Fairfield County Business Journal: 092319 by Westfair Business Journal

PRINT JOURNALISM: BECAUSE IT STILL MATTERS. SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 VOL. 55, No. 38

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Swiss tech company ABB Robotics is introducing collaborative robots to medical laboratories such as the Texas Medical Center in Houston, opening in October. Photo courtesy ABB.

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Are robots our friends?

DANBURY AUTHOR EXAMINES THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

he robots are coming — but we needn’t fear a “Terminator”style takeover. At least, not yet. That is one of the main takeaways from “Robot Attitude: How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Will Make Our Lives Better,” a new book by Danbury author John R. Patrick. It is the sixth in the “Attitude” series to be published by the

one-time IBM senior executive and co-founder of the Danbury chapter of Habitat for Humanity. “Robots and AI can do an awful lot for us, and make our lives better,” Patrick said. “In many cases, they already are.” Patrick’s book details advances made utilizing robots and AI in a host of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, banking, insurance, health care and tasks that take place in the home. Patrick served for

11 years on the board of Western Connecticut Health Network (now Nuvance Health) and noted that while robotic surgery has become fairly commonplace, “I was surprised at how little of these kinds of technologies were being used there at the time. Just the storage of patient data was so expensive, and if you wanted to go back a couple of years and check an MRI, you’d have to put in a request with the IT department to pull that information, and it could take days to retrieve it from the archives.” With the rise of cloud technology, he said, such concerns have been mostly eliminated. “Before, you had a pulmonologist listen to your chest with a stethoscope » » ROBOTS

AG TONG OPPOSES PURDUE PHARMA BANKRUPTCY PLAN BY PAUL SCHOTT Hearst Connecticut Media Group Purdue Pharma has filed for bankruptcy, an expected move linked to a multibillion-dollar settlement plan reached with some two dozen states and approximately 2,000 cities and counties suing the company — but the measure hardly represents an end to the ongoing Purdue saga, with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and many of his counterparts pledging to keep fighting the OxyContin maker. The company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sept. 15 would pave the way for enacting the proposed settlement terms — in which the business would be turned into a trust or similar entity, with the Sackler

family members who own Purdue relinquishing control and making a payout of at least $3 billion. The Sacklers would also transfer possibly more than $1 billion through the sale of their international drug businesses, and a successor firm would potentially contribute tens of millions of doses of free or lowcost overdose-reversal and addiction-treatment medications. But Tong and about half of the other state attorneys general are unconvinced by the proposal, which the company estimates to be worth more than $10 billion. They have not agreed to settle. The Sackler family’s net worth has been estimated at $13 billion. » » PURDUE

Suite Talk No website, no problem for Mary Jaehnig Coleman, owner of Pfizer-Jaehnig Soils

ary Jaehnig Coleman’s Ridgefield-based company Pfizer-Jaehnig Soils offers environmental consulting services in Connecticut and New York focused on wetland delineation, environmental impact statements, construction monitoring and wetland permitting. In the course of her career, she has worked on projects involving major entities including IBM, Westchester County Airport and the Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, New York, as well as projects involving homeowners seeking permits on their properties. In this edition of Suite Talk, Business Journal Senior Enterprise Editor Phil Hall interviews Coleman regarding her career in soil science.

healthy, but with a disturbed site you get invasive species that tend to take over — and they are very apparent when you arrive on the site.” What are some of the main challenges in this line of work? “Urban soils and disturbed soils are difficult. With disturbed soils, it is a challenge trying to get the history of the soil when someone has disturbed the site. With urban soils, it is because it has usually been hidden and there have been excavations and filling. You have to figure out which was the parent material and which was the topsoil and what has been done to it.” What are the tools of your trade? “I have a shovel and a hand auger. My son works part time with me on the auger on the big jobs.”

How did you get into this line of work? “I was a geology and geophysics major in college. During graduate school, the market fell out for oil and geologists in general, so I went into natural resources. I worked for an engineering company called LandTech and started my own company in 1986.” Back in 1986, how did you spread the word that you were available for business? And how do you spread the word today? “In 1986, we still had the Yellow Pages. I was in the directory. Then a few companies called me that needed my work and it established working relations during the years. “I work with a lot of homeowners who need to identify their wetlands soil for permitting. Each town has a list of consultants that they’ll accept and that’s how they get my name. And word of mouth. I work for engineers, architects, surveyors, lawyers and municipalities.” You are one of the few businesses I’ve come across that doesn’t have a website. “After all of these years, it is word of mouth. I have no website.” What is it about this work that fascinates you? “Creating a map from nothing.

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You are a one-person company. Did you ever aspire to have a large staff working with you? “No. I like to keep it small because I’ve been able to raise my family which is pretty large. I have three sons, two stepdaughters and seven grandchildren.” Mary Jaehnig Coleman. Photo by Carol Mark.

I usually work on 10 projects at a time and most of them are very small. It is probably 80% homeowners and 20% commercial.

I take soil samples and visually identify the soil type, and I can create a map for the project.” When you arrive on a site, what is the first thing you look for? “First, I do research in a geological setting on the landform type. When you take the soil sample, you are looking at the color and profile and you need to identify how it was formed. In soil science, each soil is given a name, which usually has to do with drainage.” Can you walk on a site and immediate realize by looking at the soil that something is wrong without having to test it? “Usually. It is apparent from the vegetation changes. An undisturbed site has a set of trees and shrubs that are native and

How long can these projects last, and how many projects are you handling now? “Some are one day and some are several years. My longest was IBM world headquarters in Armonk. That lasted a couple of years. I usually work on 10 projects at a time and most of them are very small. It is probably 80% homeowners and 20% commercial.” How do the property owners and developers react when they get bad news about the quality of their sites’ soil? “Not well. I am usually the first person in the project to go out, followed by the surveyors. By the time the news comes, I am usually off the project. It is in the hands of the engineers.” And what are your future plans for your consulting business? “I want to work as long as I can.”

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Suit yourself: Managers split on formality for job interviews

Yes - a suit should always be worn

No - a suit isn’t appropriate due to our more relaxed dress code

36 %

23%

It depends on the position or department at the company BY BOB ROZYCKI bobr@westfairinc.com

ressing up for a job interview still remains a top way to make a positive first impression, according to a study from staffing firm Accountemps. But as to whether you should be wearing a power suit or not depends on the interviewer. In a survey of more than 2,800 senior managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees, Accountemps, a Robert Half company, found while 37% said a suit should always be worn, 36% said it depends on the position or the specific department at the business. And 23% thought the job candidate should just look professional. Just 4% thought a suit was too much considering today’s relaxed dress codes. In looking at one’s fashion choices more broadly, 52% of senior managers said

The person just needs to look professional Source: Accountemps

the way a candidate dresses is “very important” and 42% said it’s “somewhat important.” The survey found that where the job interview is taking place is important as well. Break out that suit if you’re interviewing in Miami, New York City or Washington, D.C. Fifty-four percent of senior managers in each of those cities said a suit should “always be worn” to job interviews. Save your casual fashion for Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte, where the respondents said wearing a suit depends on the position or department. Austin and Seattle managers said if you look professional, a suit is not necessary. The survey found 40% of managers at companies with more than 250 employees prefer that job candidates wear a suit to interviews. However, 31% of managers at organizations with 20 to 99 employees expect to see

applicants formally dressed. Michael Steinitz, senior executive director of Accountemps, offered a fashion tip. “Know your audience before going into an interview to ensure you not only look your best, but also look the part,” Steinitz said. “It can be uncomfortable if you’re underdressed — or extremely overdressed — for an interview. Whether the office environment is jeans and T-shirts or suits, ensure your outfit is one step above the hiring company’s usual protocol in formality.” He also said mangers can help eliminate interview angst by letting candidates know ahead of time what is suitable attire. That way, everyone around the table can concentrate on the substance of the interview, including whether the applicant’s knowledge, experience and personality are a match for the role and company.

Sweet Successes for Women Owned Businesses in the Dessert Industry A WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SUCCESS STORY en years ago Adrianna Robles had a dream to start a gourmet cupcake business in Fairfield County. Only 18, she enrolled in Johnson and Wales and would graduate in Baking and Pastry Arts. A career followed as a pastry chef at Cipriani in NYC and then back to Connecticut where she would continue to hone her skills. Then in March of 2019, Robles made her dream a reality and opened Good Morning Cupcake, a full service dessert and catering company specializing in miniature cupcakes and other bite sized desserts. Robles also makes custom dessert tables, cupcake bars, Venetian hours, specialty cakes and even offers decorating classes. (pictured above) Aarti Khosla on the other hand has been an international entrepreneur for many years. With a successful businesses under her belt in India, Khosla soon found she had a passion for desserts, chocolate in particular. “When I moved to the states there were no good dessert places around so I decided to start my own chocolate company.” In December of 2012 she launched Le Rouge Chocolates and Cakes and began using chocolate as a medium to showcase the rich diversity of Indian desserts. Le Rouge creates chocolate in small batches, using only fair trade dark chocolate and her hand painted creations can be shipped anywhere in the US. Soon after that she opened her first retail location on Main Street in Westport, Connecticut. (pictured left) These entrepreneurs, have much more in common than their growing Fairfield County businesses. They both attribute part of their success to the guidance they received from the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC). “I gained so much more than I thought I ever could. Women entrepreneurs want to help out other women entrepreneurs.” Khosla has also found that her involvement with the WBDC has been instrumental in growing her business. “I started working with the WBDC to get help with marketing in my industry,” says Khosla who is now working on re-branding and revamping her website. As their businesses continue to thrive, both know that there will be many challenges. “It can be difficult to gain name recognition and to get people to come to the store,” Khosla commented. While Robles states that “being a woman in the food industry is tough, but I don’t accept no for an answer and I always keep my head held high.” With the WBDC and its community of successful women supporting them, both of these entrepreneurs have gained a network of mentors and resources to help their businesses thrive. As Robles puts it, “I’ve met so many amazing women who have told me if I ever need anything just to call or email and I appreciate that so much.” Both women will be honored at the Annual Gala Luncheon on November 1, 2019. The Women’s Business Development Council is a non-profit providing training, education and borrowing power necessary for women to launch and grow their businesses. For more information, visit ctwbdc.org or call 203-353-1750.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Pullman & Comley continues to lay down the law after 100 years BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

eflecting on what it takes for a law firm to last 100 years — and speculating on what is necessary to ensure its continued longevity — Pullman & Comley Chairman James (Tim) Shearin gives a matter-of-fact answer. “It sounds simple,” he said at the firm’s 253 Post Road West office in Westport, “but it’s true. It’s the people and the service we provide to our clients. Our staff is smart, hardworking and dedicated to our clients. This has always been a great litigation firm, and if we continue to follow that strategy, we will continue to thrive.” The Newtown resident has spent 31 years at the firm, ascending to the chairmanship six years ago. He oversees a staff of some 100 attorneys in seven offices — in addition to Westport, Pullman has locations in Bridgeport, Stamford, Hartford, Waterbury, White Plains and a newly opened office in Springfield, Massachusetts — and is “on the road at least three days a week” visiting each. Videoconferencing helps eliminate the silos that can grow at such a widespread practice, although Shearin said the capabilities of technology can cut both ways. “Technology can be a great benefit, but it can also lead to situations where you never meet the client personally,” he said. “There’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting, where you can hear a voice inflection, read their body language — things that email cannot do.” Nevertheless, he conceded, “It’s 2019, and that’s the way it is. We’re here to serve the client, and if they

want to do everything remotely, we do it remotely.” Founded by attorneys John S. Pullman, William H. Comley and Arthur M. Comley, the firm opened its doors at 884 Main St. in Bridgeport in June 1919. Its major practice areas include: business organizations and finance; environmental and land use; government finance; health care; labor, employment law and employee benefits; litigation and alternative dispute resolution; family law; property tax and valuation; real estate; regulatory, energy and telecommunications; and trusts and estates. In August, business-to-business information and intelligence media company ALM named Pullman & Comley a top alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. Having established its ADR practice in 2012, the firm offers mediation and arbitration services in complex civil matters in state and federal court, including commercial, construction, employment, environmental, health care, insurance, personal injury and probate disputes. In addition, the ADR practice offers services in all family and matrimonial matters including financial, custody and parenting disputes. Pullman is the only law firm in the state whose staff includes four retired Connecticut judges — Robert L. Holzberg, Lynda B. Munro, Anne C. Dranginis and Michael E. Riley — who offer their counsel in resolving high profile, complex civil and family disputes. Among its most recent activities in Bridgeport, the firm has been involved with the Steelpointe Harbor redevelopment project, the renovation of the historic Mechanics & Farmers building and the expansion of Bridgeport Hospital’s Park

Republican Fasano calls higher Connecticut sales taxes ‘a money grab’ BY PHIL HALL phall@westfairinc.com

onnecticut’s Department of Revenue Services has issued a policy statement detailing which foods and drinks will be subject to a higher sales tax

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beginning on Oct. 1. The sales tax — which is being raised from 6.35% to 7.35% — will apply to all ready-to-eat meals, both served in a restaurant and purchased in a grocery store. “Meal is defined as food products that are furnished, prepared or served in such a form and in

Avenue campus. The firm has also taken a lead in solving environmental problems in a number of areas, noted attorney Geoffrey Fay. One of the most significant of these has been its Government Finance and Real Estate practices’ involvement with the transformation of a blighted industrial property in Bridgeport, once the site of the former North American Phonograph Co., into Cherry Street Lofts. That project involved demolishing two of the eight buildings and remediating the brownfields that have grown since it was abandoned in the 1980s, making way for the construction of 157 residential apartments and making the property at 437 Howard Ave. the first multifamily housing construction in the area in more than a decade.

Pullman’s devotion to affordable housing has been one of the cornerstones of its real estate business, Fay said. Its attorneys and staff are taking part in a year of community service projects throughout Connecticut, in partnership with nonprofit organizations including the Discovery Museum, the Center for Children’s Advocacy, Wakeman Boys and Girls Club, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Bridgeport and Hartford public schools. “Our goal is 100% participation” among staff, said attorney Joshua Cole, “and we’re nearing that.” Cole’s community involvement includes serving on Wilton’s board of selectmen. Another attorney, Steve Stafstrom, is a Democratic member of the state House of Representatives.

Pullman’s emerging business and venture capital practice, as well as its intellectual property and technology practice, is overseen by Nancy Hancock, who also is a member of the firm’s executive committee. Two of those emerging business sectors are cannabis and green energy. Of the former, she noted, “It’s really a tale of two products, hemp and cannabidiol, or CBD.” Staying on top of developments in the medical and recreational marijuana markets is key. Hancock also works regularly with the Connecticut Green Bank on its solar, wind and other alternative energy initiatives. Once hired, Pullman lawyers usually hit the ground running, said attorney Adam Cohen. “We give a lot of responsibility to our up-and-coming lawyers,” he said. “As much responsibility as they’re willing to accept, we give it to them. They’re not stuck in a warehouse doing discovery for three years. It’s more about getting handson learning in the courtroom.” Connecticut’s image as a difficult place to do business — and, in many cases, an expensive place to live — is regularly mentioned when speaking with some clients, particularly in the real estate sector. “Connecticut has been in a state of benign neglect for years,” Shearin said. “And it’s going to take time to help change that. But this state needs cheerleaders, not naysayers. We talk all the time about why it’s important to be here and to stay here, and why going elsewhere would be a mistake. “There is zero possibility of us leaving” the state. “Not while I’m around. We know who we are and where we are and we’re proud of it.”

such portions that they are ready for immediate consumption,” according to the policy statement. “A meal includes food products that are sold on a ‘take out’ or ‘to go’ basis and that are actually packaged or wrapped. Taxable meals include: All food and beverages sold for human consumption at the seller’s location; and food products ordinarily sold in such form and portions that are ready for immediate consumption at or near the location of the seller. This includes prepared foods, prepackaged foods, hot foods and foods heated on the premises for the

purchaser.” The policy statement also offered a lengthy list of items that will be subject to the higher sales tax. These include individual servings of ice cream and frozen desserts sold in a container of less than one pint, salads sold at salad bars, loose cookies, individually prepared bagels, smoothies, meal replacement bars, popcorn that has been warmed for purchase and individual slices of cake and pie. Drinks that will carry the higher sales tax include “all spirituous, malt liquors, vinous liquors, soft drinks, sodas and all other

beverages that are of a type ordinarily dispensed at bars and soda fountains.” Republican legislators expressed outrage at the depth and scope of the taxable items during a press conference in Hartford. “It is simply a money grab. That’s all it is,” Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said. “It opens up so many items to taxation,” Deputy House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora said. “At best, this was sloppy work and it was reckless. At worst, it was very purposeful.”

From left: Joshua Cole and Geoff Fay.

Shelton couple brings natural lifestyle message to consumers, businesses BY PHIL HALL phall@westfairinc.com

ob Messer was a third-grade teacher with a history of headaches and allergies, which he treated with over-the-counter medication. About four years ago, that routine changed. “The way I was brought up was that if you had a headache, you’d take Tylenol,” he recalled. “If you had an allergy, you’d take Claritin or Flonase. One of my buddies from high school married a very holistic woman and she kept on forcing these essential oils on me, and I was like, ‘I’m good with your witchcraft. I have my ibuprofen on me.’ ” One day, in an effort to mollify his friend’s wife, Messer agreed to allow her to rub an essential oil in his hands. He then followed her directions to cup his hands to his face and breathe through his nose and mouth. His relief was instant and effective. “It was the clichéd light bulb that went off,” he continued. “Something else was out there that I didn’t know anything about, but I knew worked. The more I researched, the more I wanted to try it. And the more I tried it, the more I liked it.” Initially, Messer kept his research into natural health products from his wife, Chelsea, who handled sales and marketing for a sports drink startup. “He was researching behind my back to the point where I had no idea,” she said. “And I said, ‘Do your research into that. I am not into that.’ ” “Chelsea needed to have her experience, too, but she was very reluctant,” added Rob. Chelsea’s moment came during a gym workout. She dealt with asthma attacks for many years, but that day she neglected to bring her inhaler to the gym. She had an asthma attack while working out, but her husband had a small bottle of peppermint oil. “I had her use her hand like a makeshift inhaler, and this terrible asthma attack subsided within seconds,” Rob said. “And she was like, ‘Alright, I’m in.’ ” “After that, I left my corporate days in three days,” Chelsea said. “I figured that if there was something that helped me, there must be hundreds of others who could use help.” Today, the Shelton-based couple is offering its services as natural lifestyle coaches, conducting seminars on chemical-free wellness across Fairfield and New Haven counties in town halls, chiropractors’ offices, a Lululemon retail outlet and even in people’s homes. In July, they hosted library screenings of the documentary “Stink!” about toxic products and chemical exposure. “Anywhere where we can get a group together,” laughs Rob. “In many cases, people do need a coach to show them how to do it.” Chelsea noted they are sought out by people who have become frustrated with

a lack of results from traditional medicine. However, they do not portray themselves as medical professionals. “Some people come to us as their last stop,” she said. “They’ve tried everything and done everything. We never, ever condone not going to your doctor or talking to your doctor. We are not crazy oil people. We help people marry the two and use oils in tandem with the medical advice of their doctor.” “A lot of people are shocked when we share with them that you can take essential oils internally — if, and only if, the oil is certified as being 100% pure,” Rob said. “The oil industry is not regulated and it’s like the Wild West. They put things on the bottle like ‘100% this’ and ‘therapeutic that,’ but they

can put whatever they want in the bottle. As you can imagine, there are a lot of fillers in there that can keep those costs down.” The Messers have aligned themselves with the doTerra brand of essential oils, working as wholesale representatives for the product line. Chelsea pointed to the company’s transparency in testing results and its ingredient base as the key factors in their support. “Their sourcing is from indigenous sources,” she said. “Soil and climate make a difference on how effective the oil is.” The Messers are also seeking to build a regional community of like-minded professionals through their founding of a Westport chapter of the Holistic Chamber of Commerce. This group had its first meeting

last month, with the goal of creating a support network for sharing leads and ideas on running a natural wellness business. “There are a lot of holistic practitioners in the area,” Chelsea said. The Messers have taken on a second mission in encouraging professional collaboration by spouses via a new podcast called “In Business and In Health.” “Everyone tells me don’t work with your family members and your spouse, and we are going in the opposite way,” said Chelsea. “Our schedules are a mess and we don’t have our roles down pat. But as we are figuring it out, people can see our journey and see in real time what it’s like to work with your spouse.” “We have the perspective of documenting the journey,” added Rob.

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Trumbull Economic and Community Development Commission Please submit your nominations for the 2019 Small Business and Corporate Success Awards for the Town of Trumbull. Awards will be presented at the Annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on October 25, 2019 at the Trumbull Marriott, 8:00 am – 10:00 am. Please submit the nomination form to Rina Bakalar at rbakalar@trumbull-ct.gov by October 1st. (Feel free to attach additional pages) Small Business Success Award or Corporate Success Award (Indicate One) Awarded annually by the First Selectman and the Economic Development Commission to a business owner, developer, commercial realtor, landlord or an organization that supports small business as an example of Trumbull’s vibrant small business climate. Business Name/Person: ________________________________________________________________ Contact Information of Nominee: ________________________________________________________ Your Name and Contact Information: _____________________________________________________ Why do you feel this business or person should receive the 2019 Small Business Award? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Please provide any additional details about the business or person that will give insight to the Committee: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Robots —

and basically make their diagnosis anecdotally, based on similar sounds they’d heard before,” he said. “But with today’s technology, you can insert a device into the stethoscope, digitize the sound, send it to the cloud and compare it with millions of other samples to reach a more fact-based diagnosis in a much more accurate way than a human can do.” Such machine learning can be beneficial throughout medicine and a number of other disciplines, he said. Drones are now deployed not only for delivery, but also to spray pesticides and generally monitor crops, while “smart home” technology can be used to save energy, monitor indoor air quality and even feed pets. “AI plays an important role behind the scenes,” Patrick said. “It’s all predicated on software and algorithms.” Robots also play a role in bomb detection and exploring the grounds of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where the effects of its devastating nucle-

Purdue—

“They have had opportunity after opportunity to do the right thing and begin to make amends for the damage they have done, yet time after time they choose greed,” Tong said in a Sept. 16 statement. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in White Plains, New York, ruled on Sept. 17 that the company can remain in business while it goes through the bankruptcy protection process and continues to work on settling the lawsuits filed against it. “This is a highly unusual case in that the debtors have pledged to turn over their business to the claimants,” U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain said. “All of the claimants, in essence, have the same interest in maximizing the value of the business and avoiding immediate and irreparable harm.” Drain’s ruling will allow Purdue to continue paying employees and vendors, supplying pills to distributors and keeping current on taxes and insurance. The bankruptcy proceedings could take over a year, according to Purdue’s lawyers. Purdue is not acknowledging any wrongdoing by the company, as a whole, or by the Sacklers. Many of the states that sued Purdue, including Connecticut,

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ar accident in 2011 are still being measured. “They’re still dealing with radioactivity there,” he noted. “Not many humans want that job.” As for job displacement — a concern about technology that can be dated back to the earliest days of automation — Patrick said that such worries are off-base.

“There’s a new category, ‘cobots,’ collaborative robots, that don’t replace, but work with, humans,” he said. “They can take some of the drudgery, or danger, out of a given job. And for people who say we’re going to wind up with robots building robots, well, who’s going to build the robots that are building the robots? You’re still

going to need people to do that.” One of the challenges in writing the book was trying to stay ahead of the explosion in the technological possibilities. “Every day I’d read something new and think, ‘I’ve got to get that in the book,’ ” he said. “Trying to make sure the book wasn’t obsolete the minute it came out was a problem.”

Patrick publishes regular updates on his website where he tries to include the latest information about drones, AI and, of course, robots. Regarding the “doom and gloom” about artificial intelligence taking over the world, Patrick said, “We need to keep pace with innovation, and to come up with the right standards, regulations and checks and balances. There are going to be new technologies that we can’t even imagine right now that will keep us in the game.” The author noted, however, that he isn’t necessarily dismissing the purported robot apocalypse out of hand. “Autonomous vehicles could definitely have a negative effect on taxi, bus and truck drivers,” he said. “I don’t ignore that (in the book), but in the short and the medium term it shouldn’t be a problem for most people. “But if robots do become smarter than we are, and they look at the history of how humans have extinguished multiple species, they might conclude, ‘Do we really need humans?’ ”

have also named the owners as individual defendants in their complaints. The lawsuits accuse Purdue of deceptive OxyContin marketing and thus contributing to the deaths of some 400,000 people from overdoses involving prescription and illicit opioids in the past 20 years. The company has denied the allegations. As they grappled with the cost and time of dealing with the growing number of lawsuits, Purdue officials signaled since March that they were considering bankruptcy. Purdue cited among its reasons for seeking Chapter 11 protection the “staggering” cost of simultaneously litigating more than 2,600 lawsuits filed by local and state governments. During the first six months of this year, Purdue paid approximately $63 million for “legal representation, expert fees and other expenses” directly related to the pending lawsuits. It projects the outlay will rise to $121 million by the end of this year. For all of 2019, Purdue predicts it will spend approximately $263 million on legal and related professional costs, comprising its “largest operating expense by far,” the filing said. Purdue officials said they would keep working with state attorneys general and other plain-

tiffs’ representatives to finalize and implement the proposed agreement “as quickly as possible.” The prospective settlement through bankruptcy faces a number of hurdles, among them securing court approval amid major rifts among the negotiating parties. Twenty-five state attorneys general, including Tong, said they opposed settling with Purdue based on the terms now on the table. “This is yet another cynical maneuver to try to shirk responsibility, but it is not without risks for them,” Tong said. “Purdue and the Sacklers cannot cry poverty while stashing billions overseas. We will move aggressively in bankruptcy to disclose their hidden fortune and ensure their full wealth is now on the table. And at every turn, we will fight their craven strategy to use bankruptcy to shield their wealth and to evade our claims to secure billions of dollars for addiction science, treatment and recovery.” While Tong has outlined proposed terms that resemble those in the preliminary agreement backed by Purdue, what the company is offering does not appear to go far enough for him. “Purdue must be broken up and shut down, and its assets must be liquidated and transferred to a trustee not named Sackler,” Tong

said. “Purdue and the Sacklers must be completely out of the opioid business, domestically and internationally, and they cannot return. Purdue and the Sacklers must pay billions and billions of dollars, including the billions the Sacklers siphoned out of Purdue.” Among others who are not ready to settle, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged that the Sacklers used Swiss bank accounts and other hidden ones to transfer $1 billion to themselves. A spokesperson for the Sacklers responded that those transfers were “perfectly legal and appropriate in every respect.” “Any deal that cheats Americans out of billions of dollars, allows the Sacklers to evade responsibility and lets this family continue peddling their drugs to the world is a bad one, which is why New York remains opposed to it,” James said in a statement. “My office will not be deterred in its lawsuit against the Sackler family and will continue fighting to make this family pay for the death and destruction they inflicted on the American people.” Attorneys representing the approximately 2,000 local governments whose complaints against Purdue and other pharmaceutical firms have been consolidated in “multidistrict litigation” in federal court in Cleveland have

said a final agreement would need to garner in bankruptcy court majority support from the company’s creditors, which include the plaintiffs. Purdue’s plan envisions its proposed successor company being governed by a new board selected by claimants and approved by the bankruptcy court. The new enterprise would be “bound permanently by injuctive relief,” including marketing restrictions on the sale and promotion of opioids, Purdue officials said. Last year, Purdue announced it would stop marketing its opioids to medical professionals. The decision led to the disbanding of Purdue’s sales force and the layoff of several hundred employees. Approximately 550 work for the company, according to information posted on the business public-relations website BusinessWire. “Slightly fewer than 250” are based at Purdue’s downtown Stamford headquarters at 201 Tresser Blvd., according to company officials. Paul Schott is a staff reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media. He can be reached at pschott@ stamfordadvocate.com or 203964-2236. Fairfield County Business Journal Bureau Chief Kevin Zimmerman contributed to this report.

A doctor monitors a patient’s vital signs with a touchscreen robot.

SoNo Collection opens job opportunities for thousands in Connecticut LOW UNEMPLOYMENT LEADS TO CHALLENGES FOR RETAILERS

Abercrombie & Fitch recruiters Lucero Cuevas and Kamar Mohammed on Sept. 10 at a hiring fair for SoNo Collection retailers in Norwalk. Photo by Alexander Soule.

BY ALEXANDER SOULE Hearst Connecticut Media Group

he job ad hit ZipRecruiter on Sept. 10 with L’Occitane seeking beauty advisors for a boutique set to open in October at the SoNo Collection mall nearing completion in South Norwalk. As for the dozens of other retailers planning to open? Many others are still filling out their staffs as well, with a Sept. 10 hiring fair in Norwalk producing dozens of applicants with companies searching for even more in the context of a statewide unemployment rate of just 3.6 %. A month in advance of the mall’s anticipated Oct. 11 opening date, developer Brookfield Properties organized a hiring fair for SoNo Collection retailers at the DoubleTree Hotel on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk. Not since the debut more than four years ago of Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods Resort Casino has Connecticut seen a mass retail hiring push anywhere near the scale of the SoNo Collection. The mall expects to support a retail workforce of some 2,500 people at full tenancy, compared to 900 for Tanger Outlets when the center opened in 2015. In anticipation of the hiring needs for retailers, Norwalk Community College created a retail customer service certificate program lasting 10 sessions. Indeed, which has a major office in Stamford, lists nearly 3,300

open retail jobs in Connecticut. Retailers with open SoNo Collection positions listed on Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and other job boards include Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s; apparel stores Abercrombie & Fitch, Chico’s, JJill, Victoria’s Secret and White House Black Market; the modernist furniture maker EQ3; and beauty outlet Sephora, among others. The hiring push comes amid declining employment in Connecticut’s retail sector, with the industry supporting about 175,000 jobs as of July, according to estimates published by the state Department of Labor, about 4,600 fewer positions than a year earlier. It was the sharpest contraction of any industry tracked by the DOL, with the coastal Fairfield County area seeing a decline of about 700 retail jobs over that period. The SoNo Collection mall will open less than two weeks after Connecticut’s minimum wage rises by 90 cents to $11 an hour, the first of five annual increases that will lift the rate to $15 in 2023, amid a movement nationally to reset hourly rates to that threshold. Lucero Cuevas, a store manager with Abercrombie & Fitch, said a number of candidates stopped by the company’s table at the Norwalk hiring fair, including for a separate Abercrombie & Fitch Kids storefront. Alexander Soule is a staff reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media. He can be reached at Alex. Soule@scni.com or 203-842-2545.

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In Brief Legal & General Retirement America takes 17K square feet at Stamford Towers

Courtesy Garden of Ideas

RIDGEFIELD’S GARDEN OF IDEAS CLOSING

Stamford Towers. Photo courtesy CBRE.

Legal & General Retirement America is leasing 17,100 square feet at the newly renovated Stamford Towers to serve as its new headquarters, according to CBRE. The deal was the largest new lease signed in Fairfield County during the second quarter of 2019, CBRE said. The office, on the 9th floor at 750 Washington Blvd., will be home to the U.S. arm of Legal & General’s institutional retirement business, which specializes in pension risk transfer. Legal & General, a U.K.based financial services group, is a global market leader in managing pension fund risk and a top 20 global asset manager. Legal & General Retirement America plans to open the office in the 193,000-square-foot building during the first quarter of 2020. The firm will create an open-office floor plan that includes a private terrace and a reception area with a 23-foot atrium. The CBRE team of David Block and Joseph Weaver represented the building ownership, CBRE Global Investors, in the lease negotiations. Rick Rosencrans of JLL acted on behalf of Legal & General Retirement America. CBRE Global Investors acquired 750 Washington Blvd. in 2017 for $97 million and implemented a capital improvement campaign. Recent renovations at the property include entryways and lobbies with ample seating; a fitness center

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including a basketball court and weekly group fitness classes; an on-site café; a collaborative conference facility; a Zagster bike share station; and an outdoor meeting/ recreation area with a bocce ball court. Ownership also invested in a full-building generator backup.

NY, CT JOIN LAWSUIT AGAINST SEC’S INVESTOR PROTECTION RULE

New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of eight attorneys general, including her Connecticut counterpart William Tong, in a federal lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest policy, arguing that it fails to cover investor protections. In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act gave the SEC the authority to create a standard of conduct for broker-dealers and investment advisers. In June, the SEC adopted Regulation Best Interest by a 3-1 vote, with the commission’s lone Democrat as the dissenter. The SEC stated the regulation, which is to go into effect in June 2020, is designed to improve the quality and transparency of investors’ relationships with investment advisers and broker-dealers. However, the attorneys general argued that the regulation failed to elevate broker-dealer standards beyond their existing suitability requirements and would likely create ongoing confusion on how it defined the “best interest standard.”

“With this rule, the SEC is choosing Wall Street over Main Street,” James said. “Instead of adopting the investor protections of DoddFrank, this watered-down rule puts brokers first. The SEC is now promulgating a rule that fails to address the confusion felt by consumers and fails to remedy the conflicting advice that motivated Congress to act in the first place. Despite the SEC’s refusal to do its job, New York will continue to lead the charge to protect the millions of individuals investing in their futures, including the millions of Americans saving for retirement.” “The SEC has ignored Congressional intent and broken faith with American families — violating the law with its weak and insufficient Regulation Best Interest,” Tong said. “Congress passed Dodd-Frank to ensure that brokers were providing advice and guidance that were in the best interest of their clients, rather than furthering the brokers’ own personal interests. We aren’t talking about millionaires and billionaires here. We are talking about families saving for retirement and planning for their future. They must be protected from those who would take advantage of an honest need for guidance and assistance.” Joining James and Tong in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Delaware, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and the District of Columbia.

Garden of Ideas, a 12-acre nonprofit educational garden and retail outlet in Ridgefield, has announced that it is shutting down after failing to meet its fundraising goals. Originally created as a free attraction on family property owned by landscaper Joe Keller, the venue combined ornamental, vegetable and woodland gardens along with an arboretum and a collection of whimsical statues. A small retail shop sold small garden sculptures during the year and plants, eggs and vegetables on a seasonal basis. Garden of Ideas also hosted the Simpaug Farm CommunitySupported Agriculture program at its farm stand. In announcing the closing on Facebook, Keller said the fundraising push to keep the venue operational fell far short of its target. “Sad facts: our capital campaign was a failure — we needed 1,600 people to pledge $600 and only received 130 pledges,” he wrote. “All money sent in to honor the first year of pledges will be returned.” Keller added he is looking at “tens of thousands of dollars in ash tree removal” and bemoaned the impact of property taxes on the venue’s financial health.

CONNECTICUT MEDICAL SOCIETY PROTESTS ANTHEM AXING SPECIALISTS FROM NETWORK

Insurance giant Anthem has announced plans to terminate an unspecified number of Connecticut doctors from its Medicare Advantage Network — something that the state’s largest physicians association is opposing. With the terminations set to begin on the first of the year, the Connecticut State Medical Society

said it was concerned about how tens of thousands of Medicare Advantage patients would be impacted. The cuts involve specialists, not primary care physicians. In a letter to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield President Jill Hummel, the organization’s executive vice president Matthew Katz wrote that CSMS “has substantial concern that patients will face transportation hardships in reaching physicians in Connecticut, therefore significantly compromising patient care, if they can find a physician of the same specialty accepting new Medicare Advantage patients. “CSMS is concerned that many of the physicians remaining in Anthem’s network are no longer accepting new patients (have closed panels) or are no longer practicing or practicing more limited specialty care so that specialized care needed by these patients is not available. A quick check of the Anthem website highlights this for many specialties, including ophthalmology.” The letter went on to ask Anthem to specify how many physicians are being terminated, its rationale behind the selection of those being terminated and whether patients have been notified of the terminations. In a statement, Anthem noted, “We regularly review Anthem’s Medicare Advantage provider network to most effectively serve our members’ health care needs. We recently notified some specialty care providers that they will not be in our Medicare Advantage HMO Select Plan network, effective Jan. 1, 2020. “We think it’s important that consumers are aware of this change so they can make informed decisions when considering Anthem’s 2020 Medicare Advantage plans,” it stated.

In Brief

24 Old Kings Highway South. Photo courtesy of Colliers.

STAMFORD INVESTMENT GROUP BUYS DARIEN OFFICE BUILDING FOR NEARLY $2M

Stamford-based regional investment group BRC Lincoln Square LLC has bought 24 Old Kings Highway South, a 6,000-squarefoot property in Darien, for $1.95 million. A Colliers team of Senior Managing Director Robert Miller and Client Services Coordinator Tim Johnson represented both BRC Lincoln Square and seller, R&B Management LLC, in the transaction. The office building is fully leased and home to medical and professional tenants.

GREENWICH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE SOLD TO AUTO INSURANCE FIRM

The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, an annual classic car event, has been acquired by Hagerty Group LLC, an automobile insurance and community for automotive enthusiasts headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Founded in 1996 and held at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, the Greenwich Concours is a threeday event featuring American and European classic cars in a judging competition, parade and auction. USA Today has cited the Greenwich Concours as one of the five top car events in the nation. Hagerty stated that it planned to add new features to next year’s event, including “Ride and Drives” that put people in older cars and

the Hagerty Driving Experience that teaches young people the increasingly obsolete art of operating a stick shift. The company also operates the Hagerty Drivers Club for classic car lovers, publishes a magazine and newsletter aimed at this hobby demographic and maintains DriveShare, a peer-to-peer enthusiast vehicle rental marketplace.

center and a parking garage. One of the site’s most notable tenants is WWE, which in March announced plans to leave Soundview Plaza as part of moving its headquarters to 677 Washington Blvd. Barings is an international investment management firm owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual).

CLEANING SERVICE UNGER ENTERPRISES LEASES SPACE IN STRATFORD

AVISON YOUNG LANDS TWO LEASE EXTENSIONS AT 1000 LAFAYETTE BLVD. IN BRIDGEPORT

Unger Enterprises Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of professional cleaning and maintenance tools, has signed a long-term lease for 76,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution space at 650 Long Beach Blvd. in Stratford. Unger, founded in Germany in 1964, also has offices in the U.K. and France in addition to a location in Bridgeport. Brett A. Sherman, senior vice president of Angel Commercial LLC in Southport, represented the tenant in the transaction.

STAMFORD’S SOUNDVIEW PLAZA SOLD TO TL HOLDINGS AFFILIATE

Soundview Plaza, a 179,000-squarefoot, 7-story office property in Stamford, has been sold by Barings to an affiliate of TL Holdings, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Financial details were not disclosed. The property at 1266 E. Main St., which is 88% leased to 15 tenants, features a 3-story atrium and an array of amenities including a cafeteria, fitness center, conference

A pair of five-year lease extensions have been signed at 1000 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport. In the first deal, the Avison Young team of Sean Cahill, Christopher Grundy and Lori Baker represented landlord Shelbourne Global Solutions in a lease renewal for 14,500 square feet with the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging Inc. Randy Vidal of Vidal/ Wettenstein LLC represented the tenant. Established in 1974, the agency provides leadership and resources to meet the needs of the older population and to maintain and improve the quality of life and independence of older individuals and people with disabilities. It serves Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton. The second deal found the Avison Young team negotiating a 6,000-square-foot early lease extension with TD Bank for its lobby bank

branch on the retail level of the building.

exchange program, to eliminate excess waste.

NEWTOWN BULK-FOOD RETAILER BD PROVISIONS EXPANDS INTO FAIRFIELD

CONNECTICUT APPROVES SMALLER-THAN-PROPOSED HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES

BD Provisions, a Newtown retailer specializing in bulk foods, is opening a store at 1215 Post Road in the Brick Walk in Fairfield on Sept. 28. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with First Selectman Mike Tetreau will take place at 11 a.m. BD Provisions offers a curated collection of more than 300 items in bulk, including nuts, candies, grains, baking ingredients, spices, beans, loose-leaf teas, all sold by weight. The store also features a range of artisanal olive oils, vinegars, local honeys and maple syrups on tap, nut-grinding machines and a coffee roaster. The store also offers a range of zero-waste lifestyle products and offers sustainable packaging, which includes glass jars, and a glass jar

Health insurance rates for those covered under the state’s health insurance exchange Access Health CT are going up, but by significantly less than insurance carriers Anthem and ConnectiCare had sought. Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais announced that for 2020 the department approved an average increase for individual plans of 3.65%, down from the average request of 7.78%. The average increase for small group plans is 9.19%, down from the requested average of just over 11.98%. Open enrollment for the 2020 coverage year begins Nov. 1. — Phil Hall and Kevin Zimmerman

Love affair with consumer credit strengthens

BY GLENN KALINOSKI gkalinoski@westfairinc.com

he love affair Americans have with their credit cards shows no signs of weakening. The personal-finance website WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Debt Study found that consumers produced $35.6 billion in credit-card debt during the second quarter, a record for the second quarter of the year. WalletHub’s Fed Rate Cut Survey revealed that a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut, which was supported by 7 of 10 people, would save consumers with credit card debt $1.6 billion in the next year alone. WalletHub’s data also

revealed: • The average U.S. household owes $8,602.  • WalletHub projects that U.S. consumers will end the year with a net increase of $70 billion in credit card debt.  • More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans say the interest rates on their loans are too high.  • Just under half (41%) of consumers say they will feel more confident in the economy if the Fed cuts its target rate. • The states with the largest second-quarter debt increases were California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois. • The states with the smallest second-quarter debt were Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Vermont.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Optimum outage outrage echoing in Connecticut BY ALEXANDER SOULE Hearst Connecticut Media Group

ptimum subscribers got a few answers on Sept. 12 after a prolonged outage affecting cable TV and Internet service, with some continuing to report ongoing problems nearly a week after the incident. On Sept. 11, Altice USA informed its Optimum subscribers it would apply credit to one of their next two bills, as compensation for a mass outage starting just before 7 p. m. on Sept. 6 and lasting several hours. In that initial email, Altice USA did not specify how much credit customers would receive, but a spokeswoman told Hearst Connecticut Media that customers would be automatically credited for one full day of service. As of June, Altice USA calculated more than $144 in average monthly revenue per subscriber across both its Optimum and Suddenlink territories, up about $4 from a year ago. The company notified Connecticut regulators last month of plans to tack on an extra $5 to its “Premier” cable TV package

A Kohler power generator at the Altice USA offices in Norwalk. The company blames a power failure for knocking out service to large numbers of Connecticut and New York subscribers on Sept. 6. Photo by Hearst Connecticut Media.

for new subscribers. That will lift the monthly cost to $110 for those newcomers, an extra $35 above its “Select” package that has about 50 fewer channels. The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority did not state immediately whether it has received any complaints from Altice USA customers, and whether it is planning any inquiry into the cause of the outage and

the company’s response. Optimum spokeswoman Lisa Anselmo told Hearst Connecticut Media the company kept state regulators informed about the situation. “We are not going to publicize the specifics of this situation and compromise the security of our systems. However, we have identified the root cause and have put additional measures in place

to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Anselmo stated in an email response. Anselmo said the company has ruled out a cyberattack as a possible cause. Telecommunic ations carriers are required to report to the FCC any outages lasting longer than a half hour and blocking at least 90,000 calls. The FCC keeps the information confidential, citing national security and

deference to carriers wishing to keep the information quiet for competitive reasons. In its study last December of catastrophic power outages, the president ’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council cited the need for telecommunications networks to have adequate backup power and other redundancies to ensure

communications stay up and running in any prolonged outage. In addition to cable TV and broadband, many Optimum customers get telephone service. As noted by the Federal Communications Commission in a 2016 study, that remains a key consideration in outage scenarios to maintain the ability for households to place 911 emergency calls. Altice USA was not the lone carrier to be hit with a long outage. T-Mobile’s East Coast subscribers lost the ability to make voice calls, according to CNET and other outlets, but Internet service was not affected and the company was able to restore full service within a few hours. Customers expressed frustration via social media and online chat boards. Multiple customers reported that Altice USA offered to dispatch technicians to customer homes to restore service but with the company charging $80 for the visit. Angela Carella contributed to this report. Alexander Soule is a staff reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media. He can be reached at Alex.Soule@ scni.com or 203-842-2545.

Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi targeted in class-action suit over Zantac BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

class-action lawsuit accusing Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi of intentionally concealing risks in the popular heartburn medication Zantac has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit maintains that Zantac has been found to contain a carcinogenic chemical at 26,000 times the limit approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The drug is manufactured by Paris-based Sanofi, whose North American headquarters are in Bridgewater, New Jersey. It previously was

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

produced by German pharmaceutical firm Boehringer, whose North American headquarters are in Ridgefield. Zantac contains the active ingredient ranitidine. When ingested, ranitidine metabolizes into N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which, the lawsuit states, the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization classify as a carcinogen. The FDA has established a permissible daily intake limit of 96ng of NDMA, but recent testing using FDAapproved methods detected more than 2,500,000ng of NDMA per 150mg tablet of Zantac. The suit accuses Sanofi

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and Boehringer of violating state consumer-protection laws in its failure to disclose the harmful levels of NDMA in Zantac. It follows an FDA warning that said it has detected a “probable” cancer-causing chemical in the medication, although it said patients can continue taking the medication for now. Both it and the European Commission are investigating Zantac and ranitidine for NDMA. Zantac was the first drug to total $1 billion in sales. According to the lawsuit, “Zantac’s unprecedented sales were possible only because of a deception perpetrated by the drug’s manufacturers on consumers.” Sanofi said in a state-

ment it “takes patient safety seriously, and we are committed to working with the FDA.” Boehringer did not offer a comment. “Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from heartburn, and for years, Zantac has been sold to the masses as a safe and easy-to-find remedy for that common ailment,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Seattle-based Hagens Berman, the attorney leading the case for consumers. “We’re certain that if those millions of consumers knew that the Zantac they take contains known carcinogens, they would be rightfully outraged. “Sanofi knew that Zantac contains a carcinogen, yet it chose to conceal these risks

to the public to line its own pockets.” Attorneys say that despite the accumulating scientific evidence showing Zantac exposed users to extremely high levels of NDMA, neither Sanofi nor Boehringer disclosed that risk. “Had defendants disclosed that Zantac results in unsafe levels of NDMA in the human body, no person, let alone a reasonable person, would have purchased and consumed Zantac,” the complaint states. The lawsuit seeks to represent anyone who bought over-the-counter Zantac between Jan. 1, 2010, and the present. Attorneys hope to secure repayment

for those who bought the drug, as well as a permanent injunction from the court under the Legal Remedies Act requiring the drugmakers to either cease selling Zantac or add a warning to the label. Last month, a report published by Coherent Market Insights said the global ranitidine market was valued at $412.4 million in 2017, and is projected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate of 1.8% over a forecast period of 2018 to 2026. Boehringer Ingelheim bought the U.S. rights to Zantac from Pfizer for $509.5 million in cash in 2006. Sanofi acquired Zantac from Boehringer in 2016.

CELEBRATING A GENERATION

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Ask Andi Finding talent My state is under 3% unemployment. It seems like few in that remaining 3% are trying to work. Hiring has been an obstacle. Without additional qualified employees who are committed to working hard and getting ahead, as a business we’re going to get stalled. We don’t need a lot of employees, but we need good ones. Where should we go to find them? THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: Low unemployment is one of today’s big challenges for most business owners. Make sure your company is offering competitive wages and other opportunities that make it an attractive option. Widely publicize the fact that the company is looking for talented personnel. Learn about applying for visas to bring in talent from other countries. Build training programs to grow talent internally. Consider doing acquisitions to pick up the talent you need.

Finding talent and having a ready bench of applicants is now a big job for most companies. People aren’t lining up at the door. Which means companies have to hone their recruiting skills and make sure they are competitive as employers. Employee candidates are checking out your competitors. You should do the same. Find out what other employers in your area are offering for wages, benefits, growth opportunities and work environment. Look at other businesses that do

what you do to find out what kinds of comparable jobs are available. Keep in mind that many employees are considering career switches if it gets them something better. Attend to securing your current workforce in addition to focusing on recruiting. Every employee who is thinking about leaving represents another position to fill that will negatively impact productivity until the slot is filled. Take a critical look at what else your company can do to look attractive. Build job descriptions that have purpose. Get to know employees on a personal level. Talk about how their personal interests relate to the company and their job. Always be selling the advantages and benefits of working for your company. Build a community by hosting barbecues and fami-

ly fun days for all employees. Help employees build bonds with each other through social and educational events. Give the company and its employees a mission to pursue what is meaningful. Show your employees that you’re engaged and care about what happens to everyone who works for you. For some companies, especially those with seasonal work and STEM applications, visas may be a solution. There are visas available, albeit in limited supply, for performers, athletes and artists, temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers, people seeking specialized training here and people who already possess high degrees of specialized training such as doctors and scientists. Find an attorney who specializes in working with visa programs to advise you. Bring people in at an

estled in the gateway to New England in Western Connecticut, stands Danbury’s Landmark Boutique Hotel. Since 1974, the Ethan Allen Hotel has honored guests with the unique blend of warm hospitality, elegance and the legendary style of Ethan Allen Home Interiors. The combination of 193 spacious guestrooms furnished with Ethan Allen furniture, supreme comfort bedding, Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities, flat screen TV’s and coffee makers in each room help create a soothing ambiance and a relaxing escape. Our beautifully appointed ballroom is the perfect backdrop for weddings or any social gathering. For business meetings our Executive Boardroom fits the bill with teleconferencing capabilities and complimentary Wi-Fi. A culinary dining experience awaits you in our newly renovated award-winning 21 Lake Restaurant or for a more casual fare and weekend entertainment enjoy 21 Lake Bar. We have added live jazz to our popular Sunday Brunch which has been a long time favorite in the local community. Ethan Allen Hotel offers modern amenities and services of a full service hotel, while delivering intimate luxury & comfort of a home-like atmosphere – a genuine departure from the ordinary. For more information please call 800-742-1776 or visit our web site www. ethanallenhotel.com. You can also read our five star reviews on www.weddingwire.com. & www.theknot.com.

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entry level and train them. After all, every year, people complete their education, graduating from high school, technical school, 2-year, 4-year and advanced degree programs. Show entry-level candidates how to make the transition from school to work as they learn about your business. Build training programs to move people up in your organization, giving them opportunities to increase pay and authority, as they build skills and add responsibilities. Keep people from looking elsewhere for opportunity by showing them how they can achieve their goals within your company. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to acquire other businesses that bring with them a talented workforce. Not only do you pick up additional customers and products or services to sell,

but you also bring on board employees to do the work. Focus on work that best fits your business model, and culture that fits with your company’s norms. BOOK RECOMMENDATION: “HiringinaLowUnemployment Economy: 20 Minutes to Great Job Applicants” by Matthew Sorensen. Andi Gray is president of Strategy Leaders Inc., StrategyLeaders.com, a business-consulting firm that teaches companies how to double revenue and triple profits in repetitive growth cycles. Have a question for AskAndi? Wondering how Strategy Leaders can help your business thrive? Call or email for a free consultation and diagnostics at 877-238-3535 or AskAndi@StrategyLeaders. com. Check out our library of business advice articles at AskAndi.com.

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FOCUS ON

HOSPITALITY FAIRFIELD COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tolls not expected to slow Connecticut tourism BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN kzimmerman@westfairinc.com

nterest in Connecticut by residents and outof-state travelers alike appears to be growing — even if solid numbers are hard to come by. “We saw very strong business in June and July,” said Connecticut Office of Tourism Director Randy Fiveash. “It proves that our advertising and public relations efforts are working.” One new number that Fiveash was able to share was traffic on the state’s ctvisit. com website. Featuring over 4,000 “partners,” including tourist attractions, accommodations, restaurants and information about towns and cities, the site received 1.2 million visits in July, easily the most it has ever seen. Fiveash said those visits generated some 730,000 referrals to the aforementioned partners, “which is a huge

leap for us.” The department is still relying on figures from 2017 to tout its success. Final reports are compiled every two years with the 2019 report expected to be released in early 2021. For 2017, the tourism sector produced $15.5 billion in total business sales, up 5.5 percent from 2015. Total tax revenue in 2017 was $2.2 billion, including $960 million in state and local taxes. The sector directly supported 84,254 jobs in ’17 — 5.3% of all jobs in the state — compared with 82,688 in ’15. Anecdotal evidence indicates additional gains will be reflected in the 2019 report, Fiveash said, noting that the July 1 reopening of the state’s six welcome centers — including one near Exit 2 on eastbound I-84 near Danbury — should help significantly. “We’ve had brisk traffic at all of them so far,” he said.

Each is manned by two people from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and the tourism director said he hoped to add a third person in the near-term. Staffing levels at the facilities had been reduced on Oct. 1, 2016, due to budget cuts, limiting the locations to a one-shift, daytime operation. While the rest areas technically remained “open” around the clock, the indoor facilities were closed to the public from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., necessitating the use of outdoor portable restroom facilities during unstaffed hours. “While I’m proud of the fact that we managed to at least keep them open in the face of financial adversity, our residents and visitors to our state deserve better than portable bathrooms,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “This has been a long time coming.”

“They’re the front door to the state, not just a place to pick up a brochure or a map,” Fiveash said. “Now we have tour buses stopping there with 40 to 60 people getting off at a time. “You never know who’s going to come in,” he continued. “There might be people looking for a new place to live, or to relocate their business. A CEO or someone else responsible for a major business could see something they like about the state, and decide Connecticut is a place they ought to look at.” And while there has been talk about the potential hurdle the tourism sector may face if the much-discussed return of highway tolls becomes a reality, Fiveash insisted that, “Visitors from all over Connecticut, New England and beyond come to our state to enjoy diverse experiences and unique destinations. We don’t think a few dollars in tolls is going to

change that.” The tourism agency is continuing an aggressive marketing campaign via social media, email and signs. Those efforts are increasingly including collaborations with Connecticut influencers and subject matter experts called “CT Ambassadors,” to develop content for ctvisit. com and the agency’s social media properties. The content is then promoted across the web, social media and influencers’ networks to market Connecticut as a travel destination to likely visitors. The Ambassadors include UnlockingConnecticut. com, CTBeer.com and MommyPoppins.com/ Connecticut. Fiveash said his office spends about 80% of its marketing budget on outof-state travelers, primarily in the New York City, Boston, Rhode Island and Springfield, Massachusetts, markets.

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With summer unofficially over, the agency is focusing on fall. The state has the region’s largest fall foliage in terms of tree diversity, Fiveash said, with Fairfield County especially expected to have a glorious display from mid-October to mid-November. The state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has an interactive fall foliage report map that can be viewed through ctvisit.com. The agency also maintains what Fiveash called “evergreen” content for the winter months, ranging from various outdoor activities to ideas for indoor getaways. “We have lots of bedand-breakfasts that offer fireside dining, the Mystic and Norwalk aquariums, five Tony award-winning theaters,” he noted. “There’s always something going on.”

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Focus On

hospitality Downtown Bridgeport coffee shop offers sweet and savory menu BY JORDAN GRICE

mong the bars and restaurants that have come and gone in downtown Bridgeport, Adam Shapiro and his partners at the Bean N’ Batter are hoping their cup of joe and waffles will stand the test of time. “People love their coffee and they are passionate about it,” said Shapiro, who recently opened the new cafe at 855 Main St. with partners Will Hamer and Luke Lomanto. Since its July 1 opening, the downtown coffee shop has been attracting a mix of customers with its daily roasted coffee and menu filled with authentic liege waffles made to order. Liege waffles are sweeter and heavier than the traditional Belgian waffles. The establishment offers a mix of signature waffles like the Maple Bacon and the Strawnella — made with strawberries, whipped cream and Nutella — but the trio also allow their customers

to design their own treat. That has become a hit among residents and younger customers, according to Shapiro. He said he and his partners have been pleasantly surprised at the reception from the community. “I think it’s a product that everyone can enjoy in their own way,” he said. “A lot of the people were talking about the need for a fun coffee shop where they could come and do work and feel comfortable sitting around, but also a place where they can grab something to go quickly.” Shapiro, who also works in advertising for Hearst Connecticut Media, teamed up with Hamer and Lomanto, who touts five years in managing restaurants like Zody’s at Sterling in Stamford. Lomanto, who developed the menu with Hamer, said their idea was to create a community coffee shop that could cater to residents and people working in the area. The café is across from People’s United Bank’s headquarters and is on the ground

level of another large office building. “We figured the waffle aspect is that fun side of it where we can get the kids involved … and a little night-life action,” he said. That has proven to be a boon for the trio’s business, according to Shapiro. “It’s been a shock to us how much the community has supported us here,” Shapiro said. “It’s awesome to be able to find that balance as a coffee shop. We want to service the corporate employees, but we also love doing B-day parties and the events.” They are looking at ways to grow the business, including partnering with the University of Bridgeport to serve waffles at sporting events. Shapiro said they also have their sights set on eventually serving at events in the Barnum Museum and Webster Bank Arena. Jordan Grice is a staff reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media. He can be reached at jordan.grice@ hearstmediact.com.

From left: Will Hamer, Adam Shapiro and Luke Lomanto, owners of Bean N’ Batter in Bridgeport. Photo by Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Good Things BRUCE RECEIVES $5M DONATION FROM COHEN FOUNDATION

Kristin Edwards, M.D.

Volunteer programs at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk have been honored.

MARITIME AQUARIUM’S VOLUNTEERTRAINING PROGRAMS WIN TOP AWARDS The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s interpretive training program for volunteers and its countywide effort to support guests with special needs are being celebrated as two of the top initiatives of any zoo and aquarium in America. The Maritime Aquarium’s “Conversation 2 Conservation” training program and its “Accessibility for All” effort were among the top honorees during the national conference of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) recently in New Orleans. The AZA is the organization that sets the top standards for animal care and guest safety at North American zoos and aquariums. Both of the Maritime Aquarium programs receiving 2019 AZA awards were initiatives of the aquarium’s education department.

FIRST PHYSICAL WELLNESS MEDICAL DIRECTOR NAMED AT BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL

Top: A rendering of the Bruce Meseum’s new exterior. Courtesy Bruce Museum. Right bottom: A view of the school-group orientation space in the New Bruce.

The Bruce Museum’s Campaign for the New Bruce has received a $5 million gift from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The donation will fund the Education Wing planned for the museum’s expansion and construction project. The Education Wing will have its own dedicated entrance, enabling the museum to accommodate more than 200 students per day in grades K-12. With the gift, the Campaign for the New Bruce is now more than 80% of the way toward the construction goal of $45 million. The overall $60 million campaign includes an additional $15 million for the museum’s endowment, to ensure sustainability and to support new programs. More than $6 million has been raised for the New Bruce Endowment.

BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION GETS $500,000 GIFT

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES HONORED The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce honored six award recipients at its first annual Family-Owned Business Recognition Dinner on Sept. 19 at the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield. The honorees were: • Hatfield Insurance Agency Inc., Guy Hatfield, president, accepting. • Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, accepted by Kevin Lesko, co-owner. • Henry C. Reid & Son Jewelers, accepted by Harry French, president. • Collins Medical Equipment, accepted by Bryan Collins, director of sales and marketing. • Ganim’s Garden Center & Florist, accepted by Lee Ganim, president. • Abbey Tent & Party Rental, accepted by George Szondy, president.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

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Kristin Edwards, M.D., of New Canaan has been named the inaugural medical director of physician wellness at Bridgeport Hospital. Edwards has played an instrumental role in re-starting the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare rounds, forming the Medical Staff Wellness Committee and guiding leadership in the assessment of well-being for the medical staff. Edwards joined Bridgeport Hospital in 2014 as medical director of palliative care. A native of Palos Verdes Estates, California, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Williams College in Massachusetts. She received her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed a residency in internal medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She also completed a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in New York, and is board certified in internal medicine and hospice/ palliative medicine.

FORBES SAYS BIG Y BEST-IN-STATE EMPLOYER

A $500,000 gift from the Allison family of Westport was given to the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation to support the hospital’s new Postnatal Wellness Check Program. The funds will provide services to mothers of newborns with early screening and education after childbirth. The Postnatal Wellness Check was one of the initiatives espoused by Robert

Stiller, M.D., Bridgeport Hospital’s chief of maternal-fetal medicine. The Postnatal Wellness Check involves a check-up in the Bridgeport Hospital Women’s Care Center, where mothers will undergo examinations for behavioral and physical health issues. Based on the results of the exams, mothers will be referred to the appropriate providers for monitoring and follow-up care.

From left: Michael Ivy, M.D., Bridgeport Hospital interim president and CEO; Simin Allison, whose family provided the major gift to support the Postnatal Wellness Check program; Steve Jakab, Bridgeport Hospital Foundation president; Susan Chudwick, foundation director of development; Robert Stiller, M.D., hospital chief of maternalfetal medicine; and Mary Christoffersen, RN, hospital vice president of nursing.

“Forbes” magazine has identified America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2019 based upon an independent survey from a sample of 80,000 U.S. employees working in companies employing at least 500 in their national operations. Big Y Foods Inc. ranks No. 2 in Massachusetts among 74 companies and No. 20 in Connecticut out of 36. Big Y is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England.

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

‘THERE MUST BE SOME WAY OUT OF HERE’ TO OPEN AT ALDRICH

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Ellen Komar

STAMFORD HEALTH VP HONORED BY CONNECTICUT NURSES’ ASSOCIATION Stamford Health’s Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Ellen Komar has won the 2019 Doris M. Armstrong Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Administration from the Connecticut Nurses’ Association (CNA). This award recognizes achievement, innovation and leadership in nursing service, which embodies the cultivation of a practice environment that empowers nurses and enhances their impact on care while achieving significant advancement of the nursing profession. Komar has led the organization to Magnet designation for nursing excellence, helped secure the hospital’s Planetree designation, established a robust Nursing Research Institute; cultivated a growing nurse residency program; and advanced educational and career ladders for all nurses at Stamford Health. Due to her leadership this past year, three of the hospital’s patient care areas were awarded the Guardian of Excellence Award from Press Ganey for outstanding outcomes in the patient care experience. Komar leads a team of more than 800 professionals, providing strategic direction and leadership for patient care services.

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The Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, celebrating 32 years of charitable giving, will take place on Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club in Southport, where participants can choose from a 5K road race, a 3k fitness walk through scenic Southport Harbor and Historic District and a kids’ fun run and kidzone challenge. Participants will receive complimentary goody bags, T-shirts and free food post-event and will be eligible to win raffle prizes and awards. There will be activities including music, kid-friendly games and face painting. Free babysitting will be available while parents run or walk. More than $1.65 million has been raised since the first event took place in 1987 and donated to 22 local charities.

Cindi Bigelow

STAR-STUDDED BENEFIT FOR AMERICARES CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be honored for his dedication to humanitarian causes at the Americares Airlift Benefit on Oct. 5. He will receive the Leila and Bob MaCauley Humanitarian Spirit Award, which honors outstanding individuals who exemplify extraordinary courage and commitment to humanitarian endeavors and making a difference in the world. Since joining CNN in 2001, Gupta’s Emmy Award-winning coverage has chronicled the most important health stories in the U.S. and around the world. His reporting has taken him from U.S. Navy battlefield medical units in Baghdad and harrowing rescue missions with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan to areas devastated by natural disasters in Haiti, Japan, Nepal, New Orleans, Pakistan, Puerto Rico and Sri Lanka. Gupta has performed life-saving brain surgery five times in a desert operating room, investigated the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa and contributed to CNN’s Peabody Award-winning coverage of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Gupta is a faculty member at the

Matches, life jackets, terrycloth towels and straight pins are just a few of Zoe Sheehan Saldana’s elaborate handmade undertakings. For her exhibition at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, the artist’s largest to date, Sheehan Saldana will present a selection of her meticulously produced objects and furnishings, which call attention to self-reliance, labor systems and the utopia/dystopia paradox. The exhibit, “Zoë Sheehan Saldaña: There Must Be Some Way Out of Here” will be on view at The Aldrich Nov. 24 to May 17. For her presentation at The Aldrich, Sheehan Saldana has refused the usual support that a museum offers. Shipping, gallery prep and installation will all be completed by the artist herself. The wall labels and gallery wall text will be printed using her own custom-made ink. In a Tom Sawyer-ish twist, she has even convinced the museum’s trustees to help her paint the gallery walls using her homemade milk paint. Sheehan Saldaña (b. 1973) lives and works in Brooklyn. She holds an MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology; a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio; and she studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine. The exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalog, the artist’s first, which will include an essay by the exhibition’s curator, Glenn Adamson. The catalog’s cover will be printed with ink handmade by Sheehan Saldana. For more information, contact 203438-4519 or aldrichart.org.

STEPPING STONES SWINGS INTO IT

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, right, with Tony Goldwyn and Erica Hill. Photo by Christopher Williams/Americares.

Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He also serves as an executive producer for the HBO documentary unit. Americares has provided more than $17 billion in aid to 164 countries. The Americares Airlift Benefit will be held at the JPMorgan Chase Hangar at Westchester County Airport in White

Plains, New York. Actor, director and producer Tony Goldwyn and CNN Anchor and National Correspondent Erica Hill will co-host the evening celebrating 40 years of Americares health programs for people affected by poverty or disaster. For tickets or more information, visit americares.org/aab2019 or contact Mary Rauscher at 203-658-9558 or mrauscher@americares.org.

Supporters of Stepping Stones Museum for Children are set to “swing into it” on Oct. 3, at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich to celebrate a milestone 16th year for the museum’s golf tournament. In its 15-year history, Swing Into It! has raised more than $1.5 million ensuring that Open Arms, an initiative of the museum’s play-based learning opportunities and brain-building fun, is accessible to all members of the community. In 2019, Stepping Stones aims to serve 60,000 individuals through Open Arms at an operational cost of $750,000. Stepping Stones in Norwalk is an award-winning, private, nonprofit children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. The golf tournament features a luncheon followed by a round of golf on the Stanwich Club golf course beginning at 12:30 p.m., cocktails, buffet reception, raffle and silent auction. Register online at steppingstonesmuseum.org/golf or call 203-966-4999.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Facts & Figures

ON THE RECORD

Commercial

Richardson, Michele, Greenwich, contractor for Michele Richardson. Replace roof, windows and siding at 176 Hobart Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $55,000. Filed May 2019.

Bembenke, Garrett, Old Greenwich, contractor for Garrett Bembenke. Renovate kitchen at 55 Shore Road, Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $80,000. Filed May 2019.

Larry DeLuca Excavating LLC, Cos Cob, contractor for Jason Brown. Perform alterations at 12 Indian Drive, Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $6.000. Filed May 2019.

Town of Greenwich, Greenwich, contractor for town of Greenwich. Perform a private party at 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $600. Filed May 2019.

A.P. Construction, Stamford, contractor for 100 WP. Property-DOFF II LLC. Perform an interior fit out of second floor at 100 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $75,000. Filed May 2019.

Stamford Tent, Stamford, contractor for town of Greenwich. Perform a private party at 100 Arch St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $30,000. Filed May 2019.

BG Construction, New Canaan, contractor for Kevin W. Kelley. Move kitchen, breakfast room and add shower at 60 Club Road, Riverside. Estimated cost: $35,000. Filed May 2019.

Levy, Brett M., Greenwich, contractor for Brett M. Levy. Build an addition and alteration at 27 Cobb Island Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $500,000. Filed May 2019.

TWP Home LLC, Stamford, contractor for Lorraine Pape. Replace windows at 4 Putnam Hill, Unit 4C, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $5,427. Filed May 2019.

David, Fabio A., Stamford, contractor for Joseph Servidio. Legalize basement, remove kitchen at 53 Cos Cob Ave., Cos Cob. Estimated cost: $10,000. Filed May 2019.

Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation, Greenwich, contractor for town of Greenwich. Exhibit show at 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $3,000. Filed May 2019.

Milbank Builders LLC, Stamford, contractor for Edmund Higginbotham. Build second-floor addition at 16 Pierce Road, Riverside. Estimated cost: $250,000. Filed May 2019.

US Home Services LLC, Stamford, contractor for Putnam Park Apt Inc. Replace roof at 41 Milbank Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $26,000. Filed May 2019.

BUILDING PERMITS

Greenwich Polo Club, Greenwich, contractor for Greenwich Polo Club. Perform a private party at 950 North St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $22,000. Filed May 2019. Horton Group LLC, Madison, contractor for Pickwick Properties LLC. Renovate third and fourth floors at 2 Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $150,000. Filed May 2019. Merritt Construction LLC, Monroe, contractor for Seven M.G. Realty LLC. Renovate showroom space at 359 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich. Estimated cost: $25,000. Filed May 2019. Northeast Tent Productions, Stamford, contractor for Brunswick School. Perform a private party at 1252 King St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $3,400. Filed May 2019. Northeast Tent Productions, Stamford, contractor for Greenwich Academy. Perform a private party at 200 N. Maple Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $14,700. Filed May 2019.

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.

Town of Greenwich, Greenwich, contractor for town of Greenwich. Perform replacement alterations at 100 Arch St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $8,000. Filed May 2019.

Residential AAA Advantage Carting, Stamford, contractor for Eugene R. Gyesky. Perform replacement alterations at 81 Cat Rock Road, Cos Cob. Estimated cost: $13,000. Filed May 2019. Andrew J. Rizzo Jr., New Haven, contractor for Wang Jen. Construct an addition for bedroom and bathroom, remove wall at 55 Mallard Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $40,000. Filed May 2019. ARC Home Improvements Co. Port Chester, New York, contractor for James H. Doundoulakis. Remove and install new roof at 1 Webb Ave., Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $11,000. Filed May 2019. Azud, Margaret, Greenwich, contractor for Margaret Azud. Renovate second floor and add addition over first floor at 17 Henry St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $85,000. Filed May 2019. Belle Haven Club, Greenwich, contractor for Belle Haven Club. Perform a private party at 100 Harbor Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $3,000. Filed May 2019.

Questions and comments regarding this section should be directed to: Bob Rozycki c/o Westfair Communications Inc. 701 Westchester Ave, Suite 100 J White Plains, N.Y. 10604-3407 Phone: 694-3600 • Fax: 694-3699

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

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Dusevic, Sandra, Cos Cob, contractor for Sandra Dusevic. Renovate windows and siding at 19 Crawford Terrace, Cos Cob. Estimated cost: $10,000. Filed May 2019. Goldie Tolulope, Greenwich, contractor for Goldie Tolulope. Renovate master bedroom, renovate bedrooms at 123 Dingletown Road, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $60,000. Filed May 2019.

Northeast Tent Productions, Stamford, contractor for Riverside Yacht Club Inc. Perform a private party at 102 Club Road, Riverside. Estimated cost: $5,600. Filed May 2019.

Greenwich Construction LLC, Cos Cob, contractor for Richard H. Popper. Add one story to single family dwelling at 37 Breezemont, Riverside. Estimated cost: $125,000. Filed May 2019.

Rakoczy Home Improvement LLC, Stamford, contractor for Mayfair Court Condominium. Remove and reinstall cabinets and appliances at 33 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $20,000. Filed May 2019.

Greenwich Tent Co., Bridgeport, contractor for KWTK LLC. Perform a private party at 30 Konittekock Road, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $5,637. Filed May 2019.

Rutledge, Karen, Greenwich, contractor for Karen Rutledge. Perform a private party at 183 Byram Shore Road, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $2,000. Filed May 2019.

Hurlo, Tom, Stamford, contractor for Maxwell P. Wiesen. Add new windows at 35 Widgeon Way, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $9,000. Filed May 2019.

Sinisi, Michele, Old Greenwich, contractor for Michele Sinisi. Repair walls at 297 Palmer Hill Road, Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $35,000. Filed May 2019.

JAG Building & Remodeling LLC, Fairfield, contractor for Eva Barrio. Extend deck and roof at 25 Jeffrey Road, Cos Cob. Estimated cost: $54,400. Filed May 2019. Jay Ross, Greenwich, contractor for Paulo Lacombe. Perform replacement alterations at 51 N. Stanwick Road, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $4,500. Filed May 2019. Kleenup Restoration of England, Bridgeport, contractor for Ricardo D. Caliboso. Replace veneer brick at 10 Kirby St., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $6,583. Filed May 2019.

Smith, Kevin M., Greenwich, contractor for Kevin M. Smith. Change floor, countertops and cabinets of kitchen at 103 Oneida Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $50,000. Filed May 2019. Stamford Tent, Stamford, contractor for Margot Bush. Perform a private party at 29 Meadow Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $2,000. Filed May 2019. Sullivan, John Darien, contractor for Andruss Germaine. Remodel bathrooms, laundry room and new kitchen at 121 Birch Lane, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $140,000. Filed May 2019.

Vik’s Exteriors, Orange, contractor for 15 Peck Avenue LLC. Remove and re-roof at 15 Peck Ave., Greenwich. Estimated cost: $16,850. Filed May 2019. Westview Electric LLC, Guilford, contractor for Patricia J. Meyering. Upgrade kitchen at 52 Indian Head Road, Riverside. Estimated cost: $25,000. Filed May 2019. Westview Electric LLC, Guilford, contractor for Debbie Dunlap. Renovate kitchen at 51 Forest Ave., Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $15,000. Filed May 2019. Wizard Meetings, New Rochelle, New York, contractor for Marko T. Sonnenberg. Perform a private party at 34 Field Point Circle, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $1,950. Filed May 2019. Wojtek Ultimate Construction LLC, Ridgefield, contractor for Julian Mason. Remodel kitchen, master bedroom at 10 Ponderosa Drive, Greenwich. Estimated cost: $68,000. Filed May 2019. Wylie, Norman J. and Clarkson, Old Greenwich, contractor for Wylie J. Norman. Make safety banister at 32 Forest Ave., Old Greenwich. Estimated cost: $100. Filed May 2019. Zeppelin, Amy, Greenwich, contractor for Bak Seung. Repair damage caused by motor vehicle accident at 265 Valley Road, Cos Cob. Estimated cost: $20,000. Filed May 2019.

COURT CASES Bridgeport Superior Court 500 North Avenue, LLC et al, Bridgeport. Filed by town of Stratford. Plaintiff’s attorney: Berchem Moses PC, Milford. Action: The plaintiff filed a certificate tax lien for the defendant’s property for the unpaid tax with interest fees and charges. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the liens, possession of the premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. FBT-CV-196087163-S. Filed July 18. Carboni, Ciro, Trumbull. Filed by town of Trumbull. Plaintiff’s attorney: Harlow Adams & Friedman PC, Milford. Action: The plaintiff has filed a blight lien certificate against the defendant. The defendant failed to pay the lien taxes and as a result the plaintiff suffered monetary damages. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the blight liens, possession of the premises and monetary damages are less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. FBT-CV-19-6088257-S. Filed July 24. Gorlo, Keith et al, Stratford. Filed by Keybank NA S/B/M First Niagara Bank Na, Brooklin, Ohio. Plaintiff’s attorney: Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington. Action: The plaintiff is owner of the mortgage and note of the defendant property. The defendant defaulted on the terms of the agreement and has failed to pay the plaintiff the amount due. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the mortgage, possession of the mortgage premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. FBT-CV-196086808-S. Filed June 6.

Facts & Figures Jimenez, Aurora, Bridgeport. Filed by Tloa of CT LLC, New York. Plaintiff’s attorney: Greene Law PC, Farmington. Action: The plaintiff was assigned tax lien wherein the defendant promised to pay the plaintiff. The defendant failed to pay the property taxes and as a result the plaintiff suffered monetary damages. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the tax liens, possession of the premises and monetary damages are less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. FBT-CV-19-6086739-S. Filed June 5.

Franz, George et al, Newtown. Filed by Tloa of CT, LLC, New York. Plaintiff’s attorney: Greene Law PC, Farmington. Action: The plaintiff was assigned tax lien wherein the defendant promised to pay to the plaintiff. The defendant failed to pay the property taxes and as a result the plaintiff suffered monetary damages. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the tax liens, possession of the premises and monetary damages are less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. DBD-CV-19-6032506-S. Filed June 17.

Sobolewski, Sharon L., Bridgeport. Filed by Tloa of CT LLC, New York. Plaintiff’s attorney: Greene Law PC, Farmington. Action: The plaintiff was assigned tax lien wherein the defendant promised to pay to the plaintiff. The defendant failed to pay the property taxes and as a result the plaintiff suffered monetary damages. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the tax liens, possession of the premises and monetary damages are less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. FBT-CV-19-6086740-S. Filed June 5.

Maharg, James C. et al, Sherman. Filed by Webster Bank NA, Waterbury. Plaintiff’s attorney: Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP, West Hartford. Action: The plaintiff is the owner and holder of the note and mortgage of the defendants. The defendant defaulted on the terms of the agreement and has failed to pay the plaintiff the amount due. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the mortgage, possession of the mortgage premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. DBD-CV-19-6031740-S. Filed June 6.

Danbury Superior Court Aspetuck Animal Hospital et al, Washington. Filed by Angela Janonis, New Milford. Plaintiff’s attorney: Ventura Law, Danbury. Action: The plaintiff was on the premises of the defendant when the plaintiff tripped and sustained injuries. This occurrence was due to the negligence of the defendant. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. DBD-CV-196033229-S. Filed Aug. 28. Berson, Nancy C, Ridgefield. Filed by Discover Bank, New Albany, Ohio. Plaintiff’s attorney: Schreiber / Cohen LLC, Salem, New Hampshire. Action: The plaintiff is a banking association. The defendant used a credit account issued by plaintiff and agreed to make payments for goods and services. The defendant failed to make payments. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages and is less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. DBD-CV-19-6031717-S. Filed June 5.

Zvon, Stephen M et al, Newtown. Filed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Greenville, South Carolina. Plaintiff’s attorney: Marinosci Law Group PC, Warwick, Rhode Island. Action: The plaintiff is the owner and holder of the mortgage of the defendants. The defendant defaulted on the terms of the agreement and has failed to pay the plaintiff the amount due. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the mortgage, possession of the mortgage premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. DBD-CV-19-6032610-S. Filed July 25.

Stamford Superior Court Habitska, Violetta et al, Stamford. Filed by Colonial Gardens Terrace Condominium Association Inc., Orange. Plaintiff’s attorney: Frankel & Berg, Norwalk. Action: The plaintiff provides assessment of common charges for the condominium. The defendants have failed to do the payments. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of its lien, possession of the premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. FST-CV-19-6042631-S. Filed July 9. Pflueger, Derek et al, Stamford. Filed by Ditech Financial LLC, Tampa, Florida. Plaintiff’s attorney: Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington. Action: The plaintiff was assigned the mortgage of the defendants. The defendant defaulted on the terms of the agreement and has failed to pay the plaintiff the amount due. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the mortgage, possession of the mortgage premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. FST-CV-196041698-S. Filed May 17. Plantemoli, Leonard J. et al, Stamford. Filed by U.S. Bank National Association, As Trustee, Fairfield. Plaintiff’s attorney: Glass & Braus LLC, Fairfield. Action: The plaintiff was assigned the mortgage of the defendants. The defendant defaulted on the terms of the agreement and has failed to pay the plaintiff the amount due. The plaintiff claims foreclosure of the mortgage, possession of the mortgage premises, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. FST-CV-19-6042711-S. Filed July 15.

Wiggers, Mia Costanza, Norwalk. Filed by Bank of America, NA, Charlotte, North Carolina. Plaintiff’s attorney: Rubin & Rothman LLC, Islandia, New York. Action: The plaintiff is a banking association. The defendant used a credit account issued by plaintiff and agreed to make payments for goods and services. The defendant failed to make payments. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages and is more than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Case no. FST-CV-19-6041889-S. Filed May 28. Wilton, Town Of et al, WIlton. Filed by Giuseppe A Tomas, Wilton. Plaintiff’s attorney: William James McMorris Jr, Wilton. Action: The plaintiff is responsible for the payment of real estate taxes assessed by the defendant against a property. The defendant valued the tax property excessively, disproportionate and unlawful. The plaintiff seeks fair valuation of the property, monetary damages in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems appropriate. Case no. FST-CV-196042500-S. Filed June 28.

DEEDS Commercial 16 East Byway LLC, Greenwich. Seller: Steven R. Brooks and Monique Corbat-Brooks, Cos Cob. Property: 15 East Byway, Greenwich. Amount: $790,000. Filed Aug. 28. 53 Sheephill Road LLC, Montclair, New Jersey. Seller: 51 Sheephill LLC. Greenwich. Property: 53 Sheephill Road, Riverside. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 27. Browning, Ryan and Anna Browning, Greenwich. Seller: National Residential Nominee Services Inc., Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Property: 40 Coachlamp Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $1,192,500. Filed Aug. 21. Eiben Bril, Gustavo, Greenwich. Seller: Julie M. Eiben and Gustavo Eiben Bril, Greenwich. Property: 11 Flower Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $0. Filed Aug. 27.

Lake Ave Home LLC, Greenwich. Seller: Foster Lake LLC, New Canaan. Property: 496 Lake Ave., Greenwich. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 29.

Annex, Alan I. and Deborah E. Annex, Old Greenwich. Seller: Kelly Freishtat and Scott Freishtat, Greenwich. Property: 12 Bryan Road, Old Greenwich. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 22.

National Residential Nominee Services Inc. Greenwich. Seller: Mark Wu and Sharon Lynn Wu, Greenwich. Property: 40 Coachlamp Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $1,192,500. Filed Aug. 21.

Apuzzo, Diane, South Salem, New York. Seller: Kristina S. Couch, Old Greenwich. Property: 1465 E. Putnam Ave., Unit 536, Old Greenwich. Amount: $345,000. Filed Aug. 30.

Orlovsky Living Trust, Stamford. Seller: Igor Orlovsky and Vera Orlovsky, Stamford. Property: 37 River Ridge Court, Stamford. Amount: $0. Filed July 17.

Baldinucci, Umberto and Biagina Baldinucci, Greenwich. Seller: Elisabetta Agostino, Tucson, Arizona. Property: 2 Caroline Farms Road, Greenwich. Amount: $700,000. Filed Aug. 22.

Paul N. Gardner Residence Trust, Stamford. Seller: Peter W. Gardner and Kenneth H. Gardner, Stamford. Property: 12 Bailiwick Woods Circle, Greenwich. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 22. Smith, Sheilah T., et al, Riverside. Seller: The Jensen 5 LLC. Lewes, Delaware. Property: Lot 3, Map 7863, Riverside Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 23. Trencher, Steven J. and Stacey H. Trencher, Silver Spring, Maryland. Seller: Ramanujachary Kumanduri and Maria-Cristina Romero, New York, New York. Property: 197 Strawberry Hill Ave., Stamford. Amount: $442,500. Filed July 17. VandenBerghe Matkovic, Morgan and Philip Jacob VandenBerghe, Old Greenwich. Seller: Katherine VandenBerghe, Old Greenwich. Property: 3 Fairfield Ave., Old Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed July 9. Waters Edge 38 LLC, Greenwich. Seller: TAMCV LLC, Greenwich. Property: 38 Birch Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 29.

Residential Andren, Karl and Louise B. Andren, Stamford. Seller: Louise B. Andren, Stamford. Property: 32 River Oaks Drive, Stamford. Amount: $0. Filed July 18.

FCBJ

Bausman-Watkins, Mary Frederika and Peter Watkins, St. Paul, Minnesota. Seller: Mary Frederika Bausman-Watkins, St. Paul, Minnesota. Property: 603 Steamboat Road, Unit 6, Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 28. Bonnet, Frederic and Michelle C. Martin, S. Pasadena, California. Seller: Arnab Gupta and Maureen Gupta, Bonsall, California. Property: 20 Mohawk Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $1,550,000. Filed Aug. 29. Brainerd, Diana, Old Greenwich. Seller: Mary Hynes and Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Old Greenwich. Property: 21 West Way, Old Greenwich. Amount: $5,220,000. Filed Aug. 26. Brodmerkel, Mara and Colin W. Brodmerkel, Stamford. Seller: Meredith H. Hughes, Park City, Utah. Property: 7 Buena Vista Drive, Greenwich. Amount: $645,000. Filed Aug. 26. Buchanan, Maria and George R. Buchanan, Jr., Stamford. Seller: Terry P. Staber and Jawanda P. Staber, Stamford. Property: 30 Hampton Lane, Stamford. Amount: $570,000. Filed July 18. Catalano, III Philip C. and Lauren E. Scano, Greenwich. Seller: Philip Catalano, Jr. and Philip C. Catalano, III, Greenwich. Property: 45 Morgan Ave., Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 22.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Facts & Figures DeLeon, Moises, Stamford. Seller: Leslie A. Asllani and Bajeram H. Asllani, Stamford. Property: 21 Reynolds Ave., Stamford. Amount: $410,000. Filed July 18.

Mazza, Robert C. and Morgan Mazza, Stamford. Seller: Dorothy S. Darlington, Riverside. Property: 80 N. Sound Beach Ave., Riverside. Amount: $860,000. Filed Aug. 30.

Staber, Jawanda, Stamford. Seller: Dennis M. Coston and Ernest P. Bynum, Stamford. Property: 180 Turn of River Road, Unit 19B, Stamford. Amount: $505,000. Filed July 19.

Harvey, Jennifer, Greenwich. Seller: Michael E. Shanahan, Niantic. Property: 19 Church St. West, Unit 4, Greenwich. Amount: $260,000. Filed Aug. 21.

McDermott, Peter Winter and Lauren McDermott, Old Greenwich. Seller: May Wan Evers and Steven Decicco, Old Greenwich. Property: 50 Laddins Rock Road, Old Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 28.

Stachura, Thomas and Jean Stachura, Newtown. Seller: Burak Alici, Greenwich. Property: 59 LeGrande Ave., Unit 5, Greenwich. Amount: $1,230,000. Filed Aug. 23.

Morrow, Joseph J., Vero Beach, Florida. Seller: Joseph J. Morrow and Claire Morrow, Vero Beach, Florida. Property: 7 Close Road, Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 21.

Stanton, Elizabeth A., Greenwich. Seller: Amy Newburger and Lawrence Posner, Greenwich. Property: 633 Round Hill Road, Greenwich. Amount: $1,620,000. Filed Aug. 30.

Muravyev, Kim, Stamford. Seller: Lindsay T. Allain, Ridgefield. Property: 70 Strawberry Hill Ave., Unit 2-3B, Stamford. Amount: $206,000. Filed July 22.

Vivenzio, Vincent and Shanice Wilson, Hopewell Junction, New York. Seller: Rong Lou, Darien. Property: 118 Grove St., Unit 24, Stamford. Amount: $365,000. Filed July 18.

Haxhiu, Reshat and Elis Haxhiu, Armonk, New York. Seller: Norma M. Bartol, Stamford. Property: 408 Riversville Road, Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 26. Hochstedler, Shelton and Alejandra Hochstedler, Stamford. Seller: Alejandra Hochstedler and Shelton Hochstedler, Stamford. Property: 25 Forest St., Unit 14E, Stamford. Amount: $1. Filed July 22. Horodyska, Taras and Ulyana Horodyska, Stamford. Seller: Steven Giandalia Jr. and Stephanie Giandalia, Sammamish, Washington. Property: 93 Gary Road, Stamford. Amount: $675,000. Filed July 22.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

FCBJ

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Huthwaite, Elizabeth A., Stamford. Seller: Ray Forsyth, Stamford. Property: 94 Birchwood Road, Stamford. Amount: $439,000. Filed July 19. Kovaci, Merita, Trumbull. Seller: Ann Ventura, Stamford. Property: 444 Bedford St., Unit 9P, Stamford. Amount: $205,000. Filed July 18. Kusurin, Ante and Martina Kusurin, Riverside. Seller: Adrian Owles and Mary Ann McNiff. Old Greenwich. Property: 22 Indian Head Road, Riverside. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 23. Manevich, Slava and Elvira Manevich, Stamford. Seller: Michael L. Balcombe, Stamford. Property: 143 Columbus Place, Unit 9, Stamford. Amount: $192,000. Filed July 18. Maund, James and Heidi Maund, Old Greenwich. Seller: Laura F. Beckering, Greenwich. Property: 6 Grimes Road, Old Greenwich. Amount: $10. Filed Aug. 26.

Nardoza, Joseph C. and Kristen Nardoza, Stamford. Seller: Gregory P. Fox and Leanne K. Fox, Stamford. Property: 1116 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Amount: $595,000. Filed July 18. Neri, Anthony F. and Rachel D. Ganim, Greenwich. Seller: Irv J. Schulman and Marcie A. Evans Schulman, Greenwich. Property: 8 Carpenters Brook Road, Greenwich. Amount: $2,500,000. Filed Aug. 26. Quittell-Ponticelli, Robin and Aron J. Ponticelli, Greenwich. Seller: Katherine S. Overlock, Greenwich. Property: 32 Pecksland Road, Greenwich. Amount: $3,950,000. Filed Aug. 28. Rangel, Ramon and Columba Rangel, New Rochelle, New York. Seller: Karen A. Coronado and Daryl A. Browning, Carrollton, Texas. Property: 41 Greenway Drive, Greenwich. Amount: $635,000. Filed Aug. 30. Sabia, James A. and Lisa A. Sabia, Greenwich. Seller: Lisa Weiss and Charles Weiss, Riverside. Property: 17 Riverside Lane, Greenwich. Amount: $1. Filed Aug. 30. Scott, John and Sarah Munnings, New York, New York. Seller: Carlos F. Singer and Hilarie Horne, Riverside. Property: 24 Hendrie Ave., Riverside. Amount: $1,345,000. Filed Aug. 22.

Zou, Min and Yanan Wang, Mahwah, New Jersey. Seller: Jason T. Toterhi and Lee Chiappetta-Toterhi, Stamford. Property: 137 Wood Ridge Drive, Stamford. Amount: $630,000. Filed July 19.

FORECLOSURES Derisme, Eddy, et al. Creditor: US Bank Trust NA., San Diego, California. Property: 27 Ponus Ave., Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed July 24. Eidam, Melissa Leigh, et al. Creditor: The Bank of New York. Property: Old Long Ridge Road, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed July 10. Kennett, Sean, et al. Creditor: New Penn Financial, LLC, Greenville, South Carolina. Property: 30 Glenbrook Road, Unit 7F, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed Aug. 19. Maramkhah, Rashid, et al. Creditor: Webster Bank NA, Waterbury. Property: 37 Soundview Drive, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed Sep. 3. Marcus, Gloria, et al. Creditor: Bank of America NA, Plano, Texas. Property: 115 Mayapple Road, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed Aug. 27.

Facts & Figures Negron, Jose, et al. Creditor: Savings Bank of Danbury. Property: 700 Summer St., Unit 3L, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed July 26. Pearson, Stuart R., et al. Creditor: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., Laurel, New Jersey. Property: 56 Cousins Road, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed Aug. 30. Samuel, Frank, et al, Creditor: Freedom Mortgage Corp., Fishers, Indiana. Property: 80 Rocton Ave., Bridgeport. Mortgage default. Filed Aug. 19. Turkvan, Eldridge, et al. Creditor: Wells Fargo Bank NA, Salt Lake City, Utah. Property: 13 Lipton Place, Stamford. Mortgage default. Filed July 11.

JUDGMENTS Albrecht, Franz D., et al. Bridgeport. $12,000, in favor of Seaside Village Homes Inc, Bridgeport, by Rosenberg, Miller, Hite & Morilla LLC, Stratford. Property: 287 Iranistan Ave., Unit 164, Bridgeport. Filed Aug. 6. Busch, Jr. William, Bridgeport. $12,000, in favor of Seaside Village Homes Inc., Bridgeport, by Rosenberg, Miller, Hite & Morilla LLC, Stratford. Property: 289 Iranistan Ave, Unit 165, Bridgeport. Filed Aug. 6. Daddona, Dianne, Stamford. $9,920, in favor of The Connecticut Light and Power Co., Berlin, by AGS Law, Waterbury. Property: 19 Half Moon Way, Stamford. Filed July 9. Dieudele Dossous, Bridgeport. $1,612, in favor of Cavalry SPV I, LLC, Valhalla, New York, by Tobin & Marohn, Meriden. Property: 2612 North Ave., Unit E18, Bridgeport. Filed June 11. Fraire-Acedo, Alexandro, Stamford. $268,294, in favor of United States of America, Stamford, by U.S. Attorney’s Office, Norfolk, Virginia. Property: 34 Woodland Place, Stamford. Filed June 24.

Garcia, David, Stamford. $2,484, in favor of American Express National Bank, Salt Lake City, Utah, by Zwicker & Associates PC, Enfield. Property: 1 Barmore Drive, Stamford. Filed June 14. Gilbert, Pierrot, Bridgeport. $799, in favor of Midland Funding LLC, San Diego, California, by Schereiber/Cohen LLC, Salem, New Hampshire. Property: 190 Norland Ave., Bridgeport. Filed June 13.

Serrano, Andrea, Bridgeport. $2,587, in favor of Cavalry SPV I, LLC, Valhalla, New York, by Tobin & Marohn, Meriden. Property: 70 Bennett St., Bridgeport. Filed June 11. Siksay, Ethel V., Bridgeport. $17,866, in favor of Discover Bank, New Albany, Ohio, by Schereiber/ Cohen LLC, Salem, New Hampshire. Property: 334 Tesiny Ave., Bridgeport. Filed June 13.

Gonzalez, Ezequiel, Bridgeport. $2,294, in favor of Cavalry SPV I, LLC, Valhalla, New York, by Tobin & Marohn, Meriden. Property: 197 Roger Williams Road, Bridgeport. Filed June 11.

Unide Thelot, Bridgeport. $4,759, in favor of Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC, Norfolk, Virginia, by Law Offices Howard Lee Schiff PC, East Hartford. Property: 90 Fox St., Bridgeport. Filed July 25.

Groves, Barbara M., Bridgeport. $18,000, in favor of Seaside Village Homes Inc, Bridgeport, by Rosenberg, Miller, Hite & Morilla LLC, Stratford. Property: 18 Soms St., Unit 200, Bridgeport. Filed Aug. 6.

Vilanova, Elsie Y., Bridgeport. $2,215, in favor of Discover Bank, New Albany, Ohio, by Schereiber/Cohen LLC, Salem, New Hampshire. Property: 242 Adams St., Bridgeport. Filed June 13.

Hilinsky, William and Allison Hilinsky, Bridgeport. $8,811, in favor of Roto Rooter Services Co., Chicago, Illinois, by Jacobs & Rozich LLC, New Haven. Property: Unit E501The Chateau Condominium, Bridgeport. Filed June 13.

LIENS

Lopez, Americo, Bridgeport. $1,888, in favor of HOP Energy LLC, Bridgeport, by William G. Reveley & Associates LLC, Vernon. Property: 189 Tremont Ave., Bridgeport. Filed June 12. McLean, Genise, et al. Bridgeport. $8,500, in favor of Seaside Village Homes Inc, Bridgeport. Property: 47 Court D, Building 26, Bridgeport. Filed Aug. 21. Prater, Keith, Stamford. $695, in favor of HOP Energy LLC, Bridgeport, by William G. Reveley & Associates LLC, Vernon. Property: 37 Barclay Drive, Stamford. Filed June 7. Reineke, Brian, Bridgeport. $2,753, in favor of Midland Funding LLC, San Diego, California, by Schereiber/Cohen LLC, Salem, New Hampshire. Property: 180 Broadbridge Road, Bridgeport. Filed June 13.

Hernandez, Christina, 1045 Kossuth St., Bridgeport. $178, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Washington House Noble Ave, LLC, 335 Noble Ave., Bridgeport. $476, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Lawrence, Betty, 170 Orchard St., Bridgeport. $190, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 10.

Wright Aishah, Abdullah, 47 Park St., Bridgeport. $80, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Mackenzie, Andrew, 208 Harriet St., Bridgeport. $35, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Mechanic’s Liens

Marcano, Ana De Jesus and Ramon Fernandez, 492 Noble Ave., Unit 2, Bridgeport. $270, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11. McDougal, James, 342 Pearl St., Bridgeport. $56, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 10. McCoy, Kenneth L., 247 Summerfield Ave., Bridgeport. $600, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11. Mellos, Kimberly, 492 Putnam St., Bridgeport. $164, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Federal Tax Liens Filed

Nicholson, Aston M., 406 Park St., Bridgeport. $140, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Ansley, Joseph, 94 Maple St., Bridgeport. $500, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Otero, Samuel, 1071 Kossuth St., Bridgeport. $390, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

BJ’s Apartments Noble Avenue LLC, 478 Noble Ave., Bridgeport. $400, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Reillo, Janet, 147 Benham St., Bridgeport. $71, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Callahan, Nicole F., 317 Wayne St., Bridgeport. $1,000, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Russell, Clive and Ola Adedeji, 56 Harriet St., Bridgeport. $110, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

David, Deborah, 105-B William St., Bridgeport. $236, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

TWS Properties LLC, 94 Matilda Place, Bridgeport. $3,400, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Fernandez, Alberto 704 Brooks St., Bridgeport. $71, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 10.

VAZ Quality Works, 185 William St., Bridgeport. $600, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Gabriel, Raul and Aida Gabriel, 163 Orchard St., Bridgeport. $230, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Velez, Samuel, 111 William St., Bridgeport. $93, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

Guzman, Carlos G., 564 Arctic St., Bridgeport. $800, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 11.

W&S Properties LLC, 1458 E. Main St., Bridgeport. $408, civil proceeding tax. Filed April 10.

Fairfield University, Fairfield. Filed by ModSets Limited LLC, by Michael Attard. Property: 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield. Amount: $214,395. Filed Aug. 5. Taylor, Catherin Ann, Fairfield. Filed by Chris Taylor. Property: 2490 Redding Road, Fairfield. Amount: $46,500. Filed July 30. Unforgettable Nick 1930 LLC, Fairfield. Filed by Oak Ridge Plumbing & Heating LLC, by Javier Rolon. Property: 804 Stratfield Road, Fairfield. Amount: $7,250. Filed Aug. 1.

LIS PENDENS Cabrera, Vanessa, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for HSBC Bank USA NA. Property: 853 Kossuth St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21. Caldwell, Jr. Morgan J., et al, Norwalk. Filed by O’Connell, Attmore & Morris LLC, Hartford, for Bayview Loan Servicing LLC. Property: 11 Devon Ave., Norwalk. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed Aug. 22. Carrillo, Jose R., et al, Bridgeport. Filed by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC, Hartford, for Pennymac Loan Services LLC. Property: 600 Huntington Turnpike, Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21. Constantini, Joseph M., et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for Deutsche Bank Trust Company. Property: 6 Benson St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17.

FCBJ

Constantini, Joseph M., et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for Deutsche Bank Trust Company. Property: 6 Benson St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17. Cruz, Anibal, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Property: 482 Westfield Ave., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21. Erskine, William Birks, et al, Norwalk. Filed by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC, Hartford, for Ditech Financial LLC. Property: 1 Alden Ave., Norwalk. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed Sep. 3. Fedor, Allen D., et al, Norwalk. Filed by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC, Hartford, for Newrez LLC. Property: 8 Thistle Court, Norwalk. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed Aug. 14. McDillon Holdings Inc, Bridgeport. Filed by Sharon Skyers Jenkins, Bridgeport, for Jermaine Smith. Property: 67-69 Cottage St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 20. McDillon Holdings Inc, Bridgeport. Filed by Sharon Skyers Jenkins, Bridgeport, for Jermaine Smith. Property: 67-69 Cottage St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 20. Reale, Daniel, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for MTGLQ Investors LP. Property: 609 Ameridge Drive, Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17. Reale, Daniel, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Bendett & McHugh PC, Farmington, for MTGLQ Investors LP. Property: 609 Ameridge Drive, Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17. Reeves, Jr. Edward E., et al, Bridgeport. Filed by O’Connell, Attmore & Morris LLC, Hartford, for Webster Bank NA. Property: 45 Bishop Ave., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Facts & Figures Reeves, Jr. Edward E., et al, Bridgeport. Filed by O’Connell, Attmore & Morris LLC, Hartford, for Webster Bank NA. Property: 45 Bishop Ave., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21. Salinas, Angel, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Willinger, Willinger & Bucci PC, Bridgeport, for Fairfield Village Condominium Association Inc. Property: 9C Patricia Road, Unit 3, Building A, Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17. Salinas, Angel, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by Willinger, Willinger & Bucci PC, Bridgeport, for Fairfield Village Condominium Association Inc. Property: 9C Patricia Road, Unit 3, Building A, Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 17. Trujillo, Jr. Johnny, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC, Hartford, for US Bank National Association. Property: 448 Queen St., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Zeppieri, Christina, et al, Bridgeport. Filed by McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC, Hartford, for Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Property: 2034 Madison Ave., Bridgeport. Action: foreclose defendant’s mortgage. Filed May 21.

LEASES Pyvovarchuk, Igor and Maria Pyvovarchuk, by Marylou Weeks. Landlord: Success Village Apartments Inc, Bridgeport. Property: 100 Court D., Building 49, Apartment 365, Bridgeport. Term: 35 years, commenced August 23, 2019. Filed Aug. 30. Splash Car Wash Greenwich LLC, by Mark Curtis. Landlord: Tahiti Realty Partners, Delray Beach, Florida. Property: 625 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Term: 30 years, commenced September 28, 2007. Filed March 4.

Cossuto, Anthony T. and Kathleen Ann Cossuto, Norwalk, by Stephen J. Carriero. Lender: Citibank NA, 1000 Technology Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri. Property: 200 N. Taylor Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $136,000. Filed April 3.

Sosa, Carlixta, Bridgeport, by Cheryl A. Rodriguez. Lender: United Northern Mortgage Banker’s Limited, 3601 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, New York. Property: 1594 North Ave., Bridgeport. Amount: $202,500. Filed April 16.

Cruz Lopez, Arodi Josue and Eric Cruz Lopez, Bridgeport, by Susan Kohn. Lender: Caliber Home Loans Inc, 1525 S Belt Line Road, Coppell, Texas. Property: 339-341 Beechmont Ave, Bridgeport. Amount: $171,000. Filed April 16.

NEW BUSINESSES

Jaime, Simon Irving, Norwalk, by Shari Ann Madeo. Lender: Ocean State Credit Union, 2006 Nooseneck Hill Road, Coventry, Rhode Island. Property: 10 Fort Point St., Unit 1, Norwalk. Amount: $203,500. Filed April 3.

MORTGAGES

Mansulino, Andrea, Bridgeport, by Cheryl A. Rodriguez. Lender: Prysma Lending Group LLC, 18 Padanaram Road. Danbury. Property: 55 Berkeley Place, Bridgeport. Amount: $304,385. Filed April 16.

Aviles, Elizabeth and Victor Aviles, Jr., Norwalk, by Shari Ann Madeo. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, 1111 Polaris Pkwy., Columbus, Ohio. Property: 36 Ingleside Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $302,706. Filed April 3.

Masse, Susanne A., Norwalk, by Marcel Desjardins. Lender: Cornerstone Community Credit Union, 1515 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield. Property: 76 Bayne St., Norwalk. Amount: $65,000. Filed April 3.

Bernard, Carolyn, Bridgeport, by Ryan S. Goldstein. Lender: Cross Country Mortgage Inc. 6850 Miller Road, Brecksville, Ohio. Property: 277 Indian Field Road, Bridgeport. Amount: $240,000. Filed April 16.

Ouellette, Russell and Georgia Ouellette, Norwalk, by Charles A. Fiore. Lender: Merritt Federal Credit Union, 3 Danbury Road, Wilton. Property: 203 Silvermine Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $450,000. Filed April 3.

Blake, Sylvia and Edward Blake, Bridgeport, by Daniel M. Sdil. Lender: Savings Bank of Danbury, Mutual Savings, 220 Main St., Danbury. Property: 103 Asylum St., Bridgeport. Amount: $131,250. Filed April 16.

Policastro, Lawrence J. and Susan Hardesty, Norwalk, by Carl A. Moyer. Lender: M&T Bank, 1 M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York. Property: 24 Tuthill Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $544,500. Filed April 3.

Castro-Alva, Lidia Paola and Efrain Ballinas Perez, Norwalk, by John R. Hall. Lender: First National Bank of America 241 East Saginaw St., East Lansing, Michigan. Property: 3 Random Road, Norwalk. Amount: $308,000. Filed April 3.

FCBJ

Ringrose, Omar, Bridgeport, by Mark P. Vessicchio. Lender: Loandepot.com LLC, 26642 Towne Center Drive, Foothill Ranch, California. Property: 148 Pixlee Place, Bridgeport. Amount: $302,421. Filed April 16. Singh, Narinder and Kulbir Singh Saini, Norwalk, by Sandrup Ani Hayes. Lender: Bank of America NA, 101 South Tryon St., Charlotte, North Carolina. Property: 235 Strawberry Hill Ave., Norwalk. Amount: $329,670. Filed April 3.

Absonoservices, 30 Buxton Farm Road, suite 220, Stamford 06905, c/o Anthony J. Basile, Jr. Filed July 3. Alan Puklin Inc, 165 Pearsall Place, Bridgeport 06605, c/o Alan Puklin. Filed Aug. 27. Astur Dental PC, 146 Mill Road, Stamford 06903, c/o Meharan Zamani. Filed July 5. Chabad Lubavitch of CT, 42 Hollow Oak Lane, Stamford 06905, c/o Chabad Lubavitch of CT. Filed July 8. Clean Harbor Chemdry, 1108 Shippan Ave., Stamford 06902, c/o Thomas J. Galotti. Filed July 11. Cohen’s Fashion, 110 Commons Park N. Apartment 1552, Stamford 06902, c/o David Blum. Filed July 10. Cotton Lyrics Clothing, 195 Court C., Bridgeport 06610, c/o Kenneth Federici. Filed Aug. 26. Custom Candle Co. Inc, 100 Greyrock Place, Stamford 06901, c/o Marcie Manfredonia. Filed July 10. Dog and Green LLC, 301 Commons Park S. Unit 210, Stamford 06902, c/o Jessica Proulx. Filed July 12. Jewish Center and Harbor Point, 42 Hollow Oak Lane, Stamford 06905, c/o Chabad Lubavitch of CT. Filed July 8. Kitchen Tune Up, 76 Hope St., Stamford 06906, c/o The Toria Project. Filed July 10. Life Changes, 158 Connecticut Ve., Stamford 06902, c/o Esther Souffrant. Filed July 3. Line Sets, 106 Nash Lane, Bridgeport 06605, c/o Tony Cantane. Filed Aug. 27.

Lino Caldeira, 188 Rector Ave., Bridgeport 06606, c/o Lino Caldeira. Filed Aug. 27. Lumina Publishing House, 1489 Long Ridge Road, Stamford 06903, c/o Nicholas Anderson. Filed July 11. Mair Strategies LLC, 150 Southfield Ave., Apartment 2411, Stamford 06902, c/o Elizabeth A. Mair. Filed July 5. Meniuk, 24 Avery St., Apartment C, Stamford 06902, c/o Vasyl Meniuk. Filed July 9. Moore’s Landscaping & Much Moore, 37 Greenwich Ave., Stamford 06902, c/o Robert Moore. Filed July 3. Park View Variety, 233 Main St., Stamford 06902, c/o Chamunda LLC. Filed July 8. Seventh Sense Botanical Therapy, 100 Greyrock Place, Space 8, Stamford 06907, c/o GGB Beauty LLC. Filed July 9. Songpaint, 201 Commons Park South, No. 804, Stamford 06902, c/o Byron McCray Miller. Filed July 12. Stamford Youth Football Booster Cl., 109 Myano Lane, Stamford 06902, c/o Ebony M. Byrd. Filed July 11. The Lovely Aroma, 171 Knickerbocker Ave., Stamford 06907, c/o Andreia Torno. Filed July 8. Trackside Bar and Grill, 920 Hope St., Stamford 06907, c/o Trackside Bar and Grill LLC. Filed July 9. Victor J. Roman Realtors, 91 Strawberry Hill Ave., Apartment 436, Stamford 06902, c/o Victor J. Roman. Filed July 3.

PATENTS Apparatus for providing environmental noise compensation for a synthesized vehicle sound. Patent no. 10,414,337 issued to Richard Kreifeldt, South Jordan, Utah; James Kirsch, Salt Lake City, Utah. Assigned to Harman, Stamford.

Conductive polymer composite. Patent no. 10,418,146 issued to Sarah J. Vella, Milton, California; Rachel Prestayko, Hamilton, California; Carolyn Moorlag, Mississauga, California; Barkev Keoshkerian, Thornhill, California. Assigned to Xerox, Norwalk. DMD-based imagers with minimized thermal loads in an off-state. Patent no. 10,415,798 issued to Robert P. Herloski, Webster. Assigned to Xerox, Norwalk. Environment discovery via time-synchronized networked loudspeakers. Patent no. 10,412,532 issued to Levi Gene Pearson, Lehi, Utah. Assigned to Harman, Stamford. Headphone apparatus. Patent no. 10,419,839 issued to Ryan Ott, Stamford; Daniel I. Radin, Stamford; Effrosini A. Karayiannis, St. Louis, Missouri; Kent Jopling, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Torry Xu, Shenzhen, China. Assigned to Harman, Stamford. Household graphing system. Patent no. 10,412,180 issued to Alexander Geis, Manhasset. Assigned to Tru Optik Data Corp., Stamford. Process for preparing oxycodone compositions. Patent no. 10,407,434 issued to Robert Chapman, Downingtown, Pennsylvania; Lonn S. Rider, Foster, Rhode Island; Qi Hong, Sharon, Massachusetts; Donald Kyle, Yardley, Pennsylvania; Robert Kupper, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Assigned to Purdue Pharma LP, Stamford. System for conveying objects from a nested stack of objects to a printer for printing. Patent no. 10,414,179 issued to Michael F. Leo, Penfield; Wayne A. Buchar, Bloomfield; Brendan C. Casey, Webster; Daniel J. McVeigh, Webster. Assigned to Xerox, Norwalk. Techniques for improving swept sine analyses. Patent no. 10,409,930 issued to Russell H. Lambert, Highland, Utah. Assigned to Harman, Stamford. Text enhancement in printing material saving mode. Patent no. 10,419,640 issued to Dhevendra Alagan Palanivel, Chennai, India; Sainarayanan Gopalakrishnan, Chennai, India; Vingesh Doss, Palanichettipatti, India Assigned to Xerox, Norwalk.

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Large company, midsize company or small company; all will be considered. NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS: • To be nominated the company must be a member of a business organization and have a physical location in Fairfield County. • The nominator must also be a member of a business organization and be a Business Journal subscriber. If not – no worries. We will gift you a year’s subscription.*

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