“
Irving Berlin: Music featured at the Westport Arts Center. Contributed photo“Broadway Songbook,” a new series presented by the Westport Arts Center, kicks off on Monday at 7 p.m. at the arts center with a performance featuring the early music of Irving Berlin.

The evening includes food and wine, plus the 90-minute musical program.  Tickets are $30. Student tickets with valid identification are $5.

Sung by Westporter Susan Terry and Ivy Austin, the series is conceived by Westporter Max Wilk. Stephen Stout will serve as narrator, and Michael Lavine is pianist.

Focusing on the music Irving Berlin composed from 1912 to 1913, songs include “When I Lost You,” ”If That’s Your Idea of a Wonderful Time, Take Me Home,” “I’m Telling You I’m Choking on That Five Cent Cigar You’re Smoking,” “Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars,” and “That International Rag” sung with its counterpoint, “When I Get to the U.S.A.”

For information and tickets, call Westport Arts Center at (203) 222-7070, purchase online at www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery on Riverside Avenue.

By Jennifer Connic

Westport officials hope to expand a program that brought security cameras to the Saugatuck Metro-North train station by making the images available in a live feed to police headquarters.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced in October that 16 cameras would be placed at the station (see WestportNow Oct. 7, 2006) and they were installed earlier this month. But under the state plan, the images are stored on a computer hard drive at the station so they can be reviewed after any incidents.

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said town officials are working with the Department of Transportation to install technology that would bring the images back to police headquarters for real-time viewing.

“We may be unique to any of the places that have these cameras,” he said.

The Westport Public Library will be offering a program for residents to learn the latest in the federal tax laws on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. in the library’s McManus Room.

IRS Revenue Agent Joseph D’Agostin will share the most up-to-date information and talk about new tax-law changes and tips that might affect your tax return.

This will be D’Agostin’s ninth IRS update at the Library, and he’ll take questions from the public.

D’Agostin has more than 30 years experience in public accounting and small business, and is currently an audit-team member with the IRS, where he has worked since 1987.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call (203) 291-4840 or visit www.westportlibrary.org.

Temperatures warmed up into the 30s Tuesday bringing people to Westport’s Compo Beach, but there was still a chill in the air. Forecasts called for snow tonight.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

10:30 a.m. – Town Hall Room 102 – International Hospitality Committee
6 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – RTM Environment Committee
7:30 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – Curator´s Talk: Still Missing beauty absent social life

Westport Arts Center Executive Director Eileen Wiseman, John Shea, Westport Country Playhouse Artistic Director Tazewell Thompson, Isaiah Sheffer and and Symphony Space Director of Literary Programming Katherine Minton share a conversation before tonight’s performance of “Selected Shorts” at the playhouse. Shea, Sheffer and Thompson read short fiction pieces in the performance, which was taped to be aired on National Public Radio. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Two persons escaped serious injury today in a two-car crash on Westport’s Post Roasd West at Kings Highway South. Police said a westbound Audi driven by a female driver collided with a BMW driven by a male as he was exiting an office building driveway at 300 Post Road West at about 3 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com