Community Access

Adrianna began decorating cupcakes in high school in an attempt to attract more students to her cheerleading squad and art club’s bake sale tables. At age 18, Adrianna had a dream one night that she walked up to a bake shop. On the windows of this bake shop was a bright smiling sun holding a cupcake and the door read Good Morning Cupcake across it. From that moment, Adrianna knew that this dream was special, that it was a sign of what the future had in store for her. She attended Johnson and Wales University where she received a bachelors in baking and pastry arts. She has been featured on many news channels and in many news papers but most notable, she competed on the Food Network’s Girl Scout Cookie Championship last February. Today, Adrianna is finally getting to fulfill her dream that began 12 years ago. Good Morning Cupcake is officially open it’s store front doors on May 30th, 2020 in Milford, CT!

Reading is essential for student success, but too many children don’t have their own books or parents who read to them, and many minority students don't see themselves depicted in lessons or books. CEF’s Virtual Video Puppet Program combines the importance of reading with a fun, exciting way--through the eyes of two puppet characters from a book about diversity, unity, and inclusion-- to help instill a love of reading in children. The goal is to help students discover the joys of reading by bringing books to life in a unique and fun way that will cultivate good reading habits, while sharing the message about unity, inclusiveness, and diversity.


The University of Connecticut has a special Puppet Arts Program and creates world-class puppet masters. One of those puppet masters, Mary Gragen Rogers, is creating two puppet characters from the book, The Someone New, by Jill Twiss. The puppeteer will then create a show and read the book using the two puppets. The show will be videotaped for us to distribute via an online link, to school districts across the state to use as an online teaching tool. This 30 to 60 minute video program will provide teachers the opportunity to teach about diversity in a fun and exciting way. The author of the book and the illustrator have both given us their approval to use the characters and the book. In fact, the author has stated that she would like to be involved, so we are trying to find a way for her to participate in the video, maybe with a Q&A segment with the puppets at the end of the book. She or the puppet master might be good interviews.

About 3,100 first and second grade students in Bridgeport, the state’s largest and one of the poorest school districts, will receive a free book to take home with them. Due to COVID, we can only drop off the books to teachers at each school to distribute to their students. Teachers in the first and second grade classrooms in Bridgeport will also receive a special book about teaching diverse students. That’s a lot of books, three times our normal amount and we are seeking donations. As of right now, we have 500 books; Our Little Kitchen, by Jillian Tamaki, donated by her publisher, Abrams books. This is a beautiful hardcover book as is The Someone New and while we would like to give every student these book, we can’t afford to purchase the remaining 2,600 books. Even at a 54% discount offered by the publisher, it comes to nearly $25K. So, we are certainly looking for partners to help with costs so we can buy these beautiful books, or others for the students. Mercer Mayer has offered to donate books, but these are small paperbacks and would not be equitable with the other two books, but we are doing what we can with what we have.

I know there is a lot going on right now and there is a lot of need out there, but if you have any clients who might be willing to donate for the purchase of books, we would welcome them with open arms. Of course donors are included in every book plate, placed in each book and in any and all materials, including press releases and online and social media posts. Of course, time is of the essence and we would need to know if you have anyone available ASAP. It’s my fault, as I waited too long to hold a meeting with the committee and now we are a little behind as we need to move things forward and be ready for March 2- Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Interview with Soffer Farms A Big Y Love For Local Vendor of the Month

Chrysalis Center’s Empty Bowls – virtual event Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 7:00 PM (Snow date: March 25, 2021) Overview/Talking Points:

· Theme this year: “Come Together to End Hunger”

· “Empty Bowls” is an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level.

· Chrysalis Center supports this initiative by bringing awareness to the critical issue of hunger facing our neighbors throughout the state, particularly those living in the “Promise Zone”, the federally recognized neighborhoods in Greater Hartford where nearly 50% of the residents live at or below the poverty line.

· Chrysalis Center has experienced an increase in the need for fresh and nutritious food and event proceeds will benefit the organization’s “Food Hub”: programs which address the critical issue of food insecurity and lack of fresh and nutritious foods in the community through innovative and hands-on approaches.

· Chrysalis’ Food Hub includes: Freshplace food pantry, Urban Roots hydroponic grow center, Homestead Farmers’ Market, Railway Gardens, Food Forest and La Cocina Catering and Culinary Arts Training Kitchen.

· Event is virtual this year due to COVID. Guests receive a private zoom link to event.

· Honorary Event Chair is Renee DiNino, Director of Community Affairs and On Air Programming for iHeartMedia. A passionate advocate for those who are struggling, homeless and in need of support, Renee is a wonderful supporter and friend to the organization.

· Tickets $20 pp ($10 under 12 years old) and available online here: https://chrysaliscenterct.org/ events/ or call (860) 263-4418

· Each ticket includes a delicious bowl of soup, fresh-baked sourdough roll and brownie, all provided by La Cocina Catering, Chrysalis Center’s social enterprise program which trains individuals in the culinary arts field to help them secure a job and become economically independent.

· Four varieties of soup available: Corn Chowder, Chicken & Vegetables, Broccoli Cheddar or Butternut Squash (Vegan option)

· Each guest will also receive a beautiful, handcrafted bowl, created by a local artist, which serves as a reminder of the many empty bowls in our community and throughout the world.

· Soup and bowls can be picked up Wednesday, March 24 between noon and 6pm, at Chrysalis Center’s outdoor patio, located at 255 Homestead Avenue in Hartford, CT. To ensure everyone's safety, we will have pre-scheduled pick-up times, social distancing, and require masks at pick up.

· Donations gratefully accepted for those unable to participate via our website: https://chrysaliscenterct.org/give/make-a-gift/donate/ (select “Empty Bowls” under gift designation)

· Chrysalis Center is grateful to following artisans for donating bowls:

o Bramble Ceramics, Hartford

o Bristol Senior Center, Bristol

o Glazed Pottery Painting and Art Studio, Glastonbury

o Glazey Dayz, Watertown

o Gildersleeve Pottery Studio, Collinsville

o Pottery Piazza, Plainville

o Purring Potter, Colchester

o The Claypen, West Hartford

o Rockville High School Clayworks Class

o Summer Green Pottery, Bloomfield

o Vanguard Plastics, Southington

o Water Street Potters, Torrington

· Chrysalis Center is grateful to the following event sponsors for their generous support:

o Avon/Canton Rotary

o Elmwood Productions

o Price Chopper Gollub Foundation

· We are currently looking for additional companies and organizations to sponsor event. It’s a wonderful way to help provide access to healthy and nutritious food to...

Weekly Update with Senator Blumenthal 2.16.21
Stimulus update, when can Connecticut residents expect it and how much?
Vaccine rollout, not enough to meet the demand and ca new meet "herd immunity" expectations?
Hospitality Industry update from banquet facilities, caterer's, halls, restaurants and more.
New business models in CT? How are businesses changing the way they operate from renting, leasing to virtual and how it effects other industries from food services to custodial, landscapers and more.
Exciting news for the Restaurant Industry, they can be reimbursed for meals donated to those in need.

Robert partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Zoe”, in 2017. He and his wife, Susan, an interior designer, live in New Jersey. The Heidenbergs have two adult daughters—Jessica, an orthopedic surgeon, and Jenna, a real estate broker. Robert has an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in New York City prior to becoming involved in real estate ventures.

Robert founded Heidenberg Properties Group in 2013 where he is President and CEO. The company develops, owns, and manages shopping centers, malls, and retail properties in several states and has also undertaken redevelopment projects throughout the country. In 1985, Robert was co-founder of an earlier real estate company that acquired and developed shopping centers across the United States.

In addition to his business interests, Robert is actively involved in philanthropy. He is first vice president of his local synagogue, a board member of VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York City (a rehabilitation and social services organization), the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Fidelco Guide Dogs. Susan and Robert have endowed a fellowship to support a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design and established the Robert and Susan Heidenberg Investigative Research Fund for Ocular Gene Therapy to support research leading to clinical trials in retinal gene therapy.

Robert also has several hobbies which include swimming, listening to audiobooks, travel (locally and world-wide), and golf.

When describing his partnership with Zoe, Robert says, “Zoe is a gift. I never really knew or appreciated, when I started on this journey…that my life and perspective would change so profoundly. Zoe has given me independence. She has empowered me to do things on my own that I long-ago gave up…. I feel like she and I are one.”
www.Fidelco.org

Nutmeg Big Brothers & Big Sisters
Vision: All children achieve success in life.

Mission: Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Accountability: By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community we are accountable for each child in our program achieving:

Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships
Avoidance of risky behaviors
Educational success

Interview with Corrianne Gagliardi Chipello
Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer

Senator Blumenthal Update on CT Covid-19 Vaccines Stimulus and the Hospitality Industry, who is being left out.

Price gauging, scams and rate increases OH MY! We cover it all in todays conversation!