What’s the state of the town?
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein will offer their “State of the Town” thoughts on Sunday, February 2 (2 p.m., Westport Library).
The leaders will review town and school accomplishments during the past year, and preview some upcoming initiatives and challenges. A question-and-answer session will follow.
The annual event is sponsored by Westport Sunrise Rotary and the Westport Rotary Club.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein.
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The Board of Education agenda for its meeting this Thursday (January 23, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria), includes
- Staples auditorium sound system
- Transportation efficiencies study
- 2025-26 proposed budget
- First reading of Board of Education policies: Creation of a policiy on civility; amendment of student discipline policy
- Second reading of Board of Education polices: Amendment of admission to public schools at or before age 5; amendment of policy on attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism; proposed repeal of policy on attendance excuses and chronic absenteeism.
The Board of Education will also hold a Zoom meeting that morning (January 23, 9 a.m., Zoom; meeting ID 857 3959 1723; passcoade 405790) to discuss procedures for conducting non-renewal hearings of employees.
Among the agenda items for Thursday’s Board of Education meeting: transportation efficiencies. (Photo/Amy Schneider)
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On Friday, Sam Clachko scored his 1,000th point as a Staples High School basketball player.
And he’s only a junior! (Click here for the full story.)
Ryan Allen — Staples’ superb photographer/videographer — was there to record the milestone.
Sam has a great future ahead, on the court. Ryan’s future is equally bright — behind the lens.
(Photo/Ryan Allen)
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Jeff Matlow was one of many Los Angeles residents affected by the recent fires.
The 1985 Staples High School graduate reports: “The Palisades fire started on the hill behind the school where my wife works, and our daughter is in 6th grade.
“They were the first people to evacuate, even before there was an official evacuation notice.
“At least half of the school is in ruins, if not more. The library is gone (along with all the books). All of the admin buildings, the preschool, kindergarten and elementary school are all gone.
“We are still not allowed in Pacific Palisades to see everything. But we know it will be a long rebuilding process.
The school just launched a fundraising campaign. “06880” readers can click here to read more, and contribute to help a fellow Westporter reconstruct his daughter and wife’s school community.
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Westport’s representatives in Hartford — State Senator Ceci Maher, and Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson — invites residents to Mrs. London’s Bakery on January 30 (5:30 p.m.).
They’ll discuss issues impacting Connecticut residents, review goals and priorities for the legislative session, and answer questions.
From left: State Senator Ceci Mahr; Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson.
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Speaking of politics: Tomorrow is Inauguration Day.
Jolantha — Weston’s favorite pig — is ready.
(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)
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The next full production at the Westport Country Playhouse is less than a month away.
The curtain rises for “Season of Laughter” on February 18.
The Playhouse says: “When expecting parents move next door to longtime suburbanites, a dispute over their yard’s property line spirals into an epic, flower-flinging war over taste, class, personal identity — and gardening. Can these couples ever learn to love their neighbor and mend the fences that separate them?!
The show runs through March 8. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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The Brian Torff Group headline the next Voices Café show at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, on February 1 (8 p.m).
They’re “a band driven by a desire to capture the complexity of the American story ‘through American roots music with an updated twist.’”
The concert will blend Torff’s Southern music and race research with original songs, and new interpretations of artists like Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Mose Allison and Elvis Presley.
Torff — a professor of music at Fairfield University since 1993 — says, “we’ll honor Black History Month by taking a close look at the profound contributions of African Americans to our nation’s music culture.”
Click here for tickets, and more information.
Brian Torff
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Suznne (Suzy) Fiore — a Westport residence since 1951 — died peacefully at home on January 13. She was 86.
In 1972 Suzy began teaching at the Green’s Farms Preschool, became the director in 2001 and retired in 2009. She cared deeply for the children, their families, and teachers she taught and worked with over the years.
Suzy was a long-time member of Green’s Farms Congregational Church and the Westport Women’s Club. Since 1978 she was very active member in the PEO, Chapter B in Westport, serving as chapter president and holding several other officer positions.
She enjoyed traveling, caring for plants, being the family historian, and watching birds.
Suzy was predeceased by her husband Anthony Fiore Jr, daughter Cynthia Ann Watson, step-son Michael Fiore, and brother Charles Kline, Jr.
She is survived by her sons John Watson III (Deborah) of Summerville, South Carolina, Charles Watson of Westport, and William Craig Watson (Shery) of Redding; step-son Paul Fiore of Fruita, Colorado; nephew Charles Kline III (Christy); grandchildren Lynsay D’Aiuto, Jennie Moon (Josh), Rebecca Watson, John Watson IV (Molly), Charles Watson, Sadie Watson and Chase Alexander Watson, and 5 great-grandchildren
A memorial service will be held February 10 (1 p.m., Green’s Farms Church).
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows Grace Salmon Park.
A few hours from now, it may look quite a bit whiter.
(Photo/Alison Lee)
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And finally … on this date in 1901, Queen Victoria was stricken with paralysis. She died 3 days later, at 81.
(Jen Tooker discusses the state of the town next month. But here at “06880,” we do that every day. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Absolutely love the Buckle up Pig! So appropriate! If he is able to follow thru on his promises ( which he’s never done) in his last term we all are in for hardships and loss of democracy like we’ve never seen in our lifetime. God help us all!
America will get what it deserves
What?
Tooker?
So long!!
Going to keep my fingers crossed that we all come through to the other side intact.
We already have.
A bunch of rich white liberal losers. America voted for change and have to clean up the mess from the democrats.
Its ok Westport white liberals. You’ll be ok. Just get some xtra anxiety medicines from your shrinks or borrow your kids.
Since your party voted against deporting illegals when they commit sexual crimes I say we send them to the Rich liberal sanctuary town of Westport. What a great idea!!
No more woke and DEI policies. How about no more men in women sports. Oh sorry I forgot the liberals are against that.
Biden/Harris a joke.
We have to clean up the mess from Kamala and Joey Biden. It won’t be easy but at least we will start to become more respectable from other countries.
Thanks Joe and Kamala for millions of illegals coming to this country. Thanks for high inflation. Thanks for 2 wars. You have alot to be proud of.
Don’t cry liberals. It’s ok. You have Governor Newscum to lead your party.
Trump 2025. Make America great again.
Perhaps a relocation to Fulton, in Itawamba County Mississippi would be more acceptable spot for you? 89% of its population voted for Mr. Trump. It’s certainly not a “rich liberal sanctuary” like Westport. Check it out.
Can’t wait. Four more years of this, from people like you. Pure joy.
Excited for the new administration to bring sanity to this country! Looking forward to the accomplishments, vibrancy, law and order, power and respect we shall receive.
yes law and order. Pardons to be people urinating and defacating inside our capital. Beating police gets pardons.
neo Natzis pardoned.
Let it go … time to move on. We could debate the pardoning of the Biden corrupt enterprise, Harris mia, Pelosi, Schiff but I digress. Finally, we are excited, the US if back.
Were the insurrectionists of Jan 6th, “hostsges” like the Israelis in Gaza?
Asking as a zionist Jew.