Greens Farms Academy’s new cellphone ban — the subject of this morning’s “06880” post — parallels a discussion underway among Westport’s public school administrators and parents.
Last month, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice was a guest on my “06880” podcast. For half an hour, he spoke strongly and directly about his reasons for proposing a ban in Westport schools — and acknowledging the challenges.
Click below for the fascinating discussion.
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Homelessness is no laughing matter.
But “Stand Up for Homes with Hope” sure is.
The great non-profit — which does so much to fight homelessness and hunger in Westport — hosts an annual fundraiser, with some of America’s best comics. It’s an evening of laughs, for a fantastic cause.
This year’s featured comedian is Dustin Nickerson. His “Overwhelmed” debut in 2020 is one of the highest rated special on Amazon Prime Video.
He’s been featured on Comedy Central, Netflix, the Late Show with James Carden, Fox and Hulu, and is heard regularly on Sirius Radio XM.
Mark the date: Saturday, September 28 (Quick Center, Fairfield University). Tickets are $175 (including cocktails and a light supper, 6:30 p.m.) and $75 (performance only, 8:30 p.m.). Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Dustin Nickerson
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After-school childcare is one of the toughest juggling acts for working parents.
Once again this year, the Westport Public Schools and Westport Weston Family YMCA are coordinating care for children in grades K-5.
The program offers a variety of educational and physical activities, including STEM, art, outdoor play, social-emotional learning, and more.
It runs until 6 p.m., and includes transportation to the Y. Click here for details.
Westport YMCA after-school childcare.
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For many shoppers, CraftWestport marks the start of the holiday season.
This year’s event is November 2-3, in the Staples High School fieldhouse. Over 175 vendors will participate, showcasing ceramics, textiles, woodworking, jewelry, glass art, skincare products, food and more. The event is a benefit for the Westport Young Woman’s League.
All-weekend admission is $11; seniors 62+ are $10; children 12-18 are $5; those under 12 are free. Click here for more details.
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“Script in Hand” is one of the Westport Country Playhouse most popular features.
The 2024 season returns with a special twist. “Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing” was directed and co-written by Trey Ellis — the noted Westport novelist/ screenwriter/playwriter/essayist/director.
In 1947, Satchel Paige was a charismatic pitcher, and Negro Leagues legend.
But as Jackie Robinson embarked upon a historic first season in the majors, Paige’s fame was eclipsed, and his desire for greater respect increasingly frustrated.
Set in Kansas City during a barnstorming tour, this jazz-infused tale portrays an America on the brink of change, capturing the struggle for equality on and off the field. “Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing” is a powerful story of resilience and transformation, at a defining moment in the nation’s history.
All tickets are $30. Click here to purchase, and for more details.
Trey Ellis
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The Peter Thorp House — one of Weston’s oldest and most intriguing homes — is open to the public next month.
The Weston History & Culture Center offers guided tours — plus a rose garden cocktail party, music performance and raffle — on September 29 (4 to 7 p.m.).
Proceeds support the Weston History & Culture Center’s upcoming permanent exhibit in the Coley Barn, “Weston at Work.” It explores the town’s industrial past through manufacturing, agriculture and textile production, highlighting the overlooked contributions of enslaved, free Black, immigrant, women and child laborers from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Early bird tickets are $125, and include 5 complimentary raffle tickets.
Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Peter Thorp House rose garden, circa 1945, when it was owned by opera star James Melton. (Photo/Margo Melton Nutt)
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between August 7 and 14.
A 67-year-old Westport man was charged with criminal violation of a civil protection order, and criminal mischief, following a complaint that, despite an order barring him from assaulting, threatening, abusing, harassing, following, interfering with or stalking the protected person, he placed a bible on a table outside of the residence, opened to a specific verse and with a knife stabbed through the pages.
Six days later, Westport police officers and firefighters responded to his residence after a report of a fire. He was in the back yard, near recently burned grass. It was determined he had been performing a “ritual” when he set the grass on diew.
He posted a $50,000 bond, and will appear August 22 in Stamford Superior Court.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Driving while texting: 12 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 11
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 7
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 5
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 5
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 4
- Failure to obey stop sign: 3
- Failure to renew registration: 3
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance 2
- Simple trespass: 1
- Reckless driving: 1
- Passing in no-passing zone: 1
- Following too closely: 1
- Improper stop: 1
- Falsified marker, license or registration: 1
- improper use of marker: 1
- Failure to carry insurance card: 1
- Failure to return license: 1
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without tint inspection: 1
- Illegal operation by a motor carrier: 1.
Tinted windows must be inspected!
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Every day, kids hang out at Wakeman Field.
Is this some kind of strange ball they kicked through the goalpost?
(Photo/Cathy Utz)
Nope.
Just the sun doing what it does every day: setting.
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Longtime Westport Rotary Club member Lyla Steenbergen addressed the organization at its Tuesday lunch meeting.
As chair of the International Giving Committee, she presented an overview of the local group’s current projects.
For several years, she has helped equip and enlarge a hospital in Uganda. This year, the Rotarians will add a vision and dental clinic.
Other projects include NicaPhoto, which creates after-school programs in Nicaragua; Gift of Life, which funds pediatric heart surgeries, and M-Lisada, which brings education programs and scholarships to 2,100 youngsters Uganda.
Westport Rotary is also involved in water, irrigation and sanitation projects in Nepal and Kenya.
Lyla Steenbergen (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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The weather the past few days has been spectacular.
It’s that time of year when summer is ending, but the craziness of a new school year has not yet begun.
Everyone is chill.
Including this guy, who is relaxing just like the rest of us.
Ben Meyer spotted him at Owenoke near Gray’s Creek, posing for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo.
(Photo/Ben Meyer)
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And finally … in honor of Trey Ellis’ Script in Hand show at the Westport Country Playhouse, “Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing”:
(As summer fades, “06880” helps you get ready for the “new year.” Thanks for sending us the news we need — and for supporting us with a few bucks, too. Please click here. Thank you!)
Move over Tyler and Lynsey! That is truly a superb picture by Cathy Utz.
That’s the way to keep the marriage going strong, Tommy.
Agree Tommy!!!
Tom Scarice is a town treasure.
Just wondering what is the difference between “Speeding” and “Traveling unreasonably fast” ?
Not a police officer or an attorney but I surmise it’s synonymous with “traveling too fast for conditions.” In other words you can be driving under the posted limits but still be driving unsafely. A police officer can exercise judgement and write a ticket.
“Unreasonably fast” is going over the speed limit. “Speeding” is going WAY over the speed limit. There’s a certain MPH-over-the-limit guideline, though I’m not sure what it is.
Then there is also “traveling too fast for conditions,” which means you may be obeying the posted speed limit but there is snow, ice, fog, heavy rain, etc.
What’s “improper use of marker”?