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Avian Flu Strikes Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Photos above, courtesy of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's are their Bald Eagle, Barn Owls and their magnificent Amur Leopard. Their exhibit birds are safe and receiving special care. None have been affected.

One of our area's true gems, Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport has detected a case of Avian Flu

Beardsley Zoo Press Release:

Bridgeport, CT – (January 30th, 2025) – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo (CBZ) has received preliminary results of Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI), commonly known as avian flu, following testing of a deceased Cotton Patch goose on grounds, Tuesday, January 28th. In response, the zoo has taken additional steps above and beyond already established protective measures to ensure the health and safety of its birds, animals, staff, and guests. The zoo is working closely with state and federal partners, including U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to follow guidelines and conduct ongoing reviews as a result of the detection.

Health and safety precautions had already been enacted at CBZ in response to HPAI cases reported in Connecticut. Out of an abundance of caution for the wellbeing of zoo animals, staff and guests, additional and increased measures have been implemented.

They have enacted protocols to protect their beautiful bird collection which include a temporary closing of the farmyard and outdoor aviary, limited staff contact to care providers and specialists, and they will use dedicated tools, disinfected after each use and increased PPE for staff.

CBZ is reporting, "Birds in nearby exhibits that did not have direct contact with the affected flock, including ravens, peafowl, and turkeys, will be quarantined and tested to ensure that staff with proper PPE can monitor the flock. (*Update: these particular birds (such as guinea fowl, peacocks, raven) were tested, and we received preliminary results last night – test was negative for HPAI). In accordance with state and federal guidelines, the zoo has humanely euthanized the remaining affected birds in the pond community (12 birds total) that may have been exposed to HPAI, to prevent the possible spread of the disease."

To help support this wonderful zoo, visit: Beardsley Zoo.org. To Donate, click: Donate To Beardsley Zoo

J.C. Martin 1/29/25 J.C. Martin 1/29/25

The New England Patriots: Love Them Or Hate Them, Get the Inside Scoop At The Westport Library On Monday, February 3rd

**The Y's Men and the Westport Library Welcome Jeff Benedict, author of "The Dynasty" the definitive story of the New England Patriots**

In anticipation of the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 9, which is always one of the biggest party of the year, come to the Trefz Forum at The Westport Library, on Monday, February 3 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and learn the real inside story about the Patriots and their drive to become one of the greatest pro football teams in NFL history.

Join the Y's Men as they welcome Jeff Benedict, best selling author of "The Dynasty". Join the Y's men to talk football and discuss his definitive book on the New England Patriots.

A best-selling author, producer, and commentator, Benedict is the ultimate cultural authority on the most dominant sports dynasty of the 21st century, the New England Patriots. With unprecedented access inside the organization for five years, Benedict provides the definitive inside story of the team.

Sports Illustrated’s Gary Smith said, “Benedict slips inside, lowers the drawbridge, and waves us in to see the ramparts, towers, turrets, and castle keep where the Brady-Belichick-Kraft trinity ruled.” Benedict’s re-telling of this iconic sports story inspires audiences to look to the Patriots as a case study on teamwork, overcoming adversity, consistency, and the momentum of success.

The eponymous 10-part docuseries, The Dynasty: New England Patriots, was produced with Imagine Documentaries in cooperation with the New England Patriots for Apple TV+. This intimate portrait capturing the human drama of enduring success is a byproduct of access, exhaustive research, engaging storytelling, and humanity. Benedict gives insight not only into the success of the New England Patriots, but the true meaning of greatness.

Join us for a conversation that will have something for every football fan, with Benedict discussing the inner workings of one of the most storied dynasties in football history as well as the two epic Patriots-Giants Super Bowls, including how the Patriots bounced back from losing their undefeated season to the Giants in 2008.

About Jeff Benedict

Benedict is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and an Emmy Award-winning producer whose storytelling power has captivated audiences across mediums. Benedict has written 17 nonfiction books and many feature stories about some of the most iconic figures in sports history. He has been tapped as executive producer and writer for documentary adaptations of his books, including a 10-part series based on his bestseller The Dynasty, the definitive inside story of the New England Patriots, with Imagine Entertainment for Apple TV+ in 2024.

Books are available for purchase at registration and also on the night of the event. Benedict will be signing copies after his talk.

Invite your friends and enjoy some delicious baked treats from Cobs Bread of Westport.

Click here to register for this special event: Register For The Dynasty Event

J.C. Martin 1/24/25 J.C. Martin 1/24/25

Frigid Temperatures Take Their Toll

UPDATE: Westport Library To Re-Open At 1:00 Sunday, January 26, at 1:00 PM

The Westport Library announced earlier today that they will be closed Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25, due to a burst water pipe.

All programs for these two days are either postponed or canceled.

The Winter Dance Party with Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, originally planned for tonight, has been rescheduled to February 7.

We are tentatively planning to re-open as scheduled at 1 pm on Sunday, January 26.

Please check back to The Westport Library website (westportlibrary.org) for updates.

J.C. Martin 1/20/25 J.C. Martin 1/20/25

Westport Library Packed For Conversation With Shonda Rhimes In Honor Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Westport Library in association with the Westport Country Playhouse held their 19th annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday.PIctured here is Ms. Rhimes, one of Hollywoood’s greatest success stories and a proud Westport resident in conversation with fellow Westporter Trey Ellis, a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, essayist and professor at Columbia University.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above: Shonda Rhimes speaking with Try Ellis on a variety of issues in relation to the celebration of MLK, Jr. and on a wide range of topics on hee own achievements and success in the entertainment industry, and how she came to make Westport her home. Bottom: Getting ready to begin the program Ms. Rhimes pauses for a photograph with Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey, U.S. Senator from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal, Start-Up Co-Founder Jay Norris, Ms. Rhimes and Trey Ellis. At right, the program began with remarks from Harold Bailey.

The YouTube link to the entire event is posted at the end of the story.

Two things became abundantly clear on Sunday. Shonda Rhimes loves Westport and Westport loves Shonda Rhimes. Within an hour of the announcement of the Shondaland creator’s appearance at this years MLK celebration, more than 400 ticket’s were sold and overflow requests began to fill a wait list. The threatening storm did little to curtail the attendance with few seats unfilled even as the snow was falling outside.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above: (L to R) the program began with Harold Bailey introducing Senator Blumenthal, followed by Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn, Westport-Weston Clergy Association and Westport Country Playouse artistic director Mark Shanahan.

Rabbi Weiderhorn told of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, his involvement in the civil rights movement and when he marched in Selma, Alabama with Dr. King. He repeated Clarence Jones', the keynote speaker from last year's celebration who said of Heschel, "he felt like his legs were praying" Mr. Shanahan spoke of his pride and that of the Playhouse in supporting this event and the "No Place For Hate Initiative" in Westport schools.

Mr. Bailey told WestportLocalPress, ““The event delivered an outstanding opportunity to focus on the North Star of Dr. King’s Dream for us all as we celebrated one of the most accomplished children of that Dream. In addition, through the generosity of the Luckett Foundation (led by Walter and Valita Luckett), we had over 50 young people from Bridgeport attend and spend time directly with Shonda Rhimes as well.”

Above: (L to R) Comments by the Senator and Shanahan who invited the audience to attend the screening of King, Into The Wilderness at the Playhouse on Monday. Next, Library Executive Director Bill Harmer gave remarks and then introduced Christian Servance to perform. Servance, an alumnus of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston for an outstanding performance of "Someday We'll All Be Free" by Donny Hathaway. Mr. Servance was invited back again this year by TEAM Westport's Harold Bailey to assist in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this year and once again thrilled the crowd with his superb vocals and passionate performance and showmanship.

Mr. Ellis in conversation with Ms. Rhimes with the live video being projected on the giant screen behind them.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Shonda Rhimes, a prominent figure in the television industry, is renowned as the CEO of Shondaland, a groundbreaking storytelling company. She has established herself as the creator, head writer, and executive producer of several hit television series, including "Grey’s Anatomy," "Private Practice," "Scandal," and "Inventing Anna." Additionally, she has contributed as a producer to popular shows like "How to Get Away with Murder" and "Bridgerton."

Rhimes is notable for being the first woman to create three television dramas that have surpassed the 100-episode mark, a significant achievement that underscores her influence in the field. Her work has garnered a multitude of accolades, including a Golden Globe, the Peabody Award, and lifetime achievement recognitions from the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild, and Producers Guild. She has also received numerous AFI Awards for Television Program of the Year and NAACP Image Awards.

In 2017, Rhimes was inducted into the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. That same year, she made a significant shift in her career by leaving traditional television to partner with Netflix, where Shondaland now produces content exclusively for the streaming platform. She has been a highly visible figure in Westport and appeared in the Library’s annual “Booked For The Evening” event in June of 2023: WestportLocalPress, Shonda Rhimes: Booked For The Evening

Mr. Ellis asked about how Shonda began, to which she replied "I always have a hard time talking about how I began, at this point I don't even really know..." drawing laughter from the audience, and she continued "I was always writing, I've been writing since I was a child" The laughter continued when she spoke of always wanting to be "Beloved" author Toni Morrison, saying "...can't be Toni Morrison 'cause only Toni Morrison is Toni Morrison." She added that she "always wanted to do something with words" and after arriving in L.A. she discovered television writing and how much she enjoyed it and how she wanted to find "a place where my voice could be heard.

When queried about future endeavors Rhimes responded that although just because she can do almost anything, she is interested only in doing shows that she would want to watch. She added that she discovered that shows, such as she produces that feature diversity make more money.

They touched upon the current state of politics, briefly and Rhimes said she "campaigned like crazy for Kamala Harris", going all over the country. She added that "we can't tell people what to do, or vote", but as in her productions, she can show people a different reality, saying "I always want our shows to be both a window and a mirror."

There is far more than we can cover here, so for a fascinating insight into Shonda Rhimes and to learn more about her many viewpoints on a wide array of topics we suggest viewing the entire event on The Westport Library YouTube channel, Shonda Rhimes Martin Luther King, Jr. event.

Among the many very enthusiastic young people in attendance were Engineering Science University Magnet School Students Grades 9-12 with Technology Teacher Lakesha Kirkland (4th from left in all black). These students were among a group of 50 young people from Bridgeport were in attendance through the generosity of the Luckett Foundation and were able to meet and speak with Shonda Rhimes.

Almost all available seating was filled. Cell phones were kept very busy during the entire presentation, preserving the special moments.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The Trefz Forum is filled nearly to capacity for the 19th Annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At the conclusion of the conversation between Ms. Rhimes and Trey Ellis, Christian Servance once again turned to the enthusiastic and appreciative audience to perform "Better Days" by Le'Andria Johnson.

When Mr. Bailey inquired as to his selection of songs, Servance said, " because of what the event represented I wanted to sing songs that inspired me to keep moving forward through all trials and tribulations. These selections were particularly important to Mr. Servance as he told WestportLocalPress that they were, "Absolutely an acknowledgment to (my) life experiences. Also an acknowledgment to all the tragedies that may still take place all over the world. From the fires in LA to just dealing with everyday struggles we all have as humans reminding ourselves through everything negative that happens out of our control, that better days are coming and someday we’ll all be free from the burdens we may carry." Christian will continue to pursue his career in music which began at Trumbull's Regional Center for the Arts as a high school student with his desire to take his career to the next level by recording and performing his original music.

The Engineering Science University Magnet School Students were thrilled by Servance’s closing performance. At right, we could not help but notice Shonda’s fabulous shoes, catching the lights.