This morning’s “06880” Opinion piece from the Staples High School PTA executive board — opposing superintendent of school Thomas Scarice’s proposed full ban on cellphones in Westport Public Schools — drew plenty of public comments, on all sides of the issue.
It also drew a private email, from a longtime Staples teacher. The teacher used their name but requested anonymity, due to district regulations about posting on social media. The teacher writes:
There is most certainly a problem at Staples with cell phones. That parents are relying on students saying that there is not a problem is laughable.
I urge any parent to have an honest conversation with a Staples teacher. You would hear the exact opposite.
Students are completely addicted to their phones. As a teacher who strictly enforces the putting of phones in the holder for all classes (grades 9-12), I can say without a doubt that every single day I encounter resistance from students, even though my stance and policy on phones has not changed since the first day of school, or within the last 5 years.
Every week I confiscate phones, bring them down to the assistant principals’ office, email/call home, and follow up with the admin after class.
Cell phone holder.
The reason many teachers do not enforce the phone holders is that it is exhausting. No matter how consistent teachers are with their phone policies, the students are extremely resistant (and unfortunately somewhat rude) to giving them up, even during a class.
Having taught at Staples for over 20 years, I can say that phones have no positive impact on the school day.
I understand that students and parents feel that students will have difficulty navigating their schedules. Students are unaware of their schedules precisely due to the Saturn app. Before Saturn, my students always knew their schedules. They either had them printed out or they had them memorized over time. There was never an issue with students not knowing where they were going.
If students could use phones responsibly we would not be here. But every day students are sneaking phones, leaving class under the guise of having to use the bathroom and then scrolling through social media. I see it every single day here at Staples.
Phones are specifically designed to be addictive. Our students are being asked to monitor their use against a device that is using their own brains to work against what is best for them.
Every notification excites — and distracts — students.
I implore all parents to support the superintendent’s proposed ban on phones at Staples. Your children are not benefiting at all by having access to their phones throughout the school day.
We are doing a disservice to them. I deeply hope the community will come together to realize what is best for these students.
Posted onApril 9, 2025|Comments Off on Roundup: “Born To Run” At 50, The Pledge At Y’s Men, Inam At Clarendon …
One of this year’s VersoFest highlights was a compelling panel discussion, honoring the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” album.
Arlen Schumer (art director of Thunder Road, the first magazine dedicated to Springsteen’s life and music) and Dick Wingate (former music industry senior executive who managed Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town”) moderated the event, with Mike Appel, Springsteen’s first manager and co-producer of “Born to Run”; Michael Pillot, former Columbia Records promotions director; Robert Santelli, executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives, and Kenneth Womack, co-author of “Bruce Songs.”
When Congressman Jim Himes visited the Y’s Men of Westport & Weston last week, the traditional opening Pledge of Allegiance included a preamble written by and delivered by US Navy veteran (and Staples High School graduate) John Brandt.
Christy Colasurdo and Liz Milwe — Wakeman Town Farm leaders for over 12 years — updated the Westport Rotary Club on the continuing evolution of the Cross Highway sustainability and education center.
Among the topics: The planned major addition of a barn. So far, $150,000 has been raised for construction.
Other updates included activities for families and children: vegetable gardens, workshops, camps, youth programs and more.
Christy Colasurdo and Liz Milwe, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
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Inam — the artists specializing in forests, rivers and changing seasons — will greet visitors to Clarendon Fine Art on April 26 (6 to 8 p.m.).
The gallery will cover sales tax for all purchases made at the event.
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Former Westporter Susan Reeves died peacefully in Niantic on Sunday, surrounded by her family. She was 94.
She attended Gettysburg College, where she was Homecoming Queen as a freshman and met her future husband, Donal. They married in 1951 and settled in Westport. For 50 years they connected with nature there, and raised 3 daughters.
Sue was active in the Westport Garden Club, and built lifelong friendships there. She was president from 1977 to 1979. She cared for cemeteries and public gardens,tended tomato starts in preparation for the annual Plant Sale, and hosting tea parties for Garden Club friends.
She was proud of her involvement developing Grace Salmon Park, and the restoration of Adams Academy.
Sue excelled at flower arranging, acrylic painting, sewing and quilting. The results were shared with family, including quilts for weddings, graduations and births.
Sue and Don also enjoyed skiing and boating (on their 38-foot powerboat “Susan”) with their family. Each summer culminated in a month with longtime friends on Martha’s Vineyard.
As she aged, kayaking became a way to connect with the water. At 90 she purchased her first kayak. At 91 she kayaked in the Pacific Northwest San Juan Islands with her daughter.
Susan is survived by her daughters Linda Morrissey (Kevin), Donna Abbott (Ted) and Lisa Zenner (John); grandchildren Kaylin, Kyle, Lindsay, Greg, Thomas and Elizabeth, and great-grandchildren Bryce, Tucker, Caleb, Maverick, Lily, Lydia, Isla, Teddy and Lucy. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Donal.
Her family thanks caregivers Ann Marie, Taylor, Lynne, Elizabeth, Jessica and Terri; her trainer Axel, who kept her physically strong enough to adventure in her 90’s; the team at VITAS Hospice, and pastor Ben of Christ Presbyterian Church.
Celebrations of life will take place in June. Donations in Susan’s memory can be directed to Christ Presbyterian Church, PO Box 543, Niantic, CT 06357.
Susan Reeves
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image comes from behind the police station.
Johanna Keyser Rossi writes: “I’ve seen these swans attempting to build a nest there. It’s not an ideal place — not much foliage to hide in.”
And finally … Clem Burke, “whose energetic, versatile drumming provided the beat for the band Blondie as it churned out post-punk, disco and rock hits” (says the New York Times), died on Sunday. He was 70, and had battled cancer.
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for news you can use. If you enjoy our daily Roundup — or anything else we publish, several times a day — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Comments Off on Roundup: “Born To Run” At 50, The Pledge At Y’s Men, Inam At Clarendon …
The Staples High School PTA Executive Committee wrote a letter regarding superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s proposed cell phone ban. It was to be read at last Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.
When the session was canceled, the letter was emailed to all BOE members. A member shared it without consent, and it was published by a local media outlet.
The Staples PTA Executive Committee says: “To ensure transparency, we would greatly appreciate it if ‘06880’ shares this letter in its entirety with the Westport community. Anyone wishing to engage in further discussion should email us at shs_pta@westportps.org.”
Dear Members of the Westport BOE:
We, the members of the Staples High School PTA Executive Board, write to you as a united group concerning Superintendent Scarice’s proposed bell-to-bell cell phone (and personal device) ban at Staples High School.
For context, we are deeply committed to Westport Public Schools. We are the mothers of 25 current Staples students, 10 Staples graduates, and 11 kids rising from elementary and middle school.
Collectively we’ve spent 181 years inside of WPS, and our members have volunteered on 40 WPS executive PTA boards, including 15 turns as president. You’d be hard pressed to find a group more invested, with more historical knowledge, and with more school spirit than the current Staples PTA.
Cell phones are currently allowed, in certain places and times, at Staples High School.
First, we do not support the personal use of cell phones in the classroom. We believe kids should not have unfettered access to their phones, nor should they use phones for any unapproved personal reason inside of the classroom. That said, we unanimously oppose a school-wide cell phone (and personal device) ban, and we unanimously oppose the purchase of Yondr bags.
As you consider the various options on the road ahead, we feel it important to share 3 requests made to Superintendent Scarice at a meeting on March 19th:
That separate community conversations be planned between parents — one for K-8, and another for 9-12.
That a committee be formed, consisting of teachers, admins, students and parents.
That the survey be sent after the community conversation. We are disappointed that none were realized.
You are already aware of our concerns for the replacement of cell phones inside the classroom as integrated by teachers. Many among our Staples staff count on – and expect – phones to be used by students as cameras, video recorders, calculators, scanners, and more. No workaround has been presented for these uses.
We are concerned about the unintended consequences of a cell phone ban, and believe that if kids cannot access phones during their free time, they will instead be more inclined to do personal business on their computers during classroom time, and thereby create a tremendous problem for teachers.
Regarding the wuperintendent’s justification for a ban, we maintain – based on hundreds of conversations with parents, students and even teachers – that there is not a cell phone problem inside of Staples High School.
Further, while there is a policy governing cell phone use, it is rarely enforced, largely up to teacher discretion, and unknown to most students and parents.
Should the WPS BOE deem Staples a candidate for tighter cell phone regulations, then why not just tighten the rules? And have students – and their parents – sign a code of conduct, just like we do for internet use and plagiarism. We are confident this is a prudent place to start.
We believe students should have access to their phones during lunch and free periods. We’ve heard you when you say that the lunchroom is a good place to have a conversation and “just talk.”
But if you were to visit the Staples cafeteria, you’d see that’s exactly what they do: they talk. Even with their phones on their person.
And please understand cell phones are how our students find one another in the lunchroom. It’s a huge space with hundreds of kids on a rotating schedule. They use their cells to find their friends, then sit and talk.
These are not Staples students. But they could be.
Much of this conversation relates to social media usage. The Staples PTA does not believe students should use–or have access to–social media during classroom time.
We are surprised that the Westport Public Schools do not block these sites off of the district networks. That seems like an easy solution. In addition to considering a clearer cell phone policy, we ask that you consider blocking these sites before a bell to bell ban.
Most concerning of the proposed cell phone ban is the cost associated with Yondr bags. Wilton Public Schools spent $80,000 with Yondr (not $1,800 as reported by the Westport Journal) – with a smaller student population (1,200 at Wilton HS versus Staples’ 1,700+), and magnetized the outside of their one school entrance. Staples uses 5 separate student entrances.
That doesn’t even take into account the manpower needed to lock and unlock the Yondr “stations” multiple times during each school day, and the staff needed to maintain the bags themselves. If Yondr bags are to be used, it’s prudent to plan extra head count to the Staples staff for these roles. And they are a recurring cost.
Yondr bags have a limited shelf life. and every freshman class will need new ones, at a cost of $25-30 per unit. That doesn’t account for lost and broken bags (currently at a rate of 2/week reported in Wilton).
Students entering Northbridge High School in Massachusetts present their Yondr pouches — with phones inside — to be locked. (Photo/Allan Jung for Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
Has anyone determined where the Yondr magnets will be mounted? They are affixed to concrete poles outside of Wilton High School; the Staples facade is glass and brick. Are there construction costs associated with bringing Yondr to Staples?
Finally, we know that the Staples population will soar to well over 1,800 in the next few years, and so we ask, what are the actual costs, both for now and into the future?
As an overall question: What is the perceived defined problem, and what is the measurable solution? We believe that a cell phone ban is a movement–applicable to elementary and middle schools–as opposed to an actual Staples problem, and without a clear issue to solve or goal to meet, this is all just symbolic.
We also maintain that our Staples students are bright, motivated, eager to learn, gracious with their time and community support, and overall good citizens. The Staples PTA is profoundly confident that if given structured rules around cell phone usage inside the classroom, our students will rise to occasion, without requiring a punitive, prison-like environment.
There is one constant report among Staples graduates: that they leave Staples High School ready for the next level, whether that be college, the work force or the military.
That is a testament to everyone involved in their educational journey, and why Staples is the #1 high school in the state. So let’s treat these students as the young adults they are.
Let’s give them parameters and structure, but most importantly, let’s give them latitude. Let’s trust them with their free time, to make good decisions, and embody the Westport Public Schools’ value system.
Let’s work together to empower them.
Sincerely,
Jodi Harris, Co-President
Stefanie Shackelford, Co-President
Elena Caggiano, VP-Past President
Marie Tyber, VP-Secretary
Lara Willis, VP-Treasurer
Michelle Macris, VP-Treasurer
Aileen Brill, VP-Ways & Means
Jenny Sydor, VP-Ways & Means
Ying Stafford, VP- Communications Sandy Srihari, VP-Volunteers
Tracy Benton, VP-Volunteers
Karina Betfarhad, VP-Graduation
Amie Peck, VP-Graduation
Pamela Bernstein, VP-Community Outreach
Maria Mulvehill, VP-Community Outreach
Caroline Hendley, VP-Member at Large
Congratulations to the Staples High School math team!
The “mathletes” finished first among all public schools in this year’s 29-school Fairfield County Math League.
They beat Greenwich — always a joy for Stapleites, whether on the field or in the classroom — and finished second overall, behind private Brunswick School.
That vaults them into the state meet — and the New England Association of Math Leagues competition, May 2 in Canton, Massachusetts.
Sophomore Ayush Rudra earned the highest sophomore score. Last year, he was the top freshman in the league.
The team (and Math Club, both under faculty advisor Mike Forgette) draws students interested in the complexity, problem-solving challenges, and excitement of mathematics.
They say that the qualities needed for success in math competitions include clear communication, quick decision-making, curiosity, passion, and a bit of “light-heartedness.” They don’t get stressed by tough questions; they work collaboratively to solve them. (There is an individual component to math meets, too.)
The math team is like any sports team, they say. The more they practice, the better they get.
Go Wreckers!
Math Club and team advisor Mike Forgette (far left) with Math Club members (from left): Serena Diamond, Sahil Vora, Chloe Wong, Adan Wang, Anit Arvind, Ayush Rudra, Abe Lobsenz, Akil Arvind. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Book these April events at the Westport Book Shop:
“Savor: Recipes to Celebrate” (April 10, 6 p.m.): Food Network competitor, Staples High culinary teacher, AMG Catering owner and cookbook author Alison Milwe Grace discusses her new book.
“Tuesday’s Mah Jongg Is More Than a Game” (April 16, 6 p.m.) Local author Marsha Temlock discusses her latest novel about friendship and strengthening bonds, as a group of friends support each other through life’s challenges.
Celebrate Poetry Month (April 17, 6 p.m.): Poetry reading and conversation with Ira Joe Fisher ,
Knitting Workshop (April 21, 6 p.m.): Session with avid knitter Linda Franciscovich, for knitters of all levels. Bring needles and yarn, and your knitting project.
Short Story Book Club (April 24, 6 to 7:30 p.m.). “The Elephant Vanishes” by Haruki Murakami, and “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima.
Local artist Linn Cassetta is exhibitor for the month of April at the Book Shop. A reception is set for April 23 (6 to 7:30 p.m., Westport Book Shop).
Space is limited for the book events. RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
. .Linn Cassetta
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The Fortunoff family — Scott, Laurie, and sons Aaron (Staples High sophomore) and Brett (Bedford Middle School 8th grader) — partnered with Staples’ Cereal4All Club and Stop & Shop last weekend.
They collected over 1,000 boxes of cereal, along with cash donations, to provide breakfast food for those who need it. Homes with Hope picked up all the donations.
“Thank you, Westport!” say the Fortunoffs.
Collecting cereal, for all. From left: Aaron Fortunoff, Alex Burtzlaff, Alex Kovics, Lemar Feliciano. (Stop & Shop manager).
There is always something going on at VFW Post 399.
This Friday (April 11; $20, plus 1 drink minimum), it’s comedy.
Laura High, Joe Portillo, and Matt Vita all take the stage. Doors open at 7 p.m. for food and beverages. The laughs begin at 8. Click here for tickets.
Speaking of the VFW: Emmy-nominated composer/pianist Steve Sandberg plays Ellington, Monk and Mingus this week at Jazz at the Post (Thursday, April 10, VFW; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m.; $20 music cover, $15 veterans and students).
“Masterfully blending classical, world music and jazz with the excitement of virtuosic improvisation,” he’ll be joined by bassist Michael O’Brien, drummer Jeff Hirshfield, and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information.
And finally … in honor of the “Westport … Naturally” photo above:
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for information, news you can use, and much more. If you appreciate what you read — today and/or any other day — please donate by clicking here. Thank you!)
When Ian O’Malley’s first son was born, he was whisked to the neonatal intensive care unit.
For a month, O’Malley — a New York radio personality, real estate agent and Westporter — read to him.
O’Malley’s soothing voice drowned out the sounds of the many machines keeping his son, and other babies, alive. He is now a happy, healthy teenager.
Whether they are in the NICU or not, babies thrive if the adults in their lives read to them.
O’Malley had access to plenty of books. But plenty of new parents and caregivers do not.
Read To Grow is changing that.
The non-profit’s mission is to “support families as their babies’ first teachers.” They want every child in Connecticut to have books of their own — from birth on.
They’ve already provided them to over 2.5 million youngsters. And every day, they give away more.
O’Malley and fellow Westporter Shari Kaufman are two of Read To Grow’s biggest advocates.
She helped bring the organization’s Bookmobile to town last month. She’s helping organize Read To Grow fundraiser, “A Night for the Books“: May 1, at the Westport Library.
Ian O’Malley
And O’Malley — with his deep voice and easy manner, familiar to millions of radio listeners — will emcee.
Like every non-profit, Read To Grow depends on events like these. This year — in addition to celebrating their 25th anniversary — they’ll raise funds with a special goal.
They already work with every hospital in Connecticut, except 4. With attendees’ help, they hope to soon be in all 23 hospitals in the state.
That’s just the start of their great work. Read To Grow’s book-giving starts on the day a child is born. It continues through age 7.
That’s a lot of stimulation, excitement and growth.
Studies prove conclusively the impact of early reading on brain development. (In fact, it starts in the womb.)
Read To Grow’s model is simple. In addition to providing books in hospitals, they deliver “Literacy Packets” (in English and Spanish) to mothers of newborns. Over 40 trained voluneers visit bedside, describing how to develop babies’ language skills in simple, fun and loving ways.
They offer free follow-ups, mailing new baby board books and literacy brochures when babies turn 3 months and 1 year.
They also offer books to siblings of newborns in the hospital.
As children grow, the non-profit provides free books, literary resources and workshops to families, childcare providers, teachers, doctors, healthcare groups, library programs and many nonprofits.
Families and programs can also request books — in 14 languages — through the website.
The Bookmobile program is one more way to get books in the hands of children, including remote parts of the state.
“Books for kids are not cheap,” O’Malley notes. “But every kid needs them.”
O’Malley works with and supports more than 2 dozen charities. But this one is especially dear to his heart.
“Books are simple. But they offer great opportunities,” he says. “And extraordinary things can come from opportunity.”
He has heard stories of what can be done with those opportunities: excitement in school. Finding a passion. Becoming the first person in a family to go to college.
“This is a good charity, doing great things,” O’Malley says. “They’re doing it here and now. And they’re doing it for the future.”
This will be O’Malley’s second year emceeing the Read To Grow fundraiser. He’s excited about the auction items (among them: a trip for 6 to Tuscany; a Broadway VIP package, including dinner with the star; a Mets’ fans’ dream experience for 4 with Ron Darling), and a whiskey and wine pull with “great bottles.”
Zucca Gastrobar — the excellent Saugatuck restaurant — will offer 8 different food stations.
Added attractions: 25 authors and illustrators of children’s books will be on hand, along with Read To Grow’s founders.Staples’ outstanding musician Andrew Maskoff will perform.
And — before the doors open — the Bookmobile will be there.
Tonight’s Planning & Zoning Commission virtual meeting drew over 80 online viewers. Most logged on for the third agenda item: discussion of The Hamlet at Saugatuck project.
Some were for it. Some against it.
But all were aghast when — during an earlier agenda item — pornographic images, a swastika, and a video of an ISIS-style beheading popped up on the screen,
Commissioner Michael Cammeyer quickly began deleting people from the Zoom session. Town IT technician Mike Phillis cut the feed. The P&Z took an official break.
But the damage had been done. Viewers were shaken and upset. One man said, “I can’t describe how awful that was to experience. The P&Z was scrambling to try to take care of the situation, but I left the meeting because it was overwhelming.”
This was not the first hacking of a town meeting. The Zoning Board of Appeals experienced a similar incident recently.
Cammeyer and P&Z director Michelle Perillie slowly began letting people they knew were legitimate back in the Zoom meeting.
Cammeyer also called the police. Chief Foti Koskinas recommend canceling the meeting. Town attorney Ira Bloom — part of the Zoom call — concurred.
Koskinas headed to Town Hall. He promised a thorough investigation by Westport Police.
The schedule for the Hamlet application is now uncertain. After tonight, the P&Z had been scheduled to discuss the Saugatuck project on April 21, with public input set for April 28. Westport schools are on break next week.
Upcoming meetings will continue to be virtual. Town Hall facilities do not work for P&Z sessions, Cammeyer says, with inadequate technology and other issues.
In the meantime, town officials will have to figure out how to allow residents to access meetings from home — while keeping out hackers who disrupt and traumatize them.
Andrew Wilk won 5 Emmys, as an executive producer and director of network television. He is also a stage director, writer, and symphony orchestra conductor.
He may be best known for his work with “Live From Lincoln Center,” producing programs with artists like Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell and Renée Fleming, and many more.
Other TV specials include “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘Carousel'” (including Westporter Kelli O’Hara) and “Falsettos.” He has worked with Josh Groban, Billy Porter and many others, and was executive producer of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.”
Plus, Andrew has an entire second career as a music conductor.
The other day, we chatted on another important stage: the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum. Click below for our wide-ranging conversation, on the arts (in the world, and Westport), and much more.
Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell offers this update on the Hamlet at Saugatuck project:
Tonight (Monday, April 7, 6 p.m., Zoom), the third agenda item will be a discussion of the proposal.
April 28 is the date for public comment only, in person at Town Hall.
The Flood & Erosion Control Board met last week, and continued their Hamlet hearing to May 7. That may disrupt the Conservation Commission schedule, which is currently set for April 23 and 30.
The Architectural Review Board meets on April 10. They have not yet completed their review of the project.
Mandell says: “P&Z will go deep into May at this point” in its Hamlet discussion. “June is looking more and more a reality.”
The RTM member adds: “There are still other pieces – an 8-24 for use of town property will also need to be filed with P&Z, and that could slow up the timeline.
“The Historic District Commission will have to weigh in as well, as every building involved is under their jurisdiction, not just the historic ones on Railroad Place. The Board of Selectwomen acting as the Traffic Authority will also need to render decision on traffic and parking issues.
“A group of citizens, concerned with the impacts of the project, and calling itself the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck has formed and has become active.” Click here for their website.
Click here, then scroll down for all pending applications and recent approvals related to the Hamlet at Saugatuck.
The 21 Charles Street office building would be renovated, in the Hamlet’s plans. This view looks north on Charles Street. Franklin Street would become two-way — but only between Charles Street and Railroad Place (right side of rendering).
Four great days of the 4th annual VersoFest ended yesterday.
Paul Shaffer — legendary “Saturday Night Live” performer, and musical director for both David Letterman and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — entertained a capacity Westport Library crowd.
He chatted with fellow “SNL” alum (and iconic Beehive Queen) Christine Ohlman. (He brought jingle bells too, in homage to Darlene Love’s famous
“Baby Please Come Home” Letterman appearances at Christmas.)
Paul Shaffer and Christine Ohlman. (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
VersoFest is a huge undertaking. Congratulations to all who helped bring Patti Smith, the Wallflowers, 5iveFingaz, Bruce Springsteen’s people, and so much more to the “loudest library on earth.”
Speaking of which: The website I Love Libraries just gave it a shoutout.
The story — “The Hippest Damn Library in the Country” includes that exact quote from Talking Heads’ Chris Frantz.
It adds Doors drummer John Densmore’s description: “The coolest damn library, ever.”
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Dennis Jackson)
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At the risk of sounding self-promotional — but with the goal of promoting one of my favorite organizations in Westport — I pass along the news that A Better Chance of Westport is honoring me with their first-ever “Community Ally Award.”
It will be presented at the annual Dream Event gala (April 26, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library).
It’s a huge honor, for sure, and one that could be given to countless men and women who have helped the non-profit thrive over more than 2 decades, as it has provided educational and life benefits to dozens of young men of color from less-advantaged communities.
I will be thinking of all of them at the fundraiser. And I’ll be honored to honor the scholars themselves.
The highlight — as always — will be the speeches by the graduating seniors, and a returning alum (this year, Yoel Hooper-Antunez).
Click here for tickets, and more information. I hope to see you there!
The gateways to Westport just got a nice more welcoming.
This past weekend, 6 Rotary Club signs were updated. They include the new Rotary International logo, and include a 4-sided inspirational message.
It is a wish for peace to prevail in our homes, schools, communities, and on earth.
Westport’s 2 Rotary Clubs worked together on the project, with global peace builders Rick Benson and Dennis Wong.
The signs are at I-95 Exit 17 (on the northbound island); the Sherwood Island Connector across from the transfer station; Post Road East, at the Southport line; Post Road West, in front of Whole Foods; Merritt Parkway Exit 41, across from the former Red Barn restaurant, and on Route 136 near Norwalk.
The sign by Merritt Parkway Exit 42 disappeared a few years ago.
Rotary sign near Merritt Parkway Exit 41.
In addition, a peace pole was installed at Compo Beach. It’s part of the renovation of the playground — a major project of the Westport Rotary Club, in honor of its 100th anniversary.
Compo Beach playground peace pole. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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The new documentary short adaptation of “America’s Lost Band” — the story about The Remains, the legendary-but-never-quite-made-it band with Westporters Barry Tashian and Bill Briggs, who opened for the Beatles on their final US tour — is drawing plenty of attention.
Feature stories in the Boston Globe, Deadline Hollywood and Hartford Courant have praised the film, and shined a new light on the rock group.
Rock at Night called it a “priceless documentary.” It’s produced by longtime Remains fan — and 1971 Staples High School graduate — Fred Cantor.
Interested? Tonight (Monday, 9:30 p.m.) “America’s Lost Band” has its television premiere on CPTV.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), it begins streaming on PBS platforms, and YouTube.
Speaking of music: On Friday, high school jazz ensembles from around Connecticut — and as far away as Montreal — performed in the Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival at Greenwich High School.
Of course, Staples was there.
And of course, conductor Kevin Mazzarella’s musicians sounded superb.
Bands performed from 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. Two hours were set aside for instrumental master classes, and a performance by the faculty ensemble.
Staples Jazz Ensemble, with conductor Kevin Mazzarella (far left). (Hat tip and photo/Michael Mossman)
Just added to the Levitt Pavilion calendar: The Disco Biscuits’ 30th anniversary tour (June 28, 7 p.m.).
The Philadelphia group pioneered “Trance-Fusion” — bridging the gap between electronic dance music and jam rock.
Members pre-sale tickets are available today (Monday), at 10 a.m. Tickets for the general public begin Friday (April 11, 10 a.m.). Click here to order.
Among the upcoming events sponsored by Neighbors & Newcomers of Westport (which, if you think of it, encompasses just about everyone in town):
Spring coffee (April 11, 10 a.m., Mrs. London’s Bakery). Email membership@neighborsandnewcomersofwestport.com for more information.
Book group (April 24): “Olga Dies Dreaming,” by Xochitl Gonzalez). Email pohal@aol.com for details.
Cooking group (April 23): Alice in Wonderland High Tea: Themed dishes like
“Eat Me” cookies, tea sandwiches, scones and imaginative pastries; appropriate dress optional. Email mia.goldman@yahoo.com for details.
And finally … in honor of the Staples Jazz Ensemble’s appearance at the Essentially Ellington event (story above):
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We are concerned about the unintended consequences of a cell phone ban, and believe that if kids cannot access phones during their free time, they will instead be more inclined to do personal business on their computers during classroom time, and thereby create a tremendous problem for teachers.
There is one constant report among Staples graduates: that they leave Staples High School ready for the next level, whether that be college, the work force or the military.
O’Malley had access to plenty of books. But plenty of new parents and caregivers do not.
