Staples High School’s Class of 1964’s 60th reunion this past weekend had all the usual trappings of a great celebration: a cocktail party, dinner banquet, Compo Beach cookout … you know the drill.
But the still energetic, now-in-their-late-70s, once-and-always Wreckers, added a unique twist.
In a “Deep Dive” session, 6 reunion-goers — selected from many proposals — offered insights into their careers, volunteer work and the passions that impacted their lives, and others.
The group included Tom Dublin, who co-created a women and social movements document history website subscribed to by libraries and universities; former Staples lacrosse coach Paul McNulty, who coached and built an integrated football team in Mississippi; Nancy Wilson, who founded a Quaker school, and now teaches in a prison; Tim Honey, who spent a foreign exchange year in South Africa, and has revisited the much-changed country since apartheid ended; Sandi Crosby Goldie, who works on climate change, and Melody James, talking about bridging silence and sound, pioneering medical technology and navigating the opposition to the cochlear implant.
It was a wonderful afternoon.
Even more wonderfully, classmate Nick Passaro Jr. taped it — and put it online.
Now, all those members of the Class of ’64 who were not there can enjoy it.
So can the thousands of others of us who were not fortunately to be in that high-powered, tight, and very creative Staples class.
Click below. And prepare to be inspired.
==================================================
The Westport Library has benefited from many donors. They’ve endowed the building, sponsored programs, and bought books.
Julie and Rob Haroun have done something different. The Westport couple has improved and maintained the landscaping outside.
Among their improvements: a new irrigation system and plantings along Jesup Green, the Riverwalk path, and the hill below the café deck.
On Thursday (September 26, 4 p.m.), the Library will honor the Harouns with a special ceremony, on the Riverwalk Level. A plaque will be unveiled at the front of the building, near the police parking lot.
Outdoor Design and Living executed the makeover, at a discount as a generous donation to the Library.
“Having worked as a real estate developer for over 30 years, primarily focusing on properties in Westport, I was intent on ensuring that the exterior of the building was properly landscaped to reflect the first-class facility that we all enjoy in this town,” says Rob Haroun. He was a Library trustee from 2016 to ’23.
“We are confident that these funds will cover the maintenance for the next 5 to 10 years,” he adds.
“We have lived in town since 1992, raised 3 children, and built a business here. This is our way of giving back to an institution that is near and dear to our hearts.”
Several views of the Westport Library landscaping.
==================================================
The 4th annual Westport Moms Fall Family Fun Festival returns this Saturday (September 28, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Compo Beach fields — no beach sticker needed).
Among the activities: pumpkin decorating, Grit Ninja obstacle course, music, yoga (kids’ class by Child’s Pose Westport at 10:30 a.m.), bubble show, bouncy house, face painting, art projects, sports, chess and more.
If you’re a kid, you’ll find something to love.
There ae food trucks from Jr’s Deli and Coalhoue Pizza.
Tickets are $25 per family. Click here to pre-purchase, and avoid lines the lines:
==================================================
Twelve Staples High School seniors are National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
William Boberski, Kendra Cheng, Alexander Esser, Anna Ji, Angelina Matra, Carolina Proctor, Andrew Rebello, Samuel Rossoni, Megan Sargent, Alexander Sod, Jackson Tracey and Ryan Tzou join 16,000 semifinalists nationwide.
That’s fewer than 1 percent of the over 1.3 million students who took the 2023 PSAT/NMSQT qualifying exam.
All will compete for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $26 million.
From left: Staples principal Stafford Thomas, Jr., Samuel Rossoni, Andrew Rebello, Alexander Sod, Jackson Tracey, Angelina Matra, Carolina Proctor, Megan Sargent, Anna Ji, Kendra Cheng, assistant principal Patrick Micinilio. Missing: Alexander Esser and Ryan Tzou.
==================================================
Podcasts are everywhere. I’ve got one of my own, thanks to the Westport Library. Every 2 weeks, I chat with interesting Westporters, from all walks of life.
Every once in a while, I find myself on the other side of the mic.
One of those times was this summer. I was honored to be a guest — actually, the very first guest — on Jay Norris’ new “Visionary’s” podcast.
The Westport business/tech/media/retail/real estate leader — a visionary himself — launched his series at Content Studio, Chirag Shah’s Saugatuck space.
The goal of the podcast is to talk about visions, goals and dreams. And, of course, how to achieve them.
Jay says he’s “flipping the switch,” interviewing me instead of the other way around.
It was a great chat. I learned a lot, and hopefully threw in a couple of ideas that viewers can use.
Click below to listen to the very first “Visionary’s” podcast.
==================================================
Adele Jacobs from Voices of Hope spoke on Friday to the Sunrise Rotary Club.
Voices of Hope is an educational non-profit organization established by the families of Holocaust survivors across Connecticut (including Jacobs). It promotes a culture of courage to stand up against hatred, through Holocaust and genocide education and remembrance.
Adele Jacobs, at the Westport Sunrise Rotary meeting. (Photo/Katie Augustyn)
==================================================
Fairfield County bassist Phil Bowler has played with jazz legends like Horace Silver, Wynton Marsalis (with whom he received a Grammy for Marsalis’ album “Think of One”), Lightning Hopkins, Dr. John, Max Roach and Ralph Peterson.
He’s a frequent guest at Jazz at the Post. This Thursday (September 26), he headlines the event.
He’s joined by vocalist Janice Dempsey, pianist Joe McWilliams, guitarist Bob Riccio, drummer Bobby Leonard and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
Shows at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 are at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner service starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20; $15 for veterans and students. Email: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
==================================================
Our “Westport … Naturally” series sometimes features panoramas of animals, trees or flowers.
Sometimes we highlight one: a hummingbird or gull, say, or maple tree.
Occasionally, a photographer captures a great close-up. But today’s image may be our most amazing one ever.
Andrew Colabella did the honors, with an Aspetuck Land Trust spider.
(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
==================================================
And finally … after seeing Andrew’s photo (above), you may have seen this coming:
(“Who” doesn’t enjoy “06880”? If you’re one of our 20,000 daily readers who do, please click here to support our work. We couldn’t do it without you. Thanks!)
I first met Melody James when she worked for the New York League for the Hard of Hearing, where I was a longtime client. Her hearing-impaired daughter, Caitlin Parton, was featured in Woog’s blog: https://06880danwoog.com/2020/02/11/lets-hear-it-for-caitlin-parton-esq/ Caitlin’s story is worth reading.