That’s almost a metaphor for the low-key, highly productive non-profit. For 38 years, they’ve been up and down. But they keep coming through.
Theatre Artists Workshop began in Westport in 1983. Keir Dullea transplanted his Los Angeles career to the East Coast. Conceived as a playground or gym for professional theater artists, he based it on an LA organization they loved. James Mapes was a co-founder.
Ever since — in different locations — the Workshop has continued. It’s a place to hone skills, develop new work, take artistic risks and get rigorous critiques — away from the glare of agents, and commercial concerns.
Plays developed have gone on to Broadway, Off-Broadway, film and TV.
The Workshop’s original home — the Greens Farms Arts Center — ended when the town reclaimed the space for an elementary school. Most recently, the pandemic brought an eviction from the “black box” space they’d enjoyed for 25 years.
The Workshop is not the only victim of COVID. Live theater everywhere has been on hold. But local members met weekly via Zoom. They did what the Workshop always has: provide a “gym” to workout, and get feedback.
In October they produced “Tawlight Zone” on Zoom. “Down the Rabbit Hole” — a series of short plays — is also virtual. It’s accessible any time from now througg May 24. Click here for tickets.
As usual, Westporters are featured.
Susan Jacobson wrote and performs “My Story.” It was inspired by an interview with a woman who had “traveled down the rabbit hole” into QAnon. Disillusioned by everything she once believed in, she struggles to free herself from a dangerous lie.
Initially, Jacobson said, she thought all Q followers were “crazies.” But as she read about the woman — who had worked on Bernie Sanders’ campaign — she recognized “the common story we all have: a desire to belong, make a difference, find validation and be part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Rob Mobley and Melody James in “The Book Lover,” part of the “Rabbit Hole” show.
Melody James is featured as an actor and director in 3 “Rabbit Hole” plays. A noted member of Staples Players — the high school troupe — in the 1960s, her professional credits include stage, TV and film. She also taught theater at Vassar and Muhlenberg, and playmaking for the Westport Country Playhouse.
For “Rabbit Hole,” James directs “Trio Asphodel,” in which 3 female friends face a friend’s suicide and discover a secret. She also performs 3 roles in the dark comedy “The Book Lover” (an amusing unraveling of a revenge murder), and portrays a local theater director in the comedy “Rowan’s Last Bow.”
Longtime Westporter Linde Gibb gives a tail-wagging performance as Judy, an abandoned blind chihuahua in an animal shelter. “Good” is the hilarious-yet-heartbreaking story of 2 older dogs bonding, as they await adoption.
Intrigued? Click below for the trailer.
FUN THEATRE ARTISTS WORKSHOP ENCORE: Theatre Artists Workshop alumni include Anne Baxter, Theodore Bikel, Dorothy and Ed Bryce, Rita and Win Elliot, Pat Englund, John Franklin, June Havoc, Fred Hellerman, Ring Lardner Jr., Lucille Lortel, David Rogers, Brett Somers, Haila Stoddard, Max Wilk and Maggie Williams.
One week after the Planning & Zoning Commission agreed to a settlement with Summit Saugatuck — allowing a scaled-down 157-unit housing development to be built on Hiawatha Lane (off Saugatuck Avenue adjacent to I-95 Exit 17). seemingly ending 18 years of proposals and litigation — there is a new twist.
Earlier this afternoon — one day ahead of the filing deadline — a petition signed by over 60 electors was delivered to the town clerk. Lead petitioner Gloria Gouveia and Save Old Saugatuck leader Carolanne Curry presented the signatures.
If Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton ascertains that there are at least 20 valid signatures, the petition will be forwarded to the Representative Town Meeting, as provided by the Town Charter. A public hearing would follow.
The RTM has 30 days from today to hear and decide the petition.
Longtime Westporter Zdenka “Kiki” Meloun Fuller died peacefully yesterday, surrounded by her family. She was 91.
A native of Prague, Czechoslovakia, Kiki’s parents were journalists. After World War II, when Nazis occupied their country, Zdenka’s father moved the family to London, where he was a foreign correspondent.
Kiki attended Queens College, the London Polytechnic, and Pittman’s College. Just as the family prepared to return to Prague, the communists took over Czechoslovakia. The Melouns decided to stay abroad.
They spent 5 years in England, then relocated to Munich, Germany. She and her father worked for Radio Free Europe, a station supported by the U.S. government that broadcast anti-communist information behind the Iron Curtain.
In Munich she met her future husband, Joseph Fuller, an architect who had escaped from Czechoslovakia into Germany. They married a few months after meeting, and decided to pursue the American dream.
In 1953 they arrived in New York. An aunt, Elaine Saxonmeyer, picked them up at the airport and brought them to her home in Westport. They loved the town, and visited constantly. After 13 years in New York City (and 2 children), they built a house and moved here in 1966.
Zdenka Fuller
When the children were teenagers, Zdenka went back to work for a conglomerate in Greenwich. She was a senior legal assistant for 15 years, in charge of their extensive law library. She retired early when the company was taken over by a California conglomerate and the Greenwich office closed.
When Joe Fuller Sr. died in 2003, his firm Fuller & D’Angelo, Architects and Planners were working on the renovation of Staples High School. Their son, Joe Fuller Jr., who worked with his father, completed the project.
Zdenka was a member of the Young Women’s League. In her later years she belonged to the International Club of Lower Fairfield County.
The Fullers enjoyed the outdoors. They spent many hours sailing Long Island Sound on their boat Sunset, skiing in Vermont, and took yearly ski trips to the Alps.
Zdenka loved to travel. She visiting her native country many times after the Iron Curtain fell. She enjoyed reading and keeping in touch with her family abroad and many friends near and far, first by lengthy correspondence and later email. She also enjoyed cooking, entertaining and writing short stories.
With her 2 children and 2 granddaughters living in Westport, she was surrounded by family, to whom she was devoted till her last day.
She is survived by her daughter Victoria Fuller and son Joseph Fuller Jr.; granddaughters Elizabeth (Liza) and Alexandra (Lexy) Barlow, as well as her brothers Paul Meloun and Thomas Meloun, both of Alabama.
Kiki’s funeral will be held at Christ & Holy Trinity Church on Friday (May 21, 3 p,m.), followed by burial at Willowbrook Cemetery and a reception at her home in Westport.
It was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of former Westport 1st Selectman John Kemish on April 25, at the age of 93. John served three 2-year terms as Westport’s 1st Selectman from 1967 to 1973.
Prior to his election, John served as the town’s first professional controller (now the finance director), where he improved the town’s credit rating from A to Aaa. As controller, he played a pivotal role in the purchase of Longshore Country Club for the town under then-1st Selectman Herb Baldwin.
As 1st Selectman, John played a major role in the town’s campaign to save Cockenoe Island from United Illuminating Company’s plans to erect a nuclear power plant at that offshore site. Under John’s leadership, the agreement to sell Cockenoe Island to the town and eliminate the plans for the power plant proved successful. The town owes John a debt of gratitude, along with many others involved in that environmental fight to save the natural beauty and landscape of that island over 50 years ago,
First Selectman John Kemish (tie) is flanked by veterans at the Memorial Day parade.
According to Woody Klein in his book, Westport Connecticut: The Story of a New England Town’s Rise to Prominence, John is credited with the “acquisition of the Wakeman Farm as open space; he led the town’s effort to acquire the Nike Site on Bayberry Lane for the Westport-Weston Health District and Rolnick Observatory; he was responsible for the acquisition of the North Avenue Nike Site, providing additional land adjacent to the Staples High School property, (which became Bedford Middle School); he established the first major town beautification program by creating the Beautification Committee; and he played a role in the creation of the Transit District and the subsequent introduction of the Minnybus.” He also played an important role in the development of the original Levitt Pavilion.
Those accomplishments notwithstanding, I understand that John was a dedicated public servant who placed the issues and concerns expressed by many Westporters first. I know that generations of Westporters have and will continue to benefit from his due diligence, calm demeanor and leadership capabilities.
On behalf of the Town of Westport, I want to express my sincere condolences to his wife Gloria, his sons James and Steven, and his entire family.
1st Selectman John Kemish (far right) with Westport YMCA director Matt Johnson (standing) and (seated from left) YMCA president George Dammon, and CBS News anchor (and Weston resident) Douglas Edwards.
Pippa Bell Ader is a longtime advocate for sustainability. She writes:
Gilberto Reis, who manages Westport’s transfer station recycling station, has been invaluable to the Food Scrap Recycling Program.
He exchanges full toters for empty ones. He’s also the one who gently reminds recyclers that plastic bags can’t go in the recycling containers, or directs a newbie to the various recycling stations.
Gilberto Reis, at his post. (Photo/Dawn Sullivan)
Very occasionally he has to remove non-organic material that ends up in the bright green food scrap recycling toter, using his long handled reacher. He is always pleasant and — judging by the crinkle in his eyes and tone of his voice, despite his mask — probably smiling.
That is no small feat, after a long day of politely reminding people how to recycle correctly.
One day someone gave Gilberto a sign that said “You’re Amazing.” The Zero Food Waste Challenge team could not have said it better!!
Gilberto and his sign: This week’s “06880” Unsung Hero.
PS: The Zero Food Waste Challenge team also like to thank Bob. Whenever he sees a Zero Food Waste Challenge volunteer coming to do a shift at the transfer station, he goes into the scale house, gets out the sample food scrap recycling starter kit and flyers for us, and says hello. It’s nice to be welcomed!
Westport Farmers’ Market shoppers are environmentally conscious. Most bring their own bags.
But why tote a ratty old Stop & Shop bag when you can carry your produce, honey, dog treats and more in style?
The Market just unveiled their 2021 Friend of the Market bag. It costs $40. But many vendors offer discounts to shoppers who show the current season’s bag.
Proceeds support community programs run by WFM, including:
We Care: support for marketgoers who are battling illnesses.
Farmer To School To Community: a partnership between Staples High School, the Gillespie Center and local farmers. Students learn about local ingredients, while helping neighbors in need.
Farmer To Kids To Community teaches Bridgeport elementary school students how to use local and seasonal ingredients in delicious, healthy meals.
Get Growing: weekly events and contests designed for younger visitors.
Young Shoots: in collaboration with the Artists Collective, a youth photography contest.
Recipe Program: helps customers create easy, healthy, delicious meals using fresh local products.
Bridgeport Rescue Mission: a weekly partnership rewards residents in BRM’s rehabilitation program for good behavior with an outing to WFM, where they collect food from farmers and vendors.
Farmer-In-Need: a fund to help vendors who fall on hard times.
Chef At The Market showcases top chefs who support local farms.
Farms To Veterans To Community helps veterans affiliated learn to prepare farm-fresh food, thanks to WFM’s vast chef network.
Click here for more information on FOM bags, and WFM programming. The market runs every Thursday at the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
Speaking of sustainability: Over 500 families are participating in Westport’s food scrap recycling program. Almost 10 tons are being diverted from the incinerator each month.
But Sustainable Westport hopes to do more — much more. Their goal is to double our town’s food scrap recycling participation in the next 6 months.
They’re spurred by a matching grant of $7,500 from Sustainable CT. Funds raised will educate and inspire residents about the project. Click here to donate.
The Paparo family was the first to use the transfer station drop-off food scrap recycling site, when it opened in July.
Speaking of movies: Staples graduate Justin Paul will be in the limelight again on September 24.
That’s the release date for the movie version of “Dear Evan Hansen.” Tony-winning star Ben Platt leads the cast. The score — by Paul and his musical partner Benj Pasek — won a Tony too.
The Broadway version — suspended due to COVID — returns on December 11.
WABC-TV Eyewitness News featured 2 locations in last night’s report on the restaurant industry, as the pandemic eases: the Upper West Side, and Westport.
Local interviewees included Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell, Manna Toast’s Jason Wiener, and diner Sharon Maddern. Click here for the segment.
Matthew Mandell is interviewed by WABC Eyewitness News on Church Lane.
Tomorrow (Thursday, May 20) is Asian Gold Ribbon Day. Gold ribbons — symbolizing opposition to anti-Asian violence — will be available for pickup tomorrow at the Westport Farmers’ Market (Imperial Avenue parking lot), and today and tomorrow at Arogya (131 Post Road East).
Live music continues for outdoor dining on Church Lane this Friday.
From 6 to 9 p.m., a band called Picnic on the 4th of July provides entertainment.
Members include Westporters Louis Fuertes and Pat Blaufuss. The string band specializes in traditional American roots and bluegrass music, with plenty of rock, folk, jazz and blues tossed in.
Westporters may know them from the Westport Downtown Association’s Holiday Stroll. This event too is sponsored by the WDA.
Speaking of entertainment: Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater — a free broadcast series — presents its first audio play, “The Return,” on Saturday, May 29, (noon; rebroadcast on Sunday, May 30, 4 p.m.). It’s on all WSHU stations, and www.wshu.org.
“The Return” is a haunting tale, based on a Thai folk legend. It takes place after World War II, when a young soldier returns to his village to reunite with his wife and new baby. He is finally home — yet he feels completely alone.
Run time is 35 minutes. A brief discussion with the director follows. Click here for more details.
After broadcast on WSHU, the show will be accessible on the Playhouse website from May 31 through June 20.
A recent “06880” photo of the lake that forms on the Compo Beach entrance road every time it rains — or drizzles — drew plenty of comments. But the photo I ran to illustrate it was just meh.
JC Martin has a much better one. He shot it a couple of years ago. But it’s a great way to illustrate the story — and to welcome another summer of sopping-wet fun.
Speaking of signs: This one on a fence near North Avenue is a little hard to figure out at first — it’s “Stop Noise Pollution / Ban Leaf Blowers” rather than “Stop Noise Pollution Ban” — but it reflects the sentiment of a segment of Westporters.
And finally … today is the birthday of 2 of the music world’s rockingest rockers.
Pete Townshend — the Who’s co-founder, guitarist and songwriter — turns 76. Joey Ramone was born 70 years ago; he died a month before his 50th birthday, of lymphoma.
These songs — among both bands’ many others — epitomized their eras.
Austin Charise is a 5th grader at Saugatuck Elementary School. His sister Ashley is in 4th grade there.
They created 2 graet projects they want to share with “06880” readers. As you read about them, you’ll realize: Our future is in good hands. Austin writes:
The first project was an effort to allow student artists to have their art seen and appreciated.
During COVID, I had a lot more stress. Art was a great way to help take my mind off things, but I really wanted to be able to share my art with others (and maybe even sell it!).
Because we were trying to limit electronics during COVID as much as possible, selling online wasn’t really an option, so I had the idea to get a booth with my sister at the Westport Fine Arts Festival May 29 and 30. We went a few years ago and really loved it.
We’ve had the idea since then. But we learned the festival is a serious show. You have to be invited!
Ashley and Austin Charise, and their art.
But the committee thought that if a local company sponsored a student artist booth, we might be able to make our idea happen. We worked with the Westport Downtown Association and my parents’ local businesses to sponsor an art booth for young artists.
Any Westport elementary school student can enter their art for exhibit and sale at the show. We’ve already arranged for the tent and have been able to borrow the exhibit panels from Mr. Miggs Burroughs with the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center!
The second project is one my whole family is working on. We are saving money to be able to build a school in Malawi, but it is quite expensive. My sister agreed to help raise part of the money in order to be able to do it. So, we put the 2 ideas together.
Student artists can pay a $20 exhibit fee for each piece of art they want to show. They also can name the price they would like for their art piece. If the art sells, they receive 80% of the proceeds and 20% will also go towards charity. All the money raised from entry fees and the sales percentage will go toward the charity BuildOn.
Students can submit art via this link (click here). The art and $20 entry fee (cash or check) can be submitted to 39 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Venmo: @ChristyCharise.
Questions? Email christy.charise@nm.com, or call 917-414-8599.
Everyone knows that. It’s like saying “I-95 sucks.”
But every Westport parent has gotten that reminder 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Colorful postcards arrived in local mailboxes. They bore our “06880” zip code. They began, “Parenting is hard….”
Then they offered tips, to make talking with your kids a bit lest difficult.
The cards come courtesy of the Westport Prevention Coalition. A subcommittee of Westport Together — the collaboration between Positive Directions, Westport Public Schools and PTAs, and the Department of Human Services — its current charge is to raise parental awareness of teenage behaviors around alcohol and drugs.
That’s particularly important now, says Positive Directions prevention director Margaret Watt.
As Westport opens back up after the pandemic — with proms, graduation and other rites of spring looming after 15 months of unprecedented demands on adolescent life — parents may not realize what the “new normal” is like.
“Westport has sometimes turned a blind eye toward teenage drinking,” Watt says. But recent focus groups revealed that during COVID, some youngsters held Zoom drinking parties. Marijuana use may have also increased during quarantine.
The front side of one of the postcards …
Each postcard bears a different message.
One assures parents that teenagers value their opinions, and learn from observing priorities and choices.
It advises parents:
Talk about your expectations and rules.
Be open about your own stress, and model healthy ways to handle it.
Make fun family time a priority.
Another postcard reminds parents about Connecticut’s “Social Host Law.” Anyone over 18 faces arrest and imprisonment, lawsuits and legal fees, loss of homeowners insurance, and fines of $2,000 — one for every underage youth — if alcohol is used on their property. That’s true even if an adult is not present.
A third postcard notes that “new” marijuana — not the kind they might have smoked years ago — has been engineered to be “many times stronger than nature.” The card covers vaping THC, and the effects of the drug on brain development and addiction.
… and the back.
Each card includes a QR code, to scan for more information.
Four more are planned. All 7 end the same way: “Talk early … talk often.”
Feedback has been excellent. The postcards are seen as eye-catching, concise and informative. One parent contacted the Coalition immediately after receiving the first card, grateful for the info and conversation starters.
Future mailings may also include residents without school-age children. After all, it takes a village — not just a parent — to raise a child.
And it’s hard.
(For more information, click here. To volunteer with the Westport Prevention Coalition, email mwatt@positivedirections.org.)
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The cards come courtesy of the Westport Prevention Coalition. A subcommittee of Westport Together — the collaboration between 
