Open House at the Wesleyan Observatory

Wesleyan's Van Vleck Observatory will be hosting a special public event from 8-10 PM on Saturday, November 21st. This event is part of celebrations of the International Year of Astronomy, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first telescopic study of the sky.

Visitors will be able to look through Wesleyan's telescopes, and learn about Galileo's discoveries, extrasolar planets (some of which have been studied at Wesleyan), stargazing tips for families, and more.

This free event is open to people of all ages and will be held clouds or clear.

More information and parking instructions, or call Roy Kilgard at 860-685-3664.

Middletown History Sunday at First Church

The entire Middletown Community is invited to learn about and celebrate Middletown’s early history on Sunday, November 22, at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 190 Court Street. The worship service begins at 10 a.m. and the 2^nd Hour program, led by Dionne Longley, begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Room. Visitors are invited to attend either part or both parts of the morning’s program.

Why did English Puritans settlers come to Middletown in 1650? What had they experienced back in England and what kind of life were they hoping for here?

Since our community’s history is a fabric made from many threads over many years, our worship service will reflect that diversity. We will show how hymns were taught to worshippers who couldn’t read, and we’ll revisit the Covenant of 1668. We will also play African drums and sing traditional as well as contemporary church music. See our antique communion silverware, made from coins donated by parishioners (usually on display at the Wadsworth Antheneum).

For 2^nd hour, Di Longley, former Executive Director of the Middlesex County Historical Society, will be our speaker. Di will take listeners on a walk back in time to meet the village's settlers, a band of brave Puritans who were models of piety and morality--or were they? Hear about their antics and experiences. If you're looking for devout Puritans and strait-laced Victorians--you won't find them here.

For more information, call (860)-346-6657 x13 or visit the First Church website.

South Church Snowflake Fair on Saturday

Water and Sewer Deparment Requests Rate Increase and Permission for Service Shut Offs

With delinquencies still plaguing the department Water and Sewer Commissioner Guy Russo convened a special meeting of the WPCA (Water Pollution Control Authority) Thursday to vote on a request to conduct a hearing for a sewer usage rate increase.

According to Russo's memo, the rate increase will amount to a 12% increase across the board for all customers. The average family would see an increase of about $13 in each semi-annual sewer bill.

The rate hearing is for Monday November 30 at 5:15 PM at the Water and Sewer Department.

In addition the board voted to request a transfer of $30,000 from the Water Fund Balance to cover budget shortfalls due to delinquencies. In addition, the WPCA voted on budget reductions for the department in the coming year, and a request to the Common Council to approve water and sewer shutoffs for severely delinquent accounts.

Theater & Music Around Town (11/20-22)

Friday (today) November 20:
A reminder: The Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presentation of "Around the World in 80 Days" has 2 performances this weekend - tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. To find out ticket availability, call 860-347-6143.

The Buttonwood Tree presents Frank Critelli and Shandy Lawson tonight at 8 p.m. Both are fine writers and performers so call 860-347-4957 for reservations.

Toussaint the Liberator & Buru Style brings their reggae/funk/soul to Boney's Music Lounge and the "riddim" is definitely "gonna get you." Call 860-346-6000 for the time of the first set.

Saturday November 21:
At 8 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall, the Wesleyan University Orchestra, Angel Gil-Ordonez, music director, invites you to spend "An Evening in Spain." Among the pieces of music that will transport to the Iberian Peninsula will be de Falla's "Amor Brujo" and "Nights in the Gardens of Spain", Turina's "Fantastic Dances", and Guridi's "Ten Basque Melodies." This sounds like a lovely evening of music and it's free to all who want to take the journey.

There is a double bill of exciting creative music at 8 p.m. in The Buttonwood Tree. The New Haven Improvisers Collective (NHIC) opens the evening with a set of music that draws from the many traditions of jazz and improvisational music. The septet, led by Bob Gorry (guitar) and featuring Wesleyan graduate Carl Testa (bass, bass clarinet), has a new CD, "Inflection", featuring all original works, with music that moves in many directions.
After a short break, multi-instrumentalist and sound manipulator Phil Bullaro celebrates the release of his new CD, "Golden Alien", with an inspired set of "electro-acoustic" music. Joining him will be guitarist (and owner of Middletown's Coffeehouse Recording Studio) Michael Arafeh. Call 860-347-4957 for more information or go onlie to www.buttonwood.org.

The Greater Middletown Chorale, Joseph D'Eugenio, music director, have a new program titled "Come, Let Us Sound With Melody!" and you can hear it twice this weekend (not in Middletown, however...sigh.) The program, which features new works by Connecticut-based composers Sarah Meneely-Kyder and Peter Neidmann as well as pieces by Gyneth Walker and a preview of the Chorale's Spring 2010 concert, Mendelssohn's "Messiah." Also on the program is David Conte's "Elegy For Matthew", written for the Matthew Shepard and performed by the GMC on the 10th anniversary of his death. In conjunction with the "Elegy..", members of the Oddfellows Teen Repertory Company will present monologues from Moises Kaufman's "The Laramie Project." Saturday, the GMC performs at 7 p.m. in Newington at the Church of Christ, Congregational, 1075 Main Street, while Sunday the program will be heard at 4 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church, 183 William Street in Portland. For ticket information, call 860-526-8891 or go to www.gmchorale.org.

Sunday November 22:
The Green Street Arts Center "Sunday Salon" series features Wesleyan Professor Indira Karamchetti for a 2 p.m. program titled "Reading the Nobel Prize Winners." The GSAC describes the event thusly: "Since 1901, Nobel prizes have become the most prestigious international recognition of achievement. They are earned by a broadly international register of scientists, activists, and authors. This salon will selected readings from the works of recent Nobel Laureates together with a discussion of the criteria for establishing Nobel's ideal of the "greatest benefit [to] mankind," as it relates to literature." Professor Karamchetti is a fine reader and will lead the discussion. For ticket information, call 860-685-7871.

The Wesleyan Guitarists' Showcase takes place at 4 p.m. in the World Music Hall, Wyllys Avenue. The event, free and open to the public, features members of the Wesleyan Guitar Ensemble and special guests.

The Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is being held this year in the lobby of Middlesex Memorial Hospital at 7 p.m. Prayers, music and sermons from the different religious institutions and beliefs are on the bill - people are requested to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the St Vincent dePaul Place and the Amazng Grace Food Pantry.

New Common Council Rules Amend Public Comment

As reported in the Eye, proposed new rules for public comment at Common Council meetings have been adopted.

It is the responsibility of each newly-elected Council to review and amend rules as the Council sees a need for change or improvement.

The new rules limit the amount of time for public comment for items listed on Common Council meeting agendas. Total time for public comment during regular Common Council meetings will be 30 minutes, unless a supermajority of the Council votes to extend that time period. In addition, individuals who want to comment will have their time to speak limited to 5 minutes.

However, the Council has created a new opportunity for residents to address the Council on any topic. The Council will hold monthly, community-wide public meetings at which the public can speak on "any issue(s) of concern with the bounds of proper public discourse and decorum." Each resident will be limited to 10 minutes of speaking time, and the total time of the meeting is not limited. Meetings will be held on a rotating basis at South Fire Station, City Hall, Macdonough School, Middletown High School and Snow School. These meetings will not be televised, or broadcast in any manner. The Council may refer issues that arise at these meetings to appropriate committees or commissions for study.

Residents will no longer be given the opportunity to speak at regular Council meeting on topics not on the agenda of that meeting.

No limit has been placed on the amount of time Council members may debate an issue.

In other rule changes, the section of the Council meeting called "Questions for Directors" has been extracted from the body of the meeting and will now take place in a special meeting directly prior to each Council meeting and called "Questions to Directors Workshop." A quorum of Council members is not required, and the meeting will run for one hour. These special workshop meetings will not be televised and there will be no public comment.

Mayor Sebastian Giuliano commented that the rules provide a new and broader opportunity for the public to address the Council, but that it extends the time and work commitment for the Council members.

"Having a series of community meeting presents a lot of opportunities," Giuliano said. "And I hope they make the effort to attend each of these meetings.

"In terms of what's discussed at these meetings, it ought to be withing the purview of items on which the Council can act. They're under no obligation to sit and listen to something they can legally do nothing about."

Giuliano expects to be asked to preside as parlimentarian (chairman) at these community meetings.

Conservation Commission Meeting Notes 11/12/2009

The Conservation Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month. The November meeting was held on 11/12. There were two members of the public present to address the Commission.

David Bauer addressed the commission to say that it has been nearly a year since we celebrated the 90th birthday of Artie Schiemann, who so generously donated land to the city's Open Space program. Mr. Bauer would like to see a continued annual recognition of Mr. Schiemann, which the Conservation Commission is happy to participate in.

Mr. Bauer also presented a conceptual idea for use of the 252 acres of CVH property in the Maromas section. This land is currently under consideration for several uses, including a golf course, a home for ARTFARM, hiking trails and others (many previous articles in the EYE). Mr. Bauer presented his idea as an undeveloped concept with the overall objective of restoring agriculture to the lands, as they were once used. This would provide multiple benefits by stimulating the local economy with new jobs, encouraging local farming, providing new sources of healthy local food for Middletown residents, and promoting collaboration among many local groups. It was discussed that the Conservation Commission is not in a position to take any direct action on this idea, which would require a great deal of work to develop.

On the same subject, the Commission discussed the need to follow-up with the Economic Development Commission concerning the use of former CVH lands. There has been no response to a letter sent requesting that public input provided during many public hearings held over a two-year period be incorporated into any plan of development for this property. The Commission will send a second letter to reiterate our request, and also express concern about entering into a 99 year lease, which all agreed seems excessively long for any active land use or applicant.

Cindy Jablonski Pashley addressed the commission to indicate her desire to preserve her property as City open space, either through an outright sale or by selling the development rights. The Commission is currently scheduling site walks for several properties that have been offered to the City and are under consideration for preservation as open space, and will include this property in the site walks. Properties are evaluated using a scoring system that provides a consistent way to rank the properties, and determine which properties to pursue for acquisition.

The Commission is working on an update of the current Middletown Trail Guide that will have more accurate maps and include new properties acquired since the last guide was published. The Commission is considering options for presenting the trail guide in various formats and media (online, print), and ways to make the online guide more interactive.

Concerning the Army Base, the Army is currently evaluating several properties as possible wetland mitigation sites. The Commission would like to know if there is any opportunity to provide input into this process and the selection of an appropriate wetlands mitigation site and will follow-up with City staff (none were in attendance).

There are plans in the works for upgrades to the Melilli Plaza parking lot behind Main Street Market and next to the City Hall. The Commission would like the parking lot design to be as low impact as possible and incorporate elements that allow for infiltration and treatment of storm water runoff. As an example, suggested changes that were made by the Conservation Commission for the design of recent improvements to the Palmer Field parking lot on Washington Street were taken into account and are helping to reduce the impact of the lot on the Coginchaug River. The Commission will seek a response to a letter sent to the City recommending changes to the Melilli parking lot design.

House Concert This Saturday - More Great Irish Music

THE MIDDLETOWNHOUSE CONCERT SERIES presents:

John Whelan with Flynn Cohen
Saturday, November 21st, at 8pm

Suggested donation: $25 general in advance ($28 at the door), $12 students, $7 children 12 & under
Please call Jody Cormack 860-983-7963 for reservations
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

Although he grew up near London in Dunstable, England, John Whelan was raised on the fiddle and pipe music of Ireland. At the age of 14, already a seasoned winner of numerous accordion championships, John recorded his first album. Named in honor of his father, Pride of Wexford was no passing fancy - the album is still in print and selling steadily.

John's artistry blossomed in America. He moved to the U.S. in 1980 and soon was performing with Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers in one of the most celebrated Irish duos of the decade. His solo album From the Heart became a 1991 finalist in the Celtic/British Isles category of the National Association of Independent Record Distributors and Manufacturers (NAIRD) awards. In 1996 he signed with Narada and released his first solo album on the label, Celtic Reflections. His next release Celtic Crossroads spent more than two months in the top 10 of Billboard's world music charts.

In late 1997 John formed the JOHN WHELAN BAND. In 1998, the band enjoyed a milestone year, thrilling audiences at such major American music events as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Washington Irish Folk Festival, as well as throughout Europe on a junket sponsored by Virgin Records, Narada's parent label. Going solo, John appeared in the critically acclaimed "Once Upon an Accordion" North American Tour. Additionally he appeared in his first motion picture Ride With The Devil directed by Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Ice Storm).

Named Traditionalist of the Year by Irish Echomagazine in 1998, John won high praise from Celtic music authority Earle Hitchner "As an instrumentalist, composer, producer, and arranger who brings both passion and playfulness to his music while respecting the tradition it's rooted in. John Whelan has richly earned the Irish Echo's highest honor for traditional music in 1998."

John's latest album, "Come To Dance", serves notice to genre purists that the seven-time All-Ireland Champion is as instrumentally agile as ever. It also reveals his consummate understanding of a centuries-old repertoire. The album was recorded live in his hometown church, St. Gabriel's in Milford, Ct. John says, "There were no fixes, no second chances, no overdubs - everything is as live as it can be. Sometimes I would check the tracks by dancing to them. If the rhythm is there, if the feel is there, people are going to enjoy…" He continues, " many of these tunes have a personal significance to me. The Concert Reel is a tune I played for my first All-Ireland Championship, and Father O'Flynn is the very first tune I ever learned to play".

A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Flynn Cohen is an acoustic guitarist who performs primarily as an accompanist for traditional fiddle music. He has a BA in Music from Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England and an MA in Music Composition from Mills College in California.
He performs with the band Annalivia, Irish accordion legend John Whelan, progressive fiddle band Halali, and acclaimed dance band The Sevens, in addition to duo performances with fellow trad guitar player Matt Heaton and old-time fiddler Matt Brown.

He's also worked w/ Cathie Ryan, Aoife Clancy, Skip Healy, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, Revels, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Malibu Storm, Jilly Martin, Gail Davies, Airdance, Boston City Limits, Matt Glaser, John McGann, Joe Derrane & Frank Farrell, Ruthie Dornfeld, Karen Tweed, Jake & Taylor Armerding, Bruce MacGregor, Lissa Schneckenburger, Laura Cortese, Mark Simos, Todd Denman & Aniar, etc.

Flynn was formerly a visiting lecturer in Music at Bridgewater State College and is presently on the Music faculty at Keene State College in New Hampshire.

Transparency in Government: A View From the Inside

Commentary by John Milardo, President of the Middletown Managers and Professionals Association, Local #6092, AFT-CT. Milardo is Superintendent of Parks in Middletown's Park and Recreation Department. The views expressed in this article are those of Milardo and opposing viewpoints are welcome.

The newly elected Middletown Common Council held their Organizational meeting on Tuesday, November 18th. During the meeting, the Council issued new rules and regulations for public meetings, which they say will allow for a more transparent government and a better accounting to the public. How will the new rules change our City for the better? By allowing the public a half hour window to speak on the entire agenda of the night. Each citizen has a five-minute limit to address his or her concerns on agenda items. In my opinion, the five minute/thirty minute rule was desgined to stop certain public speakers; but in stopping them, the right of the rest of the public to be heard on agenda topics will be sacrificed.

Some of the Council members stated that during their campaign walks, the public told them the Common Council meetings were to long and drawn out. So in the Council's infinite wisdom, they took apparently took that to mean: the public speaking session must be shortened. They may have misunderstood what the public told them on the campaign trail.

I believe the public probably meant the Council members should stop all the posturing, badgering, and political nonsense during meetings; and conduct themselves in a professional manner, which in turn, would end the meetings at a reasonable time.

On another topic, a Special Common Council meeting was held directly after the organizational meeting, with only a single item on the agenda: a transfer of $20,000 for the Personnel Department, to continue Police recruitments and other hiring for the City. (Full disclosure: the Director of Personnel is this writer’s spouse).

The Democratic Council majority had already stripped funding from the Personnel Department through the budget process, and placed that department’s funds within the Common Council's budget. At the time of that decision, Personnel Director Debra Milardo, made them aware that the funding left in the Personnel Department budget would be inadequate for recruitment and hiring.

The Personnel Department was the only city department for which the Common Council took direct budget control. Their reasoning was that they needed to get a real idea of what the department spends.

In my opnion, that's hogwash!

I feel that this action is political retribution by the Democratic Council members because I, as the president of MMPA, supported Republican candidates for council, and that it also reflects a prejudice against a department managed by a woman who is intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind. The Personnel Department is the only department in the City being micromanaged by the Common Council. I believe that by exerting control over day-to-day funding and interference with the normal daily operation of this department the Common Council is violating the city charter. This is particularly disturbing when other City departments have demonstrated major financial problems and not a word is said.

Finally, I think the need to exert control is exhibited in the behavior at the special meeting.
The Personnel Director was not called up to the podium to answer questions on this topic for the Council. I believe it's because they didn’t really want an answer. I feel they were determined to give her an answer they wanted the public, and her, to hear.

When you hear the words, “transparent and honest government“, take it with a grain of salt. It doesn’t apply to everyone. Sometimes the stifling of good advice and opinion is stifled under the guise of good government.

Appointments Announced For City Commissions

At an organizational meeting held Tuesday November 17, the Common Council voted to appoint Republican Council member Joe Bibisi as the returning Deputy Mayor. In addition the Council voted and approved the following Coucil and mayoral appointments.


FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS:
RONALD P. KLATTENBERG, CHAIRMAN GERALD E. DALEY HOPE P. KASPER JOSEPH E. BIBISI, PHILIP J. PESSINA

PERSONNEL REVIEW:
VINCENT J. LOFFREDO, CHAIRMAN THOMAS J. SERRA DEBORAH A. KLECKOWSKI

COUNCILMANIC COMMISSIONS

PUBLIC SAFETY:
ROBERT P. SANTANGELO, CHAIRMAN THOMAS J. SERRA, VINCENT J. LOFFREDO PHILIP J. PESSINA, DEBORAH A. KLECKOWKSI

PUBLIC WORKS:
JAMES B. STREETO, CHAIRMAN RONALD P. KLATTENBERG, DAVID BAUER

INSURANCE AND CLAIMS:
GRADY L. FAULKNER, JR., CHAIRMAN HOPE P. KASPER, DEBORAH A. KLECKOWSKI

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
GERALD E. DALEY, CHAIRMAN ROBERT P. SANTANGELO, VINCENT J. LOFFREDO, JOSEPH E. BIBISI, DAVID BAUER

ORDINANCE STUDY:
HOPE P. KASPER, CHAIRWOMAN JAMES B. STREETO, JOSEPH E. BIBISI

MAYOR PRESENTS NAMES TO COUNCIL FOR APPOINTMENT:

BOARD OF HEALTH:
GRADY L. FAULKNER, JR., DEBORAH A. KLECKOWSKI

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
GRADY L. FAULKNER, JR., DEBORAH A. KLECKOWSKI

CONTRACT COMPLIANCE BOARD:
ROBERT P. SANTANGELO, CHAIRMAN DAVID BAUER

CLEAN ENERGY TASK FORCE:
RONALD P. KLATTENBERG, DAVID BAUER

FIRE SERVICES COST COMMITTEE:
VINCENT J. LOFFREDO, JOSEPH E. BIBISI

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT AGENCY:
ROBERT P. SANTANGELO, PHILIP J. PESSINA

MIDDLETOWN COMMISSION ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE:
ROBERT P. SANTANGELO, DAVID BAUER

PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION:
THOMAS J. SERRA, PHILIP J. PESSINA

PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
THOMAS J. SERRA, JOSEPH E. BIBISI

RETIREMENT BOARD:
HOPE P. KASPER, JOSEPH E. BIBISI

SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION:
RONALD P. KLATTENBERG, DAVID BAUER

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY:
JAMES B. STREETO, DAVID BAUER

YOUTH SERVICES ADVISORY BUREAU:
GRADY L. FAULKNER, JR., JOSEPH E. BIBISI

MHS LOCKER ROOM BUILDING COMMITTEE:
THOMAS J. SERRA, VINCENT J. LOFFREDO JOSEPH E. BIBISI

MIDDLETOWN RESOURCE RECOVERY COMMISSION TO ECRRA:
GERALD E. DALEY, DAVID BAUER

Things to Do or Ponder the Next 2 Days

Today November 19:
Need an escape from the onslaught of 24-hour news cycles? Bemoaning the loss of the warmer weather? Bored? Today at 12noon, The Russell Library has the cure for the symptoms above and more. The "Gutter to Penthouse" Film Series presents "Gold Diggers of 1933", a movie musical extravaganza starring Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, and Ginger Rogers as well as a slew of dancers. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, choreographed by the legendary Busby Berkeley, and songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin (including "We're In The Money" and "Pettin' In The Park"), "Gold Diggers.." is truly a classic of early (talking) cinema and, for its day, fairly risque. Most of all, it's a "hoot" and worth spending time in the Hubbard Room. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 860-347-2528, extension 135.

Performance artists Eiko & Koma are the subjects of "Time is Not Even, Space is Not Empty", a retrospective of their (nearly) 4 decades of creating dace and theater pieces, works that often look at political, environmental and social issues. Eiko has been a fellow with the Center for Creative Research (CCR) and has served as a Visiting Instructor in Dance and East Asian Studies, as well as teaching Delicious Movement workshops in various curricular contexts for the past several years while maintaining an active performance and residency schedule. The retrospective is an ongoing installation in the Zilkha Gallery (today through December 20) and the artists presents an "Opening Reception" today at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. To find out more about this fascinating couple, go to www.eikoandkoma.org/.

The Elia Kazan Centennial Celebration continues tonight at 8 p.m. at the Center for Film Studies at Wesleyan with "Splendor in the Grass." The 1961 film stars Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Pat Hingle and Phyllis Diller (yes, the comedienne as a sarcastic nightclub owner), the script written by William Inge and the score composed by David Amram. Set in Kansas in the late1920s, the plot revolves around a young woman (Wood) whose involvement with her boyfriend (Beatty) is quashed when he insists they have sexual relations. She refuses, he moves on, marries and she ends up institutionalized. There's more to it than that with issues around the Depression and life in the Mid-West. Steve Collins, Assistant Professor of Film Studies at Wesleyan, will introduce the film. The event, taking place in the Goldsmith Family Cinema, is free and open to the public. For more information, call 860-685-2220.

Friday November 20:
Pianist Nicholas Luby, winner of the 2009 Elizabeth Verbeer Tischler Piano Competition and Wesleyan University Concerto Competition, is featured in a recital of works composed by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Shostakovich at 7 p.m. in Wesleyan's Memorial Chapel. Joining him o several pieces will be cellist Lucy Strother, a former Concerto Competition winner. This concert is free and open to the public.

The Buttonwood Tree presents a double bill of Connecticut-based singer-songwriters at 8 p.m. Frank Critelli (pictured) and Shandy Lawson both combine pithy lyrics with memorable melodies, songs that can touch your soul but also make you want to move your feet. The former leans more towards a "rock" feel in his music while Ms. Lawson blends acoustic country elements into her works. Her music has been described as "folk-noir." Call the music what you please, this should be a fun evening. For more information, call 860-347-4957.

Toussaint the Liberator & Buru Style brings its infectious "dub/funk" sound into Boney's Music Lounge for several sets of funk, reggae, and soul. The band, featuring Middletown-based drummer Bill Carbone, creates an infectious and extremely danceable sound for the smooth and soulful vocal stylings of the Liberator. Both Buru Style and Toussaint released CDs this past summer (the cover of the group's debut EP is pictured on the left) and you can find out more by going to http://toussaintandburu.com/fr_index.cfm. You can find how much fun their music is by going to Boney's - the music starts around 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-346-6000.

NEAR Receives Grant for Food Not Bombs

From North Ends Arts Rising

The Liberty Bank Foundation has graciously awarded a $2,000 grant to
North End Arts Rising, Inc. for the Food Not Bombs food sharing
program which happens Sundays at The Buttonwood Tree on the corner of
Liberty and Main Streets.

Since 1997, the Liberty Bank Foundation has given over $5.4 million in grants to local non-profit organizations that our neighbors depend on. They are partnering with non-profits, government, businesses, and other funders to identify key needs in our communities and collaborate on solutions and this is one example of how their dollars are going to work for the community.

We are humbly honored to receive this grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation to support this worthy program.
Food Not Bombs offers freshly-prepared vegetarian dishes and
fellowship to anyone who wants it. Every week many people wait for the food to arrive. FNB often has fresh fruit &
vegetables for folks to take with them and when it rains or snows we
move inside, often sharing some music.

Shortly after 1997 when NEAR, Inc. had found it's new home in the
renovated Arriwani Hotel (formerly the Arrigoni Hotel and the March
Inn), a generous and kind-hearted Wesleyan student named Charles
LeGuerre brought Food Not Bombs to The Buttonwood Tree's front porch.
Being both a dedicated volunteer to the bookstore and FNB, Charles
made the decision to share the meal with others at the very place we
do today. This meal sharing program has served countless people over
the years and has joined people from many walks of life.

Those who are interested in assisting this cause are welcome to join FNB volunteers as they prepare food at the First Church of Christ, 190 Court Street,
Middletown around 11:30 am every Sunday.

The Liberty Bank Foundation has been a supporter of North End Arts
Rising, Inc. for many years and in many ways. We know that their
hearts are with us as they award this funding to support all of us who
seek to aid the hungry of our community.