Local News and Events January 2010

To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine! Beth Israel Synagogue Beth Israel Synagogue serves Wallingford and its surrounding communities. This active little congregation has recently undergone a revival and is pleased to present the following calendar of events: Pot Luck Tot Shabbat – January 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Tu B’ Shevat Services – January 29, 2010 at 6:45 p.m. Adult Learn Hebrew Class – February 5, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. Martini and Movie Night – February 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Purim Pot Luck Service with Israeli Dancing – February 27, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. Havdallah Pot Luck Family Movie Night – March 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Women’s Rosh Hodesh Services – March 15, 2010 at 6:45 p.m. Passover 2nd Night Seder – March 30, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Historic Beth Israel Synagogue in Wallingford is the little congregation that CAN. This friendly congregation, over 110 years old, has a diverse and active membership of about 60 families. Our calendar is full and attendance is high. Programming highlights the Congregation’s desire to encompass all the elements of Judaism – prayer, learning and gathering – into meaningful and fun filled events. For more information, please contact Alida Cella at 949-8656, or alidacella@hotmail.com (ask her to put you on our synagogue mailing list). Information can also be found on our new website, www.bethisraelwallingford.org. You can also follow our news updates at www.twitter.com/BethIsrael ___________________________________________________________________________________ SPRING 2010 REGISTRATION SET FOR JACK BARRY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL The Jack Barry Little League will be holding registration for the spring 2010 season on January 20TH and 21ST at the Nathan Hale Elementary School and on February 4th at the John Barry Elementary school . Sign-ups will be from 6:30 to 8 PM, in the school cafeteria and are open to boys and girls 5-16 years of age. Birth certificate and proof of residency required for all players. Please attend one of the earlier signups to avoid the “last minute rush”. School closings or early dismissal due to bad weather will cancel registration that night. Call 235-8766 or visit us on-line at www.jbll.net for more information. Happy New Year from The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce! Our Members and the Greater Meriden Community can look forward to a very active Greater Meriden Chamber in 2010 in the areas of Promotion, Leadership, Education & Networking! Kicking off the New Year with something NEW…we are now LIVE on Facebook! So, check us out, become a fan, and visit often! Our stellar, award-winning website, www.meridenchamber.com is always chock full of events, news, resources, photos and more! It is THE place to visit when you are looking for a product or service. All of our members are listed by category or they may be found through name searches. The site averages well over 32,000 unique visits per month and our most visited areas include the member directory, member news, and calendars of events! November 2009 kicked off our NEW Breakfast Club Celebrates…Series! Below is a recap of past and future events along with some photos – attendance is averaging 65 at each event and it’s a GREAT way to start your day! Visit the special event pages for updates on www.meridenchamber.com. The series is also videotaped and will begin airing on Cox Channel 15 in January and the videos will also be available for viewing on the Chamber’s website! Pizza, Pasta, & Politics will be held on Monday, January 25, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. sponsored by at&t and held at Hunter’s Ambulance Service Training Center, 450-478 W. Main St., Meriden, CT. One of the many charges of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce includes providing access and forums to meet one on one and in groups with our elected officials. This event brings our diverse membership base and City of Meriden legislators together to discuss issues important to the business community. Invited guests include Mayor Mike Rohde, and Meriden City Councilors. Doors open 5:00, Refreshments (salad, pasta, pizza, beverages) at 5:30, Program begins at 6:00 including Q & A, and ends at 7:30. Bring plenty of business cards to promote and make new contacts for your business! This event cost $15 per person if reserved by Jan. 20, 2010. After Jan. 20th, the cost is $20 per person. For more information and to RSVP, call the Chamber at (203) 235-7901, fax us at (203) 686-0172, or email us at info@meridenchamber.com. *** The deadline to return applications for the Chamber’s Annual Awards is Friday, January 29th. *** Applications for the Chamber’s Education Awards are at all Meriden High Schools and may be downloaded at www.meridenchamber.com. Click Resources Tab, and Community Services. Awards are given to Meriden residents graduating from area high schools. Another award is available for a student returning to college for another year. We are pleased to offer additional awards from the Chamber’s Hispanic Outreach Leaders in Action Committee that was formed in October 2005. Applicants must be Hispanic Meriden students graduating from high school or returning to college. Proceeds for this award are generated through the golf tournament and additional fund-raisers through the Hispanic Outreach Leaders in Action Committee. Additionally the Young Business Leader of CT is offering the Dan M. Hunter Community Service Education Award to an area graduating student who shows exemplary grades in the classroom, above average participation in school-related activities, and has proven to be a valued asset to the community in which he/she lives or attends school. The guidelines of this award are based on the ideals of Dan Hunter who believed in hard work, family, and serving his community. Over the past 20 years, over 88 awards have been presented to area residents, totaling close to $80,000. Applications for the Chamber’s Community Partnership & Business Awards may also be downloaded at www.meridenchamber.com. Nominations are accepted for the Small and Large Business Leadership Awards with the following eligibility : Any Meriden Chamber member business in good standing in the Greater Meriden area! The following criteria may be used to determine which business will be recognized with this award: Innovation by investment in technology, Community Relations to improve business climate, Customer Satisfaction by improving customer relations efforts, Employee Relations by exhibiting exemplary labor-management relations. Past recipients of the large business award include: 2006: Thompson Brands; 2007: Record-Journal Publishing Co., Inc.; 2008: BL Companies; 2009: Ragozzino Foods. Past recipients of the small business award include: 2006: Colonial Flooring Plus; 2007: Moran’s TV & Appliance; 2008: Fiderio & Sons; 2009: Kelli’s A Salon. The Chamber also honors an individual(s) with the Community Partnership Award. Eligibility: Anyone who lives or works in Meriden! The following criteria may be used to determine which person will be recognized with this award: Dedication to the community, Volunteerism without seeking personal gain, High Professional Standards in the work place and on community projects, Community Enhancement in activities which have improved Meriden's quality of life. Past recipients include: 2006 David Lowell & James Ieronimo 2007 Lawrence McGoldrick & Ric Suzio 2008 Michael Barker & Steven Zerio 2009 Dan M. Hunter (Posthumously) & Anthony (Tony) Tomassetti The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce is located at 3 Colony Street, Suite 301, Meriden, CT 06451. Ph.: 203.235.7901 / Fx.: 203.686.0172. Visit www.meridenchamber.com or email: info@meridenchamber.com To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine! Healthy Balance The Wallingford Family YMCA will be starting its Healthy Balance program on Tuesday, January 19th , from 12-1 pm. This program will teach you how to improve your eating habits and how to easily incorporate more effective, calorie-burning activity into your already busy lifestyle. The program is led by a Licensed Nutrition Manager and certified personal trainer. For more information or to reserve your spot, call 203-269-4497. Space is limited. The Wallingford Family YMCA is located at 81 S. Elm St, Wallingford, CT. START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT! SHOPPING AT HELPING HANDS THRIFT STORE 22 NO. TURNPIKE RD IN WALLINGFORD WILL BUY YOU MORE FOR LESS MONEY. We have many BRAND NEW clothing items, toys, gifts, shoes added! EVERY THURSDAY we have a "SPECIAL IN STORE SALE." Stop by to see what will be on sale! Sales will include 15% off jewelry priced over $2.00, buy l get l FREE items. EVERY WED. is our $5.00 FILL A BAG OF CLOTHING ONLY(some restrictions apply)COATS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BAG! EVERY TUESDAY SENIORS (55+) RECEIVE 20% OFF THEIR TOTAL PURCHASE! 2 FLOORS OF LINENS,SHOES,HOUSEHOLD ITEMS,MOVIES,CDS,DVDS,BOOKS,SMALL APPLIANCES,ELECTRONICS,TOYS,GIFTS,JEWELRY,COLLECTIBLES,CLOTHING,PURSES,MISC. ITEMS,LAMPS,SEASONAL ITEMS & FURNITURE AGAIN! HELPING HANDS THRIFT STORE ASSISTS THE CHRYSALIS INC. IN HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE ALSO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL AGENCIES FOR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. We ask that donations be clean, free of stains or rips, in working condition & in season. Due to very limited funds we ask these requests be followed as items that are unuseable causes an extra expense to dispose of to the store. Once again in mid January we will be offering FREE pick ups in the local area for furniture or large appliances being donated, please remember the truck driver has the last say if an item will be taken based on room we have available & condition of item. We would like to THANK all that give monetary gifts & provide their services to the store so that we may continue helping others in need. Our store hours are Tues.- Sat. 9a.m.- 5p.m. We accept M.C.,Visa, debit and cash. Our phone number is 203 284-0300. We ask that donations be brought to the store BEFORE 4p.m. We hope everyone has a happy, healthy New Year! SECOND ANNUAL PRESCHOOL INFORMATION FAIR On Saturday, January 30, 2009 the Wallingford Public Library and the WE CARE [Wallingford Early Childhood Alliance Resource and Education] Council will host the second Preschool Information Fair in the Community Room at the library, 200 North Main Street. The event will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and is free to families. All the 24 licensed child care centers in Wallingford have been invited so that families can learn what is available for their preschool age children. Community social service agencies will also be offering information on the services they provide for families with young children. This is a wonderful way to visit with the early child development specialists in Wallingford and to discuss the many options available for getting your children ready for kindergarten.. For more information you can call the Wallingford Public Library/Children's Dept at 203-284-6436 or the WE CARE Family Resource Center at 203-284-4019. SPRING 2010 REGISTRATION SET FOR JACK BARRY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL The Jack Barry Little League will be holding registration for the spring 2010 season on January 20TH and 21ST at the Nathan Hale Elementary School and on February 4th at the John Barry Elementary school . Sign-ups will be from 6:30 to 8 PM, in the school cafeteria and are open to boys and girls 5-16 years of age. Birth certificate and proof of residency required for all players. Please attend one of the earlier signups to avoid the “last minute rush”. School closings or early dismissal due to bad weather will cancel registration that night. Call 235-8766 or visit us on-line at www.jbll.net for more information. To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine! Boating course begins in JanuaryA public boating course will be taught by members of the Meriden Power Squadron on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 12. The course will take place at Southington High School, 720 Pleasant Street, Southington. Passing the course qualifies participants to get a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or a personal watercraft license. State law requires boat operators to have a Safe Boating Certificate while Jet Ski operators must have a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO). The Power Squadron course will cover boat handling under normal and adverse conditions, navigational aids and how to identify them, navigation rules, legally required and suggested equipment to have on board, knots and lines used aboard a boat, and other topics. The course is offered over five weeks or for students interested in learning how to read a chart, plot courses, and identify your position on the water, including the use of electronic chart plotters, over seven weeks. The cost is $40 for the five-week course, and $50 for the seven-week course plus school administration fee. Registration will be the evening of January 12th. The Meriden squadron is a local chapter of the United States Power Squadrons, known for its safe boating courses. For additional information call Ken Bell at 860 628-9758.Youth Basketball Signups at the Meriden YMCA Sign up today for Parent and Child Basketball Training for 3 year old boys and girls, and for Youth Basketball Training for boys and girls ages 4 to 12. Classes are grouped by age and begin the weekend of January 9th and 10th. For more information, about basketball class times and fees and our other Winter Session programs, call us at 203-235-6386, visit us at 110 West Main Street, or check us out on the web at www.meridenymca.org. SINGERS TAKE NOTE! Chorale Connecticut will begin rehearsals on Monday, January 25th, at 7:30 PM, First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main Street in Meriden. This will be an Open Rehearsal and all interested in joining this select regional group of mixed voices are invited to sit in on this rehearsal to see what the Chorale is all about. If you are interested in joining the Chorale, plan to stay after rehearsal and talk with Dorothy Barnhart, Artistic Director. The Chorale will be rehearsing for their spring concert that applauds the "Gifts of Life" that nature brings to be presented on Saturday, May 1st. For this concert, the Chorale will be joined by the Concert Choir from DePaolo Middle School, under the direction of Patricia Altieri. This concert promises to provide an evening of whimsy and fine music making. For more information, call (860)621-1653. To read The People’s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct’s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMaga