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You can nourish the spirit, body and mind at a unique Black Rock shop

By ROB SULLIVAN
When walking past an eclectic row of shops called Quarterboard Row in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, passersby can’t help but notice a unique little shop named Spiritual Insights For Living.
First of all, what does a store called Spiritual Insights For Living sell? The name itself sparks interest and beckons curiosity seekers to step inside and see what this is all about.
The second and more dramatic enticement for Black Rock pedestrians is “The Chick,” a life-size female mannequin that is always fashionably dressed and positioned right outside Spiritual Insights For Living.
And The Chick has become a tourist attraction in her own right.
“People stop the cars and pull over to have the pictures taken with her,” laughed partners Kathy Sheehy and Lee Korchman, who opened the store nearly a year-and-a-half ago.
According to the shop’s website, www.spiritualinsightsforliving.com, customers will find a variety of inspiring items designed to “empower your soul inside and out.” And that’s exactly what they do find.
There is a wide array of goods on display at Spiritual Insights For Living ranging from a variety of Activewear, jewelry, childrens clothing and an intriguing selection of books focusing on having both a healthy body and a healthy soul.

Letter to the Editor: Congestion pricing is necessary

To the Editor:

 

Mass transit alone will never make the impact needed to mitigate traffic congestion on the state's major thoroughfares. To listen to most of our elected officials, though, you would think all that is needed to eliminate stop-and-go driving on your morning and evening commute is to get you a parking space at the train station and a seat on a train car. For many people, mass transit simply is not a viable alternative; the numbers just aren't there.

 

My numbers on mass transit use are a little old here but, nevertheless, close enough for government work. Statewide, 5 percent to 7 percent of trips taken daily are via public mass transit. Down here in Fairfield County -- and parts of New Haven County -- the daily percentage use of mass transit doubles, which is not unexpected since Fairfield County is one of the most densely populated areas in the fourth most densely populated state in the nation. With new train and bus stations on the way, new trains and better buses on order, and better scheduling all around, the state is hoping for more mass transit use but it will never be enough to unclog the highways at times of peak travel. The folks who understand traffic, who do not necessarily include our elected leaders or the managers at the state Department of Transportation, know that unless peak travel is reduced by 10 to 15 percent, the traffic congestion problem on our highways will just persist. More mass transit alone can't make the needed dent in highway use to mitigate peak travel congestion. But the impelementation of congestion pricing on CT's major thoroughfares will.

 

Unfortunately, here in Connecticut, when most officials -- and many newspaper editorial boards -- talk about congestion pricing, they talk about in it terms of raising revenues. Instead, they should be recognizing congestion pricing as the key technical tool to getting enough folks off of the highways at rush hour to get traffic in the state moving again. We have the technology, and the U.S. Department of Transportation stands ready to help if only the state of Connecticut would make a committment to implementing this proven technology. We just need the poltical will to get traffic moving again.

 

Jim Brown
Fairfield, CT 06824

A Midsummers Night Dream set for Beardsley Zoo

By CARYN KAUFMAN   Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CFS), in its 10th anniversary season, is re-creating its first summer's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."  The free performances of Shakespeare's plays returns for the 10th summer to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.  All performances are free and open to the public.  Since 1999, CFS has delighted fans young and old with these professional productions performed under the stars.   This year's cast includes many of the fan favorites who return to CFS each summer.  These include 13 actors from across the country who are members of the Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Joining the actors is a roster of 20 high school student interns from the Greater Bridgeport region.  Interns participate in classes and workshops learning acting and theater production skills that they put to use either on stage or behind the scenes, such as working with lighting, costumes and sound.  The show is produced by Bertram Garskof and adapted and directed by Ellen Lieberman, founders of Connecticut Free Shakespeare.   In honor of the 10th anniversary season, this year's production will feature special guest performances by local dignitaries and celebrities, including Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who will appear on Saturday, July 18.  Performances: Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 18 Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26 Wednesday, July 29 through Saturday, August 1   Parking at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is free for these performances.  Blankets, chairs and picnics are welcome and encouraged.  Performances are cancelled in the event of inclement weather.    For information: (203) 393-3213 or www.ctfreeshakespeare.org.   Sponsors whose contributions allow CFS to bring its programs to its audiences and its youth programs free of charge include: The City of Bridgeport, Mayor Bill Finch, The Workplace, Inc., Sacred Heart University, The Barnum Museum, AT&T, Queue Inc., Norma Terris - Albert D. Firestone Foundation, D'Addario Industries, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Merit Insurance, People's United Community Foundation, Bridgeport Innovation Center, Yale New Haven Health, Avram and Rhoda Freedberg, Trefz Corporation, Ronald Nicholes, and Wojtek W. Borowski.   About Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CFS):  Founded in 1999, Connecticut Free Shakespeareis a professional educational theater project committed to producing understandable and entertaining performances of Shakespeare's plays that are accessible to a broad range of audience members.  Now in its 10th season, CFS currently produces one major production per summer, performed free of charge at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and on Guilford's historic green.  In addition, CFS is committed to nurturing the creativity of local teenagers and developing their classical theater skills through comprehensive internship programs.  Actors and Stage Managers are members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Visit www.connecticutfreeshakespeare.org for more information.

Bluefish suffer third straight loss

By DARRELL HENRY

For the first time in franchise history, the York Revolution improve to 3-0, and they do it with their third straight win in a one-run situation, beating the Bridgeport Bluefish 3-2 in front of 3,977 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium in York. The Revs now stand alone in first place in the Freedom Division, and lead the league with 13 one-run victories.  They’ll go for a four-game sweep to begin the second half on Monday night at 7 p.m.

The Revs got on the board in the second, as Matt Rogelstad led off with a double to left, moved to third on Matt Esquivel’s deep fly ball to right, and scored on Ryan Goleski’s sac fly to right field.

Connecticut Eligible to Receive $4,033,652

 

One day after hosting a summit on the 2009 novel H1N1 flu with representatives from state, tribal, territorial and local governments from across the country, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of $4033652 in grants to help Connecticut prepare for the 2009 novel H1N1 flu virus and the fall flu season. The grants were funded by the recent supplemental appropriations bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on June 24, 2009.

Bluefish off to 0-2 second half start

On a night that will forever go down in York Revolution lore, P.J. Rose crushed a game-winning walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Revs to a 2-0 record in the second half, with an improbable 7-6 comeback victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish, in front of 4,778 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Saturday night.  It was Rose’s first homerun of the season, and the second walk-off homer in team history.

The Revs found themselves behind 4-0 in the third inning.  Brandon Sing opened the scoring with an RBI single, and after a 21-minute rain delay, Jesse Hoorelbeke cleared the bases with a three-run double to deep center.

York came back quickly though.  Josh Johnson doubled with one out in the home half of the third, and after moving to third on a groundout, scored on Keoni DeRenne’s infield hit. 

 

That Wacky Weekly!

Note to the staff of the Fairfield County Weekly which contines to (ahem) soar to new heights under the leadership of Nick Keppler. Our state's junior Senator's name is spelled L-I-E-B-E-R-M-A-N NOT L-E-I-B-E-R-M-A-N. Just thought I'd help.

Rob Sullivan

Playhouse on the Green nets $25K grant

Playhouse on the Green, a not-for-profit theater company in downtown Bridgeport, has received funding in the amount of $25,000 from the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF). The grant provides general operating support as the Playhouse continues its theater and education programs from June 2009 through June 2010. This is the first time Playhouse on the Green has received funding from FCCF.

Formerly known as the “Polka Dot Playhouse,” in 2007 Playhouse on the Green recommitted to its mission by returning to its roots as a community theater. To launch this new phase, the shows Six Degrees of Separation and Barnum – The Musical (in cooperation with the Barnum Festival and The Barnum Museum) were produced by the Playhouse in May and June 2008, followed by the first “Project Broadway” summer theater program for kids and teens, in which 75 local children participated.

Ryan joins Bluefish

The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signing of pitcher Patrick Ryan. Ryan joins the Bluefish after appearing in 16 games (eight starts) with West Tenn (AA, Mariners) of the Southern League earlier this year. The righthander posted 35 strikeouts over the course of 50 innings pitched.

“Patrick will be a welcomed addition to the bullpen,” says Bluefish general manager Todd Marlin. “We are happy to have him aboard.”

This is Ryan’s fifth season of professional baseball and he his first in the Atlantic League. Last season, the 26-year-old made his first appearance at the Double-A level with Huntsville (Brewers) of the Southern League. In 39 games, he posted a 2.52 ERA with six saves and 38 strikeouts over 61 innings of work. In 167 career minor league appearances, Ryan has a record of 17-15 with a 2.98 ERA. He has recorded 14 saves and 241 strikeouts over 308 innings pitched, while holding opposing batters to a .244 batting average.

Saying good-bye to Dr. John Orman, sports fan

By ROB SULLIVAN
Too often we associate sports with the players in uniform. And although the athletes are obviously the essential component of our joy of sports, there are many others who are just as important.
Fans, parents, referees, volunteers all play a major part in creating the theater that is sport. And, of course, there are other roles that are too numerous to mention here. But they are all part of the fabric of athletics.
Dr. John Orman was one such person. The chair of the Politics department at Fairfield University died suddenly on Sunday, a stunning and terrible event. Everyone who knew and loved the man is certainly diminished by his loss.
Orman is well-known for many reasons. He was one of the most popular professors at Fairfield, an author, a playwright, a candidate, a rock-and-roll fanatic and a person who liked to be a thorn in the side of people in authority. Orman definitely wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Dr. Orman was probably best known for one of his more recent exploits. When Joe Lieberman got knocked off in the 2006 Democratic senatorial primary by Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, he decided to run in the general election in November as a third party candidate. To do so, he formed the Connecticut for Lieberman party and eventually won re-election.
Orman knew this was a sham. So the politics professor hijacked the Connecticut for Lieberman party much to the chagrin of the Nutmeg State’s junior senator. Orman joined the Connecticut for Lieberman party, held a convention and declared himself party chairman. It was classic.
So what does all this have to do with sports? That’s easy. Orman was a certifiable sports junkie and his passing leaves in a hole in the local sports scene. Specifically the Fairfield University sports scene.
As an undergrad, I took almost all of the classes Orman offered, but I also ran into him on the basketball court. A group of professors organized the “Doctors of Dunk,” an intramural basketball team. Orman was the shooting guard on that team and he was like radar. He was money in the bank with a long outside jump shot. I know we never beat those guys. Of course, I was playing for a team called “The Harry Truman Enthusiasts,” so that tells you a little bit about our squad.
One of the classes I took with Dr. Orman was titled “The Politics of Popular Culture,” and a main component of popular culture is sports. In one class, Terry O’Connor, then the Fairfield  mens basketball coach and currently the Director of the Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport, spoke to us about the inner workings of a Division I college basketball program.
Before he came to Fairfield, Orman taught at Indiana University and in one class he told us of his one encounter with Hoosier basketball coach Bobby Knight. Apparently, one of Knight’s players was flunked by Orman and the legendary coach wanted to know why.
“So, he called me up,” Orman told us. “And he asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I said, ‘Well he didn’t come to any classes, he didn’t complete any assignments and he didn’t take any tests. Yeah, I’m pretty sure.’ The coach just said, ‘Okay then.’”
The summer between my junior and senior years I played on the faculty softball team with Orman and a host of Fairfield professors. After one game he sidled up to me and said, “Sully, you can call me John.’
I couldn’t do it. To me he was Dr. Orman and I called him that until the last time I saw him.
We saw each other a lot through the ensuing years. He was a fixture at Fairfield basketball games and was the announcer for many years at the Fairfield women’s games. He’d often ask me about Bridgeport politics, a subject both of us held dear.
The last time I saw him was a few weeks ago. It was at my class reunion, which featured a Saturday afternoon picnic. I was walking around the campus looking for some classmates and feeling old. I ran into Dr. Orman and we hung out for about an hour, shooting the breeze, much of which was about sports. He looked great, was full of life and was beaming when he was talking about his family.
Life is funny sometimes. But I guess death isn’t.
So long, John. It was great knowing you.
See you at the games.

J.J. Henry fares well at Cromwell

By ROB SULLIVAN
Some might not call it a triumphant return, but Fairfield’s own J.J. Henry played four solid rounds of golf and acquitted himself quite well during the recently played Traveler’s Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.
Henry shot a 10 under par 270, good for a tie for 23rd place and a $57,600 paycheck. The Fairfielder bookended 66’s in the first and fourth rounds, and shot 70 and 68 in the second and third rounds respectively.
Henry could not have gotten off to a better start in the tourney. At the first hole on Thursday, he opened his first round by drilling an eagle. After smashing a 300-yard plus drive straight down the fairway, Henry promptly holed a shot from better than 100 yards from the pin for a quick -2. Not a bad way to start a tournament.
The Fairfield High graduate had a storybook year on the PGA Tour in 2006, beginning with his only tour win in Cromwell in front of the hometown fans and ending with a spot on the Ryder Cup team.
At the time Henry told Golf Today News, “It was a breakthrough event for me. It’s definitely been pretty special.”
Henry is probably the most popular professional golfer to tee off each year at TPC River Highlands. That is due to both his local roots and his willingness to give back to the community.