As a homeschooled middle schooler, Quinn Fitts was vaguely aware of Toquet Hall.
Yet until, as a Staples High School freshman, she heard youth board members of the town’s teen center talk about an upcoming “’20s Night” — 1900s, not 2000s — she had never gone.
But she climbed the stairs to Toquet (it’s in one of those if-you-know,-you-know locations, in the alley between the Post Road and Jesup Road by the Westport Book Shop).
Toquet Hall’s funky exterior.
Quinn walked into the wide-open room, with couches, a stage, video games and snacks. She played table games, and card games.
“It was pretty cool,” she recalls.
Toquet Hall: the view from the stage.
Two years later, Quinn is on the Toquet Hall youth board herself.
They meet weekly. They plan, and run, events. “It’s a great way to get involved in the community of Westport,” she says.
And to offer fun, low-key activities to middle and high schoolers here.
As the youth board has done for nearly 3 decades — ever since the center opened in 1998, in a 19th-century building that was once an opera house — they’ve tried to get the word out that it is a great place to hang out.
Plenty to do for everyone, at Toquet Hall.
One of the first big events Quinn helped with was “Spicy Twos” — a “Hot Ones”-esque evening. More recently, she worked on another “20s Night.”
On Friday, March 20 Toquet Hall is open from 5 to 10 p.m., for board games, card games, video games (there’s a Switch, Wii, and 3 types of Smash Bros), pool, or just talking with friends.
Pool, video games, and much more.
The next event (Saturday, March 21) is “Jeopardy Night.” In the works: a “Star Wars” movie.
And of course, there is music.
The Townies get ready to play.
Toquet also offers events for middle schoolers. (Tonight — Friday — there’s a Super Smash Bros. tournament, from 7 to 9 p.m.). And it’s open for drop-ins after school for that age group too.
Quinn is part of Staples Players. Her friends enjoy Toquet Hall (and serve on its youth board).
She wants other friend groups to come too.
“It’s a fun place to hang out,” she notes. “We don’t have other places where you can just exist for free, except the library.”
(“06880” often covers Westport’s youth scene — plus everything else in town. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Yesterday’s stunning weather (and extra hour of daylight) turned many Westporters’ thoughts to the outdoors.
Including activities like dining al fresco.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Board of Selectpersons will be asked to approve a request from the Westport Downtown Association for the annual temporary closure of Church Lane between Elm Street and Post Road East, for outdoor dining (and music).
The street would be closed to all but emergency traffic from May 8 to October 1. Musicians would entertain on Fridays and Saturdays (5:30 to 9 p.m.), from June 5 to September 26.
In a WDA survey last year, respondents were asked if the Church Lane closure is a benefit to the town, and something that should be continued.
2,033 — that’s 92.2% — said yes. 171 (7.8%) said no.
This would be the 7th year for the street closure and outdoor dining downtown. The tradition began during the pandemic.
Outdoor dining at Spotted Horse. (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
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Speaking of eating: Foodies collect many things: recipes, cooking equipment, leftovers .
They also collect books.
Cookbooks, non-fiction, food memoirs — you name it, they’ve got it.
But food books — like food — are meant to be shared.
This Thursday (March 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center), the winter Westport Farmers’ Market hosts a “foodie book swap.”
Bring your favorites. Trade them for something new.
The WFM puts it best: “Come hungry for stories, and leave inspired in the kitchen.”
A celebration of the life of Richard “Deej” Webb – the Westport native, teacher and historian who turned his lifelong fascination with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s summer here into a book and documentary — is set for March 20 (1:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Compo Beach Improvement Association. Funds will help beautify Deej’s adult and childhood playground. Venmo: @CBIA-KristinPurcell-Tsr.
Deej Webb
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Bedford Middle School is taking “The Little Mermaid” to new heights.
Literally.
On March 19-22, the musical production will include — with help from ZFX Flying Effects — young actors soaring across the sage.
That’s in addition to the immersive underwater world, with dynamic lighting, projections, bubbles and theatrical effects.
Americans know Alisyn Camerota as an award-winning broadcast journalist and author.
Westporters know her as our neighbor.
On the weekend of April 10-12, a small group of women will know her as someone who helped reinvent their lives.
On a weekend retreat in the Catskills, Alisyn and Michelle Blieberg — a global talent manager and artist — will guide a fun, exciting experience to “design your future with purpose and confidence.”
Creative exercise and activities will help attendees map their next act.
The setting — the Menla Retreat and Spa, 330 acres — offers yoga, hiking, healing therapies, spa services and gourmet meals, along with Alisyn and Michelle’s expert guidance.
For more information, email info@reinventyourlife.biz. To register, click here.
Alisyn Camerota
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Sure, “06880” is “where Westport meets the world.”
But Wikipedia has a much wider reach.
And of those 100 million or so who use it daily, any who click on the “Secondary Schools” page will learn everything they need to know about high schools — or senior schools, or whatever else they’re called around the globe.
There’s plenty of text, all with the necessary Wikipedia citations.
There’s only one photo, though.
And of all the images that could have been used to illustrate high schools on the planet, the one that’s used is … Staples High School.
Staples High School, on Wikipedia’s “Secondary school” page.
The reader who alerted us to this remarkable/impressive/crazy fact writes: “At first I thought it was some kind of location-based gimmick, where the website would just display whatever school was closest to your location.
“But having looked at the editing history of the page, it actually is just the picture that they chose!”
Whether blowing bebop with the Charles Mingus Band or improvising with Anthony Braxton, Michael Rabinowitz has changed the conception of what a bassoon can do.
This Thursday (March 12, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m., dinner from 7), he’ll bring his talents ot “Jazz at the Post.”
Rabinowitz will be joined by pianist Stebe Sandberg, bassist Michael O’Brien, drummer David Alvarez and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Earthplace. Luisa Francoeur was at the bridge by Frog Pond. “It was interesting to see the reflections, and how they made the image difficult to decipher,” she says.
And finally … Country Joe McDonald — the Navy veteran whose rousing “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin-‘t0-Die Rag” served as both a symbol of Woodstock and an anti-Vietnam War anthem for a generation — died Saturday in Berkeley, California.
He was 84, and suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
After his band — Country Joe & the Fish — broke up in 1970, he had a long solo career, in a variety of styles.
Click here for a full obituary. It includes the fascinating nugget that his parents — who were communists — named him after Joseph Stalin.
After a professional development day, winter break, then 2 more blizzard snow days, Westport schools were finally back in session this morning.
It did not start out well.
A parent of a student reports, “Cars were driving 5 miles an hour on the way to school. Many were sliding all over the place. Scary!”
A Staples High School senior adds, “Wild school opening. 4 students in my first period class. Roads covered in snow. Couldn’t see the center line on the Post Road.”
The good news is: The sun will peek through this afternoon. The temperature will be about 40.
The bad news: Snow showers are predicted, Sunday through Tuesday.
Car and school bus navigate snow-covered roads very carefully this morning. (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
The Board of Education “Community Conversation” scheduled for noon today at the Westport Library has been postponed.
A new date will be announced soon.
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And 2 delays: The Senior Center will open at 10:30 a.m. today, 2 hours late.
The Westport Library opens at 11 a.m.
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Residents caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia often feel alone.
There’s help available. The Residence at Westport and Westport Library are collaborating on a monthly support group, with professional facilitators.
It’s a chance to share stories with others who understand the challenges, in a safe and supportive environment.
Educational presentations may be provided, and participants will help choose discussion topics.
It meets the second Tuesday of every month (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Westport Library). No RSVPs are necessary; it’s a drop-in group.
Questions? Email mledney@residencewestport.com.
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For the second time this winter, SCA Crowley lent a clean-up hand.
The property management firm and Penna Construction — both longtime Westport-based firms — lent vehicles and crews yesterday night. Together, they cleared some of the snow that remained on downtown streets and sidewalks.
It takes a village. Thanks, SCA and Penna, for helping make ours a little less treacherous!
Many Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading selections are contemporary works.
The next one is a classic — and an encore presentation.
“The Subject Was Roses” — winner of the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a Tony Award for Best Play — comes to the storied stage on Monday (March 2, 7 p.m.).
It was produced at the Playhouse in 1966, then again in 1982.
“Roses” is set in May of 1946. As World War II draws to an end, a young soldier returns to the Bronx apartment where he was raised. Hoping his homecoming will repair his parents’ troubled marriage, he presses for small acts of reconciliation, only to expose years of resentment and emotional distance. As tensions rise, the family confronts the truth of their relationships and the life they share.
But it jammed up — and she has no idea who can fix it.
If you know a typewriter repair person — or can do it yourself — email cohlita@yahoo.com.
Who knows — she may write a nice thank-you note on it!
Kids: Do you know what this is?
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Dogs in a Pile — the 20-somethings band with “old souls and limitless chops,” brings their psychedelic-tinged jazz/funk/rock to the Levitt Pavilion on July 17.
Touring is in their blood: They’ve averaged 130 shows a year since 2022.
And finally … on this date in 1873, 4 years before the invention of the phonograph, Enrico Caruso — the most popular operatic tenor of the early 20th century, and the first great recording star — was born. He died in 1921, at 48, from peritonitis.
(Where else but “06880” can you find Dogs in a Pile and Enrico Caruso in the same place? There’s lot more every day too, on your hyper-local blog. Please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
In other blizzard news: The Westport Library will open today (Tuesday) at 12 noon. That will give them (and their employees) a little more time to dig out.
The works are very creative, wildly eclectic, and always thought-provoking. The energy level is high. The artists are eager to chat. And the food and drink is free.
The next one is next Tuesday (March 3, 6 to 8 p.m., Sheffer Barn at the Westport Country Playhouse). Broadway music conductor and composer Caren Cole will play.
The gallery is then open March 4-8 (noon to 4 p.m.). An artist talk (on inspiration, medium, process and more) is set for March 8 (4 p.m.).
This show features works by members who recently joined the Collective:
Laura Appelman, Peggy Dembicer, Tim Eaton, Ira Hara, Julie Hicks, Tom Kretsch, Shelly Lowenstein, Paula Morgan, Erwin Ong, Butch Quick,
Jodi Rabinowitz, Elizabeth Hiltz Thomas, Michael Tomashefsky and Rowene Weems. (Some of those names are familiar to “06880” readers, for their wonderful photos.)
Pianist Ted Rosenthal has performed worldwide as a soloist, with his trio, and with greats including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, and James Moody.
He joins a quintet — bassist Martin Wind, drummer Tim Horner, trumpeter Alex Norris and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall — this Thursday, for Jazz at the Post (February 26; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7; VFW Post 399). Click here for tickets, and more information.
With all the snow, we need a bird photo to remind us that spring is not far away.
At least, we hope not.
Outstanding wildlife photographer Lou Weinberg snapped this mourning dove, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(And yes, it’s “mourning” — not “morning.” The name comes comes from its melancholy coos. But it’s not a sound of grief — it’s a courtship call from the male.)
Of course, it will take time to clean up all that snow. (Schools are closed tomorrow — c’mon kids, get out there and shovel!)
The town was as quiet as it’s ever been today. Nearly everyone heeded pleas to stay off the roads. Public and private crews worked long and hard, plowing roads and driveways. (C’mon, residents — lend a hand with the sidewalks and fire hydrants!)
Things will start edging closer to normal tomorrow. But for now, here’s another look at what the snow and wind wrought.
Lila, on Wilton Road (Photo copyright/Ted Horowitz)
Post Road, 3 pm (Photo/Michael Chait)
Main Street (Photo/David Martin)
Snowbound on Violet Lane (Photo/Morley Boyd)
The wind wrecked this door, at the Bridge Square Dunkin’ Donuts (Photo/Whitmal Cooper)
(Photo/Tom Lowrie)
(Photo/Jay Petrow)
(Photo/Richard Jaffe)
(Photo/Jeff Ruden)
(Photo/Carl McNair)
(Photo/Mary Sikorski)
(Photo/Yulee Aronson)
Mobile on a porch, in a whiteout (Photo/Pamela Kesselman)
Arthur Tauck Jr. — a 2nd-generation family business owner whose locally based Tauck Tours revolutionized the travel industry, and who made a major mark on Westport by saving National Hall — died Wednesday at his winter home in Vero Beach, Florida, surrounded by family. He was 94.
In 1950, at 18 years old, he joined his father’s fledgling tour company, Tauck Tours, as a young tour director. He led guests through New England every summer, during his undergraduate studies at Lehigh University. He graduated in 1953, with a degree in marketing.
A devoted alumnus, in later years Arthur supported an endowed scholarship, a faculty chair in international marketing and logistics, and the Tauck Scholars Program, which has funded hundreds of rising seniors to complete international business internships.
Arthur Tauck
After graduation he entered the US Air Force as a lieutenant, and spent several years stationed in Germany.
Arthur returned to the family business in 1956. He became president 2 years later, at 27. Those formative experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to people, service and hospitality.
Arthur settled his growing family in Westport. and became active in the community. He learned to sail, and taught himself celestial navigation to pursue his passion for ocean racing. He twice served as commodore of Cedar Point Yacht Club.
Arthur was also an avid skier, golfer and scuba diver, and enjoyed biking the winding roads of Fairfield County in the early morning.
He also loved sharing summer evenings with family and friends in his gazebo, savoring a cold martini, and a smooth cigar.
Arthur Tauck with a cigar and martini, at his Westport home.
Arthur reveled in tackling new projects and interesting ideas. From 1987 to 1992 he created the National Hall Historic District in downtown Westport, preserving 19th century history at the corner of the Post Road and Wilton Road.
At the time, there was a very real possibility that the 1873 National Hall building would be demolished.
The Inn at National Hall.
Instead, he restored it into a Relais Chateaux hotel, with 13 rooms and an award-winning restaurant. The district also included the 1931 Vigilant fire station (now Oko Restaurant), and several brick buildings and walkways along the Saugatuck River.
The Tauck family also donated the old-style street lights that line the nearby Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
The Tauck family donated the old-fashioned street lamps, on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (Photo/JC Martin)
Arthur forged long-lasting friendships with people from all over the world, and all walks of life. He was a master storyteller, with a great sense of humor. He believed deeply in “doing the right thing” with humility, integrity, generosity and care.
His impact on the travel industry is immeasurable. Over 75 years, Arthur’s entrepreneurial spirit led to many new ways for Tauck guests to experience the world.
In the 1960s, with the rise of jet planes, he saw an opportunity to introduce guests to the national parks of the western United States, Hawaii and Canada.
Inspired by his own passions for hiking and bicycling, he pioneered heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies in the 1970s, and curated Tauck’s Yellow Roads of Europe in the 1990s, offering authentic experiences off the beaten path.
Arthur Tauck helped create, and popularize, both heli-hiking and heli-skiing in the Canadian Rockies.
His love of the sea and the historic waterways of Europe is reflected today in the company’s intimate and culturally rich ocean and river cruise experiences.
While these and many other innovations cemented his place as a travel industry visionary and pioneer, his personal motivation was always to the guest experience, with a strong commitment to service, value, and the human touch.
He believed deeply in the power of travel as a force for good in the world, whether by building understanding among people, preserving history and culture for future generations, or fulfilling individual dreams.
In 1994 Arthur founded the Tauck Family Foundation. The family endeavor encourages multiple generations to work together to give back, and make a positive impact on the world.
Today, the foundation supports communities to maintain healthy, regenerative ecosystems and land use practices through education and engagement.
Having lost his mother at age 5 and his father in his late twenties, Arthur valued family above all else.
He taught his young children to sail on Long Island Sound and to ski challenging terrains in Vermont. He supported his grandchildren, showing up at their games and school programs, and enjoying conversations with them.
He loved working alongside his adult children and son-in-law in the family business, and was confident that his grandchildren would uphold the company’s values and steward it successfully in its second century.
The 2nd and 3rd Tauck generations (from left): Peter, Chuck, Robin, Ronni and her husband Arthur, Liz. Most live (or have lived) in Westport. Missing: Kiki.
In addition to his wife Ronni, Arthur is survived by his sister Connie; his former wife Lee, and their children, Chuck (Fran), Robin, Peter Tauck, Kiki Mahar (Dan) and Liz Walters (Fred); step-children Bernhard Duerrmeier (Amber), Marina Rizzi (Damian), Christopher Duerrmeier (Laura), and Philip Duerrmeier; 21 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Arthur’s family will celebrate his life in a private memorial service later this spring. Contributions in his memory may be made to Tourism Cares, a non-profit dedicated to advancing sustainability and meaningful travel within the tourism industry, or Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.
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A personal note: For nearly 2 decades, I wrote Tauck Tours’ internal newsletter, for its tour directors. It was a great gig — both for travel opportunities, and because I got to meet Arthur Tauck.
He was warm, generous, fully engaged, quite funny — and very, very active.
One memory stands out. At an annual meeting for tour directors, Arthur gave an informative, inspiring “state of the company” presentation. Then he answered a wide range of questions, with honesty and insight.
He closed with this: “If anyone wants to talk any more, I’ll be rollerblading tomorrow morning at 7. You’re welcome to join me.”
As Westport continues to debate the future over the lot behind Main Street stores — created on landfill, near the start of the post-war suburban boom — it’s instructive to look back at what has changed over the years.
And what hasn’t.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
The design has been tweaked a bit — but not much.
Cars no longer park directly along the river. The phone booth is gone. So is the house on Gorham Island (replaced by an office building).
What else do you notice?
Here’s another view:
(Photo courtesy of Jean Whitehead)
Besides the outfits and cars, you hardly see a difference today.
And even back then, the lot was pretty full.
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
With an enormous amount of snow, and temperatures remaining well below freezing, cleaning up from the January 25 storm was difficult.
Plowed, congealed piles made walking and parking difficult downtown.
So on Tuesday night, SCA Crowley — led by vice president Maxx Crowley, president of the Westport Downtown Association — joined forces with Westport’s Department of Public Works team.
SCA spent 3 hours on Main Street removing snow.
It was then hauled away by DPW director Peter Ratkiewich’s crew, led by superintendent Joe Izzo and crew captain Dave Smith. Public Works followed up by salting roads and sidewalks.
It’s much easier to park now — which means it’s far easier to drive and walk, too. Thanks to all who helped!
One view of the Main Street cleanup …
… and another. (Hat tip and photos/Andrew Colabella)
“Your State, Your Business” — a 3-part event bringing 3 of Connecticut’s constitutional officers to Westport to discuss issues regarding the state and how they relate to business (and residents) is coming to town.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Westport Library are collaborating on the series.
It kicks off on March 5 with Comptroller Sean Scanlon. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas follows on March 19. Attorney General William Tong is the final speaker, April 2. All sessions begin at 11 a.m.
Each event includes a presentation by the officer, a moderated discussion, and questions from the audience. It’s free, but registration is required.
Adria Petty — a noted producer and music video director — will be at the Westport Library on March 28 (3 p.m.). She’ll discuss her father’s legacy, with music and technology pioneer Sam Hendel.
Petty works as a managing partner at the Tom Petty estate with her family and the remaining members of Tom Petty’s band and operations team, preserving their archive of 40 years of American music.
She has directed videos for recording artists like Beyonce, Coldplay and Rihanna. She has also done commercial spots for brands such as Lancôme, Target, Converse, Hershey’s, McDonald’s and more.
The Westport Astronomical Society is introducing a new STEM opportunity for students in grades 9-12. It’s run through the Northeast Occultation Network (NEON).
Participants will learn to operate telescopes, observe and capture astronomical data from asteroid occultations, and contribute to professional astronomy research under the training of astrophysicist Dr. Kevin Green of the University of New Haven.
Students will work with the WAS team to collect, analyze and submit research-grade data to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
So when alert “06880” reader Chris Grimm sent me a video clip about Gryphon (click here), I had to ask for details.
Turns out that’s his dog. He competes in agility.
His partner — Chris’, not Gryphon’s — handles the dog during runs. The Westminster Kennel Club hosts a big agility trial — the Westminster Masters Agility Championship — which ended Tuesday night.
Gryphon’s Standard run begins at the 12:00 mark in the video below.
Chris reports: “He froze a bit at the weave polls and Leslie took a spill by the tunnel, but Gryphon did a great job of finishing.”
In the video below, Gryphon’s jumpers run starts after 12:30. “Except for wandering off to say hello, it was a good run,” Chris says. “I can’t believe he got his Q for that.
The founder of Westport Writers’ Workshop, and noted memoir and creative nonfiction workshop instructor, has just practiced what she preaches.
Her new memoir, “West End Avenue,” has just been published.
Amazon describes it:
A young girl’s world is upended when her divorced mother of 3 marries a widowed father of 4.
Set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this evocative memoir traces the uneasy transformation of a blended household – where strangers become siblings bound by shared trauma, quiet acts of loyalty, and the unspoken bonds forged in childhood.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Conaway was this week’s Westport Rotary Club guest speaker. Among his topics: the growing role of robotics in his specialty.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between January 28 and February 3.
A 28-year-old Westport man was charged with interfering with an officer, following a complaint that he verbally threated an employee at Whole Foods. He fled, but was located nearby, and taken into custody based on repeated resistance to requests to stay away from the store.
A 64-year-old Hamden man was charged with larceny and criminal trespass, following an investigation into the theft of $110.31 of energy drinks from Stop & Shop. He had been formally warned earlier not to return to the store. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
A 53-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with failure to appear, after panhandling on the I-95 northbound ramp. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
A 28-year-old Westport man was charged with failure to appear, after being held in Pennsylvania on an unrelated matter. He was held on a $15,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 14 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 11
Failure to renew registration: 11
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 7
Failure to obey stop sign: 7
Distracted driving: 2
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
Speeding in a school zone, 2nd offense: 1
Speeding in a school zone: 1
Speeding: 1
Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
Failure to grant right of way: 1
Improper turn: 1
Unsafe backing: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Violation of readable license plates: 1
Failure to return license plates: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to reinstate license within 60 days: 1
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
Lots of license plate citations recently. That’s no laughing matter.
And finally … in honor of Tom Petty’s daughter’s appearance at VersoFest (story above):
(From dog shows to outer space, “06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” If you’re a part of our online community — and you’re reading this, so you are — please click here to support us. Thanks!)
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