With temperatures expected to push past 90 all week, Governor Lamont has activated Connecticut’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol. It’s in effect through noon on Sunday.
Several cooling centers are open in Westport:
- Senior Center (21 Imperial Avenue): Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- MoCA CT (19 Newtown Turnpike): Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
- Westport Library (20 Jesup Road): Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Westport Weston Family YMCA (14 Allen Raymond Lane): Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Westport Museum for History & Culture (25 Avery Place): Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Speaking of heat: The Westport Library was the hot place to be last night.
Shonda Rhimes introduced — and showed — her film, “Black Barbie.”
The award-winning producer, Shondaland visionary and Westport resident then took questions from the of-course-SRO audience.
“Black Barbie” debuts on Netflix this Wednesday (Juneteenth). It tells the story of the 3 Black women at Mattel who were determined to create a doll that looked like them, and the impact that had on the Barbie brand.
Among her most memorable lines, regarding Black dolls and representation: “You cannot be what you cannot see.”
Shonda Rhimes (right), in conversation with Bernicestine McLeod Bailey at the Westport Library. (Photo/Stephanie Mastocciolo)
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Oyster harvesting is back on Sherwood Mill Pond.
This was the busy action yesterday:
(Photo/William Weiss)
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Chris Wood writes: “Sadly, I heard that the ‘white barn’ at Sherwood Island State Park will be demolished.
“I spent many years working in and around it in the 1960s and ’70s. I even lived in it one summer.
“It is believed to be the former stables for the Sherwood estate — just down from the ‘stone barn,’ which was the carriage barn.”
Sherwood Island “white barn.” (Photo/Chris Wood)
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Charlie Scott is a Staples High School legend.
During his 4 years, the recently graduated senior played soccer, ran cross country and track, and announced dozens of athletic contests on WWPT-FM.
But he is best known for his videos.
Charlie shot them himself (sometimes via drone). Then he edited them into highlight reels, for games and entire seasons. He posted them as game-day previews. He flooded social media with his “Charlie 33 Prod” productions.
Before he heads of to Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications — where he will take his prodigious talent to even higher stratospheres — Charlie posted one last reel.
He prefaced it in his typically humble fashion: “Thank you Staples Athletics for an incredible 2 years of filming games. My edits are only as good as the players that are in them, so I truly couldn’t have done it without my fellow Wreckers.”
Congratulations, and thank you, Charlie. And now, “06880”: Click below, to enjoy the show!
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Speaking of sports: Kyle Martino is a Big Name in the soccer world.
In 1999, the Staples High School star was named Gatorade National Player of the Year.
He went on to play in MLS for Columbus and Chicago, then with the US national team. He was an analyst for the Premier League on NBC Sports, and now covers the national teams for Turner Sports.
He ran for US Soccer president, developed an innovative goal that turns basketball courts into small-sided fields, and has reached out to underserved communities through the Over Under Initiative.
His entire career has been about connecting people through the game he loves.
Martino’s newest venture is No One Home. Begun as a pop-up for the 2022 and ’23 men’s and women’s World Cups, and now remodeled, it’s now hidden in plain sight behind a row of avocado distributors at 141 Chrystie Street in Manhattan’s historic Bowery district
No One Home is a soccer and social club. The ground floor features a large theater-style viewing area, with a massive 172-inch LED screen.
The second floor is a high-end membership lounge for New York’s most passionate soccer fans.
Martino’s goal (ho ho) is to unite the soccer, fashion, art, food and drink communities through a shared love of the sport and culture.
The official opening is Thursday (June 20), with 3 big matches: The European Championship’s Denmark vs. England (noon) and Spain vs. Italy (3 p.m.), followed by Copa América’s Argentina vs. Canada (8 p.m.).
Click here for more information, and reservations. Click here for the Instagram (@noonehome141).
Kyle Martino (far right) at his pop-up, as fans watched the 2022 World Cup (left).
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Here’s another great idea.
Content Studio is a cool new — well, concept and studio, for podcasts and more — in the former quick mart at 20 Saugatuck Avenue (next to the Goddard School, and opposite Dunville’s).
This Wednesday (June 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.), Jay Norris hosts a preview. There will be light bites, networking, and — because of the date — a chance to learn a bit more about Juneteenth.
Click here to RSVP. The deadline is 5 p.m. today (Tuesday).
Jay Norris at Content Studio.
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The public is invited to the promotion ceremony of Nick Marsan.
Westport’s deputy fire chief is officially installed as Fire Department chief on Monday, July 1 (3:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
Soon-to-be Fire Chief Nick Marsan.
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Happy Pollinator Week!
Aspetuck Land Trust celebrates this Friday (June 21, noon; Zoom) with a “Lunch & Learn.” The topic is how to grow pollinator gardens in containers anywhere.
Kim Eierman will discuss the best choices of pollinator-friendly native plants that grow in containers, and the important pollinators — butterflies, beneficial insects, hummingbirds and more — they support.
Members are free; non-members pay $10. For more details and to register, click here.
Busy-as-a-bee pollinator.
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Wakeman Town Farm’s Family Fun Day returns July 13.
The biggest summer event offers kids’ farm crafts and games; visits with the animals; a scavenger hunt, and bubble show; music, and fun summer foods.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Laura Von Stein — an actor, comedian, 1-woman entertainer and 1983 Staples High School graduate — died peacefully on May 11 in Ridgefield, after a brief battle with colon cancer. She was 58.
Laura was part of Staples Players. She graduated Phi Kappa Phi from the University of Bridgeport, where she received a performing arts scholarship. Laura also studied classical acting at Marymount International School under the auspices of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Laura was a member of Actors’ Equity. Her patient waits at stage doors helped her build an impressive collection of signed Playbills.
Laura also accumulated an impressive library, largely from the annual Pequot Library book sale.
She is survived by her mother, Eleanor Von Stein of Westport and Trumbull; brother Robert Von Stein (Linda Guliuzza) of Trumbull and Massachusetts; nephews Rob (Molly) of Massachusetts, Mike (Laura) of Rhode Island and Scott (Paul) of Massachusetts, and many cousins. Laura was predeceased by her father Robert in 2019.
Laura is also survived by her extended family, including Roger Wolfe; Christine O’Leary; Duane, Gayle, Mike and Stephen Lovello; Jill Lovello and Charlie Sullivan, Christine Lovello, and Tom, Susan, Matt, Sam and Rae Iacovacci, along with many friends from the comedy and theater world.
Laura’s wish is for everyone to support theaters, encourage actors of all ages to keep going, read a good book and enjoy a movie with lots of popcorn. Laura’s life will be celebrated at 5 p.m. on September 15 at The Ridgefield Playhouse.
Laura Von Stein
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The water is still a bit chilly.
But — as this “Westport … Naturally” photo shows — that doesn’t stop at least one swimmer.
And one dog paddler.
(Photo/Jim Hood)
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And finally … Mark James — described by the New York Times as “a genre-defying, Grammy Award-winning songwriter,” died on Saturday in Nashville. He was 83. Click here for a full obituary.
Among his works:
(Sure, it will be hot this week. But “06880” is the coolest place around. If you enjoy being part of our online community, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Mark James…WOW‼️such talent
thanks for sharing Dan
The commercial oyster operation operates year round. They do not take a break.
Thanks for all the time, effort, & research you put into this edition of 06880 & ALL editions, Dan! They are always enlightening (Mark James!), entertaining (Yay, Charlie Scott!), humorous, inclusive, & very thoughtful! Westport is fortunate to have you & 06880! 🌟
I am confused about the “black Barbie” thing…isn’t the whole point of Barbie, the” white breadness” of it all; the vapid pleasure of a bland, material, nacisistic world. A black Barbie seems to me as much of a stretch as a white Kunta Kinte.