MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, 2012

After-School opportunities in the North End

After-School Opportunities in the North End. 

The Green Street Arts Center After-School program kicked off on Monday afternoon. Classes are available for students in grades 1 -8. Green Street offers Arts classes in Movement, Visual Art, Arts & Science, Literary Arts and Media. 

Check out the catalog and register today. Green Street Arts Center Fall classes. To register for classes call Green Street at 860-685-7871.

Students who are registered for the after-school program at Green Street can also sign up for the musical mentoring program to receive music lessons from Wesleyan University students through the musical mentoring program.

The Green Street Arts Center also offers private music lessons. 

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater is also accepting registrations for their fall classes. Oddfellows offers theater classes for kids between the age of 2-20. Check out the classes that Oddfellows is offering. Fall classes at Oddfellows. 

Oddfellows and Art-Farm are also offering a great opportunity for students who are interested in more serious circus training. Circophony is a new youth circus company committed to providing first class training to aspiring circus artists while creating exciting new circus performances which will be available to tour to schools, clubs, fairs, events and festivals.

Young people will receive a rigorous combination of circus training, physical conditioning and rehearsal/production experience. members are expected to arrive punctually, attend all rehearsals and performances, work hard, be strong team members, and train independently outside of rehearsals to develop their skills. Check here for more information about Circophony.

High school students interested in performing on stage at Oddfellows can also audition forthe Teen Rep Production: William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead: A True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599. Find out more information about auditioning here.

To register for classes call Oddfellows Playhouse at 860-347-6143

Both of these programs offer generous financial aid and payment plans to families that qualify. 

Construction of Middletown Boat Launch Begins

By John Hall and Kate Miller

Middletown’s Department of Public Works recently broke ground on the access driveway to the proposed canoe and kayak launch on the Coginchaug River. Located at the North End Peninsula along the west edge of the City’s Recycling Center, the launch will access the Coginchaug River just half a mile upstream from its confluence with the Mattabesset River and the Floating Meadows, an important freshwater tidal marsh. The area is a rare ecological gem in an urban setting, critical habitat for a wide diversity of plant and animal life including osprey, heron, wild rice, beaver, and native fish.

The construction, which began last week, represents a significant milestone in the project’s long history. The Jonah Center for Earth and Art initially proposed the launch in 2005 and in 2007 helped the City secure a $50,000 U.S. Dept. of Transportation grant. The project was then shelved by the City indefinitely. The Coginchaug River Access Group (CRAG, a committee of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art) and the City’s Department of Planning, Conservation and Development resurrected the proposal in 2010 and determined the best location and design. The project is under construction now due to the commitment of Mayor Dan Drew, the support of CRAG members, and hard work by City staff.  Final State DEEP regulatory approvals are now being sought.

The launch will be accessed near the entrance to the City’s Recycling Center at Johnson and North Main Streets (see the yellow dot on the aerial view photo). The driveway will go west, between the edge of the Recycling Center and railroad tracks to the launch ramp at the Coginchaug River (see the red dot on the aerial photo).

Mayor Dan Drew and Director of Public Works Bill Russo have agreed to use city resources  to clear and pave the entrance way so that work closer to the water can be completed next spring or summer after all the DEEP permits have been approved. The goal is to have a functional launch by next season. Interlocking concrete pavers will be installed near the water’s edge to provide a safe, stable ramp where the public can launch small boats. Larger boats on trailers behind vehicles will not be allowed.

Construction of the ramp and turnaround near the water will depend in part on some volunteer labor. Anyone interested and able to assist, especially those who can safely lift the 25 lb interlocking pavers, should contact the Jonah Center and CRAG through the website (here) or by calling 860-398-3771 to speak with John Hall.

The Jonah Center and CRAG wish to thank all those who have provided critical assistance with project to date, especially Mayor Dan Drew, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Joe Samolis, City Planner Bill Warner, Environmental Specialist Matt Dodge, Public Works Director Bill Russo, and Engineer Joe Wren.

 

Twelfth Annual Garden Party!

The North End Action Team held its 12th Annual Garden party last Thursday. It was a wonderful event with hundreds of north end residents, partners and supporters in attendance. Check out these photos from the event!



Thank you to Citizens Bank for sponsoring the event, Wesleyan's Office of Diversity and Institutional Partnerships which donated the party rentals and to all of the tremendous restaurants and businesses that made this event so memorable!

Donations to the Menu:
 The Bridge, Esca, Empire Pizza, Fusion Bakery, It’s Only Natural, Lizzy B’s Sweet Creations, Mondo, New England Emporium, Tuscany Grill, O’Rourkes Diner, Public Market, Puerto Vallarta, Tandoor, Typhoon, Iguanas y Ranas, Mondo, the Whey Station, The Kitchen at Billings Forge, Forrest City Liquors, Javapoloza, Metro Spirits, Ford News Diner and Anne-Marie Cannata.

Donations to the Raffle:
 It’s Only Natural (ION) grocery, Middletown Area Transit (MAT), Sterling Realtors, Metro Movies, ESCG Gardener Kate Anotonucci, Christine Cicoria, Attention To Detail, Middletown Framing, ESCG gardener Lydia Brewster, ESCG Gardener Rebecca Deotte, Hair Affair, ESCG gardener Susan Aranoff, The Buttonwood Tree, Bikram Yoga and Shairon’s Salon.

Pretty Wings Opening Night @ MAC Music and Art Exhibit

Pretty Wings Welcomes you to 2012 the year of the Goddess: A 3 Day Celebration of the Goddess Spirit.

OPENING NIGHT:
Come out tonight Friday September 7, 2012 from 6pm-12 Midnight.

Enjoy the Art and Live Music From:

Arouna Kouyate Tanaka w/ Jocelyn Pleasant and Friends (Traditional African Musical Offering)
Kritza Moon (Solo Acoustic Performance)
Luck-E 13 (Every Genre Explored: Musical Omnivores)
Donna Gentile (Music with a Message)
Stark Raving Lulu (All-Female Punk Rock)
DJ Mizeyesis (Jungle, DnB, House)

GODDESS FASHION SHOW: Saturday September 8th
Hosted by Lenise NuNuu Smith, Editor In Chief of S.L.A.M.M. Magazine, enjoy a night of fashion, poetry and performances.  Doors open at 6pm and the event begins at 7pm.


LECTURE SERIES AND CLOSING: Sunday, September 9th
A day of education, relaxation, and a Vendor Village with hand-made goods from local artisans.  Doors open at 12:30pm and Lecture Series begins at 1pm.
Their will be a closing, music and chair massage, healthy eating demonstration and more great things going on Sunsay.  

Check out prettywingsoutreach.org for more information on Upcoming Events. 
 

PLEASE DONATE TO AMAZING GRACE FOOD PANTRY!

RED ALERT

Yes, this is a RED ALERT. The supply of food at Amazing Grace is critically low. Food levels always drop dramatically in the summer - some of our faithful monthly donors (schools, churches, families, organizations) are on a reduced schedule - but the empty food shelves have been particularly alarming this summer. 

 

So we turn to our friends - YOU - to help stock the shelves and to fill the shopping bags of those who have to come to Amazing Grace for some of their food.

We are most in need of PEANUT BUTTER, TUNA, HEARTY SOUPS, CEREAL, SPAGHETTI SAUCE and CANNED BEANS, but all food items are appreciated. And if you have excess GARDEN PRODUCE, we can put that to good use too.

Delivery hours at Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 16 Stack Street in Middletown's North End (on the street behind Macdonough School), are from 10am - 5pm on Mon/Wed/Fri and on Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. Please call 860-347-3222 for more info or to make other delivery arrangements.

 -With heartfelt thanks from all the "shoppers," staff and volunteers at Amazing Grace

Please forward this notice to all your networks - your workplace, faith community, organizations, friends, etc. We appreciate all food donations - large and small.

Amazing Grace Food Pantry 
16 Stack Street 
Middletown, CT 06457 
  860-347-3222

Food Donations
Contact: Mimi Rich mimi@svdmiddletown.org 860-347-1829

Food Delivery Hours
M/W/F 10 am - 5pm
Sat 9 am - 1pm

 Shopping Hours
M/W/F 1-4 pm
Sat 10 am -1 pm