Happy 90th birthday, Betty Lou!
Betty Lou Cummings — former 2nd selectwoman, founder of the long-running Apple Festival, organizer of fundraisers like the Riverwalk and Westport Library River of Names, Senior Center advocate and much, much more — had a landmark birthday last week.
This Sunday, her extended family celebrates the big event.
Here’s to 90 more!
Betty Lou Cummings, and her husband Tom.
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There’s always something cool going on at the Westport Library.
Here are 2 of the coolest: Weston resident Richard Wiese — president emeritus of New York’s historic Explorers Club, and host of Emmy-winning TV show “Born to Explore,” hosts “A Night at the Explorers Club” (Thursday, August 15, 7 p.m.).
Wiese will be joined by a great lineup of explorers, including Lhakpa Sherpa (record holder for the most Mt. Everest summits by a woman), Dr. Nina Lanza (principal investigator on the Mars Rover’s ChemCam), and astronaut Richard Garriott (Explorers Club president, and a pioneer in private space exploration).
Also appearing: Morad Tahbaz, co-founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation; documentary filmmaker Brendan Hall; Rebecca Hui, entrepreneur and founder of cultural preservation company Roots Studio, and artist/writer James Prosek. Click here for more information.
Explorers galore at the Westport Library.
A musical excursion to the 5 M’s — Memphis, Macon, Muscle Shoals, Motown and Miami — that influenced so much of our musical history is set for Sunday, August 18 (2 to 5 p.m.).
Part of Roger Kaufman’s “Speaking of Music” series, it includes the vocal talents of Dennis Collins (Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway), backed by Sharon Collins, Billy Genuario, Stephanie Harrison and T’Zelle Wilson.
Also on stage: the Old School All-Stars band (Bob Cooper, Tim DeHuff, Dave Edwards and Tyger MacNeal), and the Saugatuck Horns (Bob Carlson, Fred Scerbo, and former Rolling Stones sideman Crispin Cioe).
Special guest — local author, bassist and musicologist Brian Torff — will tell stories of his journeys to the 5 M’s. Click here for more information.
Both events are free.
Crispin Cioe
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When will Big Y open?
We’re not sure. Progress has been slow, since the supermarket chain took over vacant space from the abortive Amazon Fresh property (which had been planned to replace the old Barnes & Noble, on Post Road East).
But they’re finally ready to hire. This sign now appears:
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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Also opening: Henry Lehr.
Or, we should say, re-opening. Or even, re-re-opening.
A pop-up shop appeared for a couple of weeks. Around Labor Day, a regular store will take over that 66 Post Road East location, next to the (current) Barnes & Nobel, and LoveSac.
It’s a return, of sorts. Henry Lehr was a successful business for many years, on Main Street.
They closed in 2014. There are now several successful stores in the Hamptons.
And — soon — they’ll be back to their Westport roots.
The shuttered Henry Lehr on Main Street. (Photo/Dave Matlow for WestportNow)
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Retail changes are in the works in Weston too.
According to Weston Today, Josh and Jessica Tolk — owners of Lunch Box, the diner-style restaurant in Weston Center — hope to rebrand it, into a bar and grill.
The 47-year-old spot will continue lunch and dinner service, with expanded days and hours of operation. They also may return to breakfast service in a modified format, and continue takeout and delivery service.
The Tolks also seek approval of a new entrance, facing Weston Road. Click here for the full story.
New Lunch Box: artist’s rendering (Courtesy of Weston Today)
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“Remi’s Run for Parker’s Cure” is a colorful community event, for a great cause.
The morning of fun, fitness and philanthropy is set for Sunday, August 25 (10 a.m. to noon, PJ Romano Field track).
The color run is part of Remi Rutstein’s bat mitzvah project. It’s dedicated to her cousin Parker, who is battling a rare genetic brain disorder known as HIST1H1E.
Participants — grouped by age — will run or walk around the track, while being splashed with colorful, non-toxic powders. By the end of the run, everyone is a living rainbow.
The fun also includes breakfast from Lyfe Café, a candy truck, sports and games, tattoos, a DJ, and plenty of surprises.
Remi says the event is a way for Westporters to come together and celebrate Parker, raise awareness, and contribute to the search for a cure.
The event is free, but donations are welcome. Click here to register, and for more information and contributions.
PS: Volunteers are welcome (and needed!). To help, email megan@westportmoms.com.
Remi Rutstein (right) and Parker.
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Turnout in early voting for this year’s Republican primary is low.
Very low.
Through the first 5 days, only 20 electors cast ballots. Throughout Connecticut, the numbers are equally low.
There are 2 contests here: United States senator (Gerry Smith vs. Matthew M. Corey), and congressman (Bob MacGuffie vs. Michael Goldstein).
Voting hours are today (Friday), tomorrow and Sunday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), at Town Hall only.
On Tuesday (August 13), Republican voters should go to their regular polling places.
For more information, call 203-341-1115.
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Long-time Westport resident — and 1950s country & western artist — Mimi Roman (Mimi Roth) performs this Sunday (August 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 148 East Avenue, Norwalk), at the 6th annual Italian American Police Society Vincent Penna Jr. Car Show. Click here for car show details.
She’ll be joined by Clue & The Honeytones.
The car show raises funds for the Vincent Penna Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. It awards money to the education of local children.
Penna died suddenly in December 2020 at age 51, leaving behind his wife and teenage sons, plus countless family members, friends, colleagues and fellow officers who admired his passion for his family and community.
Penna was an officer with Westport for 26 years, becoming deputy chief before retiring in 2017.
The event will have hundreds of classic and exotic cars, and thousands of automotive enthusiasts. There is a $20 fee to enter a car; spectators are free.
Besides music, there are raffle prizes, food trucks, trophies and more — including over $40,000 in prizes.
Click here for a video of Mimi singing on the Orleans Hotel & Casino main stage in April — the day after her 90th birthday.
Click below for a great documentary on her:
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is great.
A great blue heron, that is.
Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted this handsome bird by the Library Riverwalk.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … that 5 M’s Westport Library program, with music from Memphis, Macon, Muscle Shoals, Motown and Miami (story above), seems very cool.
There are squintillions of songs I could pick from those legendary towns. Here’s one, with ties to two.
Otis Redding grew up in Macon, Georgia, and lived there for much of his too-short life.
Wikipedia says: “You Left the Water Running” is a soul music song written by Dan Penn, Rick Hall and Oscar Franks. It has been recorded by Wilson Pickett, Maurice and Mac and most notably by Otis Redding….
In 1966, Redding was visiting FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama when studio owner Rick Hall requested Redding help them with an upcoming session. Wilson Pickett was to record “You Left the Water Running,” and Hall wished for Redding to record a demo to assist with the production. A simple recording was made and Redding made some overdub additions, and Pickett made his recording similar to Redding’s version.
Ten years later, (music journalist Dave) Marsh was mailed a promo copy of “You Left the Water Running” by Otis Redding on Stone Records….
Marsh was fascinated by the song, and mentioned the new single to several friends, including his attorney, who also happened to represent the Otis Redding estate. He soon found out that Stone Records had not obtained the Redding family’s permission to release the long lost demo recording, and demanded the single be pulled from circulation.
When Marsh asked the label’s distributor what was to become of the single, he was informed that they were to be destroyed. Instead, Marsh purchased the copies that remained, and gave them out as gifts, with the attorney’s permission. As a result,the single (Stone 209) is now highly valuable.
(Westport connection: 1961 Staples High School graduate Charlie Taylor — a talented singer/songwriter, and frequent “06880” commenter — is a longtime friend of Dan Penn.)
(Don’t leave the water running! And don’t forget to support “06880,” your hyper-local blog. Just click here. Thank you!)
