Tag Archives: Oscar Edelman

Roundup: Justin Paul’s “Snow White,” Christian Soriano’s Celebration …

Disney’s “Snow White” —  a live-action version of the 1937 animated Disney film “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” — opens in theaters on Friday (March 21).

But you can enjoy the soundtrack now.

It includes reimagined classics, and all new songs. What makes this “06880”-worthy is that the music is by Pasek & Paul.

The Westport half of that Emmy/Grammy/Oscar/Tony-winning duo is 2003 Staples High School graduate Justin Paul. They’ve already written the music and lyrics for (among others) “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman.”

Both are huge Disney fans. Click below to hear them discuss their work with “the one that started it all.”

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Another Westport boldface name — Christian Soriano — is closing his local shop.

The fashion designer — whose outfits were worn at this year’s Oscars by Halle Berry, Queen Latifah and Whoopi Goldberg — is relocating his Collective West store to New York City.

(Siriano — a Westporter since 2020 — is not leaving.)

“One More Celebration” is set for Wednesday (March 19, 6 to 9 p.m., 940 Post Road East).

Siriano will be there, offering “fashion, cocktails, and a stylish sendoff.” No RSVP needed.

Christian Soriano, in The Collective West.

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The Animal Awareness Night — postponed earlier this month — is set for Wednesday (March 19, 7 p.m., police station classroom).

Topics include wildlife (with officer Peter Reid), pet adoption (with Westport Animal Shelter Advocates’ Julie Loparo), and dog licensing guidelines. The event is free.

Westport Animal Control officer Peter Reid is a featured speaker at Wednesday’s Animal Awareness Night.

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Bedford Acting Group’s 6th graders take the stage this Friday through Sunday (March 21-23) for “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”

It’s a 60-minute musical adaptation of the Disney classic, with both familiar and new songs. Long Lots Elementary School teacher Anna Woodin (Friday), and Saugatuck El’s Katie Bloom (Saturday evening) perform alongside former students. There is a meet-and-greet for younger kids after Saturday’s matinee.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

Double cast Alices, Queens of Hearts and Caterpillars: Aubrey Steffa, Charlotte Naughton, Ellie Delorier, Chloe Robbin, Lola Rockwell, Charlotte Leykind.

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“Seared” — the comedy that brings audiences into a kitchen — earned rave reviews, in its first 2 weekends at Weston’s Lachat Town Farm.

First produced off-Broadway in 2019, the show earned Outer Critics Circle Awards. As garlic and onions sizzle on stage, the play explores conflicts between artistic passion and the pressures of the business world.

Show dates are Friday and Saturday (March 21 and 22) at 7:30 p.m., Sunday (March 23) at 3 p.m. Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Wesleyan University’s storybook men’s basketball season continues.

The Cardinals edged Emory 61-58 in a thrilling game Saturday. Oscar Edelman — a 6-8 freshman from Westport — scored 7 points.

The win propels them into their first-ever NCAA Division III Final 4.

Wes travels to Fort Wayne, Indiana this week. On Thursday (5:30 p.m.) they take on a familiar foe: in-state rival Trinity College. Click here for the full story.

Oscar Edelman

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A large crowd was entertained at the Westport Library yesterday afternoon by The Hudson Arts Ensemble.

Trumpeter Bill Owen and pianist Yalin Chi played all French composers –Debussy, Faure, Ravel and others. The duo are currently with the West Point Band.

Hudson Arts Ensemble (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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The bald eagle is back. Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted the handsome bird, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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And finally … today’s playlist needs no introduction!

(Sure, and it’s a grand day to help support “06880.” Please click here to contribute to the cause. Go raibh maith agat!)

Roundup: Crossword Contest, Comedy, Drag Show …

Over 200 competitors vied yesterday, at the 26th annual Westport Library Crossword Puzzle Contest.

A first time winner out-puzzled them all.

Quiara Vasquez finished a Friday-level New York Times puzzle in just 6 minutes and 16 seconds — about the time it takes a normal solver to fill in just a few answers.

Quiara Vasquez (right), with runner-up Claire Rimkus (center) and third-place finisher Ken Stern. 

As always the Trefz Forum was filled with regulars, first-timers, and those cruciverbalist superstars who make the rest of us feel like we should have stopped playing games at Word Search.

The crowd skewed older, and came from 6 states. The furthest competitors — for the second year in a row — were from Georgia.

Times puzzle editor Will Shortz was once again on hand, and led several NPR-style games before the final round.

He was greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation. Besides coming every year — the only event he attends, besides the national tournament — he is recovering from a stroke.

He was stricken exactly a year ago — the day after he was in Westport for the 2024 Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Shortz described that event, and his rehabilitation over the past year.

Will Shortz (Photos/Dan Woog)

In addition to Vasquez, certificates were handed out to over 50 competitors who completed all 3 puzzles correctly.

Plus the 2 with the best handwriting (one pencil, one pen).

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Westport Country Playhouse’s “Season of Laughter” continues this month.

“Native Gardens” — a comedy about well-intentioned neighbors who become feuding enemies — debuts playing February 18.

Expectant parents Tania and Pablo Del Valle move next door to longtime suburbanites Virginia and Frank Butley. A dispute over the property line spirals into a war over taste, class, personal identity — and gardening.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Looking for a fun and different Valentine’s Day celebration, a few days early?

How about a drag show this Saturday, with Boston’s own Patty Bourrée?

Westport Pride is hosting the February 8 event (7 p.m., MoCA CT; 18+ only). It features songs, comedy and cocktails. All genders and orientations welcome!

Click here for tickets ($40), and more information.

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Oscar Edelman is having a great season for the Wesleyan University basketball team.

The 6-8, 225-pound freshman — a Westport resident and former Greens Farms Academy player, who won a gold medal at the Maccabi Games 2 years ago — has helped the Cardinals to a 20-0 record. They are the only unbeaten men’s team in all of Division III.

Oscar Edelman

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Westport Sunrise Rotary’s speaker most recent speaker was Edward Spilka.

The Wheel it Forward USA board member described his organization’s not-for-profit library. People donate or borrow free medical equipment and assistive technology like wheelchairs, hospital beds, toilet risers, walkers and knee scooters.

Warehouses in Stamford and Bridgeport serve 600 people every month. Donations kept over 100,000 pounds of equipment out of landfills, and saved users more than $1 million in 2024 alone.

Edward Spilka, at the Westport Sunrise Rotary meeting.

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Sorelle Gallery welcomes Carol Young next Saturday (February, 2 to 4 p.m.), for a meet-and-greet at their Church Lane gallery.

The Connecticut artist specializes in acrylic and oil landscapes. Click here for more information.

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Jeff Mitchell sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature. He writes:

“On a walk at Sherwood Island State Park Saturday morning, I encountered 4 different migrating birds.

“Those in the upper left are ring-billed gulls (note the black tail feathers with white dots). Under that is a rather large juvenile herring gull.

“In the upper right are 2 Brandt geese. Under them is one of a huge flock of long- tailed ducks floating too far from shore to get a good picture of on my phone.

“Below that is a stock picture of the same duck, for reference. They would dive under the water for up to a minute.

“I walk at Sherwood Island quite often. These are all rarities, which is why I’m passing them along.”

(Photo collage/Jeff Mitchell)

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And finally … Barry Goldberg, a keyboardist who was part of Bob Dylan’s famous electric set at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, died last month in Los Angeles. He was 83, and suffered from lymphoma.

He played at Monterey Pop with his band the Electric Flag; on Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels’ “Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly”; albums by the Byrds, Leonard Cohen, Rod Stewart and the Ramones — and preceded Mark Naftalin (now a Westport resident) in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Click here for a complete obituary.

(If you don’t know what’s going on in Westport, you’re not reading “06880.” We rely on reader support to help us help you. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Roundup: Outdoor Tables, Opioids, Oscar Edelman …

The Great Table Debate continues.

Following up on Sunday’s “06880” post about the tables outside the new Nômade restaurant — including a photo of only 3, when it was Tavern on Main —  owner Ciara Webster sent this undated shot, of 6 tables:

She adds: “We use smaller tables in order to give a safe walkway and clear access, and to support our neighboring business.

“Our umbrellas are the exact same height. They may appear bigger because they are vented so they don’t cause injury on a windy day by turning inside out. We made sure that they do not block any signs.

“That being said, I love the suggestion to keep them closed until people sit. That was a super idea, and we plan on doing this going forward.”

It’s unclear when Tavern on Main first put tables on Main Street. Here’s a shot from 2014, without them:

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Opioids and counterfeit drugs are everywhere.

Including Westport. The more we know about them — and the potential for overdoses — the better equipped we are to help.

In conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day, Positive Directions is sponsoring free life-saving naloxone-Narcan training for interested residents. It’s at the Westport Library (August 31, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.).

Training will include how to recognize an overdose, and administer the drugs. Each participant will receive a free Narcan kit.

Space is limited. Click here to register. For more information on the Westport Prevention Coalition, cljck here.

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Schlaet’s Point — the waters between the Compo Beach Soundview/Hillspoint jetty, and Old Mill Beach — is known for many things: gorgeous views, fishing and disappearing islands, to name three.

Swimming and water sports — not so much.

But the Staples High School water polo team is set up a portable training court there. As they’ve done in past years, they use it for pre-season training.

(Photo/Karen Como)

We’re not sure how treacherous that part of the Sound is. We do know this, though: The Wreckers will rock this season!

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Speaking of sports:

Last month, Oscar Edelman was part of the US U-18 basketball team that finished first at the Maccabi Games in Israel. More than 600 players from across the country tried out for the American squad, which went undefeated at the “Jewish Olympics.”

It was quite a trip. Edelman had a bar mitzvah ceremony there (along with over 100 other athletes), while the opening ceremony was attended by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Naftali Bennet.

Yesterday, the 6-7 Greens Farms Academy rising senior was honored by his hometown.

RTM District 1 representative Matthew Mandell arranged the ceremony. Local and state dignitaries presented certificates.

Oscar Edelman, with state and town officials, yesterday at Town Hall. He’s the tall basketball player.

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Still speaking of sports (of sorts):

Earlier this month, “06880” reported on Chris Kelly’s training regimen. In preparation for the upcoming Leadville Trail 100 — a 100-miler in the Colorado Rockies, climbing and dipping through nearly 16,000 feet of elevation — he ran up and down Compo Hill.

Fifty times.

The race was last Sunday. Chris’ goal was 25 hours.

He did it — with 8 minutes to spare.

Congratulations, Chris! You earned your prize: a large belt buckle.

PS: Because this is “06880: Where Westport meets the world,” there is of course another connection. Local resident Chris Barnett also finished the great, grueling event.

Chris Kelly (2nd from left) with his crew, after finishing the Leadville Trail 100. He doesn’t even look tired!

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An “06880” reader is worried that Westporters are not worried enough about the current drought. Fairfield County is currently in Stage 2 — not as severe as eastern Connecticut, but our cup is not exactly running over either.

I’ve posted a few “water conservation” stories, including last month’s mandatory twice-weekly irrigation schedule from Eversource.

In an attempt to keep the dry conditions front and center: If you’ve got any photos to serve as visual reminders of what’s going on, please email them to 06880blog@gmail.com.

Shriveled shrubs? Shallow streams? Send pics along!

Low tide at Deadman Brook in 2019. It’s even lower these days. (Photo/Johanna Rossi)

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It’s almost back to school time. (Cue the applause/groans/forehead slaps).

That means it’s look-for-good-kids’-programs time too. Wakeman Town farm offers hands-on activities for ages “0 to 14.” They include “learning about our furry friends, planting and eating fresh veggies, pollinators, compost, and other activities.” Click here for details.

Eager students in Wakeman Town Farm’s “Cooking Around the Globe” class.

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Speaking of back to school: Staples High School rising freshman Paige Foran is getting ready by running a pet supply/food drive. It’s tomorrow (Thursday, August 25, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., PetSmart, 525 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk).

The drive benefits the Connecticut Humane Society.

Donors can leave these items: newspapers (without inserts), paper towels, large garbage and Ziploc bags, Bounce dryer sheets, new or like-new machine-washable towels and blankets, HE laundry detergent, new or like-new pet beds, sound machines, clay cat litters, cat toys (no catnip!), cat carriers, wand toys, new litter boxes, laser pointers, new cardboard cat scratchers and litter scoops, Kong toys, slow feeder bowls, Nylabones, soft training treats, dog toys, collars and leashes, Pupperoni, Beggin’ STrips, Carefresh bedding, Yesterday’s news litter, small animal and bird toys, Oxbow small animal food, Snuggle safe heat discs, miracle nipples, 4 Paws Easy Feeder, Royal Canin baby cat food, Breeder’s Edge kitten formula, kitten bottles, adult dog and cat food, soft dog treats, cat treats, bird and small animal food.

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Speaking of cats:

This hungry-looking bobcat was prowling around Evergreen Parkway yesterday afternoon.

It’s a first for that neighborhood, says Yvonne Claveloux.

(Photo/Yvonne Claveloux)

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Tomorrow night’s Jazz @ The Post (Thursday, August 25, sets at 7 and 8:30 p.m.) features the Ben Williams Jazz All-Stars. The band includes Brian Glassman, Mitch Schecter, Aaron Alexander and “Jazz Rabbi” Greg Wall.

Williams and Wall first met in 1978. They became close friends and even closer musical comrades, playing all styles and at all available venues. At the New England Conservatory of Music they started a roots jazz project that evolved into the Bourbon Street Bass Band, and jump-started their national touring career.

Later, as the Hi-Tops, Williams and Wall worked together in hard bop and avant garde.

Glassman, Schecter and Alexander have also played with Wall and Williams, over several decades.

There’s a $10 cover, and dinner from 6:30 on from chef Derek Furino. Reservations are strongly suggested: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.

Ben Williams

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Spam email I stopped reading after the first couple of lines:

“Hi Dan, I hope this finds you well! I’ve stumbled across a few of your past articles, and I think you’d be very interested in hearing about our upcoming eBike conversion kit launch.”

Um … no.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature finds Frank and Winston — brothers from the same litter — enjoying low tide yesterday at Old Mill Beach.

(Photo/Nicola Sharian)

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And finally … combining two stories above — Jazz at the Post, and Westport’s drought — we bring you:

(“06880” is fully reader-funded. Please click here to help.)

Roundup: Little League Champs, Maccabi Gold, Blind Rhino …

Living in the condos behind the post office, I thought I’d seen ever conceivable kind of bad parking in the Playhouse Square lot.

The combination of poor design and poor drivers is deadly. (So far, thankfully, I don’t mean that literally.)

But this scene from yesterday could be the most jaw-dropping example yet of entitlement.

And I’ve seen hundreds of others.

(Photo/Pam Long)

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Westport’s 11U District All-Star baseball team defeated Glastonbury 14-8 on Wednesday night. That’s the second straight state championship for the team!

Congratulations to Dylan Burdeshaw, Miles Delorier, Henry Ellis, Justin Goldshore, Wyatt Johnson, Christopher Lambert, Chase Landgraf, Jack McGrath, Luke Moneyhon, Torrey Rossetter, Toby Slavin, Grant Theisinger.  Nolan Walters, plus manager Justin Walters and coaches Marc Theisinger and Jon Ellis.

Now it’s on to the regional championship, started Monday in Beverly, Massachusetts. Good luck, guys!

Westport, at the previous section tournament.

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Speaking of sports: Oscar Edelman is a gold medalist.

The rising Greens Farms Academy senior just returned from Israel. He represented the US in the Maccabi Games — and his U-18 basketball team finished first.

Over 60 countries compete in the Maccabi Games — sometimes called “the Jewish Olympics. More than 600 players, from across the US, tried out for the U-18 hoops team.

Oscar — who stands an imposing 6-7 — was the second youngest on the squad.

The Americans went undefeated. They faced the host Israeli team in the finals — and won, 91-79.

Click here for the full back story, courtesy of GFA.

Oscar Edelman, at the line. (Photo/Bonnie Edelman)

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The CT Challenge Bicycle Ride rolls through here tomorrow (Saturday, July 30). The shorter rides use Beachside Avenue; the longer routes are on Long Lots and surrounding roads.

The heaviest traffic is between 7 and 10 a.m. e of Westport and surrounding towns.

This is an important fundraiser, for a great organization that helps people battling cancer, and survivors. So when you see all those riders tomorrow, slow down! 

Don’t honk. But show your support with a hearty thumbs-up! (Hat tip: Gloria Gouveia)

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Twiddle plays 2 special shows — with Mihali and the Nth Power — today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday) at the Levitt Pavilion.

Also on the menu: Blind Rhino’s new food truck.

Former Staples High School baseball player/2003 graduate Casey 2 popular restaurants, in Black Rock and SoNo.

Now he’s got a truck too. It will be parked in the Levitt lot, serving wings and more.

Don’t just Twiddle your thumbs. Dig in!

Partners Casey Dohme (left) and Jamie Pantella with their Blind Rhino truck.

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Westport’s latest teardown is 12 Godfrey Lane.

The home off Bulkley Avenue North was more than 50 years old. The Westport Historic District Commission waived the waiting period, and the Conservation Department okayed a new larger build.

All that remains are the Bilco doors.

12 Godfrey Lane.

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It’s been a while since we ran a cat photo, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

Michael Catarevas says: “At Costco, we get free cardboard boxes to carry stuff. We put them on the floor the other day before taking them to the car to reuse, but they were taken over.”

Smart cats, for sure!

(Photo/Michael Catarevas)

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And finally … in honor of Michael “Cat”arevas’ photo (above):

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