Fairfield County Newsmakers, 3.31.2014

Elite Health to open in Westport

Elite Health Services, “a provider of functional manual physical therapy, personal fitness, golf and triathlon performance training, massage and wellness related services,” at 162 Kings Highway North in Westport, will open its second location this spring after construction has been completed. It”™s existing facility is in Old Greenwich.

Angel Commercial nabs sales, broker awards

Southport-based Angel Commercial L.L.C. announced it has received the “2013 CoStar Power Broker Award for Top Sales Firm” and President Jon Angel, also won a broker award.

Angel qualified as one of the top commercial brokers in the industrial market based on the total leasing transactions he closed during the year. In order to be selected for this honor, Angel was evaluated against other commercial real estate brokers active in the region by CoStar Group.

Paoletta Columbus Day grand marshal

Leonard S. Paoletta, former mayor of Bridgeport (1981-1984) and Easton resident, will serve as the 106^th grand marshal of the 2014 Columbus Day Parade & Celebration, the oldest such event in the state. The Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport will sponsor the event for the 35th consecutive year.

In addition, Richard Iannucci of Stratford will serve as parade chairman, assisting in recruiting floats and bands for the parade. Iannucci is the commander of Port 5 Naval Veterans in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.

Kongar to be honored innovation ceremony

The University of Bridgeport announced Elif Kongar, a professor at the School of Engineering and director of the Technolog Management Program, has been recognized as a leading innovator in the field of engineering by the Connecticut Technology Council, and will be among 59 women who will be awarded at the CTC”™s tenth annual Women of Innovation awards dinner on March 27.

The program recognizes women across Connecticut who are innovators, role models and leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Fifth Street Management named ‘Lender of the Year’

New York City-based Fifth Street Management L.L.C. which operates a Greenwhich office, was named the 2013 “M&A Mid-Market Lender of the Year” by Mergers & Acquisitions.  This is the second honor that Fifth Street has received for its accomplishments in 2013, having also been designated the “Lender Firm of the Year” by The M&A Advisor in December 2013.

A variety of factors were considered to determine the winners, including performance, growth, innovation and thought leadership. In selecting Fifth Street, milestones including the formation of a company in the aircraft-leasing sector, First Star Aviation L.L.C., and the firm-wide deepening of its talent pool were highlighted.

Westport Main Street property sells

David Fugitt, a partner at Vidal/Wettenstein commercial real estate announced the recent sale of downtown retail property located at 61 Main Street in Westport, CT. The seller, a family local to Westport, sold the one story, 3,400 square feet building for $7,300,000 to 61 Main Street L.L.C. Fugitt was the sole broker involved in the transaction for the property whose sole tenant is Chico”™s.

Arts grants for local organizations

On Monday state Senator Bob Duff , D-Norwalk, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that six local arts organizations will receive grants from the state to support their numerous contributions to the culture and economy of lower Fairfield County. The grants will be awarded through the Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund, which is maintained by the state Department of Economic & Community Development and its Connecticut Office of the Arts. The local grants include: Darien Arts Council – $1,615.00; Creative Connections – $1,558.00; Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County – $1,737.00;Norwalk Symphony Society Inc. – $1,149.00; Shakespeare on the Sound – $9,146.00

Leone goes after school bullying

State Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, testified before the General Assembly”™s Education Committee in favor of strengthening a requirement that school districts develop and implement plans to reduce bullying behavior in Connecticut schools. An existing law enacted in 2011 requires each school district to develop a “safe school climate plan” to address bullying in its schools, and coordinate related efforts on the part of its staff, students and parents. Leone is a co-sponsor of House Bill 5564, which among other provisions would require school districts to submit their safe school climate plan to the state Department of Education for final approval. If the plan were rejected, the school board would be required to resubmit a revised plan.

Blank named partner at WRKK

Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansk L.L.P. of Stamford and New Cannon, CT announced that Adam J. Blank has become a partner of the firm.

Blank practices in the areas of personal injury law, commercial litigation and real estate based litigation, including land use and tax appeal litigation.  He has been selected as one of the 2013 “New Leaders in the Law” by the Connecticut Law Tribune.

Palace gets new development director

Mia Schipani, a Stamford native, has been appointed the business development director for The Palace Theatre, a regional performing arts center, in an effort to enrich and develop more meaningful relationships with local businesses and the not-for-profit community.

Schipani has worked in the Stamford community over the last 10 years, dedicating most of her free time to an array of not-for-profits organizations. Most recently, Schipani spearheaded the successful launch of two new boutique hotels, the Hotel Zero Degrees, in Stamford and Norwalk where she developed strategic relationships with the community arts and cultural organizations in an effort to help create more awareness for all parties.