Former Patch Editor To Helm Middletown Press

Cassandra Day learned on January 29th that she was out of work -- via conference call.

Patch.com was throwing in the towel.  The system of local news websites, formerly owned by AOL, has been lopping off staff.  For three years, Day had virtually single-handedly made the Middletown Patch one of the more successful sites, and she survived several rounds of closures and layoffs.  But not this time.

Despite the current bleak job prospects for journalists, Day, a Middletown resident, did have something to look forward to.

For the past two years she has been chronicling bits and pieces of the city she loves via her Instagram feed.  A collection of her photos are appropriately enough being featured as part of Klekolo World Coffee's rotating artwork, and Thursday night was the opening celebration.

Day, and her friends and supporters, had a bit more to celebrate than they planned.  Thursday afternoon, The Middletown Press announced via Facebook that Day had been named managing editor, starting February 24th.

"I'm thrilled to be covering my old stomping grounds" Day said.  Not surprisingly, considering Day's work for the past three years, The Press has asked her to focus on their online operations.

It's a familiar work environment for her.  Day was the features editor for the Press for 13 years.

Meanwhile, her photographs will be on display at Klekolo until the end of the month.  The collection includes "sidewalk grates, survey markers, fire sprinkler covers, oxidized meters, weathered signs, ramshackle barns — corroded and dilapidated yet ordinary things we pass every day without consideration." Day framed them herself, and yes, they are available for purchase.

Meet the Veteran/Artist at Klekolo Friday Night

Look, someone snapped a photo of the latest photos to decorate Klekolo World Coffee's walls.

Maybe someone could take a photo of this photo of photos, and on, and on, and on forever.

But that's no way to see this art.  What you should do to see it is come out to Klekolo on Friday night, grab some fair-trade coffee, and support veterans' art.  Join the Veterans Art Foundation (a non-profit) as three local veterans showcase their photography.

There will be an opportunity to bid on art in a silent auction to benefit the foundation.  6-10pm, free admission, refreshments available for a small fee.

Here's a pretty nifty article about the foundation and the show in the Hartford Courant.

Photography Show At Klekolo

Klekolo World Coffee is one of those places in Middletown that is always showcasing local artists. This month they feature the art of Tony Palmieri, known mostly for his floral design company Datura: A Modern Garden. He's also a member of the artists collective Hurricane Clowns. But the work on display this month is Holga photography - a wonderfully unpredictable art form with a minimum of computer interference. Check out the video for images, info, and imprecise art.

Scenes From the Day - Sunday Nostalgia

Strolling around town on a quiet, gray Sunday morning, it's nice to crop out the noise of modern life. Middletown, in the right light, is still very reminiscent of decades past.

Scenes From the Day is an occasional photojournalistic feature.

Rachel is a Middletown based photographer. Her work can be seen at rachelgaryphotography.wordpress.com

Photo Contest

Connecticut Forest & Park Association 2012 Photo Contest The Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) is sponsoring an amateur digital photo contest open to members and the public. The contest is intended to provide a venue for amateur photographers to display their work and provide CFPA with new materials to use in our publications and communications. You are invited to submit up to three digital, high resolution, photos for consideration. Prizes First prize - Connecticut WalkBook Set (both West & East - $50 retail value) and CFPA Water Bottle will be awarded for each category. Second prize - CFPA Tee Shirt and hat ($30 retail value) will be awarded for each category. All Entrants will receive a copy of CFPA's newly revised "Trees of Connecticut" booklet when published. Categories Connecticut Trails - Trails, views from the trail, notable features on the trails, etc. People on trails in Connecticut - What more needs to be said? Connecticut Wildlands - Photos without man-made structures, special places off the beaten path, CT flora & fauna Requirements All images must be 2 MB minimum, in a jpg or tif format accompanied by the photographer's name and address, date the photo was taken, and description of the photograph (location and any story about the photo). How to enter - Email each photo separately to info@ctwoodlands.org (with "Photo Contest" on the subject line), or send a CD/DVD with the images to CFPA, 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall, CT 06481. Eligibility - Amateur photographers over 18 years old are eligible. Professional photographers, CFPA staff and families, and CFPA Board Members and families are ineligible. Deadline - All entries must be received by March 15, 2012. Winners will be notified by April 15, 2012. Prizes will be awarded June 1, 2012 at CFPA in Rockfall. Exhibit and Publication - Winning photographs will be featured on the CFPA Website (www.ctwoodlands.org). Entrants grant permission to CFPA to publish their work, in whole or in part, for any CFPA purpose, including, but not limited to, CFPA publications, merchandise, and website with credit to the photographer but no further compensation.

Hoopfest 2010 Retrospective

September Art Show at The Buttonwood Tree – “Hoopfest 2010″

** Featuring photographer Tony Donovan **

** Sponsored by the Middletown Commission on the Arts **

Photographs from the basketball games at this summer’s Hoopfest 2010 which were held at the Ray Barnes Memorial Courts on the ground of CT Valley Hospital, in Middletown.

"All sport is spirited, I suppose that’s why we love it. And for me, basketball has always seemed the most intense and dramatic of our games. My goal with these pictures has been to record some of the drama, effort, the cleverness and grace played out in the games at Hoopfest. It is these elements of character and skill that I wanted to record."

Tony Donovan (July 2010)

The Hoopfest basketball tournament produced each year by Malik Pemberton and his organization, 1FamilyInc., was played this year July 17th and 18th on the grounds of the Connecticut Valley Hospital.

Raid Our Gallery

submitted by Peg Arico:

The Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center will host a large-format photography show, “Raid Our Gallery,” on April 8 at the Center at 536 Saybrook Road in Middletown. This unique event features the work of some of today’s foremost large-format photographers. Large format does not refer to the image size, but to the size of the film the image is captured on. The photographers use unique processes in developing their images including silver, platinum, glass and tin to create truly unique prints.

In partnership with the New England Large Format Photography Collective, the Raid Our Gallery event benefits the Center for Survivorship and Integrative Medicine at the Cancer Center. There are 100 gallery tickets available for sale. Each ticket is numbered. During the preview, ticket holders select their favorite prints in order of preference. During the random drawing, when their number is called, they may select an available print from their list of favorites. Last year, nearly everyone went home with one of their top choices.

This photo is a sample of the type of large-format photography that will be on display and available for Gallery ticket holders to take home during the Raid Our Gallery event to benefit the Middlesex Hospital Center for Survivorship and Integrative Medicine. This photo is the work of Glenn Curtis of Durham.

Gallery tickets are $150, which includes the reception and one print to take home. Reception-only tickets are $25. Registration and reception start at 6:00 p.m., with the drawing at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to register for the event, please contact Sally Ann Lee at (860) 358-6200.

Week in Photos: Crew Down at the River, Music up on Foss Hill.

MHS crew boat.



















MHS crew team gets ready to race.














Mark Masselli enjoys wes festivities.

Local Scares on a Budget!

Tis' the season. Looking for inexpensive ways to welcome in Halloween? Look no further then CT. For that matter look no further than Middletown. Middletown boasts some terrific photo opportunities this time of year in some public places. Keep in mind trespassing laws, (gravestone rubbing is illegal and very damaging), and respect for the beliefs of others. However, the places listed below- are pretty dead quiet....

This first photo is from the graveyard near Connecticut Valley Hospital in south Middletown. Over 100 numbered graves can be found here, mostly those of patients from the 19th century. The landscape is home to quite a few century old oaks with intriguing scars. Take note of the great architecture of the older, fenced-off buildings of CVH towards the center of the campus, if you are into black & white photography, this can't be missed. Shots can be taken from your vehicle.

Central Middletown has great views to capture as well. The image to the right was taken in Indian Hill Cemetery-- and believe it or not on a bright sunny day. To create this image we used a technique called "high dynamic range image." Color correction brings out the luminance of shadows. There are many free widget applications that can be downloaded can re create this technique.

A scene from a horror movie? Not really. This shot was also taken at Indian Hill, through the window of one of the crypts. (photos , J.Drosdeck & M. Salafia 2008)

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Borrow vs Renting A Movie: If you are the type that isn't into the Saw series or mainstream slasher flicks, check out these finds at Russel Library for an offbeat scare. Check the foreign section!

My top 3 from the Library are:

1. Wendigo (American, Canadian)

2. A Tale of Two Sisters Janghwa, Hongryeon (Korean)

3. Ringu (Japanese)

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For thrills under $10:

Graveyard Express – East Haven, CT

Now through October 25, 2008

Dare to ride the haunted trolley and expect the unexpected. Location: Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River Street. Dates: October 17-18 and 24-25. Time: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $10 per person; $8 if in costume.

Information: 203-467-6927 or visit www.bera.org/

Lantern Tour – Suffield

October 24, 2008 to October 25, 2008

Stroll the town’s North Main Street by lamplight and learn about the history of the town’s center.

Location: Phelps-Hathaway House, Route 75. Time: 6:45 p.m. Cost: $5. Information: 860-668-0055 or visit www.ctlandmarks.org

Haunted History Lantern Tour – Hartford

October 24, 2008

Meet some of Hartford’s 19th century notables as you tour the cemetery by lantern light.

Location: Cedar Hill Cemetery,453 Fairfield Avenue Time: 7-9 p.m. 860-956-3311 or visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org

Spirits of Old Wethersfield House Tours -- Wethersfield

October 24, 2008 to October 25, 2008. During the guided candlelight tour of the three homes, visitors will learn about 19th-century mourning customs as a family attempts to cope with the loss of a loved one.. Keep your eyes and ears open as you tour the homes. Rumor has it they might actually be haunted. Location: Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, 211 Main Street. Time: 6:30-10 p.m. Cost: Adults, $10; children, $8 860-529-0612 ext. 12 or visit www.webb-deane-stevens.org/

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Free & Specifically For Children:

Kiwanis Club of Middletown: Annual Halloween Parade :will be held Monday, October 20, 2008 with a rain date set for Tuesday October 21st. The parade will form at Hoffer Park beginning at 6:15 p.m. and will start marching at 7:00 p.m.http://www.middletownkiwanis.org/middletown/

Park & Rec Sponsored Halloween Parade, Oct. 31, 1 to 4:30 p.m. (up to age 12), free to Middletown residents, downtown.