Jake Bernard (Jake Yarmoff) , a Staples High School 2010 graduate. was the opening act tonight at the Levitt Pavilion sponsored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce. He was followed by another Connecticut native, Nick Fradiani of Gilford, winner of the Connecticut Battle of the Bands and the 2015 “American Idol” winner. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Present at an unveiling ceremony today to mark the new entrance sign at the Westport Country Playhouse, prior to the evening performance of “Grounded,” were board members, staff and community officials. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westporter Sybil Steinberg, contributing editor and former book review section editor for Publisher’s Weekly, attracted a full house today at the Westport Library for her talk on the best of summer reading. Steinberg, who said she read 74 books since addressing the library in October 2016, today summarized 31 fiction, four short fiction and eight nonfiction books which included Westporter Nina Sankovitch’s nonfiction book, “The Lowells of Massachusetts.” Steinberg’s list of summer reading books may be found on the library website. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

When Westporter Sybil Steinberg talks books, people listen. The contributing editor and former book review section editor for Publisher’s Weekly brought out a full crowd today at the Westport Library to hear her summer favorites. In all, she said she read 74 books since addressing the library in October 2016. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Staples Players cast of the musical “Working” takes its curtain call at its final dress rehearsal of the show on Wednesday. The show opens tonight and runs this weekend only at the air-conditioned Staples High School auditorium. The musical is based on the Studs Terkel book “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do (1974),” which has interviews with people from different regions and occupations. Tickets are available at www.Staplesplayers.com or 30 minutes prior to show time subject to availability. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Kerry Long

The Not-Its! entertained a packed lawn tonight at the Melissa & Doug Children’s Series at the Levitt Pavilion. The Seattle-based band plays original rock/pop music for young children. The band is recognized as part of the kindie rock family music movement nationally. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Aaron Samuels for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

World War II’s Miracle of Dunkirk has never been addressed in American cinema. “Dunkirk” details the epic rescue of 338,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France: the biggest evacuation in military history.

From May 27 to June 4, 1940, the Allies were surrounded on all sides by German forces (never named, just referred to as “the enemy”), while the Luftwaffe repeatedly buzzed and bombarded the beaches.

Since the water was too shallow for destroyers to get close to the beach, brave British civilians volunteered to cross the English Channel in everything from fishing boats to barges to retrieve the troops—while under constant bombardment.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan (the “Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception,” “Interstellar”) tells the suspenseful survival story from three meticulously interwoven perspectives, based on fictional characters.

The Westport Historical Society (WHS) on Sunday, July 30 is hosting activities at Captain’s Cove Marina in Bridgeport, including a cruise along some of Black Rock Harbor’s historic sites.

Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport draws summer crowds. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The event sets off at 11:15 a.m. from 1 Bostwick Ave., an announcement said. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. To register, visit www.westporthistory.org.

In the 18th century, Black Rock Harbor, now known as Captain’s Cove, was used as a trade port and shipbuilding center.

The WHS tour will begin with a visit to the Maritime Museum, a Queen Anne-style Victorian house built by coal dealer Richard Dundon in 1893. 

There were plenty of bare spots on tables today on the third day of the Westport Library’s annual summer book sale. All items were half price today. The sale winds up Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a $5 charge for a bag full of books, a change from past years when all books on the last day were free.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com