Sunday, October 30, 2016

Writers Invited to Collaborate in Art Exhibit at Russell Library

Adel Johnson's painting is one of several on exhibit at the Russell Library this month.
Writers are invited to collaborate in the exhibit. 
This week, the Art Guild of Middletown has begun its collaboration with writers in a unique exhibit at Russell Library.

The Art Guild's members have already hung several paintings which serve as inspiration for writers.

Writers are invited to write poetry, prose or comments in reaction to a painting. The written pieces should be submitted to Russell Library's Programs and Publicity Office by November 3rd. They may also be emailed to: rduprey@russelllibrary.org. Indicate the painting to which the written piece is referring.

All written submissions will be printed and posted next to the paintings by the art opening on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00pm. The exhibit will run throughout the month of November.


Saturday, October 29, 2016

Modeling: A Runway American Dream -- The Colonel Carries On #55

By Mary-Hedda Liddell-Lambe and O. Felix Kulpa
Epigraph: “‘Clinton Inc.’ is the wrong term. ‘House Clinton’ — like House Lannister in ‘Game of Thrones’ — is closer to the mark.” --Jonah Goldberg

Alpha. “Esperanto continues to give me something I find nowhere else, an irrational sense of directly belonging  to the world.” --Jorge Camacho

Beta. “The single most important thing about trading — aside from the other single most important things — is learning emotional control. Discipline. Objectivity. The ability to confront error. The ability to see that what you’ve done is not correct and to adjust accordingly.” --Bruce Kovner

Friday, October 28, 2016

The Buttonwood Tree Presents Pop & Soul Friday, Rockin Halloween Show by the Dr. Steve Band

Friday night The Buttonwood Tree will be buzzing with the sounds of young talent as Orice Jenkins leads a fine crew of local musicians. Reserve your seat or get more info

orice-jenkins

Orice Jenkins & Chad Browne-Springer

Friday, October 28        8:00 - 10:00 pm

Orice: Soul (subgenres: Jazz, Hip-Hop, Classical)
Chad: Pop (Electronic, R&B, Alternative Pop, Alternative World)

PERFORMERS & INSTRUMENTS
Orice Jenkins – voice, guitars, piano, percussion
Chad Browne-Springer – voice, guitar, electronics
Nathan Davis – trombone, piano
Marc Wager – guitar
Joel Hewitt – bass
Jocelyn Pleasant – drums, percussion

Aligned with Source: An Interactive Workshop & Meditation  by Annaita Gandhy

Saturday, October 29        10:30 am - 12:00 pm

 THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: CHANNELING HIGHER FREQUENCIES - A Journey of the Senses

 

The Dr. Steve Band Halloween Show

Saturday, October 29          8:00 - 10:00 pm

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 The Dr. Steve Band is four fine musicians offering one of a kind, original music. Noted for catchy grooves and unique, surprising lyrics the band will celebrate Halloween with scary/funny songs like “Voodoo War,” “Witchin’ Time,” and “Twisted Men.” There will also be Halloween games and prizes!                Reserve your seat, find out more here


Refreshments are available, bookstore is open and free books to attendees of concerts. Free parking behind It's Only Natural market and on Main Street after 6 pm.

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center
605 Main Street / PO Box 71, Middletown, CT 06457
www.buttonwood.org / 860.347.4957

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Water Leak Staunched

From Mayor Dan Drew.
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I’d like to update you on our status following today’s water main break.

Our water treatment facility is like the heart of the water system and the main that broke today carries away from it massive amounts of treated water. We estimate that we lost approximately 1,000,000 gallons in about an hour. That’s a volume we’ve never before experienced.

'It Can't Happen Here' is Happening at Russell Library



Connecticut Heritage Productions will present It Can’t Happen Here at Russell Library on October 29, at 1:00pm as part of a nationwide reading.
In 1936, Sinclair Lewis adapted his novel into a play under the auspices of the Federal Theatre Project, and theatres across the country opened productions on the same night. The novel describes the rise of Berzelius 'Buzz' Windrip, a U.S. Senator who is elected to the presidency after promising drastic economic and social reforms.
On October 27, 1936, 'It Can't Happen Here' opened in 22 theaters in 18 cities across the nation. The play, which was adapted by Sinclair Lewis from his best-selling novel of the same name, eventually ran for a total of 260 weeks and was seen by more than 316,000 people.

Hallie Flanagan, director of the Federal Theatre Project - a program of the WPA, and the only National Theatre the U.S. has ever had - said this about the play:
'We want to do 'It Can't Happen Here' because it is about American life today, based on a passionate belief in American democracy. The play says that when dictatorship comes to threaten such a democracy, it comes in an apparently harmless guise, with parades and promises; but that when such dictatorship arrives, the promises are not kept and the parade grounds become encampments.'
On the 80th anniversary of the first theatrical adaptation of Lewis’s novel, and in cooperation with the Sinclair Lewis Estate, Berkeley Rep is organizing a nationwide reading of a new adaptation of the novel during the week of October 24-29. Theatres, universities, and libraries across the United States have been invited to organize free public readings of the new adaptation by Tony Taccone and Bennett S. Cohen.
“Lewis’ novel reads like it was ripped out of today’s headlines,” says CHP’s Artistic Director Teresa Langston. “Whether he’s describing Buzz Windrip, the demagogue who wins the presidency based on the promise of making our country great again, or Doremus Jessup, a liberal newspaper editor who simply waits too long to take Windrip seriously, Lewis’ understanding of our political system was precise and far reaching.”
This nationwide reading is made possible thanks to the generous support of Barbara and Rodgin Cohen and Orin Kramer, with the cooperation of the Sinclair Lewis Estate.

All events at Russell Library are free.

Water Down Update

From Mayor Dan Drew.
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Update:

A major 24-inch water main burst this morning off of Silver Mine Road near the Rushford Center and CVH. This is like a burst artery near your heart and the difficulty from it was that already-treated water was gushing rapidly out of our system.

The consequence of this is that water was draining quickly out of our reserve tanks and the treatment plant could not keep up supplying the necessary water for the rest of the community. When this happens, pressure drops and supply is cut off to some places. It also got air into the pipe and resulted in reverse flows in the pipe. That leads to discolored and/or cloudy water.

We isolated the main and shut it down and the system is now coming back to normal with water levels and pressures building up.

We have begun flushing the water lines throughout the city – beginning in critical areas like near Middlesex Hospital – to clear the lines of debris. This debris and turbidity is normal and non-toxic, but as a precautionary measure we advise you not to use cloudy water. If you must use it, boil it first. Get some bottled water for your use today.

We expect pressure to return to normal approximately in the early afternoon. We’ll be flushing areas of pipe throughout the next several days. We must do this slowly to avoid rapid pressure changes and further bursts of pipe.

Here are some pertinent facts about what we’ve done and what you’ll experience today:

-We are asking people to avoid using the tap whenever possible to give us time to replenish pressure and flush pipes. That said, if water is clear it can be used safely.
-We have mutual aid tanker trucks stationed at each of the city’s three fire departments as a backup precaution in the event of a structure fire. Southeastern Connecticut towns have sent an additional five tanker trucks and two hose tenders that will have MPD escorts in the event of a fire. This provides us with tens of thousands of gallons of backup water for fire suppression.
-Our Emergency Operations Center is open with a unified command
-Middlesex Hospital is diverting ambulance patients to other hospitals and we are coordinating additional potable water tanker deliveries for hospital patients.
-The CT DPH will be collecting water samples in conjunction with our water and Health departments to ensure water quality.
-Most of the Westfield section of town will be relatively unaffected because it is being fed off of an already-treated tank at the Higby facility.
-Middletown public schools, Vinal Tech, Middlesex and all of our parochial schools are closed so that we can flush and replenish pipes.

I will keep you posted throughout the day. Thank you!

City Water Down

From Mayor Drew
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We're experiencing a very serious water main break on a main feeder line that is affecting water pressure in large portions of the city. Crews are working on getting the leak isolated and the feeder line to it shut down now. Think of it like a bleeding artery. Once it's clamped the rest of the body will get more blood. They can then repair the broken main. The break is in the area of the Rushford Center and is fed by the Roth treatment plant, though it has the potential to affect people that don't live in the immediate vicinity. Those in areas of high elevation or nearby have a higher likelihood of being affected. We'll get everything back up as quickly as possible. I'll keep you posted. Thank you.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Cat Tales ~ Cat of the Week ~ MILO!!

Cat Tales ~ Cat of the Week!

MILO!

Gender:  Male
Breed:  Domestic Short Hair
Color:  Brown Tabby
Age:  11 years old

My name is Milo. I have a very sad story to tell. My owner was elderly and became very sick and was hospitalized. Her daughter had plans to euthanize me but another member of my family grabbed me the day of my euthanasia and brought me to Cat Tales, where I was left in a carrier with a note. I was so terrified and very confused when I was first brought into the shelter. I still am sad and miss my owner so much. I really need a home badly. I am a very sweet boy. Once I trust you, I love to be pet and love attention. I'm terrified of other cats and dogs. I need a quiet home with a patient person who will give me time to adjust from all the chaos. I've been through so much but am still a very good, loving boy. I'd love to snuggle up in bed with you. Please consider adopting me.


Watch our TV commercial:  https://youtu.be/Y1MECIS4mIc







One Week Left To Register Online, By Mail, and In-Person

From the Secretary of the State.
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With the November 1 deadline to register to vote online, by-mail or in-person just one week away, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is urging everyone still unregistered to get engaged.

Secretary Merrill said, “More people are registering to vote in Connecticut than ever before. My message to anyone still unregistered is: join them! Make your voice heard on November 8! If you think you are already registered, please go to myvote.ct.gov to make sure it is up to date.” 

Citizens have until the November 1 deadline to register to vote online, by mail or in-person. Election Day registration is in effect on November 8, though lines are expected to be long.

For more information about registering to vote, go to: myvote.ct.gov.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Wesleyan Library Book Sale Saturday

Annual Friends of the Wesleyan Library Book Sale
Saturday, October 29, 2016  10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Olin Memorial Library Lobby, 252 Church Street, Middletown, CT

4000+ academic & popular books.  Most priced $1-$5. 
Special books $10+. Cash and checks accepted.

For more information, contact libfriends@wesleyan.edu.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Westfield Residents Host Meet The Candidates Monday

On Monday, October 24, the Westfield Residents Association will host its Annual Meeting and Meet
the Candidates Forum. The event will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the Third Congregational Church on Miner Street. The Annual meeting begins at 7pm and the Meet the Candidates Forum begins at approximately 7:30pm. All members of the public are encouraged to attend. The event is not a debate, but rather an opportunity for the candidates from eight local, state and federal races to introduce themselves and answer audience questions.

Questions or concerns about issues in Westfield? Email westfieldresidents@gmail.com and a member of the Executive Committee will get back to you.

What It’s Like to be Poor In Singapore -- The Colonel Carries On #54

By Daniel Tay [really]
"I had a friend once. She was a single elderly lady. She lived in a one-room flat with her nephew. Every day, she would go to the nearby church where she ate lunch and helped out with feeding the dog, folding pamphlets and such. The dog, whose name was Ginny, listened to no one but her.
"One day, her nephew sold the flat and bought another place to live. He didn't take her along, and she was very sad because she had no place to live.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Alice’s Ordinary People - Film Screening at Russell Library




On Saturday, October 22 at 12:00 noon, Russell Library will host documentary film maker Craig Dudnick as he presents his film which profiles Alice Tregay, an unsung heroine of the civil rights movement in Chicago. 

Alice’s life story reads like a history of the movement. In 1966, Dr. King came to Chicago. Alice and her husband James Tregay, marched with him, often at great personal risk. It was at this time that Dr. King joined the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the Reverend James Bevel to form Operation Breadbasket. Breadbasket fought racism on many fronts, but its main task was jobs for African Americans, particularly from those businesses drawing profits from the African American community. Under the leadership of Reverend Jackson, the months that Alice and her “ordinary people” spent picketing led to real change. But it was through her Political Education class, that Alice’s had her most significant impact.

Sponsored by The Friends of the Russell Library.