Former 2nd Selectman and Board of Finance chair Avi Kaner and his wife Liz are in Israel, during these precarious times. Avi told “06880” this morning: “We arrived last night to spend a week, and flew into a country at war.
“The primary purpose of our visit was to dedicate a Torah scroll, which my grandfather rescued, to the Yad Vashem Holicaust Museum on Wednesday.
“This is a very resilient nation. All the terrorists succeeded in doing is reuniting the people.”
Liz added: “During our flight to Tel Aviv yesterday Israel became embroiled in war. I got teary-eyed at airport after seeing a young Israeli family – blond hair/ blue eyes — meeting their safta (grandmother). What did they do to elicit such hatred?
“This is so emotional, but I wouldn’t trade being here tonight for anything. We bonded with Avi’s cousins while going to and from bomb shelters 4 times.
“We witnessed the sights and sounds of rockets being launched by Hamas, which were then diffused by Iron Dome. First was the hissing of the rockets and then the “boom boom” of their decimation….
“While in the bomb shelter Avi’s cousin started singing ‘Am Israel Chi (The People of Israel Live’), which reinforced our love for and solidarity with Israel.”
The Kaners sent 2 emotional videos. Click below for their first-hand report:
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David Meth writes:
“My wife and I just returned from a very pleasant Friday night walk along Main Street for ice cream at Cold Fusion.
“Well, pleasant to a point. As we see often, some very negligent parents let their tweens and early teens loose and alone to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards and electric 1-wheelers on Main Street. No helmet. No regard.
“Because … why bother to make sure their own children are safe? The kids uninhibitedly take their chances against traffic, zipping in and out of lanes and between cars, cutting them off without a thought.
“So it was very nice to see Officer Shawn Booth on foot patrol watching over the street, pedestrians, and diners coming to and from the restaurants, as well as checking on stores to see that all was usual.
“But a foot patrol is not usual, although it is absolutely necessary on weekends to prevent these children from causing an accident, getting hurt oe, God forbid, killed.
“The parents obviously won’t take care of their children, so let us thank the Westport Police Department for keeping their children safe.
“They must be kept away from and out of traffic and casual strollers on Main Street.”
Westport Police Officer Shawn Booth
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The “Fairfield County Talks Housing” series continues with October 17 (7 p.m., Westport Library), with a conversation called “Housing Matters: Connecting Housing and Education.”.
The discussion about the relationship between a resident’s address, quality education and opportunity includes Connecticut House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, CT Voices for Children executive director Emily Byrne, and ConnCAN executive director Subira Gordon.
The event is sponsored by the Fairfield County Center for Housing Opportunity and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.
In Connecticut, Zip Codes and educational opportunity are tied closely together.
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After many months, Westport is getting a … nail salon.
The Nail Factory reopens Monday, next to CVS.
Owner Quiyang “Amber” Tian moved to the US from China in 2015. She worked as a cashier, then became a nail technician in the Bronx, Long Island and Orange (commuting from Queens.
She and a co-worker bought an established nail business in Westport in 2019, now known as The Nail Factory, where they became known for their designs. COVID struck soon, shuttering them for 3 months.
The property owner did not renew her lease after 3 1/2 years. She has built out her new location, investing in all new equipment. Welcome back! (Hat tip: Charlene Reiss Zeiberg)
The Nail Factory opens tomorrow. (Photo/Molly Alger)
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After decades of getting ready for the opening. bell, retired teachers have the luxury of sleeping in.
But former Staples High School educators find a variety of ways to stay active and engaged. They lead full, interestinglives.
Every so often they get together (though a bit later than dawn) to compare notes, and talk about their lives then and now.
They call themselves ROMEOs: Retired Old Men Eating Out.
How many of the legendary teachers in the photo below do you recognize?
They are (clockwise from lower left): Al Jolley, Jim Wheeler, Tom Owen, Bruce McFadden, Barry Curseaden, Pete Van Hagen, Stan Rhodes, John Pepe, Werner Liepolt, Jeff Lea, Bill Brookes, Ed Bludnicki.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is as natural as it gets.
Peter Swift snapped this shot. He writes: “Never mind the politics — the show goes on at Westport Community Gardens. Early Saturday. Compost stacked. Birds singing. Bees buzzing. The compost guy.”
(Photo/Peter Swift)
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And finally … on this day in 1956, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history.
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