Historic Staples Candlelight Concert to be Held on December 16, 17th
The 82nd Annual Candlelight Concert will be presented at Staples High School Auditorium on Friday, December 16 at 8:00pm and Saturday, December 17 at 3:00pm and 8:00pm.
This annual gift to the Westport community showcases the talents of our nationally recognized musicians and performers. The Staples Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Choral Ensembles will perform traditional Candlelight favorites such as “Sing We Noel” and “Hallelujah Chorus.” Also featured will include movements from Tchaikovsky's “Nutcracker Suite," music from the movie "Home Alone" by John Williams, and the first movement of Dan Forrest's “Jubilate Deo.”
Tickets will be available to the public on Thursday, Dec. 1, starting at 9am. You can get tickets online at www.staplesmusic.org (4 ticket maximum). Order promptly, tickets historically sell out fast. There is no charge for Candlelight tickets.
2022 Music At MoCA Concludes With Heida Hermanns Performance
MoCA Westport celebrated 50 years of the Heida Hermanns legacy on Saturday night, featuring performances by previous winners of the Heida Hermanns International Music competition, as far back as 1972. The Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition brings together top young performers (voice, piano, strings) from around the world to compete for significant prize money and recognition.
The evening's music included a bouquet of light works for woodwinds and piano, and soprano voice and piano. The complete program is here. Performances included the following artists:
Bart Feller, flute, Margaret Kampmeier, piano, Diane Lesser, oboe, Todd Palmer, clarinet, Mark Timmerman, bassoon, Emilia Simone Westney, soprano, William Westney, piano
The concert was the final performance in the 2022 Music at MoCA Concert Series. Details on the 2023 Music at MoCA concert series will be announced soon; the first concert will be Talisk (Scottish Folk) in February 2023. Learn more: https://mocawestport.org/music-at-moca-talisk/
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Group photo contributed. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 41. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 47. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. West wind 3 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 31. West wind 3 to 5 mph.
Master Plan for Downtown Updated: Reconnecting the Riverfront
Press ReleaseFirst Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker has announced that the project to develop and design a master plan for key Downtown parking and pedestrian areas called Reconnecting the Riverfront is moving into its second public engagement phase.
Design and engineering firm Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.(Langan) has partnered with Connect the Dots to continue to manage the public engagement scope of this project.
The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee (DPIC) is coordinating the project along with Langan. Chaired by Randy Herbertson, DPIC includes Town department heads and resident constituents. DPIC typically holds a public monthly meeting on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8:30 AM. Meeting notices can be found on the Town calendar on the Town website, westportct.gov.
Initial design concepts and the second public survey can be found on the DPIC website, downtownwestportct.com All are invited to provide feedback, both on the survey and on an ongoing basis in the comments section.
First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “This is an important next step in developing specific plans, which will include preliminary design concepts and cost estimates for the Jesup and Imperial Lot areas (for future consideration) and design and construction documents for Parker Harding. The Parker Harding project would be the first of these projects to be advanced through the appropriate Town planning and funding bodies.”
She continued, “Continuing to revitalize and energize Westport’s central business district is a key focus of my administration. It is very important to invite and consider public opinion in these efforts, and I appreciate the hard-working team managing this project. I encourage everyone to take a few moments and participate in this second survey.”
Noelle Anastasia, 32, Died; Staples Grad, Loving Mother
Noelle Anastasia of Fairfield, formerly of Westport, passed away unexpectedly on November 16, 2022 at the age of 32, but her kind heart and bright smile will not be forgotten.
Noelle was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1989. She was the youngest daughter of Michelle and David Anastasia. She grew up in Westport and attended Westport schools. Despite the growing pains that accompany the life of a student, Noelle loved to learn, a passion that she carried into her adult life.
Noelle had many loves. As a girl at Bedford Middle School, she loved to sing in the choir. Years later as a woman, she confessed that she still loved to sing in the shower. For many years, Noelle served as an alter server for Assumption Church in Westport. Throughout her life, Noelle kept her faith close to her heart. Determined to pursue her enthusiasm for learning, she attended classes at Norwalk Community College and had planned to return to school. She loved to cook and had learned to master the talents of many professionals. It was a wonder to watch her casually prepare a meal with all the skills of a master chef.
Noelle had a kind soul and a deeply loving heart. More than anything, she loved her daughters Isabella, 5, and Ella, 3. They were the lights and loves of her life. She loved her stepson, Jesus, and was proud of all he accomplished. Her family was the cornerstone of her life, but Noelle also cared for those who needed it. She gave freely of herself, of her time and energy, to help when help was needed. This generosity of spirit did not extend only to people, but to animals as well. Noelle was known to take in more than one kitten in need of a home and add them to her family.
Preceding Noelle in death was her uncle, Robert Thompson.
Noelle is survived by her parents, David and Michelle, her husband Jesus, her sisters Denise and Nicole, her brother Steven, her nieces Michayla, Dianna, Marissa, Danniella, and Brianna, her nephews Matthew, Tyler, and Jace, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins who are all heartbroken at the loss.
Noelle will be missed the same way she loved. Deeply.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral on Tuesday November 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM meeting directly at Assumption Church 98 Riverside Ave. Westport CT for a Mass of Christian Burial. Condolences for Noelle's family may be left on line at www.hardingfuneral.com
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 23. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. West wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 43. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Warm Colors for a Cold Sunset over Ned Dimes Marina
Saturday’s sunset brought warm red and orange hues as the temperatures quickly dropped and winds picked up. Though cold, the marina berths are still occupied until the end of November when the balance of the boats will get the boot from Westport Parks & Recreation.
Flakes Fly over Post Road East
A few minutes of snowfall made for a winter scene along Post Road East late Friday. With frigid temperatures forecast and biting wind chills, Winter has surely arrived in Westport. Contributed photo
Morning Weather Report: Cold as Wind Chills Drop to 20-30 Degrees
Today
Sunny, with a high near 44. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. West wind 8 to 13 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 7 to 11 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 6 to 8 mph.
Westport Property Transfers: October 31- November 4th; Highest Sale on Harbor Road at $4.75 Million
Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $39,275.00
Total Sales: $15,927,747.50
Highest Transfer Price: 22 Bermuda Road: $4,750,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 27 Bauer Place Extension: $217,747.50
Transfers:
22 Bermuda Road: $4,750,000
34 Harbor Road: $3,300,000
89 Patrick Road: $1,825,000
6 Stony Point Road: $1,250,000
64 Kings Highway North: $1,200,000
6 The Mews: $900,000
14 Highland Road: $860,000
124 Riverside Avenue, Unit 2: $850,000
230 Saugatuck Avenue, Unit 8: $775,000
27 Bauer Place Extension: $217,747.50