The Board of Selectwomen’s Wednesday agenda (May 8, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium) is packed.
Among the 14 items:
- A report on discussions between the Police Department and Board of Education, recommended by the selectwomen last month to re-examine the policy that “recreational facilities located on Board of Education campuses are not accessible to those who are not students, staff or invited guests between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on school days,” and how it may apply to Wakeman Town Park while maintaining safe and reasonable school security.
- Approving a contract with Lindquist Surveying for services for the Long Lots Elementary School project ($19,500); a contract with Svigals + Partners for architectural, engineering, and furniture, fixtures and equipment for Phase II design and construction of Long Lots ($4.097 million), and a contract with Newfield Construction, for pre-construction services ($145,045).
Wakeman Park — popular with dog walkers, joggers and more during the school day — is adjacent to Bedford Middle School.
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Chuck Greenlee lives off Wilton Road, opposite the Westport Weston Family YMCA and Merritt Parkway Exit 41.
It’s a busy spot — and not just for humans. This past weekend, he and his wife Mimi spotted a black bear, about 2 to 2 1/2 years old.
Despite its youth, it knocked over a bird feeder that had stood for 30 years, then made off with the actual feeder on top.
Several years ago, Chuck began carrying pepper spray — not for bears, but in case he inadvertently coming between a mother coyote and her cubs.
He never had to use it. But now he can add bears to the other wildlife — coyotes and bobcats — in the area.
“Keep your dogs leashed — particularly smaller curious pets!” he warns.
Chuck Greenlee photographed this young black bear and says, “it was non-aggressive — and actually trying to hide.”
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“Pure: The Sexual Revolutions of Marilyn Chambers” — will be published May 15.
Chambers is known to Westporters as Staples High School 1970 graduate Marilyn Briggs.
Publicity for the book says: “Marilyn Chambers was the embodiment of the free-spirited ’70s, the world’s most famous X-rated star, and an unappreciated talent whose work in adult films hindered her dreams of becoming a serious actress.
“Raised in an affluent Connecticut suburb, Marilyn catapulted to fame when it was learned that not only had she starred in the groundbreaking X-rated film, Behind the Green Door but was also the model on the box of Ivory Snow laundry detergent (product tagline: ’99 44/100% Pure.’)
“Marilyn was the first woman known primarily for her work in adult films to cross over to mainstream entertainment. She sustained a versatile 3-decade career in entertainment, including roles in dramatic plays, a Broadway musical revue, her own television show, and the lead role in David Cronenberg’s film ‘Rabid.’
But her success in adult films also proved to be her undoing. Marred by a violent relationship with her abusive husband-manager, Chuck Traynor, she developed the persona of a 24-hour-a-day sex star. In the process, she lost her sense of self and spent much of her life searching for her true identity.
“With recollections from family and friends, many of whom have never spoken publicly, along with Marilyn’s own words, and never-before-published photos, Jared Stearns vividly captures the revolutionary career of one of the twentieth century’s most misunderstood icons.”
Click here to order, and for more information.
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For more than 4 decades, 5-time Emmy Award-winning producer/director/ musical theater and symphony conductor/ writer (and Westport resident) Andrew Wilk has captured the performing arts for television.
He has recorded everything from artists like Kristin Chenoweth, Joshua Bell; and Itzhak Perlman and performances like the Alvin Ailey Dance Company for prime time broadcast.
As executive producer of “Live From Lincoln Center,” Wilk created renowned musical and theatrical productions for PBS.
He produced 3 Westport Country Playhouse productions for PBS too. At the Library, he created the speaker series “Andrew Wilk Presents.”
On May 22 (7 p.m., Westport Library), he’ll chat with Y’s Men of Westport and Weston past president John Brandt about his career, the stars he’s worked with, and take questions from the audience.
The evening is a collaboration with the Y’s Men’s Classical Music Society. Click here for more information.
Andrew Wilk
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“Art in Bloom” — a celebration of the Westport Public Art Collections, with drinks, light bites, art sales, a silent art auction, and a special exhibit of flower-themed works — is set for June 6 (7 to 9 p.m., Westport Woman’s Club).
This is the first fundraiser for Friends of WestPAC is 5 years. They welcome old and new friends, to ensure the continued growth, care, display and educational uses of the collections. Works are exhibited in public building throughout town, including schools, Town Hall, and municipal offices.
Click here for tickets, sponsorship information, and donations.
Westport artist Stevan Dohanos’s Saturday Evening Post cover — part of the Westport Permanent Art Collections — has special significance. The models were all Staples students.
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Mitzvah Day brought a large crowd to Temple Israel yesterday.
Among other activities, families packed toiletry kits, made sandwiches and other comfort items for people in need, including refugees.
The photo below shows the freeze dried veggies, beans, soy and rice station.
Mitzvah Day at Temple Israel. (Hat tip and photo/Frank Rosen)
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It’s that time of year! Check out today’s “Westport … Naturally” image: 2 geese and a gosling, at Sherwood Island State Park.
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
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And finally … on this day in 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Lakota surrendered to US troops in Nebraska. He had fought fiercely and proudly to preserve the traditional way of Lakota life, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn the previous year.
Four months after his surrender, Crazy Horse was killed while resisting imprisonment. In 1982 he was honored by the US Postal Service, with a “Great American series” stamp.
(“06880” is your hyper-local “bear necessity.” Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Most news coverage following her 
“The ‘fast times’ mood still prevailed in the late 1960s,” the story continued, “when many Staples students were openly drinking — some were doing drugs in the bathrooms — and freely acting out their parts in the sexual revolution.”
But as far away as she drifted, she never really left Westport behind. She loved attending Staples reunions, and her former classmates loved seeing her. Sure, it was cool having their pictures taken with her (their wives were not as pleased) — but once the cameras were gone, nothing had changed. She — everyone — was back in high school school again. They remembered old times, good times, times before anyone peeked behind the green door.