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.
Gallery: Staples Rugby Places 4th in the Nation in Kansas City; Arrives Home to a Hero’s Welcome
The Staples Rugby Team arrived home to a Hero’s Welcome, complete with an escort by the Westport Police Department. The high school rugby team made it to the Rugby National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri this weekend - taking home fourth place for the Country.
The team placed better than expected - as they were ranked as the #5 seed ahead of the match, with the Goff report saying “The best-kept secret of the tournament, Staples has compiled one heck of a season up in Connecticut. Winners over big dogs Xavier, Greenwich, and Fairfield, these boys are battle-tested and battle-accomplished. Jot them down as your dark horse now.“
Although champions on the pitch, it was the team’s good sportsmanship that made its way back to Westport as parents eagerly awaited their sons’ arrival. The team joined fellow Connecticut team Greenwich at the nationals, cheering on the usual Staples rival - with Greenwich cheering on Westport’s boys. Parents were quick to mention “they not only have a good coach, but a good role model as men” when speaking about head coach Dave Lyme. Lyme and his assistant coaches Neal Seideman and Jack Corcoran lead the team to victory this year after only starting the team a few years ago, with one team member saying that “they coached a team that hasn’t even been in consideration of being ranked to becoming 4th in the nation in the span of months.”
With graduation on Thursday, the senior members of the team were given a special graduation ceremony by Staples High School - allowing them to enjoy the celebration of finishing high school, and still being able to play at nationals.
The boys played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in temperatures soaring about 100 degrees on the Missouri field. Today they’re home, enjoying the cool Westport temperatures and relaxing after a victorious three days.
Results:
Thursday: St. Thomas Aquinas 22-26 Staples
Friday: Herriman 48-14 Staples
Saturday: Gonzaga 17-14 Staples
1st: Herriman Rugby
2nd: St. Ignatius Rugby
3rd: Gonzaga Rugby
4th: Staples Rugby
Click to enlarge photos. 
Saturday Sail
Compo Beach gave a great view for this afternoon’s sailing on the Long Island Sound as the tide came in.
Day on the Shore
With high humidity and nationwide heat waves, many brought out the convertibles and headed for the shoreline.
Community Gallery: Newest Staples Graduates
Click to enlarge photos. All photos by J.C. Martin for The Westport Local Press.
Westport Paddle Club: Free Kayaking, Paddle Boarding for Families who Help Clean the River; Dinner, Live Music to Follow
The Westport Paddle Club is offering to rent families kayaks or paddle boards for free on Saturday evening to help clean up trash along the Saugatuck River. All equipment - paddle boards, kayaks, and PFDs - will be given to families who volunteer to paddle with their trash bag to help collect litter found while paddling.
The family-owned marina is working in conjunction with the Westport Police Department and Longshore Sailing School to put on the Paddle for Trash, with dinner from JR’s Deli, live music, and discounted beverages from Ninety 9 Bottles following the event.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 19th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Westport Paddle Club, in the Bridgebrook Marina, 471 Riverside Avenue. Contact the Westport Paddle Club for more information.
Westporter Christine Taylor Earns All-American Lacrosse Honor as Trinity College Junior
Trinity College Release
Trinity College photo
Trinity College women's lacrosse senior tri-captain Katrina Angelucci (Weston, Mass.) and junior Anna Costello (Milton, Mass.) were each named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) 2021 Division III All-American Third Team. Both Bantams, along with Trinity junior Christine Taylor (Westport, Conn.) were selected for the IWLCA Division III All-Berkshire Region First Team, while senior tri-captain Marcella Flibotte (Cohasset, Mass.) and classmate Sydney Bell (Falmouth, Maine) each graced the IWLCA All-Region Second Team.
Angelucci, Flibotte, and Costello were also chosen for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference First Team, and Taylor and junior Gabriella Young (Raleigh, N.C.) made the All-NESCAC Second Team. Trinity, coached by Katy Dissinger (8th Season), finished the 2021 season with a 3-4 record and in third place in the NESCAC West Division. The Bantams' five All-NESCAC selections were the most in the conference.
Angelucci enjoyed an exceptional ending to her career, collecting 13 goals (2nd on team, 10th in NESCAC) including two hat tricks and a season-best six goals against nationally-ranked Wesleyan. Angelucci registered a team-high three free-position goals and added eight ground balls, 11 draw controls (3rd on team) and six caused turnovers. An IWLCA National Player of the Week during 2020's pandemic-shortened season, the versatile scorer played attacker and midfielder for the Bantams. A graduate of Weston High School, Angelucci is majoring in biology at Trinity. She is the daughter of Linda and Dante Angelucci.
Anna Costello anchored Trinity's defense in 2021, finishing with a team-high 17 caused turnovers (3rd in NESCAC) and 13 ground balls (2nd on team). A starter since her rookie spring, Costello was an IWLCA All-Region Second Team honoree in 2019 and a NESCAC All-Academic selection in 2020. A graduate of Thayer Academy, Costello is majoring in political science at Trinity. She is the daughter of Gina and Frank Costello.
Taylor led the Bantams in goals with 14 (9th in NESCAC) and scoring with 22 points (7th in NESCAC) and second on the squad with eight assists (6th in NESCAC) as an attacker this spring. She scored one game-winning goals, twice on free positions, and added four caused turnovers. A graduate of Staples High School, Taylor is majoring in economics at Trinity. She is the daughter of Meghan and Timothy Taylor.
Flibotte filled up the stat sheet from the midfield position throughout her career, finishing with eight goals, including three in a 10-5 win over nationally-ranked Hamilton, and two assists for 10 points. She paced the Bantams in both draw controls with 20 (10th in NESCAC) and ground balls with 14 to go with five caused turnovers. A graduate of the Groton School, Flibotte is majoring in political science at Trinity. She is the daughter of Lucia and Mark Flibotte.
Bell started every game, sliding back seamlessly from midfield to defense in her final season. She totaled seven ground balls and nine caused turnovers (2nd on team) and graced the NESCAC All-Academic Team in 2020. A graduate of Falmouth High School, Bell is majoring in public policy & law at Trinity. She is the daughter of Denise and Kirt Bell.
Young, Trinity's starting goalkeeper since her rookie season, finished second in the conference in save percentage (.594), GAA (8.06), and third in saves (60), including four games with double-digit stop, while going 3-2 in six games and 305 minutes of play. A graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High Schoo, Young is majoring in psychology at Trinity. She is the daughter of Maria and Mike Young.
Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers Rock Levitt’s Opening Night
Bruce Hornsby speaks to the crowd at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. Westport Local Press photo. The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts celebrated its 2021 revival with a sold-out crowd for Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers this evening - the sounds of Hornsby’s Yamaha piano and a cheering crowd filling downtown with a message: the Levitt is back.
Bruce Hornsby & The NoisemakersAs the sun began to set over the Saugatuck, the nearby Levitt’s lawn was packed with hundreds of guests ready for the sounds of Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.
Hornsby, a Grammy award winning musician, has toured the world with groups like Bruce Hornsby & The Range and The Grateful Dead - now adding the East bank of the Saugatuck to his list of music stops as he entertained the crowd of local fans. He played acoustic and varied sets of music, including his 1989 chart-topping song “The Way It Is” as adults, kids, and nearby neighbors danced in their seats and on the sidewalks. Hornsby took a moment to speak to the crowd, garnering laugher and cheers as he described moments of his life just meters away from the enamoured listeners wide-eyed faces.
Although filled with life and music tonight, the Levitt Pavilion remained shuttered just last year due to the pandemic - a hit for both the community and the charity, themselves. Founded in 1973, the Levitt is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that strives to provide free access to local arts and music for all ages. To prepare for tonight’s opening, health precautions included pod-seating and sanitation stations throughout the outdoor venue, with guests bringing in their own lawn chairs and snack tables to make the space at home. COVID-19 cases remain nearly absent in Westport, with less than 3 cases being reported in the past ten days.
The community has gathered together on the grass along the Saugatuck to listen to bands and concerts for generations. Tonight, as the World continues to reopen - the sounds of piano songs filled the downtown area as the vibrant lights of the Levitt’s tents gave notice that The Levitt is back for Summer 2021.
Upcoming concerts this week include Midnight North, Goza Latin band, The Scott Sharrard Band, and Charles Turner and Uptown Swing. Schedules and donation opportunities can be found on their website, levittpavilion.com.
Best Seats at the Levitt for Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers
Three year old Raelynn sits atop grandfather Neil’s shoulders as Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers open the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Art’s 2021 Season.
Traffic Agent to the Commuter’s Rescue
A Westport Police Department traffic agent manned the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Bridge Street this evening as the afternoon commute made its way through the community. After several weeks of seemingly increasing traffic in Westport, the traffic agent was a site for sore eyes as cars quickly made their way off of the William F. Cribari Bridge, which was named for the famous traffic cop who kept the cars moving through the early 2000s at nearly 80 years old.