Tag Archives: Ssaugatuck Congregational Church

Roundup: Eddington, Lloyd Allen, La Source …

“Eddington” — Ari Aster’s film about political and social turmoil during the pandemic — opened Friday.

There’s a familiar face (besides Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone) on the screen: Staples High Class of 2024 graduate Cameron Mann.

He debuted with Staples Players long before entering high school — as an elementary student. He continued through his senior year, stopping only that spring when he filmed “Eddington” in New Mexico.

Cam — who previously starred in HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” — is a rising sophomore at the University of Michigan. (Hat tip: Kerry Long)

Cameron Mann, in “Eddington.”

=================================================

The Sunday morning church service at Compo Beach is always special.

Yesterday’s worship was extra special.

Pivot Ministries — the Bridgeport organization that addrseses — drug and alcohol addiction as a spiritual problem — was the guest of this week’s hosts, Saugatuck Congregational Church.

Pivot members offered uplifting testimony — and music — to the early morning gathering.

Pivot Ministries, at Compo Beach. (Photo/Lisa Tantillo)

==================================================

Lloyd Allen workshopped songs from his timely new musical “Screen Time” yesterday, at the Westport Library.

Dick Wingate was there — and was very impressed.

“I’ve known Lloyd for 40 years going, back to when he was a fashion designer and made a music video of his song that showcased his latest line,” Dick says.

“It was so catchy that I released it on Epic Records. It became a minor MTV hit.  He is truly a renaissance man.”

But we already know that.

To learn more about “Screen Time” — or many other things — stop in at Lloyd’s day job. He owns the Double L Market (get it?) near Calise’s, on Post Road East.

Scene from “Screen Time” (Photo/Dick Wingate)

==================================================

La Source — whose stores in Darien and New Canaan offer “a curated collection of best-in-class delicates, sleepwear, swimwear, and gifts for the women we love” — is expanding to Westport.

Their Bedford Square shop opens soon, across Church Lane from Pink Sumo. Click here for the La Source website. 

(Hat tip and photo/Sal Liccione)

==================================================

As I started my walk at Compo’s South Beach yesterday, I passed a Jeep with its motor running.

More than 20 minutes — coming back, the other direction — it was still there.

An hour later, I got a text from a reader. She sent a photo of a car that had idled for at least 10 minutes outside Cold Fusion, while the driver’s family was inside.

Not cool!

Except that these drivers are quite cool (as in “comfortable”). They’re sitting in their cars, chatting on their phones, while the A/C is on.

But wait!

Although a Connecticut law prohibits idling for more than 3 minutes, there are exceptions.

One is when traffic prevents movement. Another is when the temperature is below 20 degrees.

A third is — wait for it — “when using heating, cooling or other auxiliary equipment.”

Who knew?

Still — though it may be legal, it’s not environmentally wise.

Yesterday was beautiful.

Maybe the Compo guy could have made his phone call on a bench that was 3 steps away.

Maybe the gelato guy could have joined his family for ice cream.

And maybe the word can get out that among the synonyms for “idle” are “lazy,” “indolent” and “slothful.”

From 2017.

==============================================

Speaking of Compo: We’ve had 2 straight days with rainbows over Long Island Sound. Here’s yesterday’s:

(Photo/Meredith Holod)

Gorgeous!

I just have one question: Aren’t rainbows supposed to follow rain?

==================================================

The newest addition to the Levitt Pavilion lineup: Mihali.

The Vermont-based singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder of Twiddle continues to evolve. His third record, “Before The Dream” features big names in the reggae, rock and pop worlds, including Little Stranger, Tropidelic, Lily Fangz, G. Love, Brett Dennen, Andy Frasco, Seven Suns, Satsang and Moon Taxi.

Mihail will appear with specail guest Soule Monde, and Mr. Mota, on September 6. Click here for tickets, and more information.

Mihali

===============================================

Speaking of the Levitt: Our new header (on the “06880” home page) was taken last night, at the sold-out Sweet Remains concert. (Bonus feature: an impromptu appearance by Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, the wife of Sweet Remain Greg Naughton. They live in Westport.)

Jim Honeycutt – retired Staples High School media teacher, well known for his many Players and Music Department video projects there — snapped the shot.

If you’re not seeing the image on our website, here it is:

(Photo/Jim Honeycutt)

==================================================

Isn’t nature wonderful?

And colorful?

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature image comes from the Westport Country Playhouse parking lot, near Winslow Park.

Wow!

(Photo/Edward Paul)

==================================================

And finally … Happy 77th birthday, Cat Stevens (Yusuf). There are so many songs to pay him tribute. Here are 3. What’s your pick? Click “Comments” below.

(Another week begins … and, as always,”06880″ is here to bring you news, features, events, photos and much more, all with a hyper-local twist. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Saugatuck Church, Westport Museum Honor Juneteenth

During the Civil War, over 80% of eligible Black men in Connecticut enlisted in 2 “Colored” infantry units.

On Wednesday — Juneteenth, honoring the final end of slavery in the US, when emancipation finally came for 250,000 people in Texas — the Saugatuck Congregational Church and Westport Museum for History & Culture honored those Black Connecticut soldiers.

There was a Westport connection. Their commander, Lt. Louis McDonough, is buried at the church’s Evergreen Cemetery.

McDonough and his men in the 29th Regiment were part of efforts to enforce the freedom of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. That event led to the enactment of the national holiday, nearly 160 years later.

The men from Westport who were part of the 29th were Samuel Benson, Thomas Benson, James Burns, John Frye, Thomas Gregory, Frank Jackson, Joseph H. Jackson, William H. Jackson, William H. Johnson (1st), William H. Johnson (2nd), John Thompson, Charles C. Williams and Charles Yan Tross.

All were privates, except Lt. McDonough and musician Frank Jackson.

The Evergreen Cemetery memorial was unveiled by local veteran Sgt. First Class Buyile Rani, Connecticut Army National Guard (Retired). His participation was organized by Westport’s VFW Post 399/American Legion Post 63.

 

A young boy (front) added a light touch to Wednesday’s ceremony honoring Westport’s Black Civil War soldiers, at Evergreen Cemetery. From left: Sgt. 1st Class Buyile Rani; Saugatuck Church pastor Kari Nicewander;  Dr. Vera Rhimes, Saugatuck Church council member; Westport Museum director Ramin Ganeshram; VFW quartermaster Lt. Cmdr. Phil Delgado. (Photo/Mark Mathias)

left-to-right IDs – SGT 1st Class Buyile Rani CT Army National Guard (Retired), Saugatuck Congregational Church Pastor Kari Nicewander, Vera P. Rhimes, Westport Museum Executive Director Ramin Ganeshram, LCDR Phil Delgado U.S. Navy (Retired)

VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado, Lt. Commander, US Navy (Retired) said, “The veteran community is honored to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifices of the 29th Infantry on Juneteenth. Dedicating a plaque serves as a reminder of the progress made in pursuit of justice and equality for all.”

Saugatuck Church Pastor Kari Nicewander offered a prayer. Saugatuck Church was a meeting place when the town of Westport was incorporated in 1835. The church is partnering with the Westport Museum to shine a light on local history, like Westport’s connection to Juneteenth.

The Museum also sponsored Black history walking tours, and screened the film “The 29th Connecticut Regiment and the Fight for Freedom.” Click below to see the video.

Roundup: Sandwiches, Easter Service, Voter Protection …

==================================================

And now — after more than 1,000 votes, for 21 competitors in 9 categories — the winners of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s Great Sandwich Contest have been announced. The are:

  • Best Chicken Sandwich: Stiles Market
  • Best Steak Sandwich: JR’s Deli & Grille
  • Best Vegetarian Sandwich: Manna Toast
  • Best Combo Sandwich: Stiles Market
  • Best Club Sandwich: Joe’s Pizza
  • Best Wrap: Layla’s Falafel
  • Best Breakfast Sandwich: JR’s Deli & Grille
  • Best Pressed Sandwich: Mystic Market
  • Best Fish/Seafood Sandwich: Rizzuto’s

Honorable mention (coming within 5 votes of the winners): A&S Fine Foods, Calise’s Market and Fortuna’s

Winners receive plaques. Each winner will also offer a free winning sandwich to 9 lucky voters, who won the lottery in the category they voted in. For photos of the winners, click here.

=======================================================

Saugatuck Church’s 1st-ever Easter drive-in worship service was — well, if not a miracle, then still pretty cool.

The back parking lot was filled with 45 cars (that’s around 13o people). The FM radio broadcast worked flawlessly, thanks to Mark Mathias. The service was punctuated with plenty of cheerful horn honks.

Dozens more watched the livestream on Facebook and YouTube. But that photo isn’t as interesting as the one below:

(Drone photo/Alexey Syomichev)

=======================================================

You’ve probably heard there are zoning bills working their way through the General Assembly. You’ve heard that they may affect Westport.

But how?

Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 6, 6:30 p.m. Zoom), Westport Planning & Zoning Commission chair Danielle Dobin hosts an in-depth discussion, The focus is on what they mean for our town.

She will be joined by Westport’s 4 legislators: State Senators Will Haskell and Tony Hwang, and Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Stephanie Thomas.

I’ll be the moderator. Click here to register.

One bill being considered would affect housing plans for the area around any town’s primary train station.

======================================================

Westport Book Shop Artist of the Month is Katherine Ross. Her watercolors will be on display throughout April at the Drew Friedman Art Place, in Westport’s popular used book store on Jesup Road.

Ross is a well-known artist and art teacher. She conceived the children’s mosaic wall at the Longshore pool, with work from over 1,000 middle schoolers. She has served on the Arts Advisory Committee and Westport Cultural Arts Committee, and co-chaired the Westport public schools’ Art Smarts program.  

The exhibit is open during the Book Shop’s business hours: Tuesdays through Fridays (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Saturdays (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sundays (noon to 5 p.m.

Katherine Ross, with her springtime watercolors.

======================================================

Tonight (Monday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Zoom), the Democratic Women of Westport and Staples Young Democrats host a virtual session called “The Anti-Racist Policy Agenda: Connecticut Voter Protection.”

State Representative Stephanie Thomas — who represents part of Westport, and serves as vice chair of the General Assembly’s Government Administration and Elections Committee — will discuss the 2020 election in the state, possible expansion of access for voting, and building support for voter protection laws.

To get the link for the talk, or more information, email dww06880@gmail.com.

=======================================================

And finally … speaking of “protection”: On this day in 1922, the American Birth Control League — predecessor of Planned Parenthood — was incorporated.