Norwalk - As an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Robert Killackey Jr. spent the first part of his career living by the principles of honor, courage and commitment. It is those same principles that earned him acclaim as this year’s Norwalk Teacher of the Year in his second career as a civilian Navy JROTC teacher at Brien McMahon High School.

Killackey, a Torrington resident, began working at Brien McMahon in 2005 taking over a JROTC program that was on probation. Since then, he has turned that program around, receiving the highest inspection rating from the U.S. Navy every year since, and even receiving the Unit Achievement Award twice.  The program size has more than doubled from 60 cadets in 2005 to 130 this past school year. The cadets now put in annually more than 900 hours doing community or school support service such as maintaining the Brien McMahon High School Veterans Memorial Garden, organizing Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day presentations at the school, supporting American Legion Veteran Flag Appreciation ceremonies andproviding color guard support for many Norwalk Public School activities.   

Brien McMahon Principal Suzanne Koroshetz says Killackey is a compassionate and dedicated educator. “Bob has taken our JROTC program 180 degrees.  It is due to his experience, drive, great organizational and teaching skills, but above all concern for his students, that our program has shined, allowing our cadets to receive over $600,000 in scholarships, including one Naval Academy appointment and two four-year Navy ROTC college scholarships. He has also contributed a great deal to our School Safety Committee, helping us to expand and use best practices in ourschool emergency preparedness planning.”

Killackey will be recognized by the Norwalk Board of Education in August. He will now be considered for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Award that will be announced in the fall.

Norwalk Public Schools ensure that the 11,000 students in its schools succeed academically and achieve their full potential preparing them for post-secondary learning and a life of meaning and purpose. Through rigorous classroom instruction based on the Common Core Standards, high expectations, and excellence in instruction, NPS builds upon Norwalk’s diversity through a collaborative culture, partnership with parents, and commitment to individuality and growth.

Stone Academy, 101 Pierpont Road, Waterbury, recently graduated Torrington medical assisting students Amy M. Garrison and Olga I. Schibi.

Altogether, Stone Academy's Waterbury Campus graduated 191 students from Ansonia, Bristol, Cheshire, Danbury, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Haven, Oakville, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Torrington, Waterbury, Watertown, and Wolcott. The graduation ceremony was held at the Pontelandolfo Community Club in Waterbury.

(Press Release)

The City of Torrington Engineering Department would like to make residents aware of a scam targeting the elderly.  A local elderly homeowner has reported to the police that two men used high pressure type sales tactics to convince her to hire them to pave her driveway.  Payment made by the elderly resident was extremely high for the limited amount of work performed. 

Please be aware that these men did not obtain the proper permit from the City and did not have the required performance bond or insurance on file with the Engineering Department.  Residents are asked to make sure any contract/agreement made with a paving company includes a requirement that the contractor obtain a City Right of Way permit before allowing him to do any work on their driveway. 

Feel free to call the Engineering Department at 860-489-2234 to verify that the paving contractor has a valid permit.

(Press Release)

Fashion Stylist Debbie Wright, a well-known Connecticut celebrity who regularly appears on WFSB Channel 3's Better CT,  CBS Radio, 96.5TIC's The Damon Scott Show and WDRC's The Mary Jones Show will be at the Northwest CT Chamber WOW Forum's "Image Matters" event on July 24. The event will be held at PSam's Bar & Grill, 1301 Torringford West St. in Torrington from 5 to 7 p.m.    

Ever wish you had your own personal stylist?  You'll have a chance to visit with Debbie and receive wonderful wardrobe tips and advice!  Attendees will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and shopping with a variety of vendors in attendance including Getting Off, Silpada, Mary Kay and Avon to name just a few!   The event will also feature a small fashion show.  Getting Off in Winsted will provide the model's clothing and accessories under the expert guidance of Ms. Wright.   Debbie Wright's participation in "Image Matters" is made possible by Bearingstar Insurance, a WOW! Forum sponsor.    

Ms. Wright is a fashion contributor providing her fashion insight and style perspective for Glady's Magazine and The Hartford Women's Journal. She has also reported fashion trends on The Rhode Show and for Ivanhoe Broadcasting. Wright has a daily fashion blog on Masslive.com and has co-authored her first book, Inspired Style which is available on amazon.com.

This event is sponsored by the WOW! Forum-Professional Women's Conference, a program of the Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce.  The WOW! Forum is an annual event designed to support and empower women in the workplace and will be held on Sept. 28 at the Warner Theatre's Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center in Torrington.  Conference attendees enjoy nationally recognized speakers, a luncheon and a chocolate & wine networking reception featuring a silent auction and live music. 

 Admission to "Image Matters" is $10 per person.  Register at the event for the 2012 WOW! Forum and your admission fee will be refunded.

(Press Release)

Artspace, a joint venture of the Arts and Culture Commission of Torrington and the Torrington Downtown Partners, will open a special exhibit, the second of three artist showcases to be held this summer.    "Artspace 2012 – An Interruption"  (Session II) will open on July 19 and run through August 10.

"Artspace 2012 – An Interruption"  will feature two and three dimensional works by emerging artists from The Hartford Art School (Hartford) and The Museum School ( Boston)  who have come together for this exciting exhibit.  Featured artists are:  Karri Chapman, Meg Danisi, Jess Fallis, Sam Miller, Stass Sphanin and Ryan Valentine.  This is an opportunity for the public to see high quality artwork in a Downtown Torrington setting.

The Artspace Gallery is located at 33 Main St. (the corner of Main and Water Streets) in the heart of Downtown Torrington.  This prime retail space has been temporarily lent to Artspace by the Torrington Downtown Partners for this special arts initiative and has been transformed into a professional, urban art gallery.   The public is encouraged to visit the gallery during the following hours:  Thursdays from 4-9 p.m. (during the Main Street Marketplace) and Fridays from 5-8 p.m.   The Artspace gallery is also open by appointment; to schedule an appointment please contact Judith McElhone, 860-309-2932. 

Artspace Torrington is an initiative of Arts and Culture Commission of Torrington (ACT).  For further information about Artspace contact  Jacque Williams (860-480-9676) or Gail Kruppa (860-482-8260).

(Press Release)

Bridget Beauchaine of VNA Northwest Inc. has been elected to a third term as secretary of the Litchfield Area Business Association (LABA). She is serving along with: President, Paul McLaughlin; Vice President, Gina Scherbner; Treasurer, Darrin Newbury; and Membership Coordinator, Lesley Budny.

Beauchaine is the Administrative Assistant for VNA Northwest, and she has worked at the agency for 19 years. She is a resident of Torrington.

LABA is a network of business owners and managers whose purpose is to support and enhance the future of the Litchfield business community.

VNA Northwest is a non-profit home care, hospice and private duty agency that serves all of Litchfield County. For information, please call (860) 567-6000, (800) 752-0215, or visit www.vnanw.org.

David Ness, of Torrington, has joined Saint Francis Medical Group in Hartford as Director of Operations.

In his new role, Ness will be responsible managing all clinical office practice sites and for overall operational success in meeting quality, productivity and financial goals. He has significant practice management experience running an 11-member physician orthopedic and neurosurgical practice.

"David is a seasoned professional with experience in multiple healthcare environments," said Mark R. Aresco, Executive Director of Saint Francis Medical Group. "We are pleased to welcome him to the team."

Ness has also previously worked as a hospital lab manager at Sharon Hospital and as manager of Allscripts electronic medical record system for Alliance Medical Group.

Ness earned his M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut and his B.S. in Medical Technology also from UConn. He is a member of the Medical Group Management Association, the Connecticut Medical Group Management Association and the American Society of Clinical Pathology.