Blog
Back to School 2022- Backup Roundup!
Although it may feel like summer has just begun, back to school is right around the corner! Whether your little one is heading to a half day of daycare or a full day of school and extracurriculars, they’ll need a bag to schlep their things back and forth. We’ve rounded up six great backpacks for the kids, from fun carryalls to sturdy book bags, that are sure to get the job done.
Meet Latha
It’s amazing how many interesting people live and work in this community! Meet Dr. Latha, an amazing internal medicine doctor heading up Westport Medical Wellness Center, a new membership-based practice focused on customized, quality care! Having grown up in this area, Dr. Latha is moving back with her family from DC and can’t wait to settle in! Though medicine – and being a healer – has always been in her blood, Dr. Latha loves writing (she still writes short stories in her free time!), traveling, and understanding people and what they need. Dr. Latha loves broccoli=), almost any drink with elderflower and in another life would be able to sing! Westport is so lucky to have her coming back to the area, and we are excited to share more from her in the months ahead!
Ignite a Love of Reading in Middle School
Every parent wants their child to love reading. Developing strong reading skills builds the foundation for academic success and offers access to endless new worlds and experiences. But how do we encourage children to read when many of them would prefer doing just about anything else (especially over summer vacation)? Below, St. Luke’s Head of Middle School Amber Berry describes how St. Luke’s builds a love of reading into the school’s curriculum.
Looking for something fun and educational for your teen?
Looking for something fun and educational for your teen? Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies is coming to Fairfield County this Fall! Give your teen the gift of Jewish community with fun classes and time to see old friends and make new ones. Merkaz is a weekly educational program open to all Jewish Teens grades 8-12.
Family Photo Fundraiser with Shoott!
If you’re involved in fundraising at your child’s school (shoutout to fellow PTA or PTO Moms!), sports team, or other local organization, coming up with creative ways to raise money can be a challenge. Seriously – how many bake sales or car washes can you do before people start to lose interest? Shoott, a female-run photography business, is offering a fabulous, fun solution – a photography fundraiser!
Local Fireworks 2022!!
It is almost July, and early July often means time at the beach, BBQs, and of course- FIREWORKS! While Westport is known for it’s annual fireworks display – this year they will be held on Thursday, June 30th (more info to purchase a ticket for them can be found HERE!), but there are other opportunities to see fireworks locally as well! Check out the list below, and email us anytime at [email protected] if there are others we missed! Happy July!
Meet Sara Beitman (Merkaz CT)
It is truly amazing how many people who grew up in this area come back after having kids! After years in digital marketing, and then several years managing a $50M fund that awarded grants to the families of health care workers who died fighting COVID-19, Sara Beitman decided she wanted to do good in her own community, and joined The Jewish Federation, working on education and family engagement programs. She helps to run Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies, and is very excited to be opening a new campus in Westport this Fall. Merkaz is a really cool weekly educational program open to all community teens, grades 8-12. In her spare time, Sara loves spending time with her 2 year old daughter, finding great restaurants, and cooking! Sara is excited to build a program that her own children can partake in as they grow up!
Get Organized with the 5 Step Design Process from Closet Factory
Closet Factory offers custom storage solutions for all areas of your home.
Meet Bill Taibe
For anyone in Westport, the restaurants Don Memo, The Whelk, and Kawa Ni are all known for having exceptional food, offering fun atmospheres, and being often impossible to get into! Dad of two boys – Bill Taibe – is the master behind all three, and though an introvert himself, he has loved creating social experiences with amazing food for the people in his community. Bill has been a restauranteur in Westport for 12 years, beginning his journey with the beloved Le Farm, and he hasn’t stopped since. In his spare time, Bill has loved coaching his sons’ sports teams (though they are both grown now!), family hikes with their dogs leading the way, and skiing as much as possible! Bill shares how quickly his kids have grown up, but how they continue to inspire him, and encourages all the dads (and parents) out there to enjoy all the moments along the way! For over a decade now (many thanks to Bill and his team), the Westport food scene has been elevated to a whole new level, and we couldn’t be more grateful he chose to call our community his home! Thank you Bill- we appreciate YOU so very much!
7 Celebrity Dads…from Andy Cohen to Ryan Reynolds..
Father’s Day is on the horizon, and we’re sharing a shortlist of A-list Dads who balance busy careers with being engaged parents. Not to mention, they’re all easy on the eyes, ha! Who are your favorite celeb Dads?
Best Outdoor Toys for Summer!
Summer is here and if you’re looking to upgrade your backyard fun, we have you covered! In our roundup of Best Outdoor Toys of Summer, we look beyond the usual swing set and share toys that will keep your kids outside and off screens for hours—and make your backyard playdate central.
Meet Sarah!
In honor of Pride month, we are thrilled to feature Sarah – mom to three kiddos – who spent years in NYC pursuing a musical theatre path, followed by several years at NBC Sports Group, and now works in gaming/digital play for the LEGO group, deeming her undoubtedly “a cool mom!” As a “not straight” mom, she spends a lot of her efforts focused on changing perceptions about parenthood and sexual orientation, and is thrilled to be performing at the Westport Pride Rally THIS SUNDAY on Jesup Green and in the Pride Cabaret at the Westport Library (free to the public) on June 17th at 7pm. Sarah opens up about her path to sobriety over the last year, her love for Amy Schumer=) and the exciting transitions her three children have ahead of them! She admits she was reluctant to move to the suburbs originally, but now couldn’t imagine It any other way! In a world that is evolving faster than we can often keep up, we are lucky to have Sarah at the forefront of our community working for positive change!
Meet the Founder of Gatsby Chocolate!
If you’re a chocolate lover but not so sweet on extra calories, you’ll definitely want to know about our newest find, @gatsbychocolate! Founded by Doug Bouton, the cofounder of Halo Top ice cream, Gatsby Chocolate is the lowest-calorie chocolate you can buy. We spoke to Doug, a Dad of three young kids, about his newest venture, fatherhood and more. Link in bio for all the details – and use code LOCALMOMS50 for 50% off your first purchase!
If Everyone But Your Child Has Their COVID-19 Vaccine, Is Summer Travel Safe for Your Family?
Summer is around the corner and after a long two years, we are all ready for some travel – and a change of scenery! Many of the adults and older teens and kids are fully vaccinated, but what if your younger child is still waiting on their COVID-19 vaccine? We were lucky enough to get guidance from Connecticut Children’s infectious disease expert John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH, which hopefully will help before and as you make any upcoming summer plans!
Meet the Founders: QUADJOBS!
Have you ever just needed an extra hand – and fast? This is a rhetorical question, of course – all Moms can use an extra hand sometime, and the busiest life moments seem to happen with little notice! That’s why we LOVE QuadJobs, a company founded by two Moms, Andra Newman and Betsy O’Reilly.
Virtual Activities Guide – for when its TOO hot – or you just need a break!
When it comes to educational opportunities for our children, flexibility is key! Virtual Learning can be highly adaptable and often a more efficient way to meet students where they are academically, emotionally, and socially. Kids can learn on their own schedule, and accelerate on their own timeline. Our Virtual Learning Guide is a shortlist of virtual activities including Writing Skills, Public Speaking, Arts & Crafts, Woodworking, Language Programs, Coding Classes, Movie Production Workshops, SAT/ACT Test Prep, Science Activities, Acting Classes, and More! We hope your family takes advantage of some of these amazing opportunities, right in your own home.
25 ideas for Summer Activities the Whole Family Can Enjoy!
Here’s a fun idea from our partner Mosquito Squad to get outside and enjoy your backyard this summer! We give you Backyard Bingo! Download their free bingo card here, and get 25 ideas for summer activities that the whole family can enjoy. Raise the stakes by giving a prize to the first person in the family to cross off five of the following activities in a row! Still need help from the Squad this summer? Call them at 203-989-0054 and mention Local Moms for a special discount.
Meet the Dad behind Get Joy, Dog Food
When Tom Arrix’s dog Cooper was diagnosed with lymphoma, he searched for ways to help him live a longer and better life. By changing his diet with the help of vet nutritionists and veterinarians, Cooper lived for almost two more happy years. Now, Tom (a Darien-based Dad to four kids and two dogs) has a growing dog food and wellness business, Get Joy, that helps dogs everywhere live healthier and better lives. We spoke to the former Facebook executive in this week’s Meet a Dad interview, about this amazing brand. Head to link in bio to learn more and use code MOMSNETWORK for 20% off through July.
Meet Foti!
If there is such a thing as a real live superhero, Foti Koskinas just may be It. As Chief of the Westport Police – and a Westport police officer for 27 years – Foti didn’t know when he started in this line of work, It would be his lifelong career. Born in Greece, Foti grew up in Westport and felt so privileged to be part of such a strong, supportive community, and after college was honored to help give back to a place that had served him so well! Foti has two daughters (17 and 19) who he has enjoyed watching grow up and play sports, and who he values time with more than anything! According to his wife, he’s a great cook, and if he had a free 24 hours, he would spend time on the tennis court, have a delicious meal with his family and get an uninterrupted night of sleep! Foti keeps our community – and kids – safe, and Westport is so lucky to have him! Thank you Foti; you are truly our Superhero!
Meet Erika – Parent Coach and Educator
As we continue to grapple with the senseless tragedy in Uvalde, Texas – in additon to the truly crazy two years we’ve had, for many of us, parenting only seems to get harder, and we all could use some additional support, Meet Erika – a trained Parent Coach and Educator – who works with families (namely parents) to guide them to feel more present, confident, and connected to their kids. After being a school counselor for many years, Erika discovered that her true passion was working with parents, and she’s never looked back! Erika is a first generation American, who in another life might have had her own talk show. She loves sushi (Oko is a favorite!), family nights on the beach, and can not survive without sufficient sleep! As another school year nears the end, we are grateful for people like Erika who help us navigate these unchartered waters day after day!