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Human Services, 2010-Style
In the past year, Westport’s Department of Human Services has helped 200 new clients. That makes at least 1200 households that need financial aid or referral information. And more and more of them are...
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Saluting Dolores Bacharach
“In this season of giving,” an alert “06880″ reader wrote, “you should highlight Dolores Bacharach.” Dolores — known to her many friends and fans as “Do” — is indeed a perfect exemplar of a Westporter...
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“A Decade Of Dreams” For ABC
Twelve years ago, several Westport citizens had a dream. They wanted to bring A Better Chance — a national program that since 1963 has provided educational opportunities to students of color from...
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Human Services’ Holiday Help
Westport’s Human Services Department‘s work is never done. Just a few days after caring for hundreds of Hurricane Sandy victims, the agency turns its attention to the holidays. As always, this is its...
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Replacing The Irreplaceable Terry Giegengack
Normally, when a Westport town department — say, Human Services — replaces an employee who’s leaving — say, Terry Giegengack — the process is simple. The director posts the position. She includes the...
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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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Westport Mulls Commission On Disabilities
Yesterday (Sunday, July 26) marked the 25 anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You may have missed it. If you’re non-disabled, you probably never think of it. If you have...
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Remembering Chris Lemone
Staples High School was rocked today by the death of Chris Lemone. The 49-year-old Bethel resident passed away yesterday, of an apparent heart attack. As the town’s Human Services Department’s student...
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Susie Basler Steps Down; Leaves Project Return Legacy
The year was 1980. Susie Basler had a great life in Evanston, Illinois: good friends, a supportive community, a food co-op she loved. She did not want to move to Westport, Connecticut. But her...
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Commission On Disabilities Moves Toward Reality
Over the past 40 years, great progress has been made at the federal and state levels protecting and advancing the rights, awareness and support of people with disabilities. At the local level: not so...
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Thank You, Barbara Butler!
A star-studded cast filled the Senior Center this afternoon, to honor Barbara Butler. Town and state officials, longtime volunteers, and the heads of the library and Y — among many others — paid...
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Clothes Make The Families
For more than 30 years, Laurie Vogel ran stores in Westport: Joan & David. Country Road. Plaza Two. Three years ago, she moved here. She also made a slight career change: She became a wardrobe...
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The Rich History Of Westport’s Poorhouse
Did every old structure in Westport start somewhere else? Saugatuck Congregational Church, the Birchwood Country Club clubhouse and Bedford Hall at the Westport Woman’s Club are 3 examples. This coming...
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This Is ABC, Part 2: A Scholar, And A Founder
Yesterday, “06880” introduced a new series. “This Is ABC” is a photo-essay project my sister, Susan Woog Wagner, and I began last fall. The goal is to highlight the many facets of A Better Chance of...
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Remembering Fran Reynolds
Fran Reynolds — for 25 years, Westport’s Department of Human Services senior services coordinator — died last week at 89. Longtime colleague Terry Giegengack sent along these thoughts: Fran Reynolds...
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