BenchMark #4 Dedication –

A program of the Westport Cultural Council

By Jon Alden

Community Events of Westport

BenchMark # 4, at the Town Annex Playground was dedicated on Friday July 27 in memory of Laura Donaldson Sample, 1896 - 1984. Her daughter, Westport resident Norma Sears holds the plaque presented to her by Elaine Ostroff, Westport Cultural Council Chairperson. The bench was sponsored by the Sears family. Seated on the bench from left to right are: Irena Sears, wife of Stuart Sears, one of the five grandchildren of Laura Donaldson Sample; great grandson Eli Sears, son of grandson David Sears and Eric Rauch, a family friend. Mitch Ryerson of Cambridge is the designer of the sturdy but whimsical concrete bench that resembles three fishes. Steve Pettey of Brayton Garage used Brayton's tow truck to haul the three-pieces of the 1800 pound bench to the playground from Spencer, MA.

The bench is the third to be installed as part of the BenchMark Design Competition and Designing the Village, a program of the Westport Cultural Council. The BenchMark project is the first stage of a longer-range effort to promote a sense of community and safe pedestrian access in Central Village. The competition and the installations have been supported by many Westport individuals, businesses and organizations as well as the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust, administered by the Bank of America.

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