Community Gallery: Hundreds Rally in Support of Roe v. Wade
Click to enlarge photos. All photos by WestportLocal.com
Westporter Named to Make-a-Wish Board of Directors
Make a Wish Connecticut:
Make-A-Wish Connecticut is proud to announce that it has recently appointed Niall Byrne of Westport to its Board of Directors.
Byrne currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Global Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Byrne’s career spans nearly 30 years with the company, having worked internationally in both London and Brussels, and, for the last 21 years, in New York. In addition to Asset Management, Byrne has also held audit roles at J.P. Morgan Chase covering their Investment Management, Private Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Private Equity businesses. He is a CFA Charterholder, a Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist, and holds several FINRA registrations.
“We are thrilled to have Niall join our team,” said Make-A-Wish® Connecticut President and CEO Pam Keough. “He has a real passion for our mission and his strong finance background, leadership knowledge and expertise will be an incredible asset to our chapter.”
Byrne’s previous board service includes serving as Chair for an internet-based youth mentoring organization called iCouldBe. In addition to being a board member, he was also a volunteer and a mentor. Niall commented, “What I love about Make-A-Wish is that it is all about individual kids and their stories. Whether you are involved as a donor, a volunteer or a board member, there is a tangible and direct link to how you are helping a child achieve a dream.”
Supporting Small
Shoppers support Savvy + Grace, one of Main Street’s locally owned businesses, during the Westport Downtown Association’s Sidewalk Sales. WestportLocal.com photo
Wheels2U Brings Westporters to Sherwood Island for Free this Summer
Press Release:Wheels2UWestport has a new service this summer. Its new Park Connect service provides free rides to and from anywhere in the Wheels2U service area and Sherwood Island State Park. Rides are available between 9 am and 6 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and summer holidays such as July 4th. Rides must begin or end at Sherwood Island State Park.
To get a ride just use the same Wheels2U app you use to book a Wheels2U ride to or from one of Westport’s train stations. Request a ride using Sherwood Island as the destination and the shuttle will pick you up from anywhere in the Wheels2U Westport service area and take you to Sherwood Island State Park and back.
Peter Gold, Director of the Westport Transit District, said “Summer in Westport is all about going to the beach and Sherwood Island has one of the best beaches around. Now, with this new service, both Westporters and visitors to Westport will have easy, free access to Sherwood Island and its beautiful beach.”
For more information about Wheels2U and Park Connect go to www.wheels2uwestport.com and https://www.wheels2uwestport.com/parkconnect#FAQ. For more information about the Westport Transit District’s services for the elderly and people with disabilities go to www.WestportTransit.org
ParkConnect to Sherwoood Island is operated by Norwalk Transit District through a partnership with Westport Transit District. This free service is made possible by funding from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. For Governor Lamont’s press release announcing Park ConneCT go to https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2022/05-2022/Governor-Lamont-Announces-ParkConneCT-Program-Will-Resume-This-Summer
Westport Museum Celebrates Juneteenth on Thursday
Westport Museum for History & Culture Press Release: On June 19th, 1865, Union troops, including the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment liberated enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas. The 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment was organized at Fair Haven, CT was there in Galveston, aiding the efforts to emancipate men and women still enslaved there. The end of enslavement that they helped enforced would become later known as “Juneteenth”
Fifteen men from Westport joined the 29th and Westport Museum Commemorates Juneteenth with a virtual program with weekend-long events including its popular downtown walking tour about the Hidden History of African American Westport and a performance featuring “Chronicles of Adam” living historian Dontavius Williams as Adam, a Blacksmith enslaved in the antebellum South.
“These family-friendly events present engaging opportunities to learn more about hidden histories both in our town and on the national stage,” said Westport Museum Chairperson Darcy Hicks. “Both the walking tour and the performance will leave you wanting to hear more.”
Based upon the Museum’s award-winning 2018/19 exhibit Remembered: The History of African Americans in Westport as well as ongoing research into Black life in the town the walking tour will be offered at both 10am and 2pm on Saturday, June 18th. Visitors may register for the tour at https://virtualhistorywestport.org/event/dw-black-stories-618/.
Dontavius Williams performance will take place virtually at 7pm on June 16th. This is a free event but attendees must register at https://tinyurl.com/WestportJuneteenth.
“We’re thrilled to have Dontavius Williams with us for our Juneteenth celebrations,” said Ramin Ganeshram, Westport Museum’s for History & Culture’s Executive Director. “In addition to being an appealing and moving historic interpreter, he is a public historian whose work is based on sound scholarship.”
Mr. Williams uses historical documents and primary sources to paint a picture with words and live action to bring to life the life of the enslaved community during the times of slavery. His first-person historical interpretation of an enslaved man called Adam is a composite created from various accounts and historical facts. Viewers of all ages will be thrust back in time to the 19th Century in Antebellum South Carolina and experience a first-hand conversation with Adam the blacksmith. This powerful performance has been deemed "life changing" and even "spiritual" by viewers young and old.
Strawberry Supermoon
Tuesday’s strawberry moon shone bright over the Sound. Photo by Nancy Lally for WestportLocal.com
Racing the Sun; Heading Home
The crew of Sláinte secures their sails as they motor into Compo Marina this evening, racing the setting sun to their West. WestportLocal.com photo
Westport’s Gemini II Crew Hangs Out
The crew of Gemini II, a Swan 45 sailing yacht, relax as light winds carry the boat towards its next marker this evening off of Cockenoe Island. WestportLocal.com photo
Best Selling Author James Patterson talks “James Patterson” to Packed Library Forum
WestportLocal.com photosThe Westport Library was packed tonight as hundreds, both in the Trefz Forum and streaming online, listened to authors Nina Sankovitch and James Patterson discuss Patterson’s memoir: “James Patterson by James Patterson.” The duo discussed his life and experiences as he ventured from “a boy from small-town New York to the world’s most successful writer.” The free event by the Westport Library included a meet and greet when he also signed pre-purchased copies of the novel.
Patterson: James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. His enduring fictional characters and series include Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and Ali Cross, along with such acclaimed works of narrative nonfiction as Walk in My Combat Boots, E.R. Nurses, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. Bill Clinton (The President Is Missing) and Dolly Parton (Run, Rose, Run) are among his notable literary collaborators. For his prodigious imagination and championship of literacy in America, Patterson was awarded the 2019 National Humanities Medal. The National Book Foundation presented him with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and nine Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.
Sankovich: Nina Sankovitch is the author of several nonfiction books, including American Rebels and The Lowells of Massachusetts. She has written for the New York Times, the Huffington Post as a contributing blogger, and was formerly a judge for The Book of the Month Club. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School.
Westport Pride: 2nd Annual Pride Celebration this Saturday “Not to be missed”
Westport Pride Press Release: Westport Pride’s third in person event for 2022 is not to be missed! The entire community is invited to celebrate Westport’s second-ever Pride Celebration.
The rally will feature a select group of community speakers, performers, local clergy as well as political leaders who will gather to celebrate this event. Jen Tooker, Westport Selectwoman, will be issuing a proclamation declaring June Pride Month in Westport. The town will also fly a pride flag on Jesup Green in honor of the event.
In addition, there will be children’s art activities, face painting, hair and makeup, pride merchandise and ‘swag,’ vendors and educational materials on hand.
Details:
Date: June 12, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Speeches will begin promptly at 1 p.m. in the order listed, followed by performances by local students and artists.
1:00 p.m. – Opening remarks by Westport Pride Founder Brian McGunagle*
1:05 p.m. – Jen Tooker, First Selectwoman – Proclamation Announcement
1:10 p.m. –Will Haskell, State Senator to present a citation
1:15 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. – Various Musical Performances and Speakers
3:00 p.m. – Closing blessing and dismissal: Cantor Julia Cadrain, Temple Israel of Westport with Westport/Weston Clergy Association
Place: Jesup Green, Westport, CT, located at Jesup Rd. & Taylor Pl., Westport, CT 06880. Additional parking is available at the Westport Library.