Tag Archives: Staples High School Class of 1986

Roundup: Roundup: Mitten Project, Dogs On The Beach, Teardowns …

Last year, Earth Animal’s customers, neighbors and community partners raised $100,834.64 for their 19th annual Mitten Project.

The 6-figure funds addressed a major issue: food insecurity in the region.

This year’s goal is even more audacious: $115,000.

There are many ways to help.

Pumpkins for Good: From now through October 31, buy a pumpkin at Earth Animal. All proceeds benefit Connecticut Foodshare. Pumpkins come courtesy of Izzo’s Garden Center.

Pies for Good: From October 14 through November 19, order pies donated by Wakeman Town Farm ($25), plus Lindsay’s Handmade Ice Cream ($10/pint). Pickup is November 23, 4 to 7 p.m. at Earth Animal.

$5 Mitten Pin-up Fundraiser: Ongoing at Earth Animal.

Wreaths for Good & Santa: On December 5 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), stop in buy a holiday wreath, to support Connecticut Foodshare. Wreaths are courtesy of Izzo’s Garden Center. Santa will be on hand too!

Holiday Gifts that Give Back: Proceeds from shopping help too.

Shop & Give Community Events: From November 1 through December 24, local businesses choose a day to donate a portion of sales to The Mitten Project.

For more information, and to donate, click here.

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There’s a lot going on tomorrow in Westport: Westoberfest. Slice of Saugatuck. Earthplace’s Fall Festival. The Westport Country Playhouse Gala.

But you should make time on Saturday too, between noon and 4 p.m., to check out Compass’ new office. The hosts are KMS Team and Origin Point.

This is not just any space. They’ve moved into the iconic downtown building at the Post Road East/Church Lane merge most recently occupied by Patagonia. For decades before that, it was Westport Bank & Trust.

They’ve done a spectacular redesign. And they’ve saved the historic WPA murals that originally hung throughout the interior.

Enjoy season refreshments. And if you can, bring a non-perishable item for the Homes with Hope food pantry.

KMS Team office, complete with historic murals.

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Yesterday was October 1. As every dog knows, that’s the start of a glorious 6 months, when they’re allowed on Compo Beach.

For these 2 guys, it was the best day since the invention of the fire hydrant.

Waylon (Photo/Karen Como)

JoJo (Photo/Michael Szeto)

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Coming up at MoCA\CT:

Family Fun Day (Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to noon): Free morning of music, movement, artmaking and gallery adventures for the whole family. Sing and dance with Jackie Jacobs, then get creative with artist and illustrator Erwin Ong. Click here to register, and for more information.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Recess Camp (Monday, October 12, 9 a.m. to noon; $75): On their day off from school, children ages 5–10 can make art, explore the galleries, and connect with creativity, nature, and storytelling. Click here to register, and for more information. 

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When the Historic District commission meets October 13 (7 p.m., Zoom), the agenda includes consideration of demolition permits for:

  • 23 Pequot Trail
  • 37 Burr Farms Road
  • 107 Roseville Road
  • 17 St. John’s Place

To see all meeting materials, click here.

37 Burr Farms Road

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Flash media stick and tabulator testing by the registrars of voters has been postponed from October 7. The new date is October 14 (10 a.m., Town Hall room 212D). The public is invited to observe until testing is complete.

Questions about anything voting related? Contact the registrars: Deborah Greenberg (Democrat), dgreenberg@westportct.gov (203-341-1116); Maria Louise Signore (Republican) msignore@westportct.gov (203-341-1117).

Voting tabulator

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The Staples High School Class of 1986 40th reunion is coming up soon.

Once those young-at-heart-but-now-pushing-50-year-olds pick themselves up the floor hearing that news, here’s what’s ahead:

  • Friday, October 16: Dunville’s, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 17: Sherwood Diner, 11 a.m.; Breathwork with Lyn at the Westport Library, 2 p.m.; Boathouse, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 18: Breakfast at Compo Beach pavilion.

Click here for Boathouse tickets. Click here for the Facebook page.

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Westport resident Hedda Goldman died Sunday at home. She was 92. 

She was a proud graduate of Bronx High School of Science and Clark University.  

Hedda is survived by her daughters Melissa Goldman of New York City, and Amy Goldman of Novato, California; her son and daughter-in-law David Goldman and Margo Freedman of Santa Monica, Californi); grandchildren Morgan Chapman, Andrew Goldman and Alexa Goldman, and her great-granddaughter Willow Riley.

A private burial took place at Temple Israel Cemetery. To share a condolence message, visit www.greensfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

The family is grateful to Karen Whittington, John Pounds, and others who cared for Hedda in recent years.

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There are 55 days until Thanksgiving.

This hen turkey may be getting ready — or trying to ensure she’s not part of the menu.

Bob Liftig spotted (and snapped) today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured creature on Easton Road.

(Photo/Bob Liftig)

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And finally … happy 75th birthday to Sting!

(We don’t need fields of gold. Just a check, PayPal or Zelle of whatever you think “06880” is worth — and whatever you can afford. Please click here. And thanks for thinking of us!)

Staples’ Tribe Of ’86

As Staples High School’s Class of 1986 prepared for their 30th reunion, there was the usual excitement — from some alums. Others thought: meh.

A couple of months ago, though, came news of the suicide of a class member. It was the 2nd in a brief span. Not long before, Westport police sergeant Robert Myer killed himself.

The deaths threw Craig Librett for a loop. A public relations expert now living in upstate New York, he had not been involved in reunion planning. But — feeling shock and grief — he did what many classmates did: He went on Facebook.

Facebook's header montage for the Staples Class of 1986 page.

Facebook’s header montage for the Staples Class of 1986 page.

Like other classes, ’86 had an occasionally-looked-at page. Librett posted some thoughts.

Suddenly, the floodgates opened.

“The suicides struck a chord with almost everyone in the class,” Librett says.

“People did more than just comment. They shared intimate things — about depression, suicide, themselves and their families. They really talked about what was going on in their lives.

“If it’s possible to feel something over Facebook,” Librett adds, “we felt it.”

The outpouring of emotions — and levels of honesty among people who had not seen each other for 30 years — was astonishing.

In 1985, this group of Staples High School "Student Educators" posed for a photo.

In 1985, this group of Staples High School “Student Educators” posed for a photo.

Then Andrea Greenberg contributed a long post. She called her class a “tribe” of people who had always been there for each other.

That word resonated. “Tribe” became the symbol of the Staples Class of ’86. And the reunion became, Librett says, “transformational.”

Members realized the upcoming event could be more than just a gathering. Plans snowballed — not for mourning lost classmates, but for celebrating their own and their classmates’ lives, 30 years after graduation. A large number will come together tomorrow night (Saturday, July 30) at the Saugatuck Rowing Club.

At the same time, they’ll honor the half dozen or more who have died. Tomorrow morning there’s a ceremony at Winslow Park.

The Class of 1986 #mytribe t-shirts.

The Class of 1986 #mytribe t-shirts.

The class is doing more, too. They’ve already raised more than $4,000 for the American Society for Suicide Prevention.

And on October 23, they’ll participate in the organization’s  “Out of the Darkness Walk” at Sherwood Island. Librett has helped formed a “My Tribe ’86” team.

It will be a very different walk than the one they participated in 30 years ago, at graduation. But just as important.

Thirty years have not dimmed the Staples Class of 1986’s tribal spirit.

They’ve only enhanced it.


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