Peggy Bud and Tamara Jacobson have more than 60 years of combined experience in education. They have served as educators, administrators, and consultants. Together they wrote the books, Navigating Special Education, The Power of Building Positive Parent Educator Partnerships and Conversations Lead to Consensus, with the goal of connecting parents and educators to create positive learning scenarios.
Now, the pair is teaming with Verso Studios at The Westport Library for a new community contributed podcast, Ask the Educators.
Ask the Educators debuts Wednesday, April 16, with three 15-minute episodes. New episodes will drop bi-weekly (episode #4 will arrive April 30).
The podcast will be available on the Verso Studios podcast page, through regular podcast distributors such as Apple and Spotify, and also through the Ask the Educators Substack and on the Navigating Special Education website.
“We are proud to announce the release of the Ask the Educators podcast, which supports our mission of empowering parents and educators to build lasting partnerships,” Bud and Jacobson said. “Through the collaboration with Verso Studios, Ask the Educators provides parents, teachers, and administrators with insights on placing the child at the center of the conversation.”
The purpose of the Ask the Educators podcast is to build a common language between parents and educators, with each episode taking a deep dive into relevant 21st century topics, including effective communication and the IEP, building partnerships, empathy and grief, and the 5-C Model of Communication.
Through animated conversations, Bud and Jacobson provide listeners with tools to foster conversations, collaboration, cooperation, and compromise as the path to consensus.
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 Westport Library website.
Green River, L to R: Tim Theobald, Harrison Balthaser, Rick Horvath, and Dave Figura
The Supper & Soul series, presented by The Westport Library and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, returns Saturday, May 3, with Green River, the #1 nationally touring Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty tribute show.
Dinner starts at 6 pm, with the concert kicking off at 8 pm. A single Supper & Soul $85 ticket buys you a three-course dinner at one of 11 downtown restaurants plus the concert. There are concert-only tickets available as well for $30. All tickets available here.
Participating restaurants are: Arezzo, Basso, Capuli, Casa Me, Don Memo, Emmy Squared, Il Pastaficio, Nomade, Spotted Horse, Gogi, and Walrus Alley.
Once you buy a dinner-and-concert ticket, you will be given a link to select your restaurant. Just fill in all the information and you and your friends will be set for the night. After the concert, show your ticket at any of the participating restaurants and receive special happy hour pricing on drinks.
The show is faithful to a live CCR performance. Listeners can expect a full 90-minute show of their favorite CCR classics ("Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary," and "Up Around the Bend," to name a few) and songs that CCR would turn into live jams such as "Born on the Bayou" and "Susie Q." Green River also mixes in John Fogerty classics, including "The Old Man Down the Road" and "Centerfield."
Green River is the brainchild of native New Yorker Rick Horvath, who started singing CCR songs in his very first band when he was 13 years old. In addition to singer/guitarist Horvath, the band features guitarist Tim Theobald, bassist Dave Figura, and drummer Harrison Balthaser.
In front of a Trefz Forum crowd packed wall to wall with more than 600 people, Patti Smith strode onto the stage, sat down, and graciously opened her talk with Alisyn Camerota by saying, “I’m a big, big fan of libraries, and I’m so happy to be here.”
For four remarkable days, Smith had good company, with approximately 3,500 people filling The Westport Library for our fourth annual VersoFest music and media festival, a celebration of music, media, art, creativity, and once again this year, community.
Smith’s Thursday evening conversation — which featured spoken-word poetry and an inspiring singalong of her hit single “Because the Night” with those assembled — was followed by a Friday night concert with Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers that drew more than 700 attendees, a full Saturday of programming that started with a weekend kickoff celebration hosted by visionary artist 5iveFingaz, an all-star panel discussion celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, and Verso Visionary conversations with Black Thought and Henry Rollins.
Each event attracted at least 200 people, with many surpassing 400, an eclectic mix celebrating music and creativity in all its forms — all in a most unique setting: a public library with the goal of redefining what a 21st century library can be.
“We have to support our libraries,” Smith said in her closing remarks. “Our libraries are the seat of truth.”
Dylan, now 30 years into his admired career, acknowledged the novelty by telling the assembled Friday night crowd: “I apologize, I’m a little nervous. This is my first [show in a] library.”
The festival wrapped up Sunday with a VersoFest live podcast featuring longtime David Letterman music director Paul Shaffer and SNL Beehive Queen Chirstine Ohlman that was a blend of conversation and song, all played to another packed house.
Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer summed up the excitement of the weekend during his introduction to the Springsteen panel.
“Let’s hear it for libraries that rock!” Harmer said. “We are building something truly unique here, and we’re just getting started.”
And in fact, VersoFest isn’t quite done yet. On Friday, April 18, the seminal post-punk band Gang of Four will be launching their farewell tour at the Library. The show starts at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm), preceded by a book talk between Gang of Four vocalist Jon King and Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz on King’s new book, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four, at 1 pm.
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Photos by KT Kaminski/Westport Library & Kerry Long/Kerry Long Photography
VersoFest annually delivers four days of music, media, and creativity, featuring a range of conversations, workshops, panel discussions, concerts, and a featured art exhibit.
This year, it will also offer an opportunity to bid on a range of items signed by legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who visited the Library on March 5 to receive the inaugural Governor’s Award of Excellence from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont.
Among the items up for auction are:
The items will be on display during VersoFest, hosted April 3-6, in the Hub on the Library’s main level. Proceeds will benefit the festival.
All items will be available viasilent auction on the BetterWorld platform. Bidding opens Thursday, April 3, and closes Sunday, April 6. View the full collection and place your bids here — or scan the QR code on-site during VersoFest!
More on the Michael Friedman print: The image was taken in 1969 at The Rolling Stones’ Madison Square Garden concert that was featured in the documentary Gimme Shelter. Friedman took Janis Joplin, who he was managing at the time, to the concert. Since they had all-access passes, Friedman was able to be right on stage when he took the photo. His photographic negatives from1969 were discovered almost 50 years later and are featured in the book EXPOSED: The Lost Negatives and Untold Stories of Michael Friedman, by Friedman and Donna Vita.
More on Life: The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life. Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stones’s first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in “Jumping Jack Flash” and “Honky Tonk omen.” His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever. With his trademark disarming honesty, Richards brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.
VersoFest 2025 weekend will be a vibrant roof-raiser, from a kickoff celebration hosted by renowned visual artist 5iveFingaz, to an illuminating evening with hardcore legend Henry Rollins and fellow musician Nabil Ayers — and now, The Westport Library is excited to welcome its newest Verso Visionary as part of this year’s annual music and media festival: three-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist and co-founder of The Roots, Black Thought.
The conversation between The Roots’ lead emcee and music industry executive, entrepreneur, and celebrated community leader June Archer will take place Saturday, April 5, 4-5:30 pm, in the Library’s Trefz Forum.
The event is free to attend. Click here to register. Copies of Black Thought’s 2023 memoir, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are, will be for sale, with the author signing copies after the talk.
Crowned by HYPEBEAST as “one of the best lyricists in hip-hop history,” critically acclaimed musician Tariq Trotter, popularly known as Black Thought, has led a diverse creative career not only as a musician, actor, writer, and producer — but also as one of the most prolific, innovative, and powerful voices in hip hop.
Black Thought founded The Roots in 1987 alongside fellow hip-hop legend Questlove. From humble beginnings performing on Philadelphia street corners, to more than two decades of commercial success before expanding their reach in 2009 as the house band for both Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and later The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Roots’ eclectic, jazz-infused sound has transcended genres, with Black Thought’s influence and musical mastery rendering the group a hip-hop cornerstone.
In all, The Roots have produced 11 studio albums, including their debut, Organix (1993); the breakthrough Things Fall Apart (1999); the hard-hitting Game Theory (2006); the optimistic How I Got Over (2010); and countless more that have earned critical acclaim.
Beyond collaborations with Eminem, John Legend, J Dilla, Big Pun, Linkin Park, Logic, and Fall Out Boy, Black Thought also co-produced the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton. He has also succeeded in in film and television, with work on projects such as HBO’s The Deuce and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Golden Globe-nominated Tick, Tick… Boom! — as well as live theater, in his roles as main composer and lyricist of the 2022 off-Broadway production Black No More, which he also starred in.
“I think a writer should always be aware of his or her surroundings,” Black Thought told The Paris Review. “The material is there. It’s already in the world. You have to be in tune with it to hear it and see it. The best essays, the best books, all wrote themselves. Same with paintings and dances — all of the best art ... comes from the universe. You have to master the art of being in tune enough when it’s time to create.”
Like Black Thought, Archer has led a diverse career, as an entrepreneur, music industry executive, motivational speaker, and educator. After getting his start in the music industry in 1995 as a member of the Elektra Records recording group Room Service, Archer transitioned into the business side of the industry. His accolades include gold and platinum plaques for his work on albums by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Mario, Omarion, Beyonce, and more. A two-time Grammy and Soul Train Award nominee, Archer also previously served eight years on the Grammy Committee.
In addition to his current role as CEO of The Eleven28 Entertainment Group, Archer spearheaded the documentary Stepping Into the Shade — screened at The Westport Library in June 2024 — and he hosts the The Winner’s Circle podcast for rapper 50 Cent's 'This is 50' platform. Archer is the founder of The June Archer School of Arts, The Archer Foundation, The 100 Men and Women of Color Black Tie Gala & Awards, The New England Music Seminar, the Hot Chocolate Soul performance showcase, and June Archer's Celebration of Life AIDS/Breast Cancer Fundraiser. In 2013, he also added published author to his list of distinctions, with his children’s books, Yes! You Can and Yes! Every Day Can Be a Good Day.
VersoFest is four days of music, media, and creativity, running this year from April 3 to April 6 — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge. In addition to Black Thought, this year’s guests include Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, and Paul Shaffer, with a Friday evening concert by the Wallflowers, the Saturday weekend kickoff event hosted by 5iveFingaz, and an all-star panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, plus art exhibits and workshops. In addition, VersoFest will host the kickoff event to legendary post-punk band Gang of Four’s farewell tour on April 18.
Past VersoFest guests have bridged connections between genre and medium, including hip hop legend Chuck D, established hit-makers Spin Doctors and the Smithereens, up-and-coming bands Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs, rockers Lez Zeppelin, famed producers Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Cramps drummer Miriam Linna, Alice Cooper Group bassist Dennis Dunaway, hip-hop originators Tony Crush and Grand Wizzard Theodore, Manic Panic’s Tish and Snooky, and a wide array of authors, photographers, artists, and thought leaders.
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 spresutto@westportlibrary.org 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.
