Westport Dog Festival Promotes the Adoption of Local Pups
A boy reaches towards the nose of an adoptable dog this afternoon at the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce’s Dog Festival. The festival included dog shows, local vendors, and community organizations that help connect families to pets up for adoption. Postponed from last week due to rain, thousands of families and their dogs attended the festival, which celebrates its fifth anniversary. WestportLocal.com photo
Hills Point Bridge Named in Memory of Khaliq Sanda, Staples Class of 2014, Duke Class of 2018
State Senator Will Haskell’s OfficeToday, Westport leaders including State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport) and First Selectman Jim Marpe celebrated the life of Khaliq Sanda by announcing that State Bridge 00067, carrying Hills Point Road over Interstate 95, will be named in his honor. Khaliq graduated from Staples in 2014 and was a participant in the A Better Chance of Westport program. In March of this year, he passed away after battling a cancer diagnosis that came in May 2016.
"Khaliq left an indelible mark on Westport, enriching our town with his kindness, humor and grace,” said Sen. Haskell. Walking through the halls at Staples, it seemed that every student and teacher knew and admired him. In the wake of his passing, I had an opportunity to work with just a few of the many people who loved him to name this bridge in his honor. For those who pass by it each day, I hope it will remind us of his optimism and compassion, bringing out the best of Westport -- a town Khaliq loved and a town that loved him."
Watch Khaliq speak at the ABC Westport Dream event in 2018.
“Khaliq was an outstanding individual who had his future tragically cut short by cancer. During his time in Westport, he made a positive impact on our community - Khaliq was beloved by his peers and excelled in the classroom. He will be sorely missed. Naming a road in Khaliq's honor will ensure his life and legacy will never be forgotten," said Rep. Steinberg.
“While I didn’t know Khaliq personally, my understanding from those who knew him well was that he was a talented, deeply compassionate, energetic young man who had a passion for education, community service and a zest for life," said First Selectman Marpe. "It speaks volumes that Khaliq was so highly respected and possessed strong leadership qualities – these are his legacies. Now, he is further recognized with the honor of having this bridge named for him so that his kind heart and good works will be memorialized for generations to come.”
Khaliq Sanda’s Obituary, March 2021
Khaliq Melle Sanda was born on September 7th, 1996 in New York City to Angela and Oumarou Sanda. Khaliq attended Craig Elementary and Alton C Crews middle school both in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Due to his academic excellence, he was accepted as a Scholar into the A Better Chance of Westport program where he attended Staples High School in Westport, CT. When he arrived at Staples High School in 2010 as a freshman, Khaliq Sanda brought with him his contagious joy, quick wit and genuine warmth. At the beginning of his high school career, he became involved in Peer Advisors, an after-school group that allowed students to discuss issues and share stories. Through this organization, Khaliq fostered friendships with people from all over the Staples community. These bonds came easily to Khaliq—his friends recall that he loved people and people loved to love him.
This love for Khaliq spread like wildfire throughout the Westport community. He acted as a unifier amongst his classmates—"knowing Khaliq” was a common catalyst for Staples students forming new friendships. As a student, he was responsible, hardworking and exceptionally bright. Despite his course load, Khaliq managed to effortlessly excel in school. His teachers at Staples High School were not immune to his infectious charm. He was a presence in the classroom—expressing his ideas with eloquence, while also making his teachers laugh. He could be seen in the library helping friends with homework and making plans for the weekend. Khaliq worked as a tutor for younger students in the Westport community and served as a role model for many. Always an advocate for his peers, he was involved with Key Club, a philanthropic organization that serves the local community, as well as Student Assembly where he helped make decisions for the Staples student body.
He was a champion for others in everything that he did. Khaliq’s accomplishments at Staples were impressive, including outstanding grades and many leadership positions, but his true superpower was connecting with others. Khaliq’s ability to connect with people knew no bounds. In addition to his biological and his host families, Khaliq was a son, brother and nephew to so many. His sincerity transcended generations; his friends fondly remember the relationships he cultivated with their family members—grandparents and younger siblings alike. He lived authentically and his support encouraged his friends to do the same. When those close to him needed advice, Khaliq knew how to listen intently and guide them in the right direction. He was a confidant to all. He graduated from Staples High School as a beloved member of the Class of 2014 and a cherished member of the Westport community.
Khaliq then attended Duke University where he pursued a Bachelors degree in Global Health and Biology. He was devoted to his goal of going to medical school and ultimately becoming a psychiatrist, and it was no surprise that he excelled in his courses. In a matter of weeks after arriving at college, Khaliq morphed into the undisputed “King of Duke.” Seemingly uninhibited by normal social fears, he naturally established deeply-rooted relationships with everyone he met. He displayed his endless love for Duke by mentoring younger students on campus, acting as a tour guide, and serving as social chair for his fraternity, Sigma Nu. He worked tirelessly to graduate on time with his friends, overloading courses to make up for time spent getting treatment.
In conversations with his Duke friends remembering Khaliq, there is one word that consistently comes up: lucky. Lucky to have had a once-in-a-lifetime friend who made each one of them feel like the most special person in the world. Khaliq’s capacity to love far exceeded your average person’s, and his immense influence could be felt even when he was nowhere near. He pushed his friends to be funny, loving, kind, open-minded and confident. He was not simply loved and respected by his friends, he was adored. His legacy is everywhere. In his own words, he was iconic.
Upon graduation from Duke University in 2018, Khaliq accepted a position as a Community Outreach Coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, where he dedicated himself to clinical research, enrolling taxi drivers for a program focused on reducing hypertension in New York City, the city that he loved. His city.
Our brilliant, funny and compassionate Khaliq is now on a new journey. We have no doubt that the former Mayor of Westport and King of Duke will soon be a reigning prince in his new destination.
While a great and beautiful light has been extinguished, we take comfort in knowing that his kind, caring and generous spirit lives on powerfully in the many friends and relatives who were blessed to know him.
He touched and enriched so many lives - bringing joy and laughter as well as knowledge and insight to all he met. He saw the best in us - even when we didn't - and made us want to be better and do better. It was his loving friendship that quietly motivated us - again often without us even realizing it - to live up to our ideals and achieve our promise. Khaliq defined courage, character and grace. He faced unimaginable adversity with extraordinary humor, patience and strength. He will be missed but his memory will endure in the actions of all who knew him and loved him.
Khaliq is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, maternal grandmother and grandfather. He is survived by his parents’ Angela and Oumarou Sanda, surrogate parents Lori and David Sochol, siblings Kimbo, Stanley, Abdul, Eposi and Mairo and several Aunts, Uncles, cousins and a host of other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, a fund to support adolescents and young adults with the costs associated with personal and family expenses during treatment for lung and other related cancers has been established in Khaliq’s memory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Donations can be made using the following link: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/KhaliqSanda
Chamber of Commerce Announces Selectmen Candidate Debate
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and the Westport Library are pleased to once again bring a vibrant and informative debate to the community this election season. There will be a new First Selectman in Westport and this interactive and moderated forum will help residents decide who should lead the town next.
“We have been doing these types of debates for years with the Library,” said Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber. “But I think this one might be one of the most eagerly anticipated and meaningful.”
“This is all part of our mission to bring information to the community in this case through a debate,” said Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the Library. “It’s also another collaboration with the Chamber who we enjoy being partners with on so many things.”
The debate will be held live in the Library on Tuesday October 12th at noon. A limited number of tickets will be available, free, to those who would like to watch in person, in a socially distant manner. Tickets will be available starting on Wednesday at 10am. (note: all attendees must remain masked as per Town mandate)
The debate will also be televised live on Town Ch 79 and may also be watched via stream on vimeo. The debate will also be recorded and archived for later viewing. Both First and Second Selectman candidates from all parties; Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore, Jonathan Steinberg and Candi Savin, TJ Elgin and Louis D’Onofrio, will be attending and have agreed to the format and covid protocols put in place for health and safety.
The debate will be moderated by Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber.
For further information on tickets and streaming go to www.westportwestonchamber.com/debate2021
Matthew Mandell matthew@westportwestonchamber.com 203-227-9234
Halloween Scene on Bridge Street
A Bridge Street home prepares for spooky season as cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, and skeletons adorn the home’s front lawn this afternoon. The home has become well known as one to become decked-out in decorations for most holidays.
Georgetown Day Celebrations Returns to Redding Community for 18th Year
The 18th annual Georgetown Day Celebration transformed the usually quiet Main Street in Georgetown, Connecticut into a festival for all ages today. Live music, kids’ activities, fresh food, and local vendors lined the small street as hundreds of families joined in on the celebration. Being yet another local event delayed due to the pandemic, its return this year allowed the Redding community and surrounding neighbors to come together while supporting the local organizations sponsoring the event.
All photos by Jaime Bairaktaris. Click to enlarge photos. 
12th Annual Push Against Cancer Planned for Sunday
Corrected Date: Sunday, October 3rd
The Push Against Cancer is a friendly push-up-a-thon geared at all age and fitness-levels. The event raises funds for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a non-profit founded by beloved Westporter and award-winning actor Paul Newman in 1988 to provide “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families.
Over the last decade, the Push Against Cancer has raised over $725k to help kids battling illnesses from cancer to sickle cell enjoy summer camp and other joy-filled, camp-inspired experiences. Every child who participates in Camp programs does so at no cost to their family, and, with their medical needs and adapted activities, the cost to attend is not insignificant - it costs $2,500 for one child to attend one week of camp. While there, kids are no longer patients; they are simply KIDS, surrounded by friends who understand what they’re going through. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp brings healing experiences to more than 20,000 seriously ill kids and families annually. All programs, both onsite at the Ashford, CT camp and in hospitals and communities across the Northeast, are free of charge to campers and their families.
This year’s Push Against Cancer will be held on Sunday, October 3 at Staples High School in Westport, CT on the girls’ lacrosse/field hockey field. In 2010, founder Andy Berman, a local fitness professional, was opening a new gym in Westport. He wanted to find a way to give back to the community he was joining. When he learned about The Hole in the Wall Gang and that it had been founded by local Paul Newman, Andy knew he had found his charity. He started the Push Against Cancer with about 20 participants who raised $9,900, doing pushups in his former gym, Fitness Factory. The event grew each year; in 2015, over 40 participants raised $44k, 2016 saw over 100 participants raise $67k, 2017’s 242 participants raised $128k. In 2018 there were 334 participants who raised over $150k and 2019 brought over 350 participants and raised over $265k! With a global pandemic shaking things up in 2020, founder Andy Berman and his team quickly pivoted from an in-person event to a virtual one. With participants tuning in to Zoom from all over the country - and despite Covid illnesses and global financial disarray - PAC still managed to raise over $80,000.
Thanks to high vaccination rates and low illness transmission rates, 2021 is back in person! We hope to raise enough money to send over 100 kids to camp this year. This year’s event is again being held at Staples High School, which gives the event a unique flavor and has encouraged more high school students and athletic teams to participate. Once again, the Push Against Cancer has the support and participation of many important local organizations including the Westport Police Department and Police Chief Foti Koskinas, the Westport Fire Department and Fire Chief Robert Yost, Westport’s own CT State Senator Will Haskell, Westport First Selectman James Marpe, and Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas. The Staples High School’s specialty choral group, the Orphenians, will be performing the National Anthem under the direction of advisor Luke Rosenberg.
SAFETY AND FUNDRAISING
To maximize safety via social distancing, participants will be spaced out on the field. As always, the event is a friendly, non-competitive push-up-a-thon, where the number of pushups completed is simply for personal satisfaction and/or bragging rights. There is a $40 registration fee, which goes toward each participant’s $100 requested fundraising minimum.
To register, or to donate visit
http://getinvolved.holeinthewallgang.org/2021pac
To become a corporate sponsor, or for more information, please email Chief Administrative Officer Sherry Jonas at Sherry.PushAgainstCancer@gmail.com.
$7.3 Million Beachside Avenue Bridge Replacement Done Right on Time
The Beachside Avenue Bridge over I-95 was opened for traffic late last week after being closed and fully replaced in the matter of months. The Connecticut Department of Transportation awarded the contract to Rotha Construction Company out of Avon, Connecticut - who completed the project right on time with its late September completion goal - and a 7.3 million dollar price tag. The new bridge was aligned with Greens Farms Road to give a better field of view for drivers turning onto Greens Farms Road from Beachside Avenue while assuring its structural integrity will be upheld for generations to come.
Silver Steel brings Sounds of the Islands to Saugatuck
Members of the Silver Steel Drum Band brought good vibes and great music to Saugatuck Center this afternoon as hundreds converged on the neighborhood for the Taste of Saugatuck event.
First Tickets Sold as Yankee Doodle Fair Begins
The ticket booth at the Westport Woman Club’s Yankee Doodle Fair was busy at tonight’s 6:00 PM opening. Returning after the pandemic lockdowns, the fair will run in the Imperial Avenue parking lot through Sunday night. Tonight and tomorrow the rides will run from 6-10 PM, Saturday 1-10 PM, and Sunday 1-5PM. In addition to the carnival rides, the fair also includes live music, food, games, and raffle prizes that all fund the Westport Woman’s Club’s philanthropic projects around the community.
Schedule:
Thursday: 6-10 PM
Friday: 6-10 PM
Saturday: 1-10 PM
Sunday: 1-5 PM
Ride Prices:
1 Ticket: $1.50
22 Tickets: $30.00
48 Tickets: $60.00
Unlimited Wristband: $30.00
Westport Rotary's Lobsterfest a “Smashing Success” Once Again
The 2021 Rotary Lobsterfest, arguably Westport's biggest party of the year, was held Saturday at Compo Beach on a beautiful September afternoon under sunny blue skies.
The event, which sold out completely once again for it's 10th year and was limited only by it's attendance permit and how many lobsters could be cooked per hour. They served 2,400 lobsters, 330 steaks and 325 children's dinners. Fresh clams and oysters on the half shell were offered by Norwalk's Copp's Island Oysters.
A small army of volunteers, including town officials and those aspiring to become town officials, kept the beer and wine flowing and tables cleared. Families enjoyed great entertainment for their children, and craft spirits for the adults. Live music kept dancers on their feet. All and all, another lively and successful event for the community by the the Westport Rotary - which raised more that $100,000 (final figures not yet available) for their programs and charities.
Click on any photo to enlarge. Photos by J.C. Martin for the WestportLocalPress.com
