They teach goal-setting. Perseverance. Dealing with disappointment. Learning to win with class, and lose without being a jerk.
Working as a team. Working with different personalities. Pushing your body. Having fun. The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.
Youth sports are also so bad, on so many levels.
There are parental pressures, and unrealistic expectations. Coaches’ pressures, with their own unrealistic expectations. The high cost of “pay to play.” Specialization. Burnout.
Misplaced values. Time. Traveling each weekend to play “showcase” tournaments (which really aren’t), against teams from the next town.
The other night, “06880” teamed up with young adult author Tommy Greenwald, to present a special panel.
“Fair Play and Foul Behavior: Issues Facing Youth Sports in Today’s World” focused on many of the issues noted above.
It was an expert group. They hit it out of the park.
Panelists included:
Tommy Greenwald: former Staples High School soccer state champion captain; father of 3 athletes; author of several books highlight the pressures and joys of youth sports
VJ Sarullo, Staples athletic director
Dave Smith, father of 4 athletes who writes frequently on youth sports topics
Caleb Smith, former Staples quarterback, basketball and All-American lacrosse star, who played football and club lacrosse this year at the University of Connecticut
Heather Talbott, PAL girls lacrosse co-president and basketball organizer; former lacrosse player at Lehigh University
Mark Pressman, longtime football and softball official.
If you missed the panel — perhaps you were picking up your kids from practice, or coaching a team yourself — we’ve got you covered.
(Panels like this one are one more service of “06880.” If you enjoy the many ways we cover — and educate — our community, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Board of Finance was scheduled to meet June 4, to discuss a $98 million appropriation for the new Long Lots Elementary School.
That meeting — for discussion only — has been rescheduled for June 5 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium). The funding amount has been reduced to $93 million.
A second Long Lots meeting is set for June 11. A vote may be taken then.
Meanwhile, before the full Representative Town Meeting votes on the final approval, the RTM Education Committee discusses the request for funding.
That meeting takes place June 10 (5:30 p.m., Town Hall Room 201).
The current Long Lots Elementary School. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
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At 10 p.m. Tuesday on Roseville Road near Joanne Circle, a coyote standing near the wood line lunged at a dog. The owner quickly took the dog inside.
Westport Animal Control advises:
Supervise your pets while they are out in the yard.
While out at night with your pets, carry a powerful flashlight and keep tabs on your surroundings.
Coyotes can be successfully driven away using noise (high-decibel whistle or air horn) or thrown objects (balls, sticks, rocks).
If you are walking a small pet and see a coyote, pick the pet up. Any time you are with your pet and see a coyote, give them a wide berth. Retreat gradually, but keep eyes on the coyote. Be assertive and noisy (yell or use a whistle).
A fenced enclosure is the best way to prevent unexpected encounters. Deer fences do a poor job of excluding smaller species like coyotes. They often slip underneath.
Motion-sensitive lights help alert homeowners to wild intruders at night, and help deter coyotes.
Pets smaller than 30 pounds are at serious risk from coyotes, but on occasion they tussle with larger pets. Even larger pets benefit from supervision.
Coyotes can be active day or night.
Coyotes are found throughout North America. They are adaptable and opportunistic. Statistically, they pose very little risk to humans. There have been only 1 recorded fatal attacks by coyotes on humans in the last 100 years in North America.
But they do pose risks to pets.
Compo Beach area coyote. (Photo/Richard Gabor)
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One of Westport’s signature (and most fun) fundraisers is just a week away.
“Taste of Westport” takes over the Inn at Longshore on June 5 (6 p.m.). 100% of the proceeds go directly to CLASP, which provides homes and services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities across Fairfield County.
This year’s lineup of superb food and great drinks is the biggest ever. There’s a first taste from ănăn (the team behind Nômade), and first-time participants The Bridge at Saugatuck, The Whelk, Bar Bushido, The Blondinit and Barcelona.
Plus a caviar bar by Nordic Fish (paired with Moët Champagne), along with returning favorites like Gabriele’s, La Plage, Don Memo, Artisan and more.
And … a martini bar, signature cocktail, Oggi gelato, Bridgewater chocolate …
The silent auction features a Lime Rock driving experience, tickets to “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” weekend getaways, wines, designer jewelry, opera tickets, a block party package with live entertainment, a week of dinners from participating restaurants, and (of course) more.
The only thing slower than Post Road traffic is the pace of the Post Road renovation.
But occasionally, work is done.
Here’s the view by Volvo of Westport:
(Photo/Michael Calise)
Notice we said “work is done.” Not necessarily “progress.”
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From the road to the water … Eric Bosch sends this photo:
He writes: “The ‘bug light’ blinks every 3 seconds just off the canons, marking the entrance from Long Island Sound into the Saugatuck River.
“In my 60+ years here, I’ve never seen it pulled into Compo Basin.”
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Pride Month parties continue on June 22.
Westport Pride presents “Fête en Blanc” (June 22, 6 to 9 p.m., Westport Museum for History & Culture). The fundraiser for The Circle Care Center — a Norwalk-based HIV prevention and treatment organization — celebrates “community, culture and compassion.”
The outdoor event incudes music, dancing, drinks, raffles and auctions. Attendees can purhcase Latin-inspired cuisine from a food truck — and should wear white. (That’s a tribute to the “white parties” in the LGBTQ+ community in the 1980s and ’90s, which raised funds for HIV/AIDS awareness and support.)
Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between May 21 and 28.
A 40-year-old New Rochelle, New York woman was charged with larceny, and conspiracy to commit larceny and forgery, after a report that various Webster Bank branches were scammed out of $3,000 since January. The woman allegedly deposited forged money orders into her account. She was held on $50,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 12 citations
Driving while texting: 4
Failure to renew registration: 2
Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
Driving the wrong way on a 1-way street: 1
Following too closely: 1
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1.
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Richard Silverman — cantor emeritus of Temple Israel — has died.
The temple says: “A cantor is the voice of a congregation, and from 1988 to 2013, Cantor Silverman was our voice.
“His was the voice that helped us greet Shabbat and holidays, the voice of Jewish celebration and Jewish comfort, the voice that supported b’nei mitzvah students in preparation for their milestone day, and the voice upon which our prayers ascended to the Divine. Cantor Silverman played a very special role in the lives of so many in our congregation, and his memory and music will be an abiding blessing.”
Cantor Richard Silverman is survived by his wife Batya, children Sarit and Elan (Heather), and grandchildren Sarah, Jacob and Emilie.
A funeral will be held on June 3 (11 a.m., Temple Israel), and livestreamed. Shiva will be observed on June 3 following the burial until 8 p.m., and June 4 and 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. (with a minyan at 6:30 each evening) at River Valley Retirement Community (101 Oakview Dr, Trumbull).
Cantor Richard Silverman
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In today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature, the eagle has landed (at Compo Beach).
In the flurry of news about affordable housing, Staples coaches, the Hamlet, the Cribari Bridge, Long Lots Elementary School and the Community Gardens — are we forgetting anything? — we missed an important occasion yesterday.
Yesterday marked the 190th anniversary of the founding of Westport.
The official date of our establishment as a separate town — cleaved off from Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield — was May 28, 1835.
We apologize for the oversight. But don’t worry: May 28, 2035 is already on our calendar. (Hat tip: Harris Falk)
(The proper gift for a 190th birthday is … uh, we have no idea. The proper gift for “06880” — today, and every day, is a contribution to support our work. Thank you for clicking here!)
He agreed. Thanks, Dave and Jeff, for this inspiring story of the power of high school sports. And the importance of great teammates and coaches.
When Jack McFarland gathered his Staples players together after school in early April, he knew it would be a difficult meeting.
Over decades as a baseball and football coach, McFarland had dealt with the passing of grandparents and offseason family deaths, but nothing like this, not at the start of a season.
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” he said, “so it was really hard.”
A good high school coach is more than X’s and O’s and his win-loss record. He is a disciplinarian, a willing ear, a mentor and, for many, a father figure.
McFarland is a great coach.
“You have 25 kids and it’s just like having your own kids,” McFarland said. “You try to get them all on the same page and as happy as they can be. It doesn’t always work out that way. There’s an injury. Somebody is struggling in school. We’re always trying to keep the flock as close as we can and make sure everyone is getting what they need.”
Since 2005, the Wreckers have won four FCIAC titles, two state titles and advanced to the state championship game five times. They have become a perennial baseball power.
But now one of the flock, junior Jules Cicero, was hurting.
Jules Cicero
McFarland had received word that the days had grown short for Jules’ mom, Stacey Campbell. He decided not to wait. Mason Tobias, Cicero’s best friend, knew what was coming in the meeting. His teammates did not.
“We immediately put it out there for the kids,” McFarland said. “One of our guys is in some pain. We need to rally around him. We’ll be there for him …”
McFarland paused for a second.
“It was hard,” he said. “It was pretty heavy. The kids were great. I think it was the best way to handle it at that time. We wanted to address it, so we could give Jules support as a team. It would have been such a shock if (Stacey’s death) was the first thing they heard.”
Cicero agreed.
“It would have been a tougher time for me if they didn’t know,” he said.
When the meeting ended, everyone embraced Cicero.
“A few guys definitely had tears,” Tobias said. “It’s always awful. We care about Jules so much. We just wanted to give him a hug and tell him we’d be there for him.”
“My teammates and coaches mean the world to me,” Cicero said. “After the meeting I got texts basically from all of them, telling me whatever I needed they’d be there.”
Staples had played only two games when Stacey Campbell died on April 13.
Cicero, who McFarland calls one of the best leadoff hitters in the state, didn’t miss a game. He didn’t miss an at-bat.
“My teammates and coaches were one of the main sources to get me through that time,” Cicero said. “I felt I had to be there for them on the field. Coach McFarland has this saying. He said it at the beginning of the year even before he even knew anything was going on with me: When you’re between the lines, you can leave everything behind. You can just focus on the game. I keep reminding myself of that. If maybe I start to spiral a little bit, just focus on the next play as opposed to something else.”
Jules Cicero in the field …
There is a playbook for nearly everything in sports these days. There is no playbook for tragedy.
McFarland made sure he was on board with the school and counselors. He’d check in with a concerned principal, Stafford Thomas. There would be detailed conversations with Jules’ dad, Frank, on what was best.
“If you need to miss a practice, a game … all those decisions were made that way,” McFarland said. “We left it up to Jules.”
He didn’t miss anything.
“He has been unbelievable,” McFarland said. “He leads off the game, double, single. He’s one of the best leadoff hitters I’ve had here, and I’ve had Jack Hennessy and Chad Knight. He sets the tone.”
Cicero has hovered around .370-.380 at the plate this spring.
… and at bat. (All photos/David G. Whitham)
His teammates, in the meantime, were true to their word. There have been video game nights. They’d take him out to eat. They’d check in over the phone or in school to make sure Cicero was OK.
“It comes down to being there for him,” Tobias said. “For me, as his best friend, I tried to be with him as much as possible, hang out, take his mind off things. When something as tragic as that happens, being alone might sound the right thing to do, but that’s when you’re thinking about everything.”
Miss games?
“Oh, no, that would never happen,” Tobias said. “The whole team was there for him. He wanted to be there for us, playing as hard as he could. That’s what makes this sport so great.”
Cicero loves to lead off. He loves to serve as an offensive catalyst.
“The most important part of getting something going on offense is building the momentum,” Cicero said. “It’s really fun for me to have that opportunity to do that for the rest of the lineup.”
“Jules has a little edge to him,” McFarland said. “He’s a tough kid. He reminds me of the kids I grew up with. An old school type of kid. He looks after his teammates. He’s a great kid.”
The Wreckers advanced to the state Class LL final the past two years before falling to Fairfield Warde and Amity in the championship. After opening the season ranked No. 1 in the GameTimeCT Top 10 poll, they’ve gone 13-8.
“We definitely have a chip on our shoulder,” Cicero said. “We made it to Palmer the last couple of years and haven’t come through. That’s the big goal. It’s been pretty up and down this year. We ended the season well, but we had a skid where we lost a couple to Warde and one to Trumbull.”
On Saturday the Wreckers were shut out by St. Joseph in the FCIAC quarterfinals.
It would be easy to say baseball means nothing at a time like this. It also would be untrue. The game itself is a needed distraction. There also is a certain power in sport. There is a collective strength and love within a team.
For Jules Cicero, this is that power. This is the strength. This is the love.
“My mom cared a lot,” Cicero said. “She always wanted what was best. She was always there for the team. If any of my friends needed anything, she was there as well. She just wanted to help whoever needed it.”
“She always loved having us over,” Tobias said. “Jules, me and our friends. Every time we saw her, she was happy. She’d try to make us food. We always had fun at Jules’ house.”
Tobias thought for a minute when asked how Cicero was holding up.
“He has only gotten better as time has gone on,” Tobias said. “The first few days, the first few weeks were definitely rough. It’s still hard. Something like that happens, you never get over it. Jules keeps getting better, though, keeps progressing. And we’re there for him.”
Stacey Campbell can rest easy, well-pleased the Staples baseball team has helped care for her boy.
The world knows Sophie B. Hawkins as a platinum-selling international artist, painter, environmentalist, and LGBTQ+ and animal rights activist.
Westporters know her as our neighbor. So it’s only fitting that “Birds of New York” — the musical she’s spent 9 years writing and refining — should have an important script-in-hand performance at the Westport Library on June 9 (6:30 p.m.).
The show is a heartfelt story of an estranged daughter who returns home to New York with her 7-year-old son, to reconnect with her dying father. Amid tensions of old conflicts with her mother and sister, she seizes the opportunity to create a new family.
A painful childhood memory resurfaces, setting the stage for forgiveness, healing and redemption.
This is not Sophie’s first foray onto the stage. Years ago, she worked with Todd Meehan — the Tony Award-winning writer of “Annie” — on a show. But “like a lot of musicals,” she says, “it fell apart.”
“Birds of New York” is a solo effort. In between recording, touring, and raising her children, she crafted the characters and dialogue.
The key to it all is the music.
Sophie’s show had its first reading a year ago, at the Westport Country Playhouse barn. It was raw, and “great,” the playwright says.
But it was not yet finished. Based on feedback that night — and random people who stopped her later at places like Trader Joe’s — Sophie stripped it down.
“Like Georgia O’Keeffe, who wanted to see what she could do with 3 colors,” Sophie cut 2 characters from the show. Three now form its heart.
Every rewrite is a challenge. Now though, she says, “it represents the truth. I trust the process.”
Sophie B. Hawkins (Photo/Marc Andrew)
A second reading — with only the songs — at Joe’s Pub in New York gave Sophie confidence that she was on the right track.
She added more music. The process continued.
Sophie is not yet ready to invite producers to next month’s event, which is directed by Broadway and West End veteran JoAnn Hunter
“This is for me, and whoever shows up,” she says. “After this, we can really see the most impactful scenes and structure.”
Sophie B. Hawkins, in action. (Photo/Nigel Dick)
Following the Library, she’ll get it in front of industry movers, who can help take it forward — to New York, Williamstown or wherever.
“Birds of New York” has already developed a cult following. Sophie recently performed on a 3-day cruise. Several people on board had seen — and loved it — at Joe’s.
Westporter Susan Westphal, who is working with Sophie on the show, saw it at the Playhouse barn. She was “in awe of the such deep, rich, complicated characters,” along with the music.
The Trefz Forum at theWestport Library – which Sophie loves — is a great fit.
Local talent includes Carlos Velasquez Escamilla,, a 9-yar-old student at Triple Threat Academy who performed in Staplesl Players’ “Elf.”
On June 9, Sophie B. Hawkins shows off her work to her friends and neighbors in town.
When it moves on to much bigger stages, we can say we knew it when.
Bill Evans — the owner of William Evans Painting — is an unsung hero.
His crew, who have been with him for 20+ years, painted our little ranch house 2 years ago, and did a great job.
They caulked, repaired, replaced rotted fascia board, and worked together like a well-oiled machine. Under his watchful eye, everything was finished perfectly.
He’s also done lots of work inside our house. He comes up with solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. A sliding barn door to block off Mark’s music room is just one.
During COVID, he kept his crew working. While other companies were laying off workers, he took care of them. He took jobs for less money than usual, but paid them their usual wages.
I see Bill’s signs all over Westport, and think what a good choice those homeowners made.
Meanwhile though, he is also president of Connecticut Quest for Peace. He devotes much of his time traveling to Nicaragua for this non-profit, delivering donated goods and overseeing programs and services.
His house is filled with music, food, and people who work for him and visit from Nicaragua. We walked by one evening, and were invited into a feast and music event. The language barrier did not stop the joy.
Bill first traveled to Nicaragua in 2002. It was a life-changing experience. He loves the people — especially the children — and has worked with CT Quest for Peace ever since.
His organization is a wonderful way to donate items no longer needed here, but greatly needed in Nicaragua. I gave them my mother’s sewing machine, an old model that works without electricity.
Bill Evans
Bill is as good and modest a human being as you’ll find. We need his kind of selflessness in the world more than ever.
Bill first traveled in 2002 with Randy and Linda Klein and eight other Americans to Nicaragua to visit missions and centers supported by Connecticut Quest for Peace.
Today, the warehouse of William Evans Painting Company in Bridgeport — which manages a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial projects — is also the storage center for CT Quest’s humanitarian aid cargo. It is often overflowing. Bill continues to pick up many of the donations himself.
“We give so much,” Bill says. “But we get back much more.”
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
Jesup Green — for decades, a gathering place in times of both crisis and celebration — was the site last night of an interfaith vigil.
Over 200 people honored Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. The young peace advocates were killed last week, while attending a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.
The vigil was personal and communal. It was a time for mourning, reflection, and expressions of commitment to justice and solidarity.
The vigil begins.
The vigil drew clergy of various faiths, elected officials, and neighbors of all backgrounds.
Among the speakers was Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of The Community Synagogue. He also chairs the Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy Association.
“Tonight’s gathering was powerful because it brought together clergy, elected officials, and the broader community to stand together against antisemitism,” he said. “As a rabbi serving a congregation during this difficult time, this show of unity and support brought me strength and pride to live in a town like Westport.”
Clergy from across Fairfield County called for unity and resistance to hate. Reverend Carl McCluster of the Baptist Church in Bridgeport noted, “An attack against anyone is an attack against everyone. I am a neighbor who will not be silenced.”
Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel.
Congressman Jim Himes — who knew Sarah Milgrim, and called her a “shining light” — offered a reminder of the work ahead, and how change can always be made.
“Your faith is shaken by the unknowable question of how someone can be taken just like that,” he said.
“We will teach our children to never take the lives of others, especially based on religion. It is our schools and our religious institutions that must propagate against violence.”
The event also included remarks by Rabbis Michael Friedman and Yehuda Kantor of Westport; Rev. Heather Sinclair of the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, and Rev. Carl McCluster from Bridgeport, who was recently in Israel.
Rev. Heather Sinclair of the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston.
Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke, as did 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. She assured the Jewish community that Westport is a safe place for all.
Senator Richard Blumenthal. In the front row behind him are (from left): Rev. Carl McCluster of Bridgeport’s Baptist Church, Congressman Jim Himes, Rev. Heather Sinclair and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Marking the 600th day that hostages have remained in captivity following the October 7 Hamas attack, the gathering resonated with grief, but also resilience.
Joe Weisz, a senior official with the US Department of Homeland Security overseeing community engagement in Fairfield County, emphasized the urgency of “denouncing hatred toward Jews” and “advocating for internal dialogue and understanding.” He reminded the gathering that Sarah had dedicated her life to “peace-building and religious understanding.”
Rabbi Jason Greenberg of Norwalk’s Temple Shalom in Norwalk led the gathering in singing “We Will Rise.” Rabbi Evan Schultz of Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, shared the commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Erika Brunwasser, a longtime Westport resident, and the founder of the online community Jewish Westport, called the event “deeply important to me. I was horrified when I heard about the murder of these two beautiful souls — peacemakers and activists — who were shot and killed simply for attending a Jewish Heritage Month event.”
The gathering on Jesup Green. (All photos/Dan Woog)
She emphasized the importance of public response and community strength.
“It is crucial to stand together in solidarity against terrorism, to gather with friends and neighbors in the Westport Jewish community and with those incredible allies who support us.
“I will always do all that I can to raise awareness — not only to honor my grandfather, who survived the Holocaust, but also the memory of my other family members who weren’t lucky enough to survive.”
Another Jewish resident said, “It was important for me to attend the vigil to honor the lives lost and be a strong part of a community that speaks out against hatred, violence, and antisemitism.
“Despite gathering on behalf of a deeply painful and troubling event, the collective experience was heartwarming. The songs sung and the prayers said were deeply touching and provided an opportunity for healing.”
After a day-long debate, and several changes, an omnibus housing bill was adopted 84-67 yesterday, by the Connecticut House of Representatives.
CT Mirror reports that important changes made from last week’s version include an assurance that “litigation couldn’t be used as an enforcement tool, and adding in a process for towns to contest their assigned numbers.”
The legislation “also includes a proposal from Gov. Ned Lamont’s office that would offer towns easier pathways to moratoriums under 8-30g. The decades-old housing law offers developers court remedies if their affordable housing proposals are denied, unless it’s for a reason of health or safety.
“Towns can get moratoriums under the law by showing they’re making progress toward increasing their percentage of designated affordable housing and are exempt from the law if at least 10% of their housing stock is designated affordable.”
The bill now heads to the State Senate, for a vote.
More than 200 Westporters of all ages, and many faiths, gathered on Jesup Green yesterday evening.
The vigil was a show of solidarity with the Jewish community, following the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington last week.
The interfaith event included remarks by Rabbis Jeremy Wiederhorn, Michael Friedman and Yehuda Kantor of Westport; Rev. Heather Sinclair of the United Methodist Church, and past Carl McCluster from Bridgeport, who was recently in Israel.
Congressman Jim Himes — who knew Sarah — called her a “shining light.” Senator Richard Blumenthal also spoke, as did 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. She assured the Jewish community that Westport is a safe place for all.
“06880” will run a full story on the vigil soon.
Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel speaks. Behind him, from far right: Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of TCS, Congressman Jim Himes, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Senator Richard Blumenthal. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Friends of the popular local tennis instructor, who opened a tennis academy in his native Cameroon that changed the lives of thousands of youngsters, were raising funds to medically evacuate him to the US, for treatment of life-threatening complications.
Joseph died last night, before he could be airlifted here.
Organizers say: “As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we also celebrate the powerful legacy he leaves behind. “For over 25 years, he poured his heart, soul, and every resource he had into building OTA. The tens of thousands of students he lifted up are a living testament to the impact one man can make.
“Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and supported Joseph on this journey. Your kindness meant the world to him; now, it means everything to those he leaves behind.
“We are keeping this campaign open to honor Joseph’s memory by covering remaining medical and funeral expenses, supporting his family during this difficult time, and ensuring the continued operation of the Oyebog Tennis Academy—his life’s work.
Westport is filled with many interesting and multi-faceted people.
Take Dan Bikel. A prominent computer scientist and AI leader at Meta, he’s also part of the founding team at StartUp Westport, our public/private tech, innovator and entrepreneurship networking/mentoring group.
He’s a singer, songwriter and composer. And, oh yeah: He’s the son of Theodore Bikel, the legendary folk singer who played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” over 2,000 times.
Dan takes the Westport Library stage this Saturday (May 31, 7 p.m.). His original songs on piano and guitar explore themes of family, love, loss and joy. He’ll also perform the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 1 — a glimpse into his classical side.
The Westport Transit District has reached a milestone: 100,000 rides.
Natalie Lloyd — a nanny who lives elsewhere and commutes to Westport, using Wheels2U to travel between the train station and her job — was the 100,000th rider.
She calls the service “the best thing ever. It’s reliable, reasonable and so worth it..
Wheels2U — the on-demand commuter and community shuttle service — recorded over 2,500 rides last month alone. That follows a recent switch to a new service operator; smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and the launch of a downtown pilot program that expands midday service to the Senior Center, Farmers’ Market and Jesup Green (Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Riders book $2 rides through the Wheel2U app. Average wait times are about 10 minutes. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available.
Wheels2U
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My Lucky Penny — the fun children’s shop at 8 Church Street South (behind Little Barn) invites everyone to their grand opening this Saturday (May 31, noon to 5 p.m.).
It’s a “make and take” event. Customize any item in the store, and save 30% off regular-priced clothing.
Plus Jim’s Ice Cream truck, cookies, and more.
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Leave it to writers to come up with a catchy name for the Westport Writers’ Workshop’s annual fundraiser.
“Lit & Wit” is a night of comedy. The laughter is for a good cause: the organization’s outreach program, through which underserved populations participate in pro bono writing workshops.
Headliner for the June 4 event (7 p.m., Saugatuck Rowing Club) is Jane Condon (“an upper crust Roseanne,” according to the Associated Press).
She’s joined by another dozen comics: Olivia Barbulescu, Christine Zalewski, Calder Stokes, Brad Bruckner, Alyssa Katz, Mat Orefice, Kim Berns, Craig Lottner, Ivy Eisenberg, Liz Austin, Aline Weiller, and John Bennett.
And finally … in honor of the Staples Class of ’25 party at The Clubhouse (story above):
(As we do every day, “06880” informs, enlightens, and helps you plan your Westport life. If you appreciate these daily Roundups, please click here to support our work. Thank you.)
This story is not a judgment on the selection of Staples High School’s new head football coach.
It reveals, however, important information about the processes by which coaches are evaluated, judged, renewed, not renewed and promoted – and the testimony that the Board of Education, acting May 12 on an appeal of non-renewal by Staples boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense, heard.
Or did not hear.
This story is based on reporting from witnesses, who requested anonymity to discuss private meetings.
At the May 12 hearing for coach Russ Oost-Lievense’s appeal of his non-renewal, his attorney had this exchange with Staples athletic director VJ Sarullo during her cross-examination of him:
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: Have other coaches or students come to you with report of coaches using profanity with student-athletes?
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SARULLO: Are you talking about my 2 years here at Staples?
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: Yes.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SARULLO: No.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: No student has ever come to you and made reports of coaches using harsh language?
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SARULLO: Not that I can recall.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: No student has ever come to you and said that a coach has been bullying other players?
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SARULLO: No.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: That’s never happened to you?
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SARULLO: No.
According to multiple people at a meeting with Sarullo a little over a month earlier, the athletic director was not telling the truth — particularly with the last two answers.
Athletic director VJ Sarullo (center), at this month’s appeal hearing. He is flanked by Staples principal Stafford Thomas, and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
A little over a month before this hearing — on March 25 — a group met to discuss candidates for Staples’ open head football coach position. The meeting included current Staples coaches, Staples Gridiron Club representatives, Staples administrators (including athletic director Sarullo and principal Stafford Thomas), and the captains of the 2024 Staples football team.
The meeting enabled various groups of stakeholders to discuss the 3 final candidates for the position.
At this meeting, the 2024 Staples football captains expressed great concerns about one candidate, an assistant coach on the Staples football staff since 2019. Their concerns related to numerous instances of bullying by the assistant coach, directed at players.
Examples raised by the captains at the March 25 meeting included film sessions that were so intense and humiliating to players that they were brought to tears. A few even considered quitting the team.
Principal Thomas expressed shock, as he had not heard those allegations before. Other people in the meeting were similarly stunned.
Sarullo was not surprised, however. He had heard the allegations numerous times since joining the school in the spring of 2023, from community members.
In fact, Sarullo had not only been informed of the coach’s bullying behavior by students; the previous head coach had also told the athletic director of unacceptable behavior by the assistant.
In both 2023 and ’24, the previous head coach had asked Sarullo to help him discipline the assistant coach, because the head coach believed the assistant had violated rules meant to protect players’ safety.
Instances such as these may be the reason why this assistant coach could not obtain a reference letter from his head coach of the previous 4 years, when applying for the head coaching position in 2025.
Enough concern was expressed during that March 25 meeting that some in the group felt it would be inappropriate for the assistant coach to be promoted to head coach.
Some in the meeting even raised the Staples soccer coaches’ situation, saying it would not be right to promote this assistant, while the soccer coaches were being treated differently.
Sarullo responded to the concerns by announcing that he would have a private meeting with the assistant coach on March 31.
None of this apparently mattered to administrators. On April 2, Sarullo named the assistant football coach as the new head football coach at Staples High School.
This “06880” post is not about whether the assistant is the proper choice for head coach. He has many supporters in town.
It is instead about the “arbitrary and capricious” nature of coaching renewals, non-renewals and promotions — the standard by which the Board of Education was asked to consider Oost-Lievense’s appeal.
The assistant football coach was accused multiple times of numerous instances of bullying students, but he was not non-renewed. Instead, he was promoted.
Oost-Lievense, by contrast, witnessed a single incident of an assistant coach losing his temper with a player. He put an immediate stop to it, told the assistant coach the behavior was unacceptable and could never be repeated again. It was not. The assistant coach apologized to the entire team for his outburst.
The non-renewal of one coach over an “incident” he was not personally involved in, while promoting an assistant coach accused of directly engaging in worse behavior than what the other coach merely observed (and handled), seems to be the very definition of “arbitrary and capricious.”
The Board of Education never heard about the assistant football coach, however. Sarullo (according to those at the meeting with him) did not give truthful testimony when asked whether any students had ever told him that “a coach has been bullying other players.”
Then, when Oost-Lievense’s attorney tried to ask principal Thomas about the bullying allegations raised at the same meeting — which Thomas attended — the superintendent of schools’ attorney objected.
The Board’s attorney sustained the objection, and refused to let Oost-Lievense’s attorney ask Thomas those questions. (See transcript below.*)
Board of Education members made their decision to affirm the non-renewal of Oost-Lievense’s contract based on the evidence their lawyer had allowed them to see.
They had to rule on whether the superintendent’s decision had been “arbitrary and capricious.”
Perhaps though, the failure of 5 members of the board to insist on seeing all the evidence — on May 12 and today — is the most arbitrary and capricious development yet, in this long, sad affair.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: Do you recall that students have come to you and expressed concern that one of the football coaches [Attorney Mooney interrupts: I have an objection] is bullying players so severely [Attorney Mooney interrupts again: I object] that they have been driven to tears?
ATTORNEY MOONEY: This is outrageous. To bring another coach into the situation. There are no facts… [rest of his statement is unclear]
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: Well, to be clear, it is directly relevant if one coach has been promoted even after complaints of bullying and violating school policies.
ATTORNEY MOONEY: We are not here to try the fate of another coach. This is highly inappropriate…[next portion is difficult to hear], and irresponsible.
MEDIATOR DORSEY: It is all those things. We are not trying another coach here. We are trying this particular coach.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: And it goes directly to the question of whether the decision not to renew this coach was arbitrary and capricious [Mediator Dorsey interrupts: No it doesn’t] when other coaches who have been accused of far worse conduct have been promoted.
MEDIATOR DORSEY: No it doesn’t because you don’t have what the other coach … and the board doesn’t have what the other coach did. We’re not here to try another coach.
ATTORNE FRANKLIN: We would have had some of that had my witnesses and evidence not been excluded.
MEDIATOR DORSEY: Well, you’re not going to ask that question so, move on.
ATTORNEY FRANKLIN: Well, I will just say to the board that the fact that there’s evidence which was excluded proving that other coaches have been [Attorney Mooney again interrupts: I object] treated differently from these coaches [Mediator Dorsey interrupts: Objection is sustained] is highly relevant.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER ROBERT HARRINGTON: I would be concerned if coaches are treated differently by the administration, as a board member, for sure.
MEDIATOR DORSEY: That’s not here, an issue here either.
BOARD MEMBER HARRINGTON: Well, I’m a board member and it’s an issue for me.
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In both 2023 and ’24, the previous head coach had asked Sarullo to help him discipline the assistant coach, because the
The assistant football coach was accused multiple times of numerous instances of bullying students, but he was not non-renewed. Instead, he was promoted.
