Westport has a new poet laureate.
Donna Disch — a Westport resident for 24 years — enthusiastically accepted her charge to “to elevate poetry in the consciousness of Westport residents, and to celebrate and contribute to the town’s vibrant literary history.”
A large crowd was on hand at the Westport Library. Disch succeeds Jessice Noyes McEntee, in the 2-year appointment. The ceremony was led by Westport Arts Advisory Committee c0-chair Nancy Diamond.
She’s wasting no time. Soon, she announced, a new “poetry box” will be installed near Compo Beach.
McEntee offered her own words for the town’s new laureate, noting, “Donna appears to be an innocent, a weaver of dazzling word tapestries. I sense a trickster underneath the demure surface in her poems.”
Poet laureate Donna Disch. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
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Once again this month, Westport’s National Charity League joins with Circle of Care to raise awareness of childhood cancer
The groups have decorated the town in gold ribbons. In addition, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker’s proclamation of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month honors Circle of Care for the work they do, making a difference for families facing the disease.
Raising awareness, one street corner at a time.
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Many Westporters know about The Carver.
The Norwalk-based non-profit Carver operates 60+ before-school, after-school, summer, and community programs in all K-12 public schools in Norwalk, plus others in Bridgeport, Stamford and Naugatuck.
It’s a wonderful organization, doing great and very important work, serving almost 3,000 students. Carver programs boast a 100% on-time high school graduation, with almost all students going on as first-generation college students.
But many other Westporters don’t know The Carver at all.
On Friday, September 27 (6 p.m., Clarendon Fine Art, 22 Main Street), the Westport Carver Connection Committee is hosting a party. The goal is to introduce The Carver to residents, and expand its geographic, financial and volunteer support.
Carver students will speak, offering inspiring stories.
The event is sponsored by several local businesses, including Bird, Clarendon, LandTech, The Post and Amazing Graze.
For tickets and more information, click here.
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If you missed Tuesday night’s partial lunar eclipse — no worries.
Pam Docters has you covered (like the moon):
(Photo/Pam Docters)
And if you missed the regular ol’ — but very spectacular — super harvest moon that night, Stephanie Mastocciolo was at Compo Beach with her camea:
(Stephanie Mastocciolo)
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Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between September 11 and 18.
A 49-year-old Westport man was charged with disorderly conduct, after a complaint of an assault by someone the man was dating when they tried to retrieve belongings from a residence.
Three women — a 22-year-old and a 21-year-old from Jamaica, New York, and a 21-year-old from Bushkill, New York, were charged with larceny, and conspiracy to commit larceny, following a report of a shoplifting from Lululemon.
While officers were en route to the business, they spotted the vehicle used on Riverside Avenue. It contained clothing with tags still affixed. The suspects were identified by witnesses.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 4 citations
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
- Failure to comply with federal regulations of flotation devices: 1
- Failure to comply with federal regulations of navigation lights: 1
- Operating a boat without certification or license: 1
- Illegal vessel without numbers or registration: 1
- Failure to comply with dog ownership regulations: 1
- No dog/cat rabies vaccination: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
- Driving the wrong way on a 1-way street: 1
Boats in Connecticut must be registered.
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In more police news, officers were called to TD Bank yesterday, when a man tried to pass a bad check. Eyewitnesses said he “decided to run,” before being detained.
(Photo/Robin Frank)
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Up to 20% of the population can be classified as “highly sensitive.”
Now Westport therapist Ilise Gold, Weston actor Scott Bryce and Christie Laracuente have formed a group serving the “Highly Sensitive Person” community.
On October 19 (Saugatuck Congregational Church, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Gold will host a seminar called “Connect With Me, I’m an HSP!”
The audience is HSPs, and those living or working with them. The cost is $250 per person; $225 for additional family members ages 15 and up. Click here to register.
Ilise Gold
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A black-capped chickadee makes its first-ever “06880” appearance today, as our “Westport … Naturally” feature image:
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … JD Souther, who wrote many hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, and later played a version of himself on the TV show “Nashville,” died Tuesday in New Mexico. He was 78.
Click here for a full obituary.
(Today — as we do every day, 7/24/366 — “06880” brings you a Roundup of info chock full of news you can use, think about and enjoy. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Now that’s action! Thank you Donna Disch for making poetry come to us -a “poetry box” will be installed near Compo Beach. ….maybe all over town hall? maybe in front of the Library? maybe at the Bridge? maybe….at the schools? Yes at the schools for Kids to learn to read poetry daily in the halls…. “to elevate poetry in the consciousness of Westport (children), and to celebrate and contribute to the town’s vibrant literary history.” …
I’m highly sensitive to the price of this nonsense.