Remember the time Queen Elizabeth II visited Westport?
Neither do I.
But check out the internet:
Queen Elizabeth II visited Westport, Connecticut in 1954. Some people who were there remember the event, and the Remarkable Theater in Westport honored her with a showing of “The Queen.”
That’s a remarkable statement. And not just because the Remarkable Theater did not exist until 66 years later.
It’s remarkable because it did not happen.
And even more remarkable because artificial intelligence says it did.
Queen Elizabeth, circa 1954.
Local resident Gary Shure is on vacation this week. The other day he drove through Westport, New Zealand — the scenic South Island town that is one of about 2 dozen Westports scattered around the world.
He Googled the queen, and Westport CT. AI — which now appears at the top of many Google searches — quickly returned the utter nonsense that a year after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II came to our town.
It’s much more likely that the new queen visited our New Zealand counterpart. They’re part of the British Commonwealth, after all.
The United States, meanwhile, fought a famous war to get away from the royal family.
Welcome to Westport, New Zealand, that is.
What Google — the non-AI version of it, anyway — does say is that the Remarkable Theater did show the movie “The Queen” in September 2022, shortly after the long-reigning monarch’s death.
Artificial intelligence is good for many things.
But it remains just that: artificial.
Meanwhile, remember the time King George came to Westport, and had tea with George Washington at Marvin Tavern?
That was a remarkable day in our town’s history, for “shure.”
Queen Elizabeth II, in Westport, Connecticut. (Photo courtesy of News12).
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The Westport Country Playhouse show dramatically — and humorously — captures a culture clash, when 2 sets of well-intentioned neighbors fued in a backyard dispute over property lines.
The play runs through March 8.
(From left): Paula Leggett Chase, Lined Genao, Anthony Michael Martinez and Adam Heller head the cast of performers. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
Tryouts are near for the very popular Westport Swim Club.
The WSC provides developmental training for youngsters in grades 2 through 8. They build foundational skills, while preparing them for competitive swimming in all 4 strokes.
Practices take place at the Staples High School pool, in a supportive, growth-oriented environment for swimmers of all levels.
30-year Westport resident Bob Goldstein died peacefully February 17, with his wife Candy and dachshund Bruno by his side. He was 84, and had battled pancreatic cancer.
He was a magna cum laude graduate of Texas Christian University. Years earlier, at 8 years old, Bob decided he would someday be a bank president. He got his first banking job at TCU, in a mailroom, and quickly advanced to management.
He spent his early years as a banker in various parts of Texas. His career then took him to the Northeast, as a CEO and chair of a series of banks.
Bob’s knowledge of risk management, regulatory requirements and asset quality helped him turn around troubled banks, grow community banks and create value for shareholders. He held leadership roles in 20 financial institutions in 11 states.
Bob also served in the Texas National Guard, and played druns in a rock/jazz/country band at Fort Worth clubs. He loved spending time with his family and dog.
Civic engagement was also important. He served as a director on community boards including the Norwalk Hospital Foundation, the Jewish Home for the Elderly, Honey Hill Care Center, Texas Christian University Association, Hermann Hospital Steering Committee and the Children’s Miracle Network.
He was a member of the New York Real Estate Board of Governors and served as a faculty member of the Graduate School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
His family says “he will always be remembered for his personal integrity, sense of justice, sparkling smile, great sense of humor and love of animals.”
In addition to his wife Candy (Koizim), Bob is survived by his children Sandra Tanner, Robbi Russey Goldstein (Kevin), Griffin Goldstein (Laurie) and Amy Goldstein (Jenn); grandchildren Wesley Holt, Sam Holt (Kelsey), Ben Holt, Daniel Tanner (Ellen), Keith Goldstein, Jake Goldstein, Lexy Campos Goldstein and Coty Campos Goldstein, and great-grandchildren Jane and Mabel Tanner.
The family is grateful to Regional Hospice for the exceptional care they provided. Special thanks go to his wonderful caregivers, especially Jessica Floissac and Adriano Lima.
Funeral services will take place on February 28 (11 a.m., Spear Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield). Interment will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery.
We haven’t had too much snow. But it’s come regularly. And for days, the temperatures have struggled to get above freezing.
That’s winter in our town, 2025. Howard Edelstein captured the view from Harbor Road, looking toward Longshore, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … Johnny Winter was born on this date in 1944. When he died in 2014, I wrote this story about his time in Westport.
(Another day, another Roundup, another reminder that “06880” relies on reader support. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)
Our dining room is a disaster zone. Used for its intended purpose once, or at most twice a year, the room now serves as an ad hoc storage unit.
The sideboard is covered with paraphernalia for my husband’s volunteer EMS position — trauma shears, belt clips and extraneous badges. The extra dining chair in the corner is piled high with unwanted Amazon packages and shoe boxes, all awaiting printed labels before embarking on their return journeys.
The floor is covered with boxes of Polar seltzers cans and bottled waters from Costco, which haven’t yet earned their spot in the refrigerator.
Amongst this chaos, one thing is sacrosanct. The dining room table stands in the center of the room, untouched and oblivious to the disorder surrounding it.
The smooth, rich mahogany reflects the light coming through the front window. Four legs resemble the rear haunches of a lion, creating a strong, regal stance.
No one and nothing touches that table.
The Frimmer family, back in the day.
My husband and I bought the piece for our first home, a small condo in Norwalk. Recently engaged, we were eager to decorate our shared space.
When his mother suggested we peruse the expensive furniture store above Starbucks in downtown Westport, we obeyed. She is a woman of exquisite taste, and we knew nothing about home furnishings or where to acquire them.
Up to that point, the only furniture I’d ever purchased had been a Papasan chair for my dorm room, and a simple metal bed frame and mattress.
In the fancy store, we immediately knew we were in over our heads. When the saleswoman insisted the dining table would work perfectly in our room, we nodded in agreement and handed over our credit card.
We also created an elaborate wedding registry at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Armed with a scanner, we scanned everything in sight. China with gilded edges, cut crystal glasses, silver cutlery and various appliances we thought we needed. A quesadilla maker, an espresso machine and a charcuterie board with built-in drawers were all must-haves.
We would fill our home with lovely things, wake up cuddled in each other’s embrace, and create a wonderful family filled with endless love and joy. Our life together would be smooth and easy, and go exactly as we’d planned.
Twenty-three years, 2 nearly grown children and a dog later, we’ve faced our share of bumps in the road.
The Frimmers, much more recently.
Our older child came out as transgender, and changed their name and pronouns. Chronic illnesses, trips to the emergency room and caring for ailing parents have all marred the perfect picture, or perhaps made it more colorful and nuanced.
Because we received less than a full complement of tableware from our registry, I can count the number of times we’ve used it on one hand.
The waffle iron conked out during its first test run. The ice cream maker escaped its box last year, only to be locked back away when the final product turned out crystallized and unappealing.
Life, and more specifically marriage, is messy, cluttered and unpredictable, which brings me back to our dining room.
This year we hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my husband’s family, including our teenage niece and nephew. In the days leading up to the holiday it was all hands on deck: making grocery lists, procuring the necessary ingredients and preparing multiple dishes, and ridding the dining room of its usual clutter.
Thanksgiving dinner …
After we stuffed ourselves with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, we cleared the dishes and moved on to the entertainment: the holiday grab bag extravaganza.
We arranged our gifts on the coffee table in the living room, chose numbers and unwrapped packages. My 16-year-old son was inordinately proud of the gift he’d contributed, a portable ping pong net suitable for any table.
Somehow, after all the trading and finagling, he ended up with his own gift, likely his secret plan all along.
He and my nephew attached the net to our kitchen table, but the round shape didn’t lend itself to the game. When they tried the coffee table, they had to play from their knees, an uncomfortable proposition.
That’s when the boys asked if they could use the dining room table instead.
I refused. If they played there, the top would be covered in permanent dings and scuff marks in no time. I couldn’t allow that.
But by the time I’d washed the serving platters, loaded the dishwasher and dried my hands, a rousing game had begun.
… and ping pong.
As I went to put a stop to the nonsense, the sounds from the dining room gave me pause. Amid the clicking of the ball on the wood surface, there was camaraderie, chatting and laughter — so much laughter.
All 4 kids gathered around the table, playing, giggling and cheering each other on.
Rather than worrying about SAT scores or friendship drama or whether their gender-affirming medications would be available for the next 4 years, they were enjoying each other with the help of a simple game.
How could I put my foot down now?
This montage was my dessert, more delicious than pecan pie or apple cake could ever be. I made eye contact with my son, and gave a nod of assent.
Since then he’s asked me to play with him every day, often sharing news from his life as he serves, volleys and puts extra spin on the ball.
So my dining room will continue to accumulate unwanted packages and Costco purchases. And now our precious table will collect scratches and scrapes, well deserved scars signifying a worldly maturity.
If and when we use the table for dining once again, likely not before next Thanksgiving, I’ll throw a tablecloth over the top and call it a day.
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A “Hunger Games” competition for Westport’s last parking spot.
Possible topics for “06880”‘s April Fools story? But it’s only mid-January….
Nope. They’re the inventions of Addison Moore. A 2023 Staples High School graduate, and the winner of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Young Entrepreneur award — now a pre-law student at Lafayette College — he is “a proud Westport resident.”
For the past 8 years, he’s created a positive impact in his home town. From organizing a drive-in movie night as a freshman, to launching Feed Fairfield County (300 teens provided food for more than 10,000 residents) to founding Up | Next (the state’s largest teen-led group), Addiso has focused on community building.
Addison Moore (Photo/Analise Draghi)
But he also has a sense of humor.
Last year — as Westport grappled with political and social divisions, and other challenges — Addison searched for a way to help.
“I love this town with all my heart,” Addison says. “Westport has brought me so much joy and belonging. I felt compelled to give back in a meaningful way.”
He thought abut dropping off cookies in mailboxes, or organizing a collaborative art piece.
They were good ideas. Yet he wanted something more fun and creative.
The result: a satirical newspaper, imagining his home town in the future.
He hoped people would smile, while realizing what an amazing community this is.
(Photo/Jodie Brooke Aujla)
“Westport 2225” was a labor of love. Addison spent weeks writing stories and designing the layout. He printed 1,000 copies on his home printer, along with an explanatory letter (each of which he signed personally).
He and several friends rolled up each newspaper, tied them with bows, and spent one very cold night driving around Westport.
It took till 2 a.m., but they slipped them into mailboxes all over town. (Probably illegal, but shhh...).
His adventure did not stop there. Addison posted an Instagram video about the project, including delivery scenes. Click below to see:
Over the next few months, Addison says, he’ll roll out new initiatives and projects to hopefuly “spark meaningful change, and bring people together in Westport.”
For sneak peeks, more information, and to help, follow his Instagram: @addison._moore. (Note the period before the underscore in the address; without it, you’ll follow a girl with the same name.)
PS: If you were not one of the lucky 1,000 recipients of Addison’s paper — no problem.
(“06880” reports often on the accomplishments of Westport teens [and others of all ages]. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
So it was a natural place for John Recine to propose to her.
What he didn’t expect was that — as he popped the question, on the PAL Ice Rink — a skating stranger would capture the moment on camera.
Amy was there with Ali, her 22-year-old daughter, and Johnny’s daughter Angela and boyfriend Zach (visiting from Austin).
The happy couple have not set a date or place yet. No one asked me, but I can think of a great spot very close to that rink …
From left: Zach Springer, Angela Recine, Amy Feder, Johnny Recine, Ali Feder. (Photo/A random but great stranger)
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As a large new house rises near Schlaet’s Point, anoather big house will not be built a few yards away.
The Zoning Board of Appeals has denied an application for a 36-foot tall house at 238 Hillspoint Road. The proposed 2,200-square foot structure would have replaced a one-story cottage, built in 1920.
The current home at 238 Hillspoint Road.
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On January 26, Paul Newman would have been 100 years old.
In his honor, Newman’s Own — the philanthropy started in Westport, where the actor/race car driver/humanitarian lived for over 50 years — will launch “Paul Newman Generosity Day.”
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, local officials and celebrities will gather at the Newman’s Own office on the Post Road at Morningside Road North for an afternoon of “celebration and generosity.”
Newman’s Own will unveil the “100 Acts of Generosity Challenge.” Participants will perform acts of kindness, share stories, and inspire others to do the same on social media.
Richard Huntley is an internist/primary care doctor in Norwalk, and a Westport resident since 1988.
In 2023 he got a chance to do charitable medical work. He traveled to Kenya to screen for high blood pressure (Africa has the highest rate of hypertension globally.
80% of hypertension cases in Kenya are unrecognized, and only 10% is treated. Only 2% of the population has health insurance, so most people focus on illness rather than preventive care.
Dr. Huntley first worked in rural areas of Kenya. In 2024 he volunteered in Kibera — Africa’s largest slum, with over a million people.
He has partnered with Crossing Thresholds, a New Canaan-based nonprofit, to start a clinic to screen and treat high blood pressure. He organized a fundraiser to provide hypertension medications. For more information on the project, and donate, click here.
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After leading Williams College to a 3-0 record, and averaging 22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game, senior captain (and 2021 Staples High School graduate) Arianna Gerig was named New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.
She was also selected for the First Team of the Week, the New England Women’s Basketball Association. (Hat tip: Don Kubie)
Arianna Gerig
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David Kaplan started his movie-making career the way you always hear it should be done: in the mailroom of a Los Angeles talent agency.
“The Brutalist” — backed by Kaplan Morrison, Kaplan’s New York-based production company — won 3 awards Sunday night, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. (Hat tip: Adam Friedland)
David Kaplan
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Andrew Wilk is a Big Name in entertainment.
The Westporter is a 5-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer and director of network television. He has worked with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Renee Fleming, Audra McDonald and Kelli O’Hara.
He is also a noted stage director and writer. But symphony conducting remains his first love. He is a frequent musical director and conductor at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and been involved with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
On May 17, Wilk will be at Waterbury’s Palace Theater. He will conduct the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra for a night of music and memories, celebrating 20 years of Broadway musicals.
The show will include musical numbers from “The Phantom of the Opera,”
“Ragtime,” “Evita” and “Dreamgirls,” plus “Over the Rainbow,” “Memory” and “Tomorrow.”
If it’s Christmastime, you’re hearing holiday songs: “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.”
And — just as regularly — you’ll read or hear a light news item about tunes like those.
Yesterday, it was the New York Times’ turn. They turned the spotlight on Johnny Marks, the talented (Jewish) man who wrote all 3 of the songs I mentioned above.
And who for decades had a home on Green Acre Lane, off Compo Road South.
The Times piece focuses on Rudolph. It describes the back story (Marks wrote the song nearly a decade after his brother-in-law created the Rudolph character for a Montgomery Ward promotion); the stats (when Marks died in 1985, there were 500 versions, with 150 million records sold); the reasons for the tune’s popularity and endurance (“It’s a relief from the genre’s usual themes of home, nostalgia and romantic love; its tempo is faster than some Christmas songs of that era, and even the average pop song of the past 60 years; the lyrics are so concise that the story is heard twice and the melody three times in a single play; it’s easy for kids to sing, since the tune travels less than an octave; and the song’s “natural cheerfulness is pretty indestructible across genres.”
The newspaper story does not mention Marks’ Westport connection. Nor does it note another one: Daniel Tashian, the Grammy-winning Nashville songwriter and producer, is the son of Barry Tashian, founder of the fabled Remains band (who toured with the Beatles), and his wife Holly. Both are Staples High School graduates.
For some unknown reason, the Times quotes Daniel Tashian as a Rudolph expert.
He “compared the song to a ‘couture garment,’ so expertly stitched that the underlying handiwork is invisible. But for him, it’s more than mechanics: It’s a ‘rebel’s anthem.’”
Tashian added: “I was just a little half-Armenian kid and I neverIt’s Ch felt like I fit in with all the other kids in the school. I saw myself as Rudolph.”
You may love hearing “Rudolph” — Gene Autry’s version, or any other, ranging from Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton and Ray Charles to the Temptations, DMX and the Chipmunks; as the Times notes, “it has been bebopped, soul-infused, tranquilized, saddled with twang, rocked, rapped and made to cha-cha” — or you may hate it.
But after tomorrow, it goes into hibernation for 11 months.
Then — like all those other Christmas chestnuts — we’ll hear Johnny Marks’ most memorable song once again.
(Click here for the full New York Times piece. Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
Johnny Marks
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It’s a Christmas miracle!
Facebook’s Westport Front Porch page regularly contains posts like this: “Someone backed into my car in the [fill in the blank] parking lot today at [fill in the time], and left without leaving a note. If you saw anything, please contact me.”
Yesterday was quite different.
A woman wrote: “Dear Post Road shoppers. My passenger side mirror hit someone’s mirror while they were parked in the area of Patagonia.
“Getting back around via Main Street to drive past that area to try and assess which car mirror it may have been was challenging, given all the traffic.
“My mirror snapped closed and has no damage. other than a slight black scuff mark. I notified Westport PD.
“If you were parked in this area around 3:45 and your mirror was damaged, – please PM me!”
This is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.
The driver’s mirror.
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Yesterday, “06880” featured Nikki Glekas’ Bridge Street home, as part of our feature on Westport’s very cool holiday-themed decorations. (She’s a pro: The restaurateur/caterer/entertaining expert owns Nikki Glekas Collective.)
Nikki Glekas’ Bridge Street home. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
“06880” is in good company. Over the weekend NBC’s “Open House” highlighted it too.
They were lucky enough to go inside. Here’s one look at the spectacular decor:
Or one for the 8 nights of Hanukkah? Or perhaps an end-of-year tax-saving gift?
Donate to the Compo Beach Playground Renovation project. You can make a general contribution, or buy a specific item (like a swing, suspension bridge or picket).
Volunteers are less than $75,000 from their 2024 fundraising goal. Donations will last for decades.
Click here for more information, including how to contribute.
But this Halloween remnant is still hanging around.
Deservedly, our “Westport … Naturally” feature shows with a mantle of snow.
(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
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And finally … once you saw the story about Johnny Marks, you knew this was coming:
(It’s Christmas Eve! Set out cookies and milk for Santa. Join in reindeer games. And click here, to support “06880.” On behalf of your hyper-local blog, Rudolph thanks you.)
Their primary focus is attending to the needs of impounded dogs at Westport Animal Control. WASA provides funds for vet care, exercise and training.
They perform home and reference checks, to ensure the canines are placed safely in loving homes.
WASA runs a small fostering network for homeless dogs from other Connecticut animal control facilities, or that come from Fairfield County residents and must be rehomed.
WASA also assists pet owners who struggle financially to provide vet care and adequate nutrition for their pets.
Whether you’re a dog owner, dog lover, or stay far from Winslow Park and off-season Compo Beach, WASA’s year-end video is well worth watching.
It was produced by Staples High School Class of 2021 graduate Brandon Malin. He began volunteering with WASA at age 7, and has been a great fantastic friend to them (and their dogs) ever since.
Brandon is also an exceptionally talented photographer and videographer.
WASA notes: “We ‘stay in business’ because of the support we receive from Westport residents, businesses, and town departments. We are not subsidized by the town of Westport.”
Click here to support WASA. Click below to see Brandon’s great WASA ’24 video.
Attention, Staples Orphenians alumni — and everyone else who loves our high school’s elite a cappella group!
An “Orphs Alumni” Christmas caroling event is set for downtown Westport, this Friday (December 20, 3 to 4 p.m.).
Singers will meet at the Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church parking lot.
Orphs: Bring your voices. You’ll have a great time.
Downtown shoppers: Bring your ears. You’re in for a treat.
In 1980, George Weigle led these Orphenians on a downtown Christmastime caroling stroll. Will some alumni from this group — now 60 years old — be back on Main Street on Friday?
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Speaking of the Staples Music Department: With musicians and audience members still on a high after this weekend’s Candlelight Concert (and everyone else kicking themselves for not getting tickets), here’s one more look at the 84th annual gift to the town.
Kevin Mazzarella is in his first year as band director at the high school. But it’s clear from the photo below — as he leads the symphonic band, symphonic orchestra and choral ensembles (including dozens of alumni) in Saturday’s rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” finale — that he’s as excited by Candlelight as everyone else from the past 8 decades.
Speaking of strange sights: Our “06880” tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.”
But we never expected to see this sight, from deep in the heart of Texas (Plano):
Ellen Wentworth’s cousin spotted it, and sent it to her.
Yee haw!
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With its winter semester near, Westport Library’s Verso University has announced 8 new courses. They are:
Poet of Wonder: Robert Frost (January 8, 15, 22; 10:30 a.m. to noon). Explore Frost’s work with Westport poet laureate Donna Disch in a 3-part seminar. Delve into all that is “lovely, dark and deep.” Each session will focus on a different selection.
Suspicious Papers: A Vintage Ephemera Collage Workshop Series (January 8, 15, 22; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Artist and ephemera dealer Alesia DiFederico explores mixed media collage using authentic bits of history, inks, paints, and imagination. Creating art is for everyone; the joy is in the do
Exploring Wines of Italy (January: 9, 16, 23, 30; 3 to 4 p.m.). Sommelier Barbie Messa leads a wine tasting class that dives deeply into Italy’s rich traditions.
Storytelling for TV and Film (January 9, 16, and 23; 6 to 7:30 p.m.). Scriptwriter Gigi Rios New helps explore the fundamentals of storytelling for the small and big screens, plus script formatting techniques.
Leadership Literacy (February 5, 12, 19, 26; 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.). Harvard leadership scholar Barbara Kellerman focuses on studying literature about concepts of power, authority and influence.
Tarot 101: A Journey to Self-Discovery (February 5, 12, 19, 26; 2 to 3 p.m.). Author, astrologer, and tarot expert Maria Sofia Marmanides teaches the 78 cards of tarot.
Write, Craft, Create: A Wellness Practice in Making Handmade Cards
(March: 5, 12, 19; 1 to 2 p.m.). Instructor Kerstin Rao, the Westport artist behind Vivid Cottage, provides a safe space for participants to tap into their feelings and craft earnest messages.
Introduction to Ikebana (March: 13, 20 & 27; 10 a.m. to noon). Sogetsu Ikebana is a modern form of the ancient art of Japanese flower arranging, using living materials. Shizue Pleasanton teaches the aesthetic discipline and traditional principles of the form.
For information on Verso University courses, including registration, click here.
And finally … in honor of the newest addition to the police station tower (story above):
(When we figure out Westport drone mystery, you’ll read about it first on “06880” — just like you do so often, on so many topics. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
The Old Dominion singer/songwriter/guitarist — with a passel of Country Music Association awards — is a 1997 Staples High School graduate.
Brad was best known there as a soccer player.
But he’s honed his musical craft in the years since. Now — while still a member of Old Dominion — he’s embarked on a solo career.
Backed by a very tight 5-piece band, and hot off the release of his new “Parallel Love” album, Brad delighted a full house at the Levitt Pavilion last night.
It was the group’s first public performance, he said. And his first as a solo artist.
The Levitt was also, he noted, where he first played, with Staples friends Ryan O’Neill and Dan Asher. O’Neill (now known as Ryan Smith) joined him for a final number.
Brad bantered with the audience. Many were long-time Westport friends (and a couple of his old soccer coaches). He gave shout-outs to his mom.
It was a wonderful Westport night, with a big-time entertainer who was nonetheless thrilled to be back home.
Brad Tursi, at the Levitt Pavilion. (Photo/Dan Woog)
It’s late notice. But an event today is worth noting, even with just a few hours to go.
This afternoon (4 p.m.), Mitchells of Westport hosts a benefit for Recovery Community Development. The non-profit offers men and women in 12-step and other addiction economic programs the job skills, supportive housing and social services needed to become productive citizens in Bridgeport and Norwalk.
Guest speaker Craig Melvin — the NBC “Today” News anchor, and a Westport resident — will discuss his own family legacy of addiction and incarceration. He’ll describe the power of transformation, redemption and faith, and explore the challenges facing all dads. (He’s the father of 2 young children.) Click here for tickets.
Tony Kiniry, executive director of Recovery Community Development, spoke about the work his organization does — and previewed today’s event — at Friday’s Sunrise Rotary Club meeting. Bill Mitchell also praised RDC’s work.
Our “06880” blog is “where Westport meets the world.”
And today we’ve got a small-world story, courtesy of Wakeman Town Farm.
The other day, on a random spot on a random island in the out-of-the-way Azores, 2 groups of travelers randomly found each other.
Ashley Constantino — a descendant of the Wakeman family, which for decades owned the Cross Highway farm property — was with one group. Alex Brandfon was with another. He spotted Ashley’s boyfriend’s WTF hoodie.
They chatted, discovered their local connection, and took this photo. WTF!
Speaking of the world: Internationally renowned New York Times photojournalist (and 1991 Staples High School graduate) Lynsey Addario’s new exhibit, “RAW,” opened Friday, at Lyle & King Gallery on Henry Street, in lower Manhattan.
Dave Matlow was at the gallery yesterday. He took photos of Lynsey’s images, which were shot in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Kenya, Panama and many other countries.
The exhibit runs through November 9.
Lynsey Addario’s work, on display. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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It mysteriously appeared on a reader’s lawn one night — cemented into the ground.
An inscription on the back read: “Have a great day at school today. Be nice to each other.”
Perhaps it was accidentally installed at the wrong house?
No one knew. (At least, no one responded in the Comments section.)
Now, the plot thickens.
Ellie Magnuson writes: “As a follow-up to your article about the mystery bus stop bench, I thought Westporters might get a kick out of knowing it’s a serial situation.
“I know of 2 that popped up in Old Hill. Word is there’s at least one more, somewhere on North Avenue.
The Old Hill bench. (Photo/Ellie Magnuson)
“All showed up out of the blue, wrapped and installed in concrete with a chain. All with the same positive inscription.
“What wasn’t mentioned regarding the first one is that there are initials (I’m assuming) on the back as well.
“My crack team of investigators (including my kids, ages 13 and 11) have deduced that it may have been a family project, given the 3 ‘initials’ letters, and the fact that our bench seat back was installed backwards and the concrete ended up being more for show.
Initials on the bench. (Photo/Ellie Magnuson)
“Whatever the case, particularly now that we know we can easily pull it up and move it if we need to, we’re thankful to the mystery bench giver for our new place to sit while we wait for the bus!”
This may be Westport’s best community mystery since the pandemic yarn bomber.
If anyone has information on the back story of the bench gifter, click “Comments” below.
Or, perhaps, don’t. Who doesn’t love a great unsolved mystery?
(From large events to small, “06880” has got our town covered. If you enjoy our work, please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
One of the most popular subjects on Facebook’s Westport Front Porch page is “wrong deliveries.”
Nearly every day, someone posts a photo of a package outside a door, saying: “Amazon (or FedEx, UPS, etc.) says they delivered this package to me. But this is not my house. Did anyone get this by mistake?”
Just as regularly. similar posts note: “This was delivered today, but it’s not mine. If you know [name of intended recipient], please tell them I have their package.”
A different kind of mysterious delivery photo appeared yesterday. Here it is:
The text explained: “This bench mysteriously appeared on our lawn some time last night, cemented into the ground. I’m thinking maybe it was accidentally installed at the wrong house. Anyone recognize?”
Here’s a close-up of the inscription:
No one said they were missing a bench (and cement).
But many folks wished they got that delivery too. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)
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Westport Country Playhouse knows the importance of introducing young people to the theater.
This fall, they introduce a new children’s education program.
Playhouse Playmakers is a 6-week program for middle schoolers. They will create an original play — including writing, acting, rehearsing and production — culminating in a performance on the Playhouse stage for family and friends.
Playhouse Playmakers runs on Sundays from October 13 to November 17 (1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The performance is November 24. Class size is about 15 students.
Program directors Evette Marie White and Stacie Morgain Lewis promise creativity and fun.
The fee of $575 includes technical rehearsal, materials, and 4 tickets to the performance. Five scholarships are available, covering the full cost of classes and transportation reimbursement.
Stacie Morgain Lewis (left) and Evette Marie White.
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The Westport Business Networking International chapter’s next Visitor’s Day is September 19 (United Methodist Church, 7 a.m.; networking, business meeting, coffee and homemade baked goods).
Westport BNI has 55 members, with only 1 per category. Classifications available now include estate attorney, residential contractor, interior designer, HVAC contractor, salon, restaurant, hotel, home security, personal trainer, photographer, caterer or bakery, commercial real estate, florist, event/wedding planner, travel/tour operator, automotive repair, physical therapy, promotional products and more.
In the past year, the group has passed over $3.3 million in closed business.
All visitors must pre-register. Contact debra.lomma@therealreal.com, cmagistrale@hearstmediact.com, or stc@warefressola.com. Click here for the BNI website.
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This summer marked the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster “Jaws” film.
It’s taken half a century, but the famed shark — or at least a boating facsimile — finally arrived on the Saugatuck River.
(Photo/Susan Garment)
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Westport resident Lina Elwood, a freshman at Hopkins School, recently participated in a 2-week music festival in Warsaw, Poland.
She performed at 6 concerts, as a top prize winner of the Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition.
The most memorable was with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra at their concert hall, where she played Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor.
The pianist also received the Best Performance of a Chopin Work Award from the president of The Fryderyk Chopin Society of Warsaw.
Lina has won prizes at local and international competitions, and performed at Carnegie Hall, Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado, and Conservatoria de Musica in Spain.
And finally … in honor of “Jaws,” and the Saugatuck River:
(“Jaws” is 50 years old. “06880” is only 15. But in that time, we’ve never missed a day. We keep pumping out everything you need to know about our town. Please click here to support us. Thanks!)
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