The Westport Library has always been a place where it's OK to occasionally get loud, hosting an array of concerts and music events for patrons of all interests and ages.
On Saturday, April 5, at 10 am, the Library is taking things to the next level — the next decibel level, that is — inviting visionary artist 5iveFingaz to host a 90-minute celebration that will include a rotating cast of DJs, live art, and the Library version of a primal scream in an attempt to set the record for the loudest library ever.
VersoFest 2025 Kickoff Celebration: The Loudest Library in History! is free and open to the public. It will feature an electrifying fusion of music, art, and community as we transform the Library into the epicenter of creativity and sound. There will also be doughnuts and other snacks and beverages on hand for the attendees. (Register here.)
“Our goal is to make this a true celebration and a community experience, showcasing the transformative power of community and creativity,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “We want everyone to feel welcome, from our youngest patrons to our longtime music supporters. The emphasis here is on fun and setting the right tone to what promises to be an incredible weekend of events at VersoFest 2025.”
This kickoff celebration will coincide with 5iveFingaz's Interactive Community Participation Mural, which invites members of the community to help fill create a one-of-a-kind work of art from 10 am to 2 pm. And it will be followed by an all-star panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run at 1 pm and two Verso Visionary conversations — the first one at 4 pm between The Roots founder and lead emcee Black Thought and June Archer, followed by hardcore punk legend Henry Rollins in conversation with Nabil Ayers at 7 pm.
The festival closes on Sunday with a very special VersoFest live podcast discussion between longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer and SNL Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman.
Led by 5iveFingaz, the Norwalk-based artist whose installations are serving as the artistic complement to VersoFest, the kickoff celebration will feature a rotating cast of DJs, with four different DJs each delivering a 30-minute set that spans genres and ignites the dance floor, and live art performances with four talented artists who will be creating visual art in real time, projected live on the Trefz Forum’s 18-foot videowall, as they draw inspiration from the music.
It culminates with the grand finale: As the Trefz Forum reaches peak energy, all DJs and artists will unite on stage for a collaborative performance, leading to the Library’s attempt to set the new world record for loudest ever library.
Bill Shakos didn’t consider it an epiphany, necessarily, but he knew he needed to explore something new. Perhaps, he has said, it was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps turning 50. But he longed for a sense of purpose he wouldn’t find in a new car or a different job.
What Shakos wanted was to explore his community, and more than that, the people within his community — particularly those with different life experiences, struggles, and aspirations. He wanted to step into their world by volunteering, building relationships, and actively listening.
Born out of that desire is the new Verso Studios Community Partnerships podcast, What Do I Know?, which features Shakos interviewing people in and around Westport to get to the core of what makes us human.
“What Do I Know? is intended to inspire empathy, perspective, and inspiration within one's community by taking listeners outside their curated social circles,” Shakos said. “It is driven by my desire to want to connect with and learn from people. The genuine intent with Season 1 is an appeal to listeners for self-evaluation on their place and purpose in the community through the viewpoints of my guests. No epiphany required!”
The podcast debuts Monday, March 17, with three episodes, each about 20 minutes long, with an additional episode dropping every other week (Episode #4 will arrive March 31). The show will be available on the Verso Studios community partnership podcast page and through regular podcast distributors such as Spotify, Apple, and Amazon, and also on the What Do I Know? website..
In addition, What Do I Know? has dedicated channels on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as a YouTube channel featuring supplemental content. Signup for Shakos’ regular newsletter is available on the podcast website.
A self-described polymath, Shakos said his innate curiosity and natural empathy are the product of his own life and upbringing. He was born in Queens, New York, to Greek immigrants and lived in Greece from ages 1 to 4, when he returned to the United States and settled in Bronxville, New York. Shakos spent much of his childhood at his dad’s flower shop at the famed Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, and he spent summers in Greece working on the family farm.
After college, he and his wife, who was born and grew up in Chile, settled in London, where they lived for 10 years and raised their son, before settling in Connecticut.
“My father taught me the importance of making people feel valued and respecting their perspectives,” Shakos said. “And the diversity of my family and living abroad represents, for me, a need to explore the world and people in it.
“The theme of this podcast is self-exploration, and what I hope comes through in these 12 episodes is that I genuinely care about the person I’m talking to. Not their job, not what they have, but instead the experiences that brought them to this point in their life. I also enjoy a bit of levity in conversation. Laughing together is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Verso Studios is the media arm of The Westport Library. The Library created the Verso Studios Community Producer Partnership initiative in keeping with the studio’s mission to produce content with the community.
To learn more about Verso Studios’ mission and offerings, visit the Verso Studios page on the Library website.
Fans of thriller and historical fiction will be excited to learn that best-selling author David Baldacci will be coming to The Westport Library to launch and discuss his newest book, Strangers in Time, on its release date: Tuesday, April 15.
The event will take place at 7 pm in the Library’s Trefz Forum, with a keynote presentation by Baldacci followed by a book signing. Click here to register.
For this premier event, the Library will be including one copy of Strangers in Time with each ticket option. One seat with one copy of the book is priced at $40, and the option for two seats with one copy is priced at $50. Extra copies are also available on-site for $30 each.
Additionally, there will be a special opportunity to meet Baldacci one-on-one, with one copy of the book included, for $150 per ticket.
Strangers in Time tells the story of a bereaved bookshop owner and two teenagers scarred by the Second World War in 1944 London — and the healing and hope they find in one another.
Streetwise Blitz survivor Charlie Matters steals to get by, knowing any day could be his last. Uprooted by a large-scale evacuation, Molly Wakefield returns to a shattered London, only to discover her parents are gone. Their paths cross at The Book Keep, a literary sanctuary run by Ignatius Oliver, who, despite his own loss, offers them refuge. Together they form a kinship in each other, and as secrets surface and the perils of war rage on, they discover that their united trust in each other may be the only way for them to survive.
Early reviews for the book rave about Baldacci’s foray into historical fiction.
New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult called it “a meticulously precise account of what it was like to live through the Blitz in London — a visceral reminder that war not only levels social classes, but creates the most unlikely and indefatigable bonds between unlikely souls.”
And best-selling author Mitch Albom wrote: “A riveting story of secrets, betrayals, and unlikely friendships during World War II. An emotional web that keeps spinning — and keeps you guessing — right until the startling finish.”
For nearly 30 years, Baldacci’s novels have captivated readers with gripping narratives that blend political intrigue, espionage, and courtroom suspense. He has published more than 50 novels, all of which have been national and international best-sellers, and five of which have been adapted for film and television. His 1996 debut novel, Absolute Power, was an instant best-seller, adapted as a 1997 feature film starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. Other novels made into films include Wish You Well (2013) and The Christmas Train (2017).
Baldacci’s vast collection of published legal dramas can be attributed to his years practicing law in Washington, D.C. Published in more than 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide, Baldacci’s works span numerous best-selling series, including the legal-driven John Puller and Amos Decker thrillers, the action-packed Will Robie and Atlee Pine series, and the beloved King & Maxwell books. In addition to his adult thrillers, Baldacci has also expanded his reach across generations of readers with seven middle-grade novels, denoted by his entry into the fantasy genre with the Vega Jane series.
A lifelong writer, Baldacci credits his mother’s gift of a lined notebook as the spark for his literary ventures in childhood, later igniting his writing career — even if she later reported that her purpose was to keep him occupied, “because every mom needs a break now and then.”
With such an extensive anthology of works traversing many diverse genres, Baldacci doesn’t have to go out of his way to look for new story ideas — inspiration finds him in his everyday life.
“As a writer, you can never ‘turn off’ your passion for the written word and love of a great story,” Baldacci said. “So I watch life, listen intently, and basically drive everyone around me a bit crazy as I absorb my environment. When you’re naturally curious, you uncover storylines everywhere.”
The 2024-25 Library board of trustees at the Library, Summer 2024
The Westport Library Board and Westport’s Representative Town Meeting are seeking candidates to fill vacancies on the Library Board of Trustees.
The trustee position presents an opportunity for civic-minded individuals to make a significant impact and contribute to the continued success of The Westport Library. Trustees are instrumental in guiding the Library's mission and ensuring that the Library remains a vital resource for the community.
Click here to see the candidate posting on the Library website.
Trustee responsibilities include:
To apply to be a Library trustee, candidates must be residents of the Town of Westport as of June 30, 2024.
Additional qualifications are a track record in fundraising and connections within the community, knowledge of public funding, and service on other boards. Skills in management, planning, marketing, finance, and law are valued.
Trustee appointments typically span four years, commencing on July 1, 2025. Interested candidates should email a resume and letter of interest to Sally Presutto at [email protected] no later than March 28, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to review the Library’s strategic vision and visit the Library’s website for more information about the role of the Board of Trustees.
Following the submission of materials, qualified candidates will be contacted with further information on the interview process.
The Westport Library was the site of a wonderful convergence of politics, rock and roll, and community service, with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont honoring legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards as the inaugural recipient of the Governor’s Award of Excellence.
Richards, a longtime Connecticut resident, was recognized for his contributions in enriching Connecticut’s cultural and civic life.
The award, presented to Richards on stage by Connecticut First Lady Ann Lamont, consisted of a custom-designed medallion — crafted by State Trooper Danny Carvalho and manufactured by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) — along with a ribbon designed and sewn by Enfield-based fashion designer Justin Haynes.
“I’d like to say thank you to you all, and thank you to the state of Connecticut,” Richards said in accepting the award. “You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. I’ve been here for 40 years, and it’s been a great place for me. I brought the kids up here. When the kids were young, I said, I have to get the kids out of New York City before they don’t get any fresh air at all. So, we moved up here, and ever since, we’ve had a great life. … I’m incredibly happy about everything, especially things like this, because you don’t get them every day.”
The Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence is a new honor celebrating residents who epitomize the state’s core values: creativity, resourcefulness, passion, dynamism, and generosity. Additionally, Richards received a governor’s proclamation offering the “Key to the State.”
Richards, a Connecticut resident since 1985, was honored for his deep commitment to supporting the local community. Through his generosity and dedication to organizations like SPHERE, which enhances the lives of adults with disabilities, and The Prospector Theater, which provides meaningful employment through the magic of film, Richards has used his influence to uplift and empower others.
Richards has also been an advocate for arts, education, and accessibility initiatives throughout the state, further exemplifying his dedication to making a lasting impact.
“I’ve been inspired by the Rolling Stones for more than 50 years, I hope you have as well,” Governor Lamont said during his address to the assembled crowd. “Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community. We’re so proud that he’s here and I’m so proud to have the opportunity to give him this award of excellence.”
Said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer: “As we celebrate Keith today, we are reminded that libraries are not just places to borrow books; they are agencies for equality, opportunity, creativity, and empowerment. At The Westport Library, we are proud to be an institution that provides free access to knowledge, culture, and creativity for all, just as Keith described. His recognition today is a celebration not only of his music but of the values we hold dear: creativity, authenticity, and the belief that art and culture have the power to change lives.”
Approximately 200 invited guests were in attendance, including Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, Cramps drummer and Norton Records founder Miriam Linna, SNL Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman, renowned saxophonist Crispin Cioe (Rolling Stones, James Brown), and Paul Butterfield Blues Band keyboardist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mark Naftalin. Other notable names for the afternoon were Today show host Craig Melvin, award-winning sports journalist and podcaster Lindsay Czarniak, renowned music producer and audio engineer Rob Fraboni, and acclaimed TV journalist and rock memoirist Alisyn Camerota.
Richards is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of music. His career with the Rolling Stones dates back over seven decades, to the early 1960s, and his songwriting partnership with Stones frontman Mick Jagger is heralded as one of the most successful and prolific in rock history. Among his signature songs are “Jumpin' Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Start Me Up,” “Happy,” “Miss You,” “Brown Sugar,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Wild Horses,” “It's Only Rock n' Roll (But I Like it),” and “As Tears Go By,” to name a few.
Richards has also scored great success as a solo artist, with albums including Talk Is Cheap, Live at the Hollywood Palladium, Main Offender, and Crosseyed Heart, and hits such as “Take It So Hard,” “You Don't Move Me,” “Wicked as It Seems,” and “Eileen.”
Onscreen, Richards played a solider in the 1969 film Man on Horseback, himself on The Simpsons in 2002, and appeared in two Pirates of the Caribbean films as Captain Teague, the father of main character Jack Sparrow, who, notably, was loosely based off Richards. In 2015, he released his Netflix documentary, Keith Richards: Under The Influence, which was partially filmed in Connecticut.
Richards has also penned two books. He released his memoir Life to critical acclaim in 2010 and later released a children’s book, Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar, in 2014. He closed his speech with a thank you to The Westport Library and an ode to libraries everywhere.
“This is a great building, a wonderful library, which even I didn’t know the full extent of,” said Richards. “As Bill was saying earlier, without our books, without knowing things, without knowing their special meaning — this isn’t movies, this is not someone drawing you images. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. It’s very important that we keep our books unburnt.”
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Photo credits: Dave Dellinger/Westport Library
The Westport Library, the Westport Center for Senior Activities, and Meryl Moss Media Group are honored to announce the inaugural Jackie Robinson Essay Contest, open to area residents age 60 and over.
The essay contest, organized by the Library’s Common Ground Initiative, asks its submitters to answer the following question in 800 words or less: “Jackie Robinson stands as an icon of equality and civil rights. What does that say about the power of his legacy, of the place of sports in our culture, and about our modern-day society?”
Essays can be submitted to our online portal — click here to submit — with a deadline of Monday, March 24. A panel will review the essays and announce the winners on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.
In addition, the submitted essays will be collected into a book — and an accompanying ebook — distributed by Meryl Moss Media. The winners will also receive Jackie Robinson memorabilia, a chance to be featured by the Jackie Robinson Museum, and tickets to a New York Mets home game in late April/early May — the Mets’ stadium, Citi Field, is home to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda — to further celebrate Robinson’s legacy and their contributions.
“Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer, a groundbreaker, and an icon both for Major League Baseball and the civil rights movement,” said Bill Harmer, Westport Library executive director. “All of which makes him the ideal focus for this new essay contest, to engage our community in a way that is meaningful, and as a library that prizes reading, writing, community, and the exploration of ideas, most fitting. We are grateful to all our wonderful partners for helping make this contest a reality, and we can’t wait to read the incoming submissions.”
“We are thrilled to work with The Westport Library on this important new program to showcase essays from talented new voices,” said Meryl Moss, CEO, Meryl Moss Media Group.
Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947, becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. He went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career that included more than 1,500 hits, 137 home runs, and 197 stolen bases.
Robinson later became the first African American to hold an officer-level position at a major corporation, served as an advisor to top politicians, actively promoted economic empowerment by co-founding a bank and a housing development company, and was a key figure in advancing equal justice and first-class citizenship from the 1950s until his death in 1972. (Information courtesy the Jackie Robinson Museum.)
Contest participants are encouraged to explore how Robinson’s baseball career fits into his lifelong commitment to advancing equality at the Jackie Robinson Museum, which is located in lower Manhattan and provides resources online at jackierobinsonmuseum.org.
Now in its fourth year, VersoFest is rising in the ranks as one of Connecticut’s premier music festivals, delivering on its mission to provide a forum to share knowledge, discover inspiration, and celebrate media in all forms. From April 3 to April 6, The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival promises all of this and more — with four days of insight from industry legends, show-stopping performances, artistic expression, and engaging opportunities for community collaboration.
Commencing this year’s lineup is a Verso Visionary conversation between legendary singer/songwriter Patti Smith and award-winning journalist and rock memoirist Alisyn Camerota on Thursday, April 3. Hit band The Wallflowers follows up with Friday night’s concert on April 4, and the weekend welcomes another Visionary conversation between hardcore punk legend Henry Rollins and Nabil Ayers, president of the record label Beggars Group, on Saturday, April 5.
Prior to Rollins and Ayers taking the stage, Saturday at VersoFest 2025 will be a celebration of boundary-defying artistic expression. Between interactive art exhibits and a graffiti workshop led by visionary artist 5iveFingaz, a weekend family kickoff celebration, and a panel discussion focused on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, featuring an all-star cast of Springsteen collaborators and experts, the Saturday morning and afternoon run of events will be free to attend and open to all.
Saturday starts off with a bang — the VersoFest 2025 Weekend Kickoff Celebration will be a raucous curtain raiser to set the stage for a full weekend of VersoFest events. From 10 am to 12 pm, come celebrate music, media, and creativity in style, with DJs and other fun fare for the whole family.
Taking the stage in the Trefz Forum from 1 to 2:30 pm, Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run at 50 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s breakthrough 1975 album — a seminal work that is widely considered to be one of the greatest rock albums of the 20th century. This event is free to attend. Click here to register.
An all-star panel will lead the procession, including Mike Appel, Springsteen’s first manager and the co-producer of Born to Run. Described as a “managerial genius” by Springsteen himself, Appel had a pivotal role in the launch of Springsteen’s career. His mark on the production of Springsteen’s first three albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.; The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle; and Born to Run can be heard decades later in the albums’ musical risk-taking and lyrical romanticism.
“Mike was my musical brother in arms,” Springsteen said in his autobiography Born to Run. “He knew everything about the great groups, the fabulous hit records, every important nuance of the great singers' voices, the greatest riffs, the heart and soul that were in our favorite music.”
Joining Appel is former Columbia Records promotions director Michael Pillot, who spearheaded the album promotion for Born to Run and solidified Springsteen’s quintessential image. From 1974 through 1978, Pillot was directly involved in the promotion of Springsteen’s first four albums on Columbia Records.
Music historians Robert Santelli and Kenneth Womack will also offer insight into Born to Run's legacy. As the current executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, as well as the founding executive director of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Santelli is a Grammy-winning authority in music preservation. Likewise, Womack’s work spans numerous volumes of literary and cultural criticism and poignant commentary for BBC, NPR, ABC’S 20/20, NBC’s Access Hollywood, and more; he also co-wrote the 2024 book, Bruce Songs.
The panel will be hosted by author and pop culture historian Arlen Schumer. In 1978, Schumer was the art director of Thunder Road, the first magazine devoted to Springsteen’s life and music. That same year, he created collateral artwork for two Springsteen concerts, one of which was Springsteen’s legendary Capitol Theater radio broadcast show.
Former music industry executive and Verso Studios advisory board member Dick Wingate will host alongside Schumer. While at Columbia Records, Wingate worked closely with Pillot, managing the marketing of Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town, as well as many other influential rock albums.
Launching in tandem with VersoFest 2025, globally renowned artist 5iveFingaz is bringing his bold signature style to The Westport Library in a series of art exhibits that will provide a vibrant and immersive backdrop to the festival. From March 29 to June 1, his work will span the Library’s Sheffer, South, and Jesup Galleries.
On Saturday, April 5, from 10 am to 2 pm, the South Gallery will feature an Interactive Community Participation Mural designed by 5ive, which will invite members of the community to help fill in and create their own masterpiece during VersoFest. By allowing the viewer to participate in the creation of the artwork, creative immersion and community contribution will be as much a part of the piece as the art itself.
5ive’s immersive exhibit Visual Verses will be displayed in the Sheffer Gallery, transforming the space as it merges the expressive power of visual art with the profound impact of language. Each painting in this collection transcends traditional boundaries by weaving together vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and original phrases crafted to evoke thought, emotion, and reflection. This fusion of imagery and language urges viewers to engage not only with the aesthetics, but also with 5ive’s deeper narratives and intentions behind each piece. More information on 5ive’s Jesup Gallery exhibit is forthcoming.
In addition to his art exhibits, 5ive will also lead two consecutive graffiti workshops, both of which will take place concurrently with the interactive mural. Presented by Verso University, Graffiti 101: Finding Your Voice as a Graffiti Artist will provide a space for participants to tap into their artistic expression and create their own unique pieces using spray paint and markers. This workshop contains two sessions: the first running 12 to 12:45 pm, and the second running 1 to 1:45 pm. Both sessions will cover the same content and are free to attend. Click here to register.
Sunday, April 6, will cap off the weekend with a VersoFest Oral History Podcast live recording with David Letterman Musical Director Paul Shaffer and SNL Tour De Force Christine Ohlman, followed by an afternoon event to close the festival. More details coming soon.
Since 2022, VersoFest has welcomed a number of celebrated global sensations including hip hop legend Chuck D, famed producers Steve Lillywhite and Tony Visconti, Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, established hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, up-and-coming bands Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, hip hop originators Tony Crush and DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.
All VersoFest performances, panels, and workshops are free or at market rates thanks to the generous support of donors, community partners, and Library programming funds. A selection of events will be recorded by Verso Studios Crew Call and available on-demand at a later date.
The complete VersoFest 2025 schedule, plus tickets and additional information, can be found here.
Since 2002, thanks to the generosity of Westport artist Susan Malloy, the Malloy Lecture in the Arts has brought some of the world’s most extraordinary creative voices to Westport — including Clive Davis, Arthur Miller, Joyce Carol Oates, Christopher Plummer, and Salman Rushdie — sparking thought-provoking, engaging conversations that captivate audiences of all ages.
Now, through the Malloy Fund for the Arts, The Westport Library is proud to relaunch and reimagine this landmark series with an exciting new event that celebrates Westport’s artistic legacy, while also looking toward its future.
On Thursday, March 6, at 7 pm, the Library will host a remarkable evening of conversation and storytelling featuring some of Westport’s most beloved and influential artists as they reflect on how this town has shaped generations of creatives. Click here to register.
“Westport has such a long and proud history as an arts incubator and a bastion of artistic expression,” said Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library. “We’re proud to carry that tradition through the Library’s collections, exhibits, and programs, and we’re exceptionally grateful to the Malloy family for their dedication to the arts — at the Library and throughout the greater Westport community.”
Acclaimed actor and director Jim Naughton will moderate a dynamic panel discussion with renowned graphic artist and lifelong Westport resident Miggs Burroughs, whose work has defined the town’s artistic identity; Melody James, a celebrated leader in the arts known for her commitment to fostering creative expression; local vocalist, artist, writer, and teacher Melissa Newman, who launched her book, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, Head Over Heels, a Love Affair in Words and Pictures, at the Library in 2023; and Gina Rattan, the director and performance coach whose work includes the Tony Award-winning Company, Angels in America, Matilda, Billy Elliot, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and the NBC live musicals Peter Pan Live! and The Sound of Music Live!
In addition, Ann Sheffer, a passionate arts advocate and philanthropist whose family’s contributions have helped shape the cultural fabric of Westport, will speak throughout the evening. Additional special guests will be added closer to the event.
Together, their conversation will explore what has made Westport such a magnet for artists, performers, and creatives for decades; how the town’s artistic spirit has evolved and continues to thrive in new and exciting ways; and the role of the next generation in carrying forward and reinterpreting Westport’s rich cultural heritage.
The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan
The kickoff events for VersoFest 2025 are officially set, with the hit band the Wallflowers as the headlining act for the Friday night concert on April 4. Doors open at 6 pm, with the Wallflowers taking the stage at 8:30 pm following an opening act's set at 6:30 pm.
Tickets for the Wallflowers and the Thursday night Verso Visionary conversation with iconic rocker and National Book Award winner Patti Smith are now on sale.
VersoFest is The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. This year’s festival runs April 3 to April 6.
In addition to the Wallflowers and Smith, featured guests for this year’s festival include hardcore punk pioneer Henry Rollins and longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer. There will also be a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, special exhibits by local graffiti artist 5ive Fingaz, a weekend kickoff celebration, and a gospel revival, plus workshops and more.
Previous bands to play at VersoFest include established acts the Smithereens and Spin Doctors, rising artists Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, and local stars Lez Zeppelin.
For the past 30 years, the Wallflowers have stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse — which featured hits like “One Headlight,” “Three Marlenas,” and “6th Avenue Heartache” — as well as Breach (2000), Rebel, Sweetheart (2005), and Glad All Over (2012).
In recent years, Jakob Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter, and guitarist — has stepped outside the band, first with a pair of acoustic, rootsy records, 2008’s Seeing Things and 2010’s Women + Country, and then with the 2018 film Echo in the Canyon and the accompanying soundtrack, which saw Dylan collaborate with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Eric Clapton to Beck and Fiona Apple.
Dylan returned to the Wallflowers in 2021 with the release of Exit Wounds, the first collection of new Wallflowers material since Glad All Over. “The Wallflowers is much of my life’s work,” Dylan said, adding, “It’s pretty hard to get a good band name, so if you have one, keep it.”
Despite the hiatus, Exit Wounds was a return to the band’s signature sound, even as Dylan surrounded himself with a fresh cast of musicians.
“The Wallflowers has always been a vehicle for me to make great rock ‘n’ roll records,” he said. “And sometimes the lineup that makes the record transfers over into touring, and sometimes it doesn’t. But my intention is always to make the Wallflowers record I want to make, using the musicians I have beside me.”
He added: “I've always been a believer in collaboration, and no matter who I'm playing with I've always tried to include them very heavily. Otherwise, why would they be around? Because I do think bands, whether it’s a long-standing group or just five people who are working together for that one stretch of time, make better rock ‘n’ roll records than solo artists. I mean, it's not 100 percent true, but it's usually true.”
For Dylan, the continued success of the Wallflowers is all about chasing — and capturing — that magic.
“I came up in an era of great rock ‘n’ roll bands making great music, and it’s the way I always imagined I would do it one day,” he said. “So, that’s always been my vision with the Wallflowers: to be a great rock ‘n’ roll band. And I've worked on it for 30 years now and I still have a lot to say. It’s something I started a long time ago, and it’s far from finished.”
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Event Information
VersoFest 2025 Concert Event: The Wallflowers, LIVE at The Westport Library
Friday, April 4, 6:30 pm
Trefz Forum, The Westport Library
Tickets
Three new art exhibits are currently on display at The Westport Library now through March 25: Good Bones: 60 Years of Multi-Dimensional Commentary by Nina Bentley in the Sheffer Gallery, City Sights by Susan Fehlinger in the South Gallery, and Art and Jazz by Jean Krasno in the Jesup Gallery.
A reception for the artists will take place on Wednesday, February 12, from 6 to 7 pm, followed by a conversation of artistic influences, inspiration, backgrounds, and creative processes between the three and Miggs Burroughs from 7 to 8 pm.
Bentley's work is often conceptual in nature, offering poignant commentary on a wide array of social issues. Good Bones: 60 Years of Multi-Dimensional Social Commentary is a retrospective of decades of her work, composed of sculpture, prints, pen and ink, and multimedia assemblages.
“I got more and more involved in found objects as time went on,” Bentley said. “I’m a big collector. Sometimes, I will get an idea and then I’ll find the materials to make that idea work visually. Other times I will bump into something, like a whole mass of cake choppers — I once got a carton of old knives — or multiples of an interesting material. That sometimes is what starts the project. ... Part of me is crazy wild, part of me is very controlled.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1939, and raised in Great Neck, New York, Bentley attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she studied fine art and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Over her 60 years as an artist, she has lived in Bologna, Frankfurt, London, Zurich, Santiago, and Caracas, and staged one-person shows in both Europe and the U.S. She has won a number of awards in regional juried shows and had her works featured in both galleries and private collections.
Bentley said she is moved by aesthetics and the complexities of the human condition, creating art that speaks to significant matters felt both personally as well as societally.
"I create art in order to gain some perspective on the world around me, while also trying to retain a sense of humor," said Bentley. "In short, my work can be seen as multi-dimensional social commentary."
Fehlinger worked for 35 years as a television producer in New York City. Yearning to paint, she left her job in 2003 and embarked on a career as an artist.
Represented by a number of galleries and solo shows, from Cape Cod to upstate New York, to Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, Fehlinger and her art have traversed many different landscapes. After relocating to Bridgeport in 2014, she found inspiration in the change of scenery, translating it into her art. She works in her studio at Metro Arts in Black Rock, where she paints or teaches on a daily basis.
Fehlinger’s painting style emphasizes an interest in texture, color, and light. Her tool of choice is a palette knife, which she uses to highlight structure, form, and shadow. Her compositions play with scale, placement, and negative and positive spaces, creating visual interest and an individual style.
“I discovered the palette knife … and found that I could apply paint on a canvas quickly, thickly, and spontaneously,” Fehlinger said. “I loved the textures I could produce with the knife, and I loved no brushes to wash. I am a self-taught artist. I wanted to create a strong sense of place — a familiar but somewhat abstracted place — and then capture it when the light is just right.”
As an artist, Krasno said she is deeply inspired by the magic of jazz music, conveyed through the rich voices, poetic lyrics, and rhythmic performances of artists like Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington.
Art and Jazz is a testament to that. The exhibit creates a sensory experience that combines her art with the music that sparked its creation, incorporating a listening component with accompanying QR codes that link to jazz songs and inviting the viewer to listen and take part in Krasno’s inspiration.
"I work to absorb this magic and tell these stories visually by combining torn paper with oil pastels, pencil, and ripped lithograph proofs from my own previous works," Krasno said. "I play with color, shapes, texture, tone, and storytelling to complement the sounds and lyrics of jazz greats in visual expression.”
Krasno’s paper collages been exhibited throughout the country and installed in many permanent collections. She also has published a number of books, including political texts such as The United Nations: Policy and Practice and Banning the Bomb: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; the recently published Secrets and the Disappeared: A Tale of Brazil; and the mystery novel The Train to Skeleton Coast: A Tale of Murder and the Struggle for Freedom, featuring her own artwork on the cover.
With a BFA from the University of Illinois, an MFA from Stanford University in Art with an emphasis on painting and printmaking, and a PhD in international politics from the City University of New York Graduate Center, Krasno uses her political insights to inform her creative perspectives. As a full-time, tenured lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the City College of New York, as well as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, Krasno’s separate avenues of work speak to the power of one’s perspective when translated through a lens of both analytic processes and creative pursuits.
L to R: First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker; TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey; 2024 essay contest winners Teya Ozgen, Sophia Lopez, and Olivia Morgeson; Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas; Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer
TEAM Westport, the Town of Westport’s diversity engagement committee, has announced that “Identity” will be the challenge topic for its 2025 Teen Diversity Essay Contest.
The contest is open to students attending both public and private high school (Grades 9-12) in Westport. Those who live in Westport and attend public or private high school elsewhere are also invited to participate.
This year’s essay prompt is as follows:
TEAM Westport is dedicated to addressing issues of bias and discrimination related to race, religion, ethnicity, and LGBTQIA+ identity that negatively impact our town’s goal of being a welcoming community for all who live and work here. The recent introduction of the Anti-Defamation League's "No Place for Hate" initiative in Westport's schools strives to create an environment where all students feel they belong and are free from bias, bullying, or hatred.
In our community, each person's unique identity — shaped by their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other aspects of who they are — contributes to the character of Westport. In 1,000 words or less, we invite you to reflect on how your own identity shapes your perspective and the experiences you have in Westport. Please address the following considerations in your response:
The entry deadline for the essay contest is 11:59 pm on Monday, March 10.
The Westport Library is co-sponsoring the event and will host the winners for a special ceremony to be held Monday, April 28, at the Library.
The prompt and contest entry rules are available online at teamwestport.org.
Subject to the volume and caliber of entries received, at the discretion of the judges, up to three cash prizes will be awarded. The first prize is $1,000, second prize is $750, and third prize is $500.
“Our community conversation to uncover ways to ensure that there is ‘No Place for Hate’ is ongoing,” said TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey Jr. “As such, as we begin the launch our 12th year of the Essay Contest, nothing could be more current than the issue of personal identity. Through this 2025 discussion, we invite our young people to share their experiences around identity to help shape a world in which everyone belongs with mutual respect.”
Said First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, “This community encourages constructive, respectful dialogue. As representatives of our talented and thoughtful population, the youth of Westport can be instrumental in sharing diverse ideas that ensure that everyone who lives, works, plays, and learns here feels welcomed and valued.”
The essay contest is now in its 12th year. Prior challenges have tackled topics from white privilege and Black Lives Matter to micro-aggressions and dialogue and have drawn widespread attention and engagement in Westport and beyond.
“We’re honored to co-sponsor and host the 2025 TEAM Westport Diversity Essay Contest,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “One of our goals as a Library is to foster inclusivity, understanding, and belonging, and to provide the tools for students learn and thrive. Personal identity is achieved through exploration and conversation, a product of introspection and community engagement — all core to the mission of the Library and representative of the remarkable students Westport engages. We can’t wait to read their essays and to host the finalists, their families, friends, and the Westport community here on April 28.”
The Westport Library is moving its ebook and audiobook services to Libby, providing patrons with more access to more digital titles than ever before.
The transition to Libby, from CloudLibrary, will take place on Tuesday, March 18. CloudLibrary, the Library’s current digital vendor, will no longer be available as of Monday, March 17, meaning that any titles reserved on CloudLibrary will expire at that time. The last date that holds can be placed through CloudLibrary is Saturday, February 15. (See below for important dates and FAQs.)
The Library will offer both online and in-person tutorials from March 18 to March 21, 3-4 pm, to help patrons with the transition. There will also be an Anyone Can Use class focused on the Libby app, held at the Library on Wednesday, March 19, 11 am to 12 pm.
“We are really excited for this change,” said Westport Library Chief of Staff Melanie Myers. “CloudLibrary has been a great partner for many years, but the more we discussed a possible change with staff and patrons, it became clear that Libby was the right choice to provide the best digital reading experience for our readers moving forward — both now and in the years to come.”
Libby is recognized as the leader in the digital space among libraries throughout the country, and more devices are supported by Libby than any other.
During the transition, patrons will continue to have access to all Westport Library digital services. That includes Hoopla, the Library’s other digital service for e-books, audiobooks, and more, which will not be impacted by the transition to Libby.
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Transition to Libby: Important Dates
Monday, February 3: You can no longer make Suggestions for Purchase in CloudLibrary. You can now only place 5 items on hold per cardholder.
Saturday, February 15: You can no longer place holds on items in CloudLibrary.
Week of March 10: Make a copy of your Reading History and your Holds List (reading history and holds lists will not transfer to Libby App).
Monday, March 17: Due date for all items checked out of CloudLibrary.
Tuesday, March18: The Libby App goes live.
Tuesday. March 18 – Friday, March 21: Drop-in Libby app tech help held in the Library, 3 to 4 pm.
Wednesday, March 19: Anyone Can Use: the Libby App session.
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Digital Library Transition FAQs
What is Libby?
Libby is a free app (that will replace CloudLibrary) for eBooks and digital audiobooks. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data or download them for offline use.
Why is this change happening?
Libby is the leading digital book service for public libraries. It can be enjoyed on more devices, and it offers an improved user experience and additional functionality. It also provides access to publishers that are unavailable on other platforms.
What devices are compatible with Libby?
The Libby app is compatible with any device running iOS 10 or Android 7.1 or newer, Amazon Fire tablets from 2020 onwards, and Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks. The service can also be used to download books onto Kindle e-readers.
Will I have to create a new account for Libby?
Simply download the Libby app and follow the on-screen instructions. Just a Westport Library barcode is required. No PIN needed for Libby.
What if I need help using Libby?
Many different training options will be available for patrons, including support from staff and training videos.
What are the check-out periods and borrowing limits?
The check-out period and borrowing limits are the same as CloudLibrary (21 days and nine books at a time, respectively).
When will Libby be available to use?
Libby will be available on March 18!
When is the last day I can use CloudLibrary?
CloudLibrary will no longer be functional after March 17.
If I have downloaded a book onto my device, will it be available after March 17?
If the book was able to be transferred to Libby, you will have to re-check out the book on the new app after March 18.
When is the last day I can place holds on CloudLibrary?
Holds will no longer be placeable after February 15.
When is the last day I can Suggest a new book in CloudLibrary?
We stopped taking ebook suggestions on January 13 in order to give us sufficient time to move titles over to the new platform. We will be purchasing ebooks minimally until February 5. Meanwhile, patrons are welcome to keep checking out ebooks we already own up until the end. We will also continue purchasing physical books and audiobooks at our usual rate to ensure people can keep reading!
Will holds placed on CloudLibrary titles carry over to Libby?
Holds will not carry over. Patrons must place new holds once Libby is available. (Privacy restrictions prevent us from seeing patron holds in CloudLibrary and therefore we can’t transfer them to Libby.)
Will all CloudLibrary titles be available on Libby?
Most CloudLibrary titles will be available on Libby, pending any publisher limitations.
Will materials borrowed through CloudLibrary automatically be returned?
All materials borrowed through cloud library will be automatically returned on March 17 (exact time unknown), regardless of when it was checked out.
Will CloudLibrary reading history and saved lists transfer?
Reading history and saved lists will not transfer.
