In Sight

A passenger can’t quite believe his eyes as Katie Walker, a member of the world famous Rockettes, rides the southbound Metro-North train from Stamford Saturday morning to promote the railroad’s Radio City Christmas Spectacular excursion package.  I witnessed a lot of these expressions as I rode along with the girls, famously known for their high leg kick chorus line.  Kids, on the other hand, were quick to jump up for photos and ask for autographs.

Connecticut State Senator Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) stops by the City Hall Memorial Wall with his two boys Colin Duff, 4, and Ryan Duff, 7, as George Cooper, a WWII United States Army veteran, and his grandson Josh Meckley, 9, look on after the  Veteran’s Day ceremony at Norwalk Concert Hall in Norwalk, CT on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

Jon Bonaldo takes a ride in the Skatepark at Scalzi Park on Wednesday Oct. 14, 2009 in Stamford, Conn.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

On this particular day I was feeling a bit adventurous and jumped down inside one of the bowls to get a better vantage point for photos.  I immediately felt dwarfed by the large concrete surface and at the mercy of these riders cruising by me at high speeds.  I believe my Nikon D2 saved my nose from being clipped off by a flying skateboard.  The camera and I walked away unscathed.  Although I wouldn’t have minded if the camera took a hit; good excuse to beg for a new one.

I’ve been away for a week and have neglected the photo blog, something I’ve scolded Chris P. for in the past.  I’m back to work today and wanted to share the last final moments of my vacation on Nantucket.  This was the view as I looked out the window on a rainy day coming back from the island on the Hy-Line Ferry.  Moments later I was sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic getting off of Cape Cod.  My vacation was officially over!

ABOVE: Czeslaw Bielen, left, and Bruno Szulimowski, right, before the Pulaski Day Parade at the Holy Name of Jesus Church.

I covered the shortest parade in Stamford today. The Pulaski Day Parade, held in honor of military commander Kazimierz Pułaski and is a celebration of Polish pride and culture.

The parade though, only goes from the parking lot a few yards down Washington Blvd. from the church and procedes into the 10 a.m. mass.

–CP

BELOW: Sophie Powajba, left, and Stella Kaplane.

Toni Kokoros cuts John O’Leary’s hair in her “Belltown Barbers” shop in Stamford, Conn. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

Advocate reporter Wynne Parry and I were assigned The Dart this week.  Wynne’s throw, which took four times to actually stick in the map, landed on Barrett Park near Toni’s shop.  As we entered the barber shop I immediately felt like I had stepped back in time.   From the barber shop pole to the 74-year-old chairs, this place was a slice of what life used to be.  And who better to be sitting next to the window than John O’Leary, a man only a year older than the chair itself.   Anyone that has ever stepped foot on the athletic fields, or basketball court, of Trinity Catholic High School knows the O’Leary name.  John is grandfather to 12 kids, 6 of which have graced the record books of all things Trinity.   Wynne and I set out in search of a “day in the life” for The Dart and what we found was a piece of Stamford history.  Check out the story on Monday, Sept. 28.

ABOVE: Mark Seward, a Stamford High School varsity football player listens to head coach Kevin Jones (not pictured) as the team prepares to take on Ridgefield High School in an FCIAC football game at Stamford High School in Stamford, Conn. on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

9/18/2009

It’s officially football season in Stamford, with the SHS Black Knights taking on Ridgefield in the FCIAC opener at Boyle Stadium.

I’ve been seriously neglecting inSight – our staff photoblog – for some time now. So much so that Advocate staffer Kathleen O’Rourke has been making rumblings about taking it over as her own.

But like fall FCIAC gridiron action, I’m back, baby!

–CP

BELOW: Stamford quarterback Jalen Holmes passes.

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

Members of the Stamford High School Class of 1947 and their families gather for an 80th birthday celebration at Cove Island Park.  Most members of the class will turn 80 this year so the group decided to plan a celebration.  Ten cakes, each with one candle, were scattered throughout the picnic pavilion as everyone sang Happy Birthday.  Being a “bit” younger and a Stamford transplant,  I found it interesting to listen to their stories of “Stamford the way it used to be” and watch as people who have known each other since first grade reunite.  “It’s funny, all of a sudden I recognize a personality” said graduate Siri Lindstrom Lynn.