'Your Light Is Your Personality'
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COMING SUNDAY SPORTS 2019 Top JEFF JACOBS Workplaces Dunn’s departure a bad look for UConn gametimect.com @gametimect Nominate your employer Page B1 YOUR SOURCE for H.S. SPORTS In Business www.TheHour.com | Saturday, February 9, 2019 | Since 1871 | Volume 147, Edition 040 BOARD OF EDUCATION Duff admonishes chair for NAACP snub By Justin Papp chapter leadership’s alleged day. Frank Costanzo, who was attacks against the board. Barbis’ email came soon facing sexual harassment NORWALK — State Sen. “The actions of Mr. Bar- after he and the NAACP allegations that have since Bob Duff on Thursday is- bis and some members of local chapter chair, Brenda been settled, and the equity sued a strongly worded the Norwalk Board of Edu- Penn-Williams, got into a of an all-white board in a condemnation of Board of cation are not an isolated shouting match at a Sept. 25 diverse district. In doing so, Education Chairman Mike incident, but part of a pat- Board of Education meet- she exceeded the three- Barbis. tern of behavior that mis- ing. During the public com- minute speaking limit and Barbis sent an Oct. 5 treats and diminishes the ment portion of the meeting, angered Barbis by ignoring email discouraging fellow African-American commu- Penn-Williams questioned pounds from his gavel that school board members from nity in Norwalk,” wrote the quality of education at signaled the end of her time. attending the NAACP Free- Duff, D-Norwalk. Briggs High School, the Days later, Penn-Williams dom Fund banquet later Barbis did not respond to continued employment of learned she had been re- that month, citing the local a request for comment Fri- Chief of School Operations See Snub on A6 Bob Duff Mike Barbis Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Former Governor John G. Rowland, right, arrives with his attorney, Reid Weingarten, far left, at the Federal Courthouse in New Haven on April 11, 2014. FORMER GOVERNOR JOHN ROWLAND Prison was a ‘spiritual transformation’ Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media Rina Dimarte, left, and Candace Pereira, in early February at the new Chloe Winston Lighting Design boutique at 68 Water St. in South Norwalk. By Ken Dixon world,” President Donald Trump, are political in DARIEN — It took two nature, the state’s former stints in federal prison, and top Republican said that the assurance of his daugh- during the 2014 federal ‘Your light is ters, before John G. Row- probe that led to his in- land found his true calling, dictment and conviction, channeling the political Rowland was told that it skills that won him a record was mostly payback for a third election as governor to relatively lenient first help offenders like himself stretch in prison. your personality’ back into their communi- The 61-year-old devel- ties. opment director for the Speaking to about 120 Prison Fellowship said Chloe Winston Lighting Design a new fixture in SoNo men gathered for breakfast that during the latest sen- and prayers with the New tence for political-cam- By Alexander Soule 68 Water St. after the wood sign a fixture in South Norwalk selling Canaan Society, Rowland, paign corruption, he real- workshop Board & Brush Creative lighting, kitchen fixtures and other in one of his first public ized he had a lot more NORWALK — After the closure Studio, with the upper level of the home decor before shuttering appearances since his re- going for himself than an last summer of the home decor store building serving as the headquarters abruptly last August. They chose the lease from prison last May, average inmate, even as he Klaffs in South Norwalk, former of Winchester Interconnect, which name for Pereira’s cat Chloe and tied an old story into a new fit the definition of recidi- employees have opened their own sells electronic cabling and assem- Dimarte’s dog Winston. one, proclaiming that “it vist, among the majority of shop a few blocks away on Water blies. Pereira and Dimarte said the was a blessing to go back to inmates who return to Street. Founders Candace Pereira and Klaffs collapse came as a shock de- prison for a second term.” incarceration. Chloe Winston Lighting Design Rina Dimarte became entrepreneurs spite warning signs that included the Speculating the various “I had a loving wife, chil- becomes the second retail tenant at after the demise of Klaffs, which was See Shop on A6 active investigations into dren, a stable home and a “the leader of the free See Rowland on A6 Minority group pushes for more Puerto Rican leaders in Conn. By Mark Pazniokas when caucus members recently “The diversity of Connecticut’s Latino population the state, at 8.1 percent of the total CTMIRROR.ORG met privately with Lamont, a population in 2017 and 7.4 percent Greenwich businessman whom includes many families of Caribbean, Mexican, in 2010. The Legislature’s Black and they say owes a political debt to Central and South American descent. You can bet Lamont has named 10 new Puerto Rican Caucus is pressing Puerto Ricans and other urban department heads, two of whom Connecticut’s new Democratic Democrats who contributed to his that diversity will be reflected as we staff up. We’re are black. He has reappointed 10 governor, Ned Lamont, to address three-point victory in November. only about a month in.” others from the previous admin- an old and increasingly urgent “Let’s not be blind to the facts,” istration, two of whom are black. grievance: A dearth of representa- said Sen. Dennis Bradley, D- Maribel La Luz, the director of communications for Gov. Ned Lamont One of the holdovers, Banking tion at the highest levels of gov- Bridgeport, a caucus member. Commissioner Jorge Perez, is ernment in the state with the “Those urban cities vote almost Hispanic, but not Puerto Rican — highest per-capita Puerto Rican entirely Democrat, so now that a distinction that matters in the population. we have a Democratic governor, if you what the needs and wants 2017, up from 13.5 percent in 2010, Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. The issue went unmentioned that portion of the population is and desires are.” according to American Communi- Rep. Chris Rosario, D-Bridge- Thursday when the caucus out- the reason why you hold that At 16.1 percent of the popula- ty Surveys conducted by the Cen- port, said he believes the adminis- lined its legislative agenda for seat, then you should obviously tion, Hispanics were the single sus Bureau. Puerto Ricans were tration is aware of Puerto Rican 2019, but it was the primary topic have somebody there who can tell largest minority in Connecticut in more than half of all Hispanics in See Leaders on A6 Advice/puzzles ......................B8 Lotteries...................................A2 Public notices ........................B4 © 2019 Weather: Sunny. Hearst Media Classified ............................B4-5 Obituaries ...............................B6 Sports....................................B1-3 Services CT High: 34. Low: 16. Comics .....................................B9 Opinion ....................................A9 Television .................................B7 LLC Page A10 A6 | The Norwalk Hour FROM THE FRONT PAGE They said they are looking forward to the SoNo Collection mall opening later this year and the expected influx of shoppers it will bring, while eyeing with concern construction to come on the Walk Bridge that is expected to disrupt traffic flows in South Norwalk. recently purchased a home will bring, while eyeing with or undertook otherwise concern construction to major renovations by the come on the Walk Bridge American Lighting Associa- that is expected to disrupt tion, 83 percent described traffic flows in South Nor- lighting in the home as an walk. important criterion, with They said interior design- half of respondents indicat- ers are already frequenting ing the design of a fixture is the store from Greenwich, important. Home Depot and Westport and the wider Lowe’s were the dominant region, as well including retailers frequented by poll Westchester County, N.Y. respondents, with about Pereira and Dimarte half saying they shopped at recently returned from the independent lighting show- semiannual Lightovation — rooms. Dallas International Light- Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media Other points of inspira- ing Show, a massive conven- A Sonneman Ursa Minor Pendant chandelier on display in February at Chloe Winston Lighting Design at 68 Water tion cited by poll respon- tion where some industry St. in South Norwalk. dents included websites like vendors have exhibit spaces Pinterest and Houzz, maga- measuring 25,000 square pany a dozen years and to showcase some of its wall sconces to a modernist zines and TV shows. feet of space. SHOP living in Fairfield. offerings, and importantly Sonneman Ursa Minor With the South Norwalk “We know what’s out From page A1 They considered a build- in parking-constrained Pendant chandelier listed store open, Pereira and there — that’s why we go to ing in Westport just off South Norwalk, its own lot for more than $7,700. Dimarte are now working the shows,” Pereira said. earlier closure of a Danbury Interstate 95, but after learn- along Norwalk Harbor just “Lighting can make or on the company’s website “Five years ago, everything outlet. The two decided to ing the site would require a south of Washington Street break a space,” Dimarte with the intent of selling was monochrome. Color is open their own showroom, new zoning designation, and Maritime Aquarium. said. “Your light is your online. They said they are coming back … warmer with Pereira a Norwalk checked out the corner suite Chloe Winston Lighting personality — it really is. It’s looking forward to the SoNo tones are coming back.” resident who had worked of 68 Water St. The building Design has an extensive who you are.” Collection mall opening for Klaffs for three decades, features an appealing interi- selection, ranging from Most people agree — in a later this year and the ex- [email protected]; and Dimarte with the com- or with exposed brick walls traditional table lamps and 2016 poll of people who had pected influx of shoppers it 203-842-2545; @casoulman Barbis had initially denied to “The actions of Mr.