Jazz Society Will Award Inaugural Memorial Scholarship On Thursday At Westport VFW Post 399
PRESS RELEASE JUNE 18, 2023
The Jazz Society of Fairfield County (JazzFC), CT's premier Jazz presenting and service non- profit, is proud to announce the first recipient of JazzFC's Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship is Ciara Bustillo-Rodriguez of Bridgeport. The award will be given at JazzFC's June 22 presentation of Jazz at the Post, at VFW Post 399, 465 Riverside Ave. Westport at 7:30 PM.
The concert, the finale of the 2022-23 season, will feature world renowned NYC based pianist Janice Friedman and her quartet. Ciara will perform a few pieces with Janice and her group, which features bassist Leon “Boots” Maleson, drummer Brian Floody and saxophonist Greg Wall. Dinner by Latina Cantina will be available; for reservations email JazzAtThePost@gmail.com.
The Micky Golomb Memorial fund was established in memory of Myron “Micky” Golomb (1931-2019), a Jazz saxophonist (Art Mooney and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras) and educator (Regency Music Studios, Rye Arts Center) who moved to Westport in 1978 with his wife Kathy and their family.
Presenting the award, which is a $5000 scholarship, will be Kathy Golomb and her daughter Becky.
Ciara Bustillo-Rodriguez - Contributed photo
JazzFC has been producing weekly Jazz performances in Westport featuring internationally known performers since 2015. They started their partnership with the VFW in April of 2022, and it has become a premier destination for discerning Fairfield County music fans.
JazzFC also conducts outreach and educational activities. In April, May and June, JazzFC artists conducted workshops for Jazz students from Westport's Staples High School, and Bridgeport's KEYES MUSIC Jazz program. These featured such noted artists as Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, Tim Horner, Greg Wall, Vinnie Sperrazza and Tony Lombardozzi.
JazzFC's weekly Thursday night presentations will resume on September 7, with a performance by guitar master Paul Bollenback. For complete schedule and info visit www.JazzFC.org
Presenting The Staples High School Class Of 2023
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples High School's Paul Lane field may not have been the happiest place in America on Tuesday but it had to be about the happiest place in Connecticut. There were hundreds and hundreds of beaming, smiling faces and more than a few happy tears. The bleachers on both sides of the field were standing room only, filled with proud parents experiencing the joy of the day.
The 136 Commencement exercises at Staples was held on a beautiful, sunny day with a perfect temperature as more than 400 graduates passed through a blue and white balloon arch as they proceeded onto the field to take their seats on one of the biggest days of their young lives. The graduating class of 2023 had reached a major milestone in life, receiving their high school diplomas after four years of hard work.overcoming obstacles and dealing with challenges like Covid.
Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
After the processional to "Pomp and Circumstance", Luke Rosenberg led the famous Orphenians for the last time at graduation, followed by the welcome address by school principal Stafford Thomas Jr., his first at Staples, and next the Staples Choralaires and Senior Choral Members performed "The Road Home".
Principal Thomas spoke about the achievements of the Class of 2023 and how proud he was of what they had accomplished. He made special mention of four grads who had ben accepted to and will attend U.S. Military academies including Zach Rosemy and Grant Zeigler who will become cadets at West Point (see WestportLocalPress, Next Stop: West Point)
Next came the address by Valedictorian Lucia Julianne Kang-Yu Wang who is not only an academic high achiever but was also a leader in Staples Girls Varsity Tennis' exceptional season. Lucia spoke of her hopes for a more equitable and inclusive society going forward as well as a desire for us to address the challenge that climate change presents to her generation. Lucia was followed by Salutatorian Rebecca Hope Schussheim who touched on her passion in the science of astrophysics and urging here classmates to embrace change and new challenges.
A moment of silence was observed to honor Staples technology education teacher Michael Sansur was was tragically lost in an automobile accident in 2022.
A group of Staples educators watched the ceremony. Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open
Superintendent of the Westport School System Thomas Scarice then certified the class of 2023 at which point the issuing of the more than 400 diplomas began.
As the ceremony was concluding Marley Brown and Grant Zeigler gave the students the instruction for "Turning of the Tassel" from the right side of the mortarboard to the left side symbolizing the crossing over from high school to their next stage in life. Many of those mortarboards were painstakingly decorated, some with the names of the colleges and universities those grads will be attending in the fall.
Next, Principal Thomas then gave his closing remarks.
After the tassels had been turned it was then that Marley lead the grads in the traditional of tossing the caps into the air!
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
And Now…On To The After Party
As the ceremony came to an end students were joined by family and friends on the field to exchange hugs and kisses and take photos which be be cherished for years and ears to come.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Clams & Cocktails Achieves Harborwatch Goal At Annual Gala Fundraiser
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
On Saturday evening, Harborwatch, which is a water quality research and education program based out of Earthplace in Westport held it's annual fundraising extravaganza, "Cocktails & Clams" The event was held at Copps Island Oysters waterside location on Long Island Sound just over the Westport line in East Norwalk where Norm Bloom and his family have operated their clam and oyster farm since 1994.
The goal of the annual fundraising event which is very well attended by Westporters including current and former public officials was to raise funds to provide Harbor Watch with a new research boat.
The event reached its fundraising goal to fund a new boat. Norm bloom, who founded Copps Island Oysters has generously supported the organization by hosting this event at his Norwalk location for several years.
Guests who attended were served a variety of delicious foods including oysters fresh off the boat and hors d’oeuvres from Seaside Sliders. Great music by the Shapiro Jazz Trio added to the festive atmosphere as did the beautiful sunny day.
About Harborwatch
The mission of Harborwatch, a 501 (c) (3) non profit corporation is to monitor rivers, streams, and harbors throughout Fairfield County for bacteria that indicate sewage pollution is present. We use our data to work with a network of dedicated municipal partners to ensure pollution sources are quickly remediated.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Harbor Watch was founded in 1986 to improve water quality and ecosystem health in Connecticut. They are scientists who provide the data, knowledge, and field expertise needed to safeguard Connecticut waterways, educate our community about watershed issues, and train volunteers and student interns through hands-on research.
Harbor Watch runs several hands-on programs where high school- and college-age students learn local biology and conservation science, including field research, laboratory techniques, and analysis and presentation of environmental data.
If you would like to make a contribution Harbor Watch is seeking additional funding to properly outfit their new vesse and support their student programs. Please go to https://earthplace.org/harbor-watch/ for more information. To make a donation click HERE and select Harbor Watch.
