Some youngsters watch at Westport’s Compo Beach today as a kite surfer gets ready to enter the water. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
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Surfing the Sound
Windsurfers enjoyed the high waves at Westport’s Compo Beach today as stormy weather approached. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Frederic Chiu Performs at Staples Piano Fund-Raiser
Renowned Westport pianist Frederic Chiu entertained about 50 invited guests at a private home in Westport’s Greens Farms area today to help raise funds to purchase a new piano at Staples High School. Hostess Maureen Whiteman said when Chiu heard about Staples’ need to replace its existing piano he asked Whiteman what he could do to help raise funds. He offered to perform a recital which led to today’s event. The Staples Music Parents Association is only a “few thousand dollars away” from the goal of raising $30,000 to purchase a new Yamaha C3 grand piano. Donations are welcome and checks should be made payable to the Staples Music Parents Association and mailed to Staples MPA, P.O. Box 223, Westport, CT 06881-0223. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Enjoying the Surf
Kite surfers enjoyed the rough surf at Westport’s Compo Beach today as winds gusting to 37 miles per hour lashed the area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Whitney Street Blocked
UPDATE A tree down across wires blocked Westport’s Whitney Street today near the intersection of Roseville Road. Utility crews said they would have to cut power to the area to clear the wires so a tree crew could remove the tree. At 4:15 p.m., CL&P said 72 Westport customers were without power. The road was reopened at about 4:30 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Greens Farms Road Detour
High winds brought down a tree in front of 324 Greens Farms Road today, forcing motorists to make a detour. Forecasters said winds could gust up to 60 miles per hour this afternoon and tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Michael Smollin, 85
Michael Smollin, an acclaimed artist and illustrator who called Westport home for almost 40 years, died Sept. 23 in Fort Meyers, Fla. He was 85.
Michael Smollin: Westporter for almost 40 years. Smollin.com photo
Smollin was most widely known for his first concept illustrated to become Sesame Street’s best selling book of all time, “The Monster At The End Of This Book,” a classic now in its third printing, which captured the hearts of children and adults since its release in 1971.
His illustrations graced a variety of magazines and publications for 30 years.
In a varied career, Smollin also won an Emmy for his work on “The Great Space Coaster” television program. Baby Boomers have all seen television commercials he directed between 1951 and 1968 such as Milkbone’s Doctor Spot, an original Smollin character, who warned that tooth-tartar is the main cause of “Bad breath in dogs!,” and the Triple S Blue Stamps’ trio of dancing vaudevillians.
Westport’s Bridgewater Again No. 1 Hedge Fund
Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, already the biggest U.S.-based hedge fund, pulled in more new money in the 2010 first half than any of its rivals, industry magazine AR reported today.
The firm, which employs more than 800 persons in four Westport locations, now oversees $51 billion in assets, the magazine said.
It said during the first half, the firm took in $7.3 billion in new money, boosting its assets by almost 17 percent. A year ago Bridgewater had $37 billion.
JP Morgan’s asset management unit ranks as the industry’s second-largest U.S.-based fund with $41 billion in assets, the magazine said. This was a $2.7 billion gain since January, thanks to strong inflows into the firm’s fund business.
Historical Society Puts Westport on the Map
Artist John Held Jr.‘s whimisical 1921 map of Westport is among those on display. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The Westport Historical Society on Sunday debuts two exhibits that highlight Westport on paper and from the air.
Both exhibits—with an opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m.—continue the celebration of Westport’s 175th anniversary of becoming a township.
“Putting Westport on the Map,” curated by Bob Weingarten, takes a look at Westport using maps old and new, while “Zoom in on Westport” looks at the town today from the air, on the ground and through the eyes of children.
Included in the Betty & Ralph Sheffer Gallery map exhibit are an introduction to where the oldest maps were found, rare antique maps of pre-Colonial America and early American maps from private collections.
Library Cancels Author Talk Tonight
Because of predicted bad weather this evening, the Westport Library’s scheduled Authors@the Library talk tonight by Ann Brashares has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
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