As every youth sports parent knows, young athletes quickly outgrow their uniforms.
Very quickly.
Occasionally, a club or league organizes a day for parents to pass jerseys along. But Westport PAL basketball has done more.
Full Court Peace is a non-profit founded by local resident Mike Evans. It provides basketballs, sneakers, court repair — and uniforms — to underserved communities in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stamford and Queens.
Plus Havana, Santo Domingo, San Juan, and a refugee camp in Jordan.
Recently, Westport PAL partnered with Full Court Peace. Greg Downes and Gery Grove led the effort.
Six players — all PAL alums — traveled to the Dominican Republic. They restored 2 courts, and handed out 30 basketballs and 50 Westport uniforms to young players.
They also joined in games with the youngsters.
This is not the first time Full Court Peace has brought Westport teenagers and their parents. In the psat 10 years, over 100 have traveled to Cuba, Puerto Rico and the DR.
This week’s Unsung Heroes are Mike, Greg, Gery, Westport PAL basketball president Jordan Schur, and Full Court Peace players Ryder Flaherty, Luke Moneyhon, Jasper Robinson, Jared Sale, Aaron Schor and Micah Turner.
You are all true champions!
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
Posted onNovember 4, 2022|Comments Off on Roundup: Staples Sports, Craft Fair, Black Holes …
Two Staples High School sports teams fell in their quests for FCIAC (league) championships last night.
Both were seeded #3. Both lost to the #1 seeds.
The field hockey team dropped a 3-0 decision to Darien, at Brien McMahon High School. The Blue Wave earned their 5th consecutive title.
The girls soccer squad lost 3-1 to St. Joseph. Evelyn Chudowsky scored the Wreckers’ goal, assisted by her sister Natalie.
Both teams — along with boys soccer — start state tournament play next week. The football team, meanwhile, is still in contention for a state playoff berth.
Meanwhile, the Staples fieldhouse shifts from sports to crafts this weekend.
CraftWestport — a favorite Westport Young Woman’s League fundraiser for over 45 years — returns Saturday and Sunday (November 5-6). Like so many other events, it’s been a COVID-induced hiatus for 2 years.
Over 175 contemporary crafters and makers from across the country will exhibit at what has become Connecticut’s largest indoor crafts festival.
Ticket sales sales fund the WYWL’s community grants to are charities like Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Homes with Hope, Westport Emergency Medical Services and many others.
CraftWestport includes original fashions, accessories, jewelry, home décor, furniture, photography, and artwork like ceramic, glass, metal, wood and mixed media. Food items including honey, maples syrup, cheese and more are also for sale.
Show hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket s are $11 adults, $10 seniors, $5 ages 12-18; children under 12 are free; click here to buy.
I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one who didn’t go there much.
Black holes: fact or fiction?
Defy the gravitational pull of Netflix. On November 15 (8 p.m.), open your laptop to the Westport Astronomical Society’s free online science lecture series. Dr. Jeremy Schnittman — a NASA research astrophysicist — highlights the most interesting and exciting aspects of black holes, explores recent discoveries, and notes some science fiction hits and misses.
Chris Frantz — of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club fame — returns to the Westport Library.
On November 19 (7:30 p.m.), he brings his Emerging Musicians series back to the Trefz Forum. He’ll spotlight 2 Fairfield County acts: Residual Groove (a funk-fusion, improv-heavy dance band) and contemporary singer-songwriter Brian Dolzani.
The Emerging Musicians series features up-and-coming regional, national, and international music, hand-picked by Frantz. The goal is to bring new music to new ears, and incubate rising talent. The concert is a collaboration and production of Verso Studios at The Library, and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets are $10; there’s also a cash bar. Click here for more information.
Mike Evans is a Westport Weston Family YMCA basketball coach. The Weston native is also the founder of Full Court Peace, a non-profit that repairs basketball courts in underserved communities, then uses the sport to bring people together.
Now he’s written a book about his time in Belfast, where he brought rival Protestant and Catholic teenagers together to play as one team
In “The Belfast Blazers,” Evans dives into the Irish city’s dark history. He describes meeting members of the Irish Republican Army (and the Dalai Lama). Click here for more information.
TAP Strength is well known for its comprehensive, personalized approach to wellness.
On November 16 (6 to 8 p.m., 180 Post Road East), the fitness studio turns into an art studio. Miggs Burroughs, Bonnie Edelman and Alex Silver will show their work. 2 Roads Brewery will provide libations.
For more than 100 years, Save the Children has been saving children.
On November 14 (11:30 a.m., Green’s Farms Congregational Church), Ann Marie and miles and Kim Kilroy — high-ranking members of the non-profit’s leadership ship — will tell the Y’s Women how Save the Children does it. The public is invited.
For decades, Save the Children was headquartered on Wilton Road. The main office is now in Fairfield.
Lauren Tarshis — a Staples High School graduate, longtime Westporter and author of the wildly popular “I Survived” children’s book series — will read from her latest book and answer children’s questions at the Westport Library.
The event is this Saturday (November 5, 3:30 p.m.).
We’ve got a question: Will Lauren survive all those kids?!
And finally … on this day in 1783, Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 was performed for the first time in Linz, Austria. It is also known as (surprise!) the Linz Symphony.
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