June 4-6 — Indian Head Resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire, includes two nights, two breakfasts and two dinners, daily tours and sightseeing. $359/pp double.

June 25 — Pasta and Grits, Rick Starr and Jimmy Travis at Grand Oak Villa, show and luncheon. $73/pp.

July 10 — All-you-can-eat lobster and comedy show at The Delaney House, Holyoke, Mass. $90/pp.

July 18 — “The Sound of Music,” at Westchester Broadway Theatre, includes lunch and show. $90/pp.

July 22 — America’s Hometown, Plymouth, MA, sightseeing, shopping, luncheon, cruise. $75/pp.

Aug. 6 — Triple lobster lunch and Polynesian show at the Hu Ke Lau $80/pp.

Aug. 30-Sept. 15 — Transatlantic Cruise, 17 days on the “Brilliance of the Seas” from London, including France, Ireland, Iceland and more, includes airfare, from $2249/pp plus taxes.

Sept. 19 — “Kiss Me Kate,” at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, includes lunch and show. $90/pp.

Sept. 24 — Vincent Talarico show at Grand Oak Villa, includes lunch and show $78/pp.

Oct. 10 — Oktoberfest at the Platzl Brauhaus. Hearty luncheon and German entertainment. $77/pp.

Oct. 15-16 — Fall foliage, Cooperstown, NY, three meals, overnight at Cooperstown Inn $285/pp.

Oct. 29 — The Lion Sleeps Tonight Doo-Wop Show at Mohegan Sun, includes show and casino bonus $69/pp.

Nov. 4-6 — Harrah’s in Las Vegas; airfare, two buffet breakfasts, daytrip to Laughlin. $775/pp.

Nov. 12 — Toast Our Armed Forces and Veterans, at Grand Oak Villa, luncheon and show. $76/pp.

Nov. 14 — “White Christmas” at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, includes lunch and show. $90/pp.

Dec. 3 — Christmas with Kenny and Dolly tribute show at the Hu Ke Lau, includes two shows and lunch. $76/pp.

Dec. 10 — Celtic Yuletide at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, buffet luncheon, casino package and show. $63/pp.

“The SWC was formed in 1976 with the purpose to provide community service efforts by our members volunteering,” said Pearson. “The SWC members work to support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education and promote healthy lifestyle. Our object is charitable and through our fund-raising events we are able to provide help to many,” she said. “The encouragement and connection with the GFWC is the glue to SWC’s success, and its members’ commitment to fund-raising events provide the heart to the club.”

The SWC members meet at Sterling House Community Center the third Tuesday of six months and at local restaurants for two months. The other four months are devoted to planning and preparing their activities.

For more information about the SWC, the activities and charitable organizations they donate to, call Pearson at 203-378-6176.

Bessie was born on April 18, 1920 in Bridgeport and was the daughter of the late Anthony and Helen Athans Pappas.

She was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft as a telephone operator for several years and was the voice recorded in the black box for Sikorsky Aircrafts.

Bessie had a passion for dancing and taught ballroom as well as Greek dancing at the Arthur Murray Studio in NYC. She also accepted all of life’s challenges with courage and grace and was a trail blazer for single mothers.

Bessie is survived by one son Francis Byron Hutchins III of Lesvos, Greece, one daughter Sandra E. Frashefski and husband Rich of Stratford, seven grandchildren Eric Hutchins and wife Jennifer, Jonathan Hutchins and wife Stacy, Tara Mosley and husband Peter, Alex Hutchins, Garner Frashefski and wife Coreena, Brandon Frashefski and wife Amal and Krista Jones and husband Randy, eight great grandchildren and several special nieces.

Bessie was also predeceased by two brothers John Pappas and Peter Pappas and one sister Stella Peschel.

Galello-Luchansky Funeral Home 2220 Main Street Stratford handled arrangements.

To celebrate a life, please visit us at www.galellofuneralhome.com.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 71 of Stratford recently participated in the Housatonic River Cleanup. The scouts cleaned the grounds adjacent to the Birdseye Street Boat Ramp and filled several trash bags with litter and debris. Front row: Matt Allen, Ryan Allen, Jonathan Larsen; second row: Adam Tremallo, Nathan Larsen, Philip Bloom, Jordan Bacon. Standing behind the boys is Robert Tremallo, the troop’s committee chair.

Nya Gardner, Amanda Celentano, Juliana Barone, Rebecca Romano.

Four sixth grade girls from Chapel School raised $300 to send to the BeLikeBrit charity which directly goes to help children orphaned by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

After watching a video in their science class about earthquakes, the four girls were so affected by the devastation in Haiti that they banned together to try and do something to directly help the children there. They baked hundreds of homemade cakes, cookies, cupcakes and brownies, and also walked for hours to raise money for the charity.

The BeLikeBrit charity was established by Mr. and Mrs. Gengel of Massachusetts after their daughter Britney Gengel died in the earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti in January of 2010. Britney was in Haiti to distribute food and care for other orphans. After she died, her father fulfilled her dream to build an orphanage there.

Born in Bridgeport on April 3, 1980, he was a son of Maria Tedesco Walsh of Stratford and Gene Walsh and his wife Joyce of Oxford.

Ryan was a 1999 graduate of St. Joseph’s High School and he earned a Communications degree at Marist College in 2003. He worked as a Sales Representative at Verizon Wireless.

Ryan was a remarkable young man- a marvelous son, brother and uncle, and friend. He touched every one he encountered with his gentle manner, ready smile, and genuine warmth. He possessed a generosity of spirit and a kindness that could light a room. He was deeply loved by his family and his many, many friends. He was a wonderful uncle to his niece and nephew who he loved as his own children.

He played football in high school and was an avid Chicago Bears fan. He served as an intern on “Law and Order” as a college student and was the go-to guy for his friends and family on what new movie was worth seeing.

The family is comforted with the knowledge that, through organ donation, Ryan was able to give the gift of life to others.

In addition to his parents, Ryan is survived by his brother, Kevin Walsh and his fiancé Meghan Collins of Branford, his aunt and godmother, Kristine Tedesco of Stratford, his uncle and godfather, Tom Tedesco and his wife Susan of Orange, a niece, Annabella Walsh and nephew, Keagan Walsh, cousins, Taylor and Chris Tedesco, Jason and Jean-Marc Lacourciere, two stepsisters, Aimee LaPak and Lauren Bjelka, his beloved Puggle, Peanut – as well as many, many friends and extended family.

He was pre-deceased by his grandparents, Christopher and Lucy Tedesco and Gene and Doris Walsh, and aunts and uncle, Helen and Ralph Armino and Vie Russo.

The family would like to thank the superb doctors, nurses and staff at the Bridgeport Hospital MICU for their dedicated care, warm support and compassion. We extend further thanks to the staff at the New England Organ Bank for their gentle kindness and empathy.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10:30 a.m. in St. James Church, Stratford for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Ryan Thomas Walsh Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Joseph High School, 2320 Huntington Turnpike, Trumbull, CT 06611. Attn: Karrie Sullivan.

Stratford Library Director Barbara Blosveren (center) welcomes “Beatles” to the Library for its recent benefit. Pictured (l-r): Greg Nolle (George), Library Board Member Robyn Proto, Mark Ehmann (Paul), Blosveren, Dave Pal (John), Mike Streeto (Ringo) and Library Board President Doreen Jaekle.

The Stratford Library Board of Trustees 10th annual gala benefit, “All You Need is Love” raised more than $13,000 and saw 150 in attendance. All proceeds directly benefited the library’s book collection.

The event was sponsored by People’s United Bank, Bishop, Joel Pleban, Stratford Development Company, Beth and John Morgan, Aquarion Water Company, Bishop, Jackson & Kelly, Berchem, Moses & Devlin, The Milford Bank, The Community’s Bank, United Illumination/Souther Connecticut Gas and Florek and O’Neill.

A Beatles tribute band, “GetBackNY,” performed many Fab Four standards, including “Twist and Shout” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Also in performance was “Something Extra,” an a cappella choir from Yale University comprised of 16 young women who performed a range of popular music.

A cocktail buffet, desserts, and wine and beer bar was catered by David M. Grant. The Event Decorators of Bridgeport designed a variety of balloon creations for the 1960s-themed benefit and a silent auction offered more than 40 prize packages including a golf package at Mill River Country Club, tickets to the David Letterman show and spa treatments.

Event co-chairpersons were Robyn Proto and Doreen Jaekle of Stratford with committee members Barbara Blosveren, Judith Crudo, Barbara Poisson, Jim Duffy, Maria Ferrera, Tory Florek, Karla Glad, Shelley Hall, Tom Holehan, Paula Nizzardo, Heather Silverman, Cynthia Smith and Sheri Szymanski.

The Honorary Chairman for “All You Need Is Love” was Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins who was in attendance along with Stratford Town Council representatives Stephanie Philips, James Connor, John Dempsey, Ken Poisson and Joseph Kubic.

Hards Corner Tavern owner James Moran won approval Tuesday night to place outdoor dining tables with up to 15 chairs in the area where he stands. The table and chairs in the photo belong to the business next door. Greg Reilly photo.

LATEST NEWS:

Hards Corner Tavern at 1884 Main Street won approval at the May 21 meeting of the Stratford Zoning Commission to have outdoor seating for 15 persons.

The approval is good until August 12 when the Zoning board will review the operation and decide whether or not to allow the outdoor seating at the tavern to continue.

The vote was 4 to 1.

The approval came with other stipulations too: doors to the restaurant must be kept closed while outdoor seating is in use; use of the outdoor seating must cease at 10 p.m.; and the outdoor dining area must be clearly cordoned off.

Thirty residents attended the meeting and stood opposed to the application for outdoor seating, eight of whom spoke out urging denial.

A group of residents hired an attorney who argued against the application.

Most of the arguments were based on the fact that there have been a number of disturbances and criminal activities at the establishment, especially up until 2011.

The stipulations on the approval are intended to give the owner a chance to show the operation of his business has avoided disturbances and police activity, and they give the board a chance to deny renewal of the permitted outdoor seating if the owner does not adhere to the stipulations.

[A full report from the meeting will be posted later.]

May 17, 2013

Hards Corner Tavern is going back to the Stratford Zoning Commission with a revised application requesting permission to place four tables in front of the establishment for patrons to use for dining.

In February the commission denied “without prejudice” Hards Corner’s application for five tables — action that allows the tavern to submit a revised application.

A hearing for the application is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

The outdoor space outlined for the proposed use of tables at the 1884 Main Street bar and restaurant, near the corner of Stratford Avenue, is nine and one-half feet by 38 feet.

Owner James Moran told The Star that the space would be used from May to October, and that drinks would be prohibited in the outdoor space after 9 or 10 p.m. when the kitchen closes.

“I am willing to control that,” said Moran.

The tavern owner said, “Outdoor seats are the linchpin” to his plan to overhaul the business, upgrade the menu and improve his image, which would not be described currently as upscale.

The seating “will invite people in.”

Improve the neighborhood and appeal to residents at the new apartments

The changes, Moran said, are in order to make the tavern attractive to residents who will be moving into the new 128-unit apartment complex being built across the street at 1111 Stratford Avenue. First occupancy is expected in August.

Those apartments “will make or break this area,” he said. “They will help raise the value of real estate.”

“I want to help the entire area become a nice, attractive area, full of life,” Moran said, and “be part of the town’s pledge to the [apartment’s] developer to help the neighborhood improve.”

Moran said he expects some of the new residents to be young professionals, and “they want a classier joint, not a dive bar.”

The tables will help show vitality “on one of the better corners on Stratford,” said Moran.

Getting over a reputation from the past

Moran is aware that there have been disturbances and criminal acts at the bar across many years, prior to his buying the business in 2006 and during his ownership, too.

This record attracted some nearby residents to oppose his zoning application in February, and Moran expects opponents at the May hearing as well.

Moran said he plans to continue to have live bands on Saturday nights, but he has eliminated “hip-hop” nights, which he said attracted troublesome customers.

“I took a [financial] hit for that,” he said.

He said he is considering changing the name of the bar and restaurant “to get away from the reputation.”

Moran says the zoning board’s decision will be about either “moving forward in this area or move back to what it was. We’ll either live in the past or live in the future, but I’m not going out of business.”

Other viewpoints

Henry Bruce, president of the Old Stratford Neighborhood Association, is urging residents to show up at the May 21 zoning meeting, and in an email to potential supporters, he has requested financial donations “to help offset legal fees ($1,500) that some of our neighbors have incurred to fight this application.”

In a statement at the request of The Star, Bruce said, “The Hards Corner Tavern and its current management have a reputation built up over many years of allowing rowdy and drunken behavior outdoors, especially late at night. We have been told that ownership is addressing the current reported problems, but we have not seen a change.

“Our neighbors everywhere in the district, like all neighborhoods in Stratford, deserve a quality of life and a safe environment for their families and friends. We strongly believe that the Hards Corner Tavern management needs to fix the current problems before being allowed this opportunity to create even more.”

Of his opponents Moran said, “No one ever came in to talk. They don’t have reason to trust me because they don’t know me.”

“I want what is my right to have, what others have. I’ll be what they let me be,” he said.

Another Stratford resident, Thomas Yemm, said he is concerned about the business breaking the town’s noise ordinance, but “outdoor tables on Main Street is one of the best things that has happened to this town.”

“If they can have band music indoors and soft conversation outdoors, more power to them,” said Yemm.

Stratford Planning and Zoning Administrator Gary Lorentson told The Star that there was evidence of past police calls presented to the board at the February meeting, though he said some of those calls were related to the streets’ intersection and not necessarily related to the tavern.

Lorentson said, “The commission will be looking for what will be in place to protect the quality of life of neighborhood residents.”