And Now…On To The After Party
As the ceremony came to an end students were joined by family and friends on the field to exchange hugs and kisses and take photos which be be cherished for years and ears to come.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Clams & Cocktails Achieves Harborwatch Goal At Annual Gala Fundraiser
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
On Saturday evening, Harborwatch, which is a water quality research and education program based out of Earthplace in Westport held it's annual fundraising extravaganza, "Cocktails & Clams" The event was held at Copps Island Oysters waterside location on Long Island Sound just over the Westport line in East Norwalk where Norm Bloom and his family have operated their clam and oyster farm since 1994.
The goal of the annual fundraising event which is very well attended by Westporters including current and former public officials was to raise funds to provide Harbor Watch with a new research boat.
The event reached its fundraising goal to fund a new boat. Norm bloom, who founded Copps Island Oysters has generously supported the organization by hosting this event at his Norwalk location for several years.
Guests who attended were served a variety of delicious foods including oysters fresh off the boat and hors d’oeuvres from Seaside Sliders. Great music by the Shapiro Jazz Trio added to the festive atmosphere as did the beautiful sunny day.
About Harborwatch
The mission of Harborwatch, a 501 (c) (3) non profit corporation is to monitor rivers, streams, and harbors throughout Fairfield County for bacteria that indicate sewage pollution is present. We use our data to work with a network of dedicated municipal partners to ensure pollution sources are quickly remediated.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Harbor Watch was founded in 1986 to improve water quality and ecosystem health in Connecticut. They are scientists who provide the data, knowledge, and field expertise needed to safeguard Connecticut waterways, educate our community about watershed issues, and train volunteers and student interns through hands-on research.
Harbor Watch runs several hands-on programs where high school- and college-age students learn local biology and conservation science, including field research, laboratory techniques, and analysis and presentation of environmental data.
If you would like to make a contribution Harbor Watch is seeking additional funding to properly outfit their new vesse and support their student programs. Please go to https://earthplace.org/harbor-watch/ for more information. To make a donation click HERE and select Harbor Watch.
2023 High School Graduates. Next Stop: West Point, Annapolis, Air Force & Merchant Marine Academies
These 2023 graduates of area high schools are among those men and women will soon be on their way to the nations military service academies to begin their military careers.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
On Saturday, June 10th, Congressman Jim Himes hosted members of the military service academy class of 2027, their families, and selection committee members for a sendoff celebration at VFW Post 399, on Riverside Avenue in Westport. All of the members of the class are from the CT 4th Congressional District which Congressman Himes has represented since 2009.
Pictured above, left is Jim Maxfield U.S. Naval Academy graduate with Congressman HImes. At far right photo are Sean and Jonathan Dalrymple of Westport. Jonathan on the right will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. He is the younger brother of Sean who was selected and nominated for his second preferred choice Service Academy back in 2016. He decided however to enlist in the U.S Navy which was his first choice and where he served for six years training in Cyber Security. Their father Brian Dalrymple Murray is exceptionally proud to have two great sons eager to serve their country.
Four of the students ate the VFW event are from Westport. Zach Rosemy and Grant Zeigler, both Staples grads will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, Sam Cherry who graduated the Hopkins School, and Jonathan Dalrymple who is graduating from Weston HS and headed to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Following remarks by Congressman Himes was Jim Maxfield, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in 1989. He spoke about his experience at the Naval Academy and the tremendous opportunity before them in their military careers, their paths to becoming a community leader afterwards and the success they will likely find in any career they chose as a result of the education and training they will receive at the some of the world's premier military service academies.
Upon graduation, the newly commissioned officers commit to serving in the military for a minimum of five years after graduation. The number of years can increase if the students become pilots.
The VFW space was filled with proud parents and family members listening intently to Himes and Maxfield and after the remarks the students and family got an opportunity to meet and talk with each other and further speak with the Congressman and Mr. Maxfield.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Both Himes and Maxfield touched upon the fact that so many of the members of the U.S. armed forces are young men and women who are performing their duties at some of the highest levels of service, whether it be upon the flight deck or other specialty aboard a 13 billion dollar aircraft carrier, or flying or maintaining 70 or 80 million dollar 5th generation fighter aircraft, or in the increasingly more vital role of cyber security. Both speakers noted the significance of an 18 year old individual being willing to make such at commitment.
Pictured above, left is Jim Maxfield U.S. Naval Academy graduate with Congressman HImes. At far right photo are Sean and Jonathan Dalrymple of Westport. Jonathan on the right will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. He is the younger brother of Sean who was selected and nominated for his second preferred choice Service Academy back in 2016. He decided however to enlist in the U.S Navy which was his first choice and where he served for six years training in Cyber Security. Their father Brian Dalrymple Murray is exceptionally proud to have two great sons eager to serve their country.
Another Full House For MoCA Westport Concert Series
Last Thursday at MoCA Westport, vocalist Vanisha Gould, a Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, performed in the Museum's gallery for a packed house. Accompanied by Kayla Williams on the viola and Chris McCarthy on piano, Vanisha played a range of originals and music from the Great American Songbook.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra, led by guest conductor Michael Breaux, opened for Vanisha.
Attendees were also able to experience the current "Spark" exhibition" currently on view at the Museum, featuring the works of PreK-Grade 12 students in the Westport Public Schools.
Next up in the Music at MoCA concert series is trumpeter Summer Carmargo on July 8, 2023. Carmargo is also a Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist who currently performs with the Saturday Night Live House Band and is the first ever triple crown winner in the history of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition. Tickets are available on mocawestport.org.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
