Inklings — Staples High’s award-winning publication — has evolved with the times. Since its founding in 1931, it has been a newspaper, magazine and online news and feature source.
All along, dedicated staffs have contributed stories on everything going on at school (and sometimes, the town, country and world).
Now, the biggest paper ever is rolling off the press.
A 54-page “Voices” supplement is the result of a year-long effort, headed by managing editor Angelina Matra.
The goal, she tells “06880” interns (and Inklings staffers) Camille Blundell and Avni Krishna, is to explore ideas and elements in depth, using student voices.
Topics include the lack of females in STEM classes, micro-aggressions, and the impact of political polarization on the school community.
The article on micro-aggressions in classes, written by junior Olivia Saw, notes that students of color repeatedly experience “misspellings, mispronunciations, or just plain being mistaken for other students of the same race,” Blundell and Krishna say.
The Inklings micro-aggressions story.
Another spiece that Matra expects to create buzz is “Staples Divided.” Addressing whether Staples has fallen victim to political polarization, it resulted from a roundtable with 9 students: Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“Women in STEM” is one of Matra’s favorites. It notes that only 13% of students in upper-level Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes are female, and features insightful anecdotes from them.
“I think every single person in Staples, whether that be a student, adult, whatever, will see one article they relate to or say, ‘I know this person, I have done someone similar, I hold a similar view or have had a similar experience,” Matra says.
The Inklings staff began work in October, and finished the supplement earlier this week.
“We’re bringing light to all those unheard circumstances that many kids might face,” paper editor Zara Saliba told Blundell and Krishna. “ It’s really important, especially as a public school, to have all of those opinions expressed and to create an environment where everyone can feel welcome to share their beliefs.”
Inklings is an outgrowth of Staples’ Advanced Journalism class. Students begin as staff writers, after taking Intro to Journalism.
Advisors Mary Elizabeth Fulco and Joseph DelGobbo value independence and individuality in their students’ writing.
“We strive to give them them a platform to express their views and inspire meaningful change,” Fulco told the “06880” interns.
Like their advisors, Saliba and Matra hope the supplement gets people talking. They call “Voices” an “inside look into the Staples community.”
The editors also would like the stories to bring “some empathy to understanding the perspectives of people who are different from you,” Blundell and Krishna say.
The staff hopes this can bring people together. “In high school, students can feel lost between groups. This paper proves that everybody’s experiences are different,” the “05880” interns and Inklings writers say.
Matra notes, “Every single student, teacher, administrator and staff member within the collective Staples environment is so unique. ‘Voices’ is the chatter in the hallways, locker rooms, concert stages, culinary classes, science labs and teachers lounges, all thrown together in one huge, ambitious project.”
To see the full range of stories, click here. To order a copy of Inklings’ “Voices” supplement ($10), click here.
(“06880” regular covers Westport’s schools — and the students in them. If you enjoy these stories, or any other features on this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Board of Finance begins its review of 2 proposed 2025-26 budgets on March 5 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium; livestream on Cablevision Channel 79, and westportct.gov).
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker will present the town budget. Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein offer the Westport Public Schools budget.
Click here to view Tooker’s proposed budget. Click here for Scarice and Goldstein’s proposed budget.
The band — including Staples High School grads Barry Tashian and Bill Briggs — were “how you told a stranger about rock ‘n’ roll,” raved young music critic Jon Landau.
They tore up Boston and New York, were signed by Epic Records, appeared on “Ed Sullivan” and “Hullabaloo” — and, in 1966, were an opening act on the Beatles’ last tour.
Then — on the brink, perhaps, of superstardom — the Remains broke up.
The Remains, back in the day.
Their story was told off-Broadway. Now they’re the stars of a PBS documentary.
“America’s Lost Band”captures the group on its return to Los Angeles, for the first time in 40 years. It shows the bond between 4 close friends, and the power of music that united them, decades after comingthisclose to the top.
The documentary was adapted from a feature-length film that played at film festivals 15 years ago. It was never released publicly, due to licensing costs and rights issues.
The film was produced by Fred Cantor. The 1971 Staples High School graduate — a longtime Remains fan and chronicler — previously produced “The High School That Rocked!,” about bands like the Doors, Yardbirds and Cream who played at Staples. It was the only documentary short at the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Film Series.
“Lost Band” was directed by Michael Stich, longtime director of “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
It will premiere on Connecticut’s PBS station, CPTV on April 7 (9:30 p.m.), and stream nationwide on CPTV’s platforms.
The checks have been cashed. The food has been distributed.
And Earth Animal thanks everyone who contributed to the Post Road store’s holiday Mitten Project.
The pet supply store raised an astonishing $75,737 to combat food insecurity in Connecticut.
The money came from sales at Earth Animal, participation in Shop & Give events hosted by the local business community, private donations, and contributions from customers.
Earth Animal Ventures, based in Southport, matched every dollar raised.
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Staples High School students struck gold (and silver, and bronze) at the Connecticut STEM Fair.
Under the mentorship of teacher Amy Parent, young researchers presented innovative work across multiple categories at the virtual event earlier this month.
William Boberski captured first place in the Health and Medical Science category (completed projects), for research on diet composition’s effects on lifespan and colorectal cancer progression, using the Drosophila midgut model.
In the same category (for research proposals), Alexis Krenzer placed first for her plan to study curcumin’s potential role in epidermal growth factor driven cancers using C. elegans.
Ezra Schwartz took third, for his proposal on improving glenoid labral tear diagnosis through deep learning applications.
Jonathan Dobin-Smith snagged first place in the Environmental category, for a proposal to mitigate CO2 emissions through bio-concrete development using Cupriavidus necator.
William Kwong tied for second, with research on using curcumin to protect against microplastic damage in C. elegans.
Kendra Chen presented compelling research on generating biofuels from Connecticut microalgae, using bicarbonate as a carbon source.
The STEM Fair drew more than 250 student researchers, and as many judges from science and technology professions.
CT Stem Foundation is an all-volunteer organization. They are always looking for volunteers, including fair judges. Click here for more information.
Seniors Aviva Ross and Amire Williams, juniors Benjamin Peterson and Emmett Zahler, sophomore Giselle Colon and freshman Noa Katz are Staples High School’s February Students of the Month.
Nominated by teachers, they “help make Staples a welcoming place for peers and teachers alike. They are the ‘glue’ of the school community: kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students who make Staples the special place it is.”
From left: Emmett Zahler, Aviva Ross, Amire Williams, Noa Katz,, Giselle Colon, Benjamin Peterson.
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Of the many fundraisers at Sherwood Island State Park, STAR’s Walk & Roll is one of Westport’s favorites.
The non-profit supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. This year’s event — bringing together people of all ages and abilities (the “roll” refers to the many attendees in wheelchairs) — is May 4. Money raised helps STAR continue providing essential programs and services.
For this year’s 20th annual event, STAR invites artists, designers and other creative types design the logo. The winning entry will be featured on t-shirts and promotional materials.
Contestants must take a guided tour of STAR’s Norwalk headquarters to gain inspiration and insight into STAR’s mission. Email kguthrie@starct.org to schedule a visit, or more information. The deadline is March 7.
Today, Yurkiw and his fellow volunteers will ship another container. This one is filled with $250,000 worth of used medical equipment, from a nursing home in Wilton.
They’re also raising another $8,000, to cover the costs of whatever they can’t ship today.
To donate money, equipment, medical supplies, or volunteer your time, click here call Ridgefield Responds: 646-873-0050. To donate to Ukraine Aid International, click here.
Mark Yurkiw has not forgotten his Ukrainian roots.
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Caribbean mountain folk music, bluegrass, country and gospel come together March 1, at Voices Cafe.
And it’s all in one show.
Rick Reyes & Santos de Palo highlight the 8 p.m. concert, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport. The band includes guitar, drums, sax, bass and cuarto.
Voices Cafe offers tables or individual seating. Coffee and sweets are vailable for purchase; guests can bring their own beverages and snacks. Cconcerts support social justice programs in the area.
Tickets are $25 each. Click here for more information.
And back story. She writes: “It’s morning. I lie in bed wrapped snug as a mummy in my quilt. I can see through the slit of space between the window and the shade that the leaves on the rhododendron bush outside are curled as tight as a Cuban cigar against the frigid polar air. Maybe I’ll stay in bed for a while. Maybe I’ll fall back asleep.
“But no. I spot 2 invading stink bugs, seeking indoor warmth — one clinging with all six legs to the TV screen, perhaps remembering the heat of last night’s news; the other snug as a bug on the the rug.
“Oh wee beasties, innocent intruders, I should feel sorry for you. You mean no harm. Like me, you only want to be warm.
“And you don’t even stink until I squish you.”
Stink bug, before squishing. (Photo/Mary-Lou Weisman)
And finally … on this date in 1878, the first telephone directory was issued. The city: New Haven, Connecticut.
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