If it’s Easter, it’s time for the Easter Egg Tree.
Staples High School Class of 1971 graduate Jalna Jaeger has once again decorated her Norwalk property with hundreds of colorful eggs.
She invites everyone to drive by and enjoy her work. It’s at #3 East Avenue. Head past Stew Leonard’s; go down the hill, then take a right at the first light.
Jalna Jaeger’s Easter Egg Tree.
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Speaking of Easter: Jolantha — Weston’s favorite pig — is all dressed up for the (bunny-themed) holiday.
(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)
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The Manna Toast logo still hangs over 29 Church Lane.
But a new restaurant is coming soon — “spring/summer,” the sign says — offering “Authentic Israeli” food.
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
I wish I could tell you more. But I followed the links on the sign for The Blondinit. There are no posts on either Facebook or Instagram.
And the website brings up a “Get this Domain” message, from GoDaddy.
Hey, Blondinit: Get your domain now.
Before someone from Layla’s Falafel does.
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Westport was first. Easton followed.
Now Stamford has a Ukrainian sister city too.
In a ceremony Thursday, bonds were formalized with Kramatorsk. Of similar size, both are commercial and transportation centers. Fittingly, the ceremony was held at the Stamford train station. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes were there.
The connection was made by Brian Mayer. The Westport native — who founded Ukraine Aid International, the non-profit that coordinates donations and support — was interviewed by News12. Click here for that video, which includes a mention of our town’s relationship with Lyman.
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Suniya Luthar — who died in February at 64, after 2 years of health difficulties — was not a Westporter.
But the Columbia University professor emerita of psychology and education had an important impact on our community.
For a number of years, she led a longitudinal study on youth and resilience here. She chose Westport because of its high number of high-achieving professionals, and the emphasis on status and achievement.
One of her first discoveries was that “substance use, depression and anxiety, particularly among the (affluent) girls, were much higher than among inner-city kids.”
Dr. Luthar’s research led her to conclude that children of privilege are an “at-risk” group. “What we are finding again and again, in upper-middle-class school districts, is the proportion who are struggling are significantly higher than in normative samples,” Luthar said.
“It is an endless cycle, starting from kindergarten. The difficulty is that you have these enrichment activities. It is almost as if, if you have the opportunity, you must avail yourself of it. The pressure is enormous.”
Luthar was a distinguished developmental and clinical psychologist and internationally renowned scholar in resilience research. Her Westport work was part of a career focused on understanding resilience among diverse at-risk groups, and applying insights in prevention.
Click here for a full obituary.
Suniya Luthar
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Hotel Marcel New Haven — the former Pirelli building seen on the left, approaching the city eastbound on I-95 — has gone green.
So green, in fact, that the boutique hotel just earned a LEED Platinum plauqe from the US Green Building Council. That certifies that it meets the highest standards of energy and environment design.
It’s powered by more than 1,000 solar panels, and uses no fossil fuels.
It’s also the first hotel to earn LEED Platinum status in 10 years, and only the 10th ever.
Hotel Marcel
US Representatives Jim Himes and Rosa DeLauro attended yesterday’s ceremony.
Congratulations to architect Bruce Becker — a Westporter who has long championed green causes.
Click here for the full CT Mirror story. Click here for a 2018 “06880” story on Becker.
Bruce Becker outside his home, with a “Westport Green Building Award.”
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VersoFest 2023 is in the books.
If you were among the thousands of attendees, you know it rocked the Westport Library last weekend.
If you weren’t — or you missed part of it — you can “check out” (weak library reference) the 9 panels, workshops and lectures. They ranged from beats and grooves, to the business of music, rock photography, and style. Click here for full videos of all.
And for a quick rap — er, “wrap” — video, see below:
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Earth Day is April 22.
But Aspetuck Land Trust — the conservator of open space, and steward of 45 preserves in lower Fairfield County — celebrates all month. Among the activities:
- Vernal Pool Walk with wetland scientist Edward Pawlak (April 15, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Jump Hill Preserve)
- Spring Hawk Migration with raptor specialist Larry Fischer (April 16, 1-3 p.m., Blueberry Patch, Easton)
- Ephemeral Wildflower Walk with LandTech environmental analyst Anthony Zemba (April 22, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
- Invasive Species Removal Work Day (April 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
- Exploring the Trails with Aspetuck Land Trust land protection specialist Adam Goodman (April 27, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
- Little Legs in Wildlife Kids Walk (April 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Trout Brook Valley Preserve)
Click here for details of all events.
There’s also a spring native plant sale. Online ordering begins April 11 for ALT members, April 18 for the general public. Click here for a list of available plants, and more details.
Pick-up is June 9-11, at Haskins Preserve in Westport.
Among the Aspetuck Land Trust Earth Day offerings: “Explore the Trails,” with Adam Goodman.
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“It’s Easter. Where’s my flock?” wonders this Burying Hill Beach guy, the subject of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Lucy Zeko)
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And finally … on this date in 1820, the Venus de Milo was discovered on the Aegean island of Milos. She’s over 2,100 years old, but she still lives on, musically:
(All you need is one arm to click here, and support “06880.” I gotta hand it to you: thanks!)
