On Saturday, Beth Cody learned from “06880” that the next day, milling would begin on the Post Road.
Sunday was the day that the Westport Little League Challenger baseball team — the program for boys and girls ages 5-18 with physical or intellectual challenges, which Beth founded and still runs — was celebrating its 13th annual Halloween and pizza party.
Delivery normally comes from a pizzeria on the Post Road. Beth wanted to be sure the pizzas were on time, so she searched for a place closer to the field.
Her first stop opens too late on Sundays. So Beth headed to Outpost Pizza, across from Hudson Malone.
She told owner Tom Barlleci about the team, and its party. He said, sorry; they’re closed Sundays.
But when Tom saw the disappointment on Beth’s face, he said he’d come in and make the 10 pizzas.
Tom Barlleci, at Outpost Pizza.
Beth was stunned. He would really come in on his day off?
Yes, he said. He was happy to do it, for kids with special needs.
Enjoying Outpost Pizza — in costume.
“To this angel of a man; thank you!” Beth says.
And, she adds: “Be sure to visit Outpost Pizza. It was delicious, and they have a full menu of options!”
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
The Challenger baseball Halloween and pizza party. (Photos/Beth Cody)
The “Saugatuck swan” — the one Westporters have watched in wonder, as she hatched her eggs by the Saugatuck River, a few feet from Parker Harding Plaza — has given birth.
Claudia Sherwood Servidio reports on the delivery, adding: “the male was very attentive, looking for reeds to reinforce the nest from water with the high tide.”
Remember last year’s traffic and safety sessions, each for a different RTM district?
An update is set for April 27 (7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium). First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, along with officials from the Public Works, Planning & Zoning and Public Safety Departments, will discuss progress on the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Summary Report.
There will be time for discussion and input from residents about traffic and safety concerns in their neighborhoods.
An additional meeting will be held this fall.
Typical traffic on North Avenue, at Bedford Middle School. (Photo/Adam Vengrow)
To celebrate Earth Day this Saturday (April 22), the Democratic Women of Westport will show how to make recreational sports more environmentally friendly. The event is called “Sustainability on the Sidelines.”
The DWW will man — er, woman — tables at Wakeman Field, and baseball and softball diamonds. The goal is to provide info on small steps families can take to reduce their sports cleat footprint.
Included: some of Sustainable Westport’s efforts, and a handout with tips (examples: carpooling, no idling, and participating in a uniform exchange).
They’ll also give away Gatorade powders to encourage reusable bottles instead of single use plastic
Adult and youth volunteers are needed for Saturday, and to make posters to decorate the tables. To help, or for more information, email jessica@theparentcollective.com.
One of the children’s posters, for Saturday’s Democratic Women of Westport Earth Day event.
Equally important: It’s the 10th anniversary for the “Westport Winners.” They’re the local team in the Little League Challenger division, for special needs youngsters.
Opening day is this Saturday (April 22, 11:30 a.m., Meyer Field at Town Farms). Everyone is invited.
A decade ago Beth Cody and her son Jack had a dream. With help from Stacie Curran, Westport Little League officials and many others, they made it happen.
Westport Country Playhouse opened its 93rd season Saturday night with the Tony Award-winning musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
Opening night guests included Richard Maltby, Jr., who co-conceived the show, and André De Shields, an original Broadway cast member.
The musical — about Fats Waller and musicians of the Black Renaissance — runs through April 29. Click here for more information.
From left: Jeffrey Page, director and choreographer of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and Andrew De Shields. who starred in the show on Broadway 45 years ago. (Photo/Jerri Graham Photography)
If you’ve ever wondered what happens at the end of life, or how to care for a loved one or yourself — and who among us has not? — put May 11 (7 p.m., Westport Library) on your calendar.
Panelists will explore what dying can look like, how to have important conversations, and palliative care and hospice. The discussion will be led by Julia Portale, executive director of Fairfield County House, Fairfield County’s non-profit hospice.
A year ago, Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall had an idea: turn VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 into a music venue.
On April 27, “Jazz at the Post” celebrates its first anniversary with a gala event.
Over 20 of favorite performers — including Brian Marsella, David Morgan, Sarah Cion, Mike Mossman, Tim Horner, Phil Bowler, Rob Henke, Joe Corsello, Dave Childs, Kenny Wessel, Rale Micic, David DeJesus — join in a benefit concert for the weekly event’s sponsor, the Jazz Society of Fairfield County.
The VFW acoustics are terrific. The vibe is cool. The restore Village Gate piano has never sounded better.
Tickets ($100 per person; higher levels for supporters and benefactors) include non-stop music and dinner from Chef Derek. Cocktails, beer and wine are available too.
On the horizon next month: clinics for Westport students, conducted by headlining Jazz at the Post artists. On May 11 and 25, students will perform as opening acts.
Also ahead: Jazz FC’s broadened relationship with after-school programs in Norwalk and Bridgeport, partnerships with senior centers and facilities serving underserved populations, and more.
Charlie Sanderson (center) strikes a classic Little League baseball pose, with his Challenger Division buddies Haran Eiger (left) and Alan Fiore. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Last week the Staples High School senior captained his baseball team to their 2nd state championship in 3 years. In 2013 Chad starred on the Westport squad that reached the finals of the Little League World Series.
He’s been drafted by the New York Yankees — but he’s heading first to Duke University. He’s also an excellent piano player.
Yet one of his many other recent honors — Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year — led to an especially fine moment.
As part of Gatorade’s Play It Forward Fund, Chad was given $1,000 to pass on to any national or local youth sports organization of his choice.
He chose Westport Little League’s Challenger Division. That’s the very successful program for boys and girls with disabilities.
Chad Knight (rear, center, white shirt) and Challenger commissioner Beth Cody (front, blue shirt) join Challenger players, buddies, and Staples baseball players today.
Chad’s generosity came from the heart. Throughout the years he has served as a “buddy” to the players. He always found time to help out. He loved the youngsters, and they adored him.
In appreciation of Chad’s gift, commissioner Beth Cody announced that Gatorade is the official drink of the Westport Winners challenger team. Today at Meyer Field, she presented Chad with a bottle with his name, number and the Westport Winners name.
Starting this fall, every Challenger player will get one too.
It was a quick, fun ceremony, before Westport took on Norwalk in their final game of the season.
Then Chad headed off to his next celebration: his own graduation party.
In 2014, Chad Knight (right) was a Challenger buddy with Dylan Curran. Dylan is now manager of the state champion Staples baseball team, and still plays with the Westport Winners.
For many Westport parents, kids’ activities — sports, arts, organizations, lessons, you name it — are easy to access. And there are gazillions of them.
For parents with special needs children, it’s not as easy. There are many excellent programs, but they can be hard to find.
And even though the PTAs’ SpED (Special Education) committee spreads the word through an info-filled weekly email — including options outside of school, and resources for parents too — plenty of Westporters don’t even know they can join that list.
Some of the programs — here and in nearby towns — are inclusive. Others are adapted, making them attainable to those who did not think they could participate.
So how can parents learn what’s out there?
Westporter Johanna Kiev has compiled a massive database of material. She’s shared it with “06880” — which is honored to offer it to our readers.
(Johanna has also developed a Facebook resource page — click here to see it).
Thanks, Johanna. And everyone: Feel free to forward this far and wide!
About the Westport SpED Committee
Westport SpED PTA committee representatives work closely with each school’s administration, and the district’s assistant superintendent of pupil services. They meet monthly. Co-chairs are Julie McMahon and Kate Grijns.
Members are parents of children who receive special education services. The committee hosts social events and shares information, such as:
Sip ’N Chat – informal parent coffees held monthly at Panera Bread
Community Fun Day each November
Teen Nights at the Westport Weston Family Y
Parent education seminars on topics like “Navigating Your IEP” and “Assistive Technology”
Weekly emails with information about local events and activities, plus summer opportunities and post-high school transition options
The committee also works with local agencies like the Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Library, for advocacy and programming.
To be added to the PTA SpED mailing list — or if you would like to add information about a program not listed below, or are a business that can help — email westportspedpta@gmail.com.
Programming Options for Children with Special Needs:
The Westport Weston Family Y sponsors:
Swim Team: The program includes participation in Connecticut Special Olympics summer games. Fee: $100 (September-June)
Basketball: Junior Team (8 -12 years): Saturdays 8:45 to 9:30 p.m.
Senior Team (13+ years): Saturdays 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
This program includes participation in the CT Unified Sports tournament. Fee: $65 (September-February)
Track & Field: This program includes participation in the Connecticut Special Olympics summer games. Fee: $45 (March-June)
Floor Hockey: This began for the first time last month. Fee: $45 (December-March)
Smiles all around on the Y’s Special Olympics swim team.
Special Needs Swim Lessons: The Y offers private and semi-private swim lessons at a greatly reduced rate for children with special needs. Lessons can be booked at any time, but because the pool can get noisy and distracting, instructors are also available during quieter hours (evenings, Fridays, early Saturday and Sunday morning). Rates: Private 30-minute lesson, $25; 2-person 30-minute lesson, $15 each.
Long Distance Running: This program is for children who are interested in completing a 5k (combination of walking and running). Practice times: Tuesdays, 4-4:45 p.m.; Saturdays, 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.
SPED Teen Fun Nights: Offered on various dates.
For more information or to register for any Westport Weston YMCA special needs activity, click here or call 203-226-8981
Earthplace
Earthplace provides necessary resources to allow children to access and enjoy all programming. For more information or to register, click here or call 203-557-4400.
MusicWorks! Individual Music Therapy Sessions for Children with Special Needs
MusicWorks! (Westport School of Music, 18 Woods Grove Road) sessions employ structured and improvised musical activities including singing, instrument playing, rhythm and movement, songwriting, listening, imaging and relaxation to meet individual needs. Activities are specifically designed for cognitive, emotional, psychological, physical and social concerns. They are facilitated by board-certified music therapist Patricia Ashford, who encourages children and adults to express themselves without judgment and to grow in creativity and self-confidence.
For more information or to register, call director Sarah Miller: 203-227-4931.
Music Works! is specially designed for children with special needs.
“Break an Egg – The Social Kitchen”:
Break an Egg – The Social Kitchen” builds the communication skills of people with special needs through the motivating element of food. Each participant in the cooking class prepares a new recipe each week. The fall/winter program includes pumpkin muffins, apple berry salsa with cinnamon chips, garlic and lemon butternut squash noodles, and apple stir fry with whipped cream. Dietary needs can be accommodated.
Classes are taught by licensed speech and language pathologist Shari Goldstein, and Penney Parkes, a food technologist and mom of a special needs young adult.
Classes are held in Fairfield on Tuesdays and Saturdays. They can be held at home kitchens if parents form a group of youngsters to cook together. There are classes for elementary, middle and high school students. A preschool class could be organized too.
The Drew Friedman Foundation: New Arts Program for Kids
The Foundation introduces a pilot youth arts program for children with special needs this month in Westport. The hands-on program, conducted by local artists, includes 10 to 15 children around ages 8 to 16 to work on a mosaic-type project.
Saturdays, 11am to 11:45am (through February 9) at the Westport PAL Rink at Longshore.
Individual and group instruction in basic skills is offered at the Westport PAL Rink at Longshore. Parents are encouraged to skate with their children. The program runs Saturdays through February 9 (11 to 11:45 a.m.). To register, click here.
Little League Baseball – Challenger Program
This program pairs young volunteers with children with special needs. Details on the spring season will be available soon; click here.
Hillary Lipper shares a laugh with Coach Scott, during the 2013 Challenger season.
Circle of Friends
Norwalk-based Circle of Friends includes many Westporters. The organization matches special needs children with teenage volunteers for play dates. The group also organizes monthly gatherings for youngsters with special needs. For more information, click here.
The Jewish Community Center of Stamford
The JCC offers winter programs designed to improve children’s social skills and build positive peer interactions:
Music, Movement & Yoga – fun and interactive for all ability levels.
Music Mania – provides opportunities for children to explore their creativity, using music to improve skills.
Zumba Kids Jr – kid-friendly routines based on original Zumba choreography.
Ready, Set, Move – enables children to engage their muscles by moving through an obstacle course and yoga positions.
(Have we missed any programs? Click “Comments” below!)
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