October 6, 2023 - One Year of Bring Them Home
More than 300 people gathered at Compo Beach on perfect fall Sunday to mark one year since the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, to rally in support of those who were kidnapped and who remain captive in Gaza.
Photos By J.C. Martin. Story by Lynn Rabinovici Park For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Three local Westport moms came together, for the second time, to organize a meaningful community gathering to support the hostages, Israel, and the Jewish community as they marked the one year anniversary of the barbaric October 7th Hamas terror attack in Israel. 365 days later, 101 hostages, dead and alive, still remain captive in Gaza.
Lynn Rabinovici Park, who had a vision for a concert by the sea, had the goal alongside Inda Sade and Sharon Suchotliff to bring the community together to stand in solidarity with the hostages, call for unity, and to change the year long call from "Bring Them Home Now" to "Release the Hostages Now."
Eleven year old Chloe Robbin of Westport sings with accompaniment by Liang-Fang Chang, the Director of Music Ministry at Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The beach was lined with 101 chairs, gathered by the community, each with a kidnapped poster and a blue or white balloon attached. A strong visual for how much 101 is. Front and center were two orange balloons, 2 tiny chairs and a kid's table with toys and books on it. A batman costume draped on Ariel's chair. A heartbreaking set up for Ariel (5 years old) and Kfir Bibas (1 year old), the beautiful red headed children, who were brutally kidnapped with their parents from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The family remains in Gaza with no information as to their whereabouts or wellbeing.
Above left photo: The audience listens as Temple Israel's Cantors Julia Cadrain and Becky Mann, with guitar soothed broken hearts with songs such as "Shalom Alecheim," Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", Matisiyahu's "One Day" and an Israeli classic "Yerushalayim shel Zhav." Center photo: Organizers of the event (L. to R.) Sharon Suchotliff, Inda Sade and Lynn Rabinovici Park console each other as they listen to the Cantors from the Westport’s Temple Israel.
Top row: The audience listens intently as co-organizer Inda Sade, fighting back tears, speaks about her cousin, Ronen Daichman who was murdered by Hamas terrorists along with 379 other innocents at the Nova music festival in the Re’im forest of Southern Israel. Ronen was 49 years old, a husband and father of two children. She is comforted by Mrs. Rabinovici Park. Bottom left: Ronnie Mandler, father of one of the organizers stands with Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore (center) and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker. The second photo shows State Representative Jonathan Steinberg of the 136th Assembly District of Westport.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Rabbi Josh Ratner of Temple Or Hadash of Fairfield offered a prayer for the hostages and Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of Temple Israel offered a blessing for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Idan Chen, cousin to former hostage Sapir Cohen, shared his personal feelings and experience. The town heard a musical performance from 11 year old, Chloe Robbin, accompanied by Liang Fang-Chang, the Director of Music Ministry at Saugatuck Congregational Church on the keyboard. Jennifer Tooker, Westport's First Selectwoman offered words of support and comfort for the Jewish Community. Selectwoman Tooker told WestportLocalPress “we were proud to stand with our community in support of bringing the hostages home safely.” Ms. Chang-Fang added, “Saugatuck Congregational is proud to support our Jewish siblings and hopes the 101 hostages will be home as soon as possible.”
Israeli flag and "Release The Hostages Now" lawn signs were available for all to take with them as well as End Jew Hatred T-shirts. Waters were donated by Fresh market, bagels and coffee from Starbucks, balloons from Party Hardy, and pastries from local favorite Coffee Ann. The event ended with a community singing of Israel's National Anthem, "Ha Tikvah" (The Hope) and "Am Yisrael Chai." At the conclusion of the event, many people remained at the beach enjoying the beautiful weather and discussing the gravity and heartbreak of one year since October 7th.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a visible presence by the Westport Police Department as there are at any of the gatherings or rallies which occur frequently in town.
Staples Girls Soccer Defeats Trumbull in Final Two Minutes
The girls celebrate victory upon successful completing a penalty kick in the final two minutes of the match.
Friday’s Girls Soccer matchup against Trumbull High was about as tight as could be, with neither team being able to find the net for most of the entire contest. The teams were very evenly matched throughout the entire match.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
It wasn’t until the final two minutes when the Wreckers caught a break. Natalie Chudowsky created a chance with a shot on goal. It was blocked with a Trumbull hand and Staples was awarded a Penalty Kick. Natalie was able to get her shot past the Trumbull goalkeeper and convert the PK into the bottom corner, securing a 1-0 victory for the Wreckers.
The celebration after the winning goal was scored was joyful. Coach Barry Beattie gives an interview and then does the post-game summary with the excited but very attentive team.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers Field Hockey Celebrates Senior Day With 10-0 Shut-Out Over Brien McMahon
Staples field hockey girls are all smiles after completely overpowering Brien McMahon High School of Norwalk. All five seniors each scored a goal in Friday's victory at home.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Combining a high powered offense with a suffocating defense that prevented an serious shots on goal, keeping McMahon scoreless, the Wreckers had a lot to celebrate, especially the senior girls. Goals by Storey Ahl, Emma Larit, Tyla Ozgen, Sofia Fidalgo and eventually Alex Hackett. combined to score half of Staples 10 goals.
The remaining five goals were scored by Leah Larit, who found the back of the net twice, Daisy Hackett, Lucy Hill and Mary Stevens. Sofia Fidalgo contributed to the scoring with three assists, with another by Emma Larit.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The girls not only stepped up their game, they stepped up their celebrating.
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.
