The Staples High School field hockey team is one win away from a state championship.
The #2-seeded Wreckers dominated #3 Glastonbury yesterday, in the Class “L” (large schools) semifinal at Amity High.
The score was only 2-0 — on goals by Mary Stevens and Leah Larit — but the Westporters did not allow the Guardians any shots on goal.
The title match is this Saturday (November 18, Wethersfield High School, 11 a.m.). The Wreckers face #1-ranked Darien. The Blue Wave squeaked by Wilton, 3-2 in overtime, yesterday.
Darien captured the first 2 meetings of the schools this year. They edged Staples 3-2 in overtime during the regular season, then took the FCIAC (league) championship 3-0 earlier this month.
Coach Ian Tapsall’s girls are shooting for their 5th Connecticut crown. They won it all 4 years in a row, from 2016-19, but have not been back to the final since.
Staples’ girls soccer team was denied a chance at their 3rd straight state championship. Seeded 3rd in “LL” (extra large schools), they fell 4-3 to their archrival, #2 St. Joseph, 4-3 at Fairfield Warde last night.
The Cadets — 2-time reigning champions in the “L” (large) division who moved up to “LL” this year, and who as a private school draw players from outside Trumbull — overcame a 2-goal deficit to win.
Staples and St. Joseph tied 1-1 in the regular season — the only blemish on the Cadets’ 20-0-1 record. They took the FCIAC title over coach Barry Beattie’s Wreckers, with a nail-biting 2-1 win.
US youth national team player Natalie Chudowsky scored twice for Staples last night. Annabel Edwards added the other.
The 2023 Staples field hockey team.
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You may know Rex Fowler as the very talented founder of Aztec Two-Step, the folk-rock duo that, despite being “no hit wonders,” has enjoyed a devoted cult following for half a century.
You may also know Rex Fowler as a fellow Westporter. He and his wife, Dodie Pettit — an even longer resident — now comprise Aztec Two-Step 2.0.
Now Rex has added another credit to his long list of achievements. “200 Cadillacs” — his new documentary featuring interviews with people who were recipients of Elvis Presley’s gift of choice (a shiny new car) will show tomorrow (Thursday, November 16, Sacred Heart Community Theatre, downtown Fairfield).
A talkback with Rex — who wrote most of the music — follows the screening. It’s hosted by Susan Granger.
Reviewer Leonard Maltin wrote: “I like Elvis well enough, but I’m not a
devotee, and I never thought I’d find this film as compelling as I did.”
Irwin Lebish has been a veterinarian for almost 70 years, and a member of the Westport Rotary Club for 23 years (president from 2011-’12).
But, he says, he has been playing piano “always. Area residents known him from many bands, and the Jazz Doctors trio.
Yesterday, he treated his fellow Rotarians to a jazz concert, with songs like “I’ll Remember April,” “Fried Pies,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’
He was accompanied by his son Scott on electric bass guitar.
Irwin’s pre-holiday recitals are a Rotary tradition.
And finally … in honor of Rex Fowler’s Elvis-themed “200 Cadillacs” film (story above):
(Elvis never gave “06880 a Cadillac. But our readers are welcome to contribute to this hyper-local blog. Please click here. Thank you — and viva Westport!)
Smoke shops threatened to join nail salons as Westport’s most ubiquitous businesses.
But a Planning & Zoning Commission vote last night snuffed out more openings.
After lengthy debate on the proliferation of the stores — which sell vaping and related products, and often include bright lighting — the board voted 5-2 on a text amendment to prohibit all future shops with more than 20% of the inventory or square footage devoted to smoking merchandise.
Danielle Dobin, Michael Cammeyer, Neil Cohn, Paul Lebowitz and Jon Olefson were in favor of the regulation. Patrizia Zucaro and John Bolton were against it.
In addition, stores selling smoking- and vaping-related products below the 20% threshold must now secure a special permit via a special hearing. The regulation will prohibit “candy stores” from skirting the smoking rules.
The P&Z also voted to ban all neon-like signs and displays (including LED lights) that project outside stores.
The P&Z meeting was chair Danielle Dobin’s last. Earlier this month, she was elected to the Board of Finance.
Current members — and attorney Eric Bernheim, who represented a client on a non-smoking matter — praised her for her service.
This morning, she told “06880” that she was proud to have accomplished the smoking-shop text amendment before leaving the P&Z.
Savvy Smoker on Post Road East drew criticism last night, for its products, its exterior signage, and its bright interior displays.
Six million American children experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they turn 18 — 1 in 12 kids. Yet many people struggle with what to say when someone dies, making kids (and adults) feel different and alone.
November is Children’s Grief Awareness Month. Doing its part, Westport-based non-profit Experience Camps offers concrete language tweaks everyone can use, to create a more grief-sensitive society.
They’re “flipping the script” — literally. Click here to read some comments we often say (“You need to be strong”); then click the comment to flip it to something more meaningful (“You may feel like you need to be strong, but you don’t have to be with me”).
Experience Camps helps children cope with the death of a parent or sibling, with an extensive and innovative series of summer camps and year-round programs.
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Two Staples High School teams have reached the semifinals of state tournaments.
Both games are today. And both promise to be great matches.
The 2-time defending state champion girls soccer squad — ranked #3 in the CIAC “LL” (extra large schools) division — faces #2 St. Joseph at 6:30 p.m. tonight, at Fairfield Warde High.
It will be the third meeting of the year between the longtime rivals. In the regular season, they battled to a 1-1 draw. The Cadets eked out a 1-0 victory in the FCIAC (league) final.
Two hours earlier — 4:30 p.m., at Amity Regional in Woodbridge — the #2-ranked Wrecker field hockey team takes on #3 Glastonbury.
The timing is tight. But with a little luck, fans can catch at least part of each game.
And with all their talent (and a little luck), both Staples teams will be victorious.
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Amazon Fresh — the highly anticipated, high-tech grocery store that was supposed to replace Barnes & Noble near Little Barn, then turned into a half-finished, unopened “zombie store” — may soon sprout back to life.
Bisnow reports that Amazon is moving forward with expansion plans.
Stores will be redesigned, and add coffee and donuts. It’s a pivot away from what Bloomberg calls its “tech-heavy strategy” of the past.
Amazon will redesign stores and add offerings like coffee and donuts, with an emphasis on these items instead of the tech-heavy strategy it employed in the past, according to Bloomberg.
“We will have a good pipeline for next year,” Amazon Fresh worldwide vice president Claire Peters said. “What we won’t do is open stores aimlessly.”
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Don Spiegelman)
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Was politics on or off the table last night at Tarantino?
We’re not sure. But there definitely was a ton of experience last night, at the Saugatuck restaurant.
Five current or former members of the Board of Selectmen/women got together, along with a former Board of Finance member. Can you name all these once and present town officials?
Sitting (from left): Former 3rd selectman Charlie Haberstroh, Karen Hess, current 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, former Board of Finance member Ed Iannone, former 2nd selectman Avi Kaner. Standing: Former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, current 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
The VFW is well known for its “Jazz at the Post” Thursday night series.
But there’s more jazz at Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 on Riverside Avenue this Wednesday (November 15 (7 p.m.).
The US Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble — featuring Westport trumpeter Michael Mossman — comes to town for a concert. It’s part of their extended Veterans Day tour in the tri-state area.
They’ll also host students from Westport and Bridgeport, for pre-concert workshops.
It’s all free — courtesy of the United States Air Force.
Yesterday’s Roundup included the great news that Clemson University’s men soccer teams won their 2nd ACC championship in 4 years, with a penalty kick win over the University of North Carolina.
The Tigers boast 2 Westport connections: Head coach Mike Noonan (a star on Staples’ 1978 state championship team), and reserve keeper Paddy Donovan (Staples ’22).
Somehow, a photo of the 2 was not published. It’s a great one (below). Go Tigers!
Coach Mike Noonan and goalkeeper Paddy Donovan.
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Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sam Green pushes the bounds of theatrical experience with live score/narrated documentaries like “The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller” with Yo La Tengo, “A Thousand Thoughts” with the Kronos Quartet, and “The Weather Underground,” chronicling the rise and fall of the radical political organization.
On December 8 (6:30 p.m.), the Lundberg Family Foundation Master Film Series welcomes Green’s latest Sundance and South by Southwest-selected documentary, “32 Sounds.”
The film is “a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us (through a) wholly unique, sensory rich experience.”
Each member of the audience receives headphones for an immersive “binaural audio experience” (spatial sound technology that gives listeners a clear sense of space).
Green will take part in a post-screening Q&A with the audience. The event is free. bit requires registration (click here).
“The One Note Man” — an award-winning Christmas love story about a lonely bassoonist, produced by Westporter Rita Marcocci — will be shown at the Westport Library on December 10 (2 p.m.).
A talkback follows with the film’s actor star Jason Watkins; Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, writer/director George Siougas, and executive producer — and Westporter — Rita Marcocci.
Matt Murray describes today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, of Compo Road South near Bradley Street:
“Every year since I’ve lived near the beach. I go by this street as it changes colors. Some years it’s very red. Some, like this year, it’s this shade of orange.”
And finally … on this day in 1900, composer Aaron Copland was born. The “Dean of American Composers” died 90 years later, leaving behind a rich legacy of music evoking the vast American landscape, and pioneer spirit.
(Joy, grief; music, sports, film — it’s all here, like every “Roundup” every day. If you appreciate this feature, or any other on your hyper-local blog, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
The Westport resident was carjacked and shot in the face in South Africa. His passport, phone and credit cards were stolen.
A GoFundMe page has been created, to help with travel, medical expenses, and living expenses for him and his family.
Many Westporters know the Fischel family. Many also know Valerie Fischel — the name of Walter’s sister.
But the Westport Valerie Fischel, and Walter’s sister Valier — who lives in Maryland — are not related.
Our Westport Valerie Fischel does not have a brother. But — like all of us — she hopes the unrelated man who shares her family name makes a full recovery.
Back when I was a Westport teenager, my friends and I spent a lot of time dodging cops.
Today, that phrase means something different.
Next Monday (November 20, 5:30 p.m., Staples High School fieldhouse), students and police join together, in the Westport Youth Commission’s annual Dodge-a-Cop dodgeball tournament.
Five students play at once, along with a Westport officer. There are winner and loser brackets, with the winners earning prizes. There’s food and drinks too.
The 16 teams will be filled fast. Tickets are $10 per student. The event is sponsored by Gault and Mitchells; all funds raised go to the Homes with Hope and Westport Woman’s Club food pantries.
Tickets are being sold at Staples, during lunch. Questions? Contact Cabry Lueker, Youth Commission chair: cabry2006@gmail.com.
Last year, Staples school resource officer Ed Woolridge (back row, white shirt, blue headband) was on the winning Dodge-a-Cop team. The winners posed with RTM member Andrew Colabella (far right).
Clemson University won its 2nd ACC championship in 4 seasons yesterday, in a penalty kick shootout over the University of North Carolina — and there were 2 Westport connections.
The Tigers are coached by Mike Noonan. The 1979 Staples graduate (and a star on their ’78 state championship team) won his third overall ACC championship overall. In 2021, he led the South Carolina school to the NCAA Division I title.
Paddy Donovan (Staples ’22) is a reserve keeper on the squad.
The Tigers earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Seedings are announced at 1 p.m. today.
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Over 2 dozen retailers, restaurants and merchants have signed up for the 3rd annual “06880”/Westport Downtown Association Holiday Stroll — and it’s still 3 weeks away.
The Saturday, December 2 (5 to 7 p.m.) event is very family friendly. There’s a visit from Santa, special kids’ activities, photo booth, holiday music from the Orphenians, caroling and more. Headquarters is a tent outside Savvy + Grace.
Among the treats:
Arogya Holistic Healing & Tea: Hot tea to go
Awesome Toys & Gifts: Giveaway (TBD)
Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar: 15% off for guests mentioning the “06880” Stroll (seating between 4 and 6 p.m.)
Castle Wine & Spirits: Expert wine pairings, with hand-picked selections
Clarendon Fine Art: Bubbly, tasty treats, décor and music; framed, limited edition still life from Tim Fowler (valued at $300)
Don Memo: Festive holiday beverage
Fred: Holiday treats
Gordon Fine Arts: Light hospitality and hot mulled cider
Hummingbird Healing Center: Discounted Harmonic Egg session of $99.99; free gift to everyone visiting the center on the 2nd floor
Kerri Rosenthal: 20% of all KR products; rosé and Prosecco
Naturino Kids Shoes & More: 25% off single item all day long
Party Harty: 10% of all Westport-related merchandise
Savvy + Grace: A “north Pole” mailbox for kids’ letters to Santa; holiday cookies
Scout & Molly’s: 20% off total purchase
Serendipity Labs: Complimentary week of co-working
Sorelle Gallery: 20% off in store, all day
Stretch Zone: Stretches and free stretch vouchers
The Tailored Home & Studio Café: Complimentary Santa’s cookies and hot chocolate; 50% off on all pillows
Town of Weston Ukraine Sister City Partnership: Apple cider, water, bracelets, ornaments
Toy Post: Free giveaway to children
Vivid Cottage: 5 free holiday cards with purchase
WEST: $50 gift card for holiday shopping, through December 31
Whip Salon: $10 gift card for stopping to say hi (18 and over); holiday treats
Williams Sonoma: Hot apple cider and peppermint bark
Winfield Street Coffee: $3 hot chocolates with candy canes
Merchants and restaurants wishing to participate should click here, to fill out an online form.
Questions? Email Huong Belpedio (operations@westportdowntown.com) or Jessica Isaacs (marketing@westportdowntown.com).
See you at the Stroll!
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The thermometer struggled to reach the mid-40s yesterday.
But a number of sailors were out on the Sound.
I thought it was part of the Frostbite series.
Apparently though, it must be a lot colder for those races.
And finally … on this day in 1940, Walt Disney released “Fantasia.” It was an experiment in animation and classical music, and took a while to become a classic.
There is probably no connection between the Fantasia below and the Disney film, but today is one of the most boring days in history.
(“06880” relies on reader support. If you appreciate our daily Roundups, please click here to donate. Thank you!)
Winners of Tuesday’s election — newcomers and incumbents — will be sworn in on Monday, November 20 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
The public is invited to attend.
Dozens of town officials — including board and commission members, and those on the Representative Town Meeting — will take oaths of office November 20. This is a file photo from 2021. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
The Westport Library Gift Store is now open, and filled with gifts. It’s located in the writing center adjacent to the Hub on the main floor, alongside the Library Store and Patron Services desk.
There are gifts for readers, writers, and anyone else special: handmade scarves, hats and gloves; puzzles and games; decorative items like unique snow globes; notebooks and journals; toys, art supplies, novelty items for kids, and more.
An added gift: Purchases are tax free. All proceeds support Library services and programs.
High school students were not around in the 1960s. Most of their parents were not, either.
But MoCA Westport is reaching back to that famous decade, while seeking submissions for their 2024 High School Student Art Exhibition.
The theme of the open call is “Through the Lens of Icons: Revisiting the 1960s.” The idea is to “reimagine the ’60s through your creative lens.” Individuals, moments or symbols that hold cultural, political or personal significance are welcome.
Categories include photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and video. Students may submit only one work each.
The deadline is December 1. For more details, including submission guidelines, click here.
President Kennedy, his wife Jackie and Texas Governor John Connolly, moments before the assassination that changed the world.
The “bridge slide” portion of the I-95 project is over.
But construction delays remain.
Long ones.
Last night, Jo Shields Sherman reports, 3 state highway trucks were traveling south, “as fast as 5 miles an hour.” Police vehicles kept pace, preventing any vehicles from passing.
One view of I-95, from the Hillspoint Road bridge …
The view from the other side of the bridge seemed eerie, she says, with not a single vehicle in sight. Here’s what it looked like:
(Photos/Jo Shields Sherman)
By 8:30, traffic was moving well again.
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After a 3-year hiatus, Stephanie Bass returns to the stage.
Westport’s favorite 70something comedian offers her always-hilarious take on life — including getting older, and raising a kid from 5 to adulthood in this wonderful, odd, often (unintentionally) humorous town.
The free show (including both stand-up and storytelling) on November 17 (7 p.m., Westport Library) is presented by students of Verso University’s Stand-Up comedy series. The host is comedian (and course instructor) Mina Hartong.
Staples High School’s November Students of the Month are seniors Dylan Fiore and Dylan Walsh, juniors Will Boberski and Kate Weitz, sophomores Tyler Smalls and Mia Zibly, and freshmen Ishan Pasham and Eliza Wadley.
Students of the Month “help make Staples a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the ‘glue’ of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.”
November Students of the Month (from left): Dylan Walsh, William Boberski, Mia Zibly, Kate Weitz, Eliza Wadley. Not pictured: Dylan Fiore, Ishan Pasham, Tyler Smalls.
The Westport Library’s Big Fall Book Sale is set for 3 weeks before winter: December 1-4.
On sale: thousands of gently used books for children and adults in more than 50 categories, antiquarian books, vinyl records, music CDs, movie and TV DVDs, plus a limited selection of ephemera and artwork, and the “Fiction for $1” room.
Hours are Friday, December 1 (noon to 6 p.m.), Saturday, December 2 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Sunday, December 3 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., nearly everything half price), and Monday, December 4 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; fill logo bags for $8 or $10).
On December 1 (8:55 a.m. to noon), the book sale is open via an Early Access ticket (click here to buy). For more information, click here.
Can’t make the sale? Visit the nonprofit Westport Book Shop across Jesup Green from the Library, or shop any time on the Book Sale’s Online Store, or eBay.
Westport Library Book Sale.
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It’s been a few days since Tracy Porosoff sent in this “Westport … Naturally” photo.
Hopefully, these flowers are still hanging on, in her backyard garden.
And finally … if high school students need a prompt to create art for MoCA Westport’s “1960s” exhibition (story above), there are tens of thousands of songs to choose from.
Here are 3:
(“06880” looks back often — and looks to the present and future always. Please help us continue our work. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
A concerned Westporter, who asks to remain anonymous, writes:
“During its October 7 terrorist invasion of Israel, Hamas and its allies kidnapped 240 hostages. Americans, Israelis and citizens of many countries are among the boys, girls, men and women still held captive, including babies, children, teenagers, adults and seniors.
“The 48 posters now on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge are just 1/5 of the total number of hostages. I laminated them and tied them to the posts with string, so there is no tape, glue or any adhesive on the bridge.
“A Westport police officer nicely chatted with me before driving off. It was very comforting to hear the many shouts of thanks and encouragement from people driving and walking on the bridge as I put these up.
“It should be beyond politics to say holding civilians hostage is a fundamentally unconscionable violation of human rights and the laws of war.”
“Agent Orange: A Short Sickening Saga of War” — Carl Addison Swanson’s startling and true tale of 300,000 servicemembers who died from exposure to the herbicide following their exposure in Vietnam — will be available on Veterans Day (November 11).
The Houston Chronicle calls it “a very short but powerful revelation of a war which still keeps killing.”
Fifty thousand copies will be sent to Veterans Administration regional headquarters in Providence, Roanoke, San Antonia and Los Angeles. All will be free to veterans.
Electronic editions, and the paperback, are on sale on Amazon. Click here to order.
Swanson — a 1966 graduate of Staples High School — spent 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, between 1968 and ’70. He is a lifelong Westport resident, and a prolific author. Click here for more information on his work.
Westport’s official service is set for this Saturday (November 11, Town Hall auditorium).
At 10:30 a.m., the Westport Community Band presents a “Patriotic Salute to All Veterans” program, with marches and patriotic tunes.
Services begin at 11 a.m. — the same time the treaty was signed, ending World War I. They include posting of the colors by VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399; remarks by 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker; an address by Greens Farm Academy student Jared Lessing; and placing of a memorial wreath by VFW Auxiliary.
The Westport Police Department Honor Guard will perform a ceremonial salute.
After the ceremony, VFW Post 399 will host a Veterans Day luncheon to honor veterans for their dedicated service, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment to our nation.
The public is invited to both the Town Hall and VFW events.
Westport’s World War I doughboy statue, on Veterans Green across from Town Hall. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
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Just 2 days remain before the curtain rises on “The Prom.”
Staples Players’ fall musical promises to be one of their best shows ever. The Broadway show includes great singing and dancing, a very talented cast, plenty of laughs — and an important story line about inclusivity and acceptance.
Performances are November 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees November 12 and 18 at 3 p.m. Click here for tickets, the cast list and more information.
Every Home Should Have a Challah — the Westport-based nationwide delivery service — wants every Shabbat dinner to be meaningful.
But especially the one on November 17.
Scott Sharkey’s company has just launched Shabbat 25K. The goal of the grassroots initiative is for 25,000 young people ages 21 and up across the country to host a Shabbat dinner, and educate their friends about Israel.
Every leader will receive a gift card for nourishment, and a “Shabbat essentials box” with challah, candles, black & white cookies, a weekly prayer, and extra goodies.
Hosts will also receive an “Israel Discussion Toolkit,” combining easy-to-digest historical context with stories from the frontlines, plus a Q&A card to help spark conversations around the Shabbat table. Click here to sign up, and for more information.
Challah, from Every Home Should Have a Challah.
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Bridgeport’s The Knowlton gallery presents an art exhibit showcasing the works of local, regional and international artists. It includes Westport artists James Chantler Brown, Herm Freeman and Kate Lashin, along with over 300 artists and photographers.
The event — including a panel — is part of the 15th annual Bridgeport Arts Trail. It’s set for this Friday (November 10, 4 to 9:30 p.m., 305 Knowlton Street.) Click here for more information.
The Knowlton.
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Carl Mathis died Saturday, at his Westport home. He was 64.
His obituary calls the Illinois native “a natural performer, talented musician, capable athlete, and the easiest of friends.: He attended college at Bradley University, where he began a career in television that took him to Peoria, Denver, and Los Angeles,.
In New York City he met Risa, his wife of 32 years. They settled in Westport and raised 4 children; Robert, David, Michael and Elizabeth. He co-founded a company selling advertising on behalf of clients such as PBS and NPR.
Carl also coached basketball, and served as the president and an elder at Norwalk’s St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his wife, mother, 4 children, 5 siblings and their families.
A funeral service is set for tomorrow (Thursday, November 9, 2 p.m., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Norwalk. The family will receive friends in their home on Friday, November 10, from 2 to 8 p.m. To leave online condolences, click here. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Carl’s memory may be made at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour, or to Carl’s favorite radio station, WNYC.
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Election Day is sort of the traditional date when the number of leaves on the ground surpasses the number still on trees.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature shows what Compo Beach’s South Beach now looks like:
Each was special, in its own way. All were impressive. The result was a very successful first-ever “Historic Homes of 06880” house tour.
Annette Norton’s small 1700s home on North Avenue was a great attraction for the many residents who drive by often, admire her exterior renovation, and wonder what’s inside.
Annette Norton (left) shows guests the original fireplace, with a mantel she found in upstate Connecticut. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Mark Yurkiw and Wendy Van Wie’s barn is a 2-story, wide-open, wood-paneled delight that includes Mark’s artwork treasures in every corner.
A view of the Cross Highway barn, from the 2nd-floor landing. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Matt Burrows and Amy Gay surprised visitors to their 1742 home, also on Cross Highway. The exterior is a faithful restoration of a well-known, once-dilapidated property, while the interior is very modern, beautifully designed (by the owners), and open.
Matt Burrows (right) shows off the open floor plan he designed for his home. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Julia Gross and Mark Lamensdorf’s property on Old Hill Road delights at every turn, from original wooden beams and a formidable stone basement, to an old outhouse (now shed) in the back that “seats 3.”
The original door and beams in the original kitchen on Old Hill Road. (Photo/Amy Saperstein)
KMS Team at Compass co-sponsored the event. Karen Scott, Laurie Morris, Michael Mombello, Susan Seath and Karen Hagen were superb docents.
“06880” board members Amy Saperstein, Bill Scheffler and John Dodig (and his husband Rodger Lawrence) assisted, with help from Staples’ Service League of Boys.
“06880” often reports on Westporters who restore — rather than tear down — some of our oldest homes. Yesterday, readers went behind the scenes, to experience 4 of the homes they’d only read about before.
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Speaking of restored homes: Here’s another shot of the continuing work being done at 44 Compo Cove, perhaps the most photographed house in Westport.
For the second weekend out of three, the feared “traffic-geddon” generated by the I-95 Saugatuck Avenue bridge replacement project was largely avoided.
Traffic flowed smoothly — well, as smoothly as our “new normal” on Friday night, all day Saturday, Sunday morning, and early Sunday afternoon.
Then — for the second Sunday afternoon out of 3 — Westport was suddenly gridlocked.
Just like 2 weeks ago, traffic materialized out of nowhere. And it was everywhere.
Saugatuck — and feeder arteries like Greens Farms Road and Bridge Street — were jammed.
A line of cars and trucks extended from the North Kings Highway/Wilton Road light, all the way past Hudson Malone.
And the stretch from Parker Harding Plaza to the Post Road/Riverside Avenue/Wilton Road cluster**** was as bad as its ever been.
Some drivers waited patiently. Others devised new maneuvers to try to gain an edge, creating (of course) further chaos.
The state Department of Transportation once again completed the “bridge slide” portion of the project ahead of schedule.
The southbound span of I-95 was open around 4:30 p.m. But traffic continued for quite a while on the mean streets of Westport.
“It defies logic,” says Dan Vener, who took this photo of I-95 traffic, while stuck in the ground-level jam:
(Photo/Dan Vener)
Meanwhile, for a fascinating time-lapse version of the “bridge slide” — from 6 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Sunday — click below:
Jon Gailmor — the beloved Vermont musical icon — returned to his Westport home town yesterday, for a sold-out show at the VFW.
The 1966 Staples graduate was joined by a few talented friends: former classmates Rob Carlson (his singing partner from the 1970s) and Roger Kaufman, plus Suzanne Sheridan, the producer of the popular “First Folk Sunday” series.
It was a trip back to a magical musical time.
And just perfect for these days, too.
From left: Jon Gailmor, Roger Kaufman, Suzanne Sheridan, Rob Carlson. (Photo/Pam Washburn)
The Westport Arts Advisory Committee sponsored its annual TEA (Thinkers, Educators, Artists) Talk at the Westport Library.
A crowd of 150 people heard experts — including Emmy- and Grammy Award-winning 1971 Staples grad Brian Keane, town-wide K-12 arts coordinator Steve Zimmerman, and artist/arts consultant Liz Leggett — discuss “What’s Next for the Arts?,” as it faces challenges from artificial intelligence.
Topics included whether or not AI poses an existential risk to the arts; the role of education; the pure joy of making art, and — intriguingly — how we decide what is real, not real, and “authentic.” Does, in fact, “authentic” matter at all?
Panelists used AI tools to create illustration and art, using prompts from attendees. Artists showed traditional techniques.
There was a lot to think about.
And every comment was generated by humans.
Panelists — each under their photo — at yesterday’s TEA Talk.
Field Trip jerky — the very popular producer of healthy, protein-rich snacks ranging from beef, chicken, turkey and pork to jalapeño, cracked pepper and everything bagel — is headquartered in downtown Westport.
But it reaches all over the country.
Literally.
The other day, Bruce Miller and his wife were in Alaska. On a tour of Denali National Park, guests received a snack box.
Inside was a Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Stick.
“We traveled 4,400 miles from home to enjoy a local treat!” he says.
You don’t have to go to The Last Frontier.
Field Trip is sold at retailers like Stop & Shop and CVS.
And in their only retail outlet, next to their Post Road offices opposite Design Within Reach.
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Artists Collective of Westport member Maj Kalfus’ work is featured at the Weston Senior Center, through the end of December. Her 30 pieces include oil paintings, collage, brush and ink, graphite, digital art and drawings from life.
A reception is set for November 16 (6 to 8 p.m.). Kalfus teaches at the Westport Senior Center. Her portrait of Ella Fitzgerald was featured at the recent Westport Country Playhouse tribute to the jazz singer.
As we head into mid-fall — with winter not too far away — this is the “Westport … Naturally” scene from Ellen Wentworth’s living room:
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … in honor of our great “Historic Homes of 06880” tour (story above):
(A lot went on this weekend — and, as always, “06880” previewed, and now reviews, it. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, please consider a contribution. Click here — and thank you!)
Yesterday morning too, a sign with an Israeli flag was found defaced at the corner of Coleytown and Lyons Plains Roads — just a few yards from Temple Israel.
The message is clear: “Israel has blood on its hands.”
At the same time, Weston Police learned that one Israel sign was stolen from a resident’s property, and 2 other flag signs were defaced similar to the one in Westport.
Weston Police are conducting neighborhood canvases and checking residential security cameras. They ask anyone with information to call 203-222-2600.
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The Westport PAL online auction now open contains the usual great local items, like gift certificates and sports tickets.
But there are a few special items too that we haven’t seen anywhere else, including a 3-month membership to the private Autostrada club, 5 hour-long boxing sessions with Rich Dean, and the chance to be police or fire chief for the day.
Click here for the full list, and to bid. Funds help build the new PAL clubhouse at PJ Romano Field. The auction ends this Thursday (November 2) at 9 p.m.
The Autostrada lounge overlooks the private car collection.
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The National Charity League fosters mother-daughter relationships through a 6-year program of community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.
The Westport chapter has more than 275 members — women and their daughters in grades 7-12 — and provides volunteer support to over 30 non-profits.
After graduating from Staples High School in 2009, Cronin Cullen became an actor, filmmaker and producer.
His latest project, “12 Hours,” is about a single mother’s desperate night-long search for her fentanyl-addicted son. It is based on true events from the writer/ director, Kelly Stanphill.
The issue is close to Cronin’s heart. He has lost Westport friends to substance abuse.
A crowdsourcing campaign launched last week. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here for more information, and to contribute.
And finally … When I was a kid growing up in Westport, Halloween Eve was called “Mischief Night.” Fortunately, the statute of limitations is long past. (Don’t ask about the time I tossed my own parents’ mailbox into the pond across the street.)
In some parts of the country, it’s called Devil’s Night. Enjoy!
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Sure, it’s mid-autumn. But Staples High School is putting on a prom.
And the entire town is invited.
‘The Prom” is Staples Players’ fall musical. It’s a hilarious, clever, dance-filled show with great music, high energy, and an important message delivered in a delightful way, without an ounce of preachiness.
The young actors, dancers and musicians are having a great time. Their only concern is that theater-goers are unfamiliar with “The Prom.” (It was a Broadway Drama Desk Award winner for Best Musical, and a Netflix film starring Meryl Streep, James Corden and Nicole Kidman, but for some reason people don’t recall the easy-to-remember name.)
Henry Carson (center) and “The Prom” ensemble.
Players had a similar situation last spring, with “Twelfth Night.” After the first week, word-of-mouth inspired a rush for tickets. Soon, they were sold out.
“The Prom” follows 4 fading Broadway actors. They head to a conservative Indiana town to help a lesbian student forbidden from bringing her girlfriend to a dance. They go for the wrong reasons, but along the way learn important life lessons.
The show — based on a true Mississippi story — “appeals to everyone,” says co-director David Roth.
“It’s a great show to take your kids to. It’s all about inclusion, compassion and love.”
“Plus, it’s very, very funny.”
Imogen Medoff
“The Prom” recently made headlines when an Illinois school postponed the show (scheduled for next April) because, the superintendent said, “the building is not ready to handle the amount of negative attention that would be put on the kids” for taking part in the musical.
Following an uproar, the district backed down. The show will go on.
Nothing close to that has happened in Westport. Everyone involved in “The Prom” embraces it.
“Our kids were talking about that Illinois story,” Roth says. “A lot of them say they’re so thankful to live here, and not in that environment. Players is their safe space. They really understand what’s going on.”
Yusef Abudullah, and the ensemble. (All photos/Kerry Long)
Several actors say this is their favorite show ever at Staples. The cast is diverse, with both familiar names and students stepping into larger roles. The freshman class has brought “great energy” to Players, Roth notes.
“The Prom” is almost here. Opening night for the 2-week run is Friday, November 10.
And no one has to worry about a date. Bring whoever you want!
(“The Prom” performances are November 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees November 12 and 18 at 3 p.m. Click here for tickets, the cast list and more information.
(Players will raise money at the show for the Westport Public Schools Pride Coalition, to create a mural and install a bench celebrating Staples’ LGBTQ+ community. A block of seats has been set aside for the November 18 matinee, for members of the LGBTQ+ community, their allies, families and advocacy groups to enjoy the show together. Click here for special tickets.)
In the wake of several disturbing incidents involving social media (mis)use by Westport students, Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice sends this message to parents:
One of the important, but unfortunate, roles of our school administrators is to address misconduct by students ranging from minor to extremely serious. We also address the impact of any misconduct on other students and the school community.
Since the start of this school year, we have addressed acts of bullying, threatening, harassment on the basis of protected classes, and in some cases, threats of violence and actual violence.
Our new reality is that most of the incidents stem from interactions among students over social media. Students are creating and circulating videos, exchanging text messages, or recording and sharing misconduct (i.e. bullying, threatening, violence, etc.) as it occurs in real time. This is highly disturbing, and disruptive to the school environment.
Students today have access to multiple social media platforms.
If your child has access to TikTok or other social media platforms, as most secondary, and some elementary students do, they have likely viewed such videos that have originated and been widely disseminated from students in Westport, and also from others across the country.
What’s problematic is that most of these incidents originate outside of school (i.e. at home, in the community, on weekends, etc.), yet these incidents have proven to have a significant negative impact on our students’ well-being and sense of safety, as well as the entire school environment.
As such, when these incidents occur, even if off campus, it is within the purview of the school district to administer consequences and seek restoration between students when appropriate.
You will likely hear about these unfortunate incidents. However, I want to caution that information you might hear in the community is not necessarily what we have found to have actually occurred following careful investigations.
Rumor and misinformation contribute to a climate of fear. There are very clear and rigid student privacy laws that the district must follow. We cannot share all information that occurs within the disciplinary matters the schools must address.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
However, I can assure you that there are comprehensive processes in place to investigate and swiftly address these matters. Each of the incidents that has occurred this year, including those in the past month, has been handled in accordance with the district code of conduct, bullying and harassment laws, and other applicable laws.
Additionally, I can assure you that beyond consequences, the district aims to restore and provide supportive measures where appropriate. Whenever our students are affected by these incidents, we support them in a variety of ways. We strictly prohibit all forms of bullying, harassment, and hate-based conduct, and we are constantly working toward cultivating a school culture and environment that is safe and inclusive for all students.
These are top priorities for us at all times. However, at the present moment, these incidents have taken on a heightened significance as we confront international violence and atrocities that have affected many members of our community, both directly and indirectly.
We are addressing an increasing number of off-campus social media incidents. We cannot do this alone and need parental support. We ask that you are fully attuned to your child’s social media consumption and dissemination.
Any member of our school community who becomes aware of an act of bullying, harassment, violence, or threats should promptly report these concerns to their building principal, assistant principal, or other staff member. If you have media recordings we ask that you share them with the building administration to assist in our investigations. We take these matters extremely seriously, and we ask that our families serve as partners in helping us identify and prevent this conduct in school, out of school, and online.
Scarice also wants parents to know about an important upcoming event.
I am halfway through the book “Never Enough” by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. As a fellow parent, I give this book my highest recommendation to our parent community.
On Wednesday, November 15, at 7 p.m. in the Westport Library, Westport Together and the Library will host the author of “Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It.” I strongly encourage you to make time to attend.
Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and an original survey of nearly 6,000 parents, Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture and finds out what we must do to support our kids. She maintains that the pressure to perform is not a matter of parental choice but is baked into our larger society and the daily experience of families. As a result, she contends that children are increasingly absorbing the message that they have no value outside of their accomplishments, a message that is reinforced by the media and greater culture at large.
Today’s students truly face unprecedented pressure to succeed, however that is defined by families and society. Through deep research and interviews with today’s leading child psychologists, Wallace illustrates that what kids need from adults is not more pressure, but to feel like they matter, that they have intrinsic self-worth not exclusively contingent upon external achievements.
Wallace makes the case that parents and educators who adopt the language and values of “mattering” help children see themselves as a valuable contributor to a larger community. In an ironic twist, Wallace shares that kids who receive consistent feedback that they matter, no matter what, are more likely to have the resilience, self-confidence, and psychological security to thrive.
If you are concerned about these dynamics for your own child, or for the community, I strongly encourage you to join us on November 15 at 7 p.m. at the Westport Library.
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One of the hidden treasures of a visit to Dr. Nikki Gorman’s Village Pediatrics is the Storywalk, behind her Riverside Avenue office.
There, by the Saugatuck River, a rotating series of books entertains youngsters.
Dr. Nikki is also Girl Scout leader. Now, one of her troop members is curating a series of 3 books. Changing seasonally, all raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, in a fun setting.
The Storywalk, behind Village Pediatrics.
Sophia Lomnitz was spurred to action by the recent wave of book bans across the nation. Her first effort is “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” by Sarah S. Brannen.
It’s about a young girl who worries that when her favorite uncle is marrying his boyfriend, he won’t have time to play with her anymore. She realizes though that she’s not losing one uncle — she’s gaining another one.
Sophia is president of Staples High School’s Psychology Club, and a member of both the senior class committee and swim team.
Sophia Lomnitz
“I’m super proud of her,” Dr. Nikki says. “She’s been my Girl Scout for over 11 years, and is a true gem. She has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen, and she is super funny and smart. She does it all with a smile.
“I love having a Storywalk behind us, with exposure for the younger set to different ideas of families, relationships, etc. Normalization and representation are so important.
“I am so proud of Sophia for this project. It really highlights what a kind and sensitive soul she is.”
When she leaves for college next year, Sophia will hand the Storywalk project to another Girl Scout.
Congratulations, Sophia. Quietly but impactfully, you are our Unsung Hero of the Week!
Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com.
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Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and an original survey of nearly 6,000 parents, Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture and finds out what we must do to support our kids. She maintains that the pressure to perform is not a matter of parental choice but is baked into our larger society and the daily experience of families. As a result, she contends that children are increasingly absorbing the message that they have no value outside of their accomplishments, a message that is reinforced by the media and greater culture at large.
