Of the many community partnerships we participate in the Free Women’s Health Fair at the Stamford Jewish Community Center is one of my favorites. Good health is unequivocally the key to a living a good life and whenever we have an opportunity to take charge of our health we do our mind and body good. In partnership with the Stamford Jewish Community Center, Stamford Hospital and the Stamford Chapter of Hadassah, this full day event takes place March 15th and offers women health screenings, fitness classes, food demonstrations, panel discussions and more! It’s a terrific event for women to rejuvenate themselves with self care. Several of my First County Bank colleagues will be at the event speaking about achieving and maintaining financial health. We hope to see you there too! For more details visit http://www.stamfordjcc.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&refno=878&category=Center%20Women.

Every year First County Bank sponsors the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Maple Sugar Festival. In our 12th year, it is a highly anticipated fun family festival that highlights the New England tradition of maple sugaring. It’s become a popular community event, a staple in Lower Fairfield County that attracts all ages, which is why this year it’s been extended to a full weekend! There are so many amazing and unique activities to talk about like learning how to turn sap into syrup (a favorite among kids) or cheering on local chefs at the Chef’s Challenge where local caterers and restaurant chefs are tasked with creating the ‘tastiest’ recipe made with a secret ingredient — maple syrup, of course. And there’s so much more! I’ll be sharing a link with all the exciting details below. Right now, however, I want to take a moment to talk about community, our community and how on so many levels it is an extension of family. (more…)

First County Bank takes its mobile banking to the next level with new mobile banking applications for the iPad, iPhone/iPod, Droid Phones and the Blackberry for both your personal and small business online banking. The downloadable apps are available at the respective mobile devices’ app stores for free and provide users with a number of convenient options 24/7 to manage all of their finance needs in a secure and fast environment. In addition to standard features like checking available balances, the new apps offer enhanced features including interactive functionality, balance and transaction history inquiries, funds transfers between First County Bank accounts, bill pay and messaging. (more…)

Bayview Towers Community Center and Jewish Family Service, both located in Stamford, are hosting a series of financial literacy seminars for their constituents during the next six weeks. These seminars are being taught by First County Bank employee volunteers.

“This is a terrific program that First County’s Willard Miley and Michael Victor have put together with these nonprofit agencies and our volunteer instructors,” Rey Giallongo, chairman and CEO of First County Bank, recently said. “I’m really proud of these First County Bank employees who will be taking time away from their work day to help individuals confidently read, analyze and manage their personal finances in order to lead more secure and satisfying lives.”

The areas to be covered include banking (managing checking and savings accounts), budgeting, and setting and implementing financial goals (short term to retirement). To set and achieve these goals, one must have a working knowledge of financial instruments, borrowing and insurance. Maintaining good credit will save an individual a significant sum of money in interest costs, insurance premiums and may even affect one’s ability to secure employment. (more…)

Bill Jensen, owner of Darien Toy Box. Photography by Megan Dey Photography

When you walk into Darien Toy Box on the Post Road in Darien, Connecticut, you might feel as if you’ve been magically transported into the fantastical world of Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium filled to the brim with unique toys from around the world, collectables and an animated jungle with Winston, a life size Orangutan that moves and tells jokes to children. Ever since he was a child, Darien Toy Box owner Bill Jensen otherwise affectionately known as Mr. Bill, Bill or Chief Toy Man, wanted to make toys and dreamed of having his own toy store. Loving all kinds of toys as a kid, he had a special affinity for LEGO’s® and the WBritain® brand name of toy and collectable soldiers. (more…)

(l. to r.) Rey Giallongo, chairman and CEO First County Bank, Karen Kelly, senior vice president and chief marketing officer First County Bank, Melissa H. Mulrooney, executive director Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and David A. Swerdloff, president of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center's board of directors.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has extended its Maple Sugar Festival to a weekend event starting March 3. This year marks the 12th anniversary First County Bank has sponsored this family festival highlighting the New England tradition of maple sugaring.

At this festival, visitors will learn about the different methods used to turn sap into syrup through a variety of demonstrations. They will see firsthand how to tap a tree to harvest its sap; how colonists made maple syrup; the Native American hot rock method; and how the SM&NC uses the modern evaporation method to produce the maple syrup sold in its gift shop.

In addition, First County Bank will host its Chef’s Challenge event at the museum on Saturday, March 3, starting at 11:30 a.m. with a winner declared at 2 p.m. During the challenge, local caterers and restaurant chefs will compete to create the best tasting recipe, as judged by the public, using maple syrup as an ingredient. (more…)