Category Archives: Entertainment

Roundup: Farmers’ Market, First Responders’ Facility, Gang Of Four …

Posted on February 5, 2025 | 5 comments

With snow predicted tomorrow (Thursday), the Westport Farmers’ Market has canceled this week’s session.

“This decision is incredibly difficult to make,” director Lori Cochran says. “We understand the negative impact it has on our vendors and yoru kitchens.

“Be we need to put the safety of our vendors and you foremost.”

Operation Warm Hug — the Farmers’ Market coat drive — will take place next Thursday (February 13).

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Still on: tomorrow’s open house charrette, to view and discuss plans for Westport’s proposed public safety complex (Thursday, February 6; 7 p.m., Senior Center).

The project — involving the Police and Fire Departments, and Emergency Medical Services — is in the conceptual and feasibility stage.

An architectural presentation will be followed by discussions and feedback opportunities.

For more information, click here.

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Ever wished you could snag an invite to Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak’s house?

I’ve never gotten one. But thanks to the New York Times, I — and anyone else on the planet with internet — can check out a few highlights.

“At Home with Craig Melvin” shows a few rooms. The new NBC “Today” host reveals how the family landed in Westport (it was midway between New York and Bristol, Connecticut, where she works for ESPN), and near a train station.

He talks about their strong relationship with the town (youth sports coaching, PTA, etc.).

And he shows off his grandmother’s beloved chair, and his own candle-making equipment.

Click here for a tour of Craig and Lindsay’s home. (Hat tip: Bill Dedman)

Craig Melvin’s chair, vinyl and more. (Photo/Tony Cenicola for The New York Times)

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Club203 celebrated Valentine’s Day early last night.

With a bit of mini-golf.

At their monthly party — hosted by MoCA CT — members made their own golf visors, played a few rounds, enjoyed sweet treats, and mixed and mingled at high-top tables. was treated to some Valentine Birdie Fun tonight  – when Mini Golf Party Events brought the party to us at MOCA-CT!”

“Our hearts are filled with gratitude for our team of volunteers,” says Club203 co-founder Stacie Curran.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Fun for all: Club203 at MoCA CT.

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Earthplace is ready for the rest of winter.

And spring.

Upcoming at the non-profit science, conservation and education center:

Woodland Egg Hunt: (April 18 & 19; hourly slots from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.; $25 per child): A nature hunt for eggs, meet a live rabbit (and egg-laying animals), and create spring-themed crafts.

Toast to the Trees: Afternoon Beer Tasting and Kids Activities
(April 26, 4 to 6 p.m.; $35 adults 21+; $15 child). Arbor Day special. Explore the trails while sipping craft vrews. Kids have fun too. End with beer, food trucks, lawn games and a campfire with s’mores.

Cocktails & Clams Fundraiser: Sunset Evening on the Sound (May 31, 5 to 7 p.m.). Harbor Watch benefit, at Copps Island Oysters in Norwalk. Unlimited  raw bar, hors d’oeuvres, open bar, live band and silent auction.

Moth Ball (June 21, 8 to 11 p.m.). Observe nocturnal insects while sipping cocktails. Costumes are optional.

Click here for more information, including tickets.

Arbor Day at Earthplace.

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Gang of Four kicks off its farewell tour on April 18, at the Westport Library.

The pioneering band served a forerunner of the post-punk movement, fusing outspoken political messages with intense, percussive live set.

Tickets for the concert — an extension of VersoFest 2025 — are $55. Click here to purchase.

Tim “Journeys by DJ” Fielding, the founder of Brainiak Records, will spin tracks before the show.

Singer Jon King will be in the Trefz Forum earlier in the day for a conversation with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer (and Fairfield resident) Chris Frantz of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club) about his new book, To Hell with Poverty!: A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four.”

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The Staples boys basketball team rebounded (ho ho) from a rare loss to #1 St. Bernard’s on Saturday, with a 57-41 win over highly touted Fairfield Ludlowe, in Westport.

“06880” photographer/Staples sophomore Ryan Allen captured this great photo, of senior co-captain Charlie Bowman:

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature is both basic and beautiful.

Pam Kesselman captured this sunrise at Compo Beach:

(Photo/Pam Kesselman)

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And finally … get ready for Gang of Four, as they kick off their farewell tour at (of course) the Westport Library (story above):

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Posted in Children, Entertainment, Environment, Library, Police, Staples HS

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Roundup: Crossword Contest, Comedy, Drag Show …

Posted on February 2, 2025 | Comments Off on Roundup: Crossword Contest, Comedy, Drag Show …

Over 200 competitors vied yesterday, at the 26th annual Westport Library Crossword Puzzle Contest.

A first time winner out-puzzled them all.

Quiara Vasquez finished a Friday-level New York Times puzzle in just 6 minutes and 16 seconds — about the time it takes a normal solver to fill in just a few answers.

Quiara Vasquez (right), with runner-up Claire Rimkus (center) and third-place finisher Ken Stern. 

As always the Trefz Forum was filled with regulars, first-timers, and those cruciverbalist superstars who make the rest of us feel like we should have stopped playing games at Word Search.

The crowd skewed older, and came from 6 states. The furthest competitors — for the second year in a row — were from Georgia.

Times puzzle editor Will Shortz was once again on hand, and led several NPR-style games before the final round.

He was greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation. Besides coming every year — the only event he attends, besides the national tournament — he is recovering from a stroke.

He was stricken exactly a year ago — the day after he was in Westport for the 2024 Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Shortz described that event, and his rehabilitation over the past year.

Will Shortz (Photos/Dan Woog)

In addition to Vasquez, certificates were handed out to over 50 competitors who completed all 3 puzzles correctly.

Plus the 2 with the best handwriting (one pencil, one pen).

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Westport Country Playhouse’s “Season of Laughter” continues this month.

“Native Gardens” — a comedy about well-intentioned neighbors who become feuding enemies — debuts playing February 18.

Expectant parents Tania and Pablo Del Valle move next door to longtime suburbanites Virginia and Frank Butley. A dispute over the property line spirals into a war over taste, class, personal identity — and gardening.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Looking for a fun and different Valentine’s Day celebration, a few days early?

How about a drag show this Saturday, with Boston’s own Patty Bourrée?

Westport Pride is hosting the February 8 event (7 p.m., MoCA CT; 18+ only). It features songs, comedy and cocktails. All genders and orientations welcome!

Click here for tickets ($40), and more information.

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Oscar Edelman is having a great season for the Wesleyan University basketball team.

The 6-8, 225-pound freshman — a Westport resident and former Greens Farms Academy player, who won a gold medal at the Maccabi Games 2 years ago — has helped the Cardinals to a 20-0 record. They are the only unbeaten men’s team in all of Division III.

Oscar Edelman

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Westport Sunrise Rotary’s speaker most recent speaker was Edward Spilka.

The Wheel it Forward USA board member described his organization’s not-for-profit library. People donate or borrow free medical equipment and assistive technology like wheelchairs, hospital beds, toilet risers, walkers and knee scooters.

Warehouses in Stamford and Bridgeport serve 600 people every month. Donations kept over 100,000 pounds of equipment out of landfills, and saved users more than $1 million in 2024 alone.

Edward Spilka, at the Westport Sunrise Rotary meeting.

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Sorelle Gallery welcomes Carol Young next Saturday (February, 2 to 4 p.m.), for a meet-and-greet at their Church Lane gallery.

The Connecticut artist specializes in acrylic and oil landscapes. Click here for more information.

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Jeff Mitchell sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature. He writes:

“On a walk at Sherwood Island State Park Saturday morning, I encountered 4 different migrating birds.

“Those in the upper left are ring-billed gulls (note the black tail feathers with white dots). Under that is a rather large juvenile herring gull.

“In the upper right are 2 Brandt geese. Under them is one of a huge flock of long- tailed ducks floating too far from shore to get a good picture of on my phone.

“Below that is a stock picture of the same duck, for reference. They would dive under the water for up to a minute.

“I walk at Sherwood Island quite often. These are all rarities, which is why I’m passing them along.”

(Photo collage/Jeff Mitchell)

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And finally … Barry Goldberg, a keyboardist who was part of Bob Dylan’s famous electric set at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, died last month in Los Angeles. He was 83, and suffered from lymphoma.

He played at Monterey Pop with his band the Electric Flag; on Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels’ “Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly”; albums by the Byrds, Leonard Cohen, Rod Stewart and the Ramones — and preceded Mark Naftalin (now a Westport resident) in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Click here for a complete obituary.

(If you don’t know what’s going on in Westport, you’re not reading “06880.” We rely on reader support to help us help you. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Tiffany, Van Leeuwen, Dick Button …

Posted on January 31, 2025 | 4 comments

The Post Road storefront facing Main Street is perhaps Westport’s prime location.

It’s been many things: Colgan’s and Thompson’s drug stores. Ships restaurant. Eddie Bauer.

Now it’s Tiffany.

But for how long?

Admiral Real Estate Services is marketing the property, under the headline: “The BEST Locations in Downtown Westport! Current Tiffany & Co. Site!”

The listing reads: “New for lease: Prime ground floor retail space in Westport, CT. Current Tiffany & Co. End-cap corner retail with exceptional visibility at signalized intersection.”

The 5,580-square foot location offers “ample natural light, parking directly in rear, corner building with massive frontage … various uses permitted.”

In bold letters, it adds: “Parking is free, nearby, and vast. A large municipal lot can be found adjacent to the building on Jesup Road and in the Parker Harding Plaza located across the street behind Starbucks. Street parking is also available around the building.”

Tiffany & Co.

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Sure, it’s mid-winter.

But ice cream is always in season.

Van Leeuwen — the New York-based, national made-from-scratch dairy and vegan brand — opens its Church Lane scoop shop next Thursday (February 6, noon).

Their 4th Connecticut location marks a return for co-founders Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen. The Fairfield County natives’ ice cream journey began here 20 years ago.

To celebrate, Van Leeuwen Westport will offer $1 scoops on opening day from 3 to 5 p.m., and free totes to the first 100 customers beginning at 3.

The shop will also showcase a special limited offering created by Westport cookbook author and creator Julia Dzafic. The vegan sundae features scoops of strawberry shortcake ice cream and banana pudding ice cream, topped with sprinkles, hot fudge and sugar cone.

Other flavors include honeycomb, brown sugar cookie dough brownie, Earl Gray tea, praline butter cake, marionberry cheesecake, black cherry chip, Sicilian pistachio, bigface coffe affogato and sour cherry creamsicle.

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With a month to go before Fashionably Westport kicks off, over 30 fashion retailers and hair salons have already signed on.

The entertainment list grows too. Westport’s own Drew Angus — now a national perform — will join the fun.

This year’s 5th annual event is Friday, February 28 (7 p.m., Westport Library). Sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association, it’s a benefit for Homes with Hope. The evening includes a silent auction.

Models are local friends and celebrities. The emcee and runway director are neighbors too: Dave Briggs and Carey Price, respectively.

Click here for tickets. Click here for more information.

Veteran Fashionably Westport model (and 1st Selectwoman) Jen Tooker offers a reminder: Tickets are now on sale.

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Americans of a certain generation remember Dick Button fondly.

Some recall his illustrious. double Olympic gold-winning figure skating career. Far more known him as the sport’s foremost television commentator, honed over 6 decades of Olympics and other high level competitions.

Totney Benson has more intimate memories. Button — who died Tuesday in North Salem, New York at 95 — was her uncle.

His full name was Richard Totten Button — named in honor of his grandmother. The longtime Westporter’s name is Totney Button Benson.

Dick Button visited the Bensons’ Compo Hill home for holiday celebrations and other events over the past 45 years.

Click here for a full New York Times obituary.

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The curtain rises tonight for the 3rd show of Westport Community Theatre’s 2025-26 season.

“Pride and Prejudice” runs Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.), from January 31 through February 9, plus Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 (Town Hall; tickets are $30).

This adaptation captures the spirit of Jane Austen’s 1813 masterpiece with a lively, modern rhythm that stays true to the heart of the original.

Click here for more information.

(Rear) Tony Moreno and Westporter Dana Chiapparelli. Front: Maggie Frattaroli, Sawyer Peduto in “Pride and Prejudice.”

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Also tonight: an evening of jazz (“and java”), at Staples High School (7 p.m.).

It’s an informal event, in the cafeteria. Several groups will perform, including the Bedford Middle School jazz band. Admission is free.

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Paul Newman would have been 100 years old this week.

To honor the actor/race car driver/philanthropist/longtime Westporter’s legacy, Newman’s Own launched “Paul Newman Generosity Day.”

As part of the celebration at Newman’s Own offices on Morningside Drive North, Andy Ortega created a 4-foot tall cake. It was decorated with a replica of the original salad dressing bottle.

Paul Newman’s cake.

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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between January 22 and 29. Both were for failure to appear: a 56-year-old Westport man and 44-year-old Bridgeport woman.

Police also issued these citations:

  • Traveling unreasonably fast: 22 citations
  • Failure to obey stop signs: 11
  • Speeding: 9
  • Driving while texting: 6
  • Operating a motor vehicle while under suspension: 6
  • Failure to renew registration: 6
  • Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 5
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
  • Improper use of markers: 3
  • Passing a standing school bus: 1
  • School zone violation: 1
  • Following too closely: 1
  • Failure to drive in proper lane: 1
  • Improper turns: 1
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
  • Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
  • Illeal operation of motor vehicle — limited license: 1

This bus driver makes sure no one will pass. Passing a standing school bus is a definite no-no. (Photo/Bob Weingarten)

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Westport resident Sophie Coquaz died peacefully on Tuesday, surrounded by family and friends. She was 52.

She was born and grew up in southeast France. She studied economics at the University of Lyon, and the University of Reading, in the UK.

In 1994 she pursued a master’s degree at the University of Delaware. She moved to New York and Connecticut to start her professional life, and met her husband Emmanuel.

They married in 2001, with weddings in France and Greece. In 2005 they relocated to London for career opportunities. They spent 5 years there, where their 4 children were born, before returning to New York.

Sophie worked for Thomson Reuters in commercial and legal operations positions for 24 years. She joined Estée Lauder in 2020, and served as vice president in the office of general counsel and legal operations.

She enjoyed travelling to France and Greece for summer holidays. Years after her classes of classic dance, she retained the grace of a ballet dancer.

Sophie is survived by her husband Emmanuel Saounatsos; children Zélie, Madeleine, Aurel and Sidonie; mother Danielle; brother Régis; nephews Mahel and Antoine, and niece Alice.

A wake will be held at Harding Funeral Home this Saturday (February 1,  2 to  6 p.m.). In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Regional Hospice in Danbury,

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Christmas is pretty far in the rear view mirror. It’s amost February, believe it or not.

But a small vestige of the holiday remains at Grace Salmon Park. Johanna Keyser Rossi captured the colorful contrast, in a fir tree, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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And finally … Marianne Faithfull, whose life included years as a singer, “muse and girlfriend of Mick Jagger,” homeless heroin addict, actor and cabaret performer, died yesterday in London. She was 78.

Her first hit, “As Tears Go By,” is often said to be the first original composition by Rolling Stones Jagger and Keith Richards (now a Weston resident). (Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham — who formerly lived in Westport — was attracted by her beauty, and asked her if she could sing.)

Click here for a full obituary. (Perhaps the most interesting line: “Her mother, Eva von Sacher-Masoch, was a Viennese baroness, an ex-ballet dancer and a descendant of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, author of the erotic novel Venus in Furs,’ which spawned the term masochism.”)

(As today’s Roundup — and every day’s — shows, “06880” is truly “where Westport meets the world.” Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

 

 

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Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Local business, Obituaries, Police

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Roundup: The Moth, Chamber Festival, Adult Drivers …

Posted on January 30, 2025 | Comments Off on Roundup: The Moth, Chamber Festival, Adult Drivers …

The other day, Jill Johnson Mann was listening to Alison Stewart’s “All Of It” on WNYC.

A request went out for callers to share unique 60-second New York stories,for a “Moth” segment.

Jill — the multi-talented writer/Triple Threat Academy co-director — quickly rehearsed a story.

She timed it, pulled into a parking lot, and called in. She told the screener her story — it took “59.9 seconds,” Jill said — and soon was on the air.

“With no pen or paper, I prayed for speed-talking and memory skills, while my heart raced,” she says.

She nailed it.

Click here to listen (it starts at 14:20).

(Jill says, “Thank you Mahfuz, the star of the story. His name and phone number are still in our scrapbook from that era.” After hearing her tale, you’ll know why.)

Jill Johnson Mann

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The Westport Orchestra Chamber Festival — where the Staples High School, and Bedford and Coleytown Middle School chamber orchestras all come together — was always special.

But COVID canceled the event. It had not happened again — until Tuesday night.

That made it extra special — particularly for the seniors, the only “veterans.”

The last time they performed in the Chamber Festival, they were in 6th grade.

A small partion of Tuesday night’s Chamber Orchestra Festival. (Hat tip and photo/Kit Tingley)

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Neighbors & Newcomers of Westport will pack the short month of February with plenty of activities.

Couples Night (February 7, 6:30 p.m., Harvest restaurant)

Galentine’s Lunch (February 14, 12 noon, Via Sforza)

Book Group (February 27; “Pineapple Street”)

Cooking Group (date and theme TBA).

For more information, email eventsnnwestport@gmail.com. Click here for the website.

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Every child has a beloved stuffed animal.

And every child inevitably loses one.

In her latest children’s book, “Losing Lambie,” Westport author Diana Blau takes readers on the journey of a boy and his best friend (Lambie), who often goes missing in unexpected places.

Children will have fun seeing all the silly places Lambie gets lost, and parents will appreciate the book’s tips about teaching kids to keep track of their things.

Click here for more information, and to puchase. Diana’s Instagram is @Diana_Blau_Author.

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Over 30,000 teenagers have learned to drive at Fresh Green Light.

But why should kids have all the fun?

The Fairfield County driving school has just added a “Road Test Concierge Program” for adults.

The “one-stop solution” for is aimed at new adult drivers — for example expatriates, au pairs, nannies, and adults who never had the chance to obtain their licenses as teens.

Fresh Green Light’s new service includes:

DMV-required 8-hour class: Fulfill the mandatory classroom instruction required by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

In-car driving lessons: Personalized instruction in late-model vehicles.

DMV road tests at Fresh Green Light locations: Westport, Fairfield, Wilton, Darien, Greenwich.

For more information about Fresh Green Light’s adult driver’s education programs, click here, or call 203-861-1188.

Fresh Green Light owner Steve Mochel.

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Club203’s February gathering is a special “Valentine Birdie mini-golf” event.

On February 4 (6:30 to 8 p.m., MoCA CT), members of Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities will show off their putting skills, enjoy cookies from Sweet P Bakery, and spend a “par-fect” evening with friends.

Click here for more information.

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Felicia Catale — a longtime Westport hair stylist, most recently owner of Salon Nash — is now providing services at clients’ homes.

She cuts women’s, men’s and children’s hair, and offers glow and express hair color for women and men (plus blowouts). Felicia is also available for weddings, parties and special occasions, with on-site services.

Call 203-349-5814 for more information.

Felicia Catale

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It’s 4 months away. But a celebrity golf event co-chaired by Westport’s Lindsay Czarniak and her former ESPN colleague Kenny Mayne will sell out quickly.

The May 19 event at Fairfield’s Brooklawn Country Club benefit both the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarship, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

In addition to the hosts, others expected to play include: NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, former MLB pitcher Carl Pavano, University of Buffalo head football coach Pete Lembo, CBS News meteorologist Rob Marciano; ESPN NY’s Anita Marks; ESPN Sportscenter anchors John Buccigross and Michael Eaves, former ESPNer’s Trey Wingo and John Anderson, and others.

The Jake Panus Scholarships were founded by the parents of the Fairfield teen, a passenger killed in a 2020 car crash. Since then, 7 grants have been awarded to students from Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota, and student-athletes attending the University of South Carolina. To learn more, visit: click here.

To register for a foursome or become a sponsor, click here or email bob.garguilo@madd.org.

Lindsay Czarniak and Kenny Mayne.

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Yesterday’s 50-degree temperature brought relief from the cold — and plenty of melting.

As today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature shows, these guys were definitely on thin Saugatuck River ice.

(Photo/Pat Saunders)

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And finally … in honor of Fresh Green Light’s new adult driver ed program (story above):

(“06880” is “driven” to by Westport’s hyper-local blog, with news, events, photos and more — 24/7/365. We hope you’ll click here, to keep us on the road to financial solvency. Thank you!)

 

 

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The Clubhouse Tees Up

Posted on January 29, 2025 | 9 comments

Fore!

It’s mid-winter. But golfers will swing their clubs next month, right here in Westport.

Nearby, batters will swing, hoopsters will shoot, and dart players will toss.

It’s all simulated, of course. But 5 state-of-the-art golf and multi-sport simulators are ready to go at The Clubhouse — Westport’s new, intriguing event space.

The long-awaited facility opens February 5 at 1620 Post Road East, site of the former Pane e Bene restaurant. Permitting and construction has been underway since mid-2023.

The Clubhouse opens February 5.

It will be worth the wait. In addition to the simulators — featuring some of the world’s greatest golf courses, and other sports ranging from football to Zombie dodgeball — The Clubhouse includes 2 private karaoke rooms, plus a bar serving a full range of pub bites and classics (smash burgers, wedge salad, rigatoni, Farmers’ Market crudité, homemade chips and dip), with signature cocktails, local beers and premium bourbon.

A “good ol’ root beer float” is on the menu too.

The simulator bays are versatile. They’re also available to watch sports — football, March Madness, the US Tennis Open, the Masters — for small groups.

 

One of the 5 simulators.

Larger groups can book part or all of The Clubhouse too, for birthdays, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, corporate outings, reunions, even fantasy football draft parties.

If you’re a University of Michigan fan, you’re in special luck. Emily and Tim Zobl — the Westport couple who conceived of and developed The Clubhouse — are alums. They call their place “an official University of Michigan alumni bar.” (Emily — a 2012 Staples High School graduate — played varsity field hockey for the Wolverines.)

Tim and Emily Zobl.

For the Zobls, there is no limit to what The Clubhouse can do or be. They envision Trivia Nights, sports leagues — whatever type of entertainment Westporters want, they’ll provide.

It’s taken a while to fulfill their elevated activity space dream. With backgrounds in hospitality, food service, technology, events planning and real estate — they understood the opportunities, challenges and risks.

Karaoke …

Westport has never had a facility like The Clubhouse.

However, decades ago — on the property next door, now Lansdowne Condominiums — there was a driving range, miniature golf course, trampoline center and skating rink. (The rink — which briefly became a discotheque — is now the Westport Tennis Club.)

… and darts. All scoring is done electronically.

Come to think of it, our town golf course does not even have a clubhouse.

It’s in the long-range Longshore renovation plans.

Whenever — actually, if — it ever gets built, it won’t be nearly as versatile and cool, or enjoyed by as many people, as The Clubhouse.

(To learn more, and to book an activity space at The Clubhouse, click here. Their Instagram is @theclubhousewestport).

(“06880” regularly covers sports, local businesses and real estate — and, like today, sometimes they all intersect. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, please click here to support our work. Thank you!) 

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“A Wrinkle In Time”: Staples Players, Alum Collaborate, Create

Posted on January 28, 2025 | 1 comment

NOTE: This story was published erroneously Sunday, 2 days earlier than scheduled. It is reposted now. 

Staples Players made a life-changing impact on Gina Rattan.

After performing in shows like “Guys and Dolls,” “The Music Man” and “City of Angels,” the 2004 graduate studied directing at the University of Michigan.

She’s worked at the Royal Albert Hall and Guthrie Theater; assisted the lead producer at Disney Theatrical, and served as associate director for 7 Broadway shows, and the national tour of “Cinderella.”

Gina now coaches actors for theater, film and TV, plus corporate executives. She focuses on helping people communicate, in any area of life.

Gina Rattan

For the past 10 years, Gina has mentored directors in Staples’ One-Act Festival. She helps teenagers bring their vision to the Black Box stage.

But — realizing the impact of her Staples experience 2 decades ago — she wanted to do more.

“Players is an environment where excellence was expected of me. People believed I could do something challenging and great — and that when I screwed up, we could solve problems together,” Gina says.

“I wanted to pass that along to the next generation of kids.”

She talked with David Roth — her Players’ director in the early 2000s, and still in that role — about another project that could empower teenagers.

The result — “A Wrinkle in Time” — can be seen February 7 (sold out) and February 8 (5 and 7 p.m.) at Toquet Hall.

The adaptation of the beloved science fantasy novel, in a non-traditional performing space, excites Gina.

“It’s very different for the actors than being in the light, with the audience in the dark,” says Gina. “It adds excitement. No one can hide.”

The set is minimal, but the spectacle is great, she notes.

She and her actors use the rehearsal process as a “creative laboratory.” Gina, the actors, stage managers and production assistants are all co-creators in the final product.

Together, they “create the mood, and structure the world, in a very exciting way.”

“I could do it all on my own,” Gina notes. “But it’s much more empowering this way. There is a lot of experimentation, collaboration, and opportunities to try, fail, and build resilience.”

Her teenage students realize that there is not just one answer to how to stage a scene, or interpret a character. They do not follow Gina’s commands. Instead, they create a work together.

Gina Rattan (seated on floor) with her young actors. (Photo/Kerry Long)

That’s not easy, the director says. “Self-empowerment is grueling. It takes a lot of energy.

“But the process of discovery is just as important as the result. That’s a hard sell in our culture today. In an educational context, it’s so important.”

Gina enjoys working with the young cast and crew — and not just for their talent, eagerness and willingness to collaborate.

“I didn’t want to direcct kids pretending to be adults, which is what most high school shows have to be. It’s nice to have a show where they can just been teenagers, and relate to their own experiences.”

“At the same time, there’s a fantasy/science fiction element to it. They’re interpreting it all at a sophisticated level.”

Rehearsing at Staples High School, before moving to Toquet Hall. (Photo/Kerry Long)

The audience for “A Wrinkle in Time” is broad, Gina says.

“If you loved the book, you’ll love the show. If you’re a teenager, or a teenager’s parent, you’ll connect with it. And for anyone who’s a fan of science fiction and fantasy, it’s a home run.”

Gina loves this project because the cast and crew “never stop learning.” That’s one of the most important lessons she learned in Players, and throughout her years in the Westport schools: “Learning is fun. Learning is great.”

The teenagers are “developing skills at a formative time in their lives. They’ll have the benefit of those skills for the rest of their lives. I feel very honored to be a part of that.”

(Click here to purchase tickets for “A Wrinkle in Time,” and for more information.

(Staples Players’ spring season continues with “The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The mainstage show runs one weekend only: March 7-9.)

(From Staples Players to the Westport Country Playhouse — and to local stars on Broadway, TV and the movies — “06880” covers our town’s vibrant arts scene. Please click here to support us. Thanks!)

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Roundup: Library, Old Mill Grocery, Motherhood Swaps …

Posted on January 26, 2025 | 1 comment

The good news: The Westport Library reopens today at its normal Sunday time: 1 p.m. It was closed Friday and Saturday, due to a burst pipe.

The equally good news: The cold weather has ended. Today’s high is predicted to be 41 degrees. On Wednesday, they could climb to near 50.

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Brava for Liana Sonenclar!

The 2014 Staples High School graduate is a New York playwright. Her latest work, “Before This New Year” begins previews at the Duke on 42nd Street off-Broadway theater on March 19. Opening night is April 4.

The play follows a high school track star, who is forced to confront old feelings and life-changing decisions when she reconnects with a former teammate after her first semester of college.

Press materials say, “sharp, funny, and poignant, ‘Before This New Year’ is a powerful exploration of love, loss, identity, and coming-of-age in today’s relentlessly high-pressured world.”

Click here for more details, and tickets.

Liana Sonenclar

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Sure, beach residents could head downtown for coffee and conversation.

But they don’t have to.

This was the scene yesterday morning, at Old Mill Grocery & Deli.

The community table was filled. The vibe was warm and welcoming. And breakfast was very, very good.

Old Mill Grocery & Deli, yesterday morning. (Photo/Jim Hood)

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“Shoulder check” is an ice hockey term.

It’s also the name of an initiative that inspires people to commit to supporting each other through small acts that have big impacts. Put simply: “‘being there’ is as simple as a hand on a shoulder.”

It’s as simple as reaching out, checking in and making contact.

On February 1 (6 p.m., Milford Ice Pavilion), Staples High School’s Stormac co-op boys hockey team will play Wilton in a “Shoulder Check Game.”

The goal is to raise awareness of mental health issues.

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This Friday (January 31, 10 a.m. to noon, 15 Myrtle Avenue), Jenni Kayne hosts a panel on “Better Swaps for Motherhood.”

Sorette founder Lanning Ardente, clean beauty expert Rachel Northway and Westport mom Becca Potolsky will offer insights.

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Former Staples High School athlete Jason Stever died peacefully earlier this month in Seneca, South Carolina, with his wife and daughter by his side. He was 50 years old.

A member of the Class of 1993, Jason captained both the soccer and lacrosse teams. He won the soccer Alumni Award for his dedication to the program, and was noted for his intelligence, athleticism and leadership. As a senior, the Wrecker lacrosse team qualified for its first state tournament ever.

At Clemson University Jason was president of the Pi Kappa Psi fraternity, and became passionate about the Tigers football team.

A skilled handyman, he often helped friends and family. His smile and generous spirit lifted all those around him.

Jason is survived by his parents, Jacqueline and Jay Stever; his wife, Tracy Stever; daughter Addison Stever and stepson, TJ Barranger; sister Jennifer Vaughn (Craig Vaughn); brother-in-lawMarty Duncan (Diana), and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

A celebration of Jason’s life will be held in Hilton Head, South Carolina at a date to be determined.

Jason Stever, in the 1993 Staples yearbook.

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As ice melts at the Sherwood Island State Park beach, it looks almost like mid-summer foam.

Pamela Docters captured the scene, for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Pam Docters)

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And finally … on this date in 1863, Massachusetts Governor John Andrew received permission from the Secretary of War to raise a militia for men of African descent.

The 1989 film “Glory” depicts the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infanatry Regiment, from their formation to their heroism at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner.

(From the Library and Old Mill Grocery, to off-Broadway and beyond, “06880” brings you hyper-local news and information, 24/7/365. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Public Safety Complex Charette, WFD Cold Weather Training …

Posted on January 25, 2025 | 1 comment

The new Westport Public Safety Complex is still in the conceptual and feasibility stage.

The public is invited to learn more about the $90 million project, and offer feedback, at an open house charette. The event is February 6 (7 p.m., Senior Center).

An architectural presentation will be followed by interactive discussions.

The aim of the project, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker says, is to “ensure that our first responders have the resources and infrastructure they need to serve Westport effectively for generations to come.”

Fire Chief Nicholas Marsan, who also serves as the town’s emergency management director, adds, “This would be more than just a building; it’s a commitment to the people of Westport. Modernizing our facilities will enhance our ability to respond quickly and efficiently in times of emergency. A new complex will also allow for better coordination of resources and planning, ensuring that our community is well-prepared for any situation. We look forward to hearing from our community and working together to bring this vision to life.”

Police Chief Foti Koskinas notes, “This is a much-needed facility that will greatly benefit our community. Housing police, fire, and EMS under one roof fosters better collaboration, faster response times, and more efficient operations. A project of this nature will strengthen public safety and ensure that we are well-equipped to serve Westport now and into the future.”

For more details on the charette, call Marsan (203-341-5000) or email nmarsan@westportct.gov.

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Meanwhile, while you were warming up with hot cocoa yesterday — or at least staying inside — the Westport Fire Department was outdoors.

Very much outdoors.

They used the cold weather to train on cold water rescue.

And they offer this advice:

If a pet falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue. Call 911 or Westport Fire immediately. First responders are trained and equipped with cold-weather rescue suits tho handle those situations safely.

When in doubt, stay off the ice! Err on the side of caution. Avoid risk!

Westport Fire Department’s cold weather training, yesterday. 

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Speaking of first responders: Westport Police report that the man reported as missing in yesterday’s “06880” Roundup has been found, safe and sound.

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VersoFest 2025 just got even bigger.

Henry Rollins will headline the Saturday evening (April 5) event, at the Westport Library.

The harcore punk legend will be in conversation with author and Beggars Grou president Nabil Ayers.

Rollins has held many titles in the past 45 years: singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, producer, radio host, and outspoken frontman for Black Flag and the Rollins Band.

VersoFest is The Library’s 4-day music and media festival and conference (April 3 through 6). It’s a forum for media creators, artists and fans, with panels, workshops and performances.

Tickets are $35. Click here to purchase. Click here for more details on VersoFest.

Henry Rollins

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MoCA CT celebrates Black History Month with a series of events focusing on the rich cultural contributions and creativity of the African diaspora.

They include:

Film Screening & Q&A (February 13, 7 p.m.): “DELA” is a documentary about Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui. Filmmaker Oyiza Adaba will host a post-screening Q&A, tying the film into MoCA CT’s exhibitions on the role of recycled materials in art and climate issues. Click here to register.

Soulful Expressions (February 15, 7 p.m.): An evening of poetry by Sahmra Sawyer, music by pianist Joe Bush, dance by Jeffline Saint Louis, and food by Jamaican chef Dré Sawyers. Artist Erika McGhee will do live sketches of visitors, followed by a dance floor open for classics like the Electric Slide, Wobble, and more. Click here to register.

Upcycling Sculpture Workshop & Exhibition Tour (February 22, 1 p.m.). Local artist Remy Sosa will lead this. He’ll start with a guided tour of the current exhibit “On Fire: Energy, Climate, Infrastructure and Human and Nature: A Changing Relationship,” focusing on the environmental impact of recycled materials. Click here to register.

Yo learn more about MoCA CT’s Black History month offerings, click here.

Remy Sosa

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February also includes Valentine’s Day.

And at the Westport Country Playhouse’s intimate Lucille Lortel White Barn Center.

“An Evening to Celebrate Love” (Saturday, February 15, 8 p.m.), features  Playhouse alum Rodolfo Soto and Carrie Lyn Brandon. They’ll highlight music from “Once,” original songs and more.

Alll tickets are just $20. Click here to purchase, and for more information.

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Pamela Docters spotted this yesterday, at the Senior Center:

“Let’s ‘hope’ that spring is on its way!” she says.

From her (and the Senior Center’s) lips, to …

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Longtime Westport resident James Masiello Jr. died unexpectedly on Tuesday, surrounded by his family. He was 65.

His obituary says, “A man of many passions, Jimmy had a special place in his heart for old mob movies, homemade Italian meals (especially when he was cooking), the beach and golf. He loved spending time with friends on the course, often boasting about his handicap, and he had a talent for making every round feel like a good time. A fantastic cook, he always enjoyed preparing a delicious meal for family and friends to enjoy, but also loved visiting his favorite restaurants to spend time with special people.”

Jimmy had a 28-year career in sales and marketing, where he formed long-lasting business relationships worldwide. Most recently he was self-employed as a retail liquidator, renowned for his salesmanship.

Jimmy was predeceased by his brother Mark, and his beloved chocolate labs Winston and Duke. He is survived by his children Michele, Alexandra and James (Buddy); his sister Marnie; many cousins, extended family and friends.

A wake will be held at Harding Funeral Home on February 7 (4 to 7 p.m.). The funeral is set for St. Luke Church on February 8 (11 a.m.), followed by a celebration of life at BJ Ryan’s East, 1 Cove Avenue, Norwalk at 12:30 p.m.

Donations can be made in his honor to the Mark Masiello ’83 Memorial Scholarship at Fairfield College Prep, or to World Central Kitchen.
Condolences for the family may be left online at www.hardingfuneral.com.

Jimmy Masiello

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is suitably wintry. Mark Laclair took this shot not long after a boat drove down the channel, cutting through the ice.

(Photo/Mark Laclair)

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And finally … on this day in 1964, The Beatles reached the top of the US Cashbox chart for the first time. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” became the group’s best-selling single worldwide. Two weeks later, they performed the song on the Ed Sullivan Show.

The world was never the same.

(Whether you remember Beatlemania, are a Swiftie or anything else, we hope you like our daily music videos. It’s one more feature of our hyper-local blog. Please click here to support us. Thanks!)

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Roundup: Jamie Mann, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Shonda’s Video …

Posted on January 24, 2025 | 2 comments

Westport will soon have a new Broadway star.

Staples High School Class of 2021 graduate Jamie Mann makes his Great White Way debut this spring in the new show “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.”

The prequel to the popular Netflix show is set 24 years before the TV show’s first season. Jamie plays the teenage version of Ted Wheeler, Mike Wheeler’s jock dad, and understudies James Hopper, Jr.

Alison Jay plays Joyce Maldonado (the Winona Ryder character). She and Jamie became friends in 2022, while working on the workshop for the play at Netflix in Los Angeles.

Jamie had been on the Netflix set before. He starred as Brody in “Country Comfort,”during part of his junior and senior year at Staples High School.

Westporters know Jamie from his roles with Staples Players, and as a longtime student of Cynthia Gibb’s Triple Threat Academy. (Jamie now teaches  dance classes and offers private dance and acting coaching).

During Bedford Middle School, Jamie played Billy Elliot in theaters throughout the East Coast. He will graduate remotely, with a BFA from the University of Michigan’s musical theater program this spring.

“Stranger Things” opens on April 22. Previews begin March 28. For tickets and more information, click here.

Jamie Mann (Photo/Michael Kushner)

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Speaking of theater: “Broadway’s Bad Boys” opened at the Westport Country Playhouse last night. The 4-night run ends Sunday.

Performed by 3 Broadway actors — Sam Gravitte (“Wicked”), Kevin Massey (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) and Julius Thomas III (“Hamilton”) — who played villains in musicals, the production includes “Phantom of the Opera,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and Professor Harold Hill of “Music Man.”

Curtain call at the Westport Country Playhouse last night. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)

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Speaking still of entertainment: It’s only January, but the Levitt Pavilion has announced its first acts of the season.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and The Infamous Stringdusters — those are bands — will be joined by New York’s Melt, on June 1.

The funk/bluegrass/indie soul tour will play just 5 venues across the Northeast. Ours is one of them.

It won’t be the Levitt’s opener, though. The 2025 season runs from may through October, with a combination of paid-ticket shows and 50 free dates. More shows will be announced soon.

Tickets go on sale today (Friday), at 10 a.m. Click here to purchase, and for informatio on the “enchanced concert experience” package.

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A capacity crowd filled the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum last on Sunday, for our town’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Day celebration.

The event included a wide-ranging discussion with noted producer Shonda Rhimes, and novelist/playwright/professor Trey Ellis. Both are Westport residents.

If you missed it — or if you were there, and want to see it again (along with a pair of great performances by gospel singer Christian Servance) — click below:

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Earlier this week, “06880” reported on Lynda Bluestein’s 2 wind phones, at the Westport Library.

We followed up by noting that a third wind phone — a disconnected rotary telephone, through which users can stay connected with loved ones who have died — was just installed at Greenfield Congregational Church.

Now there’s more news about Lynda, a longtime Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport member and staunch advocate for medical aid in dying legislation.

This is a story about choice, not death.

Lynda Bluestein would not take ‘no’ for an answer. Because Medical Aid in Dying is not legal in Connecticut, Lynda is forced to find another way to die peacefully.

This is an intimate and gripping look into what it takes to legally die on one’s own terms in the United States. Other Side delves into the systemic, familial and emotional complexities of navigating an untrodden medical landscape while terminally ill.

A 90-minute documentary about her life and death — “Other Side” — has just been accepted by South by Southwest.

Its world premiere is scheduled for the prestigious film festival in March.

Lynda Bluestein, in a scene from “Other Side.”

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Yesterday, Westport Police received a report from a friend that William Hill has not been seen since Monday.

He is homeless, avoiding shelters, but visits friends at Sasco Creek Village daily. Given the extreme cold this past week, friends and the Police are extremely concerned for his welfare.

Hill is 62, between 5-7 and 5-11 tall, medium build, with salt and pepper hair, and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and pushing a gray Trek bicycle with a rack, carrying bags and a knapsack on his back.

Anyone with information that can help locate William Hill should call the Police Department: 203-341-6000.

William Hill, in a younger photograph.

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Congratulations to Jo Ann Miller!

Her third novella in the “Abbey Lane” fiction series, “Deadly Donations,” has just been published.

Here, the former investigative reporter turned private detective encounters the effect of huge donations by foreign countries to American universities.

The Network Contagion Research Institute reports that over $47 billion has been donated, much of it not reported, and coming from authoritarian Middle East countries.

Meanwhile, hate crimes and antisemitic acts increased over 200% on campuses.  When Abbey’s activist client is murdered, she delves into those corrupt donations. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

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The Westport Library is cozy and welcoming. One of the many wart employees is Heli Stagg.

This week, she ventured out from the Library café — which she runs — to photograph the nearby Saugatuck River.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a great reason to appreciate our local beauty.

And then get something nice and warm, served by Heli at the café.

(Photo/Heli Stagg)

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And finally … Never heard of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong — the band that will headline the June 1 Levitt Pavilion concert (story above)?

Click below!

(Every day, the Roundup highlights future events, recaps past ones, and covers everything else in between. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, please click here to support our work. Thannk you!) 

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Roundup: Explorers Club, Snow Shovels, Alice In Webland …

Posted on January 21, 2025 | 1 comment

Congratulations, Richard Wiese!

The renowned explorer and science communicator (and Weston resident) has been elected the 46th president of The Explorers Club.

Wiese was executive producer and host of the mult-Emmy Award-winning ABC and PBS program “Born to Explore.”

In 2002 — after a previous election — he was the youngest Explorers Club president in history.

During his tenure he negotiated partnerships with Rolex, Eddie Bauer and later Discovery Networks.

Headquartered in New York, with chapters around the world, the Explorers Club supports scientific expeditions of all disciplines.

Notable club members include Jane Goodall, Walter Cronkite, Theodore Roosevelt, the Apollo 11 crew, and the Mount Everest summit team of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.

Richard Wiese

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Like many Westporters, MaryAnn Meyer admired yesterday’s snowfall.

Then she headed outside, to shovel.

As she worked, she was approached by a pair of Staples High School students.

Emma and Quinn had shovels — and offered to help.

They cleared the bank around MaryAnn’s mailbox. And all they wanted was a thank-you.

MaryAnn watched them walk down the road, near Green’s Farms Church, to help other homeowners.

“I hope other neighborhoods have an Emma and Quinn!” MaryAnn says.

This is not Emma or Quinn. But you get the idea.

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Everyone has heard of Alice in Wonderland.

This weekend (January 25 at 7 p.m., January 26 at 3 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church), Triple Threat Academy presents “Alice in Webland.”

The new play “takes a timely, kid-friendly tumble into a whimsical but risky world of web temptations.”

Children growing up in the digital age can relate to the show’s characters, and learn valuable lessons about balancing social media and living in the moment.

The show is written and directed by Georgia Wright. The cast of young actors is overseen by Triple Threat founders Cynthia Gibb and Jill Mann.

Tickets are $5 (free for senior citizens). Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Writer-director Georgia Wright (right), and Triple Threat actors.

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Melissa Newman — Westport’s own, and one of the most popular Jazz at the Post regulars — returns to the VFW this Thursday (January 23; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m.).

She’s joined by guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Bobby Leonard. Click here for tickets.

Melissa Newman

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Yesterday’s snow is today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

Claudia Sherwood Servidio captured the seren scene, on Cross Highway.

(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

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And finally … we honor our own great explorer, Richard Wiese (story above). Meanwhile, here’s another one:

(Every day, “06880” explores Westport [and Weston]. If you enjoy reading what we unearth, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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