New Neighbors: Grammie’s Donuts & Biscuits to Post Road East
Hot donuts being glazed this morning at Grammie’sThe Grammie’s kitchen at 971 Post Road EastGrammie’s Donuts & Biscuits opened its doors on Wednesday, and has been met by happy customers in search of contactless calories. Located in the back-building at 971 Post Road East, the kitchen is hidden behind Cycle Dynamics - nearly across the street from Starbucks. An exclusively take-out or delivery kitchen - Grammie’s makes it easy to grab food on-the-go and without contact.
Owner Charlie Gihuli pauses during the busy morning rush. The owner is not stranger to the Westport food scene. After leaving his job in May as Operations Director for renowned eateries OKO and The Cottage, owner Charlie Gilhuli wanted to explore the new space in the food world created by the pandemic: good take-out and delivery.
He succeeded when he founded Grammie’s and opened up their ghost kitchen - a space designed to create food that’s exclusively available for take-out or delivery. With Head Chef Ruben Palma and General Manager Jordan Pompei, the trio selected a back-of-house team and quickly designed a mouth-water menu of comfort foods such as specialty donuts, biscuits, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches.
Staff member Abby Jonas meticulously hand-glazes hot donuts. Walking into the small green building, it’s possible to catch a glimpse of hot donuts being dipped into warm glaze, or fresh biscuits with eggs and bacon being wrapped for delivery. But other than the magic seen in the kitchen - there are no chairs, no tables, and no wait staff - just one of the Grammie’s team members there to hand you your order. Orders are exclusively for pick-up or delivery. The simple process makes pandemic order easier, and safer, for those not yet comfortable with dine-in options.
As the kitchen hummed over the incoming breakfast orders, Charlie described the future of lunch and dinner options coming from the kitchen and showed excitement as their first three days in business were under their belts.
Grammie’s Donuts and Biscuits can be ordered online.
Doodle on the Move
A goldendoodle - a mix breed of a golden retriever and poodle - walks along Compo Beach this morning. The breed has become increasingly common in Westport since the beginning of the pandemic, with many families taking the time home to enjoy new puppies and the training they require.
Superintendent: Protect our Schools and Obey Law if Returning from Vacation
Staples High School was a low priority for snow clearing crews today as the District remains on Winter Recess until this upcoming Monday. Quarantine Guidelines for Westport Students & Families
New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are exempt from this advisory, and do not require quarantine or COVID-19 testing.
Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and all other states or countries are not exempt. If you visited any non-exempt state for more than 24 hours within the past 10 days:
All students and families must fill out the State Travel Health Form regardless of COVID-19 testing.
All students and families must quarantine when they return home to Connecticut, and must remain in quarantine for ten days since last contact with the affected State.
Quarantine may be left if a rapid or PCR COVID-19 test was administered, and returned negative. The test can be administered up to 72 hours before returning to the Connecticut, or anytime thereafter. Results must be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Health .
Failure to quarantine, receive COVID-19 testing, and/or submit accurate State Travel Forms will result in a $500 civil penalty per violation (per family member, and/or per time leaving quarantine)
All positive COVID-19 cases for Westport Public Schools students or staff (virtual or in-person learnings) must be reported to the District by email or phone.
Anonymous reporting of people not adhering to the Connecticut Travel Advisory can be submitted online here.
Press Release: Dear Westport Families and Staff,
As we head into the final weekend of the winter break I want to remind everyone of Governor Lamont's Executive order 9S, an order regarding travel. Students and staff returning from travel to anywhere other than New Jersey, New York or Rhode Island, where they have stayed longer than 24 hours, are required by law to follow this executive order. Please see the link below for specific information including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. (For your convenience the FAQ’s are also included in this email.)
We want to remind families to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
As noted last week, the travel guidance linked and outlined below is important information as the winter break draws to a close, but it remains critical for families and staff to remember that smaller social gatherings with family and friends have an equal, if not greater potential, for transmission of COVID-19 if mask wearing and other critical mitigation measures aren’t followed.
Thank you again for your help in following this guidance. Enjoy the weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone next week!
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Burying Hill Beach Buried under Snow
Burying Hill Beach was under snow this morning, allowing a peaceful morning walk along the coast for community members.