Page 32 April 2010
Wallingford Optical Jim Comeau is the owner of Wallingford Optical, a member of Wallingford Rotary, and is very involved in many community events and local sporting events. Wallingford Optical was started in 1966 by the Smith family. Jim bought the store in 2004 and runs it with his sister, Diane Mintich. Both are Licensed Opticians. It is nice being an independent optical shop. We are not told we have to carry all frames by one manufacturer and if a patient is looking for a special frame we do our best to get it. Last year we had a customer who was traveling to Alaska and would be hiking on a glacier. We ordered his special frames that are designed for that area. Jim also runs an eyeglass clinic on Wednesdays at the Masonic Home clinic. This clinic is special because the patients in the clinic are very grateful to have their eyeglasses adjusted and repaired right there. Many of the patients have had stokes and other problems which affect their vision. Many patients are in walkers and wheel chairs and would have a difficult time getting to Wallingford Optical. Jim is also very involved in our community. He is a member of the Wallingford Rotary where he serves on the Board of Directors and works on the publicity team. Rotary is special to Jim because it lets him get involved in many local events like Celebrate Wallingford, The 21st Annual Jim Backes Golf Tournament this May 24th and the Quinnipiac River Cleanup. Jim is also involved with fellow Rotarian John Powers and members of the First Baptist Church of Wallingford who go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for 10 days during the summer. Jim makes this trip with his family to install Bio-Sand Water filters to the very poor people living in the bateys and also helps the different teams with construction, medical and teaching projects. Jim is also involved in Relay For Life. Jim grew up in Wallingford and went to Mark T Sheehan High School (1980) and is married to his wife Sandy, they have been together since high school. They have two children JJ, a sophomore at the University of New Haven, and Megan, a junior at Sheehan. JJ and Megan are very involved at their schools and Jim can always be found at a school event or game. Wallingford Optical is located at 58 Center Street at the corner of Meadow Street. Call us at 203-265-1541, email wallingfordoptical@sbcglobal.net or visit our new Wallingford Optical Facebook page
CHORALE CONNECTICUT WELCOMES SPRING AT ITS "MAY DAY" CONCERT Chorale Connecticut will present its spring concert "Earth Notes" on Saturday, May 1st, at 7:30 PM in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main Street in Meriden. The performance, under the direction of Artistic Director, Dorothy Barnhart, promises to lift your spirits, make you laugh and bring you the joy of choral music as performed by the Chorale singers. Joining the Chorale for this concert will be Southington's DePaolo Middle School Concert Choir, under the direction of Patricia Altieri. The music is breath taking, with pieces such as Due North, Pippin' Down the Valley Wild, Simple Gifts, May Day Carol, the Mi'kmaq Honour Song and other musical surprises. Tickets may be obtained from Chorale members or at the following business locations: JC Music, 519 West Main Street, Meriden; Valencia Liquor Shop, Lowe's Plaza, Meriden; Gallagher Travel, 390 Center Street, Wallingford and Just For You Country Gifts, Rte. 322, Southington. Advanced tickets are $18 and $20 at the door. Seniors's tickets (65) are $15 and children 12 and under will be admitted free with a canned good for the town Food Pantry. For more information, please call (860)621-1653 or visit the Chorale website at www.choralect.org.
To preserve a man alive in the midst of so many chances and hostilities, is as great a miracle as to create him. ~Jeremy Taylor
Wallingford Senior Center THURSDAY EVENING PROGRAMS April 2010 NEW CLASSES Brain Aerobics Challenge your mind with Debby at 4 p.m. on April 22, in the Creative Arts Room. Please sign up. Book Club with Patty at 4 p.m. on April 15 in the Library. April's Book is The Spare Room by Helen Garner. Great American Best-Sellers Nancy Hall will lead this DVD-based Lifelong Learners Series. Meets weekly in the Library at 5 p.m., beginning April 15. NEW Zumba Gold Zumba infuses Latin rhythms and simple dance moves to create a fun and exciting total body workout. Come and see what Zumba Gold is all about with a FREE demonstration on April 22 at 6 p.m. Weekly classes begin April 29. Space is limited, please sign up. Cost $25 Tai Chi with Kathy Brenner begins at 7:15 p.m. on April 15, and meets weekly. Please sign up at the front desk. Cost $25. Computer Workshop with Kevin Ozer on April 22. Please sign up at the front desk. Cost $5. Bananagrams Learn to play this fun, fast-paced and easy to learn word game. Meets April 22 at 6 p.m. in the Card Room. Please sign up at the front desk. Texas Hold 'Em Poker Sign up at the front desk to join the fun. Must be a WSC member to play, men and women are welcome. Meeting April 29 at 6 p.m. in the Card Room. Please sign up. Wii Games in the Fitness Room 4-6 p.m. Ping Pong is available from 4-8:30 p.m. SAVE THE DATE A Night on the Town with John Banker's "Jazz Alive" Band at 6:30 p.m. April 15, in the Great Room. The Band will be playing the music of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Show Tunes and more. FREE dessert will be served. Dress to impress for our Opening Night! New Release Movie featuring Amelia, the story of the famous aviatrix, Amelia Earhart. Showing at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Room , April 22. Starring Hillary Swank and Richard Gere. Rated PG. Guest Speaker Series Attorney Daniel O. Tully will be giving a presentation on "Estate Planning and Asset Protection" 6:30 p.m. April 29 in the Activity Room. Please sign up at the front desk. Newcomers Dinner Are you NEW to the Senior Center? Call 203-265-7753 to sign up for this month's Newcomers Dinner on April 29 at 5 p.m. in the Volunteer Room. Enjoy a delicious meal, meet new people, find out what the Wallingford Senior Center has to offer and get a tour of our beautiful facilities. LAKE VIEW DINNER Served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased, in advance, from the front desk for $6.00. 4/15-Roast Beef with Mushroom Au Jus, Baked Potato with Butter and Sour Cream, Green beans Almondine, Dinner Roll 4/22-Lemon Tilapia with Ritz Cracker Topping, Rice Pilaf, Cole Slaw 4/29-Chicken Vegetable Stew, Buttermilk Biscuit, Caesar Salad All meals include a beverage.
"I'M THE BABY!" by Audrey Linke The new mothers in the maternity ward passed around an innocent looking sewing box. When the nurses were out of the room each mother would locate the hidden make-up in the box and quickly transform their pale lips and cheeks to a healthy-looking pink. It was against hospital rules to wear makeup, but husbands and other family members would soon arrive and each mother wanted to look her best. Gram had come up from New York to take care of Bob, Jeannette, and Alice and they all came to the hospital with Papa to visit me and Mama. Bob had planned to ask Mama to send me back and get a boy, but when he saw me he changed his mind. "Let's keep her," he said, and from then on he was my willing slave. Bob was ten years old when I arrived, a devoted big brother. Jeannette, at eight, was my second mother, loving and attentive, always. She and Bob fought over who would carry me upstairs and they fought over who would carry me upstairs and they fought over who would carry me downstairs. Alice had mixed emotions-she was five and a half and used to having things pretty much her own way. She proclaimed that she "wasn't going to be any 'servant' to that darned little baby!" Later, when she was finally allowed to start school she conceded that it was a "good thing that Mama had the baby or she would never let me go to school." It was probably true-Mama didn't like to be left home without a child to keep her company. Bob, Jeannette, and Alice had been born at home, but Doctor Harvey sent Mama to Griffin Hospital in Derby to await the arrival of her fourth childme, Audrey Lucille Cable, and arrive I did, on May 20, 1923. Mama spent a whole week in the hospital waiting for me, and although she kept busy rolling bandages and helping in other ways, for her it was like a wonderful vacation, the rest Dr. Harvey knew she needed. On May 29th, Mama's 30th birthday, Dr. Harvey drove us home to the farm behind the Episcopal Church in Oxford Center. He said he wished he was taking home a baby just like me. Who could blame him?
Fish Stocking The annual Quinnipiac River Watershed Association fish stocking will take place Wednesday afternoon, April 14th at Meriden in preparation for the opening day of fishing season on Saturday, April 17th. Volunteers will release 160 Rainbow and Brook Trout, ranging from 15 to 22 inches. Interested persons should meet at 5 p.m. at Lions Club Park (Red Bridge) at the entrance of the linear trail in Meriden. The hatchery fish truck will travel the length of the linear trail, stopping periodically and allowing for children accompanied by parents to assist volunteers in releasing the trout. For more information, contact QRWA at 203-237-2237 or qrwa@sbcglobal.net