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.

Cat Tales ~ Cat of the Week ~ GIDEON!!

Cat Tales ~ Cat of the Week

GIDEON!!

Gender: Male

Breed:    DMH

Color:    Grey & White

Age:       3 years old

Hello, my name is Gideon! I am one of the greeters at Cat Tales and like to give little kisses as well. I just love to be pet and get all of the attention. Due to my rough life before coming to Cat Tales, I would prefer a home where it's a little less chaotic (so older children and none of those canine creatures). I'm ready to spend time with a new family lounging on a warm bed or relaxing on the couch with you. Please adopt me into your home!

No DogsNo Young Children

Web:   http://www.CatTalesCT.org/cats/GIDEON/
Phone:   860.344.9043

Email:   info@CatTalesCT.org

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

A Big "Bravo!" to The Friends of the Russell Library

The Friends of the Russell Library hold monthly book sales.

This week, we celebrate the Friends of the Russell Library! Through devotion and hard work, they have provided funding for programs for the past 34 years and counting!

Library will be spending the week of October 16-22, 2016, celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the 11th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

The Friends collect and sort books for book sales; they provide free books for children in poverty; they provide free books for people riding the bus; they also provide reasonably priced paperbacks at the two Brew Bakers on Main Street.

If you want to be a Friend of the Russell Library, come to the library on a Tuesday morning between 10:00am and 12:00noon and meet the Friends who work sorting books. Fill out an application. Come to one of the monthly book sales. The next book sale is the weekend of November 18-20.

If you want to know more about the Friends of the Russell Library, check out their information page on the Russell Library website.

Many Volunteers Needed For October 22 River Clean-up

The Jonah Center is partnering with First Church in Middletown, for a clean-up work party on Saturday, October 22, 8:30– 11:30 a.m. The goal is to remove a large amount of bulky material (chairs, tarps, mattresses, etc.) that was pulled from the Middletown Recycling Center to the bank of the Coginchaug River. Volunteers will gather at the Phil Salafia Canoe and Kayak Launch in the North End, 181 Johnson Street (just to the left before you enter the recycling center).

It is important to get this material away from the river while it is relatively dry, and before spring when it may be washed into the river. A large team of workers, say 20, could easily complete this job in about an hour.  Please help if you can.

There is some poison ivy in the area, so volunteers should wear long pants and gloves.  To get more information or to confirm your willingness to help, contact Curt Weybright by email at  Curtis.Weybright@comcast.net or by phone or text at 860-301-6483. 

What makes this project even more urgent is the item below.  The trail will go right by the piles of debris.

$103,000 Grant Awarded To Fund Hiking Trail On City Landfill Mound

While we are on the subject of the North End Peninsula (the land where the recycling center, landfill mound, and boat launch are located), we are happy to announce the grant awarded to the City of Middletown to complete the Jonah Center’s 2006 plan to construct a hiking trail circling the landfill mound and leading to the top where you can enjoy fantastic views of the Floating Meadows, the Mattabesset River, the Arrigoni Bridge, hills surrounding Middletown and Portland, and downtown Middletown.  You can view an article on this project at http://www.courant.com/community/middletown/hc-middletown-landfill-hiking-trail-1006-20161005-story.html