But if you find a spot — for the restaurant, for L’Antiquaire or the other stores nearby (or to sneak over to Bartaco) — you’re rewarded with some gorgeous flowers. (Click here to see.)
That was last week’s Photo Challenge. It stumped some of our most reliable regulars.
But Lee Ann Bollert and Amy Schneider knew where this semi-hidden scene could be seen. Congratulations!
Today’s challenge should be much easier. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
NOTE: “It’s the Sherwood Mansion” does not count as a correct answer.
And no Googling!
(Photo/Ed Simek)
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And the weekly Sunday morning Compo Beach service — sponsored by several local churches — welcomed back the Pivot Ministries.
Their special brand of song and testimony got the day off to a glorious start, for a large group of worshipers. Today’s service was hosted by the United Methodist Church. (Hat tip: Gloria Smithson)
Pivot Ministries, at Compo Beach this morning. (Photo/Karen Como)
Yesterday’s story about Ed Capasse, and his appearance as a Staples High School marching band trumpeter on a 1946 Saturday Evening Post cover drawn by Stevan Dohanos, drew several great comments.
It also drew a fascinating note from Dave Matlow.
The longtime Westport photographer says that once, in Capasse’s law office, they discussed a replica of the painting, which hung on the wall.
Capasse told Matlow that he did not actually play the trumpet. He was a clarinetist. But Dohanos thought a clarinet was too hard or time-consuming to draw — so Capasse ended up with the brass instrument.
Now, can anyone answer this question: How did Capasse play in the marching band and on the football team, simultaneously?
Ed Capasse, in the 1948 Staples High School yearbook.
The other 3 finalists — selected through a worldwide audition — earned $2,500 each.
Directed by noted Westport native Alexander Platt, the competition is in its 50th year. It includes master classes, lectures, and performances. The jury chair was internationally famed — and Westport resident Frederic Chiu.
A celebration of the Heida, featuring alumni finalists, is set for November 19 at MoCA Westport. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Alexander Platt (far left) with 2022 Heida Hermanns finalists (from left): Nathan Cheung, Katharine Bensen, Aaron Kurz and winner Artem Kuznetsov.
Meanwhile, when the competition was over, a young pianist — perhaps a future Heida Hermanns Competition winner — tried out MoCA’s magnificent Steinway.
“Friday’s knife attack on author Salmon Rushdie brought some thoughts to mind.
“One is that, while violence has become an unfortunate norm in our country, it seems so incomprehensible and despicable that physical violence is inflicted on a writer. The ‘fatwa’ or death decree issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini was in 1989 — long before the perpetrator was born. That books and cartoons and art should inflame self-appointed religious zealots to violence is beyond disturbing.
“I recall hearing Rushdie speak at Staples High School in 2015. It was memorable for the intense security surrounding the event. One passed through a checkpoint like at an airport. Purses were inspected. Backpacks were not allowed at all into the building, presumably to stop a makeshift bomb. Some parents objected, but in the end, it was great exercise in free speech and example to students.
“The Westport speech was riveting. Rushdie was well-spoken and erudite, and had a surprisingly sharp and witty sense of humor. He is a product of upper echelon British schools, and his language reflected that.
“In retrospect, I am thankful that so much security was in place in Westport. Sadly, protection must be provided, not only for politicians but for artists and writers who speak bravely.
For more on Rushdie’s Westport appearance, click here.
Yes, it’s capitalized. Food Rescue US is an app that actually makes you want to look at your phone.
The idea is spectacularly simple. Food services — grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, companies — register. When they have extra food — at the end of the day, after an event, whatever — they post it online.
Individuals register too. They check the app when it’s convenient. If they see someplace nearby, they agree to pick it up.
Then they deliver it to social service agencies — soup kitchens, shelters, veterans facilities, etc. — that have also registered with Food Rescue US.
Magnus reminds “06880” readers: “There are lots of people less fortunate, and also lots of food waste. Yesterday, Lavinia and I brought generous donations from Whole Foods (thanks, Siobhan!) to an agency in Bridgeport. They’ll distribute it in the community.”
Most of the Paul Newman news this year has been about “The Last Movie Stars”: the HBO 6-part series on the longtime Westport actor and his wife, Joanne Woodward.
This one is about his cars.
When he got into auto racing, Newman was as successful as with acting (and, later, philanthropy). He and Carl Haas formed a team with drivers like Mario and Michael Andretti. They racked up 108 Indycar wins,
In October, those cars — and other Newman/Haas items — will be auctioned off in 78 lots, by RM Sotheby’s. Click here for details.
During the 1960s and ’70s though — when hitchhiking around town was a thing — countless Westporters knew Paul Newman as the driver who would always pick them up.
His car back then was a Volvo or VW. “Hop in, son!” he’d say.
And off we went.
(Hat tip: Chris Grimm)
Pual Newman (left) with his friend, the late Westporter Michael Brockman.
Homes with Hope’s 15th annual Stand Up event — a comedy fundraiser for the multi-service housing and food provider — is set for Fairfield University’s Quick Center. It’s the first time live since COVID struck.
The headliner is Pat McGann. He’s a veteran of Madison Square Garden, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert.
Longtime Westport dentist Dr. Victor Oliver died earlier this year. He was 83.
He graduated from Providence College, then studied dentistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He served as a dentist in the Air Force in Albany, Georgia for two years.
Following his service, Victor and his wife Pauline settled in Westport. He opened a home dental office in 1968, and practiced there for 50 years.
Victor was an avid tennis player. He and Polly loved vacationing in Florida, and weekend trips to Nantucket. His family says, “He will be remembered for his gentle dental care and his dedication to his patients. He was a kind and generous man who always made time to help anyone in need. He was known for being a quiet reserved man — unless you were sitting in his dental chair, where he was the most talkative, trying to make you at ease.”
Victor is survived by his wife of 59 years Pauline; daughters Kimberly (Jim) Vallieres of West Hartford, and Robin (Sean) Ross of Holly Springs, North Carolina, and grandchildren Sean Heintz, Emma Heintz, Olivia Heintz and her fiancé Jonathan Davis, Audrey Ross and Jack Ross.
Donations in Victor’s name came be made to the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 370036, West Hartford, CT 06137, where for many years he enjoyed watching his daughter Kim play violin.
Dr. Victor Oliver
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Many “Westport … Naturally” photos show living things that fly, buzz, bite, crawl, bark, meow or do similar things.
Some show blooms and buds.
This one just sits there. It’s majestic — and often overlooked. But it’s an anchor of downtown, and as much a part of our natural world as any other creature or plant.
And finally … Bill Pitman died earlier this week, in California. He was 102.
You don’t know his name. But you know his music.
For decades, he was a session musician. As part of the Wrecking Crew — a “loosely organized corps of peerless Los Angeles freelancers who were in constant demand by record producers to back up headline performers … (an ensemble that )turned routine recording sessions and live performances into extraordinary musical moments” — he backed up the Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Monkees, Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, Ricky Nelson, Jan and Dean, Johnny Rivers, the Byrds, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, the Everly Brothers, Peggy Lee and “nearly every prominent performer of the era.”
Pitman’s work ranged from “Strangers in the Night” and “The Way We Were” to “Be My Baby,” “Good Vibrations” and “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.”
He also worked on TV and film scores, cartoon soundtracks — you name it.
Click here for Bill Pitman’s very intriguing obituary.
Scarlett Siegel is a rising senior at Staples High School. This summer, she is interning in the 1st Selectwoman’s Office.
Her environmental and socially conscious efforts began when she joined Staples’ Coastal Cleanup Crew. She helped found OneWestport, a service club where she is vice president of social justice and activism.
Scarlett has lived in Westport since preschool. She hopes to keep our town as beautiful as it is now, for the generations to come. She writes:
Like many others, I have spent my summer days strolling down Main Street, visiting Compo with friends, and riding my bike along Beachside Avenue.
Yet I often find myself sidestepping broken and jagged glass on my walks.
I decided to do some research into glass recycling, and learned about Westport’s Glass Recycling Program, at the transfer station on the Sherwood Island Connector.
Glass recycling container at the transfer station. (Photo courtesy of Westportcct.gov)
People bring their beverage bottles and food jars; they’ll be discarded and recycled safely.
Of course, there are some do’s and don’ts. According to Sustainable Westport:
Do make sure all items are empty, rinsed, and clean.
Do make sure bottle caps are on the bottles — or take them off and place them in the trash.
Don’t shred, box, bag, or bundle items. That includes using plastic bags to collect and dump your recyclable materials.
Don’t put paper food take-out containers in your recycling. They can’t be recycled because they are too soiled; and may be plastic-lined or compostable.
Glass can be extremely dangerous to humans and wildlife when not discarded properly.
Coastal Cleanup Crew co-founder Ryland Noorily, says, “the glass recycling program will separate glass from the other vulnerable materials — recyclable plastics and papers — and maximize our recycling potential”.
Let’s join together to keep this town a beautiful and thriving ecosystem, and
make sure we have plenty of beautiful Westport summers in the years ahead.
Trash collected by Staples’ Coastal Cleanup Crew (Photo/Ty Levine)
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The Diamond family has released an obituary for Ted Diamond. The former 2nd Selectman, longtime civic volunteer and World War II hero died earlier this month.
Theodore Diamond — a combat veteran, attorney, CEO and active citizen of Westport, died at home on August 2 as a consequence of Covid-19. He was 105 years old.
After serving as an infantry drill instructor, Ted volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was determined to fight, and became the lead navigator of a group of 28 planes flying 50 missions against the Nazis leaving from North Africa, Italy and Russia.
The missions were beyond dangerous — after 50 of them, only 3 original planes survived.
Ted Diamond
An exhibition called “In Their Own Words: Jewish Veterans of World War II,” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, opens with Ted’s words: “As a Jew, it was Hitler and me. That’s the way I pictured the war.”
For his service Ted received many medals and decorations, including 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was proudest of the insignia of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest military medal.
Ted was totally engaged in Westport politics. He served 3 terms in the RTM, and 3 terms as 2nd Selectman.
He worked on many projects in Westport. Three stand out, and helped
to form the character of the town.
The first was the town’s acquisition of Longshore Country Club, and the upgrading of the clubhouse.
The second was working with the modernization of the Fire
Department, to help it become one of the finest and most professional departments in Connecticut.
Finally, and probably most important to the town, Ted led a community movement to prevent the development of a shopping mall. Instead, the town purchased the land that has now become Winslow Park.
Ted Diamond delivers an RTM invocation. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Born on July 3, 1917 in New York City, Ted was the son of Isador Diamond and Sadie (Drath). Diamond. His parents had recently immigrated from Europe, had limited proficiency in English and were very poor. To contribute money to the family, Ted worked from the age of 8 in a grocery store and drug store.
Ted learned to read early. When a mobile library unit came monthly to his community of Far Rockaway, he borrowed and read as many books as he could.
A teacher in Ted’s elementary school recognized his talents, and encouraged him to take the competitive exam for placement in an elite public school, Townsend-Harris.
He was admitted, and the experience changed his life. It introduced him to college level study, school government, world affairs, and a community of achievers within which he excelled.
Following high school, Ted graduated from St. John’s University, and received his law degree from Columbia University. He was drafted shortly after graduating from law school.
Before he flew overseas, he met Carol Simon for 2 hours at a party. He told his flight crew that if she were still available after the war, he would marry her.
In 1946 they married. They shared an intense love for 75 years, until her death in March 2022.
From 1946 until 1950, Ted practiced in a small law firm specializing in civil rights and labor law.
In 1950 he joined Composition Materials. Ted developed, manufactured and marketed diverse materials used in industries from oil well drilling to airplane maintenance to the composition of running tracks. He worked at Composition Materials until he was 87.
Ted is survived by his sons William and Jonathan; daughter-in-law Harriet; grandsons Theodore and Noah, and great-grandchildren Peter, June and
Beatrix.
A celebration of Ted’s life will be held Sunday September 18 (11 a.m., MoCA Westport).
Contributions in his memory may be made to: ACLU Connecticut, 765 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.
At 98, Ted Diamond served as grand marshal of Westport’s Memorial Day parade. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
A “For Lease” sign stands on Weston Road, at the entrance to Bridgewater Associates’ Glendinning. The parking lot has been fairly empty, since the start of COVID.
Bridgewater’s Glendinnin gPlace campus, off Weston Road.
The sign advertises 8,000 to 50,000 square feet. Cushing & Wakefield’s website lists only 7,553 square feet. The price is negotiable.
Bridgewater — the world’s largest hedge fund — now houses most employees at its Nyala Farm complex, off I-95 Exit 18.
The “For Lease” sign by Bridgewater’s Weston Road office park. (Photo/Matt Murray)
There’s a new addition to the town’s “blight list.”
Westport’s Blight Prevention Board added 6 Ulbrick Lane, off Bulkley Avenue North, at its meeting this week.
It’s been vacant about 10 years. Grass has grown high outside; visitors report rodents and vermin indoors.
6 Ulbrick Lane (Photo/Jack Krayson)
Meanwhile, as first reported by Westport Journal, the house at 233 Hillspoint Road — diagonally across from Old Mill Grocery, now wrapped in blue after work construction was halted 2 years ago — has been taken off the blight list.
The Zoning Board of Appeals reached a settlement with the owners earlier this summer. Work was stopped after officials detected several permit violations.
Construction can begin again at 233 Hillspoin Road. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Also off the blight list: 1 Fresenius Lane, on Long Lots Road.
An all-star cast will be honored next Friday (August 19, 7:30 a.m., Greens Farms Church).
Westport Sunrise Rotary fetes Sam Gault, Vincent Penna Sr., Fire Chief Michael Kronick and Dr. James Wong.
Gault and Penna are longtime key volunteers at the club’s Great Duck Race fundraiser for many years. Chief Kronick is a longtime leader of the town’s fire service. Dr. Wong recently retired from his ophthalmology practice, after many years.
The public is invited to attend, and enjoy a buffet breakfast. To confirm, text Ron Holtz at 203-993-4970.
The New York Times’ Ginia Bellafante weighs in on “The Last Movie Stars,” HBO’s 6-part series on Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
She includes this reference to their life here:
“Once, Newman came home to their place in Westport, Conn., to find Joanne refashioning an outbuilding in crazy colors with ad hoc furniture — a place for them, she told him, to retreat to their carnality.”
That’s quite an image. To read the full piece, click here.
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. The relationship is the focus of an HBO series.
Posted onAugust 13, 2022|Comments Off on Online Art Gallery #123
Surprise! This week’s online art gallery is filled with paintings, drawings and photos of water and nature.
Actually, it’s no surprise. This is August. Those are natural subjects this time of year.
Remember: This is your gallery. All readers are invited to contribute to it. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions.
All genres are encouraged. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, lithographs, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage and (yes) needlepoint — whatever you’ve got, email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Share your work with the world!
“Greens Ledge Light, Norwalk Harbor” (Ken Runkel)
“Seashore” (Amy Schneider)
“A Lamp on the Morton Plant Mansion” (Peter Barlow)
News of Ed Capasse’s death this week brought tributes from many quarters.
In his 91 years, the lifelong Westporter touched many lives. He was a Board of Finance chair, an active volunteer with the Westport Weston Family Y and Assumption Church, and a scrupulously fair, generous attorney.
He made his mark locally, for sure. But for one week in 1946, Ed’s face was seen in nearly every American home.
A few weeks earlier, Westport artist Stevan Dohanos invited 5 students from the 40-member Staples High School band to model for a Saturday Evening Post cover. He wanted to show a marching band.
The 5 musicians posed individually in Dohanos’ home studio. Each one earned $30 — $400, in today’s money — to sit still for a half hour, while pretending to play brass instruments.
What made the cover special was that every band member looked not straight ahead, at the director, but off to the side — where the football game was taking place. That action was reflected in the tuba.
Ed Capasse was on the top left, playing his trumpet.
The Saturday Evening Post — for which Dohanos drew 125 covers — was one of the most popular magazines in America. That October 19, 1946 issue, smack in the middle of football season, ended up in millions of homes.
Years later, Donahos donated the oil painting to what is now the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collections. For decades, it hung in the Staples band room. Then it moved to the principal’s office.
Former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe — a big Stevan Dohanos fan — commandeered it for his office. Later, it hung elsewhere in Town Hall.
Today it awaits a new location.
The work — called “The Band Played On” — gained new attention in 2001, when Staples Players staged “Music Man.” The poster showed 5 current actors, mimicking the painting.
Staples Players’ 2001 poster …
Fifteen years later, Players reprised the musical. Directors David Roth and Kerry Long redid the poster too.
… and the 2016 version.
Two years earlier, WestPAC had raised funds to restore the painting to its full brilliance. It was displayed proudly in the Staples auditorium, throughout the play’s run.
In 2016, theater-goers admired Stevan Dohanos’ painting in the Staples High School lobby.
For over three-quarters of a century, Dohanos’ work has been a part of Westport history.
Trumpet player Ed Capasse is gone now. But his — and Dohanos’ — band plays on.
Ed Capasse, in the 1948 Staples High School yearbook.
(Hat tip: Kathleen Motes Bennewitz)
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