Gert Altieri first got involved in the fitness field after her last son was born in the 1960s. She said she’d gained a fair amount of weight and was looking for a way to work it off. She joined a program at the Guilford Community Center and loved exercising. Gert, a now-retired teacher, extended her teaching into the fitness room, when her teacher at the Guilford Community Center retired and suggested Gert take over the class. She taught exercise classes for a number of years before taking a break. After she retired from teaching, she had the opportunity to get back into teaching exercise. …

Phyllis Dunphy has been a dispatcher for the Town of North Branford for almost 30 years. She worked as a part-time dispatcher while driving a school bus from 1983 to 1985 before she was offered a full-time dispatching job at the North Branford Police Department. During that time, Dunphy has seen many changes–when she started, the town didn’t have 911–and has been on the receiving end of many emergency calls. However, her time serving the town is coming to an end as she is retiring next month. North Branford Patch: What do you enjoy about being a dispatcher? Dunphy: When I first started, I was…

In case you've missed any of these profiles on these North Branford residents, here's a look back at who's been profiled in 'A Day in the Life' so far in 2012.  Dr. Bill James, Author and Centenarian (Part 1) (Part 2)  (Part 3) Dr. Bill James, a 101-year-old Northford resident, recently completed writing a book–The Monetarists–and talked about the process with North Branford Patch. But not before he shared the life experiences that brought him to that point. Today, we conclude our series with Dr. Bill James with some snippets of interesting stories from his past in his own words. A Day in the…

“I’m a jack of all trades and a master of none,” laughed Lou Paternoster and who could describe Paternoster better than the man himself? The long-time North Branford resident has made it a point to apply himself in as many facets around town as possible in order to give back to the town where he raised his three children. Paternoster gave Patch a glimpse at what a day in his life is like and how he came to be a staple of the town. North Branford Patch: What is a day in the life of Lou Paternoster like? Lou Paternoster: I coach the 6th- and 8th-grade girls' travel basketball teams, I’m a …

Project Graduation, an effort to keep kids safe and entertained after prom, is an important, yet costly endeavor for parents and teachers in North Branford. The initiative is possible due to volunteers like Tracey Fair who organize fundraising events in town. One such event is March Madness, an event that sees teams pay to battle it out in fun games with the proceeds going toward Project Graduation activities.  Fair also owns and cuts hair at her own barber shop, runs a 4H club, manages her horse and its barn and acts as a volunteer supervisor for the Potato and Corn Festival. The busy mother…

A resident of North Branford since he was seven years old, Anthony P. Esposito, Jr. has been serving the town in one way or another for decades. But after this multi-tasking public servant wraps up his day job, there’s no down time. Esposito gave Patch a look at how he spends his time when he’s not in the office and why he won’t be leaving any time soon.   North Branford Patch: How did you come to be North Branford’s finance director? Esposito: I started working for the town in 1992 and I started in a position called staff accountant. Two years later, there was an opening for the finance …

Joanne Wentworth saw a need for a Food Bank in town after moving to town years ago. Since then, the Northford Food Bank and the North Branford Food Bank have been serving residents.  These organizations could not run, however, without volunteers like Pat Lovelace and donations from the town. Lovelace, who was a teacher in Guilford for 35 years, started volunteering after some encouragement from a fellow parishioner at Zion Episcopal Church. Lovelace took some time to tell North Branford Patch what it takes to keep the food banks running and organized. North Branford Patch: How did you get …

North Branford Patch: How did you come to be North Branford's Fire Chief?  Chief William Seward: In 2005, the town advertised for a new fire chief because the previous one had retired and they were filling the position with an interim chief. At the time, I was still employed by City of New Haven as the commanding officer of the training academy. Seeing as I had lived in North Branford for a number of years, I thought I could branch off my expertise and make a positive change for the Town North Branford. North Branford Patch: Your job is pretty tough for many reasons. What has been the most …

Lynn Riordan of North Branford protected, shaped, nurtured and taught her children to the best of her ability, just as any mother strives to do. Every day she tends to the needs of her four children Elise, Alexa, Mea and Matt.  Her routine is unique, though, in that her duties as Matt’s mother now entail carrying out his last wishes. On May 23, 2009, Matt was travelling along Totoket Road, as many others do every day. What started out as a young man’s joy ride, though, ended in heartache. Matt passed away after he crashed his car while riding the winding and steep road too fast. More than two…

North Branford High School basketball captains Stephanie Torniero, 18, and Ashley Arre, 17, share what it's like in a day in the life of a sports captain and what they think of their position on the team.  North Branford Patch: How did you get involved in basketball? Stephanie Torniero: I’ve always been playing since I was young. Dad was a big basketball fan so he kept me playing and pushed me through it. Ashley Arre: I actually started when I was in 4th grade on the North Branford recreation team. I wasn’t originally going to play, but my mom really influenced me. I think she knew I was good…

North Branford High School boys' basketball captains Mike Forgione, Matt Scavo and Ricky Paolini certainly have a history with the sport as Forgione and Scavo have been playing since age five, while Paolini started playing on a team in 8th grade. North Branford Patch: Why did you start playing basketball? Forgione: I got into it through my dad, he grew up playing it. I started playing with friends and my brother, then got serious with it and I stuck with it. I was made captain when I was a junior. We all put a lot of time and effort in, we were in summer leagues and ran conditioning programs…

Dr. Bill James, a 101-year-old Northford resident, recently completed writing a book–The Monetarists–and talked about the process with North Branford Patch. But not before he shared the life experiences that brought him to that point. Today, we conclude our series with Dr. Bill James with some snippets of interesting stories from his past in his own words.  Early Airplanes I used to see airplanes flying around and they were the kind with two wings. Once day we saw one go down in a hay field not too far from where we were and so we were driven over there. It was apparently very simple what …

Yesterday, we were introduced to Dr. Bill James, a 101-year-old Northford man who shared many of his life experiences with North Branford Patch. He went on to discuss the book he recently completed–The Monetarists and the Evolving Crisis: Wake Up, Americans; We Are Losing Our Great Nation–his inspiration for his work and his hope for the future of America. The Monetarists is self-published and available for review.  North Branford Patch: What is a typical day in your life like now?James: Well I like to take a walk every day and I think that keeps me going. I’ve been working on my book of …

Centenarian Dr. Bill James will be 102 on his next birthday. With nearly 80 more years of life and experiences than myself, James revealed only a snippet of his arsenal of stories in the two hours I sat with him in his Northford home. From hauling cement in his Model T at 14 years of age for $30 a week to flying over the Himalayas during World War II, James has participated in the creation of modern day America. He's not happy with the results, though, and he has a few soutions to fix his great nation.  In today's installment, James shares some of the experiences that brought him to where he …

Emily Constance, who took over as our 'Day in the Life' reporter, is taking a well-deserved vacation, so let's take a look back at the last 15 weeks. 'A Day in the Life' profiles community members with interesting jobs, hobbies or stories. To nominate someone to be featured, email jenn.mcculloch@patch.com. Did you miss the profiles on any of these community members? We have featured 25 interesting people in town. Do you know who should be next? Richard Branigan, North Branford Town Manager Stephen Maler III, Tattoo Artist North Branford High School Football Captains Gerald Carlone, Automotive…

North Branford Patch: How long have you been working in North Branford? Richard V. Branigan: I've been here about three and a half years. There was an opportunity about four years ago when the former Town Manager left for another position in the state and the position opened up and some folks approached me and asked whether or not I was interested and should apply, which I did, and the Town Council at the time selected me and I'm honored to be here. It's a privilege. North Branford Patch: How did you get involved in municipal government? Branigan: That goes back about 30 years. My …

North Branford Patch: How long have you been a tattoo artist? How long at this location? Stephen Maler: Between seven and eight years. I've been here [Taboo Tattoo Parlour] for maybe five months. North Branford Patch: How did you become involved in body ink? Maler: One of my friends was a tattoo artist and he used to see me drawing and he offered to apprentice me. He liked my artwork and it was kind of all his idea, so it's pretty cool how that worked out. North Branford Patch: Is there a certain piece of which you are particularly proud? Maler: Well, this Richard Nixon one was really unique…

North Branford Patch caught up with T-Birds' football captains Anthony Franco, Damoy Hunter, Cory Onofrio and Christian Perrotti after practice on Monday as they prepare for the Thanksgiving Eve game against Hyde at 5 p.m.   The quartet has a solid amount of experience as Onofrio and Perrotti began playing in 3rd grade, Franco started around age eight and Hunter picked up the sport as a freshman. North Branford Patch: What do you love most about football? Franco: I love the competition, that's always fun. Hunter: I like getting to hit somebody [laughs], I'm the first one always getting hit.  …

North Branford Patch: How did you become interested in teaching? Gerald Carlone: I studied graphic design. I worked as a software engineer for about three years and decided to get my teacher's certificate. I always wanted to get into teaching. I come from a family of teachers. North Branford Patch: Can you describe the new automotive program at NBHS? Carlone: The auto program is brand new this year. We're going to be in the back of the auditorium where the scene shop used to be. It's going to be a two-lift garage with welding, tire balancing and tire changing capabilities. It's a course that'…

North Branford Patch: How did you first become interested in agriculture? Lori Gambardella: I was an environmental studies major in college. I went to school in Vermont and a lot of the community in Burlington is geared towards local agriculture. I was always really into gardening. I worked on an organic farm in Maine through the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. From there I worked at the Farm Institute in Martha's Vineyard, which was farm-based education. I decided I could do a lot of good work in a public school system.  North Branford Patch: What brought you to North …