Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 4; State Positivity Rate 10.64%
The State Department of Public Health reported 4 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was up to 10.64%. 352 people are hospitalized around the State as of today.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,718 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 39 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 10.64% [up from 10.24%]
Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund Accepting Grants; $290k Awarded in 2021
Press ReleaseThe Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund (BFSRF) is currently accepting preliminary applications for their 2022-2023 grant cycle. All preliminary applications are due no later than September 10, 2022.
The BFSRF, overseen by the Westport Weston Family YMCA, was created in 2015 due to a generous endowment from YMCA trustee emeritus Ruth T. Bedford, and awards one-year grants to one or more local programs that are selected through an annual grant process. Ruth Bedford believed in education for all and supporting those less fortunate. We are proud to carry on her legacy. In 2021, the BFSRF awarded $290,000 in grants to 28 organizations in the Greater Fairfield County area whose programs focus on supporting equitable education programs for students in our community. “The individuals who lead and run these organizations and their impact on the children in need of educational support in Fairfield County is remarkable; their efforts truly change the lives of the children and young adults in in our communities that they support,” says Juliane Sunderland, who co-chairs the BFSRF Committee along with Libby McKinney Tritschler.
“Adam J. Lewis Academy (AJLA ) is very grateful for the Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund's continued meaningful and impactful support and their most recent Grant, which helps us continue to expand and provide more students and families in the Bridgeport community with opportunities for high-quality education," says Neal Edelson, the Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Advancement at Adam J. Lewis Academy, a 2022 recipient of the BFSRF Grant.
We invite all eligible non-profits to complete the preliminary application available on our website no later than September 10. All organizations who are invited to submit a final application will be notified by October 4. If you have any questions about the BFSRF, the application, or the requirements, please contact Julia Marshella at jmarshella@westporty.org.
ABOUT WWFY
The Westport Weston Family YMCA is a non-profit organizations that enriches the community by developing and nurturing youth, promoting healthy living for all and fostering social responsibility. Our core values drive everything we do. By holding ourselves accountable to build character around our core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility, we build wholeness and wellness in spirit, mind and body for all.
George Capiris, 91, Died; Former Westporter who “never missed a New York Giants football game”
George Capiris, age 91 of Southport, formerly of Westport, Connecticut, beloved husband of 65 years to Stella Capiris passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
Born in Yonkers, New York, he was the son of Christopher and Christina Capiris. He was a graduate of the Saunders Technical School in Yonkers. He was a parishioner of the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Yonkers where he served for many years as an altar boy, having been tonsured by the late Patriarch Athenagoras, and where he attended Greek School. His passion was sports where he played football in the semi pro league. He served in the Armed Services during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. Upon his marriage to his beloved wife Stella, he moved to Connecticut and was employed at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. He later became the proprietor of Shoreham Liquor Store in Fairfield, for many years. He was an avid sports enthusiast, where for many years as a ticket season holder, he never missed a New York Giants football game.
He was predeceased by his beloved son, George Thomas, who was not only his son but his closest "buddy". He is survived by his beloved wife, Stella; his treasured son, Christopher and his wife, Marie Capiris; a cherished granddaughter, "Carrie"; two beloved godsons, Joseph Capiris and Paul Nikolaidis; his devoted brothers, Terry Capiris and his wife, Margaret and Thomas Capiris and his wife, Betty; a special brother-in-law, James Englis and his wife, Angela; a devoted cousin, Nicholas Nikolaidis and his wife, Cathy; and many loving nieces, nephews, and their respective families both here and in Greece.
The Rite of Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 29, 2022 at 11 a.m. in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, with Fr. Georgios Livaditis, Presbyter, officiating, followed by interment at the Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield. Calling hours will take place on Monday morning from 10 a.m. until time of service in the church. The Commerce Hill Funeral Home, 4798 Main Street, Bridgeport, has been entrusted with the services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Church Iconography Project in memory of George.
AIONIA H MNHMH
Documentary Photographer, Former Westporter to Give Lecture on Cuba Travels
Contributed photo. Press Release: International documentary photographer, Daryl Hawk, will present a photo documentary and lecture entitled “Into the Heart of Cuba” to the Appalachian Mountain Club on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30PM. This special event will take place at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport.
Daryl was one of the first Americans to travel alone without any restrictions and unlimited access to all areas. Riding in a 1953 Chevrolet for 2 weeks, he fell in love with this unique country within hours of his arrival. “The visual stimulation that I experienced from dawn to dusk was truly exhilarating. I have never seen such a perfect combination of beautiful light, color and the friendliest and most welcoming people in all of my travels. Explorers all have stories to tell. Mine is told through the lens of a camera. I am a visual explorer.”
Daryl has made six trips to Cuba between 2016 – 2022. He started his Cuba journeys in the capital of Havana where the day to day street life and architecture was his main focus. He then made his way to the rural Vinales region which is world renowned for tobacco plantations. From there he continued to head east through the cities of Cinfuegos, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Camaguay, Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa, the most eastern point in Cuba. The stunning architecture, colorful cars from the 1950s, remote caves, environmental portraits of people from all walks of life, and dramatic landscapes are all covered in the presentation.
Daryl travels to Cuba with the goal of shooting documentaries for magazines and television and will share his nonstop, day to day adventures, experiences, discoveries, and valuable lessons he learned on these incredibly spiritual journeys. He will discuss his style, philosophy, and various techniques he uses when photographing subject matter. Equipment, lighting on location, environmental portraits, and travel tips on planning a trip to Cuba will all be covered as well.
For the past thirty years, Daryl has explored some of the most remote and isolated places in the world telling stories with his camera. He is a photographer, travel writer, lecturer, and explorer whose articles and photographs often appear in numerous national magazines and publications worldwide. He is a member of the Explorers Club, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Professional Photographers Association. He has been featured several times on NBC’s “Today Show” and Fox 5 television.
Daryl owns and operates “Unconventional Travelers”, a small personalized tour company that focuses on inspiring travelers to the world in a new way by experiencing first hand other cultures and lifestyles. These stimulating photographic explorations inspire and connect people with some of the world’s most beautiful places. For information on trips for 2022 and 2023 to Cuba www.unconventionaltravelers.com.
He is the author of five published photography books. “Distant Journeys” consists of 150 color images from the Arctic, the Andes, Patagonia, Antarctica, Bhutan, New Zealand, and much more. “Quiet Moments” includes Hawk’s favorite 120 black and white photographs taken over the past 25 years. Nature and nautical landscapes and abstracts, New York City scenes, and misc. travel landscapes and portraits are all highlighted. “White Pond” is a tribute to a small lake in southern New Hampshire. “Manhattan”, is a color retrospective with 200 landscapes, buildings and street scenes of New York City. His latest book, “Into the Heart of Cuba” consists of 450 images from his recent circumnavigation around Cuba.
Daryl is also the former host and producer of the television show “The Unconventional Traveler” which featured some of the worlds’ leading explorers, travel photographers and filmmakers sharing their work from various expeditions and documentaries. He produced over 100 shows over a 10 year period and some of his guests included Jane Goodall, Buzz Aldrin, Reinhold Messner and George Schaller.
For more information on this event, please contact Eleanor Sasso at (203)216-6814 or easasso7@icloud.com. Daryl Hawk is a former resident of Wilton and Westport.