1. home and garden

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FREE
Neighbors
No. 118
Serving the inhabitants and environment of northeastern Connecticut
May 2013
Willimantic, Now and Then:
A little paper big on community
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By Mark Svetz
Bill Potvin is proud of
Bradley Manning, and he’s going to
carry a sign to Fort Meade, Maryland
next month to tell everyone about it.
Potvin is a local activist and
businessman; he and his brothers own
Hosmer Mountain Soda Company in
Willimantic. He also served in combat in Viet Nam, which
is one of the reasons he is proud of Bradley Manning.
“I’ve always been a pretty conventional guy,”
Potvin said. “I believed we were the good guys. Now, I
don’t see us as the good guys any more.”
Bradley Manning served as an Intelligence
Analyst in the US Army until he was arrested in May, 2010
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organization established to distribute leaked information
via the internet to journalists for publication. Among the
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now called Collateral Murder, which showed US Army
Apache helicopter air strikes in an eastern district of
Baghdad in July 2007, which killed two staffers for Reuters
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the video from unnamed “whistleblowers” in the military.
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revelations about the U.S war in Iraq include: 15,000 more
Iraqi civilians killed than were reported in any other count
at the time; U.S. soldiers were formally commanded not
to investigate reports of torture committed by the Iraqi
Federal Police with whom they cooperated; the American
occupation of Iraq has failed to stabilize the widespread
violence and corruption that has escalated following the
destruction of Iraq’s infrastructure.
Manning has been held in prison since his
arrest in May 2010. His Court Marshall (military trial) is
scheduled to begin in June, more than three years after
his arrest. Amnesty International and other organizations
called the conditions under which he has been held torture.
Manning is charged with 22 offenses, including aiding the
enemy, stealing US government property, espionage and
computer crimes. These charges carry a sentence of up to
life imprisonment and even death, although prosecutors
have said they will not seek the death penalty.
On Saturday, June 1, there will be a rally for
Bradley Manning at Fort Meade, MD. Potvin wants to
arrange for a bus from Willimantic to Fort Meade so local
people can go and show their support for Manning.
“He (Manning) made public (information about)
war crimes, misconduct on the part of the government
and other criminal acts,” Potvin says, “but what does our
government do? They put the messenger in prison, or
worse, while the crimes go unpunished.”
Anybody who knows Bill Potvin knows he is a
busy man, working 60-70 hours a week with his brothers
at Hosmer Mountain. That he is taking time for this issue
shows how important it is for him.
“I am making a public appeal to get enough
people to go so we can hire a bus,” Potvin said recently.
“We have to convince people of the high level of
importance of this issue. We are Bradley Manning. We
have to stand up for our own liberty. Why should the truth
tellers pay such a high price?
“There will be a march and speakers,” he went on
to say. “I’m sure there will be some of my favorite people
there –– you know, Bill Moyers, Chris Hedges and others.”
Moyers and Hedges are veteran journalists;
Moyers is best known for his work at CBS News and PBS
and Hedges was Bureau Chief for the New York Times.
Both men now work as independent journalists exposing
the mainstream media’s uncritical and inaccurate coverage
of events.
“This trial is not simply the prosecution of a
25-year-old soldier,” Hedges wrote in a recent article,
called ‘We Are Bradley Manning,’ at Truthdig.com. “It is
a concerted effort by the security and surveillance state
to extinguish what is left of a free press, one that has the
constitutional right to expose crimes by those in power.
The lonely individuals who take personal risks so that the
public can know the truth ... are from now on to be charged
with ‘aiding the enemy.’ “
Hedges also believes the goal of the US
government is to have Julian Assange, an Australian
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to be tried on espionage charges. Electronic journalists,
who have the savvy to pierce the secrecy surrounding
government actions, are the real target of this action
against Bradley
Manning,
according the
Hedges and
many others.
The
administration
of Barack
Obama has,
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prosecuted more
whistleblowers
than all of
the previous
administrations
combined.
For
Potvin, his own
experience in
combat leads
him to activism
today. He is
troubled by
the corporate
control of our
government,
leading us into
imperialist wars
and destructive
economic
policies. He believes the interests of average citizens are
ignored in this corporate-dominated system.
When he was a young man during the Viet Nam
war, Potvin had a college deferment from the draft, “but
then I thought it was my turn to go and stand up for this
country I love. I enlisted in the army and served in combat.
You know I used to have a good feeling about what the
U.S. was back then,” he tells us. “Then, during the Bush
administration, with Cheney and Rumsfeld, well it just
seemed like evil people had taken charge.”
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competitors in the soft drink industry. Coke and Pepsi get
exclusive contracts from state agencies and other places,
while the local producers like Hosmer Mountain are shut
out. He has also helped organize a successful effort to
get a resolution passed by the Windham Town Council
opposing the so-called Citizens United Supreme Court
decision that allows corporations to make unlimited and
secret contributions to political campaigns.
“If we are turning a page toward totalitarianism,”
he said, “then let’s get on board and try to do something
about it. It seems like Obama is in charge of the U.S.
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democracy.”
Bill Potvin is a man of irrepressible energy. He is
“on board” to try and change the direction of U.S. policy
decisions, but even if there wasn’t a movement to board,
I suspect he would be out in front trying to pull the rest of
us in the right direction. In this case, the right direction is
south, toward Fort Meade, MD, because, as Potvin says:
“I’m proud of Bradley Manning!”
Editor’s note: An update from Bill Potvin as we go to pressFor information about the June 1 rally at Fort
Meade and to reserve a place on the bus, contact Bill
Potvin at 860-234-8351.
We have arranged for a bus to be parked at the
major parcel off Valley Street in Willimanic after midnight.
To leave about 2am Saturday, June 1st-and return about 2am
June 2nd. We will provide grinders and Hosmer. Round trip
cost will be $54.00 per seat to be paid in advance. Anyone
requesting a physical ticket will have one mailed to them.
(not required to board)
Those who cannot make it, but are willing to
buy a seat for someone less fortunate, may do so or make
a lesser donation for the cause. Any excess funds would
go to the Bradley Manning Defense Fund to help with his
legal costs.
Credit card payments can be made by calling 860423-1555 Monday-Friday 9am to 6pm. Payments may also
be made via Pay Pal by emailing johnschwenk@juno.com.
For any additional information email Bill at wpotvin1@
juno.com.
Mark Svetz is a Tutor at Quinebaug Valley Community
College in Willimantic. Read more of Mark’s writing at
SarahWinterClothworks.com/writing.
Merrimack Valley Ringers in Tolland
Submitted by Jan Bittner
The Merrimack Valley Ringers will
perform Sunday, May 19th at 3:30pm,
at United Congregational Church of
Tolland, 45 Tolland Green.
Now in their 11th season, the M.V.
Ringers is an auditioned community
handbell ensemble devoted to sharing
the art of handbells and handchimes
with everyone. MVR’s members
delight audiences with their infectious
joy, and make it their goal to capture
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their gusto and warmth. Considered
partners in each performance,
audiences are drawn in by the
ensemble’s personality, spontaneity,
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For Spring
2013, the Merrimack
Valley Ringers present
“Carnivale!” The tour title
comes from the handbell
piece of the same name,
which came to be after
the composer was issued
a challenge to write
something that was “pure
fun.” It is described as a
relentless romp that’s the
embodiment of every fantastic circus,
fair, and carnival you’ve ever been
to, rolled into one.” Inspired by the
concept of a traveling amusement
show, MVR has assembled a diverse
assortment of music, including
“Carnivale,” and featuring many highenergy original handbell pieces, as well
as a variety of recognizable favorites
including the toe-tapping “Tarantella,”
and a you gotta see it to believe it”
quartet arrangement of “Flight of the
Bumblebee.”
2
Willimantic
RiverFest
When: May 18, 2013
Where: Bridge Street,
Willimantic, CT
Featuring: River Float from
Eagleville Dam to Willimantic
(shuttle provided)
Kayak Ramp
Whitewater kayak
demonstrations
Live Music (at least 3 acts)
Games for Kids
Food
Activities will be added as plans
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Fees: the RiverFest is free of
charge; there is a $20 use fee
for the kayak ramp (all day use);
there is a $10 fee for individuals
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fee for families doing the river
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and insurance.
For more info go to:
www.willimanticwhitewater.org/
www.facebook.com/
WillimanticWhitewaterPartnership
Or contact: Dan Mullins at
WilliWhitewater@gmail.com
Kids Club Event:
“It Was Frogs!”
Saturday May 11, 2013
1:00-2:30pm
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& History Museum
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Museum will host its May Kids
Club Activity on Saturday, May
11th from 1 - 2:30 pm.
Kids learn about the famous
Windham frog legend, make
frogs and enjoy a frog tea
party. Kids Club Members are
FREE. General Admission: $5
for children. All supplies and
refreshments included. For
Reservations call 860-4562178.
For more information, contact
WKH:LQGKDP7H[WLOH+LVWRU\
Museum, 411 Main Street,
Willimantic, CT 06226. 860456-2178. www.millmuseum.
org.
Dear Reader6SULQJLVÀQDOO\KHUHDQG,ZLOOEHRQFHDJDLQPRXQWing my mighty scooter and delivering Neighbors
papers to mail posts throughout our region. If you
found this paper on your mail post it won’t be there
again, so check out ‘Where to Find Neighbors’ on the
back page. Thank you, Tom King
Calendar items wantedAs you may have noticed, Neighbors has a great
calendar section and we want to make it better. Publishing monthly requires extra lead time to get your
item in the calendar. Deadlines are usually around the
20th of each month. Much thanks to Dagmar Noll for
doing a great job. T.K.
As We Go To Press
Monday, April 29, 12:49am
I intentionally left little space to write. After a beautiful
Sunday spent with family at our granddaughter’s sixth
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,DPH[KDXVWHGDQGMXVWZDQWWRJRWREHG0D\WKHÀQH
weather forcasted for the upcoming week put smiles on our
faces and spring in our step. TK
NEIGHBORS
P.O. Box 430
Ashford, CT 06278
860-933-3376
email: neighborspaper@yahoo.com
web: neighborspaper.com
Tom King, Editor & Publisher
Steve Woron, Mac Guru and Webmaster
Dagmar Noll, Calendar Editor
Marisa Calvo, Graphic Design
Writers: Phoebe Godfrey, David Corsini, Mike Griswold,
Donna Nicolino, Dagmar Noll, Dennis Pierce, Mark Svetz,
Dianisi Torres, Amy Van Winkle, Steve Woron, Tom
:RURQ/RUHWWD:UREHO
The Purpose of Neighbors:
-To encourage reading
-To provide a place where ideas, writing, artwork and
photographs of area residents can be shared
-To encourage people to get involved in their communities
-To begin to solve national and global problems on a local
basis
-To provide useful information
-To serve the inhabitants and environment of our region
1HLJKERUVLVSXEOLVKHGPRQWKO\E\1HLJKERUVSDSHU//&
Thomas A. King, member
Amy White, Coventry, Marsha Flowers,
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and Bob Flowers, Bolton pose before the
start of the 2013 Walk MS, held Sunday,
April 21, in Manchester. Gerrol is president
of the National MS Society, Connecticut
Chapter, which hosts the annual walk
fundraiser, which has been sponsored by
Travelers since 1997. Bob Flowers is a
managing director at Travelers Insurance.
He participates on the Travelers Walk MS
fundraising team. Bob Flowers was named
the state’s individual top event fundraiser
last year, having raised more than $40,000
to help assist 6,000 Connecticut residents
living with MS, a potentially debilitating
disease. White, who works for Travelers
Insurance, is also a member of the Travelers
Walk MS fundraising team. To date the
Travelers team has raise more than $50,000
toward a $70,000. The April 21 walk event
attracted more than 9,500 participants,
about 1,100 walkers in Manchester. To date
the 2013 Walk MS, presented by Travelers,
has raised $985,000 toward a $1.4 million
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$1.38 million. Individuals and teams are
encouraged to continue raising funds
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for prizes. Suggestions for increasing
fundraising totals include, launching letter
writing campaigns, utilizing social media
networking sites to reach out to contacts
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such as backyard barbeques, beer and
wine tastings, and theme parties. For more
information on Walk MS, presented by
Travelers, to donate to a team or for ideas
on Do It Yourself Fundraising, visit www.
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Submitted photo.
Running With Dr. Rachel
By Rachel Tambling
On Patriots’ Day 2013, a
running friend and I had the honor of
being spectators at the Boston Marathon.
We started the day bright and early,
driving to Riverside and then riding the
T into Newton. We were super excited,
runners heading to our holy land. Our
plan was to walk out to the course in Newton, around
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we emerged from the T just past mile 20, at the foot of
Heartbreak Hill. We had plenty of time before the elite
athletes were expected to arrive, so we walked around
and took
pictures.
Our
excitement
only grew
as the race
updates
indicated
that the lead
runners
were
getting
closer and
closer.
Before
long, the
lead group
was in front
of us. It was
amazing to be so close to the elite athletes I admire.
The women’s and men’s leader groups passed by,
and then came the rush of sub-elites and “normal people”.
It was thrilling. I loved cheering for the runners and seeing
their joy as they came up and over Heartbreak Hill. We
watched for hours, cheering and ringing our bells. Back at
the T station, we began getting text messages. Friends and
family were worried, asking if we were safe, ok, and not
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had killed some, hurt hundreds, and ruined what, for many
people, was an amazing, empowering, and beautiful day.
In the midst of great achievement and euphoria, there was
all this horror and suffering. It was so incongruous that it
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how something so terrible could happen at an event that is
truly about the power of the human spirit.
Since the tragedy in Boston, I’ve been keeping up
on the news, following the recovery efforts, and generally
staying informed. What’s been most inspiring to me is the
amazing outpouring of support for the One Fund Boston
and the Boston Strong/Run for Boston campaigns. All
across the country (and the internet), runners are coming
together to support the citizens of Boston, law enforcement,
and our running brothers and sisters who were impacted
by the tragedy. I have heard so many stories of individuals
and groups who have been inspired to donate, run, and
speak out to
support our
community. I
hope that you
will join me
in donating to
the One Fund
Boston and in
supporting the
many charities
that are
helping Boston
recover.
Boston
is strong and
resilient.
Runners are
strong and
resilient. We
will not be
defeated. We are united. We are Boston.
Each column will feature tips and training
advice inspired by reader questions. Send your questions
to Coach@DrRachelRuns.com – to see your questions
answered in print.
2013 Boston Marathon photo by Rachel Tambling
3
Survivor Tools
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To pronounce that
these are challenging times is
an understatement. How do we
describe the tenor of our times?
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horrors. I look around in shock and disbelief as more
violence erupts everywhere. In this era of ever increasing
access to every imaginable injustice instantaneously, I
search for some survivor tools to help me cope.
To fortify myself I look to my heroes for
inspiration, courage and bravery. One hero who
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Another hero is Dr. Sandra Steingraber who stood up
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to protest their attempts to pollute an entire region. She
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civil disobedience.
Both of these
women stood up for what
they believe, which is the
right for us as humans
to live in a nontoxic
environment. Their
actions demonstrate great
resolve and provide all
of us with role models
for how to tackle
overwhelming issues. We
live in times of confusion,
greed, violence and
disruption. These role
models give me hope, as
I am vulnerable and can
lapse into negative thinking and become frozen in fear and
anxiety.
Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and
conservationist who authored Silent Spring. This book,
published in 1962, brought environmental concerns to the
forefront and fueled opposition to the chemical companies.
It triggered a shift in national pesticide policy and led to
the ban on DDT and other pesticides. She also inspired a
national grassroots environmental movement that led to the
creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. No
surprise here that she is one of my heroes.
My newest hero is another biologist, Dr. Sandra
Steingraber, the mother of two children. I like the brainy
intelligent types. She blocked access to a compressor
station site where Inergy Company plans to store gases in
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civil disobedience against the risks of underground storage
of liquid gases.
Incidentally, this company has been out of
compliance with the EPA regs for the past three years.
Still they were able to obtain a permit to discharge
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release hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere. “Who,
Steingraber asks, is trespassing?”
My hero, Dr. Steingraber maintains that her action
is to protest Inergy’s trepass on our air, water and the safety
for all residents. This lone woman, like my other hero, is
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the interests of us all. We want a healthy environment
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business at any cost.
Whenever I feel stopped by what I see as injustice
or irrational malignant behavior, I think of these two
powerful women. They charge on with a faith and trust in
themselves and what they know. They are not intimidated
by a bigger entity. Sandra Steingraber did not back down,
and chose jail to make a bolder statement. The pesticide
companies with their highly paid experts did not silence
Rachel Carson.
I rely on these role models to give me that boost
when I feel that I am powerless and feeble. Their fortitude
is such an inspiration and catalyst that I forge ahead on the
paths they have set before me. One person, especially a
puissant woman, can and has made a gigantic difference.
So what is holding me back? This question I ponder as I let
out a sigh. “Nothing!” I hear vigorously from Rachel and
Sandra.
My resolve is to listen to my heroes as I blaze my
own trail through the disappointments and turmoil that face
me, and face all of us, in the Pandemonium of our world
in 2013. It is always
easier for me if I have a
blueprint or example to
guide me. Another piece
of good news is that I
know I will not run out
of mentors. I witness
brave pioneers standing
in the winds of bedlam
and havoc with a clarity
and sense of purpose that
juice me with a shot of
adrenaline. When I am
having a low power day,
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on hand that never fails
to ignite my passion and
spur me onward.
I encourage and invite you to grab a hero (feel
free to use either of my favorites), especially when gloom
and doom are knocking at your front door or peering into
your window.
Added Bonus—You can hear more about Rachel Carson,
the mother of the environmental movement. The Ashford
Conservation Commission is sponsoring a Rachel Carson
Celebration/bird walk on May 18. Rachel Carson was born
May 27 and we are having an early birthday honoring
for this quiet-spoken nature warrior. The event starts
at Ashford Memorial Park off Route 44 at 8:30am for
a bird walk and ends up at the Ashford Town Hall for
refreshments and a short talk about her impact on birds, the
environment and all of us.
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860-429-2629
297 Pumpkin Hill Road, Ashford, CT 06278
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By David Corsini
As Delia went off to work,
she mentioned that the light in the
exhaust fan of her bathroom was
blinking and needed to be changed. I
had worked on this unit before and,
although I remembered that it was
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I could do it. After getting a stool from the basement,
I pulled the unit down from the ceiling, unfastened the
spring from one side of the unit, and began to wrestle the
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failed to remove the heavy glass lens from the unit. As I
was about to get the bulb out, the lens fell to
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day, but at least I got the bulb out.
After picking up the big pieces and
vacuuming, I was on hands and knees with
a wet cloth towel followed by on hands and
knees with a wet paper towel. Then it was time
to tell Delia, but how should I do it—phone
call or e-mail? I decided it might be “safer” to
go for e-mail to give her time to process the
situation before a direct conversation. Soon a
response came back and she was sympathetic
to my predicament. Whew!
Then I was off to True Value
Hardware. Sales staff at True Value had helped
me in the past and I was known by sight to
several people there. I didn’t expect True Value
to have the lens, but perhaps they could order
one or have a whole new unit that would work
with the fan that was already installed. One can dream!
At True Value I found one of the staff I knew and
he assured me that the part could be ordered but the model
number was needed. The brand name (Neuco) was on the
parts I brought (the only parts that could be detached) but
of course the model number was not there. So I would
have to go home and look for the model number on the
part that was permanently installed. But while I was at
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Wouldn’t you know, there were no two-pronged 26 watt
bulbs.
I was not discouraged and thought that perhaps
the bulb was a little special and that the electrical supply
place off of Main Street was sure to have the bulb. The
electrical supply store probably did have it a year ago
when it was still open, but now it was boarded up. So
the alternative seemed to be Home Depot, where they
would sure have the bulb and maybe even the Neuco unit.
The Home Depot greeter directed me to the bulb section.
There was a huge bulb section but no two-pronged 26 watt
and, in addition, the two-pronged 13 watt bulb that was
available had prongs oriented in a different way. Things
were starting to look bad.
At this point I thought that perhaps I could get
a whole new unit and just replace the pieces I needed. I
went to the exhaust fan section and found that Home Depot
did have Neuco units but since I didn’t have my model
number, I couldn’t make progress. So I went home to look
for the model number and wait for Delia.
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of our fan, head off in search of a solution. First we
stopped at Sears Hardware but there was no bulb and
no exhaust units. Then we went to Home Depot. Delia
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section. For all the Neuco units the model numbers were
not even close. We could have bought a whole new unit
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require both taking out the working fan and certainly an
electrician.
Not wanting to get that complicated and admit
defeat, we headed back to True Value with the model
number to order the lens and perhaps the bulb. Delia
searched for the bulb and in a discontinued product section
low and behold she found two Sylvania two-pronged
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the correct way. They were only 13 watt but perhaps
that would do for the time being. Since the bulbs were a
discontinued item selling at a discount, we bought them
both just to be sure to have a spare.
Delia grew up in Argentina with a grandfather that was
creative in solving problems with material things. When
things do not come out as originally planned, rather than
UHGR'HOLDZLOOÀJXUHRXWDZD\WRPRGLI\WKHRULJLQDO
plan to make things work. She is excellent at making
“lemonade”. Delia put her creative mind to the situation
at hand and decided that instead of ordering a new lens,
we could get a piece of Plexiglas. The saleswoman agreed
WRFXWDSLHFHRI3OH[LJODVWRÀWWKHRSHQLQJDQG'HOLD
found some tape to put on the Plexiglas to give it a “frosted
glass” look. The saleswoman used a scrap of Plexiglas so
there was no charge even though labor was involved—nice
people at True Value.
So we went home with the two bulbs, the free
Plexiglas cut to size and tape. Delia set to work with the
tape and Plexiglas as I attempted to plug in one of the
bulbs. It was two-pronged with the correct orientation but
WKHUHZDVQRZD\WKHEXOEZRXOGÀW1RZZKDWZHUHZH
to do with these useless bulbs? Probably I should have
just sent them to the Smithsonian. (What I really did was
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I unobtrusively placed them onto a vendor’s table and
walked away. This maneuver also works with old toasters!)
I looked on-line and found what appeared to be
the exact correct bulb for our fan. I could buy two bulbs
for $6.34 but the shipping would be $8.96. At this point in
our sage, $15.30 didn’t sound too bad. But before I put in
the credit card number, Delia got irritated with the insanity
of the bulb issue and said that if the fan still worked, she
would just do without the bulb. The fan worked!
,PDQDJHGWRÀWWKHIDQFRYHUEDFNLQWRWKH
brackets without falling off the stool. But as I was getting
back off the stool, the stool wobbled. I thought: “Boy, a
fall from the stool would have been the “perfect” ending
to this adventure.” Next time I should use the small stepladder from the barn. Hopefully, there will not be a next
WLPHIRUWKLVÀ[WXUHEHFDXVHQRZWKHEXOELV´FKDQJHGµIRU
good. And please, if you need a bulb changed, don’t call
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.
Victorian Days in Willimantic
6XEPLWWHGE\/\QQ'XYDO
Where Readers & Authors Meet
..................................................................
2075 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT
*
www.bookstore.uconn.edu
..................................................................
Sign up for our email announcements
of visiting authors and other literary events.
Go to www.bookstore.uconn.edu and click on General Books.
And committed to that belief,
we strive, everyday to make a difference in the lives
of those we serve.
A good bookstore is vital to a community.
On May 31, June 1 & 2, the 15th
annual Victorian Days event in Willimantic,
presented by the Willimantic Victorian
Neighborhood Association, will once again
take visitors on a trip back to the 19th
century to experience the beautiful Victorian
lifestyle once enjoyed in Willimantic, where
\RXZLOOÀQGPRUHWKDQ9LFWRULDQVW\OH
homes on the National Register of Historic
Places. The tour will also feature three in
North & South Windham and Windham
Center. Concerts, walking tours of Windham
Mills, Willimantic Cemetery, museums and
gardens as well as Victorian Teas all add to
the enjoyment of the weekend.
Victorian Days kicks off on Thursday,
May 30 with a Walking Tour of historic
North Windham. On Friday, May 31 the
public is invited to a free-admission Britishstyle Classic Brass Band Concert at the First
Congregational Church, 199 Valley Street.
This is the church’s gift to the community
funded by the Carl Webber fund.
On Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2,
Victorian homes/historic sites will be open
for guided tours. New this year (Saturday
only) - Tours of 18th century homes in
historic Windham Center. Weekend events
include tours of 10 Victorian homes,
Willimantic Camp Meeting Association
6DWXUGD\ WKH KLVWRULF (ONV /RGJH 2OG
Willimantic Cemetery (Sunday), Windham
Mills (Saturday), Windham’s historic Town
Hall, the Garden on the Bridge, and the
Wright’s Pleasant Street garden.
The Windham Textile & History
0XVHXP ZLOO IHDWXUH D /DWLQR 0LJUDWLRQ
Exhibit. The Windham Historical Society at
Jillson House will be open. The Northeast
Connecticut Railroad Museum will be open,
featuring train rides. Visitors will also enjoy
Concerts, Museum Exhibits, Art Shows, and
the always delightful Victorian Teas. For
information, advance tickets, reservations
for tea, or to receive a brochure with full
details and the Summer Events Calendar,
call 860-428-7573. Also visit www.
victorianwillimantic.org
PLANNING A NIGHT OUT?
CAFEMANTIC
5
)URP7KH*URXQG8S%X\LQJ/RFDO,Q&RQQHFWLFXW
Spring Rhubarb
By Dennis Pierce
Spiced Rhubarb Pickles
Spring is a season that
sometimes is missed. Much like a
magic trick with all of your attention
watching the grass turn a vibrant green
you neglect to see that your yard is
now full of daffodils. What marks spring for me is the
ÀUVWGD\RIÀVKLQJVHDVRQ:KHQP\VRQZDV\RXQJHU
we would get out of bed while it was still dark and walk
through our backyard to the Fenton where fellow anglers
would be tugging on their waders, adjusting their rods
and waiting for the 6:00am starting time. Some years we
were successful and others
not. What came out of that
spring ritual is that when my
son returns from college each
year he pulls out the waders,
VHDUFKHVIRUDOORIWKHÀVKLQJ
paraphernalia and drives
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that were not tricked by this
year’s, “guaranteed to catch
the big one” shiny lure or that
fat worm that was a skinch
too slow when the shovel
revealed its hiding spot.
“From the Ground
Up” is an appropriate title
for this column. Each spring there are two early bloomers
in my bedraggled garden, a crop of chives and the
HYHUODVWLQJUKXEDUESODQW5KXEDUEÀUVWFDPHWRWKH8QLWHG
States in the 1820s, entering the country in Maine and
Massachusetts and moved westward with the European
Settlers. A rhubarb plant was found in Massachusetts in
the kitchen garden at Thoreau’s birthplace. Rhubarb was
a major crop for the progressive farm town of Concord,
Massachusetts. In those days rhubarb was usually
considered to be a vegetable; however, in the United
States, a New York court decided in 1947 that since it was
used in the United States as a fruit, it was to be counted as
a fruit for the purposes of regulations and duties. It appears
that a side effect was a reduction on imported rhubarb
tariffs, as tariffs were higher for vegetables than fruits.
My early memories of spring rhubarb came from
turning over a neighbor’s garden and eyeing the broad leaf
plants that ran along the garden’s edge. As kids we grabbed
those old thick mason jars and stole granulated sugar from
our mother’s cupboard, dipping the chunky stalks into the
jar we perhaps encountered what our children now know,
as “sweet tarts”. Scrunched faces, puckered lips we added
more sugar, not caring about any potential cavities. We just
hoped it would offset the tang that came with each bite.
/RRNLQJEDFNRQWKHUHVRXUFHVRIRXUIRUHIDWKHUV
I offer the following recipe that might show up at a family
picnic or maybe as an impromptu snack.
Ingredients:
2 pounds rhubarb
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups cider vinegar
RUDQJH=HVW<RXFDQDOVRSHHODQGFKRSYHU\ÀQHO\LI
you do not have a zester)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
4 teaspoons mustard seed
6 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
Cut the rhubarb into 1 inch
pieces. Do not peel.
Dissolve the sugar in the
vinegar and add the orange
zest and juice of the orange,
the ginger, mustard seeds,
cloves and cinnamon stick.
Add the fruit and bring to the
boil. Simmer carefully for 15
minutes.
Strain the fruit and reduce
the liquid by boiling until
syrupy. Mix it with the fruit.
Sterilize jars in boiling water.
Pour the pickle into sterilized jars, top off with syrup and
seal.
Take jars and re-submerge into boiling water
Cool jars
The delight of spring may be so brief that we
here in Quiet Corner joke “Oh, spring...yeah, I think last
year it was on a Monday.” As we look around us we need
to take the deliberate time to take it all in. Comedian
Robin Williams captured the feeling in his quote, ““Spring
LVQDWXUH·VZD\RIVD\LQJ´/HW·VSDUW\µ6RHQMR\WKH
weather and all that blooms now when you have the
moment. May I also suggest that you keep your eyes open
for the Garden Gate Plant Sale and the F.F.A plant sale at
E.O. Smith. These are two great ways to get a head start on
your summer garden.
If you are looking for recipes or want to suggest
someone who should be featured in my column please feel
IUHHWRFRQWDFWPHDW&RGÀVK#\DKRRFRP,QWHUHVWHGLQ
reading more about the local food scene or checking out
some new recipes using local ingredients? Follow on my
blog at: http://everydayisaholidayeverymealisa banquet.
blogspot.com/
A Reading By Curbstone Press Poets
Textile Museum Tag Sale
Submitted by Judith Doyle
On Thursday, June 13, 2013, there’ll be a reunion
reading in the Julia de Burgos Park by 5-6 of the poets
that were published by Curbstone between 1975 and 2000.
Poets participating include James Scully, Joan Joffee Hall,
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at press time.
This event is occurring on a date other than the
ongoing Poetry in the Park events held the 4th Thursday
each month from May through August. All readings begin
at 6:00 PM.
The Julia de Burgos Park is located in Willimantic
at the corner of Jackson street and Terry Ave. All the events
are free and open to the public. Please join us.
The Windham Textile and History Museum will
be holding a spring tag sale on Saturday May 4 and Sunday
May 5, 2013 from 9am – 1pm each day. The sale will be
held in the Dugan Building at 153 Union Street.
Ashford Farmers Market
Opening day May 19th
Sundays 10am-1pm
Pompey Hollow Park
Route 44, Ashford
(across from the Town Hall)
Enjoy fresh CT-grown products and
meet your local farmer
Swiftwaters Artisans’ Co-op
866 Main St. Willimantic
Fiber
860-456-8548
Leather
Willimantic’s
Stone
Favorite
Photography
Creative
Fine Art
Showcase
Glass
& Gift Shop
Jewelry
Paper
You may drop off donations at the Textile
Museum located at 411 Main Street on Saturday and
Sunday, April 20 and 21 and April 27 and 28 from 10am to
SP3OHDVHQRFORWKLQJHOHFWURQLFVRUÀWQHVVHTXLSPHQW
For more information, contact the Windham
Textile & History Museum, 411 Main Street, Willimantic,
CT 06226. 860-456-2178. www.millmuseum.org.
Pfalzgraf Pfarm
*IJKWKS4QJZIZa*MVMÅ\
On Saturday, May 11th and Saturday, May 18th, Pfalzgraf
3IDUPZLOOEHDW$VKIRUG·V%DEFRFN/LEUDU\SDUNLQJORW
during library hours. A donation will be made for every
herb, vegetable, perennial or hanging basket sold. We will
continue these donations for all sales at our stand on Route
44, 65 Ashford Center Road, for Memorial Day weekend,
and the following two Sundays-June 2nd and June 9th. We
have 17 varieties of tomatoes, 31 varieties of herbs, assorted vegetable plants, perennials and hanging baskets.
Our hours are: Memorial Day Weekend-Sat. May 25, 1-4;
Sun. May 26, 10-4; Mon. May 27, 10-4
Sun. June 2, 10-4 and Sun. June 9, 10-4
6
What’s Your Problem?
%\'RQQD1LFROLQR/&6:
Do you have a relationship
issue about which you have a
question? Are you concerned about
something you’ve been experiencing,
or that a friend or family member
has been going through? Are you
dealing with depression, anxiety, or
addiction issues? Would you like to get some free advice
IURPDWKHUDSLVWZLWKRXWWKHWLPHRUÀQDQFLDOFRPPLWPHQW
of actually going into therapy? I am happy to answer
\RXUTXHVWLRQV<RXUFRQÀGHQWLDOLW\ZLOOEHSURWHFWHG
and pseudonyms are welcomed. Questions can be sent
to: WhatsYourProblemNeighbor@gmail.com. The email
messages will go to me directly and will be used only for
this column. Please know that questions may need to be
edited for brevity due to space limitations, but if they are
edited I will do my best to keep the heart of your question.
Dealing with Grief
Share Curiosity.
Read Together.
w w w. r e a d . g o v
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As I write this, I am grieving. Yesterday, I found
out that someone I know had committed suicide. This
is a person who I knew as kind, devoted, generous and
spiritual. Someone who had welcomed me into his home.
Someone who had others around him who loved him. In
the past few months, he had been going through a very
GLIÀFXOWWLPHDQGZDVFOHDUO\VWUXJJOLQJ7KRVHZKRZHUH
able to reached out to him to offer support. Sadly, it was
not enough.
Grieving for someone who has committed suicide
can be different than grieving for someone who has died in
a different way. In addition to the feeling of sadness over
losing the person, there may also be feelings of guilt over
not having been able to prevent it, or anger at the person
for their action, and for leaving you in emotional pain.
Sometimes this is compounded by feeling guilty for feeling
angry, since many people unrealistically believe that we
should only have positive thoughts or words for those
who have died in whatever way. But there are no “right”
or “wrong” feelings in grief. It is normal and even healthy
to go through a wide range of emotions, and attempting to
suppress these feelings can complicate healing.
Grief is not a linear process. There is no point at
which we should or necessarily will be “over it.” Many
times those who are grieving will start to feel a sort of
guilt after a while, feeling like they “should” have resolved
their grief and moved on. Unfortunately, this is sometimes
encouraged by those around the grieving person, who will
give the same message - “Aren’t you past it yet?” “You
need to get on with your life.” Often those who give this
PHVVDJHKDYHDGLIÀFXOWWLPHGHDOLQJZLWKJULHIRURWKHU
GLIÀFXOWIHHOLQJVWKHPVHOYHVDQGVHHLQJVRPHRQHDURXQG
them continuing to experience this makes them very
uncomfortable.
(However, “complicated grief” is a condition
ZKHUHJULHIDIIHFWV\RXVRGHHSO\WKDW\RXKDYHGLIÀFXOW\
functioning in your normal activities for six months or
more. If this is the case, then it is very likely not only the
loss of the loved one, but also something else in your life
which is affecting you, and it is best to see a professional
counselor.)
In actuality, grief seems to be more like
ripples in a pond. Typically, it hits most strongly in the
beginning, and over time the periods of intense grief
have more distance between them, and the grieving
person increasingly experiences a feeling of resolution or
acceptance. But it’s not uncommon for someone who lost
a loved one many years ago to suddenly feel a wave of
grief when unexpectedly coming across a reminder of that
person, or at the time of an important date: the anniversary
of the event, the person’s birthday, a certain holiday, etc.
Initially, especially in the case of an unexpected
and tragic death such as a suicide, there is likely to be a
feeling of numbness or disbelief. I experienced my own
numbness as a sort of strange, heavy, calm feeling. There
was the thought that, “I should probably be really upset
about this but I’m not feeling it” coupled with a feeling
of being weighed down in some way. My movements felt
slow, although I was able to carry out my usual activities.
When the grief started to come, it came in
waves. I’d burst out crying, then be okay for a while, do
something else, interact with people and feel sad but okay.
Then the tears would come again, along with the thoughts
of the apparent senselessness of this act, and the pain of
his loved ones left behind. I thought of the person I knew,
and how he would never again offer me a seat in his home,
or offer me some fruit or a slice of his birthday pie. I
wondered what his last thoughts were and what he could
have been thinking or feeling to make him commit such an
act.
Telling the story of the loss is one way that we
process it. Especially in the case of an unexpected death,
our minds grapple with some way to make sense of the
situation. One way that we naturally do this as humans is
to verbalize it, and this may happen repeatedly. At times
the grieving person may be surprised at their desire to
talk about the incident, and it can even be challenging to
those around her. In this case, outside of having a very
understanding friend, the grieving person may want to tell
the story of their grief through journaling, scrapbooking
RUSDUWLFLSDWLQJLQDORFDO*ULHIDQG/RVVVXSSRUWJURXS,
realize as I am writing this column that for me this is part
of my grieving process.
There is no one way to grieve, and no set time
in which to do it. Everyone grieves in their own way and
their own time. Try to be compassionate and patient with
\RXUVHOIRUWKRVH\RXNQRZZKRDUHJULHYLQJ/HWWKH
IHHOLQJVFRPHLQFOXGLQJWKHGLIÀFXOWRQHVOLNHDQJHUDQG
know that if you are angry, it doesn’t mean that you love
the person any less.
There are no easy answers here, no simple way to
make sense of a person’s life tragically cut short by their
own hand. For some, their religious or spiritual beliefs may
offer some sense of comfort or ability to make meaning of
such an event. But there’s no getting around the pain of it.
It just is. As I sometimes say to my clients when it seems
that everything is wrong and there’s no easy solution,
“Sometimes things just suck.”
And yet in the midst of this pain, our lives go on.
We eat and sleep and go to work or school; we connect
with friends and family; we play with our pets; we pay
attention to events in our world. The morning after I
had gotten this terrible news, I did my working member
hours at the Wiilimantic Food Co-op, bagging wonderful
smelling cocoa and talking to friends about the awful
events in Boston. I spent time with a friend, cried, and in
the afternoon worked on creating an area of my yard to
DWWUDFWDQGVXSSRUWEHHVDQGRWKHUEHQHÀFLDOLQVHFWV7KH
weather was warm and I noticed my pear trees were just
starting to blossom.
Deadline for June issue: Friday, May 17th.
7
New Housing Rehab Program Offers Opportunities
For Volunteering and Homeownership
Submitted by Kate Fortier
:,//,0$17,&²7KH$FFHVV&RPPXQLW\
Action Agency is looking for participants in two new
community-based programs: the Windham Area Hour
Exchange and Housing Now!.
The Windham Area Hour Exchange is a
time bank — a network of individuals, businesses, and
organizations that exchange services using a time-based
currency, where one hour of service equals one “time
dollar”.
Housing Now! is a new program that
rehabilitates multi-family homes using a combination
of paid and volunteer labor, including Hour Exchange
member labor, to provide safe and affordable
homeownership and rental housing to the region’s working
families.
Access is seeking volunteers and
homeownership applicants for Housing Now! as well as
individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in
joining the Windham Area Hour Exchange.
Housing Now! uses a combination of local
contractors, volunteer labor, in-kind materials support, and
monetary donations on its projects. Construction recently
JRWXQGHUZD\RQWKHÀUVW+RXVLQJ1RZSURMHFWKRPHDW
128 Main Street in Willimantic. This two-family home
was partially condemned when purchased by the Access
Community Action Agency last fall. Upon completion of
the project, which is anticipated in the coming fall, the
property will be completely renovated from foundation
WRQHZURRÀQJDQGGUDPDWLFLQWHULRUFKDQJHVLQEHWZHHQ
Additional multi-family home rehabilitations will follow.
Multi-family homes rehabilitated Housing
Now! will be sold to income-eligible homebuyers
who meet program requirements, including proof of
SUHTXDOLÀFDWLRQIRUDPRUWJDJH+RPHRZQHUVFDQ
contribute toward their down payment through “sweat
equity” — hours worked on the rehabilitation project
VLWH³DQGZLOOUHFHLYHOLWHUDF\WUDLQLQJLQÀQDQFH
homeownership, and landlord roles and responsibilities.
Homeowners will further offset their monthly housing
costs by renting remaining units in the home, agreeing to
do so at an affordable rate to income-eligible tenants.
Volunteers are needed to work on project sites
in a variety of ways, from aid in all phases of demolition,
FRQVWUXFWLRQDQGÀQLVKZRUNWRVLWHFOHDQXSODQGVFDSLQJ
transportation, refreshments, and more. Individuals,
teams representing businesses and organizations, and
youth groups are encouraged to inquire. Experience is
appreciated but not required; and individuals wishing to
learn construction-related skills are welcome.
Alex Flis, a tenant of the current project
site temporarily relocated during construction with
Access’ assistance for the safety of his family, is eager
to return to the home once renovations are complete and
is volunteering on the construction site to help move the
process along. There isn’t much he will miss about the
way his family’s apartment used to be. “The walls and
windows weren’t well insulated. It was really noisy in the
apartment,” he remembers. “And, we can’t wait to have
straight, sturdy stairs,” he shares, referring to the narrow,
steep, and dangerously code-violating stairs that once
ZRXQGSUHFDULRXVO\WRWKHLUVHFRQGÁRRUEHGURRPV´:H
all fell on them. My feet are humongous, so I don’t want to
miss a step!”
Housing Now! is aimed at turning blighted
and non-code-compliant properties into safe, functional,
attractive homes; fostering emotionally invested landlords
who live in the properties they rent; facilitating budgetsmart homeownership and apartment rental for families;
and building neighborhood and community connections
through project and Hour Exchange participation.
Housing Now! is made possible in part by
DFRQWULEXWLRQRIIURP&RQQHFWLFXW/LJKW
Power for the development of affordable housing in
Windham through the Housing Tax Credit Contribution
(HTCC) administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance
Authority. Project partners include architect Dan Wright &
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,QFRI0DQVÀHOG
Housing Now! project volunteers and project
contractors can join the Windham Area Hour Exchange
— a free time bank network of individuals, organizations,
and businesses — where they can earn “time dollars” for
the hours they volunteer on Housing Now! project sites.
They can then spend those time dollars with other Hour
Exchange members to get services they need. Services
available within the Hour Exchange are determined by
member offerings and cover a wide variety of service
categories, including but not limited to computer,
FRQVWUXFWLRQDQGKRPHUHSDLUEXVLQHVVDQGRIÀFH
JDUGHQLQJDQG\DUGZRUNÀWQHVVDQGQDWXUHFODVVHVDQG
tutoring, moving and hauling, transportation, pet care,
and more. Membership is free and open to all individuals,
business, and organizations regardless of income,
residency, age, physical ability, or other circumstance.
New Housing Now! project volunteer and Hour
([FKDQJHPHPEHU$OOLQD/RYHWWLVDUHFHQWDGGLWLRQWRWKH
programs, and describes the variety of reasons she decided
to join other volunteers and Hour Exchange members on
the Housing Now! project site. “For me,” she shares, “it
means connecting with like-minded people, spending my
time meaningfully, being a part of good changes, gaining
skills and knowledge, getting a work out, and having a
chance to be an owner of an affordable house.”
Housing Now! project volunteer and Hour
([FKDQJHPHPEHU(YD&VHMWH\HFKRHV0V/RYHWW·V
sentiments, citing the program as an opportunity to “build
community relationships and share resources” while
“satisfying self and satisfying others.” When asked what
she would say to people on the fence about joining the
Hour Exchange and volunteering for Housing Now!, she
asks, “What are you waiting for?”
If you are interested in volunteering on
Housing Now! project sites, joining the Windham Area
Hour Exchange, and/or inquiring about the application
process for Housing Now! home ownership, please contact:
Kate Fortier, Director Housing Now!
Windham Area Hour Exchange-Access Community Action
Agency, 1315 Main Street, Suite 2, Willimantic, CT 06226
2IÀFHH[W
Buy fresh!
Support our local farmers.
Kerri Gallery presents
“Still Life Pieces”
The artwork of Dorothy Hall
May 8 – June 21
Opening reception May 9
From 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Gallery hours: Wed, Fri 10 - 6pm
Thurs 10 -2 & 5-8; Saturday 11-3
861 Main St. Willimantic (860) 456-8615
lets you give students at risk of dropping out the boost they need to make it
through high school. Because over 30% of students in the U.S. aren’t graduating.
And they’ve got a lot more to tackle than just their schoolwork.
LOVE- a noun and a verb,
something we need to feel
and do.
8
Our Community Calendar
Compiled by Dagmar Noll
May 1. Wednesday
Theatre: Hairspray, 7:30 p.m. Musical at Harriet S.
-RrJeQseQ 7Keatre, 3 HillsiGe 5G, MaQs¿elG. 33.
crt.uconn.edu
May 2, Thursday
Kids: (YeninJ Story 7ime, :30 p.m. )or aJes 3..
:illimantic 3uElic /iErary, 0 Main St, :illimantic.
5eJister: 030. ZZZ.ZillimanticpuElicliErary.orJ
Theatre: Hairspray, 7:30 p.m. See .
May 3, Friday
Live Music: Sepiatone, =oo )ront and sinJersonJZriter
Martin 7elle, :00 p.m. :illimantic 5ecords, 7 Main
Street, :illimantic. )ree. ZZZ.Zillimanticrecords.com
Theatre: Hairspray, :00 p.m. See .
Puppetry: 8&211 SprinJ 3uppet Slam, :00 p.m. 0:00
p.m. . 3alace 7Keater, 7 Main St, StaIIord. 0
0339 bimp.uconn.edu
May 4, Saturday
Tag Sale: 8sed booN, taJ baNe sale, 7:00 a.m. :00
p.m. 3roceeds bene¿t tKe )riends oI tKe 3omIret 3ublic
/ibrary. 3omIret &ommunity ScKool &aIeteria, 0 3omIret
St, 3omIret &enter. 0937 ZZZ.pomIretlibrary.orJ
Fundraiser: 7th $nnual 7oZn :ide 7aJ Sale, 7:00 a.m.
3urchase map oI taJ sales at 3omIret &ommunity School
3arNinJ /ot, 0 3omIret St, 3omIret &enter. Sponsored
by the 3omIret 3roprietors Zith proceeds bene¿ttinJ
3omIret¶s 300th Anniversary.
Fundraiser: 7e[tile Museum Sale, 9:00 a.m. :00 p.m.
'uJan Mill, Àoor , 3 8nion Street, :illimantic. 0
7 ZZZ.millmuseum.orJ
History: 1athan Hale Homestead opens Ior the
season, :00 p.m. :00 p.m. *uided tours oI one oI
&onnecticut¶s most patriotic Iamilies, 99 South Street,
&oventry. . 0797 ZZZ.ctlandmarNs.orJ
Live Music:7ideland 7he &loth Irom 3hiladelphia and
SZiIt :aters Irom :illimantic, 7:00 p.m. ,ndie rocN at
:illimantic 5ecords, 7 Main Street, :illimantic. )ree.
ZZZ.Zillimanticrecords.com
Dancing: Quiet Corner Contra Dance, lesson at 7:30
p.m., dance Irom :00 p.m ± :00 p.m. Called dancinJ
by Steve HoZland Zith )irst 7ime StrinJ %and. 30.
All ages. Clean shoes. Pot luck snacks at break. Storrs
Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Rd, Storrs.
quietcornercontra.tripod.com
Theatre: Hairspray, :00 p.m. See .
May 5, Sunday
Tag Sale: 7e[tile Museum Sale, 9:00 a.m. :00 p.m. See
.
Community Food: Pop 8p Market, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
2 local Iood vendors tomato, herb, perennial and ÀoZer
greenhouse, ¿ddle music 7ai Chi. 7opmost Herb )arm,
2 North School Rd, North Coventry. 072239.
topmostherbIarm.com
Community Food: Sunday Cheese Tasting, 11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m. Sample Spring cheeses and meet the baby
goats. %ring a picnic. %eltane )arm, 9 Taylor %ridge Rd,
/ebanon. 02027 ZZZ.beltaneIarm.com
Theatre: Hairspray, 2:00 p.m. See 1.
Live Music: Christine 2hlman Rebel Monte], :00
p.m. )undraiser Ior The Covenant Soup .itchen and
)ood Pantry. St. Paul¶s Episcopal Church, 220 9alley
St, :illimantic. 1. Tickets: 029220 ZZZ.
breadbo[Iolk.org
May 7, Tuesday
Kids: Tot Time, 10:111:00am. Ages 3 under Zith
a caregiver. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd,
AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
May 8, Wednesday
Skill Share: *arden Club oI :indham Monthly Meeting
Zith Michelle Mc/ure on Herbal Remedies, 7:00 p.m.
Meet at the %ernard Room at :indham Community
Memorial Hospital, Mans¿eld Ave, :illimantic. ZZZ.
gardencluboIZindham.org
May 9, Thursday
Gallery Reception: Equine Art oI Helen Scanlon, :00
p.m. 7:00 p.m. The /ily pad *allery, 3 North St,
:illimantic, CT. 0233223 ZZZ.lilypadart.com
Kids: Evening Story Time, :30 p.m. See 2.
May 10, Friday
Plants: Plant SZap, :00 p.m. Contact the library Ior more
inIormation on this program. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey
HolloZ Rd, AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.
org
Skill Share: Composting Zith :orms, 7:00 p.m. )ree and
open to the public. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ
Rd, AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Reunion: <oung Alumni %ash, :00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.
Classes oI 20032012 are invited to one more party at
%larney¶s, 9 High St, :illimantic. RS9P by : 0
302 or alumni#easternct.edu
May 11, Saturday
Bus Trip: 9isit the %ron[ %otanical *ardens in NeZ <ork,
all day. Travel Zith the *arden Club oI :indham. 70
includes bus ticket and garden admission. ,nIo: 0
017 ZZZ.gardencluboIZindham.org
Skill Share: *oat Husbandry Class, 7:30 a.m. :30
p.m. Handson instruction limited to people per class.
10. Reservations: ptrubey#earthlink.net. %eltane )arm,
9 Taylor %ridge Rd, /ebanon. 02027 ZZZ.
beltaneIarm.com
Tag Sale: )undraiser Ior Soroptomist ,nternational oI
:illimantic, :00 a.m. :00 p.m. 12 :indham Rd,
:illimantic. soroptomistZillimantic.org
Kids: All About )rogs, 1:00 p.m. Stories, craIts and a tea
party celebrating the Irog story at the :indham Te[tile History Museum, 11 Main St, :illimantic. . Register:
0217 ZZZ.millmuseum.org
Community Food: Mother¶s Day Tea, :00 p.m. Nathan
Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street, Coventry. 1012.
Register: 072917 ZZZ.ctlandmarks.org
May 12, Sunday
Community Food: Sunday Cheese Tasting, 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. See May .
May 13, Monday
Kids: CraIternoon, 2:00 p.m. :00 p.m. Drop in and make
a springtime craIt in the Children¶s Department, %abcock
/ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd, AshIord. 0720
ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Film: ³Seven Days ,n May´, 7:00 p.m. SuspenseIul 193
thriller about attempted coup d¶etat in the 8SA. )ree
popcorn, drink and discussion at 88 )elloZship oI Storrs,
Spring Hill Rd, Storrs.
May 14, Tuesday
Kids: Tot Time, 10:111:00am. Ages 3 under Zith
a caregiver. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd,
AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
May 15, Wednesday
Live Music: %read %o[ )olk Artist ShoZcase, 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. )undraiser Ior The Covenant Soup .itchen and
)ood Pantry. St. Paul¶s Episcopal Church, 220 9alley St,
:illimantic. ZZZ.breadbo[Iolk.org
May 16, Thursday
Book Discussion: %ookto¿lm discussion oI ³:ives
and Daughters´, by Eli]abeth *askell, 3:30 p.m. PomIret
Public /ibrary, 9 PomIret St, PomIret. 09237
Kids: Evening Story Time, :30 p.m. See 2.
May 17, Friday
Skill Share: Certi¿ed ChainsaZ Training Ior the Novice
Amateur, :00 a.m. :00 p.m. SaIe and Productive
ChainsaZ 8se Through ³The *ame oI /ogging´ at
the Nathan Hale State )orest, Coventry. 100120.
Registrations is ¿rst come, ¿rst serve: 093 or
sbroderick#ctZoodlands.org
Book Discussion: ³Room´ by Emma Donoghue, 2:00
p.m. Copies alZays available at the library. NeZcomers
Zelcome. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd,
AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Kids: Teddy %ear Sleepover, :30 p.m. %ring your Iavorite
stuIIed animal Iriend to the %abckock /ibrary Ior bear
stories, songs, and craIt. Tuck him in Ior a night¶s sleep
and ask him about all the Iun he had Zhen you pick him
up on Saturday betZeen 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Copies
alZays available at the library. NeZcomers Zelcome.
%abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd, AshIord. 0
720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Film: Nosey Parker, :30 p.m. %lend oI documentary and
narrative about a CT transplant in 9T. PomIret Public
/ibrary, 9 PomIret St, PomIret. 09237
May 18, Saturday
Antiques: *lass %ottles ShoZ and Sale, :00 a.m. 2:00 a.m. Coventry *lass :orks, 29 North River Road,
Coventry. Admission: 1. ,nIo: lsamot#co[.net ZZZ.
glassmuseum.org
Walk: %ird :alk led by Steve Morytko in Honor oI
Rachel Carson, :30 a.m. Meet at AshIord Memorial
Park oII Pompey Road on Rt , AshIord. )olloZed by
reIreshments and short talk about Rachel Carson, author oI
³Silent Spring´, at AshIord ToZn Hall Irom 10:1 a.m. 11:00 a.m. RS9P by 1: 029229 or birdeye123#
charter.net
Gardening: Annual Plant Sale, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
%ene¿t by and Ior the *arden Club oI :indham at
:indham High School CaIeteria, High St, :illimantic.
ZZZ.gardencluboIZindham.org
Festival: RiverIest, 10:00 a.m. River Àoat, kayak ramp,
ZhiteZater demo, Iood, live music, games Ior kids,
and oneman damathon. 1020 Ior River )loat and
.ayak Ramp. Preregister Ior Àoat at 9:00 a.m. or email
ZilliZhiteZater#gmail.com. All other activities are Iree.
%ridge Street, :illimantic. ZZZ.ZillimanticZhiteZater.
org
Live Music: Music in May, 11:00 a.m. :00 p.m. %ring
your best pri]eZinning picnic to the :aldo House, 9
:aldo Road, Scotland. . 0001. codeamigo.com
scotlandhs
Skill Share: :illimantic )ibre Club, 12pm. .nit,
Crochet, Ielt, spin All levels, all ages Zelcome to learn
and share. Come any time during club time. SZiIt :aters
Artisan¶s Cooperative, Main St, :illimantic. 0
)ree. No registration. ZZZ.sZiItZaters.org
Dance: Spring Dance ShoZcase, :00 p.m. Capitol Theater
Arts Academy, 9 Main St, :illimantic. ,nIo and tickets:
03
Dancing: Spring )ling )undraiser, 7:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.
%ene¿t Ior the Partners in ,ndependence Adult Mentoring
Program at the )rench Club, 11 Club Road. Music by
%ruce -ohn the Eagleville %and and -ohn Hinckley the 2utriggers. 20. 07270 [11 Zaimct.org
May 19, Sunday
Community Food: AshIord )armers Market 2pening
Day, 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. :eekly market every Sunday
through 2ctober at Pompey HolloZ Park on Rt. across
Irom the AshIord ToZn Hall. )resh produce, meats, herbs,
soaps and massage. ZZZ.ashIordIarmersmarket.com
Skill Share: 23rd Annual )arm Day, 10:00 a.m. :00 p.m.
Demonstrations and goods by oldtime reenactors. admission. :aldo House, 9 :aldo Road, Scotland. .
0001. codeamigo.comscotlandhs
Community Food: Sunday Cheese Tasting, 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. See May .
Dance: Spring Dance ShoZcase, 2:00 p.m. See 1
Live Music: Take Note, 3:00 p.m. %ene¿t concert
Ior the Mans¿eld Community Playground at Storrs
Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Rd, Storrs.
takenote.org
May 20, Monday
Kids: Preteen %ook Discussion oI ³HoZ to Steal a Dog´,
by %arbara 2¶Connor, :30:30pm. %abcock /ibrary,
2 Pompey HolloZ Rd, AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.
babcocklibrary.org
May 21, Tuesday
Kids: Tot Time, 10:111:00am. Ages 3 under Zith
a caregiver. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd,
AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Book Discussion: Tag Man, by Archer Mayor, 2:00
p.m. 3:00 p.m. NeZcomers Zelcome. %abcock /ibrary,
2 Pompey HolloZ Rd, AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.
babcocklibrary.org
Book Discussion: Tag Man, by Archer Mayor, 7:00 p.m.
PomIret Public /ibrary, 9 PomIret St, PomIret. 092
37
May 25, Saturday
Skill Share: *oat Husbandry Class, 7:30 a.m. :30 p.m.
See May 11.
History: :alking Tour oI Mills oI StaIIord Springs, :00
p.m. Meet on Main Street near the rotary. . Register Zith
sponsor :indham Te[tile History Museum: 0
217 ZZZ.millmuseum.org
Live Music: PomIret ,nvasion: Sally Rogers, HoZie
%ursen -eII Davis, 7:30 p.m. )undraiser Ior The
Covenant Soup .itchen and )ood Pantry. St. Paul¶s
Episcopal Church, 220 9alley St, :illimantic. 10 Tickets:
029220 ZZZ.breadbo[Iolk.org
May 26, Sunday
Community Food: Sunday Cheese Tasting, 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. See May .
May 28, Tuesday
Kids: Tot Time, 10:111:00am. Ages 3 under Zith
a caregiver. %abcock /ibrary, 2 Pompey HolloZ Rd,
AshIord. 0720 ZZZ.babcocklibrary.org
Live Music: Animal /over, Heats oI )ormation, 2ne
Hundred <ear 2cean and )or Everest, 7:00 p.m. ,ndie
rock shoZ at :illimantic Records, 7 Main Street,
:illimantic. )ree. ZZZ.Zillimanticrecords.com
May 30, Thursday
Kids: Evening Story Time, :30 p.m. See 2.
Our Community Calendar cont. on next page
9
Our Neighbor’s Poetry
,6/$1(&,$
)22/,6+,6/$1'
By 5RVH/DXULH)LHOG6DQWLDJR
By 5RVH/DXULH)LHOG6DQWLDJR
Que isla tan bella de donde salen mis escogidos,
/RVFXDOHVODOODPDQQXHVWUDLVOD
/DLVODGHOHQFDQWR
What a beautiful island where my chosen come from,
Which they call it, our island,
The island of enchantment.
Es la isla,
/DFXDOOHVLJRKDEODQGR
y la sigo guardado con mi manto.
It is the island,
Which whom I keep on speaking to
And I still protect with my mantle.
$TXtSUHSDURDORVTXHÀHOPHQWHPHEXVFDQ
\VHOHYDQWDQFRQÀUPH]D
delante de esta isla
tan necia.
Here I prepare those who faithfully seek me
DQGULVHZLWKÀUPQHVV
in front of this island
so foolish.
Hay isla bella, pero mira que necia eres.
Isla necia ¿Por qué no entiendes?
Isla necia ¿Por qué no comprendes?
Isla necia ¿Por qué no me escuchas?
Acaso estas ciega en
ver cuanto más la maldad aumenta?
Oh beautiful island, But look at how foolish you are.
Foolish island. Why do not you understand?
Foolish island. Why do not you comprehend?
Foolish island. Why do not you listen to me?
Perhaps you are blind in seeing
how much more wickedness increases?
El sufrimiento de familia es a cada hora,
y los muertos a cada minuto
o sino a cada segundo.
Ya no se oye felicidad en las calles,
todo es miedo, todo es oscuridad.
The families suffering is at every hour,
and the dead at every minute
or if not at every second.
Now you don’t hear happiness in the streets,
everything is fear, everything is darkness.
/DVOiJULPDVGHPLLVODVRQWDQWDV
que forman el tamaño del mar.
El amor aquí era tan inmenso como el universo,
ahora el amor es como el estado más frío,
del mundo entero.
The tears of my island are many,
that form the size of the sea.
The love here was as immense as the universe
now the love is like the coldest state,
of the entire world.
Isla necia eres,
las horas, los minutos, y segundos se te acortan,
SRUTXHVRQPX\SRFRVORVTXHÀHOPHQWHPHEXVFDQ
Foolish island you are,
the hours, the minutes, and seconds are shorten to you
Because there are very few who faithfully seek me.
Te e hablado por muchos de mis escogidos pero,
Sigues necia,
¿No entiendes?
¿No comprendes?
y
¿No escuchas?
I have spoken to you by many of my chosen ones but,
You still foolish,
You do not understand?
You do not comprehend?
and
You do not listen?
Muchos dicen que soy amor,
Sí, Soy Amor,
y aun haciendo maldad te sigo amando.
Many say I am love,
Yes, I am love,
and yet still doing wickedness I keep loving you.
Pero Isla necia sigues siendo,
Porque todavía no entiendes, no comprendes
y no escuchas,
But foolish island you are still being,
Because you still do not understand, do not comprehend,
and do not listen.
Que a través de mi amor traigo corrección.
That through my love I bring correction.
Bella, bella isla eres.
Pero Necia, tan necia eres.
Beautiful, beautiful island you are.
But foolish, foolish you are.
El tiempo se te acorta,
Y no cambias Isla Necia,
Acaso, ¿Se te ha olvidado que no puedo ser burlado
Your time shortens
and you do not change foolish island,
Perhaps, Have you forgotten that I cannot be deceived?
Editor’s Note:
5RVH/DXULH)LHOG6DQWLDJR·VSRHPUHFHLYHGWKH
2013 Julius Sokenu Poetry Prize Award
in the Spanish Heritage Speaker category.
Ten Quinebaug Valley Community
College (QVCC) students were awarded
prizes in several categories. The awards
were presented at the Capitol Theater in
Willimantic on April 11th with Marilyn
Nelson as guest poet. I hope to feature the
winning poets and their poems in future
issues of Neighbors. I want to thank Jon
Andersen, Professor of English, for his
help. I will ask each poet the same two
questions: Why do you write poetry and
why do you attend QVCC? Here is a
photo of 5RVH/DXULH)LHOG6DQWLDJRDQG
her answers.
I write poetry because it is a unique gift that God
has given me where I can show my inner
feelings; where people can see what I see,
feel what I feel, where I can reach out and
touch someone’s life and make them think
critically in general about life.
I attend QVCC because I want to obtain
my Administrative Business Management
Degree. As a wife, mother of 3, working a
full-time employment and a full-time student,
49&&RIIHUVDÁH[LEOHVFKHGXOHZLWKD
variety of options and opportunities where I
can use my abilities, talents, and skills in the
best way possible to strive every day for my
success in completing my degree.
Our Community Calendar-cont. from previous page
May 31, Friday
Theatre: ³/HQG0HD7HQRU´SP$PDGFDSFRPHG\
E\7KH:LQGKDP7KHDWUH*XLOGDW7KH%XUWRQ/HDYLWW
7KHDWUH0DLQ6W:LOOLPDQWLF
ZZZZLQGKDPWKHDWUHJXLOGRUJ
Theatre:³<RX&DQ¶W7DNH,WZLWK<RX´SP$
PDGFDSFRPHG\DWWKH%UDGOH\3OD\KRXVH)URQW6W
3XWQDPZZZWKHEUDGOH\SOD\KRXVH
org
10
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By Dagmar S. Noll
would consult my large stack of books until I found the
right technique to sort out their problem. Sometimes,
In the March issue of Neighbors, William Hooper
it would take many months or even years to sort out a
provided an overview of a popular aspect of Transition:
particularly obscure trouble, and it was during these times
re-skilling. Re-skilling is the relearning of “old time” skills that I began to imagine a group not where I imparted my
currently exported to far-away communities, performed
knowledge as a sole teacher to beginners, but where many
by oil-driven machinery, or simply ones we don’t bother
knitters of all levels freely gave and received knowledge
with at all anymore, like making repairs that seem more
and support as needed.
expensive in time or money than buying a replacement.
7KLVÀQDOLGHDIRXQGDKRPHZKHQ6DOO\
Here is my experience with re-skilling locally.
Pappenheimer from Swift Waters Artisans’ Cooperative
Ten years ago, a friend gave me a trendy
DSSURDFKHGPHODVWIDOOWRKHOSKHUVWDUWD´ÀEUHFOXEµLQ
beginner’s knitting book. Modern garments sold in stores
the store. She took the idea of a knitting circle to another
are mostly knit by machines, but hand-knitting was
level, opening it up to crocheters, spinners, and felters,-enjoying a resurgence of popularity as a hobby. It is also is
UHDOO\DQ\RQHZRUNLQJZLWKÀEUH'XULQJDQHDUO\PHHWLQJ
a great example of a skill that was of practical importance
VSLQQLQJZKHHOVÁHZFURFKHWKRRNVKRRNHGNQLWWLQJ
to humans mere decades ago and, in a world with no oil,
needles clacked and carding brushes cleaned long alpaca
would become valued as necessary once again in every
ÀEEHUV3HRSOHRIDOO
community.
skill levels and ages
Receiving that knitting book inspired me! I knit
gathered to share
a lot by myself for a few years, using books to learn new
what they knew.
stitches and techniques. Using this method, I became
The highlight of my
SURÀFLHQWDWWKHEDVLFVEXWLWZDVDZKLOHEHIRUH,UHDOO\
day was receiving a
engaged other knitters and discovered that most people
spinning lesson from
learn to knit--indeed, learn most crafts-- from someone at
DQLPEOHÀQJHUHG
their side showing them the motions, correcting mistakes,
teenager. Right away,
DQGDQVZHULQJTXHVWLRQV/HDUQLQJDFUDIWLQDVRFLDOJURXS another member
DSSUHQWLFHVKRSNLWFKHQRUÀHOGLVDQROGSUHOLWHUDF\ZD\ began bringing her
of relaying knowledge, so it is no wonder many people
box of extra yarn
respond well to this kind of learning.
and needles for
In Eastford, where I grew up, an elder visited
beginners to each
the elementary school library once a week during recess
session. Finally, in
to teach willing kids crochet. There I learned to hook a
April, a community
chain and form a single crochet. I made several tiny square
member donated a
blankets to heap on the beds in my dollhouse. I don’t
stack of knitting and
remember my teacher’s name--I was very young--but I
crocheting patterns
do remember her willingness to pass on her knowledge
to the club.
and her patience. I use the skills she freely shared with me
This kind of share is just one model for reto this day in my crochet work. Remembering this early
skilling. Several months ago, I got the idea to have a
and fruitful experience, I began to imagine holding a free
mending circle at my house, thinking that having a few
knitting instruction group in Willimantic.
friends over to chat while we worked with would inspire
As I got better and better at knitting, friends
me to get some buttons sewed on. When I mentioned this
would ask me to help them with a stitch, or to repair
idea to Sarah Winter of Clothworks, she offered to hold
something knit or crocheted that was damaged, and I would the circle at her shop, where we would have access to
GRVRIUHHO\,I,GLGQ·WNQRZKRZWRÀ[WKHLUSUREOHP,
sewing machines, scraps of cloth and notions. We got far
more than that! The casual circle very quickly evolved
into a mending workshop under the guidance of Sarah, as
HYHU\RQHKDGEURXJKWWKHLUPRVWGLIÀFXOWSURMHFWVDORQJ
perhaps hoping to tap into her expertise. While there was
some sharing across the group, we primarily learned from
Sarah, a jack-of-all-textile-trades willing to share her
knowledge with us. Sarah and I put together two more
mending workshops, one on repairing buttons, buttonholes,
DQGSRFNHWVDQGDQRWKHURQÀ[LQJ]LSSHUVZLWKDKDQGIXO
of friends participating in each. These new skills gave all
FRQÀGHQFHLQUHSDLULQJFORWKHVXOWLPDWHO\NHHSLQJWKHP
around for a long time.
Another re-skilling model is a learning share,
where no one knows much of anything, but everyone wants
to read up, ask around, get together, and give whatever
the skill is a try. For instance, I have been thinking about
creating a wattle fence, but I don’t know of any wattlebuilding experts or classes in this neck of the woods. I have
been thinking it might be fun to print out some instructions
off the internet and just give it a try with some friends. A
couple have already shown interest in joining me.
Finally, there are local classes and workshops
teaching “old skills” at farms, museums, and sometimes
even stores. Two great places to explore old skills are the
Windham Textile & History Museum and Old Sturbridge
Village. The Windham Textile and History Museum holds
regular Kids Club events that often include a re-skilling
element like sewing, weaving and knitting. Old Sturbridge
Village teaches classes on the goods produced in most of
the shops in their outdoor museum. Think about what you
have to teach or what you would like to learn and get a
group together! Chances are, someday your community
will thank you.
Willimantic Fibre Club meets on the third
Saturday of each month from noon to 4 p.m. at Swift
Waters Artisans’ Cooperative, 866 Main Street,
Willimantic. Membership is free, informal and open to
all ages, levels of experience, and areas of interest. Come
and leave any time within club hours. For more info, call
860-456-8548. For information on Kids Club Events at
the Windham Textile & History Museum, visit www.
millmuseum.org or call 860-456-2178. For information on
classes at Old Sturbridge Village, visit www.osv.org and
look up “Crafts at Close Range”, or call 1-800-733-1830.
May Programs at the Connecticut Audubon Center in Pomfret
Finding Quiet Corners
Exhibit by Judy Doyle
Opening Reception, Sun., May 5, 2-4pm
Exhibit and Sale through May 31
Killingly resident, Judy Doyle presents landscapes in pastel
DQGZDWHUFRORU6KHÀQGVMR\LQKHUSHUVRQDOGLVFRYHU\
of our area’s quiet corners, and in painting the treasured
colors, textures and natural forms of our lakes, rivers and
country roads. She has been a three-term president of the
Northeastern Connecticut Art Guild and is a member of the
Connecticut Pastel Society and Cape Cod Pastel Society.
$SHUFHQWDJHIURPDOOVDOHVZLOOEHQHÀWWKH&HQWHU([KLELW
will be held at the CT Audubon Center at 218 Day Road in
Pomfret Center. Free
ATTENTION TEACHERS!! SCIENCE IN THE WOODS
635,1*6&+22/352*5$06
&KHFNRXWRXUVSULQJÀHOGWULSVIRUHOHPHQWDU\DQGPLGGOH
school classes. Aligned with the Connecticut science
standards, our programs pack in four hours of hands-on
activities on our 700 acre sanctuary. Spring titles include:
Birding 101, Signs of Spring, The Dirt on Soils, Watershed
Study, Nature Journaling & Photography at Trail Wood
and more. For pricing and scheduling contact Sarah at
sheminway@ctaudubon.org
Third Sunday Walk
May 19, at 2 p.m.
Stretch your legs, breath in that early spring fresh air
and look for signs of spring on the sanctuary with
Fran Barnaski, longtime volunteer, tracker and nature
photographer. Bring your camera if you are so inclined.
Meet at the CT Audubon Center at 218 Day Road in
Pomfret Center. Cost: Free members; $5 nonmembers.
After School Nature Club
May Session:
Grades K-2: Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21, & 28
Grades 3-6: Thurs, May 9, 16, 23, & 30
More info and forms on our website or call 860 928-4948
to sign up your child.
Afternoon Bird Walks
Thursday, May 9, 5 p.m. & Thursday, May 23, 5 p.m.
This walk is designed for the person who is not up for early
morning walks or works during the week. May is our peak
spring migration time, so anything is possible. Meet at the
CT Audubon Center at 218 Day Road in Pomfret Center.
Cost: $5 members/$10 nonmembers.
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Saturday, May 11, 8 a.m.
Join Andy Rzeznikiewicz as we search the expansive
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large grasslands, shrublands, and mature trees along the
Quinebaug River should provide great locations to observe
nesting and migrating birds. Meet at the CT Audubon
Center at 218 Day Road. Cost: $7 members; $12 nonmembers.
Wednesday Noon Walks
May 1 through May 29
Join Connecticut Audubon Society staff for fresh air,
exercise, good company and naturalist lessons along
the way. Seniors and parents with babes in backpacks
welcome. Meet at the Center at 218 Day Road in Pomfret
Center. Fee: Free to CAS members; $3 non-members.
Thursday Morning Walks
May 2 through May 30 at 8:30 a.m. Join us for a walk
to who knows where. Different every week but always
interesting. Meetat the CT Audubon Center at 218 Day
Road in Pomfret Center.
members.
Early Morning Bird Walks
Tuesdays, May 7 thru May 28 at 8 a.m.
Come join Andy Rzeznikiewicz as he points out the
various bird species. We have access to over 1,650
acres of protected land. Wear drab colored clothing and
bring binoculars (on some occasions a spotting scope is
useful). Meet at the CT Audubon Center at 218 Day Road
in Pomfret Center. Cost: free CAS members; $5 nonmembers.
%LUG:DWFKIRU3HRSOHZLWK/LPLWHG0RELOLW\: Wednesday,
May 8, 8 a.m.
Driving to scouted locations, we will observe numerous
bird species from the road or in your vehicle. Andy hopes
many of his long time followers who felt they were no
longer able to attend his regular walks will join him on this
new program. Birds will be called in to the group! Call to
860 928-4948 to pre-register. Cost: $5 members; $10 non-
Mother’s Day Bird Walk
Sunday, May 12, 8 a.m.
Invite your mother, grandmother, sister or aunt out to enjoy
the assorted colorful birds of spring. Many species can be
found by this date including bobolinks and scarlet tanagers.
Meet at the CT Audubon Center at 218 Day Road in
Pomfret Center. Cost: $5 members; $10 non- members;
Mothers Free!
Fourth Annual - 20 Warbler Day
Wednesday, May 15, 6 a.m. – 2p.m.
:HDUHJRLQJWRDWWHPSWWRÀQGVSHFLHVRIZDUEOHUVLQ
one day. This is the peak of warbler migration. We will be
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we documented 21 species. Call ahead at 860 928-4948 to
register. Cost: $15 members/$30 nonmembers.
Thompson Bird Walk
Thursday, May 16, 8 a.m.
:HZLOOH[SORUHDQHZDFUHV:\QGKDP/DQG7UXVW
preserve in Thompson, CT. The property contains many
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continued on next page
11
continued from previous page
the preserve. Expect Prairie Warblers, Brown Thrasher,
and Black-throated green warblers. Meet at the CT
Audubon Center at 218 Day Road in Pomfret Center. Cost:
$7members/$12 nonmembers.
Woodstock Bird Walk
Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m.
:HZLOOH[SORUHD:\QGKDP/DQG7UXVWSUHVHUYHLQ
:RRGVWRFN&7/DVW\HDUZHIRXQGQHVWLQJ&DQDGD
Warblers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and possible nesting
Hooded Warblers. Meet at the CT Audubon Center at 218
Day Road in Pomfret Center. Cost: $7members/$12
nonmembers.
Eighth Annual - 90 Bird Day
Sunday, May 19, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
285*2$/WRKHDURUVHHDWOHDVWVSHFLHVRIELUGV
in nine hours or less. We will be visiting many locations
within a 10-mile radius. Interesting sightings from past
years include: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Bald Eagle, and
Hooded Warbler. Bring lunch, drinks, and a snack. Cost:
$20 CAS members; $35 non-members. Call 860 928-4948
to register!
Bird Banding Demonstration
Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m.
Join Andy Rzeznikiewicz and fellow bird banders to see
various songbirds up close. You will see how we gently
catch them, record data, and safely release the birds.
Participants may release a bird. Meet at the CT Audubon
Center at 218 Day Road in Pomfret Center. Cost: $5 CAS
members; $10 non-members.
/RUL0F.HQQDLQ&RQFHUW: Friday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m.
A Massachusetts native,
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long been a staple of
the Boston folk music
scene. Her exquisite
songwriting caught the
attention of Nashville
and the likes of faith
Hill, Alison Krauss,
Tim McGraw and
Keith Urban to name a
few. She sings of love,
family, community and
place. We can’t wait
to hear her voice soar
here at the Center! Call
860 928-4948 to reserve
your seat.
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SUMMER CAMP STARTS JUNE 17! 8 WEEKS OF
SUMMER FUN – AGES 6 – 13
Go to our website www.ctaudubon.oror call 860-928-4948
for brochure.
75$,/:22'
93 Kenyon Road, Hampton, CT 06247
The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary: open to the
public from dawn to dusk seven days.
Teale’s writing cabin and study are open by appointment.
Call (860)928-4948
After School Nature Club
May Session: Wednesdays – May 8, 15, 22 & 29
Call 860 928-4948 to more information or to sign up your
child.
Full Moon Walk
Saturday, May 25, 7:00 p.m.
Meet at the Information Shed at Trail Wood at 93 Kenyon
Road in Hampton, CT.
Second Sunday Walk
Sunday May 12, 2 p.m. Happy Mother’s Day!
Trail Wood Bird Walks
Thursday, May 9, 8 a.m. & Thursday, May 23, 8 a.m.Join
Andy Rzeznikiewicz as he points out various birds at
Trail Wood and a nearby preserve. In May expect to
ÀQG+RRGHG:DUEOHUV0HHWLQWKH9LVLWRU·V3DUNLQJ/RW
at Trail Wood at 93 Kenyon Road in Hampton. Cost:
Members FREE and $5onmembers.
12
DYNAMIC ANDERSON & ROE PIANO DUO
Where to Find the Neighbors paper
TO APPEAR AT HSO
Submitted by Katie Bonner Russo
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Carolyn Kuan, the Hartford Symphony
Orchestra will explore the jazzier side of
classical music at Rhapsody in Blue on
Thursday, May 9 – Sunday, May 12, 2013
at the Bushnell Center for the Performing
Arts. The concert will feature the dynamic,
young Anderson and Roe Piano Duo, with
Elizabeth Joy Roe performing Gershwin’s
Rhapsody in Blue and Greg Anderson
performing Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm”
Variations for Piano and Orchestra.
The program will open with
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Vaughan Williams’ Sixth Symphony,
a poignant work which, according
to some music historians, expresses
the emotions of a post-World War
II England. After intermission,
the program will feature two of
Gershwin’s works for solo piano
and orchestra- Rhapsody in Blue
and “I Got Rhthym.” Following
this, Anderson & Roe will team up
for a series of four hand, two piano
encores including “Ragtime alla
Turca,” Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise,”
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Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, and
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Known for their adrenalized
performances, original compositions, and
notorious music videos, Greg Anderson and
Elizabeth Joy Roe are revolutionizing the
piano duo experience for the 21st century.
Described as “Fred Astaire and Ginger
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the keyboard” (Southampton Press) and
“the intense synchronization of genius”
(ThirdCoast Digest), Anderson & Roe aim
to make classical music a relevant and
powerful force around the world. Their
most recent album, When Words Fade
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acclaim in 2012 and spent nearly a dozen
weeks at the top of the Billboard Classical
Charts, while their wildly creative, selfproduced music videos have been viewed
by millions on YouTube. Highlights of the
2012-13 season include tours in China,
Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, and their
orchestral debuts with the Hartford,
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orchestras.
Mr. Anderson and Ms. Roe
met in 2000 as freshmen at The Juilliard
School and formed their dynamic musical
partnership shortly thereafter. They have
since toured extensively, with notable
recitals in Vancouver, Beijing, Seoul,
Singapore, Italy, and most major US cities,
as well as in nearly every New York City
venue imaginable, from Carnegie Hall to
children’s hospitals. Together they have
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NPR’s All Things Considered and From
the Top, APM’s Performance Today, the
Cliburn Concert Series, the Gina Bachauer
International Piano Festival, and dozens of
summer chamber music festivals.
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HSO MASTERWORKS SERIES:
5+$362'<,1%/8(
Featuring Carolyn Kuan, conductor;
Anderson & Roe Piano Duo – Greg
Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe
Thursday, May 9, 2013 @ 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 10, 2013 @ 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 4th, 10-4pm
10% OFF
One
piece of
Pottery
Bolton
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Chaplin
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Pine Acres Restaurant
Columbia
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Columbia Package Store
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Saturday, May 11, 2013 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 12, 2013 @ 3:00 p.m.
Belding Theater @ The Bushnell Center for
the Performing Arts
Program: George Gershwin: Rhapsody
in Blue and “I Got Rhythm” Variations
for Piano and Orchestra; Ralph Vaughan
Williams: Symphony No. 6 in E minor;
plus four hand piano encores including
“Ragtime alla Turca,” Rachmaninoff’s
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Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, and Piazzolla’s
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Ticket Information: Tickets to this concert
range in price from $35.50-$70.50. Student
tickets are $10. On Saturday, May 11, $25
tickets are available for patrons age 40
and under. To purchase tickets or for more
information, please contact HSO ticket
services at (860) 244-2999 or visit www.
hartfordsymphony.org.
Rhapsody in Blue is made possible with
support from Concert Benefactors Hartford
Hospital and The Cly-Del Manufacturing
Company. The 2012-2013 Masterworks
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and The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts
Foundation, with additional concert
support from Bank of America, Cigna, and
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0F/DQH&KDULWDEOH7UXVW7KH+DUWIRUG
Symphony Orchestra’s 2012-2013 Season
is sponsored by Saint Francis Hospital and
Medical Center.
Open Studio/Sale
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Ashford
Ashford Spirit Shoppe
Wooden Spoon Restaurant
Terry’s Transmissions
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KSK Food Market
Refreshments Live Music
11:00-1:00
Guitarist
Jim Harkins
Celebrating 26 years
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