Monthly Archives: January 2015

21st Annual Poetry Contest Announced by Acton Library

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The Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, announces its 21st Annual Poetry Competition. Submissions will be accepted through March 14 at the Library.

The rules for participants are as follows:

  • Poems must be original and unpublished, one poem per letter size page, no more than 40 lines per poem, and all poems to have a title.
  • Author’s name, address, and phone number should appear on the back (not submitted to judges), students please add grade level.
  • Author must be a resident of Connecticut.
  • No more than three entries per person.
  • Open to all ages First Grade through adult.
  • The divisions are: Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, Grades 9-12, and Adult.

Winning poets will read their poems and receive their awards during the Library’s annual Poetry Night, Wednesday, April 22. The public is invited to attend.

Following Poetry Night, all entries will be on display in the Library through May.

Pick up an entry form at the Library or visit www.actonlibrary.org, or call for more information.

The Library is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Two New Exhibitions on View at LAA

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Winter Harmony by Michael Rogan is one of the signature pieces of the 'Wonders of Winter' exhibition opening Friday at the LAA.

‘Winter Harmony’ by Michael Rogan is one of the signature pieces of the ‘Wonders of Winter’ exhibition opening Friday at the LAA.

The 23rd Annual Associate Artist Exhibition and Wonders of Winter are on view at the Lyme Art Association (LAA) through Feb. 27.

The LAA’s 23rd Annual Associate Artist Exhibition of landscape, portrait, and still life paintings, as well as sculpture by Associate Artist members will be on view in the Association’s front galleries while Wonders of Winter, which showcases winter scenes by members of all levels, will be on display in the Goodman gallery.

“The Annual Associate Artist Exhibition is often characterized as one of our un-themed exhibitions when, in fact, there is a theme. The theme is the range, creativity, and excellence of our Associate Artist members, whether it is a painting that captures the beauty and grandeur of the Connecticut landscape, or one that depicts the personal objects and surroundings of everyday life,” says Katherine Simmons, President of LAA’s Board of Directors.

'Talking Pears' by Paula Dewell is featured in the 23rd Annual Associate Artists exhibition.

‘Talking Pears’ by Paula Dewell is featured in the 23rd Annual Associate Artist exhibition.

She continues, “The Wonders of Winter exhibition in the Goodman Gallery is an established favorite on our exhibition calendar. Each painting celebrates an aspect of the winter landscape, its colors, textures, and dramatic lighting.”

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within an historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.

For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org

Local Lawmakers Meet With Old Saybrook Chamber 

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Gathering for a photo at the legislative forum are, from left to right, Angus McDonald of Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe & Associates; Leigh-Bette Maynard of Liberty Bank; Kristen Roberts of Comcast; Leland McKenna of Middlesex Hospital Primary Care; Kenneth Gribbon of Saybrook Point Inn & Spa; Lori Woll of the Octagon @ Mystic Marriott; Judy Sullivan – Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; Linda Brophy of Edward Jones and Suzie Beckman – Executive Director of the Old Saybrook Economic Development Commission.

Gathering for a photo at the legislative forum are, from left to right, Angus McDonald of Angus McDonald/Gary Sharpe & Associates; Leigh-Bette Maynard of Liberty Bank; Kristen Roberts of Comcast; Leland McKenna of Middlesex Hospital Primary Care; Kenneth Gribbon of Saybrook Point Inn & Spa; Lori Woll of the Octagon @ Mystic Marriott; Judy Sullivan – Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; Linda Brophy of Edward Jones and Suzie Beckman – Executive Director of the Old Saybrook Economic Development Commission.

State Sen. Art Linares (R-33) and State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23) on Jan. 15 met with the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce to discuss issues facing the state legislature and their efforts to improve the state’s business climate.

“This type of discussion and transparency amongst elected officials and constituents is essential,” Rep. Carney said. “We have to understand the concerns held by the people of our towns, along with the input from the business community, and be their voice in the Capitol.”

“We can make Connecticut a Top 20 state for business,” Sen. Linares said. “To get there, we must pass policies which reduce tax and regulatory burdens on businesses. We must pass pro-growth policies which unlock our potential as a state, address our weaknesses, and capitalize on our strengths. We need to listen to what Connecticut businesses here in Old Saybrook and across the state are telling us.”

Attendees at the legislative forum discussed a variety of issues, including state taxes, funding for transportation infrastructure, and the need to eliminate burdensome unfunded state mandates.

Nautilus Architects of Lyme Receives ‘Best Of Houzz 2015′ Award

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Pool house on Cove Rd. designed by Nautilus Architects

Pool house on Cove Rd. designed by Nautilus Architects

Nautilus Architects of Lyme, Conn., has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Design & Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. This modern design studio was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014.

Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

Christopher Arelt of Nautilus Architects, says, “I encourage my clients and those considering any building/renovation project to use Houzz as a way to discover design ideas that work.”

Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz, comments, “Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project.” She comments, “We’re delighted to recognize Christopher Arelt of Nautilus Architects, among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow Nautilus Architects and Chris Arelt at this link.

Mindfulness Series Starts at Vitality in Old Lyme

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From the boardroom to the classroom to the yoga room, mindfulness techniques are being used to manage stress, improve performance, gain insight and clarity and improve time management.  Find out what mindfulness is all about in a six-week series starting today at 5:45 p.m. at Vitality Spa & Wellness of Old Lyme.
Anderson Cooper started everyone talking about mindfulness in early December when his CBS 60 Minutes program discussed the time that he spent with Jon Kabat-Zinn on a weekend-long mindfulness retreat.  A meditation expert of over 47 years, Kabat-Zinn is the founder of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and developer of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program.
But Cooper was not the first skeptical newscaster to benefit from mindfulness.  ABC News Anchor Dan Harris talks about how MBSR helped him after his very public on-air breakdown in 2004.  He was drawn to mindfulness despite “massive misgivings” but found that MBSR provided a secular and sustainable practice that allowed him to regain control of his life and his career.
One of those “well known secrets,” MBSR is finally gaining traction as medical experts recognize it is a valuable tool in the management of stress and depression.  Both the US National Institutes for Health and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK recommend mindfulness as a treatment and as a preventative tool in addition to, or as an alternative to traditional pharmacological treatments.
“Have you been wondering about the benefits of meditation, but didn’t know what to ask? Do you want to start a mediation routine in your daily life, but are not sure you have the time?” asks Karen Gomez, a Holistic Life Coach at Vitality Wellness, who has been practicing and teaching mindfulness techniques for over 20 years.
Gomez notes, “One of the most rewarding things about my work is seeing people who come keyed up … ‘come on, get on with it, teach me these techniques, I haven’t got time to hang around’ … and by the end of the series they realize that mindfulness has created time for them.  It has given them back time, it has created that 25th hour in the day or better still it has taught them that they really don’t need 25 stressful hours to achieve all that they want to achieve.”
She continues, “Mindfulness has taught them to live in the moment, these techniques have shown them how being present in every moment of your life and not wasting time on the past or the future creates space, creates time and creates balance.  Their performance at work improves, they gain clarity in their thinking at work and at home with their families and most importantly they reduce stress and learn to live and love life again.”
Each weekly interactive class will cover techniques you can integrate into your busy schedule easily, a group coaching component, as well as a meditation segment.  The purpose of this series is to enable participants to gain a sound background in holistic approaches for stress management and share a variety of effective relaxation techniques which include, deep breathing, positive thinking, affirmations, visualizations, muscle relaxation, with reviews of Yoga, Meditation, and Reiki.
If you would prefer to schedule 1:1 sessions at Vitality, call 860.434.1792.
Call Vitality at 860.434.1792 for more information or find Vitality Spa & Wellness at 14 Lyme St. Old Lyme or on Facebook and online at http://www.vitalityspa.com.