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Gilt And Gillespie
Westport may be the only place in the world where a Tiffany store sits within sight of a homeless shelter. Most of downtown Westport is not so extreme. As high-end as our shops are, most are not in...
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Save That Food
The longer her power remained off, the more Grazi Carletto worried that the food in her refrigerator and freezer would go to waste. Yesterday she dropped everything off at the Gillespie Center — Homes...
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Staples SLOBs
Staples is filled with SLOBs. And Westport is a far better place for them. The yuk-yuk anagram stands for Service League of Boys. The parent-son community service club is one of the most popular...
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Making Hay With Pies
When God gave Michele Albano lemons, she made lemon lime pies. Also apple pies, cherry pies, and caramel pecan chocolate pies. In anticipation of large Memorial Day crowds passing by — and thronging...
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Who Knew?
It’s nice when non-profits ask local businesses for help, and merchants say “sure!” It’s even nicer — spectacular, even — when a store owner sees a need, finds a solution, and offers aid without being...
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A Very Humane Story
The Westport Humane Society has taken some hits lately — right here on “06880.” So it’s nice to hear this story from alert reader Lori Cochran, director of the Westport Farmers’ Market. Lori also...
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Win Win Win Win
Dinner at the Gillespie Center was special on September 9. Students in Staples’ advanced culinary arts class, along with the Culinary Arts Club, prepared and served food for residents of the town...
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High School And Homeless In Westport
Staples students are spending this summer in many ways. Some have paid jobs; others are interns. Some travel, or take courses. A few sleep in every day. Brian Saunders was homeless. Until recently, the...
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Gillespie Center: 25 Years Of Shelter From The Homeless Storm
For a place as contentious as Westport — half the town opposed building the playground at Compo, and half thought building a nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island was just ducky — you’d think putting...
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Staples Students Are Complete SLOBs
Today was as sweet as it gets. Staples students could have celebrated the spectacular weather by going to the beach. Playing tennis, golf, frisbee or with each other. Studying for AP tests that start...
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What A Difference A Day Makes
Every day, Westporters make a difference. Once a year, we draw attention to what we do, and how we do it. The idea behind “Make a Difference Day” is not to pat ourselves on the back. It’s to encourage...
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Remembering Ernie Gazdik
Alert “06880” reader John Karrel writes: “Ernie G”‘s eldest daughter, Michele Convertito, says, “He could always make you laugh.” Until October 3, when he died at age 65. The Fairfield native was a...
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Remembering Tina
Tina died today. Or maybe yesterday, or the day before. I don’t know Tina’s last name. I never really talked to her — once or twice, at the Y when it was downtown. You may not think you knew Tina. But...
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“I Should Be A Statistic”: Startling Insights Into Westport’s “Privilege”
The recent brouhaha over TEAM Westport’s “white privilege” essay contest got many folks thinking. Throughout town — and around the globe — they dissected the meaning of “privilege.” Amelia Suermann has...
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Nielsen Earns High Ratings From Gillespie Center
From old-timers like Gault and Mitchells to younger arrivals like JoyRide and Saugatuck Sweets, Westport is filled with local businesses that give back in countless ways to the town. But multinational...
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Staples, Farmers’ Market, Gillespie Center: Seed, Feed And Lead
The Westport Farmers’ Market opened for its 12th season last month. As usual, plenty of vendors offered everything from locally grown and raised produce and meat, to honey and bread. The crowd was...
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Jeff Wieser To Retire From Homes With Hope
Jeff Wieser — longtime president and CEO of Homes with Hope — will retire from the multi-purpose housing organization by the end of 2019. Board chair John Walsh announced the news today. Jeff Wieser In...
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Unsung Heroes #117
Alert “06880” reader — and Homes with Hope CEO — Jeff Wieser writes: I was at the Gillespie Center community kitchen the other night. I often go at 5 p.m. to thank the volunteers. This generous group...
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How To Help This Holiday Season
‘Tis the season to be jolly. And to help those whose holidays may otherwise be less than joyful. Eileen Daignault — director of Westport’s Department of Human Services — offers these ideas: You and...
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Helen McAlinden Takes Homes With Hope Helm
The other day, Helen McAlinden had dinner at Jesup Hall. Looking out the window of the handsome stone building, she saw the Gillespie Center next door. She marveled that one of Westport’s most popular...
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