By Susan Granger

Back in the 1960s, I became an avid fan of Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek,” which not only boldly explored new worlds but also set forth challenging concepts, tackling relevant social issues with philosophical ingenuity and inventive diplomacy.

Yes, the sci-fi sets were tacky but provocative ideas and redemptive life-lessons flourished.

Several movie franchises continued in that vein but, under the stewardship of J.J. Abrams, character complexity has become secondary to continual conflict and spectacle, sacrificing much of the emotional satisfaction.

In “Star Trek: Beyond,” there’s Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto), Dr. “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), along with Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) and Pavel Chekhov (the late Anton Yelchin, who tragically died at age 27).

The Suzuki Music School of Westport, for 18 years one of the country’s leading, nonprofit community music schools, will move to a larger in-town location Aug. 1, school officials announced.

The Suzuki Music School of Westport will move into space formerly occupied by the Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage (MTC). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The school, dedicated to the family oriented Suzuki method of music instruction, will relocate from 212 Post Road West to 7,000 square feet of space at 246 Post Road East in the Colonial Green complex, officials said. It is the former home of the Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage (MTC).

According to Andrew Smith, the school’s director, the new central location will mark a turning point in the school’s role within the town.

“This puts the school at the heart of the Westport music scene, and we couldn’t be prouder,” Smith said. “Whether or not you have children who are interested in music, we would encourage music lovers everywhere to come to one of our events and see for themselves.”

Crispin Cioe on sax led his Cracked Ice band at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

The owners of the house at 22 Crooked Mile Road are the newest recipients of a Westport Historical Society (WHS) historical plaque. Bob Weingarten, WHS plaque historian, presented the plaque to Robert G. Shaw, who has lived in the house with wife Katerina since 2005. According to Weingarten, the 1930-built house, was built for the renowned artist, Charles Prendergast (1863-1948). According to Shaw, Prendergast’s widow donated her husband’s art to the Williams College Museum of Art, which now houses the largest collection of Prendergast’s work. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“The Invisible Hand,” a tense drama of a financial futures trader kidnapped and held hostage for ransom in Pakistan, opened tonight at the Westport Country Playhouse. Taking a bow after the performance were (l-r): Jameal Ali, Fajer Kaisi, Eric Bryant and Rajesh Bose— an internationally diverse cast playing the roles of Pakistanis, Kaisi was born in Iraq, Ali in London and Bose in Connecticut. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs performed at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts tonight. They brought the exuberant sounds of the steamy bayous of southwestern Louisiana to the hills of New England to the dancing audience.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Bonita Weisman of West Hartford played the rubboard in tonight’s River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs performance at the Levitt Pavilon. Weisman has been teaching, performing and choreographing in Hartford since 1983. She also maintains a private practice as a muscular therapist through her business, West Hartford Massage Therapy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

After a day in which temperatures reached into the mid-90s, many people turned out tonight at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts to cool off with River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The owners of the house at 349 Wilton Road are the newest recipients of a Westport Historical Society (WHS) historical plaque. Bob Weingarten, WHS plaque historian, presented the plaque to Kris Toohey who, with her husband John, have occupied the house since 2010 and are Westport residents since 2006. According to Weingarten, the 1834-built house, known as the Captain Alfred Taylor House, was built by Taylor, a captain in the state militia. who also owned a dwelling at what is now 316 Wilton Road, built prior to 1832.  Kris Toohey said the meticulous renovations she and her husband incorporated into the house were a “labor of love.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Saugatuck Sweets-sponsored outdoor summer series tonight at Westport’s Saugatuck Center featured Adam Roberts (l) and Mike Messer, known as After School Special. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com