Author Archives: Adina Ripin

New Location in Old Lyme Announced for CT Valley Camera Club Meetings

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“Within a Water Drop” by Diane Roberts, one of the photographs to be exhibited by the CT Valley Camera Club in Chester.

“Within a Water Drop” by Diane Roberts, one of the photographs to be exhibited by the CT Valley Camera Club in Chester.

The Connecticut Valley Camera Club will host all future meetings at the Lymes’ Senior Center on Town Woods Rd. in Old Lyme at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month. Meetings and exhibits are free and open to the public.

The club will be exhibiting at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek through July 23. Join club members for the opening reception to be held on Sunday, May 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 55 East Kings Highway, Chester.

For further information, call Ed McCaffrey at 860-767-3521.

Enjoy a Tour of Private Gardens in Essex, June 4

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See this beautiful private garden in Essex on June 4.

See this beautiful private garden in Essex on June 4.

ESSEX – On Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., plan to stroll through eight of the loveliest and most unusual private gardens in Essex. Some are in the heart of Essex Village while others are hidden along lanes most visitors never see. While exploring, you will find both formal and informal settings, lovely sweeping lawns and panoramic views of the Connecticut River or its coves. One garden you will visit is considered to be a ‘laboratory’ for cultivation of native plants. Master Gardeners will be available to point out specific features, offer gardening tips, and answer questions.

The garden tour is sponsored by the Friends of the Essex Library. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the Essex Library the day of the event. Cash, checks, Visa or Master Card will be accepted. Tickets can be reserved by visiting the library or by completing the form included in flyers available at the library and throughout Essex beginning May 2. Completed forms can be mailed to the library. Confirmations will be sent to the email addresses on the completed forms.

Your ticket will be a booklet containing a brief description of each garden along with a map of the tour and designated parking. Tickets must be picked up at the library beginning at 9:45 a.m. the day of the event.

Richard Conroy, library director, has said, “The Essex Library receives only about half of its operating revenue from the Town. The financial assistance we receive each year from the Friends is critical. It enables us to provide important resources such as Ancestry.com and museum passes, as well as practical improvements like the automatic front doors that were recently installed. I urge you to help your Library by helping our Friends make this event a success! Thank you for your support.”

The tour will take place rain or shine. For more information, call 860-767-1560. All proceeds will benefit Friends of the Essex Library.

AAUW Offers Education Grants to Area Women

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The Lower Connecticut Valley Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) is offering a $2000 grant to women who are pursuing undergraduate education. Successful applicants will be awarded $1000 upon registration for the fall semester and $1000 upon successful academic performance and registration for the spring semester. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of personal goals, academic performance and financial need.

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, be pursuing an associate or bachelor degree from an accredited college or university, and reside in Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook or Westbrook.

Applications must be postmarked by May 30. Grants will be announced by July 1.

The American Association of University Women is a national organization whose mission, since its founding in 1881, is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

For information or an application, contact Carolyn Cohen at 860-526-8209 or lcvaauw@gmail.com.

Areawide Firehouse Food Drive to Benefit Shoreline Soup Kitchens, Saturday

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SSKP_FHFD_image_2016

AREAWIDE – For the fifth year, local fire departments are hosting an areawide food drive to collect non-perishable food for area residents in need. The fire stations will be open to receive donations on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The donations will go to local food pantries run by the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP).

SSKP hopes to include as many fire departments as possible in the 11 shoreline towns they serve. So far, the Old Saybrook, Chester, Essex, Clinton and Westbrook fire departments have committed to the event. All fire departments are welcome to participate.

At a time of year when food donations are low, this food will help to restock the pantries and ensure that everyone in our communities will have a place at the table. Last year’s drive raised 5,200 pounds of food.

Join the effort by bringing your donation to a participating firehouse on April 2.

The most needed items are:

Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon)

Canned fruits & vegetables

Peanut butter

Canned & boxed meals

Canned or dried beans

Pasta & rice

Cereal

Items not accepted:

Rusty or unlabeled cans

Perishable items

Homemade ttems

Noncommercial packaged or canned items

Alcoholic beverages & mixes

Open or used items

For more information, call (860) 388-1988, email cbellerjeau@shorelinesoupkitchens.org or visit www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org.

Editor’s Note: The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries provides food and fellowship to people in need and educates the community about hunger and poverty, serving the Connecticut shoreline towns of Essex, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth, Westbrook and Deep River. Founded 27 years ago, in 1989, at the Baptist Church in Essex, the agency continues in its mission to feed the hungry in body and spirit. Last year with a small staff and over 900 dedicated volunteers, SSKP served enough food for over one million meals to shoreline neighbors in need.

Area Students Win Country School Poetry Recitation

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Phineas Scott recites his winning poem.

Phineas Scott recites his winning poem.

A panel of judges awarded first place in The Country School’s 60th Anniversary Lois MacLane Poetry Recitation to Phineas Scott, a sixth grader from Haddam. Phineas won the top honors for his masterful presentation of Wilderness by Carl Sandburg.

First held on April 26, 1957, the Lois MacLane Poetry Recitation was created by David T. MacLane, the school’s first headmaster, in honor of his sister, Lois. Each year since 1957, the entire student body has selected, memorized, and recited a poem before an audience. The youngest students recite in groups, and starting in Kindergarten, they recite individually. In Grades 5-8, the recitation is juried, with the top reciters from each grade selected to compete in the finals.

This year, 25 students competed in the finals. Judges, who included previous MacLane winners and finalists, parents of former finalists, and a former Head of School, awarded second place to eighth grader Livi Redding of Branford, reciting I Had a Guinea Golden by Emily Dickinson. Willa Wurzbach, a fifth grader from Killingworth, was awarded third place for her recitation of Wild Geese by Mary Oliver.

Among the other finalists were Andre Salkin from Old Lyme, grade 8, and Philip Warren from Old Saybrook, grade 5.

The Country School is a coeducational, independent day school serving students in PreSchool-Grade 8 on its 23-acre campus in Madison.