As founder and executive director of Bike Westport, Markus Marty wants safer roads in town for bicyclists. (Pedestrians and drivers too!)
He’s not the only one. Kings Highway Elementary School 5th graders also do.
Recently, Workshop students there began studying the town. They came up with many ideas about biking.
After meeting with Markus, and getting a map of Westport from the Planning & Zoning Department, they went to work on a plan.
Then they wrote to “06880.” They said:
We were learning about how Westport’s government operates, and discussing our great town and thinking of ways to improve it.
One of our classmates brought up the lack of bike lanes. We decided to make it our focus. We were thinking of places we could put bike lanes, the benefits, and the challenges.
Markus Marty meets with Kings Highway students.
We think bike lanes would improve our town in many ways. They would make people more healthy, especially children, they would help reduce traffic, they would help the environment, and they would bring our community together.
When it’s warm, we all enjoy biking. But many of us live off or near busy roads such as Woodside Avenue, Newtown Turnpike, and Saugatuck Avenue. Our parents don’t like us going on long bike rides by ourselves. But if Westport had bike lanes, this wouldn’t be a problem.
Bike paths and loops, suggested by KHS students …
We think bike lanes would be a big hit with all Westporters, from children to adults. They would benefit people for many reasons, including health reasons.
Bike lanes would benefit children especially, because it would be a way for kids to go meet up with friends without their parents having to drive them. This would help kids develop a sense of independence, which is a challenge for parents today because of safety.
Kids in town don’t have the same independence as they did when our parents were growing up. With the bike lanes, kids would have more freedom. All kids would benefit from the bike lanes.
… and a close-up of some suggestions.
Bike lanes wouldn’t just help bikers though. It can be infuriating to be stuck behind a biker, but with designated bike paths and routes, the frustration would be less.
Another reason is that many people use their car because biking is dangerous. If more people bike, less cars could cause less traffic.
Sure, it might not stop a whole lot of big traffic, but it could fix traffic building up at red lights. It could also help you make the light, with less cars on the road.
Drivers also don’t have to worry about hitting any bikers that are on the road when there is a specified bike lane.
Multiple other reasons are environmentally focused. One of these is that there are way, WAY less gas emissions than when people are riding in automobiles.
Also, if you are holding onto a bike’s handlebars, it is hard to throw your trash on the ground, so cycling also decreases littering!
Two questions, from Kings Highway students.
Bikes can also go on off road paths, which can be very scenic and enjoyable. These paths are more friendly to the environment, and are also smaller and more natural, leading to less resources expended, more enjoyment, and much less damage to the earth. People would also appreciate nature more, leading to less actions without thinking of outcomes, like littering.
Because of this, bikes are wholly better than cars in terms of keeping our world healthy, and are also enjoyable for parents and kids alike. So, bicycle lanes are important to create for many reasons.
The bike lanes would also impact the whole community. The lanes would bring people together, and neighbors could meet up and ride to schools and other locations together.
One possible way to make this happen is we could create bike buses. They are a type of bike train led by an adult, this would make it possible for lots of students to ride together and it would minimize the danger for the bikers.
A May, 2024 bike event at Kings Highway Elementary School.
The bike lanes would also make it possible for more people, especially families with children, to bike. If more bikers were on the road it would make drivers more aware that it is not only them on the road. This would make the number of accidents for both bikers and drivers decrease, therefore benefiting a large group of Westporters.
We have read a great deal of your past posts and writings on the subject of biking in Westport. We realize that students are an important part of Westport’s future.
We all agree that bike lanes are an important part of many successful communities. Westport does not have access to this luxury. If we had bike lanes all of Westport would benefit.
But only 1 person incorrectly identified last week’s Photo Challenge (guessing National Hall, which does not have one).
The correct answer was Kings Highway (click here to see). It’s familiar to generations of students who went to elementary school there (and — in its much earlier incarnation — the original Bedford Junior High).
And to countless drivers who pass by (and are stuck at the traffic light) on Post Road West.
Congratulations to Elaine Marino, Andrew Colabella, Micil Ryan, Seth Schachter, Dan Vener, Eric Buchroeder, Rick Benson, Regi Kendig, Karen Como, Amy Schneider, Jonathan McClure, Linda Stein, Sal Liccione, Cheryl Petrone, Matt McGrath, Dede Fitch and Carissa Baker.
You aced last week’s test!
Here’s this week’s Photo Challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
Hint: It’s not an elementary school.
(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Posted onMarch 23, 2025|Comments Off on Roundup: Library Lights, Kids’ Smartphones, Jazz Blowout …
The Westport Library shines brightly every day.
Now it shines at night, too.
From April 3-6, VersoFest will bring visibility to the building. Local branding expert John Nunziato is helping our crown jewel become even more visible.
On Friday night, his vision came to (literal) light:
(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
The palette ties in with the current branding.
In addition, Nunziato has been working with a local high school “street team” to support VersoFest marketing efforts. They’re generating excitement for the opening ceremony (April 5, 10 a.m.), as the Library attempts to become “the loudeset library in history” (#loudestlibrary).
The local chapter of the national organization for parents concerned about the effects of early and excessive use of social media and smartphones invites Westporters to 3 upcoming events.
The first, on April 8 (7 p.m., Long Lots Elementary School) is a viewing of “Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition). Physician and filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston “takes a deeply personal approach into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction.”
On April 30 (7:3 p.m., The Wonder, 1200 Post Road East), OK To Delay national director Jessica Hirsch will discuss the challenges — and opportunities — of parenting in the digital age, plus collective actions to improve childhood.
Then, on May 8 (2 to 6 p.m., Westport Library), parents can see alternatives to smartphones. Vendors from a variety companies will demonstrate their products. Children are welcome!
OK To Delay organizers Erika Brunwasser, Nicole Glick and Becca Zipkin say, “We are inclusive, and we don’t believe in shaming.”
For more information, email OKtoDelayWestport@gmail.com, or follow on Instagram: @OkaytoDelayWestport.
Westporters say: It’s OK to delay!
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JazzFC can be forgiven for blowing their own horn.
But they’re proud to announce their 3rd Anniversary Birthday Blowout Bash.
It’s April 24 (6 to 10 p.m., VFW Post 399). Over 25 musicians — including Melissa Newman, Giacomo Gates, David DeJesus, Mike Mossman, Greg Wall, Boots Maleson and Harvey S — are set to jam.
There’s a New Orleans-style dinner (of course), and silent auction too.
Proceeds benefit JazzFC young musician clinics, music college scholarships, and senior center outreach — all throughout Fairfield County.
Tickets are $125, $250 (including premium seating, JazzFC CD, 2 concert tickets and a JazzFC t-shirt or totebag), and $500 (all of the above, plus a 1-hour jazz listening session or improv lesson on any instrument, with Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall). Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Westport is filled with senior executives.
Many — well, at least some — are thinking about reframing their careers.
A free workshop on May 6 (6 p.m., Serendipity Labs, 55 Post Road West) can offer insights.
Mike Raleigh, founder of Graymatter — a networking, advocacy and support community of and for senior executives — hosts a workshop on “Thawing Out the Frozen Job Market and Taking Control of Your Career.
Topics include reframing your career mindset, strategizing for the third act, diversifying opportunities, and personal branding.
The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Click here.
Thinking about a career change? A May 6 workshop could help get your thinking on track. (Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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Only one team can win the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament.
Only one won Friday night’s March Madness event at the Westport Weston Family YMCA, too.
But everyone — the middle schoolers who played, the Y junior board members who organized and helped, even a local non-profit were winners as well.
Thirty-three youngsters played 3-v-3 (with no adult coaches!). The actual tournament was livestreamed in the nearby Schine Room (with pizza and sodas), for players waiting their turn.
The top 2 teams donated their prize winnings to a non-profit of their choice.
Congratulations to the first place team: Lennox Van Kolken, Eli Moneyhon and
Andrew Freeman. They donated their share to Homes with Hope.
Runnersup were Tyler Talley, Ryan Tackman and Lucas Riera. They chose Livestrong at the YMCA — a program for cancer survivors — to receive their prize.
The event was conceived and executed by junior board director (and Staples High School junior Danny McHugh, with an assist from the Y team. Staples Service League of Boys (SLOBs) refereed. (Hat tip: Kristin McKinney)
From left: winners Lennox Van Kolken, Eli Moneyhon, Andrew Freeman; organizer Danny McHugh; runnersup Luca, Riera, Ryan Tackman, Tyler Talley. (Photo/Dan McHugh)
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The curtain rises Tuesday, for the first preview of the Westport Country Playhouse production of “Theatre People.”
But you don’t have to wait 2 days for a preview (before the preview).
Westporter Bill Shakos — whose “What Do I Know?” podcast recently debuted — sat down with director Mark Shanahan, and several cast members.
They offered insights into the show, themselves, and more. Click below to listen. Click here for more information on “Theatre People.”
Next up in the Wakeman Town Farm Dahlia Growing Series: a hands-on demonstration on dividing them for spring.
Master gardener Paul Rossi and farmer Dasha Horton lead the April 26 (10 a.m.) event. They’ll also cover where to source your dahlias, and how to start from cuttings.
Bring your own clumps. Starter kits will be on sale. Click here to register, and for more information.
Dahlias, duh.
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On Friday morning, Kings Highway Elementary School families participated in an early morning “Rise & Feed” event.
They made 25 lunches for Homes With Hope. Trader Joe’s generously donated the food.
Kings Highway PTA co-president Christina Royce and her daughters, with some of their lunch bags.
That’s today, anyway. In a couple of weeks, it will be bursting with color.
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And finally … in honor of the lighting of the Westport Library (story above):
(Sure, it’s Sunday. But as we do every day, 24/7/365, “06880” offers another Roundup, chock full o’ news you can use. We do it every day. All we ask is a bit of reader support. Please click here. Thanks!)
Comments Off on Roundup: Library Lights, Kids’ Smartphones, Jazz Blowout …
Two Representative Town Meeting committees — Parks & Rec, and Planning & Zoning — hold a joint meeting Wednesday (March 5, 7 p.m., Zoom). They’ll discuss the status of the Longshore maintenance shed.
The full RTM meets March 11 (7:30 p.m., Zoom). Two members have asked the body to review and reverse the Planning & Zoning Commission’s negative 8-24 report issued on February 3, regarding the request for a new maintenance building at a new Longshore location.
The P&Z issued a negative report on a request to build a new Parks & Rec maintenance facility off Old Cuttings Lane, near the golf course and Compo Road South.
Bridgeport’s Bridge Academy junior Aaliyah Marshall took first place in the quarterfinals of Westport Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual 4-Way Speech Contest, held Thursday in the Staples library.
Nine students spoke for 5 minutes each. They could choose any subject that ties into the tenets of the Rotary Club’s 4-Way Test ethic. Aaliyah’s topic was “book banning in schools.”
Aaliyah Marshall, speaking at the Sunrise Rotary Club contest.
She and 3 runners-up — Staples High School freshman Tucker Eklund, sophomore Quinn Fitts and senior Shrish Popuri — advance to the semi-final in Trumbull March 15.
From left: Aaliyah Marshall, Quinn Fitts, Shrish Popuri and Tucker Eklund advance to the next round of the Rotary contest. (Hat tip and photos/Dave Matlow)
Ukraine Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground, aid-where-it’s-needed non-profit founded by Westport brothers Brian and Marshall Mayer — has organized a unique summer trip to that historic nation.
The itinerary does not include Westport’s sister city, Lyman. It’s too dangerous to travel so far east.
But between August 17 and 24, travelers will explore Ukraine’s history and culture; meet frontline heroes fighting for freedom; visit a UAI-sponsored summer camp, filled with children from the battered Donetsk region, and join UAI’s mobile water truck on a mission to deliver clean water to affected areas
Guests will meet key figures, visit sites unavailable to independent travelers, and connect with men and women helping to shape Ukraine’s future.
Click here to register. For questions and more information, email
donormission@ukraineaidinternational.org.
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Spring into spring at Wakeman Town Farm!
Upcoming programs include:
Soil is Alive! Garden lecture with horticulturist Duncan Himmelman (March 10, 7:30 p.m.)
Family Maple Syrup Experience (March 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Cooking with the Minis (ages K-2, 5 weeks starting March 24; grades 2-6, 5 weeks starting March 26)
Farm to Bar Mixology Class (March 27, 6 p.m.; $100)
Spring Cooking Class (March 28, 4:15 to 5:45 p.m.: $55)
Adult Spring Kitchen Dinner Class with chef Laura Weinman (April 6, 6:30 p.m.; $120, BYOB)
Spring Break Playdates(April 14, 15, 10 a.m.; ages 1-3)
Eggstravaganza (April 19, 10:30 a.m.).
NOTE: Registration for kids’ summer programs begins March 10.
Click here for details, and registration information.
To celebate, the Weston History & Culture Center presents “Rosies of World War II: Learn About Real ‘Rosie the Riveters.'”
The free March 29 event (2 p.m.) focuses on the role and legacy of women factory workers in World War II — and the women in Weston who contributed to the war effort. Click here for more information.
Y’s Men of Westport and Weston have been around a long time, and seen and done a lot.
But most had never gone behind the scenes at the Westport Country Playhouse.
This week, they enjoyed a fascinating, up close and very personal tour. Archivist Bruce Miller led members all over the historic playhouse, from the stage and costume rooms, downstairs to the dressing rooms and green room.
The tour was preceded by lunch at Gabriele’s, the steakhouse next door.
Last month, “06880” posted a story about Sam Weiser.
The 2012 Staples High School graduate was headed to Carnegie Hall, with his Columbus, Ohio-based Carpe Diem String Quartet.
Lauri Weiser — a well-known “06880” photographer, and (more importantly, for today) Sam’s aunt — could not make it to the famed theater.
So Sam did want any loving nephew would do: He and his ensemble gave Lauri and her mother a private concert, at her Westport home.
They say the way to Carnegie Hall is “practice, practice, practice.” Or you can take a detour to Westport, to “perform, perform, perform.”
Sam Weiser (left) and the Carpe Diem String Quartet, at Lauri Weiser’s home.
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Second graders may not know how far Los Angeles is from Westport.
But students in Elena Wetmore’s class have learned one thing: They’re never too far to help.
When they heard about an opportunity to send gratitude to firefightters for their work battling wildfires, a parent helped the youngsters create beautiful cards, and write heartfelt letters.
Their drawings and messages were greatly appreciated.
Los Angeles firefighters, with Kings Highway cards and letters.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature honors a visitor on Fillow Street:
When the Board of Selectwomen meet Wednesday (February 26, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium), they’ll discuss the usual types of items: road closures for events like the Memorial Day parade and road races, sewer connections, etc.
One item is different: approval of a maintenance agreement between the town and the state Department of Transportation “for permission to work within the highway right-of-way to install, maintain and replace automatic license plate readers.”
The town already has one set of license plate readers, at I-95 Exit 17. This agenda item is for another set, at I-95 Exit 18 at the Sherwood Island Connector.
The readers are a response to the rash of car thefts in the area. They give the Westport Police Department a head’s-up if a stolen car is entering town off the highway — or headed out of here, onto it.
The selectwomen’s approval is needed to ensure the state that local officials will maintain the devices.
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Early reviews are in for “Native Gardens” — and they’re raves.
Westport Country Playhouse’s current production — a hilarious yet thought-provoking show about a neighborly dispute that turns into a battle of cultures — gets high marks for its acting, message, and breathtaking set.
The show runs through March 8. Click here for tickets, and more information. Click below for the trailer:
Tomorrow’s Run4TheirLives walk honors the Bibas family. The 2 boys, ages 4 and 9 months, were killed by Hamas, after being kidnapped from their kibbutz. The fate of their mother is unknown.
As they’ve done for over a year, Westporters will gather at 11 a.m. in the Westport Country Playhouse parking lot on Sunday, then walk through town.
They will say the Mourner’s Kaddish, carry orange balloons in memory of the flame-haired brothers, and pray for their mother.
All Westporters of all ages are invited to join. Wear orange sweaters, coats, hats or reflector vests; bring orange balloons or Bibas signs.
In November, Startup Westport’s “Young Innovators” forum drew an SRO crowd to the Westport Library.
Entrepreneurs and investors from their 30s through 70s were awed by presentations from a quartet of Staples High School alumni — none older than 25 — who have crushed the tech world.
The star of the star-studded panel was Dylan Diamond. The 2017 grad is co-founder and CEO of Saturn. The Gen Z calendar app has raised $68 million, scaled to millions users, reached 18,000 schools, and hit #1 in the App Store — all after starting out as a high school project.
The event was moderated by Molly O’Shea. The oldest person on stage — she graduated from Staples in 2014 — is no slouch herself. A venture capital investor, Molly founded Sourcery, the VC deal and startup trend newsletter.
Now she’s posted a podcast with Dylan. It opens with a huge shout-out to the Startup Westport event (which she links to, and includes in every Sourcery social post).
Click below for Molly and Dylan’s very insightful — and entertaining — chat.
There are many ways to prepare students for college. Sometimes overlooked — but crucial — is to focus on mental health.
On Tuesday (February 25, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library), Dr. James Geisler will discuss mental health challenges on college campuses, and help parents support their children’s transition to higher education. For more information, click here.
Graduation is fun. But preparing for the next step is very important.
This year’s Westport Woman’s Club gala celebrates women who have made significant contributions to philanthropy and service to the community.
The April 5 event (6 p.m., Patterson Club, Fairfield) will be emceed by Scott Foley. His 30-year career in films and on TV include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scream 3,” and (currently) “Will Trent” and “La Dolce Villa.”
He lives in Westport with his wife, 3 children and many pets.
The evening includes a performance by the R&B, soul and dance band the Bernadettes, plus a silent and live auction.
Guests will enjoy a vibrant performance by The Bernadettes, an R&B/Soul and Dance band, creating a lively atmosphere as well as an opportunity to bid on wonderful silent and live auction items.
Click here for tickets, and more information. Sponsorships are available for $1,000 (to provide clothing for children in need), $5,000 (a need-based scholarship for a graduating senioro) and $10,000 (225 bags of food to struggling families).
Kings Highway Elementary School students spent Kindness Week spreading joy — within the building, and the entire district.
Every student helped design and create a “kindness rock” — a KHS tradition.
Fifty of them will be delivered to Westport’s 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and Staples High — along with a video message explaining their significance, and how each school might use them.
As a 2-year captain of Staples’ boys soccer team, Mike Dobbs earned renown on the field. Like any soccer player (except the goalkeeper), he did plenty of running.
After a start at Athletic Shoe Factory in Westport, he’s spent his professional career in the running shoe industry. And he’s still running — though on roads, not soccer pitches.
Mike will compete in the Boston Marathon in April. It’s a way to compete — and raise money for Dana Farber Cancer Research, in honor of his late mother Sharon (a well-known and dedicated Westport Soccer Association volunteer).
There’s always something going on at MoCA CT. Ahead:
Upcycle Sculpture Workshop (today, Saturday, 1 p.m.): Tour of WestPAC’s :On Fire” and the high school exhibition “Humans & Nature”; then create sculptures with artist Remy Sosa.
Darwin Shen (violin), Michelle Kim (piano): Putting on the Fritz (Sunday, February 23, 4 p.m.): Recital of rarely performed, newly discovered and reconstructed works by Fritz Kreisler.
Art Adventures! Drop-Ins for Kids(Saturdays, 12 to 1:30 p.m.): For children of all abilities: multi-media classes with space to explore new techniques and expression through art.
Community Conversation: Art, Infrastructure, and the Environment (February 27, 6 p.m.): Moderated by curator Ive Covaci; a diverse panel of speakers discuss the intersection of art, sustainability, and community resilience.
Upcoming Art Workshops: Hands-on classes include Ceramic Multi-Bowl Building with Leah Corbett (March 6) and Basket Weaving with Tina Puckett (March 8).
East Coast Contemporary Ballet: Galerie de Danse (March 6 and 7, 7:30 p.m.): Dance and live music in a gallery setting. .
RSO Quartet: Daylight & Dances (March 8, 7 p.m.): Sring players of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra; works by Haydn, Price, Bartok and Puccini.
Sound Healing Meditations with SoulOSoaring (March 18, 6 p.m.): Healing practitioner Terry Eldh uses crystal alchemy singing bowls, crystal harp and koshi chimes.
Current Exhibition, through March 2: “On Fire”: Over 75 works in a variety of media; explores how artists from the 1930s to today have envisioned and responded to the interrelationships of energy, infrastructure, and the environment. The 4th annual exhibition by Westport Permanent Art Collections, inspired by 8 paintings created by Ralph Boyer in 1934 for the old Staples High School, as part of the Federal Public Works of Art Project. These paintings usually hang in the Westport central fire station.
And finally … on this date in 1872, the Prohibition Party held their first national convention, in Columbus, Ohio. It took nearly 50 years, but the 19th Amendment went into effect in 1920. Thirteen years later, it was repealed.
(“06880” relies on reader support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. We’ll drink to that!)
Tonight’s predicted snowstorm has thrown tomorrow’s Super Bowl party — scheduled for the Westport Senior Center — for a loss.
Officials have already canceled the event.
Snow is expected to start this evening, and continue through tomorrow morning, with perhaps a mix of sleet. Five to 8 inches are expected.
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Speaking of the Super Bowl: This week the Kings Highway Elementary School PTA, staff, students and Caring Council members hosted their first-ever SOUPer Bowl collection.
Throughout the week, students and staff donated soup (and other canned goods) in their favorite team’s collection box.
Yesterday, all donations were given to the Gillespie Center’s food pantry.
Nearly 500 cans were collected. And the winner was …
Philadelphia Eagles 271 cans, Kansas City Chiefs 214.
Kings Highway PTA member Ellen Mondshine, with her sons Nathan and Owen.
“He and the entire Westport Police Department have provided consistent support to our synagogue and the entire Jewish community over the years” says Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn.
“This past year, following the events of October 7, that support has been stronger than ever. We are truly blessed to know that Chief Koskinas and the WPD are always there for us.”
TCS will also honor Dick Kalt, long-time leader of TCS’s Security Committee, and his wife Lydia for their ongoing dedication to the synagogue. The rabbi says, “Dick has played a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the congregation for many years.”
Formerly known as The Conservative Synagogue, TCS recently changed its official name to The Community Synagogue to better reflect its mission and values. while retaining the TCS initials.
“Our membership felt that The Community Synagogue better represented what we strive to be — a wide tent of congregants who grew up secular, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, or not Jewish at all.” Rabbi Wiederhorn says.
“We are an inclusive, egalitarian yet traditional synagogue that is proud to support the people, land and state of Israel. We open our doors to partners and friends throughout the community to celebrate interfaith work, adult education, social action, youth programming, and more.”
For more information about the March 15 gala, and to purchase tickets, click here.
Police Chief Foti Koskinas
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After 3 months of intensive work, Hansen Marine Contractors is nearing completion of dredging operations at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 399, Bridgebrook Marina, and Saugatuck Rowing Club.
The company’s Erik Hansen told VFW quartermaster that they found 2 unexpected challenges in the dredging area near the Saugatuck Rowing Club: a discarded mushroom anchor, and over 30 cubic yards of clam shells.
Hansen says he never saw so many clam shells in his lifetime. “It was like digging up solid concrete.”
Years ago, the site adjacent to the Rowing Club was Mansion Clam House. Delgado wonders if they dumped their clam shells into the river throughout the years.
The source of 30 cubic yards of clam shells?
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The Westport Library rocked its Winter Dance Party last night.
Christine Ohlman & her band Rebel Montez entertained a large and appreciative crowd.
Ohlman — rhe platinum blonde “Beehive Queen,” and “Saturday Night Live” regular — is no stranger to the Library. She collaborated with Mark Naftalin — the Westport resident and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician — on his “Blue Sunday” series, and has appeared at VersoFest.
Ohlman’s career includes appearances with Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Smokey Robinsons, Graham Nash, Steve Miller, the B52s and Elvis Costello. She has sold out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s David Bowie tribute and the WC Handy Festival in Muscle Shoals.
She has recorded with Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, George Harrison, Sting, Ian Hunter, Bonnie Bramlett, Ronnie Spector, Charlie Musselwhite, Irma Thomas and Chrissie Hynde, among others.
Christine Ohlman and her band, at the Westport Library. (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
Longtime Westport resident Timothy Walker died peacefully on Tuesday. He was 94.
A Boston native and avid sailor, he was a lifelong Red Sox fan.
After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1949, Tim attended Union College. His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. He spent much of his time on the Korean Peninsula.
He returned to Union, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. Tim helped design and build telephone offices for New York Telephone, followed by a long career in management at AT&T.
He left corporate America at age 55 to his own consulting business.
Tim married his wife Betty in 1977. Their partnership lasted almost 50 years. They shared a love of travel, music, friendships, their children and animals.
Tim was an expert in tree care. He climbed and pruned large trees, fought fires as a volunteer. He also participated in disaster relief as a ham radio operator.
Tim was a captain in the Greenwich volunteer fire department, and chief of the Mountain Lakes, New Jersey volunteer fire department.
A Westport resident since 1988, he served on the Flood and Erosion, and Conservation Commissions.
His golden retriever, Clyde, was his constant companion. Tim was a supporter of animal rescue, adopting his beloved great Pyrenees Casey and Bonnie, who were daily visitors to Winslow Park.
Tim is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters (Don Cawrse) and Laurel Risom (Allen Cyr), sons Timothy and Andrew (Sydney), stepdaughter Ruth (Rob Ayles), 9 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; his sister, Sarah Thomson; many nieces and nephews, and his canine companion, Murphy. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Walker.
A celebration of lfe will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club, 304 Main Avenue, Suite 115, Norwalk, CT 06851.
And finally … if James Dean were still alive, he would turn 94 years old today. The now-legendary actor died in 1955, at 24, after appearing in just 3 major films: “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden” and “Giant.”
(No matter who takes tomorrow’s Super Bowl, if you click here to support “06880,” you’ll be a winner. Go, team! Rah! Thank you!)
New York Times chief theater critic Jesse Green gave a rave review to “Cult of Love,” the new show that opened Thursday at the Helen Hayes Theater.
He likes the “rip-roaring home-for-the-holidays dramedy” for its plot, direction, music and more.
He also praises playwright Leslye Headland. This is the 1999 Staples High School graduate’s Broadway debut. But she’s earned kudos before, as a playwright, screenwriter and director (“Bachelorette,” “Sleeping With Other People,” “Russian Doll,” “The Acolyte”).
“Cult of Love” is Headland’s final work in a series called “Seven Deadly Plays.” Inspired by the 7 deadly sins, this one is about pride. It was first staged in Los Angeles in 2018.
The play focuses on 4 adult children of one family and their partners, coming home for a contentious holiday gathering.
Green writes: “Though ‘Cult of Love,’ like many unhappy family reunion plays, draws big buckets of humor from the toxic brew of religion and repression, those buckets also draw blood.
“Headland knows just how to get there, suggesting deep familiarity with the territory. But she also has a gift for complication and construction, as was already evident in “Bachelorette,” her Bridezillas Gone Wild breakthrough play of 2010…. Loading pattern on pattern — a holiday-season design don’t for most — is for her an opportunity to dizzy us down to hell.”
Click here for the full Times review. Click here for more information about “Cult of Love.” (Hat tip: Tommy Greenwald)
The Board of Education’s Policy Committee meets Wednesday (December 18, 9 a.m., Town Hall Room 307), with a wide-ranging agenda.
They’ll discuss the first reading of possible revisions to graduation requirements; admission to the Westport Public Schools at or before age 5 and assignment to grade levels; and student attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism.
The committee will also discuss health concerns “such as lice,” and a possible new civility policy.
meanwhile, the Long Lots School Building Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed to Wednesday (December 18, 6 p.m., Town Hall Room 307/309. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Speaking of schools: All month long, Kings Highway Elementary School students have collected gifts for their annual Holiday Bear drive.
Each year, the Connecticut Education Foundation’s Holiday Bear provides gifts for children whose families face financial or other hardships.
The KHS Caring Council helped package 25 Holiday Bear bags.
Meanwhile, yesterday the school helped raise funds for Connecticut Children’s Hospital.
Students also wore pajamas as part of a statewide spirit day.
It’s been an eventful month for Kings Highway!
A few of Kings Highway’s many holiday bags.
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John McKinney is the newest member of the Connecticut Mirror’s board of directors.
The Mirror is state’s non-profit, non-partisan, digital source for public policy, government and politcal news.
McKinney — a descendant of Westport’s famed Bedford family — is also a trustee of the Westport Weston Family YMCA.
The former State Senate minority leader and a Republican candidate for governor, he was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Liquor Control Commission in 2021.
McKinney serves on the advisory board of Operation Hope, a homeless shelter in Fairfield. He and his family help provide housing and care for people with AIDS through the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation. It is named for his father, the longtime US Congressman from Westport’s district.
And finally … on this date in 1819, Alabama became the 22nd US state.
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The one at Kings Highway Elementary School is one of the most distinctive. That made it easy for so many readers to nail it, as the site of last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)
Victor Belyaev, Andrew Colabella, Amy Schneider, Ann Bacharach, Fred Rubin, Jodie Aujla, Seth Schachter, Peter Barlow, Beth Berkowitz, Jill Turner Odice and Edward Karazin all recognized the distinctive crown feature.
Several readers added the back story: The school opened in 1926 — nearly 100 years ago — as Bedford Junior High. It lay across the field from what was then Staples High School (now Saugatuck Elementary).
In 1958 — when Staples moved to North Avenue — the Riverside Avenue building became Bedford Junior High. The old Bedford was, in turn, Westport’s newest elementary school. (Burr Farms and Hillspoint followed quickly, in those post-war baby boom years. Coleytown El was built just 5 years previously.)
Today’s seasonally appropriate Photo Challenge is below. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Dan Woog)
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A true fall highlight — the Westport Library’s book sale — returns November 1-4.
The event includes thousands of gently used books for children and adults in over 50 categories, plus antiquarian items, vinyl records, CDs (music, movies and TV), plus more.
This year’s highlights include:
Contemporary novels and poetry from the personal library of former Publisher’s Weekly editor Sybil Steinberg — signed by their authors
Library of America volumes, first editions, in slip cases
An extensive collection of history books, especially military, with many scarce titles
A broad assortment of fiction, nonfiction and collectible books in more than a dozen languages, including Turkish and German
A large assortment of framed art, from small desktop pieces to large wall
“Fiction for $1 Room” — mystery, science fiction, fantasy, young adult fiction, etc., with new copies of Jane Green’s novels (many of them in foreign languages).
Hours: Friday, November 1 (12 to 6 p.m.); Saturday, November 2 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Sunday, November 3 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; half-price day); Monday, November 4 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; fill the Library’s logo bag for $10, or yours for $8; individual items half-price). For more details, click here.
NOTE: 125 early-access tickets will be sold, for $35 each (Friday, November 1, 8:45 a.m. to noon); click here for tickets.
Westport Library Book Sale.
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Most businesses wax and wane.
Westport’s newest one will always wax.
Waxing the City opens on Halloween Day in Playhouse Square, between The Granola Bar and Innovation Luggage. The previous tenant was, interestingly, Kennedy’s All-American Barber.
Studio manager Destani Station says, “We are a premium waxing studio dedicated to providing expert hair removal services with a focus on comfort, care and personalized experience.
“We specialize in a full range of waxing services for both men and women, from brows to full-body, ensuring top-quality results with our highly trained cerologists. Our studios feature cutting-edge techniques and products that leave clients feeling confident and refreshed after each visit.
“What sets us apart are our enhancements: from customized brow shaping to skincare treatments that elevate the post-wax glow, we offer tailored services that go beyond the basics.
“We chose to open in Westport because the community here thrives on mutual support, and we felt our services were genuinely needed in the area. Westport’s close-knit vibe made it the perfect location for a Waxing the City studio, and we’re thrilled to be part of such a dynamic community.”
Bookings (now 50% off) are available via the website or phone: 203-293-4401.
Every Staples High School (and every other school) reunion class says the same thing: “I can’t believe it’s been [insert number of] years!”
For the SHS Class of 2004, the number is 20. Yikes!
On Friday, November 1, all grads are invited to watch the Wrecker football team play Danbury, 7 p.m. at home. Members of the class and their families will be admitted free.
On Saturday, November 2 (5:30 p.m.), there’s a guided tour of the “new” Staples (the one under construction while the ’04 class was there).
They’ll follow with a celebration at Little Barn (7 to 10 p.m.). Alumni and guests can RVSP here.
In 2004, the Homecoming pep rally was held in the gym.
Save the Children’s Fairfield County Leadership Council hosts a cooking demonstration, cocktails and conversation with Chef Fariyal Abdullahi (October 30, 6:30 p.m., The Patterson Club, Fairfield).
It’s a benefit for STC’s Emergency Fund. Fariyal will discuss her work with Save the Children, including a recent visit to Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian-born chef earned a degree in clinical child psychology, before pursuing her passion for cooking at the Culinary Institute of America. She has traveled the world, and worked at renowned establishments on several continents.
Fariayal’s Ethiopian-inspired dishes have been showcased at the Met Gala and in Vogue. She is the executive chef at Hav & Mar in New York, and a judge on Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Alex vs. America.”
For tickets, click here or email mleffel@savethechildren.org.
Jazz vocalist Alma Micic first came to Jazz at the Post with her husband — guitarist Rale Micic’s — ensemble. She tore the place apart.
She returns this Thursday (October 17), as part of a monthlong celebration of female bandleaders.
Alms is joined by her husband Rale, bassist Peter Slavoy and drummer Jason Tiemann. Tenor titan Eric Alexander fills in for Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.
There are 2 shows at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399: 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner service starts at 7. The music cover is $20; $15 for veterans and students. Click here for tickets.
Fred Hunter III of Wilton died unexpectedly on October 2. He was 80.
He moved several times during his youth, as his father was a minor league coach with the Cincinnati Reds. He graduated from Heidelberg University in 1966, married his wife of 48 years, Carole Sue (Harper), in 1967, then embarked on s sales career in the paper industry, starting in Dallas. He spent many years in Centerville, Ohio before settling in Westport in 1982.
Fred was an accomplished golfer. He won club championships, recorded holes-in-one, and recently shot his age or better several times.
He was involved with the Longshore Men’s Golf Association and Y’s Men of Westport and Weston for many years. He was also a youth baseball coach, and a fan of the Reds and Dallas Cowboys.
Fred is survived by his sons Paul (Wendy) and James (partner Courtney Bauknecht), grandchildren Lauren and Chase of Hinsdale, Illinois, and dear friend and companion Kathleen Lala of Wilton. He was preceded by his wife Carole and brother Edwin.
The family will receive friends at the Harding Funeral Home on October 24 (3 to 7 p.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Y’s Men of Westport, Box Box 167, Westport, CT 06881.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a bit, um, unusual.
(Photo/Christen Worobec)
Look closely. That’s something very natural, but gross: A pile of dog poop.
Yes, on Compo Beach.
And tied next to it — perhaps as a warning, perhaps making a diamond out of dung — is a pretty bow, tied to a pick-up-poop bag.
We don’t know the back story. But we do know this: Clean up after your dog, people. The beach belongs to all of us. We don’t need anyone acting like a piece of —-!
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