The Glasers jump in when we’re knee-deep in water

Although entrepreneurship runs deep in the American psyche, it takes a special kind of person to leave the relative safety and structure of a large company and strike out on his or her own ... into the unknown.

Herman and Catalina Glaser of Branford did just that.

Catalina, an energetic whirlwind who thinks and speaks in fast forward with a Romanian accent, arrived in America from Bucharest in 1986. She had been a hotel manager in her native country, but when she moved to Connecticut from California, she studied business management at the University of New Haven. She met Herman, who was to become her future husband, when she went to work for Nuclear Systems Inc., a company which Herman, a technical engineer, owned.

Four partners had formed the company, which specialized in installing nuclear medicine equipment such as special cameras used to diagnose cancer and heart problems. In 1983, Herman bought out the other partners and still operates that business as a sideline, but now acts only as a broker for exporting the equipment.

The Glasers became interested in what now occupies them seven days a week when their former medical equipment company’s offices happened to be next door to one of the founders of the Northeast division of Servpro, a nationwide company and the leaders in cleaning and restoration services.

Herman, who has always had an entrepreneurial personality, recognized a unique business opportunity, and he and Catalina took the plunge and bought the franchise licenses enabling them to serve the New Haven area and the Shoreline, all the way to the Rhode Island line.

I first became familiar with the work of Servpro when, during a torrential rain, my basement flooded. Seeing the water rising and worried about important papers and stored clothing, I was slightly panicked, to put it mildly.

The Servpro crew responded immediately, vacuumed away the water (twice), moved other objects to safety and disposed of hopelessly damaged and water-logged items, all with efficiency and care.

Because they work with insurance companies to nullify progression of damage, the equipment and chemicals they employ must be superior to industry standards and of the highest quality.

From the more mundane tasks such as carpet cleaning to complex restorations from fire, smoke and soot or mold mitigation, Servpro is equipped to respond quickly.

A good example of their work occurred when the Blackstone Library suffered major water damage while the roof was being replaced. In this case, there were important documents that had to be saved, often the case as well with legal or medical firms when a catastrophe occurs.

The company is expert in a freeze-dry method that can restore and preserve important documents. They are also trained to handle criminal blood bio-hazard instances, cleaning up after murders or suicides.

The long hours and hard work have paid off for the Glasers. Starting 12 years ago with 3,000 square feet of space on Route 139, then moving to Branford Business Park, where they occupied 10,000 square feet, the Glasers recently built their own spacious 24,000-square-foot headquarters at 2 Sycamore Way in Branford.

Offering 24-hour emergency service, Servpro is a good name to remember. Call 203-488-8881 or 1-800-846-4466.

- Article by Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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Herb Pearce - a gift for life with no regrets

I hardly knew Herb Pearce, who died last month on April 18, yet I knew he lived a remarkable life.

By the time I became affiliated with the Pearce Co. as a co-founder, with Maureen Campbell, of a separate senior services program, Herb was almost 90.

I would, however, see him bustling into his office when he was in town, or hear him address company meetings, speaking without any notes, his vigor and sense of humor, an inspiration to all who heard him.

Most of all, I came to know and appreciate Herb through the many stories and recollections of others whenever I mentioned his name. It seemed everyone who knew this charismatic, but fiercely independent individual had a unique “Herb” story to relate.

No surprise then, that every pew of the huge Trinity Church in New Haven was filled at his memorial service with people from all walks of life, from former employees to public officials. His family and his daughter Barbara, in her remarkable eulogy, reflected on his ways and wit. Barbara Pearce recounted how Herb, always in a hurry, skipped over letters in his speeches at Realtor dinners around the state.

Beginning with “R” for resilience and going on to “E” for enthusiasm and “A” for attitude, it was supposed to spell out “REALTOR,” but Herb would race to the end, leaving out a different letter each time; much to the annoyance of his wife who would say, “Herb, I’m not going to drive around the state to listen to you misspell Realtor.”

Despite the fact that his wife was an Army nurse with two graduate degrees and he only graduated high school, Herb, who had risen through the ranks at the A.C. Gilbert Co., was always supremely self-confident. He believed in the power of positive thinking and felt there wasn’t much that couldn’t be changed with a change in attitude. That exuberance drew people to him and he had friends of all ages for whom he would often plan parties, presents and pranks.

Herb applied his enthusiasm to his community work as well. He loved to raise money for nonprofit causes and planned and executed ambitious campaigns and was proud of the good that they did. Herb used to say that some people had MBAs, but he had RLC — rat-like cunning. His cunning was, I think, comprised of hard work and an ability to see opportunities everywhere. He had a big impact on the town of North Haven and was a driving force behind a bridge to Universal Drive, which helped to transform it into today’s retail center. The bridge is named the Herbert H. Pearce & Donald B. Lippincott Commemorative Bridge in honor of Pearce and his partner.

Herb Pearce was forward looking about change of all kinds. He was proud of being the first in the real estate industry to run billboards, full-page ads, radio and TV commercials.

He had a car phone in 1968 when you had to go through a marine operator to place your call, and at the end of his life when he was just a few days short of his 95th year, he had a Facebook page and an iPod.

He had friends who were professors and friends who were laborers, friends in their 20s and friends in their 90s, and he treated them all the same way. Barbara Pearce said, “Something about the almost magical combination of personality, character and presence allowed him to leave an indelible imprint on more lives than almost anyone I’ve ever known.”

The many organizations he supported and the scholarships he established remain as tributes to a man whose life exemplified his favorite Winston Churchill saying, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotckiss Grove, Branford, Ct. 06405.

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Imagine what we could do with the billions spent on Mother's Day

Today is the day we remember and honor the important role of mothers. And, perhaps, partially out of a sense of guilt that for most of the year, mothers are underappreciated, some $14 billion will be spent in this country for Mother’s Day; which includes $2.9 billion in meals, $2.5 billion in jewelry and $1.9 billion in flowers.

New York columnist and author Nicholas Kristof, who has been an untiring advocate for women and girls in under-developed countries, suggests we move the apostrophe so that it becomes Mothers’ Day, an occasion to help other mothers around the globe as well.

The $670 million spent on Mother’s Day cards alone, could change the lives of many of thousands of poor women.

We might all, for example, request a small donation in our name be sent to Women for Women International, CARE, or Save the Children, instead of candy or cards.

Right here in Connecticut, I met recently with a remarkable woman and mother who has dedicated herself to helping not just mothers, but fathers, children and families. I first learned about Cheryl Bedore from the equally remarkable Blanche Newman, a 90-year-old friend, poet and active volunteer at Cheryl’s charitable center, Master’s Manna, in Wallingford.

Although Cheryl had worked in the medical field, she felt a clear calling to help “feed God’s flock” in Wallingford and in 2006 in only 600 square feet of space, she started her charity in the basement of a church. Now, Master’s Manna is in a spacious, albeit industrial space at 46 N. Plains Road in Wallingford. It houses a food pantry, a soup kitchen, a diaper bank and a used clothing area.

Always seeking more and better ways to help, this indefatigable and determined woman has added a free small medical clinic, which is open a half-day each week, staffed with doctors contracted through the Community Health Center.

Cheryl is also instituting a new service provided by Labor Ready, a firm which works with local companies to find temporary jobs for those who are out of work. Classes are offered in saving money through couponing, cooking and sewing. Cheryl feels families need to be shown ways to return to some basics and learn how to shop smart, grow some of their own food, do canning and preserving and make some of their own clothes ... all excellent ways to stretch a dollar.

There is a shower and laundry facilities, much needed by people who have temporarily lost their homes. The cheerful, licensed kitchen and dining room with its large-screen television and popcorn machine, serves lunch twice a week and dinner on Fridays. There is a bulletin board listing items people wish to dispose of and items that are needed, and there are even several vans which will provide nonemergency transportation.

All of this is run by small army of volunteers who greet and hug one another like members of a big family. Cheryl says, “Find your passion and that is the area in which you should help.”

Lyman Hall High School students as well as a group of autistic children from Benhaven School also serve as volunteers. Cheryl calls these children “differently abled,” typical of her “always look for the positive” view of life.

She is sure, for instance, that a much-needed, commercial-type freezer will be donated by someone; perhaps a restaurant buying a new one or someone going out of business. Food is received from the local Stop & Shop, ShopRite, Elizabeth’s Bakery and Thurston Foods, while Bristol-Myers, Wallingford Rotary, Webster Bank, United Way and others have made donations and the Wallingford office of Pearce Real Estate has taken part in several community efforts.

Master’s Manna derives its name from “manna,” the provision provided by God to the Israelites who were in the desert for 40 years.

I was quite bowled over by the selfless commitment Cheryl and her volunteers exhibit and by their accomplishments. Cheryl’s motto says it all, “With the grace of God, gladness and singleness of heart, we come to serve those in need with respect, dignity and compassion.”

To find out more or make a donation, call 203-678-3042 or go to www.mastersmanna.org.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotckiss Grove, Branford, Ct. 06405.

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Visits to the theater and museums were just what the doctor ordered

Following the advice I give to others who also serve as caregivers, I took a “mini vacation” recently. Some people find they are rejuvenated by lolling in the sun on a sandy beach, others by a visit to close friends, still others prefer their own familiar surroundings and a good book.

For me, it has always been travel to exotic places, the theater and museums. Exotic places are not possible while looking after Val and in addition, it is too expensive to do on a regular basis unless you happen to be the author of “Eat, Pray, Love” and can recover from a love affair by traveling, writing about your miserable life and then get paid to do so.

However, theater and museums are accessible in our area and with careful planning, needn’t break the bank. I was particularly fortunate in that old friends in New Jersey offered me their New York time share apartment for an overnight stay so I was able to have a veritable feast; seeing two plays and three museums in less than two days.

Upon arrival in New York on Tuesday morning, my first stops were the theater box offices of the plays I hoped to see. Presenting my discount coupons, which I had obtained through web sites like theatermania.com and broadwaybox.com, I purchased tickets for two plays still in “previews.”

That evening, seated third row, orchestra at half-price, I enjoyed the light-hearted new musical, “Catch Me If You Can,” based on the movie by the same name with Leonardo DiCaprio. For the following day, I had indeed been lucky to snag one of the last tickets to the matinee for “War Horse,” which even though it hadn’t opened as yet, was still a sell out due to word-of-mouth raves.

Although this time, I was way up in the heights of the Vivian Beaumont Theater, this unique and thrilling drama, imported from England, left me shaken and crying.

It is a serious theater-goer’s dream, telling the story of one of the last battles during the first World War in which cavalry was used. It is related through the eyes of a boy and his beloved horse, Joey, who is called to war.

The horses are amazing, life-size creations made by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa.

Their movements and, indeed, the whole production is so remarkable, it is impossible to describe except to say the entire audience was on its feet shouting endless “bravos” at the finish.

Steven Spielberg plans to make a movie of the story using live horses, which I am afraid will change and distill the entire special experience.

As for museums, one of the most unusual and lavish exhibits is a display of 357 magnificent jewelry masterpieces created by the renowned VanCleef and Arpels and showcased in the elegant mansion that houses the Cooper-Hewitt Museum at 91st and 5th.

On display are eye-popping jewels and accessories owned by such luminaries as Paulette Goddard, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Dutchess of Windsor, Eva Peron, Barbara Hutton, Empress Soraya of Iran, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Onassis and Princess Grace of Monaco.

Your chance to ogle all this dazzling magnificence ends on June 5, so do hurry up to choose a favorite bauble before it closes.

Stretching my time off, this past week, I joined the Madison Scranton Library’s one-day bus outing to visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Their beautiful and bold new wing has added 121,307 square feet and 53 new galleries featuring works from the ancient Americas to abstract works of the 20th century.

Despite a colorful brochure and map, I became hopelessly lost, but delighted in viewing many unplanned-for objects and paintings. One of the current features (on view until Aug. 7) is an exhibit of the remarkable hand-blown glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly. While I’m not a fan of his type of grandiose and spectacular glass works, they are still quite something to behold. The many children who were visiting the museum seemed especially enchanted by his work.

Having enjoyed all of this stimulating change of pace, I can now settle down to my usual routine of work and part-time caregiving and remain calm, organized and patient, well, for a few weeks, anyhow.

Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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