The Stamford Symphony Orchestra will make a joyful noise this summer. Columbus Park at Main Street and West Park Place will host the Symphony's annual outdoor pops concert on Wednesday July 8th. Movie music is the theme this year; specificlly works by the late Henry Mancini. Maestro Eckart Preu of the Stamford Symphony says about Mancini, "You can't help but smile when you hear his music". Mancini wrote Moon River, the legendary theme from the Pink Panther, the score to Victor Victoria and so many other noteable pieces. Selections from the works of Leroy Anderson and Cole Porter will also be offered. The free concert begins at 6:30 PM and you are invited to either bring a picnic or make a reservation at one of the surrounding restaurants.

Stamford Downtown President Sandy Goldstein says the Pops Concert is designed to be a summer family experience.

According to police, an unidentified 26-year-old Norwalk man was shot in the abdomen while walking on Woodward Avenue Tuesday evening. The man is hospitalized at Norwalk Hospital, and information on his medical condition was not available Wednesday morning.

The victim was walking on Woodward Avenue near the intersection of Meadow Street on his way to a restaurant last night around 8:40 PM, and heard a loud shot and then felt a sharp pain in his left side, said Norwalk Police Sgt. Andre Velez.

The victim was concious and alert when police arrived, and was transported to Norwalk Hospital. Police do not believe the shooting was gang-related or part of an attempted robbery, said Velez. The victim did not see the shooter, and police are investigating to determine if the shooter fired from a vehicle or somewhere else on the street, Velez said.

A Stamford Police officer is under investigation for allegedly punching a woman in the forehead when he arrested the woman for driving without a license. According to Lt. Sean Cooney, a police spokesman, Officer Gregory Zach punched 40 year old Brenda Mazariegos while arresting her for driving without a license last week in the parking lot behind The Palms nightclub on West Park Place, which she is an owner of.

"The public nature of this could create uneasiness in the minds of the public, and we need to address that. If the officer acted properly, he needs to be exonerated. And if he acted improperly, we need to know that as well," said Cooney.

On Tuesday, Mayor Dan Malloy said it is important in situations like this not to prejudge, but that this is a matter that must be investigated.

With Norwalk Senator Bob Duff's efforts in guranteeing the operating budget to the maritime aquarium restored after initially withdrawn from the state, Republican Mayor Richard Moccia is proud of cooperation of local legislators from both sides of the aisle.

Mayor Moccia was also happy that Norwalk's bond rating has been Triple A once more, proving the viability of the city.

A prominent African American leader in Norwalk is very disappointed with the Supreme Court's ruling for the white New Haven Firefighters. Reverend Lindsay Curtis, President of the Norwalk chapter of the NAACP and Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, feels that Monday's ruling weakens the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Dr. Curtis says that Federal Appeals Court Judge and Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, voted against the fire fighters, in the original case, because she was following the precedent of the civil rights law. As a result of the high court overturning the original ruling favoring New Haven, Dr. Curtis thinks that this is a major step backward in the context of 400 years of descrimination against African Americans. He says that a positive aspect of the Supreme Court case is that the vote was very close and that four justices believe that the Civil Rights Act was the correct reference used in the original ruling. 

Despite years of postive change in America when it comes to race, Dr. Curtis feels that "We are not there yet" and that some people wrongly think that just because President Obama is in the White House, that race descrimination is no longer a major conern in the U.S.

One of Fairfield County's most prolific businessmen is safe after being rescued at sea. Jack Moffley, now in his 80's, is founder of Moffley Publications which recently underwent a name change to Moffley Media.

His firm publishes Greenwich and Westport magazines among others that cater to Fairfield County residents. Mr. Moffley was sail boating Sunday near Tod's Point in Old Greenwich when he apparently fell overboard. He was able to stay afloat due to his life jacket and holding on to a rope connected to the craft. The Advocate reports a good samaritan, John Wilcox, who was kayaking nearby, spotted Moffley in trouble and directed the Greenwich Police to the scene. Moffley was quickly resuced by another Greenwich boater named Eugene Miller who dove in and pulled him into his boat.

Moffley was treated at Greenwich Hospital and released on Monday.  Lt. Mark Kordick of the Greenwich Police says this is a good example of the importance of wearing a life jacket "all the time."

Governor Jodi Rell signed a bill to protect against Madoff style schemes. The law required money and property obtained through securities fraud be forfeited and used to compensate victims. Thousands of people lost billions of dollars investing with Madoff, many from Fairfield County.

Rell signed the bill at the Center for Children's Advocacy, a Hartford-based, nonprofit group for children that lost money because of the scheme.

A reference librarian at Norwalk Library has been awarded the 2009 Workplace Individual Partner of the Year. Susannah Violino, an eight year veteran, says that the award is given by a Bridgeport non-profit.

Violino's award was based on her helping to promote a workplace program called the Career Coach; a vehicle that makes visits to public institutions; staffed by experts who help citizens find jobs at no charge. The Career Coach stops at Norwalk Library next on Monday, July 20th.

A decision within the Greenwich Police Department over scrambling their radio transmissions has been reached. Lieutentant Mark Kordick, speaking on behalf of the department, says that the force's upgraded digital radio system will, for now, not be encrypted, allowing the public to continue to monitor police transmissions. The editor of the Greennwich Time, and Stamford Advocate, David McCumber, was quoted earlier as saying that to deny the public the right to monitor police radio would go against reporting news in the public interest.

The decision was reportedly reached late Friday after consultation with both Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg as well as the Greenwich Police Commissioner.