Category Archives: technology

“06880” And AI: A Deeper Dive Into Our Westport World

Posted on February 10, 2026 | 17 comments

Since our first post in 2009, “06880” has published over 20,100 stories.

Thanks to our “Search the Archives” box, you could find any of them. “Cribari Bridge,” “Community Gardens,” “Remarkable Book Shop” — type in keywords (don’t forget the quotation marks!), and you’d get every reference, from most recent to oldest.

Then your work really began. You had to click on each story individually. The search engine did not distinguish between, say, a story about a Cribari Bridge Department of Transportation hearing, holiday lights there, or a photo of it.

And you couldn’t search the Comments section — that rich repository of over 180,000 opinions (plus bombast and bile).

But “Search” is so yesterday.

Now it’s 2026. AI is taking over the world.

Today, “06880” introduces a new way to explore our blog.

It’s as hyper-local as we are. And as revolutionary as any AI search engine on any blog like this, anywhere.

We call it “the ‘06880’ Widget.” It’s the product (of course!) of a Westport business.

With it, you can take a deep dive into not just what “06880” has written about, but how those stories tie together. How readers responded to them. And what it all means for you, your life here, and what’s ahead.

The “‘06880’ widget” floats in the upper right hand corner of every page. (NOTE: It’s not yet available via a button on the app. That’s coming soon.)

The arrow points to our new “06880” AI widget.

Click on the box, and type in a request:

  • “Tell me about last year’s real estate trends.”
  • “What do readers think about the Community Gardens?”
  • “What should newcomers know about Westport?”
  • “What events are happening on Saturday, February 14, 2026?”
  • “What was the restaurant before The Bridge at Saugatuck?”

You’ll see 3 dots. AI plows through 17 years of “06880” posts — and only “06880” — to deliver, within seconds, a comprehensive reply.

i asked our AI widget what readers think about the Community Gardens. This is the start of the reply.

Many responses include clickable links, bringing you to a relevant story.

AI is not perfect, of course. It hiccups. And — as with any AI engine — the quality of the response relates directly to the clarity and specificity of the prompt.

The more you use it, the better you understand how to frame your request.

For example, “What is the best Italian restaurant?” is not a good question. “What readers say about Westport’s Italian restaurants?” is better.

Boy, is this a cool tool!

“06880” readers love Tutti’s, owned by Pasquale and Maria Funicello (above). The “‘06880 widget’ knows what those readers say.

The “‘06880’ widget” was developed by ThoughtPartnr. The Westport-based startup creates practical, easy-to-use AI tools for local businesses and community organizations.

While big tech companies build AI for Fortune 500 firms, ThoughtPartnr leverages its proprietary local language model to create AI for “Main Streets”: Chambers of Commerce, stores, libraries, Y’s and other community institutions.

The ThoughtPartnr widget is already available on the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce website. More local partners are coming soon.

The company was founded by Westport resident Jay Norris, with fellow residents Anil Nair and Matt Snow.

From left: Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell, with ThoughtPartnr’s Jay Norris, Anil Nair and Matt Snow. (Photos/Dan Woog)

ThoughtPartnr’s team — including Michael Salzinger — insert code into the site’s HTML. The widget scans the site every day to stay current. 

For a Chamber of Commerce, the AI widget can answer questions like, “What stores specialize in home decor?” For a Y it might be, “Are there swim programs for 4-year-olds?”

For “06880” meanwhile, there is 17 years’ worth of stories and comments to analyze, summarize and offer up, to anyone who wants to know.

If you have questions about this story, don’t email “06880.”

Just ask our widget.

(Our new widget is just one more feature, for our ever-helpful, always-evolving “06880.” To help support all that we do, please click here.)

17 Comments

Posted in technology, Westport life

Tagged , , ,

Westport By Drone: Alex O’Brien’s Young Business

Posted on February 9, 2026 | 8 comments

Every day, I get at least a dozen photos.

Beach sunsets. Dogs. Entitled parkers — they keep coming.

Many are good. Some are similar. All are appreciated.

I’m a sucker for drone shots. They offer a perspective on Westport we seldom see. They enable us to look at our town in fresh, unique ways.

The other day, I got this one. It shows a frozen Saugatuck River, near the Levitt Pavilion:

It came from Alex O’Brien. He said he loves taking aerial photos around town, and recently started his own company: Westportdronephotography.com.

I didn’t recognize the name. I asked for more images, and offered to chat by Zoom.

That’s when I learned that Alex is 13 years old — and not even a full-time Westporter.

Alex O’Brien, with his drone.

His parents moved here from New York during COVID. He went to Saugatuck Elementary School. They moved back, but return to their Westport home on weekends.

Alex is an 8th grader at St. Ignatius Loyola School. In addition to drone photography, he loves engineering and using his 3D printer. He’s part of the National Children’s Chorus. They’ll perform this spring at Carnegie Hall.

Last year, they toured Australia. Alex sang at the Sydney Opera House. He told me that off-handedly, as if every middle schooler does that at some point.

Alex began drone photography after getting a DJI Mini 4 Pro for his birthday. He realized people might want to buy his shots, so he got a domain and set up his business.

Alex O’Brien flies his drone over the Saugatuck River.

It’s Westport-only right now. Manhattan has restrictive bans on recreational uses.

So Alex has gone to town, in our town.

He loves shooting Compo Beach, the river, and many other interesting places.

Compo Beach

Drone photography has helped Alex learn about Westport. It’s also helped him see the beauty all around.

Sunsets and beach scenes “could be like vacation spots,” he says. “But they’re here.”

Summertime ritual: a Levitt Pavilion concert.

Marketing is mostly word of mouth, through family and friends. Requests come in on his website.

On it, he says: “My passion lies in capturing breathtaking aerial images of the local landscape. I take pride in being a 13-year-old Westport local, bringing a fresh perspective to the art of drone photography. My goal is to share the beauty of our area through the unique and beautiful photos captured by drone, both with locals and those further afield.”

Downtown Westport.

But — just as Alex buried the Sydney Opera House story — there’s one other aspect of his business to report.

He’s donating 10% of all profits to Homes with Hope‘s food pantry.

Alex — who has celiac disease — cannot eat gluten.

In 5th grade, during a Saugatuck Elementary walkathon, he learned about the HwH pantry. Every month since, he and his mother bring a gluten-free donation.

They also gave a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner to a local family.

The great note he received — and the smiles he sees at the food pantry — help him realize the importance of giving back.

Cribari Bridge.

Alex looks forward to hearing from “06880” readers about new places to photograph.

It would be great too to get a few jobs, to keep his drone busy.

And the Homes with Hope pantry well stocked.

Ned Dimes Marina

Looking toward Old Mill Beach.

Saugatuck River (Saugatuck Elementary School at lower right)

Frozen river (All drone photos/Alex O’Brien)

(Every day, “06880” offers fresh perspectives on Westport. If you enjoy learning about our town — from new and ever-changing angles — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

8 Comments

Posted in Beach, technology, Teenagers

Tagged , ,

Roundup: Larry Sidney’s Olympics, Select Board’s Agenda, Students’ Screens And Sales …

Posted on February 7, 2026 | 1 comment

Sharp-eyed viewers of yesterday’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony may have spotted former Staples High School cross country coach Larry Sidney marching with Israel’s athletes.

But there is much more to the story than meets the eye.

Larry Sidney (left), at the 2026 Olympics opening ceremony.

After leaving Westport, Larry moved overseas. He was a dual athlete, competing in skeleton from 2014-18, and curling from 2018 on.

In 2024 — at 46 years old — he qualified for this year’s Olympics.

Then he was diagnosed with cancer. Almost exactly a year ago today, his right leg was amputated below the knee.

But there Larry was yesterday, walking proudly as an Olympic administration for his country.

Professionally, he’s a holistic financial advisor. He graduated from the University of Connecticut, then earned an MBA at the University of California-Berkeley.

Click here or below for an inspirational 2024 TEDx talk by Larry, on the power of pursuing audacious dreams. (Hat tip: Richard Fogel)

==================================================

The Board of Selectpersons has a full agenda for its Wednesday meeting (February 11, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium; click here for the livestream).

Among the 17 items:

♦ Approving policy changes recommended by the Parks & Recreation Commission, including”

— Change of dry stall first launch date from May 1 to April 1.

— To allow the sale of alcoholic beverages, with the exception of THC products, at the Longshore golf course by approved vendors only.

— To continue to offer, and add 1 additional, firepit rentals on South Beach at Compo Beach.

— To require parking emblems at Canal Beach from May 1 to September 30.

— Fee increases, for golf cart rentals (9 holes, to $15 from $14, 18 holes $22 from $20; Camp Compo resident $325 from $265, non-resident $350 from $285; RECinc Crew resident $400 from $315, non-resident $425 from $335).

♦  Appointing 2 alternate members to the Board of Assessment Appeals: Thomas Bloch and Robert Bass.

♦   Approving contracts for work at the Imperial Avenue lot, an for the replacement of the Levitt Pavilion stage.

Click here for the full agenda.

The Select Board is expected to approve replacement of the Levitt Pavilion stage. The Tedeschi Trucks Band was one of many acts to play there last year. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)

==================================================

Screen time — and how to navigate it safely –– is all over the news.

It’s one thing for youngsters to hear strategies from parents and teachers. It’s another — much more important — thing to learn from almost-peers.

Recently, 6th graders at Coleytown and Bedford Middle Schools took part in iMentor. The initiative is facilitated by the Westport Youth Commission, using trained Staples High student mentors.

The high schoolers lead engaging, age-appropriate discussions that encourage middle schoolers to think critically about their online behavior and digital decision-making.

The interactive topics include civility and kindness, digital footprints, safety risks, identifying trustworthy sites and managing screen time.

iMentors also emphasize the importance of speaking with a parent or other trusted adult about anything concerning online.

iMentors in action, at Coleytown Middle School.

================================================

The next generation of business leaders took over the Westport Library on Thursday.

The first-ever Mini Moguls Marketplace youth business fair drew (very) young vendors in grades 5–8, and plenty of shoppers.

Founded and organized by Staples High School junior Aanya Gandhi, it featured over a dozen student businesses, ranging from handmade crafts to collections of gently used books and games.

Each “mini mogul” offered a poster board, outlining pricing strategies and marketing plans.

A financial literacy keynote presentation emphasized the benefits of understanding money management at a young age.

Long Lots Elementary School students Leo Rubin and Luke Capolupo made their first necklace sale to superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice. (Photo/Phil Rubin)

=================================================

11 Beachside Commons — the 1970s contemporary home with 5 bedrooms, 7 1/2 bathrooms, a floating staircase, periscope skylights, rainbow glazing purple carpet and a 150-foot multicolored tile pathway that “meanders” through the house, and which was the home of the late biotech entrepreneur/investor/ scientist Alan Walton and his wife Elenor — will be demolished soon.

An estate sale is set for today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It’s a chance to buy some very interesting items.

And to see one of Westport’s most stunning homes, before it meets the wrecking ball.

Inside 11 Beachside Commons. (Hat tip and photo/Cindy Nigro)

=================================================

Chryse Terrill was “buzzing” with excitement during a recent visit to Caroline House in Bridgeport.

 

The Wakeman Town Farm educator brought a lesson on bees. The preschoolers were eager to learn about their lifecycles, honeycombs, and the importance of bees as pollinators. They also loved the honey from WTF’s hives.

The program is part of Wakeman’s new “Farm on the Go” initiative. It expands equitable access to nature-based education for children facing financial, transportation or other barriers. 

 

With a grant from Town Fair Tire and the motto “Grow Your Food, Know Your Food,” the initiative helps students understand where their food comes from, how natural systems work, and why environmental stewardship matters throughproject-based learning delivered by WTF educators.

 

To suggest a school that would benefit from the “Farm on the Go” program, email info@wakemantownfarm.org. 

Exploring a honeycomb, through WTF’s “Farm on the Go.”

==================================================

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows a flock of gulls, on the frozen Saugatuck River.

It’s so cold, a few of them can stand on one foot only.

(Photo/Pam Docters)

The cold continues all weekend. After a high of 20 today, the thermometer plunges to 1 degree tonight. That’s the coldest in several winters.

Tomorrow’s high reaches only 18. But Sunday night will be almost balmy: 7 degrees.

=================================================

And finally … in honor of Larry Sidney (story above), and all the athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

(Want to be a winner? Just click here, and make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880.” Game on — and thank you!)

1 Comment

Posted in Children, Education, Environment, Library, Local politics, Longshore, Real estate, Sports, technology

Tagged , , , ,

Scarice Update: Weather, Strategic Plan, AI, Screen Time …

Posted on February 2, 2026 | Comments Off on Scarice Update: Weather, Strategic Plan, AI, Screen Time …

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice sends this update:

We have crossed the mid-point of the school year and our February Recess is just a couple of weeks away.

Winter Weather Decisions

It looks like we dodged a major blizzard this weekend. That said, our consulting meteorologist is predicting a series of storms and continued cold temperatures throughout February. Sorry to be the bearer of that news!

Since this is the time of year when weather decisions tend to come up a lot, I wanted to share a bit about how those calls are made. When conditions require a delay or closure, I do my best to make a final decision by 5:30 a.m. This typically follows an early morning regional call between 4 and 4:30 with area superintendents and our consulting meteorologist (the entire region uses the same service).

Whenever possible I make the decision the night before, though that’s relatively rare as weather has a habit of changing its mind overnight. Many factors go into these decisions, including temperature differences across town, conditions from the northern side of town to southern side, and coordination with the town on road clearing.

February break may spare us at least one winter weather decision, but early forecasts suggest we may still be looking at snow on the ground well into March. Seems like the groundhog and meteorologists are on the same page…and winter is in no hurry to leave.

As always, thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate an old-fashioned New England winter together.

Snow day!

District Strategic Plan

Since the presentation of our AI Strategic Plan in November, several initiatives are now underway. All of this work is grounded in our commitment to being “AI-Powered and Human-Centered,” using technology thoughtfully while keeping students, learning, and well-being at the center.

Our guiding approach is simple: Go slow to go fast. Rather than rushing new tools or expectations into classrooms, we are intentionally establishing ethical guardrails, clear expectations, and thoughtful preparation first. This allows us to support students and faculty responsibly, protect privacy, and maintain high academic standards as technology continues to evolve.

Several important foundations are already in place:

Below are several key areas of work now underway.

AI Literacy for Students

Work has begun to develop a clear, developmentally appropriate K–12 approach to AI literacy for students, along with defined competencies for staff. Expectations and access will vary across elementary, middle and high school levels to ensure appropriate and responsible use at each stage of development.

The goal of this work is to ensure that students understand how AI systems actually work, as well as their benefits and limitations. By building this foundational knowledge, students will be better equipped to think critically about AI, recognize potential challenges, including overreliance or emotional dependence, and use emerging technologies thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly as part of their learning.

Academic Integrity

As generative AI tools become more common, the district is revisiting its Academic Integrity Policy, particularly for our middle and high school level, to ensure expectations for original thinking, effort, and learning remain clear and meaningful. This work is focused on preserving strong academic standards while helping students navigate new tools responsibly.

Future-Proofing and AI Trends

The district has also begun work to monitor emerging AI trends and engage community expertise. This proactive effort is intended to help us anticipate where technology may be headed and prepare thoughtfully, rather than respond reactively. Our goal is to host our first school/community “AI Trends Group” meeting in late March.

Screen Time Audit

When we developed our Strategic Plan we used a number of “essential questions” to help frame our thinking. One such question was, “How do we maximize the power of AI and minimize screen time?”  That led to the development of an initiative that would audit screen time in our schools.

In support of our student strategic objective, “Preparing Students to Think, Adapt, and Lead with AI,” the district is conducting a screen time audit to better understand how technology use intersects with learning, well-being, and instructional design.

This audit is intentionally being conducted through multiple lenses to ensure a balanced and accurate picture:

  1. Surveys of students, teachers, and families to gather perceptions and  experiences related to screen time (the parent guardian survey will be administered after the February Recess.
  2. A review of curriculum and instructional practices to examine the amount of screen time required by our curriculum and instructional methods.
  3. An analysis of overall network usage patterns at the elementary and middle school levels to help quantify screen time in the aggregate. The district will use network tools, such as GoGuardian, to collect high-level, quantitative information about screen time. Because Staples High School operates under a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model, this analysis will not be conducted at the high school level.

Importantly, this work is not intended to monitor or evaluate individual students or staff. The purpose of the audit is to inform thoughtful decision-making about instructional balance, technology use, and student well-being.  In addition, this audit will help set a baseline for future studies on the topic of screen time.

Supporting Educators and Responsible Tool Use

Professional learning for educators continues to be aligned with the district’s AI vision and Code of Ethics. This ensures that any use of AI or digital tools in classrooms is intentional, ethical, and focused on supporting, not replacing, strong teaching and learning by our faculty.

Access to AI tools for staff remains controlled and supported, with broader access planned for next year alongside clear expectations, training, and ethical oversight.

I recognize that AI, technology use, and screen time raise important questions for families. My commitment is to continue moving deliberately, communicating transparently, and keeping students’ best interests at the center of every decision. I will continue to provide updates in manageable ways as this work progresses.

Thank you for your trust and partnership as we maneuver this evolving landscape together.

Comments Off on Scarice Update: Weather, Strategic Plan, AI, Screen Time …

Posted in Education, technology, Weather

Tagged ,

“Students Speak”: Collateral Damage From Cellphone Ban

Posted on December 9, 2025 | 13 comments

Recently, “06880” introduced a new feature. “Students Speak” gives Westport students a voice on any issue important to their lives.

Will Enquist

Today, Will Enquist looks at Staples High School’s “cellphone ban.” It actually includes more than phones.

A Staples High School senior, managing editor of Inklings, and a member of both the Westport Youth Commission and “06880” board, he enjoys reading the Wall Street Journal, and watching the New England Patriots “slowly regain relevance.”

He plans to major in political science, and contribute to his college’s newspaper. Will writes:

As I took refuge from a chill fall breeze inside the warm halls of Staples High on November 5, I was greeted with a sight unseen over the past decade: Not a single student was using their cell phone.

On that day a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, first proposed by Superintendent Scarice and later approved by the Board of Education, was implemented.

Despite the student body’s fervor in the days leading up to the phone ban, my Wednesday was rather typical. Like many Staples students, my phone has never really been a distraction in class. However, during my lunch period I first noticed one of its unintended consequences.

As I sat down in the library, I put in my AirPods – equipped with noise cancellation – to block out the buzz during lunch, a volume comparable to Madison Square Garden during the NBA playoffs.

I was 90 seconds into Beethoven’s 6th Symphony and my calculus homework when a faculty member politely asked that I remove my wireless headphones.

I was suddenly reminded of one of the less reasonable stipulations of the ban: In addition to cellphones and smartwatches, students are prohibited from using wireless headphones during the school day.

Interestingly, it is this aspect of the policy — the ban on widely popular wireless headphones like AirPods — that has spurred the most criticism. Students and teachers alike express confusion about why devices that often complement or enhance learning have been strictly forbidden.

Before I continue, I should note that I am a supporter of the phone ban. I believe the superintendent and Staples administration have pursued it with every intention of improving school culture, focus and academic achievement.

However, I believe prohibiting the use of wireless headphones is a significant misstep in the design of the policy.

The administration’s central argument for banning wireless headphones, as I understand it, is that students who might still have their phones on them (in violation of the new policy) could use their headphones to have incoming notifications read to them.

This is not consistent with how I know Staples students to use wireless headphones. Before the ban headphones were most often used for listening to music, canceling out distracting background noise, and listening to teacher-assigned videos or podcasts – all legitimate uses of the technology that support learning.

I have never known of a student using wireless headphones to secretly receive notifications, especially considering that responding to any notification would require verbally dictating a message into their headphones, something immediately apparent to any teacher.

The misuse the policy aims to prevent appears far less common than the productive and legitimate uses it now restricts.

The ability to watch educational videos, listen to music, and cut out distracting ambient noise has been vital to my productivity during school hours and, by extension, my academic success.

Shortly after learning about the new restrictions on wireless headphones, I began researching wired alternatives with active noise cancellation. However, most headphones advertised as “wired” with noise-canceling capabilities are expensive wireless models that include a wired option.

While my summer job may equip me with the means to afford this option, it feels awfully wasteful and fiscally irresponsible to squander that money when I already own perfectly good AirPod Pros that the policy now restricts.

Ultimately, the goal of the phone ban is one I genuinely support: create a school environment where students are more focused on and connected to their classroom community.

For the phone ban to be effective, however, it must accurately differentiate between tools that detract from learning and those that support it. For the vast majority of students, wireless headphones fall into the latter category.

(To submit a “Student Speaks” — or for questions about this feature — email 06880blog@gmail.com. We will work with students to help craft their story. Anonymity, if requested, is assured.) 

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. Every day, we bring you news, events, opinions, photos and much more. But we can’t do it without the support of our readers. Please click here to contribute. Thanks!)

13 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, technology, Teenagers

Tagged , , ,

StartUp Westport’s Pitch Competition: Celebrating Wheels Of Innovation, Entrepreneurship

Posted on November 21, 2025 | 4 comments

Creativity, passion, entrepreneurship, risk — and $25,000 — were on the line last night.

A full house packed the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum, for StartUp Westport’s first-ever Pitch Competition.

Two healthcare companies, a tax platform for college athletes, a healthy and environmentally conscious mushroom-based snack, and a new marketplace for wheels were the 5 ideas pitched by eager teams of young hopefuls, in a “Shark Tank”-like scenario.

The 4 judges — all experienced entrepreneurs — headed off stage, to deliberate.

The audience used a QR code, for their own (non-binding) vote. The wheels marketplace — WheelPrice — edged out a device that personalizes and simplifies breast cancer detection, 34% to 31%.

The judges stepped back on stage. They agreed: WheelPrice won the $20,000 non-dilutive first prize.

But all the entrepreneurs were winners. The other 4 split the remaining $5,000.

Energy was high, in the half hour before the formal pitches began. The 5 finalists each had a table.

They’d been culled from 77 applicants, and semi-finalists. For months they’d honed their ideas, and been mentored by StartUp Westport volunteers.

Criteria included a pre-institutional funding round; an existing corporation in an evaluable category; a Connecticut-based founder or strong state association, and a scalable business model. 

Each hopeful had 6 minutes to pitch judges Kira Vanderwert, Kal Amin, Matt Gorin and Cliff Sirlin — all experienced venture investors — and 6 minutes to answer probing questions about the problem being addressed, market size, revenue model, competitive advantage and more.

A team from the University of Connecticut pitched ChromaShield. The wearable patch and monitoring platform reduces complications of skin damage from chemotherapy, like radiation dermatitis and foot ulcers.

ChromaShield

Nexa Tax, created by a former University of Bridgeport athlete, is an app that helps college athletes manage the tax aspects of their “name, image and likeness” earnings. As the number of those students grows, their tax burdens will too. But, the founder says, too few of those athletes know how to handle them.

Nexa Tax

Mirabelle — “breast health, in your hands” — is a device by which women can detect and monitor themselves for breast cancer. It’s also a tool for healthcare providers in underserved areas. The founders, with Cornell University roots, added humor to the serious nature of their company (they call beta testers “the titty committee”).

Mirabelle 

WheelPrice addressed a problem unknown to many in audience: how to manage the marketplace for car wheels. Like sneakers and watches, it’s a niche filled with fanatics. But right now, the UConn founder says, there are 620,000 wheels listed online “chaotically.” His platform “reinvents the wheel … marketplace.”

WheelPrice

NeuroPuffs were created by Yale University graduate students. The product — mushrooms and upcycled food waste, dried using a special process, coated in real powdered cheese, and packed in compostable bags — provides “guilt-free snacking.” They’re “good for the brain, kind to the planet.”

NeuroPuffs

The decision was tough, the judges said. All the ideas were “impressive, inspiring, and solving real problems.”

But WheelPrice had the best business model. It seemed the most scalable. Its pitch was most impressive.

WheelPrice founders (5th and 6th from left), with StartUp Westport Pitch director Peter Propp (4th from left), and other entrepreneurs, plus StartUp Westport co-founder Cliff Sirlin (2nd from right) and Coastal Bridge partner Bill Loftus (far right). (All photos/Dan Woog)

 Still: Keep your eye out for the other 4 startups too.

The crowd of 400 included many fellow entrepreneurs — and investors.

The wheels in their heads were turning, as each founder gave their pitch.

(StartUp Westport is a 3-year-old public/private partnership, aimed at making this town the entrepreneurial and innovation capital of the state. To learn more about StartUp Westport, click here. The lead sponsor for the Pitch Competition was Coastal Bridge Advisors.)

(“06880” covers business, technology, Westport organizations, and much more. If you like stories like this — where they all come together — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

4 Comments

Posted in Local business, technology

Tagged

Westport AI Platform Aids Local Businesses; National Rollout Next

Posted on November 20, 2025 | 8 comments

It’s nice that Westport attracts high-end national chains. They bring a certain cachet to town.

But they don’t make this place go.

Small businesses are both the economic driver and the emotional heart of 06880.

Savvy + Grace. JL Rocks. Stephen Kempson. Earth Animal. Calise’s Deli. The Grapevine. WEST. Westport Hardware. Organic Market. Party Harty. Your favorite restaurant (except McDonald’s).

Those are the places where everyone knows your name. Where they know your preferences. Where we go when we need a program ad, a raffle or auction item, a flyer in the window.

Behind all that are small business owners struggling to stay, well, in business. They have rents to pay, payrolls to meet, town regulations to follow — and of course, the very real battle to convince customers to buy from them, and not online.

AI — the technological marvel that has transformed education, healthcare, big business and many other areas of modern life — can help small businesses too.

But most owners are so busy doing all the things noted above, they don’t have time to figure out what AI can do for them.

Plus: As good as artificial intelligence is, it’s global in scale. It works by scraping up an unfathomable amount of information from everywhere, then figuring out patterns of words and phrases.

AI knows what’s going on around the planet. It does not necessarily know what’s happening on the Post Road.

Until now.

Westport resident Jay Norris has a long and successful career in business, real estate and technology. He’s been a board member of the Westport Library and Westport Weston Family YMCA.

He knows the town. He knows AI. And he knows how both can work together.

Norris’ newest venture is ThoughtPartnr. The AI model is designed to help small and mid-size businesses streamline operations, make informed decisions, create content, and accelerate growth.

And its national rollout is taking place right here in Westport.

Yesterday, Norris and his ThoughtPartnr team joined the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce at The Clubhouse. Several dozen members learned how the “local language model” — as opposed to the more familiar “large language model” — can help their own businesses and ventures use Chamber and community data to assist with marketing, operations, compliance, funding and growth.

Someone thinking of opening a new restaurant here might, for example, find all the steps needed through ThoughtPartnr — including links to all permits needed.

Chamber of Commerce attendees were intrigued. They were particularly impressed when a Friends of Sherwood Island board member asked how, specifically, ThoughtPartnr could help find grants, and raise funds.

Matt Snow typed in that prompt. Almost instantly — on The Clubhouse’s big screen, for all to see — the local AI delivered a host of resources: the Westport Woman’s Club, environmental organizations, and along with advice on how to apply for state grants, links to applications, and much more.

The difference between those responses and ChatGPT, say, is that the latter would provide much more generic information, based on how a non-profit in general could get grants.

From left: Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell; ThoughtPartnr’s founder Jay Norris, technology advisor Anil Nair, and chief marketing officer Matt Snow. (Photo/Frank Bruce)

AI of any kind is clearly helpful. But it can hallucinate. And sometimes, users need human help.

That is one more element to ThoughtPartnr. Subscribers gain access to real, live local experts, who can answer questions, build on suggestions, and leverage the AI information even more personally.

Westport Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell announced that members will have free use of ThoughtPartnr from now to the end of 2026.

They’ll be part of a big rollout. With Mandell’s help, Norris hopes to network with Chambers of Commerce around the country.

He’s starting small, in his home town.

But he has large plans. And he can make them succeed.

Among Norris’ many hats: He chairs the Technology and Innovation Council for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

Today, Westport. Tomorrow, New York.

And then: small businesses, all across the country.

(To learn more about ThoughtPartnr, click here. For the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce website, click here.)

(“06880” often covers Westport businesses, technology, and much more. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work, with a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

8 Comments

Posted in Local business, Restaurants, technology

Tagged , , ,

Staples Juniors Turn Up The Heat On Lead Contamination

Posted on November 19, 2025 | 4 comments

Staples High School students do some very impressive things.

Players’ current production of “Les Misérables” is drawing absolute raves. (If you haven’t seen it yet: Read on!). Hundreds of musicians are preparing for the 85th annual Candlelight Concert. Boys soccer won the state championship; field hockey camethisclose.

All those accomplishments make our entire town proud.

But under the radar, other students pursue their own passions.

And like their classmates who garner more attention, they do it very, very well.

Ignacy Nieweglowski and Sahil Vora are juniors and friends, with an interest in science and technology.

Together, they founded Staples’ Health Tech Initiative Club. The student-led organization tackles public health issues through technology.

Right now, they’re focusing on lead contamination across Connecticut, and the entire US.

Staples’ Health Tech Initiative Club, in action.

The club began as a way for students to get involved in research. The initial goal was to develop an inexpensive solution to detecting PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in water.

After almost 2 months of literature review and a meeting with a Yale professor, they realized that hundreds of researchers are working to do exactly that.

They decided to pivot to something that in recent years has not gotten the attention it deserves, especially as the Environmental Protection Agency has been defunded.

Ignacy, Sahil and their club found that lead contamination continues to be one of the most pervasive but disregarded issues in American healthcare.

They know they can’t fix the problem directly. But they can raise awareness, and push for legislative change and community action.

Exploring the issue in Connecticut, they learned that some public waterways in Westport surpass the federal Lead Copper Rule standard mandated by the EPA  of 15 parts per billion.

(Public reports are available on their website; click on the data section, and open source reports.)

Westport’s lead contamination heat map.

They’re working now on better mapping of lead contamination in Westport. They hope to reach out to organizations and community leaders, to bring the issue to the forefront of public health in Connecticut.

Their biggest need right now, Ignacy and Sahil say, is public support.

Over the past year, the pair has developed an open-source platform: leadwatchhti.org.

Anyone can report and view lead test results in their area. So far, they’ve received over 30 reports. Several are above the EPA’s federal action level of 15 ppb.

“These demand immediate action at the local level,” Ignacy and Sahil say.

“We want to reignite passion for this issue. The current Connecticut Department of Public Health action level at 15ppb for lead was last updated in 2004. Two decades later, scientific evidence shows that any detectable levels of lead can be irreversibly harmful.”

The duo will be distributing free lead test kits, and setting up community stations at the Westport Library and Staples High.

They also hope to partner with local leaders, state legislators, and organizations like Lead Free CT to help contribute to our database, prove that this is still an issue — and help solve it.

To learn more, email Ignacy (ignacy.nieweglowski@gmail.com) and/or Sahil Vora (sahilvora828@gmail.com).

(“06880” often highlights the amazing achievements of our town’s young people. If you enjoy stories like these — or anything else on our hyper-local blog — please click here to support us. Thanks!)

4 Comments

Posted in Staples HS, technology

Tagged , ,

Staples Smartphone Ban Begins Soon

Posted on October 10, 2025 | 2 comments

In June of 2024, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice recommended that Westport Public Schools move to a smartphone-free environment.

It’s already in place in the middle and elementary schools. On November 5 — the start of the second quarter — the ban begins at Staples High School.

Last night, the Board of Education — and students, parents and the rest of the public — heard details of the plan the BOE had asked the school to develop. An implementation committee included administrators, teachers and students.

Catherine Campagnino reports:

Scarice said that the new policy — in which phones must be put in lockers — “takes the burden off the teacher.” Students will have an extra 5 minutes each morning to go to their lockers — which are spread throughout the sprawling school — and another 5 minutes at the end of the day to retrieve them.

The extra time will come from slicing 1 minute off each class, and reducing the Connections period from twice a week to once.

Smartwatches and wireless headphones are included in the new policy. The goal is to limit as many technological distractions as possible.

Phones, watches, earbuds are all included in the Staples ban.

Teachers support the change, Scarice said. Social studies instructor David Willick noted that in a survey, 70% support it.

Math teacher and Westport Education Association president Stacey Delmhorst added, “The general feeling of the classroom has changed dramatically.” She praised the “extremely collaborative process” that led to the next stage.

One key to the plan was getting consensus from teachers and students. A working group will continue to meet throughout the year, to monitor its effectiveness.

An interim step — phone pockets in classes — has been “a great segue” to the next step, assistant principal Micah Lawrence said. Connections periods have been used to help students “learn the importance of face-to-face interactions.”

He was one of 4 assistant principals who spoke in favor of the plan. Christine Cincotta — favoring “restored focus in the classroom” — noted that the ban’s effectiveness depends on consequences.

Students caught with a smartphone will speak with an assistant principal. A parent must then come to get the phone, or give consent for the AP to return it to the student.

First-time offenders will get 1 detention; second-timers, 2. A suspension would follow the third offense.

AP Patrick Micinilio cited one initial problem: Because so few students used lockers since the building opened in 2005, 600 of the 1,850 lockers were inoperable. All have been fixed.

Staples’ lockers are large. They range from the culinary kitchens near the pool, to the furthest reaches of the third floor. Until now, they have seldom been used.

When the discussion was opened to BOE comments, Abby Tolan wondered about the effect on students with disabilities or medical issues, who may rely on phones for a variety of reasons.

That will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Scarice said it has not been an issue in Wilton, which imposed a similar ban last year.

After Kevin Christie asked about students who use smartphones for schoolwork. Scarice suggested “getting creative” — for example, buying iPads for art classes, and cameras for science classes. Students can also check out video cameras from the library.

A big change is coming soon to Staples High School.

Board of Education student representative Souleye Kebe offered a different view. The senior’s informal survey showed that 90% of students oppose the ban (though 35% acknowledge it would be good for students).

Only 3 of the 40 students he spoke with said they would put their phones in lockers. However, most said they would not take them out of their backpacks, because of fear of getting caught.

Kebe thought a “better habit” is to allow students to learn that simply having a phone on hand does not mean it has to be used.

Scarice disagreed, calling it “too much of an urge.”

One major issue, brought up by BOE student representative Anwara Olasewere, is that students who keep phones in their backpacks may use them in bathrooms. There is no plan in the policy to check lockers or backpacks for compliance.

Board of Education student representatives (from left): Souleye Kebe and Anwara Olasawere.

During the public comment session, math teacher Lenny Klein admitted he had been “dead wrong” about the policy. The current classroom pocket plan was working, he said, noting that it is nice to hear students talking with each other.

“It works for learning, it works for students, and it works for Staples,” Klein said.

Kate Bulkeley — co-president of the class, with Kebe — spoke about the lack of an exemption for seniors, who have spent 3 years without a ban.

“We are allowed to drive a car and vote, but not have our phone,” she said. She wondered if seniors could use phones during free periods, with an ID to prove their grade.

Math teacher Maggie Gomez said hat when she gave a questionnaire to seniors about the phone pockets, most said it helped them focus, and motivated them to get their work done.

Art teacher Carla Eichler observed that students are interacting more now — including freshmen with seniors.

Italian teacher Louisa D’Amore said that she has always made her son — a junior — put his phone in her desk. If he can go more than 2 yeas without a phone, she concluded, every other student can too.

(“06880” frequently covers education issues — and everything else of importance in town. If you appreciate our work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

2 Comments

Posted in Education, Staples HS, technology

Tagged , , ,

Roundup: Politics & The Environment, Diwali & The School Calendar …

Posted on October 8, 2025 | 2 comments

Monday’s first selectman candidates’ discussion on sustainability and the environment drew an overflow crowd to Christ & Holy Trinity Church — and a commitment from all 3 to create and adopt a comprehensive Westport Sustainability Plan, within their first year in office.

That’s a milestone long sought by local environmental activists.

Representative Town Meeting member Clarence Hayes was at the event, hosted by Sustainable Westport and Earthplace. He reports:

Over 90 minutes of spirited questioning, moderator Peter Boyd — a lecturer and resident fellow at Yale’s Center for Business and the Environment — pressed candidates Don O’Day, David Rosenwaks and Kevin Christie on their personal engagement with sustainability, their records, and their plans to make Westport a leader in environmental action.

All 3 voiced support for sustainability priorities, including improved walkability, stronger flood resilience, enforcement of the leaf-blower ban, rebuilding the community garden, pursuing Sustainable CT Gold certification, and evaluating solar installations for Staples High School and town parking lots, among others.

While short on detailed road maps, the shared commitment to adopt a formal plan within the first year marked an important first step. None pledged to add dedicated staff immediately, preferring to rely on volunteer expertise and integrate sustainability goals into existing town departments — and to see what progress can be achieved this way first.

When asked how they hoped to be remembered after four years, O’Day said for “a willingness to be first, not just a follower.” Rosenwaks envisioned “a town known for a healthy lifestyle — walking, biking, and clean air and water.” Christie hoped Westport would “become a leader again on the environment, as it once was.”

The conversation continued informally at Emmy Squared, where candidates and residents carried the debate — and Westport’s hopes for a sustainable future — well into the evening.

==================================================

Will Westport have a new school holiday?

A petition to add Diwali to the calendar has gained several dozen signatures.

It says: “I am a proud member of the Hindu community in Westport. Every year my family and I celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with great joy and reverence. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, offering a time for reflection, community, and spreading love. As a Hindu, it holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for me and millions of others around the world.

“On October 1, 2025, Diwali was officially recognized as a state holiday in Connecticut. This acknowledgment is a huge step forward in embracing and celebrating the cultural diversity that enriches our state.

“Our community takes pride in our cultural diversity and our commitment to inclusivity. By declaring Diwali a school holiday, Westport can send a strong message of acceptance and celebrate the rich tapestry of communities within the town.

“I urge the Westport Board of Education to recognize Diwali as an official school holiday. Doing so will not only reflect the values of our inclusive community but also respect the cultural practices of Hindu families living in Westport. This change can serve as an inspiration and positive example for other towns and school districts in Connecticut.”

This year, Hindus celebrate Diwali on October 21.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights.

==================================================

Speaking of the Board of Education: They meet tomorrow (Thursday, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).

The main agenda item is a discussion of the phone-free implementation plan.

==================================================

When “06880” last checked in on Dylan Gleicher and Neil Sono, the 2017 and ’18 Staples High School graduates (respectively) had created an app — Prepared 911 — that enabled school employees to seamlessly share information with each other during shootings and other crises. They soon expanded it to focus on 911 centers, police and fire departments, and sheriff’s offices.

With early hire Chris Scherban (Staples ‘17), Prepared quickly became a leader in assistive AI technology for public safety agencies.

Their $16 million Series A funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz.

Last week, the longtime friends sold Prepared 911 to Axon, a global public safety technology company.

Neil Soni and Dylan Gleicher, in their Yale days.

=================================================

Speaking of Staples students’ achievements: On Saturday, the top 7 members of the school’s boys cross country team competed in the 26th annual Great American XC Festival in Cary, North Carolina.

The competition draws runners from across the country to the fast WakeMed Course..

Staples competed in the varsity blue 5k race. They scored 228 points, good for a team win.

Congratulations to Oliver Samuel (15:57), Harrison Sydor (16:05), Luke Cooper (16:22), Jackson Wood (16:25), Oscar Jones (17:08), Samuel Burmeister (17:16) and Maxwell Benke (17:25).

Coming up: the FCIAC championship, at New Canaan’s Waveny Park. For more Staples cross country information, click here. 

The 2025 Staples boys cross country team, in North Carolina.

=================================================

Westport is becoming the Naples of America.

First came Massi Co — Massimo Tullio’s new restaurant, with Neapolitan cuisine.

Now Stephen Kempson London — the high-end tailor on Post Road West, just over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge — is sponsoring a 2-day trunk show celebrating the artistry and heritage of that city’s craftsmanship.

The genesis for the October 17 (1 to 5 p.m.) and 18 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) event was Kempson’s trip to Naples earlier this year. He was inspired by its devotion to beauty, precision, and passion — qualities found in its cuisine, architecture, and menswear tradition.

Three celebrated artisans will be in Westport

  • Paolo Scafora: Master shoemaker since 1956, known for hand-stitched footwear.
  • Gennaro Sannino: The house of Sannino shirts.
  • Anthony Lonzano (Gabo Napoli): Representing one of Italy’s leading tailoring houses.

Each will showcase signature pieces and take bespoke orders.

==================================================

Westport Library executive director Bill Harmer addressed the Westport Rotary Club yesterday. His topic was close to his heart: the Common Ground Initiative.

Recent Common Ground speakers have included Ken Feinberg, who ran the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and former Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri.

The Common Ground Initiative also includes the Seat at the Table series, where community members discuss intriguing topics.

“Americans regard libraries as one of the last safe spaces in our democracy,” Harmer said.

Bill Harmer, at the Westport Rotary Club (Photo/Dave Matlow)

==================================================

Early yesterday morning, Westport firefighters responded to a structure fire on Hillspoint Road.

The blaze was discovered by 2 passersby. They notified the home’s occupants, who evacuated before Fire Department units arrived. The fire was contained to the exterior area of origin.

The scene was turned over to the Westport fire marshal’s office for investigation.

=================================================

Staples High School Class of 1971 graduate Lynn Barber Mellor died on September 13 in Lake Wales, Florida. She was 72.

She was born in Chicago to Gordon and Jean A. Mellor. Lynn and her family moved to Westport when she was 7 months old. She attended California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, then worked as a graphic artist for marketing Corporation of America in Westport.

An avid scratchboard artist, she retired to Key West in 2006, then to Lake Wales in 2021.

Lynn is survived by her twin sister Gail M. Sibley (Jack), of Poinciana, Florida; brother Mark (Debbie) of Dorset, Vermont; niece Alyssa and nephew Devin. She was predeceased by her parents, her nephew Jes Sibley, and her stepmother, Shirley Mellor.

A private service will be held.

Lynn Mellor

=================================================

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is one more full moon image. This was one was taken at Burying Hill Beach.

It’s the last, we promise.

Until next month.

(Photo/Anne Bernier)

==================================================

And finally … in honor of (perhaps) the next Westport Public Schools holiday (story above):

(Where else but “06880” can you read about Diwali, political candidates, a life-saving app — and much more — all at once? Nowhere else! So please click here to support our work. Thanks!)

 

2 Comments

Posted in Environment, Library, Local politics, Obituaries, technology

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,