Tag Archives: Long Lots Elementary School

Roundup: Post Road East, Long Lots El, Slice Of Saugatuck …

Posted on September 12, 2025 | 10 comments

It’s been going on so long, we barely notice it at all.

Except it’s so annoying — and dangerous — that we drive through it like we’re 16-year-olds, behind the steering wheel for the first time in our lives.

It’s the Post Road East project. Specifically, the section in front of Westport Hardware and Pottery Barn, extending up to Sakura.

It began, I think, during the Roosevelt years (Teddy). And it will last until the end of the next Trump administration (Barron).

The other day, Jerri Graham — whose photos usually showcase the most beautiful scenes and people in Westport — took this shot:

(Photo/Jerri Graham Photography)

She added this comment, on social media: “After wondering why this was taking forever to complete, I asked the man at the UPS Store.

“He said that one company was paid for the work, when two should have been paid. Now there’s a dispute, and construction has been halted.

“I guess it’s becoming an art installation. Regardless, it’s a hazard for drivers and pedestrians.”

It’s also a headache — and a financial hit — for businesses along that torn-up, semi-tarred stretch.

In the meantime: Drive safely. Drive slowly.

And if you happen to see anyone working there again, be extra careful. We can’t afford to lose a single laborer.

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Plans are moving forward for the new Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool.

1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker reports that the end of this month, or early October, will see “groundbreaking for the geothermal wells and site mobilization.” It’s the first major step in the construction process.

For updates, documents and more details, click here.

Long Lots Elementary School

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Jonathan Uman was killed on September 11, 2001.

He was 33 years old. Today, he would be a grandfather.

Jonathan’s wife, Julie Whamond, is a Westport resident, and Representative Town Meeting member. She also volunteers as a docent, at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York.

Yesterday she and fellow RTM member Andrew Colabella visited the museum. They paused in front of a mural of blue tiles. Each represents one of the 2,977 people killed that tragic day, 24 years ago.

Andrew Colabella and Julie Whamond, at the 9/11 Museum.

Behind that wall is where the chief medical examiner office’s. Nearly a quarter century later, they store and test remains every day. Over 1,000 have yet to be discovered.

Part of Jonathan’s remains are kept on site. It is the final resting place for many victims.

As a docent, Andrew says, Julie tells the story of 9/11, and her personal connection to it. It, and she, serve as “a primary source of evidence of the impacts of terrorism that day,” he says.

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Tomorrow’s Slice of Saugatuck is on!

Delayed one week by rain, the annual Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event will fill Riverside Avenue, Railroad Place and Bridge Square with 7 bands, tons of kids’ activities, retail offerings — and more 2 dozen restaurants and food purveyors, handing out tasty samples.

The forecast is for partly cloudy skies, and a high of 78 degrees — perfect Slice weather! Click here for a map, ticket information and other details.  

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The Norwalk Art Space’s Arts Bash will have a very distinct Westport flavor.

The October 9 event (6 p.m., 455 West Avenue, Norwalk) — featuring exhibits, music, cocktails and gourmet bites, raising funds to provide free art education and exhibition opportunities to under-represented students and artists — will honor Melissa Newman, for her many contributions to arts and arts education.

The longtime Westport resident is a noted artist, writer, teacher, sculptor, painter — and jazz singer.

A Norwalk Art Space board member, Newman is also a dedicated mentor. “Her multifaceted artistic career and deep-rooted passion for the next generation of creatives make her an ideal honoree for this year’s celebration,” the Art Space says.

​Another Westport connection: The Arts Bash co-chair is local resident Dale Najarian.

​Click here for tickets, and more information.

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During the Gilded Age, America’s favorite sage, sociologist, philosopher and
news analyst was Mr. Dooley — a bartender invented by Chicago newspaper editor Finley Peter Dunne.

Though hardly remembered today, Dunne’s humorous newpaper columns were read all over the world. Mr. Dooley’s opinions were read at White House cabinet meetings; robber barons and politicians lived in fear of the bartender’s sarcasm.

Starting tonight, Mr. Dooley comes to life at the Westport Community Theatre in “Dooley at the Bar,” a one-man show created and performed by Alexander Kulcsar.

The play — which opens WCT’s 68th season — runs for 10 performances, on Fridays and Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.), through September 28.

For tickets, call 203-226-1983, or click here. Questions? Email info@westportcommunitytheatre.com.

“Dooley at the Bar,” at the Westport Community Theatre.

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The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg discuss “climate wins from the 2025 legislative session, and plans for the future” on September 17 (9:30 a.m., Westport Library). The public is invited.

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The American Parkinson Disease Association Connecticut Chapter holds its annual “Optimism Walk”  at Sherwood Island State Park on September 20 (11 a.m.). The event raises awareness and funds. Click here for more information.

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Except for a few hours last weekend, we haven’t had any rain since about 1986.

You wouldn’t know it from Burying Hill Beach, though.

The entrance floods regularly now — pretty much, whenever the tide comes in.

Jalna Jaeger snapped this photo on Wednesday, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Jalna Jaeger)

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School has begun. The temperature is slowly dropping.

But the Levitt Pavilion continues to offer great entertainment.

DNR — the nearly-all-physician classic rock band — played to an enthusiastic crowd last night.

They’ll be back again just a few yards away on November 1. That show is indoors, at the Westport Library. It’s a benefit for Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center.

DNR, at the Levitt Pavilion. (Photo/Ken Schwarz)

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And finally … in honor of “Dooley at the Bar,” the new play at the Westport Community Theatre (story above):

(If you don’t support “06880”: Hang down your head and cry. And then … click here to right your wrong. Thank you!) 

 

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Posted in Arts, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Transportation

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New Hat In Ring: Rosenwaks Runs For 1st Selectman

Posted on August 8, 2025 | 55 comments

Westport’s interesting race for 1st selectman just got even more intriguing.

David Rosenwaks will be the town’s first-ever Independent Party-endorsed candidate. Having secured more than enough signatures, he’ll have his own line on the November 4 ballot.

He joins Democratic-endorsed Kevin Christie, and Don O’Day, the Republican-endorsed candidate who is now unaffiliated.

Rosenwaks, 48, spent 25 years as an unaffiliated voter. He became a Democrat less than a year ago, but is now joining the Independent Party.

David Rosenwaks

Party politics is one of the reasons Rosenwaks is running for the town’s top job. A first-term member of the non-partisan Representative Town Meeting, he says, “I want to change the tenor of town government. As an Independent, I’ll answer to one entity: Westport and its citizens.

“A lot of decisions have been made before weighing all views. A lot of people feel unheard and undervalued.”

Rosenwaks envisions a return to former 1st Selectwoman Diane Farrell’s “Brown Bag Lunches.” A member of the RTM’s Information Technology Committee, he also hopes to “modernize and digitize” the town’s technology system.

Rosenwaks and his wife, actor Liz Fye, moved to Westport from New York at the beginning of COVID. They felt “blessed” by the school system, Library, beaches and rich arts heritage.

Rosenwaks dove into all aspects of the town. He attended commission and TEAM Westport meetings, Westport Library events, the Senior Center, the Westport Country Playhouse and more. He is a member of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee, joined the Citizens Police Academy, served on the PTA Council in a technology role, and coached recreation soccer.

“I learned a lot from the people who have been here for years,” Rosenwaks said. “They helped me understand how this town grew and evolved into what it is now.”

At the same time, he says, “Westport is at an inflection point. The average age is 39 to 45, depending on the data you use. We’re ready for the next evolution of the town. I’m confident I can be the bridge between those who have been here for decades, and the more recent arrivals.”

His RTM District 6 race was very competitive: 7 candidates for 4 seats. He knocked on 700 doors, and heard a diversity of viewpoints on a variety of topics.

David Rosenwaks

In the past 5 years, Westport has grappled with some major controversies.

Rosenwaks — a Long Lots Elementary School parent — was disturbed by the overcrowding and neglect at his children’s school. At the same time, he says, “the Community Gardeners should have been handled differently. They deserved a more honest approach up front.”

Redistricting 30 children “across the river, at 2 of the worst times of day” was an example of decisions being made “piecemeal, not holistically,” he says.

Rosenwaks was also disturbed at the Board of Education’s handling of Staples High’s soccer coaches.

“Over 100 kids sat in Town Hall for 14 hours,” he says. “Their voices were not heard. They were disilliulsioned. That’s a problem for their future, and the future of the town.”

As for the Hamlet, he says, “the majority of people in Westport want some development. But not to the extent of what was proposed. How did we get here, held hostage by a developer that doesn’t connect with what most people want?”

after graduating from Dartmouth College, Rosenwaks joined Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup  as an investment banker.

He then co-founded a multi-billion dollar asset management firm, StoneCastle Partners. After selling it a decade later he pivoted to singing, songwriting and art collecting.

He’s recorded with Paul Shaffer and Phil Ramone. Rosenwaks’ original music has appeared in independent films. He headlined shows at the Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, and BB King’s.

Now, he says, “I spend most of my time dedicated to the town.”

Which brings him back to the reason he is running.

“I want what’s best for my family, my neighbors, and the town of Westport,” Rosenwaks says.

“I want everyone to feel involved. Whether it’s Jesup Green or a parking lot, every decision should be about what’s best for Westport.”

To run on the Independent Party line, Rosenwaks needed signatures from 1% of the number of people who voted in the previous selectperson’s race: 85 registered voters.

He submitted 132.

Now he awaits official certification, from the Independent Party.

He is running solo for the top spot. According to the Town Charter, if a person elected 1st selectman “has not been nominated by political party, the 2 defeated chandidates for First Selectman having the high number of votes shall be elected Selectman.”

It is unclear if that means the 2nd and 3rd selectmen would be the 2 other candidates for that position (Christie and O’Day, in whichever order they finish), or if the candidates of the runner-up party with the most runner-up votes would serve as 2nd and 3rd selectpersons, respectively (Christie and Amy Wistreich, or O’Day and Andrea Moore).

Either way, Rosenwaks says, “I will be happy to work with any combinatiion of ‘defeated candidates. Leadership comes from the top.”

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Posted in Education, Library, Local politics

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Roundup: No Referendum, Open Beaches, Fireworks Tickets …

Posted on June 27, 2025 | 5 comments

There will be no referendum on Long Lots Elementary School.

Toni Simonetti had 14 days to collect 2,015 signatures — 10% of all eligible voters in the most recent election. She hoped to slash the proposed $103,190,124 expenditure for a new school to $90 million.

Yesterday was the petition deadline. Only 71 signatures were turned in. The drive was 1,944 signatures short.

Planning will proceed for a new Long Lots, without a referendum.

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Good news!

The most recent bacteria tests for Compo and Burying Hill came back negative yesterday. The beaches have reopened.

Whew!

Everyone back in the water! (Photo/Rowene Weems)

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Tickets are selling well for Wednesday’s fireworks show at Compo Beach — aka Westport’s Best Party of the Year. Only a small number remain.

A few residents have asked about this year’s price increase, the first in several years.

Westport PAL — the longtime co-sponsor, and beneficiary of the fundraiser — explains that costs have risen dramatically for everything: the barge, insurance, and the fireworks themselves.

Melissa and Doug Bernstein generously underwrite part of the costs, as they’ve done for years. Without their help, PAL would net only about $2,000.

Proceeds helps fund PAL programs that serve programs that serve thousands of youngsters each year, plus the Longshore skating rink and college scholarships. Click here to learn more about PAL.

Tickets (cash or check) are available at the Parks & Recreation Commission office at Longshore (near the golf course first tee) during office hours, and any time at the Westport police station on Jesup Road.

Westport’s greatest party returns July 2. (Photo/Elissa Moses)

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Our second “06880” Instagram Live yesterday was certainly lively.

Dave Briggs and Dan Woog explored the “Don’t Kill the Old Mill” campaign, in support of Old Mill Grocery & Deli.

And we did it from the communal table, inside the very popular Hillspoint Road spot.

We were joined by several OMG notables, including owner Graziano Ricco of Romanacci’s; Jim Hood and Ian Warburg of the non-profit Soundview Empowerment Alliance, owner of the 106-year-old building, Matthew Mandell of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Tait, an Old Mill neighbor and staunch supporter.

They explained what OMG means to the neighborhood. We took questions from viewers too.

Click here to see the converation. or click below. Too bad you can’t taste the meal we had.

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There is still time to take the Parks & Recreation Department’s master plan survey.

It’s a great opportunity to offer your opinion on the current state, and future needs, of our town’s beaches, parks, athletic fields and more.

Click here to take the survey. It closes next month.

How are things at Compo Beach? And every other Parks & Rec facility in town? Take the master plan survey to weigh in.

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The Levitt Pavilion offers 2 free shows, and 1 other, this weekend.

The Tom Petty Project kicks things off tonight (Friday, 7:30 p.m.). All free tickets have been claimed, but returned tickets will be redistributed at the box office before the show.

A few tickets are still available, at various prices, for tomorrow’s Disco Biscuits cconcert (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.).

Artemis takes the stage Sunday (7 p.m.), for a free show.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

Disco Biscuits

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The “Weston Connections Art Exhibit” at the Weston Public Library opens next month. Over 55 artists will be represented.

A reception, with the artists, is set for July 9 (6 p.m.).

Two drawing/painting classes are scheduled for July: the 12th for adults, the 26th for children. Click here for more details, and to sign up. 

Weston Public Library

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Edwin A. Audley — a former Westport Police captain, and founder of the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service — died last month in Winter Haven, Florida. He was 87.

The Westport native graduated from Staples High School in 1955. He served in the Army from 1955 to 1958, then joined the Army Reserves as a senior aircraft mechanic until 1962.

Ed joined the Westport Police Department in 1961. He was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, inspector, then captain in 1990. He retired in 1993.

Ed founded the WVEMS in 1979. He became an Emergency Medical Technician instructor in 1987.

In Florida, Ed was president of the Winter Haven Rose Society.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; brother Harry Audley (Pat), daughters Kimberly, Susan Palmer (Mark) and Victoria; 4 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 12 (Assumption Church, 10 a.m.).

Click here to leave online condolences. Donations can be made to the Edwin Audley Scholarship Fund, c/o Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, 50 Jesup Rd. Westport, CT 06880.

Ed Audley

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Former Westporter Priscilla Boyle died last Friday, surrounded by her family. She was 96.

She graduated from Lesley College, then taught kindergarten in Watertown, Massachusetts for 9 years before marrying Charles Boyle in 1958. They moved to Westport in 1963, and raised 3 children here.

Priscilla was involved with tennis, the Weston Field Club and bridge.

She was an active member of Assumption Church for over 6 decades. She shared her faith through Eucharistic Ministry, prayer groups, book clubs and as a catechism teacher, with a special dedication to preparing children for their First Communion.

Later, Priscilla became a welcoming presence at the Westport YMCA as a receptionist.

Priscilla was predeceased by her husband and her siblings Mary Alice Connolly, James W. Scanlan, Anne T. “Nancy” Batal and Francis V. Scanlan. al.

She is survived by her children Charles “Chip,” Susan Improta (Paul), and Elizabeth Boyle; grandsons Kenneth and Philip Improta, sister-in-law Alice Scanlan, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Priscilla’s life will be held at Assumption Church on July 15 (11 a.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations in Priscilla’s memory may be made to Smile Train.

Priscilla Boyle

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June is ending the way it began: with plenty of colors.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” yellow-and-green scene is from Whitney Street.

But it could be many other places in town too.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

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And finally … Mick Ralphs — the Mott the Hoople and Bad Company guitarist/ songwriter — died. He was 81, and had bedridden after suffering a stroke in 2016. Click here for a full obituary.

(You’re in good company if you support “06880” with a tax-deductible contribute. Please click here. And thank you!)

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Posted in Beach, Entertainment, Local business, Obituaries, Weston

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Petition Begun For Long Lots Referendum

Posted on June 18, 2025 | 40 comments

On Thursday, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) unanimously approved a $103 million request, for the new Long Lots Elementary School project.

Toni Simonetti says the actual cost is $129 million.

She thinks it should cost $90 million. Now she’s gathering signatures on a petition for a referendum, to decrease the appropriation to that sum.

It’s no easy task. She needs 1,860 signatures — 10% of the town’s registered voters — by June 26.

Simonetti — a longtime Westport Community Gardens member, and vocal opponent of replacing the gardens with an athletic field — does not oppose the new school.

In fact, she says, she wants a new building to replace the current “rotting, moldy, unhealthy and shabby” one,

However, she says, $129 million is too much. Her figure is based on the $103 million appropriation; $6.7 million previous allocated, and $20 million in debt service interest.

She says that will result in a 4% tax increase, beginning next year. That would translate, she says, to $1,200 more per year for a $2.1 million home, the Westport average. Personal property and motor vehicle taxes will rise 4% too.

Simonetti posted those figures, and more — including her issues with the RTM process — on Substack.

Artist’s rendering of the proposed Long Lots courtyard.

 

 

 

40 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics

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Roundup: Long Lots Approval, Saugatuck Block Party, Temple Israel Storyteller …

Posted on June 17, 2025 | 1 comment

The last official town body to weigh in on the new Long Lots Elementary School delivered its verdict last night.

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a revised 8-24 site plan for the $108 million project.

Four days earlier, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) gave its unanimous consent.

One hurdle remains, before the project can be put out to bid, and ground broken: a possible referendum.

Opponents have 14 days to gather 1,860 signatures — 10% of registered voters.

One early sketch of a new Long Lots Elementary School.

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It’s not quite the Slice of Saugatuck.

But a variety of businesses in Saugatuck Center invite everyone to block party this Sunday (June 22, 2 to 4 p.m.).

In and around the Whelk plaza, there will be live music, small bites, lawn games, and fun for all ages. It’s sponsored by “your favorite local businesses.”

See you there!

Block party time!

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Alex Edelman — called “the Jewish voice of his generation,” whose shows blur the line between standup comedy and narrative-driven storytelling — brings his show to Temple Israel next month (July 30, 7 p.m.).

Click here for tickets, and more information.

Alex Edelman

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If it’s (almost) summer, it must be paving season.

This was the action yesterday, on Colony Road at Salem Road.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

As always, there is an ambitious schedule all across town.

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Just over a year ago, Sivan Hong shared a “Westport … Naturally” photo of a pair of baby foxes.

That den has new tenants. Five baby groundhogs waddled out on Sunday. Sivan says they’re about 5 weeks old.

(Photo/Sivan Hong)

We’ll check back a year from now. Who knows what creatures we’ll find then.

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And finally … on this date in 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, spent the next 17 years building her mausoleum. Today we know it as the Taj Mahal.

(Ain’t nobody’s business but ours. To keep “06880” going, please make a tax-deductible contribution by clicking here. Thank you!)

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Posted in Education, Entertainment, Local politics, religion, Saugatuck

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Scarice: Long Lots Approval Is “A Testament To Our Values”

Posted on June 13, 2025 | 10 comments

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice sent this note today to Westport families and faculty:

As you have likely heard already (good news travels fast!), last night the RTM voted to approve construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool!

This decision marks a transformative moment for our students, our educators, and the entire Westport community.

As I mentioned last night, this vote is far more than an approval of bricks and mortar, it is a testament to our values, reflecting our town’s unwavering commitment to our children, to public education, and to a future which will continue to be built on decades of excellence in our schools.

We have long known that the Long Lots facility has reached the end of its useful life, and that the miraculous work in Stepping Stones Preschool has been performed in subpar settings.

The current Long Lots Elementary School …

I would be remiss in not acknowledging the people who have performed at the highest levels, in inferior conditions, namely, the maintenance team who have kept these schools spotless in spite of worsening conditions, the faculty and support staff who have delivered year in and year out, and the administrative team who have led through disruption, facility failures, and emotional distress.

Finally, on behalf of the entire district, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the parents of Long Lots and Stepping Stones. You spoke up, showed up, and never gave up, even knowing your own children might not benefit directly.  You stood up not just for your own families, but for future generations of Westport students. Your selfless advocacy is a powerful reminder of what it means to believe in something bigger than ourselves.

This moment did not happen by chance. It was made possible by years of advocacy from our Board of Education, support from our Board of Finance and First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, and thoughtful planning (and hours and hours of work) from our Long Lots School Building Committee and town staff. 

Finally, I want to thank the RTM for the rigor of their approval process, and for the unanimous vote last night, sending a strong message of values to the entire community.

… and the new one.

We now turn toward an exciting chapter, the design and construction of a future-facing school that will serve generations to come. One that will be safe, sustainable, inclusive and inspiring, a space that supports every student and reflects the values of the community around it.

This is a proud day for Westport. And it’s just the beginning.

We’ll be sharing more about next steps and opportunities to stay engaged in the coming weeks and months.

For now, let’s take a moment to celebrate—this celebratory moment belongs to the entire community.

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Posted in Education, Local politics

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Roundup: Long Lots, Hamlet, Staples Lacrosse …

Posted on June 13, 2025 | 23 comments

It’s official!

And unanimous.

Last night, the Representative Town Meeting unanimously approved a new Long Lots Elementary School.

The long — and long-delayed — project got the final go-ahead, after recent approvals from a variety of other town bodies.

Artist’s rendering of the Long Lots Elementary School courtyard.

Work remains — including putting the $103.2 million contract out to bid.

The only delay would be a townwide referendum, based on the cost. A petition would need to be signed by 10% of registered voters — 1,860 people — by June 27.

But when the vote was over last night, town officials — including selectwomen, RTM and Board of Education members, and the Long Lots School Building Committee — headed the short distance from Town Hall to the Spotted Horse, to celebrate.

(Photo/Andrea Moore)

From left: Don O’Day, Jay Keenan, Tim Wetmore, Joe Renzulli, Kevin Christie, Srikanth Puttagunta, Liz Heyer. All are on the Long Lots School Building Commitee, including ex officio members Christie (Board of Education) and Heyer (Board of Finance). (Photo/Andrew Colabella)

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Curious about The Hamlet — the controversial Saugatuck residential/retail/ hotel project?

“06880” hosts a special Instagram Live at 5 p.m. this afternoon (Friday).

Our Instagram is 0688danwoog. Dan Woog and Dave Briggs will chat with the ROAN Ventures developers — and we want your questions too.

Post them in the Comments below — or ask them live.

Artist’s rendering of The Hamlet at Saugatuck.

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The Staples High School boys lacrosse team shoots for the state championship tomorrow (Saturday).

The Wreckers — seeded #3 in the “LL” (extra large schools) tournament — take on #4 Darien. Faceoff is 12:30 p.m., at Fairfield University.

That’s the same stadium where — 3 days ago — the blue-and-whites scored a spectacular semifinal victory.

Down 9-5 with less than 5 minutes to play, they stunned #2 Ridgefield with 5 straight goals. Tristan Schaefer netted the game winner, with just 2.4 seconds remaining.

Will Fleming had tied it up 9-9, with 33 seconds to go. Adam Udell notched the 2 goals before that.

Coach Will Koshansky’s squad is gunning for their 3rd state title in 4 years. They won it all in 2022 and ’23 — the first Connecticut championships in their history.

Go Wreckers!

Tristan  Schaefer (91) celebrates his clutch game-winning goal against Ridgefield. (Photo courtesy of Staples Boys Lacrosse)

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Speaking of sports: Last August, Ben Casparius was pulled up from the minor leagues, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Two months later, he helped pitch them to a World Series championship.

This spring, the 2017 Staples High School graduate secured a roster spot with the team, as a relief pitcher.

Now he’s a starter.

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, “he’s done nothing but produce in the majors …. His 44 innings of work this season have seen him produce a 2.86 ERA with a 1.89 FIP while striking out 26.0% of his opponents and walking just 5.1%. Those numbers are nothing short of brilliant.”

Click here for the full report. (Hat tip: Tim Manners)

Ben Casparius

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The Yankee Doodle Fair — for a century, Westport’s favorite end-of-school tradition — opened last night.

It continues today and this weekend, at the Westport Woman’s Club and adjacent Imperial Avenue parking lot.

Today (Friday) it’s 6 to 10 p.m. Tomorrow (Saturday) the fair runs from 1 to 10 p.m. It winds up Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.

In addition to carnival rides and games, there is plenty of food. And, of course, a raffle. Proceeds from the fair help the Woman’s Club fund many charitable activities and scholarships.

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

More photos to come tomorrow, from the very talented Ryan Allen!

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Elle Michel Deran is an actor, the founder of Pussyboy Apparel, one of the nation’s leading trans influencers, and a 2013 Staples High School graduate.

Now — smack in the middle of Pride Month — she and Ezra Deran Michel are featured in a Cosmpolitan project called “Love Transcends.”

In it, the couple — who just moved from Los Angeles to a tiny town in Jalisco, Mexico — talk about why they left the US, sobriety, “how accountability can be sexy, and why both being trans makes it easier to cope whenever their relationship gets tough.”

Click here for the full story. Click here for Elle’s TikTok. Hat tip: Kerry Long)

Elle Deran

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Speaking of Pride: Tonight (Friday, 6:30 p.m.), the Westport Library hosts a night of LGBTQ+ comedy.

Jamie Machotka hosts the event, which features New York-based comic Calvin S. Cato, and award-winning comedian Mina Hartong.

The Library says: “Come for the comedy, stay for the community!”

Mina Hartong

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Meanwhile, next door to the Library, the Levitt Pavilion hosts 2 free weekend concerts.

Tomorrow (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.), Garth takes the stage.

The Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter/visual producer boasts over 6 million Spotify streams.

Inspired by Earth Wind & Fire, Prince, Outkast and Frank Ocean, Garth’s music fuses reggae, electronic, hip hop and R&B.

On Sunday (7 p.m.), it’s Humbird, offering “electrified, gritty, Midwest Americana, with a little magic fairy dust thrown in.

Click here to reserve free tickets for Garth. Click here for free Humbird tickets.  Tickets are also available at the box office, starting 2 hours before show time.

Garth

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The Wakeman Town Farm farm stand opens tomorrow (Saturday, June 14).

It will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It features fresh produce, honey, artisanal baked goods, extra virgin olive oils and gourmet balsamic vinegars, Chaga mushroom elixirs and salsas — plus fresh cut flower bouquets and WTF logowear.

Visitors can also walk through the gardens, say hi to the animals, and chat with the farmers.

Meanwhile, Wakeman Town Farm is looking for volunteers (ages 16+) to prepare and plant gardens (Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 to 4:30 p.m.). Email info@wakemantownfarm.org.

Lots o’ stuff, at the Wakeman Town Farm stand.

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Among their many tasks, Westport’s League of Women Voters does a great job educating residents about the political process — everything from registering and voting, to why municipal elections are important.

Yesterday, LWV members got educated themselves.

The guest speaker at their annual luncheon was Stephanie Thomas. Connecticut’s secretary of the state spoke in depth — and passionately — about our relatively new early voting process. She provided background, statistics, and strong affirmation for its impact on turnout.

She also stressed the need for continuing voter education.

That’s what the League of Women Voters does constantly. And as Thomas knows, in Westport they do it very, very well.

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, at the LWV’s annual meeting at Green’s Farms Church. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Much of today’s national politics has been called a dumpster fire. We can argue that all day.

But yesterday, there was a literal dumpster fire on Hales Court.

Quick work by the Westport Fire Department kept it from spsreading to a nearby residence.

(Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)

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There are still a few random spots in town — a bank and store, for example — with signs or floor decals reminding patrons of the need for “social distance.”

That COVID-era phrase is now just a bad memory. If we notice the notices at all, we just ignore them.

But what about these signs, at Fresh Market?

(Photo/Dan Woog)

When was the last time anyone called in a curbside order?

Probably the same time the sidewalk and road in front of the entrance was not under construction.

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Julie Loparo of Westport Animal Shelter Advocates writes: “We hope to find not only a possible owner, but to secure donations for a young cat’s emergency care.

“After being struck by a car on Tuesday, on Easton Road, he was taken to the VCA emergency clinic in Norwalk by Westport animal control officer Joe Saponare. He has been treated for shock, abrasions and a fractured pelvis.

“He will be released to the care of a WASA volunteer today. His emergency care to date has cost $2,750. Donations can be made here. For more information, email wasa1@optonline.net, or call (203) 557-0361.

Emergency cat care needed. 

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Speaking of animals: Deer are everywhere in Westport.

Including Old Mill Beach.

Robin Tauck spotted this pair yesterday — heading in opposite directions — and sent us this photo, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Robin Tauck)

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And finally … happy Friday the 13th!

(From sports stars to trans influencers, and Wakeman Town Farm to the League of Women Voters, “06880” is where Westport meets the world. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Long Lots School, Westport Country Playhouse, Sophie B. Hawkins …

Posted on June 12, 2025 | 15 comments

The Long Lots Elementary School project took a major step forward last night. The Board of Finance voted unanimously to approve a $103 million request for the new building.

The final step comes tonight (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium). The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) has 2 agenda items: to approve the same appropriation request, and to approve the actual application by the town “to construct a new elementary school, parking lot, athletic fields, playgrounds, and associated site and utility work.”

Artist’s rendering of the new Long Lots Elementary School.

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There’s a lot of news today from the Westport Country Playhouse.

Bruce Miller — archivist for the 94-year-old theater — offers these details on Tony Awards won on Sunday by Playhouse “alumni”:

  • Natalie Venetia Belcon won Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for “Buena Vista Club.” She appeared in the 2007 Playhouse production of “Being Alive!”
  • Sam Pinkleton earned Best Direction of a Play for “Oh, Mary!” He was in the 2010 WCP production of “She Loves Me.”
  • Francis Jue won Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for “Yellow Face.” He was seen in this year’s Script in Hand reading of “Back Talk.”

Other Playhouse alums who worked on “Buena Vista Social Club” were set designer Arnolfo Maldonado (who designed the WCP’s “4000 Miles,” and wig designer J.Jared Janus (who, among many other plays, recently did “Theatre People.” (Hat tip: Dave Matlow)

The Westport Country Playhouse stage is not too far — geographically or artistically — from Broadway.

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In addition, the Playhouse will participate in “Connecticut Open House Day” on Saturday (June 14, 1 to 5 p.m.).

The free event includes self-guided backstage tours, kids’ activities, music and food trucks.

At 1, artistic director Mark Shanahan unveils the 2025-26 productions. Anyone renewing or purchasing a subscription will be entered to win 2 tickets to an upcoming show.

For more information on the Open House, click here.

One of the coolest parts of a Playhouse tour: the hundreds of head shots lining the walls, near the dressing rooms and green room. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Meanwhile, the Playhouse has just added a new solo play.

“The Goldsmith” (July 11, 8 p.m., Lucille Lortel White Barn) stems from Broadway actress Sharone Sayegh’s true family’s journey.

It’s “a treasury of stories woven through the golden jewelry passed down through her family across countries, borders, and generations. Each piece of jewelry takes us further along her family’s journey from Iraq to Israel, and then to America, where Sharone grapples for love as a first generation Iraqi, Israeli, American Jew.”

All tickets are $20. Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Sharone Sayegh

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More entertainment!

On Monday, Westport’s Sophie B. Hawkins brought her new musical “Birds Of New York” to the Westport Library, for a special script reading.

It was a powerful performance, with Broadway veterans taking on the characters and belting out 18 songs — some pop, some ballads — all written by Sophie.

The packed house gave Sophie and the actors a standing ovation.

Veteran TV journalist Anne Craig chatted with Sophie about the musical: why she wrote it, and how much of the material mirrors her own life experience.

Click here or below, for the interview.

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The scene before Tuesday night’s rain squall, on Saugatuck Shores, is today’s colorful “Westport … Naturally” image:

(Photo/Nikki Gorman)

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And finally … we cannot sum up the life of Brian Wilson better than the New York Times‘ Ben Sisario does:

Brian Wilson, who as the leader and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys became rock’s poet laureate of surf-and-sun innocence but also an embodiment of damaged genius through his struggles with mental illness and drugs, has died. He was 82.

Like many “06880” readers of a certain age, I saw them in concert several times. One time, in Miami, they were young and fresh — and the opening act was a pre-“Piano Man” Billy Joel.

Decades later, at a Levitt Pavilion fundraiser, the “Boys of Summer” had morphed into a listless version of the “Grandfathers of Summer.” Brian Wilson had stopped performing long before.

But today, let’s remember his genius — and the music that made us all feel young and immortal.

Click here for a full obituary. And if you’ve got a Beach Boys memory, click “Comments” below.

(From the Playhouse to the Beach Boys, “06880” is where Westport meets the world. We rely on reader contributions. If you enjoy our work, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Class Of ’25 — Plus Annam Olasewere, Justin Paul, Anne Frank …

Posted on June 10, 2025 | 3 comments

It’s one of Staples High School’s newest — and best — traditions.

A couple of days before graduation, seniors visit the 5 elementary schools where they started their Westport education years ago.

Wearing caps and gowns, they greet “old” teachers (and classrooms). Youngsters watch reverently, and begin thinking of their own futures.

The photo below, from yesterday’s event at Saugatuck Elementary School, shows the many soon-to-be grads from Staples — plus 4 classmates who graduated the other day from Greens Farms Academy grads — along with SES mascot Saugy the Seal.

(Photo/Andrea Moore)

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Several dozen other seniors headed back to Long Lots Elementary.

A couple of years from now though, returning students from that school will not recognize their alma mater.

Last night, the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved a new 8-24 plan for construction of a new Long Lots. That was a major hurdle on the road to a modern, $100+ million building.

The process continues tonight, with meetings of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Education and Finance Committees (Tuesday, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively; both in Town Hall Room 201).

Tomorrow (Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), the Board of Finance meets to okay the project. Final approval could come  Thursday (June 12, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) from the full RTM.

The new Long Lots Elementary School.

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A few hours after the looking-back elementary schools event, seniors gazed forward.

Staples Tuition Grants handed out $400,000 in scholarships, to 102 recipients. (Some are already in college, and have received previous grants.) They’re attending 71 schools.

Marcus Harper — father of Max Harper, a ’25 member who died in an accident last September — spoke about a new initiative: the Live Life to the Max Award. It helps students suffering from ADHD.

Galen Blumenthal — a 2008 recipient, and former Staples Player and Student Assembly member — described his journey from the University of Texas to his return to Westport, as a management consultant. He urged the recipients to never be afraid to ask for help, and to always give back.

He’s doing that himself. Galen just joined the Staples Tuition Grants board.

Some of the 2025 Staples Tuition Grants honorees. (Photo/Rebecca Mace)

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Congratulations to Annam Olasewere!

The swimmer — the best in Staples High School history, and perhaps the state — just swam the 4th fastest time in the US for the 50 free (24.62), in the 17-18 age group.

That’d faster than the time posted by the current world record holder, Gretchen Walsh (now 22), when she competed in the event at that age.

Annam is also the only 18-and-under swimmer to compete in the women’s 50 meter freestyle final at the 2025 U.S. Championships. And: She earned a spot on the World Junior team, and will compete in Romania this summer.

But wait — there’s more!

Annam also co-chairs the Westport Youth Commission.

And she is secretary of Staples’ Teen Awareness Group.

It should be no surprise to anyone that she will swim for Stanford University this fall.

And go far beyond that, in life.

Annam Olasewere

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“John Proctor is the Villain” — produced by Westporter Eric Falkenstein, and co-produced by residents Ben Frimmer and Ari Benmosche — did not win a Tony on Sunday for Best New Play.

But our town was well represented on the Radio City Music Hall stage anyway.

Staples High School graduate Justin Paul and his writing partner (“Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman”) joined Marc Shaiman and Scott Witman to write the award show’s opening number (performed by host Cynthia Erivo). Click below to see:

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Speaking of “John Proctor”: Westport resident and veteran TV journalist Anne Craig interviewed Ben Frimmer — the Staples High graduate/Coleytown Middle School theater teacher/director mentioned in the item above — about his involvement as a producer.

He too has a Justin Paul connection. Click below or below to learn more.

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Speaking of plays: Staples Players’ recent presentation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” was a powerful staging of the inspiring story drawn from the writings of the German teenager, who for nearly 2 years hid from Nazi with her family and others, in a small annex behind an Amsterdam warehouse wall.

It was, audiences agreed, a show that is important to be seen by young students — particularly in these times.

Fortunately, it was.

The high school drama troupe gave 3 special performances during school hours. The result: every Westport Public Schools 8th grader saw the show, for free.

Those youngsters also met Andy Sarkany. The 89-year-old Hungary native immigrated to the US. He earned master’s degrees in math and computer science, worked for McDonnell Douglas and IBM, and has spent the past decade speaking to students about his experiences during the Holocaust, livng under the brutal Soviet regime, and finding a home in this country.

Bedford Middle School principal Adam Rosen says that the Players’ show “brought real emotional depth to what students have been exploring in the Human Rights Unit.”

Janna Sirowich, Coleytown Middle School principal, adds, “It aligns perfectly with our curriculum. But more importantly it provides our students with a meaningful opportunity to reflect on history, empathy, and resilience.”

Andy Sarkeny, on the “Anne Frank” set, talks with 8th graders. (Photo/Kerry Long)

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Speaking of theater: Last night’s Westport Country Playhouse script in hand reading of “The Shark is Broken” offered a clever, behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Jaws.” The groundbreaking film is now 50 years old.

From left: Actors Ciaran Byrne, Patrick Halley, Seth Andrew Bridges, Playhouse artistic director Mark Shanahan, stage director Faith Sandberg. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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An update on HB5002, the controversial omnibus housing bill passed by the state General Assembly last week:

Though it has been sent to Governor Lamont — and he was widely expected to sign it — he has not yet done so.

CT Mirror reports that after heated opposition to the bill this weekend, the governor may call a special session, for revisions. Click here for the full story.

Governor Lamont — shown here at the Westport Library — has not yet signed the housing bill. (Photo/Ryan Allen)

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Peonies look beautiful all the time.

But they’re especially lovely when tinged with raindrops, as in today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured image:

(Photo/Jamie Walsh)

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And finally … Sly Stone, who the New York Times calls an “influential, eccentric and preternaturally rhythmic singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose run of hits in the late 1960s and early ’70s with his band the Family Stone could be dance anthems, political documents or both,” died yesterday in Los Angeles.

He was 82, and had battled lung disease and other health issues.

Sly & the Family Stone played 2 memorable concerts in Westport, a month apart.

On May 25, 1968 — a year after their debut “Dance to the Music” rocketed them to the top — they played at a “sock hop,” in the Staples High School gym.

On June 25 that same year, they were on stage at the Longshore Inn. I had finished 9th grade at Long Lots Junior High the week before. A couple of friends and I snuck into the ballroom (it wasn’t hard).

I’ve seen plenty of concerts since then. I’ve never been closer at one to a mega-star — or been to a show with more raw energy, power and life.

A full obituary is here. (Hat tip: Amy Schneider)

 

(From Broadway to Westport — and everywhere else — readers rely on “06880” for all the local news, features and music. If you enjoy our work, please click here to support us. Thanks!)

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[OPINION] Lou Weinberg: Current 8-24 Destroys Gardens And Preserve. Approve An 8-24 Where Everyone Wins.

Posted on June 6, 2025 | 45 comments

Lou Weinberg — chair of the Westport Community Gardens, and director of the Long Lots Preserve — addresses this open letter to the Planning & Zoning Commission:

You’re being asked to approve an 8-24 that removes the Community Gardens from the Hyde Lane property, after approving an 8-24 that kept them on site.

You’re being asked to approve an 8-24 that destroys and removes the very successful Long Lots Preserve.

You’re being asked to approve an 8–24 that supports, nearly corner to corner, the clear-cutting of all the older tree growth that has existed on this property for generations, removing a valuable buffer for homeowners adjacent to the property.

Dozens of trees including black cherry, black walnut, pine, spruce, maple and others make up this green open space.

Some of the dozens of trees in the Long Lots Preserve.

Please do not approve an 8-24 without a provision to provide equitable space for a new community garden, either on the Hyde Lane site (post construction) or at Burr Farms Fields.

The Hyde Lane site can be done simply, easily and expeditiously with a new site plan that rebuilds the garden in its current location after construction. It could be surrounded by an 8-foot fence and a curb cut with a separate entrance to the Gardens that completely separates that space from the school.

Alternatively, that acre of space can be used for new fields and an equitable garden relocated to Burr Farm Fields.

In addition, please do not approve an 8-24 without provisions for protecting the Long Lots Preserve. If you deem it truly necessary to approve a site plan that replaces the Garden with fields, at least limit the size of the fields to the space that the current garden occupies. Do not allow the building committee to mow down the rest of what limited green open space would be left there.

An alternate site plan includes a community garden, maintains the Long Lots Preserve, and keeps ball fields. The garden has its own curb cut and driveway, separated from the school parking lot by an 8- foot fence.

The Long Lots Preserve is a model of suburban open space environmental rehabilitation that was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectwomen.

100% of the Preserve was community funded. It was developed by local businesses, organizations and residents.

Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore said during the Preserve approval process, “I think this is the type of volunteerism which should be encouraged …. Here to help. Your work is really what this town should be all about.”

Representative Town Meeting moderator Jeff Wieser called the Long Lots Preserve plan “an environmental win for the town.”

Westport’s green space is rapidly dwindling, due to rampant development. This side of town in particular has seen a significant decrease in tree cover. There is extremely little green open space left.

Community Gardens and adjacent Long Lots Preserve (marked by Xs), slated for removal under the current 8-24.

The non-school related part of this 8-24 flies in the face of the sustainability portion of the town’s Plan for Conservation Development, Net Zero 2050 and Westport’s 2021 Tree City USA designation.

The Plan of Conservation Development states, “Open space helps protect natural resources; provide flood storage, wildlife habitat, and tree canopy; enhance overall community appearance; and enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors. Westport residents value the preserved open space areas that add to the overall beauty of the community and want to: maintain the open space areas we have, add more open space areas as opportunities arise… Preserving open space will help make Westport a more sustainable community by retaining natural spaces and sustaining environmental health.”

By destroying the Westport Community Gardens, the Long Lots Preserve and the additional forested acreage, we are doing exactly the opposite of what we teach our children in school.

Chicakdee, in the Long Lots Preserve. (Photo/Lou Weinberg)

Current science standards focus on how the environment works, the systems that sustain healthy environments, and the human impacts on our rapidly degrading ecosystems.

The parcel of land that will be destroyed if you approve this 8-24 supports incredible biodiversity from very healthy populations of organisms native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, fireflies, dragonflies to tree frogs, short-tailed weasel, red squirrel, rabbit, harmless garter snakes etc.

This kind of biodiverse green island is nearly gone in Westport. A clean, healthy environment with a hands-on environmental educational benefits is a legacy we can, and should, leave for our children.

This administration and the Long Lots School Building Committee have moved the goal posts consistently for over 2 years. From keeping the gardening community out of the discussion altogether (see former Parks and Recreation cirector Jennifer Fava’s “Oops,  I guess they found out”) to “It’s just lines on a map” to “We’re going to keep you on the property” to “You won’t be able to use the gardens for a year” (then “2 years”) to “We’re going to move you to (the unviable) Baron’s South” to “We’re going to put you on the property, but you won’t have access to the Gardens for 3 years” to “We’re going to restrict your hours” to 2 years of our first selectwoman’s State of the Town addresses claiming she would keep the Gardens on the property, to an 8-24 that puts them in some capacity on the property, to another 8-24 removing the gardens from the property altogetherm to the latest proposal to kick this can down the road and figure it out during yet another study (the Parks Master plan).

Long Lots Elementary School site plan. Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve are circled at left.

I know that the P&Z and the more well-informed residents of our community know that the 120 families that represent the Westport Community Gardens have not delayed progress towards replacing the school by one second.

I hope that those who have paid attention to this effort to build an improved school recognize that the people who support the Garden and Preserve (most of whose children went through our school system and who have paid taxes here for decades) have always promoted building a school, while valuing and protecting what has been created on the 4 acres of open space adjacent to the school.

Destroying the Gardens and using it for staging and then ballfields was not part of the Board of Education specifications in the first place.

The current site plan’s proposed ballfields will cover this lot nearly from corner to corner, and have nothing to do with a new Long Lots Elementary School. This was an add-on by the 1st Selectwoman and building committee.

In addition to the Community Gardens (foreground), trees in the Long Lots Preserve could be removed as part of the school project.

Before Westport Community Gardeners were vilified and demonized as a political tactic to remove the Gardens from the property, schools superintendent Thomas Scarice stated his desire to keep the Gardens/Preserve green open space as a buffer between the school and the adjacent residents.

The destruction of the Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve, and the refusal to replace them, is not and should not be under the Long Lots School Building Committee’s purview.

Please do not allow the Long Lots School Building Committee to be a de facto land use planning entity. Their charge is to manage getting a school built. Their overreach should be checked by this commission.

Please stand up to the bulldozers and approve an 8-24 where everyone wins; the Long Lots kids, teachers, neighbors, our senior residents, community gardeners, and the environment.

Thank you for your consideration, and for the significant amount of time and effort you put into making decisions that you believe will benefit our town.

(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com.)

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