Morning Weather Report
Today
Areas of drizzle with a chance of rain before 8am, then areas of drizzle with a chance of showers after 8am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
A 20 percent chance of showers before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. South wind 10 to 13 mph becoming west after midnight.
Police: “Disturbing” Social Media Post Prompts Police Response to Schools
Stock WestportLocal.com photo
Press Release
On March 27th, 2023 at approximately 7:15am the Westport Police Department responded to a residence on a report of a disturbing social media post. The complainant is a student at a local school and felt concerned about going to school based on the content of the post. Responding officers immediately identified the source of the post and working with the School Resource Officer and the Detective Bureau, we were able to identify the person responsible. Working in concert with the schools and our investigators, Officers were sent to each school until we were able to locate the responsible party. By 8:00am, our officers located the responsible party and determined that there was no threat.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Rain, mainly after 5pm. High near 53. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Rain, mainly before 2am. Patchy fog after 2am. Low around 37. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow
A slight chance of rain before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 8 mph.
Westport Police: Frightened Mother Nearly Scammed out of Cash over Hostage Hoax
On March 23rd, 2023 Westport Police responded to M & T Bank on a report of a possible scam. Responding officers located a victim in the bank who reported that she received a call from a male advising that he and the victim’s daughter had been involved in a motor vehicle accident. The male claimed to have taken the victim’s daughter hostage and demanded that she withdraw as much money as she could in exchange for the safe return of her daughter. The victim was told not to text anybody or call anyone. In the background, the victim could hear a female voice screaming and crying. The victim went to the bank as instructed and attempted to withdraw all of the money in her account. An alert bank employee felt that something was wrong as the victim was obviously upset. The bank employee questioned the victim about the withdrawal and immediately recognized it to be a scam. The bank contacted the Westport Police Department, we responded and ultimately had the victim contact her daughter who advised that she was fine and at work.
We have seen this scam, and one’s similar, increase over the past few weeks. Alert bank employees, like the one at M & T, have aided and prevented at least three scams in the last week alone. The Westport Police Department would like to thank the alert bank employees at our local banking institutions for being alert to these potential scams and asking the appropriate questions to prevent their customers from being victims of fraud.
We remind individuals to be cognizant of these scams and provide the following tips:
Do not send any money or gift cards to an unknown person.
Make contact with family who claim to be in danger prior to sending money.
Call the police if unable to contact family members.
Report any potential scam.
Westport Seeks Next Poet Laureate
The Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC), has announced a search for the town’s second Poet Laureate, whose 2-year term will begin on July 1.
WAAC initiated the Town Poet Laureate position in 2019. The inaugural Laureate, Diane Lowman, will have served a 3-year term on June 30, extended a year due to the pandemic. During her tenure, Diane recited and curated poetry at Town ceremonies and events, the schools, the Center for Senior Activities, the Library and arts events. Early in the pandemic, she launched a lawn sign campaign with haikus and images, to help raise spirits in town.
The Town of Westport Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for both the town and the literary form, helping to celebrate and continue the town’s vibrant literary history. The First Selectwoman’s office appoints the Poet Laureate; WAAC administers the program.
The Poet Laureate’s objectives are, but are not limited, to:
· Promote poetry as a form of communication, inspiration, and entertainment for local residents.
· Participate in the Connecticut Poet Laureate group to create and participate in programs throughout the state.
· Expand access to and create connection through poetry.
· Elevate awareness of and appreciation for all forms of poetry.
· Advocate for poetry, literature, and the arts.
· Contribute to the town’s literary legacy through public readings and participation in civic events.
Candidates should be 21 years of age or older, live in Westport, and have a wide range of relevant knowledge and experience. They must be comfortable with public speaking, and willing to work collaboratively with the town school district, library, and other cultural organizations to develop and present poetry-related activities and events. The candidate must have adequate time and flexibility to complete these and other requirements of the position. The Town of Westport Poet Laureate is an honorary, non-compensated two-year position.
For more information and the application packet, please visit: https://www.westportarts.org. Direct inquiries to waac@westportct.gov with the subject line POET.
The deadline for submitting applications and supporting materials is Friday, April 15. A committee made up of representatives from the Westport Schools, the Westport Library, and WAAC will review the applications and interview finalists as part of the selection process. The new Poet Laureate, whose term begins July 1, will be announced on June 1.
Westport Arts Advisory Committee was established by the RTM in 1997; its members are appointed by the First Selectwoman. WAAC is committed to increasing public awareness of all of Westport’s artists, arts organizations and cultural resources.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow
Rain and sleet, becoming all rain after 9am. High near 44. East wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
Tomorrow Night
Rain, mainly before 2am. Steady temperature around 44. Northeast wind 9 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Governor, Education Commission Announce “High-Dosage Tutoring” to help COVID-19 Learning Loss
Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell Tucker today announced that the Connecticut State Department of Education is preparing to launch the Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program – a new statewide program for students in grades 6 to 9 that will provide intensive tutoring in mathematics to accelerate learning and address learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support the creation of this program, the Connecticut State Department of Education is allocating $10 million from its share of federal COVID-19 recovery funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Relief Fund. The dedication of this funding represents a continued commitment by the Lamont administration and the State Department of Education to invest in programs with a demonstrable and time-tested record of impact on student learning.
“The need for robust accelerated learning interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has never been greater, and by dedicating this funding to create an intensive tutoring program, we can provide school districts with greater support to identify students who are struggling and connect them with the resources they need to succeed,” Governor Lamont said.
“We know from established research and practice that high-dosage tutoring is one of the best investments we can make to elevate student achievement,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “Few interventions have had such an unequivocally positive impact on expanding learning opportunities and closing equity gaps. State and national assessment data have repeatedly demonstrated that middle school mathematics remains an area of significant challenge, so I am pleased to take this added step in implementing a proven strategy in support of our learners, educators, and families.”
An analysis of 2022 Smarter Balanced Assessment scores shows “declines in student proficiency of around 6 to 8 percentage points in English language arts and math.” Students in grades 6 to 8 “may be 5 to 7 months behind in English language arts and a year or more behind in math.” Additionally, recent National Assessment for Educational Progress results in Connecticut reveal significant declines in math scores since the assessment was first administered in 1990.
High-dosage tutoring is a nationally recognized education strategy for boosting student academic achievement. It is being implemented in states and districts across the country as they seek ways to address learning loss from the pandemic. When implemented in accordance with rigorous and well-tested design principles, research has found that students can learn as much as one to two years of math beyond what they might typically achieve in the classroom and experience reductions in failure rates by more than 50%. Elements of Connecticut’s model, which will be released in the coming weeks, will adhere closely to these research principles.
The State Department of Education is preparing to make this program available in Connecticut schools during the 2023-2024 academic year. The department will soon launch a competitive grant application for school districts that are interested in participating. In addition to grant funding, a vetted list of approved tutoring providers will be provided to school districts from which they can choose to augment their school’s tutoring capacity.
To prepare for the program’s launch, the State Department of Education is currently soliciting surveys from tutoring providers that are interested in participating. Tutoring providers that want to be considered can fill out the survey that is available online at portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/AccelerateCT/High-Dosage-Tutoring.
Additionally, the State Department of Education will soon release a request for a technical assistance provider to join the department in coaching schools on best practices for building high-dosage tutoring programs.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This federal funding – enabling kids to catch up from pandemic learning loss – will be a great boost to our students and schools. Math tutoring in these crucial grades will be deeply impactful, enabling students to overcome obstacles caused by Covid. Teachers and students alike deserve this support to close gaps in math education.”
U.S. Representative John B. Larson (CT-01) said, “Studies have shown the effectiveness of intensive tutoring not only making up for learning loss but also putting kids on a path to exceed grade level standards. With students still struggling to catch up from lost classroom time, especially in math and reading, the Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program is the right investment in student success.”
U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said, “I have made it one of my top priorities in Congress to fight for our nation’s educational programs and get them the robust funding and federal support that they need. All across the country and here in Connecticut, we have seen the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on learning delays and students’ separation from the classroom and academic support. The Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program comes at a time when students and families, who are still recovering from the pandemic, need it most. We know first-hand how a supported education can serve as a great equalizer that opens doors and opportunities to jobs, higher wages, and a better life.”
U.S. Representative Jim Himes (CT-04) said, “COVID-19 forced our students out of schools, depriving them of the opportunity to socialize, collaborate, and, in many cases, reap the full benefits of Connecticut's excellent education system. The Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program, established with funds from the American Rescue Plan, will accelerate our children’s learning by providing one-on-one attention so that every student can crush algebraic equations and feel confident in the classroom.”
U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05) said, "As we continue to chart a path to recovery following the academic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative we provide necessary tools for success. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Connecticut High Dosage Tutoring Program will help mitigate the harmful effects of the learning loss that has permeated so many Connecticut school communities. I am happy that American Rescue Plan Act funds continue to support our state in extraordinary ways, and I applaud Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker for their steadfast commitment to students.”
More information on the Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program and updates on its development are being published online at portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/AccelerateCT/High-Dosage-Tutoring.
One Night Only: Broadway Star Patti LuPone graces the Westport Country Playhouse Stage
Broadway legend Patti LuPone will take the stage at Westport Country Playhouse for one-night-only, in her solo show, “Don’t Monkey with Broadway,” on Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m. The three-time Tony Award winner will explore how her life-long love affair with Broadway began, and the unpredictability of the Great White Way. She’ll reflect on her theatrical career through interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes by the likes of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Jule Styne, Stephen Schwartz, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.
“I can't wait to join you at the Playhouse for a special guest appearance by one of the most amazing Broadway stars ever, the incomparable Patti LuPone,” said Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. “Since being chosen by legendary director Harold Prince to play the title part in ‘Evita’-- just shortly after she graduated from Juilliard-- this astonishing performer has continued to thrill audiences, bring them to tears of joy or emotional empathy, and always make her work both indelible and completely fresh. Like the greatest stars, she brings all of her distinctive, one-of-a-kind self to whatever she does, yet she constantly remakes herself to fit the role or the song or the show. This promises to be an evening of powerhouse entertainment you're likely never to forget.”
Lamos added, “Some wonderful sponsors and friends of the Playhouse, people who promote its continuing health during these troubled times for the performing arts, have come together to make this evening possible. Without them, we couldn't have brought Patti's blazing, now legendary, star to our stage.”
Patti LuPone recently won her third Tony Award for her performance as Joanne in Marianne Elliott’s critically acclaimed production of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical “Company.” In addition to her two previous Tony Award-winning performances in the original Broadway production of “Evita” and the 2008 Broadway production of “Gypsy,” her NY stage credits include: “War Paint” (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), “Shows for Days,” “The Seven Deadly Sins” (NY City Ballet), “Company” (NY Philharmonic), “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC Award nominations), “Sweeney Todd” (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC nominations), “Noises Off,” “The Old Neighborhood,” “Master Class,” “Anything Goes” (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award), “Oliver!,” “Accidental Death of an Anarchist,” “The Water Engine,” and “The Robber Bridegroom” (Tony and Drama Desk nominations). London: “Company” (Olivier Award, What’s on Stage Award), “Master Class,” “Sunset Boulevard” (Olivier Award nomination), “Les Misérables” and “The Cradle Will Rock” (Olivier Award for her performances in both productions). Opera: “The Ghosts of Versailles” (LA Opera), “To Hell and Back” (SF Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra), “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” (LA Opera-debut), “Regina” (Kennedy Center).
Film credits include: “Beau Is Afraid” opposite Joaquin Phoenix (opening April 2023), “The School for Good and Evil” (Netflix), “Last Christmas,” “Cliffs of Freedom,” “The Comedian,” “Parker,” “Union Square,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Witness.” TV: Marvel’s “Agatha” (upcoming), “Hollywood,” “Pose,” “Mom,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Penny Dreadful” (Critics Choice Award nomination), “Girls,” “American Horror Story” (“NYC” and “Coven”),” “30 Rock,” “Glee,” “Frasier” (Emmy nomination), three seasons as Libby Thatcher on ABCs “Life Goes On.” She is a founding member of both the Drama Division of The Juilliard School and John Houseman’s The Acting Company and the author of The New York Times best-seller “Patti LuPone: A Memoir.”
LuPone last appeared at the Playhouse in “The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim” in 2006, along with Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, and Barbara Cook. The performance saluted composer Stephen Sondheim, who began his theatrical career as an intern at the Playhouse in 1950.
Music direction for “Don’t Monkey with Broadway” is by Joseph Thalken. The production is conceived and directed by Scott Wittman.
Tickets are $75, $150, and $250. All audience members are invited to meet and mingle together at a post-performance party.
This fundraising event is underwritten by Judy and Scott Phares, Roz and Bud Siegel, and Marietta Battaglia White. Westport Country Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) organization. All proceeds from this event will support the non-profit, professional, producing theater, its work on stage, with schools, and throughout the community.
More information at https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/patti-lupone/
All play titles, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.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) and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Francis Gage Mason, Former Westporter, Army Veteran, Died
Francis Gage Mason of Groton Long Point, CT. passed away peacefully at home with family by his side February 13th, 2023. Born in Paris in 1928, Frank grew up in Westport, CT. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1950; and was promptly drafted into the Army. He served at Fort Dix, NJ, where he taught radio communications and repair to troops deploying to Korea.
He married Phebe George of Mystic, CT in 1951. He and Phebe built a house in Weston, CT, where they raised their children, Catherine and Christopher. He started his own electronics company when the children were young and employed one other engineer. Over the years, Mason Engineering, Inc. grew, eventually employing as many as thirty people. Frank designed and manufactured sophisticated audio countermeasures equipment for the U.S. and its allies. After buying a shore cottage at Groton Long Point in 1969 he and the family spent summers at the beach, cruising his sloop near and far.
After his retirement and upon the death of Phebe in 1992, Frank continued his lifelong love of sailing the New England coast. He found a kindred spirit in Cynthia Buffinton, a longtime Westport resident. The two were happily married for twenty-six years, sailing and traveling the world together. Their primary residence was "Spindrift" at Groton Long Point, but also shared a nearby home at Mystic Run and spent every winter in Florida at Sanibel Island. Throughout the years, generations of family members and friends met for holidays, birthdays and soirees at Spindrift.
After Cynthia passed away in 2020, Frank remained at the Point and continued many of his interests, including his painting and photography. Under the umbrella of Spindrift Arts, he exhibited his work at the Mystic Art Museum, the Noank Historical Society, Noah's restaurant in Stonington Borough, The Big Arts Gallery in Sanibel, Florida and the Groton Long Point Arts and Crafts Show.
He is deeply missed by his family and many friends in the community. Anyone wishing to express tributes and condolences is encouraged to post them on Legacy.com
Published by Westport-News on Mar. 22, 2023.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow
Showers likely, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 13 to 16 mph becoming northwest after midnight.