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STAMFORD, Conn. This week, Jews across Stamford will be celebrating the start of their most important holiday season. With the New Year celebration of Rosh Hashanah quickly followed by the solemn Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, local musicians The Shlomones (also known as The Whats Up Band) are determined to add a bit of levity to the proceedings. Band members Jeff "Bobby Doowah" Richter, Gary Schwartz, Jonathan Cahr, David Backer and Arnie Brown were spotted last week on Colonial Road filming a segment for their latest music video, Blow Shofar. The title refers to the musical instrument made of a rams horn and traditionally blown in synagogues during the holidays.
The musicians have adopted a style that is derivative of classic rock in creating parodies with a Jewish theme. The love of Jewish tradition and sharing great music with great values that appeals to all ages is what brought us together, said Stamfords Cahr. Their upcoming "Mockumentary," in partnership with Shalom TV, is called "Keepin' it Kosher" and is scheduled for a late-October release. For more info, videos and song samples, visit the bands website: www.whatsupband.net and catch Blow Shofar at http://youtu.be/n7fRU3tSX6Q. And to all those of the Jewish faith, LShanah Tovah!
A huge crowd spanning three floors of the Government Center went far beyond all expectations for Mondays School Governance Council Forum. The meeting was originally planned for the 4th floor café, but the large turnout and stringent fire code regulations forced it to be spread over three locations. In the fifth-floor boardroom, Mike Meyer, director of Student Support Services for the Stamford Public Schools, held forth, while downstairs, Lori Rossomando, president of the Stamford Education Association, pitched in to present the information to those in the lobby.
On the fourth floor, Thelma Avarado, mother of a Hart Elementary School kindergartener, listened attentively while cuddling her infant daughter Iris. Principal Linda Darling and Assistant Principal MaryAnn Mara, along with other educators, parents and community activists, also participated in that schools governance council, a group mandated to advise schools in developing improvement plans to increase math and reading achievement. Other schools were equally well-represented. Throughout the café area non-English speakers were able to hear an instantaneous translation via blue headphones.
This large turnout shows the passion and commitment we have for our children, said KT Murphy teacher Corine Matarasso, who is alsoi president of the Parent Leadership Training Institute Alumni. Those in attendance clearly agreed.
To submit information for this column, send an email to Juli at jharris@mainstreetconnect.us.
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