Justin Paul got his EGOT!
The 2003 Staples High School graduate, and his writing partner Benj Pasek, joined the ultra-exclusive group yesterday.
Their Creative Arts Emmy for “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?,” from “Only Murders in the Building,” completes the prestigious 4-play.
They previously earned a Grammy for the cast album of “Dear Evan Hansen,” an Oscar for the “La La Land” song “City of Stars,” and 2 Tonys (for the score of “Dear Evan Hansen,” and as producers of “A Strange Loop”).
Only 19 other people have won EGOTs (for an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). The list includes Richard Rogers, Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, John Gielgud, Audrey Hepburn, Marvin Hamlisch, Mel Brooks, Mike Nichols, Whoopi Goldberg, and Sir Elton John.
So with his EGOT, we now have even more proof: Justin Paul is the GOAT! (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, with their earlier Grammy Awards.
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Yesterday’s CT United Motorcycle Ride honored the victims and first responders of 9/11 in its traditional way.
The largest motorcycle ride in the state began at Sherwood Island State Park. Hundreds of riders headed south on I-95, then north on Route 33 up Riverside Avenue and Wilton Road. The ride continued through Wilton and 7 towns, before ending at Bridgeport’s Seaside Park.
It was quite a sight to see — and hear.
Bob Levy reports: “Police, firefighters and ordinary people were there to honor that day.
“My family was there. Each of us were glad and touched we were. My little granddaughters asked if they will have this every year.”
They sure will. And it’s an honor for our town to be the starting point.
Start of the CT United ride, at Sherwood Island State Park. (Photo/Bob Levy)
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The Paralympics ended with a bang for Matthew Torres.
The Westport Weston Family YMCA Water Rat swimmer won a bronze medal, as part of the US 4×100 mixed freestyle team.
It was Matthew’s 2nd Paralympics bronze. He earned his first 4 years ago, in Tokyo.
Matthew also raced this year in the 400 meter freestyle, where he finished 5th; the 100 meter backstroke (10th), and 100 meter freestyle (15th).
Matthew Torres in the water …
The Ansonia native was born with amniotic band syndrome. He is missing half his right leg, has deformities on both hands and moderate hearing loss.
He began swimming in 2008, after watching Michael Phelps at the Beijing Olympics. The rest is history.
Congratulations to Matthew; his teammates, friends and family, and his coaches at the Y and the national level. You made Westport proud! (Hat tips; Maggie Gomez, Christina Schwerin)
… and on the podium.
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Speaking of sports: Parker Kligerman tied his best career Xfinity Series finish in Atlanta Saturday.
The 2009 Staples High School graduate — perhaps the only former Wrecker to become a NASCAR driver — came in second, just behind winner Austin Hill.
Kligerman predicts a win is coming, for the Big Machine No. 48 crew. (Hat tip: Frank Rosen)
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The Remarkable Bookcycle is down to just a few books.
The whole idea of the mobile free library is to borrow a book — and donate one.
Seems like too many people have been doing the former, too few the latter.
So stick a few of your favorites in the car. The next time you’re near the Compo Beach volleyball court, pop out. Pop open the Bookcycle door.
It’s your good deed of the day, for your book-reading neighbors.
The Remarkable Bookcycle, earlier this summer. The number of volumes has dwindled since this was taken. (Photo/Sunil Hirani)
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The other day, “06880” gave a shout-out to Ruben, at the Westport Post Office.
Less than a week later, here’s another. Denise Torve writes: “Last week I stopped in to the PO, took care of business, then headed to Trader Joe’s — only to discover my wallet was missing.
“I went straight back to the PO, fingers crossed, to see Ruben waving the wallet when he saw me come in. He was a lifesaver, given what was in it.
“He had also already posted on Facebook that I had left something there. So thank you Ruben — and thank you Dan for your positive, good news posts!”
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The Westport Writers’ Workshop is 20 years old.
They celebrated Friday, with a Saugatuck Rowing Club bash. The event included dinner, dancing, a silent auction, tributes to founder Jessica Bram and former executive director Valerie Ann Leff, and a special storytelling session.
Funds raised will help underwrite WWW’s outreach programs serving underrepresented populations, like the Bigelow Senior Center, Moms of Children with Disabilities, and STAR.
Westport Writers’ Workshop founder Jessica Bram, and executive director Blake Schnirring.
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Yesterday’s New York Times‘ “Found in the Files” feature — a weekly look at something from the newspaper’s clippings library — focused on Alan Abel.
The longtime Westporter was known for his hoaxes — including convincing the Times to print his obituary, even though he was very much alive.
The “Files” story focused on Abel’s first big effort, in 1959, about a non-existent non-profit called the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals. Its mission was to clothe dogs, cats, horses, cows and others, to protect children from lewdness.
Click here for the full Times story. (Hat tip: Les Dinkin)
Alan Abel, with a (supposed) copy of the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals newsletter.
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Westport native and longtime resident Janet Aley died peacefully at home on July 21. She was 98.
Her family calls her “a kind, warm, intelligent, creative person, with a twinkle in her eye and a whimsical sense of humor. She loved life: family, friends, children, pets, nature, art, music, and travels with her family. She found wonder and joy in wordplay, poetry, song, and the view out her back window.”
Janet attended Westport schools, then graduated in 1944 from the Thomas School in Rowayton.
As a student at Bedford Elementary, she was one of several children chosen by WPA artist Robert Lambdin to pose for the 3-part mural, “The Spirit of Adventure” that still hangs outside the auditorium of what is now Town Hall. Janet holds a tennis racquet on the right.
After Black Mountain College in North Carolina, she became the society editor of the Westport Town Crier.
She left in 1948 to join an American Youth Hostel group in the Netherlands, repairing roads bombed in World War II.
Following her marriage in 1948 to Robert Jonathan Aley, Janet worked for 7 years in the promotion merchandising department at Look Magazine. She refused the job of department head in favor of motherhood. The family moved to Westport in 1960.
Janet volunteered for or served on the boards of many organizations, including PTAs, Intercommunity Camp, the Interfaith Housing Program, the Arts Council, and the Westport-Weston Counseling Service, primarily in producing publicity and newsletters. For many years, she also volunteered with the oral history program of the Westport Historical Society.
After her husband died suddenly in 1974, Janet returned to work — first in the selectman’s office, then in the Planning & Zoning Department. From 1983 to ’88 she was an assistant town clerk and secretary for the Planning & Zoning Commission in Weston.
She retired in 1988 and joined the Democratic Women of Westport, where she was co-president. She received the organization’s Silver Donkey Award, and regularly rode with DWW in the Memorial Day Parade.
Janet is survived by her children Jennifer Aley (Steve Gold), Judith Aley, Judson (Maria Cheung) and Jonathan (Ellen Louer); grandchildren Nathanael Jonathan Ranson, Ruby Alice Ranson and Dylan Tam (Alex McClaren).
In addition to her husband, she was pre-deceased by her daughter Judy’s husband Paul Ranson, and her brother Charles Harvey Ramsey.
Services will be held September 21 (Saugatuck Congregational Church, 1:30 p.m). Donations in Janet’s name can be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Homes with Hope or PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society).
Janet Aley
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Looking for dinner? Boasting about his size? Just having fun?
Whatever this guy is doing at Burying Hill Beach, he’s a great subject for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Peter Swift)
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And finally … Otis Redding was born on this day, in 1941. He died in a plane crash just 26 years later.
The Macon, Georgia native quit school at 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard’s band. Over the next decade he became an international star.
But his biggest fame came after his death.
(“Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” became the first posthumous #1 record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. He then received many other honors, including 2 Grammys, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame,[5] and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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