Chamber of Commerce Donates over $10k to Local Charities
Deputy Chief Ryan Paulsson, Deputy Chief Sam Arciola, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Director Matthew Mandell, Julie Luparo, WASA, Animal Control Officer Joe Saponare, First Selectman Jim Marpe, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, Officer Jim Loomer and K9 Officer BruteWestport Weston Chamber of CommerceThe Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce donations of over $10,000 from the recently held Slice of Saugatuck and Westport Dog Festivals.
Viva Zapata owner Bob O’Mahoney, Home with Hope Director Helen McAlinden, The Whelk and Kawa Ni owner Bill Taibe owner, and Homes with Hope Treasurer Bruce HennemuthAfter a Covid forced hiatus of both festivals in 2020, the Chamber ran both events essentially back-to-back this fall with great success. As always, the sole beneficiary of a donation from the Slice of Saugatuck Festival is Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Food Pantry, in the amount of $4500. With this donation over $30,000 has been raised over the years to feed the hungry through this event. The giant neighborhood food tasting carries the phrase, “food for those who can afford it and food for those who can’t.”
Donations to local non-profits from the Dog Festival total $6000 this year with four thousand going to TAILS the event’s co-producer with the Chamber, $1000 going to the Westport Police Department split between the K9 unit and Animal Control via Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA), $500 to Fidelco Guide Dogs, $250 to the CT Human Society and $250 to Adopt-a-Dog, winners of the Jon Nowinski memorial Community Champion award.
“We are thrilled to make these donations and help out where we can,” said Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber. “It took a lot to run these two events as we did, but it was totally worth it. The community completely embraced them and it showed Westport is still raring to go as we hopefully exit the pandemic.”
The Dog Festival will be returning in June 2022 putting back on its spring rotation. The Slice of Saugatuck will once again run the Saturday after Labor Day.
Letter to the Editor: “Although I’ll miss him up at the Capitol, I’ll be voting for Jonathan Steinberg”
Letter to the EditorTo the Editor,
A few years ago, I found myself at an event with Jonathan Steinberg where the majority of the audience members disagreed with us. We were participants on a panel, and most of us jumped up to leave when the program ended. I can’t speak for the others, but I was tired, hungry, and thought I had said all that I could say to convince those who disagreed with me. But as I headed for the door, I noticed Jonathan hadn’t budged. One-by-one, he was listening to the skeptics in the crowd. When they finished speaking, he was handing out business cards and collecting reading material. He was working overtime, trying to find some common ground with a group that hurled insults his way.
Having worked alongside Jonathan in Hartford, I can tell you that there are plenty of reasons I look up to him. He digs into the details of public policy, never kowtows to party politics and works constantly on building a clearer, healthier, and more prosperous community. He’s been a mentor to me since I decided to run for office, and he’s been my closest friend in the legislature.
But what I admire most is Jonathan’s determination to find common ground. We need that now more than ever. That event where he took the time to meet with the folks who had heckled us? It was a discussion about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Long before we knew what COVID-19 was or how it would grind our lives to a halt, Jonathan was doing the hard work of engaging skeptical constituents, sharing the scientific data and perhaps convincing a few of them to vaccinate themselves or their family. Today, it’s hard to imagine a more important task for our elected officials. We need local leaders with Jonathan’s honesty, compassion and work-ethic. We need politicians who walk toward a challenge, not away from it. Although I’ll miss him up at the Capitol, I’ll be voting for Jonathan Steinberg as our next First Selectman on November 2nd. I hope you’ll join me.
Will Haskell
State Senator, 26th District
Westport Celebrates 76th Anniversary of the United Nations
Following the ceremony attendees Jim Naughton and his wife, Sara Sessions Naughton chat with First Selectman Jim Marpe and Bill Hass, President, UN Association of Southwestern CT and member, International Hospitality Committee. Photo by Dave Matlow for WestportLocal.com
Westport resident Aye Aye Thant, daughter of former UN Secretary-General U Thant, addressed attendees at a bipartisan ceremony to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the United Nations. The ceremony was held at the entrance to Westport’s Town Hall. Participating in the ceremony were (l-r) Bill Hass - President, UN Association of Southwestern CT and member, International Hospitality Committee, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Second Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, First Selectman Jim Marpe and Staples High School seniors, Lucas Slater, President of the Staples Model UN and Aidan Rogers, Vice President. Photo & words by Dave Matlow for WestportLocal.com
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 1 over Weekend; State Rate Down, with Hospitalizations Up 1
The Westport-Weston Health District reported 1 COVID-19 case for Westport over the weekend. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down to 1.55% while hospitalizations were up 1.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,132 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 32 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 1.55% [down from 1.79%]
State Hospitalizations: 212 patients [+1]