First Selectwoman Tooker Looks At The Year Ahead In Westport What’s Happening Podcast
Long Lots Building Project To Be Discussed at Town Hall On Tuesday
In this podcast produced by Westport “Y’s Men, Jen looks at the year ahead and discusses objectives and updates on new and continuing projects and programs to giving us her vision for the coming year. This is a very informational podcast.
This podcast addresses the Long Lots Building Committee meeting taking place at Town Hall which had originally been scheduled for Tuesday January 9th at 6:00 PM.
That Committee meeting has been re-scheduled for Thursday, January 11, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
Tooker has withdrawn the current plan before the Planning and Zoning Commission and said that she “expects to re-submit a potentially modified plan on the 22nd of January.”
To view the Podcast, click here: Westport… What’s Happening
Wreckers Corral Mustangs To Take Immaculate Holiday Tournament Title
Wreckers captains Adam Udell, Sam Clachko, Caleb Smith and Nick Sikorsky with tournament title trophies.
The Staples Wreckers Boys got their pre-season off to great start with a victory in the annual Immaculate High School Holiday Tournament in Danbury on Friday night. The boys 62-51 victory over West Haven Wednesday brought them to the final match-up against Immaculate High in which they defeated the Immaculate Mustangs 64-52.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Udell, who scored 20 points in this win, and was named the All-Tournament player. Sophomore Clachko’s 22 points and 11 rebounds against a taller Immaculate squad earned him tourney MVP honors. Clachko was also instrumental in the West Haven win, scoring 31 points in that game. Junior Adam Udell added 20 points and led rebounding with 11 boards, and sophomore Mason Tobias also had a strong game, adding 8 points and another 8 rebounds.
Immaculate got of to a good start holding a 6-5 lead early in the first period and then 11-9 after breaking a 9-9 tie. That would be the last lead they would have as Staples found their rhythm gaining an 11-15 advantage with a minute left in the first. A combination of good outside shooting and the repeated drives in the lane by sophomore standout Sam Clachko brought the lead to 7 midway into the second period. The Wreckers went into the locker at the half leading 35-28 but the Mustangs fought from the second half tip-off recovering with a 36-36 tie in less than two minutes of play.
Staples continued their tenacious defense and started the final period holding an 8 point advantage, which they built upon with continued strong drives to the hoop, sealing the victory by 13 points to take home tournament trophies.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Coach David Goldshore told WestportLocal that he was “Pleased with our preseason. Competed through some injuries and an incredible state football run. Excited to be at full strength to begin our conference schedule next Friday at home vs the cream of the crop, Ridgefield.“ Senior captain Caleb Smith was the Wreckers standout QB who led the Wreckers to the State Football Title.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Goldshore added “ I understand we are slightly undersized, but our goal is not to be out-toughed, and I think we have accomplished that goal so far.” He added, “I didn’t think it was our best effort as a whole, but when you win games and you don’t play great, miss a lot of free throws I think it speaks volumes about where you are as a team right now.”
Staples fans will recognize Wrecker superstar Chris Zajac, (above right) who was in the stands to support his former teammates. The 6’7” Zajac helped lead Staples basketball last year and in prior years and was a pitcher for Staples baseball.
A Visit To Christmas Past
Revisitng the magic of Rick & Joan Setti’s Spectacular Christmas Village which ran for 26 years nearby in Norwalk.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
For nearly three decades generations of people, young and old made their yearly pilgrimage to Norwalk each December to one the the greatest Christmas displays in Connecticut and actually one of the best in the country. That fact was established in 2014 when the nationally televised ABC show, “The Great Christmas Light Fight” airing for it’s second year awarded the Settis first place which came with a $50,000 prize.
Rick and Joan’s reaction was stunned amazement in a moment that is a must see, click here: Great Christmas Light Fight.
There are no doubt hundreds and hundreds of Westporters with fond memories of one day being children and teens brought by their parents to years later being parents brining their own little ones to find amazement and joy at the sight. Alone approached the families home they could see they were on the right road as the glow of the lights was visible even before you got to the house.
The family and friends would begin assembling their display, which included 150,000 lights and over 700 hand-made characters in September to get ready for the big day after Thanksgiving Day.
That is when the City made their Midwood Road in Norwalk’s West Rocks section a one way street to try to manage the hundreds of cars which would arrive at dusk to marvel at the brilliant spectacle the Settis created. They added to their display over the years as Rick would create characters from across the spectrum of children’s entertainment in his wood shop and wife Joan would lovingly hand paint each figure. There was everything from early Disney films such as Snow White to the Peanuts Gang. There were scores of snowmen, Surfs galore, their North Pole Village and the scenes from the birth of Jesus. There were numerous room vignettes which the children would clamor into and pose for photos. The demand for electric service was so great CL&P, now Eversource had to install a dedicated transformer to handle the demand.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The biggest day for the Settis was in fact Christmas Eve. This was when, at “their invitation” Santa and Mrs. Clause would take up their positions and hand out a candy cane to every child who came to sit on Santa’s lap to answer the age old question, “And what would you like for Christmas this year?”, no doubt hoping their Christmas wish would be granted the next morning. This would easily be a four hour process and they were able to tally the number of children who each received one candy cane which sometimes numbers more than 800 children.
The great gift of the first place finish was a poignant one for the Setti’s, who were then in their 70’s and would be making their last Christmas Miracle that year. They told everyone they would hold a tag sale after their season was over so that the beautiful pieces that had been a part of so many people’s lives would then become part of those family’s Christmas decorations.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples High School Presented Their 83rd Annual Gift Of Joy To Westport
As they have now for 83 years, the Staples Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra and Choral Ensemble gave the people of Westport and it’s surrounds the gift of a joyous holiday concert in what has become recognized as exceptional musicianship, superb vocals and creative, top-notch production values from the moment the candle procession entered the auditorium.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
As always, the Friday and Saturday performances were sold out almost immediately which one can see by the photo of the packed house. Many were excited to see the world premier presentation of the first commissioned work for Candlelight in 40 years which was composed by by 2013 graduates Jake Landau and Emily Garber.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
The achievements of the talented musicians and choir were on full display under the leadership of the Staples music department. Their new choir director Lauren Pine joined perfectly with orchestra directors Jeri Brima and Carrie Mascaro, and Band director Philip Giampietro along with assistant Caitlin Serpliss in producing another outstanding and joyful holiday experience.
Photos And Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
And as always, for the Hallelujah Chorus finale the audience was invited to stand as alumni from Staples classes happily joined the full orchestra and choir in song.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
