Less than 2 weeks remain to enter StartUp Westport’s first-ever Pitch Competition.
The event — for innovators and entrepreneurs, not baseball players or musicians — offers early-stage startups a chance to win a non-dilutive, 5-figure cash prize
It’s also a great way to plug into our town’s vibrant network of mentors, business leaders and passionate supporters.
Eligibility is simple: pre-institutional funding, a scalable business model, and a founder with Connecticut roots or strong state ties.
Applications are now open (click here for details). The deadline is 11 p.m. June 12.
In September, 4 finalists will be chosen to pitch “live shark tank-style” (though with more encouragement and, perhaps, less drama).
Winners will be announced November 20, at the Westport Library.
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Congratulations to Wes DeOreo!
The 2021 Staples High School graduate (and former lacrosse player) has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for 2025-26.
The program offers 400 positions in over 135 countries. Awardees teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects.
DeOreo — who just graduated from Bates College with a double major in politics and German — will teach in Germany.
At Bates he served as an AESOP leader, rugby club president, athletics student assistant, and fitness attendant.
He is no stranger to Germany. DeOreo has studied transatlantic history at the University of Freiburg; and taught English and coached club lacrosse in Freiburg.
He looks forward to joinng community sports teams, and reconnect with German friends and family. After his Fulbright, DeOreo will pursue a career in public service. (Hat tip: Linda Smith)
Wes DeOreo (Photo/Phyllis Graber Jensen for Bates College)
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The curtain rises Friday on the Westport Community Theatre’s new show, “The Gods of Comedy.”
The show — about a young classics professor who calls on Greek gods for help after a priceless manuscript goes missing — is full of “chaos, confusion, and divine mischief.”
The cast includes Jacqueline Carlsen, Henry Durham, Bob Filipowitch, Carin Freidag, Martha Hegley, Paula Lacy, Marcy Sansolo, David Victor and Virgil Watson.
“The Gods of Comedy” plays weekends through June 22, in the lower level of Town Hall. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays. There is one Thursday show: June 12, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Marcy Sansolo and Bob Filipowich, on stage.
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No one wants to hear “DNR.”
Unless they playing.
Doctors know the initials stand for “Do Not Resuscitate.”
Music lovers know it stands for one of Fairfield County’s favorite rock bands.
And — surprise! — nearly all the musicians are physicians.
On Saturday, June 14 (7 p.m.), they take their show to the Westport Library. It’s a fundraiser, for the Library’s great community programming.
Get your tickets ($40) here. There is also a cash bar.
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Speaking of Library music: Dan Bikel filled the bill last night.
By day a computer scientist and AI leader at Meta, he’s also a very talented singer, songwriter and composer. (With great genes: He’s the son of Theodore Bikel, the folk singer who played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” over 2,000 times._
Dan entertained the Trefz Forum crowd with original songs on piano and guitar. He also performed the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 1, showing his classical side.
Dan Bikel (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Jim Naughton has shared his enormous acting talent, and the celebrity that comes with it, to advocate — and raise millions of dollars — for many excellent causes.
He has been active in areas ranging from animal welfare to the death with dignity movement. in Fairfield County and beyond.
He has been a special friend of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, including hosting every ACE Awards ceremony.
This year, the tables are turned. The longtime Weston resident (and Tony Award winner) will be honored with the Citizen Impact Award, for his contributions to arts and culture here.
The event is June 17 (5:30 p.m., Norwalk Art Space, 455 West Avenue). Tickets and more information are available here.
Jim Naughton, hosting another event — the Staples High School Pops Concert. He took a turn on the triangle too. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Speaking of the Westport Pops Concert: It’s this Friday (June 6, 7 p.m., Levitt Pavilion).
If you’ve been before, you know it’s a kick-off-the-summer highlight, featuring a couple of hundred talented teenage musician, under the stars. Free tickets are available here.
But note: If you’ve been before, you may have had dinner from food trucks in the Library parking lot.
There are no food trucks this year. So eat before you go — or better yet, bring a picnic. The lawn opens at 6 p.m.
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Speaking of theater: Sure, the Westport Country Playhouse’s gala — celebrating 95 years of history and entertainment — is more than 4 months away.
But save the date: October 4.
And get ready to celebrate the evening’s honoree: Anne Keefe.
A cornerstone of the WCP since 1973, she has been involved in nearly every facet of the famed stage.
Key achievements include a pivotal role in the 1999 campaign to renovate and preserve the Playhouse, and her leadership as associate artistic director and co-artistic director (alongside Joanne Woodward).
For over 35 years. she’s supported the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Gala. She has been honored with an award for lifetime achievement in stage management, selection to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame’s 10 Women of Distinction, the Westport Arts Award for Theatre, and the Connecticut Critics Circle’s Tom Killan Award.
Keefe has taught at the Yale School of Drama, and served on the boards of the Playhouse and Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
Tickets and more information will be available soon.
Anne Keefe
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Sure, the bar is high for entitled parking.
But this shot — from yesterday’s dance recital at Bedford Middle School — clears that bar.
Note the arrogance of simply parking in the middle of the lot, forcing drivers in 2 directions to creep around.
Stopping right across the white line is a bonus.
The coup de grâce, of course, is that the driver is facing the wrong way. Impressive!
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo also includes a caution.
The American oystercatchers are back nesting at Compo’s South Beach, near the cannons.
As always, the fragile birds hope we humans don’t get too close.
The Audubon Alliance has laid out a protected nesting area. Please honor it!
American oystercatchers, seen with a zoom lens (Hat tip and photo/Jeffrey Mayer)
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And finally … happy June 1!
(The days keep getting longer. Which means you have even more daylight to support “06880.” Please click here to make a contribution to this hyper local blog. Thank you!
