Take out your earbuds. Move over, Spotify. You’re so old school, iTunes.
Staples students are embracing a cutting-edge new technology: radio.
But not just any radio: a 1940s-style radio drama.
Tomorrow (Friday, December 19, 11 a.m.), Jim Honeycutt’s Audio Production class and David Roth’s Theater 3 Acting class collaborate on a radio broadcast of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
They’ll use the original 1947 script — including advertisements from that long-ago time.
Two years ago, a similar WWPT-FM production won 1st and 2nd place awards in the John Drury national high school radio competition. Check it out:
It’s a phenomenal event — and a great undertaking. High school students incorporate live drama skills, sound effects and radio production into an entertaining, uplifting performance.
You can hear it locally on 90.3 FM. Or — in a modern twist unavailable during the Truman administration — you can listen to the livestream anywhere in the world. Just click on www.wwptfm.com, then go to “Listen Live” and “Click here to access the district stream.”
Yesterday’s announcement by Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro of a new relationship between their 2 nations surprised Americans and Cubans alike.
The news was particularly stunning for the small number of Westporters with Cuban heritage.
Yvonne Sabin Claveloux
Yvonne Sabin Claveloux is a 1983 graduate of Staples High School. She grew up here, but her parents are Cuban. She says:
I think it’s time, but I have very mixed feelings. On the positive side, this gives hope that it will open dialogue to address issues in a diplomatic level.
On the negative, it will give the Castros a lifeline at a moment when they are desperate due to Venezuela’s crash due to decline in oil prices. There are also no concessions regarding the human rights of the Cuban people.
Tony Hernandez is 80 years old. He was born and raised in Cuba, but left in 1960. He says:
I feel that President Obama’s decision to normalize relations with Cuba’s communist regime is a very positive step. It ends 53 years of isolation, and simultaneously eases all the vicissitudes and misery the Cuban people have been suffering.
His daughter, Maite Hernandez, says:
I just read that 7 million tourists are expected to visit Cuba, as opposed to 2 million in the past year. On the one hand, the flow of visitors and the money they bring will definitely boost the economy of Cuba, at a time where they have run out of countries to support them. I just hope this will translate to a better economic level for the local Cubans.
It remains to be seen whether human rights issues will be addressed. There can be no compromise regarding this matter. Otherwise this move by President Obama will be seen as political, with the only purpose of securing himself a place in the history books.
The restaurant — which never quite figured out whether it was a kids’ spot or upscale, or eat-in or takeout — has been replaced by a large “For Lease” sign.
“Prime Retail” is optimistic. It’s a tough spot: Minimal parking, in a small strip mall, on a 1-way section of the Post Road.
Even the very popular Great Cakes next door had a tough go.
On the other hand, there seems to be an endless supply of nail salons ready to file in to any open space.
Westporter Mark Naftalin is going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And not just to see the exhibits.
The keyboardist will be inducted in April, along with fellow members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The seminal blues-rock band joins Ringo Starr, Green Day, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bill Withers in the “Class of 2015.”
Mark Naftalin (3rd from left) with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
According to the Hall of Fame website, Naftalin — along with bandmates including Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop —
converted the country-blues purists and turned on the Fillmore generation to the pleasures of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon and Elmore James. With the release of their blues-drenched debut album in the fall of 1965, and its adventurous “East-West” followup in the summer of 1966, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band kicked open a door that brought a defining new edge to rock and roll.
And they played at Monterey:
After leaving the band in 1968, Naftalin — the son of former Minneapolis mayor Arthur Naftalin — produced records, concerts, festivals and radio shows.
He started his own label, recording with Duane Allman, Canned Heat, Percy Mayfield, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, Big Joe Turner and James Cotton.
He’s been a sideman on over 100 albums — including the great jangly piano riff on Brewer & Shipley’s “One Toke Over the Line.”
Last night, Naftalin reflected on what he calls “a great honor.” He is proud of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s interracial makeup; grateful to have worked with such creative, energetic musicians, and gratified that from the 1960s through today, people tell him the group’s music meant something to them.
“We’ve gotten fervent testimonials that we helped get someone through high school, college or Vietnam,” Naftalin said.
“And a number of musicians have said they were drawn to exploring blues music because of our influence. It’s a real privilege to be a little part of that.”
Mark Naftalin today.
He and his wife Ellen — a 1967 Staples High School grad — started coming to Westport in 1991, the year they got married in the house she grew up in. They moved here permanently in 2002.
Naftalin will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. You can go to Cleveland for the ceremony.
Or you can head to the Westport Historical Society on December 31. From 6-8 p.m. he’s at the electric piano, part of his 7th annual First Night gig.
You can catch “Mark Naftalin and Friends” at the Pequot Library too, the weekend of January 17-18. He’ll play the Steinway concert grand.
It’s a long way from Monterey to Westport. But that detour to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes it all worthwhile.
Yesterday — as noted on WestportNow — the town’s School Bus Task Force toured Baron’s South. The town is exploring ways to save the $250,000 we spend each year leasing space from Dattco, on Post Road East across from Playhouse Square.
Meanwhile, tomorrow (Thursday, December 18, 2 p.m., Town Hall Room 201), the Planning and Zoning Commission’s open space subcommittee meets. They’ll discuss rezoning certain areas of town as — you guessed it — open space.
One example: Baron’s South. Right now, Winslow Park — across the Post Road, on Compo North — is zoned as open space. But Baron’s South is considered residential.
That means the town could sell it. A housing project could be built there.
Or it could be used for bus parking.
The P&Z open space meeting is open to the public. No word on whether School Bus Task Force members will also attend.
iFloat is a downtown oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Last year, owner David Conneely thought of putting up decorations to brighten the drab Main Street scene. But he was too busy — that’s what happens when you run a business that helps people slow down — so it never happened.
This year, he lit some candles. He wasn’t satisfied, but it was a start.
Yesterday, he read an “06880” post about another dismal, decorations-less downtown holiday season.
This morning — as in, 2 a.m. — David was hard at work adding color to the iFloat windows above Oscar’s.
He’s proud of his work. And, he notes, he bought the lights locally. So he looks forward to bringing his receipt to the Spotted Horse, for a free dessert.
The view from inside, looking toward Tavern on Main.
Most people drive down Myrtle Avenue on their way to — or from — somewhere else.
Some head to Town Hall, or the Westport Historical Society. Others use it as a shortcut to or from town.
But to the folks who live in the handsome homes there, Myrtle Avenue is not a narrow through street. It’s a neighborhood.
In the hustle and bustle of modern Westport life, though, it seldom felt like one.
Myrtle Avenue: grace, beauty — and neighborliness — in the heart of downtown.
Last year, Estelle Margolis — she lives at #72 — invited everyone to her lovingly maintained 1790 home. Neighbors Rondi Charleston and Page Englehart helped plan the get-together.
Over 2 dozen neighbors showed up. Some were old-timers; others had just moved in. They talked about who they were, where they came from, and what brought them to Westport.
They named themselves the MAGs — for Myrtle Avenue Gang — and shared e-mail addresses.
Since then, they’ve had more cocktail parties in various homes. They arrive early, and stay late.
Beyond the food and drink, Estelle says, “We’ve found out how everyone on the street is interesting, caring and kind.”
The most recent MAG party was last Sunday. It’s a busy time of year, but plenty of people came. In the holiday spirit, Estelle asked them to bring kids’ books. They’ll be delivered to a Bridgeport home for abused mothers and children.
Estellel Margolis (center), surrounded by Myrtle Avenue neighbors. (Photo/Rondi Charleston)
“MAGs are now much more than neighbors,” Estelle says. “We are dear friends, very close by, all available for help that any one of us might need.”
“Estelle brought us together in the spirit of love and support, as only she can,” notes Rondi Charleston. “We are so grateful for her.”
“We feel very lucky we landed on Myrtle Avenue,” Estelle says, speaking for so many MAGs.
“We’re in the heart of downtown Westport — and as close to heaven as we can get!”
In 2005, President Bush signed into law a bill pushed by the NRA. It shields gun manufacturers from most forms of civil litigation.
But yesterday — the day after the 2nd anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre — 10 Newtown families sued Bushmaster Firearms, the maker of the gun used in that rampage.
Josh Koskoff
Josh Koskoff represents the victims. Last night, the 1984 Staples High School graduate and longtime Westport resident talked to Rachel Maddow about that wrongful death suit.
It’s a tough case, he admitted. Gun manufacturers have broad immunity.
“This is an industry that makes the world’s most dangerous product,” he said. “But you can’t sue them.”
However, he told the MSNBC host, he’s undaunted. His clients are “so worthy.” He and his colleagues at Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder believe they have found a way to win.
“We’ve got a case here,” the attorney told Maddow.
Josh Koskoff on “Rachel Maddow” last night.
It’s clear he feels a personal stake in this battle.
“If we didn’t take this case — in our own backyard — we might as well just fold up,” he said.
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Tomorrow (Friday, December 19, 11 a.m.), Jim Honeycutt’s Audio Production class and David Roth’s Theater 3 Acting class collaborate on a radio broadcast of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
