Westport’s drive to raise $250,000 for our new sister city in Lyman, Ukraine now has a logo.
Miggs Burroughs — the native Westporter/graphic artist/creator of lenticular exhibits at the downtown and train station pedestrian tunnels/designer of the Westport town flag/Westport Artists’ Collective co-founder — has once again donated his talents for a great cause.
His design — in Ukraine’s famous blue and yellow colors — shows Lyman nestled under the bridge being built by both Westport and Marigny-le-Louzon, the French town we adopted after World War II, and helped rebuild. They’re joining us now, to aid another devastated place.
Our goal is to raise $250,000 — by Christmas. That would provide materials to build 150 homes, with a generator for every one, plus a water filtration system for the Donetsk region town. Thanks to our partner on the ground, it can all be delivered within 3 days.
As of last night — 2 days after announcing our drive — we had over $85,000. Just $165,000 left to raise!
To help, click here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) You can also donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
Ukraine Aid International is a non-profit organization. It was co-founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer. Click here for more information on our sister city, Lyman.
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Tonight, Saugatuck Congregational Church unveils a big gift for the community.
That’s not an exaggeration. It’s a giant video Christmas card.
From 5 to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday), Craig Patton and Mark Mathias — creators of the “card,” and leaders of the church’s audio-visual team — will be on the Great Lawn on the Post Road near Myrtle Avenue, projecting a video greeting on the front of the building. It will be augmented by an audio broadcast on 89.3 FM.
Look for the enormous holiday card on the front of the Saugatuck Church as you drive by. Better yet, stop and share some holiday cheer with Craig and Mark.
If the weather allows, the greeting card will be presented again tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, also from 5 to 8 p.m.
Happy holidays!
Sneak peek at the Saugatuck Church holiday card.
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Back in the day, Joan Walsh Anglund was a world-popular illustrator.
And a Westport resident.
In the 1960s and ’70s, nearly every child had at least one of her books, prints or dolls. Her characters all bore big heads and eyes, with no mouth.
The other day, Elizabeth DeVoll sent a few images from Anglund’s Christmas books.
For generations of Westporters, they — and their author — evoke fond memories. For younger parents and kids: Seek them out. They’re timeless.
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Last week, students in Alyssa Carroll’s 2nd grade Coleytown Elementary School class made over 50 bagged lunches for Homes with Hope.
They proudly learned what it means to give back to their community. What a great idea for other classes throughout Westport to follow!
Coleytown Elementary School students, with lunches they made for Homes with Hope.
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Terry, Eamon and Seamus Brannigan are part of a band that plays often at Littlel Barn. Their next gig is Friday (December 23), at 8:30 p.m.
They’re great. They play plenty of classic (and other) rock.
They’ve got a typical band name: Hibachi Dinner.
But they go by another name too — one that’s spectacularly clever, given that the 3 brothers are now, or once were, on the Staples wrestling team.
Just call them The Sing-lets.
Hibachi Dinner (aka The Sing-lets) from left: Seamus Brannigan, Maddy Cerito, Terry Brannigan, Eamon Brannigan, Dylan Curran. (Photo/Terry Brannigan)
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On Sunday, Westport Troop 100 held an Eagle Court of Honor at VFW Post 399. They presented Eagle Scout awards, and celebrated the outstanding achievement of 4 Scouts:
- 2021 Staples High School graduate PJ Shaum, who coordinated a musical instruments drive for Bridgeport Schools’ Music program.
- Purdue Polytechnic University freshman Maxim Zotkin Williams, who created an outdoor picnic area for St. Mary’s Holy Assumption Church in Stamford.
- Staples High School senior and fencing team captain Gleb Syomichev, who helped clean and repaint the parking lot at VFW Post 399.
- Staples High senior and fencing team member Jack Martens, who helped to clean up and paint the kitchen at VFW Post 399.
Troop 100 has a 54-year history in Westport — and, now, 90 Eagle Scouts. Congratulations to all!
Troop 100 Eagle Scouts, clockwise from top left: PJ Shaum, Maxim Zotkin Williams, Jack Martens, Gleb Syomichev,
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Staples High School Class of 2013 graduate Shira Helena Gitlin is directing a new production of “Indecent,” by Massachusetts’ Concord Players.
Shira was involved with another Players group — the Staples ones — on the tech side, in high school. They also sang with the Orphenians. Shira is now building a career as a theater maker, in the Boston area.
Click here for a video about “Indecent.” They talk about its relevance today, beginning at 5:01.
Shira Helena Gitlin
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From sneakers to New Year’s resolutions to a backstage look at the Candlelight Concert, Staples’ December “On the Wreckord” TV broadcast has it all.
Click below to watch the well-produced, clever and wide-ranging high school show:
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There’s plenty of natural beauty — and some nice man-made stuff too — in today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
It’s a view from the footbridge over Deadman Brook, on the north side of Winslow Park.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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And finally … winter arrives today at 4:48 p.m.
Only 89 days until spring!
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