Spring Events include World, U.S., & Connecticut Premieres

An entry from the Center for the Arts blog by Director Pamela Tatge.

We hope that you will take advantage of all that the Center for the Arts has to offer in the coming months:

In keeping with our tradition of welcoming the world to Wesleyan at the CFA, you will have the opportunity to discover one of Australia's most adventurous contemporary dance companies (Chunky Move); a sizzling jazz guitarist/vocalist from Benin (Lionel Loueke); and an Argentine quartet that celebrates the tango music of Buenos Aires (Fernando Otero).

And in keeping with our interest in the intersection of art and science, the CFA has commissioned two works that will have their first performances at Wesleyan in conjunction with Feet to the Fire: Fueling the Future. SPILL, by Leigh Fondakowski and Reeva Wortel, is a visual art/performance installation that explores the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The work will debut at Beckham Hall in February. Composer Paula Matthusen, new to Wesleyan's music faculty, will premiere work divided by time at the Van Vleck Observatory. The sound installation is a reflection of how the scientific definition of energy resonates and clashes with cultural and historical concepts.

Other highlights include the world premiere of a new multi-part suite by jazz vibraphonist and music faculty member Jay Hoggard; the U.S. premiere of Quicksand, a provocative new work by inDANCE, the highly acclaimed Toronto-based contemporary dance company directed by Wesleyan Artist in Residence Hari Krishnan; and a 21st-century examination of Gertrude Stein's Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights, directed by Theater Department Chair Cláudia Tatinge Nascimento.

We invite you to stretch your imagination, contemplate new ideas and celebrate all that the CFA's faculty, students, and visiting artists and companies have to offer.

Best wishes,

Pamela Tatge
Director, Center for the Arts

P.S. If you are looking for arts interaction over the holidays, please attend Middnight on Main, New Year's Eve on Main Street in Middletown.

Solar Power Plan Supported By Council

The Common Council authorized Mayor Drew to negotiate and sign an agreement with Greenskies, Inc, to build solar systems on City property and sell the electricity to the City at a rate of 6¢ per kilowatt hour. This is less than half of the cost that the City is currently paying.

Santaland Diaries Brings Much Needed Holiday Humor to Oddfellows

For the second consecutive holiday season, the Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris’ hilarious extremely wry examination of the commercialization of Christmas, was a big hit at Oddfellows Playhouse. The show, presented as a one-man monologue, ran this past weekend in front of large crowds from Thursday to Saturday night.

The Santaland Diaries was a departure from traditional Oddfellows productions in both its production and content. The show was not student-performed and was for mature audiences of 13 or older. A short story of biting vignettes told by a man named David who takes the jump of a Macy Store’s elf in the month leading up to Christmas, the Santaland Diaries featured a significant amount of vulgar content. To be far, all of it was earned.

“The idea behind performing the Santaland Diaries, besides raising funds for our future productions next year, was that it gave us the chance to put on something relevant for the holidays, as well as edgier than our regular material,” said Oddfellows executive director Matt Pugliese. “The show was a great way to give people something to see that’s fun and a break from the business of the holidays that also has a lot of artistic merit.”

The Santaland Diaries featured a multitude of acerbic comic material. The writing captured the absurdity of working as an elf and of the crass commercialization of Christmas. There were gut-busting vignettes one after another, including Crumpet’s descriptions of his ghastly elf uniform (which came with Lombardi changing into the uniform) and having been forced to recite Christmas carols by a belligerent Santa. Even if the audience may not have had a holiday experience unique as working as an elf at Macy’s, they could appreciate the frustrations Crumpet expressed when he discussed being forced to be cheery every minute of the day or gleefully related parent’s screaming at their children as they waited in line to see Santa. Everyone reveled in the show’s send-up of modernized Christmas and its disregard for sentiment. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it was an opportunity for the audience to remember to not take it all so seriously.

In the role of Macy’s elf Crumpet was Michael Lombardi, a Hamden resident and member of the Greater Middletown Chorale. From the moment he started speaking no one could take their eyes of the star. The animated and wide-eyed Lombardi alternately stalked the stage and sat in a chair as he vividly made Crumpet’s one of a kind tales come to life. By capturing both the show’s sarcasm and hints of sincerity, Lombardi emboldened the Santaland Diaries with the performance it needed to succeed.

The show received significant volunteer support. Hamden high school students Beech Copeland and Bailey Gould, who participate in the Oddfellows Technical Theater Program, operated the sound and lightboard for the show. Tate Burmeister, a professional theatrical lighting designer, also volunteered his services. Finally, local resident Tony Palmeiri, who played the role of Crumpet in last year’s production of the Santaland Diaries, directed the production this year.

“I could not have been more pleased with how the show went,” said Palmeiri. The audience seemed to really enjoy it. I was looking to deliver a fun, sarcastic edge, and it delivered exactly what I was looking for.”

Middletown Swimming Claims Decisive 96-84 Victory Over Rocky Hill to Start Season 2-0

An impressive second half to their meet propelled Middletown to a 96-84 home victory over Rocky Hill on Tuesday, moving the Blue Dragons to 2-0 on the season.

Middletown placed first in seven of 12 events on the afternoon. The Blue Dragons led by a very small margin going into diving but claimed control of the contest from that point forward. Middletown finished 1-2-3 in diving and took first place in the next four events, taking a 30 point lead in that span.

“We were close with them going into diving,” said Head Coach Trevor Charles. “Our team just had more depth than Rocky Hill.”

Multiple winners on the day for Middletown included Jerrod Zimmer, who was anchored the victorious 200 yard medley relay with a time of 1:55.46 and won the 100 butterfly in 1:03.85, Matt Dagganais, who was a member of the winning 200 yard medley relay and took first place in the 500 yard free in 5:04.58 and Thomas McAlear, who won the 200 IM in 2:27.17.

After seeing his team in control for the entire meet, Charles was satisfied with their performance and especially the Blue Dragons start to the season.

“I’ve been really happy with our effort and performance in the pool today and so far this year,” he said. It’s been a very promising sign for the rest of our season.”

Middletown is next at Conard of West Hartford on January 3rd.

Superintendent proposes budget for 2012-13

There's a traditional brevity to city meetings during the Holiday Season. Tuesday's Board of Education session clocked in at just 33 minutes.*

There were just two items of business:

First, there was unanimous support for the appointment of Cheryl Gonzalez as the new assistant principal at Middletown High School, a position last held by Andy O'Brien. The vacancy was posted first to current employees of the district, and Gonzalez was the only applicant. Gonzalez began her Middletown career in 2001 as a Social Studies teacher at MHS, and has been the Dean of Students since the new building opened in 2008. With a heartfelt statement about her appreciation of the Middletown community, Gonzalez said that she was "deeply honored by the confidence" the board showed with her appointment.

Sheila Daniels, as the Board's representative in the search process, said "I think it is a nice, natural progression from a teacher to an administrator." She noted that it was apparent throughout the process that Gonzalez had the respect of her peers, the staff, and the students at MHS, and praised her for "not missing a beat through a tirade of questions."

The second item of business was the annual transmittal of the Superintendent's budget proposal to the Board. The budget discussion actually gets underway at the next Board of Ed meeting on January 10th, and in the meantime, the Board is expected to study the budget and submit their questions to the Superintendent by email. As an appetizer, the Superintendent highlighted the key areas of increase in the budget, including contracted increases for Datco bus service and salaries, and increases for items related to the District Improvement Plan, such as $200,000 to improve the collection of K-12 non-fiction titles.

A summary of the proposed $74,161,155 budget can be seen here. This request is a 4.82% increase from the current year's budget. The current 2011-12 budget was less than a 2% increase over the previous year (and, as Frechette pointed out, the previous 2 years had a 0% increase). There were some significant grants and Federal stimulus dollars in these years, which means it takes a little extra focus to understand the meaning of budget increases, and Board Secretary Ed McKeon asked for a report showing the income side of the budget, listing grants and how they are expended.

McKeon also asked for clarification on the reported elimination of 2 teaching positions - which appear to be positions that are currently unfilled, though it was not clear where they are in the school system.

Board Member Cheryl McMclellan made the comment that the summary would be more useful if it had a higher level of detail, as in some other towns she had surveyed. As an example, she highlighted the figure for salaries, saying: "I know it's all contractual, but it's this big huge number - if you can break it down a little bit, then you can understand what the numbers are," suggesting that outlines of each school's salaries, number of employees reflected, seniority level and benefits would help Board members who have to balance responsibility to the taxpayers with the educational goals. In reply, Frechette said that details would be provided in response to any requests.

The meeting wrapped up with a discussion between Chairman Gene Nocera and Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Barbara Senges about the level of technology the district could afford. Senges stressed that the district is following a replacement plan - perhaps not replacing computers as often as they'd like, but not falling behind. On the topic of the $200,000 proposed for new non-fiction titles, there was discussion on the option of using those funds to provide snazzy mobile devices (i.e. kindles and ipads), particularly in the middle school years, instead of time-honored old-fashioned paper-and-ink (oops....I think I may have revealed a bias there!).

Actually, though it might not sound like it (and despite my personal preference for IRL books), there may be cost savings in building a digital library, because although the devices are an investment, the cost of printed textbooks has skyrocketed and continues to grow. All that will be debated in the (undoubtedly lively) curriculum committee meetings in the coming year(s).

As for the budget, for those new to the process, here's what we can expect: after their January meeting and some discussion, the Board will adopt a budget and pass it along to the Mayor. The Mayor then includes the education request - or whatever portion he supports - as a single line item in the City budget (roughly half of the city budget goes to the schools). The Common Council has the final responsibility to vote a budget - in May or June - which gets juggled as the numbers come in from the state about how much we can expect in Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funds, and how much of the education spending will have to be paid through local taxes.

On a final note, one non-Board-member at the table was MHS sophomore Michael Durso, who has been attending BOE meetings since last year as a student representative. Other than leading the pledge of allegiance, Michael's primary job was observance, but I had a nice chat with him in the hall, and he was clearly enjoying his front row seat to how the Board works, and noting the changes through the election. Now that's what I call education!

*After the official meeting adjourned, the Board did stay for a slightly nebulous "non-meeting" or "recess" to discuss collective bargaining, which was held over the protests of previous Chair Ted Raczka, who stated: "what's a non-meeting? I think boards should either meet or not meet".

From the Pencil: Come on Over

Homeless Vigil to be held by CHC

Contact:
Eliza Cole
Community Health Center, Inc.
(860) 262-2546
eliza@chc1.com

HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM TO HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR NATIONAL HOMELESS PERSONS’ MEMORIAL DAY

Event in Middletown to honor the homeless who passed away in 2011; Service to feature speeches from community leaders and homeless individuals

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (December 19, 2011) – In recognition of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on December 21, Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless (WYA) —a program of Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)— and St. Vincent de Paul Middletown will host a memorial service and candlelight vigil in Middletown, in memory of the areas’ homeless residents who pass away in 2011.

Each year since 1990, on December 21 – not coincidentally, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year – homeless service providers, in more than 150 communities across the country, conduct similar services to recognize the need for political advocacy and efforts to end homelessness. National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Health Care for the Homeless Council and National Consumer Advisory Board.

“Each year, homeless residents in our communities suffer and die needless deaths,” said Agi Erickson, program director for Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless. “Many of these deaths could have been prevented, had these individuals had shelter, food and access to health care. Communities must continue working together and sharing the responsibility to end the preventable tragedy of homelessness.”

WHO: Rev. Margret Minnick, Church of the Holy Trinity; Mayor Daniel Drew, City of Middletown; State Senator Paul Doyle; Carol Walter, CT Coalition to End Homelessness; Azure Smikle, Solo-Amazing Grace; Howard Reid, Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness; Michelle Waldner, New Horizons; Agi Erickson, Program Director for Wherever You Are Health Care for the Homeless; Mark Masselli, President & CEO, Community Health Center, Inc.; Margaret Flinter, Senior Vice President and Clinical Director of Community Health Center, Inc.; community members, business leaders.

WHAT: National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day service and candlelight vigil

WHEN: December 21, 2011, 4:00 pm

WHERE: Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main Street, Middletown, CT

According to the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, last year, Connecticut’s emergency shelters served more than 11,000 people, including over 1,500 children. The number of people in shelters and transitional housing programs increased 3% from 2009 to 2010 and shelters have been operating over 100% capacity for almost two full years. Of the 4,465 total people counted during a one-day snapshot of Connecticut homelessness in 2011, 248 were counted in Middlesex County; more than one-third (36%) were families with children and two-thirds (64%) were adults without children.

The Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless program is highly regarded for providing outstanding primary care to a difficult to reach population. The WYA team is comprised of health care professionals, including nurses, doctors, substance abuse counselors, psychiatric nurses and outreach workers who provide health care for the homeless and near-homeless in clinics at homeless, domestic violence and transitional shelters in New Britain, Meriden, Wallingford and Middletown. The program aims to assess the health needs of every shelter resident, provide prompt treatment, update the individual on necessary preventive care such as immunizations and screenings, and then connect him or her with one of CHC’s 12 facilities for ongoing primary care.

For more information on the memorial services or program, contact Agi Erickson of the Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless program at (860) 224-3642 ext. 5551 or ericksa@chc1.com.

About Community Health Center, Inc.
Since 1972, Community Health Center, Inc. has been one of the leading healthcare providers in the state of Connecticut, building a world-class primary health care system committed to caring for uninsured and underinsured populations. CHC is focused on improving health outcomes for its more than 130,000 patients as well as building healthy communities. Currently, CHC delivers service in 201 locations statewide, offering primary care in medicine, dentistry and behavioral health services. For more information, visit www.chc1.com.

Middletown Recycling Awards

On behalf of Kim O'Rourke City of Middletown Recycling Coordinator:

Congratulations to our 2011
Green Business Recycling Heroes!

Thanks to these local businesses who are reducing, reusing and recycling
to protect our environment! All the businesses below comply with state
and local recycling regulations and many have done even more to reduce
their carbon footprint. For more information contact the City Recycling
Coordinator at 860-344-3526.

Amici Italian Grill, 280 Main Street
Amici’s reuses mixed paper as order sheets.

ARCADIS U.S. Inc, 213 Court Street
ARCADIS’ management of sustainable construction projects
addresses needs such as energy efficiency, alternative energy
sources, environmentally friendly materials, resource conservation,
lean manufacturing, alternative transportation, socially responsible
investing and greenhouse gas management.

ARTFARM, 119 Highland Avenue
ARTFARM turns waste vegetable oil into biodiesel, composts all
their food waste, uses green cleaning supplies, copy on both sides
of the paper, teaches recycling concepts, buy recycled products and
reuse as much as possible and use scythe and rotary mower instead
of a gas mower!

Book Bower, 386 Main Street
In addition to recycling, the Book Bower purchased carpet made
from recycled plastic bottles, uses a website host company that
runs its equipment on wind power and encourages customers to
bring their own bags.

Centerpoint Connecticut, 306 Industrial Park Road
Centerpoint Connecticut is a (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) LEED Silver Campus. Project includes
solar panels, energy-efficient building envelope, a percentage of
construction materials used are recycled as is the construction
waste. They use green cleaning products and have no smoking
within 25 feet of the doors.

Citizens Bank, 237 Main Street
Citizens Bank recycles all toner cartridges for printers and fax
machines.

Moving Pictures Inc, 200 Court Street
Moving Pictures uses old photocopies to copy on the other side
and reuses old videotapes.

Network-It LLC, 208 Freeman Road
Network-It recycles electronic equipment and educates their clients
on environmental issues.

Russell Library, 123 Broad Street
The Russell Library composts from their staff room and uses
the compost in their gardens. They recycle printer cartridges and
purchase recycled cartridges and paper.

Sweet Harmony, 158 Broad Street
Employees carpool to work at Sweet Harmony and bring in
reusable containers for take-home food.

The Day Club Adult Center and HomeCare Connection LLC,
32 Miner Street
The Day Club use solar panels, energy saving bulbs, green
cleaning supplies and recycled products. They encourage
carpooling.

Wesleyan University, 170 Long Lane.
Wesleyan University recycles a variety of materials beyond what is
mandated. These include office furniture, clothing and mattresses.
They also compost, purchase materials made from recycled
components, and have initiated many green initiatives revolving
around green building, transportation and energy conservation.

Youngs Printing, 182 Court Street
Youngs Printing recycles printing ink and prints on recycled paper
using vegetable based ink.

Give Gifts That Keep On Giving

 

Noah Baerman, composer-author-educator-pianist, has just issued his first solo CD.  "Turtle Steps" (Lemel Records) is yet another small miracle in the life of the Middletown-based artist. You may recall Baerman has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (read about EDS here) and, some years ago, there was the great possibility that, as he grew older, he would never play piano again.  Thankfully, that is not the case and this CD, recorded at the Hartt School of Music in July of this year, is proof-positive that he continues to mature as a performer and composer.

The 15 tracks, all dedicated to either a mentor, friend or family member, range from gospel to blues to boogie-woogie to jazz to a sparkling rendition of Frederic Chopin's "Minute Waltz", with originals intermingled with standards and traditional tunes.  Included in the program is Baerman's "Since The Blues Walked In" (dedicated to pianist-educator Kenny Barron), arguably the finest piece he has ever composed. Pair that with "Tiger Rag" (one of the first "jass" songs ever published) - the performance is utterly dazzling, displaying a technical prowess that makes one sit up and say "wow!"

There is so much to savor on "Turtle Steps". This is an album to give to a friend who loves music and give one to yourself.  We are blessed in the Middletown area with musicians such as Rani Arbo and Scott Kessel, Bill Carbone, David Davis, Carolyn Halsted, Professor Neely Bruce, Professor Anthony Braxton, Seb Giacco, and so many others.  Like the people listed above, Noah Baerman's music brings such joy in this and all seasons of the year.  To find out more, go to www.noahjazz.com. 

Besides the musical treasures that one can find in Middletown, this city, incorporated in 1650, has quite a number of fascinating stories in its history.  If you have never visited the General Mansfield House, home of the Middlesex County Historical Society, you should go spend some time meandering through the building at 151 Main Street.  In fact, a thoughtful gift for the Holiday season would be a Family Membership - it's not expensive ($35.) and you will receive the newsletter, invitations to various talks and exhibitions and your support will help the Society continue to grow.  (Writer's note - I am Program Chair of the MCHS and have often wondered why more Middletownians (?)...Middletownites (?).. don't take advantage of what the organization has to offer)  To find out more, go to www.middlesexhistory.org. 

Happy Holidays!

The Pencil: Kim Jong Il dead

Earlier this month Kim Jong Il told world news reporters that if South Korea put up Christmas lights North Korea would take it as a threat.

Death of Kim Jong Il was announced today; no word on who will take his place.

A Faucet At Wesleyan

Calvin - You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
Hobbs - What mood is that?
Calvin - Last-minute panic.
(Bill Watterson)

If you were walking through Wesleyan's campus last week, you may have noticed an unusual sculpture in the Center for the Arts. It was a project by Wesleyan Senior Tim Lee.

From 1966: Author Chased By Summons

The following article is from exactly 45 years ago today, published on December 18th, 1966. It was written by Joe Debona.

William Manchester was a Wesleyan history professor. He was commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy to write what she hoped would be the definitive account of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The agreement gave both Jacqueline and Robert Kennedy the right to approve the book's contents, and provided that most of the royalties would accrue to the Kennedy Library.
-------------------

William Manchester, author of "Death of A President," is caught right smack in the middle of a spirited controversy sparked by the attempt of Mrs. John F. Kennedy to block publication of the book.

But Manchester's wife is accepting it with equanimity.

She said Saturday night she is not particularly disturbed by the uproar raging from her quiet home here to New York, to Washington and clear across the nation.

"Of course the phone is ringing pretty constantly," she conceded, "and this can be a little nerve-wracking at times with all the reporters attempting to reach Bill. But I can't say it particularly bothers me," she laughed.

Is Confident
Mrs. Manchester also stressed she has "confidence" in her husbands book, which deals with the assassination in Dallas of President Kennedy and the events that followed that tragedy.

Mrs. Kennedy, taking the position Manchester's alleged use of interviews with her would cause her "great and irreparable injury," has resorted to court action in her try at stopping publication.

Mrs. Manchester, apparently in high good humor Saturday night, said in response to a reporter's question that her husband was out of town and could not be reached.

"Is he going to make a statement?" she was asked.

Mrs. Manchester laughed again.

"You know as much about it as I do." she said.

She noted that not only newspaper reporters are striving without much success to get in touch with her husband.

Thursday night, Mrs. Manchester said, a team of cameramen from a television network rolled up to the house--looking, of course, for her husband, who wasn't there.

Cooperate With Press
"So they took pictures of the front of the house," laughed Mrs. Manchester. "After all, they're all nice people and only trying to do their job."

The Courant reporter had a good suggestion for the Manchesters.

"If I were your husband, I'd take my money, pack up the family and take off to the Riviera for a long vacation in the sun." he said.

Manchester reportedly received $665,000 from Look magazine for a serialized condensation, scheduled to start hitting the stands next month.

Mrs. Manchester just laughed again at that one.

But in response to another query, she said in a serious tone, she has read the controversial 350,000-word book, which is slated to be published in hardcover in April by Harper & Row at $10 per copy.

Mrs. Manchester also indicated she wishes a lot of other people critical of the book had also read it.

"I have confidence in Bill's book," said Mrs. Manchester. "I'm as sorry as he that all this had to happen, but feel the uproar will subside once the book is published and readers judge it exlusively on its contents and merits."
---------------

Manchester ultimately reached an out of court settlement with Jacqueline Kennedy, and agreed to cut 7 pages (out of 654) from his book. "Death of a President" was published in the spring of 1967 and was a best seller, earning over $1M for the Kennedy library by 1970.