Come And Touch-A-Truck On Saturday In Downtown Westport
The Westport Weston Cooperative Nursery School is hosting their annual Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday at the Imperial Lot, 50 Imperial Avenue, site of the Farmer’s Market and Remarkable Theatre on Saturday, May 4th.
The event will open at 9:00 AM and will run until 1:30PM. Be advised that the projected 4 day closure of I-95 for the demolition of the Fairfield Ave. bridge in Norwalk will continue to impact Westport traffic. Westport PD suggests allowing for increased travel time.
Traffic not withstanding, the popular event which is a major fundraiser for the school is expect to draw hundreds of families to enjoy getting up close and personal with all manner of trucks including big rigs, dump trucks, and industrial cranes and other heavy equipment. Fire, Police and EMS vehicles will also be available to inspect. All our favorite family activities will be there as well, including face painting, crafts,and food trucks and live music.
The school describes the annual event this way, “Our annual Touch-A-Truck inspires young minds, allows children to explore with their senses, and provides our contributors an opportunity to promote to the community. A wide array of vehicles and other child-centered activities make it an event, eagerly anticipated by area children and families.” They note that, “The event will have a designated ‘Quiet Time’ from 9:00am-9:30am. NO horns/sirens/loud noises until the 9:30am countdown to noise!”
The event’s generous sponsors include Bartaco and Interstate Lakeland Lumber.
Admission is $35. per family and all proceeds will benefit The Westport Weston Cooperative Nursery School.
Near & Far Aid Gala Fashion Show At Mitchell’s Wows The Crowd!
The Near & Far Aid Spring Gala Friday night at Mitchell’s (WestportLocalPress Tuesday April 30) was a smashing success and one of the brightest highlights was the fashion show.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Professional models and volunteers showed off the latest in designer fashions from Mitchell’s line of fine clothing and accessories. Photos from the Fashion Show here illustrate great new looks available at Mitchell’s.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
You’re Invited: Westport Moms Invitation For Thursday Night Out
Westport Moms, which is part of the Local Moms Network, was created by two moms and Westport residents – Megan Rutstein and Melissa Post – seeking to go beyond word of mouth and offer an up-to-date, informational, and exciting reference for local families who want to stay in the know about everything within the community. Here, you will learn about schools, restaurants, sporting events, camps, music and dance classes, museums, new store openings and interesting products and so much more!
The WestportMoms blog covers a wide range of topics and experiences having to do with everything Westport (and beyond), and the joyous confusion that comes along with being a parent.
On Thursday night, May 2, they will be holding an event at Birchwood Country Club, 25 Kings Highway South to which you are invited. The event will run from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM will be a combination shopping boutique and panel discussion and will be hosted by numerous leading Westport and area women, including Melissa Bernstein of Melissa & Doug, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota and several others and will be moderated by style & beauty expert Jenn Falik.
Mark Twain Beckons: Annual Frog Frolic Returns On Saturday
On Saturday, May 4th, the outdoor space in front of the Redding Community Center will be transformed into an all-day festival filled with live music, food trucks, games and crafts, including bounce houses and a bubble garden for the littlest ones. The venue is only 30 minutes north of Westport and is well worth the short ride.
The Annual Frog Frolic Festival, organized by and benefiting the Mark Twain Library, is in its 27th year as a mainstay that welcomes Spring to the community by creating a place where people of all ages can come together.
“I love that families can come and hang out, grab lunch at a variety of food trucks and jam out to music! All while their kids eat too much cotton candy and play games and crafts galore!” said Meghan Huszagh, who is chairing the event this year.
File Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Fan favorites from last year’s music line-up will be back, including the folk band Hitch and the Giddy Up and the Country/Americana group North County, plus original rock from the local high school student trio that make up VooDoo Dream. And, two new additions for this year are Moonrise Cartel and the Joel Barlow Acapella Group.
A variety of food trucks also returning from last year’s festival include sweet treats from All Belgium waffle truck, paella from Redding’s own Salas Foods, polish cuisine from Colossal Kielbasa, pizza from 900 Degrees Pizza Truck and food to please even picky eaters (hotdogs, tacos, burgers, breakfast sandwiches!) from Bethesda Grill Truck. In addition to food for purchase from the trucks, a concession stand and homemade cupcakes from the Redding Neighbors and Newcomers can be purchased as well as caffeinated drinks from Redding-based Quartertone Coffee and beer and hard seltzers at the beer tent.
The spirit behind the Frog Frolic is the much-loved short story by Twain, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, which introduced the world to the witty voice of Mark Twain. The first Frog Frolic was hatched to raise a few dollars for art supplies for children’s story times and eventually grew to an event that adds considerable revenue to the Library’s bottom line.
"The Frog Frolic Family Festival is special to the Mark Twain Library because it lets kids join in on the fundraising fun by doing what they do best - being kids,” added Mark Twain Library Director Erin Dummeyer. “And you may just see some adults getting in on the action as well."
Additional Frolic attractions include a robust Silent Auction open to any and all to bid online plus a demonstration from students taught by local karate master Sensei June, who has been a regular at this event over the years.
The Frolic takes place outside (rain or shine) from 10:00am to 4:00pm and in front of the Redding Community Center @ 37 Lonetown Road. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or a chair and stay all day as the entertainment is FREE and will be ongoing throughout the festival. Tickets are on sale on location to participate in the games and crafts and for food items from the concession stand. Food truck fare will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Mark Twain Library.
File Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Near & Far Aid Spring Gala Fundraiser Returns To Mitchell’s
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
For the 29th year, Near & Far Aid has held their much loved Spring Gala thanks in part to the very generous support of the MItchell family and the various corporate and private contributors, sponsor and donors who help this organization which together has resulted in granting over $1,000,000.00 local Fairfield County agencies. Near & Far Aid funds programs that provide hands on support for struggling households. The impact of these programs lays a strong foundation for the next generation.
This year’s theme was Formula For Aid, and the entire event revolved around race car imaging and decor.
In keeping with the Formula For Aid race car theme, a variety of Ferraris, both now and vintage were on display greeting arriving guests.
The organization’s mission to “target poverty and change lives” is made possible in part from funds raised from this exceptional event. Although the event has passed donations are always greatly appreciated.
To learn more visit: Near & Far Aid, and to make a donation visit: Donate to Near & Far Aid.
Adding to the atmosphere of Forumula racing, Land Rover Of Fairfield provided this Jaguar Formula E race car. Formula E cars look very similar to the legendary Formula 1 racing series which has been around for decades. The key difference: The are EV’s, elctric powered race cars which provide exceptional acceleration with speeds up to 200 MPH from cars with the equivalent of 400 horsepower, and due to the same Regenerative braking on current EVs they can create as much as 50% of their own battery power, charging as they brake.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Craft cocktails, beer and wine accompanied a delectable selection of Hors D’Oeuvres from Selden Catering as guests gathered and mingled at the bars and gaming tables while the violinist from Fiddler’s Dream strolled through the venue providing the perfect musical backdrop.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The waving of the checkered flag signaled guests to come to the runway and await the start of the live auction with MC/Auctioneer David Price and Auctioneer Elyse Luray who presented an amazing array of generously donated items.
The live auction is always an exciting component to the event and guests are excited to place a winning bid on one of the fabulous items generously provided by sponsors and contributors.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
They included “Shoes For A Year” where the winner can go to Mitchell’s each month and select a pair of luxury designer shoes from a selection of designer brands, a prize valued at nearly $10,000. Dream vacations like the Big Sky experience, the VIP Italian Getaway and a VIP wine experience at Lokoya Estate in Napa Valley. Past live auctions have raised as much as $300k and more. When several bidders were close in their generous bids the auctioneers awarded duplicate wins, doubling the funds raised and making the second highest bidder quite happy.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Guests were able to see just how their generosity helps this in need with the presentation video with clients of Near & Far Aid telling their stories.
After their signature Fashion Show (see WesportLocalPress on Thursday May 2nd) where professional models and area volunteers showed the audience some of the finest in this season’s fashions, guests were served more delicious foods including tempting dessert offerings. The crowd then shifted to the bars and the dance floor, where Fiddler’s Dream got the party off with a mix of live music and a high energy D.J. produced dance mix.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
First Night Of Passover; Chag Sameach!
The Jewish holiday of Passover began Monday at sunset and continues for six more days. As many people are aware the holiday commemorates God leading the Jews from Egypt where they had been enslaved.
Chabad.org describes it briefly: “On Passover, we celebrate how G‑d took the Jewish People (Israelites) out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved by Pharaoh. With Moses as His representative, G‑d brought 10 plagues upon the Egyptians until they agreed to send the Jews from their land. When we read the Haggadah at the Seder meal, we retell this story to our children, who will one day retell it to their children. Also known as the story of Exodus, it is recorded in the Bible and is important to the Jewish people because it tells us how G‑d chose us to be His special people, which helps us understand our purpose and meaning in life”. (many Jews do not spell out the name of God in writing)
Most people who have Jewish friends are aware that the first night of Passover, or Pesach, is when the Seder is held in Israel and on the second night if one lives outside of Israel according to Chabad.org however many Jews in the U.S. and elsewhere hold Seder on the first night.
The Seder is thought of as the meal by many non-Jews, however Seder means order in Hebrew, and there are actually 15 steps in a Seder. The Seder is a feast that includes reading a book called "Haggadah," drinking four cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, such as Matzah and bitter herbs, telling the story of the Exodus, when the Jews left Egypt, singing, and other Passover traditions.
Happy Earth Day 2024: The News Could Be Better
Today is Earth Day, also known as World Earth Day and as International Mother Earth Day. This day each year is devoted to fostering worldwide awareness of the threats to our environment and to promote the sustainability of planet Earth. Earth Day.org has hosted World Earth Day on April 22nd since 1970. It has been estimated that around 1 billion people around the world engage in activities that bring awareness to the climate crisis and are meant to encourage changes in the way things are done as they relate to our environment.
Planet vs. Plastics:
Each year has a theme, and the 2024 theme is Planet vs. Plastics, the objective of which is to bring into focus the issue of just how harmful the effects of widespread plastic use in the world has become. From its creation to the end of its use, plastics contribute significantly to greenhouse gases as those gasses are omitted at every step of the plastic lifecycle. Fossil fuels are used for extraction and transportation, refining, manufacturing, managing waste and at the end of its use the Harm caused to our oceans, landscape, and our air have been studied extensively for years and are showing increasingly concerning results. Plastics are showing up in human blood and in mothers breastmilk. Plastics are showing up more and more in human tissue and studies have shown that we are even inhaling pieces of plastic which are in the atmosphere.
According to Monica P. Medina, former U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs all of the pieces of plastic ever created are still in the environment in some way as they never degrade.
ScienceNews.org has reported that micro plastics have been found from the deepest place on earth, the Mariana Trench all the way to the summit of Mount Everest. Defined as pieces of plastic less than 5 mm across, they find their way into our lungs, and the harmful effects of which are just now being studied.
One of Westport’s most beloved features are our beaches and the enjoyment of Long Island Sound, so the affects of plastics in our oceans and how to mitigate the damage they cause should be of concern.
Sustainable Westport Is Fighting Back!
According to their website, The mission of Sustainable Westport is to inspire, support, and connect residents, organizations, and the Town of Westport in furtherance of the town’s resolution to become a Net Zero community by the year 2050. Westport has long been a pioneer in sustainability – whether it was being the first town east of the Mississippi to ban single-use plastic bags, declaring “We Are Still In” when the U.S. announced it would be withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, or having the first fully-electric police car on the East coast. In 2017, the RTM, adopted a resolution for Westport to use its best efforts to become a Net Zero community by 2050, where we have reduced our impacts across energy, water, and waste, so that they are sustainably managed, using approaches that are economically viable, of social benefit, and environmentally responsible. This goal – one of the first in the state – is a reflection of our community’s dedication to creating and nurturing a truly sustainable town.
We can all help and Sustainable Westport has provided a resource guide on their website which provides many ways we can help combat the destruction to our environment.
Visit Sustainable Westport to learn how to help.
For additional resources and information visit: EarthDay.org, and also ScienceNews.org
Story by J.C. Martin
Partial Solar Eclipse Watch Parties Everywhere
Watch parties and gatherings were held all over our area. Glasses to safely view the special event were sold out at most locations but were available, as they were happily being shared by those who had them and by places like libraries. Levitt Pavilion had a large crowd and people around town could be seen gazing skyward around the time of maximum coverage of the Sun by the Moon.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com (except eclipse, contributed photo) Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Watch parties and gatherings were held all over our area. One such watch party was held in nearby Redding, hosted by The New Pond Farm Education Center, a bucolic institution with it’s own observatory where stargazing events are held monthly in the summer season, the photos from which are included here. The black marks o the sun were sunspots as seen through the New Pond Farm telescope. (eclipse photo contributed) Above, excited visitors to New Pond Farm Education Center line up for a close-up glimpse of yesterday’s eclipse as others watch through protective glasses.
Excitement was building all week in Fairfield County for yesterday’s solar eclipse. The much heralded event was an anular, not total eclipse. An anular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and Sun, but does not completely cover the Sun's disk. Instead, it covers most of the Sun, leaving its outer edge visible as a bright ring or “annulus” around the darkened Moon according to the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, part of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The event was attended by nearly one hundred visitors who are pictured here. Clouds threatened to obscure visibility prior to the event, but they fortunately they cleared. Scientist for decades have recognized that cumulus clouds can disappear rapidly when the solar eclipse begins. According to he website Nature.com, “Our corrected data reveal that, over cooling land surfaces, shallow cumulus clouds start to disappear at very small solar obscurations (~15%).
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Fashionistas Line The Runway For Fashionably Westport
One of Westport’s hottest fashion events was held last week at the Westport Library, where our town’s finest clothing retailers, hair salon’s and stylists combined with a couple dozen of Westport’s beautiful models and celebrities to show the latest, greatest and hottest fashions for spring and summer. This was the fourth iteration of this very popular event which provides part of the proceeds to Homes With Hope, the Westport based an agency dedicated to ending homelessness in Fairfield County.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Helen McAlinden, President & CEO of Homes with Hope (top left, bottom right) gave a slide and video presentation detailing the work of the agency in helping those in need. Westport’s Dave Briggs (above right), did a wonderful job as this year’s Emcee, keeping the energy up and the runway flowing.
Prior to the fashion show and during the intermission guests gathered and enjoyed a great selection of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Many were lined up for a Photo-Op with media before the Step & Repeat.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Helen McAlinden, President & CEO of Homes with Hope told WestportLocal:
“This event is a very special event to Homes With Hope because it opens up new exposure to our mission. A lot of new people buy homes in Westport and would like to give back to their wonderful new community. I’d like to express my gratitude to our longtime and new supporters for attending and encourage them to reach out to me if they would like to learn more about our work. I can be reached at 475-225-5292. I give out my cell phone all the time and take people on personal tours because I believe that people want to engage more when they see firsthand the work that we do at Homes With Hope. We have wonderful and dedicated staff and an absolute brilliant mission helping the most vulnerable in Fairfield County with housing and food insecurity.”
McAlinden continued, “Please thank all involved from me. Especially the great staff at DMA that provide a great night for all. As a result of this event we receive a portion of the proceeds which supports the agency’s operating budget to ensure that everyone that comes to our doors receive the support they need. We are about to celebrate our 40 year anniversary. I encourage people to reach out and if interested arrange to come see our 40 year documentary covering our history over the years.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Contact Homes With Hope to attend their 40th year celebration on April 9th which will be held at Christ & Holy Trinity’s Branson Hall at 4:30 PM.
To donate and help Homes With Hope achieve their mission’s success click here: Homes With Hope.org
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Happy Easter Westport!
Today is Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the Resurrection. What about Passover? Often they coincide closely, not this year. Why? Since the turn of the century, Easter has overlapped with Passover every year but three: In 2005, 2008 and 2016.
In 2024, Passover will begin on April 22 and end on April 30. This also happens to be a Jewish leap year. Leap years are built into the lunar calendar because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so an extra month is added to certain years to make up the difference.
While Easter is fixed to the full moon, spring and Sunday, the Jewish calendar is fixed to Passover.
"The entire Jewish calendar is meant to keep Passover in the springtime," said Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg of the New City Jewish Center. "The Torah said Passover happens in aviv (spring in Hebrew), therefore we need to make sure Passover is in the spring."
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.