Eusebio and Enid Velez, twin brother and sister, only wish their father were still here to see them named the prince and queen of the Barnum Festival respectively.

But somehow, they believe their father, who died last month, is enjoying their recent success; and would want them to celebrate, too.

The Velezs, both from Kolbe Cathedral, never thought they had a prayer of winning the Barnum Festival King and Queen competition April 7 which involved 34 of the most talented juniors from area schools. Since the inception of the festival in 1949, judges have selected a King and Queen and Prince and Princess to join the Royal Family along with the Ringmaster. The 2002 Barnum Festival Ringmaster is Superior Court Judge Eddie Rodriguez.

But the Velezs, 17, thought the odds were against a brother and sister team winning anything, especially since the outgoing Queen, Treva Babbs, was a Kolbe Cathedral senior.

“When we were waiting for the announcements of the King and Queen, I was wondering where I had put my coat,” Eusebio said. “I never thought I had a chance. When they called my names as the prince and then my sister, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it.”

The 22 members of the Velez family as well as friends, who were on hand at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport, roared with joy as Eusebio and Enid’s names were called.

“I was thinking of my father when they called my name,” Enid said. “Somehow he knew I was going to win. This is amazing. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and being a part of the Barnum Festival.”

Even though the competition was stiff, the Velezs from Bridgeport easily met all the requirements – ranked in the top 20 percent of their class, involved in extracurricular activities and community work and demonstrated poise at public events.

Both brother and sister have 3.8 grade point averages and are strong student leaders. Enid has shoulder length dark brown hair, deep brown eyes and a warm smile. Although they’re not identical twins, they bear a strong resemblance to each other.

She’s the more outgoing than her brother and active in her school, serving as the vice president of Building with Books Club and was sophomore class president. Enid was named student of the month for January. She’s also a pitcher on the varsity softball team and enjoys singing and dancing.

In addition, she thinks it’s a priority to be involved in her community. She has participated in the Bridgeport Beach and Park Clean Up and organized food drives for the Thomas Merton House in Bridgeport to feed the homeless.

Eusebio is the quieter of the two who loves to read Spanish and French and collects Titanic memorabilia. He works at the St. Charles Rectory as a receptionist, teaches CDC classes as does his sister and sings in the youth choir. In the summer, he’s worked with his sister at Harbor Yard, organizing children to play games in the Kid Zone.

It’s only been a short time since being named to the Barnum Festival Royal Family, but already their lives have changed. The phone rings constantly in the Velez household with congratulations. Enid is glad the calls are happy which is a welcome change from only a month ago when phone calls from friends and family were condolences over their father’s death.

“I’m not quite sure about all my duties,” Enid said. “But I know I’ll be meeting so many people and being involved in the Barnum Festival. It’s going to be exciting.”

As the Queen, she along with the Royal Family, including her King, Dan Schofield-Bodt of Shelton High School, will attend all the Barnum Festival events, such as the Wing Ding Carnival, The Great Street Parade and The Fireworks Blast. Desiree Acommando of Masuk High School joins Eusebio as the festival Princess.

Former Queen Babb has filled Enid and Eusebio in on some of the festival highlights. In particular, the Velezs are looking forward to the festival Roadshow that involves a whirlwind three-day tour of area nursing homes in the Greater Bridgeport area to entertain and meet the residents.

 The Velezs are celebrating their success, as their father would want – completely as a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity.

“Meeting people and having fun is what the Barnum Festival is all about,” Enid said. “If we can bring some fun and put a smile on someone’s face then it was all worthwhile. I know our father would expect us to live up to our duties as the festival Royal Family.”

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An important piece of Bridgeport history went up in smoke when a fire burned Tom Thumb's house on North Ave. in early April.

Thumb, born in Bridgeport, was arguably P.T. Barnum's biggest star in his Greatest Show on Earth. Of course, it was a double tragedy because a man living next door to Thumb's house also died - possibly of smoke inhalation from the fire.

At the Barnum Festival, we regret the passing of both. Here, I want to address the importance of preserving Barnum's spirit and the historical sites associated with him. Barnum left a wonderful legacy of fun for all ages which the Festival has celebrated since it started in 1949. Community history is something that shapes us. Without it, we're rudderless in the present. Thumb's home was a

landmark of a little man (Thumb stood about 3-foot-8) who had a big talent as a showman that made him a hit with European royalty as well as the American public.

I cherish that rich history; it's part of the fabric of our community. I still regret the fire that destroyed the old Bridgeport train station that evokes wonderful memories of my childhood when my father and grandfather took me there to meet my great uncle, arriving from Pittsburgh. When that building

burned to the ground, it broke my heart.

The Festival thinks the memory of Tom Thumb and his wife, Lavinia Warren is important. Every year, the Festival chooses two young area school children to play Tom Thumb and his wife. They become part of the Festival's Royal Family which includes the Ringmaster as well as the King and Queen and Prince and Princess chosen from area high school juniors.

Even though our Tom Thumb (Rodger McDonald, 8, of Milford) and Lavinia Warren (Sarah Vezina, 10, of Stratford) are only children, they are an important part of the Royal Family and participate in all the Festival events.

My favorite is the Roadshow, where our Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren join the rest of the Royal Family and a host of volunteers and entertainers, traveling to 23 area nursing homes in three days through Bridgeport, Stratford, Shelton, Trumbull, Fairfield and Southport. In the tradition of Barnum, our Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren typically steal the show. The traveling troupe brings fun and laughter to many sick and elderly who appreciate a laugh.

The Festival continues to preserve Barnum's spirit in many other ways. We're in the process of purchasing an historic building on McKinley Street in Bridgeport which is believed to be Barnum's former carriage house. (We're researching its authenticity). Our intent is to store parade floats and other equipment there, but, at the same time, we believe we're preserving Barnum's

memory for the community.

After 54 years, the Barnum Festival continues to be one of the largest summer festivals in New England. There's a reason for that. The Festival touches a chord in people throughout all Fairfield County and the state who enjoy the fun it brings every summer. Thousands come to see the Great Street Parade and the Fireworks or enjoy the carnival atmosphere of the Wing Ding.

It's ironic that the Saturday we chose our Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren was the day Thumb's house burned. It was a bittersweet event. We were thrilled with the precocious and talented children selected to play the couple, but sad that a historical piece of the Barnum tradition was destroyed on the same day.

At the Festival, we believe it's our job to preserve Barnum's spirit and continue to offer a Tradition of Fun For All Ages. It's a job we work hard at every year because it's important to preserve the past and celebrate the present.

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Viscardi took first with her performance of "Salut a la France - La Fille du Regiment" by Donizetti. Alexi Z. Martin of New York was named the runner up with her rendition in German of "O zittre nicht" by Mozart.

A Harvard graduate, Martin will serve as a stand in for Viscardi and also lives in New York.

Viscardi will perform with the Swedish Jenny Lind winner, Merete Meyer at the Polka Dot Playhouse on State St. She also will tour Sweden with Meyer for two weeks (July 26-Aug. 15), performing around the country. In addition, she receives $2,000 for winning the competition; Martin gets $500 as the runner up.

Maureen Tomchik, Chairperson of the Jenny Lind Contest in its 54th year, said the talent of the contestants was exceptional which made picking a winner a difficult choice from the 13 finalists from around the country.

"As usual, these girls were incredible singers, which made it difficult for our judges," Tomchik said. "We attract great talent which makes for a wonderful Jenny Lind Concert. The people of Connecticut are also winners because they will have the chance to hear a great opera talent."

Viscardi finished as the runner up two years ago in the Jenny Lind but was unable to compete last year. She was anxious to get back; and her second try was the winner at the competition held at the Salem Lutheran Church in Bridgeport that opens the church to the Festival competition every year.

"I felt good about my performance," Viscardi said. "It's a great honor to win this. The competition was so incredible. I'm looking forward to performing in Bridgeport and then in Sweden. For an opera singer, the Jenny Lind is a great opportunity in building a singing career."

Viscardi appreciates the history of Jenny Lind who was a huge opera star in her homeland of Sweden and throughout Europe. P.T. Barnum introduced her to America where she became a super star in America, too.

A Vassar graduate with a degree in music, Viscardi also works as an administrative assistant for a dot.com company in New York. She has an impressive resume of musical accomplishments to accompany her beautiful operatic voice. Some of Viscardi's most recent performances are: Northeast Children's' Opera theater, Metropolitan Lyric theater, Di Capo Opera Co, New Rochelle Opera, Inc., Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Co. In November, she will be the Resident Artist at the Portland Opera Works.

Viscardi thinks the Barnum Festival's rich history and connection to opera gives aspiring singers a great opportunity to perform.

"What the Barnum Festival does is wonderful and unique," Viscardi said. "I'm just honored to be a part of such a great tradition."

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Nick Pecorelli: A Barnum Festival Tradition   By Frank Szivos

BRIDGEPORT - Since 1962, Nick Pecorelli of Bridgeport has been a Barnum Festival tradition. It wouldn’t be a Festival without Pecorelli volunteering year round to do whatever it takes to make every event a success.

Over the last 40 years, he was named Barnum Festival Volunteer of the Year and served as former marshal of the Great Street Parade and the Drum and Bugle Corps Competition.

Pecorelli has had a long love affair with drum and bugle corps. As a boy, he played the snare drum in the former Blessed Sacrament Drum Corps. He was recognized for his expertise in drum and bugle corps competition and honored several times by the Drum Corps Association of America.

“I just enjoy helping out,” Pecorelli said. “It’s in my blood now. I love to work on the planning and doing the behind-the-scenes stuff to make the Barnum Festival a success.”

He became a Barnum Festival volunteer when he worked at Sikorsky Aircraft in production control. Sikorsky’s Nelson H. Downs served as ringmaster and invited Pecorelli, one of his most organized employees, to join the Festival. During four decades, he’s seen the Barnum Festival continue to grow and become a tradition that offers so much fun to so many area residents.

“When you think about it, the Barnum Festival is one of a kind that offers something for everyone regardless of age,” Pecorelli said. “Our goal is to continue to reach young people who will become supporters of the Festival in the future.”

Len Berger, Chairman of the Barnum Festival Marketing Committee, relies on Pecorelli’s commitment to get the job done to make the Festival a success.

“Nick knows how to get it done,” Berger said. “He’s such a valuable asset to the Barnum Festival; I couldn’t imagine it running without him. He gives so much of himself. Nick never looks for recognition. He’s a terrific guy.”

Pecorelli handles the nuts and bolts arrangements that make events run smoothly. He mails out letters to parade participants and sponsors; contacts fire and zoning officials to obtain permits and authorization; arranges for the construction of floats and insurance, plans the parade route and helps line up everyone involved in the parade.

The Barnum Festival is also a family affair for the Pecorellis. His wife, Rae and daughter, Lori both volunteer for several Barnum Festival events. “Lori didn’t have a chance. She was born into the Barnum Festival,” Pecorelli said.

In the Great Street Parade, you can see Pecorelli riding in the last vehicle, waving to the crowd and asking if people liked the parade and promising to be back next year.

“The Barnum Festival keeps rolling on,” Pecorelli said. “It brings the community together in a unique way. I believe in the Festival slogan: ‘A tradition of fun for all ages.’”

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The Barnum Festival Provides the Sweet Notes of Calliope Music

 By Frank Szivos

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Barnum Festival: Celebrating Family, Friends & Tradition

By Len Berger

Every Barnum Festival Ringmaster has a slogan. As the 55^th Ringmaster my theme is Celebrating Family, Friends and Tradition for 2003.

To me, that’s what the Festival is all about and I’m glad to be a part of it. Many of the Festival events include fun for families which has become a tradition for the Greater Bridgeport area for the last 55 years. I’m thrilled to be the Ringmaster. I’ve been involved with the Festival for the last 25 years and it was a great honor for me to be named the new Ringmaster.

I want to greet the Greater Bridgeport community and assure them that the Festival will continue to grow bigger and better for the upcoming year. We’re coming off one of our best years in 2002 under Superior Court Judge Eddie Rodriguez who did a great job as the Ringmaster directing the Festival to another successful season. I hope to follow his lead and build the excitement about the Barnum Festival which is one of the oldest festivals in New England.

Even though the Festival has been around for more than a half century, we find that too many people aren’t aware of what it’s all about. It’s our job to spread the word that the Festival is still a great time for families. The Festival has a loyal following among a core of supporters, but we want to spread the word to a new audience about all the great events we offer free for families, such as the Wing Ding for children, the Sky Blast and Great Street Parade.

Since I’ve become Ringmaster, I’ve had several strangers approach me in the street to congratulate me on being named Ringmaster. It surprises me, but, at the same time, tells me that people are aware of the Festival and that we’re doing something right.

Every time we sponsor an event, we are continuing a great area tradition that we want to share with the Greater Bridgeport community. In addition to the 27 events we offered last year, we’re already planning more. In 2003, we would like to add a new event that includes the newly renovated Bridgeport waterfront to show off the new docks. It’s something we used to do and would be an exciting to reintroduce it to the Festival lineup.

For this fall, we’re also planning a contest to name the Barnum Festival elephant in our logo, which gives the community a great opportunity to get involve with us. Use your creativity to think of a catchy name and win a prize, if your entry is selected. Stay tuned for all the particulars about the contest.

I also want to encourage area residents to become Festival volunteers. It’s an ideal to join the Festival family – volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We couldn’t put on all the events that we do without the tireless dedication of our volunteers. I joined the Festival 25 years ago as volunteer selling booster buttons and I’m still part of it. It’s still one of the best things I’ve ever done. When you volunteer for the Festival, you make great friends, which for me, have lasted for more than two decades. 

In a way, I’ve grown up with the Festival. As a kid in the 1950s from Trumbull, I always looked forward to going to the Great Street Parade with my parents every summer. The spectacle of the bands, floats, horses and organizations always thrilled me. Since then it’s always held a special place in my heart. I hope more area residents will join us to Celebrate Family, Friends and Tradition in 2003.

Len Berger is the 55^th Barnum Festival Ringmaster. He can be reached at www.barnumfestival.com or 203-367-8495 or bfringmaster2003@aolcom.

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It Was Good to Be the King

By Frank Szivos

FAIRFIELD, November 3, 2002 - When Fred Gardiner of Fairfield sees the new Barnum Festival King and Queen fresh from their crowning, he smiles and remembers when it was his time.

In 1951, when Harry S. Truman was president, white bucks were in and the New York Giants won the National League pennant on Bobby Thompson’s shot heard around the world, Gardiner was a 16-year-old candidate for Barnum Festival King from the then Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield.

Gardiner recalls he was the only candidate on the stage, wearing white bucks, which he thought were cool until he noticed none of the other kids wore any. But he had something special as the judges named him the first Barnum Festival King.

It was an experience he still cherishes today. “It was an awesome experience,” Gardiner said. “We were treated so courteously and well taken care of. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

As King, Gardiner and the first Royal Family appeared on New York television. He also recalls appearing on WICC radio for an interview.

Gardiner is looking forward to attending the Barnum Festival Reunion Nov. 15 (Friday) at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport at 7 p.m. and seeing some familiar faces from his past.

He admits he never expected to win and was stunned when the judges announced his name. By the end of the summer through the Barnum Festival, Gardiner had made many new friendships – some that he still maintains – and developed a great deal of self-confidence. The retired Director of Community Affairs for SNET in the Bridgeport and Waterbury area, Gardiner remembers his Festival Queen - Eleanor Volpe of Harding High School.

Fifty-five years later, Gardiner thinks the Festival is just as important to the Greater Bridgeport community. A former Marine, Gardiner stayed connected to the Festival by serving on the Board of Directors for several years. “The Barnum Festival brings people of all walks of life together,” he said. “You appreciate how important your friends are in the community and how cooperation among businesses are important to the area.”

He believes the key to a successful Barnum Festival is good Ringmasters. They become the focal point of the Festival which draws support from many facets of the community. However, there’s a greater challenge today to make the Festival successful because of tighter corporate budgets to support community organizations and events.

Gardiner praises the Festival for changing with the times to fit the need of the community while preserving certain traditions, such as the Great Street Parade, the Wing Ding and the Jenny Lind Concert. He believes La Danza, a dinner dance that celebrates the area’s Hispanic community, is a perfect example of a newer event that draws a growing population to the Festival.

Gardiner still cherishes his experiences as the first King of the Barnum Festival. It was a summer he will never forget. 

“How can you forget one of the greatest times of my life?” he said. “When I see the new King and Queen I smile and remember. I’m sure they’ll feel the same one day.”

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Mimi Nelsen & George Estrada: Co-Volunteers of the Year

Mimi Nelsen of Stratford and George Estrada of Bridgeport have committed 20 years to the Barnum Festival – mostly behind the scenes. They do all the “dirty” work, organizing, setting up, supervising and cleaning up after events with no fanfare.

Both Nelsen and Estrada volunteer hundreds of hours every year because they love that the Festival draws the entire Greater Bridgeport community together.

For all their work, Nelsen and Estrada were recently named Barnum Festival Co-Volunteers of the Year.

“It’s a chance to give back,” Nelsen said. “It makes you feel good inside. I started small and my involvement has grown each year. I was shocked that the Festival would recognize me in this way.”

Estrada enjoys the community involvement and has made many friendships by volunteering at the Festival.

“There’s great camaraderie among the volunteers,” Estrada said. “We’ve made many friends and socialize with volunteers outside of the Festival. I believe the Barnum Festival is important to the community which some might take for granted. It’s an honor to be recognized by the Festival but I get as much as I put into it.”

Barnum Festival President Mike Repko described both Co-Volunteers of the Year as tireless workers who make the Festival go.

“Both Mimi and George are incredible,” Repko said. “Mimi is a ball of energy who’s always going. And George is always there for the Festival. Whatever we need, he’s willing to chip in. We couldn’t have a Barnum Festival without both of them and the other many key volunteers we’re lucky to have them.”

Nelsen chairs the Road Show, a three-day talent show that visits 23 nursing homes over three days. Six years ago, former Ringmaster Bob Laska, publisher of the Connecticut Post, invited Nelsen to handle the Road Show since she had run a talent show at St. Mark’s Church in Stratford for 18 years that involved about 150 children.

A math resource teacher at Curiale School in Bridgeport, Nelsen has drawn her entire family into the Road Show. Her husband, Peter, plays the piano while her twins Mathew and Katie perform along with mom. Her oldest daughter Kasey took part throughout high school.

Despite the incredible amount of work assembling the 55-person show of amateur and professional singers, dancers, musicians and clowns, it’s all worthwhile when she sees the joy on the faces of the nursing home residents.

“The Road Show is hectic and a lot of work, but I love it when we see those people from the nursing home smiling and singing,” Nelsen said. “So many of them come up to us and are so thrilled because we perform for them.”

For the last six years, the twins have celebrated their birthday, performing in the Road Show, sponsored by St. Vincent’s Medical Center. They wouldn’t have it any other way.

In particular, Nelsen enjoyed visiting the SADA and REMESA elderly centers for the first time this year since the audience response was so enthusiastic. When the Road Show troupe performed “Labamba,” the entire audience was dancing and singing.

Nelsen is still working hard for the Festival, planning and rehearsing for the Ringmaster’s Road Show Review, a Festival fundraiser open to the public, Oct. 5 at St. Mark’s Church. For reservations, call Ceil Furkiotis at 372-4621.

Estrada, a senior project manager for the Bodine Corporation, became involved in 1991 as the chairman of the Wing Ding Parade for kids. After that, he was hooked.

He’s currently the chairman of the Polo Match and Antique Car Show, which took place Sept. 15 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club. He’s also served as the Executive Aide to the Ringmaster and Grand Marshall of the Great Street Parade.

The Festival has evolved into a family affair for the Estrada family. Estrada’s wife, Rita, chairs Barnum Sails the Sound and his two children, Brian and Jennifer have been involved in the Wing Ding Parade.

Estrada sees a new intensity of interest in the Festival in its 55^th year which has become an important part of the community fabric. Estrada’s favorite event is the Wing Ding because it’s for children. He enjoys seeing the happiness on the faces of hundreds of kids who participate in the parade, dressed in costumes and riding on homemade floats.

“It’s amazing how many events the Festival does are free,” Estrada said. “People expect these events to happen every year because it’s part of the community. Every summer, the Festival comes around and the community looks forward to it.”

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