Westport was represented at yesterday’s historic arraignment at the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building.
Directly next to former President Trump at the proceedings was one of his key attorneys, Joseph Tacopina.
Attorney Joseph Tacopina sat at former President Trump’s left, during yesterday’s arraignment. (Photo/Curtis Means for EPA)
The Westporter — founder and lead trial attorney of Tacopina Seigel & Deoreo — is no stranger to big cases.
His firm’s website says:
Mr. Tacopina is one of the country’s most respected high-stakes trial attorneys, having successfully tried more than 100 cases in his distinguished career. He frequently represents clients in high-stakes civil, criminal and commercial litigation, zealously advancing their interests and often recovering substantial money damages.
In 2011, he was the featured speaker at Staples High School’s baccalaureate ceremony, the night before graduation.
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Last year, New York Times photojournalist Lynsey Addario captured an image that shook the world.
The 1991 Staples High School graduate was in Irpin, Ukraine, shortly after the Russians invaded. She was just a few yards away, when a mortar killed a woman, her 2 children and a friend.
The grim photo was published worldwide. It brought home the viciousness of the Russian attacks, and remains a defining image of the war.
Lynsey Addario’s photograph of the carnage in Irpin.
Addario — a previous Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Award winner — will no doubt earn many honors for that shot. She’s already won one: a George Polk Award for photojournalism.
Established in 1949 by Long Island University to commemorate a CBS correspondent murdered the previous year while covering the Greek civil war, they highlight “investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results.”
Polk Award winners will be honored April 14 at the New York Athletic Club, the day after a seminar on LIU’s Brooklyn campus. “When Covering War Gets Personal” will feature several winners, delving more deeply into their stories.
But Lynsey is not the only Addario woman in the news.
Her sister Lauren — a 1984 Staples grad — plays drums in a band called mineral Hill. They’ve jusd been nominated for an award for original music, by the New Mexico Music Awards.
ZZ Top will perform at the ceremony, next month in Albuquerque.
By day, Lauren teaches media arts and technology, and directs the Cultural Technology Internship Program at New Mexico Highlands University.
Congratulations, Lynsey and Lauren!
Lauren Addario
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April is Autism Acceptance Month. The Westport Police Department is using the event to promote education, and a greater understanding of autism.
They note: “Rates of autism have grown steadily in Westport and nationally, as early diagnosis has become more accessible. Autism touches most of our lives, and is a part of our community. Westport Police are committed to supporting those with autism and their family members, year-round.”
Many officers have bought Autism Acceptance Badges. They’ll wear them on their uniforms throughout April.
Autism Acceptance Month is a good time for a reminder about Westport’s Disability Registry, a combined effort of the Westport Disability Commission, Human Services and Police Department.
The confidential registry provides information to assist police and other emergency workers to address the needs of residents of all abilities. Click here for more information, and to sign up.
In 2021, Westport Police officers showed off their autism badges.
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Last week’s “Evening of Africa” at Wakeman Town Farm was a smash.
Attendees raised $37,000, close to the $50,000 Unite needs for its food program in Tanzania this harvest season.
The funds will help purchase maize from over 300 small-scale farmers, providing them with fair prices as well as 2 hermetic bags each, so they can safely store some of their harvest pest-free to use throughout the year.
Money will also increase the fleet, to transport raw maize from remote villages to to United Food Program’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam. There it will be cleaned, processed and packaged as final maize flour products, for retailers, wholesalers and consumers.
Finally, Unite can purchase, retrofit and install and 40-foot container, to serve as extra storage for its grain inventory.
Click here, here and here for videos from the event. Click here to contribute. Click here to commission an oil painting by Unite’s partner artist Maliondo Amini.
Attendees at the Unite for Africa event.
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By day, the 2nd floor at 11 Riverside Avenue is a normal art gallery (though one with exceptional work, and a great old-building vibe).
Every so often at night, it turns into a salon.
Owner Michael Chait invites very cool people, to lead informal conversations with in a warm, learn-from-each-other atmosphere.
His next one is even more intriguing than usual.
Tim Manners — a Westporter, and author of “Schoolboy: The Untold Journey of a Yankee Hero” will discuss his subject, legendary 1927 “Murderers’ Row” pitcher Waite Hoyt.
It’s an in-depth book, written with the help of Hoyt’s son.
An organist will play baseball-themed music. “Gates open” at 7 p.m. on April 27.
Tickets are $20. Seats are limited. Click here, or Venmo @Michael-Chait. Questions? Call 203-243-1995.
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Over the past year, Jazz at the Post has become a Westport institution.
Now a new musical event debuts at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399: “First Folk Sunday.”
Starting May 7, and continuing the first Sunday of every month (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.), longtime and very talented Westport singer Suzanne Sheridan will offer music of the 1960s, ’70s, and “good songs from all time.”
Guest artists will join her. Next month, it’s keyboardist Bob Cooper.
There’s a $10 cover. Brunch and a cash bar are available too. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Suzanne Sheridan
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Five whiskeys from around the world will be featured at the Weston History & Culture Center’s April 29 fundraiser (7 p.m.).
Tasting will be led The Academy Drinks CEO Jessica Spector. Also on the menu: appetizers from Old Mill Grocery, specialty cocktails, beer, wine and a silent auction.
Tickets are $100 each. and can be purchased at: Click here to purchase, and for more information.
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Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted the first migrating white crane of the season the other day, by the Westport Library Riverwalk.
Her photo is perfect for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … in honor of the first Roundup item above …
(From the courts of New York to the war in Ukraine, “06880” connects the Westport dots. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)