Hamden Welcomes Wreaths Across America

A Tribute In Memory of Trooper Kenneth Hall Scheduled

For Midday Stopover in Hamden

 

HAMDEN  On December 8^th, Wreaths Across America, traveling from Maine to Washington DC, will stop at the Hamden Middle School to speak with students and lay a wreath at the Veterans Memorial.  A ceremony honoring the memory of State Trooper Kenneth Hall, a supporter of WAA, will be conducted during the stopover. Trooper Hall was killed earlier this year in the line of duty. Hamden is the second stop in Connecticut after the Wreaths Across America caravan leaves Old Saybrook.

 

Hundreds of students, local officials and townspeople are expected to greet the solemn caravan that transports more than 12,000 wreaths to be placed by headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.  The 45-minute event is scheduled to begin at 10:45 AM as the trucks and other vehicles travel from the Route 40 connector, down Whitney Avenue and up Dixwell Avenue to the school.  They will return the same route back towards I-91 to continue their patriotic journey.

 

“It is an honor and privilege for Hamden and our students to host the Wreaths Across America volunteers as they carry out what has become a very moving tribute to those who gave their lives for this nation,” said Daniel Levy, Assistant Principal of Hamden Middle School.  Levy, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard went on to say, “We are especially honored to have a ceremony in memory of Trooper Kenneth Hall this year.” 

 

Members of Wreaths Across America will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hamden Veterans Memorial in front of the school and then speak with students. Members of the Gold Star Wives will also be at the ceremony on Wednesday. Local and Town officials, Board of Education, and others will attend. Students will accompany the wreath as it is placed before the names of Hamden’s veterans. Hamden Middle School is located at 2623 Dixwell Avenue.  To learn more about Wreaths Across America and their efforts to honor the nation’s fallen, visit http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/.

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Hamden's Silverbells Festival to Light Up Town Center Park

 

Hamden's annual Silverbells celebration will be filled with holiday lights and community merrymaking. The winter holiday festival, to be held on from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 4, (rain date: Dec. 5, 3 - 6 pm), will include a puppet show and face painting indoors, and hayrides, carousel rides, holiday crafts, a tree-lighting ceremony, community caroling and Santa's arrival by fire truck at Town Center Park.  Jordan and Taylor Jacques have been asked to light the tree.

 

Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for Hamden's toy drive.

 

FRIDAY FROLIC WITH THE ELKS AND WHITNEY PLAYERS

Hamden Lodge #2224 presents a Cabaret Night fundraiser featuring entertainment by the Whitney Players on Friday, Dec. 3 at the Hamden Lodge, 175 School Street. 5 to 10 p.m. Adults $25, children under 12 $12.50. Buffet dinner, cash bar. Proceeds to benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Whitney Players. For more information or tickets contact, Gary Prosco (203) 887-4755.    

The Hamden Lodge #2224 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elk's will be conducting its annual memorial service on at 1 p.m. Sunday Dec. 5. Speaking will be lodge member, Rev. Owen Sanderson. This service will be honoring the following 12 members who have died since the service of December 2010: Leonard Westwood, Robert Schick, Walter Cleary, George Gray, Walter Remian, Pasquale Barbato, John Cuozzo,  Charles Hahn, John Jurkiewicz, Sean Gallagher, Dr. Robert Reynolds and Joseph Bourneuf.

All  family or friends of these departed members are welcome to attend this remembrance service. Contact Karen Forsyth at (203) 887-2967 or the Hamden Elk's Lodge (203) 248-2224 for information.

SILVERBELLS ART EXHIBITION OPENS DEC. 7

  

The Hamden Art League will celebrate the holiday season with its annual Silverbells Art Exhibition December 7 - 21, 2010 at the Miller Memorial Library Senior Center,

2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden

.  The show will feature original oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphics, pastels and mixed media by Hamden Art League members, with many pieces available for purchase.  Viewing will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Juror of awards will be John Falato, a painter and professor of art at Paier College of Art in Hamden.  An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, December 7 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Senior Center.  The public is invited to attend.  www.hamdenartleague.com

WREATHS ARE COMING!

On December 8, 2010, Wreaths Across America will stop at Hamden Middle School en-route to Arlington National cemetery.  Wreaths Across America will donate approximately 12,000 wreaths to be placed on the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery as well as another 100,00 at 24 veterans’ cemeteries, and aboard several U.S. ships.  Their route into Hamden will be off the Route 40 Connector, down Whitney to Dixwell and then into the Hamden Middle School. They will return around noon on the same route. People are urged to salute them.

·        10:45 AM – Four trailer trucks with ten other vehicles accompanied by American Legion riders along with a Connecticut State Police and Hamden Police Department escort will arrive.  A presentation to students will follow in Veterans Memorial Auditorium of the middle school, 2623 Dixwell Ave.  Students will accompany WAA officials for a wreath laying ceremony at the Hamden Veterans Monument.

·        11:45 – WAA departs HMS.

Please contact Abner Oakes at 203-215-4675 or Gerry Tobin in the Mayor’s Office  203-287-7102  for further information.