The 550-member group of retirees (and semi-retirees) enjoys speakers, social events, dozens of activities, and volunteer efforts.
Less well known are the Y’s Women.
They’ve been around for 33 years. They too are an active, fun group.
They are not affiliated with the Y’s Men (although many Y’s Women are wives or widows of members).
And although they (and their male counterparts) were founded at the Westport Weston Family YMCA, neither group is connected with the Y today.
Merle Spiegel is the group’s longtime communications chair. A 1965 Staples high School graduate whose mother was a Y’s Woman (and co-chair of their trips committee), Merle went on one to Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate near the Hudson River. She was hooked.
The other day, she talked about the organization. Members range from those who, like her, have deep roots in Westport, to women who moved here recently (often to be near grandchildren), and look to make friends and find community.
The Y’s Women meet twice a month, 11 a.m. on Mondays at Green’s Farms Congregational Church.
The Y’s Women’s spring luncheon.
Like the Y’s Men, the women boast an active speakers series. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Dr. Robert Altbaum and novelist Fiona Davis are recent guests. Soon to come: State Representative Jonathan Steinberg.
Sub-groups — books, movies, tai chi, mahjong, trivia, Scrabble, one dedicated to the New Yorker magazine — meet on their own. A “Solos” group, for women without partners, is very active too, including weekly summer potluck dinners at the beach.
Potluck dinner, at the beach.
One of the newest groups is “Jewels of Westport.” Led by Jilda Manikas, they’ve taken a backstage tour of the Westport Country Playhouse, and visited sculptures at town parks.
Y’s Women get out often, to art galleries, botanical gardens and more, up to 45 minutes away. Some members drive; their riders kick in for gas.
“This is an amazing group of women,” Spiegel says. “It’s a great way to learn, do interesting things and make friends.”
Hard to believe, but voting for town officials begins in just 11 days.
Here’s the early voting schedule, at the Town Hall auditorium:
DATE VOTING HOURS
Monday, October 20 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 21 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 22 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday, October 24 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 27 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 30 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 31 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 1 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
SAME DAY REGISTRATION: If you are new to Westport, or have not registered before.
To register, you must show identification that includes your name and Westport address (for example, a driver’s license, current utility bill, check or Social Security card).
You can register online at voterregistration.ct.gov, at the DMV, at the Registrars Office (Town Hall Room 107) or, mail your registration card by October 17.
If you miss this registration deadline, Westport offers registration every day at Town Hall in the auditorium during the early voting period (above). Registrants will be able to cast their ballot at that time.
Registration also available on Election Day (November 4) at the Town Hall auditorium from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can register and vote during that time. Be prepared to show proof of identity and residency.
“OK To Delay” — the group urging parents to protect middle schoolers from smartphones and social media — kicks off fall with a coffee-and-conversation event tomorrow (October 10, 10 a.m., Make Modern, 180 Post Road East). Lyfe Café will provide the light bites.
Speaking of Saugatuck: Most places, you’d pay big buck$ to hear a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer play.
In Westport, it’s just $15.
And you’ll be sitting about 5 feet away.
Mark Naftalin — a keyboardist with the original Paul Butterfield Blues Band — brings his magic to the VFW on November 1 (6:30 doors, 7:30 music).
He’ll be joined by Connecticut Blues Hall of Fame member Paul Gabriel, Connecticut Blues Challenge winner Mark Zaretsky, plus Nick Longo and Paul Opalach.
Pay in cash at the door. It doesn’t get more down home than that.
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Intensity has opened new platform tennis (paddle) courts.
They’ll celebrate with a free opening night party on October 17. There’s a 6 p.m. round robin (sign up here to play), then an exhibition match with local pros at 7:30.
The event includes food, drinks, a raffle and photos.
Intensity is just over the Norwalk line, at 490 Westport Avenue. Questions? Call 203-853-7727.
“Live from Lincoln Center” executive producer — and longtime Westport resident — Andrew Wilk addressed a large Senior Center crowd on Tuesday.
He detailed the creation of his award-winning PBS special “Simple Gifts.” The program was organized by the Y’s Men of Westport & Weston, whose officer John Brandt led the conversation.
Westport resident Louis D’Onofrio has just published “The Ultimate Short Story Collection.”
Some were inspired by Westport, and New England. They offer “reflections on current world events, and the comforting chaos of home…. (They) celebrate the power of perspective, the magic in the mundane, and the connections that quietly bind us all.” Click here to order, and for more information.
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The weather has finally turned autumnal.
But earlier this week — and for much of the fall — it’s felt positively summerish.
Nico Eisenberger was at Burying Hill Beach on Tuesday. He reports: “There was a good showing from the High Tide Club today.
“The only requirement to join is that you show up to swim at high tide, sometimes. No initiation. No fee. Everyone is free to do as they please. We’re open to new members!”
PS: The forecast today is sunny, with a high of 60.
Burying Hill High Tide Club. (Photo/Nico Eisenberger)
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Speaking of the beach (and summer): The Parks & Recreation Department has announced a winner for its mural painting contest.
Luke Bernier’s work was selected. He is a junior at Staples High.
It will be painted on the side of the Hook’d/Bluestone concession building, facing west.
Right now, it’s a big, empty space. Here’s what it will look like next year:
Very cool, Luke. Congratulatons!
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The Suzuki School is more than just violins.
Their next concert (October 24, 7 p.m.) features jazz pianist/cellist Julian Shively and vocalist Emma McDonald. The evening blends jazz, R&B and neo-soul. click here for tickets, and more information.
Julian Shively and Emma McDonald.
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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between October 1 and 7.
A 19-year-old Stamford woman was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without a license and failure to drive in the proper lane, following a crash on Beachside Avenue. The vehicle had been stolen from the Greens Farms railroad station, with the key fob left inside. A juvenile was also charged with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, and released in the custody of a parent.
A 22-year-old Waterbury man was charged with identity theft and conspiracy to commit larceny, following a complaint that 2 checks had been intercepted from the mail, and altered. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
A 45-year-old Westport man was charged with disorderly conduct, following a complaint of a verbal argument that escalated into physical contact.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Speeding in a school zone: 2 citations
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
Passing a standing school bus: 1
Distracted driving: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Unsafe backing: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
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Lee Wrubel died at his Westport home on Tuesday, surrounded by his wife and children. He was 61.
The Staten Island native earned a BA from Lafayette College, an MD/MPH from Tufts University, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.
His professional life was dedicated to transforming healthcare, most notably with Foundation Medical Partners, a venture firm he co-founded with the Cleveland Clinic, and most recently as global co-leader of Egon Zehnder’s Global Healthcare Research and Development practice.
His family says, “Lee valued intellectual curiosity, creating and collecting photography, and a good espresso. His happiest times were spent with his family, whether walking to Compo Beach, traveling the globe, or engaging in conversation over a great meal, by the fireplace, or on the back patio. He was their rock and will continue to be their north star.”
Dr. Wrubel is survived by his wife of 33 years Michele; children Alec (Molly Kandarian) of Los Angeles and Brooke of New York, mother Evelyn, and his brothers Eric and Austin. He was predeceased by his father George.
Funeral services will be held at The Community Synagogue in Westport tomorrow (Friday, October 10, 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or The Community Synagogue.
Lee Wrubel
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Another day, another “Westport … Naturally” spider photo.
Fernando Silva writes: “There are 3 orb-weavers below our climbing hydrangea with huge, incredible webs. This cross orb-weaver posed so nicely at the corner of its web, camouflaged in a brittle bloom, I had to send it in.
“Spiders won’t win traditional beauty contests anytime soon. But considering Halloween is around the corner, it felt appropriate.”
And finally … Chris Dreja died recently in London. He was 78.
A rhythm and bass guitarist, and founding member of the Yardbirds, he was not as well known as other members of the group, like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.
But he was here in Westport in October of 1966, when the Yardbirds gave a memorable concert at Staples High School. Here’s a story about that show. Click below for some of the songs he played on.
(Early voting begins soon — as “06880” notes above. We’ll continue to cover all the Westport races closely. That’s the way we roll. But we can’t do it without you. Please click here to support us. Thanks!)
Conventional wisdom is: No one pays attention to political campaigns until after Labor Day.
Well, Labor Day has come and gone. And as Election Day nears, Westport’s League of Women Voters offers a number of opportunities for residents to hear — and question — candidates for a variety of local offices.
Democracy requires informed voters. Mark your calendars for:
“A Conversation with 1st & 2nd Selectperson Candidates”: September 26, 2 p.m., Senior Center.
“Fall Brunch & Design a Sign: Meet Your RTM Candidates”: October 4, 10 a.m. to noon Westport Library. The event includes coffee, donuts, snacks, and art activities to keep kids occupied. Co-sponsored by “06880.”
“A Conversation with Board of Finance Candidates”: October 15, 2 p.m., Senior Center.
“Candidates Debates: Board of Education, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Assessment Appeals, Board of Finance”: October 27, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library.
Peter Greenberg — one of America’s most popular trave journalists — is journeying to Westport.
The CBS News travel editor and author of “The Travel Detective” will speak at the Westport Library on September 25 (7 p.m.). The event is presented by the Y’s Men’s Travel Group.
Greenberg — whosoe website offers a wide array of resources for travelers and industry insiders — will be in conversation with longtime friend, colleague, worldwide traveler and Y’s Men member Allen Swerdlowe.
Lifelong Westport resident Josephine D’Amico died Thursday at home, surrounded by her family. She was 93.
Josie was born in Saugatuck. She graduated from Staples High School, then attended secretarial school. She became an executive secretary, and opened Darien Secretarial Service.
Josie was known as a great cook and baker.
She is survived by her brothers, Anthony D’Amico and Peter D’Amico; sisters: Eterina D’Amico and Geraldine Stauss, and 13 nieces and nephews. She was pre- deceased by her brothers Edward D’Amico, Rudolph D’Amico and Anthony D’Amico, and sisters Adeline Coviello, Margaret Incerto and Mary Aldrich.
A funeral service is set for September 16 (10 a.m., Assumption Church for a Mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery in Westport. Condolences may be left online. In lieu of flowers, ontributions in memory of Josie may be made to a charity of choice.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo includes one of our favorite things (a monarch butterfly), and one of Westport’s best places (Sherwood Island State Park):
When their terms are up, first selectpersons leave Town Hall.
Many leave Westport entirely.
Most recently, Doug Wood headed to Oregon. Joe Arcudi moved to South Dakota. Diane Farrell scooted off to Washington, and now lives in Easton.
Gordon Joseloff was an exception. A Staples High School graduate, whose family had owned Post Road property — including the Fine Arts Theater, now Barnes & Noble — since the mid-1900s, he continued to publish his popular WestportNow news site.
Another exception is Jim Marpe.He stepped down in 2021, after 2 successful terms.
Jim Marpe, at the 2021 Memorial Day parade. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
But he did not step away. He still contributes to the town. He uses his skill set — and his experience — in a variety of ways.
Just about the only difference: “I don’t have to sit through meetings till midnight,” he jokes.
This retirement is actually Marpe’s second. He enjoyed a long career as a partner with what is now Accenture.
He and his wife Mary Ellen moved to Westport in 1989, drawn by the schools, beauty, amenities, and similarity to their previous homes in Copenhagen and on Chicago’s North Shore.
Marpe volunteered for the construction of the first Compo Beach playground. But not until he retired from Accenture in 2002, in his late 50s, did he have time to get heavily involved in other activities.
He joined the Y’s Men, and chaired the Stamford Symphony Orchestra board. A vacancy arose on the Board of Education, and he got the appointment. He was elected to the seat in the next cycle, and soon became chair.
Jim Marpe, at a 2009 Board of Education meeting.
“I’m a firm believer that being retired doesn’t mean you only play golf and go to bed early,” Marpe says.
When Joseloff retired in 2013 after 2 terms, Marpe saw another way to make an impact on the communtiy.
“As much as my professional carer meant to me, being 1st selectman was a truly great honor,” he says.
It’s a highly visible position. Critiques are quick, and constant. But Westporters were comfortable with him, and 4 years later he won re-election.
His biggest challenge was the pandemic.
“There was no playbook for that,” he notes. “But I’m proud of the way our staff performed. We helped get people outdoors, and they’re still there.”
Marpe also steered the town through several natural disasters — including Tropical Storm Isaias, which struck just a few months after COVID.
Tropical Storm Isaias was one of several weather-related disasters Jim Marpe dealt with. (Photo/John Kantor)
Four years ago, he decided not to run again.
“I knew it was time to give space to fresh thinking and younger blood,” Marpe says.
“I’m the same age as the current president, and younger than the previous one. I wasn’t worried about nuclear codes, or the war in Ukraine. But it was time to move on.”
Now, he notes, “I’m liviing my best life. And it’s a result of being 1st selectman.
“I met and got to know people in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise. They came from all walks of life. They’ve enriched my life, socially and intellectually.”
People still seek Marpe’s advice. “I’m not sure how long that will last. But I’m happy to give back my thoughts — without the hassle of a midnight RTM meeting.”
From left: Former 1st selectpersons Jim Marpe and Marty Hauhuth, and current 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Three years ago, he teamed up with Steve Parrish and Westport Library director Bill Harmer to start the Common Ground Initiative. The forum for public discourse on topical issues is a way to encourage respectful, constructive dialogue, and tackle challenging, controversial topics.
Recently he collaborated with Staples junior Jake Shufro, on a parallel intergenerational discussion group called Bridge Builders.
“I try to hang out with people of all ages,” Marpe notes. “Too many people my age just want to see people our age. If you don’t see young people, you get old pretty quickly.”
From left: Jim Marpe, Jake Shufro, Sienna Schwartz and Tucker Mays, at last month’s Bridge Builders meeting.
Marpe is also on the Y’s Men board of directors. The near-600 member group, all in their 60s or older, is “amazing,” he says. “Executives, lawyers, physicians, entrepreneuers — people who were very successful in their careers. The speakers alone are worth the price, but there are so many other activities.”
Marpe is responsible for the grouup’s community service activities. “We’re not the Rotary Club” — another group he’s active with — “but we give back on cleanup days, the Library book sale, VFW blood drives … that sort of thing.”
As 1st selectman, Marpe got to know Ned Lamont well. The governor has appointed him to the Contracting Standards Board, established in the wake of Governor John Rowland’s contracting scandals to oversee all state procurement.
He has turned his former work as a Board of Ed chair, and as a member of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, into mentorship. He now works closely with new Board of Ed chairs around the state, helping them navigate their complex jobs.
He offers advice to his former 2nd selectwoman — and successor — Jen Tooker. “But only when asked,” he emphasizes. “I don’t show up at Town Hall on my own.”
The former 1st selectman is a frequent attendee at fundraisers, Library talks, Westport Country Playhouse productions, and many other events.
On June 1, he’ll join Congressman Jim Himes, and TV journalists Alisyn Camerota and Rebecca Surran on a Library panel exploring media coverage of the first 100 days of the Trump administration.
“That’s the beauty of Westport,” he says. “If you’re bored in Westport, you’re just not trying.”
Of course, there are grandchildren. Their daughter, son-in-law and their kids live with Marpe and his wife. Having them nearby — seeing their events, taking them to the pediatrician — is one of the joys of retirement from Town Hall.
Jim Marpe and his grandson Charlie, at last year’s Soundview Stroll. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Marpe does not stay solely in Westport. He and Mary Ellen travel often. They head to Tuscany this summer, and have a Japan cruise planned for the fall.
“You can’t be afraid of change. You have to always explore new opportunities,” Marpe advises.
“When one door opens, you need the courage to step through. Moving to Denmark was a scary door. But for me, life has been much more interesting as a result.
The Town Hall door closed 4 years ago. Jim Marpe walked through many more in his second retirement, and very enjoyable third act.
(Westport is filled with interesting people — and “06880” covers them all. If you enjoy feature stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Meanwhile, nearby, Banksy — or someone like him — has come to Westport.
An intriguing bit of street art — more aptly, “boardwalk art” — appeared recently, at the Compo Beach lifeguard shack.
Print at the lifeguard shack. (Hat tip and photo/Andrew Colabella)
No one seems to know who is behind the print. But it sure adds color and interest, a few weeks before the guards arrive.
Meanwhile, a few yards away, a number of fence pickets — relics of the previous playground renovation — remain. They’ve been offered to families and organizations who bought them, to help fund the 2009 rebuild.
The 2025 re-do begins tomorrow. New pickets are part of the project. They may be available to donors in the 2040s.
But — on the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord — over 100 people gathered at the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. As with the earlier demonstration, they held signs decrying a number of actions by the Trump administration.
Once again, many — but not all — drivers honked in support.
Another protest is planned next Saturday.
(Photos/Adam Stolpen)
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David Pogue left Westport last year, for Bedford, New York.
But he’s back (almost) for the 4th annual Norwalk Earth Day Festival.
The “CBS Sunday Morning”/PBS “Nova”/New York Times tech writer (and much more) returns on April 26 (11 a.m., Mill Hill Historic Park), for a talk on “Climate Hope.”
Organizers promise “10 surprising reasons for hope,” and 10 impactful actions anyone can take to help protect our planet. Click here for tickets.
The event, on the Norwalk Green, also includes vendors, healing arts, kids’ activities, a labyrinth, picnic grove, tree planting, “trashion” show and beer garden. Click here for more information.
Speaking of the environment: Weston’s EcoFest is set for May 4 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lachat Town Farm).
The day of environmental service, celebration and education includes community members, local businesses and organizations, showcasing sustainable products and initiatives.
There’s live music by high school bands; food trucks and vendors; family-friendly games and activities; mini-speaking series on topics like pollinator planting, eco-gardening, electrified lawn care and recycling, plus a live animal presentation.
There’s also a bottle and can drive,with raffle (marking Weston’s collection of its millionth bottle and can). Every 25 redeemable containers offers a chance to win $250.
Speaking (still) of the environment: Westport’s Shellfish Commission takes care of the land, as well as the water.
The other day, members Jamie Walsh and Jesse Harte, plus former Conservation Department director Alicia Mozian and interested Westporter Heather Walklet collected 5 large bags of trash — plus assorted large sections of styrofoam — at Longshore’s Hendricks Point.
Jamie Walsh, Alicia Mozian and Heather Walklet, picking up our trash.
It’s an annual clean-up for them.
And an annual reminder to Westporters: Pick up your own trash, please! That’s not the Shellfish Commission’s job!
And speaking of environmental cleanups: Sustainable Westport invites volunteers to help along the Longshore waterfront and surrounding areas next Saturday (April 26, 2 to 4 p.m.; meet at the pavilion).
It’s part of the town-wide Earth Day clean-up, organized by the Parks & Recreation Department. Click here to volunteer.
Last year’s Longshore coastal cleanup. (Photo/Brandon Malin)
Camp season is creeping — okay, zooming — up on parents.
Some kids love sports. Others are passionate about arts.
For STEM-minded boys and girls in grades 1-8, there’s a week-long Daley Genius STEM Camp (June 25 to July 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Content Studio, 20 Saugatuck Avenue, next to the Goddard School).
There are several “free libraries” around town: small structures (and one “bookcycle”) that offer books to anyone who wants them. (Or, of course, wants to donate volumes to them.)
Most patrons are people walking or biking by.
There is one at the corner of Hillandale Road and Morningside Drive South. Neighbor Bob Weingarten sees plenty of pedestrians look at the kiosk. However, he says, until the other day he had never seen someone stop their car, and browse.
The concert by pianists Dr. Liang-Fang Chang and Dr. Uriel Tsachor at Saugatuck Congregational Church — postponed earlier this month — has been rescheduled for April 27 (4 p.m.).
The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston co-sponsor the free event, on the church’s Steinway grand piano.
Longtime Westport resident Jeanne Nylen died April 15. She had suffered a stroke 2 weeks earlier.
The Fairfield native and Wheaton College graduate married Samuel Nylen in 1962. They moved here 2 years later.
Jeanne served as a Girl Scout leader, Nature Center docent, teacher’s assistant, and head of the Hillspoint Elementary School PTA.
Later, she pursued her passion for exploring by becoming a travel agent with Westport Travel, and visiting Hong Kong, Morocco, the Arctic Circle, and much of Europe.
After Sam died in 1999, Jeanne opened her home to visiting Chinese teachers. She hosted 8, through a Staples High School program.
In retirement Jeanne cared for her grandchildren, and enjoyed the theater, symphony and opera, her book group, and tennis. She was also a decades-long member of the Green’s Farms Congregational Church.
Jeanne is survived by her daughter Wendy (James Hopkins) of Bridgeport; step-grandson Samuel Hopkins (Krissy) and 2 great-grandchildren of South Glastonbury, and son Toby (Gail) of Sutton, Massachusetts, and grandchildren Dallas, Victoria and Sam Nylen.
A memorial service will be held later.
Jeanne Nylen
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It’s that time of year: American oystercatchers have returned to the eastern end of Compo’s South Beach, to nest.
Once again, that area has been roped off, to provide the shorebirds the space and quiet they need to breed.
Matt Murray spotted these important signs, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … well, you knew this was coming, right?
(Happy Easter, to all who celebrate! And whether you do or not, feel free to click here, to fill our basket with a joy. And also a contribution to “06880.” Thank you all!)
Posted onApril 9, 2025|Comments Off on Roundup: “Born To Run” At 50, The Pledge At Y’s Men, Inam At Clarendon …
One of this year’s VersoFest highlights was a compelling panel discussion, honoring the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” album.
Arlen Schumer (art director of Thunder Road, the first magazine dedicated to Springsteen’s life and music) and Dick Wingate (former music industry senior executive who managed Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town”) moderated the event, with Mike Appel, Springsteen’s first manager and co-producer of “Born to Run”; Michael Pillot, former Columbia Records promotions director; Robert Santelli, executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives, and Kenneth Womack, co-author of “Bruce Songs.”
When Congressman Jim Himes visited the Y’s Men of Westport & Weston last week, the traditional opening Pledge of Allegiance included a preamble written by and delivered by US Navy veteran (and Staples High School graduate) John Brandt.
Christy Colasurdo and Liz Milwe — Wakeman Town Farm leaders for over 12 years — updated the Westport Rotary Club on the continuing evolution of the Cross Highway sustainability and education center.
Among the topics: The planned major addition of a barn. So far, $150,000 has been raised for construction.
Other updates included activities for families and children: vegetable gardens, workshops, camps, youth programs and more.
Christy Colasurdo and Liz Milwe, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
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Inam — the artists specializing in forests, rivers and changing seasons — will greet visitors to Clarendon Fine Art on April 26 (6 to 8 p.m.).
The gallery will cover sales tax for all purchases made at the event.
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Former Westporter Susan Reeves died peacefully in Niantic on Sunday, surrounded by her family. She was 94.
She attended Gettysburg College, where she was Homecoming Queen as a freshman and met her future husband, Donal. They married in 1951 and settled in Westport. For 50 years they connected with nature there, and raised 3 daughters.
Sue was active in the Westport Garden Club, and built lifelong friendships there. She was president from 1977 to 1979. She cared for cemeteries and public gardens,tended tomato starts in preparation for the annual Plant Sale, and hosting tea parties for Garden Club friends.
She was proud of her involvement developing Grace Salmon Park, and the restoration of Adams Academy.
Sue excelled at flower arranging, acrylic painting, sewing and quilting. The results were shared with family, including quilts for weddings, graduations and births.
Sue and Don also enjoyed skiing and boating (on their 38-foot powerboat “Susan”) with their family. Each summer culminated in a month with longtime friends on Martha’s Vineyard.
As she aged, kayaking became a way to connect with the water. At 90 she purchased her first kayak. At 91 she kayaked in the Pacific Northwest San Juan Islands with her daughter.
Susan is survived by her daughters Linda Morrissey (Kevin), Donna Abbott (Ted) and Lisa Zenner (John); grandchildren Kaylin, Kyle, Lindsay, Greg, Thomas and Elizabeth, and great-grandchildren Bryce, Tucker, Caleb, Maverick, Lily, Lydia, Isla, Teddy and Lucy. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Donal.
Her family thanks caregivers Ann Marie, Taylor, Lynne, Elizabeth, Jessica and Terri; her trainer Axel, who kept her physically strong enough to adventure in her 90’s; the team at VITAS Hospice, and pastor Ben of Christ Presbyterian Church.
Celebrations of life will take place in June. Donations in Susan’s memory can be directed to Christ Presbyterian Church, PO Box 543, Niantic, CT 06357.
Susan Reeves
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image comes from behind the police station.
Johanna Keyser Rossi writes: “I’ve seen these swans attempting to build a nest there. It’s not an ideal place — not much foliage to hide in.”
And finally … Clem Burke, “whose energetic, versatile drumming provided the beat for the band Blondie as it churned out post-punk, disco and rock hits” (says the New York Times), died on Sunday. He was 70, and had battled cancer.
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for news you can use. If you enjoy our daily Roundup — or anything else we publish, several times a day — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Comments Off on Roundup: “Born To Run” At 50, The Pledge At Y’s Men, Inam At Clarendon …
A bridge is much more than a physical structure over water.
It can be a metaphor for any kind of span.
The other day, a group of Westporters met to bridge both ideas and ages.
Everyone made it across.
And when they got there, they enjoyed what is always on the other side: a new and different view.
BridgeBuilders is the local chapter of a national organization, BridgeUSA.
The goal of BridgeUSA is “not to change minds or create centrists, but encourage students to engage differing beliefs, experiences and perspectives. What unites us is not agreement on policies, but a shared mindset.
“The BridgeUSA Mindset champions understanding, empathy, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage those who are different from us.
“It’s not about what you believe, but how you express what you believe.”
BridgeUSA works on 82 college campuses.
But a pair of Staples High School students recently brought it to a younger level.
And an older one.
In the aftermath of last spring’s unrest over Israel and Gaza, and during the 2024 presidential campaign, Jake Shufro realized that plenty of people were shouting about their own point of view, and shutting their ears to others’.
Plenty of other people, meanwhile, were not talking about issues at all. They did not know how to have an actual discussion. Or they were too turned off by polarization to try.
Jake is a very involved junior. He’s secretary of Westport’s Youth Commission; an active participant in Model UN Club and We the People, and a squash player.
His longtime friend, sophomore Sienna Schwartz, is similarly engaged. She’s a Student Council officer; a writer for Staples’ STEM Journal; a member of Women in STEM and participant in the Sikorsky STEM Challenge, and a soccer player and track athlete.
They contacted the national BridgeBuilders group, which is eager to add high schools to their roster of colleges.
Much of today’s discourse consists of shouting — and not listening.
Jake and Sienna were trained on how to moderate effective meetings. They learned, for example, to make sure participants focused on ideas, not on the people presenting them, along with how to keep discussions on track.
They found out it’s best to start with a non-controvesial topic.
But Jake and Sierra also realized that limiting their BridgeBuilders to high school students would exclude other, important points of view.
“We wanted intergenerational dialogue and wisdom,” Jake says. And, he notes, older participants might learn something from younger ones.
Their original idea was to partner with the Senior Center. But it closes at 3 p.m. — just 15 minutes after the school day ends.
Enter the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston.
The group of retired and semi-retired residents is as energetic and stimulating as high school students. They certainly are “wise” — and they’re always looking for new projects.
Y’s Men Jim Marpe and Tucker Mays took the lead. Working alongside Jake and Sienna, they came up with their first topic: whether mandatory national service (military or otherwise) is good for young Americans.
It’s an idea, they thought, that could be viewed from a variety of perspectives, rather than through traditional political lenses.
From left: Jim Marpe, Jake Shufro, Sienna Schwartz, Tucker Mays.
Jake and Sienna invited a range of students they knew, primarily from their social studies classes. None were yet 18: draft age.
Jim and Tucker reached out to a similar range of Y’s Men. Some were military veterans. Others served in the Peace Corps.
The 90-minute discussion, in a Westport Library meeting room, was wide-ranging. It was civil.
And, for the teenagers and senior citizens alike, it was eye-opening.
Listening respectfully, at the Westport Library.
The students learned first hand about the draft, the Vietnam War, and the peace movement.
The Y’s Men learned that many of the teens understood the importance of some kind of service. They learned too about discussions that go on in history and English classes, and what the students feel comfortable writing and talking about.
And the topics they feel uncomfortable discussing.
The 4 organizers had worried that the older participants might monopolize the discussion. That did not happen.
“Everyone spoke. There were lots of rich opinions,” Sienna says.
“There was disagreement, but it was civil. There was no finger-pointing.”
Staples students and Y’s Men, after the first meeting.
Jake, Sienna, Jim and Tucker plan to meet monthly. They’ll invite different students and Y’s Men to join them.
The next topic — later this month — is “the future of work.”
The teens and seniors are excited to keep going.
“In our country, we need to talk with each other better,” Jake says.
“That’s what democracy is. It’s bad for democracy if everyone has the same viewpoint.
“But it’s equally bad if we let those viewpoints pull us apart.”
(“06880” reports regularly on Westport’s teenagers, senior citizens — and everyone else in between. If you like our work, and/or have been featured in it, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Posted onMarch 22, 2025|Comments Off on Roundup: Mark Yurkiw’s Ukraine, Jim Himes’ Insights, Judy Michaelis’ Sushi Jin …
Westport artist Mark Yurkiw has created over 2,000 “story-telling sculptures” during his 50-year career.
They’ve been seen on TV, films and billboards, and in magazines and newspapers.
Several are now on display at the Senior Center. They make visitors engage, think and smile.
But they do a lot more too. All are available for purchase.
Donations will help ship another 40-foot container of medical equipment to Ukraine. This is the 6th time Yurkiw has done this, for his country of ancestry.
The equipment is in a warehouse, waiting for $7,800 to be raised. In addition to sculpture sales at the Senior Center, tax-deductible contributions can be made by clicking here. Include the words “For shipping” with donations.
But that’s not all.
Yurkiw is also collecting generators, chain saws and tools for auto repairs. All are also desperately needed in Ukraine.
They can be dropped off by the garage doors at 190 Cross Highway. To arrange pickup, call 646-873-0050.
Over 200 Y’s Men of Westport and Weston, and guests, heard US Representative Jim Himes address many important issues on Thursday.
Among the topics: tariffs, international relations, US support of Ukraine, the Mideast, Social Security, Medicare, the balance of power between the 3 branches of governmentn and much more.
Click below, to hear our congressman’s take on the world.
Yesterday, “06880” reported on the decision by Staples High School athletic director VJ Sarullo to replace the handsome metal Block “S” honor — the highest honor for any Wrecker, awarded to 2 athletes on every varsity team, for over 70 years — with much less expensive, generic plaques.
The story included a photo of a typical Block “S”:
But it did not show the replacement. For comparison, here is what athletes this year receive:
Sarullo responded to “06880” yesterday. He said, “The decision was made last summer. I did not hear any complaints until this week.
“We are talking to the company that makes the Block ‘S’ awards, to see how creative we can be.”
Addressing public concerns about the change, he added, “We are not taking this lightly. I hope everyone will be patient. We’ll see what we can do.”
The new restaurant — with a Main Street address, but whose main entrance is off Elm Street, opposite Serena & Lily — was packed, for a special soft opening party last night.
WVEMS deputy director Marc Hartog and his granddaughter enjoy Sushi Jin. (Photo/Lucy Ambrosino)
The sushi, dumplings and other menu items, well-stocked bar, and warm, welcoming Japanese-style decor have all the markings of the town’s newest hot spot.
Sushi Jin chefs at work. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The official opening is tomorrow (Sunday).
Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service president Jaime Bairaktaris. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Meanwhile, around the corner at Bedford Square, The Blondinit Israeli restaurant celebrated its first anniversary with a special Shabbat candle lighting ceremony.
Families wait for candle lighting at The Blondinit. (Photo/Dan Woog)
A national audience knows Craig Melvin as the new host of NBC’s “Today” show.
Westporters know him as a youth basketball coach, and an owner of the Bridge at Saugatuck restaurant.
Tomorrow (Sunday, 3 p.m.), he’ll step onto the Norwalk Concert Hall stage. He’ll narrate the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” The work closes with the famous words: “That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Also on the bill: “American in Paris, “Afro-American Symphony,” “Barber of Seville Overture” and more. Click here for more details.
Craig Melvin
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“Southern Fried” — the best in classic rock, blues and R&B — takes over the VFW tonight (March 22, 7 p.m. doors opoen, music at 8 p.m.).
Matt Zako and Barn Brew Co. promise “a night of great tunes, cold drinks, and fun with friends.”
Tickets are $15 in advance (click here), $20 at the door.
Plus: The first draft beer is free. Now that’s Southern hospitality!
For 14 years, longtime Westporter Peter Bradeen and his son Peter Jr. have jumped into Long Island Sound long before the rest of us. His other sons, Ethan and Luke, are regulars too.
They’ve joined a fundraiser for Connecticut Special Olympics. More than 12,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners train and compete in 27 Olympic-type sports, and participate in 4 annual state games.
This year’s event is April 6 (11 a.m., Jennings Beach, Fairfield).To help Peter Jr. reach his goal, click here.
In the wake of a second discovery of a swastika in a Weston school, 2 Westport rabbis, and the pastors of 2 Weston churches, issued this statement:
“Echoing the words used by Weston Board of Education chair Steve Ezzes in his recent message, we too are ‘full of sadness and frustration’ at the unacceptable repeated appearance of swastikas in the Weston Public Schools. These incidents occur in a context of rising antisemitism and a sense of heightened vulnerability within the Jewish community following the October 7 attack.
“Along with our interfaith partners who are supporting this letter, we are committed to opposing antisemitism, bigotry, racism and discrimination in all its forms. We likewise stand united in support of one another when any of our faith communities feels unsafe.
“Today we say clearly: It is essential that our schools are a safe place for ALL our children.
“We emphasize that Weston is a strong, safe Jewish community. We want Weston to remain a great place to raise Jewish children, and a place where people of all faiths feel comfortable and welcome.
“As leaders of the Jewish community, we are grateful for the wonderful support we have received from neighbors, including PTO leaders, and school administrators. The district has reached out to us with a desire to collaborate in solving what they have acknowledged is a significant problem in our schools.
“In dialogue with district leaders, we proposed the following step, to which the administration quickly agreed. The district will post a notice in many public spaces, including restrooms and locker rooms, where many of these incidents seem to have occurred. The message, which will be adjusted for age-appropriate language, will make clear that anyone who writes hate symbols like a swastika or other expressions of hate will be subject to meaningful consequences which could include suspension or expulsion.
“We believe clear public messaging and accountability are important steps in halting this awful pattern, establishing consequences for students, and most importantly changing the culture. It is impossible for school leaders to guarantee that antisemitic incidents will not happen. However, they can create the proper atmosphere and culture within the school, accompanied by the proper curricula and policies.
“We are grateful for the many additional helpful suggestions offered by the PTOs and other parent groups. We know that the district leadership will take them seriously and will explore many of them.
“Please know that we are available for support and guidance as our community moves forward together.”
L’shalom — in peace,
Rabbi Michael S. Friedman, Temple Israel
Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn, The Community Synagogue
In Solidarity,
Rev. Katy Piazza, Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Rev. Bernard R. Wilson, Norfield Congregational Church
And finally … Stephen Sondheim was born on this date, 95 years ago. He died in 2021 — 71 years after spending the summer as an apprentice at the Westport Country Playhouse.
There are so many great songs to choose from. Here are 3 — all starting with his initials, “S.”
(“Isn’t it rich …” Hey, we couldn’t resist using that line to remind readers that “06880” relies on your support. Please click here to help us continue our work. No clowning around. Thank you!)
Comments Off on Roundup: Mark Yurkiw’s Ukraine, Jim Himes’ Insights, Judy Michaelis’ Sushi Jin …
Tonight’s (Thursday) boys basketball state tournament quarterfinal between Staples and St. Bernard has been moved to Fairfield Warde High School. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
The Wreckers — ranked #4 in Division I — are the host team, against the #5 easterners. The site was changed because Warde’s gym is larger than Staples’.
Staples and St. Bernard have developed a great rivalry. In 2023, #1 ranked St. Bernard-Uncasville topped the #7 Wreckers 63-50, in the state Division II finals at Mohegan Sun.
Earlier this year, in a non-league game, St. Bernard beat Staples 63-56 in Uncasville.
The Wreckers are betting that the third time the charm — especially at “home.”
The FCIAC champion Staples boys basketball team hope to advance in the state tournament tonight.
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Discussions about The Hamlet — the new Saugatuck project — begin Monday (March 10, 6 p.m.; Zoom).
The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on a request for special permit/coastal site plan approval for 601, 606 and 609 Riverside Avenue, 91 and 96 Franklin Street, and 2 and 16 Railroad Place, for “a mix of non-residential, hotel and residential uses as part of an integrated site development, for property located in the General Business District/Saugatuck Marina.”
The public may observe and participate in the hearing.
Part of the land under consideration for The Hamlet at Saugatuck.
You’ve heard of the TEAM Westport Diversity Writing Contest, open to local teenagers. And the Farmers’ Market Young Shoots photo contest, also for kids.
What about older residents?
If you’re 60 or older: You’re in luck.
The Westport Library, the Westport Center for Senior Activities, and Meryl Moss Media Group have just announced the first-ever Jackie Robinson Essay Contest.
Organized by the Library’s Common Ground Initiative, it invites submissions (800 words or less) based on this prompt: “Jackie Robinson stands as an icon of equality and civil rights. What does that say about the power of his legacy, of the place of sports in our culture, and about our modern-day society?”
Click here to submit essays. The deadline is March 24. A panel will choose the winners, to be announced on April 15 — Jackie Robinson Day.
Winners will receive Jackie Robinson memorabilia, a chance to be featured by the Jackie Robinson Museum, and tickets to a New York Mets game at Citi Field — home to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.
Jackie Robinson. He was a longtime resident of Stamford.
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Earthplace continues to have a full calendar, for children, adults and families. They include:
If you wonder what lies beneath your property or under your floorboards, check out “Hidden History in Your Backyard.”
The Weston History & Culture Center hosts Instagram-famous Maryclare Roos for a March 30 presentation (3 p.m.; $5).
It’s followed by a wine and cheese closing reception of the exhibit, “Weston…What Lies Beneath.” The show features many treasures excavated by Roos on her antique property. Click here for more details.
Maryclare Roos
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Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein — founder and executive director of The Lawfare Project — is the special guest at a March 27 fundraiser (6:30 p.m., private home).
Called “An Evening of Impact to #EndJewHatred,” it benefits that Lawfare Project program of the same name.
Yale University student Sahar Tartak will be there too, discussing a recent antisemitic attack she experienced, and how The Lawfare Project is fighting to protect her and the rights of Jewish students across the country.
Donna Disch dished on her role as Westport poet laureate, at Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club lunch meeting.
She described initiatives like the poetry box on Soundview Drive (there’s a new poem every day), and a weekly poetry workshop. \
“If I didn’t have poetry, I’d feel quite hemmed in,” Disch said. “Poetry offers a focus, a refuge, a respite. It gives me a great deal of contentment.” She encouraged Rotarians to open their minds to the benefits of verse.
The laureate also read poems by Homer Winslow, Wendell Berry, Robert Frost and others.
Donna Disch, at the Westport Rotary Club meeting. Her poetry box is on the slide in the background. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
The Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra — a Staples High School elite musical ensemble — entertained the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston at Saugatuck Congregational Church on Tuesday. The concert was arranged by the Y’s Men Classical Music Society.
Carrie Mascaro conducts the group. The program included music by Mozart, Telemann, Copland, Joplin and others.
Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra, at Saugatuck Church. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
The women’s swimwear and resort wear retailer will move into Elm & Main (formerly called Brooks Corner) downtown.
Everything But Water has been in business for over 35 years. They currently operate over 85 stores across the United States. The closest location now is in Greenwich.
“One piece wonder,” from Everything But Water.
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State Senator Tony Hwang delivered the invocation at Tuesday’s Representative Town Meeting session.
He said “we are better together,” and expressed the importance of community involvement and public service.
State Senator Tony Hwang (right) and RTM moderator Jeff Wieser, before Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo/Jimmy Izzo)
Coleytown Middle School’s Company is hard at work on their spring production.
“Matilda The Musical” — inspired by the beloved Roald Dahl novel — runs for 4 performances, April 4-6.
Coleytown Company promises “colorful characters, rousing songs, and an inspiring storyline.” The show will entertain audiences of all ages — especially elementary school, with its “relatable and magical” story.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (March 7). Click here to order, and for more information.
Coleytown Company presents “Matilda The Musical.”
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Westport native and 1961 Staples High School graduate Jonathan Jaeger died peacefully on Tuesday, at the VA Hospital in West Haven. He was 81, and had been in failing health for several months. He was very grateful for the wonderful care and heartfelt attention he received from excellent doctors and nurses there.
Jon attended Greens Farms Elementary and Assumption Schools before Staples. After graduation he joined the Air Force. He served from 1961 to 1965 in New Jersey and Newfoundland.
Jon then spent 8 years working at Norden Systems in Norwalk. In 1973 he joined his father Andre in the family business, Greens Farms Cut Flower Exchange. In 1981 Jon and his sister Sara bought it from their father, and operated it for the next 28 years. They sold their business and Hyde Lane greenhouses in 2003, and moved to a new location in Norwalk. With changes in the sourcing of wholesale flowers, they closed it in 2009.
Jon loved everything about flowers. He was a passionate gardener, and he enjoyed the fascinating people he met through business.
After retirement, Jon continued to work with East Coast Wholesale Flowers of
Norwalk and at the Fort Hill Farmer’s Market Stand, until shortly before his death.
He is survived by 3 of his 8 siblings: Rene of Woodinville, Washington; Sara of Fairfield, and Jalna of Norwalk.
And finally … in honor of Westport’s first-ever Jackie Robinson Essay Contest (story above):
(Politics, religion, the Library, poetry, music, the environment, seniors … just another Roundup, jam-packed with info you can use. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
Two Representative Town Meeting committees — Parks & Rec, and Planning & Zoning — hold a joint meeting Wednesday (March 5, 7 p.m., Zoom). They’ll discuss the status of the Longshore maintenance shed.
The full RTM meets March 11 (7:30 p.m., Zoom). Two members have asked the body to review and reverse the Planning & Zoning Commission’s negative 8-24 report issued on February 3, regarding the request for a new maintenance building at a new Longshore location.
The P&Z issued a negative report on a request to build a new Parks & Rec maintenance facility off Old Cuttings Lane, near the golf course and Compo Road South.
Bridgeport’s Bridge Academy junior Aaliyah Marshall took first place in the quarterfinals of Westport Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual 4-Way Speech Contest, held Thursday in the Staples library.
Nine students spoke for 5 minutes each. They could choose any subject that ties into the tenets of the Rotary Club’s 4-Way Test ethic. Aaliyah’s topic was “book banning in schools.”
Aaliyah Marshall, speaking at the Sunrise Rotary Club contest.
She and 3 runners-up — Staples High School freshman Tucker Eklund, sophomore Quinn Fitts and senior Shrish Popuri — advance to the semi-final in Trumbull March 15.
From left: Aaliyah Marshall, Quinn Fitts, Shrish Popuri and Tucker Eklund advance to the next round of the Rotary contest. (Hat tip and photos/Dave Matlow)
Ukraine Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground, aid-where-it’s-needed non-profit founded by Westport brothers Brian and Marshall Mayer — has organized a unique summer trip to that historic nation.
The itinerary does not include Westport’s sister city, Lyman. It’s too dangerous to travel so far east.
But between August 17 and 24, travelers will explore Ukraine’s history and culture; meet frontline heroes fighting for freedom; visit a UAI-sponsored summer camp, filled with children from the battered Donetsk region, and join UAI’s mobile water truck on a mission to deliver clean water to affected areas
Guests will meet key figures, visit sites unavailable to independent travelers, and connect with men and women helping to shape Ukraine’s future.
Click here to register. For questions and more information, email
donormission@ukraineaidinternational.org.
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Spring into spring at Wakeman Town Farm!
Upcoming programs include:
Soil is Alive! Garden lecture with horticulturist Duncan Himmelman (March 10, 7:30 p.m.)
Family Maple Syrup Experience (March 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Cooking with the Minis (ages K-2, 5 weeks starting March 24; grades 2-6, 5 weeks starting March 26)
Farm to Bar Mixology Class (March 27, 6 p.m.; $100)
Spring Cooking Class (March 28, 4:15 to 5:45 p.m.: $55)
Adult Spring Kitchen Dinner Class with chef Laura Weinman (April 6, 6:30 p.m.; $120, BYOB)
Spring Break Playdates(April 14, 15, 10 a.m.; ages 1-3)
Eggstravaganza (April 19, 10:30 a.m.).
NOTE: Registration for kids’ summer programs begins March 10.
Click here for details, and registration information.
To celebate, the Weston History & Culture Center presents “Rosies of World War II: Learn About Real ‘Rosie the Riveters.'”
The free March 29 event (2 p.m.) focuses on the role and legacy of women factory workers in World War II — and the women in Weston who contributed to the war effort. Click here for more information.
Y’s Men of Westport and Weston have been around a long time, and seen and done a lot.
But most had never gone behind the scenes at the Westport Country Playhouse.
This week, they enjoyed a fascinating, up close and very personal tour. Archivist Bruce Miller led members all over the historic playhouse, from the stage and costume rooms, downstairs to the dressing rooms and green room.
The tour was preceded by lunch at Gabriele’s, the steakhouse next door.
Last month, “06880” posted a story about Sam Weiser.
The 2012 Staples High School graduate was headed to Carnegie Hall, with his Columbus, Ohio-based Carpe Diem String Quartet.
Lauri Weiser — a well-known “06880” photographer, and (more importantly, for today) Sam’s aunt — could not make it to the famed theater.
So Sam did want any loving nephew would do: He and his ensemble gave Lauri and her mother a private concert, at her Westport home.
They say the way to Carnegie Hall is “practice, practice, practice.” Or you can take a detour to Westport, to “perform, perform, perform.”
Sam Weiser (left) and the Carpe Diem String Quartet, at Lauri Weiser’s home.
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Second graders may not know how far Los Angeles is from Westport.
But students in Elena Wetmore’s class have learned one thing: They’re never too far to help.
When they heard about an opportunity to send gratitude to firefightters for their work battling wildfires, a parent helped the youngsters create beautiful cards, and write heartfelt letters.
Their drawings and messages were greatly appreciated.
Los Angeles firefighters, with Kings Highway cards and letters.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature honors a visitor on Fillow Street:
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Merle Spiegel is the group’s longtime communications chair. A 1965 Staples high School graduate whose mother was a Y’s Woman (and co-chair of their trips committee), Merle went on one to Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate near the Hudson River. She was hooked.
