BELLEVILLE GIRLS IN THE NEWS: CONNIE FRANCIS COMES HOME; TINA CERVASIO RUNS MARATHON FOR GARDEN OF DREAMS

The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Connie Francis, returned home to Belleville, New Jersey to a heroine's reception! A BHS Class of 1955 graduate, the international female singing icon was honored in several ways:

• She was inducted onto the Belleville Board of Education "Wall of Recognition" in view of her contributions to the world of music.
• The High School's Auditorium was named "The Connie Francis Theatre at Belleville High School."
• "Connie Francis Court" was dedicated at the site of her family home when she lived in Belleville.
• Sunday's Gala Reception at Nanina's in the Park, royally surrounded her with friends, family, fans, dignataries, and fellow celebrities for "Connie Francis, This is Your Life."

The connection with Tina Cervasio, a Nutley High grad and the MSG Sports Broadcaster for the NY Knicks, Red Bulls, and in the recent past, ... Emmy Nominated Field Reporter for the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox????

Tina's dad, Joe Cervasio, is the Chairman of the Belleville Education Foundation that sponsored the wonderful weekend for Ms. Francis, and if you ask him, he says his daughter was brought up on Belleville folklore and facts that propelled her into Sports Broadcasting. "Yes, Tina is a loyal Nutley High grad, ... but as Tommie DeVito says in Jersey Boys, '... it all started in Belleville, New Jersey.'" Tina's mom Maria and dad are staunch BHS alums. Tina knew lots about Connie Francis growing up in the Cervasio household.

And the weekend tie-in between Connie and Tina is two fold:

1. Both ladies in the news with much coverage: For Ms. Francis, ABC TV and their popular AM anchor Ken Rosato, a Belleville resident, made sure Connie's honors were shared with the NY/NJ area with stories over several days; and Tina was featured in Sunday's NY Post for her second Marathon to be run this Sunday for Garden of Dreams, the MSG Charity for kids in search of a cure for Cancer.
2. Both Connie and Tina are reading Joe's new book, Now or Never: The 11 Secrets of Arimathea. (as with his first, Tina helped her dad with the research; and Ms. Francis has a great story to tell of how she handled the tribulations of life.) The secrets in Joe's book are all about the ways Tina and Connie are successful in their careers, but also about how to turn bad news into good news.

Go to www.bellef.com , www.localsource.com , www.thebellevilletimes.com , www.jerseyboysblog.com  (11/22/09) for more on Connie's weekend, and to www.tinacervasio.com for more on her charity work.