Posted onApril 23, 2021|Comments Off on Nola Speaks. Her Clients Do Too.
Nola Beldegreen was a champion college forensics team member. “I won trophies for public speaking the way other people competed in tennis,” she says.
But not until she took a Dale Carnegie course — while working for Glamour magazine — did she really learn to speak for herself.
She became a Carnegie instructor. It was still her avocation — by now she was in sales, traveling the globe for Gourmet magazine — but Nola realized the importance of the spoken word in business.
Nola Beldegreen
After she left Conde Nast to raise her 2 daughters, Westport neighbors recognized her talents. She helped them prepare for wedding toasts, job interviews, and any other type of public speaking.
She’s turned that into a business. Nola works with executives and students, in areas like talking points, presence, delivery, messaging through inflection, intonation, pauses, tone and nonverbal language.
Specifically, Nola covers areas like using stories to inspire, leave voicemails that sound professional, lead without sounding “bossy,” remember people’s names, and speak with certainty.
She helps them listen better too. “When you listen well, you know what you’re going to say next,” she notes.
Nola worked with an executive whose mind went blank when she was asked spontaneous questions, a high school student whose mother worried that his avoidance of eye contact — and lack of personality — would hurt him in college interviews, and shy people, who want to become better conversationalists. With everyone, the key is to find a speaking style that’s right for them.
During the pandemic she shifted from personal sessions that taught clients how to feel comfortable in face-to-face meetings, to Zoom sessions that taught them how to feel comfortable Zooming.
Nola worked with people who had lost jobs, and now had to interview without picking up on the verbal cues and body language they’d always been used to.
Many of her clients are young. College students, and those just starting out in the business world, often lack the conversational skills of previous generations.
“The text world is so different from other conversations,” Nola points out. “They need to know how to organize their thoughts and ideas, before they go into a meeting.”
Young people often need to learn conversational skills.
Her goal is to give clients confidence and strength in their presence and speaking skills. It’s the same, she says, as gaining strength at the gym.
She usually spends 6 hour-long sessions with clients. That’s a lot less time than it takes to get physically fit.
And you don’t even need to shower.
(For more information click here, email nola@nolabeldegreen.com, or call 212-381-0856. Hat tip: Susan Wexler)
A year after Elvira’s reopened as Joey’s By the Shore — Featuring Elvira Mae’s Coffee Bar,” there’s more news from Old Mill/Compo’s favorite food spot.
The building is for sale. But Joey Romeo and Betsy Kravitz are not going anywhere. They’re keeping the business just as is — with great eats, an ordering window and a beachy vibe, 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A long-term lease protects the business.
That’s the good great news. Now if only we had some good news about that long-halted home construction project on the site of the former Positano restaurant, a few yards diagonally across the street …
Betsy Kravitz and Joey Romeo, ready for another season.
Both myTeam Triumph-CT and Remarkable Theater support the special needs community.
It’s no wonder they’re partnering for mTT’s “Spring Into Action” season-opening event. On Saturday, May 1 (gates open at 6:30 p.m.; movie at 7:30), myTeam Triumph sponsors a showing of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” — the Marvel adventure film — at the downtown drive-in.
It’s not just that the Remarkable Theater employs people with disabilities for screenings at the Imperial Avenue lot. Or that myTeam Triump pairs children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities with volunteers, who join them in triathlons and road races.
The volunteers are called “angels.” The special needs participants are called … “captains.” So the May 1 film is very fitting.
All proceeds from the event will be shared by Remarkable Theater and myTeam Triumph-CT.
For more information and to buy tickets, click here. To learn more and volunteer with mTT (you don’t have to be an athlete!), click here. To donate, click here.
Starting tomorrow, there’s another COVID testing center in town.
Progressive Diagnostics opens at 8 a.m. in Saugatuck railroad station parking lot #8. That’s the one off Saugatuck Avenue, between I-95 and the Exit 17 entrance/ exit ramp. They promise same-day PCR and antibody test results.
Weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Looking for a special Mother’s Day gift? Head to the farm!
Wakeman Town Farm offers spring arrangements, through Hedge Floral. Options include a garden bouquet in twig-wrapped vessel ($95) and posies in upcycled tin cans ($30).
Hedge designs each arrangement with the best of what’s available in early May. That probably means Queen Anne’s lace, mustard, lilac, pieris, euonymus, viburnum, azalea, honeysuckle and spirea.
Click here to order. Deadline is noon on May 5. Pick-up is Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to noon at WTF.
And finally … Jim Steinman died Monday in Danbury. He was 73, and had been in poor health.
His New York Times obituary explains that Steinman “wrote all the songs on Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf’s operatic, teenage-angst-filled 1977 debut album, which remains one of the most successful records of all time.”
Meat Loaf was one of Westport’s many famous musician residents. When he wasn’t recording operatic, teenage-angst-filled songs, he played softball at Compo Beach and Greens Farms Elementary School, and coached it too.
Just another normal neighbor. (Hat tip: Adam Stolpen)
Last month hundreds of Westporters gathered in the rain, at the entrance to the Westport Weston Family YMCA. They were cheered on a very ill 6-year-old boy, whose fervent wish was to swim with his family, have a pizza party, and pet a bearded dragon.
Phoebe Nunziato was there. Her sign said simply: “You’re Amazing.”
Phoebe Nunziato
The other day, Phoebe’s father John included that cardboard sign among the recycling items he brought to the transfer station. On a whim he handed it to Gilberto, who manages the recycling stations at the Sherwood Island Connector site.
John took his photo.
Gilberto, with the recycled sign.
Gilberto kept holding the sign, as cars drove in. Drivers smiled.
This week John returned to the transfer station, with more items. He saw the sign proudly leaning against Gilberto’s booth.
Gilberto told John he puts the sign in the booth each night, and takes it out again the next morning.
It’s a bit tattered now. But, Gilberto says, it creates happiness. And the message is powerful.
“In this time of great stress, the smallest effort can bring joy — even at the transfer station,” John says.
But speaking of stress: That’s what David Meth feels when he stops by with his recyclables.
As he wrote earlier this month, he used to pick up discarded bicycles from the “metal” section. He’d take them to Cycle Dynamics, where owner Charlie Gander and his crew fixed and tuned them, then provided the like-new bikes to children through 3 Bridgeport charities.
Recently however, David has been prohibited from doing that.
Nearly 2 dozen readers responded to his story. They described transfer stations in other towns — including Darien and Redding — with designated spots for items that can be taken and fixed. The idea was met with great enthusiasm.
However, David says, there’s now a new sign:
“I understand the need for safety,” David says.
“But the suggestion in the last post was to set aside a small area for donations of items that can be reused. Why is that a problem?
“This is a small gesture of humanity for children and people who would repair and use the bicycles, as well as other things. Yet there seems no room at the transfer station for such generosity.
“And it’s not just one sign. There are two. We need a sign that says ‘Donations.'”
Uh oh. “06880” missed National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
The town of Westport did not, though. As posted on their Instagram, 1st Selectman Jim Marpe and 2nd Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker visited the police and fire departments last week — and brought gifts.
(Photo courtesy of Town of Westport)
As the town noted: “Dispatchers are the first line of the Police, EMS and Fire departments. They are voices behind every call for help that we never see but only hear. They work tirelessly to protect department members and residents of Westport. This week we celebrate our heroes with the headsets!”
“06880” adds our thanks to these men and women who work 24/7/365. It’s a stressful job, which they do with incredible poise, professionalism and compassion.
So to last week’s pizzas, we add this week’s Unsung Heroes honors. Thank you all!
Posted onApril 21, 2021|Comments Off on Roundup: Teacher Of The Year, Outdoor Dining, NY Knicks …
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CORRECTION: “06880” erroneously reported yesterday that the Board of Education will ask the RTM for an annual 3% budget increase. There was no such motion. We apologize for the error.
Staples High School social studies teacher Suzanne Kammerman has been named Teacher of the Year by the American Lawyers Alliance. The honor comes on top of — and in part because of — her role in leading her school’s “We the People” team to their 2nd consecutive state championship. They hope to follow in their teacher’s footsteps, and win a national title. Last year’s team placed 5th.
Kammerman initiated the “We the People” class and competition at Staples, after competing herself in high school.
A 14-year educator, Kammerman was previously selected by the League of Women Voters to train at Harvard Business School.
During COVID — and despite distance learning — she continued to develop created, engaging ways for students to learn about democracy. They researched Supreme Court cases, discussed hypotheticals, learned how to analyze and synthesize facts and opinions, and honed presentation skills.
Congratulations, Ms. Kammerman, for your passion, dedication, and profound impact on the next generation of citizens.
Volunteers help Staples students prepare for the 2021 “We the People” competition. Suzanne Kammerman is in the top row, 2nd from left.
State Senator Tony Hwang hosts lunch next Wednesday (April 28, 12:30 p.m., Tarantino’s). He’ll be joined by 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, State Representative Stephanie Thomas and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce director Matthew Mandell.
The event — in coordination with the Chamber — will promote outdoor dining. The group will discuss ways to continue to support local businesses during COVID.
Restaurants on Railroad Place, Church Lane and other areas of town have set up tables, tents, domes and other structures for outdoor dining. The state and town have eased regulations, and owners look forward to a robust spring and summer scene.
Speaking of COVID regulations: Governor Lamont is easing earlier restrictions.
Effective May 1:
Bars that do not serve food can open for service on an outdoor-only basis. They still cannot serve only alcohol indoors.
The 8-person per table limit will be lifted for outdoors only. The limit remains in effect for indoor service.
The curfew for restaurants, entertainment venues, recreation venues and theaters will be moved back an hour, to midnight.
Effective May 19:
Contingent upon sufficiently low rates of infections and increasing vaccination rates, all remaining business restrictions will be lifted. The Department of Public Health will issue recommendations for indoor and other large outdoor events, such as concerts, and clarify where masking will continue after May 1.
(Hat tip: Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce)
The Levitt Pavilion — and many other organizations — wait for an announcement about what kind of gatherings will be allowed this summer.
“I am blessed to be able to walk to Compo Beach. This area has a very special vibe. The downside is that the vibe encourages people to drive down South Compo Road like lunatics. disregarding speed limits, crosswalks, even common sense and courtesy.
“Compo Road from Greens Farms Road to the beach might as well be the Autobahn: screeching tires, ignoring full stops, flying through crosswalks. These are not just visitors — they are locals too, rushing, blowing off stop signs and exceeding speed limits by over 25 mph.
“We have a wonderful Police Department, but they can’t be everywhere. This is going to get worse as the weather gets warmer. The weekends are a drag race by noon, through 11 p.m.
“Many dog walkers, children and elderly walking on Compo Road. Will it take someone getting killed or seriously injured to finally address the situation?”
“06880” readers know Fred Cantor as a passionate Westporter. If you’ve read many of his comments here, you know he’s an avid Knicks fan too.
He’s also proud of his roots. Until he was 10, he lived in Fresh Meadows, Queens. That’s where he learned to love the NBA team. And it forms the background of his most recent book, Fred From Fresh Meadows: A Knicks Memoir.
It’s getting great looks. Yesterday, NY1 aired a story about Fred, including 3 generations of Cantor Knick fans: his 93-year-old mother Pearl, and his brother Marc’s older son, Sam. Click here to see.
The day before, the New York Post‘s Mike Vaccaro called Fred’s book “delightful. The stories ring like a trusted friend’s from the neighboring barstool.”
The Knicks may not be at the top of the standings. But Fred From Fresh Meadows is definitely a winner.
And how about this: All proceeds benefit the John Starks Foundation. The Knick legend started the charity, which gives scholarships to teenagers in need.
Speaking of sports: There’s a Westport connection even to the controversy over a proposed “Super League” of top international soccer clubs.
Joaquim Monnerat played freshman soccer at Staples High in 2019. His family has moved to London. But there he was — photographed all over social media — protesting with over 1,000 others outside of Stamford Bridge (the Chelsea team’s home stadium).
The protest worked. The plan collapsed a few hours later when 6 of the 12 clubs — including Chelsea — dropped out.
Joaquim is in the center below, with a (dangling) face mask. And though you can’t tell, he’s wearing a Staples Soccer shirt in the image that went ’round the world. (Hat tip: Bruno Guiduli)
The I-95 Beachside Avenue bridge reconstruction project is proceeding well. As with any work like this, the landscape gets rearranged a bit. Here’s one view:
And finally … rapper Black Rob died on Saturday of cardiac arrest in Atlanta. He was 52, had numerous health problems, and struggled with homelessness.
The New York Times said his “husky, seen-it-all voice powered turn-of-the-millennium hits.” Click here for the full obituary.
Comments Off on Roundup: Teacher Of The Year, Outdoor Dining, NY Knicks …
Cameron Manna is a talented, passionate sportscaster at WWPT-FM, Staples High School’s award-winning radio station.
He just won a full scholarship to Ithaca College’s prestigious Roy H. Park School of Communications.
That’s quite an achievement. It’s even more remarkable because from 3rd to 8th grade, he had speech therapy. Cam stuttered.
Cam Manna
His determination and grit are as powerful as his passions. An athlete all his life — baseball, football, basketball, you name it — he was equally fascinated by broadcasting.
“In my backyard, I pretended to be Derek Jeter,” he remembers. “But at the same time I wanted to be John Sterling” — the New York Yankees’ announcer.
At Greens Farms Elementary School, 5th grade teacher Moira Matthews encouraged him to follow his dreams. He never forgot that.
The summer before 9th grade, Cam attended a broadcasting camp run by Bruce Beck. The lead sports anchor for WNBC-TV has covered Super Bowls, World Series, NBA and NHL finals, US Open golf and tennis, the NCAA Final Four and the Olympics.
That could be intimidating for a young teen. Especially one who would stammer at the beginnings of sentences, and over certain words.
He was teased at GFS and Bedford Middle School. “People made jokes,” Cam says. “But I just used that as motivation.” He now wears a bracelet with 2 sayings: “Never give up” and “Stay scrappy.”
He never thought his stutter would prevent him from being a broadcaster. In high school, a teacher suggested he consider another career. But he had much more support — including his parents, and radio production teacher Geno Heiter.
“He never says no to an idea,” Cam says of his mentor. “He loves what he does. He gives us his absolute all, from the time he gets up till he goes to bed. He teaches leadership skills, and grooms us to be better people.”
Heiter returns the praise. “Since freshman year I have had the privilege to witness Cam evolve exponentially in areas of leadership, organization and empathy. He always delivers.”
From day one of 9th grade, Cam found a home in Heiter’s classroom and studio. The more he learned, the more confident he became. And the more responsibility he was given, the more he grew.
He was mentored by older students. He got to school at 6 a.m., for early morning shows. As a sophomore, he and longtime friend and broadcast partner Jake Gersh called some games. Last year, they won awards.
This year, as a senior, Cam is a WWPT executive coordinator.
Cam manna, in action.
“When I put my headset on, I’m in a different world,” Cam explains. “I turn on the intensity, and bring people in.
“I know I won’t play in the NFL or MLB. But there’s nothing better than talking about sports. When I’m broadcasting. I’m almost a part of the game. Just in a different way.”
Staples’ girls basketball’s double overtime loss in the 2020 FCIAC championship game was one of his highlights. “Jake and I were courtside at Trumbull,” Cam recalls. “We were in the center of all that intensity.”
Cam loves the WWPT team. But throughout Staples, he has continued to play on other teams. There’s football in the fall. This spring he’s part of Wrecker baseball, hoping to repeat as state champions.
The young broadcaster is grateful for the opportunities he’s had in Westport: mentors, technology, speech therapy. He gives a shout-out too to WWPT sportscasters who preceded him — role models like Cooper Boardman and Jack Caldwell.
Meanwhile, Cam returned every summer to Beck’s sportscasting camp. Beck returns the favor. He listened to Cam’s call of that FCIAC basketball game, and sent the audio file to ESPN. That earned him a spot on the network’s “Kidscast” of a New York Nets-Los Angeles Clippers game last spring. COVID canceled the chance. But more will come.
At Bruce Beck’s broadcasting camp.
Ithaca boasts one of the nation’s top communications schools. It’s Beck’s alma mater — and he told Cam about the Park Scholar program.
Over 500 students applied for the award, which covers all tuition, room and board. Only 20 were selected for interviews. Eight — including Cam — were ultimately selected.
Park Scholars are passionate about broadcasting and related fields, and thrive on personal challenges. Cam’s ability to conquer his stutter certainly counts.
Park Scholars are also involved in community service. At Staples, he and friend Owen Ziegler started Renew Sports. They collected used equipment at the Westport Y and ASF, then donated it to organizations like Wakeman Boys Club.
Cam will continue initiatives like that at Ithaca. He also hopes to talk to youngsters with speech impediments, inspiring them just as Moira Matthews, Geno Heiter and Bruce Beck did for him.
His dream is be the New York Knicks’ play-by-play announcer. He knows there’s a long road to Madison Square Garden, and will be happy at every stop along the way.
“I love doing this,” Cam says. “It doesn’t matter where, or what the money is. I’m just so happy bringing stories to life, and helping a community.”
(Hat tip: Victoria Capozzi)
WWPT-FM (90.3) broadcasts Staples baseball games this spring. Cam Manna will be on the diamond — not behind the mic.
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He never thought his stutter would prevent him from being a broadcaster. In high school, a teacher suggested he consider another career. But he had much more support — including his parents, and radio production teacher Geno Heiter.
