Hi Folks,
In the video below I'm talking to a few folks I saw at the Hamden Chamber of Commerce Community & Business Expo, which took place April 16. Sorry it took so long to upload the video. But, I wanted to plug the Chamber's spring version of Hamden Restaurant Week. It ends Sunday. A list of the scrumptious places you can go to are listed in a blog post below...just go to the index to find it.
Thanks,
Ann
The speakers in the video are Chamber President Nancy Dudchik, the executive director of Lincoln Tech and a lawyer who is spearheading a veterans' fundraiser.

NORTH HAVEN -- The North Haven Rotary, in conjunction with North Haven Community Television, is doing a four-hour telethon with local youth performers Saturday to raise funds for Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims.

It will air live on NHTV and also will be simulcast in Madison, Guilford, Branford and North Branford from 1 to 5 p.m. today on Channel 18.

A phone bank will be set up in the NHTV studio to accept calls from donors. Call 203-234-0025. According to NHTV Exective Director Walter Mann, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Rotary Internation’s Japan relief efforts.

"The support of Comcast has been invaluable in this effort," said Mann.

HAMDEN -- A large crowd is expected Saturday when Hamden has its annual Earth Day celebration.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hamden Middle School, 2623 Dixwell Ave.

There will be many exhibits and activities. Admission is free.

Among the exhibitors promoting earth friendly services and products are: Rethink Recycle; Tin Can Herb / Flower Pots; Replenishing the Planet and Our Mind; Why Should We Save the Coral Reef?; Discovery Garden; Practical Creations from Recycled Products; Make Sweet Music to Heal Mother Earth; Keeping the Earth Healthy and Terracycle / Capri Sun Brigade.

There will be face painting, a scavenger hunt, wood making projects, decoupage water bottle vases, book swap and bookmark craft for children, a coloring contest, recycling games and more,

Entertainment will be provided by the Hamden High School Reptile Club at 1 and 2 p.m., C.J. May’s Recycling Magic Show at 11:30 a.m. and Clink the Clown, among others.

Principal sponsors are Covanta Energy for a Cleaner World, Dexsil, Home Depot of Hamden and Walmart of Hamden.

HAMDEN -- There’s two more days left to Hamden’s spring Restaurant Week.

The event organized by the Hamden Chamber of Commerce runs through Sunday.

Participating restaurants include: Cafe Amici, Cumin India Restaurant, Eli’s on Whitney, Eli’s Brick Oven

Pizza & Market, Ibiza Tapas, Jerkfish Jamaican Restaurant, Le Petit Gourmet, Mickey’s

Bar & Restaurant, Park Central Tavern, Side Street Grille, Sono Bana Japanese

Restaurant, Sorrento’s, The Playwright Irish Pub Restaurant, The Soup Girl, The Terrace

Savory Thai Cuisine and Whitney Bar & Grill. Reservations are

strongly suggested.

For further information including restaurant listings and menus please visit

www.hamdenrestaurantweek.com.

NORTH HAVEN -- A retirement dinner for former Police Chief James X. DiCarlo will take place on May 25.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Anthony’s Ocean View, 450 Lighthouse Road, New Haven. There will be a cocktail hour, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner and open bar.

Tickets are $50 a person and can be reached by contacting Police Chief Thomas McLoughlin, Sgt. Robert DePalma or Detective Mark Iannone at 203-239-5321.

Mayor Scott D. Jackson has proclaimed the week of May 1^st through May 8th 2011 as Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust.  The Town will host a Holocaust Remembrance Day observance on Friday, May 6th at noon in Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Library Complex.  The ceremony is open to all members of the public.  This year’s theme is Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide.   2011 marks the 65^th anniversary of the verdicts at the first Nuremberg trial and the 50^th anniversary of the trial of Adolf Eichmann.  A light lunch will be served following the ceremony.  

Keynote speaker is Jim Messina, a teacher of religion and history at St. Martin DePorres Academy in New Haven, one of 25 teachers from across the United States selected for a three-week intensive seminar sponsored by the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors.  The seminar began in Washington DC at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the group then traveled to Yad VaShem, Israel; Berlin, Germany; Warsaw and Krakow, Poland visiting exhibits and museums  dedicated to the Holocaust, as well as several of the camps and other historic sites.                                   

 A short video entitled “Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have we Learned?” will be shown, followed by a flute solo by Meri Fleischman.  Chaya Blitzer will tell her story titled “Finding Dina:  A Holocaust Miracle” and Hamden High School Student Alexandra Shuttleworth will present her original song.  Rabbi Alison Adler will introduce 7^th grade students from Congregation Mishkan Israel, who will present essays.  A candle lighting ceremony will be accompanied by a responsive prayer led by Rabbi Herbert Brockman of Congregation Mishkan Israel.  Audience members will be invited to make brief comments. 

    This year’s observance is the Town’s ninth Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

NORTH HAVEN -- State Rep. Dave Yaccarino, R-North Haven, will meet with constituents from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the West Ridge fire station on Ridge Road. Yaccarino invites everyone to stop in and share their concerns, ideas and questions.

Yaccarino also will be out in the community on Saturday, when he and a group of volunteers clean up the yards of two homes owned by senior citizens, one on Redbrick Lane and the other on Grove Road. The clean-up starts at 10 a.m.

"This winter took a toll on a lot of people, especially our elderly population. I organized this spring clean-up effort to help seniors who can’t quite maintain their properties as they once did," he said.

For more information or if you would like to volunteer please contact Michael Rell, director of outreach for the House Republican Caucus at 1-860-240-8780.

To keep up to date on Rep. Yaccarino’s news and events please visit www.repyaccarino.com or contact his office at 1-800-842-1423.

 

On April 19 Miller Memorial Central Library held its annual reception honoring library volunteers for their service at which Hamden designer, Rich Brassil, was also presented with an honorarium for his winning entry in the library’s recent logo contest. Mayor Scott Jackson presided over an awards ceremony, congratulating and thanking the volunteers.

Library volunteers, including the Friends of the Hamden Library and the library’s Board of Directors, log hundreds of hours of service each year. Many work diligently in the Friends’ Jean Aiken Second Hand Prose Book Store located on the library’s lower level while others work within the library itself in various capacities. This year’s Volunteer of the Year, Peg Limbacher, works with the circulation staff on a weekly basis making telephone calls and contributing her years of office experience to the functions of the Circulation Department.  Books purchased in honor of Ms. Limbacher have been added to the library’s collection and her name has joined those on a plaque honoring volunteers within the library.

 Brassil is a long-time Hamden resident and owner of Rich Brassil Designs in Hamden. He graduated from Paier College of Art where he is a member of the adjunct faculty. His winning entry incorporates the outline of Hamden’s Sleeping Giant as the pages of an open book above the library’s name. It was chosen from a field of more than 30 contest entries.

Pictured below is Hamden Mayor Scott D. Jackson and Fire Chief David Berardesca with the Fire Department's new Smeal 100-foot aerial platform truck. The new truck replaces a 1991 aerial platform truck. The department's back-up apparatus, a 1990 ladder truck, will be in service until fire personnel complete driver and operational training. The new truck will serve the citizens of Hamden for many years and is a welcome and needed addition, Berardesca said.

 

HAMDEN -- The Hamden Education Foundation’s 10th annual Alumni Awards dinner is May 17 at Laurel View Country Club, 310 W. Shepard Ave.

Vincent Iezzi, foundation president, said the following are being honored:

Charles Guelakis, D.D.S., oral surgeon – class of 1961; Paul Massey, educator – class of 1963; Karen Peterson Gallo, D.M.D., Dentist – class of 1973; Attorney Steven Ciardiello – class of 1976; Businessman Mitchell DePino, class of 1990; Julie Ann Murtagh, Hamden teacher –cllass of 1991; Businessman Sachin Parikh, – class of 1991 and Dr. Sean Lucan, class of 1992.

Steven DelGrego, Educator – class of 1986;

Hamden Middle School counselor Ronald Byrd will receive a distinguished service award.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Wendy Ocone, 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, 06517, call (203) 407-2202 or email wendy.ocone@hamden.org.

HAMDEN -- The Farmington Canal linear trail will be the scene Saturday to raise money for women of the Congo.

The Run for Congo Women Connecticut is a 5-mile run or walk, with proceeds going to Women for Women International to sponsor women who live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Catherine Spain of West Hartford. Check-in is 9 a.m. at Brooksvale Park, 524 Brooksvale Ave. The run/walk starts at 10 a.m. along the trail. Pets and strollers are permitted; water will be provided. There is a $30 registration fee. There will be prizes for the top fundraisers. Food and beverages will be served at the park after the event.

Run for Congo Women was begun by Lisa Shannon of Oregon. Every $324 that's raised sponsors one woman in the Democratic Republic of Congo so that she can attend training classes to improve her life, Spain said. They learn job skills, rights awareness education and trauma counseling, among other topics.

"Women have learned how to sew, make cards and arts and crafts," Spain said, and have been provided with information about health and other topics to help with their well-being.

Spain said she has been upset to learn about mass gang rapes against women that are used as a tool of war to terrorize and control populations. "Anyone who learns about it wants to do something," she said.

Women for Women has operated in the Congo since 2004, during which time it has helped more than 39,000 women whose lives and communities have been torn apart by war and other atrocities.

For more information visit http://www.runforcongowomen.org/ or http://www.letterstocongo.com/.

According to those websites, the conflict in the Congo began with the Rwandan genocide, when the Hutu militia pushed over the border to set up camp and began terrorizing people. Since 1998, 5.4 million people have died. Women have been gang-raped and tortured.

Speaker: Dr. Daniel W. Kennedy, Senior Economist, Office of Research, State of Connecticut Labor Department

 

Topic:" Future Labor Trends in the Greater New Haven Area"

 

Time and Date: Thursday, April 21 at 7PM

 

Place Murray Reynolds American Legion Post #76, 20 Church Street, North Haven, CT 06473

 

Open to Veterans and their Guests.

 

Post Phone: 203-985-2962

 

HAMDEN – Spring leaf and brush collection is starting Saturday, April 23 and will continue through May 20.

All bagged leaves and bundled brush must be out by Saturday to guarantee pick-up.

As with all spring leaf pickups, only one sweep will be made through the town. Bags put out after trucks have
passed will not be picked up. Trucks will begin in the southern part of town.

Leaves must be placed in paper bags and brush must be bundled and tied with string
or twine. Bundles should weigh no more than 50 pounds and be no more than four feet long and
contain no pieces more than four inches diameter.

Bundled brush and bagged leaves should be placed curbside, separate of each other, and away from April bulk pickup items. No items should be placed in the street or in any way block a sidewalk. Disposal of root systems, grass clippings and soil are prohibited.
Residents on unaccepted or private roads must bring their leaves to the transfer station, which is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as from 7:30 a.m. to3 p.m. April 23 and April 30.

Elderly and disabled residents may be eligible for assistance. Please contact public works at 203-287-2600 or the Help Desk at 203-287-7676 for further information.

Three North Haven Middle School and one North Haven High School Future Problem Solving students were named as finalists in the Connecticut Future Problem Solving Program.

Senior Division
3rd -- Haya Awwad -- "Inheritance" -- North Haven High School, coached by Daniel O'Brien

Junior Division1st -- Claire Fresher -- "Together and Apart" -- North Haven MIddle School, coached by Christian Gott
2nd -- Maia Annunziato -- "The Hijacking of Susairial 7249" -- North Haven Middle School, coached by Pam Kendrick
3rd -- Grace Gillolly -- "Asthma Victims Strike Back" -- North Haven Middle School, coached by Christian Gott

These students received their awards at the closing ceremonies for the CT FPS State Conference on March 26 at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs.

First Place scenario writers are invited to attend the International FPS Conference to be held at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse in June.  The top tree scenarios in each division are sent to the International FPS office for inclusion in their competition.

Encouraging creativity, scenario writing allows an individual writer to create a futuristic short story based on one of the five FPSP topics. Students develop and polish their creative writing skills. FPSP scenarios are limited to 1500 words and must be placed 20 years in the future.

The Future Problem Solving Program is a yearlong educational program in which students are challenged to solve problems related to topics of global significance.  This year's topics are Healthy Living, Air Transport, Genetic Testing, Water Quality, and Emergency Planning.  Approximately 250,000 students from all over the world are involved in this challenging and demanding program.  Students are given a futuristic scenario from which they determine potential problems, choose a problem to solve, brainstorm solutions, evaluate their solutions and develop an action plan to fully explain their best solution.

On On March 25 and 26 at the 28^th annual Future Problem Solving Program of Connecticut State Conference was held at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs CT.  For the 28^th consecutive year North Haven students earned the right to compete at the conference.  The best problem solvers from across Connecticut were chosen to compete based on their performance in the qualifying round.  North Haven was represented in all three divisions (Junior, Middle, and Senior), and in the Global Team Problem Solving, Individual Problem Solving, Scenario Writing and Zippy Booklet Competitions.  The topic the students addressed was Water Quality.  Schools throughout Connecticut participated in the competition and activities. In all, over 300 people attended. Students were competing for the right to represent Connecticut at the Future Problem Solving Program International Conference, which will be held at The University of Wisconsin in La Crosse, from June 8^th through June 12^th.  Over 2,300 students from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea will be attending the conference.  North Haven students and their families will open their homes and host visiting Australian and Singaporean FPS students for 2-3 days prior to the International Conference.

The following North Haven teams and students have qualified to represent CT at this year’s Future Problem Solving International Conference.  This is the 25^th consecutive year that North Haven has earned the right to represent CT at the FPS International Conference

Senior Division Global Issues Team Competition Champions and Third Place for Action Plan Presentation– Juniors Prakhar Bansal, Gregory Bicknell, Christopher Musco and David Pham – coach Tom Marak

Second Place Senior Division Global Issues Team Competition – Seniors Timothy Barron, Luke Chvisuk, Bradley Koval, E. Lily Seropian – coach Tom Marak

Middle Division Global Issues Team Competition Champions  – Freshmen Matt Ennis, Jesse Morrow, Amanda Royka and Meredith Whitcomb – coach Tom Marak

Second Place Middle Division Global Issues Team Competition and Action Plan Presentation – Freshmen Julia Bujalski, Allie Carroll, Nichole Ciccarelli and Brynne MacDonnell– coach Tom Marak

Individual Global Issues Competition Senior Division Champion – Junior Victor Wang – coach Tom Marak

Individual Global Issues Competition Junior Division Champion – 6^th Grader Hillary Hoyt – coach Paul Castiglione

Junior Division Scenario Writing Champion – 5^th grader Claire Fresher – whose story was "Together and Apart" -- coach Christian Gott

Costs for this year’s International Competition (including transportation, rooms and food) are expected to be $1,100 per student.  Students and the C.L.A.P.S. parent support group have been raising money to fund the trip.  If you would like to help, please send your contributions to C.L.A.P.S. c/o Tom Marak at North Haven High School 221 Elm Street North Haven CT 06473.  Make checks payable to NHHS-C.L.A.P.S.

The Future Problem Solving Program is a yearlong educational program challenging students to solve problems related to topics of global significance.  This year's other topics were Healthy Living, Air Transportation, and Genetic Testing.  This year’s international conference will focus on the very timely topic of Emergency Planning. Global Issues students are given a futuristic scenario from which they determine potential challenges, choose a problem/issue to solve, brainstorm solutions, evaluate their solutions and develop an action plan to fully explain their best solution. The FPS of CT Program also has Scenario Writing, Community Problem Solving, and Art components.   The Scenario Writing Competition allows an individual writer to create a futuristic short story based on one of the topics. Community Problem Solving teaches students how to solve local problems and the Art component encourages students to use their artistic talents to express the issues related to one of the year’s topics. Approximately 250,000 students from all over the world are involved in the various components of this challenging and demanding program.

Other North Haven students placing at the state competition were:

3^rd Place Senior Global Issues Team Competition – Juniors Haya Awwad, Molly Falkowski, Dushalla Suruj-Narain and Sophomore Alyssa Wilczynski – coach Tom Marak

3^rd Place Junior Global Issues Team Competition – 6^th graders Maiia Annunziato, Sejal Atluru, Olivia Irons and Genevieve Richardson – coach Paul Castiglione

2^nd Place Senior Global Issues Individual – Senior Charlie Hoyt – coach Tom Marak

3^rd Place Senior Global Issues Individual – Junior Parker Heyl – coach Tom Marak

2^nd Place Middle Global Issues Individual – Sophomore Jesse Morrow – coach Tom Marak

3^rd Place Middle Global Issues Individual – Sophomore Bryne MacDonnell – coach Tom Marak

2^nd Place Junior Global Issues Individual – grade 6 Olivia Hoyt – coach Paul Castiglione

3^rd Place Senior Scenario – Junior Haya Awaad for her story “Inheritance"- coach Dan O’Brien

2nd Place Junior Scenario - Maia Annunziato -- for "The Hijacking of Susairial 7249" - coach Pam Kendrick
3rd Place Junior Scenario - Grace Gillolly – or "Asthma Victims Strike Back" - coach Christian Gott

1^st Place Senior Zippy Team Competition – Sophomores Julie Cheung and Amelia Hoyt

Conference T-Shirt Design Competition – Senior Jake Biller, Juniors Jennifer Royka and Evelyn Fisher

For more information about the conference, students and/or the FPS Program please contact Tom Marak at North Haven High School (203) 239-1641 ext. 2226 marak.thomas@north-haven.k12.ct.us or the Future Problem Solving Program of CT. Inc. (860) 632-2843, e-mail FPSPofCT@aol.com or visit the FPS web site www.FPSPofCT.org.

렀

N'Zinga Shäni, producer of  "21st Century Conversations" invites you
to  informative health forum on Preventing Strokes on April 14.

Jointly with the Wellness Ministry at Christian Tabernacle Church (425 Newhall Street) they are asking for a large audience on April 14, 6-8:30PM to attend this important community health education program about Preventing Strokes.  The panel of health educators will be headed by Dr. Joseph Schindler, head of the Yale Stroke Center.  There will be time for questions.   

OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc.,  is a small -100% volunteer-- community organization located in Hamden. It produces a community education program called "21st Century Conversations"  on health literacy, education (at-every-level) and on civic engagement.  The programs air Sundays at 7PM on Citizens TV, Comcast Chan. 26.  They can be found on U-Verse through this link:  www.nhtv.com/Uverse.html   For more info go to  www.oneworldpi.org.   Check out the video clips to see some of our award-winning programs.   The  forum at Christian Tabernacle is a relaunching effort to bring the education programs into the community through the churches and community organizations.  The program is free to all members of the community.  If you have any questions, call  (203) 407-0250. 

 

                                   

            On Wednesday and Thursday, Hamden Public Libraries will join  libraries all over Connecticut in taking a ‘snapshot’ – collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities on a typical day. This is the second Snapshot Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library, and the Connecticut Library Consortium. Last year, 136 libraries participated.

Last year, on Connecticut’s first Snapshot Day more than 80,600 people visited Connecticut libraries, people borrowed nearly 100,000 books, DVDs and other materials; close to 13,000 people used computers at their library; nearly 10,000 people attended a program or class at a library and 113,000 people visited Connecticut library websites.                                   

In these difficult economic times, Connecticut’s libraries are busier than ever, with people coming not only to check out books, but use computers, look for a job or attend the many programs our libraries offer.  All across the state, libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, places were people come together to visit, learn and share ideas.

On April 13, 2011 we hope once again to capture a slice of life of Connecticut’s libraries.  There will be a chance for patrons to comment on what their library means to them, and pictures from libraries all over the state will be available on the Snapshot Flickr page.  Please visit the Snapshot website, http://snapshotctlib.wordpress.com/ to find out more about this exciting project. Better yet, visit your local library on April 13 (at Miller Library, 2901 Dixwell Avenue) or April 14 (at Whitneyville 125 Carleton Street and Bundage-Community 91 Circular Avenue branch libraries) and become a part of Snapshot Day 2011.  Call 203 287-2680 for more information about Hamden Libraries’ participation in Snapshot Day 2011.

Two Hamden Democratic state representatives have been honored.

 

Rep.  J. Brendan Sharkey recently received the Champion of the Year award from the Connecticut Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs at an event held at the State Capitol. And, Rep. Peter F. Villano has been appointed to the National Council of State Legislature’s Human Services and Welfare Committee.

 

“State Representative Brendan Sharkey is, without a doubt, a most deserving recipient of our 2011 Boys & Girls Club “Champion of Youth” award.  Not only did Rep. Sharkey give tirelessly of his time as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven for many years, but he has truly been a strong advocate of youth serving organizations state-wide as a Legislator,” said Joe Andreana, Executive Director, CT Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.

 

“I am very pleased and humbled to even be considered for this award,” said Sharkey. “Having been involved with the Greater New Haven Club has meant a great deal to me. The kids are terrific, the staff is so dedicated and I have really enjoyed my involvement.”

 

“Brendan joined our board in 2007 and provided great insight.  During his tenure the Club faced very difficult times and he helped both the Club and the board to navigate these tough times with determination and resiliency,” said Stephanie Barnes, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of New Haven.  “His commitment to children and youth is evident in everything he does and the Board and Staff of the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven are very proud to call him a friend of the Club.”

 

 Barnes presented the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven “Youth of The Year” award to Elisha Reaves, a senior at Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden and long time club member, now after school employee, tutor and mentor. Elisha will attend Berkeley College in the fall majoring in Criminal Justice. After graduation he intends to become a police officer and serve his community.

 

“Elisha is a fine young man who is true role model for the younger club members,” said Sharkey. “He has already given so much at such a young age to so many others that I am proud to see his efforts recognized. I wish him all the best.”

     Villano (D-Hamden) was appointed by Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) to serve on the Human Services and Welfare National Council .

     The NCSL Human Services and Welfare Committee is one of 12 standing committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures, responsible for developing policies that stress opposition to unfunded federal mandates, prevention of unnecessary preemption of state laws and protection of state revenue sources. The NCSL uses these polices as guides to advocate at the national level.

    “Few issues are as important to me as human services” said Rep. Villano, who serves as co-chair of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Sub-Committee on Human Services.   “I look forward to exchanging ideas and bringing them back to Connecticut.”

     “Rep. Villano’s state legislative experience will allow him to represent Connecticut well as he undertakes this new challenge,” said Speaker Donovan. “I am confident Peter’s work on this committee will not only benefit our state, but help ensure the continued support of this important segment of our society.”

     The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and to advocate for the interests of states in the American federal system.

Photo courtesy of Storytellers Photography

2011 Hearts of the Community Recipients with Sacred Heart Academy President Sr. Sheila O’Neill and Principal Sr. Maureen Flynn at the recent “Hearts” event which recognizes compassion, commitment to community and contributions to the community. More than $80,000 was raised to benefit the Tuition Assistance Program at Sacred Heart.

Left to Right:

Back

Father James Shanley, Sister Maureen Flynn, ASCJ – Principal, Sister Sheila O’Neill, ASCJ, Ph.D. – President, Roger Sciascia, Joseph Brigante – representing the Knights of Columbus

Front

Sister Mary Anne Sharron, ASCJ, Mary Jane Maturo, Kerry Robinson, Linda Sciascia

The Hamden Art League, in cooperation with the Hamden Arts Commission, reminds the public about the following selection of art classes. For information and registration call Mimsie Coleman at the Arts Commission 287-2546 or HAL member Ruth Morrill 203-288-4251.  HAL publishes workshops to inform our membership and the public of opportunities to enhance their skills.  We do not sponsor the classes and are not responsible for program content.

Oils, Acrylics, Pastels   David Cain.
Dates: April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 2011
Time: Tuesdays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Cost $120 Six classes
Place: Miller Library Community Room
Materials: The assortment of color, medium and support you normally use.

David's work in pastel has a lightness of touch and a delicate balancing of color. This is a loosely structured class where you may work in oil, acrylic or pastel from a class set-up, from one of David's photographs of the Connecticut landscape, or from a subject of your own choosing. Occasionally, weather permitting, the class will paint outside under natural light.
Send check made payable to David Cain to the Hamden Arts Commission,

2901 Dixwell Avenue

,

Hamden CT

06518.

Art Critiques with John Massimino

Dates: April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9 and June 23

Time: 1:30 – 3:20 pm

Place: Whitneyville Library (

125 Carleton Avenue

, off Putnam near

Whitney Avenue

)

Cost: $10 per session

John will be available to critique two or three samples of your artwork either completed or in

progress.  John's comments on the structure of a painting and his eye for pointing out those little adjustments are invaluable. You will learn not only from your own work but also from John's comments about the work of other participants.

The fee for the Hamden crits should be hand delivered to John at the beginning of each session.

For additional information contact Ruth Morrill at 203-288-4251.

Painting on Ceramic Tile, Platter or Plate. Instructor, Diane Manguilli
Dates/Time: Diane's Studio is open Tuesdays 11am - 2 pm. Monday and Thursday 7-10 pm. Drop-ins are welcome.
Place: 23 Crestway.(off

Sherman Ave.

)
Cost: $7.50 per class. Make checks payable following each lesson. Purchase of greenware, glazes, and firing of pieces is extra.

Diane offers individualized instruction in a relaxed, unstructured, free-form class situation. She does not offer the throwing or spinning of pottery, but a vast knowledge concerning the various paints and glazes used for painting on tiles, plates and other ceramic vessels.

For additional information call Diane's Ceramics at 203-288-7970.

Decorative Painting on Varied Surfaces offered by HAL member Beverly Girolomo, a Certified Dewberry One Stroke Instructor.
Place Classes are held at her home,

1086 West Woods Road

Dates/Time: Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30, and Thursdays from 6-8 pm.
Cost: $25 per class. Supplies are extra.
This is an easy and exciting way to begin to paint. From the very first class you will take home a decorative piece that will surprise and delight you. Tap into your unexplored artistic talent. For further information call 203-287-8506

Think Composition and Design   John Massimino
Dates: May 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 2011
Time: Mondays, 10:30 am-1:30 pm.
Place: Whitneyville Library. Directions above.
Cost: $165 for six classes.
This class is for intermediate and advanced artists and is limited to 14 artists.
Water based paints only for work in class. John's weekly worksheets offer a series of compelling compositional ideas that each student will test and interpret, thereby reinforcing the design ideas they suggest.  There will be ample time for John's kind, yet constructive criticism.
Materials: Water based colors only. Recommended palette: two different shades of red, yellow and blue, plus black and white.
Make checks payable to John Massimino and send them to the Hamden Arts Commission,

2901 Dixwell Avenue

. Hamden, CT 06518.

Plein Air Field Days

HAL Plein Air Painting Group for members and other interested artists. No charge.

Information: Ruth Morrill 203-288-4251 or Matty Dagradi, 203-397-8441.
Dates: Wednesdays, April 20 - June 22
Time: 10-1, No rain dates
Cost: No charge
Bring paints, chair or other sit-upon, canvas or watercolor pad, water or turpentine, munchies, bug repellent, etc. Call ahead to find out each week's painting location.

The Town of Hamden Youth Services Bureau, Community Services, and

Recreation Department, invite area youth for a fun, free day of activities, entertainment and a free

cook out. Children of all ages will enjoy a variety of games, activities, and arts & crafts projects. Throughout the day, the Amazing Fun Bus will entertain kids of all ages, there will be live performances by local entertainers as well as Young Audiences of CT, and a special demonstration by a Police Officer and his K-9. In addition, tables with community resources will be set up by “family friendly” organizations including the Family Resource Center, Creative Arts Workshop, Peabody Museum-On the Road, Youth Continuum, Southeastern Employment

Services, Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, The Hamden Elks Club, The Consultation Center Youth Development and Training Center, New Haven Reads Community Book Bank, Inc. Cuddle Time, Apple Tree, TD Bank, Miller Memorial Library, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, MADD, Hamden Rotary Club and the Hamden/North Haven YMCA.

With support from the Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works, Sleeping Giant Daycare,

P.L.A.C.E., PACK, CVS, Stop & Shop, Dunkin' Donuts, Shoprite, and Eli Whitney Technical School Culinary

For more information please contact Hamden Youth Services at (203)777-2610.

HAMDEN -- Local children and their families are encouraged to attend the SoHa (Southern Hamden) Spring Kids Festival on Wednesday, April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Keefe Community Center, 11 Pine St.

Get on your browsing shoes for Saturday, when the Hamden Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Business and Community Expo. It will be held in the Hamden High School gymnasium, 2040 Dixwell Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More than 100 vendors will showcase their products and services. There will be a Kid's Corner Workshop sponsored by the Home Depot. The Hamden Rotary Club will sponsor free AMBER Alert Child Identification. There will be complimentary services, give-a-ways, health screenings and more.
You'll also get to experience "A Taste Of Hamden" to kick off the spring Hamden Restaurant Week. Restaurants that are participating in Restaurant Week from April 25 to May 1 will be showing samples of their menu selections.
The Expo is free and open to the public. It's being presented  by the Hamden campus of Lincoln Technical Institute and 12 other sponsors.

HAMDEN -- The second-annual Sleeping Giant 5K Run/Walk Challenge takes place Saturday at Sleeping Giant State Park on Mount Carmel Avenue.

The race starts at 9, with last-minute registration starting at 8 a.m. A reception for participants will take place at Quinnipiac University after the race.

The Burns Inn of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity and Quinnipiac’s School of Law Veterans Advocacy Group are presenting the event, which will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Also sponsoring are the Sports & Entertainment Law Society, the Intellectual Property Law Society and the Federalist Society.

Law students get in for $10, undergraduates, $15 and other participants pay $20. To sign up on the day of the race, it’s $25.

Online registration is available until April 13 at www.sleepinggiant5k.com.

All pre-registered athletes are guaranteed a T-shirt.  The race is 1½ miles up and down the Sleeping Giant’s Tower Trail. Terrain varies between hard-pack, dirt, pavement, and gravel with one rocky section at the turnaround. There are several award categories.

HAMDEN -- Tickets are still available for the Hamden Democratic Party’s Spring Gala, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Cascade Banquet Facility, 480 Sherman Ave.  Tickets are $60 per person, or $600 for a table.

Edward M. Kennedy, Jr., the son of the late Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will be the guest speaker.  Kennedy is the president of the Marwood Group, a firm that advises corporations about health care and financial services.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities.

The Democratic Party will also be honoring eight Hamden Democrats, who will be the first recipients of the Bernard Nitkin Hamden Distinguished Democrat Award. The award is named after the former Hamden Democratic Party treasurer, Bernard Nitkin, who passed away recently.  The 2011 honorees are: former Legislative Council member and former Hamden purchasing agent Judi Kozak; former Legislative Council member John Flanagan; Hamden Police Commission Member Gerald Migliaro; former Board of Education chair and former State Representative Nancy Beals; Raymond Sims Sr.; former Hamden Mayor John L. Carusone; former Legislative Council member Tony Mentone; and former town committee member Don Werner.

Also at the Gala, the Fourth Annual Gloria C. Sandillo Scholarship Award will be given to a high school senior from Hamden.  For more information, or for tickets, please visit the Democratic Party’s website, http://www.hamdendemocrats.com/, or call Joseph McDonagh at 203-676-6271.

Clear your clutter and help Mother Nature.  Bring your gently used children’s books to the North Haven Earth Day event on Friday April 15 from 5:30-8:30pm at North Haven Middle School.  Experience Corps will take your tax-deductible donation of up to 30 children’s books and distribute them to area children in need.  Experience Corps will also have a fun bookmark craft, so be sure to bring the children in your life!  Experience Corps is a volunteer program that places older adults as literacy tutors for young students.  For more information, call Sheila at 203-752-3059 x2900 or email volunteer@aoapartnerships.org

The Seventh Annual Hamden Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo, presented by Lincoln Technical Institute’s Hamden Campus, will be held at Hamden High School on Saturday, April 16. 

Over 100 businesses from Hamden and surrounding towns will inform and entertain visitors, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, in the Hamden High School Gymnasium,

2040 Dixwell Ave

.  Admission is free; ample free parking is available.

Visitors will be able to sample food from area restaurants and caterers.  Parents can get free photo identification for their children at the AMBER Alert Child ID Booth sponsored by the Hamden Rotary Club. Children can create their own wooden masterpieces at the Home Depot Kids Corner.  Many other complimentary services, health screenings, raffles and give-a-ways will be available.  Guests will be able to purchase items, browse through information displays and network with representatives from every part of Hamden’s diverse business community.

Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Dudchik said “The success of the previous six years demonstrates the continued popularity of our Expo.  For the first time, the show will take place on a Saturday allowing for more participation from the community.  We are excited that this year, more attendees than ever before, will be able to see all that Hamden has to offer.

Sponsors for the 2011 Business and Community Expo include Lincoln Technical Institute Hamden Campus, Ryan Oil Company, Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service, People’s United Bank, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Comcast Business Class, Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, New Alliance Bank/First Niagara, Silvia Graphics, Mark Stevens of Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Quinnipiac Bank & Trust Company and CTWorks.

For more information about the Expo and for booth availability, call the Hamden Chamber of Commerce at (203) 288-6431, or visit the Chamber’s website, at http://www.hamdenchamber.com/.

Application forms for the Elizabeth Doyle Memorial Scholarship Fund are available, beginning March 14th.  This fund was established to honor the memory of former North Haven resident and educator, Elizabeth Doyle, and to assist fellow North Haven residents, who are pursuing a degree in teaching at an accredited college.  Interested applicants must demonstrate that they are involved in a realistic plan for continuing their education, need financial assistance in order to continue school and intend to teach upon graduation.

Application forms, which contain the information necessary for pursuing the scholarship, are available at the North Haven First Selectman’s office in Town Hall, the North Haven Community Services office at the Town Hall Annex on Linsley Street or on the Town’s webpage: www.town.north-haven.ct.us.  They are also available at North Haven High School, at other area private and parochial high schools and area colleges and universities.  Completed forms must be returned on or before April 15^th to the First Selectman’s office.  An independent committee, working under the auspices of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, is responsible for overseeing the application and selection processes.  The disbursement of funds is administered completely by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. 

The selection committee emphasizes that any North Haven students, who are currently seniors in an accredited high school (North Haven High School or other private or parochial high schools) and any Town residents, who are pursuing or planning to pursue a teaching career, may apply.  All past applicants are welcome to reapply. 

For further information, please call Louise Ciulla at (203) 288-5195.

NORTH HAVEN -- The Committee to Re-Elect Mike Freda as North Haven's first selectman, is holding a fund raising gala from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday April 12 at Fantasia banquet hall, 404 Washington Ave.
Tickets are $125 per person and may be purchased by calling Rose Ann Warden at (203) 530-8275.
Freda is expected to be nominated unanimously by the North Haven Republican Town Committee in July. 

HAMDEN -- The Ridge Hill School community, along with several Quinnipiac University students, will install raised garden beds at the school on Carew Road as part of Project Discovery.
Dig-In day will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30  p.m. tomorrow, Saturday April 9. The rain date is April 16.
The Discovery Garden project grew out of a shared vision of the school community and is becoming a reality through the hard work and generosity of many, according to Principal Karen Butler.
The schoolr received a Hamden Education Foundation grant and funds were used to purchase cedar-wood raised garden beds from Vermont. Locally, Sherman Valley Nursery, Agway, Staples, Spring Glen Hardware, Whitson's and Bell's Nursery made significant donations.
The garden will become a hands-on learning opportunity and will enhance the science curriculum, Butler said.

   

   The North Haven Conservation Commission is sponsoring the third annual Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 15 from 5:30-8:30 pm. The event will be held at the North Haven Middle School, 55 Bailey Road. There will be exhibits and activities for the entire family, according to Hugh Davis, commission chairman.

 The Project Green high school students and the Boy Scouts will provide a variety of crafts and activities for children and will hand out Earth Day souveniers to all children. Numerous green products and services will be displayed by North Haven businesses, and approximately 20 environmental and other community groups will have information and materials available.

   At 7 p.m., Nancy Alderman, president of Environment and Human Health, Inc., will speak on "The Environment: You Do Have a Voice." On Saturday, April 16 at 10am, the Peter's Rock Association will sponsor a guided hike to the summit of Peter's Rock (Meet at the main entrance behind First Fuel service station on Middletown Avenue).

 More than 1,000 members of the Quinnipiac University community will volunteer at various locations in Greater New Haven on Saturday, April 9, as part of “The Big Event.”

“Getting out there and doing community service is so significant, especially in the lives of students,” said Emily Sarnoff, one of the Quinnipiac students organizing the event. “It allows us to get out of ourselves and our busy hectic lifestyles, to give back to those who need our help the most. The Big Event is a wonderful opportunity for the Quinnipiac community to grow closer and to improve surrounding communities all at the same time.”

The Big Event is a nationwide day of community service when colleges and universities send teams out to volunteer in the community. At Quinnipiac, the day will begin with event registration on the Mount Carmel Campus at 8 a.m. followed by opening ceremonies on the quadrangle at 9 a.m.

After the opening ceremonies, teams of 10 to 30 student volunteers and local alumni will travel to non-profit organizations in Branford, Cheshire, East Haven, Hamden,  Killingworth, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Haven, Oxford, Shelton, West Haven and Woodbridge to perform three hours of community service.

Among the organizations, where community service will be performed are AIDS Project New Haven, West Haven Community House, Animal Haven, Edgewood Park in New Haven, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Wallingford YMCA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In addition, Quinnipiac alumni chapters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York are also taking part in the Big Event by performing community service projects in their areas.

          The Big Event organizers will also be holding a canned food and shoe drive from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, in the North Lot of Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel Campus. Members of the community are invited to donate canned food goods and shoes, which will benefit The Downtown Soup Kitchen and Soles4Souls.

20th Annual Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce       BUSINESS EXPO

 

Thurs., April 7th - 12:30pm - 6:30pm

Holiday Inn, No. Haven, Exit 12 I-91

 

 

 

 

Our Event Presenters are Comcast Business Class and Webster Bank

And our sponsors are Aetna Chamber One; Cage Data, Inc.;

Workforce Alliance; Group Benefits Administrators of CT; Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield; Signs By Tomorrow; Myrecordjournal.com;  Comcast Spotlight;

Business New Haven, WQUN and Lifetiled, LLC.

We will have approximately 60 exhibitors. Attendees can sample food, receive a chair message, be tested for allergies, see a car display and much much more!

 

 

For more information visit us at:

www.quinncham.com

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

 

Perspective TV will raise money to benefit the victims of the Japan Tsunami again.

Hamden -- Perspective TV will be raising money for the victims of the Japan Tsunami this Sunday, April 10 at Johnson Duckpin Lanes 2100 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden. The Fundraiser will run from 5- 9 p.m.  Adults and children are invited to attend.  Come enjoy a fun night of glow and bowl while helping to raise money for a country that needs our help.  The cost is $10 each person per hour of bowling time.  Groups 10 or more must register by email:  producer@perspectiveshow.com 

Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross www.redcross.org and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org

HAMDEN -- The Knights of Columbus St. Joan of Arc Council 10477 will hold a pasta dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, to benefit the Oberempt family.
The family lost its Grandview Avenue home and father John during a recent fire.
Grand Knight Bill Fitzmaurice said that the Knights will be cooking pasta, meatballs, sausage and also serving bread, salad and dessert.
Tickets for aduls are $15. Children between 7 and 12 will get in for $8 and children under 7 get in for free.
The event will take place in the St. Joan of Arc church hall, 450 W. Todd St.

Books & Company

Presents

Books & Distinguished Company: Series II

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND 

We are delighted to present Books & Distinguished Company: a follow-up series of free Thursday evening talks by local experts in diverse and fascinating fields.

April 14: Daniel Altman (economist and writer, born and raised in Whitneyville): The Future of the Global Economy

April 28: Christopher Sharrett (Professor of Communication at Seton Hall University): Race and Memory in Civil War Cinema

May : Karsten Harries (Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Philosophy at Yale): Should We Be Afraid of Kitsch?

May 26: Ingram Marshall (highly regarded post-minimalist composer whose works have been performed all over the world): The Affective Use of Electronics in Contemporary Music

 

June 9: Alan Trachtenburg (Neil Gary Jr. Professor Emeritus of English and American Studies at Yale): The Incorporation of America and the Gilded Age

Each talk begins at 7.00 p.m. 

Seating is unreserved and limited. 

Come early and enjoy dessert with Legal Grounds 

coffee, espresso, sweet treats and gelato.

Like-New Used Books, Greeting Cards, Gifts, Café

1235Whitney Avenue (at Putnam) Hamden

203 248 9449

 

NORTH HAVEN -- The public will have the chance tonight to comment on the proposed $84 million budget for 2011-12.

The public hearing starts at 7 p.m. in the North Haven High School auditorium. First Selectman Michael J. Freda will present the details of the budget in a Power Point presentation. Following that, the public can speak on the proposed $44.39 million Board of Education budget. Then, there will be a discussion on the proposed town budget of $39.7 million.

The total increase over the current budget of $83.12 million is 1.1 percent. Freda said that if $1.26 million in proposed capital expenses wasn't in the budget, then there would have been a one half of 1 percent decrease.

Hamden Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz has announced the honorees for the month of March.  Students are chosen by their respective schools for demonstrating good citizenship, perseverance, academic progress and service to the school.

Adrianna Piklin                               Bear Path School

Dahiana Rodriguez                           Church Street School

Dante Maione                               Dunbar Hill School

David Santiago                             Helen Street School

         

Sofia Nilerud                              Ridge Hill School

Bryan Campos                                       Shepherd Glen School

Cara Leff                                     Spring Glen School

Gregory Nutcher                             West Woods School

Delano Wood                                Hamden Middle School

Alaric Justin-Paul Gee                            Hamden High School 

Yiyuan Hu                                   Hamden High School