Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice is getting a raise — and another year on his contract.
The Board of Education voted yesterday to give the town’s highest paid official a 4% increase, from his current $321,661 salary. Another year was also added to his 3-year rolling contract.
The vote was 5-2 in favor. BOE members Robert Harrington and Dorie Hordon voted against the increase. Harrington cited both finances and Scarice’s performance, in areas like renewals of coaches’ contracts, while Hordon focused solely on a raise that is above the national inflation rate.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
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In 2023, Mandy Patinkin sold out the Westport Country Playhouse.
His November 21 show is sure to do the same.
The Tony- and Emmy-winning star (“The Princess Pride,” “Yentl,” “Dick Tracy”) returns to the Westport stage in “Jukebox.” The show features classic musical numbers, hand-picked by Patinkin and presented in his own special style.
Tickets are $175 and $150. They go on sale tomorrow (Friday, 1 p.m.). Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Mandy Patinkin
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As “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Assocation put the final touches on this Sunday’s Soundview Summer Stroll (July 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), we’re looking for a few teenagers (or parents!) to help run games and fun for little kids, in 1-2 hour shifts.
It’s already organized. We just need helping hands! If interested, please email at kristinemott@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, get ready to enjoy live music, eat, play, stroll, Rollerblade, and otherwise enjoy the Compo Beach exit road — closed to all traffic — on Sunday.
See you there!
Among the activities at last year’s Soundview Summer Stroll: chalking the street. (Photo/Benji Porosoff)
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Immigrant justice is the topic of a panel discussion July 31 (6:30 p.m., Westport Library).
The event — sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congegation of Westport — features Professor Cristina Jiménez, author of “Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power and Real Change.”
She is also an award-winning community organizer, former executive director of the nationwide immigrant youth organization United We Dream, and the recipient of a MacArthur “genius grant.”
Members of Make the Road CT will share stories, and discuss how to support efforts that push back against anti-immigrant policies. Click here for more information.
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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between July 16 and 22.
A 30-year-old Queens man was charged with burglary, larceny and criminal mischief, plus conspiracy to commit those crimes, following an investigation into a 2023 burglary of a Westport home. The stolen items — including jewelry and designer handbags — were worth more than $50,000. The suspect ws held in a New York correctional facility, and extradited here. He was unable to post a $30,000 bond.
A 56-year-old Norwalk man was charged with disorderly conduct, following a domestic disturbance in a school parking lot.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonbly fast: 6 citations
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 4
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 3
- Driving while texting: 2
- Distracted driving: 2
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
- Larceny: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Passing in a no-passing zone: 1
- Following too closely: 1
- Failure to grant right of way: 1
- Failure to obey stop sign: 1
- Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
Stay in your lane! Don’t pass unless it’s allowed!
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Longtime Westport resisdent Dr. Charles Huebner died in his sleep on December 29. He was 89 years old.
He was interred with full military honors at the Assumption Cemetery in Greens Farms last month.
Charlie was an active member of St. Luke Church — chairing the Finance and Parish Council for many years — along with the Patterson Club and Minuteman Yacht Club.
He was born in Hungary, and spent his early years in Budapest. Impacted by excesses of national socialism during World War II and the imminent Russian invasion, the family fled to Austria, before settling in Detroit.
Charlie earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (first in his class) from the University of Detroit. He was commissioned as an Air Force officer, then earned a master’s in aero/astronautics engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He completed his military service at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, then joined NASA’s Apollo space program as a project engineer, while also earning a doctorate from American University.
In 1968 Charlie and his family moved to Westport, when he transitioned to the corporate world. He held senior executive positions with General Electric, AMF and US Industries.
In 1990, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Charlie led the Hungarian American Enterprise Fund, established by Congress to help open Hungary to private investments.
He moved to Budapest, where he spearheaded efforts to reform the country’s economic structure. Charlie was elected president of the American Chamber of Commerce there, and was a leading member of the Hungarian-American business community.
Charlie was a devout Catholic, and a Knight of Magisterial Grace in the Order of Malta. He was chosen by the Order to serve as a deputy ambassador to Hungary, a position that carried full diplomatic status.
Charlie met and married Suzan Lawlor in college. They raised 4 children in Westport: Chuck (Lucy), Christine Rohan (Paul), Diane Dillon (Peter) and Andrea Kalkstein (Bart). They survive him, along with 11 grandchildren.
After Suzan’s death in 1984, Charlie married Zsuzsa Korab and had a fifth child, Alexandra Doane (Bobby). He was predeceased by his brother.
Services were held earlier this year. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Jesuits.
Charlie Huebner
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Our “Westport … Naturally” features has gotten a ton of egret submissions lately.
Here — from the Saugatuck River, by the Westport Library Riverwalk – is- one of the best:
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … there are so many Mandy Patinkin songs we could choose (story above).
Here are 3:
(“06880” is your hyper-local source, for Westport news, events, history, photo, and much more. If you enjoy our work, please make a tax-deductible contribution by clicking here. Thank you!)
These citation numbers are extremely underwhelming. I observe more driving infractions each day than our entire police force did in a week. Do better.
It’s a shame Mandy has gone to the dark side and now seems to be a supporter of Hamas.
The ADL parrots on here, who call people who oppose genocide in Gaza “supporters of Hamas” are disgraceful.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/world/middleeast/gaza-starvation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Y08.dZ4w.kRyS0RVUfeJA&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
It is unfortunate that the duly elected government of Gaza ignores the plight of their people and, over and over again, fails to do the right thing but instead doubles down thus prolonging the suffering. You really have to ask yourself what they are thinking.
The dark side you say? Staving children intentionally, bombing tents, murdering doctors, aid workers and civilians with absolute joy is one sick society. So you hate Jews if you condemn this genocide, what a sorry excuse for a human.
Referencing DM’s comment on this blog shortly after October 7 essentially claiming Israel brought that massacre on themselves: Hamas is primarily to blame for its people’s suffering.
(Notice I don’t say “entirely” as I have some kernel of balance, unlike DM and the other Hamas apologists who believe Israel was to blame both when they are doing the attacking AND when they themselves were attacked.)
No more comments on Hamas, Gaza, Israel, etc. They are off topic. Thank you.
Shame on the BOE for blindly supporting this superintendent. He doesn’t even deserve the post any more with his mishandling of LLES and the athletic program. They reward him with a raise and contract extension? What a bunch of sheep. Incredibly mis-guided and I hope voters remember at the polls and don’t reelect the incumbents.
The democratic representatives of the BOE unanimously approved a raise (above inflation) and contract extension for the Superintendent of Schools. “SHOCKER”…said no one. Unfortunately, the vote along party lines was predictable and inevitable from an out-of-touch group of elected officials. Effort does not equal impact — and this raise is a slap in the face to Westport taxpayers, full stop.
On a more positive note, I’m thrilled that Jodi Harris (my wife) and Stephen Shackelford, lifelong democrats, are stepping up to run against the endorsed Democratic slate on this year’s ballot for BOE. Continued misguided decisions by the current BOE reinforce that common sense isn’t so common. The power-hungry self-interest of these Democratic BOE members, at the cost of student success, cannot be underestimated.
Harris and Shackelford are parents who want progress. They are proven leaders who are eager to serve our community, administrators, teachers, and most importantly; students. This awesome community and pillar of public education deserves better. Here’s to lighting the match and igniting change.