Drivers struck in traffic on Saugatuck Avenue — in other words, all of us — have been intrigued by the transformation of #58.
The tiny brick storefront — home to, at various times, a barbershop, catering kitchen, liquor store and (most recently, but a while back) a pop-up art gallery — has been renovated.
The red brick is now white. The interior and exterior are spruced up. There is still, however, no parking.
The 1967 Staples High School graduate (Ellen Barker, then) found this photo —
— and wrote:
“My mother is driving her first car. Her sister Lyn is beside her; my grandparents in the back seat. I don’t know who is sitting on the back.
“The DeMeo family had that house above the store, built in 1922 along with the little store at the edge of the road and the house next door for my grandfather’s brother Luco DeMeo. Julia M. Gault co-signed for the loan.” (The DeMeos house has also been rehabilitated lately.)
“Many years later, when my Aunt Palma was still living there but had fallen on hard times, I went to the Gaults, who were having their 150th anniversary celebration at the Westport Historical Society where I was working, and asked them to help fix up her 90-year-old furnace to get her through the winter.
“I showed them how their grandmother had helped start the DeMeo family. Not only did they fix the furnace; they also put in a bunch of oil. No charge.
“My grandfather Samuel DeMeo emigrated from Italy. My grandmother Carolyn (Carrie) Chappa was born here.
“Grandpa had a nursery on the corner of Sunrise and Saugatuck Avenue, where the duplex is now.
“He also had a beautiful greenhouse, where I spent many hours watching him poke holes and plant seeds in soil. That gave rise to his store in the photo: SAM DE MEO FLORIST.
“I still have the hand-whittled poker he used to plant his flowers. It’s a treasure of days gone by.”
What’s going in the new building?
That’s up to the owner. Current zoning allows almost any retail use, from another catering kitchen or gallery to a law office, or an artist’s or interior designer’s studio.
Or — who knows — perhaps a florist.
BONUS PHOTO: Andrew Colabella found this 1940 photo of Ellen Naftalin’s mother, Ellen DeMeo, at “Westport’s finest & most modern non-synthetic dry cleaning plant: not far away, on Railroad Place.” The owner was Joel Strauss.
(If you enjoy our weekly flashbacks — or our coverage of Saugatuck, or anything else — please consider a contribution to “06880.” Just click here — and thank you!)
The Westport Country Playhouse’s annual benefit gala is always star-studded.
This year’s event will be studded with 3 Westport and Weston stars.
And all are Tony Award winners.
Staples High School Class of 2003 graduate Justin Paul — creator of “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman” (and also an Oscar, Grammy and Oliver Award honoree) headlines the exciting evening of music,
He’ll be joined by Kelli O’Hara (“The Light in the Piazza,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “Days of Wine and Roses”) and James Naughton (“City of Angels,” “Chicago,” director of the Playhouse’s “Our Town”).
The show includes talented Broadway performers, from Paul’s past projects and other award-winning Broadway musicals. The full list of special guests will be announced soon.
In keeping with the local-but-internationally-talented angle, the gala is directed by Staples High School Class of 2012 Caley Beretta (Disney Theatrical Productions).
“An Evening with Justin Paul and Friends, with Kelli O’Hara and James Naughton” is set for Saturday, September 9 (8 p.m.).
A limited number of $1,000 tickets are available; a post-show reception with the stars is included. Call 203-571-1291, or email cmackay@westportplayhouse.org.
Soon, bread (baked daily) — and danishes, cinnamon rolls and the like — will be front and center, at the now-vacant Compo Acres Shopping Center storefront.
Cobs Bread is moving in. A sign announces: ” We’re hiring!”
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
The “artisan bread” chain has over 700 franchises in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with a smaller presence in the US.
Two other Connecticut locations are Stamford and Greenwich. Click here for the company website (and the menu).
Max Saperstein is a rising junior at Staples High School.
He’s also the youngest person honored as a guest exhibitor at the Westport Book Shop.
Max is showing a variety of photographs, ranger from the Westport Farmers’ Market to Italy, and places in between.
Inspired by nature and architecture, Max seeks to capture beauty wherever he finds it.
He is photography director at Inklings, the school paper, a silver medal winner in the Westport PTA’s 2023 Reflections art contest, and earned special recognition in the Congressional Institute’s Congressional Art Competition.
Max’s photography will be on exhibit at the Book Shop through August 31. All work on display is available for purchase.
He will use the proceeds to support a philanthropic photography project, “Max’s Magic.” He takes portraits of children who face challenging situations, then transforms them into images of superheroes, sports stars or movie characters.
Max Saperstein with his photos, at the Westport Book Shop.
Just added to the Levitt Pavilion calendar: “Max Weinberg’s Jukebox.” The ticketed show is set for October 5 (7:30 p.m.).
In the interactive experience, Weinberg invites audience members to create the set list — in real time — for his 4-piece band.
The “menu” of 300 songs includes the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and more.
And speaking of The Boss: Weinberg has been the driving rhythmic force behind the E Street Band for 43 years. In 2014, he and the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
He is well known too for his 17-year gig as the bandleader and comedic foil to Conan O’Brien, leading his namesake band on “NBC’s Late Night” and “The Tonight Show.”
Weinberg has played with James Brown, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, BB King, Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, John Fogerty, Stevie Winwood, Isaac Hayes and Sheryl Crow.
How has Bridgeport’s Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater become one of the most popular music venues in the state?
Last night, Howard Saffan — the owner, developer and president — told a large Westport Library crowd how he’s attracted large crowds, with headliners like the Beach Boys, Temptations, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, the Four Tops, Rod Stewart, Jackson Browne, Santana and more.
The event was sponsored by the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston.
Howard Saffan at the Westport Library. (Photo/Tom Lowrie)
And finally … in honor of Justin Paul’s upcoming appearance at the Westport Country Playhouse annual benefit gala, here are 3 of his “greatest hits”:
(“06880” has covered Justin Paul — and the Westport Country Playhouse — since we began, 14 years ago. We’ll keep doing it. But we need your help. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Westport is proud of its business and restaurant environment.
We’re proud to be a welcoming community.
Now 3 organizations are putting that pride front and center — in the window of any establishment that wants to say: “We’re in!”
Westport Pride — the town’s LGBTQ+ organization — has partnered with the Westport Downtown Association and Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce.
Their new “All Are Welcome Here” campaign encourages businesses, restaurants and offices to show support, solidarity and allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.
Participants can proudly display an “All Are Welcome Here” sticker in a visible location. That signals their commitment to providing a welcoming, safe experience for everyone.
“We believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness,” says Brian McGunagle, founder of Westport Pride.
“By participating in the ‘All Are Welcome Here’ campaign, businesses and establishments in Westport can actively demonstrate their commitment to these values, and contribute to a more inclusive community.”
Interested businesses can click here, then completing the online form. Participants will receive a link to a short training video to educate employees on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and sensitivity.
Each business will receive an “All Are Welcome Here” sticker to display prominently.
There is a nominal fee of $10 to participate in the program.
All businesses, regardless of size or type, are invited to join the campaign. (Full disclosure: I am a board member of Westport Pride.)
For more information on Westport Pride, click here. Questions? Email westportctpride@gmail.com.
The Westport Country Playhouse’s last-ditch, uber-urgent, if-we-can’t-raise-it-we’ll-close $2 million fundraising appeal ended July 31.
And the 92-year-old institution appears to be within a rounding error of its goal.
Today, the Playhouse said they’ve collected $1,941,557 in cash and pledges. Donations were based on the board of trustees’ promise to transform the historic theater into “a performing arts center that appeals to a broader audience while continuing to produce theater.”
The historic Westport Country Playhouse will continue to entertain audiences, in a variety of ways. (Photo/Robert Benson)
Trustees chair Athena Adamson says, “The show will go on! We raised an amount very close to our $2 million goal by the July 31 deadline. Major gift conversations are ongoing that very soon could bring us well beyond our goal.
“Every gift is meaningful and treasured. We can thank our wonderful community who stepped up to ‘Save the Playhouse’ and shape it for future generations.”
The campaign will fund a series of single night events, including cabaret, comedy, music, play readings and speakers, from January through August 2024. From September 2024 through March 2025, the Playhouse will continue its theatrical tradition by mounting 3 productions.
Overseeing the theatrical stagings will be Mark Shanahan. A director, playwright and actor, he was recently named artistic director for the 2024-25 season.
Tax-deductible contributions continue to be accepted. For campaign information and to donate, click here. Naming opportunities are available, including engraved paving stones in the Playhouse courtyard and seat plates in the theater. For naming inquiries, contact development@westportplayhouse.org.
Next up for the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee: a public review and feedback meeting covering additional plans for its “Master Plan for Downtown Parking and Pedestrian Areas: Reconnecting the Riverfront.”
Particular focus will be on the Parker Harding Plaza design.
The session is set for August 22 (7 p.m., Westport Library). All residents and downtown stakeholders are invited to attend.
Information on the project is available on the DPIC website. Feedback is welcome in its comments section.
DPIC also conducts regular public meetings, typically the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
Screenshot from the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee website.
Yesterday morning, Diane Bosch and her husband Eric chatted with a team from the space agency, at Compo Beach’s Ned Dimes Marina. A NASA boat was docked there.
As best as the Bosches could determine from the visitors, they were monitoring air quality, and satellite launched earlier this year from Elon Musk’s SpaceX group.
“They were a bit secretive when we tried to understand what they were doing,” Diane reports.
“They did say they were in town from the NASA site in Virginia — and they had nothing to do with the rocket launch the night before.”
And then there’s the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport tag sale.
That event — one of the best bargain-hunting dates on the calendar — is this Saturday (August 5, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 10 Lyons Plains Road).
Early birds can go at 8 a.m. ($20, at the door).
The indoor event has something for everyone: clothing, dishes, housewares, sheets, towels, pillows, small furniture, rugs, household appliances, artwork, puzzles, toys, electronics and more.
Everything is “priced fairly, to move.”
Questions? Email uuchurch@uuwestport.org, or call 203-227-7205.
Crabbers — with LED headlamps and big nets — were out again yesterday at the Sherwood Mill Pond, starting around 8:20 p.m.
Concerned residents — including environmentalists worried about over-fishing, along with neighbors disturbed by the bright lights — have contacted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, as well as Westport Police and the Parks & Recreation Department.
Crabbing last night in the Sherwood Mill Pond. (Photo/Matt Murray)
Guardians caring for children do not have it easy.
But, says Westport-Weston Probate Judge Lisa Wexler, they may be eligible for thousands of dollars in grants to help with housing, food, transportation and enrichment activities.
Guardians can be grandparents or other relatives, or sometimes close family friends with long-standing relationships with a child.
Guardians save Connecticut $72 million a year, by keeping thousands of children out of foster care. However, unlike foster parents, Probate Court-appointed guardians receive no financial support for taking on this important (and often unexpected) responsibility.
State Kinship Fund awards grants of up to $550 a child — or $2,200 a family – a year help pay for necessities like glasses and clothing, or enrichment activities like summer camp, art supplies or creative books. The Respite Fund covers childcare, rent, transportation and food. These grants are capped at $2,200 a year.
Applications are at ctprobate.gov under the “Children’s Matters” tab, or by calling the Westport-Weston Probate Court: 203-341-1100.
State grants help guardians pay for enrichment activities.
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Outdoor music continues this weekend on Church Lane.
Accompanying diners and shoppers this evening is Dan Tressler. Tomorrow night: Vinnie Ferrone.
Musicians are sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association.
Outdoor dining on Church Lane.
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It’s the dog days of summer.
And Westport has officially gone to the dogs.
On Monday, Yogi Bear — a 2-year-old Keeshond — was named “Honorary Mayor of Westport” by 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Yogi (accompanied by his friend Cathy Malkin) was at Town Hall to push his agenda of free cookies for all dogs.
As honorary mayor, he promised to spread love and joy everywhere.
Yogi then headed to Old Mill Grocery & Deli, where he shared a slice of vegan pizza with State Representative Dominique Johnson. It’s bipartisan: She agrees with Tooker that there should be free cookies for all dogs.
Yogi Bear with State Representative Dominique Johnson.
An alert “06880” reader spotted a new bat house the other day, at Compo Beach.
If it’s yours, email 06880blog@gmail.com. Include where at the beach you may have lost it. I’ll contact the person who found it, and make arrangements for you to pick it up.
Bat house
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We love our butterflies.
But they often fly too fast for us to appreciate them fully.
Today, we’re in luck. David Hyman captured (on camera) this beauty. Enjoy this beautiful addition to our “Westport … Naturally” series:
Nearly every evening, Andrew Colabella heads to Compo Beach to enjoy the sunset.
Even the drive there is calming. But on Sunday, as he turned onto Bradley Street, he saw something unusual.
There — at the stop sign midway to Compo Beach Road — he noticed a number of large canvases, spread throughout a backyard.
Was someone moving in? Moving out? Was it a private outdoor pop-up art show?
He stopped to see.
A man sat in back by a table, looking at his phone. Andrew stood at the edge of the lawn, mesmerized by the abstract art and abundant colors.
“Hello,” the man said gently.
Andrew asked if he could wander around. He usually saw art like this peering through windows, walking or driving by a home. He’d never seen it spread out across a lawn.
Warmly and eagerly, the man told Andrew about his art.
His name is David Johnson. He spent his life working in advertising, in Chicago.
His friend, a sculptor, had a studio with a little corner for an easel and canvases. David discovered a waye to express his creativity in a form other than advertising.
With a dream and a vision, his images bled on to the canvas from his soaked paintbrush.
His friend and other artists were taken aback by his talent, a gift he had not known he had.
They urged him, “get a gallery! Rent one out, host a show, sell it — show it!”
David asked, “How?”
With a bit of support from friends, his art was showcased. It is now bought around the country.
David’s wife, Holly Jaffe Johnson — fashionable, warm and energetic — greeted me — invited me into their house.
The Von Castelberg Cottage was once a little brown home. It’s now been restored and revitalized, with Norman Rockwell-esque charm.
They moved here in 2019. Andrew began telling them about Westport’s history — a refuge for the wealthy, but also a home for creative artists from around the world.
David and Holly have a deep appreciation for Westport’s past. Andrew puts them “in the same category as those artists — and more importantly, with those who moved to town with a deep love, passion and understanding of Westport, what it is and what it means.
“They improved and respected its history, but also shared their artistic gift.”
Andrew calls the event “an impromptu, amazing greeting and conversation with an Odysseus sirens-like calling, but through visual stimulation and colorful abstract canvases that called me to trespass into a midsummer night’s dream of bountiful color.”
Andrew realized he must not be the only person who noticed the art.
David and Holly told him that 3 pieces had just sold. They were making their way to fellow Westporter — and artist in his own way — Christian Soriano.
“Always keep your eye out in Westport,” Andrew says.
“The legacy and gifts of our artists could be right behind your fence, down the street — or on your way to the beach.”
(All photos/Andrew Colabella)
(“06880” covers Compo Beach, the arts — and everything else going on in town — 24/7/365. Please support our work. Just click here. Thank you!)
“06880” intern and Staples High School Inklings writer Charlotte Berner was at Tuesday’s Long Lots School Building Committee meeting. She reports:
Westporters had a chance last night to comment on the future of Long Lots Elementary School.
The Long Lots School Building Committee has not yet finalized a plan to renovate the 70-year-old building, or construct a new one.
The first 15 minutes of last night’s Town Hall meeting were open for public discussion. A work session followed; then came another public comment period.
Long Lots Building Committee members at Town Hall. (Photo/Charlotte Berner)
The main focus of comments in the packed meeting room involved how the building plan may interfere with the Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve. Both are located just south of the school.
Over 20 residents noted the importance of the gardens to Westporters, described the significance they hold for the town, and voiced concerns about the gardens’ fate.
”The community garden was really never called up,” Gardens Committee member Toni Simonetti, said. “We basically got wind of what was happening. There was no official communication with us.”
The work session focused on the feasibility report for the school’s potential reconstruction options. These options include renovation, renovation with a building expansion, as well as a complete reconstruction of the school.
At the end of the work session, attendees said that the project’s digital map of school building options all covered the current Community Gardens.
However, committee members stressed that the area covering the gardens was a temporary placeholder. So far, they said, they have only addressed the building itself.
“We were going through and only looking at the building,” LLSBC member Srikanth Puttagunta said. “We did not suggest anything about where the gardens go, or whether they stay or move.”
Long Lots Elementary School … (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
“This meeting was to review the written content of the draft report,” LLSBC chair Jay Keenan said. “It allowed us to give our comments back to the design team in order to edit the report.”
“Which options are there, or are there any options for building the school or renovating the old school that includes keeping the gardens preserved?” Simonetti asked.
Similar questions were raised by many attendees.
Keenan replied, “At no time during any part of our process have we proposed eliminating the community gardens from the property.”
The LLSBC hopes to make a recommendation for the school’s reconstruction to First Selectwoman by the end of the month. Further review would come from the Board of Education, Representative Town Meeting, Board of Finance and other town bodies.
“We understand the challenges that may be associated with relocating different activities or programs on the property,” committee member and vice chair of the Board of Education Liz Heyer said.
“But at the end of the day, all the needs have to be balanced between what’s needed educationally, what’s needed recreationally and what’s needed for other community aspects such as the gardens.”
The next Long Lots Building Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 8 (6 p.m., Town Hall), to review design plans for different options.
… and the nearby Westport Community Gardens. (Drone photo/Franco Fellah)
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Moments ago, the Long Lots School Building Committee posted this on its Facebook page:
On August 1st, the committee reviewed a draft of the Feasibility Report which, when finalized, will include:
1. summary of sites studies and building assessments
2. preliminary building design plans based on educational requirements
3. architectural engineering and construction components
4. site design plans for building concepts
5. sustainability enhancements
6. pricing and construction timelines
Focus of the meeting was to provide comments to the content of above items #1, 3 & 5 in the report. Public comments were shared at the beginning and end of meeting.
Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 8th at 6pm at Town Hall (location TBD) to review design plans for the different building options.
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AT THIS STAGE, ALL DESIGN PLANS ARE EARLY DRAFTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE
Design plans for the building itself are being refined for the different options.
Site plans for surrounding elements (circulation, parking, gardens and fields) have not yet been presented (any site design plans that have accompanied building designs are solely for purpose of allocating space on the site).
Preliminary site plans for surrounding elements will be part of the Feasibility Report submitted in late August, but note that both the building and site design plans will still go through many iterations.
Over the course of the project, changes to preliminary building and site design plans will occur due to natural design and construction processes (further site testing, architectural engineering and construction developments, pricing constraints).
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT – PLEASE APPRECIATE THE LLSBC’S MANDATE TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS
We are working hard to balance the needs of all stakeholders – students, parents, community gardeners, recreational athletes, neighbors and all residents, as we continue to develop preliminary design plans. We are exploring all options to design an educationally excellent, sustainable, efficient and beautiful elementary school, while minimally impacting students and programming during construction, as well as minimizing costs for taxpayers.
The gardens and preserve will not be eliminated. We do recognize the effort involved in relocating gardens. We are exploring multiple options to determine what will be feasible. We are also partnering with Parks & Rec to ensure we maintain comparable field space at LLS or elsewhere in town.
There will be plenty of opportunity for public comment at town governing body meetings (BoE, BoS, BoF & RTM) when the Feasibility Report is shared in late August. Public comment is also welcome at the beginning of LLSBC meetings.
The 1976 Staples High School graduate — who is as low-key as she is accomplished, so we would never have heard about this from her — made the Guinness World Record Book as the oldest person to swim the Ocean Seven.
That is no walk in the park. It’s a stupefying long-distance swim challenge, in some of the most difficult bodies of water in the world: the North Channel, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel, English Channel, Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel and Strait of Gibraltar.
Liz Fry, in action.
Liz — who swam her way into the record book at 60 years old — is not a professional swimmer. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s from Fordham, and works with global markets on tax initiatives.
But that’s not why the soft-spoken, unassuming swimmer is today’s Unsung Hero.
The nomination comes from one of her many fans. She doesn’t tout her work with Swim Across the Sound.
So Nancy Saipe will.
Liz Fry, out of the water.
The annual event — held last weekend — involves nearly 200 swimmers raising money (typically $300,000) for underserved cancer patients in the Bridgeport area.
“She volunteers all of her time to run an incredibly safe and fun swim,” Nancy says.
“She gets the whole community involved: swimmers, boat captains, kayak escorts, police, EMTs, the Coast Guard. On land, there are lot of others: timers, traffic directors, photographers and more.”
Last year and this, Liz inspired Nancy. She marvels that high school students, college students, grandparents — “everyone cheers each other on, due to the welcoming environment Liz creates.” Many participants are from Westport.
Some swimmers complete the 15 miles solo. Most are on relay teams, of 2 or more people. The University of Connecticut, Lehigh and Marist form teams; so does the Westport Westport Family YMCA Water Rats. Some families make teams.
Liz Fry (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)
“Liz ensures that anyone who is passionate (and qualified) can swim on a team,” Nancy says.
“She is so enthusiastic about all the people involved. And she is so dedicated to raising money for cancer patients.”
Congratulations, Liz, on a job not easily — but very well — done. You are “06880”‘s well-deserved Unsung Hero of the Week!
(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com)
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