A lucky, smart move into finance

Larry M. Elkin left journalism for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, then left Andersen to create his own financial planning business. He says he was lucky. Others would say he was lucky and smart.

Caring for sea creatures great and small

The Milne Ocean Science and Conservation Center provides a 24/7 medical suite for the residents of Mystic Aquarium. Meanwhile, butterflies are in the “Flutter Zone” at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk May 28 through Sept. 5.

Touro becomes a university in New York

In February, Touro College – the largest Jewish-sponsored educational institution in the United States – kicked off its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration with a special gift: The school was granted university status by the New York State Board of Regents. Overseeing this transformation at a time when geopolitics (Touro has schools in Moscow and Jerusalem) has dovetailed with heath care is Alan Kadish, M.D. – president of the Touro College and University System, a man whose entrepreneurial skills have been as crucial to his personal and professional success as his medical gifts and Jewish faith.

One-stop living

“Our community is designed to be as integrated as possible,” says Sara Humphreys, the executive director of The Club at Briarcliff. “The way the building was designed was that if you start at independent living and, at some point, you evolve and need more care, you move over to assisted living. The benefit is that you don’t have to leave the building. You’re just moving apartments and you still have access to the same amenities you did when you were an independent.”

Documenting Covid’s ‘First Wave’

When Covid hit New York City hard in the spring of 2020, Darien native Matthew Heineman was there to document it at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. Now his resulting film, “The First Wave,” has been short-listed for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category.

Not just for the uber-wealthy

“I grew up in a middle-class family and my dad was very hard-working,” says Barry P. Mitchell Jr., founder and managing director of Next Level Private in Harrison. “He never really made a lot of money – we didn’t realize we didn’t have any money, but we had a great upbringing – and he just never got great financial advice, because he didn’t have enough money. So, we’ve decided to forego a minimum to work with successful regular people who need help.”

A publisher without vanity

“There are so many vanity publishers out there, and people that will simply take a book because the author has the money to do it,” says Emerald Lake Books co-owner Tara R. Alemany. “They don’t really assess the quality of the book or how it’s going to affect the author if that particular book goes out in its current condition. For us, a lot of it is about the ethics behind this and about having a very high sense of integrity.”

A city council president for all

As Yonkers chief ombudswoman, newly elected City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy wants to advocate on behalf of the entire city, ensuring diversity in housing, education, the workforce and government.

A rising entertainment capital

The simultaneous arrival of a major Hollywood entertainment studio’s production facilities coupled with a new chapter for a popular gaming destination is resulting in Yonkers being reinvented as the region’s new crossroads of commerce and culture.

They love Greenwich

Serial entrepreneur Christian Perry (a choreographer on “Dancing With the Stars”) and real estate broker Danielle Claroni have teamed for Sotheby’s International Realty’s “I Love Greenwich” marketing campaign.

When plants become endangered

Most people are aware of the concept of endangered and extinct species within the animal kingdom, but less common is knowledge about plants and trees that have either been brought to the brink of oblivion or pushed into the extinguishing abyss.