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St. Vincent’s Medical Center CEO Named 2009 MS Corporate Achiever

 

 

EASTON, Conn . – The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter has named Easton resident Susan L. Davis, R.N., Ed.D, a 2009 MS Corporate Achiever – one of only 30 business leaders to be named this year.

Davis, who is president and chief executive officer at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and St. Vincent’s Health Services in Bridgeport, received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., and her Master of Arts degree in nursing administration from Columbia University in New York, N.Y. Davis received her Doctorate of Education with an emphasis in management from Columbia University. Davis is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has been the CEO at St. Vincent ’s since 2004. From 1986 to 2004, Davis was at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie , N.Y. While there, Davis developed and established multiple clinical services, including a new regional heart center.

“I want to give back,” said Davis, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. “Those who have come before me have discovered treatments that have helped to assure and improve my quality of life.”

Utah Grizzlies to host Faceoff Luncheon

The Utah Grizzlies have announced that the public is invited to attend the annual "Face-Off Luncheon" and Media Day Tuesday, October 20 at the E-Center.  Fans can reserve seats for the luncheon by calling (801) 988-8800.  Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. and the cost is $10 for Grizzlies season ticket holders. The cost for the general public is $20.

Players and coaches will be introduced and Head Coach Kevin Colley will give his comments on the upcoming season.

Tickets still available for Sports Night Hall of Fame

Tickets are still available for the 5th anniversary Sports Night Hall of Fame awards dinner Monday, Oct 19 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich at 6 pm.  
 
This year's Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame class includes former NBA standout and Bridgeport native Charles Smith and ex-UConn and women's pro basketball star Jennifer Rizzotti. The amateur wing honorees are golfing legend Dick Siderowf of Westport and the late Pete Demmerle, a former All-American football player at Notre Dame from New Canaan. The community  service inductees are a pair of all-time great coaches in Shelton's Joe  Benanto and Greenwich High's longtime swim and water polo coach Terry Lowe. Also 15 Sports Persons of the Year  from the communities served by the Fairfield County Sports Commission  will be recognized, along with the Chelsea Cohen Courage Award recepient James Hilaire from Stamford and Special Olympics Award winner Mark Kurimai of Norwalk. 
 
For more information or to purchase tickets at $125 call Tom Chiappetta at 203-984-4806 or go online at www.fairfieldcountysports.com

New uniforms for the Sound Tigers

By RICK COHEN

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders, introduced their new color scheme and uniform Tuesday night during a press conference at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The new colors are the same colors the New York Islanders wore during their Stanley Cup years in the 1970s and 80s: white, royal blue and orange. The Sound Tigers home jersey features an orange tiger head on a white background with orange and blue trim on the bottom and on the sleeves.

The road jersey has an orange tiger head on a royal blue background with orange and white trim on the bottom and on the sleeves.

Both sweaters have an Islanders patch on the left shoulder with the Sound Tigers' secondary logo patch on the right shoulder.

“These Islanders’ colors carry a great tradition,” Sound Tigers captain Mark Wotton said. “It’s a great honor to wear these colors.”

The Sound Tigers open their season this Saturday, October 3rd, at the Arena at Harbor Yard against the Lowell Devils. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a magnetic schedule, courtesy of Click It or Ticket. Season ticket packages and individual game tickets for all Sound Tigers home games are one sale now. For more information, please call 203-334-GOAL.

Water,Algae, Ice exhibition to open at HCC

 Water, Algae, Ice, a solo exhibition by Deborah Wing-Sproul, will be on view at the Housatonic Museum of Art Nov.5 through Dec. 20. Wing-Sproul, an interdisciplinary artist, will exhibit performance-based and site-oriented video and photographic works as well as objects formed from seaweed from her on-going project Tidal Culture. The opening reception will be held, Saturday November 7, 2-4 p.m. in the Burt Chernow Galleries at Housatonic Community College, located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Arena at Harbor Yard. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday to 7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m. Closed holidays. For more information, contact Robbin Zella at 203-332-5052.

Cocco Named 2009 MS Corporate Achiever

   By SEAN O'LEARY                         

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter has named Ridgefield resident Susan D. Cocco a 2009 MS Corporate Achiever – one of only 30 business leaders to be named this year.

Cocco, who is an executive marketing director with Colangelo, a marketing agency located in Darien , received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and English from Emmanuel College in Boston . She joined Colangelo in 2001, founding the strategic planning and consumer insights department. Cocco currently serves as marketing director, representing the agency to new clients and the media. Cocco led the strategy for Colangelo’s five Effies (2007-2008) for clients Schick and Unilever, as well as Best in Show wins from the Ad Club of Connecticut.

The Bridgeport Community Historical Society presents "The Leatherman" tonight

Dan Deluca will tell the story of this wandering vagrant who walked a 365-mile route between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers for almost thirty years in the mid-19th century, dressed in heavy pieces of leather from his hat to his shoes, and sleeping in caves.

At the North Branch library
3455 Madison Avenue
On TUESDAY*, September 29
6:30 pm

Buddy Mondlock coming to New Haven

 

Friday, October 2  : BUDDY MONDLOCK. Buddy Mondlock is a singer-songwriter' s singer-songwriter, a man with a warm voice and a sharp ear for life's magic.

Buddy Mondlock writes songs. He does it so well that some great songwriters have recorded his songs on their own albums. Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Janis Ian, to name just a few. But there's nothing like hearing the guy who wrote `em sing `em. He's not going to pin your ears back with those songs. He's going to draw you into his world. Where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you get your pocket picked by a Roman cat, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you're not careful and where dreams that don't come true still count. And it can all be happening in a little folk club or on a stage by a grassy hill or in someone's living room or in the Royal Albert Hall.

First Fridays is series of an intimate, coffeehouse- style concerts in the church's social hall. Fully handicapped accessible. We use folding chairs but you may bring your own seating if you prefer.

Tickets are on sale now at www.ctfolk.com. and are $20 general admission, $12 seniors

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Cultore of folk music to be explored at HCC

The Culture of Folk will be spotlighted Thursday, Oct. 15 when the bluegrass group Hoe makes a two-part appearance at Housatonic Community College. Joining the group will be HCC student Katie Wilson of Trumbull, who just released her first CD.

The performers will explore the culture of American folk music from both a cultural and thematic standpoint.  They will conduct a workshop with HCC Theater Arts students from 2 to 3:15 p.m., when the group and the students will develop a performance piece.

At 7 p.m., the piece developed in the workshop will be performed and the Wilson and the group will give a solo performance.  Both events will be held in the Performing Arts Center in Lafayette Hall.

The Big Read is back!

For the third year, the communities of Bridgeport and Shelton are working together
to read and celebrate Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon."

 

The Barnum Museum in cooperation with the cities of Bridgeport and Shelton has launched the Big Read program, this year celebrating Dashiell Hammett’s ?The Maltese Falcon.

 

1,900 free copies of the book are now available for pick up, while supplies last, in Bridgeport and Shelton at the locations listed below. More copies are also available for purchase in area bookstores and of course available on loan from libraries in both communities. Avid readers and reluctant readers will be brought together through a variety of activities planned from now through the middle of November– there is truly something for everyone.

 

Rocky Horror comes to the Playhouse on the Green

Playhouse on the Green stages the outrageous musical comedy "The Rocky Horror Show," with a 12-performance run October 23-November 14.  A sexy parody of horror and science fiction films. Parental discretion advised.  Tickets $29, $26.
Friday, October 23 at 8PM
Saturday, October 24 at 8PM
Thursday, October 29 at 8PM
Friday, October 30 at 8PM
Saturday, October 31 Halloween at 8PM
Saturday, October 31 Halloween at Midnight
Friday, November 6 at 8PM
Friday, November 6 at Midnight
Saturday, November 7 at 8PM
Friday, November 13 at 8PM
Friday, November 13 at Midnight
Saturday, November 14 at 8PM
Tickets on-line at www.playhouseonthegreen.org or call TheaterMania at (866) 811-4111 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends).
Playhouse on the Green, 177 State Street between Main Street and Markle Court in downtown Bridgeport. Free, secure parking one block from the theater. For more information visit www.playhouseonthegreen.org or call 203-333-3666.

Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers to play The Klein

Singer, songwriter, pianist and multi-instrumentalist Bruce Hornsby has the voice of a man who shouldn't be doing anything other than singing, for the rest of his days. Apparently, he's fully aware of this fact. From penning the epic American story-song "The Way It Is" back in 1986, he has continually one-upped himself with a new album almost every year. His song content, piano playing and, of course his singing have all grown stronger and more fearless with each new project.

For his second album with The Noisemakers, he is getting ready to release Levitate in September, which contains 13 new songs, including "Cyclone," with lyrics from Grateful Dead lyricist and Dylan collaborator Robert Hunter. The title cut, Levitate, is an alternate version of a song from the recent Spike Lee film Kobe Doin' Work (for which Hornsby also provided the original score), and "Space is the Place" features an Eric Clapton guitar solo.

David Hare's work to be examined

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium titled, "The Personal Is Political: The Work of David Hare,” following the Sunday, October 4, 3 p.m. matinee performance of “The Breath of Life,” written by Hare and directed by Mark Lamos , Playhouse artistic director. Guest speaker will be Susan Balée, who teaches at Temple University .

The Playhouse Sunday Symposium program, free and open to the public, provides the audience with guest speakers’ in-depth insights and observations about the production, followed by an interactive dialogue.  David Kennedy , Westport Country Playhouse associate artistic director, will moderate the Sunday Symposium.  It is open to all, including those who attend a performance of “The Breath of Life” at another time.  The Sunday Symposium is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Utah Grizzlies set to open season

The Utah Grizzlies announced today that the 2009-2010 season will be themed: “Utah Grizzlies Hockey: The Ultimate Experience.”

“We feel that there is no local experience comparable to attending a Grizzlies game at the E-Center,” said Vice President Jared Youngman. “From the time a fan steps foot onto E-Center property, we feel with our venue, concessions, entertainment, exciting hockey and staff it is an experience that will not be forgotten and become a favorite pastime; if it isn’t already.”

The Grizzlies will announce their complete 2009-2010 promotional schedule next Monday. The home opening weekend for the Grizzlies is Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24 when they will welcome the Idaho Steelheads to the E-Center.

Dr. Woods is honored

By LUCINDA AMES

Gastroenterologist  Strick Woods, MD,  of Trumbull, received the St. Vincent de Paul  Mission Award as St. Vincent’s 2009 Physician of the Year recently in ceremonies held at the Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull before a gathering of several hundred people.

 “Dr. Woods is an example of a physician with outstanding clinical skills. He  is also highly regarded for living the mission through his hard work, compassionate treatment of patients and families and his own personal example of  integrity and respect for all staff members,” said President/CEO Susan L. Davis, RN, EdD in her remarks. “St. Vincent’s is proud to bestow this award on him for his unwavering commitment to his patients, the Medical Center and the community.”

Rufus Wainwright coming to FTC

Affectionately referred to by Elton John as "the greatest songwriter on the planet" and praised by The New York Times for his "genuine originality," Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation. He is the son of folk singers Loudon Wainwright III (a StageOne alum) and Kate McGarrigle, and brother of Martha Wainwright. Rufus has achieved success by carving out his own singular sound.

Mixing the glam rock style of David Bowie with the lyrical prowess of a classical poet and often presenting himself simply as a man at a piano, it is impossible to call his music one thing or another. His is a lifelong quest for musical truth, and it is no secret that he is currently in his prime.

Deirdre Imus to speak at SWIM Across the Sound luncheon

St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound will host its 14^th Annual Breast Cancer Luncheon on Friday, October 23 at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport . The event will begin with a Silent Auction at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Thanks to underwriting sponsorships, 100% of the funds raised from the luncheon will be used to help women right here in the community battling cancer and provide free mammograms for the elderly and underserved. The SWIM provides wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships and support groups in addition to other types of financial assistance on a case-by-case basis for those who qualify. Proceeds from the Luncheon will also benefit the new Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care, which will continue to carry out the SWIM's mission of proving for the needs of underserved cancer patients as well as for needs that health insurance does not cover.

This year’s featured speaker, this year’s featured speaker is Author, Philanthropist and Children's Health Advocate, Deirdre Imus of Westport. Imus is the founder and president of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center , and co-founder and co-director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. She is the author of THE ESSENTIAL GREEN YOU! Easy Ways to Detox Your Diet, Your Body and Your Life, the latest in the New York Times best-selling "Green This!" series.

Co-chairs of the event, Georgeanne F. Berg of Aquarion Company and Joyce A. Riccio, Esq. along with Diane Mercado, silent auction chair, hope to top the $220,000 raised last year.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. This year, more than 175,000 new cases of female invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed and approximately 40,000 women will die from the disease. While rare, it is also possible for men to develop breast cancer. Annual breast examinations by a medical professional are required complements to annual screening mammograms.

Complete text of Mayor Bill Finch's State of the City Address

The past year has been a difficult one, but look at how far we’ve come – we’ve weathered an economic downturn that scuttled several large banks and investment houses, but here in Bridgeport we worked through a $20 million deficit, balanced the budget, and for the first time in memory, the current year’s budget is $2 million less than last year.

We’ve also reformed our budgeting process, so for the first time we have an accurate picture of what our revenues and expenditures actually will entail. We’ve ended the practice of utilizing one-time revenues and expect to end the year with a balanced budget. Our budgeting process is so improved, that two international government associations recognized our efforts: We received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officer Association, and, the City was one of only 20 across the United States to be recognized for its long-term performance measurement efforts by the International City/County Managers Association.

I am here tonight with a hopeful tone and guarded optimism. Our City is filled with pride and hope, and I truly believe we are about to turn a corner in many areas.

However, we face more challenges ahead – double digit unemployment, increases in foreclosures and more people who need social services than ever before, but we will continue to work together in a spirit of cooperation to find ways to keep our City moving forward.

 

Fees doubling at Secretary of State's office

 Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today is reminding Connecticut taxpayers and business owners that on October 1, 2009 fees for most transactions in the Secretary of the State’s office will be doubling.  This impacts fees across the board: from reservations of corporate names to annual reports, adoption papers, notaries and apostilles.  The fee increases were contained in the state budget approved by the Connecticut General Assembly which became law without the Governor’s signature on September 8, 2009 and could potentially bring in another $20,000,000 in revenue to the general fund annually.  Both Governor M. Jodi Rell and leaders of the General Assembly advocated raising fees throughout all state agencies as a way of closing a record $8.5 Billion dollar state budget deficit for fiscal years 2010-2011.

“A rise in fees is never ideal,” said Bysiewicz, Connecticut ’s Chief Business Registrar.  “For over 10 years as Secretary of the State I have fought hard to keep transaction fees through our Commercial Recording Division low and this effort has been successful. This year’s state budget, however, presented an extraordinarily difficult scenario where revenues cratered due to the worldwide economic downturn, most acutely felt in the financial sector.  Every state department, from the Department of Public Health to the Department of Motor Vehicles to the Department of Environmental Protection and others are seeing fees go up to meet the financial crisis and need for more revenue. I thought it was important to inform the public of these fee increases before they take effect.”

A full fee schedule showing the changes taking effect as of 10/1/09 is available on the Secretary of the State’s website www.sots.ct.gov or www.concord.sots.ct.gov

The circus is coming!

Tickets go on sale Sunday, September 20 for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Over The Top playing eight performances at Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport from October 29 through November 1st. This 138th Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth is a wacky and whimsical circus spectacular where audiences will experience maniacal mayhem as Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty compete for control of a magical top hat that brings to life their fantastical imaginations. From the silliness evoked by the clown to the stupendous spectacle conjured by the Ringmaster, Over the Top provides excitement for the whole family. Dogs fly, Asian elephants skip, hop and groove and one courageous man stands eye to eye with a pack of powerful tigers.

From the renowned Cossacks' unbelievable equestrian stunts to the Flying Caceres high-altitude feats on an enormous double-decker trapeze, the 138th Edition of Ringling Bros. will take daredevil thrills to new extremes. Circus celebrities will help rev-up the motorcycle madness featuring a high wire motorcycle and an amazing, action packed Globe of Steel full of cycles too. Audiences will flip their lids as this Ringling Bros. circus really goes Over the Top!