Seven years ago, Westport resident Debra Kandrak had an idea: Paint the town yellow.
Today, her one-woman crusade pays off beautifully.
Every autumn, she uses a wide variety of outlets — social media, emails, “06880” — to encourage Westporters to plant daffodils.
She brings her message to friends, strangers, businesses, and town organizations and committees. Her message is simple: Plant bulbs.
Every spring around this time, we are blessed with the results of her — and their — work.
Once again, the gorgeous yellow flowers are everywhere.
From neighborhoods like Greens Farms to the Westport Library, around mailboxes and street signs, by the Cribari Bridge, in traffic islands and at the entrances to Staples High and Bedford Middle Schools, Debra’s yeowoman efforts pay off for all of us.
As perennials, each year brings more and more explosions of color.
And every spring, Debra says, she finds flowers in areas she had not seen before. Here’s what she found today:
One stretch of Morningside Drive South …
… and another.
Lansdowne Condominiums, Post Road East.
Hillandale Road
Green’s Farms Church.
Compo Beach
Charcoal Hill Road. (All photos/Debra Kandrak)
Of course, daffodils bloomed even before Debra’s crusade.
The flowers lining the front of Willowbrook Cemetery on Main Street have delighted everyone passing by for years.
Here’s a bonus photo, from Claudia Sherwood Servidio:
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
We’re happy to feature more spring-in-Westport photos. Email them to 06880blog@gmail.com.
After the winter we’ve had, it’s time to celebrate a new season!
(“06880” regularly features Westport’s beauty — in words and images. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Shoah Memorial — an inspiring sculpture honoring the bravery of 4 women in the face of Nazi horrors — comes to Fairfield University in July.
The Westport Library offers a companion program. They say:
“In an era of rising division, how do we transform the lessons of the past into a shield for the future? Join us for an exclusive first look at the Shoah Memorial, a landmark project coming to Fairfield that seeks to honor history while actively stemming the tide of hate. Discover how this local initiative aims to make a global impact.”
A special event — postponed from January by snow — is set for this Sunday (April 12, 2 p.m., Trefz Forum
It includes a conversation between Dr. Mindy Hersh and her mother, Judy Hersh, a Holocaust survivor, followed by a panel discussion featuring Shoah Memorial artist Victoria Milstein; Shelly Krieger, the founding educator of the Holocaust Research Center; Holocaust survivor Michell Schell, and Marla Felton of Common Circles.
The Shoah Memorial Fairfield University project began when Paul Burger attended the unveiling of the original “She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots” sculpture in Greensboro, North Carolina. Moved by its powerful message, he decided to bring the memorial to his community, to ensure its broader impact.
Fairfield University is already home to the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, and offers a Judaic Studies program.
Anyone who was at VersoFest — or any other Trefz Forum concert — knows how loud the place gets.
But every once in a while, the volume is turned down.
This Saturday (April 11) is one of those days.
From 1 to 5 p.m., a traditional, tranquil atmosphere will be encouraged library-wide.
Residents can bring their current read, or borrow something new. Find a cozy corner, enjoy some wordless picture books in the Children’s Library, or participate in quiet, all-ages crafting at a build-your-own bookmark station.
The event is part of the Library’s We Read initiative.
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Back to the noisy Library: Supper & Soul returns May 2.
Vanessa Collier — an international touring blues artist — returns also. She played the second Supper & Soul, in in 2018.
The Supper & Soul series, presented by The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Library, returns this spring with Vanessa Collier, an international touring and multi-nominee for Best Blues Artist. Vanessa returns to Westport for an encore Supper & Soul show having played the second one back in 2018.
A $90 ticket to the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event includes a 3-course dinner at one of 11 downtown restaurants, plus the concert.
Participating restaurants are Arezzo, Blondinit, Capuli, Emmy Squared, Finalmente, Il Pastaficio, Massi Co, Nômade, Spotted Horse, Walrus Alley and Yuzo Sushi.
Concert-only tickets are available for $35.
Dinner is at 6 p.m. The show starts at 8. After the concert, a ticket is good for happy hour pricing on drinks at any participating restaurant.
Yesterday’s Easter sunrise service included 3 pastors.
All are new to town. It was the first sunrise service here for all 3.
Pastor Jinho Choi (United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston), Rev. Sophie Beal (Greens Farms Congregational Church) and Rev. Dr. Steven Savides, (Saugatuck Congregational Church) led worship together.
Rick Benson carefully tended the fire. It was definitely not his first sunrise beach service.
From left: Rev. Sophie Beal, Rev. Dr. Stephen Savides, Pastor Jinho Choi.
Former Westporters Kent and Pegi Bernard died, following an automobile accident last May at their second home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Pegi died on impact. She was 73. Kent fought for 10 months before succumbing to his injuries on March 20. He was 75. They were married for 49 years.
Kent moved with his parents to Westport from New York when he was 9. A few years later he was accepted by Juilliard for opera. But allergies sent him on a different path: to Colgate University, and a career in law.
Pegi’s military family moved often. In Virginia, she pursued her equestrian dreams. She was jumping at near Olympic levels, but suffered an ankle injry.
She graduated from the Morven Park International Equestrian Institute in 1973, while also a student at LeMoyne College in New York.
It was less than 40 miles from (then all-male) Colgate. On a trip to LeMoyne, Kent met Pegi.
Kent graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1975. Pegi joined him after she graduated. They were married that August.
In 1980 they, and their young son Adam, moved to Kent’s hometown of Westport.
Kent joined the legal division of Pfizer Inc., and spent his career there. He retired as vice president and assistant general counsel in 2007.
The family was diehard New York Mets fans. Kent and Adam traveled to half the Major League Baseball stadiums.
When Adam began taking martial arts classes, Kent and Pegi joined. They became 3 of the highest ranking black belts in Connecticut.
After Kent retired from Pfizer he joined Fordham University School of Law as an adjunct professor. He spent a decade teaching and mentoring future leaders.
Kent and Pegi supported many charitable organizations. A scholarship at Fairfield College Preparatory School is in the family name, and Pegi was on the advisory board at Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding.
They are survived by their son Adam, and a Norwegian forest cat named Bragi.
And finally … a toast to our Westport Library, which can be both quiet (item above) and loud (VersoFest): Shhhh … boom!
(It’s the start of another week … and that means plenty of “06880” stories, features, photos and more. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Meanwhile — unknown to Charlotte — Dan is helping raise funds for her retirement gift. The store will close in February.
Click here to contribute, and say “thank you” for 50 years of service to customers, who quickly became friends.
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As noted in Monday’s Roundup, “Today Show” co-anchor Craig Melvin chatted the other day with his minister, Rev. Jeff Rider of Green’s Farms Church — and an NBC crew.
The segment has aired a couple of times this week. Now the entire country can hear Rev. Rider’s holiday message.
As Ukraine’s war against Russia nears its 4th year, Gray McGuinness sends harrowing news about Westport’s sister city, Lyman.
The town in the Donetsk region has been covered by drones. The unmanned aerial vehicles use a thin, physical fiber optic cable instead of radio waves for control and data, making them immune to electronic jamming and interference. (Click here for a video.)
Gray writes, “Lyman is now under constant attack by air and land, and has been partially occupied by the Russian army.”
Westporters can help. Ukraine Aid International — founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer — is a boots-on-the-ground non-profit that ensures donations go directly Lyman.
Click here to contribute. Then click the “I want to support” box; select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.
Fiber-optic cables blanket Ukraine.
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Singing and strolling through Saugatuck on Saturday, 8 Staples Orphenians serenaded diners at 14 restaurants with holiday songs.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce-sponsored “Caroling Crawl” brought smiles — and applause — from patrons at The Boathouse, The Bridge, Kawa Ni, The Whelk, Tutti’s, The Black Duck, Tarantino, Blu Olive, Romanacci, Riko’s Pizza, Zucca Gastrobar, Rizzuto’s, Viva Zapata, and Little Pub @ Dunville’s.
Staples Orphenians: a menu special on Saturday night.
The First Amendment and the importance of a free, independent press are topics for the first “Nancy on Norwalk” talk (January 20, 7 p.m., Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts).
Attendees will hear from 2 people deeply involved in the subject: Westporter Alisyn Camerota, a 2-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and author formerly with CNN and Fox News, and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, who oversees elections and civic processes across Connecticut.
Click here to RSVP. Registrants will have a chance to receive a signed copy of Camerota’s most recent book, “Combat Love.”
Aliysn Camerota
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We’ve posted plenty of photos of entitled parkers in large vehicles.
And plenty of drivers who park as closetothebuilding as possible.
Today, we feature one guy — it has to be a male — who combined both, at Whole Foods.
And finally … in honor of Wheels2U’s upcoming holiday gift — and with a tip of Santa’s hat to onetime Westporters Edgar Winter and Dan Hartman:
(You may enjoy a free ride. And you may think “06880” is free. But we rely on the support of readers like you. Please click here to send a few bucks our way. Thank you — and happy holidays!
After 38 years of nourishing Westport, Organic Market owners Maggie and Charles Vosgueritchian are retiring.
But the Playhouse Square mainstay’s many fans should not worry. The new owners — chef Talin and her partner Mary — share the same values, and commitment to quality and wellness.
They will continue the Organic Market’s mission, while bringing fresh ideas to the new chapter.
“We’re honored to continue the legacy that Maggie and Charles built,” Talin and Mary say.
“Our goal is to preserve everything the community loves about The Organic Market, while expanding on its vision of healthy, sustainable living.”
The health food store and café specializes in organic groceries, fresh juices and homemade meals.
The Vosgueritchians — who are retiring — bought the business in 1987. The transition takes place January 2.
“We are deeply grateful for the support of our loyal customers, our wonderful staff, and the Westport community that has grown with us through the years,” Maggie says.
“It has been an honor to serve this town, and to share in so many moments of connection, nourishment and joy.”
She and Charles look forward to sharing memories with customers through the holidays.
In a dark time, the third annual event for Jewish women to celebrate Hanukkah together was, like the Festival of Lights itself, a warm, bright spot.
Over 70 women gathered at The Blondinit on Tuesday. Rabbi Shira Sklar led the candle lighting. A raffle of an Israeli wine tasting, donated by Blondinit owner Inda Sale, raised funds for Enosh, the largest mental health organization in Israel supporting the hostages, families and victims of the October 7 massacre.
The event — organized by Charlene Zeiberg, Carolyn Cohen and Stephanie Feingold — grew out of an anonymous post on social media 2 years ago, asking how to make connections with other Jewish women. The result was a Hanukkah gathering: a space to connect, find comfort, and share the hope of the holiday.
Hanukkah gathering. Blondinit owner Inda Sale is in front, 2nd from right.
Green’s Farms Church celebrates the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany with a special artist’s reception this Friday (December 19, 6 to 7:30 p.m.).
The evening features “The Light Shines in the Darkness.” Katie Nelson Troyer’s paintings explore “illumination, movement, and the quiet power of spiritual encounter.”
The reception includes refreshments and live music from Katie and her husband Scott.
Paintings by Katie Nelson Troyer
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Westport Police did not make any custodial arrests between December 10 and 16.
They issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 10 citations
Failure to grant right of way: 3
Failure to renew registration: 3
Traveling unreasonably fast: 2
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
Failure to register a commercial vehicle: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension (alcohol): 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
Texting while driving is illegal — even at a red light.
And finally … on this date in 1892 — just in time for Christmas — Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.
(“06880” has not been around as long as the Organic Market. But — like the beloved business — we’re part of this town, and rely on you for support. If you appreciate our work, please click here. Thanks!)
Dorothy Curran has lived in Westport since 1977. She served on the boards of the Westport Library (trustee; co-chair, River of Names community capital campaign) and Westport Woman’s Club (past president, chair/co-chair, many Yankee Doodle Fairs). She is also a past president of the former Westport Historical Society.
Today, Dorothy recalls the “Monday Painters.” The group began here 60 yeas ago — and is still active. Dorothy has been a member for over a decade. She writes:
In the early 1900’s, Westport was becoming a haven for artists of all kinds: illustrators, cartoonists, sculptors, authors, journalists, actors and musicians.
Many were Midwesterners, who had moved to New York to work in the nascent publishing, advertising and performing arts industries.
They married, started families, and were drawn to Westport by its beaches and countryside; its Fine Arts Theater showing foreign films; its rail proximity to Manhattan; its affordable farmhouses and barns for studios, and the congenial culture, good company and collaborative opportunities offered by fellow artists.
One of Westport’s early artists was James Earle Fraser, at work here on a bust of Theodore Roosevelt in his Coleytown studio. Fraser also designed the buffalo nickel, and the sculpture of a Native American slumped over a tired horse.
This was America’s golden age of representational art and illustration. In Westport’s artists’ colony, “sketch groups” and “sketch classes,” with live models, sprung up naturally.
The goal was to hone skills, enjoy professional camaraderie, share the costs of models, and trade job opportunities.
Around 1967, artist Joey Tate organize the “Monday Painters” group. Members included Elizabeth Gaynor, who in the early 1960s already hosted a sketch group in the basement of her Southport home, with live models. Tate and Gaynor met at Bambi Linn’s Westport ballet class. Discovering a mutual love of painting, they joined forces.
“Sam,” by Monday Painters member Susan Kloepfer.
At first the artists met at Constance Kiermaier’s studio. After a fire destroyed it, and with funding from Tate and Gaynor, the group moved to a former ping pong ballfactory on Riverside Avenue.
Access to the 2nd floor space was outdoors, via a fire escape and wooden stairs. One day, the stairs collapsed. The building was condemned, prompting another move.
Next, the group reconvened in another factory building: the 19th-century Lees Manufacturing (cotton twine) site, converted recently into The Mill condominiums on Richmondville Avenue.
“Seated Man Savoring Summer,” by Monday Painters member Dorothy Curran.
From the mid-1980s to 1997, the Monday Painters moved once more: to the Westport Arts Center, housed in the then-closed Greens Farms Elementary School.
Tate, Betty Petschek and Sally Vance opened their shared studio to group members Gaynor, Paul Heifetz, Gamal Eleish, Judy Kamerschen, Andy Neilly, Charlie Reid, Marianne Rothballer and Gene Wilder.
When a rising student population led Westport to reclaim the school, Gaynor hosted the group at her ballet studio. She did so for nearly 3 decades, until her death last December at 95.
More than a decade earlier, Mollie Donovan and Ellen Naftalin mounted a special exhibit at the Westport Historical Society. Gaynor and noted artist Howard Munce helped curate “The Sketch Class: A Westport Tradition.”
“Jonathan Henken,” by Monday Painters member Jo Ann Davidson. (Images courtesy of Diane Parrish)
Today — thanks to the generosity of Green’s Farms Congregational Church; the initiative of artist and congregation member Jo Ann Davidson, and the leadership of artists Christy Gallagher and Marty Fleischman, the “Monday Painters” — now nearing their 6th decade, and in their 6th home as a group — continue painting together in Westport.
Want to see what they’re up to? Green’s Farms Church hosts an artists’ reception this Friday (November 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m.). The exhibit is on display through November 30.
(Prospective new Monday Painters members are always welcome. Email DorothyECurran@aol.com.)
(“06880” often covers Westport’s arts scene of yesterday and today, in all its shapes and forms. If you enjoy coverage like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Speaking still of transportation: The Westport Astronomical Society’s free online lecture series continues July 15 (8 p.m., Zoom and YouTube), with Dr. Bob Dempsey, director of flight operations for Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket system. It’s designed for space tourism and scientific payload flights.
His talk is called “What Goes Up Must Come Down: Private Space Flight in the Era of ‘New Space.'”
And finally … in honor of the Westport Astronomical Society’s upcoming talk (story above):
(Another Monday, another week of Roundups. If you enjoy learning all about Westport — every morning, 24/7/365 — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Reaching the United States as refugees is a daunting task.
Getting resettled after arrival can be just as difficult.
For nearly 10 years, the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee has offered life-changing help. They have resettled Afghan and Syrian families in East Norwalk, Black Rock and Stratford.
Assistance includes finding housing, furnishings and clothing; arranging healthcare, language and driving lessons, school registrations and job interviews; providing transportation, emotional support, and much more.
One of the resettled Syrian families …
The volunteers are as diverse as the men, women and children they help. The county-wide coalition includes Westport’s Temple Israel, The Community Synagogue and Green’s Farms Congregational Church, along with First Church Congregational of Fairfield, and Norwalk’s Al Madany Center.
The families they aid gain a foothold in the area, and take the first steps toward achieving the American Dream. It’s a runway to self-sufficiency and, ultimately, full assimilation.
They return value to the community through cultural enrichment, diversity and economic growth.
… and the other.
But IIRC volunteers gain something too: the chance to work with others they might not otherwise meet, and the opportunity to pay forward the assistance that they, or their relatives, may once have received.
John McGeehan has been involved with the IIRC since its inception. He has seen the public perception of refugees shift, from sympathy to suspicion.
“Refugees are people who have been invited here. They’re thoroughly vetted by the State Department.”
“But at the national level, refugees are being conflated with all immigrants as ‘all bad,'” he says.
“That flies in the face of our heritage, as a nation of immigrants. America’s formal refugee resettlement program was the biggest in the world.”
Resettling a refugee family takes an enormous amount of time and effort (as well as money).
Last fall — after resettling an Afghan family of 11 — the IIRC was not ready to aid another one. But when the Trump administration suddenly defunded Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, a well-respected Connecticut non-profit — and placed an indefinite pause on refugee arrivals affecting more than 1,600 Afghans with flight tickets in hand, plus over 40,000 Afghans already approved for visas — IIRC decided to take on an Afghan family of 8 that IRIS had been working with.
An Afghan father and daughter, resettled in Connecticut.
“All that’s left is community involvement,” says McGeehan.
“Thirty seconds after I wrote to all the clergy” proposing to welcome the new Afghan family, he notes, “Rabbi Friedman said: ‘We’re in!'”
Temple Israel’s involvement has been significant.
So are the rewards.
A Syrian man — part of the first family the temple helped — has become an imam leading Norwalk’s mosque, Rabbi Friedman says proudly.
A “refugee Shabbat” has become a cherished tradition. Resettled Afghans and Syrians join other IIRC congregations in a night of prayer and sharing.
“This is the fulfillment of a number of Jewish principles and values,” the rabbi says. “It is an important part of who we are, and what we do.”
“All of the families in our temple came as immigrants. Often, they fled persecution. They found freedom and opportunity in the United States. It’s our responsibility to help others travel the same journey. Passover reinforces that narrative.”
He also praises the interfaith component of the IIRC, and the work of its lay volunteers. “This is what their Jewish or Christian values impel them to do.”
Through the IIRC, McGeehan says, “I and many others have become part of refugees’ families.
“We’ve met volunteers from other towns, and other faiths.
“We’ve gained an intimate understanding of our shared humanity. It really is true that ‘there but for the grace of God …”
The IIRC says, “The US has a long tradition of resettling refugees, rooted in inspiring generosity and the immigrant roots of each one of our citizens.
“There is no better way to contribute to our national self-interest and, at the same time, answer God’s call to give fearlessly.”
But, they note, their work extends beyond religion.
“Whether you see this as God’s work, or the nation’s work, the need is great. Helping to change the life of another helps repair the world.”
(To donate to the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee’s fund for the Afghan family. click here. For more information on the IIRC, click here.)
The Westport Fire Department responded yesterday afternoon to a house fire on Tarone Drive. One resident was injured, and taken to Norwalk Hospital.
The WPD reminds everyone to ensure they have working smoke detectors in their homes.
Dayling Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Move your clocks forward one hour! Whenever you change your clocks, remember to change your batteries!
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More than half a century after graduating from Staples High School, I made my Players debut.
I was a guest speller last night in their production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
It was short-lived. I got knocked out on my first word: kumis. As I sure as heck did not know, the fermented milk drink from Central and East Asia is spelled not with a “c,” but with a “k.” (It’s also known as koumis or kumyz, neither of which I would have gotten either.)
Yours truly being given a loser’s prize by Mitch Mahoney (Yusef Abdallah), after failing in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
My fellow guest spellers — 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Staples principal Stafford Thomas and Bedford Acting Group director Ryan Smith — lasted longer than I did.
Neither of them won, either. (Spoiler alert: No guest speller has ever won, in the history of the Broadway show. It’s rigged!)
“Older” spellers (from left) Stafford Thomas, Dan Woog, Jen Tooker and Ryan Smith, on stage with the Staples cast, who are much better spellers (and actors).
But boy, did we have fun. Thank you, Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long, for the invitation. And great job Players, making us all feel welcome!
The show continues today (Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and tomorrow (Sunday, March 9, 2 p.m.). Click here for tickets, and more information.
Leaf Coneybear (Cooper Gusick, center) entertains Staples principal Stafford Thomas and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. (All photos/Kerry Long)
Chef Brian Lewis — whose OKO and The Cottage are Westport favorites — was recently named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award (“Best Chef Northeast” category).
Now he’s introducing a new dining experience.
The OKO-KASE menu includes Popcorn Dashi Lions Mane, Hokkaido Uni, Osetra Caviar, Bread and Butter Lobster, Passion Fruit and Stracciatella
Black Truffle Chawanmushi.
That’s followed by a selection of nigiri sushi, hand rolls, and flavorful dishes like Chili-Lime King Crab Hand Roll, St. Canut Pork Belly with Walnut Miso and Fermented Apple Butter, and Yuzu White Chocolate Huckleberry Kiss.
The price is $200 per guest; $75 sake pairing per guest. Reservations (203-557-8404) require 48-hour notice, and a $50 deposit per guest.
Westport escaped major damage in yesterday’s high winds.
Residents of Hickory Drive were not as lucky, however. Power went out when a tree took down live wires.
(Photo/Ron Poserina)
Winds continue today, 20 to 30 mph, with occasional gusts over 40. The temperature will be in the mid 40s.
The week ahead looks good. Tuesday could see 60 degrees.
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Last year, Rach’s Hope Walk the Extra Mile raised more than $20,000. The funds helped the non-profit that supports families with critically ill children in the ICU with an additional 100 nights of hotel stays, so parents can rest and recharge while staying close to their kids.
Rach’s Hope — which honors Rachel Doran, the Staples High School graduate and rising Cornell University senior, who died after developin a rare reaction to common medications — is getting ready for their 6th annual Rach’s Hope PJ Gala.
(Rachel was a talented Staples Players costume designer, and founded a pajama company.)
The date is Saturday, March 29 (7 to 11 p.m., FTC, Fairfield). Click here for tickets.
Festivities include an open bar with Tito’s cocktails, beer, wine and prosecco; heavy appetizers and desserts by AMG Catering; live music kicked off by Westport’s own Michael Cantor and Frog Salon, plus Rach’s Hope’s signature band, Ellis Island — and live and silent auctions too.
The Staples High School freshman was the only 9th grader in the entire country to win the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy annual Civics Challenge His entry was Crafting Change: The Art of Lawmaking in Congress.
The Civics Challenge is a very competitive national contest open to students in grades 6 through 12. Participants demonstrate civics knowledge through essays, short videos or original songs.
Tucker — one of just 10 winners nationwide — earned a $500 prize.
And the admiration of everyone who mourns the loss of civics education in America today.
Speaking of education: Adam Shapiro recently spent 2 days at Greens Farms Academy.
The noted actor (“The Bear,” “Never Have I Ever,” “Waitress”)was the school’s 2025 Hartwell Visiting Artist.
Shapiro presented at student assemblies, delivered a keynote to parents on “Cultivating Creativity,” coached the Middle School cast of “Frozen Jr.,” and shared his stories and advice about building a career in the arts.
Click here to read more about Shapiro’s visit. Click below for a highlight reel:
Speaking of school: Congratulations too to Weston High School’s robotics team!
They won the engineering design Innovate Champion Award at the state robotics championship recently.
That earned them a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas in May. Good luck to the squad: Emily Arias, Angela Zhao, Joshua Miranda and Cooper Schleef.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong — an early opponent, with counterparts across the country, of some of President Trump’s first funding cuts — is the guest at the Democratic Women of Westport’s annual Souper Luncheon.
The event is March 28 (11:30 a.m.). The DWW invites the public to join the AG, and learn more about his work on behalf of state residents. To RSVP, email dww06880@gmail.com.
On April 22, the Democratic Women sponsor a forum with Yale Law School professor Paul Kahn, author of Democracy in Our America: Can We Still Govern Ourselves? He’ll be joined in conversation by the Representative Town Meeting’s current and former moderators, Jeff Wieser and Velma Heller.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
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Saugatuck Congregational Church host’s Connecticut’s first “Music for Food” concert (March 16, 3 p.m.), with classical pianist Emma Tahmizian.
The Bulgarian musician debuted internationally at age 11, at a concert series in Moscow. She has performed and recorded regularly, since winning the 1977 Robert Schumann Competition.
The event is free, but donations are accepted. All proceeds benefit Homes with Hope, to support area residents facing food insecurity.
Emma Tahmizian
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The Gallery @ Green’s Farms Church welcomes photographer Sally Harris, and her latest work: “The Colors and Culture of Oaxaca.”
The show runs from March 14 to May 14. An opening reception is March 14 (6 to 8 p.m.). For more information, click here.
Speaking of art: Brian Whelan’s work is always a highlight of our “06880” online gallery.
Now it’s on view at Trinity Church Wall Street, in New York.
“Holy City” is a series inspired by medieval artwork, contemporary expressionism, and Whelan’s Catholic roots. blending the temporal and the spiritual.
The 9-panel painting at the center of the exhibit depicts Christianity, Islam and Judaism existing in harmony, with houses of worship supporting and uplifting one another.
The exhibit is open through March 18. Click here for more information.
Speaking still of the arts: A large crowd learned a lot at Thursday’s Malloy Fund for the Arts’ presentation “Reimagined: Westport as an Arts Town, Past, Present and Future.”
Actor James Naughton moderated a panel, with Miggs Burroughs, Melissa Newman and Meloday James.
Ann Sheffer — a passionate arts advocate and philanthropist (and donor Susan Malloy’s niece), whose family’s contributions helped shape Westport’s cultural fabric — also spoke.
If you missed it: no worries. Just click below, to see the entire event.
The Westport Astronomical Society will be open from 1 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. (weather permitting) on March 14, to observe the total lunar eclipse.
In other WAS news, the next free online lecture features Sarah Elizabeth McCandless. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory navigation engineer discusses “Exploring an Icy World with Europa Clipper.”
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“All of the families in our temple came as immigrants. Often, they fled persecution. They found freedom and opportunity in the United States. It’s our responsibility to help others travel the same journey. Passover reinforces that narrative.”
