Lukas Frenes is a Staples High School senior. He spent his internship working with “06880.”
Every member of the Class of 2026 has a story. Lukas’ is unique: This was his only year at Staples. How did it go? Read on!
Entering Staples High School as a senior is an experience few graduates ever face.
When I walked through the sprawling doors last fall, the crisp autumn air wasn’t just signaling my first day of the school year; it was marking my first week ever living in Westport.
I was still figuring out the winding roads, let alone the labyrinthine hallways of Staples.
Lukas Frenes
These first steps into an entirely unfamiliar environment felt worrisome. Trading the hushed, highly structured quads of a tiny boarding school for the massive kinetic energy of a public high school was a profound culture shock.
I had to brace myself for the “Westport way of life,” anticipating Staples to be an intimidating pressure cooker of Ivy League ambitions and impenetrable lifelong cliques. It felt like I had to jump onto a moving train.
The students themselves were the ones who truly dismantled my self-conceived fears. In Children’s Lit, the ice broke not in a stiff classroom setting but on the seats of a rumbling yellow school bus.
We were bouncing along new roads, the thick, nervous air filled with the smell of diesel while we debated whether our assigned elementary kids would actually connect with us.
I was worried about my kid, Jacob. But before I could overthink it a laptop hit
“record,” asking me predictions on our teaching abilities.
The curriculum was demanding, but the growth happened in the small, quiet moments.
Navigating an intense senior year with dyslexia was always going to be an uphill battle, but the Staples faculty met my learning differences with open arms, prioritizing genuine understanding over routine busywork.
Mr. Feagin’s AP Economics classroom, in particular, became a sanctuary. Instead of leaving me to struggle silently with a sea of swimming letters on timed exams, he would meet with me afterward to give me extra time.
He never made me feel the shame I usually felt regarding my dyslexia. I wasn’t a burden; I was supported, allowing me to find my footing, culminating in an Academic Excellence award.
I still recall my first day in the Staples cafeteria. The energy was palpable; a loud, kinetic room of students completely engrossed in years of shared memories, while I passed through crowds of people alone as a first-year senior.
Then members of the Saugatuck Rowing team waved me over to their table. In an instant, I had an anchor.
Lukas Frenes, in action.
Rowing was my community through it, but there were distinct trade-offs. The grueling practice forced us to sacrifice traditional senior milestones, such as many sports events, and build a stronger bond of solidarity.
As senior year winds down, the perspective I gained has been invaluable. Staples wasn’t just a waiting room for graduation; it provided the space to test my abilities, learn about myself, and explore what I want my future to look like.
The profound judgment-free support I received from teachers, combined with the joy of seeing Jacob’s face light up during my Children’s Lit lessons, illuminated my path to pursue educational studies at Colby College next year. I am driven by the goal of helping students like me who would hate the education system without phenomenal teachers like the ones at Staples.
While being fast, challenging and intense, I wouldn’t give up calling myself a Wrecker for anything.
(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)
For over 300 years — long before Westport was incorporated as a town — Green’s Farms Church has been a community anchor.
Beyond its importance as a religious congregations, the church has opened its doors to all. These days it hosts numerous groups, a preschool, and much more.
This Sunday (June 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), Green’s Farms Church is throwing a block party. Neighbors, families all around town, local organizations,and mission partners will gather for food, music, games and connection.
The party includes live music, barbecue, an ice cream truck, inflatables, crafts, sport court games, photo booth, sidewalk chalk art, and activities for all ages.
Organizations and partners from across the region will also participate, offering opportunities to learn more about good works happening throughout Westport and beyond.
Sponsored in part by organizations that regularly gather at Green’s Farms Church — including Westport Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, Homes with Hope and Scout Troop 39 — the event will celebrate community.
Everyone is warmly invited. For more information, click here or follow on social media: @greensfarmschurch.
Green’s Farms Congregational Church
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The date and time for Staples High School’s baseball state championship game is set.
The Wreckers face Trumbull on Saturday at noon. The site is Middletown’s Palmer Field. Click here for tickets.
Unfortunately, the boys lacrosse team will not join them in a state championship game. Staples fell to New Canaan yesterday in heartbreaking fashion — 9-8, in sudden-death overtime — in their “LL” semi, at Fairfield University.
It’s a tall order to beat the same team 4 times in one season. The Wreckers had topped the Rams 3 times this spring — including a thrilling sudden-death win in the FCIAC final.
Congratulations to coach Will Koshansky’s squad, on another stellar year.
Speaking of sports: The World Cup kicks off this afternoon. Mexico hosts South Africa, at 3 p.m.
Tomorrow (Friday), the US plays its first match, against Paraguay in Los Angeles. Kickoff is 9 p.m. EDT.
Sure, you can watch them — and many of the other 102 games — at home.
But it will be a lot more fun at The Clubhouse.
The sports bar/restaurant/event space/and more across the Post Road from the Delamar has Westport’s largest TV wall. They’ve added 2 new screens, so every seat now has a view.
They also offer reservations for reservations for smaller rooms. There’s also the roof deck, to watch outdoors.
Click on their website, or follow their Instagram (@theclubhouswestport) for news of watch parties for the biggest games — with DJs and other special attractions. For reservations, click here.
They begin with a recognition of retirees: Horacio Ballesteros, Christina Brooks, Maureen Cadden, Carmela Cerulo, Lisa Doran, Joanne Fasciolo, Gina Forberg, Karen Frawley, Dana Gilland, Ellen Hardy, Cheryl Hersh, Patricia Hines, Kaye Johnson, Jessica Olson, Helena Paiva, Anne Parise, Elaine Perlman, Liz Shaffer and Miguel Valentin.
They’ll also recognize their 2 student representatives — Anwara Olasewere and Souleye Kebe — and PTA co-presidents Lori Freemon, Allison O’Dell, Jennifer Sydor, Alaina Skiber, Sonam Tejpal, Catherine Young,Cheryl Morabito, Christina Royce, Alexis Eisenberg, Lindsay Brachle, Rebekah Wornow, Indy Pereira, Meghan O’Brien, Lindsay Blass, Wendy McConaghy, Gina Christie, Robin Lewis, Stefanie Shackelford and Aileen Brill.
They’ll discuss the recent screen time audit report, and will discuss and act on the employment contract of superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
Before “Hello, Dolly!,” there was “The Matchmaker.”
Tomorrow (Friday, June 12) the curtain rises on Westport Community Theatre’s production of Thornton Wilder’s “Matchmaker” comedy. Matchmaker.
The original source for “Dolly!” is filled with romance, mischief, mistaken identities and classic characters. Decades later, it’s as fresh, funny and heartwarming as ever. his beloved American classic remains as fresh, funny, and heartwarming today as when it first delighted audiences decades ago.
The cast includes Lucy Babbitt, Ari Benmosche, TJ Chila, Rayne Darken, Henry Durham, Betsy Grover, Martha Hegley, Emily Roberson, Patrick Spaulding, Rick Stewart, Erin Wallace and Jordan Weisblatt. The director is Mark Frattaroli.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on June 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26 and 27, and 2 p.m. on June 14, 21 and 28. The Westport Community Theatre is in the lower level of Town Hall. For tickets, call 203-226-1983 or click here.
Patrick Spaulding and Lucy Babbitt in “The Matchmaker.”
Some people help Homes with Hope with cash donations. Others contribute food for the pantry, or cook and serve meals at the Gillespie Center.
The Lang family gave a car, to Susie’s House.
The vehicle will provide reliable transportation for the young women at the Compo Road North residence.
That’s “one less barrier on the road to independence,” says Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden. “This gift will make a real and lasting difference in their lives.
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between June 39 and 9.
An 81-year-old Westport woman was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief, after a neighbor reported that 3-5 feet had been cut from the tops of 19 green giant arborvitae trees on his yard. The trees could no longer grow taller. He estimated the loss due to damage at $20,000. A review of surveillance video and a neighborhood canvas identified the suspect. She refused to speak to the officer investigating the incident, and ignored multiple requests to respond to police headquarters. Bond was set at $20,000. She was released on a written promise to appear, by order of the state bail commissioner’s office.
A 32-year-old Bridgeport woman was charged with larceny, after an investigation into fraudulent returns processed by a Shoe-Inn employee. The total amount was estimated to be $98,405.65. She was released on a $25,000 bond.
A 30-year-old Concord, New Hampshire woman was charged with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, following a shoplifting incident at Walgreens. She is alleged to have taken more than $297 worth of protein shakes. She was unable to post a $50,000 bond.
A 24-year-old Hamden man was charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, theft of a marker plate, improper use of a marker plate and failure to appear, after a license plate reader alert of a stolen license plate. He was released on a $35,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 12 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 7
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 3
Texting while driving: 3
Failure to obey traffic control signs: 3
Disorderly conduct: 2
Following too closely: 2
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 1
Illegal operation of a motor vehicle: 1
School zone violation — 2nd offense: 1
Passing a standing school bus: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Failure to grant right of way: 1
Improper turn: 1
Improper use of marker: 1
Unauthorized insurer: 1
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Longtime Westport resident Richard “Bud” Farquhar died peacefully earlier this year in Milton, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 93.
He grew up in Redlands, California, in a prominent orange-growing family with a history of military service. Bud was an accomplished horse rider, hard-working student, and farm hand. He met beautiful Barbara Jean Penacho while in Redlands High School. They were married for 60 years.
Bud joined the Navy during the Korean War. He served in Japan with his brother Phil, flying missions in search of submarines. After discharge Bud earned a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.
He worked for the Sperry & Hutchinson Company, spending 33 years with Green Stamps. The family moved several times for promotions. They settled in Westport in 1976, where he lived until 2024.
His last role at S&H was national director, sales and marketing, handling over 500 truck stop customers. In 1993 Bud joined Newport Communications as publisher of Truckstop Plaza Magazine.
In 1997 Bud owned and operated Stars & Stripes, LLC which produced annual truck beauty show competitions.
He loved outdoor work, from landscaping at home to firing up the snow blower.
Bud is survived by his son Richard Farquhar Jr. (Shelli) of Marietta, Georgia; daughters Amy Jackson of Milton, Georgia (Peter) and Lori (Milford); grandchildren Nathan, Duncan and Ian Farquhar, and Austin, Rhea and Sage Jackson/
A graveside celebration of life with military honors and internment of ashes will be held tomorrow (June 12, 11 a.m., Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, California), where Bud will be laid to rest next to his wife Barbara Jean Farquhar.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Bud Farquhar
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Wasp nests are things of beauty.
And a bit scary.
Susan Garment spotted this one — a first of the season — underneath a mailbox on Eno Lane. It (complete with wasp) fits right in with our “Westport … Naturally” series — showcasing every variety of life in town.
Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting included a discussion of an upcoming evaluation of the Westport Public Schools’ special education program.
Several parents asked that the review be fully independent, and devoid of any financial ties to the district. They advocate for a transparent review of administration, leadership and governance of special education, overseen directly by the BOE, led by a steering committee that includes parents with lived experience, to ensure a “credible and effective” process.
One student also addressed the BOE. Staples High School senior Wynston Browne — a non-speaking student who communicates by spelling — made a strong case for systemic change in the Special Education department.
Wynston spoke about the need for genuine collaboration, individualized access, and a commitment to “presumed competence,” so all students can fully participate in the decisions that shape their education. He typed this message, shown on a screen:
I would be interested in addressing the Board. The most important idea that I would like to express is that at every PPT [Planning and Placement Team meeting] my input was ignored.
My name is Wynston Browne, and this June I will become the first non-speaking autistic student who communicates by spelling to graduate from Staples HS with a fully credited diploma.
I am proud of this accomplishment and excited to continue my education in college, pursuing the broad range of subjects that inspire and challenge me.
Wynston Browne
While I celebrate this milestone, I must also speak honestly about the barriers I faced along the way. I have always entered my PPT meetings and educational discussions with a collaborative mindset. As the first speller in my district, I was consistently willing to demonstrate my abilities to my entire educational team, from paraprofessionals to administrators and even the superintendent. My goal was never to fight the district, but to work together to create an educational experience that reflected my true abilities and learning needs.
Unfortunately, despite advocating consistently and providing clear evidence of what accommodations were necessary for me to access the curriculum successfully, most of my requests were denied or delayed, even when they required no additional staffing or financial burden.
Wynston Browne and his date, Nina Meehan, before Staples’ senior prom.
One of the greatest barriers I faced was the lack of presumed competence. My outward physical movements, due to severe apraxia, do not reflect my intellectual ability. I have repeatedly explained that presuming competence is the foundation of understanding spelling and non-speaking autism.
This became especially clear in subjects like geometry. When I was denied accommodations that supported my ocular planning challenges, my grades suffered. Yet when I demonstrated how materials could be organized in a way my brain could process, my grades became As. That success was not accidental. It was evidence that individualized access works.
Next week, Wynston Browne will become the first non-speaking autistic student who communicates by spelling to graduate from Staples.
I experienced similar challenges in Spanish. Although I demonstrated fluency, I was placed in a B level class and denied access to a Spanish-speaking Communication and Regulation Partner (CRP). This left me feeling underestimated, dismissed, and intellectually stifled.
A CRP is not simply someone supervising typing. It is a partnership built on trust, rhythm, and skilled inquiry. Like ballroom dancing, success depends on being in sync. The way questions are asked directly impacts my ability to access and express higher level thinking. I do not struggle with intelligence! I struggle with motor planning and access to proper communication support.
When I am not challenged appropriately, “doing busy work” or placed in classes that aren’t reflective of my true abilities, I become fatigued which causes dysregulation. So being underestimated does not support my learning; it limits it.
Three years ago, Wynton Browne starred in a movie, “Presumed Incompetent,” about his journey. He holds a film poster with his parents, David Browne and Lynda Kommel-Browne.
My hope is that Staples HS will do better! That Staples HS will reflect on my experiences and make the necessary changes that benefit all students. Students like me deserve collaboration, individualized access, and educational decisions guided by demonstrated ability rather than disability stereotypes or outward appearance.
These supports are not special treatment. They are necessary steps toward an equitable education and toward schools to recognize and nurture the competence already present within every student. After all, it is our civil rights.
“06880” has chronicled Wynston and his journey several times. To read 2 stories, click here, and click here. For a short film starring Wynston, click here. (The password is Chance.) For a movie about the spelling movement, click here. In 2023 — shortly after he began using a spelling device — Wynston was a guest on our “06880” podcast. Click here to see (and note: His communication skills have increased dramatically since then).
Wynston Browne, with (left) his Communication & Regulation Partner Elisa Feinman, and Mayim Bialik, star of “Big Bang Theory.” She hosted Wynston and his parents at her Los Angeles home, when Wynston filmed “Days of Our Lives.” She invited him onto her “Breakdown” podcast.
Amy Chatterjee moved to Westport with her husband Rit and children (Dylan, 21, and Mia, 18) 13 years ago. Amy has been a college counselor for 25 years, beginning in the New York City public Schools. Since moving to Westport she has worked with Collegewise, advising Staples students and their families. Amy writes:
I’ll never forget the afternoon my daughter Mia told me she was going to try rugby.
My gut reaction was pure, unfiltered terror. I had caught a few Staples High School boys games over the years. I could not picture my daughter charging across a field with no pads, no helmet, nothing between her and the ground.
Four years later, I’ll admit that particular anxiety never fully went away. I still quietly exhale with relief at the end of every game when she walks off the field in one piece.
But that first practice changed everything.
When I arrived to pick Mia up, she was buzzing with news: The upperclassmen had invited all the new players to Sherwood Diner, and offered a ride.
I smiled, said “of course, have fun!” — and the moment she walked away, every question a parent asks themselves flooded in. Are these seniors good drivers? Who are their parents? What if she wants to leave and feels stuck?
I did what parents do: I worried quietly and let her go anyway.
Go Wreckers! (Photo/Dylan Chatterjee)
That decision was one of the best I ever made.
What happened next is hard to fully describe, unless you’ve watched a teenager discover exactly where they belong. Almost overnight, Mia’s confidence began to emerge.
Rugby didn’t just give her something to do after school; it gave her a community that claimed her immediately and completely.
She threw herself into all of it: fall coed touch rugby on Sunday mornings at Staples; joining Aspetuck Rugby Club her sophomore year alongside teammates to build her skills; summer training camps — and last season, the honor of being named co-captain of the Staples girls rugby team alongside her former freshman teammate, Isabella Pirkle.
From left: Maddie Leventhal, Isabella Pirkl, Mia Chatterjee. They started together as freshmen, and finished together as seniors. (Photo/Dylan Chatterjee)
I watched this girl, who once nervously climbed into a car full of strangers, grow into someone who now sets the tone for an entire team.
Life, of course, has a way of testing everything you think you know.
Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer. Ten brutal months of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation followed — and then I was cancer-free.
Four months later, routine blood work delivered a second blow: ALL B-Cell leukemia.
The next 8 months were spent at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where I received rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and ultimately a bone marrow transplant.
Plus the everyday teenage moments: the eye rolls, the messy kitchen after a long day. Those moments that you never think to treasure until they’re gone.
Lying in that hospital bed, I thought about all of it. But what I wanted most, in the quietest and most honest corner of my heart, was simply to watch my daughter play rugby one more time.
Amy and Mia Chatterjee.
Here is what I observed from a distance during those months, through countless phone calls and text messages: Mia didn’t fall apart.
She kept showing up to school and practice. She kept competing. She kept leading.
Cancer has the potential to unravel a teenager’s world completely, and no one would have blamed her for losing her footing.
But rugby had already taught her something essential: You keep pushing, you lean on your teammates, and you don’t quit when things get hard.
Mia Chatterjee, with a textbook tackle at Greenwich. (Photo/Dylan Chatterjee)
The sport didn’t just build her athleticism. It built her character, and that character carried her through the hardest time in both our lives.
I am beyond thrilled to tell you that I made it home for Mia’s senior season. I was at every single game. After the final whistle of her last match, we found each other on the sideline.
I hugged her and cried. Happy tears, relieved tears, grateful tears. It was the moment I had dreamed about in that sterile hospital room, and it was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.
Mia Chatterjee was this year’s girls rugby Scholar-Athlete. She was joined at Sunday’s dinner by her parents, Rit and Amy.
This fall, Mia heads to Lafayette College to study law and government. She hopes to join the Lafayette women’s rugby team. Because some things, once they find you, don’t let go.
Rugby gave my daughter a community, an identity, and a resilience she carried into the hardest chapter of our family’s life. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
(If you have a daughter or son who is even a little bit curious about the sport, please don’t wait. Westport PAL is offering a one-week rugby camp this summer for girls and boys entering 4th through 12th grade. When I heard about it, my only thought was that I wished Mia had found rugby even sooner!)
(“06880” regularly covers the remarkable achievements of Westport youngsters — and the story behind the story. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
One of the hot topics this summer will be synthetic turf fields.
Tonight (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Zoom), 2 Representative Town Meeting committees — Environment, and Health & Human Services — meet jointly, to discuss the topic.
It is the first of at least one or two similar meetings.
Members will not present or vote on an ordinance. The focus tonight will be on artificial turf, but they will also hear from someone with success working with grass fields.
Speaking of sports: The FCIAC (league) champion Staples High School boys lacrosse team is aiming now at a state championship. That double has not been accomplished since Darien did it in 2017. It’s never been done by the Wreckers.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) they take on New Canaan, in the “LL” semifinals. The game begins at 5 p.m., at Fairfield University.
Staples’ opponent is Darien — a team they’ve beaten 3 times already this year, including a nail-biting 10-9 FCIAC championship win.
The Wreckers are ranked 5th in the state tournament. In an odd twist — thanks to power rankings and records — the Rams are 1st.
The Staples game is the first of the double-headed. The 7:30 pits Darien against Fairfield Prep. So no matter who wins either contest, an all-Fairfield County final is assured.
Staples celebrates their FCIAC title. (Photo/Greg Raymond)
From 1947 until fairly recently, the Pepperidge Farm property on the Westport/Norwalk line was a magical place.
Some of America’s best loved treats were made there. And if you drove by at the right time, the smell of fresh-baked bread was intoxicating.
These days, the scene is quite different.
One of the most beautifully maintained and recognizable landscapes in the area has fallen into a state of neglect.
It has not been maintened for months. Trash, debris, weeds and overgrown grass and plants have taken over the lot. A king mattress and box spring sat in the parking lot for months.
Neighbors are concerned about ticks, and rodents burrowing in the tall grass.
One view of the old Pepperidge Farms property …
The Campbell’s Company (formerly Campbell Soup Company) owned the property for over 60 years, after acquiring Pepperidge Farm in 1961.
Last year they sold the property to a New York developer, TVG Partners, through an entity called 595 Westport LLC, for approximately $11 million. The developer has proposed redeveloping the site, while retaining some office space.
Westport Auction leased the front of the property in January 2026. The back of the property remains vacant.
Meanwhile, instead of closing eyes to luxuriate in the aroma of just-baked bread, folks close their eyes to avoid an unsightly mess.
Last night’s Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand reading of “A Tailor Near Me” featured the popular actor Jimmy Smits.
How popular?
Playhouse and “06880” photographer Dave Matlow reports that after shooting the play’s rehearsal yesterday afternoon, he met twin sisters on the WCP steps.
Sharon Lowe and Norma Leyden are a few days away from their 74th birthday. For years, they have traveled throughout the US — including California, Chicago, Washington and Broadway — to watch Smits perform.
Sharon Lowe (left) and Norma Leyden. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
They live in the Boston area, and were vacationing on Nantucket. That’s where they first met Smits, 20 years ago.
They drove to Westport yesterday, to watch their favorite actor in the script reading. They were there after the show too, waiting for him to leave.
From the reviews we’ve heard, the sisters — and everyone else in the audience — got their money’s worth.
Matlow reports the comedy was completely sold out. It was written by Michael Tucker, best known as an “L.A. Law” actor. He was part of the reading last night, joined by 2 others from that TV show: Smits and Tucker’s wife, Jill Eikenberry.
This was the last Script in Hand production of the spring. The series resumes September 14.
Curtain call (from left): Jimmy Smits, Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Two of Westport’s most interesting people are on stage tonight, at the Westport Library.
Journalist Dave Briggs chats with former Navy SEAL commander and White House fellow Mike Hayes. They’ll explore how to navigate life’s transitions with purpose. The starting point is “Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose,” Hayes’ practical, inspiring guide to building a more meaningful life.
Also today (Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.): The Exchange Project presents a “Swap Day: Summer Edition.” The host is Abby Jaramillo.
The Exchange Project “redefines luxury resale through thoughtful curation, conscious consumption, and timeless style. (They) extend the life of exceptional clothing by editing the best pieces already in circulation—creating a refined, sustainable marketplace where style never comes at the planet’s expense.”
Fresh pieces are updated hourly, including new arrivals from Balenciaga, Zara, Alo, Frame, L’Agence and more. Click here for tickets; address given upon purchase.
The closure from June 18 through August of Cross Highway near the entrance to Wakeman Town Farm — for replacement of the Deadman Brook bridge — has already been announced.
But it will also be closed this Thursday and Friday (June 11 and 12) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for gas line and utility work. Cross Highway will be open, however, from Bayberry Lane to Wakeman Farm Drive.
To accommodate graduation ceremonies, the road and bridge will be open on June 15 and 16 for events at Staples High School and Bedford Middle School.
Longtime Westport resident Linda Volckmann died peacefully on June 6, surrounded by her family. She was 88.
A native of Yakima, Washington, she earned a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in teaching, both from Stanford University.
She married Carl Volckmann in 1965. His career with IBM took the family throughout the Northeast. They settled in Westport in 1974.
Here Linda developed a love of sailing alongside her Navy husband, formed lifelong friendships, and devoted countless hours to supporting her children’s athletic, music and academic pursuits.
She attended many swim meets, tennis matches and horseback riding competitions. Later, she was on the sidelines for soccer, lacrosse games and wrestling competitions.
Linda loved to travel, and enjoyed adventures throughout Asia and Africa.
When their children were grown, Linda and Carl found a second home in Stuart, Florida, where many friends from graduate school had settled. For nearly 2 decades they enjoyed life as “snowbirds.”
After selling their Westport home of 43 years, they divided their time between Park City, Utah, and Florida.
Linda is survived by her husband, Carl; daughter Karin Goodman (Nick) and their children Kendall, Hayden and Camden; her aughter Tina Perala (Matthew) and their children Kai and Teo; her son Eric and his children Evelyn and Emmett.
Linda is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Lynne Terril, and their children Christopher and Laura; sister, Lila Nielsen and her children Gretchen and Vicki, and nieces Kristen Doerrer, Eryn Cusic and Micheal Cusic .
Her family says, “Linda will be remembered for her intelligence, generosity, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to family and friends. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcome, valued and loved.
A memorial service will take place at the end of the year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Green’s Farms Congregational Church, CT, Mariner Sands Chapel Benevolence Fund, or Make-A-Wish of Seattle (Alaska & Washington chapter).
Linda Volckmann
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Great light makes today’s “Westport … Naturally” image — showing Sherwood Mill Pond — extra special.
And finally … speaking of the Pepperidge Farm property (story above), this seems like an apt song:
(Whether you remember Pepperidge Farm or not, “06880” is your hyper-local blog — a place to remember history, or learn about it. If you enjoy either activity, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
As many of you know, Bedford Middle School received a threatening phone call at approximately 10:31 a.m., prompting an immediate lockdown of the school. Based on information provided by the Westport Police Department shortly thereafter, the district was informed that the call appeared to be part of a series of suspected swatting incidents reported across Connecticut today, including reported incidents in Killingly and Greenwich.
While early information suggested this was likely a hoax, Westport Public Schools and the Westport Police Department followed all established safety protocols, and responded as though the threat was real until proven otherwise.
A lockdown was immediately initiated at Bedford Middle School, and because Bedford and Staples High School share a campus, Staples High School was placed into a shelter-in-place as an added precaution.
Throughout the morning, we provided updates to the community as information became available:
10:31 a.m. – Threatening call received at Bedford Middle School; lockdown initiated.
10:57 a.m. – Initial communication (#1) sent to families informing the community of the Bedford lockdown and Staples shelter-in-place.
11:24 a.m. – Staples High School shelter-in-place lifted.
11:40 a.m. – Community update (#2) distributed regarding the lifting of the Staples shelter-in-place.
11:58 a.m. – Bedford Middle School lockdown lifted after law enforcement cleared the interior of the building.
12:09 p.m. – Community update (#3) distributed announcing the lifting of the Bedford lockdown.
Once the interior of the building was cleared, Bedford transitioned from a “lockdown” to “secure the school” status, while first responders completed their work outside the building.
For those unfamiliar with these terms:
A Lockdown is used when there is a potential threat to safety. Students and staff immediately move into secured rooms, doors are locked, and students and staff are expected to remain silent until first responders or administrators provide direction.
Secure the School status is used when there is no identified threat inside the building, but access to and from the building remains restricted while law enforcement continues to investigate or address activity outside the school. Teaching and learning activities may continue during this status.
I arrived at Bedford Middle School just before 11:00 a.m. I remained with the building administration and emergency response team for the duration of the incident.
After the lockdown was lifted, I walked throughout all 9 instructional pods. Along with the Bedford administrative team, I had the opportunity to observe classrooms, speak with staff, and interact with students across the building.
Students demonstrated resilience, maturity and cooperation throughout an extraordinarily stressful situation. Teachers and staff provided exactly what students needed: calm, reassurance, consistency and care.
Our mental health support team was available throughout the day to support students, recognizing that some were understandably affected by the events of the morning. These resources will remain available tomorrow and in the days ahead for any student who may need additional assistance processing today’s events. We encourage students and families to reach out if support would be helpful.
In accordance with our guidance to faculty, many classrooms shifted their focus toward community-building conversations, reflection, and relationship-building activities. The professionalism and compassion displayed by our staff helped restore a sense of normalcy and security for students.
At 3:30, Bedford faculty and administration met to conduct an initial debrief of the day’s events. In the coming days, Westport Public Schools and the Westport Police Department will conduct a more comprehensive after-action review to evaluate our response, identify lessons learned, and continue strengthening our emergency preparedness efforts.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Westport Police Department for their leadership and professionalism throughout the incident. We are also deeply appreciative of the support provided by emergency responders from Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, the State Police and our many regional partners who assisted today.
Most importantly, I want to thank our students, faculty, staff and families. While today’s events were unsettling, our school community responded with patience, trust, and cooperation. The effectiveness of any safety response depends upon people working together, and today that partnership was evident throughout our community.
The investigation into the source of the call remains active and is being handled by the Westport Police Department.
While we hope never to experience an incident such as this, today demonstrated the strength of our emergency procedures, the professionalism of our staff, the partnership of our law enforcement agencies.
UPDATE: A similar swatting incident was reported early this afternoon at Greens Farms Academy. The campus has been evacuated, though classes have already finished for the academic year.
A “swatting” incident disrupted Bedford Middle — and nearby Staples High School — this morning.
“Swatting” is a malicious hoax emergency call about a violent crime or explosive device. The fake report sends multiple first responders to a location. Sometimes it is an ill-advised prank; others times it is a diversionary tactic, diverting law enforcement from another crime.
The BMS call was received at 10:32 a.m. The caller said that explosive devices had been placed inside the school, and armed individuals were inside.
There were multiple swatting reports this morning, all across Connecticut.
The school was locked down. Parents were asked to not go there, so first responders could act efficiently and quickly.
Westport Police and the Westport Public Schools responded with all necessary precautions, to investigate and secure BMS. They were assisted by officers and canine units from Fairfield, Norwalk and the Connecticut State Police. The Stamford Police Department’s Bomb Squad conducted sweeps and searches of the premises.
Bedford Middle School. The Staples football field can be seen at the top right. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
A “shelter in place” order was issued for Staples, just down the hill from Bedford, out of an abundance of caution. Classes continued, but entering and exiting the building was prohibited.
The lockdown at Bedford was lifted at 11:57 a.m., after a thorough investigation of the building.
A modified schedule was adopted for the rest of the day
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice said, “While instruction may continue as appropriate, faculty are encouraged to prioritize activities that help students feel safe, connected and regulated.
“Community-building conversations, opportunities for reflection, stress-management strategies, relationship-building activities, and any activities that create space for students to process the day are encouraged.
“I want to thank our first responders team, led by the Westport Police Department, in addition to the support provided by police and emergency responders from Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford and the State Police, for their actions in helping us resolve ”
He promised a more comprehensive report later today.
Forty seniors were honored yesterday, at Staples High School’s 25th annual Scholar-Athlete dinner.
The coach of each varsity sport nominates one person, who also excels in the classroom. In a unique format at the ceremony, each answers one question about his or academic, athletic or extracurricular life. Individually, each is special. Taken together, they paint a robust picture of several dozen remarkable teenagers.
The scholar-athletes for the fall season are: Sofia Gomez (cheer), Harrison Sydor (boys cross country), Sarah Bogdan (girls cross country), Catherine Cirasuolo (field hockey), Justin Halky (football), Gus Palmer (boys golf), Gabe Hellmann (boy soccer), Isabelle Wasserman (girls soccer), Isabella Wasserman (girls swim & dive), Naalie Sipsma (girls volleyball), Brady Nahmias (boys water polo).
The winter scholar-athletes are: Oliver Vynerib (boys basketball), Emma Asiel (girls basketball), Katelynn Mitchell (cheer), Nathaniel Armstrong (fencing), Mia Cochran (gymnastics), Uzi Greenman (boys ice hockey), Jade Reejhsinghani (girls ice hockey), Rahan Sekhar (boys indoor track & field), Taylor Black (girls indoor track & Field), Chase Cammeyer (boys skiing), Alexis Robinson (girls skiing), Aiden Hill (boys squash), Olivia Cohn (girls squash), Nolan Franics (boys swim & dive). Kai Schwartz (wrestling).
Spring scholar-athletes are: Connor Brill (baseball), Riley Sklar (girls golf), Aidan Lapatine (boys lacrosse), Sadie Lowe (girls lacrosse), Gray McGuinness (boys outdoor track & field), Lila Boroujerdi (girls outdoor track & field), Michael Wang (boys rugby), Mia Chatterjee (girls rugby), Zach Gillman (sailing), Olivia Schwartz (softball), Robert Jacob (boys tennis), Devyn Peffer (girls tennis), Gabriel Schorer (boys volleyball), Olivia Kuliga (girls water polo).
Also honored were Oliver Samuel (Thomas DeHuff Award), Taylor Block (Jinny Parker Award) and Dylan Lehrer (Junior Leadership Award).
Taylor Block also earned the $10,000 Laddie Lawrence Scholarship, while Gabe Duque received the $10,000 Coleman Brothers and $2,000 Loeffler Scholarships.
Athletic director VJ Sarullo cited Bill Mitchell, the longtime Westporter and co-owner of Mitchells Stores, for his role in inaugurating the Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago.
Bill Mitchell (left), who helped create Staples’ Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago, is honored by athletic director VJ Sarullo. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The Staples baseball team are winners — in many ways.
On Saturday they thrashed Norwalk 13-2, in the state tournament quarterfinal. They’ll face Fairfield Ludlowe tomorrow (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Municipal Field, Waterbury) in the “LL” (extra large schools) semifinal.
Yesterday — less than 24 hours after their big win, and just a few hours after the senior prom — the entire Wrecker squad headed to Meyer Field.
They buddied up with the Westport Winners — the Little League program for youngsters with disabilities. They enjoyed baseball, a barbecue — and a chance to hang out with some of their youngest, and most rabid, fans.
Play ball! Staples Wreckers, and Staples Winners. (Photo/Beth Cody)
With primary elections near, and the general election just a few months away, the Westport League of Women Voters offers a program on our town’s electoral process.
On June 10 (2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Senior Center), registrars of voters Deborah Greenberg and Marie Signore provide the inside story on how they prepare for and run the process; results of the last election, including an election audit and recount results; how early voting is working, and the August primaries and fall elections.
Attendees can also learn what’s required to set up the polls, the training needed — and how to volunteer.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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Over 250 customers in the Juniper Road area lost power last night around 9:30 p.m., due to downed tree limbs.
Power was restored in the early morning hours. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Westport Pride invites the Westport community — LGBTQ, allies and friends — to its annual Pride celebration this Sunday (June 14, 12 noon, Jesup Green).
The family-friendly event includes live music, food trucks, local artisan vendors and information booths. Let your colors shine!
Rainbow colors are encouraged, but not required. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The Museum of Contemporary Art\Connecticut closed out its “Art, Jazz + The Blues” exhibit Saturday night, in appropriate fashion.
A packed house enjoyed a jubilant performance by Grammy Award-winning bassist and bandleader Endea Owens + The Cookout.
Owens — famous for his “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” work — brought warmth and artistry to the stage, alongside with special guest powerhouse Brianna Thomas, and a jazzy backing band, The Cookout.
Endea Owens and The Cookout, at MoCA\CT. (Photo/Roger Young)
The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics, and expand water-filling stations around town. The goal is to “turn shared intention into measurable, community-wide change.”
Once a month, we help them highlight an area of daily life where single-use plastic is most common, along with practical ideas to use. This month, we focus on an important summer spot: your backyard.
June is finally here — meaning backyard barbecues, graduation parties, and more great outdoor gatherings.
But summer entertaining often includes an unwelcome guest: a mountain of single-use plastic waste.
Just in time, Sustainable Westport has released its “UnPlastic Your Backyard Guide.” Click here for practical advice on trading out cheap disposables for cleaner alternatives that protect local soil and waters.
Tips include using jute plant ties, bamboo plant stakes and markers, and what to do with all those nursery pots.
But local sustainability isn’t just theory. Westport’s youth are leading the charge.
The Staples High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse teamstood out this spring, by completely rethinking their traditional team dinners.
Knowing how much waste those weekly events generate, the team created a reusable “Hospitality Kit.” Passed from host to host, it eliminate single-use plastics.
It includes:
Swapping out flimsy plastic tablecloths and plastic forks for washable cloth linens and stainless steel cutlery.
Utilizing large beverage dispensers and stainless steel cups, eliminating more than 50 plastic bottles per dinner.
Setting up a dedicated sorting station for cutlery, cups, trash and food waste.
The result? Each team dinner generated less than one light, dry garbage bag of actual waste.
A sustainable Staples lacrosse team dinner.
The team’s sustainable success highlights a core tenet of the plastic-free movement: It doesn’t require a 100% waste-free event to make a massive impact.
Recognizing that replacing disposable plates with reusable ones put too much of a laundering burden on the host families, the team compromised. They opted for unlined paper plates instead of plastic or Styrofoam ones.
Feeding up to 50 hungry athletes every week throughout the spring season means the sheer volume of single-use plastic diverted from local landfills by just this one high school sports team is staggering.
(The Staples boys lacrosse team are winners on the field too. They’re FCIAC [league] champions. Right now [Saturday afternoon] they’re playing at Wilton, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Go Wreckers!)
Stainless steel cups, and large dispensers. Think of how many plastic water bottles were saved at this one dinner!
As outdoor party season swings into action this month — graduation! Father’s Day! block parties! — Sustainable Westport hopes the lacrosse team’s creativity inspires other Westporters to look at their own celebration setups.
(Don’t forget balloon-free decor! Ditching balloons is a huge plus for the environment.)
Small actions, multiplied across a community, can have a powerful impact.
Even without spectacular weather and a stunning venue, last night’s Pops Concert would have been a home run.
But superb talent, off-the-charts energy and the clear love of teenage musicians and their teachers for each other made the event — a beloved tradition, and a gift of the Staples High School music department to the town — a grand slam.
A jam-packed Levitt Pavilion crowd was thrilled by small ensembles, the Symphonic Band & Orchestra, Jazz 1, Choralaires, Sonora, Orphenians and the Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra.
It was hard to tell who enjoyed the evening more: the students, conductors, or the large audience.
As emcee James Naughton said at the end: “What a way to start the summer!”
From left: Levitt Pavilion executive producer Carleigh Welsh, Staples principal Stafford Thomas, orchestra director Jeri Brima, choral director Lauren Pine, townwide arts coordinator Steve Zimmerman.
2-time Tony Award winner James Naughton served as emcee.
Owen Naughton — James’ grandson — on keyboard, with the Jazz 1 group.
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The curriculum was demanding, but the growth happened in the small, quiet moments.
