Tag Archives: Fine Arts Festival

The 9th annual Dog Festival is today (Sunday), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Winslow Park.

Crazy competitions, vendors, an obstacle course, K-9 demos, food trucks, photos, adoptables, Gilbert the Party Pig — your dog is already tugging at his leash to go.

It’s $10 per person, $30 for a family of 4. Dogs are free!

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The first Y’s Men of Westport & Weston media panel discussion, featuring Senator Richard Blumenthal — about coverage of the 2024 election  — riveted a Westport Library audience earlier this year.

The next one  — June 1 (2 p.m.) should be just as compelling.

The focus is  on how well print, electronic and social media covered the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

Panelists include: Congressman Jim Himes; Alisyn Camerota, author, blogger and veteran of CNN and Fox News; Rebecca Surran, the longtime face and voice for local news at News 12; Jim Marpe, former Westport 1st selectman, and Aaron Weinstein of Fairfield University’s media department.

Y’s Men past president John Brandt will moderate. Register for the free event here.

Clockwise from upper left: Jim Marpe, Congressman Jim Himes, Alisyn Camerota, Aaron Weintein, Rebecca Surran.

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The Westport Downtown Association adds some fun facts about their 52nd annual Fine Arts Festival, set for next weekend (May 24-25) on Main and Elm Streets, and Church Lane:

261 artists applied for 167 spots, in 14 categories. They come from 19 states.

Seven are from Westport: Mikhail Zakhalov (jewelry), Mary Ann Neilson (painting), Gali Katz (printmaking), and photographers Nancy Breakstone, Tom Kretsch, Ron Lake and John Videler.

42 artists — the most ever — will make their debut festival appearance.

Photographer Nancy Breakstone returns to the Fine Arts Festival.

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AWARE is one of my favorite organizations.

The acronym stands for Assisting Women through Action, Resources and Education, and that’s exactly what these Westport women do.

Each year, they choose one very worthy local nonprofit. They raise funds — but do much, much more.

All year long, they offer hands-on involvement. They dive deep into each organization’s work, get their hands dirty with volunteer work, and form deep friendships with leaders and participants.

This year’s beneficiary is Bridgeport’s Center for Family Justice. They do crucial work helping people who have experienced physical and mental abuse.

AWARE’s partnership this year has included workshops for their clients, including budgeting, yoga, nutrition and makeovers, along with events for  children in their programs.

A “Justice in Bloom” fundraiser is set for May 29 (6 to 8 p.m.). It includes cocktails, light bites, and a chance to meet Center for Family Justice representatives.

The AWARE event is always educational and empowering. Tickets (and donation forms) are available here. 

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Like many readers, Aimee Monroy Smith was moved by Matthew Gotto’s recent “06880” Opinion piece about drastic cuts proposed for the Bridgeport school system.

She writes: “I am a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club. Twice a year we read at Luis Muñoz Marin Elementary School. It is an amazing school, and always an enjoyable experience.

“This year, a fellow Rotarian recommended taking the next step to support the classrooms, by giving through DonorChoose.org. It supports teachers who request specific items for their classrooms.

“Following up this idea, I noticed that the Dalio Foundation is matching all contributions.”

Click on DonorChoose here; then select “See Classroom Projects,” and select “Bridgeport, CT” from the map.

Matthew Gatto, with Blackham Elementary School students.

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A Westport woman wanted to give back to the community she loves.

She posted on social media that she’d be giving away dozens of tomatoes and dahlia bulbs, at the foot of her driveway.

They were gone quickly.

Because one person took them all — every plant. Plus the table they were sitting on, which the woman’s daughter had made (and had great sentimental value).

The selfish thief even took the broken crate the dahlias were in. And a dirty towel.

The woman had been planning her next giveaway to the community: 40 pepper plants.

But no longer. She figures one person does not deserve all of them, too.

Plants, table and crate, before they were all taken.

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Speaking of plants:

Wakeman Town Farm tells all local chefs, caterers and foodie friends that their farmer expects a big haul of 100 heads of freshly grown organic lettuces, and 70 pounds of garlic scapes in early June.

To reserve some (not all!), email Farmer@wakemantownfarm.org.

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Westport Rotary Club, the Sunrise Rotary and Westport Police Department joined together yesterday, on a food drive for Homes with Hope.

It was their first-ever at Big Y. As they always do — wherever volunteers collect for a pantry, or any other good cause — Westporters came through.

Community service, at Big Y.

Quickly, the donations were delivered to the Gillespie Center:

But that was not the only service rendered by Rotarians, on their worldwide day of community work.

They also gardened at the men’s and women’s shelters on Jesup Green … among many other activities.

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Yesterday’s Roundup noted that the Independence Day fireworks are set for July 2. We should add that the rain date is July 3.

And although the press release said that tickets would be available at the Parks & Recreation Department office in Longshore starting May 26, that’s Memorial Day. They’ll be closed. They’ll be open May 27, of course.

And the police station never closes, so they’ll have tickets on May 26.

Getting ready for Westport’s biggest party. (Drone photo/Charlie Scott)

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Speaking of Compo Beach: the Parks & Recreation Department has partnered with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee to launch a brand-new initiative: the Compo Mural Art Competition.

Residents are invited to design a mural that will bring “color, creativity and connection to the spirit of Compo Beach…. This can include sea life, beaches, marine landscapes, water activities, or the general beauty and vibe of the coastal area.” The site is the long white wall on the side of the Hook’d concession building.

All ages and levels of ability can enter. Submissions can be emailed to pkoskinas@westportct.gov, or dropped off at the Parks & Rec office in Longshore. The deadline is July 7. Full competition details can be found here.  (Hat tip: Britt Steel)

Your art could be here!

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Who was that on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival Friday night?

Cameron Mann.

Cameron Mann (far left) at Cannes.

The 2024 Staples graduate — known for, among other things, his role in “Mare of Easttown” (spoiler alert: He was the killler) — is part of the cast of “Eddington.”

The film — starring Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix — debuted at the 78th annual French event. According to Variety, it earned a 5-minute standing ovation.

A commentary on American social discourse, it follows “a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Phoenix) and mayor (Pascal)” that “sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.”

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Westport’s longtime information technology director Eileen Zhang is retiring.

She joined the town 30 years ago, when IT infrastucture was just beginning. She helped build Westport’s information systems and digital services across all departments.

When a successor is named this summer, he or she will be our first new information technology director of the millennium.

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Westporters have many reasons to be grateful for Miggs Burroughs.

The Staples High School graduate and Artists Collective of Westport co-founder has contributed many works to town, from his lenticular art at the train station and Main Street “Tunnel of Love,” to the 150th-anniversary flag he designed in 1986.

Now he’s done it again.

The Senior Center is presenting “Gratitude,” a series of his photos. They show 9 people, each expressing a letter from the word “gratitude,” in American Sign Language.

Through his lenticular technique, their hands appear to move. A simple gesture transforms into a powerful tribute to appreciation and connection.

The models — all associated with the Senior Center — are Prill Boyle, Penny Pearlman, Janet Turansky, George Kleros, Ruth Taranto, Janice Burke, Leslie markus, Molly Algera and Lee Walther.

Miggs Burroughs, with his “Gratitude” exhibit at the Senior Center.

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Today’s brilliant “Westport … Naturally” image comes from Thursday’s Westport Farmers’ Market. Amy Schneider saw — at photographed — it at the Muddy Feet Flower Farm stand.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

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And finally … Charles Strouse — the Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Broadway composer of hits like “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie” — died Thursday  in Manhattan. He was 96. A full obituary is here.

(Sure, you can support “06880” tomorrow. The sun will still come out. But why not today? Please click here, to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)