“Who Are You When You Are Dreaming”; MoCA Seeks High School Artists to Submit their Creations
MoCA Westport’s 2022 High School Student Art Exhibition: Identity 
MoCA [Museum of Contemporary Art] Westport invites all high school students to submit works of art for a 2023 High School Student Art Exhibition on view at the Museum from January 13 - February 26, 2023.
Submissions should express the theme of Who Are You When You Are Dreaming, an open-ended concept created by the Teens at MoCA council. Guidelines are as follows:
• All high school students may submit one work, and all works will be accepted. Participation is not limited to a specific town or region.
• Art may be a drawing, painting, digital/graphic image, photograph, sculpture or video. • All two-dimensional work must be framed and ready to hang.
• Work may not exceed a maximum of 30 inches in either height or width.
• Submissions are due by midnight on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
“Our high school exhibition is always a highlight – the level of talent and creativity of students across the region is outstanding. Once again, we thank our high school teachers for their support in bringing this annual exhibition to fruition,” commented Ruth Mannes, MoCA Westport’s Executive Director.
The High School Student Art Exhibition will be on view concurrent with an exhibition featuring works from the Westport Public Arts Collections (WestPAC), in collaboration with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC).
There is an entry fee of $10/entry. Funding to waive this fee is available; contact Liz Leggett, Director of Admissions at liz@mocawestport.org for details. Further information on artwork drop-off and pick-up, and the submission process, is available on mocawestport.org.
Letter: “We believe this moment in time is not ‘politics as usual.’”
To the Editor:
We are inspired by Westport women who came before us – Republicans and Democrats alike – who rallied and door-knocked and wrote letters and took personal risks for over seven decades in pursuit of the right to vote.
Today, more than 100 years after the 19th amendment was added to our constitution, women are still not equal under the law. This is both unethical and un-American. Overturning Roe v Wade was, quite simply, a violation of our dignity and human rights.
Join us in mobilizing the power of the collective to promote women’s issues in 2022. Issues that are personal,familial and community focused. Issues that include privacy and individual freedoms and the education, safety and well-being of our children. Issues that impact the identity and vitality of our town.
When we cast our ballots in November, we must vote for policies, candidates and parties that validate our equal status, shared values and the survival of our democracy. Throughout history and in societies across the globe, women have united against marginalization. Demanding that our elected officials stand up for the rights of more than half the population is fundamental to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Committed to moving forward in our homes, our schools and workplaces, our village, our state and our country, we respectfully ask you,friends and neighbors from diverse political ideologies,to:
Recognize your power.
Accept your responsibility.
Vote in the best interests of yourself and your sisters, daughters, mothers, girlfriends and granddaughters.
As Westport suffragists Lillian Wald, Amelia Shaw MacDonald Cutler, Sara Buek Crawford, Anna Holden Mazzanovich, Laura Gardin Fraser, Rose O’Neill and others bravely did over 100 years ago, stand up for the women and girls you know and don’t yet know, in Westport and in destinations far from here. Our causes are also theirs.
Women of Westport unite. And V O T E.
Signed, Jessica Hill Jen Greely Kate McGarvey Trudie Gubitz Andrea Berkley Ebru Halper Nancy Axthelm Gery Grove Lindsay Weiner Miriamne DeMarrais Lisa Hofmeister Julia Marx Rebecca Martin Jen Gorin Michelle Mechanic Lauren MacNeill Liz Leggett Courtney McCrea Haley Lieberman Erin Loranger Danielle Teplica Denise Michalowski Kara Sullivan Gail Berritt Joelle Berger Vicki Volper Jill Saluck Abby Tolan Megan Rutstein Robin Weinberg Melissa Kane Anne Burmeister Amiee Altschul Sally Potter Annie Zimmerli-Haskell Amy Benjamin Linda Gordon Jill Nadel Sarah Benjamin Alexandra Benjamin Jordana Latzman Laila Latzman Liz Milwe Sarah Kelly Darcy Hicks Melissa Post Candace Banks Lorraine Pallumbo Lauren Kreizer Lisa Newman Danielle Dobin Laura Franklin Lauren Karpf Kris Jandora Netta Levy Donna Bacro Wendy G Batteau Sara Kempner Pegeen Rubinstein Hannah Spencer Ali Stanley Leslie Blank Haley Schulman Karen Salsgiver Coveney Shayna Green Marjorie Jacobson Stacie Curran Sivan Hong Karen Driscoll Miryha Fantegrossi Kate Tarrant Cynthia Cornell. Julie Cochran Linda Costello Anne Bowens Eliza Bowens Natasha Johnston Bonita Messman Rama Iyer Galia Gichon Mariana Servin Carrie Blasberg Jaimie Dockray Jenny Perlman Sara Jordan Sydney Hunter Esme Hunter Kate Kornfeld Jenny Lukens Jane Lukens Ifeseyi Gayle Marjorie Almansi Maureen Tarrant Elizabeth Kessler Stacie Waldman Kelli O’Hara Naughton Jen Meerow Berniker Sarah Green Caroline Motyl Tomira Wilcox Cathy Kim Walker Linda Mandel Weatherly Hammond Courtney McMahon Diana Mashia Ana Johnson Aline Kultgen Ronnie Aaron Hammer Ashley Moran Deborah Alexander Maria Freeman Melissa Levy Sara Holt Reiss-Schmidt Jas Silver Stephanie Tang Patra Kanchanagom Ellie Magnuson Kit Tingley Emily Croce Bihl Shannon Vindiola Inés Riera Brooke Davies Christina Trudeau Alison Luisi Deirdre Doran Julie Keil Riordan Michaela Rome Amy Herrera Eileen Winnick Jeanne B Klinge Jennifer DeLeonardo Seena Cushman Amanda Holt Corey Phyllis Freeman Carol Anne Ances Nancy Anderson Marcia Falk Helene Jacobs Dana Aussenberg Susan Eastman Dina Upton Hannah DeQuadros Lisa Eisen Sheri Gordon Lauren Gladstein Elizabeth Malaspina Coe Tracy Brenner Tyndale Brickey Bloom Michelle Backus Mia Anderson Allison O’Dell Sarah Caro Elizabeth Woodson Katie Apton Libby Spader Alex Cirasuolo Pam Barkentin Elise Zimmerman Jodi Christensen-Hardin Carolanne Curry Melinda Greenlee Lindsey Allen Emma Allen Georgia Allen Margo Amgott Lindsay Blass Vicki Lopez Marley Lopez-Paul Leslie Gransberry Kathryn Sonne Elizabeth Sonne Joan Polayes Dalma Heyn Josephine Deignan Lindsay Shurman Lauri Weiser Cathy Brodows Kate Frascella Diane McCoy Celeste Lacroix Joan Gillman Allyson Stollenwerck Jill Totenberg Jenae Weinbrenner Jessica Newshel Bobbi Essagof Elizabeth Canner Susan Hendee Patricia Gabal Betsy Sunderji Marjorie Donalds Jodi Ross Aviva Ross Georgette Geller Julia Petro Valerie Greenberg Michelle D’Auria Kiana Danial Diana Shayon Nathalie Jacob Barbra Utting Angela Benzan Linda Pryde Helene Jacobs Prill Boyle
To add your name to this letter, email Jessica Hill at jmbhill24@gmail.com
We invite Westport women and high school girls (able / soon able to vote) to add their names. The letter will be published locally in advance of the November election.
Dr. Murray Simon, 85, Died; US Navy Lieutenant, Westport Dentist
Dr. Murray Simon, 85, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 29, 2022. He was born on May 15, 1937 in Malden, MA, son of the late George and Anne Goldstein Simon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Linda Simon; children, Julie Tracey (Mick), David Udell Simon (Cathi) and Daniel Aaron Simon (Evelyn); grandchildren Alix Thairuammit (Alexander), Claire Simon, Jake Tracey, Max Tracey and Sara Tracey.
Murray had many "faces". Most important was husband to Linda, father to his children and "playmate" to his grandchildren. He was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, a dentist in Westport, Ct., and president of D/R/S Healthcare Consultants and on the Board of Temple Solel. He served as president of The Charlotte Gem & Mineral Club and was a volunteer at Atrium Healthcare - Pineville. Murray and Linda shared hobbies and interests in travel, magic and making fine art jewelry.
Memorial and graveside services for family and close friends was held at the Hebrew Cemetery Chapel 1801 Statesville Ave., Charlotte, NC on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Heart Assoc. or to your favorite charity.
Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, 2022.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 66. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Tomorrow
Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 7 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Light northeast wind.
Town Clerk: Office Open Saturday for Absentee Ballots
Press ReleaseTown Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton announced today that the Town Clerk’s office will be open on SATURDAY, November 5, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to issue ABSENTEE BALLOTS for the STATE ELECTION of November 8, 2022. Absentee ballots will continue to be available through Monday, NOVEMBER 7th until 4:30 p.m. All Absentee Ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk's office no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, NOVEMBER 8th, when the polls officially close. The Town Clerk’s office is located at 110 Myrtle Avenue, Room 105, Westport, CT.
Trick or Treat Tradition Continues along the Shoreline
Ghouls, goblins, ghosts, and skeletons made their way up the walkway of the Girden-Barkan home on the corner of Soundview Drive to wish the party-goers a happy halloween, pick their favorite candies, and continue on their way to the next home along the shoreline. Residents in the Compo neighborhood remarked at how many trick-or-treaters had come through their candy bowls in just a few short hours, with most houses running out of stock while most kids made their ways home by the 8 o’clock hour. WestportLocal.com photo
Halloween Trick-or-Treaters Hit the Beach Neighborhood
(L-R) Hunter Pallai, Ean Frankle, Trey Calabro, Max Yeater, and Macklin Reilly took a quick break to pose for a picture after hitting up the homes along Soundview Drive tonight as thousands converged on the Compo Beach neighborhood for Halloween. The group was also spotted by our photographers last year sporting similar smiles and poses as a tradition for friends continues. WestportLocal.com photo
Planning and Zoning Commission to Meet Wednesday to discuss The Hamlet at Saugatuck
Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young announced a public hearing of the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for a Special Meeting on November 2, 2022, at 7:00pm in the auditorium at Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue.
Mary Young, Planning and Zoning Director stated:
“The public hearings will continue on November 2, 2022, for Text Amendment #819 and Map Amendment #820, both submitted by Attorney Eric Bernheim of FLB Law, on behalf of Roan Ventures, LLC, both last revised on 10/25/22, to create a new zoning district, General Business District Saugatuck Marina, and to rezone eleven (11) properties in Saugatuck to the new district. The November 2, 2022, public hearings represent the third public hearings on the two applications.
The Special Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be held in place of the regular meeting originally scheduled on November 7, 2022, that will be cancelled, as the auditorium will be in use the next day for the general election. The Special Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, will be in-person at Town Hall to provide another forum for public participation as the two prior public hearings were held remotely using Zoom.”
This meeting will be live streamed on www.westportct.gov on the “Watch Town Meetings page.” The meeting agenda is available at www.westportct.gov on the “Meeting List and Calendar” web page. Public testimony may be during the Public Hearing by appearing at the meeting. Written comments may be received prior to the meeting if sent to PandZ@westportct.gov by 12:00pm on the day of the meeting if intended to be distributed on the same day to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Written comments received after 12:00pm on the day of the meeting will be entered into the record but will not be distributed until the next business day. Meeting materials submitted are available at www.westportct.gov, at “P&Z Pending Applications & Recent Approvals”.
Talking Transportation: Tidbits from Plains, Trains, Buses, and Buildings
Transportation Tidbits
It’s time to clean out my in-box of a bunch of transportation news items…
CT BUS RIDERSHIP HITS NEW RECORDS:
Congratulations to Greater Bridgeport Transit for hitting a new record for ridership, higher even than pre-COVID: almost a half-million trips were taken in September.
Of course, this surge in ridership coincides with free bus fares since April when the “gas tax holiday” went into effect. What happens December 1st when that holiday is over remains to be seen.
GBT’s other achievement is better productivity: they’re carrying more passengers per bus per hour than ever before. While this may be tied to faster boardings (because of no fare collection), it’s also a reflection of “right-sizing” routes, moving the buses where the passengers are: more buses = more service attracting more riders. Surprisingly, the on time performance (OTP) has remained consistent despite more road traffic on the bus routes.
TRAIN RIDERSHIP STAGNANT:
After seeing a small increase in ridership after Labor Day, Metro-North ridership has again plateaued. The busiest weekdays (Tuesday thru Thursday) see an average of 71% of pre-COVID passenger loads. But weekends now exceed pre-epidemic numbers, even though the actual number of passengers is only half to two-thirds of the busiest weekdays… and all at off-peak fares.
Lower ridership means lower fare revenue and an uncertain future for the region’s mass transit after MTA and CDOT burn through Federal bailout money next year.
MIDTOWN OFFICES HALF-EMPTY:
The work-from-home phenomenon is still taking its toll on Manhattan real estate with only half of office workers back at their desks in midtown. Worsening the long term outlook, a lot of older offices can’t be rented, reducing the value of NYC real estate by $400+ billion.
AMTRAK RIDERSHIP STRONG:
Expanded service on Amtrak in New England has found a new audience. Trains to the Berkshires, Vermont and into the Connecticut river valley are often sold out. But with the high demand comes higher prices.
UNCLOGGING OUR PORTS:
After a horrendous summer of backlogs at LA and Long Beach (CA) harbors, with cargo-laden container ships from Asia waiting weeks to offload, business is back to usual. Not because the port streamlined its logistics, but more because shippers diverted their cargos to other US and Canadian ports, including the East Coast.
Lightening the load further were the Chinese COVID shutdowns and US merchants discovering they had ordered far too much merchandise for the upcoming holiday season, even before the recession impacted shopping.
AIR TRAVEL GETS CROWDED:
You thought the summer was bad for the US airlines? Just wait ‘til Thanksgiving and Christmas. Flights are still full and fares are not budging. That’s good news for the airlines but maybe not their passengers.
WIDER SEATS:
Finally, a small piece of good news: low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is adding new, wider seats to their soon-to-be-delivered A320 aircraft. Not much wider… just a half-inch… and achieved by making the seats thinner. The middle seat will be the widest, by an inch.
Happy travels!
About Jim Cameron:
Jim Cameron has been a commuter advocate for over 30 years, with a special focus on the Metro North railroad. He spent nearly two decades on the Connecticut Metro North Commuter Council, and most recently founded The Commuter Action Group. Jim Cameron’s Talking Transportation was a popular column on the former WestportNow.com prior to its cessation, and joins The Westport Local Press and several other online community organizations. A resident of Darien - he serves on its Representative Town Meeting and is Program Director of the town government TV station, DarienTV79. He can be reached at CommuterActionGroup@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: @CTRailCommuters
Staples Record-Setting Offense Overwhelms Norwalk
The Staples Wreckers defeated the Norwalk Bears 56-7 at Staples High School Friday night before a large crowd at home.
Junior quarterback Caleb Smith was outstanding after passing for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns, including connecting twice with senior James Hillhouse, and again with sophomore Shane Sandrew, and again with senior Leo Sequenzia while also rushing for two more. Tyler Clark set the Staples record for receptions and receiving yardage in a single season. This is particularly noteworthy as there are three games remaining in the season, which makes it likely Clark will break his own record by season's end and establish one that will be difficult to top going forward. Sophomore Anthony Armentano carried the ball 9 times for 44 yards and another Staples TD.
The Bears lost their starting quarterback early in the first quarter when, while scrambling for a touchdown, he was injured and was taken from the field. The aggressive Wreckers defense was just too much from that point on, forcing 6 turnovers including 2 interceptions by senior cornerback Will Holleman.
The Wreckers are 6-1 on the season and will face Westhill of Stamford at home this Friday.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
