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The Westport Representative Town Meeting will elect a moderator and deputy moderator today at its monthly meeting.

Moderator Hadley Rose will run for his fourth term. Deputy Moderator Jonathan Steinberg, however, will not seek re-election as he will resign soon from the RTM to prepare for his January swearing-in as Westport’s next state representative.

Both positions have one-year terms. Candidates can nominated by any RTM member from the floor. Nominees are then voted on by the full legislative body.

As moderator, Rose carries out a legislative role roughly analogous to that of the speaker of the house in the state General Assembly. The moderator sets the agenda for each RTM meeting and can unilaterally place items on the agenda. In practice, the Westport RTM moderator is primarily a managerial position, and does not promote a legislative agenda as do the speakers of the house in the state assembly and U.S. Congress.

Tonight’s meeting gets under way at 8 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium.

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The Y’s Women of Westport hosts a “Festive Holiday Tea” on Dec. 13, but they aren’t forgetting those less fortunate.

Amid the good food, good friends and music, the group will be collecting donations for those in need, with the items to be distributed at a later date by Interfaith Housing and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Norwalk.

The tea event will take place at the Unitarian Church from 2 to 4 p.m. Entertainment includes singer Libby Carstens.
Y’s Women members are asked to bring new gifts. Suggested items include: twin-size sheets, pillow cases, bath towels, washcloths, pillows and blankets; toilet articles for men, women and children (no samples); gloves, caps, scarves, sweaters, women’s underwear (large), pajamas, night gowns, robes, slippers and children’s underwear; pre-paid phone cards; gift cards for local stores, such as Stop & Shop, Stew Leonard’s, Kohl’s, Bob’s, TJMaxx, Marshalls (place cards in envelope with amount written on outside).

Toys are not needed; they are contributed by other groups. Wrap gifts in clear plastic bags with size and gender marked where appropriate.

For more information, call Jean McGurk at 222-0501.

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The Westport Historical Society’s annual Holiday House Tour and Twilight Soirée benefits will sparkle across town Sunday.
The event, which takes place regardless of the weather, is a room-by-room, guided tour of five Westport homes. The tours are set from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. by the Twilight Soirée, which features wine, hors d’oeuvres, music and a silent auction.
Also on Sunday, in conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Westport’s incorporation as a town, the historical society will host free public open houses— from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — both at its Bradley-Wheeler House (tour ticket headquarters and site of the “Putting Westport on the Map” and “Zooming in on Westport” exhibits) at 25 Avery Place, and at Westport’s historic Adams Academy, a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse at on 15 Morningside Drive North.
The 2010 house tour offers a diverse selection of architectural and interior-design styles, augmented by holiday decorations, floral and tabletop designs, all described by docents.
“We’re very excited about the houses on this year’s tour and the stories behind them,” Dorothy Curran, the Westport Historical Society president, said in a statement. “One of the homes won a preservation award ten years ago, but has continued to improve. Antique lovers will adore the interior décor — antique English furnishings matched to the 1840 year of original construction, and kitchen cabinets made from attic floorboards.
“Another Queen Anne-style home won awards for new construction. Using sumptuous patterns and textures, old and new, and a bit of dry humor, the interior designer reinterprets high Victorian style for today’s tastes. By contrast, we have another more recent renovation, near Compo Beach, is a triumph of maximizing views, serenity and casual comfort within the constraints of zoning and FEMA,” she said.
At the Twilight Soirée, violinist Gabriela Stastny will entertain as guests sample wine and hors d’oeuvres, and bid on silent auction items.
The five featured Westport homes include:
• 1840 Greek Revival transformed into an 1877 Italiante: Some of Westport’s prosperous Victorian-era homeowners renovated their “dated” Colonials or Greek Revivals by expanding and encasing them in Italianate facades and rooflines. The Historical Society’s own 1795 Bradley-Wheeler House is one example; this 1840 Jesse Bradley house is another.
• Queen Anne Revival: This custom-built, award-winning 2002 Queen Anne Revival house melds Victorian style with modern kitchen, bath and lifestyle amenities.
• Compo Beach haven: Serenity and clean lines characterize the floor plan and décor of this 2008 FEMA-compliant renovation of a 1928 cottage steps from Compo Beach.
• Connecticut country retreat: Stone walls, long setback and holiday greenery set a seasonal mood for this 1930s Colonial Revival house and guest cottage.
• Riverfront “smart” house: Sited on a knoll by a branch of the Saugatuck River, this new shingle-style house integrates geothermal “smart” technology with its woodland surroundings.
Tour-goers will be asked to remove their shoes when entering each home. Photography inside the homes is not permitted, nor are children younger than 12. Ticket forms are available at the Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, or at www.westporthistory.org. No tickets will be mailed. Tour-goers may pick up tickets at the historical society through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All sales are final.
Advance tickets for the Holiday House Tour are $40 for historical society members and $50 for non-members. On the day of the event, which will be held snow or shine, all tour tickets are $55.
The Twilight Soirée, including wine, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction, requires an additional $50 ticket.
Ticket information for both fundraisers is available at www.westporthistory.org, or by calling the Westport Historical Society at 203-222-1424.

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Weston Superintendent of Schools Jerome R. Belair has notified the Board of Education that he is resigning effective Feb. 4, 2011, and thereafter assuming the superintendent’s position in Waterford.
“Jerry has been an excellent Superintendent and we are disappointed that he has decided to leave Weston, but we understand that this is the right decision for Jerry, which will allow him to work closer to home and spend more time with his family and grandson,” said Philip Schaefer, Chairman of the Board of Education, in response to the announcement. Belair resides in Groton Long Point.
Belair has been employed by the Weston Public Schools since November 2006 and became Superintendent of Schools on May 1, 2008, after having served as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
As superintendent, Belair has facilitated high quality professional development, curriculum renewal, technology use in daily teaching and learning, the expansion of Mandarin Chinese, the creation of the high school video production studio, the establishment of an early intervention program for elementary students who might require special services, and the strengthening of teacher supervision and mentoring. During his tenure, significant operational efficiencies and cost savings have been achieved, school officials said.
“Weston has been at the top or near the top on standardized measurements of student achievement. However, as Mr. Belair has frequently reminded us, what matters most in Weston is having a rigorous and challenging learning experience for all students and the need for continuous improvement,” Schaefer said. “He has always had the best interests of the students and the staff as the focal point of his vision for Weston. He has listened to diverse points of view and used the input of many constituencies in the decision-making process.”
The Board of Education will begin the search immediately for an interim superintendent and then undertake a methodical search for a permanent replacemen

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Staples boys soccer won their third consecutive FCIAC championship Wednesday night with a 2-1 thrilling victory over Fairfield Warde. Fresh off their win in the semifinals over Wilton, Monday, the Wreckers were involved in a tight battle with the fourth seeded Warde squad. Midfielder Brendan Lesch broke the 1-1 tie with the go ahead goal with 26:33 left in the regulation.

The championship was the fourth for the Wreckers in the last five years.

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Mu Sochua, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, will speak in Westport at the Connecticut premiere of the documentary film, Redlight.

Westport, a community known for its high level of civic activity and for fostering dialogue on critical human rights issues around the globe, will be the scene of the Connecticut premiere of Redlight, the highly-acclaimed human trafficking documentary.

The work of filmmaker Guy Jacobson with narration by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lucy Liu, the documentary will be screened at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Seabury Center, 45 Church Lane in Westport.

The evening is being presented by the Connecticut Council of Vital Voices Global Partnership and, in addition to the screening, will feature a talk by Mu Sochua, a Cambodian Parliamentarian who has dedicated her life to empowering women and ending the horrors of child trafficking.

Jacobson was honored with the U.S. State Department’s prestigious Global Hero Award in 2008.  His film focuses on the personal stories of the victims of child sexploitation and two remarkable advocates for change: Sochua and grassroots advocate Somaly Mam. Both have since been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and have won other human rights awards around the world. Using footage smuggled out of the brothels and harrowing testimonials, Redlight follows the plight of several current and former child sex slaves.

A dessert reception will take place at 7:30 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to meet Sochua and Jacobson, and purchase the work of Cambodian artisans. The film will begin at 8, followed by a question-and-answer period with Sochua.

Tickets for the Westport event are $100 for VIP seating and the screening; $30 for all other seats; and $15 for students.

Redlight will also be screened at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, followed by a question-and-answer period with Sochua. There will be an opportunity to meet Sochua and Jacobson at a VIP reception beginning at 2:30 at Lounsbury House, 316 Main St., Ridgefield.

Tickets for the Ridgefield event are $100 for the VIP reception and the screening; $30 for the screening only; and $15 for students.

Proceeds from these events will support Sochua’s anti-trafficking and humanitarian work. All ticket sales and contributions, payable to Vital Voices Global Partnership, are tax-deductible. For more information or to order tickets, contact Roberta Cooper at 203-227-8973 or robertacooper@optonline.net; or Giselle Mazier at 917-816-7515 or gnamazier@mac.com.