This Saturday, Sept. 27, a collection of documents for shredding will be held at 5 Dump Road, Essex from 9 a.m.to 12noon
This collection is open at no charge to residents from the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme along with those of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook.
Bring up to five boxes or bags (kitchen trash can size) of old personal papers, e.g., medical records, legal or financial documents, or tax returns.
Connecticut River Watershed Council’s Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have removed more than 851 tons of trash over the 18 years of the river clean-up event. Now CRWC is also working on solutions to keep trash out of our rivers in the first place, particularly tires and plastic bottles.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) will use their 18th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup on Friday anS saturday, Sept. 26 and 27, as a way to push for solutions to river waste. The Cleanup supports policies and legislation that help keep waste from ending up in local rivers and streams. The Council also supports a new vision of zero waste for the Connecticut River and its tributaries.
Zero waste is a goal of a future free from waste. It is a concept being adopted by cities around the world, including Middletown, Conn., right on the Connecticut River. Zero waste aims for all discarded materials to become resources for another use. A zero waste community encourages individuals, businesses, and government agencies to take concrete steps towards rethinking how they treat their trash. “We all have a responsibility to solve this problem—individuals, manufacturers, businesses, and government,” says Andrew Fisk, CRWC Executive Director.
Initiatives such as increasing access and ease of curb side recycling, expanding existing recycling efforts to process all varieties of materials, and extending the responsibility of recycling to manufacturers are essential to the success of zero waste programs. Given what’s found in our rivers every year, CRWC would like to see existing bottle bills be expanded to include all single-use beverage containers, banning or establishing pay-per-use of plastic bags, and legislation allowing for free tire disposal.
“Each year we find thousands of single-use bottles and hundreds of tires in and near our rivers,” notes CRWC River Steward Jacqueline Talbot. “Eventually, this trash becomes part of the large ocean garbage patches that harm wildlife. We will use the data collected on these items during the Source to Sea Cleanup to help inform policies and practices that will get bottle and tire waste out of our rivers,” continues Talbot. “Healthy rivers are so important because they contribute so much, both to our economies and the beauty and enjoyment of our communities.”
Lead Source to Sea Cleanup sponsors NRG Middletown and TransCanada are pleased to support CRWC’s efforts. “TransCanada believes in partnering with organizations that help build stronger communities,” says Jasmin Bertovic, Vice President of the Eastern Commercial Region of TransCanada.
Jeff Araujo, manager of NRG’s Middletown Station, said “We’re pleased to sponsor this event annually, but also to go out and actually clean up the River. This is the community where we live and work, and it’s important to us.”
“We will address river pollution with innovation and teamwork,” says Talbot, “and you can be a part of it.” Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to head out to clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat on Sept. 26 and 27. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams and stream banks, parks, boat launches, trails and more. Individuals can join a clean-up group by visiting www.ctriver.org/cleanup and clicking ‘Join a Group’.
Businesses are also encouraged to get involved by starting an employee clean-up group, making a donation of supplies such as gloves and trash bags, or becoming an event sponsor.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. As stewards of this heritage, we celebrate our four-state treasure and collaborate, educate, organize, restore and intervene to preserve its health for generations to come. Our work informs our vision of economic and ecological abundance.
To learn more about CRWC, or to make a contribution to help protect the Connecticut River, visit www.ctriver.org or call 413-772-2020, ext. 201.
Join the Estuary Council of Seniors (ECSI) to celebrate its 40th Anniversary at a “Forty and Fabulous” Gala tonight at 6 p.m. at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, “The Kate,” at 300 Main Street in Old Saybrook. This fund-raising Gala will benefit the Estuary’s Meals on Wheels program. Last year, the ECSI provided 70,000 hot, nutritious meals to individuals in its nine town district and Madison.
Comedian Vincent McElhone
This Gala evening will include wine and hors d’oeuvres under the tent, catered by Coffee’s Country Market of Old Lyme and “Comedy Tonight” on the stage featuring Old Saybrook resident Vincent McElhone, who has worked all over the country from Caroline’s in New York to The Tropicana in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Vince will be joined by Tony Liberati, a professional stand-up comic for 15 years, whose jokes have been published alongside greats like Chris Rock and Henny Youngman.
The Fred Astaire Ballroom Dancers of Old Saybrook, Heiko and Vera Leyhausen, will grace the stage where dancing expresses the joy of living.
Music will be by the Von Zells, who will provide music that is enjoyable for listening or dancing and starring three individuals with one unique sound.
Tickets are $50 per person and are available by calling the Estuary at (860) 388-1611. Attire is ‘Casually Elegant.’
An organization with a mission to raise funds for pediatric research, Achieve Change Together (ACT), is hosting a “Dinner, a Movie, Popcorn and More” event on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Clark Memorial Field in Old Saybrook. Grass opens at 6 p.m. and the movie, now announced as “Mrs. Doubtfire,” starts at 7:30 p.m. The costs is $20 per car, which includes the movie and popcorn. Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.
Every dollar raised goes directly toward childhood cancer research via The Truth 365’s “Dream Team” of leading oncologists. These talented doctors represent The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Sloan Kettering, St. Jude’s and Seattle Children’s (visit www.thetruth365.org for details).
The following editorial was submitted by event organizer Kristen Michalski Alexander:
Not so long ago, I learned from a friend about Madison “Maddy” Garrett.
In 2012, Maddy had been diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma. One of the rarest childhood cancers. It had spread into limbs, snaked through her spine, and had penetrated into bone marrow; the tumor was wrapped around organs and arteries, through her intestine and into her chest. The tumor in her three-year-old belly was so large that she looked nine months pregnant.
Maddy had a 30 percent chance at survival.
Inspired by her bravery, I researched what I could. Though average cancer survival rates have grown for the last 40 years, many childhood cancers have survival rates much lower than the average. The facts are unsettling:
During her journey to recovery, Maddy’s 5-year-old friend had been diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer.
Another child suffering. Another family struggling. I couldn’t sit back anymore. I had to help win this war!
And so I decided to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer through a special event, “Dinner, A Movie, Popcorn and More.” The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
I reached out to my high school classmate Lou Rolon, a guiding force for our community through Shoreline Neighbors, for advice. Lou possesses an inspirational compassion, dedication, and strength. He offered to help however he could.
I then reached out to Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation (http://www.awoccf.org/). AWOCCF helped produce The Truth 365, an Emmy Award-Winning documentary film and social media campaign that gives a voice to all children fighting cancer.
I asked their co-founder Dena Sherwood if we could work together. When she graciously agreed, it meant we could host the event with their 501(c)(3) status.
For continuing updates, “Like” the ACT – Achieve Change Together Facebook page and remember to join us on Sept. 6.
For further information, call: 860-339-6310, via e-mail: actquestions@gmail.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ACT-Achieve-Change-Together/
Website coming soon
To donate: Please make a check payable to Arms Wide Open/The Truth 365 and mail it to P.O. Box 495, Ivoryton, CT 06442. Or go online at http://www.awoccf.org/donate/ and select “Achieve Change Together Event – CT”.
Photo by Christine Stuart/CTNewsJunkie.com
Former Pres. Clinton shakes hands on his way in to give a speech for Gov. Malloy at the Omni in New Haven on Tuesday
Former President Bill Clinton told a friendly crowd of party loyalists Tuesday that Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy should be elected by 10 points or more based on what he’s been able to accomplish.
That’s the message Clinton told a half-full ballroom of supporters at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. He also said …
Read the full story by Christine Stuart and published on CTNewsJunkie.com Sept. 2, at this link. LymeLine.com is a proud member of the Independent Media Network LLC, along with CTNewsJunkie.com.