The design for the Compo Beach playground renovation is underway, but not yet finalized.
A charrette will be held Saturday, January 20 (time and location TBD). Residents can share thoughts directly with designer Lisa Deshano.
The plan will be presented to Westport’s Parks & Recreation Commission on February 21, for approval.
Announcement of a logo contest for elementary school students will be made soon.
Compo Beach playground (Photo/Katherine Bruan)
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Ted Gangi graduated from Staples High School in 1983. Starting in junior high, he did statistics for the football team.
Ted is in his 19th year as owner of CollegePressBox.com, the official media website of Division I football and the College Football Playoff.
On Monday, as the 2024 champion Michigan Wolverines left the field, he posed with Westport’s newest football hero: Staples Class of 2020’s Jake Thaw. (Hat tip: Ned Batlin)
Jake Thaw and Ted Gangi.
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Susan Leone calls this “the end of an era.”
I call it “Pata-gone.”
(Photo/Susan Leone)
It’s some of the most expensive retail real estate in Westport.
Whoever moves in next will certainly need to stop at a bank.
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There’s always something going on down at the (Wakeman Town) Farm.
Upcoming events include:
- Vacation Day Cooking Camp (January 15; grades 1-5)
- Adult Dumpling Class with Nit Noi Provisions (January 25)
- Winter Seed Sowing with master gardener Alice Ely (January 29)
- Chinese New Year Dumpling Class for kids (February 9; ages 6-11)
- Tea Workshop for Health, Happiness and Longevity (February 13)
- Valentine’s Day Dinner with Chef Alison Milwe Grace (February 15)
Click here for details and registration.
In addition, Tony “Pizza” Napolitano will be at the WTF brick oven every Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., for pickups. To order a pizza, check out his Facebook page on Mondays.
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The Granola Bar started in Westport.
Now they’ve expanded — to the Upper West Side.
If you’re around 551 Amsterdam Avenue, stop in.
And tell ’em you know The Granola Bar when.’
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Congratulations to Staples High School’s January Students of the Month: seniors Brendan Dellorusso, juniors Logan Noorily and Jada Shelley, sophomores Daniel Arava and Catherine Cirasuolo, and freshmen Katherine Mannino and Thomas Scott.
Students of the Month “help make Staples High School a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the ‘glue”’of the Staples community — the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.”
“Students of the month are nominated by their teachers, who are asked to think of those students who come to school regularly, are friendly to the staff and to fellow students, and make positive contributions in class as well as the Staples community. In short, these students are all-around good citizens of our school.’
Students of the Month (from left): Thomas Scott, Jordan Noorilly, Jada Shelley, Katherine Mennino, Catherine Ciraduolo, Brendan Dellorusso. Absent: Daniel Arava.
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In November, 18 Rotary travelers and their guests spent 2 weeks on a Westport Rotary Club “Back Roads Service Trip” to Uganda.
At this week’s meeting Lyla Steenbergen, chair of the International Giving Committee, reported on the trip — and shared great photos.
The group covered over 1,650 miles in 2 weeks in off-road vehicles and small planes. They went to national parks, tracked chimpanzees and gorillas, and trekked through a swamp at night.
They also visited 5 projects that Westport Rotary has supported with grants, including schools, hospitals and a water project, and engaged in hands-on service projects at those facilities.
Westport Rotary Club, in Uganda.
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From Stanley Steemer to Marian the Librarian: that’s Mia Gentile for you.
The 2007 Staples graduate — whose various impressions of the Stanley ad became an internet sensation — plays a more demure role in the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “The Music Man – Concert Version” (February 10, 7:30 p.m., Norwalk Concert Hall).
Mia also played Carrie Pipperidge in NSO’ production of “Carousel” last year.
Three Mia Gentiles: She played an all-girls group in one of her Stanley Steemer “ads.”
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Vivek Kanthan is just a teenager.
But he’s been kart racing since he was 10.
He took time out from competing in Europe on Sunday to share his journey with fans of all ages at the Westport Library.
Vivek Kanthan (1st row, 2nd from left) with fans. (Photo/Ifesheyi Gayle)
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And finally … Scott McKenzie was born on this date in 1939. He had a long career as a singer/songwriter, but will always be known for this era-defining classic:
He died in 2012, age 73, from complications of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
(In 1967, all the cool people wore flowers in their hair. In 2024, they’re donating to “06880.” Please click here to join the crowd. Thank you!)
So fun to spend a few precious seconds with Jake. Very cool to have Staples representing!