Westport Named “Best Community for Music Education” Tenth Year in a Row by NAMM
Westport Public Schools:
The Westport Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for the tenth year in a row. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education, Westport joins 623 districts across the country in receiving this prestigious award for 2022.
The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to elevate their own music education programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westport answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. The Music Department has been fortunate to forge partnerships with community organizations such as the Westport Library, the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, PTA Cultural Arts, WestPAC and Westport Arts Advisory Committee, all who recognize and value the importance of the arts in education.
This award also recognizes that Westport is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the Arts as important elements in a well-rounded education for all children.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
Green Trees Return Once More
Golfers enjoy a bit of shade under the new leaves of the trees lining Longshore Golf Course. WestportLocal.com photo
Monday Night Harbor Light
A couple basks in the last light of the evening along the harbor at Compo Beach. WestportLocal.com photo
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 66 over Weekend; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 66 more cases in Westport over the weekend. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 11.30% while hospitalizations were up 37 patients, with 276 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,621 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 11.30% [up from 11.20%]
State Hospitalizations: 276 patients [+37]
Hundreds Gather In Westport To Support Right To Choose
Protesters joined by Governor Lamont, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes At the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge on Mother's Day
A large rally was held in downtown Westport on Sunday to protest Politico's release of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion written by one of the most conservative justices. Just before the announced start time of 4:00 PM there were fewer than 40 or 50 supporters of women's reproductive rights but scarcely 20 minutes later the crowd numbered into the hundreds.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There was a large media presence including Channel 12 and also NBC News New York. On Monday's Meet The Press Daily on MSNBC a 17 second film clip ran in a four frame split screen, showing the Westport event along with protests in Houston, Chicago and Washington DC. Additionally there was a large but low key police presence including a Norwalk PD Unit.
The crowd on the bridge was greeted by car horns honking their support as well as thumbs-ups and clenched fists. The occasional disdainful look accompanied the largely supportive line of passing traffic.
Pictured from Left to Right: Dr. Shieva Ghofreni, State Senator Matthew Blumenthal, Dr. Janet Lefkowitz, organizer Darcy Hicks, Trumbull Councilwoman Joy Colon, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Lauren Gray, Eric Russell, CT State Treasurer nominee.
The event moved to the corner of Jesup Rd. and the Post Rd., where the crowd heard comments strongly supportive of the reproductive rights of women by Governor Ned Lamont, followed by remarks by US Senator Richard Blumenthal who's bill entitled Women's Health Protection Act of 2022, which was passed by the House and is expected to be voted on in the US Senate on Wednesday or Thursday, but will likely fail as fifty Republican Senators have indicated the will oppose it.
Next Congressman Jim Himes delivered a forceful defense of the right to choose, and State Senator Matthew Blumenthal, son of Senator Blumenthal delivered additional remarks. The crowd loudly cheered many remarks but was briefly silenced when Senator Blumenthal announce that five hours earlier Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that should Roe v. Wade be overturned and the Republicans gain control of the Senate, his party would work to pass legislation which would make abortion illegal in all fifty states. Connecticut, along with many other states has passed recent so-called "safe harbor" laws protecting women's right to choose, however should McConnell be able to follow through with his goal of outlawing abortion nationally, the Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2) of the US Constitution would render such state laws moot.
In addition to the elected leaders, organizer Darcy Hicks of Westport, founder of DefenDemocracy of CT, a grass roots political action group which has organized many rallies in support of progressive causes, brought to the podium Staples Graduate Dr. Janet Lefkowitz, an OB/GYN who described her travels to states where resident doctors are afraid to perform the procedure amid threats of death and harm to their families. Dr. Shieva Ghofreni of Stamford, another OB/GYN with abortion care experience spoke as well. Joy Colon a Trumbull Town Council member who is a woman of color spoke to the historic fundamental inequities in health car as they relate to reproductive rights among communities of color.
One speaker asked the crowd if anyone present either had an abortion or knew someone who had the procedure which resulted in many hands being raised. They described the ordeal of patients seeking care and doctors under threat for providing the women the health care they have been entitled to for half a century. Women who had received the procedure spoke to dispelled the myth that the decision to obtain a safe abortion was an "easy choice" as some in the "right to life" movement have touted in their vociferous opposition to Roe v. Wade. One woman described in stark terms being present when a non-medical abortion was performed on a kitchen table with a tragic outcome.
As is always the case in Westport protest rallies of any kind there were many creative slogans and signs addressing the salient points of the issue. The diverse crowd of men and women, and teenagers to grandmothers, one of whom proudly displayed a sign saying "now you've pissed off Grandma".
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 65. Breezy, with a northeast wind 21 to 24 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 43. Northeast wind 14 to 17 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 67. Northeast wind around 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Near & Far Aid Gala Returns; Glamour, Fashion, Music & Dancing Raises Funds For Our Neighbors In Need
Near & Far Aid’s Gala, one of Westport's most elegant and exciting events returned home to Mitchell’s of Westport and was even better than ever.
Friday evening was the charity’s 27th annual spring fundraiser to raise critical funding for 2022-23 grants. This years colorful theme was “La Vie Est Belle” transporting guests to the Cote d’Azure. The glamour of Cannes, a jazz rendezvous in Monaco and dance the night away in St. Tropez. Dinner, cocktails, silent and live auction, fashion show, live jazz band, DJ and dancing. The energy and generosity from the vibrantly dressed crowd was in full force. This completely sold out event raised record breaking amounts from it’s meticulously curated Live and Silent Auction.
“We are truly grateful to our Host Committee and to the Mitchell’s Family for their commitment and partnership. A heartfelt thanks to our incredible chairwomen Liz Bechtold, Danielle Perdue and Elora Sweedler for their vision and dedication. And for our generous donors, corporate sponsors, volunteers and everyone who attended the event. The funds we raised will allow us to grant over $1 million to the 108 local Fairfield County agencies that rely on us year after year. Together, we are Targeting Poverty and Changing Lives”.
Missy Harmon and Karen Mitchell, Co-President’s Near & Far Aid. To Donate please click on the link: https://nearandfaraid.org/donate/
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com May not be reproduced without permission. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind 13 to 16 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph.
Staples Girls Tennis Domination Continues: Still Undefeated, 10-0
Staples Varsity Girls Tennis continued their winning streak on Thursday, May 5th against St. Joseph High School, 7-0. The team is undefeated with a match record of 10-0. Above, junior Karenna Birns lunges to return with her wicked forehand. Click on the images below to enlarge and open the galleries.
At first singles Amelia Galin easily defeated her opponent 6-0, 6-1. And so it went down the line up in straight sets, with Karenna Birns 6-1, 6-4, captain Allie Francis 6-0, 6-0 and Jenna Kornbluth 6-3, 6-1. In doubles, captain Jordana Latzman and Audrey Kercher easily won 6-1, 6-0, Lauren Hess and Sofia Palumbo, won in the hardest match of the day 4-6, 6-0 and tie break for the third set 11-9, and Giselle Oldani and Lucia Wang 6-2, 6-2.
The Staples Girls have won FCIAC and State championships for the last 3 years: 2018, 2019, and 2021 (2020 no season due to Covid). The only other FCIAC team which is undefeated right now is Darien.
The Staples-Darien matchup is currently on hold at 3 matches each (3-3) The second singles match, Karenna Birns, is up in the third set--she split set with her opponent but the match was postponed due to darkness. It will be completed this upcoming week.
The team celebrated their treasured seniors: Allie Francis, Jordana Latzman, Amelia Galin, Sofia Palumbo, Lauren Hess and Giselle Oldani for Senior Day. Coach Jena Wider said, "The seniors are incredibly talented, our roster is very deep and a lot of that has to do with this amazing group of girls. They will be missed more than they know."
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery. Copyright photos, use without permission prohibited.
Staples Seniors: Back (L-R): Sofia Palumbo, Amelia Galin, Lauren Hess, Giselle Oldani. Front (L-R) Captains Jordana Latzman and Allie Francis