Back by popular request, this innovative course is taught by Dick Leonard. Dick’s compelling teaching style was well known to his many students at Staples High School, where he taught for over 35 years. A former Navy and TWA pilot, he received his law degree in 1982 and practiced part-time law.

January 10: Maureen Hamill and Friends
January 17: Three Chicks Who Sing
February 21: Leslie Orofino/Chris Coogan
March 14: Doc Wallace Trio
April 11: Jodi Keogan and Friends
April 25: Fairfield Counts Big Band Sound

Sponsored FREE
By the Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities
with a Grant from the Mimi and Mortimer Levitt Foundation

January 7: New Years resolution menu, tasty and healthy fare
February 11: A meal made with love
March 4: Traditional Irish food

$3.00 fee. Reservations required
Call 203-341-5099

Years in the Making: A journey into late-life creativity.

This award-winning documentary chronicles the working lives of Westport and Weston working artists, ages 70 to 95. The film delves into how creativity is nurtured, how talent is expressed, and how time has a way of tempering, but never eliminating the impulse to create. The challenges of aging are discussed, but the artists describe how they persevere with their creative processes by continuously tapping their love for art.

The film is offered free of charge,  but reservations must be made in advance. Phone: 203-341-5099.

March 5: Dan Woog
Long time Westport resident and writer Dan Woog will talk about his experiences as a writer.  He began writing for The Westport News in 1969, when he was in the 10th grade, covering Staples High School activities and sports.  For the past 23 years, his column, “Woog’s World,” has appeared every Friday in the News.  In addition, his articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
Woog is the author of 13 books, including Staples High School: 120 years of A+ Education, and two collections of his most popular newspaper columns.  This year, he began a blog – “06880” – whose tagline is: “Where Westport Meets the World.”

March 12: Gordon Joseloff
Known recently as Westport’s First Selectman, Joseloff began his professional life as an award-winning, international journalist.  After graduating from Syracuse University in 1967, Joseloff spent more than two decades with United Press International and CBS News in New York, London, Moscow and Tokyo covering many of the world’s major news events.  In 1984, he was awarded and Emmy for his coverage of the assassination of India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In 2003, Joseloff launched a local community news web site called WestportNow.com.  It has gained a wide following locally as well as national attention for its professionalism and innovative uses of citizens to report and photograph local events.

March 26: Steve Rexford
Steve Rexford, popular Journalism teacher at Staples High School, will discuss the important role of journalism instruction in the twenty-first century school.  He will talk about the importance of critical thought, technology, literacy and free expression in a democratic society.
Rexford has been advising high school newspapers for over thirteen years, currently at Staples and Inklings.  His staff’s papers have won numerous gold medals from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York and All American honors from the National Scholastic Press Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He is a founding member of the Connecticut Academic Press Association (CAPA) and a member of the Journalism Education Association (JEA).

Contributions provide:
innovative programming - special gifts - guest speakers - special events
Mail contributions in any amount to:
Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities
Westport Center for Senior Activities
21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880 Phone:203-341-5099.
Photo: Board of Directors

David Kennedy will speak about the history and current status of the Westport Country Playhouse.  Kennedy is currently the associate artistic director for the Playhouse.  A producer, director and educator, Kennedy most recently served as associate artistic director at Dallas Theater Center.  He is a founding artistic director of The Lunar Society in Toronto and Milkman Theatre Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He was also artistic director of The Summer Cabaret in New Haven.

David Kennedy’s impressive resume also includes serving as assistant director on the Tony-winning musical “Urinetown” for Dodger Theatricals/The Araca Group.  He is a former Phil Lillian Fellow at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a Drama League Directing Fellow and a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.

The talk is free of charge.

Back by popular demand, the Friends are pleased to present a continuation of the “Literature and Life” talks by Dr. Mark Schenker, Dean of Academic Affairs at Yale College.Mark Schenker.  These hour-long sessions will be held on four consecutive Friday afternoons at 2:30PM, beginning on April 23rd.

As with all Friends activites, the series is offered free of charge.  This presentation has been made possible by a grant from Beryl and Roger Leifer.

April 23. Homer, The Iliad
April 30. Shakespeare, Henry V
May 7. Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front
May 14. O’Brien, The Things They Carried

Mark J. Schenker has been at Yale College since 1990.  He is currently an associate dean of the College and dean of academic affairs.  He received his Ph.D from Columbia University in Victorian Literature.  He has lectured on literature and has led book discussion series in public libraries and other venues in Connecticut for over twenty years

Sunday June 13, 2:00 pm
Classical Music at Tea Time