Rochman Named Tercentennial Publicist

The Newtown Tercentennial Commission, established to promote the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the town, has appointed Joanne Greco Rochman, a 32-year Newtown resident and award-winning editor and journalist, to the official post of “tercentennial publicist.”

The former executive editor of international and national publications will be responsible for communications to the media. She will also handle requests for interviews with Newtown notables, and will report regularly on various committee meetings.

Currently, Ms Rochman’s features and columns are widely read in The Waterbury Republican-American newspapers; Hometown Publications, including The Trumbull Times, Monroe Courier, Bridgeport News, Stratford Star, and Easton Courier; New England Entertainment Digest; Housatonic and Litchfield County Times; and Brooks newspapers. Her opinions and commentary regarding theater and other cultural events are heard on WSHU, and she is seen frequently on local cable stations as the host of Creative Women Today sponsored by the National League of American Pen Women.

With bachelor and master degrees in English literature, Ms Rochman has taught at Western Connecticut State University and has conducted writing workshops for students as well as teachers at Sacred Heart University. The longtime Newtowner’s work has been published in The New York Times, Arts and Antiques magazine, as well as The Newtown Bee.

“We are honored that we were able to appoint Joanne to this very special position,” said Mae Schmidle, vice chairperson of the commission and former state representative.

“I can’t think of anything more rewarding than spreading the news about a 300th birthday party,” said an enthusiastic Ms Rochman. “It’s like being a 21st Century town crier,” she quipped. In a more serious vein, she pointed out that she will be happy to share the good news of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration with neighboring towns and the entire region. Newtown’s tercentennial year is 2005, but such an auspicious occasion requires much advance preparation.

Ms Rochman lives in Newtown with her husband, Pierre Rochman, a former chairman of Newtown’s Legislative Council. Their two sons, Pierre and Noel, live in California and Boston, respectively.

For more information contact Mae Schmidle at 426-6264 or Joanne Greco Rochman atJrochman@earthlink.net or 426-5922.