About 950 persons filled the Staples High School auditorium tonight for the Westport Library’s Susan Malloy Lecture in the Arts featuring British Indian author Salman Rushdie. Another 800 were on the waiting list, according to library officials. Westport was assisted in security arrangements by units from Monroe, Trumbull, Stamford, Darien, Wilton, and the FBI, according to Westport officials. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Author Salman Rushdie signs a copy of one of his books tonight for Westporter Fiona Garland (r) in the Staples High School library before his talk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Crowds began lining up at Westport’s Staples High School at 6 p.m. today to hear a 7:30 p.m. talk by British Indian author Salman Rushdie. Security was tight as the event sponsored by the Westport Library took place. A policeman can be seen on the school roof above the entrance. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Before his talk at Staples High School tonight, author Salman Rushdie met with aboout 60 Staples advance placement English students. He told them if they wanted to be writers they should experience new things, listen and observe carefully. Rushdie is pictured with seniors Sophie Call and (background) Jacob Plotkin. In the center is Kelle Rudin, the Westport Library’s community relations director. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Students at Westport’s Staples High School today noticed an increased police presence around the school as they departed in advance of tonight’s talk there by British author Salman Rushdie. He is the subject of a 1989 fatwa (edict) issued by Iran’s Ayatolla Ruholla Khomeini calling for his assassination for his book “Satanic Verses” considered blasphemous by Muslims. Students were told that if any backpack was left in the building after 4 p.m. that it would be confiscated. They were also told any students on campus after 4 p.m. could be subject to questioning or possible police detention if deemed suspicious. Students also noticed personnel on the roof of the school, although it was not known if this was part of the security arrangements. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

“Cars and Guitars,” the third in a series of events called Road & Tracks, a showcase for both music and car enthusiasts, takes place Saturday at the Dragone Classic Motorcar Gallery and Showroom, 176 Post Road West, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Produced by WPKN, 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, a nonprofit community radio station, the event will be broadcast live by the station. From noon to 6 p.m., there will be live music featuring Gene Casey, Americana/Roots Music from Long Island, Westport’s own Doug Wahlberg Band, New England Blues Hall of Fame winners the Clarence Spady Blues Band, and the original sound of The Lord Calverts from Brooklyn, N.Y. Pictured is singer Giacomo Gates performing at the 2012 event. For more information, visit http://www.wpkn.org. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Noted photographer Larry Silver of Westport stands by an exhibit of his work set to open Thursday in Bridgeport at The Housatonic Museum of Art. The exhibit, “Larry Silver: Then and Now,” is a photographic installation comprised of three distinct bodies of work, “Sherwood Island State Park, 1975-2015,” “Darkroom Abstractions, 2005-2010,” and “St. Mary’s by the Sea, 2014-2015.” The exhibit will be on view in the Burt Chernow Galleries, 900 Lafayette Boulevard, through Dec. 17 with a reception on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Burt Chernow Galleries are free and open to the public.  Visit the http://www.HousatonicMuseum.org for gallery hours. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

“Steve Jobs” begins in 1984, when the Apple co-founder (Michael Fassbender) unveiled the MacIntosh, changing the computer world forever. But behind the scenes in Cupertino, California, there’s turmoil.

Tech genius Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen), Jobs’ friend/collaborator, and CEO John Sculley (Jeff Daniels) have serious issues, while Jobs’ trusted marketing chief, Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet), wrangles monetary demands from Jobs’ ex-girlfriend, Chrisann Brennan (Katherine Waterston), the mother of his illegitimate daughter Lisa.

Four years later, after Jobs’ ouster from Apple, there’s another product launch crisis as Jobs arrogantly presents his NeXT Black Box, followed by his return to Apple, introducing the iMac in 1998.

Within this fragmentary “backstage” framework, Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”) embodies Steve Jobs’ relentlessness, subtly revealing how he coldly views the world through a “reality distortion field” and how he ruthlessly bullies those around him, particularly when he’s under stress.