JONAH CENTER EVENT ON BIKEWAY MASTER PLAN

PRESS RELEASE

DATE OF EVENT: FEBRUARY 28, 2012
CONTACT: JOHN HALL, 860-398-3771

A “Complete Streets and Bikeway Master Plan” for Middletown

The Jonah Center for Earth and Art invites the public to a forum on Middletown’s efforts to develop a comprehensive and detailed plan to make our city safer and more conducive for walking and bicycling. The program will be held on Tuesday, February 28, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Room at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 190 Court Street, in Middletown.

The forum will begin with 3 short presentations. Kari Sullivan from the Connecticut Department of Education will describe programs like “Safe Routes to School” and how walking contributes to public health. Local cyclist and biking educator Beth Emery will explain how both cyclists and motorists can make our streets safer for all who use them. Middletown Engineer Tom Nigosanti will be available with maps and information regarding improvements such as sidewalks, off-street trails, and bike lanes.

The proposed $1 million multi-use trail connecting downtown Middletown, Wesleyan University, and the Wesleyan Hills neighborhood will also be described, but it is not the primary focus of this program. Those in attendance will have an opportunity to indicate their preferred routes for walking or cycling by using orange or green markers on a Middletown street map.

This event is free and pre-registration is not necessary. For more information, contact John Hall at 860-398-3771 or visit www.thejonahcenter.org and click on “send us a message.”

Dance at Vinnie's - this Friday night!

Come dance away your midwinter blues with our second big dance-for-all at Vinnie's! Bring friends, bring coworkers - this will be a great night out. With fabulous teachers and DJs, Vinnie's is truly back in the swing of things this month.

We are still looking for a few volunteers for set-up, clean-up, and helping at the door - please get in touch if you are interested in volunteering in exchange for free admission.

Friday, February 17th

Midwinter Swing and Blues

8pm-12am

$8 / $5 for students

8-9 beginner lesson in swing and blues

9-11 swing for all

11-12 late-night blues

*DJs Chris Oksanen and Diana Shiroma*

*Instructors Diana Shiroma and Bruce Johnson*

Vinnie's Jump and Jive

424 Main Street, Middletown

860 347 6971 ex 3777

vinnies@chc1.com

www.vinniesjumpandjive.com

A few photos of our last dance, by Ning Dai.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY...

Liberty Bank and the North End Action Team will present a free How to Save workshop on February 21 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the North End Action Team, 654 Main St., Middletown.

The seminar helps first-time savers understand the basics of personal money management, credit, and how to set and save for a goal.

There is no charge for the seminar, but attendees must register in advance. To sign up or obtain more information, contact Rosa Carrero, community development officer, Liberty Bank, at (860) 344-7328.

Free African Drum Class

Free African Drum Class! This Wednesday February 15, 2012, the North End Artist's Co-op located next door to the NEAT office at 654 Main Street will be running a Free African Drum Class with Jocelyn Pleasant and Aaron Greenberg. The class will take place at 7:00pm. There is a limited amount of drums available for those who do not have their own.

CMI highlights - Fall 2011!

Did you know …

NEAT's very own music program, the Community Music Initiative (CMI), is half-way through YEAR TWO?!

Jocelyn pleasant leading African Drumming.

We’ve already had SEVEN events featuring African drumming, singing, and music games?!

Dancing and singing "Dixieland."

All three of our piano students have performed at least ONE time, and our new Glee Club, too?!

Glee Club performs "I want you back" complete with choreography!

We went caroling with FIFTY people throughout the North End, singing silly songs, pretty songs, and winter songs?!

And it’s far from over. We still have TEN events left to go, a parade to march in, and lots more performances from budding singers, dancers, and instrumentalists.

Join us February 18^th for African Drumming with Jocelyn Pleasant, followed by a potluck lunch. The event is 11am-1pm. It’s FREE and no registration is necessary.

Feel free to call us with questions anytime: 860 346 4845. CMI is run by the North End Action Team, at 645 Main Street.

Meet the North End Glee Club!

If you happen to pass by the NEAT office on a Monday evening, you may be lucky enough to catch the North End Glee Club in the midst of rehearsal. You may hear Michael Jackson lyrics faintly through the window or observe some beginning choreography as the club puts together a new song.

Glee Club is a place for North End rock stars to make music together, work together on a well-rounded performance, and most of all, have fun with music they love.

The repertoire so far, includes:

“I want you back” – Michael Jackson

“I’ll be there” – Michael Jackson

“Pricetag” – Jessie J

*and many more to come!

The Glee Club will continue through the end of the school year – so stay tuned for performances near you! And a new session will begin mid-March with several open spots, so please refer interested 11-14 yr olds.

The Glee Club is a new part of the Community Music Initiative, providing participatory music-making in the North End neighborhood. See our website for more information.

Photos of rehearsals, and our very first performance - check out the MJ-inspired white gloves!

Free Financial Literacy Class

Finally, your financial resources are here to help! Interested in learning more about your credit options? The financial secrets to achieving good credit are no longer secrets! Learn how to achieve good credit, gain financial security and more by attending a Free Financial Literacy class February 21, 2012 at the North End Action Team, Inc. at 654 Main Street Middletown, CT 06457 from 6:30-8:30 PM. Please contact Rosa Carrero at 860-344-7328 for additional information or N.E.A.T office at 860 -346-4845. Financial success starts now!

VINNIES JUMP AND JIVE FAMILY DANCE

Vinnie's is hosting a Family Dance on February 11th! This will be a really fun, exciting opportunity to be active as a family.

Saturday February 11th

2-4pm

$6 for adults, $3 for students

*The maximum price a family can pay is $20

Family dancing includes accessible, energizing, and interactive dances for folks of all ages. There will be circle dances, snakes, trios, and so much more! Bring friends and family to join you at this fun community event. Healthy snacks will be provided.
This is ideal for kids over age 5, but little ones are welcome to come try it anyway!

LET'S GET READY FREE SAT PREP CLASSES

Attention High School Juniors and their Parents: Free SAT Prep Classes for qualifying students are available with Let's Get Ready! THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN UP! EVEN IF YOU MISS THE MAKE-UP DIAGNOSTIC YOU CAN STILL PARTICIPATE. You can use a prior PSAT score or do a take home test. So get ready, apply and take advantage of opportunity! To apply, click here to start the application.
Important Dates:

1. Make-up diagnostic = February 6 (location & time TBD)
2. Intro Session & Parent/Student Orientation = February 9 (location &
time TBD, but parents will be invited during normal class hours)
3. First official class = February 14


For more information and program details, contact Bobbye Knoll by phone at 860-346-4845, by email at bobbye@neatmiddletown.org or by dropping in during office hours from 10am-5pm.

***Seniors interested in retaking the SAT will be waitlisted and added depending on space availability. Apply if you are interested because there is a chance to get a seat in the class.***

QUICK REMINDER: NEAT MONTHLY MEETING FEBRUARY 1st, 7PM @ GSAC

NEAT's monthly meeting will be this Wednesday February 1, 2012 at the Green Street Arts Center at 7:00pm. There have been a lot of changes at Farm Hill Elementary School, including a new principal Mark Proffitt as of January 30, 2012. This meeting will be a meet and greet with Farmhill's New Principal Mark Proffitt. We encourage parents and children to attend. Childcare and pizza for the kids will be provided.

Time is running out for CL&P Credit: Apply if you are eligible!

Customers of Connecticut Light & Power, the state's largest electric utility, are running out of time to apply for a credit to help compensate them for lengthy power outages following the freak October snowstorm.

Eligible customers have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to apply for the credit, which ranges from $100 to $200.

The amount will be determined by the number of customers who apply and meet eligibility requirements by being without power after noon on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The $30 million fund is being paid for by shareholders of Northeast Utilities, the parent company of CL&P.

Eligible residential customers can apply on the utility's website or by calling 1-888-566-9257. The credits will begin to be applied to February's billing statements.

MEETING AT FARMHILL: FAMILY-SCHOOL COMPACT

Farmhill will be having a meeting for Parents and Staff and Community at the Farm Hill School Library on Thursday, February 2nd from 3 pm to 5 pm to begin to create the Family-School Compact. If you can attend, that will be great.

The program will be facilitated by Patti Avallon from the State Department of Education and Donna Marino, the Partnership Coordinator for our schools. We hope you can be part of the Compact process which has been lauded in the Educational Leadership Journal of May 2011.

You may refer to the following web site http://schoolparentcompact.org/news/ for more details. Please contact Donna Marino, Partnership Coordinator at 860-638-1462 and email marinod@mps1.org if you have any questions.


The program highlights FOCUS ON STUDENT SUCCESS AND COMMUNICATION:

• Workshop will show you how to engage families, teachers and students in designing a School-Parent Blueprint for action tied to your school goals.
• Each step in the easy 10-step process includes templates and samples to help create a School-Parent Compact for Farm Hill School.

RSCO Application deadline extended to January 23, 2012

There is still time to complete the RSCO application for magnet schools if you are interested. The deadline for RSCO has been extended to January 23, 2012. Applications are for children from pre-K through 12. Contact NEAT if you would like to complete your application online on one of our computers. The regular office hours are from 10-5pm. Call NEAT @ 860-346-4845 or drop by the office located at 654 Main Street.

Jonah Center News

As “project advocate” for the proposed $1 million multi-use trail, the Jonah Center is assisting the Mayor in forming the committee described below.

On December21, Middletown’s Common Council authorized Mayor Dan Drew to form a committee to assist in drafting a “Complete Streets and Middletown Bikeway Master Plan.” This committee will solicit and process input from the cycling community and other stakeholders in order to develop a master plan to make our streets safer and more usable for cyclists and pedestrians. The ultimate goal is to encourage safe bicycling and walking for transportation, recreation, and exercise purposes.

The Mayor’s Office wishes to meet and speak with a range of individuals who are interested and available to serve on this committee. If you are interested in being a member of the committee, please contact Linda DeSena in the Mayor’s office at 860-344-3401 to say that you will attend one of the sessions listed below. These conversations will be held in Room 111, on the first floor of City Hall. Please act promptly, since there are only 4 slots available for each session, for a total of 16.

Monday, Jan. 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 30, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 6, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

During these one-hour conversations, those who are interested in serving on the committee will share information about their cycling experience, preferred or desired routes, place of residence, and some initial ideas about street improvements, off road paths, or other infrastructure that would make our city safer and more inviting for bicycling. The membership size of the committee has not yet been determined.

In addition to the official members of the bikeway committee, all members of the bicycling community and other stakeholders will have ample opportunity to provide input on the Complete Streets and Bikeway Master Plan that is developed.

Middlesex County NAACP Branch Voters Registration Drive

Middlesex County NAACP Branch
Unit #2018

“Your Vote Counts” launches its Voters Registration Drive 2012 at the Zion First Baptist Church

93 Main St Middletown, CT 06457
Sunday, January 15, 2012
12:00noon. – 2:00 p.m.

Open to the public.

Computers at NEAT office

Computers with internet access are available at the NEAT office for public use. The computers are connected to Russell Library Databases so if you need to job search or look something up you can do it here. They are available for use any time the office is open which is usually 10-5pm. Please call ahead to make sure we are here or otherwise stop in. The office number is 860-346-4845. Also, while you are here, check out the office for more information about upcoming events and other useful information. Hope to see you at Tonight's NEAT Meeting at the GSAC (51 Green St.) at 7pm! This is an important informational on School Options for your pre-K-12 child!

NEAT MEETING: January 11, 2012

Do you Understand Your Magnet School Options?
NEAT is Hosting an Informal Information Session.
Wednesday, January 11th
7pm: Green St. Arts Center
Everyone is Welcome
Childcare and dinner will be provided!

We will have an overview of :
1) Middletown Schools vs. Magnet Options: what is best for your family?
With Guest Speakers: Christina Lapierre from Regional School Choice Office for Greater Hartford and Ralph D'Amato, Head of Guidance for Middletown High School.
2) the process for applying
3) resources for finding the best school for you


We have hear from many families who are considering magnet schools, and feel overwhelmed by the process. They may not be picking the best one for their family or child because of lack of education.

Our session is meant to give you the tools to make the best decision for your family, whether that school is in the Middletown district or a magnet outside of the district.

Middletown Adult Education Free Classes!!

Middletown Adult Education Has Free Classes available! These continuing education classes are being offered to provide continuing education for interested people involved with the fields of agriculture. For a complete list of classes, directions to the Ag Center and more information, click here. To register, call (860) 704‐4594 & leave message, or e‐mail Megan Nesci at nescim@mpsct.org . There are great classes involving horses, dogs and other animals so take advantage!

Local Food Stores and Pharmacies Opportunity to apply for WIC authorization

The Connecticut Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is offering an opportunity for all food stores and pharmacies to apply for WIC authorization from January 3, 2012 – January 31, 2012. Authorization is required for stores to be able to accept WIC checks and serve Connecticut participants in the WIC Program.

Beginning January 3, 2012, applications to participate in the WIC program will be available through the DPH website at www.ct.gov/dph/wic, and selecting “For Vendors”. The website provides information on the application process, criteria for eligibility, and links to register for required training sessions. The application package will only be available to print after registration for a training session is completed.

By January 31, 2012, stores who would like to apply must: 1) register online to attend a training session and; 2) print the application package. The completed application package and all required documents must be submitted at the selected training session.

If you are interested, please take advantage of this great opportunity!

Send us Your Hotspots

This Friday will be our first Community Policing and Code Enforcement Meeting. Please send us any hotspots by clicking here or contact us at the NEAT office. Let us know what we can improve by staying connected and making your issues known. You may also contact the NEAT office at (860) 346-4845 and speak with our Community Organizer Bobbye Knoll. Together we can make this a safe, pleasant and beautiful year for the neighborhood.