J.C. Martin 10/4/24 J.C. Martin 10/4/24

Dustin Nickerson Stands Up For Home With Hope At Fairfield University

Homes with Hope’s signature stand up comedy event was held Saturday September 28th, was their 17th annual event and was attended by over 650 people at the University’s QuickCenter For The Arts.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Following their pre-show gala (photos below) Dustin Nickerson, an in demand comic on the rise gave the packed house laugh after laugh with one great story after another. Nickerson, who in 2020 released his debut comedy special “Overwhelmed” which is currently one of the highest rated specials on Amazon Prime Video.

In addition, he’s been featured on Comedy Central and Netflix by Kevin Hart, the Late Late Show with James Corden, is a regular on After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Fox, Hulu and can regularly be heard on Sirius Radio XM. Online, his stand-up clips and jokes have received tens of millions of views and his podcast, Don’t Make Me Come Back There, has over 3 million downloads.

To learn more visit: DustinNickerson.com

Homes With Hope, who’s mission to stop help people dealing with housing insecurity and loss honored the commissioner of the Department housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno at the event for all her support. HWH CEO Helen McAlinden (above, left) spoke about the organization’s efforts to deal with the housing crises in our area. Helen was followed by event Co-Chairs Becky Martin and Allyson Gottlieb. McAlinde , and was then joined by Commisioner Mosquera-Bruno who spoke about the state of CT’s cooperation with Homes With Hope (above, right).

Katherine Murray, (above, left) Marketing and Development Director talked about the needed renovations and services to Home’s properties. One of the fortunate clients helped by the organization spoke passionately about how their housing program changed his life significantly.

Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno has assisted Homes With Hope with 3 major projects. First, the renovations of The Gillespie Center Homeless Emergency Shelter and Haskins Place Shelter which shelter 19 homeless individuals nightly in Westport right behind Tiffany’s jewelery store.

Second, Susie’s Houses/project Return is also getting renovated and will be a home for 6 homeless young women with a priority for 18 to 24 year olds. Third, with the support of the Commissioner and the Department of Housing and Garden Home Fund, Richard Freedman, Homes with Hope acquired 19 apartments at 122 Wilton Road which will be 100 percent affordable and will prioritize the working poor who can’t afford to live in the town of Westport where many live and work locally in jobs like the service industry, landscaping, restaurants, grocery stores, babysitting, cleaning homes, social service workers, and other local agencies.

All are exciting and happy to join the wonderful community of Westport where they can become productive members of the community and raise their families. It is a very exciting time for Homes With Hope’s President and CEO Helen McAlinden.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Before Nickerson's performance a live auction was held and thanks to the generosity of Westport area residents, more than $150,000 was raised and will help support Homes With Hope programs.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The huge tent erected for the annual Homes With Hope Gala which preceded the stand up comedy event was filled to capacity. Guests were treated to a variety of tasty dishes and hors d'oeuvres.

Attending the glamorous Gala were many notable Westport area guests including (top, left to right) actor James Naughton and wife Sara with Home’s CEO Helen McAlinden, former State Senator from Westport Will Haskel and his new bride Katie Cion, state representative for Westport Jonathan Steinberg and wife Nancy, RTM moderator Jeff Weiser. Also, (bottom, l. to r) Police Chief Foti Koskinas, wife Christina and friends, artist Miggs Burroughs, Clasp Development Director Robin Hammond and former WestportNow photographer Dave Matlow. Others included former First Selectman Jim Marpe and Westport Fire Department Chief Nick Marsan, RTM member Sal Liccione (photos below).

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

J.C. Martin 10/4/24 J.C. Martin 10/4/24

Westport Events To Commemorate The October 2023 Attack On Israel

Clergy and political leaders will join peaceful protestors at two events. All are welcome.

On Sunday, October 6th @ 11 AM the Westport chapter of RunForTheirLives will commemorate the tragic anniversary of the October 7th massacre with a massive, peaceful and apolitical march through town – carrying signs to remind passersby of the 101 hostages that remain in captivity, both living and dead. We will be joined by local clergy of multiple denominations as well as local community leaders. The Westport chapter joins 230 RunForTheirLives chapters worldwide in keeping hope and awareness alive for both the hostages and their loved ones.

J.C. Martin 10/1/24 J.C. Martin 10/1/24

Westport Garden Club Celebrates 100 Years Of The Beauty Of Flowers

Westport Garden Club's Show on Saturday, "Westport's Town Treasure" was certainly just exactly that. A TREASURE!
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com **Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.**

The Westport Garden Club’s 100th Anniversary Flower Show: “Westport’s Town Treasures” filled Hoskins Hall at Saugatuck Congregational Church with color on Saturday. Close to 300 visitors reveled in the beauty that filled the hall during the day. The show was the club’s first official NGC (National Garden Clubs) sanctioned show in nineteen years. Members attended the NGC Flower Show School for two years to prepare for Chairing the show, featuring exhibits in horticulture, floral design, photography and education. The Club had traditionally held a flower show every two years and had long hoped to revive the program.

Photos above, clockwise from top left: Some of the beautiful Dahlias on the main table greet visitors. Top Right photo: (L. to R.) Westport Garden Club members Nathalie Fonteyne, Joanne Heller, Kelle Ruden and President Megan Lott with the original artwork designed for the show’s program by Westporter Kerstin Rao. Bottom left: Jane Howard of Fairfield with her prize winning Giant Dahlia. Bottom right, an arrangement alongside two of the books published on Westport including one by the New Yorker.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

A special award, created by the Westport Garden Club as a “People’s Choice Award,” was determined by attendee ballot at the show and went to Peggy Townsend of the Garden Club of Newtown for her design incorporating a vegetable.
Above photo: (L. to R.) Westport Garden Club President Megan Lott, WGC People’s Choice Award winner Peggy Townsend, Kara McKenna Wong and Kelle Ruden, Show co-chairs.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The Club chose the show’s theme “Westport Town Treasures” to celebrate and honor the community. Four of Westport’s notable environmental groups provided the educational exhibits, highlighting how each has enhanced Westport’s Pollinator Pathway, established in April 2019: Aspetuck Land Trust, Earthplace, Friends of Sherwood Island and the Town of Westport Conservation Department.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

In the photography exhibits, provided by amateur photographers from around the state, each class honored a treasured local resource in its title and highlighted gardens, nature settings and pollinators. The show’s Botanical Arts Photography Award went to Kelle Ruden of the Westport Garden Club for her photograph of a monarch on milkweed at Sherwood Island State Park. This section was judged by Westport professional photographers Stacy Bass and John Videler along with Master Flower Show Judge Mary Ann Tyma.

The show’s program cover was designed to commemorate the event and honor the club’s history by former Westport Public School teacher and artist Kerstin Rao, (above, 4th photo from left) who offered limited edition tea towels and notecards at the show, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the garden club. The design features a garden at Compo Beach that the club has maintained since 2007.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

More about the Westport Garden Club-

The club is among the nation’s oldest, and its founding member roster includes many names familiar to Westporters: Wakeman, Coley, Bradley, and Staples. Sara Crawford, Connecticut’s first female Secretary of State was an early member as was noted garden writer Helen Van Pelt Wilson. The club’s first project was the installation of a memory garden at Christ & Holy Trinity Church. In subsequent years, the club developed Grace K. Salmon Park, which had once been a dump site and organized residents to save Cockenoe Island from becoming a nuclear powerplant.

Further afield, the club supported the establishment of the Connecticut College Arboretum, the founding of the Connecticut State Federation of Garden Clubs (which now includes 113 clubs and over 6,000 members), the development of tree and shrub plantings along the Merritt Parkway. Today the club has 53 members, and their passion and mission remain the same: to further interest in and knowledge of gardening, horticulture, landscaping, and floral design; participate in civic beautification and promote conservation and environmental education. These days you may find members at work at the entrance to Compo Beach or visit the Nevada Hitchcock Garden at the corner of Cross Highway and Weston Road, Grace K. Salmon Park on Imperial Avenue, or Cam’s Garden in Old Hill on Winding Lane.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

For more information about the Westport Garden Club, visit: WestportGardenClub.org

J.C. Martin 9/27/24 J.C. Martin 9/27/24

Westoberfest - Food, Fun and Lots & Lots Of Great Beers

Westoberfest Craft Beer and Fall Festival made its return on Saturday, September 21st, marking its seventh year of celebration in downtown Westport. The event ran from 2 to 5 PM, attracting beer enthusiasts with a wide array of over 50 local and regional beers. Attendees had the opportunity to sample a variety of styles including crisp lagers, bold IPAs, rich stouts, and refreshing non-alcoholic options, catering to diverse tastes. In addition to the beer offerings, live music contributed to the festive atmosphere, fostering community camaraderie among participants.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

WestoberFest offered an array of attractions beyond its remarkable selection of craft brews. Attendees indulged in a variety of culinary delights from local favorites, ensuring that there was something to please every palate. The atmosphere was further enlivened by live performances from One Bad Oyster, encouraging guests to dance and enjoy the vibrant sounds.

The beer tasting tables had lots of visitors getting an education as well as quenching their thirst. Attendees included many families including journalist and anchor at NBC News and MSNBC, and Today Show co-anchor Craig Melvin and wife Lindsay Czarniak, an EMMY-Award winning sportscaster along with their two children and their handsome family dog.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Two separate areas adjacent to the beer festival were designated for family activities and on-site shopping. Families to to participate in a variety of activities, including face painting, hair tinsel application, pumpkin decorating, and flower crown making, ensuring an enjoyable experience for children of all ages. In addition to the family-friendly options, a selection of vendors were on-site, offering unique products and gifts for attendees to browse and purchase. Westoberfest had lots to offer everyone, making it a perfect destination for a fun-filled day. And not festival would be complete without some very nice looking dogs.

Westport’s Best Pumpkin Chunkers Rose To The Challenge

Pumpkin Chunkin' also took place on Saturday, attracting a diverse group of competitors eager to showcase their skills in pumpkin launching. Contestants included men, women and a few of eager children in hopes of achieving maximum distance with their pumpkins.
Above, Lonnie Quinn, CBS News Weather Anchor and a proud Westport resident, emceed the event, energizing the crowd with his lively commentary. He gathered the contestants before the competition began, outlining the rules and sharing words of encouragement to help them get in the zone. Pumpkins flew through the air prompting cheers from spectators who applauded the contestant’s competitive spirit.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com **Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.**

Contestants started off by being assigned a numbered pumpkin which was determined by young assistants pulling numbers from a jar. Then the competitors demonstrated their skill with a variety of styles of “chunkin”. The contestant above commited a “foot fault”, crossing the limiting line.

Despite a mighty heave, pumpkin number 13 was quite lucky and was not shattered upon hitting the target zone.

This competitor lost the “handle” on her toss, and although the rules allowed just one attempt, she was given a Mulligan and did much better.

Pumpkins were at the ready before the start of the big event.

The kids had a chance to fling their pumpkins as well, giving it an enthusiastic try. Lonnie Quinn gave it a shot as well after the competition had finished.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above left, Don Sheldon puts his back in to it so to speak. Center, Lonnie raises the hand of the runner-up, Alex Westwood, then the winner Don Sheldon who is holding his basket of goodies.