Girls Incorporated of Southwestern Connecticut is proud to announce the first in a series of programs which will be be held Mondays, October 18th - December 6th from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, sponsored by the Fairfield County community Foundation. Growing Together is a Girls Inc. national program designed to open lines of communication and establish good communication skills about subjects such as health, hygiene, anatomy and puberty for girls ages 9-12 and their mothers/female caregivers. 10/10/2010

  Tuesday, October 19th4:00 - 5:00 PMBlack Rock  Branch Join Stephanie Stacy from The Center for Women and Families for the first of this 4 part interactive workshop aimed at promoting healthy relationships and keeping yourself safe. Bullying part 1 Increase your understanding about bullying, its dynamics and its long-term effects on the victims, bullies, and bystanders. All workshops are open to students in grades 6-9th. Tuesday, October 26th4:00 - 5:00 PM Bullying part 2 Increase your understanding about bullying, its dynamics and its long-term effects on the victims, bullies, and bystanders. Tuesday, November 9th 4:00 - 5:00 PM Internet Safety / CyberbullyingWhile there are many benefits to using the Internet, there are also dangers that you need to be aware of. Learn ways to keep yo... 10/10/2010

  Tuesday, October 19th6:30 PMBlack Rock Branch David Mestre, Discovery Museum and Planetarium Manager of Space Science Education presents "Dark Matter and Other Secrets of the Universe." Dave's previous program on the awe inspiring discoveries of the Hubble Telescope was such a hit, we have brought him back to the Black Rock Branch so he can, once again,  take us on a voyage to boldly go where no one has gone before. Join us  for this search for the invisible matter that makes up much of the universe. In his multimedia presentation Dave will describe what (we think) Dark Matter is, how we look for it and how we know if we've found it. Don't miss this very special event. You will find Dave's presentation both entertaining and enlightening 10/10/2010

  Thursday, October 21st6:30 PMBlack Rock Branch David Walker returns to the Black Rock Branch for a presentation of IOUSA: Solutions, the sequel to his film on the national deficit IOUSA. David M. Walker is President and CEO of The Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 1998 to 2008. "The award-winning documentary I.O.U.S.A. opened up America's eyes to the consequences of our nation's debt and the need for our government to show more fiscal responsibility. Now that more Americans and elected officials are aware of our fiscal challenges, the producers of I.O.U.S.A. created I.O.U.S.A.: Solutions, a follow-up special that premiered on CNN this past spring. I.O.U.S.A.: Solutions focuses on... 10/10/2010

  Back by Popular demand - Free Italian Language Classes for Beginners. Want to learn Italian but never had a chance?  Going to Italy soon?  A weekly series of  conversational Italian classes will be offered during the month of October at the Black Rock Branch starting on Wednesday October 6th. Classes will run from October 13th to October 27th from 7:30 to 8:30 PM at the Black Rock Library. The classes  will be conducted by Black Rock's own Rob Foley, who has come up with his own material and method for quick learning. Space is limited, so make your reservation by contacting the Black Rock Branch Library at (203) 337-9676. What: Intro to the Italian Language Offered at the Black Rock Branch Library When: October 6th from 7:30 to 8:30 PM When: October 13th from 7:30 to 8:30 PM When: Oct... 10/10/2010

Green Expo. ~ Bridgeport, CT. The second annual Green Market Exposition is being held at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT today and tomorrow ( Oct 8th & 9th, 2010 ) . Free admission, over 40 sustainable exhibits, speakers, workshops and green home panel. Special Feature:  Saturday, Oct. 9th.Learn How to  Reduce Energy Costs Meet Brian Clark Howard co-author of Green Lighting David Popoffis a license Realtor in Connecticut with William Raveis office in Darien.   A life time resident of Fairfield County he has worked throughout lower Fairfield County and now resides in Darien, Ct since 2004. David Popoff is an accredited LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) and member with the United States Green Build Council (USGBC) and the Connecticut chapter (CTGBC).   Contact David Popoff for all your ... 10/08/2010

ACOUSTIC CAFE, 2926 Fairfield Ave., 203-335- FOLK: Open Mic, Tuesday 8 p. m. ASH CREEK SALOON, 2895 Fairfield Ave., 203-333-2733: Joe Kiernan, Thursday, 8: 30 p. m. 10/07/2010

                            I didn't have my camera with me, of course (normally, I always carry two cameras), so had to take this photo with my Treo cell phone. 10/03/2010

\The rainy weather caused problems for boats moored in Black Rock Harbor today. A total of 15 boats crashed onto rocks or are now on land. The yacht club says the high tide and swell in the harbor caused boats to come loose from their moorings.  More than half of the boats have now been recovered, and according to news coverage on Channell 12 owners say damage estimates range from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars. More photos on the Black Rock Community Blog at www.blackrockonline.org 10/01/2010

Real estate agents across several broker firms teamed up to create a glossy publication that will be delivered to high end broker firms and upscale reception areas, such as salons, spas, and medical offices in Fairfield and Westchester Counties.    Open publication - Free publishing - More real estate 09/29/2010

The Ash Creek Conservation Association wishes to thank all the 25 volunteers who joined the Fall Clean Up of Ash Creek on Saturday, September 25.  Special thanks to to Roger Ludwig, ACCA's Board Member, who organized the event with Save the Sound.  Mary Erkan, ACCA's Secretary, took photos of the event.  They are posted on Ash Creek's Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.org/ashcreek   09/28/2010

ACOUSTIC CAFE , 2926 Fairfield Ave., 203- 335-FOLK: Karen Suzanne and the Gojo Hearts, Shayfer, Thursday; Hearts on Fire Tour with Micah, Alex and Janel, Friday; Nardy Boy, The Detroy Duo, Saturday; Open Mic , Tuesday 8 p. m.; Ren ard Boissiere, Wednesday. ASH CREEK SALOON, 2895 Fairfield Ave., 203- 333-2733: Joe Kiernan, Thursday, 8: 30 p. m. CAPTAIN'S COVE, 1 Bostwick Ave., 203 -335-7104: Simple Jim , Saturday, 9 p. m.; Penfield Reefers , Sunday, 3 p. m.; Buzz Monkeys , Sunday, 7 p. m. 09/23/2010

ACOUSTIC CAFE, 2926 Fairfield Ave., 203-335- FOLK: Jennings, Friday; Rick DellaRatta and Jazz for Peace, Saturday, 6 p. m.; Open Mic, Tuesday, 8 p. m.; The Quicksand Collective, X Pun X, Wednesday. ASH CREEK SALOON, 2895 Fairfield Ave., 203-333-2733: Joe Kiernan, Thursday, 8: 30 p. m. CAPTAIN'S COVE, 1 Bostwick Ave., 203-335-7104: Dean Cardinale, Thursday, 6 p. m.; Martino, Friday, 6 p. m.; Primetime, Sunday, 3 p. m.; Tangled Vine, Sunday, 7 p. m. 09/16/2010

ACOUSTIC CAFE, 2926 Fairfield Ave., 203-335- FOLK: The Mercury Seed, Thursday; Katarina Boudreaux and the Lagniappes, Friday, 9 p. m.; Comedy show, Saturday; Open Mic, Tuesday 8 p. m.; Renard Boissiere, Wednesday. ASH CREEK SALOON, 2895 Fairfield Ave., 203-333-2733: Joe Kiernan, Thursday, 8: 30 p. m. CAPTAIN'S COVE, 1 Bostwick Ave., 203-335-7104: Victor Cowles, Thursday, 6 p. m.; Seth, Friday, 6 p. m.; Connecticut Fallen Heroes Foundation benefit with Remember September, Saturday, 9 p. m.; Short Bus, Sunday, 3 p. m.; Liquid- 8, Sunday, 7 p. m. 09/09/2010

The Gallery at Black Rock will open its 2010 season: Improvised Miscreation, featuring the work of Marcella Kurowski. The show opens September 17th with an Artist Reception from 6 until 9 pm. Ms Kurowski, a Bridgeport native, has been part of the Connecticut art scene for over 15 years and has often worked under the pseudonym "Looketha." Marcella will be working under her given name signaling a new phase in her artistic work. The show is grouped together by Kurowski's prosess in which she begins painting freely letting the paint hit the canvass in an uncalculated but intuitive way. The organic elements are then dissolved and amplified creating a dominant central image juxtaposed with the more vague and emotional elements of the painting. The work cumulates in forms with human figurative... 09/07/2010

Please join us on Saturday, September 25th at 19 Eames Boulevard (along St. Mary's) at 9 AM for the annual Ash Creek Fall Clean Up.  Roger Ludwig, one of our Board Members will host the clean up which includes St. Mary's as well as the Ash Creek tidal estuary.  This is part of the International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by Save the Sound.  Roger Ludwig has served as the Clean Up Captain for Save the Sound since the program began 8 years ago.  The clean up ends at noon.  Since 2002, Save the Sound has been Connecticut's coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup, an event created by Ocean Conservancy in 1985.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers get involved to remove trash from shorelines and waterways all over the world.  They record data about what they find, which ... 09/03/2010

ACOUSTIC CAFE, 2926 Fairfield Ave., 203-335- FOLK: Open Mic, Tuesday 8 p. m. ASH CREEK SALOON, 2895 Fairfield Ave., 203-333-2733: Joe Kiernan, Thursday, 8:30 p. m. CAPTAIN'S COVE, 1 Bostwick Ave., 203-335-7104: Tony Gabriel, Thursday, 6 p. m.; Chris Sewel, Friday, 6 p. m.; Fake ID, Saturday, 9 p. m.; To the Max, Sunday, 3 p. m.; Hot House, Sunday, 7 p. m.; Eight to the Bar, Monday, 3:30 p. m. 09/02/2010

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS The good news is that real estate nationally and locally the real estate market is better than it was a year ago.  This is not particularly surprising since there is general consensus that we reached the bottom of the housing  market in January of 2009.  With interest rates at a 30 year low, bargain basement prices, and the homebuyer tax incentive buyers created a very active Spring market with lots of sales, although this did not result in much of an increase in prices, because inventory is still high.  The bad news is that sales of previously owned U.S. homes took a record drop in July to their lowest pace in 15 years, suggesting further loss of momentum in the economic recovery.  As the National Association of Realtors issued the report, Chicago Federal Reserve Pr... 09/01/2010

Join us at the Black Rock Branch for our Special Annual Meeting and learn how you can play a roll in helping the Bridgeport Public Library move forward on Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30 PM at the Black Rock Branch. The meeting will feature long time BPL friend and supporter Mark R. Halstead, who will discuss and sign his new book: Victor Civkin:  Connecticut Modernist. The talk will focus on the value of Modernist architecture today, and Civkin's career, with particular attention to a Civkin house in Bridgeport currently seeking Historic District designation. MARK R. HALSTEAD AIA practices architecture in Fairfield, Connecticut. Born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he graduated with honors from Pratt Institute in 1985, and in 1990 founded his own firm, Mark R. Halstead Architect... 08/27/2010

New caregivers are invited to learn about the legal and procedural issues that are likely to occur in taking care of elderly and/or disabled loved ones at a seminar presented by Julia Merkt.  Attorney Merkt is nationally recognized in the field of elder law and received the highest competency and ethics rating through Martindale-Hubble's peer review process. Julia Merkt will explore · Advocacy in residential, long term care and medical settings · Arranging for and monitoring home care services · Assisting with relocation and evaluation of benefits available · Coordination of medical care · Transportation and concierge services · Financial matters, including Medicare and Medicaid · Conservatorship and Power of Attorney A member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) since... 08/27/2010