Sometimes I’m a cranky Westporter complaining about the rudeness and dangerous drivers at 4-way stops, especially along Cross Highway.
But the other night I was gobsmacked by a young man at McDonald’s. He kept waiting to hold the door for me — and then insisted on paying for my burger when I realized I had to run back to my car for my forgotten credit card.
I patted him on the back and asked, “What made you the nicest person in the world?”
I am elated to see such kindness and generosity from a Gen Z-er. It’s a generation I study for business, and don’t always give a good rap to.
Pay it forward!
(To nominate an Unsung Hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com)
(“Unsung Hero” is a weekly feature. If you enjoy it — or anything else on “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Staples High School field hockey team is one win away from a state championship.
The #2-seeded Wreckers dominated #3 Glastonbury yesterday, in the Class “L” (large schools) semifinal at Amity High.
The score was only 2-0 — on goals by Mary Stevens and Leah Larit — but the Westporters did not allow the Guardians any shots on goal.
The title match is this Saturday (November 18, Wethersfield High School, 11 a.m.). The Wreckers face #1-ranked Darien. The Blue Wave squeaked by Wilton, 3-2 in overtime, yesterday.
Darien captured the first 2 meetings of the schools this year. They edged Staples 3-2 in overtime during the regular season, then took the FCIAC (league) championship 3-0 earlier this month.
Coach Ian Tapsall’s girls are shooting for their 5th Connecticut crown. They won it all 4 years in a row, from 2016-19, but have not been back to the final since.
Staples’ girls soccer team was denied a chance at their 3rd straight state championship. Seeded 3rd in “LL” (extra large schools), they fell 4-3 to their archrival, #2 St. Joseph, 4-3 at Fairfield Warde last night.
The Cadets — 2-time reigning champions in the “L” (large) division who moved up to “LL” this year, and who as a private school draw players from outside Trumbull — overcame a 2-goal deficit to win.
Staples and St. Joseph tied 1-1 in the regular season — the only blemish on the Cadets’ 20-0-1 record. They took the FCIAC title over coach Barry Beattie’s Wreckers, with a nail-biting 2-1 win.
US youth national team player Natalie Chudowsky scored twice for Staples last night. Annabel Edwards added the other.
The 2023 Staples field hockey team.
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You may know Rex Fowler as the very talented founder of Aztec Two-Step, the folk-rock duo that, despite being “no hit wonders,” has enjoyed a devoted cult following for half a century.
You may also know Rex Fowler as a fellow Westporter. He and his wife, Dodie Pettit — an even longer resident — now comprise Aztec Two-Step 2.0.
Now Rex has added another credit to his long list of achievements. “200 Cadillacs” — his new documentary featuring interviews with people who were recipients of Elvis Presley’s gift of choice (a shiny new car) will show tomorrow (Thursday, November 16, Sacred Heart Community Theatre, downtown Fairfield).
A talkback with Rex — who wrote most of the music — follows the screening. It’s hosted by Susan Granger.
Reviewer Leonard Maltin wrote: “I like Elvis well enough, but I’m not a
devotee, and I never thought I’d find this film as compelling as I did.”
Irwin Lebish has been a veterinarian for almost 70 years, and a member of the Westport Rotary Club for 23 years (president from 2011-’12).
But, he says, he has been playing piano “always. Area residents known him from many bands, and the Jazz Doctors trio.
Yesterday, he treated his fellow Rotarians to a jazz concert, with songs like “I’ll Remember April,” “Fried Pies,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’
He was accompanied by his son Scott on electric bass guitar.
Irwin’s pre-holiday recitals are a Rotary tradition.
And finally … in honor of Rex Fowler’s Elvis-themed “200 Cadillacs” film (story above):
(Elvis never gave “06880 a Cadillac. But our readers are welcome to contribute to this hyper-local blog. Please click here. Thank you — and viva Westport!)
Nothing could deter dozens of Westporters, who gathered before dawn yesterday morning at The Conservative Synagogue.
They waited for 2 buses to take them to Washington, for a nationwide March for Israel.
Then they waited … and waited … but the buses never came.
Undaunted, they decided to drive. They figured out drivers, loaded their belongings, and — in 38 cars — headed south.
They arrived a few hours later. Danielle Dobin reports:
“The crowd of almost 300,000 fell completely silent as the families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas shared their painful experiences. Everyone present recommitted to bringing the hostages home. I hope people will take the time to listen to the powerful remarks of Rachel Goldberg, the mother of someone abducted from the music festival.
“An invading army of terrorists purposefully kidnapped people from their homes, from a concert, babies from their cribs … and some Americans are cheering this or sanitizing it with words like ‘justified resistance’ is hard to fathom. Standing up to oppose this is why we needed to drop everything to be present yesterday.
“This was a profoundly patriotic crowd. American flags were everywhere — woven into people’s hair, printed on shirts and hats, worn as capes, waving on flagpoles. There were also many, many Israeli flags.
“Attendees proudly showed their faces. No one was masked.
“Jews, Christians and Muslims marched. Some folks were ardent supporters of Netanyahu and others were vocal detractors. Republicans and Democrats spoke. Everyone put aside their differences to demand the release of the hostages, declare their solidarity with the state of Israel, and to decry the proliferation of antisemitism on college campuses.
“My brother and I met multiple large groups of non-Jewish Israel supporters from the Midwest and beyond who flew in just for the demonstration. Their expressions in the photo below capture their energy.
“The buses scheduled to bring us gathered at the Conservative Synagogue failed to show up. We don’t know if this was a result of incompetence by the bus company, or if it can be attributed to antisemitism. We mostly piled into cars and drove down in big groups. There was a vibrant contingent of Westporters present, from school-aged children to grandparents.”
Danielle Dobin (2nd from left), and friends.
Danielle Dobin also sent this photo, from the Metro …
(Photo/Danielle Dobin)
… while (below, from left) Rabbi Zach Plesent, Adam Blau and Bryan Bierman of Temple Israel gathered …
… and Arthur Hayes added this ,,,
From left: Arthur and Lisa Hayes with their son James, a Staples High School freshman. (Photo/Arthur Hayes)
,,, and Temple Israel executive director Bryan Bierman sent this:
Those are some of the things that most worry Westport’s Board of Education.
The question “What keeps you up at night?” was one of many asked at yesterday’s “Community Conservations.”
All 7 BOE members, and Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice. joined the midday meeting that drew a large crowd to the Westport Library.
Christina Torres answered the question first. “Mental health,” she said firmly. “Grades, social media, homework — it all contributes.”
Kevin Christie’s key concern is that “every student feels a sense of belonging, so they can reach their full potential.” He knows every student may not always feel that way, despite the best efforts of the BOE, administrators and staff.
Robert Harrington called Westport’s $140 million budget “massive. And it puts the focus on us to be as efficient as we can, particularly outside the classroom.” He cited $7-$8 million in transportation costs as an example of an item that must constantly be scrutinized.
Dorie Hordon worries about “the way the world is right night. There is so much division and anger. Maneuvering through it, to mold kids into competent, thoughtful humans, is very tough.”
From left: Board of Education members Christina Torres, Kevin Christie, Robert Harrington, Dorie Hordon, Liz Heyer, Neil Phillips and Lee Goldstein; superintendent of schools Tom Scarice. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Liz Heyer — who leaves the Board of Ed on Monday, to join the Board of Finance — said that thinking about “how we innovate as a district” keeps her up, “in a positive way.” Among the innovations to consider: embracing artificial intelligence. Education will change “in ways we can’t yet imagine,” and the board must be prepared for those changes, she said.
Neil Phillips noted that “anxiety, and pressure on our kids to succeed, is pervasive. Every board decision has an impact on them. I think about every decision we make. I know all 7 members take every decision very seriously.”
Their comments — personal and specific — followed other thoughtful questions and answers. After several months filled with controversy, and a contentious election campaign, the community conversation was broad, deep and clear.
There was general consensus about the issues facing the school district, and a seeming desire to seek common ground to address them.
The board members agreed, for example, that social media is a major concern — and not the schools’ alone.
The district’s digital citizenship approach is “like throwing water on an inferno,” Scarice admitted. “Kids are exposed to a lack of civility in general.”
Hordon advocated for a class on the subject in high school, adding, “Of course, it should be reinforced at home.”
School security got high marks, with Scarice and BOE members noting that many details cannot be made public. Harrington lauded the close cooperation between the superintendent and Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
A downside of a high-performing district like Westport’s is that students feel pressured, at a young age, to specialize — choosing one sport or one activity like drama to concentrate on, one questioner said.
Scarice said, “It is a problem.” Calling himself a “type A person,” he said, “In pursuit of excellence, we may narrow our focus. It is something worthy of inquiry.”
The final question was about antisemitism.
It’s part of both the instructional curriculum and the district’s SEL (social and emotional learning). “We celebrate our differences, and also embrace our shared humanity,” Goldstein explained.
“We always address it in the schools. People need to speak up about it, and we need an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up.”
Scarice — who has reached out to local rabbis, and who praised the ADL for their practical, scenario-based training with staff — concluded, “We’ve added ‘B’ to DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion).
“The ‘B’ stands for belonging. That feeling of acceptance is at the core of everything we do.”
(“06880” covers education — and every other aspect of Westport life. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Smoke shops threatened to join nail salons as Westport’s most ubiquitous businesses.
But a Planning & Zoning Commission vote last night snuffed out more openings.
After lengthy debate on the proliferation of the stores — which sell vaping and related products, and often include bright lighting — the board voted 5-2 on a text amendment to prohibit all future shops with more than 20% of the inventory or square footage devoted to smoking merchandise.
Danielle Dobin, Michael Cammeyer, Neil Cohn, Paul Lebowitz and Jon Olefson were in favor of the regulation. Patrizia Zucaro and John Bolton were against it.
In addition, stores selling smoking- and vaping-related products below the 20% threshold must now secure a special permit via a special hearing. The regulation will prohibit “candy stores” from skirting the smoking rules.
The P&Z also voted to ban all neon-like signs and displays (including LED lights) that project outside stores.
The P&Z meeting was chair Danielle Dobin’s last. Earlier this month, she was elected to the Board of Finance.
Current members — and attorney Eric Bernheim, who represented a client on a non-smoking matter — praised her for her service.
This morning, she told “06880” that she was proud to have accomplished the smoking-shop text amendment before leaving the P&Z.
Savvy Smoker on Post Road East drew criticism last night, for its products, its exterior signage, and its bright interior displays.
Six million American children experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they turn 18 — 1 in 12 kids. Yet many people struggle with what to say when someone dies, making kids (and adults) feel different and alone.
November is Children’s Grief Awareness Month. Doing its part, Westport-based non-profit Experience Camps offers concrete language tweaks everyone can use, to create a more grief-sensitive society.
They’re “flipping the script” — literally. Click here to read some comments we often say (“You need to be strong”); then click the comment to flip it to something more meaningful (“You may feel like you need to be strong, but you don’t have to be with me”).
Experience Camps helps children cope with the death of a parent or sibling, with an extensive and innovative series of summer camps and year-round programs.
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Two Staples High School teams have reached the semifinals of state tournaments.
Both games are today. And both promise to be great matches.
The 2-time defending state champion girls soccer squad — ranked #3 in the CIAC “LL” (extra large schools) division — faces #2 St. Joseph at 6:30 p.m. tonight, at Fairfield Warde High.
It will be the third meeting of the year between the longtime rivals. In the regular season, they battled to a 1-1 draw. The Cadets eked out a 1-0 victory in the FCIAC (league) final.
Two hours earlier — 4:30 p.m., at Amity Regional in Woodbridge — the #2-ranked Wrecker field hockey team takes on #3 Glastonbury.
The timing is tight. But with a little luck, fans can catch at least part of each game.
And with all their talent (and a little luck), both Staples teams will be victorious.
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Amazon Fresh — the highly anticipated, high-tech grocery store that was supposed to replace Barnes & Noble near Little Barn, then turned into a half-finished, unopened “zombie store” — may soon sprout back to life.
Bisnow reports that Amazon is moving forward with expansion plans.
Stores will be redesigned, and add coffee and donuts. It’s a pivot away from what Bloomberg calls its “tech-heavy strategy” of the past.
Amazon will redesign stores and add offerings like coffee and donuts, with an emphasis on these items instead of the tech-heavy strategy it employed in the past, according to Bloomberg.
“We will have a good pipeline for next year,” Amazon Fresh worldwide vice president Claire Peters said. “What we won’t do is open stores aimlessly.”
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Don Spiegelman)
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Was politics on or off the table last night at Tarantino?
We’re not sure. But there definitely was a ton of experience last night, at the Saugatuck restaurant.
Five current or former members of the Board of Selectmen/women got together, along with a former Board of Finance member. Can you name all these once and present town officials?
Sitting (from left): Former 3rd selectman Charlie Haberstroh, Karen Hess, current 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, former Board of Finance member Ed Iannone, former 2nd selectman Avi Kaner. Standing: Former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, current 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
The VFW is well known for its “Jazz at the Post” Thursday night series.
But there’s more jazz at Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 on Riverside Avenue this Wednesday (November 15 (7 p.m.).
The US Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble — featuring Westport trumpeter Michael Mossman — comes to town for a concert. It’s part of their extended Veterans Day tour in the tri-state area.
They’ll also host students from Westport and Bridgeport, for pre-concert workshops.
It’s all free — courtesy of the United States Air Force.
Yesterday’s Roundup included the great news that Clemson University’s men soccer teams won their 2nd ACC championship in 4 years, with a penalty kick win over the University of North Carolina.
The Tigers boast 2 Westport connections: Head coach Mike Noonan (a star on Staples’ 1978 state championship team), and reserve keeper Paddy Donovan (Staples ’22).
Somehow, a photo of the 2 was not published. It’s a great one (below). Go Tigers!
Coach Mike Noonan and goalkeeper Paddy Donovan.
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Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sam Green pushes the bounds of theatrical experience with live score/narrated documentaries like “The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller” with Yo La Tengo, “A Thousand Thoughts” with the Kronos Quartet, and “The Weather Underground,” chronicling the rise and fall of the radical political organization.
On December 8 (6:30 p.m.), the Lundberg Family Foundation Master Film Series welcomes Green’s latest Sundance and South by Southwest-selected documentary, “32 Sounds.”
The film is “a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us (through a) wholly unique, sensory rich experience.”
Each member of the audience receives headphones for an immersive “binaural audio experience” (spatial sound technology that gives listeners a clear sense of space).
Green will take part in a post-screening Q&A with the audience. The event is free. bit requires registration (click here).
“The One Note Man” — an award-winning Christmas love story about a lonely bassoonist, produced by Westporter Rita Marcocci — will be shown at the Westport Library on December 10 (2 p.m.).
A talkback follows with the film’s actor star Jason Watkins; Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, writer/director George Siougas, and executive producer — and Westporter — Rita Marcocci.
Matt Murray describes today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, of Compo Road South near Bradley Street:
“Every year since I’ve lived near the beach. I go by this street as it changes colors. Some years it’s very red. Some, like this year, it’s this shade of orange.”
And finally … on this day in 1900, composer Aaron Copland was born. The “Dean of American Composers” died 90 years later, leaving behind a rich legacy of music evoking the vast American landscape, and pioneer spirit.
(Joy, grief; music, sports, film — it’s all here, like every “Roundup” every day. If you appreciate this feature, or any other on your hyper-local blog, please click here to support us. Thank you!)
26-28 Beachside Avenue — Harvey Weinstein’s property, next to Burying Hill Beach, and the one adjacent to it — is on the market for $17,900,000. The 2 lots on 5.65 acres include 454 feet of waterfront, and a beach.
Longtime Westporter and open space advocate Scott Smith writes:
If the good citizens of Westport can over the years pony up funds to purchase Longshore Club Park, Winslow Park, Baron’s South, Allen’s Clam House and other unique properties around town, why wouldn’t we consider acquiring the 5-plus acre parcel on Beachside Avenue adjacent to Burying Hill Beach?
26-28 Beachside Avenue is to the left of Burying Hill Beach. (Photo copyright GMLS IDX)
While it’s great to see investment in the restored jetty, as a municipal property Burying Hill is still woefully neglected and in serious need of further climate-mitigation repair.
The roadway and parking area are increasingly under water at high tides.
And let’s face it: Despite its spectacular location, with limited facilities, an awkward layout and poor access, Burying Hill is underwhelming as a recreational venue.
Buying the adjoining land at 26-28 Beachside Avenue would allow for the entrance roadway to be moved away from New Creek, and create an opportunity to reimagine the park as a public greenspace along a scenic tidal estuary with unparalleled bluff-side views of Long Island Sound. That is what Burying Hill Beach was meant to be.
The Burying Hill Beach entrance often floods at high tide. (Photo/Ed Simek)
Yes, there’s sticker shock.
But as Donald Trump has been schooling us, real estate appraisals are very much in the eye of the beholder, and lienholder. I, for one, would have a hard time shelling out any amount of money to build a home on ground despoiled by Harvey Weinstein.
At the very least, from an ecological/conservation standpoint, it makes great sense to preserve the New Creek watershed from further development. I would hope there are conservation easements or other tax benefits to explore to that end.
Look what happened when the town failed to prevent the blue monster at Old Mill Beach.
So, come on, Westport: Make an offer!
(To see the full real estate listing, click here.)
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Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn has served The Conservative Synagogue in Westport for over 15 years.
He is president of the Interfaith Clergy Association of Westport and Weston, and past president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
The other day, Rabbi Wiederhorn joined me at the Westport Library for a wide-ranging conversation. He discussed his move from Las Vegas to Westport (“a very good bet”); religious life here; the importance of his interfaith work, and the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attacks, both here and in Israel (where his 2 children live; his daughter is part of the IDF).
Rabbi Wiederhorn provides an insightful, nuanced and timely view of his synagogue, his faith, and our town. Click below to view:
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School security got high marks, with Scarice and BOE members noting that many details cannot be made public. Harrington lauded the close cooperation between the superintendent and Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
