Many of the early shoppers today on the opening day of the Westport Library’s three-day winter book and gift sale were out of town collectors. Meanwhile, the library’s store was offering a 10 percent discount on all items with sales going to support library operations. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

There was a line of early bird shoppers today as the Westport Library’s three-day winter book and gift sale got underway. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“Bisbee 17’,” a documentary feature film produced by Westport-based Douglas Tirola and Susan Bedusa, has been invited to premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival as part of the documentary competition. For the two Staples High School graduates, this is their third consecutive film to debut at Sundance. Tirola is founder and president of the New York CIty production company 4th Row Films, Bedusa is the senior vice president of film production. “Bisbee ’17” is a nonfiction feature film about local residents of an eccentric old Arizona mining town as they stage scenes from its darkest day: the forced deportation of 1,200 striking miners exactly 100 years ago. Filming took place this summer in Bisbee. The Sundance Film Festival takes place Jan. 18 to 28 in Park City, Utah. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport Library volunteers and staff today set up in the library’s Great Hall for the 13th annual book and gift sale. According to organizer Mimi Greenlee, the sale includes 6,000 books in gift-worthy condition as well as a wide variety of DVDs, CDs and audiobooks. “We’re in a larger area this year. It’s more spread out,” she said. “This is the third year the event has been held in the Great Hall location.”  Hours are Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p..m., and Sunday 1 p.m to 5 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Volunteer Anne Pfeiffer today sorts out DVDs she said were donated in the past few days for the Westport Library’s book and gift sale, which begins Friday and runs through Sunday.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Frustrated with gun control battles at the federal level, two Connecticut women have set out on a different path — organizing a yearlong active dialogue about gun violence with art playing a big role. And Westport is central to their efforts.

Part of the marketing materials developed for the project. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic

The project, which they call “Unload-CT: Art Triggers a Conversation,” includes a gun buyback in Hartford with some weapons given to local artists to turn into art and later exhibited at New Haven’s Artspace.

There also will be a guns-into-art exhibit in Fairfield, which is currently traveling nationally, panel discussions (the first Jan. 19 at Grace Farms in New Canaan), a film series in Hartford, multiple events at arts institutions statewide, and a partnership with a Westport Country Playhouse production.

“We want to engage people, not just have discussions; we want change,” said Helen Klisser During, artistic director emeritus of the Westport Arts Center.

By Susan Granger

Are Hollywood’s title-titans trying to confuse us? “Wonder Woman” was the hit of the summer.

Last week, I highly recommended Todd Haynes’ imaginative “Wonderstruck.” Now, I’m touting the family-oriented drama “Wonder”…and soon we’ll get Woody Allen’s new “Wonder Wheel.”

“Wonder” begins as August “Auggie” Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) earnestly explains, “I’m not an ordinary 10-year-old kid.” He was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that causes severe facial deformities.

After enduring 27 surgeries, Auggie is acutely aware of his physical appearance. Hiding beneath a space helmet and home-schooled by his mother (Julia Roberts) at their Brooklyn brownstone, he’s petrified to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep School.

The Westport Historical Society’s (WHS) 31st annual Holiday House Tour scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10 will feature seven historic houses, five of them designated historic landmarks.

Front doors of the homes on the holiday house tour. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Miggs Burroughs photos

The tour, a WHS signature fundraising event, runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and advance tivckets are $50 for WHS members, 60 for nonmembers and $70 the day of the tour, event planners say.

“Each home was carefully selected for its architectural merit and interesting stories,” said Terri Keppel, event co-chair.

Highlights of the homes displaying seasonal décor include: a circa 1800 barn that was adaptively repurposed into a residence; the Eliphalet Sturges-George Hand Wright house originally built in 1764 and remodeled in 1910, and Duck Haven, a house and cottage on the Saugatuck River.

The owners of the house at 295 Greens Farms Road are the newest recipients of a Westport Historical Society (WHS) historical plaque. Bob Weingarten, WHS plaque historian, presented the plaque to Ryan and Heather Weddle who relocated from New York to the historic house on Labor Day weekend. Weingarten said town records document the house, known as the Nelson Alford House, c. 1854, was the only dwelling on the property which included 34 acres of land in the 1852-1854 period. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com