New Haven Independent

Women Girls, Going Strong

To celebrate another successful year, the Community Fund for Women & Girls awarded 49,995 to 13 nonprofits providing programs and services to improve the quality of life for women and girls in the region.

In addition, a special grant was awarded to a local Guilford organization in the amount of $10,000 to honor the memory of one of the Fund’s founding members and shore-line resident, Valerie Minter. Chairwoman Nancy Alexander presided over the festive occasion, held at the New Haven Lawn Club. Forget “good fellowship” when you can get “great Sisterhood”, replete with hand-dipped chocolate strawberries and great conversation.

The Fund is a veritable “A-list” of the area’s most recognizable and philanthropic women! Joining the ceremonies were:Helene Robbins, Vice-Chair , Eugenie Gentry, Treasurer, Jane Shaw, Secretary, and Mary Jane Burt, Foundation Board Liaison. The Advisory group and Committee members were out in full force (and I do mean FORCE): Daun Barrett , Nancy Cassella , Barbara Chesler, Bridget Deacon, Louise Endel, Shirley Jackson , M. Ann Levett , Yi-Chun Tricia Li, Carolyn Mazure, Kay Petraiuolo, Constance Royster, Patricia Scussel, Barbara Segaloff, Jane Janice Yusza of the Advisory Board. Among the Committee members in attendance were Linda K. Broker, Barbara N. Chesler, Nancy Hoskins, Eugenie Gentry, Lindy Lee Gold, Susan Lewin, Carol Ross, Raquel Santiago-Martinez, Patti Scussel, Lucy Sirico and Vilandria Turner.

CMI, Not Confidential

Community Mediation hosted their annual Zampano awards at the Graduate Club. Named in honor of the late Honorable Robert C. Zampano, the event celebrates members of the legal profession who have supported and demonstrated excellence in the field of mediation and utilized the programs, where possible, often as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The 2007 honorees, Hon. Thomas J. Corradino and State’s Attorney Michael Dearington (and his office), were presented their awards by Hon. Edward J. Dolan and Hon. Burton A. Kaplan (both Superior Court judges). Accepting for the staff of the State’s Attorney’s Office was David Strollo, Supervisor Assistant State’s Attorney in New Haven.

It was a festival of colleagues and combatants as the Criminal and Civil groups from the prosecution and defense teams were all among the capacity crowd. Folks from Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder and Moore, O’Brien, Jacques and Yelenak (Gold sponsors) and Garcia and Milas, Stratton Faxon, and Tyler, Cooper and Alcorn (Silver sponsors) were so convivial that one would never suspect them to act as adversaries to the prosecutorial group!

Lindy Gold and Susan Landon (CMI Board members) greeted the incoming guests-no need to make sure the conversation would flow in this gathering-these lawyers can do 40-minute monologues in response to any questions that could possibly be posed!

Pictured: Bev Hodgson with Charlie Pillsbury (Executive Director of CMI) and Martha Murray (CMI President). Pictured at the top of this story: Carey Witt and Ira Grudberg.

A Sweet Tribute

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven feted outgoing Chair, Pat Sweet (pictured), for four years of incredible and dedicated service in Board Leadership and to the Arts Community and its atrons. During her tenure, she managed her own career change (from the Regional Water Authority to Major Development Officer for Achievement First-Amistad Academy et al) while overseeing the expansion of the organization and searching for and hiring a new Executive Director.

Charles Kingsley was elected to succeed her at the helm. Among the board members and well wishers were Mary Lou Cummings (Knights of Columbus Museum), John Kessler (Vice President), Paul McCraven (New Alliance Bank), Cheever (Bravo) Tyler, MelanieBarocas-Mayer (Board member), Lee Cruz (Community Foundation), Barbara Lamb (Office of Cultural Arts), Lindy Lee Gold (CT State DECD) , Jack Meyers and Mike Morand(Yale ), Jim Alexander, Arts Council Exec, Cindy Clair and staff members Bobbi Griffith, Barbara Feldman, Soonil Chin and Jose Monteiro.

Famous for her elegance and originality in manner and style, the group was sure to present Pat with roses to accessorize the outfit in just the right color tones! It was, after all, artistically orchestrated.