After successfully producing “An Evening With Justin Paul, Kelli O’Hara and James Naughton” at the Westport Country Playhouse, what can Ben Frimmer do for an encore?
Why not another great show?
The Coleytown Company director and Staples High School graduate is producing and directing another one-night-only extravaganza.
Once again, he’s tapped (mostly) local friends and former students.
All are (of course) enormously talented.
As in: Broadway professionals.
The evening of song — honoring people who volunteer their time in support of Westport-area organizations — is set for Wednesday, January 24.
Among the Broadway headliners: Staples graduates Adam Kaplan, Mia Gentile, Jacob Heimer and Remy Leifer.
Joining them are cantors Julia Cadrain and Becky Mann from Temple Israel.
Click here for tickets, and more information (including how to underwrite tickets for volunteers). Organizations can purchase tickets for their volunteers too. Bundles of 10 tickets ($400) are available through the box office: 203-227-4177.
The Elayne and James Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County is co-sponsoring the event, with the Playhouse.
Mia Gentile
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Either vandals struck Compo Beach, or there is a very poor (or intoxicated) driver out there.
JD Dworkow spotted these “Stop” signs, all knocked over at a variety of spots:
(Photos/JD Dworkow)
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The beach vandals remain at large. But Westport Police did make 2 custodial arrests between December 13 and 20.
A Westport woman was arrested for violation of the Deadly Weapon Offender Registry. She failed to register, 9 months after being released from incarceration.
A man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and failure to drive to the right, following a motor vehicle accident on the Parker Harding Plaza exit road.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 11 citations
- Speeding: 2
- Driving while texting: 2
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
- Failure to renew registration: 1
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 1.
Connecticut defines a deadly weapon as any device, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged — as well as a switchblade or gravity knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, or metal knuckles.
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You may not have gotten the Westport Transit District anything for the holidays.
But they’ve got a gift for you.
Between December 26 and 29, the Westport Transit District will provide free rides to all Wheels2U users.
Wheels2U is the WTD’s on-demand, group ride, door-to -train platform shuttle service. It’s ideal for anyone going to New York, or coming here, by train.
Riders use the Wheels2U Westport app to request a pickup between 5:45 and 10 a.m., and 4 and 9:30 p.m., to be taken to or from the Saugatuck or Greens Farms train platform and their front door or other Westport location. Pickups should be requested about 20 minutes before normally leaving to drive to the station.
For more information about Wheels2U, click here. To learn about services for the elderly and people with disabilities, click here.
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If your New Year’s resolution is “learn to play pickleball” — or “play more” — you’re in luck.
Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department is partnering with Norwalk’s Northeast Athletic Club, to offer indoor clinics. The instructor is well-known Westporter Kevin Cunningham.
Beginners and intermediate clinics run Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sessions are January 2-31, and February 5-March 14. Click here for more information, and to register.
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The final Winter Farmers’ Market before Christmas was packed yesterday.
Shoppers jammed Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center to picked up everything from, well, jam and herbs to pies and olive oil.
Some of the longest lines were at Fatto a Mano. Pierluigi Mazzella’s focaccias and panettoni were selling like, um, hotcakes.
Fatto a Mano — and many other vendors — had plenty of customers at yesterday’s Winter Farmers’ Market. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
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At most lunch meetings, Westport Rotary Club members hear from guest speakers.
On Tuesday, they heard something especially meaningful: holiday music from Staples Orphenians.
The elite a cappella group carried on a Rotary tradition that began at least 30 years ago.
The set included popular numbers like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” traditional carols like “Silent Night,” and complex, beautiful and less-known songs like “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.”
Orphenians, at Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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All month long, Kings Highway Elementary School students have collected gifts for their annual “Holiday Bear” drive. The Connecticut Education Foundation provides gifts for children whose families face financial or other hardships.
This week, the KHS Caring Council helped package up 27 Holiday Bear bags.
In addition, the school collected enough gifts to support 3 other families, through Westport’s Department of Human Services.
Kings Highway’s Caring Council, with staff members John Brakeman and Tara Doyle, and principal Tracey Carbone.
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Jazz Vespers is a modern take on the ancient tradition of evening prayer service.
On January 21 (4 p.m.), the United Methodist Church of Westport & Weston hosts its 4th jazz vespers service ever. Like the others, it will incorporate live jazz music, poetry and prayer.
Featured musicians include Malin Carta (saxophone), John Hoddinott (guitar), Matthew Munzer (bass), and Conor Brennan (drums). Hoddinott is the Methodist Church’s music director.
Jazz vespers at United Methodist Church.
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The day after the longest night of the year is a good time to post this “Westport … Naturally” sunset, from Compo Road South:
(Photo/Patricia McMahon)
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And finally … today was quite a day in Vienna, back in 1808. Ludwig van Beethoven conducted and performed the premiere of his Fifth Symphony — along with his Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and “Choral Fantasy.”
(Beethoven had his patrons. “06880” has some too. You can be one, simply by clicking here. Thank you, from our blog and — if he were here, probably Beethoven too.)