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February 2010 Issue Now On-Line

2010-02-05T09:53:00.001-05:00

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Your Stories February 2010

2010-02-05T09:48:00.002-05:00

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Jennifer�s House of Hair and St. Baldrick�s
St. Baldrick�s began as a casual conversation between friends and has exploded into the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research, which started in 1999. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family. Tens of thousands of volunteers make St. Baldrick's happen, with the leadership of a board of directors and the support of a small staff. Volunteers organize each event, coached and equipped by the Foundation.

Every year more than 160,000 children around the world are diagnosed with cancer. In the US cancer kills more than any other disease, and because childhood cancers are different from adult�s cancers, the research must be specific to kids.

I was never aware of just how many children are affected by cancer and the research needs for children are different from adults. Curing cancer in children is so very important because they are the future. St. Baldrick�s being a volunteer based organization not only provides monies, it helps people realize, and become involved in something that they may not other wise be part of.

The St. Baldrick�s Foundation has made more than 200 grants totaling over $41 million for childhood cancer research since 2005, its first year as a foundation. In 2009 alone, over $12 million was funded � more than by any other foundation making grants for research to cure childhood cancers.

Just as the St. Baldrick�s community bands together to raise funds, the childhood cancer research community works together to find cures. In fact, childhood cancer led the way in creating �cooperative research groups� and as a result, children who had almost no chance of survival fifty years ago now have a survival rate of over 80%.

How we wish that statistic applied to all kids with cancer! Some types of the disease remain extremely hard to cure, and many treatments come with a steep price in life-long damage or risk to bodies and minds.
To cure even the most difficult cancers and improve the quality of life for every survivor, we need to do more than fund the experts of today. We need to encourage the best and brightest new doctors to choose childhood cancer research as a career. The truth is, other medical specialties often pay more, and pediatric cancer is not for the weak of heart.

In addition to the enthusiasm of participants and the generosity of donors, the St. Baldrick�s Foundation is grateful for the many childhood cancer researchers who give freely of their time and expertise � and sometimes their very hair!

We are honored to work with some of the most cutting-edge doctors and scientists in the world to see that every donor dollar is funding the most important research � the kind that will save precious young lives.

Jennifer�s House of Hair will be teaming up with DW Catering in hosting its 2nd �A Bash for Baldness�, which will be held at the salon, 437 Broad Street, Meriden. It will be held on Saturday, February 27th from 5p.m to 9p.m. We have local businesses, dedicated clients and friends that are going to be sponsoring tables of various types of beer and wine. We also paired up with DW Catering who will be cooking an assortment of hearty comfort foods, as people walk around and socialize. There will be music, a 50/50 drawing, Lucky Lotto Tree drawings, and lots of mingling! Tickets will be $22 per person. All 100% of the proceeds collected that night will be donated to the St. Baldrick�s Foundation. If you have any questions about this event please call the salon at 203.235.3166.

Jennifer�s House of Hair will also be collecting donations at the salon. You can stop by the salon and buy a St. Baldrick�s Circle, either in honor or in memory of someone.

We regret to inform you that we will not be shaving at the main event hosted by Quality Time on March 6th, 2010. Instead we will be attending the International Beauty Show in NYC that weekend to continue our education. We wish the Meriden Fire Dept. & Quality Time good luck at their event!
Be a Hero for kids with cancer!

Peoples Press February 2010
South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department is its 102 year of service to the Village of South Meriden and the City of Meriden. In 2009 the department responded to 760 calls of service to the community.

Point of information about the calls in 2009, approximately 69 % of the calls responded to where medicals and Motor Vehicle Accidents.

Health Tips
We urge all our residence to be careful during the winter months with shoveling snow. Take it easy do not over do it. Use a good shovel and do not over load it when you lift it. Also for those of you that have snow blowers please be extremely careful not to put your hands near the blades of the blower unit while it is running. You might say who would do that, but each year Meriden's emergency service responders respond to several of these calls each year and it isn't a pretty sight so please take precautions.

If you can and have the time and the energy may be you can help a neighbor who is a little older or might be ill, give them a hand clearing away the snow from their walkways or driveway. It feels real good to be able to help them out during the winter months. Each year we lose friends and neighbors to heart attacks during the winter months from over exerting themselves shoveling snow.

We also want to thank all of our friends that have been helping clearing snow and ice a way from fire hydrants during storms. This allows the fire department during fire emergencies to hook up to fire hydrants quicker to gain access to a water supply if the fire is one of a substantial size.
Do to the amount of snow we have been receiving, we still need your continuing help with clearing fire hydrants

Another health tip. If you are under a doctor�s care and take certain medications keep a list of these medications handy just in case you have the need to call 911 for during a medical emergency.

Also with this list you might want to give a little history of any medical conditions that you also might have. These are important things for emergency responders to have just in case you are unable to respond to our questions when we arrive at your home. A good place to keep this information is in an envelope on you refrigerator and note that it is Medical Info.

Membership Information
We are currently accepting applications for membership for individuals who live in Meriden over the age of 18 in good health and have a clean police records and can pass the application process. We are also accepting application for those individuals who might all ready be certified as a State of CT Firefighter/EMT and do not live in Meriden but are willing to fill night crew positions at our station. These individuals will need to meet our by-law requirements for drills, weekly night crew and duty crew assignments.

We are one of the only Volunteer fire stations in the State that have sleep-in crews at our fire station we presently cover 6 out of 7 nights. Our nightly in-house status allows us to service our customers you our neighbors quicker. Being a volunteer fire fighter takes a lot of commitment and time. Our members make a lot of personal sacrifices to belong to our department, but they get great satisfaction of being part of terrific tradition of saving lives and property. We train and work hard but we love serving and protecting our friends.

Applications can be picked up at our station at 31 Camp Street, South Meriden in the evenings. We are a DRUG FREE Department and we TEST all applicants.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

_
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF LUKE (CORY) JASINSKI

My name is Luke (Corey) Jasinski and I am a Welsh Corgi, Cardigan Mix, at least that�s what I�ve been told.

My story begins in the little town of Murphy, NC which is a town of approx. 1,600 people as of the year 2000, located in Cherokee County, along the Hiwassee River in the western most part of NC right near the border of GA.

They say I was born on or about October 8, 2006, but of course, I don�t remember that.
I am primarily black in color with brown mixed in and I have some white on my chest and the tip of my tail, which I can�t stand and try to chase it every now and then. I also have white paws and have been told that I am a very handsome fellow.

My life has not been an easy one until recently. The Valley River Humane Society in Murphy had to rescue me from my owner, who was an elderly woman that hoarded animals but could not care for them properly. I lived in deplorable conditions and never had enough to eat. I rummaged through any garbage that was lying around to try and find enough food to survive. I lived in a house in the mountains of NC with 110 other dogs. Most of the other dogs I lived with were small dogs also, such as Chihuahua�s and Shih Tzu�s, but there were three (3) larger dogs in the basement. There were several lady dogs that were going to have puppies, but I can�t say whether or not I am the father of any of them. There were also about eight (8) puppies running around, which were annoying at times.

After being rescued from the house, I was brought to the Valley River Humane Society where I would spend the next several months, waiting for someone to take me home. It seemed as if no one wanted me, of course, I wasn�t much to look at. I was full of fleas and wasn�t very sociable and was always hungry. The Humane Society took care of me as much as possible, but with 110 other dogs to look after, my care was not a priority for them. I was finally shipped north to a Humane Society in Westport, CT. There I was cleaned up, vaccinated, and tested for several different things. I guess they found out that I had contracted a few things from the house I was living in, as I was given an anti-biotic to kill whatever it was. They also operated on me to make sure that I wouldn�t get any more females pregnant. That was probably the most painful thing I have had to endure.

I thought to myself that no one would want me up here either and I resigned myself to the fact that my days might be numbered. I made friends with the young girls that were working at the Humane Society and I looked forward to seeing them when it was time to eat. They had quite a few other animals here in CT also and many of them barked a lot and kept me awake. I was treated nicely and the food was good, but I never seemed to be satisfied with the amount they gave me. They say that I can�t have too much because of my shape. If I get too heavy, my back will start giving me problems. I don�t understand any of that, but it must be true.

The Humane Society in CT took my picture and put it on the computer, whatever that is?
I was only in CT a short time, when two people came in and started talking about me. They seemed interested in me, but I didn�t want anything to do with them. I was polite in the beginning and they came into my cage and started talking to me and petting me. One of my young female attendants took me from my cage and put me in a room with these two people, expecting me to get to know them. How silly is that? I totally ignored them and kept looking out the window in the door for my pretty female attendant to come back. I even peed the floor hoping that they would get disgusted and leave, but they didn�t. These two people kept trying to get my attention and forced me to sit with them for a few moments. I tried to ignore them, hoping that they would go away, but they didn�t. After awhile, my attendant came back and I was very excited. However, I soon learned that these two people were serious about wanting me. I didn�t know anything about these two and I was hoping that my attendant would play with me. But before I knew it, these two people were signing papers and my attendant was putting a collar and leash on me for these people to take me away. I didn�t know what was going on or where I was going.

I was taken outside, where I relieved myself. I do that a lot, as I am an Alfa male and like to mark my territory. Well, anyway, these people were pulling me towards a vehicle and telling me to get inside. Reluctantly, I got into their car and we started driving away from the shelter. I kept looking back, but realized that I might never see that place again. Now I was scarred and didn�t know what to expect. These people seemed nice enough, but what kind of a place were they taking me to. It was a long drive to their home and I knew that I would probably never find my way back to the shelter again.

We finally arrived at this little house way down in the back yard of a larger house that was out front. I wasn�t use to such a small house, other than the cages that I recently occupied. The house in NC was much larger than this but there didn�t seem to be any other animals around. This was very strange as I was use to being around other animals all of my life. After living with 110 other dogs and then going to two different shelters where there were other animals, it seemed rather quiet. I soon learned that there were two big dogs living next door and they liked to bark. They must have heard me as I was walking toward the house because they started barking at me through the fence that separated our yards.

Once inside the house, I had to check everything out. I found out that it was as small on the inside as it was on the outside. There were only three (3) rooms and there were no other animals in the house. This was kind of hard to get use to. Who would I play with during the day and where would I sleep? I wondered what kind of people these were? Would they yell at me and beat me if I didn�t do what they wanted me to do?

I was given some food and water, which of course, was never enough, but I ate it all and then decided to see what would happen if I went pee. I urinated on their rug and on their curtain, but soon learned that they were not going to put up with any of that. I was quickly put on a leash and taken outside to do my thing. It took some time, but I finally learned the rules and things steadily improved. I was taken out several times a day by the male of the house. He seemed to take control and I couldn�t get away with much when he was around. The female on the other hand was very loving and I could get almost anything I wanted from her. I mostly let her mush me and give me a back and neck rub. Boy, there isn�t anyone who does it better than her.

These two people genuinely cared about me and I eventually took to them. They bought me several different kinds of food, but they didn�t know that I had allergies and couldn�t have grain. It took a while, but they figured it out and changed my food and I am starting to get better. When you have allergies, as I did, your paws itch and you have to bite them all the time. Because of that, my paws smelled terrible and that�s when they smartened up and tried to find what made me stink.

They pamper me quite a bit, and I get to sleep on the bed with them at night. My dad bought me a furry toy that they call �ducky.� It squeaks and I really enjoy it as it is the first toy I�ve ever owned that I didn�t have to fight for. I also have my own blanket, which my mom & dad bought me for Christmas. I also have my own bed and they cover me over at night as they like to keep the heat off in the bedroom at night and it gets a little cold by morning. I usually lay on the couch with my mom, that�s what I think of her as now, and she will usually give me my nightly back and neck rub. It is so relaxing and I just curl up in her lap and sleep until it�s time to go to bed. During the day, my mom goes to work and I miss her a lot. My dad, as I now think of him, usually feeds me and plays with me during the day and we go for walks in the woods every now and then. I usually bug my dad to the point that he will take me for a walk in the yard several times a day. I�m still not use to being alone and I get bored very easy. Whenever my mom and dad are away, I try to find some trouble to get into. I am very agile and like to see what�s on the counter. Sometimes I get lucky and find some type of food that was left out and I tear it open and eat whatever it is before they come home. Sometimes things are wrapped up and I don�t know what�s in them until I tear them open. Most of the time it turns out not to be food and then I know I�m in trouble. I usually get scolded for being bad, but it doesn�t last long and for the most part, it�s worth it.

I really love my new home now and the two people that took me in are very nice people. They are Christians and are very involved with their church. They plan on starting a ministry and traveling around the country showing Christian films. They told me that I will be an important part of their ministry, but I may have to wear a silly backpack and carry tracks and lollipops. I just hope they give me one once in a while for all the work I will have to do. I will be helping them start conversations with people and will be inviting them to see the movie. I think it will be very exciting. I will get to travel a lot and will meet many new people and hopefully some new female dog friends.

I hope that you have enjoyed my story and I look forward to meeting with some of you and sharing more of my life with you in the future. I want to thank my dad for typing this story up as I haven�t learned how to type yet.

LUKE (Corey) JASINSKI

By the way, this is me, Luke (Corey) Jasinski

I live with my new mom & dad
James & Bessie Jasinski

I can be contacted at my mom & dad�s ministry address, which is:

MobileFilmMinistry@gmail.com

I hope you will write and let me know if you enjoyed my story. My dad hopes that the People�s Press News will print the story so that more people will know about me.
I sure hope that there aren�t too many stories like mine out there, as I wouldn�t want other dogs to have to go through what I went through. But I had a happy ending and I know that other dogs have similar stories also.

THANK YOU! AND GOD BLESS!

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

ROBERT MILES AND DAVID S. MILES

I was in the Army for four years, one-and-a-half years on The Aleutian Islands in the Pacific. The wind was so bad we dug our huts in the ground. If we built them on top of the ground, the wind would have blown them away. There was snow all the time. We had to be dug out every day so we could go to the mess hall. It was cold but we had everything we needed to keep us warm. The weather was nice in July, but mostly it was cold and dark as the sun didn't come up. We learned a lot, and we came home.

My Mother was a 5 star mother with 5 sons in the service. We all came home except my brother David. The American Legion Hall in Oxford is named for him. He went down on the ship, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester with the Four Chaplains who have become quite famous.

Note: I knew Bob Miles in Grammar School. We met again recently at our 60th Seymour High School Class Reunion where Bob shared his experience in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.

.....Below, I quote from a news clip from The Advisor, dated February 13, 1996. The Advisor is published weekly in North Haven, Connecticut..

FOUR CHAPLAINS' MEMORIAL DAY PROCLAIMED IN NORTH HAVEN

Last week I was pleased to join with Wally Bassett, Religious Emphasis Chairman and Americanism Chairman. and the entire Murray Reynolds Post 76 American Legion in commemorating Four Chaplains' Day in North Haven. A special Memorial service took place at the Recreational Center on February 8th.

At the ceremony we recalled the account of the Four Chaplains' heroic sacrifices. On February 3, 1943, the U.S.A.T.. Dorchester, with 900 passengers, was torpedoed by an enemy submarine in the Atlantic Ocean, about one hundred miles off the coast of Greenland. The Dorchester was ill-equipped, with only twenty usable lifeboats and an inadequate supply of life jackets. Understanding that their own lives would not be saved, the Four Chaplains distributed the limited gear to their fellow seamen. They are credited with saving the lives of about 200 men.

The last survivors recalled this terrifying experience. Their final observation is that of the Four Chaplains submerged in the ocean, with their arms linked in prayer as the U.S.A.T. Dorchester went down in a blaze of steam and fire.

The Four Chaplains, representing different faiths, were united in their self-sacrifice, compassion and humanity. The Four Chaplains are First Lieutenant, Reverend Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformist; First Lieutenant, Reverend George I. Fox, Methodist; First Lieutenant, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, and Father Johnny P. Washington, a Catholic Priest.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

One For the Giver

Well, the holidays have taken a break for awhile, yet El Nino, this time, says winter is still with us. It's very confusing at times and hard to adjust to. There are a few things, however, that remain constant. One thing comes to mind is a recent birthday of a matriarch here in Meriden. A woman who has guided me from my childhood to present times. Withstanding the "test of time," this creative contributor of many diverse writings remains very much a survivor. With good care, she still looks forward to each and every day. Visitors, friends and relatives come by to take a bit of wisdom and the time spent with her serves her well. After all, she has given so very much throughout her on going life. The Record-Journal and yes, The People's Press as well as a host of other avenues for the written word have benefited from her writing. Keep in mind, this has been going on for almost a century! So, with this, let me give a birthday wish to Helen Dodge offered by her youngest son. Keep going Mom! You're good for Meriden and an inspiration to all who know you.
D.A. Dodge
______________________________________________________________________________

A TALE OF THE QUINNIPIAC RIVER

by Francis W. Lappert

According to Connecticut maps of the river systems of Connecticut, the Quinnipiac River originates in the north reaches of Plainville and empties into the Sound in East Haven Harbor. It has many feeder streams that empty into it, and keeps a well-balanced, level running water. Beginning with Southington, I know of Eight-Mile River and also Misery Brook. Then comes Ten-Mile River that originates in west Cheshire and joins the Quinnipiac in Mildale. Also Honey Pot Brook from Cheshire. Farther downstream is Ives Brook that begins above Johnson Avenue in Meriden. Also the overflow from Broad Brook Reservoir feeds the river. As the river flows through Meriden, it is joined by Harbor Brook, which flows into Hanover Pond, which is part of the river. I know of only one from Wallingford, Meeting House Brook. There are others I do not know about.
Since I was a young lad, I fished many of these smaller streams and caught many native brook trout. At this time the Quinnipiac River was not known as having any trout in it. That came much later. The river then was clean enough to swim in. Our favorite spot was call Charlie�s Rock, and we went there often. I remember when the river froze over in the winter, there was a group of men that would cut a large hole in the ice by Red Bridge and jump in the cold water. They called themselves the Polar Bears. They enjoyed showing off to the crowd who watched them.

In later years the State Board of Fisheries decided to stock trout in the river from Carpenter�s Dam down to Red Bridge. The fishermen in our area were quite happy about this. Shortly after, several fishermen from Meriden got together and formed the Quinnipiac River Water Association. I was invited to join the organization and was elected to represent Meriden on the commission. We had members from Southington, Cheshire, Meriden, Wallingford, and also North Haven. Our goal was to clean up as much of the river as we could and to improve the quality of the water.

Mike Roberts was also one of the group representing Meriden and was responsible for getting donations from all the towns to keep the organization going, and also getting new members to join. The State Board of Fisheries now stocks the river with a good many rainbow, brown, and brook trout.

The Meriden Rod and Gun Club also helps by putting many large sized trout in the river, and tags them so that when someone catches one, he will get a prize from one of the bait stores.
When the fishing starts in April, it is hard to find a likable place to fish as some of the fishermen set up camp the night before in their favorite spot. I do not go there on opening day, as it is too crowded.

I have been informed that the State is now stocking trout in the river from Yalesville to Wallingford, and a few fishermen have caught some nice trout from here.
I hope some day in the future the quality of the water in the river is made suitable for swimming also. I would like to see Hanover Pond dredged and made suitable for boating and swimming.believe...

____________________________________________________________________________
Chinese New Year of the Tiger
by Dorothy Gonick

The first new moon of the year signaled the beginning of another Chinese New Year. This is a very special celebration for me because I was born during the last Year of the Tiger.

I wanted everything to be ready, and had been glad to help Mother and Grandmother clean our house thoroughly to get rid of any bad fortune that might be hiding. When all was spotless we put away the brooms and brushes so we wouldn�t sweep away any of the good luck that would arrive. We�ve also put away knives and scissors so we wouldn�t cut away our good fortune. Vases of lovely plum blossoms make our carved chest even more beautiful. I�ve arranged bowls of golden oranges and trays of fruits and candies on our polished chest ready for welcoming our visitors. Father has hung red scrolls of �Good Luck� to decorate our doorways. Red is our symbol for happiness and the color red also scares away evil spirits. We have new red clothing ready to wear as we greet the New Year.

On New Year�s Eve we celebrated with many relatives by feasting on the traditional seafood, dumplings and special delicacies that Mother, Grandmother and my Aunts had prepared. Grandfather has taped the doors closed with red tape to prevent bad luck entering and everyone stayed awake until we would hear fireworks exploding at midnight. There was much talk about all the good times we would have during the next 15 days. We had fun playing games with our cousins and listening to our aunts tell fortunes while we waited for the fireworks. My fortune concerned the Tiger and how it would affect me. The tiger is the Chinese sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts. The tiger is one of the most beautiful animals with its golden fur and contrasting stripes, and its graceful movements. It is both feared and revered and can be gentle or quick-tempered. The tiger has great courage and is brave.

The tigress is a loving mother and tender-hearted. People born in this year will be respectful, smart,
good friends and natural leaders. They are optimistic and independent, often preferring to work alone. Sometimes they will get bored and lose interest if not challenged in their occupation. I was cautioned to keep these stories in mind and choose to become like the revered one: respectful, courageous and to strive for a good life. Suddenly, loud fireworks exploded and Father tore the red tape off the doorway and we all hurried out with our noisemakers to greet our friends and neighbors and wish them a Happy New Year! We raced with our friends up and down the street, making lots of noise and merriment while watching the beautiful colors exploding in the sky. I was sorry when the excitement came to an end.

The last 15 days have been wonderful. We�ve visited our relatives and friends and got many red envelopes of �lucky money�, and ate the candies and fruits we were offered. Yum! I liked giving gifts to the visitors who came to our home and offered them sweets too. We visited the temple and prayed for good health and much fortune. Each day was special as we waited for the 15th night; the Lantern Festival!! This was a very special night. I had a fancy lantern to carry and wave when we watched the Dragon dancing along the street. The fierce-looking dragon was made of bamboo, paper and silk and the young men holding it up roared and made fierce moves as they wound along the way. I waved my lantern at it as it passed by. It was such an exciting way to end the New Year.

______________________________________________________________________________ Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park

This absolutely makes my list of Great places to visit! The setting is amazing, a Brownstone quarry in Portland, CT that had been active from as early as the1690�s, is on the U.S. National Register of Historic and is an U.S. National Historic Landmark. The Brownstone keeps the water warm and the depth keeps the water clean. The staff keeps it fun. Brownstone offers adventure in every corner; SCUBA, zip lining, wakeboarding with lessons and for the more capable riders with their own board and helmet they have added both jumps and rails that will put some lift into your freestyle boarding. They also offer kayaking, cliff jumping, and inflatable climbing obstacles. Coming soon; more zip lines, rock climbing and repelling.

We stayed and played all day and I still had to drag them out of there as the park was closing for the evening at 7 pm. I would absolutely recommend this for adventurous kids age 8 and over though there is no age minimum for most activities. I had my six year old with us and he was able to do everything but wakeboard and SCUBA- we�ll save those for next time. It�s perfect for tweens, teens, young adults and mature adults who are still begging for an adrenaline rush and don�t mind a physical challenge to get it. In the words of my six year old, �This place rocks!�

Kid�s quotes

The staff was very friendly. I loved jumping off the cliff and the water slide was awesome!
Sierra Age 10

There was a zip line (70 feet off the water�s surface with a line 750 feet to the other side of the quarry) that was awesome-it took a really, really long time (in line) but it was really cool, �extreemo dreamo�! The slide, if you jump onto it you slide down super fast and land in the water �splash�! I did not jump off the big cliff (30ft) or the medium cliff (20ft) because it was too scary. I had fun on the little cliff (10ft) jumping off.
Shaunessy Age 6

Brownstone was great. There were these (cliff) jumps near this big slide (100ft ?)- they were really high (20 and 30ft). You have to jump onto the slide and it will blast you really fast into the water. Above the slide is a zip-line ride. You have to climb a cargo net ladder to the top of a (three story- 40ft) tower. It took a really long time in line. When you get to the bottom you bounce onto the water (land in the water) then swim the rest of the way backstroke (about 20ft) to the ladder and a person unhooks you.
Joshua Age 8

Have you ever been to Brownstone? I have and I think it is a really cool site to visit. There are many water activities like the ice berg. The ice berg is like a climbing wall, but in the water, and then you jump off of it once you reach the top of it. It is really fun. Then there is another fun activity where someone jumps on the mat to make the person at the other end launch up into the air. I had the life guard launch me it was so much fun. Then there was a water trampoline. However before I got there it popped so I didn�t get to go on it. They also had some cliffs you could jump off of. They had 10ft, 20f, and 30ft. I only jumped off of the 1000ft one. There is also a slide that is just a tarp, but is really fun. Then there is also a zip line that you could go down� it landed in the water, like every thing else. The ride is so fun there is a 2 and a half our wait, and first you had to climb a big cargo net. If you didn�t want to go on any fancy stuff you could just swim in the 65+ft lake (with a life jacket at all times.) Overall I would give Brownstone a 10! I would go back to Brownstone any day!
Caitlin Age 11

Extras and Important things to know:

**Scuba is included in the Adventure Sports Pass but equipment rental is extra- the Scuba Package; cylinder, weights, hood, gloves, wetsuit, BC, and regulators with gauges is $45 for the day)

29 acres of freshwater diving with depths between 20 to 85 feet. Submerged attractions include training platforms at 10, 20, and 50 feet; a navigation course with surface and underwater markers; some of the original quarry equipment has been identified; vehicles, boats and other artifacts have also been submerged for diving pleasure.
Brownstone Park offers a confined water area for training with a training platform at four and eight feet and a maximum depth of 20 feet.
At Brownstone they brag that 75 years of unchecked and protected marine life growth provides a unique opportunity to Connecticut River wild life in a natural setting. �You can see schools of trophy size large and small mouth bass, carp so wide that they cast shadows as they pass by, bluegills, perch by the hundreds and of course an occasional American eel. Ask anyone about how big the catfish are.�
Kayaking
For those who love to explore from the surface, Brownstone offers 29 acres to explore in a kayak or canoe. - You can bring your own or pay an extra fee to rent a kayak by the � hour or day

Examples of 2009 Pass Prices
General Swimming Daily Pass*
(Swimming, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Hiking, Biking, Access to Inflatable Challenges) $18
Adventure Sports Daily Pass*(Cliff Jumping, Zip Lines, Waterslide, Wakeboarding, Challenge Courses, Scuba Diving) $26
Family Adventure Sports Season Pass*(Cliff Jumping, Zip Lines, Waterslide, Wakeboarding, Challenge Courses, Scuba Diving) $495

**A life vest must be worn at all times and a waver is required to enter the park.

The best way to get more info for your own visit is at their web site www.brownstonepark.com.
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�Maggie�s Corner�
Haiti Needs Your Help
By: Maggie Griffin

Kim Cornell, a 2007 graduate of Eastern; and Chelsea Reilly, who will be graduating Eastern this year, are two Women who left Connecticut on January 3rd, with 8 other students, for Haiti to volunteer at an orphanage. Enjoying their purpose in why they both took this opportunity to volunteer as they are two humanitarians at heart, they both grew concern about the children, however, both did not predict the devastation that was about to happen in Haiti; an earthquake.

Chelsea returned to Connecticut within 3 days prior to the earthquake in Haiti, while Kim was still in Haiti during and after the earthquake hit.

�I was emergency evacuated from Haiti on Friday morning, and left behind 134 orphans with no food and water, and absolutely no aid. The name of the orphanage I volunteer at is Christian Haitian Outreach (www.christianhaitianoutreach.org) located in Mariani-Carrefour, right at the epicenter where the earthquake hit. The devastation is unimaginable, and there is no aid reaching the orphanage. The second level of the school collapsed, and the other buildings have not been assessed yet in order to know if they are safe enough to live in. The orphanage is in dire need of repair, and funds for food and clean water. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated;� said Cornell.

�We are currently meeting with several organizations to get the children out of Haiti as the compound of the orphanage is in trouble. There are thousands of survivors that are in desperate needs of medical aid, food and water�, both Reilly and Cornell emphasized.

Kim Cornell would like to share a link to the documentary she made almost a year ago. Christian Haitian Outreach is a non-profit organization and she can get a tax receipt to you if you would like; http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=55557327

Chelsea Reilly and Kim Cornell are devoting themselves to help the survivors and the children of Haiti. Since the tragedy, both women eat, sleep, talk and walk everything about what happened in Haiti and how desperate Haiti needs YOUR HELP. Please help Chelsea and Kim, two humanitarians, with their mission to help the people of Haiti.

Kim Cornell strongly emphasized "we plan on going back in May and reconstructing this orphanage and helping out in any way possible. When I was at the epicenter of the quake, almost 3 days after it hit, still there was absolutely no aid. It trouble me greatly how the news is portraying these Haitian people as animalistic-looting and trampling each other, when in reality, they are the most kind hearted, sweet, welcoming human beings. We are just taking way too long to provide relief."

Below are photos Chelsea Reilly and Kim Cornell would like to share with you, the people and children of Haiti, before the tragic earthquake took place. Please find it in your heart to view Kim�s documentary and reach out and help, any way you can.

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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Talk to the Friends

My mother used to constantly remind me, �You can pick your friends, but you can�t pick your relatives!� All of my friends� mothers said the same thing. We all took this to heart and into adulthood. Unfortunately, no one warned us that this didn�t include our children�s friends. So, we began picking out our kids� friends when they were toddlers. Well, maybe not the fathers out there. Mothers are more enthusiastic about friend picking. These friends we chose were usually the kids of our own friends, or the kids of the other mommies in the neighborhood who we deemed fun to hang out with. Things were simple back then. If you didn�t like how certain children were behaving in front of yours, you didn�t invite them over. I vividly recall one Cub Scout outing where a seven-year-old monster child tried to poke my son�s eye out with a piece of sharpened slate. That was the end of that relationship!

We didn�t realize until much later that friend �picking out� was a transient affair. Teens� friends are another story all together. They�re private territory and off-limits to parents - so say our teens.

So, what does one do when one is not exactly thrilled with the new friend? First, parents should be honest with themselves. What is it about the new friend? Is he sporting a nose ring? Does she talk in two-word sentences? Is he flunking math? Maybe you just don�t like her and you can�t put your finger on it. The first thing parents need to do is to be honest about �why� they don�t like the new friend. Are there legitimate reasons, such as drug abuse or the way this person treats your teen? Keep in mind that forbidding a friendship can make things worse, and chemistry is not something you can easily predict or manipulate.

It�s best to get to know the friends rather than making an instant character assessment. With younger teens, offer to drive them places and listen to their conversations. Invite your teen�s friends over to your house for dinner. Instead of grilling them about their grades, sit down and talk with them about their interests. You can learn a lot about a person if you�re able to engage him in a lengthy conversation.

If you still have concerns, it�s time to broach the subject with your teen. Sylvia LaFair, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of �Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success� (Jossey-Bass, 2009), says, �The best way for parents to approach their teen if there is concern about a new friendship or new group of friends is directly.� She advises that parents ask questions such as, "How can we work together to minimize my concerns?� She says to keep the dialogue going until your teen begins to open up. �You will get more information when you talk together than if you give finger pointing directives,� she explains.

LaFaire warns that parents need to put their foot down if they feel their teen is in danger because of a new set of friends. �If you feel there is serious danger with your teen and questionable friends, it's time to take a stand. Would you let your two-year-old walk into traffic? Get serious with your teen, and let him know why certain dangerous friends are off-limits.�
Do�s and Don�ts:

Do observe his attitude toward adults.
Don�t look at her appearance alone.
Do look for signs of drug or alcohol abuse.
Don�t hover when friends come over � you want them to come back!
Do stick around if a friend of the opposite sex is over.
Don�t directly attack the friends. This will put your teen on the defensive. Ask him open-ended questions that are non-judgmental instead. You�ll keep the dialogue open.
Do talk to your teen about what makes a �good� friend.

TIPS AND TALES

�I would suggest that parents be really honest about their own friendship issues and pray that their teen learns from their own mistakes!
Gene Sottile � Light House Point, FL

�I�ve always had a great radar system. I�m honest and tell my daughters upfront if my radar senses something�s wrong. I try not to be too negative.�
Judy Burns � Poughkeepsie, NY

Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic:
Your teen is a slob! How to cope & what to do.

Please send your full name, address, and brief comments to:
myrnahaskell@gmail.com

Or visit
http://home.roadrunner.com/~haskellfamily/myrna/
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"Our Hearts Are In The Right Place"Lori Peck, Dedicated VolunteerWe at the Meriden Humane Society feel that all of our animals deserve a second chance at finding a home and are determined to help them achieve this. Just because an animal didn't work out in one home, doesn't mean it won't be the perfect fit in another. We love all of our animals unconditionally and know that their forever homes are out there. Won't you please stop in to visit our animals before going to a pet store or breeder. I'm sure if it's a companion that you're looking for, that we can find one compatible for you. You can help bring happiness to a homeless animal and be rewarded with unconditional love.

Recently our shelter was broken into during the night and our donation receptacle was stolen from our lobby. Someone smashed our front door and broke the lock to get inside to do this. We are all heart broken over this and can't believe that someone could steal the money that other's donated for our animals and use it for themselves. On the previous day, we had a record number of potential adopters viewing animals at our shelter. So, to go from being very optimistic (for possible homes for the animals) one day and then having this happen the next, just shocks us. We are extremely grateful though, that no animals were harmed during this break in.

What we are asking from the public at this time, is to please vote for our shelter on the Animal Rescue Site's Shelter Challenge at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and help us possibly win $100,000. This would help us with vet bills, food and to make a safer environment for our animals, so that we wouldn't have to worry about break-ins anymore.

If you would like to donate from our wish list and cannot access our website @ www.meridenhs.petfinder.org, we are in need of the following: Purina Cat & Kitten Chow, canned wet cat food (no fish), Pedigree dry dog food, Lysol wipes, paper towels, laundry detergent, bleach, Simple Green, babyfood (meat flavors) and linens of all sorts (towels, bedspreads, blankets, etc.). You can bring any donations to the M.H.S. at 311 Murdock Ave. We are open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 12-6, but our lobby is always open on Mondays and Tuesdays for information or donation drop offs.

From all of us at the Meriden Humane Society who have their hearts in the right place, to all of you who do as well, thank you and "Happy Valentine's Day" from the animals, staff and volunteers. See you at the shelter!

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Shirley Gianotti Municipal Animal Shelter
If you never visited the Shirley Gianotti Municipal Animal Shelter, located in Wallingford, definitely put this on your �must do� list.

The Shelter was run for many years by Shirley Gianotti, a name most Wallingford residents are familiar with. She was the lady that was called when residents spotted a stray dog or cat, or when we were witness to an animal being mistreated---and Shirley always responded.

Since she retired, Lisa Seyler has taken over the Shelter, which she operates with her assistants, Dean, Rachel and Marci. When you walk into the shelter, you immediately feel the love and compassion that Lisa and her assistants have for the animals in their care. When Lisa is asked what can be done to help, her answer is �please say a prayer that my animals find a home�.

There are currently 18 dogs, numerous cats, turtles, a bunny and a bird in residence at the Shelter, all waiting for their �forever� home. Some of these animals were given to the shelter because their owners could no longer afford to take care of them due to the economic climate. Sadly, many of the animals have been mistreated and, thankfully, rescued by Lisa. It is heartbreaking to see the older dogs that have been discarded, found roaming in the Walmart Shopping plaza, or in the woods. You just know that they were wanted when they were cute puppies. These older dogs, often overlooked, actually make great pets. They seem to be very contented to just have a loving family to spend their latter years with.

The Shelter is always in need of donated food, leashes, collars, towels, blankets etc. But the goal of Lisa and her staff is to find a loving, suitable home for their pets.

The Shelter is located at 5 Pent Road in Wallingford.
You can reach Lisa and Dean at 203 294-2180

If you are interested in meeting the residents of the Shelter, please call Lisa to make an appointment.

Patricia Coppola
Wallingford Resident

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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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_�Sheltering an Animal�s Perspective�
by
Gregory M. Simpson

A framed birthday card from a friend hangs in my study that reads, �If you want to know the character of a man, find out what his cat thinks of him.� Men and their companion cats�I am in good company.

Edgar Allen Poe was my favorite author during adolescence. He often worked with his cat sitting on his shoulder, and he describes, �Pluto � this was the cat�s name � was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets.�

Ernest Hemingway loved cats and lived with many at his Key West home. To this day, one can still adopt descendants of Hemingway�s felines. Hemingway was a man who could see that, �A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.�

Victor Hugo, Lord Byron, and detective story writer, Raymond Chandler, were all cat lovers. Chandler called his black Persian his �feline secretary,� to whom he always read the first drafts of his murder mysteries. Sir Walter Scott, Thoreau, Lewis Carroll, T.S. Eliot, James Thurber, Saki, Jules Verne, and George Bernard Shaw were other cat loving authors, and the list goes on, with the likes of Aldous Huxley, Henry James, Rudyard Kipling, and Alexandre Dumas. Charles Dickens asked, �What greater gift than the love of a cat?�

Mark Twain, who kept more than a dozen felines at his Hartford home, may have captured it best when he wrote, �A home without a cat � and a well-fed, well-petted, and properly revered cat � may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?�

Male cat lovers are found in all walks of life. Pope Gregory the Great withdrew into a monastery, giving away all his wealth to the poor, and taking his cat as his only companion. The prophet Mohammed fell asleep with a cat on the sleeve of his robe. When called to prayer, he cut off his sleeve rather than wake the cat. King Henry VIII�s chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, took his cat to religious services and council meetings. French Cardinal Richelieu lived with many cats, said to number fourteen at the time of his death in 1642.

Presidential cat lovers include Teddy Roosevelt, who had a biography published about his cat, Tom Quartz. Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford both had Siamese cats. Presidents Hayes, Coolidge, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Reagan also had cat companions. Bill Clinton�s cat, Socks, was most the recent feline to inhabit the White House.

Artists are often fond of cats as their subjects. The 19th century artist, Theophile Steinlen, produced countless pictures from observing Parisian street cats. Auguste Renoir painted Girl with a Cat, which hangs in New York City�s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other artists with cat subjects include Matisse, Manet, Picasso, and Andy Warhol. Leonard da Vinci, who drew a page of cats, declared, �The smallest feline is a masterpiece.�

Composers and musicians love cats, too. Chopin�s inspiration for his �Cat Waltz� came partially from his pet cat that jumped onto his keyboard while he was composing. Other musical cat lovers include Alexander Borodin, Maurice Ravel, and of course, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose musical, Cats, is performed world-wide.

Scientists who loved cats include Darwin, whose companion was �Persian Snow.� Albert Einstein theorized that, �Contemporary physics is based on concepts somewhat analogous to the smile of the absent cat.� Sir Isaac Newton, who lived between 1642 and 1727, invented the cat-flap door for his cat and her kittens. Nobel Laureate and humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, reflected that, �There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.�

Yes, indeed, men and cats make good company. As Fernand Mery wrote, �God made the cat in order that man might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger.� To my fellow men, then, I pose the question, �Have you loved a cat today?�

For the animals,

Gregory M. Simpson

Gregory Simpson�s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers� Association.

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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

February 2010 � Stream Flow Regulations
Life along the Q River� An Update from the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association

Recently, there has been much talk about the impending Stream Flow Regulations, currently being debated at the Legislator in Hartford. The gist of the debate is that the State wants to balance the water usage between nature and humans. Their intent is to classify flowing bodies of water, everything from brooks to streams into one of four classifications. These four classifications range from: One � pristine, greatly favored to nature; Two - still favorable to nature, but with some human use; Three � relatively balanced between nature and human use; and Four - strongly favored to human use. Class Four rivers would not take into account the wildlife and nature.

The wildlife in and around the Quinnipiac River needs a certain amount of water to survive and thrive. There are natural high and low periods based on the feed from the water source to the weather. By the same token many local municipalities and water companies take water from the Quinnipiac River to service their customers and many wells are fed from the river too.

How did this come about? In 2005 the CT legislature required statewide standards for water flow in its rivers. This was as result of the Shepaug River court case, in which the Town of Washington challenged the City of Waterbury for taking water too much water from the Shepaug River for human use.

Why is this important? The proposed Streamflow Regulations will decide the fate of water in the Quinnipiac and its streams, including Wharton Brook, Muddy River, Sodom Brook, Harbor Brook, Eight Mile River, and Ten Mile River. This is the first science-based effort to protect water flow in 40 years.

Why does this really mean? If the State classifies parts of the Q River as class Four the river won't be restored because they were historically abused. The Quinnipiac has been recovering from pollution in recent years, bringing back fish and bald eagles, ospreys and other wildlife that eat fish. Local residents now enjoy wildlife watching, fishing for stocked and wild trout, paddling, and hiking on river trails. Wallingford will soon have a fishway to help fish migrate up the Q River.

Like many things in life, it�s all balance. We CAN balance the needs of nature and humans. We encourage ALL users of the Q River to use it judiciously and with care. That means conservation from water companies, municipalities and well users. That means treating our Quinnipiac River with respect. That means being responsible for our water usage.

Our state is water-rich - with intelligent planning, there is enough water for both fish and faucet. Good management can provide water for us all to use and to enjoy with nature.

Upcoming QRWA Events � Sunday, February 21, 2010 � Annual Winter Wildlife Hike, Lead by Wildlife Biologist and QRWA board member Peter Picone. The hike begins at 1:30 PM sharp at the Quinnipiac River State Park. Please meet at end of Banton Street which is behind the gas station at Exit 63 off Route 15 in North Haven, CT.

The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to restore the Quinnipiac for health and enjoyment of all citizens and communities along its reach and to educate all students, families, individuals, businesses and governments to be informed stewards of the river.

We provide water activities, events in education, outreach, advocacy, scientific monitoring, conservation, restoration, recreation and public access to the watershed area. To learn more about the QRWA and future events please visit our website at www.qrwa.org.

Thank you for your support and remember your donations are tax deductable.

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BLANCA SANTANA, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCOW

Photo of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal with Blanca

Blanca Santana, former director of the Spanish Community of Wallingford, (SCOW) for 14 years, remembers her first office in 1995 as one room in the Wallingford Rail Road Station. She helped her clients adjust to an English speaking work force. She enjoyed her involvement in their lives. It became her personal mission to relieve the pain and suffering that immigrants encounter.

Blanca's mother and father, Higia and Hernando, brought their family to Hartford, CT from Peiria, Columbia when Blanca was four years old. Blanca is the oldest of four children. Her parents struggled to make a living and to adjust to a new language, new climate and new friends. Hernando became a gun smith at Colt Manufacturing in Hartford; Higia also worked there besides raising her family, Strong and honest people, they trained their children well. Blanca always kept a strong faith and to this day helps others to believe in a just God. Now Blanca has returned to helping her mother and father while looking for a new job.

I've known Blanca for over 15 years when my nephew, Alan, met her as a hostess at a dance. She cut a good figure on the dance floor--and still does, has excellent posture and large brown eyes that captivate her audience. What was striking about Blanca was her humility. She carefully listened to others. Born in a Spanish-speaking home, she learned English at a young age and has assisted her Spanish friends and clients to know both languages. She graduated from Bulkeley High in Hartford and Eastern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor degree in Communications.

During a shared lunch, she told me, "I had several part time jobs after college, at one time working for WVIT, Channel 30. I was laid off after four months. I also worked with a friend in photography in the Walmart stores. When I applied at the Spanish Community of Wallingford, I never thought I'd be hired, let alone, stay for 14 years.

Blanca was hired as director of SCOW in 1995. In the year, 2001, the town moved SCOW's office to the older Senior Center building where Blanca and two employees assisted over 500 Latino families. The facility gave the people more room to grow in computer skills, in counseling and in recreation. Blanca established collaboration with other agencies in Wallingford (e.g. Literacy Volunteers, Adult Learning Center, the Dare program, United Way member agencies, the youth officer of the Wallingford Police Department, the Wallingford school system and more.) Spanish families received help in immigration issues, learning English as a second language, computer training, legal services, health, employment, education, tutoring, clerical services, community participation, transportation, and entertainment. The quiet Blanca, I first knew, became an advocate for anyone in need. Other agencies admired her.

In a span of seven years, Blanca received five awards!

In 1999 Blanca was awarded 'WOMAN OF THE YEAR' by the Professional Business Woman Organization.

In the year, 2000, Eastern State University gave her THE ALUMNI DISTINGUISHED AWARD.

She was chosen above sixty other applicants for her contributions and received THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD for the state on Jan. 16, 2006 at the 20th ANNUAL Libery Bell Celebration at the state capitol.

On April 18, 2006, again at the state capitol, she was honored as OUTSTANDING IMMIGRANT along with 21 other recipients from Connecticut by the CONNECTICUT IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COALITION.

On Sept. 15, 2007 the HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL NETWORK awarded Blanca the COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD.

I attended three out of the five ceremonies and admired Blanca Santana for her talents and her gifts. I called her recently to ask her permission to write this article.

She said, "I am very grateful for the partnerships and friendships that I cultivated in all the years I worked for the Spanish Community of Wallingford. It was an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to assist and guide anyone who needed help."
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Southington Genealogical Society In 1630 several hundred English Puritans under the leadership of John Winthrop came to establish the colony of Massachusetts Bay. This was the first group of sufficient size to establish a long-time sustainable and growing colony, which in only thirty years extended over much of the present state of Massachusetts, and into Connecticut and New Hampshire as well. But who were these people and what was their contribution to history?On January 26th, the Southington Genealogical Society welcomes Dr. Richard A Eppler who will speak on "The Founding of New England � The Winthrop Fleet of 1630". The meeting will take place in the meeting room of Southington Police Headquarters. Ample parking is available. Refreshments will be served. There is no admission charge and no obligation to become a member. No reservations are necessary. Dr. Eppler has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and has been involved in chemical and ceramic research and consulting for almost fifty years. He has been interested in genealogy for forty years or so, and has traced his mother's family back to several of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.The Southington Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization located in central Connecticut that promotes the accurate recording, research and preservation of family history. The society regularly meetsat 7:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of every month, except December, at Southington Police Headquarters, 69 Lazy Lane, Southington, Connecticut._______________________________________________________________

Barb�s Family

Submitted by Alan Murphy
Foster Adoptive Mission

You may have seen her on her way to work or in a grocery store and noticed her friendly and welcoming smile. She may look a lot like one of your friends or neighbors. She might even look a bit like you. What sets her apart is that this woman, Barbara, has been a foster parent since 2002.

�I always knew I wanted to work with children,� Barbara explains. �And the 30 years I spent teaching special education were tremendously gratifying. Yet I always wanted to do more. Being a foster parent has allowed me to make more of an impact. Together with my family, I have been able to change the lives of children from all different backgrounds and a variety of circumstances. There are challenges, to be sure�as every foster parent will tell you�but the rewards have been beyond what I would ever have expected.�

There are currently 513,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, and there is a dire need for committed, caring adults willing to take these children into their homes over the short or longer term. In her seven years as a foster parent, Barbara and her husband have taken in 25 children for stays ranging
from a few days to nine months. They have adopted two of these children (one a toddler and the other a teenager), who are now a permanent part of a family that also includes Barbara�s two college-age biological sons and, at present, one additional foster child.

After having done this for seven years, Barbara tells us: �Now, I wish we had made the decision to start even earlier. Each one of these children has contributed to our home and family life in a special way.�

Barbara is especially grateful for the FAST program, which sends professionals into foster homes to help address the children�s unique needs. She tells us that the first few days of a placement can be especially trying, as children act out in different ways and can be particularly needy when first separated from a parent. FAST provides the information and support Barbara and her family need to make the transition as smooth as possible. �The reward is when the child begins to trust you,� Barbara says. �The first time he comes to you for comfort or she places her head on you. Those are the moments that make everything worthwhile�just knowing that you have created a safe and loving place for this youngster. For some of these children, the time they spend in our home is their first experience of a healthy, nurturing environment. We show them the sort of home life they deserve. And I don�t mean with regard to home size or material possessions; I mean having a place to live where everyone has your best interests at heart. A place where you know from one moment to the next what to expect and don�t have to live with fear or hunger or neglect.�

Barbara�s eyes light up as she speaks of a three-year-old currently in her care: �She is so bright and says the funniest things. She has been identified as gifted by the teachers at the nursery school she attends, which doesn�t surprise me at all. I�ve met with this little girl�s mother, and she has so much potential. We are all hoping she will be able to turn things around and be reunited with her child. Until then, she knows her child is in a loving home.�

The most difficult part of being a foster parent, according to Barbara, is seeing the children leave, especially when there is no contact afterwards. �It�s not possible to adopt every child,� Barbara says, �and of course we worry about the children after they�ve left our home. We just have to take comfort in the fact that, for as long as we had them, we loved them and gave them a stable, structured family life. Sometimes, we are able to keep track of a child when he or she leaves. One of the children was adopted by her grandparent, and we get together and talk on the phone often. It is such a joy to know this child is in a caring home and is being given a good chance for a healthy and happy life.

�
What makes an ideal foster parent? According to Barbara, there is no one formula other than enjoying children, being able to provide a loving home, and being willing to fight for what they need. Barbara considers foster parenting her calling and encourages others to join her in providing a temporary home for one or more of the thousands of local children in need.

Foster parenting is a commitment�and an opportunity to make a big difference in a child�s life. FAM (Foster Adoptive Mission) has presented this vignette of Barbara�s experiences as a foster parent in hopes of encouraging other caring adults to reach out to children in difficult circumstances. If you have any interest in becoming a foster parent, please call FAM today for more information. There is no obligation. Your timing couldn�t be better: May is National Foster Care Month. Please call FAM at 860.949.4061 or 203.706.0101. There is a child out there who needs you.

Please note: To protect the privacy of children in the foster care system and their foster families, FAM (Foster Adoptive Mission) prefers they remain anonymous in most instances. In the case of this article we have omitted the last name of the foster parent and have been given permission to use the foster parent�s first name.
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Brio Academy Honors Dejlitko with Student Entrepreneur Award

Christine Dejlitko is working to secure her future by learning the art of cosmetology and at the same time how to become an accomplished business person while attending Brio Academy�s East Main Street school.

Dejlitko, a lifetime Meriden resident, is making her school days a Grade A, award-winning experience at the east-side salon, where she is a student and the current recipient of the Business Student of the Month award. With the honor, Dejlitko automatically is entered into the Nuts & Bolts National Business Student of the Year competition. Nuts &

Bolts is a professional business development program designed to give students a competitive edge and is exclusively offered at Brio Academy schools.

The award criteria includes attendance, delivering outstanding customer service, business building, influence on other students and focus and discipline towards becoming a successful business person in a chosen profession.

�I�m very excited and shocked,� Dejlitko said of winning the Nuts & Bolts award. �It feels good to have accomplished it.�

Dejlitko has demonstrated that she has the know-how to turn her education into a lucrative career, while setting the bar for her peers. �I always wanted to do hair,� said Dejlitko, who works as a full-time job coach with the mentally challenged. �It�s always been one of my dreams.� Dejlitko finds time to volunteer at St. Ann�s Church in Hamden and Master�s Manna food pantry in Wallingford. An active member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), her hobbies include securing animals for the Wallingford Shelter.

Dejlitko said she aspires to join the Brio Academy faculty after completing her school days.

Brio Academy of Cosmetology has eight school locations throughout Connecticut � newly opened Enfield, Hamden, Fairfield, East Hartford, Niantic, Willimantic, Torrington and Meriden. Corporate headquarters are located in Meriden. The Academy is a career training center specializing in hairstyling, barbering, cosmetology and esthetics.

All services are offered to the public at the school salons and provided by supervised students at a cost-saving rate. Brio�s Meriden hairstyling salon is located at 1231 East Main St. within Lowe�s Plaza. Brio Academy of Cosmetology has both day and evening classes available year-round. For more information contact admissions at (203) 237-6683 or go to www. brioacademy.edu.
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~ A Wintry Tale ~
- George Arndt -

The snow had started falling early that February morn. It came in on the nor�east wind,
like blistering shards of frozen wings. Winds that spared no earthly thing, nor cared what lay in its wake. Ice-encrusted fluttering flakes�danced like glistening crystal doves. Blustery gales a-howling -- from the valleys of sprawling glaciers, bouncing from the foreboding mountain crests�gave no hope to those who dared to smirk at its might.

The old lady and her bedraggled mate shivered alone in that creaky abode. Their only warmth was each other now -- and as the dwindling embers from the hearth were slowly dying, came the deepening sense of hopelessness, and the reality of mortality.

Cry -- she dared not, indeed, for such pittance of wretched human feelings would bring not a miracle, but the show of frailty of this forsaken pair.

The strength of the roaring winter fiend rose again to claim its privileged crown of frost and ice. As if its reason was merciless hate, came again with bony fingers stretching �cross the lonely plane�piling snow against itself, along each edge of its domain. Neither bird nor beast could be seen �round the blanket of white that covered acres and acres of this forgotten Montana farm.

There seemed no end, not the least reprise, from winter�s frigid grip�as all hope, it seemed, was surely fading fast for these two solitary folk. With what strength this creaky dame possessed, lifted her tiny frame and mate from off the bench�bashed the remaining wooden seat into splintered rays of glimmering hope.
Tossed into the fire pit ever so sparingly -- piece by piece as she held tightly to her chattering man. Watched and smiled as the fire glowed red, and then too soon -- it was dead.. Praying now was all they had for any semblance of warmth�just enough to keep them from freezing there on the weathered floor.

�Luke...get over here.�

Did she dare to think she heard a voice...someone's voice outside their battered door?

�I think there�s someone inside.�

She strained to listen�how could this be�who could be out there�out there in that frost, that bitter cold, she implored her soul?

Again came the voice.

�Come help me get this snow from off the door�I hear sobbing in there.�

She was crying now�she hugged her near frozen love�cried out in a weakened fragile voice.

�Yes�we�re in here�help us, help us, please�it�s so cold.�

With ample speed they dug�and soon�the door was cleared, and then the hikers stepped inside. The couple were bundled into one�nearly frozen, nearly dead.

�Wrap yourselves in these blankets�and here, take a sip of this warming broth.�

The pair grinned and nodded as they wrapped the cozy warm blanket �round their trembling selves. The broth was like the whispers of Heaven as each took sips from the thermoses of the daring hikers, who, by fate, stumbled upon this depleted raggedy old farmhouse.

And so a tale of bitter icy fears ended with the couple being saved from the curs�ed frigid winter�s rage.
?_______________________________________________________________________________

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Home Country
Slim Randles

One of the problems Marvin Pincus discovered about running the Fly Tying Love Center here in the valley is that there appeared to be more fly tying than love counseling going on.

This particular morning he was whipping up a nice fluffy Adams dry on a number 12 and wishing everyone�s love problems were as easy to solve as tying one of these. He realized he�s a pioneer in the field of combining fly tying and romance solutions, but that doesn�t mean he couldn�t quietly hope for his neighbors to have more love problems. His advice had worked well with Dewey (a lead-wire-wrapped wooly bugger leading to the suggestion he showers before he asks a girl out on a date), and with Randy Jones (a pheasant-tail nymph and a Parmachene Belle sending him on his way to girlfriend happiness with Katie Burchell). But there were others out there. There had to be others.

Other advice counselors, the ones who just sat there taking notes, managed to find any number of unhappy potential love victims, but the Fly Tying Love Center was noticeably short of them at the moment.

�Marjorie,� Marvin said over coffee, �maybe if I offered an incentive, you know? Some little extra that would bring them in for advice?�

�Like what, Honey?�

�Maybe taking some flies that I tied for them and making earrings out of them?�

�The men around here don�t really take to wearing earrings.�

�I mean, for the women � you know. Women are the emotional ones who need love advice the most. Everyone knows that.�

�How many clients have you had so far?�

�Well, two.�

�Both of them were �?�

�Men, true. But I�m not sure what I could offer the guys except the flies themselves to use to go fishing.�

�That sounds good.�

�And the earrings?�

�We could get you some of those fasteners for the earrings, and it would probably be a good idea to cut the points and barbs off them.�

�Good idea.�

�And I could wear a pair just to start the neighbor ladies talking about it.�

�Yeah! Good idea! I�ll tie you up a few right now.�

�In that case,� Marjorie told her husband, �I�ve got the ladies club luncheon today and I planned to wear the red outfit��

�Royal Coachman streamers on number fours! Honey, you�re the best.�
----------------
Brought to you by the soon-to-be-announced syndicated radio program, �Home Country.� We thought you should be warned.

For a mug shot, cookie, or love advice, we�re here for you:

Slim Randles
7308 Painted Pony Trail NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
(505) 306-6009
ol_slim@yahoo.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________

One Down � Eleven to Go
by Ernie Larsen

By the time this is in print the month of January will have run its course. Now we are in February, the shortest month, so when it ends it too will seem like it was just yesterday we were hauling out the Christmas tree to the curb for recycling.

Usually the first month of the year reminds me of the doldrums, a sense of stagnation or that part of the ocean, near the equator, which is marked by calm. More or less of a month of nothing; unless you take the reins, making more of than it seems to offer. For instance, the first Federal holiday of the year is celebrated during January�s second week. Yep, Martin Luther King day and if you have the good fortune to work for a firm, company, government agency and have the day off you�ve got a three day weekend to make the most of; what to do???

One of our three day weekend likes is a theater trip to New York City. We usually plan to see a couple of shows, one drama or comedy and a musical. On our last visit, we had tickets for a production which was in previews. They were purchased through the Manhattan Theater Club and for really good mezzanine seats the tickets were only $38.00 each; and if you know Broadway pricing this is a deal. And for our second production, the next day we decided to hit the TKTS line on Broadway and 47th where theaters send their unsold ducats and most can be had for 50% off retail with a 2/3 dollar service charge. While I was on an errand, my spouse took a place in line and when I finished my obligations I joined her. Lo and behold � she asked me if I knew a certain person from Meriden whom she thought was waiting on line and there she was a colleague of hers who teaches at another school in town. Imagine that, a city of 8 million and you see someone from the old home town. Anyway, we finally made it to the ticket window and having a couple of choices in mind were offered tickets to MEMPHIS a high energy musical which takes place in the early 1950�s. The regular price a regular price orchestra ticket for this show was $130.00 and we got them for half off.

We also stayed in the City for two nights, in January hotel prices are extremely reasonable. I can highly recommend the Hotel at Times Square, interestingly this place is quite a distance from Times Square, but I digress � it is on 46th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues and quite convenient to the theater district.

46th Street is also known as Restaurant Row with a great selection of eateries offering almost any cuisine you could imagine. We regularly seem to end up at places featuring Italian menus and are teased about it by one of our gourmand offspring � so this trip we branched and tried a place which claims to be the only Chilean restaurant in the City. My wife had a chicken dish and for my entr�e I enjoyed a baked seafood soup. The chicken was plentiful, my offering would have been a nice appetizer � a bit of a stingy portion and a bit pricey for what it was, but we were in a tourist area and this is not unusual. All in all we did enjoy the change. And the next night we were back at our old stomping grounds, a nice, neighborhood Italian place over on 2nd Avenue in the 50�s. Somewhat off the beaten track, it was recco�d by a workmate who used to date the owners son. What a find � when we got out of the theater it was raining and we luckily hailed a taxi and made it cross town in a very short period of time. When we walked into the place a gentleman was playing the piano and there were only 6 or so others having an early dinner. When we handed the menus I remarked the prices were comparable to places where we regularly dine around this area. And the food, I had some of the best stuffed clams I�d ever experienced and both of our entrees were delicious and plentiful. We also enjoyed some classic Italian desserts, a great house wine and very good coffee and cappuccino. If you�re in the area check it out, it�s called Mimi�s right on the corner of 52nd and 2nd. Maybe we�ll see you there we definitely will be heading back.

If going out of town is not your cup of tea you don�t have to hibernate in the winter months. Lots of folks like to just hang around the house with the excuse �Oh, there�s nothing to do in the winter� � well there sure are lots of options. How about heading up to Hartford to the Wadsworth Atheneum � a museum with a varied collection of American and European art plus special exhibitions through out the year. Not up your alley � how about taking in a show at the Bushnell or the Hartford Stage? Or a concert � the Oakdale presents an eclectic mix of performers throughout the year or you could drive up to the casinos for some top notch entertainment. You may even be able to take in a local production at your hometowns community theater. Then there are the ubiquitous home shows at the Convention Center in Hartford or hunting and fishing expo�s in the same venues. Are you a sports fan? Even though they are very popular � there are always tickets available for college hoops at the Civic, oops! Excel Center or you could check some of the local colleges for the times and dates of their games � besides UConn there are some other great athletes playing their hearts out and you can be entertained for a few paltry dollars. Just using these suggestions to say there are lots of activities to keep people entertained. We used to head to Yale to watch some great hockey for around 4/5 dollars a game.

So, get yourself out from under that rock and get out and do something � check out the newspaper, there are always various entertainment offerings and much more going on every week. And if you want to see something really different, entertainment at its finest � check out when the next City Council meeting is scheduled � government in the raw � be sure you get there for the public comments, you cannot put a price on this type of activity.

Enjoy and see you next month.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Town News and Events February 2010

2010-02-05T09:47:00.001-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Mayor�s Corner Meriden

We are in the dead of a New England winter and have already weathered several big snowstorms. During and after each storm, I receive numerous calls from angry and frustrated residents complaining of snowplows covering driveways and sidewalks with snow or not arriving at all for their street. I can appreciate these concerns and we do our best to remedy these situations if possible.

However, I offer some points to consider. Meriden has 190 miles of roadways to plow with 22 trucks. The first priority is major arteries followed by secondary streets, followed by sub divisions, and then cul-de-sacs. Due to these priorities, some residents must wait longer than others to get plowed out.

Additionally, the Meriden City Code stipulates that residents are responsible for clearing their walks after a snowstorm within 12 hours after sunrise unless it is a late storm and then the period carries over to the next day. Also, the code prohibits parking on public streets during a snow or ice storm from November 1 to March 15. And finally, the code prohibits pushing snow onto city streets. By following these regulations, residents can assist the city in the snow plowing efforts.

For more detailed information and tips about dealing with winter storms, check the city website at www.cityofmeriden.org and click special announcements.

Thank you for your assistance and patience during difficult storm related conditions.

Mike Rohde
Mayor

MAX E. MURAVNICK
MERIDEN SENIOR CITIZENS� CENTER

The Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Citizens� Center is open to all Meriden residents age 55 and over. Membership is free of charge and new members may sign-up any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by presenting a driver�s license or other proof of age. New members receive an information package about senior services and a coupon entitling them to one complimentary lunch in our Senior Community Caf�. Sign-up today and find out about all that is offered for Meriden seniors at the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center!

AARP�s trained volunteer Tax-Aide counselors are once again ready to help local seniors with income tax advice and actual preparation of your 2009 Federal and State income tax returns. Meriden AARP volunteers will be at the Max Muravnick Senior Center each Wednesday, from Wednesday, February 3 until Wednesday, April 7. This free service is offered by appointment which may be made by calling the Senior Center at 203-237-0066.

The Meriden Antique Veterans, World Post #1, completed another outstanding year of service to the community in 2009. The group officiated with honor guards at a record 121 funeral services during the calendar year, exceeding the previous high of 114 funerals several years ago. Since 9/11 the group has taken part in 835 funeral services! Their participation in uniform with a rifle squad, service flags, a bugler and the folding and presentation of the American flag to the family is a great tribute to the departed veteran and a source of comfort and support to those left behind. The Meriden Antique Veterans were formed in 1996 and meet weekly each Thursday morning at 9:30 AM in the mezzanine level of the Meriden Senior Center. New members are always welcome and the meetings are open to any honorably discharged veteran, male or female, of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Congratulations and thank you to the Meriden Antique Veterans for all you accomplished in 2009!

A Valentine Dinner Dance will be held at the Senior Center on Thursday, February 11 with music provided by Vinnie Carr. The dinner menu of roast beef, baked potato with chives and sour cream, peas with mushrooms, dessert and coffee will be served from 5:00 to 6:00 with dancing from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Tickets are available now for Meriden residents at a cost $6 per person and may be purchased at the Senior Center.

The next session of the AARP Driver Safety Program at the Senior Center will be on Wednesday, April 21 and Friday, April 23 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Class participants will learn defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and much more in this 8-hour course. Successful completion of the classroom course also entitles you to a discount on your automobile insurance premiums. The course fee is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. Reservations for the class are now being accepted by calling the Senior Center at 203-237-0066. Additional AARP Driver Safety Classes this year at the Senior Center will be held on July 21 & 23 and November 3 & 5, 2010.

The Elderly and Disabled Homeowners� Tax Relief Program sponsored by the State of Connecticut has now started. Any elderly or disabled Meriden homeowner can apply for a credit to their local property taxes at the Meriden Tax Assessor�s Office at City Hall between February 1 and May 17, 2010. To be eligible applicants or their spouse must have been 65 or older by December 31, 2009 or be on Social Security Disability. You must own and live in the house for which you claim a tax credit and the income limits are $32,300 for a single person and $39,500 for a married couple. Applications for tax relief are also available for qualified veterans. For more information contact the Tax Assessor�s Office at 630-4065.

Save the date for a Reverse Mortgage Seminar on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 AM presented by Wells Fargo Home Mortagage. Learn how people aged 62 and over can convert some of their home�s equity into cash to help pay bills, cover healthcare costs, make home repairs, or address other financial needs. A free, no cost or obligation program in the first floor meeting room at the Senior Center.

The 21st annual Walk for Warmth will be held on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 AM in downtown Meriden to raise money for energy assistance for people in need in our community. Last year�s walk raised $20,000 and I raised $330 through your generous pledges. People willing to make a pledge again this year are asked to sign-up in the front office and I thank you for your support!

Meriden AARP Chapter #2954 will meet on the lower level of the Senior Center on February 10, 2010 at 12:30, general meeting at 1:30, and entertainment at 2:00. The program at 2:00 will be a slide show by Peter Burch with many wonderful pictures of his trip to Egypt and Jordan. There will also be a raffle of three Valentine�s Day baskets and more!

For a complete listing of all Senior Center classes, activities, trips and meal menus, pick-up a copy of our newsletter available on the first of each month at the reception desk in the front lobby.

John F. Hogarth
Senior Center Director
January 29, 2010

Mayor�s Corner Wallingford

Dear Friends:
The Spring 2010 Wallingford Parks and Recreation Guide to Leisure and Fun has just arrived � a sure sign that warmer weather is on its way. There are numerous programs for every age group to enjoy.

Early childhood programs for our preschool children include Language Lingo and Flights of Fancy for 2 year olds with a parent. Children 6-11 can enjoy the February 15 � 19th school break with Winter Warriors. Hop on a bus and head out on trips for lots of fun. Spring Stingers provides children 6-11 an opportunity to go on trips during the spring school break which is scheduled for April 19 � 23rd. Voyager Trips this summer include a Radio City Backstage Tour, a tour of Fenway Park and a tour of the new Yankee Stadium.

New in Sports and Leagues for children ages 5-6 and 7-8 years old this year is Skyhawk Tennis an exciting new play format for learning tennis at an early age.

There are also instructions for a variety of sports including volleyball, baseball, basketball, football, fencing and martial arts.

There are many Health and Fitness classes to choose from tailored for most everyone�s needs. You can take ballroom dancing; learn swing, Latin, Country /Western and new this year the �Thrill of Dance� a tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson.

The Guide for 2010 is indeed a wonderful opportunity for �Leisure and Fun�. Sign up now!

Sincerely,

William W. Dickinson, Jr.
Mayor

jms
1/29/10

WALLINGFORD SENIOR CENTER
FEBRUARY 2010 EDITION

WSC GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
Looking for a gift for your special senior? Consider purchasing a Wallingford Senior Center Gift Certificate for a family member or friend. Our gift certificates, which are available at the front desk, may be used toward senior center classes, trips, special events, and Lake View Caf� meals.

VALENTINE�S CELEBRATION
Thursday, February 11, 10:30 AM
Don�t miss our annual salute to love at our Valentine�s Celebration on February 11. The festivities include fabulous musical entertainment provided by We Got Rhythm (back by popular demand), as well as Valentine�s Day treats and activities. Please sign up if you plan to attend.

VALENTINE LUNCHEON
Thursday, February 11, 12 Noon
Following our Valentine�s Celebration, Lake View Caf� will serve a special luncheon. The menu includes: Tossed Garden Salad with Creamy Dressing, Three Cheese Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Coffee. Tickets are $5.00 and are on sale through February 9.

SOCIAL SINGLES VALENTINES PARTY
Thursday, February 4, 6:00 � 9:00 PM
Attention singles aged 55+! Join us for a Valentine�s Day Party with DJ Todd from Jock in the Box featuring music of the 50�s and 60�s. Refreshments will include hors d�oeuvres, punch and dessert. Advance tickets are $10.00 ($12.00 at the door). Invite your single friends! For more information call Ruth at 203-269-5492. Visit the Social Singles website at www.socialsingles.wlfdseniorctr.com.

SOCIAL SINGLES VIRTUAL BOWLING
February 10 & 24, 1:30 PM
Social Singles now has its own Wii Bowling Team! We will meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the Great Room from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Please sign up if you plan to participate. If you are interested in more information about Social Singles, please visit our website at www.socialsingles.wlfdseniorctr.com.

LIVING WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
Wednesday, February 17, 10:30 AM
Learn how Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is diagnosed and treated. This program, sponsored by MidState Medical Center, will be presented by Donna Jones, RN. Please sign up if you plan to attend.

LOVE YOUR HEART! � WOMEN & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Monday, February 22, 10:30 AM
This month�s edition of �To Your Health� will focus on women and high blood pressure. Please sign up to attend this important program which is presented by the Visiting Nurse Association of Wallingford.

2010 GOLF LEAGUE
Our Coed Golf League, coordinated by Howard Griesing, and held at Miner Hills Golf Course, will begin its eleventh season in May. This year, instead of two ten-week sessions, there will be one sixteen-week session, running from May 18 through August 31. The cost for play and the final week cookout is $235.00 for members and $240.00 for non-members. Sign-up will begin in May. Additional details will follow.

SENIOR STARS FINAL UPDATE
The final Senior Stars Karaoke competition was held on YouTube in December, and our own John Ferreira, who sang �Barefootin��, was the statewide third place winner! Congratulations, John! And, congratulations to Cheryl Mrazik, who was a finalist in the karaoke competition.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Just a reminder that your Senior Center has many different activities and interest groups to keep you occupied during the long, cold winter! For the creative folks we offer quilting, ceramics, clay sculpture, wood carving, knitting and crocheting. Like games? Come play Wii sports, bridge, pinochle, setback, mah jongg, bunco, bingo, or Scrabble. Need activity? Try ping pong, billiards, tap dancing, dancing with DJ Donald, or our many fitness classes. We also have two singing groups, a current events discussion group, computer classes and a Bible discussion group. You could hang out with friends, have breakfast or lunch, relax and watch TV or listen to live music. Or, find out ways to volunteer. Come meet new friends and have fun at the Wallingford Senior Center!

SOCIAL SERVICES
IN ORDER TO SERVE YOU BETTER, PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER, EILEEN FLYNN, AT 265 7753. THANK YOU.

FOOD PANTRIES IN WALLINGFORD
Need a little help with your food bill? Listed below are the names, addresses, and times you can visit.

�Angel Food Ministries: Get $75.00 worth of food for $30.00. See member interest table at the center, or call 203-284-8975 for additional information.

�Master�s Manna: 46 North Plains Road (in back). ID required (Photo ID, Birth Certificate or medical card). Distribution times: Tuesday & Thursday, 9-12; Fridays, 4-8 p.m.

�Good News Food Pantry: 46 John Street (Good News Church). Distribution time: Wednesday, 11:00 a. m. � 2:00 p.m.

�Elderly Nutrition Meals: The Town of Wallingford is able to provide meals to seniors who meet the criteria. Please call 203-294-2060 for additional information.

�Local churches: Call your church to find out if there is a food pantry available.

CONSUMER INFORMATION
Banks and Credit Union Overdraft Practices
Please be aware of banking practices such as: covering ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases and preauthorized electronic payment of bills. When there is not enough money in your account to cover your withdrawals, many banks will automatically cover your shortages BUT they will charge you exorbitant service charges, anywhere from $30.00 to $39.00 for each transaction. Be sure to check with your bank to see what your bank�s procedure is.

ASK AN ATTORNEY
Tuesday, February 11, 1:00 p.m. � 2:30 p.m.
Attorney Daniel O. Tully of Kilbourne & Tully, PC will be available to give free legal advice to those who have questions or need some direction with legal issues. Please call (203) 265 7753 to schedule an appointment.

LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP
Friday, February 19, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Please join us at our monthly meeting. New members are welcome. Topics of interest are presented by professionals. This group also offers an opportunity to learn about the newest forms of technology as well as provides a chance to exchange ideas about how to manage this lifestyle challenge. Please call (203) 265 7753 to sign up.

VETERANS SERVICES
Tuesday, February 23, 1:00 � 3:00 pm
George Messier, Veterans Services Officer for the Town of Wallingford, will be available to answer questions and assist with benefit information. An appointment is required. Please call 203-265-7753.

MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM
The Medicare Savings Program assists individuals who meet the income guidelines to pay their Medicare Part B premium. Income limits for a single person range from $1778.91 to $2091.67. For a couple, the income limits range from $2393.55 to $2816.67. There is no asset limit. If you fall within these guidelines, the State may be able to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Income verification is all that is necessary. This includes gross Social Security benefit (gross is before the $96.50 is taken out of the check), pension, dividends, interest, rental income, gross wages, etc. To schedule an appointment for completing the application, please call (203) 265 7753.

CT ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2009-2010 HEATING SEASON
Appointments for assistance with fuel continue to be scheduled at the Wallingford Senior Center. Anyone 60 years of age and over is encouraged to apply. Income limits are $30,485.00 for a single person and $39,865.00 for a couple. Asset limits also apply. Liquid asset limit for homeowners: $10,000; non-homeowners $7,000. Please call 203-265-7753 to schedule an important.

BENEFITS SCREENING
Tuesday, February 16, 10:00 a.m. � 12:00 noon
Do you often wonder if you might be eligible for any State or Federal programs? Benefits QuickLINK is a free and confidential program which can quickly screen for eligibility. Supporting Documents are not required, but please bring the following information with you to your appointment: 1. Monthly income (social security, pension, dividends and interest). 2. Monthly expenses (heating, fuel, gas, electricity, water, telephone, rent or mortgage payments and medical expenses not covered by health insurance). 3. Asset information (savings, estimated value of home and car, life insurance benefits). 4. A list of all current prescriptions. Registration required. Call 265 7753 now to schedule an appointment.

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM (SNAP)
The State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) has changed its eligibility criteria effective July 1, 2009. Income limits have been increased and there is no asset limit when applying for this program.
�Single Income: $1,669.00 month �Couple Income: $2,246.00 month
For more information or to schedule an appointment to apply for this program, please call Eileen Flynn, Social Worker at 265 7753.

HELP WITH SNOW REMOVAL
Need assistance with snow removal? The YOUTH JOB BANK of Wallingford�s Youth & Social Services Department can help. They will find a student from Wallingford to shovel snow for a fee you negotiate directly with the student. You can call the JOB BANK to request assistance before it snows, this way a student will be assigned to assist you prior to a snowfall. Please call 203-294-2175 to request a student or to get additional information.

VISIT our website at www.wlfdseniorctr.com!
To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Local News and Events February 2010

2010-02-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

What's Happening at Temple B'nai Abraham?

Temple B'nai Abraham in Meriden is a Conservative synagogue which provides religious, educational and social programming for all age groups in a warm, extended family atmosphere. Services are egalitarian, and feature congregational singing. All are welcome. We are located at 127 East Main Street. Weekly services are on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m., Friday nights (call for time), Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. (when religious school is in session.) Here is what is happening in February. Come visit us.
February 7th 9:15 a.m.- World Wide WrapThe World Wide Wrap is a program of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs that teaches Jews from around the world how to perform the mitzvah (commandment) of wrapping tefillin. Tefillin are two small square black boxes with leather straps attached to them. One box on the forehead and the other on the left arm (close to the heart). The boxes contain a scroll with selected verses from Deuteronomy and Exodus. Following the morning service the Rabbi will speak on the commandment to put on tefillin and why it is acceptable for women to do so

February 7th 1:00 p.m. - Family Bowling withTemple B'nai AbrahamJoin us for an afternoon of family fun on Sunday, February 7th at 1:00 p.m. at Colony Lanes in Wallingford. The cost is $11.00 per person which includes: 2 slices of cheese pizza, soda, shoe rental, and 2 hours of bowling. Please call 203-235-2581 to

RSVP. Snow date is February 14th.
February 12th 6:00 p.m. -Family Shabbat ServicePlease join us on Friday, February 12th at 7:30 p.m. as we celebrate Shabbat (the Sabbath). Saturday services are at 9:30 a.m.

February 27th 6:30 p.m. - Shake Your Groggers at Temple B'nai Abraham's Purim Party!Nosh some hamentaschen and shake your groggers at Temple B'nai Abraham's Purim Party on Saturday February 27th! Come in costume, join the parade, win prizes, and make some noise! Cheer for Esther and Mordecai! Boo Haman! What will Rabbi Kohn's costume be? Come and see! Megillah reading and Purim Party at 6:30 p.m. There will also be Purim Services Sunday morning February 28th at 9:30 a.m.February Adult Education Classes

Rabbi Michael Kohn continues his series of adult education classes. On Monday nights we are starting a Beginning Hebrew class (call for details). Wednesday nights alternate between Synagogue Service Class (Feb 3rd and 17th) and Torah/Haftorah/Megillah Class (Feb. 10th and 24th). Every Thursday at noon, come discuss the weekly Torah portion with us. And our discussion of Life Cycle Events continues on Sunday Feb. 14th from 11:00 to 12:30 with observances related death and mourning. All classes are open to the community and there is no charge to attend.

For more information about any of these services or events call 203-235-2581 or visit us on the web at www.meridentemple.org

Lincoln Middle School Pasta Dinner & Live Auction
Friday, March 5, 2010
Proceeds to benefit Lincoln Middle School�s Student Enrichment Activities

Special guest Auctioneer will be local children�s author EDDIE �SPAGHETTI� SIEBERT!

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the following locations: Lincoln Middle School, Tom�s Place - Main Street, S. Meriden, Salon Nathaniel - 1247 E. Main Street

Pasta Dinner
Time: 5:30-6:30
Location: Lincoln Cafe
Tickets: $5.00 pp (Price of ticket includes one auction paddle. Additional auction paddles are $1.00 each). $3.50 per child (age 10 and under)

Auction
Time: 6:30 Preview 7:00 Auction
Location: Lincoln Auditorium
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MARDI GRAS MADNESS
Chase away your winter blues at MARDI GRAS MADNESS at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall, 382 Hope Hill Road, Yalesville on Saturday, February 20 from 6:30PM until 9:30PM. Come as you are or in costume (the best one gets a prize). You provide your dinner; we provide dessert, punch, coffee, tea, surprises and the rollicking, live Dixieland music of the SUGARFOOT JAZZ BAND. Families and friends welcome! Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets available at the church after weekend masses (Sat. 4PM and Sun. 8:30AM and 10:30AM) beginning Jan. 30/31 or at the Rectory (203-265-0961). Sponsored by the Fatima Women�s Club. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll)!
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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Sheehan Class of 85 Reunion Planned

Attention Mark T. Sheehan High School Class of 1985 grads: The 25th class reunion is planned for Friday, November 26, 2010. Additional information can be found online at: www.MTS85.info. Alumni are encouraged to register for reunion updates and information while visiting the site.

___________________________________________________________________________The Augusta Curtis Cultural Center, 175 East Main Street, Meriden will be hosting the following February events:

***Carabase Training's Fit Body Boot CampEvery Tuesday & Thursday evening 6pm to 7pmA workout program based on your own personal needs! Anyone can participate at any level....Personal Trainer Joe Carabase will be leading this fitness boot camp which is a fun alternative to the gym and is for everyone to join. If you are interested in joining call 860-918-3057 or e-mail joe@carabasetraining.com

***Augusta Curtis Concert Band RehearsalsRehearsal are held every Monday from 7pm-9pm except HolidaysAny age or level of playing can join us! Rehearsals held at Lincoln Middle School, Centennial Road, Meriden, CT. Just show up or call Jeff at 203-715-0855 for more info. The band will be playing on APril 18th in Hubbard Park and July 1st in the Rosa Ponselle Memorial Garden outside the Center.

***Annual AppealWe need your support! Please help us to continue to be Meriden's Arts & Cultural Center by donating to our Appeal. You can mail donations to ACCC, P.O. Box 4173 or visit our website at www.curtisculturalcenter.org home page and click on donate button to use credit card or paypal for your donation.. We appreciate your support.2/1/2010 to 4/1/2010
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SPRING 2010 REGISTRATION SET FOR JACK BARRY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

The Jack Barry Little League will be holding registration for the spring 2010 season on February 4th at the John Barry Elementary school (Lewis Ave, Meriden) and Dicks Sporting Goods (Westfield Mall, Lewis Ave, Meriden) February 17th . Sign-ups will be from 6:30 to 8 PM and are open to boys and girls 5-16 years of age. Birth certificate and proof of residency required for all players.
Please attend one of the earlier signups to avoid the �last minute rush�.

School closings or early dismissal due to bad weather will cancel registration that night. Call 235-8766 or visit us on-line at www.jbll.net for more information.

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Spring Luncheon

The Meriden Intermediates Club will hold a Spring Luncheon on, Wednesday, March 10. The event will be held at the North Italian Club at 43 Thorpe Avenue in Meriden from 12:00 to 3:00. Guest speakers will be Scott Haney and Kara Sundlun. Kara and Scott are co-hosts of the TV show, Better Connecticut, which airs daily on Channel 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased from Carol Bonaiuto at (203) 634-1855.
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MxCC Bowlathon coming to Wallingford Bowl

Get ready for �March Madness� � a Bowlathon fundraiser for Middlesex Community College to be held at Wallingford Bowl on Saturday, March 27.

The Bowlathon is designed to raise support for Student Activities at the college and for projects sponsored by the Middlesex Community College Foundation.

It�s a team event, with four bowlers per team. Each bowler on each team bowls two games. All participating bowlers and sponsors will be treated to pizza and soda.

Teams may be entered by sponsors, businesses, and groups of individuals. There is no limit to the number of teams a business or organization may enter. Team shirts are welcome, but not required.

Each bowler must raise a minimum of $30 to bowl, or $120 minimum per team. For PLEDGE FORMs, TEAM REGISTRATION FORMs and SPONSOR FORMs go to www.mxccfoundation.org. Business teams must enter as Alley Cat sponsors or higher.

Deadline for registration and collection of funds raised is March 12. Contributions from non-bowlers also welcome.

Trophies will be awarded to each member of the top scoring team (overall team champions) and to each member of the top fundraising team. MxCC teams will compete for a traveling trophy symbolic of campus champions; the winning team will enjoy campus �bragging rights� for a full year.

The Bowlathon has been designated an alcohol-free and smoke-free college activity. It is the first fundraising event held by the MxCC Foundation in the Meriden-Wallingford area. The MxCC Meriden Center now accounts for 22 percent of the college�s total enrollment.

For more information, please contact Greg Kline, director of Institutional Advancement at MxCC at 860-343-6914 or via email: gkline@mxcc.commnet.edu.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Let the competition & March Madness begin!

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its season of major events! Our committees are planning for the 114th Annual Meeting, Dinner & Silent Auction on Thursday, April 8th at MountainRidge; of course, the EXPO at the Daffodil Festival (inside the mega tent on the tennis courts) April 23-25; and the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament on June 9th. These events, as with all of the Chamber�s activities, all contain a piece of our four principles: Education, Leadership, Networking and Promotion. We look forward to sharing the stories from these events with you and encourage the readers of the People�s Press to learn more about the work of the chamber by visiting www.meridenchamber.com.

One of the four principles that the Greater Meriden Chamber�s work is based upon is Leadership. This organization takes a proactive leadership role in moving, improving and positively changing the communities we serve. Whether it is representing Meriden on the Workforce Alliance Board or Transportation Strategy Board, or participating in public comment at City Council meetings, we help to cause results and create a roadmap for our future. Below is the Greater Meriden Chamber�s Legislative Agenda, created by the chamber�s Government & Business Development Committee, that has been shared with our city, state and federal legislators.

In these improving but still uncertain economic times, Connecticut must continue to work to improve its economic competitiveness and build on its strengths. The 2010 Legislative Action Agenda lists priorities that are the keys to maintaining economic opportunity and creating sound business growth. With each vote we ask that our legislators consider the unique role of the private sector businesses in the economic recovery. We ask that our elected officials support an environment where:

Businesses would again make profits so tax revenues will again flow

Businesses would make investments in technology, machinery and equipment to provide new business opportunities and

Businesses could hire back the state residents in the private sector jobs that are necessary for a growing economy.

We ask that our legislators do no harm to business when offering, considering or passing legislation in 2010.

The Economic Development agenda: Pursue proposals which strengthen previous investment, whether public or private, and comply with state, regional and local development and transportation plans including the State Economic Development Strategic Plan and the Meriden Plan of Conservation and Development. Specifically, we need to seek funding to implement:
Hub Reuse / Intermodal Transit Center
Factory H Remediation and Reuse
Harbor Brook Flood Control Project
West Main Street Streetscape Project
Facilitate Undercliff Property Transfer to the City of Meriden

The Energy / Technology agenda: Encourage a competitive electricity procurement process and support development of alternative energy sources that ensure reliable and affordable sources of energy to reduce the burden of energy costs on business. Encourage new legislation in the changing communications industry which would expand competition, private-sector investment and improve consumer choice.

The Transportation agenda: Strengthen interstate and regional access by initiating commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, implementing priority projects to improve highway congestion and access including the I-691 Exit 5-6 Interchange Improvements and supporting mixed use TOD in Meriden and other opportunities along the rail line.

The Arts and Entertainment agenda: Increase state programs supporting affordable Artist housing in Meriden and urban centers. We recognize that as consolidation efforts continue, tourism, arts and culture are critical to enhancing the region's economic vitality and enriching the lives of our citizens. Cultivate the Recreational, Entertainment, Arts and Leisure interests in downtown Meriden.

The Workforce / Manufacturing: Keep the state workforce skilled and competitive by investing in training programs through existing Workforce Investment Boards to make Connecticut's businesses more productive and competitive. Recognize the changes in manufacturing and reassess and create incentives for manufacturers to ensure that business is supported by state and local government.

The Health Care agenda: Make quality health care available to businesses and all state residents by supporting initiatives that improve access to affordable and portable health insurance coverage. Advance initiatives to stabilize Connecticut�s medical malpractice liability environment including assessing the feasibility of adopting a non-adversarial system similar to the current workers compensation system. Control competitive costs of private insurance plans to encourage and maximize business participation. Improve health care and wellness education.

Additional agenda items:
Maintain Funding for Education with an emphasis on Regionalism as an integral part of the solution.

Seek financial support for implementing Meriden Children�s Zone project of the Meriden Early Learning Blueprint.

Our stellar, award-winning website, www.meridenchamber.com is always chock full of events, news, resources, photos and more! It is THE place to visit when you are looking for a product or service. All of our members are listed by category or they may be found through name searches. The site averages well over 32,000 unique visits per month and our most visited areas include the member directory, member news, and calendars of events!

November 2009 kicked off our NEW Breakfast Club Celebrates�Series! Attendance is averaging 65 at each event and it�s a GREAT way to start your day! Visit the special event pages for updates on www.meridenchamber.com. The series is also videotaped and will begin airing on Cox Channel 15 in January and the videos will also be available for viewing on the Chamber�s website!

Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele addressed over 65 members of the business community at the Breakfast Club Celebrates event on January 15th. Pictured here are Cindy Russo, MidState Medical Center (recipient of the January Shining Star Award); Vice Chairman of the Greater Meriden Chamber Board of Directors Atty. Thomas Welsh, Brown & Welsh, P.C.; Mayor Michael Rohde; Chamber President Sean W. Moore; Yvonne deAngeli Fontanez, Four Points by Sheraton; Lt. Gov. Fedele; and Chamber Board Chairman, Frank W. Ridley, F.W.R. Consulting, LLC. If you missed it, all of these breakfast events may be viewed on community access every Saturday at 5 p.m.!

The Breakfast Club Celebrates Series continues on Friday, Feb. 12th from 7:30 � 9 a.m. and features Health & Fitness Guru, Rob Nevins. This event is sponsored by Sam�s Club and The Idea Company and will be held at Four Points by Sheraton. All are welcome - $18 for Chamber Members; $25 for not yet members.

Many Other Upcoming Chamber Events to Keep YOU Connected With YOUR Community:
Tue., 2/9: Business After Hours at Caf� Dolce - 5-7 p.m., A gem in the heart of downtown Meriden � great networking, refreshments and more!
Thu., 2-11-10: SCORE at the Chamber � call 203.235.7901 today for an appointment!
Tue., 2-23-10: Special Event for Middle/High School Students & Parents: Ed Gerety, Nationally Recognized Motivational Speaker will present a program on the dangers of the internet & much more. 6-8:30 p.m. at Lincoln M.S. RSVP: edgeretyevent@meridenchamber.com
Wed.. 2-24-10: CT Business Day at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford � 7:30- noon.
Thu., 2-25-10: BAH � Grand Opening of Silver City Grill at Four Points by Sheraton. 5-7 p.m

Become a FAN of Greater Meriden Chamber on Facebook! Join the over 100 Facebook Friends who are already FANS of the Greater Meriden Chamber!

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce is located at 3 Colony Street, Suite 301, Meriden, CT 06451. Ph.: 203.235.7901 / Fx.: 203.686.0172. Visit www.meridenchamber.com or email: info@meridenchamber.com
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NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Interactive Workshop

The Southwest Conservation District will sponsor a Workshop for the general public on �Organic Landcare for Homeowners� on Thursday, March 4, 2010 6:30-8:00 at the Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington Street. NOFA will have a POWER POINT presentation with displays and handouts as well as a question and answer period. NOFA is the Northeast Organic Farming Association.

If unable to attend the first workshop on Wallingford, the following are in the area:

Sat, Mar 6 at Southington Library 10-11:30.

Wed Apr 21 at Cheshire Public Library 7:00-9:30.

Free�no preregistration required. For more information : 203-888-5146 or check the website at www.organiclandcare.net.

Picture by Ellie Tessmer of Boulder Knoll Organic Farm in Cheshire.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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Volunteers are needed to visit frail, elderly people, to shop with or for an elder, to drive an elder to and from their medical appointment, and to provide respite care to family members caring for a loved one who needs constant care. All that is required is a warm, loving heart and one or two hours of your time each week. A two hour training event will provide you with information and basic skills to make a difference in someone�s life. The next training dates sponsored by Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven are: Tues. Feb. 16th 10:00-12:00 North Haven Recreation Center, 7 Linsley St. North Haven, Room 3; Sun. Feb 28th 1:30- 3:30 IVCG office, 30 Gillies Rd Hamden; Wed. March 17th 1:00-3:00 Canoe Brook Senior Center, 311 Cherry Hill Rd. Branford, Sliney Room. Please call IVCG at 203-230-8994 or email carenh@snet.net for more information and to register.
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Search is on for Connecticut senior poet laureate

Entries are now being accepted for regional winners in the 18th annual National Senior Poets Laureate Poetry Competition for American poets age 50 and older in which the Connecticut Senior Poet Laureate is sought. Deadline is June 30.

Winning poems of state senior poets laureate will be named in July, following which they advance to final rounds of competition from which the winner of $500 and the 2010 National Senior Poet Laureate title will be announced around Sept. 1.

Gloria D. Pond of Woodbury won the 2009 Connecticut Senior Poet Laureate Award with her poem
"Spinnaker." Winner of the 2009 National Senior Poet Laureate Award was Patricia Frolander, 66, rancher from Sundance, Wyo.

Co-sponsors Vera-Jane Goodin Schultz and Wanda Sue Parrott founded the contest administered by Amy Kitchener�s Angels Without Wings Fdn. in 1993. The 2009 winners can be seen in Golden Words Anthology, along with rules for the 2010 Senior Poets Laureate Contest, at www.amykitchenerfdn.org

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"Trashing Our Wildlife"

Donna L. Powers, a wildlife rehabilitation specialist will speak about "Trashing Our Wildlife" and the effects of litter on water birds and their environment at the next Wallingford Garden Club meeting on Tue. February 9 , at 1pm in the First Congregational Church meeting room.

Powers has been a wildlife rehabilitation specialist for 24 years and is the President and founder of Water n' Webs. She has honed her skills as an animal rehabilitator by being employed by veterinarians, consulting with avian experts and attending annual wildlife rehabilitation conferences all over the United States.

Powers has written a wildlife column for 9 years in the Northford Totoket Times and a waterfowl health column for the International Breeders Society and the Poultry Press. She is the owner of the Wild Bird Trail store at 600 N. Colony Street in Wallingford.

The meeting is open to the public for a fee of $5 and will be preceded by a luncheon at 11:30am.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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Purim Preschool Story Time at Temple Beth David

On Sunday, February 28, from 11:00 a.m. until noon, Temple Beth David of Cheshire will host a Purim themed story time at the Doolittle School, 735 Cornwall Avenue, Cheshire. This interactive, high-energy program will explore the traditions and tastes of the Purim celebration. We will enjoy holiday stories, songs with Cantor Elana, crafts and snack-time. Story time activities are appropriate for children up to age 5 accompanied by a parent or other caregiver. Dress your child casually or bring along a smock (we may get messy!). The program is free and all preschoolers are invited to participate�you do not need to be a Temple member. Please email education@tbdcheshire.org to enroll, or call Jeri Butlien (860) 620-0307 with any questions.
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The Wallingford Family YMCA will be hosting Friday night indoor cycling rides for charity. The 2-hour rides will raise money for the YMCA Strong Kids, which provides YMCA programs for Wallingford Families in need, and The Spenceless Spinners Team, which has raised thousands of dollars for diabetes to date. Rides will take place on February 5th, 12th, and 26th, from 6-8 pm; February 19th will be a special "Push the Limits Triathlon" from 6-8 pm, which will include indoor cycling, running, and swimming.

These events are open to the public; some cycling experience is recommended. A $20 donation is suggested. Call 203-269-4497 to reserve a spot. The Wallingford Family YMCA is located at 81 S. Elm St., Wallingford, CT.""The Wallingford Family YMCA and Frontline Krav Maga CT have partnered together to offer a Women's Self Defense Seminar on Friday, February 5th, from 6-9 pm. This class is free for members, and open to the public for a small fee. Call 203-269-4497 to reserve a spot. The Wallingford Family YMCA is located at 81 S. Elm St., Wallingford, CT.""The Wallingford Family YMCA is offering a free nutrition seminar on Tuesday, February 9th, from 12-1 pm. Healthy Balance: The First Steps to Healthy Eating gives a great starting point to get your health back on track with information on how to incorporate healthy eating habits into your lifestyle. This seminar is open to the public. Call 203-269-4497 to reserve a spot. The Wallingford Family YMCA is located at 81 S. Elm St., Wallingford, CT."

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The Wallingford Family YMCA's Camp Ulbrich will be holding Early Bird Registration from February 15-28. Summer Camp is coming quick and if you register during this time you can save 5% off your camp balance. For more information, call (203)269-4497, go to www.wallingfordymca.org, or stop by the 81 S. Elm Street and pick up the 2010 Camp Ulbrich brochure today.
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Meriden �Girls Inc. is excited to announce that registration for the 2010 Strong, Smart, and Bold Girls Summer Camp will begin on Saturday, February 6th, at 9am. In-person Express Registration will be offered at the 130 Lincoln St. facility from 9am-11am. On-line registration will also be available for current Girls Inc. members beginning that same day. The 9-week summer camp offers a variety of activities for girls entering kindergarten thru age 15. Swimming, arts and crafts, and much more! The camp runs from 9am-3pm Monday- Friday and also offers before and after camp care for an additional fee. Financial Assistance is available to those that qualify. For more information please visit Girls Inc. at 130 Lincoln St., call (203) 235-7146, or visit us online at www.girlsincmeriden.org

Class of 1985 - Orville Platt High School 25th Reunion
We will be having our Reunion July 24th, 2010 RSVP by May 31, 2010Anyone interested in attending can contact Ida Zimmer (860) 621-0267 or email idazimmer@yahoo.com. You can register on classmates.com or join us on facebook.com for more information.

February Vacation Fun Club at the Meriden YMCA

The Meriden YMCA is offering School Vacation Fun Club during February break where your children will have a blast all day! Your children will enjoy a fun-filled vacation February 15th through 19th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities include swimming, crafts, games and sports in the gym, and movies! Registrations are being accepted now.The cost is $25 per day per child for YMCA members and $40 per day per child for non members. Call 203-235-6386 to register your child today.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Meriden YMCA's Kids Illustration Contest

Calling all artists! The Meriden YMCA is having a really cool contest! Your drawing could be in our new Destination YMCA children�s book by author Eddie �Spaghetti� Siebert!

Draw your best picture and bring it to the YMCA by February 20th to enter. (Please use 8.5 X 11 white paper, magic markers, colored pencils, or crayons)

Winners will be invited to a special booksigning on April 10th Healthy Kids Day to autograph your artwork and enjoy a special artists reception!
Picture ideas:
1. Picture of the YMCA for the cover � whose drawing will be on the cover???
2. A family driving to the Y�packed and excited to go!
3. Mountain Mist Day Camp fun activities
4. Archery
5. Humongous pools � indoor pool down town, outdoor one at camp!
6. Zip line/climbing tower/ropes course
7. Kids playing sports (basketball, soccer, T-ball, gymnastics)
8. Swimming lessons
9. Lifeguards
10. Runners going around a track
11. Weight lifting
12. Karate
13. Youth theater � actors, singers, dancers
14. Family Festival or Halloween Happenings (painting pumpkins, hay ride)
Check out our photo gallery on our web site for ideas!
Be creative! Have a blast!
Questions? Call us at 203-235-6386.

Heart Health Awareness Lunch at Meriden YMCA

Join us on Friday February 12th at 12:00 for a special Heart Health Awareness Lunch celebrating Heart Health month. Our special guest speaker will be Debbie Kovac R.N., Program Co-coordinator for the MidState Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Department. The cost is $5.00 and includes lunch. We�ll also have some fun door prizes. RSVP to Carrie by February 8th by calling 203-235-6386 x18 or via email at cmarquardt@meridenymca.org For more information about our Cardiac Rehab and cardiac health programs at the Meriden YMCA call Carrie or visit our web site at www.meridenymca.org

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SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY AND GARDE ARTS CENTER PARTNER TO CREATE NEW �FACES OF OUR PLANET� SERIES
New series begins on February 2; brings art and science together through performance, film and presentations by artists and renowned explorers
MYSTIC, Conn. (January 13, 2010) � Beginning on February 2, 2010, audiences at the historic Garde Arts Center in New London will be transported around the world, to the ends of the Earth and into the ocean�s depths to discover the �Faces of Our Planet.� Created by the Mystic-based Sea Research Foundation, National Geographic Society and the Garde, this new five-part series reveals the mysteries and discoveries of the world�s human, animal and geographic faces through film, live performance and multimedia presentations.

The series builds on Sea Research�s long-standing relationship with National Geographic. Terry Garcia, senior vice president of mission programs for National Geographic Society, has been a long-time member of Sea Research�s Board of Trustees and was recently re-elected to a three-year term. In addition, National Geographic has supported Mystic Aquarium�s �Challenge of the Deep� exhibits and co-sponsored Institute for Exploration President and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard�s expeditions, many of which have been featured in National Geographic television specials.

�This series provides the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with National Geographic Society through a co-branding partnership with its National Geographic Live! speakers program,� said Sea Research President and CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan. �The series also aligns directly with Sea Research�s mission to inspire people to care for and protect our oceans. In providing audiences with inspiring views of the world, we hope these events will foster a deeper appreciation of our planet.�

�We are excited about extending National Geographic�s relationship with Sea Research Foundation into the realm of events and embracing performing arts events that complement and deepen our shared mission,� said Andy van Duym, director of National Geographic Live! �Together with the Garde Arts Center, we look forward to presenting National Geographic�s top explorers to audiences in Connecticut. Patrons can anticipate dynamic events that feature fascinating people with truly captivating stories.�

The �Faces of Our Planet� series was finally realized with the selection of the non-profit Garde Arts Center as both the venue and the regional performing arts partner. The nationally-recognized Garde Arts Center, with its restored 1,450-seat Moroccan-themed movie palace, has decades of success as the regional presenter and host of diverse artistic, cultural and educational programming in southeastern Connecticut.

�We are proud to embark on this exhilarating new theatrical journey, integrating arts, technology, adventure and discovery,� said Garde Executive Director Steve Sigel. �By combining each of our institutions' audiences with our unique means of engaging, informing, inspiring and entertaining them, we believe we can even more deeply impact our understanding and appreciation of our common connection with and responsibility for the many facets of the planet we share.�

The �Faces of Our Planet� series consists of the following events, all at the Garde Arts Center:

Soweto Gospel Choir � February 2, 7:30 p.m.The series kicks off with a powerful performance by the acclaimed South African Soweto Gospel Choir, a 26-strong group of the best talents from Soweto-area churches. Their first album, �Voices of Heaven� hit No. 1 on the Billboard World Music Chart, and they have won three Grammy Awards, including �Best Movie Song� for �Down to Earth�, heard in Disney/Pixar�s Wall-E movie. Tickets: $35 (orchestra), $42 (loge), $30 (front balcony), $25 (rear balcony).

Penguin Party � February 20, 3 p.m.
Bring the family to party with African penguins from Mystic Aquarium, participate in penguin-related games and activities and enjoy Dreamworks� animated feature film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa on the Garde�s giant movie screen. The winner of the 2009 Nickelodeon Kids� Choice Awards for �Favorite Animated Film�, the movie tells the story of Central Park Zoo animals that end up in Madagascar, where adventures abound. Tickets: adults $12, children $6.

A Wild Point of View � March 19, 7:30 p.m.
Experience life through an animal�s eyes with biologist, inventor and National Geographic filmmaker Greg Marshall. His remarkable Crittercam has revolutionized marine biology while producing breathtaking glimpses into the animal world. Marshall and his team have refined the device, making it smaller, lighter and more powerful, expanding its use to more than 30 marine species, from sperm whales to Emperor penguins. Tickets: $24; VIP tickets: $54 (includes admission to pre-show reception).

Polar Obsession � April 16, 7:30 p.m.
Arctic biologist and photographer Paul Nicklen shares his self-deprecating humor, terrifying and awe-inspiring stories and magnificent screen images that bring audiences face-to-face with the predators that live at the ends of the Earth. Nicklen will also discuss what is truly at stake in the ongoing debates over global warming. After the program, Nicklen will sign copies of his new book, Polar Obsession, which features 160 of his latest and best polar images and critical new insights into animal behavior and climate change. Tickets: $24; VIP tickets: $54 (includes admission to pre-show reception).

Adventures in Deep-Sea Exploration � May 14, 7:30 p.m.
Best known for his 1985 discovery of the R.M.S. Titanic, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and Institute for Exploration President Dr. Robert Ballard is a veteran of more than 125 deep-sea expeditions. In this visually-gripping presentation, Dr. Ballard shares his stories of discoveries, his passion for the last great uncharted territory and his vision of how technology can continue to advance the frontiers of exploration. Dr. Ballard will sign copies of his book after the program. Tickets: $24; VIP tickets: $54 (includes admission to pre-show reception).

The Premier �Faces of Our Planet� Series ticket is $190 and includes preferred seating at all five events, admission to pre-show VIP receptions for Greg Marshall, Paul Nicklen and Dr. Robert Ballard and special acknowledgement in the playbill for each event. The �Faces of Our Planet� discount package provides up to a 28 percent discount off each ticket price with the purchase of three or more events.

Both are available at the Garde Arts Center Box Office at 325 State St., New London, in person or by phone at (860) 444-7373 ext. 1. Single tickets are available at the Garde Arts Center Box Office and online at www.gardearts.org. Special pricing is available for students, groups and Mystic Aquarium members.

For more information on these programs, visit www.searesearch.org.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit 501(c)3organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

About Garde Arts Center
Founded in 1985, the Garde Arts Center was created to save and transform the historic Garde theatre into a non-profit regional center for the performing arts and education in the heart of downtown New London, serving greater Southeastern Connecticut, a region rich in geographic, economic, ethnic and cultural diversity. The Garde owns and operates the recently restored 1,450-seat Garde Theatre, a historic movie/vaudeville house built in 1926 and the new 130-seat Oasis Room.

About National Geographic Live!
National Geographic Live is the live events division of the National Geographic Society, featuring live concerts, films, and dynamic presentations by today's leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers, and photographers covering a wide range of topics including: exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat conservation; natural phenomena; and relevant issues such as climate change. Proceeds from speaker series ticket sales help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration, and education. For more information visit www.nglive.org.

MYSTIC AQUARIUM TO HOST BITE WEEK FEBRUARY 14 TO 19
February vacation week activities focus on animals with teeth big and small; guests can also see Jetty the sea lion pup in Marine Theater shows
MYSTIC, Conn. Think you know who has the biggest set of chompers at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration? Guests during February school vacation week may be surprised. In celebration of National Children�s Dental Health Month, the aquarium is hosting Bite Week from February 14 to 19.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, kids will learn about the teeth of various marine animals and discover how they chew their food, the different ways they use their teeth and which don�t have teeth at all. Interactive activities include animal teeth displays, decorating foam fish frames and a game in which kids will learn how fish catch prey with their mouths by using household objects, such as tweezers, pipettes and pliers, to grab items. Kids will also meet reptiles up close and learn about their teeth and diets.
In the Marine Theater, guests can see the newest addition to the sea lion show, Jetty, the California sea lion pup who arrived last May and was named during a public naming contest in August. He recently joined the three sea lions in the Marine Theater, where he is slowly learning behaviors. While he doesn�t have an active role in the show yet, Jetty will slowly participate more as his training progresses. In the meantime, guests can enjoy his short attention span and playful antics while learning about sea lions, including their teeth.
WHEN: Sunday, February 14 to Friday, February 19
Activities take place at scheduled times between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day

WHERE: Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355

COST: Free with aquarium admission: Adults $26, seniors $23, kids (ages 3 to 17) $19, free for children 2 and under

For more information, call (860) 572-5955 or visit mysticaquarium.org.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
To all, This is the first reminder for the 2010 Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony for the City of Meriden. I want you to put it on your calendar now and save the date to pay honor to our deceased Veterans. Who: The United Veterans Council of Meriden, CT and the 2010 Memorial Day Parade Committee What: 2010 Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony............ Parade theme this year is "The Forgotten War?", a tribute to the Korean War and its' Veterans Where: Parade will form up at Washington Park on Liberty Street and the adjoining area side streets between 9:00 and 9:59 a.m. Parade route is West on Liberty St. turning left onto Cottage St., continuing to East Main St.turning right and continuing westward down to the Meriden City Hall area. A Memorial Day Service (45 minutes) of ceremony, patriotic music, speeches and prayer will commence at 11:00 or immediately following the parade. When: MONDAY, May 31, 2010, Parades steps of at 10:00 a.m. sharp. and Why: to pay honor to our deceased Veterans. Originally Memorial Day was designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. Please alert all of the good citizens of Meriden and South Meriden, all of the Civic groups, the Churches and all of the Schools, Public and Parochial, Girl Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America of this important free event. Our committee will be attempting to contact as many of these personnel as possible over the coming 5 months. Please feel free to spread this invite to all that you come into contact. PS: Volunteers are needed on the committee and can contact me on my cell 203 631 3906 or can email me your contact information.

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Seven Pound Steamed Cheeseburger Eating Contest in Wallingford

Sara J's is bravely going where no Steamed Cheeseburger has gone before. Last week Sara J�s, a diner in Wallingford, announced that they will be unleashing a monster Steamed Cheeseburger Challenge on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 5:30pm.

To celebrate their new extended hours, Sara J�s will be choosing two lucky individuals at random to eat their way to Steamed Cheeseburger fame. The Super Steamed Cheeseburger includes 7 pounds of steamed ground beef, 2 pounds of gooey steamed cheddar and 1 pound of crispy bacon, and then topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. "This is going to be HUGE! Literally!" said Sara Kenny, daughter of the owner and employee, "I can�t wait to see everyone's reaction when we put this burger out on the counter."

Each lucky contestant will have 45 minutes to finish half of the 7 pound burger and additional toppings. The winner will receive bragging rights, $10 gift certificate to Sara J�s, a picture on the Sara J�s Wall of Fame, and a Sara J�s �I ate my half� t-shirt. Jennifer Fontanella, a Sara J�s frequenter said, "It's an awesome idea and whoever has the guts to take on this challenge, better have the stomach to back it up."

Sara J�s is currently accepting sign-ups until 2:00pm on Thursday, January 28, 2010. They ask that all contestants are 18 or older, and must sign a waiver agreeing to have their picture and/or video taken by Sara J�s who may use it however they choose, that Sara J's is not responsible if they get sick and that they are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Winners will be announced on Friday, January 29, 2010 on Facebook, and will be contacted through phone or email. You do not have to be present to be picked. Sara J�s welcomes everyone to join them the evening of the challenge but reminds people to bring their strong stomachs.

Sara J�s has been owned and operated by the Kenny-Chasse family for several years. "I�m very excited about this,� says Karen Chasse, owner, �It�s a great way to bring in new people and get our name out there."

Sara J�s is located at 7 Ward Street in Wallingford. New hours of operation go into effect Friday, January 29, 2010: Mondays: 7:00am-10:30am; Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7:00am-2:00pm; Thursdays and Fridays: 7am-2pm, 5:00pm-10:00; Saturdays: 7:00am-1:00pm; Sundays: Closed.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

IMMERSION LEARNING� BRINGS MARINE MAMMALS OF THE ARCTIC LIVE TO MYSTIC AQUARIUM & INSTITUTE FOR EXPLORATION
Live Webcasts on February 10 to 12 to reveal how scientists, native communities and animal trainers are working to understand and protect Arctic animals
MYSTIC, Conn. (January 19, 2010) � This February, venture to the ends of the earth to meet the fascinating animals that live there and the people who work with them. Immersion Learning�, a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., brings the vast and exciting Arctic world live via webcast to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration and many other Immersion sites across the country on February 10 to 12.
During the week of live Marine Mammals of the Arctic webcasts, viewers will have the opportunity to interact directly with scientists and trainers who work with marine mammals to better understand their behaviors and physiology, as well as the impact of humans and climate change on these animals. Kids watching the programs will also be able to participate in an online question-and-answer session and polling features as they hear from these experts and learn how they can help protect the oceans.
Viewers will get a firsthand look at polar bear research, seal rescue and rehabilitation efforts at the aquarium, satellite tagging and population surveys of ringed seals and beluga research that involves a unique collaboration between the people of Point Lay, Alaska, and researchers, including one based at Mystic Aquarium. Kids will also meet the three winners of Immersion�s first-ever Goldfish Training Contest, who will each serve as an �apprentice trainer� during one day of Webcasts and work closely with the aquarium�s beluga whales and professional trainers.
�Sea Research Foundation is devoted to protecting our ocean planet, and the Arctic is currently one of the most threatened places,� said Dr. Stephen M. Coan, president and CEO of Sea Research Foundation. �In providing kids an up-close look at these amazing animals and the dangers they are facing, we hope to inspire them to become ambassadors for the Arctic regions and beyond.�
The 30-minute live webcasts will take place in the Immersion Theater in the Challenge of the Deep exhibition at the following times:
Wednesday, February 10 and Friday, February 12: 10 and 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 11: 1, 2 and 3 p.m. (5 and 7 p.m. webcasts will be available online only)
The live webcast complements Immersion�s Marine Mammals of the Arctic multimedia program, developed for kids in grades 4 through 8 and designed to inspire them to be part of the world of marine science and conservation by helping to protect marine mammals and their ocean home. Program elements include hands-on activities and lesson plans for use in schools and after-school settings and online games, projects, videos and photos.
The live webcasts, a detailed webcast program guide and program resources will be available at immersionlearning.org.
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The Horvath Trio
The Hungarian Community Club is pleased to announce that the Horvath Trio will be back in Wallingford on Saturday February 13th, 7 pm!!! Come for some wonderful eats (soups, home made sausages, potato, dessert) and awesome music!!! Sing along with the band or dance to their beat....be entertained as the violinist stops at your table and plays for you. Don't miss this exciting evening!! Cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members. The club is located at 147 Ward St, Wallingford, CT. Reservations are REQUESTED!!! For more info, call Lajos at 203-530-3557 or Lenke at 203-634-0602. You can always email us at HCCofWallingford@gmail.com.. And check out our web site at www.hccwallingford.org.
To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Library News and Events February 2010

2010-02-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HOST VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STARTING FEBRUARY 1

Meriden Public Library will host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program beginning Monday, February 1. The library is located at 105 Miller Street. V.I.T.A., which is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, provides free help to taxpayers who cannot afford professional assistance or who have tax questions. Assistance in preparing Connecticut state tax forms will also be available.

The sessions will all take place in Meriden Public Library�s Friends Room, located at the side of the building. The schedule is as follows:

MONDAYS from 5:30 TO 8:00 PM on February 1, 8, 22; March 1 and 8. (The Library is closed on Monday, February 15 to observe President�s Day.) Call 203-630-6331 for an appointment between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.

WEDNESDAYS from 5:30 TO 8:00 PM on February 3, 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; April 7 and 14.
Call 203-630-6331 for an appointment between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.

SATURDAYS from 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM on February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27; April 3 and 10. Call 203-630-6331 for an appointment between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM.

V.I.T.A. volunteers alert taxpayers to special credits and deductions for which they may be eligible. People interested in attending the V.I.T.A. program can stop in the library and pick up a list of the necessary documents you will need to bring. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about the tax assistance program.

FEBRUARY MOVIES AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library continues its free movie schedule in February by showing two popular and recently released movies. On Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room, the movie featuring a specially trained squad of guinea pigs who are sent to stop a diabolical billionaire from taking over the world will be shown.

On Saturday, February 27 at 1:00 pm in the Griffin Room, the latest Michael Jackson movie will be featured. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the free movies. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about any library program.

RESUME WORKSHOP ON MONDAYS AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library has a drop-in resume program to assist those who are out of work, need help using the internet for job searching and creating resumes. A skilled resume writer and job placement professional will meet with people on a first come, first serve basis each Monday in February from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room. Stop at the Information Desk to sign up. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about the library programs.

THURSDAY LUNCH TIME BOOK CLUB AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library�s lunch time book club continues on Thursday, February 11 at noon in the Seminar Room. Bring your bag lunch and enjoy some great discussions. All are welcome. The book that will be discussed in February is Time Traveler�s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Copies are available at the Meriden Library.

The schedule for the next few months will be as follows:
March 11 � Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
April 15 � The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
May 13 � The Reader by Bernard Schlink
June 10 � Lit: a memoir by Mary Karr
Contact the Community Services at (203) 630-6349 or email comsvc@hotmail.com to join the book club.

TEEN ANIME CLUB MEETS FEBRUARY 12 AT MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Teen Anime Club at the Meriden Public Library will meet on Friday, February 12 at 3:00 pm in the Griffin Room. We will be watching an action adventure movie that involves a secret government agency stopping an evil plot to destroy the human race through classical music. This program is for teens ages 13-18. Snacks will be provided. Sign up through our website at www.meridenlibrary.org or at the Information Desk. If you have any questions, contact Melissa at (203) 238-2346.

LEGO CLUB BEGINS FEBRUARY 16 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
On Tuesday, February 16 th at 4:00 pm in the Griffin Room, the Meriden Public Library will have its first Lego Club event. Children ages 6 through 12 are invited to bring their imagination and build on this month�s theme � �Skyscrapers�. Completed projects will be put on display in the library. Legos will be provided for all children who attend, thanks to the generosity of the community. Sign up in the Children�s Library or on-line at www.meridenlibrary.org. If you have any questions please call Melissa at (203) 630-6347.

�SNAPSHOT DAY� FEBRUARY 18 AT MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, visit Meriden Public Library and take part in �Snapshot Day..� Libraries all over Connecticut will be participating in this special day, collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities.

Snapshot Day is a joint project of the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library and the Connecticut Library Consortium. It is based on a project of the same name created by the New Jersey State Library and the New Jersey Library Association. The aim is to encourage libraries all over Connecticut to collect basic data � how many people use the library on a given day, how many people use computers, attend programs, etc. Connecticut�s libraries are busier than ever these days, with people coming not only to check out books, but use computers, look for a job or attend the many programs our libraries offer. All across the state, libraries are the cornerstones of their communities, places were people come together to visit, learn and share ideas. On February 18, we hope to capture a slice of life of Connecticut�s libraries. There will be a chance for patrons to comment on what their library means to them, and pictures from libraries all over the state will be available on the Snapshot Flickr page.

Contact the Meriden Public Library Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about this special day.

BLACKJACK WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 20 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Richard Harvey, one of the top authorities on blackjack, will be holding a BlackJack workshop at Meriden Library on Saturday, February 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Griffin Room. Mr. Harvey will give a mini seminar, complete with card demonstrations, practice games and a multi-media PowerPoint show. Copies of his books will be available for purchase after the program.

Mr. Harvey, who has been called �a blackjack guru� and �a blackjack wizard, a genius!� was university-trained in theoretical math, statistics, computer science and scientific research procedures.. This has uniquely prepared him for his years of blackjack research which led to the publication of two bestselling books �Cutting Edge Blackjack� and �Blackjack the Smart Way.�

This program is free and all are invited. The seating is limited so come early. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about any library programs.

BOOKTALK AND SIGNING BY DR. MARIANNE MURRAY URBANSKI FEBRUARY 22 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Dr. Marianne Murray Urbanski, a specialist in Periodontology and implant dentistry, will discuss her book �Mind and Medicine: in Harmony for Healing!� at the Meriden Public Library on Monday, February 22 at 1:00 pm in the Griffin Room. Dr. Urbanski holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine and a Masters in Dental Science. She has spent years studying the connections between the mind and the body. Her book will show you by using your mind you can: strengthen your immunity, rid your body of chronic pain, become more energetic, become a happier person at home and at work, and gives you special techniques to support a loved one through a disease or medical condition. Copies of her book will be available after the program.

This program is free and all are invited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 or visit the library�s webpage at www.meridenlibrary.org to reserve a seat.

ONCE BANNED, NOW CLASSIC BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library and the Connecticut Humanities Council�s discussion series �Once banned, now classic� continues this month. Join moderator Marsha Bansavage on Tuesday, February 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Griffin Room to discuss this month�s selection �The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn� by Mark Twain.

The other books to be discussed are:
March 23, 2010 � �Native Son� by Richard Wright
April 27, 2010 � �The Awakening� by Kate Chopin

Copies of the books are available at the Library.

The program is free and all are welcome. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 or email comsvc@hotmail.com to sign up for participation in the book discussion series.

SECRETS OF GETTING PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 24 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Jan Kardys, president of Black Hawk Enterprises, will be presenting �Secrets of Getting Published� at the Meriden Public Library, Griffin Room, on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Kardys has 30 years of diversified publishing experience for nine major publishing corporations, including Contracts Director at Warner Books/Little, Brown & Company, Macmillan Publishing Company, Charles Scribner�s Sons, and Prentice Hall/Simon & Schuster. Beginning a career in editorial, Ms. Kardys also worked in art and production in School publishing. She held various executive positions in subsidiary rights, licensing, database design, imaging, royalty conversions, contracts, copyrights and permissions departments.

The program is free and all are invited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about any library programs.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

MERIDEN LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY

The Meriden Public Library Bookmobile will be visiting the following locations in February:

Monday, Feb. 1 � Center Congregational Nursery School 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.; Women and Families Center 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.; Village at Kensington Place 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.;

Tuesday, Feb. 2 � Catholic Charities 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; Kinder Garden Learning Center 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.;

Wednesday, Feb. 3 � Head Start (Liberty St.) 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;

Thursday, Feb. 4 - Connecticut Baptist Home (box drop off) 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.;

Friday, Feb. 5 � Carriage House Day Care 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; Meriden Child Care Center 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.;

Monday, Feb. 8 � Midstate Christian Academy - 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; St. John�s Lutheran Preschool 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.;

Tuesday, Feb. 9 -� St. John�s Lutheran Preschool 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Wednesday, Feb. 10 � Easter Seals (Broad St.) 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; Bradley Home 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.;

Thursday, Feb. 11 - Kindercare 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; The Right Place 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.;

Friday, Feb. 12 � St. Stan�s 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.;

Tuesday, Feb. 16� Lil Rascals Day Care Center 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.; Sunshine Daycare 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.;

Thursday, Feb. 18 � Meriden Center 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.;

Friday, Feb. 19 � Stork Club 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Miller Memorial 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.;

Monday, Feb. 22 � Center Congregational Nursery School 9:30 to 10:00 a..m.; Women and Families Center 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.; Village at Kensington Place 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.;

Tuesday, Feb. 23 � Catholic Charities 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; Kinder Garden Learning Center 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.;

Wednesday, Feb. 24 � First Congregational Nursery School 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Thursday, Feb. 25 � First Congregational Nursery School 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.; Y Kid�s Campus 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Friday, Feb. 26� Carriage House Day Care 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; Curtis Home 10:15 to 10:30 a.m.; Meriden Child Care Center 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.;

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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Wallingford Public Library
203-284-6436

Dental Hygiene for Children with Erica Zauner and Patty Hendrick, registered dental hygienists

Tuesday, February 9 1:30p.m. - Come find out how to keep those pearly whites healthy and clean. Join us as we welcome registered dental hygienists Erica Zauner and Patty Hendrick from Family & Esthetic Dentistry of Hamden who will teach kids, ages 3-8, about dental hygiene through games, stories and more. Participating families will receive a dental goody bag to take home to practice good brushing habits. This program is for children ages 3-8 but younger siblings are welcome. Registration for Wallingford residents is underway. Non-residents are welcome to register the day before the program if space is available. For further information, or to register for this program, stop by or call the Children's Library at 284-6436

James and the Giant Peach Wednesday, February 17 2:00p.m. - Come join us as we welcome a student production group from Choate Rosemary Hall who will perform one of Roald Dahl's best stories. James and the Giant Peach tells the story of James who sets off on a magical adventure in a flying, giant peach and the interesting creatures he meets along the way. Free tickets will be available beginning Monday, February 1.

Adventures in Art Time to Clay Thursday, February 18 10:30a.m. - Like to work with your hands? Tap in to your creative side in this hands-on workshop. Children ages 7, 8 and 9 are invited to learn about clay, make a pinch or coil pot, and paint ceramic boxes.

Registration for Wallingford residents is underway. Non-residents are welcome to register the day before the program if space is available. Contact the Children�s Library at: 203-284-6436 to register or for more information.

Flow-Circus Thursday, February 18 7:00p.m. - Join us as we welcome back Flow Circus, who will perform their outrageously funny program �Read Yourself Silly�. This one man show highlights how books can be fun and lead you to new discoveries. Come on down and join the fun! No tickets or registration required.

Winter children�s programs at the Wallingford Public Library Children�s Library
Winter is here at and we have a great line up of programs for children birth to age 5 to help keep the winter blues away. Patrons can check out what�s happening at the library by going online at www.wallingford.lioininc.org or by stopping by and picking up a flyer. Winter storytimes are back in full swing with a whole line-up of options. Looking for an evening storytime with ones and two�s? Want to do something fun with your preschooler on a Wednesday afternoon? We�ve got what you�re looking for!
ITTY BITTY BABIES STORYTIME FOR CHILDREN 12 Months and Under: Thursdays, January 14-March 4 at 1:30p.m. - This drop-in program introduces babies and their grown-ups to the library and each other in a program filled with songs, rhymes and books. Stories and songs are for children 12 months and under but older siblings are welcome to attend. There is no registration required for this program but seating is limited and Wallingford residents are given priority. Please bring your Wallingford library card to the Information Desk and pick-up a nametag. For further information stop by, or call, the Children's Library at 284-6436.

MOTHER GOOSE STORY TIME FOR ONES AND TWOS:

Drop-in: Tuesdays, January 12-March 2 at 6:30p.m., Wednesdays, January 13-March 3 at 10:00a.m.
Join us for a toe-tapping good time in this drop-in program. Songs, rhymes, books and more will be shared. Stories are geared for children ages one and two but older siblings are welcome to attend. There is no registration required for this program but seating is limited and Wallingford residents are given priority. Please bring your Wallingford library card to the Information Desk and pick-up a nametag. For further information stop by, or call, the Children's Library at 284-6436.
STORY TIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS AGES THREE TO FIVE:
Tuesdays, January 12-March 2 at 10:00a.m.
Wednesdays, January 13-March 3 at 1:30p.m.
Thursdays, January 14-March 4 at 6:30p.m.

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and more in this lively storytime for preschoolers ages three to five and their grown-ups. Younger interested siblings may attend.

There is no registration required for this program but seating is limited and Wallingford residents are given priority. Please bring your Wallingford library card to the information desk and pick up a nametag. For further information stop by or call the Children's Library at: 284-6436.
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SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT WALLINGORD PUBLIC LIBRARY: All of our programs are free, all of the time!

Book Discussion: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Part 4 of the Range of Realism: The Novel in the 19th and 20th Centuries Wednesday, February 10
3:30 p.m.
Collins Room

In 1816 Mary Shelley decided to create a story that in her own words, �would speak to the mysterious fear of our nature and awaken thrilling horror � one to make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.� Judging from the multiple film adaptations, books in print, and permanent place in popular culture, she succeeded!

The discussion will be led by Marsha Bansavage, discussion facilitator for the Connecticut Humanities Council.
All are welcome and copies of the book are available from the library�s Information Desk. This discussion of the novel Frankenstein concludes our four-part discussion series on the �Range of Realism.� co-sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council and made possible by the Faustman Fund.

Saturday Mornings with Poetry Saturday, February 13: LOVE POEMS 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 27: African-American Poets and Poetry
Board Room

The poetry group meets twice a month. All are welcome to read published poems as well as original poems in keeping with these themes.

Lunch and Learn: Late-Life Depression - Tuesday, February 16 11:30 a.m. Community Room
Join us for a complementary lunch and learn more about this common illness that often goes undiagnosed in up to half of older adults. Dr. Rehan Aziz, M.D. and Director of Behavior Health at Masonicare will give a talk about symptoms and treatment for late-life depression. All are welcome to this free program however, advance registration is required. Please call the library or sign up online to make your reservation. This program is co-sponsored by Masonicare.

SNAPSHOT DAY - Thursday, February 18 - All Day at the Library
Libraries all over Connecticut will be taking a �snapshot�- collecting information to capture the impact that Connecticut libraries have on their communities on a typical day. Tell us what you love about your library and why it�s important. We�ll take your comments and let you know what other people all around the state think of their libraries and how they use them. Results and pictures will be posted online at http://snapshotctlib.wordpress.com after March 10. Pick up a survey form from the display or ask at the Information Desk. We want to hear from you!

Thursday Night Book Club: Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
February 18 7:00 p.m. Collins Room
Case Histories introduces us to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private detective. Brodie is confronted by three interconnected cases that immerse him in his clients� lives: their grief, joy, desires, and their unshakeable need for resolution that is vey much like his own. All are welcome to this informal book discussion and copies of the book are available through the library catalog. This page-turner won the UK�s Saltire Book of the Year Award. (The Saltire Society is an organization dedicated to Scottish culture and heritage.) Kate Atkinson�s first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum was the 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year.

AUTHOR EVENT and book signing: Wah-say-len by James H. Smith
Wednesday, February 24 7:00 p.m. Community Room
Wah-say-len is an historical novel about the Revolutionary War told from the experiences and perspective of slaves and Native Americans. The novel features a character based on a real slave from Wallingford, CT who joined the Continental Army to gain his freedom. The author, James H. Smith, is executive editor of the New Britain Herald and the Bristol Press and former executive editor of the Record-Journal. Mr. Smith will read from his book and sign copies for purchase at the conclusion of his talk. Please call the library to reserve your seat!

FEBRUARY COMPUTER CLASSES
Introduction to Word 2007
Wednesday, February 24 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Board Room
Join us and learn basic word processing skills in this hands-on class. Topics will include the differences between previous versions of Word and Word 2007 as well as essential tasks like saving, printing, and modifying document formatting. Class size is limited. Please register in advance by calling 203-265-6754 or online at www.wallingford.lioninc.org

Introduction to Excel 2007
Thursday, February 25 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
This introduction to Excel will include how to make a simple spreadsheet in an attractive format. Class size is limited. Please register in advance by calling 203-265-6754 or online at www.wallingford.lioninc.org

COMPUTER TUTORING SESSIONS
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons: 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Thursday evenings: 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Computer novices are encouraged to sign up to learn keyboard or mouse skills, word processing, Internet searching, online job applications, or e-mail at these 1-on-1 sessions. Please contact the library to register or for more information.

WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY FREE MOVIE EVENTS
Friday Night Flicks: The Informant
Friday, February 26
6:30 p.m.
Community RoomAccording to the New York Times, �It is (director) Soderbergh�s insistence on seeing the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) scandal as a collective tragedy rather than as another white-collar crime that gives the movie force, resonance,, feeling.� Starring Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre, this film is Rated R.

NEWS FROM WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY:

200 North Main Street
203-265-6754
WINTER HOURS:
Monday through Friday
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: February 14, 15

Yalesville Branch
400 Church Street
203-269-3688
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

VISIT OUR BOOK SHOP: The Book Seller
The Book Seller at the Wallingford Public Library, 200 North Main Street, Wallingford offers gently used books, CDs, DVDs, videos and other materials for children, teens and adults. The expanded space is located in back of the library with plenty of room to browse. Look for the green awning. Store hours as follows:
Monday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

NEW HELP FOR JOB SEEKERS
JOB NOW: Live Job Assistance
Wallingford Public Library has an exciting new service for job seekers and career changers: JobNow. This unique online service gives job seekers on-demand access to trained career coaches and job resources. JobNow�s free professional services are available on any of our public Internet computers; ask for more information at the Information Desk. Wallingford Library cardholders can also access JobNow from home by linking to http://main.wallingford.clc.jobnow.brainfuse.com. Job seekers should register for an account after using their Wallingford Library card to enter the site. JobNow is the first service of its kind to provide live career coaching from any computer with Internet access. Services available are live interview coaching, with interview tips and resources; a resume lab with sample templates, along with resume analysis within 24 hours by a JobNow expert; assistance with writing cover letters; and a career resource library that includes links to current job openings locally and nationally, as well as career and personality assessment instruments.

ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
The Library now offers adaptive technology for our patrons with vision impairment. If you are interested in learning more, ask about the trackball mouse, large print keyboard, and iZoom screen magnifier/reader. They are available in the Adult Computer area. We also have an Optelec video magnifier for anyone wishing to manipulate the size of print while reading books, magazines, and newspapers. It is located by the Periodicals Area of the adult section.

CELL PHONE RECYCLING AND DON�T FORGET THE EYEGLASSES!
Remember that you can bring in your old cell phones for recycling. Drop them in the box near the copier across from the Circulation Desk. The Library receives a percentage for each phone. Thanks! Eyeglasses can be recycled too. The Lions Club collects all the eyeglasses collected at the library.

Just Fax It!
In response to popular demand, we have installed a self-service public fax machine next
to the photocopier by the Circulation Desk. It transmits faxes for $1.50 per page with
a credit or debit card, but does not receive faxes. Librarians at the Information Desk can help you get started.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Health News February 2010

2010-02-05T09:39:00.001-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Meriden Health Department � Keeping You Healthy in February!

Have You Gotten Your Flu Vaccines Yet?
Flu season isn�t over yet! The Meriden Health Department has received a limited number of seasonal flu shots. Vaccines will be administered on a first come, first serve basis by appointment at the Clinic office, located at 165 Miller Street.

The cost of the vaccine is $25.00. Medicare Part B will be accepted. Any persons allergic to eggs or any part of the seasonal flu vaccine are not eligible for the vaccination.

The seasonal flu vaccine is only effective against the seasonal flu virus and does not protect against the H1N1 influenza virus. Residents are encouraged to get the H1N1 flu vaccine as well as seasonal flu vaccination. Health Department Clinic staff can help you determine which version on the vaccine (nasal or injectable) you are eligible for depending on your age and health status. There is no charge for the H1N1 flu vaccine.

Please contact the Clinic office at 203-630-4234 for your appointment or if you have any questions. People can also view flu prevention information on the Meriden Health Department's website, www.meridenhealth.com.

Dinner with A Doc � Spotlight on Women�s Health Night Out Event
February is Women�s Heart Month, and to raise awareness on the issue a fun, educational night out will be held on Thursday, February 18, from 5:30-8:00pm at the new MidState Medical Services building located at 61 Pomeroy Avenue in Meriden.

This event will feature Dr. William Farrell, who will present information on women�s heart health and its relation to nutrition and exercise. In addition, My City Kitchen will provide a variety of heart-healthy appetizers and finger foods and provide you with recipes to take home. Educational materials and CPR demonstrations will be provided by the Meriden Health Department.

The cost of the event is $15.00 per person (dinner included). Please call MidState at 203-694-8733 to pre-register (required). We encourage all attendees (men and women) to wear red for Heart Month!

Smoking Cessation Program
Looking to quit smoking in 2010? The Meriden Health Department can help! A free support group for those who want to quit or need help staying quit is available at the Health Department. A certified counselor will give practical tips on quitting and discuss resources for obtaining nicotine replacement therapy. February sessions will be held on February 2, 9, 16, and 23 (all Tuesdays) from 12-1pm at the Health Department, 165 Miller Street. Bring your bag lunch! To register or for information on future groups, call Debbie at 203-630-4104.

Flu Prevention � To Go!
During the month of December, the Meriden Health Department�s had a flu prevention message on the side of CT Transit bus number 383 in Meriden. Smaller prevention signs, in English and Spanish, are available for your viewing pleasure on the inside of other CT Transit buses in the city until March.

As part of a community-wide flu prevention educational campaign, the Department reminds all residents to stop the spread of germs at home, work, and school by:

� Covering your cough
� Washing your hands often
� Staying home if you are sick
� Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
� Not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
� Practicing other good health habits such as eating nutritious foods and getting plenty of rest
� Residents are also encouraged to get both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine. Vaccinations are given at the Meriden Health Department � 165 Miller Street. Call our Clinic office at 203-630-4234 for more information.

South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department is its 102 year of service to the Village of South Meriden and the City of Meriden. In 2009 the department responded to 760 calls of service to the community.

Point of information about the calls in 2009, approximately 69 % of the calls responded to where medicals and Motor Vehicle Accidents.

Health Tips
We urge all our residence to be careful during the winter months with shoveling snow. Take it easy do not over do it. Use a good shovel and do not over load it when you lift it. Also for those of you that have snow blowers please be extremely careful not to put your hands near the blades of the blower unit while it is running. You might say who would do that, but each year Meriden's emergency service responders respond to several of these calls each year and it isn't a pretty sight so please take precautions.

If you can and have the time and the energy may be you can help a neighbor who is a little older or might be ill, give them a hand clearing away the snow from their walkways or driveway. It feels real good to be able to help them out during the winter months. Each year we lose friends and neighbors to heart attacks during the winter months from over exerting themselves shoveling snow.

We also want to thank all of our friends that have been helping clearing snow and ice a way from fire hydrants during storms. This allows the fire department during fire emergencies to hook up to fire hydrants quicker to gain access to a water supply if the fire is one of a substantial size.

Do to the amount of snow we have been receiving, we still need your continuing help with clearing fire hydrants

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Another health tip. If you are under a doctor�s care and take certain medications keep a list of these medications handy just in case you have the need to call 911 for during a medical emergency.

Also with this list you might want to give a little history of any medical conditions that you also might have. These are important things for emergency responders to have just in case you are unable to respond to our questions when we arrive at your home. A good place to keep this information is in an envelope on you refrigerator and note that it is Medical Info.
Membership Information

We are currently accepting applications for membership for individuals who live in Meriden over the age of 18 in good health and have a clean police records and can pass the application process.
We are also accepting application for those individuals who might all ready be certified as a State of CT Firefighter/EMT and do not live in Meriden but are willing to fill night crew positions at our station. These individuals will need to meet our by-law requirements for drills, weekly night crew and duty crew assignments.

We are one of the only Volunteer fire stations in the State that have sleep-in crews at our fire station we presently cover 6 out of 7 nights. Our nightly in-house status allows us to service our customers you our neighbors quicker. Being a volunteer fire fighter takes a lot of commitment and time. Our members make a lot of personal sacrifices to belong to our department, but they get great satisfaction of being part of terrific tradition of saving lives and property. We train and work hard but we love serving and protecting our friends.

Applications can be picked up at our station at 31 Camp Street, South Meriden in the evenings. We are a DRUG FREE Department and we TEST all applicants.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Your Stories January 2010

2010-01-07T16:41:00.002-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Dear Housewives � Central Connecticut�s Know It All Gals

Dear Readers,
Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customerservice issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We willgive you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail or phone with your confidential question andwe will answer it in the next issue. June and Flora

Dear Housewives, I think I blew it. My mom, daughter and I were on a train next to a family (mom and dad and two teen aged kids). They 'looked' as though they were proper and upper middle class, but I learned and so did my daughter that outward appearances can and will trick you. They were passing around Werther Originals-you know the hard candy in the gold wrapper.

Well, the dad had a few in his pocket. During the ride, he unwrapped 4 candies and dropped the wrappers on the floor. We all saw and after the first time, we were prepared to politely mention that he dropped something. We never did. But in NYC, we did see a woman leave here fancy apartment, pick up some stray trash and dispose of it down the block on a receptacle. Should we have meddled in this affair? To interfere or not to interfere, that is the question

FLORA: We are to mind our own business unless the offense is harmful to another. You could have said "you dropped something" immediately after the first offense. At least your daughter saw the polar opposite when the woman picked up trash that was not even her own. We learn by example, hopefully his children aren't littering the planet the way their father does. I too am irked by litterers. Littering is lazy and inconsiderate.June?

JUNE: I think it is weird that this person is still thinking of this ridiculous situation. I agree with you that it is better to mind your own business unless it is something big. Littering is annoying and dirty and bad manners but not going to hurt anyone. There is someone that works for the train company that has the job of cleaning up. I would have said, "I think you dropped something" and left it at that. The important thing is to do the right thing and that included minding your own business.

Dear Housewives,I am potty training my three year old. Should I use candy as an incentive, I don't want to rot his teeth? Sweet tooth

JUNE: Fear not sweet tooth, your child's teeth will be fine. I have found that a few skittles or M&M's work great as a treat for your child. You can try stickers and little prizes but good old fashioned sugar seems to work best. Just keep brushing.

FLORA: I would not use candy as an incentive. Your child may equate success with food; not good. Good old fashioned praise may workas well as an super hero underwear shopping spree.

New Years Resolutions

Flora: Dear Readers, I hope that each of you have a healthy and happy 2010. If you have anything you need to work on, now is the time.Just pick one or two things be it, eating healthier, reading more, seeing friends more often...Make your mind up to do it in 2010.My commitment in 2010 will be to walk more and to practice patience.

June: Happy New Year to all. Let�s hope that twenty-ten will bring a healthy, safe and prosperous year to all of us.

Book/Movie Review
Flora: A book came highly recommended that I must share with you Dear Readers. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. The bookis narrated by Enzo, a dog. We have two dogs so and after reading this book, I look at them in a much different way. This is a book about family, love, trials and understanding. Get your hands on this smooth read and let us know what you think of it!

June: I have been in a true crime niche lately. I just read a book by Ann Rule, Every Breath You Take. It was a tragic story about a woman who was stalked, hunted down and eventually murdered by her ex-husband. It was a horrible story and yet well written and interesting to read.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Southington Genealogical Society
In 1630 several hundred English Puritans under the leadership of John Winthrop came to establish the colony of Massachusetts Bay. This was the first group of sufficient size to establish a long-time sustainable and growing colony, which in only thirty years extended over much of the present state of Massachusetts, and into Connecticut and New Hampshire as well. But who were these people and what was their contribution to history?

On January 26th, the Southington Genealogical Society welcomes Dr.Richard A Eppler who will speak on "The Founding of New England � The Winthrop Fleet of 1630". The meeting will take place in the meeting room of Southington Police Headquarters. Ample parking is available. Refreshments will be served. There is no admission charge and no obligation to become a member. No reservations are necessary. Dr. Eppler has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and has been involved in chemical and ceramic research and consulting for almost fifty years. He has been interested in genealogy for forty years or so, and has traced his mother's family back to several of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Southington Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization located in central Connecticut that promotes the accurate recording, research and preservation of family history. The society regularly meets at 7:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of every month, except December, at Southington Police Headquarters, 69 Lazy Lane, Southington, Connecticut.
______________________________________________________________________________
Genevieve Kokoszka Barchewski
This is a story to celebrate the life of Genevieve Kokoszka Barchewski, my mom. Born February 1, 1923 in Rockfall CT, to Louis and Katie Kokoszka. She was the fifth of twelve children following John, Jane,the twins Mary and Anna and coming before Joseph, Chester, Irene,Charlotte,Stanley ,Camille, and Rita. I'm sure she was full of joy and spirit, and so was the household.

A daughter, a sister, Genevieve, affectionately called Jenny, spent her childhood growing up in Middletown, CT on south main street, and we heard stories about the ice house on Pamecha pond across the street and how my mom fell in the ice while skating there and at Uncle Johns farm in Rockfall where we visited as children, while they made apple cider, picked berries and raised animals to live. One exceptional story was when Jenny came down with scarlet fever and how everything she owned even her favorite doll was taken away and burned to stop the spread of this deadly disease. what courage, faith and strength she must have had even as a child.

Jenny always worked to support her family. She became a care giver for her mom when she became ill, a cook, a teacher, a nurse; always very close to her brothers and sisters, sacrificing her own personal desires and putting her families needs before her own, that was the most important part of Jennys life.She loved children and became an aunt, a wife , married to Aloysious John Barchewski on january 4, 1947,buying a home and moving to Meriden on April 16th,1948. A mother of three, a son John, a daughter Susan and a daughter Linda(thats me "the baby" not to be confused with Susan, as my mother often did.) Mother also took care of others along the way and included Chester her brother and nephew Chester Allen,and others including a future son in law Mike and daughter in law Ines.

My mom worked as a weaver for Russell-Fenner company in Middletown for about twenty years and found time for visits for all her sisters and brothers homes on a regular basis, even traveling to Texas to visit Aunt Charolette and Aunt Rita. We also became closer to all of our cousins thirty three, including us thirty six, and gathering at my grandmothers home was weekend trip to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, showers, and yes new life, gandchildren, or grandson Todd and six granddaughters, Lisa, Katie, Jennifer, Renae, Christie, and Stephanie, This brought a whole new generation of children that Jenny helped raise. Also enjoying Natasha and Amanda�s childhood years along the way.

My mother loved the holidays, expecially Christmas. It was a special time gathering at my grandmothers home singing Christmas songs and enjoying Christmas treats, like my Aunt Marys nut cookies and my moms home made apple pie, which we will always remember at Christmas time. My mom tried her best to give us a wonderful Christmas hoilday every year. How appropriate that god called her home at this special time, so she could be pain free, so she could be at peace, so as to be a gift for her, a gift for us.

I think about the courage my mom had over the past two years fighting this disease, yet doing what she could to enjoy life. My mom had tremendous faith throughout her life, arriving early to mass-often being first- after all thats how you get the best seat. Children all raised catholic share her faith in god, but my mom had a definite connection which was proven the day she passed away.

She had a love for animals, as she was kind to them and I am sure she is surrounded by all who shared time with her. As I think about my mom, I think about so many things, especially her laugh, smile and how smart and witty she was, also fun to be with and laugh with.. And oh yes a very good card player. My mom always made time for her children and grandchildren, to listen to their problems, to lend advice, to be there for every special event and to help whenever needed. She always saw the positive side and most of all she was a friend for life, and loved us dearly. In the words of elvis her favorite singer, "Ill have a blue Christmas without you"

God bless you mom, love you too, you will be truly missed by all. May you rest in peace. AMEN
From Linda Albert and family

OUT & ABOUT
by Ernie Larsen

An occasional article on unusual and interesting short trips in Connecticut and other diverse venues and attractions within an easy commute from the Meriden area<<

So, nothing to do or planned for the weekend? How about some wine & cheese? Mmmmm! Sounds good,eh? Well It�s not what you think � I�m talking of heading right to the source, a farm that produces some really tasty artisanal (def: one that produces something (as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods) cheese and a winery about a 5 minute drive from the farm. A big plus, from the Meriden/Wallingford area it�s easy to find; just about a 40 minute drive, all on well maintained secondary roads. So, gas up the car and head East on Rte. 691 to Middletown and head over the river, via the Arrigoni bridge, to Rte. 66 in Portland to Rte. 16 and on to Colchester.

Cato Corner Farm is a pretty unassuming place � one of those places that you see while driving in rural area and would never give it a second thought. This place is a typical farm setting, cows, barn, tractors and some of the best cheese this side of East Sedalia, wherever that is and what does it have to do with cheese anyway. When you enter the short dirt driveway there is a handwritten directional sign that states �CHEESE� to direct you to the sales room; which is more like small shack attached to a barn. Not that it isn�t functional, I think what I�m trying to get across is that this is pretty much of a nondescript place producing some really and I mean really good cheese. There were about 10 different type of cheeses available on the day of our visit. You are probably familiar with Colby, cheddar, Muenster, Swiss and bleu cheeses � well the only one of those you�ll get at Cato Corner is a really unique bleu, named Black Ledge bleu after a spot in the area of the same moniker The day we visited the inventory offered about 12 different varieties to sample. The woman helping us, I presume she was one of the owners, could not have more helpful or knowledgeable about her products. The cheese is made from cow�s milk, the descriptive literature gives a complete breakdown on the herd of �40 happy, Jersey cows� their treatment and the health benefits of Cato�s cheeses. The varieties we sampled were quite unique � there were two or three offerings that were relatively new production and the same styles presented after aging for 8 to 12 months. Boy what a difference a few months make. And back to that fantastic bleu cheese, Black Ledge Bleu � unbelievable, like nothing I�ve tasted before, earthy, robust � distinctive. As mentioned, these are all artisanal cheeses, from this small producer and pretty much organic. Cato Corner Farm is a proud supplier to several restaurants in CT; New York etc. that feature locally produced goods. One of them is the FIREBOX in Hartford. And according to the CC website they are also a supplier to Murray�s Cheese shop (sort of a cheese Mecca) in NYC, an outlet we have regularly patronized.

Some of the cheeses we tasted beginning with their self proclaimed best-seller (and I could taste why) was Bridgid�s Abbey, based on a traditional Belgian recipe; it is a creamy, medium mild selection � a fine offering to serve on stoned wheat or water crackers and enjoy with a hearty red wine. We also tried the Bloomsday, both new production and the 1 year aged variety. Two distinctly different tastes � I liked both. It�s really difficult to describe how things taste in print � however if you are a cheese aficionado or just appreciate good food that is made with care and love � you deserve to take a trip to Cato Corners � a really nice weekend diversion.

We purchased our share of cheese, my wife and I for immediate consumption and my daughter for her Christmas day cheese tray.

We had just planned to go to the cheese farm � and traveling up Rte.. 16 noticed a sign for the Connecticut Wine Trail which meant there was a winery nearby. Lo and behold after turning into Shailor Hill Road we passed the winery on our way to Cato Corner Farm. So on our way back we stopped into Priam Vineyards. We were familiar with their wines as they have been to a couple of local wine tastings. As is the practice of most wineries nowadays they charge a nominal amount for tastings. We opted for �Tasting Level One� which included samplings of 5 varieties and a logo wine glass to take home. We tried two reds and three whites. The Salmon River White had an oaky taste with a fruity finish � very nice. The other vintage that struck us as a good all around red was the Salmon River Red (they weren�t very creative in their naming, whatever) Very fruity and robust with a nice oaky finish. I tried the Gewurztraminer, one of my old time favorites, nice and citrusy, with a semi-dry fruity finish. Bought a bottle of this for Christmas day � it was delicious.

So our road trip turned a very rainy Saturday into an unexpected melding of two of our favorite food groups � cheese and wine. All locally produced with care by some very talented folks over in Northeast Connecticut. The principals of both Cato Corner and Priam started their careers in other disciplines then decided to ditch the �rat-race� and do something they both enjoyed. Well, let me tell you they make a good choice and should be thanked for their efforts. The best way to do this is to do what I did with my family � get on the road and visit these places, buy their cheese and wine � they will appreciate your patronage and you�ll be enjoying some great locally produced products. We�re going back � we loved both places!!
Both establishments are ��Weekend Only�� operations for visitors; here�s the breakdown of opening hours and other pertinent information:

Cato Corner Farm
178 Cato Corner Road
Colchester, CT 06415
(860)537-3884
www.catocornerfarm.com

Priam Vineyards LLC
11 Shailor Hill Road
Colchester, CT 06415
priamvineyards@sbcglobal.net

Cato Corner in normally open on Saturdays and Sundays and Priam Vineyards, Friday, Saturday and Sunday � however it is best to call ahead to be certain. As for directions, MapQuest or GOOGLE would be a good choice � although if you are familiar with the area � both venues are directly off Rte. 16 in Colchester.

And, as a caveat, artisanal cheeses and the locally produced wines are more expensive than local supermarket and mass produced wine varieties, but you�ll soon forget what you paid after enjoying these fine cheeses they could be called works of art. The same goes for the wine, one glass and the price goes out the window,,, if you know what I mean and for your convenience, both places accept credit cards and of course cash.

See you �on the road�!

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

JANUARY � A TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS

By Phyllis S. Donovan

January is not only the start of a new year for optimists like me. I always feel that this could be the start of something big! I love the anticipation of all the wonderful things that could happen in a promising new year and, in this case � DECADE!

The week between Christmas and New Year�s is my favorite time for recapitulating. I like to think back on everything that happened during the past year and wonder about what can be accomplished in the next.
Both at home and around town, the Christmas decorations are still gracing the scene and people remain in a happy, sharing spirit. Our church, St. Rose, has never looked so beautiful, the altar banked with poinsettias and a procession of wreaths with red bows and candles lining the walls and hanging from the balconies. Adding to the beauty of Christmas Day was music by our full choir accompanied by organ and trumpet. I LOVE trumpets in church! Talk about a joyful noise. Strong voices raised in song and backed by a trumpet is like heaven to me. That Christmas Day Mass certainly was the high note of my holiday season.

With nothing on our personal agenda for the full week after Christmas, we had time to consider how we would make the most of the coming new year.

I always hate the cartoon depiction of the aged, bent and physically spent old year being unceremoniously ushered out to make way for the young and expectant new year which by next year will be as old and haggard as his predecessor. Makes the whole process seem futile somehow.

Better to think of the new year as a gift filled with untold possibilities to improve the world we live in. For some time now the NBC network has been running its �Making a Difference� series about individuals who have improved the lives of others. With a good idea, single-minded passion and unflagging dedication and energy, some of these folks have worked against the odds to help others in truly meaningful ways.

I really believe that every one of us can change things for the better, even in small ways. Let�s think about how we are spending the limited time we have on earth. Too many people are so caught up in self-gratification that they �don�t have time� to volunteer their services to help change things in positive ways for others.

Think about your New Year�s resolutions? Are they just to improve your own status, image or wealth or could you squeeze in a bit of time to help your neighbors, church or town? Number one on so many people�s resolution list is to lose weight and get into shape. That�s admirable and as a result, if you stick to it, could keep you around a few more years�but how will you spend all that time you gain?

If you really want to feel good, think about how you can share your time helping others. Volunteer at the hospital, soup kitchen or animal shelter. Decide on where you could best use your talents and get in touch with someone at that agency to offer your time. Do it now while the year is young.

We always tried to bring up our children with an interest in volunteering. To do this, you have to offer your own services freely. For decades, my husband volunteered untold hours of his time with Connecticut Public Television. At one point, when our youngest son was a tiny tot watching his Dad on TV, he said, �If that glass wasn�t there, I could touch Daddy.� Well, a few years later, he was in the studio with his Dad helping out with the annual on-air CPTV Auctions which ran every spring and loving every minute of his backstage work.

When I was young and involved with the Meriden Junior Woman�s Club, many of us �stay-at-home moms� had to bring along our little ones when we were working on community projects. In that way, the youngsters got to watch first-hand the work their mothers were doing for the community.

People are quick to say, �Oh, kids today are too self-absorbed with their iphones, ipods and video games to want to get involved with helping others. I beg to differ. With service clubs like the local Kiwanis as sponsors, a whole new generation of volunteers is �getting involved.� The high school Key Clubs and middle school Builders Clubs are already working to better the community. All young people need to get started sharing themselves and their talents is a little adult direction.

As we were told in church on New Year�s morning, giving of yourself is doing God�s work. Let�s hope that many more people this year will find it in their hearts to do God�s work by giving of themselves to make the world better for others.

Have a happy and blessed New Year and a productive decade.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

California Gold Rush�an Otter�s story
By Dorothy Gonick

The setting sun shot rays of gold and mauve into Olivia Otters� snug hollow den awakening her and her twin youngsters, Ollie and Olive. She was anxious about the safety of their part of the woods, and cautioned the twins to wait until she whistled before following her. As soon as they heard the whistle, the twins scurried to the slide and swiftly reached Olivia. All three dove underwater to find crayfish, their favorite food.

�Can we go down to where the alien creatures are? We�ll stay out of sight.� The twins wanted to swim down the river to where they�d seen the �aliens� tearing down trees and stacking them in a strange way, a sign saying �Sutter�s Mill� meant nothing to them. They had never seen people before and were curious. �They look dangerous, we�d better go upstream� Mother Olivia warned, but she too, was curious and finally led them downstream for a closer look. Bright moonlight lit up a circular encampment of tents with a fire at the center. To the otters, these tents seemed to be hollow structures like an above ground cave. Aliens went in and out of the �cave� openings and squatted around the fire talking excitedly about something called gold. Two banjo players struck up a lively tune and Olivia felt it was time to head for home.

�I don�t like what�s going on. Let�s go farther up this stream and choose a new home where it will be quieter and safer.� Away they swam until they reached a shimmering waterfall that splashed into a pool. There were mudslides down the bank so they knew other otters lived nearby. The twins dove in and soon found crayfish which they quickly ate. Olivia swam around the pool�s edge searching for a new home; and when she discovered an abandoned muskrat den, that she knew that would be fine. After a bit of clearing out, the den was ready for all three to snuggle in and sleep before they began exploring the woods around the pool. There�d been enough excitement for one night.

In their wanderings next day, they came upon an outcropping of rock that gave them a good view of the river downstream and the activity going on. Several aliens were in the stream scooping rocks into a box and shaking it so that the water ran out. They seemed to be searching for something. After dumping that load, they�d scoop up more. One of them got quite excited about one of the pebbles and kept on searching. It didn�t look like anything the otters would have wanted to eat. Ollie was puzzled when he saw them tossing out some crayfish that would have made a good meal.

Soon the otters were joined by other curious animals as a pair of woodchucks and a young doe came by. Each had a tale about what they had seen. Woody and Wilma Woodchuck told how they had been awakened when their home had caved in after something smashed it and were glad they�d been able to escape; a young doe told about watching one of the aliens remove its covering and spend time in the stream rubbing its naked body before getting out and putting on another covering. She saw it no fur except on its head and there was no tail of any kind. It just changed its skin to another color, and then took the first skin to the stream and bobbed it up and down, before hanging it on a bush. Very strange!

Freddy Fox came limping by and warned them not to go into the camp. �Certainly, do not touch the place where I saw flames leaping up high. The flames were gone, but it bit my paw when I reached in. Look at this blister!�

Two rabbits came hurrying by, looking very frightened, and stopped to warn the animals that the strange aliens had magic powers. �We�d been playing with friends when one of the strangers looked toward us and pointed. We heard a loud bang and Bobby fell over dead! We�re not going near them again and we warn you to stay away!�

A blue jay flew onto an overhanging branch with the news that the alien creatures were people, and that there were a lot of them living nearby. Jay said �Instead of living in caves or burrows, they cut down trees to build houses to live in. Two days ago they got excited when one of them found something called �gold dust� in the river where they were building a sawmill, That made everyone grab tools and hurry to start digging for this gold. More people have come, setting up tents near the river to live in.� Then Jay answered their questions about �people� by telling them that, �No, they do not have fur or tails. Instead, they make coverings to wear. In some ways they are like animals, but very different in the way they live. They can be very dangerous. We jays think this place will soon be a wasteland after the trees are cut down and the rivers are torn up.�

The otters and other animals listened in fearful awe at this report, each deciding to move further into the woods and find a safer place to live. Little Ollie nudged his mother and said, �I�m hungry; let�s go back to the pool for some crayfish.�

Back at the pool, they were greeted by another family of otters whose three youngsters were splashing and squealing in play. They called for the twins and Olivia to join them. Soon there was laughter and chuckles of joy as they went sliding down the slippery mud slides and scrambling back up again.

Life again looked hopeful as the waterfall sang its way into the pool and the woodland birds greeted them with song. A pool with fish and crawfish, new friends, and a snug den for sleeping, suited the family of otters just fine.

Dorothy Gonick

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�Maggie�s Corner�
What is it like you ask?
By: Maggie Griffin

Out of all the places I�ve been and all the things I�ve seen, obviously I enjoy socializing. I will admit, as much as I enjoy Real Estate, the adventures in travel takes me to another dimension. The question is how do I do it? My answer is �What?�

It became obvious that many people knew about my trip to the NTDC. The NTDC is a National Competition where Professional Drivers are given the opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge. My husband, Tom, was amongst those drivers, again. I must say I am more than proud my husband came home as one of the champions. Supporting him in this competition was an experience as he was lucky number 7; Tom Griffin is on the course. My use of Pom-Poms, Duck Horns and Rattles obviously did not distract him. So that is a good thing.

Watching the competition was very rewarding. Staying at the Westin was filling as every night there was a dinner function that was attended. But, who did I meet when I was there? I met Professional Drivers across the country of whom many were excited to be there for the first time along with those who were there multiple times. Taking a trip down the Allegany River one night singing and dancing on the boat, it�s a good thing I only drank diet soda.

However, although I had the pleasure of �hanging out� every evening with this man who looked like Tommy Chong, it made my nights filled with laughs, hoping I make my wake up time for the next day of the competition.

But another evening of another dinner function, along with meeting so many people across the country, to my surprise, there standing in front of me was a Legend of Football, Franco Harris, who is #32 of The Pittsburg Steelers, a Champion of Champions, cheering on the Drivers. Had I known this, I would have had my hair done and fix my make-up as every day and every night there was a schedule to follow.
Like the evening I spent with Ryan Cabrara 4 years ago, teen idol and music performer, prior to his performance at Toad�s Place, here is the bottom line to meeting these people we know as famous. They are human beings like the rest of us. They set an example of reaching goals to achieve the possible. We all know anything is possible if we really focus and put our minds into a frame of thinking that we shall never give up any dream we have. All it takes is a dream and the courage to make anything happen.
I do want to thank Denny Hamilton for allowing me to sit on the hood of his race car and take a picture. There was no way I wasn�t going to go home without one. Watching him lead the convoy parade at the end of the competition was thrilling as behind him, a pre-arranged state trooper was flashing those red and blues.

The media was there. But let�s touch on media for one moment. Media is a source where it needs to be touched delicately. I for one know what it is like to be interviewed by Authors who write about the Real Estate Industry and every word I say must be carefully said, written and reviewed. As a Columnist, I enjoy meeting people in my journey and interviewing them. As a Real Estate Professional, I am very serious in this industry to achieve goals and bring results to those I represent, whether they are sellers or buyers, no client of mine is left behind; as the media promotes me based on my knowledge, skills, experience, professionalism and dedication in The Real Estate Industry.

Going back to what was it like meeting these people and talking to them? It was rewarding. I learned about them in more ways than I can imagine, and I talked about Real Estate. But I made sure, as a columnist many knew I was there to cheer and support my husband in this competition.
You see, opportunities come when one strives in earning to achieve them. And with that being said, discipline in oneself will bring success in any venture. Success comes to those who reach for those goals through dedication. If you reach, you will achieve.

It was my pleasure to watch my husband achieve another success in victory through his skills, knowledge, dedication and self discipline in driving, taking his job very seriously. It was my honor to meet the people I met and spoke to along the way. These examples only prove that destiny is not written, it is in the palms of our hands.

To conclude, what is it like to live with a Professional Driver? We go through a lot of tires. Road safety is something my husband promotes and lectures. Most of all, through these competitions, it�s not about winning, it�s how you compete on a professional level when showcasing the skills, safety, knowledge and dedication anyone, in any field, competition or game are trained to exercise. This is another example of earning opportunities. Just like football and running those yards to score a touchdown, as Franco�s determination, skills and knowledge proved when reaching that goal for the Pittsburg Steelers. Or if not done with caution, as Tommy Chong would say �Dude, who called the cops�.

No More Cooties!

The school cafeteria often serves as a snapshot of the state of relations between the students from Mars and the students from Venus. In the primary grades, you would likely see boys and girls sitting together sharing Sun Chips and poking at each other playfully. However, by the fourth grade things are drastically different. For the most part, the cafeteria becomes segregated with �boy� and �girl� tables. When we were kids we used to see it as a parasite thing. Those of the opposite sex definitely had a bad infestation of cooties, so you steered way clear! Today, the polarization is emphasized with rhymes, �Girls rule, boys drool,� or the other way around, depending on your perspective. Then, something astonishing happens around the end of 7th grade. Boys and girls start to pair off and sit together � imagine that! For young teens, it�s a time when every day offers equally exciting and confusing signals that are sent back and forth from boy to girl like errant ping pong balls. For parents, it�s a time of high anxiety and stress as memories of their own trials and tribulations with the opposite sex are painfully remembered.

How does one know when her teen has dipped his toe into uncharted waters? Is he starting to fix his hair and check himself out in the mirror? It�s necessary to be aware of subtle changes because your teen might not share his private thoughts with you.

Sarah Burningham, author of Boyology: A Teen Girl's Crash Course in All Things Boy (Chronicle Books, 2009) and How to Raise Your Parents: A Teen Girl's Survival Guide (Chronicle Books, 2008), says, �Most teenagers probably won't come out and say they�re interested in someone. In fact, denial is a good first sign. You might notice that your teen is talking about a certain someone a lot; yet, he insists that he doesn�t �like� that person. Other clues to look for are lots of texts and phone calls from one person.�

Once you know, you might find it difficult to communicate with your teen about his new attraction. Burningham suggests, �It's important not to trivialize your teen's relationships. Even though it might seem like puppy love, those feelings of first love are real, and dismissing them will only make your teen feel like he can't talk to you. The best thing you can do is to listen. Don't offer too much advice. Instead, you can help your teen come to his own realizations about relationships by asking questions about what your teen is getting out of a relationship. Remember, the goal is to help your teen build healthy relationship patterns.�

Parents should tune in to a heightened awareness � of all friends, both male and female, and of her whereabouts. Teens will fight this because they want to be independent. There has to be a level of trust, as well as a specific set of rules. Burningham comments, �Every family has different rules. Be sure to set them early and stick by them. Make it a tradition that dates come into the house to meet you before your teen goes out. If it's expected and started early, it doesn't have to be a fight every time.� She also suggests setting a private texting code that your teen can send if something goes wrong or she needs your help. �A lot of the teenagers I interviewed used their parents as excuses to get out of uncomfortable situations,� Burningham reports.

Be prepared that this is the beginning of an endless period of testing out new boundaries and finding that middle ground where both you and your teen can feel comfortable.

TIPS AND TALES

�Rules are a definite! No entertaining guys in the bedroom - even when you are home! Curfew is a must. If they change locations, they better call!�
Gail McGann � Bomoseen, VT
�My fourteen year old son is good about telling me things that happen. I just hope he always feels comfortable to talk to me so I know what's going on�or at least some of it! We keep an eye on the computer, too.�
Lori Ann Jones � Salt Point, NY

Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic:
Test Anxiety � SATs, ACTs and the stress that goes along with it

Please send your full name, address, and brief comments to:
myrnahaskell@gmail.com

Or visit
http://home.roadrunner.com/~haskellfamily/myrna/

Home Country
Slim Randles

Some of the earlier knights of the coffee table arrived just before daylight, flipping their cups to the upright and fillable positions, and were joined quickly by Dewey, which is an unusual occurrence. Doc was the only one of us downwind from Dewey, and we watched to see if any fainting took place, but evidently Dewey had not yet begun his job of transferring soil nutrients from the dairies to people�s yards.

�How�s it going, Dewey?� Dud said. We all like Dewey.

�Finer�n frog hair, Dud. My shoulder�s in shape for a shovel and I�m sure gonna shovel��

�Well, yes you are,� Doc said, quickly.

�Dewey�s an interesting name,� Dud said. �Was your mother � dewy eyed when you were born?�

�That�s D-E-W-Y. My name has the extra e in it. Actually, I was named for a famous man.�

We sipped over that one for a minute.

�Thomas E. Dewey!� shouted Doc. �Governor of New York. Candidate for President. Your mother was a Republican, right?�

�Uh, no � not him, I�m afraid.�

�I know �� said Steve. �Admiral Dewey. Whats-his-name � George. George Dewey of the Spanish-American War! Your dad was a fan of the Navy.�

�Well, not exactly,� Dewey said, although privately he thought that would�ve been a good guy to be named for.

�Well?� said Doc. �I�ve run out of Deweys. Who was it?�

�Melvil.�

�Who?�

�Melvil Dewey,� Dewey said. �You know � Dewey Decimal System? My mom was a librarian.�
--------------

Brought to you by �Raven�s Prey,� Slim Randles� thriller set in the Alaska Bush. See it at www.slimrandles.com.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

______
WINTER
BY: SHAINA CARROLL

December 15th was a dreaded day in Maine. A huge storm was going to hit the city of Bangor. Almost everyone was expecting it. One house wasn�t�.The family that lived on the street of Louis Avenue. The family had just moved from California and was still adjusting to the move. The date was December 14th and the storm was headed their way. It was no lie that there was a storm coming.

�Alex! Get down here and get your dinner!� yelled Kathy. Alex ran downstairs before getting into trouble. She was already going to be in enough trouble. �You better watch out. If you tell Mom, I will use your makeup case� said Alex. �Tell Mom what?� Kathy said with a smirk. �That her daughter bought a dog? Why would I do that?� This was followed by another smirk then a fit of giggles. �I already did!� Oh man! A secret that was revealed by her 10 year old sister. Kathy�s face said it all. Before she could even say anything, a firm voice yelled at the top of its lungs, �ALEX! WHY IS A DOG IN YOUR ROOM?!� Alex ran upstairs at top speed hoping her mother didn�t see the dog and only believed Kathy. When Alex got to her room, her hopes were brought down. In the middle of her floor her mother stood along with Kathy. On her bed sat Winter. �Why is there a dog on your bed?� Alex told her about how he was about to be taken to the pound when she found him. Her mother understood and let her keep him, as long as Alex took care of Winter.

The next morning, Alex took Winter for a walk. As they were turning back, the wind started to get hard, the sky was getting gray, and snow started to fall faster and faster. Alex panicked while Winter stayed calm. Winter knew what to do. He had been through many storms before. Fighting the storm, he led her home. Once they were on the right street, Winter ran up to the blue house that they lived in. Alex and Winter ran all the way up to the door. They tried to get in but the door was locked. Alex banged on the door while Winter pawed noisily. From inside, they could hear Alex�s mother yelling, �ALEX! ALEX! WHERE ARE YOU?� Above Mom, Alex could hear Kathy yelling, �WINTER! WINTER! WINTER!� �Of course Kathy yells for Winter�, thought Alex. He is a dog. She loves dogs. Mostly Winter. After ten minutes of banging and pawing, Alex�s mother heard the racket and let them in.. Alex was freezing. Winter wasn�t as cold. The two friends were covered in snow. Luckily, they bought the house that had the biggest and warmest fireplace. Alex was the first to run for the fireplace. Winter slowly followed. Alex thanked her mother who was giving her hot chocolate.

The next day, Winter was awarded by the Mayor for saving Alex�s life. Winter was also moved with his family to a five star hotel. Not only now do they live there, they own it. During the ceremony Alex told everyone what happened. �Winter lived the beginning of his life hunting for food. Afterwards, I found Winter being chased by a dog catcher. He was about to be caught when I stepped in and told the dog catcher that Winter was mine. The dog catcher surprisingly let me take him. I guess he wanted me to go away and stop bothering him. Winter was amazed at how fast he was put down on the ground. I took him and ran home to hide him in my room. When I came in the house, Kathy was eating cookies and drinking milk. It was too late to turn back. Kathy had turned her head and saw Winter. She looked at him with curious eyes. Then a grin came across her face. She asked if I had asked our mother. My response, well, was running upstairs like a scared little chicken with Winter on my heels. That�s about it. The rest you are sure to know.� She had made her speech. Now the ceremony was over. Everyone went home. Not everyone actually. Winter and his family went out to eat. They even got in for free since Winter was with them. The staff got wide eyed and brought them to their seat instantly. Winter also got to stay in the restaurant instead of getting kicked out. He became very famous and saved many more lives.

One day winter found a mate and had puppies. The puppies lived a life of luxury and grew up as their father did�.saving as many lives as he did. The puppies lived with their father until the end of his life. Their names were Summer, Spring, Winter, and Fall. Of course, everyone lived happily ever after.
____________________________________________

�Sheltering an Animal�s Perspective�
by
Gregory M. Simpson

It was a banner first year for Connecticut Votes for Animals (CVA), for which I am proud to say I am a member of the advisory board. Under the leadership of ASPCA attorney Debora Bresch and Our Companions Animal Sanctuary CEO Susan Linker, CVA saw one of the first bills it lobbied passed and signed into law by Governor Jodi Rell on July 8th, the Puppy Lemon Law Bill.

The Puppy Lemon Law Bill will provide greater protection for consumers and animals sold in pet stores. This new law encourages the sale of healthy animals in several key ways. It increases the potential veterinary reimbursement from $200 to $500 and allows this reimbursement for congenital defects without the need to return the animal. The law also increases the window for this reimbursement from 15 to 20 days.

Critically, pet stores will now be required to purchase out-of-state animals only from USDA and state licensed breeders. As an important consumer measure, pet stores will be required to provide consumers with breeder/dealer information to fully disclose the source of the animals.

Connecticut Votes for Animals is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(4) organization, whose aim is to mobilize the public to support animals through their political choices. It serves as the political arm of the state�s animal protection movement by advocating pro-animal policies and engaging public support for the passage of animal friendly laws and opposition to proposals harmful to animals. CVA is Connecticut�s only grass roots organization that gives animals a voice in the Legislature. Members are provided with political �scorecards� so that they can make a difference at the polls by electing animal friendly legislators.

Connecticut Votes for Animals educates the public regarding animal protection issues and safeguards the interests of animals by making their well-being a priority for elected leaders. During this past legislative session, CVA tracked over 20 bills, ranging from acts concerning humane education and the treatment of elephants to an act requiring court ordered counseling for juveniles charged or convicted of animal cruelty. Most proposed bills do not become law, especially the first time they are raised.

In the last legislative session, CVA also lobbied to pass a bill to prevent the constant tethering of dogs, i.e., chaining or confinement. The current law is vague and animal control officers are not able to enforce it. As a result, dogs in Connecticut can be chained or confined day and night. This is not only cruel to the dogs but also poses a public safety threat as chained dogs are three times more likely to bite people. Unfortunately, the draft Tethering and Confinement Bill required additional work.

With your assistance as a CVA member, a Tethering and Confinement Bill can be passed in the next legislative session, ensuring that the outcome of cases like the one in Hartford, where dogs were found stacked in crates in a shed, are very different. Currently, excessive confinement alone is not sufficient to warrant charges under Connecticut�s animal cruelty law.

Next session, Connecticut Votes for Animals, with animal control officers and the ASPCA, will work to get the Tethering and Confinement Bill passed. But it cannot be done without grass roots power. As the anthropologist Margaret Mead said, �Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.�

Animals don�t vote, people do, so share your support by becoming a member of Connecticut Votes for Animals. A $25 non-tax deductible donation can be mailed to Connecticut Votes for Animals, P.O. Box 266 Cheshire, CT 06410. Or you may sign up on-line at: www.ctvotesforanimals.org

For the animals,

Gregory M. Simpson

Gregory Simpson�s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers� Association.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

__________________________________________________________________
ROBERT MILES AND DAVID S. MILES

I was in the Army for four years, one-and-a-half years on The Aleutian Islands in the Pacific. The wind was so bad we dug our huts in the ground. If we built them on top of the ground, the wind would have blown them away. There was snow all the time. We had to be dug out every day so we could go to the mess hall. It was cold but we had everything we needed to keep us warm. The weather was nice in July, but mostly it was cold and dark as the sun didn't come up. We learned a lot, and we came home.

My Mother was a 5 star mother with 5 sons in the service. We all came home except my brother David. The American Legion Hall in Oxford is named for him. He went down on the ship, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester with the Four Chaplains who have become quite famous.

Note: I knew Bob Miles in Grammar School. We met again recently at our 60th Seymour High School Class Reunion where Bob shared his experience in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.

.....Below, I quote from a news clip from The Advisor, dated February 13, 1996. The Advisor is published weekly in North Haven, Connecticut..

FOUR CHAPLAINS' MEMORIAL DAY PROCLAIMED IN NORTH HAVEN

Last week I was pleased to join with Wally Bassett, Religious Emphasis Chairman and Americanism Chairman. and the entire Murray Reynolds Post 76 American Legion in commemorating Four Chaplains' Day in North Haven. A special Memorial service took place at the Recreational Center on February 8th.

At the ceremony we recalled the account of the Four Chaplains' heroic sacrifices. On February 3, 1943, the U.S.A.T.. Dorchester, with 900 passengers, was torpedoed by an enemy submarine in the Atlantic Ocean, about one hundred miles off the coast of Greenland. The Dorchester was ill-equipped, with only twenty usable lifeboats and an inadequate supply of life jackets. Understanding that their own lives would not be saved, the Four Chaplains distributed the limited gear to their fellow seamen. They are credited with saving the lives of about 200 men.

The last survivors recalled this terrifying experience. Their final observation is that of the Four Chaplains submerged in the ocean, with their arms linked in prayer as the U.S.A.T. Dorchester went down in a blaze of steam and fire.

The Four Chaplains, representing different faiths, were united in their self-sacrifice, compassion and humanity. The Four Chaplains are First Lieutenant, Reverend Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformist; First Lieutenant, Reverend George I. Fox, Methodist; First Lieutenant, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, and Father Johnny P. Washington, a Catholic Priest.

A Chilling wind
The sky distinctly hued in pink,
Held echoes of soft peeping sounds
rolling smoothly o�er the brink.
As weathered leaves cascaded to the ground,
This dark and creepy old man, strolled in.
His balding pate flashing conspicuously,
Shattering the pitch-black sanctuary
of these who feared him in stoic awe.
For he, this thing, was dying autumn.
And bringing the knowing of time,
a cold and dreary omen for all
to see the sprightly warmth
of mellow, adoring days of
merriment, tumble towards its end.
For soon will come the chilling news
That old man winter has come again.
- George Arndt -

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Town News and Events January 2010

2010-01-07T16:39:00.001-05:00

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MAYOR�S CORNER MERIDEN

Mayor's Column,

We have rung in the New Year - 2010. Now, we have to get used to using the new date on our correspondence and checks. Hopefully, 2010 will be a year of positive happenings for our residents and our city. We certainly have been challenged by the economic downturn with job losses, home foreclosures, and stagnation in many sectors of our business community. There are some signs of a beginning recovery but most economists say it will be slow and uneven this year.

We can look forward to continuing Meriden's forward progress on flood control, the downtown initiative, and the intermodal transportation hub. Partial has funding has been approved to continue planning efforts on these projects. We have also had encouraging discussions with a number of private developers who are interested in expanding development activity in Meriden. The city will aggressively work with these companies to encourage and assist their efforts.

In January and February, there will be important informational meetings on Meriden's High Schools renovation projects. Please take the time to become familiar with the options that the city council will be voting on in February.

Also, the 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. / Albert Owens Scholarship Breakfast will take place on Monday, January 18, 8 AM at Maloney High School. This is a great event for our community. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.

I wish all of you a New Year filled with peace, health, and fulfillment.

Mike Rohde, Mayor

MAYOR�S CORNER WALLINGFORD

Dear Friends:

A story is told about a college student who needed part-time employment while attending school. One company offered a stenographer�s position. He quickly accepted and then said he could start work the end of the next week. The employer agreed. On the appointed day, the young man arrived right on time. The employer was pleased with the young man�s enthusiasm and asked him why he needed the week�s delay. The student replied, �Well, I had to find a typewriter and learn how to use it.� The young man was Herbert Hoover, who reportedly stated later in life, �No difficult or simple job ever gets done until someone decides to do what it takes to get the job done. Unfortunately, too many people stand by ready to carry the stool when there is a piano to be moved.�

Our new year represents the opportunity to perform tasks that must be accomplished. We can move our pianos by all working together.

Have a wonderful new year.

Sincerely,

William W. Dickinson, Jr.
Mayor

MAX E. MURAVNICK
MERIDEN SENIOR CITIZENS� CENTER

The Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Citizens� Center is open to all Meriden residents age 55 and over. Membership is free of charge and new members may sign-up any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by presenting a driver�s license or other proof of age. New members receive an information package about senior services and a coupon entitling them to one complimentary lunch in our Senior Community Caf�. Sign-up today and find out about all that is offered for Meriden seniors at the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center!

Art Horn will present another weather show at the Senior Center on Wednesday, January 13 at 10:30 AM to be held in the first floor meeting room. In �Weather Dominates our World� Art will explain how everything we do is affected by the weather. From the launching of the space shuttle, to fireworks on the 4th of July, to the weekend trip to the shore, to your grandchild�s outdoor wedding, weather conditions will make or break the event. Billions of dollars of products are shipped around the world yet storms can divert tankers and cargo ships causing delays or worse. The price of food is strongly affected by droughts, heat waves, floods and killing frost and freezes. There�s no doubt about it, weather dominates our world! Don�t miss this entertaining and educational show with many color slides. Refreshments will be served.

The Senior Center is now recruiting students for a new Introduction to Computers Class to be offered soon in our Senior Computer Center. We have a new Microsoft Certified Teacher who has taught in a variety of community settings and is a well experienced and patient teacher. Learn Windows, Word, Email and other computer basics in this two day/four hour class. The cost is $15 per person and the classes will start as soon as we get enough people signed up. Please register in the front office or by calling us at (203) 237-0066.

We extend our condolences to the family and friends of our longtime Art Teacher Bruce Raven who passed away on December 6. Bruce was an exceptional artist who taught seniors here for more than 30 years and he will be greatly missed. Classes will resume on January 4 at 9:00 AM with the capable Doe Bartlett as teacher.

AARP members affiliated with the national Tax-Aide Program will again be offering free income tax assistance at the Senior Center starting on Wednesday, February 3. Trained volunteers will prepare your federal and state tax returns for 2009. Appointments can be made by calling 237-0066 beginning Monday, January 4.

Meriden AARP Chapter #2954 will meet on the lower level of the Senior Center on January 13, 2010 at 12:30, general meeting at 1:30, and entertainment at 2:00. Ballroom dancers Valerie Bubon and Donald Antonio will present a dance program with highlights from the 1930�s to the present. It will be about a forty-five minute program. For members of our club, we will have a bargain table featuring costume jewelry. Any questions, call Betty Fisette at 203 238-4478.

If you've gained a few "Holiday Pounds" or are just interested in learning more about healthy eating, plan to attend the Diet Watch Series sponsored by LaPlanche Clinic on Wednesdays in January and February from 10:00 - 10:45 outside of the Clinic. Classes will begin on January 13th. Come a little early to get weighed and then attend our class. To register, please call 203-237-0300.

Special Mardi Gras entertainment with Bob Mel and Karen Wagner will be held on Wednesday, January 27 at 10:30 in Willene�s Place. The program is sponsored by Health Net and reservations for lunch following the show can be made by calling 203-235-8052. The menu will feature baked chicken with wild rice and vegetables. Our annual Valentine Dinner Dance will be held on Thursday, February 11 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM with the popular Vinnie Carr. Tickets will be on sale starting on January 21 at a cost of $6.00 for Meriden residents and $7.00 for out-of-town guests.

Special thanks to all of the local businesses who donated prizes for our holiday luncheon on December 22 including Walgreen�s West Side, Valencia Liquor Store, Checkered Flag Auto, Brown Jug Liquor Store, Thompson�s Candy, Kaye�s Pharmacy, G.T. Tire Company, Marianna�s Bakery, Stop & Shop West Side, Stop & Shop East Side, Walgreen�s East Side, Sans-Souci Restaurant, Panera Bread and Jacoby�s Restaurant. Thank you all for your generous support and for your concern for Meriden�s seniors!

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year from the members and staff of the Max E. Muravnick Senior Citizens� Center!

John F. Hogarth
Senior Center Director
December 29, 2009

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

WALLINGFORD SENIOR CENTER JANUARY 2010 EDITION

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM
Do you have a loved one in need of socialization and guidance throughout the day? The Daily Activities for Independence program is a small, structured, social-model day program designed for seniors age 60 and over. With additional support of this type seniors can be highly active and independent. Program is open Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. with transportation available for Wallingford residents. Contact Melinda Welch, DAI Coordinator at 203-265-7753 Ext. 205 or e-mail mwelch@wlfdseniorctr.com.

WSC GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
Looking for a gift for your special senior? Consider purchasing a Wallingford Senior Center Gift Certificate for a family member or friend. Our gift certificates, which are available at the front desk, may be used toward senior center classes, trips, special events, and Lake View Caf� meals.

WANT AN EMAIL ACCOUNT BUT DON�T HAVE A COMPUTER?
Thursday, January 21, 2:00 � 4:00 PM
Would you like to communicate with family and friends and share photos via email; go shopping online; or pre-register for that cruise you�re taking? Sign up now for our email workshop on January 21, where you can set up a free email account even if you don�t have your own computer. Once you have your account, you can communicate with the world from any computer with Internet access (including those in our computer lab and the public library). The fee for this workshop is $5.00. Class size is limited; sign up now!

BEAT THE WINTER BLUES PARTY
Friday, January 22, 1:00 PM
Join us for musical entertainment featuring Karen Wagner and Bob Mel, dancing, refreshments, and fun on January 22, and beat those winter blues! Be sure to sign up by January 20, so that we may plan the refreshments accordingly.

THE LATEST ADVANCES IN CANCER TREATMENT AND TESTING
Wednesday, January 20, 10:30 AM
The field of oncology is constantly evolving. Explore the newest treatments and diagnostic testing in this cancer care update. This program, sponsored by MidState Medical Center, will be presented by oncologist Gerard Fumo, MD. Please call 203 265-7753 to register to attend.

ARE YOU IN THE FLOW?
Friday, January 22, 10:00 AM
We are all impacted positively or negatively by the spaces in which we live and work. Learn simple ways to diagnose and realign your home and/or office so you�ll be �in the flow�! This Feng Shui program will be presented by Krista Polinsky, Certified Feng Shui and Energy Medicine Practitioner. This program is sponsored by Regency House of Wallingford. Please call 203 265-7753 to register to attend.

MEET & GREET OUR NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Thursday, January 21, 11:30 AM
Wallingford Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Salvatore F. Menzo, will visit the Senior Center on January 21, at 11:30 AM, to introduce himself to our members, provide an update on our local school system, and answer your questions. Do join us!

SOCIAL SINGLES
Thursday, January 7, 6:00 � 8:00 PM
Our monthly gathering of Social Singles (for singles aged 60 � 74) will be a Fun with Music Night. Join us for singing, dancing, karaoke and refreshments. Senior Center members are welcome to bring non-member friends. Social Singles meets at the senior center on the first Thursday of the month and plans additional activities such as movies, happy hours, dining and other social events.

SOCIAL SINGLES VALENTINES PARTY
Thursday, February 4, 6:00 � 9:00 PM
Attention singles aged 55+! Tickets are on sale for a Valentine�s Day Party with DJ Todd from Jock in the Box featuring music of the 50�s and 60�s. Refreshments will include hors d�oeuvres, punch and dessert. Advance tickets are $10.00 ($12.00 at the door). Invite your single friends! For more information call Ruth at 203-269-5492.

SOCIAL SERVICES
IN ORDER TO SERVE YOU BETTER, PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER, EILEEN FLYNN, AT 265 7753. THANK YOU.
FOOD PANTRIES IN WALLINGFORD

Need a little help with your food bill? Listed below are the names, addresses, and times you can visit.
�Angel Food Ministries: Get $75.00 worth of food for $30.00. See member interest table at the center, or call 203-284-8975 for additional information.
�Master�s Manna: 46 North Plains Road (in back). ID required (Photo ID, Birth Certificate or medical card). Distribution times: Tuesday & Thursday, 9-12; Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
�Good News Food Pantry: 46 John Street (Good News Church). Distribution time: Wednesday, 11:00 a. m. � 2:00 p.m.
�Elderly Nutrition Meals: The Town of Wallingford is able to provide meals to seniors who meet the criteria. Please call 203-294-2060 for additional information.
�Local churches: Call your church to find out if there is a food pantry available.

LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP
Friday, January 15, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
The topic for January will be about Macular Degeneration. Michelle Tarantino, MPH, OTR/L, CLVT, Low Vision Therapist will provide information on this degenerative vision diagnosis. She will describe what it is, and how it affects vision. Please call to register at 203-265-7753.

VETERANS SERVICES
Tuesday, January 26, 1:00 � 3:00 pm
George Messier, Veterans Services Officer for the Town of Wallingford, will be available to answer questions and assist with benefit information. An appointment is required. Please call 203-265-7753.

MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM
The Medicare Savings Program assists individuals who meet the income and asset guidelines to pay their Medicare Part B premium. Effective October l, 2009 income limits greatly increased and there is no longer an asset limit for any of the programs. This change is especially important since there will not be any COLA in Social Security for 2010. Many individuals who did not qualify for this program in the past can now qualify. The income guidelines are as follows:
INCOME ASSETS
Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB)
Single $1,778.91 NO CAP
Couple $2,393.55 NO CAP

Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
Single $1,959.51 NO CAP
Couple $2,636.55 NO CAP

Additional Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (ALMB/QI)
Single $2,091.67 NO CAP
Couple $2,816.67 NO CAP

If you fall within these guidelines, the State may be able to pay the Medicare Part B premium. Please call Eileen Flynn, Social Worker, at 203-265-7753 to schedule an appointment or to receive additional information.

CT ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2009-2010 HEATING SEASON
**IMPORTANT: Please note New Opportunities of Greater Meriden has 45 days from the date of application to send a letter of certification to the individual. Please keep this in mind when considering when to schedule your appointment.

The Wallingford Senior Center is an intake site for Wallingford residents, age 60 and over. The program provides financial assistance to income-eligible households to pay for a portion of their heating costs. Applications for deliverable fuel (oil and kerosene only) began Tuesday, September 8 and are ongoing. First day for fuel deliveries which can be paid for by CEAP is November 1. Gas and electric customers can call beginning November 10 for an appointment. Income limits are presently $30,485 for a single person and $39,865 for a couple. Asset limits also apply.
Applicants MUST bring (2) photocopies of the following checklist documents:
� Most recent bank statement (all pages FRONT AND BACK)
� Verification of Social Security check 2009, or Social Security �Your New Benefit Amount� letter for 2009.
� Most recent checking, savings, CD, annuity, stock, bond documents.
� 2009 year-to-date pension or annuity dividends and/or interest income.
� Four most recent pay stubs, if employed.
� Rental Income � rent stub or copy of check deposited into bank account.
� Most recent heat utility bill.
� Electric bill, if applicable.
Applications are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 203-265-7753.

BENEFITS SCREENING
Tuesday, January 19, 10:00 a.m. � 12:00 noon
Do you often wonder if you might be eligible for any State or Federal programs? Benefits QuickLINK is a free and confidential program which can quickly screen for eligibility. Supporting Documents are not required, but please bring the following information with you to your appointment: 1. Monthly income (social security, pension, dividends and interest). 2. Monthly expenses (heating, fuel, gas, electricity, water, telephone, rent or mortgage payments and medical expenses not covered by health insurance). 3. Asset information (savings, estimated value of home and car, life insurance benefits). 4. A list of all current prescriptions. Registration required. Call 265 7753 now to schedule an appointment.

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM (SNAP)
The State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) has changed its eligibility criteria effective July 1, 2009. Income limits have been increased and there is no asset limit when applying for this program.
�Single Income: $1,669.00 month �Couple Income: $2,246.00 month
For more information or to schedule an appointment to apply for this program, please call Eileen Flynn, Social Worker at 265 7753.

HELP WITH SNOW REMOVAL
Need assistance with snow removal? The YOUTH JOB BANK of Wallingford�s Youth & Social Services Department can help. They will find a student from Wallingford to shovel snow for a fee you negotiate directly with the student. You can call the JOB BANK to request assistance before it snows, this way a student will be assigned to assist you prior to a snowfall. Please call 203-294-2175 to request a student or to get additional information.

VISIT our website at www.wlfdseniorctr.com!

Peoples Press January 2010
South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department is its 102 year of service to the Village of South Meriden and the City of Meriden.

In 2009 our department responded to 753 calls of service to the community. Approximately 61 % of the calls responded to were medicals and Motor Vehicle Accidents.

The Department held elections in December below are the names and positions:

Operations Division
Keith Gordon: Chief of Operations
Steve Legere: Deputy Chief
Gary Manson: Captain
Jeff Benson: Lieutenant
Bill Barry: Lieutenant

Administrative Positions
George Wruck Recording Secretary
Alan Dempsey Financial Secretary
James Cournoyer Treasurer

Apparatus Lieutenants
Mike Benson
Bruce Krause
David Noyes
Bret Siegel
Trustee
Sue. Bolenbaugh

Now its time for a several safety tips for our neighbors. We hope you all have working smoke detectors in your home. Working Smoke detectors save lives. Please make sure that you changed your batteries in the detectors. The best time to remember to change the batteries is when day light saving time comes. When you change your clocks back or forth change the batteries for safety.

Also if you do not have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home please purchase them. CO is a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas that is produced by inefficient burning and incomplete combustion of fuel products in heating appliances, furnace, hot water heaters, and stoves. If you do not have efficient burning appliances in the home, over a period of time CO could be building up in the home which if unchecked could lead to medical conditions and even Death. Having your furnace cleaned and serviced each year will help keep the units running more efficiently. CO is the silent killer, please protect your family and yourself and purchase CO detectors for your home. CO is also produced by normal operation of your vehicles and comes out of the vehicles exhaust systems. Running your vehicle in the garage could cause CO to seep directly into the home.

With winter upon us we are asking for your assistance with a little maintenance item. If you have a fire hydrant near the front of your property we need your help. When it snows it would be helpful; if you could clear the snow and ice away from the hydrant. In a fire emergency it is very important that we can hook our hoses to the hydrant as quickly as possible in case we need additional water to extinguish a fire. During and after snow storms we do try to get out and clear hydrants, but we do not always have time to get to them all. It would be very beneficial to all our neighbor to have clean and clear fire hydrants. If you can, please help us out with this maintenance item we would appreciate your assistance. With the snow storms we have already had in December we did notice a substantial amount of hydrants cleaned already when we did our rounds after the storms. ALL of the Cities Fire Fighters thank you for your HELP, by keeping the hydrants clear.

Another health Tip. We urge all our residence to be careful during the winter months with shoveling snow. Take it easy do not over do it. Use a good shovel and do not over load it when you lift it. Also for those of you that have snow blowers please be extremely careful not to put your hands near the blades of the blower unit while it is running. You might say who would do that, but each year Meriden's emergency service responders respond to several of these calls each year and it isn't a pretty sight so please take precautions.

If you can and have the time and the energy may be you can help a neighbor who is a little older or might be ill, give them a hand clearing away the snow from their walkways or driveway. It feels real good to be able to help them out during the winter months. Each year we lose friends and neighbors to heart attacks during the winter months from over exerting themselves shoveling snow.

Important health tip. If you are under a doctor�s care and take certain medications keep a list of these medications handy just in case you have the need to call 911 for during a medical emergency. Also with this list you might want to give a little history of any medical conditions that you also might have. These are important things for emergency responders to have just in case you are unable to respond to our questions when we arrive at your home. A good place to keep this information is in an envelope on you refrigerator and note that it is Medical Info.

Information about our application process:

We are currently accepting applications for membership for individuals who live in Meriden over the age of 18 in good health and have a clean police records and can pass the application process.

We are also accepting application for those individuals who might all ready be certified as a State of CT Firefighter/EMT and do not live in Meriden but are willing to fill night crew positions at our station. These individuals will need to meet our by-law requirements for drills, weekly night crew and duty crew assignments.

We are one of the only Volunteer fire stations in the State that have sleep-in crews at our fire station we presently cover 6 out of 7 nights. Our nightly in-house status allows us to service our customers you our neighbors quicker.

Being a volunteer fire fighter takes a lot of commitment and time.

Our members and their families make a lot of personal sacrifices to belong to our department, but they get great satisfaction of being part of terrific tradition of saving lives and property. We train and work hard but we love serving and protecting our friends and neighbors.

Applications can be picked up at our station at 31 Camp Street, South Meriden in the evenings. We are a DRUG FREE Department and we TEST all applicants. Chiefs Line 203-630-4499

Keep Safe, Stay Healthy and Happy New Year

Chief Keith Gordon, South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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Local News and Events January 2010

2010-01-07T16:34:00.001-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Beth Israel Synagogue

Beth Israel Synagogue serves Wallingford and its surrounding communities. This active little congregation has recently undergone a revival and is pleased to present the following calendar of events:
Pot Luck Tot Shabbat � January 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Tu B� Shevat Services � January 29, 2010 at 6:45 p.m.
Adult Learn Hebrew Class � February 5, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Martini and Movie Night � February 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Purim Pot Luck Service with Israeli Dancing � February 27, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Havdallah Pot Luck Family Movie Night � March 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Women�s Rosh Hodesh Services � March 15, 2010 at 6:45 p.m.
Passover 2nd Night Seder � March 30, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Historic Beth Israel Synagogue in Wallingford is the little congregation that CAN. This friendly congregation, over 110 years old, has a diverse and active membership of about 60 families. Our calendar is full and attendance is high. Programming highlights the Congregation�s desire to encompass all the elements of Judaism � prayer, learning and gathering � into meaningful and fun filled events. For more information, please contact Alida Cella at 949-8656, or alidacella@hotmail.com (ask her to put you on our synagogue mailing list). Information can also be found on our new website, www.bethisraelwallingford.org. You can also follow our news updates at www.twitter.com/BethIsrael
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SPRING 2010 REGISTRATION SET FOR JACK BARRY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

The Jack Barry Little League will be holding registration for the spring 2010 season on January 20TH and 21ST at the Nathan Hale Elementary School and on February 4th at the John Barry Elementary school . Sign-ups will be from 6:30 to 8 PM, in the school cafeteria and are open to boys and girls 5-16 years of age. Birth certificate and proof of residency required for all players.

Please attend one of the earlier signups to avoid the �last minute rush�.

School closings or early dismissal due to bad weather will cancel registration that night. Call 235-8766 or visit us on-line at www.jbll.net for more information.

Happy New Year from The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce! Our Members and the Greater Meriden Community can look forward to a very active Greater Meriden Chamber in 2010 in the areas of Promotion, Leadership, Education & Networking!

Kicking off the New Year with something NEW�we are now LIVE on Facebook! So, check us out, become a fan, and visit often!

Our stellar, award-winning website, www.meridenchamber.com is always chock full of events, news, resources, photos and more! It is THE place to visit when you are looking for a product or service. All of our members are listed by category or they may be found through name searches. The site averages well over 32,000 unique visits per month and our most visited areas include the member directory, member news, and calendars of events!

November 2009 kicked off our NEW Breakfast Club Celebrates�Series! Below is a recap of past and future events along with some photos � attendance is averaging 65 at each event and it�s a GREAT way to start your day! Visit the special event pages for updates on www.meridenchamber.com. The series is also videotaped and will begin airing on Cox Channel 15 in January and the videos will also be available for viewing on the Chamber�s website!

Pizza, Pasta, & Politics will be held on Monday, January 25, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. � 7:30 p.m. sponsored by at&t and held at Hunter�s Ambulance Service Training Center, 450-478 W. Main St., Meriden, CT. One of the many charges of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce includes providing access and forums to meet one on one and in groups with our elected officials. This event brings our diverse membership base and City of Meriden legislators together to discuss issues important to the business community. Invited guests include Mayor Mike Rohde, and Meriden City Councilors. Doors open 5:00, Refreshments (salad, pasta, pizza, beverages) at 5:30, Program begins at 6:00 including Q & A, and ends at 7:30. Bring plenty of business cards to promote and make new contacts for your business! This event cost $15 per person if reserved by Jan. 20, 2010. After Jan. 20th, the cost is $20 per person. For more information and to RSVP, call the Chamber at (203) 235-7901, fax us at (203) 686-0172, or email us at info@meridenchamber.com.

*** The deadline to return applications for the Chamber�s Annual Awards is Friday, January 29th. ***

Applications for the Chamber�s Education Awards are at all Meriden High Schools and may be downloaded at www.meridenchamber.com. Click Resources Tab, and Community Services. Awards are given to Meriden residents graduating from area high schools. Another award is available for a student returning to college for another year. We are pleased to offer additional awards from the Chamber�s Hispanic Outreach Leaders in Action Committee that was formed in October 2005. Applicants must be Hispanic Meriden students graduating from high school or returning to college. Proceeds for this award are generated through the golf tournament and additional fund-raisers through the Hispanic Outreach Leaders in Action Committee. Additionally the Young Business Leader of CT is offering the Dan M. Hunter Community Service Education Award to an area graduating student who shows exemplary grades in the classroom, above average participation in school-related activities, and has proven to be a valued asset to the community in which he/she lives or attends school. The guidelines of this award are based on the ideals of Dan Hunter who believed in hard work, family, and serving his community. Over the past 20 years, over 88 awards have been presented to area residents, totaling close to $80,000.

Applications for the Chamber�s Community Partnership & Business Awards may also be downloaded at www.meridenchamber.com. Nominations are accepted for the Small and Large Business Leadership Awards with the following eligibility : Any Meriden Chamber member business in good standing in the Greater Meriden area! The following criteria may be used to determine which business will be recognized with this award: Innovation by investment in technology, Community Relations to improve business climate, Customer Satisfaction by improving customer relations efforts, Employee Relations by exhibiting exemplary labor-management relations. Past recipients of the large business award include: 2006: Thompson Brands; 2007: Record-Journal Publishing Co., Inc.; 2008: BL Companies; 2009: Ragozzino Foods. Past recipients of the small business award include: 2006: Colonial Flooring Plus; 2007: Moran�s TV & Appliance; 2008: Fiderio & Sons; 2009: Kelli�s A Salon.

The Chamber also honors an individual(s) with the Community Partnership Award. Eligibility: Anyone who lives or works in Meriden! The following criteria may be used to determine which person will be recognized with this award: Dedication to the community, Volunteerism without seeking personal gain, High Professional Standards in the work place and on community projects, Community Enhancement in activities which have improved Meriden's quality of life. Past recipients include:
2006 David Lowell & James Ieronimo
2007 Lawrence McGoldrick & Ric Suzio
2008 Michael Barker & Steven Zerio
2009 Dan M. Hunter (Posthumously) & Anthony (Tony) Tomassetti

The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce is located at 3 Colony Street, Suite 301, Meriden, CT 06451. Ph.: 203.235.7901 / Fx.: 203.686.0172. Visit www.meridenchamber.com or email: info@meridenchamber.com

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Healthy Balance
The Wallingford Family YMCA will be starting its Healthy Balance program on Tuesday, January 19th , from 12-1 pm. This program will teach you how to improve your eating habits and how to easily incorporate more effective, calorie-burning activity into your already busy lifestyle. The program is led by a Licensed Nutrition Manager and certified personal trainer. For more information or to reserve your spot, call 203-269-4497. Space is limited. The Wallingford Family YMCA is located at 81 S. Elm St, Wallingford, CT.

START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT! SHOPPING AT HELPING HANDS THRIFT STORE
22 NO. TURNPIKE RD IN WALLINGFORD WILL BUY YOU MORE FOR LESS MONEY.
We have many BRAND NEW clothing items, toys, gifts, shoes added!
EVERY THURSDAY we have a "SPECIAL IN STORE SALE." Stop by to see what will be on sale! Sales will include 15% off jewelry priced over $2.00, buy l get l FREE items.
EVERY WED. is our $5.00 FILL A BAG OF CLOTHING ONLY(some restrictions apply)COATS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BAG!

EVERY TUESDAY SENIORS (55+) RECEIVE 20% OFF THEIR TOTAL PURCHASE!
2 FLOORS OF LINENS,SHOES,HOUSEHOLD ITEMS,MOVIES,CDS,DVDS,BOOKS,SMALL APPLIANCES,ELECTRONICS,TOYS,GIFTS,JEWELRY,COLLECTIBLES,CLOTHING,PURSES,MISC. ITEMS,LAMPS,SEASONAL ITEMS & FURNITURE AGAIN!

HELPING HANDS THRIFT STORE ASSISTS THE CHRYSALIS INC. IN HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE ALSO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL AGENCIES FOR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. We ask that donations be clean, free of stains or rips, in working condition & in season. Due to very limited funds we ask these requests be followed as items that are unuseable causes an extra expense to dispose of to the store. Once again in mid January we will be offering FREE pick ups in the local area for furniture or large appliances being donated, please remember the truck driver has the last say if an item will be taken based on room we have available & condition of item.

We would like to THANK all that give monetary gifts & provide their services to the store so that we may continue helping others in need.

Our store hours are Tues.- Sat. 9a.m.- 5p.m. We accept M.C.,Visa, debit and cash. Our phone number is 203 284-0300. We ask that donations be brought to the store BEFORE 4p.m.
We hope everyone has a happy, healthy New Year!

SECOND ANNUAL PRESCHOOL INFORMATION FAIR
On Saturday, January 30, 2009 the Wallingford Public Library and the WE CARE [Wallingford Early Childhood Alliance Resource and Education] Council will host the second Preschool Information Fair in the Community Room at the library, 200 North Main Street. The event will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and is free to families. All the 24 licensed child care centers in Wallingford have been invited so that families can learn what is available for their preschool age children. Community social service agencies will also be offering information on the services they provide for families with young children. This is a wonderful way to visit with the early child development specialists in Wallingford and to discuss the many options available for getting your children ready for kindergarten.. For more information you can call the Wallingford Public Library/Children's Dept at 203-284-6436 or the WE CARE Family Resource Center at 203-284-4019.

SPRING 2010 REGISTRATION SET FOR
JACK BARRY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
The Jack Barry Little League will be holding registration for the spring 2010 season on January 20TH and 21ST at the Nathan Hale Elementary School and on February 4th at the John Barry Elementary school . Sign-ups will be from 6:30 to 8 PM, in the school cafeteria and are open to boys and girls 5-16 years of age. Birth certificate and proof of residency required for all players.
Please attend one of the earlier signups to avoid the �last minute rush�.
School closings or early dismissal due to bad weather will cancel registration that night. Call 235-8766 or visit us on-line at www.jbll.net for more information.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Boating course begins in JanuaryA public boating course will be taught by members of the Meriden Power Squadron on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 12. The course will take place at Southington High School, 720 Pleasant Street, Southington.

Passing the course qualifies participants to get a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or a personal watercraft license. State law requires boat operators to have a Safe Boating Certificate while Jet Ski operators must have a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO).

The Power Squadron course will cover boat handling under normal and adverse conditions, navigational aids and how to identify them, navigation rules, legally required and suggested equipment to have on board, knots and lines used aboard a boat, and other topics.

The course is offered over five weeks or for students interested in learning how to read a chart, plot courses, and identify your position on the water, including the use of electronic chart plotters, over seven weeks.

The cost is $40 for the five-week course, and $50 for the seven-week course plus school administration fee.

Registration will be the evening of January 12th. The Meriden squadron is a local chapter of the United States Power Squadrons, known for its safe boating courses. For additional information call Ken Bell at 860 628-9758.Youth Basketball Signups at the Meriden YMCA

Sign up today for Parent and Child Basketball Training for 3 year old boys and girls, and for Youth Basketball Training for boys and girls ages 4 to 12. Classes are grouped by age and begin the weekend of January 9th and 10th. For more information, about basketball class times and fees and our other Winter Session programs, call us at 203-235-6386, visit us at 110 West Main Street, or check us out on the web at www.meridenymca.org.

SINGERS TAKE NOTE!

Chorale Connecticut will begin rehearsals on Monday, January 25th, at 7:30 PM, First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main Street in Meriden. This will be an Open Rehearsal and all interested in joining this select regional group of mixed voices are invited to sit in on this rehearsal to see what the Chorale is all about. If you are interested in joining the Chorale, plan to stay after rehearsal and talk with Dorothy Barnhart, Artistic Director. The Chorale will be rehearsing for their spring concert that applauds the "Gifts of Life" that nature brings to be presented on Saturday, May 1st. For this concert, the Chorale will be joined by the Concert Choir from DePaolo Middle School, under the direction of Patricia Altieri. This concert promises to provide an evening of whimsy and fine music making.

For more information, call (860)621-1653.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMaga

Library News and Events January 2010

2010-01-07T16:31:00.001-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

January Programs in the Wallingford Public Library

Storytimes

Join in our fun, FREE and interactive programs - and help make sure your children are ready for kindergarten when they start school!

Itty Bitty Babies : for children ages 12 months and under
Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. starting January 14th
This drop-in program introduces babies and their grown-ups to the Library, and each other, and is a program filled with songs, rhymes and books. Stories and songs are for children 12 months and under but siblings are welcome. This is a great way to meet other parents and caregivers! Everyone is welcome.

Musical Mother Goose: For Ones and Twos
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. beginning January 12th
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. beginning January 13th
Join us for a lively, interactive drop-in program filled with music and movement. This program is limited to 60 people. Wallingford residents are given priority. Please be prepared to show proof of residentcy if required. Non-residents are welcome to attend if there is room.

Preschool Storytime: For Three to Five-Year-Olds
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. beginning January 12
Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. beginning January 13
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. beginning January 14
Books, flannelboard stories, rhymes, songs and more are offered in this interactive program for children ages 3-5 and their grown-ups! Younger interested siblings are welcome to attend. No registration is necessary � just drop-in. All are welcome.

!Me Gustan los Libros!
Maria Ruiz offers a storytime with lots of bilingual fun on January 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Children�s Program Room. Songs, stories and more will be shared with children and their families. This is an interactive program that incorporates Spanish and English. No registration is required and everyone is welcome!

Wallingford�s 2010 Early Childhood Education and Information Fair
Sponsored by Wallingford Public Library and WECARE
Saturday, January 30, 2010
9:30 a.m. � 12:30 p.m.
Wallingford Public Library Community Room
[snow date: Feb. 6]

Families of young children are invited to learn about Wallingford�s preschools, licensed childcare centers, family childcare and town services available for our preschool population. At the Wallingford Early Childhood Education and Information Fair co-sponsored by the Wallingford Public Library and WECARE.
Choosing the right setting that offers quality programming, age- appropriate instruction, and a caring environment is every parent�s goal. Come to the fair and meet the people who provide these services.
This is your chance to come to one location and ask all the questions you have about the different childcare and child education offerings. With the information you gather, you will be able to make the best choices for your child.

As a bonus, you will also be able to learn about the opportunities provided for young children by a variety of Wallingford agencies. It�s Free..It�s Fun.. It�s Informative. Everyone is welcome.

FREE HOMEWORK HELP
Get the year off to a good start. If your child needs a little help with homework, please note that there are two options available at the Wallingford Public Library.

Ms. Gina Cabrera, a bilingual teacher in the Wallingford School system, is available each Monday and Wednesday that school is in session, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Choate Rosemary Hall students are available to help with homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Children�s Room from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. January 5 � February 22.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT WALLINGORD PUBLIC LIBRARY:
All of our programs are free, all of the time!

Book Discussion: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Part 3 of the Range of Realism: The Novel in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Wednesday, January 13
3:30 p.m.
Collins Room

Edith Wharton�s secular tragedy of a materialistic society presents us with the somber economics of marriage and the powerlessness of the unwedded woman in the late 20th Century. Lily Bart is 29 years old and unmarried. Wharton charts the course of Lily's life, providing, along the way, a wider picture of a society in transition, a rapidly changing New York where the old certainties of manners, morals and family have disappeared and the individual has become an expendable commodity. This novel is part of the four-part discussion series on the �Range of Realism.� The discussion will be led by Marsha Bansavage, discussion facilitator for the Connecticut Humanities Council. Copies of the book are available from the library�s Information Desk. All are welcome to any and all of the discussions in this series co-sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council and made possible by the Faustman Fund. The final discussion in this series will take place on February 10 when Mary Shelley�s classic novel Frankenstein will be the topic.

Dessert with a Doc: Top 10 Weight Loss Tips
Wednesday, January 13 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Collins Room
No need for fad diets--you can make simple changes that will have big results! This program is presented by Lisa Pranger, RD (Registered Dietician) from MidState Medical Center. Come learn how you can promote and maintain healthy eating habits that can help you achieve your weight loss goals. A healthy dessert will be served, please call and let us know you are coming!

Career Express: It�s time to get back on board!
Tuesday, January 19 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Library Parking Lot
The Career Express is the Department of Labor�s mobile one-stop career center providing the latest workforce and job skills development services to individuals across the state.
It is equipped with eight computer workstations with Internet access, the latest audio-visual systems including a plasma TV with SMARTBoard technology and a hydraulic wheelchair lift to provide full access to persons with disabilities.
Information about the DOL/CT Works Career Centers is also available. Free, professional help is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Areas of expertise include:
� Online job searches
� Career exploration
� Finding good job sites
� Interviewing
� Resume writing

Thursday Night Book Club: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

January 21 7:00 p.m. Collins Room

This first novel and winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction, an award founded by author Barbara Kingsolver to promote literature of social responsibility, is a story of racism and well kept secrets. Set on a desolate farm in the Mississippi Delta at the end of World War II, the novel explores the complex relations between two families: the owners of the land, and the sharecroppers who live and work on it. (NPR) Copies of the book are available from the Information Desk on a first-come-first-served basis or by reserving through our catalog. All are welcome for conversation and refreshments. Our informal book discussion group meets on the third Thursday of each month. No registration is necessary.

HeartSounds: A Morning of Music and Poetry
Saturday, January 23 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Collins Room
The poetry group�s second meeting this month is a special event featuring Julie Cook, musician and poet. This program is open to anyone who loves music and poetry and would like to explore ways in which these two arts enhance one another however, reservations are required and enrollment is limited to 20 participants. No prior experience with either poetry or music is required and poems and instruments will be available. Participants are welcome to bring their own poems and/or instruments as well. Please call the library for more information and to reserve your spot!

JANUARY COMPUTER CLASS: Mail Merge
Thursday, January 14 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Board Room
Mail Merge can be used for creating many documents at once that contain identical formatting, layout, text, graphics, etc., and where only certain portions of each document varies. Register in advance by calling 203-265-6754 or online at www.wallingford.lioninc.org

COMPUTER TUTORING SESSIONS
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons: 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Thursday evenings: 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Computer novices are encouraged to sign up to learn keyboard or mouse skills, word processing, Internet searching, online job applications, or e-mail at these 1-on-1 sessions. Please contact the library to register or for more information.

WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY FREE MOVIE EVENTS

Friday Night Flicks: District 9
Friday, January 22 6:30 p.m. Community RoomDistrict 9 is very smart sci-fi, but that's just the beginning; it's also a scathing social satire hidden inside a terrific action thriller teeming with gross aliens and regrettable inter-species conflict. And it's a blast. . .Los Angeles Times. Rated R

Movie Matinee: Frankenstein
Wednesday, January 27 2:00 p.m. Collins Room
Director James Whale's 1931 film adaptation of Mary Shelly's masterpiece novel remains a timeless classic. All are welcome. This film is not rated. Run time: 71 minutes. (Frankenstein the novel will be the topic of our book discussion on February 10th at 3:30 p.m.)

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

NEWS FROM WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY:

200 North Main Street
203-265-6754
Monday through Friday
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: January 18

Yalesville Branch
400 Church Street
203-269-3688
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

VISIT OUR BOOK SHOP: The Book Seller
The Book Seller, a cozy book shop located in the Main Library, features used books, CDs, etc. in excellent condition. Look for the entrance under the green awning at the back of the Library. Regular hours are Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Book Seller will be closed on Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. All proceeds benefit the Wallingford Public Library Association.
Monday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

CAN YOU HELP US?
The library is in need of two high school yearbooks for our collection. We are looking for the Mark T. Sheehan High School 2007 and the Lyman Hall 1949 yearbooks. The nostalgic resources are great fun to browse through, as well as to mine for reunion information. The library keeps the yearbooks in our Connecticut Collection and may be used in the library. If should discover one of these volumes in your attic or closet, pleae bring it in to the library�s Information Desk. Thanks!

NEW HELP FOR JOB SEEKERS
JOB NOW: Live Job Assistance
Wallingford Public Library announces an exciting new service for job seekers and career changers: JobNow. This unique online service gives job seekers on-demand access to trained career coaches and job resources. JobNow�s free professional services are available on any of our public Internet computers; ask for more information at the Information Desk. Wallingford Library cardholders can also access JobNow from home by linking to http://main.wallingford.clc.jobnow.brainfuse.com. Job seekers should register for an account after using their Wallingford Library card to enter the site. JobNow is the first service of its kind to provide live career coaching from any computer with Internet access. Services available are live interview coaching, with interview tips and resources; a resume lab with sample templates, along with resume analysis within 24 hours by a JobNow expert; assistance with writing cover letters; and a career resource library that includes links to current job openings locally and nationally, as well as career and personality assessment instruments.

ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
The Library now offers adaptive technology for our patrons with vision impairment. If you are interested in learning more, ask about the trackball mouse, large print keyboard, and iZoom screen magnifier/reader. They are available in the Adult Computer area. We also have an Optelec video magnifier for anyone wishing to manipulate the size of print while reading books, magazines, and newspapers. It is located by the Periodicals Area of the adult section.

CELL PHONE RECYCLING AND DON�T FORGET THE EYEGLASSES!
Remember that you can bring in your old cell phones for recycling. Drop them in the box near the copier across from the Circulation Desk. The Library receives a percentage for each phone. Thanks! Eyeglasses can be recycled too. The Lions Club collects all the eyeglasses collected at the library.

Just Fax It!
In response to popular demand, we have installed a self-service public fax machine next
to the photocopier by the Circulation Desk. It transmits faxes for $1.50 per page with
a credit or debit card, but does not receive faxes. Librarians at the Information Desk can help you get started.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

SECOND ANNUAL PRESCHOOL INFORMATION FAIR
On Saturday, January 30, 2009 the Wallingford Public Library and the WE CARE [Wallingford Early Childhood Alliance Resource and Education] Council will host the second Preschool Information Fair in the Community Room at the library, 200 North Main Street. The event will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and is free to families. All the 24 licensed child care centers in Wallingford have been invited so that families can learn what is available for their preschool age children. Community social service agencies will also be offering information on the services they provide for families with young children. This is a wonderful way to visit with the early child development specialists in Wallingford and to discuss the many options available for getting your children ready for kindergarten.. For more information you can call the Wallingford Public Library/Children's Dept at 203-284-6436or the WE CARE Family Resource Center at 203-284-4019.

Meriden Public Library News and Events

RESUME WORKSHOP PROGRAM AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library has a drop-in resume program to assist those who are out of work, need help using the internet for job searching and creating resumes. A skilled resume writer and job placement professional will meet with people on a first come, first serve basis each Monday in January from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room. Stop at the Information Desk to sign up. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about the library programs.

CAREER EXPRESS BUS COMES TO MERIDEN LIBRARY JANUARY 6
The CT Works Career Express Bus will be at Meriden Public Library on Wednesday, January 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Career Express Bus is equipped with 8 computers and provides services to unemployed individuals and people looking for a career change. It is staffed by trained professionals who will assist with resume writing, job seeking strategies, interview techniques, and career exploration. The bus will be parked in front of the library on Miller Street. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions.

ST. ROSE HISPANIC CHOIR TO PRESENT �THREE KINGS PROGRAM� JANUARY 9
The Meriden Public Library will host a Three Kings Day Program on Saturday, January 9 at 2:00 pm in the Griffin Room. The St. Rose Hispanic Choir will present a holiday concert for people of all ages.

The St. Rose Hispanic Choir will present traditional Puerto Rican �aguisnaldos� or Christmas carols, followed by a visit from the Three Wise Men.

Donations of unwrapped gifts, suitable for boys and girls up to the age of 10, will be collected at a specially marked box inside the library during December.

The event is free, but seating is limited. Contact the Community Services Department at 203 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.com, or log onto our homepage at www.meridenlibrary.org and click on �Adult events� to reserve a seat.

�ASK THE ORGANIZER PANEL� JANUARY 11 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
January is �GO (Get organized) Month! On Monday, January 11 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room of the Meriden Public Library, members of the Connecticut Chapter of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) will speak on �Organizing Basics, Got Photos?� �How a Professional Organizer Can Help� and �Organizing for the Caregiver.� NAPO is a nonprofit professional educational association dedicated to serving its members through education, networking, industry resources, and promoting the profession to the public. The program is free and all are invited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 to reserve a seat.

TEEN ANIME CLUB STARTING AT MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
A new Teen Anime Club for teens between the ages of 13 and 18 will be starting at the Meriden Public Library on Tuesday, January 12th at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room.. Come and join us as we watch a movie directed by Hayao Miyazaki on the big screen. Snacks will be provided. If you are interested you can sign up at the Information Desk or online at www.meridenlibrary.org. If you have any questions or are interested but cannot attend please contact Melissa at (203) 630-6347 or e-mail mmurphy@ci.meriden.ct.us.

MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO CLOSE JANUARY 18 TO OBSERVE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Meriden Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 18 to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. The library will reopen for business on Tuesday, January 19.

The library�s regular business hours are: Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.. to 5:00 p.m. and closed Sunday.

BLACK BEAR PROGRAM JANUARY 25 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library will be hosting the program �Black Bears in Connecticut� on Monday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Griffin Room. Felicia Ortner, a master wildlife conservationist in Connecticut, will be the featured speaker. The program is free and all are invited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 to reserve a seat.

FREE COMPUTER CLASSES AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
The following free computer classes will be held at Meriden Public Library.
Email Class on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. � January 2 and January 23
Internet Class on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. �January 9 and January 30
Learn Microsoft Word on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. � January 16 and February 6
Class size is limited. Contact the library at (203) 238-2346 or (203) 630-6349 to register for any class.

SOCIAL EVENING OF KNITTING AND CROCHETING JANUARY 27 AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
The Silver City Knitters would like to invite anyone who is experienced in knitting and crocheting to come to the Meriden Public Library Griffin Room on Wednesday, January 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.. You are encouraged to bring along any project you are currently working on as well as your favorite completed project. Come and share tips and ideas with others and make some new friends. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions about the library�s programs.

THURSDAY LUNCH TIME BOOK CLUB AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library will be hosting a book club which will meet one Thursday of the month at noon in the Seminar Room. Bring your bag lunch and enjoy lively discussions. The schedule will be as follows:
February 11 � Time Traveler�s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
March 11 � Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
April 15 � The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
May 13 � The Reader by Bernard Schlink
June 10 � Lit: a memoir by Mary Karr
Contact the Community Services at (203) 630-6349 or email comsvc@hotmail.com to join the book club.

ONCE BANNED, NOW CLASSIC BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Meriden Public Library and the Connecticut Humanities Council will begin the book discussion series �Once banned, now classic� in January 2010. A book, it is often said, reflects the society in which it was written. This may be especially true when the society denies the reflection and censures the book. The four works in this series, all banned at the time of publication, are now accepted as classics of American literature. Join moderator Marsha Bansavage on Tuesdays in the Griffin Room from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to examine questions about changes in attitude, what led the authors to create these works, censorship, rights and creativity.
The schedule will be:
January 26, 2010 � �The Catcher in the Rye� by J.D. Salinger
February 23, 2010 � �The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn� by Mark Twain
March 23, 2010 � �Native Son� by Richard Wright
April 27, 2010 � �The Awakening� by Kate Chopin

The program is free and all are invited. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 or email comsvc@hotmail.com to sign up for participation in the book discussion series.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

MERIDEN LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY

The Meriden Public Library Bookmobile will be visiting the following locations in January:

Monday, Jan. 4 � Midstate Christian Academy - 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.;

Tuesday, Jan. 5 � Lil Rascals Day Care Center 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.; Sunshine Daycare 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.;

Wednesday, Jan. 6 � Head Start (Liberty St.) 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;

Thursday, Jan. 7 � Kindercare 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; The Right Place 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.; Connecticut Baptist Home (box drop off) 3:00 to 3:30 p..m.;

Friday, Jan. 8 � Stork Club 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Miller Memorial 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.;

Monday, Jan. 11 � Center Congregational Nursery School 9:30 to 10:00 a..m.; Women and Families Center 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.; Village at Kensington Place 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.;

Tuesday, Jan. 12 � Catholic Charities 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; Kinder Garden Learning Center 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.;

Wednesday, Jan. 13 � Easter Seals (Broad St.) 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; St.. John�s Lutheran Preschool 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.; Bradley Home 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.;

Thursday, Jan. 14 � St. John�s Lutheran Preschool 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Friday, Jan. 15 � Carriage House Day Care 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; Meriden Child Care Center 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.;

Tuesday, Jan. 19 � Midstate Christian Academy 10:15 to 11:30 A.M.;

Wednesday, Jan. 20 � First Congregational Nursery School 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Thursday, Jan. 21 � First Congregational Nursery School 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.; Y Kid�s Campus 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.;

Friday, Jan. 22 � St. Stan�s 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.;

Tuesday, Jan. 26 - Lil Rascals Day Care Center 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.; Sunshine Daycare 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.;

Thursday, Jan. 28 � Kindercare 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; The Right Place 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.;

Friday, Jan. 29 � Stork Club 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Miller Memorial 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.;

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Health News January 2010

2010-01-07T16:25:00.002-05:00

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Have You Gotten the H1N1 Flu Vaccine Yet?

Protect yourself - and your family - against H1N1 flu! The Meriden Health Department is offering the H1N1 flu vaccine to anyone over the age of 6 months who wishes to receive it.

Both the injectable and nasal spray forms of the vaccine are available. Health Department Clinic staff can help you determine which version on the vaccine (nasal or injectable) you are eligible for depending on your age and health status.

H1N1 vaccines are given at the Meriden Health Department, 165 Miller Street. There is no charge for the vaccine. Please contact the Clinic office at 203-630-4234 if you have any questions. People can also view information on the Meriden Health Department's website, www.meridenhealth.com.

Meriden Health Department � Keeping You Healthy in the New Decade!

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Available Now Available to General Population

The Meriden Health Department can now offer the H1N1 flu vaccine to anyone over the age of 6 months who wishes to receive it. Vaccine is no longer restricted to previously outlined priority groups.

All children 9 years of age and younger will need two doses of the vaccine scheduled 4 weeks apart. Both the injectable and nasal spray forms of the vaccine are available. Health Department Clinic staff can help you determine which version on the vaccine (nasal or injectable) you are eligible for depending on your age and health status.

H1N1 vaccines are given at the Meriden Health Department, 165 Miller Street. There is no charge for the vaccine. Please contact the Clinic office at 203-630-4234 if you have any questions. Residents can also call the H1N1 influenza hotline operated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health at 1-800-830-9426 or view information on the Meriden Health Department's website, www.meridenhealth.com.

Smoking Cessation Support Group

If your New Year�s Resolution is to become smoke free in 2010, the Meriden Health Department can help! A free support group for those who want to quit or need help staying quit is now forming at the Health Department. A certified counselor will give practical tips on quitting and discuss resources for obtaining nicotine replacement therapy. January sessions will be held on January 12, 19, and 26 (all Tuesdays) from 12-1pm at the Health Department, 165 Miller Street. To register or for information on future groups, call Debbie at 203-630-4104.

Gun Locks Available

The Meriden Health Department has a limited number of gun locks for distribution to residents who have a firearm in the home. Gun locks work by weaving through the chamber of a gun so that, until they're unlocked and removed, the gun can not be loaded or fired. Gunlocks enhance and ensure the security of firearms in the home and can help prevent tragedy. All gun owners should lock and properly store all firearms in accordance with the law.

The locks are free and are available on a first come, first serve basis. They can be picked up at the Health Department�s clinic office, located at 165 Miller Street. For more information please call 203-630-4234. Thank you to the Meriden Police Department for donating the locks and helping the Meriden Health Department improve the safety of our residents!

Save the Date � February is Women�s Heart Month

February is Women�s Heart Month! To raise awarenesss on women's heart health issues, a Go Red For Women event will be held on Thursday, February 18, from 5:30-8:00pm at the new MidState Medical Services building located at 61 Pomeroy Avenue in Meriden.

As part of MidState�s �Dinner with the Doc� series, this event will feature Dr. William Farrell, who will present information on women�s heart health and exercise. In addition, My City Kitchen will provide a variety of heart-healthy appetizers and finger foods and provide you with recipes to take home. Educational materials and CPR demonstrations will be provided by the Meriden Health Department.

The cost of the event will be $15.00 per person. Please call MidState at 203-694-8733 to pre-register (required). We encourage all attendees (men and women) to wear red for Heart Month!

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

January Health Programs sponsored by MidState Medical Center

All About Osteoarthritis
Monday, January 11 9 am � 10 am
Informative discussion regarding the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis. Calendar House
388 Pleasant St.Southington Jackie Hackbarth, RN,BS Registration required 860-621-3014

�Stepping It Up� - An Action Plan for a Healthier Lifestyle
Six sessions on Tuesday evenings
January 12, 26; February 9, 23; March 2, 23 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This six session program will focus on steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The focus will be healthy eating, exercise, and stress management. When you take steps to prevent diabetes you will also lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Conference Room1

Kathy Wietrak, APRN,CDE Registration required Cost: $10 per person or $15 for two people

Top 10 Tips for Weight Loss
Wednesday, January 13
6:30 pm � 7:30pm
No need for fad diets � you can make simple changes that will have big results!
Wallingford Public Library, 200North Main Street
Lisa Pranger, RD Registration required 203-265-6754 A healthy snack will be provided.

The Latest Advances in Cancer Treatment and Testing
Wednesday, January 20
10:30 am �11:30 am
Explore the newest treatment options and diagnostic tests in this cancer care update.
Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington Street
Gerard Fumo, MD Registration required 203-265-7753

Breathe Easier: Discussion of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Learn how COPD is diagnosed and treated.
Thursday, January 21 6:30 pm - 7:30pm
Southington Public Library, 255 Main Street
Jan St .George, AS, RRT-NPS Registration required 860-628-0947

Nutrition Tips for the Older Adult
Thursday, January 21 12 pm � 1pm
Learn what foods, vitamins and minerals our body needs as we age.
The Village at Kensington Place, 511 Kensington Ave., Meriden
Carol Mcguigan, RD Registration required Lunch will be provided 203-235-0181

Lymph edema Symposium
Monday, January 25,2010 6 pm � 8 pm
An evening of education and activities, including a discussion on the basics of lymph edema, current treatment and new directions in diagnosis. Our Healthy Step instructor will lead the group in a brief introduction to this beneficial program.
MidState Medical Services, 61Pomeroy Ave., Meriden
Presented by the Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center Registration required 203-694-8353 Dinner will be provided

Dinner with a Doc � Spotlight on Women�s Health
Thursday, January 28,2010 5:30pm-8:00pm
Topics of discussion include:
A New Weigh of Life--Learn about weight loss.
Aziz Benbrahim,MD
Is a Mammogram Enough for You?�Advances in breast imaging, including Breast MRI Holly Dey, MD
The Meaning Behind Your Pap Results--What you should know about your Pap smear Joseph Peccerillo, MD
Mid State Medical Services, 61Pomeroy Ave., Meriden in the Conference Center $10.00 per person 203-694-8733
Dinner will be provided

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
AT MIDSTATE MEDICAL CENTER

Make a New Year�s Resolution that will make a difference in someone�s life as well as your own! If you have a few hours a week to spare, MidState Medical Center has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for you.

With the expansion of the Emergency Department to be completed within a few months, the Volunteer Department is looking to increase volunteer staffing in the new reception area as well as in the clinical area of the ED.

Along with this expansion, there will be a new Main Entrance to MidState also scheduled to open in a few months. Volunteer Ambassadors are needed to provide optimal customer service by greeting all customers and escorting them to the various areas of the medical center as well as providing wheelchair assistance.

Start the New Year off right with a positive and rewarding experience. If you enjoy public contact and are looking for a volunteer position that will keep you busy, please call Diamond Belejack, Manager of Volunteer Services at 694-8572 or e-mail dbeleja@midstatemedical.org for more information.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Meriden Youth - Save the Date!
On Tuesday, February 23, 2010, the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Committee will be hosting a summit for Meriden teens and their parents. This evening event, to be held at Lincoln Middle School, will feature motivational speaker Ed Gerety. Mr. Gerety is a nationally recognized speaker who will present a high-energy, interactive program about the real issues teens face today, covering different topics such as:
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� The power of respect and responsibility
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� The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions
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� The issues of bullying, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol and tobacco
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� Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life
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� The courage to believe in oneself and the power we have to reach out and make a difference

Meriden youth and their parents/guardians are encouraged to save the date. More information on this event will be in the February issue of People�s Press and posted on the Chamber website, www.meridenchamber.com.

Carol Carbutti, the Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford, CT Would Like to Remind Family Members and Caregivers to Take the Time to Assess their Elderly Seniors Homecare Needs During the Holidays

We live in a very mobile society where families don�t always live in the same town or state as their senior in home parents. Unlike the �old days�, entire families throughout America don�t have the opportunity to come together as often as they would like. That is why the holiday season has become an important time to take stock of your elderly homecare parent�s health and everyday living capabilities. Family gatherings with elderly family members from out of town, or even the more frequent family phone calls from long distance relatives, are a perfect time to �check up� on our aging seniors who live on their own. It is not uncommon for the senior�s adult children, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their elderly parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver�s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term in home caregiving assistance in this country. During this holiday season, while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, you should make good use of your time by reviewing their living status and basic healthcare issues.Using Your Five SensesFamily members will notice that many of your holiday traditions will tempt an aging parents five senses. These same senses can be put to use while evaluating the status of senior family members. Below is a checklist using each of your senior citizens five senses to determine if your elderly parents are in need of additional companionship or personal care assistance: Sight - Looking at a retired senior�s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like poor personal hygiene, clothes with stains and a disorganized or dirty house. Sound - Listening to what your senior talks about and how an elderly parent speaks can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that �old age� is causing these issues. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities? Smell � All caregivers and homemaking companions should use their nose as an indicator to determine if their in home aging mom or dad has been bathing properly. Family members should also make sure their elderly parents are able to keeping up with their house cleaning. Another sign of difficulty would be if you notice that your retired parents have spoiled food in their kitchen and refrigerator. Taste - Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items. Touch - A simple hug can tell you if your senior dad is fragile or losing weight. You also need to check their skin to see if it is soft and if the color is normal. If you see any bruising or tearing you need to report this to your elderly parents� primary doctor immediately.

Review Status by PhoneDuring telephone conversations you should gently probe for information about the aging seniors health and well-being. Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your retired senior parents are in need of additional homemaking or caregiving assistance:

� What did you have for breakfast? If your aging elderly mom cannot remember what she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem such as dementia could be setting in.

� Always ask questions to stimulate your healthy aging parents mind like, did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good �backdoor� questions to finding out whether or not your elderly loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.

� Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of senior depression is withdrawal from social activities.

� Can your retired elderly parent speaking normally? Pay attention to differences in speech patterns, they are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.

Help is Available

If you sense that there is a problem based on the above indictors, you and your other family caregiving members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide in home safety for your elderly mom and dad, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.

Discuss the situation with the individual - Don�t be afraid to ask or talk to your aging loved one. Often seniors will not tell you if they are having trouble unless you ask. It is important to reassure healthy seniors about your questions. They do not want to lose their independence and are afraid of being moved out of their home into a strange environment like a senior facility.

Make a doctor�s appointment for the individual - Be sure and make the appointment when you, another family member or an in home caregiver from a local agency, can relay the concerns directly to the doctor. If you are not able to be there in person, schedule a time to call the doctor.

Determine what services are available in their community - Talk with local social service agencies or senior community organizations such as a local Area on Aging office or a senior church group.

Make minor adjustments in their lifestyle - It may be necessary to bring in outside help like Comfort Keepers here in Wallingford, CT to provide caregiving and homemaking assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping. They can also provide companionship while assisting your elderly parents with trips to the grocery store or a doctor�s appointment. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a homecare provider:

� Is the care provider a home care agency, employment agency, registry/broker, or an independent contractor?
� How long has the agency been providing home care?
� How does the agency screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment? Do they hire independent contractors or are they employees of the agency?
� Are references and criminal backgrounds checked on all employees?
� How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?

Use this time to plan ahead for unforeseen events - Take this time to establish advanced directives including establishing a power of attorney, will, living will, etc. There is no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to the homecare and safety of your elderly parents.

Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and establishing lifelong memories. By taking the time to address these senior issues before they reach the crisis stage, your caregiving family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your healthy aging loved ones for many years to come!
To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Your Stories November 2009

2009-11-07T08:42:00.002-05:00

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Bobbie�s Bevy of Beauties

Before I end the 3 B�s for the year 2009 I want to mention the great time we had at my 55th Meriden High School class reunion Saturday, October 24th at Jacoby�s restaurant. The 1954 graduates numbered 307. Close to 60 aren�t with us anymore and about 100 attended. We all had name tags which was a good thing. Some you were able to recognize right away. Others it took awhile. Good food, many memories and lots of fun. Hats off to the committee who did a splendid job.

Most of the clean up is done. Except for the leaves. Outside of the chrysanthemums, dahlias and a few roses the perennials have been put to bed. As I had mentioned I didn�t think the chrysanthemums would have a chance to bloom before frost. All of a sudden one day the buds were large and full and the next day began to open. Ended up with so many blooms that I gave away many bouquets. Close to a dozen. And still a lot left. Between the woodchucks and the weather the dahlias didn�t put on the best display. Lost a few also. Will buy more bulbs next year. The only annuals I decided to leave for awhile are the begonias in the two rock gardens where the pine trees once grew.

November is almost here and all too soon. I remember how happy I was when I was changing the calendars to April 1st. The cold weather resort for my hibernation has been prepared. The impatiens under the park bench at the end of the back yard have been removed. Decided to return to the same place as last year. Have brought in my supplies. Extra tomato sandwiches along with another favorite � Turkey Hill coffee ice cream. Also the periscope which I will poke up through the ground so I won�t have to dig my way out to check on the weather. Definitely there will be a T.V. Do not intend to miss any of the UConn lady huskies basketball games. I was hoping LitlBit would join me. But instead was willing to forego his four daily walks with me until my return and become a permanent fixture in his daddy�s lap. But I have adjusted to those crawly creatures below the earth�s surface. It certainly would help the loneliness somewhat if they could communicate with you. When the warm weather has returned I�ll be showing up along with the new seedlings and plants. And of course by now hubby knows when he�s suppose to come and dig me up from my bed of peat moss. LitlBit might even give him a helping hand. My tentative return date has always been March 1st providing the weather cooperates. This year we had a blizzard on this date. Just have to wait and see what the third month of next year will be like. So until then.

Since this is my last article I wish you all well. And a big thank you to those who have read my writings and said they enjoyed them. That makes it worthwhile.

Flowerecerely yours, Bobbie G. Vosgien

P.S. Dear Jeff, Happy Birthday on November 27th. Your friend, LitlBit

P.S.S.Have included a family photo taken at Jodie and John�s house in September when Keith came home for his annual visit from Paris, France. Hubby Jimmy in lounge chair with youngest granddaughter Izzy-Bella. Left to right. Our grandson Kevin Jr., his mother and our oldest daughter Jaime, our son Keith, oldest granddaughter Emmy �Me O�, mother of the tree girls, our youngest daughter Jodie, middle granddaughter Abby and John Jodie�s husband and of course dad to the three girls. I�m there too. The shortest one except for Izzy-Bella and holding our long haired dachshund LitlBit.

WALLINGFORD JUNIOR WOMAN�S CLUB ANNOUNCES
LITTLE MISS & MISTER WALLINGFORD WINNERS

The Wallingford Junior Woman�s Club announces the winners of the Little Miss & Mister Wallingford Contest held at Celebrate Wallingford: Little Miss Wallingford is Rylee Massoni and Little Mister Wallingford is Noah Koons.

The contest was held during Celebrate Wallingford on October 3 and 4. The contestants, four girls and eight boys between the ages of 4 and 7, had their photos displayed in the Children�s Game Area. Voting took place by the general public for a fee of 25 cents a vote. WJWC President Jeanne McFarland and Mayor William W. Dickinson, Jr., presented the winners with a crown, sash and scepter, and a Borders gift card.

Proceeds from the Little Miss & Mister Wallingford Contest will be used to fund WJWC projects and donations directly benefiting Wallingford. Upcoming projects include adopting a local family during the holidays and stocking stuffers for Covenant to Care for Children, the Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. state project.

Rylee is the daughter of Thomas and Kelly Massoni. She is six years old, and enjoys art and playing soccer and the violin.

Noah is the son of David Koons and Alison Koons. He is five years old, and WJWC announces Little Miss & Mister Wallingford Contest Winners enjoys swimming, hiking, and building with Legos.
Rylee and Noah will represent Wallingford at town events, including the Holiday Extravaganza on December 5, sponsored by the Wallingford Parks and Recreation Department and the Wallingford Public Celebrations Committee.

The Wallingford Junior Woman�s Club (WJWC) is a non-profit civic and community service organization open to any Wallingford woman. WJWC�s diverse membership includes single women, stay-at-home moms, professionals, and retirees with a desire to improve the Wallingford community through volunteering their time and talents. The club provides members with opportunities for personal enrichments, and to improve leadership skills and form new and lasting friendships. For more information about WJWC, please contact Jaime Bowen, Membership, at 203-294-0017.

WJWC was incorporated in 1954 and is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, and a member of the Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. www.cjw.org. WJWC projects include the annual Townwide Spelling Bee; the Children�s Game Area at Celebrate Wallingford; co-sponsoring Candidate�s Forum with the League of Women Voters; Cell Phones for Soldiers; and providing rehearsal snacks for the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra. In addition, WJWC currently participates in the CJW state project, Covenant to Care for Children, Inc., which provides direct assistance to Connecticut children who are neglected, abused or at-risk.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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Help Feed and Shelter Your Neighbors in Need This Holiday Season

For every $2 donation to Wallingford�s Master�s Manna, and other basic needs providers, $1 will be matched by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven announces the return of its Making A Good Gift Better program. The program is in its 4th year and designed to increase support for nonprofits that provide food, shelter, clothing and fuel assistance � all critical services especially given this year�s economic downturn. Donations made between November 2nd and January 15, 2010 to participating nonprofits are eligible to be matched. More than 25 nonprofits serving the Greater New Haven region are participating in the program, including past grant recipient, Master�s Manna of Wallingford.

Cheryl Bedore, founder and president of Master�s Manna, says that she was inspired to make personal sacrifices � including downsizing her family�s homestead - to accept a calling to help people in need. Master�s Manna has already grown in a few short years from humble origins in a church basement serving 40+ families to serving over 1100 families this past year. Bedore is seeing an increase in those numbers this year and attributes it to the tough economy, which has led to job losses and financial hardship for many families. Each week, over 2100 pounds of food is distributed to families and children from Wallingford, North Haven, and surrounding towns. From once providing just canned goods and clothing, the organization now operates a soup kitchen and home food delivery, provides clothes and laundry facilities � including diaper distribution - and has started a free health clinic. Classes in sewing, cooking and resume preparation are also offered free of charge.

Bedore credits the growth and success of Master�s Manna with volunteer and financial support from family, church and community members, corporations and foundations, such as The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Master�s Manna was a recipient of a Making A Good Gift Better grant in 2008. Bedore says the grant enabled the nonprofit to install a shower for homeless clients, including 7 families, in the organization�s new building at 46 North Plains Industrial Road in Wallingford.

In 2008, more than $450,000 was raised among 26 nonprofits - $225,000 of which was from Community Foundation for Greater New Haven matching dollars for first responders like Master�s Manna. Foundation funding also helped other agencies provide utility assistance to a mother of two, who fell behind in her bills and whose electricity was turned off; rental assistance to a young medical doctor - a refugee - from Iraq; and a luncheon service on Sunday�s for the homeless. Details about the Making A Good Gift Better program and a complete list of participating agencies are available at The Foundation�s Web site www.cfgnh.org.

Master�s Manna was also the recipient of a $21,000 two-year grant through The Foundation�s largest grantmaking process of the year. Almost $2.7 million was awarded through that process to nonprofits throughout Greater New Haven and the Lower Naugatuck Valley, mostly for operating support. Funding for grants such as the one to Master�s Manna was made possible through donors like Caroline Silverthau, Anne Hope Bennett, and George Mixter. Their bequests were received in 1942, 1943, 1977 respectively, and their funds collectively provided broad support for grants for health care and basic human needs.

Other grant recipients include the Audubon CT and community arts groups.

Audubon CT received a grant to support its program to identify and protect land tracts as critical bird habitats. Funding was made possible through the Naomi Law Terrell Foundation Fund - a special field of interest fund established in 2006 by bequest to provide funding for programs for the protection of birds and bird habitats in Connecticut.

Eleven grants were made to a variety of community arts groups that provide entertainment and cultural enrichment activities to all residents within the Greater New Haven area, and beyond. The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, CAPA, New Haven Festivals, Chestnut Hill chamber music concerts, Elm Shakespeare, Creative Arts Workshop and International Festival of Arts and Ideas were some of the recipients. Grants were made possible through The Foundation�s Arts Fund, established in 1980 as a permanent fund to support the arts in the Greater New Haven region.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is a philanthropic institution that distributes grants to nonprofit institutions and funds programs for the common benefit of all in the community. The Foundation was established in 1928 through a bequest and is now made up of more than 700 individually named funds created by people and institutions to ensure that programs and causes that matter most to them will be supported financially today and forever. In 2008, the institution awarded more than $14 million in grants. It is among the oldest and largest of more than 700 community foundations in the US and remains the largest grantmaker to the nonprofit sector in a region of twenty-towns located in the heart of central Connecticut. For more information on how you can help organizations like Master�s Manna in perpetuity, contact Tricia Caldwell at (203) 777-7090 or tcaldwell@cfgnh.org.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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Thanksgiving Memories
By Brenda Trumpold

Some things never fade and memories of waking up to the smell of our Thanksgiving turkey cooking is one of my favorites.. My parents always cooked our turkey overnight so the house would be filled will that special smell. Of course then there were all the trimmings....mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnip, stuffing, cranberry sauce, peas, carrots, and the best gravy ever. Dessert was pumpkin pie or apple pie. Later Dad would cook chestnuts. I am very thankful for these wonderful memories.....

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"What I Am Thankful For"
Lori Peck, Dedicated Volunteer

I am so very thankful for my family, my friends and for each and every one of you who has a soft spot for all of Gods creatures. I am extremely thankful for all of the volunteers at the Meriden Humane Society, who keep going strong even when it seems like there's no end. You are the one's that know how good it feels when you send an animal home to a loving person or family. The animals cannot speak and thank you, but they can show you how much you mean to them.

This time of year it gets dark so early and people tend to just stay home and be a couch potato. While there's nothing wrong with doing that occasionally, I opt to keep busy and spend my extra time helping those who cannot help themselves. Imagine how happy you could make an animal feel, just by showing up to visit it. Think about what it would feel like if you walked it or brushed it. It's a pretty small and simple gesture to you, but to an animal at the Meriden Humane Society, it's invaluable. So come on, put down that remote and volunteer or just socialize with the animals.

Remember, when you are shopping and picking up that extra item to donate to our human friends, that are furry friends also need your help. Won't you please remember them during the holiday season. If you cannot come see us in person, you may want to consider fostering one of our pets on our website.

* We are in desperate need of a Veterinarian who would be willing to come to our shelter at least once per month to give vaccinations and test our animals. Please contact the shelter immediately if you can help.

Our annual "Pictures with Santa" will be held on December 12th and 13th at Vinny's Garden Center in Wallingford. Please save the date and check our website for times and further information. You can also view our amazing animals on our website by visiting www.meridenhs.petfinder.com. We have over 120 cats and kittens to choose from right now, so please don't go anywhere else. Help save a life!

Thanks to all of you who read this article and thanks to Andy and Dawn for printing it. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Meriden Humane Society. You can visit us at 311 Murdock Ave. or call us at (203)238-3650. See you at the shelter!

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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Thoughts of Thanksgiving etc� � now and then�.
By Ernie Larsen

Here it is November 1st � can you believe it? I was at CVS yesterday and much to my chagrin � they had Christmas items for sale, seems like the stuff hits the shelves earlier and earlier every year. Anyway, speaking of holidays, Halloween has come and gone and as usual Gramma was working last minute on Riley�s costume � it came out great � this year she, Riley, was a cheerleader with all the moves involved with the genre � quite the show child!

The weather held off pretty well, we didn�t have an excess of children trick or treating however some of the costumes were pretty creative. I was also pretty impressed about the �thank-you�s� proffered by the children, good to hear that � many times you don�t. Didn�t see any of the so-called popular costumes, Michael Jackson, Jon and Kate, Bernie Madoff � maybe the adults has a lock on those. I was at a party store last week and there were more mature folk purchasing costumes than children, maybe the 31st being on a Saturday night there were more opportunities for the older crowd party wise.

And now we�re getting into the holiday season, once again. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. It is annually reported that that this is the busiest travel holiday of the year � beating out all others including Christmas. Maybe because it really is low-key, when you think about it; no running around last minute to purchase the �perfect� gift or having to impress anyone with your generosity of disappoint them for the lack thereof, as the case may be. There was reference to this in the November issue of Connecticut magazine and also a very interesting front piece by Charlie Monagan, the editor of the magazine about why no one has written a song about the holiday � check it out if you have a chance.

As I see it, Thanksgiving is traditionally a gathering of family and friends and the returning to the environs of your childhood to satisfy that primal familial responsibility; wouldn�t you agree? Also, have you ever noticed that many high school reunions are planned for the holiday weekend; it stands to reason everyone trekking �back home� for the occasion. And all those people trying to lose weight before their gathering � and then getting there and finding out it was all for naught; you really weren�t as bad off as some and you still have most of your hair! Anyway � my 45th is coming up in 3 years�something to look forward to or not? We�ll see.

Once again, getting back to Thanksgiving, how can we forget one of the highlights of the day, dinner. Back in the day when I was in high school my mother delayed serving until I got back from �The Game� Maloney vs. Platt. I think this �tradition� was and is now repeated in many Meriden and almost every other town and city that has a �Turkey Day� game. Anyway it gives the chef du jour, whomever that may be, time enough to prepare the annual feast. In our family, as I�m sure many others, that would be a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I still remember my Grandfather remarking to my mother �Margaret, this turkey is done to a turn�; little did we know she cooked it so long it was dry as a bone, I guess that�s what we were used to and possibly one of the reasons gravy was invented. And speaking of holiday foods, pumpkin pie brings up another snippet of holiday�s past which we recall much to the embarrassment, well maybe just to the annoyance of my son. He once remarked (years ago) that he liked pumpkin pie and too bad it was only available during the holidays; he was convinced it was a seasonal dish. Sort of like the story also surreptitiously surfacing at family holiday gatherings. Years ago we were at a Chinese restaurant when my brother became upset he could not order a hamburger. Ah, what memories!

Last year I sent out an e-mail for everyone coming to dinner at our home to bring a photo album or two to so we could see what everyone had done during the year or in years past. This turned out to be a fun activity and brought back fond memories.

This year � nothing major planned, I did mention we should have a �Parading of the Ribbons� � that is the ribbons that the Larsen bakers/photographer have won at the Durham Fair over the years. I said this in jest, but have an idea for a little surprise�time will tell. Anyway, the album idea went over very well and maybe something you, the reader of this piece, should think about � give it a try � I think you and your family will like the idea.

And getting back to food � why is it that the people at Butterball have a turkey hotline? Never could figure that one out. I guess I just do not understand why people are actually afraid to prepare a turkey dinner. I think it is in the same vein that you can only have pumpkin pie on holidays. I�m sure there are many households who only eat turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas. In our house, turkey is consumed year round. In the summer I�ve cooked turkey on my Weber charcoal grill and have prepared it by deep frying � my wife prepares it in the traditional manner several times during the year � not really is not a difficult item to cook. I must admit though we both have been cooking for years and are comfortable with the process. Yet even seasoned cooks have had their miscues preparing �the bird�. I just remembered that one of my family members cooked a turkey and forget to take out the giblet bag from the neck area � my daughter, who was at the house while I was writing this, replied �I did�, granted that was early in her cooking career, she is now a whiz in the kitchen, a most creative cook. Thinking of that little miscue, it�s not as bad as some of the stories from the Butterball Hotline � here�s one from their website that I found amusing:

Help! My Chihuahua's Stuck In My Turkey!"Speaking of things stuck in a turkey... A Kentucky woman called the Butterball Turkey-Talk Line in 1993, asking how to get her Chihuahua out of a turkey. It soon became apparent that the tiny dog had dived right into the carcass and couldn't get back out. Pulling the dog didn't work. Shaking the turkey didn't work. Finally, she was instructed to make the hole a little bigger so that the pooch could escape. It worked! At least she didn't have to perform a C-Section.

So, if you are epicurally challenged don�t be embarrassed; just give the Turkey Hotline a call � they field over 100,000 during the holidays; and do not be intimidated by cooking a holiday meal � there is tons of information online or in many cooking oriented magazines available at the newsstand or your public library. Just read and follow the directions and if all else fails, many markets now offer fully cooked turkey dinners with all the fixin�s. So, you can relax; remember this is a low-key holiday. Enjoy it with your family and friends.

In closing this month on a more serious and personal note; our family said goodbye to a good friend this week; Stephanie David (The General�s Wife). Just wanted to remind BG Allen Sr., �make sure your Class A�s are pressed � Cookie�s on the way�.

11/1/09
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Your Village Community Emergency Service Life Line

October, was National Fire Prevention and Education month, the South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department held its annual fire education day at Hanover School on Friday October 16th. Each year we work with the principal, teachers and parents to bring our life saving education to the children. The day started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. We teach children how to get out of a house in case there is a fire. We stress the importance of having at least 2 ways to get out of the house in case of a fire emergency. We also explain about how to use the 911 telephone system in case of an emergency. We then walk the children through emergency procedures on how to get out alive. Our fire education officer, Tom Stange, and his team work in and out of the school. We believe that knowledge is power and we want to make sure we share our knowledge with the children. We serviced approximately 600 students during the day.

Stay tuned our Adult friends don�t feel left out, because we will be having a class for you also. On Wednesday November 18th at 6 pm we will be holding OUR FIRST ADULT FIRE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS class at Hanover School. All adults are welcome come see what we teach the children and help us make our community a safer place to live. Learn some facts about Smoke and CO detectors, fire extinguishers and fire safety tips for survival.

Now its time for a couple of safety tips for our neighbors. We hope you all have working smoke detectors in your home. Working Smoke detectors save lives. Please make sure that you changed your batteries in the detectors. The best time to remember to change the batteries is when day light saving time comes. When you change your clocks back or forth change the batteries for safety. We hope you remembered to changed YOUR batteries.

Also if you do not have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home please purchase them. CO is a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas that is produced by inefficient burning and incomplete combustion of fuel products in heating appliances, furnace, hot water heaters, and stoves. If you do not have efficient burning appliances in the home, over a period of time CO could be building up in the home which if unchecked could lead to medical conditions and even Death. Having your furnace cleaned and serviced each year will help keep the units running more efficiently. CO is the silent killer, please protect your family and yourself and purchase CO detectors for your home. CO is also produced by normal operation of your vehicles and comes out of the vehicles exhaust systems. Running your vehicle in the garage could cause CO to seep directly into the home.

With winter right around the corner we are asking for your assistance with a little maintenance item. If you have a fire hydrant near the front of your property we need your help. When it snows it would be helpful; if you could clear the snow and ice away from the hydrant. In a fire emergency it is very important that we can hook our hoses to the hydrant as quickly as possible in case we need additional water to extinguish a fire. During and after snow storms we do try to get out and clear hydrants, but we do not always have time to get to them all. It would be very beneficial to all our neighbor to have clean and clear fire hydrants. If you can help us out with this maintenance item we would appreciate your assistance.

Another health tip. If you are under a doctor�s care and take certain medications keep a list of these medications handy just in case you have the need to call 911 for during a medical emergency. Also with this list you might want to give a little history of any medical conditions that you also might have. These are important things for emergency responders to have just in case you are unable to respond to our questions when we arrive at your home. A good place to keep this information is in an envelope on you refrigerator and note that it is Medical Info.

Public Service Announcement

We are still looking for some eager, hard working and committed volunteer recruits to join our department. South Meriden Vol. Fire Dept now is accepting applications. We are recruiting citizens from Meriden over the age of 18 who are High School Graduates in good physical health and have a clean police record. No fire fighting experience is necessary; we will train you and send you for training.

We also do recruitment for certified firefighters that live outside of Meriden as long as they can meet our bylaw requirements to do minimum one duty overnight crew a week plus meet our drill, meeting and squad duty requirements.

While volunteering with our department you will gain the experience, knowledge and certification which will help your career search in the emergency service field or just enhance your present career. Our members that have served over two years with us and are in good standing with our department can receive enhancement points that could help them in the hiring process if they choice to apply and test for a City of Meriden Fire Fighters position.

Information about our application process: We administer a written entrance exam in order to determine if applicants will be able to take and pass the required State of CT Fire Fighter I course and CT Emergency Medical Technician or Medical Response Technician courses which are also mandatory over the first 18 months of membership. We also administer an agility test that helps us determine if the applicants can perform the physical duties of a fire fighter. We also administer an oral interview and perform police and other background checks to ensure that the character and integrity of our prospective members meets our highest standards. South Meriden Vol. Fire is also a drug free environment and we test for drug use.

Good-bye for now, talk to you soon
Keep Safe and Stay Healthy
Keith Gordon, Chief of Operations

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Rededication Ceremony In Honor Of World War I Veterans At Harrison Park, Sunday, November 8th
By Barbara Sherburne(with help from Robert Beaumont and Linda Mercuri)

Harrison Park was named for Dr. Benjamin Franklin Harrison, who was born in Branford on April 19, 1811, graduated from medical school in New Haven on March 1, 1836 and had a medical practice in Wallingford from 1836 to 1846. He then sold his house and business, and sailed to France on November 1, 1846. In May of 1847 he left Paris to study medicine throughout Europe, returning to Wallingford in May of 1848 and resuming his practice in town. In August of 1862, he was a commissioned surgeon to a New York regiment at Yorktown, Virginia. He served in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina until 1864, then continued his medical practice in Wallingford until his death on April 30, 1886.

Bob Beaumont told me that The Wallingford Historical Society has a sketch Dr. Harrison drew of one of the encampments of the Les Enfans Battalion which hangs on the east wall of the Civil War Room at the Parsons House. There is also a nice large portrait of him in the North Parlor. He has a personal interest in Dr. Harrison because he was the older brother of his great great grandfather, Sylvannus Harrison.
Dr. Harrison's third wife and widow purchased the land in the upper portion of the park and donated it to the town in 1913 with the deed restriction that it be in perpetual use as a public park and that it be named Harrison Park in memory of her late husband. In 1919, there were 27 "memorial" red oak trees planted in the Park, 22 in memory of the men who had died as a result of injuries or from influenza or pneumonia incurred during the war; the first large oak tree at the entrance was planted in memory of Dr. Harrison. Fortunately, there were non-dedicated trees, because it was discovered over the years that there were at least three more men who had died in the war. The first dedication ceremony was held on May 30, 1919.

On Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 1 p.m. the Park will be rededicated for at least a second time. The Parks & Rec Commission has been working since June to have the plaques restored and replacements made for those which were missing, and the replacements were done by Barker Fine Art & Sculpture in Cheshire. David Gelo, a member of the Commission, polished the ones that did not need to be replaced. The existing plaques are the result of an Eagle Scout project completed in 1991, at which time there was a rededication ceremony. There will be 25 plaques, plus one in memory of Dr. Harrison, installed prior to the ceremony on the 8th. Since one of the original trees appears to be missing, based on verifying the currently existing trees against the original linen map, which is housed at the Wallingford Historical Society, each of the remaining red oaks will have a plaque on it. There are other oaks in the park, but they are not part of the original layout or dedication.
In 1986, William Neal MacKenzie, a local historian, wrote a history of the memorial trees. Tree #1 is in honor of Raoul Lufbery, Wallingford's most famous World War I aviator.. I will list all the names at the end of this article.

This particular project would not have been possible without the funds Sarah Harrison deeded in her will. The Parks & Rec Commission includes Chairperson Linda Mercuri, Dave Gelo, Roz Gallagher, and Phylis Murray. There is one open position at this time since Maynard Parker has retired. There are many volunteers who help with various projects at the 21 parks in town, especially the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who have participated in making trails, planting gardens, painting, constructing benches, and more.

There will be a color guard at Harrison Park, located on Cedar Lane, performed by World War II veterans, with Mayor William Dickinson taking part in the rededication ceremony as well. I hope to see you all there.
Tree #1: Raoul LufberyTree #2: John T. Phelan Tree #3: Stanley J. ShawTree #4: Felix W. ClarkeTree #5: Donald G. RussellTree #6: Arthur J. BrowTree #7: Thomas P. SinonTree #8: John J. RileyTree #9: Lucien F. St. CartierTree #10: Stanley D.. HuntTree #11: Harry B. HubbellTree #12: William T. ReillyTree #13: Nelson HitchcockTree #14: William J. McKernessTree #15: George J. DalyTree #16: Frank H. QuigleyTree #17: Michael J. KearneyTree #18: Edward J. KellyTree #19: Harold R. IvesTree #20: George C.. KattenhornTree #21: Guiseppe MolinariTree #22: Michael Della VecchiaTree #23: George ChapelTree #24: No name listedTree #25: Andrew LengyelTree #26: No name listedTree #27: Dr. Benjamin Franklin Harrison

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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A LITANY OF THE CIRCLE
Submitted by Priscilla Reynolds

This litany was drawn from the writings of Chief Joseph Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe in 1854. He wrote this in a letter to the President of the United States (probably Abraham Lincoln) at the time his people were removed to a reservation. It reflects wisdom that transcends time and cultures and speaks to us anew today.

Leader: Every part of the earth is sacred.
All: every shining pine needle, every sandy shore.

Leader: even, mist in the dark woods.
All: every clearing and humming insect is holy.

Leader: The rocky crests, the juices of the meadow, the beasts and all the people.
All: all belong to the same family.

Leader: Teach your children that the earth is our mother.
All: Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.

Leader: The water's murmur is the the voice of our father's father.
All: We are part of the earth, and the earth is part of us.

Leader: The rivers are our brothers; They quench our thirst.
All: The perfumed flowers are our sisters.

Leader: The air is precious,
All: for all of us share the same breath.

Leader: The wind that gave our grandparents breath also receives their last sigh.
All: The wind gave our children the spirit of life.

Leader: This we know, the earth does not belong to us;
All: we belong to the earth.

Leader: This we know, all things are connected,
All: like the blood which unites one family.

Leader: All things are connected,
All: Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.

Leader: For we did not weave the web of life;
All: We are merely a strand in it.

Leader: Whatever we do to the web
All: we do to ourselves.

Leader: Let us give thanks for the web and the circle that connects us.
All: Thanks be to God, the God of all.
Chief Joseph Seattle

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Forgiveness
by Pricilla Reynolds

I remember, perhaps seventy years ago, listening to a sermon about forgiveness. Pastor Locke made a great impression on his congregation as he demonstrated how long it would take for a drum to tap out 70 beats. At the time I was positive he said that Jesus wanted us to forgive each other 7 times 70. Today, as I read from the book of Matthew, chapter 18, vs. 21 and I quote: 'Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "not seven times, but seventy seven times." '

So what's my point? I guess I would rather have the lesson taught back in 1939 as 70 times 7 or better still, 70 times 70. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus tells us to talk to God and in the third or fourth line Jesus teaches us to say, "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Wow! That really makes you realize your frailties.

Someone once said my writing sounded preachy. This is the one time I can get away with it. I'm 77!
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Thanksgiving
By Nancy Freyberg

Every year I am always asked this one question by a first time reporter to the holiday community dinners, �Why do you give up your holidays to do this?� For 28 years I have given the same answer. �Look around. Pull up a chair. Stay awhile. Then ask me again.� They never do. On Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, I get to enjoy the world exactly the way I think God intended it to be. We come together in friendship to be with, and to serve one another. We have created a huge family that loves to come home year after year. That is the goal of the dinners, to make people feel like they are coming �home.�Twenty-seven years ago I was out for a walk. I heard a voice say, �find a place and cook. No one should be alone for the holidays�. I don�t want you to worry that I often hear voices, but that one was pretty clear! We started at the Advent Christian church on Whittlesey Avenue. About 35 people attended that first dinner. We added Christmas the next year and began serving Easter Dinner about 15 years ago. As the dinners grew and needed more space, we moved to St. Paul�s Episcopal church for many wonderful years and now enjoy a tremendous partnership with the First Congregational Church. People from every church in town and every walk of life support the community dinners, which have grown in every direction.Although Thanksgiving is the largest dinner, with 250 � 400 people eating in the fellowship hall, Christmas and Easter are close behind. We also send about 250 meals and visits out to the home bound each holiday, and provide food for two other communities so that they might enjoy the holidays too. Baskets with turkeys and all the trimmings are given to families at Thanksgiving who want to cook at home, and we �adopt� individuals and families at Christmas, providing them with food baskets, gifts, and whatever is needed. The Christmas Adopt � A � Family Program has extended to a school supplies program in the Fall that sends many kids back to school well equipped with clothes, back packs, lunch boxes, note books, pens, pencils, and so much of what they need to be successful in school.As the dinners and everything attached to them has grown, we have affectionately renamed it �God�s Dinner�. It really takes a miracle of faith and spirit to bring it all together. This is all done with volunteers who share their time, talent, energy, and great kindness to make these holidays wonderful for so many. The food is all donated. Even though the dinners are so large, all the food is home made, hand made, heart made and healthy! We want every participant to feel like they are coming home for the holidays. Individuals bring in pies and other home made desserts while Brownies, CCD and high school cooking classes bring over pans of the best cookies ever! Dennis Bonito brings his guitar and keyboards and plays and sings all afternoon. It is simply amazing and heart warming to be part of this effort.Every one who works on the �dinners� is blessed by it. It is the best example I have ever seen of people joining together to make our world a little safer, softer, and with such kindness. I give up nothing and gain everything to be part of this! The blessings are too many to name.Here is what I need as we move in to this wonderful season. There is a place for everyone who wants to help. We need volunteers on the actual holidays to help set up, serve, deliver meals to the home bound, and clean up. We need help ahead of time in the kitchen doing prep work and cooking turkeys. We also need donations of time, talent, food and money. Anyone who wants to volunteer, make a financial contribution, or donation of food should call the office at 203-284-8299. We are happy to tell you what we need.Dinner is served noon � 2pm Thanksgiving and Christmas day. The meal is free and transportation will be provided as needed. The meal is for anyone who wants to spend the day with others and have a great time.

There will be an organizational meeting Saturday, November 7th, 10-11:30am at the First Congregational Church kitchen area. Come and find out how you can be involved. Together we can do so much for so many.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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WHY I COULD JUST SKIP NOVEMBER
By Phyllis S. Donovan

Just this past week three of the light bulbs in our lamps died. Can�t remember the last time I had to change a bulb and now three of them give up the ghost in a matter of days. Not a big deal, I admit, but that�s the way November always goes for me.

November is the month most of my major appliances take it into their hard-wired heads to start acting up on me. Maybe it�s poltergeists left over from Halloween but as soon as I turn the page on the calendar, I hold my breath listening for changes in the rhythm of my normally smooth-running time-savers. Two years ago both my dishwasher and clothes washer kicked the bucket in the same November week. Don�t tell me it was just coincidence. I�m not buying it.

November is the month we are plunged into darkness in the middle of the afternoon in our return to standard time. And who says we make it up on the other end of the day? The time most of us are getting up isn�t much brighter even to start with, and before long, we are getting up in the pitch black again. It�s depressing!

Not to mention that once my yard and gardens are put to bed and the lawn and deck furniture brought in or bundled up, there�s no reason to spend time outside even on good days. Which brings me to the fact that with the changing season, outdoor activities are limited by both the torrential rains that have frequented us or the frosty cold weather that comes in their stead. I hate being cooped up. It�s hard to even walk around our hill when stiff winds buffet us in the face either going down or coming back up our steep hill.

Added to all that, this year everyone seems to be expecting the H1N1 swine flu to attack at any minute. It�s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. We were among the lucky ones to get regular flu shots and, admittedly, at our age, we aren�t prime candidates for the swine flu. But our grandchildren are. This year there seems to be an added element of trepidation toward any kind of gathering of young folks, whether for school, sports or social events, in fear of the spreading flu. The shortage of the new vaccine is just another November woe which hopefully will be alleviated as the month wears on.

Of course, we could dwell on the dark side of this somber month but it makes more sense to search for a happier outlook. On the few mild and sunny days in November, the crisp air and bright skies can often rival October�s bright blue weather. (Which we admittedly saw little of this year due to constant rain.)

November is the month when I buy more daffodil bulbs to set out on our back woodsy bank to offset the ones chewed up in summer by the chipmunks that have moved onto our premises. As I dig in those bulbs on a cool fall day, I picture how pretty my woods will look in the early spring when those daffies start to bloom. THAT makes me happy.

November is the month when I start feeding the birds on my back deck. I know many people feed them all year around but I tend to let them fend for themselves during the warm months when there are plenty of seeds, berries and crawly things to keep their feathery little bellies full. Besides, this summer we painted the back deck and kept it pristine all season. Now that we aren�t using it, it�s time to let the birds take over. They make a gosh-awful mess out there but we derive so much pleasure in watching them up close. Besides, they add touches of welcome color to a bleak landscape once the trees have lost their autumn foliage and turned drab.

November is the month of Thanksgiving�a time we could all pause and think back on all the things we have to be thankful for this year. Last year at this time I was in St. Raphael�s Hospital recovering from surgery on a brain cyst. This year I am home with a clean bill of health and counting my blessings healthwise. My husband had serious back surgery in July and is now completely mobile, walking with just a cane and planning to take a trip down south this winter.

We feel blessed to have parented five fine children, now all successful, married and raising families of their own. That means, ten lively and involved grandchildren whose scholastic and athletic accomplishments keep us feeling proud. We enjoy attending school events or ball games in which our grandchildren are participating and any other occasion for which the family can gather for cookouts or family feasts.

I think Thanksgiving is my favorite because the turkey dinner is the main purpose for the family to gather. We can just sit around and visit or the guys can watch football together and the young cousins can run around (outdoors, hopefully) and enjoy just being with each other. Thanksgiving is clearly November�s bright spot.

Okay, so I don�t totally hate this month�.but I have noticed that my clothes dryer has started making peculiar noises just this past week so I�m still keeping my fingers crossed.
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The Thankful Third Thursday
By: Melanie Hulett

Thanksgiving takes place on the third Thursday of every November. But for me it always seemed to start on Wednesday. The Powderpuff football gave against Lyman Hall and Sheehan was one of the highlights of Thanksgiving weekend each year. Watching the girls work together, and seeing their determination and power was something I looked forward to being a part of through my childhood. This game was the beginning of my Thanksgiving. As Thursday approached Kaelyn, my younger cousin, and I would write and rewrite grace to be said at dinner. We would practice, and oftentimes bicker over who got to say what. But looking back I can see who said what never mattered the people we spoke of were the truly important things in life. The morning of thanksgiving our house would smell of wonderful foods and my mom would rush around, it seems there was always too much to do and not enough time, potatoes to peeled, stuffing to stirred, vegetables to cooked. I often wondered why she went to the trouble to have dinner at out house every year. But as we sat down, the smile on my moms face as she watched her loved ones enjoy the meal she had worked so hard on explained it all. Thanksgiving was a time for her to truly give thanks for her family, in her own special way. This third Thursday every November is a time for everyone to give thanks in their own way, the key is finding who and what you�re thankful for.
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The Path of Self-Transformation
By Jennifer Jenkins

We all have the power to transform ourselves as the divine creative spirit is instilled within our souls. It is the awareness and belief of this power that helps set us free from the limitations we have imposed upon ourselves. Once we become aware of these self-imposed thoughts, we can begin to transform our thoughts about ourselves and our lives in a more positive light. Of course, the hardest part is making the decision to do so and sticking with that decision, which requires effort and self-discipline. But, once made, your life will never be the same.

It may sound trite, but by changing our thoughts we do change our lives. It�s amazing how the simplest affirmations we can say and/or write down for our selves can work their power in our lives. For instance, by saying, �I am smart and capable,� helps one to believe in one�s self, which is one of the essential keys to self-transformation.

Listening to the divine voice within is another key to self-transformation. When we quiet our minds to meditate and let go of all the chaotic and negative thoughts, we can tune into who we really are. We can pray for guidance and true understanding of our potential and then stop and listen, which is the heart of meditation � heartfelt communion with the divine.

Once we truly become aware of who we really are and what we want to create in our lives, we can set goals to accomplish this. I often find that by setting realistic goals, and sometimes even small ones, helps to build confidence in myself and my dreams. By setting simple goals and realistic deadlines to accomplish them, we all can embark on a firm path to achieving these goals.

Remember when you embark on this transformational path that you are never alone. We all have Angels around us and who are there to help us. All we have to do is ask for their help, and it is given. You see, they, are in our corner to work toward fulfilling our highest potential. So, if, for instance, you feel it is your mission in life to become an inspirational speaker, you can ask your Angels for help in accomplishing this. Of course, the more specific you are in your requests, the easier it is for the Angels to help you, as set forth in the following example:

�My dear Angels, please help me to connect with individuals and organizations that will play an instrumental role on my path to becoming a powerful inspirational speaker to help motivate people transform their lives for the better.�

By applying these personal and spiritual tools, one can positively transform one�s life. It begins with a simple decision, a decision that can profoundly change your life and, by ripple effect, the lives of others.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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Stormy Mountain Candles
-Jim Cosenza

Many firefighters have second jobs. Some are jobs they had before they were hired as firefighters and others were picked up along the way. Some firefighters are also carpenters, or plumbers, or painters. Jim Cosenza, a Meriden firefighter, is a candle maker. (No, this isn�t a nursery rhyme.) In fact, he now makes candles for some very big companies.

Cosenza, 44, the owner of Stormy Mountain Candle based out of 437 Broad Street, bought the company with his wife, Jennifer, from long-time owners Brian and Sharon Nelson, according to the company�s website www.stormymountain.com.

�I�m a scent oriented person,� Cosenza said, standing in his candle-making shop.

Originally making candles in the basement of the building, He has moved his business to the second floor. �We�re expanding,� he said, �and I ran out of room.�

We ran out of room when the Hershey Company commissioned him to make candles for them � chocolate scented soy candles, that is. (Stormy Mountain Candle recently switched all of their wax to soy because �it�s a renewable resource,� he said.) Cosenza and helpers, Harry Geiger and Jack Hamerski, wick and fill 1.5 ounce shot glasses with the soy wax, which they personally delivers to a distributor who attaches a pewter label with a Hershey insignia to the candles. The candles are sold at Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania and at other Hershey retail locations, Cosenza said.

Cosenza prides himself with the �personal touch� he gives to his business. Cosenza not only mixes scents, wicks and pours all of his candles, he also takes care of the business side of his company. �I�ve learned a lot from [watching my wife] Jen [run her salon],� he said. �Watching Jen run her business has really put me on the straight and narrow for running my business. I get tremendous help from her.�

But Stormy Mountain Candle is still looking for other big accounts. They recently acquired YogaDirect (a Hartford Online Distributor), which is including a Soy Candle with online orders. And he is currently �testing and bidding� a job for Haight-Brown Vineyard in Litchfield, CT. They�re looking for candles poured in wine glasses, he explained. He�s working on a Merlot scent, a Pinot Noir scent and a cabernet scent for them.

All though Stormy Mountain Candle seems to be moving up in the world � from the basement to the second floor, from just 13 small retail locations to Hershey and YogaDirect � Cosenza still prides himself on be personable in his business. He sells the candles as fundraisers. He also creates candles as wedding favors or employee gifts. �Those include personalized labels,� he said.

Brendan Noonan, a friend and co-worker, used Stormy Mountain Candles for wedding favors when and his wife were married. �We liked knowing our favors came from a local vendor,� Noonan said at his home. �Our guests were pleased with both the quality and scent of the candles. We�re still getting compliments on them and it�s been over a year since we got married.�

Customers can even purchase candles through his website, as mentioned above, or subscribe to a monthly newsletter promoting his specials on candles.

One might think that with the acquisition of all of these big companies Cosenza might want to stop there, but that�s not the case at all.

�Once I retire [from firefighting], I would like to open a gourmet coffee and candle shop,� he said.

_To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

Here are Some Features and Benefits of The Safety Choice Medication Management System From Guardian By Carol Carbutti the owner of Comfort Keepers in Wallingford, CT

Medication non-compliance from our elderly seniors has been called "America's other Drug Problem". An average of 218,000 deaths occurs each year because of medication misuse and various studies have found that medication non-compliance among the senior citizen population is very high. In a recent study, 70% of our non-compliant elderly population cited not remembering to take their pills as the primary reason. This inability to manage medications is one of the leading reasons why our retired seniors need additional, and often more expensive, care�such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes: � 23% of caregivers report issues associated with medications � 10% of hospital admissions are related to medication issues � 23% of nursing home admissions are related to medication problems � 80% of assisted living residents have medications managed by their facilitiesThe Comfort Keepers SafetyChoice� Medication Management System is an automated medication device that can help keep your retired senior parents in their home a while longer. This system will track when medications are due to be dispensed, reminds the elderly client to take the medication and set an alert that is transmitted to the central monitoring station if the medication is not dispensed as scheduled. This medication machine can be used to dispense both tablets and capsules for our senior parents...

The medication management system is designed to assist elderly individuals who have trouble with forgetfulness, taking too much or too little medication, the wrong medication, or wrong day's medications. It is ideal for senior patients suffering from mild to moderate dementia (Alzheimer's, psychiatric conditions) or dexterity issues (tremors, severe arthritis), as well as patients with complicated medications schedules, such as congestive heart failure. The SafetyChoice medication management system is currently based on the MD.2 hardware manufactured by IMD, the technology leader, and is monitored by Guardian Medical Monitoring. Only Guardian is licensed by IMD to monitor the medication management system software � all other services must use IMD for this purpose. Because of Comfort Keepers exclusive contract with Guardian; we are the only national home service provider that can monitor all elderly client-care devices in an integrated manner through a single call center. This is a source of significant competitive differentiation for our program.
The hardware in the Safety Choice program: � Holds up to 60 doses that can be dispensed up to 6 times per day, with each medication cup holding 20 to 25 separate pills. � This machine has a dispensing button especially designed for seniors. � Reminds clients to take medication through a loud, clear voice and tone, a text message and a flashing light. � Has a locking storage compartment to provide security and safety.
� Has a battery backup system to protect against power failure.
The medication management system unit is 13� x 12� x 14� tall. It has an audio speaker, an LCD message screen, a high intensity red alert light and a dispense button located on the front of the unit. A power cord connector, telephone line connections and an on/off switch are located in the rear of the unit. A 12 function keypad is located on the right side of the machine, behind the locked door. This keypad allows you to direct the scheduling and loading of medications into the machine. Also, located behind the door are medication cup cylinders, the missed medication storage area and access to the battery pack.

The system dispenses your senior parent�s medications according to the schedule that is entered. It also allows you to take medication out of the unit ahead of schedule, where appropriate.
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Poverty Rate Up in Wallingford Over Decade
-Mike Sullivan

The percentage of people living in poverty in Wallingford has increased over this decade, according to an analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau data by Connecticut Voices for Children. The poverty rate in Wallingford rose from 3.6% in 2000 to 8.4% in 2006-2008. There was also an increase in the statewide poverty rate in Connecticut -- from 7.9% in 2000 to 8.5% in 2006-2008.

Estimates from the Census Bureau�s American Community Survey revealed that 9.7% of children in Wallingford were in poverty in 2006-2008. (For a two-parent household with two children, the poverty level was $21,200 in 2008.) One in four children in families (25%) lived below 200% of the federal poverty level.

In Meriden, 12.9% of all residents and 19.4% of children fell under the Federal Poverty Level in 2006-2008. There was not a statistically significant increase in poverty among all Meriden residents over this decade. Among Meriden children, 37.5% were in families with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Poverty also increased over this decade in East Hartford, Enfield, Middletown, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Vernon, and Waterbury. To improve the reliability of its estimates for Connecticut cities and towns, the Census Bureau pooled three years of data from 2006-2008.

A summary of the Census data and links to more detailed town data profiles are available on the Connecticut Voices for Children Web site at www.ctkidslink.org. Connecticut Voices is a research-based policy think tank.
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Home Country
Slim Randles

Coffee always tastes perfect before daylight on the opening day of deer season, Dud Campbell thought as he sat in near-total darkness in his kitchen. It was Anita�s first year as his wife in deer season, and he was extra quiet so as not to awaken her. Turning on a flashlight on the kitchen counter, he wrote:

Honey, I�ll be up Pine Canyon, hunting up a feeder creek 1.4 miles to the right. The truck will be at the campground. Doc and Steve both know the area I�m hunting. I�ll be back no later than 10 p.m. unless I call.

An hour later, Dud quietly got out of the pickup and left a note under the windshield wiper:

Hunting to the west between here and the ridge. Should be back here no later than 9 p.m.
Dud Campbell

Dud was sitting on a rock outcropping as the sun rose, feeling the warmth spread from inside out as another great day of anticipation came. He smiled, and then prayed. He always did during hunting season. His prayer wasn�t wishing for success, but simply expressing gratitude for this special time. This was the success. Sitting here in the sun, hunting yet another year. An actual deer for the freezer is simply gravy on this feast.

After lunch, Dud decided to try a different location, so he returned to the pickup and left a different note. He got home about 9 p.m. and raved to Anita about the wonders of the day in the woods.

�You left me that note, Dud,� she said, �but I don�t even know where that is.�

�No. But the sheriff�s department does, and search and rescue knows, and both Doc and Steve know.�

She still looked puzzled. �You�re a good outdoorsman, though, aren�t you?�

�Well, yes I am. That�s why I left the notes. Anyone can twist an ankle or fall up there.�

He smiled at her. �Hunters have an old saying, Honey. If you take crutches with you, you�ll never break a leg.�
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Brought to you by �Ol� Slim�s Views from the Porch,� available at www.unmpress.com.
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�Maggie�s Corner�
The Universal Boomerang
By: Maggie Griffin

Stop for a moment and understand that every thought we think and every word we speak creates our future. Holding resentment and going over and over those past difficulties only attract more difficulties in an individual�s life.

What good is having a nice car or a nice house for that matter if you live with resenting others? The universe reacts to your own actions. Like a boomerang, how you treat others will come back to you the same way.

It is very important to be appreciative of life. For example, say you were the child that was always pushed aside when you were young? That experience should teach you how to look at yourself in the mirror each morning and simply say �I love who I am and I love my children�. It also prevents repeating the same cycle because you, as a child, remembered how it hurt you, leaving you giving so much love and attention to your own children for a happy home life.

Never mind the ones that caused so much negativity in your life, which is now in the past. Except and be thankful of who you are and know that you learned from experience rather than repeat it. Express gratitude. The more grateful you are, the more you will receive gratefulness; it comes naturally.

We all experience hurt to the point we need to justify the actions of the ones who create the hurt they give us. Yet, trying to explain and justify actions and words caused and said by another simply because you know it is the truth is ok, but not ok if you are trying to justify someone who lives with resentment. If that other person lives in a world of resentment, and keeps score cards, there is no reason to bother to try. Walk away as the truth is known by a higher power, a power that controls your universe.

Many times, however, going to the source of someone to tell them what they did wrong results in that person crying rather than explaining. Why? Because they know they said and did something to hurt a person that did nothing but love and help them. Who gets hurt in the end, the one that created such hurtful actions about another only to gain acceptance from those who live with anger and resentment. That�s the Universal Boomerang, a natural affect.

Nobody, and I stress, nobody is better than the next person. I�ll give an example. A woman who lost her dignity, created by someone else, cries every day over that loss. However, what she doesn�t realize is she is taking the dignity away from those in her own family because she doesn�t want to listen; rather she clouds her thoughts about someone that she felt took her dignity away, something that happened in the past. Every day she focuses on something that happened in the past rather than focusing on today and keeping her family together. You see, she is not paying attention to what is right in front of her. Repeating past events, living by score cards, forgetting she once walked the shoes of her own children, yet ignoring her children�s feelings because she constantly thinks of the past of who said and did what to her. Yet, she doesn�t seem to care about this one fact; she is so clouded by her own hurt, she doesn�t realize the hurt she causes by her own words.

The end result is negativity when people cannot accept what they have and be grateful for it. The inability to forget past events, which creates living with more resentment rather than expressing love and gratefulness for those in one�s life, creates a feeling of loneliness, no matter how many people surround that person.

If you keep reminding yourself of past events, they remain in your surface, preventing you to live a complete and peaceful life within yourself and causing more anguish that hurts another, giving you once again, the Universal Boomerang effect.

The words; �that person is crazy�, in my opinion, anyone who says those words about anyone holds a lot of resentment themselves, resentment that they ponder on day in and day out, resulting in the boomerang effect as well.

What you say, do and give, returns right back at you the same way. Yet the person who does NOT think or say those words is the person who loves themselves and appreciates everyone and everything that surrounds them, unconditionally.

Think about it. As I stated, a nice car, a nice house, nice cloths, etc., does not make you better than the next person. If you have all those things and more, yet live to resent and mock others, all it will do is create more misery within. Love one another as God loves you.

What you say and do, good or bad, will come back to you. The Universal Boomerang affect is a part of nature. If you live an honest life and not involve yourself in resentful conversations, wrong actions, or try to gain acceptance by those who live with resentment by hurting someone who is innocent, you will have a positive being within yourself and be able to wake up every morning with peace in your heart.

There is the old adage, what you give is what you get. That is the nature of the Universe. Simply put, throw away score cards, let go of resentment, stop hurting another. If you cannot be thankful for you, and be thankful for now, those score cards will eventually lead you into a competition of your own because you will be hit with the boomerang affect called loneliness.

Don�t call someone because you need something. Call them because you simply want to say �hello, how are you�. And when the truth hurts, accept it rather than dish it out with negative comments or excuses about another person for an unjustifiable reason. If you did or said something wrong, be a human and admit to your wrong doings rather than drumming up excuses to cover your wrongful actions. The person you hurt, you may need them someday in more ways than one. Think about it. Admitting when you are wrong is the key to a clear conscious.

Leading an honest life is the key to thankfulness and happiness. If you feel anger and resentment, take a step back and think of the words and actions you caused another that caused that resentment. You can�t take anger and resentment with you later on. Let go and you will find peace and happiness regardless of any of the hurt you feet within. There is a thing called forgiveness, to be able to forgive is holding the power of your own destiny where every step you take is taken in a direction that has the benefits of self endurance.

It is not by choice we arrive to being, but in being leaves us to make choices we can change within ourselves to live a happy life. If you continue living a life of resentment, the end result is you are risking being alone later in life. But if you can take all the negative anguish and turn it into positive forgiveness; and know everything can be worked out; then you can look at yourself in the mirror and say �I love who I am�.

Live, Love, Laugh, and Forgive. Most of all never give up Hope. Be thankful for you. Life is a precious gift. Don�t wait to say what you want to say from your heart to someone because in life, there really are no second chances to say what we feel in our hearts. Resentment can also lead into regret when we lose a love one.

Have a Peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful. Pick up the phone and call that person you haven�t seen or spoken to in a long time. Putting your selfish pride aside by simply saying, �Hello, how are you� is the first step in saying to yourself; �I love who I am and I am thankful for being me�.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!
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�When North Winds Blow�

The October 8th Premiere of �When North Winds Blow� in Wallingford, CT was a huge success with about 200 attendees and then dinner afterward at the Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden CT. Immediate reviews of the film were extremely favorable, especially given that the project was an independent �No Budget� film.

�When North Winds Blow� will be showing at the Holiday Cinemas, 970 North Colony Road, in Wallingford beginning on October 16th and continuing on a week to week basis at the discretion of the theater. The showtimes are 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm.

Inquiries concerning the film may be made to the film�s director, James M De Vince at 203-631-1353 .

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Thanksgiving
-Carole Golitko

I had a Grandmother who had the in site to teach me about life. She taught me to garden, how to use herbs, how to make & use a cold frame & to cook. We made dough & noodles every Wednesday, all kinds.We did this especially during lent for Friday meals. We had an extended family so we made a lot. We dried them over racks that also doubled as clothes dryers (no automatic dryers then) She was the first person I ran upstairs to see when I came home from school. What was the day going to be like was my excitement. Would I learn something new from her, of course, I didn�t think of it as a learning experience, I loved spending time with her. She was kind didn�t speak much but when she did oh it was plenty. I learned to love from her because she loved me no matter what. This Thanksgiving Thank you Grandma I know you�re up there you told me, & someday we�ll meet again. I hope I�ve done you proud.

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A Chilling wind

The sky distinctly hued in pink,
Held echoes of soft peeping sounds
rolling smoothly o�er the brink.
As weathered leaves cascaded to the ground,
This dark and creepy old man, strolled in.
His balding pate flashing conspicuously,
Shattering the pitch-black sanctuary
of these who feared him in stoic awe.
For he, this thing, was dying autumn.
And bringing the knowing of time,
a cold and dreary omen for all
to see the sprightly warmth
of mellow, adoring days of
merriment, tumble towards its end.
For soon will come the chilling news
That old man winter has come again.
- George Arndt -
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Before you call I will answer
-Janet Althouse

At the age of 52, I became a widow. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. It seemed it was easier to be away from home than it was to be at home. I could pretend that my husband was just waiting for my return. So, I decided to travel. I had never done a lot of long distance driving, especially by my self, but from the beginning, I knew God was with me. I never had a mishap, never hit a deer or any other animal. Never got a ticket. I always felt safe. I would play my Christian tapes and the miles would fly by.

I had a friend who lived in South Carolina and it was about a 12 hour drive. Being summer it stayed day light till around 9:00 in the evening, so I left home one Sunday morning about 9:00 a.m. headed for my friend's house. I was about an hour from her place and my car started to lose speed. I was low on gas and decided to get off and get the tank filled up. I stopped at the end of the off ramp and my car would not start. Of course, when the car started to act up, I started to pray. I asked God to help me and to ask my friends at home to pray for me.

As I sat there not having any idea what to do, cars started going around me and some stopped and asked me if I needed help. One was a woman in her mid thirties, I would guess, and she was alone. She pulled off the road and asked if she could help me. Then this guy stopped and he said he would take a look under the hood. He pushed me off to the side of the road and checked under the hood. He said he was a mechanic and that I would need a tow. He pushed me across the street into a gas station and called a few tow trucks to see if someone could come get me. It was Sunday night and he had to call a couple before someone agreed.

In the meantime, this lady stayed with me. The mechanic said he would have the tow truck tow my car to the garage where he worked. I said okay, and the lady asked where I would stay. I said probably a motel. She helped me get my luggage out of my car and put it in hers. Then we followed the tow truck in her car.

When we reached the garage, the tow truck driver wanted his money. I tried to give him a credit card, but he wanted cash. Fortunately, I had enough to pay him, but was left with about $5 in cash.

The lady then decided I should go home with her and spend the night with her and her daughter. She took me to her apartment and fixed me a sandwich. I was going to sleep on her couch, but she decided that since her young daughter was out and would be coming home later, that I should sleep in her bed so her daughter would not be frightened to see a strange woman sleeping on the couch. She put clean linens on the bed and I slept in her bed.

In the morning she had to leave early to go to work, but first took me to the garage where my car had been towed. I thanked her so much and got her name and address. Before she left, she gave me $5 to get myself some breakfast.

Like the title of this story states, "Before you call, I will answer." God knew I would need an angel and he had a couple of them all primed to help me. The lady had been on her way home from church and felt God's nudge to give me a helping hand. The guy, too, was definitely an angel to give me all that help.

I sat in that garage all day while they tried to find out what was wrong with my car. They did not want it to be the fuel pump because they would have to take off the gas tank to get at it, but eventually that's what they had to do. I enjoyed telling everyone there waiting for their cars, about my angels. One older man was a little upset because they broke down on the highway, too, and his son had to walk quite a distance to get them some help. I just smiled and kept on giving God all the credit.

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TURKEY TALES
Dorothy Adair Gonick

Throughout November, school days in the Redding, Iowa Consolidated School focused on Thanksgiving: Pilgrims, Indians, and thankfulness for the beauty and richness of our country. We heard stories of the Indian Squanto and his friendship and helpfulness to the Pilgrims. A feast of popcorn was celebrated where we wore paper �Pilgrim� bonnets and feathered headdresses. We were given mimeographed outlines of turkeys to color and then hung them as decorations. Once we visited a turkey farm, and giggled at their gobbling. However, our usual Thanksgiving dinner featured a plump, roasted hen until we began raising turkeys.

In the early 1930�s, Dad and Grandpa decided to raise a few turkeys. We kids were jumping with excitement when the carton of twenty-five noisy, newly hatched turkey poults was delivered. Baby poults can starve or dehydrate while standing in the midst of plenty, so Grandma became the Mom turkey. She took over the chore of tipping each

Turkey Tales

Tiny, downy head to the saucer of water for a drink, then to the turkey mash waiting in a
tray. She seemed to enjoy this and gave each one a welcome and blessing. Those little balls of fluff fascinated us and we loved cuddling them. When darkness fell, the peeping ceased as they nestled together for warmth under the brooder hood where they looked like a blanket of soft fuzz. The poults often ate litter as well as mash, which gummed up their gizzards, and we wondered if they would smarten up as they grew older? To keep their gizzards clean, we fed them crushed oyster shell. I liked the soft gray color and crunchy texture of the crushed oyster shells that came from the faraway ocean, but was glad I didn�t have to eat it.

The poults grew rapidly and soon enjoyed the fenced-in enclosure by exploring and nibbling the green grass and chasing and savoring small insects. When summer arrived we put them onto pastureland for greater freedom to grow. They had graduated from eating mash to a purchased turkey feed of cracked corn, grains and weed seed that was poured into troughs. Containers were also provided and kept filled with fresh water. A few years later the area farmers became aware of a new weed growing in their pastures that neither the turkeys nor cows would eat. Wondering what it was, they took some to the local Agriculture Dept and were told it was marijuana that had grown from seeds contained in the turkey feed. This news made the headlines in the local paper! We hadn�t considered turkeys to be the smartest creature on earth but now wondered if perhaps they did have enough �smarts� to deliberately reject those seeds? The farmers would now include this weed along with the cockleburs and thistles they were constantly trying to eradicate from their land.

My sisters, Alice, Margaret and I remember our frustration on the day we were asked to move the turkeys from one pasture to the adjacent one. We opened the gate and got behind the flock to herd them in�that mistake only confused the flock into a squawking, milling mass of turkeys. As we decided to close the gate and get help, we realized those turkeys were following us through the gate like a game of �follow-the-leader�. Silly turkeys. If wild turkeys had this same trait of curiosity and unwariness, it would have been easy for the Pilgrims to capture them, thus aiding survival during the winter seasons.

So began years of raising turkeys--several hundred each year. Soon after World War II broke out, the need for many turkeys led us to raise thousands of turkeys as a contribution to the war effort, so servicemen all over the world would have turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. During this era, turkey raising became a big business for area farmers, and we were part of it, glad to have a patriotic part to play and bring a bit of cheer to the servicemen.

Dad and Grandpa solved several problems when the turkeys were put out on the range. Lanterns were kept burning at night to discourage foxes. Coyotes weren�t easily discouraged, so Grandpa outfitted his �29 Buick shell as a sleeping rig out on the range. Turkeys are notoriously noisy when disturbed, so any interloper raised an alarm. Another problem was the turkey�s reaction to the noisy warplanes (monstrous birds) that frequently flew overhead and caused the turkeys to scatter, often running into fences, sometimes breaking their necks. One day our cousin, Orin, was flying on his way to

Sioux Falls with the B17 and created quite a ruckus as he circled the farm in a salute. Little did the turkeys know that they might be dinners for those airmen later in England.

Another problem was the weather. One summer afternoon a heavy thunderstorm of cold rain came and frightened the turkeys. All raced to their shelter and piled in a great heap, suffocating a large number of them. The men tried to shoo them apart, but were left with mounds of dying turkeys. At that time, there was no insurance, so instead of throwing away the turkeys we had the bright idea to dress them and at least have them for future meals. A quick call brought the rest of the family together; we even called Uncle Fred, who lived 80 miles away, to bring his family and help butcher and dress those unfortunate birds. An assembly line was formed. By lantern light, the men severed the heads; the boys brought them to the house for plunging into boiling water to loosen the feathers for plucking, which was the job for us girls. Mom singed the fine hairs by holding the turkey carcass over flames; the entrails were removed, giblets put into the cavity and Grandma used her strong fingers to grasp and remove the tendons, (we never did like to bite into the tendons of a cooked turkey leg). Twine was anchored to the feet and hooked over a nail under the porch roof to drain. I recall noticing the clock marking 12:00, 1:00 and on into the night. Uncle Fred�s family arrived and we tired kids were sent to bed. By morning the turkeys were ready to be taken for freezing in the Grant City Locker Plant where we rented several drawers to keep them frozen. We gave dressed turkeys to relatives and friends; even so it was about two years before the last turkey was roasted. This event became an oft-repeated story at Adair family gatherings. The camaraderie experienced in that tragedy was warm and unifying, giving us all a real sense of oneness.

Most of our turkeys went to the Christmas market. They had to be ready about three weeks before the holidays. Our brother, John, remembers that as a young boy, loading those turkeys into crates was a flopping chore. With their big wing span they seemed to be bigger than he was and squawked loudly at being stuffed into the wire crates. Cheers and waves followed the trucks as they took those turkeys to the next stage of becoming dinners. Those events are left to the imagination. Our part in the war effort was
completed. We thought of all the servicemen that would be remembering their loved ones while enjoying the turkey and trimmings of the holiday meal, and we wished them well.

Today, children still color paper turkeys for Thanksgiving decorations. A sense of wonder wells within me as I remember that from Pilgrims to the present-day, the turkey has symbolized Thanksgiving; a day to honor those who founded, and those who fought to preserve the values of our country.

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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A Thankful Day in November -- or was it in October ?
-George Arndt-
November�ahhh, what a special time of year. Most folks start thinking about the feast that will be taking place later down the road �Thanksgiving Day. There wasn�t such a thing back in the Pilgrim�s day, nor were there any thoughts of such a thing. Their thoughts and concerns were focused on how to survive the wind and cold, and if they could gather enough food to last the winter that was raising its frosty head.

All summer there was no want. And now they began to store fish, fowl, wild turkeys, venison, Indian corn, and all the things that they had harvested, as winter approached. Then, one day in October of 1621, the pilgrims and their Indian neighbors gathered together for a grand feast. And thus they found the Lord to be with them and to bless their out-goings and in-comings.

For three days the Pilgrims and their Indian guests gorged themselves on venison, roast duck, goose and turkey, clams and other shell-fish, succulent eels, corn bread, tasty pudding, leeks, water-cress, and other herbs, with wild plums and dried berries as dessert, all washed down with wine made of the wild grape. The affair was more like an out-door barbeque for the Pilgrims and Native Americans.

It would be so wonderful if we could gather with our family, friends, and neighbors every day of the year and sit at a table filled with a cornucopia of the finest foods provided by our Lord � smile, and be happy just to be able to share the fruits of our labor and the love of all mankind.
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To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!

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Our family�s best Thanksgiving
By Kim Hancock Childs

Our family�s best Thanksgiving, by far, was the week of Thanksgiving, 2007. To fully understand, we need to go back 2 years.

Thanksgiving 2005 was rough. My mom had passed away in February, and my family was really struggling. There were many issues to be dealt with following her death, and it had all really taken its toll on all of us. The holiday season was my mother�s favorite time of the year, a passion we both shared. I was dreading our first Christmas without her, so my husband and I decided to take our 3 children to Disney World for the week. Matt was 13, Becca was 12, and PJ was 6.

We left on December 21 and were all so excited to go. We were really enjoying our time together, and the magic of Disney. Several times, PJ would complain, even crying a few times, that his feet hurt and he couldn�t walk anymore. He had complained about this before but we never thought much about it. When one morning, he didn�t want to leave the hotel because he didn�t want to walk, we knew something was really wrong. We got a stroller for him for the remainder of the trip, and vowed to call the doctor when we got back home.

So began our 2 year journey. As PJ�s condition began to worsen, with his gait becoming abnormal, his stamina shortening, and his pain increasing, we went from doctor to doctor, trying to find the answer to his worsening symptoms. He had numerous tests, from blood work, to MRI�s, to gait studies, went to physical therapy, first 2 times a week, then weekly, had to wear braces on his feet, and finally having to use a wheelchair everywhere but home. We saw too many doctors to count, and PJ received several diagnoses, as every doctor had his opinion as to what it could be. Spending much time on the computer, researching, we had ideas of our own, but doctors weren�t willing to give much attention to our findings.

By the end of summer, 2007, PJ was at his worst yet, unable to walk more than a few feet, was beginning to have increased difficulty breathing, began to lay down more because his neck would grow tired just holding his head up. We were finally referred to Boston Children�s Hospital, with an appointment for November 19, the Monday before Thanksgiving. By now, we knew not to get our hopes up, as we were beginning to believe we would never have an answer.

Dr. Pete Kang, a neurologist at Children�s Hospital, examined PJ, took our story (which was quite lengthy by this time) and listened intently. He suggested we try PJ on a medication called Sinemet, to see if it would help. If it did, most likely PJ would have a condition called Dopa-Responsive Dystonia (DRD), a rare neurological condition in which the brain cannot process the chemical dopamine effectively, causing muscle spasms and twisting. Through our research, we had come across this disorder, had strongly believed that this was what PJ had, and were repeatedly told it could not be. So when Dr. Kang mentioned this, we were in tears, so happy that finally, someone was willing to consider this. If this worked, it was the best possible answer. While PJ would have a rare neurological disorder, it would be treatable.

PJ began taking Sinemet on Tuesday, November 20. By Wednesday, November 21, when PJ came home from school, we could see an improvement in his gait, and he said his pain was much less. He asked to take his braces off, and he never put them on again. By Thanksgiving day, November 22, 2007, PJ was running around the house like he hadn�t since he was a 2 year old. We were so thrilled, we spent much of the day just watching him, crying. We couldn�t believe our eyes. He was walking, pain free, with no braces! It was an amazing day. On Friday, we went to Target, to do some shopping. PJ pushed his wheel chair through the store, never needing to get in it once!
We had never seen him so excited, so happy. It was the best Thanksgiving ever!

Now, at age 10, PJ has the official diagnosis of Dopa-Responsive Dystonia. He is an active boy who is able to do just about anything he wants. He takes medication 4 times a day, still has a recurrence of symptoms occasionally, and has had to learn to pace himself so as not to over do it, but none of this gets in his way. He drives quarter midget race cars at Silver City here in Meriden, plays the saxophone at school, and is a member of the Safety Patrol. He enjoys playing baseball and basketball in the back yard with his brother, and he yearly takes part in the Daffodil Festival�s Fun Run at Hubbard Park. We will always be so very thankful to the wonderful doctor who was willing to think outside the box and give PJ his life back! Especially on Thanksgiving day!
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Dear Housewives � Central Connecticut�s Know it All Gals
Dear Readers,Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail andy@peoplespressnews.com or phone with your confidential question and we will answer it in the next issue.
Sincerely, June and Flora

Dear Housewives, My husband had an affair years ago, I think he may be seeing someone again. I told him I would not forgive him a second time, how can I be sure he is cheating before I make any rash decisions. I will not change my mind if it is true.
Once a cheater always a cheater? in Orlando, FL

JUNE: There are a few things you can do if you want to know. You can hire a private detective if you have the money. Any pictures or things he finds can be used in your divorce if need be. You can follow him yourself for a few weeks to see if he goes where he says he is going. You can look through his receipts and things to see if anything is out of the ordinary. Good luck. I hope you find out he is faithful.

FLORA: Infidelity is a painful time during a marriage. What is making you think he is cheating on you? Men and women stray from marriages for many reasons. Some saw it first hand in their upbringing, some feel they are not loved or respected at home so they seek to have those needs fulfilled elsewhere. If you are people of faith, find a faith-based councilor to speak to. If you are not, seek out a family and marriage therapist. Asking your spouse to come along is a start.
Have a one to one conversation with your husband by going to a neutral location to talk. Be prepared to be calm and caring during your time together. Lashing out in anger will drive him further away.
A marriage and family therapist is the way to go.
Dear Housewives,I have to organize my storage room and need some help. I cannot seem to even begin. The task is so overwhelming that I put it off month after month. Any tips for me?A Homemaker in Connecticut

FLORA: You can complete this task two ways. First, reserve a day or two half days to begin. Have a place to make your piles. Give Away. Keep. Not Sure (the not sure-you box up and revisit in 6-12 months. If you never needed to go into the box/es-give away). Spend the day working on the storage room. No E-mail, No Phone. The only breaks are for food and restroom breaks.The other way is to do the room in quadrants. I love quadrants. That is how I look for missing things in the car, in a room. Break up the storage room into 4 squares. Do ONLY one square at a time. Complete the task in 1-4 days.
JUNE: Wow Flora, that is right out of the book. I agree that this is the most organized way to do it. Also, there are many items you can buy to help you organize. I would suggest things like clear totes so you can see what is in them. You can get label makers to mark everything. Also, it is important to keep like things together so you can find them later. If you have more than one box of something, mark it 1 of ____(put the total) so that you know later on that there are more boxes of the same thing. Good luck.
Book Nook/ Movie Mania

JUNE: Hi Flora, we finally got around to watching Slumdog Millionaire. It was a very good, well written movie. It was about life in India for a boy and his brother. When one brother wins on their version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire he is beaten and accused of cheating. They use this as a way to flashback through his disturbing life to show you how he knows about the things he is answering. It was so sad because for many children in these Eastern countries, life is like it was depicted in the movie.
FLORA: I have not been in Book or Movie mode lately.
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I Will Hit The Big 6-0 On Thanksgiving Day

I have never been a very observant person, and lots of things people have no trouble seeing, I miss. I have been thinking 2009 is a special year because my fraternal twin sister Barb and I will be turning 60 on November 26. However, it was not until Saturday morning, October 24, I found out it was even more special. Based on a pattern I cannot figure out, there are some years our birthday lands on Thanksgiving Day, and so it will this year. Naturally it would be super special if we could celebrate it together, but the distance between us and the fact we both own several cats would make it too difficult. When we were children, Mom, dad, my sister and I would spend quite a few Thanksgivings at our aunt and uncle's home in Westport, Connecticut, my old home town. While I have no clear memories of what we all dined on, I can assume we enjoyed traditional foods such as turkey, stuffing, squash, turnips, peas, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, and those time-honored pumpkin, apple, and mincemeat pies. However, there was one year I shall never forget. I thrust a serving spoon into what I thought was mashed potatoes, and heaped a large helping onto my plate, only to find out it was creamed onions. I was about to put them back when my mom stopped me and told me I had to eat what I served myself, whether I liked it or not, and creamed onions were among my least-favorite dishes. I am confident that because of that episode, I made sure I knew what was in the bowl before I heaped some of it onto my plate. This year I plan on my traditional dinner of roast duck and yams, washed down with Cold Duck. Even without my sister with me to observe our shared 60th birthday/Thanksgiving Day, I am very thankful to still be able to celebrate the day on which we give thanks to God for His blessings. Happy Thanksgiving. Nancy SherburneTucson, Arizona
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Thanksgiving

French culture is different from ours in many ways. It is neither good or bad just different. In France we noted how quiet and private the citizens were. On a trip thru Paris in November we found ourselves wandering from one art museum or gallery to another. At the D'Orsay one day lunching behind the big clock. We ordered and sat talking while we waited for our lunch to arrive. When it did the waiter, cleared his throat as he placed our food. As he placed a picture of a turkey on our table he said in English "Happy Thanksgiving" . (It was turkey day.) We smiled as he turned and walked away. They did not interfere with our lunch or trip; they just wanted to let us know that had taken note of our passing!
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�Sheltering an Animal�s Perspective�
by
Gregory M. Simpson

It was a banner first year for Connecticut Votes for Animals (CVA), for which I am proud to say I am a member of the advisory board. Under the leadership of ASPCA attorney Debora Bresch and Our Companions Animal Sanctuary CEO Susan Linker, CVA saw one of the first bills it lobbied passed and signed into law by Governor Jodi Rell on July 8th, the Puppy Lemon Law Bill.

The Puppy Lemon Law Bill will provide greater protection for consumers and animals sold in pet stores. This new law encourages the sale of healthy animals in several key ways. It increases the potential veterinary reimbursement from $200 to $500 and allows this reimbursement for congenital defects without the need to return the animal. The law also increases the window for this reimbursement from 15 to 20 days.

Critically, pet stores will now be required to purchase out-of-state animals only from USDA and state licensed breeders. As an important consumer measure, pet stores will be required to provide consumers with breeder/dealer information to fully disclose the source of the animals.

Connecticut Votes for Animals is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(4) organization, whose aim is to mobilize the public to support animals through their political choices. It serves as the political arm of the state�s animal protection movement by advocating pro-animal policies and engaging public support for the passage of animal friendly laws and opposition to proposals harmful to animals. CVA is Connecticut�s only grass roots organization that gives animals a voice in the Legislature. Members are provided with political �scorecards� so that they can make a difference at the polls by electing animal friendly legislators.

Connecticut Votes for Animals educates the public regarding animal protection issues and safeguards the interests of animals by making their well-being a priority for elected leaders. During this past legislative session, CVA tracked over 20 bills, ranging from acts concerning humane education and the treatment of elephants to an act requiring court ordered counseling for juveniles charged or convicted of animal cruelty. Most proposed bills do not become law, especially the first time they are raised.

In the last legislative session, CVA also lobbied to pass a bill to prevent the constant tethering of dogs, i.e., chaining or confinement. The current law is vague and animal control officers are not able to enforce it. As a result, dogs in Connecticut can be chained or confined day and night. This is not only cruel to the dogs but also poses a public safety threat as chained dogs are three times more likely to bite people. Unfortunately, the draft Tethering and Confinement Bill required additional work.

With your assistance as a CVA member, a Tethering and Confinement Bill can be passed in the next legislative session, ensuring that the outcome of cases like the one in Hartford, where dogs were found stacked in crates in a shed, are very different. Currently, excessive confinement alone is not sufficient to warrant charges under Connecticut�s animal cruelty law.

Next session, Connecticut Votes for Animals, with animal control officers and the ASPCA, will work to get the Tethering and Confinement Bill passed. But it cannot be done without grass roots power. As the anthropologist Margaret Mead said, �Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.�

Animals don�t vote, people do, so share your support by becoming a member of Connecticut Votes for Animals. A $25 non-tax deductible donation can be mailed to Connecticut Votes for Animals, P.O. Box 266 Cheshire, CT 06410. Or you may sign up on-line at: www.ctvotesforanimals.org

For the animals,

Gregory M. Simpson

Gregory Simpson�s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers� Association.

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ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP THOSE IN NEED?
By Bonnie Kent

Please Come Support the Expansion of the Wallingford Emergency Shelter on November 20th

Have you ever had to decide between feeding your family or a roof over your head? Or are you one of those who are less fortunate and have neither food nor shelter? You could be next. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!

I am a single mom and I have faced that choice before and in times like these I don�t want to face that decision again. Yes, every one of us is feeling the financial crisis but every single person can do one thing and help make it better for someone else. You can donate your time, a special skill, food, or something that someone needs. Can you arrange for a food drive or coat/hat drive at work, church, and school or even in your neighborhood?

Today I am writing about a place very close to my heart, The Wallingford Emergency Shelter. They were there 13 years ago when I needed them providing me with food to help feed my daughters. Yes I had a job and I was supporting us but between the rent, utilities, and daycare I was barely making it. I meet Elsie and Lou Sills who were running a food service program out of the shelter called Share, you volunteered 4 hours of your time and paid a small fee in exchange of fruits, vegetables, and meats it was about 70 or 80 dollars worth of food. I will never be able to express how much their support and love meant to me and my children when Lou and Elsie befriended us and brought me in to the shelter and taught me how to care for those who were worse off than I was.

My journey into homelessness started there and I have volunteered at the shelter for the last 13 years. I have worked in the kitchen, food pantry, and have served on the board of directors for many years now. I guess I have seen a lot along with my 3 daughters who have been there throughout those years. We have meet people who care about those in need and we have meet and made many friend of those who are in need and have learned their stories and a lot of them are not what you might expect.

My 15 year old daughter and I attended a fundraiser for the shelter just the other day to pass out information and answer questions from those who attended but what got to me most was my daughter and her comment that she just couldn�t understand why some of these people just didn�t care, walked away or made comments to their children about how they wouldn�t be homeless if they got a jobs. Please we as a community must stop turning our heads and hiding saying it won�t happen to me and helping those who need it.

But right now I am writing about those who need the help the most lately single parent families. We are upset that we can�t help them with shelter; yes, we can feed them but we have no place for them to sleep, feel safe and get the help that they need to get back on their feet. And there are not enough beds in the area to help. But we do have a plan and YOU CAN HELP.

The Wallingford Emergency Shelter is raising monies for a women�s and children�s wing to be named in honor of Martin �Marty� Rubin a Wallingford Resident who was killed on Interstate 91 last year.

Please join the Rubin Family, Our Board of Directors and friends at a banquet to be held at the Zandri�s Stillwood Inn, 1074 South Colony Street. The evening will include a family-style dinner of salad, pasta, chicken, potatoes and dessert, along with a hypnotist, comedian and dancing. Tickets cost $40 each and are available at the Wallingford Family YMCA, Stella�s Pizza, Half Moon Caf� and Gallagher Travel or you can contact Thom Thurber at 203-294-0102.

If you can�t make the banquet we are also running a campaign to get business and individuals to sponsor a bed, half bed or quarter bed for the season. The shelter is open from November 1 to April 15 and cost approximately $500 per season per bed. Last year 116 people were housed at the shelter during the season and this number does not include those whom were given hot take out meals or came to the food pantry. The shelter has 10 beds for male clients and 5 for women clients.

The Shelter which is located at 123 Quinnipiac St is run by volunteers and is always in need of those who can help. If you have time to help we are looking for people to stay over 1 night a month, people to help with laundry, kitchen help, and those with skills, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical.

Don�t have time maybe you have the following:

Urgently Needed

JUICES, COFFEES, CEREALS, SOCKS,
MITTENS, COATS, HATS, SCARFS
LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Frozen Proteins: Fish Sticks, Hot dogs, Chicken
Nuggets, anything that can be cooked fairly quickly if we run out of food.

Always Needed

Canned goods, sugar, hot chocolate, teas, white socks, bathrobes, slippers, underwear, soaps, shampoos, razor, pajama (especially larger sizes), toothbrushes, deodorants, toilet paper, paper towel, napkins, trash bags, pillows, blankets.

Another way to help is with a dish: can you prepare a side dish, soup or main dish that can be frozen or sign up for a day and bring the dish to the
Shelter in time for dinner�.

My Thanksgiving

Today I woke up and got dressed. Next I went down stairs. Next everyone woke up. My mom came down stairs and said �Andrew you need to get off the computer.� So I exited out of Lego Land. I started to watch television. Duck Dodgers was on. Two hours later I had to turn off the television so we could go eat Thanksgiving dinner. We rode in the car. I played video games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Then I got tired and turned off the game. I asked how many more minutes there were until we got to their house. My mom answered, �Seven more minutes until we get to Kenny�s house.�� Later on after seven minutes, we made it to Kenny�s house. I walked in and Justin gave me a sticker. I took off my jacket and put the sticker on it. I walked to my dad and asked if we could go outside and play football. Before I could finish, he said �No, because we have to eat first.� I went into the living room and sat down on the most comfortable chair in the house and watched football. After the first quarter, it was time to eat. I chose a breadstick,, turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner. I told Kenny mashed potatoes were the best way to start a food fight if wanted. After dinner, I played robbers and coppers and raced with Justin and Van. Then I went on a two-mile walk/run. I asked my dad if he could tell me where we were going. He said we were going to the swamp and back. So off we went. We walked and walked a while. Finally we reached the swamp. We walked further and all of a sudden Justin and Van got cold and walked back with me. Once we reached Kenny�s house, I ran all the way back. I asked if they saw any shotgun shells. They said, �Yes.� I asked �Where?� They said, �The last green tree.� So I ran all the way to the tree. I looked in and saw a lot of shells. I used my walking stick to reach in and grab them. Once I was done, there were none left, so I walked to my dad. He came out with corn and threw some corn pellets at me. I yelled, �Stop� 4 or 6 times, but he still didn�t stop. I ran back to the house, asked for a bag and said to my mom, �Dad is throwing stuff at me.� I ran all the way back to the field, my dad did it again. So I took a shotgun shell, without a bullet in it and threw it at him. It went so fast it knocked the corn down and I threw it into the woods. We started off again and I found more shotgun shells. I put them in the bag with the others. When we reached the cornfield we had to hop over the growing corn so it wouldn�t get squashed. When we reached the house, I played football. When we went inside dessert was being served. For dessert there was Jello, cake and ice cream. We went back outside and just ran around the house. We went inside and we played with Lincoln Logs. I made a huge tower and I made a car smash into it. But after that it was still standing. Justin and Van said, �Are you going to destroy it now?� I said, �No.� The Rock was on television. We had to leave so I destroyed my tower, put the Lincoln Logs away, said �Goodbye� and we were off. We went to Mama�s house and everybody was there. We played hide and seek. I was only �It� once. I hid behind the tarp and Kyle copied and Brett copied. Brett took all the tarp so I had to go with Kyle. We played freeze tag and then we played hide and seek again. Brett had to leave. Kyle had to leave. And we had to leave. And that was the end of my Thanksgiving.

Topic: When you don�t like your teen�s choice of friends
Talk to the Friends

My mother used to constantly remind me, �You can pick your friends, but you can�t pick your relatives!� All of my friends� mothers said the same thing. We all took this to heart and into adulthood. Unfortunately, no one warned us that this didn�t include our children�s friends. So, we began picking out our kids� friends when they were toddlers. Well, maybe not the fathers out there. Mothers are more enthusiastic about friend picking. These friends we chose were usually the kids of our own friends, or the kids of the other mommies in the neighborhood who we deemed fun to hang out with. Things were simple back then. If you didn�t like how certain children were behaving in front of yours, you didn�t invite them over. I vividly recall one Cub Scout outing where a seven-year-old monster child tried to poke my son�s eye out with a piece of sharpened slate. That was the end of that relationship!

We didn�t realize until much later that friend �picking out� was a transient affair. Teens� friends are another story all together. They�re private territory and off-limits to parents - so say our teens.

So, what does one do when one is not exactly thrilled with the new friend? First, parents should be honest with themselves. What is it about the new friend? Is he sporting a nose ring? Does she talk in two-word sentences? Is he flunking math? Maybe you just don�t like her and you can�t put your finger on it. The first thing parents need to do is to be honest about �why� they don�t like the new friend. Are there legitimate reasons, such as drug abuse or the way this person treats your teen? Keep in mind that forbidding a friendship can make things worse, and chemistry is not something you can easily predict or manipulate.

It�s best to get to know the friends rather than making an instant character assessment. With younger teens, offer to drive them places and listen to their conversations. Invite your teen�s friends over to your house for dinner. Instead of grilling them about their grades, sit down and talk with them about their interests. You can learn a lot about a person if you�re able to engage him in a lengthy conversation.

If you still have concerns, it�s time to broach the subject with your teen. Sylvia LaFair, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of �Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success� (Jossey-Bass, 2009), says, �The best way for parents to approach their teen if there is concern about a new friendship or new group of friends is directly.� She advises that parents ask questions such as, "How can we work together to minimize my concerns?� She says to keep the dialogue going until your teen begins to open up. �You will get more information when you talk together than if you give finger pointing directives,� she explains.

LaFaire warns that parents need to put their foot down if they feel their teen is in danger because of a new set of friends. �If you feel there is serious danger with your teen and questionable friends, it's time to take a stand. Would you let your two-year-old walk into traffic? Get serious with your teen, and let him know why certain dangerous friends are off-limits.�
Do�s and Don�ts:

Do observe his attitude toward adults.
Don�t look at her appearance alone.
Do look for signs of drug or alcohol abuse.
Don�t hover when friends come over � you want them to come back!
Do stick around if a friend of the opposite sex is over.
Don�t directly attack the friends. This will put your teen on the defensive. Ask him open-ended questions that are non-judgmental instead. You�ll keep the dialogue open.
Do talk to your teen about what makes a �good� friend.

TIPS AND TALES

�I would suggest that parents be really honest about their own friendship issues and pray that their teen learns from their own mistakes!
Gene Sottile � Light House Point, FL

�I�ve always had a great radar system. I�m honest and tell my daughters upfront if my radar senses something�s wrong. I try not to be too negative.�
Judy Burns � Poughkeepsie, NY

Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic:
Your teen is a slob! How to cope & what to do.

Please send your full name, address, and brief comments to:
myrnahaskell@gmail.com

Or visit
http://home.roadrunner.com/~haskellfamily/myrna/

To read The People�s Press, Meriden and Wallingford Ct�s Newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com . We are your NewsMagazine!