First Selectwoman Tooker gives Thanksgiving Message for Westport
On behalf of the Tooker family – myself, Mo, Jack, Riley and Nicole – I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Tomorrow we’ll get together with family and friends, share a meal, watch some football, and give thanks for each other and the blessings in our lives.
It’s a day to reflect on what brings us all together as Americans and Westporters. We are fortunate to be part of such a vibrant, beautiful and caring community - a community where we are striving to ensure that everyone feels like they belong.
I am truly grateful for our first responders, our town employees, our teachers and everyone who works and volunteers at our schools, our residents and business owners, and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to support Westport’s cultural and non-profit organizations. You have demonstrated time and again that Westporters will come together to face any challenge with kindness and support for one another.
Thank you, Westport. I wish you a Thanksgiving full of love and gratitude for all things big and small.
Thanksgiving Day Weather Report: Beautiful
Today
Sunny, with a high near 51. Light and variable wind.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Rain likely, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Thanksgiving Celebration Returns: Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular
A cherished tradition the Sunday before Thanksgiving has returned for the 29th time after a two year absence due to COVID, tens of thousands of people from all over Fairfield and Westchester counties lined the streets of downtown Stamford to marvel at the 15 giant 30' high balloons, listened to marching bands and enjoyed a variety of performing artists. The parade is acknowledged to be one of the largest of it's kind in country. Stamford and Westhill's bands were joined by Trumbull High and New York's Uniondale and Brentwood bands.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Fan favorite balloons including Bob The Builder, Shrek, Scooby Doo, Peppa Pig, Daniel Tiger and many other popular characters required much attention from their handlers as brisk winds posed a challenge for those trying to maneuver their charges through city streets as they carefully threaded past overhead street signs and traffic lights. As usual, the crowd chanting spin, spin, spin added to the handler's difficult task.
What seemed like a small army of clowns walked the entire parade route, delighting children and stopping to give high fives and posing for selfies.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Dance performances were provided by Locust Performing Arts Center, Center Stage Dance Studio, City Center Dance and The Pulse nova jazz groups. Hoop girls also showed their skills to the cord along the route.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Entertainers including new to the parade this year were the beautifully costumed acrobats of New York City based Cirque-tacular Productions and also the cast of the play Something Rotten opening soon at Stamford's Westhill High School who treated viewer to a sneak-peek of their production.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Parade organizers this year invited Stamford native Colin Cosell, announcer for the NY Mets to fill the role of Master of Ceremonies from his position at the reviewing stand as he introduces the many performers and marchers. Among those in attendance were Stamford mayor Caroline Simmons and Ct Attorney General William Tong.
And as always, the conclusion of the parade saw the arrival of Santa and his reindeer ushering in the holiday season.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Saturday Show: Chris Frantz Presented Residual Groove & Brian Dolzani
Chris Frantz, famed member of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, brought his Emerging Musicians series back to The Westport Library’s Trefz Forum on Saturday, November 19, with two Fairfield County acts: Residual Groove, a funk-fusion, improv-heavy dance band, and contemporary singer-songwriter Brian Dolzani.
The Chris Frantz Presents Emerging Musicians series at The Westport Library features up-and-coming regional, national, and international music, hand-picked by Frantz, with the goal of bringing new music to new ears and to be an incubator for rising talent. The concert is a music collaboration and production by Verso Studios at The Westport Library and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
The previous session of the Emerging Musicians Series was held in December 2021 and featured Lulu Lewis and The Problem with Kids Today.
Said Chris Frantz: “I’m excited to be resuming the Emerging Musicians Series at The Westport Library in the beautiful and innovative Verso Studios. Both Residual Groove and Brian Dolzani are Fairfield County mainstays deserving of a larger platform. A fun night is in store.”
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Said Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library: “Chris is one of the landmark figures in rock and roll, and we’re thrilled to partner with him once again to bring these incredible artists to our stage. When we planned and executed the Library’s transformation, we imagined creating a space that could feature creativity in all its forms and deliver first-class events to Westport, Fairfield County, and beyond. The Emerging Musicians series is another example of delivering on that vision and another opportunity to demonstrate the full capabilities of our Verso Studios.”
About Residual Groove: Residual Groove is a five-piece Funk-Fusion band out of Norwalk, featuring brothers Previn Edwards (guitar/vocals) and Kiran Edwards (keys/vocals), Francesco Perrouna III (bass/vocals), Henry Thomas (drums), and Garrett Halstead (percussion). Their bio reads: “With a healthy mix of groovy originals and surprising covers, Residual Groove joins their influences and creations together through tasteful segues and spontaneously improvised segments.” Westporters will recognize Residual Groove from its continued Dunville’s residency.
About Brian Dolzani: The storytelling roots of Dolzani’s music are in the singer-songwriter tradition of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Credence Clearwater Revival, among others. He has played at famed stages such as the World Cafe, Daryl’s House, New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall, The 5-Spot in Nashville, and the Blue Plate Special radio program in Knoxville, among many others.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Sunday Show: Mark Naftalin Presented Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman
Famed keyboardist and noted producer and radio host Mark Naftalin once again brought his talents to The Westport Library, on Sunday, November 20th, the third installment of the Library's ultra-popular Blue Sunday series.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A capacity crowd was on it's feet more than once as they enjoyed the one and only "Beehive Queen" Christine Ohlman with special guest Willie J. Laws, along with Mark Naftalin & The Blue Sunday Band featuring Crispin Cioe, Paul Gabriel, and JD Seem.
The show was a perfect fit for the Library's beautiful Trefz Forum which is a versatile, cutting-edge space. The Trefz Forum is a premier tri-state area venue for performances, concerts, film screenings, lectures, and more. It features a concert stage, an 18-foot x 10-foot Digital Projection Radiance LED screen, state-of-the-art sound, theatrical lighting, video and digital projection, and seating for 400+ people (600 standing).
Presented by The Westport Library and Verso Studios, this series is produced by Naftalin, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who rose to fame as the keyboardist with the influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
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 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 32. West wind 3 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 30. Light north wind.
Governor Announces State Credit Rating Increased; “Connecticut is getting its mojo back”
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration has received notification from credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) that it is increasing Connecticut’s general obligation bond credit rating from A+ (positive) to AA- (stable). This credit rating increase follows increases in 2021 by several other agencies, including Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, and Kroll.
Prior to Governor Lamont taking office, Connecticut had not experienced an increase in its credit rating since February 2001.
Governor Lamont said, “Connecticut taxpayers should celebrate today’s news. This credit rating increase will mean lower costs for critical projects that move our state forward. It is a signal to the businesses and residents that our state is on the right financial path, that we have shown a commitment to putting our fiscal house in order, and we are continuing to make significant progress to address our pension and other postemployment benefit liabilities. S&P recognizes the progress that has been made and that Connecticut is getting its mojo back.”
Secretary Beckham said, “As we develop next year’s budget, this credit rating increase sends strong signals for how we should proceed in the future. The budget we release in February will include an extension of the bond covenants that S&P stated as a key reason for our upgrade. If we are going to continue the positive progress made under this administration, those bond covenants and associated benefits must be a part of the final budget bill.”
In its notice to investors that was released today, S&P said, “The upgrade on the state’s GO debt reflects our view of Connecticut’s sustained positive financial results and building of high reserve levels during a recent period of economic and revenue growth, while also demonstrating its commitment to structural budget balance and curbing future growth of the state’s very high debt, pension, and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, which we expect will continue in future biennial budgets. Connecticut’s overall credit improvement is also underscored by the executive branch’s announcement and intent to extend statutory financial controls in the next biennial budget proposal, which supports our view that the state remains more firmly committed to these provisions for the foreseeable future.”
Joseph Louis Veno, 96, Died; Born in Saugatuck, WWII Navy Veteran
Joseph Louis Veno passed away peacefully on November 16, 2022, at the age of 96. Joseph was born on May 10, 1926, in Saugatuck, Connecticut to Louis and Mary (Dorta) Veno and was a lifelong resident of Westport and Norwalk.
As a teen, he worked as a caddie at Longshore Country Club and enjoyed swimming in the Saugatuck River. At age seventeen, Joseph enlisted in the Navy where he served on the USS Apollo submarine tender in the Pacific during WWII. After his return from the war, Joseph met and married the love of his life, Madeline (Cenatiempo) Veno. They settled in Norwalk, Connecticut and had three sons, Louis, Joseph Jr. and Steven.
Joseph had a tireless work ethic and worked in the flooring industry as a business owner and expert installer of linoleum, tile and carpet. He later worked at St. Thomas the Apostle church in Norwalk, St. Cecilia church in Stamford and Christ & Holy Trinity church in Westport until he retired at the age of 85. He returned to Saugatuck in 1997 and lived in the same building where he had once attended elementary school. He lost his beloved wife, Madeline, twenty years ago in November 2002.
Joseph was a faithful Catholic who appreciated the simple joys of life. He enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and took great pride in their accomplishments. He loved Italian food, ice cream sundaes and baseball (the New York Mets), and kept an exceptionally clean home. He also enjoyed countless visits to Compo beach with his brother, Angelo Veno, and other friends. He maintained an active social calendar and met regularly with his friends. His sharp memory allowed him to share detailed stories from his youth well into his tenth decade, recalling Saugatuck at a time when Italian families shared a communal baking oven and kept pigs and chickens.
Joseph was predeceased by his wife, Madeline, brother Angelo and sister Ida. Joseph is survived by his sons, Louis Veno (Marlene), Joseph Veno, Jr. (Anne), Steven Veno (Sara), his sister Theresa Valentine (Richard), grandchildren Alison Larsen (Jared), Jason Veno (Lauren), Tyler Veno, Michael Veno (Kristin), Nicole Veno, Natalie Veno, Steven Veno, Jr., Brendan Veno, Christopher Veno (Courtney), and great-grandchildren Spencer, Trevor, Benjamin, Lucia and Nicholas. He is also survived by Sylvia Pack, whose companionship he was blessed with in his later years.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at 12:15 p.m. at St. John's Cemetery, 223 Richards Ave., Norwalk, CT.
The Raymond Funeral Home, 5 East Wall Street in Historic Norwalk has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit www.norwalkfh.com to leave an online condolence.