Over 1,000 Westporters will flock to Greens Farms Elementary School this Sunday.
Westport Moms’ 5th annual Family Fun Fall Festival (October 5, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) is one of the highlights of the year for kids (and parents).
Activities include a ninja wall, pottery making, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a bounce house, games, basketball clinics, chess matches, hair tinsel, and more.
Oh, yeah: a DJ, Mad Science show, character photo ops, and pizza and tacos food trucks too.
Click here for tickets, and more information. Overflow parking is on the street, and the Big Y shopping center.
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Here’s an update in the saga of Ruth S. Barrett.
In 2020, the Westport resident wrote a buzzy article for The Atlantic about the extreme measures taken by parents in their quest to mold their children into recruitable niche-sport athletes.
The lengthy piece appeared to be well-researched. A New York Times columnist called it “excellent,” and insightful in its depiction of high-end athletic recruiting as an accelerant of inequality in college admissions.
But 2 weeks later The Atlantic retracted the article. A scathing Editor’s Note accused Barrett of serious journalistic crimes, adding it could not “attest to the veracity” of her portrayal.
The Atlantic revoked Barrett’s rights to her own work, dissolved her contract, and blocked a Hollywood agency from acquiring the right to produce a spinoff TV series based on her article (entitled “The Mad, Mad World of Niche Sports Among Ivy League-Obsessed Parents).”
Barrett responded by filing a lawsuit. She claimed her article was accurate, and that Atlantic editors had breached her contract and slandered her with provably false accusations.
In September of 2024, federal judge Loren Alikhan appeared to side with Barrett. In a 38-page ruling, she rejected The Atlantic’s motion to dismiss Barrett’s case, and ruled that the majority of her defamation claims would stand.”
The judge also ruled that Barrett was a private figure — meaning she would not have to prove at trial that The Atlantic harbored “actual malice” against her, but merely that it published defamatory falsehoods that torched her reputation.
Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that The Atlantic had “quietly settled” with Barrett. The paper said that the magazine agreed to pay her over $1 million — and issued a series of corrections and “clarifications” to its online Editor’s Note.
Ruth S. Barrett
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Staples High School senior Oliver Vynerib — who recently received a Westport Green Building Award for exemplifying sustainable practices by supporting deconstruction on Westport properties at 5 Sycamore Drive and 159 Easton Road — will give a presentation about “deconstruction” to builders and residents looking to learn more.
The event is October 8 (4 p.m., 180 Saugatuck Avenue). Click here to RSVP, or for more information.
Oliver founded HomeCycle CT in 2023. Its mission is to connect residents and builders with nonprofits to deconstruct homes — that is, dismantle buildings otherwise scheduled for demolition, then donating the building components to reduce landfill waste.
HomeCycle is a bridge between builders, donors and nonprofits, and provides guidance on donations and the tax deduction process. Salvageable items from home remodels are also eligible for donation. To learn more, email olivervynerib@gmail.com or call 203-919-0202.
Oliver Vynerib receives his Green Building Award from 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. Town officials look on.
To learn more about what you can do to make your home more sustainable, click here. To learn more about the Green Building Award, click here. or email cvornkahl@westportct.gov.
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Speaking about homes, but in a different vein: The Blight Prevention Board meets October 9 (7 p.m.; Zoom).
The agenda includes these properties under old business:
- 1 Charcoal Hill Road
- 6 Clifford Lane
- 38 Old Hill Road
and these under new business:
- 20 Center Street
- 7 Bedford Drive
- 36 Hiawatha Lane.
20 Center Street (Google Street View, 2023)
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Melissa Newman — a longtime Westporter, and favorite of Jazz at the Post as long as it’s been around — returns tomorrow (Thursday, October 2), to the weekly VFW show.
The vocalist is joined by Tony Lombardozzi (guitar), Phil Bowler (bass) and Bobby Leonard (drums).
Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m., with dinner service at 7. Click here for tickets and more information.
Melissa Newman
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A race? A chat? Or just a “Westport … Naturally” photo waiting for a clever caption from “06880” readers?
You be the judge.
(Photo/Nikki Gorman)
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And finally …. today is the International Day of Older Persons. Enjoy!
(If Willie Nelson can still perform at 92, you can click this link to make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880.” It’s a lot easier than what Willie does — though he’s more impressive. Thank you!)
I learned one phrase as a student at Greens Farms School. I started kindergarten there in 1952, and at the end of 4th grade I was with my parents for a meeting with my teacher. Mrs Asquith told me , and I quote, “ You passed by the skin of your teeth.” I came to realize I was off to Burr Farms School for 5th grade!
Wow ! Congratulations Oliver Vynerib. HomeCycle CT is a brilliant concept and practice.
Sustainable, and reuse of materials otherwise being dumped.
We should all applaud this building direction.
Well done.
I love seeing the next generation step up and have a voice and take action to make a positive difference. A big congratulations to Oliver V. A well deserved honor.