Tag Archives: Martin Luther King Day

Roundup: MLK Day Video, HWH Food Drive, WTF Lambs …

Posted on January 31, 2026 | 1 comment

The inspirational Martin Luther King Day conversation between author/writer/ Columbia School of Journalism dean Dr. Jelani Cobb and Westport writer/ professor Trey Ellis is now online.

Click here; then use password Jelani_Cobb_2026. The video is available through February 27.

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We’re just a week from Homes with Hope’s “Soup-er Bowl” food drive.

The event — next Saturday (February 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stop & Shop), is sponsored by the Westport Police Department, and the Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary clubs.

It’s a way to help our town’s homeless shelter and food pantry stock up on most-needed items, before the game.

They include cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, pasta sauce, canned chicken, peanut butter and jelly, rice, laundry detergent and deodorant.

Not headed to Stop & Shop next Saturday? There’s an even easier way to donate needed items: Just click here, and select from the  Amazon wish list.

They’ll be delivered directly to the food pantry.

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Speaking of great causes: Earth Animal is well known for its care for canines.

But it sure does a lot for their 2-legged friends.

The Post Road store’s 18th annual Mitten Project raised a whopping — and record-breaking — $100,834.62 this holiday season.

The funds — coming from customers and other concerned residents — supports Connecticut Foodshare.

That translates to over 200,000 nutritional meals — and other resources — provided to families across the state.

The campaign was powered by Earth Animal retail sales, “Shop & Give” events with local businesses, donations, and customer support.

A matching contribution from Earth Animal Ventures, headquartered in Norwalk, amplified the campaign’s impact.

Thanks to all who participated — and of course to Earth Animal, for making it happen.

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Speaking of animals: Wakeman Town Farm just received 4 newborn lambs, from Bluebird Farm in Willington.

The southdown babydoll sheep — a sweet and loving breed — are 2 weeks old, all female, and related to the sheep that currently reside at WTF.

Farm educators, headed by Judy Panzer, train volunteers to help patiently teach the babies how to drink from bottles.

Wakeman Town Farm also offers “Lamb Cuddles,” a hands-on experience through which residents cuddle, socialize and connect with the animals while learning about their care and personalities. Click here for tickets, and more information.

To help defray the costs of care and feeding, WTF is running a fun “Name the Newest Farm Babies” contest.For $10, you can submit up to 4 name suggestions (one per lamb — remember, all are girls!). 


Winning names will be drawn February 9. Click here to enter.

 

Awww … too cute!

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We’re just a few days away from the Winter Olympics. The eyes of the world will be on Milan.

Of course, there’s a Westport connection.

Longtime resident/veteran sports and news journalist Dave Briggs has teamed up with Saatva — the  luxury mattress company founded by fellow resident Ron Rudzin, and the official provider of mattresses and bedding for the 2026 and ’28 Olympic and Paralympic Games — on a series of “Superpower” podcasts.

Briggs interviewed gold medalists Tara Lipinski (figure skating), Jessie Diggins (the most decorated American cross country skier), Jessica Long (the Michael Phelps of the Paralympics), and gold medalist Brenna Huckaby (Paralympic snowboarder) — all in bed, on Saatva mattresses.

These are in-depth interviews about the athletes’ lives — including personal challenges. Despite the luxurious and sports-related settings, there are no softball questions. Lipinski, for example, talks about pressure and performance, infertility, pregnancy loss and the LA fires.

Click here or below to see Briggs’ interview with Lipinski. Click here for the podcast on iTunes; click here for Spotify.

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Congratulations to the students involved with Soundings and QED.

Staples High School’s 2 literary magazines have been awarded “Superior” rankings, in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest. The honors come from the National Council of Teachers of English.

Publications are evaluated by a panel of judges. Criteria include the quality of writing, variety of genres featured, excellence of art and graphic design, and overall editorial layout.

At Staples, students oversee everything from the initial call for submissions to the final technical production. Editor-in chief Allison Cancro, and associate editors Eva Slossberg and Jack Robinson, worked with faculty advisor Kim Herzog.

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Westport is filled with entrepreneurs.

Plenty of youngsters are excited by the opportunity to run their own business. How can they start?

This Thursday (February 5, 5 p.m., Westport Library), they can head to the Mini Moguls Marketplace.

Staples High School junior Aanya Gandhi organized the event, for students in grades 5-8.

Participants will run their own business by selling a product (handmade items; gently used toys, books and games, etc. — no food please!), and creating posters explaining their product, pricing, and marketing strategy, while learning
valuable financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.

Families are welcome to attend as customers. Click here for more information. Questions? Email aanyagandhi1213@gmail.com.

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Speaking of the Library: VersoFest audiences tap their feet to the music. Sometimes they dance.

On March 28 (10 a.m.), no one will be in their seats.

The Westport Library’s 5th annual music and media conference and festival welcomes master artist Andoche Loubaki. He’ll lead a lively traditional Congolese Dance and Drum workshop, presented by Brooklyn-based Cumbe Dance.

It’s a great family event. After all, who doesn’t want to dance in a library?

Click here for more information on the Congolese workshop. Click here for the VersoFest home page.

Cumbe Dance

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Club203 — Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities — gets a jump on Valentine’s Day.

Their next event (February 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m., VFW Post 399) includes music, dancing, art by MoCA\CT — plus heart-shaped pizza from Planet Pizza, sweet treats, and plenty of Club203 love.

Parents and caregivers can mix and mingle at the VFW cash bar. Click here for the Club203 website.

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For more than half a century, Larry Silver has been taking photos. They hang in some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world.

He’s still shooting. He’s been all over the planet, but Westport remains one of his favorite places.

The other day, Larry was at Old Mill Beach. He sent this image to “06880”:

(Photo/Larry Silver)

The cold continues this weekend. Temperatures will reach only the mid-20s today and tomorrow. Nighttime will see them dip to the low teens. Stay warm!

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Meanwhile, today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a no-brainer.

It’s a scene we’re all (too) familiar with these days:

(Photo/copyright Ted Horowitz)

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And finally … that’s a smooth segue into today’s featured song:

(Looking to warm up — and warm our heart too? Please click here, to make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880.” That’s such a cool thing to do, and we thank you from — well, the bottom of our heart.)

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Roundup: Jelani Cobb & Trey Ellis, Rupert & Lachlan Murdoch, ABC & Big Y …

Posted on January 18, 2026 | 2 comments

“If you’re a homeowner, the first termite you see is not the first termite that showed up.”

With that analogy, Jelani Cobb wove together 2 strands of his talk — America’s history of slavery and civil rights, and today’s threats to our democracy — yesterday.

The 20th annual Westport Weston Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Westport Library drew a full crowd. Cobb — a noted New Yorker writer, scholar, and dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism — was joined in conversation by novelist, playwright, filmmaker (and Westport resident) Trey Ellis.

Jelani Cobb (left) and Trey Ellis.

Asked by Ellis what King would think of the United States today, Cobb said, “It would be very familiar to him.”

Anti-democratic forces, he added, are “congenital problems that don’t go away by ignoring them.”

“My father had a 3rd grade education. I have a Ph.D.,” Cobb said. He vowed never to forget the democratic rights that enabled his achievement — and to “not tolerate intrusions on them.”

Recalling King’s famous quote — “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” — Cobb noted the “fine print”: “We have to get out and bend it.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke briefly. Referring to recent events, he said, “the totalitarian tactics used to silence non-violent protests are not America. It’s the America Martin Luther King protested against.”

The conversation was bookended by Varrick Nelson Jr. The young Stratford singer wowed the audience with stirring gospel-inflected renditions of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “A Change is Gonna Come.”

The audience included over 40 students from the Walter Luckett Foundation. The Bridgeport non-profit provides educational and recreational opportunities for young people. The Westport Library is a longtime partner.

The annual MLK celebration is a collaboration between the Library, TEAM Westport, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Museum for History & Culture, and the Westport/Weston Clergy Association.

Varrick Nelson Jr.

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There was one serious automobile accident yesterday, in the snow that lasted much longer — and was a lot more slippery — than predicted.

Westport firefighters extricated the only occupant in a rollover crash at Bayberry Lane and Easton Road.

(Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)

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Gabriel Sherman has built a career writing about some of the most powerful people in the world.

His first book, “The Loudest Voice in the Room,” told the story of how Roger Ailes built Fox News.

Sherman wrote the screenplay for “The Apprentice,” the biopic about Donald Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn.

His latest project:  “Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family — and the World.”

Sherman was educated through grade 10 in Westport schools. He’s written for New York and Vanity Fair, and been a regular contributor to NBC News and MSNBC.

Sherman will be interviewed by Tina Brown at the 92nd Street Y in New York on February 5 (8 p.m.). Click here for tickets. 

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Looking for a way to help both A Better Chance of Westport, and the environment?

And to do so inexpensively, and easily?

This month, Big Y supermarket is donating $1 to ABC — the non-profit that provides educational opportunities to academically gifted and highly motivated young men of color — for every reusable bag purchased for $2.50.

It’s a no-brainer. Buy more than one. You can never have enough bags!

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There’s nothing like learning from pros.

On Wednesday David Guggenheim — screenwriter, producer and showrunner of Netflix’s “Designated Survivor” (and creator and writer of “Safe House,” “The Union” and “The Christmas Chronicles”) — visited Theater Camp 4 Kids Broadway Academy‘s students and interns.

He provided the young actors and writers with a “behind the camera” look at the reality of the film and TV industry, and inspired them to pursue their dreams.

Guggenheim shared insights about the creative process, including how to turn an idea into a script, and the reality of getting it produced. He also described the complex moving parts of a successful film or TV show, from how to make rainy scenes look real, to shooting on back lots and locations, and which actors he would love to work with in the future.

Youngsters came prepared with plenty of questions, which Guggenheim answered with warmth and charm.

Theater Camp 4 Kids is registering now for the winter/spring semester, and June Summer Day Camp. For information, email curleylaura@hotmail.com.

David Guggenheim (rear, center) with Theater Camp 4 Kids students. (Photo/Emily Jennings)

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Westporters using the Delta Sky Lounge at La Guardia Airport can see a bit of home.

Artist Nina Bentley’s work “He Looked Good on Paper” is on display, in Terminal C.

(Hat tip and photo/Kelle Ruden)

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As snow started to fall yesterday at Sherwood Mill Pond, Pam Docters captured this serene “Westport … Naturally” scene:

(Photo/Pam Docters)

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And finally … English author A.A. Milne was born on this date, in 1882. He died in 1956.

(“06880” is your 24/7/365 hyper-local blog. How do we do it? With support from readers like you. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)

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Roundup: MLK, Lyman, Christmas Trees …

Posted on January 12, 2026 | 11 comments

A reminder: The upcoming Martin Luther King holiday includes 2 important local events.

The speaker for the 20th annual celebration is Jelani Cobb. The renowned journalist, scholar, and dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism will be in conversation this on Saturday (January 17, 1 p.m., Westport Library) with novelist, playwright, filmmaker — and Westport resident — Trey Ellis.

Cobb is a Peabody Award winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist, MSNow political analyst, and New Yorker staff writer. He has written books on Barack Obama and the hip hop aesthetic, in addition to editing other volumes and producing numerous documentaries.

The annual MLK celebration is a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Museum for History & Culture, and the Westport/Weston Clergy Association. The event is free; click here to register.

Jelani Cobb

On Monday (January 19), the Westport Country Playhouse hosts a free screening of the Emmy-winning 2019 documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality.”

The film focuses on Stevenson’s life and career — particularly his indictment of the US criminal justice system for its role in codifying modern systemic racism — and tracks the intertwined histories of slavery, lynching, segregation and mass incarceration.

The film also documents the monumental opening of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice, dedicated to the more than 4,400 lynching victims.

The screening is followed by a discussion with Ellis — one of the film’s executive producers — and TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey Jr., along with questions from the audience. Click here for more information.

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The New York Times ran a photo of Lyman, Ukraine yesterday.

There were 2 connections to Westport — and an ominous caption.

The image — illustrating a story about Russian President Putin’s silence in the wake of President Trump’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro — showed a Ukrainian artillery brigade near Lyman. The town, in the Donetsk region has been a sister city of Westport since shortly after the Russian invasion.

The caption in the online version said simply, “A Ukrainian soldier from the 63rd Mechanized Brigade firing toward a Russian target in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday.”

The print version was much more ominous. It added: “Capturing Lyman is currently a top Russian priority.”

The other connection: The shot was taken by Tyler Hicks. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times photographer is a 1988 Staples High School graduate.

(Photo/Tyler Hicks for the New York Times)

Hicks had another Ukraine photo yesterday too — on page 1.

There is actually a third Westport connection. Ukraine Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground non-profit, founded by Westporters Marshall and Brian Mayer — continues to collect funds for our sister city.

To donate monthly or one time, just click here. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) (Hat tip: Bob Mitchell)

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Christmas — even all 12 days of it — are in the rearview mirror.

Also in the rearview mirror (if you’re parking a certain way at the Imperial Avenue lot): dozens of Christmas trees.

Hundreds are stacked neatly in the back.

Toni Simonetti — who sends this photo, with Max waiting patiently in front — wonders if this is where they’re stored, after being picked up by local Scouts.

However they got there, she says: “They smell glorious!”

(Photo/Toni Simonetti)

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Looking for an advanced astro-photography workflow tutorial?

The Westport Astronomical Society’s free lecture series has exactly that.

On February 10 (7 p.m.), veteran WAS astro-photographer Michael Southam offers tips on taking images from the planning stage, through data acquisition, subframe selection, stacking and processing. Attendees should bring a laptop. Click here to register. Click here to become a WAS member. 

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Our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature looks for beauty, wherever our readers find it in town.

Ellen Wentworth spotted this arrangement the other day, at a Senior Center luncheon.

(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)

It’s a little touch, sure. But it sure goes a long way to brighten up this winter.

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And finally … Bob Weir — a founding member who helped catapult the laid-back Grateful Dead into the music stratosphere — died last week. He was 78.

Click here for a full obituary.

BONUS FEATURE: Back in the day, in his Westport studio, filmmaker/animator Jeff Scher made this video for the “Ace of Cups.” The all-female 1960s San Francisco band got reunited after 50 years. Bob Weir was one of several musicians who joined in.

The video is mostly abstract, but includes a portrait of Weir near the beginning.

(Another week, another Monday with a Roundup that roams from our sister city to outer space. And another reminder: “06880” relies on support from readers like you. Please click here to help. Thanks!)

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Posted in Library, Media, Politics, Westport Country Playhouse

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Roundup: Jamie Mann, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Shonda’s Video …

Posted on January 24, 2025 | 2 comments

Westport will soon have a new Broadway star.

Staples High School Class of 2021 graduate Jamie Mann makes his Great White Way debut this spring in the new show “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.”

The prequel to the popular Netflix show is set 24 years before the TV show’s first season. Jamie plays the teenage version of Ted Wheeler, Mike Wheeler’s jock dad, and understudies James Hopper, Jr.

Alison Jay plays Joyce Maldonado (the Winona Ryder character). She and Jamie became friends in 2022, while working on the workshop for the play at Netflix in Los Angeles.

Jamie had been on the Netflix set before. He starred as Brody in “Country Comfort,”during part of his junior and senior year at Staples High School.

Westporters know Jamie from his roles with Staples Players, and as a longtime student of Cynthia Gibb’s Triple Threat Academy. (Jamie now teaches  dance classes and offers private dance and acting coaching).

During Bedford Middle School, Jamie played Billy Elliot in theaters throughout the East Coast. He will graduate remotely, with a BFA from the University of Michigan’s musical theater program this spring.

“Stranger Things” opens on April 22. Previews begin March 28. For tickets and more information, click here.

Jamie Mann (Photo/Michael Kushner)

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Speaking of theater: “Broadway’s Bad Boys” opened at the Westport Country Playhouse last night. The 4-night run ends Sunday.

Performed by 3 Broadway actors — Sam Gravitte (“Wicked”), Kevin Massey (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) and Julius Thomas III (“Hamilton”) — who played villains in musicals, the production includes “Phantom of the Opera,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and Professor Harold Hill of “Music Man.”

Curtain call at the Westport Country Playhouse last night. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)

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Speaking still of entertainment: It’s only January, but the Levitt Pavilion has announced its first acts of the season.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and The Infamous Stringdusters — those are bands — will be joined by New York’s Melt, on June 1.

The funk/bluegrass/indie soul tour will play just 5 venues across the Northeast. Ours is one of them.

It won’t be the Levitt’s opener, though. The 2025 season runs from may through October, with a combination of paid-ticket shows and 50 free dates. More shows will be announced soon.

Tickets go on sale today (Friday), at 10 a.m. Click here to purchase, and for informatio on the “enchanced concert experience” package.

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A capacity crowd filled the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum last on Sunday, for our town’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Day celebration.

The event included a wide-ranging discussion with noted producer Shonda Rhimes, and novelist/playwright/professor Trey Ellis. Both are Westport residents.

If you missed it — or if you were there, and want to see it again (along with a pair of great performances by gospel singer Christian Servance) — click below:

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Earlier this week, “06880” reported on Lynda Bluestein’s 2 wind phones, at the Westport Library.

We followed up by noting that a third wind phone — a disconnected rotary telephone, through which users can stay connected with loved ones who have died — was just installed at Greenfield Congregational Church.

Now there’s more news about Lynda, a longtime Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport member and staunch advocate for medical aid in dying legislation.

This is a story about choice, not death.

Lynda Bluestein would not take ‘no’ for an answer. Because Medical Aid in Dying is not legal in Connecticut, Lynda is forced to find another way to die peacefully.

This is an intimate and gripping look into what it takes to legally die on one’s own terms in the United States. Other Side delves into the systemic, familial and emotional complexities of navigating an untrodden medical landscape while terminally ill.

A 90-minute documentary about her life and death — “Other Side” — has just been accepted by South by Southwest.

Its world premiere is scheduled for the prestigious film festival in March.

Lynda Bluestein, in a scene from “Other Side.”

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Yesterday, Westport Police received a report from a friend that William Hill has not been seen since Monday.

He is homeless, avoiding shelters, but visits friends at Sasco Creek Village daily. Given the extreme cold this past week, friends and the Police are extremely concerned for his welfare.

Hill is 62, between 5-7 and 5-11 tall, medium build, with salt and pepper hair, and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and pushing a gray Trek bicycle with a rack, carrying bags and a knapsack on his back.

Anyone with information that can help locate William Hill should call the Police Department: 203-341-6000.

William Hill, in a younger photograph.

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Congratulations to Jo Ann Miller!

Her third novella in the “Abbey Lane” fiction series, “Deadly Donations,” has just been published.

Here, the former investigative reporter turned private detective encounters the effect of huge donations by foreign countries to American universities.

The Network Contagion Research Institute reports that over $47 billion has been donated, much of it not reported, and coming from authoritarian Middle East countries.

Meanwhile, hate crimes and antisemitic acts increased over 200% on campuses.  When Abbey’s activist client is murdered, she delves into those corrupt donations. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

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The Westport Library is cozy and welcoming. One of the many wart employees is Heli Stagg.

This week, she ventured out from the Library café — which she runs — to photograph the nearby Saugatuck River.

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a great reason to appreciate our local beauty.

And then get something nice and warm, served by Heli at the café.

(Photo/Heli Stagg)

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And finally … Never heard of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong — the band that will headline the June 1 Levitt Pavilion concert (story above)?

Click below!

(Every day, the Roundup highlights future events, recaps past ones, and covers everything else in between. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, please click here to support our work. Thannk you!) 

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Posted in Entertainment, Library, Police, religion, Staples HS, Westport Country Playhouse

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MLK

Posted on January 20, 2025 | 6 comments

This story has become a Martin Luther King Day tradition on “06880.” At this point in our nation’s history, today — more than ever — we should think about the history of our nation before Dr. King was born.

And where we are, nearly 6 decades after his death.

Today is Martin Luther King Day. Westporters will celebrate with a day off from school or work. Some will sleep in; others will shop, or go for a walk. Few will give any thought to Martin Luther King.

Twice, though, his life intersected this town in important ways.

The first was Friday night, May 22, 1964. According to Woody Klein’s book Westport, Connecticut, King had been invited to speak at Temple Israel by synagogue member Jerry Kaiser.

King arrived in the afternoon. Kaiser and his wife Roslyn sat on their porch that afternoon, and talked with King and 2 of his aides. She was impressed with his “sincerity, warmth, intelligence and genuine concern for those about him — our children, for instance. He seemed very young to bear such a burden of leadership.”

Martin Luther King, with Sarah and Tema Kaiser at their home on Brooklawn Drive, before his Temple Israel appearance. Their brother Michael had a cold, and was not allowed near Dr. King.

King’s sermon — to a packed audience — was titled “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” He analogized his America to the time of Rip Van Winkle — who also “slept through a revolution. The greatest liability of history is that people fail to see a revolution taking place in our world today.  We must support the social movement of the Negro.”

Westport artist Roe Halper presented King with 3 woodcarvings, representing the civil rights struggle. He hung them proudly in the front hallway of his Atlanta home.

Artist Roe Halper (left) presents Coretta Scott King with civil rights-themed wood carvings.

Within a month Temple Israel’s rabbi, Byron Rubenstein, traveled south to take place in a nonviolent march. He was arrested — along with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

In jail, the rabbi said, “I came to know the greatness of Dr. King. I never heard a word of hate or bitterness from that man, only worship of faith, joy and determination.”

King touched Westport again less than 4 years later. On April 5, 1968 — the day after the civil rights leader’s assassination in Memphis — 600 Staples students gathered for a lunchtime vigil in the courtyard. Nearby, the flag flew at half-staff.

A small portion of the large crowd listens intently to Fermino Spencer, in the Staples courtyard.

A small portion of the large crowd listens to Fermino Spencer.

Vice principal Fermino Spencer addressed the crowd. Movingly, he spoke about  his own experience as an African American. Hearing the words “my people” made a deep impression on the almost all-white audience. For many, it was the 1st time they had heard a black perspective on white America.

No one knew what lay ahead for their country. But student Jim Sadler spoke for many when he said: “I’m really frightened. Something is going to happen.”

Dr. Martin Luther King

Something did — and it was good. A few hundred students soon met in the cafeteria. Urged by a minister and several anti-poverty workers to help bridge the chasm between Westport and nearby cities, Staples teachers and students vowed to create a camp.

Within 2 months, it was a reality. That summer 120 elementary and junior high youngsters from Westport, Weston, Norwalk and Bridgeport participated in the Intercommunity Camp. Led by over 100 Staples students and many teachers, they enjoyed swimming, gymnastics, dance, sports, field trips, overnight camping, creative writing, filmmaking, photography, art and reading.

It wasn’t easy — some in Westport opposed bringing underprivileged children to their town — but for over a decade the Intercommunity Camp flourished.

Eventually, enthusiasm for and interest in the camp waned. Fewer Staples students and staff members wanted to devote their summer to such a project.  The number of Westporters willing to donate their pools dwindled. Today the Intercommunity Camp is a long-forgotten memory.

Sort of like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Even on his birthday.

MLK speech

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Martin Luther King Day bonus feature: In the late 1950s, Westporter Tracy Sugarman took his son Dickie, and Dickie’s friend Miggs Burroughs, to a picnic in Stamford.

Rev. Martin Luther King was there, at the invitation of the host: Jackie Robinson.

Sugarman — a noted illustrator – was also a civil rights activist.

Miggs — a junior high student — took the Minox “spy” camera he’d bought earlier that summer.

He still has those photos. Here are the 2 pioneering Black Americans: Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson.

(Photos/Miggs Burroughs)

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Shonda Rhimes Offers Inspiring MLK Day Message

Posted on January 20, 2025 | 4 comments

Shonda Rhimes was raised to see obstacles not as roadblocks, but as hills to climb.

That was Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s mentality too.

It was fitting that Rhimes — CEO of Shondaland; creator, head writer and executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” and “Scandal”; the producer of “Bridgerton” (and a Westport resident) — delivered that message, powerfully and eloquently, at yesterday’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Library.

Despite inclement weather, the Trefz Forum was completely filled. Hundreds of others watched via livestream.

She described her route to superstardom — and explained the responsibility she feels for telling true stories, while being true to herself — in a conversation with Trey Ellis.

He’s an award-winning novelist, playwright and filmmaker; a professor at Columbia University — and also a Westporter.

When she began her career, Rhimes said, she was driven to succeed. “If I was getting coffee for someone, I tried to make it the best coffee they ever had. I wanted them to remember me.” She did not want to “take over the world” —  but she wanted to be noticed.

She paused, then added, “Nobody thinks it’s remarkable when a white man says he’s going to take over the world.”

Tying together the economic impact of her work, the importance of showing diverse (and three-dimensional) characters, and staying true to her own principles, Rhimes said, “I only make shows that I want to watch.”

Doing that, however, has attracted viewers around the globe — and influenced how they see Black, LGBTQ and other minority people.

She wants her shows to be both mirrors (“for viewers to see themselves”), and windows (“to look out on a world they may not know”).

Shonda Rhimes

Noting the significance of today — it’s both Martin Luther King Day, and Inauguration Day — Rhimes said, “The struggle is not over. It’s beautiful to see how far we’ve come. But we take 2 steps forward, and 1 back. We will get through this all, if we stay vigilant.”

Looking ahead, she feels “even more of a responsibility to tell the stories I want to tell. It feels like we may be in for more suppression. Well, I’m not interested in being suppressed — or suppressing anyone else.”

A group of Bridgeport students — guests of the Walter Luckett Foundation — asked intriguing questions.

One youngsters wondered why Rhimes left California for Connecticut.

During the pandemic, Rhimes replied, she realized Los Angeles was not a great place to raise her daughters.

She wanted to move to a town that was focused on families. She found Westport almost by accident. But, she said, “this is a place where I’ll stay.”

Trey Ellis asked his own questions, and those submitted by Bridgeport youngsters.

Rsponding to another question, Rhimes said, “I tell my kids, ‘Who you are is up to you.'”

When a fan says “I want to be just like you,” she replies, “No. Be just like you.”

Rhimes concluded her Martin Luther King Day conversation with a reference to last year’s event, which featured King’s advisor and speechwriter, Clarence Jones.

“He wrote half of the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” Rhimes noted. “That’s a lot to live up to.

“But one thing I learned last year is that there is always a moment when you can make the world a better place, make someone feel included, or reach out.

“You can reach out in a million ways. And always ask yourself,’ “What did I do to make the world a better place?’

“If you don’t do that — what are you doing here?”

(Westport’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Day celebration was co-sponsored by the Westport Library, TEAM Westport, the Westport/Weston Clergy Association, the Westport Country Playhouse, and the Walter Luckett Foundation.

(The Martin Luther King Day celebration continues tonight [Monday, January 20, 7 p.m.], with a free screening of “King in the Wilderness at the Westport Country Playhouse. Trey Ellis is a co-producer.

(The Emmy Award-winning 2018 film follows Dr. King from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in April 1968. It includes never–seen interviews with people closest to King, interspersed with historical archives.

(Interviewees include Andrew Young, Harry Belafonte, John Lewis, Joan Baez, Jesse Jackson and C. T. Vivian. Click here for more information.)

TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey welcomed guests to the MLK Day celebration.

Making his second Westport Library appearance in a week, Senator Richard Blumenthal called Westport “a beacon of activism and hope.” He thanked attendees for “being foot soldiers for justice.”

Stamford singer Christian Servance opened and closed the event, with a rousing pair of gospel-inflected songs.

Christian Servance, singing to the full Trefz Forum. (This and all photos above/Dan Woog)

From left: 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Westport 10 founder Jay Norris, Shonda Rhimes, Trey Ellis.

(If it happens in Westport, you’ll read about it on “06880.” Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Old Mill Seawall, Groove Truck, Teen Project …

Posted on January 17, 2025 | 1 comment

The tidal gates and pedestrian bridges leading to Compo Cove have gotten plenty of recent attention.

But residents attending a meeting of the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee last week raised another issue: the condition of the seawall along Old Mill Beach.

The area — about 35 feet south of the parking lot — shows deterioration and damage, the committee was told.

After discussion, the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee recommended that the Public Works and Parks & Recretion Departments inspect the area, and develop a plan to address the damage.

Members said that a failure of the wall would cause erosion of the beach, and lead to more sand near the Mill Pond’s western tidal gate — leading in turn to an impact on the entire pond.

Old Mill Beach seawall.

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Yesterday’s Roundup reported on the efforts by Corri Neckritz — owner of the Groove clothing shop on Post Road West — to collect and ship clothing, shoes and more to victims of the Los Angeles fires.

Right on time yesterday morning, a 26-foot truck — donated to the cause — appeared at her home.

Dozens of bags were loaded. The truck was soon on its way west.

Today, another truck — this one twice as large — will come, and haul even more bags away.

A huge Westport thank you to Corri, and everyone else who made everything possible.

Ready to roll! Corri Neckritz is on the right; her husband Seth is at far left.

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This weekend, Westporters will reflect on Martin Luther King’s life. They’ll remember his commitment to action.

On Sunday evening, teenagers have a chance to make a small difference in other people’s lives.

The Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy Association invites all high school students to a packing party for Dignity Grows.

The goal is to pack 200 tote bags with menstrual hygiene products, for distribution to local food pantries, shelters and organizations.

Interested volunteers should meet on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston (49 Weston Road). Pizza and snacks are provided!

RSVP to your faith community’s youth leader, or to Heather Sinclair: hsinclair@westportumc.org.

All teens are invited to help pack tote bags.

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The Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand season contnues next month with “BackTalk.”

The romantic comedy “dives into the hilariously complicated world of first impressions, second chances, and the voices in our heads that just won’t let us be.”

All tickets are $30. Click here for more information about the February 3 event.

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Westporter Margie Gillis is a nationally recognized literacy expert.

On February 8, she’ll speak locally. She will deliver the keynote address at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities’ parent conference. She is a co-founder and former president of the non-profit organization.

The event, at Sacred Heart University, also includes interactive breakout sessions with strategies for parents, resources from sponsors and exhibitors, an “Ask the Experts” panel, and more.

Several sessions are aimed at parents of newly diagnosed children.

Click here for more information.

Dr. Margie Gillis

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Congratulations to Justin Moser, on 20 years of service to Westport!

The firefighter was honored this week by Westport Fire Departmentn Chief Nick Marsan, and Deputy Chief Matt Cohen, with a certificate and service pin.

Firefighter Justin Moser (center), flanked by (from left) Deputy Chief Matt Cohen and Chief Nick Marsan.

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Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club speaker addressed a difficult, but very important, topic.

In 2020, Stephen Panus‘ son Jake died in a terrible accident. Panus turned his “pain into purpose.” His book “Walk On” describes his family’s choice of hopefulness. All proceeds benefit scholarships in Jake’s name, at the University of South Carolina and the for the Lakota Native American community.

Stephen Panus, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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Okay, so this doesn’t exactly qualify as “natural,” for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

But just imagine if these creatures — in a car parked on Riverside Avenue, just a few yards from the Saugatuck River — were.

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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And finally … the story about the Old Mill Beach seawall — and what can happen if it is damaged further (above) — got us thinking.

(From the beach to Broadway, “06880” is your source for hyper-local news. Please click here to support our 24/7/365 work. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Dance, Dogs, Documentary …

Posted on January 4, 2025 | 1 comment

Club203 wasted no time kicking off 2025.

Our town’s social organization for adults with disabilities gathered at the Westport Academy of Dance last night, for “moving, grooving, board-breaking, ballet-shaking, foot-stomping frolic.”

Club203 organizers thank Craig, Nancy, Megan, Mr.Dave & Pam from the studio; Sensei Palardy’s martial arts, MOCA CT’s art station, and a team of great volunteers, including  members of the Westport Rotary Club.

Meanwhile, every attendee brought enthusiasm, exuberance and joy. Click here for more information on Club203.

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Registration is filled for next week’s Westport Library panel examining the news media and the 2024 election.

But the Library may have space for the January 12 event, if there are no-shows. People arriving at 1:30 p.m. will be seated, if possible.

The panel includes CNN host John Berman, national journalists Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs, “06880” executive editor Dan Woog, and US Senator Richard Blumenthal. Students and staff from Staples High School’s Inklings will also take part.

The Y’s Men of Westport & Weston are co-sponsoring the event. Past president John Brandt will moderate.

Clockwise from top left: Alisyn Camerota, John Berman, Dave Briggs, Senator Richard Blumenthal.

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Speaking of the Westport Library: It opens at 10 a.m. tomorrow and the following Sunday (January 5 and 12) — but only for high school students preparing for mid-term exams, papers, study sessions and project planning.

The Library offers a welcoming space for teens during this high-stress season.

Doors will close at 12:30 p.m., so the staff can prepare for their regularly scheduled opening. Students in the building can stay until doors open to the general public at 1.

In addition to the early Sunday hours, the Library will offer students a chance to de-stress with therapy dogs on Tuesday (January 7).

Therapy dogs reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and bring comfort and joy to all — especially students during midterms!

Come to study — and de-stress.

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Westport Country Playhouse will honor Martin Luther King on his holiday next week, with a free screening of “King in the Wilderness (January 20, 7 p.m.).

The Emmy Award-winning 2018 film follows Dr. King from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in April 1968. The film includes some never–seen interviews with people closest to King, interspersed with historical archives.

Interviewees include Andrew Young, Harry Belafonte, John Lewis, Joan Baez, Jesse Jackson and C. T. Vivian.

One of the film’s producers is Trey Ellis. The playwright — a Westport resident — directed the Playhouse’s 2024 Script in Hand reading of “Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing.”

The event is part of the 19th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, in partnership with the Westport Library, TEAM Westport and Westport/ Weston Clergy Association. Click here for more information.

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Jodi Rabinowitz is the Westport Book Shop January exhibitor. She shows some recent collage creations.

A reception is set for Wednesday (January 8, 6 p.m.), at the Jesup Road store.

Jodi Rabinowitz, with her work at the Westport Book Shop.

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Eve Potts captured today’s dramatic “Westport … Naturally” feature, yesterday afternoon:

(Photo/Eve Potts)

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And finally … in honor of last night’s Club203 kickoff to 2025 (story above):

(If “06880” helps you plan your week, or weekend — or helps in any other way — please consider a tax-deductible donation. Just click here. Thank you!) 

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Shonda Rhimes, Trey Ellis Headline MLK Day Celebration

Posted on December 16, 2024 | Comments Off on Shonda Rhimes, Trey Ellis Headline MLK Day Celebration

Westport takes Martin Luther King Day seriously.

Past speakers have included National Book Award winner and MacArthur Fellow Ibram X. Kendi, Pulitzer Prize winner James Forman Jr., and authors Heather McGhee and Layla Saad

Last year’s guest –former MLK speechwriter and advisor Dr. Clarence B. Jones —  helped write the iconic“I Have a Dream” speech.

This year’s event will carry on that important tradition.

Shonda Rhimes headlines the 19th annual celebration, on Sunday, January 19 (3 p.m., Westport Library).

The award-winning producer will be interviewed by novelist, playwright and filmmaker Trey Ellis.

Making the day extra special is that both Rhimes and Ellis are Westport residents.

Registration for their conversation opens this Friday (December 20, 10 a.m.), on on the library website.

The event also will be livestreamed. There is no fee for either the in-person or livestream option.

Shonda Rhimes is the CEO of Shondaland, the pioneering storytelling company; creator, head writer and executive producer of the hit shows “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Scandal” and “Inventing Anna,” and the producer of “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Bridgerton” and more.

Shonda Rhimes

The MLK celebration is a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, the Westport Country Playhouse, and the Westport/Weston Clergy Association.

“We are honored to welcome Shonda Rhimes as this year’s guest of honor for our Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” says Bill Harmer, the Library’s executive director.

“Her groundbreaking storytelling, advocacy for inclusivity, and creative vision embody the values Dr. King stood for and continue to inspire our community today.”

“Shonda Rhimes recently said, ‘You have to see it to be it,’” adds TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey.

“More than any other storyteller on the planet, she has helped people see and aspire to embrace a world beyond the perennial shackles of bias, custom, and class — a world that is the sweet spot of Martin Luther King’s vision.”

Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of TCS, The Community Synagogue, and chair of the Westport/Weston Clergy Association says, “As religious leaders living in challenging times for our community, we often turn to the wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr. He said, ‘The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges.’

“We are proud to be a part of keeping MLK’s legacy alive, and blessed that Shonda Rhimes will be helping us do just that this year.”

Rhimes was the Library’s honoree at its 2022 Booked for the Evening celebration, and she returned to the Library’s Trefz Forum earlier this year to screen her documentary, “Black Barbie.”

Rhimes’  received numerous honors include a Golden Globe, Peabody Award, and lifetime achievement awards from the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild, and Producers Guild, plus several NAACP Image Awards.

In 2017 she was inducted into the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. That same year, she left traditional TV for Netflix, where Shondaland now produces exclusive content.

Ellis is an American Book Award-winning novelist, 2-time Emmy- and Peabody-winning filmmaker, NAACP Image Award-winning playwright and essayist, and professor of professional practice at Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

He also served as executive producer of “King in the Wilderness,” the 2018 Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary  on the last 3 days of Dr. King’s life.

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Unsung Heroes #319

Posted on January 17, 2024 | 2 comments

For 18 years, Westport has celebrated Martin Luther King Day in a special way.

Through speakers, panels, videos and arts performances, we’ve learned a lot.

But Sunday’s event was extra-special.

Dr. Clarence Jones — Dr. King’s speechwriter, personal attorney and confidant — offered a behind-the-scenes view of his friend’s public and personal lives.

Hundreds of people of all ages — from Westport and beyond — packed the Westport Library.

They were enlightened, inspired, mesmerized and energized by the 93-year-old Dr. Jones’ passion, stories and insights. He made the past come alive; he tied it to today, and pointed toward tomorrow.

Attendees called it “profoundly moving,” “wonderfully emotional,” and “a day I’m proud to say I’m a Westporter.”

Dr. Clarence Jones greets attendees after his talk. (Photo/Matthew Slossberg)

For nearly 2 decades, several organizations have worked together to make Martin Luther King Day meaningful.

In much of the nation, it’s a day off from work or school. In Westport, it’s an educational tool — and a reminder that while our history is imperfect, and much work remains to be done, every individual has the power to take a stand, and make a change.

Dr. Jones was joined by 2 other noted speakers: Senator Richard Blumenthal, and New York Congressman Ritchie Torres. Westport resident and NBC News anchor Craig Melvin led the discussion.

From left: Congressman Ritchie Torres, Craig Melvin, Dr. Clarence Jones. (Photo/Caitlin Jacob)

But the afternoon belonged to Dr. Jones. And none of it would have happened without a true “team.”

Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy and Council initiated our town’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration.

This year’s event was a partnership between the Westport Library, TEAM Westport, and the Westport Country Playhouse.

To all who envisioned a townwide Dr. King celebration nearly 2 decades ago, and to all who made this year’s event particularly impactful: Thank you.

You are truly our Unsung Heroes of the Week.

(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To help support this hyper-local blog, click here. Thank you! To see Dr. Jones’ full presentation, click below.)

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