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United Way of Connecticut is expanding availability and access to vaccine scheduling.
Beginning Monday (February 8), 125 contact specialists will take phone calls to schedule appointments from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. They can book up to 10,000 appointments at 12 locations across Connecticut. Call 877-918-2224.
For more vaccine information, click here. The state is focused on vaccinating residents 75 and older, but priority groups will expand this month as more vaccine becomes availabl.e
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In the wake of Christopher Plummer’s death yesterday in Weston, Hedi Lieberman sends along this video of a “CBS Sunday Morning” profile from 2011. It includes scenes of the legendary actor at the venue where he made his American stage debut in 1953: the Westport Country Playhouse.
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Yesterday’s Friday Flashback offered some long-forgotten views of Westport during the 1950s construction of I-95 (Connecticut Turnpike).
They showed Saugatuck and the South Compo areas. But Beachside Avenue was also impacted and altered, as a new bridge rose then between Greens Farms Road and Burying Hill Beach.
Nearly 7 decades later, it’s being replaced. The result is a novel look at the area — whether you’re driving past on Greens Farms, or underneath on the highway.
(Photo/Scott Smith)
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Longtime Westporter John Caggiano died peacefully at home last month, of complications from Alzheimer’s. He was 82 years old.
Growing up in Brooklyn, his family instilled in him a great love of his Italian heritage. It stayed with him all his life.
John studied art after high school, then went into advertising. He spent most of his career at Doyle Dane Bernbach, rising to creative director and driving award-winning campaigns for Volkswagen, IBM, Sony, Hershey and Colombian Coffee. He brought originality and flair to every project.
After retirement John pursued art with a passion, honing his sketching and painting skills at the Silvermine, Rowayton and Westport Arts Centers, and the Westport Senior Center. His work was often seen at local art shows.
He enjoyed the many activities activities Westport offers, including boating, tennis and golf at Longshore, and Old Mill and Compo Beaches.
John loved animals. He loved walking his rescue dog Bella around Compo Beach and Winslow Park. He was known and adored by both the humans and dogs who visited these spots.
John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anita; his son Marco, daughter-in-law Elena, and beloved grandchildren Caroline and John; son Roman; sister Linda Brienza (Dr. Gene); sister-in-law Dolores Paliseno, and nieces and nephews.
John was filled with bluster and heart. He was known for his humor and his legendary stories.
Donations in John’s memory can be made to the Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT, 06880, or Homes With Hope, PO Box 631, Westport, CT, 06881. A memorial service will be held in late summer.
John Caggiano
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The other day, Rindy Higgins gave herself a 72nd birthday present: a penguin mold.
Here’s the result, on the corner of Madeline Avenue and Harbor Road. At least, it looked like that a couple of days ago. It’s all melted now.
(Photo/Rindy Higgins)
Just wait. There’s a winter storm warning for tomorrow. An accumulation of 5 to 7 inches is forecast.
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Next up in the Westport Astronomical Society’s free virtual lecture series: “Mapping the Haystack While Finding the Needles: How Crowdsourcing Science is Solving Big Data Problems in Research.”
Dr. Lucy Fortson of the University of Minnesota speaks February 16 (8 p.m.). Click here for the link.
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And finally … in one of his most famous roles (“The Sound of Music”), Christopher Plummer’s voice was dubbed by Bill Lee. Here is a clip from that film, with his singing “Edelweiss” himself:
Very cool and obscure Christopher Plummer movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061647/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
To the Caggiano family,
I played golf with John a couple of times. I am sorry for your loss.
I’m in tears seeing and hearing Christopher Plummer sing Edelweiss in his own voice. I won’t say how I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Christopher, but many don’t know that he was an excellent musician. He played classical piano and practiced weekly, if not daily, to keep his mind and fingers fit. He was an immensely talented man.
Though he put The Sound of Music at the bottom of his proudest accomplishments list, it remains on the top of my favorite movies list, and Edelweiss is my favorite song. Put Christopher’s real voice to this iconic tune and I am a puddle.
He was amazing… sound of music is my favorite movie ever.. every song in this movie are great…
I didn’t know he was Connecticut resident