Big, bold, brassy — and filled with talented, energetic actors — “The Music Man” marched onto the Staples High School stage in the fall of 2016.
Ten years later, former media teacher Jim Honeycutt has turned directors David Roth and Kerry Long’s musical production into a highlight reel.
Click here or below, to tootle along with this classic show.
What have some of those stars gone on to do, over the past decade?
Jacob Leaf (Professor Harold Hill) is a professional actor. He has appeared in “Mamma Mia!,” “Gypsy,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Eurydice” and more.
Sophia Sherman (Mrs. Paroo) studied acting and performing arts management at the University of Michigan. Based in Los Angeles, Sophia has focused on screen acting.
Brooke Wrubel(Mrs. Paroo) is a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University specializing in Early Christian, Byzantine and Western Medieval Art, with a focus on the development of pilgrimage shrines across Italy, Greece and the Holy Land. She holds a BA in art history and Italian studies from Bowdoin College, and an MA in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania.
Antonio Antonelli (Mayor Shinn) is an actor and crew member. He voiced the character Shane in “Santaman,” an appeared as Wes in “Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow.”
Zoe Samuels (Eulalie Shinn, Pick-A-Little Lady Shirley Mason) is an associate strategy director at Edelman. She graduated with a degree in theater and Chinese from Middlebury College.
Colin McKechnie (Tommy Djilas) is part of the premiere of Dance With Us with DGDC. He graduated from Ithaca College g with a BFA in acting, and a minor in dance. A stage and screen actor, he is playing Tony in the film adaption of Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need.”
Mikayla Czizik (Zaneeta Shin) is a New York-based actor, singer and dancer. She graduated with a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch and the Atlantic Acting School. She played Ash in her UK and Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut.
Avery Mendillo (Pick-A-Little Lady Ethel Toffelmeier) is a New York–based actor and singer with roots in musical theatre, and a career in film and TV. She recently filmed her first feature film.
Jackie Rhoads (Pick-A-Little Lady Sadie Hawthorne) is a filmmaker, actor, writer and producer, who studied film at Vanderbilt University. She creates and stars in videos on her YouTube channel, which has over 20,000 subscribers, and supports the development team at Fivestone Studios, a production company based in Nashville.
Sydney Carlson (Pick-A-Little Lady Avis Grub) is an actress, model and internet personality known for her work in “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” and as co-founder of the phone-case brand Wildflower Cases.
Cooper Gusick (Winthrop Paroo) gained early attention for his viral cover of “Waving Through a Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen,” at 8 years old. He appeared in local modeling and performance features as a child.
Ari Frimmer (Winthrop Paroo) is a Connecticut-based actor known for local regional and school productions.
Nick Rossi (Clayton Squires) is a professional singer, actor and musician. He has appeared regionally in “Master Harold … and the Boys,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Pericles,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Jersey Boys.”
Cameron Mann (Edwin Squires) delivered a powerful, breakout performance as Ryan Ross in “Mare of Easttown,” playing a central role alongside Kate Winslet, and a pivotal role in the star-studded dark comedy “Eddington.”
After one rain bomb and one nor’easter this month, beach resiliency is an important topic.
This Thursday (October 1, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Parks & Recreation Department hosts their 2nd forum on RACE Coastal Engineering’s Comprehensive Beach Resiliency Planning Studies.
The studies — involving Compo, Old Mill, Burying Hill and Canal Beaches — cover existing site conditions, potential beach profiles, and anticipated regulatory requirements.
This forum follows one on July 13. Residents can learn more, and ask questions about beach resiliency.
How resilient are our beaches? We’re about to find out. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
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Congratulations to Tom Scarice!
Westport’s superintendent of schools is a finalist for not one, but two awards from the National Association of School Superintendents: Superintendent of the Year, and the Technology and AI Award.
The Superintendent of the Year honor recognizes extraordinary leadership and contributions to public education. Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein says his nomination “reflects his leadership of Westport Public Schools, and his focus on creating robust opportunities and stellar outcomes for our students.”
The Technology and AI Award honors his “thoughtful work to help our schools use artificial intelligence intentionally and responsibly, while keeping students and educators at the center of teaching and learning.
Recipients will be announced October 7.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice. (Photo/Dan Woog)
At 11:45 a.m., they’ll host of a free outdoor Pilates class with Sarah Sadie Newett. All levels are welcome. Mats and props are provided.
At noon, the Pink Aid flag will be raised (with snacks from The Granola Bar).
The heart of Westport is an appropriate spot. Pink Aid started right here in town, 16 years ago.
It’s grown into a national organization providing compassionate support and rapid emergency financial assistance to patients in treatment, supporting them and their families during a critical time.
A reminder: The first event in “06880”‘s newest venture — community celebrations of local businesses — comes up soon. Everyone is invited.
On October 10 (5 to 7 p.m), “06880” and Kiin Sauna host “Community, Connection and Contrast.” KiiN is at 1555 Post Road East, next to Sherpa, Longevity, Zion and CT Sports Recovery — all wellness businesses too.
You’ll see friends and neighbors. Enjoy complimentary beverages. Meet KiiN founder Ginger Richardson, who will tell you all about the benefits of a sauna and cold plunge.
Ginger Richardson
If you feel adventurous, you can try a sauna and cold plunge yourself. (Sauna and plunge space is limited; click here to sign up.)
Ginger and her crew are great hosts. It’s a fun way to learn about a new spot in town.
Dave Briggs and I will host more events soon, all over town. We look forward to this new series. If your business would like to collaborate with us, email us: 06880blog@gmail.com.
Security continues to be a major concern for the local Jewish community.
On October 6 (7:30 p.m., TCS Westport). the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield hosts “The State of Security in the Jewish Community.”
Featured speaker Michael Masters is national director and CEO of Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America.
An expert on homeland and national security, terrorism, law enforcement, antisemitism and targeted violence, he has testified before Congress and appeared regularly in national media.
Masters will discuss lessons learned since October 7, the current threat landscape, and the work being done locally to help keep the Jewish community safe.
Westport elections are always fair — and transparent.
For example: When the registrars of voters begin flash media stick and tabulator testing on October 7 (10 a.m., Town Hall room 212D), the public is invited to observe. Residents can watch until testing is complete.
Questions about anything voting related? Contact the registrars: Deborah Greenberg (Democrat), dgreenberg@westportct.gov (203-341-1116); Maria Louise Signore (Republican) msignore@westportct.gov (203-341-1117).
The popular Thursday series now kicks off 30 minutes earlier: 7 and 8:15 p.m.. The venue is still VFW Post 399. Dinner service begins half an hour sooner too: 6:30 p.m.
Westport’s own Melissa Newman headlines this week. She’s joined by 3 regulars: guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Bobby Leonard.
Melissa Newman
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Girls are on the run!
Girls on the Run is an after-school program. It’s part of a national positive youth development project for grades 3 to 7.
Twice a week, girls learn about and practice skills and positive mindsets, including positive self-talk, friendship, and the importance of individuality.
Each session includes running. Girls build endurance, culminating in that celebratory 5K.
This fall, the program “runs” at Kings Highway Elementary School. It runs for 8 weeks, beginning October 7. Wednesdays, it’s 3:45 to 5 p.m.; on Fridays it’s 7:45 to 9 a.m. The team is led for the 3rd yearby Todd Suchotliff,
One of the Girls on the Run highlights is a 5K at the end of the season. Girls recognize their growth, celebrate their accomplishments and experience the power of working toward a goal together.
Westport resident Kathleen Weiss died peacefully on Thursday, with her family at her side. She was 84.
The New Jersey native graduated from nursing school at Saint Francis Medical Center. She moved to Westport in 1975 and worked as a nurse at Norwalk Hospital, the Westport public school system, and for several home healthcare companies.
She returned to school to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Sacred Heart University. She later taught home healthcare at Western Connecticut State University, retiring recently.
Kathleen was a devout parishioner at Saint Luke Church for 51 years. She taught catechism, was a lector, assisted with charitable efforts, and attended Mass without fail until she was physically unable.
Kathleen married Timothy Weiss in 1965. They enjoyed dancing at the Fairfield County Cotillion Club, Gaelic American Club, and wherever else the spirit moved. They traveled widely, and especially enjoyed their time in Ireland and Italy.
Kathleen is survived by her husband; sons Timothy Jr. (Laura Barron-Weiss), David (Tracy Karlbergs) and Matthew Weiss; grandchildren Adele, Watson and Kathryn; step-grandchildren Thomas Barron and Gabrielle Barron; sister Ann and brother-in-law Thomas Weiss; brother Joseph and sister-in-law Virginia Smith, and brother Leo and sister-in-law Kathleen Smith. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary Woodrum and Susan Ingersoll, and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass is set for Friday (October 2, 11 a.m., St. Luke Church). Burial will be private.
Donations may be made to the Regional Hospice of Danbury. Kathleen’s family is grateful to the staff and volunteers for their wonderful care during her final days.
Kathleen Weiss
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What do bobcats do when they think no one is watching?
Play around — just like any other cats.
This pair — our featured photo for today’s “Westport … Naturally” series — frolicked off Long Lots Road.
(Pour yourself a hot coffee. Enjoy the morning. Read “06880.” Learn all about Westport. Then remember that we rely on readers’ support — so please click here, then go about your day. Thank you!)
In January 2024, a thunderclap headache in Los Angeles — 3,000 miles from home — sent John Duffield, a 43-year-old healthcare marketing executive and former triathlete, to the hospital with a brain bleed.
He’s a Southport resident; his children went to Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool, where his wife Janet teaches.
Within 6 months John went from “the healthiest person I knew, to a man recording goodbye videos for my wife and children, set to send automatically. Just in case.”
John spent his career helping global brands innovate, most recently with artificial intelligence. When his life came apart, he used those tools to survive.
“What it did astonished me,” he says.
“It answered at 2 a.m. when the fear was loudest, and covered the hours no clinician could. I was living inside a preview of what care will look like for all of us.”
The workup uncovered a heart defect he had been born with: a bicuspid aortic valve, a severe leak, and an aortic aneurysm.
John Duffield
Six months later, a valve-sparing procedure, repairing John’s own valve instead of replacing it. Twenty days later, a leaking mitral valve put him back on the operating table for a second open-heart surgery.
What followed was 43 nights across 3 health systems: atrial fibrillation and a cardioversion, fluid drained from his lungs 4 times, a staph infection in his chest incision, a debridement, and 6 weeks on a wound vac.
Janet slept on fold-out benches and recliners, tracked every medication, and caught errors in his transfer paperwork. She was his caregiving lifeline.
John used AI to decode reports, prepare questions for his doctors, weigh whether to risk a 3rd open-heart surgery, and explain his condition to his children. He filmed it all as it happened.
Recovery brought discoveries of its own. AI surfaced a possible link between his brain bleed and his heart disease. Genetic testing at Yale found an inherited variant associated with elevated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk.
In June 2025, a dangerously slow heart rhythm caught on stage in Chicago led to a pacemaker.
Now, John is releasing “The Future Patient.” It tells the full story, with a foreword by his surgeon, nd dozens of QR-linked videos recorded from the ICU bed to the hospital rooftop.
The book’s launch takes place in New York City tonight (Tuesday), 5:30 p.m.), near Grand Central. It includes fellow heart patients and colleagues from health, life sciences, advertising and technology. The conversation will focus on where patient care is heading, and how to make the patient experience clearer for everyone who comes after us. Click here for details.
Timing is everything. Last week I suffered a major email hack — and a harrowing identity theft.
Which are 2 great reasons why this podcast with Sam Disraelly is so timely.
Not to mention, vitally important.
After careers in the military, and working with firefighters and 911 dispatchers, Sam found another way to help people.
He founded Your Tech — a 1-stop cybersecurity firm that is the gold standard in the field.
Sam is creative, passionate, and whip smart. He knows how to stalk and beat the bad guys. And he did it all without making me feel like I was the dumbest creature on the planet.
If you use the internet at all — and by reading this, you do — you need to learn as much as you can about cybersecurity.
This podcast is a fantastic way to start. Click here or below to begin.
The nor’easter washed out Jan Pucci and Lew Pennell’s outdoor wedding, at Sherwood Island State Park.
But the VFW — Westport’s great veterans’ club and multi-purpose community center — happily hosted the couple’s big event Saturday.
It was a very appropriate venue.
Jan is an avid member of the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s popular Aqua Fitness classes — taught by VFW senior vice president Patty Kondub, and Auxiliary president Joan Evon.
And Lew is a Navy veteran.
Making this a true Westport affair: Andrew Colabella — American Legion Post 63 leader, Representative Town Meeting member and a justice of the peace — served as the officiant.
“06880” joins the VFW in wishing clear skies and smooth sailing to the newlyweds.
Newlyweds Lew Pennell and Jan Pucci, with officiant Andrew Colabella.
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Speaking of the nor’easter: Eversource made good progress last night, addressing outages.
At 6 a.m. today, 49 Westport customers remained without power. That’s 0.38% of the town.
Weston reported only 9 outages (0.23%).
Statewide, 2,728 customers still had no electricity. That’s 0.21%.
United Nations Day is October 24. Westport has always hosted an event that day, honoring the founding of that international body.
This year, the date is October 6 (7 p.m.; reception at 6 p.m.). That’s when a high-level diplomat comes to the Westport Library.
The UN Secretary-General’s representative in Washington, William Davis, will speak “The United Nations’ Path Forward in a World in Crisis.” The public is invited to attend and admission is free. Click here to register.
The event is part of the Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Lecture Series, sponsored by the United Nations Association of Southwestern CT (unaswct.org) in cooperation with The Westport Library.
Davis represents the UN Secretary-General and Secretariat to US policymakers, civil society, the news media and broader public. He has a deep understanding of the complex relationship between the US and the United Nations system.
Throughout his career, Davis has championed international cooperation and public engagement with the multilateral system, forging trusted relationships across governments, international organizations, academia, civil society and the media.
Ukrainian troops have pushed back about 9 kilometers against Russian invaders.
They’ve taken 200 square kilometers in the last 10 days, in the Donetsk oblast (province).
Of course, the town still needs our help.
To donate to Ukraine Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground non-profit co-founded by Westporters Marshall and Brian Mayer — click here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.)
Year after year, more and more parents pick up their elementary school students. Fewer and fewer ride the bus.
The numbers grew especially rapidly after both COVID, and the change to a later school start time.
It’s impossible, many parents say, for youngsters who take the bus to get home in time for their after-school activities.
We don’t know how Susan Garment got home, when she was a Westport kid. But she’s an adult now, and was struck by the daily afternoon scene on Post Road West, near Kings Highway School.
Not far away, this was this scene on Sylvan Road North, at Pierrepont School.
(Photos/Susan Garment)
Of course, every parent has to drive their kid there and back (or carpool).
The private school does not offer bus service.
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We’ve posted plenty of storm shots recently.
Ginormous waves, impassable roads, flooded yards — you name it, we saw it.
Here’s one more image from the weekend, as our “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.
You can’t really tell there’s a nor’easter.
But nature’s creatures gonna do what they do best: figure stuff out.
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … well, it wasn’t Sherwood Island.
It wasn’t a chapel either.
But Jan Lucci and Lew Pennell pulled off a great wedding on Saturday, despite plenty of, um, headwinds.
Congrats!
(And finally … as we start a new week, with hopefully a lot less weather to report, we’d like to remind you: We’ve been working like dogs to cover this stuff. Please click here to support us. Thank you!)
Brian Stern spent nearly 4 terms on the Board of Finance — including serving as chair from 2014 to 2022.
He moved to Westport in 1977, and spent 40 years with Xerox. Since 2008, he has been an entrepreneur.
He is keenly aware of the political process for a project like repair of the Jesup Road bridge. He knows how to get it done — and what can slow it down. Brian writes:
Two weeks ago, an intense rainstorm severely damaged the Jesup Road Bridge. Logistically, it is super important to downtown activity and emergency services.
The timing of repairs is consequently an urgent priority for us all. This week I interviewed the Public Works Department director, Larry Roberts, to assess the process and issues related to the project. I thank him for the open and factual discussion.
The Project: The Jesup Bridge was constructed in 1950. It has a small span of 12 feet, and was constructed on pillars of stacked granite native rocks packed with local dirt and fill.
On September 14, the water pressure from Deadman Brook was so intense that fill was eroded and granite rocks were shifted, some over 1000 pounds, which rendered the span structure and integrity of the bridge dangerously fragile.
Compounding the problem are the hydraulics of a stream that floods frequently, combined with the impact of two tides per day.
The bridge cannot be repaired. It requires complete redesign and replacement, taking in to account the environment complexities of its location. Likely the new bridge will be wider, and certainly more substantial.
Jesup Road Bridge, before it was damaged.
The Interested Parties: The engineering complexity is compounded by the number of regulatory bodies impacted. At the state and gederal level these include the Army Corps of Engineers, state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Flood Recovery Board, and the State Bridge Program (Department of Transportation).
At the local level: the Flood and Erosion Control Board, Conservation Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Architectural Review Board.
Funding bodies also get into the loop; the Board of Finance, Representative Town Meeting and Board of Selectpersons. Obviously, this spaghetti of legitimately interested parties will need to be deftly aligned.
The Design Process: In the past 2 weeks, discussions have commenced between the federal, state and local commissions.
Today, an RFP will be published to invite engineering firms to bid on the critical design phase. This will include the design itself, soil testing, hydraulic planning, the permitting applications, estimated costs and key elements of project management.
This bidding process will take 21 days, and will include site visits, etc. The successful bidder will be judged on cost, expertise, prior experience and timing.
The design phase itself will take approximately 45 days and is estimated to cost $172,000.
Damaged underside of the Jesup Road bridge.
The Construction Phase: Immediately following design approval, the project will go out to bid with expected completion in 30 days.
Then starts the construction, which from a standing start will take about 180 days with the availability of materials being critical to a timely completion.
Additionally, reviews and amended specifications will be potential sources of delay. My suggestion is for residents who have specific asks — for example on architectural aesthetics — to speak up now, and not when the train is in motion.
The Review Process: We are informed that the chairs of the relevant commissions are engaged, and prepared to fast track their specific area of responsibility.
The trick here is to ensure that the review process is performed in parallel to the design, bidding and construction phases. Clearly this requires careful orchestration, and an ability to force these interested parties to expedite with due regard for quality, long term sustainability, and safety. The essential ingredient is timely and clear communication with the public.
In our experience public confusion is the lifeblood of review delays. As of today, we have seen no articulation of the plan and the stages at which the public can input. We anticipate each relevant committee chair will publish their review plans, in coordination with the 1st selectman’s office. This public review is the wild card in the timing of project completion.
The Funding Process: The administration informed us that it is unlikely the federal government has funds applicable to the new bridge construction, but there maybe 50% matching by the state. (Stay tuned on this source of funding).
At the local level the Board of Finance has an approval pending for the $172,000 initial design costs at their next meeting, October 7. This delay will not impact the design RFP timing.
The RTM is due to meet the following day to confirm the recommendation of the BOF. Importantly, the tone of urgency by all funding bodies has been set.
A Call to Action: If one accumulates the days of actual activity, the project time would total 276 days from Monday. (21 days for design RFP response, plus 45 days for design completion, plus 30 days for construction bids, and then 180 days for construction).
This assumes zero delays, and excludes any review time. Given the these assumptions we have received, 276 days is a very best case. As a frequent user of the bridge this already a very frustrating time frame.
The town’s management non-trivial task is to anticipate and forestall any physical activity delays and eliminate delays due to interested parties’ reviews and public input.
This can only be achieved with
1) the full force and articulation by the 1st selectman
2) the cooperation of all committee chairs
3) the full and speedy cooperation of State and federal agencies
4) and most important, a documented plan where all parties understand their specific responsibilities and can be held accountable.
The urgency of the project demands a call to action. This is not business as usual. In this regard, I believe Westport residents of are ready to be led.
Stay tuned.
(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Submissions may be emailed to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)
What does the town look like? Here are a few images from today.
Compo Beach, near Hillspoint Road and Compo Road South …. (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)
… and not far away, off Hillspoint Road. (Photo/Marie Gross)
Not making it down Canal Road in Saugatuck Shores … (Photo/Amy Buckman)
… and here’s why. (Photo/Amy Buckman)
Burying Hill Beach (Kat Palmer)
Hillandale Road (Bob Weingarten)
(As always during severe weather, “06880” is your hyper-local source for news, information and dramatic photos. If you appreciate our coverage, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
The Riverwalk — the path extending from the Westport Library’s lower level, all the way around behind the Levitt Pavilion, ending near the parking lot — is one of Westport’s hidden gems.
Occasionally overgrown, but maintained better now than in the past, it offers special views of the Saugatuck River, from ever-changing angles. and a surprisingly diverse array of flowers and bushes.
A sometimes hidden sculpture along the Riverwalk was last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)
Lynn Unitermeyer Miller, Diane Bosch, Seth Schachter, Sal Liccione and Andrew Colabella — all longtime Westporters, and all very familiar with some of Westport’s more unfamiliar places — correctly identified the location.
If you were stumped: Whenever the weather clears, take a walk along the Riverwalk!
Today’s Photo Challenge is a tough one. It’s from a mural — but which one?
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Jay Dirnberger)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
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In our experience public confusion is the lifeblood of review delays. As of today, we have seen no articulation of the plan and the stages at which the public can input. We anticipate each relevant committee chair will publish their review plans, in coordination with the 1st selectman’s office. This public review is the wild card in the timing of project completion.
