This afternoon, Westport’s registrars of voters released this statement:
In response to the press release issued on July 8, and after carefully considering the feedback and concerns expressed by members of the Westport community, the registrars of voters and town clerk have decided to return to the original polling places.
We appreciate the public’s engagement throughout this process. If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact the Registrars of Voters office at 203-341-1115 for additional information or clarification.
To be clear: The original polling places are the schools and Westport Library, used for decades according to Representative Town Meeting (RTM) districts. They’ll be open for the August 11 primary, and November 3 general election. The July 8 press release said that all polling places would be consolidated into one: Bedford Middle School.
Voters will once again return to familiar polling places, like the Westport Library …
… and PTAs will continue to run fundraising bake sales. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Beginning with the August 11 primary, and continuing November 3 and through all elections afterward, all in-person voting will be done at Bedford Middle School. For decades there were several local polling places, based on Representative Town Meeting (RTM) districts.
The League of Women Voters has long stood for one fundamental principle: Every eligible citizen should have the opportunity to vote freely, fairly, and without unnecessary barriers.
Our mission is not to advocate for one political party or a particular election outcome, but to promote informed participation, transparent government, and public confidence in our elections.
On Wednesday, July 8, Westport households received a postcard from the Registrars of Voters announcing a significant change to the way our community will vote.
Beginning with the August primary, all Westport voters will cast their ballots at a single polling location on Election Day — Bedford Middle School — replacing the 5 Election Day polling places that have served our town and its 9 voting districts for many years.
The registrars cited changes in Connecticut voting laws, including early voting and expanded absentee voting, as well as cost savings, as reasons for this new approach.
Many residents are understandably asking questions. A change affecting every voter in our town naturally generates interest and discussion, and presents an opportunity to better understand the considerations that informed this decision.
Last November, candidates gathered outside the Westport Library. It was one of 5 polling places in town. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Connecticut law places significant responsibility on registrars of voters to administer elections. With that responsibility comes an equally important opportunity to strengthen public confidence by helping residents understand how decisions affecting voting are made and the factors that were considered.
Election administration has changed considerably in recent years. Early voting and no-excuse absentee voting have expanded voting opportunities. Those changes may influence how communities think about Election Day polling places.
At the same time, moving from 5 polling places to 1 represents a significant change in how Westport conducts its elections, making it especially valuable for the community to understand the reasoning behind the decision. Public confidence is strengthened when important decisions are explained openly and discussed respectfully.
Poll worker at the Westport Library, 2024. (Photo/Dan Woog)
We hope the registrars will share more about the analysis and considerations that informed their decision, including:
How was it determined that 1 polling place is suitable for serving all nine voting districts and Westport voters?
What factors were considered regarding parking, traffic, voter wait times, accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities, and overall voter convenience?
Were alternative approaches evaluated, such as maintaining multiple polling places while also achieving greater efficiency or cost savings?
How will the impact of this change be evaluated after future elections?
Our democracy is strongest when citizens are informed, engaged, and confident that their voices matter — not only on Election Day, but in the decisions that shape how elections are conducted.
We invite the registrars of voters to share the analysis supporting this important decision, and welcome a thoughtful community dialogue about how Westport can continue to ensure that every eligible voter has meaningful, convenient and equitable access to the ballot.
In January, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie removed Randy Herbertson from his position as chair.
Christie told “06880”: “I have not yet named a new chair for DPIC. Regarding the website, we’re aware of the issue and are looking into it.”
DPIC had spent a long time working on parking plans, including lot renovations, changes to time limits, an app to track open spots, and the possibilities of meters and a deck. Member Matthew Mandell says, “A lot of work has been done. A lot of work is still on the table. We’d like to be able to move forward.”
Part of the DPIC Master Plan, when it was live on the town website.
He won’t be in concert. But it will be a very entertaining evening nonetheless.
The internationally acclaimed Italian pop artist will be at the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum (Thursday, July 9, 4 p.m.). He and Connoisseur Medi radio host Jon Kamal will talk about music, the creative process, and the story behind his Falling in Love Tour.
It’s a different stage for the son of tenor Andrea Bocelli. Matteo made his live debut at 18, in Rome’s Colosseum, and has performed all over the world since.
Tomorrow, he receives the inaugural Rock the Walls Award. The non-profit brings musicians and artists together to support survivors and end the silence around domestic abuse.
At mid-afternoon yesterday, Bob Weingarten sent this update on Saturday’s powerful storm, which left hundreds of residents without power:
“Our electric came on this morning, along with others on Hillandale Road and Morningside Drive South.
“I’m not sure of Hillandale and Center Street. The intersection is blocked off because of tree parts with wires (hopefully not electric) — embedded within the logs and branches.”
At 7 a.m. today, Eversource reported only 570 outages in the entire state of Connecticut. Power has been restored to all Westport and Weston customers.
Wakeman Town Farm’s biggest event of the summer — their annual Family Fun Day — takes place Saturday, July 18 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
The day includes hands-on activities (crafts, story time, hair tinsel, garden planting, bubble show, and more) entertainment, farm fun, and food.
The day is dedicated to longtime WTF supporter Pete Romano. His generosity and enthusiasm were legendary — as was his smile while serving ice cream. In his memory, sponsors Al’s Angels, LandTech, Gault and Saugatuck Sweets will provide free ice cream for all.
Curious about polo? And/or about the Fairfield County Hunt Club?
You’re invited to a day-long exhibition on Saturday, July 26 (gates open at 11 a.m.).
In addition to matches, there are vendors, food and drinks. Tickets are $15, at the gate. VIP tickets are available by Venmo: @fchcpolo.
Questions? Email HuntClubPolo@gmail.com.
Polo comes to Westport.
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Local author Lori Miller Kase (“The Accident”) leads a 2-part fiction writing workshop for teens (July 20 and 22, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Westport Library).
The free sessions help both experienced and aspiring writers generate ideas for new work, and offer inspiration to those with short stories or novels in progress.
Faded is the Crimson — a Grateful Dead tribute band — takes the stage next, in the Weston History & Cultural Center’s “Music at the Barn” summer concert series.
The show — reprising the Dead’s 1981 live acoustic double album “Reckoning” — is July 26 (5:30 p.m.). Guests are invited to bring a lawn chair, picnic, and bottle of wine,
Tickets ($15 members, $20 non-members; children 12 and under free) are available at the door or online.
The “Career Coach” will be in the Westport Library parking lot on Thursday, July 16 for a session on “Intro to AI: Job Seeker Strategies.”
It returns August 20, with Tips for Resume and Cover Letter.
There are 2 sessions ( 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) each day; both are 2 hours long. Registrants can choose one.
The service is available to people who are exploring career opportunities, actively looking for a job, or seeking additional part-time employment. Click here to reserve a spot.
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Westport resident Isabel Moskowitz — a founder and past president of TCS — died Monday. She was 74.
A pioneer in the financial services industry, Isabel built a distinguished career at a time when few women held leadership roles in the field. She led her own brokerage firm, advocated fiercely for her clients, and helped open doors for women who followed.
In addition to her other roles at TCS, she served for decades on the board of directors, chaired many committees, and supported the synagogue in ways both visible and quiet. She also held leadership roles with Federation, ORT and other Jewish organizations, working to strengthen Jewish life locally and beyond.
Her obituary says, “She was happiest when bringing people together, especially around the holiday table, where she welcomed family and friends with extraordinary food, warmth and care. She gave generously of herself through her love, advice, support, guidance, thoughtfulness and steady presence. She had a sharp wit, a beautiful spirit, and a strength and resolve that made her a true force — in her family, her work, and her community.”
Isabel is survived by her husband Steve; her daughter and son-in-law, Alyssa and Josh Gold; her brother Michael Price; her stepchildren Alan (Michelle) Moskowitz and Dana Moskowitz, and her granddaughters Abigail Gold, and Naomi, Zoe, and Dafne Moskowitz.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Thursday, July 9, 11 a.m., TCS).
Donations in Isabel’s memory may be made to TCS or the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital.
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Sherwood Island State Park punches way above its weight, in our daily “Westport … Naturally” series.
Today we feature a sharp-looking black swallowtail butterfly, courtesy of Clarence Hayes:
And finally … in honor of our “Westport … Naturally” image above:
(“06880” is where Westport meets the world — and where you get the full version of this beautiful song. What a blog! If you enjoy our 24/7/365 service, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Today, Westport welcomes a new Public Works director.
Larry Roberts takes over from Pete Ratkiewich, the highly regarded, now-retired 35-year veteran of our town’s roads, transfer station and all other infrastructure.
It should be a seamless transfer. Roberts has over 3 decades’ experience, in facilities management, emergency communications and public safety. Most recently, he served as Weston’s director of public works
A Westport native, he knows this town well. He traces his current position — in a roundabout way — to how he learned to fly here.
At Staples High School.
Larry Roberts, Staples High School Class of 1985 …
Back in the day, Wilson Hopkins taught an Aeronautics course. Roberts earned his pilot’s license before graduating in 1985.
That led to Embry-Riddle University in Florida, where he majored in aeronautical science and minored in airframe mechanics. He knew how to fly planes — and how to fix them.
For 10 years, Roberts flew for Business Express Airlines. He married Sandra Pasarelli (Staples ’86), moved to Weston, and became a volunteer firefighter.
Realizing that “flying is not the best occupation for an expectant father,” Roberts pivoted to a new career: firefighting.
He was hired by Greenwich, and rose through the ranks to deputy chief. His background in mechanics helped him oversee construction of several new firehouses there.
After 20 years, he retired. Weston hired him, first as director of their communications center, then as head of public works and facility management.
Several major projects had been funded, but not begun. Over the past 5 years, Roberts’ department built 3 bridges; paved 27 miles of road; reconstructed Lyons Plain Road, and renovated a public water supply system.
When Ratkiewich announced his retirement, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie named him to the interview committee. There were several good candidates, Roberts says, but none panned out.
So Christie asked Roberts if he’d be interested in the job himself.
He met Christie and other department heads. “I was impressed with their professionalism,” Roberts recalls. “And they all seemed happy.”
He applied, and was interviewed — this time on the other side of the table. His tenure begins today.
… and Larry Roberts today.
His learning curve will not be steep. “I’m in Westport virtually every day,”” Roberts says. “I know the infrastructure, the people and the relationships. I read ‘06880.’
“I know the town well. Maybe not as well as Pete (Ratkiewich), but not many people do.”
Right now, the DPW is working on about 80 projects. They include the Ned Dimes Marina and nearby retaining wall at Compo Beach, the Sherwood Mill Pond tidal gates, Long Lots Elementary School, Parker Harding Plaza, and sidewalks.
Roberts will spend time learning about them, and about the department’s strengths and areas for improvement.
“”I’m not the type to come in and make big changes,” he says. “If something is needed, okay. If not, that’s also okay.”
Sidewalks and marinas are a far cry from the planes Larry Roberts first learned to fly at Staples.
But he’s ready to soar, in the town where it all began.
The Clubhouse has been Westport’s go-to spot, for many World Cup matches.
For something different for today’s Argentina-Cape Verde game (Friday, 6 p.m.), consider a watch party in Stamford — hosted by Congressman Jim Himes.
The Round of 32 event is at Third Place by Half Full Brewery. Fans of both teams — and the USA — are welcome. So are all Democrats, Republicans, independents — and everyone else.
What do freedom, faith, hope and responsibility mean, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary?
Weston’s Norfield Congregational Church invites everyone to participate in a 4-week sermon series exploring those questions.
“A New Birth of Freedom: America at 250 — Beautiful. Broken. Beloved. Becoming” begins this Sunday (July 5, 10 a.m.). Through scripture, reflection and honest conversation, the series examines how people of faith can engage the nation’s milestone with gratitude, humility, courage and hope.
Senior minister Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson says, “This is not a partisan series. It is a Gospel series. We are not gathering around a flag, but around Christ’s table. Our goal is to explore what faithful citizenship and Christian hope look like in a complex and changing world.”
The series will be complemented by special musical offerings from American composers and hymn writers. For more information, click here.
Also in the spirit of our semiquincentennial: The Westport Garden Club invites the community to a free “American Spirit 250” event.
The patriotic exhibition — a gift to the the town — showcases the talents of club members through horticulture and floral design, and educational displays.
The National Garden Club Small Standard Flower Show is set for the Westport Library on July 11 (noon to 5 p.m.) and July 12 (1 to 3 p.m.).
The Westport Garden Club began celebrating America 250 in April, placing floral displays placed town. They’ll continue the effort on patriotic dates through the rest of the year.
Westport Garden Club members Louise Demakis, Janet Wolgast and Joanne Heller.
As always, the Parks & Recreation Department did a spectacular job — not just with last night’s fireworks, but the cleanup that followed too.
Working through the night, after 10,000 guests left, they made sure that Compo Beach was pristine for the holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, the dozens of very important port-a-potties were trucked away. They too will be cleaned, and ready for whatever comes next.
(Photo/Amy Schneider)
PS: More props to Parks & Rec, for keeping the bathrooms by the lifeguard shack open. In years past, they were inexplicably closed during the biggest night of the year.
Local artist Tammy Winser is this month’s Westport Book Shop artist exhibitor.
Her whimsical “So They Say” collection combines acrylic and collage, celebrating animals with human expressions and personalities. Winser’s thought-provoking works capture the humor and absurdity of everyday life.
An artist reception is set for July 16 (6 p.m.). The exhibit will be open during business hours throughout July, with all work available for purchase.
Meanwhile, the Book Shop’s Short Story Club meets July 22 (6 p.m.).
This month’s discussion focuses on stories by American writers, about conversations:
“Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut,” by J.D. Salinger
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” by Raymond Carver
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank,” by Nathan Englander
Space is limited. To register, call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
Tammy Winser
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The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is seeking candidates to fill the District 7 vacancy created by the death of Jack Klinge.
No political party affiliation is required. as Westport’s RTM is a nonpartisan legislative body. Interested District 7 representatives can submit a resume and brief statement of intent to town clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton (jdunkerton@westportct.gov) by July 20.
The third time was not the charm for lights on 2 athletic fields.
The Planning & Zoning Commission once again delayed a decision on the Parks & Recreation Commission request, for the Wakeman B and PJ Romano Fields.
At last night’s Zoom meeting, Parks & Rec director Erik Barbieri and recreation superintendent Carmen Roda presented charts and graphs showing field usage, the number of participants in current programs (including those turned away because of lack of space), the impact of 50-, 60- and 70-foot poles, and the deterioration of grass fields due to overuse (without the availability of lit, synthetic turf surfaces).
They cited the support of several hundred youth sports families, and groups like the Westport Soccer Association and Westport PAL.
Rendering of 4 70-foot light poles at Wakeman B Field.
However, the majority of speakers — nearly all of them neighbors — objected to the plan. Many cited a lacrosse tournament last weekend, sponsored by a private organization, that brought noise, traffic, even outdoor barbecues to the Wakeman fields.
Other objections included the height of the poles, the effect on the environment, the length of time lights would stay on, field usage by adults and outside (non-school and town) groups, and how well Parks & Rec would manage oversight of the lights.
Attorney Joel Green, representing the ad hoc “Lights Need Limits” group, questioned whether the lights plan met the P&Z’s own requirements.
But one neighbor — John Sabino, who said he is the second-closest neighbor to Wakeman — spoke in favor of lights. The sound of children playing, even air horns, was preferable to “the deafening silence” of youngsters using cellphones and computer screens, he said.
Rendering of 70-foot light poles at PJ Romano Field.
Though 2 fields are in the Parks & Rec proposal — and the P&Z agenda included both Wakeman and PJ Romano Field, behind Saugatuck Elementary School — nearly all of the discussion centered around the Bedford Middle School property.
The P&Z voted unanimously to continue the hearing to July 20.
For 30 years the nonpartisan, issue-neutral training program has worked to train people — primarily women — to run for office and manage political campaigns.
The Campaign School has a strong Westport influence. Pat Hendrickson was a co-founder and former president. Among its graduates: former 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker, State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Dominique Johnson, former State Senator Toni Boucher, Board of Finance members Allyson Stollenwerck and Elaine Whitney, and Democratic Town Committee chair Michelle Mechanic. Nationally known alumni include Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Rosa De Lauro, and former Representative Gabby Giffords.
Today, Coykendall reflects on the lessons — and importance — of her recent week at The Campaign School.
I was honored to be one of 75 women and 2 men selected to attend the Campaign School at Yale last week. The experience was eye‑opening, challenging and energizing.
Early on, students were asked to answer a simple but profound question: Why are you a proud Republican or Democrat?
That question gave me pause. I told the program’s director I wasn’t sure where I fit.
On the RTM we serve as a non‑partisan body focused on collaboration, not party labels. I also wasn’t sure how my background in nursing fit.
What I learned is that the very skills I used every day in nursing —communication, teamwork, problem‑solving — are exactly what our state and national politics desperately need.
As the director reminded me, democracy only thrives when people can discuss, debate and negotiate. That message shaped my biggest takeaway: Change starts with us, and our personal politics often cross party lines. There is much we all agree on.
One person at a time, we can counter the rise of single‑party voting and encourage a more balanced, cooperative approach to governing that focuses on the needs of constituents.
The New York Times once described the course as “sadistically intensive.” That description is well earned.
We dove into leadership, campaign strategy, budgeting, fundraising, media, and the growing importance of campaign security.
Each evening we worked late into the night on group case studies, culminating in a mock‑campaign presentation judged by Betsey Ankney (former campaign manager for Nikki Haley) and Allida Black (special advisor to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton).
My commitment remains focused on Westport’s needs: responsible fiscal management, strong schools, and thoughtful development. We must balance state housing mandates with the realities of our local infrastructure.
My top concern is the strain on our roads, particularly as large developments move forward. Many residents are unaware of the 157 new units coming to Hiawatha Lane — and the significant traffic impact this will bring near the Saugatuck train station.
These pressures stem from state legislation, which can be out of step with the needs and resources of individual towns. New proposed legislation continues to push for increased density, even in our cherished downtown.
Many residents feel this isn’t what they signed up for. I share that concern. This is why it’s essential that Westport has a strong, informed voice in Hartford.
While I’ve been encouraged to run for higher office now, I plan to wait. My priority is to ensure more Westporters understand what is happening at the state level, and how it affects our daily lives.
We all have a role to play in urging legislators to consider traffic, transit and infrastructure before adding more cars to already overburdened roads.
Together, we can protect the character of Westport while we advocate for smarter, more balanced policies.
(“06880” covers local politics — and the people who represent us. If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
A lot of famous people have been honored at the Westport Library’s “Booked for the Evening” event. The list includes Billie Jean King, Martin Scorsese, Patti Smith, Itzhak Perlman, and many others.
This year’s recipient has special “Fame.”
Emmy Award-winning director, choreographer, producer, actress, educator and United States Cultural Ambassador of Dance Debbie Allen will be celebrated October 28.
She is perhaps best known as perhaps best known as dance instructor Lydia Grant in the 1982 series “Fame.” She was also the show’s principal choreographer. (Fun fact: Staples High School graduate Cynthia Gibb starred on that TV show too.)
“Debbie Allen hasn’t just excelled across disciplines — she has used every one of them in service of something larger,” says library director Bill Harmer. “She has consistently asked what art can do for a community and for a culture. We couldn’t be more delighted to honor her and welcome her to the vibrant arts community of Westport.”
“Booked for the Evening” annually honors someone whose work reflects the mission and vision of the Library: to nurture a love of learning, and enhance our understanding of the world.
Allen has earned 3 Emmys, a Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image Awards, a Drama Desk honor, the first-ever Astaire Award for Best Dancer, 4 honorary doctorates, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She has choreographed the Academy Awards 10 times, directed and produced episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “A Different World,” and was the creative force behind Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad.”
Appointed by President George W. Bush as a Cultural Ambassador of Dance, Allen spent more than 15 years as an artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center.
In one of their quickest meetings ever, the Planning & Zoning Commission postponed last night’s discussion of athletic field lights on the Wakeman and PF Romano Fields until next Monday (June 29).
“06880” reporter Dylan Robbin says that the continuance for both an 8-24 and special permit/site plan came at the request of Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri.
He indicated his department was “95% there,” but sought the delay to present something completely ready for a “major decision” by the P&Z.
The 2 projects call for permanent LED lighting, to support both school and community activities.
Monday’s delay also carries procedural implications for the lighting proposals. P&Z members noted that the Municipal Improvement applications must be acted on and issued to the first selectman by June 30. If further continuance is needed by the P&Z, the current Parks & Rec applications must be withdrawn and resubmitted.
Barbieri will submit a finalized presentation to the Planning & Zoning office before next week’s meeting. He says, “the only timeline I have is the proper vetting of the topic, and for the decision makers to have all the information they need. If that requires a bit more time, then so be it.”
PJ Romano Field has temporary lights. A plan for permanent lighting there, and at Wakeman Field, was postponed to next week.
For over 40 years, the Susan Fund has quietly — but generously, and effectively — helped young cancer patients go to college.
Named for Susan Lloyd — a Staples High School graduate who died of bone cancer shortly before attending Colgate University — the organization held its 44th reception on Sunday.
Eighteen college scholarships were awarded to Fairfield County residents who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Westport recipients included former Staples Players Charlie Watson, who attends Montclair University, and Henry Baker, a rising freshman at Pace University.
Since its inception, the Susan Fund has given more than $2.2 million to over 300 people. This year’s ceremony marked a record amount.
To learn more about the Susan Fund — including how to apply for a scholarship, and donate — click here.
Students are using it — sometimes far more than teachers realize. But teachers are using it too.
What’s the future for education? How will youngsters cope — and learn?
Casey Cuny — California’s 2024 Teacher of the Year — explored the topic last night, in a fascinating Westport Library presentation. It was co-sponsored by the Westport Public Schools.
Casey Cuny, at the Westport Library. (Photo/Susan Garment)
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On Sunday morning, Saugatuck Congregational Church sent 10 young people and 5 adults to learn about — and experience — poverty and advocacy in Washington. This includes five adults and 10 youth.
They’re working with local organizations, visiting the offices of Connecticut elected officials, and also sightseeing.
Speaking of teenagers: Circle of Friends has just launched a new program for Fairfield County high school students. Successful participants earn 3 college credits.
The Solomon Leadership Program offers leadership training, community engagement, and mentorship. Students gain experience in decision-making, values-driven leadership and public speaking. To learn more, click here.
Applications are open for high school juniors and seniors. Click here, email westport@solomonprogram.org, or call 203-293-8837. The Instagram is @circlefriendsct.
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Congratulations to the Intensity Racquet Club 14U tennis boys!
On Sunday they won the USTA state championship, in West Hartford.
Four of the champs — Dylan Griffiths, Julian Kerschner and KJ Yu — are from Westport. Caleb Stapleton lives in Fairfield.
It was a long day: 12 hours (including a 30-minute rain delay). Each boy played 8 matches: 4 singles and 4 doubles.
From left: KJ Yu, Dylan Griffiths, Julian Kerschner, Caleb Stapleton.
Jazz drummer Adam Nussbaum grew up in Norwalk. He won a Grammy with Michael Brecker, and has played with artists like Gil Evans and Stan Getz.
Fans who “knew him when,” and those who had no idea of his local roots, can all enjoy Nussbaum this Thursday, at Jazz at the Post (June 25, shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7; VFW Post 399).
He’s joined by fellow Norwalk native Rob Aries (piano), plus Dave Santoro (bass), and James “Doc” Halliday and Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall (saxophones). Click here for tickets.
Adam Drake, his wife Lindsey and their children Malin and Parker have lived in Westport for 11 years. He is a member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM), serving District 3
Adam is a writer and co-founder of Reflekta, a company that preserves family stories and intergenerational memory. The other day, he posted this piece on his personal website.
Today — as Westport prepared for its town-wide Pride celebration (12 p.m., Jesup Green) — it’s a great time to publish it here.
I made the mistake of reading the comment sections from local communities’ Pride flag-raising events, and grew disheartened with many of the messages shared there. They were rude, hateful, and incredibly ignorant. (Though I was thrilled to see one commenter end up being arrested for disrupting a Pride event in his town.)
But I had to take a step back, take a breath, and realize that the people saying these things are so filled with hate and anger that to live that way must be horribly suffocating. Imagine going through life carrying that much vitriol in your heart, and the only way to ease your pain is through the suffering of others?
Adam and Lindsey Drake and their children, at 2025 Westport Pride.
I have always believed something very simple, and I mean very simple, which is helpful because I am often at my best when the moral math does not require one to open Microsoft Excel.
No one should ever tell you who you can and cannot love.
That’s it.
That’s the whole idea.
I don’t think love needs a permission slip. I don’t think someone’s identity should be treated like a zoning variance. I don’t think a person should have to walk into a room and silently calculate how much of themselves they are allowed to bring with them.
And as an RTM member in Westport, as a friend, as a father, as a neighbor, and as someone who has spent a lifetime trying, sometimes clumsily, to become a better human being, I think allyship starts right there.
It starts with us saying: You are welcome here.
Not conditionally. Not quietly. Not in a “we support you, but please don’t make anyone uncomfortable” kind of way.
We need to do this fully.
Adam Drake was in the crowd earlier this month, when 1st Selectman Kevin Christie and Westport Pride president Brian McGunagle raised the rainbow flag at Jesup Green.
The LGBTQ community is not an abstract issue. It is not a debate topic. It is not a political wedge or a cable news chyron. It is our friends. Our family members. Our classmates. Our coaches. Our teachers. Our doctors. Our artists. Our business owners. Our kids. Our neighbors standing next to us in line at Coffee An’, or Trader Joe’s, or the dump, where, incidentally, all Westport residents eventually meet and silently judge each other’s recycling habits. (I promise to tie up my cardboard next time.)
And if you live in a community long enough, you learn that belonging is not created by proclamations alone. It is created in the small moments. The way we speak. The way we listen. The way we show up when someone is being targeted. The way we make it clear that nobody has to shrink themselves to fit into the town they already belong to.
I wrote about this in an op-ed for the Westport Journal a few months ago when a fellow RTM member had some questionable takes on celebrating a member of our community who also happened to be gay.
The numbers matter here. Gallup has reported that 9.3% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, nearly double the share from just a few years ago.
In Connecticut, UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates that roughly 170,500 adults identify as LGBT.
These are not small numbers. These are not “somewhere else” numbers. These are our communities. These are our towns. These are people sitting beside us at meetings, cheering at games, volunteering at schools, serving on boards, running businesses, raising families, and making Westport better.
A broad range of Westporters welcomed Pride Month at Jesup Green.
And yet, despite all the progress made, the burden remains real. The Trevor Project’s 2025 survey found that 44% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it. That statistic alone should stop all of us in our tracks. Because when young people are struggling, when they are wondering whether they are safe, accepted, loved, or understood, the adults in the room have a responsibility. Not just the parents.
All of us.
The neighbors. The coaches. The elected officials. The people with microphones at public meetings. The people who write fever dream posts on Facebook who are no doubt inspired by whatever propaganda they saw that morning on Fox News.
Being an ally does not mean being perfect. Which is great because I would have been disqualified sometime around 1987.
It does not mean you always know the exact right word to use or that you never make a mistake. It means you care enough to learn. It means you care enough to apologize when you get it wrong. It means you care enough to stand beside people even when it would be easier to stay quiet.
Westport walked the talk when it approved a rainbow crosswalk. An actual rainbow over Jesup Road is a nice touch. (Photo/Svea Vocke)
As an RTM member, I believe local government has a role to play in making people feel seen and protected. That does not mean every meeting needs to become a culture war cage match. In fact, I would very much prefer fewer cage matches in general, White House front lawn, or otherwise.
It means we should speak with care. It means we should remember that our words travel farther than the room. It means that when we discuss people’s lives, identities, families, and dignity, we do so with humility.
Westport likes to think of itself as welcoming, thoughtful, educated, and engaged. Most of the time, I believe that is true. But being a welcoming community is not a trophy you win once and put on a shelf. It is a practice. It is something we have to keep choosing.
We choose it when LGBTQ kids see adults defending them, not debating them.
We choose it when same-sex couples feel as ordinary and celebrated as any other couple holding hands on Main Street.
We choose it when transgender and nonbinary neighbors are given the dignity every person deserves.
We choose it when we refuse to let cruelty off the hook as “just an opinion.”
And we choose it when we make a safe place for joy, not just tolerance.
Saugatuck Church celebrates Pride with fun and joy. (Photo/Lois Himes)
That matters because tolerance is not enough. We need to move away from “Fine, you can be here,” to “We’re glad you are.”
That is the kind of community I know and want Westport to be.
I want LGBTQ people to know that they do not have to earn their place here. They already have it. I want young people to know that the adults around them are not waiting to judge them, but ready to support them. I want families to know that love, in all its forms, is something this community should celebrate loudly, warmly, and without apology.
And yes, sometimes awkwardly. Because let’s be honest, some of us are going to overthink the wording, make the sign too small, clap at the wrong time, or wear a rainbow pin slightly crooked. But I will take awkward love over polished indifference every single time.
Being an ally is not about being the hero of someone else’s story. It is about making sure nobody has to stand alone in theirs. So I’ll come back to where I started. No one should ever tell you who you can and cannot love. Not a government. Not a neighbor. Not a school board. Not a stranger on the internet. Not anyone. Love is hard enough without asking people to defend it.
In Westport, and everywhere else, we should be brave enough, kind enough, and decent enough to say what should never have been controversial in the first place:
This afternoon, “06880” honored the life of Jack Klinge with a special story.
His family offers this obituary.
John Gorman “Jack” Klinge Sr. died peacefully this morning, surrounded by his family. He was 87.
Jack Klinge
A gifted student and lifelong learner, Jack graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemical engineering.
He served as a commissioned officer in the Navy aboard the USS Thetis Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his military service, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jack enjoyed a distinguished career in marketing, including leadership roles with General Foods, Arm & Hammer, Topps Chewing Gum Company and Score Baseball Cards. He combined creativity, strategic thinking, and a love of sports throughout his professional life.
Jack Klinge and his wife Jeanne.
While his professional accomplishments were many, Jack’s greatest impact was felt in the community he loved. A resident of Westport for more than 50 years, he devoted countless hours to public service and civic engagement.
He coached youth baseball and softball for many years, mentored students, served as a substitute teacher, and became the longest-serving member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting. He was deeply involved in the development and growth of the Westport Center for Senior Activities, helping create a lasting resource that continues to enrich the lives of older residents.
Jack believed strongly in giving back. Whether delivering holiday meals to homebound seniors, mentoring young people, advocating for thoughtful public policy, or volunteering his time wherever it was needed, he approached every endeavor with integrity, humility, and optimism.
Jack Klinge at the Senior Center with former and current directors Sue Pfister (left) and Wendy Petty.
Above all else, Jack cherished his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. His kindness, wisdom, humor, and unwavering support shaped the lives of those who knew him.
Jack’s legacy lives on through the family he loved, the community he served, and the countless lives he touched through his generosity and leadership.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jeanne Bange Klinge; son John Gorman Klinge, Jr. of Lake Forest, Illinois; daughter, Courtney Klinge of San Francisco, California and her husband, Eric Prosnitz; son Jeff Klinge of Rumson, New Jersey and his wife, Stacey Klinge, and grandchildren Cassie Longo, John Gorman “Jack” Klinge III, and Will Klinge; Paulina, Eliana, and Alexa Prosnitz; and Logan and Davis Klinge.
Family and friends are invited to attend services at St. Luke Church this Friday (June 12, 12:30 p.m.).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westport Center for Senior Activities (21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880).
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These pressures stem from state legislation, which can be out of step with the needs and resources of individual towns. New proposed legislation continues to push for increased density, even in our cherished downtown.
