Zach Allen at fundraiser; Memorial for Greenwich coach
Scene…Luca's Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen made its debut in Greenwich recently at its new location in the Glenville Shopping Center on 21 Glenville St. Owner Joe Criscuolo named the pizzeria after his dad, Luca, who opened Greenwich's Pizza Post in 1972. There, Joe was brought up spinning pizza dough and learning family recipes later running the family business with his brother Matt. He attended the Culinary Institute of America and from there he worked with awardwinning TV host, cookbook author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich.
The restaurant boasts warmth and a welcoming ambiance and will offer eat-in dining as well as take-out and delivery and catering. The menu features a variety of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and salads as well as Joe's own Sunday gravy, and is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. A portion of sales from opening day benefited Abilis, the Greenwich-based nonprofit organization that supports over 800 individuals with special needs and their families in lower Fairfield County. For more info, go to lucaspizzact.com.
Out there…Business Leaders for Sustainability's first Earth Day celebration takes place
on April 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 954 Lake Ave. in Greenwich. The evening will feature theatrical performances and a discussion on sustainability and climate change by JIB Productions. An organic food and wine tasting will follow. For more info and tickets ($30 per person/$10 for students), RSVP to info@businessleadersforsustainability.org.
Scene…New Canaan native and Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen was seen at Elm Restaurant in New Canaan on March 21 with New Canaan native and former New Canaan
Rams football teammate Alex LaPolice for a fundraiser for Team IMPACT. The organization matches children with serious illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams to create lifechanging experiences. LaPolice is training to run in the 2024 Boston Marathon on Monday in support of Team IMPACT with a goal of $15,000. Allen auctioned off a pair of worn cleats as part of NFL's “My Cleats, My Cause” program.
Out there…Sacred Heart University Community Theatre in Fairfield is hosting singer/
songwriter A.J. Croce performing "Croce Plays Croce" on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Croce will perform some of his own music as well as a complete set of classics by his late father Jim Croce, who died in a plane crash in while on tour in 1973. For tickets ($69/$79) go to www.shucommunitytheatre.org/allevents/croce-playscroce or call 203-371-7187 for more info.
In memoriam… Greenwich mourned the loss of its beloved coach and friend Michael Ornatowho brought the Greenwich High School Cardinals to many a
victory. In his many years at the helm, he coached the likes of Pro and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young; Vin Van Dyke, who played at USC; and Ken Bell, who played in three Super Bowls for the Denver Broncos. Ornato's career at Greenwich High won him four CIAC championships and seven FCIAC titles earning him a place into the Greenwich High School Hall of Fame. He was voted captain of the football team at Ithaca College and a member of their Hall of Fame All Decade team. He left behind a legacy of leadership,
mentorship and friendship to all who knew him. Ornato died in February, but service will be held on April 20 at 1 p.m. at Stanwich Church on Taconic Road in Greenwich. Donations in Ornato's honor can be made to The Avow Foundation at www.avowcares.org. And that’s all for now. Later…. “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
-Mother Teresa