In the past decade, most newspapers have moved online. Whether it’s the New York Times or the Westport News, many folks find what they’re looking for with a click of the mouse, not the rustle of a page.
That’s particularly true for USA Today, which I always think of as given out exclusively to hotel guests and airline passengers (back in the day when both businesses handed out freebies).
But apparently, once upon a time, people bought USA Today from machines. Those machines are still around, even if it’s been years since they were used.
Apparently too — judging by last week’s Photo Challenge — at least 2 of those dinosaur relics are still around. (Click here to see.)
My photo was not taken at the Westport train station. Several readers thought it showed the kiosk on the New York-bound side.
Nope. My shot was of the one next to the post office, in Playhouse Square. As much as I’ve used the post office — and I live in the condos right behind it — I’d never actually “seen” that USA Today machine until a couple of weeks ago.
Nancy Engel and Doug Weber did, though. They were the only readers to answer correctly. They win a year’s subscription to USA Today.
Just kidding. They’ll have to stay in a hotel, or fly, to get that.
This week’s Photo Challenge comes from David Squires. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
“06880” seldom reports “survey” results. Best Nail Salon in Fairfield County, Greatest Towns for Beach Strolling — those stories land in my inbox every day. Clickbait, all of them.
But I’ll make an exception for this one. It comes from a legit source — and it involves one of our town jewels.
USA Today just published a list of the best public high school in every state. Criteria included student and parent survey responses, teacher absenteeism, standardized test scores, and other measures of academic performance.
The Connecticut representative — complete with a handsome photo — is Staples.
Congratulations to all. At a time of so much educational uncertainty, it’s great to get even a glimmer of good news.
Staples High School. (Photo/Jennifer Kobetitsch)
The Westport Library Book Sale lost its spring and summer dates. But they sold “book bundles” online — and that encouraged them to open an online book store.
that it has opened an online book store.
They’re opening with a curated selection of “Surprise Book Bundles”: used books and CDs in various categories, for adults and children. More categories and items will be added soon. Click here to “enter” the store.
Purchases are available for pickup, by appointment, within 7 to 10 days after purchase, at the library’s upper parking lot.
The Westport Library Book Sale is operated by Westport Book Sale Ventures, a
nonprofit enterprise that supports the library, while providing employment for adults with disabilities.
During Tropical Storm Isaias, Frank Accardi got tired of seeing this message:
“OUTAGE UPDATE: Eversource crews are working hard to safely restore power as quickly as possible. While we always provide the best information possible, sometimes we may need additional time to provide our estimated times of restoration.”
He suggests this replacement, for customers to send after receiving their next bill:
“PAYMENT UPDATE: Westport families are working hard to safely restore solvency as quickly as possible. While we always provide the best information possible, sometimes we may need additional time to provide our estimated time of financial recompense to Eversource.”
Landmark Preschool in Westport reports that 23 new students have enrolled since June. While the school on Burr Road provides in-classroom learning, it also provides “parallel remote learning” from home, via classroom cameras and monitors.
Students will stay in small cohorts; hand washing will be increased, and ventilation improved; there will be additional cleaning crews and disinfecting foggers; faculty and staff will be given special training, and every teacher will be provided a special COVID sanitation kit, and clear face masks so youngsters will not miss visual cues.
And finally … folk/Latin/rockabilly singer Trini Lopez died this week, from complications of COVID-19. He was 83.
Last March, “06880” reported that Liz Hannah’s screenplay about the Pentagon Papers was being made into a major motion picture.
Very major. Steven Spielberg directed “The Post.” Tom Hanks plays Ben Bradlee. Meryl Streep is Katherine Graham.
Hannah is not a boldface name like those three.
At least, not yet.
But good things are happening to the 2003 Staples High School graduate.
Liz Hannah (Photo/Martim Vian for USA Today)
“The Post”was named best film of 2017 by the National Board of Review, and in the Top 10 by Time and the American Film Institute. It earned 6 Golden Globe nominations, including Best Screenplay. (It didn’t win. But Hannah was there, at a table with Hanks and Streep.)
The writer has gotten some pretty good ink herself.
USA Today headlined its story: “‘The Post’ Writer Liz Hannah Shows What’s Possible When Women Occupy Powerful Roles in Hollywood.”
In it, the Westport native talks about her female mentors, and the inspiration of Katherine Graham herself.
USA Today notes:
A few years into writing pilots that languished in development and feature spec scripts that didn’t sell, a burned-out Hannah made one last-ditch effort before planning to leave the grind of writing to focus on something like teaching. At the encouragement of her husband, Hannah decided it was time to write something about Graham, and focus it on her decision to publish the Pentagon Papers.
Like Graham, “I had been in those rooms where I’m the only woman, and men turn their back on me pretend I’m not there,” Hannah says. The writer’s journey to express her voice, and use “guts (to) ignore the fear and stand on our own two feet,” paralleled her protagonist’s.
Eventually, Hannah’s screenplay reached former Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal. She said:
I would’ve wanted to make this movie no matter who wrote it. But of course working with and supporting women has always been important to me, and I was thrilled to help get it made.
For months, the media has been talking about men — in Hollywood and Washington — taking advantage of women.
Now — with “The Post” — they can talk about the power of women to do great things on their own.
Including Westport’s own Liz Hannah.
(Click here for the full USA Today story. Hat tip: Jeff Kapec)
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