Coming soon to Saugatuck: Original Craft Butchery co-owner Paul Nessel will reopen — with a new business — in the former Fleishers Craft Butchery space on Riverside Avenue, across from Saugatuck Sweets.
The target date for “Saugatuck Provisions” is a few weeks. (Hat tip: JD Dworkow)
Paul Nessel (Photo courtesy of Modern Farmer magazine)
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Somehow I missed last week’s Bravocon video of Christian Siriano judging the looks of “Real Housewives” cast members.
But Stephanie Ostroff caught it.
She sent a link to “06880.” Click below to watch — particularly at the 4:30 mark, when he talks about Westport, his new store here, and the possibility of a “Real Housewives of Westport.”
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Yesterday was a big day for Rick Benson
The longtime Westporter and always-eager civic volunteer celebrated his 75th birthday. It was also the 77th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter — an organization supported from the start by Rotary International, of which Benson is a proud, active and long-serving member.
Throughout his 33 years in Rotary, he has taken on many roles. He and his wife Totney have also given generously.
So generously, that they are one of only 3 couples from Connecticut to achieve membership in Rotary’s Arch Klumph Society. They’re in the Trustee’s Circle, for gifts of $250,000 to $499,999.
Oh, yeah: yesterday was also the 34th anniversary of a promise Rotary made to the children of the world: to eradicate wild polio. In that time, the disease has gone from 350,000 cases globally to only 29 cases this year, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Happy birthday, Rick. And thanks, Rick and Totney, for all you do, in Westport and around the planet. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Rick and Totney Benson, with Rotary officials in Kampala, Uganda.
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For more than 2 decades, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has run a “Drug Take Back Day” program. Over 16 million pounds of prescription medicines have been removed from circulation.
This Saturday (October 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Westport Police Department again partners in this effort. Medications can be dropped off at the Senior Center, on Imperial Avenue. The event is free, and anonymous; no questions are asked.
Liquids or needles cannot be accepted; only pills or patches. Vape pens are accepted if the batteries are removed.
A year-round collection bin is available in the lobby of police headquarters on Jesup Road. For more information, click here.
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This week’s “Jazz at the Post” features guitarist Bob DeVos. He’s joined by Dan Kostelnik on bass, drummer Steve Johns, and of course Greg Wall, Westport’s own “Jazz Rabbi” saxophonist.
There are 2 sets on Thursday (October 27, VFW Post 399, 465 Riverside Avenue): 7:30 and 8:40 p.m. Dinner is available from 7 p.m. on. For reservations, email jazzatthepost@gmail.com.
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This past weekend’s Staples High School boys basketball fundraiser was a great success. Kids of all ages participated, helping raise funds for a players’ lounge, video equipment and pre-season camp.
The second part of the fundraiser — a virtual silent auction — runs through this coming Friday (October 28). Items include Knicks, Broadway and Stephen Colbert tickets; autographed basketballs; a lesson with a varsity player, and more. Click here for details, and bids.
Taking a break during the Staples basketball fundraiser: Nicholas Fey, Jackson Shapiro and Ryder Shapiro,
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Speaking of hoops: 2015 Staples graduate Bailey Claffey sang the national anthem before last night’s Knicks game, at Madison Square Garden.
She earned the honor by sending in a demo tape. (Hat tip: Julie Whamond)
Bailey Claffin, at Madison Square Garden.
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Former Westporter John Preston died earlier this month, at 75.
The Michigan native met his future wife Janet at the University of Michigan. They married in 1970.
He attended the Department of Defense Language Institute, and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1975.
He and his family lived in Westport for nearly 2 decades. They raised 3 children and had many friends here.
John spent 21 years at The Seagram Company, rising to senior vice president and treasurer. In 2004 he and Janet moved to Miami where he spent 14 years at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits as vice president of finance and administration. She died in 2016.
He moved in 2020 to Portland, Oregon to be closer to his son and daughter, and their families. He moved to Wilmette, Illinois, shortly before his death.
John was an avid golfer, voracious reader and lifelong lover of speaking Spanish..
John is survived by his three children Regan, Lilly and Wells; their spouses Jordan, Nik, and Chrissy; granddaughters, Maylin, Marlowe, Daphne, Oona and June; and siblings Susan Root, Thomas Preston and Sarah Linthicum.
A memorial will be held December 3 in Wilmette, Illinois. Click here for details.
John Preston
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A little kid, a large tree and fall foliage highlight today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
It’s from Blind Brook Road. But colors like this can be seen — for a few more days, anyway — all over town.
(Photo/Ellie Magnuson)
And finally … this may be offensive to some people. So if you don’t like the word “a–hole,” stop reading.
If you think there are a lot of a–holes on I-95 though*, click on August Campbell’s video below. It’s 7 years old, but I’d never heard of it (or him).
At any rate: Enjoy!
*There are.
(Don’t be an a–hole. Contribute to “06880.” Please click here!)
