Another Ice Cream Emporium for Westport

Westport’s newest ice cream emporium Maggie Moos opened today at the Compo Shopping Center, 385 Post Road East. The store features “super-premium” ice cream that is made on premises, and features mix-ins that include fruit, nuts, candy, and other toppings. The Westport franchise is owned by soon-to-be Weston resident Ira Sumkin, and is one of 161 franchises in the nationwide Maggie Moo network. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Opening Day

The first day of summer was opening day for the new Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery in the Compo Plaza Shopping Center. The franchise chain, founded in Kansas City, Mo., in 1989, is opening its third store in Connecticut and was packed with customers following its 4 p.m. opening. Pictured l-r are: Alexandra Mahoney, Jon Koren, Lauren Brown, regional manager, and Reggie Yemma. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Andy Yemma for WestportNow

Finally, Summer is Here Officially!

Westporters headed to Compo Beach today as summer made its official debut. A cozy spot near the cannons was ideal for sunbathing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Summer Solstice at Compo

The jetty at Compo Beach was the setting for a stone circle to mark the start of the summer solstice today, courtesy of Westport artist Jerry Kuyper. Thousands of revelers gathered near Stonehenge, England, earlier to watch the sun peek above the ancient stone circle there as drummers beat out a welcome to the longest day in the Northern Hempisphere year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jerry Kuyper for WestportNow.com

Stamford GOP Mayoral Candidate's Arrests Include One in Westport

The chairman of the Stamford's Republican Party has asked his party's candidate for mayor to withdraw after disclosure of an arrest record that includes a conviction arising from a Westport bar fight 27 years ago.

Republican mayoral candidate William Sigler admitted publicly Monday to three misdemeanor assault convictions stemming back to the 1970s.

Sigler blamed the three assaults, between 1978 and 1980, as well as a conviction for breach of peace in 1965, on alcoholism.

Republican City Committee Chairman Daniel McCabe said Sigler never disclosed his criminal record. McCabe has asked Sigler to withdraw and has begun a search for other candidates.

But Sigler and his wife, Linda, said they both told McCabe about the arrest record before Sigler announced his candidacy. Sigler said he would stay in the race until other party leaders and voters given their opinions.

In his June 11 campaign speech, Sigler referred to donating one of his kidneys to save his son's life, an event that he said transformed his own life and forced him to make permanent changes.

After spending 28 days in a rehabilitation center, and joining Alcoholics Anonymous, Sigler donated the kidney to his son, Daniel, who was 15 at the time.

Sigler's first arrest came in 1965, for breach of peace, according to state police records. He was arrested for assault in Westport in 1978, Greenwich in 1979, and in Stamford in 1980. All four arrests resulted in convictions. He received fines for the first three and probation in the 1980 case.

Sigler said all four arrests stemmed from bar fights.

"In retrospect, I believe I needed some help in readapting to civilian life following the harrowing experiences of Vietnam," Sigler wrote.

NY Times Story on Project Choice Highlights Westport Schools

The Westport school system is highlighted prominently and favorably today in a New York Times front page metro section story about Connecticut's Project Choice.

The project allows 1,600 children from Connecticut's poorest communities "to attend some of the state's best performing -- and wealthiest -- schools," the newspaper said.

The report showcased Alexis Miller, 7, one of 34 Bridgeport children chosen via lottery to participate in the Westport program. "For many parents, the dream destination is Westport," the newspaper said, "Living in One Town, Learning in Another."

"They say the district has paid for class pictures, field trips, test preparation, summer programs and $40 cabs rides home when participation in extracurricular activities means missing the bus," the Times said.

"One year, the district even supplied Game Boys to improve students' behavior on the long rides."

The story also detailed success stories of students who have participated. One Bridgeport student cited was Omari McPherson, who graduated from Westport's Staples High School last year and received scholarships to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

Project Choice has its roots in the 1989 lawsuit Sheff v. O'Neill which challenged the racial balance of public schools in poorer versus wealthy communities. The argument was that separate is not equal. According to the Times, the dispute is still the subject of litigation.

The Times said that suburban schools are under no obligation to accept students into Project Choice. Those that do receive $2,000 per student per year from the state plus $2,100 per student for transportation.

According to the report, this total is "hardly a dent" in school systems such as Westport where the per pupil expenditure is $13,455.

But according to Westport School Superintendent Elliott Landon, who was interviewed for the Times story, "the math was not so dramatic."

"While he (Landon) spends $13,455 on each of his district's students, the state's third highest cost," the report said, "the additional expense of adding one child to a classroom of 19 is nominal, he said."

Staples Construction Moving Forward

By Jonathan Thrope

Although the school year is coming to a close, the $74 million Staples High School construction project is charging forward.
The Staples cafeteria is barely recognizable as it gets a makeover. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com

According to Project Manager Susan Chipouras, students will be met by a significantly improved building when they return from their summer vacation.

Chipouras said that when students come back, they will be met by a completely renovated No. 4 building as well as an almost completed cafeteria.

There will also be considerable improvements to the parking lots, as buses will be able to drop students off in the front of the school and not have to take the circuitous path that they did this school year.

By November or December, Chipouras said that the library renovation should be complete and that by February, the final wing of the new building will open.

Chipouras said she hopes that the project will wind down by next summer's break, when the existing No. 5 and 6 buildings will be replaced by parking lots.

Beginning Thursday afternoon following the Wednesday Staples graduation,, Staples will be closed off for the summer to anyone not involved in the construction, she said. Continuing Education has been moved to Bedford Middle School as a result of the closure.

The site should reopen around the time of fall sports tryouts, which begin on the last weekend in August, Chipouras said.

Todays Westport Teardown: 17 Ledgemoor Lane

Today's WestportNow teardown is 17 Ledgemoor Lane off of Whitney Street near Roseville Road. The property changed hands last month for $1,175,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

8:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Human Services Commission
10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Arts Advisory Committee
10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Administrative Review Committee
5:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Tree Board
7:30 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Staples High School baccalaureate ceremony
7:45 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - RTM Finance and Parks and Recreation Committees

Westport Playhouse Names Tazewell Thompson Artistic Director

Tazewell Thompson: named Playhouse artistic director. Contributed photo The Westport Country Playhouse tonight announced the appointment of Tazewell Thompson, stage and opera director and playwright, as its artistic director.

An announcement following a meeting of the Playhouse board said his appointment, which first leaked to the press Friday, would be effective Jan. 1, subject to contract execution. (See WestportNow June 17, 2005)

Thompson succeeds actor and director Joanne Woodward who became the Playhouse's artistic leader in 2000. Woodward will continue as artistic director through the end of this year, when she assumes the role of artistic director emeritus.

Woodward will remain an active member of the Playhouse board of directors, and will work with Thompson on educational program development and other projects, the announcement said.

"We've been lucky to find the perfect person for the job," said Woodward. "Tazewell has wit and humor, and a real sense of the need for education, outreach and being a part of the community."

For theatre, Thompson has produced and/or directed more than 60 plays, including the works of Shakespeare, Molière, Euripides, Brecht, Shaw, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Thornton Wilder, Clifford Odets, Ibsen, Chekhov, Athol Fugard, Terrence McNally, William Gibson, Feydeau, Alan Ayckbourn, as well as numerous world and American premieres.

In 2003, he directed "The Old Settler" at the Westport Country Playhouse.

"It is with an enormous sense of privilege and awesome responsibility, and not the least, great respect for the legacy of this historic institution, that I accept and approach the mantle of artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse," Thompson said.

"What a magnificent jewel of a theatre I inherit from the brilliant artist and civil and social activist Joanne Woodward.

"Together with the generous and passionate support of the board of directors; the committed, dedicated, hardworking staff; plus the loyal, enthusiastic community of subscribers, I am excited at the myriad and limitless possibilities the future presents."

In addition to his extensive directing credits, he is the former artistic associate of Arena Stage and The Acting Company.

Thompson also served as the artistic director of Syracuse Stage, where he focused on new plays, audience cultivation, education and community outreach.

While there he designed and edited StageView, a newsletter cited by Wilsonia Cherry of The National Endowment for the Humanities as "the finest theatre newsletter published in America."

In addition he visited and addressed numerous businesses and civic, educational and cultural organizations.

John Vaccaro, president of the Playhouse board of directors said, "Tazewell was the unanimous recommendation of our search committee and was enthusiastically endorsed by our Board.

"We look forward to standing by his side while supporting his artistic leadership from 2006 and well beyond in every way we are able. Let the era of Tazewell Thompson begin!"

Playhouse board chairman, Elisabeth Morten said, "Tazewell Thompson is a first-rate theatre talent, who, as a renowned director of plays, musicals and opera, has the artistic vision and leadership skills that will allow the Westport Country Playhouse to develop year-round programming of the highest caliber for the diverse community of artists, audiences and students that we
serve.

"We are tremendously excited to have found such a great artistic leader."

Thompson directed his critically acclaimed Glimmerglass Opera production of "Les Dialogues des Carmelites" last season for New York City Opera. His production of "Porgy and Bess," also for New York City Opera, was televised for "Live from Lincoln Center" and received Emmy nominations for Best Classical Production and Best Director.

Thompson directed world premiere operas of "Stefan," "Luyala," "Vanqui" and "As of a Dream." Other opera highlights include productions at La Scala, Paris Opera, Opera Bastille, Teatro Real in Madrid, Tokyo, Osaka, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Michigan, Orange County, New Jersey and Portland.
His New York production of Aaron Copland's opera, "The Second Hurricane,"
was the "hit and heart" of the Copland 1985 Festival celebration.

This summer and fall Thompson will direct Benjamin Britten's "Death in Venice" for Glimmerglass Opera; Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience" for New York City Opera, and "Les Dialogues des Carmelites" for Vancouver Opera.

Also a playwright, Thompson has been commissioned to write plays for Lincoln Center Theater, Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory and People's Light and Theatre Company. His award- winning first play, "Constant Star," has had more than a dozen major productions across the United States.

His adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," which included more than a dozen songs from the period, was produced at People's Light and Theatre Company for three record-breaking holiday seasons. He has adapted Aristophanes' "The Birds" for young people for productions at St. Ann's School and Columbia Grammar and Prep.

Thompson is a board member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, the Society for New Music and the Thornton Wilder Society.

Jump Ball

Blue Wreckers and White Wreckers scramble for the football during today's annual Blue White Classic. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Looking for a Receiver

Sophomore R. J. Marsilio looks for a receiver during today's annual Staples Blue White Classic intrasquad football game at Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Fall Preview

Today's Blue White annual classic was the first opportunity for Wrecker fans to preview the fall team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Gridiron Club Makes Gift to "Field of Dreams" Project

The Staples Gridiron Club tonight presented a check representing a $100,000 pledge to the Westport Field of Dreams Committee for its community project to install artificial turf for football, soccer, lacross, field hockey and rugby teams. Brad Bohling, president of the Gridiron Club, presented the check to Verne Sedlacek, chair of the fundraising committee. Others pictured are (l-r) Carmen Roda, Chrstine Romann, Bill Mitchell, who hosted a project fund-raiser at his store June 10, Mark Gudis, and Bill McNee. The ceremony took place at tonight's Blue and White game pitting the Wreckers against each other. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Storyteller Kruk to Spin Westport Lore in Fairy Tales

Jonathan Kruk: will tell tales of Westport. Contributed photo Stories and legends about the Town of Westport and its people are set to be transformed into a series of "Victorian Faery Tales" spun by master storyteller Jonathan Kruk.

He will appear Sunday at 1 p.m. in the gallery of the Westport Historical Society.

"He's going to weave stories about Westport, its famous people and stories that have been passed down," said Susan Gold, education coordinator for the historical society.

"He's going to engage the children because his stories are not only told, they're acted out, and he uses many different voices to bring his characters alive."

According to Gold, Kruk gives about 300 performances and workshops each year throughout the tri-state area.

Raised in Westchester, he is noted for lively interactive children's fairy tales, Hudson River Lore and curricular based school performances. His performances feature local heroes, medieval skits, talking trees, rainbow dragons and lots of imaginative characters.

Gold said the story theater presentation is geared for children of all ages. Admission is $6 per person, $5 for historical society members, and refreshments are included.

Gold said that Kruk's performance will kick off the group's summer education programs designed to encourage youth and adults alike "to discover and appreciate the rich heritage of Westport."

Educational activities include: docent-led tours of the 19th century Victorian Wheeler House and Bradley-Wheeler Carriage Bar; tours of Main Street and the historic King's Highway Area District; hands-on art activities and interactive games; and the Time Travelers Summer Camp. For further information call (203) 222-1424.

Gathering Around the Campfire

Toasting marshmallows for s'mores is a favorite summer activity for many families, as seen here at the Family Campfire program at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center in Westport, on Friday evening. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com

Talking Turkey

A wild turkey and three of her brood went for a stroll along Round Pond on Westport's Compo Road South. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Monday, June 20, 2005

7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 307/309 - Board of Education anticipated executive session
8 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Board of Education

Staples Players Donate $3,300 for Tsunami Relief

The Staples Players donated $3,300 to the tsunami relief effort of Westport's Save the Children. The funds were raised at the group's semi-annual Thespianage benefit in February. Pictured (l-r) are: current Staples Players co-presidents Zack Shornick and Steven Fuertes, Jacob Heimer, Timothy Rogers, director of development at Save the Children, Cat Oppenhimer, Cindy Shuck, David Roth, director of Staples Players, Jeff Small and Anna Burnham. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kerry Long for WestportNow.com

In Good Humor

Trevor Sherman Cooper, 2 ½, enjoys a treat Saturday at Westport's Yankee Doodle Fair. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jane Sherman for WestportNow.com

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Noon - 8 p.m. - Westport Woman's Club - Yankee Doodle Fair
3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - "Finian's Rainbow"