The Northern Lights — a rarity over Westport — were visible early this morning.
A geomagnetic storm caused the show, for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Amateur astronomer Franco Fellah captured the celestial magic over Elmwood Lane:
Staples High School senior Charlie Scott captured this image, near Clinton Avenue:
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The Westport Library’s Big Spring Book Sale starts next Friday (May 17), and runs through Monday, May 20.
There are thousands for children and adults in more than 50 categories of nonfiction and fiction, children’s and antiquarian books, vinyl, CDs, movie and television DVDs, plus ephemera and artwork.
Hours are: Friday, May 17 (noon-6 p.m.); Saturday, May 18 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.); Sunday, May 19 (11 a.m.-4 p.m. — half-price day); Monday, May 20 (9 am.- 5 p.m. — fill the Library’s logo bag for $10, fill your own same-sized bag for $8, or buy items at half price).
On Friday May 17, the Book Sale will be open from 8:45 a.m. to noon only to people who buy an early access ticket in advance. Click here to purchase.
Click here for details on special sale items.
Westport Library book sale.
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It never gets old.
For the fifth time, Ken Bernhard and Ted Freedman are asking Westporters to check their closets, and donate new or slightly worn shoes to Soles4Souls.
The non-profit keeps shoes out of landfills, provides footwear for people in need, and creates micro-business opportunities in places of poverty.
Since 2006, the organization has salvaged over 83 million pairs of shoes. They’ve been distributed in 129 countries, and all 50 states.
Ken and Ted have placed donation boxes in Town Hall and the Senior Center. They’ll be there for the next 2 weeks.
Ted Freedman, Ken Bernhard, and their Soles4Souls donation box.
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“Walkable cities” are environmentally, socially and economically vibrant.
Can Westport become a “walkable town”?
Sustainable Westport thinks so.
On June 4, the non-profit group brings urban planner Jeff Speck to Bedford Middle School (6 p.m. reception, 6:30 presentation).
Offering firsthand observations of Westport, he’ll share his thoughts on how we can become more walkable, bikeable and sustainable. He’ll also provide suggestions on short- and long-term efforts we can take toward those goals.
Click here to register.
Jeff Speck’s book
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Rhone — the men’s clothing store on Main Street and a longtime champion of mental fitness — is hosting an evening dedicated to the topic.
The May 30 event (Westport Woman’s Club, 5:30 to 8 p.m.) includes inspirational speakers, a silent auction, and a “Mind & Muscle” experience led by Eric Johnson. It combines dynamic workouts with mental health discussions, combining physical and mental well-being.
Rhone co-founder and CEO Nate Checketts will deliver the keynote.
Rhone will donate 10% of proceeds from all purchases between May 31 and June 2 to Westport-based Positive Directions.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Westport-based singer Sophie B Hawkins is on a spring tour.
She won’t have to travel far next Saturday (May 18). She’s booked for a 7:45 p.m. show at Fairfield Theatre Company’s Stage One.
She’ll perform a collection from her new album. Each tells a own powerful story. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Best-selling “Cork Dork” author Bianca Bosker returns to the Westport Library June 11 (7 p.m.), for a chat with artist/author Miggs Burroughs. They’ll talk about her book “Get the Picture” — a fascinating journey into the secretive world of art and artists, from cave paintings to Instagram.
Bosker threw herself into that milieu: gallerists, collectors, curators, and artists themselves. Her research even included a stint as a museum security guard.
Click here for more information.
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Just added to the Westport Country Playhouse calendar: a screening of the film “When My Sleeping Dragon Woke,” followed by a Q-and-A with writer Sharon Washington and director/producer Chuck Schultz (June 14, 7 p.m.).
Washington shares intimate moments that strengthened her as she grew from a little girl in a library, to a young woman embracing new opportunities and breaking down barriers.
Following the screening of the film will be a discussion in the theatre with Sharon Washington herself and director/producer Chuck Schultz.
All tickets are $25. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
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Westporter Stephen Rappoport — CEO of Lamy America — was honored this week at the Night for Sight gala at New York’s Chelsea Piers. The event benefited the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Lamy America donates a portion of sales of its Two Blind Brothers optical products toward finding a cure for blindness. (Hat tip: Avi and Liz Kaner)
Stephen Rappoport
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Julie Conti, a 30-year resident of Westport, died Thursday at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport. Born on July 4, she was 74.
Her daughter Gabi writes: “She used to scream ‘I love this town! out the window while driving over the Cribari Bridge.
“She lived so many extraordinary lives. She was the only one in her family to get out of Brooklyn. She became an American Airlines flight attendant in the 1970s despite being 5-foot, brunette and Italian (the competition was tall, blonde and from Texas).
“She thought she found her happily ever after at 27 when she met a first-class passenger, but when that relationship crumbled she packed up a trailer and drove back to Brooklyn.
“She didn’t give up. She started working at Doyle Dane Bernbach in New York, where she met her soulmate, Paul Conti. Together they started Big Time Productions, producing commercials and music.
“In the mid-’90s she was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer. After an exhaustive pre-internet search, my dad found the one doctor who could save her life. She was cancer-free ever since.
“Julie was involved in New Neighbors, Green’s Farms Church, Westport Country Playhouse, PTAs and Staples Players.
“When I went off to college she started working for Meridith Baer, a home staging company. She convinced them to bring their business to Westport.
“She always loved the theater. As a girl she auditioned for “The Sound of Music” on Broadway. She didn’t get the part, but in her 60s she decided to follow her love of performing by taking acting classes at Staples with Al Pia.
“My mom was a fighter who never gave up, and lived so largely until it was her time. Her favorite activity was walking along Compo Beach, which she did every day until she couldn’t walk anymore.
“The day she died we went to the beach and felt her walking along beside us, as a ray of sunshine that followed us along the Sound.
“All are welcome to celebrate her life, this Friday (May 17, 11 a.m., Greens Farms Church.”
Julie Conti
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Paul Delano found a host of beautiful birds, all around town. Here’s one for our “Westport … Naturally” feature: an orchard oriole.
(Photo/Paul Delano)
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Ans finally … in honor of both the “Walkable Westport” and shoe collection stories (both above):
(If it’s happening in Westport, you’ll read about it here. If you enjoy reading about it, please consider a contribution to your hyper-local blog. Just click here — and thank you!)
