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LocalMotion - Your Town, Your News, Your Views! The People’s Press - Early April 2011 • Volume 11, Issue 137
An Inventive Experience
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School Teacher, Mrs. Lianne Gerety and her 4th Grade class recently celebrated the completion of an inventive learning experience. Each student did a project on an inventor and what a wonderful job! They all did great. It’s important for all of us to recognize the efforts of ALL teachers that goes above and beyond the call of duty. I don’t see it as “No Child Left Behind”, I’ve seen many teachers try their best and I call it, “Our kids future in mind!” Benjamin Franklin Principal Daniel Coffey said, “This year at Benjamin Franklin teachers were encouraged to have their students work on reports and projects on various topics. Students were to "drill down" and become "experts" in a given field or on a certain topic. This is a great way for students to make connections to the world and build background knowledge. By sharing reports all students learned a great deal.
“I am most impressed with the students and their work so far this year! Our teachers have done a sensational job of bringing the material to life and supporting the students in their studies.” Coffey concluded. It’s not just about one school either. It’s about schools and teachers who do the same all over the area. Listed below are the students and who they presented on: Jada learned about Frank Rudy Isabella learned about Albert Einstein Shyneicelearned about Tim Beners Lee Joseph learned about Ken Kutaragi Photini learned about Thomas Andrews Devon learned about Karl Benz Brittney learned about Steve Jobs Olivia learned about Robert Moog Conner learned about John Pemberton
Juan learned about Josh Parsons Andy learned about Alexander Cartwright Marc learned about Ralph H. Baer Justin learned about Karl Benz Candice learned about John Logie Baird Unique learned about Peter Cooper Alex learned about Philo Taylor Farnesworth Nick learned about Walter Camp Joshua learned about Thomas Edison Amanda learned about Milton Hershey Congratulations again to all of the students and THANK YOU to all the teachers who keep “Our kids future in mind!” Look for a segment of the Celebration on PPC starting Saturday the 9th at 8pm. See inside for details. *Please note that The People’s Press does not list the last names of children under the age of 13 for safety reasons.
Expires 4/30/11
THE PEOPLE’S PRESS Page 2 Early April 2011
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Page 3 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
Happy 95th BIRTHDAY! To a very special “young lady at heart!” Lady Rose S. at Meriden Center. Love always, your 5 children, 8 grand-children and great grand-child.
LocalMotion
Meriden Junior and Cadette Girl Scout Troop 66070 spent Election Day selling all their cookies to the good people of Meriden. Thanks to all the people who bought cookies to take home and donated their cookie box to our U.S. Troops overseas!
CELEBRATIONS
Connecticut Outdoors Written By: Paul Narducci This past Feb Connecticut Outdoors participated in this year's fishing and Hunting show at the Connecticut Convention Center. This was our first year doing this and overall we feel it was a great success. We represented our sponsors and mainly our focus was Lubrimatic. As you all know Lubrimatic carries products that will take care of all your boating needs. They have everything from grease guns, gas stabilizer, marine grease, lower unit oil and of course their brand of TCW3 two stroke oil. I have a Skeeter bass boat with a 150 Yamaha. I use all Lubrimatic products on and in my boat. This is truly a wonderful company with great products that are proven and dependable. They have come out with a new line of products called Ultralube. These products are nontoxic and enviormentally friendly. For those who stopped by our booth they were pleasantly surprised when we gave them a free sample of this product and the feedback I have received is people love it. I have used it myself and it works great no more squeeks and no more mess. For those who would like more info log onto www.lubrimatic.com. Myself, Tony and Frank worked our booth and met a lot of nice people. We had key chains, tire gauges and a lot of product from Lubrimatic that we handed out to those who spent time at our booth. It was really nice to see how happy and thank full people were to receive something free. Lubrimatic is a wonderful company with a new line called ULtralube. This is a product worth looking into and checking your local retailers for this product. One of our sponsors Lunker City also had a booth and a fellow fisherman Chris Bielert was working this. Chris is a wonderful person with a lot of knowledge about our sport and is respected among the fishing community and industry. They had Charlie Moore coming on Saturday and I asked Chris if he could set up a meet and greet with Charlie and my son Jonathan. Saturday Chris came to our booth several times in anticipation of Jonny's arrival . Jonathan got to meet Charlie Moore with his cousins Joe Dias and Ryan Paul. Charlie was a class act and treated my son with a lot of respect and talked to him not at him. He wasn't afraid or uncomfortable and spent close to ten minutes with him. We all totally loved this. Some people shy away, get nervous and don't know what to say or how to act. This was not the case with Charlie and I will forever appreciate the way he treated my son. Jonathan was very excited about meeting him and couldn't wait to tell everyone about it. Charlie gave Jonathan a bunch of his hats DVd's and a signed autograph. Jonathan wears this hat and it is now his favorite hat to wear. I would like to give a special thanks to Chris who works for Lunker City and to Herb Reed ( owner of Lunker City ) for setting this up. You made one little boy very, very happy. Charlie ,Charlie Moore yooooo. Jonathan and I like to yell this is in our house especially when we watch Charlie's show. Lunker City has come out with several new lures for 2011. Lures that we love to use are the salad spoon, pudgie, rascal worm, sluggo, swimfish and ozmo. If you would like info on these lures go to www.lunkercity.com. Lunker City was one of my very first sponsors in 1994 and I will be forever grateful to them. Opening day of fishing!!!! April 16, 2011 it's time to go fishing. It sure has been a long long winter and I need some therapy. For those who love to go trout fishing you may want to try Wharton Brook, Black Pond, and the Quinnipiac River. I would recommend trying anything by Thomas Spinning Lures. My favorites are the rough rider, buoyant, Colorado, EP Spinn, Special Spinn and the double spin. I'm hoping to hit all three at some point during the day. If you see us there come over and say hello maybe you to will be pleasantly surprised. As always the crew of Connecticut Outdoors wishes everyone the best of luck and good fishing!!!
South Meriden Upcoming Events Hello Neighbors! Here are the Spring Events. Identity Theft Workshop presented by Meriden Detective Marty Eisner, Tuesday April 12, 7:00 PM, at the South Meriden Volunteer Firehouse, 31 Camp Street. Learn how to protect your identity and prevent identity fraud. Third annual Pet Food & Supply Drive, Saturday May 14, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, South Meriden Police Substation, 113 Main Street, Come join us to stuff a police cruiser and fire vehicle with your donations to benefit the Meriden Humane Society. Please remember to recycle cans, bottles, cardboard and paper. Visit www.tunxisrecycling.com for more information. Sincerely, Your Neighborhood Associations: Diamond Hill, Poet's Hill and Greater South Meriden
Wallingford Park and Recreation GOLDEN EGG HUNT
José Julián & Jimena Hermanos Murillo!I Love U babies! Love, Mommy
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The event will be held at Doolittle Park Playscape. The event will be divided into two age groups children 1-5 and children 6-11. Plastic filled eggs, candy along with 12 special GOLD EGGS for each group will be spread throughout. Participants are asked to find only ONE Gold Egg. Once found you may redeem your prize for the golden egg at the table at Doolittle Park. Thursday April 14th, Rain date is Friday April 15th. Younger children hunt will begin at 6:45p.m. Older children hunt will begin at 7:00p.m. ***Please be considerate of age breakdown we want everyone to have an equal opportunity. Parents should be aware that if
they have a young child and an older child two adults will be required to participate in both events. Parents are asked to bring a basket and a flashlight for their child.
City of Meriden Easter Egg Hunt The event will be held at the Hubbard Park Bandshell on Saturday, April 16th. Times are based on ages. Birth to Three 10:00am Four to five 10:30am Six & Seven 11:00am Eight to ten 11:30am Children are asked to bring a basket or bag to collect candy. Adult assistance will be permitted for birth to three year olds only !!! The Event will be held rain or shine.
Page 4 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
Wallingford Spring Clean Up by Public Works - Begins April 18 The Department of Public Works will begin the Spring Clean Up on Monday, April 18, 2011, for public streets in all sections of Wallingford. Residents are asked to place materials by the curb no later than Sunday, April 17. Only brush, wood and leaves will be collected. These materials must meet the following guidelines: Branches and twigs only. No branch more than four feet long or six inches in diameter will be accepted. Brush must be tied separately in small bundles. Dimensional lumber, such as two-by-four-inch lumber or plywood, may not exceed four feet in length or width. Wood must be tied separately in small bundles. Absolutely no wood containing creosote will be picked up. Leaves must be in paper yard waste bags. No brush, twigs, debris or plastic bags will be accepted. Masking tape only is acceptable to seal bags. Items placed at the curb must be light enough for one man to put in a truck. This is a one-time collection. The Department of Public Works will not return to a street that has already been visited for the collection. Those residents who miss the pick up may take their leaves and brush to the Compost Area at the Recycling Center on John Street. For more Information contact the Department of Public Works: 203-294-2105.
Celebrate Earth Day - Special Film Series
To my love We have been through so much in both our lives, separately and together. I am happy to have you by my side. I know with each other we can accomplish anything small or big. So here is to us, may we continue to grow and love one another. Happy anniversary! Love, Emily
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The Wallingford Recycling Committee, in cooperation with the Public Library, presents… Celebrate Earth Day films to be shown at the Wallingford Public Library in April. The films will be shown in the Community Room from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Discussion will follow each film. The schedule is: April 13 - Energy Crossroads: Most experts agree that global peak oil production, when demand exceeds supply, will occur within the next 15 years and will drastically change the very fabric of our industrialized world. This award-winning documentary exposes the problems associated with our energy consumption. It also offers concrete solutions for those who want to educate themselves and be part of the solutions in this decisive era. Click here to view the flyer for this film. April 25 - The 11th Hour: The film explores how we've arrived at this moment - how we live, how we impact the earth's ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course.
SPEND YOUR VACATION WITH US! Meriden Public Library Presents "FREE" April Vacation Specials April 20th at 10:30 am. Come & Watch, Steve Wronker the magician amaze you with his many talents. Join in on the fun! April 21st at 10:30 am. Meet Farmer Brown with his pet pig Daisy. Listen & Learn all about Daisy and her adventures with Farmer Minor. These programs are FREE family programs and open to all ages.Tickets will be available on April 4th in the Children's Library. For more information call us at (203) 630-6347.
“Let's Talk"…..About Your Health Too much snow, help me move to Florida! Owner motivated! Quiet end unit with sunroom, 1 car garage, 2 bed/2 ½ bath; HW/Tile floors; vaulted ceilings in bedrms, fireplace, and more, pets OK, 24 hour notice required for showing, NO DROP INS. $169,900 203-815-6152/elscatdog@cox.net See MLS# G573467
Jim Chenkus Memorial Scholarship to benefit Wilcox Tech Class of 2011
Saturday, May 21st from Noon-3:00pm Donation of only $10 includes Ziti, meatballs, salad, bread & drink The event will be held at the Meriden Motorcycle Club - Stantack Road, Meriden, CT Tickets available at the door Jim was a 1991 Wilcox graduate from the Carpentry program. He died in a dirt bike accident in 2000. Help us honor his memory by helping students pursue educution for the future of us all. Please contact Diane Polito-Chenkus at 203-6310478 to purchase tickets. Donations made payable to Diane Chenkus can be sent to: 22 Carriage Drive, Meriden, CT 06450
By Chris More RN, Public Health Educator, Wallingford Health Department Let's Talk about Memory Loss . . . We've all done it, misplaced our car keys, our eyeglasses, or someone's name that you haven't seen in awhile. Worst of all is receiving that call from your dentist's office that you have forgotten your appointment and they want to charge you for it. Sometimes older adults refer to them as "senior moments." So what is normal forgetfulness and when does it signal something more worrisome? Let's start with Dementia - this is a decline in mental ability that affects memory and other cognitive functions. One very sad form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease; this condition destroys brain cells that can't be rejuvenated. The disease strikes fear in the hearts of Baby Boomers, seniors, and people with a history of dementia in there families. No one wants to hear "mom or dad I told you about that last week!" That's when we all start to put up the post-it notes all over the house. Not all seniors develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease, but every person who has ever had a "senior moment" thinks about it. Forgetting where your car is parked in a mall parking lot (I have pressed my panic horn button more than once) is a normal part of the aging process. Dementia on the other hand is a term used for any memory loss that affects day to day functions like the ability to drive, work or shop. One example of normal forgetfulness is some trouble remembering a phone number. If it is dementia it would include the inability to recognize the numbers and dial it. Believe it or not people at greatest risk are those who don't stay active. Your age, family history and possibly head injuries also put you at a higher risk. Dementia may be hard to diagnose because of an overlap with other diseases like depression. Vascular Dementia is the second most common form of Alzheimer's. Vascular Dementia is caused by blood clots in the brain, cutting off the blood supply and killing healthy brain cells. Paranoia and irrational behavior can be a symptom. Caregivers of these loved ones face many challenges from physical issues to many emotional difficulties. The caregiver can also feel very stressed and sad. They may not be well themselves, they face extra financial burdens and just watching the decline of their loved one depresses them. A huge challenge for the care-giver is then to take their stress and sadness and use it to give care with kindness and compassion seeking out every support system they can find, including extended family involvement. Most importantly keeping your body well cared for. People concerned about memory loss should first start with their primary care provider. Memory loss has many causes. Some can be treated and even reversed, making a medical assessment very important. There are many senior assessment centers make sure the one you and your doctor choose can meet the needs of your loved one, you and your family. Check your insurance coverage, before any appointments are made to avoid financial discomfort and embarrassment. Don't wait, if you have memory loss or someone you love does, make that call, the sooner there is medical intervention the better chance there is to at least halt the progression in any disease. That's you health topic March. REMEMBER Stay Healthy, happy and active. As always please call the Wallingford Health Department at 203-294-2065 for more information. Let's Talk …again next month.
Southwest Conservation District Annual Plant Sale April 29th and 30th Time: 10:00-4:00 Friday 10:00-2:00 Saturday New Haven County Customers Pick Up at Lockwood Farm in Hamden. Fairfield County Customers Pick Up Wilton Town Hall Parking Lot (Sat only) Preorder forms available from SWCD office at 51 Mill Pond Rd, Hamden 203-287-8279. Call for a newsletter and order form. Email at swcd43emt@sbcglobal.net ww.conservect.org..SWCD..newsletters " Evergreen bare root seedlings " Native & Ornamental Shrubs " Perennials from Perennial Favorites " Wlfd & North Haven Garden Clubs
Page 5 Early April 2011
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What Just Happened? We'll tell you. GAME DINNER 2011 here in Meriden , CT. Just Raised over $5,000 for the EMS Youth Explorer Program & just about $2,000 for the local ACS Relay for Life TEAM. Thank you so much for supporting these causes and believing. Saturday March 12th's event went off fantastically ! The game food was brilliantly done by the chefs, the atmosphere was great and the raffle & door prizes were over the TOP ! If you were not able to come to or support the GAME DINNER, please consider making a contribution to our RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM at: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11NE?team_id=803705&pg=team&fr_i d=31011
People’s Press Crossword by Ruth Gordon Look for the answers in this issue.
ACROSS 1. Apex 4. Penetrate 8. Phrase sometimes found on a clearance item sales tag 12. John Lennon's widow 13. Interlaced yarns or other fibrous materials to form a fabric or material 14. Official common currency in 12 European nations 15. It comes before a two and after a king 16. A sign or premonition believed to predict a future, good or evil event 17. Stretch 18. Restrain or prevent 20. A foot digit 21. Cain and Abel's dad 24. Media mogul and host of the highest-rated talk show in the history of television 27. Helper; aide; collaborator, (abbr.) 30. Statuesque 32. Rail & bus line providing commuter service to NYC, Long Island, CT., etc. (abbr.) 33. Exclamation of encouragement, usually used during a sport event 34. Told funny stories 35. To broadcast or televise 36. An extreme leftist terrorist group formed in Greece in 1971 to oppose the military Junta from 1976 to 1974; opposing capitalism and imperialism 37. Prayer ending 38. A fixed amount put into the pot by each player before the deal in a poker game 39. Lillian Hellman's play opened on Broadway in 1960, "Toys in the ______". 41. Turn over and over 43. Exclamation of disdain or shame, used often in quick repetition 44. Brand of portable media players designed and launched by Apple Inc. in 2001 48. To perceive by touch 50. Type of cereal 53. A day of the week. (abbr.) 54. A monster in fairy tales 55. A ceremonial act prescribed or customary in religious use 56. George Gershwin's older brother 57. Bruce Springsteen is also known as "The _____" 58. A seaport in the Republic of Yemen
59. A type of dance Down 1. If you kiss one you might get warts 2. First word in many fairy tales 3. Person who creates rhyming verse; a bard 4. In legend a young man, the future King Arthur, was able to pull this weapon from a Stone and proved him to be the right wise king born of England 5. A male domesticated cat. 6. A thoroughfare. (abbr.) 7. 1972 movie about a boy named Danny and his pet rat 8. Famous teller of fables 9. Clark Kent's alter ego 10. A type of savings plan offering tax advantages to an individual depositor (initials) 11. A male family member 19. Dine 20. Made known by speech or writing 22. The smallest component of an element 23. Chris Money_____, is a poker player who won the 2003 World Series of Poker. He was the first person to become a world champion by qualifying at an online poker site 25. "Let's have ___ ___" 26. The Tortoise's opponent 27. A geographical region 28. Sodium chloride 29. Breaks (something) into pieces 31. Tonight Show host 34. He was nimble and quick and jumped over a candle stick 38. A high mountain 40. Great Britain, Ireland and islands off their coasts make up the British ______ 42. Fabric woven from flax yarns 45. Leave out 46. Cartoon character "_____ the Explorer". 47. A fastener that closes by pressure and clicks together 49. The "I" or self of any person 50. Supportive undergarment. 51. To clear or free of something objectionable 52. Dined 58. A metal or plastic tab on a key ring, or pocket watch
The Computer Guru Wayne Montefusco of Solve-It-All Computer Let's talk about computer maintenance. I have been fixing computers for years and one of the main issues I see is lack of care. I get many systems when they are on the verge of dying. Like a car that hasn't seen an oil change in a year or more. Caring for a computer is the same thing. Over the course of time a system gets clogged with junk files that can make a system come to a crawl. There is many ways to do this. 1. Purge internet cache. This will also help when viewing web pages to make sure your seeing the most recent updates. 2. Clean out Windows\temp folder. Only delete files that are not in use. This is a folder that is used when installing programs. Junk does add up quick here. 3. Delete Windows Update installer files. Go to Windows folder and get rid of any folders that start with a dollar sign. You have to have all files showing to see theses. 4. Disk cleanup in you properties of your hard disk is important to get rid of files that the system doesn't need. 5. Purge all Windows System Restore entries except the last one. This can be done from the options part of Disk cleanup. If you have any questions for Wayne that you would like answered -call 203-213-5444 or email wmontefusco@yahoo.com
Providing comfort and coffee to the Troops HOLY JOE'S CAFÉ First Congregational Church - Wallingford Going for coffee these days seems as American as mom, baseball and apple pie. While it might actually involve grabbing a cup of whatever it is that gets us going, its primary purpose may be to strengthen social ties or show support for a friend in need. Nowhere is this more evident - or more appreciated - than among U.S. military personnel taking part in the initiative known as Holy Joe's Café. Thanks to the First Congregational Church troops don't have to go for coffee; it's coming to them with over 550 chaplains receiving coffee in locations in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan since beginning in 2006. Holy Joe's provides soldiers a quiet place to talk with friends, converse with chaplains or write a letter home. "Our community coffee bar has become the lifeblood of the camp," writes Chaplain Michael J. Lovett. "Your donations have had a direct impact on our operations. Your act of kindness not only meets a physical need but also strengthens our troops emotionally." Donations of ground coffee or monetary donations can be dropped off at the church office at 23 South Main ST, Wallingford, CT 06492. For more information, please call [203] 697-1042 or holyjoescafe@att.net.
Want to publish your own book, magazine, newspaper and more? Rupert Thomas has joined the team to help you do it! Whether it's for a digital format or print format that you want to share for free or sell it online - he will be handling this new service. Email him at Rupert@peoplespressnews.com!
*Expires April 30, 2011
Wallingford Park and Recreation Health & Fitness
Page 7 Early April 2011
Register at our office located at 6 Fairfield Boulevard 203.294.2120 This is just a small portion of the programs we offer. For the full brochure go to www.peoplespressnews.com
9043.200 Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour, Merrimack, NH Lunch at Hart's Turkey Farm, Manchester, NH Saturday April 30th Bus Departs Rec. Dept. 7:45am Returns: 9:00pm Fee: $78 The Anheuser - Busch Brewery is a destination favorite. At the Brew Hall, discover how these famous beers are created using the highest quality ingredients and packed in their state of the art facility. Experience a behind the scenes look at the brewing of Budweiser with a visit to the Hop Room, Primary Fermentation Cellar, Lagar Cellar, Packaging Facility,Quality Assurance, and Finishing Cellar, including sampling directly from a finishing tank. Visit the Clydesdale Hamlet, home to the world famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses. Lunch will be at Hart's Turkey Farm in Manchester. Wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixin's, just like Grandma made…..Salad, turkey with Gravy, whipped potato, Butternut Squash, Cranberry Sauce, rolls, Apple Crisp, Coffee…..Delicious! We will finish our day with a stop at Swan Chocolates offering the finest handmade Belgian Chocolates. We'll begin our visit with a chance to sample gelato, homemade fudge, chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, winding up with a lesson in how these fine candies are made. 4200.202 Spring 2011 P.M. Golf League A nine-hole, co-ed adult golf league with fun special events within the 16 weeks of play. League meets on Thursdays at Tradition Golf Club. Starting times begin at 4:30pm on Thursdays and new for 2011 Tuesdays at 1pm to replace the AM Golf League.. Dates of the league are April 14th - July 28th, 2011. The league has no set foursomes encouraging new players, partners each week. A preregistration meeting explaining the league and choosing formats of play will be held on April 7th at Wallingford Parks and Rec. at 4:15pm at which time you can register and pay for the league. 4200.202 When: Thursdays April 14th - July 28th 4pm for 16 weeks 4200.203 NE W!!!! Tuesdays April 12th - July 28th 1pm for 16 weeks League Supervisor: Elaine Doherty
the golden egg at the table at Doolittle Park. Thursday April 14th, rain date Friday April 15th Younger children hunt will begin at 6:45p.m. Older children hunt will begin at 7:00p.m. ***Please be considerate of age breakdown we want everyone to have an equal opportunity. Parents should be aware that if they have a young child and an older child two adults will be required to participate in both events. Parents are asked to bring a basket and a flashlight for their child. 0041.200 Spring Stingers Ages 6-11 Come join your friends in this very popular program over April break. We will be hopping on the bus this spring and we will be going on various trips each day. This will be a fun filled week for all participants ages 6-11. Trip schedule is not available at time of print. Program Date: April 18th - 22nd from 8:30am to 4:30pm Fee: $185 per child. Guaranteed T-Shirt for everyone registered by Friday April 8th 4205.300 Summer Adult Midnight Run Basketball League 2011 League begins in early June, date T.B.A. The league will consist of the first twelve teams to register. Games will be played on Monday and Thursday nights. TEAM ROSTER S MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AN D SIGNE D BY ALL PLAYER S ON ROSTER. ROSTERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PAYMENT AND SIGNATURES. Team entry fee is $450 per resident team and $500 per non-resident team. Shirts will be provided. For more info regarding the league please call the Rec Dept. and ask for Bill Farm, League Supervisor. Registration for Returning Resident Teams is until 4:30pm. May 20th New Resident Teams may register 4:35pm. May 20th New Corporate Teams may register 4:40pm May 20th Registration for Returning Non -Resident Teams may register 4:45pm. May 20th New Non Resident Teams may register 4:50pm May 20th
4263.200 Wallingford Trailblazers Join this fun running group! You don't have to be a runner to participate. Coach Kelli will help you learn proper running technique, pacing, how to stretch, strength training, and give nutrition tips. We will keep it fun and motivating for the group. Don't miss the fun! Program is for ages 7-12 Instructor: Kelli Montgomery, Health&Fitness Supervisor, USA Certified Triathlon coach Dates: 5/4-6/22 for 8 weeks Class Time: Wednesdays 5:45-6:30 PM Location: Sheehan High School Track or Lyman Hall School Track (TBD) Fee: $30
After School Arts and Crafts Program: Wallingford Parks and Recreation is proud to present a Fine Arts and Crafts After School Enrichment Program, which has completed its third successful year. Classes are held in each school so that parents may pick up their children an hour later. Spring classes are scheduled to start by early April 2010 (date TBA) and run for 6 weeks. The cost is $50 per student, all materials included. The program is available to the specific students in the schools where the classes are offered. Instructors: Kim Larkin (Crafts Supervisor), Kathy Smits, Rashmi Talpade (Fine Arts Supervisor). To enroll please obtain a special registration form from the Rec Center or use the flyers distributed in schools by March.
5135.210 GOLDEN EGG HUNT The event will be held at Doolittle Park Playscape. The event will be divided into two age groups children 1-5 and children 6-11. Plastic filled eggs, candy along with 12 special GOLD EGGS for each group will be spread throughout. Participants are asked to find only ONE Gold Egg. Once found you may redeem your prize for
8707.202 Edible Creations - Easter Bunnies in the Garden We'll be making these adorable bunnies burrowing into a garden made out of cupcakes. (Very reminiscent of Peter Cottontail) These bunnies and the garden are made of mini cupcakes, frosting, green colored coconut, Oreo cookies and pink jelly beans. Very cute and sure to be a centerpiece for your Easter table.
When: Saturday April 16th 11:00am -12:00pm One Day Location: Exit 7A Instructors: Sherry Rimkoski & Debbie Terrusa Fee: $12 (A $4 materials fee made payable to instructor day of class) Digital Camera - Site For Sore Eyes Event This event is a scavenger hunt with a twist. Participants will be required to provide their own DIGITAL Camera. No film cameras will be permitted. Each group/family will be given a list of items which will require them to locate as many items as possible within a certain amount of time. Each group will then take a group photo with that item. Upon completion the group must return to the Rec. Dept. to have their photo's judged. Prizes to be awarded to first 3 finishers with completed list. Date: Friday April 29, 2011 Time: 6:30p.m. 8:30p.m. Location: Wallingford Parks and Recreation Dept. Fee: $10.00 per group or family Pre-Registration: Is required -maximum of 75 groups or families will be allowed to register. Registration deadline is April 22, 2010 for this event. 8707.202 Edible Creations - Easter Bunnies in the Garden We'll be making these adorable bunnies burrowing into a garden made out of cupcakes. (Very reminiscent of Peter Cottontail) These bunnies and the garden are made of mini cupcakes, frosting, green colored coconut, Oreo cookies and pink jelly beans. Very cute and sure to be a centerpiece for your Easter table. When: Saturday April 16th 11:00am -12:00pm One Day Location: Exit 7A Instructors: Sherry Rimkoski & Debbie Terrusa Fee: $12 (A $4 materials fee made payable to instructor day of class) 3035.200 Ant Bee’s Bug Class For 3-5yrs. without Parent If your children love bugs, this is the class for them. There will be crafts, stories and activities around the world of bugs. When: Thursdays May 5th - June 9th 12:30pm 1:15pm for 6 weeks Fee: $40 Location: Exit 9 Instructor: Terese Biega 3200.200 Under the Sea 3-5yrs without Parent It is time to get our Scuba gear on and explore the ocean floor where octopus, coral and sea creatures wait for us among the sunken ships and the treasure they hold. Shark tails will be a plenty in this under sea adventure class! When: Thursdays May 5th - June 9th 1:30pm 2:15pm for 6 weeks Fee: $40 Location: Exit 9 Instructor: Terese Biega ***Children enrolled in both Ant Bee’s and Under the Sea pay only $70*** 3055.200 Trains, Boats and Planes For 3-5yrs without Parent “All Aboard”, “Ahoy Mate”, “Fasten your Seat Belts” boys and girls as we journey through the world of ransportation!!!! Try out this spectacular craft opportunity where we will make exciting boats, trains and planes from craft materials. When: Tuesdays May 3rd - June 7th 1:30pm 2:15pm for 6 weeks Fee: $40 Location: Exit 9 Instructor: Terese Biega
In order to ensure the quality and availability of our Programs, we ask that all registrations are completed by the deadline specified for each individual program. We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and appreciate your continued support for the Programs offered by the Wallingford Parks & Recreation Department.
Page 8 FEarly April 2011
The submission deadline for the Mid-April 2011 issue of THE PEOPLES PRESS is April 15th. Email your stories, news and events to andy@peoplespressnews.com. Don't forget your Easter Greetings! Email your photos and celebrations to celebrations@peoplespressnews.com. If we can help in any way please call 203-235-9333.
CELEBRATIONS
To the most special parts of my life! I love you all so much!
CELEBRATIONS
To my dearest wife Alison Mary of 25 years. Love, a day to remind each other how much Love we have for one another and to express it the best way we know how. Like the years that have past by us, each and every year my heart & soul has grown full of Love for you and every bit about you. Its not been a bunch roses all the time, but I can truly say My Love for You has only gotten more intense and I can say I'm so glad I choice you to share my life with. LOVE ME
WALLINGFORD SENIOR CENTER 40th Anniversary Dinner Dance - Featuring Michael Dutra & the Strictly Sinatra Band on Saturday, May 21, 2011, 5:00 - 9:00 PM We are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wallingford Senior Center in grand style with a delicious dinner and a fabulous Sinatra tribute band. The Chicken Marsala dinner will include salad, ziti, dessert and more. The Strictly Sinatra Band, starring Michael Dutra, performs more than 300 nights per year stunning audiences with its dead-on rendition of Frank Sinatra classics. Tickets to this gala evening are on sale to members only during the month of April. If space allows, tickets will be on sale to the general public beginning May 1. Tickets are $30.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members. Intergenerational Day at Q. U. - Tuesday, April 12, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM You have been invited to participate in Intergenerational Day at Quinnipiac University. The day includes a welcome reception with refreshments, meeting students, attending a liberal arts class with a student, lunch, and a special program. Q.U. will provide transportation from the senior center and back. This wonderful opportunity to experience a day at college is limited to the first twenty members to register. (Sign-up begins April 1.) Sleep & the Older Adult - Wednesday, April 13, 10:30 AM Sleep Specialist Dr. Brett Volpe will discuss common sleep problems that affect adults as they age. Learn about these problems and possible solutions at this program sponsored by MidState Medical Center. Pre-registration is requested. CarFit for Mature Drivers - Thursday, April 21, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Is your car a good fit for you? Is it adjusted correctly to keep you safe? Do you want to find out ways to make your car more comfortable for driving? Yes? Then join us at a CarFit event on April 21, in the Senior Center parking lot. CarFit was developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AARP, AAA and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The CarFit program provides a quick but comprehensive check of how well you and your vehicle work together. A trained professional will ask you simple questions and complete a 12-point CarFit checklist which includes: height of the seat; fit of the seat belt; and position of all mirrors. Occupational therapy students and faculty from Quinnipiac University will conduct the CarFit event and recommend car adjustments, adaptations, and offer community resources that promote safe driving. Come find out how the fit of your vehicle affects your driving, and adjust your vehicle to fit your changing needs. Call now to schedule your appointment. Thursday Evening Programs Thursdays, 4:00-8:30 PM April 7th marks the beginning of our extended hours at the Senior Center. Stay and enjoy a delicious meal prepared by Lake View CafĂŠ and served 5:00-6:30 p.m. (meal ticket purchase required). We have a lot of exciting programs and classes scheduled, including a monthly Dinner Dance, Live Entertainment, Guest Speakers, New Release Movies, Evening Fitness classes, Scrapbooking, Newcomers' Dinners, Texas Hold 'em Poker, AARP Driver Safety classes, Computer Workshops, Book Club and so much more. Wallingford Senior Center is the place to be on Thursday Nights! Backing Up Your Computer with Kevin Ozer - Thursday, April 14, 6:30 PM Kevin Ozer, from our Computer Learning Center, will be sharing valuable information about "backing up" the files on your home or small business computer in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. Pre-registration is required for this free seminar which is open to the public. Space is limited, sign up today. 2011 Golf League - Our Coed Golf League, held at Miner Hills Golf Course, will begin its 12th season in May. There will be one sixteen-week session, running from May 17 through August 30. The cost for play and the final week cookout is $235.00 for members and $240.00 for non-members. Member Sign-Up begins May 2 (May 9 for non-members). A meeting for all golfers will be held Tuesday, May 10, at 9:30 AM. If you have any questions, please call League Coordinator Howie at 203 265-0412. Student Art Exhibit - April 28 - 30, 2011 The Wallingford Senior Center Great Room is the site of the Wallingford Public Schools' Annual Art Exhibit, which showcases the artwork of students in our local elementary, middle and high schools. MEMORY LANE - What is Memory Lane and where is it located? Memory Lane is an adult day program located within the Wallingford Senior Center, designed to promote and maintain independence for seniors with mild memory loss, cognitive, and/or physical impairments. This program offers a variety of pet-therapy, music, and baking activities as well as monthly day-trips, and physical activities. Hours of operation are 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Handicapped-accessible transportation is provided for residents of Wallingford at no extra charge. Eligibility is based on an assessment, interview, and medical clearance. If you are interested in an affordable, fun, and stimulating way to keep your loved one safe and independent during the day, stop by the reception desk for a brochure and tour of the center, or contact Melinda Welch, Program Coordinator, at 203.265.7753 for more information. *There are many benefits to adult day programs: caregiver respite, daily socialization with peers, integration into the community, and avoiding premature institutionalization. * Source: http://www.caring.com/articles/benefits-of-adultday-care-programs. SOCIAL SERVICES - IN ORDER TO SERVE YOU BETTER, PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER, EILEEN FLYNN, AT 265 7753. Walk-In Schedule: The Social Worker will take walk-ins on a first come basis for one-half hour sessions ONLY (30 minutes). Sessions are on the half-hour from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon and 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. No regular appointments will be scheduled on Tuesdays. Benefits Screening - Tuesday, April 19, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Do you often wonder if you might be eligible for any State or Federal Programs? Benefits QuickLINK is a free and confidential program which can quickly screen for eligibility. Supporting documents are not required, but please bring the following information with you to your appointment: 1. Monthly income (social security, pension, dividends and interest). 2. Monthly expenses (heating, fuel, gas, electricity, water, telephone, rent or mortgage payments and medical expenses not covered by health insurance). 3. Asset information (savings, estimated value of home and car, life insurance benefits). 4. A list of all current prescriptions. Registration required. Call 203-265-7753 now to schedule an appointment. Questions about Financial Decisions? - Monday, April 11, 1:30 - 3:00 PM Brendan Toomey, Certified Financial Planner of Toomey Investment Management, Inc. will be available to answer financial questions about investments, IRA's and annuities. To schedule a fifteen (15) minute appointment, please call 203-265-7753. Low Vision Support Group - Friday, April 15, 10:15 AM-12:00 PM A representative from the Board of Education and Agency for the Blind will be our guest speaker. He will discuss compensatory ways of managing in the home with low vision. Please call (203) 265 7753 to sign up for this meeting. Veterans Services - Tuesday, April 26, 1:00-3:00 PM George Messier, Veterans Services Officer for the Town of Wallingford will be available to answer questions and assist with benefit information. An appointment is required. Please call 203-265-7753. VISIT our website at www.wlfdseniorctr.com!
Wallingford Neighborhood Assistance Act Applications due May 13th! The Town of Wallingford will be implementing the provisions of C.G.S. 12-631, the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA), in order to prepare and submit to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services a "program list" as defined by Departmental regulations. Interested organizations are directed to the DRS web site at http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1447&q=266058 to view the application and program information. Completed applications are due to the Town's Grants Office (Room 311) no later than May 13, 2011. The required Public Hearing is expected to be scheduled for the Town Council meeting of June 14, 2011. Join the LocalMotion by sharing a video, story, news, photos, events and more! Any questions - email michelle@peoplespressnews.com
Page 9 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
107th Annual May Breakfast First Congregational Church, 62 Colony Street in Meriden, will be hosting its annual May Breakfast on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. This year will be the 107th anniversary of a much cherished tradition provided by the Women's Fellowship of First Congregational Church to its church members and to the community. Hundreds of breakfasts are served each year. A delicious breakfast of halved grapefruit, juices, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes with real maple syrup, hot rolls and muffins will be served along with coffee, tea and milk. Cost: $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 10. Also available for purchase will be May Baskets filled with candy/fudge, home baked breads, cookies and cakes, garden flowers and plants. Tickets will be available at the door. Group reservations can be made by calling the church office Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm at 203-235-5704. Come, bring a friend and enjoy a real Meriden tradition!
7th Annual "Spring Fling" Polka Dance & Social 2011
My Darling Boy, you mean the world to me and you stole my heart the moment I saw your beautiful face. Love, Mommy
LocalMotion
Marion Townsend Willets of Middletown came to teach the Cadette Girl Scouts of Meriden Troop 66070 how to knit. Marion also shared photo albums of wedding dresses she made among other beautiful items. The three weeks of lessons go toward their Fashion Design Interest Project Badge.
Sponsored by the Men's Club of SS Peter & Paul R.C. Church of Wallingford, CT Saturday evening, April 30, 2011 from 7:30 PM until 11:30 PM At the Polish Nat'l Alliance Park North Plains Highway in Wallingford, CT Music by Eddie Forman (EFO Band) Elected to the "Polka Hall of Fame" in 2006 It's BYOB with Set Ups available. Coffee, Tea, and Dessert will be served. Tickets are $15.00 per person Advance Ticket Sales are preferred by calling: Alan Zakrzewski at (203) 294-0374 Everyone is Welcome ALL Proceeds to Benefit SS. Peter & Paul Men's Club Activities
2011 WALLINGFORD RECYCLING ART CONTEST The Wallingford Recycling Committee invites you to be creative and enter our 2nd annual recycling art contest! Contest is open to Wallingford students, K-8. Entries may be either art sculptures or useful items made from items which have had a previous life. Projects should be dropped off in room 315 of Town Hall between 9:00 and 5:00 on April 19th or 20th, and picked up April 25th or 26th. (Winning entries will be kept until Celebrate Wallingford.) All entries must be constructed of materials that have been used before and would have been recycled or thrown away if not for having the unique opportunity of being part of this contest. All entries must be able to be easily carried by one person. Entries will be judged by the Wallingford Recycling Committee on creativity, artistry and ability to provoke awareness of recycling and the environment. Only one entry per student or group. Please do not use dirty stuff, broken glass or other sharp objects, hazardous waste materials, things which will decompose and be smelly or icky, or items which may break easily. The most important item you will use is your imagination! Prizes will be awarded and winning pieces will be on display at Celebrate Wallingford! For the submission form visit the Town of Wallingford's website at www.town.wallingford.ct.us Questions? Call the Program Planning office at 203 294-2060.
August Curtis Cultural Center April Events Meriden Garden Club & ACCC present 4th speaker in Series: "Creating a Seasonal Habitat for Wildlife" Presented by Wildlife Biologist Peter Picone Thursday, April 14th at 6:30pm Lectures are free and open to the public.
Page 10 Early April 2011
Radio Like It Used To Be… By Brad Devlin Music and the way we listen to it has changed a lot since I was a kid growing up in the 70s. Back then, we relied on trusted disc jockeys to turn us on to new hip music and tell us which cool bands were coming to town. However, these things are almost impossible to find in the overly nostalgic repetition of commercial rock 'n roll radio or the deafening thump-thump-thump of some sweaty late-night clubs here in Connecticut. And, if you're like me, is not that your musical tastes have changed all that much. We still want to hear new and thought-provoking music and maybe even go out to see a show every now and again; the trouble is where to find these things. What's a gracefully aging music fan to do? In many regards, college radio has become what commercial rock 'n roll radio used to be. And for readers of The People's Press, 88.1FM, WESU in Middletown is closest place to find it. The variety of music on WESU challenges me. If you're looking for Caribbean or Jazz, gospel or grunge, you're sure to find it on the schedule. Rob DeRosa's HomeGrown program might be my favorite on the WESU schedule because it gives me the great new music from cool new bands that I want, with the added caveat that the show exclusively features actively performing bands from our home state of Connecticut. I tune in every Thursday on my drive home (5:05-6pm) to get a healthy helping of great music grown right here at home. DeRosa has been hosting the show for close to eight years, and I've been listening almost as long. At first, I was surprised at the quality of some the local Connecticut acts he features. Seven years later, I find myself even more surprised at the sheer number of local bands that exist from all over our home state. DeRosa plays them all, and he has introduced me to many of my new favorite acts. Interestingly, several of the acts DeRosa has featured on HomeGrown have gone on to national and international acclaim. Each show focuses on Connecticut bands performing during the coming week. On occasion, a few of the shows are DeRosa's own productions (DeRosa volunteers as music coordinator of the annual Meriden Daffodil Festival. In recent years, and at DeRosa's request, the festival has featured an all-Connecticut line-up of musical acts. DeRosa also hosts a free music series every Monday evening during the Wesleyan University school schedule at the Red & Black Café inside the Wesleyan Bookstore on Broad Street in Middletown.), but more often he features acts performing at local clubs and coffeehouses throughout the state. So if you like what you hear, grab a pen and paper because at the next break between songs, DeRosa will tell you a little about the band and let you know where they'll be performing. From time to time, he'll even host live bands right in the studio. Recent HomeGrown guests have been Eric Lichter of Dirt Floor Studios in Chester, eclectic songwriters The Sawtelles of Southington, and Fairfield County's Caravan of Thieves. As a disc jockey, DeRosa is as loose and charmingly irreverent as you might expect a veteran of Woodstock to be. Intelligent adult allusions abound, and the weekly public service announcements from Willie Nelson are good for a knowing chuckle from 70s rock 'n roll radio fans everywhere. Everywhere is an appropriate term here because WESU and Rob DeRosa's HomeGrown are available worldwide via wesufm.org. So again, if you're like me and in search of new and thought-provoking music and want to know where to see a show every now and again, you can find these things on Rob DeRosa's HomeGrown on 88.1FM WESU in Middletown (wesufm.org if you're on-line). It's radio like it used be.
PINK PANDORA BRACELET Fundraiser Raffle Retail value over $800.00. Tickets are $10.00 each or 10 - tickets for $50.00 or 20 - tickets for $100.00 Thanks for the support from our friends @ Michael's Jewelers Tickets can be purchased at Hunter's Ambulance, Training Center 474 West Main St. Meriden, CT. USA Winning Ticket will be announced at the Relay for Life Saturday May 14th Lyman Hall H.S., Wallingford Thanks for being part of TEAM HUNTER'S and if you have a Pink Camo shirt you're the Best !!! Team Captain: Dana Hunter-Moyer 203-514-5108
Want to publish your own book, magazine, newspaper and more? Rupert Thomas has joined to help you do it! Whether it's for a digital format or print format that you want to share for free or sell it online - he will be handling this new service. Email him at Rupert@peoplespressnews.com!
Take A Motor Coach Trip With The Wallingford Family YMCA April 16th: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island April 30th: New York City On Your Own. **Pre-Registration is required. For more information on these trips and future trips; please contact Lisa Hoover @ lhoover@wallingfordymca.org
How do YOU become a part of the
LocalMotion?
How do I share my videos, stories, news and events? It’s easy to share! All you have to do is send an email to andy@peoplespressnews.com with a word document attached or in the body or your email. Be sure to include your name. You can also go to www.peoplespressnews.com and press the submit button. If you don’t have email - mail your submission to: The People’s Press, PO Box 4459, Yalesville CT 06492. REMEMBER - It’s FREE to share.
How do I share my CELEBRATIONS of photos/messages? Email Celebrations@peoplespressnews.com. Make sure your photo is large by email - we will reduce the size for the paper. By sending it as large as possible the quality will be much higher. If you don’t have email, look for the CELEBRATIONS photo form in this issue. Don’t crop your photo - we will do it for you. REMEMBER no matter what the reason all CELEBRATIONS photo wishes are FREE.
How do I get the paper? It’s EVERYWHERE. If you want us to tell you a location close to your home - call 203235-9333. It’s also always on-line at www.peoplespressnews.com. You can read it just like the print issue in image form AND also download it as a pdf to save on your computer or print out the articles that interest you. As a matter of fact - you can read every paper we’ve published from 2000 till today! There has never been any charge to read the paper on-line or pick up the print edition!
When do I know when it’s on-line? Become an on-line subscriber. Go to our website and click on the subscribe button. Not only will you find out when the paper is on-line but you will also get deadline reminders, special offers, upcoming events and more! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace!
WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND FUNDRAISER FOR THE 2011 CELEBRATION
Friday, May 6th - Wallingford Fireworks Concert at Zandri's Stillwood Inn. Tickets are $10.00 per person. Scheduled to play: Bluzberry Pi - http://www.bluzberrypi.net/ 42nd Street - http://42ndstband.com/ Third Band to be announced...
To buy tickets or for more information contact Jason Zandri - (203) 294-4647 Jason.Zandri@wallingfordfireworks.org NOW AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE!
When is the deadline for submissions? The deadline fpr the Mid-April issue is the 15th. However, normally it’s the 28th.
Questions? Just call 203-235-9333 or email andy@peoplespressnews.com. We are here to help you! Special Items for Sale! All proceeds benefit the Fund!
Time is going fast!
www.peoplespressnews.com
203-235-9333
Now is the TIME to put your own personal burst in the 2011 Wallingford Fireworks! http://wallingfordfireworks.org/
Page 11 Early April 2011
]NEWS AND EVENTS FROM WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY All Programs, Movies, and Events at the Wallingford Public Library are free and open to the public! The Library is located at 200 N. Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Lecture: Can Children with Autism Recover? Monday, April 11 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room Based on her research, Deborah Fein, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut, believes that at least 10 percent, and possibly as many as 20 percent of children who receive a diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorder can "recover" from it if they are provided the right kind of intensive behavioral therapy. This free lecture is co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. All are welcome. The program will be preceded by a brief AAUW annual meeting. Civil War Sesquicentennial Communities across the nation are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War with lectures, exhibits, discussions, and re-enactments. Join us for two special programs this month The Greatest Hits of the Civil War: America's First Professional Songwriters Thursday, April 14 7:00 p.m in the Community Room Featuring songs written by Daniel Emmett, Stephen Foster, Henry Clay Work and George F. Root, musician Rick Spencer will perform popular tunes from this era. All are welcome to an evening of music and song. Unlaunched Voices: An evening with Walt Whitman Wednesday, April 20, 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room Stephen Collins brings his portrayal of Walt Whitman to the Library in honor of both the Civil War sesquicentennial and National Poetry Month. Through poetry and readings of actual letters, we experience Whitman's movement from selfishness to selflessness, and his growth into a mature artist who is at peace about "himself, God and death." Read and Discuss! April 26: The Marshal and the Madwoman by Magdalen Nabb 3:30 p.m. Collins Room This four-part series of mysteries features sunny Italy. Get copies of the books from the Information Desk and join us for a murderous tour of Rome, Bologna, Florence and Venice with discussion leader Dr. Carole Shmurak. This program is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council and will continue next month. Thursday Night Book Club: The Tender Bar: a memoir by J.R. Moehringer Thursday, April 21 7:00 p.m. in the Collins Room The Thursday Night Book Club is an informal gathering open to all who love to read and discuss fiction and popular nonfiction. Ask at the Information Desk for a copy of this book and join us for the discussion. Environmental Film Series Co-sponsored by the Wallingford Recycling Committee, this series features three ecologically-themed films. Recycling Committee members will be on hand to encourage discussion about the films and steps the public can take to help safeguard the future of our natural resources. Flow, for Love of Water - Monday, April 4 6:30 p.m. Community Room. This film is Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century, the world water crisis. Energy Crossroads Wednesday, April 13 6:30 p.m. Community Room This award-winning documentary exposes the problems associated with our energy consumption, and offers concrete solutions for those who want to educate themselves and be part of the solutions in this decisive era. The film features passionate individuals, entrepreneurs, experts and scientists at the forefront of their field bringing legitimacy and expertise to the core message. The 11th Hour Monday, April 25 6:30 p.m. Community Room - The 11th hour is the last moment when change is possible. This film explores how we've arrived at this moment: how we live, how we impact the earth's ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course. Town Hall Meeting! "CT Budget" With Senator Len Fasano and Representative Vincent Candelora Thursday April 28: 6:00 p.m. Community Room Celebrating National Poetry Month: Saturday Mornings with Poetry: April 16, 30 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Board Room At every meeting, favorite poems are shared, and attendees may read their poems with the option of receiving critique and comment. Poetry appreciation will focus on: Confessional Poetry, April 2; Walt Whitman, April 16; and Frank O'Hara and the New York School of Poets and Artists, April 30. TEEN ZONE! Wii Event: Mario Kart! Wednesday, April 13 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hop on your bike or kart and don't crash! Open to all Teens in grades 6 - 12. Please be sure to sign-up in advance. School Vacation Movie: Vampires Suck! Tuesday, April 19 2:00 p.m. Community Room Hysterical spoof of the Twilight Series‌..Free glow in the dark fangs for all attendees! Xbox Kinect & Pizza Party - Wednesday, April 20 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Community Room Come and party at the Library over vacation. All Teens in grades 6 - 12 are welcome to join us for pizza and Xbox Kinect. Spots are limited, please register in advance. Creative Writing Workshop for Grades 6 through 12 Thursday, April 21 6:30 p.m. Board Room Meet movie screenwriter Matthew Q. Martin who wrote the original screenplay for the 2005 film Slingshot starring David Arquette, Joely Fisher and Juliana Margulies. Matthew is an accomplished actor and author and a former student at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School! Join Matthew for a special workshop on creative writing. Learn about the creative process and receive expert advice on your own work. Don't miss this opportunity! Open to all Teens in grades 6 - 12 however space is limited and advance registration is required. Please call the Library to reserve your spot
Wallingford Public Library Children's Events
School Vacation Week Programs Family Game Night: Unplugged Friday, April 15th at 7:00 p.m. in the Children's Library Board games are definitely not boring - they provide hours of intellectual stimulation, socializing, and FUN! Join us in the Children's Library with your family and neighbors and enjoy a wide variety of board games. Amazing Frogs Tuesday, April 19th at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Room Wallingford proudly welcomes this multi-media live animal show which will explore several different types of frogs from around the world. Participants will have up close meetings with these fascinating creatures including the America Bullfrog, Red Eyed Tree Frog, Can Toad and the Amazon Milk Frog. This program which is free and open to the public is sponsored by the Rotary Club's Wallingford Foundation and has been organized by Chris Stone. Demos R Us Thursday, April 21st at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Room Join us for a science demonstration program to develop a better understanding of air pressure, air molecules and how air moves! The program which is for school-age kids is sponsored by the Rotary Club's foundation and organized by Chris Stone. Moving and Grooving with Amy Rogell: A Musical Program for Kids Wednesday, April 20th at 10:00 a.m. in the Community Room Come enjoy a morning of music and interactive fun with the ever popular Amy Rogell who is well known for her numerous credits in film, television and radio! This drop-in program is for pres-schoolers and their grown-ups. Tell me how many beads there are In a silver chain Of evening rain, Unravelled from the tumbling main, And threading the eye of a yellow star: -So many times do I love again. ~Thomas Lovell Beddoes
A man is not where he lives, but where he loves. ~Latin Proverb
LocalMotion
One of our readers sent this in to us. Be sure to read all of it and note the times of explosions. Submitted by Heather Sarkin - Thanks for the laugh Heather!
New Life Church exists to help guide people to new life in God and to develop them into passionate followers of Jesus Christ.
Service Times Meriden Campus Saturdays 5 PM Saturday Night Life Sundays 9 AM Prime Time Service 11 AM Brunch Service Wallingford Campus Sundays 10 AM at Oakdale Theatre Meriden Campus - 262 Bee Street Wallingford Campus - Oakdale Theater located at 95 South Turnpike Road
Discover the Message at New Life’s Life Line TV availalble at www.innewlife.com
Page 12 Early April 2011
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203-235-2561
MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY APRIL EVENTS MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSED ON GOOD FRIDAY Meriden Public Library will be closed on Friday, April 22 to observe Good Friday. The library will be open on Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. LUNCHTIME BOOK CLUB APRIL 21 The Meriden Public Library's lunchtime book club meets on Thursdays at noon in the Friends Room. Bring your lunch and enjoy the discussion. April 21 - Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman May 19 -Swamplandia by Karen Russell All are welcome. The books are available in a display across from the Information Desk. Contact Laura at (203) 2382346 to sign up. BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES CONCLUDES AT MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY The Meriden Public Library will conclude the book discussion series organized by the Connecticut Humanities Council. The final discussion will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 on the book Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. Marsha Bansavage is the facilitator. Books are available at the library. Please contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.com, or visit the library's web page at www.meridenlibrary.org to view the adult events calendar to reserve a seat. SCRABBLE SESSIONS AT MERIDEN LIBRARY Meriden Public Library hosts sessions for people who enjoy playing Scrabble. The sessions will be on Monday, April 11 and April 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the Friends Room. All skill levels are welcome. Scrabble boards will be provided, but people are welcome to bring their own boards. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have any questions about the library programs GET YOUR GAME ON APRIL 14 Get your game on at the Meriden Public Library on Thursday, April 14th from 3:00 to 4:30 in the Griffin Room. The Wii will be set up with Wii Sports and Mario Kart for friends and family to challenge each other. Board games such as Scrabble, Candyland, Apples to Apples and many others will also be available for use. All ages are welcome to attend including parents and guardians. Registration is not required. If you have any questions please contact Melissa at mmurphy@ci.meriden.ct.us or call (203) 630-6347. LEGO CLUB APRIL 21 Meriden Public Library will have its next Lego Club event on Thursday, April 21st from 3:30 to 4:30 in the Griffin Room. Children ages 6 through 12 are invited to bring their imagination and build on this month's theme - "Boats". Completed projects will be put on display in the library. The library will provide Legos for all children who attend. Sign up is not required for this program and late arrivals are always welcome. If you have any questions or would like to be put on the Lego Club mailing list please contact Melissa at (203) 630-6347 or mmurphy@ci.meriden.ct.us. FINANCIAL WORKSHOP APRIL 19 Meriden Public Library will be hosting a financial workshop called "Find More Money in 2011" by I&C, LLC, an Employee Financial Education Company, on Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Griffin Room. This special workshop will help you: stretch your dollars, eliminate holiday debt, avoid financial traps and pitfalls, find more money to save this year, and ease family conflicts over spending. This program is free and all are welcome. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.com or visit the library's webpage at www.meridenlibrary.org to view the adult calendar and reserve a seat. VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE FINISHES APRIL 16 The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at the Meriden Public Library will finish April 16. The library is located at 105 Miller Street. V.I.T.A., which is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, provides free help to taxpayers who cannot afford professional assistance or who have tax questions. Assistance in preparing Connecticut state tax forms will also be available. The sessions will take place in Meriden Public Library's Griffin Room. For easy access to the Griffin Room, parking is available in the Catlin Street lot. The schedule is as follows: WEDNESDAY April 6 and13 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM Call 203-630-6331 for an appointment between 5:30 and 7:30 pm. SATURDAY April 2, April 9 (This session is in the Literacy Volunteer Office), and April 16 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Call 203-630-6331 for an appointment between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. V.I.T.A. volunteers alert taxpayers to special credits and deductions for which they may be eligible. People interested in attending the V.I.T.A. program can stop in the library and pick up a list of the necessary documents you will need to bring. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 6306349 if you have questions about the tax assistance program. FREE COMPUTER CLASSES IN APRIL AT MERIDEN LIBRARY Sign up for one of the free computer classes at Meriden Public Library and learn how to use a computer, Word, email, and search the internet. The class schedule is as follows: Email - Saturday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m.; Monday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. Basic Computers - Saturday, April 9 at 9:30 a.m.; Monday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. Internet Searching - Monday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 23 at 9:30 a.m. Class size is limited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 or the Information Desk at (203) 238-2346 to reserve a seat. WRITERS NETWORK APRIL 12 AND APRIL 27 The Writers Network will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 pm in the Griffin Room and on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm in the Friends Room. Anyone who is serious about writing fiction or nonfiction, wants to learn the process of getting published, or needs support for writing a book proposal or query letter is welcome to attend. If you are interested in joining the Writers Network, contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 or email us comsvc@hotmail.com. NATURAL SOLUTIONS TO DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS APRIL 25 Dr. David DeRosa, a licensed chiropractor serving the Wallingford community, will present the program on "Natural Solutions to Digestive Problems" at Meriden Public Library on Monday, April 25 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room. The purpose of the workshop is to provide you with facts concerning digestive-related conditions and the natural treatment options available to help you make an informed decision regarding the steps you can take to restore healthy digestive function. Conditions to be discussed are: acid reflux, hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, colitis, Crohns disease and many others. This program is free and all are welcome. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.com or visit the library's website at www.meridenlibrary.org to view the adult events calendar to reserve a seat.
The People's Press is pleased to welcome two new LocalMotivaters to our team. Rupert Thomas and Michelle Trenchard-Scianna offer a wealth of experience and knowledge. You can welcome them by emailing michelle@peoplespressnews.com or Rupert@peoplespressnews.com At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. ~Plato
Page 13 Early April 2011
Meriden Spring Clean Up Reminder The Department of Public Works does not collect leaves in the Spring. Residents are required to deliver their leaves and brush to the Transfer Station, which is located on Evansville Avenue. The Transfer Station is open Mondays from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Wednesdays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and the first and third Saturday from 7:30 AM to Noon. There is no charge for the disposal of leaves and brush. For complete information on the Transfer Station, please visit the City's website at www.cityofmeriden.org. Select municipal services followed by Public Works and Transfer Station.
Meriden Superintendent of Schools Corner Dear Friends, I hope the tough winter weather has finally come to an end. March not only meant some excellent college basketball games, it also had CMT/CAPT testing and budget deliberations. Our students and staff recently completed this important standardized testing measure. While these tests are very important, they are only one measure of what our children are learning in our schools. Recently, the Board of Education approved the 2011-2012 education budget with a 2.78% increase. This request includes the reduction of 26 staff positions--19 certified positions and 7 classified positions. We will continue to monitor all budget lines for savings, and we are committed to exploring all cost savings measures. Provisions to carry over any surplus dollars will be requested to reduce the 2011-2012 budget request. We must work together to assure that our education system continues to meet the needs of all our students. On April 13th, there will be a Public Hearing on the City's 2011-2012 budget. This is an opportunity for all citizens to speak out on the budget. Thank you for all your support! Together we can assure that our education system continues to prepare our students for successful futures. All the best! Mark D. Benigni
CELEBRATIONS
Out of the Fire, and Into the Frying Pan By Chuck Rinaldi From the time I became an adult, I have always enjoyed cooking. For a little over four decades, the kitchen has been my favorite room in the house. I started this love affair with all things culinary when I got married and, for the first time, was living away from my childhood home where food was simple and relatively unexciting. Being young and on a pretty tight budget, get-togethers with our friends tended to be dinners at each others' houses rather than going out to restaurants. It was these occasions that caused me to begin seeking out more interesting cookbooks and gave me the opportunity to begin preparing dishes such as Chicken Kiev or Lobster Thermidor for our guests. It was during this time that I realized that rather than seeming like work, the time spent searching out recipes and preparing these foods was really fun for me. I must admit I also enjoyed receiving compliments from our friends or the applause that would greet the presentation of a flaming Cherries Jubilee. I continued in this vein, trying this, perfecting that, always looking toward the next occasion to cook for family or friends, and I gradually began to gain a wider knowledge of various cooking methods and preparation techniques. Time passed and the demands of teaching, going to graduate school, raising children, working a second job and making home repairs took over time that before would have been spent at the cutting board and stove. Life moved on, to a second marriage, a new job (at Sheehan High School in Wallingford!), and a focus on acting and theater that lasted for the next 25 years. Cut to the present… In June, 2009, I retired from my position as a high school Assistant Principal, and my wife and I fulfilled a dream by moving to Arizona. It took a little while getting used to being retired, not having to run off to work each day, or having my life segmented by bells signaling the change of classes. I now had the time to pursue things I enjoy or had always wanted to do. I started going to the gym three times a week, taking T'ai Chi, reading to my heart's content, doing home improvement projects, and traveling. However, among the most wonderful aspects of this new phase of my life is that I have begun to cook seriously again. It has been like returning to a lost love. About twenty years ago, I began acquiring professional-level pans, knives and other cooking implements to be able to cook like the gourmet I have always wanted to be. I also collected cookbooks, dozens of them, searching for just the right recipes by great chefs such as Jacques Pepin and Mario Batali. It got so bad that my wife finally instituted a "one in, one out" rule to help keep some kind of control on the situation. Now, in a new house with a well-set-up kitchen, all these things are being used the way they were intended to be. Since we try to keep an eye on our health, not every night is gourmet night, but at least twice a week I try to make a special dish or soup that I have not tried before. I am venturing into French cuisine and thanks to Julia Childs' Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I am turning out such dishes as Daube de Boeuf à la Provençale with great success. Living in Arizona, outdoor cooking is possible year round, so Bobby Flay has become my guru as well. I began making my own bread about a year ago, and recently started turning out my own hand-made pasta. Although I do subscribe to a number of cooking magazines, thanks to the Internet and The Food Network, I'm no longer bringing home cookbooks, and I can learn new techniques and recipes from some of the best chefs in the world. These days, a visit to "Cucina Rinaldi" might just include tempting smells from the kitchen, a good glass of wine, some home-made bread and food that's been carefully and lovingly prepared. Whether it's a spicy chile rellenos or a delicate celery-root soup, the satisfaction I derive from preparing a complicated recipe and turning out a fine restaurant-quality meal has become one of my greatest pleasures. The submission deadline for the Mid-April 2011 issue of THE PEOPLES PRESS is April 15th. Email your stories, news and events to andy@peoplespressnews.com. Don't forget your Easter Greetings! Email your photos and celebrations to celebrations@peoplespressnews.com. If we can help in any way please call 203-235-9333.
Mrs. Erasmus' third grade class at Nathan Hale School in Meriden studies many famous and not so famous Black Americans during Black History Month. They completed Venn diagrams to see how they were alike and different.
LocalMotion
March Meeting of Wallingford Garden Club The Wallingford Garden Club took a trip back in time to the Victorian era at the March 8 meeting. Marie Hayes of Gardens Unlimited presented a slideshow depicting American gardens during the Golden Age of Horticulture extending from 1836 - 1901. At this time wealthy homeowners had leisure hours to devote to planning gardens containing statuary, vines and water features. The Victorians were influenced by the French, Chinese, Moorish and Italian cultures for their outdoor rooms. This Golden Age was noted for sunken gardens with seating for contemplation, the use of boxwood for natural fencing and for the practice of "bedding out" which entailed planting 1 or 2 annuals in a circle on the lawn so that one could have an aerial view of the flowers from the house. Hayes had slides of historical estates to illustrate the various features of the Victorian garden and also shared her collection of antique photos, post cards and memorabilia from this nostalgic time. The Wallingford Garden Club is a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of CT and the National Garden Clubs Inc. Marie Hayes shown in photo.
A p r i l 2 2 , 2 01 1
This year, Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22. Because it's right in the heart of the spring season, when many people feel rejuvenated after a long winter, Earth Day is the ideal time for men, women and children to take that extra energy they have in the spring and channel it into eco-friendly behaviors that benefit the environment. How can we due our part? Share your stories, photos, drawings, videos and more for the next issue of The People’s Press. Parents and Teachers - we encourage children to be part of this. Not just to learn but to develop confidence in themselves by being printed and showcased on the web as well. We call this program for children “Yearn to Learn!” We are honored to offer this to you. The deadline is April 11th. Email andy@peoplespressnews.com.
LocalMotion - GlobalImpact www.peoplespressnews.com
Page 14 Early April 2011
WHO BELIEVES IN GROUNDHOGS ANYWAY? By Phyllis S. Donovan Today is National Groundhog Day. All day, it's been vacillating between rain and sleet and all the trees in our back woods are sporting glassy coatings of solid ice. I don't know about Punxatawny Phil but around here any self-respecting groundhog wouldn't dare to stick his nose out of his burrow on a nasty day like this. Even if he did decide to get a breath of fresh air, it wouldn't be rays of sunshine that would scare the critter back inside for six more weeks, it would be sharp needles of precipitation which couldn't raise a shadow if it wanted to…a much better reason for the poor animal to seek warm shelter. Either way, it's pretty obvious that, groundhog or not, we're pretty much doomed to at least another six weeks of this horrid stuff which we've been steadily subjected to since a day or so after Christmas. I'm not the only one who is getting pretty tired of it. Everywhere we go we hear folks wondering if all this bad weather will ever end. We have been lucky the plows can continue to keep up with it all, even if we take our lives in our hands just driving downtown with the mountains of cleared away snow in medians and at crossroads piled so high we can't see over it all. Try nudging your car cautiously out into traffic and hear the irate honking of horns when oncoming drivers reprimand you for edging out in front of them. By the second storm, the plow through our neighborhood succeeded in taking down our mailbox. During a late storm last spring it had been tipped a bit askew but, tipsy or not, it was still suitably serviceable. This year, however, a plow finished the job and it now lies frozen onto its side on the top of the giant snowbank at road's edge in front of our house. Thanks to a very understanding mailman, we're still using it. Like many of our neighbors, we shoveled out a path to our fallen soldier and the mailman still leaves mail in it. If we have mail to go out, we raise the flag as usual, even though, with the box lying flat, it points toward the driveway instead of straight up. When the mailman leaves the mail, he puts the flag down and it points toward the house. As long as we all know the signals, it works. Who knows when we'll ever get it standing upright again, certainly not until most of this snow melts away and then we'll have to figure out how to prop it up until spring. I always feel sorry for the birds in weather like this. My husband went out early this morning, cleared the ice and snow out of all the feeders on our back deck and refilled them to overflowing. We keep running down to Greenbacker's Agway to buy food for them: sunflower seeds for the chickadees, titmice, juncos, sparrows, mourning doves, and our spectacular red cardinals and bluejays, thistle seed for the finches and suet for the woodpeckers, nuthatches and giant flickers who bang so hard it reverberates through the house. No matter what it costs, I get a lot of pleasure out of watching our feathered diners. We aren't the only ones watching. Two days ago I saw a Cooper's Hawk sitting in the maple tree right outside our kitchen window. (We live in a raised ranch so our kitchen is on the second floor.) He sat there long enough for me to get a good look at him and check my Peterson's Field Guide but all the time he sat there not one bird came to the feeders. Once he flew back into our woods, they all came back again. Like everyone else, we've been worrying about the weight of all that snow on our roof. We'd never even heard of roof rakes until this winter but we've been seeing folks with lower roofs than
ours using those long handled tools to clear at least as far as they can reach on their roofs. We've also seen men up on roofs shoveling and/or snow blowing for what we've heard are exorbitant fees. Of course, it's a drop in the bucket compared to what we'd have to pay if the roof caved in. My sister, who lives in the frigid Berkshires and had her roof cleared off, told me that she heard an architect on the Home and Garden Network say that if the house is an older one (ours is over 50) and constructed by a reputable builder (we live in a Carabetta house) that chances are it's been built to New England standards and should weather winter's wrath. Since, our attic is still dry and the house seemingly tight, we thought it would probably survive the unusual amounts of snow. But this morning I walked into the kitchen and heard a loud dripdrip-drip. Water was dripping in over the window behind the kitchen sink. Clearly all the sleety rain and ice had created an ice dam up in the gutter area and it was seeping into the house. Just as we thought our luck might hold through this miserable winter, we're hit with a situation that must be dealt with. Right about now, my resolve is weakening. My husband's suggestion that we should just escape to the Caribbean until this blasted winter is over is sounding better and better to me. But we'd still have to determine a window of time between storms when we could fly out to warming climes and face the airport hassle if it didn't work out. Guess we'll just grin and bear and take our chances right here. We ARE New Englanders after all.
MAYOR ROHDE TO VISIT THE MERIDEN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO CELEBRATE THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD Catholic Charities is delighted to announce that the Honorable Michael S. Rohde, Mayor of the City of Meriden, will be visiting the Catholic Charities Meriden Child Development Center at 61 Colony Street to help us celebrate the Week of the Young Child on Wednesday, April 13th at 10:00 AM. Mayor Rohde will be reading to some of the children to underscore the importance of reading in their educational development. The Week of the Young Child is designed to enhance awareness of the value of good early childhood education, a primary goal of Catholic Charities throughout its ninety year history of helping those in need in Connecticut. The event is scheduled for the week of April 11th through the 15th and other political leaders will join in the effort in their respective cities: The Honorable John DeStefano Jr., Mayor of the City of New Haven, will be visiting Catholic Charities' Centro San José Family Center in New Haven on April 11th and the Honorable Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor of the City of Hartford, will be visiting Catholic Charities' Institute for the Hispanic Family in Hartford on April 14th. Catholic Charities is the largest non-governmental provider of human services in the State of Connecticut and has been the licensed, accredited social service arm of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Hartford (Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven Counties) for 90 years. The Agency serves 30,000 people of all faiths annually from 34 locations throughout Connecticut and is an employer of more than five hundred social service professionals. For more information on Catholic Charities, please visit our website at www.ccaoh.org.
Now is the time to order all of your Easter Favorites from Marianna’s Belltop Bakery Hot Cross Buns Rice, Wheat & Ham Pies Easter Bread Babkas & More! Plus all of your other Favorites including our Famous Freshly Filled Cannolis Open Easter 7am-1pm
Marianna’s Belltop Bakery 212 West Main Street in Meriden 203-238-0159
Page 15 Early April 2011
Dear Housewives - Central Connecticut's Know It All Gals
LocalMotion
Dear Readers, Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail at peoplespress@peoplespressnews.com or by calling 203235-9333 with your confidential question and we will answer it in the next issue. Sincerely, June and Flora Dear Housewives, With all the snow days, do you housewives think the Board of Education should remove days off of February vacation? - Snowy JUNE: I think this year they should remove the February vacation due to all the snow days so the kids don't have to go into the hot summer. I think they would rather have their April vacation when it is starting to get warm. Plus, there aren't usually any days off in March . FLORA: Why do we have February vacation anyway? The kids are off for 10 days at the end of December followed by seven weeks of school to be off another week? Aren't they beginning the CMT testing at the beginning of March? Usually there are snow days in those 7 weeks. Oh, I forgot...the teacher's unions...hmmm, that may pose a problem; but hopefully not. As a parent, tax payer and citizen, I say do away with the February vacation. JUNE: Don't knock the teacher's union, for the most part they try to keep teachers from getting taken advantage of any more than they do. Do you know what they have to put up with these days? I bet if they took away Mr. Flora's vacation time or they added work hours with no extra pay he wouldn't be happy. Without a union, tough noogies for him. Teaching is hard work and if they get 5 lousy days off in Feb. then good for them. They are usually correcting and planning during that time anyway. FLORA: We are getting off topic. Perhaps a Dear Reader will have a Union Question for us in the future where we can expand on that topic. Teaching is hard work and I value their commitment and the profession they chose. JUNE: Off topic, yes, but I didn't bring it up. Dear Housewives, My kids are going a bit batty in the house with all these snow days. What can we do? - Cabin Fever FLORA: Break out the Board Games so they won't get bored...Learn some card games, watch movies, bake, read, roll coins...I'd say build a snowman, but you might loose a little one out there in the five foot deep snow! JUNE: One thing they can do is school work. They can get ahead on some of their work. They can enjoy and play games, help clean up or go out and play in the snow. Remind them that you don't have to entertain them and give them some ideas. If they still are bored I bet they can find some things in their room to clean. We don't usually get this much snow, so remember it will be over soon.
Showdown At Gobbler's Knob Stepping off the train at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was a sobering aged man of impeccable dress. The Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad traversed the backwoods of this puny little settlement, nearly secluded from humanity. He was here not to enjoy the scenery, nor the local fare … he was here to serve a warrant for the arrest of a groundhog named Phil. "Where might I find the Burgess of this squalid, shanty town?" He asked with a dignified air of superiority. "I'm here to take into custody the vermin who claims to be a certified promulgator of the future weather to come our way." One of the folks, who had gathered around the man holding a folder to his lapel, spoke up. "We have no Burgess, sir……but we do have the president of the local council who might be able to help you. If you follow me, I will gladly introduce you to His Honor." The two men walked briskly toward the town hall which had been built around the turn of the century. Several of the townsfolk followed close behind the pair. There was a certain strain of intense curiosity that prevailed over the onlookers as they gathered at the steps of that old brownstone building. The town of Punxsutawney was steeped in volumes of facts and legends. Going back to the yesteryears of the early inhabitants -- the dignified Native American tribes of the Delaware, Shawnee and Mahoning Indians. One of the stories told by a great chief of the Delawares was that of the Ponkies. He had killed an evil sorcerer to rid the hunting grounds of its "evil medicine" but it arose as a nastier biting nemesis called sand flies. The Indian word, Ponksaduteney meaning "land of the sand flies" was given to this area, and later became the formal name Punxsutawney. Eagerly, the man with the warrant, waited for the so-called speaker of this no man's land to answer the knock on the heavy oaken door. "What in tarnation are you doing here, mister, mister…..eh, what's yer name anyway ?" "The name is Herman Gogant… Sergeant Gogant, that is, of the US Marshall's office, and I am here to bring in this local yokel named Phil." There came a thunderous roar of uncontained humiliating laughter from the crowd that had gathered 'round. "Well, let's get on up to Gobler's Knob and see what Phil has to say about that." More laughter and jeers were directed at this Tomfoolery with the slicked-down hair, and the manners of a jackass. Off they trudged towards the top of the hill where the hole of Punxsutawney Phil stood in all its infamous glory. All huddled around as the marshal unfurled the document and began to read from the certified wording put forth by the laws of the commonwealth. "It is unlawful for a man or beast to impersonate a figure of civil standing. Now come out of your darkened abyss and face your foreboding fate, sir." There was a stillness in the air …. a quietness such as that of a pin dropping on supple sand, which nothing could compare to. And, as the gallant citizenry waited, Phil emerged from his chambers yawning. Then, with the swiftness of lightning, the marshal grabbed the poor furry thing, slapped handcuffs on his front paws, and started to drag him back down the hill. The crowd was not about to let their little celebrity be taken away to be flung into some dank dirty ol' jail cell. "Let go of him," someone shouted. "Take those cuffs off ol' Phil before we tar and feather you." Everyone formed a semicircle between the marshal and the path leading down to the center of town. Someone held onto the marshal's coattails while another scuffled for the key to the handcuffs. Soon there was pandemonium. Cursing, shoving, name-calling, and all sorts of ballyhoo. "String him up!" "Run him out of town!" "Kill him ….. the dirty rascal," came shouts from several of the fans of Punksy. Dirt, debris, and fiery words, flew like Hades unleashed. And as the wild flaying and nerve rattling scuffle finally ended, there came a sigh of triumphant heraldry over the dust upon the hill that day. All is peaceful and quiet now in the little town of Punxsutawney…… the natives have been appeased, and Punxsutawney Phil has been safely slipped back into his hole to wait again for another Groundhog Day. Nobody talks about the man with the warrant … the man who tried to arrest ol' Phil … but if you happen to walk around Gobbler's Knob some dreary dark night, you might catch the sound of a weak muffled voice crying, "Help, help --- I don't deserve this fate." -george arndt-
So how high was the snow bank? Sent in by Scott Philbrick
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Page 16 Early April 2011
Want to publish your own book, magazine, newspaper and more? Rupert Thomas CAN help you do just that.. Email him at Rupert@peoplespressnews.com!
The Maryheart Crusaders Bookstore Catholic Books * Religious Items Gifts * Church Goods 531 West Main Street in Meriden 203-238-9735 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-2
There's a new party in town .. Ditch the workout and come join...Annie's Dance Party! Meet Anne Cicia - Owner Choreographer, Fitness Motivator, Hip Hop Dance, Toning and Zumba Instructor Anne’s passion for dance, high energy, and enthusiasm will be sure to make for a fun and stimulating workout that will make you sweat! Come out and join the PARTY!!! Annie's Dance Party promises to provide you with a fun filled, energetic, calorie burning and body toning dance class and aerobic workout. Combining the funky flair and street moves of hip hop dance, the strong and powerful toning exercises, and the latin flavor and rhythms of Zumba, these stimulating classes will be sure to keep your heart and body pumping!
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Meriden Health Department News and Events Meriden Garden Club April Presentation The Meriden Garden Club will be hosting a presentation called "Creating a Seasonal Habitat for Wildlife" on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The presentation will start at 6:30pm at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center, 175 East Main Street, Meriden. Wildlife biologist Peter Picone will teach us how to create seasonal habitat for a variety of wildlife using native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, and what invasive non-native plants are bad for habitat. Everyone is invited to attend! Please RSVP by calling the Cultural Center at 203-639-2856. The Meriden Garden Club always welcomes any resident interested in gardening and beautification projects to join! Save the Date! Community Wednesday Block Party and National Day of Play This event is back for a second year! Over 1,000 residents enjoyed a day of sunshine, play, and community last year will you be part of the crowd in 2011? When: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 (rain date is Thursday, July 21), 10:00am-4:00pm Where: Meriden HUB What: A day of fun for everyone! Activities, games, food, health fair, info booths, petting zoo, hay rides, dunk tank, live broadcast by HOT 93.7. Sponsored by the Meriden Housing Authority, Meriden/Wallingford NAACP, and the City of Meriden. Want to get involved in the health fair portion of this event? Contact Angela Simpson at 203-630-4237 or asimpson@ci.meriden.ct.us Want to be a food vendor? Contact Teri Ramos at 203-235-0157 or teri.ramos@meriden-ha.com. Riding a Bike? Wear Your Helmet! Bike riding is a great way to get exercise and fresh air and share time as a family. The Meriden Health Department wants everyone to be safe - we are selling Bell brand bicycle helmets for $7.50 each. Both adult and child sizes are available, and there are many different styles and colors to choose from. The helmets are available for purchase Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Please call the Clinic office at 203-630-4234 if you have any questions. Be safe always wear a helmet when riding a bike, no matter where you are or how short the ride! Got Public Health? April 4 through the 10th is National Public Health Week. The benefits of public health can be seen in our day to day lives - it is because of public health we know that unclean water can carry bacteria that can cause disease; that secondhand smoke can be deadly, and that wearing a seat belt whenever we drive or ride in a car can save a life. Unlike doctors and nurses who focus on the health of individual people, public health focuses on the health of the community as a whole. Your Meriden Health Department is the local agency responsible for Meriden's public health. We'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about what services we offer our community. Our Health Clinic provides health screenings such as blood pressure, total cholesterol, and hearing and vision; gives immunizations, and tracks communicable diseases in our community. The Health Education office provides health information and education to the public; collects and manages data, coordinates health programs and much more. The Environmental Health Division licenses and regulates all establishments that prepare and serve food, respond to nuisance complaints that may be in violation of State and City codes, inspect public swimming pools and day care centers and much more. School Health Nursing provides complete school health services to all students enrolled in Meriden's public and nonpublic schools. Our HIV/AIDS Program provides confidential education, counseling and testing. Outreach, educational materials and group programs are also available. The Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC) provide education and healthy foods to eligible participants. In addition to the Health Division, our Department also provides Human Service Programs such as: School Readiness, which provides access to quality child care services for children ages 3 and 4 in Meriden. Youth Services provides resources to youth, parents, and professionals including counseling, juvenile assistance, youth employment, crisis intervention programs, and community services opportunities. Social Work Services: provides social services to Meriden residents, including geriatric assessment and planning, financial assessment, screening for entitlement eligibility and much more. The Max E. Muravnick Senior Citizen's Center is a hub for activities and services for older people to enhance their social, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. Your Meriden Health Department is committed to the protection and promotion of the physical and environmental well-being of the citizens of Meriden through direct service, wellness promotion and active support of community efforts. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Residents can also call 203-630-4226, visit our website, www.meridenhealth.com, or become a fan on Facebook (search for us under City of Meriden Health Department).
MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY APRIL EVENTS CONTINUED
NO WASTE FROM BUSINESS OR CONTRACTORS. 5 Gallon per person limit. Resident I.D. is required!
SATURDAY MOVIE APRIL 23 - This month's Saturday movie will be shown on Saturday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. in the Griffin Room. This month's selection will be the new story of Rapunzel. This program is free and all are welcome. HELD ON THE HOMEFRONT: GERMAN POWS IN THE U.S., 1943-1946 AT MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY 2 - Meriden Public Library will be hosting the traveling exhibit "Held on the Homefront: German POWs in the United States, 1943-46" by the non-profit organization TRACES on Monday, May 2, 2011. The BUS-eum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the public to view the exhibit which consists of 15 narrative display panels illustrated with photographs and documents, audio and DVD documentaries, artifacts and more inside a 40 foot long converted bus. The German POWs held in U.S. Army-operated camps across the United States were sent out to harvest or process crops, build roads and waterways, fell trees, roof barns, erect silos, work in light non-military industry, lay city sewers and construct tract housing, wash U.S. Army laundry and do other practical wartime tasks. With the high rate of 19thcentury German immigration to "Amerika", many of those who worked with POWs spoke to them in their native tongue; some even had relatives or former neighbors among them. In the process, they formed significant, often decades-long friendships with "the enemy" and underwent considerable changes as individuals and as a group-thus fundamentally influencing postwar German values and institutions, as well as American-German relations. A number of POWs even chose to immigrate to the United States after the war. While American soldiers and airmen were in Europe, blasting German cities to rubble, some German soldiers sat out the rest of the war after being captured-behind barbed wire, on the American Homefront. While here, some secretly dated local girls, sneaked into corner bars, and darkened movie houses, and some even took correspondence courses for which they would earn college credit back in postwar Germany. All this occurred while a vicious global war raged on beyond the peaceful shores of the faraway New World, claiming over 55 million lives and laying entire countries to waste. This exhibit documents the contradictions and ironies of both war and imprisonment-above all to stimulate reflection, discussion and insight.Held on the Homefront explores the human context of the POW experiences. Implicitly, it addresses five primary questions: -Were German POWs generally treated well or poorly while held captive in the United States? How has the treatment accorded to enemy POWs during the Second World War impacted the standing of the United States both in Europe and in the world at large? -In which contexts and settings did German POWs encounter Americans? Were those encounters generally positive or negative? For which side-and what were the lasting impacts of those encounters? -What role did art play in the POWs' experience? -How did the POWs' perceptions of the United States, of Americans and of democracy evolve from the point of their arrival in the U.S. (generally from 1943-45) till their departure from the U.S. (in summer 1946), as well as once they returned to Germany (or Austria)? -How did the German POW experience affect German-American relations, both immediately after the war and for the half century thereafter? TRACES is a non-profit educational organization created to gather, preserve and present stories of people from the Midwest and Germany or Austria who encountered each other during World War II. The BUS-eum has been touring the United States since 2009. This program is free and all are welcome. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 for more information about the library programs.
Page 17 Early April 2011
CUNO FOUNDATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AND AWARDS GRANTS Elizabeth Canavan was elected Chairman of the Distribution Committee of The Cuno Foundation at the Annual Meeting. Canavan replaces outgoing Chairman, Kenneth Mango. Eliot White was elected Vice-Chairman for the 2011 year. Other members include, Natalie Cheerman, Kevin Curry, Larry McGoldrick, and John Stanton. Members are appointed for a seven year term. Trudy Cotton serves as Secretary. Grants were awarded to the Martin Luther King & Albert Owens Scholarship Fund, the American Cancer Society on behalf of Relay for Life, the Greater Meriden AAUW, Birthright of Greater Meriden, and Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. The Distribution Committee also voted to award approximately $50,000 in scholarships to high school seniors planning to further their education. Applications will be sent to Meriden, Wallingford and Cheshire high schools where students can pick up an application in the Guidance Department. Applications can also be obtained by emailing a request to www.cunofoundation@cox.net. The deadline date for accepting applications is Friday, March 18th. The Cuno Foundation is again accepting grant applications for public, charitable or educational purposes. Grants are usually made for specific, tangible items or capital expense requests that directly benefit the recipient. The Cuno Foundation does not grant funds for salaries. Applications are reviewed three times a year. The next deadline date to submit applications is April 15, 2011. Awards will be announced in June. Preference is given to proposals submitted by tax-exempt, not for profit organizations located in the Meriden area. For additional information or to obtain guidelines and an application form, call 203-443-5594 or email: cunofoundation@cox.net. Please be aware that the address for the Cuno Foundation has been changed to 562 Baldwin Avenue, Unit 6, Meriden, CT 06450.
People’s Press Pulse Poll We asked who was the best president ever to our online subsribers and social media fans. It was a tie between Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt along with Abraham Lincoln.
Yearn To Learn
James H. Napier Foundation Grant Applications Being Accepted Thank you for contacting the James H. Napier Foundation regarding a possible grant for your program and/or organization. Before you prepare the application, please review the attached Grantmaking Priorities. If you have any questions after reviewing the priorities or want to discuss your project's specifics, please contact the Foundation Administrator directly. Contact information is below. Cuno Foundation Grants Grant deadlines are: April 10, July 10, September 30 and January 10. If you are interested in submitting an application for the April 10 deadline, please feel free to contact me via email or cell phone if you have any questions, need additional information or would like to discuss your project. Cuno Grant Application Instructions: Please use either the CT Council for Philanthropy Common Grant Application Form, available at: http://www.ctphilanthropy.org/s_ccp/sec.asp?CID=7509&DID=17055 or the attached Foundation application which consists of a cover page (Parts A and B) and a grant application outline. The proposal should be brief but complete. Application deadlines are: JANUARY 10, APRIL 10, JULY 10 AND SEPTEMBER 30. Limit application to five (5) pages. If longer than five (5) pages, the additional pages will not be reviewed. Please use these headings, subheadings and numbers. If a question does not apply to your organization, please indicate that with "NA". Please email an electronic version of the application to napierfdn@hotmail.com, in addition to submitting hard copies: an original and five (5) copies. Do not use covers or binders because additional copies must be made for our Trustees review. The range of grants made from unrestricted funds is normally between $1,000 and $10,000. The requested amount should fall within that range. Any variations should be discussed with Foundation staff prior to submission. If you have received a previous Foundation grant, please note that a final report MUST be submitted to the funder ninety days (90) after the project's completion before another application is submitted. Please access the CT Council for Philanthropy Common Report Form available at: http://www.ctphilanthropy.org/s_ccp/s ec.asp?CID=7509&DID=17055 Applications must be complete as of the deadline date. It's strongly recommended that you submit your application a few days before the deadline so the Foundation Administrator can review it and advise you if additional information is needed. In some cases, a phone call will be scheduled to discuss the application. This will give the Foundation Trustees and staff an opportunity to learn more about your proposed project and the applicant organization. The Foundation Administrator and/or Trustees may discuss concepts presented in the application with other individuals and/or organizations as the project and its potential significance to the Foundation are assesse All applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on the deadline at the following address. If the application is received after the deadline, it will NOT be reviewed. Please hand-deliver or mail applications to: Daria Smith, Foundation Administrator - The James H. Napier Foundation c/o United Way of Meriden and Wallingford. 35 Pleasant Street, Suite 1E, Meriden, CT 06450
Students in Mrs. Drenzek's third grade class at Nathan Hale School created musical instruments from recycled materials as a final project for their Science unit about Sound. They were instructed to create an instrument which would produce a sound by striking, blowing, plucking, tapping, or stretching a part of it. The class listened to each one and determined which part of the instrument vibrated and produced a high pitch or low pitch sound. Students answered questions from the class as well. After all of the instruments were presented, they played them by sections, then all together. It was sweet music to our ears!
SAVE THE DATE Skin Cancer Prevention Educational Sessions
May 5th and May 17th
Program will consist of one hour educational session to increase the awareness of the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays and to influence sun safety practices. This session will be immediately followed by screening using the American Academy of Dermatology Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program Guidelines. Treatment at the time of screening is prohibited. Participants will be required to sign an AAD form to acknowledge that the screening is a rapid skin screening and not a complete skin care examination. Registration required and limited to Wallingford residents 18 years or older; preference will be given to those with young and/or adolescent children in the home. Additional information will be provided at time of registration.
Contact Chris More Public Health Educator Wallingford Health Dept 203-294-2065
Page 18 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
Rachel and Richard Birmingham - my 16 year old twins, who are the greatest gift to me from God above. i love you so much. mom xoxoxo
CELEBRATIONS
My father Jorge Pereira is my hero. He will be 73 in may and he is still working. He brought our family from Brazil in 1973. He has lived the American dream and made it come true.
LocalMotion
Happy 92nd Birthday Joe Sr. ! Love, Joe Jr., Sally, Keatyn, & Trevor.
CELEBRATIONS
PUCKER UP! Mark, Happy 21st Birthday! We love you! Love, Mom, Dad, Booey, Jeannie, Butter Cup and Sarah
Life along the Q River‌ An Update from the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association Hanover Pond Repairs By JoAnne Grabinski On Friday, March 18 contracted workers from Green Mountain Pipeline Services damaged a sewer line located in Hanover Pond in South Meriden. The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association's (QRWA) headquarters sits on the edge of the pond. The sewer lines had already been diverted due to the scheduled work on the pipe, so no sewage leaked into the pond. Green Mountain was attempting to place a sleeve in the sewer pipe as part of a comprehensive program the City's sewer lines. The pipe collapsed during the sleeving process and created the leak, which resulted in large amounts of pond water rushing through the line and stressing the pumps at the nearby sewage treatment plant on Evansville Avenue. As a result the City obtained an emergency order form the DPUC to drain the pond in order to make repairs to the pipe. The pond was drained by opening the dam. The pond was drained to the point where work could be done, but there was still some water left in the pond. Crews were busy Saturday working on creating a damn to get to the affected pipe, which was located near the island in the center of the pond. Bald eagles have been regulars at the tree on the island so there was some concern that is disturbance could be harmful to the birds. According to Ginny Chirsky, President of the QRWA, once DEP had confirmed there was no sewer leakage into Hanover Pond from the broken pipe she felt confident that the situation only created a temporary displacement and wildlife will return to normal at Hanover Pond including the four Bald Eagles and fledglings who have made Hanover Pond their home. Notes Anna Neumon, a member of the city's Conservation Commission, "My concern is on the impact, if any, on the immediate area and on the fish and the eagles who feed from the river and pond." "We expect no adverse harm to wildlife," CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesman Dwayne Gardener said of the break and subsequent draining. "The period of time the pond is drawn down is going to be brief and there is still water available." Since the break, crews have been working around the clock to fully fix and line the pipe. According to Public Utilities Superintendent Dennis Waz, the city will be paying for these overtime costs. City Finance Director Michael Lupkas said Tuesday that he hadn't yet seen a full cost estimate for the additional work, but that funding would likely come out of Meriden's Enterprise Fund for the sewers. As of Thursday the repairs seemed to have been complete and the damn was closed to allow the pond to refill to its normal levels. And that same day two eagles were spotted flying above the pond. Upcoming QRWA Events: Wednesday, April 13, 5:00 pm - Annual Fish Stocking, Meet at Red Bridge, Oregon Road, Meriden. Please park in the Linear Trial lot. Saturday, April 23 - Annual River Clean Up - contact David James at 203-237-2845 for staging area and times. Saturday, May 1, 1:30 pm - Eagle Watch on Hanover Pond. Led by certified canoe instructor Dan Pelletier and Wildlife Biologist Peter Picone. Watch through binoculars or cruise around Hanover Pond. This event is for experienced paddlers only. Sunday, May 15th, 9:00 am - 31st Canoe/Kayak Race, Down River Classic. Register at the Southington DOT parking lot on Route 322. This year the race with be combined with an Environmental Fair for CT Based Environmental Groups. To learn more about the QRWA and to confirm information, dates and times for upcoming events, please visit our website at: www.qrwa.org.
Home Country Slim Randles Margaret Clawson, down at the Rest of Your Life convalescent home, can't help it, really. You see, she's a pony mom. Her teenage daughters have horses, and she's busy hauling the girls and their mounts around to horse shows, gymkhanas and barrel racings throughout our corner of the country on weekends. Pony moms have ‌ well, a way about them. So did Genghis Khan. As one old cowboy put it: "You can put a pony mom in a room full of Little League moms and she'll whip them all into shape." So in a way Margaret couldn't help herself. Dud and Anita Campbell were invited to come and be judges last Friday, but weren't sure what was happening until they got there. But there, smiling from ear to ear, were about half the inhabitants of the home lined up in their best bathrobes and non-skid slippers, holding onto their walkers. "Okay guys," said Margaret, inspecting the troops ala Rommel, "we're going to see fair play done in each contest, but you will strive to win. It's the American Way." Nods and grins. Then Margaret whipped out a stopwatch and said, "Our first event is the pole bending. You will weave in and out of the chairs in the hallway, go completely around Grant's wheelchair at the far end, and weave back. If you break the pattern, you will be disqualified. Okay now. Estelle, are you ready?" Estelle was. "Go!" There she went, in and out of the chairs, only getting her walker hung up on a chair leg once during her run. Two wall bumps. No falls. No pattern breaks. Great applause as she crossed the finish line. The event was eventually won by Mitch, who claimed he'd been a track star in high school around the time the stock market crashed. "You've probably noticed the obstacles we've put out," Margaret then announced. "Lily, do you have your hearing aids on? That's better. So now we come to the trail horse class. Get those ponies ready!" You're never too old for fun. Brought to you by Slim Randles's outdoor memoirs, Sweetgrass Mornings, available at www.slimrandles.com.
Page 19 Early April 2011
MERIDEN MAN RUNNING TO RAISE MONEY FOR LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY Bill Mercuri can usually be seen walking or running with his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Gus, almost anywhere on Meriden's west side. On April 30th he'll be running in the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN as part of the Team in Training, a comprehensive endurance training program for runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes which benefits The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since 1986, Team in Training has raised over $800 million for the LLS. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helps fund research into cures and treatments for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma and Hodgkin's Disease. It also provides much needed services to improve the lives of those living with these diseases. Bill has a $5,000 fundraising goal and a deadline of March 15th by which to raise it. He needs your help in achieving his goal. Please support his run by making a gift to this campaign. Donations of all sizes will be greatly appreciated. Giving is easy and all gifts are tax deductible. You may write a check payable to LLS and mail it to: Bill Mercuri - 39 Corrigan Ave., Meriden, CT 06451 Or, use your credit card to give online at Bill's secure web page: pages.teamintraining.org/ct/cmc11/wmercuri Corporate sponsorships are also available at the $1,000, $2,500, and $5000 levels. For more information on this event and how you can help, please contact Bill Mercuri at 203-237-4305 or e-mail him at bill.mercuri@att.net
A Beautiful Tribute To Her Sister - Brianna To my sister, Brianna Kaitlyn Vitale, may she rest in peace until we meet again<3 *11.2.89 - 2.9.06* _An original poem by Kayley Brook Vitale "My Reason To Be" I can't seem to hold back the tears, Even after all these years.
It was hard at first, don't get me wrong, But I have learned, for you, to just be strong.
I try to keep them tucked inside, But they never seem to want to hide.
You are in my mind, and in my soul, But on my heart, you've taken a toll.
I don't cry much, to say the truth, But I always cry because of you.
For now, I cannot change the past, If I were able, I'd run out of gas.
I lost you in a tragic way, Now I'm just living day to day.
I guess that I will just push through, This life I live because of you.
I guess you never know what's coming next, You put me through the hardest test, To see if I could make it through, Living life, without a you.
My motivation, my strength, my reason to be... Brianna, that's what you are, to me.
CELEBRATIONS
Louis, 3 Years ago on Valentine’s Day you came into our lives & completed us. .Happy Birthday! ~ Our little P. Love Mommy, Daddy, Momo & Harly
CELEBRATIONS
It seems that since you left, my strength has grown, And to you, my friend, I now do owe, A true, sincere, and great big thanks, For helping me strengthen my strength.
SOCIAL SECURITY'S FINAL FOUR By Paul Gilfillan Social Security Manager, Meriden Ct This time of year basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness -- a time when the final four teams in the NCAA fight for the title of national champion. While basketball fans are excited about March Madness, Social Security already has a winning "final four" of online services to cheer about: the Retirement Estimator, Benefit Application, online Extra Help application, and Business Services Online. The Retirement Estimator is an easy way to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits. Just key in some basic information and the Estimator will use information on your Social Security record, along with what you input, to give you a benefit estimate on the spot. You even can experiment with different scenarios, such as changing your future earnings and retirement date. Check it out in English at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator or in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov/calculador. The Benefit Application is the most convenient way to apply for Social Security retirement benefits. You can apply from the comfort of your home - it's fast, easy, and secure. It's so easy, in fact, that it can take you as little as 15 minutes to apply online. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you're done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed. Try it out when you're ready to retire at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. The online Extra Help application is an easy way to save about $4,000 a year on your prescription drug costs. To qualify for the Extra Help, you must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Learn more about it at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. Business Services Online is our one-stop shop for small businesses. The site allows organizations and authorized individuals to conduct business with and submit confidential information to Social Security. You even can use it to file your W-2s the fast, convenient, and paperless way - online. Visit Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/bso. In the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Social Security received the highest ratings in both the public and private sectors. To learn more about our winning services, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. Or, read our publication What You Can Do Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10121.html. Get to know our final four, and all of our online services. When you do, you will be the winner.
April Meeting of Wallingford Garden Club The Wallingford Garden Club will host Lisabeth Billingsley at the April 12 meeting. Billingsley's topic will be "Pressed Flower Art". Billingsley is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she learned color, texture, and balance. She has weaved this expertise into bright collages that she creates from pressed wildflowers, seaweed, bark and feathers. This meeting is open to the public for a donation of $5. It will be held in the Community Room of the First Congregational Church at 23 S. Main Street. The business meeting begins at 11:45 am and Billingsley will speak at 1:00 pm. New members are always welcome. For info call 203-265-4329. The Wallingford Garden Club is a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of CT and the National Garden Clubs Inc.
Wallingford Family YMCA/Wint Filipek Sr.Memorial Tennis Tournament The biggest "community" tennis tournament in New England is right here in CT! The 7th annual Wallingford Family YMCA/Wint Filipek Sr. Memorial Tennis Tournament is scheduled for June 11-19. The 2011 venue is the beautiful and recently renovated Hunt Tennis Center on the Choate-Rosemary Campus, Wallingford. In 2010, the event drew 594 entries. THIS IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY TENNIS TOURNAMENT! Please direct any questions to: Wint Filipek Jr. wrfilipek@hotmail.com 860-621-5655
Happy Birthday Sarah - You are always our princess!
AVANTI
Restaurant & Lounge
Open for Lunch and Dinner
Featuring:
*Southern and Northern Italian Cuisine * Veal, Chicken & Seafood Specialties * Large Selection of Salads * Pizza * Grinders * Homemade Burgers * Specialty Wraps
We Make Your Events Special!
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AVANTI
Restaurant & Lounge 34 River Road * South Meriden
203-4 440-9 9990
Page 20 Early April 2011
Burn victim may not survive After I read this news headline in the morning paper, I was moved to offer comfort to the unfortunate victim, and listen to his tale of woe. I wished to soothe the agony of his final moments, as he was not long for this life. Listen to this sad tale he told to me. "My life was filled with sweetness; my companions and I lived a soft life until one day tragedy struck, and we were tumbled from our cozy comfortable life. I became impaled and immobile. Flames were everywhere and licking closer. I was sweating; the blistering heat was scorching and roasting me. I've swollen to twice my normal size. Such misery I have never known and I fear for my life, so I thank you for rescuing me from these burning flames. If by some chance I don't survive, will you write my eulogy, telling of my soft-heartedness and how everyone enjoyed my sweetness? "Oh, yes, Mr. Marsh Mallow, I shall, I shall." Dorothy Gonick
CELEBRATIONS
Engaged, Now What? By Jamie DeChesser So, he finally pops the question and you have already practically planned your dream wedding, right? Most of us ladies have pictured how we want our big day to be in some way or another but when it finally comes down to planning the wedding, the x's and o's become uh-ohs! There is a lot of time, energy, and creativity that goes into planning a beautiful wedding. If you are like me, you like to take on the challenge. If you are like my fiancé, you are just ready to show up at the altar and have a great time. The process of planning a wedding can be very stressful but it should be very fun as well. Here are some of my tips, being a real bride in the midst of all the excitement to help make planning your wedding a smoother, more exciting process: Create a budget: Having a CPA as a fiancé does have some of its benefits! I am the more creative "dreamer" in our relationship and can tend to get carried away, especially after watching all of these bridal shows, featuring brides that have unlimited budgets. Whether the cost is 100% on you and your fiancé or you have family helping you out, creating a very specific budget will help with planning every step of the way. This way, you can weed out vendors that are way out of budget and you have a realistic approach to planning your wedding. Focus on what you and your fiancé want: A lot of the stress of being a bride comes from the pressure of friends, bridesmaids, moms, mother-in-laws and everyone else that has an opinion. From your guest list to your wedding dress, the people that love you only want to help, however sometimes their opinions steer you away from your own uniqueness. Maybe you love the outdoors and want to get married at a beautiful vineyard but your sister pictures you in a castle with all of the trimmings. Do not forget that this is your big day and putting your own creativity and uniqueness into the planning is what in the end, makes your day unforgettable for you and your guests. Whether big or small, fancy or casual, your wedding day should reflect the love that you and your partner share. Use your resources: Brides have a lot of work cut out for them so why not take advantage of all of the great resources out there? There are several wedding websites (one of my favorites is the theknot.com) that will provide you with local directories of vendors from florists, photographers, venues and more. You can even chat with other brides and swap ideas, pictures, and experiences. Also, the duty of a bridesmaid is not only to look pretty and walk down the aisle-they are there to help. Put them to work! I have taken advantage of the bridesmaid to help with mailing out savethe-dates, picking out flowers, and helping with my invitations. Think of your bridesmaids as part-time wedding planners. This will not only help reduce your workload, but also strengthen the bond between you and your girls! Have fun: I cannot stress this enough. When I first started to plan my wedding, I have to admit, in the beginning, I was a bit of a classic Bridezilla. I was having fights with my mom over the guest list, becoming overwhelmed with petty details, and was just plain not enjoying myself. Once I took a step back and realized that being engaged is a wonderful thing and that I was going to marry a man who I cherish and love, I relaxed and started to enjoy the process. My mom and I have a blast trying way too many cake samples at bridal shows and I find myself becoming more inventive and creative when I am having fun with it. So, bride-to-bes, congratulations on your engagement and have a blast planning your dream wedding, whatever that may be! For advice/tips on wedding planning, feel free to email me at CTsweetsBride@yahoo.comctsweetsbride@yahoo.com.
Meriden Baby Born Less Than Two Pounds Defies Odds Will Serve as Greater Hartford March for Babies Ambassador On Sunday, May 1, thousands from the Greater Hartford area will gather for March for Babies at Rentschler Field to benefit the March of Dimes. Leading the festivities will be Adam and Lauren Pallone of Meriden, along with their 10month old daughter Kendall, who will serve as the 2011 Greater Hartford March for Babies Ambassador. They will share Kendall's incredible story of survival, and thank walkers for their commitment to the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start. Kendall was born in May 2010 at just 29 weeks gestation (a full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks) and weighed a mere 1 lb. 13 oz. Because of Kendall's life-threatening prematurity, she was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care nursery at UConn Health Center in Farmington, leaving her frightened mother Lauren at Mid-State Hospital in Meriden to recover. Mom and baby were separated for five days before Lauren was able to see Kendall again in the NICU. "I wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital. The emergency C-section came as a complete surprise. My family is incredibly grateful for the staff at Mid-State and the transport team from UConn for their quick response to the situation," said Lauren. Kendall was born with serious health complications as a result of her very early arrival, including hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid inside the skull leading to brain swelling, as well as grade 4 brain bleeds. At just two weeks old, and again at nine weeks old, Kendall underwent brain surgery to help relieve her conditions. She ultimately spent three months in the NICU receiving specialized care for critically ill newborns. In the end of July, Lauren and husband Adam were able to bring Kendall home but Kendall has faced several challenges along the way. "Since February Kendall has had an additional five brain surgeries," said Lauren. "Each day brings new challenges because her future is unclear. Our focus is to show Kendall that she is capable of doing whatever her heart desires and not limiting her in any way. The resources made available to my family through the March of Dimes made coping with Kendall's situation easier than it would have been without it," said Lauren. March for Babies participants can meet the Pallone's and hear their story at March for Babies at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Sunday, May 1. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the 3-mile walk kicking off at 10:00 a.m. Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding morning for the whole family. To register for the event, visit www.marchforbabies.org or www.marchofdimes.com/ct. Funds raised by March for Babies in Connecticut help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. Greater Hartford March for Babies is proudly presented by Farmington Bank and sponsored by CIGNA, Clear Channel Radio and Lamar. Statewide sponsors include NBC Connecticut and Comcast, with support from CIGNA, Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, Stanley-Black & Decker, Bob's Discount Furniture and UnitedHealthcare. March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Bayer HealthCare, CIGNA, Famous Footwear, FedEx, Sanofi Pasteur, United Airlines, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Happy 9th Birthday and Happy 5th Birthday to Alyssa and Donald. We love you lots!
Yearn To Learn
Winter Blast at Nathan Hale Fourth grade students at Nathan Hale School participated in a PBS reward for consistently showing respect for self, others, and school. They enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of winter activities, including sledding, building snowmen, and making snow forts.
Right At Home
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Page 21 Early April 2011
TICKETS TO RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY PRESENTS FULLY CHARGED ARE ON SALE NOW!
®
The Most Electrifying Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth® comes to XL Center in Hartford May 4-8 (Greater Hartford don't miss Fully Charged, the all-new surge of circus entertainment from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey where megawatts of thrills explode off of the arena floor with breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances that energize Children Of All Ages. Tickets are on sale now for nine performances from May 4 to 8 at the XL Center in Hartford. Fully Charged celebrates 'performance power' that boosts circus-goers' excitement. The amazing acts, which can only be seen at The Greatest Show On Earth®, include Tabayara, a dynamic animal trainer whose rare ability to communicate with animals allows him to ride rearing stallions at a fully-charged gallop and orchestrate majestic four-ton Asian elephants in a symphony of dance. When he stands inside a cage, eye to eye with 12 ferocious tigers, Tabayara sees family where others see danger. Audiences will feel the earth shake when the strongman duo of Dmitry and Ruslan, who are as wide as they are tall, enter the arena. The brawny twosome give the word 'manpower' a whole new meaning as they lift large, cumbersome telephone poles, which weigh up to half a ton, and twirl them above their heads while acrobats balance atop. The fearless Fernandez Brothers dial up the thrills as they perform daring feats of athleticism on the Twin Turbines of Steel, including extreme jumps and twists inside the moving wheels! Audiences will crackle with excitement as they watch Guillermo perform a 360-degree, flying-forward somersault, three stories in the air, a feat so difficult it has only been attempted by one other person in the 141-year history of Ringling Bros. The Human Fuse, Brian Miser, sets the arena sky ablaze as he rockets through the air from his self-made human crossbow. Don't blink as he flashes across the sky in less than a second, and travels 110 feet at 65 miles per hour. Ever wonder how many clowns it takes to change a light bulb? The hilarious hoopla continues to flow as the clowns from the world-famous Ringling Bros.® Clown Alley, charge up the audiences' funny bones with hysterical silly antics and clownish comedy. You can only experience this current of excitement at Ringling Bros. Fully Charged! Get your tickets for high-voltage fun today! Tickets for Fully Charged are on sale now and are available through Ringling.com, Ticketmaster.com or call 1-800745-3000 or visit a Ticketmaster retail outlet. Tickets will also be available at the XL Center ticket office MondayFriday from noon to 5 p.m. For groups of 15 or more call 860-548-2000. Tickets are $15, $20, $25 with a limited number of $45 VIP floor seats and $55 Front Row seats available. Circus Celebrity seats are $85 each and include the opportunity for you and your guests to actually participate in the show. Prices do not include facility fees or service charges. Performance Schedule Wednesday, May 4 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5 10:30 a.m.* and 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The action at Fully Charged begins 90 minutes* before show time at the Animal Open House where you will meet and learn about the amazing animals and their handlers. Then starting 60 minutes* before show time for the All Access Pre-show - FREE to all ticket holders. Get to know the world's greatest performers, meet some our amazing animals in person, and work to become CircusFit all before the show starts! The All Access Pre-show is the only place where you can register for a chance to win a pachyderm painting created by one of Ringling Bros. artistic Asian elephants right before audiences' eyes. *Pre show events do not happen at the Thurs., May 6, 10:30 a.m. performance. For more information, visit www.Ringling.com
The Lions Den by Ralph Riello "In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb…" This weather-related sobriquet is now the unfortunate description that applies to our annual "Day The Lions Roar" auction, scheduled for February 27th. This has been a tough winter, and like so many others, we and Cox Public Access did not come away unscathed. If you have been down Route 10 in Cheshire recently, you might have noticed that the roof of the Cox facility located just south of the I-691 interchange has fallen victim to the snow loads. Initial reports had us putting out a delay notice, however we just learned that the building will not be ready for occupancy for at least five months, meaning the 2011 edition of the auction is officially cancelled. True to the spirit of Lionism that exists in our committee, we are proposing an idea that will allow us to salvage something from the event. We have received many generous donations and consignment items and would hate to see this major fundraiser silenced. At our recent board meeting, myself and co-chair Vince Caramanello floated an idea for a silent auction to be held at Platt High School as part of the festivities offered with the Palm Sunday Brunch in April. This week, our committee will meet with the Brunch Committee to determine if this idea is feasible. We certainly hope so. Stay tuned for more on that. Meriden Lions as "The Dream Makers"… If you haven't read Mike Roberts' Woods and Water column that appears regularly on Sundays in another publication, try to find a copy. His complimentary words and descriptions of Meriden Lions and our various projects tell the story of what Lionism is all about, especially here in our community. What inspired his column was the work that is currently being undertaken at the QRWA headquarters in the Republic of South Meriden. Past Presidents Art Forcier and Ed Haberli have combined resources from their President's Project budgets and are constructing a classroom that will be named for the Lions, and new bathroom facilities. Each Lions President is given a budget and a generous sum of many to apply to a project in the community that they feel is worthy of financial help. As is the case with the Meriden Lions, financial help is only one small part of the equation. On a cold and raw Saturday morning this past February, over a dozen Lions, myself included, proceeded to saw and remove concrete flooring to expose earth that likely has not seen the light of day since the great depression. Said earth was then shoveled out to make way for the installation of new sewer pipes feeding the bathroom facilities. The propane heaters donated for the work were greatly appreciated, as were the breakfast sandwiches. By the way, those heaters work well as sandwich warmers if the sandwich is encased in aluminum foil. By early afternoon, the digging was mostly done, and the last five or six of us said our goodbyes as we left the old building prepared for plumbing and framing work scheduled to take place soon, if it hasn't happened already. Mike called the Meriden Lions "dream makers" in his article, and I think Ginny Chirsky, Mary Mushinsky, and other members of the QRWA would likely agree with that name. Miscellaneous news from the Jungle… The Lions scholarship dinner is coming up soon, and I would like to remind those lucky recipients of this generous award that it is REALLY A GOOD IDEA to show up at the dinner, dressed neatly, and allow the Lions to see whom it is that we invested in. It's the right thing to do. It always amazes me that we honor a student with a couple of grand, and they don't show up at the scholarship dinner at Sans Souci. This is not a good way to start off your professional career kids…just a gentle reminder. The Lions Citizen of the Year is coming up soon, and we are looking for nominations. Nominees cannot be Lions so if you know somebody worthy of the honor, contact me at ralphriello@yahoo.com and please include a brief description of why they deserve this honor, and contact info so I can get back to you with questions. Fun stuff coming up from the Meriden Lions… The weather is turning, and these events are slated for the spring…Relay For Life, Palm Sunday Brunch, Fishing Derby, Duck Race. Meriden Lions meetings are every Wednesday at Sans Souci on the Berlin Turnpike. If you have interest in becoming a Lion, just come to the bar between six and six-forty five. There are plenty of Lions available that can direct you further. Thanks for listening!
ALL GLASS SHOW AND SALE The Nutmeg Depression Glass Club presents the 36th Annual Glass Show and Sale featuring Depression era glass and pottery. The one day only show will be held on Saturday, April 9th from 9:00A.M.-4:30P.M. at Southington High School, 720 Pleasant St., Southington, CT. Admission is $6.00/$5.00with this notice. There will be free American glass and pottery identification during the show.
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Page 22 Early April 2011
The Meriden Daffodil Festival
HUBBARD PARK Saturday & Sunday April 30th & May 1st Meriden's Largest and most colorful festival the "Meriden Daffodil Festival" will celebrate it's 33rd year during 2011. Join us on Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, 2011. 600,001 daffodils can't be wrong! They create a sea of fragrant yellow blossoms throughout the 1,800-acre Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut each year. You'll not only see an amazing 61 different varieties of daffodils, there will also be crafts, amusement rides, food, entertainment, and a fireworks display for you to enjoy. So mark your calendar - It's going to be a great time for the whole family! For additional information please call 203-630-4259. The Meriden Daffodil Festival began as a community event 33 years ago and has grown into one of Connecticut’s premier celebrations. With food, crafts, music, fireworks, amusements and a parade that has to be seen to be believed, the Daffodil Festival is a springtime funfest for old and young, couples and singles, families and friends. Saturday April 30, 2011 Gates open at 10:00 AM Gates close at 9:00 PM 10:00 AM Food Tent open 10:00 AM Arts & Crafts open 10:00 AM Children's rides open 11:00 AM Musical Entertainment begins 11:30 AM Parade Begins FIREWORKS WILL BEGIN AT 8:30PM
Sunday May 1, 2011 Gates open at 10:00 AM Gates close at 5:00 PM 10:00 AM Food Tent open 10:00 AM Arts & Crafts open 10:00 AM Children's rides open 11:00 AM Musical Entertainment begins Don’t miss the DAFFODIL TAG SALE CONNECTICUT'S LARGEST! Saturday, April 23, 2011- Under the Festival Tent 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Visit www.daffodilfest.com for the latest news and additional information!
Page 23 Early April 2011
Meriden WIC Celebrates National Nutrition Month The Meriden WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program celebrated National Nutrition Month during March. Nutrition staff will be educating program participants on how to make healthy, affordable meals for their family through cooking demonstrations. The theme of the demonstrations will be "Eat Your Way to 5 a Day" - fruit and vegetables that is! No matter how young or how old you are, we all can benefit from eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. To learn more about the WIC program please call 203-630-4245.
LocalMotion
Wallingford Center Inc presents the 2011 Gardener’s Market Saturday mornings 9:00-12:00 from July 16th to Sept 17th at the Railroad Station Green, routes 5 and 150. Offered will be plants, flowers, produce, home crafts, baked items and other goodies. Dry Dock Café will have breakfast for the vendors and public. Lizzy B’s will have coffee and refreshments as well as Italian Ice. Current vendors are Farmer Joes’s Gardens for produce; crafters: Beverly Keener and Francine LaFontaine; artisans Samantha Dudac, Kathy McNulty and Kim Poggio, and Polka Dots. The Daytime Gardeners of North Haven will have their plant sale on July 16 If you wish to be a vendor, please contact Liz Landow of Wallingford Center Inc at 203-284-1807 or email at lizlandow@wallingfordcenterinc.com or Cathy Knight at 203-265-3878 or email at cathy@frcost.com. Deadline for applications is June 15.
LocalMotion
What kind of impact can a teenager have on society & their community The day that Sarah Gopoian joined Hunter's EMS Explorer Post 181 was the day of her 12th Birthday 22-05.. Just hope she'll know how much of an impact she made and the memories she can look back on….. She always came with a smile, and I know it also was to hang out with her dad. Now she graduates Maloney HS with honors, accepted to Central CT & Keene State. And wants to become a TEACHER…and she will. Determined and wants NOTHING to do with the Military 2-23-10 Community Service 3 hours event not recorded 9-15-09 Community Service 8 hours event not recorded March 2009 CT. EMS Conference 9 hours 12-20-08 Meriden Spirit of Giving 3 hours 8-5-08 Meriden National Night Out 7-26-08 Meriden Cemetery Clean up 3.5. Hours 5-10-08 Meriden QRWA Clean up 5 hours 4-26-2008 Daffodil Festival First Aid Station 13 hours 4-19-08 Meriden City Wide Clean up 5 hours 4-15-08 Meriden Girl Scout First Aid training 3.5. Hours 4-12-08 Meriden YMCA Kids Safety Fair 5 hours March 2008 Cromwell CT. EMS Conference 16 hours 4-17-07 City wide Clean up 4 hours 11-9-06 Cheshire BSA Medical Demonstration 3 hours 11-4-06 Meriden Neighborhood Cleanup 4.5. Hours 10-15-06 Meriden Merit Badge medical training for scouts 6 hours 9-23-06 Durham Fair First Aid station 8 hours 8-1-06 Meriden National Night Out 4 hours 6-17-06 Meriden Bicentennial Parade 4 hours 5-19&20-2006 ACS Relay for Life 24 hours 4-30-06 Daffodil Festival First Aid Station 8 hours 4-22-06 Meriden Road Race 3 hours 4-19-06 Milford State Vaccination Medical Drill 6 hours 3-17 & 18 2006 Cromwell CT. State EMS conference 16 hours 3-8-06 Meriden Public Safety 7.5 hours 3-4-06 Blizzard Blast First Aid Station for BSA 7.5 hours 2-7-06 Meriden first aid training for Girl Scout Brownie's 3 hours 12-18-05 Meriden Spirit of Giving 4.5 hours 9-22-05 Meriden Hurricane Rita Relief preparations 3 hours 8-24-05 Meriden Senior Center File of Life presentation 2 hours 8-23-05 Meriden Rotary Club Luncheon 6 hours 5-31-05 Durham Memorial Day Parade 3 hours 5-21-05 Meriden Kiwanis Bike Safety Rodeo 3 hours 5-14-05 Meriden Police Academy Law Enforcement Stations Day 6 hours 3-19-05 Meriden St. Patrick's Day Parade 3 hours 12-19-04 Meriden- Spirit of Giving 4 hours participated prior to full membership to post 8-28-04 Durham Mass Casualty Drill 6 hours participated prior to full membership to post 219.5 HOURS… tiring just looking at it. Love, The Fam!
UCONN and My City Kitchen move to Schools
Chef Kashia Cave- Founder and President of My City Kitchen (MCK) is taking it one step further with the program. MCK move to local schools in the City of Meriden. In Collaborating with the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Department of Extension and Mrs. Umekia Taylor. My City Kitchen provides healthy cooking demonstration to students of Casimir Pulaski Elementary School. UCONN and MCK teamed up with Ms. Ellen Kearney, the Health/Physical Education Teacher of Pulaski to bring hands on healthy cooking demonstration to over 275 students. "We have been treated to some delicious food lately. So far on the menu our students have made healthy turkey wraps, cheese and bean quesadillas and yogurt parfaits. It has been very exciting for the students to try new foods and to learn what categories each food item falls under in the Food Pyramid, this is a wonderful enrichment program to teach our students about eating healthy, portion control and nutrition. This program would not be possible without the support and contributions of UCONN, Shoprite, Cabot Cheese Company, our Principal Mr. Tom Brown and Chef Kashia Cave," Kearney says. Chef Kashia states "we have been looking for different way to reach out to the children in our community, and working with Principal Brown and Ms. Kearney provided us this great opportunity. We are currently working with Pulaski and Roger Sherman Elementary Schools. I hope in the future we can work with all school in our City and give every child an opportunity to be part of our program. MCK also provides scholarships for students' ages 6-17yrs who cannot afford the program." For more information about My City Kitchen programs please visit them on line at: www.mycitykitchen.org or contact their office: 203-238-2870, by email: kashia@mycitykitchen.org. MCK is located at 384 Pratt Street Meriden, CT 06450. Become a fan on Facebook: My City Kitchen, Inc. How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said. ~Victor Hugo They who meet on an April night are forever lost in love, if there's moonlight all about and there's no moon above. ~E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and Fred Saidy
Treat yourself to a steamed cheeseburger and maybe even a cookie for dessert.
Opening Day at Riverbound Farm The Quinnipiac Valley Audubon Society, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, will sponsor an Open Day at Riverbound Farm Sanctuary, 1881 Cheshire St in Cheshire on Sunday, April 17th 11:00-4:00. Celebrate Earth Day and JJ Audubon’s Birthday . A ‘Beginning Birders’ walk will be at 1:00 with Eric Einhorn (203-265-9529) Learning Bird Song Part 1 at Red Bridge with Corrie (203-630-9640) Sun Apr 17th Spring song is an important bird ID feature, bring binoculars. Meet at parking area on Oregon Rd next to Hanover Pond in Meriden. Rain date Sunday, April 24th Spring Bird Walks begin in April. Saturday, April 23rd Earth Day walk at Riverbound 9:00-11:00 with Melissa ( 272-5252), Saturday April 30th bird walk with Melissa 9:0011:00 Sunday, April 24th and May 1st 7:00 – 9:00 am at Red Bridge in Meriden located at Oregon Road next to Hanover Pond with Melissa and Corrie Wed Apr 27th 7:30-9:30 am at Ives Farm with Melissa. Ives Farm is 1585 Cheshire Street in Cheshire, go to North Pond Rd , turn at the bus shelter, go to the end of road. Ives Farm is owned by the Cheshire Land Trust. Please call Loretta at 203-634-1911 for more information. The events are free, however, donations are accepted. Photo by Tom Twohill of titmouse and Carolina wren on feeders.
THANK YOU to all the crew of Food Networks new show "Crave" for coming to visit March 30th. The show debuts on June 11th and Ted's will be in one of the first few episodes. Will keep you posted on the date! Keep an eye out for us in your local TV listings. Thanks again for stopping at Ted's, pleasure to have you! But most important is that we’ve been seen by YOU and YOU matter the most!
Adam from Man V. Food stopped by too and so should you
1046 Broad Street in Meriden - 203-237-6660
Page 24 Early April 2011
Nature As A Mirror
CELEBRATIONS
Bashful Leprechaun, Hiding where the rainbow ends His secret pot of gold. A Bit o' Blarney Inspired by the March breezes, Danny and Alice gathered narrow slats, paper and glue to create a kite. Alice painted a big smiling face on it, and Danny tied on a long green tail in honor of the day: St. Patrick's Day. With a big ball of string they eagerly set the kite soaring. A friendly breeze caught the kite and carried it high aloft into the bright blue sky. A sudden strong gust snatched the string from Danny's grasp, breaking it and carrying the kite higher until it was a small speck, far away. "Oh, where am I going?" wondered Kite. "With me," said the wind. "We'll sail away and see the world together. Just call me 'Windy' and watch the world go by. Look down now at the treetops and then ahead at the blue ocean." On they sailed-the wind twirling Kite in circles and playfully tumbling it as they went on further. Entering a soft looking pillow of a cloud, Kite moaned about how wet he was getting. Windy assured Kite, "Don't worry, clouds are full of rain, but the sun will dry you off soon. " And it did. Soon Windy pointed to a green mitten shape and Kite asked, "What is it? It's getting bigger the closer we come to it." Windy answered, "That's Ireland and the green are shamrocks. I'm going to put you down now, but will come back later to fly you home. What I want you to do, is get a bunch of shamrocks for me. I'm off now, see you soon!" Kite looked all around but could see no green rocks. So it bounced along to a big rock and tapped on it, hoping it would be of help. Suddenly, a small person dressed in green peered from behind the rock and asked, "Who's that knocking at my home?" When he saw that it was just a kite, he came to look at it and was quite startled to hear it ask for help in finding the green rocks for Windy. After a hearty laugh, Paddy Leprechaun introduced himself and said, "First tell me your story-I've never talked to a kite before." Kite began, "It's really been a most unusual day. Just this morning Danny and Alice created me for St. Patrick's Day fun, but Windy came by and grabbed me! We've had a wonderful journey and he'll soon be back to take me home. But first I must get some shamrocks for him. He said they were green and I don't see any green rocks!" After another hearty laugh, Paddy gathered a handful of the plants they were standing among and said; "These are the shamrocks! I'll tie them onto your bright green tail." Indeed this has become a more magical day than you know! Did you know that we Leprechauns are honor-bound to give a gold coin to anyone who sees us on this special day? You certainly fooled me into showing myself." "Oh, really? And may I have two coins? One for Danny and one for Alice, because they're the ones to thank for this magical day." So Paddy went around the big rock to the hidden pot of gold coins that he was secretly hoarding and selected two shiny coins, which he wrapped in the kite's tail, then fastened it securely. Paddy barely had time to hide beneath his rock before Windy came swooshing back to quickly lift the shamrockladen kite into the air. Windy was very pleased with the shamrocks and enjoyed the delightful story that Kite related while he was being swiftly carried to the very home of Danny and Alice. Gently placing Kite against a tree in their backyard, Windy took a few shamrocks and then breezily waved goodbye. What a surprise Alice and Danny had when they came down the next morning for breakfast and looked out of the window. They quickly dashed out to their kite and their excitement grew greater as more surprises met their gaze! But Kite just smiled its painted smile and said nothing. - Dorothy Adair Gonick
You, are without doubt, the coolest kid we know! Love, Mom & Dad
The transmission is a device that is connected to the engine and sends the power from the engine to the drive wheels.
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Roger Sherman Elementary Students Raise Nearly $1,600 to Help Give Babies a Healthy Start Over 100 students from Roger Sherman Elementary School in Meriden raised nearly $1,600 for the March of Dimes by earning dollars with every book they read this fall. 117 students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, read at school and at home keeping track of their progress by either recording the number of books or amount of minutes read. During the campaign they read 1592 books and a total of 71,018 minutes as participants in the March of Dimes Reading Champions program. The students presented the funds to the March of Dimes prior to an awards ceremony on December 13th at the school. "This is our third year participating in the March of Dimes Reading Champions program and we are growing every year. Our students love to read for a good cause. When teachers participate as readers or sponsors their students, the children become even more motivated and a wonderful friendly competition occurs throughout the school," said Principal Louise Moss. "This program helps encourage our students to develop empathy and compassion for those who are less fortunate and helps to further develop good reading habits and application of skills. We are looking forward to next year and to bringing more district schools on board." Reading Champions challenges school children to read as many books as they can, while being pledged by family and friends to support the March of Dimes mission of improving the health of babies. "We love working with the staff and students at Roger Sherman Elementary School. The student participation grows each year as does the enthusiasm to help babies be born healthy. We hope to continue this partnership for many years to come and look forward to working with more elementary schools in the Meriden area," said Suzanne Galotti, Senior Community Director for the March of Dimes. The top fundraiser was 5th grader Gillian Galotti. Leilani Chan, 3rd grade, was the 2nd top fundraiser, and the 3rd top fundraisers (tied) were Justice Galante, 5th grade, and Elena Tellez, kindergarten. Reading the most books was 5th grader Brianna Boulay (116 books), and Leslie Cortes, also 5th grade, read for the most minutes (5,072). The March of Dimes awarded a certificate to each student who participated and gave a bronze, silver, or gold medallion to those students who raised at least $10 and read 4 - 10 books, 11 - 19 books, and 20 or more books respectively. Mascots from the Hartford Wolf Pack and new Connecticut Whale also attended the awards ceremony to congratulate the kids on a job well done and gave each participating student a complimentary game ticket. Schools interested in participating in the March of Dimes Reading Champions program may contact Suzanne Galotti at 203-849-9800 or sgalotti@marchofdimes.com and can find more information at www.marchofdimes.com/ct. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Photo: Roger Sherman students and staff pose with mascots from the CT Whale and Hartford Wolf Pack at a March of Dimes Reading Champions ceremony in the fall.
Temple Beth David Passover Celebration for Preschoolers On Sunday April 17, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, Temple Beth David of Cheshire will present a Passover themed program for preschoolers at Doolittle School, 735 Cornwall Avenue, Cheshire. This interactive, high-energy session will explore the traditions and tastes of the Passover celebration. We will enjoy holiday stories, songs with Rabbi Josh, crafts, and snacks for both children and adults. The program activities are geared for children up to age 5 accompanied by a parent or other caregiver. Dress your child casually or bring along a smock (we may get messy!). The program is free and all preschoolers are invited to participate-you do not need to be a Temple member. Story time is a great way to meet other families with young children. Please email education@tbdcheshire.org to enroll, or call Elyse Krantz at (860) 7360211 with any questions. You may also visit our website, www.tbdchehire.org, for more information. The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of. ~Blaise Pascal
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Page 25 Early April 2011
LocalMotion
Barbara Bruce Wins Awards Barbara Bruce, President of the Wallingford Garden Club, had a very successful showing at the Federated Garden Clubs of CT Flower Show held February 24 - 27 in Hartford. Bruce won two blue ribbons for horticulture for her display of norway spruce and princess blue holly. In addition, her effort in the Razzle Dazzle class won a second place award and her petite arrangement in the Garden Fairies class was awarded a first place blue ribbon. Bruce enjoys her duties as club president and as an accredited flower show judge shares her design talents by providing design workshops to club members during the year. 1st place design shown in photo
Yearn To Learn
Nathan Hale Elementary School - YEARN TO LEARN The fifth grade students at Nathan Hale Elementary School have been busy showing off their writing skills over the past several months. Star Student Work was displayed throughout the classrooms and in the hallways during the months of December, January, and February. Three special examples of different types of writing are being shared with you. Preston Studley is sharing a Snowflake Poem, Erin Stone and Samantha Valentino are both sharing Martin Luther King, Jr. Haikus, and Adam Williams is sharing his expository essay on his New Year's resolutions.
Master's Manna News and Reviews Many events and opportunities are planned for the greater Wallingford/Meriden area Resource Center. Ct Food Bank's 35th Annual Walk Against Hunger is scheduled for Sunday, May 1st at East Rock Park in New Haven. Our team: Master's Manna's "Guiding Lights" will be participating in this event. You can help us achieve this goal by going to: http//www.blueskycollaborative.com/cfb/CompleteRegistration.asp?fkroledescid=1&Custom1=New Haven. The goal for CT Food Bank is to raise $190,000 dollars by May 1st.. According to information from The Connecticut Food Bank Walk Against Hunger Campaign, "More than 1 in 7 households in Connecticut are at risk for hunger. One third of those who receive food assistance are children. Money raised goes directly to providing groceries and hot meals to hungry children, families, seniors and individuals in Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Middlesex and Windham counties. These numbers are not statistics‌they are your family, friends and neighbors". There will be refreshments, activities, and entertainment in the park prior to the Walk. At 3:30 p.m. there will be an Awards Ceremony for agencies and people that joined the Walk. CT Food Bank will equally distribute thirty percent of the net funds received from Walk Against Hunger to the participating member agencies which will include Masters Manna Resource Center in Wallingford. Our goal is to raise$2500 for the Walk Against Hunger. To register and join our team effort go to the Walk Against Hunger Website and join Masters Manna's Guiding Lights. Our team will meet at 11:30 AM in the parking lot at Masters Manna Food Pantry and Resource Center in Wallingford. http://www.blueskycollaborative.com/cfb/CompleteRegistration.asp?fkroledescid=1&Custom1=Newhaven Master's Manna will hold a CPR/AED /First Aid Certification class on Saturday, April 16th at 8:00 a.m. The suggested donation fee is $40.00. Please pre-register for this class. The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling will be holding a seminar at Master's Manna on Saturday, April 16th , 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. This informative seminar is geared toward teens and/or parents of teens. If you know of anyone that may have an issue with gambling, please attend. If you have any gently used bookshelves we can utilize them in our reading material area. Gently used books on cooking, travel, nature, wellness and non-fiction are always welcome. Children's books written in Spanish, English and Spanish Bibles are always in high demand. Volunteers are always welcome at Master's Manna Resource Center. What is your passion?! There is a place for you to develop that passion and serve others at the same time. Master's Manna is located off Route 68 at 46 North Plains Industrial Rd in Wallingford, CT. You can also call during the week at 203-678-3042. That's it for the News and Reviews for this month. Stay tuned for next month's exciting news from Masters Manna Resource Center
Healthy Dining Guide Leah Mezick, Public Health Intern Wallingford Health Department My name is Leah Mezick and I am a senior undergraduate student at Southern Connecticut State University. As a public health major, an important aspect of my educational experience is to put my classroom skills into practice by completing an internship with an agency in the field. While there are many opportunities to serve as an intern, it was important for me to be involved with a program that provided a real hands-on experience in the areas of nutrition and health promotion. I was fortunate enough to have one of my professors, the Health Director for Town of Wallingford, offer me a unique opportunity to work through the Health Department and create a community wide "Healthy Dining Guide". This is a new endeavor for the Town of Wallingford and is part of the YMCA's "Pioneering Healthier Communities" initiative; this project specifically focuses on addressing the obesity issue by providing a listing of local healthy dining options to the community in an effort to encourage healthier choices and inspire local policy change for better nutrition when dining out. I will be working this semester with the Wallingford Health Educator and a contract nutritionist to establish a standard for healthy menu items. Local restaurants will then be contacted in order to review their menu's; those establishments that meet our standard of excellence will be awarded a certificate to put on display and be encouraged to identify the healthy choices on their menu. A compilation of certified restaurants, along with information on the criteria that they meet, will be made available for public use. It is important to be aware of healthy meal options, especially when dining out, and I look forward to working towards creating a resource that will make this effort a little bit easier as well as successful. While the Healthy Dining Guide program is purely voluntary for restaurants, the projects success is contingent upon each establishment's willingness to be involved and provide healthy choices to the public. Please encourage your favorite local restaurants to participate! If you have any questions or recommendations on what you would like to see included in this guide, please feel free contact me at leah.mezick@gmail.com or Wallingford Health Dept 203-294-2065.
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Page 26 Early April 2011
The People's Press is pleased to welcome two new LocalMotivaters to our team. Rupert Thomas and Michelle Trenchard-Scianna offer a wealth of experience and knowledge. You can welcome them by emailing michelle@peoplespressnews.com or Rupert@peoplespressnews.com.
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Knitting with Mom By JoAnne Grabinski After Christmas I decided to learn to knit. Why? I' don't really know, I've heard that 'they', whoever 'they' are say that you should start new hobby every few years or so. It's supposed to keep your brain and body active in learning something new. Its new skills to master, new activities to participate in and new people to meet, all the while creating new neuropath ways in the brain. Simply put, it's good for you and your health. But it was more than that. You see, my mom is a wonderful knitter and I realized I better start learning from the best. So I went out and bought some yarn and she brought a set of needles when we met at my sister's to watch a UConn Lady Huskies basketball game. Looking back, that may not have been the proper atmosphere to begin learning a new skill. I had decided to make a scarf, thinking it would be pretty straight forward after all it was a rectangle. I chose a denim blue in color, soft and textured, thinking it would 'work up quickly', that's knitting talk for easy-to-knit. Well, not so much. The good thing was my brain got it; the bad news was my hands were not quite there yet. Kitting is slipping the needle in back of the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle and slide it off the front, while purling is just the opposite, slinging the needle in front of the stitch, wrapping the yarn around the needle and sliding the stitch off the back. If you knit row after row you end up with rows of bumps and that is called 'ribbing', whereas if you alternate knitting rows with purling rows you a very flat weave that most people think of as knitting. And alternating knitting and purling in various forms get you a whole bunch of different stitches, like the seed stitch or basket weave. And then there is the real complicated stuff of cables. All I know is I'm not ready for that… yet. I remember her kitting when we were waiting for the doctors or dentist and even the orthodontists. Back then, we all went regardless of who the appointment was actually for. So she always had her knitting with her while she was waiting and it seemed like we were always waiting for someone. She would bring her knitting with her while my dad went fishing, always being productive with her time. My mom knit us hats, mittens, scarves, sweaters, ponchos (yes they were real cool at one time!) and tons and tons of blankets. Every now and then she would call me over and hold up her work in progress against my squirming body to see where she was and what she needed to do. Measuring the sleeve length or the back all the while telling me to 'hold still'. There were many trips to Carmelle's Yarn Shop first on east Main Street and then on Elm Street. She had a lovely French accent and was so very helpful to my mom when she got stuck or wanted to start a new project. There were always such the beautiful colors of the yarn to look at and I was constantly touching them and looking at the pattern books, thinking 'mom can make me this… and this… and this too!' I remember a denim blue jacket-like sweater he made for me while I was in middle school. It was a basket weave pattern, with a ribbed collar and patch pockets. It had a knitted belt to tie it together. Man, I loved that sweater and wore it all the time, to the point that I had holes in the elbows. We put patches on them and I got a few more years out of it. I still have several of her (master) pieces: a sea green top and skirt, the double-breasted short jacket with the shawl collar and that old comfortable fisherman-like sweated with the cables. Several of her pieces have labels that say 'handmade by Mom'. A few years ago, my cousin gave my brother and sister-in-law a huge bag of handmade sweaters that her now grown children had worn. It was very kind of her to pass along the sweaters to another generation, her grandchildren. So my mom cast on twenty stitches and the adventure began. It seemed real easy, I think I learned it all through osmosis, watching my mom knit for years and years. Admittedly there was a lot of awkwardness in holding the needles and yarn; she made it seem so effortless. Well it wasn't quite so effortless for me. I added stitches, I deleted stitches, I knitted when I was supposed to be purling and purling when I should have knitted. Then I'd get frustrated and call her, and all she'd say was, 'Bring it over and we'll take a look at what you did.' So Mom would rip it out and gently guide me through the process. After every row I'd learned to stop and count the stitches to make sure I had twenty. For a while there I could only knit correctly if she was in the room. I finally got the hang of knitting, but I still have to work on keeping the tension consistent. I got to the point where I could fix my own mistakes, but I must have ripped that scarf out ten times and started it all over again. I'm getting better, and like learning any new still the key is to keep practicing. So I finished that scarf and my mom showed me how to bind off, or take the stitches of the needles and complete the project. The nice thing is that I've got to spend some more time with my mom and she is passing on a skill that is such a big part of her. It was a way for her to define herself other than housewife and mother. She has taken up her knitting again and we sit there, knitting side by side. She's much faster of course, with her needles just clicking right along, but I'm getting the hang of it now. My sister is thinking of starting again, after learning while in high school. I've finished my scarf and now am on to my next project, a baby blanket. I'm sticking with squares and rectangles for now until I feel ready to intentionally add or decrease my stitches. But I know I'll always have my mom right there when I need her expert advice on knitting… or anything else.
Frugal Living; Getting More for Less in Connecticut! By Gina Juliano www.ginaskokopelli.com Is Shopping at BJ's or Costco Really Frugal? The quick answer to that question might be "Of Course!" You definitely pay less for things. However, I urge you to take a second look. I used to shop at Costco at least twice a month. I would get my paper goods, cleaning supplies, cereal, pet supplies, and many other products I used. I just assumed I was getting a bargain because I was buying in bulk. In essence, I did get a bargain because I was spending less per item than I would have if I shopped in a grocery store. What I didn't know, however, was I could also get these items for free or pennies at drug stores. With the exception of pet supplies and some meats, I rarely use Costco now to buy things I need. I have found taking advantage of the drug store sales, promotions like Extra Bucks and Register Rewards, plus manufacturers' coupons make for some incredible bargains that beat Costco hands down. Take, for example, Finish dishwasher tabs. I used to buy these in bulk at Costco. A can of 100 tabs would cost $14.99. On the other hand, I just bought eight 20 count boxes of Finish tabs for free using coupons and CVS Extra Bucks. Why would I want to pay $14.99 when I can get what I need for free? Fabric Softener is another example. I could continue buying the Kirkland brand of fabric softener for $8.89 at Costco. It's a good price and I like the way it works. Instead, I picked up FREE Gain fabric softener at Rite Aid by using coupons. The small bottles are regularly $2.99, and I had eight $3 coupons. I'm set for six months with fabric softener I didn't pay a dime for. The bottom line answer to the question "Is shopping at Costco and BJ's Frugal?" is sometimes. Quite frankly, you need to know your prices and the type of shopper you are. For a couponer like me, the drug stores are the only way to go. I watch sales and match up my coupons to get most of my paper goods, cleaning and laundry supplies, and toiletries for free. However, if you are someone who doesn't coupon, then Costco and BJ's are an excellent choice to save some money. Gina is the creator of Gina's Kokopelli, a Connecticut blog dedicated to all things coupon, free and cheap. You can get more frugal tips, freebies, coupons, and great deals by visiting her blog at http://ginaskokopelli.com. Gina also teaches couponing classes and would love to be invited to your organization or business to teach a class. For more information or to inquire about a couponing class, please email her at ginaskokopelli@yahoo.com. She's also happy to answer any couponing question you may have!
Page 27 Early April 2011
Gustav, the Goldfish" by Theodor S. Geisel aka Dr. Seuss Hasn't been seen in 61 years!!!! But that's about to change...
CELEBRATIONS
"This is the tale of a goldfish that grew, Presented to you with a technique that's new. To get best results, just read it aloud, To your youngsters and friends and the rest of the crowd." Although Dr. Seuss had already written and illustrated "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" in 1937, "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins" in 1938, "The King's Stilts" in 1939, and "Horton Hatches The Egg" in 1940 and so many more that followed, he was also writing stories for Redbook Magazine for 11 years, from 1948 to 1959. He wrote these story poems under the name of Theodor S. Geisel, which was his name of course, just without the Seuss part spelled out. The very first story of his that was published by Redbook Magazine was "Gustav, the Goldfish" in June 1950, followed by 21 others over the course of the years. I was emailing my nephew Doug Arndt one day recently about "Horton Hatches The Egg," and how I remembered reading that book to him and his brother Michael, and that I have a copy of it here that was published in 1940. He said he had a copy that I gave him and his brother in 1983 and he remembered me reading the story to them. In his email he mentioned "A Fish Out Of Water," a story his dad read to them every so often and that it was one of his favorites. I did not remember this story. He told me there was a Cat In The Hat logo on the book, but it was not written by Dr. Seuss, so that piqued my curiosity. Ah. "A Fish Out Of Water" was written by Helen Palmer, Seuss's first wife. I did a bit of research on this and discovered that they had collaborated on a number of stories and that Seuss had given his wife permission to go ahead with that book, although the same story line had been written by him 11 years earlier in the story of "Gustav, the Goldfish." "A Fish Out Of Water" has different words and illustrations, but it is essentially Seuss's story. Charles D. Cohen, who is a dentist, has had a fascination with Dr. Seuss books for years, since his childhood. He first started collecting early editions of his works while he was in college. Dr. Cohen likely has the most comprehensive private collection of Seuss's works in the world. He is the author of "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss." So here is the best part: Dr. Cohen has written a book that includes seven rarely seen Seuss stories which will be published on September 27, 2011. It is called "The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories," and includes the story "Gustav, the Goldfish." I ordered this book a week ago for my nephew Doug, which I found on Amazon. I think this is kind of exciting news!!! I intend to flip carefully through the pages of the book before wrapping it up as a present for my nephew's two daughters. I happened to stumble upon this information, and I don't know how many people have heard about The Bippolo Seed, but for those parents and their child or children (or nephews and nieces or grandchildren) who love Dr. Seuss, I am quite sure they would be excited to learn about this book that can be ordered right now. Here is a link where you can order The Bippolo Seed: http://www.amazon.com/Bippolo-Seed-Other-Lost-Stories/dp/0307746054 (There is an interesting comparison of two story lines here, "Gustav, the Goldfish" (by Seuss) and "A Fish Out Of Water" (by Palmer): http://1stedition.net/blog/200/03/a_story_of_two_fish_dr_seuss.html This was posted on a blog by Stan Zielinski on March 11, 2007, which he entitled, "A Story Of Two Fish: Dr. Seuss Out Of Water." It was never published as a book.) Dr. Seuss left us 20 years ago, September 24th, but his books will live on here and henceforth. "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." (Dr. Seuss, 3/2/04 9/24/91) Barbara Sherburne - barndt49@yahoo.com There's talk on the farm twixt the goat and the goose 'Bout a new storybook by our own Dr. Seuss. There will be friends who'll have stories for you, And Gustav the goldfish, you'll find him there too. Youngsters and older will read it, and then... The magic of Seuss will delight you again! (by me)
To Jordan, you are the best! From Samantha
So when was the last time you experienced a miracle? Rabbi Baruch Kaplan No, I mean a real miracle of Biblical proportions! Okay, so now you start to think about some supernatural event that shatters the laws of nature‌.It's not your fault that the so-called 'big' miracles seem to get all the attention. One of the most obscure Jewish holidays, is the holiday of Purim. I mean even the stores haven't found a way to cash in on it! The funny thing is that one would think it would be the most popular. The Purim observances (dating the 4th century BCE) include a public reading of the Purim story accompanied by lots of noisy disapproval for the villain, and all this is done decked up in costume! The rest of the day is spent giving gifts of food to acquaintances (think special treats!), charity to the poor, and peaking with a Purim feast! The plot isn't too bad either. Set way back in ancient Persia, the Jews were saved from the wicked Haman by a beautiful Queen Esther who won the love of the powerful King Ahasuerus. Palace intrigue, love, a real villain ~ what could be better. The only 'problem' with this holiday is that it's not taken seriously enough since it lacks a good miracle. Think about it; a beautiful woman who is secretly Jewish is chosen by a king whose grand visor is plotting to annihilate the Jewish people. That could just be a great coincidence‌.or not. But that is why I love this holiday, for it celebrates the natural miracles that happen every day. It is those miracles that seem to be taken for granted daily, through which G-d smiles and shows His love. So don't let those moments go to waste. Celebrate the miracles in your life; don't take any of it for granted! If you wish to find out more about Purim go to www.jewishwallingford.com and read up on it.
The People's Press Channel or PPC launches Saturday, April 9, 2011. Check it out at www.peoplespressnews.com and don't forget that you can share your videos! For more information on how to share a video, email ThePPC@peoplespressnews.com
Celebrate by expressing yourself and showing the world the inner YOU!
Fantasy Faces by Ruth brings fun and excitement to any special occasion, both private and public. Full face art is a great way to add to the celebration of birthdays, bar-mitvahs and bat-mitvahs, holidays, fairs, festivals, store promotions, fund raisers, school events and more.
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Page 28 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
Baby Troy, born Jan. 20th 2011 to Keegan & Keith, is watched over by his faithful dog Toby.
Yearn To Learn!
Meriden's Nathan Hale Grade 5 students Israel and Aubrie (along with their parents) were honored February 8, 2011 at the Aqua Turf in Southington for their outstanding achievement in art.
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A Night at the Opera‌‌..and some other stuff Photo and Story By Ernie Larsen When I was a young soldier defending our nation in the wilds of southern Germany, I had the opportunity to enjoy my first of several opera performances. My "squeeze of the moment" was an opera fan and had an inside line on discount tickets, a plus for me as I was more or less living paycheck to paycheck - this was long before the Army was all it could have been, salary wise. So, we attended the opera - quite an occasion; in Germany where almost everyone dresses up for social occasions and just about everything else (I actually saw a foreman on a construction site in a pair of bund hosen (knickers) wearing a shirt and tie, hmmm?) the opera certainly qualified for that. I got out my best outfit, Navy blue blazer and grey slacks, powder blue shirt and spiffy tie, along with I have to say the best polish on a pair of shoes rivaled only by someone wearing a pair patent leather slip-ons. The first series of productions were Richard Wagner's (German composer ) Ring series - one of the most famous opera, IMO and quite a feat to stage. There are four separate operas that comprise the Ring series - I'm not an opera scholar, however the easily accessible INTERNET provides much information on all operas; I also recall seeing that Meriden Adult Education offered an opera appreciation program given by Valerie Bubon, opera aficionado extraordinaire. Well, I digress; I'm pretty good at that and for a few months I attended the Nurnberg Staatstheater (Nurnberg State Opera) enjoying a couple of the aforementioned Ring series along with performances of the Nurnberg Symphony and some other classical performances and operas. And then the inevitable - splitsville with the Fraulein du Tag and it was back to hanging with the guys at Ingrid's (local watering hole - just off the base). This was in 1964 and until now, well for years I have listened to the Saturday afternoon concerts of the Metropolitan Opera from Avery Fischer Hall in NYC - sponsored for the longest time by Texaco Corporation. And as my wife and I do visit NYC often for Broadway productions I thought the opera might be an interesting diversion. Hopped on the Met's Internet site and whoa - ticket prices for the opera were out sight; decent seats, $155.00 and up. Not that I could not afford the price but when I'm paying less than that for 2 B'way tickets, I'm really thinking about parting with the cash. And then perusing the Met Opera site - I see RUSH tickets for $20.00 which are subsidized by one of the benefactors of the venue. There are 200 orchestra seats put aside for each performance, unless it is a premiere or Sold-Out, and they offer senior citizens the opportunity to buy 50 of these by phone or internet each day at noon and the rest are available at the box office two hours prior to the performance. I know NYC lines can get long - just go by the TKTS booth any day and check those folks out. And I did a TARGET Friday at MOMA doors opened at 5:00 and the queues started at 3:00 - I'm not a big fan of waiting on lone, as the NY'ers express the terminology. This was another split weekend, I was in the City on Thursday, had some photo business and was looking for some specialized equipment, just small stuff but readily available at B&H, my fav photo retailer. And I had some other errands: my wife was coming down on Friday - we had tickets for LOMBARDI - fantastic - if you get a chance see this one, a true American classic. Again, digressing - I programmed my cell phone with the Met's number and around 12:05, Thursday, just after noon I was the proud owner of a ticket to La Boheme, orchestra seat V35, which was right on the aisle for the low price of $20.00. Other seats in the same row were $155.00. Such a deal! So, I had a few hours to wait and went out to a bookstore and NYPublic Library - it was pretty cold and windy down amidst the canyons of skyscrapers and these venues offered not only warmth but also some excellent diversions, exhibits and just browsing through books. Then it was back to the hotel - it was suggested to arrive around 7:15 for the opera this gave me time to check out Lincoln Center and the Met gift shop - oh yes, a fine opportunity to people watch. Talk about a diverse crowd - the high rollers in tuxedos, dark suits with the women in high-end dresses looking like they were freezing their patooties off. Come on A February night, around 20F outside wearing about half a yard of silk material with spaghetti straps and stiletto heels that looked like they could cause a lot of damage in hand to hand combat. And then, tourists, jeans, Dockers, corduroys, slacks, sweaters with all types of footwear - but not too many of them were wearing sneakers (trainers). And the middle of the road couples, nice practical dresses or pantsuits, and he with slacks, dress shirt and tie with a heavy winter jacket; lots of that style - myself, I had on Docker type pants, turtleneck, flannel shirt and a fleece pullover with a light car coat and L.L.Bean gumshoes, waterproof and nice and warm. I didn't make any purchases at the gift shop - had a glass of wine before heading into my seat and then it was almost show time. The first thing I noticed when entering the auditorium were a bunch of what seemed to be lecterns behind the rear seats of the orchestra. They all have a mini screen mounted on the front of the units. Well, these were the standing room only seats, yes folks; people pay to STAND and enjoy the opera. And this particular production ran 3 hours. Now I had a chance to peruse the program, got the background on the principals, conductor etc. Then the acknowledgements: people who GENEROUSLY donate to the Met; they're just finishing up the 125th anniversary fund campaign with the major donation of $30 million from Mercedes and Sid Bass (whoever they are) then the Ziff Family gave $15.00 million (I think they are of the Ziff Davis publishing house, could be wrong). And then a few 10 and 5 million gifts and then some lower in value -I wonder how William Rondina and the15 or so others who gave just 1 million feel; they are listed on the bottom of the donor list, in small type, as if their money was 'chump-change'; people LOVE their opera in NYC! The auditorium is filling up, it's 5 after 8, the lights dim a couple of times, the curtain goes up and La Boheme begins its 59th season being performed at the Met. It was thoroughly enjoyable, the translation screens certainly were well appreciated and the effort by both performers and behind the scenes people was exemplary - the 4 different sets were incredible in their design and the conductor and orchestra were second to none. I've been to many different performance of events, from Broadway to local school concerts and it seems that people believe they have to give standing ovations - come on, for little Ricky who just murdered Ode to Joy on the clarinet, you know what I mean - if you really enjoy a good performance and it isn't out of sight, just raise the volume and length of your applause. And now the exception to this rule was made up in my mind last Thursday; as soon as the first two performers came out for curtain call -the whole auditorium started to rise and the applause for the whole company lasted a good 10 minutes or maybe more; believe me, more than well-deserved. And I was in full agreement when a lull in the ovation triggered a hearty "BRAVO".
Page 29 Early April 2011
Church's Spring Tag
MAX E. MURAVNICK MERIDEN SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTER The Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Citizens' Center is open to all Meriden residents age 55 and over. Membership is free of charge and new members may sign-up any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by presenting a driver's license or other proof of age. New members receive an information package about senior services and a coupon entitling them to one complimentary lunch in our Senior Community CafĂŠ. Sign-up today and find out about all that is offered for Meriden seniors at the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center! Our Senior Center Volunteer Recognition Day will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at 11:15 AM in Willene's Place. We will recognize all of our volunteers and also announce the 2011 "Volunteers of the Year". Please join us for this special event and thank you to all of our volunteers for your work all year long! Creative Writing Classes with Susan Sandel will resume on Wednesday, April 13 at 1:00 PM. The six week class will help you learn to express yourself more easily and improve your writing skills. No prior experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome. Please sign-up for this free class in the front office or by calling us at 203.237.0066. On Wednesday, April 13 at 10:30 AM Mike Savinelli from BCI Financial will speak on Reverse Mortgages. Learn how you can use the equity in your home to cover other expenses like home improvements, a new car, medical bills, traveling or other personal expenses. This no cost or obligation program will be held in the first floor meeting room and refreshments will be served. On Thursday, April 21 we will have our 3rd annual "Grandchildren Day" during school vacation week. A special $2 hot dog lunch will be available for the kids followed by a free bingo open to everyone with $5 gift cards to McDonald's as prizes. Please invite your grandchildren/great grandchildren and sign-up in Willene's Place to join us for this special intergenerational event on April 21! Save the date for the first annual "Seniors First Day" at Maloney High School on Tuesday, May 3 from 12:30-2:30. You are invited to a performance by the Allegrettos, a weight conditioning and country line dance demonstration, computer greeting card class, blood pressure screening, refreshments and more, all to unite the generations and bring seniors and high school students together! The Mini-Bus will depart at 12:15 and take you home after the program, people are also welcome to drive on your own, please sign-up for the bus with Becky in the Mini-Bus Office or call her at 203.237.3338. On Wednesday, April 27 at 11:15 in Willene's Place, Blanca Toledo Perez from AASCC will speak about the Home Share Program for homeowners who would like to share their home. Finally, there are still openings for the AARP Driver Safety Class on April 27, tickets for the May 2 Kiwanis Hi-Liters Show at 7:00 PM will be available on April 4 and the last day for AARP Income Tax Assistance is April 6. John F. Hogarth - Senior Center Director
Heart Safe Community The Wallingford Health Dept. is in the process of reapplying for the Connecticut DPH Heart Safe Community Designation. This effort is based on the progress this community has made establishing and promoting the potential for saving lives of sudden cardiac arrest. The increased opportunities for CPR training, and public access to automated external defibrillators (Aids) have tripled the lives saved since our original designation as a Heart Safe Community in 2008. The Wallingford Health Dept. is anxious to recertify in 2011, but we need your help. If your company has offered CPR/AED training, and or have installed an AED, please contact the Wallingford Health Dept. at (203) 294-2065 or by e-mail at wlfdhealth@sbcglobal.net. If you are already a partner PLEASE let us know that we have your continued support, and if you have increased your CPR/AED training. If you are new to the partnership, we need you on board!! We will forward you a brief questionnaire so that you and you're company are fully recognized as being a partner in this truly life saving effort. Please join us as we strive to make Wallingford a safer place to live.
St. John the Evangelist Church 360 Church St., Yalesville, CT Date: May 7, 2011 9AM - 3PM Tag, Bake, Book and Rummage Sales Getting the paper at home or picking it up at a local business? Get an Even Quicker Pick Me Upper at www.peoplespressnews.com.
CELEBRATIONS
On December 9th, 2010 - Martin and Sherlyn (Garcia) Avila welcomed their first child, Angela Natalie, she weighed 7lbs and 5 oz and measured 20 inches long. Congratulations! You are going to be wonderful parents as you already are! Love, Julie
Female Urinary Incontinence Program MidState Medical Center will host a program that addresses a common problem affecting women: female urinary incontinence. The program entitled, "Female Urinary Incontinence - Why Are You Leaking and What are the Solutions?" will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at MidState Medical Center in Meriden in the Horwitz Conference Center. This program, presented by female urologist, Jean Wong, MD, and physical therapist, Pat Biron, PT, will educate women on the different types of incontinence and the treatments that are available. Women are encouraged to attend in this open, comfortable environment.
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Page 30 Early April 2011
Wallingford Senior Center to Offer Extended Hours Beginning on Thursday, April 7, 2011 the Wallingford Senior Center will be offering extended hours of operation, with a variety of evening programs, special events and classes to be held. The Senior Center will be open until 8:30 p.m. on April 7 & 14, and every Thursday in May through October. Our Lake View Café will be offering dinner, with menus changing weekly, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased during our hours of operation for $6.00 at the Front Desk, and include an entrée and small beverage. A variety of dessert items are also available for an additional fee. For more information, please contact Patty Watts, Program Coordinator at 203-265-7753. Belly Dance This class is rooted in classic belly dance technique and meets weekly in the Fitness Room at 5:15 p.m. No experience needed to participate in this fun and low-impact class. Start Date: April 7, Instructor: Aleenah, Cost: $25. Please sign up. Scrapbooking Class Learn to create beautiful keepsake albums that will be treasured for generations from your personal photos and memories. Come to a free introductory session to hear more about it on April 14 in the Creative Arts Room at 5:30 p.m. Start Date: May 5, Instructor: Diane Soares, Cost: $25 plus materials. Please sign up. Zumba Gold Zumba infuses Latin rhythms and simple dance moves to create a fun and exciting total body workout designed for the active older adult. Meets weekly in the Fitness Room at 6:00 p.m. Start Date: May 5, Instructor: Kayt Keirn, Cost: $25. Please sign up. Texas Hold 'Em Poker A competitive yet friendly card game. Must be a WSC member to play, men and women are welcome. Weekly games held in the Game Room from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Instructor: Tom Burrill, Cost: $2.00 per player. Twilight Concert with the Survivors Our own band, The Survivors, will be here to perform their wonderful selection of dance music during the dinner hour. Buy a delicious dinner at the Lake View Café (ticket purchase required) and enjoy the show! April 14, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Great Room. Backing Up Your Computer Kevin Ozer, from our Computer Learning Center, will be sharing valuable information about "backing up" the computer files on your home or small business P.C. in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. This session is free, but pre-registration is required. Open to the public. Space is limited, sign up today. April 14, 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Room. No Thursday Evening Programs Scheduled April 21 & 28 The Senior Center will be closing at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 & 28. Please join us on Thursday, May 5, when our evening programs resume.
Yearn To Learn
Third graders in Mr. Cohen's third grade class at Nathan Hale School learned about symmetry in math, then made symmetrical masks in Art Class
LocalMotion
Senior Permits for Delivery of Household Trash to Wallingford Disposal Site Department of Public Works - 203 294-2105 Senior Citizen Permits Expire April 10, 2011 Any Wallingford senior citizen (sixty-five years of age and older) or resident having a Medicare card who plans to deliver his or her household trash to the Wallingford Disposal Site (landfill) must obtain a new permit in order to use senior coupons. The new permits may be secured Monday, April 4, through Friday, April 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington Street. The permit cost is $5.00. Applicants must bring their driver's license, proof or residence, and the current registration for the vehicle that will be used to deliver trash to the disposal site. Permits will be issued only on these dates and times. There are no exceptions.
Hawaiian Night The Meriden Turner Society will host Hawaiian Night on Saturday, April 16th at the Turner Halle, 800 Old Colony Road, Rt.71, Meriden. A ham dinner served at 6 pm will be followed by the dancing and listening music of the Vagabonds until 11 pm. Call Leo @ 203-440-0028 or the Clubhouse on Thursday evenings @ 203-440-9624 for reservations.
Shell Game! Can you guess which mound has a car under it? Photo by Lynn C Fisher
CELEBRATIONS
FIELD RUN FOR AUTISM, Sunday May 1, 2011 TIME: 8:30 AM SHARP! Registration starts at 7 AM. Come join us at the 5K race on the private running field at Choate Rosemary Hall High School, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT. Registration fee: $30, $35 on day of race, $15 for all students Students can attain community service hours by forming a group to run in the race. Contact Pat Coppola at 203 2657717 Ext 14, or email patcoppola2000@yahoo.com for additional information.
CELEBRATIONS of LIFE! No matter if it’s a birthday, holiday, anniversary, wedding , birth announcement or just to make someone feel special ; it’s always FREE to share your Celebrations in The People’s Press! Read it in print and on the web at www.peoplespressnews.com
Email a smile to celebrations@peoplespressnews.com
Platt HS gymnast Kirsten Dawkins along with her coach Bryon Knox at the Pomperaug High School Invitational Kirsten travels with the Southington High School gymnastics team. Kirsten placed third in the All around with a 34.45. On vault she earned an 8.0 & an 8.5 on floor. Kirsten took first place on bars with a 9.35 and also tied for first on beam with a 8.6. Also, Kirsten finished second in the AA with a 36.05. She placed first on vault (9.5) and second on bars (9.0). Kirsten earned a 9.05 on beam and finished on floor with an 8.5. PHS Invitational Jan 17 Congratulations!
Crossword April 2011 Answers. Puzzle by Ruth Gordon.
Message: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Your Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Phone # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Signature: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The best way to send a celebration is by email! However, if you prefer you can send to:The People’s Press, P.O. Box 4459, Yalesville CT 06492. If you would like the photo returned to you, please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope! We do not publish the last names of of our friends who are under the age of 15 for safety reasons.
T h e d e a d l i n e i s A p r i l 1 5 t h f o r o u r M i d - A p r i l 2 0 11 I s s u e !
Page 31 Early April 2011
CELEBRATIONS
To my love We have been through so much in both our lives, separately and together. I am happy to have you by my side. I know with each other we can accomplish anything small or big. So here is to us, may we continue to grow and love one another. Happy anniversary! Love, Emily
We Deliver Springtime!
Grandma Beth wanted to say hi to her favorite leprechauns, Emily & Sarah
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Page 32 Early April 2011
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