Westport Seeks next Poet Laureate as Diane Lowman’s Term Comes to an End
Westport Arts Advisory Committee: The Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC), has announced a search for the town’s second Poet Laureate, whose 2-year term will begin on July 1.
WAAC initiated the Town Poet Laureate position in 2019. The inaugural Laureate, Diane Lowman, will have served a 3-year term on June 30, extended a year due to the pandemic. During her tenure, Diane recited and curated poetry at Town ceremonies and events, the schools, the Center for Senior Activities, the Library and arts events. Early in the pandemic, she launched a lawn sign campaign with original haikus and images, to help raise spirits in town.
The Town of Westport Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for both the town and the literary form, helping to celebrate and continue the town’s vibrant literary history. The First Selectwoman’s office appoints the Poet Laureate; WAAC administers the program.
The Poet Laureate’s objectives are, but are not limited, to:
· Promote poetry as a form of communication, inspiration, and entertainment for local residents.
· Participate in the Connecticut Poet Laureate group to create and participate in programs throughout the state.
· Expand access to and create connection through poetry.
· Elevate awareness of and appreciation for all forms of poetry.
· Advocate for poetry, literature, and the arts.
· Contribute to the town’s literary legacy through public readings and participation in civic events.
Candidates should be 21 years of age or older, live in Westport, and have a wide range of relevant knowledge and experience. They must be comfortable with public speaking, and willing to work collaboratively with the town school district, library, and other cultural organizations to develop and present poetry-related activities and events. The candidate must have adequate time and flexibility to complete these and other requirements of the position. The Town of Westport Poet Laureate is an honorary, non-compensated two-year position.
For more information and the application packet, please visit: https://www.westportarts.org. Direct inquiries to waac@westportct.gov with the subject line POET.
The deadline for submitting applications and supporting materials is Friday, April 15. A committee made up of representatives from the Westport Schools, the Westport Library, and WAAC will review the applications and interview finalists as part of the selection process. The new Poet Laureate, whose term begins July 1, will be announced on June 1.
Westport Arts Advisory Committee was established by the RTM in 1997; its members are appointed by the First Selectwoman. WAAC is committed to increasing public awareness of all of Westport’s artists, arts organizations and cultural resources.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 22; State Positivity Rate 2.40%
The State Department of Public Health reported 22 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 2.40% while hospitalizations were up by 02 patients, with 100 patients total currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 3,955 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 2.40% [up from 2.31%]
State Hospitalizations: 100 patients [+02]
A Hometown Hero’s Welcome: Julia Marino Returns to Westport April 2nd for Westport Library Celebration
Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth of the Associated PressWestporter, snowboarder, and now silver medaling Olympian Julia Marino will be returning home this Spring to celebrate with the community her triumphs in Beijing. The free family event will be held at the Westport Library on Saturday, April 2nd at 7:00 PM and will include an interview by renowned journalist and fellow Westporter Dave Briggs, words from First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, and time for complimentary Shake Shack ice cream or beer and wine (for kids and adults, respectively) while Marino signs autographs.
The event is organized by The Westport Library in concert with the Weston-Westport Chamber of Commerce, The Grapevine, and Westport Lifestyle Magazine.
This Weekend Only: GFS 5th Graders Present “Willy Wonka Kids”
Dress Rehearsal of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Kids by members of the Greens Farms School 5th grade class. Contributed photos by Maya Porrino. Release:This weekend only, Westporters are invited to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory at Greens Farms Elementary School. Behind the factory gates - optimism can be contagious. Courage to think outside the box can change the world and honesty and kindness will prevail!
Over the challenging past two years, helping our youngest elementary school kids keep a positive mindset has been a top priority for the Westport School District and parents alike.
Choosing Roald Dahl's “Willy Wonka Kids" as our Grade Five show this year at GFS was a natural choice for Co-Directors Suzanne Sherman Propp and Ellen Hardy. The GFS Music Department decided to select an upbeat musical with nonsensical fun and imagination that promoted positive messages for the whole community. Our 5th-graders get the chance to explore themselves as performers, musicians, marketers, leaders or collaborative teammates on and off the stage while our volunteer team of parents has created a colorful wonderland for costumes, props and sets.
These GFS students can live in their imagination of candy-filled dreams, at least for a little while. "I'm excited to watch the kids perform songs that transport us to new possibilities, inventions, and a little mischief and fun. Some of the stress of the pandemic can be washed away now that the kids get to be together in person to interact and see each other's smiles," said Maureen Choe, a 5th-grader parent.
Singing voices are warmed up, but most of all - a sense of community has been built through the process of making a play. All 5th graders who auditioned virtually during the height of Omicron in December 2021 got a part on stage while others committed to learning stagecraft and backstage management, all working since December for the three rehearsals every week.
In the midst of the latest headlines, parents of children in the cast have arranged for an easy way to donate to Ukrainian children and families in crisis through AFYA's HUMANITARIAN DISASTER RESPONSE HUB.. “While our kids have the opportunity to grow in peace and explore school activities, many others around the world do not," explains Pavleta Mitev-Landjeva, Willy Wonka Kids’ set designer and mother of Leanna Mitev (Willy Wonka). "As we gather this weekend to celebrate moments in everyday life, we have to remember that living in a peaceful world is a luxury."
GFS moms were inspired to collect on behalf of AFYA by Arianna Markel, a Research Assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital. Arianna has been spearheading collections of humanitarian and medical supplies going to Ukraine in her hometown of Westport, CT and the greater Boston area.
Click here for more information and to buy tickets for this weekend’s performance.
Contributed photos by Maya Porrino.