<p><strong>(Norwalk, Connecticut)</strong> – On Friday, April 11, 2025, Mayor Harry W. Rilling was presented with the <strong>2025 Public Health Champion Award</strong> in recognition of his outstanding leadership and continued support of the Norwalk Health Department. The presentation took place during the city’s celebration of <strong>National Public Health Week</strong>, which was attended by Chief of Community Services Lamond Daniels, Director of Health Deanna D’Amore, members of the Board of Health, and Health Department staff.</p><p>This year’s National Public Health Week theme, <em>“It Starts Here,”</em> emphasizes how public health begins with each of us—at home, at work, and in our neighborhoods. The proclamation issued by Mayor Rilling states:</p><blockquote>“For the past 30 years, National Public Health Week has provided an opportunity for public health professionals to celebrate the power of public health, raise awareness for, and educate policymakers and the public on ways to improve community wellbeing through the prevention of disease and promotion of health, and commend the efforts of the public health professionals to protect, promote, and enhance the health of all citizens in communities.”</blockquote><p>As part of the celebration, Mayor Rilling was honored for his steadfast dedication to protecting and improving the health of Norwalk residents. His efforts include promoting immunizations, leading health-focused initiatives such as community walking events, expanding Health Department staffing to meet growing community needs, and investing in Norwalk’s parks, schools, public safety, sidewalks and bike infrastructure, water quality, and overall community resilience.</p><p>“Mayor Rilling has helped us promote the importance of immunizations, led key health initiatives such as community walking events, supported expanded staffing in the Health Department to meet community needs, and invested in improvements in parks and recreation, education, community safety, sidewalks and bike paths, water quality, and community resiliency,” said Deanna D’Amore, Director of Health. “During the pandemic, he guided us through an incredibly challenging time and was the model for others in how to manage a public health emergency. We couldn’t have asked for or imagined a better Incident Commander. We will forever be grateful to him for leading and supporting us. He is a true Public Health Champion.”</p><p>To learn more about the Norwalk Health Department’s programs and services, visit <a href="https://www.norwalkct.gov/health" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.norwalkct.gov/health</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p>If you haven’t had the chance to try<strong> tán</strong>, there is no better time than the present. Just a few blocks away from Grand Central (a good way to avoid congestion pricing) is this gorgeous, Tulum-inspired restaurant that feels worlds away from Midtown East.</p><p>From now until April 22nd, tán is showcasing a <strong>Viva Abejas</strong> menu with dishes inspired by the initiative’s focus on brining awareness of the vital role of bees in our ecosystem. The limited-time menu features dishes that incorporate honey and other bee-derived ingredients, highlighting the importance of pollinators in our food systems. Every year, Chef Richard Sandoval puts together a special menu in the spring which donates a percentage of the proceeds to the Viva Abejas (long live the bees!) Initiative. This initiative aims to inspire future generations about the crucial role of The World Bee project and has helped educate over 60,000 young people worldwide.</p><p>Why the bees, you may ask? Well, for Chef Sandoval, it’s a no-brainer. “As a chef, I’ve always been passionate about the ingredients that shape our cuisine. When I learned that<strong> one in every three bites of food we eat relies on bees</strong>, I knew I had to take action. Viva Abejas was born from a desire to give back to these incredible pollinators and educate future generations about their importance."</p><p>I had the chance to try some of the special menu items including the <strong>coconut tuna ceviche, </strong>which was a super refreshing combination of fresh tuna, avocado, and honeycomb. The honeycomb added a touch of sweetness that paired well with the coconut milk as well as a satisfying crunch. All of the flavors blended well together without over shining the other components. If you aren’t a fan of coconut, my coconut-adverse dinner guest tried this dish and enjoyed as well. We also tasted the <strong>honey lavender margarita </strong>which was another refreshing homage to spring. This drink combines blanco tequila with lavender and honey of course, but also creme de violette and alma finca orange liqueur, which is a true farm-to-bottle spirit.&nbsp;</p><p>In addition to dining at this restaurant, you can also support the mission by purchasing Chef Sandoval’s children’s book, named for his organizing, Viva Abejas and 100% of the book’s proceeds go directly to The World Bee Project. When asked why he was inspired to write a children’s book, Chef Sandoval said: "I wanted to create a way for kids to connect with bees in a fun, engaging way. Storytelling is powerful, and this book helps them understand why bees matter in a way that’s both educational and inspiring.”</p><p>If you can’t make it to tán by next week, dining at one of Chef Sandoval’s restaurants (which includes Maya), is still making a impact for the bees in the long run. ”We focus on responsible sourcing, reducing food waste, and supporting local farmers whenever possible who practice sustainable agriculture,” says Chef Sandoval. “Sustainability isn’t just a single initiative—it’s part of our culinary philosophy."</p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[Norwalk, CT – April 2025] – After completing the Ms President US girls civic leadership program, Ashley Delcid has been elected Ms President US Norwalk for 2025. At the annual Signature Campaign and Election, an inspiring event held at Wilton High School, participants voted for Ashley, an 8th grader at Ponus Ridge Middle School, whose platform focused on Teen Mental Health, along with her running mates, Vice President Nicole Vega and Campaign Manager Emiliana Ramirez.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The event brought together 23 young girls, grades 4–8, from 12 Connecticut towns, who presented their campaign platforms with passion and poise before an audience of over 200 community members, elected officials, and civic leaders.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The keynote speaker, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, shared her admiration for the candidates’ hard work.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“When I was looking at your platforms, I thought anyone just seeing that document would not realize that you were all still students, because these are the issues that I've seen tackled every day in the state legislature and at the federal level,” she said.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Many state and local elected officials were present to lend their support to the candidates, including State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Savet Constantine, State Representative Annie Hughes, First Selectperson Rudy Marconi, First Selectwoman Toni Boucher, First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton, Selectwoman Kim Healy, and Board of Education member Tina Malhotra. The program, designed to inspire and prepare girls for leadership roles, is the culmination of hard work over the past six months.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Our goal has always been to cultivate the next generation of female leaders, and today we saw firsthand the incredible potential of these young changemakers,” said Amanda Cordano, Executive Director of Ms President US.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In recognition of her achievement, Ashley has been invited by Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling to participate in civic activities in Norwalk throughout the upcoming year, in addition to pursuing her platform.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ms President US is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young girls to pursue leadership roles in their communities and beyond. Through educational programming and hands-on experiences, the organization empowers young women to become the leaders of tomorrow.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For more information about Ms President US and to register for the upcoming session, visit</span><a href="http://www.mspresidentus.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> www.mspresidentus.org</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></p>

<h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Local Business Champion: </span><a href="https://wickedgoodhandyman.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Wicked Good Handyman</a></h2><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Meet Steve Barta, founder of </strong><a href="https://wickedgoodhandyman.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Wicked Good Handyman</strong></a></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Why did you start Wicked Good Handyman?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I absolutely love construction as well as repairing things! I have 30+ years of experience and can fix, replace or build just about anything!</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What is your most requested service?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Residential home repairs and remodeling.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Do you use any local businesses to support Wicked Good Handyman’s operations?&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yes! Premier Electric Norwalk, Speedy Donuts Norwalk, Famous Pizza Norwalk, European Auto Norwalk, McMahon Ford Norwalk, Norwalk Home Depot Norwalk Lowes Rings End Dairen, Sherwin Williams Norwalk, Chipotle Darien, Duchess Darien, BirdCode Darien,&nbsp; Costco Norwalk, Planet Pizza Norwalk, Hometown Deli Norwalk, Benders Plumbing Supplies Norwalk, Shoprite Norwalk, Carlyn's Hardware Norwalk, TownFair Tire Norwalk, and F&amp;M Electrical Supplies Norwalk.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Questions? Email </strong><a href="mailto:stevebarta@wickedgoodhandyman.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>stevebarta@wickedgoodhandyman.com</strong></a></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HamletHub thanks</strong><a href="http://www.jkinfordbeautygroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.fairfieldcountybank.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Fairfield County Bank </strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">April 11, 2025, Norwalk, CT: Restaurateurs Andrea Archvadze and Akaki Andguladze, are thrilled to announce the opening of their European-inspired coffee house and eatery, MaaMa Café, located at 132B Washington Street in South Norwalk, CT. The duo, who recently introduced their authentic Georgian restaurant, Cheese &amp; Bread (new name “MaaMa Georgian Food” takes effect soon!) to Fairfield County in June of 2024 at 68 Washington Street, had been eyeing a second location on the block to bring their café concept to life.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Before opening Cheese &amp; Bread, Andrea and Akaki, with a proven track record of success, owned and operated Royal Garden Tbilisi (2017) and Royal Palace Tbilisi (2021) in Brooklyn, which they sold to their business partners in 2023 to begin their own restaurant story in Connecticut.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">MaaMa Café is rooted in “Real coffee,“ says Akaki, referring to the quality of coffee beans. Esse Café is used for its rich espresso and cappuccino beverages. “Beautiful multilayer cakes, pastries, desserts, breakfast yogurt parfaits, and savory items such as paninis, sandwiches, and fresh salads can be enjoyed throughout the day.”</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">MaaMa Café’s design aesthetic plays to the intimate space and the owners’ focus on creating a relaxed and uplifting atmosphere. Mismatched, colorful furnishings and eclectic artwork fill the room. Its storefront window is adorned with a whimsy of dangling teacups. Open every day 7am-8pm, guests are greeted with funny anecdotes for the day, artfully displayed on their sidewalk chalkboard.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(19, 19, 20);">HamletHub is proud to partner with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and FCBuzz to Elevate Arts and Culture in Fairfield County! Each week, look for a listing of weekend events and activities. The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the arts and culture across 15 towns in coastal Fairfield County. Sign up to receive a free eBuzz newsletter with top picks and spotlight events from the hundreds of events posted on FCBuzz.</span></p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/oliver-nurseries-plein-air-speaker-series-9d503" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Plein Air Speaker Series</strong></a></p><p><strong>Oliver Nurseries and Design Associates, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 12, 10:00 am - 10:45 am</p><p>Make a morning of it by grabbing coffee at our coffee bar, strolling our park-like grounds, checking out our curated selection of vendors and connecting with our gardening community!</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/plant-swap-6edc3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Plant Swap</strong></a></p><p><strong>Rainy Day Paperback, Bethel</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 12, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm</p><p>Bring a plant to swap or take some home! You don't have to bring plants to take home and you can bring plants without taking.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/family-day-luck-of-the-irish" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Family Day: Luck of the Irish!</strong></a></p><p><strong>Bellarmine Hall, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 12, 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>During this Family Day event, kids ages 4-10 will get to create St. Brigid's crosses - an Irish tradition of a woven cross that is hung over a doorway to evoke St. Brigid's blessings and mark the beginning of Spring!</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/an-easter-on-mulberry-street---play-reading" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>"An Easter on Mulberry Street" - Play Reading</strong></a></p><p><strong>Weston History &amp; Culture Center, Weston</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 12, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm</p><p>An Italian-American family prepares for Easter on the home front during WWII in this bittersweet comedy written and directed by Frank S. Petrilli.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/the-rock-and-roll-playhouse-music-of-taylor-swift" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>The Rock And Roll Playhouse: Music of Taylor Swift</strong></a></p><p><strong>Stamford Center for the Arts, Stamford</strong>Sunday Apr 13, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm</p><p>The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children aged ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/tulip-bulb-opening-reception-at-grace-salmon-park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Tulip Bulb: Opening Reception</strong></a></p><p><strong>Grace K Salmon Park, Westport</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 13, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>Emily Teall's interactive steel sculpture, Tulip Bulb, has been planted at its new home in Westport, CT! Tulip Bulb is now at Grace K. Salmon Park at Imperial Landing, where it will remain for the next 5 years. This event will also feature poetry by Donna Disch and local musicians. Please come by to celebrate!</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/ancient-aliens" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Ancient Aliens</strong></a></p><p><strong>Stamford Center for the Arts, Stamford</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 13, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm</p><p>Ancient Aliens LIVE is an experiential extension of Ancient Aliens that explores the theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years. The ninety-minute live experience celebrates the long-running program Ancient Aliens on The HISTORY Channel and features leading Ancient Astronaut theorist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, investigative mythologist William Henry, UFO investigator Nick Pope, and ancient civilizations expert, Jason Martell, as they discuss thought-provoking extraterrestrial theories on fan-favorite topics from Ancient Egypt to the moon, paving the long road to Disclosure.</p><p>See these and discover hundreds more events on the&nbsp;<a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">FCBUZZ EVENTS</a>&nbsp;page at&nbsp;<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&nbsp;<a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">Cultural Alliance eBuzz</a>&nbsp;to receive top picks and spotlights each week in your inbox.</p>