Saturday was a red-letter day in Westport.
Actually, a red-white-and-blue day.
Early in the morning, community volunteers — including Scouts from Troops 39 and 139 — gathered at Assumption Cemetery on Greens Farms Road
They placed new flag holders and flags on the graves of veterans.
“Today was about recognizing our heroes, and making sure their sacrifice is remembered,” says Phil Delgado, quartermaster of VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399, which funded the project.
Donations to help fund more flags and holders are welcome; email delgadopa@icloud.com. If any veterans’ graves were missed (not all had military inscriptions), email VFW Auxiliary member Patty Kondub: Nortonpk@icloud.com.
(Photos courtesy of Andrew Colabella and Patty Kondub)
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This past Tuesday, a Stamford gala celebrated Michael Douglas’ career as an actor, producer, nuclear disarmament activist and philanthropist. The event was a benefit for the historic Avon Theater.
Among the star-studded crowd were politicians and businesspeople. Plus 3 former Downshifters — buddies from Douglas’ teenage years in Westport.
The trio flew in from across the country: Charlie Taylor (Kentucky), Tom Hatch (New Mexico) and Morgan Smith (Idaho).
Michael Douglas with Charlie Taylor, Morgan Smith and Tom Hatch, at Stamford’s Avon Theater.
The Downshifters were a civic-minded, educational and fun hot rod club, in the 1950s and ’60s. Parents Magazine named them one of the 14 outstanding youth groups in the country. (“There must have been a father in town who worked for them,” a member said.)
(Click here and click here for some great Downshifters back stories. Click here for one featuring Michael Douglas himself.)
A young Michael Douglas. He attended Bedford Junior High School, but his parents shipped him off to boarding school instead of Staples.
The Stamford event — emceed by Terre Blair — included a short film clip of Taylor’s music, with images of cars and people from the Downshifters days. Douglas was stunned.
Another, less important video tribute, came from Michael Bloomberg.
(Click here for the Downshifters video. The music is as good as the photos. After his hot rod days, Taylor had successful dual careers, with Vanderbilt University and as a noted Nashville singer/songwriter.)
As for Michael Douglas hot rod: He had a 1947 Mercury, with a Model A axle in the back. It was named the “Ruptured Duck.”
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Speaking of film stars: Wynston Browne has enjoyed quite a whirlwind of activity.
The Staples High School senior — a non-speaking autistic teenager whose communication via a typing device has opened up his own world, and shown the rest of the world his remarkable, wide-ranging and tremendous intelligence — was featured in a News 12 profile.
On Saturday, the Cablevision team — including host Mark Sudol and Frank Bruce Rosen, who conceived of and filmed the piece — were honored as an Emmy winner.
Wynston Browne
Meanwhile, the film “Presumed Incompetent” — starring and inspired by Wynston’s life — has been accepted as a finalist at both the Santa Monica, California ETHOS Festival (November 9) and New York’s Big Apple Film Festival (December 12, 657 West 57th Street, 5:45 p.m.; click here for tickets. Click here for a link to Wynston’s acting reel.)
ETHOS is an awards program and film festival recognizing impact-driven films casting lights on critical current social causes and themes.
Wynston will do talkbacks — using his communication devices — at both the ETHOS and BAFF festival screenings.
“06880” is proud to say we knew and admired Wynston even before he was a star!
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Everyone was a winner at Saturday’s Challenger baseball’s 12th annual Halloween game and party.
The Westport Winners — the team that competes in a league for boys and girls with disabilities — squared off for an intra-squad game: Team Spooky vs. Team Scary.
Thirteen buddies from middle school age to adult joined the young athletes, along with many families and spectators.
Afterward, everyone enjoy pizza and Halloween treats.
The vibe was as fantastic as the weather.
Dressed for Halloween — and baseball. (Photo/Beth Cody)
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Clarendon Fine Art — the great gallery at the head of Main Street — welcomes Craig Alan next month.
A reception for the solo show — featuring the artist’s distinctive images of iconic faces, buildings and abstracts, in hundreds of intricately painted figures — is set for November 22 (6 to 8 p.m.). Click here for details.
Art by Craig Alan
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There are just 3 days till Halloween.
So naturally, today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature features:
(Photo/Copyright DinkinEsh Fotografix)
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And finally … on this date in 1893, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Pathétique” premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.
He died 9 days later, of cholera.
(Today — if you enjoy any of these Roundup stories — “06880” challenges you to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Should you ever have the honor of placing flags at Veterans tombstones, use a bottle cap to protect your palm🇺🇸
I was friends with Joel Douglas around 1958-59 time frame. Mike, if you’re reading this, have him send me a quick email. It’s been quite a while since we talked.
I have family that were war heroes. I would urge all to research the comments Trump made on the congressional medal of honor winners. The head of the V F W condemned Trump for those comments. John Kelly. McMaster Milley. Esper all Trump Appointed have said Trump is a threat to democracy and Kelly said Trump is a fascist. The VF W has a long proud history of America. values and support of war heroes. Trunp insults the memory of John McCain and war heroes. I hope the vFW continues is tradition of America. cantes and rejects Trumps policy of insulting war heroes who criticize him. That is únamerican
I’ve been to Puerto Rico 45 times. 41 of those were for vacation and 4 times were for work. From 1984 through 1987, I took middle school students to Puerto Rico during February vacation. One year we had front row seats to a Menudo concert! One year we had 41 students and parents. I know every inch of the island! Last night’s insult calling the island a piece of garbage was so awful, I’m predicting it will cost Trump the election! I’ve been all through Central America during “La Guerra Sandanista” and absolutely loved the people there! The comedians comments were vetted by Trump’s team and obviously allowed. Perhaps someone on North Maple Avenue would like to put up a sign that says “Honk if you think Puerto Rico is garbage.” Trump is stupid!
trump is an embarrassment to the USA and world. I would hope the local VFW would be more vocal about the insulting remarks Trump has made about veterans luge John McCain. As you know Trump called for the execution of Mark Milley and called war veterans suckers and losers as verified by John Kelly. The VFW is a proud organization that my grandfather loved and supported. I also support the good work of the vfw. I’m suprised our very active VFW has remained silent on such insults to war veterans. Staying sikevt in the face of insults is not courageous
One of my heroes is Wynston Brown!!!
Michael “Mike” Douglas was on my Little League team, the Cardinals, in ’57 & ’58. He played center field and was very quiet amidst a championship team. He was at Choate for 9th grade with my good friend, Tommy Allen and continued there for high school. He lived here in Westport with his mother and step father. The only time my mother would attend my baseball games was when it was circulated that Mike’s father, Kirk, was attending. Fun times in the Wonder Years when celebrities were common and “selfies” or autographs were frowned upon.
Correction: Tommy Allen was at Choate for his 9th grade. Mike was two years ahead of him and thus a sophomore at the prep school in ’63.
when I think of Scooter I think of Phil Rizutto. Holy Cow fame
Scooter, I was on the little league team “The Beavers. They put me on the bench for most of every game. The only reason I got on the team was because the Westport Golf Range sponsored the team. I did make one good play though while playing center field for an inning. However I won’t bore you with the details unless there’s a high demand to hear every detail. I call it “The Catch Heard Round The World.”
Oh yes, Jack, please share. The title itself is most intriguing.
Okay.. you asked for it. Like I said, the only reason I made the team is because my father sponsored the Beavers. So they put me out in center field during the last inning of one game. Eventually there were two outs with the bases loaded. The next batter hit won a mile high and I positioned myself under the ball and caught it. The dugout ERUPTED as if I won the World Series!! Everyone congratulated me because they all knew I had a 1% chance of catching it. The yelling was so loud it was “The Catch Heard Round the World.”
Super!!!! Leave it to the Beaver! I know of one well known attorney in this town who, instead of catching a similar fly ball, did NOT catch it and broke his nose. Remains crooked ’till this day as does his practice. Many a night I spent at your family’s facility. My brother held the record for the miniature golf course for about 15 minutes. The Wonder Years in Westport when there was actually things to do for kids. Much thanks to your family for that.
Scooter, I appreciate your kind words. Back then, a fireman with five children could live (and did live) in Westport. Four of the kids worked at the golf range, and the family lived on Bauer Place.Date night playing miniature golf was very popular! Again, thanks for your kind words.
Indeed, Jack. My family of golfers spent many a weekend night banging golf balls at the driving range as well, led by my mother who was perennial club champ at Patterson Club. Ah but, nothing beat the Norwalk Drive-In for date night, the movie was immaterial.
Pumpkin – how sad-looking…