Eight months after his contract was not renewed, former Staples High School boys soccer freshman coach Chris O’Dell will finally receive a hearing.
The Board of Education meets this Friday (9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium), to consider his appeal.
In addition to serving nearly 20 years as a freshman and assistant coach, O’Dell is a former Staples captain. He played on the state champion 1993 squad.
O’Dell says, “I am asking and expecting that Board members Lee Goldstein and Dorrie Horden recuse themselves from my hearing. They each have a relationship with the family behind the allegations. It obviously renders them incapable of making an impartial decision in my case.
“I am also asking that Kevin Christie not recuse himself from my hearing. I have only met him once, for 2 minutes at a social function. There is absolutely no reason for Mr. Christie to recuse himself from my hearing.”
Christie did recuse himself from the May BOE appeal hearing by Russell Oost-Lievense. The contract of Staples’ former head coach was also not renewed, by superintendent of school Thomas Scarice. Oost-Lievense has sued the BOE, after they upheld Scarice’s recommendation.
O’Dell says, “I look forward to this opportunity to clear my name.” In addition to coaching, he owns The O’Dell Group, a design-build collaborative specializing in residential construction.
Chris O’Dell
=============================================
The Westport Library’s Verso University — a series of high-level classes, workshops and lectures — opens soon, for the fall “semester.”
A special symposium — “AI and Us” — explores the implications of artificial intelligence across legal, civic, creative, business, healthcare and technological spheres. Multiple perspectives range from policymakers and technologists to journalists and academics. It’s set for Saturday, October 11 (12 noon to 5:30 p.m.). Click here for details, and to register.
Other courses include:
- “Astrology for the Advanced Beginner” (3 weekly sessions starting Thursday, September 11, 2 to 3 pm).
- “Ask a Pediatric Specialist” (3 monthly sessions starting Tuesday, September 16, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.).
- “Grace Farms Art and Architecture Tour” (September 17, 12:45 to 2 p.m.).
- “Kickoff to Fall: Happy Hour Cooking Class” (September 19, 4 to 5:30 p.m.).
- “Visual Storytelling: Develop Your Photographic Vision” (3 weekly sessions starting Thursday, October 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m.).
There is a nominal fee for most classes, from $15 to $25 per course. “Ask a Pediatric Specialist is free. Click here, then scroll down to the calendar for more information, and registration.
==================================================
“Endless Summer/Forever Friends/Long Live the Arts” — an evening of art, music, food and beverages, and intriguing conversation, all benefiting MoCA CT — is set for Saturday, September 20.
Tickets are $80 for members (gift included), and $100 for non-members (1-year membership included). Click here for more information, and to purchase.
=================================================
Board members celebrated Tony McDowell’s retirement as Earthplace executive director this past weekend, at Compo Beach.
The popular administrator stepped down recently, after 12 years at the helm of the environmental and sustainability non-profit.
Earthplace board chair Mo Tooker (far right) reads a proclamation for the town of Westport. Tony McDowell is 2nd from right. (Hat tip and photo/Matthew Mandell)
==================================================
Speaking of shoreline celebrations: The Compo Beach Improvement Association held their annual block party yesterday evening.
The weather cleared, and dozens of families celebrated the end of summer (and a bit of quiet to their neighborhood). Old Mill Grocery & Deli — an around-the-corner favorite — catered.
Adults chatted. Kids played. Dogs roamed.
And this scene caught “06880” photographer Laurie Sorensen’s eye:
(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)
==================================================
Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department is branching out.
Into comedy.
They’re a sponsor of a September 20 comedy show at VFW Post 399.
The 8 p.m. show is headlined by Sean Donnelly, of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Click here for more information, and tickets. (Hat tip: Les Dinkin)
Sean Donnelly
==================================================
Heavy equipment is in place at the Compo Beach Soundview parking lot. That’s a staging area for renovation of the tidal gates and pedestrian paths at Sherwood Mill Pond, near Compo Cove.
But before the machines could get going last week, there was one special task: moving the sun.
Brian Suter captured that dramatic moment:
(Photo/Brian Suter)
==================================================
Always-observant Johanna Keyser Rossi offers today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, from the Westport Library Riverwalk. She writes:
“This is a first for me: seeing a turtle come out of the water at very low tide, looking in the mud for food. He was eating either a marine worm or a small fish.”
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
==================================================
And finally … speaking of turtles, Mark Volman — co-founder of the pop group with that name — died Friday in Nashville. He was 78, and had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2000. Click here for a full obituary.
(“06880” and you: happy together. “06880” and your support of this hyper-local blog: even happier! Please click here to put a smile on all our faces, with a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you :))
This soccer saga is worthy of a TV expose ‼️
Surprised that no Westport creatives haven’t jumped on it.
Go get’em Chris!
Recusing himself from a tough decision – not a good sign for a Selectman candidate.
I imagine was legal advice ! But I do hope Kevin chooses to not recuse himself this time.
We all know that 100% Chris should be reinstated and with a huge apology. Probably back pay too.
It’s not a great look but anything is better than O’Day and Moore..
that’s just a dismal prospect for Hamlet, sensible development, gardens, expenses on longshore and Parker Harding.
The Turtles! One of my favorite old bands. Great melodies, singing, musicianship, and feel good vibes. Miss those days and Mark is another loss.
And 🫶🫶👊👏👏 Go Chris. I’ve followed your story since it broke on 06880 last year and from afar, none of it made any sense. I will be sending you good thoughts. We never know what we have til it’s gone. As the old Joni Mitchell song says. I’ve witnessed the dragging of good people for unseen and many times, nefarious reasons while raising my daughter, serving on boards, etc. Time to stand. The kids deserve more too.
Entitled parking starts early in Westport!
abs love It Ain’t Me Babe (always thought it was a Bob Dylan Joan Baez original; hopefully he got credit for it in the recent movie, another round of applause before he RIP&M)