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Today is October 1. That’s the seemingly arbitrary date on which new laws take effect in Connecticut.
Among them:
An expansion of the law requiring drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. it now includes a pedestrian who simply steps to the curb and raises a hand to oncoming traffic.
Drivers must also now stop, then proceed slowly while passing ice cream trucks (only while selling!).
It is now illegal for employers to require a jobseeker’s age, birth date or graduation date on a first application.
Medical marijuana patients 18 or older can now grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature plants at home. Starting July 2023, anyone 21 or older can grow plants at home. There is a cap of 12 plants per household.
New rules for crosswalks.
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Westport is filled with fundraising events: walks, runs, and “-thons.” All are worthy, and Westporters support them well.
But one of the most fun takes place this Sunday (October 3, Staples High School field hockey field). It’s the 12th annual Push Against Cancer.
And it benefits an organization with strong local ties.
The event — in which people of all ages do push-ups, in return for pledges — raises money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. That’s the fantastic refuge for children suffering from serious illnesses, founded in 1988 by our own Paul Newman.
It costs $2,500 to send one child to the upstate Connecticut camp for a week. Since its inception by fitness expert Andy Berman, the Westport Push Against Cancer has raised over $725,000.
This year’s goal is to send 100 kids to camp. That’s $250,000. Groups like the Staples High School girls and boys have already raised over $34,000.
There’s still room to participate, or donate. Click here for information.
Police Chief Foti Koskinas, founder Andy Berman and First Selectman Jim Marpe banged out pushups at a previous event.
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The RTM is non-partisan. So is “06880.” (Most of the time.)
But we have to single out one candidate today. Not for his political views — but his sense of humor.
Fred Cantor received an email from the District 1 hopeful. It included the usual quotes and endorsements from voters. Boilerplate stuff.
But Fred and his wife Debbie found the final quote well worth reading: “‘Even knowing what I know now, I would still have married you.’ — Rick’s wife.”
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Nearly a week after the last ride stopped, and the final stuffed bunny was won, the Westport Woman’s Club continues to revel in the success of the Yankee Doodle Fair.
The annual event — an enormous fundraiser for the organization’s charitable activities — was moved from June to September , after being canceled in 2020 by COVID. But children (and adults turned out by the hundreds this year.
They had waited 27 months. The next wait will be much shorter. The Yankee Doodle Fair returns next spring, to its traditional Father’s Day/end-of-school weekend.
Last weekend at the Yankee Doodle Fair. (Photo/Joel Triesman)
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National Coming Out Day is October 11.
To support the LGBTQ community, Finding Westport will donate 10% of sales from t-shirts this month to Westport Pride.
The shirts show the Minute Man, silhouetted against the rainbow flag. To order, click here.
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A record fell at Wednesday’s girls’ swim and dive team meet. Staples High School beat Ludlowe 104-79.
Highlights included a record-breaking swim in the 50 meter freestyle — by a freshman. Annam Olasewere. broke the school record with a time of 26.48. She also won the 100 meter freestyle (59.82).
Top performances also came from Annam’s twin sister Ayaan Olasewere, senior captain Jessica Qi, Kate Whitaker, Mia Guster, Ava DeDomenico, Ella Alpert, Dani Schwartz and Ali Chodash.
The winning 400 meter free relay team (from left): Annam Olasewere, Ayaan Olasewere , Ella Alpert, Jessica Qi,
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David Komansky — a Westport resident who as chief executive officer and chair of Merrill Lynch from 1996 through 2003 led a major international expansion of the firm’s key businesses — died Monday in New York. He was 82.
He was raised in the Bronx by his mother, an Irish Catholic who converted to Judaism when she married his father, a postal worker whose family had emigrated from Russia.
Komansky began his 35-year career at Merrill Lynch in 1968 as a financial advisor trainee in Queens, after living in Miami where he served in the Coast Guard, attended the University of Miami and worked in a variety of odd jobs.
He sat on the boards of BlackRock, the WPP Group and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where the Komansky Children’s Hospital was established at the Weil Cornell campus.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Westport; daughters Jennifer Komansky and Elyssa Williams (Simon), and grandchildren Joey and Maverick Williams.
A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital (www.nyp.org/komansky) or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
David Komansky
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The Staples High School Class of 1962 is planning its 60th (!) reunion, for June 17-18.
To learn more, send your name, address and phone number to StaplesReunion62@gmail.com.
An aerial view of Staples High School, when the Class of 1962 was there.
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“Westport … Naturally” has featured these 2 creatures before.
But never together.
As photographer Doug Brill notes: “Good day for praying mantis. Bad day for monarch butterfly.”
(Photo/Doug Brill)
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And finally … of course we follow up the new Connecticut rules on marijuana growing (first item above) with:
