Passionate Waters II

On Saturday, March 22, the second annual “Passionate Waters” art show will celebrate World Water Day at the MAC650 Gallery in Middletown. The event will feature a water themed art exhibit, presentations from local legislators and water activists, music and dance performances, and a water blessing ceremony.

Started in 1992 by the UN General Assembly, World Water Day is held annually on March 22 to advocate sustainable management of freshwater resources.

“Art has the power to awaken in people an awareness of our most precious natural resource,” says Carolyn Reeves, one of the producers of the show. “We hope that art, paired with information, will inspire people to be more mindful of our freshwater resources.”

The evening will take place at the MAC650 Gallery in Middletown’s North End from 5:00 p.m- 7:00pm.   Appetizers, wine, and spring water will be served, and a $10 donation is requested at the door.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the “Source to Sea Clean-up” by the Connecticut River Watershed Council  “Rivers are the ultimate metaphor for connection,” says CRWC River Steward Jacqueline Talbot.  When we spend a few hours working to improve our rivers, we send cleaner water downstream, and it’s nice to know there are others upstream doing the same for us.  Local actions unite us with people working for cleaner water around the world.”

The event is continuing from last year's phenomenal success thanks to the efforts of Dmitri D'Alessandro of Middletown Framing, and Rusa D'Alessandro of Middletown Art Academy.  “We are committed to continuing this event and raising awareness of clean water issues affecting the world.”, said Dmitri, “ We wanted to build a new and ongoing tradition on the foundation that Carolyn Reeves started in 2012.” Headmistress Rusa D'Alessandro said ; ”Middletown Art Academy supports this very important tradition in our town, and we are honored to continue to locally promote and educate about the importance of having clean and sustainable water sources." Students from the Art Academy will be participating in the show as well, showing us their views of what clean water means.

For more information, please visit http://www.mac650.com/passionate-waters-ii.html

This year’s Source to Sea Cleanup will be held September 26 and 27. To learn please visit ctriver.org or contact Jacqueline Talbot, jtalbot@ctriver.org. 

Spring is Coming...Order Plants and Support Local Conservation!

From Jane L. Brawerman, Executive Director, Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
------------
It may be cold and snowy outside, but it's not too early to start planning for spring! The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District annual plant sale fundraiser will take place April 25-27, 2014 at the Old Saybrook Shopping Center. Check out our 2014 brochure and order form for information about our extensive selection of native plants, including shrubs, ground covers, evergreen tree seedlings, grasses, ferns, flowering perennials, edibles, pollinator plants, rain garden plants, and plants suitable for waterside buffer planting.

Whether you'd like to enhance your landscape with natives, pick flavorful berries in your yard, grow your own herbs, provide food and cover for wildlife, attract butterflies and birds, promote pollinator health and survival, or protect water quality…you won't be disappointed in our selection! New this year is a special grouped selection of nectar-rich, hummingbird attracting plants in a rustic pine box, perfect for a special gift! For photos and more information about our offerings go to the "Plant Info/Photos" tab.

Quantities of certain plants are limited, so don’t miss out—reserve your plants by sending in an order, and order early for the best selection! Orders are due April 7, 2014. There are also extras available the days of the sale.

If you have questions or would like to receive a hard copy of the brochure and order form, contact the District office at 860-346-3282.

The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Middletown, works to conserve the natural resources of towns in the lower Connecticut River watershed and coastal areas through technical assistance and education. All proceeds from the sale support our conservation work. For more information about District programs and services, visit our website.

We Live in the Best of All Plausibly Deniable Worlds -- Popcorn by The Colonel #88

by Trish Trask and Wendy Pigsfly

❁ Starter: “You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet." -Hal Borland, journalist (1900-1978).

❁ Who says you can't be suspicious of a tree? Didn't Hal Borland ever see The Wizard of Oz? You can be suspicious even of poppies.

❁ The song title is “Daughter,” not “That’s My Daughter in the Water,” and it’s by Peter Blegvad, not Louden Wainwright III, and we prefer Blegvad’s version to Wainwright’s, but there’s no accounting for tastes.

New Testing Delayed a Week By State Educators

Ed McKeon is a member of the Middletown Board of Education.  This posting reflects his personal opinion and does not constitute and official opinion of the Board of Ed, nor represent, necessarily, the opinon of his colleagues.

NEWS AND OPINION

Friday, school superintendents received an urgent email from the State Department of Education announcing a week delay in the roll-out of Smarter Balanced testing.  Smarter Balanced testing is testing designed to be aligned with Common Core standards and new teacher evaluations.  This year's Smarter Balanced tests are a "field test" which means that results will not be used to evaluate student progress, or teacher performance.  In fact, it is a test of the test which Connecticut students and schools have been asked to participate in without compensation.  The developers of Smarter Balanced received a $175 million grant to develop the test.

The Connecticut Department of Education has required all schools which have adopted Smarter Balanced to administer the tests to all students.  The DOE made the deal to have all students take the test when it asked for a waiver from the Secretary of Education allowing students not to have to take the Smarter Balanced and the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) or the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), thereby eliminating double testing.

Testing will take place on school computers.

Smarter Balanced has been in the news recently because parents in many districts in the country have asked to have their students "opt out" of the field test because it is of no education value to their children.  Responding to the potential for "opt out" the State Department of Education has issued a series of instructions for Superintendents designed to convince parents that taken the test is required. Several education experts, and Superintendents have indicated they will not prevent parents who want to have their children "opt out" of the test.

Here is the text of the suggested letter to be sent to parents about the delay:

March 14, 2014

Dear Public School Parent:

We wish to convey a time-sensitive update with you regarding the Smarter Balanced Field Test.

Smarter Balanced has shifted the first week of the Field Test. Testing will now begin on Tuesday, March 25.

The Field Test requires unprecedented partnership among states, districts, and many assessment vendors. We are disappointed to have to make this adjustment.  In the final analysis, however, it was decided that this change was needed to ensure that teachers, students, and administrators have a productive experience with the Field Test.

This change might impact the testing schedule of your child. We have prepared the following FAQs to help address any questions you might have regarding this shift.

Does this shift impact all students testing schedule?

[No. It is anticipated that this later start date will only affect students who were scheduled to begin taking the Field Test during the first week of the testing, March 18 - March 24.]

[This shift could potentially impact the schedule in other testing windows. We are carefully assessing the impact this shift could have on the sequencing in other test windows.]

Unlike the CMT and CAPT tests, not all students must take the test at the same time. This provides schools and districts the flexibility to sequence the administration of the tests into a schedule that works best for our school community.

What is a testing “window”?

For coordination and planning purposes, districts could choose among four three-week “windows” to administer the SBAC Field Test to students. Districts could identify as many of the following “windows” deemed appropriate to meet their needs:

Window 1: March 18 - April 4

Window 2: April 7 - April 25

Window 3: April 28 - May 16

Window 4: May 19 - June 6

This change only affects the timing of the first window. It will now begin on March 25.

My child was scheduled to begin testing within the first week. How does this affect him/her?

Students will follow their normal class schedule and teachers will resume teaching according to their planned lesson sequence. We are making every effort to minimize any disruptions to student learning and to the remaining testing schedule in the later three windows. We will inform you of your child’s new testing date as soon as the adjusted schedule is finalized.

While this shift might pose an inconvenience, we believe this field test is a vital part of new standards that will ultimately help teachers enhance student learning and better prepare our children for college and career. It also gives teachers and schools a chance to practice test administration procedures, and students the opportunity to experience the new test format and types of questions in a low-stakes environment.

We look forward to learning lessons from this experience in advance of the full operational statewide administration of the Smarter Balanced test next school year. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact [insert district contact].

Sincerely,

Dollars and No Sense

A Commentary by Brian Kaskel...

(Below is my opinion and should not be construed as an official statement of any of the groups mentioned herein)

DISCLAIMER!!!   I am going to do my best to be unbiased in my approach – but I am a Bielefield parent and a member of its Governance Council.  The Bielefield “back-story” is needed to explain why this blog entry is topical to the entire district.

Bielefield School is one of a few Middletown schools that are required by the State of Connecticut to have a Governance Council.  Governance councils are made up of a combination of parents, teachers, and un-affiliated community members, with its sole responsibility to act in an advisory capacity to the school principal.  The school principal is the only non-voting member of the council, but ultimately decides whether or not to heed the advice of the council.  At this time, it is not relevant to discuss the factors that the state considers when requiring a school to establish a Governance Council.  Bielefield has one, and we are embracing it.

Last month we invited Superintendent Dr. Patricia Charles and Board of Education Chair Dr. Gene Nocera to join us for an open and candid discussion about Bielefield’s needs.  We were trying to be proactive this year, before the budget is set, unlike the reactive nature we had last year, after the budget had been set.  We asked what it was we could do, working in collaboration with the board, that would help bring the necessary funds to the district and then by proxy to Bielefield, to deal with program cuts, teacher cuts, overcrowding, etc.   After a lengthy discussion and a deeper understanding from both sides – it was agreed that change needs to come from the top, and it was determined that the top was the State of Connecticut.  We were encouraged to speak with our local legislators, and the Middletown Common Council, to begin forging relationships that will benefit our school.

Less than a month later, the Chair of the Bielefield Governance Council, Jill Garrity (also a second grade teacher at Bielefield) was able to secure attendees, State Representative Matthew Lesser and council members Tom Serra and Mary Bartolotta.  The meeting started out as expected, with a short power point presentation about the school climate and continued into a discussion of our needs, and then, the tides turned.

We were informed by Councilman Serra that we cannot expect to receive Dr. Charles’ 5.81 percent increase request, that we are facing some of the hardest financial times the city has seen in years, mostly due to the most recent revaluation of property in the city.  (More on this later)  It was implied, and admittedly so from Councilman Serra, that we have the State to blame for our financial woes when it comes to the finances available to the Board of Education.  (More on this later too)  And although the blatant disregard for state statutes began long before Rep. Lesser was born, somehow we were supposed to turn our blame throwers in his direction. 

The conversation quickly turned to the smoke and mirror game of the Alliance Grant (yep… you guessed it, more on this later) and almost more concerning, the ascertain that Councilwoman Bartolotta gave us, that we (Middletown Schools) get 75 cents from every dollar that the city spends.  This, by the way is a horribly miscalculated statement that this author wishes he had researched on the spot rather than hours later.  (This will be my final, more on this later)

Let me pause here to state the following.  I have absolutely NO ill will towards any of our local politicians and would like to add, that these individuals knowingly and willingly entered into a room they knew could potentially turn into a “hostile” environment, shows me that they do have a desire to begin a dialogue.  While I do have a fundamental difference in opinion with the majority power in this city when it comes to finances, taxes, bonding, and priorities, it is still a wonderful thing that we are allowed an opinion.  I will always welcome the opportunity to have healthy discussions about the things we care about.  It’s not the people, it’s the ideas.

But I digress… here are the “More on this later” items we need to discuss.

  1.       Let’s start with the pink elephant in the room, our recent property revaluation.  For those who  have heard me speak to this before, I apologize for the repetition, but it needs to be said.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has done studies that show the second most important factor considered when purchasing a home is the quality of the local school system.  Following that theory, if we improve the schools system, people will want to move in to town.  If people want to move to town, home values can go up due to supply and demand.  If home values go up taxes go with it.  If that happens, our Mayor and his supporters on the council can be known as the people that lowered tax rates in Middletown. Not a bad feather in their caps, right?

2.       So, is there a portion of our financial woes that are a direct result from State?  Is the Pope Catholic?  Of course there is plenty of blame that can be and should be put on the State.  We can start with unfunded mandates.  We can look at cost of upgrading the common core curriculum.  We can look at the way special education costs are reimbursed at levels far below levels that would be considered reasonable.  We can look at the fact that the State Department of Education is made up of members with no practical knowledge or experience as educators in public schools.  I am not saying that they don’t have a passion for education, but passion doesn’t make up for experience. My colleague on the board’s Budget Subcommittee, Middletown Board of Education member Ed McKeon, had recently done extensive research for a local intergovernmental meeting.  As part of his findings it was shown that in 1977, Horton v. Meskill, decided that the system of funding by municipalities through local real estate taxes failed to guarantee equal access to quality education. The CT Supreme Court put the responsibility for fixing this problem in the hands of the legislature. Nearly 40 years later, it’s obvious that the legislature has not found a solution.  

3.       Now, the Alliance Grant, my favorite topic for discussion.  First, the 30 lowest performing school districts in CT are considered to be alliance districts, and would qualify for funds via an Alliance Grant.  100% of the funds must go to the school district; the “substantial majority” of the funds must be used on functions of the grant.  It is determined by the municipality what that “substantial majority” will be. Middletown's municipal government, despite recommendations from the State, has decided without question that 51% is considered a “substantial majority”.  (The state recommends at 75 %.)  Why is this important?  Middletown's can use the other 49% to fund a portion of the budget that they allocate to the School Board.  As an example, if the council agreed to give roughly 76 million dollars to the Board of Education in 2013/14 and there was roughly $2,000,000 awarded to the city/board for the Alliance Grant.  The city basically used $1,000,000 to offset the $76 million, rather than offer the full $76,000,000 and allow the board to use 100% of the alliance grant for what it was designed for.  Borrowing from Peter, to pay Paul.

4.       Finally, for those of you who hung in there on this Blog (Thank you) – we were repeatedly told at the Governance Council meeting that the Middletown Board of education receives 75% of the annual budget.  That didn’t sit right with me at all; if that were the case wouldn’t the bulk load of the personnel resources be located at Hunting Hill and not City Hall.  But, I took it at face value, and honestly, the concept, although flawed, got us to an agreement.  The books need to be looked at by as many decision makers as possible.  And when approached, Dr. Charles assured me that anyone from the council or the Mayor’s office, the board of education or the public is more than welcome to review the budget and make recommendations and suggestions on ways we can stretch a dollar and make it work.  But as a point of clarification – the 2013/14 fiscal year budget for the City is $135.9 million of which $76.47 million went to the School District.  That, for those keeping score at home is 56% NOT 75%.

In closing, I get it.  This is a marathon not a sprint.  I can see the trees through the forest and I can see where we need to go and how we need to get there.  We need to find a way to come to a happy medium.  I see the value of coming together and working together for the common good of our present and our future.  I understand that it is going to take time and we need to put our faith in our elected officials to do what we elected them to do.  Many of us are willing to go along on that journey but in return we need a Band-Aid plan.  We need a fix now, however temporary it might be.  Hopefully we can make progress with the state and eliminate some of the burden on the local tax payers.  But I plead that education become not just more of a priority, but THE priority.  Lighting the bridge, and building gazebos can wait.  The onus is on our elected officials, your constituents are watching. Fix the foundation before you decorate it, ok?

Brian Kaskel

Middletown Parent, Bielefield Governance Council Member, Parent Member of the BOE Budget Sub Committee, and Former Candidate for Board of Education.  (Husband and Father to a VERY understanding family)

Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Rep Production

She Kills Monsters: A New Play for New Audiences

Oddfellows Playhouse, one of Connecticut’s premier youth theaters, is proud to present She Kills Monsters, a new play by Qui Nguyen.

Inspired by the classic game Dungeons and Dragons, the play tells the story of Agnes Evans, a popular high school cheerleader. Agnes’s younger sister Tilly is her opposite and a total embarrassment – a geeky, shy, awkward girl. When Tilly dies suddenly in a car accident, Agnes’s only tie to the sister she barely knew is a role-playing adventure game that Tilly had created herself. Agnes enters her sister’s fantasy world and learns about who her sister was – while fighting off the monsters, real and imaginary, that plagued Tilly’s short life.

 “Qui Nguyen has written a contemporary high school play – timely, theatrical, and super fun with an emotional heft that sneaks up on you,” says Kristen Palmer, the show’s director.

“The themes of loss, acceptance, questioning sexual identity, and escapism contained in this play make it a great jumping-off point for wider conversation and reflection on issues young people face every day.”

Palmer adds that the play isn’t only for the youth, though. “Teens, their parents, young adults and anyone who has ever sought refuge and meaning in a book, video game, or film will connect to this original story.”

Don’t miss the chance to see Oddfellows’ talented Teen Repertory Company bring this unique coming-of-age play to life.

Performance Dates: March 20, 21, 22 at 7:30pm and March 23 at 2pm

                                       ** Recommended for ages 12 and up **

Location: Oddfellows Playhouse 

               128 Washington St. 

               Middletown, CT 06457

Tickets: $18 for adults and $10 for seniors and students

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE or call 860.347.6143

Oddfellows Playhouse is Seeking an Experienced Office Manager

Oddfellows youth theater needs a part time office manager (30 hours a week) with experience in general administrative duties, managing social media, press releases, marketing, and website updates.  Must have experience with databases and spreadsheets.  Must be able to multi-task and respond to walk ins and phone calls and direct the work of interns.  Hours can be flexible but will include some evenings and weekends supporting classes and productions.  Preferred Bachelors in Communications or Marketing or 5 years of business experience.  Accounting experience a plus.  

Location: 128 Washington St. Middletown, CT

Please send your resume and cover letter to info@oddfellows.org 

About us:

Oddfellows Playhouse was founded in 1975 as a community-based, multicultural theater program designed to include children from all backgrounds. Oddfellows remains Connecticut’s largest and most active year-round youth theater, an independent, not-for-profit organization that annually serves over 1,200 young people.  The mission is “ to build essential life skills through the performing arts.”
In 2013 Oddfellows Playhouse was named “Connecticut’s Best Children’s Theatre by Connecticut Magazine.  In 2012 Oddfellows was awarded its very first National Endowment for the Arts award for the Our Town grant. In 2003, Citizens Bank named Oddfellows Playhouse its Community Champion for youth services, and CPTV featured the Playhouse and its program on a special titled art.culture.life. In 1999, the Playhouse received a Community Service Award from the Middlesex County NAACP in recognition of its years of commitment to young people, particularly those challenged by poverty.  The New England Theatre Conference recognized the Playhouse’s history of quality performing arts and youth education with an Award of Excellence in 1998.

The Playhouse has produced over 350 shows, including classics, contemporary and world premieres.

Officer Shoots Obnoxious Beer-Drinker at PTA Meeting

Popcorn by The Colonel # 87

❁ We recently learned the term “clickbait.” It means language aimed at drawing people to click on a link. For us, the locus classicus is “How Cruise Ships Fill Their Unsold Cabins.” It’s a very intense form of advertising, not for amateurs, although amateurs like us will try their hand (witness today’s headline). Feel free to report or make up examples: “All Residential Streets to be Narrowed to One Lane.”

❁ Benjamin Franklin had a son, William, who was a Tory. He was arrested and detained in Middletown. Because of his inflammatory letter-writing, he was moved to Litchfield, where he could be guarded. Not clear why he couldn't be guarded in Middletown.

❁ Short fiction: Moses looked from the mountaintop out over the Promised Land. His last prayer granted, he lay down and closed his eyes. (21 words; reader submissions invited -- 25-word limit.)

❁ A Florida friend writes: “I’m old. I don’t care about much anymore. For example, I don’t care how much mercury there is in the cat food I eat."

❁ A bald guy we know got his Lenten ashes imposed as a big cross on top of his head, as if the Rapture is to be an aerial bombardment, and he wanted to be a good target.

❁ For meditators, a long mantra: “A point in time is the durationless boundary between two periods. A period is the time between two points. A point is not a period; a period is not a point.”

❁ More lore: “Judge not unless you can judge rightly. If you judge fish by their ability to climb trees, you will account fish stupid, whereas it is you who are stupid.”

❁ More noise in the news about calls to abolish the penny. Okay, but only in the context of “comprehensive coinage reform”: dime = ten cents; penny = half dollar; nickel = one dollar; quarter = five dollars. Paper money starts at ten dollars.

❁ H.L. Mencken had a trick for disarming critics. He answered all hostile letters with “You may be right.”

❁ An old friend has a similarly disarming way in arguments: “You’re right. I don’t agree with you, but you’re right.”

❁ That maneuver suggests another: “You’re wrong. I agree with you, but we’re wrong.”

❁ Dale Carnegie famously said, “Never criticize, condemn, or complain.”

❁ A Zen saying states: “No one escapes criticism.” One speculates that the meaning is, if you’re going to catch it either way, you may as well do the right thing.

❁ A literary critic advised: “Never say it’s not good. Just say you don’t like it. That way you’re quite safe.” Boy, was he wrong.

❁ Henry Ford reportedly said, “History is bunk.” It’s not clear to us whether he meant all histories are inaccurate or the study of history has no value.

❁ The saying “History is written by the victors” is associated with Churchill, but may go much farther back, and have many forms. Thought question: Is this a variant or a separate saying: “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”?

❁ “Those who did not live before the Revolution do not know the sweetness of life.” --Talleyrand

❁ “History is the commonly agreed lie” and variations are attributed to Voltaire, Napoleon, and others.

❁ And once you reach Voltaire, this business of quotation must stop, because he’s an endless source of great stuff: “Give me ten minutes to talk away my ugly face, and I’ll bed the Queen of France”; “If you see a Swiss banker jumping out a window, follow him. There’s sure to be a profit in it.”

❁ Is there a Guinness world record for number of impossible things believed before breakfast?

Synchronicity at The Buttonwood Tree Preceeds International Powerhouses in the Jazz World

Joe Fonda presents: 9th Annual Composers and Improvisers Festival -  ft. the Best of "Not Your Standard Jazz")

March 8 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm

$15 in advance, $18 at door

A STUNNING LINE-UP OF WORLD CLASS MUSICIANS:
Claire Daly - saxophone, Jole Forrester - piano  //
Charlie Kohlhase - saxophone, Eric Hofbauer-guitar; Curt Newton- drums //
Mike Musillami- guitar, George Schuller- drums, Joe Fonda- bass

Buttonwood connects again. A funny thing happened at The Buttonwood Tree Friday night. Three men were walking up Main street to Eli Cannon's and they stopped to hear the music from inside TBT. They peeked in to see a woman playing fiddle and were astonished to recognized her.  Upon confirmation that it was indeed Dara Takaki  (from Chester) in a duo with ArleneWow, one gentleman explained that they knew each other from 20 years before. The room lit up when the three sat and Dara recognized him. Everyone enjoyed the next 40 minutes of music as the two reunited and laughed, reminisced and enjoyed the moment. The gentlemen went on to Eli's delighted, and glad to know that NEAR (North End Arts Rising, Inc.) would bring back Dara to play again with ArleneWow! They will be accompanied by Nancy Parent, (from another Duo with Dara - and will be performing with at Mohegan Sun in April)  After a last minute cancellation of Stefilia's Stone for the Friday night concert with Marci Geller, ArleneWow was called to step in to open the show. Turned out better than expected when Arlene brought a bonus by inviting Dara to play with her. and do some of the songs they recorded for their upcoming CD. You just never know how things will go, but at The Buttonwood Tree, they go with the flow.

details on concert:

March 8 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm

$15 in advance, $18 at door

Reservations suggested!

7:30 pm: Claire Daly Duo
Claire Daly, saxophone
Jole Forrester, piano

 

Claire Daly grew up in NY, hearing many jazz greats as a young girl. She studied with legend Joe Viola and has made a living playing music since 1980. Winner of many awards, including the Jazz Journalist “Baritonist of the Year” and Downbeat and Jazztimes Critic and Reader Polls, Claire’s first release as a leader, “Swing Low”, is featured in the Presidential Library of Bill Clinton, as a CD significant to him while he was in office.Her most recent CD, “Baritone Monk” was on the Jazzweek Charts for 24 weeks, 9 of which were in the top ten. It was also in the top 100 CDs of 2013 on Jazzweek. She has recently had her quartet at the Monterey Jazz Festival as well as touring the west coast, and performed at the Monk Gala with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Her 2012 CD “The Mary Joyce Project” was a tribute to her relative who made a solo 1,000 mile dogsled trip from Juneau to Fairbanks in 1935. The band has performed at many festivals and venues.  Claire teaches at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Litchfield Jazz Camp, as well as privately in NYC. She says, “Improvising a life in music is the best thing I could have done with my life.”

Claire has performed and recorded with Joel Forrester for nearly 25 years. Joel was a co-founder of the infamous and acclaimed “Microscopic Septet.” He and Claire had a quartet called “People Like Us” which recorded 4 CDs on the Koch label, and a recent one on Ride Cymbol Records. Claire’s next release will feature Joel’s tunes and will be called “Forrester.”

***

Featured Kitty of the Week - Patrice

My Name is Patrice!

Do You Have A Home for Me?

I am Patrice, a 5-month-old female Calico! I was born into a rough situation but now I am safe at a CATALES foster home, waiting for my forever home.

I am a bit shy at first but once I know you, I will melt into your arms and purr. Cat toys are the best! I love to play with other kitties, too. I think I need a home without small children or dogs and someone who is experienced with kittens.

CAT TALES is seeking a permanent adoption for me and will tell you the best way to take care of me. If you want the sweetest and most adorable cat around, come take me home with you today!

Please call CAT TALES at (860) 344-9043 or

Email: info@catales.org to inquire about Patrice!

International Women's Day 1973

On International Women's Day in 1973 I was living in South India and involved in language study program at a local university. Next door to our classroom, an elderly Indian lady taught geography. We hadn't spoken, but had seen each other in the courtyard on the way to classes.

In early March she approached me about speaking to her geography class on International Women's Day the following week. She knew I was from the USA and perhaps thought I might speak of how wonderful life was for women in the US. We spoke for a while, I mostly listening to her enthusiasm regarding International Women's Day. And actually, that was the first I'd heard of International Women's Day--it wasn't a day that was celebrated on any university campus where I'd studied or that I remembered from before India.... maybe I was just more into the books in those days.  Anyway, it was a minor epiphany. Combined with the many hardships and burdens I'd witnessed affecting Indian women of all regions and castes, attending her class and that day special day became unexpectedly important to me.

I'm at a loss to remember anything I might have said to the geography class that day in 1973. Maybe I talked about the language program or my interest in India. Or maybe I spoke of my university and the city I would return to. I'm not sure. My life's experience at that time was limited to study and a bit of travel.

But I do remember listening to that teacher--she resembled Eleanor Roosevelt ... in a sari. She positively glowed. She spoke of her own visit to the United States as a Fulbright Fellow and how she had traveled across our vast country to see the amber waves of grain, the purple mountains, the huddled masses of the cities, and surely more than one farm. She was as thrilled to share the memories of her travels as we were to hear them. One thing I especially remember had to do with America's resources: She said the cows she had seen were enormous and fat! and so healthy looking! She said the ears of corn were huge and delicious! All the crops were so plentiful! She said she had never seen such abundance.

Now remembering her story, I think of her geography students and how they benefited from this cross-cultural sharing on that day. Perhaps some of them continued to study for advanced degrees and visited the USA as Fulbright Fellows. Perhaps one of them recounted her travelogue to her students. Perhaps one of them studied in the US, encouraged by this adventuresome Indian women--professor. And I think of the power of one single person, a women, an elderly teacher, telling her story on International Women's Day 1973. It's a good thing.

___________
See general information on history of International Women's Day at United Nations website: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html

See article in UMass Daily Collegian describing origin of International Women's Day in more "radical" events: http://dailycollegian.com/2014/03/06/the-radical-origins-of-international-womens-day/.