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Join a Women’s Leadership Forum at Coast Guard Academy Today, Afternoon Session Free for Students

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A forum titled, “Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future,” is being held today at the Coast Guard Academy in New London. Organized by the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network and the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Initiative, the forum is open to all ages and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with events happening throughout the day.

Registration for the morning session is closed but the afternoon session, which starts at 12:30 p.m., still has openings.

Academy Award-winning documentary film producer Geralyn White Dreyfous will give the keynote address in the afternoon program with a discussion on film as a tool for social change.

Then there will be a panel starting at 2:30 p.m. on “Ethical Leadership for a Sustainable Future.” Panelists include Vice Adm. Sandra Stosz, the first female superintendent of a U.S. service academy; Grace Jones, past president of Three Rivers Community College; Maryam Elahi, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Attallah Sheppard, national award-winning poet and leadership teacher, and Chris Soto, founder and director of Higher Edge.

In addition, there will be a resource fair featuring local organizations that support leadership initiatives for women and girls.

The afternoon program is free for college, high and middle school students. High school junior and senior girls will be able to apply for a college scholarship sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Forum at the event.

Tickets are $35 for the afternoon program.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.cgaalumni.org/WLF or call (860)-442-2683.

Old Lyme’s Shelley Gregory Walks for 10th Year in Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation’s ‘Walk Across SE CT’

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Shelley Gregory takes a well-deserved break from her training for today's 26.2 mile TBBCF walk.

Shelley Gregory takes a well-deserved break from her training for today’s 26.2 mile TBBCF walk.

On Oct. 1, Shelley Gregory of Old Lyme is walking in the 11th annual Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation’s (TBBCF) ‘Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut.’  Not only is this the 10th year that Shelley will have completed the full 26.2 mile TBBCF walk, but — on a personal basis — it is also her 8th year cancer-free!

If you would like to contribute to Shelley’s fund-raising goal for this year, then click here.  Shelley was honored this past spring by the TBBCF for her incredible fund-raising efforts over the past 10 years.

Congratulations … and Go, Shelley, Go!

The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation has funded over $3M in breast cancer research (30 grants of $100,000 each), while raising funds, hopes and dreams for a breast cancer-free future.

The TBBCF is a local non-profit dedicated to providing critical funding to breast cancer research. Their pledge is that 100 percent of gross fundraising dollars goes directly to breast cancer research in the scientific pursuit of medicines and techniques that mitigate cancer treatment and promote disease eradication. Administrative costs are sponsor-supported or volunteer-provided.

Shelley Gregory (right) is often joined by friends on her fundraising walk -- and will be again this year. Julie Edmundsen stand to Shelley's left after completing the walk last year.

Shelley Gregory (right) is often joined by friends on her fundraising walk — and will be again this year. Julie Edmundson stand to Shelley’s left after completing the walk last year.

The organization’s name was chosen to honor the beautiful life and fighting spirit of Terri Brodeur, a local Old Saybrook mother of three young children and victim of breast cancer. The Foundation was established by two friends, Norma Logan and Sandy Maniscalco, who realized the need for a new kind of fundraising organization. After a two-year battle with breast cancer, Brodeur succumbed to the disease in 2005, as did Logan six months later.

Participants take to the streets in the 2014 Walk Across SE CT.

Participants take to the streets in the 2014 Walk Across SE CT.

It is estimated that there will be more than 3,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Connecticut in 2015 and that almost 500 will die from the disease. By walking in the 11th Anniversary Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, funding of breast cancer research will increase bringing with it with hopes for earlier detection, better treatments and ultimately prevention of this disease.

Friends often form a team in the walk Across SE CT.

Friends often form a team in the walk Across SE CT.

The 11th Anniversary Walk provides a marathon option to suit everyone’s level of ability.

Walks include a seven-mile super quarter marathon, a 13.1 mile half marathon and our signature 26.2 mile full marathon. The full marathon walk begins with 6:30 a.m. opening ceremonies at Saybrook Point, Old Saybrook, with feet on the pavement at 7 a.m.

TBBCF_walk_logo_203This walk follows a scenic route along the shoreline through Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, East Lyme and Waterford. The half marathon walk starts at Capitol Drive, East Lyme at 10 a.m. and the super quarter marathon walk starts at the Niantic Baptist Church, Niantic at 1 p.m. All walks end at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford with closing ceremonies.

The Walk goal is to raise funds for research through walker fundraising commitments. Youth walkers must raise $100 to walk any marathon option. Adult walkers must raise $200 for a super quarter marathon, $250 for a half marathon and $500 for a full marathon.

To register to walk or volunteer, or to contribute to a registered walker, visit www.tbbcf.org, call 860-437-1400 or email info@tbbcf.org.

Funding has assisted researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Yale Cancer Center, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and NYU School of Medicine.

‘Children of the Stone/Dal’Ouna Ensemble’ Presents Remarkable Concert in Old Lyme Tonight

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Ramzi Aburedwan (third from right) stands with the other members of the Dal'Ouna Ensemble that will be performing in Old Lyme on Sept. 30.

Ramzi Aburedwan (third from right) stands with the other members of the Dal’Ouna Ensemble that will be performing in Old Lyme on Sept. 30.

The Tree of Life Educational Fund presents a performance by Ranzi Aburedwan and his Arabic-French Dal’Ouna Ensemble in a program of music and book-readings on Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

This event is part of the national concert and book tour of Children of the Stone/Dal ‘Ouna, which celebrates Palestinian musician and educator Ramzi Aburedwan and his belief in the power of music and culture to transform lives and resist oppression. The tour corresponds with the paperback release of Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land (Bloomsbury, April 2015/paperback March 2016) by Sandy Tolan, author of the international bestseller, The Lemon Tree.

Featured in concert will be the powerful music of Ramzi Aburedwan and his Arabic-French Dal’Ouna Ensemble and the Lebanese singer, Abeer Nehme : a dynamic fusion of Palestinian Arab folk, classical, jazz and world music.   Ensemble members include renowned composer, violist and buzouk player Ramzi Aburedwan and percussionist Tareq Rantisi from Palestine, oud player Ziad Ben Youssef from Tunisia, Edwin Buger from Yugoslavia on accordion. Michael Dabroski will join the group with his Palestinian violin, and there will be readings from Sandy Tolan’s book, Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land.

Children of the Stone tells the dramatic story of Ramzi Aburedwan’s life growing up in an occupied Palestinian refugee camp and his transformation from a stone throwing youth of the first intifada, to a talented musician studying at the Edward Said Palestine National Academy of Music and a French Conservatory and his final return to Palestine to realize his life’s dream of founding a music school, Al-Kamandjati that has centers in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. He views Al-Kamandjati and related projects with international musicians as a combination of safe haven, creative resistance, and trauma therapy for the least fortunate Palestinian children, many living in refugee camps.

World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma said this about Sandy Tolan’s book:“In a world where so much popular fiction depicts life in a dystopian world, it is refreshing to have this non-fiction account that reflects one individual’s belief in the power of music and culture to transform lives. Congratulations to Sandy Tolan for bringing us the story of Ramzi Hussein Aburedwan, his philosophy and his personal mission to make a difference.  His story is proof of the famous words of Margaret Mead –‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has’”.

All are welcome to attend this concert and book-reading.  General admission is $10 at the door.  Admission is free to students and those aged under 21.

The concert and book tour features two additional locations in Connecticut as follows:

Saturday, Sept. 24; 7 pm Yale University, CT

Monday, Sept. 26; 7 pm UConn, Storrs, CT

For more information, visit www.tolef.org or call the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme at 860.434.8686

The Tree of Life Educational Fund (TOL) a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation was established by The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme to provide cross-cultural and transnational travel experiences, interfaith conferences and educational opportunities to help participants to become more enlightened and more engaged in making this a more just and peaceful world in which to live.

9 Town Transit Plans Bus Fare Increases; Public Hearing Tonight in Old Saybrook

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logo_9ttAREAWIDE — To help offset a cut in state transit funding, the Estuary Transit District is considering an increase to fare on all 9 Town Transits services.

The proposal would see the cash fare on all routes increase from $1.50 to $1.75. Trips on Dial-A-Ride and off-route would increase from $3 to $3.50.  Multi-ride tickets and monthly passes will increase to $15.75 and $57, respectively.

The fare proposal also includes the agency’s first disabled fare.  It would provide a discounted rate of $0.85 to persons with disabilities.  ETD says this would provide relief to many in the disabled community that heavily rely on public transit.

ETD officials say the increase is necessary due to a prevent service reduction following a statewide cut by the state to transit budgets.

A public hearing on the proposal will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 4 until 6 p.m. at Old Saybrook Town Hall first floor conference room, 302 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT.  Written comments may be submitted until Oct. 14, to Estuary Transit District, 17 Industrial Park Rd, Suite 6, Centerbrook, CT 06409.

For a full listing of the new fare schedule, visit <a href=”http://www.9towntransit.com/fares”>www.9towntransit.com/fares</a> or call 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.