Where wasn’t Gone Dishin’ this past weekend? Follow along, and try to keep up…
Morris Moreland, the 28-year veteran of Community Action Agency, was surrounded by family, friends and colleagues at Olde Blue (the restaurant at the Colony Inn) on Friday night. Jim Barber (former board president), Rev. Bonita Grubbs (Christian Community Action), and former Aldermen Willie Moore, Willie Greene and Lindy Lee Gold joined with others to express gratitude for Morris’s devotion to the agency and his service to the people it served. Having been dismissed just prior to the unfortunate turn of events that once again threatened the sustainability of the agency, Morris was heralded for his steadfast loyalty to the mission of CAA throughout many turbulent times.
Saturday morning brought a surprise party, following morning services, for Rabbi Jim Ponet of the Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale. U.S. Joe and Hadassah Lieberman, now downtown residents, attended religious services and stayed for the kiddush and a chat with Elana Ponet, who orchestrated her husband’s luncheon party, and Jim’s 99-year-old father, who had traveled from West Hartford for the event. Joe, an alumnus of Yale, had participated in the dedication of the wonderful building when it opened 10 years ago. Students, staff, alumni and members of the board were all on hand to congratulate Jim, a man of great passion, glorious vision and contagious energy.
Congregation Mishkan Israel presented “An Inconvenient Truth” on Sunday morning. Over 100 people gathered to watch the Al Gore award-winning film and to learn ways in which they could adopt or create ecologically responsible strategies through political action and incorporation into their own lives. The audience age ranged from 7 to 70. Marian Chertow and Reid Lipsett, both professors at the Yale School of Forestry and Environment and both congregants of the temple, led discussion and responded to questions. The morning was co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation. Spotted in the crowd were Lauri Lowell, JCRC exec, Elliott and Diane Alderman , Lydia Borneck, Matt Nemerson and Rabbi Herb Brockman. A group of seventh-grade students were totally engaged. The group embraced the words of a Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Tarfon: “It is not your duty to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
The forum ended in time to race across town(s) in time to attend the 25th annual luncheon hosted by the New Haven Women’s Division of the American Committee on Italian Migration. Anthony’s was, of course, the venue for the crowd of 400 who came to honor Valerio (Val) Capobianco and Rita DeNegre for their contributions to the community. The dais was truly blessed with the presence of the Reverends Albert Caprio, Eugene Gianelli and Michale Tarrocs. The ageless Luisa DeLauro and Mayor John DeStefano enjoyed the opportunity to visit and extend greetings. Workmen’s Comp Commissioner Ralph Marcarelli was eloquent in his presentation of awards. Bernadette Meneo, chapter president, kept the program time line.
Val, beloved in Waterbury (the town to which he emigrated in 1969) as he is in New Haven , owns Brazi’s at Long Wharf and has a long history in the restaurant business. As the recipient of a welcoming and generous community, he has quietly and effectively returned that investment through his work in the Amity Club and the Pan Gregorian Society (his wife is Greek) and through incredible support of nonprofit initiatives in New Haven and beyond.
The diversity of his broad range of friends was evidenced by the attendance of Tony D’Alto (legendary restaurant magnate and mentor), Superior Court Judge Lubbie and Mrs. Harper (New Haven Board of Education), the folks from Marco Polo Ristorante in East Hartford, Waterbury’s San Marino Ristorante, Dinos and Four Brothers restaurants and Nino’s Trattoria, and the entire A‑Team staff of Brazi’s, the Stefanopoulos family, Lindy Gold and attorney Frank Grazioso.
Rita DeNegre’s six children, their spouses and her 12 grandchildren formed a large cheering section. Her volunteer work on behalf of her Woodbridge parish, doing pastoral and educational and social work there, and Milford Hospital (her husband Dr. Mark DeNegre was a radiologist there) and St. Thomas More Soup Kitchen, all merited her ACIM recognition.
Past honorees in attendance included Joe Ciaburri (Bank of Southern CT), Teresa Argento, Bill Iovanne, Andy Consiglio (ret’d NHPD).
It was an amazing turnout for two amazing individuals. We are told that ACIM has expanded its mission on behalf of all immigrants. If Val Capobianco is an example of how much we gain from our New Americans, we are strengthened in our resolve to welcome individuals and families to our country!
ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!!