July 26, 2008

Late night fun

"Hollywood Nights" was the theme of the recent Ansonia High School post prom event.

On Saturday, May 3, from 12:30 to 4:30 a.m., 185 students enjoyed Ansonia High School’s annual post prom event hosted by the Ansonia High School Parent Teacher Student Organization.
The event, which took place at the school, featured obstacle course inflatables, a palm reader, game show host, hypnotist, food/refreshments, and raffle prizes for all seniors in attendance.
This year’s surprise theme was “Hollywood Nights,” and the group enjoyed photo opportunities with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Beyonce!
The free event was made possible by generous contributions from local businesses, family and friends, as well as grants and fundraising efforts.
Many thanks go to the countless adult and student volunteers who helped make the post prom event happen.

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All they're 'quaked up to be'

The spring entrepreneurship class at Joel Barlow High School took part in Quack! for a Cause on April 26 on the Easton Firehouse Green. The kids’ fair benefited Save the Children's Survive to Five program.

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Lessons in empathy

The 5 Day 5's class at Trinity Parish Nursery School with the supplies and educational materials they purchased are wrapped to be given to clients of the Quinlan Cottage in Norwalk. Top row, from left, are Brian Meagher, Nicholas Morris, Cole Spencer, Eric Young and teacher Marianne Sabo. Bottom row, from left, are Callie Dammeyer, Ellen Kelly, Elizabeth Crager, and Callie Cirilli.

The 5 Day 5’s class at Trinity Parish Nursery School in Fairfield has concluded its fourth annual community service classroom fundraiser. The eight children earned money by doing small chores around the house for family and friends. The funds raised were used to buy arts and crafts supplies and educational materials which were then given to the Quinlan Cottage.
The children spent a morning wrapping and decorating the gifts.
Quinlan Cottage is a halfway house for female offenders preparing to reenter the community. The program is under the auspices of NEON (Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now Inc.) and provides a variety of services to those in need in the greater Norwalk area.
A dozen children ranging in age from 5 to 11 are part of the Cottage program. Materials supplied by the Trinity children will be used in a special weekend of activities designed to bring the children and their mothers closer together.

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Little ones learn about, celebrate Arbor Day

Kindergartener Christopher Lakin helps his mother, Theresa, left, a member of the Long Hill Garden Club, ready the seedlings and book with Kara Canney, right, children’s librarian, for the Kindergarten Club meeting.

The Trumbull Library’s Kindergarten Club and the Long Hill Garden Club joined together for an Arbor Day celebration on April 24 in the Children’s Room.
Kara Canney, children’s librarian, read the story “Franklin Plants a Tree” to the eager kindergarteners. In the book, Franklin has grand ideas about the tree he is going to receive at an Earth Day celebration. He is disappointed with his sapling, but learns to take care of his tree.
The children worked diligently on a seed craft and at the end of the session, each child went home with a blue spruce sapling provided by the garden club. Arbor Day was April 30.

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Congratulations are in order

Above, James Amann, state speaker of the House, congratulates Robert Morton Jr., a senior at Fairfield University and president of its Iota Psi chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. The primary objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence. Morton graduates May 18, then immediately begins full-time pursuit of a master’s degree.

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Cambridge Manor was the site of the nuptials of Joseph Gagner and Barbara Rusnak on April 26.
Joseph is the son of Cambridge Manor resident Barbara Gagner.
Congradulations!
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Monroe students recently participated in the American Statistical Association’s Poster Competition. The competition was open to all state schools.
Students created graphs to represent the data they collected in school, at home or researched on the Internet. They then drew conclusions from the data.
Bristol-Meyers Squibb hosted a reception for all winners at its Wallingford location on April 5. First-place winners received $100; second place, $75; and third place, $50. This year, Monroe students received 12 of the 19 awards presented among the 356 posters submitted for the competition.
Winners included:
Fawn Hollow Elementary: Kevin Arther, first; Kyle Weiss, Alexander Gutierrez and Louis Duh, third; Brianna Mulloy, Andrew Maslar, Sian Stockman and Matthew Scanzillo, honorable mention.
Monroe Elementary: Mrs. Flynn’s third-grade class, honorable mention.
Stepney Elementary: Ali Moraveck, Claire Kopfmann and Sydney Hirsch, first; Spencer Dai and Emerson Carlson, third; Jane Capozziello and Angela Yu, honorable mention.
Chalk Hill: Naomi Potterf, first; Justin Marcinek, second; Kim Magyar, third; Alexandra Vickowski, Nicole Yanouzas, Mike Dellapiano, Michael Monaco, Jenna Carpenter and Carolyn DeCredico, honorable mention.
Jockey Hollow: Ryan Lancaster, first; Amy Rajpolt, second; Noah Kreski and Christopher Butler, honorable mention.
Masuk High: Andrew Rivard and Alexander Wesler, first.
Ryan Lancaster also won first place, and Louis Duh and Alexander Gutierrez won second place in the national competition.

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Dynamic duo shares love for service

Officer Jay Valle of the Fairfield Police Department has chosen to honorstudent Shawn Higgins, a recent graduate of Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

Every month, in a feature called Heroes Honoring Heroes, People’s United Bank and a local police department honor a police officer and a student for excellent school performance or for the good works they do. To the student winner, People’s gives a $100 U.S. Savings Bond.
This month, recognition goes to Officer Jay Valle of the Fairfield Police Department, who has chosen to honor student Shawn Higgins, a recent graduate of Fairfield Ludlowe High School.
What has impressed Valle about Higgins is the young man’s dedication to community service. Higgins’ mother, Donna, succumbed to cancer in January 2002, and even before his loss, Higgins made it his personal goal to raise as much money as he could for cancer research. He recalls meeting a nun associated with Bridgeport’s St. Vincent’s Medical Center in 2001. She was taking part in the Swim Across the Sound’s Aquathon, in which area residents swim laps in the Fairfield University pool to raise money for cancer research.
When Higgins met the nun at St. Vincent’s, he was so impressed that “she was swimming for my mom,” that he went out that evening and raised $1,000 to help fight cancer. In the seven years since, Higgins has raised more than $10,000 in his mother’s memory. He has participated in both the Aquathon and the Walk-a-Thon that support the Swim.
“He’s a very unselfish young man,” Valle notes. “I am proud of him because he took on a responsibility — raising money for cancer research — and continues to follow it through.”
Higgins, who is pursuing a career as an electrician, has lived with his grandparents since the loss of his mother.
Valle, a 16-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, has been a field training officer in the Patrol Division, and worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He is the department’s Officer Friendly, “so I’ve run the gamut from chasing down bad guys to being kindergarten cop! And I’ve enjoyed it all!”

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Quota springs into action

Spring has found Quota International of New Haven busy helping the needy.

Group serving
A group of Quotarians prepared and served a meal for 40 members of Fellowship Place, a facility in New Haven that assists people with serious mental illness and substance abuse problems. Serving are Quotarians Vicky Jacobsen, Lynn Stewart, JoAnn Soules, Pat Jakupkovic and Lynne Maser.

Presenting check
The Quota club of New Haven donated $5,000 to the CHAIN Fund. This organization is a financial assistance and social intervention network for cancer patients who are unable to work while undergoing treatment. Pat Jakupkovic, Quota president, along with Nancy Suski and Shirley Washington, present the check to Kelly Turner of the CHAIN Fund.

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Bard encounter

During the month of April, National Poetry Month, Hillcrest Middle School students participated in a Shakespeare enrichment program with the support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.
Students attended a series of instructional workshops where they explored the world and language of William Shakespeare. These workshops were then followed by a live, interactive performance by Shakesperience Productions Inc.
During this performance, students had the opportunity to become Shakespearean actors, as they read and acted through vignettes from a number of Shakespearean tragedies and comedies. The program was very successful and will return next spring.

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Wildcats team up for nice 'Grinch'

Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele and students in the Stepney Elementary School Wildcats Read Across America Team.

Students participating in the Stepney Elementary School Wildcats Read Across America Team were recently honored with a visit from Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, who accepted the students' written invitations to attend an original play, “How the Grinch Became So Nice.”
Following the play, students interviewed Fedele and learned more about his job, family, interests and favorite books. Fedele presented the school with a book, “N is for Nutmeg,” which tells about Connecticut.
The team received funding for their program through educational grants from the Rotary Club of Monroe and Connecticut Association for the Gifted.

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Fundraisers aid children's shelter

Jason Prevelige of Fairfield, left, Cindy Lord of Cheshire, director of the Quinnipiac University physician assistant program; Janice Dadio of North Haven, the secretary for the program; Kathleen Swift of Geneseo, N.Y.; and Andrew Turczak of Shelton. Prevelige, Swift and Turczak are all students in the program.

The Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Student Society raised $10,000 for the Children’s Shelter of San Antonio, Texas, during its Ninth Annual Run for Your Life: 5K Road Race, 10th Annual Cow Chip Bingo and Second Annual Kids’ Fun Run on April 12 at Quinnipiac.
The fundraisers were part of the American Academy of Physician Assistants Host City Prevention Campaign, which promotes childhood literacy. The Quinnipiac students will attend this year’s AAPA conference, which will take place in San Antonio in May.
More than 150 runners competed in the 5K Road Race.
Following the race, three Holstein cows took to the “bingo board,” which, in actuality, was a field at Quinnipiac. With 1,000 squares lined on the field, students sold tickets for $10 per bingo square. The first cow to drop chips on a given square on the field earned the winner $1,500, with the second prize $1,000, and a third prize of $500.

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Van donation helps our folks

From left are Mark Rosso, Aquarion Water Co.; Emily Roche, Groundwork Bridgeport; Richard J. Tiani, ececutive director Groundwork Bridgeport; Jonathan Greenberger, Aquarion.
On May 5 Aquarion Water Co. donated a 1999 Chevrolet Astro Cargo Van to Groundwork Bridgeport to be used in its Our Folks program that helps low-income, inner-city elderly homeowners maintain their yards.
Richard J. Tiani, executive director of Groundwork Bridgeport, accepted the keys to the van from Mark Rosso, Aquarion fleet services specialist, saying, "We are grateful to Aquarion for this donation. This new addition to our fleet will have a real impact on folks and help to meet our mission."

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Black Hawk talk

Former Sikorsky engineer Ray D. Leoni addresses the audience at the National Helicopter Museum. Photo: Ken Collinge.

The 25th anniversary season of the National Helicopter Museum was inaugurated with a May 6 talk titled “Black Hawk — Creating a World Class Helicopter” by Ray D. Leoni.
Leoni is the former Sikorsky Aircraft design engineer who is a co-holder of the Black Hawk design patent and author of the book “Black Hawk: The Story of a World Class Helicopter.”
Leoni’s talk covered the history of the Sikorsky company and its helicopters leading up to the Black Hawk, the details of the conception, competition with other manufacturers, selection of the aircraft and its development, production and world-wide success.
Leoni recounted an interesting incident when a prototype Black Hawk made an emergency landing in a pine forest with its rotor blades chopping their way through the trees to the ground. The Army evaluators were very impressed when the helicopter lifted itself out of the forest and flew back to its base after surrounding trees were cleared and only the rotor blades required replacing. This incident gave early proof of the helicopter’s superior design and rugged construction that has been verified in combat and hundreds of other situations.

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Grasmere volunteers feted

Front row, from left, are client Mary Kunik of Fairfield and volunteer Maureen Soares. Second row: volunteers Mary and Alice Crowther, Kathleen Rice, Lore Oricchio, Eric Boudreau and Raymond Prezkop. Missing from the photo are Pat Reilly, Alana Brunoli, Carolyn Stubbs and Maria, Chris and Emily Walsh.

Volunteer Appreciation Week at Grasmere Eldercare Center, an adult day center in Fairfield, culminated with a day of colorful festivities and a luncheon.
Clients who attend the center participate in daily therapeutic recreation activities, as well as receive personal assistance as needed and nursing supervision.
Valerie Pinto, recreation coordinator, planned the day of events.
Grasmere clients, staff and volunteers donned rainbow-colored T-shirts for team sport competitions, and the day was filled with rainbow trivia, games, rainbow pies made by the clients and lots of food.

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Reflections winners

Above are some of Trumbull’s state level winners awarded at the 2008 Connecticut PTA Reflections Dinner and Awards Ceremony May 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell. This year’s theme was "I Can Make a Difference By ... " First row: Jessica Gibbs, first place, Video, Middlebrook Elementary. Second row: Brian Gibbs, first place, Video, Middlebrook; Gina Dupnik, third place, Visual Arts, Middle-Junior Division, Madison Middle School; Arielle Heyman, third place, Music, Middle-Junior Division, Madison; Joseph Miterko, first place, Music, Senior Division, Trumbull High School. Gibbs was one of six finalists who placed on the national level.

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Poster child

Alexandra Sciallo, a third-grade student at St. Mark School in Stratford, recently captured first place in Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority's Second Annual Mixed Paper Recycling Poster Contest. The CRRA will use Alexandra's poster to get the word out that junk mail, magazines, and catalogs can now be recycled along with your newspapers. Alexandra, above, received her award at a ceremony at the Stratford Children's Garbage Museum. The contest was open to second- and third-grade students in Fairfield County and more than 100 posters were entered.

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Tea Time

Deborah Breck of Pullman & Comley welcomes businesswomen and community leaders to Pullman & Comley's 11th Women's Networking Tea, the keystone of the firm's longstanding Women's Initiative.
Pullman & Comley attorney Elizabeth Austin, right, moderates a lively panel discussion between businesswomen including, from left, Kim Williams, Linda Kelly and Mary-Jane Foster.

A panel of prominent businesswomen from Fairfield County assembled May 8 at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien for the 11th Annual Women's Tea, jointly hosted by Pullman & Comley, LLC and U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.
The panel included: Lori Ensinger, managing director and head of value strategies, Columbia Management; Mary-Jane Foster, co-Founder/co-owner, Bridgeport Bluefish; Linda Kelly, president, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Susanna Lindberg, president, H&M, North America; Kim Williams, chief operating officer, NFL Network. The topic for discussion was "Your Career Path: Ladder or Jungle Gym?"
Each year, the Women's Tea supports a women-oriented charity. This year, the charity was the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center, which has two offices offering comprehensive services to women for lifelong breast care.

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July 19, 2008

Annual state Holocaust Commemoration marks important anniversaries

State Senate president pro tempore, Donald Williams, left, presides, as Corey Katz, a student at the Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies in Bridgeport, helps Manfred Lobel light a memorial candle. Lobel survived Shanghai and the Hong Kew Ghetto. Harold Shapiro plays the flute.
Photo credit: Regina Madwed, Capitol PhotoInteractive

This year’s annual Statewide Holocaust Commemoration at the state Capitol was a landmark event. It was the 30th anniversary of the program, and, in bittersweet irony, it coincided with the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. And for the first time in Connecticut history, the Israeli flag flew over the Capitol.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell read a proclamation noting it was also the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, which signaled the horror to come.
Guest speaker Martin Schiller of Fairfield, a survivor of Skarzysko-Kamienna and Buchenwald, talked about his experience. His memoir, “Bread, Butter and Sugar,” gives a full account of the trauma.
Lighting the memorial candles for the 6 million who perished were Schiller and five other survivors: Ernest Nemeth, Elizabeth Deutsch, Manfred Lobel, Mila Nishball and Herb Mann. Each was accompanied by a student partner from the Adopt a Survivor program run by Marjorie B. Krubiner, director of the Merkaz Community High School for Judaic Studies in Bridgeport. Each student meets and learns about the life of a survivor and pledges to tell that survivor’s story for as long as the student lives.
The HaZamir International Jewish High School Choir of Fairfield performed and Bridgeport students Tranisha Blackwell of Central High School and Anthony Whitaker of Harding High School sang the national anthem.
Following the commemoration, Robert Fishman, executive director of the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut, was honored for creating and directing the Statewide Holocaust program for three decades.

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They rock

From left are Sara Frolish, Andrianna Corbett, Emily Canfield, Tiffany Wronski, Madison Feigenblat, Emma White, Heather Keith, Mikayla Heuser, Rachael Watcke, Luiza Limberti, Emily Kulikowski and Meghan McFadden. Sitting/kneeling are Taylor Blankenship, Katelin Milano and Elizabeth MacDougall.
Shelton Junior Girl Scout Troop 60278 recently earned their Rocks Rock! badge at Wells Hollow Farm in Shelton. The Scouts went exploring on a hike, dug and identified rocks, learned about geological careers and topped the event off by meeting the farm animals and eating some ice cream from the farm.

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Higher praise

Connecticut Higher Education Commissioner Michael P. Meotti, left, presents Housatonic Community College's Andrea Salzburg of Milford with the Higher Education Community Service Award for her work with the Milford Jaycees.
Andrea Salzburg of Milford has received the Higher Education Community Service Award for her work with the Milford Jaycees.

Andrea Salzburg, who is employed by Housatonic Community College as a grants development specialist, served as community development vice president for the Jaycees last year, overseeing and collaborating with other members on two major community service projects. These were the Paws in the Park event, which raised funds for the West Haven Animal Shelter, and the Adopt-a-Soldier Drive, which collected items to send to 25 Connecticut soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In addition to chairing these two projects, Salzburg participated in the American Heart Association “Start! Walk!”; the American Cancer Society “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk; “Walk with Harold and Friends for Health,” which benefited women’s programs at Milford Hospital; and sorted food for the Connecticut Food Bank’s East Haven warehouse.
Salzburg was presented a certificate for her achievements by Higher Education Commissioner Michael P. Meotti at an April 1 ceremony in Cromwell. She was one of 15 people nominated for higher education awards.

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Look what I've got

Savannah Mantone, 6, a student at Frenchtown Elementary School in Trumbull, recently donated her hair to Locks for Love. Her haircut took place at Shear Fun Hair Salon in Monroe on May 31.

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Young achievers

Quinnipiac University juniors Alysse G. Rossner of Shelton, a communications major, and Christopher J. Gentry of Norwalk, a marketing major, received Outstanding Junior awards at Quinnipiac’s Undergraduate Awards Day ceremony April 19.
The award is presented to juniors who have at least a 3.0 grade point average or better, and are involved in activities with a clearly demonstrated leadership role in at least one activity.
Angela I. Julian of Seymour, a liberal arts major, received the Outstanding Achievement by a Freshman Award. This award is given to the freshman who has the highest grade point average in his or her school.
Paden J. Livingston of Shelton, a political science major, received the Outstanding Freshman Award.
This award is given to freshmen with at least a 2.75 grade point average or better, are involved in one activity and have demonstrated interest in others.
Keniel O. McLennon of Bridgeport, a health science major, received the Outstanding Sophomore Award.
This award is given to sophomores who have at least a 3.0 grade point average or better and are involved in at least one activity with a clearly demonstrated leadership role.

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Mr. Student Body

Above, Evan Byron of Trumbull accepts the trophy for winning St. Joseph High School’s 2008 Mr. Student Body contest. The senior is presented the award by David Hashemi, the 2007 winner. The annual contest recently took place at the Trumbull school in front of students, parents, and friends. Students must answer trivia questions and perform a talent to vie for the title of Mr. Student Body.

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Cheerleaders take charge in fight against breast cancer

The Ansonia Lady Chargers, from left, are Kristen Larkin, Kristen Boulay, Adrianna DeRasope, Cheryl Jacobs, Emily Cubero, Elizabeth Sollami and Cynthia Buker. Missing from the photo are Rebecca Allain and Kristina Gaboriault. The cheerleaders raised $3,000 at a recent competition and donated it to the Yale Breast Center.

The Ansonia Lady Charger senior cheerleaders graduated this year knowing they made a difference.
Every year in January, Ansonia High School hosts a cheer and dance competition. This year they raised money at the event to help support the fight against breast cancer. The girls did this in honor of one of their cheerleaders’ moms, and also in memory of Grace Paoletti-Searles.
Paoletti-Searles was the president of Shelton Pop Warner, a cheer coach and an event judge. She lost her battle with breast cancer in November 2004, but she will never be forgotten in the cheer and football community in the Naugatuck Valley.
Ansonia Schools Supt. Carol Merlone, AHS Principal Susan McKeirnon, the cheer coaches and staff, as well as they Lady Chargers themselves, all wore pink ribbons on their hearts, as well as competition hair bows with the breast cancer ribbon in the center.
The girls raised about $3,000 at the event and donated the money to the Yale Breast Center.

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It's esss-pecially nice to meet you

Zoo Director Gregg Dancho, left, was the special guest speaker at the Stratford Library recently and he brought along some of his friends. Dancho, who has been affiliated with Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport for the past 28 years, was part of the library's ongoing "Friday Afternoon Talks" series. Dancho talked about Connecticut's only zoo and its collection while exhibiting a number of live snakes and other cold-blooded amphibians.

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Financial trip

Masuk High School’s Future Business Leaders of America took its annual trip to New York City. This year, several members, accompanied by advisers Lynn Costello and Bonnie Waring, went to the Museum of American Finance.
While there, they learned about the Stock Market and the New York Mercantile Exchange, viewed the progression of money and how the dollar has come to be.
The trip was a very informative and enjoyable. Those in attendance were Joe Monaco, Rocco Laudato, Rob Honrath, Tony Meath, Tom Levitsky, Briana Doyle, Georgia Tsaousis, Jessica Vasquez, Renee Bachman, Ian Barbarula, Anthony Presutto, John Solek, Milysa Musial, Amanda Allain, Anthony Politano, Emily Boncek, Kanika Cummings, Caroline Sullo, Mike Lupo, Amanda Somers, Melissa Cabral, Jasmine Pierce, Kayla Cihal, James Harlow, Chrissy Giff, Michele Belush, Greg Csuka, Michelle Spadaro and Angela Garcia.

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Outstanding support

Venture capitalist and education advocate Jonathan T. Dawson, center, is flanked by members of the New Beginnings Family Academy community during the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2008 Connecticut Philanthropy Awards Luncheon April 10 at the Trumbull Marriott. Dawson, a co-founder of the K-8 public charter school in Bridgeport, received the organization’s highest honor — the 2008 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award — for his ongoing philanthropic investment in an inner-city school, New Beginnings Family Academy.
Also pictured are, from left, Richard Bentley, NBFA board chairman; Ronelle P. Swagerty, executive director of Friends of NBFA, the school’s fundraising arm; Deidre Lindsay, PTA president; and Paul Whyte, NBFA principal.

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'Names' shows value on the road

Bunnell High School student Lexi Miller (seated at the easel). Back row are, from left, Square One Theatre actor Joseph Mallon, of Stratford; and Bunnell students Melissa Walters and Franklin Eneh; and Square One actor Danielle Sultini, of Milford.

Square One Theatre’s ongoing Educational Program took its production of “The Value of Names,” by playwright Jeffrey Sweet, to Stratford schools performing for students in social studies, English and history classes at both Bunnell and Stratford High schools.
In addition to the production, the Educational Program, funded by People’s United Bank, provides the teachers with study guides.
Each performance featured Artistic Director Tom Holehan, who introduced the actors, Joseph Mallon of Stratford and Danielle Sultini, of Milford, and set each scene of the play. Both Mallon and Sultini were re-creating the roles they played in the Square One Theatre mainstage production of the same play. The performances were followed by a question and answer session. A follow-up class assignment required each student to write a brief “review” of the play to be shared with Square One Theatre.

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Therapy class

Stratford high school student Aida Hodzic, left, demonstrates the use of a slide board, a device used to help people get in and out of bed, during a recent occupational therapy workshop at Housatonic Community College (4/25). HCC Professor Mickey Reed of North Haven provides instruction. Hodzic was one of some 125 Stratford high school students who received a taste of college life and prospective medical careers at a Medical and Health Careers Expo at HCC.

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Green lessons

Above, Barbara Wells, a member of the Sarah Riggs Humphreys Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, visited the preschoolers at Bright Horizons in Trumbull to talk about the benefits of recycling.

We are never too young or too old to begin thinking about our planet Earth and its resources. On April 25, Barbara Wells, a member of the Sarah Riggs Humphreys Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, visited the preschoolers at Bright Horizons at Trumbull to talk about the benefits of recycling.
The children, all between 3 and 4 years old, were aware of turning off the water when they brush their teeth and turning off the lights when they leave a room. They are now also aware of what happens to a tree when it is cut down to make paper products, and the effect of plastic bags on the land fills.
Wells brought each of the children re-useable “green” bags for grocery shopping and filled each with brochures and information for them to take home.
The director of Bright Horizons, Kim Hulton, and assistant director Danielle Otterspoor welcomed the Daughters of the American Revolution to the center and are also finding ways to help the children become more aware of “going green.”

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Tech ed know how

On April 2, sixth-grade students from Hillcrest Middle School, Camilla Edwards and Ian Matz, participated in the K-12 Educational Technology Exposition sponsored by the Connecticut Educators’ Computer Association at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The students exhibited their knowledge of robotics to state legislators. From left are Dr. Antoinette Bruciati of Sacred Heart University, Edwards and Matz, and Dr. Maria Lizano of Sacred Heart University.

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No mountain high enough

Members of Quinnipiac University’s Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon James Spicer, left, Nick Anthony and Lawrence Bremer hike Sleeping Giant Mountain as part of the seventh-annual Alzheimer’s Mountain Walk on April 9.

The Quinnipiac University chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity raised more than $7,334 for Alzheimer’s research during its seventh annual Alzheimer’s Mountain Walk on April 9.
Members of TKE walked up and down Sleeping Giant Mountain across from Quinnipiac for six hours to raise money for the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Former U.S. President Reagan, a Tau Kappa Epsilon alumnus who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1994, was the inspiration for the fraternity to establish the institute.

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Super Science

Mr. Fish entertains visitors.

A total of 265 visitors took part in special activities at the Discovery Museum on April 26, in celebration of the interdistrict kindergarten science program, KIDS (Kindergarten Interactive Discovery Stations).
Two performances by Mr. Fish from Super Scientific Circus elicited cries of wonder and bursts of laughter from the audience as he entertained them with amazing “magic” tricks before explaining the science behind his feats. Families also enjoyed the current exhibit; planetarium shows; outdoor bubble activities; the museum’s new motion activated drum exhibit and play area, Moon Base Discovery.
KIDS is a yearlong program that partners 350 urban and suburban kindergartners from Monroe, Redding, Trumbull and Bridgeport for seven science lessons at the museum. It is funded by a state Department of Education grant through CES of Trumbull.

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Habitat for Humanity

During the dedication ceremony, Wendy Hrynewski, director of development for Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, presented a handmade quilt from the Connecticut Piecemakers Quilt Guild to homeowners Jesus and Enid Pagan.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County recently dedicated four townhouses at 541-557 Maple St., signaling a new focus on building affordable multifamily homes for purchase. As is traditional with Habitat homes, the dedication ceremony took place as the final phase of construction begins, with the families moving in over the next few weeks.
Providing funds and volunteers to build the four homes were Aurora Products, a Stratford-based producer of natural and organic dried fruits, granolas, and other snacks, which co-sponsored a home with Random House and Women Build, a coalition of Fairfield County women who have built four homes to date; Royal Bank of Scotland Card Services, Bridgeport, which was a full house sponsor for the second time; and Fairfield-based GE, which fully sponsored two of the townhouses.
The Maple Street condominiums are the first four-unit project to be newly built by the Habitat affiliate.

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Showing they care

The Volunteer Club of Holy Family School in Fairfield collected more than $500 in coins for tornedo relief ef-forts for the Southern United States and for recent house-fire victims in Fairfield County. The collection was do-nated to the American Red Cross in a ceremony at school on April 10. From left are Wendy Moran, Khaila Fitz-gerald, Andrea Galeano, Kaye Deenihan, Lyn McCarthy of the American Red Cross, Tori Samatulski, Mary Beth Bardon, Kelly Ruddy and Sarah Kotos.

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July 12, 2008

Flower power

Lordship School students planted more than 300 flower bulbs last fall. Each student in school planted a bulb. Spring has sprung and the school is enjoying the beautiful daffodils and tulips. Matt Tomscheck, Patrick Warren, Julia Barksdale and Gabrielle Olexovitch are shown in front of the school where the bulbs were planted.

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Professor receives Fulbright grant

Farid Sadrieh of Milford, associate professor of international business at Quinnipiac University, has received a Fulbright scholar grant.
Sadrieh will teach in Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, at the Higher Institute for Management and Communications, a private business school, and research apparel exports from Madagascar to the European Union and United States.
Businesses in Madagascar are exporting apparel to the United States because of export processing zones there and the African Growth and Opportunity Act in the United States, which eliminates tariffs and other impediments to the entry of African goods. However, competition from businesses in other countries and the remoteness of Madagascar present difficulties that may offset the skilled workforce and low wages that make Madagascar attractive to investors. “I want to appraise the viability of the apparel industry, which provides many employment opportunities to a very poor population, and its sustainability,” Sadrieh said.
The Fulbright is the second grant Sadrieh has received to teach at the Higher Institute for Management and Communications and research the apparel industry in Madagascar. He received the Galpin International Exchange Fellowship from Quinnipiac to go to Madagascar in 2007 from May to July.
“I intend to expand my research by doing a systematic survey of the apparel industry and identify its strengths and weaknesses and present recommendations,” Sadrieh said.

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Cub crews came to clean

Members of Cub Scout Pack 24 spent a recent Sunday cleaning up the grounds of Booth Hill Elementary School in Shelton.

Caption: Above, front row, from left, are Jeffrey Mourao, Robert Goldsmith, Jimmy Maher, Jordan McCarty, Ryan Gay and Josh Gay. Back row: Tyler White and Den chief Billings White.

To celebrate Earth Day 2008, the Cub Scouts from Pack 28 Den 3 in Shelton participated in the Clean Sweep Shelton program by filling five 55-gallon bags with trash they collected on the Oak Valley Trail. With the concerted efforts of 14 Scouts and parents, it took less than two hours to clean up about one-and-a-half miles of trails.

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Showing appreciation

The Easton Learning Foundation really shows appreciation for superb teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Fourth-grade teacher Darcy Sholz recently received a $1,000 grant from the foundation. The grant will enable her to purchase key materials to enhance the unit she will be teaching on Election 2008. Above is Sholz with her class and the foundation elf, aka board member Andrew Barer.

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Trumbull middle-schollers bring classic fairy tale to life

Cinderalla (Jenna Bellofiore) and the Prince (Andrew Tallian) in Hillcrest Middle School's Performing Arts Club's recent production of "Cinderella's Glass Slipper."

Not so long ago and not very far away, on April 4 at Hillcrest Middle School in Trumbull, 51 students participating in the Performing Arts Club brought a standing-room-only audience on a magical, musical journey. The students performed “Cinderella’s Glass Slipper” (performed by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.). They began working in November, under the direction of Linda Goldin and their hard work certainly could be seen as they worked their own “magic” on stage.
The Troubadors (Elliott Brown and Shane Veras) began by singing the story of Cinderella and her plight. The Stepmother (Ellie Grossman) and Stepsisters (Lucy Flucker and Nicole Wittstein) brought their characters to life with comedic flair. The Fairy Godmother (Stephanie Vu) and her Apprentice (Gabby Gottschall) magically readied Cinderella for the ball, while the Majordomo (Matthew Johnson) spread the news of the upcoming ball to the townspeople. Of course, Cinderella (Jenna Bellofiore) and the Prince (Andrew Tallian) found each other when the shoe fit, and lived happily ever after. The supporting cast completed the magic of the evening.
On April 5, Jenna (Cinderella) and Andrew (Prince) auditioned in New York City for iTheatrics Junior Theatre Academy. They were both selected to participate in the “Singin’ in the Rain” workshop in July. Only 28 students were chosen to join this workshop. Break a leg, Jenna and Andrew!

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Kudos go to college-bound kids

Front row: Duc Ngo, Carlaisha Harden, Felisha Guirand, Keisha Lamothe, Alexandria Wilhoite, Yolehema Felican, Gloria Villaronga, Eveleese Foust, Roberta Hardin and Monifa Francis. Back row: Jonathon Castro, Ashley Corpuz, Vanessa Reid, Emmanuel Mateo, Timothy Reese, Ahmad Wahib, Claude Germain, Zenas Walelo, Spring Taft, Junior Mulumba and Lamont Mack

Congratulations to 21 seniors from Bassick, Central and Harding high schools who spent three days during their spring break preparing for college in the fall. Sponsored by the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, and held at Housatonic Community College, students who participated in the BPEF college bound mentoring program Mentoring for Academic Achievement and College Success attended the workshops and enrolled in the College Assistance Program. CAP will assist these 21 students throughout their college years and make emergency financial assistance available to them.

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Bridge support

The Bridge Academy's Renaissance Reading program recently received a $5,000 grant from the Pitney Bowes Literacy and Education Fund. The Renaissance Reading program, now in its seventh year at The Bridge Academy, uses software from Renaissance Learning, Inc.

The software assists the school in creating an individualized program for each of the 260 students in grades 7 through 12. This program has helped the students of The Bridge Academy achieve great results on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, scoring at the state average in reading for the percentage of students “proficient” and above for the past four years.

This grant from Pitney Bowes will allow The Bridge Academy to purchase books and motivational tools. The reading program has also received funding from New York Community Trust and Near and Far Aid Association this year.

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Hair it is!

Trumbull fifth-grader Leanne Austin recently had 10 inches of her hair cut by Anne Whiteside, of Trumbull, to donate to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that makes hairpieces for children with medical long-term hair loss.

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Precision percussion

The Trumbull High School Winter Percussion ensemble finished its regular season with another win in their class at the Musical Arts Conference championships at Stamford High School April 12.
The school competes in the Scholastic Marching Open class, and captured first place. This year’s ensemble has 30 performing members, which is made up of seven seniors, eight juniors, seven sophomores, four freshmen, and even four eighth-grade students. There are 18 boys and 12 girls. They performed their winning program called “The Science of Music.”
When World Championships take place in April, it is not uncommon for nearly 200 percussion ensembles to descend upon Dayton, Ohio, for nearly a week of performances and competition. WGI, (World Guard International) is the main sponsor.

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Author acknowledgement

Hillcrest Middle School has a famous author working hard as a special education teacher. Gillian Collings, who writes under the pen name Frances Gilbert, has published six children's books: “Turtle on a Summer's Day,” “Celeste and Regine in the Rain Forest,” “To Know the Sea,” A World of Numbers,” “Goodnight World Outside,” and the forthcoming “Elephant Blue.”
Her newest book and first adult fiction, "Where Is She Now," is a psychological suspense novel set in England in which a young mother searches for the truth about her baby's disappearance.
Collings, born in Greenwich, England, has been teaching in Trumbull for 28 years. She loves gardening, old homes, and collecting tea cups.

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Making wishes come true

From left are Anthony Ferreone, Joe Catanese, Tim Friar, Randall Seymore, Robby Singh, Frank Chmielinski, Dave Nachman, Jens Boening, Brandon Ryan and Art Baker.

Audi of Fairfield will help make wishes come true for local children battling life-threatening medical conditions as a result of a special program conducted February through March to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut.
The “wish” gift check for $7,600 was presented by Audi of Fairfield General Sales Manager Robby Singh to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut’s President & CEO, Tim Friar, at a brief ceremony recently.
Penske Automotive Group Area Vice President for Connecticut, Randall Seymore, joined in the event along with members of the Audi of Fairfield sales team who worked toward generating the donation.
“We’re pleased to have made such an impact with this program and really want to thank our loyal customers who made it all possible,” Singh says.

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