17th Annual Taste Of Westport Brings Large Crowd To The Inn At Longshore
Great cocktails, amazing food and an awesome band brought Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and former First Selectman Jim Marpe to the Taste Of Westport on Wednesday night, joining CLASP development director Robin Hammond.
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Westport-based nonprofit CLASP, which provides homes for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, held their most important fundraiser of the year last night at the Inn at Longshore in Westport. The 17th annual Taste of Westport was a huge success, welcoming close to 400 guests and surpassing the organization’s fundraising goal.
The highlight of the evening was the delicious food and drink: from savory appetizers and mouthwatering entrees to decadent desserts and signature cocktails, every palate was satisfied. Chefs from more than two dozen local establishments partnered with CLASP to create an unforgettable and exquisite culinary experience, all in support of a great cause.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The event also included an impressive silent auction with items including tickets to Yankees and Giants games, fine wines, diamond jewelry, and dining packages from many local restaurants. In between familiar tunes performed by Fairfield County favorite, the Bar Car Band, CLASP president Tracy Flood thanked guests for attending and encouraged them to bid. “Your generosity enables CLASP to continue providing programs and services that enrich the lives of the people we serve,” she said.
Taste of Westport has grown in the last few years, welcoming not only CLASP family and friends, but many community members who are drawn by the impressive list of participants. “It was heartwarming to see our long-time supporters alongside so many new faces,” Flood said. “It’s truly a testament to the power of our community to come together to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.”
For more information about CLASP and the work they do in the community, visit www.clasphomes.org.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples Girls Celebrate Senior Day With 7-0 Win Over Brien McMahon
The Staples Varsity Girls Tennis team won their 11th match in a row today against Brien McMahon high school, bringing their overall record to 12-2. Their last match is on Thursday against Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. The girls celebrated Senior day with their families before the match.
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"This is a powerhouse group of seniors," says coach Jena Wider. "they are a tour de force on and off the court." Captains Karenna Birns, Caroline Caggiano and Audrey Kercher, all seniors have played on the Varsity squad for the entirety of their Staples careers. Birns is going to Georgetown, Caggiano to Vanderbilt and Kercher to University of Florida. Rounding out the senior lineup is veteran Jenna Kornbluth, who has also played on the Varsity team for her length of her high school career--going to Carnegie Mellon in the Fall.
Lucia Wang, (above, second from right) returning for her second year on Varsity and the school's valedictorian --will head to Duke and Alana Zitomer to the University of Wisconsin. "The team is totally united and it has been a pleasure coaching them this season," says Wider. "we love our seniors dearly and they will be sorely missed."
Other members of the Varsity team include: juniors Chloe Francis and Sarah Marron' sophomores: Rhiya Anand, Maddie Hendley, Lola Lamensdorf, Bridget Menninger and Sadie Yanks, and lone freshman: Isabel "Ruthie" Alfageme. "Our team has a lot of heart," says Wider. "we started off the season with a few disappointing losses, but completely rallied to bring our record to 12-2.”
“The sky's the limit to where this team can go." Karenna Birns and Audrey Kercher have played the latter half of the season as the first doubles team and will pose a significant threat in the upcoming FCIAC and state tournaments.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 7 mph.
Tomorrow
Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Westport Teen Wins National “Call for Kindness” Competition
Press ReleaseLocal Connecticut young leader, Leigh Foran, 16, wins national Call For Kindness competition sponsored by Riley’s Way Foundation that encourages young leaders to apply for grants that fund initiatives that strengthen their communities and inspire kindness.
Foran is the founder of Inclusion and Diversity through Education and Awareness (IDEA), an organization whose goal is to spread awareness surrounding empathy, respect, and inclusion through early education. By leading various lessons at local libraries and preschools, IDEA teaches children to appreciate the differences across their peers and communities through activities such as read-alouds and hands-on arts and crafts sessions.
The national Call For Kindness Competition builds on Riley’s Way’s work to invest in a youth-led kindness movement, providing young people with the programs, support and inclusive community they need to thrive as changemakers. To date, Riley’s Way has awarded hundreds of inspiring young leaders across the country with up to $3,000 each to fund their projects. In addition to funding, Foran will join the Riley’s Way Fellowship, consisting of mentorship, professional development, and peer-learning.
“The 2023 Call For Kindness winners reflect critical issues top of mind for young people today,” shared Dr. Christine O’Connell, Executive Director of Riley’s Way. “They have answered the call to make a difference in their communities, adding to a national movement for kindness.”
“Being part of the Call For Kindness makes me feel empowered to make a difference in my community,” said Foran, one of forty nationally-recognized 2023 Call For Kindness Winners. “I am so thankful for the support from the Foundation, which will continue to guide me in achieving my goal of creating a more inclusive world.”
"The Call For Kindness inspires and draws in exceptionally gifted young leaders who are driven by a deep passion to make the world a better place," expressed Ian Sandler, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Riley's Way. "These remarkable young leaders hold the key to tackling the world's most pressing issues, and we believe that by investing in them, we can help them turn their ideas into reality. Whether they are just beginning to explore their ideas or have advanced plans, we strive to support and encourage them to imagine a better future and work tirelessly toward it."
About IDEA
IDEA creates unique lesson plans that each take a multi-step approach to thoroughly explain important topics regarding belonging and kindness with students, such as respect, empathy, and inclusion at various CT preschools and libraries. By having a multi-step, engaging teaching strategy guided by the help of professional educators, IDEA hopes to effectively and appropriately reinforce these inclusive ideas with the children they work with. After receiving encouraging feedback from parents, teachers, and community members, IDEA is confident that they will create a deep sense of belonging and acceptance both today and far into the future.
About Riley’s Way Foundation
Riley’s Way is a national nonprofit that invests in and supports the next generation of kind leaders. They provide young people with the programs, support, and inclusive community they need to thrive as changemakers, including seed funding for social impact projects, coaching and skill-building, networking opportunities, and a peer community. Riley’s Way supports young leaders around the country to envision change and achieve it. Mackenzie and Ian Sandler established Riley's Way in 2014 in memory of their daughter Riley Hannah Sandler, whose kindness and friendship undergird its work. Three flagship programs implement the mission: The Call For Kindness, Riley’s Way Councils, and an annual Youth Leadership Retreat. Since its founding, Riley’s Way has supported more than 3,000 young leaders across the US with over $2M in grants, workshops, and programming.