Posted onFebruary 14, 2024|Comments Off on Roundup: Geno Auriemma, Bessie Coleman, Body Fit Training …
Save the date: March 13.
Just a few weeks after drawing an SRO crowd to a Y’s Men event at the Library, Geno Auriemma returns to Westport.
The legendary University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach will appear at Mitchells of Westport.
And he’s bringing his current team.
Tickets to the benefit for Bleeding Blue for Good — the organization that provides name, image and likeness opportunities for UConn student athletes (and Connecticut charities) — are $100 each. Children under 12 (maximum of 2 per adult) are free.
Light appetizers, wine and beer will be available.
Details for ticket purchases will be announced soon.
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Messages in bottles: They’re not just New Yorker cartoons.
Former Staples High School social studies teacher Drew Coyne was out yesterday morning in Fairfield, walking snowy Penfield Beach.
Well, shiver me timbers! He spotted a bottle bobbing by the shore.
And yes, inside was a message.
It had not been bobbing long. It was sent just 4 days earlier.
Nor did it bob far. There’s a Westport connection, as you can see:
(Photo/Drew Coyne)
“Thanks to whoever passed along the car wash coupon,” Drew says.
“I’ll do my best to get out my own first message in a bottle soon.”
Also in Weston: The History & Culture Center celebrates Black History Month and Women’s History Month with historian/storyteller Tammy Denease.
She’ll portray Bessie Coleman, America’s first African-American female aviator, during an educational and entertaining performance March 2 (3 p.m.).
The event was originally publicized with a fee. It is now free.
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It was truly a grand opening at the opening of Body Fit Training, in Compo Shopping Center.
They opened their “home” — and gym community to combat veterans of the Catch a Lift Fund.
That’s the national non-profit that helps housands of post-9/11 combat-injured veterans regain mental and physical health through gym memberships, in-home equipment, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and a peer support network.
Westporters have a special relationship with CAL, after more than a decade of strong support.
Two Catch a Lift Army veterans in town — Jason Smith and Matt Leyva — joined Andy Berman and Gama Blanco to organize the great opening event. (Hat tip: Adam Vengrow)
Yesterday’s snow sent the Westport Rotary Club back to COVID days.
They met not in person, but by Zoom.
Guest speaker Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, a clinical researcher and author on the topic of epigenetics and longevity gave great news: Scientists can now measure and influence the bio-chemical processes that control genes and the rate of aging.
She said that a program of diet and lifestyle intervention can reverse the process of aging on a genetic level in as little as 8 weeks.
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, via Zoom.
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Longtime Westport and Weston resident Margaret (Peggy) Barton died peacefully on Sunday. She was 89.
Peggy first moved to Westport in 1963. Born and raised in Queens, she graduated from Barnard College in 1955 after transferring from Connecticut College to be closer to her future husband, orthopedic surgeon Jerry Barton.
Peggy went on to ern a master’s degree in early education from New York University, and later at the New York School of Interior Design. She taught kindergarten in the New York City public school system, chaired Big Brother/Big Sister of Westport, volunteered in the Weston schools, co-founded and spent many years with Quintessence Interiors, and later worked as a travel consultant.
Her family calls Peggy “vivacious and fun-loving, with abundant energy.” She was a graceful skier and fiercely competitive tennis and paddle tennis player, competing at the Weston Field Club and Aspetuck Valley Country Club.
Peggy is survived by Jerry, her husband of 68 years; daughter Cathy Zales (Steve) and son John Barton (Lisa); grandchildren Scott Zales (Diana), Greg Zales (Mackenzie), Graham Barton and Lucy Barton, and great-granddaughter Delaney Zales.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at RVNA in Ridgefield.
Today’s Westport … Naturally” photo, by Staples High School senior Aiden Schachter, captures the essence of this feature: an animal, plants, water and weather, all together in one shot.
The Staples High School junior has non-speaking autism. But over the past 2 years — thanks to a communication device, a communication specialist, and the strong advocacy of his parents — he has found his voice.
His brilliant mind — locked away for years, when he was presumed to have an intellectual disability — is on display in many ways, thanks to his keyboard.
His kind, loving spirit will be seen soon in a film by Cynthia Gibb and Jill Johnson Mann. He stars in “Presumed Incompetent,” about a nonspeaking autistic teenager whose life mirrors his own.
Apraxia causes Wynston’s body to move erratically. He appear agitated and unfocused, though he is not. But he hears and absorbs everything.
Wynston Browne, during a break from the filming of “Presumed Incompetent.”
At last, he is able to express his intelligence. He wants to be challenged in school — not presumed to be stupid or incompetent, because he can’t speak out loud.
He wants to have friends. He wants to sit in the cafeteria and laugh with them, not be laughed at.
Nina Meehan is another one of the 30 million or so non-speaking autistic people in the world.
She is 18. It took her until last year to find a way to communicate. Now — through the Nina Foundation she started — she is on a mission to prove that autism is not a cognitive disability.
It is actually a motor skill disability. There is a disconnect between the brain, the mouth and jaw, and fine motor skills like writing with a pencil or typing easily on a computer.
The brain/body disconnect makes many movements for those affected by apraxia to appear erratic. It is difficult for them to have their brain make purposeful movement.
Nina lives in Fairfield. She and Wynston know each other.
On Sunday — Super Bowl morning — she asked her older sister Natalia (a trained communication partner) if she could see Wynston later that day.
Nina Meehan, with her sister.
Her father picked Wynston up in Westport. The teenagers hung out for a couple of hours, as Natalia assisted their conversations.
When Wynston’s father David arrived to pick him up, Wynston made it clear — gently, but forcefully — that he’d prefer not to go.
David said that dinner (and the Super Bowl) were waiting. He asked if Wynston wanted to say anything else before leaving.
Natalia raised the letter board. Wynston decisively and precisely poked at the letters.
“Would you be my valentine?” he asked.
Nina grinned from ear to ear, and rocked back and forth on the couch.
Natalia brought over the spelling board. Nina poked at the letters: “I would love to.”
Wynston Browne and Nina Meehan, on Sunday.
Wynston then made clear to his father that he really did not want to go. But he would.
Nina’s mother Raquel asked the teenagers if they wanted to FaceTime on Wednesday. Their body language made their delight emphatically clear.
Wynston’s mother, Lynda Kommel-Browne, adds: “As we have heard from Wynston, we realize how important it is for autistics to have friendships, love and companionship.
“This is another aspect of autism that we must concede we all got wrong.
“Human beings are social beings. Even though non-speakers’ socialization may look different than neuro-typical socialization, that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy and crave friendship, companionship and love.
“Many families with non-speakers feel like their children have a 6th, 7th and 8th sense. Wynston is so gentle and loving most of the time.
“It makes me feel so sad that he and his cohorts have spent such a big part of their lives largely segregated from communities. I hope this shows that non-speaking autistics indeed want very much to be part of the community.”
Posted onFebruary 11, 2022|Comments Off on Chocolate Elves Save Valentine’s Day
If you sell wings or beer, or deliver pizzas, Sunday’s Super Bowl is huge.
If you’re Le Rouge Chocolates, the next day — Valentine’s — is your Super Bowl.
Aarti Khosla — owner of the popular Main Street shop — spends months preparing for the holiday. She stocks up on ingredients and takes orders. But she can’t begin making her wonderful creations too early. She and her employees gear up mentally for a very busy few days.
Less than 2 weeks ago, a fully trained chocolate maker stepped away due to health issues. Another left for personal reasons.
Ten days before her biggest day of the year, Aarti had absolutely no help.
There was no way even the indefatigable owner could make nearly 10,000 truffles, mendiants, almond Rochers and chocolate covered strawberries by herself.
So she did what chocolatiers have done for centuries: She posted about her predicament on social media.
Longtime customers — and others who recently found her — responded. After work and school, they poured in to help.
A trio of helpers.
“They packed. They organized. They kept my sanity,” Aarti says.
Ten years after opening, Aarti is still awed by this community.
“The best part of this journey is the sense of belonging,” she says.
“A lot of these women have high-powered jobs. They’re lawyers and executives. But they take time out of their super-busy schedules to help.
“They say it gives them pleasure, because no one goes away unhappy from a chocolate shop. When I try to thank them, they say it’s because of what I put out in the universe. But we all know that not everyone is as lucky as I am, to receive it back.”
Sealing the deal.
And speaking of giving it back: Aarti keeps paying it forward.
Ten percent of all sales this month will be donated to local food banks.
(Kudos to Aarti’s helpers: Westporters Alison Angus, Joëlle Berger, Lisa Marriott, Jennifer Wolter and Keelin Wolter; Westonites Laura Shepard, Meredith Shepard, Debbie Mergerg, Susan Moch, Dawn Watson and Pat Weist; Monroe residents Theresa Shields and her sons Owen and Liam, and Joli Gross from Greenwich.)
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Posted onFebruary 6, 2022|Comments Off on Roses Are Red, The Supply Chain Is Blue …
Valentine’s Day could not come at a better time. Roads are slushy, nights remain too long, the fresh breath of spring still elusive.
In fact, all of us should think of flowers, all winter long.
Michele Sinacore does.
Michele Sinacore
A year ago — under the grand name Bloom + Stem Floral Design — she was creating Valentine’s florals in her Greens Farms basement. Masked (and socially distanced) volunteers helped her prune, water tube and wrap roses; they added messages of support from donors to each,
Michele delivered them to frontline employees at Connecticut and New York hospitals, and The Residence in Westport. All were among the first healthcare workers to receive vaccines.
Blossom + Stem, in Sconset Square.
Michele just opened her second Blossom + Stem store in Sconset Square. Beyond supplying custom bouquets, seasonally fresh arrangements and floral tablescapes of all kinds. for all occasions, she surprises blooms for both “buddies” and businesses.
Those are bouquets, delivered randomly, on Fridays to unexpected recipients. A mom with 4 kids — all home with COVID — received flowers, and cried.
Blossom + Stem also donates to the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, and partners with local businesses like Allium Eatery and Winged Monkey to boost their own customers’ moods.
Michele has done it all despite a very uncertain global supply chain. (Look outside: See any fresh flowers there?!)
Most people don’t think about flower farmers around the globe who are short of staff, or dealing with weather extremes, canceled freight flights, wildfires or vases stuck on cargo ships.
Michele does. The joy that fresh bouquets can provide keeps her going.
So, she warns Westporters: Order early for Valentine’s Day. Red rose shortages are possible.
Don’t be left out in the cold.
Michele’s roses.
Comments Off on Roses Are Red, The Supply Chain Is Blue …
If you’re like me, you spend time sitting in Riverside Avenue traffic wondering what goes on behind those mysterious windows above Arezzo restaurant.
Turns out it’s a design studio, home to the Bonnie Marcus Collection. Launched by Diane von Furstenberg’s former right-hand woman, it’s where 10 very talented people — all local moms — create illustrations for bridal shower, wedding and party invitations; greeting cards; calendars and more.
Bonnie has developed licensing deals with some of the biggest companies in the world. Her designs are found in more than 50,000 retail and online stores.
But today her studio concentrates on one school, in nearby Bridgeport.
Bonnie’s cards often feature hand-painted sparkles. So Westporter Nicole Straight — who volunteers at the Cesar Batalla School, and is a big fan of Bonnie Marcus Collections — came up with an idea: Give every student there a chance to make a sparkling Valentine’s Day card for someone special.
Westport middle school student Sydney Gusick helped package goodies at the Bonnie Marcus design studio.
It could be a parent, sibling, teacher or friend. The key is for kids to have fun making their own cards.
Today, Nicole is delivered 1,200 sparkle pens to the school.
Plus Valentine’s gifts for each teacher: A calendar, filled with color and creativity, for every classroom.
Bonnie and the rest of her team enjoyed plenty of smiling faces at Cesar Batalla today.
Who knows? They may find a future designer there too.
(Hat tip: Robin Gusick)
Making a valentine, today at Cesar Batalla School.
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