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Goughan replaces Marlin as Bluefish GM

By PAUL HERRMANN

The Bridgeport Bluefish have announced the hiring of veteran minor league baseball executive Bob Goughan as the team’s new general manager. Goughan replaces Todd Marlin who abruptly resigned last week. He brings over 25 years of successful minor league operating experience to the Bluefish and begins work in Bridgeport on December 2.

“We are pleased to welcome an executive of Bob’s stature to the Bluefish,” says Principal Owner Frank Boulton. “He will immediately assume a leading role in getting this team to reach its potential, especially in the business community.”

Goughan’s previous experience includes 15 years as GM of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA, Rockies ) and 10 years as GM of the Rochester Red Wings (AAA, Orioles). The Temple University graduate was twice named Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year and once was selected as the International League Executive of the Year.

“We had a good year in 2009,” continued Boulton. “The business operation of the Bluefish has been stabilized, expenses are under control and the ship is pointed in the right direction. While it’s taken an awful lot of hard work to get here and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished to date, we felt the need to make a strong move in order to make the team viable for the long-term. The addition of Bob Goughan, a top-level baseball executive and proven revenue generator, is just that move.”

Holiday Train Show at Fairfield Museum

By LAURA ROBERTS

On Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m., following Fairfield’s annual tree lighting ceremony, come warm up at the Fairfield Museum and enjoy the start of the Holiday Express Train Show.  Stroll down an illuminated path across the Historic Town Green to delight in the magic of model trains winding around a spectacularly decorated tree and through beautiful holiday scenery.  See collectibles, classic trains, modular dioramas and antique trains in this eye-popping holiday display.  Special Opening Night Admission: $3 per person suggested donation, FREE for children ages five and under. (Opening Raindate: December 5). The Fairfield Museum Shop will have great gifts for train enthusiasts too!  The show continues on weekends, December 5 – January 3 from 12pm – 4pm and is open during school vacation week: December 28 – 30 from 10am – 4pm and on New Year’s Eve, 10am – 12pm.  $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, FREE for kids ages 5 and under and members of the Fairfield Museum.  The Holiday Express Train Show is sponsored by: GE, People’s United Bank, HobbyTownUSA of Fairfield, Melissa & Doug, Amtrak, FairfieldParent Magazine, Housatonic Model Railroad Club and Connecticut G-Scalers Club.

Greensky Bluegrass to play The Field Dec. 4th

Perennial Bluegrass favorites Greensky Bluegrass have joined forces with Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth for an inspiring one-week tour in December. With dates spanning the mid-west and up through the northeast, this is one tour that will go down in the Americana history books.

Greensky Bluegrass is one of the most exciting bands in today’s music scene. Since winning the 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest, Greensky has been touring the country consistently with over 170 shows a year and many sold out performances along the way. In a very short time the band has performed with the likes of Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Sum Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth along with the stages at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Rothbury and more. Add in the talents of Todd Sheaffer from Railroad Earth and you have one of the most well-rounded set of performers on stage today. Known for his soulful vocal delivery and song-writing skills, Sheaffer brings more then just another acoustic guitar to the stage - together the combined talent and creativity is bound to also bring many surprises to the tour as well.

Take a holiday stroll in New Canaan

By LINDA KAVANAUGH

As is the tradition of this highly anticipated kick-off to the holiday season in New Canaan, Friday evening will feature the 6 PM. arrival of Santa Claus, who will light the trees lining New Canaan’s shopping district. Late night shopping will ensue, as well as complimentary refreshments from The Roger Sherman Inn, Christmas caroling, and live entertainment.

 

Another Friday evening highlight will be the “Homes for Holidays Lights Tour” produced by The Newcomers Club of New Canaan. This new event (6-9 PM) is a guided trolley tour that departs from Park Street and takes guests on a ride by some of the area homes’ most dazzling holiday lights displays. ($10 adults $5 children)  

“This Wonderful Life” on Stage at Westport Country Playhouse

“This Wonderful Life,” a one-man, live version of Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, will be staged on Thursday, December 10, 8 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse, as part of the Playhouse’s holiday series of theater, music, dance and film events.

Based on the beloved movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the stage adaptation tells of George Bailey, who on Christmas Eve, thinking himself a failure, attempts to jump off a snowy bridge.  George is rescued by Clarence, his guardian angel, who gives George the chance to see what life would have been like without him. 

Sound Tigers take Pack in shootout

By RICK COHEN

Trevor Smith had a goal and an assist and Matt Martin scored the game-winning goal in the shootout as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Sound Tigers won the shootout, 2-1.

 

Anders Ambuhl put Hartford on the board first, tallying his third goal of the season at the 9:17 into the game. Scott Munroe turned away a shot by Devin DiDiomete but the rebound bounced to a charging Ambuhl who snapped the puck into the top of the net for the only goal of the first period.

 

Bridgeport's Trevor Smith was denied on two scoring chances late in the first period. First, Greg Moore found Smith with a centering pass in the slot but Matt Zaba gloved down Smith's shot. In the final minute of the frame, Smith tried to poke a rebound through Zaba’s legs but the goaltender slammed his pads together just in time.

 

Noble Avenue Post Office to remain open

By LISA KERR

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch have applauded the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to take the Noble Station Post Office off the list of potential closures. Himes and Finch have been working side-by-side with the local community to stress the importance of the post office to the city’s economic improvement and quality of life.

“The Noble Post Office is essential to maintaining the neighborhood’s livability and economic vitality,” said Congressman Himes. “Mayor Finch, the community, and I have worked hard to keep this office open, and I’m thankful to the Postmaster for listening carefully and responding to our concerns.”

Antinozzi elected President of HCC board

Paul Antinozzi, AIA, has been elected president of the Board of Directors of the Housatonic Community College Foundation. Antinozzi is president of the Bridgeport architectural firm, Antinozzi Associates, now in its 53 year. The firm is noted for designing many public buildings in the area, including schools, banks, and apartment buildings.

    A graduate of Notre Dame University , Antinozzi is a board member of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, co-chair of the Bridgeport Downtown Task Force, Connecticut AIA representative to the Connecticut School Indoor Environment Resource Team, and member of the American Institute of Architects Committee of Design.

   

SoNo Block Party is set

fiZz Agency, creativeplacement and Palace Digital Studios have partnered to create a networking event for creative professionals in SoNo. The SoNo Design District has the highest concentration of creative agencies in the state, making it the ideal place for creative professionals to converge. The

SoNo Block Partytakes place on December, 10th at Palace Digital Studios, 29 North Main Street in South Norwalk.

Creative team kHyal™ of fiZz Agency and Karl Heine of creativeplacement have partnered with Wendy Lambert at Palace Digital Studios to create the networking event of the year in SoNo. Attendees of the

SoNo Block Partycan enjoy the gourmet tastes of area food and wine purveyors, dance their cares away, and make new industry connections all in one stop — at Palace Digital Studios' newly renovated sound stage — a former Vaudeville Theatre where Mae West and Harry Houdini once performed.

Worcester skates past Sound Tigers

By ROB SULLIVAN

WORCESTER, MASS – Danny Grouix had a goal and an assist and Alex Stalock made 29 saves to lead the Worcester Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night at the DCU Center. Tyler Haskins scored the only Sound Tigers goal.

 

Alex Desjardins tallied his sixth goal of the year at the 6:06 mark of the first period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Grouix fired a shot from the left circle that Desjardins deflected through traffic past Nathan Lawson. It was the only goal of an exciting first period in which the Sharks held a 17-12 advantage in shots. Sean Bentivoglio had the best scoring chance of the period for the Sound Tigers, as he was denied by Stalock on a transition breakaway started by a pass from Mark Flood.

 

Celebrate a Mark Twain holiday

A special presentation about the Samuel Langhorne Clemens family will be held at The Barnum Museum on Tuesday, December 8th at 3:00 p.m.  Better known as the family of hailed American novelist Mark Twain, the Clemens family will be featured as part of a visual presentation by Patti Philippon, Chief Curator at the Mark Twain House & Museum. This special program will talk briefly about the friendship between Samuel Clemens and P.T. Barnum and then take a look at the intricate details of the way the Clemens family celebrated Christmas at Nook Farm in Hartford . 

Philippon will enlighten the audience with Mark Twain’s tales of holiday celebrations that took place in the Clemens family home and show images from the museum in Hartford.  Visitors will hear engaging quotes from Twain, wonderful tales he told his children while they gathered around the fireplace and delight in his popular wit.

Black Rock Osprey Platform Erected on Burr Creek

A new osprey nesting platform has been erected on Burr Creek in Black Rock. The Arthur Street Neighbors Committee received city permission to build and install a wooden nesting platform for ospreys on an unused utility pole on a small city green space directly on Burr Creek. The platform was put into place on November 21, 2009.

Bridgeport School of Aquaculture students constructed the 40 inch wooden square with mesh bottom and support beams with help from school teacher Charles Johnson. Material for the platform was donated by Wood, Steel and Glas Inc. of Madison. Local tree company, Bartlett Tree Experts and neighbor Steve Pantalano installed the platform on top of the 35 foot pole using their bucket truck.

Madeline Dennis, Arthur Street resident and Connecticut Audubon Society employee, organized the project. "The neighbors of Arthur Street often see osprey fishing in Burr Creek." Ms. Dennis said. "We thought this would be a perfect location for a nest. We hope a pair of osprey will discover it and raise their chicks here early this spring."

Holiday cooking program in Ridgefield

By PATRICIA BLAUFUSS

It's the perfect time of the year to get a cooking demo showing you how to make your favorite holiday foods healthy, a wine-tasting to pair up those courses with the best holiday wines and a gift boutique right in the lobby so you can get those last-minute stocking stuffers & Hanukkah or Kwanza gifts.  It's time for The Ridgefield Playhouse's annual cooking demonstration and wine event with Albano Appliance & Services resident chef Jehan S. deNoüe on Wednesday, December 16th at 7:30pm, with a wine-tasting courtesy of Cellar XV, holiday gift items and cards available from Adam Broderick Salon & Spa and jewelry for sale by Silpada Design.  The evening is part of the Danbury Hospital Spirit of Women series underwritten by Adam Broderick Salon & Spa and Albano Appliance & Service LLC with additional support from The Ridgefield Prevention Council and Cellar XV.

Scott Munroe blanks Lowell

By RICK COHEN

Scott Munroe made 39 saves and James Sixsmith had a goal and an assist as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers shut out the Lowell Devils, 3-0, Saturday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard. With the win, the Sound Tigers move over the .500 mark for the season, improving to 12-11-0-1.

 

Bridgeport got off to a fast start as James Sixsmith scored his first goal as a Sound Tiger just 2:14 into the game. Tyler Haskins fired a shot on goal from the top of the face-off circle that Jeff Frazee turned aside, but the rebound landed right on Sixsmith’s stick and he quickly snapped it into the back of the net. Greg Mauldin had a scoring chance midway through the period but rang a shot from the slot off the post.

 

Matt Martin made it 2-0 Sound Tigers at the 9:47 mark of the second period. After Sixsmith had his initial attempt turned aside, Martin pounced on the loose rebound as it slid through the crease and poked it through Frazee’s pads for his third goal of the year.

 

Fine Art show in Westport Dec. 5th

The Westport River Gallery in Westport will host the Westport Holiday FineArt Show 6-9 pm Dec. 5 at One Riverside Avenue. The event includes new works by French Master artists Dominique Dorie, Jean Pierre Dubord, Yetvart Kaprielian, Elisabeth Estivalet. Also, there is a new collection of work by US artist Eugene Paprocki and British artist Allen Shufflebotham. Preview of new works is 4-6 pm Dec. 4 or by appointment.

Family holiday celebration at the Barnum Museum

Delight in the spirit of the holidays and bring the family to celebrate the holiday season with crafts and caroling at The Barnum Museum on Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The Celebrate the Season events and displays are being presented this year by the Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) of Bridgeport.   

 

Plan ahead to participate in the second annual create a Gingerbread Village contest. For contest rules see below, visit www.barnum-museum.org or call Jaime Knoedler at 203-331-1104 ext. 102 for more details.  There is no cost to enter and the winner of the Gingerbread contest will receive a family 4-pack of tickets to see the Opening Night, December 30, 7:00 p.m. performance of Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics® at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. The runner up will receive a special gift bag filled with goodies from the Barnum Museum. The announcement of the Gingerbread creation winner and one runner up will take place at 2:30 p.m. Winners do not need to be present to win and will be notified by phone or e-mail.  

 

The Gathering of the Vibes is back

By JONATHAN LOBDELL

The Gathering of the Vibes music and camping festival will return to Bridgeport ’s 370-acre Seaside Park in 2010 to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary. The four-day event is slated to run July 29 through August 1. This marks the sixth time the festival will be held at Seaside Park – and the fourth consecutive year here – making Seaside Park the venue hosting more Vibes than any other location.

 

“Seaside Park really is home for us,” Hays said. “The park is magnificent, and the city has always welcomed us here. And with the beachfront and plentiful camping areas – this is just a great place to hold a festival.”

 

Gathering of the Vibes caters to weekend attendees, campers, and single-day guests alike; while featuring nationally renowned performers, and talented up-and-coming bands to the 15-25,000 people who attend. This venue also allows access to Seaside Park ’s shaded groves, manicured fields and over a mile of Long Island Sound beachfront.

 

Adrian Denny is ECHL goalie of the week

By ADRIAN DENNY

The ECHL announced today that Utah goaltender Mitch O’Keefe has been named the league’s Reebok Hockey goaltender of the week for the period of November 16-22.

O’Keefe started all three games this week as Utah swept Las Vegas by a combined score of 12-3 to run their record to 11-4 and their winning streak to five games. O’Keefe was 3-0 with a .957 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against-average during the week. Friday, he stopped all 21 shots he saw for his second shutout of the season in the Grizzlies 4-0 win.

Overall O’Keefe, 25, enters the week with a 7-1 record, a seven-game winning streak, a goals-against-average of 2.03 and a .936 save percentage. He is second in the league in wins and goals-against-average and is tied for the league-lead with his two shutouts.

O’Keefe was signed by the Grizzlies the last week of training camp following the departure of Dov Grumet-Morris to Europe.

The Grizzlies return to action Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as they continue their ten-game home stand by welcoming in Alaska. Wednesday and Friday’s games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m., while Saturday’s tilt will begin at 7:30 p.m. to avoid as much conflict as possible with the Utah/BYU football game.

Bluefish group ticket sales to start Dec. 7th

By PAUL HERRMANN

The Bridgeport Bluefish have announced that group ticket packages will go on sale Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Fans wishing to reserve an outing can do so by contacting a Bluefish sales representative at 203-345-4800. Group outings help build camaraderie among employees, classmates, teammates and family. They are also a great choice for groups seeking an exciting, fun-filled evening at the ballpark.

“There is no better atmosphere to enjoy a group outing than at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard,” says Bluefish Ticket Manager Rob Finn. “We offer affordable entertainment for all of our fans in a safe, clean, family friendly environment.”

Group tickets are being offered to groups of 20 or more and ticket prices range from $6.00-$10.00 per seat. Fans are encouraged to call early to ensure your group the best availability. For more information, please contact a sales representative at 203-345-4800 or visit www.bridgeportbluefish.com.

 

 

Dennis Murphy to return to Bridgeport

Mayor Bill Finch has announced that the city has hired Dennis Murphy, a city resident who most recently worked as the director of human resources for the City of Stamford, and was the Chief Administrative Officer in Bridgeport, to facilitate the creation of a Labor/Management Cooperative Committee.

Murphy’s role will be to reactivate the city’s Total Quality Management program; create an agreeable performance evaluation model to be used with all city employees and to conduct a thorough review of all city personnel policies and suggest changes where necessary.
 
“Dennis’ background as a mediator, and in labor and employment law will be of great help to us as we work to create an atmosphere of trust and teamwork within the various departments and unions which make up the city’s workforce,” said Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Nunn. “With his help we expect to roll out a consistent performance management tool that all department heads can utilize when reviewing employee performance as part of the rebirth of the Total Quality Management program.”