The Staples High School boys basketball team reached the end of the line yesterday.
#1 ranked St. Bernard-Uncasville topped the #7 Wreckers, 63-50 in the state Division II finals, at Mohegan Sun.
But Staples’ heads are high. First-year coach Dave Goldshore’s squad enjoyed a storybook season. They reached the FCIAC championship game, then electrified everyone with a stunning 4th-quarter comeback from 18 points down in the state semifinal to advance to the title game for the first time in 86 years.
And they did it all with talent, teamwork, tenacity, passion, poise — and plenty of class.
Thanks, Wreckers, for entertaining and inspiring an entire town, all season long!
The 2023 Staples High School boys basketball team.
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Blau House & Gardens is one of Westport’s hidden gems.
High on a Bayberry Ridge hill, the mid-century home (designed by noted Broadway set designer Ralph Alswang) and bountiful gardens (inspired by the Villa Ephrussi de Rotshchild) were developed over more than half a century by advertising entrepreneur Barry Blau.
Blau House & Gardens.
It’s a special property. A recent visitor called it “spectacular! Soothing, cool and wonderful to experience the calm and peacefulness of this environment.” Another described it as “nirvana in Westport.”
BHG is a public charity. Its mission is to acquire and transform the intimate, beautiful midcentury building and space into a public asset for arts, horticulture and garden enjoyment.
Blau house, designed by Ralph Alswang.
Pilot programming has included a book reading by a New York Times best- selling author, a college horticulture field trip, a garden lecture for the Garden Conservancy, and several garden tours.
But Blau’s widow Eileen died last week. The future of the property is uncertain. The estate will have to sell the property to meet mortgage and property expenses.
BHG has the opportunity to acquire it — essential to supporting their mission. They need to raise funds now.
$3 million would include:
- $1.5 million for the house and gardens
- $1 million for adjacent property on Fairview Drive, for parking and support facilities
- $500,000 to start an endowment for operations and maintenance, for 5 years.
The minimum needed is $1.5 million, for the Bayberry Ridge property and gardens.
To help, or for more information, email r@blauhouseandgardens.org, or call 203-952-3335. For a PowerPoint presentation on the project, click here. For the Blau House & Gardens website, click here.
Another view of the gardens.
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With March Madness in full swing, this event tonight seems quite timely:
Positive Directions sends news of a Region I Gambling Awareness Team webinar tonight called “Betting on Your Future: What Parents, Teens and Young Adults Need to Know About Sports Betting.”
The Zoom session covers, among other topics, the import of sports betting on youth and the developing brain, and its correlation to mental health.
The webinar is tonight (Monday, March 20, 7 p.m.). To register, click here.
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Long-time Westporter, watercolorist and Save Westport Now board member Matthew Levine has one more passion: healthy vision.
Having worked in eye research grant-making for the past 20 years, he knows that 80% of vision loss is preventable — if people practice healthy habits.
“I wish I’d known years ago what I know about eye health,” he says. “I might have been able to help my father (renowned caricaturist David Levine) from losing his career to macular degeneration.”
But Matthew Levine is helping many others. He appears in a new documentary, “Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Loving with Macular Degeneration,” created by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
It premieres tonight (Monday, March 20), at 8 p.m. on YouTube. Click here to see.
If you miss it, no problem. The film will be available afterward, at the same link.
Click below for the teaser:
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For over 45 years, Our Vision has provided recreational and social activities for people with disabilities.
Among the most popular activities: Special Olympics competitions in bowling, track and swimming.
On April 15, nearly 2 dozen Our Vision members and friends will take part in a Penguin Plunge at Fairfield’s Jennings Beach in Fairfield to raise money for Special Olympics.
As of this morning, Westporter Michael Johnson led, with the most number of donors. Click here to contribute to his campaign, or the team in general.
To learn more about Our Vision, email ourvisioninfo@yahoo.com.
Our Vision Penguin Plunge. (Photo/Bob Schroeder)
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“06880” has been proud to feature photos by Tom Kretsch. The Westporter — a retired educator — has a keen eye for compelling landscapes.
The Wilton Library appreciates his talent too. A pair of Kretsch’s shots were just awarded prizes at their “Focus 2 Photo Exhibit.”
Three judges scored images based on content, execution, subject matter, lighting and visualization.
“Winter Peace for Two, Southport” earned a 2nd place ribbon.
“Winter Peace for Two, Southport” (Tom Kretsch)
“The Poetry of Barns, Serene” — taken in Litchfield — placed 3rd.
“The Poetry of Barns, Serene” (Tom Kretsch)
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Rock sculptor/photographer Jerry Kuyper submitted today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, from his property on Rayfield Road.
He asks: “Nurture or nature? This stood for years. But I needed to rebuild it after recent strong winds.”
(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
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And finally … Bobby Caldwell died last week, of long-term complications of a toxic reaction to antibiotics. He was 71.
The New York Times called him “a singer-songwriter whose sultry R&B hit “What You Won’t Do for Love” propelled his debut album to double-platinum status in 1978 and was later covered by chart-toppers like Boyz II Men and Michael Bolton….
“Over his 4-decade career Mr. Caldwell swerved freely among genres, exploring R&B, reggae, soft rock and smooth jazz, as well as standards from the Great American Songbook.” Click here for a full obituary.
(From basketball to beauty, “06880” covers Westport. As a non-profit, we rely on readers’ contributions. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
It’s somewhat surprising that the Blau’s didn’t allocate enough in their estate planning to sustain Blau House & Gardens if they wanted it to be a public asset.
Dan, thanks so much for including a shout-out for the Our Vision team plunging for Special Olympics! We would be thrilled to get more support for ALL the brave souls participating in the Penguin Plunge! We would also be thrilled to welcome potential members to a track or bowling practice; come see what we do!
I thought the same thing as Bill about the Blau House.
I love Jerry’s rock sculpture!!
Maybe you would like a rock sculpture for a Clasp home 😉
Jerry
Just when you think you’ve seen it all.
See more?
Let’s take the “I’m an Old Westporter” (and you’re not) question of the day: What does “Seymour” signify to a Westporter?
That’s an easy layup.
Little Shop of Horrors is a reach, Eric.
You missed the layup. Try again!!!
Exclusive Seymour Point with private beach?
I would rather be eaten by Audrey II.