Roundup: Crypto Scheme, State Senate Race, Ruden Report …

2011 Staples High School graduate Dylan Meissner pleaded guilty Thursday in US District Court to wire fraud. He was charged with stealing nearly $4.5 million from the crypto company, where he was vice president of finance.

He played baseball at Staples. According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated with a BS in accounting from Pennsylvania State University in 2015, where he was active in the Penn State Investment Association.

In 2016, Meissner received an accounting MS from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business.

Though his company was not identified, his LinkedIn profile says he was VP of finance at Delphi Digital, during the time frame covered by the court. An FBI investigation found that he diverted $4,461,828 in the firm’s funds to cover “significant personal trading losses.”

Wire fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. He will be sentenced on October 11. In the meantime, he has been order to pay restitution of $4,633,424.99.

Cryptocurrency

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Kami Evans has announced her candidacy for Connecticut’s Senate District 26.

Democratic incumbent Ceci Maher is serving her first term in Hartford. Evans — a former Westport resident — now once again lives here. The district includes Westport, Weston, Wilton, Redding, and parts of Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien and Stamford.

In her announcement, Evans — who has worked for non-profits and in public relations, and is running as a Republican — said: “I’m here to champion family values and focus on community strength. Our journey together will be about uniting, uplifting, and creating endless opportunities for our district that everyone will benefit from.

“Your voice matters, and I’m here to listen. Let’s engage in meaningful conversations and work hand in hand to rejuvenate our district. Together, we can achieve greatness and build a brighter, stronger future for all.”

Kami Evans

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Last night’s full moon drew a full complement of photographers.

Thanks to all who submitted images. Here’s one of the best, from Old Mill Beach:

(Photo/Patricia Auber)

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Yesterday’s Roundup included a photo of the “Welcome to Westport” sign at the Sherwood Island Connector and Post Road East.

Actually — depending on which direction you’re traveling — it now says “Welcome to Estport” or “Welcome to Westpor.” A recent accident sliced off a bit of the wood.

How recent? “06880” Mary Lou Roels reports: “The sign was hit on June 29, and the car caught on fire. I approached after midnight to see this (below). Fire crews managed the scene.”

(Photo/Mary Lou Roels)

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For 10 years, The Ruden Report has been the go-to site for coverage of FCIAC high school athletics. All 16 schools in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference get plenty of ink — well, pixels — in a wide variety of boys and girls sports.

Now, the multi-platform source — the brainchild of 1978 Staples High School graduate Dave Ruden — has been acquired

Westport-based Connoisseur Media is the new owner. Their resources — including 6 radio stations, and various digital brands — will enable Ruden to expand reporting throughout the area.

Connoisseur operates and/or owns WEBE 108, STAR 99.9, WYBC, WICC, 99.1 WPLR, and 95.9 The Fox in Connecticut.

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It will be an exciting October for Fred Cantor.

The 1971 Staples High School graduate produced 2 films. In the span of a week, both will have their television premieres on CPTV.

“The High School That Rocked!” — a 2017 documentary that chronicles concerts at Staples by the Doors, Cream, Rascals, Animals, Remains, Sly and the Family Stone, and others (including a very young, pre-Aerosmith Steve Tyler) — is set for October 14 (9 p.m.).

Cantor made the film with Casey Denton, a 2014 Staples grad who obviously was born way after that golden era. The film earned kudos on the festival circuit.

A week later (October 21, 9 p.m.), Cantor’s “It’s a Hollywood Life!” debuts.

That film — released this year — focuses on longtime Westport resident Susan Granger’s 80-plus years connected to the movie business. (Spoiler alert: She started in childhood,  appearing with some of the biggest stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood.)

BONUS REEL: People in and near New York City can see “It’s A Hollywood Life!” in a theater. Its NYC premiere is next Saturday (July 27, at the Chain NYC Film Festival). A Q-and-A after the screening features co-director Maya Weldon-Lagrimas, who recently received the Howard R. Lamar Prize in Film from Yale — the school’s top film prize. Click here for ticket information.

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Jazz at the Post has announced 3 upcoming dates: August 1 (Melissa Newman), August 15 (Uri Caine) and August 29 (Janice Friedman).

Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m., at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 on Riverside Avenue. Dinner service starts at 7 p.m. Click here for tickets, and more information.

In other jazz news, on Wednesdays (starting September 11), Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall will coach 2 adult ensembles: beginners and intermediates/ advanced. Both provide “a gentle and stimulating opportunity to learn and refine the repertoire and language of jazz.”

All levels of musicianship and experience are welcome. The first 2 sessions are free. To learn more, email jazzrabbi@gmail.com. Include your instrument and phone number.

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Former Westporter Kathryn McCabe died June 30. She was 97, and lived in Fairfield.

The Michigan native, and 1948 graduate of the University of Michigan, spent 43 years in Westport.

She was a social worker in Detroit and Norwalk, where she worked for STAR. Kathryn also volunteered at Earthplace.

She enjoyed reading, opera, the outdoors, water and snow skiing, tennis, boating, playing piano and ukelele, and singing.

Kathryn loved animals, especially her cats and dogs. She celebrated her 90th birthday with horseback riding.

Survivors include her twin daughters, Janet Gibbons (Ken) of Hyde Park, Vermont, and Marjorie Wroblewski (Broni) of Fairfield; son Richard (Donna) of Acton, Massachusetts; grandchildren Greg Gibbons (Jennifer), Geoff Gibbons (Melissa), Lauren Wroblewski (fiancé Ferg Young) and Ryan McCabe, and great- grandchildren Emma, Colin, James, Beckett and Jackson. Kathryn was predeceased by her brothers Richard, Norman and Jack Ellison. She was predeceased by her husband, Barry McCabe.

A celebration of her life was held at the Gaelic-American Club in Fairfield.

Kathryn McCabe

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Among the underappreciated assets of Westport: the flower pots on Soundview Drive.

Paid for and maintained by the Compo Beach Improvement Association, they serve 2 purposes.

They slow traffic (theoretically, at least).

And — changing with the seasons — they are beautiful.

Check out one of them, as today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.

(Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)

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And finally … Bernice Johnson Reagon, “whose stirring gospel voice helped provide the soundtrack of the civil rights movement, then went on to become a cultural historian, a curator at the Smithsonian Institution and the founder of the women’s a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock,” died Tuesday in Washington. She was 81.

(Another day, another weekend … and “06880” keeps keeping you informed on all things Westport. It’s what we do — but we can’t do it without your support. Please click here to help. Thank you!)