Learn
more about Bridgeport's History during The Word on Bridgeport: Author Panel on
June 5 On Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m., The Barnum Museum will
present a lively panel discussion featuring three prominent Bridgeport authors
and historians: Michael Bielawa, Lennie Grimaldi and Eric Lehman. Each has spent
their lifetime dedicated to researching, writing and speaking about Bridgeport's
rich history. The panel discussion, The Word on Bridgeport:
Author Panel will be moderated by Mr. Bielawa and focus on each person's Bridgeport
related works, why the Park City should be celebrated and the craft of writing.
The topics will range from sewing machines to helicopters and architecture to
public parks. You will learn remarkable stories of struggles and triumphs from
each of these specialists and explore how Bridgeport stands as a testament to
the American dream.  Historian
Michael J. Bielawa's diverse writings have focused on Bridgeport and early baseball
history and his essays have addressed such topics as the mysterious creature of
Lake Champlain, Bridgeport's crying stone statue and the bizarre disappearance
of a Hartford minor league baseball manager. He has also addressed baseball symbolism
in James Joyce's, Ulysses. Bielawa has lectured on behalf of the National Endowment
for the Arts in Louisiana and is a moderator for the Connecticut Humanities Council's
Literature for a Lifetime discussion series. Since the mid-1970s Bielawa has conducted
research, interviews and journeyed extensively throughout the northeast in search
of the unexplained. He has served as a guest curator to the Barnum Museum and
as a special consultant to the Fairfield Museum and History Center. His latest
books, Wicked Bridgeport (where true crime meets the paranormal) and Baseball
Pioneers 1850 to 1870, have just been published and are available at major bookstores
and at Amazon.com.
 Lennie
Grimaldi is host of the daily webzine Only In Bridgeport Dot Com and an award-winning
journalist whose work has appeared in hundreds of newspapers and magazines including
The New York Times, TV Guide, Yankee Magazine and Connecticut Magazine. His books
include Only In Bridgeport: An Illustrated History of The Park City; Chased, The
Life of Mob Infiltrator Billy Chase; Bow Tie Banker, a biography of David Carson,
retired CEO of People's Bank; and Connecticut Whistle Stops: Greenwich to New
Haven. He has won awards for journalistic excellence from the Associated Press,
United Press International and the Society of Connecticut Journalists. Grimaldi
has also written dozens of radio campaigns and corporate-crafted history programs
for companies such as Louis Rich HBO, Tropicana, Excedrin, Nivea, SNET, Blue Cross
& Blue Shield, Campbell Soup and Apple.
 Eric
D. Lehman is Director of Creative Writing at the University of Bridgeport where
he has taught for over fifteen years. He is the editor of the student literary
magazine, Groundswell, and the faculty essay series, The Commons.
His essays, reviews, poems, and stories have been published in dozens of journals
and magazines, from the New Haven Review to the International Henry Miller Journal.
He has written five books about Connecticut: Bridgeport: Tales from the Park City;
Hamden: Tales from the Sleeping Giant; A History of Connecticut Wine; Insiders'
Guide to
Connecticut; and A History of Connecticut Food. What:
The Word on Bridgeport: Author Panel
Where: The Barnum Museum, 820
Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Visitors are asked to enter through the double
glass doors at the back of the historic building, where it is connected to People's
United Bank. The front doors are closed.
Learn more: call 203-331-1104 When:
Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Cost: No charge, however donations
are always welcome. |
