Summer Book Mobile!

Summer Reading Anyone? The Summer Bookmobile will be coming our way this Wednesday, June 29. The Bookmobile will be stopping by Macdonough School (66 Spring St) at 11:30am and at the Salvation Army (515 Main St) at 12:30pm. The Bookmobile will also be coming at the same time and location on July 13, July 27 and August 10. Reminders will be sent!

Arrigoni Bridge Updates

A Message from the ConnDOT:

A reminder that today the Arrigoni Bridge will be reduced to a single lane. Last night, the contractor began installing the line striping and other traffic control devices including cones and drums to delineate the closed off portion of the bridges main spans for Stage 1 (south side of bridge, current eastbound lanes. The installation of the barrier will begin tonight (Tuesday) night into Wednesday. Until that time drums and cones will be closing off staged portion of bridge.

Izzi on the Radio Today!

Did you miss Izzi on the radio? Well, there is another chance to hear her. Tune in to Izzi on the Radio today on CT Outdoors show from 12:30 -1 on WMRD1150 AM. If there is no RockCats Baseball, there will be another chance to catch Izzi at 6:30-7 pm on WLIS 1420 AM & WMRD 1150 AM.

Izzi's Ted Talk

CREDIT COUNSELING CLASSES

NEAT will be holding Credit counseling classes in cooperation with Rosa Carrero, the Community and Housing Development Officer for NAACP. Did you know that you have rights even if you owe money to a credit card company? They cannot call you between certain hours, contact family members or even call you at work? Learn about these topics and much more in the upcoming informational seminars at the NEAT office located at 654 Main Street beginning on June 28^th from 6-7pm. The first class is titled "Building the Perfect Credit Fair Debt Collection." Please sign up with NEAT by calling (860) 346-4845 and/or emailing bobbye@neatmiddletown.org.

Amazing Grace has a new walk in fridge!

Great news for our friends at Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace Food Pantry now has a spacious refurbished walk-in refrigerator! Don and Ann Marie Sataline, owners of It’s Only Natural Market at 575 Main Street in Middletown’s North End, very generously facilitated this much-needed acquisition. The pantry is now able to accept and properly store a significant supply of fresh produce. This new storage has the potential to greatly expand the nutritious food available to those families who come to Amazing Grace for some of their groceries.

In recent years the Master Gardeners at the University of Connecticut Extension Center in Haddam and many local gardeners have generously donated fresh produce to Amazing Grace. We hope that other backyard gardeners will follow their lead and increase the supply of fresh vegetables and fruit for our shoppers.

If you know gardeners who tend to have excess bushels of tomatoes and gigantic zucchinis and more, please spread the word. There are many families who would greatly enjoy some of their surplus produce. Just bring it on down to Amazing Grace and we’ll be sure it gets to families who can really use it.

Produce, and other food items, can be dropped off at the pantry at 16 Stack Street on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am – 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am – 1pm. Shopping hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 – 4pm and Saturdays from 10am – 1pm.

Arrigoni Bridge update

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that motorists can expect the

Arrigoni Bridge in Portland and Middletown to be permanently reduced to a single lane in

each direction beginning Tuesday morning, June 28, 2011. The contractor will be installing

barriers, markings and work zone devices starting Monday night, June 27, in preparation for

the first of three construction stages to replace the main-span deck.

The town of Portland is changing Silver Street to one way to assist in traffic flow resulting in

no access from Silver Street to Main Street.

A portable smart work zone system which provides speed and delay information as well as

camera views of Route 66 & 17 in Portland and Route 66 at St. John Square in Middletown

has also been installed to provide motorists with real-time traffic conditions. The public can

access the system website at www.arrigonibridge.com

The project involves the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 00524 (Arrigoni Bridge) carrying Route

66 over Route 9, Connecticut River, P&W Railroad, and local roads. The rehabilitation

includes replacement of the concrete filled steel grid deck and sidewalks on the main spans.

All work will be completed from the bridge and from a temporary work platform suspended

below the bridge. Other work includes replacement of elastomeric bearings, pedestal repairs

on the Portland side, new bituminous overlay on the main spans, and new expansion joints.

For more information on the Arrigoni Bridge Project visit the Department’s website at

www.ct.gov/dot/Arrigoni Any questions or comments related to the Arrigoni Bridge should

be sent to DOT.Arrigoni@ct.gov

Hike With Us

Who says there is nothing to this summer? The hiking club has had strong turnouts thus far. Our last hike had a huge turnout as we celebrated CT Trails Day. If you would like to join in the fun, our next hike will be June 18, 2011 to Lake Besek, Powder Ridge. Hikers will be meeting at the Green Street Arts Center at 8:30am and we will be back early afternoon. Hikes are for children ages 8-14. Sign-ups for the event are required. If you are interested in signing up, please call the NEAT office at 860-346-4845. Hikers should wear comfortable shoes and bring bottled water. If you would like to have a schedule of future dates, please contact us. Adults are also welcome.

Macdonough Book Fair Today

Today, June 16, 2011 is the Macdonough Book Fair's last day from 12-4pm and from 6:30-7:30pm. If the book fair does not make at least $2000, then Macdonough does not receive any commission. Help Macdonough with its goal. Please come out today to show your support and to take advantage of the books and other items being sold.

JONAH CENTER RIVER PADDLE

Looking for something to do on Saturday afternoon? Come out to the Jonah Center River Paddle launching at 2:30 pm from Harbor Park Middletown. Bill Yule, Naturalist at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, will be our educator on this paddle. We will stop for commentary and questions at Wilcox Island, the confluence of the Mattabesset and Coginchaug Rivers, the open water of the Boggy Meadows, the proposed site of Middletown’s kayak launch, and at a sandy beach on the Coginchaug. Bill spent many hours paddling and exploring this area as a child, so he has observed its character and changes over a number of decades.

Paddlers need to provide their own boats, life jackets, paddles, drinking water, and snacks. Advance registration is not necessary, and there is no charge for the event. You may call 860-398-3771 for more information or in case of possible cancellation due to weather.

If you need a boat, let the NEAT office know. Call at (860) 346-4845.

From what I hear, it's ''SUPER FUN."

Check Izzi out on the Radio Today!

Izzi's live on the radio with Suzanne Thompson's program CT Outdoors. To listen live, tune your radio to WMRD 1150 AM today at 12:30 PM.

CHECK OUT NEAT'S NEW WEBSITE!

It is the same address but with a new look! There are still a few kinks and if you find one, let us know by emailing at neat@neatmiddletown.org. Here's the link: www.neatmiddletown.org. Be sure to check out our North End Nights Page for upcoming summer events.

North Village Condo Open House Tomorrow

Join us tomorrow from 1-3 for the North Village Condo Open House.

The completion of this project signals a new phase in the life of Middletown's North End. If you haven't seen the dramatic changes that have taken place over the last few years, now is your chance!

All seven units in the condo association will be open for people to come in and check out. There are buildings on Rappallo, Green & Ferry Streets. Just look for the balloons. We will also have Neighborhood Ambassadors on site to answer any question that people might have about why the North End is a great place to live.

For more information on the North Village project check out the great article in today's Hartford Courant. Rehabbed Condo's go on the market.

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

www.northvillagemiddletown.org

Rehabbed Condos Go Up For Sale In North End

Check out this great story about the North Village Condo project and about the wonderful North End! We hope to see you tomorrow at the open house. Bring a friend.

Rehabbed Condos Go Up For Sale In North End

CT TRAILS DAY

This past Saturday, NEAT led hikers from Middletown in celebration of CT Trails Day. The hikers made their way through Wilcox Woods, Lamentation Loop. It was a great event for everyone who came. Thanks to Matt Dodge and Bill Warner from the Middletown Planning Department for leading such a great hike.

If you would like to join in the fun, our next hike will be June 18, 2011. Hikers will be meeting at the Green Street Arts Center at 8:30. Hikes are for children ages 8-14. Sign-ups for the event are required. If you are interested in signing up, please call the NEAT office at 860-346-4845. Hikers should wear comfortable shoes and bring bottled water. If you would like to have a schedule of future dates, please contact us. Adults are also welcome.

OPEN HOUSE!

Come out to the Open House, this Saturday, June 11th from 1-3pm on Ferry St., Green St. and Rapallo Ave. (look for the balloons)

NEAT members have been working hard for years to create new, affordable homeownership in the North End. Please come out and experiece our success. Come if you're curious, or bring a friend who is looking for a home. We're also looking for "North End Ambassadors" to be on site talking to potential buyers about what it's like to live in this neighborhood. Call NEAT if you're interested. 860-346-4845.

• Handicap accessible units available
  
• Within walking distance to all major downtown conveniences
  
• Down payment and closing cost assistance options available soon (Call for Details)

Realtors and community members will be on hand to answer any questions you have. For more details on this Open House Event, call (860) 346-4845. Also, find us on the web at www.northvillagemiddletown.org. While your here, enjoy some of the local arts events at the Green Streets Arts Center and Buttonwood Tree. These kid-friendly events are great for the entire family.

NEAT Hike Tomorrow!

Join us this Saturday for the NEAT sponsored Connecticut Trails Day Celebration Hike in the Wilcox Woods Conservation Area.

We will be meeting at the Green Street Arts Center at 10:15 to carpool to the hiking area. You can also join us at 11 am at Footit Road (follow signs to conservation area).

Bring appropriate shoes, a water bottle and a backpack if you have them.