Today marks 300 days in captivity for Israeli hostages.
Westporters will join a worldwide run/walk event, calling for the immediate release of the men and women held by Hamas.
It’s set for 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. Jews and non-Jews will stand in solidarity, and hold signs — including the official artwork of the international campaign (below).
Organizers say, “this is a family-friendly event. Everyone is invited.”
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StoryFest — Connecticut’s largest literary festival, hosted annually by the Westport Library — has just added a Very Big Name.
Joyce Carol Oates will appear on the Trefz Forum stage September 21. It’s the writer’s first appearance here since she was honored at the 2008 Malloy Lecture in the Arts.
Oates will be joined by award-winning young adult author Ryan La Sala, best-selling writer Sarah Beth Durst, fantasy writer P. Djèlí Clark, National Endowment of the Arts Fellow Peng Shepherd, and novelist Claire Messud.
Oates appears the day after a keynote conversation between author, essayist and editor Roxane Gay, and memoirist and novelist Oliver Radclyffe (September 20). Sunday (September 22) includes a PitchFest workshop with Bloom Writers’ Studio.
In addition to Oates’ and the other panels, Saturday includes 2 live podcast recordings; the awarding of the 2024 Westport Prize for Literature, and a special ceremony for the late Sybil Steinberg, former Publisher’s Weekly editor and beloved Westport icon. This year’s StoryFest is dedicated to Steinberg.
Click here for the full schedule, and more information.
From left: P. Djèli Clark, Joyce Carol Oates, Joe R. Lansdale.
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Last weekend, Westport native Chelsea Cutler played at the Levitt.
Tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m., the outdoor amphitheater features another home-grown musician: Drew Angus.
Growing up listening to Tom Petty, the Beatles and Rolling Stones, the 2007 Staples High School graduate merges classic rock influences with modern pop, folk and Americana artists like Ben Rector, The Lone Bellow and John Mayer.
Drew has shared stages with Mumford & Sons, Stevie Nicks, Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan, Pat Benatar, and Andrea Bocelli (on “Live with Kelly & Ryan”). He performed the national anthem at Citi Field and Oracle Park, and appeared on “Saturday Night Live” with Jimmy Fallon and Harry Styles. In 2023, one of his recordings was shared by Elton John to millions of followers.
Back in town last Sunday, Drew drew a large and appreciative crowd at the first-ever Soundview Summer Stroll.
Click here for free tickets, and more information.
Drew Angus
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Many Westporters love pickleball. On August 5 (6 p.m., Intensity Racquet Club), they can play for a cause.
Th Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser is organized by Westporters Mary Sue Teplitz and Dina Upton. Money raised will go toward the Fairfield County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, set for October 27 at Calf Pasture Beach.
Teplitz’s mother died from Alzheimer’s in 2012. “It seems like almost everyone has been touched by this disease in some way,” Mary Sue says.
Tickets are $100. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
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Mike Greenberg does not shy away from controversy.
The ESPN and ABC sports show host and Westport resident wrote “Got Your Number” — a guaranteed bar-argument-starting book describing which legends owned the jersey numbers 1 to 100.
His new book may start even more debates — because he and co-author Paul Hembekides claim to end them.
“Got Your Answers: The 100 Greatest Sports Arguments — Settled” comes out in September.
In it, Greenberg asks — and answers — questions like: What are the top 10 dynasties in major sports history? The top 10 most coveted sports trophies? The top 7 Game 7 performances? The top 10 Negro Leagues player?
Ranging from professional and college team sports to tennis, boxing and auto racing, Greenberg covers it all.
He’s pretty sure he’s right about all the answers.
You be the judge.
Mike Greenberg
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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between July 24 and 31.
A 58-year-old Westport man was arrested for DUI and violation of traffic control signals, after driving erratically in Fairfield and Westport. He was swerving between lanes, stopping for extended periods at green lights, and failing to stop for red lights.
A 41-year-old Royersford, Pennsylvania woman was arrested for illegal possession of personal ID information, illegal reproduction of a payment card, identity theft, criminal impersonation and forgery. M&T Bank on Post Road West called police after she attempted to withdraw money with fraudulent identification.
A 35-year-old Bridgeport woman was arrested for failure to appear, following a motor vehicle violation stop.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 17 citations
- Driving while texting: 7
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 7
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 6
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 5
- Failure to obey stop sign: 4
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 4
- Improper use of markers: 4
- Speeding: 3
- Failure to reinstate license: 3
- Failure to renew registration: 3
- Violation of probation: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Operating a motorcycle without insurance: 1
- Failure to carry license: 1
- Failure to display lights: 1
- Failure to obey posted height requirements: 1
One result of failing obey posted height requirements. (Photo/Jennifer Johnson)
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Get ready for the High Holy Days.
The Westport Library and the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County host food writers Naama Shefi and Westport’s own Liz Rueven in conversation about Jewish recipes and culinary heritage September 9, 7 p.m.).
The event highlights Shefi’s cookbook, “The Jewish Holiday Table: A World of Recipes, Traditions & Stories to Celebrate All Year Long.”
Unfortunately, there will be no samples.
Click here for more information.
Cheesy matzah lasagna — mmmmm! (Photo/Liz Rueven)
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Westport resident Tim Lewis died peacefully on Saturday, surrounded by his family, from complications of cancer. He was 58.
Tim loved his Kansas City roots, returning often to watch the Chiefs with high school friends. He had played clarinet in the orchestra, sung in the chorus, been on the swim team, and started on the football team.
At Yale University Tim was a member of the a cappella group the Spizzwinks.
Tim had a deep commitment to community service, established while canvassing for his mother’s election to the Kansas City school board amid a heated battle over desegregation.
After college, living in Washington, Tim volunteered at a homeless shelter.
After graduating from Kellogg School of Management, Tim had a long, successful career in private equity and business consulting. He served as a principal at the The Keystone Group, followed by CRG Partners and Atlantic Street Capital, before joining Southfield Capital where he was a partner for nearly 10 years.
He served as a Westport Soccer Association commissioner for 4 years. He coached youth soccer and basketball, served on the St. Luke’s School board of directors, and volunteered with Social Impact Partners of CT.
His family says, “Tim gave generously to many educational and scholarship funds, so other kids could have the advantages he and his children did. Tim’s unique touch was connecting with people from all walks of life and with all points of view. He firmly believed in and practiced the art of civil discourse, even in these divided times.”
His obituary says: “Nothing topped his devotion to his family. His wife Alisyn and children Ale, Cessa and Nate were his top priorities. He loved them deeply, actively and tirelessly.
“Tim was famous for coordinating play dates, soccer schedules, date night, violin and drum lessons, all while ordering fall clothing for the kids (often to their chagrin) and making high-stakes work conference calls.
“He was a memory-making mastermind, relentless in his pursuit of family time through neighborhood walks, vacation hikes, and beach days in Nantucket. He particularly cherished family trips, from Northampton to Sedona, Machu Picchu to the Galapagos Islands, Italy, Scotland and beyond.”
He is survived by his wife of 23 years Alisyn, twin daughters Ale and Cessa, son Nate, parents Karen and Stan, sister and brother Catherine (Alex) and John (Suzanne), nieces Sadie, Zoe and Sasha, and nephew Eli.
Donations may be made in Tim’s honor to https://letswinpc.org/in-memory-of-tim-lewis/, which offered hope and ideas throughout Tim’s challenge, as well as the Whittingham Cancer Center, whose doctors and nurses provided comfort to Tim.
A memorial service is set for August`17 (2 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church).
Tim Lewis
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo could be captioned: “Why dog paddle when your master paddles for you?”
(Photo/Andrew Colabella)
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And finally … on this date in 1774, Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen — corroborating a prior discovery by Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
(“06880” is a gas. To keep us breathing, please click here. Thank you!)
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