Writer/Author Mike Lauterborn Live

Five Guys Finds a Home in Fairfield

2012-01-31T12:09:00.000-05:00

Five Guys Finds a Home in Fairfield:

Fifth location for the

four managing partners

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

1/9/12

Fairfield, CT – Best Bang for Your Buck. Heaven on a Bun. These are some of the raves that have already been bestowed on a popular burger chain with over 975 locations nationwide. Now Fairfielders can enjoy the same juicy, fresh goodness and value since Five Guys opened in town December 16.

The new fast food eatery, at 340 Grasmere Avenue in the Whole Foods Market shopping complex, is the fifth location owned by a team that includes Robert and Mariann Marona, of Newtown, their son Nick, of Bethel, and daughter Dana Smith, of Milford. The foursome opened their first restaurant in Brookfield, in 2006, followed by Newtown, Westport and Norwalk.

Since opening in Fairfield, Smith said, “We’ve been getting a great response from customers, and are seeing many familiar faces every week. People say the burgers are among the best they’ve ever had and the fries are favorites.”

No surprise given the eatery’s keen attention to quality. “The beef is 100% fresh, never frozen, trans fat free, and with no preservatives,” she said. “The potatoes are fresh cut, cooked in 100% peanut oil with no cholesterol or preservatives.”

The potatoes, in fact, are delivered fresh twice a week from farms in Idaho. “This week our inventory comes from Wattenbarger Farms in Shelly, Idaho,” Smith said. “We go through 3,700 pounds of potatoes a week.”

As to options, customers have many. In the burger category, they can opt for a hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger or bacon cheeseburger. The regular burger has two 3.5-ounce patties while the “little” version has one patty. Fifteen different toppings are available, allowing an incredible 250,000 different combinations.

Hot dogs, grilled cheese and veggie sandwiches are burger alternatives. Free refills are offered on soda and customers can enjoy complimentary roasted peanuts while waiting on an order.

Service is another forte here, made even faster through the ability to order online. “Web orders have become very popular,” Smith explained. “Customers can go to our website www.fiveguys.com, pick the location, and order what they like – customized to the full extent – for pick-up. You can pay right online. It’s a big time-saver.”

As to the staff, they are pleasant and hard working, which makes the cheery red-and-white checkerboard environment all the more enjoyable.

Just ask fans Liz and Jim Schumacher of Fairfield. “We’ve visited the Five Guys in Mystic,” said Liz, “where my sister lives. We’re so excited about the Fairfield location, as we won’t have to make the long drive for a good burger. We love the bacon cheeseburgers, and that they give small farms a chance.”

Fairfielder Genevieve Swenson, catching lunch with her daughters Lillian, 3, and Emmeline, seven months, is already a veteran customer at the Fairfield hub. “This is my second time here,” she said. “I used to go to the Westport store. I’m happy that this is around the corner. You know it’s going to be good. I don’t think there’s any other place where you get a great burger and great fries. The free peanuts are also a treat and I like that there’s a grilled cheese choice. The fries are especially great – they remind me of boardwalk fries at Rehoboth Beach.”

A New Art Exhibit Springs to Life at Westport Library

2012-01-31T12:06:00.000-05:00

A New Art Exhibit Springs to Life
at Westport Library

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

1/6/12

Westport, CT – Though Winter may only have begun in the area, Spring had already sprung at Westport Library.

“Portraits in Bloom”, a collection of over 40 botanical paintings created by artist Mary Ann Neilson, had its opening reception at the 20 Jesup Road facility Friday evening. Over two dozen attendees browsed the works, listened to Neilson speak about them and enjoyed wine and cheese.

“I see plants as though they are people,” said the artist, “each with its own personality. When you paint flowers, you paint them the same way as a portrait. And when you are around them a lot, you start seeing each uniquely.”

Among the work was a botanical painting by Neilson’s great-grandfather Rudolph, created in 1897. Rudolph was a muralist who taught at Cooper-Union. His painting hung beside one by Mary Ann, titled “Medallion Rose”, of a flower-filled vase that had been owned by her grandmother, an avid gardener. Both were great influences to Neilson.

Early on in her career, the artist had trained as a theater painter in New York, then went into corporate graphic design, illustrating book covers and company annual reports. When Neilson’s husband Louis and she moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn, she started getting more involved in gardening and began studying botany.

Neilson has been painting botanicals for almost 25 years, though is more well known for her European landscape paintings.

Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit, studying many of the paintings closely. “They are beautifully detailed, like looking at flowers right outside your window,” said Weston resident Michele Seibold. “The shading on the leaves and varigation is amazing.”

Chris Timmons, the Library’s Director of Programs & Exhibitions, may have said it best, noting, “These are a glorious reminder that spring is down the road.”

Scouts’ Xmas Tree Pick-up Builds Character, Funds Activities

2012-01-31T12:02:00.000-05:00

Scouts’ Xmas Tree Pick-up Builds Character, Funds Activities

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

1/7/12

Westport, CT – Sleepy-eyed, a little chilly but nonetheless ready for duty, members of Westport’s Boy Scout Troop 39 went out and about early Saturday morning to conduct their second annual Christmas tree pick-up. Besides teaching team cooperation, the effort raised funds for troop activities while providing a source of mulch for the town.

Coordinated by Eric Montgomery, the group, which included about 20 kids ages 11 to 17, Scout leaders and parents, gathered at 7 a.m. in the Imperial Avenue parking lot behind the Westport Woman’s Club. There, participants fueled up on bagels and coffee, donned reflective safety vests and received maps and tree pick-up addresses. Westporters had been instructed to leave their trees curbside and tape a suggested donation of $15 to their front doors for the service. Over 400 households had registered, twice the number as last year.

“In our first year, we did 200 tree pick-ups, netting about $2,500 after expenses,” said Montgomery, onsite with his son Luke. He said the idea was inspired by a friend, Mike Connolly of Troop 116 in Ridgefield, who has been running the program there for the past seven years.

As to how collected money is used, Montgomery said, “Funds go to camping gear – lanterns, tents, cooking equipment – and also high adventure trips, like scuba diving to the Florida Keys, which we did this past summer. It costs a lot to run the troop every year.”

Two large box trucks were provided by Scoutmaster Mark Wisniewski. Another large dump truck was provided by general contractor Tom Kowalsky, of Kowalsky Brothers, who also contributed his time for the day. Two additional pickups were borrowed from friends of the Troop.

“Nothing bad comes out of scouting,” said Kowalsky. “You’re teaching good skills and morals, and they have good fun.”

Assistant Scoutmaster Kathy Thopsey added that the fundraiser “teaches community service and how to get along with each other, especially at an early hour of the day after being up late playing video games.”

The Troop’s treasurer Robert Arvanitis offered, “The Scouts is about resilience, and events like this teach kids how to handle themselves.”

The group, assigned to the respective vehicles, divided up into teams, and began their curbside collections, returning trees to the Imperial Avenue Lot to be fed into a commercial chipper. Montgomery predicted there would be a 25-foot high pile of wood chips by day’s end, about 3:30 p.m.

New Years Revelers Take the Compo Plunge for Charity

2012-01-31T11:59:00.000-05:00

New Years Revelers Take the Compo Plunge for Charity

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

1/1/12

Westport, CT – If you ever had the gumption to take an icy ocean plunge on New Year’s Day, Sunday was certainly the day to do it. Bright blue skies and temperatures hovering around 50 degrees made an otherwise daunting experience a little bit more tolerable as two groups of bubbly locals dipped for charity at Compo Beach.

Up first, at 10 a.m., was Team Mossman Triathlon Club, a band of about 35 hearty souls, who were raising money for Westport-based Save the Children. Each participant paid a $50 entry fee, though many went above and beyond that figure with special fundraising extras.

Andrea Williamson-Hughes, corporate secretary at Save the Children, for instance, had friends sponsor parts of her body and represented their donations by writing their names on those body parts. “I do it because it’s a great way to start the new year, be with friends and do something good,” she said. “People all over the world suffer in tough conditions. If I have to be uncomfortable for a few minutes, it’s the least I can do to help.”

Team Mossman event organizer Robin Myers said a small bunch of folks used to do the plunge for fun before the town made them get a permit. Then they opened it up to everyone. Offering a bit of advice to would-be plungers, Myers said, “You have to have a great sense of humor.”

Before leading the group into the brisk Sound waters, Myers announced, “You can hang out in the water as long as you like. No one’s going to kick you out today. But one thing – it’s not an official plunge until you put your head under.”

Emerging from the water after her dip, Jeanette Trujillo, from Norwalk, reported, “I ran a 5k first, so I got warmed up. The water was very shallow. You have to walk in far then dive.”

On Team Mossman’s wet, sandy heels were members of Temple Israel and their friends, who had organized an 11 a.m. Polar Plunge at the same site. Their effort supported the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Becca Allen, Chief Program Officer of the camp organization, said Temple Israel has been doing a plunge for charity for the past five years, choosing a different beneficiary each year.

There was no set entry fee, but there was obvious generosity on the part of participants and corporate groups that were tapped by temple members. Pre-plunge, Allen said about $60,000 had been contributed.

The collaboration between Temple Israel and the charity came about through a camper, Blake Katzman, 8, who has severe hemophilia. Blake had the distinction of giving the greenlight for participants to run into the water.

Paul Gordon, who made a sizeable contribution through his company and was plunging with his daughter Tess, said pre-dip, “In our experience, the warmer the air temperature, the colder the water feels when you come out.”

Post-plunge, David MacNiven, director of Team Hole in the Wall, said, “We’re thankful for Temple Israel for helping us kick off the year right. Their generosity will help send 25 kids to camp.”

New Post Office Stamps Into the New Year

2012-01-31T11:55:00.000-05:00

New Post Office Stamps
Into the New Year

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

1/3/12

Westport, CT – Ahh, there’s nothing like the smell of a new space. In this case, it was a blend of latex paint fumes being used for touch-up and the aroma of decorative poinsettias in the entry hall of Westport’s new post office in the Playhouse Square Shopping Center, 245 Post Road East.

The facility had its soft opening to the public first thing Tuesday morning, to the delight of the majority of customers. Dennis Kassimis, Postmaster for Westport and Weston, was on hand to welcome customers, who dropped in to visit their new boxes, mail letters and conduct retail transactions. An official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in the coming weeks.

Since 1935, the Postal Service had conducted local mail operations down the block, at 154 Post Road East. After moving local mail-sorting services to a facility in Norwalk, however, the USPS determined that the 10,000-square-foot site was too large for its retail operations.

“There was a lot of unutilized space there,” said Kassimis. “For our current operational needs, it made sense to open a smaller facility.”

The 245 Post Road East office, which encompasses 2,700 square feet and was formerly occupied by the Derma Clinic European Day Spa, will accommodate only retail services. This includes regular retail needs, post office boxes, passport application, and parcel lockers for large package pick-up. Westport customers with P.O. boxes will not need to change those addresses, but will need to pick up new box keys.

Kassimis, who has been with the USPS for 26 years since beginning as a letter carrier in Stamford, said the move was a bittersweet one for him. “It’s sad to leave the old place, but nice to be in the new,” he said. “I just have to get used to it. We’ve been putting in a lot of hours getting things moved over and situated for opening day. New year, new beginning.”

Most of the first customers, like Westporter Kathleen Carey, were pleased with the new office. “I’m excited about this,” she said. “The parking situation is better, and it’s nice to have a new facility for a service we really rely on in town.”

Hannah Lissette, who was visiting her new P.O. box, agreed with Carey’s assessment and added, “The postal service in town in general is great. I usually stop in early and they always have my mail ready for me.”

Local plastic surgeon Ellen Mahoney commented that it’s just “great to still have a post office in Wesport” and she “would hate to lose it.” She added, “The people are friendly, patient and courteous… and the new office is near Organic Food Market and other shops, so I can get a few more things done.”

Charmian Valante brought in her daughters Olivia, 9, and Kate, 6, deciding it would be fun for them to see the new place. “We also came to mail thank you notes from Kate’s birthday party,” she said.

The only dissenter in the crowd of early visitors seemed to be Morley Boyd. “This is grim, sort of prison-like,” he said about the appearance of the new space, trimmed in blue and white. “I feel like I’m out on parole. It’s sterile and ahistoric. The old facility was wonderful, though undermaintained.”

But even Boyd, in his grumpy New Year’s demeanor, had to agree that parking was more efficient.

Westport’s new downtown post office will be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The facility is closed on Sunday and Federal holidays.

Pequot Library Caroling Party Ho So Fun

2012-01-31T11:50:00.000-05:00

Pequot Library Caroling Party
Ho So Fun

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/21/11

Fairfield, CT – The halls of Pequot Library were decked with good cheer as the much loved Southport neighborhood anchor held its annual Caroling Party and Open House late Wednesday afternoon.

Despite an all-day drizzle, over 200 parents and children turned up to enjoy a stocking’s full of activities, held in and around the grounds.

In the reading room, the Russell brothers and Sam Kingston, of Kingston Family Vineyards, served eggnog with a splash of bourbon to chase the chills away, while the very finely tuned Darien High School Tudor Singers led a gathering in crooning Christmas carols.

The main auditorium featured arts & crafts tables, at which children made everything from bird feeders and holiday pins to penguin ornaments and candy cane cookies.

On the great lawn in front of the library, a bonfire roared, though no chestnuts were present, while along Pequot Library a pair of horse-drawn carriages took folks for a jaunt around the village and back.

Christmas Southport-style had officially arrived.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Brings Gourmet Fast Food to Fairfield

2012-01-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Chipotle Mexican Grill Brings Gourmet Fast Food to Fairfield:

Freshness, quality and integrity defining cornerstones

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

12/20/11

Fairfield, CT – Fairfield welcomed another new eatery to town last month and already it has become a favorite destination for locals.

In mid-November, Chipotle Mexican Grill began dishing up its award-winning gourmet burritos, bowls, tacos and salads at 340 Grasmere Avenue, near Kings Highway and Kings Highway Cutoff, in the King Crossing Shopping Center, anchored by Whole Foods Market. The 2,275-square-foot space, which seats 44 inside and eight outdoors, is the second Chipotle in Fairfield County (Darien opened in Dec. 2010) and is among six others in Connecticut. There are over 1,100 Chipotles across the U.S. as well as locations in France, Canada and Great Britain.

A driving reason for the chain’s popularity is its fresh, high-quality food and standards of integrity, a foundation created from the beginning by Founder, Chairman and CEO Steve Ells. This year, Chipotle expects to use over 10 million pounds of produce from local family farms within 350 miles of the restaurants where it will be served. In addition, all the pork and chicken Chipotle serves is naturally and humanely raised (an all vegetarian diet, no added hormones or antibiotics, and responsible animal husbandry). Its beef is also naturally raised, and sour cream and cheeses made from milk that is free of bovine growth hormones. Further, 40 percent of the black and pinto beans that Chipotle purchases are organically grown.

The mission Ells established for Chipotle is to change the way people think about and eat fast food, said spokeperson Katherine Newell Smith. “Food that is served fast doesn’t have to be a typical fast-food experience,” she said. To that regard, Chipotle pioneered offering gourmet-level ingredients to make great tasting meals in a quick-service environment.

Ells almost stumbled upon the decision to use premium ingredients in his burritos and tacos, while living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1990s. There, he was working alongside Chef Jeremiah Tower at San Francisco’s Stars restaurant and began to think he could use the same kind of ingredients he used at Stars to fill burritos and tacos. Chipotle was born and he opened his first restaurant in Denver in 1993.

Market-fresh herbs, fresh batches of marinated meats, and house-made tortilla chips seasoned with freshly squeezed lime juice and tossed with kosher salt became the order of the day. Ells has even taken his principles a step further, incorporating sustainable architecture in all new building projects since 2001.

At the Fairfield location, as in other Chipotles, diners will find a hip, clean dining room, great music and gourmet food you can eat with your hands, all for about $7 a plate.

“We are committed to cultivating a better world one burrito at a time,” said Smith.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is located at 340 Grasmere Avenue, Fairfield. Open 7 days a week, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Phone: 203-255-7665. For groups or parties, burritos can be ordered by the box, at $9 per person. A kids menu is available.

Genealogist Rod MacKenzie Remembered at Fairfield Museum

2011-12-22T16:46:00.000-05:00

Genealogist Rod MacKenzie Remembered at Fairfield Museum

By Mike Lauterborn
(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/21/11

Fairfield, CT – The weather forecast for the day was overcast and rainy, but Walt Matis’ prediction about the tribute service for genealogist Rod MacKenzie couldn’t have been clearer. “At the end of the day, I think what you’re going to see is the mark of a man,” said Matis, at the start of the ceremony.

A program coordinator and colleague of MacKenzie’s at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Matis and over 100 other co-workers, friends and family gathered in the lobby area of the 370 Beach Road facility late Wednesday morning to remember the lifelong Fairfielder. The tribute followed an 11:00 a.m. graveside service, handled by the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

MacKenzie, age 75, died on Friday, December 9, after a long battle with cancer. He was a genealogist and researcher at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, as well as Pequot Library, for over thirty years.

After signing a family guest book at the reception desk and partaking in a catered lunch, tribute attendees recalled the beloved man.

Pequot Children’s Librarian Susan Ei said, “It’s such a big loss. He was such a gentleman, and pleasure to be around. He went out of his way to say hello to every staff member every morning. He was also the doorway and navigator of our genealogical collection. He wasn’t someone who was ready to check out at all, and was very private about his sickness.”

Ei’s associate, Robin Valovich, said, “He personified courage, nothing got him down. He had a very positive attitude and will be sorely missed.”

Pequot Library’s Executive Director Dan Snydacker agreed with Valovich. “He had a wonderful positive presence and a kind word for everybody. I’ll miss him dearly. The books and collection will miss him and are calling to him,” he said.

Historian Bill Lee shared a number of connections with MacKenzie. “When I was director of the Historic Civic Center, Rod’s mom was on my commission,” he said. “I went to school with his mother’s sister and knew his grandfather, Judge Bent, too. One of his family married my cousin Peggy Lee. The last time I saw Rod was four weeks ago. I brought him a photo of his mom and me taken in the Sun Tavern. We spent an hour and a half talking, a wonderful last connection. He was very dedicated to the Fairfield Historical Society.”

Museum Executive Director Michael Jehle, standing atop a chair, said, “Rod in many ways was the spirit of the museum, and was passionate about what he did. He loved people coming here and connecting them with their stories. Over all those years, he was able to connect so many. He had a wonderful gift and is irreplaceable. Museums and libraries are repositories of books, but people bring them to life. Rod was a portal to our past in so many ways.”

MacKenzie’s sister Laura remembered other sides of the man. “As a kid, he would take his wagon around and sell seeds,” she smiled. “When he was in the hospital and given a walker, he said jokingly, ‘I hope I don’t get a speeding ticket with this thing.’ At the end, he said the hardest part of all was going to be telling Mike (Jehle) that he couldn’t work anymore.”

Perhaps the most touching words came from Jennifer Bebon Grascher, MacKenzie’s next door neighbor on Unquowa Road for 19 years. “Rod was our neighborhood anchor, our ‘steady Eddie’,” she said. “He never missed my children’s birthdays, and always wanted to know how we were doing. He may have been a keeper of history, but he embraced the future.”

Quoting a line from a Broadway show, Grascher added, “Because we knew you, we have been changed for the better.”

Rod’s wish was for donations to be made to the Fairfield Museum and History Center or to the Pequot Library.

Annual Christmas Count Is For the Birds

2011-12-22T16:43:00.000-05:00

Annual Christmas Count Is For the Birds

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/18/11

Westport, CT – For 65 years, bird enthusiasts have been reporting to the Westport area in December to participate in an annual Christmas bird count. The concept of counting birds dates back even further – 112 years to be exact – when the National Audubon Society first launched the effort.

Sunday was no different, when volunteer bird watchers at all levels of experience spent all or part of the day going out into the field in various locations within a 15-mile wide “count circle”. The circle was centered at Westport’s Twin Bridges on Route 57 and included “hot” bird watching locales in Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield. Others conducted backyard feeder counts in the same areas.

The object of participants is to identify and count each species of bird seen and record how many of each type are seen in a day. All the data from the Westport count, as well as 16 other counts in Connecticut, is provided to the NAS.

Connecticut is not the only state that counts. Over 1,700 other counts are conducted simultaneously nationwide and throughout the Americas and results are published in a document titled “American Birds.” The NAS count is the longest running annual census of bird populations in the country, thanks to some 44,000 volunteer birdwatchers.

Frank Mantlik, a Stratford resident who works as a mailman in the Compo Beach area, has been participating in the CBC since 1977, close to 40 years. In fact, he was the Westport CBC compiler and captain from 1979 to around 1994. The area captain is now Mardi Dickinson.

Since the participants are all volunteers, the names and faces of counters continually change over the years, said Mantlik. The number of participants has also gone down over time due to people getting busy at Christmastime, he said.

Property development has been an issue for local bird populations, Mantlik explained. “Where there were nice thickets, there are now manicured lawns. Still, there are local parks and beaches for birds to explore,” he said.

And there’s usually an amazing sighting. “This morning, I found a yellow-breasted chat, considered a warbler species,” Mantlik said. “It’s unusual any time of year. I saw this one at Taylor Farm Park in Norwalk. I also saw a double-crested cormorant, which is unusual in the winter months. They are more common in summer, when they breed on our offshore islands.”

The day started early for Mantlik, at 7 a.m. He and others gathered at Veterans Park in East Norwalk, before covering Calf Pasture Beach, Taylor Farm Park, Canfield Island, the banks of Norwalk River and Westport’s Saugatuck River shores. Because the day was windy and temperatures were only in the 20s, Mantlik put on about five layers, including two sweaters. As to equipment, he carries binoculars, a spotting scope for long-distance viewing, and a digital camera in case of a rare sighting.

“I look forward to this,” he said, “and put off holiday errands to do it. It often becomes a competition to see who found the rarest bird. You try to get accurate totals, and have to be quick.”

Saugatuck Parishioners Carol Sing as Fire Recovery Continues

2011-12-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

Saugatuck Parishioners Carol Sing as Fire Recovery Continues

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/18/11

Westport, CT – It would take more than a bad fire to mute the Christmas spirit of Saugatuck Congregational Church parishioners who gathered on the property’s Great Lawn to carol sing midday Sunday. As they recited favorite holiday songs, yellow police caution tape, tied from one post to another behind them, fluttered in the breeze, a very real reminder of the November 20 tragedy.

That evening, a fast-moving fire began at the rear of the church, creating heavy flames and smoke as it moved through administrative offices, meeting rooms and the nursery school. Thankfully, and due to the heroic efforts of firefighters from Westport and five other communities, the fire spared the 179-year-old main sanctuary.

Still, the event has put church activities as usual in flux and insurance investigators continue to inspect and assess the damage at the 245 Post Road East property, according to Doug Johnston, Chairman of the Board of Deacons.

“Onwards and upwards,” Johnston sighed, adding that the carol sing was organized by the Music Ministry team as a “chance to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season, and bring joy and happiness back into an otherwise challenging situation.”

Church members began the morning at Temple Israel, where they were invited to hold their normal 10 a.m. service and Fellowship Hour. Then, at noon, they shuttled to the church and, afterwards, planned to visit a number of other members who are shut-ins.

Johnston said the church hadn’t conducted a lawn carol in a number of years, so it was particularly significant to be holding one this year. “People have been rallying due to a huge emotional boost shared with and shown to the congregation by both local and far-reaching communities,” he said. “We’re not daunted by what we’re facing and will probably be stronger for it. It’s all going to work out, and we’ve been blessed by a beautiful day.”

The fire event has actually served to boost attendance at services remarked choir member Betsy Boak. “It’s at a record high level as people draw together in the spirit of restoration and renewal,” she said. “Our church leaders – clergy, lay leaders and choir director – are inspiring the spirit of Christmas and we are all working together to restore the church building. The congregation itself is thriving.”

Boak added that even though the church is in great need itself, members are reaching out to fulfill the community’s needs through an angel gift drive, coat drive and financial support to assist people in need.

“Our annual Christmas dinner – The Saugatuck Christmas Feast – will also take place as it has every year,” she said, though the site will be the Christ & Holy Trinity church at 75 Church Lane, on December 25. “Everyone is invited.”

Five Guys Burgers & Fries Opens in Fairfield

2011-12-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Opens in Fairfield

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/16/11

Fairfield, CT – Five Guys. Four partners. One great destination for juicy burgers and fresh French fries. Priceless.

On Friday, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, with 975 franchise locations across the United States, opened at 340 Grasmere Avenue, in the Whole Foods Market shopping complex, Fairfield. Three of the four owners – Mariann Marona, Dana Smith and Nick Marona – were on hand to welcome visitors, who dropped into the store at midday for lunch.

The Fairfield eatery is the fifth location that the quartet owns. The others are in Westport, Norwalk, Brookfield and Newtown. A sixth will open in Stamford on April 1. Newtown was the first in the group to open, in 2006. The very first Five Guys was started in Springfield, VA, in 1986, by the five sons of Jerry and Janie Murrell, the chain’s franchisors.

Nick Marona said the formula for success is simple. “We’re built around two core products: burgers and fries,” he stated, “but also that everything is 100% fresh, prepared daily. We have no freezers or microwave ovens.”

Five Guys offers hot dogs and veggie sandwiches as well, and the 15 available toppings are all free, as are soda refills. And while you wait on your order, you can enjoy complimentary roasted salted peanuts.

Ron Pine, a Fairfield resident who works security at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, was glad to have a Five Guys so close to work. “We have a limited lunch hour, so it’s great there’s a Fairfield location now,” he said. “Of course, you can always take lunch to go.”

Mike Mennillo, who works at Stone Ridge condos just down the street, was also glad about the new eatery. “This is really convenient and I like the little brown bag they give you with everything in it,” he said. “You can just split it right open on your table.”

Fairfielder Kurt Sanwald crowed, “It’s one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Easy, simple, great choices of toppings. And the free peanuts are a bonus.”

As to ambiance, the 2,350-square-foot space is dressed in a red-and-white checkerboard pattern, with stainless steel appliances and cabinetry, and signage everywhere noting countrywide praise and awards the chain has received. Locally, the latter includes “Best of the Gold Coast” 2010 and 2011 from Moffly Media, “Best of Fairfield County” 2010 and 2011 from Fairfield County Weekly and “Readers’ Choice” from Danbury News Times. Zagat has also bestowed “#1 Burger in the Country” honors on the chain.

Five Guys, 340 Grasmere Avenue, Fairfield. Phone: 203-254-3238. Open 7 days a week, 11a.m. to 10p.m. Orders can be placed online at www.FiveGuys.com

Police Holiday Toy Drive Draws Generous Westporters

2011-12-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

Police Holiday Toy Drive Draws Generous Westporters

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/17/11

Westport, CT – Rudolph was looking like a hit-and-run victim Saturday morning as Westport police officers stood curbside with him in front of Border Grill at 1560 Post Road East. It was the department’s annual holiday toy drive and the combination of a cross wind and faulty blower left the inflatable venison sitting down on the job.

No matter, though, as Westporters know the drill and exactly where to pull up to hand off their donations to the cause.

The drive began December 10 and will run through Sunday, December 17, with officers volunteering onsite in two-hour shifts 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, ready to collect new unwrapped toys for children age 12 and under, as well as cash donations.

“This year was a little slow in the start but has picked up,” said Officer Michael Gudziki. “A lady this morning said she got a good bonus and gave us $40.” Cash donations are used to purchase additional toys.

Officer Albert Nowinski added, “We are also accepting toy drop-offs at police headquarters, 50 Jesup Road, during the drive. One gentleman last week dropped off a carload of Toys ‘R Us toys.”

Some toys go to Norwalk Community Center for distribution to needy families. Others go to the Town of Westport’s Human Services and Housing Department. The balance is loaded into a box truck provided by A&J’s Farm Stand and taken to St. Charles Church in Bridgeport. The haul includes toys collected at certain area stores, like Crate & Barrel and Athletic Shoe Factory, that are offering shoppers a purchase discount in return.

Westporter Jilda Manikas, who stopped to donate games, said she supports the effort every year. “This is awesome and convenient and nice for kids,” she said. “It’s almost a selfish act as it makes us feel so good.”

Historical Society Rings in the Holidays with Family Concert

2011-12-22T16:26:00.000-05:00

Historical Society Rings in the Holidays with Family Concert

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/11/11

Westport, CT – Sounding a bit like folk rock trio Peter, Paul & Mary, Mary Ann Hall and her Music for Children staff and students spurred children to jump to their feet and their parents to clap in time to a host of holiday tunes Sunday afternoon at Westport Historical Society.

It was the eighth consecutive year Hall had performed at the 25 Avery Place facility, and the event drew a full house of families. After enjoying and interacting with 15 holiday music classics, attendees snacked on hot chocolate and holiday cookies.

“This is so inviting in this informal setting,” said Hall of the space. “Performers and the audience are voice to voice, and eye to eye.”

Hall spoke about her center, which targets children from babies through age 14. “We offer comprehensive music education in a theoretical but playful environment,” she said. “Voice, dance, movement, eurythmics. Everything taught at a conservatory level is served to children and youth through dramatic musical play.”

Wilton’s Cactus Rose Cantina Opening a Fiesta of Sensations

2011-12-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

Wilton’s Cactus Rose Cantina Opening a Fiesta of Sensations

By Mike Lauterborn

(for HamletHub.com/Fairfield)

12/9/11

Wilton, CT – Wilton area residents were glad to see a hot new restaurant open up Thursday night right in their area. Fairfield residents should be glad, too, as Cactus Rose Cantina is a must-go destination with a wonderful Southwestern flair.

Located at 5 River Road in Wilton, the new restaurant is owned by Katrina Pertesis and her daughter Maria. The pair, in collaboration with leading representatives from cb5 restaurant group, which helped develop the Cactus Rose concept, held a preview cocktail reception at the venue from 7 to 9pm. The event was designed to introduce locals and media to the space, drink selections and food. More than one hundred people attended included Channel 12 television newsman David Smith and Easton’s First Selectman Tom Hermann.

The space is immediately inviting, with accents that include hanging terrariums, candle sconces, timbers in the ceiling in the center of the main dining area in the shape of a wagon wheel and an Old West style iron chandelier. Making the room cozy on a chilly night was a wood-burning fireplace of an adobe construction.

Red sangria, Mexican beers, margaritas and vanilla bourbon milkshakes were the favorite libations, which all paired well with an abundance of passed hors d’oeuvres including lamp chops, tostones with cilantro pesto, beef empanadas, tuna tostada, cactus tempura and pecan tarts. These servings can all be found on the menu as appetizers, ranging in price from $8 to $14, but hovering around $10.

Entrees, which were not sampled, include ancho glazed free range chicken, southwestern pork loin and barbecued wild salmon. Dishes in this column run $19 to $29, the latter tagged to a cowboy rib eye steak.

Fajitas, served sizzling on a black iron skillet, are also available, priced between $15 and $24.

Sides include fresh guacamole, tres salsa and several other options to delight the palate, prepared by Executive Chef Lisa Varnberg and her kitchen staff.

Cactus Rose Cantina, 5 River Road, Wilton, CT.

203-762-8484

cactusrosecantina.com

D’Valda & Sirico Dance & Music Centre Marks 25 Years

2011-12-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

D’Valda & Sirico Dance & Music Centre Marks 25 Years:

Facility built on experience, passion and quality staff

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

12/6/11

Fairfield, CT – Tucked in a corner of the business and retail complex at 1580 Post Road in downtown Fairfield is a magical place full of life and learning. Now through June 2012, its proprietors are marking 25 years in business.

D’Valda & Sirico Dance & Music Centre is the fruit of a personal and professional partnership between owners Angela D’Valda and Steve Sirico. Their passion for dance and performing led them to each other in the late 1970s and to the founding of the centre that now serves close to 700 students from Norwalk, Wilton, Easton, Westport, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Southport and Rowayton. Programs accommodate everyone from children 18 months of age to senior citizens, who come for voice lessons, instrumental instruction and dance guidance in ballet, jazz, rap, hip hop, modern, musical theater, preschool, contemporary and afro-jazz.

Patch met with Norwalk residents D’Valda and Sirico at the Centre recently and had a chance to view several classes and speak with both students and instructors.

Providing some background about herself, D’Valda, a petite blonde with a British accent, shared that her father was in the Royal Air Force, stationed in Jordan as a bodyguard to the king. D’Valda herself was born in Israel, spent toddler time in Jordan, lived in England until age 7, relocated to Hong Kong for the next five years, then returned to England for boarding school.

She was always engaged in classical dance and, when she graduated at 16, she got scholarships to Martha Graham School and the Matt Mattox School in New York City, two of the most prominent dance schools at the time. She went on to work professionally for such enterprises as Disney (On Parade) and NBC (television dance specials). She also worked in other countries – Argentina, Spain, France, Hong Kong, England – as a lead dancer in shows.

Sirico was born in Norwalk and went to Central Catholic High School. He took a combination of dance classes and football and got a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee. However, more and more, he found himself wanting to dance, took dance classes with Mikki Williams of A Dance Class in Westport during the summer after his freshman year and decided to drop out of school. He continued to study with Mikki, went on auditions and started getting work.

Fate led them to each other in 1979. As D’Valda tells it, “I was choreographing a TV special in Florida and Steve was the lead dancer. It was love at first sight, I went home to London, packed my bags and three days later came back. Together we formed our own dance act.”

Over the next eight years, the pair worked extensively all over the world and made many notable appearances: guest artists in Wayne Sleep’s show “Dash” in London’s West End, The David Letterman Show, Ed McMahon’s “Star Search”, Scala Barcelona dinner theatre, a gala performance for Princess Diana.

“Whenever we came back home, to Norwalk, we’d gather with friends,” D’Valda said. “On one occasion, in the late summer of 1987, we had dinner with Mikki Williams, who said she was selling her studio and wasn’t happy with the buyers. Steve and I decided to buy it, backed out of a three-month Monte Carlo gig and, within three weeks, became proud owners of the studio, then located at the Fairfield Racquetball Spa (now the site of Fitness Edge).”

The duo sublet the space from 1987 to 1992 and had about 200 students. When they learned the building was being demolished, they looked for a new space of their own and found their current location. They did extensive construction and, today, they have four music studios, three dance studios, changing rooms, an eating/homework area and offices.

“What makes us different is our extensive show business background and faculty that is so diverse and quality, and on the same wavelength as us,” said Sirico. “The curriculum is also unique to ourselves. And not only do we teach students to dance but we also teach dance teachers how to teach and dance studio owners how to run their businesses.”

The latter work, in fact, led to the creation of a parallel business called DanceTeacherWeb, which is both an online resource and an annual live event.

“We both have a tremendous passion for dance,” said Sirico. “Teaching for us is not only teaching dance but life lessons, through building confidence, coping with failure, and teamwork. ‘Making it work’, in fact, is our motto. We get a lot of feedback from former students saying how much our program impacted their lives.”

On Saturday, March 3, the Centre will hold a “Bring on the Groove” fundraising gala, an annual affair, at the Regina A. Quick Center at Fairfield University. Proceeds will go toward dance scholarships. There will be several performances, an auction and refreshments.

D’Valda & Sirico Dance & Music Centre is located at 1580 Post Road, Fairfield. Phone: 203-255-9440. Website: www.dsdance.com Dance instructors can visit: www.danceteacherweb.com

Town Farm Holiday Open House Marks Aitkenheads’ Return

2011-12-19T16:52:00.000-05:00

Town Farm Holiday Open House Marks Aitkenheads’ Return

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/11/11

Westport, CT – The event was as much a family homecoming celebration as it was a quaint seasonal happening when board members overseeing Wakeman Town Farm welcomed the Aitkenhead family back to their home at a Holiday Open House midday Sunday.

The two-and-a-half acre facility at 134 Cross Highway offered many fun activities for visitors including the opportunity to construct wreaths, make gingerbread houses, play dreidel games, decorate cookies and enjoy hot mulled cider and baked goods. T-shirts and hats with a smirk-inducing WTF acronym were also available for purchase.

An event highlight was the unveiling by Board Chairperson Elizabeth Beller of the Farm’s new logo design, which was the result of a collaborative effort between Westport Artist Miggs Burroughs, Architect Peter Wormser and Betsy P. Kahm, each of whom gave their time voluntarily.

As she worked alongside fellow board members making a large bowl of royal icing and helping prepare gingerbread structures for decorating, Christy Colasurdo explained some of the background around the Aitkenhead family’s departure and, now, their return. “The family had begun living on the farm in August 2010, working with the organization Green Village Initiative to bring the farm back to life. Unfortunately, GVI decided a couple of months ago to step out and give the farm back to the town. As the farm was in transition, the family had to move out.”

A new committee was formed, led by Beller, which raised $20,000 through fundraisers to cover costs for maintenance and upkeep of the property. Then, just last week, the Board of Finance approved the Aitkenhead family to return to the facility, deciding they would be its best caretakers and could stimulate the creation of Farm-based educational programs to benefit the community. This includes a Junior Farmers Camp and workshops related to sustainable farming, composting and planting organic gardens.

“Today really marks the culmination of the efforts of various town entities and we now have the support of the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, too, which is key with regard to promoting our events,” Colasurdo said.

Mike Aitkenhead, who teaches AP Environmental Science and Horticulture at Staples High School, hoped that the family would be able to move back in before Christmas. He elaborated about the background of the property, noting, “The history of the real Wakeman Farm goes back to the turn of the century, when the property was farmed all the way to Staples. It was started by Ike and Pearl Wakeman, who ultimately sold most of the land to the town in the 1970s and stayed on the current 2 ½ acres. Ike passed a decade ago, then Pearl passed in 2009. That’s when it changed hands to the town and, for a while, its fate was uncertain. Then GVI stepped in. I’d worked with GVI through school and town initiatives, and they were looking for an educator to service and teach on the property.”

Aitkenhead said the new farm committee is just the ticket for the job ahead. “They have been amazing in supporting the efforts and unlocking the potential of the property,” he said.

Santa and Elves Entertain a House Full of Families

2011-12-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

Santa and Elves Entertain a
House Full of Families

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/10/11

Fairfield, CT – Santa just loves to entertain and, with a little help from a few dozen elves, he invited several hundred families into his home Saturday morning for an annual visit and a full complement of activities.

“Home” was actually the Burr Homestead, at 739 Old Post Road, which for 26 years has been the host site of “A Visit to Santa’s House”, presented by Newman’s Own and the Junior Women’s Club of Fairfield. The two-day event, held Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday December 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is a favorite destination for fans of St. Nick and all the interactive trimmings offered. Besides a visit with the jolly fellow, this includes Mrs. Claus baking cookies, arts and crafts areas, live seasonal entertainment, raffle items, a model train set-up, bake sale, gift shop, silhouette artist and guest appearances by costumed characters like Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Proceeds of the event benefit The Thomas Merton House, a Bridgeport-based facility that provides families with food, clothing, and parental and educational support.

This year’s chairperson, Cheryl Eustace, of the Junior Women’s Club, said she and her fellow members are all involved in planning, which began in May. From sponsor support, $10,000 had already been raised. “We usually take in another $10,000 or so in sales and, after expenses, the proceeds will go to Merton House,” she said.

“The organization was very involved in the event,” said Mark Grasso, VP of Catholic Charities, whose role includes directing Merton House. “The moms that visit the center baked dozens of cookies and cupcakes.” Those were among the hundreds of baked items – all homemade – that were offered by JWC member Marlene Battista, with help from Mary and Brenda Pioli.

In the raffle room, on the main level adjacent to the baked goods area, everything from restaurant certificates to kids bikes and children’s portrait photography services was offered.

In the back kitchen, Mrs. Claus sat in a rocker with a huge plate of various cookies, delighting kids like Ryan and Jack McClane of Fairfield, who tromped through to collect a snack.

In the next room, kids lined up to try their hand at breaking a board held by Thomas Wulffleff of Kempo Academy of Martial Arts, who was leading a karate demonstration. Ten-year-old Abbey Kellerman, of Fairfield, was one of the participants. Her family had won tickets to the event and other special treats in a raffle sponsored by the JWC earlier in the year. The family had a special parking place, early entry and the first photo with Santa.

In another room, kids busily made elf hats out of construction paper. Elsewhere, children created Christmas collages. Deborah O’Connor worked with paper in her own way, crafting silhouettes of family members.

In yet another spot in the Homestead, kids wiggled and laughed while Jillian D’Onofrio of Giant Steps Toy Store read “Nutquacker”, a silly holiday tale, to them.

Of course, the biggest draw was Santa himself, and a line of families led from a second floor landing, through a hallway and into the room where he sat receiving children. The joy on their faces was a clear sign that all the months of event planning and arrangements was well worth the effort.

Southport Village Ushers in the Christmas Season

2011-12-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

Southport Village Ushers in the Christmas Season

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/8/11

Southport, CT – He may not have been riding in a miniature sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, but when Santa came to Southport Village early Thursday evening, he still made quite a clatter.

In town center, gathered in and about Spic and Span Market, local residents massed, sipped hot chocolate, sang Christmas carols led by Southport Congregational Church’s Reverend Paul Whitmore and welcomed St. Nick. He arrived standing atop a Southport firetruck, which crept up Pequot Avenue with its sirens wailing and lights flashing. Santa tossed popcorn balls to onlookers and clambered down to wade among everyone as the truck pulled to a halt.

Kids then had a chance to sit with Santa as he set himself up at the Russell Agency, which offered libations and snack treats to adults and children both. Others that had gathered strolled over to the Robinson Cottage at 33 Main Street, where owners Jamie and Karen Shugrue gave tours and provided cookies and cider.

An exclamation point was added to the night with the lighting of the Hospice Tree of Light outside the Chase bank.

Don Harrison Scores with New Book

2011-12-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

Don Harrison Scores with New Book:

“Hoops in Connecticut” focused on state’s passion for basketball

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

12/8/11

Fairfield, CT – Writer Don Harrison, a Fairfield resident for the past 38 years, is a walking treasure trove of information about sports in the Nutmeg State. Now he has released a new book recounting his memories of basketball in Connecticut from his early days as a sportswriter in 1963 to present.

Published by The History Press, “Hoops in Connecticut: The Nutmeg State’s Passion for Basketball”, Harrison’s third book, recalls interviews and interactions with coaches and players at all levels of play and features 90 photographs, including the trading cards of nine University of Connecticut players that went on to play in the N.B.A.

In advance of a book signing at Fairfield University Bookstore December 10, the 72-year-old writer, editor and author spoke with Patch about his journalism career and lifelong connections with sports.

Harrison was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up a Brooklyn Dodger fan, though he spent elementary and high school years in New Haven and East Haven. “I got to go to Ebbets Field three times as a boy,” he said. “My first boyhood hero was Jackie Robinson. You could say I became color blind at an early age.”

At East Haven High School, he followed the men’s basketball team from 8^th grade to his senior year, during which time the squad amassed an impressive 118-5 record. “They won three state titles and were runners up twice,” he recalled. The coach, Frank Crisafi, who’s 88 now, and star player Ralph Paolillo are both discussed in Harrison’s book.

Harrison had a classmate then whose father worked at Yale, which enabled the boys to go to the university’s Payne Whitney Gym to enjoy Yale basketball. “In that era, Yale was as good as UConn,” he said. “Their star player was Johnny Lee, who was on the cover of a 1957 issue of Sports Illustrated.”

Harrison’s first job out of school was as a copy boy for the New York Mirror, then the second largest newspaper in the country. “Newsman Walt Winchell was the gossip columnist,” Harrison said. “I have a vivid memory of him with his fedora cap tilted back, walking through the news room with Natalie Wood on one arm and Steve McQueen on the other.”

During Harrison’s three years at the Mirror, he was promoted to Sports Desk man. Unfortunately, Hearst Corporation closed the paper in October 1963. On a tip from Sports Editor Dan Parker, Harrison landed sports writing work with the Waterbury Republican. He also moved to Fairfield at that time.

Harrison was lured away by the New Haven Journal Courier for a couple of years before returning to the Republican as sports editor in 1967. He stayed with the paper until 1981. He was twice voted Connecticut Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

During that period, the writer met and married, in 1973, his wife Patti, the sister of Don Cook, who was then the athletic director at Fairfield University and now plays the same role at Sacred Heart University. (Cook wrote the forward to Harrison’s new book.) The couple was introduced by Florence Barakat, wife of Fairfield University’s men’s basketball coach. The Harrisons started a family that includes daughters Alexis, Erin and Rachel, all Fairfielders.

Harrison left sportswriting for a time, to serve as the director of advertising and public relations at Trans-Lux Corporation in Norwalk. However, he returned to writing in early 1989 as Director of Sports Information at Sacred Heart University, also handling P.R. and editing the alumni newsletter.

In the summer of 1994, he was promoted to founding editor of Sacred Heart University Magazine and made manager of the school’s news bureau. When cutbacks eliminated his position in 2001, he became founding editor of the Greenwich Citizen, a Brooks Community newspaper. He had a seven-year ride, with many accolades along the way, until Hearst bought the paper in 2008 and his position was eliminated in a company-wide scaleback.

Today, Harrison freelances as a writer, and has contributed to dozens of publications, and he claims authorship of two other books. In 1974, he self-published “Twenty Five Years Plus One”, about Fairfield University’s men’s basketball team, and in 2008, The History Press released “Connecticut Baseball: The Best of the Nutmeg State”, now in its second printing.

But he’s perhaps proudest of his latest state basketball-focused book effort. “One chapter is dedicated to players, including Calvin Murphy, who was the only Connecticut native to be inducted as a player into the Basketball Hall of Fame,” he said. “Others include Vin Baker, who played in four straight All-Star Games in the mid-90s, ‘Super’ John Williamson, and John Bagley.”

Relevant to Fairfield, Harrison said, “Roger Ludlowe High School won the 1954-1955 New England Championship at Boston Garden. The coach was Bob Seirup and Harry Hyra was a star player. Hyra’s daughter is actress Meg Ryan.”

Harrison summed up, “I think the book will introduce young people to how important basketball has been in our state for many years. It didn’t begin with Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma. There’s a rich history here and I hope readers enjoy discovering it.”

Don Harrison will be signing copies of his new book at Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, on Saturday, December 10, from 1-4p.m.

Santa Brightens Pancake Breakfast at Fairfield Grace Church

2011-12-19T16:36:00.000-05:00

Santa Brightens Pancake Breakfast at Fairfield Grace Church

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/3/11

Fairfield, CT – The pancakes were slung by the serving counter with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Indeed, parishioners and parents of children that attend the nursery school at Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church at 1089 Fairfield Woods Road got their wish Saturday morning when the jolly fellow put in an appearance at the facility’s annual pancake breakfast. With Mrs. Claus by his side and dressed all in fur, through the back door he came with a bound and hearty “Ho, ho, ho!”

The breakfast, initiated a quarter century ago by long-time church members Peter and Jan Trifiatis, also offered eggs and sausage, as well as a craft workshop for children, who worked like little elves to make ornaments, tabletop decorations and prepare reindeer snacks.

Besides the social nature of the event, the breakfast served a more noble cause: unwrapped toys and donations were being accepted to benefit the church mission and needy local families.

“The breakfast captures the spirit of the holidays, and giving, loving spirit of Fairfield Grace,” shared Karen Price, the Director of the Fellowship Team and the breakfast coordinator.

The spacious Fellowship Hall, with a Christmas tree and donations counter at one end, families chatting and eating together, and the busy kitchen, certainly communicated all that and more.

Southport Smartie Helps Couples Stay Connected

2011-12-19T16:32:00.000-05:00

Southport Smartie Helps
Couples Stay Connected:

Trevor Crow a leading local voice

in marriage & family therapy

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

12/3/11

Southport, CT – You name the degree, she’s got it, and she’s applying those credentials in many different ways to help couples in crisis stay connected.

Southporter Trevor Crow, best known as a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice and the host of a radio talk show titled “Keeping Connected with Trevor Crow”, has seen an uptick in couples’ crises on the local level, which she attributes to economic hard times and the resulting pressure families are under right now.

“It’s incredibly difficult for families and couples to manage their fear and anxiety and not turn against each other,” she said in a recent sit-down with Patch. “The result is a lot of divorce, a lot of affairs and a lot of stress in marriage. My approach is to get couples to recognize the issues and their own deep feelings. Often, men are reluctant to voice their fears, particularly to their partners, and women get even more afraid because they don’t want to hear it. It’s critical for couples to connect and mutually discuss their deeper feelings, and soothe each other.”

Crow holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wellesley College, Bachelor of Science Degree from Parsons School of Design, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University. She is also certified in emotionally-focused therapy and a supervisor-in-training in same, with a designation to teach other Master’s candidates. In addition, she serves on the advisory board for the Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program at Fairfield University, sits on the board at Pequot Library and is a single mother of two children, Duncan and Olivia, ages 12 and 15.

It’s a full plate, to be sure, but her career and family are her passion. “I became interested in my field because of a former husband and my role as stepmom to his three children,” she related, “including Michelle Crow, my 22-year-old ex-stepdaughter, who resides with me often and plays a big role in the lives of my biological children.”

She continued, “I knew there were a lot of issues around step-parenting and started reading about it. When I had my own kids, I became even more interested in parenting and relationships.”

As a result, she went back to school to get credentialed and started her practice in Southport in 2006. The radio show followed in September 2010. “I felt there’s a lot of good news about relationships, strategies to manage them and ways to understand each other better.”

Now, through her practice and show, she wants to put out a message that there’s hope and the possibility for healing. “Deep down, every one of us is yearning to be known, understood and have a feeling of belonging, to be heard,” she said. “That’s what successful couples do for each other.”

You can catch Trevor Crow’s “Keeping Connected” radio talk show every Tuesday at 10 a.m. live (re-broadcast at 8 p.m.) on WDJZ 1530 AM. For more information, visit www.djzradio.com To call in, dial 203-367-4395. You can also visit Crow’s own website www.trevorcrow.com, connect to her blog through her website or find her on Twitter at trevorcrowlmft.

See-Saw-a-Thon Rocks Donations for Magnet School Playground

2011-12-06T08:38:00.000-05:00

See-Saw-a-Thon Rocks Donations
for Magnet School Playground

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/1/11

Fairfield, CT -- They came, they see-sawed and conquered any doubts that Sacred Heart University students would do their part to help raise funds for a new playground project in Bridgeport.

Hosted in the school’s University Commons room by the ten Greek fraternities and sororities at SHU’s 5151 Park Avenue campus, the 24-hour See-Saw-a-thon kicked off at 6p.m. Wednesday night and concludes at 6p.m. Thursday evening. A series of activities, which the school’s Student Events Team helped coordinate, was planned around the clock, including such fun as four full-sized wooden see-saws, a life-sized Operation game, basketball shootout, Rollerball game and moonbounce featuring Twister board game patterns imprinted on it. All was set up for the purpose of raising funds toward the $70,000 needed to build a new playground at the Six-to-Six Interactive Magnet School in Bridgeport. As of 8a.m. Thursday morning, over $7,800 had been collected.

“The theme of the event is ‘Greek Life Goes Back to Give Back’”, explained Meg Campbell, president of the Panhellenic Council, the governing body for SHU’s sororities. “So we’ve featured classic childhood games, as well as a raffle for gift items contributed by local businesses.”

Campbell, who is also a Phi Sigma Sigma sorority sister, added, “We all have our individual philanthropies for which we raise money, but we wanted to come together to make a bigger impact in the Bridgeport community.”

The playground need was obvious according to Dan Miller, a Delta Tau Delta fraternity brother and philanthropy chairman. “We went to visit the school and found that the playground was splintering and graffiti covered, and nothing worked.”

Funds were primarily driven through the efforts of the 585 members of the Greek Life community at SHU, who were each asked to raise at least $15. Additional funds were being captured through raffle ticket sales and a portion of proceeds from t-shirt purchases.

Contributions to the effort can be made by visiting www.sacredheart.edu/seesaw.cfm or sending cash or a check made out to Sacred Heart University to SHU, Office of Student Life, Attn: Greek Life Goes Back to Give Back, 5151 Park Ave., Fairfield, CT 06825.

Holiday Express Train Show Chugs into Fairfield

2011-12-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

Holiday Express Train Show Chugs into Fairfield

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/2/11

Fairfield, CT – As the Community Tree electrified the night Friday evening and revelers gradually wandered from the festivities on the Town Green, they followed a candlelit path to yet another highlight of the holiday season kickoff: the Holiday Express Train Show.

Set up in the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the annual exhibit, coordinated by Fairfield-based Housatonic Model Railroad Club and the Connecticut G-Scalers Club, offered working model trains winding around a spectacularly decorated tree and through detail-precise holiday scenery. A mini camera mounted on one train even offered a train’s-eye perspective, with live footage broadcast on an adjacent monitor.

Parents and children alike took delight in the display, peering along lengths of track as locomotives rounded corners and zoomed down straightaways.

For many adults, the show was a fond remembrance of their own childhood train sets. For children, it was an inspiration setting off a desire for their own home sets, which they hoped to find underneath their Christmas trees.

Private Homes Open Doors for Holiday House Tour

2011-12-06T08:27:00.000-05:00

Private Homes Open Doors for Holiday House Tour

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/4/11

Westport, CT – Armed with maps, overviews, a bit of curiosity and the spirit of the season, over 400 people signed on to tour five private local homes Sunday afternoon that were part of the Westport Historical Society’s 25th annual Holiday House Tour.

Each home was trimmed in festive décor and manned by docents or the homeowners themselves, who provided background about the history and features of each structure. Visitors came from all over the state to see the various architectural and interior design tastes represented.

“We like doing these house tours every year,” said Linda Wixted, who traveled down from the Southbury area with her friends Helen Fernandes and Tina Aucella. They listened attentively to docent Dutch Wynkoop in what was once a calfing room in a bank-barn style home at 3 Charbeth Lane, owned by Pam and Jerry Singer. The couple has owned the home and an adjacent carriage house, located a stone’s throw from the grounds of the Fairfield Hunt Club, for the past eight years.

The barn home, built into the bank of a hill and once used to store hay and wheat, has been done over in pastels and carries accents reminiscent of Provence. It sits on a “Long Lot” that was granted by the town of Fairfield to Richard Osborn for his service in the Pequot Indian War.

Cars jammed the street outside 9 Greenbrier Road, the second home on the Tour, owned by Nicole and Dan Donovan. A small stone family home built by Frazier Forman Peters in 1930 was the original structure, and was occupied until recently by Dan’s mother Mollie, a long-time volunteer at WHS, who recently passed. The Donovans added a massive stone and clapboard extension in 2007, complete with a soaring foyer, living room with marble fireplace, dining room with a tray ceiling, spacious kitchen with marble countertops, sunny breakfast room and many more rooms and features that relegated the original quarters to a guest wing.

“Our home evokes family, and we really live in it,” said Nicole. “We both grew up here, went to Staples and the kids now go to school here.”

Thirty-seven Red Coat Road was also abuzz with visitors, who padded through the elegantly appointed manor-style home owned by designer Kelley Taylor and her husband Stuart Aronson. “Our home was virtually undecorated four months ago,” said Aronson. “When we decided to put it on the tour, Kelley went into action.”

The author of Holiday Decorating for Dummies, Taylor said she wanted to make the large space (over 11,000 square feet) warm and inviting. “I like to mix a lot of high with low,” she said, “like IKEA frames hanging above Lillian August couches, or Costco tree tip decorations on our tree, next to imported Austrian glass ornaments. I shop everywhere from consignments and Target to a lot of small local stores.”

A more modest-sized Tour stop was 140 Compo Road South, a pre-1700s farmhouse converted to a saltbox in 1897. Alanna and Damon Conte, a contractor, purchased the home in 1999 and immediately began restoring and updating it and an adjacent barn. Ceiling beams are exposed throughout and wide plank wood floors provide a rustic base. To the older features, the Contes have incorporated modern flourishes that mesh in style.

Damon held court in the barn this day, displaying artifacts – bottles, tools, newspapers – found in and around the property. He also told of the visit of Helen Leptic, an elder woman who was born and raised in the home and was able to provide much detail about its history. Leptic’s stepfather had conducted the 1897 renovation.

The endpoint to the Tour was 32 Sasco Creek Road, an 1865 Gothic Revival owned by Cheryl Sugel, of Millie Rae’s of Westport. Highlights included a parlor with Victorian-era furniture and a working wood burning stove. A new addition off the kitchen featured a dining area, fireplace and lounging space.

Post-tour, a Twilight Soiree was scheduled to take place late afternoon at 61 Maple Avenue South, a new Heike Hein transitional farmhouse where wine, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction were to be featured.

CTbites.com Connecting People through Food

2011-12-06T08:23:00.000-05:00

CTbites.com Connecting People through Food:

Blog site evolves into a portal for “insider” culinary experiences

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

12/1/11

Fairfield County, CT – Cooked up by a Westport mom with a fever for fine food and wine, CTbites.com is taking the Connecticut food world by storm, providing local foodies with “insider” access to celebrity chefs, interactive workshops, exclusive dinners, tips for dining in and out and much more.

Stephanie Webster, founder and editor-in-chief of CTbites and a mother of three girls under the age of 11, sat down with Patch recently to talk about her background, the inspiration for her now-comprehensive service and short-term plans.

“I grew up in Manhattan where you eat out all the time,” 42-year-old Webster began. “Professionally, I was the photo editor for Travel Holiday magazine, then a web developer and strategist for branding agency Siegel & Gale. Then I had some kids and my husband David got recruited to Microsoft in Seattle. I went kicking and screaming, as a New Yorker who thinks New York is the only place to live.”

But Seattle was an eye-opener and Webster quickly grew to love it. “It’s such a foodie city, with its proximity to incredible farms and vineyards,” she said. “I couldn’t help but get into the food scene. It was where I was first exposed to underground ‘gypsy’ dinners, too, where you get on a list and the day of an event they tell you where to meet. These were often at someone’s house where a famous chef prepared the meals.”

By the time she returned to the east coast, to Westport, in June 2008, she was completely smitten with the whole scene of food and chefs. But having never really lived in a suburb before, she didn’t think she would find much of interest locally cuisine-wise.

“I started seeking out good food and was the person friends would always come to for restaurant recommendations,” she related. “I realized I was on to something and started putting information online, as a blog. ‘CTbites’ was really a double entendre at the time. I’d do a posting every few days.”

As time passed, Webster wanted to do more, and for her blog to be not just one person’s view. “People started coming to me,” Webster said and she enlisted the help of friends who were good writers. “When we do a restaurant review, it’s collaborative, with four to six people in the group, trying everything.”

Today, the site is still structurally a blog, but because of all the contributions and elements, it feels like a website, which is garnering 130,000 monthly page views from some 28,000 unique visitors. There are several main content buckets: Eating Out offers restaurant reviews, Eating In provides recipes and home cooking tips, Ingredients is focused on products and artisans, and Kids Bites encompasses lunchbox food recommendations and family restaurant suggestions. Notably, Kids Bites content is crafted by three writers under the age of 12.

Photography on the site is key and a passion for Webster. “Food is very visual and photos are worth a thousand words,” she said.

Webster’s enterprise now involves ten regular contributors, with another five rotating through, plus two photographers in addition to herself. “I try to match a writer to a story, as every writer has their own voice,” she suggested. “I tell them to pretend they’re sitting across the table from a friend and to just tell it like it is.”

Now CTbites has taken the next leap, into live events. “We always wanted to do meet-ups and events and finally put that into action,” Webster said. “In October, with the help of Ellen Bowen, who started ‘Living Social Fairfield County’, an online-based restaurant discounts resource, and Amy Kundrat, who is my executive editor covering social media and community outreach, we organized a mixology workshop and food event at BarTaco in Portchester, New York.”

Webster reported that the debut was a big success and has resulted in plans for two like events a month going forward. In the near-term, this includes a December 7 wine & cheese event at Fairfield’s Barcelona, a menu preview at Fairfield’s Bonda in January and a barbeque masters workshop at Westport’s Bobby Q’s.

“There’s a lot of exciting stuff cooking, stay tuned,” chirped Webster.

Visit www.CTbites.com and go to Invites to purchase tickets to upcoming foodie events, and subscribe to its periodic newsletter for more news and information.

Westport Library Book Sale Draws Holiday Shoppers

2011-12-03T19:05:00.000-05:00

Westport Library Book Sale
Draws Holiday Shoppers

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

12/3/11

Westport, CT – The volumes were carefully chosen, neatly placed on tables row upon row, and in pristine condition -- highly appropriate as gift selections for the browsing holiday shopper.

So when the annual December book sale commenced at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Westport Public Library, 20 Jesup Road, locals with gift lists in hand swooped in en masse to grab up great bargains on not only books, but CDs and even a few paintings as well.

“We do this at this time of year as the books we select are very gift worthy,” said Mimi Greenlee, the library’s book sale chairman. “It’s a great early shopping opportunity. And the three oil paintings for sale were done by Joanne DeBergh, the late Westport/Weston artist, who had been a silent screen star.”

The halls in the lower level Joan and Smilow Wing, as well as the McManus Room, were packed with foot traffic as people perused book jackets, cradled selections or dropped volumes in tote bags they had brought for the occasion.

Town Tree Lighting Draws Hundreds of Families for Festive Fun

2011-12-03T19:01:00.000-05:00

Town Tree Lighting Draws Hundreds
of Families for Festive Fun

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/2/11

Fairfield, CT – Some compared the scene to a Norman Rockwell painting. Others to Bedford Falls in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” One mom told her youngster it was like New Year’s Eve. However you viewed it, it was a favorite town celebration – a joyous occasion uniting families in the spirit of Christmas.

On Friday evening, hundreds of area residents gathered together on Fairfield’s Town Hall Green to witness the annual tree lighting and partake in related festivities. The latter included the distribution of glo-light necklaces, free hot chocolate provided by the Town Youth Council and the singing of Christmas carols by students from the town’s three middle schools as well as Fairfield Warde High School.

All manner of headgear – elfin ears, antler attachments, Santa hats -- could be seen throughout the crowd and almost everyone held a glowing device, from headbands to light sabers and glow sticks.

Carol singers stood in rows along the front steps of Town Hall, which was bathed in light and adorned with wreaths in every window. Onlookers pressed against barricades opposite them, savoring their voices, which carried across the site through strategically positioned speakers.

As the choirs completed their performances, First Selectman Michael Tetreau said a few words of welcome, thanked all the organizers that made the event possible and introduced fellow town officials. He then led the collective countdown from ten whereupon the community evergreen, planted in 1921 by the Eunice Dennie Burr Chaper of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was illuminated.

Of course, there was an evening highlight yet to come, and that was the arrival of a certain jolly fellow called Santa, along with Mrs. Claus and assorted friends. Led by a fire department escort car, St. Nick rolled in atop Engine 2, waving to the crowd as the big red truck lumbered down the Old Post Road, sirens blaring and lights flashing. The entourage turned onto Beach Road and pulled up in front of Town Hall, perchance to meet and greet pie-eyed children.

In the minds of many, the holiday season had officially begun and the holiday tree, one of the tallest in the state, would stand as a beacon for all to admire through the merry season.

Christmas Tree Fest Kicks Off with Gala Preview

2011-12-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

Christmas Tree Fest Kicks Off

with Gala Preview

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

12/1/11

Fairfield, CT – The elves were hard at work all year, and made one final push this week, to fill from floor to ceiling The Burr Homestead with holiday décor in celebration of the 30th year of the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival.

The elves in this case are all the designers involved in crafting the elaborate ornaments, wreaths, tabletop items, garlands and more exhibited throughout the historic space at 739 Old Post Road, and over 200 volunteers who have given their time to tastefully decorate each of the themed rooms and coordinate the event.

On Thursday evening, several hundred select few had the opportunity to preview the fruits of their labor, enjoying a Gala Party complete with wine, hors d’ouevres and a silent auction. The soiree was the kickoff to the four-day festival, which is one of the leading holiday occasions in Fairfield.

Each year, the fest benefits a different local charity and, this year, all proceeds go to St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services in Trumbull, to help build a therapeutic pool serving children and adults with complex medical needs.

Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance Stepping Forward

2011-12-02T15:14:00.000-05:00

Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance

Stepping Forward

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Bridgeport News and

Fairfield Sun)

11/25/11

Fairfield, CT – A scrappy kid from Bridgeport’s east side with a love of and early encouragement in Irish dance now operates one of the largest academies of Irish dance in the region. The group has been taking top spots in leading competitions and is a fixture at Fairfield’s annual Irish Festival.

Moira Speer, the 30-year-old owner of Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance, which maintains a studio space at the Sportsplex@Fairfield, 85 Mill Plain Road, spoke with this correspondent at a recent practice session.

An early love of Irish dance

Speer, a pleasant thin-framed lass with long locks of blonde hair, was born in Virginia but moved to Bridgeport when she was three. She lived on Goddard Avenue on the Park City’s east side, a part of town she described as a “great area” as a kid growing up there in the early 1980s. “My brother and I had a lot of friends on the street and at the Multi-Cultural Magnet School where we had classes,” she said.

She was four years old when she was bitten by the Irish dance bug, taking instruction from Patty Lenihan of the Lenihan School of Irish Dance, conducted at the Gaelic-American Club of Fairfield. The school was then on the Post Road and is now located on Beach Road. Speer’s grandfather was president at the time. “My parents were just becoming members, learned about the lessons and asked me if I wanted to try,” she said.

Besides dancing at the Lenihan School, Speer and her younger brother Eamon, now 28, began dancing and performing at the Magnet School, every St. Patrick’s Day.

“I loved dancing from Day One, and only wanted to Irish dance, despite trying other activities like soccer, ballet and T-ball,” Speer said.

She began competing at local Feiseanna’s, which in ancient Ireland, were local festivals wherein storytellers, bards and balladeers would lead audiences in legends, stories, dance and song. These gatherings later gave rise to athletic and sporting competitions, including horse- and chariot-racing, as well as feats of strength and endurance.

Speer was a quick study and early talent. “I did really well and, from the beginner level, moved quickly through the ranks from Novice and Prizewinner to Preliminary Championship and Open Championship, the latter being the highest level, which I achieved at age 14. At that time, that was a pretty fast track,” she said.

“Riverdance”, the theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing that, in essence, tells the story of Irish culture and Irish immigration to America, was debuting in Europe then, and was a huge influence not only on Speer but on young people everywhere that had even a passing interest in dancing.

“It lit the world on fire,” she said of the show, “driving immense interest in Irish dance. For me, it was really exciting and fueled my drive even more.”

Speer attended the first show, in fact, when it came to the U.S. and debuted at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in mid-March 1996. An eight-week run had been scheduled, which completely sold out. Related merchandise sales for the phenomenon smashed Music Hall records to date.

“There were all sorts of celebrities in the audience and the show was really powerful – the dancing, the music, the rhythm… .so inspiring,” she said.

The show drove Speer to compete “first regionally, then nationally,” said Speer of the period that followed. “My biggest accomplishment was in 2002, when I placed 35^th at the World Championship in Scotland,” she said. “Over 150 top dancers from all over the world competed. I was one of the top 10 Americans.”

In 2005, no longer an upstart teen, Speer placed first in New England in the Senior Ladies 21+ category.

Speer steps into a new role

As she competed, Speer was also developing leadership skills. “From age 15 on, I was helping Patty at the school with instruction,” she said. “Eventually, I got to a point where I wanted to branch out on my own, and so established Sheeaun Academy, in 2008.”

She began giving lessons in her house and doing after-school programs. “Little by little, the student base grew and now there are over 100 students from Fairfield, Trumbull, Madison and Stonington in the group,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges to date for the rising academy was the recent New England Oireachtas, a regional Irish dance competition held November 18-20 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. The event, which has been conducted for the past 36 years, is hosted by the Irish Dancing Teachers Association of New England (IDTANA). The association operates under the auspices of AnCoimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (the Irish Dancing Commission) of Dublin, Ireland.

Twenty-four students from the Academy, ages five through 16, participated in the competition. It was their second consecutive appearance – in 2010, nine of 11 Academy participants placed, with one getting first place in her age group. “It was a wonderful debut,” said Speer.

This year, the results were even more impressive: three were in the top 5, six in the top 10, and 12 in the top 20. Contests were divided by age, level, individual and group, with between 40 and 60 competitors in each category.

“For me and my teaching partner, Frank Rupp, who has also danced since he was a youth, it’s amazing to send your own students to competition and continue the Irish dance tradition,” said Speer.

Inspired, enthusiastic students

Eleven-year-old Fairfielder Finula Milici, a Sheeaun Academy member, shows the same spirit and drive as Speer at the same age. Nursing an ankle injury and looking on from the sidelines as her younger sister Bella and other classmates went through their paces at their Sportsplex training space recently, Milici described some of the technical aspects of Irish dance.

“During dance competitions and performances, we wear curly wigs,” she said. “The tradition started when girls went to church and would curl their hair. Church is on Sunday for most people and so are competitions. If you showed up for competition without your hair curled, people would assume you didn’t go to church.”

In Irish dance, arms are typically held rigidly to the sides and behind the back. Milici explained why: “Back in the old days in Ireland and England, classes were very popular and crowded and there wasn’t much room to move around.”

Milici, like Speer, began Irish dancing when she was four, at Greenway Academy in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. She was inspired by a television program. “I used to watch ‘The Wiggles’ and, on a St. Patrick’s Day special, there was a dinosaur Irish dancing,” she recalled. “I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. My mom signed me and my sister up. It was different from all the dancing I’d ever seen and the costumes were cool. When you’re young, it’s not so competitive. As you get older, it gets harder. Kids are grouped by talent, so a thirteen-year-old and a seven-year-old could be in the same class.”

Milici is a sixth grader at Roger Ludlowe Middle School. On a local level, Academy classmates are also from Saugatuck Elementary, St. Thomas Aquinas and Roger Sherman Elementary.

SIDEBAR

Irish Dance steeped in history

Irish Dance has gained great popularity in the United States and around the world. It may have begun among the Druids, who danced in religious rituals honoring the oak tree and sun. When the Celts arrived in Ireland from central Europe over 2,000 years ago, they brought their own folk dances. The Anglo-Norman conquest in the twelfth century brought Norman customs to Ireland. The Carol was a popular dance in which the leader sang and was surrounded by a circle of dancers who replied with the same song.

Three Irish dances were noted in the sixteenth century: the Irish Hey, the Rinnce Fada (long dance) and the Trenchmore. They were often performed in the great halls of newly built castles, to greet royalty arriving from foreign lands and at wakes.

In the late 1700s, it was common for pairs of dancers to hold a handkerchief between them. Dancing was accompanied by music played on bagpipes and the harp.

During the 18th century, the dancing master appeared in Ireland. He was a wandering dancing teacher who traveled from village to village, teaching dance to peasants. Group dances, with very high standards, were developed by the masters, with gifted pupils given solo performance opportunities.

Different styles of Irish dance developed across Ireland, which today are illustrated by jigs, reels, hornpipes, sets, half sets, polkas and step dances. The colorful costumes commemorate the clothing of the past, with each school of dancing exhibiting its own costume. Dresses are based on Irish peasant dresses worn two hundred years ago and are adorned with hand-embroidered Celtic designs, copies of the Tara brooch and capes down the back. Men’s clothes are less embellished, consisting of a plain kilt and jacket, with a folded cloak draped from the shoulder.

Arts Community Spurs Bridgeport’s Economic Rise

2011-12-02T15:11:00.000-05:00

Arts Community Spurs

Bridgeport’s Economic Rise

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Bridgeport News)

11/13/11

Bridgeport, CT – The promises of revitalization in the Park City have been many, to the extent that local residents, like the townspeople in the fairy tale “The Boy That Cried Wolf”, have tuned out reports of new project proposals. But one faction that talked the talk is now walking the walk and has not only taken root in Bridgeport but is drawing outsiders in droves and changing perceptions about the once-vibrant center of manufacturing and culture.

In mid-November, artists, craftsmen and musicians collaborated to present Bridgeport Art Trail, a four-day event with activities and exhibits at 26 distinct sites. Many of these locations are factory spaces that had been abandoned, but have since been reclaimed and repurposed as galleries and artist collectives. They are fast gaining attention and making it o.k. again to visit Bridgeport – long perceived by outsiders as a demilitarized zone where the unknown lurks. And while changing perceptions, these artist occupiers and their landlords are also contributing to property tax coffers and helping pull in a new stream of sustained revenue. The American Fabrics Building, built in 1912 at 1069 Connecticut Avenue, is one of these reclaimed, renovated spaces, now occupied by 30 artisans throughout its four levels. It’s a model success story, as told by the artists and visionaries that call it home.

AmFab: A locomotive of change

“I had a long conversation with a woman from Pennsylvania who left home at 2 a.m. to be here a half hour early for Denyse’s quilt sale, to get a specific quilt,” said Brec Morgan, painter, visionary and one of the first artists to occupy the AmFab building. “Denyse” is internationally acclaimed quilter and author Denyse Schmidt, who also occupies the building and was a strong draw for other artist move-ins.

“That’s a seven-hour drive,” Morgan continued. “It’s a testament not only to Denyse’s level of quality but also her commitment to the city of Bridgeport. She chose to be here.”

Morgan related the background of the AmFab site. “The previous owner had over $1 million due in back taxes and the city took over the building in 2007,” he said. “Half a dozen artists were here at that time. We went to the Economic Development agency and made a big point of wanting them to find a developer that would honor our commitment, not kick us out and appropriately renovate the building. It was falling apart and out of code, and lacked certain facilities. The city expressed our desires and told the developer, West Rock Property Management (of Yonkers, New York), they had to negotiate with us.”

West Rock came in and there was an initial meeting. However, the developer made it clear they would do what they could but thought it best to bring the building down and make it parking for one-level light industrial warehousing on the same property, according to Morgan.

“I told them if they brought the building up to code and invested in it, the other artists and I would solicit fellow artists to fill the upper three floors,” he said. “West Rock’s principal, Jason Freidland, agreed that, if filled, it would be economically viable. He gave us a year and started work. We put out the word and got him leases on all three floors within six months – 30 artists from six, with a waiting list.”

Morgan recalled, “Freidland came to my studio with his family that first year and told his wife that I was the guy that convinced him to save the building and that it was one of his best decisions. I responded, ‘He was brave for taking the risk to put his money into it.’ His response was, ‘Anybody can put up money, but not everybody has good ideas.’”

A broad representation of craftsmen

AmFab now houses painters, illustrators, photographers, sculptors, jewelry makers, quilters, ceramics makers, printers and more. Forty-six-year-old Neil Pabian, a woodturner that makes and sells handmade custom pens, laser engravings and laser photos, is one of the resident artisans.

Though Pabian lives in adjacent Fairfield, he said, “I grew up in the north end of Bridgeport. I’ve been doing woodturning on and off since I was 14. I was working in half of a one-bay garage at my house – about 120 square feet. I became unsociable and needed to get out and have more space. I started looking around and found rents for storefronts in Fairfield were ungodly. Someone suggested I look at artists’ lofts. I found AmFab through Craig’s List. I looked at a couple spaces then contracted for my current 600-square-foot workshop in May 2010.”

Pabian said the space, with its 16-foot-high ceilings, heating and big windows, is great and that he both makes his products there and uses it as a retail showroom.

The woodworker harbors one peeve though. “If Bridgeport is trying to promote itself as an arts town, it needs to give artists a tax break,” he said. “They give GE a tax break. They have to work with the artists, and have for the most part.”

Pabian said their building does an annual open studios event, which is part of Art Trail and is a good way to attract outsiders who have traditionally avoided Bridgeport. “I feel safe in this neighborhood, and every year things are getting better.”

Outsiders drawn to Bridgeport’s creative engine

Shopper Audrie Bidwell came down from Ellington, CT, with her friend Shannon Pankratz, from Vernon, to experience Art Trail and see the many artists and participating sites. “I would come to buy from Denyse Schmidt then discovered the show,” she said. “I brought my husband last year and walked all around. This year, knowing what to expect, I brought Shannon. Quilting is an art helping to spearhead an economic resurgence in Bridgeport. And I like that Denyse chose the city to live and work here. You wouldn’t think of Bridgeport for art or quilts. Typically, you tell someone you’re going to Bridgeport and they say, ‘Be careful’, and you get raised eyebrows.”

Pankratz compared the city to Bethlehem, PA, where she went to school. “It’s a similar atmosphere – a city where there used to be something great,” she said. “Then the industry dried up. In Bethlehem, it was steel. Now they’re trying to refurbish and rebuild. My husband and I just love stuff like this. If we can buy something for our home that’s local and handmade, that’s great and helps the local economy.”

Rona Ramos, from New Haven, was another who ventured to the Park City. Ramos had been to AmFab’s open studios event two years ago and was excited to return. “I’m comfortable in Bridgeport,” she said. “Artist spaces like this are great. And if you’re an artist, it’s probably inspiring to see other artists’ work in other mediums.” She continued, “It’s a good thing to revitalize spaces and arts and crafts is a good way to attract people. Handmade local items have become very popular and sought after as people return to simpler ways of life, spurred by a bad economy. You also appreciate a handmade item more and the work that goes into it.”

SIDEBAR

Internationally renowned quilter Denyse Schmidt proud to call Bridgeport home

“I used to be in the old Remington Arms building, across town, and was a little more active then in talking to people in Economic Development,” said quilter Denyse Schmidt. “But I got frustrated and had my hands full. Now, for me to be here (the American Fabrics Building, where she maintains a thriving showroom and office), with my international profile, is important for the movement that’s happening. It’s enough to be here and talk about it. Our production labels even say, ‘Factory built in Bridgeport U.S.A.’ and I have photos of the building on my website.”

Schmidt says she believes in Bridgeport, and conducts workshops from her space that get attendees from all over the world. She also drives visits to other attractions in the city.

“When I first came to Connecticut, I lived in East Norwalk,” she said. “I didn’t know about Bridgeport. When I discovered it, it seemed familiar from the industrial area of Worcester, Massachusetts, where I was from. There are tons of possibilities here, and factories to be repurposed.”

Perceptions may be one of the toughest challenges. “My friends from Fairfield County have been hesitant to visit Bridgeport,” she said. “Reputations can be pervasive – they take time to change. But since moving here, things have come a long way. More and more people are filling the buildings – Knowlton Street, The Nest, downtown. The momentum is building. And there’s so much to offer – location, the history of the buildings. As the regeneration continues, it’s important that it happens from the inside out – not big box stores – that takes advantage of what makes Bridgeport special, not a cookie-cutter of Baltimore. Things are on the right track.”

WHS Daffodils a Lasting Tribute to a Dedicated Volunteer

2011-12-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

WHS Daffodils a Lasting Tribute

to a Dedicated Volunteer

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/19/11

Westport, CT – As they dug shallow trenches along fences, troughs around tree trunks and pits along pathways, and gently placed daffodil bulbs into them, they fondly recalled their dear departed friend.

In early May, 86-year-old Mollie Donovan, a long-time volunteer at Westport Historical Society who developed, mounted, documented and promoted over 50 exhibits over several decades, lost her courageous battle with spinal cancer. As a lasting remembrance, Joni Andrews, WHS past president and Hidden Garden Tour leader, ordered 1,000 Narcissus Long Trumpet daffodil bulbs and organized a team of Donovan’s friends and family to plant them around the Historical Society’s 25 Avery Place property on Saturday.

Among those on hand were Donovan’s sisters, Eve Potts of Essex and Marion Morra of Milford. “Mollie lived on Daybreak Lane here in Westport for 35 years,” said Potts. “She was probably the most dedicated volunteer WHS has ever had. She knew all the artists and writers, and was a happy, funny lady. She could always find something to laugh about. Even when she was ill, she still managed to come down here. Her memorial service was held on these grounds, with her 12 grandchildren, four children, all her nieces and nephews and hundreds of area residents in attendance.”

Potts continued, “She loved daffodils, and spring. We thought planting bulbs this fall for the spring would be a fitting memorial. She was a big gardener. This is really a living memorial – we’ll remember her for years to come as the flowers bloom every spring.”

Westporter David Rubinstein echoed Eve’s sentiments. “I worked for years with Molly, on the Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC),” he said. “We were co-chairs together for 10 years. This is a perfect tribute to a remarkable person. She was absolutely dedicated to the cultural heritage of Westport and had the most amazing nature – always cheerful, and got things done, never complained.”

Guiding the planting, WHS Executive Director Sue Gold contributed, “We always described her as unsinkable. She accomplished her goals and motivated and inspired all of us that worked with her. One of her many traits was an attention to detail, and keeping organized with schedules and timetables. She was a writer, too, so handled the p.r., working closely with graphic artists and professionals.”

Kneeling in a garden bed alongside Kim Cooper, Westporter Ellen Naftalin joined the chorus singing Donovan’s praises. “She volunteered for everything,” she said. As a testament to her spirit, Naftalin noted that WAAC gives out an award called The Mollie, which recognizes the biggest volunteers in the arts category. Naftalin said Donovan also started the WSPAC (Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection) and was responsible for the placement of art collections all throughout town and the community.

“There was nothing she couldn’t do… or wouldn’t do,” Naftalin suggested.

SHU Luxembourg MBA Students Tour Middle East and Asia

2011-12-02T09:28:00.000-05:00

SHU Luxembourg MBA Students

Tour Middle East and Asia

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

11/4/11

There’s textbook learning and then there’s the experience of being directly immersed in the subject matter. The latter is what 18 students enrolled in the MBA Finance program at Sacred Heart University’s Luxembourg campus experienced this past summer when they took a whirlwind tour of the Middle East and Asia to take an economic temperature reading.

Don Molner, an American who lives with his German wife and three young children in Trier, Germany, where he was once stationed, was one of the 18. Molner retired from the air force in 2009 after 27 years and was looking to transition from military to civilian life. “Sacred Heart’s was the only English MBA program in the region,” he discovered after an online search.

Molner started classes at SHU in Fall 2010 with a goal of learning more about corporate finance. Every two years, that campus offers an overseas trip as an elective. “The Middle East and Asia are emerging economies,” he said. “When studying global finance, these are key areas.”

Led by Professor Alfred Steinherr, the two-week trip took place July 2-16. “What was interesting about our group is that they were from four different continents, 11 different countries and many different career backgrounds,” Molner said.

The first four days were spent in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. “They have a big problem in the housing industry there. The financial crisis of 2008 left a lot of vacant real estate inventory,” Molner said. “There’s also a big discussion about what to do after oil.”

In Dubai, the group visited DP World, the largest global marine terminal operator, with facilities that are 15km long, and the Dubai Chamber, which is trying to expand its financial services to attract clients from Abu Dhabi, the source of a majority of Dubai’s GDP. They also visited the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Burj al Arab Hotel. “The Burj al Arab is supposedly the world’s only 7-star hotel,” Molner said. “When they build something here, it’s going to be the biggest and best. It’s not about money, but country pride. They’ve always lived in the shadow of Saudi Arabia.”

In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the U.A.E., the class toured the Mall of the Emirates, the world’s largest mall, which contains a ski slope. They also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. “It accommodates 40,000 people,” said Molner. “We had to take off our shoes; the women had to cover up.”

Molner remarked that 90% of people in the U.A.E. are ex-patriots and the other 10% are mostly young natives who are given a free house, free utilities and a monthly stipend. The endowments have created problems in that, not surprisingly, the young don’t want to work. “Twenty-three percent of the young are unemployed; 34% haven’t completed high school,” Molner said.

A four-day stay in Beijing brought more insights, with tours of the Bank of China, where the group got a briefing on banking policy, and the U.S. and Luxembourg Embassies, among key sites. “A major portion of the discussion was about protection of intellectual property,” he said. “When a company wants to start production in China, they have to provide in-depth details about their operations and products. By the time the approval comes in, a Chinese company is already making your product – they’ve stolen the idea. They believe everyone should have access to it.”

The next stop was Bangkok, Thailand, with visits to the Asian Development Bank, focused on regional enhancement, and Chulalongkorn University, where international business professors explained how the country weathered the financial storm.

The final leg of the journey was Mumbai, India. The most impactful takeaways there were the “grotesque” poverty, extreme pollution and a service called Childline, which functions as a 24/7 emergency helpline for children in need of care or protection. The latter are in great jeopardy: “Six to seven million kids are sexually abused, 72 million ages 5 to 14 have no basic access to education,” Molner said.

Reflecting back on the trip, Molner concluded, “The entities we visited provided just a small snapshot of the current happening within each country. The trip cemented the learning experience.”

The Voice Is Making Itself Heard

2011-12-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

The Voice Is Making Itself Heard:

Fairfield ad agency on the climb

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

11/17/11

Fairfield, CT – The concept came to Matthew Hallock in his sleep and now the Fairfield-based ad agency he founded is one of the hottest shops in the region.

Located in a ranch-style house at 170 Brookfield Avenue, in a mixed-use/commercial area of town, The Voice boasts eight full-time employees and two paid interns. It’s a diverse group, so broad in ethnic representation it has been named a top business in America for three years running by DiversityBusiness.com. Staffers have a wide range of skills allowing the shop to tackle most any marketing or advertising challenge in any medium. The agency’s forte, however, is creative, focused in the online/digital world. The Voice, in fact, has developed a reputation for high-end, content-rich online solutions. This includes websites, Flash demos, keynote presentations and rich internet applications.

Computer Associates, the world’s largest independent software vendor, is a leading client for which the agency has fulfilled over 500 projects. Other large clients include Emerson Network Power and the NFL. The shop has a solid stable of local clients as well, including Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, High On the Hog Catering in Milford and Investment Capital Partners in Fairfield.

While the agency was literally born overnight, it was cooking over the years as Hallock rose through the ranks from freelance writing to creative and account management.

Born in New York City, 49-year-old Hallock said he always wanted to be a writer, though there were no family members that had pursued the craft to influence that aim. His father was a VP in personnel for an international paper company, in fact, and they bounced around a lot from New Jersey, to Mississippi, and then Pelham, New York. Writing, literature and reading were always a focus, and continued to be a target as he earned his B.A. in English from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton in 1984. There, he wrote for Pipe Dream, the school paper, and, in his senior year, interned at a local radio station writing 25 radio commercials a week.

After graduating, Hallock stayed on at the station as its assistant director of continuity, getting spots on the air and continuing to write copy. In 1985, he then moved back to New York City to “make my fame and fortune in advertising,” as he put it.

His first foothold, as a secretary in the research department at Grey Advertising, was not exactly his pie in the sky job. “It was the driest of the dry,’ he said about the position, which involved typing up statistics and creating tables on research results. At the same time, he was taking night classes at the School of Visual Arts, developing his portfolio and freelancing at other agencies.

Along the line, too, he became a reporter for the largest paper in Queens – the Western Queens Gazette. “I was THE sports department,” he said, doing a weekly column, taking photos and covering area high school, college, Catholic and recreation league team action.

In 1991, he landed a spot as a junior copywriter at Adler Boschetto Peebles, a mid-size ad agency with about 150 people. He worked on accounts like CIT Group, Business Week Magazine and Manufacturers Hanover, then ran the creative group on The National Network (TNN) and Country Music Television (CMT). The experience sharpened his management style and the work became a meal ticket that attracted the attention of agency Ryan Drossman, which tapped him to run the Bear Stearns account in the late 90s.

After marrying in 1997, he earned his Masters Degree in American Studies at C.U.N.Y., started teaching the history of advertising and design at the School of Visual Arts and a seminar program at Yale, and moved to the creative team at the Keiler agency in Farmington, CT.

“I began noticing that kids coming out of college didn’t know how to get into the business or what would be expected of them and that agencies were frustrated with often ill-prepared recruits,” he said.

The need for a bridge between higher education and the advertising business was the driver behind The Voice, which came to Hallock in a dream in March 2001. He found a space in downtown Bridgeport near McLevy Green and rolled up his sleeves. “I had four walls, no windows, no clients, a wife, two kids and a mortgage,” he said.

But clients – Playhouse on the Green, The Klein Theater, Bridgeport Bluefish – happened, in-roads were made with area colleges for intern talent and, ultimately, in 2008, Hallock found the Fairfield location. The space features a photo studio that doubles as a seminar and meeting room, open-flow work spaces, a kitchen and two rooms that are rented to interns on staff.

“I didn’t start this for revenue,” said Hallock. “I did it to serve other people and give them entry. To see it succeed is fulfilling. I do feel like we have a higher calling. It gets you out of bed in the morning.”

Fairfield Ludlowe “Block Party” Aids CancerCare

2011-12-02T09:24:00.000-05:00

Fairfield Ludlowe “Block Party”

Aids CancerCare

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

11/19/11

Fairfield, CT – Fairfield Ludlowe High School became a LEGO emporium Saturday as host site of CancerCare’s family-oriented “Blocks of Love” fundraiser.

The third annual event offered LEGO sets for sale, play areas, a creation gallery, video games, cooking demos and an interactive dance screen. It drew thousands of area families who came to have a little fun while supporting CancerCare’s noble mission.

“Last year we raised $150,000 from the event and related sponsorships and pledges,” said Sandy Tripodi, regional director of the Connecticut office of CancerCare, “and over 3,000 people attended. We expect more today due to greater publicity.”

CancerCare is a national non-profit organization established to provide free support services to anyone impacted by a diagnosis of cancer – people with cancer, families of patients, children that have a parent with cancer. The group also does targeted outreach to the Latino population.

Support includes face-to-face, telephone and online counseling, educational programs in the community and workshops. Perhaps CancerCare is best known for its financial assistance program however.

“Last year, in Connecticut, we provided almost $250,000 in direct financial support,” said Tripodi, “for expenses like transportation, child care, home care, pain/comfort medications and medical supplies and equipment.”

With regard to the LEGO event concept, Tripodi said it rose out of the Fairfield community among parents and kids. “They decided to take a love of LEGO and turn it into something impactful,” she explained, adding that it was Cindy Citrone, on CancerCare’s board of managers, who founded the event and was a key player. The result is a comprehensive set-up with multiple areas of entertainment.

For instance, in the Builders Gallery, on display were over 320 LEGO creations built at home by families and brought to the school to display. Photos were taken of each builder and their creation and provided as keepsakes.

In another area, kids could pose for a photo with a costumed LEGO mini-figure character.

In the school’s cafeteria, families, like Jacques Depardieu of Easton and his children Jean-Luc, 7, and Catalina, 5, collaborated at lunch tables on making more creations from scratch. “Both my children love playing LEGOs,” he said. “Next year, we would like to be exhibitors. It’s really nice to see how something like this creates positive energy to raise money and awareness of cancer for families that are in need.”

The cafeteria also housed a mini LEGO layout of Fairfield as imagined and created by students at Fairfield County Day School, as well as a block of buildings constructed by 13-year-old Fairfield Woods Middle School student Jacob Rodier. The lad was a national LEGO building contest winner and has been designated a Master Builder.

“I’ve been building for 10 years,” he said. “I need to move all the time and when I’m building, it keeps my hands moving. I’m also really into architecture,” Rodier said.

Despite best efforts and all the energy and fundraising for the cause, cancer is still a formidable foe. “There was a 10-year-old boy participating last year who built a creation with his dad, who had been given a tough prognosis,” said Tripodi. “He knew that if he lost his dad, he would still have the LEGO creation that they built together. Sadly, the dad has since passed.”

CraftWestport Offers One-Stop Holiday Shopping

2011-12-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

CraftWestport Offers

One-Stop Holiday Shopping

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/19/11

Westport, CT – Cocktail table nibblies. Gooey baked goods. Fine art. Stylish jewelry. All this and more was represented at Staples High School Saturday, in the 36^th annual staging of CraftWestport, presented by the Westport Young Woman’s League (WYWL) and facilitated by show producer ArtRider.

In fact, over 160 vendors were registered at the event, showing and selling handcrafted items in a wide spectrum of mediums including clay, metal, leather, jewelry, glass, fiber, mixed media, painting, photography, drawing, printmaking and wood. Monies generated from admission fees and WYWL-hosted activities, including a bake sale and teacup raffle, are distributed among some 30 regional charities. The show runs a second day – Sunday, November 20, from 10a.m. to 5p.m. Admission is $9 (seniors are $8, children are free).

“We do two fundraisers a year – this craft show and our Minuteman race in the spring,” said Dot Baliban, chairperson for CraftWestport, about the WYWL. The non-profit claims 120 members and is housed at the Westport Woman’s Club on Imperial Avenue.

“It’s an extremely popular show,” Baliban continued, “ranked among the top 10 craft events on the east coast. We get a constant stream of visitors. Last year, 3,500 people attended and we raised $85,000. New this year, attendees get $1 off their ticket price if they bring in a canned good. All food collected will be donated to Al’s Angels, a Westport charity that provides children and families in the tri-state area suffering with life-threatening cancer and rare blood diseases with holiday meals and gifts.”

The event is divided into two main areas: a food/consumables section and arts/crafts hall. In the food area, over a dozen vendors showed and sampled products including seasonings, nuts, peanut brittle, bagel snaps and baked goods.

Greenwich resident Nina King was visiting a popular booth, The Nut Lady, manned by Bob Weinberg. “It’s a beautiful Saturday and fun to see all the products,” she said. “I always find interesting things.”

Margaret Ogdon, of Wilton, perused Shari Manfredi’s Merriweather’s skincare products, with her daughter Eve, 11, and Eve’s friend Shelby Connor. “This is an annual thing for us,” Ogdon said. “It’s a great place to buy gifts. And if I see something unusual that’s appropriate for Thanksgiving, I’ll purchase that, too.”

Connor chimed in, “I bought things for my mom and brother, for Christmas. It’s a fun time, especially with my best friend.”

It was vendor Debbie Sadowsky, of Mostly Myrtle’s specialty baked goods, first time participating in the show. “People are lovely, gracious and friendly,” she said. “There are great holiday shopping opportunities for visitors.”

CraftWestport is held at Staples High School, 70 North Avenue, Westport. For more information, visit www.wywl.com

SHU Panel Discusses Changing World Economies and Investment Risk Management

2011-12-02T09:18:00.002-05:00

SHU Panel Discusses Changing World
Economies and Investment Risk Management

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

9/27/11

Fairfield, CT – The world has turned – and changed dramatically – since the global financial crisis of 2008. Investors are still licking their wounds and sitting on their funds, hesitant about getting burned again. What’s happening now with various economies, what’s down the road and how can an investor minimize risk while reaping solid returns?

That’s what a panel of leading experts stepped in to speak on at Sacred Heart University Thursday evening, Sept. 15, addressing a full house of students and business people in the Schine auditorium with a presentation titled “Recent Developments in Financial Risk”.

The informative talk was moderated by SHU’s own Dr. Lucian Orlowski, chair and professor of the John F. Welch College of Business’ (WCOB) Department of Economics and Finance, who expressed, “We need a major rewrite in finance to account for risk forecasting.”

Working toward that goal was first speaker Dr. Bluford Putnam, chief economist of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group, who boasts a rich background in finance and is the author of several related books. His focus was “Integrating Risk Management into Asset Allocation: Era of Great Divergence.”

“What did we learn from the financial panic of 2008?” Putnam asked the gathering. “The pieces of the puzzle didn’t go back together so well. The system hasn’t come back like people thought it would. When you come out of a financial panic, you take risk down. You want to be less in debt. The U.S. is currently tapped out. Companies are back but sitting on their cash. The Federal funds rate is near zero and consumer price inflation is rising toward 4%.”

In studying the world’s economies, Putnam observed great divergence occurring between the U.S. and certain mature markets versus emerging economies, which puts the U.S. in jeopardy. “China and the U.S. are aging fast -- China in particular because of its “one child” policy. “In 2020, China will have an older population than the U.S.,” he said. “And yet, China has a rural to urban migration, which makes it seem younger. At the same time, Russia, whose population is shrinking, can use energy to exploit its growth potential.”

Putnam continued, “Brazil and India have well-managed central banks, and there’s a lot of consistency,” Putnam continued. “Mature countries’ interest rates are at 0% while emerging are at 7% or 8%. Countries like Brazil and China have a lot of the United States’ debt and what they do with it will determine what happens here. Europe issues debt in Euros, which is a problem as no central bank controls it.”

In short, Putnam summarized, “Emerging markets are coming up and doing well, and there are big swings between ‘risk on’ and ‘risk off’ investments. We’re not going back to the period of 1950 to 2008. 2008 was like a big party and we all collapsed in a heap and didn’t get up again.”

Directing his comment to the student body, Putnam cautioned, “I hope you’ve got job opportunities in other countries as there will be none here.”

On Putnam’s heels, Dr. Kwamie Dunbar, an assistant professor in the WCOB’s Department of Economics and Finance, focused on “Recent Developments in Financial Risk: Credit Risk Dynamics in Response to Fed Changes.”

Dunbar said that in 2007-2008, investors reassessed their risk, making it difficult for a number of highly leveraged firms to raise operational capital. The Fed hasn’t made things easier: there have been times when investors expect the Fed, when they meet, to do something and they don’t. “Investing gets affected each time,” he suggested.

Following that thought, Dunbar’s department colleague, Dr. Abu Amin, said that studies show there is a high probability of change in the Fed funds target rate during a week when there is an FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting. “When the Fed unexpectedly lowers the target, counterparty risk responds more favorably,” he said. “During expansion periods, an unexpected increase in the Fed funds target rate is especially helpful to risky debt.”

Capping the presentations were Albert Cheng, Senior VP of Atlantic Asset Management and Sidney Hardee, Managing Partner of Hardee Brothers, LLC. The mission of their respective firms is to find ways of using interpretive data to guide investors.

“We look at opportunities and have to come up with risk metrics on a minute-by-minute basis,” said Cheng. “There’s a lot of volatility in the market. You can’t just look at quarter to quarter or month to month.”

Cheng said that ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) usage has changed investing. “Individuals can now access markets instead of going through brokers. More players creates more volatility,” he noted.

Hardee elaborated. “ETF handling has evolved from traders (hedges, speculators, arbitrageurs) to institutions (hedge funds, corporations, portfolio managers) to intermediaries (broker dealers, RIAs) and finally to individuals (retail). When I can sit in flip-flops and p.j.’s and trade gold, the market has changed.”

Hardee advised, “To be successful as a pro in the financial world, you need to develop framework to identify and manage risk. Then you have to categorize risk: mitigate one set and take advantage of the rest.”

Hardee’s market approach involves taking a variety of commodities and currencies – 60% U.S. equities, the rest global – synthesizing everything at the macro level then making buy-sell decisions. That strategy, he said, has yielded 7% to 8% performance with less volatility.

“You really have to take all you’ve heard tonight, boil it down and apply it to all markets,” Hardee suggested, receiving nods of appreciation from the gathering.

SHU Rededicates Library Following Extensive Renovation

2011-12-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

SHU Rededicates Library

Following Extensive Renovation

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

10/26/11

You might say Sacred Heart University has written a new chapter in its history with the recent completion of extensive renovations to the Ryan-Matura Library on its Fairfield campus at 5151 Park Avenue. Now a rededication ceremony has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 2 to officially introduce the revamped space to university members and the general public.

While the university was established in 1963, it was not until 1968 that the three-level approximately 50,000-square-foot library facility was completed on the campus. It was the first stand-alone library for any SHU facility, though there is a specialized adjunct library center for health professions on Cambridge Drive in Trumbull. That center houses materials and study space and is overseen by Librarian Jeffrey Orrico.

The Park Avenue library facility, which is adjacent to the university chapel and Science wing of the Academic building, has served the campus population well over the past four decades but was clearly due for upgrades and a facelift, according to Head Librarian Gavin Ferriby. He began his SHU tenure as an associate librarian in 2006 and was promoted in 2009. Ferriby oversees all librarian staff, services and collections, and represents the library to the wider community.

The year of Ferriby’s promotion, outside renovations to the library occurred, which included installation of new windows, external lighting, a new plaza, external water wall and several trees and other plantings. Until then, there had only been sporadic reorganizations and upgrades to the facility.

“It was very old, worn and outmoded,” said Ferriby about the library prior to the latest overhaul, the planning of which began in November 2010 and renovations took place May to September 2011. “It needed substantial updating of all building systems.”

To that regard, the library has been decked out with a new roof, elevator, public restrooms, HVAC system and up-to-code sprinkler system. The first level was a key focus, receiving new carpeting, furniture, lighting, paneling and a new layout.

In fact, the first floor is now a model of modernity, transformed from an antiseptic 1960s cinder block environment to a visually rich space that invites study. New features include nine group study rooms outfitted with flatscreen monitors, circulation and reference desks, several small reader-friendly collections (new books, popular reading and graphic literature), a new Starbucks® Library Café, improved student seating, 16 computer workstations (eight iMac, eight PC), a 24-foot wide art wall with selections from the university’s collection, a water wall and administrative offices.

All of this is supported by 22 staff members, which include librarians for reference, technical services and digital needs, as well as an archivist.

On November 2, in a half hour rededication ceremony beginning at 2pm in the Starbucks Library Cafe, newly inaugurated SHU President John J. Petillo will offer remarks, joined by Ferriby who will introduce the team involved in the renovation effort: Architect Patrick Rose of Rose Tiso of Fairfield, General Contractor Turner Construction and Marc Izzo, the director of university construction and primary overseer of the renovation for the university. A reception, with beverages and small snacks, will immediately follow.

“This is the first step of several renovations for the library, that will better serve our users for decades to come,” Ferriby said.

Waterfowl Cause a Flap at Fairfield Woods Feature Creature

2011-12-02T09:13:00.000-05:00

Waterfowl Cause a Flap at

Fairfield Woods Feature Creature

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

11/15/11

Fairfield, CT – There was a lot of wiggling around, fidgeting and chatter… as well as chirping and croaking. The collective cacophony was all part of Tuesday’s Feature Creature children’s program at Fairfield Woods Branch Library.

Led by Colleen Noyes, a teacher/naturalist at the Connecticut Audubon Society, the monthly attraction typically offers live animals from the center, with which children can interact and learn about. Tuesday’s program focused on waterfowl, and was facilitated with life-sized models of a Green Heron and a Merganser duck, along with an electronic animal sounds device. Over a dozen children, mostly ages 3 to 8, were in attendance, accompanied by their parents or caregivers.

“We get kids familiar with various regional birds, as well as other animals that are mostly native to the region,” said Noyes. “Kids are fun to work with… unpredictable, especially after school. I always get surprise questions. They’re funny, and often very smart. A lot of times the kids know more than I do. You just go with it and let them come up and help.”

Among the gathering was Ali and J.T. Tamayo, with their nanny Sherene Barnett. The children looked on attentively as Noyes pressed different buttons on an audio device to play animal noises and asked the group to guess the animal.

Patty Baron, with her children Sean, 5, and Megan, 8, of Fairfield, said she was a veteran of the programs. “We like to come to see the live animals – like snakes and reptiles,” she said. “We always learn something new.”

No one learned more than seven-year-old Zachary Grignana, however, whom Noyes dressed in garments and accessories that simulate features of a duck: scuba flippers for webbed feet, a vest for the bird’s down layer, goggles to represent a protective eye coating. His get-up sure had fellow participants squawking!

Community Band Draws Families and Friends from Far and Wide

2011-12-02T09:10:00.001-05:00

Community Band Draws Families

and Friends from Far and Wide

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/13/11

Westport, CT – Audience members came from as far as Alabama to see this delightful platoon of volunteers toot their horns, pluck their guitars and blow their bassoons.

The musical group was the Westport Community Band and they performed for several dozen people late afternoon Sunday at Saugatuck Elementary School, 170 Riverside Avenue. Their program was titled “America from Coast to Coast” and featured both patriotic tunes like the “Star-Spangled Banner” and show tunes such as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Flower Drum Song” and John Phillip Sousa’s “The Belle of Chicago.” The concert, conducted by Weston High School Director of Bands Sal LaRusso and narrated by Bob Westervelt, took place in the school’s auditorium.

The WCB, which is celebrating its 35th year, is comprised of sixty adult musicians from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Members are from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and have diverse musical experience. The group regularly performs at such venues as Westport’s Memorial Day parade, Levitt Pavilion’s summer music program, the Weston Family Fourth and the Stamford Town Center’s December holiday celebration.

Each spring, the Band, which is affiliated with Westport Continuing Education, gives area middle school instrumental students the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the band – over 500 children have participated to date.

Bodega Heats Up Fairfield with New Spin on Mexican Cuisine

2011-12-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

Bodega Heats Up Fairfield with

New Spin on Mexican Cuisine:

Management Trio Collaborates

Again for Successful Formula

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield.Patch.com)

11/6/11

Fairfield, CT – You can call them the Tres Amigos, for they ride high together again guiding a hot new restaurant in Fairfield downtown that has local patrons packing the place and clamoring for their provocative fare and inviting atmosphere.

The trio is Mario Fontana, of Southport, Luis Chavez, of Norwalk, and Michael Young, of Trumbull, and they are the caballeros holding the reins of Bodega Taco Bar, tucked in Heritage Square at 1700 Post Road. They have herded together both their experience, culinary talents and thoughtful design sensibilities to create a stable of exciting dishes that challenge traditions and dare diners to push the boundaries of their dining comfort.

Fontana met with Patch on a recent Saturday to share the tale about his rise in the restaurant world and how their collaboration came about.

Born and raised in New York, Fontana spent a lot of time in Miami after college where he first got bitten with the Cuban/Latin culture. Keeping that experience in the back of his mind, he returned to New York and opened up The Foredeck. Several other restaurant ventures followed over a five-year period before he was approached to become the VP of a Toronto-based restaurant group. He moved to the Canadian city and opened a dozen four- and five-hundred seat restaurants. “It was the group mission to open large restaurants with different concepts,” he said.

Fontana met his future wife – a fashion designer – there and, because of her occupation, they moved back to New York. In 1997, they moved to Southport, where he opened Habana restaurant. “I had been carrying the Latin/Cuban bug with me,” he said. “Habana was a shot at conservative Connecticut culture, and it happened to be timely. We were first in the state with mojitos, cigars at the bar and Nuevo Latino cuisine. It was an instant success, with many imitators, and a great run – 10 years.”

Young was the chef at Habana and, when Fontana opened up Ocean Drive restaurant in South Norwalk around 2002, Young came over. At the same time, Chavez took chef duties at Habana. “We were working together quite a lot and liked the collaboration,” Fontana said.

At one point, Young and Chavez moved on to open up Valencia Luncheria on Main Street in Norwalk. They had a very loyal, cult-like following, according to Fontana, and called the cuisine Venezuelan beach food, though it meandered around South and Central America, where Chavez is originally from, Fontana added.

About a year ago, Fontana found the Bodega space. It was a deli and he started the process of re-planning it. Young and Chavez had kept in touch – they would go out together in New York and Brooklyn, particularly to taco bars that were interesting.

“I said, ‘Why don’t we do this together?’” said Fontana. “Bodega was a natural with my past experience and with what they were doing at Valencia. We’re not traditional Mexican. In fact, we try not to define our cuisine at all. We shoot from the hip.”

Bodega opened quietly this past June and people started to discover it, especially through social media channels, and the business gained attention quickly. “A good percentage of people that come enjoy the guacamole, made fresh to order and served in molcajetes (a traditional stone goblet-like preparation dish). The Bodegarita, our signature margarita, is hand-crafted to order using only fresh lime juice, top-shelf tequila and triple plum, and sweetened with blue agave syrup.”

Antojitos, of which the guacamole is a part, range in price from $7-$9. Tacos, at $4 each, include Gambas – seared ancho chili shrimp, cucumber-mango salsa and chipotle mayo – and Americano – seasoned ground beef, manchego cheese, salsa rusa and a crispy taco.

In the Platos, or main dish, category, popular is the Seared Scallops – with roasted corn, fresh tomato and edamame – and Camarones “Enchilados” – spicy shrimp, mango-jicama salad and arroz con crema mexicana. Platos range from $14 to $16. Nothing on the menu is over $16.

Bodega’s Specials are often dishes with which the trio is experimenting, and they will add those that are popular to the main menu.

Fontana said a number of things, besides the food, make Bodega stand out. “The staff is not working inside a rigid box, and they’re good people, naturally upbeat,” he said. “We make all our cocktails by hand – no soda guns or mixes. And we offer 75 top-shelf tequilas.”

Throwing down the gauntlet, Fontana said, “We want to tempt the palette, get people to experiment with new flavors and get them outside of their comfort zones.”

Bodega Taco Bar, at 1700 Post Road, Fairfield, is open 7 days a week, for lunch and dinner, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Monday thru Saturday, open at 11:30, Sunday at 11. Kitchen closes 10pm weeknites, 11pm Friday and Saturday. Phone: 203-292-9590. Web: www.BodegaTacoBar.com

Military Veterans Celebrated at Y Luncheon

2011-12-02T09:05:00.000-05:00

Military Veterans Celebrated

at Y Luncheon

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/13/11

Fairfield, CT – Each was proud to have served. Most were glad to have returned home. And all were happy to share their stories of glory, difficult loss and even love during the wartime eras in which they served.

On Sunday, the Westport/Weston Family Y, 59 Post Road East, celebrated local military veterans with a luncheon, the second consecutive year the event has been conducted. More than a dozen veterans, many accompanied by their spouses, attended. Y CEO Rob Reeves welcomed the gathering, VP of Operations David Cohen gave some background about the event, Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn gave an invocation and several veterans stood to share their experiences with the group.

“In getting to know the members, I found so many with military history in their backgrounds,” said Cohen, with regard to how the event initially came about. “I thought that was unusual and unexpected in a town like Westport with its socio-economic orientation. I would have lots of individual conversations and hear about amazing acts of heroism that I felt we should celebrate and keep alive. While many of these veterans are of an older generation, others cut across younger age groups. I felt we owed all of them a debt of thanks for the freedoms that we enjoy.”

As Staples High School senior Gabrielle Winer played the violin as an ambient backdrop, veterans like Gunvald “Gun” Moen, 82, told their tales. Moen served in the Korean War during the years 1951-1955 as a B-29 bomber pilot in the U.S. Strategic Air Force (SAC).

“I was prepared to do whatever I was ordered to do,” said Moen. “At one point, I had orders to go to Japan, to do photo reconnaissance. Those orders were canceled the day before I was due to leave. I always wondered about the purpose of that mission and, after the service, read that the U.S. lost some 30 planes and 150 airmen over North Korea, China and Russia from the 1950s to 1970s. They were shot down. I put two-and-two together and realized that these were spy missions and that my mission was going to be to spy on enemy operations.”

Stanley Adelman was a major who served 1943 to 1984, spanning WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. He started in the Army Air Corps, then went over to the Air Force. He began as a bombardier/navigator, then pilot, in a B-26 Martin Marauder bomber. He flew 53 combat missions over that time span.

When asked about his most memorable moment during his service, it was expected Adelman would share a battle experience, but he gave a surprising reply. “In 1944, I was stationed in Braintree, England, and met a young Navy lady named Jill,” he said. “She was a radio operator in the Woman’s Royal Naval Service… and she became my wife.”

Jill, a veteran herself, joined him at the luncheon and encouraged him to share a military moment. “During the Battle of the Bulge, along the border between Germany and France, my crew and I were grounded by poor weather,” Adelman related. “Then, on Christmas day, the weather broke and we flew two missions in support of American troops that were surrounded. That was the beginning of the final defeat of the Germans.”

Eighty-eight-year-old Larry Aasen was a paratrooper in the 13^th Airborne Division, in the years 1944 to 1946. He said his most memorable moment was the day he got out of the service, as he wanted to get back to college. “The army was complete boredom except for four or five minutes at a time,” he said. Despite this, Aasen said it was an honor to serve. “We knew that we had to stop the Germans and Japanese.”

Aasen recalled how two men in his unit were killed. “One was going out to the latrine, and stepped off the path and on a land mine,” he said. “Another reached for a Luger pistol he wanted as a souvenir and it was booby-trapped and exploded.”

Aasen also remembered German V-2 rockets passing overhead on their way to England. “They made a chugging sound like Model T cars,” he said.

Westporter Paul Schiavone, 86, was an infantryman who went to the front in 1944 during WWII. He fought in France and Germany and saw action with General George Patton’s Third Army. Though he was not wounded, he bears lifetime reminder.

“That first winter, they had no boots to give us,” he said. “I only had shoes, socks and leggings. Our feet froze in the snow. I got trench foot and was hospitalized for four months in England. To this day, I have no feeling in my feet.”

Paranormal Research Trio Answers the Call

2011-12-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

Paranormal Research Trio

Answers the Call

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

11/12/11

Fairfield, CT – Bumps in the night. Shredded bibles. Mysterious growling. Ghostly lights. All in a day’s work for a trio of paranormal investigators who came to share their tales with an attentive full house at Fairfield Woods Branch Library Saturday afternoon.

Founded by Orlando Ferrante and Joseph Franke, and now joined by John Carter, the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society has over 45 years of combined experience as one of the leading paranormal investigation and research teams in New England. Their 90-minute presentation included a projected slide show of on-the-job and contributed imagery, audio clips of other-worldly voices and a few equipment demonstrations, all of which left the audience spellbound.

Ferrante and Franke had last visited the Branch Library back in February, playing to a full house then as well. The popular visit demanded an encore, though the duo whittled down their talk from three hours. “We have so much material, but three hours is a long time to sit,” said Franke, who added, “If you want to spend a weekend with us, we’ll show you it all.”

Indeed, the duo has literally worked on hundreds of cases since they began collaborating in 1995, and has amassed a stockpile of documentation of strange, unexplained and even violent happenings and encounters. Just since February, they have been working on a case at a Masonic Lodge in Naugatuck and a potentially demonic case in Bethel wherein a woman’s boyfriend was attacked by an apparition. On their return home to eastern Connecticut after the presentation, they were scheduled to stop at a house in Derby where the homeowner reported lights turning on after being switched off and doors being unlatched after they have been locked, as well as voices and footsteps.

The trio says they get a lot of inquiries from media outlets and production companies, like Anderson Cooper and paranormal show “Fact or Faked?” But the group, which maintains itself as a non-profit, said they are “not in it for fame or fortune.” Said Franke, “We never take a dime for our work. We’re here to help folks disturbed by the paranormal. They’re honestly frightened and don’t want media attention. We’re certainly not going to sign over rights to evidence and further exploit the family.”

For Carter, the duo has been a godsend, helping him understand his sensitivity to certain energies and psychic abilities. “I have experienced paranormal stuff almost my whole life,” he said. “When I served in the military, I would get vibes or thoughts that something was about to happen and, sure enough, it would. When I was younger, my parents took me to doctors, and thought I was nuts, and put me on meds.”

Carter met Franke in 2007, at a lecture Franke and Ferrante were part of in Killingworth. The three stayed in touch before Carter officially joined them about a year ago, to help on investigations.

“John has an uncanny way of sensing activity and having premonitions,” said Franke. “Orlando has psychic ability, too, and John and he work off each other with the abilities. We have pictures and Electronic Voice Phenomenon to verify their talents.”

A few cases stand out as most signicant. In 2008 in Enfield, homeowners said they’d been seeing shadowy figures and activity centered around the couple’s twin toddler daughters. One evening, the duo was working with a psychic downstairs and channeling a spirit they felt was doing all the harassing. Through the psychic, the spirit spit in Ferrante’s face, then attacked an investigator upstairs who was shooting still photos. “He picked her up off her feet and dropped her to the ground,” said Ferrante. “This was no Caspar the Friendly Ghost.”

In Danbury, six or seven kids had conjured spirits through a Ouija board and got affected. “They started hearing voices, scratching on the walls, growling,” said Ferrante. “We tried burning the board but only the propellant burned. We had to bless it with holy water and bury it.”

In Seymour, at a place called Carousel Garden, the pair went to interview a man with psychic abilities. “He sat at a table and he was staring and being unresponsive,” said Franke. “He said there’s a man looking for a fight and led us to the basement. He started getting agitated then was knocked to the ground. Orlando was punched, too, and got a big red welt on his back.”

The trio will bring more of their chilling tales to Westport Library Saturday, November 19, in a presentation titled “Who Ya Gonna Call?”, at 2pm.

Gary Lamberti Discusses Freshwater Crisis at SHU Lecture

2011-12-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

Gary Lamberti Discusses

Freshwater Crisis at SHU Lecture

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

10/28/11

The world’s freshwater resources are in crisis and we need to find solid solutions soon to avert further extinction of native species, destruction from invasive creatures and needless death from water-related disease, according to Dr. Gary Lamberti, the featured speaker at the Hesburgh Alumni Lecture held at Sacred Heart University’s 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield campus Thursday evening, October 27.

Lamberti is a professor and chair of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1989, and is the author of over 120 publications related to his field. His work as an aquatic ecologist and environmental scientist has been focused on conserving wild salmon in Alaska, the ecology of invasive species and river restoration. He shared his insights at SHU’s Schine Auditorium to a full house of undergraduate science students in a presentation titled “The Global Freshwater Crisis: Challenges and Solutions.” This is the sixth consecutive annual lecture in an academic-led series hosted by SHU’s University College and the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Fairfield County.

“This crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy needs but managing it so badly,” Lamberti said. “Our freshwater resources have been inflicted by environmental alterations about whose long-term consequences we are blissfully ignorant.”

Noting that most of our planet is blue, Lamberti suggested that almost all environmental problems are tied into water, e.g. invasive species are transported by water, air pollution causes acid rain. “As Earth’s population grows, demand for water is increasing, and unless solutions are found, the result could be shortages, famine, even war,” he said. “Only 2% of the planet’s water is fresh, and mostly ice. Most of the accessible freshwater -- just .3% groundwater and less in freshwater lakes and rivers -- is underground and we’re depleting it.”

One major freshwater source in the United States is the Ogallala Aquifer, in the Midwest, which spans from Nebraska to Texas. Wells there, used to irrigate crops, are depleting resources. In fact, the lion’s share of the world’s accessible water is being used for agriculture to grow crops, then industry and municipal (taps, toilets), according to Lamberti, who added that there is also freshwater loss due to evaporation from reservoirs.

Another resource is the Great Lakes, which represents 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. “Everyone has their eye on it,” said Lamberti. “There have been discussions about taking from it, and creating an enormous aqueduct for distribution. Currently, however, it is prohibited to take more than a bottle of water from it.”

Concern about freshwater supplies was first shown in earnest in the 1960s. Congress recognized that U.S. rivers were being altered by dams and development. During that decade, five dams per day on average were being built. In the U.S. now, hardly any are being built, though the complete opposite is true in Asia. Lamberti said dams interrupt natural flow of water, fragmenting rivers.

Climate change is another factor likely to change the distribution of water. “Air temperatures are increasing, so there’s less snow cover,” Lamberti said. “As a result, the ground heats up more quickly, which drives more melting of ice.”

What does that mean for rivers? “River temperatures are increasing, which affects organisms,” he said. “The warm intolerant ones die, while toxins grow.”

On a planet that now holds seven billion people, one billion lack access to clean water. Three-and-a-half billion lack adequate water sanitation. In developing countries, over 90% of wastewater is discharged without even basic treatment. These statistics are startling but even more troubling is that there are 250 million cases of water-related disease each year, with 5-10 million deaths, including 4,000 children per day, from diarrhea and dysentery. Much of this inflicts the developing world, Lamberti related.

Equally disturbing is that most people don’t live where the accessible water is. Water shortages could lead to war, particularly in the Middle East, Egypt, Pakistan, India and China. The inland Aral Sea has shrunk by nearly 90% of its original size since 1989 due to exploitation, which has affected entire ways of life, said Lamberti.

Dramatically affected as well are the species that live in the freshwater ecosystems, half of which have been destroyed in the last 100 years. Forty percent of the world’s fish are freshwater, and one-fifth are threatened or endangered. In the U.S., mussels and crayfish top the list.

What’s being done? Specific to Notre Dame, the university’s Center for Aquatic Conservation is conducting research, education and outreach. Dr. David Lodge, who teaches Invasive Species Biology, is helping eliminate harmful species, like the Snakehead and Asian Carp, before they get a toehold. Dr. Jennifer Tank is focused on retaining nutrients along river flood plains.

“To solve our freshwater problems, we need to look at the causes, consequences and solutions,” Lamberti summarized.

Nature Centers Capture Kids’ Votes on Wildlife Residents

2011-12-02T08:55:00.000-05:00

Nature Centers Capture Kids’ Votes

on Wildlife Residents

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

11/8/11

Fairfield, CT – The polling places were open, the ballot boxes in place and the candidates all on hand for a last face-to-face with the public before they cast their all important votes Election Day Tuesday. However, in these cases, the polling places were nature centers, the candidates had names like Hoot and Popeye, and the voters were mostly under the age of 12.

Running parallel programs, the CT Audubon Society, at 2325 Burr Street in Fairfield, and Earthplace, at 10 Woodside Lane in Westport, conducted elections wherein kids had the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite furry, slithery or feathered resident creature. At Earthplace, Barney the Python beat out three other candidates to win the Election Day Fun contest. At the CT Audubon Society, the Animal Election winner had not yet been declared at press time, though it appeared Simon the Hedgehog was a runaway favorite.

Audubon Society Teacher/Naturalist Tricia Kevalis, serving as spokesperson for the seven entrants listed on the ballot there, commented, “This is the third year we’ve done the Animal Elections. Last year, Slipper the Blue Tongued Skink won by a whisker, edging out the very popular Simon. This is a great way to see many of our resident animals but also for kids to participate in a voting process and see how their votes make a difference.”

This year’s Audubon entrants included the aforementioned Simon and Slipper, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Popeye the Red Eared Slider turtle, Big Tony the Eastern Box Turtle, The Fire Belly Toads and The Mice. The group was arranged in their respective tanks and cages on tables in a front hallway area. A clear acrylic box and ballot forms were on an adjacent table. Visiting children had the opportunity to meet each candidate and size them up.

Simon, though he spent a great deal of time hiding under a molded plastic cover in his tank, was the clear choice for a trio of young local ladies, and each had her own reason for liking him. “He’s really cute,” said Maura Matthews, 9, from Fairfield. “He’s the only nocturnal animal in the group,” said Courtney Culver, 10, from Easton. “I’ve liked him since I had my 7^th birthday party here and got to hold him,” said Ellie Stepanskiy, 10, from Fairfield.

Sophia Garbarino, another ten-year-old from Fairfield, also favored Simon. “I like hedgehogs,” she said. “They’re one of my favorite animals. He’s cute.”

Sophia’s brother, Michael, 11, looked past the regular candidates lineup to an outlier in the “Other” category, a loan corn snake. “His shedded skin felt really cool,” he said.

Sophia and Michael’s mom, Julie, mentioned that the family had moved to Fairfield only recently and that this was their first visit to the Audubon. “We were just going to hike here today and then noticed the voting,” she said. “It’s a good way to introduce the kids to the real voting process. I’m going to take them to the polls later.”

Mom Ellen Martino, at the Audubon polls with her sons Aaron, 10, and Quinn, 7, agreed. “Any experience with the animals, like voting, is good for them.”

At Earthplace, contest winner Barney, of the Reptile Party, shared the ballot with Hoot the Saw Whet Owl (Avian Party), Tootie the European Ferret (Mammal Party) and Hop Sing the Monk Parakeet (Independent Party). Visiting children, ages 5 to 10, had to seek out the candidates in the Animal Hall then check off their favorite on a ballot sheet.

“It was very official,” said Earthplace Naturalist Margaret Ardwin, “and we had a continuous group of visitors all day. It was a beauty contest really. Barney’s a gentle giant at 12 feet long.”

Bridgeport Theatres Take a Curtain Call at Fairfield Museum

2011-12-02T08:50:00.001-05:00

Bridgeport Theatres Take a Curtain Call at Fairfield Museum

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Sun, Bridgeport News & Monroe Courier)

11/6/11

Fairfield, CT -- A recent presentation at Fairfield Museum and History Center, focused on the history of Bridgeport’s Palace and Majestic Theatres, revived not only quaint memories from seniors in attendance but an age-old discussion about how to preserve or repurpose these once grand, now deteriorating and long-abandoned showplaces.

Early Sunday afternoon November 6, Mary Witkowski, Bridgeport’s City Historian and the head of the Bridgeport History Center housed at Bridgeport Public Library, presented to a full house gathering a projected slide show of old postcards, photos and scans showing the theatres from construction to recent times and provided a narrative along with it. The talk was part of the Museum’s current exhibition “Bravo! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County” and was supplemented with a gallery installation of 19 framed photographs of the interiors of the theatres that were shot 20 years ago by Monroe-based commercial photographers Jay Misencik and Geralene Valentine of Misencik Photography.

Italian immigrant builds empire

Sylvester Zefferino Poli, founder of the Palace and Majestic Theatres, was born in Italy in 1859 and emigrated to the United States in 1881. He worked as a sculptor at Eden Musee, a wax museum in the heart of Manhattan’s entertainment center when he first arrived. Soon enough, he opened his own “dime” museums in upstate New York, Canada and New England. Gradually, he supplemented these venues of wax figures and curios with small stages offering vaudevillian acts and “wholesome family entertainment.”

Poli grew his empire to become the largest theatrical chain in the East, with 34 venues from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. In particular, Connecticut became a favorite location, with elegant theaters in Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. Poli’s first in Bridgeport was the Park City Theater, which he renovated in 1901. From that first foothold, he built or re-built six Bridgeport theatres between 1901 and 1922. Ultimately, Marcus Loew and William Fox bought most of his establishments for their movie theatre chains.

Using Italian craftsmen and the services of architect Thomas W. Lamb, Poli began to build the Palace Theatre, at 1325 Main Street, in the early 1920s. Lamb was also an émigré, born in Scotland in 1871. He earned his reputation during the boom of movie palace construction from the 1910s to 30s. He designed not only the Palace, but the Majestic as well, at 1347 Main Street, and the adjacent 101-room Savoy Hotel.

Lamb created large stages to accommodate live vaudeville performances as well as silent films, known as “photoplays.” His hallmark was glamorous, lavishly decorated edifices, gilded moldings, red velvet seats, crystal chandeliers and high-arched ceilings. It was said that these environments made the average citizen feel like royalty.

Based in Manhattan, Lamb’s firm designed over 300 theatres worldwide. In New York City alone, he had over 48 theatres to his credit, including the original Madison Square Garden and Ziegfeld Theatre.

Historic theatres rise

The Palace, which is structurally intact to this day, was built with 3,600 seats and 25 miles of electrical wiring. It featured a 1,700-pipe organ with 40,000 fine electrical wires controlling it. The organ was an integral part of the design scheme in the days of silent film when the theatre organist was the mood setter.

A proscenium arch was created and, under it, a silhouette panel – a depiction of a setting in France that Marie Antoinette would have known, of a French lady strolling in a garden. The Palace also features a Byzantine-style, gold-leafed central dome measuring 250 feet in circumference that held 650 lights. Around it were several ornamental medallions, all hand painted.

The Palace opened to the public September 4, 1922 and featured Chief Caupolican, a Metropolitan Grand Opera star. Singer Eddie Cantor gave the opening address, telling the audience, “This is your theatre Mr. and Mrs. Bridgeport, be proud of it.”

Other early performers were high-caliber world talents like Sergei Rachmaninoff and John McCormack, who were featured in the 1922-23 Concert Series.

Eighty-eight-year old Virginia Regnery Foster, a Fairfield resident who was born at Bridgeport Hospital and lived in the West End of the Park City for her first 21 years, until she was married in 1949, recalled the Palace. “It cost 10 cents for a ticket for children; adults paid 25 cents,” she said. “If you didn’t get caught, you could sneak in behind an adult and sit downstairs in the orchestra. Otherwise, you would have to sit up top in the balcony. I remember Eddie Cantor singing ‘Shuffle Off to Buffalo” in the 20s when they still had silent movies. My cousin, Edna Regnery, played the piano along with the films.”

Historian Bill Lee, 86, shared his own recollection. “I was there in 1929,” he said. “The first movie I saw was a silent. The stage shows, though, were fabulous. ‘Singing in the Rain’ was when the silents changed to talkies. The music and orchestra was all live. Gus Meyers, Sr. was the orchestra leader. Real ‘rain’ was sprayed. People got up and cheered.”

The Majestic takes shape

While the Palace was taking its place in Park City history, the Majestic Theatre was going up right beside it and, on November 6, 1922, it opened as well. It was the smaller of the two showhouses, with 2,400 seats, and featured some of the similar Byzantine decorations and hand-painted ceilings by Hans Lehman. The stage measured 79 feet by 32 feet with a 42-foot arch.

Sixty drops could be hung from sets of lines to fly scenery to complement almost any stage production. Walls were constructed of magnificent faux marble and beautiful custom fabricated iron balustrades lined the staircases. A two-story high stained glass panel, today boarded up to protect it, was located between the lobby and seating areas in the theatre.

The opening night featured Eddie Cantor onstage in the Broadway revue “Make It Snappy”. The Follies also appeared, incorporating talent from a local dancing school. The Majestic joined ten other theatres operating in downtown Bridgeport.

Original seat prices for a matinee were 10 cents and 23 cents. Evening prices were 10, 30 and 45 cents. Boxes, also known as loges, were always 55 cents.

The height of entertainment

In 1934, Loew’s, the parent company of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, bought Poli’s theatres to show talkies, often around the clock so workers could enjoy movies after shifts ended.

Frederick Graham, 86, a Wallingford resident who lived in Bridgeport for 75 years, recalled that period. “I had a paper route which ended in the area called Bulls Head, now where I-95, Route 8 and Catherine Street all meet,” he said. “It was just a few blocks from the theatres, so I would go, probably more than most as I had the change in my pocket. This was the late 30s, during the Depression. A movie was about 15 cents.”

During that time, Spencer Tracy, in “Captain’s Courageous”, was a highlight attraction. In 1937, it was Laurel and Hardy in “Way Out West” that headlined the marquee of the Majestic.

In 1939, the Majestic celebrated its 10 millionth patron, Mrs. Richard G. Rossbaum of Stratford. Her prize was free tickets for six months.

SIDEBAR

An Encore for the Palace and Majestic Theatres?

In the 1960s and 70s, when Bridgeport factories started to shut down and workers were more tempted to watch TV at home, the Palace and Majestic Theatres closed, and have stayed shuttered for more than 40 years. While both were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, funding for renovation has still not occurred. The once glorious edifices are empty, deteriorating structures. In contrast, Poli’s Waterbury Palace was fully restored in 2003 for $30 million and is a source of cultural and economic stimulus for the region.

“When I came here in 1987 from Michigan, and first walked into the Palace, I had the feeling of being in the ballroom of the Titanic,” said Bridgeport historian Mary Witkowski. “It was like time stood still. There was even a popcorn machine in there. The theatres are still intact and could be restored.”

“Intact”, perhaps, but in increasingly poor condition. Jay Misencik and Geralene Valentine of Misencik Photography undertook a project in 1991 to photograph people along Main Street and happened upon the theatres. “Barbara Jean Zanesky of the Joy Center Church Ministeries was running a daycare/ consignment operation at the Palace, and providing shelter for the homeless. We started photographing the interior and became friendly with everyone. But there was no heat and the roof leaked,” said Misencik. Zanesky was evicted in January 1992, the city took ownership of the complex, the doors were padlocked and the marquees were taken down as a safety precaution.

Misencik and Valentine returned for the first time in September 2011. The roof had been replaced but “the smell was horrendous,” said Valentine. “The cloth fabric had also been removed and brass railings cut away.”

Can these historic showbiz centers be saved and restored to the same grandeur as the Waterbury Palace? Time will tell... though it’s quickly running out.

Kids Get Patriotic at Historical Society while Parents Hit the Polls

2011-12-02T08:46:00.000-05:00

Kids Get Patriotic at Historical Society

while Parents Hit the Polls

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/8/11

Westport, CT – For local youngsters, it was a great way to spend a day off from school while their parents dutifully reported to local polling places to cast their Election Day votes. The kids even managed to learn a thing or two outside the classroom.

On Tuesday morning, the Westport Historical Society, at 25 Avery Place, held an All-American Day program offering children ages 5-10 a variety of fun crafts and drama activities that incorporated a patriotic theme, aligning with the real-life voting process taking place all around town. Over two dozen children participated, assisted by six volunteer helpers that were mostly a mix of Bedford Middle School and Staples High School students.

“The whole thing is about America and liberty,” said Instructor Elizabeth DeVoll about the program, “with a focus on Connecticut’s part in the Revolutionary War and progressions of the American flag.”

The program was primarily conducted in the basement of the facility, where craft materials were placed upon red, white and blue plastic tablecloths on the four work surfaces in the activity space. To the accompaniment of patriotic music emanating from a portable radio, participants first used crayons to color in a printed-out line drawing of a Revolutionary War-era Minuteman.

As the children busily worked, DeVoll showed depictions in books of local scenes from that era, such as homes in the Compo Beach area that had been set ablaze by British soldiers. She also held up and spoke about a tri-corner hat and kit bag from the period, as well as passed around two small, but heavy, authentic period cannonballs.

Quizzing the group, DeVoll asked, “What’s today? Election Day. In America, we get to vote on who’s going to represent us. Do you think everyone always got to vote? That women got to vote? That African-Americans got to vote? That non-land owners got to vote?” The children answered her questions with a resounding “no” before DeVoll stated, “Only wealthy land owners got to vote. Now, almost everyone gets to vote.”

Another activity involved decorating flags – essentially cloth placemats sewn to long dowels. These were of various colors and patterns, and a wide range of materials were made available as decorative accents.

DeVoll shared a few examples of previous participants’ work as well as illustrations of flags by noted artists, like Jasper Johns’ painting “Two Flags”. She also explained the reasoning behind the choice of colors in the American flag. “Red stands for honor, white for innocence and blue for justice, vigor and perseverance,” she shared.

As DeVoll distributed the flags and called kids in threes to the front of the room to snap up mini pom-poms, fabric swatches and ribbon, she said, “Every kid can be a Betsy or Bob Ross and make their own flag interpretation.”

Children laid their flags down on the tables before them and went to work with Elmer’s glue, pasting down materials. Jennie Blumenfeld, 14, a volunteer from Staples, assisted with selections and guidance. “I like to be part of the community,” she said. “And the kids have so much fun, which makes it fun for me. This is a great way for kids to learn about their country on an important day.”

SHU Nursing Students Score Highest Pass Rate on National Exam

2011-12-02T08:43:00.002-05:00

SHU Nursing Students Score Highest Pass Rate on National Exam

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

11/1/11

According to the Chicago-based National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) most recent quarterly report on testing results nationwide, Sacred Heart University nursing students scored a 95% pass rate on the organization’s National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX - RN). The average national pass rate is 87.1%.

“Our minimum benchmark is a first-time pass rate of 80%. Over 90% is our accepted rate,” said Dr. Anne Barker, the chairperson of SHU’s nursing department. “This recent rate is exceptional and historically high. And in comparison to the national rate, our students’ achievement is truly remarkable.”

NCLEX is the cap of SHU’s First Professional Degree program, which targets students who want to make nursing a career. The test is given at Sylvan Learning Centers and can be taken by a student any time after they graduate. Most students take it within the first six weeks, according to Barker.

The exam determines a student’s accumulated knowledge from their four years of study, Barker explained. “It’s intensive and one of the most major tests they will ever take.”

It is one way the NCSBN ensures that nursing students have the appropriate competencies, skills and credentials to practice safely, and that the public is protected. To be eligible to take the NCLEX - RN, a student first needs to sit for their bachelor’s degree. Successful passage of NCLEX then allows a student to obtain their Registered Nurse license.

While the high pass rate is great news, it’s not surprising given the depth and quality of the faculty at SHU. To begin, Barker, who was the Chief Nursing Officer for the Veterans Administration for 15 years and holds a Doctorate of Education from Columbia University, has been with SHU for 25 years. She oversees 29 faculty and nine staff members.

Of course, teachers need students and the general workplace demand for good nurses has driven program development and expansion. “The nursing program has grown significantly over the years, particularly over the last five years,” Barker said. “For people wanting to enter the workforce, nursing is seen as an attractive career opportunity. It offers a good entry salary and is projected to be a top career in terms of need for the next decade and beyond. It’s certainly a growing field.”

SHU has a full complement of program opportunities for every level of nursing. To start, its RN to BSN program is an undergraduate program for nurses with an associate degree in nursing who want to get their related bachelor’s degree. It’s offered in two different ways: online and onsite at hospitals like Yale-New Haven, St. Francis in Hartford and Midstate in Meriden. Approximately 250 SHU students are currently enrolled in this.

For graduates, there is a Family Nurse Practitioner program, which helps prepare nurses for advanced practice. It is offered with courses online and on-campus. One hundred students are currently enrolled.

Another online/on-campus graduate program is Doctor of Nursing Practice, in which 43 students are presently enrolled. Started in 2010, it gives students two different tracks: clinical and leadership. “Students come to campus twice a semester for intensive classes; the balance is conducted online,” said Barker.

Three other graduate programs, in which another 300 students are participating, are offered exclusively online. The first is Patient Care Services Administration, which helps prepare nurses to be managers. The second is Nursing Education, preparing nurses to do university or facility based education of nurses. Finally, Clinical Nurse Leader helps nurses assume a new leadership role in nursing.

“We enjoy an excellent reputation both regionally and nationally for the quality of education, faculty and curriculum,” summarized Barker, about SHU’s nursing program. “We live the principle of the university: where personal attention leads to personal achievement.”

SHU-sponsored Religious Education Program Gives Adults a Leg Up in Church Work Search

2011-12-02T08:40:00.002-05:00

SHU-sponsored Religious Education Program

Gives Adults a Leg Up in Church Work Search

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

10/20/11

Fairfield, CT – If you’re an adult interested in working in the Catholic church as a parish-based director of religious education, youth minister or like position, there’s a new program co-sponsored by Sacred Heart University and the Diocese of Bridgeport that can help you obtain the necessary background and credentials.

SHARE (Sacred Heart Adult Religious Education), a college-level Continuing Ed program, was initiated by the Diocese and embraced by SHU. It was modeled on EPS (Education Parish Service), which started 33 years ago at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. as a way to bring the Catholic faith to adults in that area. It came to the Diocese of Bridgeport 15 years ago, but was discontinued this past summer due to financial reasons. An EPS coordinator approached the Diocese about continuing it in some form, which led to SHARE.

The program is one of four ministries, or entities, that Gina Donnarummo, Director of Adult Formation for the Diocese, administers. She works with adults becoming Catholics, overseeing a formal process called RCIA (Rite of Christian initiation of Adults), collaborating with coordinators at each of the 87 parishes in the Diocese in Fairfield County. The RCIA process consists of a period of inquiry, work with a support team, purification coinciding with Lent, and Mystagogy, wherein candidates are baptized, receive First Communion and confirmed.

A recent SHU graduate who earned a Masters Degree in Religious Studies and holds a B.A. in Social Work from St. Joseph College, Donnarummo explained that the SHARE program covers four disciplines: scripture, church history, theology and pastoral theology. There are currently four classes in place, two of which – Christology and the Church as a Sacrament – began in mid-September and two – Synoptic Gospels and Creed – begin November 1.

“The hope for the spring is to offer six to eight classes – six core and two electives,” Donnarummo said. “Two of the four disciplines – theology and scripture – have thus far been breached. We will address church history in the spring and pastoral theology in Fall 2012.”

Instructors bring solid credentials to the table. Christology is taught by Father Joseph Koterski, a Jesuit priest from Fordham University. Church as a Sacrament is led by Sr. Jeanmarie Gribaudo, a Dominican Sister completing her doctorate in Sacred Theology at Boston College. Guiding the Synoptic Gospels class is Dr. Thomas Hicks, a professor emeritus at SHU who holds a Ph.D. from St. John’s University. Finally, Creed is taught by Dr. Joan Kelly, who received her doctorate from the Graduate Theological Foundation at Notre Dame.

Put simply, SHARE is a four-year certificate program to help Catholics understand their faith and empower them to put it into action. The pastoral certificate is received after two years of the Foundational courses and two years of the Advanced courses are completed. There are 20 classes in all, which are held at St. Philip Parish, One Father Conlon Place, Norwalk, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. The certificate is awarded by the Diocese and SHU.

To learn more about SHARE or to register, contact Gina Donnarummo by email at SHARE@diobpt.org or by calling 203-416-1446. You can also visit www.sacredheart.edu and search for “SHARE”. A 4-week class costs $140; a six-week session is $210; and 8-week program is $280.

Firefighter Training an Eye-Opener to Department Needs

2011-11-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

Firefighter Training an Eye-Opener to Department Needs

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

10/16/11

Fairfield, CT – They say the only way to truly appreciate what someone does is to walk a mile in their shoes… or boots and toting close to hundred pounds of gear and equipment in this case.

Saturday morning, the Fairfield Citizen embedded itself with career firefighters at the Fairfield Regional Fire School on One Rod Highway to do just that. The interaction involved exercises providing education about firefighters’ roles and an understanding of equipment and manpower needs for reference during town budget evaluation times.

Over 40 firefighters, drawn from Fairfield, Westport and Stratford, were on hand to shadow half a dozen participants, help operate equipment and lead demonstrations of both equipment and firefighting processes.

Overseen by Fairfield Asst. Chief Scott Bisson, the Incident Commander for the day, the morning began in a classroom setting with a short film titled “Smoke Showing”, giving an overview about command hierarchy, firefighting strategies and safety advisories. Bisson commented that there are four essentials that determine the outcome of a fire: training, technology, staffing and notification.

First Selectman Mike Tetreau, an alumnus of the program, extended a welcome, and shared in an aside, “It’s an equipment intensive job, and this program reinforces that. I think we’ve always supported the needs of the fire department – you know someone’s life depends on it and you want the best equipment out there.”

Organizers on the drill grounds – which includes the training center, an annex classroom, propane fire area, four-story tower, two-story burn building, vehicle “boneyard” and a new flashover simulator – wasted no time in immersing this reporter in the most demanding of activities: a live structural fire attack.

Suited up from head to toe in full gear and outfitted with an air tank and mask, Probationary Firefighter Mike Lauterborn was placed at the head of a hose line and sent into the burn building with a support crew of “wranglers” to battle a live fire. Hay and wood pallets had been ignited in a bottom floor room, producing thick smoke that carried upwards in the unventilated structure. The result was almost zero visibility, making keeping a hand on the hose line a critical measure to safely navigate the structure.

“Typically,” said Asst. Chief Chris Tracy, “an interior is fully charged with velvety black smoke, there’s no clear indication of a fire and you have to listen for the pops, crackles and small explosions to find it. Guys on the line shout to each other or use signals or back slaps to communicate – one for stop, two for go. Then we look to hit the seat, or hottest point, of the fire.”

At the next activity station, focused on emergency medical services, Lt. Erik Kalapir noted, “Sixty to seventy percent of our calls are medical based. In Fairfield, private service AMR is the responder, however, firefighters are the first responders. With five fire stations across town, we can get to almost any home in four to six minutes, to do defibrillations, administer medicines, provide oxygen therapy and more. With the downturn in the economy and an aging population, we’re being asked to do more, with less. We’re losing a piece of the budget pie to other community needs and constantly having to reorganize and reinvent ourselves.”

The Forcible Entry and Search & Rescue station, operated by Firefighters Salvato, Goletz and DeNitto, involved the use of “irons” – a Halligan bar and flathead ax – to bust through a commercial door and the “Braille” method location of a victim in a pitch black room filled with thick smoke.

Roof Ops followed, led by Stratford Lt. Sean McKenney and Firefighter Bryan Williams, who led the way up a 100-foot truck-mounted ladder to a rooftop. “The job of the suppression crew is to open up the highest point of a structure, to help lift the smoke inside, prevent flashover, reduce property damage and save lives,” McKenney said. Ventilation was performed using a circular or vent saw.

Here again, available resources were at issue. “A properly staffed ladder company should have a minimum of four men,” said Williams. “We’re operating with two to three, risking injury to firefighters, forcing time constraints, preventing the saving of lives and allowing greater property damage.”

The Extrication station, led chiefly by Stratford Firefighter Doug Ashe, focused on the safe removal of a victim from a vehicle in a serious accident scenario. “We assume spinal injuries, so it’s safer to remove the car from around the person than to remove the person from the car,” said Ashe.

Using irons to break and remove glass, a hydraulic-driven spreader to pop doors off hinges and a powerful pruner to cut through roof posts, the task is accomplished. Ashe noted that frequent changes in chassis reinforcement, live wires and airbags requires continual training.

There was one clear takeaway from the morning: these guys are passionate about their occupation and consider it their calling. “I feel I was put on this planet to do this job. You have to be passionate about it,” said Stratford Lt. Stephen O’Hara. Said another, Stratford Firefighter Roy Minton, “This was the best decision I ever made. Sometimes you really have an impact on someone’s life.”

Westport Police Station Hosts Halloween Do-Over

2011-11-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

Westport Police Station Hosts Halloween Do-Over

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/5/11

Westport, CT – A wicked nor’easter tricked local children out of Halloween fun October 29 when wet snow pulled down branches and wires and made trick-or-treating unsafe. Westport Police Department and other town emergency services turned those frowns upside down one week later when they hosted a make-up Halloween Fun Fest late Saturday afternoon.

Police headquarters at 50 Jesup Road turned into a virtual Halloween fairground with emergency vehicles, candy stations and spooky décor encircling the building for young costumed visitors and their families to enjoy.

“When the nor’easter came through, it was determined there was a viable safety issue with trees and wires down,” said Westport Police Lt. Arthur Belile, who helped coordinate the afternoon activities. “The joint E.O.C. issued a press release requesting that people not go out. We felt bad for the kids and wanted to create an event that incorporated safety and fun – a Halloween Fun Fest.”

J.D. Mello, of Westport, who arrived dressed as a Mad Hatter and was accompanied by wife Gina as the Queen of Hearts and daughter Jaden as Alice, said, “The town had obvious safety concerns. It was very nice of the police department to do this for the kids that were disappointed that Halloween was postponed.”

Westporter Emily Chaves, who toted her three-month-old son Elliot, dressed as a chili pepper, agreed. “It was a very nice gesture for the kids, to be able to come to a safe place to trick-or-treat.”

Annamae Logan, of Westport, attending with her daughter Mae, 10, who was dressed as an angel, was equally excited. “It was fabulous to get an email about this,” she said. “The kids were elated.”

Mae’s best friend, Paige Roraback, 10, who styled a devil’s outfit, shared what it was like to have Halloween taken away then returned. “We were going to go trick-or-treating together, but then Halloween got postponed,” she said. “We were disappointed but, in the end, we got to do it and we’re having a great time.”

SHU Students Aid Bridgeport Beautification Effort in Fall Sweep

2011-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

SHU Students Aid Bridgeport Beautification Effort in Fall Sweep

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Sacred Heart University)

11/5/11

Bridgeport, CT – Over four dozen Sacred Heart University students set pencils and textbooks aside Saturday morning November 5 in favor of shovels, rakes, spades and work gloves to pitch in on a Bridgeport beautification effort.

Spurred by Groundwork Bridgeport, an environmental organization in the Park City that focuses on enhancement and clean-up, and coordinated by Maura Cook, Assistant Director of Volunteer Programs at SHU, the effort focused on removing tree and leaf debris, waterfront clearance, trash pick-up and the planting of flower bulbs and trees. SHU student activities were concentrated on two sites: William Barnum Park at the corner of Barnum Avenue and William Street and James Brown Park on Waterview Avenue. About 35 members of SHU’s Kappa Sigma fraternity handled James Brown Park while 16 other students managed William Barnum. All equipment and plantings were supplied by Groundwork.

“We’ve done this every year with Groundwork, for at least the past five years,” said Cook, who has worked at SHU for the past year and a half where she is also pursuing her Masters in Communications. “We also help Groundwork at various other times of the year. For instance, during our Community Connections Pre-Fall Program, we take 48 freshmen, put them in Bridgeport for a week and expose them to various service opportunities and the culture and history of the city. Really, any time they have a project come up, we will help out. We really try to meet the needs of the community in any way we can.”

Cook was very involved in service in college and said she wanted to pursue a career in non-profit. To that end, after graduating, she worked at a drop-in center in New York, helping homeless adults. “When I saw this opportunity at SHU, it was appealing as I wanted other students to find a passion in service and that it could be a lifelong commitment,” she said. “Service doesn’t have to end after college. SHU is such a great community to be a part of – that was attractive as well.”

Student participants in the morning Fall Sweep ran the gamut in terms of academic backgrounds, but many had been part of other programs like Habitat for Humanity. “They had gotten a taste for service work, and the Kappa Sigmas participate every year in the Sweep,” said Cook.

At James Brown Park, Groundwork Executive Director Jack Dillon gave the students their work assignments and they set about raking leaves and clearing brush from the waterfront, which was snarled with invasive plants and weeds and dotted with trash and discarded items like a car bumper, a bureau and tires.

Josh Keane, student president of Kappa Sigma, was among the group and remarked, “Community service is one of the most important things you can do. A lot of people take it for granted. We’ve got a good crew out here.”

At the opposite end of the park, two dozen students from Central High and Bassick High Schools helped plants trees under the guidance of Vernon Sanders of non-profit Build-On, and Chris Donnelly, an Urban Forestry Coordinator with the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection. These students were also outfitted with equipment from Groundwork.

Meanwhile, at William Barnum Park, SHU students, under the guidance of Laura Bubela, a landscape architect from the Boston area assisting Groundwork, were also busy raking and tree planting, as well as digging shallow trenches along a perimeter fence for daffodil, tulip and crocus bulbs. The group was picking up loose rock and brick debris, too, stumbling upon disturbing items in the process like a knife, razor blade and bag of marijuana.

In the end, the areas the students had toiled in looked orderly, fresh and appealing to any visitor hoping to enjoy them. The groups were rewarded with a cookout in a back lot behind Groundwork headquarters, situated on Barnum Avenue midway between the two parks.

Keepsakes Star in Westport Woman’s Club Appraisal Show

2011-11-18T11:53:00.000-05:00

Keepsakes Star in Westport Woman’s Club Appraisal Show

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

10/29/11

Westport, CT – The items that had gathered dust in the attic, hung on the wall at grandma’s house or been handed down through the generations had their day midday Saturday at Westport Woman’s Club during its inaugural Antiques Appraisal Show.

The event, held at the 44 imperial Avenue Club headquarters, was the brainchild of Deb Fratino, owner of Pandora’s Box and a nationally known antique doll appraiser. Fratino works with Larchmont, NY-based Clarke Auction House and, in her capacity as a Club member, suggested the event as a fundraiser for the organization’s community services program. She invited Ronan Clarke of the Auction House, some of his staff and various other appraisers of art and jewelry to provide evaluations of local residents’ unique items.

At one table, Fratino carefully examined a German Bisque doll from the 1800s that Jane Trischman from Trumbull had brought. “My mother was born in 1905 and it was her doll,” Trischman said. “It was in my attic for 45 years in the drawer of a dresser.”

Wendy McKeon toted an oval-shaped landscape print in a gilded frame, for Neila Moore of Clarke to evaluate. “It was my husband’s grandmother’s and was hanging in her house in Flushing when he was a little boy in 1950.” She was pleased to learn its value was $200-$300.

Westporter Joanne Reeves brought a curious pitcher to the attention of Ronan Clarke. It had belonged to her husband’s great-grandmother. Clarke identified it as Dickensware due to the fact that it depicted a scene from Charles Dickens’ novel “Journey’s End”. Clarke appraised the item at $500, though Reeves said she didn’t have any intention of selling it.

As more curious folks trickled in with their curious items, a rain/snow mix trickled down outside, the initial signs of a nasty nor’Easter that was working its way into the area.

Chilifest a Hot Time on a Wintry Day

2011-11-18T11:44:00.000-05:00

Chilifest a Hot Time on a Wintry Day

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

10/29/11

Westport, CT – It was snowing hard, branches were coming down all over and power was flickering around the area. But at the Unitarian Church early Saturday afternoon, folks were warm and dry and having a hot time sampling various chili concoctions.

The focus of their attention was Chilifest, and it was the first time the church had held the event. However, the church had held a similar function, Chowderfest, for the past three years, which allowed for the purchase of 30,000 meals for the Connecticut Food Bank according to Chilifest organizer Jim Keenan.

“We started Chowderfest when the economy was really bad, and invited restaurants to participate,” Keenan said. “We wanted it to be a win-win situation for us and the local economy. They began to ask about entering chili in the Fest, but it didn’t mix – chowder and chili are really two different palettes. So we created Chilifest to address that desire.”

The concept of Chilifest is simple: Pay a fee to participate, receive a spoon and a ballot, sample all the chili and vote on your favorites. Two categories were offered: Classic and Creative. “A classic chili is traditional meat and bean-based,” said Keenan. “The creative is white, red, meatless, seafood, anything else.”

Ten restaurants were represented: Ash Creek Saloon, Bobby Q’s, Brewhouse, Chili Bomb, Da Pietros, Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro, Old Post Tavern, Restaurant at Rowayton, Swanky Franks and The Lime Restaurant. The restaurant getting the most votes in each area gets the trophy.

Ironically, Keenan said he was not that big of a chili guy. “The restaurants really wanted to do it,” he said. “And when the weather gets chilly, people want chili. I’ve become a fan because of the Fest and get a kick out of people enjoying it so much. They all have their own theories on how to try it – reds first, beans first. And it’s funny to see what the restaurants have added as sides and what they’ve named their concoctions.”

Indeed, there was Ash Creek’s “Ash Kicking Chili”, a traditional recipe with a sweet taste. Brewhouse’s “Dat’l Do It 3-Bean Chili”, with a dash of BBQ sauce in it. Swanky Frank’s five-alarm “Hot Dog! That’s good chili”. Old Post Tavern’s “Fire in the Hole Chili”, with just the right amount of heat.

Amid the buzz, chatter and musical backdrop, Kim Saab and Steve Ferrara had found a little oasis in which to enjoy Chili Bomb’s “Texas Peacemaker”. Ferrara said, “We’re trying to hit them all. Our favorite so far is this one. As chili goes, I don’t make it, but I eat it and really enjoy it.” Saab added, “It’s a fun way to spend a snowy Saturday.”

Serey Carlton, from Stamford, coupled with her husband Chris, was trying Nicholas Roberts’ “Texas Chain Gang Chili”. Boldly, she declared, “I dig chili.” Like Ferrara, she doesn’t make it herself, but enjoys it, adding, “I cook with a lot of spices. We did the Chowderfest last year and enjoyed that, so decided to come to Chilifest. It’s a good way to experience the various restaurants.”

What was Serey’s favorite? Bobby Q’s “Smokehouse Chili”, which featured little cubes of smoked beef brisket. You could say she’s a good judge of chili character as the restaurant took the title in the Classic category, narrowly edging out Brewhouse. In the Creative category, it was the Restaurant at Rowayton’s “Sumptuous Seafood Chili”, which featured shrimp, beans and other ingredients that made it a standout in the lineup.

Chilly days call for chili and Chilifest answered the call.

NYC Fireboat John J. Harvey Keeps History Afloat

2011-11-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

NYC Fireboat John J. Harvey

Keeps History Afloat:

Bridgeport a recent stop for 80-year-old vessel

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Bridgeport News)

10/13/11

Bridgeport, CT -- Boy, can this old girl make an entrance! She caused quite a buzz on a recent fall weekday afternoon when, with escorts by her side, she slid around St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea and made a big splash in Bridgeport Harbor.

The grande dame of note was the John J. Harvey, an 80-year-old fireboat built for the Fire Department of New York City and commissioned in 1931. After 63 years of service, she was decommissioned, sold at auction and saved from being scrapped by a small group of maritime preservationists operating under the banner Save Our Ships New York. The historic boat has been lovingly maintained by volunteers and, each year, travels the region’s waterways, stopping in various towns to teach people about maritime history, promote waterfront revitalization… and squirt some water as she did during her harbor arrival.

Bridgeport News was on the scene as this floating piece of history, led by the Harbormaster and flanked by the Harbor Patrol, pulled up to the dock at Captain’s Cove, her water cannons creating a fantastic shower and horns and bells drawing local folks down to take a look. We met the captain and engineers, spoke with dock personnel and took a comprehensive tour of the boat, learning more about her legend and recent roles she has played.

A remarkable craft and distinguished service

The noted fireboat, which spent her entire career on the west side of Manhattan in the North River, was named after Pilot John J. Harvey, who was killed in the line of duty February 11, 1930 at a fire aboard the North German Lloyd Line’s S.S. Muenchen. A year-and-a-half later, on October 6, 1931, the 130-foot-long fireboat was launched and, less than two weeks later, commissioned and stationed along the Battery Park seawall.

The Harvey’s power source was originally five Sterling Viking II, 8-cylinder, 565-HP gasoline engines. In 1957, these were replaced in the same footprint with five 600-HP Fairbanks-Morse model 38f5 ¼ 8-cylinder opposed-piston diesel engines. Two smoke stacks were also added to accommodate them. Four LeCourtenay centrifugal pumps connected to four outboard engines allowed 16,000 gallons of water per minute to be disbursed through eight deck pipes and 24 fire hose connections. These cannons and fittings are still featured on the boat – all original and in full working condition.

Powering lights and other on-board elements such as compressors, steerage and gauges is Westinghouse DC equipment with six generators and two 1065-HP electric propulsion motors, again, all original and fully operating today.

The Harvey has the distinction of being the first large modern fireboat in America – its predecessors were all steam powered. Its engines provide pumping and propulsion simultaneously, making her the fastest large fireboat while pumping.

On May 3, 1932, she responded to her first major fire, at Cunard Pier 54, joining other fireboats. On April 24, 1943, she fought a fire on the munitions freighter El Estero, which was carrying over 1,400 tons of high-powered explosives on board. The Harvey and a second boat, Fire Fighter, doused the flames as the ship was towed away from the Statue of Liberty and vital waterfront facilities, and sunk. Her efforts saved New York Harbor and earned the crew the FDNY’s Medal of Valor.

On February 9, 1942, the French Line’s Normandie, one of the most beautiful ships ever constructed, caught fire at her berth on Pier 88 and, ironically, capsized because of water pumped on board by the Harvey and other boats.

Ultimately, in July 1994, she was taken out of service by the FDNY and destined to be junked. However, on February 11, 1999, 69 years to the day that Pilot John J. Harvey lost his life in the line of duty, the fireboat was bought from the City at auction and rescued from the scrap yard.

An impromptu stopover a plus for Bridgeport

“The Harvey’s permanent berth is Pier 66 on the Hudson and we were on our way back down there from Mystic, where we had spent Columbus Day weekend,” said Captain Huntley Gill, standing dockside with Captain’s Cove owner Bruce Williams. “I called Bruce to ask if we could stop in for the night.”

Said Williams, “The history of this vessel is awesome and it’s great to have her here. We hope to have her return next summer when the restaurant reopens and have people visit.”

Assistant Engineer John Browne welcomed Bridgeport News aboard and put us in the company of Chief Engineer Jessica Dulong. Remarking on how she came to be in her role, and the fact that she is virtually unique as a female engineer, Dulong said, “I started out as a volunteer 10 years ago, after being laid off from a dot.com job right when there was an opening on board. Huntley invited me to try my hand and, after a decade of apprenticeship, I’m now chief engineer.”

Dulong’s knowledge of the craft was comprehensive. “She was overbuilt, with brass and bronze,” she said. “The deck guns and main water piping are all brass. Today, these would be made of steel. We’re looking at a moment in American history where fine craftsmanship was the guiding principle of the day.”

Dulong said that particularly rare is the engines, because of their opposed-piston design, versus single pistons wtih heads. “It was the first internal combustion-powered fireboat built for the FDNY, setting the standard for all modern fireboats.”

Stepping down steep metal stairs to the engine room, Dulong said, “This compartment can reach 130 degrees. Fortunately, there’s a lot of movement of air due to engine operation.”

With regard to the deck cannons, or guns, Dulong shared that their pumping capacity, when working at once, is the equivalent of 20 land-based pumper trucks. “When she was brand new on October 6, 1931, she shot water over the lower roadway of the George Washington Bridge,” she said. “She has an incredible amount of pressure. She can blast through a cement wall.”

Today, in addition to its education mission, the Harvey hosts young people from summer camps and foster care, as well as children with developmental, emotional and behavioral disabilities. It has also worked with the Police Athletic League and Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance to offer summer programs teaching maritime and leadership skills, and boat safety.

The boat currently needs capital improvements to ensure her long-term survival. Having successfully matched a $320,000 NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation grant, advocates are now working to match a $165,000 Save America’s Treasures grant, the most prestigious of its kind.

Donations are tax deductible and can be directed to Save Our Ships New York, 100 West 72^nd Street, #6-G, New York, NY 10023. For more information about the John J. Harvey, visit www.fireboat.org

SIDEBAR

Hero of the Harbor: John J. Harvey’s Role in 9/11

“On 9/11, we were parked at Pier 63 on the Hudson River, two miles north of the World Trade Center,” said Tim Ivory, former chief engineer of the John J. Harvey, standing on the dock beside the vessel at Bridgeport’s Captain Cove. “One of the boat’s owners had talked with dispatch at the FDNY and offered the boat. There was no formal communication.”

Ivory got a call to operate it and joined nine other crew members at the berth. “The North Tower dropped first, then the South tower, as we were getting under way,” he continued, “and a cloud of dust went across the river. The Coast Guard called us to help evacuate people. As we went past the site to Battery Park City, we picked up about 150 people and started coming back north.”

Ivory said an FDNY lieutenant, Tom White, spotted them, and said he needed water on the scene. The idea was to hook up fire hoses at Ground Zero to the boat’s pump system, but there was a hitch. First, there was so much destroyed equipment between the Harvey and the site, that there was no way to get relay support. Secondly, Ivory said, “Our manifolds are 3 ½ inches – the city’s today are three inches,” he said. “As our water cannons were three inches, we took the nozzles off and hooked up hoses, that firefighters brought out to us, directly to the cannons.”

The Harvey was situated between two City fireboats up close – a front row seat. “We were continuously pumping for the first 40-50 hours, with 8,000 gallons a minute going in, then stayed an additional two days as stand-by,” said Ivory. “It was surreal. Everyone and everything was black and white. In fact, it was a day or two before I realized all the crumpled up vehicles were emergency services. I also thought the lieutenant was 60 or 70 years old because of the ash. He showered and I realized he was only in his 40s. When it rained, suddenly everything had color. For our efforts that day, NY State Representative Carolyn B. Maloney secured a citation for the vessel and its service.”

Spooky Stroll Chills Participants with Local Legends

2011-11-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

Spooky Stroll Chills Participants

with Local Legends

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

10/28/11

Fairfield, CT – The falling temperatures weren’t the only thing giving Spooky Stroll participants the chills as they were led from site to site and regaled with mysterious local tales.

Guided by docent Jill Littig, the annual walk set off early Friday evening from Fairfield Museum & History Center, where ghoulish treats like candy lady fingers and eyeballs had been placed in bowls on a candlelit table.

Two dozen children and their parents, many dressed in costumes, participated in the tour. Annmarie Fetcho and her 10-year-old daughter Raeann, of Fairfield, were among them. “When Raeann came home from school, she said she wanted a Halloween weekend,” Fetcho said. “We looked online and found the Stroll. It sounded cool.”

The first stop was the Town Hall Green, established in 1639 amid the four original square blocks of Fairfield. “People came here to practice, see friends and gossip,” said Littig, who then led them to adjacent St. Paul’s Church. As she explained that there had been an old jail on the site until 1850, when it burned down, there was a “klunk klunk” sound on the underside of a pair of steel Bilko doors. Emerging from below was a neglected prisoner, played by Fairfielder Christine Sander, who joked about being fatigued from being down there for the past 200 years.

Over at the Sun Tavern, Fairfield Museum’s Walt Matis greeted strollers in the guise of Sam Penfield and related the story of Penfield Reef Lighthouse keeper Fred Jordan, who perished in the choppy waters near the light in December 1916, while rowing ashore to see his family. Jordan’s successor was said to have seen Jordan’s ghost in the lighthouse just a few days later, and reported finding a logbook opened to an entry that described Jordan’s passing. While Matis told the tale, lights flickered and screams were heard from within the Tavern behind him.

From there, the group walked to the lip of a large depression in the ground that was once Edward’s Pond. In the late 1600s, women suspected of being witches were tested here. The suspect’s hands and feet were tied and they were tossed into the water. If they sank, they were pure and not a witch. If they floated, they were impure and a witch. Of course, the catch with that logic was that a non-witch would likely drown while proving their innocence, said Littig.

Along Beach Road, the tour stopped across from the Isaac Tucker House, which, during the Revolutionary War, was occupied by patriot Jonathan Maltbie. When British troops came ashore to burn the town, they tossed a lighted torch into the home. Mysteriously, it went out. They tried a second time and, getting the same result, decided the house was haunted. In reality, a servant girl had been hiding in the structure and had put the torches out. The house became one of the only ones to survive the destructive fires.

While the group stood there, Littig produced a long cardboard makeshift coffin and asked everyone gathered to whisper a bad thought into it. When they were done, Littig exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, this is so heavy,” and, with that, carried it further south and into the Old Burying Ground, established by the Daughters of the American Revolution. There, Littig handed it to Walt Matis, who had transformed into a black-shrouded resident gravedigger.

Matis set the box aside, to be “buried” later, and, with the aid of a flashlight, read a spooky tale from a large weathered book. The reading put a cap on the tour, leaving little ghosts and goblins to ponder all that they had seen and heard.

WACkiness Reigns at Halloween Costume and Crafts Event

2011-11-18T10:33:00.000-05:00

WACkiness Reigns at Halloween Costume and Crafts Event

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

10/23/11

Westport, CT – Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! And don’t forget the witches, devils and dinosaurs. They – and many other colorfully costumed kiddies – were all onsite at Westport Arts Center Sunday afternoon as the facility hosted its third annual WACky Halloween event.

Sponsored by Westport-based retailer Melissa & Doug, the costume party and Halloween crafts workshop attracted over 125 children and their parents for a couple hours of happy holiday happenings.

“We’re so pleased with the popularity of this event,” said Alyssa Crouse, WAC’s marketing director. “It has become a ritual for locals. And thanks to supporters like Melissa & Doug, we are able to deliver these types of programs to thousands of kids each year.”

M & D business owner Melissa Bernstein was on hand for the fun, making crafts with two of her children and snapping photos of the goings-on. “My husband Doug and I are in the business of children and creating children’s products,” she said, “and Westport Arts Center has a similar mission: helping to make childhood magical. Our focus is on bringing joy to children with simple play.”

There was certainly no lack of joy as the room quickly filled and kids began chattering away and squealing as they snipped, pasted and decorated at several work stations set up throughout the gallery.

In one area, a group constructed haunted houses out of cardboard. Among them was seven-year-old Emma Nordberg and her dad Leif. “We do a lot of activities here,” said Leif, as he handed Emma short cuts of duct tape to connect pieces of cardboard. “Both my kids love the programs here. This is the third time we’ve done the Halloween event. It’s a fun kickoff to the holiday and chance to see what other kids from the area dressed as.”

Asked about his daughter’s “brown dog” costume choice, Leif laughed, “We have a chocolate Lab named Winston and Emma wanted to be him.”

Nearby, WAC board member and event volunteer Deirdre Price was helping a young Jared Parnes with his own haunted house. She was dressed as a witch and sporting a necklace which incorporated real spike-shaped nails that she collected from an old home teardown.

Making witches’ hats with her daughters Samantha, 9, and Jolie, 5, Westporter Lynn Gefen said, “We’re new to the area and thought this would be a great way to spend Halloween with neighbors.”

Besides the crafts stations, a Melissa & Doug Playzone had been set up for infants and toddlers, where they could enjoy activities like puzzlemaking. From that area, coloring pads and markers were also being distributed and used by kids at another set of tables.

You could say it was a boo-tiful way to scare up some pre-Halloween spirits.

New Gallery Space ‘Works’ for Stamford

2011-11-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

New Gallery Space ‘Works’ for Stamford:

Franklin Street Works showcases contemporary art

(for Stamford.Patch.com)

By Mike Lauterborn

10/23/11

Stamford, CT -- Filling a niche and providing a place where locals could think, talk and have a community experience were the driving motivators behind the creation of Franklin Street Works, Stamford’s newest art gallery space.

Located at 41 Franklin Street in one of four connected row houses built in the 1880s, the non-profit business is the brainchild of Kathy Emmett, founder and president of the board. Emmett, a civil attorney for over 40 years who has been operating her office in the gallery building since 1990, hatched the art space concept about 10 years ago. Its official opening was September 22, 2011, celebrated with a reception that attracted about 200 people and coincided with the launch of a first exhibit titled “Fernando”.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Greenwich Village in the 1950s and 60s, Emmett developed an affinity for row houses and had always been visually oriented. Her family was also in theater. “My mom is actress Kim Hunter, who won the Academy Award for her role as Stella in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’”, she said. “She also wrote a book titled ‘Loose in the Kitchen’, an autobiographical cookbook. As such, it’s important to me to incorporate a café into my gallery.”

The café to which she referred is located on the main level, forming part of the gallery space. It offers a comprehensive menu of salads and sides; wine, beer, coffee and other beverages; paninis/sandwiches and dessert-type dishes. “I’m dedicated to having really good food and making people feel welcome,” said Emmett.

Several people have helped the gallery owner realize her dream. Cynthia Roznoy, who is now at Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, helped form the FSW organization and develop programming.

Architect John Fifield (Fifield, Piaker, Elman) was instrumental in incorporating both the old and new in the space and suggested an outdoor patio in a courtyard behind the gallery.

Joe Whitt manages the gallery while Terri Smith is its creative director. Smith curates the shows, secures the artists and lays out the artwork in the gallery space. The gallery’s mission, as Smith states, is to be a producer of original contemporary art projects. The inaugural show, which will be on display until November 13, is a good demonstration of this objective. “We’re trying to expand people’s worlds in a friendly way and make some great works accessible right in their own backyard,” Smith said.

For more information about Franklin Street Works, contacts and an exhibit schedule, visit www.franklinstreetworks.org or call 203-595-5211.

Storybook Characters Come Alive at Enchanted Castle

2011-11-18T10:25:00.000-05:00

Storybook Characters Come Alive at Enchanted Castle

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

10/21/11

Fairfield, CT – So authentic were their costumes and so rehearsed were their presentations that you would think that the actors portraying the various characters had stepped right from pages of the storybooks themselves.

The characters were but one part of the magical experience created at Burr Homestead late Friday afternoon as the 18^th Annual Enchanted Castle opened. The event will be conducted almost daily through Sunday, October 30, with varying hours of operation.

Themed rooms include Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Pirates of the Caribbean. There is also a BOOtique featuring items for sale including food, Halloween-oriented accessories and gift baskets. All merchandise was donated by area businesses and individuals and proceeds will benefit the Ahlbin Centers for Rehabilitation Medicine at Bridgeport Hospital.

“This is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and the most highly anticipated,” said Lauren Condron, an occupational therapist at Ahlbin Centers, who was dressed as a queen and seated on the porch of the Homestead beside the front entry. “The kids love it and staff and former patients all come.”

Condron added that, this year, funding will help the Center’s FitKids program, which promotes healthy eating and activities to children.

Since its inception, the Enchanted Castle has always supported the Ahlbin Center, said Shaun Amberg, President of the Ahlbin Centers Auxiliary and a co-chair of the event. “It’s funny, I bumped into two of the original creators yesterday,” she said. “They say no one calls them anymore to be characters!”

Amberg added that the Castle was designed to be non-threatening, unlike many other Halloween tour experiences that focus on spooky and scary themes. As such, the experience appeals to families of children ages 2 to 9.

On average, the event raises $25,000 to $30,000, and has become a community tradition. “There was one year – 1997 -- we didn’t do it due to a lack of volunteers,” said Amberg. “People missed it, so we brought it back the following year.”

A strong draw is the authenticity of the sets. For example, the Wizard of Oz room features a section of real wooden fence, sunflowers, flying monkeys and a yellow brick road pathway.

Characters were played primarily by teenaged students, like Elizabeth Reidy, an 8^th grader at Tomlinson Middle School playing Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean. “I printed out my script two weeks ago and have been practicing my lines, especially in front of my sister,” she said. “I was a little nervous at first, but it’s fun. I’m doing this as a community service project.”

Nick Zeleny, playing the featured pirate Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, said he had done the character last year. “I’m one of the few male characters.”

For Zeleny, the event was a family affair. His mother typeset the event program and he and his dad helped put the whole façade up.

All the hard work did not go unappreciated. “This is a great community event and one of the reasons we live in Fairfield,” said Beth Hansel, visiting with her 3-year-old daughter Ella. “She’s my fourth child. I’ve taken them all here. It’s her time. We were here early and got a private tour and chance to speak with the characters. It was like being at Disney.”

The Enchanted Castle is located in the Burr Homestead, 739 Old Post Road, Fairfield. Hours of Operation: Saturday, October 22 and Sunday October 23: 10am – 5pm; Wed – Fri. Oct. 26-28: 4pm – 7pm; Sat. Oct. 29 and Sun. Oct. 30: 10am – 5pm. Fully accessible for children of all abilities, ages 2 to 9 with an adult.