In the wake of the Board of Education’s 4-2 vote against keeping the Westport Community Gardens at their present Long Lots Elementary School location, Republican BOE candidates Jamie Fitzgerald and Camilo Riano issued this statement:
“If we were seated members of the Board of Education, we each would have supported the amended motion regarding the preservation of the community gardens that was defeated 4-2 on Thursday, October 19. We believe Board of Education members have an obligation to take a holistic view of all decisions and the impact they have on all Westport constituents.”
On Thursday, a Westport resident placed a lone Israel flag on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
On Friday, it was replaced by dozens of flags, of a wide variety of nations.
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
Nothing nefarious was going on. The town of Westport was not trying to make a political statement.
The flags of world nations go up every year at this time, on the span named for the Westporter who spent her life volunteering for the United Nations (and started our town’s jUNe Day welcoming tradition, over 50 years ago).
The flags go up twice a year: on jUNe Day in the summer, and for UN Day. The holiday marking the founding of the organization is Tuesday.
Back to Israel: Today’s candlelight vigil supporting safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas is tonight (Sunday), 6 to 6:45 p.m. on Jesup Green. Attendees are asked to bring real or electric candles (in case of wind).
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Matthew Van Gessel returned to the Westport stage last night.
As he did throughout his Staples Players career, the 2011 graduate played a psychologically fraught character, with outstanding depth and nuance.
Van Gessel was one half of the cast of “Gentle Hacksaw.” The drama — combining religion, identity and violence — had its world premier staged reading as part of the Westport Library’s 6th annual StoryFest.
The event continues today (Sunday) with a TeachRock Workshop, Pink or Treat Halloween parade with children’s author Victoria Kann, and pitchfest for authors. Click here for details.
Matthew Van Gessel (left) and Ahmad Maksoud on the Westport Library stage. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes courtesy of Betsy Amitin. She writes:
“With so many atrocities all over the news, I am trying to shift my focus to notice sweet spot small moments that give me comfort or joy throughout the day.
“Looking out my kitchen window on yet another soggy fall day, I noticed this squirrel had found shelter from the downpour underneath our outdoor table umbrella. It cracked me up.
“It stood there a while, seeming as though it too was taking a quick break from the heaviness surrounding it.”
As scheduled, parts of I-95 were closed last night — along with the northbound Exit 17 entrance and exit ramps, and the southbound exit ramp — as part of the “slide,” to replace the old bridge with the new one.
As expected, traffic — including plenty of trucks — jammed the Post Road.
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
The closure is in effect until 6 a.m. Monday (October 23).
Sunday’s “Bring Them Home” candlelight vigil on Jesup Green (6 to 6:45 p.m.) — “an opportunity to come together, united as a community, to pray for the safe return of the hostages and show our support for Israel” — is on.
It might be windy. Organizers suggest electric candles, in addition to or in place of ones that might blow out.
Speaking of Israel: 4 Westporters — Jennifer and Eric Blankfein, and Wendy and Spencer Brown — were on a flight there when Hamas attacked.
They landed at 10:30 on Saturday morning,, October 7.
Jennifer documented their 4 days in Israel on her blog, “Book Nation by Jen.” It’s long, but well worth the time. Click here for “A Trip to the Holy Land; Timing is Everything.” (Hat tip: Betsy Pollak)
Speaking still of the crisis in the Middle East: The Westport Writers’ Workshops is raising funds the best way they know how.
Next Thursday (October 26, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Zoom), Julie Sarkissian will lead a writing circle. All proceeds from the $35 registration fee will provide aid to children affected by the fighting.
Attendees will write together to prompts, and share work aloud. Click here to register.
Neil Gaiman — noted author of “American Gods,” “Coraline” and “The Sandman” series — kicked off this weekend’s StoryFest at the Westport Library.
His keynote conversation doubled as the Fall 2023 Malloy Lecture in the Arts.
A full slate of events — panel discussions, workshops, children’s activities, a story pitch session and the world premiere of the psychological thriller “Gentle Hacksaw” — take place today and tomorrow.
In addition to the previously announced 8-24 hearing on Parker Harding Plaza, next Monday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (October 23, 7 p.m., Zoom) includes a proposed text amendment to modify affordable housing standards.
The request — to increased the number of bedrooms from 20 to 24 per gross acre, and authorize approval of off-site affordable housing — would turn 259 Riverside Avenue, currently an office building, into residences.
Click here for the full agenda of Monday’s P&Z meeting.
La Plage says “adieu” to their patio for the season, in a spooky way.
On Sunday, October 29 (5 p.m. until late), the Longshore restaurant hosts a Halloween Soiree.
On the menu: complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails (“boo-ze”) from Litchfield Distillery, music, and a costume contest.
RSVP by phone (203-684-6232) or email (Info@laplagewestport.com).
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Sustainable Westport’s second Residential Energy Learning series focuses on solar energy. “Everything Solar” is set for the Westport Library on November 7 (6:30 p.m., reception, 6:45 presentation and Q-and-A).
Westport architect John Rountree and Nathan Hernandez, solar consultant, will discuss how to transition your home or business to solar energy. They’ll cover solar panels, installation companies, design considerations, the expected ROI, and financing options (with federal and state incentives).
Westporter Dan Schlesinger will talk about his recent process of going solar.
The final Residential Learning Series, “Going Geothermal,” is December 12.
We’d love you to check out 4 great houses on our “Historic Homes of 06880” tour on November 5 (2 to 5 p.m.; click here for details).
But there’s another tour that very same day, and in the interest of fairness I’m posting that info too.
Histoury — a non-profit dedicated to preserving and appreciating historic buildings in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts — is offering a bus tour of Frazier Peters homes in Westport.
It begins at 1 p.m. November 5, and lasts 4 hours. The bus will include 20 stone homes designed by the famed architect, with stops for a few interior looks.
Click here for tickets ($75 for adults, $49 for students).
Due to artist availability. the Westport Country Playhouse November 13 Script in Hand play reading has been changed.
“Cleo” has been replaced by “Theatre People,” by Paul Slade Smith.
Based on Ferenc Molnár’s Hungarian farce “Play at the Castle,” this adaptation is a comedy about people in love with theater. But pursuit of a surefire Broadway hit, they might have to give reality a rewrite.
Click here for more information, and tickets to the 7 p.m. play reading.
Longtime Westporter Edward (Doug) Hyde, Jr. died Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones. He was 85.
The Ridgefield native was a graduate of Fairfield Prep and the University of Detroit. He served proudly as a sergeant in the US Army Reserve.
Doug was a credit analyst in New York, and the owner of Hyde’s Wines & Liquors in Ridgefield. He later bought Beacon Liquor Store in Westport. He also took on the role of manager at Depot Liquors in Saugatuck
He and his wife Joan Masnato, former Westport town clerk, were married for 53 years.
Doug and Joan loved to travel. He found solace and joy in fishing and boating. As an amateur radio operator, he connected with the world through his airwaves. He also enjoyed reading historical and Stephen King novels, cooking and entertaining.
He is survived by his wife; brothers Brian of Winchester, Virginia and Gary (companion Christine Lamadrid) of Avon; sister Marilyn Gregory of Shelton; nieces Sara Hyde, Marybeth McAllister (John) and Rena Hemmann (Tom); nephews Paul Hyde (Annie), Jason Hyde (Jamie), Kenneth Hyde (Jen S.), William Gregory (Susanna) and Thomas Gregory, and goddaughter Sally Anastos (Tarsey).
A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday (October 24, St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield). Click here to leave online condolences. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Westport Volunteer EMS, 50 Jesup Rd, Westport CT 06880 or St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Doug Hyde
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Egrets at the Sherwood Mill Pond always make us smile.
Today — in the golden sun of autumn — they make our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … happy 83rd birthday to Manfred Mann.
You know his band. But the South African/English keyboardist was not its lead singer. That was Paul Jones.
But he did sing with another, later group, also named for him: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
(Just another regular “Roundup” — in other words, everything you need to know in Westport today. If you like what you learn, please consider a contribution to “06880.” Click here — and thank you!)
The largest literary festival in Connecticut returns soon to the Westport Library.
And Saturday, October 21 — the biggest day of the 3-day StoryFest — features more than 40 authors, spanning nearly every genre imaginable. They include big names like Clay McLeod Chapman, Angie Kim, Gabino Iglesias, Caroline Kepnes and Wendy Walker.
A host of panel discussions begin at 10 a.m. That’s in addition to picture book readings for children and teens, author conversations, and a special live taping of Chapman’s Fearmongers podcast (with best-seller Stephen Graham Jones and Josh Malerman, author of Netflix’s “Birdbox”).
Saturday closes with a staged reading of “Gentle Hacksaw,” the new play from Eric LaRocca.
Now in its sixth year, StoryFest is the Library’s annual celebration of reading, writing, ideas and community. This year’s event runs from Friday, October 20, through Sunday, October 22, and includes a keynote conversation with renowned author Neil Gaiman, a writers’ workshop, “Pinkalicious” author Victoria Kann, and virtuoso guitarist Gary Lucas.
Below is a closer look at the Saturday lineup for Saturday, October 21. Click here for full descriptions; click here to register for a free Saturday day pass; click here to buy tickets for the staged reading of “Gentle Hacksaw.”
Book readings for kids
10-10:30 a.m.: Tommy Greenwald and his son Charlie read from “The Rescues” (grades K-4)
10:30-11 a.m.: Stephen G. Bowling reads from the Mom’s Choice Award-winning picture book “Grandma’s House is Haunted”
11-11:30 a.m.: Sivan Hong and Sally J. Pia read from the “Super Fun Day” book series and “The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn”
Panel Discussions and Conversations
10-11 a.m.: “Peek-a-Boo, I See You: Inclusivity in Children’s Literature”
11 am to noon: “Putting It Together: Ellen Datlow Presents…”
Noon-1 p.m.: “Killer Women: Writing Crime from a Female Point of View”
1-2 p.m.: “On Leaving and Returning: Writing the Body Home”
2-3 p,m.: “Community Into View: Writing Race, Culture and Identity”
3-4 p.m.: “Scream with Me: Heartache, Humor, and Horror”
4-5 pm: The Incredibly True Adventures of… Twists and Turns on the Writer’s Path”
5-6 pm: “On the Edge of Our Seats: Writing Suspense and Anticipation”
Deep dives with authors and artists, moderated by Kerstin Rao
12-12:30 p.m.: Rowan MacColl and Connor McCann on “Comic Art”
1-1:30 p.m.: Eric LaRocca and Owen Egerton on “Writing for the Stage”
2-2:30 p.m.: Gabino Iglesias and Ellen Datlow on “Editing Anthologies”
3:30-4 p.m.: Lizzie Stark and Cassadra Khaw on “Game Writing”
Live podcast
5-6 p.m.: Clay McLeod Chapman records his “Fearmongers” podcast live, with Josh Malerman and Stephen Graham Jones.
Staged reading
7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show: “Gentle Hacksaw”: a startling new drama of religion, identity and violence.
Click here for more information on the entire 3 days of StoryFest.
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