As La Plage reopens this week — and the adjacent Inn at Longshore gets ready for its renovation, and the entire park gears up for summer — let’s look back to an earlier incarnation.
Long before the town of Westport bought a failing private country club in 1960, all 180 acres were owned by Frederick E. Lewis.
He was a multimillionaire, back when the term meant something.
The Texas oilman had quite an estate. Here’s a view — taken, presumably, by a still-new-fangled aeroplane — in the 1920s.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
There was no golf course or pool. There was, however, a (decorative) lighthouse — the conical structure near the top of the photo, next to what appears to be a boathouse for Lewis’ yacht.
The lighthouse survived through the 1960s.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Barlow)
What is now the Inn is shown at the lower right.
It was something to see. Here’s a close-up:
(Photo/courtesy of Alden Bryan)
What went on at that property, we can only guess.
We do know one thing, though: Harry Houdini performed an escape trick in the water by the dock.
The date was June 30, 1917. The event was a Red Cross And Allied War charities drive. Click here for that very cool story, from the “06880” archives. It includes details of a rare video taken then (below).
It purports to show his escape. According to a YouTube commenter though, that footage was spliced in from Houdini’s film “The Master Mystery.”
After today’s Friday Flashback, you’ll never look at Longshore the same way again. (Hat tip: Scott Smith)
(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
There is no better sign of spring than the return of the Westport Farmers’ Market.
The annual rite is set for next Thursday (May 8). It runs every Thursday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Imperial Avenue parking lot near Jesup Road.
WFM will hand out free packets, to “sow the seeds of another incredible season.”
“As we begin this season, we’re not just putting up tents. We’re planting ideas, nurturing community, and growing a better food system,” says executive director Lori Cochran-Dougall.
The 2025 Farmers’ Market includes:
Over 50 local farms and vendors, committed to sustainabie practices and “real food.”
Non-profit partners, with informational tables, giveaways and more.
Cooking demonstrations, a revamped recipe program, kids’ events and community talks.
Live music.
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A cellphone-free Staples has been talked about for a while.
On Tuesday, the public gets its say.
A special Board of Education meeting (May 6, 7:30 p.m., Coleytown Middle School auditorium) has one agenda item: “Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Free Initiative at SHS.”
The meeting notice adds: “The Westport Public Schools invite your feedback on making Staples High School a phone free school.”
Cellphone holders may be a thing of the past, if the devices are banned throughout the day at Staples High School.
Speaking of Staples: On Monday, TEAM Westport announced the 4 winners of its 12th annual Teen Diversity Writing Contest.
As reported on “06880,” the quartet — Annam Olasewere, Aanya Gandhi, Souleye Kebe and Sienna Tzou — wrote about their identities with tremendous insight, depth, honesty and clarity.
They also delivered their essays powerfully, and passionately.
Click below to view their presentations. Their personal readings give even greater meaning to their compelling words.
Read to Grow celebrated 25 years of providing books to Connecticut’s babies and children last night, with a great gala at the Westport Library.
Host Ian O’Malley — the well-known Westport realtor and New York radio personality — and other speakers described the impact the program has had on hundreds of thousands of youngsters, and their parents. A flagship program is the gift of baby books and early literacy information to nearly every new mother in Connecticut.
Zucca Gastrobar’s superb catering, and silent auction items featuring (among others) Ron Darling and the Doobie Brothers added to the fun.
Also last night: A large crowd welcomed Alex Lehr to Westport.
His Post Road store — American Colors by Henry Lehr — opened in December. But the ribbon cutting for the shop, which features casual, comfortable, contemporary clothing for men and women, a collection of vintage belts, and much more — was yesterday.
American Colors marks a return to Westport for the Lehr family. Alex’s father, Henry, operated a very successful and much-loved women’s store around the corner on Main Street for decades.
Cutting the ribbon (from left): 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, Alex Lehr, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell, brand strategist Jay Norris.
Yesterday’s “Westport in Focus” newsletter from 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker included information about the Conservation Department.
She notes their “fascinating presentation about Westport’s natural habitats – vernal pools. They are a delicate habitat pressed by multiple stressors, yet home to a surprising array of life. Species such as fairy shrimp, spotted salamanders, and wood frogs call these places home and struggle to live anywhere else.
“Westport is lucky to contain hundreds of vernal pools, ranging from under 100 square feet to over a few thousand.”
“06880” readers learned last week that Dave Briggs nominated me for the #SpeakYourMind ice bucket challenge. The videos bring awareness to, and raise funds for, youth mental health.
I was honored to be dunked (click here to see), and promptly nominated Jen Tooker, Andrea Moore and Foti Koskinas.
The entire board of the non-profit center for prevention and counseling accepted.
Coincidentally, PD was kicking off their New York Marathon journey the same day. Runners Gianna Affi, Cam Gaylord and Brian McGarvey will run to raise money for the organizaton. They joined Jen in dousing board members with frigid water.
Positive Directions paid it forward. They nominated Rhone, who is helping make the marathon “a huge splash” (including outfitting the runners in training and at the race), plus mental performance coach Rhodie Lorenz, who is inspiring the runners as they train.
Wednesday’s “06880” story — about the partnership between Staples High School drama teacher David Roth’s directing class, Westport’s Shakespeare scholar Diane Lowman and Bridgeport’s Edison Elementary School, to bring the Bard to young students — struck a chord.
Within a day, $2,125 had been raised to help fund more Bridgeport classes take part in the future. Roth and Lowman are grateful for readers’ generosity.
The Staples High School juniors are founders and co-presidents of the local Make Our Schools Safe chapter. The club empowers students and staff to help create a culture of safety and vigilance, while advocating for laws that promote safery schools.
In February, Zander and Elijah testified before the state legislature.
Yesterday, SB 1216 passed through the Senate. It calls for the installation of silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement, which dramatically reduces response time
State Senator Ceci Maher — who worked closely with the Staples students — praised Elijah and Zander in her social media posts. Click here to see.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photos may be the last from the now-closed Community Gardens. As “06880” reported yesterday, the 20-year-old site will at some point be the staging area for construction of the new Long Lots elementary School. Later, an athletic field will be built on the site.
And finally … Today is the birthday of Manfred von Richthofen. The German World War I pilot was born in 1892. He was killed over France in 1918, age 25.
·(Another day, another Roundup filled with news you can use. If you appreciate this daily feature — or any other part of “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
In recent days, Westport camethisclose to moving forward on a new affordable housing project.
Just a few yards from the Post Road, its 32 units would have provided apartments for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other town employees.
Estimates are that 242 town employees could qualify, at less than 60% of the area media income (about $82,000, for a family of 2).
Of those, 144 are teachers. The high cost of housing — and long commutes from communities where homes are less expensive — is one reason educators leave the Westport district.
And — because every one of those units would be considered affordable under state guidelines — it would have marked an enormous step forward in Westport’s efforts toward a moratorium from Connecticut’s onerous 8-30g mandate.
But the plan to convert the current hair salon and adjacent multifamily home at 6 Maple Avenue South — just behind the Exxon station — was scuttled right near the end of real estate negotiations. Owner Ken Kronberg (who also owns the gas station) decided not to sell.
6 Maple Avenue South. The Exxon gas station (not shown) is on the right.
Architect Joseph Vallone and Rick Redniss of the civil engineering and land use firm Redniss & Mead had worked on the plan since last fall.
Redniss tells “06880” that, with 4% low-income housing tax credit financing, the 32 units might have yielded 40.5 points — almost 20% of those needed for Westport’s next 8-30g moratorium.
A traditional 8-30g development, with only 10 affordable units, would yield only 23 points.
Vallone and Redniss were all set to move forward with a text amendment, called “Deed Restricted Housing Development.”
But after speaking with several neighbors, Kronberg declined to sell. Those plans are now off the table.
Joe Vallone’s sketch of the proposed 32-unit affordable housing apartment building at 6 Maple Avenue South.
Kronberg — who has owned the property for 36 owned the gas station for 36 years, and 6 Maple Avenue South since May 1 last year— tells “06880” tha after hearing from several neighbors, and seeing a sketch of the proposed apartments, “I didn’t want to be the bad guy that created a large commercial look at the top of Maple South.”
He is unsure what comes next for the property. The 3 bedrooms and studio apartment are rented, but the salon has been empty since Juljen moved to Southport.
“In a perfect world, I’d like to fix it up,” he says. “Make it super-nice, maybe like an old-fashioned barber shop, maybe with apartments or a quaint house.”
Redness rues the lost opportunity.”Westport has missed an opportunity to meet the needs and goals outlined in the Plan of Conservation and Development and Affordable Housing Plan,” he wrote on Tuesday to Planning & Zoning director Michelle Perillie.
“A well-known, long-term, local Westport resident with a proven track record in town was preparing to leverage his expertise to help provide true workforce housing. Joe Vallone was days away from our pre-app meeting with the Planning & Zoning Commission when the property owner reneged on selling the property.”
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for real estate, political and business news — and much more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Exxon station, Post Road East at the Maple Avenue South corner.
The slate for November’s selectperson election has a new name.
The Democratic Town Committee’s Nominating Committee voted unanimously to recommend Amy Wistreich for second selectwoman.
She would run with first selectman candidate Kevin Christie. Both nominations must be approved by the full DTC in July.
After being appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2019, Wistreich was elected to a full term in 2021. In 2023 she was appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
She has served on several boards of directors and building/architecture committees. The Wexner Foundation selected her for a 2-year Heritage Fellowship for rising community leaders.
Wistreich has a degree in environmental design. Her professional career includes architecture, engineering, design, planning, project management, contracts and insurance. She and her husband Carl have 3 children.
Amy Wistreich
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It’s been a couple of decades since Justin Paul graduated from Staples High School.
But despite world renown — and an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony for his songwriting genius on “Dear Evan Hansen,” “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land” — he’s never forgotten his Westport roots.
On June 23 (7 p.m.), Justin and his musical partner Benj Pasek come to the Westport Playhouse for a special “Waving Through Westport” fundraiser.
Justin returns to the stage where his love of music and storytelling began. He and Benj will perform their iconic songs, tell behind-the-scenes tales, and show what is sure to be a sold-out audience why and how they have defined modern musical theater.
They’ll be joined by several Broadway stars.
In addition to regular seats ($250, $195, $165), a limited number of meet-and-greet tickets are available for an additional $100. Ticket sales begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow (May 2). Click here to order, and for more information.
Yesterday, the firm in which the Westport attorney and Staples High School graduate is a partner was in Washington, representing FBI agents who investigated the January 6 insurrection.
On Tuesday, Koskoff took time from his hectic schedule to chat with Dave Briggs and Alisyn Camerota.
The Westport journalists’ “Sanity” podcast has had some high-powered guests. But their conversation with Koskoff may be their most compelling ever.
Among the topics: President Trump’s threat to democracy; Koskoff’s successful lawsuits on behalf of Sandy Hook victims’ families against gun manufacters; the Supreme Court; social media’s dark role — and what will happen if the president goes after Koskoff and his firm.
Gardeners had until the end of the day to remove supplies, material and anything else they wanted to salvage.
But although there are no architectural plans for the new building, or a timetable for construction, preparations have begun.
These Hyde Lane trees were removed recently. The former garden site will be used as a staging area. When the new school is done, the area will be converted to an athletic field.
In addition to that forgotten holiday, May 1 marks the date that emblems (aka “stickers”) are needed to park at Compo, Old Mill and Burying Hill Beaches.
If you’re a Westport or Weston resident and have not gotten yours yet, click here.
Not exactly legal. But you can’t even get close to an actual parking spot unless you have a sticker. (Photo/Linda Smith)
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StartUp Westport is just 2 years old. But in that time, Westport’s public/ private partnership for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship has grown to over 2,000 members, developed a thriving mentorship program, and spawned 5 special interest groups.
Plus, they sponsor some of the most interesting and compelling panels in town.
Last night’s “Innovation in Sports” was no exception.
Staples High School graduate Andrew Marchand — now a senior columnist for The Athletic — chatted with a pair of prominent Westporters: NBC Sports president Rick Cordella and New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer.
The banter was easy, but the conversation ranged from important topics like risk-taking at the Olympics, technological innovations at the New York Marathon and streaming at Peacock to leadership, AI, and the lessons learned from failure.
Future Startup Westport programming will be equally intriguing. Watch this space for upcoming events.
From left: Andrew Marchand, Rick Cordella, Rob Simmelkjaer. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Westporters have always been good about giving Michael Bolton his space.
Throughout his career, the 2-time Grammy winner (and 75 million records sold singer) was just another neighbor.
After he underwent emergency brain surgery in December 2023, we saw him less around town. His family asked for privacy, and he got it.
Now he’s spoken to People magazine about his battle against glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
His most recent scan was clear, though the recurrence rate is about 90 percent.
Bolton is enjoying time here with his daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren. Click here for the full People story. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Michael Bolton with (top row) daughters Taryn, Holly and Isa, and his grandchildren. (Photo/Ashley Abel)
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Stephen Kempson London is a classic tailor.
But there’s always something new at the popular Post Road West shop.
Or in this case, at your home.
SKL Wardrobe — created with stylist Lucia Gulbransen — is a personalized service.
It begins with a 60-90 minute consultation. You decide what to keep, tailor or donate. SKL will complete your wardrobe, through a store appointment or at-home fitting. (A digital book will show 10 outfits, including existing pieces and new additions.)
For more information click here, email info@stephenkempson.com, or call 203-557-6644.
The next Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading explores the story of 2 reunited lovers.
“Still” will be staged on Monday (May 5, 7 p.m.).
Director Mark Shanahan says, “Lia’s script is heartbreakingly funny even as it is beautifully insightful, offering a poignant look at the complexities of rekindled relationships. We meet characters who navigate their regrets, their hopes, and their personal beliefs, even as they are willing to bear their vulnerabilities and reveal their passions.”
Tickets are $30. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between April 23 and 30.
A 36-year-old Westport woman was charged with assault on an elderly person, risk of injury to a child, and disorderly condcut, following a domestic violence incident. She allegedly assautle a family member, while children were present.
A 53-year-old Norwalk woman was charged with failure to appear. Police responded to a local business when she caused a disturbance, and found her to have an active re-arrest warrent.
Meanwhile, Westport’s crackdown on driving while texting continued. Police issued these citations:
Driving while texting: 45 citations
Distracted driving: 24
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 10
Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
Speeding: 2
Following too closely: 1
Improper stop: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1
And finally … in honor of Justin Paul and Benj Pasek’s upcoming “Waving Through Westport” fundraiser at the Playhouse:
(There’s always something going on in Westport — and “06880” covers it all. If you enjoy these daily Roundups — or anything else in this hyper-local blog — please click here to support us. Thansk!)
Yesterday marked the deadline for Westporters to remove items from the Community Gardens.
Instead of preparing for spring, 120 families spent days salvaging soil, plants and structures. Some had been involved since the garden began, 20 years ago.
The site will become a staging area when construction begins on a new Long Lots Elementary School, some time in the future.
Later, it will become an athletic field.
A new location for the Community Gardens has not yet been found.
Alison Freeland and her husband spent Tuesday there, with shovels and a wheelbarrow.
“Many of the gardeners said they felt like they were at a wake or funeral,” Alison says.
The gardens’ demise was especially hard “for a lot of seniors, for whom this was a true community.”
Alison’s photos chronicle the final days of the Hyde Lane Community Gardens.
(All photos/Alison Freeland)
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for news, events — and photo-journalism. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
It took a couple of years of planning, hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations, and a head-spinning week of hands-on work, by hundreds of volunteers.
But the rebuilt Compo Beach playground is a reality.
And now — as they have since it was first constructed (by volunteers) in 1989 — many generations of kids will play, run, jump, swing, dream, and simply have a ton of fun, in this very cool space.
Negin Janati (front) and Play by Design employee Hugh. (Photo/Kim Cooper)
Congratulations to all who helped make it possible.
This list is extensive. Apologies if we’ve left any one, or any group, out. You’re all Unsung Heroes!
Mark Owades and grandson Cooper Sterling. (Photo/Rowene Weems)
Lead sponsors:Westport Rotary Club, Westport Young Woman’s League
Co-chairs:Bridget Flynn and Samantha Owades
Core committee (2+ years on the project): Mike Bennett, RB Benson, Rick Benson, Alex Cohen, Andrew Colabella, Samantha Chertoff, Stacie Curran, Rob Decosimo, Chelsea Elkin, Lauren Felsenstein Bonifacius, Deep Gill, Erin Hall, Shauna Mahesh, Erin Spillman, Chloe Steinberg, Maddy Travers, Chloe Zale.
Site lead: RB Benson
Jim and Mike Bennett. Mike was this years’ tool lead. His father Jim led the 1989 effort. (Photo/Kim Cooper)
Kidzone:Baked by Bri, Crafty Kids, Sara Holland, The Scouts, Westport Academy of Dance, The Children’s Community Development Center.
Builders who sent crews: Bluewater, O’Dell Group, R.B. Benson & Co., Harmony Design Build, Westport Woodworking. In addition, Interstate Lumber and Conte Construction provided materials and tools.
Build week food:
AMG Catering
Arden’s Rowayton
Bartaco
Blind Rhino
Blue & Berries
Costco
GG & Joe’s
Granola Bar
Greenwich Hospitality/La Plage
Haven Hot Chicken
Hometown Deli
Hook’d
Kneads
Leventhal Bakery
Little Kitchen of Westport
Lyfe Café/Pizza Lyfe
Meal Joy Foods
Nômade
Nuts.com
Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci’s
Planet Pizza Norwalk
Pop-up Bagels
Proof Pizza Truck
Riko’s
Rizzuto’s
Sea Salt Baking Company
Stew Leonard’s
Stylish Spoon Bakery
The Blondinit
The Bridge at Saugatuck
The Clubhouse
The Cottage
The Pantry
Trader Joe’s
And of courseall who donated time, talent and energy during the crazy, frenetic, fun, fulfilling and rewarding 6 days of building. The playground would not have been completed without you!
The picnic table construction crew: Joe, Mary, Cindy, Nancy, Brittany and Magdalena.(Photo courtesy of Nancy Axthelm)
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
In what may be the most significant change to the Westport Carvel since a giant ice cream cone was removed from the roof 50 years ago, the iconic sign facing Post Road East has been covered up.
The new sign says, generically, “Soft Serve Ice Cream.”
The owner says the cost of renovating the seems-it’s-been-there-forever building, as requested by Carvel, is too high.
Speaking of food: The train has left the Donut Crazy station.
The shop at the eastbound side of the Westport station was served with an eviction notice in January, CT Insider reports. The owner has allegedly not paid rent since last summer. Click here for the full story.
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member and several colleagues spent 2 years planting bulbs at the Minute Man monument. Westport will enjoy their work for years to come.
Last year, Andrew planted some the 1,500 bulbs donated by the Parks & Recreation Department in the Compo Beach entrance island.
Now he wants to do the entire entrance strip.
Interested in helping? Email acolabellartm4@gmail.com.
The “06880” panel on youth sports is 2 weeks from today.
We’ve partnered with Tommy Greenwald — the famed youth adult sports fiction writer, former Staples athlete (and father of 3 athletes) — to present “Fair Play and Foul Behavior: Issues Facing Youth Sports in Today’s World.”
It’s May 14 (7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).
Topics include the achievement/pressure balance, referee abuse, sport specialization, cost, the “academy” syndrome, myths and realities of college recruiting, and more.
Dan Woog — hey, that’s me! — will moderate the event, which includes time for audience questions. Panelists are:
VJ Sarullo, Staples athletic director
Dave Smith, father of 4 athletes who writes frequently on youth sports topics
Caleb Smith, former Staples quarterback and lacrosse star, now playing football 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
And of course Tommy Greenwald himself.
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Congratulations to 3 environmental winners.
Last week, town officials and Sustainable Westport gave Westport Green Building Awards to these owners, for exemplifying sustainable design and construcction:
17 Maple Grove Avenue (owner Scott Harrington). New construction designed and built as net zero energy. All appliances, heating and cooling systems are electric, and use the photovoltaic roof for power. The insulation exceeds codes. A smart home scheduler minimizes HVAC use by scheduling window shades to follow the path of the sun, and limit heavy electronics usage to only off-peak hours.
1 Hockanum Road (owner Thomas Hensel). Home renovation that integrates a PV system that offsets the residence’s power consumption. After an energy audit audit, the owner added attic insulation, weatherstripping, and mechanical and lighting upgrades. The HVAC system was upgraded to include smart thermostats and duct sealing. Insulation was installed on the hot water piping. Retrofit LED lighting fixtures reduce power consumption while providing the same light levels.
142-150 Main Street, Nômade Restaurant (owners Ciara Webster, Patrick Jean). Renovation and reuse of an existing historic structure; uses renewable energy to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The roof over the dining terrace features a semi-transparent roof-integrated photovoltaic system. The visibility of the solar panels stimulates the interest of other local business owners and patrons to go solar.
The Planning & Zoning Commission continues its discussion of The Hamlet at its next meeting (May 5, 6 p.m., Zoom).
It’s just one agenda item. Members will also discuss the plan by Fairfield County Hunt Club to construct an indoor racquets facility, and a request to convert the former Bank of America building at 980 Post Road East into a Montessori School, among other things.
Meanwhile, the Flood & Erosion Control Board will examine the Hamlet at its next meeting.
The last agenda item for their May 7 meeting (7:30 p.m.; Zoom; meeting ID 823 4909 8338; passcode 954845), is a continuation of the discussion that began April 2.
Part of the proposed Hamlet project, leading to the Saugatuck River.
The Jesup Road restaurant offers regular classes about the classic dish. With wine and tapas thrown in, what’s not to like?
Sal Liccione took part on Monday, and sent this tasty photo:
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
Next at Basso: a pizza-making class, this Sunday (May 4, 12:30 p.m.). Click here for details.
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Club203’s magical monthly parties continue.
Up next for Westport’s social club for adults with disabilities: Dancing with DJ Joe, (and s’mores, a campfire and pizza), under the stars at Earthplace. Click here for more information.
They’re as good as their younger counterparts. In fact, a 5-0 state tournament semifinal win on Sunday vaulted them into the Connecticut State Soccer Championship. It’s set for June 8 (4 p.m., Dillon Stadium, Hartford), vs. Greenwich Pumas.
That was quite a semi. Rangers had been undefeated — and unscored upon — in league play.
The 50-and-over final is the second big soccer event that weekend. The day before (June 7), the US men’s national team meets Turkey in a friendly, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
For some reason, wrong-way drivers on Soundview Drive have become an epidemic.
Residents report alarmingly frequent encounters.
The latest was yesterday:
(Photo/Sunil Hirani)
Be careful out there!
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Senator Chris Murphy is the keynote speaker at the Center for Children’s Advocacy, at New England’s largest youth legal rights organization’s second annual event.
It’s set for Friday (5:30 p.m.), in Westport. Sponsors include Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder. For more information and to RSVP, email mason.miller@berlinrosen.com.
And finally … today is Walpurgis. In German folklore, tonight (Walpurgisnacht) — May Day eve — is when witches meet on the Brocken mountain, and revel with the Devil.
(There is no need to repent — at least, not if you click here to help support “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Danke schön!)
It’s one thing for high school students to connect with Shakespeare.
Some do. An inspiring teacher or formative experience can help them understand the timeless appeal of The Bard’s explorations of life, love, death, revenge, grief, jealousy, murder, magic and mystery.
It’s another thing entirely for third graders to get it.
But students at Edison Elementary School in Bridgeport are fortunate to have Chris Cormier as a teacher.
And Chris is fortunate to have connected with Diane Lowman.
Diane Lowman
For many years, Lowman — Westport’s first-ever poet laureate, who earned a master’s degree in Shakespeare studies through the University of Birmingham (in Stratford-upon-Avon) — has collaborated with “Mr. C,” and the Edison students.
She visits regularly, teaching them the ins and outs of the world’s most famous playwright. They are always eager to learn.
Earlier this year, Lowman contacted Staples Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long. Could the high school’s prestigious drama group help the Edison youngsters learn a bit more about Shakespeare?
Timing is everything, as we know from “Julius Caesar.”
Roth’s Theater III advanced acting class had been working on scenes from “Macbeth.”
So one morning this month, the Bridgeport boys and girls arrived excitedly at Staples.
They played a concentration game with Roth and the class. They talked about the Shakespeare plays they had studied.
Getting to know each other. Staples Players director David Roth is at left. Edison School teacher Chris Cormier is 6th from right.
They watched Roth’s class perform 2 “Macbeth” scenes. Afterward, the Edison children asked questions, about the play and theater in general.
A scene from “Macbeth,” with Cat Betit and Will McCrea.
Then — with everyone sitting on the Black Box floor — they enjoyed pizza and juice boxes.
A post-play treat.
Roth and Long were amazed at how much the youngsters knew, after just an hour a week with Cormier and Lowman.
“They asked great questions,” Long says. “They really understood what they were talking about, and raised questions about themes of the play.”
“It’s incredibly gratifying for this Shakespeare nerd to see the kids respond so positively, and make so many connections with The Bard,” Lowman adds.
“Having David, his students and Kerry bring this to life was such a treat. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship and an annual tradition.”
Learning together: Mikey Winkler and 3rd graders.
Roth and Long asked Lowman if she could do something similar, for more classs. Cormier said he’d help.
As for Cormier himself: Edison Elementary School has no budget to support trips like the one to Staples.
The cost for a bus is not insignificant. Students sold ice cream at Friday lunches for $1 each, but that did not cover the entire transportation and food bill. Cormier made up the difference.
“I know that Westport could easily pitch in,” Long says.
She and Roth have created a GoFundMe page, for donations.
Whether you’re a Shakespeare fan, or just want to help a group of Bridgeport kids expand their horizons, click here.
Because, as we all know, “Fortune reigns in gifts of the world.”
Theatre III and Edison Park students, with their teachers. (All photos/Kerry Long)
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