Westport Doctor named Runner-Up for Chris Klug Foundation Award
Press Release
Westporter Dr. Karin Hehenberger. Photo by Nordic Life Science NewsThe Chris Klug Foundation (CKF) would like to announce the winners, and runners-up of their 2022 Bounce Back Give Back Awards. The annual award recognizes two organ transplant recipients who exhibit an outstanding quality of life post-transplant, whether through career accomplishments, participation in sports or hobbies, or simply leading fulfilling lives with their family and loved ones.
“The Bounce Back, Give Back Award inspires transplant recipients across the country and encourages individuals to register as organ donors to save lives” Anna Morgan-Palardy Program and Communications Coordinator at CKF. These individuals have not only shown the determination to bounce back from transplantation but a passion for giving back to the transplant community and helping others through the process.
CKF received 34 nominations representing individuals from 11 states for this year’s award. The CKF board reviews all of these applications deciding on two award winners. These two honorees will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Aspen with one guest each for one of our annual celebration of life events. Winners will be honored during the summer Wine and Dine event, an evening of sensational wine, delicious food, and fabulous music in honor of organ donation. The winners will also be honored at our annual Summit For Life in December, where athletes from all over the United States take on Aspen’s 3,267 vertical feet in a race to the top!
Westport, CT, local Dr. Karin Hehenberger was among the three runners-up for this year's award. CKF is honored to acknowledge and celebrate Karin’s dedication to the transplant community across the country.
Just before her 17th birthday Dr. Hehenberger was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D); she continued with her life with this diagnosis becoming an executive with Johnson and Johnson responsible for Metabolic strategy. However, in 2008 her diagnosis caught up with her, and it became apparent that she would need a kidney transplant. So in 2009, Karin’s father donated his kidney to her saving her life! Dr. Hehenberger joined the leadership team of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation after her transplant with two goals in mind. One to improve the quality of life for T1D patients and two to find a cure for T1D. In 2010 her health began to fail again until she received the gift of life through a pancreas transplant from a deceased donor.
Before her transplant, Karin represented Sweden in several European Tennis Competitions. Though her health dashed her dreams of playing professional tennis, she continues to play regularly, ensuring she keeps a happy and healthy post-transplant. Dr. Hehenberger has been in the healthcare industry for over 15 years, working to advance the healthcare system and help support those with chronic illnesses. She is the scientific advisor to the CEO of Helsinn and sits on the boards of the Lighthouse Foundation and the Rolf Luft Diabetes Research Foundation.
Dr. Hehenberger founded Lyfebulb to reduce the burden of chronic disease through the power of the patient. Lyfebulb focuses on three areas, connectivity, education, and innovation, to help patients through the process of chronic disease. Karin and her team recently launched TransplantLyfe, which holds educational seminars and provides a support network for those within the transplant community. Dr. Hehenberger has been a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conferences and events, including being a featured speaker at the annual Nobel Symposium at the Karolinska Institute.
Karin will represent the Chris Klug Foundation as a Patient Ambassador visiting transplant centers, schools, colleges, and more and help further the cause of organ, eye, and tissue donation. CKF is honored to be celebrating Dr. Karin Hehenberger and the other transplant recipients nominated for this award. To learn more about CKF’s 2022 Bounce Back Give Back Award Winners, follow us at @chrisklugfoundation or head to our website www.chrisklugfoundation.org.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 18; State Positivity Rate 10.02%
The State Department of Public Health reported 18 more cases in Westport since July 1st. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 10.02%.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,327 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 37 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 10.02% [up from 9.85%]
State COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 242 patients will be updated Thursdays.
Kids Get Hungry - Literally - Anywhere
A doe and her two fawns had to stop while crossing Thomas Road this evening as the two little ones got hungry, causing a few cars to slow down and wait for them to be full and ready to continue their adventures with mom. At just a few weeks old, these two are a part of many newborn deer adding to the Westport population as “baby season” continues for local wildlife. WestportLocal.com photo
Celebration Of America's Birthday Continues With Fireworks At Calf Pasture Beach In Norwalk
housands came to Norwalk's Calf Pasture Beach on Sunday to celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend where they rocked to the sounds of a favorite local band, Darik and the Funbags on the main stage. DJ Vinnie Campisi kept the party going after the thrilling fireworks display from the barge just offshore. More fireworks could be seen in the distance from the north shore of Long Island and also from Fairfield's Jennings/Penfield beaches.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Town of Westport Public Meeting Schedule
Historic District Comm & Architectural Review Board - REVISED: 7:00 PM
Representative Town Meeting: 7:30 PM in-person for the first time since 2020
Morning Weather Report
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Light southwest wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tomorrow
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a slight chance of showers between 7am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east after midnight.
High Tides
3:49 AM / 4:20 PM
Low Tides
10:10 AM / 10:39 PM
Eric Chiang Exhibits Art in Westport Book Shop’s Drew Friedman Art Place
Press ReleaseThe Westport Book Shop is pleased to welcome artist Eric Chiang as guest exhibitor for the month of July at the Book Shop’s Drew Friedman Art Place.
Eric is exhibiting his oil painting entitled “Moon Light Sonata” from his Musical Planet series. Eric’s artwork delves into the weighty issues of human connectedness and the meaning of existence, showcasing his empathy of panhuman loneliness, desperation, love, connections and hope. “Wherever we go in this planet, there is music. Most of the time we never hear it, until we deliberately seek to hear it. Human beings have let the visuals dominate their senses, I thus want to present to you visually the music of our planet.”
Eric is a full time professional artist. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, including in the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts; Art Revolution Taipei in Taiwan; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas; the Queens Museum; MoCA Westport; Silvermine Guild Gallery; the New Canaan Arts Center; as well as many other venues and communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Taiwan. In September 2016 he was given a Citation from the New York State Assembly for his outstanding artwork about humanity.
Eric Chiang’s artwork will be on exhibit at the Book Shop through July 31, 2022. More of Eric’s artwork is also on view at the Westport Library through July 14. To learn more about Eric, visit his website: www.ericchiangart.com
Westport Book Shop, a nonprofit used book store, is downtown Westport’s only source for gently used and antiquarian books, vintage vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and audio books. It is located at 23 Jesup Road, right across Jesup Green from the Westport Library.
The Book Shop’s “Drew Friedman Art Place” is an area of the store dedicated to exhibiting the work of community artists year-round, on a rotating basis. Miggs Burroughs, a Trustee of the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center, and a founding member of The Artists Collective of Westport, is curating these exhibits, which change monthly. The art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shop’s business hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays).
Beautiful Monarch Butterfly Spreads Its Wings for the First Time
This spectacular monarch butterfly stretched its wings for the first time. Its gender, male, can be identified by the small black spots on the top surface of its hindwings. Photo by Cami Vynerib.
Independence Day Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 7 mph.
Tomorrow
A 40 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 7 to 14 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
High Tides
3:05 AM / 3:36 PM
Low Tides
9:28 AM / 9:50 PM