Westport Historic District Releases Survey about Local History and Culture

The Historic District Commission is inviting residents to participate in a survey that will help guide and inform the adoption of the Town’s  Historic Preservation Plan.

Certified Local Government Coordinator Donna Douglass noted, “In 2022, the Town of Westport was granted a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant to hire a consultant, PaleoWest, to create a town wide Historic Preservation Plan. The purpose of the plan is to establish a long-term vision for historic preservation in the community, and to create a set of achievable goals and strategies for strengthening the Town's historic preservation program.” 

She continued, “Westport residents are encouraged to participate in the following survey that will help identify what is important to them in regard to local history, culture, and the built environment. For the purposes of this survey “historic preservation” refers to the practice of maintaining and preserving significant sites, buildings, landscapes, local history, and culture.” 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F9YFSD7

The Westport Historic District Commission (HDC) is the primary body responsible for administering the Town's historic preservation program and to reach its preservation goals. For more information about historic preservation and the HDC, visit the HDC webpage.

Westport Country Playhouse Seeks Volunteer Ushers for 2023 Season

Press Release

As Westport Country Playhouse prepares to launch its 2023 Season on April 11, the historic theater is seeking volunteer ushers to greet patrons, scan tickets, distribute programs, answer audience questions, and direct patrons to their seats. In exchange, ushers are invited to view free-of-charge the performance at which they serve. To become familiar with the theater and tasks, ushers will receive an orientation prior to their first shift. 

“Westport Country Playhouse is a community hub for theater, art, ideas, and fellowship,” said Kelly Richards Mikolasy, Playhouse house manager, who is in charge of the usher team. “We encourage anyone interested in volunteering as an usher to become an ambassador for our theater. We rely on the support of our community volunteers and are excited to welcome them to the Playhouse family!”

Volunteer ushers must be over the age of 18, unless accompanied by a guardian who will usher alongside the minor. Ushers will be paired to work together as a team. As an ambassador to the Playhouse, ushers must be patient, courteous, friendly, and helpful to patrons under all circumstances and speak honestly and positively about shows, events, facility, and policies. Dress code is white shirts and black skirts/pants. Ushers must be able to read small print in low light. 

Ushers are allowed to sit for the performance in the back of the theater if seats are available and must be willing to relinquish their seat should the house manager ask. Ushers must be able to stand for the length of the performance in case no seats are available. They must stay for the entirety of the performance as there are required duties throughout and at the end of the performance. 

With Playhouse capacity over 500 seats, ushers must be capable of handling large crowds in normal and emergency situations. Ushers take direction from the house manager and must be able to listen and respond to the house manager’s reasonable requests.

Ushers sign up for a performance date and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. They may be asked for a back-up date if slots have filled for the date requested. If an usher needs to cancel their scheduled shift, the house manager needs 24 hours’ notice in order to fill that slot. Rescheduling for that production is not guaranteed. 

The Playhouse’s 2023 season includes the Tony Award®-winning musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” celebrating in sassy song and dance the legendary composer Fats Waller, playing April 11 through April 29; a reimagining of “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” the suspenseful thriller of blackmail and revenge, running from July 11 through July 29; and “School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play,” a buoyant and biting comedy exploring the universal similarities and glaring differences facing teenage girls across the globe, playing from October 24 through November 11. The complete schedule is available at westportplayhouse.org. 

All play titles, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.

For ticket information, visit www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/box-office/ or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

Morning Weather Report

Today

Sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Tomorrow

A 30 percent chance of rain after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 53. Light south wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning.

Tomorrow Night

Rain, mainly after 2am. Steady temperature around 49. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Staples Announces 21 Seniors to Graduate with High Honors

Front Row (L-R): Ryan Sidney Salik, Kyle Thomas Ambrose, Krishna Reddy, Matthew Lee Shackelford, Tom X Zhang, Jaden Emma Mello, Eva Strom Simonte, Quinn Julia Mulvey, Meredith Leigh Mulhern, Sharmila Abbie Green, Lucia Julianne Wang, Rebecca Hope Schussheim, Lilly Brooke Weisz
Back Row (L-R): Witt Moore Lindau, Colin Alexander Morgeson, Nikhil Kanthan, Ethan Jet Tober, Katherine Elizabeth Valante, Reilly Katherine McCaffrey, Julia Morgan Herlyn, Janna Harrison Moore. Contributed photo

Westport Public Schools

Twenty one exceptional students have been honored with the distinction of graduating with High Honors from the Staples High School Class of 2023. A student will be designated with "High Honors" if his/her academic grade point average falls in the top 4 percent of the graduating class.  

According to Principal Stafford W. Thomas, Jr. , “This class, is extremely talented and the most astonishing aspect of this accomplishment, is that these students were involved in a number of extracurricular activities and various aspects of school life which took a great deal of time, focus and concentration outside of the classroom as well.  We were lucky to have had them for four years and we will no doubt be hearing about their next great achievements in the years to come.  Congratulations Class of 2023 High Honors students!”

The following students are the class of 2023 High Honors honorees: Kyle Thomas Ambrose, Sharmila Abbie Green, Julia Morgan Herlyn, Nikhil Kanthan, Witt Moore Lindau, Reilly Katherine McCaffrey, Jaden Emma Mello, Janna Harrison Moore, Colin Alexander Morgeson, Meredith Leigh Mulhern, Quinn Julia Mulvey, Krishna Reddy, Ryan Sidney Salik, Rebecca Hope Schussheim, Matthew Lee Shackelford, Eva Strom Simonte, Ethan Jet Tober, Katherine Elizabeth Valante, Lucia Julianne Wang, Lilly Brooke Weisz, Tom X Zhang.