Category Archives: Staples HS

The View From Traverse City

Posted on August 18, 2022 | 9 comments

Balancing development and growth with maintaining small-town charm. COVID. Infrastructure. The environment. Taxes. Parking.

Whether you are 1st Selectwoman of Westport or mayor of Traverse City, Michigan, every suburban political leader deals every day with issues like those, large and small.

Ask Jim Carruthers. The 1982 Staples High School graduate just retired as mayor of the Great Lakes resort town. His 3 terms followed service on the City Commission.

Jim Carruthers, in the 1979 Coleytown Junior High School yearbook …

Carruthers loves Traverse City. His grandparents bought a summer home there in the 1930s. He moved to Westport from Cincinnati with his parents, and entered Coleytown Junior High.

Friends often wondered why he spent his summers in Michigan. They didn’t realize how beautiful the lakes were, how pure the air.

Now, he says, they understand.

Carruthers enjoyed growing up in Westport. He rode his bike to the beach, took the Minnybus and Maxytaxy all over town, and appreciated that New York City was a train ride away.

After graduating from Staples High School in 1982 and the University of Connecticut 4 years later, he worked as a yacht broker in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

But in 1989, when his blind grandmother needed help at the summer cottage, Carruthers volunteered.

He did not plan to stay. But he’s been there ever since.

… and today.

He got involved in conservation and environmental issues. When his best friend was diagnosed with HIV, he ran an AIDS services program for 10 years.

Carruthers was active too in Planned Parenthood. He’s still on the development committee.

“I’m a gay man. But women’s rights is my biggest cause,” he says.  “Until women are treated equally, no one will be.”

His grandfather was mayor of Glendale, a Cincinnati suburb, for 43 years. Carruthers spent 8 years on the Traverse City Parks & Recreation Commission, before his election to the city commission in 2007.

Meanwhile, he was advocating for many causes: installation of what would be Michigan’s first utility-scale wind turbine; opposition to construction of a 4-story parking structure; inclusion of sexual orientation in the city’s anti-discrimination policies.

It was all part of making his community a better place to live. Besides being the “Cherry Capital of the World,” Traverse City had evolved from a summer resort for Midwesterners to a tourist mecca that draws visitors from all over.

There’s skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, and of course water and dunes. Carruthers rows 5 miles a day, and sails too.

The Traverse City waterfront.

As mayor — a non-partisan post — Carruthers understood the role tourism plays in Traverse City. He dedicated himself to water quality issues, including trying to shut an 80-year-old pipeline that, he says, “will eventually break and spill oil.”

His town beat its goal to power all municipal operations with clean power. They hope to switch entirely to renewables by 2040.

One of the perks of being mayor: taking a selfie with the President of the United States, when he visits your town.

Carruthers kept his focus on human rights issues too. But when COVID drew an influx of people to their second homes — and brought others, seeking to buy — Traverse City grappled with issues of real estate and growth.

Meanwhile, exploding real estate prices made it increasingly difficult for town employees, teachers, and retail and other workers to live nearby.

Sound familiar?

“I’m not anti-growth,” the former mayor says. “But we’re a town of 15,000. We want to maintain our small-town charm. That’s who we are.”

Carruthers calls Traverse City “a blue town in a red county.” The Michigan Militia is based not far away. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh trained with them. They were accused in a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer — a friend of Carruthers’.

Jim Carruthers and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

He too received death threat.

“Politics is hard,” Carruthers says. “I was just trying to fix walking trails, and get clean water. But because I supported masking and vaccines — trying to help my community stay safe — I was a target.”

Last year — citing a desire to spend more time with his aging parents, his husband and his own health — he decided not to run for a 3rd term.

Carruthers is still deeply involved in Traverse City. He still works with Planned Parenthood; he’s on the board of Dann’s House, a non-profit supportive housing agency for people with alcoholism (“we have a homeless problem, just like every place”), and as president of Friends of the Senior Center, he’s working to get a new building.

The former mayor has been approached to run for state representative. So far, he’s declined.

“I like the local level better,” Carruthers says. “That’s where you really see the results of what you get done.”

(Hat tip: Dan Donovan)

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Jim Carruthers with a famous Michigander, Michael, Moore.

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Roundup: Pivot Ministries, Ed Capasse’s Clarinet, Paul Newman’s Cars …

Posted on August 14, 2022 | 8 comments

Today dawned gloriously.

And the weekly Sunday morning Compo Beach service — sponsored by several local churches — welcomed back the Pivot Ministries.

Their special brand of song and testimony got the day off to a glorious start, for a large group of worshipers. Today’s service was hosted by the United Methodist Church. (Hat tip: Gloria Smithson)

Pivot Ministries, at Compo Beach this morning. (Photo/Karen Como)

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Yesterday’s story about Ed Capasse, and his appearance as a Staples High School marching band trumpeter on a 1946 Saturday Evening Post cover drawn by Stevan Dohanos, drew several great comments.

It also drew a fascinating note from Dave Matlow.

The longtime Westport photographer says that once, in Capasse’s law office, they discussed a replica of the painting, which hung on the wall.

Capasse told Matlow that he did not actually play the trumpet. He was a clarinetist. But Dohanos thought a clarinet was too hard or time-consuming to draw — so Capasse ended up with the brass instrument.

Now, can anyone answer this question: How did Capasse play in the marching band and on the football team, simultaneously?

Ed Capasse, in the 1948 Staples High School yearbook.

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Speaking of music:

The 3-day Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition ended last night, with an awards ceremony at MoCA Westport.

And the winner of the $10,000 grand prize is …

… Russian-born Artem Kuznetsov.

The other 3 finalists — selected through a worldwide audition — earned $2,500 each.

Directed by noted Westport native Alexander Platt, the competition is in its 50th year. It includes master classes, lectures,  and performances. The jury chair was internationally famed — and Westport resident Frederic Chiu.

A celebration of the Heida, featuring alumni finalists, is set for November 19 at MoCA Westport. Click here for tickets, and more information.

Alexander Platt (far left) with 2022 Heida Hermanns finalists (from left): Nathan Cheung, Katharine Bensen, Aaron Kurz and winner Artem Kuznetsov.

Meanwhile, when the competition was over, a young pianist — perhaps a future Heida Hermanns Competition winner — tried out MoCA’s magnificent Steinway.

(Photos/Leslie LaSala)

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The original home at 2 Owenoke Park dates back to 1910.

But this is hardly a beach shack. The 4,400-square foot 2-story colonial sprawls so widely, I could not fit it all into one camera shot.

(Photos/Dan Woog)

It’s a fine-looking home. But enjoy it while you can.

Because, yes, that’s a “Demolition” sign plastered on the first floor, in between some of the many windows.

The property sold for $3,112,500 in June. The new owners plan a new home, with a pool.

Here’s the FEMA-compliant look:

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Lisa Seidenberg writes:

“Friday’s knife attack on author Salmon Rushdie brought some thoughts to mind.

“One is that, while violence has become an unfortunate norm in our country, it  seems so incomprehensible and despicable that physical violence is inflicted on a writer. The ‘fatwa’ or death decree issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini was in 1989 — long before the perpetrator was born. That books and cartoons and art should inflame self-appointed religious zealots to violence is beyond disturbing.

“I  recall hearing Rushdie speak at Staples High School in 2015. It was memorable for the intense security surrounding the event. One passed through a checkpoint like at an airport. Purses were inspected. Backpacks were not allowed at all into the building, presumably to stop a makeshift bomb. Some parents objected, but in the end, it was great exercise in free speech and example to students.

“The Westport speech was riveting. Rushdie was well-spoken and erudite, and had a surprisingly sharp and witty sense of humor. He is a product of upper echelon British schools, and his language reflected that.

“In retrospect, I am thankful that so much security was in place in Westport. Sadly, protection must be provided, not only for politicians but for artists and writers who speak bravely.

For more on Rushdie’s Westport appearance, click here.

Salman Rushdie/© Beowulf Sheehan http://www.beowulfsheehan.com

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Bonus feature! Remarkable Theater has just added a special film.

“Minions” will be shown at the Imperial Avenue drive-in tomorrow (Monday, August 15, 8 p.m.; gates open at 7 for tailgating).

“Girls Trip” follows on Wednesday (August 17; 8:15 start, 7:15 gate).

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Magnus and Lavinia Larsson are Food Rescuers.

Yes, it’s capitalized. Food Rescue US is an app that actually makes you want to look at your phone.

The idea is spectacularly simple. Food services — grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, companies — register. When they have extra food — at the end of the day, after an event, whatever — they post it online.

Individuals register too. They check the app when it’s convenient. If they see someplace nearby, they agree to pick it up.

Then they deliver it to social service agencies — soup kitchens, shelters, veterans facilities, etc. — that have also registered with Food Rescue US.

Magnus reminds “06880” readers: “There are lots of people less fortunate, and also lots of food waste. Yesterday, Lavinia and I brought generous donations from Whole Foods (thanks, Siobhan!) to an agency in Bridgeport. They’ll distribute it in the community.”

To learn more, click here.

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Most of the Paul Newman news this year has been about “The Last Movie Stars”: the HBO 6-part series on the longtime Westport actor and his wife, Joanne Woodward.

This one is about his cars.

When he got into auto racing, Newman was as successful as with acting (and, later, philanthropy). He and Carl Haas formed a team with drivers like Mario and Michael Andretti. They racked up 108 Indycar wins,

In October, those cars — and other Newman/Haas items — will be auctioned off in 78 lots, by RM Sotheby’s. Click here for details.

During the 1960s and ’70s though — when hitchhiking around town was a thing — countless Westporters knew Paul Newman as the driver who would always pick them up.

His car back then was a Volvo or VW. “Hop in, son!” he’d say.

And off we went.

(Hat tip: Chris Grimm)

Pual Newman (left) with his friend, the late Westporter Michael Brockman.

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This is a laugh: Save the date (October 15).

Homes with Hope’s 15th annual Stand Up event — a comedy fundraiser for the multi-service housing and food provider — is set for Fairfield University’s Quick Center. It’s the first time live since COVID struck.

The headliner is Pat McGann. He’s a veteran of Madison Square Garden, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert.

Ticket details will be available soon.

Pat McGann

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Longtime Westport dentist Dr. Victor Oliver died earlier this year. He was 83.

He graduated from Providence College, then studied dentistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He served as a dentist in the Air Force in Albany, Georgia for two years.

Following his service, Victor and his wife Pauline settled in Westport. He opened a home dental office in 1968, and practiced there for 50 years.

Victor was an avid tennis player. He and Polly loved vacationing in Florida, and weekend trips to Nantucket. His family says, “He will be remembered for his gentle dental care and his dedication to his patients. He was a kind and generous man who always made time to help anyone in need. He was known for being a quiet reserved man — unless you were sitting in his dental chair, where he was the most talkative, trying to make you at ease.”

Victor is survived by his wife of 59 years Pauline; daughters Kimberly (Jim) Vallieres of West Hartford, and Robin (Sean) Ross of Holly Springs, North Carolina, and grandchildren Sean Heintz, Emma Heintz, Olivia Heintz and her fiancé Jonathan Davis, Audrey Ross and Jack Ross.

Donations in Victor’s name came be made to the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 370036, West Hartford, CT 06137, where for many years he enjoyed watching his daughter Kim play violin.

Dr. Victor Oliver

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Many “Westport … Naturally” photos show living things that fly, buzz, bite, crawl, bark, meow or do similar things.

Some show blooms and buds.

This one just sits there. It’s majestic — and often overlooked. But it’s an anchor of downtown, and as much a part of our natural world as any other creature or plant.

(Photo/Tom Lowrie)

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And finally … Bill Pitman died earlier this week, in California. He was 102.

You don’t know his name. But you know his music.

For decades, he was a session musician. As part of the Wrecking Crew — a “loosely organized corps of peerless Los Angeles freelancers who were in constant demand by record producers to back up headline performers … (an ensemble that )turned routine recording sessions and live performances into extraordinary musical moments” — he backed up the Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Monkees, Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, Ricky Nelson, Jan and Dean, Johnny Rivers, the Byrds, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, the Everly Brothers, Peggy Lee and “nearly every prominent performer of the era.”

Pitman’s work ranged from “Strangers in the Night” and “The Way We Were” to “Be My Baby,” “Good Vibrations” and “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.”

He also worked on TV and film scores, cartoon soundtracks — you name it.

Click here for Bill Pitman’s very intriguing obituary.

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Posted in Arts, Obituaries, Real estate, religion, Sports, Staples HS

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Glass Recycling: Do’s And Don’ts

Posted on August 14, 2022 | 4 comments

Scarlett Siegel is a rising senior at Staples High School. This summer, she is interning in the 1st Selectwoman’s Office.

Her environmental and socially conscious efforts began when she joined Staples’ Coastal Cleanup Crew. She helped found OneWestport, a service club where she is vice president of social justice and activism.

Scarlett has lived in Westport since preschool. She hopes to keep our town as beautiful as it is now, for the generations to come. She writes:

Like many others, I have spent my summer days strolling down Main Street, visiting Compo with friends, and riding my bike along Beachside Avenue.

Yet I often find myself sidestepping broken and jagged glass on my walks.

I decided to do some research into glass recycling, and learned about Westport’s Glass Recycling Program, at the transfer station on the Sherwood Island Connector.

Glass recycling container at the transfer station. (Photo courtesy of Westportcct.gov)

People bring their beverage bottles and food jars; they’ll be discarded and recycled safely.

Of course, there are some do’s and don’ts. According to Sustainable Westport:

  • Do make sure all items are empty, rinsed, and clean.
  • Do make sure bottle caps are on the bottles — or take them off and place them in the trash. 
  • Don’t shred, box, bag, or bundle items. That includes using plastic bags to collect and dump your recyclable materials.
  • Don’t put paper food take-out containers in your recycling. They can’t be recycled because they are too soiled; and may be plastic-lined or compostable.

Glass can be extremely dangerous to humans and wildlife when not discarded properly.

Coastal Cleanup Crew co-founder Ryland Noorily, says, “the glass recycling program will separate glass from the other vulnerable materials — recyclable plastics and papers — and maximize our recycling potential”.

Let’s join together to keep this town a beautiful and thriving ecosystem, and
make sure we have plenty of beautiful Westport summers in the years ahead. 

Trash collected by Staples’ Coastal Cleanup Crew (Photo/Ty Levine)

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Ed Capasse’s Band

Posted on August 13, 2022 | 7 comments

News of Ed Capasse’s death this week brought tributes from many quarters.

In his 91 years, the lifelong Westporter touched many lives. He was a Board of Finance chair, an active volunteer with the Westport Weston Family Y and Assumption Church, and a scrupulously fair, generous attorney.

He made his mark locally, for sure. But for one week in 1946, Ed’s face was seen in nearly every American home.

A few weeks earlier, Westport artist Stevan Dohanos invited 5 students from the 40-member Staples High School band to model for a Saturday Evening Post cover. He wanted to show a marching band.

The 5 musicians posed individually in Dohanos’ home studio. Each one earned $30 — $400, in today’s money — to sit still for a half hour, while pretending to play brass instruments.

What made the cover special was that every band member looked not straight ahead, at the director, but off to the side — where the football game was taking place. That action was reflected in the tuba.

Ed Capasse was on the top left, playing his trumpet.

The Saturday Evening Post — for which Dohanos drew 125 covers — was one of the most popular magazines in America. That October 19, 1946 issue, smack in the middle of football season, ended up in millions of homes.

Years later, Donahos donated the oil painting to what is now the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collections. For decades, it hung in the Staples band room. Then it moved to the principal’s office.

Former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe — a big Stevan Dohanos fan — commandeered it for his office. Later, it hung elsewhere in Town Hall.

Today it awaits a new location.

The work — called “The Band Played On” — gained new attention in 2001, when Staples Players staged “Music Man.” The poster showed 5 current actors, mimicking the painting.

Staples Players’ 2001 poster …

Fifteen years later, Players reprised the musical. Directors David Roth and Kerry Long redid the poster too.

… and the 2016 version.

Two years earlier, WestPAC had raised funds to restore the painting to its full brilliance. It was displayed proudly in the Staples auditorium, throughout the play’s run.

In 2016, theater-goers admired Stevan Dohanos’ painting in the Staples High School lobby.

For over three-quarters of a century, Dohanos’ work has been a part of Westport history.

Trumpet player Ed Capasse is gone now. But his — and Dohanos’ — band plays on.

Ed Capasse, in the 1948 Staples High School yearbook.

(Hat tip: Kathleen Motes Bennewitz) 

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Roundup: Lanternfly, Dead Tree,, Orchestrating Change …

Posted on August 12, 2022 | 6 comments

Chuck Greenlee, acting Y’s Men Gardening chair, writes:

“Wednesday afternoon at the very popular Westport Community Garden, our our Ys Men Gardening group noticed an unusual flying insect. JP Montillier got an eerily good photo.

“It was our newest American insect invasive scourge: the lanternfly.”

Click here for more information on lanternflies.

Lanternfly (Photo/JP Montillier)

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Speaking of the less-wonderful side of nature:

Dave Wilson sent a photo of a dead tree on New Creek Road, near the Greens Farms Station and Beachside Avenue.

(Photo/Dave Wilson)

It’s dangerous. Dave says that a few requests have been made over the years to remove it.

He thinks it may have been tagged this week.

Fingers crossed …

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Nômade — the new restaurant replacing Tavern on Main — has had a few previews, before opening officially next week.

The previously dark interior has been reimagined, much more brightly. (The fireplace remains — but it’s now white). The patio is filled with tables, and a large bar. Wicker baskets hang from the ceiling.

The eclectic menu ranges from burgers and steaks to octopus, clams and ravioli.

The Nomade patio, overlooking Main Street. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Tickets are going fast for tonight’s (Friday) Levitt Pavilion show — the inaugural one, launching Hiss Golden Messenger and Aiofe O’Donovan’s “Turn Tail in the Milky Way” tour. (Next stops: Chautauqua, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.)

And kids’ tickets (12 and under) are free.

Both bands are part of the Levitt’s “Stars on Tour” event.

The show starts at 7 p.m. tonight. Doors open at 6; the Walrus Alley food truck will be there. Click here for tickets, and more information.

Tonight’s “Stars on Tour” folk double-header follows the free one last night. Intergenerational greatness was on stage, as Clueless (with School of Rock stars Ethan Walmark, Anais Preller, Jake Greenwald; Zach Rogers, Francesco Perrouna and Witt Lindau teamed up with perennial favorite the Mill River Band.

Dancing to the Mill River Band last night at the Levitt Pavilion, under a super moon.

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Yesterday was the first of the 3-day Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition.

The international event includes master classes by finalists at the Westport Public Library, and performances at MoCA Westport.

Today’s (Friday) events include a lecture by educator and musician Clipper Erickson, plus more master classes at the Library, and performances at MoCA. The competition concludes with an awards ceremony at MoCA on Saturday, (August 13).

Click here for tickets for all events, both in-person and virtual, and more information.

Heida Hermanns finalist Artem Kuznetsov leads a master class at the Westport Library. (Photo/Feria Sewell)

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Speaking of music: Me2/Orchestra is the only one in the world created by and for people living with mental illness. R

It was created by Ronald Braunstein. On a trajectory to becoming a leading conductor, he made his diagnosis of bipolar disorder public and was shunned by the classical music community.

He vowed to erase the mental health stigma. one concert at a time. The film “Orchestrating Change” follows Braunstein and several musicians for 2 years, capturing their setbacks and accomplishments.

The film ends in triumph for Braunstein, who thought he might never conduct again — and for the musicians and audience, whose perspective on mental illness is forever changed.

The Westport Library will show “Orchestrating Change” on September 13 (7 p.m.). Executive producers/directors Margie Friedman and Barbara Multer-Wellin, and several people featured in the film, will be on hand for a talkback after the screening. Click here for more details. 

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The Staples High School football program was inspired yesterday by a visit from a combat wounded Army veteran, Intelligence Sergeant Quincy Lopez.

He cheered on the athletes, as they did a Marine Corps “Murph workout.” It’s a fundraiser for both Westport football and Catch a Lift, the program that helps wounded vets.

Sgt. Lopez spoke of being part of something “bigger than yourself.” He added:

“You are as strong as your strongest link, and as weak as your weakest link. If you guide your decisions by what makes the team better, that in turn makes you better.

“We will soon approach another anniversary of 9/11. The darkest of hours and ultimate tragedy was followed by the greatest period of camaraderie and unity.  Incredible gains can happen when everybody works together.  Keep this in mind as you persevere for whatever you do and aim to achieve.”

Staples football players listen intently. (Photo courtesy of Adam Vengrow)

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Colorful seacoast mushrooms at the Westport Farmers’ Market make today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo particularly colorful.

(Photo/Mike Hibbard)

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And finally … on this day in 1966, John Lennon apologized for saying that “the Beatles are more popular than Jesus.”

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Clay Singer: “4000 Miles” To The Playhouse Stage

Posted on August 11, 2022 | 4 comments

For as long as he can remember, Clay Singer has loved theater.

And for as long as he can remember, a vintage Westport Country Playhouse poster hung in his parents’ house.

The show was “At Mrs. Beams,” starring Frances Farmer and Mildred Natwick. The most expensive tickets were $2.75. The balcony was 55 cents.

“Mrs. Beams” was not the most memorable show. No one remembers its stars, and ticket prices are a bit higher today.

Clay Singer

But the Westport Country Playhouse is still dear to Singer’s heart. And on August 23, the 2013 Staples High School graduate steps on stage in a leading role.

He plays Leo, the 21-year-old who makes an unplanned visit to his feisty 91-eear-old grandmother in her rent-controlled Greenwich Village apartment.

Over the course of a month, the unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder and ultimately find each other. The show — “4000 Miles” — was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and won an Obie for Best New American Play.

This is note Singer’s first Playhouse appearance. He’s been in “Romeo and Juliet” and “Man of La Mancha.”

The Shakespeare play was unique. It was his first professional production after college. He had a small role as the messenger.

But a week into the run, the actor playing the prince injured his back. Singer was called to step into the role — 2 hours before curtain.

He learned 3 long monologues; was fitted for a costume; did a quick blocking rehearsal; went on. He stayed in the role to the end of the run.

Clay Singer and Felicity Jones in “Romeo and Juliet.” (Photo/Carol Rosegg)

This one is special too.

His generations-older co-star, Mia Dillon, “is  a gift for audiences to watch,” he says. “Her character is written with so much earnest depth. And she plays it brilliantly.”

Singer is no slouch himself.

His Staples Players career is legendary. Doing 4 to 7 shows a year with longtime friends for years, in a “professional environment” created by directors David Roth and Kerry Long he developed a strong worth ethic — and an appreciation for Westport’s arts heritage and community support.

As a senior in “A Chorus Line,” he worked with 1975 grad and Players alum Bradley Jones — a member of the original Broadway production.

It was a smash. And it earned the cast a trip to Broadway, where they performed in Marvin Hamlisch’s tribute concert.

Grace McDavid-Seidner (Maria) and Clay Singer (Tony) sing “One Hand, One Heart” in Staples Players’ “West Side Story.” (Photo/Kerry Long)

At Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama — a rigorous, conservatory-style program —  Singer continued to be inspired. Actors must wait until junior year to perform onstage. The wait was worth it: Singer played Tateh in “Ragtime,” a show that remains one of his all-time favorites.

a CMU classmate was Lea Dimarchi. She joins Singer in “4000 Miles.” “Westport will love her,” he promises.

Singer considers himself lucky to have worked “fairly consistently” in theater since graduation. He’s performed Off-Broadway and regionally in some of his favorite musicals: “Next to Normal,” “Into the Woods” and “Man of La Mancha.”

He worked with Billy Crystal an Tiffany Haddish on the set of “Here Today.” “If you blink you might miss me,” he says. “But it was a special few days of filming.” He hopes for more opportunities on camera.

His favorite role though was Itzik in the Broadway First National Tour of “The Band’s Visit.” Working on stages like Washington’s Kennedy Center and the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles was a wonderful respite, after a year and a half of COVID quarantine.

“To go from solitude to being surrounded by 50 people traveling the country together was jarring. We had to keep each other safe, so we could keep doing what we love.”

Now it’s back to Westport. The Playhouse is where Singer saw “Twelfth Night” and “Into the Woods.” But not until he began working there on his previous plays did he understand the wealth of talent that preceded him on its stage.

“Walking to the dressing room, you pass by head shots of Gene Wilder, James Earl Jones, Joanne Woodward, Gloria Swanson, Christopher Walken, the mighty Paul Newman and many more,” he says.

“It’s a special experience to work in a theater with such a rich history. I don’t take the opportunity for granted.”

Westport Country Playhouse company manager Bruce Miller, with some of the 500 head shots near the dressing rooms underneath the stage. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Singer calls “4000 Miles” playwright Amy Herzog “a master of writing natural dialogue. It’s been a blast to dig into every word and punctuation mark.”

Working with director David Kennedy has been like “returning to acting class. He’s very precise and effective in his communication, and is absolutely one of my favorite directors.”

He’s humbled to share the stage with Tony winner Mia Dillon, adding that “nearly everyone will relate to these character in some way, shape or form.” When it’s over, audiences should “hopefully leave the theater feeling inclined to call up your grandmother for a good long conversation about life.”

(“4000 Miles” runs August 23 to September 4 at the Westport Country Playhouse. Click here for tickets and more information.)

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“4000 Miles” (from left): Lea DiMarchi as Bec; Mia Dillon as Vera; David Kennedy, director, and Clay Singer as Leo. (Photo/Cynthia Astmann)

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For Aiden Schachter, The Sky’s The Limit

Posted on August 9, 2022 | 5 comments

The pandemic was tough on some teenagers. Stuck at home, they stalled academically, socially and emotionally.

Others took the lockdown lemon, and made lemonade.

Or — in the case of Aiden Schachter — they made LED lightclouds. And built a thriving, national business.

In the spring of 2020 he was a Bedford Middle School 8th grader, spending more time than usual in his room.

LED light strips — the  wireless bedroom decoration that changes colors and looks cool — were hot. Aiden took a stuffed, falling-apart penguin, and created a prototype.

Today, he says, it looks like “a piece of junk: a stuffed animal in a ball.” But to his 8th grade eyes, it was impressive.

He made a few more. His aunt bought one. Aiden wondered if he could sell to non-relatives.

One of Aiden Schachter’s LED light clouds.

He thought about eBay. But Etsy — the homemade-and-craft site — seemed more appropriate.

At that point, you or I might simply have made a few LED light strips, taken quick photos, and posted them on Etsy.

But you and I are not Aiden Schachter.

The young teenager conducted market research. He watched videos. He read articles. He learned how to sell online.

His first ads were “not very descriptive,” he admits. But quickly, he discovered how to engage potential customers.

He tailored his ads to a variety of platforms: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Google.

Studying Etsy’s analytics to find out who was buying, he crafted different ads for different niches — “dorm room décor,” say, and “baby gifts.”

Screen shot of Aiden Schachter’s Etsy StormcloudLEDs page.

Aiden learned photographic techniques too. He’s taken 2 courses at Staples, to hone his skills.

Aiden’s mother taught him how to use spreadsheets, to pay taxes.

He was selling enough to make serious money. The 2020 holidays were a breakout period: 123 orders. With a wide price range — $60 to $180 — appealing to a wide range of customer, his product took off.

Aiden works hard. Each LED cloud light takes 20 to 40 minutes to make; each is made to  oder.

He uses recycled tin cans (sourced on the Nextdoor neighborhood app), attached with spray adhesives.

Everything except the cans comes from his Amazon business account. “I’m a big fan of 2-day shipping,” Aiden says. “And Prime Day is huge.”

The rising Staples High School junior handles every aspect of his business. After making what he calls Stormclouds, he has to package and ship them.

Aiden moved from using old Amazon boxes to ordering cardboard boxes in bulk. He invested in a label printer, which helped a lot. Now, he seals each box with custom tape, bearing his logo.

Aiden Schachter heads to the post office.

Aiden’s lessons included customer service. Etsy is a person-to-person site. “I’m a teenager. I’m always on my phone,” he notes. “I can respond instantly to everyone.”

Not that customers know they’re dealing with a high school student.

An early review said, “it looks like a teenager made this.” Aiden laughs, “Well, yeah, I’m a kid in my parents’ basement making it.”

Now though, his average rating is 4.9 stars (out of 5) — with over 100 reviews.

Other lessons came through the process of incorporating (via LegalZoom) with the state of Connecticut. His LLC is LEDCloudLight.com.

“As a 16-year-old, I struggled to learn tax and legal stuff,” he notes. (Welcome to the club.)

There’s more ahead. Aiden has just been accepted into the Westport Young Woman’s League’s indoor craft fair (November 5-6, at Staples High). That’s a big deal: It’s the longest running event of its kind in Connecticut, and extremely tough to break into.

In addition to his usual holiday sales, Aiden will make plenty of money at the fair. But he’s as philanthropic-minded as he is creative.

Last year, he donated $500 to combat climate change — a gift that was tripled by the Climate Reality Project.

He’s donated Cloudlights for charitable raffles, and is looking for more local organizations to partner with.

Aiden’s numbers are impressive. He’s sold 312 lights this year, up substantially from 219 in 2021. Orders have come from all 50 states.

He’s serious about what he does. He’s spent 6 to 7 hours a day at his business this summer. During the school year, it’s 2 to 3 hours.

Yet as impressive as this is, it’s not all that Aiden does.

He’s also a Staples High School wrestler. That’s an incredibly demanding sport, physically and mentally. 

Aiden Schachter (left) on the wrestling mat.

But there’s even more to Aiden’s story.

Long before he got involved in LED lights, he wanted to fly. Now, in addition to making Cloudlights, he’s soaring — literally — into the clouds. 

From a flight simulator in 7th grade, he’s advanced to lessons. On his 16th birthday in March, he soloed.

Aiden has flown — by himself — from Stratford’s Sikorsky Airport to Groton and Poughkeepsie. His goals are to get his full pilot’s license at 17 — and eventually, fly commercially.

Aiden Schachter, about to pilot a Cessna 172.

Back on earth, Aiden is working on Cloudlights enhancements. He’s developed lights that can be controlled by Alexa and Google Home. (They’re already controlled through an app.)

Aiden Schachter’s app to control his lights.

He’s also building up stock for the craft fair. And training for the upcoming wrestling season.

Aiden Schachter has a lot to look forward to. Thanks to him, kids and parents all over America have a lot to look up to, as well.

(For Aiden’s Etsy page, click here.) 

(To help support “06880” — and read more stories like this — please click here.)

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Roundup: Mill Pond Fence, Betty Lou Cummings, Jackopierce …

Posted on August 8, 2022 | 6 comments

Pristine views of Sherwood Mill Pond are back!

Fencing has been removed from the pedestrian pathway leading from the Old Mill parking lot to Compo Cove.

It was installed in December 2020, during water monitoring tests.

Signs warning against jumping into the pond near the tidal gates remain.

But the decades-old ritual — a rite of passage for many Westporters — still goes strong. (Hat tip: Oliver Radwan)

Fencing has been removed from Sherwood Mill Pond. The black poles remain. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Have you heard about Westport’s scavenger hunt?

Hidden around town are 18 pieces of art, all inspired by town monuments, buildings and more that are part of the bicentennial quilt.

It’s part of a display in the Westport Museum of History & Culture. The show — in conjunction with MoCA Westport and CAMP Gallery — features textiles and other quilt-inspired artifacts. The hunt runs through August 20. Click here for details. (Hat tip: Dave Matlow)

1st Selectwoman and Police Chief Foti Koskinas hunt for clues. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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Happy 88th birthday to former 2nd Selectwoman, Apple Festival founder and organizer, super-involved and multi-tasked civic volunteer, and all-around wonder woman Betty Lou Cummings!

She celebrated yesterday with her husband Tom. Not pictured below: all her tens of thousands of Westport fans.

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When Cary Pierce was a student at Staples High School, he got his first big break.

Hall & Oates failed to appear for a 1985 concert at Longshore — to be fair, they never signed a contract — so Cary’s band, Pseudo Blue, entertained instead. (Click here to read all about that strange day in Westport history.)

Cary went on to graduate from Staples in 1987. He kept playing guitar, and singing.

For nearly 35 years, Cary and his Southern Methodist University classmate Jack O’Neill have fronted Jackopierce. The band has shared stages with Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Matchbox Twenty and Widespread Panic. They’ve performed in clubs and at colleges across America — and before 500,000 people at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Next Monday (August 15, 6 p.m.), Jackopierce comes to Milestone restaurant in Georgetown. The venue is small, so tickets will go quickly. Click here to purchase, and for more information.

No word on whether Hall & Oates will sit in too.

Jackopierce: Cary Pierce (right) and Jack O’Neill.

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Michael Scott crushed it.

The Staples High School Class of 2011 graduate — and star on the Wreckers state championship team — finished Juneau’s Ironman Alaska yesterday in an astonishing 10 hours, 18 minutes and 48 seconds.

He ignored stunning views to swim 2.4 miles in Auke Lake in 36:33. He biked 112 miles along the Glacier Highway in 5:49.09. Then he ran 26.2 miles through the lush Mendenhall Valley rainforest in 3:29:42.

That was good (great!) for 23rd place, out of 733 competitors — and 3rd out of 36, in his men’s age 25-29 age group.

Congratulations, Mikey. Now take a well=deserved rest!

Michael Scott

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Lifelong Westporter Anthony Gilbertie died last week, from complications of Parkinson’s. He was 84.

He was the 5th member of the Gilbertie family to serve on the RTM.

Anthony was devoted to Assumption Church, where he was a cantor for 13 years. Most recently, he was a US Postal Service carrier in Weston. Anthony enjoyed history, current events and the New York Yankees.

He was predeceased by all his siblings: John Jr, Mario, Linda Gilbertie-Bullard and Michael, and baby siblings Thomas and Gloria.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Diane Taylor-Gilbertie; children, Tom (Anne). Peter (Dee) and Nancy Gilbertie-Loshuk, and grandchildren Griffin Gilbertie, William Gilbertie, Thomas Gilbertie, Christopher Gilbertie and Jack Loshuk.

Anthony’s wake will be held Friday (August 12, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Harding Funeral Home). A Mass of Christian Burial will follow there at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Assumption Cemetery on Greens Farms Road. The family asks that all attendees wear masks, as some family members are immunocompromised.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Assumption Church or The Parkinson’s Foundation.

Anthony Gilbertie

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Longtime Westporter Jeanne Wylie Crist died last week. She was 99 years old.

Jeanne married her Albany high school sweetheart, Robert “Mike” Crist in 1947 after working with the Naval Department in New York City. Two sons were born there before they moved to Westport, where Karen was born in 1956.

They lived in Westport for nearly 50 years before moving to Lenox, Massachusetts to be close to their daughter in 2011, when Mike’s health faltered.

They were members of Saugatuck Congregational Church, loved walking Compo Beach and cherished many friends. In retirement they purchased a cottage on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont, where Mike had enjoyed his childhood. Jeanne and Mike also traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Jeanne was preceded by Mike in 2011, and their son, Robert “Lee” Crist in 1983 and Jeffrey Crist in 2017. She is survived by her daughter Karen (Matthew Miller), grandchildren Chas (Ashley), Geoffrey (Michelle) and Kaylee Wylie,  and great-grandchildren Charley, Nuala, Declan, Wylie and Penelope.

A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Westport, where she will be interred with her beloved Mike and 2 sons. To share memories and stories click here,

Jeanne Wylie Crist

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Tracy Porosoff thinks this dramatic photo shows a wasp beetle eating a cicada at the Compo Beach baseball fence.

Whatever it is, it’s a perfect way to start off our “Westport … Naturally” week.

(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

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And finally … speaking of Jackopierce (as we were above): Here’s a little preview of their Milestene show:

(Keep the music coming! Please click here to support “06880.”)

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Roundup: Lynsey Addario, Lunch And Learn, Co-Working …

Posted on August 5, 2022 | 2 comments

This fall, New York’s School of Visual arts honors Lynsey Addario.

The New York Times photojournalist, MacArthur genius grant and Pulitzer Prize recipient — and 1991 Staples High School graduate —  takes part in the 32nd annual Masters Series Award and Exhibition.

“The Masters Series: Lynsey Addario” will be a comprehensive retrospective of her fearless, 2-decade journey documenting humanitarian issues around the globe.

The free exhibition runs from September 2 through October 29. Addario gives a special talk on September 9.

The exhibit showcases the photographers’ career, from Afghanistan and Iraq to Congo, Libya, Somalia, Syria, South Sudan, and most recently, Ukraine. She brings a strong focus on women’s issues to her work, including gender-based violence and rape as a weapon of war.

Addario is the author of Of Love and War, a solo collection of photography, and the best-selling memoir It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War.

Click here for the CVA website on the exhibition.

in the early days after the Russian invasion, Lynsey Addario’s photo of this bombed-out apartment building in Kyiv brought the war’s reality to people around the globe. (Photo/Lynsey Addario for The New York Times)

Screenshot of Lynsey Addario from “Firing Line.”

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You’re never too old to “lunch and learn.” Even in August.

Aspetuck Land Trust announces 2 upcoming sessions.

“Green Corridor: From Vision to Reality” (Wednesday, August 10, noon to 1 p.m.). features director of landowner engagement. Mary Ellen Lemay. She’ll explain why the Green Corridor initiative helps heal the fragmented and toxic landscape that surrounds us.

Using simple eco-friendly steps in yards and other private properties, the Green Corridor allows species to move across the landscape, improving biodiversity. Click here to register.

At “Think Like a Forest” (Friday, August 26, noon to 1 p.m.), Anna Fialkoff explains how planting native trees supports local food webs. Benefits include
purifying air, shading and cooling in hot weather, storing atmospheric carbon, minimizing flooding and storm water runoff, and helping sustain vital pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Click here to register.

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And you thought there were no holidays in August!

This coming Tuesday (August 9) is International Co-Working Day.

To celebrate, Office Evolution — the great, airy, flexible and filled-with-all-you-need space at 500 Post Road East (opposite Westport Fire Department headquarters) offers free one-day passes to anyone looking for a new work environment.

The holiday is Tuesday, but the offer is good all next week (August 8-12).

For more information, email Westport.CT@officeevolution.com, or call 203-635-8770. Click here for the Westport website.

Westport Office Evolution owner Laura Kaufman (left) and business center manager Lindy Steinorth, when Office Evolution opened in 2019.

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The eagle landed yesterday at Compo Beach — and posted majestically for its “Westport … Naturally” shot.

(Photo/David Anastasia)

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And finally … in honor of International Co-Working Day (story above):

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Roundup: Michelle Pauker, Bulkley Pond …

Posted on July 24, 2022 | 4 comments

MoCA Westport roams far beyond our town’s borders.

The museum-and-more features artists — visual and musical — from around the world.

But one of the biggest draws ever was last night: Westport’s own Michelle Pauker.

The 2013 Staples High School graduate — and actress/singer/songwriter — wowed the overflow crowd with her “Broadway Through the Ages” repertoire. She was both graceful and great, leading the audience through a history of musical theater, from “Showboat” to Sondheim.

One of her songs was an original by Jake Landau, who served as her pianist and music director. A Staples classmate — and Juilliard and Oxford graduate — he’s now a quickly rising composer and conductor.

Michelle’s small band included fellow Stapleite Lucas de Valdivia, on cello.

It was a magical Westport evening, in the worldly MoCA space.

Michelle Pauker at MoCA. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Aspetuck Land Trust is removing the Bulkley Pond dam. It’s off the Post Road by Shake Shack, right on the Westport/Southport border.

The dam was a barrier to upstream fish passage for alewife and blueback herring, and the freshwater habitat these migratory fish require for spawning.

The project is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

Bulkley Pond dam removal …

… and after. (PhotosDave Lowrie)

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The Fresh Market ospreys get most of Westport’s love. At least, they’re the most visible.

But let”s give it up for the Longshore birds. Molly Alger provides today’s “Westport … Naturally” raptor family:

(Photo/Molly Alger)

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And finally … the Bulkley Pond story (above) reminded me of this great song, which never got the recognition it deserved.

Over 50 years later, the message still resonates.

 

 

 

4 Comments

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