Trumbull's Todisco Joining Probate Race

Amy E. Todisco Announces Candidacy for Probate Judge

Attorney Amy E. Todisco, an Estate Planning and Probate attorney, has announced that she will be seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination as candidate for Judge of Probate for the District of Trumbull, Monroe and Easton in the November 2012 election.

Amy is an experienced probate attorney, having practiced almost exclusively in probate, trust and estate, and elder law for over 27 years. Amy’s practice is concentrated in representing executors and administrators in the administration of decedents’ estates in probate courts throughout the State of Connecticut, representing petitioners filing applications for the appointment of conservators of loved ones when they are no longer capable, representing individuals for whom a conservatorship is sought in contested matters before the probate court, adoption of children through the probate court, termination of parental rights in the probate court, representing children in custody and guardianship proceedings, being regularly appointed by probate judges to serve as a fiduciary in various contested probate matters and representing disabled individuals and protecting public benefits for disabled individuals through the establishment of special needs trusts through the probate courts.

In addition to her practice in the probate court, Amy also advocates for seniors in Connecticut, having authored legislation that was enacted in 2010 which allowed the spouse of one in a nursing home to be able to retain more of the family’s total assets. This spring, Amy testified before the Human Services Committee and the Aging Committee on elder law legislation and submitted written testimony in support of other elder law legislation.

Amy is currently a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Estates and Probate sub-committee which is rewriting instructions for attorneys to follow when they are appointed to certain positions by probate courts. Amy is also an editor for the Connecticut Bar Journal for elder law matters and is on various work groups and task forces for the Connecticut Bar Association Elder Law Section.

Amy was named by Connecticut Magazine-Super Lawyers as one of the Top Attorneys in Connecticut for 2011. Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. Super Lawyers also named Amy as one of the Top Attorneys in New England in the practice area of Estate Planning & Probate Law for 2011.

“As the next Judge of Probate for Trumbull, Monroe and Easton, I will be able to hit the ground running on February 14, 2013 when I would assume office-- with over 27 years of practice in this area, the transition would be seamless. I have the requisite qualifications, depth of knowledge and experience necessary to be Judge of Probate,” said Attorney Todisco.

Amy lives in Trumbull with her husband, Sam Braunstein, and their daughter, Ariel, and is a member of the Fairfield law firm of Braunstein and Todisco, P.C.

Her competition will be outgoing State Rep. T.R. Rowe.

State Rep. Candidate Bevilacqua Issues a Statement

"Louis A Bevilacqua, today announced that his ballot initative as an independent candidate is going forward,  Mr Bevilacqua has issued a call for a new era of solutions based politics in the community in this, his first campaign for elected office.  Of the three candidates for the seat in the State Legislature, Mr Bevilacqua is the only to bring independence and competence to the post.

Mr. Bevilacqua, who is a government administrator by profession, has always been an independent voice for Connecticut voters.  Mr Bevilacqua is a registered democrat but has not decided to accept the democrat nomination if offered to him, he would consider running as a democrat but as he also wants the backing of the general populace mainly comprised of independents and republicans; he may seek an unaffiliated candidacy in these partisan times.  

"We've started the process as defined in State Statute to be on the ballot."  said Louis Bevilacqua  "The people are going to have a choice this time, and I will do the job effectively when elected."

Elaine Hammers, onetime state representative and former members of the labor relations board previously held the seat for one term in the late 90's.  Mr. Bevilacqua declared that he is the only one, thus far, qualified to hold the office, amongst the announced applicants.

"Ms Hammers really did accomplish little of substance during her time as a placeholder during the Republican terms of Radcliffe and Thomas Rowe."  said Bevilacqua  "The Republicans had nobody to run for the position, and she was a fill-in.  Her term on the labor relations board (a big union credential) was a non starter.  She probably should move to Virginia this time, its a lovely place."

"I'll bring authentic representation back to Hartford, competence, independence and experience are what we need during these difficult times,"  added the Candidate.  "I would probably only accept the endorsement of the Democrat Party;  we needn't join select clubs in order to enjoy the rights won in our constitution, likewise a politician only needs the people, not some special interest job to do an effective job at the Capitol."

During this time of uncertain leadership, where government decisions can have a lasting impact on rights of liberty, tax reform and oversight will be the central focus of the next few legislative session, Mr Bevilacqua said.  Decisions or lack of them, made today will impact revenue sources in the next twenty years, as each generation follow's the lead of the one before it.

"We need strong competent leadership to meet the challenges of the town's tax burden.  We neither get quality nor quantity in state tax dollars. That is why the tax payer is projected to pay more in the future, although property values have increased."  said Bevilacqua  "Waste on this scale is not the platform of the old democrat party, and its not my set of values.  We've got to do something about this ticking timebomb."

Mr. Bevilacqua has worked in public administration the majority of his career, taking an active interest in policy and national government at an early age, his family having been active democrats since the 1920's. As an employee at the State Capitol, Mr Bevilacqua worked in a non partisan office and in the Connecticut House of Representatives as leadership staff, as a result, he has a keen knowledge of legislative process, from the inside, and knows many of the key decision makers in both parties having maintained many relationships in government."

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER AWARD
Presented to Amy Johnson of St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services

Amy Johnson of will be honored in Washington DC with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER’s Direct Care Worker of the Year  This is a national award given to a Direct Care Worker in recognition of excellence and caring in meeting the needs of children and adults with special needs.

Amy began work at St. Vincent’s Special Needs on October 18, 2009 as a CDL Bus Driver/Education Assistant.  The principal at St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services’ Feroleto Center describes Amy as someone who consistently goes out of her way to be of service

Amy helped a Spanish speaking parent who fell down her stairs as Amy was picking up her child from school.  Amy called 911, then called the 1-800 number to speak to an interpreter so the parent would be at ease knowing an ambulance was coming to take her to the hospital.  Amy called the school to inform them of the incident and stayed with the mother to provide care for the infant in the home as well as our student until the ambulance came.  The mother so afraid, but Amy made her fear go away with her patience, kindness and concern.

In another incident, Amy arrived at a student’s home and found the student’s young brother at home waiting for his parent to return.  Not wanting to leave the student without adult supervision, Amy waited with the student, took him out of his wheelchair and held him to make him feel at ease.  She goes well above and beyond.  “Her commitment and care for the school’s students is exemplified each and every day,” says Gerilyn Durnin, the school’s principal.

In her role as an Educational Assistant assigned to a class of pre-teen and teenage students, Amy is an integral member of the classroom’s interdisciplinary team.  She is very supportive of the students in her class, as well as of the teacher, therapists, and other education assistants.  Each day, Amy greets her students with a positive and loving attitude, and they clearly respond to her and enjoy working with her on their goals throughout the course of the day.

After the school day and on weekends and vacations, Amy also works as a 1:1 with a student who lives in one of the group homes at SVSNS.  Amy provides him with structure and fun activities, including outings in the community.  When the student moved from one group home to another, Amy’s calm and consistent demeanor made this transition so much smoother for this young, energetic child.

Amy’s dedication to St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services extends beyond the work day and beyond our students.  She is the captain of the agency’s softball team which brings together players from the different programs within Special Needs and contributes to a great deal of workplace pride, camaraderie and fund for both the players and spectators.

In her humble manner, Amy will probably say, “I am just doing my job.”  According to Durnin,  “She truly does utmost best every minute of every day.”

St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services provides a comprehensive range of programs and services for children and adults with multiple developmental disabilities and complex medical needs from birth through the senior years.  Seventy students attend its special education school located at the FEROLETO Children’s Development Center in Trumbull.  Day programs for adults are located in Stratford and Norwalk, and 11 group homes with 24/7 care for both adults and children are located  throughout Fairfield County communities.  For more information, call 203-375 6400 or visit www.StVincentsSpecialNeeds.org.