Yearly Archives: 2017

Town Hall Heritage Tree Shines

Posted on December 10, 2017 | 4 comments

Everyone driving past Town Hall enjoys the Christmas tree on its sloping lawn. An ordinary evergreen all year long, it’s lit every night during the holiday season.

But there’s a second one worth seeing. It’s inside Town Hall, just outside the auditorium.

The Town Hall Heritage Tree.

It’s called a Heritage Tree. And for good reason: Every December, for over 35 years, new ornaments are added. Each is designed by a Westport artist. Taken together, the nearly 150 designs represent our artistic heritage in a unique, beautiful way.

Elizabeth Devoll’s ornament features historical Westport photos.

Among the many artists represented: Bernie Burroughs, Mel Casson, Stevan Dohanos, Naiad and Walter Einsel, Leonard Everett Fisher, Neil Hardy, Robert Lambdin, Gordon Mellor, Howard Munce, Jim Sharpe, Dolli Tingle, Barbara Wilk and Al Willmott.

Tammy Winser’s Westport snowman.

This year, 5 new ornaments were added:

  • A whimsical glass ornament (“100% Santa approved”) by Nina Bentley.
  • A diamond-shaped acrylic lenticular featuring the William F. Cribari Bridge — with and without Christmas lights, by Miggs Burroughs.
  • A large, multi-faceted 20-view polygon featuring historical Westport photos, by Elizabeth Devoll.
  • A delicate pine cone, subtly embellished with text and color by Katherine Ross.
  • A glass-domed “Carrot: Building a Snowman in Westport” by Tammy Winser.

Miggs Burroughs’ lenticular features the Saugatuck bridge.

The new ornaments were hung — front and center on the tree — by Eve Potts and Marion Morra. They carry on the Heritage Tree tradition started by their sister, the late Mollie Donovan, nearly 40 years ago. The tree is sponsored by the Westport Historical Society.

Katherine Ross’ pine cone.

So don’t just drive by the Christmas tree outside Town Hall. Drive up, walk inside, and admire the Heritage Tree too.

Happy holidays!

Nina Bentley’s glass ornament.

 

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Pic Of The Day #236

Posted on December 9, 2017 | 4 comments

Wild black vultures look through the window of Earthplace’s Animal Hall workroom. The vultures are beginning to migrate, and have been seen in groups of 30 or more on the grounds. Staff members have seen Earthplace’s rescued vultures try to share their food with the wild ones. (Photo/Jaime Bairaktaris)

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Posted in Environment, Organizations, Pic of the Day

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Beach Benches

Posted on December 9, 2017 | 6 comments

Last summer, Westporters complained about crowds at Compo Beach.

This afternoon, there was plenty of room for everyone.

(Photos/Samuel Wang)

 

 

 

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Posted in Beach, Weather

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Beautiful Faces

Posted on December 9, 2017 | Comments Off on Beautiful Faces

Faces Beautiful has been in Westport for 17 years. Calling itself “the place for makeup and skin care,” owner Gail Sagel and her staff offer vegan products and an array of beauty services for teenagers and women headed to proms, weddings — or any other occasion when they just want to look great.

But her Post Road West location was “distant,” Gail says. She wanted to be near foot traffic.

Gail Sagel

So Faces Beautiful has partnered with Achorn Beauty Bar in Playhouse Square. That store sells high-end makeup and skin care — including the Faces Beautiful brand — but had not offered services like facials, anti-aging treatments, eyelash extensions, eyebrow shaping, special occasion makeup, makeup lessons and makeup parties.

Faces Beautiful supports many charities, with more than money. The store provides — and did the makeup for — all the models in Pink Aid’s recent fashion show.

They also offer mentorship programs for middle and high school girls, and an internship program connected with Fairfield University.

Beauty products and services is Gail’s second career — and a far cry from her first one. She spent 12 years as an institutional energy derivatives broker.

But — feeling unfulfilled and uninspired — she traded Wall Street for Westport.

And now, Playhouse Square.

Faces Beautiful, at Achorn Beauty Bar.

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Posted in Local business, People

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Drew Friedman: One In Half A Million

Posted on December 9, 2017 | 13 comments

Drew Friedman was a pillar of downtown Westport. A major landowner, a founder of the Westport Downtown Merchants Association and landlord of restaurants like Onion Alley, Bobby Q’s and Acqua, he influenced much of Main Street.

His holdings once included the original Westport Public Library building on the Post Road between Main Street and Parker Harding Plaza (now Starbucks and Freshii). He also owned Post Road property beyond downtown. And was a presence in Weston too, as the owner of Cobb’s Mill Inn.

He died in February 2016, at 86.

Drew Friedman and his wife Laura Papallo Friedman, at Cobb’s Mill Inn. (Photo/Patricia Gay)

Now Friedman is back in the news.

In his will, he left $500,000 to set up a “Drew Friedman Community Arts Center.”

But it’s not a place.

It’s a foundation.

Friedman’s former business partner Nick Visconti asked artist/photographer Miggs Burroughs — whose “Tunnel Vision” project is installed next to and across from some of Friedman’s former properties — and Visconti’s sister Louise Fusco to join him on the foundation board.

Their mission is to give $50,000 a year to one or more worthy artists and/or arts organizations and activities in Westport or Weston.

Nick Visconti, MIggs Burroughs and Louise Fusco announce the fulfillment of Drew Friedman’s dream.

So far, money has gone to Homes With Hope, CLASP Homes, the Westport Arts Center and Westport Historical Society. It will help fund art classes and activities for under-served students and young adults. This spring, an art exhibit will showcase all their work.

In addition, the foundation will award 2 scholarships, of $7,500 each, so high school students with need can attend an arts college, or art classes at a community college.

A special gala at the Westport Woman’s Club on May 17 will celebrate the arts program — and artists’ — great accomplishments.

Though not an artist himself, Friedman married one. His wife Bobbie created memorable works of art on canvas, and in clay and bronze, in a beautiful studio he built at their Westport home.

Now Bobby Q’s, Acqua and Cobb’s Mill are all gone.

So are Drew and Bobbie Friedman.

But thanks to his generosity and foresight, the arts — and artists — in Westport and Weston will live on for years.

(Candidates for Drew Friedman Community Arts Center scholarships should click here for more information.)

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Pics Of The Day #235

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 1 comment

Sure, the Pic of the Day is supposed to be a Westport photo. But Stew’s is an honorary Westport store — and the Leonard family has l-o-o-n-g roots here. Merry Christmas! (Photos/Randy Christophersen)

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Remembering Ted Simons

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 10 comments

Ted Simons’ death this week was a loss to the musical world.

It was a loss to Westport as well.

The 84-year-old longtime resident was a Broadway, television, film and cabaret musical director, composer and arranger. He created shows and films for more than 100 companies, including IBM, GE, Ford and Procter & Gamble.

He composed music for “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Anything Goes.” He worked on the Miss America Pageant, “Hullabaloo,” and TV specials with Barbra Streisand, Ethel Merman and Paul Anka.

Simons was a conductor and arranger for Bob Hope, Roberta Peters, the Four  Seasons, Shari Lewis, Leslie Uggams, Julius La Rosa and many others. He was the orchestra leader at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

Ted Simons

But he was just as active in Westport. Never one to turn down a request, he volunteered as musical director and conductor for many school shows, at Greens Farms Academy, and with the Y’s Men’s Hoot Owls singing group.

In 2009 the Senior Center honored him with a lifetime achievement award, for all he’d done for his community.

Buell Neidlinger — who grew up in Westport in the 1940s and ’50s, and is a very accomplished musician in his own right — worked on recording sessions with Simons.

“He was the consummate — maybe the most artistically able — producer/director of what we used to call ‘Big Splash TV,” Neidlinger — who now lives in Washington state — recalls.

“You don’t see those shows much anymore, on account of the expense. Some guys in his position were vicious. But he was the nicest and kindest guy.”

Working on “The Producers” with Simons was, Neidlinger says, “unbridled hilarity. Ted knew just how to respond to Mel Brooks’ constant interrupting joking. He kept everyone laughing Mel liked that! At the same time he kept the music going onto the tape — the producers liked that! It was quite a feat.”

There will be no funeral service. Instead, he asked, “Please sing or play a chorus of George Gershwin’s ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me,’ in a slow tempo.”

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Wildfire Destroys Westporter’s Home

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 9 comments

Westporters have long migrated to California — and vice versa. Nearly everyone here has close ties to at least one person in the Golden State.

It’s no surprise many area residents have been impacted by Southern California’s devastating wildfires. Here’s one story.

Becca Fuchs is a 1995 Staples High School graduate. She lives in Ojai, and  evacuated just before the Thomas Fire swept through.

She had no warning, beyond a glow in the distance. But the fire quickly lit up the entire sky. Within half an hour, it threw cinders on her roof. Becca and her partner Don Lee grabbed their 18-month-old daughter Birdie, their cats, and drove south.

The fire soon took everything they owned.

Becca Fuchs, Birdie and Don Lee.

Becca, Don and Birdie are safe. But they now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.

Becca’s brother Justin and his wife have set up a GoFundMe page.

The most immediate need is money. Amazon and Target gift cards are also great ways for them to buy supplies they need.

“We know it’s Christmastime and money is tight,” Justin wrote. “But any sort of gesture is cherished. Our family is in need of a Christmas miracle.❤️”

(Click here for Becca’s GoFundMe page. Hat tip: Megan Restieri Slingo)

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Friday Flashback #69

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 4 comments

Stevan Dohanos is best known for his 123 Saturday Evening Post covers.

But the Westport illustrator was also a noted US stamp artist. He designed several dozen — the number varies, according to who’s counting — honoring a wide range of subjects, including American presidents, NATO and the statehoods of Alaska and Hawaii.

Dohanos also created Christmas stamps. In 1989, Westport served as that year’s official “first day of issue” post office.

Dohanos’ other holiday stamps ranged from the classical, like this 1969 scene …

… to the playful, like this in 1970…

… to the religious, in 1975:

Of course, Dohanos drew holiday scenes for the Saturday Evening Post too. This cover — from December 13, 1947 — is called “Rural Post Office at Christmas.” (The sign says “Georgetown.”)

As chair of the Stamp Advisory Committee, Dohanos oversaw the art design of more than 300 stamps. He was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and served under 7 presidents.

Stevan Dohanos died on July 4, 1994, at his Westport home. He was 87 years old.

(Hat tip: Paul Ehrismann)

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Remembering Bill Steinkraus

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 6 comments

Bill Steinkraus — member of a celebrated Westport family, and the first American to win an Olympic individual gold medal in an equestrian sport — died November 29 in Darien. He was 92.

His death was announced yesterday the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

According to the New York Times, Steinkraus was considered “one of the greatest riders in the history of equestrian sports.” He was on all 6 Olympics teams from 1952 through 1972.

He won a gold medal in 1968, silver medals in 1960 and 1972, and a bronze in 1952. He was on the US national team for 22 years, including 17 as captain. He was elected chairman in 1983, and chairman emeritus 9 years later. He was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1987.

Bill Steinkraus

Steinkraus was accomplished in many areas. A Yale University graduate and noted violinist, he was an editor in New York. He wrote several books about riding. He was also an expert an old books and antique furniture, a television commentator and an Olympic judge.

Steinkraus rode in Burma in World War II with the US Army’s last mounted regiment. He helped reopen the Burma Road.

Steinkraus grew up in Westport. His sister, Ruth Steinkraus Cohen, was active for many years in local and international affairs, many involving the United Nations. She died in 2002. The downtown Post Road bridge is named for her.

Steinkraus lived with his family in Noroton for many years. In 2016, his estate was put on the market for $175 million.

(Click here for the full New York Times obituary. Hat tip: Susan Iseman)

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