By Susan Granger

If you’ve ever visited Disney World’s EPCOT theme park, you’ve had a glimpse of what Walt Disney and his “imagineers” envisioned as the influence of science and technology on the future of mankind. That’s the basis for “Tomorrowland,” which begins with disillusioned scientist Frank Walker (George Clooney).

When he was a youngster, Frank (Thomas Robinson) brought a jet pack he’d invented to enter in a contest at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. While he didn’t amaze the contemptuous judge (Hugh Laurie), a young observer named Athena (Raffey Cassidy) was so impressed by his optimistic ingenuity that she slipped him a small lapel pin marked with the letter “T.”

To his amazement, when Frank touched the pin, he was miraculously transported to an alternative dimension known as Tomorrowland, a shiny, shimmering, serenely futuristic utopia where the impossible becomes possible…

After that prologue, it’s present-day Cape Canaveral, Florida, where too-bright-for-her-own-good Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) lives with her soon-to-be-out-of-work NASA engineer father (Tim McGraw) and little brother (Pierce Gagnon). She, too, mysteriously receives one of those magical “T” pins, catapulting her into Tomorrowland’s hologram.

By James Lomuscio

More than 100 persons filled the Westport Library’s McManus Room tonight to meet and greet and ask questions of the two finalists vying to replace Executive Director Maxine Bleiweis, who is retiring at the end of June.

Finalists: David Hinkley (l), director, Montclair (N.J.) Public Library and William Harmer, director, Chelsea (Mich.) Library. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The finalists: William Harmer, director of the Chelsea Library in Chelsea, Mich. and David Hinkley, director of the Montclair Public Library in Montclair, N.J.

The big question of the night: “How do you view innovation, and what will you do to bring innovation to the Westport Library?”

The different styles of each was seen in their introductory responses.

Scenes from tonight’s Westport Library forum with two candidates to succeed retiring Executive Director Maxine Bleiweis—David Hinkley, director, Montclair (N.J.) Public Library and William Harmer, director, Chelsea (Mich.) Library. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Artist Jim Chillington of Newtown was busy painting on the Ruth Stdeinkraus Cohen Bridge in Westport’s center today. His Westport scenes and others are on exhibit in “Plein Air Now & Then” at the Rockwell Gallery, 236 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

In conjunction with the Westport Library’s Riverwalk Hallway exhbit of “Women Photojournalists of Connecticut,” Town Curator Kathie Bennetwitz (r) tonight moderated a panel discussion of some of the exhibitors—(l-r) Jessica Hill, Keelin Daly, Michelle McLoughlin, Cloe Poisson, and Mara Lavitt. Curated by Westport photojournalist Douglas Healey, a WestportNow contributing photographer, the display features the work of 21 female photojournalists. Among them are Westporter Lynsey Addario, the prize-winning photojournalist who was the honoree last week at the Library’s annual fundraiser, BOOKED for the Evening, and Helen Klisser During, artistic director of the Westport Arts Center and a WestportNow contributing photographer. The exhibit runs through July 16. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Two finalists for the position of executive director of the Westport Library will give short presentations and answer questions at a forum Wednesday in the Library’s McManus Room.

The program, which will start at 7 p.m. after light refreshments and a “meet and greet” at 6:30 p.m., is open to the public.

Current Library Executive Director Maxine Bleiweis announced her retirement in January effective July 1.

“The search for a new executive director was extremely comprehensive and thorough,” said Library Board of Trustees President Mike Guthman. “The pool was narrowed to two very strong candidates who are eager to present themselves to Westport. We’re looking forward to hearing from them.”

Westport author Michaela MacColl today spoke about her sixth book, “The Revelation of Louisa May,” a fictional biographical adventure of the teen years of Louisa May Alcott, at the Westport Library’s annual Middle School Book Expo.  In the book, Louisa May Alcott, the future author of “Little Women” and other books and stories, lives with her parents and two sisters in the small town of Concord. Her father, Bronson Alcott, is a writer, speaker and believer in self-reliance, but he barely makes enough money to keep his family alive. MacColl describes her series of novels, aimed at young adult audiences as “literary and biographical intertwined with mystery.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Hosted by the Westport Arts Center, the famed Julliard String Quartet performed today at the Pequot Library in Southport. The group, widely known as the quintessential American string quartet, performed a salute to the immortal music of Vienna — modern masterpieces by Webern and Berg and, to close, Beethoven’s triumphant final quartet in F Major, Op. 135.  The ensemble (which consists of first violinist Joseph Lin, second violinist Ronald Copes, violist Roger Tapping, and cellist Joel Krosnick) has performed throughout the world in recitals, at music festivals, and with major symphony orchestras. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s Westport Arts Center annual gala, with a “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” theme, at the Vespa restaurant and adjacent green at National Hall on the west bank of the Saugatuck River. Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was among those paying tribute tonight to Westporter Lance Lundberg, chairman of the Westport Arts Center, at WAC’s annual gala. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com