Author Archives: Dan Woog

Pic Of The Day #1430

Posted on March 17, 2021 | 3 comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, from the Westport Country Playhouse. (Don’t worry — it’s the wonders of photo editing software!) (Photo from the Playhouse, via Suzanne Ford and Facebook)

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Staples: Full In-Person Learning Begins March 25

Posted on March 17, 2021 | Comments Off on Staples: Full In-Person Learning Begins March 25

More than a year after going fully remote — and after beginning the 2020-21 school year at 50% capacity, then transitioning to 75% this winter — Staples High School returns to full in-person education on March 25.

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice says:

The district maintained a very conservative approach to our schooling models for the first half of the year. Nearly 7 weeks ago, based on our local experience, input from our public health partners, and a projected drop in infection rates, we reopened our elementary and middle schools for full in-person learning.

Additionally, on March 1, Staples High School increased access for students by implementing a 3 day a week, 75% in-person model.

Since then, our faculty and staff have done a remarkable job and we have experienced great success. The work of our professional educators this year simply cannot be overstated.

We continue to maintain a responsibility to minimizing virus spread in our community. Yet we must balance that responsibility with our obligations to overall student wellness, most significantly, their mental and emotional well-being. As a result, on Thursday March 25, Staples High School will reopen for full in-person learning.

Staples High School’s parking lots will be more filled on March 25. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)

Contact Tracing and Quarantines 
In reviewing local data, I found that we have contact traced and quarantined over 2,800 students and adults this year. Out of the 2,800+ quarantined, only 6 who were determined to be close contacts (.002%) have tested positive for COVID.

Additionally, to our knowledge, of the 232 students who have tested positive for COVID, there have been zero known cases of “student to adult virus transmission,” and zero known cases of students experiencing serious health complications as a result of infection.

As a result of this data, we engaged the health district to seek support for revisiting the definition of a close contact, and the duration of quarantines.  Currently, close contacts are defined as being within 6 feet of a known positive COVID case for an accumulation of 15 minutes, while quarantines for close contacts are 10 days in length.

Based on our data, we will now begin to define close contacts as those within 3 feet of a known COVID positive case, not 6 feet. Recent literature has pointed to this change in guidance. Considering that our entire population is masked at all times, our local health district and medical advisor support this change as well.  We will continue to monitor our practices and make adjustments as needed.

However, given the trends in data collected by the health district, we will continue to recommend a 10 day quarantine for those determined to be close contacts. Although the CDC allows for a 70day quarantine following a negative test on day 5, the health district shared that there are more than a few cases in the community, not in our schools, in which a close contact tested positive after day 7. A change was made to reduce the length of quarantine in December from 14 days to 10 days. This standard will remain for the foreseeable future.

“Sophie in Quarantine” (Claudia Rossman)

Early Dismissals
In an effort to provide additional time to support our distance learners, and to accommodate our teachers who have taken on additional responsibilities during arrival and dismissal, the Wednesday early dismissals will continue for the foreseeable future.

However, Staples will begin to provide in-person learning on our Wednesday early dismissals beginning on April 21 within the new full in-person model beginning March 25. Our middle schools are working to revisit their schedule following the April break. More information will be forthcoming about any potential changes to the middle school schedule in the near future.

Travel Guidance 
On March 19, 2021, Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 9S regarding travel will change from an executive order to a recommended practice. Under this order, anyone traveling outside of New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island, for a period of time longer than 24 hours, requires a negative COVID test within 72 hours of return to CT, or a 10 day quarantine.

If using the testing option, an individual should remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is obtained. In collaboration with the WWHD and our medical advisor, the district will continue to support this practice. Please contact your school nurse if you have any questions.

Ending the Year with Normalcy
We have placed a high priority on ending the year with as much “normalcy” as possible. Our thinking is that the more normalcy we end the year with, the easier it will be to start the new year with normalcy. As we plan our end-of-year events and the daily operations, we will look to continue to bring a sense of normalcy to our schools.

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Unsung Heroes #182

Posted on March 17, 2021 | 5 comments

Connecticut is one of America’s top states for vaccination rates.

Still, snagging an appointment is not easy. The website is tough to manage. Phone lines are overwhelmed.

It’s especially difficult for older residents, and those either technologically challenged or without access to technology.

Fortunately, many folks help.

Children — grown and teenagers — have gotten up early, stayed up late, and spent hours refreshing sites, then going through the many steps to secure a slot for their parents.

Neighbors have done the same. So have strangers, connected by a variety of organizations and Facebook groups.

Hartford Healthcare’s Keith Grant was among the first in Connecticut to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Ned Lamont looked on.

I’ve heard several stories of Westporters who have gone far out of their way to assist others.

They do it to help ease the pandemic for us all.

And they do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Which is why anyone who has helped anyone access the vaccine is this week’s Unsung Hero.

(To nominate an Unsung Hero, email dwoog@optonline.net.)

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Vaccination appointments can be made utilizing the following tools:

  • The Vaccine Administration Management System can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. Click here.
  • Call Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line: Open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week: 877-918-2224.
  • Hartford HealthCare: Multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the Hartford area. Click here.
  • Yale New Haven Health: Multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the New Haven area. Click here.
  • Stamford Health: 7 days a week at Stamford Hospital. Click here.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.

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Roundup: Medicine, March Madness …

Posted on March 17, 2021 | 2 comments

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Amy Crane posted on a local Facebook group:

“I am the mother of a seventh grader at Coleytown Middle School. Unfortunately I have developed a secondary cancer as a result of my original treatment, and will need a bone marrow transplant. If you are willing and able please register as a donor (click here). Most of the time it’s just like donating blood and not painful at all. Bonus if you are 18-44!”

The more matches, the more chances someone like Amy can be helped. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

You can celebrate with Charlie Heath. The Staples High School Class of 1987 graduate  was in the 1994 horror classic “Leprechaun 2.” It runs all day — with the other “Leprechaun” films — on the Syfy network. (Hat tip: Rich Stein)

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March Madness begins soon. And what better way to dive in than with FastBreak.

The digital show — which covers the NCAA basketball tournament in a variety of platforms, with wall-to-wall, fast-paced coverage — is hosted by Westporter Dave Briggs.

It’s a perfect role for the former NBC Sports, Fox News and CNN star.

He’s joined by Kentucky basketball legends Rex Chapman and Tony Delk for every game in the first 2 rounds this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

You can watch on the NCAA website, or the March Madness Live app.

Dave Briggs (left) and friends.

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Registration for Westport Parks & Recreation spring and summer programs begins online on March 22 (9 a.m.). Click here for all offerings, including sports, Camp Compo and RECing Crew. Click here to register.

The Parks & Rec office remains closed to the public. Staff is available via email (recreation@westportct.gov), phone (203-341-5152 weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and mail (260 Compo Road South, Westport, CT 06880).

For registration, check your online account tnow. Log in, then click “Manage Family Members” on the bottom right. To view more details, click the name of a specific family member. Make any changes, then hit “save.” For address changes, email recreation@westportct.gov.

If you cannot log into your online account, do not create another profile. Email recreation@westportct.gov, or call 203-341-5152.

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And finally … “06880” (or should I say 0’6880) wishes all readers — Irish or (unfortunately) not — a happy St. Patrick’s Day.

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Posted in Children, Organizations, People, Sports

Snowbirds: Handling Homes Hassle-Free

Posted on March 17, 2021 | 5 comments

When Nicolas Ancel was offered a job in the US 14 years ago, the French family took a chance.

Their daughters were teenagers. It was not an easy move. But they found what they were looking for, Nicolas’ wife Dorothée says: “Freedom. The ability to create whatever you want. If you have a good idea, you can can get it done.”

Today, all 5 Ancels are American citizens. And Dorothée’s idea has become a thriving business.

In 30 years of marriage, she and her husband have always had a side interest in real estate. They owned small condos all over France.

After coming to Westport they bought a second house. Then they purchased one for their daughter near the University of Connecticut. A rental home followed.

Dorothee Ancel holds a bachelor’s degree in international business, and a master’s in international purchasing.

Each time they had to find contractors, landscapers and repair companies. Dorothée became adept at property management. Her organizational skills, common sense and reliability were a natural fit.

To learn even more, she earned a real estate license.

In July 2019, good friends moved to California. Their departure was rushed, so they asked Dorothée to represent them at the final walkthrough.

The new owners were a young couple from New York, with 3 children. They planned to move in 9 months later, after renovations were done.

They wondered: Who could keep an eye on their house in the meantime?

Dorothée had an idea. And in true American spirit, she got it done.

Snowbirds — her new company — provides home watch services to people who spend part of the year away from Westport. (Our town is filled with snowbirds — men and women who live at least 6 months and 1 day in the Sunshine State, for tax purposes. Well, at least Westport is filled with them a few months a year.)

When they return, Dorothée arranges airport pickups and ensures that the refrigerator is full.

She also prepares homes for newcomers. She facilitates their arrivals; coordinates with contractors and deliverers and the pool maintenance guys; does exterior and interior checks, and performs the bajillion other small but crucial tasks that make them feel comfortable and welcome.

The usual helpers — cleaning ladies, landscapers and the like — are not always up to those jobs. “Someone forgets to lock a door,” Dorothée says. “Or they close the wrong one, and everything in the closet gets musty.”

Managing a home is never easy — particularly if you’re away for a while. (Photo courtesy of Compass)

The other day, heat was off in a home’s 3rd floor. Dorothée realized a thermostat battery had leaked. Someone inexperienced in property management would not have thought to look.

Dorothée has several clients from overseas. She helps them with the daily chores we take for granted: registering for school, navigating the DMV, you name it.

Every day — and home — is different. Each client has different needs and expectations. “The sky is the limit,” Dorothée says.

So far, she has never said no to any request.

“People buy peace of mind,” she notes. “I take away distractions, so they can focus on their jobs.”

Relaxing in their own home: Dorothee and Nicolas Ancel, and their daugthers.

Dorothée also finds time to teach English as a Second Language on Tuesday nights. It’s her way of giving back to the nation that has given her so much.

After more than a decade in the States, she remains impressed by the opportunities, the beauty of this area, and the wonderful people she meets.

“They are so nice!” she says. “I love what I do.”

And — whether they’re snowbird in Florida or move here from France — her clients are grateful that so many of their homeowning headaches are now hers.

(Click here for the Snowbirds website. For more information email SnowbirdsFromCT@gmail.com, or call 203-260-4281.)

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Pic Of The Day #1429

Posted on March 16, 2021 | 1 comment

Sunset rowers, seen from Longshore (Photo/Larry Hoy)

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Remembering Jeri Skinner

Posted on March 16, 2021 | 7 comments

Jeri Skinner — who in various careers in the arts, hospitality and as a founder of Builders Beyond Borders impacted and influenced countless Westporters — died peacefully on March 6, of congestive heart failure.  She was 82 years old.

She was born in 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa. After high school her family moved to California, where Jeri worked as a secretary for Lockheed. She met her future husband, John Skinner, at the Officers’ Club at Moffett Field in Sunnyvale.

They were married in 1959. Their son Christian was born on February 9, 1960. Craig followed exactly two years later, on February 9, 1962.

Jeri and her family moved to Westport in 1969. She lived there for over 45 years. Jeri found great joy as a public relations specialist for the Levitt Pavilion, then as public relations director for the Darien Dinner Theater.

She made lifelong friends through her career in the theater, and often invited actors to stay at her home during their run.

Jeri loved playing hostess and planning gatherings. She started her own event business, Fête Accompli, in 1988. She planned upscale events for Fendi, the Isle of Man, Harvard, and many more.

Jeri Skinner

As the wife of a naval officer and international commercial pilot, Jeri loved traveling the world. She enjoyed experiencing different cultures, and sought out unique gifts for family and friends.

Following their retirement, Jeri and John became leaders for Kingdom Builders at Greens Farms Congregational Church. This laid the foundation for not-for-profit Builders Beyond Borders, to build and repair homes, clinics, daycare centers and more for the less fortunate.

Jeri and her family assembled groups of teens. They traveled to Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Honduras, instilling values of generosity, service, and goodwill.

Jeri was also proud to serve as historian for the Southport Congregational Church. She and John traveled to Boston to have the pulpit Bible restored. She also commissioned the restoration of the 115-year-old stained glass windows in the church. She found the studio in New Jersey that made the original windows to complete the work.

Jeri and John loved Charleston, South Carolina, and often spoke about moving there. Jeri moved to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina last September. She quickly made friends. She loved sitting on her balcony, and often boasted she had the best apartment there.

Jeri was often described as candid and spunky, attributes she wore as a badge of honor. She often claimed she had a filter, but said she never saw fit to use it.

She died at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Her son Chris and his wife Tammy were with her. Though COVID restrictions made it difficult for visitors to gather, the caring and attentive staff ensured that Jeri’s loved ones could speak to her, share memories, and play her favorite music during her final hours.

Jeri was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, John. She is survived by her sons Christian (Tammy) and Craig (Elizabeth); granddaughters Jennifer Skinner, Amanda Dempsey and Emily Skinner; great-grandson Killian, and great-granddaughter Maeve; step-grandson Howard Dias; sister-in-law Patricia Peck various nephews and nieces; “daughter-in-heart” Marianne Challis-Root, and her French bulldog Winston.

In addition, Jeri leaves behind dear friends who are like her extended family: her “son-in-law” Frank Root; “grandson” Alanson Root, his wife Ashley, their son Atlas and daughter Arden; “granddaughter” Abigail Root Mulgrew and husband Ben; “grandson” Phillip Bettencourt; “Uncle” Bob Logan; “Uncle” Rick Donner,  and many others who held Jeri in their hearts.

Like her husband John, who donated his body to Yale University, Jeri donated her body to Anatomy Gifts in the hopes of furthering scientific research.

As a tribute to her husband and his battle with Parkinson’s disease, donations can be made in her and John’s name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

A celebration of Jeri’s life will be arranged at a later date. (Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)

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Roundup: Amazon — And More Books …

Posted on March 16, 2021 | 3 comments

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Connecticut — already in the Top 5 states nationwide for its COVID vaccine program — took a huge step forward yesterday.

Governor Lamont announced the expansion of the vaccine to everyone over the age of 16. The planned date to begin scheduling those shots is April 5. That’s significantly ahead of the previous target date.

This Friday (March 19), scheduling opens to all residents age 45 to 54.

For information on making appointments and finding the closest available clinic. click here. You can also call Connecticut’s vaccine appointment assist line: 877-918-2224 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Other vaccine providers include:

Yale New Haven Health
Sign up online here, or call 833-275-9644

CVS Health (limited locations)
Sign up online here, or call 800-679-9691.

Walgreens (limited locations)
Sign up online here, or call 800-925-4733

Stamford Health
Sign-up online here, or call 203-276-7300.

Hartford Healthcare
Sign-up online here, or call 860-827-7690.

Infants are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine. Maybe soon though …

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The best selling book on Amazon yesterday was LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light.

And by “best selling,” I mean just that. Westporter Melissa Bernstein’s book about her battle with existential anguish and depression was #1.

Not just in the self-help category. Not in “books by women authors.” Not in any of the dozens of other categories that Amazon uses to try to create buzz.

Lifelines was Amazon’s best selling book, among the bajillions of titles the retail behemoth sells.

It may have gotten a boost from fellow Westporter David Pogue’s segment about it on “CBS Sunday Morning,” the day before.

But it also benefits from being a very important book, by a well-known and very honest writer, at a time when talking (and reading) about mental health is crucial.

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Alec Lobrano graduated from Weston High School in 1973. Until he landed a job in the Paris office of Women’s Wear Daily, his experience with French cuisine was limited to browsing cookbooks at the Weston Library, where he worked as a teenager.

But he carved out a niche as a food critic in Paris. The lessons he learned from leading culinary figures helped him master fine dining, and also find his place as a gay man navigating the alluring city and his exciting career.

Lobrano has won several James Beard Awards. He writes on food and travel for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Saveur, Food & Wine, Eater, Condé Nast Traveler and more.

His memoir — My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris — will be published June 1.

The book is filled with vivid descriptions of Parisian restaurants, his favorite and least favorite meals, and run-ins with figures from like Julia Child and Ruth Reichl. It’s also a coming-of-age story about the healing power of food. Click here for details.

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On March 30 (7 p.m.), Westport takes center ice in hockey world.

NBC Sports’ Emmy-winning NHL broadcaster Mike Emrick sits with USA Today‘s veteran beat writer Kevin Allen, for a discussion about Emrick’s new book, Off Mike.

The candid discussion about his exciting life is free. Click here to register.

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Weston’s beloved Jolantha celebrates St. Patrick’s Day:

(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)

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And finally … though the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, was officially ratified in 1865, it took 130 more years for Mississippi’s formal approval. It happened on this day in 1995.

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Got The Vaccine? Tell The World!

Posted on March 16, 2021 | 3 comments

COVID canceled the 2020 Maker Faire Connecticut. It may do the same this year.

But Makers are creative, resourceful and nimble.

And not just with their annual showcase of all things scientific, environmental, magical and cool.

As Makers picked up on all the vaccine buzz — and noticed how eager folks are to let others know they’ve gotten the shot — they had their own Archimedes “Eureka!” moment.

Quickly, they created 9 pins in 2 sizes for people to buy, wear, and show their commitment to eliminating the virus.

But wait! There’s more! All proceeds help fund Remarkable STEAM — Maker Faire’s parent organization.

In true Westport Maker fashion, the pins were all designed — and made by hand — here.

Remarkable STEAM offers “06880” readers a 25% discount on all pins. Just click this link.

COVID vaccine pins “make” great gifts for friends, relatives, employees, customers — anyone who is vaccinated, in fact. For quantity pricing and other questions, contact Mark Mathias by phone (203-226-1791) or email: mark@remarkablesteam.org.

Remarkable, indeed!

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Jamie Mann: Good Ol “Country Comfort”

Posted on March 16, 2021 | 5 comments

“I sucked at soccer,” says Jamie Mann. “I knew I wasn’t going to be a pro.”

But the Staples High School senior sure can dance. And sing. And act.

After being mesmerized by a performance of “Swan Lake” at 3 — and always dancing whenever he heard music — his mother suggested he try ballet.

Jamie was hooked.

“Dance is a special art form. It’s the purest form of emotional experience,” he says. “You tell a story without speaking. It’s graceful, unique and fulfilling.”

Jamie Mann (Photo/Curtis & Cort)

Jamie studied at the Alvin Ailey Athletic Boys program — dance is also a pure form of athleticism — as well as the School of American Ballet and Ballet Etudes. He has performed in “Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake” with the New York City Ballet, and did “Nutcracker” at the Westport Playhouse too.

Then came “Billy Elliot.” The first Broadway show he’d seen, he felt it called him to be on stage.

Soon he was — in 4 regional productions around the country. He learned as much about singing and acting as did dancing.

Working with a director for the first time, during long, strenuous rehearsals, Jamie became resilient. Seeing the “insane number of people” involved bringing a show to life solidified his desire to make theater his life.

He honed his craft with Staples Players. Jamie sang and acted in 8 shows, from “Newsies” to “Curtains.” The summer before junior year, he starred in “Because of Winn-Dixie” at the Goodspeed Opera House.

“I’m so fortunate to have grown up in this artistic community, where so many people helped me on this path,” he says.

He gives shout-outs to his first acting teacher, Jill Jaysen, and Cynthia Gibb at Triple Threat — his voice teacher, acting coach and mentor for 10 years.

Jamie Mann (right) in “Because of Winn Dixie” at the Goodspeed Opera House. 
(Photo/Diane Sobolewski)

Last year he auditioned in New York for a new project. “Country Comfort” is a Netflix comedy about an aspiring country singer who finds new life as a nanny for a handsome widower and his 5 charming children.

In the middle of rehearsals for Players’ “Mamma Mia!” Jamie got the job. He flew to California, for rehearsals and taping.

Jamie Mann (5th from left, in blue) in “Mamma Mia!” Photo/Kerry Long)

He had never been on a film set. He had to learn different blocking, not to look into the camera — and adapt to constant line changes. Every night brought a new script.

It was Jamie’s first time originating a role. He developed “Brody” — the 2nd oldest kid — as a character. “I found his mannerisms, and explored his character,” Jamie explains.

Brody is “someone I’d be friend with in real life. He’s a good brother. Parental in a way. He’s a little insecure. He doesn’t really know fully who he is. But he grew as a character from a blank slate. And I grew with him.”

Meanwhile, the entire cast — including Katharine McPhee, Eddie Cibrian and Ricardo Hurtado — had to create “a convincing family dynamic.”

They did. Jamie — who in real life has 3 younger siblings — feels like he now has a “second family.” He can’t wait for the world to see it, when it debuts this Friday (March 19).

Jamie Mann (left) with his “Country Comfort” family. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

But the show’s path from California set to Netflix distribution was not as smooth as it sounds.

Right after the 4th episode was filmed, COVID struck. The cast dispersed. They did not get together again until September.

“Up to then we didn’t know if we’d ever be back,” Jamie recalls. “But we jumped right in.”

Six more episodes were completed by the end of October.

Jamie Mann (center), ready for prime time. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

Post-production takes time. Back in Westport, Jamie watched “Bridgerton” and “Stranger Things” on Netflix.

“It was weird to see them, and think I’d be on that platform soon,” he admits.

“But it got me excited. It’s cool that people all over the world can watch this.”

And in other languages. It felt very strange to watch a trailer in Spanish — his body, but his voice dubbed in by someone he’d never met.

As an actor, it’s always hard to watch himself, Jamie says. He will probably view the first episode on Friday with his “real life family,” at their Compo Beach home. But he’ll see most of the other shows by himself.

“Country Comfort” billboard in Times Square.

Then he’ll wait to see if “Country Comfort” — which has earned strong pre-reviews — will be picked up for another season.

Meanwhile, he’s reveling in being a Staples senior, even in this COVID-crossed year. He was part of Players’ radio show “Dracula,” and is waiting to hear from colleges.

He’s applied for musical theater programs. Competition is tough.

Yet it’s hard to imagine many other candidates have the ballet, singing — and “Country Comfort” — resumes of Jamie Mann.

BONUS REEL: “06880” first noticed Jamie in 2016. As a Bedford Middle School 7th grader, he danced a “Billy Elliot” routine in the talent show. I described the support he got as a young dancer from his friend Josh Suggs — and the thunderous applause he earned on the middle school stage. Click here for the story, then below for the video.

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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, Media, Staples HS, Teenagers

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