The Westport community is rallying around several heartwarming initiatives this week, from finding homes for abandoned kittens to connecting high school students with older residents through storytelling. These diverse community efforts showcase the town's commitment to both animal welfare and intergenerational connections.
Earlier this year, an abandoned tiger-striped cat took refuge in a Westport resident's garage, prompting town animal control officer Peter Reid to reach out to longtime Westport Animal Shelter Advocates volunteer Sandy Young for assistance with trapping. WASA serves as the volunteer group supporting Westport Animal Control. After being successfully trapped, the cat was placed in Young's home as a foster, where she subsequently gave birth to five kittens. While the mother cat has been loving and protective, the two-month-old kittens are now ready to find permanent homes.
To help with adoption efforts, Staples High School Photography Club student Andrea Jaramillo and advisor Stacey Phelan organized a professional photo shoot for the kittens. Reid and WASA president Julie Loparo secured permission to use the Westport Police Department classroom for the session. Club members Hazel Rossi, Elizabeth Stauder, and Beatrice Schwabe joined Jaramillo and Phelan to help calm the young animals and capture their most appealing angles. Those interested in adopting the kittens can call 203-557-0361 or email wasa1optonline.net, while donations to support their care can be made online.
Meanwhile, a new intergenerational initiative called the Legacy Project is creating opportunities for meaningful connections between Westport's younger and older residents. The program pairs high school students with older adults for one-on-one meetings designed to document unique life stories and build relationships across generations. Each student will meet individually with a participating adult every two weeks this fall to listen, learn, and help preserve their experiences.
These documented stories will be compiled and published in a book celebrating the wisdom, experiences, and legacies of Westport residents. Meetings can take place in participants' homes, at the Westport Library, or other mutually agreed-upon locations. Those interested in participating can contact Stella DiGeronimo, who heads the project at Staples High School, or Rozanne Gates for more information.
The cultural scene is also thriving with upcoming events at the Westport Country Playhouse. Next month's Script in Hand presentation will feature "What the Constitution Means to Me," scheduled for December 1 at 7 p.m. The play, written by Heidi Schreck, draws from her teenage experiences competing in Constitutional debate competitions across the country to earn college tuition. The production explores how the Constitution has shaped families, futures, and the nation through a lens that is described as hilarious, hopeful, and deeply human.
Local businesses are also contributing to community causes through special events and sales. Sorelle Gallery on Church Lane is extending the traditional Black Friday shopping concept with a multi-day sale that started early and runs through December 2. The gallery offers hundreds of original works by local and national artists at reduced prices, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Sustainable CT. This extended sale format reflects the broader trend of Black Friday events expanding beyond the single day after Thanksgiving.
The holiday spirit of giving continues with the return of Westport's largest toy drive, organized by the Westport Police Department, Police Athletic League, and Westport Police Benevolent Association. The drive will collect new, unopened, and unwrapped toys for all ages and genders, along with cash donations, in the ASF Sports parking lot on weekends December 6-7 and 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting December 1, collection boxes will also be available at ASF, Westport Police headquarters on Jesup Road, Awesome Toys and Gifts, and the Toy Post.
Celebrations of achievement also marked the week, with the Saugatuck Rowing Club commemorating the 25th anniversary of its boathouse. The celebration brought together owner Howard Winklevoss, his Olympic athlete sons Cameron and Tyler who began their Harvard and Olympic careers at the facility, founder James Mangan, and many current and former rowers and coaches. First Selectwoman Jen Tooker attended to congratulate the Saugatuck Rowing Club for its success in establishing Westport's presence on national and international rowing maps.
