The first campfire of the season's theme is "listening". Hear the evening sounds after a busy, spring day. Insects, bird song, leaves. Great to hear after the long winter. Delicious toasted marshmallows and s'more fixings. Bring a chair or blanket. May evenings can be cool. Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Pre-registration recommended.

Celebrate an afternoon of family, fun, friends and community while raising funds to support the homeless and other neighbors in need.  Homes with Hope is sponsoring the Ninth Annual Castles in the Sand sandcastle build-a-thon at Compo Beach in Westport on Saturday, May 15, between noon and 4:00 pm with a rain date of Sunday, May 16th.  The event is generously sponsored by David Adam Realty, Babkie Graphic and Web Designs, Cox Radio, Gault Inc., Joey's by the Shore, Kowalsky Brothers, The Epstein Family and The Walsh Family.  

Big Lots (10' X 10') are $100 and can accommodate up to four sand sculptors.  Really Big Lots (20' X 20') are $300.  Register anytime from now until May 3^rd and receive two free Castles in the Sand T-shirts with a Big Lot and four free shirts for every Really Big Lot.  Additional t-shirts will be available for purchase the day of the event.  Each participant will receive complimentary water and ice cream from Joey's By the Shore.

To reserve your sand-sculpting lot or for sponsorship opportunities, please call Kirsten Allen at 203.226.3426 ext. 10.  Compo Beach parking fees for attendees are waived for the day of the event.  The rain-date for the event is Sunday, May 16^th.

The New Whole Foods Market in Darien is Hosting an Open House on Monday, May 17th from 5-8 pm to Benefit Person-to-Person . . . And You're Invited!

Get a glimpse of the store before the doors open to the public at a Family Event to Benefit Person-to-Person.

$10 cash donation at the door
100% of the proceeds will go to P2P to provide a family of four with food for a day

Featuring Hors D'oeuvres, Music and Activities for Children!

Click this link for more information.

On-site parking available at 150 Ledge Road with additional parking across the street  at the Darien Sport Shop (1127 Post Road).

The Westport Network BNI will be hosting an OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, June 24, 2010 to meet our group and other Fairfield County businesspeople. Since this will be our only OPEN HOUSE of the year, if you cannot make the date please contact us to be scheduled as a guest at an upcoming meeting.

As a local businessperson you probably realize that an important factor of business success is knowing people. The number of people that you know and the number of people that know you increase your chances of developing productive working relationships. The members of Westport Network are committed to helping each other improve their presence, referrals, and business growth throughout Fairfield County and beyond.

We have maintained a successful networking group over the past seven years with a solid core of highly talented individuals. Our members' average rate of "closed" referrals nears 40%. This is an extremely high return on investment. Simply, our group's referrals are pre-qualified and educated on members' services- no cold calls or chasing business! We are currently seeking motivated professionals in many areas of expertise to join and
expand our network.

Come and visit Town and Country Montessori a non-profit preschool for 3-5 year olds!  We'll be having one last open house before the school year ends.  Families new to T&C can visit our classroom any time from 10-11:30am on Wednesday May 26th and receive $100 off tuition for the 2010 school year!

Check out the highest quality education at the most reasonable price!

What's in a name? Well, often enough to get your attention. New Canaan High School's drama department is wrapping up its year with "Urinetown The Musical". This show offers a hilarious evening of theater to all who can get past its unsavory name. It has been described as a "distinctive, intelligent and jubilant theatrical experience".  It's is about a time on earth when a 20 year draught creates such a water shortage that the use of private toilets is banned by a totalitarian government and corporate greed  is in full swing charging for the "Privilege to Pee", as the tune goes. The show pays homage to the great American musical while satirizing almost everything else. Don't miss the fun . 

Please join us this Saturday from 1:00-5:00 for our Weekly In-Store Wine Tasting.  This week we will be pouring the 2008 Felsner Gruner Veltliner from Austria & the 2008 Block Nine Pinot Noir from California.  Please stop by for a taste!

An Afternoon of Tea & Gratitude: Making Memories

presented by the Bennett Cancer Center from 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday May 16
and featuring Nina Pomeroy Photography LLC

People with cancer undergoing treatment at the Bennett Cancer Center in Stamford, Connecticut will get a unique opportunity to show their appreciation for the people in their lives who provide friendship, love, help with things like rides to chemo and meals, emotional support and so much more.  All are invited to the Italian Center on Sunday, May 16, for an inspiring afternoon centering around "gratitude."

At the 'Tea and Gratitude" event, people with cancer will be able to have themselves photographed with their favorite people to capture this special day.

The Sunday event will provide cancer patients and their supporters an inspiring afternoon, featuring Laconia Therrio, a professional storyteller from Connecticut, (http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com/profile/LaconiaOTherrioLot), and a riotous interactive comedy performance with improv comedienne Jacqueline Kabat (www.jacquelinekabat.com).  Once the participants are loosened up and laughing, they will have the chance to record a conversation with Just So You Know (www.just-so-you-know.org) and sit with their guest for a portrait session with professional photographer Nina Pomeroy (www.ninapomeroy.com).

The afternoon will culminate with High Tea and live music, and promises to be an uplifting and memorable experience for all!

For Elza Mueller-Roemer, Producer, Musician, Mentor, and Award-Winning Songwriter, it's all about the music and giving back. Elza continues her legacy of giving back when she performs as a soloist and chorale member of Chris Coogan's widely acclaimed Good News Gospel Choir to raise money for Kids Empowered by Your Support, Inc. (KEYS). 

The Good News Gospel Choir, a group of 50 multi-denominational voices, is the brainchild of Chris Coogan, composer, performer, teacher, chorale director, and producer, whose music is rooted in the jazz and gospel traditions. The concert also features a guest performance by African singer/songwriter, Christopher Bettywood in addition to other soloists.

Elza's appearance with the Good News Gospel Choir follows her May 14 show at the Cutting Board Café. Last month, her performance at the Cutting Board Café sold out.

In July, Elza will be performing on the bill with the Mystery Tour Beatles Show Band on the first night of the Danbury Summer Series, Concerts on the Green, Danbury, CT on Friday, July 9 from 7:15 to 8p.m. Please check the Danbury City Center website for updated information. 

TAG SALE!!

FURNITURE, SPORTS EQUIPMENT, JEWELRY & HANDBAGS, ELECTRONICS AND MORE!

Preparing for your Close-up

Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce's Educational Series

To Feature Media Workshop

Monday, May 17^th, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm, Westport Playhouse

What does the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce provide to its members? The answers can be as straight forward as; networking opportunities, business support, and advocating the needs of the business community, all of which have many components to them. Continuing with the WWCC's mission to meet the needs of its members, WWCC will be offering a Media Workshop as part of their on-going Educational Series.

"Our members consistently reach out to us for assistance with their promotional needs," explains WWCC Executive Director Lisa Thygerson, "So much so, in fact, that we implemented public relations offerings in addition to our other supportive services. We grew to realize that many business owners weren't aware of all the media opportunities available to them."

The Media Workshop will explain how businesses can best utilize the media outlets that are available to them. Experts in the fields of PRINT, RADIO, TELEVISION, and the WEB will present an in-depth tutorial on the numerous opportunities within these high exposure mediums.

Guest speakers include:

John Breunig, Managing Editor of The Advocate, Stamford

Amy Packham, Executive Producer of News 12, Fairfield County

Kristin Okesson, Vice President/General Manager of Cox Media Group, Stamford/Norwalk

Liz Mitchell, Editor of Westport Patch

Topics Include:

• How to write a press release
• Formulating angles
• Lead times and deadlines
• What's a PSA?
• Programs that need your expertise
• Online event/calendar listing outlets
• Where and how to submit an article for publication
• What's NEWS-WORTHY vs AD-WORTHY
• Pitching the media
• Much More!

Agenda:  Check-in   5:30-6:00 PM        Presentation 6:00-7:30 PM      Reception 7:30-8:30 PM

To Make a Reservation: www.westportwestonchamber.com or call 203-227-9234 $20.00 per person

The New Canaan Library is proud to present Author Willima Martin Monday May 24th at 7:30pm in the Gallery.

William Martin, recipient of the 2005 New England Book Award, is the author of nine novels, an award-winning PBS documentary, and a horror movie now considered a cult classic.

His first novel, Back Bay (1980) spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, and eighth, The Lost Constitution, appeared on the Mass Market List in 2008. The works in between have established him, in the words of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, as a "master story-teller." At the publication of Annapolis, a saga about the U.S. Navy, Publisher's Weekly said "Martin is the maritime Michener." Of his biographical novel, Citizen Washington, USA Today wrote, "Deft, spicy, and excitingly readable... This fiction is so complex in its understanding of humanity as to seem actually true."
And he has joined the historical novel and the mystery-thriller to create a genre all its own. In Back Bay, Cape Cod, Harvard Yard, The Lost Constitution, and now, City of Dreams, his characters track the passage of priceless artifacts through American history while, in alternating chapters, the history comes to life.

Four of those books star Boston rare-document hunter Peter Fallon and his girlfriend Evangeline. In the latest, City of Dreams they're in Manhattan, hunting a mahogany box hunting a mahogany box containing $20,000 worth of Continental bonds, the unretired debt of the American Revolution. With interest, those bonds are now worth over a billion dollars.

Booklist said of City, "Martin has a winning formula and it shines through again here. Readers follow the money and travel back in time to meet fascinating characters, while in the present, Fallon and Evangeline prove to be thoroughly compelling protagonists."

All programs are free and opent to the public. For more information please call 203-594-5040 or visit the New Canaan Library website at www.newcanaanlibrary.org.

Please join us on Thursday, June 3rd from noon-1:30pm at the Westport Country Playhouse when Connections Public Relations and Special Events and Collyer Catering present First Thursdays, featuring author, business coach, motivational speaker, trainer and consultant Julie Jansen.

A dishearteningly large number of people dislike what they do for a living.  Career coach Julie Jansen shows how anyone unhappy with their employment-or lack of-can implement a real and satisfying career transformation. Jansen shows you how to transform even a period of crisis into an opportunity. Her clients include GE, March of Dimes, New York Road Runners and LexisNexis. Julie has been quoted in numerous publications including Fortune, Forbes and the New York Times. She has been interviewed on the Today Show, ABC World News Now, MSNBC, NPR, CNN Financial News and many other broadcast outlets. She is the best selling author of, I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work.

Ticket price includes a gourmet box lunch provided by Collyer Catering, LLC.

TAG SALE – GREAT FINDS!
Multi-Family event!

At this event you can find......

•Chic' Home Decor                                                                                     (lamps, bedding, drapes, pottery barn silver drape rods, so many home accessories, artwork, many wonderful mirrors, etc)
•Kitchen (cooking tools, chrome kitchen utensil system, etc)
•Kids Toys and clothes
Navy fabulous Bugaboo stroller!!! My favorite purchase!
Much Much More!

Join us on:
SATURDAY  05/22 - 9-3     &   SUNDAY  05/23 - 10-2
23 Long Lots Lane, Westport
Post to Long Lots Rd to Long Lots Lane

We get the question at least three times a week "Do you guys carry Pinot Noir from Siduri, Flowers or Kistler?"  The answer is always the same.  "We do.  But the allocations are so slim that the wines disappear before they even arrive." 

If you find yourself asking that very question, Wednesday night's tasting is for you!  David Hirsch, Kent Rasmussen and the McCrea family have been supplying the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes to some of California's most sought after labels.  On Wednesday, we'll pour their own efforts including the 2006 Stony Hill Chardonnay which Winemaker Mike Chelini says, "Not that we haven't made serious wine before, but this is a really serious wine!"   And he ought to know having made the wines at Stony Hill for the past thirty-six years.

Join the staff of Nicholas Roberts as we welcome Peter Slywka and Brian Sypher of Michael Skurnik wines to show off these four gorgeous wines.

2008 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2006 Stony Hill Chardonnay

2007 Kent Rasmussen "Napa" Chardonnay

2007 Kent Rasmussen 'Carneros' Pinot Noir

You are welcome to join us as we taste through a sample of the delicious wines made by the Icardi with winemaker Claudio Icardi.

Azienda Agricola Icardi, established in 1914 and headquartered in Castiglione Tinella, is located at the boundary between two renowned vineyard terroirs – Langa and Monferrato. Today, the winery is overseen by the bother/sister team of Claudio and Mariagrazia Icardi. They join their father, who began producing his own wine from the estate, instead of selling it off to other producers, in the early 1960s. Chemicals have never caught on here, and they stick to organic and biodynamic wine making techniques.

"Our wine production philosophy comes from the vineyard", Claudio Icardi states. "Our wines are produced by means of organic and biodynamic systems. Our production requires special care and attention, together with respectful compliance with nature and its cycles, and climate and weather conditions."

We will be pouring:

~ Barbaresco DOCG "Montubert" 2006 ~

~ Barbera D'Asti DOC "Tabaren" 2008 ~

~ Cortese  DOC "L'Aurora" 2009 ~

~ Brachetto D'Acqui DOC "Suri Vigin" 2009 ~

For more information on these wines, please visit our website:

WESTPORT WRECKERS 12U FASTPITCH SOFTBALL ANNOUNCES OPEN WORKOUT THIS SATURDAY, MAY 22nd

Westport Softball is entering a team in the Fairfield County Fastpitch Summer League (FCFSL) 12U division.  The roster will be will be drawn from girls born after December 31, 1996.

As a new team in the FCFSL, there will be tryouts for the team coming up soon so we're getting the girls ready to play at a higher level. We are in the process of putting together a roster to begin play after the Westport Little League Softball District All Star team finishes in late June. Unlike with our Little League teams, players can reside outside of Westport, although the core of our roster is expected to come from the Westport LL District All Star team.

Since 2003, the FCFSL is the home for travel softball teams throughout Fairfield County. About 800 girls from approximately 65 teams take part in FCFSL competition. Games are scheduled beginning June 25th with approximately 3 games each week (mostly weeknights) through July 18th. Our season concludes with a tournament during the weekend of July 22-25.

The first open workout will take place this Saturday, May 22nd at Meyer Field (Little League complex) at 3PM and should run about 90 minutes. This is an informal workout, so If your daughter is possibly interested in playing after the the spring season, we would welcome her participation, even if she plays another sport.

 For further information, please visit:

http://www.eteamz.com/FCFSL/index.cfm?subsite=5346310&league=1869959

or contact Steve Ortega at trainingsprings@gmail.com

The fourth annual SWIM ACROSS AMERICA GREENWICH TO STAMFORD SWIM is ready to make a big splash for cancer research, prevention and treatment.  The Swim, held Saturday, June 26, 2010, will include four options for swimmers:  a 1.5-mile course, a ½-mile course, a challenging 5-mile course, or a pool swim.  Those swimming the most popular 1.5 mile course will start at the beach at Greenwich (Tod's) Point with participants swimming along the shore of Long Island Sound to Dolphin Cove in Stamford, Conn.  The Swim Across America event raises funds for the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to funding cancer gene therapy research.  ACGT is based in Stamford and its headquarters are the finish line for the swim. Participants must register at http://www.swimacrossamerica.org by clicking on the Greenwich – Stamford Swim link.

Sacred Heart University presents Peter Buffett. This event will take place on May 18, 2010 at 7:00pm in the University Commons at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT.

Most people probably think having billionaire investor Warren Buffett as a father makes life far from average. Join us as Peter Buffett, an Emmy-Award winning musician, songwriter, producer, and composer, shares the important lessons he learned from his parents with his inspirational new book, Life Is What You Make It. He explains how success has more to do with building character than simply using a family platform to get ahead. He will discuss the reasoning behind his father's decision not to give his children an inheritance and the importance of defining a path to follow, regardless of wealth or background.

Reserve your seats for this event: http://wshu.org/events/buffett_form.php

The Courage to Speak Foundation will conduct a "Train the Trainer" course for new facilitators to teach Courage to Speak-Courageous Parenting 101^TM. Interested professionals who work with youth and families can be trained as a facilitator to teach the course in their communities, schools, civic organizations or other forums.  This drug prevention program is for parents to learn about drug abuse and gain knowledge and skills to keep their children safe. To become a facilitator, call Ginger Katz at 203 831-9700, email gkatz@couragetospeak.org or visit www.couragetospeak.org for a flyer and application.  You must apply for this course.