In the first international meeting in Westport Board of Selectwoman history, Jen Tooker affirmed this morning something that residents have known since the holidays: We have a new sister city.
With the mayor of Lyman, Ukraine joining by telephone, Tooker read a proclamation formalizing ties between the two towns.
The language was both official and warm.
Tooker — flanked by Selectwomen Andrea Moore and Candice Savin, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Fire Chief Michael Kronick — described the links forged through the great work of Westport natives Brian and Marshall Mayer (founders of Ukraine Aid International) and Liz Olegov of the Alex21 group (which delivers goods and materials to war-torn communities). All 3 were on the Zoom call.
Among those on today’s Zoom call: Top row: 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, Fire Chief Michael Kronick, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, 3rd Selectwoman Candice Savin; middle row: Brian and Marshall Mayer of Ukraine Aid International, in Kharkiv; bottom row:Liz Olegov of Alex21, also in Ukraine.
Tooker described Westport’s long history of giving back to communities in need, including our other sister city: Marigny, France. They join us in this effort with Lyman.
Tooker noted that with the sister city relationship, residents of Westport and Lyman will learn about each other.
“Through mutual, interwoven bonds, we will foster our ties,” Tooker said. “We are partners in friendship and recovery, now and always.”
Mayor Alexander Victoravich Zuravlov responded, in remarks translated by Olegov.
“We give great thanks to all who are ready to restore Lyman,” he said.
“We no longer feel that we are not alone.”
In the 3 weeks since Westport’s relationship with Lyman was announced, residents and their friends have donated over $252,000.
The Mayers have sourced building materials and vehicles, which are on their way to Lyman. The Westport Fire and Police Departments are also contributing to the effort. (Full details are being withheld, due to security concerns.)
“Brian, Marshall, Liz and their group figure out exactly what is needed, and how to get it there,” Tooker said. “That’s a game changer — and a morale-booster.”
In honoring the citizens of our new sister city, Tooker cited their “courage and bravery. We are proud to support you and your mayor, now and in the future.”
The 1st Selectwoman said that the Westport-Lyman relationship is believed to be the first of its kind for towns in the US and Ukraine.
As part of Westport’s fundraising for Lyman — our new sister city in Ukraine — “06880” auctioned off a painting of Marigny-le-Louzon, France.
It was donated by our friends in Marigny, Westport’s other sister city. The relationship extends more than 75 years. We helped the Normandy town rebuild after World War II. Now, together, we are helping another ravaged place, this one in Ukraine.
Wendy Van Wie won the painting, with a bid of $1,500. But there’s more to this story than just a Westport resident helping an important relief effort.
Wendy and her husband Mark Yurkiw live on Cross Highway. Their home — the Meeker homestead — stood on the route taken by British soldiers in 1777, as they headed to Danbury to burn an arsenal. (A musket ball lodged in the door provided evidence of the event.)
The home on Cross Highway. (Photo/Amy Dolego)
Wendy and Mark bought the foreclosed property in 2003. After 2 centuries, the barn and 1728 saltbox house — already half a century old when the British marched past — had fallen into disrepair.
The couple rehabilitated their home, barn and cottage. Their attention to detail earned them a 2017 Historic District Commission preservation award.
interior of the barn, after renovation.
Today it’s known as the Schilthuis-Meeker house. Sally Schilthuis was influential in preventing construction of Merritt Parkway Exit 43 in the area, resulting in the current “No Man’s Land” between Exits 42 and 44.
Schilthuis died in 1975. Her obituary noted that her barn served as a meeting place for Westporters planning aid for post-war Marigny.
Cross Highway barn. (Photo/Amy Dolego)
The barn still serves an important relief role. Mark — whose heritage is Ukrainian — has worked tirelessly since the Russian invasion began to provide help for his homeland.
His current project –besides playing a key role with Lyman — is collecting generators, chain saws, sleeping bags, phone power banks, kerosene heaters, rechargeable batteries, blankets, pillows, warm winter clothing and more. It’s sent overseas, when space becomes available in shipping containers.
The gear — all donated by generous Westporters — is stored in that very same barn. (You can still help. Call Mark: 646-873-0050.)
Donations for Ukraine outside Mark Yurkiw and Wendy Van Wie’s barn — with the country’s familiar blue and yellow symbol of resistance.
As part of Wendy and Mark’s historic preservation work, they received a perpetual easement. Their barn is protected from any future demolition.
That’s where Wendy’s new painting will hang. It will keep the story of the Westport/Marigny connection — and the 2 towns’ new relationship with Lyman — alive.
“Long after Mark and I are gone, this will remind and inspire future generations,” Wendy says.
“The painting, and its back story, will become a permanent part of the permanent barn.”
This Marigny scene by Roger Potier will soon hang in Wendy Van Wie’s Cross Highway barn.
Tax-deductible donations can still be made to Westport’s sister city, Lyman, through Ukraine Aid International. Pleaseclick here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other tax-deductible donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo). You can also donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
Posted onDecember 27, 2022|Comments Off on Roundup: Long Lots Preserve, Lyman Video, Marigny Chocolate …
Long Lots Preserve — the perimeter around the the Westport Community Gardens adjacent to the elementary school — is halfway to its 4-phase, 2-year goal of ecologically restoring the once-neglected town property.
Results are spectacular. Invasive plants are being removed; native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses are planted in their place.
Needed next: dead tree trunks, to cover the forest floor.
Decomposing tree trunks promote the growth of bug populations. They in turn supply local and migrating bird populations with an important source of food, especially in the spring when they feed their young.
Long Lots Preserve team director Lou Weinberg asks for donations of anyone with tree trunks they want to get rid of. Any condition is fine. Tree services or individuals can drop off tree truck logs at the site.
For details, email longlotspreserve@gmail.com . You can also click here for the website, or follow on Instagram: @longlotspreserve. (Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)
Westport’s drive to raise $250,000 to help our new Ukrainian sister city of Lyman has neared the $200,000 mark. To be exact: $196,200.
That’s a remarkable outpouring of support from Westport residents (and their friends and relatives elsewhere, and former Westporters scattered around the world).
Whether you’ve already contributed, or just thought about it: Take a few minutes to check out this video.
Brian Mayer (the Westporter who co-founded Ukraine Aid International) and Liz Olegov (co-founder of the Alex21 aid group) filmed conditions on the ground in Lyman. It describes better than words ever could the harrowing situation in our sister city, and the need for help.
(Video editing by Clyde and Katya Wauchope)
Meanwhile, our friends in our other sister city — Marigny, France — are ready to join Westport in our efforts to help Lyman.
Next month — in his New Year’s address to the town — Marigny’s mayor will announce our partnership, and ask residents there to pitch in.
Meanwhile, the Christmas Day delivery of 400 fresh holiday meals, and gifts to 491 children — thanks in part to Westporters’ donations, and our partners on the ground, Ukraine Aid International and Alex21 — jogged the memories of some long-time Marigny citizens.
In 1966, 2 Westporters — David Salfati and his wife — were interviewed by Ouest-France News.
They described how in 1947, a Westport chocolate maker sent 400 kilograms of chocolate — about 800 pounds — of chocolate to Marigny. Residents in the Normandy town were still recovering from World War II.
The chocolatier — whose name has been lost to history — chose that amount because there were 400 children living in Marigny.
Right now, 491 youngsters remain in Lyman.
Seventy-five years later, almost the exact number of children need help, in another war-torn nation. Westport and Marigny are proud to work together, as 2 sister cities aiding a third.
To help, click here for a credit card “Donate” button. Click “I want to support”; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” You can also scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) Or you can donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
The 1966 news story about Westport’s aid to Marigny — including 400 kg of chocolate.
The last Jazz at the Post show of the year features Kenny Wessel on guitar.
Known for his “adventurous solo voice, unrelenting swing and sensitive accompaniment skills,” and his “rare blend of tradition and fiery innovation,” he’s a Westport favorite.
Wessel has played with saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall since the early 1990s.
Dave Richards joins on bass, with Steve Johns on drums.
There are 2 shows this Thursday (December 29): 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner service begins at 7. There’s a $15 cover. Reservations are strongly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
Morton Silverberg died Christmas day, from heart disease. He was 92.
After graduating from MIT in 1953, he worked as an engineer at Remington Rand, RCA, Xerox and Pitney Bowes. He has over 100 patents in his name, ranging from copier technology to “the perfect paper clip.”
When he and his wife Phyllis moved to Westport in 1985, they began “the best years of their lives.” He sailed, played tennis and became an active participant in the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston. He said he “never had so many friends” in his life.
Mort is survived by his daughters, Judy Ross and Lynn McDonald, and grandchildren Ben and Tyler Ross, and Amy McDonald. His wife Phyllis died last month.
Tons of building supplies, dozens of generators and a water filtration system are ready to be trucked to Lyman — a devastated town in Ukraine — thanks to the generosity of more than 575 Westporters and their friends. We’ve raised nearly $250,000, in less than a week.
But first came Christmas.
And — with help from all those “06880” folks — our new sister city had a Christmas too.
At 7 a.m. yesterday in Kharkiv, Brian Mayer — the Westporter who co-founded Ukraine Aid International — picked up 400 fresh holiday meals, all homemade and bagged.
Then he added 491 gifts, donated by children in Hamburg, Germany.
He got in a van. He arrived in Lyman at 12:30 p.m.
Dressed as Santa, he helped deliver all those meals to the elderly and infirm, at the central square.
Then he went door to door, handing out all those presents, to every child left in Lyman.
Residents were stunned. They’d heard that Westport was sending aid. But this immediate, impactful Christmas Day surprise was extra special.
Brian sent photos and videos, throughout the planning process, the ride from Kharkiv to Lyman, and the distribution.
He asked for no publicity yesterday, though. He did not want to jeopardize the safety of residents.
Even — especially — on Christmas Day.
Our drive to help our sister city was set to end yesterday. We set a goal of $250,000.
We’re close. But we’re not there yet.
Now that you see a small bit of what we can do, please help us hit that $250,000 mark.
Pleaseclick here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other tax-deductible donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo). You can also donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
Now click here, for this great video, shot by Brian Mayer and Liz Olegov. It was compiled and created by Clyde and Katya Wauchope, who have worked tirelessly to make our sister city project a success.
PS: Though the Christmas gifts came from German children, they were reminiscent of Westport’s connection with our sister city of Marigny-le-Louzon, France. In the years after World War II, we — well, the men, women and children living here then — sent presents to children there. Each bore the name of an individual recipient.
The citizens of Marigny never forgot us. Now — three-quarters of a century later — they join us in our efforts to help Lyman. Next month, when the French mayor gives his annual new year’s address to the town, he’ll describe our partnership, and ask for their help. Merci, Marigny!
Having lived in Westport my whole life, I thought I knew everything about this town.
From the Bankside Farmers to the banks no one ever goes to; from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Marilyn Chambers, I’ve heard all the stories.
Except the fact that Westport has 3 sister cities.
It’s right there in Wikipedia, which never seldom lies: “Westport currently has three sister cities: Marigny, France; St. Petersburg, Russia; Yangzhou, China.”
If that’s true, we must be part of a very dysfunctional family. You know, the kind that never gets together– even for holidays, weddings and funerals.
Well, it is true. I typed “sister cities” into the town website. There it is again, under “Appointed Boards”:
The Westport Sister Cities Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving human ties and understanding through cultural, trade, and educational exchange with other communities throughout the world. The Association strives to enrich the lives of Westport and Fairfield County residents through participation in such exchanges.
Westport currently has three sister cities: Marigny, France; St. Petersburg, Russia; Yangzhou, People’s Republic of China.
So we not only have 3 sisters — we’ve got an entire Association dedicated to them.
Marigny - magnifique!
The Marigny connection makes sense. Right after D-Day Westporter Bob Loomis — a gun sergeant — ended up there, 25 miles from Utah Beach. A couple of weeks later another Westporter, heavy machine gunner Clay Chalfant, moved through Marigny with his company on their way to Belgium.
Woody Klein’s history of Westport notes that after the war Charlotte MacLear, head of the French department at Staples, sparked an campaign to “officially adopt Marigny” and help its recovery. Our town sent clothes, money and Christmas gifts, thanks to fundraising that included selling toys and buckets with designs painted by Westport artists.
In return, Marigny created the “Westport School Canteen,” and named the town’s largest square “Place Westport.”
In June 1994 — as part of the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy — Marigny invited 3 Westport middle school students and 2 Westport veterans to stay in the homes of residents. They visited shops named “Westport Pharmacy” and “Westport Gift Shop.” The 2 veterans were, of course, Loomis and Chalfant
Zut alors!
St. Petersburg seems to have no connection to Westport. It is, however, the only one of our 3 sisters I’ve actually visited. I don’t recall any signs hanging near the Hermitage or Neva River saying “Здравствуйте, Westport” (thanks, Google Translate!).
Of course, I might have missed them. There was a lot of vodka involved.
St. Petersburg -- not too shabby.
Finally, Yangzhou. Of our 3 lost sisters, this was the one with the most potential. After all, the US is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of China, so we ought to embrace our relative with all the money.
Bingo! (Or, as we say via Google Translate, 宾果!)
Google offered several links. The 1st was a long-ago sister-city site on a Staples server. It hasn’t been updated since 2002, but it included information about exchange programs with students, and a trip to Yangzhou by long-ago social studies teacher Todd Parker. Though the messageboard, chatroom and guestbook were all defunct, clearly some sort of arrangement once existed.
Clicking the link to Yangzhou’s official site delivered this error message: “The URL. http://www.china-yz.com is categorized as ‘pornography.'”
Now we’re talking!
Yangzhou in the spring.
Another link brought up a long-ago journal entry from Chris Fray, the Staples Mandarin teacher. Traveling in China, he wrote:
I meet Joel and Arline Epstein, two Westporters who have recently moved from Long Island. They are on a four day visit to Yangzhou and want to meet me. Joel and Arline are active in the Westport Sister City Committee and have come to Yangzhou to scout out some potential activities for the Committee as part of a larger-scale visit to China….We spend most of the dinner discussing China and the potential of future exchanges between Westport and Yangzhou.
And in June 2005, WestportNow reported, then-First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell visited Yangzhou to “commemorate” the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship, and then renew it.
Since then, 这是她写道 (“that’s all she wrote”).
Chris Fray confirms that — after 9 years or so of teacher exchanges, and a few other connections involving photographers and businesspersons — our Yangzhou connection has petered out.
There’s no more information online about our sister-city relationship with Yangzhou — or St. Petersburg, or Marigny. And, Chris thinks, the sister city committee hasn’t met in several years.
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