‘Tis the season to be … tree-lighting.
Twin ceremonies take place this week.
The “official” town event is Thursday (December 1, 5 p.m., Town Hall). The evergreen by Myrtle Avenue will glow, and Staples High School’s Orphenians will sing.
The next night (Friday, December 2, 4:30 p.m.), it’s Wakeman Town Farm’s turn. This one features treats from The Porch, hot chocolate from The Granola Bar, a bonfire and local musicians.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker does the honors at both. She’ll be joined at WTF by Wakeman family member Bill Constantino.
The Christmas tree at Town Hall, following a lighting ceremony.
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The huge Trefz Forum screen at the Westport Library is not just for author talks and music concerts.
Today (Tuesday) at 2 p.m., they’ll show the equally huge US-Iran World Cup first round match.
How huge? If we win, we advance to the round of 16. If we tie or lose, we’re out.
You don’t need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this one. Everyone is welcome.
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Are you a fan of the other football, but didn’t get a chance to see the Staples High School football team’s dramatic 39-38 win over archrival Greenwich on Thanksgiving Day?
Click below, for a very cool highlight video. It was produced and edited by senior Daniel Burgin, with video shot by junior Charlie Scott.
The win vaulted the Wreckers into tonight’s state “LL” quarterfinal playoff game against Fairfield Prep (6:30 p.m., Staples’ Paul Lane Field). It’s the blue-and-whites’ first post-season appearance in 7 years.
Can’t make that one either? Click here for the livestream.
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“Fine jewelry” and “rescue animals” may never have appeared in the same sentence.
Thanks to JL Rocks, they do now.
The high-end Post Road East retailer partnered with designer Peggy Reiner, for a new collection of whimsical animal-inspired pieces. Proceeds benefit PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) in Norwalk and 4LittlePaws rescue in Southport.
“It’s a great gift that gives back to pets in need,” says JL Rocks founder/owner Jamie Camche. “Animals have given us so much. We want to give back to them.”
The collection features 3 diamond-studded designs: petite 14K gold pawprint earrings, 14K gold chains with diamond pave dog bone, and paw charms. It’s available at JL Rocks’ Westport and Greenwich stores, and online.
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“Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?” debuted on Netflix this month. The docuseries is about the Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc. court case — you know, the one where the college kid thought he found a loophole in a Pepsi promotion, and sued them to win a fighter plane. Reviews were good.
The “06880” connection: 2007 Staples High School graduate Nick Boak is an executive producer.
Spoiler alert: The guy never got his jet. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
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Face painter alert!
We need a face painter for this weekend’s Holiday Stroll (Saturday, December 3, 5 to 7 p.m., Main Street and environs).
If you (or your daughter or son) are available to help with this great kids’ activity, please email 06880blog@gmail.com.
For more details on the Holiday Stroll — co-sponsored by “06880” and the Westport Downtown Association — including the nearly 40 participating retailers and restaurants — click here.
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The weekend weather report is good. But Bedford Middle School will be “Frozen.”
On December 2, 3 and 4, Bedford Acting Group takes the stage in “Frozen Jr.”
The 7th and 8th grade actors were toddlers when the movie hit theaters in 2013 (!), Yet they know its characters and songs well. At last, they can perform it.
The curtain rises Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (3 and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.). Click here for the few remaining tickets.
The Bedford Acting Group cast and crew of “Frozen Jr.”
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What has the Greens Farms Garden Club been up to?
Every year they design and maintain the Atrium Garden at Earthplace in Westport, and the Victorian Cottage on Fairfield’s Town Green.
They provide horticultural therapy events at STAR in Norwalk, and make flower arrangements for the Pequot Library Art Show.
The Greens Farms Garden Club also manages 3 “Growing for Good” gardens: Prospect Garden and Wakeman Town Farm in Westport, and St. Timothy’s Church Garden in Fairfield.
They were planted and cared for throughout spring, summer and fall, with over 180 buckets of fresh organic produce harvested and donated to help with food insecurity at Mercy Learning Center and St. John’s Family Center in Bridgeport.
A highlight of the year came at the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut 93rd annual awards luncheon. Wynn Herrmann — a 30-year veteran — was recognized for Civic Development. Dina Schmidt and Jude earned Certificates of Merit for the club’s monthly newsletters and website, respectively.
For more information about the Greens Farms Garden Club, including events and membership, click here.
Greens Farms Garden Club members (seated, from left): Chris Supernaw, Wynn Herrmann, Judy Reynolds, Ann Watkins. Standing: Kate Carroll, president Kathy Mitchell, Carol Shear, Jude Smith, vice president Maybette Waldron.
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Fewer than 5% of rainbows occur in the morning (according to Google). And the ones that do are most often seen in summer (ditto).
But yesterday — driving to work on the Merritt Parkway — this is what Larry Bartimer saw:
(Photo/Larry Bartimer)
We could probably blame the same culprit as everything else. (No, not Joe Biden — climate change.)
Nah. Just chill, and enjoy this very rare late November scene.
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Melissa Newman headlines a cool evening of hot jazz this Thursday, at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399.
Westport’s own vocal star is joined for Jazz at the Post by guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Bobby Leonard,
There are 2 shows: 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
Melissa Newman
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“A Charlie Brown Christmas” — Vince Guaraldi’s timeless, feel-good music — gets the jazz treatment on Saturday (December 3).
The Heather Pierson Trio comes to the Westport Unitarian Church’s Voices Café at 4 p.m., for an in-person and livestreamed holiday concert.
Show-goers can bring snacks and beverages. Groups of 4 or more can reserve tables. For more information and tickets, click here.
Voices Café and its artists are committed to social justice. A portion of the proceeds benefit the battle against food insecurity, through Mercy Learning Center.
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It’s late November. But the leaves on a few trees are still hanging on.
Fred Cantor photographed one of them at Old Mill Beach. Its a vivid reminder of the “Westport … Naturally” beauty that surrounds us everywhere we look.
(Photo/Fred Cantor)
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And finally … in honor of today’s crucial World Cup clash between the US and Iran (story above), here is the greatest pump-up soccer song ever. Crank the volume up to Spinal Tap 11, and enjoy!
(Wave that flag for “06880”! Please click here to support our work.)
Vince is jazz. He’s keeping the tradition alive and well. Charlie Brown is jazz too.