Friday, January 15, 2021
East Haven Courier Person of the Week
The Sound
Living the American Dream, With Help from SAE
Published Jan. 13, 2021 08:30 a.m.It took five years, a lot of work and determination, and some very valuable help from free programs of Shoreline Adult Education (SAE), but Branford’s Antonio Villanueva has now achieved his dream of learning to speak English, becoming an American citizen, and voting, for the very first time, in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The Source
Eder Shares Shoreline Arts Trail ‘20 Virtual Open Studios
Published Dec. 23, 2020 08:30 a.m.With enthusiastic assistance from artist Eileen Eder, Shoreline Arts Trail (SAT) ‘20 Virtual Open Studios is currently at the fingertips of art lovers as an online gallery sharing unique works to view and purchase now through Thursday, Dec. 31 at shorelineartstrail.com.
The Sound
Piascyk Headed Up a Decade of Safety for NBPS
Published Dec. 16, 2020 08:30 a.m.Eight years ago this week, on Dec. 14, 2012, a single gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
The Sound
‘Happy Holidays from Sal Anastasio’ CD Benefits Local Causes
Published Dec. 09, 2020 08:30 a.m.This time of year, Sal Anastasio is usually the man behind the music that lights up holiday gatherings for seniors and many others across the shoreline
The Sound
Kovi Helps ‘Harbor Lights’ Return to Branford Dec. 19
Published Dec. 02, 2020 08:30 a.m.“The feeling that night in the air, so to speak, was really remarkable,” says Rob Kovi. “We’ve talked about it since. It was, ‘Is this a Hallmark movie? Are we living in a Hallmark movie somewhere?’”
The Sound
Valerie Hansen: Going Someplace?
Published Nov. 25, 2020 08:30 a.m.One thousand years ago, adventurous people could do something that has become increasingly difficult in the age of COVID: They could travel, and travel far.
The Sound
It’s in the Bag: Creative Support for ‘Soup for Good TO GO’
Published Nov. 18, 2020 08:30 a.m.“It’s a beloved event that’s reinvented for this year, and we hope that its equally beloved this way,” says Amy Peters of Guilford Art Center’s (GAC) Soup for Good TO GO, set for Sunday, Dec. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. at GAC.
The Sound
From Branford to East Haven: DelRosso Puts Her Experience to Work
Published Nov. 11, 2020 08:30 a.m.When Anna DelRosso retired as the Town of Branford’s assistant tax collector in February, she’d had big plans for her year. She and her husband, Cosmo, who were both born in Italy, had planned to spend much of the year exploring their birth country, but…COVID.
The Sound
A Year of Firsts for SAIL LAST
Published Nov. 04, 2020 08:30 a.m.You could say 2020 has been a year of firsts for member-supported, non-profit SAIL LAST. With its first boat, a donated Henderson 30, SAIL LAST capped a summer’s worth of keelboat racing with Branford’s Around the Buoys with the wind in their sails and high expectations for the future.
The Sound
Helping BACA Open ‘The Painted Doors of Branford’
Published Oct. 28, 2020 08:30 a.m.“Branford, art, and Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance are gifts I already receive daily, teaching in an innate gift that I thrive on.”
The Sound
DeJoseph Assists on the Fundraising Forefront to Help CRD
Published Oct. 21, 2020 08:30 a.m.In a year when most fundraisers have been canceled or otherwise compromised by COVID-19, Lynn DeJoseph helped raise more than $330,000 over two days in Branford to benefit the cutting edge research supported by non-profit Cure Rare Disease (CRD).
The Sound
Baltay Uncovers 'A Steamy Affair with a Pressure Cooker: Recipes, Stories & Saucy Suggestions'
Published Oct. 14, 2020 08:30 a.m.'When you mention the word ‘pressure cooker,’ people really turn off. But if you talk about in a saucy way, they get a kick out of it,' says Virginia 'Ginny'Baltay.
The Sound
NBPD’s Sgt. Madoule Retires to Head Up NBPS School Security
Published Oct. 07, 2020 08:30 a.m.After 25 years on the force, North Branford Police Sergeant David Madoule retired on Friday, Oct. 2—but he only took the weekend off.
The Sound
Sylvia Curcio Loves Giving Back to Family and Community
Published Sep. 30, 2020 08:30 a.m.Though Sylvia Curcio grew up in Canada and lived in Michigan with her husband, they have called the Connecticut shoreline home for more than three decades.
The Sound
Heffernan Completes a Remarkable 32 Years Tied to BFD
Published Sep. 23, 2020 08:30 a.m.Shaun Heffernan was still in Branford High School (BHS) when he went over to the Indian Neck firehouse and signed up with Volunteer Company No. 9. On Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, Branford Fire Department (BFD) and the Town of Branford recognized BFD Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Shaun Heffernan upon retiring from a remarkable 32 years tied to the town’s fire service.
The Sound
For Crafters and Community: Mucha Helps Organize Branford Hill Craft Fair Sept. 27
Published Sep. 16, 2020 08:30 a.m.Think about it: When was the last time you browsed a booth at a local artisan craft fair?
The Sound
Hughes Helps Tech Meet Tradition with Virtual Guilford Fair
Published Sep. 09, 2020 08:30 a.m.Send up that drone for a spectacular shot of your 500-pound pumpkin.
The Sound
Wyeth Crafts Creative Solutions
Published Sep. 02, 2020 08:30 a.m.When non-profit Legacy Theatre CT and its supporters recently celebrated “topping off” the renovated structure of the historic Stony Creek theater building on Aug. 21, they were also applauding the work of Chester-based architect Leonard Wyeth, a man of many talents.
The Sound
During a ‘New Normal,’ Mordarski Helps CDR Volunteers Make a Difference
Published Aug. 26, 2020 08:30 a.m.At a time when programming and in-person volunteering looks quite different at many non-profits, Marie Mordarski has taken on the role of volunteer/program coordinator for the non-profit Community Dining Room (CDR), based in Branford.
The Sound
Finding Silver Linings in Pandemic Clouds: North Branford’s New Recreation Director, Jessie Caetano
Published Aug. 19, 2020 08:30 a.m.Due to COVID-19, North Branford’s Stanley T. Williams (STW) Community Center still awaits the go-ahead to reopen safely, but that’s not stopping the town’s new recreation director, Jessie Caetano, from finding silver linings in the pandemic clouds.
The Sound
Clark Helps Host Friends of the Blackstone Library Warehouse Book Sale
Published Aug. 12, 2020 08:30 a.m.COVID-19 may have knocked the tent poles out of this year’s gigantic Friends of the Blackstone Library (FOBL) Book Sale on the Branford Green, but Jonathan Clark and the friends’ all-volunteer team have added a new page to their playbook to come up with an alternative: Friends of the Blackstone Library Warehouse Book Sale.
The Sound
Robyn Genzano Carries on Passion for Theater
Published Aug. 05, 2020 08:30 a.m.Growing up watching her mother Cindy Genzano direct shows at North Branford High School (NBHS), Robyn Genzano has fond memories of watching rehearsals, interacting with students, and seeing the production come together
The Sound
McCarthy-Bercury’s New Role Supports a More Sustainable Branford
Published July 29, 2020 08:30 a.m.Diana McCarthy-Bercury is a new face at Branford Town Hall and an ideal person to fill an open position that, with its new title, takes sustainability to the next level for the town.
The Sound
Demitrack Helping BFD Pollinator Pathway Grow into Reality
Published July 22, 2020 08:30 a.m.Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney’s idea and effort to install a native, sustainable, and all-organic pollinator pathway garden on the grounds of the firehouse is rapidly growing into reality with the help of project leader and Branford Firefighter/Paramedic Alexandra Demitrack.
The Sound
Imperato Adds Hands-on Help to Further Assist Non-Profit Orchard House
Published July 15, 2020 08:30 a.m.If you’re looking for Natalia Imperato, you’ll probably find her doing everything she can to help Orchard House Adult Medical Day Care in Branford.
The Sound
Venice Garner Moore Shines Light on Minority Mental Health Awareness
Published July 08, 2020 08:30 a.m.At a peaceful protest in Madison, Venice Garner Moore—a therapist, life coach, author, and motivational speaker—met an editor from the Courier, and Venice suggested a story highlighting Minority Mental Health Awareness.
The Sound
Vigliotti Hopes Many will Rise to the Summer Breeze Challenge for SARAH
Published July 01, 2020 08:30 a.m.With some major fundraisers set aside due to COVID-19 this year, SARAH Foundation’s Kim Vigliotti is hoping the shoreline will rise to the challenge—the virtual Summer Breeze Challenge, that is.
The Sound
Lemire Helps Bring StoryWalk to Downtown Branford
Published June 24, 2020 08:30 a.m.On Friday, June 19, the third annual StoryWalk along Main Street launched in Branford.
The Sound
Graduating on A Positive Note: NBHS Valedictorian Ava Galdenzi
Published June 17, 2020 08:30 a.m.No one could have predicted the pandemic, but those who know Ava Galdenzi can tell you that this exceptional young woman would find a way to help the North Branford High School (NBHS) Class of 2020 graduate on a positive note during a challenging time.
The Sound
Gesmonde Fights for Reparations in ‘Justice on Trial: The Movie’
Published June 10, 2020 08:30 a.m.A powerful new film, Justice on Trial: The Movie will feature local attorney John Gesmonde as a civil rights lawyer fighting for reparations to disrupt systemic, unfair issues facing black Americans. The film’s virtual world premiere on Saturday, July 4 will include distribution on Amazon Prime.