Barred Owl on Wedgewood Road
A barred owl was seen this evening at a home on Wedgewood Road.
“Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations” Screening by Westport Library with Andrew Wilk, Conversation with Andrew Goldberg and Alisyn Camerota
By virtually every yardstick, antisemitism in the US and Europe is rising and worsening in ways not seen since the 1930s. Like a virus, it mutates and evolves across cultures, borders, and ideologies. Emmy-winning filmmaker Andrew Goldberg explores its infectious behavior in Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations.
The Westport Library and Andrew Wilk are very pleased to make available a screening of Viral on Wednesday, March 10th and Thursday, March 11th. On Thursday the 11th at 7:00 pm, Goldberg and Alisyn Camerota, journalist, author and anchor of CNN’s morning show, New Day, will discuss the film and take questions from the virtual audience. To register go to https://westportlibrary.org/event/andrew-wilk-presents-andrew-goldberg/
With opening narration by Julianna Margulies, Viral examines the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA. In Hungary, the country's prime minister runs a massive campaign against Jewish Holocaust survivor and billionaire George Soros that is very reminiscent of Nazi propaganda. In England, the traditionally anti-racist Labour party conflates Israel and Jews, causing tremendous harm to the Jewish community. And in France, we observe the seemingly endless wave of violence against Jews by Islamists and radicals. Goldberg travels through these four countries to speak firsthand with victims and witnesses and interviews political and media personalities including Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Fareed Zakaria, George Will, and others.
“The library has long been a stronghold for democracy, protecting intellectual freedom and open access to information,” commented Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “Libraries are trusted ‘informal education centers,’ that during the current climate are more valuable than ever.”
“Westport Library patrons who have attended one or more of my series have experienced a diverse group of filmmakers, explorers, and newsmakers,” said Andrew Wilk. “Andrew Goldberg has been a longtime colleague and collaborator since I was at Live From Lincoln Center. Andrew is simply one of the most talented journalists and filmmakers I have ever known. I am delighted that he and his family have recently chosen to live in Westport!”
Andrew Goldberg’s work includes public affairs, history, and current events, with projects focusing on topics such as the Armenian Genocide and contemporary anti-Semitism.
A Yiddish World Remembered focuses on the story of Jewish life in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust, as told by some of the remaining eyewitnesses. The film won a New York Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical/Cultural Programming in 2003.
In 2004, Walter Cronkite hosted Goldberg's film Proud to Serve, which explores the life and culture of the US Army through personal stories of veterans. Goldberg's 2006 film, The Armenian Genocide examines the Armenian Genocide during World War I.
Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence aired on PBS in January 2007. Goldberg's 2009 film, Jerusalem: Center of the World, aired nationally on PBS in 2009.
His 2012 film, The Iranian Americans, chronicles the journey of Iranians who moved to the United States shortly after Ayatollah Khomeini's rise to power in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution.
Goldberg has also written and produced television commercials and has also worked extensively in live television and on weekly series. He and his family recently moved to Westport.
Alisyn Camerota is a journalist, author, and anchor of CNN’s morning show New Day. In her three decades in journalism, Camerota has covered stories nationally and internationally, earning an Emmy Award for her breaking news coverage of the arrest of Roger Stone and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for her breaking news coverage of Hurricane Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico.
Camerota has also anchored a number of primetime specials, including Tipping Point: Sexual Harassment in America and The Hunting Ground: Sexual Assault on Campus.
Alisyn’s debut novel, Amanda Wakes Up, was selected as one of the best books of the year, and by Oprah Magazine as “a must read.”
Alisyn and her family live in Westport.
Andrew Wilk is a five-time Emmy Award winning television, film, music, and media producer. As the former Executive Producer of Live From Lincoln Center, Wilk created programs that featured performances by the New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and many other world-class visiting artists.
Prior to this role, Wilk served as the Chief Creative Officer at Sony BMG Music Entertainment where he was in charge of visual content for all 22 Sony BMG label groups: Columbia, Epic, RCA, Legacy, and others.
Wilk spent over a decade at the National Geographic Channel where he was responsible for programming and production that earned him numerous Emmy’s.
Andrew and his family have called Westport home for 15 years.
Local Love on Main Street: Le Rouge Artisan Chocolates by Aarti
Aarti Khosla from behind the counter at Le Rouge Chocolates, 190 Main Street. Customers wait their turn to enter Le Rouge Chocolates on Valentine's Day. While orchestrating the shop’s holiday orders and taking stock of what was left, Aarti Khosla took a pause when asked how business was this year. “I’m just so humbled” she said softly as her eyes watched the customers waiting for their turn at purchasing her chocolates.
Aarti Khosla owns and operates Le Rouge Artisan Chocolates, a local shoppe located on the garden level of 190 Main Street, next to Joe’s Pizza. Khosla describes her sweet story as starting traditionally in the private business sector, and due to her mother’s good cooking and her own “foodie Genes” - she left the corporate world and jumped into her new role as gourmet chocolatier, opening Le Rouge in Westport in 2014.
Valentine’s Day is particularly special in the chocolate world, with a line outside her cozy storefront even on the afternoon the day-of the holiday. Customers at Le Rouge humbled Aarti this year as social distancing forced them to wait outside while waiting to purchase their loved-one’s treats; not one person complained about the delay. Aarti said that business was busier on Saturday than on Sunday, theorizing it could have been due to a forecast of bad weather and families leaving for vacation on Sunday.
Some of the few handmade chocolates left on Valentine’s Day. Regardless, the community turned-out to support this local business - one that supports the community just as much.
Through a program named “Give a Little Love”, Aarti hand-makes $8 chocolate hearts that customers are encouraged to give to neighbors, friends, family, and other community members as an act of kindness - with 10% of the sales going towards a charity. In 2020, Le Rouge was able to donate $4,800 to various local non-profits.
During the pandemic, Aarti wanted to continue to give back to her community by putting a smile on others’ faces. She successfully made and donated 2,625 chocolate hearts to every single senior graduating from Bridgeport’s 5 high schools, and to hundreds of frontline workers, in addition to nearly 600 other chocolate items donated to other local community members. The project was a labor of love that surely made the triumphs and little victories a little sweeter.
According to her website, Aarti was born in India and has lived around the world - gaining an appreciation for flavours and people she was able to meet throughout her travels. With her chocolates and her dedication to helping others - the Westport community is lucky to have had her land right here on Main Street.
Le Rouge Artisan Chocolates can be purchased online or from the Main Street storefront.
Wrong Way on Main Street
A Sunday driver failed to see the DO NOT ENTER signs posted on the one-way section of Main Street, entering the section of street to find themselves stuck by oncoming traffic, and needing to turn around.