FILM CAST AND CREW

Jeff Bonistalli,
Tick Manager 2

Jeff is usually found behind the camera, but stepped up gladly to play his part in protecting the community from tickborne disease. A former patient, Jeff was featured in Lyme Connection’s 2016 photo exhibit “Lyme 10,” a series of photographs and personal reflections showcased at the Ridgefield Library. After graduating from Western Connecticut State University, Jeff played a lead role in mentoring local youth as The Barn director. His latest career move to the Prospector Theater offers the perfect opportunity to showcase his passions for film, music, and community service. Watch for Jeff on drums in the nonprofit’s new group, “The Prospect Band.”

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge,
The Newcomer

Roseann is grateful to have the opportunity to teach newcomers the most effective ways to avoid tickborne diseases. As a psychologist, licensed counselor and board-certified neurofeedback provider, Dr. Roseann has helped many children and adults regain their health after the impact of Lyme, and tickborne and infectious diseases. While Dr. Roseann appears regularly in webinars and at conferences, this is her first role in a public health video series. She thanks her family members and friends for inspiring her to make Lyme disease prevention a top priority.

Neeta Connally, Ph.D.,
Executive Producer, Writer, and The Tick Doctor

Neeta is excited to share her expertise in tick biology in this new film series. A medical entomologist who directs the Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), Neeta appears weekly in the classroom as an Associate Professor of Biology and outside in the woods working on tick research studies. Focusing on backyard Lyme disease prevention, Neeta‘s research has included studies of tick ecology, integrated tick management, human behavior, and repellents, with a goal of identifying the most effective ways to keep our community safe from tick bites. Neeta was the recipient of the 2015 Connecticut Campus Compact Community-Engaged Scholars Award and the 2013 Connecticut State University Board of Regents Research Award at WCSU, and has received zero awards and no accolades for her acting. Neeta feels much more comfortable behind the microscope than in front of the camera, but is very happy to be part of this effort helping families use evidence-based information to guide them to make informed choices about tick bite prevention.

Vicki Hornbostel,
Project Coordinator, Writer, Block Party Guest and Deer

Vicki is excited to be back working on tickborne disease prevention and research after a few years' hiatus. Vicki previously worked at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies as a research assistant focusing on Lyme disease ecology, natural tick control methods, and integrated tick management. Vicki is a backyard beekeeper and gardener, and is excited to share the Spray Safe, Play Safe films with the community to help clarify confusion homeowners have about effective tick management techniques. She thanks her WCSU Tick Lab colleagues and her family for their support.

Rayda Krell, Ph.D.,
Executive Producer, Writer, and Block Party Guest

Rayda combines her interests in entomology, writing, and science communication in this meaningful endeavor: a film series dedicated to protecting families, primarily children, from tickborne disease. Rayda joined the cast at the WCSU Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory in 2016 as a study coordinator for a CDC-funded Backyard Integrated Tick Management study and recently added the role of assistant professor to her credits. Rayda believes her 20 years of experience with integrated pest management prepared her for the challenge of protecting the community from ticks and the diseases they carry. Ridgefield, Connecticut children know her best as the creator of the Arthropod Fair, a popular library and science fair extravaganza featuring cockroach racing and maggot art.

Jessica Mancini,
Tick Manager 1

Jessica is best known to her fans as a dancer, business owner and dedicated community activist. Jessica is excited to participate in this collaborative effort because she is passionate about wellness and knows that tickborne disease prevention is essential to maintaining good health in Connecticut. In addition to her roles as an Executive Director of LimeLife by Alcone, the Vice Chair of the Ridgefield Board of Finance, and a Co-Organizer for the Women’s March-Ridgefield Chapter, Jessica appears regularly in Ridgefield, Connecticut teaching dance classes and assists in coaching the Ridgefield High School Dance Team. Jessica is a mother of three boys and is a proud Ridgefield resident.

Magnus Manley,
Not Scared of Ticks Neighbor

Magnus, a sixth grader at Scotts Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, CT, joins the cast with some experience under his belt. He has appeared in several plays at Barlow Mountain Elementary School, including The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and The Lion King, in which he starred as “Timon.” He also created and starred in a student film with the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival youth program in October 2018 and is an avid acoustic and electric guitar player. This is his first appearance in a public health film series, in which he enjoyed working with his mom, Amy Pal. Magnus takes prevention seriously and hopes these films will help keep kids safe from Lyme disease.

Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi,
Bus Driver

First Selectman Marconi regularly plays a leading role in Lyme disease prevention efforts. As Ridgefield, Connecticut's First Selectman, Mr. Marconi created the town’s Lyme Disease Task Force, now known as Lyme Connection, in 2003. He appears regularly at educational events, legislative hearings and fundraisers in an effort to raise awareness and support research. Mr. Marconi is grateful to all of the community members who have devoted time and effort to this ongoing prevention effort. He looks forward to sharing these new films with the families he is dedicated to protecting, with special concern for the wellbeing of Connecticut’s children.

Amy Pal,
Scared of Ticks Neighbor

Amy, owner of Whip Salon, was delighted to join the project and likes the idea of tackling tickborne disease education in a unique way. Her son Magnus Manley (also in the films) has firsthand experience fending off ticks to such a degree that she refers to him as the "tick magnet," so it's a subject that's close to home. While she says acting is not her forte, supporting her community most definitely is! She was recently selected as one of Ridgefield’s 25 most creative and influential people by Ridgefield Magazine in 2018, received recognition for her contribution to "Arts in the Community" by Western CT Cultural Alliance in 2017 and was recently elected to The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum as a trustee.

Jennifer Reid,
Executive Producer, Writer, and Block Party Guest

Jennifer appears regularly at community events, libraries and health fairs presenting the BLAST Tickborne Disease Prevention Program. Jennifer is especially happy to see many of the “frequently asked questions” she has received over the past 10 years answered in the Spray Safe, Play Safe film series. Jennifer played a lead role in creating Ridgefield’s Lyme disease task force, Lyme Connection, in 2003, along with her co-star Karen Gaudian. She is grateful to the Ridgefield Health Department for encouraging her prevention efforts and to Ridgefield High School for giving her the “I Dare You” Award in 1972—a challenge to do something “out of the ordinary.” She encourages everyone to “be brave and go for it.”

Fran Tick,
as Herself

Fran is an adult blacklegged tick (aka Ixodes scapularis) who was hatched and raised in Connecticut. She is a self-described diva and is thrilled to bring her talents to the screen. She knows that humans and ticks don’t always get along, but she feels that if she can play a role in keeping ticks off of humans, there will be less animosity towards her kind. She intends no harm to humans, but hey, a girl’s gotta eat. While not working in the WCSU Tick Lab, Fran likes to hang out in the backyard leaf litter where she thrives on high humidity. She has starred in other local productions, including the WCSU Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory short film, “A Fran Tick Day at School.”

Elena Zajac,
Environmentally Aware Neighbor

Elena is honored to join this creative team determined to inform families about tickborne disease prevention and keep our communities safe. A teacher by vocation, Elena’s career was sidelined due to her family’s struggles with Lyme disease. She is a star BLAST Tickborne Disease Prevention Program educator, Lyme Connection volunteer, baseball mom and artistic designer of Spoons to Spare, LLC. You will also see Elena in “The Monster Inside Me,” presently in production. She is grateful for every day, as long as it starts with a great cup of coffee.

Rob Zajac,
Tick Manager 3 and Newcomer's Husband

Rob is thrilled to add tickborne disease prevention film actor to his already impressive list of accomplishments. Rob is a Middletown South District firefighter, coach, father and BLAST Tickborne Disease Prevention Program educator. He is presently creating a tick-safe training to inform first responders about prevention strategies and disease symptoms. Watch for Rob in the upcoming film “The Monster Inside Me.” When he’s not working, Rob can usually be found on the ball field supporting his two sons. He cooks a mean chili and makes a great cup of coffee.

Additional Cast Members

Daniel Buser, Assistant, Block party guest
Hazel Connally, Block party guest
Aurora Garguilo, Block party guest
Celeste Garguilo, Block party guest
Thor Manley, Child at Bus Stop
Danielle Marcone, Assistant, Block party guest
Christopher Narciso, Child at Bus Stop
Kristin Quell-Garguilo, Block party guest
Carlos Rodriguez, First Student Bus Driver
Brittany Schappach, Assistant, Block party guest
Abigail Volpe, Child at Bus Stop
Cooper Volpe, Child at Bus Stop
Sandra Zapata Ramirez, Assistant, Block party guest

Meet the Crew

Scott Volpe, Writer and Director

Scott is the Associate Director of Media Services and Instructional Technology at Western Connecticut State University. The Spray Safe, Play Safe project is his first time working on an educational project with tick scientists and arthropods. Through the production and taping of these films, Scott learned the ins and outs of backyard tick management. He enjoys the challenge of translating science-speak into plain language.

Additional Crew Members

Liam Flaherty, Production Assistant
Christian Gagnier, Production Assistant
Peter Puccio, Production Assistant
Keith Purdie, Production Assistant
Zachary Whitlock, Production Assistant

Meet the Artists

Rachel Rossier

Rachel didn’t quite realize how much exposure she would get to ticks while pursuing an art degree at the WCSU School of Visual and Performing Arts. Rachel’s illustrations appear in the WCSU Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory’s logo, as well as in the Spray Safe, Play Safe project’s movie premiere poster. She is pleased to have extended her artistic talents to helping prevent Lyme and other tickborne diseases. Rachel expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2019.

Jack Tom

Jack is a Professor of Art at WCSU's School of Visual and Performing Arts. An award-winning graphic designer, illustrator, and educator, Jack has taught graphic design and illustration at numerous universities in the region. His interest in natural sciences has led him to develop a Scientific Illustration course at WCSU. Jack designed the Spray Safe, Play Safe logo,theTick Control Gets Reel movie premiere announcements, the homeowner’s information card and the Playsafe cover. While working on this project, he even learned some important prevention information!