The Westport Historical Society (WHS) today hosted “On the Front: Veterans Reflections on World War I,” a panel discussion among veterans. Panelists (l-r) Jack Klinge, Jay Dirnberger, Patrick Scott, and Larry Aasen reflected on their own experiences of war and how they perceive the “Great War” to have altered their world. Bob Mitchell (l), WHS president, presided. The event was held in conjunction with WestportREADS, the Westport Library’s program surrounding the book “Regeneration,” the 1991 historical, antiwar novel by Pat Barker. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s 19th annual crossword puzzle contest sponsored by the Westport Library. It was held this year at the Saugatuck Congregational Church while the Library is indergoing its transformation project. The event was once again overseen by Will Shortz, puzzle guru of The New York Times. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

There were 115 entrants today in the 19th annual Westport Library crossword puzzle contest led by famed New York Times puzzle expert Will Shortz (l). Today’s event was at the Saugatuck Congregational Church because of the Library’s transformation project. Shortz and Bill Harmer (r), Library executive director, posed with winner Jeffrey Schwartz (2nd l)  of New York,  and runner-ups Jesse Landner (c) of New York and Glen Ryan (2nd r) of Norwich. Schwartz finished the face-off finalist puzzle in the official time of 6:03 minutes, one second faster than Landner. Ryan finished in 6:41. Last year, Ryan finished in second place and was the winner in 2016. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

My best bet this week is “Letters from Baghdad,” the timely, true story of intrepid explorer Gertrude Bell (1858-1926), who influenced Middle Eastern history in the early 1900s.

More influential than her colleague T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”), adventurous Bell helped map part of the Arabian Peninsula after World War I. She established the Iraq Museum, which housed artifacts and antiquities of Mesopotamia and was ransacked during the American invasion of Baghdad in 2003.

Assembled from period photographs, archival footage and fake “talking-head” interviews by New York documentarians Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum, it chronicles the life of this extraordinary woman, the daughter of a British baronet who became the first woman to receive highest honors in modern history at Oxford University.

Superbly narrated by Tilda Swinton from Bell’s own copious correspondence, it follows her solo journey, commanding a 17-camel caravan across the uncharted Arabian desert for 1,500 miles as the first female freelance archaeologist, befriending Bedouins, sheikhs and other tribesmen, learning the local dialects, history and customs.

Selected poets tonight read their poems at a special event held at the Westport Arts Center in conjunction with the Westport Library and the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. “Poetic Inspirations – Readings & Reflections” was part of the townwide WestportREADS celebration of “Regeneration” by Pat Barker. More than 50 submissions were received from high school and adult poets, with 11 selected for the program. They ranged in age from Staples High school student Nicole Arellano to 86-year-old Mary Dembeck. Contributed photos

By Susan Granger

In “Call Me By Your Name,” director Luca Guadagnino chronicles the confusing, often conflicting sexual urges and coming-of-age of an introverted adolescent experiencing his first romance.

Set in a picturesque 17th century villa in a small, bucolic town near Lake Garda in northern Italy during the summer of 1983, a dramatic conflict erupts when restless 17-year-old musician Elio (Timothee Chalamet) encounters 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer), a visiting American graduate student.

Ostensibly there to help Elio’s father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor of Greco-Roman culture, confident, curious Oliver casually befriends capricious Elio, not realizing that his seductive presence has awakened Elio’s youthful ardor. Although both Elio and Oliver have dalliances with local women, an engaging, erotic, clandestine attraction soon develops between them.

Adapted by James Ivory from Andre Aciman’s 2007 autobiographical novel and sumptuously photographed by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, it’s a showcase for Oscar-nominated Timothee Chalamet, who exhibits heartbreakingly raw awkwardness, coupled with infectious enthusiasm.