<p><strong>Darien, CONN</strong> (November 15, 2024) — Person to Person (P2P), a leading nonprofit dedicated to assisting individuals and families in lower Fairfield County, is pleased to announce the addition of two distinguished leaders, Isis-Rae Goulbourne and Jeffrey Houle, to its Board of Directors. With their expertise and commitment to community, Isis-Rae and Jeffrey will strengthen P2P's mission to build stability and economic opportunity for those served by the organization.</p><p>Isis-Rae Goulbourne is an award-winning community change-maker and entrepreneur based in Stamford.</p><p>As the founder of The City Events Group, Isis-Rae has redefined community engagement in Connecticut by</p><p>connecting individuals around shared ideas and local events. She currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer</p><p>and Head of Events at Realist Lab, where she supports early-stage entrepreneurs in building</p><p>robust networks and economic opportunities. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Isis-Rae serves on the Board of the Village Community Foundation's Kitchen Accelerator program, the Regional Advisory Council of the Women's Business Development Council, and is a business advisor within the WeRule network. Her leadership and commitment to empowering communities make her an invaluable asset to the P2P Board.</p><p>"I am very excited to join the Person to Person board and to be part of an organization that fosters dignity, resilience, and opportunity for so many in lower Fairfield County," said Isis-Rae Goulbourne. "I look forward to working alongside a dedicated team to support initiatives that provide families with essential resources and a clear path to economic stability."</p><p>Jeffrey Houle is a partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak &amp; Hennessey LLP, where he specializes in commercial real estate transactions and corporate governance. Jeff’s extensive experience includes assisting clients across all aspects of real estate, from acquisitions to leasing to financing and governance. A Stamford native and University of Connecticut graduate, Jeff returned to Stamford after law school and is actively involved in the local community, also serving on the Board of Directors for the Stamford Chamber of Commerce. He brings a wealth of knowledge in legal strategy and governance to his role on the P2P Board.</p><p>“I am very honored to have joined the Board of P2P and look forward to helping this great organization further its mission of creating all-around stability for families and individuals in our lower Fairfield County communities,” said Jeffrey Houle.</p><p>"We are thrilled to welcome Isis-Rae and Jeffrey to the Person to Person Board of Directors," said Nancy </p><p>Coughlin, CEO of Person to Person. "Their dedication to community building and deep professional expertise will be instrumental in helping us expand our services and impact across lower Fairfield County. We look forward to the fresh perspectives and energy they bring to our organization."</p>

<h2>Local Champion: Rudy's Grooming Club</h2><p><strong>Meet Rudy Yazidi founder of&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://rudysgroomingclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);"><strong>Rudy's Grooming Club</strong></a></p><p><strong>Why did you start your business?</strong></p><p>I started my business because I have always wanted to own a high-end barbershop in a town full of wonderful people. I started working in Darien for a barbershop in 2010 where on my very first day I was welcomed with open arms from the local residents. Unfortunately, that barbershop closed after the pandemic which then gave me the amazing opportunity to open my own barbershop. Thankfully because I was able to open my own barbershop in Darien where I have worked for 13 years, all the amazing clients I had over those years followed me to what is now Rudy's Grooming Club. It has been an amazing journey, watching children I had as clients grow into men and having our clients become a part of our RGC family! This truly makes me feel like no matter where you come from, you can have your American dream and succeed.</p><p><strong>What is your best-selling product/service?</strong></p><p>Our best-selling product is our forming cream because it gives a natural finish with a great hold. Most of our clients do not like a strong-hold or sticky product, so the cream is perfect for our clientele, they love it. Our best-selling service besides our haircut is the straight razor shave. Not only will our clients get the smoothest shave, but they will also relax while doing so. The straight razor shave includes hot towels, steamed vapor, a face massage with our pre-shave oil, and more.</p><p><strong>How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?</strong></p><p>We love nothing but supporting local businesses. We use Noble Media House for our advertising needs, we are a part of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, we donate regularly to our local schools, school sporting teams, fire department and police department and every couple months we do a free raffle for our clientele and their children to give thanks for their support and our prize includes a gift card from a local business.</p><p><strong>Have you reimagined your small business?</strong></p><p>Yes, I am always reimaging how I can make things even better than they already are. The sky is the limit.</p><p>Rudy’s Grooming Club is located at 1077 Post Road. Visit them online&nbsp;<a href="https://rudysgroomingclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">https://rudysgroomingclub.com/</a></p><p>And on social media:Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rudysgroomingclub" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">https://www.facebook.com/rudysgroomingclub</a>&nbsp;and and Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rudysgroomingclub/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">https://www.instagram.com/rudysgroomingclub/</a></p><p>HamletHub thanks<a href="http://www.jkinfordbeautygroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.fairfieldcountybank.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">Fairfield County Bank&nbsp;</a>for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!</p>

<p><strong>Join the Darien Chamber of Commerce for the 2024 Annual Awards &amp; Holiday Cheer</strong></p><p>Mark your calendar for November 20 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Nielsen's Florist as we honor the remarkable individuals and groups who make Darien a better place each day.</p><p>This year's award recipients include:</p><ul><li><strong>Employee of the Year</strong>: Suzanne Brannan, J. McLaughlin</li><li><strong>Business of the Year</strong>: Palmer’s Market</li><li><strong>Volunteer of the Year</strong>: David Wagner (Sipsters), Anne Bradley (Waveny LifeCare – Assisted Living Memory Care Residence), and Jennifer Erdlen (The Depot Youth Center)</li><li><strong>Group Volunteers of the Year</strong>: The Community Fund of Darien’s Designed to Dine Committee and Person to Person’s Toy Store Committee</li><li><strong>Youth Volunteers of the Year</strong>: Hugh Demark (The Depot Youth Center) and Henry Nardi (The Darien Land Trust)</li></ul><p>Join us in celebrating the hard work and dedication of our Chamber members and volunteers whose contributions truly make Darien shine. RSVP today to toast to a successful year and enjoy an evening of holiday cheer!</p><p>Learn more: <a href="https://darienctchamber.square.site" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://darienctchamber.square.site/</a></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Fairfield County Bank is committed to giving back to our community, and we hope you will join us by stopping by one of our branch offices and donating to support children in need. Our 2024 Toy Collection Drive will be benefitting&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.toysfortots.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Toys for Tots</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">, supporting&nbsp;</span><a href="https://98q.com/pages/98q-bags-bears-2023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">98Qs Bags and Bears</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;benefitting&nbsp;</span><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/DCF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">CTDCF</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">, and&nbsp;</span><a href="https://thecircleofcare.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Circle of Care</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;and is running through Friday, November 29, 2024, at all of our branch locations.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">For more information, please visit:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://fairfieldcountybank.com/toy-collection/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Join Us in Supporting our Neighbors in Need this Holiday Season</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong style="color: rgb(24, 25, 26);">FC Buzz Weekend November 8 -10</strong></p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/echoes-east-coast-contemporary-ballet-s-opening-fall-season" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>ECHOES: East Coast Contemporary Ballet’s Opening Fall Season</strong></a></p><p><strong>MoCA CT</strong></p><p>Friday Nov 8, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm</p><p>A mixed bill that spans East Coast Contemporary Ballet’s existence, featuring pieces from 2019 onward, a brand-new version of Deconstructed and a world premiere. With works that echo our past and usher us into our present, audiences will enjoy a varied program and a kaleidoscope look at ECCB’s five years as we enter boldly into our sixth.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/scotty-mccreery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Scotty McCreery</strong></a></p><p><strong>Stamford Center for the Arts</strong></p><p>Friday Nov 8, 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm</p><p>Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/stacked-merging-layers-25da2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>STACKED: MERGING LAYERS</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Norwalk Art Space</strong></p><p>Friday Nov 8, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm</p><p>Featuring 2024-2025 Korry Fellow Lauren Clayton, and Regional Artists Holly Danger and Brian Kaspr, STACKED: MERGING LAYERS promises to be a kaleidoscope of colors and deeply meaningful messages. The three artists cross paths in their journey of creation, experimentation , stacks of sketchbooks, journals, and ephemera works that transcend their given mediums.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/greater-bridgeport-symphony-s-countdown-for-new-music-director-continues-nov-9-at-the-klein-with-leslie-b-dunner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Greater Bridgeport Symphony’s Countdown For New Music Director</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Klein Memorial Auditorium</strong></p><p>Saturday Nov 9, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm</p><p>Maestro Dunner has built the concert around Joseph Haydn’s “Symphony No. 6.” Written by “Papa” Haydn in 1761, this is considered by many the first true orchestral symphony. Then will come a musical tour of Argentine themes written by Alberto Ginastera in 1953. Finally, Gershwin’s masterpiece – the first major piece he orchestrated himself – will crash and cajole, ponder and pounce off the stage as pianist Norman Krieger and GBS play “Concerto in F.” It’s a grand night of music not to be missed.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/elvis-costello-the-imposters-with-charlie-sexton---fall-gala" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Elvis Costello &amp; The Imposters With Charlie Sexton at their Fall Gala</strong></a></p><p><strong>Ridgefield Playhouse</strong></p><p>Saturday Nov 9, 8:00 pm - 11:45 pm</p><p>Two time Grammy Award Winner and member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Elvis Costello is known for his classic hits, “Alison,” “Veronica,” “Watching the Detectives,” and countless more. Costello is the composer and lyricist of over six hundred published titles, including fifteen songs co-written with Paul McCartney and renowned collaborations with Allen Toussaint, the Brodsky Quartet, T Bone Burnett, and Burt Bacharach. In addition, Costello has composed songs for Roy Orbison, Chet Baker, Johnny Cash, and more. You won’t want to miss this legendary musician performing with The Imposters &amp; Charlie Sexton in our intimate theater.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/full-circle-solo-show" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Full Circle Solo Show</strong></a></p><p><strong>Artworks Gallery on the Green</strong></p><p>Saturday Nov 9, 12:00 pm -3:00 pm</p><p>Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz, Mixed Media Artist and longtime CT resident is returning and having her Full Circle Encaustic Painting Show opening Thursday October 24th (4/6pm) at Artworks on the Green. 60 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT. Curated by Natasha Karpinskaia. Show will run Oct. 24 to Nov. 16 closing with an Artist Talk on November 16 at Noon.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/artisans-market-at-silvermine-arts-center-b0d98" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Artisans Market</strong></a></p><p><strong>Silvermine Galleries</strong></p><p>Saturday Nov 9, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm</p><p>Shop unique artisan made gifts from over 15 local creators including jewelry, ceramics, woodworking, glass, textiles, fashion, candles, accessories and original artwork.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/rach-2-pop-classical-tunes-that-topped-the-charts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>"RACH 2 POP" Classical Tunes That Topped the Charts</strong></a></p><p><strong>Jesse Lee United Methodist Church</strong></p><p>Sunday Nov 10, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm</p><p>The Wednesday Afternoon Musical Club opens its 126th season with a concert of classical music tunes that later became popular songs. The concert is a celebration of Joan Brainerd Noland (1924-2024), Soprano and Opera Impresario and will feature members of her Delphi Opera Studio as well as WAMC performers.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/ct-s-own-unexpected-treasures" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>CT's Own: Unexpected Treasures</strong></a></p><p><strong>Wilton Library</strong></p><p>Sunday Nov 10, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm</p><p>For this event, Ralph Kirmser and Kyong Hee Cho will be joined by Bärli Nugent and Jeff Jones for pieces by Madeleine Dring, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Shostakovich and Liu Zhuang.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/exhibits-tours-at-weston-history-culture-center-a7fa9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Exhibits &amp; Tours</strong></a></p><p><strong>Weston History &amp; Culture Center</strong></p><p>Sunday Nov 10, 1:00 pm -4:00 pm</p><p>Enjoy history and autumn splendor at the Weston History &amp; Culture Center! Open Sundays and Thursdays from 1pm - 4pm through November 24th. Explore "Weston...What Lies Beneath" - The yard of one of Weston’s oldest homes, the Peter Thorp House, reveals its past lives. Through objects, rare photographs, videos, and hands-on activities, discover what lies beneath and who lived above. Kids can dig for artifacts in the exhibit's fun Kids Corner.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/open-studios-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Open Studios 2024</strong></a></p><p><strong>Loft Artists Association</strong></p><p>Sunday Nov 10, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>The annual Open Studios highlights the LAA’s creativity and brings opportunities for the entire community to experience professional artists working in their studios and exhibiting artwork in beautifully appointed galleries,” executive director, Mark Macrides says. “Come and explore our studios and galleries, meet our artists, and experience a rare glimpse into the life of a working artist in a collaborative and professional environment. Art collectors, dealers, and anyone with an appreciation for high quality artwork will enjoy the opportunity to see the work of 30 diverse artists all in one location. Open Studios is a unique opportunity that brings the viewer and artist together in a way that differs from the typical gallery experience.”</p><p>See these and discover hundreds more events on the FCBUZZ EVENTS page at<a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">https://culturalalliancefc.org</a>&nbsp;Sign up for the Cultural Alliance eBuzz to receive top picks and spotlights each week in your inbox.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">Help the Darien Youth Commission fill Person to Person’s food pantries with healthy food to support local families and individuals who are struggling with hunger and food insecurity. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">The Darien Youth Commission is sponsoring a&nbsp;</span><a href="https://5f8zhpebb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fhw_fafeVsV6VoKP2ezPJm4ZVDrqbzQp52k8yaUNeCaMHuPArJtE_eksq6zeJVJsubzwMzMKBObhru_cpJ-hqsOF0rN0SDAoPk3jc5bMPGlyQTVbztnTnszpaeE55W5smQjkr8GRJTIUCd0n0P9k8AtEe_xGc8WCHpFl4kxS8E8z4q4yfTliaW9HssFrZAvJAkUDxhZ2vVCiQNApTy8Pe_BWahTtas-eYFS9IwcISG2WBrOfBflG5YxDkFuNwnCQK6bfXJ-1ndE7-_kXdwmRT2YLeXz6jx1&amp;c=AeHZEgNzZF8ev-bRFle24etA8T_Ef5ePRZem54MUNBcPGFVk3A5b0w==&amp;ch=YGyE8o9UUKIwDrq5Y1SztWb2qWEemV0U3I4rzyJeS0PdAq4j7DhR3A==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(44, 116, 255);"><strong>drive-thru food drive</strong></a><span style="color: rgb(62, 62, 62);">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">on Saturday, November 16th. Volunteers will accept your donations directly from your car, so this is a real “drive through” donation event.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">Over the past 7 years the Youth Commission has collected and donated over 10,000 pounds (5 TONS!) of food to P2P thanks to the generosity of the Darien Community.&nbsp;</span></p>