The Westport Library’s McManus Room seemed the place to be today as the library
s annual March book sale got underway. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Early bird shoppers swarmed over the selections today at the Westport Library’s March book sale. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matow for WestportNow.com

Despite temperatures in the low 20s, an estimated 90 persons today waited at the library entrance for the 9 a.m. opening of the 25th annual book sale, according to volunteer coordinator Mimi Greenlee. The sale continues through Tuesday. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s 22nd annual Near & Far Aid Spring Gala at Mitchells of Westport. J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos

Bill Harmer, executive director of the Westport Library, shows off some of the Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Harry Belafonte vinyl treasures he bought in advance of the library’s March book (and records, and CDs, DVDs, etc.) sale, which begins Saturday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller 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. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Volunteers today arrange books and other items for the 25th annual Westport Library March book sale, which opens Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with everything half-priced. The last day is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon with everything free and contributions encouraged. Volunteer coordinator Mimi Greenlee said the sale includes 2,000 books and many other items. “Ephemera is so popular now,” she said “DVDs, CDs, and vinyls are in demand. Who would have guessed that in this age of streaming?”  She added, “VHS, however, is dead.” CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Actor James Naughton of Weston and his family will host “A Tribute to Pamela,” an evening of musical entertainment to benefit research aimed at the early detection of pancreatic cancer, on Sunday, May 7 at 5:30 pm at the Westport Country Playhouse.

James Naughton (r) performed with son Greg (l) and daughter-in-law Kelli O’Hara at a Westport Country Playhouse gala honoring O’Hara in 2015. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Steve Walter photo

The evening led by the Tony Award-winning star of theater, film and television honors the legacy of Naughton’s wife, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2013 at age 66.

It will feature solos, duets and group performances by Naughton and his family, including daughter Keira, a Broadway and television actress; son Greg, a producer, actor, singer and songwriter; and daughter-in-law Kelli O’Hara, a Broadway superstar who won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Anna in “The King and I.”

Proceeds from “A Tribute to Pamela” support a landmark, three-year pancreatic cancer research study at Western Connecticut Health Network being led by Richard C. Frank, a hematologist/oncologist and the director of clinical cancer research at Norwalk Hospital’s C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Cancer Center.

By Susan Granger

This year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is Iran’s “The Salesman,” another marital drama from previous Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi (“The Separation”.)

When Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) Etesamis are forced to evacuate their crumbling Tehran apartment, they move into a more dilapidated abode, one that was previously occupied by a single woman with a young child.

The clutter she left behind gives subtle clues as to who she is and the promiscuous life she led. She’s described as “a woman with lots of acquaintances … who lived a wild life.”

Emad and Rana are both actors, working in an amateur theater company’s production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” playing Willie and Linda Loman, respectively.