Roundup: Honoring Innovation, Impact, Preservation …

Posted on May 6, 2026 | 4 comments

A nationally known financier and philanthropist, and a community non-profit serving adults with disabilities, will be honored by StartUp Westport next month.

Longtime Westporter Marc Lasry is the entrepreneurial group’s Innovator of the Year. Club203 will receive the Impact of the Year Award.

The ceremony is set for June 1, 6 p.m.,, Westport Library).

Lasry is chair, CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group. He is also a former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. He has supported university initiatives; served as a director of the 92nd Street Y and the Big Apple Circus, and was a trustee of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

Lasry and fellow Westporter/”Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin will discuss how  leaders navigate high-stakes moments when information is incomplete, pressure is high, and the path forward is not clear.

Club203 will be cited for their work fostering inclusion and connection through innovative, community-driven programming.

Click here to register for a seat.

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Speaking of Club203 : They celebrated Cinco de Mayo a day early — Monday night — at an appropriate venue: Mexica restaurant.

Members of Westport’s social organization for adults with disabilities enjoyed great food, art with MoCA\CT, and dancing a conga line with music by Marca.

Gracias to all!

Club203 at Mexica.

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Sure, Westport homes are disappearing steadily. “06880” has already posted 44 of them, in our “Then & Now” series — and we’ve just scratched the surface.

But plenty of Westporters are preserving old homes too.

Tomorrow (Thursday, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) the Historic District Commission presents their 2026 Preservation Awards.

Honorees include:

  • 4 Old Hill Road, Emil Dennert House: Excellence in Ongoing Care and Maintenance Preservation Award
  • 6 Oak Street: Excellence in Ongoing Care and Maintenance Preservation Award
    14 Treadwell Avenue: Restoration Preservation Award
  • 24 Morningside Drive South, Charles B. Sherwood House: Restoration Preservation Award
  • 26 Treadwell Avenue, Henry Patchen: Rehabilitation Preservation Award
  • 35 Wright Street, Zalman Sanford House: Helen Muller Preservation Award
  • 44 Compo Mill Cove, Gallagher Cottage: Rehabilitation Preservation Award
  • 64 Wright Street, Frederick Morehouse: Restoration Preservation Award
  • 70 Turkey Hill Road South, John F. Dingee House: Restoration Preservation Award
  • 107 Wilton Road, Hurlbutt-Haslam House: Rehabilitation Preservation Award.

The public is invited to the ceremony,

44 Compo Mill Cove

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The Westport Rotary Club delivered checks to 47 local nonprofits yesterday, at their annual Community Giving Day lunch at Green’s Farms Church.

The grants marked a record: $309,000. Much of the funds came from September’s hugely successful LobsterFest.

The Rotary Club’s goal is to make this year’s event even bigger — and the grants bigger too.

Westport Rotary Club members and grant recipients yesterday, at Green’s Farms Church. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)

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More Rotary news: Clubs across Fairfield County are planning an “Epic Day of Service” on Saturday, May 16.

And they urge non-members to join in too.

Service projects in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Westport and Wilton will address urgent community needs and support vulnerable populations. Residents have a hands-on opportunity to give back, while connecting with neighbors and partnering with local non-profit organizations.

Projects last 2-3 hours, and focus on issues like food insecurity, homelessness, public space improvements, and support for military veterans and individuals with special needs.

The first 25 volunteers will receive an “Epic Day of Service” T-shirt.

Residents interested in participating or learning more can click here, or email

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Last month, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie announced the formation of a Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee.

“06880” asked for an update. Christie said, “I’ve received interest from the community, which reflects how much Westport cares about this project.

“I’m finalizing the committee and will share an announcement when it’s ready. Once established, we’ll schedule initial meetings.”

Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee is in the works. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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The Compo Men’s Summer Basketball League is back!

After a wildly successful 2025, with 10 teams competing under the lights at the beach, the Parks & Recreation Department program returns next month.

Games will be played Tuesday nights, from June 23 to August 18.

Teams can sign up here.  The league will be capped at 12 teams. Each captain must submit an $800 fee at signup. The fee covers jerseys, referees and scorekeepers.  Rosters are due May 28.

Questions? Email jordan.schur@gmail.com.

Compo Beach adult basketball action, 2025.

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Last month, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet sold out MoCA\CT for a special “speakeasy” performance, tied to the current “Art, Jazz + the Blues” exhibit.

On May 19 (7 p.m.), Chris Brubeck returns. And he’ll bring his eclectic, virtuosic Triple Play trio along.

The musicians have spent decades refining a unique blend of blues, folk and jazz.

Brubeck is a multi-instrumentalist (piano, electric fretless bass, trombone and vocals). Peter “Madcat” Ruth is a Grammy-winning harmonica virtuoso and protégé of Chicago blues legends, and master of of 40 different harps, ukulele, and percussion. Joel Brown is a noted acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter, specializing in soaring melodies.

Brubeck says, “I felt tremendously motivated to return to the performance gallery because the artwork — specifically by (Westporter) Eric von Schmidt — so beautifully evokes the American ‘roots’ and blues traditions that are Triple Play’s specialty. The music will totally integrate with the exhibit. It’s going to be an incredible sensory experience.”

Click here for tickets, and more information. 

Triple Play (Photo/C. Samuels)

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The Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading — a long-running, very popular and inexpensive ($30!) series — continued Monday night with “One Slight Hitch.” The playwright is noted comedian Lewis Black.

Three performers are Juilliard graduates. Nearly all have Broadway experience.

The next Script in Hand is June 8. The title will be announced soon.

“One Slight Hitch” cast and crew (front row, from left: Maggie Scrantom, Gabe Gaston, Cassidy Stoner,  Taylor Dunbar, Hannah Bakke (stage directions). Rear: Jater Webb, Kevin O’Rourke (director),  Kathleen McNenny, and Daniel Jenkins. (Photo/Kelsey McFarland)

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The Whitney Street sidewalk/street widening/repaving project is going well.

And there’s a lot to do.

Check out these boulders:

(Photo/Molly Alger)

Thankfully, the machine on the left can help the guys in the middle.

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Longtime Westport and Weston resident Regina Kendig died Mnday. She was 79.

A Brooklyn native, she graduated from Newton College of the Sacred Heart. She distinguished herself both academically and as a star of the school’s first all-girls touch football club, a great point of pride.

In New York she launched a career in advertising, which she loved deeply. She passed her passion on to her son Ty, who has spent 25 years in the industry.

Moonlighting as a hostess at the executive dining room atop the Pan Am Building, she met Pan Am executive Hal Kendig. They were married at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

Adventurous years followed. The couple traveled widely before settling in Miami for Hal’s work. When his career brought the family north again, they planted roots in Westport. For more than 40 years, that town and Weston were home.

As her children got older, Regi leveraged her love of beautiful homes into a 40- year career in real estate. She touched hundreds of lives, guided by an unwavering commitment to finding the perfect home for the families she served.

Regi was a devoted book club member, a cherished friend, and a lover of Compo Beach. She was often found, window down, McDonald’s Diet Coke in hand, soaking in the view.

At home as a hostess, her tablescapes were works of art, and her holiday meals legendary.

After Hal died in 2014, Regi found constant companionship in Nikki, her Shih Tzu, and a “coven” of friends. All were by her side in her final days.

Regi is survived by her son Ty (Elizabeth), daughter Paige (Bryan), and brothers Paul (Joelle), Greg (Alden) and Joe (Lori).

She will be laid to rest beside Hal at Christ & Holy Trinity Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Earthplace, where Hal served on the board and which she was devoted to as well.

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There are egrets. There are great egrets.

And then there is this great great egret.

Dana Kuyper snapped this photo at the great Haskins Preserve, for today’s great “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Dana Kuyper)

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And finally … in honor of the Historic Preservations honors, here’s this.

Local angle: The animation was done by Westport’s own Jeff Scher.

(From historic homes to innovators, and jazz to basketball, “06880” covers it all. If you enjoy these daily Roundups — or any other part of our hyper-local blog — please click here to support us. Thanks!)

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“Students Speak”: “Impossible To Find Success When You Have Yet To Find Your Passion”

Posted on May 6, 2026 | 21 comments

Delilah Berniker is a sophomore at Staples High School. She has lived in Westport since 2016.

She plays JV soccer and lacrosse; is a member of Student Council, an editor of the school’s Soundings literary magazine, and will soon be co-president of Circle of Friends, where she works with students with special needs. In her free time Delilah loves to draw, paint, take photos and write poetry.

She is also a very talented writer. Today, she says: 

Unlike many Westport parents, mine did not pressure me about academics when I was younger.

Delilah Berniker

So when freshman year at Staples came along, I had no idea what I was getting into. It felt like everyone got a memo that I missed — the one that told them to “join as many clubs as possible,” add maximum “rigor” to their schedules, become president of a club by junior year, and at a bare minimum have at least the next 7 years of their life planned out by the time they turn 14.

Am I the only one who didn’t know high school is more about college than it is about high school?

While I don’t blame my parents, I feel naive for listening to them when they told my anxious middle school self “it will all work out,” and I should just go to sleep early.

Now, not only am I catching up on sleep, but I feel like I’m catching up on at least 2 years of intensive PSAT prep, creating new math proofs, publishing my latest philosophical theories, and starting a non-profit.

Don’t get me wrong: I love Staples, and I am invigorated by the different classes and clubs offered. My issue is not lacking interests, it’s having too many. Even after 2 years of scrambling for leadership roles and scribbling my name down on every club sign-up sheet, I still feel lost within the chaos of this high school marathon.

My classmates, painted as competitors, are all rushing to fill the idealistic mold of a college applicant: stacking extracurriculars, joining more clubs, and constantly wondering what more they should be doing. This pressure on our shoulders becomes increasingly heavier as we squish ourselves to fit the narrow definition of success now engraved in our brains.

It wasn’t until recently, as I approach the end of sophomore year, that I realized, within this race to build my perfect academic picture, I have lost sight of my interests.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve had the chance to fully discover them. I’ve been so overwhelmed with what others are doing and what everyone tells me I am supposed to be doing, I haven’t given myself enough room to think of other paths.

I realized I was doing the wrong things by trying to do the right things.

My name was on the roster for multiple clubs, my schedule was full, but I wasn’t invested in anything I was doing. In some cases (like mine) it takes a Debate Club meeting to realize that you may be in the wrong room — and you never wanted to be there in the first place.

A common misconception students have is that there is only one definition, or one path to success. What I’ve started to understand is that it is impossible to find success when you have yet to find passion.

When we focus so much on what we feel like we’re “supposed” to do in order to stand out, we end up following the same 2-dimensional checklist. In that process, we lose something deeper: the space to actually figure out what matters to us.

The truth is, the people who seem like they have everything figured out often don’t.

Declaring your future at 14 doesn’t mean you’ve discovered your passion — it often just means you’ve chosen a path that feels acceptable. I love art, writing, and everything creative, but I’ve been afraid to lean into that because “unless you’re applying to art school, it’s a waste of time.”

What will colleges think about art, and a literary magazine?

I’ve learned that the most valuable accomplishments are ones that stem from passion and consistency. What makes you stand out cannot solely live on an application in a maximum of 200 words. It exists in the things you care about enough to keep showing up for, even when they don’t “count.”

I know a certain amount of external expectations and pressure are necessary to push myself, but I will no longer fall victim to the assumption that there is only one way to succeed in high school.

In trying so hard to build something impressive, it is easy to forget to build something real. Focus on finding your passion, and the rest of the checklist will fill itself in from there.

Passion cannot be manufactured. And passion is never a waste of time.

(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)

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Pic Of The Day #3303

Posted on May 5, 2026 | 3 comments

North Avenue barn (Photo/Richard Fogel)

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Roundup: Parks & Rec Master Plan, Fine Arts Festival, Wheels2U Service …

Posted on May 5, 2026 | 3 comments

The final step in the Parks & Recreation Department’s master plan process is near.

A public forum is set for next Monday (May 11, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).

Consultant BL Companies will present updates to the draft Parks Master Plan,  including feedback from prior meetings and surveys.

Then they’ll outline potential recommendations for the future of Westport’s parks and recreational facilities. Residents can offer input.

Following the forum, presentation materials will be available on the Parks & Recreation Department website. The current draft of the Master Plan is available online here.

Cover of the Parks & Recreation Department Master Plan.

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Memorial Day is around the corner.

In Westport, that means a great parade.

And an equally exciting Fine Arts Festival.

The 53rd annual event returns May 23 and 24. The nationally recognized event –sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association — draws an exceptional lineup of fine artists from across the region. Their works cover an enormous range of media and styles.

The WDA will announce featured artists, vendors, food, live music and more soon.

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Wheels2U is on the move!

Starting today, Westport’s on-demand shuttle service is extending its midday service. The result: Riders will have more time, more destinations, more convenience and more freedom.

To better serve the needs of shoppers, commuters, and seniors, on May 5 Wheels2U is extending its midday hours, and adding destination options.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday service will now end at 3 p.m — 90 minutes later than previously.

In addition, starting a 9 a.m. on those days, passengers can request a ride to or from anywhere in Westport, provided the trip starts or ends at one of these “hubs”:

  • Saugatuck and Greens Farms train stations.
  • Westport Library, Senior Center and Farmers’ Market.
  • Jesup Green, and the intersection of Post Road East and Compo Road North.

Whether it’s catching a train, enjoying Saugatuck, shopping downtown or by Compo Road, walking in Winslow park, or transferring to the Coastal Link bus, Wheels2U can help.

Download the Wheels2U app (iOS and Android) to book a ride in real time. For more information, click here. For more information about  services for the elderly and people with disabilities, click here.

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AWARE is one of Westport’s most effective and action-oriented volunteer groups.

The acronym stands for Assisting Women Through Action, Resources and Education. Each year the organization selects a women’s cause, then partners with a charity to benefit it. Through a fundraiser, hands-on activity and educational event, AWARE shines a light on a different meaningful women’s issue.

This year, they’re working with Susie’s House.

The 124 Compo Road North residence is run by Homes with Hope. Named for former director Susie Basler, it provides stable, affordable living for 6 young women ages 18 to 24 who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

Susie’s House helps resident get back on their feet through education and employment, eventually moving on to independent living. Each woman has a mentor, community support and case management.

On May 30 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), AWARE is hosting a “Flower Power Brunch” — at Susie’s House itself. Guests will enjoy “lite bites,” gardening tips and fun.

Click here for tickets, and more information. 

Susie’s House

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Westport Hardware is a great Westport institution.

They’ve got everything. They know everything.

Bear is just an added bonus.

One of the most popular and best-loved dogs in Westport now has his own Instagram. Click here to follow him (@hardwarebear06880).

And the next time you’re in the store, reward him with a treat. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)

The front counter at Westport Hardware.

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Baseball is a game for all ages.

In Westport, the Staples High School program has a long tradition of welcoming Little League players at a special day each season.

This year’s Little League Day is Friday (May 8). Young athletes will be invited onto the field for the lineup and national anthem.

They’ll then cheer on the Wreckers against Fairfield Ludlowe — and (for those wearing their Little League jerseys) enjoy free pizza* from the Colony truck.

Pre-game festivities start at 4 p.m. The first pitch is 4:15. Go Wreckers!

Little League Day 2025, at Staples.

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Harrison Gill is the Westport Book Shop guest exhibitor for May. His watercolors of the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound will be on display through May 31. All works are available for purchase.

A reception is set for May 21 (6 p.m.).

Harrison Gill, with his work.

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Alert — and concerned — “06880” reader Larry Weisman warns: “The Splash Car Wash automated system has twice broken the rear wiper assembly on our cars.

“Their response was, ‘Have it fixed at your dealer, and we’ll reimburse the cost.’

“Unless you have time to go to your dealer, I suggest you go somewhere else to have your car washed.

Fixed! (Photo/Larry Weisman)

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This week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, May 7, VFW Post 399: shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7) features singer Giacomo Gates. He’s known for his spontaneity, humor, and stories about music and composers.

Joining in are pianist Joe McWilliams, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Bobby Leonard. Click here for tickets, and more information.

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These Sterling Drive flowers are a great way to kick off another week of “Westport … Naturally” photos:

(Photo/Richard Abramowitz)

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And finally: ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

(It’s a Westport tradition to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a donation to “06880.” Well, maybe not, but it could be. Please click here to be part of the start of something great. Gracias!)

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Mental Health Matters

Posted on May 5, 2026 | 6 comments

Timothy Schmutte is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. In his private practice he focuses on children and teens with a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and OCD, and the challenges of people over 50 like grief, job loss, and coping with severe illness. 

Tim often works with his wife, Elenee Argentinis, to create mental health content. Elenee has a law degree, and has worked in the life sciences industry for more than 20 years. Together, they are raising 2 high school-aged boys in Westport.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Tim and Elenee are helping “06880” readers understand mental health, from several angles. This is their first piece.

Most of us think of Westport as one of the most idyllic communities in the country. With picturesque beaches, downtown boutiques and winding tree-lined roads, Westport seems like the perfect place to live.

When it comes to mental health, at first blush it seems to be true.

In “The State of Mental Health in America,” created by the organization Mental Health America, Connecticut ranks as the state with the lowest rates of mental illness and substance abuse in youth and adults. 

Dr. Timothy Schmutte

Local data is hard to come by. But the 2024 Westport Youth Survey conducted by Positive Directions also reports some good news. Rates of teen substance abuse in Westport have decreased since the pandemic. Use of tobacco, alcohol, vaping, marijuana and abuse of prescription drugs have all declined since 2021.

But as with most things, the devil is in the details. The last Westport 2025 Equity Report published by DataHaven raised several key issues related to mental health.

For example, 1/3 of all Westport families are cost-burdened by home ownership; economic stress can contribute to mental illness.

In the western Connecticut community of municipalities that includes Westport, rates of anxiety and depression are highest in adults 18-34 (20% and 18%).

Westport high school seniors’ use of alcohol (38%) is much higher than the national average (24%), and 23% of all Westport High schoolers reported gambling. 

Data at the state level suggests that up to 30% of high school students have felt sad or hopeless daily for more than 2 weeks within the last year. 12% have considered attempting suicide, and about 6% tried.

Elenee Argentinis

What does all this mean? Mental illness, from addiction (e.g., drugs, alcohol, vaping, gambling and screen time) to mood disorders (anxiety, anger and depression) and other unhealthy behaviors are still problems for our community.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To emphasize the importance of mental health in Westport we writing “Mental Health Matters,” a short series exploring mental health in our community by looking at teens, parents and older adults.

Our goal is to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges each group faces, as well as how to recognize them and get help.

Mental Health Awareness month was established in 1949 by the National Association for Mental Health (now called Mental Health America), after passage of the 1946 Mental Health Act and the end of World War II, with a wave of soldiers affected by the war.

Before these milestones, mental illness came with shame, stigma and often maltreatment of patients in mental institutions.

Connecticut played an important role in destigmatizing mental illness, and in mental health care reform.

Clifford Beers, born in New Haven in 1876, led mental health care reform here. A Yale graduate, he suffered maltreatment and abuse in Connecticut mental institutions during episodes of depression and paranoia.

He published “A Mind That Found Itself,” recounting his abuse. He founded the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene (renamed Mental Health Connecticut) and the National Committee for Mental Hygiene (now Mental Health America). He founded the first outpatient mental health clinic the United States, the Clifford Beers Clinic, in 1913.

Here in Westport, we had 2 mental health facilities. The Westport Sanitorium was located at the corner of Post Road East and Compo Road North (now Winslow Park), in the former mansion of State Senator Richard Henry Winslow. beginning in 1891.

Westport Sanitarium, at the corner of Post Road East and Compo Road North.

Nine years later, McFarland’s Sanitorium was opened on Long Lots Road. It become Hall-Brooke Hospital, and absorbed into St. Vincent’s Medical Center. It was acquired by Hartford Healthcare in 2019.

Part of Hall-Brooke Hospital, on Long Lots Road.

It’s difficult to get a precise read on the number of mental health care providers in Westport. But Healthgrades notes upwards of 600 practitioners and over 200 psychiatrists in Fairfield County.

Yet many practices are booked, and waitlists are months long.

Cost is another issue. Many practitioners in our area take “private pay” only, because insurance companies reimburse too little, and limit the number of sessions they cover.

So thank goodness for Mental Health Awareness Month. We’ve come a long way in recognizing and caring for mental illness.

But we’ve still got a long way to go.

In our next article, we’ll talk about teen mental health. Until then: Be well.

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Pic Of The Day #3302

Posted on May 4, 2026 | 1 comment

Compo Beach sunset (Photo/Kris Nash)

 

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“Then & Now”: #11

Posted on May 4, 2026 | 6 comments

Last week, Dave Matlow headed west.

Off Saugatuck Avenue, and on Saugatuck Shores, he revisited 4 houses he’d photographed between 10 and 21 years ago.

Here’s the latest edition of what he found: homes before demolition, and those that replaced them.

Burritts Landing North, September 2011 …

 

… and April 2026.

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Harbor Road, April 2018 …

… and April 2026.

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Covlee Drive, November 2007 …

… and April 2026.

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Norport Drive, July 2005 …

… and April 2026.

(“06880” regularly covers Westport real estate, history … and much more. If you enjoy features like this, please click here to support our work.)

 

 

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Roundup: P&Z, P&R, AI …

Posted on May 4, 2026 | 2 comments

The Planning & Zoning Commission’s agenda for May 13 (6 p.m., livestream) is packed.

Among the items, both submitted by the Parks & Recreation Department:

  • Lights at the Wakeman turf and PJ Romano Fields (4 70-foot poles with LED fixtures at both)
  • A new lease for food and beverage concessions at Compo Beach, Longshore pavilion and the Longshore golf course halfway house.

Lights are proposed for Wakeman turf field (center).

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Speaking of Parks & Rec: Their “Kickoff to Summer” is a recent tradition.

The May 23 event (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) features food, touch-a-truck, bouncy houses, a climbing wall, face painting, helicopter rides — and this year, something special.

This year marks the unveiling of a new mural. It brightens the formerly drab wall, between the side of the concession stand and the brick pavilion.

Staples High School junior Luke Bernier won a town-wide contest, with his design.

The other day, volunteers — led by super-volunteer Miggs Burroughs — turned his plan into an actual mural. We look forward to seeing the finished work on May 23 — and for many years to come.

(Photo/Carm Roda)

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Nobel Prize-winning MIT economist Daron Acemoglu called last week’s Westport Library talk with Dave Briggs “the most important conversation in the world.”

This week, (Friday, May 8, 10 a.m.) Briggs — a longtime resident and national journalist — hosts one that will rivet parents (and any students and teachers who can get there).

Brookings Rebecca Winthrop one of the nation’s leading experts on AI and education. She and Briggs will discuss what parents need to know about the impact AI may have on their children’s education; how evolving technology affects critical thinking — and are schools doing enough?

The conversation will explore why skills like common sense, critical thinking, curiosity and sound judgment matter more than ever — especially for young, impressionable minds.

For more information, click here.

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As Westporters think about graduations and summer camp, Westport’s Human Services Department is thinking about how to help residents who struggle to afford them.

Youth and family specialist Annette D’Augelli coordinates the Camperships and Ceremonies & Celebrations programs. for income-eligible families.

Camperships help bridge gaps, offering children access to structured, confidence-building experiences while providing parents the stability of reliable summer care.

The Ceremonies & Celebrations Fund ensures 8th and 12th grade students can mark important milestones with dignity, through a graduation outfit, special meal or other meaningful experience.

The impact of a donation is felt in many ways:

  • $5,000: Full summer of camp
  • $2,500: 6 weeks of camp
  • $1,000: 2 1/2 weeks of camp
  • $400: 1 week of camp
  • $200: Half week of camp or a celebratory meal
  • $100: Camp support or graduation/prom attire

To donate online, click here; (Family-to-Family program). To donate by mail: Family to Family, c/o Westport Human Services, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.

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Construction at Sherwood Island State Park — the traditional site of STAR Inc.’s annual Walk & Roll — moved the event to the non-profit’s Norwalk home.

But the 21st annual fundraiser was another smash. And it offered attendees a chance to experience first hand the facility and environment where important work, supporting people with intellectual and developmental differences, happens every day.

Bob Levy spoke on behalf of Team Ariel, once again the top fundraising team. He reflected on over 2 decades of involvement, and noted that donations this year included his 7-year-old granddaughter. He  also recognized Laura Blair and Team Jenna Herbst, for their continued commitment and impact.

For more information on STAR, and to contribute, click here.

Joining in the STAR Walk & Roll.

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Guests enjoyed jazz, conversation and laughter Saturday night, at MoCA\CT.

Hosted by Richard Epstein and Jim Motavalli of WPKN-FM, the program paired iconic recordings with lively, nostalgic dialogue.

Selections like “Song for My Father” by Horace Silver and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” by Johnny Hartman sparked personal stories and reflections.

The event was part of MoCA’s ongoing programming for “Art, Jazz + the Blues.” The exhibit combines visual art with jazz-inspired public programming.

This Thursday (May 7, 6 p.m.), MoCA\CT presents One Degree of Separation: Jazz in CT. Thomas Duffy and Wayne Escoffery of the Yale School of Music explore Connecticut’s vibrant jazz legacy, including mentorship, collaboration, and the social impact of the music in the state and beyond. Grammy Award winner Escoffery will play the saxophone too.

On May 14 (6 p.m.), the museum hosts the Westport Writers’ Workshop. Amanda Parrish Morgan and Liz Matthews’ immersive, all-levels workshop invites participants to respond to “Art, Jazz + the Blues” through observation, imagination and curiosity.

Then, on May 16 (7 p.m.), internationally acclaimed pianist (and 25-year Westport resident) Frederic Chiu is joined by his niece, rising violinist star Karisa Chiu — fresh off her Carnegie Hall debut. Their program spans Gabriel Fauré, Sergei Prokofiev, and a special piece written for Karisa by Bright Sheng.

Karisa Chiu and Frederic Chiu.

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Congratulations to Olivia Jackson!

The Coleytown Middle School 7th grader earned a Platinum award in the Connecticut Writing Project’s Student Writers contest. Her poem (below) — one of over 1,500 submissions — will be published in this year’s magazine. She’ll also take part in a special writers’ workshop.

That’s not all. Last month, Olivia performed at Carnegie Hall, with the Camp Broadway Ensemble at the New York Pops’ 43rd Birthday Gala.

We’ll follow her writing and performing careers with interest!

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The Caribbean is coming to Weston.

May 31 (3 to 5 p.m.) is when Town Hall Green turns tropical. The town’s Commission for the Arts welcomes the high-energy Silver Steel Drum Band, for the inaugural Music on the Green show.

The Green was restored to create a central gathering space, with a veterans’ memorial, walkway, improved lighting and native landscaped gardens. Concerts will add another dimension.

Guests are invited to bring chairs and refreshments.

Silver Steel Band

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image looks a bit abstract.

On closer examination, Jerry Kuyper’s photo shows weeping cherry petals on his Rayfield Road driveway, with passing clouds illuminated by the sun after a rain shower.

(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)

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And finally … as the P&Z prepares to discuss lights on 2 town fields (story above):

(Hey, readers: You light up our “06880” life. And a gentle reminder: We rely on reader support to do all this, 24/7/365. Clicking here to support our work would make us feel even brighter. Thank you!)

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Posted in Arts, Beach, Entertainment, Library, Teenagers

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[OPINION] Special Ed: Solicit Feedback; Prioritize Student Progress Over Legal Proceedings

Posted on May 4, 2026 | 19 comments

Last month, the Board of Education began discussing a system-wide evaluation of Westport’s special education program.

Michelle Vitulich — a town resident for 17 years — has a daughter who is a sophomore at Staples High, and a 7th grader with special needs at Bedford Middle School.

Michelle served for 7 years on the Special Education PTA, and 4 years on the executive board of the Greens Farms Elementary School PTA. She writes:

Financial data from Westport Public Schools reveals a significant allocation of resources toward legal fees and litigation within the special education department.

With annual costs for legal services and settlements approaching $2 million, pushing outplacement tuition expenditures to exceed $6 million in 2025 (as published by the Connecticut State Department of Education), the fiscal sustainability of the current strategy should be under increased scrutiny.

 

This trend echoes challenges documented nearly 2 decades ago regarding parent struggles to secure a Free and Appropriate Public Education. However, the current financial implications for the district have escalated substantially.

(A 2005 New York Times story, headlined “Amid Affluence, A Struggle Over Education,” described Westport BOE meetings “exploding into shouting matches over what services children are entitled to under federal law and parents spending thousands of dollars on appeals to force the school district to provide those services for their children.”

(It notes that Westport spent over $2 million on legal fees and settlement costs in the previous 6 years fighting parents’ complaints “that special education students get short shrift. The parents say they have no choice: the district, one of the state’s most affluent, is fighting just as hard to hold the line on skyrocketing special education costs.” Click here for the full Times story.)

A comparative analysis with New Canaan, a district with a similar demographic profile, highlights a stark disparity in resource management.

The per-student cost of special education legal fees in Westport is 245% higher than in New Canaan, where a more collaborative approach is utilized.

Despite this high expenditure on legal matters, student outcomes do not reflect a corresponding benefit. Data from the state Department of Education regarding the Achievement Gap — a metric measuring the disparity between high needs and non-high needs students — shows that Westport has a gap nearly twice as large as New Canaan across English Language Arts, Math, and Science over the last 4 school years.

These metrics suggest that the current in-district programming and support systems may not effectively meet the needs of students with disabilities.

The data underscores parent concerns regarding whether students are receiving the legally mandated support necessary to make meaningful academic progress.

The continued reliance on a high-conflict legal strategy appears to divert valuable resources away from direct student services, without yielding superior educational results.

To address these systemic challenges, it is imperative to conduct the independent, unbiased review of special education that the Board of Education has requested.

to ensure total objectivity, this review must be carried out by a reputable consultancy with no prior financial ties to the district.

The process should prioritize gathering stakeholder feedback, including perspectives from parents who have navigated litigation and from staff members who can provide insight into internal operational hurdles.

Identifying the root causes of these inefficiencies is the first step toward shifting the district’s focus from litigation to the development of a high quality, inclusive special education program.

By reallocating the funds currently consumed by legal disputes into student-centered investment, Westport Public Schools has the opportunity to build a special education program that prioritizes student progress and fiscal responsibility over adversarial proceedings.

Screenshot from the Westport Public Schools’ special education page.

(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Please send submission to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support your hyper-local blog with a tax-deductible donation, please click here.

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Posted in Education

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Pic Of The Day #3301

Posted on May 3, 2026 | 1 comment

Jesup Green sculptures (Photo/Pam Docters)

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Posted in Library, Pic of the Day

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