Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 3; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 3 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 4.60% while hospitalizations were up 5 patients, with 106 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,075 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 4.60% [up from 4.26%]
State Hospitalizations: 106 patients [+5]
Westport Library Book Sale Start Slated for End of April
Mark your calendar for the Westport Library Spring Book Sale, to be held Friday, April 29th through Monday, May 2nd, 2022, inside the Westport Library at 20 Jesup Road, on the Library’s main level.
This Book Sale offers something for everyone, with more than 25,000 gently used books in over 40 categories, including children’s books, from infants to teens; literature and classics, fiction, mysteries, and SciFi/fantasy, art, photography, history, math, science, psychology, religion, biography, business, cooking, gardening, performing arts, travel, foreign language and more, including Noteworthy, especially antiquarian books; plus music CDs and movie and television series DVDs. Vinyl records will be available at the Westport Book Shop, right across Jesup Green from the Library.
Book sale hours are: Friday, April 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sunday May 1st, hours are Noon to 5:00 p.m., and everything will be half-price. Monday May 2nd hours are 9:00 a.m. to Noon, and shoppers can fill our Logo bag for $5 per bag, or buy individual books at half-price. Admission to the sale is free.
“Early Birds” can gain advance entry to a pre-sale shopping hour on Friday, April 29th at 8:00 a.m., by purchasing a pre-paid admission ticket, which will be sold online, only, beginning Monday, April 18th at 9:00 a.m. at eventbrite.com, at https:// westportlibrary-springbooksale-earlybirdtix.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit the book sale’s website at: www.westportbooksales.org.
Of special interest for this sale:
• an extensive collection of books in German, and books in Czechoslovakian
• ephemera, including book and cartography catalogs from important dealers — always a useful source for bibliographic and reference materials
• a large selection of vintage matchbooks from around the country
• antique photographs and daguerrotypes
• a broad selection of psychology texts, useful for the practitioner
• a variety of Great Courses DVDs
Collectors can look forward to our offering of noteworthy and antiquarian books. A catalog of “Featured Specials” is available on the book sale’s website, at www.westportbooksaleventures.org/our-events
Special this year: four unique volumes will be sold via an online auction. The auction will be held through the book sale’s new eBay store, and will be open for ten days, beginning April 22nd. A description of the books to be auctioned is included in the Featured Specials catalog, and the four books will be available for inspection at the Spring Book Sale on Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29. The Book Sale’s eBay store can be found at: ebay.com/str/westportbooksalesct
To volunteer at this sale, please contact Judi Lake at:
volunteers@westportbooksales.org
Can’t make the sale? Visit the Westport Book Shop at 23 Jesup Road, across Jesup Green from the Library, or shop any time 24/7 on our website’s Online Store for current materials (www.westportbooksaleventures.org/shop), and our ebay store (www.ebay.com/str/westportbooksalesct) for out-of-print and collectible books.
TEAM Westport Announces Winners for Essay Contest
Westport’s 2022 Teen Diversity Essay Contest Awards Ceremony was held on Monday, April 4th at the Westport Library. The contest, co-sponsored by TEAM Westport and the Westport Library, was the ninth annual.
For First, Second, and Third place winners, the Contest presents awards of $1,000.00, $750.00, and $500.00 respectively. This year’s essay challenge was:
“Why can it be so difficult to talk about race? Trevor Noah, award winning comedian, writer, and television host from South Africa, says “... the first thing we have to do in any conversation is figure out what the words mean in the conversation that we’re having.” In 1000 words or fewer, describe what you would like to explain to people in your community who avoid or struggle with talking about race or acknowledging systemic racism, or who apply a colorblind approach to issues.”
This year’s winning essayists are First Place: Ian Patton (11th grade), Second Place: Colin Morgeson (11th grade) and Third Place: Leigh Foran (10th grade). All are Staples High School students.
Ian Patton’s first place essay, “How To Be A Good White Person” explored the challenge from the perspective of identity. Colin Moredon’s essay, “Villains of Our Stories” took second place and focused on the Critical Race Theory meme. Third place essayist, Leigh Foran’s “Embracing Privilege to Tackle Racism” plumbed the dynamics of privilege to address the challenge.
According to TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey, “The capability to talk about race is critical to the resolution of one of our nation’s ‘centuries old’ disconnects. Yet such discussions often get derailed before they begin by various layers of murkiness and misunderstanding. What is so impressive and consistent among each of this year’s winning essays is the clarity with which they diagnose the hurdles and offer solutions despite their different perspectives.”
“I want to express my appreciation to TEAM Westport and the Library for conducting this annual event and for providing our youth with the opportunity to explore the issue of race from different viewpoints and perspectives,” commented First Selectwoman Jen Tooker. “My heartfelt congratulations to the contest winners and appreciation to all the young people who participated in this important civic event.”
“Connecting and engaging the community in timely and topical conversations is a fundamental purpose of a public library,” remarked Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “Having teens explore how race is woven into the fabric of American society is an example of how the Library is fulfilling this important aspect of our mission.”
Link to Winning Essays: https://www.westportct.gov/home/showdocument?id=57738&t=637846640429575282
Jean Wells Announced as Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal; Theme Honors Women Veterans
Town of WestportWestport, CT - President of the Westport Veterans Council William Vornkahl announced today that the Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day Parade is Jean Wells.
Jean was born in Indiana on May 30, 1917. She moved to Westport in 1926 and attended Bedford Elementary School, which now houses Town Hall. Jean also attended Katherine Gibbs School.
On January 15, 1943, Jean was inducted into the SPARS, the women’s division of the Coast Guard. She served at the U.S. Naval Special Hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. She attained the rank of Yeoman 2nd Class and was discharged on September 1, 1945. Jean returned to Westport and in 1957 she married David S. Wells. They have two sons, David and Jonathan.
Jean has been very active with the Red Cross with blood drives and has volunteered at the Norwalk Hospital for over 32 years. She has found time to visit with her fellow veterans at the VA hospital as well.
THEME
Also announced today is the theme for the Memorial Day Parade float contest - “Honoring Women Veterans.”
There will be certificates awarded in the following categories: Best Development of Theme, Best Youth Organization Float, Most Creative, Best Community Organization, Most Colorful, and the Best Overall Float.
On Memorial Day (Monday, May 30, 2022), the Parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. The route begins on Riverside Avenue, continues east on Post Road East, to Myrtle Avenue, to Main Street, and ending at Parker Harding Plaza.
Immediately following the Parade, memorial services will be held on Veterans Green.