Congratulations to Justin Paul!
The 2002 Staples High School graduate — and his writing partner Benj Pasek — has just been nominated for an Emmy.
The category is “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.” The song is “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” The show is Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.”
An Emmy would be very cool.
It would also be very historic. Pasek and Paul have already won Grammy (“Dear Evan Hansen” cast album), Oscar (“City of Stars,” from “La La Land”) and 2 Tony awards (“Dear Evan Hansen” Best Musical; “A Strange Loop”). This would complete the coveted — and very rare — EGOT quadruple crown. (Hat tip: Kerry Long)
Justin Paul (left), Benj Pasek and their Grammys.
================================================
Westporters are cleaning up, after yesterday’s swift yet strong storm.
This was the scene next to 27 Imperial Avenue. Phil Levieff, who sent the photo, says, “The early assessment is it is lucky to have minimal damage. It’s built like a tank.”
(Photo/Phil Levieff)
==================================================
The Westport Country Playhouse is for everyone.
Including kindergarten through 2nd graders.
They’re the target audience for “Pinkalicious: The Musical.” Based on the book by Westporter Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, it’s the newest show at the 93-year-old theater.
There are 2 shows on Saturday, August 17: 1 and 4 p.m. All tickets are $30.
Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite “Pinkalicious” character. Click here for tickets, and more information.
==================================================
For nearly a decade, Westporters have been generous supporters of Catch a Lift.
The non-profit was founded in memory of Army Corporal Chris Coffland, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. The organization has helped over 13,000 combat-injured veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq regain mental and physical health through gym memberships, home gym equipment, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and a peer support network.
Giving money, time and personal support, Westport has welcomed Catch a Lift to town. They’ve visited our gyms, our police and fire station, the VFW, and our homes.
The 10th annual Connecticut fundraiser is September 9 (Patterson Club). There’s a full day of golf, with an after-golf event from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sponsorships and tickets are available; so are opportunities to help with silent and live auction donations. Click here for details. Questions? Email jdrew@catchaliftfund.com.
Catch a Lift veterans and volunteers, at Birchwood Country Club.
==================================================
The Margolis name is well known in Westport.
Manny Margolis was a nationally known civil liberties lawyer. He died in 2011, at 85.
His wife Estelle was a noted artist and longtime political activist. When she died in 2019, at 86, “06880”‘s tribute was told through the words of her grandson, Jonah Newman. He inherited his grandparents’ eloquent way with words. (Click here to read.)
The son of Staples High School Class of 1979 graduate Abby Margolis still has a way with words.
And with illustrations.
Simon & Schuster just published Newman’s “Out of Left Field.”
The graphic novel — about a nerdy gay teenager who jumps into “the bro-y world of high school baseball” is semi-autobiographical. Like his protagonist, Newman struggled to fit in in high school, playing sports while coming to terms with his sexuality.
When he’s not creating, writing or reading comics, he’s a cartoonist and editor. And when he’s not doing that, he listens to history podcasts, plays in an LGBTQ+ softball league, and follows his fantasy baseball team. He lives in Brooklyn with his husband and 2 cats.
Click here for more information on “Out of Left Field,” including how to buy it. (Hat tip: Tommy Greenwald)
=============================================
Speaking of sports: It’s mid-July, but many Staples teams are already preparing for the fall.
Among them: the boys soccer squad.
They met for a 6:30 a.m. run yesterday at Compo Beach. Then — with the whole day still ahead — they cooled off with a quick swim in the Sound.
(Photo/Luca Caniato)
=================================================
A reminder: The 11th annual “06880” blog party is Thursday, July 25. From 6 p.m. until dark, everyone in our community — online and real — is invited to Compo’s South Beach.
It’s a very casual, very fun, bring-your-own-food-and-drink event. Meet old friends; make new ones; watch the sun set, and enjoy a summer evening with people drawn together by this hyper-local blog. See you there!
Three days later — on Sunday, July 28 — we’re back at Compo, for the 1st-ever Soundview Summer Stroll.
Co-sponsored by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association, this event builds on the fun and community spirit we all feel at the fireworks, when the beach exit road is closed.
Thanks to the cooperation of Parks & Rec and the Westport Police, the street will be shut again. Enjoy live music; kids’ activities like face painting and balloon-making; a photo booth; food trucks — and plenty of room for walking, biking, rollerblading, and the best street scene east of Venice, California.
It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mark your calendars for the “06880” blog party, and the Soundview Summer Stroll. See you at both!
==============================================
Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between July 10 and 17.
A 27-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested for larceny, forgery and identity theft, following an complaint that a fraudulent check had been written for $5,972.
Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 11 citations
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 11
- Operating unregistered motor vehicle: 7
- Distracted driving: 4
- Failure to obey stop sign: 4
- Illegal shellfishing – closed area: 3
- Illegal taking shellfish at night: 3
- Violation of local shellfish commission regulations: 3
- Simple trespass: 3
- Speeding: 2
- Failure to insure motor vehicle: 2
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
- Operating motor vehicle without a license: 2
- Improper use of markers: 2
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Driving while texting: 1
- Disorderly conduct: 1
- Improper turn: 1
- Driving with a foreign license: 1
- Violation of license class: 1
- Failure to display plates: 1
3 people were issued citations for illegal shellfishing. (Photo/Barry Lytton)
=================================================
A heads-up: The Republican primary is August 13.
Early voting takes place August 5-11 (Town Hall).
On primary day, Republican electors should visit their regular polling locations (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
=================================================
You had to look carefully to see this action on a milkweed plant — or have a great camera, as Molly Alger did for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Molly Alger)
==================================================
And finally … in honor of next month’s “Pinkalicious,” at the Westport Country Playhouse (story above):
(Just give me a reason not to support “06880.” If you can’t, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
this musical writing duo is writing the music of my time! thrilling that they could win the Emmy now too! thank you for the music fellas! keep it coming! it brings me so much joy!
“Don’t Let Nobody Turn you Around” by The Fairfield Four was a popular song in 1947 when I was born.