Westport celebrated its 6th annual Pride Day today with the largest crowd, the most community organizations — and the best weather — ever.
Jesup Green was awash in rainbows: flags, t-shirts, even dog collars.
Politicians, from Senator Richard Blumenthal to 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, spoke. All sent strong messages of inclusivity, joy, and the power of love.
Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This is what America looks like.”
But the stage really belonged to entertainers. Staples Players, former Player (and Broadway actor) Jamie Martin Mann, a drag queen — and a young dancer — made the day special for the hundreds of LGBTQ attendees, and allies.
Staples Players — many wearing “Players Pride” t-shirts — sang “One Day More,” a rousing song about conflicting hopes, fears and destinies, from “Les Misérables.”
it was a very prideful day indeed.
Vendors, non-partisan groups and religious organizations all had booths at Jesup Green. (Photo/Thomas Samaranayake)
Van Goldberg wowed the crowd with his dance routine.
Political figures from Hartford and Westport were all smiles. The group sang “Happy Birthday” to Lee Goldstein and Abby Tolan. Both Board of Education members celebrated birthdays today.
The Saugatuck Church contingent — and Westport Police — were all smiles.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (2nd from left) and the Homes with Hope crew: Katherine Murray, Helen McAlinden, Thomas Samaranayake. (Contributed photo)
Broadway actor Jamie Martin Mann sang, and gave a speech and poem about growing up in Westport. He credited Greens Farms Elementary School music teacher Suzanne Sherman Propp, Bedford Middle School principal Adam Rosen and Staples Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long with creating safe environments, where he could learn to be himself. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted)
Adam Drake, his wife Lindsey and their children Malin and Parker have lived in Westport for 11 years. He is a member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM), serving District 3
Adam is a writer and co-founder of Reflekta, a company that preserves family stories and intergenerational memory. The other day, he posted this piece on his personal website.
Today — as Westport prepared for its town-wide Pride celebration (12 p.m., Jesup Green) — it’s a great time to publish it here.
I made the mistake of reading the comment sections from local communities’ Pride flag-raising events, and grew disheartened with many of the messages shared there. They were rude, hateful, and incredibly ignorant. (Though I was thrilled to see one commenter end up being arrested for disrupting a Pride event in his town.)
But I had to take a step back, take a breath, and realize that the people saying these things are so filled with hate and anger that to live that way must be horribly suffocating. Imagine going through life carrying that much vitriol in your heart, and the only way to ease your pain is through the suffering of others?
Adam and Lindsey Drake and their children, at 2025 Westport Pride.
I have always believed something very simple, and I mean very simple, which is helpful because I am often at my best when the moral math does not require one to open Microsoft Excel.
No one should ever tell you who you can and cannot love.
That’s it.
That’s the whole idea.
I don’t think love needs a permission slip. I don’t think someone’s identity should be treated like a zoning variance. I don’t think a person should have to walk into a room and silently calculate how much of themselves they are allowed to bring with them.
And as an RTM member in Westport, as a friend, as a father, as a neighbor, and as someone who has spent a lifetime trying, sometimes clumsily, to become a better human being, I think allyship starts right there.
It starts with us saying: You are welcome here.
Not conditionally. Not quietly. Not in a “we support you, but please don’t make anyone uncomfortable” kind of way.
We need to do this fully.
Adam Drake was in the crowd earlier this month, when 1st Selectman Kevin Christie and Westport Pride president Brian McGunagle raised the rainbow flag at Jesup Green.
The LGBTQ community is not an abstract issue. It is not a debate topic. It is not a political wedge or a cable news chyron. It is our friends. Our family members. Our classmates. Our coaches. Our teachers. Our doctors. Our artists. Our business owners. Our kids. Our neighbors standing next to us in line at Coffee An’, or Trader Joe’s, or the dump, where, incidentally, all Westport residents eventually meet and silently judge each other’s recycling habits. (I promise to tie up my cardboard next time.)
And if you live in a community long enough, you learn that belonging is not created by proclamations alone. It is created in the small moments. The way we speak. The way we listen. The way we show up when someone is being targeted. The way we make it clear that nobody has to shrink themselves to fit into the town they already belong to.
I wrote about this in an op-ed for the Westport Journal a few months ago when a fellow RTM member had some questionable takes on celebrating a member of our community who also happened to be gay.
The numbers matter here. Gallup has reported that 9.3% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, nearly double the share from just a few years ago.
In Connecticut, UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates that roughly 170,500 adults identify as LGBT.
These are not small numbers. These are not “somewhere else” numbers. These are our communities. These are our towns. These are people sitting beside us at meetings, cheering at games, volunteering at schools, serving on boards, running businesses, raising families, and making Westport better.
A broad range of Westporters welcomed Pride Month at Jesup Green.
And yet, despite all the progress made, the burden remains real. The Trevor Project’s 2025 survey found that 44% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it. That statistic alone should stop all of us in our tracks. Because when young people are struggling, when they are wondering whether they are safe, accepted, loved, or understood, the adults in the room have a responsibility. Not just the parents.
All of us.
The neighbors. The coaches. The elected officials. The people with microphones at public meetings. The people who write fever dream posts on Facebook who are no doubt inspired by whatever propaganda they saw that morning on Fox News.
Being an ally does not mean being perfect. Which is great because I would have been disqualified sometime around 1987.
It does not mean you always know the exact right word to use or that you never make a mistake. It means you care enough to learn. It means you care enough to apologize when you get it wrong. It means you care enough to stand beside people even when it would be easier to stay quiet.
Westport walked the talk when it approved a rainbow crosswalk. An actual rainbow over Jesup Road is a nice touch. (Photo/Svea Vocke)
As an RTM member, I believe local government has a role to play in making people feel seen and protected. That does not mean every meeting needs to become a culture war cage match. In fact, I would very much prefer fewer cage matches in general, White House front lawn, or otherwise.
It means we should speak with care. It means we should remember that our words travel farther than the room. It means that when we discuss people’s lives, identities, families, and dignity, we do so with humility.
Westport likes to think of itself as welcoming, thoughtful, educated, and engaged. Most of the time, I believe that is true. But being a welcoming community is not a trophy you win once and put on a shelf. It is a practice. It is something we have to keep choosing.
We choose it when LGBTQ kids see adults defending them, not debating them.
We choose it when same-sex couples feel as ordinary and celebrated as any other couple holding hands on Main Street.
We choose it when transgender and nonbinary neighbors are given the dignity every person deserves.
We choose it when we refuse to let cruelty off the hook as “just an opinion.”
And we choose it when we make a safe place for joy, not just tolerance.
Saugatuck Church celebrates Pride with fun and joy. (Photo/Lois Himes)
That matters because tolerance is not enough. We need to move away from “Fine, you can be here,” to “We’re glad you are.”
That is the kind of community I know and want Westport to be.
I want LGBTQ people to know that they do not have to earn their place here. They already have it. I want young people to know that the adults around them are not waiting to judge them, but ready to support them. I want families to know that love, in all its forms, is something this community should celebrate loudly, warmly, and without apology.
And yes, sometimes awkwardly. Because let’s be honest, some of us are going to overthink the wording, make the sign too small, clap at the wrong time, or wear a rainbow pin slightly crooked. But I will take awkward love over polished indifference every single time.
Being an ally is not about being the hero of someone else’s story. It is about making sure nobody has to stand alone in theirs. So I’ll come back to where I started. No one should ever tell you who you can and cannot love. Not a government. Not a neighbor. Not a school board. Not a stranger on the internet. Not anyone. Love is hard enough without asking people to defend it.
In Westport, and everywhere else, we should be brave enough, kind enough, and decent enough to say what should never have been controversial in the first place:
Westport’s first-ever town-wide Juneteenth celebration will be a great one.
The Westport Museum for History & Culture and TEAM Westport will offer 3 free Black History Walking Tours, on our nation’s newest federal holiday.
In addition, the Westport Rotary Club has funded a day of free admission to the museum’s exhibition “The Real Revolution,” an explanation of the Revolutionary War through untold stories. They include a mother with sons on opposing sides; enslaved men risking their lives for freedom, and a woman posing as a man in the fight for liberty, The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 19 .
The 90-minute tours are based on the museum’s exhibition “Remembered: The History of African Americans in Westport,” which traces the stories of Black Westporters from the colonial era to the present day.
Participants will visit sites connected to Westport’s African American history. Registration is required (click here), and participation is limited to 20 people per tour. Two tours begin at 10 a.m.; the third starts at 4 p.m.
Part of the 2018 exhibit at the Westport Museum of History & Culture.
Yesterday, the New York Times published an interesting piece, with 8 prominent American historians.
The subject: President Trump’s new gold plaques in the West Wing, summarizing all 47 US presidencies.
“They are peppered with falsehoods, misrepresentations, insults, praise, self-promotion and erratic capitalizations,” the Times says.
President Trump, with the West Wing plaques. A photo of an autopen stands in for President Biden, in between the 2 Trump presidencies. (Photo/Doug Mills for the New York Times)
Among the historians: Marc Selverstone. The 1980 Staples High School graduate is the University of Virginia Miller Center’s director of presidential studies, and co-chair of its Presidential Recordings Program.
He and the others — including Douglas Brinkley of Rice University, and Sean Wilentz of Princeton — examined and annotated every plaque. Click here for the full story, with annotations.(Hat tip: Dave Harrison)
Marc Selverstone
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The LGBTQ community — and allies and friends — celebrate Pride tomorrow (Sunday, 12 p.m.), on Jesup Green.
Among the featured guests: Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Staples 2021 graduate/Broadway star Jamie Mann.
The 6th annual always-fun event includes live music, food trucks, local artisan vendors and information booths. It’s family friendly — and Westport at its most inclusive.
Getting creative, at last year’s Pride. (Photo/Dan Woog)
All over town, folks snapped images of the spectacular scene, and sent them to “06880.”
This one came in a few minutes ago. It’s a bit late — but special enough to slip in here.
One more reason to love Compo Beach, and so much else about our town.
(Photo/Amanda Meltzer)
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The #1 cause of preventable death after an injury is bleeding.
Would you know what to do, before first responders arrive?
Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service can help. On Thursday (June 18, 7 to 8:45 p.m.), they offer a free “Stop the Bleed” class. Click here for details, and to register.
Michael Aitkenhead’s passion for the outdoors is well known.
A former Staples High School environmental science teacher who is now at Weston High, he also spent several years as the Wakeman Town Farm farmer.
This summer, he joins an expedition to a largely unexplored part of the Peruvian Andes: the Boiling River. The group includes teachers, scientists and journalists.
Aitkenhead is a teaching fellow of The Explorers Club. The 122-year-old international organization is dedicated to research, exploration and conservation.
Explorers Club president emeritus Richard Wiese — another Westonite – will be on the trip too. The group will explore 3 sites, where water temperatures surpass 200 degrees F.
Aitkenhead told “Weston Today,” “This has been a bucket list trip since I was in junior high school.” Click here for the full story.(Hat tip: Sal Liccione)
But on June 28 (5:30 p.m.), One Bad Oyster comes to town.
The upbeat band brings “ska, surf and happiness” to the Weston History & Culture Center’s outdoor concert series, “Music at the Barn.” It’s a family event; bring a lawn chair and picnic.
Tickets are available at the door or online ($15 members, $20 non-members; under 12 free).
High school performers are the focus of the Westport Country Playhouse’s next masterclass.
“Acting the Song” (June 28, 2 to 4 p.m.) focuses on bringing songs to life through acting. It’s led by Broadway actor and teaching artist Shereen Ahmed.
The fee is $100, and is limited to 15 participants. Scholarships are available. For details and registration, click here. Questons? Emai mmeath@westportplayhouse.org.
Jane Yolen — the very prolific children’s author of 450 books — died Thursday in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She was 87.
She was also a 1956 graduate of Staples High School.
She was as accomplished as a teenager as she was in her professional career. At Staples she was news editor of the school paper Inklings, captain of the girls basketball team, and vice president of the Spanish and Latin Clubs.
She also sang in the choir, served on the yearbook and Soundings literary magazine staffs, won 2 “Voice of Democracy” contests, and worked as a Westport Library page and Sunday school teacher.
Yolen went on to Smith College, and published her 1st book at 22. She also raised 3 children.
And finally … for some reason, the item about the new presidential plaques in the West Wing (story above) reminded us of this song:
(Our daily Roundup is like Forrest Gump’s chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get. If you like being surprised — and informed — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Staples High School baseball team is 6 innings away from a state championship.
The Wreckers — down 3-1 — battled back to trounce Fairfield Ludlowe 8-3 yesterday, at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium. They vaulted into their 3rd “LL” (extra large schools) title game in 4 years. Their last state crown came in 2019.
The blue-and-whites will face Trumbull on Saturday, at Middletown’s Palmer Field (time TBD). The Wreckers thrashed them 11-1 earlier this year (the 10-run mercy rule ended that game), so the Eagles will be out for revenge. They topped Fairfield Prep 9-4, in the nightcap of yesterday’s semifinal doubleheader.
Staples is the 11th seed. They’re 18-7, outscoring their opponents 36-7 in the state tourney after falling to New Canaan in the FCIAC (league) quarterfinals.
One other Staples baseball note: Wrecker coach Jack McFarland will be inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame later this month.
But that’s not the only Staples sports news. Today (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Fairfield University), the boys lacrosse team meets New Canaan, in the state tournament semifinals. The Wreckers have beaten the Rams 3 straight times this season.
The Long Lots School Building Committee offers a presentation of the elementary school and Stepping Stones pre-school project tonight (Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
The opening date has been pushed back to January 2028.
Artist’s rendering of the new Long Lots Elementary School.
Fresh off the excitement of their StartUp Westport Community Impact Award, Club203 hosted their final event of the 2025-26 season last night, at Ned Dimes Marina.
Dozens of members of the social group for adults with disabilities enjoyed World Cup-themed activities, including soccer and crafts by MoCA\CT — along with dinner from the Super Duper Weenie truck. Westport Rotary Club volunteers added to the fun.
On a related (younger) note: Fathers, mothers, caregivers and interested residents are invited to an evening dedicated to supporting families raising children with special needs.
Westport’s Commission on People with Disabilities hosts the event this Friday (6 p.m., Senior Center).
It’s a chance to meet mentors from the Special Fathers Network, hear stories from experienced fathers, connect with others on similar journeys, meet David Hirsch (author and host of the “Dad to Dad” podcast), and receive a free copy of his book “Dads Raising Children with Special Needs.”
Westport’s director of human services Elaine Daignault says, “Whether you are the parent of a newly diagnosed child, a seasoned advocate, or simply someone who cares about creating a more inclusive Westport, this conversation is for you.
“All family members are welcome, and we especially encourage fathers to attend. Together, we can continue building a community where every family feels connected, supported, and empowered.” To RSVP, click here.
Westport Rotary Club members are an active, creative bunch.
But they learned even more about action and creativity yesterday.
Cliff Sirlin — an entrepreneur, and president and co-founder of StartUp Westport — and colleagues Peter Propp and Dave Altman spoke about their organization, at Rotary’s weekly meeting.
The public/private partnership has grown exponentially, since its start during the pandemic. There are now 3,000 innovators and entrepreneurs, engaged in everything from networking and mentorships to a pitch competition and — most recently — an Innovator of the Year (Marc Lasry) and Community Impact (Club203) evening.
Arthur Dwight Ellis — a longtime Bedford Middle School STEM teacher, whose work in the classroom and with Science Olympiad teams inspired generations of students — died peacefully on June 2 in Westerly, Rhode Island. He was 77.
The Springfield, Massachusetts, native “lived a life guided by curiosity, creativity, and a deep desire to understand the world around him,” his obituary says.
“A lifelong learner, he approached every interest with enthusiasm, thoughtful inquiry, and a commitment to excellence.
His wide range of interests included sailing, model airplanes and teaching. “Whatever captured his attention, he sought not only to master it, but to understand it deeply and to share that understanding with others. He had a gift for seeing connections, interpreting ideas in creative ways, and inspiring those around him to think more broadly and learn more deeply.”
Longtime colleague and friend David Deitch said, “Art gave so much of his life to students for Science Olympiad. He often went well beyond the norm for hours on end after school, and weekend trips around the country.
“‘Selfless’ doesn’t begin to describe this Princeton grad, with a degree in engineering. He was an essential inspiration to lifelong learning and achievement. Art gifted his students, as he seamlessly unlocked the mysteries of engineering and algebra for them, en route to winning competitions.”
Art is survived by his sons, Brian and David (Roseann); granddaughters Evangeline and Victoria; his longtime partner, Louisa Bradford; brothers Dwight and Charles, and nephews Warren and Ryan.
A celebration of Art’s life will be held later this summer.
Art Ellis
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo is not just any duck.
According to photographer JD Dworkow, this is a “SaugaDuck.” Rim shot …
Forty seniors were honored yesterday, at Staples High School’s 25th annual Scholar-Athlete dinner.
The coach of each varsity sport nominates one person, who also excels in the classroom. In a unique format at the ceremony, each answers one question about his or academic, athletic or extracurricular life. Individually, each is special. Taken together, they paint a robust picture of several dozen remarkable teenagers.
The scholar-athletes for the fall season are: Sofia Gomez (cheer), Harrison Sydor (boys cross country), Sarah Bogdan (girls cross country), Catherine Cirasuolo (field hockey), Justin Halky (football), Gus Palmer (boys golf), Gabe Hellmann (boy soccer), Isabelle Wasserman (girls soccer), Isabella Wasserman (girls swim & dive), Naalie Sipsma (girls volleyball), Brady Nahmias (boys water polo).
The winter scholar-athletes are: Oliver Vynerib (boys basketball), Emma Asiel (girls basketball), Katelynn Mitchell (cheer), Nathaniel Armstrong (fencing), Mia Cochran (gymnastics), Uzi Greenman (boys ice hockey), Jade Reejhsinghani (girls ice hockey), Rahan Sekhar (boys indoor track & field), Taylor Black (girls indoor track & Field), Chase Cammeyer (boys skiing), Alexis Robinson (girls skiing), Aiden Hill (boys squash), Olivia Cohn (girls squash), Nolan Franics (boys swim & dive). Kai Schwartz (wrestling).
Spring scholar-athletes are: Connor Brill (baseball), Riley Sklar (girls golf), Aidan Lapatine (boys lacrosse), Sadie Lowe (girls lacrosse), Gray McGuinness (boys outdoor track & field), Lila Boroujerdi (girls outdoor track & field), Michael Wang (boys rugby), Mia Chatterjee (girls rugby), Zach Gillman (sailing), Olivia Schwartz (softball), Robert Jacob (boys tennis), Devyn Peffer (girls tennis), Gabriel Schorer (boys volleyball), Olivia Kuliga (girls water polo).
Also honored were Oliver Samuel (Thomas DeHuff Award), Taylor Block (Jinny Parker Award) and Dylan Lehrer (Junior Leadership Award).
Taylor Block also earned the $10,000 Laddie Lawrence Scholarship, while Gabe Duque received the $10,000 Coleman Brothers and $2,000 Loeffler Scholarships.
Athletic director VJ Sarullo cited Bill Mitchell, the longtime Westporter and co-owner of Mitchells Stores, for his role in inaugurating the Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago.
Bill Mitchell (left), who helped create Staples’ Scholar-Athlete dinner 25 years ago, is honored by athletic director VJ Sarullo. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The Staples baseball team are winners — in many ways.
On Saturday they thrashed Norwalk 13-2, in the state tournament quarterfinal. They’ll face Fairfield Ludlowe tomorrow (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Municipal Field, Waterbury) in the “LL” (extra large schools) semifinal.
Yesterday — less than 24 hours after their big win, and just a few hours after the senior prom — the entire Wrecker squad headed to Meyer Field.
They buddied up with the Westport Winners — the Little League program for youngsters with disabilities. They enjoyed baseball, a barbecue — and a chance to hang out with some of their youngest, and most rabid, fans.
Play ball! Staples Wreckers, and Staples Winners. (Photo/Beth Cody)
With primary elections near, and the general election just a few months away, the Westport League of Women Voters offers a program on our town’s electoral process.
On June 10 (2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Senior Center), registrars of voters Deborah Greenberg and Marie Signore provide the inside story on how they prepare for and run the process; results of the last election, including an election audit and recount results; how early voting is working, and the August primaries and fall elections.
Attendees can also learn what’s required to set up the polls, the training needed — and how to volunteer.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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Over 250 customers in the Juniper Road area lost power last night around 9:30 p.m., due to downed tree limbs.
Power was restored in the early morning hours. (Hat tip: Mark Mathias)
Westport Pride invites the Westport community — LGBTQ, allies and friends — to its annual Pride celebration this Sunday (June 14, 12 noon, Jesup Green).
The family-friendly event includes live music, food trucks, local artisan vendors and information booths. Let your colors shine!
Rainbow colors are encouraged, but not required. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The Museum of Contemporary Art\Connecticut closed out its “Art, Jazz + The Blues” exhibit Saturday night, in appropriate fashion.
A packed house enjoyed a jubilant performance by Grammy Award-winning bassist and bandleader Endea Owens + The Cookout.
Owens — famous for his “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” work — brought warmth and artistry to the stage, alongside with special guest powerhouse Brianna Thomas, and a jazzy backing band, The Cookout.
Endea Owens and The Cookout, at MoCA\CT. (Photo/Roger Young)
A full house listened eagerly last night, as StartUp Westport honored Marc Lasry as its Innovator of the Year at the Westport Library. The event was the 3rd annual for our town’s public/private entrepreneurship/innovation organization.
The financier and philanthropist — chair, CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group, a former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, a director of the 92nd Street Y and the Big Apple Circus, and a trustee of Mount Sinai Hospital — chatted with fellow Westporter and ”Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin about entrepreneurship, investing, leadership and philanthropy
Club203 — the non-profit serving adults with disabilities — was honored for their work in areas like employment opportunities, life skills development and community engagement. They received the Community Impact Award.
Dan O’Keefe — the state Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner — highlighted the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to Connecticut’s economic future.
The evening featured meaningful connections with past honorees. Andrea Pecoriello, founder of Sweet P Bakery and recipient of the previous Community Impact Award, introduced Club203 and spoke about the organization’s transformative impact on the community. Mark Shapiro, StartUp Westport’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, introduced Lasry.
Marc Lasry and Craig Melvin, at StartUp Westport’s Innovator of the Year ceremony. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Also last night: 81 students — soon-to-be Staples High School graduates, and alums currently in college — were awarded $420,000 in scholarships, at Staples Tuition Grants’ annual ceremony.
The average scholarship — $5,186 per recipient — is a record in STG’s 85-year history.
The evening included powerful speeches by James Delorey and Philip Sullivan, father and cousin respectively of Perrin Delorey.
Perrin was a 4th grader at Greens Farms Elementary School in 2018, when he died in an automobile accident. He would have graduated this month, with Staples’ Class of 2026.
Philip worked with his uncle and aunt, James and Angela Delorey, his mother Kara Sullivan, and his and Perrin’s classmates, to endow the new Perrin Delorey Do Your Best Award. Both spoke lovingly of the legacy Perrin set, and of the importance of remembering and honoring him.
2008 recipient Michael Wolson also spoke. A triplet who could not have attended college without STG’s help — now a managing director at an investment firm — he described the lifelong impact a scholarship can make.
When Frank Pepe Pizzeria opened officially yesterday, the very first customers were Jay Babina, his father and grandfather.
That’s cool.
But it’s only part of the story.
Jay’s father John III and grandfather John Jr. were also the first customers when Pepe’s opened their second location — the first outside of New Haven — in Fairfield in 2006, 20 years ago.
The trio planned to be first in line here, ever since Pepe’s announced they were coming to Post Road West.
Jay’s grandfather started going to Pepe’s on Wooster Street in 1948, when he was 4 years old. Jay’s great-grandparents went too — starting in the early 1930s.
Now the 4th generation is a fan.
Star 99.9 radio interviewed the Babinas. And Pepe’s gave the family the ribbon they cut, at the grand opening.
Jay, John III and John Jr. Babina, at Pepe’s in Westport.
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The rainbow flag has been raised at Jesup Green for 7 years, during the Pride Month of June.
But yesterday marked the first official ceremony.
First Selectman Kevin Christie welcomed the crowd. He thanked Westport Pride — the organizers of the event, and of the June 14 festival, also set for Jesup Green — noting, “Westport is at its best when everyone feels a true sense of belonging and inclusion.”
1st Selectman Kevin Christie and Westport Pride president Brian McGunagle.
Besides Pride members and town residents, the flag-raising drew State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson, state legislature candidates Sam Nestor and Lee Goldstein, and several RTM members.
Attendees at yesterday’s Pride flag ceremony at Jesup Green — including Yogi Bear. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Ten students from Long Lots and Kings Highway Elementary Schools have won Access Awareness Awards. The student video contest is sponsored annually by the Area 9 Cable Council and Optimum of Connecticut.
The contest honors original student video productions broadcast on Optimum’s Educational Access Channel 78. It encourages students to build storytelling and video production skills, through projects connected to school and community life.
In addition, Long Lots earned the John M. Repicky Award for best overall elementary entry for “Girls On The Run,” created by Ella Rossi under the direction of instructor Samantha Hubbard.
Other awards included:
Animation/Stop-Motion, 1st place: “An Average Week of Robots” (Chase Bittinger)
School News Story: “Girls On The Run” (Ella Rossi)
General Interest Story, 1st place: “Space invaders! Look Out!!” (Lucy Apton), 2nd place: “Fall Favorites” (Cora Lask and Layla Perkel)
Narrative Fiction, 1st place: “TOAST” (Hazel Crockett and Charlotte Visconti)
PSA, 1st place: “KHS Goals” (Cameron Kim, Ava Giambanco, and Timothy Sheehy)
Congratulations to all — and instructors Samantha Hubbard, Barbara Eilertsen and Tara Doyle.
From left: Ella Rossi, Layla Perkel, Cora Lask, Chase Bittinger.
Eleish Van Breems celebrates heritage craftsmanship next Monday (June 8), with their annual “Day of Design.”
After 10 a.m. coffee, there’s a conversation on “Keeping Craft Alive.” New England Home editor-in-chief Jenna Talbott will moderate, with Edie Van Breems, Rhonda Eleish and Mary Emery Locoursiers of the Nantucket Historical Society.
At 11:30, guests can meet makers, and other heritage movers and shakers. Other events include demonstrations of heritage crafts, updates on preservation, a presentation on Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Paint Collection, and a chance to meet founders Renata Singh (Artistic Ironworks) and Todd Woodward (Woodward Millworks).
Bites and beverages are provided by Allium and the CupBearer.
Lauri Weiser sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
She says of this beautiful peony in her garden: “You can almost smell it from here!”
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … welcome to Westport, Frank Pepe Pizzeria!
(June began with a rush of activity. As we’ve done since 2009, we cover it all. But we can’t do it without our readers’ support. If you enjoy this blog, please click here to donate. Thank you!)
Congratulations to the Staples boys lacrosse team!
The Wreckers won the FCIAC (league) championship for the 2nd time in 3 years last night. They edged New Canaan 10-9, in a nail-biter.
Seven straight 2nd-half goals gave the blue-and-whites the lead. They hung on when the Rams scored the last 5 — and their final shot hit the post.
Junior Nate Maurillo was the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Coach Will Koshansky’s squad, with a 15-4 mark — is the 5th seed in the state tournament. Play begins Wednesday (June 3, 6 p.m.), with a home match against #12 Hamden.
The last school to win both the league and state title in the same year was Darien in 2017.
Speaking of sports: As the Planning & Zoning Commission plans to debate lights on 2 athletic fields (Monday, June 1, 6 p.m., Zoom), Staples High School student Loewe Epstein hopes to rally support.
He started a Change.org petition, which is nearing 200 signatures. It is focused on Wakeman Field, which is used by a variety of school teams.
Epstein cites scheduling difficulties and community involvement as key reasons to add lights.
The Coleytown Middle School gifted program teacher, and Westport Public Schools No Place for Hate coordinator, will receive the Connecticut Education Association’s Mahatma Gandhi-Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award.
The honor recognizes an individual who has developed or implemented a program in a school or community that advances peace education, promotes cooperation, supports the peaceful resolution of conflict, and expands opportunities for students and educators.
The Westport district’s No Place for Hate initiative “helps create school communities where all students feel valued, respected, and supported. The initiative focuses on identity, bias, bullying prevention, and proactive responses that strengthen school climate across the district.”
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice says that Sweeney “has helped lead work that strengthens belonging, empathy and respect across our schools. This recognition speaks to her dedication to students and to the kind of school community we are always striving to build. Her work reflects the very best of Westport Public Schools and our commitment to building inclusive, caring learning communities.”
The award will be presented June 18 in Hartford.
Faith Sweeney
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A vehicle crashed into a parked car, then an apartment building yesterday afternoon at Canal Park.
The driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
No one was inside the building. Fire crews shored up and stabilized the structure.
A vehicle strikes Canal Park …
… and a firefighter stabilizes the building. (Photos courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
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The Historic District Commission meets June 9 (7 p.m., Zoom).
The agenda includes discussion of demolition permits for:
A new business is moving into Compo Shopping Center, next to Gold’s:
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
But that’s all we know. There’s no phone or email, QR code … nothing.
A quick web search brought up a “Flora Aesthetics & Wellness” in Ventura, California. An email to them bounced right back, with an error message.
Flora: We’d love to give some love to Westport’s newest aesthetics and spa place. But who are you? Contact us: 06880blog@gmail.com.
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June is Pride Month.
Westport Pride kicks it off on Monday — June 1 — with a 4 p.m. flag-raising ceremony at Jesup Green. First Selectman Kevin Christie and State Senator Ceci Maher will attend. The public is invited.
Westport Pride — the non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion and respect — says the Pride flag :more than a seasonal decoration. It carries history, identity, grief, celebration and visible support.
“Pride Month, observed each June, honors the legacy of LGBTQ+ activism and the ongoing pursuit of dignity and equal rights for all. This flag-raising is a public expression of Westport’s values — a visible signal to LGBTQ+ residents, families, and visitors that they are welcome and celebrated in this community.”
Westport Pride is also organizing the town-wide Pride celebration on Sunday, June 14 (12 noon, Jesup Green).
A night of classic rock, pop and dance hits tonight (Friday, 7 p.m.) will help raise funds for Homes for the Brave, the Bridgeport-based housing, vocational skills and life coaching support non-profit serving area veterans.
The show’s site is appropriate: VFW Post 399.
The Gold Dust band will play. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged — and important.
Four 10-minute plays — each revealing a different aspect of reproductive health care — will be staged at the Westport Country Playhouse Lucille Lortel White Barn on July 12.
“R Rated: Reproductive Rights and Resistance On Stage” — directed by Keria Naughton — is a collaboration between The A Chronicles and Reproductive Equity Now.
The performances will be followed by an open conversation exploring reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and the realities facing today’s patients and providers. Click here for tickets, and more information.
The Westport Library is closed today (Tuesday), due to potentially icy conditions.All programming is canceled for the day.
Also closed: the Westport Senior Center.
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It’s official: March is Sandwich Month in Westport.
1st Selectman Kevin Christie made the proclamation yesterday, at Old Mill Grocery & Deli. He kicked off the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s 9th annual contest — this one focused on (duh) sandwiches.
He was joined by 2nd Selectwoman Amy Wistreich, plus Chamber members, attorneys with sponsor Bercham Moses, and representatives of the owner of the OMG property, the Soundview Empowerment Alliance.
The contest runs throughout March. Over 20 restaurants, delis and markets will compete in 10 categories.
Judging is done by residents, online. Each voter is also entered into a drawing to win a free sandwich, from one of the 10 winners.
The 21 competitors are: A & S Fine Foods, Calise’s, Clubhouse, Dunkin, Emmy Squared, Garelick & Herbs, Gold’s, Kabab & Hummus House, Kawa Ni, Lyfe Café, Match Burger Lobster, Nomade, Old Mill Grocery, Organic Market, Outpost Pizza, Pizza Lyfe, Rizzuto’s Lobster Shack, Romanacci, Saugatuck Provisions, Saugatuck Rive Café, The Granola Bar and Zucca Gastrobar.
The 10 categories are: Best Chicken Sandwich, Best Steak Sandwich, Best Vegetarian Sandwich, Best Combo Sandwich, Best Club, Best NY Deli, Best Pressed Sandwich, Best Breakfast Sandwich, Best Wrap Sandwich, and Best Fish/Seafood Sandwich. Each restaurant, deli or market may enter up to 4 categories, but can only win 2 at most.
From now through March 31, everyone is invited to visit the venues, enjoy the offerings, and vote here.
1st Selectman Kevin Christie enjoys a sandwich at Old Mill Grocery & Deli. He looks forward to chowing down at the competition too.
There are plenty of grandparents — with grandchildren — in Westport.
Soon, they’ll have a chance to play together — without screens — thanks to the Y’s Men of Westport & Weston.
The pilot program, called Grand Play Day, brings together grandparents and their grandkids (ages 5-12). Using simple tools (question cards, paper-and-pencil table games and other easy activities), they’ll laugh and share stories.
Grand Play Day is built on “Connections Thru Play,” created by Playocracy founder Lynn Campanella in partnership with the National Institute for Play — where Y’s Man Joe Miller, serves as a volunteer executive.
The Y’s Men pilot is planned for an afternoon on the weekend of April 24–25, coinciding with Global Intergenerational Week. It will be facilitated by Campanella and Miller, include academic input from professors of Childhood Development and Aging, and serve as a potential model for other community groups.
Dhilan Patel is the Westport Book Shop’s guest exhibitor for the month of March. He’s exhibiting archival prints of his paintings and drawings. All work is available for purchase.
One of the youngest featured artists ever at the Jesup Road store, Dhilan is currently a Staples High School senior. he began painting in 1st grade.
He says that art teaches important qualities. “Painting, for example, has taught me the importance of forward planning and patience (literally waiting for layers to dry).
“Also, when people see your work they see the end result, but not the uncertainty and mistakes along the way, which art also teaches you to deal with. My first true art instructor, Mr. Jenya, always emphasized that not every stroke has to be perfect and not every action has to have the desired outcome. He encouraged me to work with what’s there and move forward. In hindsight he was instilling qualities such as humility, trust in the process, and openness to possibility.”
In addition to oil painting, Dhilan has explored calligraphy and sumi-e (traditional Japanese ink painting). His work been selected for a national anthology published by CelebratingArt.com, and he has won awards at the Ridgewood Art Institute’s Young People’s Exhibit.
Speaking of Staples, and the arts: Congratulations to Demeil Betfarhad, Josie Caricato and Lyla McEntee!
The Staples High School students performed last weekend with the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Region Honor Choirs. Selection for the ensembles is one of the highest honors for choral singers in the region, following a rigorous audition process in 11 states.
The 4-day event in Providence featured an intensive schedule of rehearsals and masterclasses, culminating in performances at legendary venues.
Lauren Pine, Staples’ choral director, attended the conference, and supported the young singers throughout the rehearsal and performance process.
From left: Josie Caricato, Lyla McEntee, Demeil Betfarhad.
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Speaking (still) of Staples: Congratulations to the boys soccer team.
The 2025 class “LL” (extra large schools) state champions were named Team of the Year for the entire state, by the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association.
The award was announced on Sunday, at the All-State banquet at the Aqua Turf Club. Individual honors were also presented to Josh Whitaker (All-New England), Gabe Duque (All-State) and Dylan Shackelford (Most Valuable Player, state final).
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And even more Staples news: The wrestling team placed 3rd overall — out of 121 teams — at this past weekend’s state open meet.
Four grapplers earned medals. sophomore Julian Rousseau placed 2nd, at 215 pounds, while 3 others finished 5th: junior Gavin Donaldson (120), and seniors Seamus Brannigan (126) and Damian Rousseau (190). Congrats to all!
From left: Gavin Donaldson, Seamus Brannigan, Julian Rousseau, Damian Rousseau.
Westport Pride invites all members of the LGBTQ+ community — and all allies — to the second Happy Hour of 2026.
It’s this Thursday (March 5, 6 p.m., The Boathouse at Saugatuck Rowing Club). The restaurant is providing light bites. Everyone there will provide the vibe.
And more: there’s a “Pride Night” cocktail party this Saturday (March 7, 7 p.m.) at the Westport Country Playhouse, before Isaac Mizrahi’s 8 p.m. show.
LGBTQ+ community members and friends with tickets to the performance are invited to the event, in the Lucille Lortel White Barn Center. Appetizers are catered by Nômade, and there is a limited open bar.
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This Thursday at “Jazz at the Post,” an ensemble of master improvisers performs every track from “The Soothsayer,” the visionary Wayne masterpiece.
Greg Wall, David DeJesus, Andy Gravish, Jen Allen, Boots Maleson and Steve Johns bring decades of experience and deep jazz insight to Shorter’s richly textured writing, honoring the album’s lyrical mysticism, harmonic daring, and rhythmic subtlety while infusing it with their own vibrant interplay.
Longtime Westport resident Lester Becker died passed peacefully at home on February 16. He was 96.
The Brooklyn native met his wife Mary at a resort hotel in the Catskills. They were married for nearly 73 years. In 1963 they moved to Westport, where they raised their Ann and Michael. In the early 2000’s they moved to California for 5 years to be near their grandson Ellis, while he was growing up.
After graduating from Columbia University, Lester worked for Dynamic Films in New York. He then formed his own company, Custom Films. A major client was ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.” Focusing on auto racing, he and his team filmed and edited numerous events, including at aytona, Darlington, Indianapolis and the Monaco Grand Prix.
After airing, he often re-edited the footage for companies like Goodyear Tire.
Lester loved to ski, sail, play tennis, take solo motorcycle trips, and travel the world with Mary. Until the very end of his life, he remained intellectually curious. He was an avid reader, stock market enthusiast, lifelong Democrat, and generous man.
He is survived by his daughter Ann Moore of New York City; son Michael (Christine Dunford) of Los Angeles; grandson Ellis Becker of Madison, Wisconsin, and beloved cat Archie. The family expresses nduring gratitude to his kind and wonderful caregiver, Keneilwe.
A celebration of Lester’s and Mary’s lives will be held at a date to be announced. Donations can be made in Lester’s honor to theWestport Library or the Pet Animal Welfare Society (Paws of Norwalk).
Lester Becker
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A waxing moon, perched atop a tall tree, is a perfect look for today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo feature.
And finally … in honor of Grand Play Day (story above):
(Hey grandma! And grandpa! And grandkids — and everyone else in between: If you enjoy these daily Roundups — or anything else on “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
An overflow crowd filled Assumption Church yesterday, to say goodbye to Pete Romano. He was a lifelong parishioner of the church around the corner from his Saugatuck roots.
The Staples High School graduate, generous philanthropist, and avid volunteer with organizations ranging from Westport PAL and Al’s Angels to Festival Italiano and Wakeman Town Farm was remembered for his willingness to help everyone, his strong friendships, and his ability to own any room he walked into.
Saugatuck and Westport were common themes at the service. Pete’s LandTech civil engineering firm is located just down the street from Assumption.
If you don’t — but would like to, in 2027 — check out “Sips & Sparks.”
The speed dating event is set for Thursday (February 19, 7 p.m., The Clubhouse). It includes a casual mixer kickoff, guided conversational ice-breakers, and a “simple matching system.” Mutual matches receive contact information the next day.
It’s advertised for singles in their 30s and 40s. But, organizers say, “if you’re slightly outside this range but feel you’d connect well with this group, you’re welcome to join.”
Another social event is geared to the LGBTQ (and allies!)
Westport Pride hosts their second Happy Hour of the year on March 5 (6 p.m., The Boathouse at Saugatuck Rowing Club).
Organizers say, “We believe Pride isn’t just a month — it’s a year-round movement rooted in visibility, connection and care.” Click here for more information.
Volunteers will score submitted manuscripts. The best-reviewed books advance to a panel of judges, who will select the winner.
Click here for more information. (Westport residents only, please!)
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Speaking of the Library: Memoirist/essayist/critic Claire Dederer is the lastest addition to VersoFest.
She takes the Westport Library Saturday stage Saturday, March 28 (1 p.m.), chatting with journalist Hilarie M. Sheets.
Dederer’s most recent book — “Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma” — examines what happens when good art (writing, painting, film) is made by bad people.
Click here for information on Dederer’s talk. Click here for full details on VersoFest 2026, including appearances by Ani DiFranco, Wyclef Jean, Susanna Hoffs, The Thing and more.
Speaking of music: Jazz pianist (and Westport native) Jeff Franzel has toured with legends like Les Brown and The Hues Corporation, and accompanied Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Mel Tormé. He’s a Grammy-nominated star.
Jeff’s new trio has performed at clubs like The Bitter End. On February 28 (2 p.m.), they’ll be live — and free — at the Pequot Library.
Also appearing: Eva Slossberg, the Staples High School senior who has who has just been accepted into the Clive Davis School at NYU Tisch. Click here for more information.
Jeff Franzel
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It’s a longtime Westport question: How dressed up should I get for a fundraiser?
Here’s one you don’t have to worry about.
Rach’s Hope PJ Gala returns for a 7th year on March 28 (7 p.m., Fairfield Theater Company).
As the many attendees at the popular event have learned: It’s all about pajama chic.
Rach’s Hope hich honors Rachel Doran, a Staples High School graduate and rising Cornell University senior who died after developing a rare reaction to common medications. A Staples Players costume designer, she had already founded a pajama company. (That’s the PJ connection!)
The evening includes live music by Michael Cantor of Frog Salon and Fairfield’s favorite band Ellis Island, great appetizers and desserts by AMG Catering, an open bar, and live and silent auction experiences.
Funds raised support families with children facing extended ICU stays.
This pajama-chic evening blends cocktails, music, and meaning to raise critical funds for families with children facing extended ICU stays — a lasting legacy, created lovingly Rachel’s family and friends. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Rachel Doran
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Temperatures are slowly rising.
But the effects of the recent 2-week freeze remain.
This boat — at a private dock on Harbor Road, in Saugatuck Shores — did not make it. All that can be seen now is the flying bridge.
(Photo/Rob Jackson)
The good news: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s today, the high 30s tomorrow. Nighttime lows will be just below freezing.
Break out the sunscreen!
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“06880” gives a V-Day shout-out to the Learning Community Day School.
The pre-school staff began yesterday’s professional development day by creating valentines for folks at Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Center, and the Westport Center for Senior Activities.
Natan Sharansky — the former Soviet dissident, political prisoner, Israeli leader, and worldwide symbol of freedom and democracy — is coming to Westport.
His “Night of Courage & Freedom” appearance — part of Chabad of Westport’s “Candid Conversations” series — is set for February 2 (7:30 p.m.; VIP reception at 6:45).
From enduring years in Soviet Union gulags to serving in the Knesset, Sharansky’s life story and message resonate powerfully today. He is the author of 2 books, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
There’s always something new down at the (Wakeman Town) Farm — even in winter.
January brings new special events like Valentine’s Cooking, Valentine’s Dinner, Knitting Circle; classes on winter seed sowing, garden tools and cooking with mushrooms, plus new children’s program, and Toddler Tea and Story Time.
Alert “06880” reader — and Remarkable Bookcycle lover — Janine Scotti sends this photo:
(Photo/Janine Scotti)
She writes: “If I had a garage, I’d take care of this. But maybe someone who reads this can repair it. It looks like they plowed snow, which piled up against it.”
Shouldn’t be too hard a fix. Maybe one of those books includes a handy repair manual!
The latest addition to VersoFest ’26: Gina Gershon.
The actress joins journalist/ rock memoirist/Westporter Alisyn Camerota on March 28 (5 p.m.). They’ll discuss Gershon’s memoir “AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs.”
Tickets are $35, and include a copy of the book. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
In addition to Gershon, VersoFest includes a February 27 performance by rising rockers The Thing; a conversation with folk-rock legend Ani DiFranco (March 26); a March 27 concert with former Fugees star/rapper/multi-Grammy winner Wyclef Jean; talks with performers, actors, and authors, plus panel discussions, an interactive art installation, and more. Click here for details.
Gina Gershon
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Another library — Weston’s — kicks off Black History Month — and its “America 250: The Revolutionary Spirit Lecture Series” — with “Unhired Hands.”
The February 1 (3 p.m.) event with poet/actor/playwright David Mills explores the history of slavery in the North during the 18th century, through storytelling and poetry.
The event is co-sponsored by the Weston History & Culture Center, and the League of Women Voters of Weston.
Wayne Uccellini — the longtime owner and chef of the legendary Allen’s Clam & Lobster House — died peacefully on January 8, surrounded by his family. He was 80.
Wayne was a lifelong resident of Westport, and a 1964 graduate of Staples High School. After graduating from Transylvania University in 1968, he served in the US Army until 1970. He was stationed at the Pentagon as an illustrator.
In addition to the Westport restaurant, Wayne owned Allen’s East in Stratford. He operated both locations with his family for more than 40 years.
Wayne later served as the kitchen manager at Osborn Hill Elementary in Fairfield, where he was fondly known as “Mr. Wayne” by students and staff.
Wayne was an avid boater and fisherman, on Long Island Sound and Lake Taunton. He also spent countless hours training his beloved dogs.
His obituary says, “Wayne was a beloved mentor to many young people who passed through the doors of Allen’s Clam & Lobster House over the years. His greatest legacy is not only the delicious food he served, but the leadership, loyalty and work ethic he demonstrated to his devoted family, friends and community.”
Wayne is survived by his wife of 57 years, Karen (Miller); their children Jennifer Hios (Peter) of Fairfield; Tollie Barrato (Christopher) of Fairfield, and Matthew Uccellini (Kim) of Richmond, Virginia; grandchildren Megan and Kyle Hios, Ashley, Sophia and Charlotte Barrato, and Isla and Shea Uccellini; sisters Cheryl Spillane, Janis Pascarlla (Jim), sisters-in law Sally Uccellini (Douglas) and Hilde Uccellini (Ronald), and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Ronald and Douglas Uccellini, brother-in-law Edward Spillane, and sister-in-law Judith Uccellini.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at a date to be determined.
Wayne Uccellini
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image shines a light on Westport, in mid-winter.
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