STAR awarded grant for 14 Vans
The state of Connecticut has given a nonprofit grant award for $342,600 to STAR Inc., Lighting the Way in Norwalk for the purchase of 14 vehicles that will be used to transport individuals with developmental disabilities.
Lighting the Way serves nearly 700 individuals from birth through senior years in Norwalk, Weston, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton and Westport, providing birth to three early-intervention therapies and services, advocacy and at-home supports, recreational activities, employment training and placement, day programs, senior programs and respite care to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout mid-Fairfield County.
Katie Banzhaf, executive director of STAR, said: “We are extremely pleased with this much-needed grant which provides us with the ability to meet the needs of our people better than ever before in terms of safety, reliability and efficiency, and also to ensure that adults with developmental disabilities remain safe, active and fully engaged members of our community. Transportation is a critical element to providing rich opportunities for people with disabilities in our towns.”
Twelve of the vans were recently obtained by STAR from Honda of Westport.
Corporators join First County Bank
Six new corporators were elected at the First County Bank annual meeting June 18. A corporator is a unique role offered to community representatives as part of the bank”™s mutual charter. A First County Bank corporator acts as the bank”™s eyes and ears in the community, promotes the mission and vision of the bank and supports the business community and nonprofit development. The First County Bank board of directors recruits corporators who are successful in their business or profession and have strong knowledge of the communities the bank serves.
The six are:
Goitom “Tom” Bellete is president of GB Parking and Vineyard Development in Stamford.
Irene Dixon is director of sales and marketing for the Norwalk Garden Inn.
Jevera Kaye Hennessey is a partner in the law firm of Kaye and Hennessey in Greenwich.
Michael Pavia is a former Stamford mayor and a real estate developer. He is the founder and owner of Pavia Development L.L.C.
Ann P. Rogers is the executive director of the Norwalk Community College Foundation and has extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit businesses.
Laura Walbert is co-founder and managing director of Fraser Walbert Media in New Canaan.
Top sales executives at BHHS New England Properties
Jane Walters was recognized as the Top Listing Agent and Betsy Conti won the Top Selling Award at the Norwalk office of BHHS New England Properties.
“These sales executives have achieved tremendous success for their clients,” said Candace Adams, BHHS president and CEO. “We are fortunate to have such a high caliber of Realtors who exemplify our vision of providing the best service available.”
Murtha Cullina adds executive directer
Michael R. Orce has joined Murtha Cullina L.L.P. as executive director. He will lead the administration and operation of the firm, which has 100 attorneys in six offices throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.
With more than 25 years of administrative experience in the legal industry, Orce has in-depth experience working on strategic planning, human resource issues, finances and general business management.
Prior to joining Murtha Cullina, Orce served as global director of operations at Edwards Wildman Palmer L.L.P. He received his Bachelor of Science in journalism from Mercy College and his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Kress Foundation awards grants
In support of a major upcoming exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation has awarded two grants that will allow the museum to develop extensive educational programming for the Northern Baroque Splendor exhibition. One of the largest and most varied collections of Northern Baroque art assembled anywhere in recent decades, the foundation support will bring a Kress Interpretive Fellow on staff at the museum for nine months and will also host an international scholarly conference in the fall.
“We are delighted that The Kress Foundation has graciously agreed to support the Bruce in our mission to use this exhibition to advance scholarship,” said Peter C. Sutton, executive director of the Bruce Museum. “Given the extent and richness of this show, we have an opportunity to develop educational programming that will exceed traditional school programs, reaching students in regional high schools and in post-secondary institutions. “
The museum”™s Kress Interpretive Fellow, Tara Contractor, will work closely with Sutton, as well as with other museum staff. Contractor has an M.A. in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, where she received a full scholarship, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif.
For more information, call the Bruce Museum at 203-869-0376 or visit brucemuseum.org.
Bruce Museum names board of trustees
The Bruce Museum”™s board of trustees Class of 2017 includes two new and five returning trustees at its recent meeting. Newly elected are Allison Brant, director of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, and Lucile M. Glasebrook, a longtime member and supporter of the Bruce and its committees. The five returning members are Aundrea B. Amine, George E. Crapple, Pamela H. Lewanda, James B. Lockhart III and Martha R. Zoubek. The chairman for the next two years is longtime Bruce supporter Robert H. Lawrence Jr.
Employee of the Year at Bruce was awarded to Justine Matteis, manager of the Bruce Museum store; the Executive Director”™s Award was awarded to Patricia Chadwick, outgoing chairman of the board; and the Chairman”™s Award was presented to Susan Mahoney.
Thanks to a grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, a landscape painting for the museum”™s permanent collection by master wildlife and landscape artist Sean Murtha named “May Moonrise, Davis Pond” was unveiled at the meeting.
BMW Bridgeport benefits bicyclists
BMW of Bridgeport marks its 10th year as a sponsor of the CT Challenge, the Fairfield-based non-profit that helps cancer survivors live longer, stronger, happier lives, with their largest contribution being to the cycling team it funds each year for the CT Challenge Bike Ride occurring this July 25th and 26th.
Since it”™s inception in 2005 the number of participants riding for cancer survivorship has more than tripled. The goal this year is to have 100 riders on the team and raise more than $100,000 for the CT Challenge. Anyone interested in joining is welcome and each participant”™s fundraising will be kickstarted with $100 for those who choose the 10- or 25-mile distance and $150 for those who take on the longer distances. Each team member also receives a customized Team BMW of Bridgeport cycling jersey.
Staff growing at Erland Stamford office
Professionals who are dedicated to working on Erland Construction”™s Summer House project in conjunction with developer F.D. Rich of Stamford, have joined the Stamford office of the East Windsor-based firm. The staff includes Robert Calvano, Matthew Combs, James Vasquez and Anna Pelletier.
Calvano joined Erland in 2013 as project superintendent for Summer House. With more than 20 years of experience, he has managed field operations for large residential, health care, commercial and education construction projects totaling more than $500 million.
As assistant project manager, Combs assists with tracking budget items, reviewing drawings and coordinating the delivery of materials to the site. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Connecticut and joined Erland in 2011.
Vasquez is the area superintendent on the project. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the site and works with Calvano to generate project-specific safety and quality plans. Vasquez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University.
Pelletier is the project”™s administrative assistant. She manages the Summer Street office and all subcontractor documentation.
Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.
