Find the products and services you need — click here!
Other search options:
Member List A–Z •
Category List •
Advanced Search
|
ChamberWorks December 2003 |
» Past Issues |
» Message
From Our Chairman
» Santa
Arrives Amid Wind Gusts from North Pole Updated
» Electric
Transmission System Upgrade
» Spirit
of the Season
» Put
January 21 on Your Calendar
» T-shirts,
Hats and Gift Certificates, Oh My!
» November
Business After Hours Recap
Message From Our Chairman
The holidays are fast approaching; I think it's appropriate to remind everyone to shop Fairfield, especially the shops of other chamber members. There is no doubt these businesses have a variety of gift items for all your holiday needs. Use the Chamber web site at www.FairfieldCTchamber.com for a complete list of these businesses along with information on the things they offer. And, if you haven't noticed, the new web site can direct you by category and name of business, and provides you with phone numbers and addresses. Thanks to the efforts of Lone Weglarz and her company Weglarz Design LLC, the site is better than ever, easier to navigate and has more information.
Also, watch for a new feature in the newsletter, beginning January 1. Randall Blank will be our newest reporter, writing a column that will include information of the number of web site hits and pricing for advertising opportunities on the web.
Did you know the web site offers businesses the opportunity to post a member profile, right on the main home page, for two weeks for
free!! Please inquire at the Chamber to take advantage of this free advertising opportunity.
I want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season. And I hope you will all take a minute to thank Patricia L. Ritchie and Linda Matthews for their continued efforts to make the Chamber what it is- a fun organization that helps provide your business and you as an individual with the tools to be successful. The Chamber continues to promote local business and the Town at large, and continues the quest to make Fairfield the best place to live and to do business.
Happy Holidays!
Ted Fitzgerald
Chairman
Santa Arrives Amid Wind Gusts from North Pole
|
Update: Pictures from the event! |
Santa's Arrival on Saturday, November 29, proved to be a challenge. Everything went as expected, with the big guy arriving at 10 a.m. sharp. Cheers arose from a smaller-than-last-year, but enthusiastic crowd. And as in years past, Santa managed to stay on his throne (without a break) from 10 to 3 p.m.
However, as the morning progressed, blowing up and tying off balloons became an interesting concept performed by a determined group of volunteers. There was no getting ahead of the crowd, lest the balloons take off and land somewhere down the Post Road. Kids lost balloons at a rapid pace, tearfully coming back for seconds, which kept the volunteers' frozen fingers, well, frozen. T-shirts blew off the table, and signs were flying everywhere, while volunteers were each other's best customers as they bought hot chocolate, hot cider and anything else hot that they could find to warm their insides.
All thirty-one organizations that said they would be there actually showed up! My understanding is that sales were terrific for some, while others failed to meet their goals. Those with disappointing sales, however, said they were happy for the exposure and expected to be back next year.
At the end of the day, I left for home with a wind-burned face, and cold feet, but happy to say that this was another successful event with the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce name on it.
Thank you is in order to: The Fairfield Police Department, The Fairfield Fire Department, Fairfield Parks and Rec Dept. and the following volunteers: Sean Kilbride--A.G. Edwards; Janet Hogarth--The Chocolate Shoppe; Kevin Lally--Brooks Community Newspapers; Diane Melish--Consultant; Mark Hawkins--Gold Coast Partners; Joan Neiley--Prudential Real Estate; Patty Kondub--Patty Kondub Fitness LLC; Greg Beno--Adecco; Dana Ambrosini--Fairfield University; Lone Weglarz--Weglarz Design LLC; Milt Jacoby--Dunlap-Hibbs Real Estate, Robert Bennett--AFLAC; and Val Senew--People's Bank. And to that very special guy, Gary Crystal--JP Travel for his role as Santa Claus.
Electric Transmission System Upgrade
John Prete, Project Director for the Middletown/Norwalk system upgrade spoke before the Board of Directors at the November 20 meeting. He was there to inform and to ask for the support of the Chamber with regard to the Middletown/Norwalk project during the upcoming Connecticut Siting Council process.
In a letter dated November 24, 2003 from John Prete, we are reminded of the state's growing need for electricity. Most of us already know that the transmission system currently existing in southwest Connecticut is grossly inadequate. In fact, southwest Connecticut is the only part of the state not served by 345-kilovolt power lines. Homes and businesses have simply outgrown the capability of the existing transmission system to meet the needs of this part of the state. The Middletown/Norwalk electric project would upgrade the current system to improve access to generation resources, both locally and regionally, and provide a responsible, reliable and environmentally-sound solution at a reasonable cost.
It is expected that the underground transmission cable will be installed beneath streets in Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport and Norwalk in a trench approximately 4 feet wide by 5 feet deep. According to plans, the Fairfield work will proceed mainly along Route 1 with work to be accomplished at night within a period of approximately four months. The roads will be steel-plated during the day so that they are usable and will not interfere with traffic patterns.
Not to do anything is not an option. Construction is expected to begin in 2004 with a completion date by December 20, 2007. If work is finished on time, Connecticut with share the $500 million cost with the other New England states. However, if work does not proceed in a timely manner, Connecticut will be expected to pick up the entire tab by itself.
For more information or to offer your support to the project, please contact Mitch Gross, Northeast's Utilities Manager of Transmission Communications at 860-665-5072, or Marcia Wellman, U.I.'s Communications Manager for the Middletown/Norwalk Reliability Project at 203-499-3737.
Spirit of the Season
Chevrolet of Fairfield, 985 Post Road, will be a drop off location for the Connecticut Food Bank and Toys for Tots. Donations will be accepted beginning November 28 through December 20. There was a kick-off event Thanksgiving weekend with donations provided by many local Fairfield businesses. There will be a wrap up event Saturday, December 20. Anyone who brings a donation for either charity on December 20 will receive a free picture with Santa. Any businesses looking to contribute are welcome to contact Sue or Michele at Chevrolet of Fairfield, 259-5221.
Put January 21 on Your Calendar
The January 21 Business After Hours, hosted by The Fairfield Theatre Company, is the annual event that also welcomes teachers new to the Fairfield school system. The event will take place at The Fairfield Theatre Company site,
70 Sanford St., Fairfield, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The teachers are invited as our guests, and have expressed their thanks to the Chamber office for the opportunity to meet with members of our business community. Let's show them our support with a good turnout. A brief tour of the new Theatre Company property will also be available. Once again, please respond by
making your reservation early.
T-shirts, Hats and Gift Certificates, Oh My!
The Chamber office is happy to report that sales of hats and t-shirts continue to be brisk, thanks to the publicity that appears regularly in our local newspapers, web site and word-of-mouth. A big "thank you" to Dana Ambrosini, our PR Chairperson. By the time you receive this issue of ChamberWorks, our office will be into the heaviest of selling times for Gift Certificates. Even though the certificates are available at two branches of People's Bank and on-line 24 hours through our web site, many people come directly to our office and make their purchases. Did you buy yours yet? We are extremely proud to say that we now have 60 participating businesses of all types, from restaurants to services, entertainment to retail, and even a few that will surprise you!
November Business After Hours Recap
A big thanks is in order to the Boston Billiards Club for hosting the November 12 Business After Hours. Sixty people showed up to network and play pool while enjoying the hefty cocktail hour repast provided by the Club in the private library rooms at the rear of the building.
A big surprise was the give-away of four large bowls and Bluefish tickets in a raffle drawing provided by Joe Skarupa of the Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard. Additionally, Greg
Beno--Adecco, won a private party at Boston Billiards for 20 to 25 friends. This surprise gift provided by the Club's manager, Marc Capasso, is valued at $350.
Our Business After Hours events are getting bigger and better all the time. If you missed this one, shame on you. Just be sure to attend the December 16 event at the Southport Brewery. Billed as our Holiday Party, the event is sure to be a sell-out.