Among tributes to Helen Klisser During, outgoing artistic director of the Westport Arts Center at the opening reception tonight for the annual members’ exhibition, was one by renowned photographer Larry Silver (r) of Westport, who said he was speaking for “the artists here.” “You have turned the Westport Arts Center into a very professional and respected institution,” he told her. “You did what a lot of other curators weren’t able to do. You were able to unite the Westport artists with international and national artists —and that’s been a problem.” He said her departure was not only a loss for the Center but for the Town of Westport. The Center announced it was honoring her by giving her the title “Artistic Director Emeritus.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com

Two visitors to the Westport Arts Center opening reception tonight for “DREAMscapes,” the annual group members exhibition, look over Westport artist Jana Ireijo’s “Tatoo Your Name Across My Heart,” oil and glitter on wood. The exhibit runs until Jan. 9. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com

One of the selected works for the “DREAMscapes” members’ exhibition at the Westport Arts Center drawing much attention tonight was this one by Danbury artist Eric Camiel. Titled “In His Closet,” it is described as “mixed media plastic, wood, cloth, metal; Mara Horowitz, seamstress; Julie Jackson, paint and makeup.” It sells for $4,950. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Scenes from tonight’s opening reception for the Westport Arts Center’s “DREAMscapes” annual members exhibition and post-party reception for Helen Klisser During, outgoing WAC artistic director. The exhibition, juried by Alexandra Munroe, Samsung senior curator of Asian art at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, runs until Jan. 9. Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com and contributed photos

Actor Jake Robards (2nd r) is greeted tonight by founding members of the Westport Country Playhouse’s New Works Circle (l-r) Westporters Anna Czekaj-Farber, Barbara Streicker, Scott and Judy Phares, and Westonite Howard J. Aibel. The meeting followed Robards’s performance in “Promising,” a new play by Michelle Elliot about a politician caught up in a scandal, which opened Wednesday at New York’s Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 W 42nd St. Robards is a Playhouse trustee, as are Czekaj-Farber, Streicker, Judy Phares, and Aibel. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Samantha Goober for WestportNow.com

Best selling author Erica Jong of Weston gets set tonight to autograph copies of her latest book, “Fear of Dying: A Novel,” at the Westport Library.  Said Woody Allen of the book: “How Erica is able to deal with all these sensitive issues and still make the book funny is amazing. I loved reading it.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s book launch party for “The Beautiful Pond” by Westport artist Judith Orseck Katz at Positano Ristorante. Phyllis Groner and Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

Sure to wind up in many 10 Best lists this year, “Spotlight” is the fascinating, true crime story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that revealed the Roman Catholic Church’s systematic ‘cover-up’ of pedophile priests.

Spotlight is the name of the Globe’s investigative team, headed by Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton) and comprised of Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sarah Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matty Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James).

They report to managing editor Ben Bradlee, Jr. (John Slattery), whose father figured prominently in the Watergate-themed “All the President’s Men.”

After the Globe was bought by The New York Times in 2001, there’s a new, cost-cutting boss, Marty Baron (Liev Schrieber), who is not only Jewish but also an out-of-towner. He urges them to pursue molestation allegations against a priest, a subject the newspaper has traditionally ignored under tacit pressure from Cardinal Bernard Law (Len Cariou) and the Boston Archdiocese.