Wilton, Connecticut) A Fundraiser for a Local Beach Club is Conceived: These are polarizing times – particularly when pandemic-related issues involve public events such as games and concerts. So, when a group of comedians sought to hold a comedy fundraiser for the Mamanasco Beach Club www.mamanasco.com, in toney Ridgefield, Connecticut it may not have been surprising that polarizing national issues came to the local level.

1. POLARIZING NATIONAL COVID PANDEMIC ISSUES REACH LOCAL
LEVEL AS COMEDY GROUP TRIES TO HOLD EVENT
(Wilton, Connecticut) A Fundraiser for a Local Beach Club is Conceived: These are
polarizing times – particularly when pandemic-related issues involve public events such
as games and concerts. So, when a group of comedians sought to hold a comedy
fundraiser for the Mamanasco Beach Club www.mamanasco.com, in toney Ridgefield,
Connecticut it may not have been surprising that polarizing national issues came to the
local level. The fundraising idea came from one of the comedians and creator of the
Covidopoly19 board game and founder of Wilton’s CategoryTen LLC
(www.categoryten.com), Shahan Islam, who had recently produced Comedy Night in
Wilton at the Cannon Grange (https://cannongrange.org/) in neighboring Wilton on July
24th, in which a number of comedians performed to the sold-out venue. Comedy Night
in Wilton was conducted after Islam conferred with Barry Bogle, Wilton’s health director,
who indicated that the Delta variant had not reached the Connecticut hamlet from other
parts of Connecticut up to that point and provided him with some advice about how to
hold a safer event.
Approval, Then Rejection by the Beach Club
Board; The Vaccination Requirement: The
comedians also wanted to hold the fundraiser
in as safe an environment as reasonably
possible. As a member of MBC for a number
of years and an instrumental part of the MBC
management committee who helped in the
resurgence of the Club’s membership and
general appearance
https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Ridgefield-s-Mamanasco-Beach-Club-
gets-a-16177842.php, Islam received the approval to proceed. After discussion with
MBC Board members, he informed the Board that he was checking with event insurers

2. and with “the town.” He spoke briefly with Ed Briggs, Ridgefield’s Director of Health who
referred him to Ridgefield’s first selectman Rudy Marconi, who was very supportive of the
event. Indeed, an MBC Board member, copying all the Board members, wrote to him
concluding that the “The event sounds exciting” and to “include Eight Lakes Community
Association as additional insured.” Islam complied. The Board member wrote however
that Islam should simply write on the event flyer "All local health requirements will be
followed" in order to “show concern for health and safety” and, here is the kicker, to
“remove any mention of vaccine papers required for admission.” Because of the
increasing number of Covid cases and particularly the Delta variant since the July 24
Cannon Grange event, the cadre of comedians, who, Islam states, have all been
vaccinated, felt that proof of vaccination would be helpful and would be the prudent course
as close contact with non-vaccinated people, who may not wish to wear masks, may raise
risks to both vaccinated and particularly unvaccinated persons. Of course, should
anyone contact Covid and the origin traced back to the event, an issue may be raised
whether the event organizer undertook reasonable and adequate precautions.
Privacy vs. Safety - Vaccine Politics?
The MBC Board, according to Islam, has a number of members who do not believe that
the Club should be involved with any event that requires the attendees to be
vaccinated. When the Board explained that they would not check anybody’s vaccination
status on privacy grounds. Islam maintained that ticket buyers would know about the
requirement before purchasing and that the disclosure would be a willing one. The Board
remained adamant and cancelled the event. If a person is not vaccinated, he/she need
not attend, according to Islam who states: “Attending a comedy event is not a fundamental
right. We can’t just say why should I care as long as I am vaccinated? There have been
many reports of people dying because of inability to find hospital beds because many are
occupied by Covid afflicted unvaccinated people.” When he then asked the Board’s
permission simply to hold a private event and with a disclaimer that MBC has no
connection to the event (and so that the comedians could continue to hone their craft),
the Board maintained its refusal, contending that the date is no longer available. This felt
like the politicization of Covid vaccinations for Islam, who states that he was saddened
because he loves Lake Mamanasco (and kayaks there often with family and friends) and
MBC and Ridgefield, where his Covidopoly19 board game is sold at The Toy Chest store
on the town’s beautiful main street and he has appeared as a comedian at the Ridgefield
Playhouse. Such is life in these polarizing times.

3. Happy Ending - New Site Found in Wilton, Connecticut for Event:
The story however has a happy ending as the event has been moved to Wilton, Islam’s
hometown (and will not be a fundraiser for the Mamanasco Beach Club). The date of
the event for the premier of “Comedians on Water” will be Monday, September 27th
outdoors at the Cannondale Village in Wilton (see flyer), along the bank of the Norwalk
River. Ticketed persons may arrive at 7:00 pm and enjoy the food and then the comedy
at 7:30 pm. The cost is only $20 and food and drinks are included thanks, in part, to The
Village Market https://www.villagemarketwilton.com/. The seating is limited so lawn
chairs or surface blankets are advisable. Tickets must be purchased in advance at
www.categoryten.com or at:
https://categoryten.ticketleap.com/comedians-on-water/ Covid-19 vaccination proof is
required.
The comedians who are performing are: Vickie Sanches - Ridgefield Playhouse,
Greenwich Lounge; Tony Sanches - Ridgefield Playhouse, Greenwich Lounge; Mat
Orefice – Semi-Finalist, 2019 Funniest Comic in CT Contest; Steven Mueller - The
Stress Factory, Ridgefield Playhouse; Dimitri Giatrakis - Ridgefield Playhouse, Comedy
Levity Live; Blaine Langberg - Ridgefield Playhouse, Broadway Comedy Club NYC,
Stand Up NY, The Stress Factory; Rob Luchenta - Connecticut Comedy Festival,
Fairfield Comedy Club; Bill Greene - Ridgefield Playhouse, Cannon Grange, Caroline’s
on Broadway; Barbara Miller - Ridgefield Playhouse, Greenwich Lounge, Fairfield
Pavillion, Tauck Rhine River Cruise; Laurie Newkirk - Ridgefield Playhouse, Caroline’s
on Broadway; Shahan Islam - Ridgefield Playhouse, Cannon Grange, Spa Belgium,
Alexanderplatz, Berlin.