Pics Of The Day #252

Posted on December 25, 2017 | 3 comments

Greens Farms Congregational Church ,,, (Photo/Candace Dohn Banks)

… and St. Luke. (Photo/Julie Mombello)

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Remembering Mike Santella

Posted on December 25, 2017 | 2 comments

Mike Santella — son of Lou and Marge Santella, longtime Saugatuck residents — died last week. He was 54.

Mike Santella

Longtime friend Tristan Marciano recalls Mike’s “broad smile, fun-loving demeanor, great strong spirit, and vibrant lust for enjoying life.”

Staples High School 1982 classmate John Rosene — who bonded with Mike over the Polar Bear Club — remembers that “even his bad jokes were funny. And there were plenty of those.”

Whenever they got together after high school, they picked up where they’d left off. John calls Mike “a caring, jovial character who made our world a better place.”

A celebration of Mike’s life is set for Sunday, January 7 (4 p.m., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Ridgefield).

 

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Posted in People, Saugatuck, Staples HS

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Today’s Extra-Special Holiday Gift

Posted on December 25, 2017 | 6 comments

Santa has his elves. The Staples High School music department has Jim Honeycutt.

Though he retired in 2016, the video production teacher returned this month to coordinate video coverage of the Candlelight Concert.

Now — with help from audio production instructor Geno Heiter and consultant Mike Phillis — Candlelight fans around the globe can enjoy the 77th annual show.

Highlights include:

  • “Sing We Noel” is at 8:35.
  • Luke Rosenberg’s choral groups (15:45 27:35, and 36:00).
  • Adele Valovich’s symphonic orchestra (46:40).
  • Nick Mariconda’s symphonic band (59:15).
  • Don Rickenback’s production number (01:20:00).
  • The rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” (01:34:10).

Unwrap this gift carefully. It’s very precious!

 

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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Two Christmas Carols

Posted on December 25, 2017 | 3 comments

Staples High School’s Candlelight Concert is the music department’s gift to the town.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

On Friday night, Steve Ruchefsky and Rondi Charleston threw their annual holiday party, at their beautiful Myrtle Avenue home.

Like many gatherings around Westport, it was a warm, wonderful way to catch up with friends of all ages.

But Steve and Rondi’s party was extra-special. Their daughter Emma — now a student at Berklee College of Music — joined with fellow former Orphenians for a few Christmas songs.

No offense to any other party with carol singers, but — well, take a listen:

 

Thanks to Emma Ruchefsky, Joe Badion, Bailey Claffey, Ian Goodman, Nick Massoud, Nick Ribolla and Sarah Quagliarello for reminding us all why music may be the greatest gift of all.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY BONUS: Last week, Staples’ Audio Production and Theater 3 classes combined to produce a live radio broadcast of “A Christmas Carol.”

It includes all the voices from Charles Dickens’ classic — plus music, clever sound effects, even old-time radio ads for products like Pepsodent.

If you missed it on WWPT-FM, just click here. Instructors Geno Heiter and David Roth, and dozens of students, offer a perfect soundtrack to your holiday.

And so — in the immortal words of Tiny Tim — “A Merry Christmas to us all!”

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Pic Of The Day #251

Posted on December 24, 2017 | 2 comments

Christmastime at the Inn at Longshore (Photo/Katherine Bruan)

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Photo Challenge #156

Posted on December 24, 2017 | 8 comments

Every Westporter knows the Post Road. South Compo. North Avenue.

But not every Westporter knows Greens Farms Road — especially the section near Southport.

That’s a shame. You miss out on beautiful homes. Our “other” railroad station.

And last week’s photo challenge.

Peggy Lehn’s image showed a tree stump, painted to look like a happy face. It’s familiar to anyone taking a right out of the station. Bob Grant, India V. Penney, Jimmy Stablein, Barbara Wanamaker, Seth Schachter and Andrew Colabella all recognized it instantly.

It’s been there for maybe a year — after a tree was cut, or fell down.

Let’s hope it stays forever. (Click here for the photo — or go see it yourself.)

This week’s photo challenge comes courtesy of Ed Simek. If you know where in Westport you’d spot this, click “Comments” below.

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Posted in Environment, Pic of the Day

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Glenn Hightower Bench Dedication Set For Wednesday

Posted on December 24, 2017 | 6 comments

Glenn Hightower — who died last January, at 76 — touched many lives.

He was a Westport school system administrator, softball coach, United Methodist Church parishioner, Rotarian, Westport Weston Family YMCA volunteer, and competitive handball and basketball player.

He was also the longtime principal of Bedford Junior High and Middle Schools (when they were on Riverside Avenue), and an avid runner.

Those last 2 accomplishments converge this Wednesday (December 27, 12 noon). A bench and plaque will be dedicated in his name — at the school he served for so many years. Hightower’s many friends and fans are invited to the ceremony, at the side parking lot closest to the track entrance.

The project was financed by private donations, and Westport Athletic Club members. Hightower completed 16 New York City marathons, and 10 ultra-marathons.

He often ran to raise money for charity. Now, funds have been donated to remember this very giving man.

Glenn Hightower (front row, 2nd from right, yellow cap) joined Westport Athletic Club members for a Saturday morning run in the late1980s — at the home of a sleeping-fellow member (in pajamas at left). Longtime Westporter Patrick Kennedy says the tradition was to run to radio station WMMM, on Main Street over Oscar’s. Runners then sang carols on the air.

(Hat tip: Reess Kennedy)

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Posted in Education, Organizations, People, Sports, YMCA

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Ferdinand!

Posted on December 24, 2017 | 4 comments

For nearly 80 years, Ferdinand has delighted the world.

Well, nearly everyone.

The story — about a gentle Spanish bull who prefers flowers to bullfighting — was banned in Spain and burned in Nazi Germany, because of its “pacifist” overtones.

But it’s been translated into over 60 languages (and never gone out of print). A Disney cartoon adaptation won a 1938 Academy Award. The other day, a 3D computer-animated version was released, to pretty good reviews.

Many “06880” readers know the local connection: The 1936 book was illustrated by Robert Lawson. He’s the only person to win both a Caldecott Medal (for most distinguished children’s picture book) and Newbery Award (for important contribution to children’s literature).

Lawson was a longtime Westporter. He named his house Rabbit Hill — then wrote a 1944 Newbery-winning book of the same name, based on all the animals there (the book also includes a reference to Deadman’s Brook).

The home — which still stands — is adjacent to the United Methodist Church, on Weston Road. (Rabbit Hill Road is off nearby Sipperley’s Hill Road.)

One of Robert Lawson’s many “Rabbit Hill” illustrations.

Earlier — from around 1923 to ’33 — Lawson and his wife Marie lived in the house that is now the Tavern on Main restaurant. They moved to Taylor Place, before buying their property on Weston Road.

Turns out, there are even more local Ferdinand connections. While Lawson illustrated “The Story of Ferdinand,” it was written by Munro Leaf. He’s the grandfather of Sam Leaf, who now lives (of course!) in Westport.

Sam’s son Jacob — Munro’s great-grandson — is well-known around here too. Before graduating from Staples High School last June, he starred in many Players productions. (He was, for example, Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.”)

Too bad that the latest “Ferdinand” movie is animated. What a hoot it would have been to have found a big role in it for Jacob Leaf.

That’s no bull.

(Hat tips: Maxine Bleiweis and Elizabeth Devoll)

 

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Posted in Arts, Children, Entertainment, Looking back, Media, People, Staples HS

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Pic Of The Day #250

Posted on December 23, 2017 | 2 comments

Christmas colors at Ned Dimes Marina (Photo/Jaime Bairaktaris)

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Coalition: Let’s Notice P&Z Proposals

Posted on December 23, 2017 | 29 comments

The North Avenue water tanks. The Daybreak property. The excavation behind Compo Acres Shopping Center.

All 3 proposals — and many others — were legally noticed by Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

But not many Westporters read the teeny-tiny, buried-in-the-back legals in newspapers like the Norwalk Hour.

Or subscribe to email notifications from the town.

Or open the letters that get sent to the nearest neighbors.

Some neighbors were surprised by excavation work done in 2014 behind Compo Acres Shopping Center.

The P&Z knows this is an issue. They’re exploring additional ways to spread the word about upcoming applications.

The Coalition for Westport hopes to push them along.

The ad hoc, town development-focused group has filed a proposed text amendment with the P&Z. It would require posting a physical sign on any property subject to upcoming debate. It would be similar to the signs erected by restaurant owners when they request a liquor permit.

The P&Z will discuss the Coalition’s idea on February 1, at Town Hall.

You’re reading about it here because it’s not yet law. Also, because you don’t read the Hour. 

Plus, there’s no property on which to put a sign about it.

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Posted in Local politics, Organizations, Real estate

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