Tom Papa, stand-up comedian, film, stage and radio performer entertained an overflow crowd at the eighth annual Stand Up for Homes With Hope gala fundraiser event tonight at the Westport Country Playhouse. Proceeds from the performance benefit the hungry and homeless of Westport and Norwalk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Homes with Hope president Jeff Wieser (c) tonight welcomes newly elected Weston First Selectman Nina Daniel and past Weston First Selectman Hal Shupack to the Homes With Home gala at the Westport Country Playhouse. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s Homes With Hope gala at the Westport Country Playhouse. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC) is hosting the third in its series of TEA (Thinkers Educators Artists) Talks on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at Westport Town Hall in a forum titled “Where Are the Arts in CT Education?” 

WAAC created the TEA Talk format to bring together Thinkers, Educators and Artists from within and beyond Westport, to discuss important issues relevant to the arts. 

TEA Talks topics presented in 2014 included “Technology and the Arts and Healing and the Arts.”

The latest forum will address a trending conversation that is taking place on a national level, according to organizers.

Visitors check out the items for sale today at the 40th annual CraftWestport event at Staples High School presented by the Westport Young Woman’s League (WYWL). The event runs until 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Among the early shoppers today at CraftWestport at Staples High School were Westporters Totney Benson (c) and Susie Basler, who check out a suede jacket at the Leprechaun Sheepskin booth of Charlemont, Mass. as owner Tom Hayward offers assistance. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe cuts the ribbon to officially open the 40th annual CraftWestport event today at Staples High School presented by the Westport Young Woman’s League (WYWL). The event, which attracts over 5,000 visitors each year according to WYWL president Meg Himes, runs until 6 p.m. today and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Joining Marpe are (l-r) Tina Roche, event co-chair, Rhannon Lloyd, event chair, Meg Himes, WYWL president, and Pat Shea of Carver, Mass who chaired the event in 1977 and 1978 when she was a Westport resident.  Shea, who moved away from Westport in 1983, said she drove from Carver to Westport today with two girlfriends to attend the event opening. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The newest recipient of an historical plaque from the Westport Historical Society (WHS) are the owners of the house at 55 Compo Road North, now known as the Norman Mason artist studio, circa 1936. Bob Weingarten, WHS plaque historian, presented the plaque to Garrick and Carla Sevilla and their three sons who relocated to Westport from North Carolina less than one year ago. The house had also been the residence of the late Margaret “Maggie” K. Feczko, past president of the WHS and chair of the Historic District Commission who died in June 2013 at age 64. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Ryan Caulfield (l), a junior at Staples High School, and Michael Franceski, a junior at Iona Prep, will give a benefit concert on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Steinway Piano Gallery, 501 Post Road East, Westport.  The concert is entitled “Sound-Off”” to benefit the Semper Fi Fund, an organization that supports injured veterans. Ryan, an accomplished classical pianist, and Michael, an accomplished violinist, will perform works by Beethoven, Bach, Viotti, and Chopin. Admission is free. Suggested donation is $10. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Scenes from tonight’s pop up art show reception at the Westport Arts Center featuring works by the Westport Artists’ Collective. Helen Klisser During, Lynn U. Miller and Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos