Jim will speak on “Saving Animals From Extinction: Tales of Species Recovery in CT and Beyond”
Jim is the Curator of Education for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Jim is a TEDx Speaker with more than 3000 presentations to his credit. As a wildlife expert and keynote speaker, he revels in sharing his passion for working with the world’s most remarkable animals to transport audiences into his wild world.
He’s a graduate of Cornell University where he studied Animal Science, Applied Economics and Business Management . He’s been a guest lecturer for the University of Connecticut. A conservationist who has studied Black rhinos, lions and Great White sharks in Africa. An adventurer who has conducted field research on Alaskan Brown Bears. The former host of PBS television’s Wildzoofari. A writer who has written for PBS television and The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A wildlife expert who has appeared on: The Today Show, The CBS Early Show and Fox News and has been featured in The New York Times.
James H. Canton has had a relationship with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp since it began in 1988. During that time he has been a counselor, unit leader, assistant director and for eight years, camp director. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in the Spring of 2002.
As camp director, Mr. Canton led the development of various programs to extend the healing touch of Camp throughout the year. Fall and spring weekend programs were created to serve the previous summers’ campers, as well as family retreats for children who might not have the chance to experience a summer session.
Under his leadership as CEO, the Camp’s Hospital Outreach Program was commissioned to bring Camp to hospitalized children. What began as a summer camp in 1988 serving 288 children has grown, under Mr. Canton’s leadership, to a year-round center serving more than 20,000 children and family members annually. He continues to volunteer during two sessions at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., participating actively with campers in the Camp program.
Mr. Canton has played a part in programmatic development of many SeriousFun Children’s Network camps. He has also assisted with the launch of sister camps around the world, including those in France, Italy, Hungary, Japan, and the Network’s first camp programs in Africa. He has helped to advance the SeriousFun Children’s Network accrediting criteria throughout the world and participates as a site visitor in the accreditation process.
Mr. Canton graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in humanities and received a master’s degree in theology from Yale Divinity School.
RYAN THOMPSON
Chief Development and Communications Officer
Ryan Thompson began volunteering as a cabin counselor at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in the summer of 2009 and joined the staff in 2011. In his current role, Ryan oversees all Camp communications and development initiatives. Most recently he served as Hole in the Wall’s Chief Communications Officer
He previously served as director of development and the East Coast Regional Office at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Ryan spent several years at Fordham University, serving as a media relations specialist, editor and assistant director of corporate and foundation relations.
Ryan holds two degrees from Fordham, a B.A. in communication/media studies and an M.A. in public communications. He also has taught as an adjunct professor at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, where he designed an experiential public relations course for undergraduate students.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded in 1988 by Paul Newman with one simple premise in mind: to provide opportunities for children with serious illnesses to experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp.
Paul Newman, while a successful actor, was also a visionary with the heart of a child. His personality, playfulness and mischievousness are infused within every corner of Camp, from the pirate flag he raised on the tree house to the days he spent on the lake fishing with campers. It was Paul’s dream that Camp, with its unobtrusive expert medical care, would provide seriously ill children with a fun-filled experience defined by compassion, laughter and acceptance.
A Little History
Newman announced his plans to build The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1986, and in June 1988, Camp opened. When the campers arrived, they found a kid-sized old west setting inspired by “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and filled with traditional summer camp programs adapted so that children with physical and medical limitations could participate. The accessibility of the programs along with a significant, yet unobtrusive medical presence allowed campers to embrace possibilities and safely challenge perceived limitations. Among kindred spirits facing similar challenges, they escaped isolation and found a community defined by acceptance.
June 18, 1988: The first campers arrive
In 1989, the healing power of Hole in the Wall extended to families with the introduction of a summer session for the healthy siblings of campers. In 1992, parents got in on the fun when the Camp introduced the first Change of Pace Experience (COPE) weekend. Then in 2002, one charismatic counselor, armed with paints and craft projects, ventured into a Connecticut hospital and proved that the fun and friendship experienced at Camp were portable. That is how the Hospital Outreach Program began and today more than 30 full-time specialists are serving nearly 40 locations from Boston to Philadelphia. Then in 2013, CampOut was launched, bringing the fun and friendship of Camp directly into camper homes and communities.
This year’s version of our annual hockey outing will take place on Saturday, February 8th. The game starts at 7:00. Prior to that, we will once again have a family style dinner at 4:45 at Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s—which is an approximate 5 minute walk from the Webster Bank Arena. Dinner will include a salad (gorgonzola if you wish), three different entrees (veal parmesan, chicken francaise and salmon piccata), cookie and pastry tray, coffee, tea, soft drinks and wine. Price, which includes a center ice ticket to the game and dinner, is $65. Parking is free at the restaurant. Car pools can be arranged.
Last year we had 24 people join the fun—including 8 wives/significant others. This year we will cap the attendance to the first 26 who sign up and pay. Sign up will begin at our first meeting in January.
Dennis Leibowitz has volunteered to lead a discussion on Disney and CBS. He is an expert in the media space including broadcast, cable and cellular, it should make for an interesting session.
Any other companies you’d like to discuss contact Jim Phillips
William Charles Brian Peoples
04/10/1934 to 11/27/2019 William Charles Brian Peoples, 85, of Darien CT, passed away on November 27, 2019 after a battle with cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.
Brian was born on April 10, 1934 to John and Nancy Peoples on Staten Island NY. After graduating from Staten Island Academy in 1951, he went on to study math at The University of Rochester and received an MBA in Accounting from Rutgers University Business School.
After graduation from college he went into the Army, then attended graduate school and then secured his first job as an accountant for Arthur Anderson, beginning his 38-year career in accounting as a CPA. He was the Managing Partner for Arthur Anderson-New York Metro for 6 years.
In 1946, he met Marguerite (Peggy) Lorey at Staten Island Academy. They wed in 1958, going on to have two children, Brian Jr. and Jeffery Peoples.
After retiring in 1996, Brian spent time with family, grandchildren, playing tennis, golf, and paddle tennis as a member of Wee Burn Country Club. He was on the boards of the Darien Library and the Darien Historical Society.
Brian was predeceased by his brother Dennis Peoples. He is survived by his wife Peggy, his brother John Peoples, his sister Nancy Joyce Benjamin, his two sons Brian and Jeffery, their spouses Priscilla and Liz Peoples, and four grandchildren: Emilie Peoples, Willie Peoples, Katy Peoples, and Charley Peoples.
A Memorial Service will be held at ST Luke’s Episcopal Church at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Post 53, the Darien Historical Society or the Darien Public library.
Memorial service January 11th, at St Luke’s Church, at 11:00am.
William D. Nolte Jr. 09/24/1936 to 12/2/2019 William D. Nolte Jr., a resident of Norwalk, passed away at Norwalk Hospital on Monday, December 2, 2019. Born in New York City on September 24, 1936, he was the son of the late William Devereux Nolte and Margaret Brennan Nolte. William attended Georgetown University and was a graduate of Fordham University. He had a long career in management consulting with Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand and eventually his own firm. He is survived by his wife Susan F. Nolte, son, William D. Nolte III (Elise) of Westport, CT, daughters Anne E. Nolte (Thomas A. Dippel), of Westport, CT, Kathleen B. Nolte of Tulum, Mexico and one granddaughter Ava Dippel Nolte. He is also survived by a sister Mary Elizabeth Wein (Robert M.) of
Bronxville, NY. A Mass will be held on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Norwalk. In lieu of flowers, prayers for the family would be appreciated.
We meet Monday to discuss the Macro Outllook and 2 sector themes this week: energy savings/renewables and 5G.
Art Baron will present Ansys (ANSS) . Ansys is an engineering simulation software company that enables its customers to test products by simulating multiple concepts before the manufacturing or design process is complete….thus saving energy prior to production.
Jim Phillips will present American Tower (AMT) as a play on 5G. American Tower owns and leases roughly 170,000 cell towers throughout the U.S., Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Everyone is encouraged to participate if they have particular insight to the companies we are discussing. Often members discuss stocks they own personally and wish added input. Jim Phillips
On Dec 12 we will go into Manhattan to see the Christmas decor. We’ll walk down to Herald Sq, then up as far as 59th St to see the storefronts, the Rock Center tree and perhaps a stop at St Patrick’s.
Greenwich Point is a beautiful peninsula surrounded by Long Island Sound and Greenwich Cove. The walking trails are flat and well maintained which is a bonus because the scenery is just spectacular. For half of the hike the skyline of New York is clearly visible and the Greenwich shoreline and magnificent water views complete the circuit. This has always been our most popular hike of about 2.5 miles which should take us no more than one and a half to two hours. An optional lunch will follow at Applausi Osteria Toscana at 199 Sound beach Avenue in Old Greenwich, a hit with past hikers.
DIRECTIONS: GOOGLE GREENWICH POINT
Take Exit 5 off southbound I-95 and make a sharp right onto US 1 north. At the first traffic light make a right onto Sound Beach Avenue. Follow Sound Beach through Old Greenwich for 1.8 miles and turn right onto Shore Road at the T intersection. Shore Road becomes Tods Driftway and enters the park past the guard house. Park in the first lot on the right where we will meet at 10:30. Spouses and guests are invited and dogs on a leash are permitted in the park after December 1.
ATTIRE; It will likely be quite windy and cool on this exposed sprit of land so layer up!
CONTACT: David McCollum
Write up:
The US Postal Service has nothing on the DMA hikers—“neither rain nor snow…” oh, wait a minute, the day did not turn out badly after all! The overnight snow was still evident at 10:30 in the morning but not a footing issue and the sun came out later on the hike. A good size group of 17 including three spouses walked just short of 3 miles in an hour and a half around the spectacular property. It’s easy to see why Greenwich keeps it pretty much to residents for most of the year!
About half the group stayed on for a delicious lunch at the Beach House Café in Old Greenwich.
Again this hike, as others, give us DMAers a chance to walk and talk in some really nice places!
Next hike—Sherwood Island Park in Westport Thursday, January 12 at 10:00 AM
