Bridgeport Banner

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.

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.