News in Brief

Trumbull Customers helped raise $3,155, part of the chain's annual "Food For Friends" program, which gives more than $2 million to local and regional food banks.

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. announced earlier this week in a press release that customers who shopped its store in Trumbull helped raise $3,155, which was donated to the  to help provide hunger relief to area residents.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support from our customers and associates for Food for Friends,” said Arlene Putterman, a spokesperson for Stop & Shop. “We exceeded the amount raised in 2009 by 40 percent! Even a tough economy could not dampen the spirit of giving that exists with the associates and customers in our communities.”

 The release states that Stop & Shop set a new record in 2010 with its 21st annual Food for Friends campaign. Sixty percent of the funds went directly to hundreds of local food pantries that stores adopt in each community and 40 percent were allocated to regional state food banks. 

The Food for Friends program ran in all 392 Stop & Shop stores from Oct. 29 through Dec. 10. Customers donated $1, $3, or $5 “paper turkeys” at their local Stop & Shop. Customer contributions accounted for nearly all of the $2 million, according to the release. 

 Also this weekend, District 2 Town Council Representatives Robert J. Pescatore Jr. and Mary Beth Thornton, along with Board of Finance member Andrew Palo and Board of Education member Tom Kelly, will be hosting a food drive this weekend to support the Trumbull Food Pantry.

Stop by in Trumbull Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on today and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Any cash donations received will be given to the Trumbull Food Pantry to assist with their energy and heating programs for those in need. Questions regarding the drive can be directed to Pescatore via e-mail at robpescatorejr@gmail.com or by phone at 203-650-5348.

It is the second drive the officials have held since late last year.

In addition to fighting hunger, the town has been designated a HEARTSafe community by the state Department of Public Health and the American Heart Association for its steps toward early response to cardiac events.

The town has installed Automated External Defibrillators in many of its public buildings and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is offered. More AEDs are planned. also helped the town garner the honor.

"Trumbull has demonstrated its commitment toward ensuring that its residents and visitors receive the early lifesaving response proven to increase the chances of survival for heart attack victims," said Dr. J. Robert Galvin, DPH commissioner.

Meanwhile, St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport is seeing to health in other ways, announcing its new injury prevention program for seniors at home and in the community.

The Medical Center’s Trauma Service and Emergency Department collaborated on the new project, and have partnered first with the and the Fairfield Health Department, according to a press release earlier this week.

Trauma Coordinator Mary Silvestri and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator and Paramedic Ken Kellogg, are leading the program, and have taken it on the road recently by participating in flu clinics in Trumbull, Monroe and Fairfield, said Lucinda Ames, hospital spokeswoman.

The two provided displays and written materials and have talked with seniors and their families about risk factors for injury both in their homes and in the community setting. They also discussed fall prevention. The next stop is health fairs and getting into other communities. 

To book the program for a health fair or event, please contact Mary Silvestri at 203-576-6197 or email msilvestri@stvincents.org.

Finally, Stephen P. Wright, an attorney at Harlow, Adams & Friedman, P.C. in Milford since 1999, and a current member of the Trumbull Board of Education, has been named to the state Board of Education, according to a spokesperson for Gov. Dannel Malloy. Wright is also chairman of the Trumbull Special Needs Preschool Building Committee, and as co-area director of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.