Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux returned to the Westport Arts Center today for a packed performance. “When Russell Platt first took over as co-curator of the Westport Arts Center chamber music series and music critic for The New Yorker magazine I was the first classical guitarist to perform,” he said. “It gives me a lot of joy to be here today.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phylis Groner for WestportNow.com

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe (r) today presents a proclamation to Robert Mitchell, president of the Westport Historical Society, declaring April American Revolution Month in Westport. The presentation was made at a reception marking the opening of the Society’s “The British Are Coming” exhibit, which details the 1777 British landing at Compo Beach and march to Danbury where they destroyed the Continental Army’s munitions. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Sue Gold, executive director of the Westport Historical Society, today welcomes guests at a reception marking the opening its latest exhibit, “The British Are Coming.” The exhibit, which runs through May 29, is part of American Revolution Month commemorating the 240th anniversary of the 1777 British raid on Danbury that began with a Compo Beach landing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Former Sandy Hook teacher Abbey Clements is pictured in the documentary “Newtown, which was shown today at the Westport Woman’s Club sponsored by the Westport Library, and the League of Women Voters of Westport. The screening was followed by a discussion with Clements and CNN anchor and Westport resident Alisyn Camerota. The Dec. 14, 2012 Sandy Hook shootings claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators. “Newtown” will air on PBS on Monday at 9 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Kim Snyder (c), director of the documentary “Newtown,” gets together today with former Sandy Hook teacher Abbey Clements (l) and CNN anchor and Westport resident Alisyn Camerota at the Westport Woman’s Club where the documentary was screened. Clements described Snyder as a “remarkable person” who was able to convince reluctant Sandy Hook teachers to take part in the project. “We all felt the power of the film,” she said, adding that she feels it can change the course of gun control efforts in the country. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

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

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

There was a full house tonight at the White Barn Center at the Westport Country Playhouse for “From Hate to Hope: A Conversation With Holocaust Kindertransport Survivor Ivan Backer.” The Playhouse, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and TEAM Westport, the town’s diversity committee, sponsored the event. Backer, 87, read from his book, “My Train to Freedom: A Jewish Boy’s Journey from Nazi Europe to a Life of Activism.” The event was presented in conjunction with the Playhouse’s April 5-9 production of the musical memoir, “The Pianist of Willesden Lane.” In the play, a young Jewish girl escapes the Holocaust via Kindertransport, the “children’s trains” organized by Sir Nicholas Winton who almost single-handedly rescued 669 children. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com