Morning Weather Report: 53 Degrees Tomorrow, then Snow Tomorrow Night - a Day in New England
Today:
Sunny, with a high near 48. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind around 9 mph.
Tomorrow
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow Night
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 10pm, then a chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Westport Country Playhouse Announces Woodward Internship Applications Available
An props/scenic painting intern from a previous season in the Joanne Woodward Internship Program. Contributed PhotoWestport Country Playhouse:Westport Country Playhouse announces that applications are now being accepted for its 2022 Joanne Woodward Internship Program for theater career aspirants. Interns enhance their professional skills and gain on-the-job experience working directly with Playhouse senior staff during summer months.
Named in honor of actress, director, and the Playhouse’s former artistic director, the Joanne Woodward Internship program is one of the nation’s preeminent theater training opportunities for emerging professionals. Internships have formed a vital part of the Playhouse’s mission since 1946. Among the alumni of the Playhouse’s program is the late composer Stephen Sondheim.
In-person internship opportunities are available in company management, development, education, marketing, props/scenic painting, stage management, and wardrobe. The program will run from May 28 – August 21. Stage management and wardrobe internships will begin on May 21. Stipend is $560 per week and housing will be provided. Application deadline is March 11. To apply, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/education/internapplication/
In addition to working in their respective departments, interns will attend weekly seminars featuring a variety of guest speakers, including Playhouse staff members, visiting designers and artists, commercial producers, and more.
The 2022 interns are hired through the Playhouse’s recently restructured recruiting process to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Hiring panels, comprised of the department’s manager, other department members, and a staff member from a different department, carefully review all applications and ask identical questions of all candidates, creating an equitable environment.
In addition to the Woodward Internships, the Playhouse supports the Staples High School Internship program, designed for seniors to gain a comprehensive overview of an organization and get real-world experience for four-weeks prior to graduation.
Woodward Internship Program sponsors include Stephen Corman, Anna Czekaj-Farber, Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation, and Judy and Scott Phares. Support for the 2022 Education Program comes from the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation; The David and Geri Epstein Foundation; George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation; Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc., and Roz and Bud Siegel.
All Westport Country Playhouse employees are required to provide proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination and proof of a booster dose (for those eligible as defined by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines).
Westport Country Playhouse’s 2022 season includes the Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize-winning pop/rock musical, “Next to Normal,” about a family’s response to loss and endurance, with music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and directed and choreographed by Marcos Santana, from April 5 through April 23; “Straight White Men,” about a father’s relationship with his three adult sons, written by Young Jean Lee and directed by Mark Lamos, from May 24 through June 5; “Kim’s Convenience,” a comedy that generated a Netflix series about a Korean family who own a convenience store in Toronto, written by Ins Choi and directed by Nelson T. Eusebio III, from July 5 through July 17; Obie Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist “4000 Miles,” about two unlikely roommates, written by Amy Herzog and directed by David Kennedy, from August 23 through September 4; and Los Angeles Drama-Logue winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee “From the Mississippi Delta,” an inspiring coming-of-age journey, by Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland and directed by Goldie E. Patrick, from October 18 through October 30. The complete schedule is available at westportplayhouse.org. All play titles, artists, dates, and formats are subject to change.
For more information, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, Tuesday through Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. Stay connected to the Playhouse at westportplayhouse.org, on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse). Westport Country Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport.
Lockable Bike Storage Arrives at Grand Central Terminal
Contributed photo by Marc A. Hermann, MTAMTA:The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that secure bike storage is available at Grand Central Terminal thanks to a pilot program being made possible by a partnership between MTA Metro-North Railroad and Oonee, a Brooklyn-based startup that creates pop-up secure bike parking facilities. The pilot program, which was formally announced in October, is expected to last one year and includes a mini-pod with six parking spaces.
The pod was installed at Grand Central’s former taxiway space at 43rd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue. The space provides direct access to the terminal’s west balcony and main concourse and is protected from rain and snow by a large overhang. The launch continues the MTA’s commuter railroads ongoing efforts to become more bike friendly. Last August, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road announced that bike permits would no longer be required onboard trains as of Sept. 7, 2021.
“This is the time to think seriously about using micro-mobility to expand the reach of the MTA network,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “One way to bring riders back to the system is to make customers’ overall trips easier. Cycling exploded during the pandemic, and this pilot is a step towards improving bike access.”
“Metro-North is thrilled to build on its ongoing efforts to provide sustainable transportation options for riders,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “I’d like to thank the Metro-North Stations Department for working so hard to make this pilot happen, and Board Member Norman Brown who first brought Shabazz and the great work that he has been doing to my attention.”
“The launch of this secure bike parking pilot represents a major milestone in for the New York City region,” said Shabazz Stuart, Founder & CEO of Oonee. “Cycling integration has the potential to drastically improve the range of transit facilities while also enhancing the passenger experience. We’re hopeful that this is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our region.”
“Access to secure bike parking is a key way to encourage more biking in New York City, and we are thrilled to see the MTA working with Oonee to launch the secure bike parking pilot today,” said Danny Harris, Transportation Alternatives Executive Director. “As our report last year found, bike parking in New York City has not kept up with the bike boom, and secure facilities like Oonee will help us catch up to peer cities around the world that have prioritized this infrastructure. We expect that this pilot will be hugely popular and hope it expands to many more transit hubs and neighborhoods across the five boroughs and the MTA region.”
The pilot features the debut of the six-space secure bike parking pod known as Oonee’s Mini. Use of the pod will require a reservation through membership with Oonee, which will allow users to unlock a private space inside the pod using a keycard or smartphone. Reservations will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Oonee memberships are free to the public and anyone can register on Oonee’s website.
The storage pod installation and maintenance were handled by Oonee. Through their customer support, Oonee Care, Oonee will handle the upkeep of the storage pod and respond to any customer service needs. The pod will have a free air pump with both Presta and Schrader valves, hydraulic sliding doors for easy access to pod, automated closing doors, and insurance coverage for both bike and scooter owners.
For current information on taking your bike on MTA subways, buses and commuter rail, visit new.mta.info/guide/bikes.
About Oonee
Oonee began when founder Shabazz Stuart realized that secure parking for bicycles was critical for convenient and reliable mobility in cities. Despite this obvious need, and the growing number of cyclists on the street, there was no solution available for smart, attractive, secure bike parking structures.
After more than a year of meeting with urban planners, cyclists, transportation advocates, public space managers, and real estate developers, it became clear that any impactful solution would require a completely new, fresh approach. Stuart and co-founder J. Manuel Mansylla realized the need for a kind of nimble streetscape infrastructure that could provide parking options for bikes and scooters, but also would be capable of enhancing the surrounding public space environment.
Each customizable Oonee pod features bike parking on the inside and public space amenities on the exterior. For sponsors and institutions, the easy-to-install pods offer an unlimited array of branding opportunities. For cyclists, Oonee offers affordable, secure bike parking, and finally, a solution that works.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 19; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Down
The State Department of Public Health reported 19 new COVID-19 cases for Westport over the past 24 hours. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down to 4.46% while hospitalizations were down as 23 more patients were released from hospitals.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 3,734 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 35 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 4.45% [down from 5.16%]
State Hospitalizations: 529 patients [-23]