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Like many musicians, Nile Rodgers has an impressive collection of guitars.
Like very few, he is selling them at auction.
Like even fewer, he’s auctioning them not for personal gain, but for charity.
This month, Christie’s is offering more than 160 pieces from his personal collection. Besides guitars, there are amps, synthesizers and mixing boards — plus clothing and classic cars.
Many are housed right here in Westport. The Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger, guitarist and Chic co-founder has lived here for years.
Rodgers will donate app proceeds to the We Are Family Foundation. He and life partner Nancy Hunt set up the organization after 9/11. It “promotes cultural diversity while nurturing and mentoring the vision, talents and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world.”
And it’s named, of course, for the smash song he wrote for Sister Sledge.
Click here for the full story. Click here for the Nile Rodgers collection, from the Christie’s catalogue. (Hat tip: Adam Stolpen)
Nile Rodgers, at his Westport home. (Photo courtesy of Sky Arts)
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College a cappella came to Westport last night.
Dartmouth College’s Brovertones brought their bowties and harmonies to the Christ & Holy Trinity courtyard last night. There was a bonfire, s’mores, hot cider — and a heartfelt speech by Brovertone Sam Laskin. The Staples High School grad spoke about how great it was to grow up in a town that fosters the arts.
Dinner was next for the group, hosted by Randy Herbertson in his Church Lane studio. Most of the food was donated by Rye Ridge Deli.
Today — after they all slept at the Laskins’ — it was off on the next stop of their holiday tour.
The Brovertones, at Christ & Holy Trinity Church. (Photo/David Goldstein)
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Like many downtown stores, Savvy + Grace has a gorgeous Christmas tree.
But this one is more than decorative.
Owner Annette Norton is working with the Ralphola Taylor Charity, a YMCA community center that serves low-income Bridgeport children. They earn points for good behavior during after-school activities — then redeem those points at the center’s Holiday Store by buying presents for their families.
In return for purchasing a gift for the Ralphola Taylor Charity, Annette will personalize a white dove ornament with the donor’s name, and hang it on the tree.
Gifts can be bought 3 ways:
- At Savvy + Grace (next to the former Tavern on Main restaurant)
- Online (at checkout, just choose free delivery to the charity)
- Purchase something from any other local store, then drop it off at Savvy + Grace. What a great way to support all Westport merchants, and kids in Bridgeport.
Donations are accepted now through December 12. Let’s fill that tree — and the Ralphola Taylor Charity Holiday Shop shelves!
Annette Norton at Savvy + Grace last year. This season, the tree is inside her store.
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In 2020, I reported on David Hidalgo’s battle against leukemia.
The carpenter/handyman/home improvement contractor extraordinaire is beloved by Westporters. They adore his workmanship, care, willingness to tackle any project; his problem-solving, humility, politeness, and ear-to-ear smile.
He had no disability insurance. But many friends — and strangers — stepped up to help. On his 32nd birthday, David was pronounced cancer-free.
Devastatingly, it’s now returned.
He starts treatment tomorrow, and hopes for a bone marrow transplant.
Without health insurance, he, his wife and 2 young children need lots of help.
He has 2 young children and a lovely wife. They have no health insurance and will need a lot of help.
A GoFundMe drive can defray medical costs. A meal train can help too.
David’s many friends and very pleased clients hope that Westport can give generously to this special man, and his family. (Hat tip: Jennifer Zorek-Pressman)
David Hidalgo and family.
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Bob Dole — the World War II hero, Senate majority leader, presidential and vice presidential candidate, veterans’ advocate, and skillful politician in all the positive senses of the word — died yesterday, at 98.
His long and varied life no doubt brought him at least a few times to Westport, for fundraising and other events. I met him once, at the Apple Festival at Staples High School.
That’s been gone for a while, but it was an old-fashioned, community celebration every October. It must have been a presidential election year, though I can’t remember which one.
I was surprised that a man of his stature would be shaking hands at a small event like that. But I was impressed that he met voters with grace, a smile, and a couple of jokes.
I shook his hand — his left one, because his right hand was severely injured during his service with the 10th Mountain Division. I was not going to vote for whoever he was stumping for, but neither would I pass up the honor of meeting him.
It remains a fond memory. If only we had iPhones back then.
Senator Bob Dole
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Former Westporter — and longtime Planning & Zoning Commission member –Ed Van Gelder died last week, at Meadow Ridge in Redding. He was 98 years old.
In 2009, he and his wife Inge celebrated their 60th anniversary. Their son Jeff wrote a beautiful piece for “06880,” about what Westport meant to them both. Click here to read.
An obituary has not yet been published. Condolences may be sent to Jeff Van Gelder, c/o1326 Meadow Ridge, Redding, CT 06896. (Hat tip: Rose Jordan)
Inge and Ed Van Gelder
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“06880” readers are not the only people who love Werner Liepolt’s artwork.
The regular contributor to our Saturday online art gallery has just had his en plein air painting of Sherwood Island State Park juried into the Mart Twain Library‘s 49th annual art show. Submissions came from across the country.
The fundraiser for the Redding institution — which was founded by the legendary writer — runs through December 12.
The Mark Twain Library is a fitting spot for Liepolt’s work. He spent over 30 years in Westport as an English teacher.
Werner Liepolt’s Sherwood Island artwork was featured in the “06880” art gallery last March. It’s now in the juried Mark Twain Library show.
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Speaking of Sherwood Island: Mill Pond residents were surprised to wake up this morning to lights and action.
It was presumably Netflix, filming “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.” The Stephen King thriller stars Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell, and will be released next year.
A temporary “trailer park” has been erected at the state park. To answer questions from readers: No, it’s not permanent.
Sherwood Island State Park, as seen from the Mill Pond early this morning. (Photo/James White)
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The deer keeping coming. Jill Grayson took today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo at her Berkeley Road home, off Easton Road.
(Photo/Jill Grayson)
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And finally … in honor of Nile Rodgers’ charitable gifts (above) — well, you knew this was coming:
Nile is one of the sweetest people we know. I can’t say enough about him but you just added that cherry on top. Bless him.
Annette Norton is a Rock Star!
Nile came to thanksgiving dinner at my house many years ago…a really nice guy👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸
Congratulations, Werner. I absolutely love that painting.
Mark Twain spent the last years of his life in Stratford. A series of bad financial decisions caused him to have to sell his belovedHartford home and live in reduced circumstances in a townhouse off of lower Fifth Avenue (you would have to be rich to live that poorly today.) After a round of speaking engagements, he replenished his coffers and built a mansion in Stratford–where he lived until his death in 1910. A fire destroyed that mansion in 1919. His Hartford home, his New York townhouse and his boyhood home in Hannibal. MO still survive.
I think you mean Redding. My family sold him the land that the house was on.
You are correct–it was Redding. Shakespeare lived in Stratford.
Best. Reply. Ever.