Good morning, Westport.

Today, veteran and author Carl Addison Swanson remembered National Vietnam War Veterans Day by talking about his own service and the 49 Westporters who served; he said that five did not come home—like Lance Corporal Timothy Barmmer.

Local women in Project Hope sent care packages each month for five years, and a plaque in Veterans Green honors those lost.

The Planning & Zoning Commission canceled its review of The Hamlet at Saugatuck scheduled for March 31 and will revisit it on April 7, while the Board of Education will meet on April 3 to consider Staples High School’s master schedule and district calendars; local firefighters responded yesterday to an I—95 crash near Exit 19. In addition, the RTM held a lunch at Capuli during the Great Westport Soup Contest, the Staples High School boys basketball team won the Harold Swaffield Award, and upcoming local shows include summer concerts at Levitt Pavilion, a Whiffenpoofs concert on April 12, and a Sorelle Gallery exhibit opening April 5 as tree branches on Rayfield Road are expected to change soon.

Yoel Hooper-Antunez, a Grinnell College graduate who joined Westport’s A Better Chance program at 14, will deliver his long-awaited Dream Event speech on April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Westport Library—he overcame a canceled speech during COVID and other challenges to launch his career as a financial analyst.

Superintendent Thomas Scarice updated that the board will consider ending the student year on June 13 by making June 16 a work day for teachers and further limiting phone use at Staples like Wilton High’s full ban.

He also outlined plans to improve school security, start an AI pilot with over 30 educators, and get community feedback through surveys, a May 6 meeting, and an April 8 film screening at Long Lots Elementary — details that will guide future board decisions.

Gang of Four Book Talk with Jon King

6:30-8:00 p.m. — The Westport Library — $30 — Explore Jon King's memoir and hear stories from the iconic British band Gang of Four.