So when he married Jessica Trainham in Darien a few weeks ago, the music was not your run-of-the-mill — or even a cut above — wedding band.
Seal headlined. (He waived his usual seven-figure fee for private events. And hired another drummer for the night.)
Most weddings do not have a singer named Seal.
The officiant was a boldface nametoo, with Staples ties. Justin Paul — the 2002 grad, and second youngest EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner in history (6 months older than his “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman” songwriting partner Benj Pasek) — tied the knot.
Drew McKeon and Jessica Trainham, with officiant Justin Paul.
Also in attendance: Alisan Porter. The Class of 1999 alum — who went on to fame in “Footloose” and “A Chorus Line,” then won “The Voice” in 2016 — sang at the “warm-up” event the night before, at Fairfield Theatre Company.
Drew Angus (SHS ’07, “American Idol” contestant) was at Drew’s wedding too. So was Ryan Smith (SHS ’97).
Ryan Smith and Alisan Porter provide entertainment the night before the ceremony.
The nuptials were not, of course, an all-Staples affair.
Thirty members of Bolton’s touring band flew in from across the country. It was their first reunion since the singer’s brain tumor halted his shows. (He’s in “good spirits and good health,” a recent report says.) They added tremendous energy and musical talent to the weekend.
Meanwhile, for the curious: Drew and Jessica met in West Hollywood. She is a model, actress and entrepreneur, running a home organization business. They live near the beach in Marina del Rey.
But for Drew — and his many Staples musical friends — Westport will always be home too.
The dress code was formal. But when 90% of the guests are musicians, that’s a loose definition. Staples Class of 2001 and novelist Ted Thompson (right) sports a more conservative look.
(“06880” is truly where Westport meets the world. If you enjoy stories like this — or anything else on our hyper-local-yet-also-global blog — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The slate for November’s selectperson election has a new name.
The Democratic Town Committee’s Nominating Committee voted unanimously to recommend Amy Wistreich for second selectwoman.
She would run with first selectman candidate Kevin Christie. Both nominations must be approved by the full DTC in July.
After being appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2019, Wistreich was elected to a full term in 2021. In 2023 she was appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
She has served on several boards of directors and building/architecture committees. The Wexner Foundation selected her for a 2-year Heritage Fellowship for rising community leaders.
Wistreich has a degree in environmental design. Her professional career includes architecture, engineering, design, planning, project management, contracts and insurance. She and her husband Carl have 3 children.
Amy Wistreich
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It’s been a couple of decades since Justin Paul graduated from Staples High School.
But despite world renown — and an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony for his songwriting genius on “Dear Evan Hansen,” “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land” — he’s never forgotten his Westport roots.
On June 23 (7 p.m.), Justin and his musical partner Benj Pasek come to the Westport Playhouse for a special “Waving Through Westport” fundraiser.
Justin returns to the stage where his love of music and storytelling began. He and Benj will perform their iconic songs, tell behind-the-scenes tales, and show what is sure to be a sold-out audience why and how they have defined modern musical theater.
They’ll be joined by several Broadway stars.
In addition to regular seats ($250, $195, $165), a limited number of meet-and-greet tickets are available for an additional $100. Ticket sales begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow (May 2). Click here to order, and for more information.
Yesterday, the firm in which the Westport attorney and Staples High School graduate is a partner was in Washington, representing FBI agents who investigated the January 6 insurrection.
On Tuesday, Koskoff took time from his hectic schedule to chat with Dave Briggs and Alisyn Camerota.
The Westport journalists’ “Sanity” podcast has had some high-powered guests. But their conversation with Koskoff may be their most compelling ever.
Among the topics: President Trump’s threat to democracy; Koskoff’s successful lawsuits on behalf of Sandy Hook victims’ families against gun manufacters; the Supreme Court; social media’s dark role — and what will happen if the president goes after Koskoff and his firm.
Gardeners had until the end of the day to remove supplies, material and anything else they wanted to salvage.
But although there are no architectural plans for the new building, or a timetable for construction, preparations have begun.
These Hyde Lane trees were removed recently. The former garden site will be used as a staging area. When the new school is done, the area will be converted to an athletic field.
In addition to that forgotten holiday, May 1 marks the date that emblems (aka “stickers”) are needed to park at Compo, Old Mill and Burying Hill Beaches.
If you’re a Westport or Weston resident and have not gotten yours yet, click here.
Not exactly legal. But you can’t even get close to an actual parking spot unless you have a sticker. (Photo/Linda Smith)
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StartUp Westport is just 2 years old. But in that time, Westport’s public/ private partnership for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship has grown to over 2,000 members, developed a thriving mentorship program, and spawned 5 special interest groups.
Plus, they sponsor some of the most interesting and compelling panels in town.
Last night’s “Innovation in Sports” was no exception.
Staples High School graduate Andrew Marchand — now a senior columnist for The Athletic — chatted with a pair of prominent Westporters: NBC Sports president Rick Cordella and New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer.
The banter was easy, but the conversation ranged from important topics like risk-taking at the Olympics, technological innovations at the New York Marathon and streaming at Peacock to leadership, AI, and the lessons learned from failure.
Future Startup Westport programming will be equally intriguing. Watch this space for upcoming events.
From left: Andrew Marchand, Rick Cordella, Rob Simmelkjaer. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Westporters have always been good about giving Michael Bolton his space.
Throughout his career, the 2-time Grammy winner (and 75 million records sold singer) was just another neighbor.
After he underwent emergency brain surgery in December 2023, we saw him less around town. His family asked for privacy, and he got it.
Now he’s spoken to People magazine about his battle against glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
His most recent scan was clear, though the recurrence rate is about 90 percent.
Bolton is enjoying time here with his daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren. Click here for the full People story. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Michael Bolton with (top row) daughters Taryn, Holly and Isa, and his grandchildren. (Photo/Ashley Abel)
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Stephen Kempson London is a classic tailor.
But there’s always something new at the popular Post Road West shop.
Or in this case, at your home.
SKL Wardrobe — created with stylist Lucia Gulbransen — is a personalized service.
It begins with a 60-90 minute consultation. You decide what to keep, tailor or donate. SKL will complete your wardrobe, through a store appointment or at-home fitting. (A digital book will show 10 outfits, including existing pieces and new additions.)
For more information click here, email info@stephenkempson.com, or call 203-557-6644.
The next Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading explores the story of 2 reunited lovers.
“Still” will be staged on Monday (May 5, 7 p.m.).
Director Mark Shanahan says, “Lia’s script is heartbreakingly funny even as it is beautifully insightful, offering a poignant look at the complexities of rekindled relationships. We meet characters who navigate their regrets, their hopes, and their personal beliefs, even as they are willing to bear their vulnerabilities and reveal their passions.”
Tickets are $30. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between April 23 and 30.
A 36-year-old Westport woman was charged with assault on an elderly person, risk of injury to a child, and disorderly condcut, following a domestic violence incident. She allegedly assautle a family member, while children were present.
A 53-year-old Norwalk woman was charged with failure to appear. Police responded to a local business when she caused a disturbance, and found her to have an active re-arrest warrent.
Meanwhile, Westport’s crackdown on driving while texting continued. Police issued these citations:
Driving while texting: 45 citations
Distracted driving: 24
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 10
Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
Speeding: 2
Following too closely: 1
Improper stop: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1
Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1
And finally … in honor of Justin Paul and Benj Pasek’s upcoming “Waving Through Westport” fundraiser at the Playhouse:
(There’s always something going on in Westport — and “06880” covers it all. If you enjoy these daily Roundups — or anything else in this hyper-local blog — please click here to support us. Thansk!)
Westporters are wishing a quick recovery to our neighbor, Michael Bolton.
In a note to fans yesterday, the worldwide pop star revealed he was diagnosed with a brain tumor just before Christmas. He was operated on immediately.
“Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success,” he said on Facebook. “I am now recuperating at home and surrounded by the tremendous love and support of my family.”
Bolton will take a “temporary break” from touring, he added. Click here for a full story. (Hat tip: Leah Nash)
Cobs Bread opened this morning. They replace Jersey Mike’s, in Compo Acres Shopping Center between Trader Joe’s and Pokeworks.
The “artisan bread” chain has over 700 franchises in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with a smaller presence in the US.
Two other Connecticut locations are Stamford and Greenwich. Click here for the company website (and the menu).
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
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A box truck struck a utility pole on Post Road East yesterday morning, near Colonial Green.
Power and cable access was knocked out to nearly 600 customers in the downtown area.
Kudos to Eversource and Optimum, for their near lightning-quick response. Both restored service in about an hour.
Thanks too to the Westport Police, who quickly blocked off and diverted traffic between Compo Road, and Imperial and Myrtle Avenues.
Crews working on Post Road East utility pole. (Photo/Sal Liccione)
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Though car thefts have declined recently in Westport, vigilance is still needed.
Ray Broady sends along a brief video from Ring (click here to see). It was posted by someone at the Westport train station, who saw a car pull up next to a parked vehicle.
A man jumped out and attempted to open the doors of several cars.
44 Compo Cove — perhaps the most-photographed house in Westport, standing proudly and oblivious to hurricanes and nor’easters for over a century just over the pedestrian bridge from Old Mill Beach — has also drawn plenty of attention as its new owners have begun the process of renovating and moving it a bit from the shore.
This was the scene yesterday, as workers began to place it in its new location:
Posted onMay 15, 2022|Comments Off on Roundup: Junior Prom, Caitlin Parton, Michael Bolton …
Last November, the cast of Staples Players’ “Grease” sang “It’s Raining on Prom Night.”
Last night, many of those actors gathered for parties, then the junior prom.
And guess what?
It was raining.
Staples Players and dates (from left): Sebastian Gikas, Raia Badurina, Tess Feldman, James Dobin-Smith, Zoe Schwartz, Charlie Watson. (Photo/Danielle Dobin)
In 1988, Caitlin Parton became the youngest person ever to receive a cochlear implant.
After graduating in 2003, she headed to the University of Chicago. She interned for Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, worked at the Department of Justice and spent 2 years as a paralegal for a Washington civil rights firm, before earning a law degree from City University of New York.
Caitlin — the daughter of longtime Westporters Steve Parton and Melody James – is now general counsel for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
On May 24 (4 p.m., Zoom), she’ll receive the Center for Hearing and Communication’s Sheldon Williams Leadership Award. Click here for details and registration.
And finally … happy birthday to Brian Eno, The English singer-songwriter, keyboard player, producer — and favorite of crossword constructors everywhere — turns 74.
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Posted onMay 9, 2022|Comments Off on Roundup: American Song Contest, Ukraine Concert, Late Mothers Day …
Connecticut has made it to the finals of tonight’s “American Song Contest.”
Actually, Michael Bolton has.
The Westport resident — representing the state — is in tonight’s NBC finale. The show is based on the wildly popular Eurovision, and includes representatives from all 50 states, plus Washington DC and 5 territories. There are 10 finalists.
Good luck, to one of the real good guys in the music world! (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Screenshot from the “American Song Contest” website.
Tenor Craig Gillespie — a Westport resident, and son of Jim Gillespie for whom the town’s men’s shelter is named — is among the local musicians offering a mix of Broadway, American songbook, jazz, reggae, traditional Irish, spiritual, country, classical and opera songs, in a “celebrate spring/raise money for Ukraine” concert.
The event is Sunday, May 22 (Southport Congregational Church, 3 p.m.). It’s free, but donations to Save the Children’s Ukraine Project are requested.
An update on the closure of Riverside Avenue near the train station, for paving: It’s now scheduled for Wednesday (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thursday (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
And finally … Mickey Gilley died on Saturday in Branson, Missouri. He was 86.
He had 34 country Top 10 hits. But he was best known as the owner of a huge bar near Houston that became synonymous with country music. Gilley’s had a mechanical bull, and was the location for much of the famed “Urban Cowboy” movie.
Buried in the New York Times’ obituary: He was a cousin of both Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart.
Comments Off on Roundup: American Song Contest, Ukraine Concert, Late Mothers Day …
Earthplace updated maps of their 74-acre sanctuary. Project Return repainted their North Compo Road home. The Westport Astronomical Society got a new solar telescope. Wakeman Town Farm bought a mobile chicken coop.
All of that money came from “Ruegg Grants” — courtesy of the Westport Woman’s Club. Established in 1995 by former member Lea Ruegg, they’re given each spring to a local non-profit with a project that makes a meaningful difference in social services, health, safety, the arts or education.
Previous recipients include, CLASP Homes, the Westport Police Department, Interfaith Housing, Mercy Learning Center, Toquet Hall, the Westport Rotary Club, Staples Players and the Westport Library.
Your organization could be next. The Woman’s Club is accepting submissions now through April 25, for up to $10,000 for a 2022 project. Click here for the application form.
Bert Porzio is one of Westport’s real good guys. The tree service owner would do anything for anyone (and often has: Check out his Unsung Hero honors from 2018).
But his rental of the small lot on the corner of Post Road and Roseville to store logs has worried some residents.
They’re concerned about one of his trucks parked at the lot, blocking visibility of drivers coming down the Roseville hill.
Now, for the past few days, a logging truck has been parked across from McDonald’s. It’s on the sidewalk, just a few yards from Route 1.
Is it legal? Is it safe? “06880” readers have asked both questions.
Al’s Angels is sponsoring a Fairfield rally, in support of Ukraine.
The event is tonight — Wednesday, March 30 — from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Penfield Pavilion. 100% of all proceeds will go to 2 charities, working for the war-torn nation.
The $50 ticket price includes Ukrainian and “local” food, live music, a silent auction and raffle prizes. Scan the QR code below for tickets. (Hat tip: JC Martin)
The Westport Library has just added an intriguing panel to its 1st-ever media and music festival.
On Saturday, April 9 (1 p.m.), Dick Wingate — a Westporter at the forefront of music marketing, A&R and interactive technology for over 40 years — will moderate a panel on audio production.
Dick launched or developed the careers of Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Peter Tosh, Eddy Grant, Pink Floyd, Sarah McLachlan and Garland Jeffreys while at Columbia, Epic, PolyGram and Arista Records. He then pioneered the digital music business with Liquid Audio, as chief content officer. He now operates DEV Advisors, a media and entertainment consultancy.
Panelists include:
Datwon Thomas: editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine, and vice president of cultural media for MRC. He was founder and editorial director of men’s lifestyle guide King magazine, the urban car enthusiast’s favorite Rides Magazine, and editor-in-chief of hip-hop’s street authority, XXL Magazine.
Stephen Webber: Emmy-winning composer, musician, author, producer, engineer, and a leading innovator in music and the performing arts. He founded the Music Production, Technology, and Innovation master’s program at Berklee College of Music’s Spain campus. He’s Berklee’s dean of strategic initiatives, working on domestic and international projects in Los Angeles and China. A former A&R consultant for Universal Music Group, Webber has produced and engineered albums for a wide range of artists.
Travis Bell: audio studios Manager and in-house producer and engineer for Verso Studios. As owner/operator of Hamden’s Adorea Studios for 10 years, he earned acclaim from NPR and Rolling Stone for an array of different projects.
This is a tough time of year for Homes with Hope’s food pantry.
The Gillespie Center program always sees a dip in donations between the holidays, and its spring food drive.
Rising food prices have proved a double whammy. More families are in need, while donors are also feeling the pinch.
Donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Gillespie Center. It’s behind Barnes & Noble, next to Don Memo and Walrus Alley off Jesup Road. Click here for a list of most-needed non-perishable items.
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Michael Bolton moves on!
Not from Westport — he’s staying here. But the New Haven native advances to the next round of NBC’s “American Song Contest.”
Bolton sang “Beautiful World,” in the Eurovision knockoff that includes artists from all 50 states, 5 US territories and Washington DC.
The jury ranked him 5th, but votes by fans propelled him into the semifinals. He joins representatives from Rhode Island, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico. His video from the show is below. (Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)
Julian Lamb Orgel — the lively and musically talented cellist son of 1971 Staples High School graduate Paul Orgel — died in 2018. He was 26.
A fundraising concert in Colchester, Vermont on May 21 will endow a scholarship in Julian’s honor for the Vermont Youth Orchestra — a place, his family says, that “nurtured him and provided him with years of support, friendship and music-making pleasure.”
The program features the world premiere of “Songs With and Without Words,” composed in Julian’s honor by Curt Cacioppo, with his father on piano. There are also classical and jazz performances.
Click here for tickets and more information. Click here for more on Julian Orgel. (Hat tip: Diane Sherman)
Meanwhile — not far away — an osprey has returned to its Fresh Market perch.
Alert “06880” reader Wendy Crowther reported last evening: “He was primping the nest as I passed by just now. I drive by Fresh Market to and from work or doing errands nearly every day. I always look in that direction.
“This is my first sighting since he left for parts south last fall. I was in my car so I don’t have a photo.”
Like many Westporters, Stephan Taranko has followed the news from Ukraine closely.
He has a special interest: His family is from there.
Earlier this month, he ordered 50 flags, to hand out at the Stand With Ukraine rally on Jesup Green.
They did not arrive in time. When he finally got them, he did the next best thing: He put them on his mailbox, with a sign inviting people to take one.
Steve lives on a private road, off Sturges Highway. Yet all 50 were taken quickly.
Westporters around town are also decorating their homes and yards with Ukrainian flags. Several line Prospect Road, in a show of support for that courageous nation.
The Kiwanis Club is one of Westport’s less publicized civic groups. But they’ve been around for decades, aiding everything from Safe Rides and local playgrounds to gear for the EMS bicycle unit.
Very quietly, they continue to enrich our town.
The other day, they donated $5,000 to Save the Children’s relief efforts in Ukraine. Now Kiwanis is gearing up for their grant program for high school seniors. Funding comes from their annual family-friendly Mini-Triathlon at Compo Beach.
The Kiwanis College Grant application is open to income-qualified Staples High School who have demonstrated academic excellence and service to the community. Click here for an application. The deadline is April 15.
The Triathlon is open to all ability levels. It includes a point-to-point swim at Compo Beach, followed by short bike and run courses in the Compo neighborhood.
The event is great for first-timers, and families wishing to race together. To register for the September 11 event or donate to the college grant program, click here.
What do Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, Golda Meir, Jackie Kennedy, Peggy Guggenheim and Mother Teresa have in common?
All will be celebrated this Saturday by Westporter Suzanne Tanner, in her inspiring millinery musical “Voices of Herstory.”
The event (March 26, 3 p.m., St. Andrew’s Church, Kent) coincides with Women’s History Month. And it’s for a great cause: Proceeds benefit Ukrainian refugees, honoring the memory of Tanner’s daughter Tess.
We all know how “Romeo and Juliet” ends, right? (Spoiler alert if you don’t: badly.)
On April 8 and 9 (7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively; Sacred Heart Community Theatre, Fairfield) you’ve got a chance to change Shakespeare’s 425-year-old classic. Internationally renowned pianist — and Westport neighbor — Frederic Chiu is a Prokofiev expert. Among his most noted works: the piano suite from the composer’s “Romeo and Juliet” ballet.
Almost 30 years ago, Chiu discovered the original score. Written entirely for the piano, it contained a revised ending. The lovers do not die.
Twenty-five years later, he commissioned choreographer Sandra Shih Parks to collaborate on “Romeo & Juliet: The Choice.” The audience votes on which ending — Prokofiev’s original happy one, or the traditional dismal version — will be performed.
It debuted at Drexel University in 2018, with Chiu playing the entire ballet on piano, while dancers performed — and the enthralled audience waited for the outcome.
Now, WSHU brings it to Fairfield. Click here for tickets and more information.
Staples High School’s Zero Waste Committee is wasting zero time making an impact.
In addition to next month’s pop-up thrift shop, countering the wasteful “fast fashion” shopping trend, co-chairs Kayla Iannetta and Jenn Cirino are partnering with Sustainable Westport and ZenWTR for a Compo Beach cleanup on April 30.
This is the first time all the Zero Waste Committees from different Westport schools join together for one effort.
ZenWTR is the first beverage in the world to be certified plastic negative (meaning they remove more plastic from the environment than they produce, by investing in sustainable programs). ZenWTR is sold in the Staples High School cafeteria.
A new store — Bobbles & Lace — has opened their first Connecticut location in Bedford Square.
Lindsay Rose Rando launched the store 14 years ago in Marblehead, Massachusetts. B&L offers “modern fashion forward designs at affordable prices.” There are other outlets in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.
Rando says she “loves the sense of community” in Westport, and calls her Church Lane location “bright and beautiful.”
Bobbles & Lace is opoen Monday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bobbles & Lace, Bedford Square. (Photo courtesy of Inklings News)
Yesterday’s Roundup noted that Michael Bolton was representing Connecticut, in last night’s premiere of NBC’s “American Song Contest.” The show is a US version of the long-running Eurovision competition.
We missed the trailer — which features our neighbor touting his home state’s charms. It includes a few shots from his Westport home.
A few seats remain for this year’s Westport Library “Booked for the Evening” gala. The June 1 honoree is television producer/screenwriter/ author Shonda Rhimes — twice named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.”
Earlier this month, “06880” reported on Coleytown Middle School students headed to the state Mathcounts competition.
A followup: Vikram Sarkar finished first in Connecticut. He leads the 4-person Connecticut team that will compete in the national event, in Washington. Ayush Rudra finished 9th overall.
Admit it: You hear “RTM” all the time. And you don’t know a thing about it.
Well, for one thing, it stands for “Representative Town Meeting.” For another, it’s our special local legislative body.
For a third, Westport’s League of Women Voters is sponsoring a series of “Know Your Town” events. And — wouldn’t you know it — the first one is “Know Your RTM.”
Set for this Wednesday (March 23, 7 p.m., Westport Library Trefz Forum and Zoom), the all-star (and all-RTM) panel includes former moderator Velma Heller, who’ll discuss the body’s history; member Matthew Mandell (today’s RTM), and current moderator Jeff Wieser (why you should run for office).
For the first time ever, Inklings — the nearly 100-year-old Staples High School publication — earned a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown award for Hybrid News. Only 16 other high schools in the country received that honor.
Inklings has won numerous Gold Circle Awards for individual reporter excellence, along with overall Silver Crowns. This is the first Gold Crown since switching to a magazine model — and it came in Inklings’ first year with the format.
“I think the change in layout and design spoke to our strengths,” says co-advisor Mary Elizabeth Fulco. ” I’m so incredibly proud of our hard-working students for achieving this national recognition.” The other advisor is Joe Del Gobbo.
Fast fashion — mass production of cheap clothing that destroys resources and pollutes the planet — is endemic.
On March 28 (6:30 p.m., Wakeman Town Farm), WTF sponsors a “Sustainability Forum.”
Panelists will discuss the effects of fast fashion on our environment, consumers and workers. Attendees will learn how to identify sustainable businesses, make smarter buying choices, and what it means to be a conscious consumer.
There’s also a spotlight on local sustainable clothing business, including Our Woven Community, The Exchange Project and Shop Tomorrows.
Meanwhile, a few yards south of the Town Farm, a group of Staples High School students is doing something about fast fashion too.
The school’s Zero Waste Committee is creating a pop-up thrift store, The EcoBoutique opens April 27 during lunch waves in the courtyard.
Whether you’re a student, parent or just a Westporter interested in the planet, you can help.
The Zero Waste Committee is collecting donations (gently used clothing, handers and bins) from March 28 to April 11, at Staples’ front atrium.
In addition to education the community about the importance of limiting fast fashion, and thrifting, funds from the pop-up thrift store will help the ZWC’s sustainability initiatives: composting, recycling and more.
Eurovision — the European singing contest that began in the 1950s, and brought fame to bands like ABBA — is coming to the US.
Instead of a variety of countries, our version — “The American Song Contest” — includes acts from all 50 states, plus US territories, possessions and Washington, DC.
The “06880” connection? Connecticut’s representative is Westport’s own Michael Bolton.
“The American Song Contest” starts tonight. Click here for more information, and to vote — hopefully for our neighbor. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Screenshot from the “American Song Contest” website.
And finally … we usually say, “Spring can’t come soon enough!” Yesterday it snuck in, a day earlier than normal. Whenever it arrives, we’re more than happy to greet it.
Last week, the historic London venue — currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, and host to (among others) Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, the Dalai Lama, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Adele, Eric Clapton (200 times) and the only Beatles/Rolling Stones shared billing ever — was the setting for a Michael Bolton concert.
The Westport-based artist has played there more than two dozen times. His longtime drummer — Staples High School Class of 2000 graduate Drew McKeon — made his 5th appearance on the hallowed stage.
Drew McKeon, before the Royal Albert Hall Show.
It never gets old. Drew is awed every time he steps onto it.
This time, before the show, he hung out backstage with Nile Rogers.
The singer/songwriter/producer/former Chic front man splits his time between Westport and his other homes in Miami, London, and Turks & Caicos.
But, he told Drew, “Westport will always be home.”
Michael Bolton still tours incessantly — a couple of hundred shows a year. Drew has played most of those gigs with him, for nearly a decade.
Michael Bolton, Drew McKeon and the band.
But the Royal Albert Hall never gets old.
Drew McKeon at work, on London. (Photos/Gregg Kozak
BONUS TRACK: Click here for a great Peter Blake mural of some of the performers from Royal Albert Hall’s long past.
Sally White was not an internet person. She much preferred interacting with people, face to face.
But when the longtime, much-loved owner of Sally’s Place — and before that, manager of Klein’s record department, and Melody House worker — died of cancer yesterday at 88, every online platform was filled with memories.
Generations of Fairfield County men and women (and teenagers) were Sally’s customers — and friends. She influenced literally tens of thousands of us. She opened our ears — and our minds and souls — to all kinds of music.
And she opened her heart to us.
Everyone has a Sally White story. Here are 2 of my favorites. The first is from Drew McKeon. A Staples High School class of 2000 graduate, he’s spent the past several years touring the world with fellow Westporter Michael Bolton. Sally is a big reason why.
So sad to say goodbye to my old friend, Sally White. I’ll never forget the hours spent sitting one on one, listening to her stories of seeing the greats live (Sinatra, Hendrix, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Coltrane, Dylan, Buddy Rich, Miles), and how much our town had changed since she came to Main Street in 1954.
The wonderful Sally White
She sold me the first jazz albums I ever bought (“Kind of Blue”, “Speak No Evil,” “The Real McCoy,” Jarrett Trio “Live at the Blue Note”), and shook her head every time I came in for the latest Zorn Tzadik release.
I bought my first copy of “Purple Rain” there, and Tom Waits’ “Mule Variations,” and “Bright Size Life,” as well as every album Bill Frisell, Alison Krauss and Belá Fleck released from 1995-2014. I got Nirvana “Unplugged” there too.
She told me the same story about the guy offering to buy her Sinatra poster for $1000 (even though she had 2!) every time I came in, and regaled me with childhood tales about a shy and gentle Horace Silver.
She felt so guilty about declining invites to my high school shows that she gave me a gig playing standards with a quartet outside the shop during the Memorial Day parade.
I cringed every time she cut open a CD so haphazardly, the X-acto knife lunging in towards her abdomen. I’d tell her not to rip the cellophane just so I could obsess over the Winter&Winter packaging. “Hey, they don’t call it Sally’s for nothing — my store, my rules!”
Sally doing what she loves most: interacting with one customer. Another browses behind her.
She sold me “Innervisions” and Maceo’s “Life on Planet Groove” and “Babylon By Bus,” and gave me “Appalachia Waltz” for my 15th birthday. She stuffed 2 copies of Downbeat in my bag with every purchase, and tuned in to every episode of the WWPT radio show I hosted with Ted Thompson. My obsessive love for Joni and Edgar Meyer was born and fostered at 190 Main Street.
I, like so many other local musicians, am so thankful to have had Sally recognize and encourage my unquenchable thirst for music of all styles at a young age. I always thought it was so cool that I got my first Miles record from the same badass lady that a young Scofield did, a couple decades before. (I got a shitload of Sco records from her, too.)
Perhaps more than anything, I’ll always remember skimming through her prized postcard collection from the great Adam Nussbaum. He, years prior, was one of “Sally’s Kids” too.
At the time, I couldn’t fathom ever actually going to places like Malta, Cairo or Shanghai — let alone, getting paid to play drums there. But I knew I wanted to more than anything, and she assured me I would “be out there soon enough.”
I hope Blue Eyes is singing one for my gal Sal tonight!
——————————————
And this, from Jim Motavalli. He graduated from Staples in 1970 — 30 years before Drew McKeon — but he too will remember Sally White forever.
With 2partners, I started a record store in Fairfield, circa 1975. It was called Trident, because there were 3 partners — one of whom was my twin brother. The 2 of us had just graduated from the University of Connecticut, where we took not one business course.
We had a plan — we would pioneer the sale of used records in Connecticut — but beyond that we didn’t have a clue how to set up and stock a store. Fortunately, we had a friend, Sally White, then running the record haven at the downtown Westport department store Klein’s. Far from stocking just the hits, Sally made sure that the store was bulging with jazz — including albums from players who lived in the area: Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan (and, later, McCoy Tyner and Max Roach).
We called her, and she came over to talk business. Despite the fact we were planning to compete with her, Sally held forth all evening on all aspects of dealing with suppliers, getting credit, buying a cash register, handling returns, and was endlessly helpful.
I was thought of this episode on learning that Sally White died this week. She had closed her store, Sally’s Place (which succeeded her long stint at Klein’s) in 2013 — a victim of the digital revolution. I’m sure not being able to greet her many friends took something out of her — she’d sold records for 57 years!
After describing the recent revival of vinyl, Jim concludes:
Goodbye Sam Goody’s, Goodbye Tower Records. It’s not likely I’ll mourn the passing of these corporate superstores.
But I will shed a tear not so much for Sally’s Place, but for Sally herself. A real mensch.
(Click here to read Jim Motavalli’s full story, on his music blog Territorial Imperatives.)
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