Disney’s “Snow White” — a live-action version of the 1937 animated Disney film “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” — opens in theaters on Friday (March 21).
It includes reimagined classics, and all new songs. What makes this “06880”-worthy is that the music is by Pasek & Paul.
The Westport half of that Emmy/Grammy/Oscar/Tony-winning duo is 2003 Staples High School graduate Justin Paul. They’ve already written the music and lyrics for (among others) “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman.”
Both are huge Disney fans. Click below to hear them discuss their work with “the one that started it all.”
Another Westport boldface name — Christian Soriano — is closing his local shop.
The fashion designer — whose outfits were worn at this year’s Oscars by Halle Berry, Queen Latifah and Whoopi Goldberg — is relocating his Collective West store to New York City.
(Siriano — a Westporter since 2020 — is not leaving.)
“One More Celebration” is set for Wednesday (March 19, 6 to 9 p.m., 940 Post Road East).
Siriano will be there, offering “fashion, cocktails, and a stylish sendoff.” No RSVP needed.
The Animal Awareness Night — postponed earlier this month — is set for Wednesday (March 19, 7 p.m., police station classroom).
Topics include wildlife (with officer Peter Reid), pet adoption (with Westport Animal Shelter Advocates’ Julie Loparo), and dog licensing guidelines. The event is free.
Westport Animal Control officer Peter Reid is a featured speaker at Wednesday’s Animal Awareness Night.
=================================================
Bedford Acting Group’s 6th graders take the stage this Friday through Sunday (March 21-23) for “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
It’s a 60-minute musical adaptation of the Disney classic, with both familiar and new songs. Long Lots Elementary School teacher Anna Woodin (Friday), and Saugatuck El’s Katie Bloom (Saturday evening) perform alongside former students. There is a meet-and-greet for younger kids after Saturday’s matinee.
Double cast Alices, Queens of Hearts and Caterpillars:Aubrey Steffa, Charlotte Naughton, Ellie Delorier, Chloe Robbin, Lola Rockwell, Charlotte Leykind.
“Seared” — the comedy that brings audiences into a kitchen — earned rave reviews, in its first 2 weekends at Weston’s Lachat Town Farm.
First produced off-Broadway in 2019, the show earned Outer Critics Circle Awards. As garlic and onions sizzle on stage, the play explores conflicts between artistic passion and the pressures of the business world.
Show dates are Friday and Saturday (March 21 and 22) at 7:30 p.m., Sunday (March 23) at 3 p.m. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Wesleyan University’s storybook men’s basketball season continues.
The Cardinals edged Emory 61-58 in a thrilling game Saturday. Oscar Edelman — a 6-8 freshman from Westport — scored 7 points.
The win propels them into their first-ever NCAA Division III Final 4.
Wes travels to Fort Wayne, Indiana this week. On Thursday (5:30 p.m.) they take on a familiar foe: in-state rival Trinity College. Click here for the full story.
Oscar Edelman
===============================================
A large crowd was entertained at the Westport Library yesterday afternoon by The Hudson Arts Ensemble.
Trumpeter Bill Owen and pianist Yalin Chi played all French composers –Debussy, Faure, Ravel and others. The duo are currently with the West Point Band.
Hudson Arts Ensemble (Photo/Dave Matlow)
===============================================
The bald eagle is back. Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted the handsome bird, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Beginning March 11, the town will charge drivers at electric vehicle charging stations on town-owned and operated property.
Officials say the plan is competitive with other local charging stations, while also offering “a sustainable and cost-effective option for EV owners.”
Stations at Town Hall, the Westport Library, the Baldwin Lot, Senior Center and Fire Department headquarters will charge 35 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 3 hours.
After a 15-minute grace period, users will be charged an idling fee of $10 an hour. The goal is to discourage drivers from occupying spaces after they have charged their vehicles.
Stations at Saugatuck and Greens Farms railroad stations will also charge 35 cents per kwh. However, there is no idling fee, because vehicle owners use the station for commuting (and pay a railroad parking permit fee as well).
Payment may be made through QR codes on the charging unit, or through a 3rd-party app used for EV charging.
EV charges in the Baldwin lot, after installation last year. They were not yet in use, because they had not been turned on.
=================================================
Last night, News12 Connecticut ran an excellent story on tomorrow night’s event “Past, Present and Future Opportunities for Diverse Entrepreneurs” (February 29, 6 p.m., Westport Library).
Sponsored by StartUp Westport and Westport 10 — and coming on the heels of allegations of racism in town, and at the end of Black History Month — the timing is fortuitous.
Jay Norris — a co-founder of both organizations (StartUp Westport is aimed at creating a tech entrepreneurial hub here; Westport 10 is a networking and social group for Black men and their families — told News 12: “The goal is diverse entrepreneurship. We believe we’re all stronger together. We need to acknowledge ech other. We need to support each other’s business.”
He cited martin Luther King’s inspiration — and his focus on a “diverse economic perspective,” which remains unreached.
Tomorrow’s event — moderated by MSNBC host and Westport resident Craig Melvin — will be followed by a cocktail reception. Click here for more information, and to register. Click here for the full News12 story, including video of Norris’ interview.
Everyone thought Ridgefield — the #1 seed in the boys basketball FCIAC tournament), ranked #2 in the state, and unbeaten in league play this year — would roll to their 4th FCIAC championship in 6 years last night.
Everyone except Staples.
The Wreckers got a highlight reel performance from sophomore Sam Clachko — 40 points, including 7 3-pointers and 11 of 12 foul shots — en route to a 73-57 demolition of the Tigers, in last night’s semifinal at Wilton High School.
The 4th-seeded Stapleites advance to tomorrow night’s final. They take on #2 Trumbull at 7 p.m., again at Wilton. It will be the Wreckers’ 2nd straight FCIAC final appearance, under 2nd-year coach Dave Goldshore.
The Westporters dropped a tough 48-46 decision to Ridgefield during the regular season. But they battled evenly in the first half, then pulled away in the second.
Junior Adam Udell added 13 points, in the all-around team effort.
Bill Vornkahl — the Korean War veteran and for over 50 years the organizer and heart of Westport’s Memorial Day parade, who died last month — will be honored this Saturday (March 2, 1:30 p.m.) at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399.
The Bill Vornkahl Citation of Service will be presented to his family. The public is invited.
The event was coordinated by Westport’s state legislators Dominique Johnson, Jonathan Steinberg and Ceci Mahar, and the Board of Selectwomen.
Bill Vornkahl (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
================================================
The New York Times reports:
A former New York University administrator admitted on Tuesday to spending $80,000 in public money meant for minority- and women-owned businesses on a swimming pool at her Connecticut home as part of a broader $3.5 million fraud she orchestrated, officials said.
The former administrator, Cindy Tappe, made the admission while pleading guilty to second-degree grand larceny, court records show. Under a plea agreement with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, she will be sentenced to five years’ probation and must pay $663,209 in restitution to cover the full sum of money she diverted for personal expenses.
Tappe, 57, lives in Westport, the Times says.
Ms. Tappe’s “fraudulent actions not only threatened to affect the quality of education for students with disabilities and multilingual students, but denied our city’s minority- and women-owned business enterprises a chance to fairly compete for funding,” Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, said in a statement.
Deborah Colson, Ms. Tappe’s lawyer, said in a statement that her client “strongly regrets her misconduct.”
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Scott Brodie)
=================================================
A few tickets are still available for Bedford Acting Group’s production of “The Lion King Jr.”
The curtain rises at 7 p.m. on March 15. Additional shows are set for March 16 (3 and 7 p.m.), and March 17 (3 p.m.).Click here for tickets, cast lists and more information.
This Sunday (March 3, 4 p.m.), the United Methodist Church of Westport & Weston hosts a chamber music vespers service. It includes a string quartet, poetry and prayer, plus refreshments and conversation. The public is invited.
The church invites donations of non-perishable food items for Summerfield UMC Light on the Hill in Bridgeport.
(Photo/Dan Woog)
=================================================
High winds are predicted today.
Will they topple this utility pole on Compo Road South, a few yards from the Post Road?
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
Mark Mathias writes: “This does not look safe. It’s as if someone said, “let’s put this pole in the street and stack it on some 4x4s. What could go wrong?”
It seems, he says, “like a YouTube failure video waiting to happen.”
=================================================
The sun may not shine today.
But our “Westport … Naturally” photo — taken yesterday on Myrtle Avenue by Molly Alger — should bring a warm smile to everyone.
And finally … I never heard of Roni Stoneman, or the Stoneman Family. I never watched “Hee Haw,” where she played banjo and (apparently) had her biggest success.
But the former member of the “renowned Appalachian string band” had quite a career. She died Thursday in Tennessee, at 85. Click here for a full obituary.
(Whether or not you’ve got an electric vehicle, “06880” hopes you will “charge” a contribution to your hyper-local blog. Or send a check. Please click here for options to support our work. Thanks!)
Josh Koskoff has earned tons of national attention. As lead attorney representing the Sandy Hook families, he won a momentous decision in a defamation lawsuit against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
On Tuesday, the Staples High School graduate, longtime Westport resident and senior partner at Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder of Bridgeport was on a different stage: the Westport Rotary Club’s lunch meeting.
He noted that 20 years ago, mass shootings were not a major problem. He cited some factors that explain our gun violence epidemic, including laxer gun laws, excessive greed on the part of gun manufacturers, internet-enabled direct marketing of assault weapons to young people, and a “crisis of unhappiness” that makes them susceptible to angry, toxic and violent messaging.
Koskoff ended on a positive note. He believes that gun control forces are growing, becoming moreorganized and financed, and now stand a better chance of passing necessary legislation.
Josh Koskoff with an AR-15 assault rifle, at Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
The Bedford Acting Group invites everyone to “Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest” at their production of “Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical!”
With strong vocal and dance talents, an inventive set and fine costumes, the well-known tale about a spirited, book-loving French village girl, the hideous beast who imprisons her, and the quirky, hilarious characters in the famous classic come to life.
For younger fans, BAG offers a special opportunity to participate in a “Be Our Guest Experience.” It includes a meet-and-greet with Belle and other characters from the show, plus “Beauty and the Beast”-themed crafts and games. The event will take place Saturday, December 2 at 1:30 p.m., before the matinee (separate tickets are required).
Performances are Friday, December 1 (7 p.m.).; Saturday, December 2 (3 and 7 p.m.), and Sunday, December 3 (3 p.m.). Borh matinees are already sold out. Click here for tickets to the evening shows.
The cast and crew of Bedford Acting Group’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
The tagline for PopUp Bagels is “not famous, but known.”
They’ll be known a lot more soon.
The Westport-based company’s pizza bagels will now be sold at all Citi Field events in 2023.
So that’s Mets games — and NYCFC (MLS soccer) matches, and concerts.
Forget peanuts. To hell with Crackerjacks. Buy me some pizza bagels!
PopUp pizza bagels, and a Mets-ish hat.
=================================================
Westport Police responded Thursday to a potential scam at M&T Bank.
A woman had told a teller that she received a call, saying he and her daughter were involved in a motor vehicle accident. The man said he had the woman’s daughter as hostage, and demanded she withdraw as much money as she could.
He warned her not to text or call anyone. In the background, a woman was rying.
The teller sensed something was wrong, and realized this was a scam. The bank called Westport Police, who advised the woman to contact her daughter at work — where she was fine.
This was the third potential scam in the past week, police say. They thank alert bank employees, and offer these reminders:
Do not send any money or gift cards to an unknown person.
Make contact with family who claim to be in danger prior to sending money.
Call the police if unable to contact family members.
“Tomorrow’s trash pick-up (Sunday, March 26, 11 a.m.) is along Greens Farms Road.
“We will park at the Public Works Garage at the transfer station (they are closed) and make our way to Prospect Road. Depending on the size of group, we will continue on to Hillspoint Road. This location is back by popular demand from residents.
“Wear comfortable shoes or boots, and gloves — and bring a trash bag.”
Looking ahead, Andrew says:
“For 3 years our weekend group of residents, elected/appointed officials and town employees has volunteered to do weekend trash pick-ups in Westport. Our last pick was Elaine Road, which is probably the worst area of trash collecting from I-95.
“I have written and called the state. They are aware, and are picking up along the guardrail in the coming weeks.
“However, the trash that has spilt below is overwhelming. Three weekends ago a group of 12 tackled the steep hill. We completed about 1/8 of it. I have obtained further help to complete the job.
“I have just confirmed with SLOBs (Staples Service League Of Boys) group. They are on for an Earth Day trash pick on Elaine Road, where Westport’s Animal Control building is located.
“We will have 45 from that group. I am inviting employees from Town Hall, Westport Police, Westport Fire, Public Works, VFW, Parks & Recreation and other departments to join us on April 22nd, at 10 a.m.
“With 45 people plus others we can clean up the entire hill, and along South Compo where trash has made its way into the gutter line and sidewalk area.
“Wear boots and gloves, bring a garbage bag and pickers if you have them, and prepare to get dirty. Spread the word. All are welcome. Let’s clean up Westport!”
Westport Animal Control building, on Elaine Drive.
=================================================
There are 2 weeks left to save 20% on tickets to the 17th annual Taste of Westport.
The event — a fantastic benefit for CLASP Homes (May 10, 6 p.m., the Inn at Longshore) — always sells out.
Particularly when folks can save big, before April 10.
More than 2 dozen establishments provide all-you-can-eat food and drinks.
Click here for tickets, and more information (including a list of participating restaurants, chocolatiers, and wine and spirits shops).
Can’t make it to the event? Click here, to be part of the Toast the Taste campaign.
To learn more about CLASP Homes, click the video below:
Staples High School Counseling Department honors Women’s History Month.
The next episode of their “Spark Your Future!” series features “Women in the Military.
The virtual event is set for this Tuesday (March 28, 6:30 p.m.). The panelists — all Staples graduates — include
Dominica Wardell (Staples Class of 2014) is an officer in the Marine Corps. She earned her Wings of Gold as a naval aviator, and now flies the MV-22 Osprey.
Asia Bravo (SHS ’11) served 7 years active duty in the Army. She has now been selected as a member of the United States Space Force.
Emily Troelstra (SHS ’13) served as a Navy officer aboard the USS Princeton. After medical separation from the military, she is pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training at George Mason University.
Amanda Troelstra (SHS ’18) is an active duty signal officer and satellite communications platoon leader in the Army.
The program is open to students in all grades, and their families. Scan the QR code below to register.
If you are not able to attend live, the webinar will be recorded and shared in a follow-up email.
Bedford Acting Group’s spring production — “Seussical Jr. ” — opened to great reviews last night.
Two more performances are set for today (Saturday, March 25): 3 and 7 p.m.
Directed by Ryan Smith, the story of friendship, loyalty and love comes through strongly with great choreography, an intriguing set, and of course excellent acting by future Staples Players.
Westporter Mike Greenberg — host of ESPN’s “Get Up” and “NBA Countdown” — is off the air for a bit.
He underwent a cardiac ablation Monday. The procedure corrects heart rhythm problems. is slowly on the mend after he underwent a heart procedure on Monday.
His wife Stacy posted on Twitter: “Recovery is slow, he has to do nothing and believe me…. he’s not great at that! We both really, really appreciate all the nice messages.”
“06880” joins Mike’s million-plus Twitter followers in wishing him a speedy recovery. (Hat tip: Jack Krayson)
And finally … Fuzzy Haskins, “a foundational member of the vocal group that morphed into Parliament-Funkadelic, the genre-blurring collective led by George Clinton that shook up the pop music world in the 1970s,” died last week in Michigan. He was 81, and suffered from diabetes. (Click here for a full obituary.)
Westport’s 2 budgets — $136,287,710 for the Board of Education (plus $7.7 million in debt service), and $81,932,340 for other town operations — were approved unanimously last night by the Board of Finance.
They now head to the Representative Town Meeting for final approval.
For a detailed look at the 2023-24 budget numbers approved by the Board of Finance on Thursday, click here and here.
Where our money goes …
… and the town operations (non-education) portion of it.
One team’s fans will drive 2 miles. The other will drive 80.
But Staples High School’s boys basketball supporters will be out in force Sunday, when the Wreckers take on St. Bernard’s-Uncasville at the Mohegan Sun arena, in the state Division II basketball championship game.
Tipoff is 6:15 p.m. (March 19). The game can be heard on WWPT-FM (90.3) and wwptfm.org. You can watch it on the proprietary Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) website, but must subscribe ($11.99 a month; cancel anytime) — click here for details.
Staples is going for their first Connecticut boys hoops crown since 1937. No wonder plenty of Westporters will make the trip to the casino/arena.
And … if you missed Wednesday night’s astonishing comeback — down by 18 points in the 4th quarter, they beat Fairfield Warde in overtime — no problem. Click below for the entire, did-they-just-do-that?! game.
Last night marked the official launch for Startup Westport.
Tech and other entrepreneurs gathered at the Westport Library, to discuss ways of making Westport a “special, suburban center of an ecosystem of tech people and investors.”
Click here for details of this public/private partnership.
Leading the way at last night’s Startup Westport kickoff (from left): Matt Gorin, Sam Hendel, Jay Norris, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Stefano Pacifico, Peter Propp.
Staples High School junior Tucker Peters (right) was at the Startup Westport event, to soak up ideas. He met Jay Norris, a co-founder and Westport Library trustee.
================================================
Also last night:
The actual porch at The Porch at Christie’s rocked, as owners Bill and Andrea Pecoriello hosted over 100 Club 203 members for a St. Patrick’s Day Eve bash.
The event included Irish dancing, bagpiping, green-themed food and desserts, a “lucky rock project” from MoCA Westport, and boundless energy from many volunteers.
Club 203 is the local organization for adults with disabilities. Click here for their website.
Club 203’s St. Patrick’s Day party, at The Porch. (Photo courtesy of Stacie Curran)
And one more from last night. Doris Ghitelman writes:
Yesterday around 6:18 p.m., a SpaceX Falcon 9 streaked across Westport. The mission was Stronger Together, for Capella Space. They sent 2 satellites into low earth orbit (Leo).
She sent this photo …
(Photo/Doris Ghitelman)
… and says: “The white streak is the contrail. If you expand the image you will actually see the black SpaceX rocket.”
Did you miss Wednesday’s State Legislature hearing on HB 6890 — the “Live Work Ride: An Act Concerning Qualifying Transit-Oriented Communities” bill that proposes withholding, withdrawing, and possibly clawing back discretionary state infrastructure funding from communities that fail to adopt regulations permitting greater density, with limited parking and a prescribed affordability component, around transit?
No problem! Just click below.
Be sure to allow some time, though. The hearing was 6 hours long.
Kids love the Grinch, Horton, Cat-in-the-Hat. Dr. Seuss had it right: Let kids be kids.
Which is one reason Bedford Acting Group director Ryan Smith chose “Seussical Jr.” as this spring’s 6th grade production.
He’s created a safe, inclusive environment, helping young performers find and nurture skills.
It’s a BMS community effort. Parents are designing fish, while each ensemble member crafts their own props, to suit their personality.
The set was designed by Joe DeTullio — who does that stuff professionally for “Saturday Night Live.”
“Seussical Jr.” will be performed March 24 (7 p.m.), March 25 (3 and 7 p.m.), and March 26 (3 p.m.).
Families with young kids can purchase an add-on ticket to enjoy a Saturday matinee pre-show soirée (March 25, 2 p.m.), with a character meet-and-greet, crafts, sweets and more.
Yesterday was an important one for caregivers — and the kids they care for.
Cultural Care au pairs visited Westport Fire Department headquarters. The fire marshal’s office taught them how to keep their host children safe — and gave them fire safety takeaways, to bring home and share with their families.
Westport Fire Department officials, with au pairs and their children.
There’s nothing better for a sweet tooth than Rice Krispies treats.
Unless they’re topped with candy.
Westport moms Melissa Rutstein and Rachel Dymond combined their passions for food, entertainment and fun. The result is SugarKrisp: a “sushi-themed candy company.”
SugarKrisp treats
Both women moved to Westport in 2020. A mutual friend got them together. The rest is confectionary history.
SugarKrisp has quickly become a local favorite. They’ve also partnered with a number of non-profits and schools, offering auction items to raise money. Sweet!
Follow them on Instagram @SugarKrispco.
SugarKrisp founders Melissa Rutstein and Rachel Dymond.
Weston EMS celebrates their 60th anniversary on March 25, at Rolling Hills Country Club. The event includes 2 auctions: silent and live.
And the silent auction is already, well, live.
There are items from Don Memo, Earth Animal, NEST, Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse, Nômade, Bridgewater Chocolate, Bartlett Tree Experts and Karen Callan Jewelry, along with golf at top-ranked clubs and more.
Over 70 prizes Fairfield County artists, rounds of golf at top-ranked golf clubs, local Fairfield County retail favorites and many great lifestyle items.
Click here to bid on silent auction items (and buy raffle tickets). Both are open through March 25.
Click here for tickets to the gala. Questions? Email gala@westonems.com.
Westport Animal Control officer Peter Reid joined Westport Animal Control “guest” Parker in matching green plaid sweatshirts on a day when everyone – including canines– is Irish.
Parker is just one of several dogs available for adoption. Click here to learn more.
The “official” town event is Thursday (December 1, 5 p.m., Town Hall). The evergreen by Myrtle Avenue will glow, and Staples High School’s Orphenians will sing.
The next night (Friday, December 2, 4:30 p.m.), it’s Wakeman Town Farm’s turn. This one features treats from The Porch, hot chocolate from The Granola Bar, a bonfire and local musicians.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker does the honors at both. She’ll be joined at WTF by Wakeman family member Bill Constantino.
The Christmas tree at Town Hall, following a lighting ceremony.
Are you a fan of the other football, but didn’t get a chance to see the Staples High School football team’s dramatic 39-38 win over archrival Greenwich on Thanksgiving Day?
Click below, for a very cool highlight video. It was produced and edited by senior Daniel Burgin, with video shot by junior Charlie Scott.
The win vaulted the Wreckers into tonight’s state “LL” quarterfinal playoff game against Fairfield Prep (6:30 p.m., Staples’ Paul Lane Field). It’s the blue-and-whites’ first post-season appearance in 7 years.
Can’t make that one either? Click here for the livestream.
“Fine jewelry” and “rescue animals” may never have appeared in the same sentence.
Thanks to JL Rocks, they do now.
The high-end Post Road East retailer partnered with designer Peggy Reiner, for a new collection of whimsical animal-inspired pieces. Proceeds benefit PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) in Norwalk and 4LittlePaws rescue in Southport.
“It’s a great gift that gives back to pets in need,” says JL Rocks founder/owner Jamie Camche. “Animals have given us so much. We want to give back to them.”
The collection features 3 diamond-studded designs: petite 14K gold pawprint earrings, 14K gold chains with diamond pave dog bone, and paw charms. It’s available at JL Rocks’ Westport and Greenwich stores, and online.
“Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?” debuted on Netflix this month. The docuseries is about theLeonard v. Pepsico, Inc. court case — you know, the one where the college kid thought he found a loophole in a Pepsi promotion, and sued them to win a fighter plane. Reviews were good.
The “06880” connection: 2007 Staples High School graduate Nick Boak is an executive producer.
Spoiler alert: The guy never got his jet. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
We need a face painter for this weekend’s Holiday Stroll (Saturday, December 3, 5 to 7 p.m., Main Street and environs).
If you (or your daughter or son) are available to help with this great kids’ activity, please email 06880blog@gmail.com.
For more details on the Holiday Stroll — co-sponsored by “06880” and the Westport Downtown Association — including the nearly 40 participating retailers and restaurants — click here.
The weekend weather report is good. But Bedford Middle School will be “Frozen.”
On December 2, 3 and 4, Bedford Acting Group takes the stage in “Frozen Jr.”
The 7th and 8th grade actors were toddlers when the movie hit theaters in 2013 (!), Yet they know its characters and songs well. At last, they can perform it.
The curtain rises Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (3 and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.). Click here for the few remaining tickets.
The Bedford Acting Group cast and crew of “Frozen Jr.”
Every year they design and maintain the Atrium Garden at Earthplace in Westport, and the Victorian Cottage on Fairfield’s Town Green.
They provide horticultural therapy events at STAR in Norwalk, and make flower arrangements for the Pequot Library Art Show.
The Greens Farms Garden Club also manages 3 “Growing for Good” gardens: Prospect Garden and Wakeman Town Farm in Westport, and St. Timothy’s Church Garden in Fairfield.
They were planted and cared for throughout spring, summer and fall, with over 180 buckets of fresh organic produce harvested and donated to help with food insecurity at Mercy Learning Center and St. John’s Family Center in Bridgeport.
A highlight of the year came at the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut 93rd annual awards luncheon. Wynn Herrmann — a 30-year veteran — was recognized for Civic Development. Dina Schmidt and Jude earned Certificates of Merit for the club’s monthly newsletters and website, respectively.
For more information about the Greens Farms Garden Club, including events and membership, click here.
Greens Farms Garden Club members (seated, from left): Chris Supernaw, Wynn Herrmann, Judy Reynolds, Ann Watkins. Standing: Kate Carroll, president Kathy Mitchell, Carol Shear, Jude Smith, vice president Maybette Waldron.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” — Vince Guaraldi’s timeless, feel-good music — gets the jazz treatment on Saturday (December 3).
The Heather Pierson Trio comes to the Westport Unitarian Church’s Voices Café at 4 p.m., for an in-person and livestreamed holiday concert.
Show-goers can bring snacks and beverages. Groups of 4 or more can reserve tables. For more information and tickets, click here.
Voices Café and its artists are committed to social justice. A portion of the proceeds benefit the battle against food insecurity, through Mercy Learning Center.
It’s late November. But the leaves on a few trees are still hanging on.
Fred Cantor photographed one of them at Old Mill Beach. Its a vivid reminder of the “Westport … Naturally” beauty that surrounds us everywhere we look.
And finally … in honor of today’s crucial World Cup clash between the US and Iran (story above), here is the greatest pump-up soccer song ever. Crank the volume up to Spinal Tap 11, and enjoy!
(Wave that flag for “06880”! Please click here to support our work.)
Susan Iseman subscribes to the “Today in Connecticut History” news feed. Every day, a different event is highlighted.
Today is Westport’s turn. The site cites the 245th anniversary of 1,800 British troops’ march from Compo Beach to Danbury, where they burned a supply depot.
The event — including the subsequent retreat back to their ships off Compo Beach, and the Battle of Compo Hill on April 28, when the patriots made life miserable for the invaders — is memorialized by our iconic Minute Man monument.
Click here for the fascinating story of those historic 1777 days.
This Saturday (April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Senior Center), the Westport Police Department partners with the US Drug Enforcement Administration to accept medications (pills or patches) that are no longer needed.
The Senior Center cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. Vape pens whose batteries can be removed are okay, those whose batteries cannot be removed are not.
The service is free and anonymous; no questions are asked.
Since its inception 22 years ago, the program has removed more than 15.2 million pounds of medication from circulation nationwide.
The WPD also has a year-round collection bin in the lobby of police headquarters. Prescription drugs can be disposed of any time there.
For more information about Take Back Day, click here.
Bedford Acting Group — the middle school theatre program — returned to the stage this year after a tough, 2-year hiatus due to COVID,
The fall production of “Annie” was a success, thanks to a cast of 7th and 8th graders (and professional actor dog Sandy).
This weekend the 6th graders debut on the Bedford stage. They perform “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” with the help of director Ryan Smith and nearly two dozen 7th and 8th grade student directors.
The youngsters shadow Smith, run scenes and lines, create blocking, make suggestions on character choices, and step in to read when students are absent.
This is Smith’s first year at the Bedford Acting Group helm. After performing with Staples Players before graduating in 1996, he acted professionally on national tours.
He returned to his hometown and served as associate director of Bedford Acting Group alongside Kevin Slater, then helped run the program with longtime director Karen McCormick. Now in the head role, he works with assistant director Melisa Didio.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” features audiovisual and special effects, and surprises in the Wonka factory. Costumes reflect the 1970s, and the set is vibrantly colored.
Among the volunteers: theatrical designer Karen Root, whose daughter Helen acts in the show, and actor Colin Walker, whose daughter Brady is a student director.
Performances are Friday, April 29 (7:30 p.m.), Saturday, April 30 (2 and 7 p.m.), and Sunday, May 1 (2 p.m.). Click here for tickets and more information.
Harper Iglehart and Samantha Skopp are double cast as Willy Wonka
A few days ago, “06880” announced the release of Alan Fiore’s first song, “Take the Bait!”
The 2021 Staples High School graduate/current Berklee College of Music student produced, mixed and mastered it all himself.
It’s already registered over 5,000 Spotify streams, and 2,000 on Apple Music. It earned rave reviews in Darkus (which called Alan “one of 2022’s newest rising stars”) and Wolf in a Suit (“with this stunning showcase of feelings and emotions (Alan) gives life to a tale so raw and so true”).
Click here for links to all streaming platforms. Click here for Alan’s website, and more music.
The “06880” community has been heartbroken to learn of Charlie Capalbo’s death. The 23-year-old Fairfield hockey player — grandparents Ida Chadwick and Richard Epstein live in Westport, and whose mom Jennifer Wilde Capalbo graduated from Staples — battled cancer 4 times, before succumbing on Sunday.
The emotional toll on Charlie’s family over the past 5 years has been devastating. So is the financial toll.
A GoFundMe page is helping with medical expenses. Click here for more information, and to contribute.
Charlie and his mother, Jennifer Wilde Capalbo.
=================================================
Destination Haus — the new gallery and home décor store at 56 Riverside Avenue — invites everyone for cocktails and light bites this Thursday (April 28, 4 to 7 p.m.)
Like the original store in Montauk, Destination Haus offers
Offering curated artwork, furniture, glassware, candles, pillows, pottery, home accessories and jewelry from around the globe. It’s a “destination” for anyone moving into, redesigning or redecorating their “haus.”
Designer/entrepreneur/humanitarian/Prince Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks comes to MoCA Westport on May 12 (5 to 7 p.m.).
After a cocktail hour, she’ll chat with Connecticut Cottages & Gardens editorial director DJ Carey about her recent book, “An Entertaining Story,” and more.
Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a copy of India’s book. Guests also get a peek at Hicks’ new collaboration with British luxury brand Tusting. Click here to purchase and for more information, or call 222-7070. Funds support visual arts, performing arts and educational offerings for the community.
This has not been an easy year for middle schoolers.
Coleytown was closed in September due to mold; 6th and 7th graders have been at Bedford ever since. Every day, administrators, staff and students of 2 schools make compromises. Everyone involved has done a great — and often unheralded — job.
But it’s one thing to move classes, or share gym and cafeteria space. It’s another thing entirely to accommodate 2 different drama productions simultaneously.
Traditionally each spring, CMS stages an all-school musical. BMS puts on a 6th grade non-musical.
Both are fully staged, with professionally produced costumes and sets. Both involve scores of students.
Directors Ben Frimmer (CMS) and Karen McCormick (BMS) agreed to keep the schedule the same as in past years. They would share space during rehearsals, but — to provide stage time for actors and the technical staff — Bedford would push its opening back to April.
Bedford Middle School art teacher Lynn Karmen, with one of her set painters. (Photo/Melissa Fass)
Musicals require tons of space — for dancers, singers and scene work. Coleytown’s “42nd Street” was especially big. With only 3 weeks for Bedford to install their set, create costumes and the actors to transfer what they’d learned from such a small space to a big stage, the BMS show could not be technically complex.
Normally, Bedford’s non-musical is a version of a classic childen’s book like “Alice in Wonderland” or “The Phantom Tollbooth.” But with such limited room for rehearsals, plus set and costume construction, McCormick and her staff decided on a series of short stories from the 1960s “Rocky & Bullwinkle” cartoon show, called “Fractured Fairy Tales.”
They crafted 15 stories, and added short “fairy tale” commercials.
That provided 70 actors with over 240 roles to share. There are 40 narrators, 15-plus kings, queens, princes and princesses, and dozens of goblins, beasts, chickens, ogres, court jesters and peasants. Each youngster is featured in at least 2 “plays.”
The Do It All Wand cast. (Photo/January Stewart)
They found space in hallways and classrooms. Combined with Coleytown’s set construction crews, tap dancers, costume people, there were some very noisy afternoons.
“The kids didn’t mind,” McCormick says. “They worked very well under the circumstances.”
With just 12 days of unfettered access to the stage, BMS got creative with their set. “Fractured Fairy Tales” uses a new 25-foot floor-to-ceiling movie screen as a backdrop. It features hundreds of colorful images, most from old cartoons. On stage, 20 colorful 18-inch cubes instantly turn into thrones, tables or mountains.
Transferring the off-stage rehearsals onto the large stage has taken some work. But, McCormick says, the actors are working hard on new blocking, and pumped-up motions.
“Fractured Fairy Tales” rehearsals are fun — and energetic. (Photo/Melissa Fass)
Costumes were done later than usual too. BMS actors received theirs only a few days ago. Each person has 2 to 4 costume changes — some with only minutes to spare. They’re working on that too.
But this is Bedford Middle School. Like their Coleytown counterparts, the young actors and their tech crew embrace the challenge.
When the curtain rises this Friday, audiences will not even realize what everyone went through to produce “Fractured Fairy Tales.” They’ll smile, laugh and applaud. Just like every other BMS show.
(“Fractured Fairy Tales” performances are this Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets.)
(NOTE: Coleytown’s show — “42nd Street” — overcame several obstacles too, beyond shared space. Click here for that “06880” story.)
On May 11 and 12, Bedford Acting Group will present a controversial play about bullying in middle school. It’s a hot topic now, all over the country.
Co-directors Karen McCormick and Ryan Smith have planned “Higher Ground” for a while.
It’s not the first time they’ve addressed the issue.
In 2010, then-8th grader Will Haskell played the lead. He’s now running for a state senate seat — and will speak to the cast during rehearsals.
Will Haskell, in Bedford Middle School’s 2010 production of “Higher Ground.”
The play deals frankly with important issues like body image, race and sexuality. Characters are taunted for various reasons, before banding together and standing up in the end.
One boy is teased, harassed and assaulted after he shrugs off a misunderstanding about whether he is gay or straight. Other students are bullied for their weight, ethnicity, dress, interest in academics and being in special education.
“Higher Ground” was written in 2008 by Sherwood, Oregon middle school teacher Jennie Brown. Her principal called it “too mature,” and ordered it rewritten. Students countered that it depicted middle school life accurately, and refused to perform if it was censored.
The show was canceled. But the community rose in support, and “Higher Ground” enjoyed 3 sold-out performances at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.
Eight years ago McCormick found the script online. With the full support of BMS administration, the play was presented. It earned raves.
Brown has updated the play to reflect today’s technological and social media environment. But the message remains the same.
And it’s one every Westporter should see.
(“Higher Ground” will be presented on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12, at 7 p.m. in the Bedford Middle School auditorium. Click here for tickets.)
Top row (from left): Ryan Porio, Alex Waterworth. Bottom row: Sydney Gusick, Quinn Mulvey, Isabella Roberts.
When the curtain rises this Thursday (April 7, 7 p.m.) on “Mary Poppins,” Ben Frimmer will be in a familiar role: director.
But, he says, the huge sets, challenging acting, singing and choreography make this one of the most adventurous shows he’s ever done.
He’s up to the task. In fact, he was recently nominated for an Excellence in Theater Education honor — sponsored by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University — by parents and former students. The winner will be announced this spring.
Ben Frimmer, directing his cast. (Photo/Sophie Driscoll)
One letter in particular stands out. Ellen Knapp wrote of Frimmer’s support of her son, Cooper.
He never wanted to be on stage, she says. And he may never be there again.
But last spring Frimmer encouraged the 8th grader to audition for Lurch, in “The Addams Family.”
In fact, Knapp says, that encouragement was “perhaps the finest example of teaching I have ever experienced.” Frimmer acknowledged Cooper’s misgivings, then sold him on the “thrilling, awesome, intoxicating” thrill of being onstage.
Finally, Frimmer said the magic words: “I believe in you, Cooper.”
He got the part. He was embraced by his fellow actors. He even cut his hair.
Cooper Knapp, as Lurch.
In the finale, Lurch — who lived silently in the play’s shadows — steps to center stage, and belts out the epic song “Move Toward the Darkness.”
The audience went wild.
“Cooper literally found his voice as Lurch,” Ellen says. “And came to life as a man.”
That’s quite a story. This weekend at Coleytown, audiences will see Frimmer’s magic with another cast, in “Mary Poppins.”
Meanwhile, last weekend — a short way up North Avenue — the Bedford Acting Group brought “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to life.
In a Wonka-like spirit, the cast and crew partnered with Saugatuck Sweets to sell chocolate bars. Each one contained a ticket for a grand raffle prize: a weekly ice cream sundae for a year.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the promotion benefit the Leah Randon Memorial Scholarship. It’s named for the daughter of a popular Bedford teacher, killed in an accident last year.
Theater is alive and well in Westport’s middle schools. So is creativity, sharing and caring.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
