Posted onSeptember 19, 2024|Comments Off on Read It Here: StoryFest’s Back Story
StoryFest ’24 — the Westport Library’s multi-day, genre-spanning literary festival — kicks off tomorrow (Friday, September 20).
All weekend long, the event celebrates the story in all its forms, and storytellers from across all media. Every genre is covered, from memoir to literary fiction, fantasy to cottage-core.
Over 50 award-winning and debut authors will talk about their craft. Headliners include Roxane Gay and Claire Messud.
From left: Claire Messud, Roxane Gay, Christopher Golden.
Also on tap: live podcast recordings, a special tribute to longtime and beloved Library friend Sybil Steinberg, the 2024 Westport Prize for Literature, a Saturday evening storytelling event, a Sunday pitchfest, and more.
In just 7 years, StoryFest has become the largest annual literary festival in Connecticut — and one of the biggest in the Northeast.
How did it happen?
It started in a coffee shop. Westport Library associate director of program and events Alex Giannini and his colleague Cody Daigle-Orians casually chatted about bringing a literary festival to Westport.
Alex Giannini (left) and Cody Daigle-Orians.
The idea grew quickly. Soon, the Library was not asking for authors; publishers began reaching out to the Library with offers.
Giannini is involved in nearly every aspect of Library programming. But, he says, StoryFest is his favorite activity.
He’s welcomed authors like Jason Reynolds, R.L. Stine, Stephen Graham Jones and Michael Lewis.
This year — in a full-circle moment — Daigle-Orians returns to Westport. This time it’s as a featured author. “The Ace and Aro Relationship Guide” will make its debut (a month before its official publication date) at StoryFest.
You can’t make tales like that up.
(For more information on StoryFest ’24 — including a complete schedule — click here.)
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Posted onSeptember 19, 2024|Comments Off on Scarice Responds To “Swatting” Posts
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice says:
Last night the district received a number of “swatting” posts that were shared from social media. These messages were either shared from neighboring towns, or were messages of violent threats with no specificity, but shared among our students on social media.
We have worked with the Westport Police Department since last night and determined that there is no threat to our schools. I can assure you that our students will be safe today, and they continue to be safe in our schools.
School districts and police departments continue to be inundated with messages such as these. I ask all parents and guardians to monitor their children’s social media.
If messages such as these are received after school hours, please forward the message to the Westport Police Department. Any threatening messages received during the school day should be directed to the school administration or School Resource Officer (if at Staples).
There is no value in peer to peer forwarding of these messages. Please discourage that with your children.
Thank you for your support as we manage these matters and vigilantly work to maintain the highest levels of safety in our schools. We will continue to provide additional police presence on our campuses today.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice
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Donna Disch — a Westport resident for 24 years — enthusiastically accepted her charge to “to elevate poetry in the consciousness of Westport residents, and to celebrate and contribute to the town’s vibrant literary history.”
A large crowd was on hand at the Westport Library. Disch succeeds Jessice Noyes McEntee, in the 2-year appointment. The ceremony was led by Westport Arts Advisory Committee c0-chair Nancy Diamond.
She’s wasting no time. Soon, she announced, a new “poetry box” will be installed near Compo Beach.
McEntee offered her own words for the town’s new laureate, noting, “Donna appears to be an innocent, a weaver of dazzling word tapestries. I sense a trickster underneath the demure surface in her poems.”
Poet laureate Donna Disch. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
Once again this month, Westport’s National Charity League joins with Circle of Care to raise awareness of childhood cancer
The groups have decorated the town in gold ribbons. In addition, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker’s proclamation of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month honors Circle of Care for the work they do, making a difference for families facing the disease.
Raising awareness, one street corner at a time.
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Many Westporters know about The Carver.
The Norwalk-based non-profit Carver operates 60+ before-school, after-school, summer, and community programs in all K-12 public schools in Norwalk, plus others in Bridgeport, Stamford and Naugatuck.
It’s a wonderful organization, doing great and very important work, serving almost 3,000 students. Carver programs boast a 100% on-time high school graduation, with almost all students going on as first-generation college students.
But many other Westporters don’t know The Carver at all.
On Friday, September 27 (6 p.m., Clarendon Fine Art, 22 Main Street), the Westport Carver Connection Committee is hosting a party. The goal is to introduce The Carver to residents, and expand its geographic, financial and volunteer support.
Carver students will speak, offering inspiring stories.
The event is sponsored by several local businesses, including Bird, Clarendon, LandTech, The Post and Amazing Graze.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between September 11 and 18.
A 49-year-old Westport man was charged with disorderly conduct, after a complaint of an assault by someone the man was dating when they tried to retrieve belongings from a residence.
Three women — a 22-year-old and a 21-year-old from Jamaica, New York, and a 21-year-old from Bushkill, New York, were charged with larceny, and conspiracy to commit larceny, following a report of a shoplifting from Lululemon.
While officers were en route to the business, they spotted the vehicle used on Riverside Avenue. It contained clothing with tags still affixed. The suspects were identified by witnesses.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Traveling unreasonably fast: 4 citations
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
Failure to comply with federal regulations of flotation devices: 1
Failure to comply with federal regulations of navigation lights: 1
Operating a boat without certification or license: 1
Illegal vessel without numbers or registration: 1
Failure to comply with dog ownership regulations: 1
No dog/cat rabies vaccination: 1
Distracted driving: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
Driving the wrong way on a 1-way street: 1
Boats in Connecticut must be registered.
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In more police news, officers were called to TD Bank yesterday, when a man tried to pass a bad check. Eyewitnesses said he “decided to run,” before being detained.
(Photo/Robin Frank)
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Up to 20% of the population can be classified as “highly sensitive.”
Now Westport therapist Ilise Gold, Weston actor Scott Bryce and Christie Laracuente have formed a group serving the “Highly Sensitive Person” community.
On October 19 (Saugatuck Congregational Church, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Gold will host a seminar called “Connect With Me, I’m an HSP!”
The audience is HSPs, and those living or working with them. The cost is $250 per person; $225 for additional family members ages 15 and up. Click here to register.
Ilise Gold
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A black-capped chickadee makes its first-ever “06880” appearance today, as our “Westport … Naturally” feature image:
And finally … JD Souther, who wrote many hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, and later played a version of himself on the TV show “Nashville,” died Tuesday in New Mexico. He was 78.
(Today — as we do every day, 7/24/366 — “06880” brings you a Roundup of info chock full of news you can use, think about and enjoy. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Mimi Duvall-Sajda’s family lived through the pandemic in New York City. When their oldest child was on the cusp of middle school, with changes happening in their neighborhood and schools, they opted for a lifestyle change.
Westport offered proximity to the city, she says, “with beautiful surroundings, top-notch schools, and a tight-knit community.” They moved here in August 2022.
Mimi is a designer/artist and life coach. She is also a dog lover. She writes to “06880”:
As a still-new resident of Westport and a dedicated dog owner (we have 2 cavaliers), I realize our wonderful community is missing one crucial element: a dedicated, fully enclosed space for dogs to run and play off-leash.
It’s time for Westport to have a dog run.
I believe it would be a huge boon for several reasons.
Currently, many dog owners in Westport make do keeping our beloved canine companions on a leash, or traveling to neighboring towns with dog runs.
While some consider Winslow Park to be dog-friendly, the lack of an enclosed space for pups to run freely excludes a significant portion of the Westport canine population.
Fences have not prevented tragedies at Winslow Park. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
Dogs need to run for their health and well-being. It’s heartbreaking to see them confined to leash-walking, as owners try to avoid repeating tragedies on Compo North and Post Road ast.
An October 2022 petition made clear that at least 1,000 Westport dog owners are clamoring for a safe, enclosed dog run.
The absence of a safe, fully enclosed space not only inconveniences us as residents, but also limits our dogs’ opportunities for physical activity and socialization.
Enclosed dog run.
A dedicated dog run would provide a secure environment for exercise and socialization, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of our community.
I believe now is the time for Westport to consider the numerous advantages a designated area would bring, and take the necessary steps to make this vision a reality.
Probably the easiest, no-brained placement would be Winslow Park along Compo Road North, where the sewer work and fencing was done. The Representative Town Meeting or Parks & Recreation Department may have other ideas, however.
Winslow Park (bottom half of photo).
From a community perspective, a well-designed dog run can have positive social and economic impacts. Dog owners are more likely to frequent local establishments and outdoor spaces when they have a safe and enjoyable place to take their pets for exercise and socialization.
This increased foot traffic can benefit local businesses, and contribute to a vibrant and active community.
Moreover, a dog run can foster a stronger sense of community among dog owners. It provides a shared space where individuals with a common interest in pet ownership can come together, share experiences and build connections.
This sense of community not only benefits the dog owners themselves but also contributes to the overall social fabric of the town.
This enclosed dog run includes amenities.
Local authorities and community leaders should consider the numerous advantages a dog run would bring to Westport, and take the necessary steps to make this vision a reality. It’s time for our 4-legged residents and their dedicated owners to see a well-maintained dog run.
By providing a secure space for dogs to exercise and socialize, complete with separate areas, essential amenities and vaccination requirements, a dog run (possibly named “Winnie’s Run,” after a dog that was killed on the road) would become a valuable asset that enhances the quality of life for both dogs and their human companions.
(“06880” frequently publishes opinion pieces by local residents. It’s part of our mission as Westport’s hyper-local blog. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
Last weekend was one of the most remarkable in memory.
Under spectacular late-summer skies, several organizations held important fundraisers.
The Westport Country Playhouse, Wakeman Town Farm, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services and Levitt Pavilion all threw great bashes. All depend on donors to do the amazing things they do.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s annual Slice of Saugatuck is part fundraiser too. Each year, they donate thousands of dollars from proceeds to Homes with Hope’s food pantry.
Thousands of Westporters ate, drank, danced and were entertained at those events.
At the Levitt Pavilion, Peter Frampton came alive.
Two days earlier, the Westport Library’s biggest gala of the year, “Booked for the Evening,” was the most successful — and fun — in its 25-year history. Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Chris McKendry wowed a sellout crowd.
And this weekend, 1,500 more will head to Compo Beach. Proceeds from the Westport Rotary Club’s LobsterFest will allow that group to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars, to dozens of organizations in Fairfield County and abroad.
Parties like these make Westport a wonderful place to live. In addition to money raised, they create a sense of community. They make us smile, and feel good about ourselves, our neighbors and our town.
But none of those events happen overnight.
Each takes months of meticulous planning. From the big items — talent, food, decorations, auction items, publicity — to the smaller ones like programs, signage, tablecloths and a squintillion other details, a successful fundraiser relies on a huge pool of volunteers.
Wakeman Town Farm’s HarvestFest was fantastic. But who arranged for the singer? Figured out where he’d sing? Got the flowers, and put them there?
The overall chairs get thanked profusely. They thank their committee chairs. All deserve their kudos.
But it’s the grunt work of all the un-thanked men, women and teenagers who ace a Billie Jean King evening, help Peter Frampton sing, and feed (then clean up) 3,000 lobsters.
So to all those who worked on any of those events. Or will work this weekend. Or worked in the past, and may in the future:
Thank you. You are our unsung — but greatly appreciated — heroes of the week.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
Sigrid Schultz has been remembered — belatedly — in her longtime hometown of Westport, with a parking lot named in her honor.
But there is a lot more to her story than that.
Serving as the Chicago Tribune’s Berlin bureau chief from 1926 to 1941, Schultz masked her intense loathing for the Nazis in order to cultivate contacts at the highest level of the Third Reich. Among her many accomplishments, Schultz interviewed Adolf Hitler several times. She also fearlessly cast a barb at Hermann Göring for his failed attempt to have her arrested.
She boldly covered the persecution of Jews, was one of the first to report on abuses at the German concentration camps, and was once called “Hitler’s greatest enemy.”
Yet for all her accomplishments, Schultz’s story is largely untold.
Vanessa Johnston is working on a documentary film about her. It will explore her extraordinary career, from her heady days as a young reporter covering the Weimar Republic, to her writing in secret under an alias to avoid Nazi censors, on through her anguish at seeing the Buchenwald concentration camp, then her relatively obscure life in Westport.
Tomorrow (Thursday, September 19, 7 p.m., Westport Museum for History & Culture), Johnston will preview her unfinished film. There’s a talkback with the producer, and a look at a one-night-only display of artifacts owned by Schultz.
Click here for tickets ($5 for members, $10 for non-members). Proceeds support the museum’s exhibitions, programs and research.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Joseph J. Clinton Post 399’s 51st straight monthly Red Cross Blood Drive honors lance corporal Charles Rochlin, of the Marine Corps.
The 2003 Staples High School graduate spent 7 months in Iraq. He was on leave in Westport when he died in an automobile accident.
The blood drive is this Friday (September 20, noon to 5 p.m.).
Click here for an appointment; use sponsor code VFWWESTPORT. You can also call 800-733-2767.
CraftWestport returns to the Staples High School fieldhouse November 2-3. Over 175 vendors kick off the holiday shopping season, with thousands of products in mediums like ceramics, textiles, woodworking, jewelry, glass art and more.
Plus food items like bourbon-barrel aged maple syrup, hand-painted chocolates, teas, honey, cheese spreads, curds, baked goods, and skincare products, soaps, candles, etc.
All-weekend admission is $11; seniors $10, children 12-18 $5, children under 12 are free. Click here for more details. CraftWestport is presented by the Westport Young Woman’s League.
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The one good thing that has come out of the death of Rachel Doran — the 2015 Staples High School graduate who died just before her senior year at Cornell University after a rare reaction to common medication — is Rach’s Hope.
The non-profit provides nutritious food, lodging, transportation and encouragement to family members when a child is in intensive care.
Well, there’s one other good thing: community participating in “Walk the Extra Mile … for Rach’s Hope.”
The 4th annual event is Sunday, October 6 (Compo Beach Ned Dimes Marina, 3 p.m.).
The day includes community spirit, fresh air, a fun beach walk, live music by Ellis Island Acoustic, the Pizza Pie Wagon truck, wine and beer courtesy of Greens Farms Spirit Shop, and Rach’s signature black and white cookies.
All are welcome. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Rachel Doran
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A clarification on yesterday’s Roundup post about CLASP’s “Music Through the Decades” benefit (October 18, Fairfield Theatre Company).
Band Central — the great entertainment — is not “the CLASP house group.”
Band Central is made up of very talented professional musicians. At different times, members have played with very high-powered groups — including the Rolling Stones.
Band Central was created to unite a community of non-profits, musicians, donors, and audience members through themed music concerts. They’ve raised $6 million for over 60 Fairfield County organizations, and produced more than 150 events.
The October 18 show will raise funds to support CLASP’s clients, with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A 6:30 p.m. pre-party includes light bites from Blue + Berries and Little Pub. The main event kicks off at 7:30.
Guests are encouraged to dress in the fashion of their favorite decade.
Tickets are $45 in person at the FTC office, $54 online or by phone (203-319-1404).
A clinical psychiatrist at the Yale Department of Psychology with a private practice, she spoke about her work as lead psychologist at Mountain Seed Foundation. It provides healing camps in places like the Austrian Alps for veterans of foreign wars who are suffering from trauma or war loss, and their families.
The week-long program includes physical activities like mountain climbing, zip lining, nature walks and art therapy.
Amit Oren (Photo/Ellin Curley)
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On Sunday night, Alex Sherman was walking his dog near Compo Road South.
Alex got to hear Peter Frampton’s concert (for free).
Plus, he spotted this cool-looking owl on Baker Street. It’s a great image, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … in the midst of one of the most polarized times in American history, today is National Respect Day.
(If you respect “06880” — or even just like it a little bit — please consider a tax-deductible contribution to support our work. Just click here. Thank you!)
On a warm, late-summer day, Max Harper’s family, friends and those who wished they had known him bid farewell.
The 18-year-old Staples High School senior died last week, on his dirt bike not far from his home.
All after-school activities were canceled yesterday, so students could attend the poignant service by the Compo Beach cannons.
Max’s dad spoke, as did Staples principal Stafford Thomas, Greens Farms Academy head Bob Whelan (Max’s previous school), and several friends.
Near the end, yarn balls were passed out. Everyone held on, connecting the large group.
Then the crowd made their way to the shore, and placed petals on the water.
Greens Farms Academy head Bob Whelan (right) addresses Max’s friends from 2 schools. Staples principal Stafford Thomas stands nearby (jacket, hands clasped).
(All photos/Luca Caniato, Staples High School Class of 2025)
Hundreds of friends joined Max Harper’s family to say goodbye to the 18-year-old today, at Compo Beach. He died last week, on his dirt bike. After the memorial, they gathered at the shore, to throw petals on the water. (Photo/Katie Phillis)
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