Tag Archives: Pan-Mass Challenge

Roundup: Long Lots Meeting, Bike Challenges, Football Workout …

The Long Lots School Building Committee holds a special meeting on Tuesday (August 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall Room 309).

The first part of the meeting includes public comment and/or questions about the project.

Members will then meet for a work session with the design team, for project status updates and review. The public can attend the work session, but cannot participate.

Discussion continues on next steps for Long Lots School. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)

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Stephanie Retcho just sent a great email. There was no better way to start the morning.

She writes:

“I was traveling for work this week. I arrived at La Guardia last night around 7:30 p.m. to a ground stop, and complete chaos.

“We sat on the plane for 3 hours waiting for a gate. I’m still unclear about the issue. The person in front of me, who seemed to have access to FAA information, suggested it was a bomb threat.

“I can’t find any news about it this morning. I’ve traveled for work for almost 30 years and I’ve never seen so many planes on a tarmac at once.

“The passengers held it together amazingly well — all except one older gentleman who unspooled on the pilot and crew upon deplaning. I wanted to tell him that ground stops have nothing to do with the airline, pilots or crew. They want to get where they are going too.

“I resisted, knowing that the nervous system, when triggered, doesn’t respond well to reason. The 5-year old girl behind me, on the other hand, was a marvel. She only cried twice. No one complained. We all felt it too.

“That context makes it easier to understand my response to what I experienced this morning.

“I’m an early riser. So despite getting home from the airport around midnight, I was up early this morning. I took my dog on her early walk along Long Lots Road as usual.

“I’m a regular on that walk. My neighbors wave at me when they see me, and I wave back. That interaction may mean little to a lot of folks. I love it. It’s community.

“As I approached the intersection at North Avenue, I noticed the CT Challenge bike event was going on. A police officer guided the riders to turn right up North Avenue.

“As I approached them, I heard everyone saying good morning to the officer — and thank you.

“Maybe that doesn’t seem like such a big deal, or maybe I’m just a softie. But I love to see it so much. I stopped to watch them for a minute (so did my dog). It refilled my tank.

“Kindness takes little. And it does so much good. After witnessing the other side of it last night, I felt the order of the universe restored. My heart is full, and I’m ready for whatever today brings.

“Thank you to the officer who was there, and to the riders for their kindness.

 

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Next weekend, more than 6,000 riders from around the globe — including 14 from Westport, and 3 from Weston — will pedal in the 44th Pan-Mass Challenge.

Their goal: raise a record-breaking $70 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The nation’s single most successful athletic fundraiser includes 1 and 2-day routes, from 25 to 211 miles, for all levels of cycling and fundraising ability.

Westport riders include Matthew Barry, Tina Cerrito, Maria Chatman, Adam Drake, Tom Epes, Doug Fincher, Tony Howell, Bill Loftus, Theodore Lundberg, Peter Massey, Scot Parnell, Christopher Powers, Steve Rowland and Suzanne Slade.

Representing Weston are Robert Krauss, William Lomas and Walter Shanley.

Team captain Dave Hazard and Bill Loftus crossing the finish line at mile 192 in Provincetown last year.

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The Staples football team’s conditioning sessions usually begin at 6 a.m., at Paul Lane Field.

Yesterday was different. They gathered at Compo Beach.

After their workout, they cooled off in the Sound.

They beat the heat. And the whole idea is: This fall, they’ll beat their opponents.

(Photo courtesy of Instagram/Hat tip: Anna Bernier)

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Every “Westport … Naturally” photo is special.

This one — a zinnia, taken by Jonathan Prager — is especially so. The colors offer a brilliant way to start the weekend.

(Photo/Jonathan Prager)

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And finally … Randy Meisner, an original member of the Eagles, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 77, and suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Click here for a full obituary.

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. We rely on readers for support. Please click here — and thank you!)

Team Velominati Powers Pan-Mass Challenge

In music, there’s the Beatles. In soccer, Messi.

In fundraising, the Pan-Mass Challenge stands far above all others. The Massachusetts bike ride earns more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the US. Since 1980, it’s donated $900 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Last year alone, it was $65 million.

And in the Pan-Mass Challenge, Team Velominati is the Beatles and Messi, rolled into one.

The group — many of them Westporters — raised $675,000. Last year.

Bill Loftus — the founder of Coastal Bridge Advisers, a Wilton Road wealth management firm — is a crucial part of the team. He joined a few years ago.

Instantly, he was hooked.

Team captain Dave Hazard and Bill Loftus cross the finish line at mile 192 in Provincetown last August. Additional Team Velominati members ride in behind them.

Bill is one of 2,500 riders going the full distance: 112 miles from Sturbridge to Bourne on Saturday; then another 90 miles to Provincetown the next day.

Another 3,500 ride shorter distances, for one day.

Up to a quarter of all riders are cancer survivors.

“The human spirit is on full display,” Bill says. “It feels like the entire state is cheering us on.” Streets are filled with spectators. Bands play; cowbells ring.

The energy of the crowd — and the camaraderie of the riders — keeps him going.

Team Velominati always looks for new members. (The group rides in other fundraisers too, like the Bloomin’ Metric. They ski together too, in winter. But the Pan-Mass Challenge is the big one.)

Each team member commits to raising at least $6,500. Some do far more.

Bill notes that 100% of all funds go directly to cancer research. There are only a few paid staff members for the entire Challenge — and their salaries are covered by corporate sponsors.

“When I started, I wondered how I could give up a weekend in the summer,” Bill says.

“But never once did I feel like I missed anything. This is the best possible use of my time. It’s the best weekend of the year.”

(To learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge — and how to join Team Velominati — email dhazard@gmail.com.)

Unsung Hero #111

Ruth Sherman walks the walk.

Literally.

Every day for 50 years — in all kinds of weather* — Ruth has walked from Hillspoint Road to the top of Compo Hill.

She recently returned from Spain, where she completed the 100-mile El Camino spiritual trek.

For the 79-year-old longtime Westporter, it was no big deal.

Ruth Sherman

Yet Ruth’s walks are only part of her daily routine. Since the 1960s, she’s taught exercise and fitness at the Westport Weston Family Y. Right now she’s with the Arthritis Foundation Family aquatic program.

When the Senior Center opened, she began teaching there too.

Many class members are younger — often much younger — than Ruth. But they struggle to keep pace.

When she’s not walking or leading classes, Ruth bikes. Of course, her rides are for good causes.

Since last century, she’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in the Pan-Mass Challenge. She was not always alone: Sometimes she was joined by her husband Larry, 4 children, in-laws and friends. Her group was called Ruthie’s Riding Rascals.

You’ve probably seen Ruth Sherman around town. The next time you see her, say hello — and congratulate her for being this week’s Unsung Hero.

But you’ll have to be in pretty good shape to catch up.

*And in Westport, you know what that means.

(Hat tip: Richard Fogel)