Hopalong Andrew Wows Westport Families with a Thrilling Summer Show
On Wednesday July 19th Westport families enjoyed a real treat when New York City’s famous singing cowboy Hopalong Andrew returned to the Levitt Pavilion with a six-piece band.
Singing clever and whimsical cowboy songs about city life performed in the great tradition of the American West, Hopalong Andrew pays homage to the singing cowboys and folk singers of yesteryear. It is high-spirited music meant for the all ages to enjoy, and enjoy they did, on a beautiful summer’s night.
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Hopalong Andrew punctuated his performance with dazzling hijinks. He twirled a lasso, while virtuosically playing the “William Tell” Overture on harmonica, and closed the show by lassoing a plush taxi cab.
Best of all, those in attendance were regaled by the best picking east of the Hudson River, as Hopalong Andrew brought some of the best musicians of the genre, including Terrell King, the young pedal steel guitar prodigy; Ray Rizzo, who has played drums with Bob Weir; Hilary Hawke, bass player and renowned banjoist for Oklahoma! On Broadway; Melody Berger, award-winning fiddler who recently played in a production at the Westport Country Playhouse; and Cesar Moreno, up-and-coming mandolinist from The Bronx, NY who recently performed with GRAMMY-winning bluegrass artist Michael Daves.
Hopalong Andrew also performed a few songs off his upcoming album, which honors the incredible-but-true diverse and multicultural heritage of the American West.
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Hopalong Andrew performs regularly in his home base of New York City, where he was born and raised. In May 2023, New York Magazine featured Hopalong Andrew in June 2023, declaring him the "The countryfied king of our children’s entertainment circuit."
Mark your calendar for his appearance at this fall’s Brooklyn Folk Festival, where he’ll be appearing in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Smithsonian Folkways records.
Stream his award-winning music online. More information at hopalongandrew.com
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Westport Democrats seek Replacement on Board of Finance
Press Release
The Westport DTC is seeking a candidate to fill a vacancy on the Board of Finance to replace Nancie Dupier, who is stepping down. Nancie has served the town with great distinction, and we very much appreciate her service!
Registered Democrats may apply by submitting a statement of interest and bio/resume to Michael Gordon at mgordon906<at>gmail.com
The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 21, at 5:00pm.
Candidate interviews with the Nominating Committee will likely be held on Monday, July 24th.
Interested candidates should be prepared to serve the remaining few months of Nancie’s current term and campaign this fall for a four-year term on the BoF and stand for election in November.
Contact:
Michael Gordon
203 255 2244
Booked For The Evening Presented Laura Linney To Record Crowd
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The Westport Library's Booked For The Evening series has had numerous very high profile honorees and Thursday's event with acclaimed star of stage, film and television Laura Linney helped the Library to it's most successful "Booked" fundraiser yet.
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Before taking the stage to be interviewed by Lynne Meadow, the director of the Manhattan Theatre Club, Linney was front row for the presentation film in which she received glowing tributes on her abilities as and actor and as a exceptional person by the long line of Hollywood and Broadway "A" listers from Clint Eastwood to Jason Bateman to Liam Neeson. One speaker took a comic note of the extensive accolades afforded Linney from all over the entertainment industry saying he was happy that Linney was able to hear her eulogy in person while alive to enjoy it, bringing a smile to the honeree's face.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Linney’s film, television and stage credits are extensive with roles in Love, Actually, Mystic River and The Truman Show. Television viewers will remember her from shows such as Frasier and more recently, Ozark as well as the acclaimed mini-series John Adams. Her true loves always been the stage and she has appeared on Broadway in The Crucible, Sight Unseen, and other roles.
She has been recognized for her acting excellence with two Golden Globes, a SAG Award and four Emmys.
The pre-main event gathering for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres was at capacity at nearly 500 guests, as was the on stage interview of Linney with many notable Westporters in attendance.
As always, dedicated library volunteers and staff helped the evening go smoothly. Music was provided by a string trio of recent staples grads.
A Very NICE Saturday In Norwalk
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On Saturday July 8th, Norwalk's Oyster Shell park, a beautiful hilltop overlooking the Norwalk River and SoNo held their annual NICE festival. NICE was created by the Norwalk International Cultural Exchange, is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote and increase awareness of the diversity of people from around the world through arts and culture.
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The event, first held in 2016 has grown to draw up to 5,000 visitors throughout the nearly 12 hour event. This seventh staging of the NICE festival, which was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic offers visitors a taste of the flavors of multiple world cultures in not only delicious ethnic foods from multiple vendor food truck, but in their native dances and traditional music.
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As their website states, "NICE specifically emphasizes celebrating folk and traditional arts from multiple cultures and ethnic groups across varied art forms and genres…"
One of the more spectacular performances was by Cebuanos in Engaging in Building Unity Inc's Tribu Cebuano which presented Sinulog. Performed at the Sinulog Festival which originated in Cebu City in the Philippines, it is held on the third Sunday of January. It commemorates the conversion of the Cebuanos to Roman Catholicism and pays tribute to the Santo Niño de Cebú, also known as the Holy Child Jesus.
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The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”, wherein it all started in 1980 with a simple dance that represents the “sulog” (or current) of a river in Cebu. With the celebration's evolution, the Sinulog Festival has become a month long tradition in Cebu.
The mission of NICE is to encourage the various groups that make up our society to learn about each other’s traditions and customs in order to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of what each group brings to our community.
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The festival receives high praise from the office of Norwalk's Mayor, Harry Rilling on the NICE website which says "In Norwalk, we make it a point to celebrate the uniqueness of our community and all the diverse cultures our city represents. No other event exemplifies the beautiful melting pot that Norwalk exhibits as well as the NICE Festival."
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The performers listed on their website included the Mike Camacho Quintet which performed a Jazz Tribute to Norwalk's own Horace Silver, Mariachi Mexico Antiguo featuring Tere Luna a Traditional Mexican Folkloric Ensemble, NYTAK, the Akwaaba Ensemble from Ghana, Rick Reyes who brought Latin American Fusion with more music provided by DJ Kebi who has spun at Aspen and the events worldwide.
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LymanAID Fundraising Festival Raises Over $40K For Ukrainian Sister Cities
Several hundred people attended the LymanAid event in Southport on Saturday and were treated to great food and great music form the very popular local group the Mike McGovern Band and as well as patriotic Ukrainian songs performed by Olga Olichka a lovely Ukrainian singer who regularly performs for events aimed at raising funds for helping the people of Ukraine as they endure more than 500 days of suffering and sacrifice. In keeping with the Ukrainian spirit food was given to festival attendees with free will donations gratefully accepted.
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Above, Left: Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Center: Easton First Selectman David Bindleglass, Right: (L to R) Marshall Mayer, co-founder and President, Ukraine Aid International (UAI) Clyde Wauchope, Volunteer Coordinator, UAI, Connie Von Zwehl, LymanAID Organizer, Brian Mayer, Co-Founder and Executive Director, UAI
UAI Press Release - Southport, CT - July 9, 2023
LymanAID, a remarkable fundraising festival, was held today at the Ukrainian American Club in Southport, CT, with the aim of supporting Ukraine Aid International, Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization. The event was organized to further assist the Sister City of Lyman in Ukraine, as well as six additional towns in Connecticut that have been paired with Sister Cities in Ukraine.
The festival commemorated the thriving partnership between Westport and Lyman, which began in December 2022. Demonstrating their unwavering commitment, Westport successfully raised more than $250,000 for Lyman, enabling critical aid initiatives. These include the procurement of two trash trucks, repairs to six apartment buildings, revitalizing the town's agricultural sector through seed distributions, and much more.
Press Release continued:
Expanding its scope to incorporate other Connecticut towns, LymanAID welcomed guests from every Sister City involved. Participants included representatives from Fairfield, Easton, Weston, Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, and LymanAID's host town, Fairfield. Notable dignitaries in attendance were Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Representative Jim Himes (CT-04), First Selectwoman Jen Tooker of Westport, First Selectman David Bindelglass of Easton, First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor of Weston, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchik of Fairfield, and Chief of Police Foti Koskinas of Westport. The event was meticulously organized by Connie Von Zwehl and graciously hosted by the Ukrainian American Club of Southport.
LymanAID was further enriched by the generous support of local vendors who donated their time, food, and goods. Special thanks go to 203 Brick Oven Pizza, Saugatuck Sweets, AZYR Specs, and Keller Williams Westport Realty for their invaluable contributions.
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Press Release continued:
Marshall Mayer, President of Ukraine Aid International, expressed his gratitude, saying, "LymanAID exemplifies the power of collaboration and compassion. The remarkable support received today will significantly impact the lives of those residing in Lyman and our sister cities across Eastern Ukraine. We are immensely grateful for the generous contributions made at this event."
Additionally, heartfelt appreciation goes out to the dedicated volunteers of the Ukrainian American Club of Southport who played an integral role in making the event a reality.
While organizers continue to tally the final donation figures from the generous contributors at LymanAid, early indications suggest that over $30,000 has been raised for Lyman and the other sister cities in Eastern Ukraine. The event was privately underwritten, guaranteeing that 100% of the funds raised will directly benefit Ukraine Aid International and their ongoing efforts to support Lyman and the Ukrainian sister cities.
For further information about the impactful work carried out by Ukraine Aid International and to make a tax-deductible donation to support their work, please visit www.ukraineaidinternational.org.
Anyone wishing to help can contact Ukraine Aid International, Inc. via email: contact@ukraineaidinternational.org
The mayor of Lyman, Oleksandr Zhuravlov appeared on a TV monitor and addressed the audience about the devastation his city has suffered.
As Westporter's have seen in media reports Zhuravlov hosted our First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Easton First Selectman David Bindleglass on a recent visit to Lyman, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker spoke with sadness at the recent news of more destruction to Westport's sister city, Lyman as a result of renewed Russian missle attacks which took the lives of nine people in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, a city which was retaken by Ukrainian forces last year.
Tooker told WestportLocalPress, "Saturday’s shelling of our sister city Lyman makes me even more committed to delivering personalized, respectful, effective humanitarian aid to them through the efforts of the non-profit Ukraine Aid International. Thank you to our generous Westport community. You are making a difference in the lives of regular people who are now caught between being victims and heroes"
Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Fairfield Westport First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Easton First Selectman David Bindleglass.
U.S Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke passionately about the determination of the U.S. to support Ukraine, including providing the military hardware and humanitarian aid to help Ukraine defend their homeland and to stop what is widely believed to be Putin's possible aggression against other countries in the region.
Photos And Story by J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Mike McGovern Band kept the event rocking’.
Mother-Daughter Team Luba and Yaroslava Zamoyska offered art, blankets, wood art, cat toys, doggie bandanas all handmade by them, as well as photos donated by a local photographer. Proceeds from everything sold were donated to assist Ukraine. Both women are proud to demonstrate dedication to their cause and their homeland and have gotten tattoos with the ubiquitous Ukrainian national symbol, the Tryzub trident we have seen everywhere which Yaroslava (left) proudly displays.
Photos And Story by J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Volunteers braved the hot weather and even hotter grills to serve up delicious food offerings.
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Left: Julia Voytovych of Ridgefield Holds one of the artwork pieces offered, a very hard-hitting paiting showing the flag of Ukraine bringing focus on the bloodshed of innocent Ukrainians.
Westport artist and designer Miggs Burroughs designed and produced one of his lenticualr photographs which commemorates the sinking of the pride of the Russian Black Sea fleet, the flagship Moskva (Moscow in Russian) on April 14th. 2022. The piece show the vessel steaming along one minute and when turned a few degrees, shows the sinking of the ship after being struck by two R-360 Ukrainian subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles which reportedly infuriated Putin.Burroughs was asked by Mark Yurkiw who, along with Miggs is of Ukrainian decent, to create about 20 of them for a stamp convention in New Jersey last year to raise money. They sold for about $100 each And several were sold. As well as being a fundraiser, Burroughs and Yurkiw thought it would make a great statement about the Ukranian’s strength and resolve to show the ship actually sinking, which Miggs created with Photoshop using the original photo. The envelope with a stamp and an illustration related to the stamp is called a “First Day Cover” and is very collectible in the stamp world.
Again, Anyone wishing to help can contact Ukraine Aid International, Inc. via email: contact@ukraineaidinternational.org
America's Birthday Celebration Continues At Norwalk's Calf Pasture Beach Fireworks
Norwalk's scheduled fireworks celebration was postponed as have several other area shows and was held on Wednesday at Calf Pasture Beach.
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The beach was filled with families anticipating the first rocket launch. In the meantime, a favorite area band, Darik and the Funbags who have been entertaining their fans for more than twenty years, got the crowd rockin' early.
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Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Sidewalk Sales Draw Hundreds, Highlighting Ongoing Parking Debate
Parking is at capacity for Westport’s Sidewalk Sale event on June 24th.
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The Annual Sidewalk Sale Days are always a big hit with shoppers and that means lots of drivers looking for a parking space. The debate over the proposed modifications to Parker Harding Plaza, the largest parking lot for downtown shoppers currently would result in the closing of the pass through from Main St. to the Post Road as well as the elimination of a number of parking spaces. According to First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, consideration of reconfiguration of the Parker Harding Plaza Parking Lot will be on hold for the time being. Reporting indicates many downtown merchants as well as many residents objected to the plan which would reduce available parking.
As the photos above show, there is nary a space to be had even at 4:00PM on Saturday with only a few shopping hours left in the day. One Gorham Island which adjoins Parker Harding and is available for parking on weekends when the offices are mostly closed, had just a few spots left. With a growing list of in town events such as the Westport Art Festival, WestoberFest with more possible in the future, and new retail and restaurants increasing the demand for parking, the solution will be a challenge for town officials. No matter what the solution turns out to be, rest assured there will likely be vocal criticism and opposition.
Word on the street was that Kerri Rosenthal was offering big discounts on some of their lines of fine artwork, clothing and home accessories resulting in a line to enter their tent.
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Vineyard Vines tent was also very well attended with shoppers looking for bargains.
Thousands Flock To Compo Beach To Celebrate America’s Birthday
Melissa & Doug and Westport PAL once again team up to give us a spectacular show.
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At 6:30 PM there was still prime real estate available. By 7:30, it was all gone. The baseball field had been marked up for perfectly aligned parking.
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Getting a prime spot early is always a good idea.
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Pretty easy for these party-goers to find the party!
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Some folks had the perfect view, and no traffic!
jUNe Day: When The World Came To Wakeman Town Farm
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Wakeman Town Farm in Westport often gets visitors from out-of-town, especial for their special events like their upcoming family fun day. Saturday the large groups of visitors were from WAY out of town. LIke China, Pakistan and Boliva.
WTF was one of the stops for the visiting UN delegates and staff who were in town for jUNe Day. There were folks from Bolvia, Taiwan and Hungary. They were thrilled at the chance to show some love to the baby goats and lambs in the farm's enclosure. Even visitors from Kenya and Nigeria who are only a few hour's journey from seeing lions, giraffes and hippos were having a ball playing with and brushing a simply adorable group of baby goats which are on loan from a farm in Roxbury, CT.
A Wakeman staffer escorted small groups of excited children and delighted adults into the enclosure where they posed for photos, petted and even did some grooming on the playful, very curious, very friendly baby goats.
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jUNe Day Soccer: UN Team Defeats Westport Football Club, 9-7
Above left the home team, Westport Football Club and right the UN football team.
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Anyone thinking the annual Football (Soccer in the US) match between the visiting United Nations team and our Westport Football Club, formerly known as the Westport Late Nights would be a competitive but somewhat casual game would not have expected the intensity of play between these long-time fierce rivals. Tremendous efforts by both clubs resulted in a hard played match with lots of contact and physical play.
The UN team came out strong, scoring 3 goals to zero in the first half. Westport FC fought back hard scoring all of their seven goals in the second half. The efforts were not quite enough as the UN team added another six goals to their first half total of three. Westport's goalie, Brian Kane suffered a game-ending injury early in the second period. After feeling something not right in his leg, he ignored the possible injury and continued to fight. A strong goal kick a few minutes into the second half caused his knee to fail completely and Westport EMS responded to the call, bringing Kane to the hospital where it was determined that he required surgery.
Westport scorers were led by Michael Nowakowski with 3 goals followed by Cat Pavel, who added 2 more. Peter Dorgai and Marius Jasinski each contributed 1 goal. Westport was coached by Damien McClave.
The UN Team scoring was well balanced, led by Harwan from Yemen with 3 goals, followed by AJ from Nigeria/USA, and Marcelo from Brazil scoring 2 goals apiece. Adding 1 goal each were Felipe from Brazil and Marcus from the US.
Aliamane Bacar Said, UN Soccer Team coach, complimented Westport on their fine play. Upon hearing of Kane's injury from WestportLocalPress, coach Said asked to relay his concern and hopes for a speedy recovery for the Westport goalie. Coach Said, who hails from the Comoros Islands also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome the UN visitors received from the people of Westport.
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