If it’s mid-winter, it must be time for the “State of the Town” forum.
The annual event — featuring 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein — is Sunday, February 4 (2 to 3:30 p.m., Westport Library; click here for livestream).
As always, it’s a co-production of Westport Sunrise Rotary, and the Rotary Club of Westport.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein.
==================================================
Leaders of the 1989 and 2006 Compo Beach playground committees joined leaders of the 2024 committee yesterday at Bedford Middle School, to show their support for the proposed design improvements to Westport’s most popular playground.
Among the attendees: former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Parks & Recreation Commission chair David Floyd, Parks & Recreation Department director Jen Fava, Representative Town Meeting member Julie Whamond, architect Lisa Deshano of Play by Design, and members of the public, from young parents to grandparents.
Westport Rotary Club’s centennial gift to the own is serving as lead sponsor for renovations of the playground. Fifty members of the public participated yesterday, offering suggestions to make the playground more accessible, more open, more code compliant and more suitable for the next generation of Westport youngsters.
This renovation marks the third time Westport Rotary has partnered with the Westport Young Woman’s League to build and enhance the playground.
Participants in yesterday’s Compo Beach playground renovation meeting (from left): Alison Reilly, Suzanne Dodge, Rick Benson, Totney Benson, Bridget Flynn, RB Benson, Samantha Owades, Josh Sterling (and son), Alex Cohen. RB and Samantha were 4 and 3 years old, respectively, when their parents worked together on the 1989 playground.
==================================================
Tickets are on sale for the 4th annual Fashionably Westport runway show. Presented by the Westport Downtown Association, it features styles from dozens of Westport merchants and salons. Models — local friends and celebrities — walk a raised runway in the Trefz Forum. The night includes music, cocktails and light bites.
A portion of the proceeds benefit Homes with Hope, the local non-profit dedicated to ending homelessness in Fairfield County. Enjoy a social night of fashion, music, cocktails and light bites.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
==================================================
Why did Joe Tacopina leave Donald Trump’s legal team?
In what he said was his only interview on the subject, the Westport attorney told MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday: “It was just my time. I had to follow my compass. My compass told me it was my time there was done. There are a lot of personal reasons that went into that. Things that I can’t and won’t discuss.”
Click below for a longer clip.
Tacopina: I left the team because it was just my time. I had to follow my compass. My compass told me it was my time there was done. There are a lot of personal reasons that went into that. Things that I can't and won't discuss. pic.twitter.com/B1u2z9vHSA
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 20, 2024
==================================================
Medieval music through a sacred lens comes to Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on February 3 (5 p.m.).
Eya — lauded as “remarkable” and “gorgeous” by The Washington Post —has been featured on Voice of America and NPR.
Their concert by candlelight will reflect the themes of flame and light that characterize St. Brigid’s feast day on February 1 and Candlemas on February 2.
Eya will be accompanied on clársach (wire-stringed harp), with additional support from Brigid’s Circle, a volunteer women’s treble singer ensemble formed for this performance.
A workshop for the Brigid’s Circle singers will be held for experienced choral singers the evening before, and be part of the performance if desired. For more information, email vshields@chtwestport.org.
For tickets and more information, click here.
==================================================
Three Westport Suzuki Music School students have earned honors.
Rohan Gowthaman finished first at the 11th Festival Audition, sponsored by Connecticut State Music Teachers Association’s Fairfield Chapter.
Zachary Feuer auditioned for and won a place at the Connecticut Music Educators Association’s Regional Festival on violin.
Kirthana Gowthaman took second at inthe Crescendo Music Competition, earning a chance to play at Carnegie Hall.
Rohan and Kirthana Gowthaman.
=================================================
The Weston History & Culture Center celebrates Black History Month and Women’s History Month with historian/storyteller Tammy Denease.
She’ll portray Bessie Coleman, America’s first African-American female aviator, during an educational and entertaining performance March 2 (3 p.m.).
Click here for tickets ($5 adults, $3 children).
===============================================
It took a while, but Jay Babina finally got the “Westport … Naturally” photo he wanted yesterday, near the Library:
(Photo/Jay Babina)
==================================================
And finally … speaking of Fashionably Westport (above): Hey, it’s not just the women who are models!
(If you’re a dedicated follower of “06880,” please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
This is the post whereby my previous comment about Attorney Tacopina is more appropriate. I saw that interview live and my opinion of Mr. Tacopina totally changed! My opinion of him was so misguided! I hope Dan invites him to next summer’s Compo Beach get-together. My opinion of him has soared! I hope he reads this comment!
Based on his client’s istory, it’s a guess that he Joe wasn’t paid.
I would agree. Lawyers have special compasses that they receive when they pass the bar and are turned loose on the unsuspecting public. The compasses point to where the money is. They are taught to follow their special compass unfailingly. Attorney Tacopina has given us a rare glimpse behind the curtain. Partnering with The Reverend Sharpton just adds to the poignancy of the message.
Everyone who decides to work for Trump knows he is dishonest and frequently does not pay for services or work. I hope any attorney who wants to defend this man gets burned. MAGA. make attorneys get attorneys
Make attorneys clean their grout themselves.
Indeed, Richard.. And this lawyer does not even have the balls or loyalty to America to shout out a public warning that the man for whom his conscience will no longer let him work, is about to destroy Democracy and the Constitution that guides our nation.
Well, according to FEC records, his firm was paid nearly $1.8million for the first six months of 2023 by trump’s super PAC. In total, the PAC paid out about $22million to legal and consulting firms for services rendered to represent trump in his indictments — in SIX months. It’s too soon to know what they’ve paid for the last six months of 2023. Now, does everyone understand why trump is running? He’s getting the bills for his 91 indictments paid, and paid by donations from unsuspecting sycophants who donate to this PAC, then claim ‘the economy is bad’ (plus the large amounts of dark money and we can only guess where that came from). We won’t even mention that all of trump’s flights, security, car/driver, his $1mil/year ‘office’ at Mar-A-Lago, healthcare, pension, etc. are paid by taxpayers. Oh, and security/car/driver/healthcare for his wife and minor child, too.
https://x.com/DWUhlfelderLaw/status/1748826692024467469?s=20
when he was president he made the secret service stay at his hotels at a rate higher then the general public paid. What do people see in this man ?
Westport should have an outdoor open space exercise park gym style for adults and children. Many progressive smart towns and newer city construction have them. I would suggest starting an ask to our community leaders
At the “State of the Town” forum, will audience members be allowed to question Ms. Tooker and Ms. Goldstein directly? Or will their questions go on little white index cards that make their way to a moderator or committee and then straight into the trash, unasked?
My gut tells me Tacopina was paid, although one never knows. When I lived on the same street in Florida, at one point, he was juggling 60+ lawsuits for not paying the agreed amount for work he contracted to have done. (Martha Stewart had a reputation too when she lived in South Turkey Hill). I used to go to the Starbucks on Lake Avenue in Lake Worth, and the blue collar plumbers, carpenters etc.. would tell stories about the rich and famous they worked for in Palm Beach. Don King lived down the street from us and he was a regular guy. Ahhh.. the good old days.
Just to clarify, I didn’t live on the same street as Tacopina, I lived on the same street as Trump. Unfortunately, I had to use my third and last comment to clarify my previous comment.
that’s ok Jack. you have a lot to offer. I enjoy learning from you. I would suggest to stop the personal attacks and focus on the blog.
What this town needs is a blog on bathrooms or as my Old Westport parents used to say when we owned everything, outhouses, privy’s, slit trenches, poop chutes. The average Westporter has to go to Compo Beach (South Beach specifically) if they want a clean and stylish, high end bathroom experience. The blog could cover so much: Bathroom design. Bathroom decor. Bathroom remodeling. Bathroom humor. And most importantly, how to clean bathroom tile grout and if you don’t want to do it yourself, how to find a good tile grout cleaner. Three comments max.
And one of the most racist and dishonest host Rev Al. The promoter and chief of racism and another POS that tried to not pay taxes.
Funny how Big Al was friends with Trump and only had kind things to say what he did for the minorities. But as soon as he ran for president the gloves came off.
Worst administration Kamala and Joey!!
tell that to the stock market. look up Biden job creation and you know who
Lots to look forward to!!!
A FASHION SHOW for a great cause and NEVER disappoints!
The future of the playground with many improvements is on its way!
Jay Babina, awesome shot of the dove 🕊️.
And to Mr. Tacopina, who has always been extremely nice and pleasant and persistent in going out of his way to say hi and remember me from parking cars at Longshore when I was 15, here’s to better and brighter days.