Sunday, October 18, 2026

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Westport’s Tyler Hicks Wins Third Pulitzer

Westport prize-winning photographer Tyler Hicks won another Pulitzer Prize today, his third, this time for images of migrants seeking asylum in Europe.

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One of the prize-winning photos by Tyler Hicks of migrants arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Hicks shared the prize in the breaking news category with three other New York Times photographers—Mauricio Lima, Sergey Ponomarev and Daniel Etter as well as with Thomson Reuters.

In 2014, Hicks won in the breaking news photography category for his coverage of a terrorist attack in September 2013 at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 2009, he was part of a New York Times team that won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as was fellow Westporter and 1991 Staples graduate Lynsey Addario.

‘Hamilton’ Author is BOOKED for Evening Honoree

The Westport Library announced today that its BOOKED for the Evening honoree this year is Ron Chernow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of “Alexander Hamilton,” the inspiration for the Broadway hit “Hamilton.”

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Ron Chernow: to be honored May 26.  Contributed photo

Chernow, 67, will be honored at the gala event, the library’s main fundraiser, on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m.

The announcement came on the same day that it was announced that the Broadway musical “Hamilton” had won a Pulitzer Prize in best drama category.

Chernow won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for biography and the 2011 American History Book Prize for his book, “Washington: A Life.” He published “Alexander Hamilton” in 2004.

Entertaining at the Senior Center

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The Westport Center for Senior Activities today hosted the fifth production of “Try to Remember,” produced by Doris Jacoby (blue jacket), who, with her late husband Frank, originated the show. It starred many local performers and was sponsored by Friends of the Westporrt Center for Senior Activities. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Surprise Gift

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Patricia Riemersma (l), CEO of the Westport Weston Famly YMCA, tonight presents a surprise gift to Dorothy Curran, president of the Westport Woman’s Club (WWC), of a portrait of Mary Anne Dingee Bedford, wife of Edward T. Bedford, the Family YMCA founder. Riemersma said the Family YMCA had the portrait in its collection, and it was approriately suited for the WWC. It was Frederick Bedford, Edward’s son, who, in 1945, purchased the 1881-built Sidney Watts house and grounds for the club at 44 Imperial Ave. The Bedfords also funded the subsequent move of the 1866-built Sabbath Meeting Hall of the Saugatuck Congregational Church to the Imperial Avenue location in 1950. The building became the club’s meeting hall and last year was officially named Bedford Hall as it underwant extensive renovations. Tonight’s event was called “The 150th Birthday Bash for Bedford Hall.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Honoring Our Heritage: 44 Imperial Ave.

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The Westport Woman’s Club (WWC) tonight held a “150th Birthday Bash for Bedford Hall,” its meeting space at 44 Imperial Ave. that traces its orgins to the 1866 constuction of the Saugatuck Congregational Church Sabbath Meeting Hall, which was subsequently moved to Imperial Avenue where it was annexed to the club’s 1881 Sidney Watts House (purchased for the club by Federick Bedford.) The meeting space underwent extensive renovations in 2015 and was named Bedford Hall. Bob Weingarten, plaque historian of the Westport Historical Society, presented Dorothy Curran, WWC president, with plaques commemorating the buildings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

New Super ‘Geeks’ Sculling

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The new Westport Schools Superintendent, Colleen Palmer, visited the Westport Library today for her “Geek the Library” photo by photographer Pam Einarsen, along with dozens of others. Palmer, the Weston schools superintendent who takes over July 1 from retiring Superintendent Elliott Landon, “geeks” sculling. The library’s “What Do You Geek?” public awareness campaign, launched last week, aims to connect people by highlighting their passions as well as communicate the vital role the library plays in the community. The next photo session is Sunday, April 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. Participants are asked to wear a solid black top and bring what they geek. See more photos here. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Pam Einarsen photo

Arts Center to Host Cuban Art Exhibit

The Westport Arts Center (WAC) is set to present “Two Steps Forward: Contemporary Cuban Art,” an exhibition of work by emerging and established Cuban artists.

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Artist Jacqueline Brito’s “The Fleet (La Flota),” (oil, glass, and silver leaf on canvas, 2009) is among works to be displayed. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

An opening reception will be held Friday, April 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The exhibit of works collected via trips to Cuba over the past decade by Greenwich residents Terri and Steven Certilman, runs through June 4.

“The unique political, social and economic conditions in Cuba have combined to catalyze what may be the world’s highest concentration of artistic talent,” said Steven Certilman.

Historical Society Sets ‘Beautiful Pond’ Exhibit

The Westport Historical Society (WHS) will launch a new exhibit “The Beautiful Pond” based on the book of the same title by local artist and author Judith Orseck Katz on Sunday, May 15, from 3 to 5 p.m.

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Robin Tauck and Judith Orseck Katz at the book launch party in November. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phylllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Like the book, the exhibit features watercolors of the Sherwood Mill Pond and its environs.

According to Barbara Peck, WHS assistant director, the circa 1705 mill pond played a pivotal role in the development of the town.

“As the first working mill and first commercial enterprise in what is now part of Westport, the pond’s grist mill gave the area the commerce required to be chartered,” says Peck.

Reliving the British Invasion that Began in Westport

The Westport Historical Society (WHS) again this year will mark Tryon’s Raid, the Revolutionary War engagement that began with 1,800 British troops landing at Compo Beach on April 25, 1777.

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Damon Douglas: authored WHS book on Tryon Raid. Contributed photo

The raid will be the topic of a WHS lecture by history buff Ed Hynes on Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

The lecture comes just three days after the 239th anniversary of the British landing for their march to Danbury where Colonists had stored munitions. 

WHS officials noted that during the four-day raid, British troops led by Maj. Gen. William Tryon, royal governor of the New York province, burned Patriot supplies, meeting Colonial force resistance with two battles along the way.