Tag Archives: Jeff Simon

Roundup: Bay Street, Housing Prices, Lynsey Addario …

While “06880” readers were debating the (un)safety of the Post Road crosswalk by Design Within Reach yesterday, this happened a few yards away, on Bay Street:

(Photo via Facebook/Claudia Besen)

Incredibly, no one was hurt.

But inquiring minds want to know:

  • How on earth did that car get there?
  • What was the driver doing, besides paying attention to the road?
  • Will anyone ever use that crosswalk — or the sidewalk on Bay Street — again?

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Every Friday, a local realtor emails me a list of homes for sale.

Yesterday’s included several eye-popping asking prices: $8,795,000 (2 Owenoke Park), $6,985,000 (6 Clifford Lane), $5,500,000 (3 Kensington Place) and $4,995,000 (4 Ferry Lane East).

But what really grabbed my attention were these:

  • $3,999,999 (37 Bermuda Road)
  • $3,999,000 (13 Caccamo Lane)
  • $3,999,000 (4 Authors Way)
  • $3,999,000 (121 Imperial Avenue)

I understand why McDonald’s sells its spicy deluxe crispy chicken sandwich for $6.96: You think you’re paying $6, not $7.

But if you’re smart enough to be able to afford a home like those above, are you really stupid enough to think you’re paying $3 million, not $4 million?

Anyway: Hurry! At these prices, they won’t be on the market long.

This house at 37 Bermuda Road can be yours for just $3,999,999. (Photo courtesy of Zillow)

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Since graduating from Staples High School in 1991 Lynsey Addario has earned international renown as a photojournalist. She documents war zones, countries in crises, refugees, and — a special focus — the plight of women and girls.

On September 8 (6 to 8 p.m., SVA Chelsea Gallery), New York’s School of Visual Arts will honor Addario with its 32nd annual Masters Series Award. The next day, she’ll give an artist talk, with Times director of photography Kathy Ryan.

A retrospective  (September 2 through October 29, SVA Chelsea Gallery) looks at her career — including her long work with the New York Times, and her 2 best-selling books. Click here and also click here for details. (Hat tip: Kathie Motes Bennewitz) 

Lynsey Addario was pregnant while photographing a child dying from malnutrition in Mogadishu, in August 2011. (Photo/New York Times)

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Tomorrow night’s Levitt Pavilion show is special.

Rock-harpist Erin Hill‘s “The Music of Kate Bush: Night Scented Harp” is a full band show, with cool video projections.

Hill’s Celtic album reached #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart. She has performed with Moby, Sinéad O’Connor, Enya, a-ha, Randy Newman, Jewel, Josh Groban …

… and Cyndi Lauper. Who, of course, will also come to the Levitt, on September 30.

(Erin Hill performs at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 28. Click here for more information.)

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Mark Noonan has an impressive sports resume.

After winning 2 state championships as a Staples High School soccer player, he helped propel Duke University to its 1st-ever national title — in any sport — in 1986.

The founder of FocalSport, an international sports and entertainment agency, Noonan has worked in high positions with US Soccer, MLS, the New York Mets, Gatorade, the Professional Bull Riders tour, and the World Surf League. He recently served as CEO of Hearts of Oaks, Ghana’s biggest soccer club.

His new gig: commissioner of the Canadian Premier Soccer League.

With its women’s team as reigning Olympic champs, its men’s team set to begin play in the World Cup this November, and Canada joining the US and Mexico as World Cup hosts in 2026, soccer in Canada is now on the world stage.

Noonan’s new position also makes him CEO of Canada Soccer Business. He will be based in Toronto. (Click here for the full Toronto Sun story.)

Mark Noonan: commissioner of the Canadian Premier League.

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Chip Young — a 3-sport athlete in Staples High School’s Class of 1968, and a soccer All-American at Brown University — died Thursday in Rhode Island. He was 72.

The former soccer, basketball and baseball Wrecker legend was known for many things: journalism, environmental activism, rabble-rousing, and a larger-than-life personality.

A lifelong Ocean Stater after Brown, he served as head of public relations for Save the (Narragansett) Bay, and as a senior fellow for communications at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute.

He spent over 40 years as a columnist — one-half of the “Phillipe & Jorge’s Cool, Cool World” duo — for the Providence Phoenix and Motif Magazine. Motif said: “Chip’s commentary, often incendiary, generally wry and barbed, helped shape RI’s cultural and political landscape….he was a wise source of advice and support, a greatly valued contributor and a friend.”

Chip played semi-pro soccer in New England after graduation, and served as public relations director of the American Soccer League. He had also been sports editor of the Providence Eagle, controller of Bear Wear Company of Providence, a member of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association, and New England correspondent for Soccer America magazine.

Chip’s stellar athletic career may never have happened, though. Born with a hole the size of a half-dollar in his heart, he had open heart surgery in 1959. He was 9 years old — one of the first children to undergo the procedure.

“Without the operation,” he said, “I would not have been able to even participate in gym class by my teens, and probably wouldn’t have lived past my 20s.”

 

 

 

Chip Young

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Longtime Westporter and Staples High School 1964 graduate Jeff Simon died suddenly.

He was a standout swimmer, pole vaulter, cameraman and photographer, He adored nature, and photographed it adeptly.

Jeff is survived by sons Forest and Sean, brother Steve, former wife Sheryl, and companion Arline Gertzoff.

An informal memorial service is set for today (Saturday, August 27, 5 p.m., at the Burying Hill Beach picnic tables.

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Staples High School Class of 2021 graduate Alan Fiore continues to drop great tunes.

His latest — “dreamerboi” — shows off the singer/songwriter/producer/Berklee College of Music’s many talents. Click below to enjoy:

https://ffm.to/dreamerboi

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As our summer-long drought continues to dry out our lawns and shrubs, the importance of water comes into sharp focus.

How sharp? Jo Shields Sherman sent 2 photos along. They were taken just one day apart.

Here is the scene before watering …

… and after:

(Photos/Jo Shields Sherman)

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Speaking of living things:

Tracy Porosoff spotted this Living Wall at Studio Café, in The Tailored Home at Sconset Square.

We’ve highlighted plenty of living things in our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

But never a living wall.

(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

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And finally … speaking of drought (story above): alert (and parched) “06880” reader Gary Shure suggests:

(“06880” is your hyper-local, reader-supported blog. Please click here to donate. Thank you!)

Jeff Simon’s Salt Marshes

Growing up in Westport, it’s hard not to be influenced by the water. Some kids simply enjoy the beach. Others learn to sail, kayak or paddleboard.

Jeff Simon’s love of the Sound went even deeper.

From the age of 2, he was fascinated by tidal pools. Over the years he developed a great appreciation for our marine coastline and wildlife.

He graduated from Staples High School in 1964, then earned a degree in biology from the University of Miami.

That led Jeff to the Everglades, where he spent a year producing, directing and shooting his first film: an ecological study of that rich, diverse ecosystem.

It’s been over half a century, but he has not stopped.

One small example of Jeff Simon's great work.

One small example of Jeff Simon’s great work.

Jeff has photographed sea turtles, manatees, puffins, whales, salmon, the Florida Keys, salt marshes, artificial reefs, the Bay of Fundy and Chesapeake Bay. His work has appeared in Life, the New York Times, National Wildlife, Natural History and  many other magazines and newspapers.

(He also was director of photography on “Ace Ventura,” won an Emmy for the TV pilot of “Miami Vice,” went 18,000 feet below the ocean surface in a Russian submersible, recorded the Doors’ infamous Miami concert, and shot Marilyn Chambers before she became a famous X-rated actress. But those are other stories.)

Jeff Simon, in front of the Russian Mir 2 submersible.

Jeff Simon, in front of the Russian Mir 2 submersible.

Jeff is back in Westport. He videotaped Tracy Sugarman‘s riveting Memorial Day speech in high def, and donated it to the library. He’s also filmed the Concours d’Elegance car event, and made another on Connecticut wineries. Some of  his best work has come using large-format cameras.

But he’s never strayed far from Long Island Sound. Jeff’s latest project includes a new version of his original salt marsh film.

His goal is to spotlight the value of salt marshes, especially as nursery grounds for valuable seafood, migrating and residential birds, as well as barriers against storm damage.

The film is aimed at science centers, museums, and city and state governments, so they can make better decisions about the fate of salt marshes.

They’ve changed a lot since Jeff first became interested in them, back as a Westport kid in the 1950s.

He’s doing his part to make sure they don’t change any more.