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Vira Mamchur Schwartz

Writer

vschwartz@dailyvoice.com

Vira Mamchur Schwartz is the quintessential jack-of-all-trades... and master of a few of them. Vira’s editorial career started in technology publishing, writing and editing at the Ziff-Davis publication Computer Shopper. Later she served as Managing Editor at CD-ROM World and then Internet World, before moving to freelance writing.

Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Folio, Portable Computing, Internet Shopper and other websites and magazines that no longer exist. She ghost-wrote and designed an award-winning diet and fitness book for a popular fitness personality and, currently, loves to tell stories about people and animals.

Vira Mamchur Schwartz's Contributions

Business

One Family, Four Diners: How Love & Fate Led To Fairfield County Dynasty NORWALK, Conn. – Call it kismet, a good feeling, or just plain luck. Olga Giapoutzis, owner of the Post Road Diner in Norwalk along with her husband Teddy, hadn’t planned on coming to the United States from her native Greece let alone staying, but her father persuaded her to come to Connecticut to help her brother at his restaurant. Fate intervened: She met Teddy. “And that’s why I stayed,” said Giapoutzis. In 1996, with her husband and his two sisters, the family went into business together and bought the Post Road Diner on Connecticut Avenue, which had been there since 1948. “When we f…

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz

12/07/2017

Business

Diner Dynasty: One Family Serves Up 'Love' At Bronxville Diner There's a long story behind the origins of the year-old Bronxville Diner --- a lot of which centers on fate, love and pure old gut feelings. A lot also hinges on hard work. Olga Giapoutzis, who runs the diner with her husband, Teddy, has been in the diner business since 1996. She hadn’t planned on coming to the United States from her native Greece let alone staying, but her father convinced her to go to Connecticut to help her brother at his restaurant. Fate intervened: She met Teddy. “And that’s why I stayed,” said Giapoutzis. In 1996, with her husband and his two sisters, the family …

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz

12/07/2017

Lifestyle

Garden Catering Trades Gift Cards For Toy Donations At Norwalk Location NORWALK, Conn. – Are you craving cones, those popular fried mashed potato bites? Simply bring a new unwrapped toy, gift card, gloves or warm hat to any Garden Catering location in Connecticut from now until Sunday and get a $10 Garden Catering gift card. You can buy cones – or anything else on the menu — with the gift card. Over 500 unused toys were donated in last year's drive, according to Frank Carpenteri Jr., owner of Garden Catering. "It was an amazing effort all around, " said Carpenteri, "with many longtime customers dropping off multiple gifts, and even Garden Cater…

by Daily Voice

12/07/2017

Neighbors

William Raveis Honored For Fundraising Work To Fight Cancer WESTPORT, Conn. – Bill Raveis, Fairfield resident and founder of William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance, was honored at the Westport Country Playhouse for his exceptional fundraising efforts for cancer research. Raveis was recognized last week at the 10th annual Moffly Media Light a Fire Awards Ceremony, emceed by Broadway star James Naughton, which honors the nonprofit and philanthropic work of Fairfield County’s community heroes. Cancer is personal to Raveis. When his friend (and president of Raveis) was diagnosed with cancer, followed by his wife, “it hit home twice."…

by Daily Voice

12/04/2017

Business

From Prom To Mother Of The Bride, Darien Shop Stands Test Of Time DARIEN, Conn. – Many stores and businesses have come and gone over the last two generations on Boston Post Road, but one remains constant: Helen Ainson. The Darien-based shop, owned by Rowayton resident Erica Jensen, recently celebrated 40 years in the business. It’s not your usual shop that can boast dressing the same woman for prom and her daughter’s wedding, but Helen Ainson can and does. Jensen has always loved fashion. She learned firsthand working for her mother, Helen Ainson (for whom Jensen’s shop is named), one of the rare women who owned and operated her own clothing store, firs…

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz

12/01/2017

Lifestyle

The Bands All Here: Westchester's Song For Seeds Sings For Santa Songs for Seeds, the award-winning children’s band and music program, will hold a free holiday concert at The Galleria in White Plains on Sunday, Dec.3, at 11 a.m. with a special guest appearance by Santa Claus. “We're delighted to bring the band to The Galleria,” said Dana Fisher of Scarsdale, owner of Songs for Seeds in Westchester. “It’s a great opportunity for parents and children to participate in the Songs for Seeds experience." Songs for Seeds is an introduction-to-music program for children ages six and under featuring a live band of teacher/musicians. Classes are held in Scars…

by Daily Voice

12/01/2017

Lifestyle

Gain From Pain: Easton Resident Vies for Top Prize with Headache Hat EASTON, Conn. – Migraines with their intense pain, visual auras, and nausea may not seem like proper intellectual stimuli for the next great invention, but it was while coming out of one that the idea of the Headache Hat hit Sherri Pulie. The Easton resident has suffered from migraines her entire life. Not always needing or wanting to take medication, Pulie had relied on her mother’s migraine remedy: a re-sealable plastic bag of ice cubes on her head while lying in a dark room. “I would move the ice cubes around in the bag and put them on my pain points and feel instant numbing and pressure…

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz

11/30/2017

Lifestyle

Find The Fantastic At Chappaqua Holiday Boutique Shop and do good at the same time. At Fantastic Finds’ annual Holiday Boutique in Chappaqua, all proceeds benefit Support Connection's free year-round breast and ovarian cancer support services. The store, which had its grand re-opening in September, is staffed with volunteers who handle sales and inventory as well as donations. During the Holiday Boutique, there will be refreshments, pop-up sales and more. Available items include a large selection of glassware, artwork, housewares, china, small appliances, home decor, bric a brac and small or accent furniture. Shoppers will also find c…

by Daily Voice

11/29/2017

Lifestyle

Snowman Plans To 'Run, Have Fun' At Annual Frosty Day In Armonk Frosty the Snowman, with his button nose and corncob pipe, will make his triumphant return to Armonk on Sunday, Nov. 26, leading children of all ages down the town streets. The annual Frosty Day starts downtown at 12:30 p.m. and celebrates the world’s favorite snowman with family-friendly rides and activities, along with dancers, singers, marching bands, magicians, clowns, elves, Santa, and the star of the show -- the beloved snowman himself. Shops and merchants will offer face-painting, cookie frosting, holiday ornament decorating and a make-your-own Frosty to carry in the parade, which b…

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz

11/25/2017

Lifestyle

Wilton Ballerinas To Grace Stage In New Canaan 'Nutcracker' Performance NEW CANAAN, Conn. – It's Nutcracker time. The New England Academy of Dance’s annual presentation of the holiday classic features several Wilton residents: Frida Allers (Angel); Kayla McCauley (Mouse); Blake Baumel (Pixie, Toy Soldier); Nicolle Allers (Bluebell); Caitlyn Lentner (Bluebell); Morgan LeBlanc (Candy Cane, Ivy, Soldier); and Avery Baumel (Chinese, Roses). Lavish sets and dazzling costumes serve as the backdrop to more than 250 dancers, including students from the New Canaan-based New England Academy of Dance (NEAD) and professional guest artists from New York City. For the firs…

by Daily Voice

11/24/2017

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