Local News, Events and Activities September 2007

Sponsored by the Wallingford Park and Recreation Department

Welcome to local events section of The People's Press - Your Town, Your News, Your Views! We are the #1 Single Copy Newspaper for Wallingford and Meriden Connecticut, Holy Angels Parish Golf Tournament The Holy Angels Parish Golf Tournament will take place on September 29 at Hunter Memorial Golf Club, 688 Westfield Road. Registration will begin at 10:15 a.m. The entry fee of $125.00 will include Cart and Green Fees, Lunch at the turn, Buffet Dinner catered by Violi’s Restaurant at the course, On-Course Contests and Prizes. The tournament is open to both man and women at all levels of play. Registration forms are available at the Holy Angels Parish Office, 585 Main Street, in South Meriden from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mary M. Byczynski (203) 235-3822 Rethink giving loved ones the silent treatment. Are you still not talking to a family member or friend? Do you even remember why? Thank your lucky stars that you still have them. Consider the terrible tragedy that happened to the Petit family in Cheshire. Anyone can be taken from you in the blink of an eye. Life is so fragile and most people take so much for granted. I hope from this tragedy we will learn to love each other and overlook others’ faults. In this country, we are very lax in letting offenders out of prison much too early. We don’t seem to learn from our mistakes and that costs the lives of many innocent people. By Ruth Petrucci COMMUNITY CHORUS BEGINS REHEARSALS FOR HOLIDAY CONCERT Cheshire Community Chorus rehearsals for the December Holiday concert will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, at 7 p.m. at the Highlands Health Care Center, 745 Highland Avenue (Rte. 10) in Cheshire. Rehearsals will be held there every Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m. until concert time. (Date to be announced.) The Chorus began in 1980 as part of Cheshire’s Bicentennial celebration and has continued since then presenting a Holiday Concert in early December and a Spring concert in early May each year. Choral selections cover a wide variety of music, from classic and contemporary to old favorites, with emphasis on presenting an enjoyable and entertaining program for the audience. This year’s concert theme is "Rejoice in Song." The chorus will be singing inspirational popular and religious holiday music of the Holiday season along with excerpts from favorite children’s holiday songs. Our conductor Lisa Zolkiewicz –Ives will be returning for her eighth season as our conductor with our able accompanist Colette Switaj at the piano. We look forward to an exciting concert season. If you love to sing, we hope you will consider joining us. All voices are needed: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass. Auditions are not required and non-Cheshire residents are also warmly invited to join. The only requirement is a LOVE of singing. . For more information, please call Fran Liedke, President ( 272-7164) or Marianne Eagleson, Membership Chairperson (271-2850). "Art On The Wall" & "Art Walk" Celebrates 13th. Anniversary Easel Works will host its 13th. "Art On the Wall" and "Art Walk" Saturday, September 29th. in conjunction with Celebrate Wallingford. Paintings by Easel Works adult and young artists will hang on Wallingfords Center Street Cemetery Wall. These paintings are done in oils and offer a huge variety of subjects and styles. Our youngest oil painters begin at age 8 and our oldest adult painter, 96 years. "Art Walk" takes you through the pathways of the beautiful, historic, Center Street Cemetery, offering works done in watercolor, metallic inks, encaustics, pencil, pen & inks and acrylics. Keeping last years Designer Chickens company will be our Fantastic Fish. Easel Works Art Committee will offer "Kids" of all ages the opportunity to do some "Hands-On' are projects......Pine Cone Bird Feeders, Paper Bags Puppets, Wish Ribbons, Mini Pine Cone Christmas Trees, Mini Fanastic Fish and more......All compliments of Easel Works and The Art Committee. Come see Us.....We'll put a smile on your face......Sign our Harvest Quilt......and make a memory! New Beginning At Curves Of Meriden Cathy Chagnon, owner of over 7 years has sold her Curves For Women business at 477 South Broad StreetMeriden, (Blockbuster Video Plaza). "I will miss the people in Meriden and Staff. This was my first Curves Club of four, that I opened inApril of 2000. Some of the original members are still working out today. I would love to thank all thethousands of women that I have met and worked with over the years. This is a time of sadness and greathope for me. I am sad that I will not be involved in the Meriden Community and with my amazing members. Iam hopeful that the new owners will bring new life into the club and be a full time presence in the club. The clients need a full time leader to be there with support and guidance and I am full time in my Hamdenclub and have not been there for the Meriden members as I should be. I want to wish Laura and Kathy a hugesuccess and will always be there for them to support and help along their new journey." Sponsor a Pet at M H S Trying to think of a way to help the animals at the Meriden Humane Society? If you can't adopt an animal or don't have the time to volunteer, how about sponsoring a pet. For as little as $20.00 a month, you can sponsor one of the Meriden Humane Society's homeless pets. With your donation you will receive a letter, along with a picture of the animal you have chosen to sponsor. It can be for a dog or a cat. Why not sponsor one of our special needs animals, like Bandit, Rayne, Tigger or Higgins, today! Please contact the shelter at meridensociety@sbcglobal.net or call us at 238-3650, so we can send you a sponsorship form and answer any questions. We have many kittens still available for adoption. Most of the mother's of these kittens are only a year old themselves and are some of the sweetest, most lovable cats in our shelter. Please come visit with them also, before making a decision. As always we appreciate any monetary donations or any of the items on our wish list, which can be viewed at http://www.meridenhs.petfinder.org/. Please visit us online or at the shelter at 311 Murdock Ave. See you at the shelter! MERIDEN CELEBRATES WITH “NITES IN THE CITY” Thursday, September 20 and Friday, September 21, 2007 € Rain or Shine Downtown Courthouse Plaza, 50 West Main Street, Meriden, CT The City of Meriden, in conjunction with Valencia Liquors, The Meriden Arts Council, The Drust Family Meriden Shop-Rite, Meriden Rotary and numerous non-profit organizations will sponsor a two-day Main Street Celebration of Art, Wine, Micro Brews, Food and Music. \Thursday will be an evening of Wine Tasting, a Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, Live Music and Food Tastings. Sample over 25 imported and domestic Wines. Each person who attends receives a Free Complimentary Wine Glass! Tickets: $15 per person in advance or $20 at door. Friday will host the Silver City Brewfest. Ticket price includes FREE hamburgers, hotdogs and live music. Judge the local restaurants in a CHILI COOKOFF! Tickets are $20 per person or $25 at the door. All proceeds will be donated to numerous local charities. Tickets may be purchased at: Valencia Liquor, 1231 E. Main Street, Meriden Deb’s Deli, Main Street, South Meriden Fischer’s Fine Foods, Colony Street, Meriden Tradition Golf Club - Ladies 18 hole league - Tournament Results Blind Partner Tournament was held on August 4th. And the winners are: 1st Gross -Kelly Morrison and Traci Canavan; 2nd Gross - Coralee Reichelt and Joan Ciasulli and 3rd -Gross Carol Welch and Mary Bachinsky 1st Net- Jean Cerino and Tricia Crowley; 2nd Net -Cindy Semrau and Lori Panzo; and a 3rd Net Tie between the team of Donna Chesna and Brandy Pelliccio and the team of Kate Kelly and Claire Brunetti. Tradition Golf Club - Ladies 18 hole league - Tournament Results Congratulations to our Champions! The Club Champion - Traci Canavan; First Flight Champion - Marylou Calamita Second Flight Champion - Jean Cerino The following members played a criss cross tournament and the results were as follows: Gross:1st - Mary Bachinsky 34 ;2nd - Traci Canavan 35 3rd tie - Coralee Reichelt 36 & Nora Roche 36 4th - Marylou Calamita 38 Net: 1st - Joan Ciasulli - 23 2nd - Cindy Semrau - 23.5 3rd - Brandy Pelliccio - 24 4th tie - Cindy Jackson - 26.5 & Donna Chesna - 26.5 For More Information - Cindy Semrau @ 269-9891. Save the date! 6th Annual ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Celebration - October 13, 2007 On Saturday, October 13, 2007 the Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council, with generous support of Colonial Flooring Plus and Uniform Source, will host the 6th annual ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Community event for girls ages 9 to 14 and their mothers/caregivers. The event will take place from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm at Washington Middle School, 1225 North Broad Street, Meriden. Over 900 girls and their caregivers have benefited from this exciting event that offers workshops on self-esteem, decision-making and assertiveness skills. In addition, a health and wellness fair is presented with a wide range of community organizations providing information to the girls and their caregivers. Karen S. Hinds who is the author of 4 books, a motivational speaker, trainer and President of Workplace Success Group will conduct a mother/daughter workshop “From Confident Girl to Empowered Woman.” Entertainment for Soy Unica! Soy Latina! is provided by Mikata, a dance and drumming group with powerful rhythmic music and dance that will showcase different cultures of Nigeria, Ghana, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the U. S. Also performing will be two Meriden based groups Da New Generation and Xxtreme Impact. A new level of premier sponsorships has been created with support from Cox Communications, Rushford Center Inc., and James H. Napier Foundation Additional community support has come from the Meriden Public Library, and MidState Medical Center. The Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council provides community-based education and information on the effects of substance abuse, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and other addictive behavior. For more information or to register, please call Christelle Aubé at MAWSAC at 203-294-3591. This is a free event for girls ages 9 to 14 and their mothers and or caregivers. Get Ready to Golf! The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce will present the 23nd Annual Tom Groves Golf Classic on Monday, September 24, 2007 at Wallingford Country Club, 195 Long Hill Road in Wallingford. The $210 entry fee includes greens fees, cart rental, picnic lunch, hotdog at Eagles Nest, cocktail hour, dinner, and a ticket for the drawing to putt for $10,000! Sponsors to date: Diamond: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; Component Engineers, Inc., Cytec Industries and Nucor Steel Connecticut Inc. Golf Cart: G & G Beverage Distributors, Inc. Hole In One: Robert's Chrysler/Dodge, Wallingford Buick and Webster Insurance Closest to the Pin: FastSigns "Hit The Windshield": Safelite Auto Glass Eagles Nest: Connecticare Luncheon Sponsor: Group Benefit Administrators of CT Registration begins at 10am, followed by lunch from 11am to noon. The putt for $10,000 is slated for 12:15pm, followed by a shotgun start at 12:30pm. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30pm, followed by dinner and prizes at 6:30pm. A portion of the profits will be put into a QBEF (Quinnipiac Business Education Foundation) scholarship to provide support for area students who plan to pursue a career in business. Don't miss this great event! Register online at http://www.quinncham.com/ or call 269-9891 or 234-0332. Business After Hours The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours at Executive Jeep Nissan, 900 Universal Drive, North Haven , on Tuesday, September 18, 2007. This Business After Hours will be from 5-7:00 pm, and feature "Goose's Ribs" (Baltimore Raven's NFL player -Tony Siragusa), the Filet Mignon of BBQ Ribs! Come tail gate like a Champion! Please RSVP by visiting our website at http://www.quinncham.com/ or email dee@quinncham.com or call 269-9891. Department of Consumer Protection Issues Consumer Alert Over Ground Beef Recall 884 Pounds Possibly Contaminated with E. Coli The Department of Consumer Protection is alerting consumers that Fairbank Farms of Ashville, N.Y. has voluntarily recalled approximately 884 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. “I’m asking people to look at any ground beef packages they have recently bought at Shaw’s Supermarkets, just to be sure they aren’t marked with the following information,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell said. “Indications are that nearly 100% of the product has been accounted for and taken off store shelves, but if you’ve recently bought ground beef at Shaw’s, by all means, check the package to be sure it’s not one of the recalled items, which could cause serious illness.” The ground beef products were produced on Aug. 31, 2007, and were distributed to Shaw’s stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The recalled ground beef product is packed in 1.33-pound trays labeled “SHAW’S FRESH GROUND ROUND BEEF PATTIES, 85/15.” The USDA inspection seal includes the marking, Est. 492, and the “Nutrition Facts” label is time-stamped between 17:05 and 17:25 and includes a date code of 243. This recalled product should not be eaten, but returned to the Shaw’s store for an immediate refund, Farrell said. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Questions about the recall may be directed to the company’s Public Relations Representative, Agnes Schafer, at (816) 716-3543 or toll-free at 1-800-724-1136. Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The Department of Consumer Protection lists recall information on its website, www.ct.gov/dcp. IT’S TIME TO JOIN A SKI CLUB Ever think of joining a ski club? It’s a chance to meet new people, have folks to ski with, be a member of an organization that has great buying power, become a better skier and best of all save a bundle on your skiing costs. The Meriden Ski Club offers this and a lot more to skiers and boarders in the area. The Meriden Ski Club has been going strong for the last 46 years. It organizes ski trips, for a day, weekend or week. We go to areas in New England, western U.S., Canada and Europe. You just have to become a member to partake in these trips. We offer 6 to 8 day bus trips, Weekend trips to areas in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire or New York. This year our week trips will be going to Breckinridge Colorado and Andorra, Spain. All you have to do, as a member is sign-up and pay. The ski club does everything else. We offer skiing and snowboard lessons to our members and their children. The club has on hand ASIA trained ski instructors who meet weekly with those who wish to improve their skiing. The club also has a group of members who are involved in ski racing. They are always looking for members to join them on the Meriden Race Team and participate in club racing, sponsored by the Connecticut Ski Council. They race Monday nights at Southington Ski area. Our team has finished near the top, the last few years and we are looking for new members to come and race with us. The club also has several social events during the year. We hold golf tournaments; have a summer picnic, Christmas party and a dinner dance to close out the year. We also have monthly member’s nights where refreshments are served and the members have a chance to mingle. With the cost of skiing rising over the past several years the Meriden Ski Club, through the Connecticut Ski Council, had developed ways to save an enormous amount, 20% to 40% on the cost of lift tickets alone. We offer these savings for over 100 different skiing days at various areas. Our Sat./Sun. bus trips save on ticket costs and transportation. We offer a typical Sunday trip to Okemo for $ 40. If you drove your car up and brought a ticket at Okemo it would cost over $100. Several area ski shops offer our members substational savings on equipment. On October 25, 2007 at 7:00 we will be holding an open house at the A.O.H. hall, 71 Melville Ave., South Meriden. It’s a good time to drop in and see what the Meriden Ski Club can offer you. We will have door prizes and refreshments. Representatives from several New England ski areas will be present, ski shops will have displays and a ski tuning demonstration will take place. We look forward to meeting old and new members on this night so stop by and say “Hi”. Wallingford Family YMCA 5 & 10K Classic Road Race The 12th Annual Wallingford Family YMCA 5 & 10K Classic Road Race will be held on Sept. 15, 2007. Youth races of ½ mile and 1 mile begin at 8:45AM. The 5K & 10K begin at 10AM. Registration is being accepted now at the YMCA. This event includes family activities and a FREE post-race family barbeque. All proceeds benefit YMCA youth programming. For more information on this event, you can call Michelle Pratt, Health and Wellness Director at (203)269-4497 x 24 Some great fun and great goals in Meriden With the fall fast approaching, it’s that time of year to begin thinking about and planning for Meriden’s 5th annual Harvest Wine Tasting also known as Nites in the City Thursday, September 20, 2007 from 5:00-8:00 at Meriden’s Police Court/Plaza located at 50 West Main Street in Meriden. If you have never heard of this event, or are not sure what it is about, the Harvest Wine Tasting is a wonderful community event sponsored by Valencia Discount Liquor & Wine Shop that is open to any and all non-profit organizations to use as a fundraiser for your organization by selling tickets. It is also a great community networking opportunity for organizations to meet other groups, leaders and dignitaries. The event continues to grow each year with last year selling more than 400 tickets. The evening will also feature the Main Artery a showcase and sale of artwork from local artists. There will be great food, over 25 Imported and Domestic Wines and live music. Contact Frank at 639-1505 to purchase tickets. They are $15.00 prior to the event and $20.00 at the door. Also don’t forget about the Silver City Brewfest Friday, September 21st from 5:00-9:00 at Meriden’s Police Court/Plaza located at 50 West Main Street in Meriden. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ARC of Meriden-Wallingford. This event will feature a sampling of over 25 International and Micro Brews, food, music and fun. Also you won’t want to miss out on voting for the chili cookoff featuring local restaurants best chili recipes. Tickets are $20.00 prior to event and $25.00 at the door. If you are interested in tickets contact ARC of Meriden-Wallingford at 237-9975. Come and support these great community events. Take advantage of these fundraisers to do good things for the organization that is close to your heart. "Old Timers Night" South Meriden Volunteer Fire Dept is hosting an "Old Timers Night" to be held at the fire house at 31 Camp St South Meriden on Sept. 13th 2007 at 6pm. Also active members are invited and any past members of the Dept. should plan on attending. Food and refreshments will be served. Thanks for your time. Gary Manson Firefighter South Meriden Volunteer Fire Dept. Anyone may contact the Chiefs Office at 203-630-4499. For the purpose of this writing you may contact me Gary at 203-537-0285. The Senior Buddy Readers Program Seeks Volunteers The Senior Buddy Readers intergenerational mentoring & literacy program is currently seeking volunteers for the 2006-2007 school year. Active retirees are needed to help first and second grade students improve their reading skills. The program runs from October through the end of May and takes place in six of Meriden’s elementary schools: Ben Franklin, Casimir Pulaski, Hanover, Israel Putnam, Nathan Hale and Thomas Hooker schools. Anyone interested in sharing one hour a week mentoring a child is invited to call the office of Meriden Children First Initiative at 630-3566. Make a difference in the life of a child…become a Senior Buddy Reader volunteer! (The Senior Buddy Readers program is sponsored by nonprofit Meriden Children First Initiative and is supported financially through foundation grants and local business donations.) If Walls Could Talk - A New Season on HGTV DOES YOUR HISTORIC HOME HAVE A STORY TO TELL? HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk” is coming to Connecticut to film homeowners who have made surprising discoveries while they were moving in and fixing up their homes. Their finds range from old letters and photos to art, books… even toys and clothing that all add up to the story of their home’s past. The owners will tell their stories and share the history with our viewers. If your home has a story to tell or you know about one that does, please send an e-mail to Jason Mercado at jmercado@highnoonentertainment.com with “Connecticut” casting call” in the subject header or call 303-712-3109. Thank you Connecticut! Giant $2-a-bagful book sale at Friends of Library Book Store The Friends of the Library Bookstore at 1 Colony Street will hold a giant, $2 a bagful, book sale on September 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our sorting room and storage units are full to overflowing with good used books generously donated by patrons of the library. This sale is designed to cut down on our inventory which has become overwhelming. Our problem has become a bargain opportunity for all area book lovers as we will offer all books at this sale for $2 a bag. Many books will be sold from tables set up in front of the store and most of the stock inside the store will also be available for sale at the $2 a bagful rate. (We will supply the bags.) Among the stock for sale on the tables, shelves or from boxes brought in from our storage area, will be fiction and mysteries (including romance, adventure, horror, science fiction and spy novels), cookbooks, house and garden, hobbies, sports, humor, travel, biography, religion and history as well as classics, reference books, large coffee table books and lots of children’s books. A large assortment of CDs, DVDs, audio and videotapes will also be on sale. Come and stock up on enough books to keep you reading throughout the fall and into winter. Our newer, hardly used books make great gifts for the holidays. Volunteers will be on hand both days to help you with your selections. Coffee and sweets, sandwiches and cold drinks are for sale in our Friends Café and our gift shop offers a variety of Meriden gift items and specialties created by local craftspeople in our gift shop. Come on down for an early one-stop holiday shopping spree! Sukkot Services and "Pizza in the Hut" Come celebrate Sukkot, the Festival of Booths, a remembrance of the forty-year journey through the desert after God freed the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, and they lived in temporary shelters (sukkot). Services will be held at Temple B’nai Abraham (127 E. Main Street in Meriden) on Thursday and Friday September 27th and 28th at 9:30 a.m. A special Family Sukkot Service will be held on Sunday September 30th at 9:30 a.m. with a "Pizza in the Hut" lunch to follow in the sukkah. All are welcome. Please RSVP for the lunch by September 25th by calling (203) 235-2581. About Temple B’nai Abraham Temple B'nai Abraham is a Conservative synagogue which provides religious, educational and social programming for all age groups in a warm, extended family atmosphere. Shabbat services are egalitarian, and feature congregational singing. All are welcome. It’s Cub Scout Time. Cub Scout Packs in Southington, Wallingford, Meriden, North Haven and Hamden invite boys in first through fifth grade and their parents to become a part of one of America's leading values-driven organizations. These Cub Scout Packs in the Sleeping Giant District will be holding a recruiting night at their respective schools on Tuesday, September 11th or later in the month. Flyers with school-specific details will be sent home with students. The Cub Scout program is a valuable resource that can help families accomplish worthy goals while building and strengthening relationships within the family. Cub Scouting combines fun with educational activities and lifelong values. It also helps parents to help their boys strengthen character, develop good citizenship, and enhance both mental and physical fitness. In addition, the program provides boys with positive peer groups and tools to shape their future. In Cub Scouting, boys learn ideals like honesty, bravery, and respect. These values help boys make constructive decisions throughout their lifetimes and give them the confidence they need to grow and develop. According to a recent study conducted by Louis Harris & Associates, "Character may be defined as the 'willingness to do what is right, regardless of circumstances.' Cub Scouting teaches boys what is right, in part by encouraging them to reflect on lessons learned through Cub Scouting activities." For more information on Cub Scouting, please visit http://www.joincubscouting.org/ or call the Connecticut Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America at 1.800.333.7905. Congratulations Graduates The following Explorers have successfully passed the training and requirements to become Connecticut state certified Medical Response Technicians MRT’s In Connecticut you must be at least 14 years of age with parental permission to begin your training. These teenagers all worked through months of training and completed their state written test and their state practical exam to be honored with this new title. Most Police Departments and Fire departments within the state require the adult recruits become a minimum of a MRT when employed by these agencies. As you may not know that 80% of Connecticut is made up of Volunteer EMS organizations and that there must be at least one EMT and one MRT manning that ambulance to respond to it’s citizens. There actually is a volunteer ambulance corp. manned by high school students in Fairfield County. Do not ever under estimate the positive determination of teenagers. A huge thank you to Mr. Lowell and Mr. McGovern State EMS – Instructors that volunteered those months to see these kids thru. Matt Rovinski Alyssa Lowell Beth Mortimer Sarah Gopoian Kayla Gittleman Jennifer Armstrong Cathy Nesci THE 2007 CONNECTICUT RENAISSANCE FAIRE - hebron, connecticut 9th ANNUAL Connecticut Renaissance Faire Four Straight weekends and Columbus Day September 29 – October 21 • 10am to 6pm The Connecticut Renaissance Faire will open its 9th Season on September 29th, 2007 at the Lion’s Fair Ground in Hebron, Connecticut. The Connecticut Renaissance Faire re-creates the enchanted tale of King Arthur and his brave Knights. This unique fall festival includes real jousting sessions and full armored combat between knights, along with culinary delicacies, craft demonstrations, ancient music, dance and comedy. A total of over 40 hours of live entertainment daily will delight and visitors as actors and hundreds of street-and-stage performers bring the magic of a lost age to life. The Connecticut Renaissance Faire recreates a medieval village on festival day and includes a merchant marketplace with nearly 100 unique crafters from around the United States. WHEN: Four straight weekends & Columbus Day • September 29 – October 21 • 10am to 6pm (Rain or Shine) WHERE: Hebron Lions Fairgrounds (347 Gilead Street, Route 85 in Hebron, CT). COST: Adult $15; Senior $12; Youth (5-12) $6; Under 5 Free. Contact 860.478.5954 for details. COME CELEBRATE OPENING WEEKEND WITH NEW TICKET SPECIALS: Saturday, September 29, 2007: Adult tickets are Buy One – Get One Free Sunday, September 30, 2007: ALL CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER FREE FEATURES: Some event favorites include: • Come as you are or dress as a princess, knight, or pirate at our rental shop. • Enjoy our free Kids Courtyard filled with games and activities for the wee folk. • Experience more than 40 hours of live entertainment daily on nine stages • Explore the largest selection or Renaissance-themed crafters in New England. • Feast upon a savory assortment of exotic food & drink fit for a king. • Interact with one of the largest stage & street casts in New England. • Witness full-contact jousting like it was done by knights over 400 years ago. For more information or directions and discount coupons go to http://www.ctfaire.com/ 2nd Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 15th Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 15th from 11am to 3pm at Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation located at 111 Church Street. A fun event for all ages! There will be vendors selling gift and craft items, a variety of entertainment scheduled throughout the day, as well as children’s activities including a petting zoo from 1-3pm. Food items will also be available for sale. Admission is free! Donations will be accepted at the door for non-perishable food items being collected for Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown. For additional information contact Water’s Edge at 347.7286. The Harvest Festival will take place Rain or Shine! WALLINGFORD JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB CONTINUES SALE OF “WALLINGFORDOPOLY,” A CUSTOM BOARD GAME The Wallingford Junior Woman’s Club continues its sale of “Wallingfordopoly” at Wallingford Center, Inc. “Wallingfordopoly” is a limited edition custom board game showing an historic snapshot of the Wallingford business community in 2007! As families play “Wallingfordopoly,” they will have fun competing to purchase properties and own their favorite Wallingford businesses, including a real estate agency, attorneys, car dealers, retail stores, restaurants, and both public utilities. WJWC arranged for a one-time printing of 500 games and they are going fast, so don’t miss out! Games are for sale for $20 at Wallingford Center, Inc., 261 Center Street, Wallingford (white building behind the Congregational Church), Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Games will also be sold at Celebrate Wallingford, scheduled for September 29 and 30, 2007. All profits raised from “Wallingfordopoly” sales will benefit WJWC projects. For information about purchasing “Wallingfordopoly”, please call Lisa Ryan at (203) 269-3390. The Wallingford Junior Woman’s Club (WJWC) is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, and a member of the Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. http://www.cjw.org/. WJWC was incorporated in 1954 and promotes educational, philanthropic, community service work and provides its members with opportunities for personal enrichment, leadership and social interaction. WJWC projects include the annual Townwide Spelling Bee; the Children’s Game Area at Celebrate Wallingford; co-sponsoring Candidate’s Forum with the League of Women Voters; adopting a local family during the holidays; and providing rehearsal snacks for the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra. In addition, WJWC has participated in and donated to several state projects overseen by CJW, including the current state project, Time for Life, an organization that helps children with cancer and their families; the Andrew Panettieri Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital; and Roaring Brook Nature Center. WANTED!! A Few Good People to help frail elderly neighbors shop; get to medical appointments; or simply stop in for a visit. No Hands-On Care! Join Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers and receive training, ongoing support, insurance coverage and reimbursement for mileage. Call the Wallingford Senior Center at 265-7753 and sign up for the next Training Session on Thursday, September 20 at 1:00 p.m. PTLI - (Parent Leadership Training Institute) Meriden, although small, is full of resources. PLTI (Parent Leadership Training Institute) is one of those community resources that enable, parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone who cares about Meriden’s children, to become leaders and empower themselves in making changes. Graduates of this program have contributed to the Meriden community in vital ways… Cathy Ambercrombie has been elected as State Representative, Hilda Santiago was elected to the Meriden City Council and Barbara Sokol ran and won the elected seat on the Meriden Board of Education. Cathy Lewis was one of the leaders in creating the “Senior Buddy Readers” literacy program linking area senior volunteers with at-risk elementary students. Dawn Reynolds was the genius who started the work to renovate and relocate the Hubbard Park playground to make it safer and accessible to people with disabilities. Many of the graduates of PLTI have had a hand in various Children First Initiatives such as, expanding Meriden’s school breakfast program, increasing the availability of full-day kindergarten and fighting to protect class size and school enrichment programs. If you care about the quality of heath, education, and safety of Meriden children, PLTI will teach you the tools of democracy and advocacy and get you started in a life changing journey. New sessions begin in January and offers dinner, transportation and childcare at no cost to you. Parents meet once a week for 20 weeks in Meriden. Join now by applying online at http://www.meridenchildrenfirst.org/ or for an application contact us at 203-630-3566, stop by Meriden Children First at the Meriden Public Library (105 Miller Street) North Haven Bead Bazaar- The Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild will be giving free demonstrations on various polymer clay techniques at the 10th Annual Bead Bazaar, sponsored by the CT Bead Society, Saturday and Sunday, September 15 & 16, 10-5, at the North Haven Holiday Inn, 201 Washington Avenue (RT 5). Handcrafted beads and jewelry made by Guild members will also be for sale. For further information, call (203) 932-6460http://worknotes.com/CT/Statewide/TheCTBeadSociety/ap1.stm Third Annual Connecticut Lymphomathon The Connecticut Chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) will be holding its Third Annual Connecticut Lymphomathon on Saturday, October 06, 2007, at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, CT. The Lymphomathon is a noncompetitive 5K walk where survivors, family, friends, community and corporate teams walk to make a difference in the lives of those who have been touched by lymphoma-the most common blood cancer and the third most common cancer of childhood. Funds raised by participants will support the Foundation's mission which is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by the disease. Registration begins at 9:00 AM and the walk begins at 10:00 AM. Pre-register online at www.lymphomathon.org/connecticut2007 or by calling 1(800) 235-6848. CHORALE SEEKS NEW SINGERS Chorale Connecticut will hold “Open Rehearsals” on Monday, September 10th, and Monday, September 17th. The Chorale will be preparing for its winter concert to be held on Saturday, December 8th, with a matinee performance on Sunday, December 9th. The concert will feature Benjamin Britten’s “ Ceremony of Carols,” along with a selection of carols from many lands. The chorale is seeking additional singers for all voice parts. Rehearsals are held on Mondays at the First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main Street in Meriden beginning at 7:30 p.m. Those wishing to attend an open rehearsal are invited to arrive after 7 p.m. to speak with the Chorale Director, Dorothy Barnhart and sing with the Chorale to determine if they would like to audition. For further information, please call (860)621-1653. Women’s Empowerment Group Women and Families Center Sexual Assault Crisis Service provides short term supportive counseling services to residents of Meriden, Wallingford and Cheshire, Middlesex County and Greater New Haven County. A Sexual Assault Survivor Support Group for adult women will begin October 16, 2007 at the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford on Tuesday evenings. Survivors, who attend and participate in these groups, will have the opportunity to talk about their experiences with peers and knowledgeable, caring facilitators to assist their healing. You don’t have to go through this alone. Call Carissa or Jessica @ (203) 389-5010 for more information. All services are free and confidential. 16th Annual Oktoberfest Slated For Sept. 29 & 30 At Quassy MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – The 16th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration Sept. 29 & 30 at Quassy Amusement Park, Route 64 here, will feature entertainment and great ethnic food as the lakeside facility starts to wind down its 99th season. Oktoberfest will be held noon to 6 p.m. at the Fieldside Pavilion with German music, food and dancing both days. Admission to the park and Oktoberfest are free. Parking is $5 per vehicle (buses $35). Quassy’s rides operate both days from noon to 6 p.m. The complete 16th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration schedule is as follows: Saturday, Sept. 29 Amusement rides operate noon to 6 p.m. “The New Jersey Polka Band” featuring vocalist Gerhard Krauss performing Oktoberfest music in the pavilion starting at 12:30 p.m. “Harugari Junior Schuhplatters” youth dancers of Hamden, Conn., performing in the pavilion starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30 Amusement rides operate noon to 6 p.m. “The Fire House Polka Band” featuring vocalist Gerhard Krauss and accordionist Erik-Hans Vagen performing Oktoberfest music in the pavilion starting at 12:30 p.m. “Alpenland Tanzer Dancers” of West Haven, Conn., performing in the pavilion starting at 1 p.m. Fun At Quassy Quassy Amusement Park features more than two-dozen rides and attractions as well as food, a redemption arcade, games, and numerous special events. For a complete special and community service events calendar and more information on historic Quassy Amusement Park visit http://www.quassy.com/ or call the park office at (203) 758-2913 or 1-800-FOR-PARK. School educational and group outings are currently being booked through the park office for 2008. Season passes for next year are also being offered at the park office. (Events subject to change without notice) 2007 CRAIG PAUL CLARK MEMORIAL SCRAMBLE Dear Family and Friends, The 4th Annual Craig Clark Memorial Scramble will take place Sunday, October 14th at the Tradition Golf Course, 37 Harrison Road, Wallingford, Ct. 06492. Last October with the efforts and support of family and friends we played the 3rd annual Golf Tournament to commemorated our son, Craig. Thank you! We awarded proceeds to: A high school senior son/daughter of a Meriden City Employee to further his/her education. The American Heart Association The scholarship recipients each received $500.00 and The American Heart Association received $1,500.00. Michael C. Tidmarsh-Maloney High School Arthur P. Dutra-Platt High School Arlene Antoci-H.C.Wilcox Technical School We thank you for supporting this outing in memory of Craig that will continue to help others in his name. You can help us by: Recruiting a foursome $460.00 per team (18 holes, lunch & dinner) Individual golfers can also register $120.00 per golfer Making a Sponsor contribution $300.00/$200.00/$100.00 Attending “dinner only” $50.00 per person Purchasing a Craig Clark Memorial cap $25.00 Making a monetary donation ( any amount) to the memorial fund Once again, sharpen your game, gather your foursome, and mark your calendar for this event, Sunday October 14, 2007 .After a fun day on the course, please join us for a delightful dinner and awarding of great prizes including: a gas grill, a 15” television, an overnight stay and many other great prizes. We give you our heartfelt thanks for your continued support and hope to see you in October. Best regards, The Clarks Paul, Myrta, Jeff & Patti PARTICIPANTS & SPONSORS PLEASE RSVP BY Oct. 5th Please call Paul or Myrta Clark at (203) 237-2513 or by E-Mail: paul.clark6@cox.net for a registration form and more information. 8th Annual Silver City Brewfest Business Sponsorship Opportunity Arc of Meriden-Wallingford, Inc. has been named as recipient of the proceeds from the 8th Annual Silver City Brewfest, which will be held on Friday, September 21st from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. This annual charity event will be held in downtown Meriden, next to the Police & Courthouse complex. This is a wonderful opportunity for your business to support our non-profit by joining the festivities as a sponsor. Arc of Meriden-Wallingford provides comprehensive, full-service, community-based opportunities for hundreds of individuals with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disabilities. One of the main functions of the Agency is to provide advocacy and assistance to members in becoming contributing members of their community. The proceeds from this year’s Silver City Brewfest will benefit our Cakes Plus Program. This program teaches individuals food service skills to enable them to obtain food service jobs in the community. This program also provides additional income to support other services the Agency offers such as recreation for individuals with intellectual disabilities, high school age and over. We hope that you will consider being a business sponsor for this year’s event. Attached you will find a detailed listing of the different sponsorship levels and their benefits. Don’t hesitate to call with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you. Cans For A Cure Jordan's Den Relay For Life team is having a returnable can/bottle drive Saturday September 22, 2007 From 11 to 3 @ M & M Redemption Center in Wallingford on Route 68 All proceeds go to The American Cancer Society Can't stop by but still want to help give us a call and we will pick up your cans for you. You can contact Jessica 213-1984 OR Paula 238-9636 Thank you for your support in advance FOXWOODS CASINO The Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club will be hosting a bus trip to Foxwoods Casino, on Saturday, September 22, 2007. The bus will leave the Commuters Parking Lot by Vinny’s on RT 5 at 10 a.m. and will leave the Casino at 5 p.m. Cost of tickets is $35.00 which includes bus ride to Casino, two (2) $5.00 bets and $10.00 Food Coupon. You can purchase tickets at the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club, 72 Grand Street, Wallingford, CT. Call for information at 203-269-7525. All the money raised benefits the programs for children at the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club. The High Holidays - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Joan Goodman There are two very important Jewish holidays coming up in September that I thought you might be interested in hearing about. At sunset on Wednesday September 12th, Jews all over the world will begin the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and "Birthday of the World." This is the beginning of the Days of Awe which culminate ten days later in the observance of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Like the secular New Year in January, and like any birthday, on Rosh Hashanah we reflect back on the previous year, think about how to improve ourselves and how to make the next year better, have a party, eat sweet foods, and wish for happiness in the coming year. The difference here is the intense soul searching and penitence that begins during the Hebrew month of Elul before Rosh Hashanah and continues during the Days of Awe. According to tradition, God passes judgment over every person during this period. We ask those whom we have wronged to forgive us. As part of the observance of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we go to the synagogue and pray. We are also commanded to hear the sound of the shofar. The shofar, a wind instrument made from a ram’s horn, had been used in ancient times to signal the beginning of the month based on the new moon. In the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar (Tishri) long blasts were sounded to note a special period, a holy time. On Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) we have the opportunity to make amends with God, to get a clean slate so to speak. The tradition is for anyone older than thirteen and in good health to fast. This is the day Jews believe that God passes his final judgement for the year and decides who will be sealed in the Book of Life. At Temple B’Nai Abraham in Meriden we will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah beginning Wednesday September 12th with services at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday services begin at 8:30 a.m., with babysitting available at 10:30 a.m. On Friday September 21st Kol Nidre Services begin at 6:00 p.m. with Yom Kippur services beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday September 22nd. Temple B’nai Abraham is located at 127 East Main Street in Meriden. Please call 235-2381 for more information Henrietta Kulinski/Polish Legion of American Veterans Post Annual Golf Tournament The Henrietta Kulinski/Polish Legion of American Veterans Post annual golf tournament will take place on Sept. 21 at Hunter Memorial Golf Course. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. with lunch starting at 11 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at noon. The entry fee of $99 for age 65 and older and $126 for all others, will include lunch with refreshments, 18 holes of golf with cart, social hour, dinner catered by Violi's Restaurant at the course, awards and door prizes. The tournament is open to both men and women at all levels of play. Registration forms are available at the PLAV Post 189, 193 East Main Street. Attention Retirees! It's almost that time of the year again. BACK TO SCHOOL TIME! Being retired, this probably doesn't affect you that much. But back to school time also means that the Senior Buddy Readers program is beginning tosign up volunteers for the 2007-2008 school year. "What is Senior Buddy Readers," you ask? It is an intergenerational literacy program where retirees volunteer to help first and second graders improve their reading skills. Last year, Senior Buddy Readers celebrated its fifth year, with eighty-four volunteers helping over two hundred children in five Meridenelementary schools. So if you are a retiree who has one hour a week to share with a child, don't you think it's time to volunteer as a Senior Buddy Reader? For more information or to sign up, please contact David Radcliffe, Director of Meriden Children First Initiative located at the Meriden Public Library (203) 630-3566. Or you can check out the Senior Buddy Readers link at Children First's website http://www.meridenchildrenfirst.org/. Make a difference in the life of achild. become a Senior Buddy Reader! CRAFTERS WANTED CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL HOLIDAY BAZAAR NOVEMBER 17, 2007 9 AM TO 3 PM HOLY ANGELS PARISH CENTER 585 MAIN STREET SOUTH MERIDEN, CT CALL (203) 237-8697 FOR AN APPLICATION AND INFORMATION. Nites in the City Good Friends and Neighbors Come Together to Celebrate A City of Meriden Sponsored Event September 20th & 21st, 2007 – RAIN or SHINE All events at Downtown Courthouse Plaza 50 West Main St., Meriden, CT Wallingford Historical Society Come to see and learn about antique chairs for children. The Wallingford Historical Society will present Arthur Liverant, an antique dealer who specializes in 18th and 19th century children’s chairs. The meeting will be at the First Baptist Church in Wallingford at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Feel free to bring a chair. Rescued Mother Cat and Kitten in NEED OF A HOME! This mother cat was left in a terrible predicament. Her owner had died and she was left behind to fend for herself. She was never spayed, which then led to having kittens. I am not sure how many kittens she may have had but by the time I found her, there was one kitten left. They are both black & white. The Mom is now spayed and has all her shots. The kitten is a male and has all his shots. I will neuter the kitten when he is old enough. I I would like to keep them together, but will adopt them out separately if I have to. The mom is a nice cat, on the quiet side and the kitten has a lot of energy, as most kittens do. PLEASE help me find them a loving home. They deserve a second chance and a good life. If interested call Kathy at 203-284-3698. Holy Trinity School provides a full-day kindergarten Holy Trinity School provides a full-day kindergarten through grade 8 program in a faith-filled environment. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has a 94 year history of providing quality Catholic education. Spanish is offered in grades 5 – 8 as well as an advanced math program. The classrooms have wireless computer networking and the computer lab was fully updated in 2006 providing the students with state-of-the-art technology. Various extra-curricular and athletic opportunities are available. Bus transportation is provided for Wallingford residents. Please contact Sister Katie Kelly, R.S.M. at (203) 269-4476 or visit our website at http://www.hts-wallingford.org/ for additional information. Town of Wallingford Renters Rebate Program Wallingford Assessor, Shelby P. Jackson III, announced that the assessor’s office will be accepting applications for the Renters Rebate Program between May 15th and September 17th 2007. To qualify for the program a person must be 65 years of age or older or totally disabled if under the age of 65 and renting an apartment or land on which their residence is situated (mobile home). Applicants must meet income limits to qualify for this program. Income limits are based on the 2006 calendar year. To qualify, a married couple’s combined income may not exceed $35,300 (including Social Security). Single applicants income must not exceed $28,800 (including Social Security). Applicants must provide proof of all income for the 2006 calendar year. Proof of income would be a copy of their 2006 income tax return along with their Social Security Benefit Statement (SSA-1099) must be provided. Applicants must provide rent receipts for the entire year along with receipts for electric, gas, fuel, and water payments if applicable. Applications will be accepted May 15th through September 17th at the Wallingford Assessor’s Office, Room 101, in the Town Hall, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, excluding holidays. To find out if you qualify for this program, contact the Assessor’s Office at 203-294-2001. Having trouble with your teenager, adult child, etc. Need support???? Learn new ways to deal with problem children.Tough Love St. Anthony's ChurchRoutes 68 and 69Prospect, CTMeetings: 7:00 - 9:30 Wednesdays in the Church basement VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT MIDSTATE MEDICAL CENTER Submitted by Diamond Belejack The Volunteer Department at Midstate is looking to increase volunteer staffing in several key areas of the medical center. The Tremaine Resource Center is expanding and in need of additional volunteers who assist the public needing to access health information. Basic computer skills are needed. There is also high demand for volunteers in our Emergency Department reception area. These volunteers provide customer service to all visitors and patients by providing friendly visits and ensuring individuals are comfortable and kept well-informed during their stay. If you enjoy meeting and greeting the public, and have excellent customer service skills, please contact Diamond Belejack, Manager of Volunteer Services at 694-8572 or e-mail dbeleja@midstatemedical.org. Wanted: WLT Board Members The Wallingford Land Trust is looking for a Wallingford resident interested in the outdoors, walking, hiking, birding, building and maintaining trails. The WLT board meets 7:00 pm on the 3rd Thursday at the Southwest Conservation District. If interested please contact WLT President Joe Palazzi at 284-0116. For more information on the Land Trust, please check out the website at http://www.wallingfordlandtrust.org/. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS The Stanley Budleske V.F.W. Post 9965 and the Ladies Auxiliary, Yalesville has mailed 181 care packages to our troops in Iraq, Afganistan and South Korea. The Post is running short on items for this program. We are looking for donations of hygiene products both for men and women. Tube socks (black, green, brown), popcorn, any kind of nuts, baby wipes, dry wipes, paper back books, CD’s, small games, hard candy, oatmeal, cookies, can fruit. All items can be left off at the Post Canteen everyday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 424 Church St (Rt. 68) across from the Yalesville school. Also items may be left at the Yalesville Post Office. Thank you in advance, Rod Fulton (203) 269-9851 Giant Monthly Flea Market Notre Dame Church, 272 Main Street (Route 17), Durham, CT will have a Giant Monthly Flea Market and Tag Sate on the first Saturday of the month from June to October (July 7th, August 4th, September 1st, and October 6th) from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This is a huge Tag Sale and Flea Market covering a wide area in the church hall, church garage, parking lot and on the lawn. Household goods, pots and pans, dishes craft supplies, sewing supplies, furniture, clothing ($2.50 a bag), antiques, collectibles, thousands and thousands of books and anything and everything you might need or want. Our kitchen is open all day serving breakfast and lunch in the church hall. New items coming in continuously. 40 vendors in the parking lot. Vendor Space Available: $20.00 – Call Bob Smith (860) 349-0356. This is a well attended Tag Sale and has a following of both vendors and buyers. Letters to the Editor The rules – you can’t attack any individual or group. You must provide your full name, address and phone number with verification of all information stated in your comments. Letters are accepted by email to andy@peoplespressnews.com only. MS Support Group Platt High School 220 Coe Ave. Meriden, Conn. The Meriden MS Support Group meets at the Meriden Public Library located at 105 Miller St., in Meriden, Conn., at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month from June to August. There are more than 6,000 Connecticut residents diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an oftentimes debilitating disease affecting the central nervous system. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Connecticut Chapter offers more than 20 support groups throughout Hartford, Tolland, Windham, New London, Middlesex and New Haven counties. These groups bring together people who share a common life experience as it relates to MS and its effects. For more information, please contact Allison at (203) 230-8672. For more information on multiple sclerosis and the many ways you can help make a difference, please visit http://www.ctfightsms.org/ or call the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Connecticut Chapter at (800) Fight-MS.