Westport Library and Y's Men Presented Howard Saffan, Owner And President of The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Mr. Saffan, the owner, developer, and president of the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, provided an insider’s look at this highly acclaimed, world-class venue on August 3rd at The Westport Library in a presentation co-sponsored by the Library and the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston.
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Mr. Saffan was introduced first by Dewey Loselle, President of the Westport-Weston Y's men (L), then by Dick Kalt, ( C) the organization's director of communications. Mr. Saffan (R ) spoke at length about the detailed and very expensive process of building what many of the music and concert industry's legendary performers have heralded as an exceptional concert venue and one in which they want to return to again and again.
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Now in the midst of its second season, the Amphitheater is a conversion of the former Harbor Yard Ballpark, previously home to the Bridgeport Bluefish. The Amphitheater showcases many of music's superstars, and Saffan will discuss the development of the amphitheater, the relationship with Bridgeport, and the exciting renaissance of live contemporary music shows and the Sound on Sound Festival. The Amphitheater is the premier music venue in Connecticut, presenting live shows with The Beach Boys, Temptations, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Santana, and many more.
As part of his presentation Mr. Saffan provided photos and videos and proudly described the many features and amenities which sets this facility apart from other concert venues. He provided clips of some of the major music industry stars who have performed worldwide describing how exceptional this facility is and how happy they are to appear here. Speaking in one of the video clips was Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl who performed at and became one of the early fans of the amphitheater.
Howard provided fascinating background on his long career, how he started his first business, a window and door factory in Bridgeport, which he sold after his start as a bankruptcy attorney and clerked for a Federal Bankruptcy judge. That career began when he graduated from Brooklyn Law School and achieved a B.S. in finance from Syracuse University.
Howard later became CEO of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and spoke of how he always wanted to be associated with the sports business. He tried being a legal assistant for a famous sports agent but couldn’t stand dealing with the large egos of the athletes he represented. At this point he left the legal profession, the window business which he subsequently sold for a large profit at age 36. He then bought a major interest in a leading golf driving-range company that was going into bankruptcy. Later, he took over a Shelton, CT facility, the popular Sports Center of Connecticut. That facility is unique in that it is the only double decker NHL-sized ice arena in the world where various local hockey teams could train.
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Several audience members were afforded the opportunity to ask Howard questions and he coyly demurred when one questioner asked about a major announcement he would be making on a future project which he alluded to in his earlier remarks.
One of the teams that trained there was the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He joined the team as President and after 9 years became CEO. Finally in 2011 he bought the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport which he converted to one of the most successful sports and entertainment arenas in CT. He features college and professional ice hockey and basketball and includes popular music groups, singers and shows such as Cirque de Soleil. This season the arena had the highest attendance ever and Howard continues to be a very successful entrepreneur.
As if all this was not enough of a resume of achievements, at one point in his career Saffan oversaw management of the New York Islanders hockey club and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The audience mingled prior to the start of the event. Audience members listening intently to Saffan's presentation included (L) Jeff Weiser, RTM Moderator, E. Bruce Bonner of the Y's Men organization (C) and Westport based real estate developer, investor and one of Howard’s attorneys, Roger Leiffer, (R) seated next to his wife Beryl.
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Other audience members included Robin Hammond of CLASP Westport with Levitt Board member Dave Briggs (L), Agata Slattery of the Westport Library, Y's Men's Dewey Loselle, Mr. Saffan, Westport Library's Jennifer Bangser and Y's men's Dick Kalt. At right are Dick and Howard.
Tacombi Readies For Monday With Friends & Family Soft Opening
On Monday, the newest offering in Westport’s array of dining options Tacombi will officially open.
To get ready for the big day they held a two-day friends and family soft opening giving their team a chance to iron out any wrinkles in operations and to give Westporters an opportunity to enjoy their great food at family-friendly prices.
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Above left is Tacombi’s management team: Anthony Simkin, Annamaria Ferencz- Managing Partner , Petagaye McLaughlin and Javin Bell. Center photo, server Chloe brings an order to Alexander and Janelle of Westport. At right First selectwoman Jen Tooker with Annamaria Ferencz, Zoltan Pongracz and Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
Tacombi, known for its full-flavor tacos, cocktails and ice-cold beers, is excited to announce the opening of its newest location in Westport, Connecticut on August 7th [1680 Post Road, Westport]. With over 17 locations across New York City, Long Island, Miami and the Greater Washington D.C. area, the brand is excited to expand its footprint with its first location in Connecticut, offering the Westport community of families, young professionals and longtime residents to indulge in authentic Mexican food and culture.
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This new taqueria is centrally located near the Long Lots & Coleytown neighborhoods, just down the road from exits 18 & 19 off of I-95 and close to local public transit, making this taqueria accessible to all in the area. The colorful 2,966 sq foot free-standing location offers speedy and convenient service, with the option to order at the counter or via QR code tableside. The space offers an indoor-outdoor setting with an expansive outdoor seating area, where guests can dine under canopies, the perfect place to indulge in tacos during the warmer months.
The menu at Westport brings together distinct flavors and recipes from across Mexico’s 32 states, offering a selection of Tacombi’s popular menu items like Corn Esquites, Baja Crispy Fish Tacos, Tacos de Birria, and Gringa Quesadillas with Mexico City style Al Pastor roasted pork. The taqueria will serve cocktails including its classic Margaritas, Spiked Hibiscus, which is smoky mezcal with fresh Hibiscus flower; Paloma, Tacombi’s take on the beloved Mexican cocktail, made with tequila blanco, fresh grapefruit, and agave; Piña Colada, a tropical favorite pairing dark rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream, along with other Tacombi classic cocktails as well as non-alcoholic beverages like house-made Aguas Frescas and Lupita sodas.
With each new opening, the taqueria participates in growing the impact of The Tacombi Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance Mexican communities through education and food accessibility. As part of the foundation, The Tacombi Community Kitchen provides food for people in need by donating thousands of quality and reliable Mexican meals prepared in the kitchens of Tacombi taquerias. With its opening in Westport, The Tacombi Community Kitchen will begin working with local non-profits such as Open Doors, which has been a resource for people dealing with poverty and homelessness in the greater Norwalk area for over 40 years, along with Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Center and Thomas Merton Center, two organizations fighting food insecurity in the local Westport area.
Tacombi’s Westport location is open from 11am to 11pm. For more information visit www.tacombi.com or @tacombi on Instagram.
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay (the River, actually)
A couple relaxes alongside the river at sunset.
Photo by J.C. Martin
Enjoying A Saugatuck Sunset
Boaters pass under the I-95 bridge over the Saugatuck as they return from the sound to their slips on the river, with one approaching the Cribari bridge. A couple, or a trio it appears pause to take a selfie.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPres.com
Cormorants Preening On The Rocks
A pair of cormorants take up a positioning front of Westport's newest luxury address, Bankside House on the Saugatuck River across from Parker Harding Plaza.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
TwiddleFest 2023 Dazzles Westport Again
On last Friday and Saturday, Levitt Pavilion hosted their two-day TwiddleFest once again, drawing hundreds of people each day of all ages, very young to not so very young.
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Long-time fans of Mikhail and Twiddle could be seen singing along, knowing the words to much of their music. New fans of the Vermont based jam-band were certainly created from the superb musicianship and hard-driving solos. Unfortunately, fans both old and new may have a long wait to see this exceptional band again as they have announced this tour, billed as the Distance Makes the Heart Tour will be their last for while. Twiddle will be taking an indefinite hiatus for a well earned rest after 18 years on the road.
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Lespecial, a band with strong Connecticut roots performed prior to Twiddle taking the stage.
The crowd put on their own performance in both style and energy. One thoughtful pet-parent made sure their little one, whose hearing can be four or more times more sensitive than humans with an ability to hear both high and low frequency sounds which humans cannot was spared the high volume sounds.
Twiddle Frontman Mihali Savoulidis once again thrilled the sellout crowd with his blistering guitar shreds and high-energy vocals. He briefly joined his friends from the previous band, Lespecial (above), a band with Connecticut roots to cover Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, widely acknowledged as a leading Grunge genre anthem which Lespecial guitarist Jon Grusauskas said they had not performed together with Mihali since high school. Mihali certainly did Kurt Cobain proud with his stunning vocals.
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Mixed in with the eclectic crowd were some responsible parents who made sure to protect the sensitive hearing of young children. According to bythebarricade.com which references The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, "Ear protection is strongly recommended for children at concerts because they are prone to hearing loss. Children are still developing their hearing and are more sensitive to noise than adults. Ear protection can help children enjoy concerts without feeling overwhelmed."
One group of fans who have clearly spent a bit of time front of a music festival stage or two created a couple of benches which were indeed works of art on which they could rest between sets.
Long-time fans of Twiddle could be seen singing along, knowing the words to much of their music. New fans of the Vermont based jam-band were certainly created from the superb musicianship and hard-driving solos. Unfortunately, fans both old and new may have a long wait to see this exceptional band again as they have announced this tour, billed as the Distance Makes the Heart Tour will be their last for while. Twiddle will be taking an indefinite hiatus for a well earned rest after 18 years on the road.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
The fact that Twiddle has had over 100 million streams is testament to their powerful appeal with their fans, both old and young. An early fan following which enjoyed the band in 2013 at the famed Gathering Of The Vibes in Bridgeport, where they played on the smaller satellite stage has grown tremendously in Connecticut and beyond over the 18 years that the band has been touring.
The packed house was a big part of the TwiddleFest experience, with fans from children to seniors, many with obvious hippie roots.
There was a veritable art gallery of tattoos of every size and subject, many paying homage to The Grateful Dead the legendary jam band. The clothing was as varied as the body art.
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If there was one word to describe the festival it would have to be joy which was evident everywhere in the enthusiastic audience and very apparent among Twiddle's followers who cheered and sang as Twiddle played some of their favorite tracks.
The crowd danced for hours throughout the day and night as they enjoyed all the bands which included Doors, Oh He Dead and Lespecial which preceded Twiddle, seemingly having an endless supply of energy.
VFW Post 399 Barbecue Draws Several Hundred To Support Our Vets
The volunteer team that made it all happen- Front row, Left to Right Jake, Christy and Patty, Back Row, Left to Right: Phil, Mike, Kat, Alan, Al, Eduardo and Dennis
Photos and Story by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A small but very dedicated team of volunteers from Westport's VFW Post 399 and from the American Legion worked long and hard to make Saturday's community barbecue a great success.
They were led by Sergeant First Class Eduardo Hernandez who hails from California, is a 17 year U.S. Army veteran on active duty and is currently assigned to the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion in Danbury. Sgt. Hernandez went above and beyond in his mission, by beginning the cooking on Friday at 11:00 AM and starting 2 days earlier with preparation work.
Above: Kat, Christy and SFC Eduardo Hernandez stand by the smoker and grill which help feed more than 300 people Saturday. At right, Dennis brings out another round of Cole slaw. By the end of the barbecue there was nothing left!
In the keeping with his training in the military SFC Hernandez stood his post overnight tending the smokers and fire, getting less than two hours of sleep here and there when he could stretched between two chairs. Hernandez told WestportLocalPress he "was worried about the Friday night forecast of server thunder and rain, but was blessed with good weather all the way through." In speaking abut the event he gave credit to his team, saying about the event, "It was good but without the volunteers and the VFW Auxiliary helping out, it wouldn’t happen."
The event drew more than 300 guests for the day with a few remaining at the 5:00 end of the event. The funds raised will help the Westport VFW to with repairs that are needed said SFC Hernandez adding, "But mostly this event was to bring in the surrounding towns and local residents to enjoy our club and to let them know we are always open to the public."
SFC Hernandez wishes to invite the community to their new Friday night dinners at the Post which are in addition to the famous Jazz Thursday event which has been so successful over the years. As if the entertainment so far isn't enough Post 399 will also be hosting folk music performances the first Sunday of each month. The public is invited and more information is available at https://vfw399ct.org/
Photos and Story by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There's A BBQ At the Westport VFW And Everyone Is Invited
On Saturday, Westport VFW Clinton Post 399 is hosting a community barbecue from 1:00PM to 5:00PM at the Post, 465 Riverside Ave., Westport. Scan the QR code to get more details or visit their website: https://vfw399ct.org/.
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