NEIGHBORHOODS
What’s going on in your part of Stamford
WEST SIDE
The family of the late Richard D. Lacerenza recently dedicated a community bench purchased in his honor.
The eight-foot teak wooden bench sits inside Anthony’s Arbor, a section of Fairgate Farm, on Stamford’s West Side. The working farm is off Stillwater Avenue.
The bench, with a bronze-plate dedication plaque, is in the space that will be used for classrooms, cooking demonstrations and other yearround activities.
The Lacerenza bench is just up the road from the historic West Side funeral home that still bears his name.
“He loved the West Side, and especially that neighborhood,” said Jerry Macari Jr., Lacerenza’s grandson and the president and director at Lacerenza Funeral Home.
Lacerenza’s bench will join a similar teak bench in memory of fellow West Side icon, restaurateur Anthony Pellicci, at the farm.
“It is fitting that a community gathering place on Stillwater Avenue includes commemorations of Richard and Anthony,” Macari said. “They have impacted the area with their businesses and support of the community in many ways over the years.”
NORTH STAMFORD
Temple Sinai will host its annual political public forum at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
The candidates scheduled to attend include U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, DConn.; Harry Arora, Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; Matthew Corey, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate; state Sen. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, and Alexandra Bergstein, D-Greenwich, candidates for state Senate District 36; U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and Ned Lamont, Democratic candidate for governor.
Each candidate will give an opening statement. They will take questions from the audience and will conclude with a closing statement. The forum will be moderated by Randy Skigen, former president of the Stamford Board of Representatives.
Temple Sinai is at 458 Lakeside Drive. For information, contact Skigen at 203-322-7184 or skigen@optonline.net.
DOWNTOWN
The Stamford Fire Department is seeking men and women interested in joining the unit.
The department will host a free informational session at 9 a.m. Sunday at 400 Atlantic St., in the third-floor conference room.
The seminar will answer questions about the upcoming firefighter entrance exam and will provide information about starting a career with the department.
NEWFIELD
Union Baptist Church will host a triple celebration on Sunday.
Members of the church will celebrate the Rev. Robert W. Perry’s 45th pastoral anniversary, as well as the 130th church anniversary and the burning of its 20-year mortgage.
The three milestones will be celebrated at 10 a.m. during worship services at the church, 805 Newfield Ave.
Founded in 1888,
Union Baptist Church was established by a group of former slaves.
In 1998, the church leadership decided to build a new sanctuary to accommodate the growing congregation. On Sunday, they will celebrate paying off the debt owed on the new structure.
For information, call 203-322-0881 or visit ubcstamford.org.
NORTH STAMFORD
The Stamford History Center will offer haunted history tours of the HoytBarnum House on Thursday and Friday.
The two-night event, “Hauntings & History at Hoyt-Barnum,” will include tours of the house, at 1508 High Ridge Road, at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
Space is limited. Tickets are $15 and $10 for members. The tours are not appropriate for children under 12, according to the event description. To reserve tickets, call 203-3291183. For information, visit stamfordhistory.org.
STRAWBERRY HILL
All-you-can-eat pancakes will be available at the Stamford Lions Club’s breakfast fundraiser on Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Tickets are $8. Kids under 5 are $5. Only cash or checks will be accepted.
The fundraiser will take place at the Belltown Firehouse at 8 Dorlen Road.
The main mission of the Lions Club is to help the sight- and hearing-impaired.