45°
The Daily Stamford recently asked a handful of city residents to look ahead to 2011 and make a bold prediction and select a person to watch. Heres what they had to say:
Buck Johnson, manager, Keoughs Hardware:
Person to Watch: Ill be interested to watch Mayor Pavia and see how he works things out this year.
Bold prediction: I think its definitely going to be a better year because weve seen things turning around in the last few months.
Bobby Valentine, ESPN baseball Analyst:
Person to Watch: John Leydon. He will make a difference on the Board of Ed.
Susan Rigano, executive director, Stamford Public Education Foundation
My bold prediction is that Stamford parents and residents will put aside personal differences and work together to ensure that every child in the Stamford Public Schools has access to the resources they need to graduate from high school ready to succeed in college or career training.
Person to Watch: Governor-elect Dannel Malloy, when hes not in Hartford. Kevin Segalla, president, CT Film Center
Person to Watch: Cathy Malloy. Cathy has been advocating for victims of sexual assault for many, many years. As Connecticut's First Lady, she will have a statewide and even a national platform to continue her great work.
Bold Prediction: The financial freeze will complete its thaw and Stamford will blossom. Stamford hit a bump in the road with the financial crisis. In 2011, the stage is set for a reinvigorated Stamford to continue its march toward becoming a world-class city. Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, senior pastor, First Congregational Church
God is as close as your very breath. Breathe in deeply and experience God within you. Breathe out and share God's love with the world.
Al Barbarotta, City of Stamford, Facilities Department
Person to Watch: I really do think Josh Starr will create headlines this year, so he is the man to watch.
Bold Prediction: I believe this is the year everyone will be tested to do more with less. I think the big news will be the Governors and Mayors struggle with the unions to rewrite the way everyone does business. Massive cuts to every departments budget will dominate headlines. I believe in the end we will have a more efficient government at every level.
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El
My bold prediction is that the hole in the ground on Grayrock Place will still be there at the end of 2011.
Person to Watch: People, actually the number of Manhattanites who decide to move Stamford because at last we have a Fairway.
Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia
Bold Prediction: Stamford will attract an organization with international recognition and notability as its home. This prediction may only be overshadowed by Stamford being nationally recognized for having the lowest crime rate for a city its size.
The person to watch in 2011 is Bobby Valentine.
Dr. Joshua Starr, superintendent of schools
Bold prediction: With our new Governor, who understands urban educational issues, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for the broken Educational Cost Sharing formula in Connecticut.
People to Watch: Jack Bryant of the NAACP, who is in the forefront of education, and Donna Valentine, principal of Stamford High School.
Renee Kahn, Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program
Bold Prediction: I predict that the South End is going to become a satellite city all its own, with little if any relationship to Stamford. It will have housing for all economic levels, shopping, churches, a medical center, a school, a library, an artists' colony, a train station, waterfront walking paths and even its own cemetery. Someone visiting after having been away only a year or two will not recognize the area.
The Women of the Year are Maria Aposporus and Eleni Begetis, owners of Curley's Diner. I predict Curley's will be the cultural, social and political heart of Stamford, now that they have their parking back.
Steve Thompson, manager, Town & Country Cleaners
Person to Watch: I think Amare Stoudemire of the Knicks is going to be MVP in 2011.
Bold Prediction: Technology is totally moving ahead faster and faster and theres going to be something new every month, I predict.
Takeai McAlister, non-profit consultant
Bold Prediction: There is no doubt that Stamford is truly an amazing city to live in. There are no limits to what this city can attain. So my bold prediction is that Stamford will tower above the negative issues affecting the rest of the country's economic situation and be a model for success.
Person to Watch: I think Im a person people should watch in 2011. My goal of helping non-profits grow and prosper in these hard economic times is sorely needed. So, watch out Stamford!
What is your Bold Prediction and Person to Watch in 2011? We'd like to know at The Daily Stamford. Happy New Year!
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
