Tag Archives: Margo Amgott

Roundup: Norma Minkowitz, Lucy Johnson, Full Moon …

Westport artist Norma Minkowitz demolished 3 US records at the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She won all 3 races handily.

The first was Thursday, in the 5K road race. Competing in the 85-89-year-old age group, her 33:27 time beat the previous best mark by more than 6 minutes.

Then, in the same age group in the 400 meter dash, Minkowitz blazed to a 1:50.47 mark. That was more than 20 seconds faster than the existing record.

Finally, in the 800 meter run (in the 85-104-year old division), she finished in a speedy 4:17.66 — over a minute better than the previous mark.

Congratulations, Norma! (Hat tip: Jeff Mitchell)

In 2016– age 79 — Norma Minkowitz led a pack of much younger runners.

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Here’s another winner:

Former Westport Library board member and longtime “Booked for the Evening” volunteer Lucy Johnson has earned a silver in the Independent Book Publishers Award.

Her book “This Was Toscanini:  The Maestro, My Father, and Me” won in the Performing Arts category (Music/Dance/Cinema/Theater).

The contest recognizes the thousands of independent, university and self-published books released each year.

Lucy Johnson

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Last night’s Super Flower Blood Moon drew lots of folks outside. Here’s one shot, by Tomoko Meth:

(Photo/Tomoko Meth)

And David Cross captured this view, over the library:

(Photo/David Cross)

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Business Networking International is a special kind of group. Only one member per category is allowed — maximizing the opportunity for connections, while minimizing competition.

BNI’s local chapter is open to new members in a few categories, including commercial broker, counseling service, security, HVAC, photographer, caterer, bakery, florist, event planner, home inspector, moving company, travel tours, auto repair, and dry cleaner/tailor/shoe repair.

Interested businesses are invited to a Visitor’s Day on June 2 from (7:30 to 9 a.m., United Methodist Church).

For more information and to register for the event, email Curtis@health-directions.com or billhall747@gmail.com.

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United Way of Coastal Fairfield County has a new interim president and CEO.: Westporter Margo Amgott

She brings 30 years of non-profit leadership experience, serving in a range of organizations including community and healthcare, education institutions and government agencies.

A specialist in transitional leadership, Amgott reopened the Jacob Burns Film Center with fundraising and renewed programming. She served as interim director for Studio in a School, an arts and social justice organization working in New York City schools, interim CEO at Hearing Health Foundation, and COO of the National Council for Jewish Women, and a program leader at Columbia University, Hunter College, NYU Langone Medical Center, and the New York City Department of Health.

She holds a master’s degree from NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a BA from Barnard College.

Margo Amgott

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Patti and Doug Brill moved from the north part of Westport to Saugatuck Shores recently.

“The fun part being in a new home. is seeing everything bloom. Lots of nice surprises!” Patti says.

Today she shares one of those surprises with “Westport … Naturally”:

(Photo/Patti Brill)

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And finally … in honor of 85-year-old Norma Minkowitz’s three national record-setting performances (see story above):

Who Wants A Pond?

Margo Amgott lives in Greens Farms. It’s a great spot. She even has a pond.

Unfortunately, it’s in her driveway. The water is a result of a nearby construction project.

It’s made life miserable for her family. Still, she manages to see the glass — er, pond — as half full. On Thursday morning, she wrote:

Westport,  welcome to our newest water feature!

Our neighbor always had a pond. We were jealous. Now, thanks to other neighbors’ construction, we have one too!

Margo Amgott’s neighbor (the one with a real pond) helps out with the pond created by her other neighbor (the one with the construction).

Sure, sometimes I selfishly wish I could use my driveway, go home without putting on waders, or get the mud out of our grass and our shoes. But lakefront living has its little inconveniences, I guess.

This is so exciting. I wonder who I talk to about getting our lake on the town map?

Thursday afternoon, it rained. Briefly, but hard.

Margo no longer had a pond. By then it was a lake:

(Photos/Margo Amgott)

No report yet on what it looks like after yesterday’s downpour. Fingers crossed!