Month: February 2016 - Page 2

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

SRO Crowd for Oscars Event

It was a standing room only crowd today for the fifth annual n’Oscars event at Oscar’s Delicatessen, 159 Main St. The two hours of Oscar triivia and talk was sponsored by the Westport Cinema Initiative, which seek to bring a movie theater back to downtown Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Gallery: n’Oscars

Scenes from today’s n’Oscars event sponsored by the Westport Cinema Initiative at Oscar’s Delicatessen, 159 Main St. Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Police Work Out

Westport Deputy Police Chief Foti Koskinas works out today on new gym equipment in the EMS bay at Westport Police headquarters. The department has partnered with Crossfit SOSF for the workout program. Equipment was purchased with funds donated by Westport residents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

Pulling Together

There was a challenging physical fitness boot camp at the Westport Police Department today that involved pulling together on police Humvees. The department has acquired new gym equipment and to help show it off, Andy Berman (l), owner of Westport’s Mental Grit Fitness, invited two veterans to join in. Ricky Davis (r), a former Marine, and Shadd Hoffman (2nd r), former Army, worked out at JoyRide Cycling Studio, CrossFit Westport, and Achieve Fitness, prior to the police event. They are involved in The Catch A Lift Fund, a charity organization dedicated to the physical and mental recovery of post-9/11 wounded combat veterans. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

On the Run

Westport Deputy Police Chief Foti Koskinas today takes part in the sprinting/cardio section of a physical fitness boot camp at department headquarters. Physical fitness instructors and two U.S. combat veterans participated as the police displayed new gym equipment at headquarters purchased with donations from Westport residents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

Drew Friedman, 86, Real Estate Developer

By James Lomuscio

UPDATE Westporter Drew Friedman, for decades a downtown tour de force in commercial real estate, died Saturday, Feb. 27 from an apparent heart attack at his River Lane home, his wife Laura Papallo Friedman said today. He was 86.

Drew and Laura Friedman at Cobb’s Mill Inn in Weston, which he bought in 2011. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Rachel Konstantin

“He died yesterday morning in his sleep,” she said. “He was healthy as healthy could be, and he never went to the doctor.

“His heart just stopped; that’s what the EMTs said,” she added. “He complained of a little indigestion for the past couple of days, he got up and took a Tums that night and said he felt better.”

She said that when she got up Saturday morning, she thought he was sleeping soundly. She went downstairs to make his regular morning coffee, a cappuccino, and when she returned to the bedroom, she “found it terrifying” to discover he had died.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

10:45 a.m. – Christ & Holy Trinity Church – Lisa Miller: “The New Science & Power of Raising Spiritual Children”
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Westport Country Playhouse – Family Festivities Series: “Charlotte’s Web”
1 p.m. – Oscar’s Deli – Westport Cinema Initiative 5th Annual n’Oscars
2 p.m. – Westport Center for Senior Activities – Mill River Band (free concert; doors open at 1 p.m.)
2 p.m. – Westport Library – Let’s Knit! Adult-Child Program
3 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – Escher String Quartet
3 p.m. – Toquet Hall Teen Center – Staples Players Studio: “Done To Death”
3 p.m. – Westport Historical Society – Greg Van Antwerp: “Confessions of an Urban Archaeologist”
5 p.m. – Christ & Holy Trinity Church – Choral Evensong & Organ Recital

See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar

Saturday, February 27th, 2016

Westport Red Carpet Sunday for Oscar’s

Westport will again roll out the red carpet Sunday for the Oscars—actually more correctly at Oscar’s at 159 Main St.

Westporter Susan Granger (r), WestportNow film critic, presides at last year’s n’Oscars event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The occasion is the fifth annual n’Oscars event from 1 to 3 p.m. hosted by the Westport Cinema Initiative hours before Hollywood hands out its annual Oscars.

The emcees will be Susan Granger, WestportNow film critic, and Douglas Tirola, an award-winning Westport filmmaker. (See Granger’s Ocar predictions here.)

No Oscars are handed out at the annual event, hence the name n’Oscars, short for No Oscars.

Near & Far Gala Set for Friday

There will be a fashion show and dancing, not to mention silent auctions for everything from Wimbleton tickets to a week in Nantucket, at the 21st annual Near & Far Aid Spring Gala set for Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Mitchells of Westport.

A scene from last year’s Near & Far Aid gala at Mitchells of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

As part of the charitable organization’s theme of “Voices of Hope,” the gala will also focus on the stories of individuals and organizations that Near & Far has funded throughout the year, organizers say.

The charity was started almost 70 years ago by Southport resident Jeanine Fay to provide much-needed aid to war widows via bake sales and annual fundraising events.

The all volunteer organization currently works with more than 100 local agencies addressing the causes and effects of poverty. Since 2000, it has granted more $15 million.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens – Westport Farmers Market
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – “Enid Munroe: Artist & Alchemist” (last day)
Noon – 4 p.m. – Westport Historical Society – “Window to Westport’s Past & Present”
2 p.m. – Westport Library – Jane Austen: Kick Off a Year of Reading
7:30 p.m. – Toquet Hall Teen Center – Staples Players Studio: “Done To Death”

See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar