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Representatives of a group seeking to build a mosque on Fillow Street faced their last procedural hurdle last night before what is sure to be a well-attended public hearing at the Zoning Commission's Plan Review Committee. Attorney John Fallon, representing the Al Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk, answered committee members' questions about the worship hall and community center planned for the 1.55-acre site, currently occupied by a small farmhouse.

Though most of those concerns centered on the impact of traffic and parking, questions were also asked about the size of the structure,

Grizzlies Kick Off 2nd Season

by Tom RennerToday

Chris Santopietro can't wait for Saturday night, when his Norwalk Grizzlies seventh-grade football team takes the field. "I get butterflies just as if I was playing,'' the coach said at practice this week. "Sometimes worse."

Santopietro's team kicks off its season Saturday in New Canaan at 6:30 p.m. at the Watertower Field. The seventh-graders are one of three teams for the Grizzlies. The sixth-graders, under coach Rob Greef, tackle Ridgefield at East Ridge Middle School on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The eighth-grade squad, coached by Jeff Fuller, challenges Darien Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Oval Office's New Do Gets Mixed Reviews

by Fenella PearsonToday

It took the Obamas 18 months to get round to redecorating the Oval Office, apparently a requirement of the job. This week's Home section in The New York Times ran a feature on the new look, with photos comparing the Bush look with the new Obama Oval Office. Reactions from the design community were mixed to say the least, centering to a great extent on musings about who was going to eat the apples from the bowlful on the coffee table.

Since the Times editors forgot to ask me for my opinion, I

School Support Staff Awarded Contract

by Moina NoorToday

Norwalk's school support staff has a new contract after a year of working without one. On Wednesday, an arbitration panel awarded a contract that includes a small raise and a change in health care plans to the Norwalk Federation of Education Personnel, led by president Donna Riddell.

The union represents 425 aides, clerks, secretarial and support staff and is the city's second-largest bargaining unit, after the teachers' union.

The four-year contract, retroactive to last year, includes a 2 percent incremental raise for the next three years, but no raise for this year. The bulk of the savings will come from a change in heath care plans — the union will join the High

Pisano Wins Grillo Cup at Oak Hills

by Tom Renner09/02/10

Nick Pisano posted a 70 net to win the 0-8 handicap flight of the Vinnie Grillo Sr. Pro Cup tournament at Oak Hills Park. Pisano won by one stroke over Joe Delallo. Larry Andronaco shot 72 to take third and Mike Campbell was fourth with a 73.

Shelly Guyer took the 9-12 handicap division with a 67. He won on a match of cards over Rob Pagano. James Byington took third with a 71 followed by Jim Falsey (72).

In the 13-15 handicap, Jim Doyle's 65 won by a shot over Nestor Garro and George Francis. Ed Philipp was fourth with a 67.

Troy Jellerette took the 16-19 division with a 71, followed by Peter Athanasoulis. In the 20-and-over handicap, Joe Tamburri's 70 edged Joe Muro by a stroke. Scott Kuffel (72) and Aron Karp (74) followed.

Letterman Blackmailer Released Early

by Jim Gerweck09/02/10

Robert "Joe" Halderman, the former CBS producer who was convicted of attempting to blackmail late-night TV host David Letterman, has been released from jail early. Halderman, who lived in Norwalk before his conviction, served four months of a six-month sentence and was release early for good behavior. He served his sentence on Rikers Island in New York. He still must complete 1,000 hours of community service and will be on probation for five years.

Halderman admitted he demanded $2 million in hush money from Letterman last fall to keep from revealing personal information about the TV host's affairs with CBS staffers.

Fake School Therapist Pleads Guilty

by Alissa Letkowski09/02/10

Stacy Lore pleaded guilty to larceny charges Thursday morning in Stamford Superior Court. Lore was arrested earlier this year after it was discovered that she had lied about her credentials to get a job as an autism therapist for both Norwalk and Weston schools.

Lore allegedly faked a university diploma in order to get jobs working with children in Norwalk, Weston, Stamford, Bridgeport and Middlebury, receiving payments totaling $635,000.

One of the school parents, Kim Graham, said she was alerted ahead of time that Lore would be changing her plea.

"A lot of us wrote letters asking for a longer sentence," she said. In court, prosecutors said they will encourage

Youth Teams Play at McMahon

by Tom Renner09/02/10

Two Norwalk Youth Football League teams have home games this weekend while eight will be on the road. At Brien McMahon on Saturday, the Colts play the Shelton Seahawks at noon and at 2 p.m., the Ramblers play the Middletown Tigers. The Colts and the Ramblers are second- and third-grade teams.

Also on Saturday, the fourth-grade Ravens visit Aspetuck at 10 a.m. at Weston High School; the fifth-grade Dolphins meet Meriden at 1 p.m.; and the fifth-grade Jaguars travel to Monroe for a 10 a.m. game.

Sunday's games feature the eighth-grade Packers at Ansonia at noon; the seventh-grade

Tennis Coach Serves Clients, Country

by Tom Renner09/02/10

Joseph Oyebog provides tennis opportunities for children in Cameroon but needs American capital to do it. He leaves his wife, Nathalie, and two children, ages 1 and 2, for six months every year to teach tennis in Fairfield County. He returns to his native Cameroon in November to his academy, which is now 10 years old.

"It's hard,'' says Oyebog, who teaches most of his students at Dwight Elementary School in Fairfield. "It's one of the ultimate sacrifices. In my country, there's no way to me to make a living playing tennis. It's hard to raise the money for the program back home."

Worst of Earl Expected to Bypass Area

by Jim Gerweck09/02/10

The city isn't taking any chances with Hurricane Earl. Mayor Richard Moccia has been discussing preparations with city department heads. The biggest concern, he said, is coordination among the police, fire and DPW as well as with Connecticut Light & Power. "If we have power lines go down, CL&P needs to notify the others so we can set up detours and alternate routes."

As of Thursday night, Hurricane Earl was bearing down on coastal North Carolina. The Category 3 storm was expected to turn northward up the East Coast and travel just east of Nantucket on Friday evening.

The

Seamen Keep an Eye on Earl

by Jim Gerweck09/02/10

By the time Earl arrives in these parts, it may be nothing more than a lot of sound and not much fury, signifying nothing. But if there's one place even a watered-down storm can cause damage, it's on the water.

"I've grown up here, and seen what storms can do," Gary Arcamone of All Seasons Marine Works in Rowayton said as Augustine Joseph tightened lines on the docks. "The ones that always seem to do the most damage are the ones no one talks about ahead of time," he said citing the spring storm as an example.

"The problem is that hurricanes tend to come at the end of the