This has been the Westport Farmers’ Market best season to date.
Next Thursday (March 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center), they’ll celebrate with their annual seed exchange.
“Collecting, sharing and growing seeds saved by our very own shoppers, farmers and vendors – especially heirloom varieties – involves the community personally in promoting local food and flora,” says executive director Lori Cochran-Dougall.
“This year more than ever, we want to seed it with love and health.”
Dina Brewster of farmer-led seed collective Eco59 will discuss seed saving.
People can bring seeds they have saved from their own gardens, or take home a few saved by others. WFM farmers will donate seeds from their favorite crops, to try at home.
All seeds except those of invasive species* are welcome. However, the Market requests people bring and take home heirloom or organic varieties.
“Heirloom seeds are critical to reclaiming our food system,” Cochran-Dougall notes.
“These open-pollinated plants have been passed down from generation to generation without human intervention or manipulation. They taste better, are more nutritious, and help protect plant diversity.”
*For a list of plants considered invasive in Connecticut, click here,
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It’s almost Oscars time.
And the winner for Best “Guess the Winners” Contest is … the Westport Book Shop and the Remarkable Theater.
For the second year in a row, they’re co-starring in the local event.
Just fill out a ballot for who you think will win the Academy Award in each of 9 categories this year (plus a tie-breaker).
The 3 people with the most correct guesses will each receive a ticket for any showing at the Remarkable Theater’s 2023 season (a $50 value) — plus a $25 Westport Book Shop gift card, and Remarkable Theater and Westport Book Shop swag.
Ballots are available at the Westport Book Shop (23 Jesup Road, across Jesup Green from the Westport Library). You can also download them from the Book Shop website. or Remarkable Theater website. All ballots must be returned to the Westport Book Shop by 5 p.m. March 12. (The Oscars are that night.)
One entry per person. Click here for complete rules. Questions? Call 203-349-5141, or email bookshop@westportbooksaleventures.org.
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Staples High School Class of 1972 graduate Kirk Combe has an intriguing new blog.
“Rant Against the Regime” examines culture (movies, politics, current events, literature, media, social issues … you name it) — while at the same time exploring how we take a look at culture.
Combe is professor emeritus of English and cultural studies at Denison University, where he won an award for excellence in teaching.
He earned a doctor of philosophy in literature at Oxford University. At Davidson College he played varsity basketball. As a senior, he captained the Staples team.
Fittingly, his first piece is about … Ted Lasso.
Click here for Combe’s blog. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
Professor Kirk Combe
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VersoFest is the Westport Library’s annual celebration of music, media — and creativity. This year, it adds an arts component.
The Artists Collective of Westport celebrates “music through visual arts” with a 2-part exhibition, in all 3 Library galleries.
The exhibits run March 4 through May 9. A “reveal” of “Piece by Piece” kicks things off at a March 8 reception (6 p.m.)
“Piece by Piece” is a 6-foot by 10-foot installation comprising the work of 60 Artists Collective members. Each artist received a 12-inch by 12-inch blank panel, and a 6-inch square section randomly selected from a single iconic music-themed painting.
The artists created individual pieces, replicating a part of the larger painting in their own style. They will not know what the final painting will look like until it is revealed at the opening reception.
Contributors include Miggs Burroughs, Katherine Ross, Michael Brennecke, Nina Bentley, Susan Fehlinger, Eric Chiang and Elizabeth DeVoll.
For “Music to Our Eyes,” each Collective member was invited to display a work in the medium of their choice — interpreting music through painting, drawing, photography, and collage.
Over 50 local artists will exhibit their musically themed paintings in the Library’s Sheffer Gallery. Some works were inspired by a style of music; some were inspired by a specific piece. But all are related to the artists’ musical experience.
Each 12-inch by 12-inch “piece” of Piece by Piece is available for purchase, starting at the reception. Each square is $100. 50% of the proceeds support the Library’s art programs; 50% goes to the artist
Additional art on display in the Sheffer and Jesup Galleries will also be available for purchase, with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting the Library.
Last year’s “Piece by Piece” impressed the Westport Library crowd. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
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The Connecticut Appalachian Mountain Club heads to another continent soon.
On March 14 (6:15 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church), Ida Lowe headlines a dinner presentation on “Exploring the Colombian Amazon: The Painted Forest.”
The hiker/world traveler/Colombia native/Westport resident will share her experiences and photographs of trekking through Guaviare, including the recent discovery of 12,600-year old drawings in the middle of the jungle. Her trek included colorful rivers, steep climbs and amazing rock formations, through dense jungle.
Appetizers, wine, soft drinks, pasta dinner, salads and desserts will be served. The cost for members is $10; for non-members, $15. For more information, email easasso7@icloud.com.
Colombian jungle.
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Venturing even further afield:
The Westport Astronomical Society’s next free online lecture is titled “Solar Orbiter: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun.”
Dr. Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla — NASA project scientist for the Solar Orbiter Collaboration — will be livestreamed on March 21 (8 p.m.).
The Solar Orbiter is “the most complex scientific laboratory ever sent to the Sun. By combining observations from its 6 remote-sensing instruments and 4 suites of in situ instruments, the scientific community will explore how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere?’
Click here for the Zoom link; click here for the YouTube stream.
Dr. Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla
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In the first round of the state tournament n Wednesday, the 12th-ranked Stamford/Westhill/Staples co-op girls ice hockey team upset #5 Simsbury 5-2. Staples junior Maya Sherman had 2 goals, while freshman goalie Clara Peroni of Staples notched 16 saves.
Yesterday in the quarterfinals, they fell to #4 seed East Catholic, 4-1.
Earlier, the girls reached the FCIAC semifinal. That game ended in a heartbreaking, triple overtime loss to New Canaan.
Congratulations to all the girls, and to John Fay — the team’s coach, and captain of the Staples boys hockey team in 1980-81.
Action from yesterday’s girls ice hockey state quarterfinal.
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There were no custodial arrests by the Westport Police Department during the last week.
The WPD’s new reporting system still does not permit access to citation information.
There were no custodial arrests here, during the past week. Note: This is NOT the Westport Police Department lock-up.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo promises a hint — just a little one — of spring.
Mark Yurkiw spotted this blooming pond on Sturges Highway:
(Photo/Mark Yurkiw)
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And finally … in honor of the Westport Farmers’ Market seed exchange (story above):
(Here’s another great exchange: support for “06880” enables us to keep bringing you the daily Roundup (and everything else). Please click here. Thank you!)
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