Metro North Continues “Connect With Us” Outreach Programs
Photo by Marc Hermann, MTA. Metro North Railroad:
MTA Metro-North Railroad today restarted its “Connect With Us” customer outreach program for the first time since the beginning of the Omicron variant last fall. The program brings railroad executives to meet with customers to discuss ways to improve train service and the customer experience. Metro-North leaders were joined by members of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) at today’s event, held at the Stamford Station from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
“It was exciting to be able to kick off our 'Connect With Us' program again today at the Stamford Station,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “We look forward to interacting with more customers as we schedule visits to other stations through the rest of the year. Talking to our customers at these events helps us learn how frequently they are riding with us, as well as hear any concerns or suggestions they have about our service.”
"Connect With Us" forums provide a unique opportunity for riders to directly engage in discussion with senior Metro-North leaders who are available to answer questions and hear out any concerns. It extends the opportunity for daily, occasional commuters, leisure travelers, community members and stakeholders to participate in constructive dialogue with Metro-North leadership.
The railroad initiated the program in 2014, hosting these forums at various locations across its service territory to hear directly from customers and to foster an open dialogue about service and progress on major issues. Metro-North suspended the “Connect With Us” program temporarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MTA will be introducing "Connect With Us" forums to the Long Island Rail Road for the first time this Thursday, April 28 at the Hicksville Station from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Dates and locations of future Metro-North and LIRR “Connect With Us” forums will be available at Metro-North’s homepage and LIRR’s homepage.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 17; State Positivity Rate, Hospitalizations Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 17 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 8.51% while hospitalizations were up 12 patients, with 191 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,413 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 8.51% [up from 7.81%]
State Hospitalizations: 179 patients [+12]
Westport Country Playhouse Summer Camp Opens Registration for Middle Schoolers
Westport Country Playhouse:Registration is now open for Westport Country Playhouse’s CampWCP, a four-week theater camp for middle school students (6th through 8th grade), from June 27 through July 23, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the Playhouse campus. Now in its second year, CampWCP is licensed by the CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC).
“CampWCP is a summer theater intensive experience for kids who love putting on a show and inspiring others,” said the Playhouse’s Roz and Bud Siegel director of education Jenny Nelson, who oversees CampWCP. “No theater experience is required. CampWCP is for kids who either know they love theater, are curious about theater and the power of storytelling, or want to learn through theater how to have their voices heard. CampWCP offers four weeks with a focus, a goal, and the chance to meet artists and community leaders.”
Nelson added, “We hope that CampWCP empowers young artists to activate their creative voice — so that they can ignite social change for their community and beyond.”
CampWCP participants will explore the art of playwriting and devise their own play. Guided by a professional Theater for Young Audiences playwright, the young artists will collectively create stories together and perform their original play at the Playhouse for an invited audience of family and friends on Saturday, July 23. Upon graduation, campers will receive a bound copy of their theater piece.
Campers will also learn acting techniques from Nelson and how to be a student activist from local community activists. They will also have the opportunity to participate in workshops with Playhouse staff and invited guests. Past workshops have covered movement and language, character building, and theatrical poster design.
Jenny Nelson hails from Arizona where she received her bachelor’s degree in theater and master’s degree in theater from the University of Arizona. She earned a second master’s degree in education from Fairfield University. She is the associate artistic director of Collective Consciousness Theatre, a social justice theater in New Haven. She has taught at universities, including City College of New York in the graduate program for theater professionals and educators. She has also worked as an artist and educator at theaters, including Long Wharf Theatre, Shubert Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Nelson was a nominee for the Tony Teaching Award of Excellence.
Fee for the four-week summer camp is $900. To ensure that all young artists have equal access, scholarships and payment plans are available. To register, visit: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/WestportCountryPlayhouse?orglink=camps-registration
All campers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination prior to the start of camp. Physical distancing measures, health protocols, and masking may be required based on current CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and local guidelines.
Support for the 2022 Education and Community Engagement Program comes from the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation; Stephen Corman; Anna Czekaj-Farber; The David and Geri Epstein Foundation; George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation; Judy and Scott Phares; Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc.; and Roz and Bud Siegel.
CampWCP is sponsored by Aquarion Water Company; special thanks to Linda Rost for 2022 scholarship support.
For more information about CampWCP, contact: education@westportplayhouse.org
For Westport Country Playhouse tickets and information, visit westportplayhouse.org, call (203) 227-4177, or email at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog after 2pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Patchy fog before 8pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.