Lyons honored at Stamford gala

“You know, there”™s a song by Elaine Stritch that says, ”˜I”™m still here,”™ and we are still here. We, the Stamford Center for the Arts, are still here and we”™re getting better,” asserted Moira Lyons during her Arts Ovation Award acceptance speech at the Stamford Center for the Arts (SCA) annual gala March 30.

Lyons, the former speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives and current director of community and government relations for Norwalk Community College, sits on the board of the center. She was recognized for her ongoing dedication to SCA and the greater community.

 “It is a great honor, I think more so because there are so many people in our community who do (charitable work)”¦ that equally could have been chosen and do a wonderful job,” she said.

A Stamford resident for 29 years, Lyons calls SCA “the heart of the community” but has devoted ample time to other Stamford organizations, including Ferguson Library, the Women”™s Business Development Center, and Stamford”™s Old Town Hall, now a business incubator.

When pressed about how she finds the time to lend herself to so many local organizations, Lyons laughed and said, “You know what? It”™s amazing how many people do that and I probably do less than some. I think we”™re fortunate in Stamford that we have so many individuals who really want to give back to the community. I”™m certainly not unique”¦. I just think it”™s the culture of Stamford.”

 “Moira has been so consistently supportive of this organization as speaker of the House and on the board,” said Elissa Getto, executive director of SCA.

Gov. Dannel Malloy presented Lyons with the honor and recounted the long relationship that began during his term as Stamford”™s mayor when she was a member of the city”™s board of representatives.

“I”™ve known Moira for much of my life and much of her life,” Malloy said, detailing their journey through politics”¦. “She”™s been extremely valuable in preserving this facility as well as the Rich Forum.”

It was fitting that Lyons referenced musical theater star Elaine Stritch just before another of the evening”™s honorees took the stage ”“ Liza Minnelli. Prior to receiving the Arts Legacy Award, Minnelli shimmied and stomped onstage, performing classic cabaret hits and her new material with composer Billy Stritch, who is son of the legendary Elaine Stritch.

Michael Widland, chairman of the board of SCA, also was selected for this year”™s award.