[OPINION] Carolanne Curry: Public Must Keep Questioning Saugatuck Development

Carolanne Curry is a 20-year resident of Saugatuck. She’s concerned about possible changes to the neighborhood — and about the process. She writes:

It was painful to hear the response given to Helen Garten at the last Transit Oriented District meeting.

Speaking as a public member attending the 8 a.m. session, Helen questioned the gap of understanding between the TOD committee members appointed by the 1st Selectman, and the frustrated “Don’t ruin our community” members of the public, who have religiously attended this dance marathon of TOD meetings for over a year.

Helen said that public input is not acknowledged to any degree in the TOD report that is shaping up to account for the $450,000 in state money spent by Westport to create a design plan to improve transportation at our transportation center.

One of the plans from the Transit Oriented Design proposal.

The response from those conducting that TOD session was that Helen perhaps had not attended a sufficient number of meetings, or else she wouldn’t be asking that question.

A comment about attendance was nowhere near appropriate. The right response would have been:

The TOD committee members understand that 1) development, 2) intensity of development, and 3) the inevitable “overdevelopment” of Saugatuck Center is the pursuit of this TOD committee. Even if it results in the loss of identity, community and history.

This appears to be one more battle between the forces of artificially forced development, and those who encourage relevant and organic growth of a community.

Hats off to Helen for warning that community input was not being acknowledged.

One of the final 2 TOD meetings is again at 8 a.m. — tomorrow (Tuesday, January 30, Town Hall). The public must keep asking questions about increased traffic and development in Saugatuck center.

An aerial view of Saugatuck, from the consultants’ draft report.

Jaden Waldman Rocks Radio City. And He’s Peterrific!

Jaden Waldman has had quite a career.

This past holiday season, he performed before hundreds of thousands in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

He’s been in films and commercials. He’s done voiceover work. Now he’s co-starring in “Pinkalicious & Peterrific” — an animated series on PBS Kids.

There’s a lot more to come.

Because Jaden is just 8 years old.

Jaden Waldman

Then again, he’s been working nearly half his life.

When Jaden was 3, his older sister’s manager — she was the first performing Waldman — asked him if he was interested in acting too.

It took him a couple of years to say yes.

When he did, his 2nd audition was the charm. Jaden booked a commercial/promo for “Blaze and the Monster Machines” on Nick Jr.

That led to a lot more work with Nick Jr. Plus commercials for Bush’s Beans, and Chuck E. Cheese.

The restaurant gig was particularly fun, Jaden says. He’s an animated kid, and the director’s command — “pretend you’re part of a family at Chuck E. Cheese” — allowed him to move all around the set.

Then came the chance to audition for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

After 2 callbacks, he landed the part.

Jaden was triple cast as Ben — a boy who finds Santa Claus in a department store, convinces his brother that Santa is real, then travels to the North Pole.

He performed on opening night. Then Jaden did up to 11 shows a week, from November 10 through January 1.

Throughout the run he lived in a New York apartment, and was home schooled.

Jaden Waldman, getting ready for Christmas.

There were plenty of rehearsals. Jaden says of his first time on stage: “I thought my heart would explode.”

Nerves quickly gave way to confidence. It was a great experience, Jaden says. And he never got bored.

He had “a decent amount” of lines. He worked especially hard on a scene with the Rockettes. “Everything was timed to the second,” he says. “It was pretty complex. And there were lots of people on stage.”

He turned 8 in the middle of the run. The Rockettes gave him a shout-in, in the middle of a number.

Plenty of school friends saw the show. Jaden gave backstage tours. He enjoyed explaining intricacies of the show, like how the curtain works.

Last month, he was back in a New York studio for more voiceover work. He’s Jaden is in the midst of recording the first season as Peter in “Pinkalicious & Peterrific.” The animated show follows Peter (Jaden), his sister and friends as they explore music, dance and art through different adventures.

Jaden Waldman, in the voiceover studio.

He is given some creative license during taping — for instance, funny voices and sound effects. He loves when he gets to sing as Peter. “The character is funny, and I like to be funny too,” Jaden says. “I like to to play jokes just like him.”

“Pinkalicious & Peterrific” premieres February 19 on PBS Kids. Episodes are already available here, and on the PBS Kids Video app. Check out this one below, from YouTube:

Of course, Jaden is more than just a theater kid. He plays on a Westport Soccer Association travel team, does magic tricks — and plays drums.

I know what you’re thinking: Is “School of Rock” next?

That would be cool.

Stay tuned.

(Mark Saturday, March 3 on your calendars. Victoria Kann — author of the “Pinkalicious” book series — visits the Westport Library at 2:30 p.m. She’ll be joined by Jaden Waldman, who will sing one song. Click here for more information, and to register.)

Jaden, at his workplace.

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Fog rolls in on the Saugatuck River, earlier today (Photo/Betsy P. Kahn)

Justin Paul Gets His Grammy

Justin Paul has done it again!

The 2003 Staples High School graduate and his songwriting partner Benj Pasek snagged a Grammy today.

“Dear Evan Hansen” won for Best Musical Theater Album.

Most songwriters would consider that a career-capping coup.

But for Pasek and Paul — neither of them old enough yet to run for president — the Grammy is merely one more award in a year that’s been packed with them.

The duo have already won an Oscar (for “La La Land”) and a Tony (“Dear Evan Hansen”).

Justin Paul (left) and Benj Pasek, accepting their Tony Award last year.

If they receive an Emmy, they’ll not just have the exalted status of EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar Tony). They’ll be the youngest ever.

And the fastest.

Of the 12 EGOT performers, the youngest so far is composer Robert Lopez. He was 39 years old — and it took him 14 years.

The Vulture website says:

It’s possible that they could complete entertainment’s holy grail later this year if nominated for their work on Fox’s A Christmas Story Live!, which they wrote just as they did the original Broadway production it was based on. Say they don’t do it then? No matter: They can just ask their good friend Damien Chazelle to let them do the music for his new TV projects, or, really, just put their golden touch on anything televised.

Then again, Pasek and Paul might invent their own category: EGOTGG.

Earlier this month they earned a Golden Globe for “Best original song, motion picture” for “This Is Me,” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Move over, PT Barnum. Justin Paul and Benj Pasek may well be the greatest showmen ever.

(Hat tips: Beth Cody and Lyn Hogan)

Opening The Door To History

The front door of Wheeler House — the Westport Historical Society’s downtown home — has not been used for 20 years.

Now the Avery Place door is open. Visitors stroll through the parlor of the 1795 home, en route to the exhibits in the back.

The “new” entrance debuted today. A large crowd enjoyed the opening of “The Curious Case of Ed Vebell.” The must-see show chronicles the incredible life of Westport’s beloved 96-year-old illustrator.

He sketched World War II, including the Nuremberg Trials. He drew Wheaties box covers, Muhammad Ali and Grace Kelly. He fenced in the Olympics.

Ed’s done much more too. See it all.

And when you’re there, check out the welcoming — and wide open — front door.

Photo Challenge #161

Three “06880” readers thought it looked like the old YMCA pool.

They were close. But last week’s photo challenge showed tile that was uncovered when 36 Elm Street was torn down. (Click here for the photo.)

That’s the downtown building a few feet away from the Y. Most recently, it housed Villa del Sol restaurant.

The demolition was part of a land swap between the town and David Waldman — the Bedford Square developer who took the photo challenge image.

David said his photo showed the floor of “the original Brasserie St. Germaine — I think.” Was that the first restaurant? I don’t know. I do remember Werner’s, which occupied that spot for many years.

Chip Stephens was the only “06880” reader to identify “the remains of Villa del Sol.” Perhaps he recalls Werner’s too — or Brasserie St. Germaine.

Now, chew on this week’s photo challenge:

(Photo/Ed Simek)

If you know where you’d find this guy, click “Comments” below.

Orphenians Down Under

From the 1960s through the ’90s, Staples’ Orphenians sang in the Virgin Islands, Austria, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, the UK and the Czech Republic.

Nearly 2 decades ago — after his freshman year of high school — Luke Rosenberg’s chorus traveled from Michigan to Europe. The month-long trip made an indelible impression — and sparked a desire to become a choral music teacher.

Today, Rosenberg directs Staples High School’s choral program. So when the Orphenians were invited to Australia, he seized the chance to take the elite a cappella group on its greatest adventure yet.

The 2018 Staples Orphenians

This summer, his singers will spend 4 days in Sydney. They’ll join ensembles from around the world — of all ages — rehearsing with Grammy winner Craig Hella Johnson, conductor of the famous Conspirare ensemble.

The capstone is a performance under Johnson at the Sydney Opera House. Orphenians will sing an eclectic assortment of choral music — including the world premiere of a piece by Jake Runestad.

The group then travels to Cairns. They’ll visit the Great Barrier Reef, a wildlife park and rain forest before returning to Westport.

“We get invitations regularly,” Rosenberg says of his ensemble. “But this one stands out. Craig Hella Johnson is one of the most highly respected and passionate choral composers, arrangers and conductors in the world. People say singing with him is a spiritual experience.”

Providing that experience — and all the others involved in a trip like this — is Rosenberg’s goal. He does not expect every student to have the same reaction he did, years ago in Europe — “they won’t all become music teachers,” he jokes — but he does hope they’ll learn a bit more about the world, and themselves, through music.

Choral director Luke Rosenberg. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Of course, taking a group of teenagers to Australia is not cheap. Orphenians are sponsoring a cabaret with Broadway star/Westporter Kelli O’Hara, and Broadway star/Staples alum Adam Kaplan. It’s already sold out.

There’s also a GoFundMe page (click here).

“06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” This summer, Orphenians are where Staples meets the Sydney Opera House.

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You can’t get there from here: The Cribari Bridge opens (Photo/David Squires)

Searching For Sarah Kennedy

For 4 decades — first at the Cellar Workshop on Main Street, then on Railroad Place by the train station — Sarah Kennedy designed and sold rings, bracelets, pendants, pins and more.

Four years ago, the 1960 Staples High School grad moved to Tucson. Her many customers and clients — really, they should be called friends — were sorry to see her go.

Sarah Kennedy wears one of her own handblown pieces.

Among them was a Westport woman who — over a lifetime with her husband here — had collected numerous hand-crafted pieces.

Most were semi-precious stones, in hammered gold or silver settings. Sarah also designed, reset and repurposed stones from simpler pieces for the couple.

When Sarah announced her Arizona move, the woman — whose husband had died — had a final set of earrings and matching pendant made.

Nearly all of that jewelry was lost recently, in a burglary.

The woman wants to reach Sarah, to see if she has descriptive information that could aid in its recovery. She has tried to find contact information, but to no avail.

She’s not the only Westporter who hopes to find Sarah. Others have asked me too.

I don’t know where Sarah is now. But perhaps an alert “06880” reader does. If so, please click “Comments” below.

“The Number On Great-Grandpa’s Arm”

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In recognition, HBO premieres a 19-minute documentary. “The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm” features 90-year-old Jack Feldman, and his 10-year-old great-grandson Elliott. They talk honestly and emotionally about the tattoo on Feldman’s forearm — plus his life in Poland, Auschwitz, and finally America.

The Chicago Tribune calls the film “impeccably crafted (and) warmly poetic.”

Director Amy Schatz says, “I was so moved to see their body language, the way they snuggled up with each other. The way they hold hands and lean on each other, it’s powerful to see that.”

The conversation between the old man and young boy is compelling. But the documentary is made even more powerful by hundreds of animated drawings from Westport filmmaker/painter Jeff Scher.

“The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm” premiered last Sunday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan. A gallery with 500 of Scher’s paintings from the film will be displayed for 3 months. The artwork then goes on tour nationwide.

Earlier today, HBO also posted a video on the animation process. It includes a very interesting visit to Scher’s Westport studio.

“It’s hard to spend every day drawing a child’s face, marching down a corridor to their doom,” he says.

But he did it. The result is important for everyone — especially today’s kids.

And especially today.

Click below for HBO’s behind-the-scenes video: