With this win, Fairfield Warde Dance Team, led by Coach Jennifer Kealey, earned a chance to compete in New England Regionals on March 11 in Bellingham, Mass.

In addition, senior Ishita Kumar was chosen for this year’s All State, where winners were selected based on a professionally choreographed routine, and All State Academic, which considers the students’ academic and extracurricular activities.

The Southport School’s summer programs

The Southport School, a private day school for neurodiverse children who have language-based learning differences and/or ADHD, is accepting applications for its 2023 Summer Programs. Open to students entering first through ninth grades, the summer programs provide research-based academic support in an individualized, grade-appropriate and positive learning environment. 

A comprehensive multi-week remedial program for students entering first through sixth grades includes tutorial, literature, writing and mathematics classes. The program runs 8 a.m. to noon, June 29 through July 28. 

For learners entering sixth through ninth grades, the school offers workshops designed to help students learn strategies and tools to be successful in school. Offered in two, two-week sessions, the workshops focus on math, reading strategies, study strategies, and writing. The first session runs from July 3 through July 14 and the second session runs from July 17 through July 28. Families can choose two workshops per session. The program runs from 8:50 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. each day. 

Families can apply online at SouthportSchool.org. To learn more about the Summer Programs please contact the admissions office at Admissions@SouthportSchool.org or 203-254-2044. 

SHU to perform spring concert

The Sacred Heart University Academic Music Program presents Professor Joe Carter and the Brazilian Jazz All Stars in an annual tribute concert celebrating the music of Brazilian music composer, Antonio Carlos Jobim (aka “Tom” Jobim), considered by many to be the most important Brazilian composer of the 20th century.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. on March 29 at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Ave. in Fairfield.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Camp Invention at Stratfield Elementary

Camp Invention, a nationally recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment camp, is coming to Stratfield Elementary School the week of June 26.

The camp uses hands-on activities to teach students in kindergarten through sixth grade about STEM.

For more information or to register, visit invent.org/camp.

Faifield U. celebrates book release

Fairfield University’s College of Arts and Sciences is celebrating the publication of “Orienting Italy: China through the Lens of Italian Filmmakers,” written by Mary Ann Carolan, professor of modern languages and literatures and founding director of the Italian Studies program.

The event will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 27 in the Kelley Center Presentation Room. It is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
 
This book was published by SUNY Press in September 2022 and won the 2022 Book Award for Performance and Visual Culture from the American Association of Teachers of Italian. It explores contemporary Italian filmmakers’ fascination with China and the Chinese in both documentary and fictional films.

Pequot Library hosts student debate

Bridgeport Public Schools Debate League will be holding the Women’s History Month Debate from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 31 at Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave. in Southport.

The middle school teams will debate idea that there are “jobs for men” and “jobs for women.” The high school teams will debate whether the glass ceiling no longer exists.

Town participating in Neighborhood Assistance Act

The town is again soliciting program proposals from municipal agencies and community nonprofit organizations for funding consideration under the state’s Neighborhood Assistance Act program.

This program allows businesses to claim a state tax credit for cash contributions made to qualifying community programs by tax-exempt or municipal
agencies. There are no town funds involved in the program.

Qualifying programs include energy conservation; employment and training; child care services; neighborhood assistance; substance abuse; open space acquisition; crime prevention programs and affordable housing development.

The minimum contribution for a tax credit is $250 and the maximum contribution for one program is $150,000.

For more information or to receive an application packet, contact the town Office of Community and Economic Development at 203-256-3120 or go to the DRS website at www.ct.gov/drs.

All applications must be received by close of business on April 21 to be considered. 

Preventing falls for older adults

Fairfield Health Department recently sponsored and trained 14 individuals from the Aspetuck Health District, Cheshire Community YMCA, New Canaan Health Department, Norwalk Health Department, Stratford Health Department and Trumbull Health Department on the Matter of Balance Program. 

Matter of Balance is an evidence-based program that was developed by the Partnership for Healthy Aging. This program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Comprised of eight two-hour sessions, participants learn how to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.

For more information or to see a list of upcoming classes, locations, and times, please visit: www.fairfieldct.org/HealthEd. For more information on the Matter of Balance program, please visit: www.mainehealth.org/mob. 

Fairfield poet launches new book

Poet Jack Powers, of Fairfield, has announced the publication of his second book of poetry, “Still Love.” A fellow of the Connecticut Writing Project, he is the winner of several prestigious poetry contests and poetry prizes, was named Poet of the Year by the New England Association of Teachers of English.
 
He will be presenting readings of his work in several locations in upcoming months, including the Wilton Writers Salon on April 22, Eco Evolution in South Norwalk on May 19, the Fairfield University Bookstore on June 4 and the Norwalk Art Festival on June 24. 
 
Powers taught writing at Joel Barlow High School in Redding for many years, where he was co- director of Barlow’s writing center.
 
He studied writing at Bard’s Institute of Writing and Thinking, Fairfield University, and the Hudson Valley Writers Center, and earned three master’s degrees in fiction writing, poetry and special education.