For the past month, the students at Holy Spirit School have been preparing for the Science Fair, the second annual showcase that involves students in preschool through fifth grade. “We need more scientists,” Sandra Leffler, Holy Spirit School’s science teacher who overseas the Science Fair, said. “If they can get interested in science at this age, we hope they’ll continue in middle school and in high school.” The younger grades work together on a project — Carol Keeney’s first grade class studying light and using flashlights to create silhouettes and Barbara Hess’ second graders studying …

Last Thursday, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) hosted their tenth annual Voices of Courage Spring Luncheon, a fundraiser that in its first nine years, raised over one million dollars to support the DVCC. While the first luncheon drew 126 people to the Birchwood Country Club in Westport, this year’s program nearly filled the ballroom at the Stamford Marriott. “Numbers do matter,” Rachelle Kucera Mehra, DVCC Executive Director said. “In the past twelve months, we’ve served 3,860 individuals, Peaceworks has presented to over 25,000 children, and 422 women and children, and one man, …

Stamford’s Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration will be held this week, Thursday, April 19 at 7 pm at Temple Sinai. The program will include guest speakers, a candle lighting ceremony, and commemorations through music, art, poetry, prayers, and stories. “We want a family-oriented experience,” Rhonna Rogol, Committee Chair of Stamford’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, said. “What tends to happen is that you get a very gray-haired audience, they’re the people who remember.” The Bureau of Jewish Education of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien is also holding …

Last week, 94 cheerleaders ranging in age from four years old through their late 20s became the latest additions to Backyard Humanitarian — a Stamford-based community service group whose projects range from soup kitchens to fundraisers to a well-established coat drive, all with the simple goal of helping people in need in their community. “When I began Backyard Humanitarian two years ago, I had three people. It grew to 300 members and now, with the addition of Gold Coast, it’s 400,” Angela Malizia told the teams at Gold Coast. “I think you know what happens when a team comes together, you …

This Friday, Al Fatah Kader will arrive in Morocco and on Sunday, he will begin a weeklong adventure of endurance taking him over sand dunes and through remote villages. This is the second time that Kader will be participating in the Marathon de Sables, a 150 mile race across the Sahara Desert. “In his interview he told me he was an avid runner, but it was really shocking to find out he would be running over 100 miles,” Bob Feghali, one of Kader’s managers at Pitney Bowes, said. Born in Bangladesh, Kader can trace both his passion for running and his desire to make a difference in the world …

Last week, Exhale Mind Body Studio celebrated the grand opening of their new Harbor Point location, their first studio in Connecticut. “We were invited to be part of the facility here,” Fred DeVito said. “It’s an up-and-coming area and we’re happy to be part of the community.” As they’ve expanded nationwide, Exhale has found themselves in-demand by developers looking for a center to promote both physical and mental well being and a facility to serve as a fitness center and a place for spiritual renewal. “If you like to cycle, you have a big light-filled facility, it’s a very positive energy …

Founded in 1635 and a member of the United Church of Christ, the First Congregation Church of Stamford has held an Open & Affirming (O&A) stance for the past several years, but this has never been quite as visible as it is today. “They voted to become O&A in 2007, but hadn’t really lived into it,” Rev. Jane Ann Groom, interim pastor at the First Congregational Church, said. “I said, have you ever thought of displaying a rainbow flag and that started a lot of conversation.” This is the second church where Groom has been part of displaying a rainbow flag, a symbol that she hopes will welcome …

Kristin Bataille’s Mixed Greens with Orange Juice Vinaigrette may be finding its way onto dining room tables around the U.S. Bataille’s recipe for mixed greens with a tangy orange juice vinaigrette is featured in this month’s issue of “Taste of Home” magazine. “Taste of Home” receives tens of thousands of recipes every year. Recipes are submitted online and go into a database where editors can find them to fit a feature. “We get a line-up for an issue and we start looking for recipes in our database,” Karen Berner, Food Editor at “Taste of Home” said. The magazine spread featuring Bataille's …

The familiar hotel on the corner of Broad Street and Tresser Boulevard became the Sheraton Stamford last summer and the hotel’s new look has not gone unnoticed by corporate clientele. Formerly a Holiday Inn purchased by Davidson Hotels in March of 2007, the hotel has undergone a series of renovations totaling over 28 million dollars. “Once they purchased us, you knew there were great changes down the road.” Keeva Crelan, Senior Sales Manager at the Sheraton Stamford, told Patch. Crelan, who has been with the hotel location for over twenty years and through various ownerships, is particularly …

Chelsea Piers is nearing completion and, walking through the construction site, you can now almost picture how it will look once it’s open for business and filled with activity. “Kids come to camp on July 9!” Erica Schietinger, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Chelsea Piers, said. “It’s been coming together fast.” Just recently, colorful waterslides have been installed in the warm water play area, topping off a space that is sure to be a hit for recreation and parties alike. “The warm water pool will be a great place to learn to swim,” Schietinger said. “Kids are always freezing …

Ernest Lamour has a lot of memories of the Stamford YMCA of his childhood. He remembers the smell of the chlorine, the noise of children coming in after school, and groups of adults coming in to play ball during their lunch hour. Today, Lamour can hear the dribble of the basketball and practically smell that signature YMCA chlorine smell from his office. He has served as CEO of the YMCA since 2010 and first came on board as Senior Program Director in December 2008. Many of the friends that Lamour made growing up at the YMCA are still his friends today and while the look of the YMCA has …

It’s hard for Stamford native Marc Weber to recall a time that he wasn’t in the kitchen. At five-years-old, he and his mother would cook dinner together in the evenings. “She worked in the city and we lived in Stamford, she’d get off the train and come home, I’d be playing and she’d say, “Marc, let’s make dinner,”” Weber said. “We never had a kids' menu growing up, we ate what my mom and dad were eating. She would read food magazines and try out new recipes — it was a very gourmet food experience for a five-year-old!” When Weber’s mother started her own company and began traveling more for …

About eight years ago, Dr. Beverly Marr, a chiropractor at Stamford Healthcare Associates, wanted to find a way to help her fellow equestrians prevent injuries. “I could get them out of pain, but I needed a way to keep them out of pain,” Marr said. “I knew that they needed to be strong and they needed to be flexible.” Marr wrote out exercises that her patients could do on an exercise ball, but wanted to find a way to ensure they would stick with the routine even when they were feeling better. The solution was the SOAR Method — a contraction of Marr’s last name and the name of her colleague, …

For the past eight years, City Limits Diner has observed Greek Orthodox Lent and offered their distinctive Greek Lenten Menu throughout the season. In keeping with traditions of the Greek Orthodox Lenten fast, all dishes are free of meat, dairy, or fish. The full menu is available after 5 pm, while a select number of dishes are available during the day. Chef Peter Assue, executive chef of City Limits, also makes sure they’re available for Sunday brunch when many come in after church. “We try to keep it the same menu, a lot of people look forward to it and come in looking for the crispy …

Check out Hotel Zero Degrees after dark this month and you’re in for a surprise. In a partnership with the Bennett Cancer Center, they have lit up their building in blue to honor Colorectal Cancer Awareness. “They asked, 'Would you be willing to light it up like the Empire State Building?'” Mia Schipani, Vice President of Business Development at Hotel Zero Degrees, said. "We can change the lights to all different colors." Schipani, a volunteer at Stamford Hospital, is always looking for ways that Hotel Zero Degrees can use their space in Stamford Downtown to help a good cause — be it hosting …

Now in its 39th year, the Stamford Art Association’s High School Art Show and Portfolio Competition highlights the best of student artwork from around the region. This year, three students from the Stamford Public Schools and two students from King received a place in the show. For many, it’s the first time they have had the opportunity to see their work displayed in this way, matted and hung with care in a local gallery. Family, friends, students, and teachers gathered on Sunday afternoon to view the artwork and celebrate the students’ wins. “We’ve been involved for awhile, it gives them a …

On Sunday, the Ferguson Library hosted the Chinese Language School of Fairfield County and the Chinese Language School of Connecticut as they celebrated the Chinese New Year. This is the fourth year that the Ferguson has celebrated Chinese New Year at the Main Library. They also have celebrations throughout the year screening foreign films, celebrating Diwali, and spotlighting the various cultures that make up the city. “We have 33 staff members who speak different languages,” Yelena Klompus, reference library at the Ferguson Library, said. “That’s representative of Stamford. We try to …

Through February 23, Stamford-based artist Phyllis Peckar Clamage will have her work exhibited in the ArtPlace Gallery @ The Watermark at 3030 Park. The Watermark at 3030 Park, located at 3030 Park Avenue in Bridgeport is a retirement community comprised of independent living, assisted living, skilled rehabilitation and memory care. Since the summer of 2009, ArtPlace Gallery and The Watermark at 3030 Park have collaborated to bring residents a new art exhibit in the rotunda every two months. “They look forward to the lecture with the artists,” Clamage said. “The people really enjoy it and …

The Ferguson Library is still in the midst of its 2011 Annual Appeal. Letters went out to Stamford households at the end of November and at this time, the appeal has raised just under $80,000 — still falling short of its goal. “Donations are still coming in and we’re still not sure where we’ll end up,” Library president Ernie DiMattia said. “We’re down about a third from where we should be.” Last year’s Annual Appeal raised $115,000 for the Ferguson and came right at the time when all eyes were on the library due to the 2010 budget cuts and the reduced hours that ensued. “We’ve settled into …

With holiday dinners and parties behind us and resolutions still fresh, it’s time to make some changes. How do you ensure that your health and fitness resolutions will live to see February? Some local experts are ready to help. Perhaps at the top of their list — simply don’t bite off more than you can chew.  “Don’t get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess everything in your life,” Penelope Klatell, a nutritional health counselor, said. “Instead, work toward changing one thing at a time.” “Many people make the mistake post-holiday of becoming too restrictive with their eating by …