The Stamford Times Headlines

Freedom Shrine dedicated to fallen Navy SEAL from Stamford

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The memory of Brian Bill, a 31-year-old Navy SEAL who was killed during a helicopter attack last summer in Afghanistan, was preserved this past weekend at his Stamford alma mater.

Inside the front entrance of Trinity Catholic High School, the North Stamford Exchange Club has dedicated a Freedom Shrine in honor of the Stamford native, who was among 30 Americans who died when their Chinook helicopter was apparently downed by rocket-propelled grenades near Kabul last August.

The Freedom Shrine, unveiled on Saturday morning, is a collection of 28 historical U.S. documents photographically reproduced from the originals and permanently laminated to individual plaques.

A few months ago, when the North Stamford Exchange Club was approached with the idea of replacing Trinity's time-worn Freedom Shrine, only two historical documents remained in the shrine, according to Michael Tomasello, the club's treasurer who is also on the group's board of directors.

At the time, the local Exchange Club was discussing the possibility of honoring Bill in some way, he said.

"We had been thinking of doing something in honor of Brian Bill, and this would be a perfect fit," Tomasello said of establishing a new Freedom Shrine at Trinity.

The North Stamford Exchange Club member said Bill is representative of the messages of freedom instilled in the shrine's documents.

"If you read what these documents stood for, this is what this gentleman stood for," said Tomasello, who noted the Freedom Shrine program is exclusive to the National Exchange Club, a service organization with 700 clubs and more than 21,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Roughly 60 people attended the dedication ceremony on Saturday, which included speeches by Tomasello, Trinity Principal Tony Pavia, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Among family and friends, Bill has been remembered as hard-working and compassionate, a man with a passion for outdoor sports like fly-fishing, skiing, sky-diving and mountain climbing.

Yet, the 1997 Trinity graduate was most devoted to his lifelong dream of joining the service; in 2001, after he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Norwich University in Vermont, he joined the Navy.

Two years later, after rigorous training, he was named a member of the special forces.

During his time in the service, his family said that Bill was decorated with three Bronze Stars with Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and three Good Conduct Medals.

"He always wanted to serve others in some capacity," Trinity Assistant Principal Diane Warzoha said last summer. "He was kind and he cared about the people around him. I know he loved what he did, and I'm sure there were a lot of people saluting him as he entered heaven."

Staff Writer Danielle Capalbo and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Conn. Supreme Court hears redistricting plan

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

HARTFORD (AP) -- The state Supreme Court scheduled a hearing on a proposed minor redrawing of Connecticut's congressional district boundaries.

Justices were expected to hear arguments on the proposal Monday morning. They have until Feb. 15 to approve a final plan, which is needed because of population changes. The state is retaining all five of its U.S. House seats.

The court had to appoint a special master to develop a redistricting plan after a legislative committee charged with the task failed to reach a deal.

The proposal would move nearly 29,000 state residents, less than 1 percent of the population, out of their current congressional districts. It would move all of Durham into the 3rd District, while moving several thousand people in towns such as Shelton, Glastonbury and Middletown into new districts.

Funding, sponsorship announced for Stamford's 'iCenter'

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Gov. Dannel Malloy, Mayor Michael Pavia and Sikorsky Innovations vice president Chris Van Buiten joined the managing team of the Stamford Innovation Center on Thursday to announce joint funding and the official sponsorship for Stamford's "iCenter," intended to be a space where entrepreneurs work, learn and collaborate.

"This center will focus on reinventing Connecticut," Malloy said during the press conference at the city's Old Town Hall on Atlantic Street, where the innovation center is located. "The collaboration between Sikorsky Innovations and the Stamford Innovation Center highlights the ongoing and exciting entrepreneurship spirit that exists in institutions across the state. Connecticut has always had a reputation as the home for innovative people, innovative ideas and innovative companies. This partnership will help our state build on that history and continue our efforts to find new ways to compete in a 21st Century economy."

Malloy said the state's Department of Economic and Community Development is going to provide a $500,000 loan to the iCenter for renovations and other start-up costs. Sikorsky Innovations, an organization designed to develop and mature the technologies, products and processes that will redefine the future of vertical flight, also announced its support for the project.

"Sikorsky has a history of being first, first to make a four engine airplane, first to build an airplane with an enclosed cockpit, and first to serve a meal in flight," Van Buiten said. "Now we are turning our attention to the iCenter. We are pleased to support the mission of the Stamford Innovation Center through this significant corporate sponsorship. We firmly believe that their mission is aligned closely with our goals and we look forward to working with its team."

A 10-year lease agreement for the 16,000 square-foot innovation center was also announced on Thursday.

"The Stamford Innovation Center will not only enliven the downtown area of the city, but will be a tremendous overall plus for the state," Pavia said. "Small businesses are the greatest opportunity we have to create jobs, and this center will help do that. Hopefully other cities will follow our lead in the future and create centers like this one."

Patty Meagher, one of the founders of the innovation center, said the not-for-profit center will provide entrepreneurs with an ideal environment to develop and create their business plans. The iCenter will offer a shared "co-working" space, she said.

"This has been a very long road," Meagher said. "We all share a common view that Stamford is the ideal location for this innovation center. This physical hub for entrepreneurs is so important, and it will be the center of gravity for this community."

Van Buiten said Sikorsky Innovations is also inviting the public to participate in an Entrepreneurial Challenge. The challenge is designed to open a clear communication pathway between the entrepreneurial community and Sikorsky Innovations, he said, with the goal of increasing opportunities for collaboration and novel technology integration into current and future rotorcraft products.

The iCenter is hosting a start up weekend from Friday, March 30, to Sunday April, 1. For more information, go to www.stamford.startupweekend.org. To learn more about the Sikorsky Innovations challenge, go to www.sikorsky.com/innovation.

Starwood 4Q profit falls, but tops Street's view

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit dropped 51 percent on impairment charges and other items, but its adjusted results beat analysts' expectations.

The lodging company, which operates hotels under the St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton and other brands, said Thursday that its revenue rose 14 percent, also beating Wall Street estimates. Its first-quarter earnings guidance topped analysts' average expectation.

Its shares added 5 cents to $55.10 in premarket trading.

The company said that economic conditions in developed markets remain uncertain, but that the lodging supply situation is very favorable.

Many hotels operators have pulled back on new hotel openings in the U.S. since the recession, as people started to travel less frequently or take shorter trips in order to save money.

The picture is brighter in emerging markets, where Starwood says economic growth has been strong, which has led to increased demand for hotels and a need for more supply.

CEO Frits van Paasschen said in a statement that Starwood's growing presence in emerging markets led to nearly 21,000 room openings last year -- the most in the Stamford, Conn., company's history.

Starwood reported net income fell to $167 million, or 85 cents per share, for the period ended Dec. 31. That's down from $339 million, or $1.78 per share, a year ago.

Excluding charges related to an unfavorable legal decision, impairment charges and other items, adjusted earnings from continuing operations was 71 cents per share. The figure included income from the St. Regis Bal Harbour residential project.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast adjusted earnings of 57 cents per share.

Revenue increased to $1.53 billion from $1.34 billion, which beat the $1.42 billion that Wall Street expected.

Management fees, franchise fees and other income climbed 12 percent to $234 million.

Worldwide systemwide revenue per available room for hotels open at least a year rose 5.8 percent on a constant dollar basis. In North America, the metric increased 7.6 percent, while overseas it rose 3.5 percent.

Worldwide revenue per available room for Starwood branded hotels open at least a year climbed 5.7 percent.

Revenue per available room, or revpar, is a key gauge of a hotel operator's performance.

Residential revenue surged to $127 million from $1 million a year earlier, with $121 million coming from the sale of residential units at Bal Harbour. The property includes both a hotel and private residences. Starwood said that Bal Harbour received certificate of occupancy during the quarter and closed on the sale of 36 units.

For the full year, Starwood reported net income of $489 million, or $2.51 per share, compared with earnings of $477 million, or $2.51 per share, in the prior year.

Annual revenue increased 11 percent to $5.62 billion from $5.07 billion.

The hotel operator anticipates first-quarter earnings of about 49 cents to 53 cents per share and full-year earnings of approximately $2.22 to $2.33, including the Bal Harbour project.

Analysts predict first-quarter earnings of 36 cents per share and full-year earnings of $2.24 per share.

Carlo Santarelli of Deutsche Bank said in a client note that investors may think Starwood played it safe with its outlook.

"While fourth-quarter results were solid, we anticipate what we see as conservative 2012 guidance will likely resonate with investors, especially considering the strength in shares. That said, we would use pullbacks as a buying opportunity," he wrote.

Starwood has 1,090 properties in nearly 100 countries and 154,000 workers at its owned and managed properties.

Kids hit the mat again -- Club tries to bring wrestling back to middle schools

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The Stamford Junior Wrestling Club (SJWC) is doing all they can to bring the sport of wrestling back into the middle schools in the area.

Jamie Camacho, president of the organization, along with some others, have conducted multiple ways to bring the sport into the young community.

For example, they have a program called the Stamford Junior Wrestling Warriors, which is held two or three nights a week at Westhill High School, according to Tom Conte, vice president of the organization. This program allows children from grades K-through-8 to learn the art and skills of wrestling, no matter how advanced the wrestler's skill level might be.

"Starting in January, we have an afterschool program in all five Stamford middle schools (Cloonan, Dolan, Rippowam, Scofield-Magnet, Turn of River), with about 75 kids in total who have signed up," Conte said. "We made it our goal to bring wrestling back into the middle schools."

Conte also talked about stretching their horizons even farther by starting a program at the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford in March.

"It's going to be a great venue for us to introduce wrestling to those kids," said Conte. "We were fortunate to have a big donor to come in and basically purchase a mat for that program and the Boys and Girls Club purchased a mat, as well," added Gene Edwards, treasurer of the organization.

However, with the group being a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit, Tax Exempt Community Organization, the only money they have to provide for equipment is from donations and sponsorships.

"We want to keep building the program. We currently have about 175 kids and our goal is to double that in two years," Edwards said. "But with that, we need help from the community, we need parental support, we need financial support."

Edwards added that about one-third of the children in the program are on scholarship.

"We will not turn away a single kid because their families cannot pay," said Conte. "We forego about $10,000 in fees a year, so we have to raise a lot of money to cover that just so we can exist."

The wrestling club has gotten a lot of much-needed support from parents in the community and they are also making an effort to get corporate sponsors, as well.

"A few have come forward -- Mastercard, Titan (Titan Advisors, LLC), R.W.Pressrich & Co., -- and Nellie Mae Foundation was great to us last year," said Conte.

All are welcome to take part.

"We never turn anybody away," said Camacho. "If you are willing to work hard and come down here, you belong in our wrestling ring."

Upon showing up to the program, the children are put into skill levels -- A & B. A is the beginner class and B being the advanced. For those that surpass the B level, they have one-on-one training sessions with a coach.

The program, according to Camacho, was started over 20 years ago at the Stamford Jewish Community Center by Sally and Marty Levine. Camacho added that it started in, what was described as, a storage closet in the community center with about 10 kids and as it grew, it was moved to the main gym.

After running the program for more than 10 years, the Levines handed the program off to those who represent it now. With a lot of work from Mike Battinelli, director of the middle school program, as well as Camacho, Conte and Edwards, they have formalized the program by making it a non-profit and have also formed a board of committee members. Additionally, they also built a website to run the organization as a corporation, according to Conte.

With all the money and effort that is put into keeping the organization afloat, Conte touched on what really matters most to them.

"What we're trying to do is to make an impact on kids' lives and we're trying to teach them life-time skills, as well," Conte said. "Whether these kids become state champions, national champions or wrestle in college, that would all be nice, but just making them champions in life is all I would hope for."

For more information about the organization, go to Stamfordwrestling.com.

Stamford Youth Hockey Roundup

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Squirts

Stamford Sharks Squirt A

go 2-0 for the weekend.

Stamford's Squirt A Sharks did battle with two Westchester based clubs this weekend and came away with a pair of hard earned victories.

In game 1, the Sharks faced-off with the Westchester Vipers. The Sharks swarmed from the opening puck drop applying a suffocating defense which was led by Tucker Healy, Tyler Tuccinardi and Max Hussar as well as stifling neutral zone play from Lars Ernberg and Jack Neafsey. Ben Nash was outstanding in net ensuring the Shark victory and improving the team's record to 25-13-5.

In game 2, the Sharks downed the Rye Rangers by a score of 4-1. Stamford employed a balanced attack with production from each of its lines. Zach Deleo, Hunter Gilchrist, AJ Cerbone and Gary Claps each found the back of the net for the Sharks while Jason Marchese, and Brendan Knightly added assists. Scotty Dobos earned the win in goal with support from Cooper Gibson, Mathias Esquival and Andrew Stietzel who kept the Rangers scoreless through 2.5 periods before finally conceding.

Mites

Sharks 3 Mid-Fairfield 2

The Stamford Sharks mite A team rode the strong goal tending of Luke Ware and stifling defensive play to defeat Midfairfield 3-2 on Friday January 27 at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford. Luke Dube scored the first goal and game-winning third goal around Bennett Masterson's 14th of the season. The defensive masterpiece was turned in by Aiden Bertellotti (making his debut at the defense position), Owen Zomb, Luke Noonan, Grif Makovsky and Albert Lian.

After a scoreless first period, the teams scored once each in the second. The Sharks dominated play with 15 shots on goal in the third, scoring twice to Midfairlield's one. Sharks Jay

Bacco played an inspired game, menacing his opponents with a strong skating and checking performances in all zones.

Sharks 1 Scarsdale 1

Playing for their second win of the weekend, the Stamford Sharks mite A team went on the road for a showdown with Scarsdale at Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford, NY. The victory appeared to be in the cards for the Sharks but the tides turned and the team left the ice with a hard working 1-1 tie. The scoresheet was clean after 2 periods of play, with no scoring and no penalties. Early in the 3rd, Grif Makovsky put the scorekeeper to work with an unassisted goal from the left circle, his sixth of the season. Shortly after, the Sharks appeared to take a 2-0 lead but the goal was waived off by the officials, a decision that would ultimately change the outcome of the game.

The Sharks fought hard but so did Scarsdale. With less than a minute left, Scarsdale flew into the Sharks zone on an odd-man rush and connected on a fine pass allowing them to tuck one past Sharks goalie Luke Ware to tie the game. The Sharks went 1-1-1 for the weekend as they look to get back on the winning track next Saturday afternoon at Ridgefield.

Boys Hockey -- Westhill comes from behind twice to beat Staples

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

MILFORD -- The Staples-Weston-Shelton co-op hockey team didn't think their opponent, the Westhill Vikings, would take the victory last Saturday; especially not after their playing technique in the first period of the game.

In the end, however, Westhill bounced back and posted a thrilling 7-6 win.

Westhill senior and captain Lucas Znosko netted three shots, two of which were during a key stretch of the second period.

"Lucas played very well today" Westhill head coach John Santagata said. "He is always a leader and he has been playing very well".

During a competitive game of aggression from both teams, Westhill goalkeeper Adam Goldstone had 19 saves for the game while, Staples goalie Zac Polin concluded the contest with 26 saves.

Wreckers player Forrest Savage (3 goals) notched a goal with nine minutes left in the first period and Speed (2 goals) followed with a goal, as well, staking Staples to a 3-0 lead in the early going.

Westhill came out ready to work in the second period, putting Polin to the test. He executed 10 saves until Westhill's Dan Rotkewicz set the tone and made the first goal for the Vikings with a close shot. Less then a minute later teammate Evan Shaulson netted the second goal with a corner wrist shot, assisted by Ryan Silk, and then a third goal came from Znosko once again, 40 seconds later.

It was a complete turnaround as the score read 3-3.

"I expected the team to step it up and play. Rotkewicz got his first varsity goal today and he played very well," said Santagata.

The Wreckers worked to maintain pace, but Ryan Gawricki and Tom Meyers simultaneously received penalties for interference and slashing giving the Vikings an even further advantage.

Fatigue took over the Wreckers after Znosko concluded his second goal with four minutes left in the second, stamping their domination over the period and giving the Vikings a 4-0 lead.

"In practice, we've been working on defensive zone and coverage," Santagata said. "We came out sluggish in the first half (of the game) but it was nice to finish with a win."

With the scoreboard reading 5-4 in favor of the Staples, the Vikings had to come back one more time.

Darnell Dorival executed an unassisted slap shot and, five minutes later, Znosko had his third goal by a back-hand shot assisted by player Neal Smolinski. Shaulson then followed with a quick goal, getting help from Ryan Silk putting Westhill up by a 7-5 count.

Staples' Savage scored a goal with one minute and 50 seconds remaining in the game. Although the Wreckers pulled their goalie for further assistance, the score stayed 7-6 in favor of the Vikings.

"We stepped it up and won today, I was glad," Santagata said. "We have a tough game on Wednesday against Trumbull and we need to focus on that."

Westhill moved to 2-8-1 on the season while Staples fell to 6-4.

H.S. Hockey -- King overcomes slow start to beat St. Luke's

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

BRIDGEPORT -- It may have taken a period for the King Low Heywood Thomas hockey team to get rolling, but once they did, the Vikings skated to a comfortable 8-2 win over St. Luke's at the Wonderland of Ice on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Kiernan McQuilken and Anthony DeLuca each scored twice while Mike Keane tallied once and added three assists. Matt Johnson, Johnny McDermott and Steven Franze lit the lamp as well for the Vikings, who improved their record to 9-1.

Viking coach Jamie Bruno admitted his team was a little bit flat at the start, but had confidence once his team got its collective wake-up call it they would be able to take over the action.

The nudge which awoke the sleeping Vikings came with 5:47 left in the opening period when Clay D'Ellesandro gave the Storm a 1-0 lead on a wrist shot from the slot which handcuffed King goaltender Morgan Bingham.

The Vikings tied the score just over a minute later when McQuilken tapped in a rebound of a shot by Troy Lynch. Then, King took the lead for good with 1:40 left in the first frame on tally by Johnson off another rebound for a 2-1 edge at the first intermission.

"Morgan really did a good job keeping us in the game in the first period," said Bruno. "We were due for a let-down period and we got one. I think we just were too relaxed but Morgan made the key plays in the first period."

The Vikings came out flying in the second period and erupted for four goals in an eight minute segment where they outshot St. Luke's 12-3. First, McQuilken cashed in on a set-up by Lynch, from behind the net, for shot for a 3-1 lead.

McDermott later scored on a breakaway before DeLuca hit the back of the net on two occasions coming just over a minute apart. His second tally featured a brilliant piece of stick handling before burying the puck in the mesh to extend the King lead to 6-1. Keane added a late goal to push the lead to 7-1 after two periods.

"Once my bigger guns got rolling we really began to step it up," said Bruno.

In the last period, each team added a tally, but the game had long been decided. King held a 28-14 advantage in shots on goal over the first two periods and Bingham finished with 19 saves. Bruno was impressed by the Storm and their ability to hang with the Vikings as long as the did, considering they only had 11 skaters available.

St. Luke's is made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores. Noah Daniels was credited with 26 saves in goal. St. Luke's coach Corey Gammill was pleased with his young teams efforts against the bigger and more experienced players representing King.

"We didn't take the body as much as we could over the last two periods," Gammill said. "They play hard but in the end we gave it up to a bigger and older squad."

College Basketball -- Stamford's Anilus, Bridtter still dreaming the hoops dream

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

DANBURY -- Jethro Anilus smiled when he peeked up from stretching in front of the scorer's table and saw his friend and former Stamford High teammate Louis Bridtter approaching.

Anilus had spent the first half relegated to the Connecticut College bench, but now in the second half, the two close friends would be on the court together for the first time as college rivals in Western Connecticut State University's O'Neil Center on Tuesday night.

There may have been only eight minutes left in the game, but for these two former Black Knights it didn't matter. It was just more validation that they were still living their dreams out, playing college basketball -- Anilus for visiting Connecticut College; Bridtter for host WCSU.

Both had admitted to looking forward to this game, even though their roles are still evolving as college players. Neither were sure how much time they would spend on the court at the same time.

"We talk all the time. He's one of my best friends from back home," Anilus said. "Its great to be playing college ball and to have Lou here and playing against him."

They would have smaller roles on this night because they were overshadowed by the performance put on by Western's DaQuann Brooks, who poured in 47 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the 78-62 victory for the Colonials.

But both former Stamford High players have shown to have games that, with time, will develop into more significant roles on their teams. Bridtter has been averaging five points nd 4.7 rebounds as a freshman forward for the Colonials while Anilus has tossed in 4.7 points and is averaging 19 minutes a game as a sophomore.

Bridtter had gotten into the game in the first half and later, when Anilus came onto the court, you could see the teaching of their former Stamford coach Jim Moriarty echoing in their heads as they both hustled in the defensive end of the floor.

Moriarty talked about the duo at Stamford's practice on Monday. Moriarty began to see the potential in Anilius his senior year when he stepped out of the shadow of Chris Evans to take over the point guard duties and become a team leader.

Bridtter was one of the best power forwards in the FCIAC in his junior and senior years due to his shooting and athletic ability.

"It was hard to convince Louis that Division 3 was his best option because he wanted to play up a little higher, but he's scoring well, he's rebounding and playing defense well, and we're more than delighted that he heading for success up there," Moriarty said. "Jethro, having to learn how to be the point guard his senior year here, helped his college game. He was a stand-up, jump-shooter when we won the FCIAC championship, but he learned how to score off the dribble and how to distribute to other people and that really helped him when he went to college. They're both great defensive players that we are proud are being successful."

While Bridtter was assigned to do more defending in this game, Anilus showed off what Moriarty was talking about with a nifty drive and lay-up which was followed by an assist from the perimeter on a pretty bounce pass.

Both former Knights take pride in the program they come from, along with Evans, who is playing at Division 1 Sacred Heart, and Mark Ellis at American International College. That's four players in the last three years who have left the Black Knight program and are now seeing playing time on their college teams.

Bridtter is now playing with as her termed them 'grown men' but he acknowledged what those practice in the Kuzco Gym did for him as a player and as a person.

"Everything that coach Moriarty taught me is always in my mind and the best thing I learned from him is that hard word always pays off," he said. "No matter what is going on you have to play your hardest. That talent we had at Stamford made me a better player. Our off-season and practices, playing against Chris Evans as a sophomore, and then playing with Mark Ellis and Jethro as a junior, being around that much talent made me appreciate the game of basketball and made me want to work to be the best basketball player I could be."

Anilus provided one of the highlights of the Camels season by hitting a runner in the lane in the waning moments against the Coast Guard Academy to win the game. He was thrust into the action during his freshman campaign last season and had to learn on the fly.

He showed in the third game of his freshman campaign that he was ready to contribute as he was a key scorer in a 21-4 point outburst which almost allowed Connecticut College to come from behind an upset Roger Williams University. He followed that with an 11-point first half against Eastern Nazarene college and 18 points against Hunter College which showed he was ready for college play.

"My freshman year I got a lot of playing time and was able to step it up," said Anilius. "I feel I was prepared but since I was so young I really didn't know how the college game was but I practiced hard. I was very surprised but playing high school basketball and converting my game from a shooting guard to a point guard helped."

Bridtter is going through the same adjustment. He admitted he had to adjust because he wanted to dominate from the start, but his coaches told him to relax and keep things simple. Since then, he has grown in confidence and his coach Bob Campbell has taken notice of the improvement.

"Louis is doing a great job. He's hard-working and great player and great student," Campbell said. "He's picking things up and playing more and more as the year goes on and we're really happy with him."

They had huge smiles before they went on the court together and they were still as they greeted each other after the game, just two friends that still have their dreams alive.

Red Sox manager Valentine spends one last night at home

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- People usually dread going back to their old school, but Bobby Valentine looked as comfortable as could be decked out in his Rippowam letterman sweater, which fit him as well as it did back in 1966.

The Stamford native and current manager of the Boston Red Sox was back at his old school to tell anecdotes about his career in baseball, but there was more to the evening because the "Bat for a Cure" event was held to raise awareness and money for the fight against prostrate cancer.

Valentine was spending his last night in town before departing for the Red Sox spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on the stage at the former Rippowam High School.

These days, it is Rippowam Middle School, but when Valentine was an athlete at Rip he was maybe the biggest football and baseball star ever to leave Stamford. Back then, though, this stage was a home to him as well. He told the stories about giving a speech that won the title of Student Council President and playing the lead role in the play the "Teahouse of the August Moon."

One thing about Valentine is that Stamford has never left his system. Nor will it.

So, as he leaned back in his chair alongside moderater Ed Randall, Valentine spoke about how fortunate his life had been, even when it looked like situations were turning bleak. It was those life lessons he tried to impart to the youngsters in the crowd.

The stories ranged from his choice to play baseball over football, and included his early struggles in the minor leagues while he developed. They ran through the end of his playing career, cut short by a severe leg injury.

It could have ended there, but Valentine turned to coaching, which has led to unique opportunity to come back home.

"My playing career was spent mostly on the west coast. I signed with Dodgers, Padres and the Angels before a stint with the New York Mets," Valentine said. "To have the opportunity to manage in New York and now in Boston, I am very fortunate."

Valentine took the crowd on a retrospective of his life, starting with the sacrifices his family made to make sure he had the chance to succeed. He was a blessed with great physical skills which made him a schoolboy legend.

He took his listeners, an estimated crowd of 150, through his recruitment to play football at such prestigious programs as Alabama, USC and Notre Dame. The recruitment by the Fighting Irish was one of the funnier stories of the night.

Valentine said as he and Ara Parseghian were leaving his office, he had lined up members of the Notre Dame linemen. Parseghian said, "if you come here, this is the view you'll get" and he had his lineman turn around as if to block for him. "But if you go to USC," the coached added, turning the linemen toward Valentine, "this is the view you'll have."

Valentine also gave credit to his father and the late Andy Robustelli for helping him weigh through his options when he was deciding whether to forego college football and sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They both sat in on his meeting with Dodgers General Manager Al Campanis, but in the end taught they him to trust his own decisions.

The Stamford legend also spoke at length about his first professional manager, Tom Lasorda, who fought for him and expedited his minor league career, but was also a true friend who advised him to get into coaching after a broken leg robbed him of much of his natural ability.

He spoke from the heart and with humor all night, letting the crowd know through it all there was always hope of something more and sometimes something better.

Part of the message, though, was also one of hope in the fight against prostrate cancer, from Randall. Valentine was only too happy to give up his last free day before reporting as manager of the Sox.

Randall is a survivor of the disease and has used his connection with baseball, as a long time broadcaster, to reach out and inform the community about early treatment. He devotes part of the weekly broadcast of his radio show "Talking Baseball with Ed Randall's" speaking about cancer screening. Last season, he visited 175 minor league stadiums for events to promote awareness.

"It's an opportunity to step in front of a large audience who loves baseball and educate them about prostrate cancer," Randall said. "They have to understand that one in three men sitting in the audience will have the disease and only one in six will be detected and if he's African-American the odds get worse. The monies that will be raised tonight will go to the national fund."

It is early screening though a simple blood test and the subsequent treatment that has made this one of the forms of cancer that has been battled successfully. Baseball has had many former stars -- including former New York Yankee manager Joe Torre -- win their battles with the disease, which is why they have joined forces with Randall.

No one turns down his requests for help.

They were also silent auctions run by Valentine, which included tickets donated by the Red Sox and their new closer Andrew Bailey. Plus, there was a New York Yankee ticket package where the Boston manger showed off his talent as an auctioneer.

In the end, though, it was a night to celebrate one man -- the one who became a star and may have wandered around the world, but never really left Stamford.

"I was born here. My mom and dad are buried here so I'll be buried here," said Valentine. "This will always be my home town."

Police raid Glenbrook home

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Stamford police arrested four people for selling marijuana after raiding a Glenbrook home early Wednesday morning.

Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said the Organized Crime and Narcotics Division raided 84 Scofield Ave. with a warrant around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police seized more than four ounces of marijuana and $2,100 in cash, he said.

Oronde Homen, 29, and Valerie Bouchard, 24, both of 84 Scofield Ave. and Victor Tribble, 29, and Jeuvemenl Milner, 29, who both reside in Detroit, Mich., were all charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana in excess of four ounces and possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school.

Conklin said Homen and Bouchard were arrested in December for weapons and drug charges. Police had been watching the home since December, and a neighbor had complained about suspicious behavior at the house, he said.

Police said Homen and Bouchard are being held on $20,000 bond, and Tribble and Milner are being held on $25,000 bond. All have a court date on Feb. 14 at Stamford Superior Court.

Auditors: Organization preparing merge mismanaged grant funds

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Several months before CTE, Inc., began merger talks with a nearby community action agency, federal auditors found the organization was struggling to manage government money.

A copy of the audit report, published in May 2011, was brought to the attention of The Stamford Times this weeky, as CTE, Inc., prepares to unite with Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON). NEON underwent its own federal audit last year. It, too, revealed weak money management.

E. Phillip McKain, president and CEO of CTE, Inc., did not return a call seeking comment. Nor did Joseph Mann, president and CEO of NEON.

Auditors from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) spent three months in 2010 reviewing the way CTE, Inc. -- which serves low-income residents in Stamford, Darien and Greenwich -- was using recovery funds. In the end, OIG deemed the financial viability of the organization "uncertain," and found "significant operating deficiencies." The organization was asked to refund a total of $53,895.

Among other issues, CTE, Inc., reportedly failed to ensure that quarterly financial reports were filed on time, that equipment purchased with $13,175 worth of government money was properly accounted for and that whistleblowers were protected by federal guidelines.

The organization charged occupancy costs of $12,481 to the Community Services Block Grant Recovery Act program for city space it leases for $1 a year. CTE, Inc., also used $41,414 to pay the salary of a grant writer, although her duties consisted primarily of fundraising -- an unallowable cost, according to auditors.

OIG recommended the organization refund that money.

Officials from CTE, Inc., concurred with many OIG findings in a written response, published as part of the final report.

However, McKain disagreed that CTE, Inc., should refund money for the grant writer, saying the employee was not fundraising but working to "build our agency's capacity to support our program."

Actual fundraising was overseen in 2010 by a committee of board members, employees and volunteers, with revenue from a 45th-anniversary event stored in special accounts.

He also said that careful budgeting, cost containment and "more aggressive efforts" in fundraising from the private sector would stabilize finances.

McKain previously told The Stamford Times that NEON's financial troubles -- auditors found that $406,000 in government money was mismanaged by the anti-poverty agency -- would not change his decision to merge.

"All I can say is that we have been told there are a number of items in the audit that are being addressed," McKain said. "At this point, it doesn't impact our continued discussions."

Harbor Point developer commits to building a 'working boatyard'

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Building and Land Technology agreed Monday to building a "working boatyard" as part of its Harbor Point project in the South End.

John Freeman, a Harbor Point spokesman and vice president of BLT, said during a packed public hearing held at the Turn of River Auditorium that BLT is committed to working with the city to create a plan to rebuild the 14-acre boatyard formerly known as Brewer Yacht Haven Marina.

"We will work with you and create a plan that everyone will support," said Freeman at the Zoning Board meeting. "A full, working boatyard, that is our goal."

According to a letter Freeman wrote to Land Use Bureau Chief Norman Cole, the boatyard property was severely contaminated and in a serious state of disrepair.

"The site must be closed while the remediation is performed. This is necessary to protect public safety and to perform the cleanup," Freeman stated in the letter.

Last week, the Zoning Board ordered BLT to cease all construction activities on the boatyard property and to perform no alterations to the property -- including the disturbance, removal or deposition of any soils -- until the board has approved it.

Stamford resident Maureen Boylen, head of the Save Our Boatyard Committee, said she won't believe BLT will build a working boatyard until she's sees it in writing.

"If BLT agreed to sit down with all of the boards in Stamford and get the support before they started to knock things down, that would be the right process," she said. "But instead, BLT has bullied it's way through. Until BLT writes they will build a working boatyard and signs on a dotted line, I don't believe a boatyard is going to come back to Stamford."

BLT also discussed its revised hotel plans for Harbor Point during the hearing. The hotel's original plans were approved by the Zoning Board in 2008 and included a one tower, 13-story building and a ballroom. According to the revised plans, the hotel is now proposed to be two 20-story towers, which would include a total of 130 hotel rooms, 60 condominium units and a ballroom.

The Stamford Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) has recently opposed the revised hotel plans, having realized they included a ballroom. Michael Cacace, the attorney representing DSSD, has said that zoning regulations prohibit any full-service hotels -- including banquet or catering facilities -- anywhere except the downtown area. And DSSD believes allowing a ballroom at the Harbor Point hotel would go against such a regulation.

Cacace said Monday that BLT has violated several zoning regulations. It demolished the boatyard without the approval of the zoning board, he said, and now it is trying to build a full-service hotel in the South End.

"When I appeared at the last public hearing, I said that this is the most outrageous application -- and it keeps getting worse," Cacace said. "Every time this applicant is caught with their hand in the cookie jar, they change their application and modify it."

John Nuff, BLT's attorney, said DSSD is not an applicant, party or a tax payer, and should not decide what is good for the city.

"DSSD is a competitor threatened by Harbor Point," said Nuff. "The ballroom is the exact same size that it was when it was approved. Nothing has changed."

Stamford resident John Whitton said he is in favor of the full service hotel and the entire Harbor Point project.

"I am a resident of the South End, and a bunch of people who live in the South End have been waiting for something like this project for a long time," said Whitton. "This hotel, this is something we need in this side of town, so we can thrive and grow."

Freeman said BLT has yet to draw up plans for a working boatyard, but is looking forward to working with the zoning board in the future.

Stamfordite starts mobile hospice service for pets

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- For pet owners, saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do, but Stamford resident Mary Craig says her new mobile veterinary hospice service makes saying farewell a bit easier.

"I have heard from many pet owners that they wouldn't get another pet because when they lost their last pet it was very difficult," she said. "They mentioned that they would have rather done it at their home, which is a service that most veterinarians in this area don't offer."

Craig, a certified veterinarian for nearly 20 years, started her new business, Gentle Goodbye, last year. The veterinary hospice offers end-of-life care and at-home euthanasia for animals in Westchester and Fairfield counties.

"I have been a veterinarian in the area for a while, and I realized that this was something that pet owners needed," Craig said. "Being a pet owner myself, I can understand how important it is to care for your pet in the last few days of their life."

Veterinary hospice starts with comfort care, Craig said. A big part of end-of-life care is to make sure the animal's nutrition and hydration needs are met, as well as ensuring the owners keep the pet clean and any kind of pain is controlled, she said. The last part of hospice care is making sure the pet is happy, Craig said.

"We want to make sure the dog is eating, drinking, clean and not in pain first," she said. "Those are most important. Then, we focus on the dogs' happiness, to make sure they still feel part of the family. So say you always played fetch with your dog but he can't walk anymore -- now you roll a ball to your dog. You still find a way to play with your pet, so they feel happy."

Craig said a big part of her job is to get the pet owner and family members ready to say goodbye.

"It's about being sad," she said. "I let them know it's OK to grieve. In our society, if a family member dies, you can grieve as long as you need. But if a pet dies, people expect you to get over it in a few days. Your pet is a family member, and it takes a while to get over losing them."

A pet loss support group is something Craig suggests to all pet owners. A support group is a good way to get your feelings out, and find people who are going through the same thing you are, she said.

A lot of people ask Craig if her job is depressing, or if it makes her sad, she said, but she feels the opposite.

"I feel grateful everyday," Craig said. "People are so grateful for what I do for them, their family and their pet. I see the love that people have for their pets everyday, and I feel like I really make a difference."

To learn more about Gentle Goodbye, go to www.gentlegoodbye.org.

Scholarship fund, garden to honor memory of girls killed in Stamford Christmas fire

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The school once attended by the three young Stamford girls who died in a Christmas morning fire has established a scholarship fund in their honor, and it plans to create a garden in their memory this spring.

The Windward School in White Plains, N.Y. has set up the endowed scholarship fund in the name of the Badger girls, 9-year-old Lily and her 7-year-old-twin sisters Grace and Sarah, who died Dec. 25 with their maternal grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, during a fire at 2267 Shippan Ave. in Stamford.

Windward's head of school, John Russell, said the pain of all who knew the three sisters will not soon be extinguished, and they will long be remembered by their classmates, teachers and administrators.

"Over the coming months, everyone blessed to have known and loved Lily, Sarah and Grace will have to learn to live without these three beautiful young girls," he said in a statement. "Their deaths left for their classmates, teachers and the entire Windward School family a void that may never be filled. We hope that by establishing this scholarship fund, we will not only honor their memory, but provide an opportunity both for Windward families and friends to commemorate what Lily, Sarah and Grace accomplished in their short lives and for other children with language-based learning disabilities to get the educational help they need."

The independent, co-ed day school -- which is known for its work educating children with language-based learning disabilities, such as dyslexia -- will also create a garden in honor of the girls this spring, Russell said in a message to the Windward School community on the school's website, www.thewindwardschool.org. Every student in Windward's Lower School will be able to participate in making the memorial garden, the message states.

The girls' father, Matthew Badger, also announced last week that he was starting a foundation in their honor to support the arts in public elementary schools.

"I adored and cherished my girls," Matthew Badger states on the foundation's website, www.lilysarahgracefund.org. "This fund is not only for children, teachers, education, schools, and my little girls; it is my way of remaining their father. While honoring their names and what they believed in, we are allowing Lily, Sarah and Grace to bring change to those in need."

The girls' mother, Madonna Badger, escaped the fatal blaze, along with a friend, Michael Borcina.

Fire officials have said embers had been taken out of a fireplace at the 2267 Shippan Ave. home, and Borcina is believed to have placed the ashes in or outside an entryway, near the trash.

Police, who have been working with the state's attorney on the case, have yet to determine whether criminal charges would be pursued, according to Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.

Borcina, a contractor who had been renovating the five-bedroom house, recently hired defense attorney Eugene Riccio, police said.

Those wishing to make contributions to The Lily, Sarah, and Grace Badger Financial Aid Fund may do so through The Windward School, 13 Windward Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, indicating "Badger Financial Aid Fund" on the check. Donations to the Lily Sarah Grace Fund for arts in public elementary schools can be sent to Lily Sarah Grace Fund c/o FJC, 520 Eighth Avenue, 20th Floor, NY, NY 10018.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Red Sox manager Valentine spends one last night at home

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Smoke alarms donated to community in wake of Christmas fire

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- In the wake of the deaths of three young girls and their grandparents after a Christmas morning fire in Shippan Point, Stamford officials have kick-started an effort to make city homes safer in 2012, working with First Alert, a manufacturer of home safety products, to help make smoke alarms available to people who need them.

"No home should be without working smoke alarms," Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said in a prepared statement. "We commend First Alert for its generous donation of 1,000 smoke alarms that will surely help protect life and property. Working smoke alarms double the chance of surviving a home fire," he added.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), December, January and February are the top months for home fire deaths.

The NFPA recommends homes be equipped with working smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level of the home, and it is recommended they are tested weekly and are replaced at least every 10 years.

Approximately two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in residences without smoke detectors or detectors that are not in working condition, according to the NFPA.

"The recent Christmas fire has reminded us the importance of protecting our loved ones by being well prepared and informed to avoid this type of incident from happening again," Assistant Chief Matthew Maounis of Turn of River Fire Department said of the fire at 2267 Shippan Ave., which killed 9-year-old Lily Badger and her 7-year-old twin sisters Grace and Sarah, along with their grandparents Lomer and Pauline Johnson.

Although the fate of the Christmas-morning tragedy cannot be changed, Stamford's newly-appointed Director of Public Safety, Health and Welfare Ted Jankowski said the public safety campaign "can help to save lives in the future."

The smoke alarms donated by First Alert, as well as fire and carbon monoxide safety brochures, will be available at several locations throughout the Stamford area over the course of the next month, including:

• Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m., at The Yerwood Center

Fire officials will be adding additional dates and times in February, according to city officials.

Questions about obtaining a free smoke alarm or any other home safety inquiries can be emailed to the fire department at firstalert@trfd.com, or visit First Alert at www.firstalert.com for further information.

Two men shot at city barbershop

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Two Stamford men were shot on Saturday night after an unidentified shooter sprayed several rounds of bullets into a barber shop on Richmond Hill Avenue, said police.

Capt. Richard Conklin said an unknown black male wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt shot several rounds into Cut Masters Barbershop, located at 91 Richmond Hill Avenue, a little after 9 p.m. on Saturday night. Conklin said a 35-year-old male was hit by a bullet in the upper right thigh and a 27-year-old male was hit in the shoulder and buttocks. Both were rushed to the Stamford Hospital, he said.

The 27-year-old needed immediate surgery in his leg because one of the bullets grazed an artery, Conklin said. Both men are expected to survive, police said.

Conklin said that police are currently investigating the motive of the shooting.

"It doesn't seem like the shooter was aiming at anyone in particular," Conklin said. "He shot a few rounds into a window with blinds on it so he couldn't see who he was firing at."

Anyone with further information on the shooting is asked to call the Stamford Police Department.

12-year-old organizes bone marrow donation drive

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- When 12-year-old Justin Wexler chose a community service project as part of his bar mitzvah process, he had to look no further than his family for inspiration. Spurred on by his grandfather's and father's bone marrow donations, Justin has organized a bone marrow donor drive to help find matches for patients in need of life-saving bone marrow transplants.

"As part of becoming a bar mitzvah, it is traditional to have a mitzvah project. I have chosen to organize a bone marrow donor drive to help find matches for cancer patients who need bone marrow transplants to save their lives," said Wexler, a Stamford resident.

On Feb. 5, after much planning, education and recruitment of a team of volunteers, Wexler hopes that the bone marrow donor drive will help find matches for blood cancer patients and other patients in need of live-saving marrow transplants

"It started with my dad a few years ago. He was in a registry and was called up as a potential match. He ended up donating stem cells and saving someone's life," said Wexler." My grandpa saved his sister's life by being a bone marrow donor in 1986. That triggered my mind to learn more about what they did."

"In my mind, the biggest gift you can give is to save a life," he said.

Citing the ease with which he found volunteers to help with the drive, he said "People have been very willing to help me. Everyone has reached out to help people save lives."

"I partnered up with DKMS to organize this," Wexler said.

DKMS is the acronym for "Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei" -- meaning Bone Marrow Donor Center -- a worldwide organization founded in Germany.

"I lost my mother to leukemia when I was 14," said Katharina Hart, COO of DKMS Americas. "I have made it my mission to recruit more donors so that other families don't have to go through the pain we did."

Wexler explains the registry process, which he called an easy thing for people to do.

"When people come in, we'll explain the registry. They will fill out a registration form, and then go to the swabbing station. The left cheek is swabbed, then the right cheek. The swabs are dried and sent off to a worldwide database, with a bar code."

According to the DKMS website, "As a DKMS donor, your tissue type, along with your ID (number) is stored anonymously on the Be The Match Registry® (operated by the National Marrow Donor Program). The registry is searched by doctors trying to find matches for their patients. If a doctor selects you as a match for a patient, you may be asked to donate stem cells collected from your circulating blood (called PBSC donation), or to donate bone marrow collected from your pelvic bone (not the spine)."

"Donors have to be in good general health, 18 to 55 years old, weigh over 110 pounds and have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of under 40," said Wexler.

Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones, and in larger bones, marrow produces new blood cells. During blood marrow donation, blood stem cells are drawn from the bone marrow for transplantation.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), more than 10,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year with life-threatening blood diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma. A stem cell transplant is the best or only treatment. An estimated 70 percent of patients needing a transplant do not have a matching donor in their family and depend on registry donations.

According to the DKMS website, information is listed anonymously on the Be The Match Registry until the potential donor's 61st birthday. If there is a potential match for a patient, the donor will be contacted, fill out a health questionnaire and undergo additional testing. Donations can be made in one of two ways.

"There are two donation method selected for transplant. The newer way, which is done 80 percent of the time, is that a needle is put in each arm, taking blood out of one, and removing the stem cells, and then the blood is put back in the arm," said Wexler. "Only 20 percent is done the old fashioned way."

With Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation, cells are collected via the donor's bloodstream. Four days before the donation, the donor receives daily injections of a synthetic protein called Filgrastim to increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream. During the collection, blood is removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm. Cell collection is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that takes approximately four to six hours on two consecutive days. Many donors may experience flu-like symptoms from the Filgrastim, such as headaches, bone and muscle achiness and fatigue.

During bone marrow donation, marrow cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone using a special syringe. Donors receive general anesthesia during the one- to two-hour surgical procedure. Pain, bruising and stiffness for up to two weeks after donation are common. The donor's marrow completely replenishes within a few weeks.

"The goal I've set is to have at least 180 people come to the drive," said Justin. "In the Jewish religion, the number 18 signifies life -- and what could be more important than giving someone life?"

Justin has scheduled the blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5, at JCC of Stamford, 1035 Newfield Ave.

"It's Super Bowl Sunday, but we're doing this early enough so that it won't interfere with the game." he said. "It will give people plenty of time to do a Mitzvah, a good kind deed, before the game."

For information about being a donor or making a monetary donation to offset the cost of donations, visit www.GetSwabbed.org. or www.dkmsamericas.org.

Stamford native will appear in Super Bowl ad

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- In an upcoming, contest-winning, Super Bowl commercial, a new graduate, mistakenly believing that his parents have splurged on a flashy new yellow Camaro as his gift, makes a beeline for the car past his perplexed parents and the real gift of a beribboned dorm refrigerator. Waiting patiently through the graduate's jubilation over what turns out to be the neighbor's new car, is a face that local residents may recognize. Stamford native Robert Sciglimpaglia plays the dad in the 30-second spot that will be aired to an estimated viewing audience of more than 100 million people during the upcoming Super Bowl.

An attorney specializing in worker's compensation and personal injury law, his entry into acting began when he took an adult ed voice-over class seven years ago for fun.

"I loved it," said Sciglimpaglia, who lives in Norwalk." I said this is what I want to do."

Now, in addition to advising clients at his East Avenue law office in Norwalk, he has added voice-over artist and actor to his resume. His credits include: Numerous voice-over spots, his radio show called, "Ask the Lawyer," and the PBS-aired show, "American Experience: Hijacked." He will also be performing in the off-Broadway "Chasing Destiny," and "Death of a Salesman" at the Curtain Call Theatre in Stamford.

"I did an off-Broadway play in June of 2011 and it was Jamie Kehoane, who plays my wife in the ad, who recommended me for the part in the commercial," he said.

The Chevrolet commercial is bringing Sciglimpaglia instant recognition, as the spot was previewed during the NFC Championship Game between the Giants and 49ers.

"We were watching the NFC game at my brother's house and I got a phone call," said Sciglimpaglia. "The director told me that the ad was going to be previewed during the game. When it came on about five minutes later, we all started screaming, my nieces, my nephews, my kids."

"My phone started blowing up immediately with texts, phone calls, Facebook messages," he said. "That lasted about three days, nonstop."

The ad was the brainchild of 26-year-old Long Island filmmaker Zach Borst. Borst submitted the ad to Chevrolet's Route 66 Super Bowl Contest and was one of a reported 400 entries.

"The commercial was entered in the Route 66 Chevy Super Bowl Contest," Sciglimpaglia said. "We shot it without knowing if it was ever going to air."

The ad almost didn't air, however.

"The commercial was originally being considered for the London Film Festival," said Sciglimpaglia. "I got a call from the director and he said he had good news and bad news. The bad news was that the film festival had pulled the spot, but the good news was that it was going to be aired during the Super Bowl."

"Zach was amazing," said Sciglimpaglia. "He pays such attention to detail, but he doesn't micromanage. He lets the actors act. I did this little Vanna White thing where I opened and closed the refrigerator door. That was completely ad-libbed."

How does Sciglimpaglia feel about exposure to millions of Super Bowl viewers?

"It's just amazing, absolutely incredible," he said. "It's the Super Bowl. That's probably the biggest day of the year for advertisers. It's like their Christmas."

Sciglimpaglia, a graduate of Stamford Catholic High School (now Trinity Catholic High School), lives in Norwalk with his wife Jenny, and daughters Patti, Katie and Mary. He will be watching his Super Bowl ad in New York this year as a guest at a Chevrolet-sponsored party.

Stamford man pleads guilty to selling guns, drugs

staff@thehour.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD-- A central figure in the Stamford Latin Kings gang is facing three decades in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday at U.S. District Court in New Haven to federal charges relating to gun and drug distribution.

Patrick "Pistol" Uzar, 25, of Stamford, pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to transfer a machine gun and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He also faces a $1.5 million fine when he is sentenced on April 30. He was arrested last May as part of a federal gun and drug trafficking investigation that resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 firearms.

Stamford Police Chief Nivakoff said the investigation resulted in "the largest seizure of firearms in the history of the Stamford Police Department."

Prosecutors allege that Uzar had a hand in virtually every aspect of the criminal enterprise -- from the purchase and sale of firearms to the distribution of ecstasy and cocaine.

Law enforcement officials purchased multiple firearms from Uzar and his co-conspirators during the investigation, according to an indictment.

During the federal investigation from July 2010 to April 2011, Uzar sold 33 firearms, including 12 machine guns, prosecutors allege.

Uzar acquired the firearms from relatives, straw purchasers and associates of the Latin Kings and sold the guns illegally, according to the indictment. He allegedly purchased two AK-47s and two nine millimeter sten-style machine guns from his uncle George Uzar Sr., a Norwalk resident.

Prosecutors say Patrick Uzar also distributed ecstasy and cocaine and between September and November 2010, selling nearly 2,000 ecstasy pills, and was involved in the distribution of about 300 grams of cocaine.

Uzar and 16 other individuals were arrested during a series of raids targeting the Stamford Latin Kings in May 2011. He has been imprisoned since his arrest.

Father of three girls who died in Christmas morning fire hires investigators

staff@thehour.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The father of the three girls who died in a Christmas morning fire in Stamford has hired private investigators to look into the fatal blaze, according to police.

Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said Thursday that Matthew Badger told police he hired a private investigation firm to probe the fire that took the lives of his children, 9-year-old Lily and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah, and their grandparents Lomer and Pauline Johnson.

Fire officials have said embers had been taken out of a fireplace at the 2267 Shippan Ave. home, and one of the survivors, Michael Borcina, is believed to have placed the ashes in or outside an entryway, near the trash.

Conklin has said police have yet to determin whether criminal charges would be pursued in the case.

Borcina, a contractor who had been renovating the five-bedroom house, recently hired defense attorney Eugene Riccio, police said.

Conklin said police are looking into whether smoke detectors and fire extinguishers were removed from the house before the fire had occurred.

"We are certainly looking into that," Conklin said Thursday. "But we can't say if they were removed or weren't removed at the moment."

Police have interviewed the fire's two survivors -- Madonna Badger, the New York City advertising executive who is the mother of the three girls, and Borcina.

Officials want to determine whether the house had working smoke detectors, as well as the status of renovation work on the house and whether the contractor had permits.

The investigation is expected to be wrapped up by next week, police said.

The victims died of smoke inhalation. The children's grandfather, Lomer Johnson, also suffered a blunt head and neck trauma, which resulted from a fall or being hit by an object. Johnson was a department store Santa Claus who had worked as safety director for a Louisville, Ky., company.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Senate candidate to kick-off economic tour

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD (AP) -- State Rep. William Tong, D-147, a U.S. Senate candidate who currently represents Stamford and New Canaan, is starting a statewide tour to promote his plan to revitalize the nation's economy and help struggling Connecticut families.

Tong is kicking off his "Reclaim the Dream Tour" on Jan. 30 at the Great Wall Restaurant in New Haven. Tong's parents were Chinese immigrants who began their lives in the U.S. running a Chinese restaurant.

The Stamford lawmaker unveiled his economic plan this week. It includes a national investment in vocational and technical schools; reauthorizing the old Build America Bonds program to help rebuild the nation's infrastructure; and refinancing all federally-backed mortgages to a four percent rate.

Tong is vying against U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz (BY'-suh-wits) for the Democratic Party's endorsement.

Police captain recognized for 'unwavering dedication'

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- When Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin received the Outstanding Partnership Award from U.S. Attorney David B. Fein last week, the 30-year Stamford Police Department veteran said he was caught by surprise.

"It was unexpected," said Conklin of the award, which, prior to the Jan. 20 U.S. Attorney's Office awards ceremony in New Haven, had never been handed out. "I was very surprised that I received this award."

Stamford Police Chief Robert Nivakoff said the department is lucky to have Conklin, who has been active in many high profile cases.

"He's an excellent and expert professional," said Nivakoff. "His specialty is organized crime and major crime operations, not just locally, but nationally and internationally."

Fein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, said Conklin is a legend in law enforcement.

"His leadership and support of others has not only earned him the respect of the members of the Stamford Police Department, but also of local, state and federal law enforcement throughout Connecticut and beyond," said Fein. "Because he is so well-respected, Capt. Conklin has been able to forge long-lasting partnerships with other agencies, resulting in the successful prosecution of literally thousands of criminals."

Fein said Conklin was the catalyst for re-initiating the Project Safe Neighborhood Program in Stamford, motivating state and federal agencies to work together, thereby increasing PSN prosecutions in Stamford from one in 2008 to more than 40 in 2011. From the 1980s to the present, Conklin has been instrumental in working with federal, state, and local law enforcement in disrupting the Gambino and Genovese La Cosa Nostra families' organized illegal activities in Fairfield County, he said. Conklin has actively participated in long-term multi-agency wiretap and grand jury investigations, Fein said, resulting in the conviction and incarceration of more than 100 members and associates of the Gambino and Genovese families on racketeering, illegal gambling, extortion, money laundering, and drug trafficking charges, he said.

"Capt. Conklin has willingly dedicated some of Stamford's finest to numerous federal investigations, and patiently supported their work over the course of lengthy operations," Fein said. "Such cases have included the Bloods investigations in 2008 and 2009, which together resulted in the arrests of more than 60 state and federal defendants, and the Latin Kings investigation in 2011, which resulted in the arrest of almost 20 federal defendants and the seizure of over 100 weapons, including 13 fully automatic machine guns."

Fein said Conklin displays "an unwavering dedication to his officers and a constant commitment to protect and serve the citizens of Stamford."

"All the while, personally exemplifying the principle that we in law enforcement serve the public and our nation best when we work positively together," Fein said.

Even though he was given the award, Conklin said he couldn't have accomplished anything without the officers of the Stamford Police Department.

"A lot of our collaborative efforts have been due to the hard work of the men and women at the Stamford Police Department," he said. "I think the way that both this department and the U.S. Attorney's Office bring resources to the table makes it easy to work together. It's been a pleasure working with these talented people at the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Stamford Police Department continues to make me proud on a daily basis."

Theatre sponsors American Idol-style competition

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The New Paradigm Theatre Co., a non-profit company run by Broadway theatre professionals, is offering local singers a short-cut to the traditional audition route by providing the opportunity to showcase their talents to an elite panel of judges in an upcoming competition in Stamford.

The two-day American Idol-type competition, billed "So ya wanna be a Broadway star," will allow contestants to sing and receive comments from an illustrious roster of Broadway industry insiders, including the musical director for Spiderman on Broadway, casting directors for Broadway productions of "Phantom of the Opera," "Cats," and "Jekyll and Hyde," and Emmy-nominated actors, Broadway directors and voice-over artists.

"This is a great chance to get themselves in front of these people," said Kristin Huffman, artistic director of New Paradigm. "At this stage of their careers, they wouldn't have a chance to perform in front of people of this caliber. That normally wouldn't happen until a third or fourth callback. "

"Our goal is to help up-and-coming artists," said Huffman of the competition, scheduled for Jan. 28 and 29.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, each contestant will have a chance to sing 16 bars, and then the top 10 will come back Sunday, Jan. 29, to perform full songs.

"It's exciting for the audience, kind of like American Idol, because they're not just being entertained, but are following the performers from the beginning," said Huffman. " It gives audience members a sense of what it's like to be a casting director."

The performances will be open to the public.

The judges include: Musical producer for the Broadway "Spiderman," "Aida," "Chicago," "Nine" and "Dreamgirls," Paul Bogaev; casting director for Broadway performances of "Phantom of the Opera," "Cats," and "Les Miserables," Jamibeth Margolis; casting director for Broadway performances of "Little Women," "Jekyll and Hyde" and "Tommy," Barry Moss; New York director of "Music Man," "State Fair" and "Annie," Richard Sabellico; composer William Wade; acting coach Susan Campochiaro Confrey; Emmy-nominated actor Scott Bryce; voice-over artist Randye Kaye; and producer and performer, Maureen Hamill.

"We're helping up-and-coming artists in a way that gives them a chance at success, " said Huffman, whose 20 years of acting credits include a performance in the Tony-Award winning musical, "Company." Huffman is also a professor at the University of Hartford and Western Connecticut State University, where she trains singers, actors and music teachers.

"I'm accepting applications (for the competition) up until Friday," said Huffman.

There will be three categories for winners: An overall winner chosen by the judges; a Facebook favorite and a Fan Favorite, chosen by the audience.

The overall winner will receive: A 10-pack of seminars at Actor's Connection in New York; four voice-over teleclasses; a spot in The Savvy Actor "Crash Course MBA" weekend; a photo session; a Paul Bogaev Master Class; a hair and make-up consultation; a casting consultation with Jamibeth Margolis; a rep book and personal marketing consultation; a personal interview with New York agents; an audit of one Richard Sabellico audition class, plus a private coaching session; and a featured spot on theatreingleader.blogspot.com and nptheatre.org.

The New Paradigm Theatre opened in September, but hasn't settled on a permanent venue yet.

"We're not a traveling troupe," said Huffman. "We are finding out what the needs of the community are before deciding on a permanent location. We provide mentoring, networking and internships for aspiring actors."

Describing the New Paradigm as a socially conscious theatre company, the website mission statement reads, in part, "The New Paradigm Theatre Company creates a professional theatre experience that promotes a defined interconnectivity and sense of community. Embracing a new paradigm shift by 'breaking the fifth wall,' we enlist those formerly known as the audience transforming them into a tribe of promoters, stars and assistant 'directors' who interact with the professional actors we feature in our productions."

"So ya wanna be a Broadway Star" takes place from 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, and from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Stamford Hilton, 1 Stamford Place, Stamford. Tickets are $30 in advance, and $35 at the door.

For applications and further information, visit www.nptheatre.org.

Hospital physician named 'Teacher of the Year'

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Dr. Noel Robin, of Stamford Hospital, has been named "Teacher of the Year" by the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons' Class of 2013. He was selected by that class to receive their "Outstanding Teacher Award."

Robin has received numerous honors from the Columbia medical students, including the "Teacher of the Year" award from the classes of 2000, 2008, and 2009, as well as the Charles W. Bohmfalk Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the Class of 2006.

"I am humbled and honored to have received this award from my students," Robin said in a prepared statement. "There is no greater pleasure than educating others and knowing you are a positive influence and motivator in someone's life and career."

Robin is a professor of clinical medicine and an associate dean at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, of which Stamford Hospital is a major teaching affiliate. A physician for more than 40 years, he is Stamford Hospital's chairman of the Department of Medicine. Robin has also taught at Harvard University and New York Medical College. He is board-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and has served as a member of the Connecticut Chapter's Governor's Council.

Stamford Hospital is a not-for-profit provider of healthcare services in lower Fairfield County and the region. The mission of the hospital is to provide, together with its physicians, a broad range of high-quality health and wellness services focused on the needs of the community. Stamford Hospital is a member of the Planetree Alliance, a group of hospitals nationwide focused on patient-centered care.

Salvation Army collects diapers to help families

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- There's a new bank in town. The Salvation Army of Stamford is now operating a "Diaper Bank" at their Selleck Street headquarters.

"The 'Diaper Bank' was created to help meet the needs of low-income families in the city, to keep babies bottoms dry." said Lt. Walter Droz, commanding officer of the Stamford Corps Worship & Community Center. "We are looking to offset the cost of diapers by providing help for children living in poverty which affects the overall quality of life for low income families."

According to a study conducted by "Huggies":

· 1 out of 3 mothers in America have to choose between food for the family or diapers for their baby.

· 1 out of 20 mothers in America have to reuse wet and soiled diapers on their baby.

· Because most daycare establishments today mandate that a full day's worth of diapers is provided when children are dropped off, many low-income mothers are prevented from sending their infants and toddlers to daycare.

"After I read the report, I was floored," Droz said. "But I said to myself ... 'what can The Salvation Army do to help?' And then it came to me. 'How about a place for people to donate diapers and baby wipes to meet these needs ... like a Diaper Bank.'"

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new "Diaper Bank" was held Tuesday at the Stamford Corps & Community Center.

Those interested in making a donation can call Droz at (203) 359-2320, or email walter.droz@use.salvationarmy.org

Connecticut Ballet offers 'Bournonville Workshop'

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The Connecticut Ballet Center will offer a unique opportunity for area dancers to study the style of ballet made famous by Royal Danish Ballet choreographer Auguste Bournonville.

Over four, intensive-afternoon sessions (Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 11-12), dancers will learn Bournonville technique, study character acting and mime for the ballet, and learn actual Bournonville choreography from master teacher Karina Elver. Elver was a noted soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet for two decades and now travels the world staging ballets. She staged "La Ventana Pas de Trois" for Connecticut Ballet dancers last season.

The workshop is open to intermediate/advanced level students, professional instructors and dancers in the region. To register, call Lisa Monte, school manager, at Connecticut Ballet Center, 20 Acosta Street, Stamford. The Connecticut Ballet Center is the official school of Connecticut Ballet. For information, call (203) 978-0771 or visit www.connecticutballet.com.

Girls Basketball -- Vikings top Black Knights again

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The Westhill girls basketball team qualified for the state tournament, knocking off cross-city rival Stamford by a 47-39 score on Tuesday night at the Kuczo Gymnastium.

Steph Roones tossed in 16 points while Meg D'Allesandro added 15 to pace the winners, who have won six of seven games in moving to 8-5 on the season. Allie Souza, Westhill's senior point guard, added eight points.

The Vikings jumped out to a 25-16 halftime lead and never looked back, beating Stamford for the second time this season.

For the Black Knights, Lauren Scharpiro and Kelsey Cognetta had 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Stamford, which has dropped four of five, slipped to 7-6 on the season.

Stamford Youth Hockey Roundup

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Mites

The Stamford Sharks mite A team came out with a vengeance on Sunday defeating the Ridgefield Lions mite A team 8-3 at Terry Conners Rink.

The Sharks opened up the scoring with goals by Alek Garabet (his sixth, assisted by Anders Ernberg) and Wells Masterson (three points in the game).

However, the contest was tied at two goals apiece in the second period when Bennett Masterson score his first of three goals on the day (13 for the season) followed by tallies from Grif Makovsky (fifth of season) and Matt DiMartino (seventh of the season and plus-3 on the day, assisted by Luke Dube and Jack Robinson). Nat Gibson earned the team's hard-worker award and finished the scoring for his third goal of the season. The Sharks had 23 shots on goal, and outscored the Lions 4-0 in the final period.

Sharks goalie Luke Ware faced 12 shots and made several big saves when the game was close, dampening the spirits of the visiting Lions who played hard throughout the contest. Defensive standouts in this game were Grif Makovsky and Albert Lian (both plus-3 on the day).

Squirts

Stamford Squirt A1 7

Yale 1

The Stamford Squirt A1 Sharks played host to Yale and came away with a dominating 7-1 win.

The Sharks struck early with Jack Kinahan ripping one of his two goals on the day past the Yale goaltender to open the scoring. Austin Scheine registered a hat trick while Nathan Stiles had two goals and Billy Schaner one to round out the scoring attack.

Jack Johnson had a very strong game on both ends of the ice and recorded three assists with some nifty passing. Jeb Boyrer was active all game and had one assist. The defense frustrated the Yale players all game and did not let up many good scoring chances with Myles Bazolan,Santiago Gonzales,Tommy Morris, Dylan Shane and Sebastien Blanchard leading the way. Ben Hathaway was solid in goal for the Sharks in the win.

Stamford Squirt A1 7, Greater New Haven 2

The Sharks traveled up the Parkway to take on Greater New Haven and came away with a solid 7-2 win. Austin Scheine led the Sharks scoring attack registering two goals and three assists on the day. Andrew Mitchell receiving a pass from Scheine ripped a shot passed the New Haven goaltender for the play of the game while Nathan Stiles and Sam Augustine lit the lamp for two goals each. The defense which was solid all game was led by Myles Bozoian,Santiago Gonzales and Dylan Shane. Ben Hathaway was strong in net making many nice saves on the day.

Stamford Squirt A1 3, White Plainsmen 4

The Stamford Sharks played host to the White Plainsmen and cam away with a back and forth 4-3 loss. Andrew Ukahanov got the Sharks on the board first pouncing on a rebound and ripping a shot past the goaltender. Austin Scheine had a goal and an assists and Nathan Stiles recorded one goal to round out the Sharks scoring. Billy Schaner was active all game and had one assist on the day. Santiago Gonzales Myles Bozoian and Tommy Morris played strong on defense. Ben Hathaway was strong in net making many big saves to keep the game close.

Boys Basketball -- Westhill finally rules the roost

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- It had been four years since the Westhill boys basketball team had defeated Stamford, and with its three losses last year, including a bitter last-second loss in the FCIAC semifinals, the Vikings had plenty of pent-up emotion.

Westhill released that emotion and erupted for an 86-65 victory over the Black Knights at the Westhill Gym on Wednesday.

The Vikings' Chris Walters admitted he and his teammates were looking to settle the score from last year. The senior swingman led all scorers with 26 points and added that a few Black Knight pranksters added fuel to the fire before the game.

"They came to our school today and put flowers all over the cars and signs that said 'Black Knight Nation' is coming, and we just wanted to come out here and prove that we are the best team in Stamford," Walters said. "Last year, they were just a better team than us, but tonight we just wanted to come out and play hard and get revenge on them."

Payback was a theme, but Westhill coach Howard White has plenty of respect for the Black Knights, and he reminded his team in practice that they needed to control the tempo.

The Vikings had no trouble following the game plan because they are at their best when they can turn a game into a full-court sprint. Add to that their hot shooting (57 percent from the floor) and they were a force Stamford could not slow down.

"One thing I was concerned about was not letting Stamford get us to play their game. I did not want us to play into their hands," White said. "So, what we talked about all week was to make them uncomfortable and to not let them set up because that would allow them to dictate how this game was going to flow."

Black Knight coach Jim Moriarty is usually able to make adjustments on the fly to combat an opponent's strategy, but on this night the Vikings seemingly had all the answers.

The veteran coach went through a litany of defenses as he tried slow the Vikings down. None were effective for any length of time.

"I didn't think we matched up with them man-to-man," Moriarty said. "One of our goals was to get back on defense and we didn't do that effectively. The other was to box out because they were bigger than us and we didn't do that. So, they got more opportunities and they shot lights out."

The score was tied at nine in the opening frame when Walters hit a layup and followed it with a three-point jumper to give Westhill a 14-9 lead. The two teams traded three-point shots for the next four possessions with Tony Dobbinson dropping in a trey to push the Vikings lead to 20-15.

After two foul shots by Stamford's Shawn Padilla, Yves Cassamajor tossed in another trey and Walters hit one of two from the line to give Westhill a 24-17 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Vikings outscored the Black Knights 21-10 as they got their run-and-gun game in high gear. Walters brought the crowd out of their seats with a steal and dunk to give the Vikings a 30-20 edge.

Westhill kept pressing on defense, frustrating Stamford. Even when the Black Knights managed to score, the Vikings would throw long inbound passes which were turned into easy buckets at the other end. The Vikings closed out the half with a 45-27 advantage.

"We're a very good shooting team, and if teams are going to allow us to take a shot, then I told the kids we have to knock that shot down," White said. "We were hitting threes, they were hitting threes and then we stopped them. And that's what we wanted to do. And then we played the game the way we wanted to."

The Vikings did not back off after intermission, having learned against Fairfield-Warde how a lead can disappear. By the end of three, Westhill held a comfortable 66-47 advantage. The Vikings continued their tactics in the final frame and kept the Black Knights far in the rear view mirror.

With the victory, Westhill stood at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the FCIAC. Besides Walters, they finished the night with four scorers in double-figures as Dobbinson and Cassamajor each scored 14 points while Sam Dorrisant tossed in 13.

"We wanted it bad for ourselves and we wanted it bad for the school," White said. "Stamford is a very good team and when you are playing your rival you have to be prepared and ready. So it's bragging rights."

Meanwhile, Stamford fell to 5-6 overall and 4-5 in conference play. Bryan Boderick led the Black Knights with 17 points while Sy finished with 13 points. Padilla and Laria finished with 11 points apiece.

"It's a tough, tough loss because it's in the city," Moriarty said. "I have to give them the credit, they made us play a lot faster than we wanted to and that's effective defense. No matter what we did, it was their night."

Stamford's role in Paterno's legacy mourns the loss of a legend

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The legend of former Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno, who passed away on Sunday, Jan. 22, after a short battle with cancer reaches far and wide.

It even made a connection in the city of Stamford, where Paterno recruited Stamford High School linebacker Khairi Fortt and King running back Silas Redd to State College, Pa., for their college careers.

The news of Paterno's death staggered the present-day Nittany Lions, even more so than his unceremonious firing earlier this season as the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal ignited a media frenzy.

Both Fortt and Redd have played key roles in their two years at Penn State; Redd winning the starting tailback job this year as a sophomore with Fortt playing key roles on special teams and at the linebacker spot.

Fortt and Redd now deal with the future -- and carrying the legacy of Joe Paterno forward.

After the Nittany Lions players went through a private viewing with the coach and his family at the campus spiritual center, Fortt said he would heed his coach's advice about the future.

"He said the most important thing for us was to keep the Penn State tradition going," Fortt said.

Redd, who could not be reached for comment, ends up owning a piece of the Paterno legacy, as well.

It was his 3-yard touchdown that gave the Nittany Lions a 10-7 victory over Illinois.

It was Paterno's 409th and final victory as Penn State's head coach.

The legacy though reached much farther and wide than Stamford, obviously.

Decked out in Penn State hats and jackets, students and townspeople stood in a line more than a quarter-mile long Tuesday to pay their respects to Paterno, the coach who for nearly a half century was the face of their university.

Mourners waited for hours along a main campus artery for the chance to file past Paterno's closed brown casket at the campus spiritual center during a public viewing session. Some departed crying. All were moved.

"He was my hero. He was my hero. I had to come," said a sobbing Gloria Spicer, who was freshman in 1966 when Paterno started his first season as head coach at Penn State. The 85-year-old Paterno, the winningest coach in major college football history, died Sunday of lung cancer. He had been fired just days before learning of his diagnosis in November.

"He was a teacher to me," Spicer said. "He taught me to be a better person and a better teacher."

Spicer and others walked slowly past the undraped casket which had an "honor guard" of two Penn State players -- one past and one present. Six feet away, a stylized, black-and-white photo of a smiling Paterno, arms crossed in front of his chest, sat on an easel.

Large windows bathed the white-walled hall in light on an overcast afternoon. Some of Paterno's family attends church services there.

Members of the public were preceded by the Paterno family -- the coach's son, Scott, was seen at the gathering -- along with current and former players. The current Nittany Lions wore dark suits and arrived in three blue Penn State buses, the same ones that once carried Paterno and the team to games at Beaver Stadium on fall Saturdays.

Among the former players was Mike McQueary. As a graduate assistant to Paterno in 2002, he went to the coach saying he had witnessed former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky assaulting a boy in the shower at the Penn State football building. Paterno relayed that to his bosses -- including the head of campus police -- but university trustees felt he should have done more, and it played into their decision to oust the longtime coach on Nov. 9. That came four days after Sandusky was arrested on multiple child sex-abuse counts.

Dressed in a blue coat and tie with a white shirt, the school colors, McQueary was among thousands of expected mourners at an event that was to stretch late into Tuesday night.

One current and one former team member will stand guard over the casket for the duration of the public viewing, athletic department spokesman Jeff Nelson said.

"Going in there, waiting two hours in line, it was worth every second of it," Penn State junior Rob Gressinger said. "It helps in the grieving process for everybody and I hope the rest of the people that are waiting in line longer than I did, get to experience the same thing."

Earlier Tuesday, a line of ex-players stretched around the corner and down the block. Among the mourners were former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris. Others there included NFL receivers Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, Norwood's father and Baylor assistant coach Brian Norwood and former quarterback Daryll Clark.

The event marked the first of three days of public mourning as the Penn State community in State College and beyond said goodbye to the man who led the Nittany Lions to 409 wins over 46 years and raised the national profile of the school.

There is another public viewing Wednesday at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, and after that Paterno's family will hold a private funeral and procession through State College.

On Thursday, the school's basketball arena will be the site of a public service called "A Memorial for Joe." Tickets were quickly snapped up for the event, even though there was a two-per-person limit for those ordering.

Former players began arriving shortly after members of Paterno's last team filed in. Some players hugged, and new Penn State coach Bill O'Brien shook hands with others at the curb outside the center.

Scott Paterno has said that despite the turmoil surrounding his termination from the school, Joe Paterno remained peaceful and upbeat in his final days and still loved Penn State.

Bitterness over Paterno's dismissal has turned up in many forms, from online postings to a rewritten newspaper headline placed next to Paterno's statue at the football stadium blaming the trustees for his death. A headline that read "FIRED" was crossed out and made to read, "Killed by Trustees." Lanny Davis, lawyer for the school's board, said threats have been made against the trustees.

Scott Paterno, however, stressed his father did not die with a broken heart and did not harbor resentment toward Penn State.

"His legacy is still going to be filled with the great things that he did. Look at this place," 1969 Penn State graduate Tom Sherman said before tearing up. "It's like he's part of your life. I admire that guy so much."

High School Hockey -- King's of the ice

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- King Low Heywood Thomas hockey coach Jamie Bruno has plenty to make him happy with his team off to a 7-1 record to start this season.

The third-year coach has the Vikings sitting atop the FAA standings at the season's midway point, but more important he is building a winning tradition with a mix of new players and upperclassmen. That mixture should keep the King program growing over the next few years.

Bruno came into the program a few years back with some lofty goals. He wanted to make the Vikings an option for serious hockey players in lower Fairfield County, players who were looking for a top program at a school with a great educational background. Not to belittle other schools, he said, but King has a reputation for providing the family atmosphere of a small school while helping their students gain the educational background needed to move on and succeed at major college programs.

While his squad may not be ready to be a rival to the Fairfield Prep's of the County on the ice yet they are moving in the right direction.

Bruno has put together a 25-12-2 record in his time at the helm, but even he will admit this year's success has been a pleasant surprise.

"It's a little bit beyond expectations but not too much beyond. We have the tougher part of our schedule coming up," said Bruno. "We have Rye twice, Brunswick again and St. Thomas More again who we had our only loss to."

The Vikings came into the year with two major holes created by graduation of top scorer Mitch Staples and Jack Meehan, who was a three-year starter in goal. Meehans loss was the biggest problem because finding a goaltender of his caliber is not easy. Bruno handed the job over to freshman Andrew Carlin and he has responded in seamless fashion.

"He's been a very pleasant surprise. He walked on the ice at the beginning without us knowing too much of the background behind him," said Bruno. "He' s like a stonewall back there and just wants to get better every game. You want to build from the goalie out to the forwards and if you play good defense and keep the puck out of the net you have a good chance to win and that's what he's been doing for us."

The defensive corps as a whole have been a strong points for the Vikings.

Two of the King captains Steve Franze and Mike Keane have provided stability in the defensive zone. They both are transfers from Trinity Catholic, players who know Bruno's systems and have helped the other players learn what the coach expects.

"Jamie has meant a lot. He is somebody you can talk to about any issue you have and he's definitely a players coach I think that's the way to put it. He's got your back," Franze said. "We lost a lot of players from last year but we have had some young players step in just look at our goalie situation, Andrew has done a great job and has done more than we would have ever expected him to do.It's exciting to se him develop in the future."

Junior Ellie Skolnick is another returnee to the blue line brigade which has been the strength of the squad. Freshman Nolan Murray is another new skater who has made it seem like he's been around for years.

"I think the defense being older and stronger has really helped us and the goaltending," said Bruno. "Then our forwards with Troy Lynch producing a ton of offense. "

Lynch and fellow captain Anthony DeLuca are the core of the forward lines along with Keran McQuilken. The second line has Johnny McDermott, Max Perkins and Matt Johnson, who have all stepped up with Greg Galvin and Jack Wheeler providing depth. While most of the teams in the area are looking for quality skaters, King seems to be attracting more than its share.

"The freshman have really stepped in a and done a good job," said Bruno. "We have 20 kids -- not as many as we'd like but we have so many good programs around us in a 20-mile radius."

Athletic Director Tom Decker had a vision for the program. He found Bruno who was an assistant literally down the road at Trinity Catholic.

Bruno had played for the Crusaders under the tutelage the legendary Mickey Lione, who was also his cousin. He earned all-state honors as a star on the 1998 state championship team and then served as an assistant coach under Chris Gerwig on the Trinity teams which made it to back to back state semifinals a few years back. So, Bruno knows about the building process of championship teams and that is the kind of program Decker wanted to build.

The school was one of the forces behind forming the FAA teams into an official league and the school has provided the squad with a locker room of their own within Twin Rinks. Those are just a couple of the smaller things which has made the Vikings feel like they are on a big time stage and have instilled that pride that Decker was looking to build within the program.

Official: Merger is 'very close'

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The proposed merger between CTE, Inc., and Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON) is "very close" to becoming reality, a top-ranking official said this week.

"It will happen pretty soon," said Joseph Mann, president and CEO of NEON, during a meeting with city leaders on Tuesday. "It's hard to say exactly, but we are very close."

Mann said 42 employees would transition from CTE, the community action agency that serves Stamford, Greenwich and Darien. The process would take about three months, with financial support from the government.

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services (DSS), which oversees funding for both groups, confirmed Wednesday that NEON would receive $300,000 in state money to support the merger.

DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby "has informed Mr. Mann that the department fully supports the transition," said DSS spokesman David Dearborn.

Bremby is "aware that this transition will not be easy, and that (the department is) pleased to provide further technical assistance if NEON requests.

Although both agencies are fueled by government money, Dearborn said Connecticut has no authority over their merger as private, nonprofit groups.

"However, we do ensure that the federal and state funding streams we manage continue to serve residents in all of the areas now served by the two organizations," Dearborn said.

That has not curbed the worries of Norwalk officials, as the merger will take place while NEON faces federal scrutiny over its money management.

A preliminary report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), delivered to NEON this month and obtained by The Hour, shows that NEON officials mismanaged more than $400,000 in government funds earmarked to run Head Start.

The pre-school program serves 275 low-income children and their families.

The report culiminated a six-month audit of NEON, during which about $3.5 million in federal, state and city funds were assessed.

On Tuesday, Mayor Richard A. Moccia said the report -- or even the perception of misconduct -- could impact NEON's ability to secure government money. If that were the case, he asked how Mann would support added personnel from CTE.

"If the grants don't come, if the money that pays the folks don't come, we don't keep the folks," Mann said. However, he said that NEON is "pretty clear on what grants are coming and what grants aren't coming."

CTE President E. Phillip McKain did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment for this story.

Stamford Downtown: Annual outdoor art exhibit to capture the public's imagination

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- A fun, interactive sculpture exhibit featuring fiberglass horses will be popping up in downtown Stamford this summer, according to Sandy Goldstein, president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District (DSSD).

This year, DSSD is holding its 15th interactive sculpture exhibit, entitled "Horsin' Around Stamford Downtown." The exhibit will feature around 50 fiberglass horses placed all over the downtown area, which will be decorated by local artists, said Goldstein. The exhibit will engage the talent of local artists and the imagination of the entire community, she said.

"Each year, we do a different theme for this sculpture exhibit," said Goldstein. "We have done the 'Cow Parade,' 'It's Reigning Cats and Dogs,' 'Stamford Safari' -- many different things. This year, we decided to do horses. I think that it's a fun exhibit that will capture the imagination of the public in a major way, and we are thrilled to be hosting it."

Goldstein said there will be at least 50 talented artists participating in the exhibit to help design each horse.

"I'm excited to see what these artists come up with," said Goldstein. "The nice thing about these artists is that they are very intelligent, as well as creative. They are smart, clever and witty, and that comes out in the sculptures. We are excited to see the end result."

Greenwich resident and sculptor Jody Silver designed two different sculptures for the DSSD's "It's Reigning Cats and Dogs" exhibit in 2010. Silver, who has a studio at the Loft Artists Association in Stamford, said she also plans to design one of the horse sculptures for this year's exhibit.

"It's always fun designing something for this kind of exhibit, and this year's theme is fun," said Silver. "I think that a lot of kids will be very excited when they see horses all over town, and I'm sure a lot of people will take pictures."

Silver said it will take her months to design a sculpture for the exhibit, but it's worth it.

"It takes a while to get prepared and design something from scratch," said Silver. "But people get a real kick out of this particular interactive exhibit, and it's nice to know people are enjoying your work. I think that this will be an exhibit that people of all ages will enjoy."

Shays to officially announced Conn. Senate bid

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

HARTFORD (AP) -- Former Connecticut U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays is making it official and announcing he is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

Shays made his announcement on Wednesday at the Old State House in downtown Hartford, minutes away from the State Capitol where he served as a state representative for 13 years. About 200 people attended the event.

Shays, who once represented the state's 4th Congressional District, which includes Stamford, said he wants to put "the country back on track and our fellow Americans back to work."

Shays' top competition for the GOP endorsement is wealthy former wrestling executive Linda McMahon. There are three other Republicans and three Democrats also hoping to fill the seat now held by the retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman.

'Creative Corridor' mulled at Stamford event

staff@thehour.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- More than 100 public relations, communications, marketing and advertising professionals crowded into a conference room at 3001 Summer Street in Stamford on Wednesday morning to discuss the possibility of starting a "Fairfield County Creative Corridor" that would connect and engage their industries in Connecticut.

The Corridor would increase awareness of the high quality services offered in those industries in Connecticut and, hopefully, stop much of that business from going to New York City firms. Those involved with creating the Corridor have already set up a "hybrid" marketing communications agency in Stamford to provide the framework for the initiative.

"It's not about location -- it's about a mindset. We have to change how we think about ourselves," Marian Salzman, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, said. "Perception is reality in our business. You have to have the steak and the sizzle.

"Once we figure out how to work together we'll realize the one plus one plus two can equal 35," added Salzman, who is also the president of the Fairfield County Public Relations Association (FCPRA). "We need to get beyond the sense of being proprietary and closed. There are benefits to working together."

Salzman also encouraged those in attendance to be creative instead of "complacent" and to not be "content to be a suburb of New York City."

The program was presented by FCPRA and the Business Council of Fairfield County, sponsored by @erwpr, and hosted by Ashforth. Attendees received a copy of a "The Case for a Creative Corridor," a 138-page booklet with research supporting the creation of the Corridor.

The corridor would create and retain jobs in those industries and also attract businesses to Fairfield County, according to those involved with the research. It would also go a long way toward changing the perception of Connecticut as "staid and stuffy."

Kip Bergstrom, deputy commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development for Connecticut, encouraged the idea and said state government would support the initiative with money. He added that government would stand back, however, as the process evolves creatively.

"The first step would be to have a conversation and see what ideas we have, then put state money behind it," he said. "I think this is correct. The state will support this, but we don't want to stifle creativity as it evolves. The key is not to be prescriptive. Let it evolve."

Connecticut recently announced that it would spend $15 million to brand itself in the hopes of attracting tourism. That money, Bergstrom said, will also be used for business development in the state, which will benefit the Creative Corridor. Bergstrom said Fairfield County compares favorably to the other business areas surrounding New York City, such as New Jersey.

"We're more like Manhattan than the other business nodes in the area," he said.

He said the most important step to take to get the ball rolling on the Creative Corridor is an "intentional fostering of networks."

Chris Loynd, marketing director at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, attended the event and walked away impressed with the concept. He previously owned an advertising agency in Connecticut and felt the work done locally stands up to the work done in New York City.

"There are strong creative resources here now. It's a matter of marketing that because the talent is already here," he said. "Norwalk is in a very strong position to take advantage of this."

The Aquarium, he said, already uses local resources as much as possible for its communication and marketing needs.

"We think Norwalk first and Connecticut next," he said.

Chris Bruhl, president of the Business Council of Fairfield County, called the initiative a "broad economic and social vision. It's the idea that we are in it together, but we're not yet working together."

Murder suspect's ex: 'She would talk about this love triangle every day'

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- The trial for a New York woman arrested three years ago for the 2002 killing of her co-worker at a Stamford pharmaceutical company started on Tuesday morning in Stamford Superior Court.

During Tuesday's proceedings, state prosecutor James Bernardi questioned the ex-husband of Sheila Davalloo, 42, who is charged with the Nov. 8, 2002 murder of Anna-Lisa Raymundo. Davalloo's ex-husband, Paul Christos, a 44-year-old medical school teacher, divorced Davalloo in September 2004. Davalloo is currently serving a 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Christos in 2003.

According to Christos, Davalloo became very interested in a "love triangle" between her friend "Melissa," who worked with her at Purdue Pharma, her co-worker "Anna Lisa" and another co-worker named "Jack."

"During a certain time period, she (Davalloo) would talk about this love triangle every day," Christos said. "She would constantly ask me why Jack would do this, what he was thinking and what 'Melissa' should do."

Christos testified that Davalloo would also mention that she was going with "Melissa" to spy on "Anna-Lisa" and "Jack," and she wanted to break into Anna-Lisa's apartment to look at photos.

"Sheila bought a lock-pick kit that she would play around with on our front porch," Christos said.

Christos said Davalloo later confessed to him that the triangle was really between herself, Anna-Lisa Raymundo, and a male co-worker, Nelson Sessler, who they were both romantically involved with.

Davalloo was arrested in December 2008 for the 2002 slaying of Anna-Lisa Raymundo in her Stamford apartment. The state medical examiner has ruled multiple stab wounds to the upper body and blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death.

Christos also testified that Davalloo -- who is representing herself in this case -- would send him out of their New York condominium for the night or the weekend because her brother, who Davalloo said had schizophrenia, was coming over to spend time with her. Davalloo said she couldn't tell her brother she was married or it would up set his mental state, Christos said.

"I would stay with my parents or at a local hotel," said Christos, who noted he never met a brother of Davaloo, and the brother Davalloo referenced never came to the former couple's wedding. "When her brother was coming, Sheila would move my stuff in the bathroom, and as gullible as I was at the time, I sometimes would move my own stuff before I left for the night."

Christos testified that Davalloo brought up a questioning game she wanted to play on March 22, 2003. Christos said the game required one person to be handcuffed and blindfolded, and the other would place items on the persons face or arm and they had to guess what the item was.

"The game wasn't sexual at all," Christos said. "At that point in our marriage, we were more like roommates. We were no longer romantic."

Christos said Davalloo handcuffed him to a chair in their spare bedroom and blinded folded him with pantyhose. She first put several items on him, including one of their dogs, an ink cartridge and a Spider-Man figurine.

"I heard her go down to the kitchen, and when she came up she said, 'there is one last item, one last thing to guess,'" Christos said. "I felt her sit on me, then I felt a thrust like a heavy weight was on my chest, and then another thrust."

Christos said he later found out the last object was a knife, when Davalloo drove him to the hospital and stabbed him for a third time in the parking lot.

During Tuesday's proceedings, Bernardi also questioned Stamford Police officer David Sileo, a 22-year veteran who was first on the scene at Raymundo's apartment.

Sileo said there were "signs of a violent struggle, and the apartment was in disarray."

Stamford Police 911 call taker Loretta Miller also testified Tuesday. According to police, officers were able to positively identify Davalloo's voice on an anonymous 911-call placed the day of the incident warning police of a struggle inside the apartment.

Bernardi played the 911 call for the jury. According to the tape, the call was from a neighbor of Raymundo's who saw a guy attack Raymundo and go into her apartment.

Miller said the 911 call came from a pay phone in a Duchess restaurant on Shippan Ave. Miller said she also noticed the caller's voice was strange.

"The voice was kind of choppy and sounded strange," Miller said. "It was a female who spoke, but the sentences were not clear."

Stamford man pleads not guilty to killing his mother

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- A 60-year-old Stamford man who was charged with killing his 86-year-old mother at his home pleaded not guilty at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday morning.

Anthony Fiordelisi, of 155 Sylvan Knoll Road in Stamford, was charged with the murder of his mother, Marion Fiordelisi, also of 155 Sylvan Knoll Road, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, according to police.

It is the city's first murder of 2012, according to Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.

Police were dispatched to the Sylvan Knoll Road address at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, according to Conklin. Upon arrival, police discovered Anthony Fiordelisi suffering from several self-inflicted wounds to his wrists, police said. Officers discovered his mother deceased in her bed in an upstairs bedroom. She had a severe laceration to her right wrist, police said.

Anthony Fiordelisi relayed at the scene that he gave his mother a large amount of the drug Ativan -- a sedative used to treat anxiety -- which he used in an attempt to end her life, according to police. He also took a large amount of the same drug to end his own life, police said.

When Anthony Fiordelisi woke up and realized the pills did not kill him, he went to his mother and slit her wrists to make sure she was deceased, Conklin said. Fiordelisi then slit his own wrists and called 911, he said.

"He tried to put his mother to 'sleep' by giving her the pills so she wouldn't have to see him kill himself," Conklin said. "But when he found out that the pills did not kill her, he decided to slit her wrist and then his own."

Conklin said he is not sure how long Marion Fiordelisi had been deceased before police responded to the scene.

The police captain said it appears Anthony Fiordelisi had been taking care of his mother for a long time and had a breakdown.

"It seems as if this was an ongoing situation and Anthony Fiordelisi had enough," Conklin said. "He may have had a breakdown and decided that he just couldn't take care of her anymore. It's a very tragic situation."

Fiordelisi is being held on a $500,000 bond and his next court date is on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

New salon specializes in treating head lice

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Anyone who has kids knows the fear of getting that call from the school nurse to tell you that your child has head lice, says Adie Horowitz, owner of the new Licenders Salon in Stamford. Horowitz says her salon makes that worry go away.

Licenders, a salon that specializes in removing head lice on children and adults, recently opened its fourth location at 30 Myano Lane in Stamford. Horowitz, who opened her first salon 16 years ago, said she knows personally just how hard it is to get rid of the bug.

"Years ago my daughter came home with head lice," she said. "It took me the entire summer to get rid of it, and by that time all of my kids and my husband had gotten it. It's not fun news to hear, but I have studied and researched this topic and have come up with a solution."

Horowitz said she combines her own recipe of all natural products with a machine called a LouseBuster to get rid of head lice. The LouseBuster head lice treatment kills head lice and their eggs by using heat -- no chemicals are used by the LouseBuster or any products at Licenders, said Horowitz.

"The solution that I was told to use on my child was full of chemicals," she said. "And it took three months to completely work. I figured there had to be a safer and faster way to get rid of them."

Horowitz said she spent a lot of time researching head lice, and found an all natural remedy using enzymes and peppermint oil.

"The product is so simple, but it works," she said. "And it takes only two to three hours to completely get rid of the lead lice, which is really great."

After Horowitz successfully helped her own children, neighbors began asking for her help, she said. And in a few months time, she had people offering to pay for her services.

Today, Licenders treats thousands of children and adults every year, Horowitz said.

Head lice is a lot more common than most people think, she said, and she advises parents to check their children every few weeks.

"It is very easy for children to get head lice because it's a bug that crawls, and kids are always putting their heads next to each other," Horowitz said. "Coats are also an easy way for the bugs to spread, especially in the winter months. And then once the kids get it, they can easily spread it to adults, so it's better to check and try to catch the bug as soon as you can."

Licenders will be offering free head lice screenings in January and February, Horowitz said.

To learn more about Licenders, go to www.licenders.com.

Valentine to make first local appearance at benefit

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Stamford's own Bobby Valentine will make his first local appearance since being named manager of the Boston Red Sox, joining baseball broadcaster Ed Randall on Sunday for a baseball conversation.

The event, which benefits Randall's Fans for the Cure prostate cancer awareness program, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rippowam Middle School -- the building where Valentine went to high school.

Doors at the school, located at 381 High Ridge Road, Stamford, will open at 4:45 p.m.

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. They are available at Bobby V's Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford or on-line at www.fans4thecure.org.

Those in attendance could win Red Sox tickets, autographed items and other memorabilia.

WWE responds to Senate candidate's criticism

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD (AP) -- WWE professional wrestling is accusing Connecticut Senate candidate Chris Shays of making untrue accusations about the company once run by Linda McMahon, a fellow Republican vying for the party's nomination.

Shays told The Associated Press recently that McMahon was "basically in the soft-core porn business."

Robert Zimmerman, spokesman of the Stamford-based-WWE, released a letter to Shays on Monday, saying the former congressman visited the company's headquarters and supported its SmackDown Your Vote campaign, which encouraged young people to register.

Zimmerman also cited WWE's efforts to combat bullying, contrary to Shays' claims WWE promotes bullying.

Shays spokeswoman Amanda Bergen says books and articles have been written about WWE and "the facts are the facts." Bergen says McMahon can't talk about her business experience without talking about her business.

New member classes for Junior League start Jan. 26

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Potential new member classes for The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, Inc., begin on Jan. 26 at JLSN headquarters, 748 Post Road in Darien.

JLSN, open to women 21 and older, has responded to community needs in Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, Westport and Ridgefield since 1923, according to JLSN officials. JLSN has founded, or has participated in the establishment of, more than 80 community agencies, officials said, including the Fairfield County Women's Center at Norwalk Community College, Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk, Domestic Violence Services, Shelter for the Homeless (Pacific House), the Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County, the Weir Farm Docent Program and the Women's Crisis Center.

JLSN is one of 292 member leagues of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) (www.ajli.org). Inspired by AJLI's vision, "The Junior League: Women around the world as catalysts for lasting community change," JLSN's current focus is on building healthy families, officials said. Community programs include the JLSN Diaper Co-Op, Healthy Parents, Kids in the Kitchen and Done in a Day service initiatives.

JLSN affords a multitude of opportunities for women to network personally and professionally, according to officials. The organization trains its members to become effective community volunteers, advocates and leaders. JLSN members develop a wide variety of skills, including, but not limited to, team building and public speaking, in addition to serving the community, according to officials.

Members reside in all towns in the JLSN service area, and no sponsors are required. Women new to JLSN participate in a provisional class that serves as an introduction to the organization and its community efforts.

"Becoming a member of JLSN provides an opportunity to contribute to the community while creating lifelong friendships," said Amy Bien, JLSN president. "Our members come from a diverse demographic background, with an interest in volunteerism and community service as a common denominator. It is an exciting time to become a member and we look forward to introducing new women to the joys that we have experienced with JLSN."

The spring 2012 Provisional Class will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following evenings: Jan. 26 (Thursday); Feb. 15 (Wednesday); March 13 (Tuesday); April 16 (Monday); and May 10 (Thursday).

Women interested in joining JLSN can contact the league office in Darien at (203) 655-4662, by email at membership@jlsn.org or online at www.jlsn.org for further information.

The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLSN has more than 400 members who serve the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, Westport, Ridgefield and the vicinity. All women age 21 and older, of all races, religions, and national origins, who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism, are welcomed for membership in JLSN.

World's fair exhibition offers glimpse into past

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD--Millions of visitors to the Chicago Century of Progress World's Fair in 1933-1934 marveled at the latest vision of the state of the art kitchen. Known as the "Workshop of the House," the all-electric kitchen came complete with such upscale amenities as an "an electric radio, an extension telephone and an electric door buzzer."

A photograph of the kitchen of the future is just one of 125 U.S. World's Fair artifacts on display at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center exhibition "Centuries of Progress: American World's Fairs 1853-1982." Organizers say the exhibit is intended to be more than a nostalgic representation of years past, but an inspiring reminder that optimism and innovation have lifted the spirit of the country out of difficult times.

"Companies in the United States saw world's fairs as an opportunity to showcase innovation, technology and optimism for the future," said Rosa Portell, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. "The 1933 Century of Progress fair was held during the Depression when people were in a funk. The new technologies presented there offered the country a sense of hope that tomorrow will be better than today. The fairs were a reminder that technology, creativity and drive would allow the country to meet the future successfully."

Portell noted that many of the 17 fairs held on American soil contained the words progress and tomorrow in their themes.

The exhibit presents a tangible timeline of 125 years of U.S. industrial, commercial and cultural accomplishments. Long before the internet, and even before television, world's fairs provided widely-seen venues for companies to roll out new technology. Americans got their first glimpse of such inventions as the elevator, telephone, typewriter, nylon, the auto assembly line, and even cotton candy.

"The genesis of the world's fair in the U.S. was inspired by European expos," said Portell. "In 1851, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's spouse, organized the 'Crystal Palace' in London. The expo was a huge success, and in 1853, New York hosted the Crystal Palace exhibition. It was a way for the United States to say, 'we're here to stay. We are a young nation, but we can compete on the world stage.'"

The centerpiece of the 1853 fair was a 264-foot, 2,160-passenger ferris wheel, an engineering marvel for the time.

"The ferris wheel was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, which had been built for a world's fair in Paris," said Portell. "The Americans wanted to show that we could engineer a structure with equal magnificence."

The last world's fair, held in New York in 1964-1965, reflected America's infatuation with space. The buildings were designed in an architectural style known as populuxe, and characterized by upswept roofs and geometric shapes reflective of space ships.

The lavish spectacle of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair offered such diverse attractions as a display of Michaelangelo's Pieta transported from Rome, Disney's "It's a Small World," and a musical ode to the wonders of plastic.

The Seattle space needle and the stainless steel Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens are two iconic remnants left from U.S. World's Fairs.

Often organized to coincide with noted anniversaries, American World's Fairs were mega-productions meant to fill visitors with a sense of awe and possibility. Countries, companies, and institutions recognized them as opportunities to present themselves in the best possible light. Some familiar products, such as Wonder Bread, nylon, shredded wheat, and the ice cream cone, were introduced, or at least made popular, at the fair.

Beginning with the 1853 Crystal Palace exhibition in New York through the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tenn., "Centuries of Progress: American World's Fairs 1853-1982" displays such diverse items as a Heinz pickle pin from the St. Louis 1904 exposition, a Victor talking machine from St. Louis 1904, photos of the 264-foot high ferris wheel from the 1853 exhibition, a Remington typewriter from the 1893 expo, and ephemera such as posters, tickets and programs.

"Regardless of differences in place and time, these fairs had something in common: They presented our nation within an unstoppable stream of progress, one in which inventions and new ideas of the present only foretold even more awesome ones in the future," said Portell. "It was hard not to visit the fair and feel how lucky one was to be alive at that moment in history. "

"Centuries of Progress: American World Fairs 18531982" is a program of Exhibits USA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and The National Endowment for the Arts. Its presentation at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center is made possible, in part, through the annual support received from Premier Partners: Aquarion Water Company, Oaklawn Foundation, and Purdue Pharma.

"Centuries of Progress: American World's Fairs 1853--1982" will be on exhibit through March 18 in the museum's Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford. The Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries are open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost for members is free, and non-members are also free with gate admission. Admission fees are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students, $5 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children under 3.

JLSN, Stepping Stones offer fire safety workshop

staff@thehour.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- On Jan. 24 at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, come learn about potential dangers and safety hazards in your home and discover new ways to keep your family safe.

Fairfield County families are invited to join the Norwalk Fire Department for an interactive workshop on fire safety. This educational evening will take place at from 6 to 8 p.m. Spanish translation of the event will be available. This event is co-sponsored by The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk (JLSN) and Stepping Stones as part of the ongoing relationship between the two organizations as part of JLSN's commitment to a Healthy Families Program.

Admission for participants is free, and a free healthy dinner will be provided for children by Whole Foods Market in Darien. Complimentary childcare for children ages 3 and older will be provided by JLSN volunteers. Children under 3 may remain with a parent. Registration is required by Friday, Jan. 20, so please contact Stepping Stones directly at (203) 899-0606, ext. 299, to register. Stepping Stones is located at Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue in Norwalk. Space is limited.

The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLSN has more than 400 members who serve the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, Westport, Ridgefield and the vicinity. All women age 21 and older, of all races, religions, and national origins, who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism, are welcomed for membership in JLSN. For more information, please visit JLSN's website at www.jlsn.org or call JLSN's headquarters: (203) 655-4662.

Hedge fund paying $9M; won't be prosecuted

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A hedge fund named in a massive insider-trading case will pay $9 million in settlements but won't be prosecuted by the Justice Department because it is cooperating in the government's investigation.

Diamondback Capital Management agreed to pay a $3 million fine to settle civil insider-trading charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC said Monday. The agency had accused Diamondback of insider trading in shares of Dell Inc. and Nvidia Corp. in 2008 and 2009.

The hedge fund also will forfeit $6 million in alleged illegal profits in an agreement with the Justice Department. The department won't prosecute Diamondback, based in Stamford, as long as it continues to cooperate.

The government unveiled the case last week, charging a co-founder of hedge fund Level Global Investors with engineering a trade that netted a stunning $53 million in profits. The SEC said the case involved closely linked traders at Diamondback and Level Global, based in Greenwich.

Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in announcing the case that at least seven financial industry professionals were involved in the $78 million scheme. Of that amount, nearly $62 million was earned through tips provided by a Dell employee to a former Dell worker who spread the information among his friends in at least five investment firms, including three hedge funds, Bharara said. He called the scheme "a stunning portrait of organized corruption on a broad scale."

The settlement with Diamondback "appropriately sanctions the misconduct while giving due credit to Diamondback for its substantial assistance in the government's investigation," George Canellos, director of the SEC's regional office in New York, said in a statement.

In a statement of facts submitted to the SEC and the Justice Department, Diamondback said that a former portfolio manager and a former analyst at the hedge fund "routinely violated" the fund's policy on employee contacts with consultants who may have confidential information on companies. The portfolio manager and the analyst traded stocks while they had information they had received as a result of violating the policy, the statement said.

In a letter to investors Monday, Diamondback officials said a review by the firm's outside lawyers had found misconduct by the two former employees but "no evidence establishing improper trading by any other Diamondback employee." The results of the review were shared with the government, the letter said.

"We are gratified finally to have reached closure on the government proceedings," it said.

Facing declining revenues, state looks to online gambling

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Facing yet another year of declining revenue, Connecticut has joined neighboring states around New England -- from Maine to Massachusetts -- in considering online gambling as a way to help plug its budget hole.

But local legislators are wary of introducing online wagering in Connecticut for the sake of competition from other states.

"I think we're moving too fast here," said House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk. "Just because it's happening in other parts of the country does not mean we're going to lose revenue."

"It's not a finite revenue source," he added. "We have to be careful not to move too fast because if we get this wrong we could hurt some very vulnerable people."

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that intrastate online gambling does not violate federal law. Many states are now looking to legalize Internet gambling as a means of generating revenue.

Rhode Island lottery officials are reportedly exploring the possibility of instituting online gambling, as are legislators in Maine who are eager to profit from this burgeoning industry.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York spoke this month of expanding gambling in his state following remarks by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said he wants to make the Garden State an "epicenter" for the online gambling business.

Connecticut legislators are cognizant of the competition.

"We don't want to sit back if there's other competition from states around us," said state Rep. Stephen Dargan, D-West Haven, chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee. "I think it's important that we're out in front. We need to look at the positives and the negatives and see if it's good public policy."

Dargan said his committee, which oversees legalized gambling in the state, has invited legal experts, as well as stakeholders from Connecticut's two tribal casinos, to an informational session to be held sometime next month.

"This is a major money issue and there are a lot of players involved," Dargan said.

Figures from the Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division show that legalized gambling of all types generated $653 million for the state last year, more than half of which came from the state's two tribal casinos.

To implement online gambling, Connecticut would have to come to an agreement with Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, which have exclusive right to operate video machines in exchange for 25 percent of their slot revenue.

Chuck Bunnell, chief of staff for external affairs at Mohegan Sun, said the casino has been closely monitoring the issue and is confident that the legislature will act swiftly in authorizing online gambling.

The Mohegan Tribe has testified twice before Congress in favor of legalizing online gambling, he said, adding that a regulated, online gaming industry would add "millions" of dollars to Connecticut's coffers.

"It's happening now," Bunnell said of Internet gaming. "It's unregulated and there is no revenue and no jobs being created in the state by it."

A spokesperson for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said the governor's top priorities for 2012 are job creation and education reform. Online gambling is not an issue the governor is prepared to push through the General Assembly in the upcoming legislative session, the spokesperson said.

However, Malloy said earlier this month that he believes online gambling will inevitably come to Connecticut, given the recent federal opinion, and his administration is investigating what can be done to protect jobs associated with the state's two tribal casinos.

"If it moves forward, and it's clearly going to move forward, it's going to be available in Connecticut," he said. "Now we have to decide, in the state of Connecticut, what is our approach to that."

Revised definition of autism sparks controversy

staff@thehour.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- A preliminary report from the Yale School of Medicine suggests that diagnosis and health insurance coverage may be impacted in 2013 when a revised definition of autism goes into effect, spurring the concerns of advocates and families.

"Moms like me, advocates like me, are tremendously concerned," said Shannon Krall, advocacy chair for the Connecticut chapter of Autism Speaks. "We are trying to learn more, and trying to understand how this will play out. But, at this point, we are rallying together to say, we don't support this."

Proposed changes to the definition of autism would be published in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)."

Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine suggested the changes may "affect the proportion of individuals who qualify for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder," according to a press release. The research was presented during a recent meeting of the Icelandic Medical Association.

"Given the potential implications of these findings for service eligibility, our findings offer important information for consideration by the task force finalizing DSM-5 diagnostic criteria," said Yale Child Study Center (CSC) director Fred Volkmar, who conducted the study with CSC colleagues Brian Reichow and James McPartland.

He added: "Use of such labels, particularly in the United States, can have important implications for service," he said. "Major changes in diagnosis also pose issues for comparing results across research studies."

An average of one in 110 children in the United States have an autism-spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I have a hard time believing that a portion of those children are just not going to exist anymore," said Knall, from the Connecticut chapter of Autism Speaks. "We are going to create a population of individuals who now return to the classification that existed in the 1950s -- an archaic perception that these children are just 'different' or 'weird.'"

The situation is particularly "disturbing" against the backdrop of recent gains, Knall said. They include pilot programs for adults on the autism spectrum to gain employment, and a legislative insurance mandate that requires coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment.

"This could set us infinitely back," Knall said.

Merger between CTE and NEON moving forward

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- CTE, Inc. is still planning a merger with the embattled community action group Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, according to CTE's top official.

E. Phillip McKain, president and CEO of CTE, Inc., a federal- and state-designated Community Action Agency for Stamford, Greenwich and Darien, said CTE and NEON have been discussing a merger since August, and will continue those discussions regardless of any information that has recently been released regarding NEON.

Recently, a preliminary report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) showed that NEON officials misused more than $400,000 in government money earmarked to run Head Start. The pre-school program serves 275 low-income children and their families. The report culminated a six-month audit of NEON. About $3.5 million in federal, state and city funds were assessed.

"All I can say is that we have been told there are a number of items in the audit that are being addressed," McKain said. "At this point, it doesn't impact our continued discussions."

According to its mission, CTE aims "to counter basic causes of poverty in the Stamford, Darien and Greenwich communities by making available services and activities which help reduce the physical, economic and psychological barriers to self-sufficiency for low income individuals, families and communities, giving them the ability to rise out of poverty."

NEON's mission mirrors that of CTE: "To provide economically disadvantaged residents of the greater development and emergency assistance services needed to enhance the quality of life, increase self-sufficiency, and reduce the incidence of poverty."

Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said the city was informed six weeks ago that CTE was merging with NEON to "consolidate and reduce administration expenses."

Pavia said there have been a number of questions and concerns regarding the merger, but if CTE plans to continue all of the same services it has been offering to the Stamford community, he does not see a problem.

"CTE has been a community service provider for many years, and has always done a great service to many people in the Stamford community," he said. "We have some concerns about how this merger may affect those services. But we have been told that all of those services would continue to exist without interruption. As long as that is guaranteed, we have no problems."

Pavia said the question of whether the merger was really an acquisition by NEON has come up, but he has been reassured it is a merger.

McKain would not release any details on the merger because it is in a transition period, he said, and an official agreement has yet to be finalized. The merger is expected to be completed within the next 90 days, he said.

"There are a number of things that NEON has to work out with the state," McKain said. "But we are both community action agencies, and this merger is something that we are both looking forward to."

Calls left for Joseph Mann, president and CEO of NEON, were not returned Thursday.

Members of the NEON Board of Directors -- including councilmen, lawmakers, community leaders and Mann himself -- refused to comment on the report from OIG, saying the final version had not been published.

That version will include written responses by NEON employees and will likely be released by early February.

Staff Writer Danielle Capalbo contributed to this report.

Student arrests expected after Stamford Academy fire

staff@thehour.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

STAMFORD -- Several students are expected to be arrested in connection with a fire that damaged part of a Stamford charter school Wednesday afternoon, said police.

Stamford Police Sgt. Joseph Kennedy said that firefighters were called to Stamford Academy, located at 229 North St., around 2 pm for a fire in the second-floor hallway.

The fire was reported to have been set by when a plastic bag was placed over a motion detector in a hallway on the second floor of the schools, said Michael Duggan, executive director of Domus, a nonprofit organization that operates Stamford Academy. The fire made it into the hallway ceiling, but no injuries were reported, however.

Kennedy said police are still conducting an investigation but believe that Stamford Academy students were involved with the fire.

Duggan said Stamford Academy personnel has identified three students they belive may have been responsible for the fire, and have turned the students over to the Stamford Police Department.

Kennedy said no arrests have been made, but police expect to make arrests in the near future.

The high school was founded in 2004 and serves students who have struggled in traditional school settings. About 135 students are enrolled.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.