Neighbors Link, AAA Matters, a New Restaurant in Norwalk?

Editor's note: PatchCast is on August recess. In the meantime, we're rounding up some of the region's top stories the old-fashioned way.

Dateline, Westport: A coalition of environmental groups in Connecticut and New York state on Monday unveiled a long list of proposals in a 26-page "SoundVision Action Plan" to

The proposals included more environmental regulations, the buying of land in strategic locations and building better sewer systems. To do all that, the report indicated, government funding would be required and public-private partnerships would be useful.

The extensive plan is "the first one of its kind since 1994," according to Rebecca Kaplan, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, one of the key members of the coalition.

Dateline, Norwalk: If the owners of the Norwalk Museum building get their way, there’ll be a , which is listed on the National Historic Register. They’d like to add outdoor dining at the corner of North Main and Marshall streets, as well. The owners recently presented their plans to the Norwalk Historical Commission. Chair Peter Biondi had some reservations about the restaurant plan.

"Essentially, you're going to have a flame burning under every collected item the City of Norwalk owns, which to me is not a good idea," he said. Read more about it on Norwalk Patch.

Dateline, Stamford: After two years of planning,  its doors to serve recent immigrants to the city. Neighbors Link provides English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and computer courses for its clients.

“To do one-on-one [ESL] is easy — all you need is a willingness and a desire to listen and to really listen with care,” volunteer Jeff Greenberg said. “Part of it is the chance to improve their English, and part is to have that human connection, to make a connection with an American.”

Neighbors Link is dedicated to introducing their clients to resources in the community — speakers from the schools, the hospital, and other community organizations come in during classes and for special programs.

"We know we're making a difference, not just for the clients, but for our volunteers,” Executive Director Catalina Samper Horak said. “We had a 16-year-old girl who volunteered here in the childcare room. She was teary-eyed leaving, saying she would miss them all so much," Horak said. "It was special to see a girl from one of the more affluent areas of Stamford building a relationship with these kids and with their mothers." Find the story on Stamford Patch.

Dateline, New Canaan: Even though the federal government has reached a compromise on the debt ceiling, some AAA-rated municipalities — including New Canaan, Fairfield, Norwalk and Weston — may soon come under review by Moody's Investor Services. Kathleen Corbet, founder and principal of Cross Ridge Capital and a former president of Standard & Poor's (and candidate for New Canaan Town Treasurer) tells  to our towns. 

Dateline, Darien: Patch went along as 125 campers spent the day at and enjoying a stop at Sheffield Island, a dousing from a fire boat. 25 local boaters volunteered their crafts for the outing.

Boat Camp, now in its 15th year, is organized by the Noroton Fire Department’s marine unit with support from the Noroton Yacht Club, Person-to-Person, and the Darien Sail and Power Squadron. The campers are from Roscco School Vacation Program and Quisqueya Summer Camp.

Dateline, Shelton: The 2011Southern Connecticut Presents 4 Pets launched on Aug. 1. The campaign hopes to and rescue organizations, by collecting pet care items desperately needed to help keep shelters operational and animals comfortable. Shelton-based Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service is hosting the local campaign to collect pet food, treats, toys, blankets, towels, rugs, beds, leashes, collars, and cat litter are all being sought. 

“Last year, we collected over $ 7,000 worth of items that were donated to local shelters,” Paws and Kisses owner Mandy Oram said on Shelton Patch.