Roundup: Malloy Lecture, Craig & Lindsay’s House, Longshore Sign …

Posted on February 16, 2025 | 1 comment

Since 2002, the Malloy Lecture in the Arts has brought some of the world’s most extraordinary creative voices to Westport.

Clive Davis, Arthur Miller, Joyce Carol Oates, Christopher Plummer, Salman Rushdie and others have sparked thought-provoking, engaging conversations for Westport Library audiences of all ages.

The lectures were underwritten by Westport artist Susan Malloy.

Now — thanks to the Malloy Fund for the Arts — the Library is reimagining the series.

The relaunched event will celebrate Westport’s artistic legacy, while also looking toward its future.

On March 6 (7 p.m.), the Library hosts an evening of conversation and storytelling. Some of Westport’s most influential artists will reflect on how this town has shaped generations of creatives.

Actor/director Jim Naughton — a Weston resident — will moderate the panel discussion. Participants include graphic artistMiggs Burroughs, whose work has defined the town’s artistic identity; Melody James, a leader in the arts known for fostering creative expression; and singer/ actor Melissa Newman, who launched her photo-based book about her parents, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, at the Library in 2023. All are Westport residents.

Ann Sheffer — a passionate arts advocate and philanthropist whose family’s contributions have helped shape the cultural fabric of Westport — will also speak.

Additional special guests will be added closer to the event.

Their conversation will explore how Westport has become a magnet for artists, performers and creatives for decades; how the town’s artistic spirit has evolved, and continues to thrive in new and exciting ways; and the role of the next generation in carrying forward Westport’s rich cultural heritage.

Susan Malloy

==================================================

Ever wished you could snag an invite to Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak’s house?

I’ve never gotten one. But thanks to the New York Times, I — and anyone else on the planet with internet — can check out a few highlights.

Today’s New York Times Real Estate section — and a previous digital feature several days ago — shows a few rooms. The new NBC “Today” host reveals how the family landed in Westport (it was midway between New York and Bristol, Connecticut, where she works for ESPN), and near a train station.

He talks about their strong relationship with the town (youth sports coaching, PTA, etc.).

And he shows off his grandmother’s beloved chair, and his own candle-making equipment.

All of the comments on the Times story are favorable. Many note how genuine and hard-working the couple is. Many others cite how lived-in and well-loved the house seems to be. It’s not fake or prettified, like many celebrities’ homes.

One commenter applauded the creases in the couch, as evidence that it’s actually used.

Click here for a tour of Craig and Lindsay’s home. (Hat tips: John Karrel, Les Dinkin)

Craig Melvin’s chair, vinyl and more. (Photo/Tony Cenicola for The New York Times)

==================================================

The entrance sign at Longshore was showing its age.

There’s a new one now — courtesy of Marty Rogers, Westport’s favorite sign-maker.

It looks a lot like the old one. But it’s fresher, cleaner — and, like its predecessor, will last for quite a while. (Hat tip: David Tetenbaum)

Henry Smith and Marty Rogers, of Marty’s Sign Design.

==================================================

As a busy doctor — and the mother of 2 — Jordan White doesn’t have a lot of time to dance.

But the 1994 Staples High School graduate is making time for Dancing with the Doctors. The April event pairs a Providence doctor with a professional dancer. Proceeds benefit Hope Health Hospice & Palliative Care.

Dr. White is a consultant medical director at the Rhode Island Department of Health, and a course leader in the Primary Care-Population Medicine Program at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

She focues on RIDOH’s refugee health program, family planning/reproductive justice, and the health of pregnant and parenting families.

Click here to vote for (and donate to) Dr. White.

Dr. Jordan White

================================================

Staples High School’s elite Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra performs a free concert on March 4 (2:45 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church).

The public is invited to this Y’s Men of Westport and Weston-sponsored event.

Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra

==================================================

Hernan Diaz — author of “In The Distance,” the Westport Library’s 2025 WestportREADS selection — entertained a large Trefz Forum audience Thursday, in a keynote conversation.

Catherine Shen — host of Connecticut Public’s morning talk show and podcast
“Where We Live” — asked provocative questions. Diaz answered scintillatingly, with depth and insight.

Catherine Shen chats with Hernan Diaz. (Photo/KT Kaminski)

=================================================

We all know the dog days of August.

Half a year away, here is a “Westport … Naturally” dog day of February.

(Photo/Bob Weingarten)

==================================================

And finally … on this date in 1923, Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

(Through snow, rain, sleet, hail — and brilliant sunshine — “06880” is here for you. We’re your 24/7/365 source for hyper-local news, events, opinions and more. Please click here to support us. Thanks!)

1 Comment

Posted in Arts, Library, Local business, Longshore

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Heating Bills High? 10 Top $aving Tip$

Posted on February 16, 2025 | 13 comments

As Westporters receive winter heating bills, they shiver.

Sustainable Westport feels your pain. To help, they encourage residents to transition to “reliable, resilient, renewable energy.”

They alsooffer many small changes and choices, which add up to big impacts. For example:

Schedule a Home Energy Assessment. A technician will visit your home and provide a detailed energy report, immediately install basic weatherization and energy-saving measures, and recommend other energy-saving improvements.

They will also provide information on rebates and financing for the recommended insulation projects, heat pumps and more. Participants pay $75 for this service. They receive, on average, $600 in services, and save up to $180 annually in return.

Homeowners are eligible for this service every 6 years. If you’ve had one long ago, it may be time for a repeat visit.

For information on a home energy assessment — including how to schedule one —   click here. For a first-person experience, click here.

– 

A home energy assessment includes bulb-checking.

Check your insulation. Effective insulation can reduce heating and cooling bills by 15% or more. As part of the recommendations from a home energy assessment, you could receive up to 75% off approved insulation upgrades.

Open (and close) curtains. Up to 30% of a home’s heating energy can be lost through windows. During the winter, open your curtains during the day to let the sunlight in. Close them at night to keep the cold air out.

Adjust your ceiling fan. Set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise. This helps push down warm air gathered near the ceiling, to heat the room evenly.

Lower your thermostat. Each degree is the equivalent of 1% energy savings. Turning the thermostat down 5 degrees can equate to a $100 annual fuel bill decrease. A smart thermostat can be a great tool to help do this automatically.

Set your water heater to 120℉. Hot water heaters use up to 17% of a home’s energy. Turning the temperature down can save 4% to 22% of the energy needed to heat your water.

The hotter your shower, the higher your bills.

 

Run full loads of laundry in cold water. 90% of the energy used by a washer is to heat the water. Washing in cold water can significantly lower your machine’s energy use.

Ensure all bulbs are LEDs. Switching 10 60-watt incandescent bulbs for the equivalent LEDs could save $300 or more per year.

Regular appliance maintenance. Replacing the filters on your HVAC equipment and performing other appliance maintenance routinely not only extends the life of your appliances, but ensures they run more efficiently, thus lowering energy costs.

Consider heat pumps. They are a clean, versatile heating and cooling solution that reduces greenhouse emissions. With rebates of up to $15,000, now is a great time to upgrade.

To find out more, register for Sustainable Westport’s “Heat Pumps 101” webinar (March 5, 7 to 8 p.m.). The panel includes heat pump experts, and Westporters who have installed heat pumps in their homes. Click here to register. 

(“06880” regularly covers the Westport environmental scene. We help you save money, too. We hope that, with a bit of those savings, you’ll support our hyper-local work. Just click here. Thank you!)

13 Comments

Posted in Environment

Tagged

Pics Of The Day #2859

Posted on February 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #2859

Earthplace, after this week’s snow

(Photos/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #2859

Posted in Pic of the Day, Weather

Tagged

TikTok: Students Speak

Posted on February 15, 2025 | 5 comments

TikTok is a staple of many Staples High School students’ lives. During the recent debate over its possible shutdown in the US, “06880” interns Avni Krishna and Camille Blundell set out to explore the app, and its hold on Westport teenagers. They write:

With over 1.582 billion users worldwide, TikTok stood to lose a whopping 170 million from its American audience when the Supreme Court upheld a ban on the beloved app.

Of that 170 million, 63% are ages 13-17. This large following meant the ban would be severely felt in communities of teens, both on TikTok and in real life.

Not only was it used as a creative and entertainment outlet for many, but it was also a place where community and like-minded individuals could find one another.

There was an initial shock, as teens opened their app and found it unscrollable. But the grief was rescinded in less than 12 hours.

What did they do during the half-day period of dopamine withdrawals? For many teens, the ban meant going onto other popular apps that had implemented a TikTok-like feature of short-form content in a scrollable algorithm.

Yet whether it was YouTube shorts, Rednote, Instagram reels, or even picking up a book, teens yearned for their familiar app.

When the app returned, many saw noticeable differences with their “For You” pages. First, users were greeted with a message stating, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”

This raised alarm bells, as a government and president’s involvement in an app regarding free speech can get complicated.

Users pointed out that political content was being censored, and artists and editors found it harder to meet the app’s harsh creation guidelines.

For many young people, this created a sense of dread. On one hand, the app that has been a staple in many Gen-Zers’ lives was back. On the other hand, the worries of creative and political censorship caused many to feel conflicted about their app use.

To learn more about youth’s perspective on the ban, we talked to 2 Staples students, senior Mia Bomback (who had a TikTok video go viral of her acceptance to Dartmouth) and sophomore Charlotte Brookebanks.

Click below to hear their thoughts:

5 Comments

Posted in Media, Staples HS, technology

Tagged ,

Roundup: Cabaret Ole, Art Scholarships, Westport Hardware & Playhouse …

Posted on February 15, 2025 | 1 comment

Staples Orphenians have shared their music with audiences all over the world. They’ve particiated in global educational events too.

This June, the elite high school choral group heads to the Spain Choral Festival

To ensure that every singer can particiapte, they’re hosting a “Cabaret Olé” fundraiser.

The March 30 event (6 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church) features members of
grammy-nominated VOCES8 and other Broadway stars, along with tapas, other light bites and a silent auction.

Funds raised will also support the VOCES8 Foundation, which is developing an educational music hub in the Westport area.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

Staples Orphenians

=================================================

Speaking of the arts: Less than 2 weeks remain for high school seniors to apply for $5,000 worth of scholarships.

The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center grants go to students with financial need who want to pursue an arts education at any level — university, community college or an arts school. All Westport 12th graders are eligible, no matter where they currently attend school.

The DFCAC is funding the scholarships. It was founded by Friedman — the downtown property owner, restauranteur (Onion Alley, Cobb’s Mill Inn, Stonehenge Inn) and philanthropist whose first wife Bobbie was an accomplished artist.

The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center also sponsors workshops and projects for students. The center is administered by Nick Visconti, Friedman’s longtime business partner.

To apply, students who currently participate in art classes or art activities should send up to 8 digital images (JPEGs) of their work. It can be any medium — photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, digital art, or other.

Applicants should also submit a statement of up to 300 words describing the value of art in their life, and the world at large.

Send images and the statement (or any questions) to info@DrewFriedmanCommunityArtsCenter.org (subject line: “2025 Scholarship”). The deadline is February 28.

2024 Drew Friedman Scholarship winners Chloe Hackett and Mia Vindola (holding checks) with (from left) DFCAC co-directors Miggs Burroughs and Nick Visconti, and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker.

================================================

Speaking still of the arts: The Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Hardware may seem to have little in common.

But they’ve teamed up on a special “buy one, get one free” offer for the upcoming production of “Native Gardens.”

The show’s theme is “good fences make good neighbors (or do they?)” — and of course Westport Hardware sells every type of garden accessory imaginable.

For more information, and tickets, click here, or call the box office (203-227-4177). Use or mention the prmoo code “COMMUNITYBOGO.”

Fences — common to the Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Hardware.

==================================================

Congratulations to John DiBartolomeo!

The 2009 Staples High School basketball star — who went on to earn Division III National Player of the Year honors at the University of Rochester — has had a long professional career in Israel.

On Thursday, his Maccabi Tel Aviv team won the prestigious Israeli Cup.

Click here to read all about his pro career. (Hat tip: Chuck Haberstroh)

John DiBartolomeo

================================================

Speaking of sports: DiBartolomeo’s fellow 2009 Staples graduate Parker Kligerman won his 4th-ever NASCAR Truck Series race this week, an event leading up to the Daytona 500.

But he was disqualified an hour later. His truck failed ride height checks, and was too low in the rear. His team said they’d appeal.

Click here and click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)

Parker Kligerman

==============================================

Yesterday’s “06880” Friday Flashback noted that there are 19 Westports in the United States, and 22 around the world.

Right on cue (and it was actually the next day there), Pippa Bell Ader checked in.

She and her husband David are in New Zealand, visiting her sister. Here’s one of the Aders’ stops, on the west coast of the South Island:

==================================================

Doris Ghitelman captured yesterday’s full “snow moon” yesterday. Her intriguing “Westport … Naturally” image was taken at the Saugatuck train station.

(Photo/Doris Ghitelman)

==================================================

And finally … on this date in 1764, the city of St. Louis was established in Spanish Louisiana (now Missouri).

(If it happens in Westport, Connecticut — or Westport, New Zealand — you’ll read about it on “06880.” If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, with a global twist, please click here. Thank you!)

 

1 Comment

Posted in Arts, Library, Local business, Sports, Staples HS, Westport Country Playhouse

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Online Art Gallery #253

Posted on February 15, 2025 | 1 comment

Happy Valentine’s Weekend!

And winter still lingers.

We’re celebrating both in our online art gallery this week. But no matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.

This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.

Just email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.

“A Burst of Love” — acrylic impasto (Dorothy Robertshaw)

Untitled (Rowene Weems)

Untitled (Duane Cohen)

“Pier-ing Through” (Patricia McMahon)

“Kuhli Moo” — digital illustration (Ken Runkel)

“Cooper, A Beloved Pet” (Roseann Spengler)

“Bull Chasing Bitcoin” — oil on canvas, at Westport River Gallery (Mona)

Mike Hibbard’s caption: “When you have a long, wet tongue, you don’t need a tissue.”

“My Kitchen Drawer” (Jo Ann Davidson)

“Turning Yellow” (Jerry Kuyper)

“Collected Images” (Peter Barlow)

“Automation and AI — Humans Need Not Apply!” — watercolor (Steve Stein)

Untitled (Lawrence Weisman)

(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)

1 Comment

Posted in Arts

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sail On, Young Sailors!

Posted on February 15, 2025 | 3 comments

It’s mid-February — Valentine’s and Presidents Day season.

Which makes it the perfect time to talk about … sailing.

Gina Lewis’ children have participated in local  programs for years. They’ve made friends up and down Long Island Sound.

As parents start to think about summer programs, Gina wants to spread the word about her kids’ sport. She writes:

There are a million reasons Westport is special, but one of the most extraordinary is our incredible access to the coastline — and with it, the sport of sailing.

From first tacking at Longshore Sailing School to competing at a championship level at Cedar Point and Pequot Yacht Clubs, Westport youngsters have an unparalleled opportunity to embrace a sport that builds life skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships.

Fun …

Longshore has been a rite of passage for generations. It’s the perfect introduction to sailing, where countless kids have learned to read the wind, navigate the water, and fall in love with the sport.

But many families don’t realize that once their young sailors are ready for the next level, both Cedar Point and Pequot Yacht Clubs offer incredible junior sailing programs.

You don’t have to be a member to learn to sail. Their programs are open to non-members.

Starting in Optimists — small single handed boats, led by high school and college sailors — kids learn the basics of sailing and navigation. For a few hours every morning they are taught to rig sails, understand the wind and handle a boat out on the water.

The pride and independence they develop is amazing to see, when they bring their parents along for the annual sunset sail.

… independence …

Once kids grow out of Optimists, they have a choice to sail a Laser (single- handed), or partner with a friend to sail a Feva or a C420.

These boats are more complex and faster, allowing young sailors s to continue to grow throughout their teenage years.

… a group lesson …

In the summer, young sailors participate in Junior Sailing Association of Long Island races. They meet and race against peers from Larchmont to Milford, and across the Sound to Oyster Bay and Centerport.

At Staples High School, sailing team members race C420s in the fall (club season) and spring (varsity season).

The team practices at Pequot, and sails in regattas against local high school once a week. (Their Instagram is @staples.sailing.)

… catching the wind …

Our kids enjoy their summer program so much, they now sail year-round with a local team.  Sailing has  introduced them to people and places from all over the country. They have been fortunate enough to experience amazing places and cultures through sailing.

Pequot Yacht Club’s junior sailing registration is now open. The season kicks off June 16.

Both Pequot and Cedar Point boast superb coaching staffs, and an environment where older sailors mentor and guide the next generation. That’s a testament to the camaraderie and character-building the sport fosters.

Westport’s coastline is unmatched. But it’s the access to sailing — and the friendships, skills, and memories it cultivates — that make it even more special.

… and they’re off!

(“06880” regularly covers youth activities, sports — and much, much more. If you appreciate our 24/7/365 work, please click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)

3 Comments

Posted in Beach, Local business, Longshore, Sports, Teenagers

Tagged , ,

Pics Of The Day #2858

Posted on February 14, 2025 | 1 comment

Scenes from this week’s snow: Compo Beach cannons …

… and pavilion …

… and South Beach (Photos/Ed Hulina)

1 Comment

Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day, Weather

Tagged , ,

Wallflowers Step Into VersoFest Spotlight

Posted on February 14, 2025 | Comments Off on Wallflowers Step Into VersoFest Spotlight

Dylan is coming to VersoFest!

Not Bob. As impressive and high-powered as the Westport Library’s annual music and media festival is, it can’t (yet) snag the Nobel Prize-winning singer/ songwriter/cultural icon.

But his son Jakob — creator, frontman and lead vocalist of the Wallflowers — brings his alt-rock band to the Trefz Forum on Friday night, April 4.

For over 30 years, the Wallflowers have honed a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting, definitely modern musical attack.

They’ve sold more than 10 million albums, and won 2 Grammys.

Jakob Dylan

Their recordings include 1996’s “Bringing Down the Horse” — with hits like “One Headlight,” “Three Marlenas,” and “6th Avenue Heartache” — as well as “Breach,” “Rebel, Sweetheart” and “Glad All Over.”

In recent years Dylan stepped outside the band, with a pair of acoustic, rootsy records, then with the 2018 film “Echo in the Canyon.” He collaborated on the soundtrack with Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Beck and Fiona Apple.

Dylan returned to the Wallflowers in 2021, with a fresh group of musicians.

Despite the hiatus, Exit Wounds was a return to the band’s signature sound, even as Dylan surrounded himself with a fresh cast of musicians.

“I came up in an era of great rock ‘n’ roll bands making great music, and it’s the way I always imagined I would do it one day,” he says.

“That’s always been my vision with the Wallflowers: to be a great rock ‘n’ roll band. I’ve worked on it for 30 years now, and I still have a lot to say. It’s something I started a long time ago, and it’s far from finished.”

The Wallflowers’ show is not the only VersoFest highlight. The night before (April 3), rock star and National Book Award winner Patti Smith kicks off the 4-day festival.

In addition to the Wallflowers and Smith, this year’s VersoFest includes hardcore punk pioneer Henry Rollins, and longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer.

There is a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” special exhibits by local graffiti artist 5ive Fingaz, a gospel revival, workshops and more.

Click here for details on all the VersoFest events — and to purchase tickets.

Comments Off on Wallflowers Step Into VersoFest Spotlight

Posted in Entertainment, Library

Tagged , ,

Friday Flashback #437

Posted on February 14, 2025 | 8 comments

Saugatuck was Westport’s first commercial and residential center.

In the 1830s, when we broke away from Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield it was a thriving place, with wharves, businesses, factories, churches, schools and farms.

So why did our town fathers choose the name “Westport,” instead of “Saugatuck”?

The story I always heard is that a state representative did not like being called “the legislator from Succotash” in Hartford.

Other reasons: it was a simple description of a port west of Fairfield; it was an acknowledgment that the new town was more than just Saugatuck, and that a new name symbolized a fresh start.

A section of Robert Lambdin’s “Saugatuck in the 19th Century” mural. It hung for many years in the Saugatuck branch of Westport Bank & Trust, on the corner of Charles and Franklin Streets.

And that, I thought, was that.

But Jeff Van Gelder — a native Westporter, and Staples High School graduate — recently unearthed a New York Times story from December 2, 1923.

“Leading citizens,” the paper says, launched a “Back to Saugatuck” movement, to restore the original, distinctive name.

There was only one other Saugatuck in the world, they argued (in Michigan — named by a former resident of our town). However, there were 18 other Westports in the US, and 22 around the world.

That caused “onfusion of the mails and the long-distance telephone calls intended for the different Westports,” the Times reported.

The Connecticut Westport — population nearly 5,000 — claimed “the largest and most noted art colony in the United States.” It boasted “a dozen different industrial plants.” And it recently completed a Young Men’s Christian Association, thanks to a $300,000 gift from E.T. Bedford.

Westport’s brand-new YMCA.

“Saugatuck,” the Times said, came from an Indian word “Sauki-tuk,” which meant “outlet from a tidal river.”

The “agitation for the restoration of the town’s old name” was led by John Adams Thayer. It was supported by Professor Harry M. Ayres, who was a member of the Connecticut Legislature, “and many othe prominent citizens who believe the community will benefit by such a change.”

But that seems to be the high water mark for the proposal. The Times did not report on it again.

We had been Westport for 88 years.

Now — 101 years later — we still are.

A detail from Lambdin’s mural shows the Bridge Street (now Cribari) Bridge.

(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!)

8 Comments

Posted in Friday Flashback, Saugatuck

Tagged ,