The Westport Arts Center tonight hosted a conversation on the role visual artists play in political protest and social activism. It was led by Pamela Hovland, the artist behind the Center’s current “As We Are! “installation and Thomas Starr, Hovland’s longtime collaborator in an activist collective she helped found in the early 1990s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
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Barry Blau, 89, Direct Marketing Entrepreneur
Barry Blau of Westport, who started a business in his basement that became one of the world’s largest direct marketing firms, died March 28 in Norwalk Hospital after a short illness. He was 89.
Barry Blau: led No. 1 direct marketing firm. Contributed photo
A native of the Bronx, he preserved traces of the borough’s beloved melodious accent throughout his long life.
He was a member of the first graduating class of the elite Bronx High School of Science, later making grueling interborough subway rides to attend Brooklyn College, where he met his future wife at a Trotskyite gathering.
He began his career as a copy boy at Time Inc., working alongside Henry Grunwald, who became the magazine publisher’s editor-in-chief. Barry, however, soon forsook journalism for advertising to feed his growing family.
Westport Woman Held on Drunken Driving Charges
Police said today they arrested Valerie Spinola, 53, of Hales Court, Westport on operating under the influence of drugs/alcohol with an additional count of having a minor child passenger in the car and failure to grant a right of way at an intersection in connection with a Nov. 27, 2016 crash in the area of 1819 Post Road East. Lt. David Farrell said she turned herself in Tuesday after medical records from Norwalk Hospital, where she was taken after the 5:20 p.m. crash, showed she was under the influence at the time. She was held on $25,000 bond for a court date of April 7, he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Westport Police photo (inset) and WestportNow.com photo
Blumenthal: Gorsuch Unqualified Over Roe ‘Litmus Test’
By Mark Pazniokas
www.ctmirror.orgU.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal pledged today to oppose the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court through all available means.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal addresses a Hartford news conference today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mark Pazniokas/CtMirror.org photo
He said the Harvard-educated, conservative jurist failed during his confirmation hearings to demonstrate he is not bound by an anti-abortion litmus test imposed by President Trump.
Blumenhal said in a news conference in Hartford that Gorsuch, who had previously written of the importance of showing deference to precedent, fell outside the judicial mainstream for pointedly refusing to say if Griswold v. Connecticut and other cases establishing privacy rights central to the legalization of abortion were rightly decided.
“Instead of being forthcoming, he evaded my questions at every turn,” said Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will vote Monday on Gorsuch.
Concentration
American pianist Mathew Graybil entertained today at the Westport Center for Senior Activities in a program made possible by the Center’s Friends group. Graybil began his piano studies at age 6 and presented his first recital the following year. In 2009, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School and In 2011, he completed the Master’s program there. Praised by The New Yorker as an “exceptional young artist,” Graybil has performed as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, France, Holland and Mexico. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
A Walk in the Wind and Rain
Despite a driving rain, winds gusting to 27 mph, and temperatures in the upper 30s, this was not enough to stop a walk along Hillspoint Road today near Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mark Molesworth for WestportNow.com
Westport Property Transfers March 13 – 17, 2017
Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period March 13 - 17, 2017:
Tracy Chester to Jeffrey F. and Kristy Carcara, 9 Marsh Road, $1,145,000
132 Old Road LLC to Aaron and Nicole Diamond, 132 Old Road, $2,136,820
Leslie S. Gold to Camilo and Ursula K. Lyon, 26 Rices Lane, $1,400,000
Richard C. Lichter to Dawn Leasrsy, 26 River Lane, $2,537,500
Fore! Longshore Golf Opens April 10, Weather Permitting
Westport’s Longshore Golf Course will open Monday, April 10, weather permitting.
Westport Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava announced the date today and, along with new Golf Head Professional Jon Janik, also announced the new golf course website at http://www.longshoregolfcourse.com.
“We have had exciting changes in the past couple of months and are looking forward to the 2017 golf season,” Fava said.
She also said the Pro Shop phone number has changed to (203) 221-0900, while other numbers remain the same—for automated tee times call (203) 341-1833, and for day of play tee times call (203) 226-9785.
Comings & Goings: SoNo Baking Leaving Church Lane
Two years after moving into 44 Church Lane, SoNo Baking Company’s Bakery & Café is calling it quits. Owner John Baricelli said the business could not support the high rent. A longtime mainstay at the Westport Farmers Market, SoNo Baking will look for another Westport location, he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Letter: Despite Budget Cuts, ‘We’re in Good Hands’
To the Editor:
Budget cuts or not, we’re in good hands.
Recently many have been worried about the future of our schools. I’ve been looking for a way to explain why I’m not worried about the future of our schools — not yet anyway, and tonight I found it.
I don’t know what will happen with our budget, but I know that our students will always be in good hands and in great schools regardless.
In support of fellow WEMS volunteer Ben Frimmer and several kids that I’ve watched over the years, I went and saw Coleytown Company’s performance of “Cinderella” — directed by Ben and put on by the kids of Coleytown Middle School.
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