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.
Message Of Peace From Saugatuck Congregational
A well-lit peace symbol beckons passers-by to consider the message of the season in front of Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational church on the Post Road. The Church welcomed Reverend Kari J. Nicewander recently as Intentional Interim Pastor, posting this message on their website:
“It is with great joy that we introduce Reverend Kari J. Nicewander, who accepted our call to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor. Kari’s first sermon as our pastor was Sunday, January 7. Kari comes to us with over twenty years of experience in ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ, most recently as Senior Pastor of Immanuel Church of Christ in Hartford. Please join us in welcoming her to Saugatuck!”
Positioned behind the peace symbol the Church spelled out in big blue & white letters, “Join us in welcoming our amazing new Pastor Kari”.
Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Greenwich Celebrate's St. Patrick's Day Again!
The Greenwich Hibernians Association held their 48th annual St. Patrick's Day Sunday on a beautiful, sunny day, marching down Greenwich Avenue past a couple of thousand “Irish For The Day” celebrants. Former Representative Town Meeting Moderator Thomas Byrne was chosen as this year’s Grand Marshal.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Leading off the parade were more than two dozen police motorcycles from across Fairfield and Westchester counties. Representing Westport Police Department were Officer Rachel Hall (above, in front) a 10 year police veteran who has been with Westport PD for 8 of those years. Joining Hall was Officer Dominque Carr, (above, behind Hall) a 3 year Westport PD veteran.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Irish step dancers paused several time along the march down The Avenue to show off their skills.
Greenwich Fire Deparments once again proudly displayed their vintage firefighting apparatus which served them well in years gone by. Several current and former Miss and Mrs. Connecticuts brought their own touch of glamor to the procession, even a few pretty impressive watercraft “floated” their way down The Avenue.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Many spectators dressedfor the occasion and arrived early to stake out a good viewing position.
Many of the spectators looked more like participants as they displayed their finest St. Patrick’s Day attire and accessories.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Area bikers were up to the task of bringing the energy of the day front and center while Adopt-A-Dog brought their rescue pups, some of which had their own take on the celebration. Of course, the Shriners did their thing, weaving in and out and as usual there were a couple of breakdowns and those unhappy drivers could do nothing more than steer as they were towed the rest of the parade route.
Joining the parade this year was U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Greenwich resident.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, (bottom left), Erin Martschenko received her plaque as 2023 Girl’s Rugby coach of the year is also pictured surrounded by her team (2nd photo).
There were martial arts demonstrations performed by students of the White Tiger Tae Kwan Do dojo.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport PD Update On Yesterday’s Marine Rescue
First responders gather yesterday to effect the rescue of Saugatuck Rowing Club rowers when their boats capsized.
The Westport Police Department released an updated press release this morning regarding yesterday’s rescue of 29 members of the Saugatuck Rowing Club when their rowing sculls and chase boat capsized near Cockenoe Island when the weather quickly turned bad.
This morning’s press release:
Westport Police Marine Division continue the investigation into the boating incident. As of this morning, the following information is known:
* One of the capsized rowing sculls has not been recovered and is missing. The other two sculls were brought to Compo Marina last night.
* The “chase boat” that sank has been located, submerged near Cockeone Island, and will be recovered later this afternoon.
* Both rowers who were transported to Norwalk Hospital and treated for cold exposure have been released from the hospital.
* The total number of rowers/coaches involved in this incident stands at 29. We have determined that 19 people were in the water and 10 (9 rowers and 1 coach) were able to remain in their vessels.
* The investigation will focus on any weather advisories that were posted, available life jackets, experience of the rowers and coaches, and suitability of the vessels.
As the Chief stated last night, Westport Police are looking to help prevent this from happening again and we feel this investigation will aid in that mission.
Westport Police Update: An update on the ongoing situation was provided this afternoon, saying, ”the operation this afternoon to locate and recover the sunken ‘chase boat’ operation has been suspended. Weather conditions, small craft advisory, and some erroneous location information has guided this decision.
The Saugatuck Rowing Club released a statement today regarding the rescue of their rowers:
Mihaela Ungureanu, CEO of the rowing club said that they want “to understand the circumstances fully and to identify any areas where the club's safety measures can be improved.”
She said, “First and foremost, we are grateful that all 29 individuals involved in the incident are safe and accounted for," adding that "Two students had hypothermia and were taken to Norwalk Hospital, and they have recovered. Our rower’s well-being remains our utmost priority, and we commend the swift and effective response of the authorities involved in ensuring their rescue."
Another view of the first responders at yesterday’s marine rescue.
All photos courtesy of Westport Fire Department.
“we all show up to help”; 29 Rowers Rescued from Long Island Sound
Westport Fire Department photoPress Release:
Westport Police, Westport Fire, and Westport EMS responded to Compo Beach on a report that there were numerous people in the water after a boat they were operating capsized. Responding units found a chaotic scene of youths swimming to shore, arriving by boat, and some still in the water near Cockenoe Island. First Responders immediately began providing care to those individuals who were on shore and coordinating the recovery of people in the water. While accounting for and locating all the people involved, medical care was provided, and two individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
At this time the initial investigation indicates that three (3) rowing sculls and one (1) chase boat launched from Saugatuck Rowing Club. Each rowing scull is 60 feet long and held nine (9) rowers ranging in age from 14-18 while the chase boat was operated by their coach. When the boats reached the area of Cockenoe Island, the weather began to change, and the rowers attempted to return to the rowing club. The rowing sculls began to take on water causing two of them to capsize throwing 18 people into the water. These individuals swam to the chase boat and began to hang onto the side of that boat which caused the chase boat to sink as well. Another chase boat from the rowing club arrived on scene and began to shuttle people to Compo Beach Marina.
At the time of this incident the air temperature was approximately 40 degrees, and the water temperature was 44 degrees.
In total there were 29 people from the rowing club that were involved in this incident.
The following agencies assisted Westport Emergency Services with this incident:
Fairfield Police Marine Division
Stamford Police Marine Division
Noroton Fire Boat
Norwalk Police Marine Division
Norwalk Fire Marine Division
US Coast Guard
The following Emergency Medical Services provided a combined 8 ambulances and 20 personnel:
Norwalk Hospital
American Medical Response (AMR)
Darien EMS
Westport Board of Education assisted by providing a school bus to transport the individuals from Compo Beach to Saugatuck Rowing Club.
“This was truly a team effort” Chief Koskinas stated. “We are grateful for our surrounding agencies who assisted us with this incident and remind our communities that when a large scale event, like this, happens we all show up to help.”
New Date For Firefighter’s Whiskey Tasting To Fund Replacement Of AED’s For First Responders
This 2nd annual event was originally scheduled for Friday, April 26th, but has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th. The Westport community is gathering to raise funds for replacing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines used by first responders.
Hosted by the Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation, the event will be held at Autostrada of Westport from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. It promises to be an enjoyable evening filled with entertainment and elegance, right in the heart of our town. Attendees will be welcomed with a red-carpet entrance and can enjoy drinks, delicious bites, and participate in a silent auction featuring contributions from local donors.
The goal of this fundraising gala is to ensure that every Fire, Police, and EMS vehicle in our community is equipped with functional AED machines, which are crucial in emergency situations. AEDs are portable devices that deliver an electric shock to the heart to correct abnormal rhythms, particularly during sudden cardiac arrest. This condition occurs when the heart's natural electrical system malfunctions, and prompt treatment is vital to prevent fatalities. The existing AEDs in Westport are reaching the end of their lifespan and require replacement, with a fundraising target set at $75,000.00.
Westport Firefighter Robert Lenois, President of the Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation, emphasized, “AEDs are a crucial piece of equipment needed to have a positive outcome during a cardiac arrest. The money donated during this event is going to save lives.”
Police Chief Foti Koskinas expressed appreciation for the Foundation's efforts and highlighted the significance of AEDs in their emergency response procedures. “The Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation should be applauded for their efforts. AEDs are an integral tool when we respond to cardiac arrest events. Westport’s first responders have used AEDs successfully and have saved the lives of many people in Westport.”
All members of the community who wish to support this cause are invited to join the event on April 26th. Together, we can contribute to the safety and well-being of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones through our collective generosity.
Tickets can be purchased online here: 2nd Annual Whiskey Tasting
Various Sponsorship packages are also available for businesses and organizations interested in demonstrating their commitment to community health and safety. For more information, please contact rlenois@westportct.gov