Morning Weather Report
Today
Increasing clouds, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph.
Tonight
Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind 5 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 27. North wind 6 to 9 mph.
Kat Evans named Westport Book Shop’s February Artist
The Westport Book Shop is pleased to welcome artist Kat Evans as guest exhibitor for the month of February at the Book Shop’s Drew Friedman Art Place.
Kat is exhibiting three of her recent luminous Color Field paintings — a 48”x36” painting, and two 20”x20” collages of painted canvas cutouts affixed to a painted canvas base.
Kat’s vibrant, large-scale paintings are a celebration of the expressive possibilities of color. Inspired by Josef Albers and the Color Field Movement, Kat Evans creates vibrant paintings with luminous hues and raucous color. Using bold brush strokes and often collage effects, she explores the interplay of color and texture to evoke an emotional response in each composition. Her artwork has been shown in numerous juried solo and group exhibitions, and her paintings can be found in collections throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Mexico. Kat is a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, as well as the Rowayton Arts Center and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists.
Kat Evans’ artwork will be on exhibit at the Book Shop through February 28, 2023. All artwork on display is available for purchase. To see more of Kat’s work, visit her website: www.kevansart.com
Westport Book Shop, a nonprofit used book store, is downtown Westport’s only source for gently used and antiquarian books, vintage vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and audio books. It is located at 23 Jesup Road, right across Jesup Green from the Westport Library.
The Book Shop’s “Drew Friedman Art Place” is an area of the store dedicated to exhibiting the work of community artists year-round, on a rotating basis. Miggs Burroughs, a Trustee of the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center, and a founding member of The Artists
Collective of Westport, is curating these exhibits, which change monthly. The art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shop’s business hours: Sundays and Mondays from Noon to 5 p.m., and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Westport Book Shop, and the Westport Library Book Sales, are operated by Westport Book Sale Ventures, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit enterprise with the dual social mission to provide meaningful employment for adults with disabilities, while raising support for The Westport Library, through used book sales. In addition to the nonprofit Westport Book Shop, gently used books are also offered for sale online on the company’s website www.westportbooksaleventures.org/shop and through our eBay store at www.ebay.com/str/ westportbooksalesct, as well as at periodic large book sale events (the next book sale event is scheduled for May 5 through 8, 2023, inside the Westport Library). For more information, or to make a charitable donation, please visit our website at www.westportbooksaleventures.org
Westport Country Playhouse Presents Script in Hand Playreading of Stinging Comedy, “As Bees in Honey Drown”
Press ReleaseWestport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of the stinging comedy, “As Bees in Honey Drown,” on Monday, February 13, at 7 p.m., written by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Mark Shanahan.
In “As Bees in Honey Drown,” a young, gay, struggling writer named Evan Wyler catches the eye of a fabulously outrageous and wonderfully mysterious woman named Alexa Vere de Vere and is drawn into a whirlwind adventure, hobnobbing among the ‘90s’ New York art scene. Alexa, part Auntie Mame, part Holly Golightly, is a self-described promoter of up-and-coming artists and hires Evan to write a screenplay based on the story of her life. But who is she, really? Even as Evan gets caught up in the romance of Alexa’s promises of fame and fortune, he begins to suspect that all may not be what it seems.
“Douglas Carter Beane’s fine-tuned wit once again delivers a terrific, laugh-out-loud comedy,” said Mark Shanahan, director, and curator of the Playhouse’s Script in Hand series and Playhouse Radio Theater. “Yet, even as Alexa Vere de Vere seduces us all with her madcap persona, Beane’s play cuts deeply, exploring that nefarious question, ‘fame at what price’?”
Shanahan added, “I know our Script in Hand audience will love joining Evan Wyler on his quest to uncover the truth about Alexa Vere de Vere in this fun-filled, social satire...perfect for a winter night at the Playhouse!"
The cast includes Steve Pacek as Evan Wyler. Pacek’s recent credits include regional theater productions of “The 39 Steps,” “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” “Titantic,” “Hand to God,” “Metamorphosis,” “Clybourne Park,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Mary Poppins,” and the world premiere of “See Monsters of the Deep.” He is an alumna of Ithaca College. www.stevepacek.com
Nina Hellman portrays Alexa Vere de Vere. She was in Westport Country Playhouse’s Script in Hand reading of “Bedroom Farce.” Her Off-Broadway work includes “The Internationalist,” for which she received a Lortel nomination, and “Trouble in Paradise,” for which she earned an Obie Award. Film includes a regular role on Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer.” Television includes a recurring role on “Nurse Jackie.”
Others in the cast are Seth Andrew Bridges in multiple roles of photographer, Swen, Royalton clerk, and Kaden (Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand playreading of “Murder by Misadventure”; Off-Broadway’s “The Daughter-in Law”; Showtime’s “Billions,” Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”; BFA from NYU-Tisch; www.sethandrewbridges.com); Camden Gonzales in multiple roles of Amber, backup singer, secretary, Bethany, Ginny, a second muse (associate choreographer for “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” in the US; national tours of “Hamilton” and “Matilda the Musical”; Broadway’s “Groundhog Day The Musical”; BA in theater from UCLA); Stacie Morgain Lewis in multiple roles of writer, backup singer, Carla, newsstand woman, Denise, Illya, a muse (Westport Country Playhouse’s Script in Hand playreadings of “The Savannah Disputation,” “Dot”; Broadway’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Wicked,” “Urinetown,” “Titanic”; Chicago’s “Wicked” as Glinda; created Harmonize Kidz, BFA Ithaca College); and Caesar Samayoa as Ronald, skunk, Mike (Broadway’s “Come From Away,” “Sister Act,” “The Pee-Wee Herman Show”; Off-Broadway’s “Los Otros,” “Love’s Labour’s Lost”; television’s “The Blacklist,” “Ray Donovan”).
Playwright Douglas Carter Beane earned five Tony nominations and one Olivier nomination. Beane’s plays include “The Little Dog Laughed,” “The Nance,” and “Shows for Days”; musicals include “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” “Lysistrata Jones,” “Sister Act”, and “Xanadu.” He wrote the film adaptation of his play “Advice from a Caterpillar,” as well as the screenplay for “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.”
Script in Hand curator and director Mark Shanahan appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in “Around the World in 80 Days,” “Tryst,” “Sedition,” “David Copperfield,” “Journey's End,” over 20 Script in Hand playreadings, and directed readings of “Butterflies Are Free,” with Blythe Danner and Jonathan Groff, and “The Greatest Gift” by Weston playwright David Wiltse. He is the creator and curator of Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater and writer/director of the Playhouse radio adaptation “A Merry Little Christmas Carol.” New York acting credit includes “The 39 Steps,” “Small World,” “Checkers,” “Tryst,” “The Shaughraun,” “As Bees in Honey Drown,” and “The Internationalist.” His directorial work has been seen at Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Virginia Stage, Arkansas Rep, White Heron, Fulton Opera House, Weston Playhouse, Florida Rep, Penguin Rep, Merrimack Rep, The Cape Playhouse, and many more. He has written numerous radio plays for White Heron’s Ghost Light Series (featuring Christopher Plummer and Judith Ivey, among others), and is the playwright/adaptor of the Off-Broadway and regional hit comedy, “The Dingdong“; as well as “A Merry Little Christmas Carol”; “The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd”; “See Monsters Of The Deep” and “A Sherlock Carol,” which was nominated as Best Play 2022 by the Off-Broadway Alliance Awards and plays this holiday season at New World Stages Off-Broadway and at the Marylebone Theatre in London. www.mark-shanahan.net
Stage directions will be read by Kavin Panmeechao, a New York/L.A.-based actor and writer, who penned “The Return” for Westport Country Playhouse’s Radio Theater and performed in a Playhouse Script in Hand playreading of “A Merry Little Christmas Carol.” Stage manager is Kevin Jinghong Zhu, who was assistant stage manager for “Kim’s Convenience” and stage managed a reading of “Tribes,” both at Westport Country Playhouse.
Tickets for are $25. Running time is approximately two hours, including one 15-minute intermission.
Upcoming Script in Hand playreadings will be on Monday, March 13 and June 12, titles to be announced. Script in Hand playreadings offer intimate storytelling as professional actors bring the words to life without sets or costumes.
The Script in Hand Playreading Series is supported by Stephen Corman and the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.
For full details on the Script in Hand playreading of “As Bees in Honey Drown,” visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/script-in-hand-beesinhoney/
All dates, times, titles, and artists are subject to change.
Masks are encouraged, but not required. For updates on Covid-19 health and safety protocols at the Playhouse, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/covid19safety/
For more information and to buy tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), Instagram (@wcplayhouse), YouTube (WestportPlayhouse), and Twitter (@wcplayhouse).
Morning Weather Report
Today
A chance of flurries before 7am. Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 14 by 5pm. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. Blustery, with a northwest wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 2. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 27 by 4am. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph.
Rach’s Hope hosts 4th Annual PJ Gala
Press Release
On Saturday, March 11th, 2023, Rach's Hope, a Westport-based non-profit, will host their 4th Annual PJ Gala at FTC The Warehouse in Fairfield, Connecticut. The event celebrates the life of the late Rachel Doran (Staples High School Class of 2015) through music, great food, and community fellowship. Proceeds benefit local families navigating the critical illness of a child. Rach's Hope brings community support to families by providing nutritious food, lodging, transportation, and encouragement so they can focus on being present for their ailing children.
Ticket holders are promised a night of Hope and celebration with plentiful gourmet small bites and desserts by AMG Catering, an open bar featuring Tito's cocktails, and exciting auction items. Live music will permeate The Warehouse throughout the night with Westport's own rising musician Michael Cantor's acoustic set, followed by well-known local rock band Ellis Island.
The PJ Gala offers a unique and cozy twist by inviting guests to wear pajama-chic attire as an homage to Doran's childhood business - Rachel's Rags. Rachel Doran, a 2015 Staples Graduate, passed away in 2018. An honors student and skilled costume designer for Staples Players, Rachel was a rising Senior at Cornell University studying Fashion Design and Business when she fell ill with a rare reaction to common medications resulting in her death. The chain of unimaginable events leading to Rachel's loss brought the Doran family's friends together to support them when they needed it the most. Ultimately, the community support they received became the healing mission for Rach's Hope - to ensure that no family goes through the illness of a child alone- by offering financial assistance and Hope to families.
Rach's Hope invites local businesses to support families weathering the storm of a critical illness of a child by sponsoring an event or donating funds, goods, experiences, or services for the auction. Contact Rach's Hope at teamrachshope@gmail.com to learn more.
To purchase tickets or donate, visit www.RachsHope.org.
Rach's Hope, Inc. is a Connecticut non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 17. Southwest wind 14 to 16 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 15 by 5pm. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 3. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.
Town Releases Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Report
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker announced today that the results of the nine Traffic and Pedestrian Safety public meetings that were held in the Spring, 2022 have been released and are available on the Town website.
First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “I am happy that so many residents attended these meetings to interact, gain knowledge and perspective, and voice their concerns over a wide variety of traffic issues. In the end, over 350 items were listed and included in the report. Relevant questions, issues and concerns that were raised at these meetings will be addressed on an ongoing basis.”
“As I acknowledged during the course of the meetings, the issues and concerns will not go away overnight. But, these meetings and the recognition from all the residents who participated, are an important first step. By developing a “Three Bucket” approach, there is baseline data and an opportunity for residents to understand the method by which certain problems are addressed, and why an issue may, or may not in some cases, be eligible for resolution.”
“The knowledge and expertise of our public safety, public works, and P&Z Departments, including their ability to listen and help explain the multitude of queries is critical to making progress on traffic and pedestrian safety issues,” she added. “I am grateful that the town has such an array of experienced and skilled employees to help guide us.”
The Summary Report from these meetings, along with related policies and studies are available on the First Selectwoman’s page at www.westportct.gov or the following link: Traffic & Pedestrian Safety
Governor Announces Legislative Proposal: Improve Gun Safety Laws To Prevent Suicides, Accidents, and Domestic Violence
Governor Ned Lamont’s OfficeGovernor Ned Lamont today announced the third and final set of proposals he will introduce during the 2023 legislative session that are focused on strengthening Connecticut’s efforts to eliminate gun violence. This set is concentrated on preventing suicides, accidents, and domestic violence, and it includes:
Requiring a ten-day waiting period before purchasing a firearm;
Increasing education requirements for firearm licenses;
Requiring safe storage regardless of who lives at a given residence;
Improving the design safety standards for semiautomatic handguns;
Making commission of a family violence crime or being a fugitive an automatic disqualifier for holding a pistol permit;
Prohibiting the carrying of any loaded long gun in a vehicle; and
Requiring trigger locks for all firearm purchases.
The proposals will be included as part of the governor’s package of priorities for the 2023 legislative session that he will present to the Connecticut General Assembly on February 8. Last week, he announced two other sets of gun violence prevention proposals, one of which is focused on eliminating community gun violence, and the other on preventing mass shootings.
“The overwhelming majority of Connecticut residents want commonsense measures enacted that encourage gun safety and prevent harm from impacting our homes and our communities,” Governor Lamont said. “This is especially needed to prevent tragic accidents, as well as instances of domestic violence and suicide.”
Requiring a ten-day waiting period before purchasing a firearm
Current state law allows residents with the appropriate documentation to walk into a gun store, purchase an unlimited number of firearms, and walk out with them immediately. In conjunction with the bulk purchasing limit announced last week, Governor Lamont is proposing a ten-day waiting period on sales of all firearms in Connecticut. This proposal has been proven by numerous academic studies to save lives by preventing suicide and domestic violence.
Increasing education requirements for firearm licenses
Firearm permits can currently be obtained with only a short course approved by the NRA. Crucially, there is no requirement that these courses inform users on how to follow Connecticut’s high standards for responsible gun ownership. Governor Lamont is proposing to modestly expand the requirements for the initial application for a pistol permit to four hours of classroom training and two hours of shooting practice, and set a one-year deadline so knowledge must be fresh.
Requiring safe storage regardless of who lives at a given residence
In 2019, Governor Lamont and the General Assembly enacted Ethan’s Law (Public Act 19-5), which was a crucial step towards ensuring that all firearms are stored safely. That law currently applies when minors, people prohibited from possessing firearms, or people likely to cause harm have access to a residence. Governor Lamont’s proposal, which seeks to avoid firearms from being stolen and used in crimes, expands this landmark law by making all firearm owners responsible for storing firearms safely, regardless of who else has access to the residence.
Improving the design safety standards for semiautomatic handguns
Users sometimes miss that a semiautomatic pistol may still have a round chambered when the magazine is removed. This issue can lead to accidents when a gun is being disassembled or cleaned. Modern models can have a “loaded chamber indicator,” a visual indication that a round is chambered, and a “magazine disconnect lockout,” a switch that prevents the trigger being pulled if the magazine has been removed. Governor Lamont is proposing to require that all semiautomatic handguns sold in the state after January 1, 2024, have both features.
Making commission of a family violence crime or being a fugitive an automatic disqualifier for holding a pistol permit
Anyone who has been convicted of domestic violence is automatically disqualified from owning a gun under federal law, but not from holding a state permit, and the definitions differ. Consequently, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection must hold a time-consuming suitability hearing in each case. Instead, Governor Lamont is proposing to automatically disqualify anyone who has been convicted of a family violence crime from holding a state gun permit.
Prohibiting the carrying of any loaded long gun in a vehicle
Governor Lamont is proposing to enact a law clarifying that all long guns, including ones categorized as “other,” must be carried unloaded in a vehicle.
Requiring trigger locks for all firearm purchases
Governor Lamont is proposing to require that all guns, not only handguns, be sold with a trigger lock to enable safe storage.
Westport Weston YMCA Thanks Outgoing Junior Board members while Seeking Candidates
The Westport Weston Family YMCA (WWFY) is seeking candidates for two Junior Board of Director positions for the board year starting in June 2023. Interested applicants should have a desire to make a positive impact in their community and align with WWFY’s mission to develop and nurture the potential of youth, motivate healthy living and lifestyles, and inspire care for and commitment to those in need regardless of their challenges or goals.
The WWFY strives to provide leadership opportunities to empower youth to reach their full potential. Junior Board Directors enjoy full voting rights and participate actively in the governance process, including having the opportunity to share fresh ideas, learn from seasoned Directors who provide insight and perspective into non-profit management, and become aligned with the Y’s mission to strengthen community. The two-year term runs from June to June of each year.
Candidates must be a rising high school junior with a minimum 3.5 GPA (unweighted), must be active WWFY members, be able to attend monthly board meetings, and commit to a two-year term, starting June 2023.
Current Junior Board of Directors, Ava DeDomenico, and Riley Twiss will both graduate this May from Staples High School. Ava has been actively involved with the gymnastics program and Riley is a competitive swimmer on the WRAT team.
“Being a junior board member has been a special experience. I contributed to the Y community through my support of and shared my opinions on specific matters of the board, conducted research to help advance projects, and worked with other board members on other agenda items. I am grateful for the new information I learned ranging from marketing to human resources, and just the best ways in which a non-profit organization should be run. I would recommend this position to anyone who values the Y community. It will not only expand your knowledge, but it will help you become an engaged community member.”, says Ava.
“The team, the coaches, and the Y community have played a huge role in forming me into the person that I am today. The organization has fostered my commitment to swimming, dedication to the team, and the appreciation of all my coaches who assist me in achieving my goals. The sense of belonging to a community greets me every time I walk through the front doors. The staff is welcoming and sincerely happy to see you.”, says Riley.
As Riley and Ava complete their two-year term, the WWFY Board of Directors thank them for volunteering their time, energy, and ideas and wish them the best as they head off to college.
To be considered, interested candidates should complete and submit the online Application by February 27, 2023.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Southwest wind 14 to 16 mph.