There’s been a run on live Christmas trees this year. Something about making up for this tough year with something that looks (and smells) beautiful.
If you’ve procrastinated: no worries. Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center still has plenty in stock.
At least, they did this morning …
(Photo/John Karrel)
Once you get your Christmas tree, you’ve got to decorate it. Then you can enjoy it.
And then — a few weeks from now — you’ve got to get rid of it. Who you gonna call?
Boy Scout Troop 39!
For years, they’ve been hauling away Westporters’ trees. They’ll do it again this year — with COVID precautions, of course.
First, register online (click here). On January 9 (6:30 a.m.!), haul your tree to your mailbox. Tape an envelope with cash or a check made out to “Boy Scout Troop 39 Westport.” The suggested donation is $20, but of course you can give more.
They can’t accept wreaths or garlands. Other than that: take it away, boys!
Rick Hochman was working from home yesterday, near Long Lots. He looked up from his laptop and saw this lovely doe, looking like she wanted to come in for a cup of tea.
Or perhaps she was waiting for her cousin Rudolph.
(Photo/Rick Hochman)
Jordan Kessler is just 29 years old. But the 2009 Staples High School graduate is in his 7th year with J.P. Morgan’s sports finance group. He manages $5 billion in loans.
On Tuesday he received a great Sports Business Journal honor: a “New Voices Under 30” award.
Remarkably, he was not the only former Wrecker in the elite group of 30. Jesse Heussner — a 2011 Staples alum, now director of basketball operations and analytics at Creative Artists Agency — joined Jordan as a “New Voices Under 30” honoree.
Jordan graduated from Vanderbilt University, with a major in financial management and entrepreneurship, and minor in Spanish. Jesse majored in government at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated cum laude.
Jordan Kessler (Photo/Kenta Shirafuji)
And finally … this is Phil Ochs’ birthday.
The folksinger — compared, often unfairly, to Bob Dylan — has been somewhat forgotten today. His songs — often about important political and social issues — were pointed, thought-provoking, and had a profound influence on me growing up. (I still think “Power and the Glory” should be our national anthem.)
He also had an interesting connection to Westport. On March 31, 1968, while performing a benefit concert here, someone handed him breaking news, which he relayed to an appreciative crowd: Lyndon Johnson had just announced he would not run for a 2nd term as president.
Phil Ochs died by suicide in 1976. He was 35 years old. Today, he would have been 80.
