Tag Archives: Sweet Remains

Roundup: WTF, WCP, PAL …

Posted on November 21, 2025 | 1 comment

As the weather cools down, Wakeman Town Farm heats up.

On the calendar:

“Wreath-making Class” (December 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). Create a custom wreath using local berries and natural materials. Beginners to seasoned crafters welcome.

“Warm Bites for Cold Nights” (Grades 2-6; 2 different 5-week sessions, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., beginning in January): Hearty, hands-on dishes, with kids-safe techniques.

“Winter Cooking for the Minis” (Grades K-2; 6 Monday sessions, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., beginning in December):

“Frosty Bites and Holiday Treats Cooking Class for Kids”  (Ages 6-12; December 12, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.).

“Warm & Cozy Winter Desserts” baking class (adults; December 18, 6:30 to 9 p.m.). For beginning to intermediate bakers; BYOB.

Click here for more information, including registration.

Wreath-making and more, at Wakeman Town Farm.

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The Westport Country Playhouse is on a roll.

Mandy Patinkin appears tonight. The very popular “A Sherlock Carol” returns next month.

And on January 24, the Sweet Remains take the stage.

Greg Naughton’s folk-rock trio — with their acoustic sound, 3-part harmonies and 65 million Spotify streams — performs January 24 (8 p.m.). Click here for tickets, and more information. 

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Speaking of Greg Naughton: His wife, Kelli O’Hara, is starring in a new Off-Broadway show.

Her co-star in “This World of Tomorrow” is Tom Hanks. He also wrote the play.

Opening night drew an A-list crowd, including Meryl Streep, Martin Short and Steve Martin.

The New York Times review’s sub-head says O’Hara “shines” as Hanks’ love interest.

Click here for the review. Click here for the opening night story. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)

Tom Hanks, Kayli Carter and Kelli O’Hara in “This World of Tomorrow.” (Photo/Sara Krulwich for The New York Times)

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Westport’s Jewish Business Network hosts Melissa Bernstein — the co-founder of legendary toy company Melissa & Doug, and the wellness brand Lifelines — for a celebration of her new book, “The Heart of Entrepreneurship.”

The December 9 event (Chabad of Westport) begins with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour. The program follows at 7:30. For tickets and more information, click here.

Melissa Bernstein

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Congratulations to the Westport PAL 3rd and 4th grade modified football teams.

They’re co-champions in the the Fairfield County Football League.

We look forward to seeing them in action, at Paul Lane Stadium, a few years from now!

The Westport North AFC champions …

… and the Westport South NFC champs.

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Stephanie Phillips was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club.

The district governor applauded members for their leadership in categories including foundation giving and membership growth, and their energy supporting community initiatives.

That good work was clear, as Rotary Club members supported the Westport Fire Department’s winter clothing drive.

Stephanie Phillips, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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Sure, it’s almost Thanksgiving. But fall foliage continues to hang on in Westport … and to awe us.

We give thanks for this spectacular scene on Highland Road — and to JD Dworkow, for capturing it as today’s “Westport … Naturally feature photo.

(Photo/JD Dworkow)

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And finally … on this date in 1877,  Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph: a machine that could record and play sound.

On this same date in 1959, disc jockey Alan Freed — the man who popularized the term “rock and roll” — was fired by New York’s WABC radio. He was alleged to have participated in a payola scandal.

(“06880” is your hyper-local source of news, events, photos and much more — 24/7/365. These Roundup songs are icing on the cake. If you enjoy any of it, please click here to support us. Thank you!)

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Posted in Children, Entertainment, Environment, Sports, Westport Country Playhouse

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Plastic Fantastic Concert

Posted on December 27, 2018 | 6 comments

From a young age, Andrew Colabella hated plastic straws. He couldn’t understand how something that was used for just a few seconds could be so quickly tossed aside, then lie around on land or in our oceans for centuries.

He never used a straw. As much as possible, he tried to avoid all forms of plastic. He used metal forks and ate off porcelain plates. But we live in a plastic, throwaway society. The number of plastic cups used and discarded at bars floored him. He thought he was the only one who noticed.

Colabella is now an RTM member. At last he can do something about plastic that goes beyond changing his own habits.

The District 4 representative has already convinced 38 local restaurants and franchises to find biodegradable alternatives to single-uise products.

Now he’s introduced an ordinance to ban plastic straws in Westport. (There are exemptions for disabled people, who need them because other alternatives are not strong enough.) The proposal is making its way through the RTM Environment Committee.

But this is not some quixotic quest. Colabella has partnered with 4 other longtime Westporters, in what they call the Plastic Pollution Project.

Wendy Goldwyn Batteau was inspired by her first boss — the editor of Silent Spring — to co-found Sierra Club Books. She’s worked for decades as an award-winning editor/executive at major publishers, collaborating with Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, Audubon and the Ocean Alliance.

Liz Milwe — in “real life,” a choreographer and dance filmmaker — has a long history of environmental activism. Ten years ago as an RTM member, she helped Westport become the first town east of the Mississippi to ban plastic bags. She’s won awards from the US Environmental Agency and Westport’s Green Task Force.

Ashley Moran is a Saugatuck Elementary School teacher. A founding member of Nurturing Minds in Africa — a non-profit helping educate poor and at-risk girls in Tanzania — she believe that education leads to meaningful change.

Greg Naughton — a filmmaker and producer — grew up in Westport and Weston, in a family of performers. His 9-year-old son is in Moran’s class. Excited by what he learned about plastic straws, composting and the environment, the boy got his dad involved in the cause.

Naughton is also a founding member of the Sweet Remains. The indie folk-rock band has over 35 million Spotify streams.

Which is why and how the Sweet Remains are playing a benefit concert, to raise funds for the Plastic Pollution Project.

The event is Friday, January 4 (Fairfield Theatre Company, 7 p.m.). It starts with a reception in the lobby/art gallery, featuring presentations about plastic problems from P3 members, Westport students and others. The Sweet Remains and P3 founders will be on hand to chat.

It should be a “sweet” concert. And one that helps ensure — in a small but meaningful way — that plastic no longer “remains” on our land and in our seas, centuries after all the rest of us are gone.

(For tickets and more information on the concert, click here.) 

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Posted in Entertainment, Environment, Local politics, People, Restaurants

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