In a first for Staples High School sports—and perhaps any team anywhere in the country—the Staples boys soccer team’s match was livestreamed last night at the Remarkable Theater’s enormous drive-in screen. Soccer fans were treated to a very well-played match. The Wreckers looked strong all over the field, and rode goals by Haydn Siroka and Alan Fiore to a 2-1 victory over Norwalk. Keeper Sebi Montoulieu saved a penalty kick. Central defender Surya Balaji and center midfielder Murilo Moreno were among the keys to the win. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Neil Brickley for WestportNow.com
Winners Announced for Windows Painting Contest

Halloween Window Painting Contest winning entries. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Matthew Mandell for WestportNow.com
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC) today announced the winners of this year’s annual Halloween Window Painting Contest held Saturday.
About 100 children, the highest participation to date, painted 55 commercial windows for the contest, the announcement said.
“We are so pleased to have pulled this off, in spite of the pandemic,” said Matthew Mandell, WWCC executive director. “The effort was truly worthwhile, and we thank every merchant who offered a window, to ensure every child entered had a canvas to paint.”
This year’s judges were Ruth Mannes, MoCA of Westport executive director and Anne Greenberg, MoCA’s education director.
“This was a fierce competition,” Greenberg said. “It was clear that all the kids who participated really put their all into their artwork.
“We were so impressed by the sheer volume of participants and the high quality of their submissions,” she added.
Ribbons were placed on the winning windows, and the children received an award certificate and a gift card to Donut Crazy.
Among the elementary school contestants, Perri Schleef, a Weston Elementary School fifth grader, won the scariest window competition for the artwork at Baker Graphics.
First grader Calvin Carreras of Westport’s Long Lots Elementary School won the “Best Halloween Theme” competition, with help from Julian Carreras and Aaron Slomich, for the window painting at 1st Nail Spa.
The “Most Original” competition was tie between Saugatuck Elementary School second grader Caroline Hammond who painted the windows at Stiles Market and Chloe Robbin, a second grader at Long Lots Elementary School who painted the Fleet Fleet window.
Among the middle school participants, Sophie Jacques, a Housatonic Valley Waldorf School sixth grader won the scariest competition for the painting at Stephen Kempson.
The “Best Halloween Theme” in this category was won by Sally Nathan, a sixth grader at Bedford Middle School for her painting at Cycleology.
Hailey Kiperman, who is in the sixth grade at The Southport School, won “Most Original” for the painting at Restore Hyper Wellness + Cryotherapy.
In the high school competition, Ella Schweizer, a freshman at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, won “Most Original” for her artwork on the windows of the Greens Farms Spirit Shop.
Westport Voters Use the Absentee Ballot Option
Westport residents Robert and Donna Bonafide cast their absentee ballots at Town Hall. Donna Bonafide said, “we want to avoid the long lines on election day.” According to Ruth Cavayero, deputy Town Clerk, 9,876 absentee ballots were issued and 7,353 (over 74%) were completed and submitted as of Oct 27 (there are 23,752 registered voters in Westport). Cavayero said the party count is as follows: Democrat – 5,162 issued and 4,122 received; Republican – 1,550 issued and 1,071 received. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 2, Deaths Unchanged
The state said today its Westport COVID-19 case count was up two at 428 (411 confirmed and 17 probable) and deaths unchanged at 23.
‘Welcome, Come In,’ Said the Spider to Passersby
Arachnophilia rules at 1 Bradley St.! A ghostly entry, one of 36, in the Halloween House Decorating contest sponsored by Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department (click here for more information). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Ghostly Warning on Bulkley Avenue South
Pay no attention to that woman in black at 18 Bulkley Ave. South! A hair-raising entry, one of 34 36, in the Halloween House Decorating contest sponsored by Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department (click here for more information). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020
Westport Town Offices & Senior Center are closed to the public.
9 a.m. – Electronically – Board of Selectmen: live streamed on http://www.westportct.gov, Optimum ch. 79, Frontier ch. 6020
5:45 p.m. – Imperial Parking Lot – Remarkable Drive-In Livestreams Staples Boys Soccer v. Norwalk (game starts 7 p.m.)
6 p.m. – Virtual Westport Library – Getting Started in Medicare (register)
7 p.m. – Electronically – Conservation Commission: live streamed on http://www.westportct.gov, Optimum ch. 79, Frontier ch. 6020
7 p.m. – 646-876-9923 ID: 895 2408 9382 Code: 251996 – Historic District Commission
7 p.m. – Virtual Westport Library – with Earthplace, Environmental Book Discussion: “H is for Hawk”
Westport Senior Center YouTube Channel
Westport Library Event Calendar
Westport Library YouTube Page
Earthplace YouTube Channel
Virtual Westport Museum for History & Culture
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up Six, 426 Confirmed, Deaths Unchanged
The state said today its Westport COVID-19 case count was up siix at 426 (426 confirmed and 409 probable) and deaths unchanged at 23.
Superintendent Scarice Offers Holiday Guidance
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice today issued the following update to school families:
Dear Families of Westport Students:
Our community and the world has lived through a series of holidays since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Whether religious or secular in nature, we have all made tough decisions about the safest means to carry on traditions associated with them. Unfortunately tough decisions remain as we head into the fall and early winter holidays. I respectfully ask that you join me in making safe plans to celebrate the upcoming holidays, especially if including family and friends is to be considered.
Below is a list of the major holidays arriving shortly on our calendars. While not an exhaustive list, and certainly one that doesn’t take into account other celebrations such as anniversaries and birthdays, it does remind us of the dates and days of the week these holidays will take place.
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is not a national holiday, but it is a day when schools are not in session. It is important for all of our students and families to remain vigilant with the use of mitigation strategies outside of school. (social distancing, mask wearing, etc.)
Halloween – Saturday, 10/31/2020
Halloween’s arrival this Saturday is an exciting time for those that celebrate the holiday. It is a time when children and adults revel in costumes depicting such a wide range of characters. The highlight for most is displaying these creations to friends and family while trick or treating or gathering at social events.
Yet, during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, following traditions of the past could create major issues of viral spread in our schools and the greater community. With this in mind, I urge our families to follow Halloween Guidance from the Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) and Halloween Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adhering to the recommendations of the DPH and CDC will significantly decrease the possibility of COVID-19 spread through our students, staff, families, and neighbors.
Thanksgiving – Thursday, 11/26/2020
While Halloween is just days away, Thanksgiving is not far behind. Thanksgiving often marks the start of the holiday travel season for many families. Whether traveling to share a meal with friends and/or family in town, across the state, or across the country, gatherings of any size with others outside our immediate households increases the risk of COVID-19 spread.
The CDC has developed Thanksgiving Guidance to help families plan for safe means of celebrating the holiday. Should traveling out of Connecticut during the Thanksgiving break be an option for individuals or families, it is critical that guidance from the Connecticut Travel Advisory be reviewed and followed upon return to Connecticut. Strict adherence to self-quarantine and testing protocols found on the travel advisory website will significantly decrease issues of COVID-19 spread through our students, staff, families, and neighbors.
December Holidays
Within a short few weeks after Thanksgiving comes Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years. Each holiday has it’s unique traditions, and what is common among all of them is that they have multiple days associated with them. Specific guidance about celebrating the December holidays has yet to be shared by the CT DPH and the CDC, but it is likely the recommendations will be similar to those developed for Thanksgiving. Of critical importance is for individuals and families to consider guidance with respect to gatherings and whether or not the Connecticut Travel Advisory will impact plans as well. Below are the specific days and dates for the upcoming December holidays.
Hanukkah – Friday, 12/11/2020 – Friday 12/18/20
Christmas Eve – Thursday 12/24/2020
Christmas – Friday, 12/25/2020
New Years Eve – Thursday, 12/31/20
New Years Day – Friday 1/1/2021
Finally, Westport has done an amazing job minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and in our community. It has not escaped me that we have only had one instance of closing a school, albeit for one day because of the need for contact tracing, for COVID-19 related issues. Our success is based on our collective efforts to follow mitigation strategies throughout Westport, and to maintain open lines of communication with local health officials and school administrators when addressing potential infection issues. Continuing this approach, and following DPH and CDC guidance with respect to the upcoming holidays, will assist in our mutual goal of avoiding outbreaks and associated spread of COVID-19 in Westport.
Sincerely,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020
Westport Town Offices & Senior Center are closed to the public.
9:15 a.m. – Virtual Westport Library – Job Search Work Team
6 p.m. – 646-876-9923 ID: 821 2165 1335 – RTM Finance & RTM Public Work Committees
6:15 p.m. – Imperial Parking Lot – Remarkable Drive-In Theater: “Shrek”
7 p.m. – Virtual Westport Library – with TEAM Westport: The Mythology of Racial Progress, Jennifer A. Richeson (register)
7:15 p.m. – 929-205-6099 ID: 835 6042 7543 Code: 586000 – Youth Commission
7:30 p.m. – 646-876-9923 ID: 842 4135 6892 Code: 451161 – Architectural Review Board
Westport Senior Center YouTube Channel
Westport Library Event Calendar
Westport Library YouTube Page
Earthplace YouTube Channel
Virtual Westport Museum for History & Culture
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar