Fairfield County Business Journal 4/23/2012

FAIRFIELD COUNT Y

BUSINESS JOURNAL

YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS • westfaironline.com

Vol 48, No. 17 • April 23, 2012

Bob Rozycki

FCBJ TODAY Clearing the tax slate – Reagan style? … 2 Conn. deep-sixed on a study of economic outlook – not to mention death taxes … 3

Lonza Group on90,000 thesf available move

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

S

Who stole Connecticut from Republicans? He’s coming to town … 4 Gold coastal property: CDW-G enrolls for new term in Shelton … 7

In the field: Viva la Cuba! … 10

Reaching for the star But is the energy rating losing its luster?

The List: Banking on a loan this year? … 12.

Special report: Peyton’s place is now BNC — and Bridgeport, to boot ... 15 …

15 Also …

“The new euphemism for ‘I’m looking for a job’ is ‘Well, I’m working on a startup’ … 8

MEDIA PARTNER

Jeffrey Newman, executive vice president, and Gerrit Blauvelt, director of property operations for Malkin Properties

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

I

n a bid to get Energy Star certification for the Metro Center in Stamford, Gerrit Blauvelt turned to drought-resistant plants for their water-conservation properties to clinch the deal.

But the Energy Star label itself might be withering on the vine among Fairfield County’s biggest property owners.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified only a dozen Fairfield County office buildings under its lead energy efficiency program, down from 16 a year earlier. It marked the first drop since 2007, when Energy Star began winning local landlord converts.

In the first quarter, just two buildings had

secured the Energy Star label: MerrittView in Norwalk, owned by Malkin Properties where Blauvelt is head of property operations and 1055 Washington Blvd., owned by SL Green Realty Corp.

New York City-based Malkin Properties has

Star, page 6

ix months after spending $1.2 billion to buy Arch Chemicals, Lonza Group AG is not long for Norwalk where Arch has been based, putting up for sublease floors occupied

by Arch at Merritt 7 Corporate Park.

More than 90,000 square feet of space is now available for sublease at 501 Merritt that has been the home of Arch, with building operator Marcus Partners confirming it is Arch space. In 2005, Arch secured a lease for 85,000 square feet of space on the building’s first four floors, signing a smaller renewal in 2010 covering the second and third floors which it has occupied since.

The building is also occupied by FactSet Research Systems Inc., a provider of financial market feeds and information that has expanded to more than 600 employees at its Merritt 7 headquarters. Other 501 Merritt tenants include ABB, Integrated Marketing Services and Louis Dreyfus.

Lonza referenced “headcount reductions” at Arch’s headquarters in its annual report published last month, even while emphasizing town-hall meetings its senior executives held at Arch facilities last year to stress “this is a story about growth, not consolidation,” as stated in the annual report.

Lonza, page 6

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Panel addresses the dilemma, pitfalls of overhauling business taxes

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

I

National Governors Association

n the early 1980s, President Reagan essentially cleared the slate in simplifying the tax code.

Now Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gets his chance.

A Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) task force held a public hearing in mid-April as it continues its assessment of business taxes and credits under a Malloy directive. The group will submit recommendations to Malloy in September.

now at a point where those adjustments are going to have to come on the spending side.”

Any change could involve expanding some tax credits reserved for corporations to limited liability companies and other entities structured to pass profits through to partners.

“By more than a 10-to-1 margin, the new businesses that are being formed in Connecticut are pass-through entities,” said Alan Lieberman, a tax expert in the Hartford office of Shipman and Goodwin.

“They are limited liabilities companies,

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has a panel examining the state’s complex swath of business taxes.

A separate committee is analyzing Connecticut’s patchwork of property taxes.

Through March for the fiscal year ending this June, DRS tax collections were running 16 percent above their levels a year prior, with income tax revenue up by a slightly higher margin, and corporation tax collections up nearly 7 percent.

At the Hartford hearing, DRS Commissioner Kevin Sullivan said tax cuts should not be the expectation of the committee’s work, but rather a simplified code that ideally will make it easier for a business to operate in the state.

“Our governor’s been very clear that we have gone through a necessary period of increasing revenue for the state of Connecticut,” Sullivan said. “He’s been equally clear that that’s over – that we are

they are limited partnerships … and they can’t take advantage of a lot of these tax credits.”

Tax traps?

Connecticut’s tax code gives even accountants conniptions, said Patrick Duffany, an accountant in the Glastonbury office of J.H. Cohn L.L.P., who noted the differing sales tax treatments applied to business analysis, business management and business management consulting.

Heading into the current fiscal year alone, Connecticut enacted 70 changes affecting the taxes residents and businesses pay.

“They really create traps for the unwary,” Duffany said. “A lot of Connecticut businesses are aware of it, but if you are outside Connecticut and you’re looking to come in, you’re going to

be caught unaware.”

Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut, said companies’ state taxes appear to “change” every time they switch auditors, due to wide disparities in interpreting the rules.

“I have heard very, very extensive and explicit complaints, particularly … (from) independent contractors,” Carstensen said. “I actually know of a business who says he is relocating back to New York, because it’s cheaper to do business in New York because you know what the rules are – and in Connecticut you never know what the rules are.”

Panelists wrestled with the fear that any additional change will only discourage companies already fed up with excessive tinkering with the tax code – particularly in jettisoning tax credits that no longer are producing significant results in the form of state revenue and jobs. That could involve scrapping unused credits still on the books of corporations – for the 2010 fiscal year, DRS tallied nearly $2.2 billion in unused tax credits carried forward to a subsequent tax year.

“If we change the rules of the game … and basically (take) money away from businesses, how are we restoring business confidence?” said Steve Lanza, a University of Connecticut economist. “The state … has a credibility problem in doing that.”

When Connecticut cut back on the value of a research and development tax credit, it significantly hurt the state’s reputation, according to John Rathgeber, CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

“People had made investments based on the existence of that tax credit,” he said.

Rathgeber, also a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the debate is kindling even as companies outside Connecticut come to a “recognition that we’re starting to do some things right.”

Wade Gibson, senior policy fellow for Connecticut Voices for Children, said companies typically will give serious consideration to relocating to Connecticut if the state successfully makes the case they will cut costs 30 percent, including the impact of incentives.

“In terms of credits, there’s no question businesses are motivated,” Lieberman said. “I don’t want to say that tax is the sole motivator for making business decisions – that would be overstating the case – but

there is no question they are motivated by tax credits, accelerated depreciation, a lot of the tax benefits that are involved. It impacts how they ultimately can finance and pay for these investments.”

Horse-and-buggy problem But the state essentially has a “horseand-buggy” problem, Gibson said – tax credits enacted to promote industries that are no longer part of Connecticut’s longrange vision for economic development.

“The issue here is that our tax code is tilted backwards,” Gibson said. “The rates

“If we change the rules of the game … and basically (take) money away from businesses, how are we restoring business confidence? The state … has a credibility problem in doing that.”

– Steve Lanza, economist, University of Connecticut

and the credits – they stay on the books forever. And so the realities of the day when that credit was passed or that rate was set, they may have no bearing on our reality today, and yet they persist into the present.”

Gibson rejected the premise of removing ineffective tax credits as scaring off corporations leery of being able to plan for the future, saying he is only suggesting a process that companies follow themselves – ongoing course corrections based on upto-date accounting of profits and losses.

“I don’t think a stable waste of money is inherently good,” Gibson said. “If we can’t spend money … in a way that ensures the taxpayer gets a good return, then we shouldn’t spend that money through a credit. We should spend it through a grant or a loan or somewhere else.”

2 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

RDS_FCBJad_Apr12_JZinno:RDS_FCBJad_Apr12_JZinno

business attraction, study finds

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

C

onnecticut plummeted on an index of economic competitiveness with its 44th ranking two slots behind New Jersey, but ahead of last-place New York.

In the annual “Rich States, Poor States” study sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council, economist Arthur Laffer ranks states according to taxes, regulatory burdens and labor policies, among other criteria. In the ALEC report, Laffer takes

State Sen. Scott Frantz’s proposal to eliminate death taxes has been buried in a legislative committee.

especial aim at Connecticut’s gift and estate tax, contrasting it with states such as Ohio that voted to repeal death taxes.

“Some small businesses may be rich in assets, but lack cash, meaning that they must sell off their assets in order to pay the tax,” Laffer wrote in the report. “As in other states with a high death tax, successful Ohioans are tempted to leave town to save their families a large tax bill.”

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget lowered the tax threshold from $3.5 million of taxable assets to $2 million, retroactive to January 2011, and kept the rate at 12 percent.

Greenwich state Sen. Scott Frantz introduced a bill this session to repeal the gift and estate tax, but at deadline the legislation remained buried in the joint com-

mittee on finance.

Through March for the fiscal year ending this June, inheritance tax collections are down more than 40 percent in Connecticut, to $12.3 million.

While gift and estate taxes can fluctuate due to a few wealthy residents dying, triggering the tax for a given tax year, some say collections could drop due to rich people re-establishing residency in a tax-free jurisdiction such as Florida.

Not all are convinced.

“The reality is that it doesn’t happen,” said Lori Pelletier, secretary and treasurer of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. “Some may go for other reasons. The idea of moving to a southern state in the middle of January has nothing to do with how much money is in your bank account. It has to do with what the temperature … is when you get in your car in the morning and its single digits.”

But that sentiment ignores a simple fact – for snowbirds hypothetically spending October through March in Florida, tacking on an extra month to their winter sojourn is all it takes to establish residency there and so avoid Connecticut inheritance taxes. It is not much.

The appeal of some southern states goes well beyond death taxes, according to Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut.

“Brian Flaherty, who works with Nestle Waters, explained in Virginia they’ll install some of your production equipment and train workers,” Carstensen said. “They are absolutely ready to walk in to your factory fully trained. There’s no capacity to do that kind of thing in Connecticut.”

Speaking in Hartford last month, the owner of Stamford-based Optul Global Services recalled consulting to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development three years ago on the trend of U.S. corporations swiftly shipping production capacity to Asia and other regions.

“I recall looking at the people in economic development, with them looking somewhat puzzled and really uncomfortable with the idea that they were confronting a new challenge that they had not heard of before,” said Michael Pollard Of Optul.

“Based on that experience alone, I walked away understanding that what we would need to do in government is to have a quicker ‘refresh’ in terms of what is going on within the corporate enterprise.”

9:51 AM

Page 1

RDSCINTO TENANT PROFILE

Deep-sixed Death taxes a factor in state’s

casoule@westfairinc.com

3/23/12

JOHN A. ZINNO JR., CPA NAME:

John A. Zinno Jr., CPA TITLE:

Partner-in-Charge, Shelton Office COMPANY:

BlumShapiro - Accounting | Tax | Business Consulting

WEBSITE:

www.blumshapiro.com

PROFILE:

John is an audit partner and the Partner-in-Charge of BlumShapiro’s Shelton Office. BlumShapiro is the largest regional accounting, tax and business consulting firm based in New England.

John started with the firm in 1989 upon graduation from Assumption College and was promoted to partner in January 2000. As a partner with over 20 years of experience, John services a variety of privately held businesses and their owners. He also serves as the director of services to educational institutions. John resides in Middlebury, Connecticut with his wife Lisa and two children, Olivia and Jake. He is very active in his community by serving as a board of director in a volunteer capacity for The Palace Theater of Waterbury, The Greater Waterbury YMCA and St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY:

Be good to people and good things will follow FAVORITE BOOK:

Good to Great FAVORITE MOVIE:

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Bob Scinto!!!

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Building more than just buildings.

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012

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PERSPECTIVES • Main office telephone. . . . . . . . (914) 694-3600 • Newsroom fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (914) 694-3680 • Sales fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (914) 694-3699 • Research fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (914) 694-3682 • Editorial e-mail. . . . . casoule@westfairinc.com

S

o who “lost” Connecticut for the Republican party? George H.W. Bush? Lowell Weicker Jr.? John Rowland?

Newt Gingrich?

As Gingrich nears the end of his presidential bid as “the last conservative standing,” as proclaimed on his campaign website, he is taking a tour of sorts through the states he did so much to energize and embattle during his term as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, engineering the “contract with America” that shoved President Clinton squarely back toward the center.

If Clinton saved his own political career, in moving mainstream he was forced to shelve plans for a massive, government-run health care system and

Letters Home value fluctuation a fact of life To the editor: The notion that a homeowner should be compensated under the recent bank settlement (“Being fair to all homeowners,” letter to the editor in the April 9 edition) for an “underwater loan” is troubling.

That is like saying that a stockbroker should chip in if an investor loses money on a stock purchase. People that were unfairly treated or wrongly foreclosed upon deserve something, but those who experienced a value fluctuation during the life of a mortgage, whether up or down, deserve nothing.

Guy Hatfield Fairfield

who knows what other big-government plans he had in store.

Clinton was fresh off snapping a streak of five straight Republican presidential candidate wins for Connecticut’s electoral-college vote, dating back to the Nixon era.

In Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, however, he encountered a formidable leadership team to a Republican controlled Congress that seized control of public sentiment.

Lott always came across as a pork-barrel politician – particularly in Connecticut, with Lott supporting submarine work for the Virginia shipyard owned today by Huntington Ingalls, which also has a major facility in Lott’s home state of Mississippi, at the expense of work for Electric Boat in Groton.

Gingrich, however, came across as a visionary then and continues to do so today, cemented by his work teaching and running think tanks following his ouster as House speaker. In fact, the argument could be made that he did more to give the Republican Party strategic direction than any politician since Ronald Reagan.

In 2002, in the wake of a Gingrich address to the Connecticut Forum in Hartford, Gingrich told Time magazine his other image – as a strident reactionary – was unfounded.

“Go back to that period and look at the 125,000 negative ads run by the other side,” Gingrich told Time. “The cover your magazine did of me after I was elected speaker showed me as Scrooge holding Tiny Tim’s broken crutch. That was over the top.”

Gingrich limps back into

Adam Fagen

Welcome back, Mr. Gingrich

Or write to: Fairfield County Business Journal 3 Gannett Drive, Suite G7 White Plains, N.Y. 10604-3407 www.westfaironline.com Publisher • Dee DelBello Managing Editor • Bob Rozycki

News

Fairfield County Bureau Chief • Alexander Soule Editor, Digital Content • Patrick Gallagher Records Reporter • George Cassidy Reporters • Patrick Gallagher • John Golden • Mary Shustack • Zoë Zellers Research Director • Alissa Frey

Advertising Sales

Sales Manager • Anne Jordan Duffy Account Executives • Barbara Stewart Hanlon • Dan Vierno • Kristina Cook Director Digital Sales • Thomas Spanos Programs and Projects Coordinator • Beverly Visosky

Production

Department Director • Alison Kouzmanoff Art Director • Caitlin Nurge Digital Media Designer • Olga Loginova

Circulation

Director of Circulation • Holly Gallicchio Circulation Representative • Marcia Rudy

Connecticut even as the state GOP booked Ann Romney as the featured speaker for the annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner April 23 at the Stamford Marriott Hotel on the eve of the Republican primary here. Only in 2009, Gingrich was the speaker at the Bush dinner.

With Romney considering vice presidential candidates in anticipation of victory, it bears reminding that the frontrunner bested Gingrich by a single percentage point in a January straw poll cobbled together by the Connecticut Republican Party.

Maybe Gingrich was a little more popular than some of us might have thought, in a state that values sharp thinking. Maybe Mitt Romney is going to need all the help he can get in his campaign to oust an incumbent president.

Welcome back, Mr. Gingrich.

Administration

Chief Operating Officer • Michael Gallicchio Chief Financial Officer • Marie T. Orser Office Manager • Sylvia Sikoutris

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4 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Amid labor crackdown, health care provider sounds warning

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

C

onnecticut is considering raising to a felony crime employee misclassification, where employers and staff improperly list full-time employees as independent contractors.

Employee misclassification is currently a misdemeanor under state law.

With the construction industry long among those coming under the state microscope for misclassifying workers, the Connecticut Department of Labor is now extending scrutiny to home health care organizations – with one Fairfield County agency leading a fight to preserve exemptions for its “registry” business model under which patients pay caregivers directly, with a fee for the agency.

“If we were forced to go ‘full payroll’ we would have to raise our rates,” said Cathy Howard, who runs Griswold Special Care in Stratford and Bethel. “We agree with DOL in the added protections for the caregiver with respect to unemployment and … workers’ comp (insurance) … It’s the withholding piece that blows up the whole registry model. We can do the rest. We can meet them half way. We can meet them two-thirds of the way. We just can’t do the state income tax withholding.”

Kia Murrell, a lobbyist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association who tracks employer legislation, testified that any elevation of worker misclassification to a felony crime seems unwarranted given the lack of data suggesting a major increase in worker misclassification.

“Any penalties imposed on bad actors should be reasonably tailored to deter future violators without harshly punishing the bad actors who might otherwise be law-abiding employers,” Murrell said.

Last September, Connecticut became one of seven states to work out a system to share data with the U.S. Department of Labor and the IRS with an eye on ferreting out employers that are misclassifying workers as independent contractors.

Between March 2010 and February 2011, the Connecticut Department of Labor’s tax audit unit completed 1,600 audits and investigated another 9,000 individual wage complaints, while cobbling together statistics on what industries have a high incidence of misclassified workers.

The Connecticut DOL audits resulted in the reclassification of 6,500 workers and the discovery of roughly $50 million in previously unreported or underreported payroll.

At last report at the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, DRS had 22 worker misclassification cases under way, without identifying the companies targeted.

For its part, DOL has regularly gone public with stop-work orders it issues, with March enforcements covering a half-dozen construction sites in Fairfield County.

Workers have also taken their complaints to federal court – under former CEO Vincent Wasik, Velocity Express was the subject of lawsuits several years ago by drivers who said the company paid them as independent contractors, even though their Velocity Express scheduling prevented them from contracting their vans out

to other companies. The U.S Department of Labor also investigated the company’s wage practices.

In 2009, a federal bankruptcy judge in Delaware approved the sale of Velocity Express to Florida-based ComVest. Velocity Express subsequently moved its headquarters from Westport to Texas.

“ Financial incentives from the Energy Conscious Blueprint program encouraged us to invest in opportunities that have reduced our energy and maintenance costs.” “ We have worked with the Energy Efficiency Fund for many years on new construction projects. It is a great partnership and a very – Benny Smith, Vice President of Facilities user-friendly process.”

Price Chopper Supermarkets The best time to integrate money-saving energy efficiency measures into your project is early in development, during the design phase. Due to the initial capital investment needed to purchase many high-efficiency technologies, the Fund offers substantial financial assistance to help you bridge the gap. And the payback — reduced energy costs — is immediate and long-term.

According to Benny Smith: “We have reduced our utility consumption, which means we can better control costs at the consumer level. Our customers also enjoy a more pleasurable shopping experience as a result of energy efficient technologies installed, and our teammates are excited to work in a state-of-the-art supermarket.”

Project: Price Chopper Supermarket Middletown, CT Fund incentives: $112,816.75 Projected energy savings: $112,555 annually

Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency Programs are funded by a charge on customer energy bills.

For more information on energy efficiency programs for businesses, call 1-877-WISE-USE (1-877-947-3873) or visit www.CTEnergyInfo.com NU-27102 Testimonial_BSmith_7375x85_FCBJ.indd 1

3/30/12 10:58 AM

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012

5

Reaching for the star — From page 1

Lonza is quietly leaving Merritt 7 Corporate Park where Arch Chemicals was based.

Lonza Group on the move — From page 1

A Lonza manager did not respond to a request for details, including whether employees are being transferred or laid off.

In the tristate area, Lonza lists U.S. sites in the New Jersey towns of South Plainfield and Allendale. Arch also has a technical center in Cheshire, and large manufacturing plants in Rochester, N.Y., Georgia, and Kentucky, among other locales. At present, most of its hiring activity for corporate functions is centered at facilities in New Hampshire and Maryland.

Long billing itself as the “biocides company,” Arch sold decontaminants to scrub out impurities in products ranging from shampoo to wood coatings and pool water.

Basel, Switzerland-based Lonza is a custom chemical manufacturer that sells peptides and other molecular products for use by pharmaceutical companies, as well as substances for household consumer products.

Heading into the Lonza sale, Arch reported having an employee base of 2,500 people, nearly 1,400 of them in the United States. On its website this month, Lonza reports having nearly 130 people in Norwalk. At deadline, Lonza and Arch had not filed notice with

the state of Connecticut under the WARN Act, a requirement in layoffs involving at least 50 people.

Arch was created in 1999 after Olin Corp. spun off its specialty chemical business as an independent company, and knew only one CEO, Michael Campbell. In 2009 and 2010, Campbell chaired the National Association of Manufacturers while receiving $8.4 million in compensation in the recession-recovery year of 2010, up more than half from his pay in previous years.

In 2010, the last full year it reported financial results, Arch earned $71 million on sales of nearly $1.4 billion.

Arch already was consolidating some of its own facilities on the eve of the merger agreement, which Michael Campbell told analysts was less about cost cuts and more about strategic improvements.

“The consolidation will help us in … increasing creativity by getting all of our scientists together,” Campbell said at the time.

“We think we’ll get more bang out of our innovation buck.”

Even as it put its Norwalk quarters up for lease, Lonza hired Richard Ridinger as CEO, with Ridinger having previously worked for Henkel, which has its North American headquarters in Rocky Hill. Analysts saw the move as further evidence of Lonza’s push into Arch Chemicals’ sector.

FAIR ARGUMENT

“You can’t apply (small business) wellness programs the way you can with a larger employer … that has 5,000 employees with two sites in the state and the ability to communicate with each of those employees on a daily basis … It just doesn’t work that way.”

– Brian Quigley, regional director for America’s Health Insurance Plans

one other Energy Star building locally in Stamford’s Metro Center. Next door at the Metro Green Apartments it is seeking the far more rigorous platinum LEED designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Malkin Properties pursues Energy Star primarily for the operational cost savings it offers, according to Jeffrey Newman, executive vice president of leasing, but the program has appeal for prospective tenants. “ We do find companies on the cutting edge … that are more aware of energy and more sensitive to cut those costs,” Newman said. “Whether it makes a difference or not in the ultimate location decision, I guess it depends on circumstances.”

The town of Fairfield secured the first Energy Star label for a Fairfield County building, in 2000 for the 34,000-squarefoot Independence Hall at 611 Old Post Road, built in 1979.

Not until 2007 did a landlord achieve the Energy Star rating for a major, multitenant office building in Fairfield County – with Albert D. Phelps Inc.

doing so for its Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk. Last year, Clarion Partners and Marcus Partners acquired Merritt 7, which has been the dominant name in the Energy Star certification roster over several years.

Newman said Energy Star recertification generally comes cheaper than the first time through the wringer.

Through 2011, some 16,500 Energy Star-certified buildings across America have helped save nearly $2.3 billion in annual utility bills, according to EPA estimates. The agency did not specify how much money was spent by those buildings to achieve Energy Star status.

The agency is backing a Connecticut bill that would require commercial buildings in excess of 50,000 square feet to upload their data to the Energy Star portfolio manager program maintained by EPA. Some 2,700 buildings in Connecticut already use the Energy Star benchmarking software, according to Leslie Cook, an EPA program manager who testified last month in Hartford in support of the bill.

Under the same bill, homeowners would have to get energy audits on the houses they put up for sale, which the Connecticut Association of Realtors is protesting.

“We have a very high rate of building owners coming back to benchmark over and over again, year after year,” Cook said.

“It is something that we feel is critical to informing the building owner so that they can take those steps and understand that savings are to be found.”

ENERGY STAR OFFICE BUILDINGS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY Certified by EPA for 2011 and through Q1 2012 BUILDING

CITY

OWNER

Lee Farm Corporate Park

Danbury

Undisclosed; property manager CBRE

Darien Green

Darien

Normandy Real Estate

Greenwich Office Park - 2

Greenwich

Property Connecticut OBJLW One Corp.

500 West Putnam Ave.

Greenwich

SL Green

Merritt 7, Building 101

Norwalk

Clarion, Marcus Partners

Merritt 7, Building 301

Norwalk

Clarion, Marcus Partners

40 Richards Avenue

Norwalk

Mack-Cali Realty

MerrittView

Norwalk

Malkin Properties

2 Armstrong Park

Shelton

Armstrong Park Development

Soundview Plaza

Stamford

Mack-Cali Realty

Metro Center

Stamford

Malkin Properties

RBS Americas

Stamford

RBS

1055 Washington Blvd.

Stamford

SL Green

750 Washington Blvd.

Stamford

SL Green

Source: EPA

6 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Gold coastal property

ters.

The building totals more than 400,000 square feet of space at 800 Connecticut Ave. in Norwalk.

Connecticut Superior Court Judge Douglas Mintz allowed the foreclosure on previous owners River Park Property Owner L.L.C. and Fifth Street Owner Corp., according to the Stamford Advocate, which added financial terms were not available.

Paychex Inc., Georgia Pacific and Hitachi Capital number among the building’s tenants.

1700 EAST PUTNAM AVENUE

CDW expands in Shelton Large blocks of space coming on the market pushed the office vacancy rate up in Stamford and elsewhere.

Vacancy rate at 21 percent Office vacancy rates increased again in Fairfield County, according to Cushman & Wakefield, due primarily to swaths of new space hitting the market in Shelton and Stamford.

Cushman & Wakefield tracked leases on 251,000 square feet of class-A office space in the first quarter, about half the level of activity in the fourth quarter last year.

The county vacancy rate was 21 percent in the first quarter compared with 20.4 percent in the fourth quarter last year and 19.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

“The first quarter of 2012 was very quiet,” Jim Fagan, senior managing director and market leader in Cushman & Wakefield’s Stamford office, said in a statement. “Large blocks of space were put on the market this quarter, dramatically affecting both vacancy rates and absorption. When combined with minimal leasing activity, the Fairfield County real estate market got off to an exceptionally slow start.”

In downtown Stamford, the vacancy rate on class-A office space hit 27.4 percent compared with a 26.2 percent rate in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 23.7 percent in the first quarter last year. The numbers were impacted by UBS AG putting 110,000 square feet of space at 400 Atlantic St. up for sublease.

RiverPark building foreclosed An affiliate of MetLife reportedly acquired the RiverPark office building in Norwalk that serves as Priceline.com Inc.’s headquar-

CDW Government L.L.C. signed Fairfield County’s largest lease in the first quarter, taking 29,000 square feet of space at Two Corporate Drive in Shelton, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

The company is currently located on the fourth floor of 2 Enterprise Drive in Shelton, with both buildings owned by R.D. Scinto Inc. Illinois-based CDW sells software, computers and other high-tech gear for use by schools, government agencies, and other organizations, earning $17 million last year on $9.6 billion in revenue.

Carmen Steffens to open Brazilian fashion franchisor Carmen Steffens is opening a store at Danbury Fair Mall, its first on the East Coast.

Carmen Steffens sells shoes, handbags and accessories. Its only other U.S. store is in Hollywood, Calif., at the entrance to the Kodak Theatre.

Maine-based L.L. Bean is putting the final touches on a Danbury Fair Mall store slated to open this spring.

Facility gets new mortgage Bethel Health & Rehabilitation Center L.L.C. filed notice of a $26 million mortgage on the nursing home property in Berkshire Corporate Park in Bethel.

In addition to 160 beds in its nursing home at 13 Parklawn Ave., the organization also offers more than 40 units at its Cascades Assisted Living apartments.

The lender was Opppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance Inc. – Alexander Soule

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012

7

Stamford Innovation Center starts up

B

ob Dorf was on hand, early April, at Stamford Startup Weekend to speak to attendees and offer advice. A general partner at Stamford-based 1to1 Ventures L.P. and lecturer at Columbia Business School, Dorf is co-author of “The Startup Owner’s Manual” with Steve Blank.

Dorf shares his thoughts on entrepreneurship with the Fairfield County Business Journal.

What struck you the most at Stamford Startup Weekend?

We always knew there was sort of a latent startup community here in Fairfield County, but it was sort of in little pockets here and there.

To see this group of what had to have been 150 entrepreneurs, all together talking and exchanging ideas and business cards – to form really the nucleus, if you will, of a real entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Stamford – was just very exciting and energizing to me and I’m sure to the people who spent a couple years trying to get it organized and get the space nailed down and get it going.

I thought the Startup Weekend … was just a great way to launch the incubator and the whole Stamford Innovation Center – to

plant a flag in the ground that says, ‘If you need to jump into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this is the diving board.’

The reason so many startups grow up in Silicon Valley is because all the elements of potential success are there – the engineering, the financing, the lawyers who know how to do term sheets, the seasoned entrepreneurs who can mentor young founders, as well as the tech infrastructure support.

To see that all come together in one place in one night was really quite an achievement and I think offers a fabulous boost to somebody thinking about either starting or launching a business, and not having to get on the train and go to New York to do it.

And my god, most of these resources are really here. There were some bank people there and lots of lawyers looking for startups that needed help – all of the elements were really there.

What is the one resource you would add or bolster to Fairfield County’s scene?

It’s really access to ‘small money,’ valueadded investors. In other words, someone who is an experienced entrepreneur who’s either cashed out or retired and likes helping other entrepreneurs, and is willing to

write a $25,000 or $50,000 check to help a business get off the ground, just enough to see if there’s really some traction and a real opportunity there.

That person is writing a check not for founders’ salaries or for lawyering or things like that, but for, ‘How do I bring this business to life as quickly as possible to get customer feedback to the business and evolve the business to get it ready for prime time?’

There were hints of that – there were two guys from my temple, who coincidentally were there. They’re both serial entrepreneurs and angel investors and they were sort of wandering around talking to people, not advertising or promoting the fact that they might be able to write a modest check and give real good business advice, but that’s what they were doing. …

I think probably the biggest weakness in the group was a lack of business seasoning. Sadly as a result of the employment situation, some percentage of those entrepreneurs are there thinking about doing a startup because they don’t have or can’t find a good job, which is not typically the right reason to do a startup. You should be doing a startup because something is reaching down your throat and grabbing your heart and

saying, ‘you got to do this.’ Like 10 years ago, when people were between jobs, they would say, ‘well I’m a consultant,’ which was sort of a euphemism for ‘I’m looking for a job.’ The new euphemism for ‘I’m looking for a job’ is, ‘Well, I’m working on a startup’ …

There’s a certain sort of passion or devilmay-care or invincibility that an entrepreneur needs to have to get him or her through the tough times, which are always going to be there. And so if you’re doing a startup either because you have a great idea and your passionate about it and you just want to drop everything and create the next Google or Facebook or whatever, that’s great; or if you’re ‘gee I can’t find a job in astrophysics so I’m going to try to invent something – that’s sort of less great but still sort of a catalyst for doing a startup. But almost every one of these people needs mentoring and coaching and people who’ve been down this path before, because there’s no straight line to success. …

What is the age-old, repeating-themistakes-of the-past error by entrepreneurs?

I think the age-old one is the presumption of success: ‘I’m an entrepreneur. I solve

8 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Erin McMillan

A PLACE WHERE BUSINESS SHINES. Bob Dorf: “The new euphemism for ‘I’m looking for a job’ is ‘Well, I’m working on a startup.’”

problems. My job is to run through brick walls. No matter what, I am going to make this a successful venture.’ So they ignore sort of warning signs like, ‘Gee I thought customers were going to rush to buy this and it’s a much harder sell than I thought. What do I need to rethink or change or whatever?

But the invincibility of entrepreneurs is the age-old problem, which is why often when an entrepreneur is successful and the company really starts to grow and the investors say, ‘Wow, we may really have something here,’ typically that entrepreneur is no longer deemed qualified to run the company and they bring in a suit –– a seasoned, serial CEO, hired-gun type –– and push out the founder who has made this into a viable business because its time for adult supervision.

That’s sort of the old one I think – the ‘I don’t listen to too many people, I just do my thing and when I hit a problem I’ll figure it out’ –– particularly in … not listening to customers.

What’s the new error?

The more contemporary problem, if you will, I think really hit me when I was talking to a young woman … (who) came up to me and told me how great her product was, and so on and so forth. She made what is really the most pervasive mistake I’ve seen in the last couple of years and that is spending all the time, energy and money on the product itself. … The thing that really drove it home for me was (her saying), “I’ve been working on this for 18 months. I’ve hired the best developers. I keep making it better and better and better!’

How many customers have seen it and touched it? ‘Oh we’re not ready for that yet.’

A total focus on the product without rec-

ognizing that product is one of a bunch of elements of a successful business. Knowing who your customer segments are and how to pitch to each of those segments, is a vitally important element. Understanding the competitive set and how your product fits in that competitive set and what’s your unique selling proposition is another critical element. What’s the channel I’m going to sell my product through? Is the channel going to take all my profit or is it going to get me enough volume where I can still make money? How am I going to get customers?

Am I going to use blimps and billboards on I-95 or am I going to use Google AdWords?

Where are my customers going to come from and once they come, how am I going to keep them and grow them, and at what cost to my gross margin?

So the most recurring mistake I really see is, head down on the product and ignoring all the other elements that make a business a business that is successful. …

I don’t really care how beautiful your user interface is or how great your features and functions are, because the technology has advanced so much that in a matter of a couple of days a couple of bright engineers can glue together a prototype of almost anything other than maybe an antigravity machine or a instant weight-loss pill.

Companies don’t fail anymore because of the lack of technology – they fail for the lack of customers. And if you don’t start looking at that the day you are writing your first line of code, you really are doing yourself a horrible disservice that often can result in premature death. … There’s nothing more important than getting out of the building and talking to customers to make sure that they buy your guesses as to what the business is going to look like.

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203.329.7900 FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012

9

IN THE FIELD

Chambers to visit Cuba Five business groups are planning a nineday trip to Cuba in late September, booking through a California travel agency even as Norwalk-based Tauck World Discovery runs its own weekly trips to the island nation.

The trip is still open for other chambers of commerce to join, and for people not a member provided they book through one of the participating organizations, according to Chris Bruhl, CEO of the Business Council of Fairfield County.

“It should be a fun trip for people to go on,” Bruhl said. “This was of great interest to … members.”

The U.S. government is sanctioning People-to-People educational exchange trips this year, with visitors facing restrictions on

activities and items they can bring home.

Participating chambers also include the: • Bridgeport Regional Business Council; • Danbury Chamber of Commerce; • Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce; and • Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

Through Redondo Beach, Calif.-based Chamber Explorations, the organizations are charging a $3,500 per person double rate, which includes round-trip airfare from Miami, hotel and meals, travel visa and guides.

Among other sights, the itinerary includes Old Havana, the Sugar Mill Valley, Ernest Hemingway’s Finca La Vigia farm and Cojimar Fishing Village.

Utilities merge Northeast Utilities hit its April 10 target date for completing its merger with NStar, with Tom May now CEO of the combined company and former NU CEO Chuck Shivery becoming chairman.

The deal creates one of the nation’s largest utilities with 9,000 employees across six regulated electric and natural gas utilities, and 3.5 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire who contributed to $7.4 billion in revenue last year.

NU lists dual headquarters in Boston and Hartford.

The companies expect to accrue $780 million in savings over the next decade.

LesserEvil took first place in the Connecticut Specialty Food Association’s gluten-free category for its kettle corn.

Realtor sold

Peppers & Rogers buys

HomeServices of America Inc. is acquiring Prudential Connecticut Realty Inc. for an amount not immediately revealed.

Prudential Connecticut Realty will remain a franchisee of Newark, N.J.-based Prudential and retain its name.

Prudential Realty has its main office in Wallingford, and lists 350 agents in Fairfield County among some 1,400 statewide. The company reported $2.5 billion in sales in 2011.

Minnesota-based HomeServices is controlled by Berkshire Hathaway, whose General Reinsurance Corp. subsidiary is among the larger employers in Stamford.

Last December, New Jersey-based Prudential sold its Shelton-based corporate relocation services division to Chicago-based Brookfield Residential Property Services.

With backing from its controlling stakeholder, Peppers & Rogers Group acquired iKnowtion L.L.C., a Burlington, Mass. company that uses advanced analytics to assist companies in optimizing the money they spend on marketing.

Stamford-based Peppers & Rogers consults on business customer strategies.

The companies did not immediately disclose financial terms. Peppers & Rogers was acquired in 2010 for $13 million by TeleTech Holdings Inc.

Tablet sales to double Tablet sales should double this year, according to new estimates by Stamford-based Gartner Inc., to nearly 119 million units worldwide.

Apple’s iOS continues to be the dominant media tablet operating system, with Gartner projecting it to account for 61 percent of total sales. Google Inc.’s Android was next with a 32 percent market share and Microsoft Corp. was a distant third.

Gartner analysts predict corporate and enterprise purchases of media tablets will account for about 35 percent of total sales in 2015.

LesserEvil digs deep LesserEvil Brand Snack Co. is donating 10 percent of its profits to autism awareness, linking up with the Autism Speaks foundation run by former General Electric Co. and NBC Universal executive Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne Wright.

Wilton-based LesserEvil made the Inc. 500 list in 2009, reporting $3.4 million in revenue the year before. More recently,

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lancing up at a massive, aging skylight, Chris Van Buiten declared there would be no helicopter landing pad on top of the century-old, Old Town Hall in Stamford.

Sky’s the limit after that, the Sikorsky Innovations head suggested.

In a stealth operation worthy of its newest secret helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. swooped in to embed a high-tech incubator at the new Stamford Innovation Center, with the Stamford iCenter itself launching with a half-dozen startups in house, while hosting a Stamford Startup Weekend March 30 and April 1.

At the same time, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy confirmed he met in late

January with IBM Corp. managers, without specifying the purpose of that meeting to include whether any deal is in the works to get the Armonk, N.Y.-based company to expand in Connecticut.

In one fell swoop initially engineered by Malloy aide Kip Bergstrom, Stamford finds itself with what it thinks will be a vibrant entrepreneur “hotel,” while iCenter, page 2

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rchie and Jughead, Veronica and Betty and their forever-young comicbook gang at Riverdale High might blush at the storylines written in lawsuits by their creators’ clashing heirs at Archie Comic Publications Inc. in Mamaroneck.

The real-world scripts, contained in state Supreme Court filings in Manhattan and Westchester County, include several employees’ claims last year that they were sexually harassed and threatened by Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of the comics publishing company since 2009 and widow of Michael Silberkleit, the former chairman and publisher of Archie

Feb. 2 report.

However, the state’s private-sector employers posted a net loss of 11,200 jobs since last July, triggering what DiNapoli described as a noticeable slowdown.

“After a strong first half of 2011, job growth in New York was markedly weaker during the second half of the year, raising concerns about the pace of the recovery in 2012,” DiNapoli wrote.

The region that includes Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties ranked among the lowest of the state’s metropolitan areas in the proportion of jobs recovered since the recession.

After losing 28,800 jobs between July 2008 and December 2009, the lower Hudson

HV

Comics. The company last summer asked a state judge to prevent Silberkleit from working at the company’s offices at 325 Fayette Ave. in Mamaroneck and to bar her from contacting company employees and vendors.

In January, Jonathan Goldwater, who shares the co-CEO title and company director duties with Silberkleit and is the brother of Michael Silberkleit’s late business partner and co-publisher, filed a second lawsuit in Manhattan seeking her removal as company director and officer. If she stays, Goldwater said, the “iconic American company” is in danger of failing and being liquidated.

Silberkleit, a Rye resident, that same week went to state Supreme Court in White

Infighting and lawsuits between co-CEOs have shaken Archie Comics since the death of its former publisher

Archie, page 9 and chairman Michael Silberkleit, shown here in 2007 at company headquarters in Mamaroneck.

Valley added a net 4,000 jobs in the two years since, with the region’s job recovery rate of 13.8 percent ranking far behind the state and

The region that includes Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties ranked among the lowest of the state’s metropolitan areas in the proportion of jobs recovered since the recession.

New York City, which recovered jobs that were lost during the recession at rates of 46.3

Back to the drawing Board • 18

percent and 51.6 percent, respectively.

In the three-county region, “Gains in education, health services and tourism have been partially offset by sizable losses in government, construction and manufacturing,” DiNapoli wrote.

Unemployment in the region fell to 6.4 percent last December from 7.2 percent in December 2009; however, the report noted that much of that decline was due to a drop in the state’s labor force rather than employment increases.

Compounding the slow recovery, the financial securities industry, which DiNapoli called “the state’s economic engine” and which accounts for a third of the state’s gross State, page 9

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A day before the U.S. Commerce Department revealed that the economy added 243,000 hris Tella made it through the October nor’easter jobsand in January, state Comptroller Thomas Tropical Storm Irene relatively intact – but notDiNapoli in the warned that hiring in New York nor’easter of March 2010 when a 65-foot tree toppled and the Hudson Valley has lagged over the onto his Greenwich house. past six months. cloud-serThrough it all, the roof never caved in on his cloud-ser Between December 2009 and December vices provider UFlexData and parent company Mandragore, 2011, the state’s private sector regained with Tella able to access all his company’s critical data and 183,600 – or 58 percent – of the jobs that software from mobile devices. were lost during the recession.

As small businesses get increasingly comfortable with During that same period the state as a the idea of running their information technology out of the whole cloud – housing applications and data on remote servers run saw the return of 46 percent of all jobsser that were lost, well above the national serby others – a building formation of relatively small cloud average of 34 percent, DiNapoli noted in his vice providers like UFlexData is selling those services locally.

A functional cloud system for many small-business needs comes in at half the cost of many mobile phone plans, according to Tella, CEO of UFlexData. Yet many businesses still associate the cloud with a sky-high bill up front and going forward.

February 13, 2012 | VOL. 48, No. 7

ArchrivAls feud And sue At Archie comics

State comptroller warns of weak job market

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westfaironline.com In keeping with the state of New York’s focus on regional economic development, this issue of the Westchester County Business Journal marks the debut of its sister publication, HV Biz, within its pages. We bring together In time, Barry Schwimmer preneurs, anyway. the counties that make up the and his cohorts might enable The Stamford iCenter comcom Hudson Valley, with its twomilitary aircraft to change color menced operations in Stamford’s million population, and proat the push of a button or a dot- Old Town Hall with a half-dozen vide business and economic com to support a “community of startups already enrolled, ranging news helpful to shaping a drink explorers.” from Arsanis Biosciences GmbH, regional identity. HV In time, the Stamford an Austrian company hoping powerful to Biz news will appear biweekInnovation Center hopes to be develop treatments for cancer ly,2 broadening the reach of the ultimate enabler – for entreDotting, page all local businesses while strengthening knowledge and marketing opportunities.

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10 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

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Hotel rebrands, reopens

Need sleep?

The Danbury Plaza Hotel reopened under its Crowne Plaza brand with a new restaurant called Jays and extensive renovations.

The Crowne Plaza Danbury has 240 rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate 500 people. Richard Bair is general manager of the hotel, which is owned by Jesta Hospitality CT L.L.C. and operated under license with InterContinental Hotels Group.

IHG also runs the Crowne Plaza Stamford and Holiday Inn hotels in Stamford, Danbury and Bridgeport.

Purdue Pharma L.P. is now selling Intermezzo, an insomnia drug designed to help people fall back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night.

The drug was developed by Point Richmond, Calif.-based Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc., which in 2009 licensed North American marketing rights to Purdue.

It is Stamford-based Purdue Pharma’s first new drug release since Butrans, used to alleviate pain in patients who require around-the-clock care.

GE antes up for taxes After maintaining the second lowest net federal income tax of any corporation, Gener al Electric Co.’s effective tax swung to 11.3 percent in 2011, according to a new report.

Between 2008 and 2 0 1 0 , Fairfieldbased GE had a minus 45.3 percent fedAfter absorbing protests, including this one in January, GE had eral income an effective tax rate of 12 percent tax rate, in 2011. according to calculations

by Citizens for Tax Justice. GE’s low taxes stem mainly from its Norwalk-based GE Capital unit, which Citizens for Tax Justice says generates profits but also huge tax “losses” that reduce GE’s taxable income from its other operations.

The Washington, D.C.-based group says GE still has one of the two most advantageous tax rates in the country at minus 18.9 percent over the past four years.

J-Hotel nears finish The new J-Hotel and eleven14 Kitchen restaurant is opening this spring at the site of the former Howard Johnson Hotel at 1114 E. Putnam Ave. in Greenwich.

Brenwood Hospitality Group is leading the project along with cb5 Restaurant Group. The hotel will have nearly 90 rooms and meeting space.

The hotel’s general manager is John Sheedy, who previously worked with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., which opened a new headquarters in Stamford late last year.

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First Five controversy With some wondering why TicketNetwork won enhanced economic development incentives – given it already had a major presence in Connecticut – it turns out some in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration had the same misgivings.

In emails obtained by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act, Malloy communications staff discussed how to explain Vernon-based TicketNetwork becoming one of the “First Five” companies for enhanced economic incentives, rather than the incentives being reserved to lure a company from another state.

“It’s important to point out that while South Windsor and Vernon were fighting over Ticket Network – in addition to other Connecticut cities – they also received offers from Massachusetts and New York,” AP quoted unnamed staff stating in an email to Malloy.

TicketNetwork pulled out of the First Five program after its CEO Don Vaccaro was arrested on charges stemming from his actions at a party. The company has yet to state publicly whether it plans to push ahead with an expansion without state funding.

Cloud in a box IBM Corp. proclaimed a new category of computing it calls PureSystems, promising clients the ability to create cloud-based systems in a matter of minutes.

Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM said the new system is the result of the efforts of thousands of employees spanning the globe.

At the center of the PureSystems is new software capability IBM dubs “patterns of expertise” that automates a wide range of tasks, including configuration of servers, storage computers and routers and other networking devices. Companies can have a “ready-to-go cloud system in a box” in IBM’s words, giving them a foundation for an expandable, secure cloud-computing environment.

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 11

RANKED BY TOTAL ASSETS

THE LIST

FAIRFIELD COUNTY NEXT LIST: APRIL 30 HOSPITALS

THRIFTS AND SAVINGS BANKS (WITH BRANCHES IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY)

Largest Thrifts and Savings Banks

Next list: April 30 — Hospitals

Rank

Ranked by total assets.

Name and address • Number of branches in county Phone number, area code: 203 (unless otherwise noted) Website

1

Hudson City Savings Bank

2

People's United Bank

3

Union Savings Bank

4

Fairfield County Bank Corp.

5

First County Bank

6

Newtown Savings Bank

7

Savings Bank of Danbury

8

Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan Association

9

Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust

10

80 W. Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652 • Nine branches (201) 967-1900 • hudsoncitysavingsbank.com

850 Main St., Bridgeport 06604 • 65 branches 338-7650 • peoples.com

226 Main St., Danbury 06810 • 14 branches 830-4200 • unionsavings.com

150 Danbury St., Ridgefield 06877 • 22 branches 438-6518 • fcbankcorp.com

117 Prospect St., Stamford 06901 • 15 branches 462-4200 • firstcountybank.com

39 Main St., Newtown 06470 • 14 branches 426-4440 • nsbonline.com

220 Main St., Danbury 06810 • Nine branches 743-3849 • sbdanbury.com

333 Church St., Naugatuck 06770 • One branch 720-5000 • nvsl.com

100 Field Point Road, Greenwich 06830 • One branch 413-9302 • fieldpointprivate.com

Milford Bank 33 Broad St., Milford 06460 • Two branches 783-5700 • milfordbank.com

Total assets

Tangible assets

($ rounded)

($ rounded)

2010 income (loss)

2011 YTD income (loss)

($ rounded)

($ rounded)

Delinquent loans ($ rounded)

Year established Number of employees

45,373.6 billion

45,069.5 billion

529.9 million

-742.741 million

1,022.7 million

1868 1,586

27,319.3 billion

25,298.5 billion

98.3 million

206.3 million

554.9 million

1842 5,209

2,496.5 billion

2,475.3 billion

5.2 million

7.8 million

62.2 million

1866 420

1,441.4 billion

1,455.8 billion

1.11 million

7.911 million

51.129 million

1871 285

1,319.1 billion

1,306.1 billion

2.3 million

3.1 million

24.2 million

1851 221

955.5 million

944.8 million

1.2 million

2.0 million

19.8 million

1855 198

762.3 million

765.8 million

1.1 million

1.5 million

27.7 million

1849 164

573.9 million

573.9 million

2.3 million

2.3 million

25.4 million

1922 146

567.3 million

566.7 million

4.6 million

1.6 million

0.0

2008 60

371.8 million

375.9 million

930 thousand

1.4 million

7.9 million

1872 97

Questions or comments, call (914) 694-3600, ext. 3005.

Source: Information obtained from BauerFinancial Inc., Coral Gables, Fla. 33114; (800) 388-6686; bauerfinancial.com; data as of December, 2011.

Compiled from data as reported to federal regulators. Although the financial data obtained from these sources is consistently reliable, its accuracy and comprehensiveness can not be guaranteed by BauerFinancial Inc. Information for number of branches is current as of April 2012 and was obtained from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. website fdic.gov.

12 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Stamford Center for the Arts bestows honors

“Y

ou know, there’s a song by Elaine Stritch that says, ‘I’m still here,’ and we are still here. We, the Stamford Center for the Arts, are still here and we’re getting better,” asserted Moira Lyons during her Arts Ovation Award acceptance speech at the Stamford Center for the Arts (SCA) annual gala March 30.

Lyons, the former speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives and current director of community and government relations for Norwalk Community College, sits on the board of the center. She was recognized for her ongoing dedication to SCA and the greater community.

“It is a great honor, I think more so because there are so many people in our community who do (charitable work)… that equally could have been chosen and do a wonderful job,” she said.

A Stamford resident for 29 years, Lyons calls SCA “the heart of the community” but has devoted ample time to other Stamford organizations, including Ferguson Library, the Women’s Business Development Center, and Stamford’s Old Town Hall, now a business incubator.

When pressed about how she finds the time to lend herself to so many local organizations, Lyons laughed and said, “You know what? It’s

amazing how many people do that and I probably do less than some. I think we’re fortunate in Stamford that we have so many individuals who really want to give back to the community.

I’m certainly not unique…. I just think it’s the culture of Stamford.”

“Moira has been so consistently supportive of this organization as speaker of the House and on the board,” said Elissa Getto, executive director of SCA. Gov. Dannel Malloy presented Lyons with the honor and recounted the long relationship that began during his term as Stamford’s mayor when she was a member of the city’s board of representatives.

“I’ve known Moira for much of my life and much of her life,” Malloy said, detailing their journey through politics…. “She’s been extremely valuable in preserving this facility as well as the Rich Forum.”

It was fitting that Lyons referenced musical theater star Elaine Stritch just before another of the evening’s honorees took the stage – Liza Minnelli. Prior to receiving the Arts Legacy Award, Minnelli shimmied and stomped onstage, performing classic cabaret hits and her new material with composer Billy Stritch, who is son of the legendary Elaine Stritch.

Michael Widland, chairman of the board of SCA, also was selected for this year’s award.

Tim Coffey

BY ZOË ZELLERS

zzellers@westfairinc.com

Moira Lyons and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

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14 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

SPECIAL REPORT Commercial Banking

BNC makes aHires bid for Bridgeport and beyond Peyton Patterson as its new CEO

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

O

n the eve of hiring the former CEO of a New Haven bank, BNC Financial Inc. was already arranging an outpost on the county border – and in the shadow no less of the bank synonymous with Bridgeport.

BNC hired Peyton Patterson to be its new CEO, with Patterson having sold New Haven-based NewAlliance bank last year to First Niagara Financial Group Inc. Patterson will replace Jay Forgotson, who becomes president of subsidiary Bank of Fairfield.

Through its dominant Bank of New Canaan subsidiary, BNC filed for permission to open a limited branch at 855 Main St. in Bridgeport, subject to the approval of the Connecticut Department of Banking.

Patterson The Banking Department allows limited branches to make loans while banks work out how to meet the full banking needs of the larger community.

The new office is across the street from the headquarters of People’s United Financial Inc., the largest bank in both Bridgeport and Fairfield County.

Last fall, Bank of New Canaan hired Milford resident Michael Sulkis as vice president of commercial lending, with an eye on New Haven County as a new loan territory for BNC. Sulkis previously was a commercial loan officer for the Bank of Southern Connecticut in New Haven. Earlier, he worked for Patriot National Bank and NewAlliance Bank.

Now in Patterson, BNC gets an executive who is far bet-

ter known in New Haven County and statewide. Contacted prior to the company issuing a release announcing Patterson’s hire, a BNC spokeswoman declined comment on the bank’s plans for Bridgeport and New Haven County.

It was not immediately clear whether BNC would run the office under the banner of Bank of New Canaan, Bank of Fairfield, or a new subsidiary. Last year, the company opened Stamford First Bank, its fifth branch in Fairfield County, which for now it has kept consolidated under Bank of New Canaan.

BNC has been the runaway leader in small business lending in Fairfield County during the recovery, as ranked by percentage loan increases the past few years.

Across its five branches at the close of 2011, BNC loans totaled $363 million, up 27 percent from the year before – with nearly $47 million earmarked to small businesses, a 79 percent gain that was easily tops among Fairfield County banks.

BNC did not immediately publish details on Patterson’s pay, including any signing bonus or stock compensation.

In her final full year in 2010 with NewAlliance, Patterson received $3.8 million in total compensation and her stock holdings in the company totaled 2.4 million shares.

Forgotson, by comparison, received just more than $400,000 in compensation and held about 38,000 shares, with the company’s stock trading at $14 this year.

As of 2011, BNC’s largest outside shareholder was Carl Kuehner III, CEO of Building and Land Technology, the company leading Stamford’s Harbor Point development that is among Fairfield County’s largest commercial landlords.

Kuehner’s stake totaled just short of 10 percent of BNC’s shares, with the company’s market capitalization totaling close to $39 million at last report.

BNC has been emboldened by growth at Stamford First Bank, which accumulated $65 million in profits in its first full year of business, with BNC expecting it to turn an operating profit this year.

In previous interviews, Forgotson and BNC President Heidi DeWyngaert have mentioned Norwalk as a potential avenue for a new branch, as well as Greenwich and a few other locales, but not Bridgeport.

Just eight banks currently have a presence in Bridgeport, with People’s United Financial Inc. holding a commanding 69 percent market share on its home turf with $1.1 billion in total deposits, more than half that amount listed at its main office at 850 Main St.

BNC’s new Bridgeport office is across the street from People’s United Bank’s headquarters.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 15

Commercial Banking Finance ledger

CFO worries: health care, costs Middle-market CFOs have grown more positive the last six months, according to the latest middle-market CFO survey by GE Capital, but CFOs expressed concern about both health care and inflation.

In the survey, the U.S. budget deficit and Europe’s fiscal condition were also high on the list of concerns. Norwalk-based GE Capital surveyed nearly 500 CFOs nationwide at companies with average revenue of $143 million, across a range of industries.

“This outlook is generally consistent with what we are seeing in our own, midmarket financing businesses, Dan Henson, CEO of GE Capital’s Americas operations,

said in a statement. “Our total financing activity was up 15 percent in 2011 and our pipeline of new business is up 16 percent at the end of the first quarter.”

Henson added cash flow is up an average of 10 percent this year at companies in GE Capital’s portfolio.

The hiring outlook improved, with 74 percent of companies planning to hire this year, a 6-point increase. CFOs said credit availability remains stable.

GE Capital released the survey results the same day it announced a $225 million loan for 84 Lumber Co., a Pennsylvania-based company that sells construction materials.

Jupiter lands $100G grant Jupiter Communications L.L.C. is receiving a $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Small Business Express Program, which it will use on new equipment to service an unspecified major new customer.

Stratford-based Jupiter Communications offers printing services to the financial publishing industry. The company is adding two people as a result of the grant and its own $180,000 investment giving it a dozen employees in all.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy created the $100 million Small Business Express Program last year as part of a broader jobs bill, with a focus of quickly furnishing aid for companies in growth mode.

Utility amps up reserves Public Power L.L.C. secured $8 million in new financing from First Niagara Financial Group Inc., with the company planning to use the money on expansion.

Danbury-based Public Power sells electricity and natural gas to some 200,000 residential and commercial customers in Connecticut, New York, and other states.

The company’s credit lines and loans from

We’re not just a great place to get a business loan.

We’re part of the Stamford community.

First Niagara now total $33 million, with the company drawing on financing depending on summer electric demand.

Based in Buffalo and with its main regional office in New Haven, First Niagara is in the process of acquiring HSBC branches in Fairfield County.

AG eyes State Street trades Connecticut is examining charges rung up

by State Street Bank for foreign- exchange trades on behalf of the state’s $24 billion pension, with litigation a possible outcome.

Attorney General George Jepsen hopes to hire a consultant to review the Bostonbased bank’s trading, as first reported by Pensions & Investments. Contacted by the magazine, a State Street spokesperson had no comment except to call Connecticut a “valuable client.”

The state is seeking a consultant with experience in serving as an expert witness in legal proceedings, among other criteria.

Swiss account probe extended The Internal Revenue Service continues culling through information it collected from people who avoided taxes via secret accounts in Swiss banks, and the agency’s commissioner says “the next wave” of investigations is under way.

In 2009, the IRS created a voluntary disclosure program for taxpayers who placed income in overseas accounts, while bringing pressure on UBS AG to surrender account information. UBS, which has one of its largest U.S. centers in Stamford, ultimately complied, marking the first time U.S. regulators had pierced the wall of secret Swiss bank accounts.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said the agency had hoped to get 1,000 disclosures – instead, it has received 33,000 resulting in back taxes and penalties totaling $4.4 billion, with participants dodging potential jail time in exchange for their cooperation.

UConn takes ACG Cup

Mike McKelvey, Heidi DeWyngaert, Bob Palermo

We put Stamford First!

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A team from the University of Connecticut won the ACG Connecticut Cup, a business-case competition sponsored by the Connecticut chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

The case study competition is designed to give MBA students exposure to mergers and acquisitions, private equity, investment banking and financial advisory work.

Second and third place went to teams from Yale University and Sacred Heart University, respectively, with Yale winning the first two ACG Cups in 2010 and 2011.

– Alexander Soule

16 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

CEO says Wilton Bank on the rebound

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

I

f a big “Texas ratio” suggests big risk on the books of tiny Wilton Bank, its CEO counters that the company is well on the way to recovery.

As it reaches its 25th anniversary this month, Wilton Bank has the highest Texas ratio of any bank in Connecticut – a measure first conjured in the early 1990s to capture excessive risk in the savings and loan industry, first in Texas and later New England.

The Texas ratio compares a bank’s delinquent loans with the amount of reserves and capital it has to cover any losses. A ratio over 100 percent means a bank does not have enough capital to cover delinquent loans if they all go bad.

Wilton Bank’s Texas ratio was 143 percent as of the end of last year, nearly twice the score of Connecticut Community Bank, the next highest in Fairfield County. The U.S. average was just under

DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS Texas ratio on risk at Fairfield County banks, Q4 2011

TEXAS RATIO

BANK Wilton Bank

143.0%

Connecticut Community Bank

78.7%

The Community’s Bank

58.6%

Patriot National Bank

48.1%

Savings Bank of Danbury

41.3%

Newtown Savings Bank

34.1%

Union Savings Bank

33.8%

Fairfield County Bank

30.7%

First County Bank

22.7%

U.S. average

20.0%

First Bank of Greenwich

17.5%

People’s United Bank

12.0%

Bank of New Canaan*

10.1%

Darien Rowayton Bank

9.1%

Bank of Fairfield*

0.0%

Fieldpoint Private Bank and Trust

0.0%

*Owned by BNC Financial Group Inc. Source: DepositAccounts.com

20 percent, according to data compiled by Dallas-based DirectAccounts.com.

It was one of the five worst marks of any bank in the Northeast, with New Jersey-based Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank having the worst Texas ratio at nearly 300 percent. Some 170 banks nationally had worse Texas ratios than Wilton Bank.

Long led by Nicki Brown, a onetime director of the American Bankers Association, Wilton Bank recruited Charles Howell III as Brown’s replacement upon her 2010 decision to retire.

Between 2009 and 2011, Wilton Bank lost $8 million.

Howell previously was CEO of Stamford-based Patriot National Bank, which was teetering on the brink of collapse in 2009 before Michael Carrazza invested $50 million to take a controlling stake in the company, and since earning plaudits for a turnaround.

Turning around Wilton Bank now falls on the shoulders of Howell – and in a sense marks his career coming full circle, having early in his career managed a Wilton branch of Norwalk Savings Society.

Howell noted that Wilton Bank cut its impaired loans from $20.9 million in December 2010 to $13.5 million a year later, of a total loan portfolio of $41.3 million. He declined to provide Wilton Bank’s figure for the first quarter this year ahead of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. reporting figures in a few weeks’ time, except to say it would be an improvement and that the bank is making progress.

Howell added the Texas ratio is an imperfect score in that it does not delineate between various types of risk on a bank’s books. In the case of Wilton Bank, a few large real estate loans soured – if they are not producing income at present, they still have value as collateral capable of paying off down the road.

“If you had commercial and industrial loans and a company blows up, you can lose a high percentage because receivables don’t come in,” Howell said. “With real estate you get a much higher recovery rate than other kinds of loans.

“We first will try to work with a builder, and it may be a situation where there is a short sale,” Howell said. “The builder obviously loses his equity and we take somewhat of a nonperforming loan.”

Enabling our business.

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From commercial lending to construction financing, Union Savings Bank is big enough to offer the products and services I need to support my business, yet small enough that when I go to the local branch, they know me by name.”

Jordan Young President, Fairfield Processing Danbury, CT Cash Management • Commercial Lending • Electronic Banking Merchant Services • Wealth Management Photo left to right: Roy Young, Sam Young, Jordan Young

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 17

Commercial Banking

Hedge funds irked by new regulations

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

in the country, overall assets under management jumped by nearly two-thirds to ridgewater Associates reportedly more than $1.3 trillion. The new rules remains the largest hedge fund in also juggled the hierarchy of top funds, as the world – but only just barely, ranked by assets under management, with under a new reporting requirement under several in Fairfield County moving up the the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and list.

RAUM pushed Greenwich-based Consumer Protection Act. Large hedge funds – those with at AQR Capital Management L.L.C. to the least $150 million in assets under manage- fourth largest hedge fund with $75.6 bilment – are now required to report “regula- lion, Bloomberg reported, up from the net tory assets under management” (RAUM) assets of $43.5 billion it held at the close of in their portfolios, including assets that 2011 under the old rules.

Stamford-based SAC Capital Advisors were acquired with borrowed money. The L.L.C. also cracked the top 10, with LARGEST FAIRFIELD COUNTY HEDGE FUNDS a new asset Assets under new reporting rules as ranked by Bloomberg total of $43.8 billion, more COMPANY HQ ASSETS than triple Bridgewater Associates Westport $121.0 billion the figure it had on file AQR Capital Management Greenwich $75.6 billion under the SAC Capital Advisors Stamford $43.8 billion old rules last N o v e m b e r, Lone Pine Capital Green wich $24.8 billion according to Viking Global Investors Greenwich $22.5 billion Bloomberg.

Tudor Investment Corp.

Greenwich $19.5 billion In ballooning their ESL Investments Greenwich $10.6 billion assets under Aladdin Capital Stamford $9.1 billion the new rules, hedge funds Source: Bloomberg ironically may have change comes even as hedge funds had made it more difficult to raise money for their best first quarter since 2006, accord- future funds. The Washington, D.C.-based ing to an index maintained by Illinois- Managed Funds Association said the new based Hedge Fund Research Inc., with the rules make funds appear “bigger” than they sector gaining 4.9 percent led by equity- really are and will have different regulators looking at different sets of figures to based hedge funds.

And the change comes in the first include the Commodities Futures Trading year in at least a half decade that the Commission. MFA maintains RAUM is not Connecticut General Assembly has not an accurate indicator of investor capital at attempted to push through new laws gov- risk, leverage, or the riskiness of any one erning hedge funds. Also at the same time, particular fund, manager, or the industry the new Jumpstart Our Business Startups at large.

Daniel Celeghin, a partner at the (JOBS) Act loosens restrictions governing how hedge funds can solicit funds, includ- Darien asset manager advisory firm Casey Quirk & Associates L.L.C., told Bloomberg ing through the use of advertising.

According to a Bloomberg study of that some hedge funds are concerned the changes wrought under Dodd-Frank’s new rules might scare off some of their new rules, assets spiked at Chicago-based limited partners (LP) due to the difference Citadel Advisors L.L.C. to $119 billion, up in assets under management.

LPs showed renewed enthusiasm for ninefold and just short of the $121 billion at Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, startup hedge funds last year, with the whose asset base did not change under the 1,000-plus new funds the most launched since 2007, according to Hedge Fund new formula.

At some 50 of the largest hedge funds Research Inc. casoule@westfairinc.com

B

18 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Local bank loan officer critical to business assessment

BY MERRILL “JAY” FORGOTSON

T

he evolution of a new business is fairly standard and it usually proceeds without much thought given to its future need of financial support from a local bank.

Typically, the business operates for several years in a garage or basement while the principals hold their day jobs. It operates as a d.b.a. and all business and personal income and expenses are commingled and run through their individual state and federal tax returns. Then the time finally comes when the business seems to be profitable according to bookkeeper-prepared financials.

But there can be no certainty on profitability until the business has been separated from the individuals and judged in its own right. (This judgment, and the company’s future prospects, will be made by a bank when it assesses a loan request.)

Armed with encouraging numbers and the business owner’s decision to move from the garage, hiring employees and consulting with professionals from the legal and financial community is necessary to develop a growth plan.

The final, critical member of the team is the commercial loan officer from the local community bank. Together this group constitutes the financial team. Their goal is to take the business to the next level, ensure that the activities of the business are profitable and that the business is not stifled by a lack of financial resources to support growth.

The business owner must understand that the day has come when family and friends have extended maximum financial support and the resources from a bank will be required. If the business owner waits until outside financial support is immediately required before updating financial reporting, he or she has waited too long.

Ideally, the appropriate contact with the community banker is in the early stages of the business’ development. At that point, the

banker begins to understand the business and becomes familiar with the owner(s), sees the evolution of the business, the multiyear plan, the cash-flow needs and cycle of the business.

The financial team and the business begin to build a financial history from which (taken with other factors) financial projections can be developed. When outside funds are needed, those projections are tested by the community banker, sensitized to risk factors, including interest rate trends and sales projections, which are adjusted as the lender deems appropriate. The most important exercise the lender completes is a computation of the debt-service coverage ratio by overlaying the proposed loan structure, including repayment terms, over the financial projections. To the extent there is seasonality in the financial operations of the business, the banker will typically account for this in the calculation of debt service coverage. The business owner must always recognize that cash flow, not revenue, makes loan payments. As such, the business must provide sufficient information to the lender from which the lender may determine that repayments will be made in accordance with the loan terms.

To secure loan repayment, especially with a relatively young business and short track record, the community bank will typically take a lien on the assets of the business, as well as a guarantee from the owner(s) of the business. Ideally, this collateralization does not come into play at a later date, because the business is operating successfully and meeting all projections.

At the end of the day the business owner must remember that if he or she is successful beyond their wildest dreams, they have the full financial benefit of that success, whereas the lender only has the good fortune of having its principal and interest repaid.

TIME + UNDERSTANDING

= SOLUTIONS. Expect all three.

BUSINESS BANKING

e take your business banking personally.

At Webster, we’re all about making your business equations work. We’ll take the time to recognize your unique financial needs and help you find the solutions that fit. Expect a wide range of business solutions to help you keep your business on the plus side. To learn more, contact your Regional President, John Ciulla at 203.328.8134, or go to WebsterBank.com/ExpectIt.

For more information, contact jforgotson@bncfg.com.

FAIR ARGUMENT

WebsterBank.com/ExpectIt

“Foreclosures … for sale are down, inventory is down, delinquent loans are coming down, charge-offs are coming down … We are pretty much at the bottom here.”

– Jamie Dimon, CEO JPMorgan Chase & Co., New York City

Webster Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

The Webster Symbol and Webster Bank are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 19

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Commercial Banking

For bank boards, ‘Red Flags’ still a must-read

BY ALEXANDER SOULE

casoule@westfairinc.com

“G

ood decisions begin with good information,” the introduction to a federal manual for board directors leads off.

Apparently, there are few better sources of information than the “Detecting Red Flags for Board Directors” report from the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Eight years after its initial publication, the “Red Flags” report remains the most downloaded publication from OCC’s website, ahead of documents to come out in the past year such as OCC’s ombudsman’s report and one chronicling permissible activities by banks under the Dodd-

Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The 80-page “Red Flags” document covers reports governing financial performance, credit risk management, derivatives and “off-balance sheet” transactions, among a range of topics both pedestrian and esoteric.

At many Fairfield County community banks, boards include both finance industry professionals presumably seasoned enough to spot irregularities; but also community representatives from area businesses who lack the expertise to spot problems well before they mushroom into problems threatening a bank’s viability.

As for the red flags themselves? They include:

• declining capital levels or ratios; • dividend payout ratios significantly higher than peers; • concentration in nontraditional activities; • growth in off-balance-sheet activities; • increase in loans-to-total assets ratios; • significant changes in a bank’s portfolio mix; • high growth rates in total loans or within individual categories; • loan yields significantly higher than a bank’s peer group; • personnel expenses deviating significantly from peer banks; and • significant volumes of retail loans that have been extended or deferred.

“Red Flags” remains a figurative fed-

FRESH

BANKING

For 160 years, First County Bank has been operating under a set of guiding principles that have been core to our philosophy and success. These are the principles that have kept us financially strong and committed to helping local businesses. This stability-minded philosophy of “doing what’s right” is what makes our approach to banking fresh.

Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, we offer a comprehensive range of business banking services: • Commercial Loans and Lines of Credit • Commercial Mortgages

eral best seller even as Richard Cordray, director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, promised vigorous oversight of banks in addition to that by OCC and other federal agencies.

“Our supervisors will be going on-site to examine their books, ask tough questions and fix the problems we uncover,” Cordray told the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services, whose members include Congressman Jim Himes.

“We plan to use all of the tools available to us to ensure that everyone respects and follows the rules of the road. Where we can cooperate with financial institutions to do that, we will; when necessary, however, we will not hesitate to use enforcement actions to right a wrong.”

For his part, Himes has advocated loosening rules that restrict smaller community banks from raising cash via initial public offerings of stocks and other means.

Separately, a co-founder of Greenwichbased Renaissance Technologies agreed that the IPO market is essentially closed today to small investors, in March testimony to the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee.

“An extended period of positive returns for IPO investors is the most powerful solution to increasing IPO market activity leading to a greater presence of smaller, sub-$50 million issuers,” said Kathleen Shelton Smith, chairman of Renaissance Capital. “In the meantime, policies that assist these smaller IPOs to lower the cost of accessing the IPO market and improve IPO allocation to attract a broader base of long-term investors could provide some helpful relief.”

For more information, or to discuss how we can help your business select the right ingredients for success call Gene Schreiner, Vice President, Business Banking at 203.462.4208. Taste “fresh banking” for yourself.

• Cash Management Services • Business Checking • Money Market Savings Accounts • Business Check Cards and Credit Cards • Online and Telephone Banking Services • Employee Banking Services

STA M FO R D

I

NORWALK

©2012 First County Bank. FIRST COUNTY BANK,

I

First County Bank, and the

DARIEN

I

GREENWICH

logo are registered trademarks of First County Bank.

I

NEW

CANAAN

I

WESTPORT

Member FDIC

Week FCBJ_Fresh of April Banking 23, 2012 County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com ad.indd• Fairfield 1 1/11/12 1:14 PM 20FCB00400

FAIR ARGUMENT “Those of us in Connecticut – I think particularly in the Fairfield County region – look toward New York (airports). But I would argue, living in Stamford, I can take just as much time to get to JFK as I can to Bradley from Stamford.”

– Charles Gray, director, Connecticut Airport Authority

The mission of Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony is to present concerts to the people of lower Fairfield County and thus to discover, enjoy and share the rich and intriguing variety of the chamber music repertoire performed by talented musicians in an informal way.

The ensemble was founded in 1972 by some of the principals of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra. They are often joined by guest artists. Our final concerts of the current season are April 29 and 30.

Comprised primarily of the principal chairs of the symphony, our musicians present four pairs of concerts each season; Sundays at 4 p.m. at the Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road, and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at the Bruce Museum. Intimate settings and complimentary wine and cheese receptions at each concert afford the audience opportunities to become better acquainted with the musicians and to mingle with friends.

While maintaining close ties with the Greenwich Symphony, the Chamber Players is incorporated as a separate entity with its own board of directors and is responsible for its own funding. It is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Season series are $75 for adults; $15 for students. Individual tickets are $25 and $5.

For more information, please call 622-6611 or visit greenwichsym/chamberplayers.

The Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony Member, Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County

The mission of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is to support cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses by providing promotion, services and advocacy.

For more information, visit CulturalAllianceFC.org or email infoCulturalAllianceFC.org or call 256-2329.

For events lists, visit FCBuzz.org.

FCBUZZ

Arts & Culture of Fairfield County

TIME TO DANCE “Dancing with the Stars” professionals Tony Dovolani, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Valentin Chmerkovskiy and partners opened the fourth in their chain of Dance With Me Dance Studios, the first in Connecticut, April 16 in Stamford.

The studio, designed to provide an elegant atmosphere for ballroom and Latin dancing, is at 20 Summer St. Fairfield County resident Dovolani said, “This is a very exciting time for all of us, especially me. I am ecstatic to open our fourth studio in my own backyard. I can’t wait to give my neighbors and friends a chance to experience the best in ballroom dance from our studio.”

Instructors are accomplished, internationally known dancers trained by Dovolani, Maksim and other world-renowned coaches. Students learn at their own pace and comfort level.

For further information, visit dancewithmeusa.com or call 674-8100.

Dance With Me Dance Studios founders and Dancing with the Stars professionals from left, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

TAG SALE FUNDRAISER

RICHARD ANDERSON

The Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony

The Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan hosted its annual Art Materials and Equipment Tag Sale Fundraiser April 21. Proceeds from the tag sale, which first began in 2007, will benefit the Silvermine Scholarship Fund.

The School of Art is a community-based nonprofit organization that fosters, promotes and encourages artistic and educational endeavors. Even though tuition fees for course and workshops are competitive with other art schools in the region, there are still students who cannot take advantage of what Silvermine has to offer due to lack of funds. To assist these students, Silvermine School of Art has a developing scholarship program based on need and talent. Funds received from events such as the tag sale, go toward providing art education to a deserving student.

For more information, call 966-6668, ext. 2, or email school@silvermineart.org.

Visit FCBuzz.org for more information on events and how to get listed.

Presented by: Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 21

Business ConneCtions InsIde the CapItol

EvEnts

CBIA’s Annual Health & Safety Conference

Why Business Cares About Education Reform

W

hy are business organizations like CBIA investing so much time, energy, and resources supporting meaningful education reform in Connecticut?

“We need to do better,” John Rathgeber, CBIA’s president and CEO, said when he testified before the state legislature’s Education Committee in February. “Every student in Connecticut deserves a chance to reach their potential.

“With the largest achievement gap in the United States and with our overall performance slipping relative to states like Texas and the Dakotas, it is time to act.”

Building public awareness Last week, CBIA launched a two-week television and radio public awareness campaign featuring two separate spots that outline the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.

The first spot, “Put Children First,” [scan the QR code at right to watch] notes that parent groups, school administrators, and business and community leaders all support the meaningful education reforms outlined in Governor Dannel Malloy’s original legislative package.

Many of the key elements of that proposal were removed when the Education Committee addressed Senate Bill 24 in March.

The second spot, “It Cannot Be an Excuse,” points out the dramatic differences in academic performances between low income students in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Massachusetts, like a number of other states, adopted many of the ideas included in the Governor’s proposal years ago—ideas like intervening quickly to turn around failing schools and attracting and keeping great teachers and administrators.

Nonetheless, it is Connecticut’s worst-in-the-country achievement gap that really highlights the state’s public education crisis.

For instance, low income fourth and eighth graders in this state perform up to three grade levels worse than peers elsewhere. Our graduation rate is in steep decline, with more than 8,000 kids dropping out of high school each year.

The cost of failure The Connecticut Council for Education Reform, a non-profit organization representing business and civic voices in the reform debate, says the impact on those students is profound: higher unemployment rates, incomes far below those who do graduate, and three times more likely to end up in prison.

“There is an obvious moral imperative to change the trajectory of these students’ lives and improve these statistics by providing students with the skills and knowledge to graduate from high-school college- or career-ready,” says CCER. “Moreover, the achievement gap in Connecticut makes this a less attractive state for business. Each high school dropout costs the state more than $500,000 over his or her lifetime in net fiscal contributions.

“Meanwhile, Connecticut’s business, industry, and economy, increasingly depends upon a skilled and educated workforce. However, for the first time in fifty years, we are not on track to replace our current workforce with a more skilled labor force.

“There is an obvious business and economic imperative to provide students with the skills and knowledge to graduate from high-school collegeor career- ready and prepared to contribute to Connecticut’s workforce.”

CBIA’s Annual Health & Safety Conference—the largest of its kind in the state— provides business owners and safety and human resource professionals with essential tools for reducing these numbers and creating a healthy and safe workplace.

Sessions: f OSHA Update: Priorities & Enforcement Initiatives f If You’re Not Alert, You’re Going to Get Hurt f NFPA 70E Electrical Codes & Employee Safety f Turning FirstLine Supervisors into Safety Champions f Balancing Employee Health & Safety with Company Goals

Scan & register!

f Employee Safety & the Diverse Workforce: Many Cultures, One Goal

f Slips, Trips, & Falls: The New ANSI Standards f Driver Safety for Non-fleet Operations f Contractors, Vendors, & Visitors: Managing Accident Risk Date Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Time 8:30 am–3:20 pm Place The Farmington Club 162 Town Farm Rd., Farmington Cost Members of CBIA, SHRM CT, CT Safety Society, CT Valley and Nutmeg chapters of ASSE, $129; Nonmembers, $179 ➤ Register at cbia.com

➤ Read more at gov.cbia.com

22 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

on the record A. V. Tuchy, Norwalk, contractor for Norwalk Realty Associates L.L.C. Perform interior renovaLouissant, Estate of Louis, tions at an existing commercial Norwalk. $4,994 in favor of building, 148 East Ave., Norwalk.

107 Osborne Street Operating Estimated cost: $60,000. Filed Company II L.L.C., Norwalk. March 27.

Property: 2-1/2 W. Couch St., Norwalk. Filed April 2.

Baystreet Properties L.L.C. Fit out an existing commercial space for tenant Blowinn at 180 Post Bankruptcies Road East, Westport. Estimated The following petition was filed in cost: $110,000. Filed March 16.

Attachments

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Bridgeport. Chapter 11 indicates the filer intends to submit a plan of reorganization to the court. Chapter 7 indicates a liquidation of assets.

Baywater TN 450 Post Road L.L.C. Fit out an existing commercial space for tenant Williams Trading at 450 Post Road East, Westport. Estimated cost: Frances Pastry of Monroe L.L.C., $185,000. Filed March 20. c/o Napolitano, 350 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport. Chapter 7, filed Birchwood Corners L.L.C. Fit out April 5, case no. 12-50629. Assets: an existing commercial space for $100,000 to $500,000. Liabilities: tenant Artistic Image Salon and less than $50,000. Creditors: Sabel Blow Dry Bar at 420 Post Road Adjusters L.L.C., $11,256; CL&P, West, Westport. Estimated cost: $5,000; AT&T, $700; Yankee Gas, $70,000. Filed March 23. $700. Type of business: limited liability company. Debtor’s attorney: Roberta Napolitano, Weinstein Byelas L.L.C. Fit out an existing Weiner Ignal Napolitano & Shap- commercial space for tenant Bottle Rocket Westport L.L.C. at 1790 iro P.C., Bridgeport.

Post Road East, Westport. Estimated cost: $207,000. Filed March 16.

Building Permits

Commercial 877 L.P. Fit out an existing commercial space for tenant The Ring’s End at 877 Post Road East, Westport. Estimated cost: $50,000. Filed March 27.

Items appearing in the Fairfield County Business Journal’s On The Record section are compiled from various sources, including public records made available to the media by federal, state and municipal agencies and the court system.

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, no liability is assumed for errors or omissions. In the case of legal action, the records cited are open to public scrutiny and should be inspected before any action is taken.

Questions and comments regarding this section should be directed to: Bob Rozycki c/o Westfair Communications Inc. 3 Gannett Drive, Suite G7 White Plains, N.Y. 10604-3407 Phone: (914)694-3600 Fax: (914)694-3680

CLS Planning and Construction, Guilford, contractor for UB Properties. Fit out an existing commercial space for tenant Kokofit of Darien at 25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien. Estimated cost: $95,000. Filed March 9.

Cutrone, Toni, Norwalk, contractor for Silvermine Condominiums. Perform exterior renovations at multifamily housing, 3 Seir Hill Road, Norwalk. Estimated cost: $531,000. Filed March 30.

Inwood Equity Norwalk L.L.C. Perform interior renovations at an existing commercial building, 586 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk.

Estimated cost: $436,000. Filed March 19.

Town of Westport. Construct a new beach concession building at 260 Compo Road South, Westport. Estimated cost: $200,000.

Filed March 9.

WD Partners. Fit out an existing Knight & Grawbowski, Stamford, commercial space for tenant Starcontractor for Woodway Country bucks at 815 Boston Post Road, Club. Construct an addition at an Darien. Estimated cost: $90,000. existing commercial building, 532 Filed Feb. 28.

Hoyt St., Darien. Estimated cost: $150,000. Filed March 23.

Winston Prep School. Construct a new classroom building at 57 W. Lexham Riverside L.L.C. Fit out Rocks Road, Norwalk. Estimated an existing commercial space for cost: $500,000. Filed March 22. tenant Business to Business at 274 Riverside Ave., Westport. EstimatYC Construction, Norwalk, coned cost: $155,000. Filed March 9. tractor for Newfield Associates.

Perform interior alterations at an Malkin Construction, Stam- existing commercial building, 565 ford, contractor for Fairfield Newfield Ave., Stamford. EstimatMerrittview L.P. Fit out an exist- ed cost: $161,495. Filed March 28. ing commercial space for tenant Paramount Intercone at 383 Main Ave., Norwalk. Estimated cost: $150,000. Filed March 27.

121 Grumman Avenue L.L.C. Construct a foundation for a Newfield Construction, Hartford, new single-family residence at contractor for the city of Norwalk. 121 Grumman Ave., Norwalk.

Construct a new fire station at Estimated cost: $68,000. Filed 121 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk. March 23.

Estimated cost: $8 million. Filed March 23.

148 North Avenue L.L.C. Perform interior renovations at an existing One Kittredge Street L.L.C. Fit single-family residence, 140 North out an existing commercial space Ave., Westport. Estimated cost: for tenant Alpha Air Systems at 1 $70,000. Filed March 30.

Kittredge St., Norwalk. Estimated cost: $65,000. Filed March 27.

Bayberry Builders, Norwalk, contractor for Melanie Wojcik.

Pavarini Construction, Stamford, Construct additions and perform contractor for Antares 333 Ludlow alterations at an existing singleL.P. Construct an addition at an family residence, 13 Phillips Lane, existing commercial building, 333 Darien. Estimated cost: $100,000.

Ludlow St., Stamford. Estimated Filed March 22. cost: $1 million. Filed March 29.

Residential

Bear Mountain Construction, Stratford, contractor for Veronica and Ricardo Munoz. Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing single-family residence, 18 Highfield Lane, Darien.

Estimated cost: $280,000. Filed Premier Entertainment. Con- March 6. struct additions and perform alterations at an existing commercial Bento, Scott, Norwalk, contractor building, 1930 W. Main St., Stam- for Cecilia and Greg McCall. Conford. Estimated cost: $1.8 million. struct an addition at an existing Filed March 28. single-family residence, 81 Roton

Post Plaza L.L.C. Fit out an existDIV Dunham L.L.C. Fit out an ing commercial space for tenant existing commercial space for Azena Nail Spa at 1076 Post Road tenant EACM at 200 Connecticut East, Westport. Estimated cost: Ave., Norwalk. Estimated cost: $60,000. Filed March 15. $750,000. Filed March 21.

Gesualdi Construction, Stamford, contractor for General Electric Capital Corp. Construct an addition at an existing commercial building, 201 High Ridge Road, Stamford. Estimated cost: $200,000. Filed March 23.

Ave., Norwalk. Estimated cost: Renzulli Associates Shopping $75,000. Filed March 21.

Center. Fit out an existing commercial space for tenant Citibank at 399 Post Road West, Westport.

Estimated cost: $400,000. Filed March 30.

Berkowitz, Beth. Construct a new single-family residence at 3 Great Marsh Road, Westport. Estimated cost: $965,000. Filed March 22.

BG Construction, Bethel, contractor for Anthony DeChellis.

Perform interior renovations at an existing single-family residence, 320 Brookside Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $60,000.

Filed March 14.

Carter, Catherine and Stephen Carter. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 6 Blind Brook Road South, Westport. Estimated cost: $225,000. Filed March 22.

Coastal Construction Group L.L.C. Construct a new singlefamily residence at 10 Caccamo Lane Extension, Westport. Estimated cost: $820,000. Filed March 27.

Davis, Erica and Jonathan Davis. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 7 Overlook Road, Westport. Estimated cost: $250,000. Filed March 20.

DBI Development, Norwalk, contractor for Eleanor Smith. Construct a new two-family residence at 5 Bouton St., Norwalk. Estimated cost: $111,000. Filed March 19.

Fox Hill Builders, Darien, contractor for M. M. Neatsey. Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing singlefamily residence, 28 Scofield Farm, Darien. Estimated cost: $90,000.

Filed March 15.

Haggart, Evelyn. Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing single-family residence, 188 Middlesex Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $150,000.

Filed March 19.

Herz, Robert, Norwalk, contractor for Gary Korsak. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 16 Ensign Road, Norwalk. Estimated cost: $225,000.

Filed March 30.

Hicks, Darcy and Joshua Koskoff. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 1 Harding Lane, Westport. Estimated cost: $80,000. Filed March 15.

Hicks, Darcy and Joshua Koskoff.

Install an in-ground pool and enclosure at an existing single-family residence, 1 Harding Lane, Westport. Estimated cost: $75,000. Filed March 20.

Integrity Construction, Danbury, contractor for Steven Rooney.

Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing singlefamily residence, 8 Kona Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $400,000.

Filed Feb. 28.

Doherty & DeLeo, Darien, contractor for Catherine and Francis Gallagher. Construct a new single-family residence at 32 Pasture Ivan, Steven, Norwalk, contractor Lane, Darien. Estimated cost: $1 for Mariani and Giglio. Construct an addition at an existing singlemillion. Filed March 28. family residence, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, Norwalk. Estimated cost: Elizaga, Karen and Jay Ptashek. $67,000. Filed March 22.

Install an in-ground pool and enclosure at an existing single-family residence, 11 Soundview Drive, Kerschner Development, NorWestport. Estimated cost: $75,000. walk, contractor for Peter Jellinek.

Construct a foundation for a sinFiled March 9. gle-family residence at 110 Nearwater Lane, Darien. Estimated Fitzgerald, Cynthia, trustee. cost: $50,000. Filed March 16.

Construct a new single-family residence at 14 Canal Road, Westport.

Estimated cost: $860,000. Filed Koss, Steven, Stamford, contractor for James Steinthal. Perform March 13. interior renovations at an existing single-family residence, 12 Top o’ Fontana, Maureen and Peter La- Hill Road, Darien. Estimated cost: bonski. Install an in-ground pool $50,000. Filed March 1. and enclosure at an existing singlefamily residence, 74 Newtown Turnpike, Westport. Estimated cost: $65,000. Filed March 13.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 23

on the record Li, Michelle. Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing single-family residence, 51 Blueberry Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $175,000. Filed March 8.

Lomac Holdings L.L.C. Construct a new single-family residence at 47 High Point Road, Westport.

Estimated cost: $800,000. Filed March 20.

Mangini, David, Westport, contractor for Catherine and James Condren. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 6 Hunt Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $85,000. Filed March 28.

Mattera Construction 40 Harbor Road L.L.C. Construct a new single-family residence at 40 Harbor Road, Westport. Estimated cost: $500,000. Filed March 23.

McGrath, Kristen and Michael McGrath. Construct an addition at an existing single-family residence, 4 Northgate, Westport.

Estimated cost: $135,000. Filed March 9.

Victor Construction L.L.C. Construct a new single-family residence at 35 Silent Grove North, Westport. Estimated cost: $520,000. Filed March 21.

Merit Associates Inc., et al., North Haven, et al. Filed by Kamco Supply Corp. of New England, Wallingford. Plaintiff’s attorney: Robert A. Ziegler, Plainville. Action: The plaintiff alleges that prior to the date of this action it provided Shia, Chao Pi. Perform interior Yin, Leona and Daniel Yin. Con- goods and/or services to the defenrenovations at an existing single- struct an addition at an existing dant Merit Associates, for which family residence, 24 Mills St., West- single-family residence, 8 Ledge a payment bond was posted by a port. Estimated cost: $70,000. Filed Meadow Lane, Westport. Estimat- co-defendant, and that $5,325 reed cost: $260,000. Filed March 22. lating to those deliveries remains March 15. outstanding and past due from the defendants despite repeated Sir 3 Peters L.L.C. Construct a Court Cases requests for payment by the plainnew single-family residence at 3 tiff. The plaintiff seeks repayPeters Lane, Westport. Estimated ment of all outstanding amounts cost: $450,000. Filed March 26. plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 24.

Solway, David, Easton, contractor Case no. CV126025558. for Kerry Dawson. Perform interior renovations at an existing sin- Connecticut Zoological Society gle-family residence, 119 Gregory Inc. Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport. Rubenstein M.D., Lisa, et al., Blvd., No. 39, Norwalk. Estimated Filed by Robert Mastoni, Strat- Bridgeport. Filed by Thelma Cruz, ford. Plaintiff’s attorney: David Bridgeport. Plaintiff’s attorney: cost: $50,000. Filed March 20.

Laudano, Stratford. Action: The Tooher Wocl & Leydon L.L.C., plaintiff alleges that he fell while a Stamford. Action: The plaintiff Spennato, Antonietta. Construct business invitee on the defendant’s alleges that the defendants have an addition at an existing single- premises as the result of an unsafe been guilty of professional malfamily residence, 25 Appletree condition arising from negligence practice in connection with their Lane, Norwalk. Estimated cost: on the part of the defendant, its negligent diagnosis and treatment $135,000. Filed March 30. agents and employees, which of her condition, which caused caused him to suffer serious, pain- her to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial Spheeris, Karen and Apostolos ful injuries and to incur substan- medical expenses. The plaintiff tial medical expenses.

The plaintiff Spheeris. Construct an addition at seeks damages in excess of $15,000 an existing single-family residence, seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus applicable costs and reasonplus applicable costs and reason10 Sandhopper Trail, Westport. able attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 29.

Estimated cost: $210,000. Filed able attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 28. Case no. CV126025707.

Case no.

CV126025665.

March 29.

River Stone Construction L.L.C. Construct a new single-family residence at 1 Red Coat Road, Westport. Estimated cost: $450,000.

Filed March 30.

Muratori Builders, Southbury, contractor for Julia and Graham Goodrich. Construct additions and perform alterations at an existing single-family residence, 216 Old King’s Highway South, Darien. Estimated cost: $75,000. Toll CT II L.P. Construct a new single-family residence at 22 Briar Filed March 8.

Ridge Drive, Bethel. Estimated cost: $253,035. Filed March 27.

New England Skyline Builders, Wilton, contractor for Margaret Pickman and Gary Reiner. Per- Toll CT II L.P. Construct a new form interior alterations at an single-family residence at 24 Briar existing single-family residence, Ridge Drive, Bethel. Estimated 298 Ocean Drive East, Stamford. cost: $238,465. Filed March 27.

Estimated cost: $75,000. Filed March 26.

Toll CT II L.P. Construct a new single-family residence at 26 Briar Orr, Laurie and Dennis Orr. Per- Ridge Drive, Bethel. Estimated form interior renovations at an cost: $238,465. Filed March 27. existing single-family residence, 3 Hillside Road, Westport. Estimat- Toll CT II L.P. Construct a new ed cost: $125,000. Filed March 2. single-family residence at 28 Briar Ridge Drive, Bethel. Estimated Palumbo, Lorraine and Kenneth cost: $195,000. Filed March 27.

Palumbo. Install an in-ground pool and enclosure at an existing VAS Construction, Wilton, consingle-family residence, 50 Cen- tractor for Sandy and Greg Mater St., Westport. Estimated cost: son. Construct additions and $55,000. Filed March 15. perform alterations at an existing single-family residence, 370 ManReilly Builders. Construct a new sfield Ave., Darien. Estimated cost: single-family residence at 36 Stan- $300,000. Filed March 15. ton Road, Darien. Estimated cost: $825,000. Filed March 9.

Bridgeport Superior Court

DSW Shoe Warehouse Inc., Hartford. Filed by Paige Jordan, et al., Monroe. Plaintiff’s attorney: Jonathan E. Spodnick, Trumbull. Action: The plaintiffs allege that the minor plaintiff Carly Jordan fell while a business invitee on the defendant’s premises as the result of an unsafe condition arising from negligence on the part of the defendant, its agents and employees, which caused her to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial medical expenses. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 28. Case no. CV126025682.

Her Game 2 Inc., et al., Stamford.

Filed by People’s United Bank, Bridgeport. Plaintiff’s attorney: Benanti & Associates, Stamford.

Action: The plaintiff alleges that the defendants failed to observe payment terms of a June 1999 business credit note and that $9,443 relating to that note remains outstanding and past due from the defendants despite repeated requests for payment by the plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks repayment of all outstanding amounts plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 29.

Case no. CV126025688.

Second Street Inc., Monroe. Filed

by Connecticut Light & Power Co., Berlin. Plaintiff’s attorney: Law Offices of Alexander G. Snyder L.L.C., Waterbury. Action: The plaintiff alleges that prior to the date o this action it provided utility services to the defendant and that $8,811 relating to those services remains outstanding and past due from the defendant despite repeated requests for payment by the plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks repayment of all outstanding amounts plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 29.

Case no. CV126025705.

Stoneham Milford L.L.C., Hartford. Filed by Linda DiPietro, Milford. Plaintiff’s attorney: John J. Luckart, Fairfield. Action: The plaintiff alleges that she fell while visiting the defendant’s premises as the result of an unsafe condition arising from negligence on the part of the defendant, its agents and employees, which caused her to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial medical expenses. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 24.

Case no. CV126025560.

Two Eleven Main State L.L.C., et al., Bridgeport, et al. Filed by John Spillane, Shelton. Plaintiff’s attorney: David Laudano, Stratford.

Action: The plaintiff alleges that he fell while a business invitee on premises owned or otherwise under control of the defendants as the result of an unsafe condition arising from negligence on the part of the defendants, their agents and employees, which caused him to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial medical expenses. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 27.

Case no. CV126025619.

Danbury Superior Court

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., Burlington, N.J. Filed by Manuel Ordonez, Danbury. Plaintiff’s attorney: Joseph J. Romanello Jr. Attorney-at-Law, Danbury. Action: The plaintiff alleges that he fell while a business invitee on the defendant’s premises as the result of an unsafe condition arising from negligence on the part of the defendant, its agents and employees, which caused him to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial medical expenses. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus VIP Car Wash of Stratford L.L.C., applicable costs and reasonable Stratford. Filed by Lisaura and attorneys’ fees. Filed March 27.

Jorge Colon, Stratford. Plaintiff’s Case no. CV126009052. attorney: John J. Luckart, Fairfield. Action: The plaintiff alleges that the plaintiff Jorge fell while a Cahill Construction L.L.C., business invitee on the defendant’s Bethel. Filed by Amjali and Girish premises as the result of an unsafe Arora, Redding. Plaintiff’s attorcondition arising from negligence ney: Charles L. Siddons, Stamford. on the part off the defendant, Action: The plaintiffs allege that its agents and employees, which the defendant failed to observe caused him to suffer serious, pain- terms and conditions of an Ocful injuries and to incur substan- tober 2005 home construction tial medical expenses. The plaintiff contract in that it abandoned the seeks damages in excess of $15,000 project before completion, causing plus interest, costs and reason- the plaintiffs to incur a substantial able attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 24. financial loss. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus Case no. CV126025561. applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed March 23.

Wojnarowski & Sons Builders Case no. CV126009044.

L.L.C., Stratford. Filed by Salvatore Galaz, Sandy Hook. Plaintiff’s attorney: Sousa & Stone L.L.C., Shel- Candlewood Lake Marine Towton. Action: The plaintiff alleges ing & Salvage L.L.C., et al., Sandy that he wrenched his back while Hook. Filed by Newtown Savings employed at a construction site Bank, Newtown. Plaintiff’s atoperated by the defendant as a re- torney: Neubert Pepe & Montesult of an unsafe condition arising ith P.C., New Haven. Action: The from negligence on the part of the plaintiff alleges that the defendant defendant its agents and employ- Candlewood Lake Marine Towees, which caused him to suffer se- ing & Salvage failed to observe rious, painful injuries and to incur payment terms of a November substantial medical expenses. The 2007 business credit note on the plaintiff seeks damages in excess of amount of $50,000, for which pay$15,000 plus applicable costs and ment was guaranteed by co-defenreasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed dants, and that amounts relating to that note remain outstanding Feb. 27. Case no. CV126025633. and past due from the defendants despite repeated requests for payment by the plaintiff. The plaintiffs seek repayment of all outstanding amounts plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed March 26. Case no. CV126009049.

24 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

on the record Credits, Clients and Awards Citrin Cooperman in Norwalk has donated 20 pieces of art to the Seabury Academy of the Music and the Arts, also located in Norwalk. The artwork was collected for more than 30 years by the firm from various places around the world. Citrin Cooperman is a full-service accounting firm, providing attest and assurance, tax, business advisory services and valuation and forensic services to clients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana of Danbury recently helped to raise more than $219 for Ability Beyond Disability. On Thursday, March 15, patrons who brought vouchers for Ability Beyond Disability into the restaurant were able to donate 15 percent of their checks to the organization. The vouchers were distributed to the organization’s employees and community supporters.

Coastal Orthopaedics, with offices in Norwalk, Darien and Westport, has announced three of its surgeons have been named to Connecticut magazine’s list of top orthopedic doctors.

Bridgeport Regional Business Council recently announced the following individuals have joined the organization.

Helen M. McKee has been named director of finance. McKee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University.

Friday, April 27 “Soup ‘n Sales Networking Luncheon,” 11: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Platto Osteria Italiana, 245 Hope St., Stamford. $30 nonmembers; $25 members at the door; $20 members pre-registered. For information, call 359-4761.

Snapshot Benny Palmieri joined the staff as director of communications. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the Sacred Heart University John F. Welch School of Business.

Frederic Kieffer has been named executive chef for L’escale in Greenwich. Kieffer, formerly the executive chef at Gaia Restaurant in Greenwich, which has received numerous accolades, including an Excellent rating from The New York Times, three stars from Connecticut magazine, and was named one of the “Best New Restaurants Across America” by Esquire.

Sustainably beautiful Matt McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, and Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia shared the podium with Kim Jeffery, president and CEO of Nestle Waters North America, at a “Spring Renewal” reception focused on their mutual interest— building a better America through recycling and sustainability efforts. Jeffery, a member of the Keep America Beautiful Board of Directors, hosted the evening at the LEED Gold-certified corporate headquarters of Keep America Beautiful in Stamford last week.

On the Go: Business, Etc. Wednesdays in April

Michael M. Lynch of Southport.

Nicholas V. Polifroni of Westport.

Paul D. Protomastro of Ridgefield.

Danbury Trailblazers Business Group networking meetings, 7:30 a.m., Arthur Murray Dance Studio, 345 Main St., Danbury.

For information, call 834-3276.

Tuesday, April 24

Newsmakers Eric Chatman has been appointed president and executive director for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Chatman previously served as treasurer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, chief finance officer of a telecommunications company in Virginia, and a division manager in the treasury department of the African Development Bank in Cote d’Ivoire West Africa.

Norbert E. Mitchell Co. Inc. recently held a ribbon cutting at its New Milford Sunoco Car Wash to introduce Ecopower Combined Heat & Power System, a new, green-energy system that can help change the way energy is consumed. Mitchell was selected as the first licensed distributor and servicer in the country of the system.

From left, Matthew Mitchell, Michael Schultz, Norbert Mitchell III, New Milford Mayor Pat Murphy and Christopher Blocker

The New Covenant House of Hospitality’s “Eighth Annual Breakfast Fundraiser,” featuring Indra K. Nooyi as guest speaker, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Woodway Country Club, 540 Hoyt St., Darien. For information, call 964-8228.

“Buyer Beware! How To Avoid the Legal Traps of Hiring & On-Boarding” presented by Shipman & Goodwin L.L.P., 8 a.m. registration; 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. breakfast seminar, 300 Atlantic St., Third floor, Stamford. For information, call (860) 251-5777 or visit shipmangoodwin.com.

Wednesday, April 25 Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce’s “Business After Hours,” 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 93 N. Main St., South Norwalk. For information, call 866-2521.

Matt McKenna and Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia.

Thursday, April 26 Women’s Business Council of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce’s Second Annual “Conversations with Extraordinary Women” event, Matrix Conference and Banquet Center in Danbury. For information, call 743-5565 or info@danburychamber.com.

Information for these features has been provided by the subjects or their delegates

Environmental & Civil Engineering For more information Andrew Zlotnick, Senior Vice President 203.374.3748, www.fando.com

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 25

on the record National Water Main Cleaning Co., et al., Hartford, et al. Filed

by Great Northern Insurance Co., Warren, N.J. Plaintiff’s attorney: Blackwell Davis & Spadaccini, Manchester. Action: The plaintiff alleges that the defendants’ negligent operating procedures caused water damage to its insured’s premises and effects or which it was obliged to reimburse its insured. The plaintiff seeks repayment of amounts paid to its insured in its role as subrogee for the insured plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed March 21. Case no. CV126009027.

Newtown Main L.L.C., et al., Hartford. Filed by Independent Materials Testing Laboratories Inc., Plainville. Plaintiff’s attorney: Zagorsky Zagorsky & Galske P.C., Plainville. Action: The plaintiff alleges that during the period from September 2010 to June 2011 it provided engineering services to the defendants and that $59,379 relating to those services remains outstanding and past due from the defendants despite repeated requests for payment by the plaintiff, regarding which the plaintiff filed a mechanic’s lien during September 2011. The plaintiff seeks repayment of all outstanding amounts plus interest, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees, including without limitation by means of foreclosure of the lien subject to interests of senior secured creditors. Filed March 19.

Case no. CV126009008.

Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut and Eastern Putnam County, Brookfield. Filed by Mary Stublic, Waterbury. Plaintiff’s attorney: Norman J. Voog, Ridgefield. Action: The plaintiff alleges that she was struck by an object in the pool on the defendant’s premises as the result of an unsafe condition arising from negligence on the part of the defendant, its agents and employees, which caused her to suffer serious, painful injuries and to incur substantial medical expenses. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000 plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed March 22.

Case no. CV126009037.

Stamford Superior Court

MJM Stone Supply of Stamford Inc., et al., Stamford. Filed

by First Niagara Bank N.A., New Haven. Plaintiff’s attorney: Susman Duffy & Segaloff P.C., New Haven. Action: The plaintiff alleges that it intends to initiate a civil action against the defendants in the amount of at least $770,960 and that it anticipates a favorable decision by the court with regard to the suit. The plaintiff therefore seeks a court order attaching the defendants’ assets in an amount sufficient to ensure payment of the anticipated favorable judgment plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed Feb. 27.

Case no. CV126013122.

A&J Farm Stand L.L.C., et al., Westport. Filed by Connecticut Community Bank, Westport.

Plaintiff’s attorney: Murtha Cullina L.L.P., Hartford. Action: The plaintiff alleges that it intends to initiate a civil action against the defendants in the amount of at least $97,250 and that it anticipates a favorable decision by the court with regard to the suit. The plaintiff therefore seeks a court order attaching the defendants’ assets in an amount sufficient to ensure payment of the anticipated favorable judgment plus applicable costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Filed One Twenty-Five Mason Group March 5. Case no. CV126013194. L.L.C., et al., Greenwich, et al.

Filed by Ruth and David Albert, Greenwich. Plaintiff’s attorney: B&D Properties L.L.C., et al., Mark F. Katz, Stamford. Action: Westport. Filed by ES Ventures The plaintiff alleges that it is the One L.L.C., Southport. Plaintiff’s owner of a January 2004 $1 milattorney: Chipman Mazzucco lion mortgage note issued by the Land & Pennarola L.L.C., Dan- defendant One Twenty-Five Mabury. Action: The plaintiff alleges son Group, for which payment that it is the owner of a Septem- was guaranteed by co-defendants, ber 2006 $865,000 mortgage note and that amounts relating to that issued by the defendant B&D note remain outstanding and past Properties, for which payment due from the defendants despite rewas guaranteed by co-defendants, peated requests for payment by the and that amounts relating to that plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks repaynote remain outstanding and past ment of all outstanding amounts due from the defendants despite plus interest, costs and reasonable repeated requests for payment by attorneys’ fees, including without the plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks re- limitation by means of foreclosure payment of all outstanding amounts on the note subject to interests of seplus interest, costs and reasonable nior secured creditors. Filed Feb. 28. attorneys’ fees, including without Case no. CV126013141. limitation by means of foreclosure on the note subject to interests of senior secured creditors. Filed Feb. 27. Woodland Venture L.L.C., et al., Wilton, et al. Filed by ES Ventures Case no. CV126013130.

One L.L.C., Southport. Plaintiff’s attorney: Chipman Mazzucco Deutsche Bank National Trust Land & Pennarola L.L.C., DanCo., trustee, Hartford. Filed by bury. Action: The plaintiff alleges Sheffield Ridge Condominium that it is the owner of a May 2008 Association, Bridgeport. Plaintiff’s $3.9 million mortgage note isattorney: Law Offices of Steven G. sued by the defendant Woodland Berg, Norwalk. Action: The plain- Venture, for which payment was tiff alleges that the defendant is guaranteed by co-defendants, more than six months delinquent and that amounts relating to that in its payment of common charges note remain outstanding and past for its unit in the plaintiff’s con- due from the defendants despite redominium development. The peated requests for payment by the plaintiff seeks repayment of all plaintiff. The plaintiff seeks repayoutstanding amounts plus inter- ment of all outstanding amounts est, costs and reasonable attorneys’ plus interest, costs and reasonable fees, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, including without by means of foreclosure on the de- limitation by means of foreclosure fendant’s condominium unit. Filed on the note subject to interests of seMarch 2. Case no. CV126013188. nior secured creditors. Filed Feb. 29.

Case no. CV126013167.

U.S. District Court

Electrolux Home Products Inc. Filed by Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, et al.

Plaintiff’s attorney: Jeffrey J. White.

Action: claim filed in connection with product liability. Filed April 2.

Case no. 12CV00502.

Allied Interstate Inc. Filed by Tina Russell. Plaintiff’s attorney: Angela K. Troccoli. Action: claim filed under the Fair Debt Collection Act. Filed March 29. General Electric Co., et al. Filed Case no. 12CV00480.

by Robert Choate. Plaintiff’s attorney: Amity L. Arscott. Action: claim filed in connection with noAmerican Adjustment Bureau tice of removal of an existing acInc. Filed by Tina Russell. Plain- tion to an alternative venue. Filed tiff’s attorney: Angela K. Troccoli. April 2. Case no. 12CV00504.

Action: claim filed under the Fair Debt Collection Act. Filed April 2.

Case no. 12CV00500.

Green Tree Servicing L.L.C. Filed by Chana Hecht. Plaintiff’s attorney: Lawrence Katz. AcBTJ Corp., et al. Filed by Webster tion: claim filed under the Fair Capital Finance Inc. Plaintiff’s at- Debt Collection Act. Filed April 1. torney: Evan S. Goldstein. Action: Case no. 12CV00498. claim filed in connection with breach of contract. Filed March 29.

Case no. 12CV00491.

ICAP Shipping USA Inc. Filed by Progress Bulk Carriers Ltd. Plaintiff’s attorney: James M. Maloney.

Candlewood Terrace Condo- Action: claim filed in connection minium Association Inc. Filed by with breach of contract. Filed April 5.

U.S. Bank N.A. Plaintiff’s attorney: Case no. 12CV00513.

William P. Breen Jr. Action: claim filed in connection with a citizenship question. Filed March 30. Jack Daniels Properties Inc. Filed Case no. 12CV00497.

by Mark Anthony International S.R.l., et al. Plaintiff’s attorney: Michael A. Bucci. Action: claim filed Chase Asset Recovery Corp., et al. in connection with trademark Filed by Melora Bertrand. Plain- infringement. Filed March 28. tiff’s attorney: Melora Bertrand Case no. 12CV00477. pro se. Action: claim filed under the Fair Debt Collection Act. Filed March 29. Case no. 12CV00487.

Lane Construction Corp. Filed

by Hugh Sullivan. Plaintiff’s attorney: William B. Wynne. Action: Coca-Cola Bottling Company claim filed in connection with a of Northern New England Inc. petition for removal of an existFiled by Karla and Daniel Bendor. ing job discrimination suit to an Plaintiff’s attorney: J. Craig Smith. alternative venue. Filed April 5.

Action: claim filed in connection Case no. 12CV00514. with personal injury. Filed April 4.

Case no. 12CV00509.

Leaders L.L.C. Filed by Adam Telanoff. Plaintiff’s attorney: CPS Emergency LED Lighting & Adam Telanoff pro se. Action: Equipment. Filed by Whelen En- claim filed in connection with gineering Co Inc. Plaintiff’s attor- breach of contract. Filed March 29. ney: Thomas J. Menard. Action: Case no. 12CV00483. claim filed in connection with patent infringement. Filed March 29.

Case no. 12CV00484.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group p.l.c., et al. Filed by Mari Gill.

Plaintiff’s attorney: Brenden Cuda & Associates L.L.C. Filed P. Leydon. Action: claim filed

by Juno Dina. Plaintiff’s attor- in connection with a citizenney: Joanne S. Faulkner. Action: ship question. Filed March 30. claim filed under the Fair Debt Case no. 12CV00495.

Collection Act. Filed April 6.

Case no. 12CV00523.

SD Transportation Services L.L.C., et al. Filed by Hilda Solis.

EGS Electrical Group L.L.C., Plaintiff’s attorney: Scott Miller. Acet al. Filed by Myriam Marino. tion: claim filed under the Fair LaPlaintiff’s attorney: Marga- bor Standards Act. Filed March 29. ret M. Doherty. Action: claim Case no. 12CV00490. filed in connection with job discrimination. Filed April 5.

Case no. 12CV00518.

26 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Starbucks Corp. Filed by Tiffany Elliott. Plaintiff’s attorney: Michael J. Reilly. Action: claim filed in connection with job discrimination. Filed March 29.

Case no. 12CV00481.

Yellowbook Inc. Filed by James DeAngelo. Plaintiff’s attorney: Nina T. Pirrotti. Action: claim filed in connection with a petition for removal of an existing job discrimination suit to an alternative venue.

Filed April 5. Case no. 12CV00520.

Deeds

Commercial 11 Frisbie Street L.L.C., Stamford. Seller: Salvatore Schimenti, trustee, Greenwich. Property: 24 Duke Road, Stamford. Amount: $457,500. Filed March 19.

23 Victory Street L.L.C., Stamford. Seller: Carole DiMattio, Mary Ann Sementini and Pasquale DiMattio, Stamford. Property: 23 Victory St., Stamford. Amount: $350,000. Filed March 16.

ALH L.L.C., Sandy Hook. Seller: Frederick Brush, New Canaan. Property: 53 East Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $307,000.

Filed March 29.

Alto Management L.L.C., Norwalk. Seller: Harco Fitch Inc., Norwalk. Property: 16 Fitch St., Norwalk. Amount: $1.6 million. Filed March 29.

Clearview Realty L.L.C., Danbury. Seller: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Hartford. Property: 20 Briarwood Drive, Danbury. Amount: $135,000. Filed March 26.

Housesold Real estate L.L.C., West Hartford. Seller: 81 Hirsch Road L.L.C., Stamford.

Property: 81 Hirsch Road, Stamford. Amount: $180,000.

Filed March 15.

Jean M. Jacob L.L.C., Norwalk.

Seller: Vito Properties L.L.C., Stamford. Property: 15 South St., Unit 3B, Norwalk. Amount: $265,000. Filed March 30.

on the record LTB Properties L.L.C., Norwalk. Seller: Christine Fabie, Donald McGill and William McGill, Belmont, Calif., Darien and Worthington Ohio, respectively.

Property: vicinity of Middlesex Road, Darien. Amount: $680,000.

Filed March 23.

Decker, Antoinette and Marc Weiss, Monroe. Seller: Temella and Anthony Ware, Stamford.

Property: 92 S. Lake Drive, Stamford. Amount: $1.3 million. Filed March 19.

Grillo, Frank, Stamford. Seller: Catalina Salazar, Stamford.

Property: 14 Glen Terrace, Stamford. Amount: $420,000.

Filed March 19.

Dodge Jr., N. P., trustee, Darien.

Seller: Ann and Mark Patten, Darien. Property: 104 Brookside Road, Darien. Amount: $2.2 million. Filed March 6.

Hagen, Kristina, Stamford.

Seller: Palmer Hill Partners L.L.C., Stamford. Property: 77 Havemeyer Ave., Unit 44, Stamford. Amount: $1 million. Filed March 15.

Dunn II, Philip, New Rochelle, N.Y. Seller: Stamford Court L.L.C., Old Greenwich. Property: 109 Forest St., Unit 14, Stamford. Amount: $510,000. Filed March 14.

Herz, Elyse, Stamford. Seller: Carl Solazzo, Stamford. Property: 127 Greyrock Place, Unit 1002, Stamford.

Amount: $360,000. Filed March 16.

Brown, Melanie and Peter Sallick, Westport. Seller: Katharine Watson, Charleston, S.C. Property: 16 Hilltop Road, Norwalk. Amount: $3 million. Filed March 30.

Eberheim, Nancy, Greenwich.

Seller: Helen and William Pierce, Stamford. Property: 50 Waterbury Ave., Stamford. Amount: $420,000.

Filed March 16.

Hoffman, Melissa and Eric Hoffman, Stamford. Seller: Ellen and Charles Ill III, Stamford.

Property: 277 Stamford Ave., Stamford. Amount: $1 million.

Filed March 19.

Burns, Cynthia, Redding. Seller: Judge Robert Pekar Jr., trustee, Norwalk. Property: 13 Fordham Drive, Norwalk. Amount: $257,000. Filed March 28.

England, Lindsay and Jonathan England, Darien. Seller: N. P. Dodge Jr., trustee, Darien. Property: 104 Brookside Road, Darien.

Amount: $2.2 million. Filed March 6.

Carpentieri, Anthony, Stamford. Seller: John Dodig, Westport. Property: 42 Gillies Lane, Norwalk. Amount: $292,000.

Filed March 30.

Erway Jr., Cristopher, Norwalk.

Seller: Kristin and Tomislav Zovich, Norwalk. Property: 52 Glenwood Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $385,000. Filed March 30.

Chao, Christina and Gary Wong, New York City. Seller: Ann and David Bailey, South Bend, Ind. Property: 151 Brookside Road, Darien. Amount: $1.3 million. Filed March 19.

Ferm, Jennifer and John Ferm, New Canaan. Seller: Lynne Ward, Norwalk. Property: 9 Sunwich Road, Norwalk. Amount: $2 million. Filed March 30.

Residential Allen, Mary Kate, William Allen and Matthew Allen, Norwalk, Bethel and Norwalk, respectively. Seller: Alice Allen, Norwalk. Property: 18 Harris St., Norwalk. Amount: $300,000.

Filed March 29.

Chu, Nicole and Andy Chu, Norwalk. Seller: Frank Antunes, Norwalk. Property: 19 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Norwalk. Amount: $347,250. Filed March 29.

Clay, Barbara, Norwalk. Seller: the estate of Maria Rzepnicki, Stamford. Property: 1899 Bedford St., Stamford. Amount: $460,000.

Filed March 20.

Collymore, Laurel and Joel Collymore, Darien. Seller: Charles Bean, Darien. Property: 25 Ridgely St., Darien. Amount: $778,000.

Filed March 2.

Crowther, Melissa and Thomas Trovato, Darien. Seller: Elizabeth and Paul Hanig, Darien. Property: 9 Devonshire Drive, Darien.

Amount: $695,000. Filed March 7.

Girald, Megan and Jesse Girald, Stamford. Seller: Piper Garner, Darien. Property: 20 Great Hill Road, Darien. Amount: $685,000.

Filed March 16.

Goncalves, Clarissa and Gustavo Goncalves, Danbury. Seller: National Residential Nominee Services Inc., Santa Ana, Calif. Property: 8 Josh Lane, Danbury. Amount: $630,000. Filed March 26.

Gorzelski, Katarzyna and Krzykstof Gorzelski, Stamford. Seller: Anne and Nicholas Pitaro, Stamford. Property: 11 Duke Drive, Stamford. Amount: $455,000.

Filed March 19.

Mitchell, Shonna and John Mitchell, Norwalk. Seller: Yaneth and Bladimir Hurtado, Norwalk.

Property: 25 Saddle Road, Norwalk. Amount: $290,000. Filed April 2.

Mystkowska, Marta and Michael Bes, Stamford. Seller: Christine and Christopher Schrade, Norwalk. Property: 322 Sunrise Hill Lane, Norwalk. Amount: $259,000.

Filed March 30.

Nolan, Donal, Mount Kisco, N.Y. Seller: Parvez Selim and Mohamed Mamoun, Frisco, Texas and Stamford, respectively. Property: 63 Scofield Ave., Stamford. Amount: $370,000. Filed March 19.

Stevens, Laura and W. Kevin Stevens, Darien. Seller: Linda Russell, Darien. Property: 32 Miller Road, Darien. Amount: $1.2 million.

Filed March 14.

Tobun, Abiodun, Norwalk. Seller: Enoch Williams and Robert Williams, Bowie, Md. And Bridgeport, respectively. Property: 22 Adamson Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $252,500. Filed March 28.

Usher, William, Norwalk. Seller: 12 Caesar Street L.L.C., Norwalk.

Property: 349 W. Cedar St., Norwalk. Amount: $630,000. Filed March 30.

Vanovitch. Kathleen and Joel Vanovitch, Darien. Seller: Mary Palmiotto, Steven, Danbury. Cantalini, Darien. Property: 118 Seller: Steven Olivo, trustee, Hecker Ave., Darien. Amount: Danbury. Property: 408 Main $800,000. Filed March 16.

St., Danbury. Amount: $275,000.

Filed March 26.

Wilkins, Judith and Ronald Wilkins, Fairfield. Seller: MeKaehler, Laura and John Motav, Greenwich. Seller: the es- Pennella, Rina and Earl Quijano, lissa and Eric Hoffman, Stamford. tate of George Matis, Norwalk. Stamford. Seller: Joseph Pellon, Property: 140 Woodbury Ave., Property: vicinity of Newtown Ridgefield. Property: 246 Seaside Stamford. Amount: $470,000.

Avenue and Stony Brook Road, Ave., Unit 2, Stamford. Amount: Filed March 16.

Norwalk. Amount: $285,000. $301,000. Filed March 16.

Filed April 2.

Wrigley, Kristen and James Price, Jeffery, Stamford. Seller: Wrigley, Stamford. Seller: ElizaKalmanidis, Emorfili and John Gene Landres, Stamford. Property: beth and Ian Boccaccio, Stamford.

Kalmanidis, Norwalk. Seller: Unit 79, Forest Mews Condomini- Property: 39 Sunset Court, StamVenustiano Villa, Norwalk. um, Stamford. Amount: $375,000. ford. Amount: $1.5 million. Filed March 16.

Property: 60 Walter Ave., Nor- Filed March 19. walk. Amount: $375,000. Filed March 29.

Prichard, Pamela and Duncan Foreclosures Prichard, Darien. Seller: Robert Kirkman, Marion and John Newman, Darien. Property: 208 Escalera, David, et al. Creditor: Kirkman, Norwalk. Seller: Leroy Ave., Darien. Amount: $1.1 U.S. Bank N.A., trustee. Property: Casey and Matthew McBride, million. Filed March 23.

3 Lamp Post Drive, Danbury.

Darien. Property: 13 Pond St., Mortgage default. Filed March 26.

Norwalk. Amount: $1.3 million.

Romagnoli, Ronnie and RichFiled March 30. ard Romagnoli, Danbury. Seller: Geraci Jr., Glenn, et al. Creditor: Nancy and John Nahley, Danbury. GMAC Mortgage L.L.C. Property: Leahy, Virginia, Darien. Seller: Property: 19 Topfield Road West, 13 Revere Road, Darien. Mortgage Katherine Rossow, Stamford. Danbury. Amount: $322,500. Filed default. Filed March 19.

Property: 151 Old King’s Highway March 26.

South, Darien. Amount: $850,000.

Filed March 2.

Kritzer, Marc, et al. Creditor: First Sandhu, Rajinder, Norwalk. County Bank. Property: 7 Queens Seller: Federal National Mortgage Lane, Darien. Mortgage default.

Lowen, Susan and Barry Lowen, Association, Washington, D.C. Filed March 16.

Stamford. Seller: Palmer Hill Part- Property: 3 Oakwood Ave., Unit 2, ners L.L.C., Stamford. Property: 77 Norwalk. Amount: $255,000. Filed Havemeyer Lane, Unit 39, Stam- March 30.

Judgments ford. Amount: $1 million. Filed March 19.

Schaal Jr., William, Hammonton, N.J. Seller: Ilanite Pony and Alfaro, Oliver, Norwalk. $3,094 Marasciulo, Angelo, Darien. Sell- Daniel Levitin, Danbury. Prop- in favor of Atlantic Credit and er: the estate of Anne Marasciulo, erty: 27 Woodcrest Lane, Dan- Finance Inc., Roanoke, Va., by Darien. Property: 258 Old King’s bury. Amount: $352,500. Filed Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 209 Ely Ave., Apt. C2, Norwalk. Filed Highway South, Darien. Amount: March 26.

April 2. $936,000. Filed March 21.

Green, Allyson and Benno Green, Darien. Seller: Ashley and Braden Hopkins, Darien. Property: 1 Cove’s End Road, Darien. Amount: McBride, Matthew, Norwalk. $3.5 million. Filed March 23.

Seller: Anthony Ruggiero, Greenwich. Property: 44 Shields Road, Darien. Amount: $1.8 million.

Filed March 12.

Solicito, Mary Ellen and John Murray, Darien. Seller: JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Columbus, Ohio. Property: 1797 Boston Post Road, Darien. Amount: $601,300.

Filed Feb. 29.

Bartlett, Henry, Danbury. $17.934 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 51 Pleasant St., Danbury.

Filed March 26.

Bartlett, Henry, Danbury. $6,578 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 235 Stadley Rough Road, Danbury.

Filed March 26.

Bautista, Geraldine, Danbury. $1,382 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va.,

by Russell L. London. Property: 136 Pembroke Road, Danbury.

Filed March 26.

Becker, Sarah, Danbury. $3,639 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Property: 30 Forty Acre Mountain Road, Danbury. Filed March 20.

Boe, Todd, Darien. $14,792 in favor of U.S. Equities Corp., South Salem, N.Y., by Linda Strumpf.

Property: 249 Old Kings Highway South, Darien. Filed March 1.

Buzzeo Jr., Robert, Bethel. $1,071 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 55 Putnam Park Road, Bethel. Filed March 23.

Candido, Anna, Danbury. $793 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 10 Willow St., Danbury. Filed March 26.

Chizmadia, Linda, Stratford. $15,618 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va.,

by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 370 Castle Drive, Stratford. Filed March 22.

DeOliveira, Jovelina, Danbury. $1,213 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va.,

by Russell L. London. Property: 8 Spruce Mountain Road, Danbury.

Filed March 26.

DeOliveira, Mauricio, Danbury. $800 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 30B Benedict Ave., Danbury. Filed March 26.

Ferreira, Jose, Danbury. $4,045 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 51 Pleasant St., Danbury. Filed March 26.

Fisher, Carol, Bethel. $1,713 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Property: 20-12 Hudson St., Bethel. Filed March 20.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 27

on the record Ganser, Terrance, Darien. $67,318 in favor of Citibank (South Dakota) N.A., Sioux Falls, S.D., by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 9 Windsor Road, Darien. Filed March 26.

Giancaspro, Barbara, Norwalk. $3,911 in favor of Discover Bank, New Albany, Ohio, by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 65 William St., Norwalk. Filed March 30.

Giancaspro, Barbara, Norwalk. $4,800 in favor of Discover Bank, New Albany, Ohio, by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 65 William St., Norwalk. Filed April 2.

Oliveira, Amelia, Danbury. $943 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 30B Benedict Ave., Danbury. Filed March 26.

Ordonez, Nancy, Norwalk. $6,171 in favor of FIA Card Services N.A., Newark, Del., by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 12 Elaine St., Norwalk. Filed April 2.

Quintela, Edison, Danbury. $732 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. London. Property: 47 Alan Road, Danbury.

Filed March 26.

Granger, Jessica, Danbury. $1,101 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Prop- Ramos, Sergio, Stamford. $7,605 erty: 39 Olive St., Danbury. Filed in favor of FIA Card Services N.A., March 20.

Newark, Del., by Julie B. Solomon.

Property: 18 Beal St., Stamford.

Filed March 19.

Granger, Jessica, Danbury. $1,203 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Prop- Roldan, Raymond, Stratford. erty: 39 Olive St., Danbury. Filed $4,234 in favor of Midland March 20.

Funding L.L.C., San Diego, Calif., by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 24 Beach St,, Stratford. Filed Grijalba, Carolina, Danbury. March 23. $643 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Property: 14 Newtown Road, Unit A21, Sinquefield, Sandra, Stratford.

Danbury. Filed March 26. $2,835 in favor of Citibank (South Dakota) N.A., Sioux Falls, S.D., by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 925 Grillo, Christian, Bethel. $1,522 Stratford Road, Stratford. Filed in favor of Danbury Hospital, March 23.

Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Property: 43 Fairchild Drive, Bethel.

Filed March 20.

Smith, Sarah, Danbury. $2,770 in favor of Capital One Bank (USA) N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. Hassoun, Jamal, Stratford. $4,387 London. Property: 136 Pembroke in favor of Citibank (South Da- Road, Unit 34, Danbury. Filed kota) N.A., Sioux Falls, S.D., by March 26.

Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 40 Prayer Spring Road, Stratford.

Filed March 23.

Somma, Carmelo, Norwalk. $1,705 in favor of Main Street Acquisition Corp., Norcross, Ga., Huegen, U, Danbury. $7,776 in by Stephen A. Wiener. Property: favor of Capital One Bank (USA) 17 Chelene Road, Norwalk. Filed N.A., Richmond, Va., by Russell L. April 2.

London. Property: 32 Grand St., Danbury. Filed March 26.

Stokes, Thomas, Danbury. $1,573 in favor of Danbury Hospital, Manesh, Anand, Danbury. $990 Danbury, by Robert L. Peat. Propin favor of Adolf Krueger Compa- erty: 6 Quail Run Drive, Danbury. ny Inc., Bethel, by Robert L. Peat. Filed March 26.

Property: 8 Anchor St., Danbury.

Filed March 26.

Torres, Eduardo, Danbury. $8,142 in favor of Allstate Insurance Co., McGill, Charles, Stratford. Northbrook, Ill., by Donald P. $12,128 in favor of FIA Card Cianci. Property: 13 Albert Road, Services N.A., Newark, Del., by Danbury. Filed March 27.

Stephen A. Wiener. Property: 89 Brightwood Ave,, Stratford. Filed March 23.

Liens

Federal Tax Liens – filed

Elm Street Corp., Stamford. Filed

by Colgate Scaffolding, White Plains, N.Y., by Chak Lee. Property: Stamford town map 10761, Stamford. Amount: $28,542. Filed March 20.

Callas, Ariadne, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Alan P. Rosenberg, West Hartford, for Palmer Hill Community Association Inc., Stamford. Property: 77 Havemeyer Lane, Unit 306, Stamford. Action: to foreclose on the unit to recover delinquent common charges due the association. Filed March 16.

Hillside Plaza L.L.C. and GAA Associates, Norwalk. Filed by Air It Is, Shelton, by James Hamel.

Property: 14 N. Main St., Norwalk. Campo, Sally, et al., Stamford, et Amount: $87,701. Filed March 28. al. Filed by Scott J. Sandler, Farmington, for Nearwater CondominHartford Dental Inc., 9 Berkely Ortiz, Aura, Stamford. Filed by ium Association Inc., Stamford.

St., Norwalk. $53,565, FICA and Tamara Gevara, Stamford, by Ta- Property: 300 Seaside Ave., Unit employee withholding tax. Filed mara Guevara. Property: 95 Liber- 1E, Stamford. Action: to foreclose on the unit to recover delinquent March 28. ty St., Unit D8, Stamford. Amount: common charges due the associa$7,000. Filed March 15. tion. Filed March 15.

Major Tires Company L.L.C., 80 Century Drive, Stratford. $1,863, Castro, Dionicio, et al., Norwalk, Federal unemployment tax, FICA et al. Filed by O’Connell Flaherty and employee withholding tax.

Lis Pendens & Attmore L.L.C., Hartford, for Filed March 26.

HSBC Bank USA N.A., trustee, The following filings indicate a legal Buffalo, N.Y. Property: 35 WoodSycamore Trails Group L.L.C., action has been initiated, the out- ward Ave., Norwalk. Action: to 511 Danbury Road, New Milford. come of which may affect the title to foreclose a delinquent mortgage $15,848, Federal unemployment the property listed. in the original principal amount of tax, FICA and employee withhold- $297,500 dated November 2005. ing tax. Filed March 26.

Filed April 2.

Aker, William, et al., Danbury, et al. Filed by Gregg A. Brauneisen, Danbury, for Parker Street Con- Chatlos, Amy, et al., Stratford, et dominium Association Inc., Dan- al. Filed by O’Connell Flaherty bury. Property: 8 Parker St., Unit & Attmore L.L.C., Hartford, for D4, Danbury. Action: to foreclose Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., on the unit to recover delinquent trustee, Los Angeles, Calif. PropElmer Lewis & Sons Inc., 4 Haw- common charges due the associa- erty: 316 Birdseye St., Stratford. leyville Road, Bethel. $5,940, Fed- tion. Filed March 22.

Action: to foreclose a delinquent eral unemployment tax, FICA and mortgage in the original principal employee withholding tax. Filed amount of $175,000 dated June Almeida, Sidney, et al., Danbury, March 26.

2006. Filed March 26. et al. Filed by Robin A. Kahn, Danbury, for Westwood Village Tonis Day Care Inc., 14 Park Hill Condominium Association Inc., Collins, Ronald, et al., Norwalk, Ave., Norwalk. $6,725, FICA and Danbury. Property: 55 Mill Plain et al. Filed by Thomas V. Battaglia employee withholding tax. Filed Road, Unit 27-7, Danbury. Action: Jr., Stratford, for Secure Capital March 28. to foreclose on the unit to recover Group L.L.C., Stratford. Property: delinquent common charges due 8 Hamilton Ave., Norwalk. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage O’Neill Enterprises Inc., 498 the association. Filed March 22. in the original principal amount Westport Ave., Norwalk. $21,576, FICA and employee withholding Billingham, Colleen, et al., Strat- of $60,000 dated February 2009.

Filed March 29. tax. Filed March 28. ford, et al. Filed by Rebecca SacksOppenheim, Armonk, N.Y., for Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., D’Annolfo, Steven, et al., Stamtrustee, Los Angeles, Calif. Prop- ford, et al. Filed by Enrico R. erty: 246 Garibaldi Ave., Stratford. Costantini, Milford, for Astoria Action: to foreclose a delinquent Federal Mortgage Corp., Minemortgage in the original principal ola, N.Y. Property: 38 Judy Lane, Coleman Towers Tenant Asso- amount of $187,200 dated May Stamford. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the origiciation, Stamford. Filed by Sim- 2006. Filed March 22. nal principal amount of $342,000 plexgrinnell L.P., Westminster, Mass., by Angela Jaillet. Property: Burnett, Michael, et al., Dan- dated July 2005. Filed March 15.

72 Spruce St., Stamford. Amount: bury, et al. Filed by Juda J. Epstein, $5,455. Filed March 16.

Bridgeport, for Plymouth Park Tax Ferris, Sally, et al., Norwalk, et al.

Services L.L.C., Whippany, N.J. Filed by Hunt Leibert Jacobson Dino’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Property: 125C Clapboard Ridge P.C., Hartford, for Wells Fargo Inc., Darien. Filed by Connecticut Road, Danbury. Action: to fore- Bank N.A., trustee, Bloomington, Basement Systems Inc., Seymour, close on the property to recover Minn. Property: 3 Longshore Ave.,

by Lawrence Janesky. Property: delinquent municipal taxes as- Norwalk. Action: to foreclose a de319 Post Road, Darien. Amount: signed to the plaintiff or collection. linquent mortgage in the original Filed March 26. principal amount of $528,750 dat$14,600. Filed March 19. ed August 2007. Filed March 30.

Braswell Galleries Inc., 1 Muller Ave., Bldg. 1, Norwalk. $23,075, FICA and employee withholding tax. Filed March 28.

Federal Tax Liens-released

Mechanic’s Liens-filed

28 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

Fogarty, Patrick, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Mark A. Sank, Stamford, for Riverside Terrace Association Inc., Stamford. Property: Unit G2, Riverside Terrace Condominium, Stamford. Action: to foreclose on the unit to recover delinquent common charges due the association. Filed March 19.

Gjini, Flamur, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Lawrence M. Garfinkel, West Warwick, R.I., for Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, Los Angeles, Calif. Property: 17 Renwick Street East, Stamford.

Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $182,000 dated January 2007. Filed March 15.

Herrera, Wendis, et al., Danbury, et al. Filed by Robin A. Kahn, Danbury, for Park Brook Condominium Association Inc., Danbury.

Property: 2A-45 Jeanette St., Danbury. Action: to foreclose on the unit to recover delinquent common charges due the association.

Filed March 22.

Hirsch, Howard, et al., Norwalk, et al. Filed by Bendett & McHugh P.C., Farmington, for U.S. Bank N.A., Minneapolis, Minn. Property: 71 Soundview Ave., Norwalk.

Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $292,000 dated July 2003. Filed March 30.

Mallozzi, Enzenio, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Lawrence M. Garfinkel, West Warwick, R.I., for Bank of America N.A., Charlotte, N.C. Property: 192 Joffre Ave., Stamford. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $410,000 dated April 2007. Filed March 15.

Minishi, Michael, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Jason E. Brooks, Stamford, for Flagstar Bank F.S.B., Troy, Mich. Property: 44 Sutton Drive, Stamford. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $262,515 dated November 2009.

Filed March 19.

Mwambayi, Mujinga, et al., Stratford, et al. Filed by O’Connell Flaherty & Attmore L.L.C., Hartford, for U.S. Bank N.A., trustee, Minneapolis, Minn. Property: 260 Dahl Ave., Stratford. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $315,000 dated December 2006.

Filed March 23.

on the record Noble, Denise, et al., Stamford, et al. Filed by Lawrence M. Garfinkel, West Warwick, R.I., for Vericrest Financial Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. Property: 73 Seaton Road, No 12A4, Stamford. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $143,000 dated July 2007. Filed March 15.

64 Connecticut Avenue Associates L.L.C., Shelton, by Jo-Ann O’Neill. Lender: Fairfield County Bank, Ridgefield. Property: 64 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk.

Amount: $1.7 million. Filed April 2.

ALH L.L.C., Sandy Hook, by Angela Hergan. Lender: Fairfield County Bank, Ridgefield. ProperPateley Associates L.L.C., et al., ty: 53 East Ave., Norwalk. Amount: Stamford, et al. Filed by Pierre- $325,000. Filed March 29.

Yves Kolakowski, Greenwich, for U.S. Bank N.A., trustee, Minneapolis, Minn. Property: 50 Barry Alliance Energy L.L.C., Waltham, Place, Stamford. Action: to fore- Mass., by Edward Faneuil. Lender: close a delinquent mortgage in the Bank of America N.A., Boston, original principal amount of $2.9 Mass. Property: 211 Boston Post million dated August 2001. Filed Road, Darien. Amount: $200 million. Filed March 6.

March 20.

Stamford Center for the Arts Inc., Stamford, by Michael Widland. Lender: First County Bank, Stamford. Property: 307 Atlantic St., Stamford. Amount: $100,000.

Filed March 16.

Mortgages 23 Victory Street L.L.C., Stamford, by David and Michael Portonova. Lender: Mary Ann Sementini and Pasquale DiMattio, Stamford. Property: 23 Victory St., Stamford. Amount: $200,000.

Filed March 16.

498 Westport Avenue L.L.C., Shelton, by Frederick O’Neill.

Lender: Fairfield County Bank, Ridgefield. Property: 498 Westport Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $1.6 million. Filed April 2.

Apparatus to detect and treat aberrant myoelectric activity. Patent no. 8,152,803 issued to: Stuart D. Edwards, Salinas, Calif.; David S. Utley, Redwood City, Calif.; and Good to Go Café L.L.C., 72 Ronald G. Lax, Palm City, Fla. AsHeights Road, Darien 06820, c/o S&J Home Development L.L.C., signed to Mederi Therapeutics Embody Fitness Gourmet. Filed 62 Wolfpit Ave., Norwalk 06851, Inc., Greenwich. c/o Paul Mendez. Filed March 26.

March 27.

Two Yale & Towne L.L.C., Stamford, by Paul Kuchner. Lender: First Niagara Bank N.A., Buffalo, N.Y. Property: 200 Henry St., Head and Neck Surgical Care Stamford. Amount: $50.5 million. of Connecticut Inc., 40 Heights Road, Darien 06820, c/o Michael Filed March 15.

Marks M.D. Filed Feb. 29.

Viggiano, Stephen, Ridgefield,

by Stephen Viggiano. Lender: Crown & Bower L.L.C., Norwalk.

Property: vicinity of West Avenue, Darien. Amount: $350,000. Filed March 21.

Alto Management L.L.C., Norwalk, by Mark Hollis. Lender: New Businesses JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Shelton. Property: 16 Fitch St., Nor- The Business Journal is not responwalk. Amount: $801,900. Filed sible for typographical errors conMarch 29. tained in the original filings.

Paulk, Luphelia, et al., Norwalk, et al. Filed by Karen McArthur, Armonk, N.Y., for U.S. Bank N.A., trustee, Minneapolis, Minn. Property: 7 Edlie Ave., Norwalk. Action: to foreclose a delinquent mortgage in the original principal amount of $488,000 dated May 2006. Filed Alto Management L.L.C., NorMarch 30. walk, by Mark Hollis. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., ShelRojas, Monica, et al., Stamford, et ton. Property: 16 Fitch St., Noral. Filed by Matthew L. Corrente, walk. Amount: $1 million. Filed Stamford, for City of Stamford, March 29.

Stamford. Property: 47 Leeds St., Stamford. Action: to foreclose on Galasso, William, Norwalk, by the property to recover delinquent William Galasso. Lender: First fees for municipal water and sewer County Bank, Stamford. Propservice. Filed March 19. erty: vicinity of Rose Street and Strawberry Hill Avenue, NorSellers, Kenneth, et al., Norwalk, walk. Amount: $333,000. Filed et al. Filed by David Carlson, Paw- March 29. tucket, R.I., for Goldman Sachs Mortgage Corp., New York City. Housesold Real Estate L.L.C., Property: 105 S. Main St., Norwalk. West Hartford, by Kenneth Potter.

Action: to foreclose a delinquent Lender: Pinnacle Financial Servicmortgage in the original principal es L.L.C., Elyria, Ohio. Property: 81 amount of $494,900 dated Sep- Hirsch Road, Stamford. Amount: tember 2007. Filed April 2. $210,000. Filed March 15.

Fashion and Chic, 18 Wall St., The Rafters Group, 73 GreenNorwalk 06851, c/o Regina Civil. wood Ave., First floor, Bethel 06801, c/o Kristen Gill. Filed Filed March 21.

March 26.

J&G Professional Landscaping L.L.C., 59 Woodward Ave., Apt. 62, Norwalk 06854, c/o Juan Garcia.

Filed March 27.

Koko Fitclub of Darien, 25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien 06820, c/o Squam Lake Associates.

Filed March 7.

Lilian’s Cookie Shop, 9 Sylvan Road, Danbury 06811, c/o Liliana Ramirez. Filed March 27.

Apparatuses useful for printing and corresponding methods.

Patent no. 8,155,547 issued to: Anthony S. Condello, Webster, N.Y.; Augusto E. Barton, Webster, N.Y.; and David M. Thompson, WebThe Stair Repair L.L.C., 53 ster, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Wooster St., Bethel 06801, c/o Mi- Norwalk. chael Nocito. Filed March 28.

Autonomous system and methTimco Designs, 2591 Boston Post od for creating readable scripts Road, Darien 06820, c/o Timothy for concatenative text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) corpora. Patent Miller. Filed Feb. 1. no. 8,155,963 issued to: Andrew Stephen Aaron, Ardsley, N.Y.; DaWA Graphic Art Services, 399 vid Angelo Ferrucci, Yorktown Main Ave., Apt. 702, Norwalk Heights, N.Y.; and John Ferdinand 06851, c/o Thomas Davidson. Pitrelli, Danbury. Assigned to NuFiled March 23. ance Communications Inc., Burlington, Mass.

Schmidt Construction of Bethel L.L.C., 14 Cortland Drive, Bethel 06801, c/o Guillermo Schmidt.

Filed March 28.

Advantage International, 20 Old Patents Kings Highway South, Darien McDonald’s of Belden Ave., 26 06820, c/o Olof Nelson. Filed Feb. Belden Ave., Norwalk 06850, c/o David Hawthorne. Filed March 23. Access port using shape-altering 16. anchor. Patent no. 8,152,775 issued to Robert J. DeSantis, RedAshe O!, 2 Belden Ave., Norwalk McIntosh Construction, 135 ding and Jason Sung, North Bran06852, c/o Precious Asouzu. Filed Oronoque Lane, Stratford ford. Assigned to Tyco Healthcare 06614, c/o Alicia McIntosh. Group L.P., Mansfield, Mass.

March 23.

Filed March 26.

C. E. Williams Distributions, 430 Main St., No. R3, Norwalk MJB Plumbing & Heating, 150 06851, c/o Curtis Williams. Filed W. Cedar St., Apt. 1, Norwalk 06854, c/o Michael Buszko. Filed March 21.

March 27.

Charles W. Gerdts III Scholarship Fund, 9 Canoe Trail, Darien 06820, c/o Elizabeth Gerdts. Filed Feb. 21.

College Parent Association, 8 William St., Darien 06820, c/o Paul Kerschner Development Streitz. Filed Feb. 15.

Company L.L.C., Norwalk, by Steven Kerschner. Lender: Independence Partners Mortgage Custom Stoneworks, 14 Ingalls L.L.C., Norwalk. Property: Lot Ave., Norwalk 06854, c/o Freddy 46, Norwalk town map 1729, Llanganate. Filed March 22.

Norwalk. Amount: $750,000.

Filed March 29.

D&J’s Auto Body, 19 Country Club Road, Norwalk 06851, c/o Stamford Center for the Arts David Tartaglia. Filed March 26.

Inc., Stamford, by Michael Widland. Lender: First County Bank, Darien Aesthetic Arts L.L.C., 722 Stamford. Property: 307 Atlantic Boston Post Road, Darien 06820, St., Stamford. Amount: $1.8 mil- c/o Darien Anesthesia Services. lion. Filed March 16.

Filed March 5.

Donis Construction L.L.C., 22 Slocum St., Norwalk 06851, c/o Edvin Donis-Hernandez. Filed March 26.

Annular adhesive structure.

Patent no. 8,152,042 issued to: Michael J. Bettuchi, Middletown; David N. Fowler, Cheshire; Frank J. Viola, Sandy Hook; Christopher J. Criscuolo, Branford; Danyel J. Noroton Dental Associates Tarinelli, Middletown; Robert CaL.L.C., 106 Noroton Ave., Darien pella, Shelton; Kevin Sniffin, Dan06820, c/o Middlesex Dental bury; and Ahmad Robert Hadba, Wallingford. Assigned to Tyco Group. Filed March 12.

Healthcare Group L.P., Norwalk.

Options Real Estate, 5 Clifford St., Norwalk 06853, c/o Chris Buswell.

Filed March 22.

Orion Ship Agencies, 21 Herman Ave., Darien 06820, c/o Andreas Androulidakis. Filed Feb. 21.

Patricio’s Painting L.L.C., 12 Broad St., Apt. 3, Norwalk 06851, c/o Edgar Lojano-Chasi. Filed March 26.

Piper Planning and Consulting, 2 Sheridan St., Danbury 06810, c/o Daniel Reilly. Filed March 26.

Quintal Consulting, 3 Roland Drive, Darien 06820, c/o Richard Quintal. Filed Feb. 29.

Bicycle frame and drive link case therefor. Patent no. 8,152,189 issued to Christopher Philip Dodman, Switzerland and Torgny Fjeldskaar, Switzerland. Assigned to Cannondale Bicycle Corp., Bethel.

Bonding and grounding clamp.

Patent no. D657,316 issued to Kenneth M. Kiely, Milford. Assigned to Bridgeport Fittings Inc., Stratford.

Brush assembly with molded brush sleeve. Patent no. 8,151,807 issued to: Thomas F. Holloway, Southbury; Frederick J. Dobbins, Prospect; Stephen G. Dudienski, Ansonia; and Raymond P. Legassie, Laconia, N.H. Assigned to HCP Apparatus for low cost embed- Packaging USA Inc., Shelton. ded platform for device-side, distributed services enablement.

Patent no. 8,154,741 issued to: Color compensation of images.

Michael R. Furst, Rochester, N.Y.; Patent no. 8,154,777 issued to: YeqLoranzo Whitfield, Fairport, N.Y.; ing Zhang, Penfield, N.Y.; Robert P. Naveen Sharma, Perinton, N.Y.; Loce, Webster, N.Y.; and Raja Bala, Ronald M. Rockwell, Rochester, Webster, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox N.Y.; Tracy E. Thieret, Webster, Corp., Norwalk.

N.Y.; Claude S. Fillion, Rochester, N.Y.; Weixia Huang, Rochester, Composition and method for N.Y.; Michael P. Kehoe, Rochester, low-temperature deposition of N.Y.; Arturo M. Lorenzo, Fairport, silicon-containing films such N.Y.; Mary C. McCorkindale, Fair- as films, including silicon, siliport, N.Y.; Robert J. St. Jacques, con nitride, silicon dioxide and/ Fairport, N.Y.; Michael F. Cavana- or silicon-oxynitride. Patent no. ugh, Webster, N.Y.; and Christo- 8,153,833 issued to: Ziyun Wang, pher J. Regruit, Rochester, N.Y. As- Bethel; Chongying Xu, New Milsigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk. ford; Ravi K. Laxman, San Jose, Calif.; Thomas H. Baum, New Fairfield; Bryan C. Hendrix, Danbury; and Jeffrey F. Roeder, Brookfield. Assigned to Advanced Technology Materials Inc., Danbury.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 29

on the record Customization of curable ink prints by molding. Patent no.

8,152,290 issued to Jurgen H. Daniel, San Francisco, Calif. and Steven E. Ready, Los Altos, Calif. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk and Palo Alto Research Center Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.

Method and system for error manipulation. Patent no. 8,156,387 issued to; Angela M. Njo, Shelton and Robert P. Sedor, Simsbury.

Assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford.

Organic thin-film transistors.

Patent no. 8,154,013 issued to: Yuning Li, Singapore; Yiliang Wu, Canada; Ping Liu, Canada; and Paul F. Smith, Canada. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Method of forming metal/high-. kappa. gate stacks with high mobility. Patent no. 8,153,514 issued to: Wanda Andreoni, Switzerland; Alessandro C. Callegari, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Eduard A. Cartier, New York City; Alessandro Curioni, Switzerland; Christopher Envelope feed apparatus. Patent Interfacing devices and systems. P. D’Emic, Ossining, N.Y.; Evgeni no. 8,152,155 issued to Samuel Patent no. 8,153,975 issued to Mil- Gousev, Mahopac, N.Y.; Michael Seok Jae Jeong, Sherwood, Ore. ton Bernard Hollander, Stamford A. Gribelyuk, Stamford; Paul C. and Ian Joseph Frank, Wilsonville, and Shahin Baghai, Trumbull. As- Jamison, Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; Ore. Assigned to Xerox Corp., signed to White Box Inc., Stam- Rajarao Jammy, Hopewell JuncNorwalk. ford. tion, N.Y.; Dianne L. Lacey, Mahopac, N.Y.; Fenton R. McFeely, Flexible protective coating. Pat- Jet stack brazing in a diffusion Ossining, N.Y.; Vijay Narayanan, ent no. 8,153,034 issued to Felix furnace. Patent no. 8,152,045 is- New York City; Carlo A. Pignedoli, A. Dimanshteyn, West Hartford sued to: J. Kirk McGlothlan, Bea- Switzerland; Joseph F. Shepard Jr., and Richard J. Barone, Wilton. verton, Ore.; Christopher Lan- Fishkill, N.Y.; and Sufi Zafar, BriAssigned to American Thermal sing Renfro, Hillsboro, Ore.; and arcliff Manor, N.Y. Assigned to InHolding Co., Richmond Hill, Ga. Constance Hillary Texley Jones, ternational Business Machines Newberg, Ore. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Armonk, N.Y. Corp., Norwalk.

Fluid storage and dispensing Methods and algorithms for advessels having colorimetrically verifiable leak tightness and Method and apparatus for justing gloss levels in printers. method of making same. Pat- making beverages. Patent no. Patent no. 8,154,765 issued to: ent no. 8,153,434 issued to: Paul J. 8,153,180 issued to: Richard K. Connie Purdum, Rochester, N.Y.; Marganski, Seymour; Jose I. Arno, Grenville, Wilmington, Del.; Eric Lalit Keshay Mestha, Fairport, Brookfield; Edward A. Sturm, New G. Sumner, Wilmington, Del.; Ba- N.Y.; Martin Maltz, Rochester, Milford; and Kristy L. Zaleta, Dan- batunde Aremu, Stratford; Todd N.Y.; Frederick J. Ramsey, Webbury. Assigned to Advanced Tech- A. Katz, White Plains, N.Y.; and ster, N.Y.; and Alvaro Enrique Gil, nology Materials Inc., Danbury.

Kathleen Da Cunha, Ridgefield. Rochester, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Assigned to PepsiCo Inc., Pur- Corp., Norwalk. chase, N.Y. and E.I. Du Pont De Four-petal teether. Patent no. Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Microbial delivery system. Patent D657,471 issued to: Jennifer Chin, Del. no. 8,153,414 issued to: Michael Bridgeport; Diana Sierra, North J. Caplan, Woodbridge; Hugh A. Bergen, N.J.; and Marisol Rodriguez, Brooklyn, N.Y. Assigned to Method and system for achiev- Sampson, Larchmont, N.Y.; A. Playtex Products L.L.C., Shelton. ing uniform ink and web tem- Wesley Burks, Chapel Hill, N.C.; peratures for spreading. Patent H. Kim Bottomly, Wellesley, Mass.; no. 8,152,288 issued to James Ed- and Howard B. Sosin, Fairfield. AsHand-held, portable electronic ward Williams, Penfield, N.Y. and signed to Allertein Therapeutics device with a retainer port for Paul John McConville, Webster, L.L.C., Fairfield. removably coupling an attach- N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., able wireless audiophone there- Norwalk.

Oil reservoir with float level sento. Patent no. 8,155,367 issued to sor. Patent no. 8,152,293 issued to: Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Danbury.

Edward F. Burress, West Linn, Ore.; Michael Joel Edwards, Beaverton, Ore.; Joseph Benjamin Gault, Portland, Ore.; Michael Cameron Gordon, West Linn, Ore.; Devin Richard Bailly, West Linn, Ore.; Frank Alexander Weissig, Portland, Ore.; and Barry Daniel Reeves, Lake Oswego, Ore. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Organometallic compounds, processes for the preparation thereof and methods of use thereof. Patent no. 8,153,831 issued to: David M. Thompson, East Amherst, N.Y.; David Walter Peters, Kingsland, Texas; and Scott Houston Meiere, Williamsville, N.Y. Assigned to Praxair Technology Inc., Danbury.

Electrical connector having a spin ring, a pre-mold and an over mold. Patent no. 8,152,563 issued to Louis R. Csak, Old Greenwich.

Assigned to Lex Products Corp., Shelton.

Electronic devices. Patent no.

8,153,755 issued to: Beng S. Ong, Decorative fencing system. Pat- Canada; Hualong Pan, Canada; ent no. 8,152,141 issued to Duane Yuning Li, Canada; Yiliang Wu, Langenwalter, Monroe. Assigned Canada; and Ping Liu, Canada. Asto Origin Point Brands L.L.C., signed to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Charleston, S.C. Dielectric structure having lower-k and higher-k materials. Patent no. 8,154,080 issued to Yiliang Wu, Canada and Paul F. Smith, Canada. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Digital-print procurement using reverse auction. Patent no.

8,156,033 issued to: Harsha Rane, Solon, Ohio; Matthew Kleiderman, Salem, Mass.; and Lawrence Flusser, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Dual position pre-transfer assembly. Patent no. 8,155,572 issued to: Paul N. Richards, Fairport, N.Y.; Donald C. Koch, Webster, N.Y.; Paul F. Sawicki, Rochester, N.Y.; and Richard A. Vandongen, Newark, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Dynamic process control for printing devices in the presence of reload defects. Patent no. 8,155,548 issued to: Joseph C. Sheflin, Macedon, N.Y.; Jack T. Lestrange, Macedon, N.Y.; Peter Paul, Webster, N.Y.; and Aaron M. Burry, Ontario, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Helium recovery process. Patent no. 8,152,898 issued to: Ravi Prasad, East Amherst, N.Y.; Carl Joseph Heim, Amherst, N.Y.; and James Joseph Maloney, Amherst, N.Y. Assigned to Praxair Technology Inc., Danbury.

Hybrid control of sheet transport modules. Patent no. 8,152,166 issued to Martin Krucinski, Webster, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

FAIR ARGUMENT

“(The Department of Revenue Services) has the authority to impose any one of a number of civil and criminal penalties if it concludes that a particular taxpayer has negligently or intelligently – oh, I’m sorry, intentionally – violated our tax laws. I suppose it could be a combination of both.”

Optimized limit gain compensation for dispense time accumulators of toner concentration control. Patent no. 8,155,540 issued to Akshay Bichkar, Webster, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

System and method for anchoring a modular building. Patent no. 8,151,528 issued to William C. Masters, Lakeland, Fla. and William J. Kalker Jr., Monroe. Assigned to Building Technologies Inc., Lakeland, Fla. System and method for locating an operator in a remote troubleshooting context. Patent no.

8,155,878 issued to Frederic Roulland, France. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Systems and methods for producing and processing time dependent dynamic barcodes in a Phosphate containing photo- mail delivery system. Patent no. conductors. Patent no. 8,153,341 8,152,068 issued to Luis A. Sanissued to: Yuhua Tong, Webster, chez, Troy, N.Y. and Douglas B. N.Y.; Jin Wu, Pittsford, N.Y.; Nancy Quine, Bethel. Assigned to Pitney L. Belknap, Rochester, N.Y.; Helen Bowes Inc., Stamford.

R. Cherniack, Rochester, N.Y.; and; Marc J. Livecchi, Rochester, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Nor- Time-limited business reply mail. Patent no. 8,152,067 issued walk. to Douglas B. Quine, Bethel. Assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc., Polyimide polysiloxane interme- Stamford. diate transfer members. Patent no. 8,153,213 issued to Jin Wu, Webster, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Varying tissue compression aided by elastic members. Patent Corp., Norwalk. no. 8,152,041 issued to Stanislaw Kostrzewski, Newtown. Assigned Power supply control meth- to Tyco Healthcare Group L.P., od and apparatus. Patent no. North Haven.

8,155,551 issued to Hendrikus Adrianus Anthonius Verheijen, The Netherlands and Henricus Visual voicemail provisionJohannes Maria Reijnders, The ing and notification. Patent no.

Netherlands. Assigned to Xerox 8,155,627 issued to: Jack Jianxiu Hao, Lexington, Mass.; Chris Corp., Norwalk.

Helbling, Norwalk; Gaurav D. Mehta, Brighton, Mass.; Michael Remote gaming environment. R. Oliver, Wayne, N.J.; Guillermo Patent no. 8,152,645 issued to Jay Ortiz, Brookline, Mass.; Okeno S. Walker, Ridgefield. Assigned to Palmer, Woburn, Mass.; Dahai International Game Technology, Ren, Waltham, Mass.; Diego S. Reno, Nev. Rozensztejn, Brookline, Mass.; and Atul Thaper, Flemington, N.J. Assigned to Verizon Patent and Securing printed output. Patent Licensing Inc., Basking Ridge, N.J. no. 8,156,416 issued to: Robert St. Jacques Jr., Fairport, N.Y.; Nathaniel G. Martin, Rochester, N.Y.; and Kevin M. Hall, Rush, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

Supply units having an associated electronically readable memory device. Patent no. 8,152,289 issued to: Alberto Rodriguez, Webster, N.Y.; Heiko Rommelmann, Penfield, N.Y.; William H. Phipps, Fairport, N.Y.; Scott J. Bell, Rochester, N.Y.; Jerry Money, Charleston, S.C.; and Ronald P. Boucher, Rochester, N.Y. Assigned to Xerox Corp., Norwalk.

– Alan Lieberman, Shipman & Goodwin, Hartford

30 Week of April 23, 2012 • Fairfield County Business Journal a division of Westfair Business Publications • www.westfaironline.com

faces&places Great chefs draw sold-out crowd More than 550 guests recently gathered for at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich for the Great Chefs event to support Community Health at Greenwich Hospital. The event featured samplings of signature dishes, desserts and wines from 60 restaurants, catering companies and distributors in Fairfield and Westchester counties.

All photograph identifications are from left unless otherwise noted.

1. Great Chefs co-chairpersons Carolyn Crabtree and Shelly Tretter Lynch with Frank A. Corvino, president and chief executive officer of Greenwich Hospital.

2. Celebrity chef Alessandro Stratta, who was honored at Great Chefs, with Rye Brook, N.Y., resident Kathy Carley Spanier, director of Community Health at Greenwich Hospital.

3. Rye, N.Y., residents Modestus Lee M.D., a neonatologist at Greenwich Hospital, with his wife Lai Ming Yu M.D. 4. Among the guests at Great Chefs were Sonia Hedvat, owner of Crave boutique in Port Chester, N.Y., and Deanna Bastianich, whose husband, Joseph, is coowner of Tarry Lodge, also in Port Chester.

5. Great Chefs guests dined in a ballroom transformed by the décor of lucite tables aglow with LED lights and adorned with tall vases featuring curly willow and pineapples.

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Champions of Housing honors Malloy More than 300 business, community and civic leaders, tenants representing several NNI properties, and local student leaders came together March 13 when New Neighborhoods Inc. honored Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as the nonprofit developer’s 2012 Champion of Housing.

NNI is a Fairfield County-based nonprofit developer and manager of affordable owner-occupied and rental housing.

6. Back row, Gov. Malloy, featured speaker Wes Moore, Joe McGee and Matthew Broder; front row, Champions of Housing honorary chairman Bill Tommins, New Neighborhoods Inc. Chairman Philip Wolford, and Laure Aubuchon, director, Stamford Office of Economic Development.

7. Christel Truglia and Betsi Shays.

8. Centerpieces individually decorated by students from the Creative Learning @FPC after-school program.

9. Back row, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes; Ross Burkhardt, president and CEO of New Neighborhoods Inc.; and Wes Moore; front row, Rev. Kate Heichler, Church of Christ the Healer, Stamford.

10. Irene Dixon, Ed Musante and Yvonne Hickey.

11. Kathleen Millard.

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL • Week of April 23, 2012 31

CAN HOSPITALS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE? Hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and large medical groups have impacted the practice of health care. In this roundtable conversation, sponsored by the Business Journals, our panel of experts will address questions like: • Where are the pockets of medical excellence?

• Has increased population improved hospital care and procedures in the suburbs?

• Is it perception or reality that patients still seek New York City hospitals?

Everyone has hospital and health questions.

Come prepared with yours.

panel of Medical professionals DR. JohN CRoWE JoN Orthopedic Surgeon and SChANDlER

President, Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists PC, Greenwich, Conn.

President/CEO, White Plains Hospital

President and CEO, Western Connecticut Health Network

Medical Group, Westchester County

DR. SiMEoN DR. JohN M. SChWARtz MuRPhY CEO, WestMed

MikE WEBER

President/CEO, Health Quest, Hudson Valley

Guest Bill Mooney, president, Westchester County Association, joins Business Journal reporters in posing questions.

APRIL 26

11:30 a.m. buffet lunch Program begins at noon at 1133 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY Register now. Space is limited.

Email Beverly Visosky at bvisosky@westfairinc.com or go to westfaironline.com/hospitals.

next roundtable • SocIal medIa: love or Hate It • may 31