden says.
Their children “will reap the benefits of our brilliant school system. In many cases, they’ll be the first in their family to go to college.”
Kitchen, in a 3-bedroom apartment.
One of the many excited new tenants is a woman named Laura. She’s the community closet coordinator for Open Doors Shelter in Norwalk.
She’ll move in with her fiancé — who prints shirts in a warehouse for an e-commerce firm — and their 2 1/2-year-old daughter.
“Honestly, this is life-changing,” Laura says.
They’ve spent the past 5 years in one bedroom, at his grandparents’ house.
“It’s a blessing to be with them,” Laura acknowledges. “But our daughter needs her own space. We need to not worry about her making too much noise, and to cook whenever we want.”
The hunt for affordable housing has been “discouraging,” Laura says.
“We’ve been on lists in Norwalk, but others were closed. We applied in Stamford and Fairfield, but never heard back.”
She learned about the Wilton Road apartments from another list she is on.
“We can’t wait,” Laura says. “We’re a little nervous, but we feel like this is our time.”
A bedroom in one of the 122 Wilton Road apartments.
Another new resident is an older, disabled Westporter who works around town. On a fixed income, he could not afford to be here any longer. He is thrilled to now remain in the community where he was raised, and has lived for so long.
122 Wilton Road is close to the Post Road bus route — an important consideration for those without a car.
And — crucially — those 19 units of affordable housing will go a huge way to help Westport meet the state’s 8-30g requirement, avoiding lawsuits and other, potentially much larger, construction due to a lack of such housing.
Because of the building’s size and location, Steinberg says, “I was frustrated for the community. None of us expected a good outcome.”
But, he says, when he learned that all the units would be deemed “affordable,” under Connecticut’s income formula, he realized its benefits.
“Westport is a model for the state,” as legislators contemplate changes to regulations, he says.
Because of this project, and other small clusters of affordable housing in town, “we will have a seat at the table in Hartford. We can help direct the best outcomes for Westport.”
The hallways are decorated with art and photographers by Westporters Miggs Burroughs, Tom Kretsch, Katharine Ross and Susan Fehlinger. All have local or New England themes. Burroughs paused earlier this month, while hanging the works.
The original plan was for 6 units of affordable housing, and 13 at market rate. Town officials denied the plan. But after 7 years of litigation, developer Richard Friedman prevailed, on 8-30g grounds.
McAlinden developed a good relationship with the builder. When he decided to sell the building, McAlinden realized it aligned with Homes with Hope’s mission: to end homelessness in the area, and provide resources for self-reliance.
The units include 4 one-bedroom apartments, 8 with two bedrooms, and 7 with three. Millenium Property Management will manage the building.
Homes with Hope will connect residents with essential resources, including job training, counseling and other support services.
“Essential workers like store associates and service industry professionals are the backbone of Westport,” Homes with Hope notes. “Yet many struggle to find affordable housing near their workplaces.”
Living close to work will reduce commuting times and costs. Increased disposable income can be reinvested in the local economy.
Affordable housing fosters economic diversity. “This inclusivity strengthens the cultural richness of Westport, creating a more vibrant and dynamic place to live,” Homes with Hope adds.
For months, Westporters have driven past 122 Wilton Road, and wondered who would want to live there.
Now they know: 19 hard-working, very appreciative families do.
Several years ago, Earthplace lost its longtime supplier of donated raptor food.
Now they have to raise $24,000 each year, to feed birds of prey that have found a home at the environmental and educational non-profit.
Among them: Moody and Marble. The barred owls arrived at Earthplace 12 years ago, with injuries that prevented them from surviving on their own.
They’ve been cared for ever since. Today, they are beloved by all who visit.
Generous donors have pledged a match up to $12,000. Between now and July 31, all tax-deductible gifts are doubled. Reaching that goal would feed all the Earthplace raptors for a year.
Click here to contribute, and for more information.
She sends a photo of young ones, who seem to be everywhere. “People might want to ID them in their yards, since they look so different than the adults,” she writes.
Here they are — looking both beautiful and gross:
(Photo/Linda Montecalvo)
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The end is here for 246 Hillspoint Road.
The century-old cottage — the last of its kind facing Old Mill Beach — is being demolished today.
In its place: a new home. Surprisingly, given the town=wide trend, it will be non-overpowering, non-towering, and designed with its tiny lot in mind.
Early this morning … (Photo/Totney Benson)
… and less than an hour ago. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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“06880” likes to highlight local businesses, and their community work.
Suzanne Sherman Propp gives a shout-out to Nice Threads.
Tim Nash’s Kings Highway North company Nice Threads provides custom- decorated merchandise to schools and businesses around New England. Their logo-wear and swag is well known and popular throughout Westport.
Suzanne — who often uses Nice Threads to create materials for Greens Farms Elementary School, where she teaches — recently recommended Nash’s firm to he rsister Caroline, whose Broadway show “Empire The Musical” opened off-Broadway yesterday. (Spoiler alert: It’s about construction of the Empire State Building.)
Caroline and Suzanne’s niece Sophia Sherman (Staples High School Class of 2018) created the “Empire” logo. Her father Alex Sherman (Staples ’85) created the slogan: “A New Musical Based on a True Building.”
Tim helped Caroline put the logo and slogan — which has been plastered on taxis, buses, billboards and garbage cans throughout New York — on hats, water bottles and t-shirts.
It’s a great partnership. But even though 2 generations of Shermans were involved, Tim’s family has a much longer Westport pedigree.
Daniel Nash helped found the town, in 1835.
And his relatives have been in what was then Norwalk — on the pond that now bears their name — since at least 1701.
The “Empire” logo on New York buses is available on locally made swag too.
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Helen McAlinden returned this week from the National Conference on Ending Homelessness, followed by a day of meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill.
Both events provided opportunities for service providers, leaders, advocates, and people with lived experience of homelessness to learn from each other, discuss best practices, and share innovations in the field.
McAlinden — the CEO of Homes with Hope, Westport’s non-profit organization addressing homelessness and hunger — met personally with Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman Jim Himes, and aides to Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Helen McAlinden (3rd from left) and Rep. Jim Himes (far right), in the Connecticut congressman’s Washington office.
Tonight’s free Levitt Pavilion show is a don’t-miss event, for fans of many musical genres.
Black Opry Revue honors the significant, and often overlooked, contributions of Black artists to country, blues, folk and Americana music.
The lawn opens at 6:30 (Friday, July 12). The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Click here for information, and free tickets.
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between July 3 and 10.
a 20-year-old Weston man was arrested for larceny, identity theft and receipt of goods from illegal use of a credit card. He allegedly stole credit cards from a Westport Weston Family YMCA locker room, then used them in the SoNo Mall.
Police also issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 15 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 9
Failure to obey stop sign: 9
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 8
Driving while texting: 3
Distracted driving: 3
Failure to renew registration: 3
Simple trespass: 3
Speeding: 2
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
Reckless driving: 1
Illegal entry to a limited access highway: 1
Improper turn: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to carry a license: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
Not everyone can drive on the Merritt Parkway. Trucks, buses and other large vehicles are prohibited.
Pink Aid is a wonderful organization. They do wonderful work, supporting women and families in the area impacted by breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Pink Aid provides compassionate support, critical resources and emergency financial assistance.
But they can’t do it alone.
On July 22 (11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), a “Play 4 Pink Aid” event at Rolling Hills Country Club will raise crucial funds.
They’ve covered all their bases. “Play” opportunities include golf, tennis, pickleball, mah jongg and canasta.
Every attendee receives a code for a $125 shopping spree from fashion sponsor Golftini. Click here to register, and for more details.
MoCA CT’s Artisan Marketplace Summer Series continues this Sunday (July 14, noon to 4 p.m.).
It’s a chance to support local artisans and their creations — jewelry, pottery, textiles, artwork — in an outdoor setting. Click here for details.
MoCA’s unique building, on Newtown Turnpike.
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Playing with Legos is a growing-up experience for many children. Their parents participate with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Abby Margolis Newman dreaded the time her middle son Aaron spent with the interlocking pieces.
But he loved it — so much so that it became his career. He found an adult community of Lego lovers, learned Danish, was hired by the company as a designer, and has built a career with them.
Recently, Abby — a 1979 Staples High School graduate — got a glimpse into her son’s world, on a trip to New York. She writes movingly about her new understanding of the importance of Legos in his life, in an essay published Monday in the Los Angeles Times. Click here to read.
Before the town of Westport bought Longshore in 1960 ($1.9 million, including the golf course, tennis courts, pool, Inn and more), it was a failing country club.
That’s about $16 million, in today’s dollars.
Seth Schachter spotted a remnant of those 1950s-era days on eBay. This pin is for sale, for $59.90. (In 1960, it would have gone for $7.50.)
And finally … Rod Argent — founding member, keyboardist and songwriter of one of the most underrated ’60s groups, the Zombies — will retire from touring, after a recent stroke. The band canceled all upcoming tours. (Hat tip: Michael Taylor)
(It’s always the time of the season to support “06880.” Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thanks for your help!)
Last month, their food pantry at the Gillespie Center closed for renovation. They had to find a new place to serve scores of hungry Westporters.
They moved to the Sasco Creek Village community center, at 1655 Post Road East.
Warm and welcoming food pantry, at Sasco Creek Village.
The new site is bigger. It’s brighter.
It’s fresher too — and not just metaphorically. With room now for a refrigerator and freezer, the food pantry can stock meat, bread and other perishable items.
That’s opened up whole new, and healthy, possibilities for food-insecure clients.
Ever since the new doors opened, they’ve raved about the big, bright, fresh Homes with Hope pantry.
The shelves in the community center contain everything the former location did: canned soups and stews, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, tuna fish, crackers, pasta sauce, rice, granola bars, baby food and the like.
But there’s also — in addition to all those fruits, vegetables, eggs and more — a gluten-free section.
Plenty of food in the new pantry.
Volunteers — those who donate food, and those who donate time — have always been the backbone of Homes with Hope’s pantry. All are excited about what they can donate, and give away, now.
The refrigerator was donated by the Aspetuck Health District. It had been used to store COVID vaccines.
Now that items can be kept for more than a day or two, staffers plan ahead. They print up and hand out recipes, using the healthful ingredients they know are on hand.
Recipes, using ingredients available at the pantry.
“We can now offer what people want — not what we thought they wanted,” says Katharine Murray, Homes with Hope’s senior director of marketing and development. “They really, really love the fresh foods. Now they’re ‘shopping,’ not just ‘taking.'”
Another addition: toiletries like toothpaste, razors and shaving foam; feminine hygiene products, and cleaning items. Those are vital to people on limited budgets — but not covered for those using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called “food stamps”).
Shoppers register once, using a short form that includes questions like family size. There is no formal income verification process. About 90 different individuals have come since the pantry relocated last month.
Clients can shop once a week. Food pantries elsewhere often limit shoppers to once a month, Murray says.
Homes with Hope marketing executive Katharine Murray (left) and CEO Helen McAlinden, with food donation.
The new location has opened up the pantry to new clients. Many come from Sasco Creek Village itself. Some use wheelchairs.
But longtime clients are served well too. Sasco Creek — one of 4 sites run by the Westport Housing Authority — is on the Coastal Link bus line, opposite Goodwill. There is plenty of parking.
That’s great for people dropping off food, as well as those picking up.
As it has since its inception decades ago, the pantry draws many donors. Some are loyal, like “Miss Jane.” She’s dropped off several bags, several days a week, for years, and continues to do so.
Trader Joe’s has become a generous donor at the new site. They’ve been very generous, with fresh vegetables, eggs, fruits and corn, and frozen meats and vegetables.
The new freezer and refrigerator, filled with healthful food. (All photos/Dan Woog)
The pantry is open to clients and donors from 1 to 4 p.m. every weekday, except Wednesday.
People sometimes stand outside at 1:00.
They are grateful that although the Gillespie Center pantry door closed last month, the new one at Sasco Creek Village opened.
Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (front row, 3rd and 4th from left), with staffers and officials at last month’s ribbon-cutting.
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