Jenny Scofield (l), state and national register coordinator at the State Historic Preservation Office tonight presented to the Historic District Commission (HDC) at a public informational meeting at Town Hall in support of the proposed Bridge Street National Register Historic District. She explained the eligibility of the neighborhood for the listing, the benefits of the designation to the property owners, and the mechanism for objections to the designation. Bridge Street is an historic neighborhood, currently part of a designated Scenic Highway, which includes a significant number of historic resources and provides a local gateway to the iconic William F. Cribari Memorial swing bridge, which is listed on the National Register. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Playhouse has scheduled two free, Sunday symposia on the genius of William Shakespeare for Nov. 5 and 12 at 3 p.m., playhouse officials announced.

The symposia are being held in conjunction with the production of “Romeo and Juliet,” which runs from Oct. 31 through Nov. 19 — replete with a cast of 20 actors, period costuming, sword fights and scenic design.

Titled “As Boundless as the Sea: The Genius of William Shakespeare,” the two-part program represents the playhouse’s eighth annual educational and community engagement initiative, according to Patricia Blaufuss, playhouse spokeswoman.

The lectures are supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

The owners of the house at 12 Charcoal Hill Road are the newest recipients of a Westport Historical Society (WHS) historical plaque. Bob Weingarten, WHS plaque historian, presented the plaque to owners Pat and Bill Blaufuss. According to Weingarten, the house was designed and built by the renown architect Frazier Forman Peters in 1929. Peters designed and built 41 houses in Westport of which 38 are still standing. Weingarten said, “Peters moved to Westport in 1919 as a farmer and became a self-educated architect and builder from 1925 to 1936.”  The Blaufusses have owned the house since 1984. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

David Waldman (l), Westport commercial real estate developer, and Frederick Hoag, principal of Westport-based FWH Architects, today present their proposed perspectives of the future look of downtown Westport. The event was the kickoff of a brown bag lunch series at the Westport Historical Society in coordination with its ongoing exhibit “06880 + 50.” Waldman said, “As the world changes, our model shows what can be done with a small community downtown.” Hoag added: “We asked ourselves how we can create for the future with the threat in mind that all of us can be under water in time.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The festival chorus of Wilton-based, nonprofit Music on the Hill entertained today at the Unitarian Church in Westport. David Connell, conductor, and Ellen Dickinson on piano supported the musicians. Connell is pictured playing an African bass guitar from Uganda, accompanying a piece by Ysaye Barnwell from Sweet Honey in the Rock, an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble. The strings are made from heavy fishing line. The instrument is made by hand with goatskin and bent nails. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jane Sherman for WestportNow.com

The Westport Library today launched its fall music series with a performance by Connecticut’s own Funky Dawgz Brass Band at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. The library is partnering with the church to host the series while under construction for its Transformation Project. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis was featured tonight at the Unitarian Church in Westport as part of the Voices Café program. All funds benefit the Westport Women’s Crisis Center Task Force. Funds will be used to help women who are trying to escape an abusive relationship by changing their hair style and color in order to hide from their partner. Many salons are participating, including Roots Salon in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jane Sherman for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s Westport Historical Society “Tomorrow’s History Gala” at Design Within Reach, 154 Post Road East. Helen Klisser During and J. C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos