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Roundup: Selectmen, Mark Twain, Winslow Park …
Missed yesterday's debate between the candidates for first and second selectmen?
The event — sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Westport Library — is now online. Click below to view.
Domestic violence is real, and part of Westport life.
Next Monday (October 18, 7 p.m.), the Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, Westport Human Services Department and Westport Library will present an important webinar.
"When Stop Doesn't Work: What is the Impact on our Children?" features Ann Rodwell-Lawton, associate director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. She and Liz Modugno — an alcohol and addiction counselor at Westport's Aspire Counseling — will discuss the generational impact of trauma and family violence on children. Click here to register.
Westport native Bruce Michelson is now an English professor — and noted Mark Twain scholar — at the University of Illinois. He credits Burr Farms Elementary School 6th grade teacher June Jack with getting him interested in the famed author.
John Kelley — who sent along this interview with Michelson from the Mark Twain Circle of America newsletter — recalls a field trip to Twain's Hartford home with that class. Michelson mentions the visit in the piece.
It took place more than 60 years ago. Who knows what youngster today will follow a career in the 2080s that started — perhaps today — in one of our elementary schools?
Bruce Michelson
Frank Sisson writes:
At Winslow Park. another dog owner told me he had seen a dead dog on the road just outside a North Compo entrance — one of several openings in the stone wall along the road. Why are those openings not gated to prevent such a tragedy? Dogs will be dogs, and one unauthorized squirrel chase in the wrong direction could spell disaster.
If the town can't swing it, maybe a group of regular Winslow Park dog owners could get together with a plan to chip in and make this happen.
There are gates — though open on this part of the Winslow Park stone wall. (Nell Waters Bernegger)
Longtime Westporter June Fernie died recently. She was 94 years old.
A child of the Depression and World War II, she was the eldest daughter in a family of 7 children. She left her home in Guelph, Ontario, Canada at 17 for Toronto, where she worked as secretary at an advertising agency. Her life changed when John Fernie, a recently discharged RAF pilot and artist from Scotland, walked through the door looking for a job.
After a quick courtship they married and emigrated to the US in 1947, making their first home in a cold-water flat in Brooklyn.
A talented illustrator, John found work quickly at a prestigious Madison Avenue ad agency. Working together, the newlyweds earned success.
In 1950 they moved into their first real home in Westport. Their children Bruce, heather and Mitchell were born and raised there.
June and John enjoyed all that New York, Westport and London had to offer in the swinging '60s, socializing with creatives from the art and literary worlds as well as entertainers from movies and music.
June organized family skiing in Vermont every winter, and annual summer holidays in England and Europe. Supportive of John's love of fast automobiles, she was an enthusiastic pit crew during frequent weekends at the racetrack.
In 1970 June and John moved their family to Vermont, before finally settling
in Kennebunkport, Maine in 1980.
June was a talented administrator who, in addition to managing her husband's art business, worked for many years as an administrative assistant in Maine. Her years as a volunteer at the Kennebunkport Historical Society brought her a great deal of pleasure.
June is survived by her children Bruce (Katherine Walsh) of West Tisbury, Massachusetts and Heather Fernie McInnis (Craig) McInnis of Kennebunkport; daughter-in-law Barbara Borchardt of Cumberland, Maine; foster daughter Jill Deveraux of Oro Valley, Arizona; grandchildren
Alexander, Dana, Bowen, Avery, Mitchell and Trevor, and great-grandchildren Mae Fernie, Helena and Ollie.
June Fernie
The Westport Library Book Sale earlier this month exceeded already high expectations. That's due in part to over 200 volunteer who assisted with setup, the event itself and cleanup. Other volunteers work year long processing books, and helping at the Westport Book Shop.
Organizes give a special shoutout to organizations that supported the effort, including the Westport Young Woman's League, Neighbors and Newcomers of Westport, Abilis, Westport Public Library staff, Staples Service League of Boys, Westport National Charity League, Builders Beyond Borders, and Staples High School National Honor Society.
All proceeds of the sale support the Westport Library, and the employment of adults with disabilities.
Staples Service League of Boys (SLOBs) at the Westport Library book sale.
Three attorneys at Westport's FLB Law — Stephen Fogerty, Eric Bernheim and Joshua Auxier — have been named to the 2021 Connecticut Super Lawyers list. Brian Tims has been named to the publication's Rising Stars roster.
Super Lawyers lists are generated by peer ratings.
Today's "Westport … Naturally" photo pays homage to our beloved fall ritual: Dogs are allowed back on Compo Beach.
This guy acts like he owns the place, all year long.
(Photo/Collette Winn)
And finally … happy 63rd birthday to Marie Osmond!
This entry was posted in Education, Environment, Library, Local business, Local politics, Obituaries and tagged Bruce Michelson, Burr Farms Elementary School, Compo Beach dogs, FLB Law, June Fernie, Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, Winslow Park. Bookmark the permalink.
4 responses to "Roundup: Selectmen, Mark Twain, Winslow Park …"
Jan Carpenter | October 13, 2021 at 10:11 am |
I have LONG wondered why there were not some sort of barriers throughout Winslow. I'd love to donate $$ to have them added.
Claudia Shaum | October 13, 2021 at 10:16 am |
I would donate to gates at Winslow to keep our doggos safe!
Fred Cantor | October 13, 2021 at 12:15 pm |
I don't know if they were in the same class at Staples but Shelley Fisher Fishkin, '67, who is a professor at Stanford, is also a well-known Mark Twain scholar.
Tracy Flood | November 23, 2021 at 3:53 pm |
What a stunning photo of June Fernie!!
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