Staples Orphenians have shared their music with audiences all over the world. They’ve particiated in global educational events too.
This June, the elite high school choral group heads to the Spain Choral Festival
To ensure that every singer can particiapte, they’re hosting a “Cabaret Olé” fundraiser.
The March 30 event (6 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church) features members of
grammy-nominated VOCES8 and other Broadway stars, along with tapas, other light bites and a silent auction.
Funds raised will also support the VOCES8 Foundation, which is developing an educational music hub in the Westport area.
Speaking of the arts: Less than 2 weeks remain for high school seniors to apply for $5,000 worth of scholarships.
The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center grants go to students with financial need who want to pursue an arts education at any level — university, community college or an arts school. All Westport 12th graders are eligible, no matter where they currently attend school.
The DFCAC is funding the scholarships. It was founded by Friedman — the downtown property owner, restauranteur (Onion Alley, Cobb’s Mill Inn, Stonehenge Inn) and philanthropist whose first wife Bobbie was an accomplished artist.
The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center also sponsors workshops and projects for students. The center is administered by Nick Visconti, Friedman’s longtime business partner.
To apply, students who currently participate in art classes or art activities should send up to 8 digital images (JPEGs) of their work. It can be any medium — photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, digital art, or other.
Applicants should also submit a statement of up to 300 words describing the value of art in their life, and the world at large.
Send images and the statement (or any questions) to info@DrewFriedmanCommunityArtsCenter.org (subject line: “2025 Scholarship”). The deadline is February 28.
2024 Drew Friedman Scholarship winners Chloe Hackett and Mia Vindola (holding checks) with (from left) DFCAC co-directors Miggs Burroughs and Nick Visconti, and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
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Speaking still of the arts: The Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Hardware may seem to have little in common.
But they’ve teamed up on a special “buy one, get one free” offer for the upcoming production of “Native Gardens.”
The show’s theme is “good fences make good neighbors (or do they?)” — and of course Westport Hardware sells every type of garden accessory imaginable.
For more information, and tickets, click here, or call the box office (203-227-4177). Use or mention the prmoo code “COMMUNITYBOGO.”
Fences — common to the Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Hardware.
The 2009 Staples High School basketball star — who went on to earn Division III National Player of the Year honors at the University of Rochester — has had a long professional career in Israel.
On Thursday, his Maccabi Tel Aviv team won the prestigious Israeli Cup.
Click here to read all about his pro career. (Hat tip: Chuck Haberstroh)
John DiBartolomeo
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Speaking of sports: DiBartolomeo’s fellow 2009 Staples graduate Parker Kligerman won his 4th-ever NASCAR Truck Series race this week, an event leading up to the Daytona 500.
But he was disqualified an hour later. His truck failed ride height checks, and was too low in the rear. His team said they’d appeal.
And finally … on this date in 1764, the city of St. Louis was established in Spanish Louisiana (now Missouri).
(If it happens in Westport, Connecticut — or Westport, New Zealand — you’ll read about it on “06880.” If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, with a global twist, please click here. Thank you!)
VersoFest 2025 has announced its first big names — and they are Very Big.
Singer/songwriter and National Book Award winner Patti Smith kicks off the 4th annual music and media festival on Thursday, April 3.
Henry Rollins, frontman of the seminal hardcore punk band Black Flag and noted writer and spoken word artist, will be in conversation on Saturday, April 5.
Legendary “Saturday Night Live” performer and David Letterman musical director Paul Shaffer appears on Sunday, April 6, with SNL Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman.
Tickets for all 3 events — and much more — go on sale later this month. More guests will be announced soon. Click here for full VersoFest information.
From left: Paul Shaffer, Patti Smith, Henry Rollins.
Michael West has resigned as Parks & Recreation Department parks superintendent. On January 13, he joins Ridgefield Parks & Recreation as assistant director.
“It has been an honor to serve the town of Westport and its incredible community,” West — who came here nearly 4 years ago — says.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here, and for the relationships I’ve built over the years. While I will miss Westport, I’m excited for this next chapter in Ridgefield and the opportunity to continue growing.”
Among his many projects, he told “06880” he is proudest of being part of the improvements at Riverside Park.
Speaking of Parks & Rec: the long-range plan to upgrade Longshore moves slowly forward.
On Wednesday (January 8, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Board of Finance will be asked to approve — among other items — $222,000 for “architectural study, schematic design, land-use permitting, and preparation of an opinion of probable cost,” for a new maintenance facility there.
The current one — between the golf course, road and tennis courts, near the La Plage parking lot — would be demolished, to allow space for more racquet courts.
Four new courts would replace the maintenance facility, during renovations to Longshore.
The piece noted that a few employees of downtown businesses and restaurants drop garbage bags next to the compactor, rather than lifting the lid and tossing them in. (A sign instructs them to open it up.)
Often, the Westport Downtown Association says, the compactor has plenty of room. Sometimes, it’s empty.
This was the scene again yesterday:
(Photo/Shawn Kapitan)
The WDA’s Shawn Kapitan reports: “I just cleaned up another trash pile. The compactor’s intake hopper was completely empty, and was working fine.
“Whoever dumped this trash didn’t even bother to open the door and simply look inside. All the trash that was just on the ground, fit in the compactor with room to spare.”
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If you haven’t been there yet, you will be.
You or someone in your family needs a wheelchair, for a few days only. Or someone you know had hip surgery, and is looking for a temporary shower chair or portable chair ramp.
As a trained occupational therapist, Pippa Bell Ader appreciates the value of maximizing independence.
And as a longtime environmentalist (she’s a Sustainable Westport leader), she is distressed that so much medical equipment is used for a short time, then thrown out.
Which are 2 reasons she is excited about Wheel It Forward. The local nonprofit lends out equipment.
The event is next Wednesday (January 8, 7 p.m., Westport Museum for History & Culture).
Everyone is welcome — even if you have not read the book. Click here to RSVP.
Anna Mae Wong and Vincent Price, at the Westport Country Playhouse.
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Mark Yurkiw knows a thing or two about bringing compasssion to the world.
The Westport artist does that regularly, through his art.
On January 15 (2:30 p.m.), “Bringing Compassion to the World” is the topic of Yurkiw’s Senior Center talk.
He recently returned from 3 weeks in Ukraine. He brought medical supplies to the war-torn nation.
The trip brought an invitation to exhibit in Kyiv in 2026.
The mission was part of a larger global initiative to bring compassion to the world through art, actions and words.
Yurkiw and Miggs Burroughs recently exhibited “Signs of Compassion” at United Nations headquarters in New York. The exhibit will travel to Taiwan, then throughout Asia.
At the Senior Center, Yurkiw will present a slide show about his efforts in Ukrain, then answer questions from the audience.
Mark Yurkiw, with Ukrainian artwork at his Westport home.
Fleet Feet is more than just a running store in the Fresh Market plaza.
Among their offerings:
Group training: Led by New York Road Runners coaches, in partnership with the Westport Weston Family YMCA. A great option for running with others, and working with a variety of coaches. Meet-ups are Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6:30 a.m. Also ncluded: Wednesday evening strength classes at the Y.
Individual coaching: One-on-one guidance. and someone to hold you accountable for training. Customizable for all levels of runners.
Zoomerangs Kids Running: Returning in April. Youngsters learn the fundamentals of running, from warming up to running form, with creative drills and surprises. 6 weeks; meets Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Staples High School outdoor track.
Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between December 25 and January 1.
A 26-year-old Bronx man was charged with forgery and criminal impersonation, following a report by a resident about a scam where iPhones were scheduled for delivery. The suspect had fraudulent driver’s licenses, one of which was in the name of the complainant.
Police also issued these citations:
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2 citations
Failure to renew registration: 2
Speeding: 1
Following too closely: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
Failure to obey state traffic commissions regulations: 1
Some people wait at the DMV for driver’s licenses. Criminals forge them.
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There is no admission fee at Sherwood Island State Park for vehicles with Connecticut license plates.
Also free: anyone arriving on horseback.
Becky Keeler captured this scene on New Year’s Eve, for our ever-intriguing “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … in honor of Patti Smith’s upcoming appearance at the Westport Library’s VersoFest (story above):
(Because “06880” relies on reader support, we’re including this donation link. Please click here to show a little love to your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
Since its inception a dozen year ago, LobsterFest has become one of the biggest, most beloved and fun parties in town.
This Saturday, 1,500 folks of all ages will celebrate at Compo Beach. (Don’t have a ticket? You’re out of luck. They sold out in hours, in July.)
LobsterFesters will eat lobster and steak (plus a lot more). They’ll drink beer and soda. They’ll dance to a great band. They’ll rock the town.
They’ll also generate tons — literally — of waste.
All those people will leave behind lots of lobster tails, food scraps, beer cups, cutlery, napkins, even peppermint patty wrappers.
Lots of food at LobsterFest. (Photo/Dan Woog)
But it won’t be left for long. The Westport Rotary Club — sponsors of the bash, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy organizations here and around the world — puts as much effort into cleaning up as they do to organizing LobsterFest, and handing out grants.
Which is to say: a lot.
Yet for all its trash, LobsterFest might be the most sustainable big event in Westport.
For several years the Rotary Club has partnered with Sustainable Westport to reduce waste, protect natural resources, and encourage environmental practices at the party, and long after.
Last year, for example, the groups worked with Curbside Compost to divert 1.5 tons — yes, tons — of waste.
Recycling, at the 2023 LobsterFest. (Photo/Dan Woog)
They’ll do the same this Saturday — but even better. They’ll put 300 bins everywhere, to collect small items like the rubber bands from lobsters, candy wrappers, empty butter tubs, cole slaw containers and the rest, ensuring it’s separated from compost scraps.
That’s huge. In the past, any lobsters put in compost with rubber bands still attached contaminated the entire bin.
Look for — and use — these 300 bins.
Also new: compostable utensils and cutlery. All those knives, forks and more will be accepted by Curbside Compost, along with food.
And for the first time, LobsterFest will have on-site recycling, for aluminum cans and bottles. They’ll be redeemed by Scout Troops 39 and 139, who as reward for their work will receive 10 cents each.
But none of those ideas will work without our help.
Westport Rotary and Sustainable Westport advise LobsterFest-goers:
Take only what you truly need. If you know you won’t eat 2 lobsters, don’t take 2!
Use proper receptacles for your waste. Food, paper napkins and cardboard trays can all be composted. Separate them correctly! (Put cans and bottles in the right ones too.)
If you get another beer, bring the same cup back for a refill. Better yet, bring your own from home.
And what about all that leftover food?
It does not go to waste. Extra lobster and steak is sold by the Rotary Club at the end of the day (7 p.m.). Anyone is welcome to purchase dinner for the week.
Lobsters for all.
The green initiative started several years ago, with Tony McDowell. The executive director of Earthplace and a Rotarian, he was also a member of the Green Task Force — the predecessor of Sustainable Westport.
Alex Cohen is the Westport Rotary Club’s LobsterFest chair. “I have 2 little kids,” he says. “My goal is help Westport be as green and nice as it can be. This is a great way to help.”
Pippa Bell Ader and Alex Cohen, with their reusable mugs. (Photo/Dan Woog)
He is always looking for new ideas.
For example, they’d love to get rid of their generators. Last year, McMahon Ford lent a Lightning electric truck, to power the band.
Sustainable Westport co-leader Pippa Bell Ader adds, “A lot of events in town don’t recycle. They just throw their garbage out. Westport Rotary really takes this to heart.”
She hopes LobsterFest can be a model for other organizations. To help compost, Sustainable Westport lends out zero-waste composting stations.
This Saturday afternoon will be another great LobsterFest.
And on Sunday morning, you won’t see a stray lobster claw, tray or peppermint patty anywhere on Compo Beach.
NOTE: All of that recycling — and every other element of LobsterFest — takes work. Volunteers are still needed. To help, click here.
(To learn more about composting, recycling, and how to make your at-home event even more sustainable, click here.
The print version of the Westport League of Women Voters’ voter guide has gone the way of much of the print media: It’s disappeared..
But the LWV still provides important information. And it works for anyone, anywhere in the United States.
Just click on vote411.org. Enter your address. You’ll see every race being contested at your polling place. Clicking any office and candidate’s name brings up plenty of background information.
It’s a rich resource. And a lot better way to decide who to vote for than yard signs. (Hat tip: Charles Wiseman)
In August, the Board of Finance unanimously approved funds for a traffic and safety study of Cross Highway, at the North Avenue and Bayberry Lane intersections.
Monitoring devices have been installed. They’ll measure things like traffic volume and patterns.
No — they’re not cameras catching stop sign violators.
Although that might not be a bad idea.
Traffic monitoring device at North Avenue/Cross Highway stop sign. (Photo/Matt Murray)
Westport Chinese Takeout — the bare bones, simply named but popular restaurant on Saugatuck Avenue at Franklin Street, closed recently.
The location is historic. It was the original site of the Arrow Restaurant. The Nistico family eventually moved their famed Italian eatery to larger digs on Charles Street.
When the Arrow’s run ended there, it became Jasmine — a Chinese restaurant. When that closed, the owners opened the much smaller Westport Chinese Takeout — in the Arrow’s first spot.
Jasmine then became Blu Parrot, and later Mystic Market. Now it too is gone.
And the original Chinese Takeout owners sold to others too.
For now, a phone message says: “We’re sorry. Westport Chinese Takeout is no longer in business. In the meantime, we’re getting ready to bring you the best of Peruvian food at this location. We’ll see you soon!” 9(Hat tip:
Westport Chinese Takeout is now closed.
Halloween alert: Tomorrow (Saturday, October 29, 2 to 4 p.m.) — not Monday — the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston hosts their annual (and very popular) “Trunk or Treat,”
The parking lot will be filled with car trunks from church and community members, Staples PRIDE, and more, decorated for (non-scary) Halloween. Kids (up to age 12) can pick up candy and other goodies.
It’s free for the community — but there’s a chance to give back too. The church is collecting canned goods for the Person to Person food pantry. A donation of 5 cans of food per child attending is requested.
All (kids up to age 12) are indeed welcome at the United Methodist Church’s “Trunk or Treat” tomorrow. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Speaking of Halloween: Wednesday’s downtown parade was a smashing success.
We can’t ask the kids — they’re still devouring their candy — so here’s the perspective of a parent. Tyler Errickson writes:
“Westport is a special town, and my son Henry had a special time at the Halloween parade. He was proud to mount the Westport fire truck, on a very special day.”
Henry Errickson, on a fire truck at the Halloween parade. (Photo/Tyler Errickson)
Jonathan Alloy reports on a long-running projecct:
“The bridge on Bayberry Road North Extension saw major progress on Thursday: The deck rails arrived.
“Each of the 7 concrete and steel rails is more than 50 feet long, and weighs over 19 tons.
“They came from Vermont, each on its own special 24-wheel trailer truck. A portable crane lifted them into place.
“Instead of being flat, the rails are built with a camber (arc) to allow for flex with weight and weather. Inside the concrete, steel cables allow for that bending.”
The trucks caused a traffic mess on Bayberry. Westport Police soon straightened things out.
Plenty of work remains. But yesterday marked a big step forward.
Trucks line Bayberry Lane yesterday morning …
… and work is completed yesterday afternoon. (Photos/Jonathan Alloy)
The free Thinkers, Educators, Actors — “TEA” — event returns to the Westport Library on Sunday, November 6. Among the notables: an Emmy-winning composer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, former Westport Teacher of the Year, and many more.
They’ll share the Trefz Forum stage, to explore provocative, topical subjects in the arts. Particularly apt for an event impacted for 2 years by COVID, they’ll consider the effects of recent history on creativity in film, music and visual art.
Were home-bound artists more or less creative? What new ways were discovered to express one’s creativity? Does the public now consume the arts differently from the way it did before?
Westport textile and fashion designer Shobana Mani converses with Oscar-nominated New York City filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr.
Dr. Richard Epstein (Westport musician, dentist and WPKN radio host) speaks with Emmy Award-winning composer, music supervisor and pianist Michael Whalen
Westport 2013 Teacher of the year Cecily Anderson discusses the state of the arts with Westport artist Tom Berntsen and Norwalk street-muralist 5ive Fingaz.
TEA Talks is sponsored by the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. An audience Q-and-A and refreshments follow the presentation. For more information, click here.
Speaking of honors: The Westport Garden Club earned several honors at this week’s Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s 93rd annual awards luncheon.
The club received the Certificate of Achievement – Arboreal for planting a swamp white oak at Grace Salmon Park for “Oaktober 2021.”
They also won a Certificate of Achievement – Historic, Memorial and Public Gardens for their 2022 renovation of the Nevada Hitchcock Garden at the Cross Highway/Weston Road intersection. The garden — established in 1941 — was reworked to focus on native and pollinator plantings.
Two members received individual awards. Andi Turner was given a Certificate of Individual Achievement for her work as horticultural chair. At each meeting, she shares well researched and informative best practices .
The Tribute Award in Landscape Design went to Ellen Greenberg, a Westport Garden Club past president, for her leadership in the club and community, involving a diverse array of partners including the Waltersville School Garden Project with Pivot Ministries, Wakeman Town Farm Pollinator Gardens, a Kaboom playground project in Bridgeport, and Aspetuck Land Trust’s Green Corridor Initiative and Haskins Preserve Project.
Westport Garden Club members at the Nevada Hitchcock Garden.
Many Westporters know Pippa Bell Ader for her environmental activism.
She’s also a talented potter. Next Thursday (November 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), she’ll sell her work at the Westport Farmers’ Market (Imperial Avenue parking lot).
All money raised at the “Urban Farming and Food Justice” fundraiser go to Green Village Initiative. The non-profit grows food, knowledge, leadership and community, through urban gardening and farming, to create a more just food system in Bridgeport.
Can’t make it to the Farmers’ Market, but interested in helping Pippa and GVI? Email bellader@gmail.com.
MoCA Westport’s next 2 “Cocktails and Conversation” events are set.
On November 3 (6 p.m.), Diana Mashia — founder and CEO of Invest In Her Art — discusses “the power of story, and the role that narratives play in shaping identity, fandom, advocacy and positive social impact.” She’ll lead a conversation around “how to better utilize stories and the arts to build awareness and advance women and non-binary people.” Click here to register.
On November 10 (6 p.m.), exhibition co-curators Tom Berntsen, Liz Leggett and Ruth Mannes describes the design and installation of MoCA’s current exhibition, “From the Pen to the Knife,” and the fascinating story of artist Marian Christy. Click here to register.
Both events are free; advance registration is requested. Access to the exhibit beforehand is free; cocktails and drinks are available for purchase.
Anne Bernier explains: “Anyone has seen ‘Stranger Things 4’ episode 3 (or has heard the Kate Bush song ‘Running Up that Hill’) will understand the floating Halloween decoration my 8th grader Luke created. Hopefully it won’t scare off any potential trick-or-treaters.”
Today’s storm did not do the damage that was feared.
Approximately 756 customers were without power at the peak of the storm. Most were restored quickly. Isolated individual outages remain.
Meanwhile, Valerie Ann Leff sent this photo of her furnace room, in her home on a hill off Hillspoint Road.
She says: “The water hasn’t reached the finished wood floor, but when we walk across it it sounds like we’re walking on a dock. Every cleanup company around has long waiting lists, so we’re just bailing with a bucket and a big pitcher.”
(Photo/Valerie Ann Leff)
Meanwhile, this was the scene at Compo Beach:
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
One more photo from today’s storm. This was on Bradley Lane:
Their office — across the Post Road from Design Within Reach — was where they created and marketed an array of healthy, protein-rich jerky snacks. From beef, chicken, turkey and pork to jalapeño, cracked pepper and everything bagel, it all happened in Westport.
Next store to the office, they operated a low-key retail outlet. It wasn’t an afterthought exactly, but it wasn’t front-and-center either.
Now though, there are some good reasons to take a field trip to Field Trip.
The jerky outlet has been transformed into a “general store/pantry.” It’s filled with specialty items, curated from the owners’ relationships and knowledge of exciting new products.
In addition to Field Trip items, they’re selling:
Bourbon aged barrel maple syrup
Jalapeño bacon salsa
Habanero sea salt
Texas olive oil
Bacon brittle
Ugly dried fruit
Caramels, licorice and ChiChi chocolates
Doux south pickles and mustards
1934 Bloody Mary mix
Coro salami
Bjorn corn
Bobby Sue’s nuts
Aina Kopi steak seasonings and mango habanero hot sauce(this is the only US location)
FOGO charcoal (only place in Westport.
And that’s just for starters.
If you still have a jones for jerky: Starting next week, Field Trip is selling their newest flavor: Gochujang Korean-style BBQ beef jerky. It’s being introduced here first, before a national rollout.
But wait! There’s more! Field Trip offers a 20% discount code to anyone mentioning a Dan Woog/”06880″ callout during the month of July.
Pippa Bell Ader uses solar power to heat and cool her home, heat her hot water pumps, and power her electric car.
Now the environmental advocate and Sustainable Westport member wants you to learn how.
This Tuesday (July 13, 3 to 6 p.m.), she invites everyone to her 62 Woodside Avenue home. She’ll show how you can make easy improvements yourself.
“In Connecticut, we have older homes — mine was built in 1929 — that use a lot of energy, especially for cooling and heating,” she says.
“The state has great incentives and financing for people who want to switch from fossil fuels to heat pumps. Pair heat pumps with solar to power and heat your entire home with clean energy. Driving an electric car powered by solar reduces our carbon footprint as well. I’m right on the cusp of being completely net zero.“
Learn all that — and more — on Tuesday. Plus there’s pizza. Made in a solar-powered oven, I’m sure.
Like many organizations, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services had to suspend some operations during COVID. Among the casualties: the EMR/ EMT classes that were an important pipeline for new members.
And for careers. At least 14 volunteers went on to medical school; others became nurses, paramedics and physician assistants.
Classes will begin again in the fall. The cost — $1250 per EMT student, $750 per EMR student — includes classes, books, stethoscope and BP cuff. Most classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, with some Saturday days. The course begins September 21, and runs through January.
WVEM will reimburse for the cost of the class after members become part of the organization. Click here for more information.
Arlene Benson — mother of longtime Westport civic volunteer Rick Benson — died peacefully in East Norwalk on July 1. She was 98.
A member of Wheaton College’s Class of 1944, the Buffalo native moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, then Southern California shortly after her 1943 wedding, then back to Buffalo when her husband deployed to World War II in North Africa and Europe.
She shared Ontario cottages for many summers with her sister, their boys, and her mother, enjoying the beach, swimming, sailing and golf. She and her husband purchased condominium homes in Florida. She moved to Connecticut in late 2017 at age 94 to be closer to her son and grandson.
A member of the Garrett Club, Cherry Hill Country Club, Buffalo Canoe Club, and the Country Club of Buffalo, Arlene loved to host parties, travel to Europe, take cruises, play golf and bridge, and be with her family.
She will be remembered as a loving, generous, caring person, always with a smile, always with something nice to say, and always concerned about others more than herself.
Her passing is the end of an era. Her maternal grandfathers emigrated from Germany in 1905, started Mollenberg-Betz Machine Co, Inc. in 1910. Her husband joined the firm in 1946, rose to EVP and retired in 1986. The commercial air conditioning, refrigeration and service company is still family owned and managed in Buffalo, but she is the last of her generation.
Arlene is survived by her son Richard and his wife, Totney of Westport, CT, and her grandson Richard Betz Benson II (RB) of New York City. She was predeceased by her first husband James M. Benson, her older son James M. Benson, Jr., her sister Janice Betz Dedecker, and her second husband Robert Eckis.
A celebration of life reception will be held on Thursday July 15 (4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Greens Farms Congregational Church).
A memorial service will be held on September 8 un Buffalo, with private interment preceding in the church memorial garden. Donations may be made in her memory to: Westminster Presbyterian Church 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209 or the Westport Rotary Club Foundation, PO Box 741, Westport, CT 06881.
“Westport … Naturally” features a fantastic female monarch butterfly.
It paused on several of the flowers in Wendy Crowther’s garden. She was glad to see it, as monarchs are in drastic decline. “The more we can do to avoid herbicide use and provide a welcome habitat, the more we can help,” Wendy says.
Alert — and ecologically conscious — “06880” reader Pippa Bell Ader writes:
The Sustainable Westport Zero Food Waste Challenge — with a goal of decreasing residential food waste by 25% or more — is off to a good start.
Each week the transfer station collects half a ton of food waste. It’s brought to an industrial composting facility, and made into compost.
Every Saturday since the initiative began in July, a group of committed volunteers has handed out food scrap recycling flyers and answered questions at the transfer station.
They were there at 7 a.m. in the heat of the summer. They did not leave until well after noon, after the gates closed. They did it all with smiles (behind their masks).
Greens Farms Elementary School 5th grade teacher Stacey Fowle hands out a flyer.
Now, in the fall, the volunteers keep giving up part of their weekend, because they know they make a difference. And they know it, because residents thank them for the work they do to make Westport a sustainable community.
Since many transfer station regulars have received the flyer, Zero Food Waste Challenge volunteer hours have been decreased. They now start at 8 a.m.
The lines — which sometimes stretched to the Post Road this summer — are rare, now that all transfer station parking spots are open.
Stacey Williams teams up with a transfer station employee.
So the Zero Food Waste educational focus will move to other locations and events, as opportunities become available. The team was scheduled to attend over 30 events and meetings this summer. COVID canceled them all.
Congratulations to all Zero Food Waste Challenge volunteers: Pippa Bell Ader, Emma Alcyone, Aileen Brill, John Ferencz, Matt Ferencz, Stacey Fowle, Laurie Goldberg, Matthew Longhitano, Julie McDonald, Dylan Michaels, Ashley Moran, Leslie Paparo, Henry Potter, Jessie Schwartz, Dawn Sullivan, Stacey Williams and Trevor Williams. You are our very helpful (and green) Unsung Heroes of the Week!
(For more information about the Zero Food Waste Challenge, click here. For a starter kit ($25; free if income-eligible) go to Earthplace (10 Woodside Lane) weekdays between noon and 4 p.m. To nominate an Unsung Hero, email dwoog@optonline.net)
Matthew Ferencz assembles starter kits at Earthplace.
Pippa Bell Ader was a member of Westport’s Septic Education Task Force. She says: “In this current situation, many residents may be unaware of the damage certain items can do to septic systems. The last thing anyone needs is a septic failure, especially when we are spending more time at home.
“If you have a septic system, don’t toss paper towels, Kleenex, coffee grounds or non-degradable products such as cat litter, grease or personal hygiene products down the drain or toilet.”
To learn more about the care and maintenance of your septic system, click here for a brochure.
Or — more pleasurably — check out the mockumentary below: “Pump It Up, Baby!” It was written by Westporter Helen Martin Block, and “stars” plenty of local people.
It’s worth watching even if you don’t have a septic system. What else would you today?
Ten years ago Dan Levinson, Monique Bosch and a group of passionate Westporters founded the organization. They restored the Wakeman Town Farm and Sustainability Center, established edible gardens in schools, and launched a film and lecture series throughout Fairfield County.
Today WTF is thriving. The schools gardens in Bridgeport used lesson plans created by Sacred Heart University that tie into the curriculum.
GVI got its start at Wakeman Town Farm.
And 10 years later, GVI is now Bridgeport-based. Its mission is more focused: to grow food, knowledge, leadership and community through urban gardening and farming, creating a more just food system.
GVI believes that economic development is fostered when a community has the ability to grow, sell and purchase the food it chooses to, conveniently.
With 3 full-time employees, paid interns and summer Bridgeport student employees, GVI grows, sells and donates over 5,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce each year. More than 200 families grow their own food at community gardens, and 0ver 500 students seed, maintain and harvest their school gardens.
A new Urban Farmer Training Program — launched with the University of Connecticut — helps gardeners grow food. The group — including Westporter Cornelia Olsen — is now a vendor at Bridgeport farmers’ markets.
Other Westporters have worked hard to make this happen too. Every year hundreds rebuild and clean gardens, and farm with the GVI team.
Volunteers include Staples High School interns, Staples Service League of Boys (SLOBS) student and parents, and Builders Beyond Borders.
Westporters and Bridgeporters work together with GVI.
In addition, Westport League of Women voters members join GVI board member Pippa Bell Ader and her friends, coordinating annual Bridgeport elementary school trips to Reservoir Community Farm.
Those volunteers and supporters were honored the other day, at a party at Patagonia in Westport. Local law firms Cohen and Wolf and Berchem Moses were key sponsors.
Next up: a “Harvest Bits & Booze” fundraiser November 13 (6 to 9 p.m., Read’s Art Space, 1042 Broad Street, Bridgeport).
Trattoria ‘A Vucchella caters, with meat and vegetables from Connecticut farms. All proceeds go to GVI’s programs. Click here for tickets and more information.
A lot has blossomed over the past 10 years. Congratulations to GVI, as it celebrates a decade of growth!
Scenes from the day after the inauguration of President Trump:
Molly Dubson. a Westport 4th grader, prepared a sign for her 1st political rally. She plans to report on it for her journalism class. She thinks many of President Trump’s comments on race and gender would get him kicked out of school.
Westporters Ella and Zoe Alpert, Katie Simons and Layla Bloomingdale in Baltimore, on their way to Washington Friday night for the women’s march. This morning, Lilly Bloomingdale reported, the line at the train station there was around the building. “Great vibe, everyone positive” she said.
Siobhan Crise took this photo at 1:38 a.m., waiting in the Saugatuck train station parking lot for a bus to DC. Saugatuck parking lot#1. “Friendly Westport police officer keeping an eye on the gathering. Spirits high,” she said.
Westport photographer Irene Penny writes: “In the spirit of equality for all, I teamed up with local French Hollywood actress Stephanie Szostak (‘Iron Man 3,’ ‘Devil Wears Prada,’ ‘Satisfaction’ TV series) to make some art.”
Amy Leonard, Ann Pawlick, Jenny Robson, Diane Connolly, Faith Taylor and Joan Richardson at the Westport train station, en route to the New York march.
Diane Yormark and Pippa Bell Ader are march marshals in DC.
I called the Fire Department. They appreciate any help in clearing hydrants of snow, or even just making a path to the hydrants. They don’t have the manpower to get to all of them.
But don’t throw the snow back onto the street!
Now is a perfect time to do this, with no cars on the road.
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