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A NEW BOOK ABOUT AN OLD VILLIAN, HE'S NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S AL CAPONE...AT LEAST NOT IN THIS BOOK!

Uncle Al Capone: A fascinating interview with the book’s Author, Deirdre Marie Capone

A First-Hand Account of the World’s Most Fascinating Mob Boss

 by Cookie Curci

This is not your grandma’s Al Capone. No, you won’t find  that notorious image in this book. He’s not the Al Capone we’ve seen in countless films, documentaries and TV programs, not the Al Capone (1899-1947) who ruled the Chicago underworld during the "Roaring Twenties" or masterminded the St. Valentine's Day massacre. No, that’s not the man you’ll read about in this book…not the kingpin mobster pursued each week by  FBI Agent Elliot Ness  on the 1950's TV series the “Untouchables“. 

Economy is a ‘mixed bag’

By ROB SULLIVAN

Starting at the Black Rock Senior Center and working his way west on Fairfield Avenue, Congressman Jim Himes (D4) toured a host of Black Rock businesses on a recent afternoon, chatting with constituents and being peppered with questions as he strolled through the busy Bridgeport neighborhood.

Himes, accompanied by Black Rock Democrat District Leader Danny Roach, spoke to more than 50 residents at the Senior Center, many of whom traveled to the historic neighborhood from downtown Bridgeport’s Eisenhower Center.
“I enjoy visiting small businesses and I’ve probably been to about 36 small businesses in the past few weeks,” Himes said. “And it is small businesses where most of the new jobs in the last year have been created.”

At the senior center, Himes was peppered with questions about a wide range of topics, many of which dealt with how the elderly can better access government services.

“It was a good crowd and forums like the one with the seniors are really important,” explained Himes aide Tamara Soraluz. “A lot of people have no idea what services our two offices (Bridgeport and Stamford) can provide, so these talks provide important information for them.”

Himes continued in walk and stop: chatting with a few of the regulars at Ray Kelly’s Pub and shaking hands with Pastor Clifton C. Jones of the Second New Light Baptist Church. The Congressman then headed to Matty’s Corner for a Chicken Teriyaki sandwich, where he sat down with the Bridgeport Banner.

“Fortunately the economy isn’t hemorrhaging the way it did in 2009,” Himes said after ordering lunch and discussing various issues with other customers at the Black Rock restaurant. But he also pointed out that he is not looking at the nation’s financial picture through rose colored glasses.

“Right now the economy is a mixed bag,” Himes said. “It’s hard to be overly optimistic when so many people are still hurting. For instance, many professions connected with the housing industry are still severely affected. I’m talking about builders, contractors; all those businesses are impacted by the housing crisis.”

As for the jobs outlook, Himes looked at both sides of the coin.

“The good news is that we’re not losing jobs and we’re not where we were two years ago,” he noted. “But it’s hard to be excited about a job increase of 100,000 when there are millions of people out of work.”

After pointing out how small businesses are responsible for a great deal of new job creation, the Congressman also noted the difficulty facing entrepreneurs who are looking to start a new business in this economy.

“Opening a new business in this climate is better than having an MBA,” Himes said. “What’s great about this country is that even in this economy, Americans will still be creative and productive. We’re a resilient people.”

He continued, “The question is does this economy have legs? There’s been a little bit of an uptake and where we’re not where we were two years ago, Thank God, but the recovery continues to be slow.”

Himes finished his sandwich, bade farewell to his fellow patrons and continued his trip down Fairfield Avenue. He stopped at the newly opened Green Gourmet To Go and finished his walking tour at Happy Tails, the neighborhood pet store.

After her talk with Himes Happy Tails owner Gen Barthe echoed his sentiments about the current state of the economy.

“It’s going to take a long time,” she said.

INS AND OUTS - MITCH FRITZ

 

A Q-and-A by KIMBER AUERBACH

If you weren’t playing hockey, what would you be doing?

Probably working on my grandfather’s cattle farm back in British Columbia.

If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you splurged on?

I’d probably purchase a truck with a couple of quads in them for my buddies and me.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive who would it be?

Julius Caesar or Napoleon

Q&A with Mike Iggulden

By KIMBER AUERBACH

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Loud or obnoxious people. I am more of a laid back type of guy and when people get in my face, I really can’t handle that.

Where are some of your favorite places to eat in the area?

We go to SBC a lot and the Beach House Grill.

What do you do in the off-season to take your mind off of hockey?

I play a lot of golf. In the summer I go down to Singer Island, Florida, which around the area where my fiancé is from. We relax on the beach and try not to think about hockey.

Lee Whitnum makes her case for Congress

Some may call her a longshot candidate, but Lee Whitnum of Greenwich is gung ho about her desire to represent the Fourth Congressional District in Congress. Whitnum is challenging Jim Himes, the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, in Tuesday’s primary.

Whitnum qualified for the ballot as a petition candidate, and reached the amount of signatures necessary in June. Although she hails from Greenwich, Whitnum said she received most of her signatures from Bridgeport.

Whitnum recently sat down with the Bridgeport Banner editorial board, and offered her opinions on the major issues involving Fairfield County.

"I really feel strongly about my campaign because I absolutely believe that both Jim Himes and Chris Shays are in the pocket of special interest groups," said Whitnum.

Getting to know Jim Himes

By ROB SULLIVAN

These days, Fourth Congressional District candidate Jim Himes is striving to keep a high profile throughout Fairfield County. And as part of his efforts to introduce himself to voters, Himes is attending 17 town meetings in 17 days, a tour the campaign has dubbed the "Listening and Leading Tour." The tour includes an appearance at the Burroughs Community Center on Fairfield Avenue Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

"It’s a great opportunity to get to meet the voters and exchange ideas on the issues," Himes told a recent interview with the Banner Editorial Board. "We’ve gotten a warm reception and it’s been very gratifying."

Himes is opposing incumbent Congressman Christopher Shays, who has represented the fourth district since 1987. In the past two election cycles, Shays has fended off a pair of serious election challenges from former Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell.

Q&A with Tim Jackman

By KIMBER AUERBACH

Toughness and heart were two key factors that the Sound Tigers lacked in previous years but when Garth Snow signed Tim Jackman prior to last season, all of that changed. It was evident that the team needed a player who was not afraid to take or give a big hit, drop the gloves to send a message, or score a goal by paying the price in front of the net. Last season, the Sound Tigers opened the year against the Hartford Wolf Pack and Jackman made an immediate impact, scoring a goal and an assist in the team’s 3-2 victory. Jackman tied his American Hockey League career mark for points in a season with 36 in only 44 games, almost half the number it took him to reach the mark his rookie year with the Syracuse Crunch.

Since his draft year in 2001, Jackman has pulled on the sweater of four different organizations. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the second round, 38th overall while the Minot, ND native was playing for Minnesota State University – Mankato. Jackman spent the next three seasons splitting time with the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. During that span, Jackman scored his first NHL goal with Columbus. The following two years, Jackman spent time with both the Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings organizations playing for both the big clubs and their minor league affiliates.

Jackman has compiled the majority of his career numbers in the AHL but last season skated about half the year in Bridgeport and the other half on Long Island, where he set individual career NHL marks for games (36), assists (3), points (4), and penalty minutes (57) in a season.

You’ve played in the NHL before with Columbus, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. What was this experience like playing in the NHL with the Islanders?

There was a difference between playing with the Islanders organization and the others. It is exciting to see the tradition the organization has right when you step into the dressing room from all of the Stanley Cup pictures on the walls. When I played with the Islanders this season, I felt like I belonged up there. When I was called up I really wanted to be there and I expected to be there.

A chat with Todd Marlin

By ROB SULLIVAN

Bridgeport Bluefish General Manager Todd Marlin is in his first year at the head of the team and he has no qualms about telling Fairfield Westport residents that they are missing out on a great time if they don’t venture out to The Ballpark at Harbor Yard and take in a Bluefish game.

“It’s simple. It’s fun, affordable, family entertainment,” emphasized Marlin. “Getting to the ballpark is only a 10, 15 minute drive. The tickets are cheap, it’s a tremendous night out and it’s a lot of fun.”

Marlin signed on as the Bluefish GM in late 2007, after successfully helming the Nashua Pride and most recently the Worcester Tornadoes. The Tornadoes play in the Can-Am League, but Marlin was anxious to return to a more vigorous baseball schedule in the Atlantic League.

An interview with Chris Shays

Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Bridgeport) sat down with the Bridgeport Banner editorial board Thursday morning for a discussion about issues facing Bridgeport and the fourth Congressional District.

Flanked by Press Secretary Dave Natonski and District Director Rina Bakalar, the former Grants Director for the City of Bridgeport, Shays elaborated on a number of subjects, particularly health care, energy, transportation and the Fairfield County Program "One Coast/One Future."

"Bridgeport is the highest taxed city in the Unites States and I moved here," said Shays. "And high taxes or not we have to have to absolutely focus on education in Bridgeport. We need to effectively train Bridgeport students for today's challenges. That's something we've incorporated into One Coast/One Future."

That program was launched in October 2005 as a regional initiative and encompasses marketing strategy, economic development, culture and entertainment, health care wi-fi, jobs and higher education.