Friday is the 3-year anniversary of Rachel Rothman-Cohen’s stroke.
She was 47 years old.
It was devastating.
Yet rather than avoiding the anniversary, Rachel celebrates it, by raising money for a charity.
Rachel Rothman-Cohen
This year she honors her parents — both of whom have been afflicted with Parkinson’s — by fundraising for research and a cure.
And she’s doing it at Stitch Haven, the yarn, needles and more store where she works part time.
On Friday (April 4), 5% of all proceeds from sales there — including online — will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
But that’s not all.
The next day — Saturday, April 5 (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; $40) — Rachel will teach a special class to make “Tiny Tulips.” They’re a symbol for April, which is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
The tulips can be made into little pins, bookmarks or any number of things.
All proceeds from that class will also go to the foundation. Click here to register.
Learn to knit and purl tiny tulips.
Three years ago, Rachel suffered a terrible medical calamity.
For her — and so many others, whose lives she’s touched — it was a “stroke” of good fortune.
Congratulations and thank you, Rachel. You are “06880”‘s Unsung Hero of the Week!
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
Governor Ned Lamont cut the ribbon yesterday, at the rededication of the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place in downtown Westport.
With 15 and 5 beds respectively — and a newly expanded food pantry, renovated kitchen, and additional meeting rooms — the Homes with Hope facility is better equipped than ever to serve underhoused and hungry residents.
Lamont was joined by Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquerra-Bruno, State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Selectwomen Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore,, Homes with Hope CEO and president Helen McAlinden, Homes with Hope co-founder and former director Rev. Peter Powell, Westport Human Services director Elaine Daignault, and several Representative Town Meeting members.
The Gillespie Center is named for the shelter’s co-founder, Dr. Jim Gillespie. Hoskins Place honors another early housing supporter, Rev. Ted Hoskins of Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The ceremony also included Susie’s Place. Formerly known as Project Return — and named for that organization’s former director Susiei Basler — the Compo Road North house has room for 6 at-risk women, ages 18-24.
After renovations, it will open April 1.
To learn more about Homes with Hope and its services, click here.
Homes with Hope CEO, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker nad Governor Ned Lamont (center, holding scissors and ribbon), at yesterday’s Gillespie Center rededication.
Calling themselves “deeply concerned,” ADL Connecticut said: “The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis. The Holocaust was a singularly evil event, and it is inappropropriate and offensive to make light of it. At a time of rising hate and antisemitism, we call upon community leaders to speak out against this hate. Hate is not child’s play.”
The ADL sent a report about hate and harassment. “Swastikas are very prevalent in gaming and online, and kids see them often,” they said. Click here to read.
Westport’s Democratic Town Committee reposted the ADL’s message, echoing it in “the strongest of terms.”
TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey Jr. sent a statement to “06880.” Noting it was “personal” — not from the town’s multicultural organization — he said, “Whether hidden on a remote trail or in plain sight, such homages to hatred are heinous and must be condemned.
While some forces within our nation are pushing us pell-mell toward the outlawing of even their discussion, we must steel ourselves at every level to call them out and see them for the poison they represent to our community, and humanity itself.”
The “Hitler” snowman, in Newman Poses Preserce.
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The Representative Town Meeting Planning & Zoning, and Environment, Committees meet jointly tonight (Tuesday, February 11, 7 p.m., Town Hall room 201).
There is one agenda item: “Review of the Old Mill Pond walkway, gate and properties.”
Discussion is expected to include whether the public has the right to access Compo Cove, via the formerly open, now locked gate at the end of the walkway.
Click here to see the entire meeting packet, including documents.
Access to Compo Cove will be discussed at tonight’s RTM committee meetings.
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Tonight also marks the first of 3 consecutive nights of Board of Finance 2025-26 budget discussions.
All meetings take place in Town Hall room 309, beginning at 6 p.m.
The schedule:
Tonight (Tuesday, February 11): Human Services, Parks & Recreation/Wakeman Town Farm, Public Works/Sewer Fund.
Wednesday, February 12: Transit District, Police, Fire.
Thursday, February 13: Earthplace, IT, Library, Health District, Pension/ Insurance/Transfers/Other General.
Click here for a link to the full proposed 2025-26 budget.
Layla’s Falafel is known for its great Middle Eastern food.
Now it’s helping hungry folks, in our back yard.
The Post Road East restaurant has partnered with local non-profit Filling in the Blanks. They have pledged $12,000 to fund their Fresh Food on the Move mobile pantry in Bridgeport, at the end of this month. The pantry feeds over 475 families in need, offering fresh and healthy food.
Layla’s is donating $2 for every pint of $8 hummus sold at their Westport, Fairfield and Stamford locations. It’s made fresh daily; it’s vegan, gluten-free and seed oil-free — and includes 3 fluffy pita breads.
Donations can also be made through the QR code below.
Layla’s hummus.
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Everyone needs a warm hug.
This Thursday (February 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) marks the Westport Farmers’ Market’s annual Operation Warm Hug. It was postponed a week, by snow.
At their Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center winter home, Market volunteers will collect lightly used coats, hats, mittens, sweaters and sweatshirts, to share with nOURish in Bridgeport.
For the first time ever last night, Staples Orphenians — the high school’s elite a cappella group — joined Bedford and Coleytown Middle Schools’ cameratas for a joint Choir Festival.
The event, at Bedford, follows a similar three-schools jazz show at Staples.
Choir members enjoyed rehearsing together during the day. More joint music programs are planned for the future.
Choral directors (from left) Christina Dominguez, Lauren Pine and Jason Phillips, sporting their respective school logos.
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Timing is everything.
Yesteray, “06880” posted a story on Stitch Haven. Beth Berkowitz is the new owner of the store formerly known as Westport Yarns.
When the piece was published, a new sign was not yet ini place.
Just hours after the story appeared, the “Stitch Haven” sign was installed.
You can find all your knitting and crocheting needs there on Post Road East, next to Westport Hardware and Cava, across from Fresh Market and Terrain.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a bit unusual.
Bob Weingarten writes: “A large tree was slated for removal from Center Street by the town in December. A town crew removed most of the top of the tree and sides in early January. but left what is shown below — probably because of all the wires.
“This removal is now waiting for (probably) Eversource.”
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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And finally … in honor of the rededication of the Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place, and the upcoming reopening of Susie’s Place (story above):
(“06880” is your home for hyper-local news about Westport — our non-profits, businesses, schools, residents, beaches, history and much more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Call it what you will: Knitting Central (7 years). Westport Yarns (14 years). Stitch Haven (this month).
The names change, but the heart remains. The Post Road East business is a one-stop shop for yarn, needles and hooks, accessories — and classes and more, for Westport’s substantial knitting community.
Beth Berkowitz is the new owner (and responsible for the name change). She’s passionate about her hobby.
And she has a life-changing story to tell about it.
Beth Berkowitz
Three years ago she had difficulty using her right arm. Doctors told her she needed rotator cuff surgery.
Beth had led a very active life. She played tennis, pickleball and golf. She walked her dogs, and painted. Now the pain was too great to even put acrylic on canvas.
Looking for an activity she could do — and for a social outlet — she discovered the local yarn store’s classes and lessons.
“It was a warm, welcoming and cozy environment,” Beth says.
She learned to knit, and became a frequent fixture.
“Whenever I sat down to knit, I felt calm and relaxed,” Beth says. “It became better than meditating for me.”
She surprised herself with her ability to makek items she could wear. “I could create an actual garment from a bunch of string!” she says.
Her doctor warned her that after surgery, she would not be able to do most activities for 6 months.
But knitting requires only hands and wrists. Needles are quite light. Just a few days after her operation, she was back to work.
In fact, Beth says, knitting gave her a head start on physical therapy. Because the rest of her arm muscles did not atrophy while she wore a sling, her recovery progressed quicker than usual.
Taking classes and meeting her knitting friends was great for her spirit too.
Knitters (from left): Tracey Sparks, Pinaki Vazarkar, Mihal Spitzer, Michelle Bloom, Rose Puza and Jeanine Narita.
When she heard that the owner of Westport Yarns was looking to sell — and that if she did not find a buyer, she might close — the more intrigued she became.
Despite a busy life selling real estate, traveling and spending time with her family, Beth looked into the financials.
Then came COVID. The shop stayed open, selling online and allowing drive-by purchase pick-ups.
A few months passed. Beth figured a buyer was lined up.
Then the owner asked Beth if she was serious about her interest.
She quickly said “yes!”
Pam Grushkin (left) is Stitch Haven’s store manager. She designs patterns, and teaches crochet and knitting. Julie Van Norden, is an instructor and sales associate, with a talent for color selections.
Beth had already started to help the staff, during busy times. She was already knitting there. It felt like a natural evolution.
Examining the records, she saw that although most years were busy, with plenty of sales of yarn and other supplies, operating costs were high.
Beth took it as a challenge. She realized there were opportunities for an energetic new start.
She bought the business. She kept most of the beloved staff, and the elements that worked well. She introduced efficiencies.
Still, the start-up costs were high, as she helped the prior owner through the holiday season.
On January 6, Beth officially took over.
Stitch Haven is still in transition. There have been a few technology hiccups.
But things are smoothing out. Loyal customers remain; new ones are finding the store.
The “Westport Yarns” sign will soon say “Stitch Haven.”
As spring and summer near, Beth has ordered plenty of cotton yarns and blends.
“This is a great time to start projects that can worn in warmer months,” she says. “And you can get a jump on a holiday gift over the summer, to be ready for next winter.”
A new “Stitch Haven” sign is coming soon. In the meantime, she invites everyone to check out the shop that still says “Westport Yarns,” near Party Harty and Cava across from Terrain and Fresh Market.
Meanwhile, she promises, “we will keep everyone in stitches!”
(“06880” covers many local business: old, new, and old ones that are new again. If you enjoy our hyper-local stories, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
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