Saturday Announced as jUNe Day as 100 Guests Explore Westport
Town of Westport Press ReleaseThe annual jUNe Day celebration will take place on Saturday, June 26 in Westport, when the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut (UNA-SW-CT) and the Town of Westport will host approximately 100 guests from the United Nations. In honor of the day, the flags of many of the 193 member countries of the United Nations will fly on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge this weekend.
The public is invited to attend the opening ceremony to be held outdoors on Jesup Green at 10:30 a.m. and welcome the international guests. First Selectman Jim Marpe and UNA President Bill Hass will welcome the guests, and jUNe Day Chairperson Michaela MacColl will outline the Day’s activities.
This year’s United Nations guest of honor is Mr. Christian Saunders, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Department of Operational Support, who will offer brief remarks and read a special message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The annual jUNe Day celebration was established in 1965 by the late Ruth Steinkraus Cohen, the founder of the UN Association of Southwestern Connecticut, in observance of the signing of the UN charter on June 26, 1945. Her goal was to honor the work of the United Nations and promote world peace and international understanding through hospitality.
On jUNe Day, United Nations staff and representatives from Governments around the world and their families will participate in a variety of sporting and recreational activities. Due to the pandemic, there has been a reduction in the number of options previously available to our guests. However, they will have access to Compo Beach and the town pools at Longshore Park, tennis, golf at the Longshore Golf Course, and a nature walk and visit to Earthplace. Guests are also encouraged to visit the sidewalk sale on Main Street near Jesup Green and consider having lunch at any one of Westport’s restaurants.
To volunteer, please contact Ms. Andrea Dostal at 203-526-3275 or Andreasusa@yahoo.com. For more information, please contact Bill Hass at (203) 454-7685.
Police: Sidewalk Sales Close Main Street Saturday
Westport Police Department Press ReleaseThe Westport Downtown Merchants Association will be holding its sidewalk sale this Saturday, June 26th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This event will necessitate the closure of Main Street between Post Road East and Avery Place as well as Elm Street between Main Street and the Baldwin Lot from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM on Saturday, June 26th. These road closures will result in traffic congestion downtown and increased pedestrian traffic.
Motorists should expect delays in the center of town due to these closures. The Police Department asks that pedestrians utilize the marked crosswalks and motorists use extra caution while driving through the area.
Fifth Graders Sell Lemonade to Help Save their Beloved Teacher’s Dog
(L-R) Dani Hill, Keira Reilly, Mrs. Gonzalez, Winston the French Bulldog, and Abbott Lynch and the lemonade stand. When local Kings Highway Elementary School fifth graders found out that their teacher’s dog was sick - three students took it upon themselves to set up a lemonade stand in the Kings Highway North neighborhood to help raise money for the pup’s GoFundMe campaign - and pass on the kindness she instilled in them.
Winston, a one year old French Bulldog, was diagnosed with Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). According to his campaign, IVDD is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst into the spinal cord space - causing great pain to the little dog. Treatment and pain management has proved an expensive journey for the family, which prompted the GoFundMe campaign to be started by friends of the local educator and her family. Winston’s owner, “Mrs. Gonzalez”, is one of the beloved fifth grade teachers at Kings Highway Elementary School.
So loved, in fact, that three of Mrs. Gonzales’ fifth grade students - Keira, Dani, and Abbot - decided they wanted to help the campaign. They designed a sign and began selling lemonade on the corner of Kings Highway North and Wright street last week. This weekend, Mrs. Gonzales brought Winston by the lemonade stand for his few minutes outdoors - the kids being able to meet the small frenchie they were working so hard to help. And today, on the last day of school, they’ll present their teacher with the funds they raised towards Winston’s treatments.
The trio of good kids want to make sure Westport Local Press readers know that donations can still be made to Winston’s GoFundMe campaign. Click here to donate to Winston’s campaign - let them know that the Lemonade Stand kids sent you.
Editor’s Note
Whether it be in the classroom or on Zoom, our schools’ students have learned not only academics from their teachers - but kindness, empathy, strength, and grit during some of the toughest times our education system may ever face. If your family has a teacher, paraeducator, or other school staff member who made a difference in your child’s life - email us with who they are and why they made a difference, and we’ll celebrate them as the school year comes to a close. It’s apparent in this story that Mrs. Gonzales made a difference in these three children’s lives, and through a simple cup of lemonade, they’re passing it forward.
Fog Rising along Woods Grove
The fog rose along the riverbanks on Woods Grove Road this evening as rain storms moved through the community. Photo by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press.