static public int GetCount(string newName, string connString)
{
    Int32 count= 0;
    string sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dbo.region";

    using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connString))
    {
        SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, conn);
        try
        {
            conn.Open();
            count= (Int32)cmd.ExecuteScalar();
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
           //fai qualcosa        }
    }
    return (int)count;
}