Fashionistas Line The Runway For Fashionably Westport
One of Westport’s hottest fashion events was held last week at the Westport Library, where our town’s finest clothing retailers, hair salon’s and stylists combined with a couple dozen of Westport’s beautiful models and celebrities to show the latest, greatest and hottest fashions for spring and summer. This was the fourth iteration of this very popular event which provides part of the proceeds to Homes With Hope, the Westport based an agency dedicated to ending homelessness in Fairfield County.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Helen McAlinden, President & CEO of Homes with Hope (top left, bottom right) gave a slide and video presentation detailing the work of the agency in helping those in need. Westport’s Dave Briggs (above right), did a wonderful job as this year’s Emcee, keeping the energy up and the runway flowing.
Prior to the fashion show and during the intermission guests gathered and enjoyed a great selection of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Many were lined up for a Photo-Op with media before the Step & Repeat.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Helen McAlinden, President & CEO of Homes with Hope told WestportLocal:
“This event is a very special event to Homes With Hope because it opens up new exposure to our mission. A lot of new people buy homes in Westport and would like to give back to their wonderful new community. I’d like to express my gratitude to our longtime and new supporters for attending and encourage them to reach out to me if they would like to learn more about our work. I can be reached at 475-225-5292. I give out my cell phone all the time and take people on personal tours because I believe that people want to engage more when they see firsthand the work that we do at Homes With Hope. We have wonderful and dedicated staff and an absolute brilliant mission helping the most vulnerable in Fairfield County with housing and food insecurity.”
McAlinden continued, “Please thank all involved from me. Especially the great staff at DMA that provide a great night for all. As a result of this event we receive a portion of the proceeds which supports the agency’s operating budget to ensure that everyone that comes to our doors receive the support they need. We are about to celebrate our 40 year anniversary. I encourage people to reach out and if interested arrange to come see our 40 year documentary covering our history over the years.”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Contact Homes With Hope to attend their 40th year celebration on April 9th which will be held at Christ & Holy Trinity’s Branson Hall at 4:30 PM.
To donate and help Homes With Hope achieve their mission’s success click here: Homes With Hope.org
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Happy Easter Westport!
Today is Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the Resurrection. What about Passover? Often they coincide closely, not this year. Why? Since the turn of the century, Easter has overlapped with Passover every year but three: In 2005, 2008 and 2016.
In 2024, Passover will begin on April 22 and end on April 30. This also happens to be a Jewish leap year. Leap years are built into the lunar calendar because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so an extra month is added to certain years to make up the difference.
While Easter is fixed to the full moon, spring and Sunday, the Jewish calendar is fixed to Passover.
"The entire Jewish calendar is meant to keep Passover in the springtime," said Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg of the New City Jewish Center. "The Torah said Passover happens in aviv (spring in Hebrew), therefore we need to make sure Passover is in the spring."
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
Message Of Peace From Saugatuck Congregational
A well-lit peace symbol beckons passers-by to consider the message of the season in front of Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational church on the Post Road. The Church welcomed Reverend Kari J. Nicewander recently as Intentional Interim Pastor, posting this message on their website:
“It is with great joy that we introduce Reverend Kari J. Nicewander, who accepted our call to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor. Kari’s first sermon as our pastor was Sunday, January 7. Kari comes to us with over twenty years of experience in ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ, most recently as Senior Pastor of Immanuel Church of Christ in Hartford. Please join us in welcoming her to Saugatuck!”
Positioned behind the peace symbol the Church spelled out in big blue & white letters, “Join us in welcoming our amazing new Pastor Kari”.
Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Greenwich Celebrate's St. Patrick's Day Again!
The Greenwich Hibernians Association held their 48th annual St. Patrick's Day Sunday on a beautiful, sunny day, marching down Greenwich Avenue past a couple of thousand “Irish For The Day” celebrants. Former Representative Town Meeting Moderator Thomas Byrne was chosen as this year’s Grand Marshal.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Leading off the parade were more than two dozen police motorcycles from across Fairfield and Westchester counties. Representing Westport Police Department were Officer Rachel Hall (above, in front) a 10 year police veteran who has been with Westport PD for 8 of those years. Joining Hall was Officer Dominque Carr, (above, behind Hall) a 3 year Westport PD veteran.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Irish step dancers paused several time along the march down The Avenue to show off their skills.
Greenwich Fire Deparments once again proudly displayed their vintage firefighting apparatus which served them well in years gone by. Several current and former Miss and Mrs. Connecticuts brought their own touch of glamor to the procession, even a few pretty impressive watercraft “floated” their way down The Avenue.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Many spectators dressedfor the occasion and arrived early to stake out a good viewing position.
Many of the spectators looked more like participants as they displayed their finest St. Patrick’s Day attire and accessories.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Area bikers were up to the task of bringing the energy of the day front and center while Adopt-A-Dog brought their rescue pups, some of which had their own take on the celebration. Of course, the Shriners did their thing, weaving in and out and as usual there were a couple of breakdowns and those unhappy drivers could do nothing more than steer as they were towed the rest of the parade route.
Joining the parade this year was U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Greenwich resident.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, (bottom left), Erin Martschenko received her plaque as 2023 Girl’s Rugby coach of the year is also pictured surrounded by her team (2nd photo).
There were martial arts demonstrations performed by students of the White Tiger Tae Kwan Do dojo.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
