Mystic Times

A LA CARTE ~ Cooking for One

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:50:19 GMT

By Lee White:

Two Saturdays ago, I made chicken biryani for three—Nancy and Andy and me. I knew it would be time for me to cook just for myself, but I was still chicken (sorry for the pun) to do it. I made it a few months ago; Doug didn’t think it was as good as I did, but I knew Nancy and Andy would.

This time I had some very good saffron, which I rarely do, and adding it to the few ounces of heavy cream really made the dish. The dinner was a hit. (If you would like that recipe, e-mail me and ask for 10-15-08.)

Two days later, I came upon two recipes from “Real Simple” and I knew the time had come to shop and cook for myself. Each of the recipes called for four servings, so I dropped the ingredients to about two. This way I wouldn’t be cooking for two, unless it was so good I ate the two portions
myself.

As it turned out, I could have eaten the two portions, but I saved each for a quick lunch the next day. Leftovers are still a bit of a problem for me because we would often nuke the leftovers and we’d share what was left.

I’m sure Doug would have enjoyed both of these recipes. I think you will, too.

Chicken with Grilled Peaches and Arugula

Adapted from “Real Simple,” June 2009

Serves 4

4, 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper

2 medium red onions, sliced into 1-inch-thick rounds

3 peaches cut into wedges

1 bunch arugula, thick stems removed (about 4 cups)

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 ounces blue cheese, broken into pieces

Heat grill to medium-high. Brush chicken with 1 teaspoon of the oil, and season with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, toss onions, peaches, 1 tablespoon oil, and about ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper.

Grill chicken and onions until chicken is cooked through and the onions are tender, 5 to 6 minutes per side.

Grill peaches until charred, 2 minutes per side.

Toss arugula with onions, peaches, vinegar, and remaining oil.

Top with cheese; serve with
chicken.

Grilled Pork Chops with Maple Syrup Sweet Potatoes

Adapted from “Real Simple,” June 2009

Serves 4

4, 1-inch, bone-in pork chops (about 2 pounds each)

Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper

4 small sweet potatoes (about 1 ½ pounds), cut into wedges

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

2 scallions, chopped

Heat grill to medium-high. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Grill, turning often, until tender and slightly charred, 10 to 12 minutes. Reserve the bowl.

To the reserved bowl, add syrup, scallions, remaining oil, and ¼ each salt and pepper. Add sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Serve with pork.

Nibbles: A Recommendation from Lee

How could I be so out of the loop that I didn’t know Jack Flaws was opening yet another food venue? I have been a fan and friend of Jack since his first Connecticut foray as Three Fish. Okay, it was in Westerly, R.I., but even Elise Maclay, restaurant reviewer for “Connecticut” magazine, considered that restaurant important enough to set foot out of Connecticut.

Since then, his culinary artistry included Richard Rosenthal’s Max Downtown, his first very own Jack’s in Old Saybrook, the seasonal Jack’s Harborside, near Saybrook Point Inn, and now Jack Rabbit’s. Here the food is down home rather than white cloth dining, and this one I could visit daily, both because the food is great and the prices are also down home. All his Harborside hot dogs are served here ($2.75 to $4), and they are terrific. His incredible entrée-sized salads are available, too, as are wings, spring rolls crab cakes, and portabella mushroom quesadillas. But it’s the burgers that almost made me cry.

Sliders (of which I can only eat two) are $2, served simple, or you can order original shack sliders (caramelized onions, bacon, American cheese, and “magic” sauce), plus chili, jalapeño, ‘shrooms, and goat cheese, and Philly sliders. Regular burgers are $7 or less (most are in the $4 to $5 range). Add sides like fries or onion rings for another $2. I am in heaven.

Jack Rabbit’s

254 Main Street

Old Saybrook

860-510-0048

West Side Middle School Honor Roll: Third Semester

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:45:21 GMT

Grade 8

High Honors: Sethulakshmi Babu, Olivia Carmenati, Maegan Dyakiw, Lexis Foster, Connor Jackson, Meaghan Lau, Corey St Louis, Phoebe Steel, Nicole Stitz-Galvan

Honors: Kelly Cavanagh, Catherine Crouch, Saffwan Davis, Brandi Feliciano, Joseph Folz, Hunter Gillen, Chase Gilman, Andrew Haddon, Sultan Jilani, Stefan Jones, Misbah Khatib, Lariah Maynard, Sara Mineau, Chloe Obach, Stephanie Payne, Giovanni Pinto, Victoria Prejean, Josue Quiles, Nazia Rajput, Lindsey Reinhart, Brittany Wallace

Grade 7

High Honors: Michelle Campbell, Mindy Fan, Jade Ferguson, Jessica Gerald, Kylie Hansen, Emma Nelson, Brittany Noonan, Sarah Parizo, Meghan Toth

Honors: Gabrielle Corado, Kaleigh Davis, Shareah Dye, Roger Eyrolles, Harish Jayakumar, Corey Jones, Darcelle Lindor, Desiree Lynch, Genevieve Massett, John Moscol, Felicia Ojeda-Bright, Angeli Phee, Ambar Rivera, Keysha Salgado Ramona Teodosio, Iziah Venditti, Maggie Waldron, Jamie Wetmore, Colby Wright

Grade 6

High Honors: Carloandre Aguilar, Cesar Alumbres, Rishitha Ancha, Nanely Baez, Adam Blaisdell, Kendrick Boss, Mallory Burgess, Dakota Cox, Kayla Edwards, Joshua Feliciano, Mia Gambone, Amanda Goddard, Alexandrea Griffin, Brianna Grimm, Ashley Hogstad, Timmie Jackson, Shelby Larubina, Angela Marrero, Michelina Pinto, Bryan Pitts, Isabella Rosado, Alanna Tarabek, Zoe Wills

Honors: Mariah Anderson, Earle Battle, Nathan Behr, Malyssa Burgess, Melanie Denning, Molly Fabrizio, Dominique Files, Kurtis Harvey, Serenity Kidd-Brewer, Pedro Lopez, Ashantee Minott, Muhammad Nawaz, Eli-Ann Rivera, Christina Tompkins, Yesh Vachhani

STUDENT LIFE ~ Helen Woronik and The Way It Was

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:37:19 GMT

By Amelia Parenteau:

As Helen Kobyluck Woronik sat down to assess her life after her husband’s death, she lit upon the idea of recording her memories for her children. And once she started writing, she just couldn’t stop and finished the manuscript in four months.

Woronik says, “I was so obsessed, in such a state of energy, it was like my whole life was all I could think of.”

The introduction to Woronik’s book reads, “I was reading a little of Bill Clinton’s book and he recommended that everyone over 50 should write the story of their life. Well, I certainly qualified, I was well over 50.” And thus, what began as a document for her children grew into a 96-page memoir.

And what a memoir it was. In her book, “The Way It Was: God’s Plan,” Woronik tells the story of her parents’ immigration from Poland, their purchase of the family farm in Salem, her childhood and adolescence with her three older siblings, and finally her marriage and extended family life. The most remarkable part of Woronik’s tale is that the setting remains the same throughout: Woronik has been living in her same family house for 79 years.

She says, “I absolutely love my home. I was very fortunate that after my mother died, my husband agreed to live there, and came to love it as much as I did.”

Woronik’s life in her family home was initially quite rustic. She didn’t have running water or indoor plumbing until she got married, and she didn’t have electricity until she was 16. She started school in a one-room schoolhouse in Salem, and used to do her NFA homework by kerosene lamp-light. Woronik graduated NFA in 1948, and after raising her children and working as a secretary at the Salem Elementary School for 17 years, Woronik took a position as the secretary of the Norwich Free Academy’s library, where she has worked for 23 years.

Woronik says, “I like it here very much, and I have no plan to leave.”

Eugene Lynch, head of NFA’s library, says of Woronik, “She has had a very interesting life and is a wonderful person. We call her the ‘heart of the library.’”

Woronik raised four children, who now all live within a mile of her. Her youngest son is right next door, and he still keeps an active farm. All 140 acres of the original property have stayed intact within the family. Woronik says, “We all like the land.”

Her hobbies include cooking and baking, which she started out of necessity.

“When I was young, with farming parents, Mom didn’t have much time to bake, so I learned early,” she says.

Woronik has had three recipes published and has achieved some local fame for her blueberry pies, of which she baked 38 last year. She bakes for library staff every week, and says, “Baking gives a lot of satisfaction, and puts my time to good use.” Woronik is also very active in her church, loves to read, and wrote another book, “The Farm,” about her experiences in Salem.

She asserts, “I love life.”

What began as a keepsake for her family has become a chronicle of local experience. Woronik has already distributed 150 copies of her book and had 100 more printed. To purchase “The Way It Was,” call Woronik at 860-859-1448.

“Everyone should write the story of their life,” Woronik says. “Everyone has a story, it’s just a matter of putting it down.”

Amelia Parenteau is a senior at Norwich Free Academy. She lives in North Stonington.

Ghost of a Chance: Local author pens ‘Christine’s Ghost’

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:35:18 GMT

By Jason J. Marchi, Times Correspondent:

It's now officially summertime and that means it’s time to put together that summer reading list for those lazy days at the beach, park, or your own backyard. One slim novel, “Christine’s Ghost” by East Lyme resident Jerry Guindon, Ed.D., is worth the quick read to start off your list.

Guindon is a retired school psychologist, and “Christine’s Ghost” is his first foray into fiction writing. Though Guindon says, “I never thought I’d enjoy writing,” he managed to create something from the heart that he hopes others will enjoy.

“I’ve never tried writing, so I thought I’d give it a shot,” Guindon says, adding, “I was brought up in an orphanage setting when I was a kid, so I thought that would be a good basis for a story.”

Following the old precept to “write about what you know” when writing fiction, “Christine’s Ghost” is a fictional story about Alan Gannon, who protects his younger siblings from abuse and ends up paying the ultimate price for his bravery. It’s clear that Guindon’s own feelings about growing up in an orphanage are closely intertwined with the dilemma faced by his protagonist.

“I used a lot of personal knowledge of what it’s like to live in an orphanage,” he says.

At age 12, while living at the orphanage, Guindon learned that he had a mother who was living in Vermont. Before that, he never knew who his parents were or whether they were still alive. After finding out about his mom, Guindon says, “I got the opportunity to go live with her,” which he did until he was of legal age and then struck out on his own.

How did Guindon end up in an orphanage in the first place? His answer gives a bit of a history lesson.

“Typically what happened back in the 1930s, a lot of families who were down and out in the Great Depression decided to use the available orphanages to put their kids in,” he explains.

“When you grow up this way, you wonder if you were better in the orphanage or not, and the one thing that I never had was the love of a parent,” he notes. “Living with the nuns, none of them were ever comforting, and they never gave you a hug or anything like that. None of our birthdays were ever acknowledged.”

Guindon grew up to be more than just “okay,” though. He became a
career child psychologist working for the New London school system for 21 years even though, as he says, “I never went to school beyond the sixth grade, but I managed to earn a doctoral degree in educational psychology.”

Today, at age 77, when not writing, Guindon enjoys spending time with his second wife of 26 years, Dencie Guindon, his three grown children from his first marriage, and his three grown stepchildren.

“Christine’s Ghost” is available through the publisher’s online bookstore at PublishAmerica.com or through your local bookstore.

TIME FOR HEALING ~ The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:04:20 GMT

By Katie Jeffrey-Lunn:

Hardship, suffering, emotional challenges, physical limitations...none of these sound very desirable, but all of us experience these sometime in our lives.

Isn’t it interesting that school doesn’t prepare us with the tools we need to deal with the realities of life? Most of the time, there’s no road map for the situations we find ourselves in, and we must forge our own path out of the forest, sometimes running into dead ends, and other times finally finding relief and solace. Many of us shake the bars at our reality, angry that we must go through painful experiences, resentful that others have seemingly easy lives. We watch the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” commercials, hear about the lives of the rich and famous, and wonder why we can’t have things that easy. We think that if only...whatever...changes, then we can be satisfied. But inevitably, one thing changes, then another comes up to take its place. Challenges fill our lives, with only short periods of peace in between, and we wonder, “Is there really a light at the end of the tunnel?”

So it may be time to accept the fact that unless we do something different, take on a whole new perspective, we may be destined to a life of cyclical unhappiness. What does it take to be happy? We hear about those who have suffered but still maintain the integrity of who they are, despite their situations. We hear of those who receive terminal diagnoses and then gear themselves up to live life to the fullest with their time remaining. Why does it take traumatic events to wake us up? Is it because most of us simply take life for granted?

When we think of the things in our lives that grieve us, we always seem to point to the events or the people outside of ourselves. What if we gave that up and decided to take full responsibility for our own reactions to these people and situations?

Self realization, self control, and self mastery are all about stepping back from instant reactions and making the conscious choice of how your life will be. You may think it impossible to not react negatively to certain situations, but if you could simply imagine responding differently, then you’ve taken the first step. Ask yourself how you’d like to respond; what is the goal? Then practice in your mind. Just like the sports players who envision themselves at their peak performance, see yourself being the person you’d like to become.

These are simple questions to ask yourself: 1. Who are you, really? 2. Who do other people think you are? 3. Who do you want to be? 4. What obstacles within you stop you from being who you want to be? 5. What strengths will help you overcome these obstacles?

The one thing in life we can be sure of is that although challenges may come our way, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If we take every experience as a gift, and become wiser and more refined because of it, we will find the gem of light in everything we go through. Rather than making us bitter and angry, choosing to accept every chapter of life with peaceful equanimity gives us the personal power needed to grow and thrive. We can become more connected with ourselves and find a deeper appreciation for all the gifts we’ve been given.

If you’ve spent too much time disengaged from your feelings, from your life, isn’t it time you reconnect? Your life is waiting to be lived; make the decision now, to receive the treasures that await you. It’s never too late. Begin.

Amy Martin is a nurse practitioner and RoHun therapist. RoHun is a transpersonal psychotherapy, an alternative to traditional therapy. Her private practice, Center for Healing Therapies, is in Niantic. Call 691-0743 for a consultation . You can e-mail her at AmyMartin@Time4Healing.com or go to www.Time4Healing.com more information.

Fitch High School Honor Roll: Fourth Marking Period

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:13:17 GMT

Grade 12

High Honors: Erica Antoine, Jori Arzoumanian, Isia Atkinson,Thomas Balestracci, Ashley Barber, Colton Barber, Jaya Batra, April Beckman, Elizabeth Behr, Justin Benavidez, Kayla Bidstrup, Alexandra Black, Alexandre Bonnassieux, Janice Brewer, Jocelyn Brown, Marissa Brown, Jared Burgess, Kelsey Butta, Kevin Carlow, Chelsea Chamberlain, Benjamin Chin, Gregory Conant, Kyra Conyers, Erik Crouch, Cristito Cruz, Shivani Desai, Alicia DeSena, Rebecca Dowd, Brittany Duclos, Allison Dyakiw,Victoria Elder, Casey Finn, Chelsea Fogarty, Megan Freeman, Ashley Gallagher, Rebecca Harms, David Herod, Shalese Hodges, Luke Hunter, Samantha Innaurato, Rosalina Iott, Matthew Jackson, Mark Jens, Heather Johnson, Ariel Kent, Amber Kisinger, James Kocan, Addison Koelle, Catherine Kolnaski, Kelsey Lee, John Leese, Jeffrey Li, Caroline Littlewood, Ahmed Mansour, Aaron Joseph Manuel, Kristoffer Mapili, Amy Maury, Jason Medeiros, Kaitlin Merrow, Elizabeth Mewha, Zachary Milner, Katelyn Morrell, Zachary Mosch, Drake Myers, Brianna Nadeau, Jonathan Paquette, Jinal Patel, Courtney Penman Jake Perrotta, Alexis Peters, Rebecca Plungis, Joshua Porizky, Victoria Porter, Stacy Pouliot, Emily Powden, Ariana Quinn, Seumas Quinn, William Reed, Megan Robinson, Amanda Sager, Alexander Sanchez, Brenna Sansom Alexia Santana, Christopher Schlimgen, Tiarra Shafer, Kendra Shuck Lindsey Slawson, Syquan Smith, Deanna Stocker, Anthony Tadros, Anthony Tedeschi, Mariah Thomas, Megan Thompson, Anne Thorndike, Jessica Torgersen, Jessica Trejo, Anthony Turgeon, Jose Vega, Veronica Maye Ventura, Jenna Walz, Kristen Wheeler, Philip Williams, Nicole Zebrowski, Jamie Zheng

Honors: Diego Aguilar, Monica Allen, Montana Allen, Temperance Banks, Francis Barlan, Marco Benitez, Melissa Bidstrup, Lucas Bolduc, Hayley Bond, Nichole Bowski, Grover Bressert, Amanda Bright, Brittany Burgess, Michael Burke, Jeffrey Butler, Nicholas Carter, Samuel Cebriwsky, Kaitlin Cedio, Emily Cichon, Patricia Clark, Holly Coleman, Arielle Cooper, Amanda Cordeiro, Bethany Croxton, Jason Dariano, Marc de Labry, Phillip de Labry, Steven Deane-Shinbrot, Michael Densmore, Alicia Domina, Matthew Dragon, Zachary Drake, Whitney Dunning, Kirsten Edwards, Alesha Fahrenholz, Michael Farnsworth, Christine Fisher, Gregory Fitzmorris, Devyn Frank, Christopher Furlong, Peter Ganacoplos, Shanequa Gaston, Kyle Gaudet, Lauren Giles, Tieraney Gist, Fantashia Gordon, Alexander Halperin, Gage Hathaway, Alexandria Hellwig, Janine Henry, Katia Herrera, Ade Heyward, Zachary Houle, Tiffany House, Colton Jenkins, Jade Johnson, Angel Jordan, Erik Kallinen, Amanda Kearns William Kerr, Shan Khan, Kaley Kokomoor, Jennifer Lee, Leah Lopes, Joshua Lopez, Adrianna Lublin, Jeffrey Lyon, Robert Martin, Tyler McCarthy, Cassondra McElroy, Maxx McLaughlin, Samuel Miller, Bryan Mitchell, Iesha Mosley, Michael Muehe, Deral Murrie, Matthew Neigel,Emily Nelson, Bethany Nott, Mhari O’Donnell, Bethany Paige, Bret Pangelinan, Nina Perez, Treavor Phillips, Daniel Quinones, Ashley Rafferty, Mafe Rato, Megan Roberts, Dianna Robinson, Benjamin Rovero, Lauren Rugh, Cayla Sampson, Elizabeth Sandulli, Desirae Santos, Katie Smith, Shelby Smith, Katherine Stack, Samantha Stitz-Galvan, Ryan Stokes, Alexander Teixeira, Louis Venditti, Mallory Voland, Brianna Wallace, Jacob Walters, Hannah Watson, Courtney Weber, Leorah Weiss-Newall, Douglass Whipple, Derrick Whittemore, Olivia Whittle, Joseph Wickham, David Wiglusz, Michael Wisniewski

Grade 11

High Honors: Jessica Arnold, Veronica Bacong, Robert Bitner, Olivia Bonner, Brittany Bousquet, Collin Brown, Sara Burns, Chelsea Cannon, Destinee Carter Jennifer Chan, Kevin Chan, Samuel Chomet, Aaron Clark, Katrina Cordeiro Coleen Cranfill, Morgan Davis, Rachael Dempsey, Emmett Dignan, Lindsay Dion, Joseph Doner, Colton Drain, David Estep, Eleanor Etienne, Marisa Evans, Christopher Ferrand, Stephanie Filippetti, Raysa Florentino Alyssa Gibeault, Sophia Gipstein, Caitlin Haggerty, Amanda Haluga, Kevin Harris, Cassandra Hill, Briana Hodge, Joshua Hohlfelder, David Hooper, Shanelle Houser, Elizabeth Jay, Jessica Johnson, Raquel Johnson, Katelynn Kennison, Henry Kietzman, Nanda Kommineni, Mitchell Lounsbury, Marissa Lowe Abigail Lowry, Raymond Luong, Amelia Lusk, Cassandra Mancini, Ana Lucia Martinez, Kylie Martinod, Jeffrey Matzdorff, Molly McKenna, Janelle Medeiros Amanda Micklus, Evan Mitchell, Karissa Morrissey, Paige Neve, Courtney O’Hara, Robert Okerblom, Jashira Pagan, Nikita Patel, Tushar Patel, Robert Perry-Crawford III, Kathy Philangam, Kathryn Pochal, Gregory Porter, John Pothier, Karley Ray, Sarah Riggins, Alexandra Rogers, Thomas Rowland, Loryn Sauerbrei, Tiffany Shen, James Shirvell, Abby Singer, Kamee Smith, Tyler St. Louis, Emily Story, Adelaide Taylor, Charles Thieme, Leslie Ann Vino, Alexander Vivenzio, William Wang, Paul Wildenhain, Lindsay Wilson, Lauren Windham

Honors: Diego Adrianzen Rijavec, Betsy Andramuno, Marcos Andramuno, Mariasabina Arias, Michael Arnold, Gabriella Arroyo, Amanda Atad, Axel Jon Atad Jasmine Barber-Decosta, James Beard, Brianna Behrens, Alivia Berg Cassandra Bertrand, Judy Bolanos, Michael Bond, Dashon Charles, Brandie Chestnut, Alex Clark, Ryland Costello, Christopher Crooker, Elizabeth Cruthers, Aaron Dean, Erica Delage, Tyler Delaporta, Audrey Devaux, Julianne DiCarlo, Lindsay Drake, Tyler Duplin, Al Jerome Duyan, Leecy Espinal, Adam Fletcher, Jordan Fortner, Jamal France, Amanda Furlong Francesca Gaudio, Melanie George, Taylor Gibeault, Elizabeth Gonzales Jonathan Gonzalez, Kevin Grant, Evan Grasser, Dylan Hall, Ellie Hall Christopher Hampton, Tawnie Hespeler, Michael Hunter, Lloyd Jackson, Amanda Jengo, Sarah Johnson, Rannessica Jones, Deepanvith Kanagala, Nicholas Kennedy, Kaitlyn King, Rachael Kokomoor, Alex Korpita, Eden Kuflik, Rachel Kuhn, Jake Lindy, Ryan Ludlam, Arthur Manahan, Ola Mansour, Aryanna Marques, Jivantika Mistry, Barbara Moffett Richard Monroe, Corina Morel, Devon Morris, Tiffany Mosley, Chelsea Murallo, Lauren Nolan, Madelaine O’Brien, Margaret O’Brien, Dixitkumar Patel Rory Petersen, Noelle Pollard, Stefani Pruitt, Angelina Quinn, Jaslyn Reels Kelsey Robinson, Tonisa Robinson, Thomas Russel, Berna Sahin, Adreanna Santana, Krista Scelza, Angel Segarra, Trisha Shah, Kevin Shepherd, Edward Shiffer, Danielle Small, Christopher Smarz, Dimitri Smith, Haley Smith Peter Soeller, Ariel Sullivan, Christopher Summers, Britney Taylor, Kristin Tenety, Jordan Tetlow, Kristy Toledo-Quinones, Tyler Underwood, Krishna Vanswala, Janelin Vasquez, Ashley Vivenzio, Philip Wall, Robert Westhaver, Tiara White, Tymeisha Williams, Bridget Wilson, Darren Young, Olivia Zamzes, Justin Zinewicz

Grade 10

High Honors: Kenneth Aanensen, MacKenzie Antoch, Jaya Bokhiria, Samantha Brodnicki, Meghan Brown, Avery Clark, Jake Clark, Kelsey Conahan, Kelly Czapek Hannah Damon, Cassandra DeCourcey, Keely Dennis, Gabrielle Dimaapi, William Dixon, Alma Doran, Toby-Lian Edovas, Jesse Edwards, Daniel Flynn Kaitlyn Gallagher, Stephanie Gerald, Daniel Gleisinger, Cameron Gonzalez, Kristin Hakenjos, Taryn Haller, Jamie Hallissey, Nathaniel Hohlfelder Matthew Houser, Tyler Jamon, Alexxus Johnson-Miller, Avery Kelley, Samantha Kiely, Abraham Kwok, Qusaun Lea, Kelly LeBlanc, Aisha Lee, Nicoli Macaluso, Venus Nicolas, Jemma O’Donnell, Jessica O’Grady, Griffin O’Neill, Aarsh Patel, Kristina Pombrio, Natasha Reinhart, Alexandra Rogan, Jessica Scarbrough, George Scarles, Jacob Schneider, Ava Sisson, Sydney Souder, Jordan Spellman, Victoria Stevens, Franklyn Stitz-Galvan, Nikola Strakova, Emma Sutphen, Teagan Swanson, Amy Teixeira, Brenna Terry, Caroline Thompson, Emily Thompson, Jack Tompkins, Brianna Turgeon, Megan Turley, Dominick Twitty, Alyssa Uvero, Desiree Vandine, Julia Vitale, Lauren Weaver, Surachat Yavirach

Honors: Matthew Adler, Sandra Albus, Sarah Albus, Sandra Anderson, Jenna Arzoumanian, Richard Aspinwall, Samantha Beebe, Jessica Benavidez, Ashley Bickel, Sarah Blaisdell, Taylor Britt, Taquan Brown, William Ceddia, Marissa Chapman, Breeanna Chesnut, Aylssa Cline, Heather Coleman, James Cook, Jordan Cook, Michael Dane, Tylor Domina, Drew Doyle, Joshua Dull, Jenna Emerson, Annaliisa Erickson, Kelly Evans, Albrianna Farnum, Matthew Francis, Michael Frazzo, Gabriel Gonzales, Christopher Gunning Amanda Hatch, Casey Hietala, Rachel Hume, Briana Hunter, Chase Hutchinson, Neariah Jarvis, Melenda Jean, Richard Johnson, John Joyner, Andrew Kaylor, Scott Kistner, Brooke Knobloch, Ottavia Knox, Liza Lamperelli, Mason Leonard, Anthony Lopez-Otero, Rameldy Lora, Colleen Lunney, Herson Martinez, Lucas McDowell, Lauren McGrade, Sean McKay, Maribel Mejias, Cameron Mills, Emily Milner, Erica Moon, Emily Morgera, Tiara-May Moyer, Matthew Myles, Jean-Claude Nicolas, Taylor Noel, Beau O’Brien, Brianna O’Grady, Byran Pitts, Kaitlyn Powers, Tyler Qualley, Randal Richardson, Jacob Ricker, Samantha Ruma, Stephanie Rush, Matthew Savona, Melissa Scarbrough, Allison Schilling, Brielle Shinn, Jocelyn Smith, Warren Smith, Irene Spanos, Jesse Steele, William Stocker Carla Stoddard, Courtney Tatro, Adante Thornton, Jamie Tobey, Destinee Torres, Ana-Marie Tramont, Megan Trask, Elizabeth Tuazon, Thomas Umrysz, Eryl Kenn Victorino, Joseph Walz, Seamus Ward, Luke Watson, Chance Wilson, Tayler Wohlleben, Heaven Woodhall, Lori Zelvin, Jeffrey Zeppieri, Jessica Zod

Grade 9

High Honors: Ryley Alger-Hempstead, Miguel Asuncion, Oliver Auerbach, Kelsey Berry, Jayesh Bokhiria, Elizabeth Brayman, Catarina Broccoli, Erik Brown, Allison Burke, Merisha Burton, Katherine Chirillo, Amanda Clarke, Katie Cole, John Coleman, Johnathan Conley, Alyssa Delaporta, Benjamin Dinovelli, Michael Donnel, Conor Doyle, Samantha Elliott, Timothy Entwistle, Stephanie Filosa, Randall Fitzmorris, Madison Fortner, Matthew Gentry, Nicholas Graning, Joseph Grant, Joan Haling, Michael Hammond, Michael Han, Renee Harms, Natasha Hart, Anna Hermann, Amy Hernandez, Alison Herod, Garrett Hodgdon, Andrew Johnson, Savanna Johnson, Katelyn Kelly, Tiffany Kernen, Tiera Lanford, Alyssa Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Matthew Lewis, Marissa Little, Craig Manahan, Cheyenne Manchester, Emily Mansfield, Bryan Mattison, Julia McKenna, Grayson Merriman, Dorothy Miller, Mitchell Miller, Tabitha Miller, Zachary Nado, Elizabeth Nolan, Alison Nowak, Seamus O’Brien, Fiona O’Donnell, Lauren Pernestti, Nicholas Perrotta, Joshua Poirier, Sarah Pruitt, Renato Ramos, Sydney Roper, Nishant Sahoo, Cali Salvatore, Kelsie Sampson, Tulsa Scott, Anthony Sisson, Zachary Slagle, Christopher Small, Kieron Smith, Rebecca Stark, Brooke Startz, Marissa Steel, Erica Strickland, Maria Tompkins, Kristin Valdez, Samuel Watson, Jacob Westervelt, Joshua Whitney, Zachary Wolfgang, Zoe Yopp, Charles Young

Honors: Anthony Ah-mu, Erika Ahern, Jay Alvaran, Kelsey Armstrong, Stephanie Ayala, Jody Beckford, Melissa Beglau, Collin Bennett, Ashley Benoit, Bianca Marie Bolado, Erin Bridgman, Maura Brown, Marissa Buckley, Samuel Chapple, Dominique Chojnowski, Valasity Cintron, Kailee Clarke, Amanda Collins, J Correira, Olivia Cortese, Christopher Corum-Giles, Rafael Crisostomo, Drew Denno, Aunisha Dillon, Zachary Dunn, Aileene Duyan, Hunter Edwards, Sarah Ellery, Katherine Farnsworth, Corey Fournier, Felicia Francalangia, Ryan Frank, Robert Furlotte, Karlie Gaston, Shelby Gregson, Genesis Guzman Martinez, Stephanie Hahn, David Hall, Ryan Halperin, Sapphire Hanif, Gregory Hnat, Constance Hobbs, Eric Hughes Patrick Jackson, Jacob Jimenez, Patrick Kearns, Sarosh Khatib, Jennifer Kocan, Rachel Lastes, Brandy LeClair, Taylor Lewerk, Chloe Liston Courtney Littlewood, Jacqueline Lockett, Alexandra Lublin, Michael Lussier, Khristina Malloy, Tyler Martin, Jordan Maynard, Jordan McCoy, Kyle Mcleod, Jason Melendez, Jacob Merrow, Lindsey Merrow, Jonathan Mewha Shane Miller, Leyanna Minnis, Rebecca Morrell, Shawn Nadeau, Kevin Nicolas, Alexander Olendorf, Elizabeth Osborn, Gareth Pacis, Deep Patel, Niral Patel, Vishal Patel, Olivia Pentell, Leona Phlegar, Samantha Pickard, Charles Pollard, Jennifer Purdon, Torin Quinn, Harrison Reichard, Rebecca Reinhard, Alivia Royal, Erick Sauerbrei, Stefani Segura, Rina Shah, Stephanie Shirvell, Caitlin Shroyer, Douglas Singer, Katie Sizer, Nicholas Smith, Ellen Springsteel,
Matthew Stevens, Toria Strickland, Colin Strunk, Samuel Sutton, Charlene Swink, Adam Teixeira, LaShawna Thompson, Bridget Thomson, Jennifer Walsh, Sarah Walters, Richard Westhaver,
Cody Wheeler, Meredith Zamzes, Benny Zheng

PARENT'S EYE VIEW ~ ‘Boyology’ Gives Girls a Roadmap to Opposite Sex

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:34:24 GMT

By Amy J. Barry:

If you’re a ‘tween or teen girl looking for a definitive guide to the male species—or if you’re a parent that wants to get up to speed on girl-boy relationships in this new age of technology, “Boyology: a teen girl’s crash course in all things boy” by Sarah O’Leary Burningham fits the bill.

Author of “How to Raise Your Parents,” Burningham’s new book covers everything from first dates to break ups and all the important in-between stuff like understanding the various “breeds” (classifications) of boys, techniques for asking a boy out, setting boundaries, introducing boyfriends to parents, and more.

Burningham lives in New York City with her husband Grant, a contributor to the book, who adds his perspective on a variety of topics from shopping to love.

The author gave a talk to teens and parents on June 24 at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison and plans to visit area schools in the fall.

The following is an interview with Burningham about her new book.

Q. What was your impetus for writing
“Boyology”?

A. I realized that even with all the technology and media out there, girls still have a lot of questions—still don’t have great examples of healthy relationships—and I wanted this to be a guide. I believe the [relationship] patterns you start setting as a teenager are the patterns that stay with you.

Q. How did you do your research?

A. I interviewed 2,000 teenagers, both girls and boys—a lot online and cell phone calls—from all over the country and Canada. I have really active MySpace and Facebook profiles. Once I started to talk to teenagers, other teenagers found me.

Q. How are you able to relate so well to teenage girls? Obviously, they wouldn’t read the book if it came off like an out-of-touch adult had written it.

A. I’m 29 and I remember what it was like to be a teenager and to have those feelings—I’m also far enough away [in age] to have experience and perspective. Teenagers treat me like an older sister.

Q. What are some ways dating is very different for this generation?

A. Technology is the biggest change. Even when I was dating, we had landlines, and my parents knew who was on the phone. Cell phones are a great tool [for everyone], but parents may not know who’s calling and have to make extra effort. Kids aren’t [verbally] communicating, they’re just texting. We still have to find a way to show healthy interpersonal skills. Besides technology, teenagers are going through the same things [as previous generations] like that first heartbreak.

Q. What are the most important points you’d like to get across to girls in this book?

A. A message of self-respect, which I [address] in the “You Wear the Pants: Setting Your Boundaries” chapter. “You wear the pants,” meaning knowing what you want and defining that, and making sure people you’re with respect you as much as you deserve and that you respect yourself. Teenage years are full of the unknown and insecurities. To be grounded and have a good sense of self is the most important thing.

Q. How did you come up with the different Boy Breeds?

A. I got them from interviewing boys and girls. For example, for “The Athleticus Greatius,” I asked boys in sports who they would want to be and almost every one said LeBron James.

Q. Besides defining good and bad flirting, the “Get your Flirt on” section even discusses text flirting!

A. Text flirting is great, but at some point you’ve got to pick up the phone—or see him and have real conversation or it’s not a real relationship. These are good skills to learn as a teenager—how to talk to someone and say what you’re thinking.

Q. You made choices in the book to talk about kissing, setting boundaries, what to do if you’re violated, but you avoid the safe sex/using contraception discussion. Why?

A. I think every teenager is different, is raised differently with a different set of rules and values. The most important thing is to know what you want and where your line is so that you know where you stand before you get into an uncomfortable situation—so you don’t freeze up in the moment. It’s important that teenagers make those decisions for themselves because they’re the ones that ultimately deal with the consequences.

Q. Is there anything you’d like to add?

A. If our future lies in the hands of this generation, I think we’re in good hands. They’re much smarter and more thoughtful than they’re given credit for sometimes. Even though they’re not perfect, they’re good kids.

“Boyology” by Sarah O’Leary Burningham (Chronicle Books) is $12.99, softcover, and is available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com.

E-mail Amy Barry at aimwrite@snet.net.

NATURE NOTES ~ Cowbirds: Nest Parasites of the U.S.

Interactive Desk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:20:33 GMT

By Albert Burchsted:

A reader wrote to ask about the identity of an odd egg she found in a house finch nest. There were three pale blue eggs with a few spots and one larger tan egg covered with spots. The odd egg was a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) egg, and I explained to her its significance for both the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) and the cowbird eggs.

The Problems of Parasites

Brown-headed cowbirds are nest parasites. They have lost the ability to construct nests or feed their own offspring and are dependent on other species to raise their offspring. By laying eggs in another species’ nest, the mother cowbird consigns her baby to compete with the host species’ babies for food and space and to eat whatever the host parents bring for their own offspring. This poses several problems for the cowbirds.

Cowbirds have to find nests while they are being constructed so they can lay their eggs before incubation begins. A female lays her egg after two or more host eggs have been laid but before the parent bird begins to sit on the eggs.

The female cowbird often removes one host egg from the nest, replacing it with one of her eggs the same or the next day. Some birds recognize their own eggs and remove or destroy a cowbird’s egg, cover the entire nest and start again, or abandon the nest to build a new one.

The cowbird baby has to obtain enough food to survive. It does so by starting life just a little larger than the host’s babies—usually hatching a day earlier than the host babies—often climbing on top of or pushing the host’s babies out of the nest and begging loudly for food.

Cowbird babies need food rich in protein. Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and house finches provide mostly seeds for their offspring. Cowbird chicks languish and often die in these species’ nests because seeds have low levels of protein.

The Problems of Hosting Parasites

Parent birds confronted with cowbird eggs and chicks are caught on the horns of a dilemma: by removing or destroying the cowbird egg, they might damage one or more of their own eggs.

For a bird with a large bill, such as a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) or common grackle (Quiscalis quiscula), this is not much of a problem—it simply picks up the egg and flies away with it. A bird with a small bill can neither handle such a large package nor puncture an egg without slipping off the surface. Thus, many bird species that reject cowbird eggs simply start from scratch and build a new nest. The yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) covers its entire nest, including the eggs, with a new nest and attempts to keep a preferred nest site without the specter of a cowbird chick. Some pairs construct four or five nests before obtaining a cowbird-free nest.

By feeding a cowbird chick, their own chicks are doomed to languish, starve, or even be killed by their foster sibling. Cowbird chicks hatch out a day or two before the host chicks. By being fed for an extra day or so, the cowbird has grown considerably by the time the host chicks hatch. This head-start ensures the cowbird squawks louder and presents a wider-open mouth than its foster siblings each time the parents arrive with food. One “flaw” in bird behavior is that the louder a chick squawks, the more food it gets. It makes little sense to feed a sickly chick (the chick might not survive), and squawking is a signal to the parents that the bird is both hungry and in good health. Sometimes all host nestlings starve to death as the cowbird chick receives most of the food.

When young cowbird chicks come in contact with other objects in the nest, they attempt to push them up over the edge of the nest cup. This behavior reduces competition from host chicks and ensures more food for the cowbird chick.

Hope for the Parents?

All is not necessarily lost if a cowbird dumps her egg in your nest. Many bird species normally have large clutches (sets of eggs) and can feed up to a dozen offspring. In this case, a few of the host babies often survive.

In some instances, the presence of a cowbird chick reduces the incidence of nest predation, and total nest failure is unlikely. Losing a few babies survive is better than losing the whole clutch. This is often the case with our Eastern and mountain bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and (Sialia corrucoides).

Nest predators tend to take the largest, most active chicks (cowbirds) from the nest first. If a nest predator is interrupted while feeding, as is often the case, host chicks would remain.

Is Dependency on Parasitism Beneficial?

Cowbirds originally inhabited the prairies of the west and Midwest. Opening the forests of the east increased available habitat and exposed many new species to cowbird parasitism. Female cowbirds lay about 40 eggs a year for two years. On average, about 2.4 of these eggs survive, and populations double in size in about eight years.

The species most seriously affected by cowbird activity are those that only recently came into contact with cowbirds because of human activity. These species have few or no cowbird defenses and their numbers have recently plummeted. Some will be driven to extinction; others will survive.

Dependence on other species for reproduction is not necessarily an evolutionarily stable strategy. Those bird species driven to extinction by cowbird and human activities will no longer provide nesting opportunities for cowbirds. As many birds have already done, some surviving species will eventually develop anti-cowbird behaviors that reduce the effectiveness of cowbird reproduction, the tide will turn, and cowbird numbers will drop.

Albert Burchsted is a field biologist recently retired from the College of Staten Island, part of the City University of New York. He lives in Niantic and can be reached via e-mail at al.burchsted@gmail.com.

The Big Finish: Fitch senior catches up to graduate on time

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:11:25 GMT

By Katie Warchut, Staff Writer:

It's a fleeting fantasy of many teenagers to be able to live without parents’ rules.

But when Robert E. Fitch High School senior Amy Maury found herself living on her own, she learned that freedom can be much harder than it may seem.

Maury grew up in Groton, living with her family in her grandmother’s house. When she turned 14, her grandfather got sick and her grandmother had to sell the house, she said.

Her parents moved to New London and struggled a bit, living on their own for the first time, she said.

Maury didn’t want to go to New London High School, so she decided to live with friends. The only problem was, she didn’t always make it to school.

“I didn’t get credit for the first semester because I was absent too much,” Maury said.

The friend she was living with then got suspended and Maury had to leave the house. The next girl she lived with was out of school, and would tell her, “You don’t need to go to school. Come to the beach!” Maury said.

She missed the whole month of May and didn’t get credit for the second semester either.

She’s not sure where it came from, but Maury soon decided, “This is serious now.”

She said she didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of her older brother, who never finished high school. She looked up to her aunt who had gone to college and still plays an important role in her life.

“I didn’t have the parents to be, like, ‘You’re grounded,’” Maury said. “I could be such a bad kid right now.”

But fortunately for her future, she met the Barkers.

She became close with Melissa Barker and began to spend a lot of time at her house.

“They knew the situation and said I could stay there,” Maury said. “It was amazing.”

She’s been there three years now. She has her own room and considers Melissa and Melissa’s three sisters her own sisters. She refers to Jackie and Glen Barker as “mom” and “dad.”

“We have four daughters anyway, so what was one more?” Jackie said. “She didn’t take long to become part of the family.”

“She’s so driven,” Jackie said. “My kids have learned a lot from her. A lot of kids have a lot to learn from her.”

Despite missing a year of school, Maury was still able to earn enough high school credits to graduate later this month.

She works five days a week at Stop & Shop to pay for her gym membership and phone bill.

“Budgeting is hard,” she said. “Some weeks you just don’t have money.”

She was accepted into a medical assistant program at New England Tech, where she will receive the maximum amount allowed for financial aid. She took out two loans and earned another $5,000 scholarship from Liberty Bank.

She’s not so into the “blood and guts,” but Jackie Barker is a nurse and Maury said there’s always a need for medical positions.

Maury sees her own parents on occasion. However, experience has taught her to support herself.

“I don’t have to go to school, I just do,” she said. “I make my own decisions.”

She said she’s lucky that she’s “always been accepted everywhere.”

”I can’t thank people enough,” Maury said.

Donovan Appoints Task Force on Children and the Recession

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:10:15 GMT

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) recently announced the formation of a legislative task force—the Children and the Recession Task Force—that will help plan Connecticut’s response to the plight of children affected by the economic recession.

Connecticut is the first state in the nation to form a legislative task force to plan for children in the recession and during the recovery. A report issued by the Foundation for Child Development and Duke University last week predicts the recession will send between 2.6 million and 3.3 million children into poverty, costing American taxpayers $1.7 trillion. The estimated economic impact on Connecticut of thousands of children entering poverty is $800 million annually.

Speaker Donovan said the task force will be co-chaired by State Representatives Karen Jarmoc (D-Enfield) and Diana Urban (D-Stonington/North Stonington), and will
include bipartisan membership from the state House of Representatives, state Senate, Congressional offices, economists, and representatives from business, family support groups, housing advocates, human services, academia, and nonprofit agencies.

Rep. Urban said, “We can let 35,000 children in Connecticut fall into poverty or we can move forward and work on protecting them now. I am proud that Speaker Donovan is making Connecticut a leader in this effort.”

The task force will review budget implications related to children and the recession; identify trends and research resulting from the recession related to housing, employment, homelessness, child care, and unemployment; make recommendations on appropriate budget and policy action; and recommend efficiencies and offer ways to streamline services and access points for families.

The task force will report quarterly to him and legislative leadership on key findings, and will work to identify appropriate federal stimulus opportunities to support programs for children.

COLLEGE 101 ~ Make This a MacArthur Summer

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:07:43 GMT

By Sam Rosensohn:

Robert C. Allen, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was talking to a university alumnus and successful venture capitalist, in hopes of persuading him to fund a portion of the honors program that Allen directed.

“What made a difference to you when you were a student at Carolina?” Allen asked the alumnus, Lucius Burch, in a bid to generate easy conversation.

“Well,” he replied, “one of the best things that happened to me while I was at Carolina had nothing to do with any course I took, and it didn’t even happen on campus. One summer, I persuaded my daddy to let me go to Alaska, and while I was there I learned how to fly-fish. It taught me a lot.”

Allen, who recounted the tale in an articled entitled “Hail, Fellows, Well Met” said a day or two later he realized that “Mr. Burch hadn’t been talking about fly-fishing so much as he had the opportunity to use his time in college to pursue his own interests wherever it made most sense to do so.”

Earlier that morning, Allen heard a story on National Public Radio about the MacArthur Fellows Program, which awards $500,000 to exceptionally talented and industrious people to follow their passions in any manner they choose without having to produce an academic product.

“Mindful of Mr. Burch’s fly-fishing story and the academic autonomy of his summer experience,” Allen proposed creating a fellowship at UNC that would neither generate course credit nor require fellows to produce an academic product.

To Allen’s delight, Burch financially supported the notion. Over the last 10 years Allen noted that student “fellowship experiences have had a significant and, in some cases, transformative effect on their intellectual and academic development.”

Allen believes the Burch Fellowships work wonders because they “reward passion and curiosity over an ability to perform consistently well on multiple choice tests or in traditional college courses.”

This all got me to thinking—in part because I’m so ready for warm days—that summertime is a terrific time for all of our kids to do what the MacArthur and Burch Fellows do: Explore what they’re most passionate about.

I took a quick look at the MacArthur Fellows Program, sometimes called the Genius Awards, and noted that the “program is intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations.

“In keeping with this purpose, the Foundation awards fellowships directly to individuals rather than through institutions. Recipients may be writers, scientists, artists, social scientists, humanists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or those in other fields, with or without institutional affiliations.” Sounds to me like all of our kids fit somewhere in the above.

It gets better. Fellows are chosen for the $500,000 award. Nominators choose the winners. In other words, you can’t apply for a MacArthur. So, I’m now officially making myself the unofficial “MacArthur Jr. Fellows Program” nominator, and I officially in my unofficial capacity name each and every high school student to be a fellow sans money.

Allen and the MacArthur folks have known for a long time that the great discoveries are made when people follow what they gravitate to naturally—whether that be baseball, song, or watching movies as Allen did with his fellowship in Europe.

“Recipients are chosen for their potential to make exceptionally creative contributions to their respective fields,” according to MacArthur guidelines. “We believe that highly motivated and talented people are in the best position to decide how to allocate their time and resources. By adopting a ‘no strings attached’ policy, we provide the maximum freedom and flexibility for the recipients to use the fellowship in ways that most effectively facilitate their future work.”

Why not try to think of the summer as one great big MacArthur—a time for high school students to use a couple of months to explore what interests them most and to see what comes out of it.

If students do that they will find themselves on a frontier of their own, exploring something that’s important to them.

And because I do like the pragmatic side of life, it’s useful to point out that there are two very practical sides to taking me up on the “MacArthur Jr. Awards.”

One, if a student does identify something and makes some discoveries about just that, he’ll be that much closer to choosing a college that will suit his needs.

Two, colleges are looking for students who have committed themselves to pursuits they can further explore on their campuses.

Sam Rosensohn is the founder of College Planning Partnerships, which offers prep classes for the SAT, the ACT, and the SSAT. He helps students to prepare for college and to write college essays. He can be reached in Clinton at 860-664-9857. Visit www.satprepct.com for previously published “College 101” columns and SAT prep class times.

Meet the Elite: Eastern CT Ballet dance team takes world championship

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:43:17 GMT

By Amy Renczkowski, Staff Writer:

East Lyme — Most people don’t associate hip-hop dancing with this small town, but now they have a reason to.

Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s senior hip-hop team—Street Elite—are world champions. They recently competed in Orlando at the World Showcase at Disney World this spring and finished in first place.

“We were so underestimated, a little town from Connecticut,” said Gina Ferigone, 18, a dancer from East Lyme.

“When they announced our name, we were like, ‘How is this possible?’” Sean Kinney, 18, a dancer from Montville added. “It was very validating.”

The senior hip-hop team consists of 14 people from around Connecticut and Rhode Island, ages 18 years old and younger. The open team that has 18 performers in the group, ages 14 years old and older, took third place at Worlds.

Coach and Niantic native Beth Newton-Girard said she choreographed a routine for the senior team that was creative but had traditional hip-hop moves and tricks, like team headstands, elbow stalls, swipes, and windmills.

“It took months, an extremely long time to put together. There were lots of formations, level changes, and different tricks,” Newton-Girard said. “I just tried to take it two eight-counts at a time.”

She said she got her inspiration from the dancers themselves.

“This year we had kids that we were so passionate. I couldn’t have done it without their influence. They’re so young and so fresh with ideas,” Newton-Girard said.

The team’s routine also won a number of choreography awards this season.

The routine opens with a piano playing strategically in the background with spoken word: “This is our ghetto ballet, this is how we represent ourselves. This is the only way we see fit of storytelling. This is the only way of making ourselves feel like we belong.”

The rest of the two-minute, 15-second routine is packed with sharp movements, eye-popping tricks, and high energy dance moves.

It ends with more spoken word that seems fitting for the team: “You can do anything you set your mind to, man.”

Newton-Girard said winning Worlds was overwhelming.

“I’m proud of how hard they worked all season and how passionate they are with what they do,” Newton-Girard said. “They’re a bunch that wouldn’t have gotten so far without hard work.”

The hip-hop teams practiced roughly twice a week for two and a half hours each practice. The senior and open team was in the studio practicing almost every day for a few weeks before the championship.

Despite coming from an undefeated season, many dancers from the senior team said they had trouble sleeping the night before the World Showcase.

“The whole week before Worlds I put everything aside. I could not sleep,” Julia Veronesi, 15, a dancer from Colchester said. “But winning was awesome. We worked hard and it paid off.”

The Street Elite team was founded in August of 2007 by Newton-Girard. Besides the senior and open team, there is a youth team that won the United States finals in Virginia this year. She said she hopes to have between five and seven teams next year.

Street Elite is looking for additional members to join their team. Tryouts are Sunday, June 28, and Tuesday, June 30. Newton-Girard will teach dancers two routines. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. Ryan Spanich is assistant coach of the team.

Street Elite dancers said they want to be the first hip-hop team to win the World Championships back to back.

“Street Elite sweep,” as Veronesi put it.

Watch Street Elite’s World Championship routine at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bspLZs74Pqs.

To learn more about tryouts for the Street Elite hip-hop teams, call 739-7899 or visit www.easternctballet.com.

Times All-Area Baseball Team

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:41:47 GMT

By Larry Kelley, Special to the Times:

OK, all of you objective ECC baseball followers out there, let’s play a little game. Forget everything that happened after June 1 and raise your hand if you thought New London had the best baseball team in the area. Don’t be shy. Anyone think New London was the ECC’s best as of June 1? Is anyone paying attention? I don’t see many hands.

OK, who thinks Fitch was the best ECC team as of June 1? I see some hands in the air. Who thinks Waterford was the best? I see about the same number. Who thinks Montville was the best? Well, now I see dozens of hands being raised. Montville, the ECC Tournament champ, had to be the clear-cut choice as area top dog.

If Montville and New London played a best-of-five series, the Indians would have been favored. New London was knocked out in the ECC tourney first round.

The CIAC baseball tournament was a different story. While Montville was stunned in the Class M quarterfinals, New London caught a hot streak, avoided powerhouse teams that were knocked off such as Seymour, St. Joseph, and Montville, missed facing Waterford ace Colin O’Keefe, who struck out 17 in one Class M win and hurled a no-hitter in another win, in the semifinals and stunned the state en route to the school’s sixth CIAC baseball title, blanking Ellington, the team to oust Montville. Six baseball crowns is just three short of Waterford’s state-best nine.

Nobody really asks how you got there. But in this entertaining ECC baseball season that featured a full house of Division I college quality pitching aces and three teams (Fitch, Waterford, and Montville) that spent time in the state top 10 poll, the lasting memory will be how former power New London quietly stole the local spotlight to emerge as the last ECC team standing in the state tournament.

Baseball is the most unpredictable of any scholastic major sport. You can pretty much project the top football teams advancing to state playoffs. The same for basketball, where there are few unheralded teams that upset the favorites. Nobody really knows who the best baseball teams are, as the volatility of the state’s top 10 poll attests. New London never appeared in the New Haven Register’s top 10 poll until reaching No. 3 in the final rankings.

Once again, the ECC did itself proud on the state baseball level. The 2009 Times Community Newspapers All-Area Baseball Team is a distinguished group to be sure.

Pitchers

Luis Sanchez, New London – Compiled a 9-1 record and burst on the scene with three state tournament victories, including shutouts in the quarterfinals and finals.

Derek Wilcox, Montville – All he does is win, save the the 5-3 state quarterfinal loss to Ellington. Wilcox finished 9-1 this season, 20-2 for his career.

Catchers

Alex Tuneski, Waterford – The power-hitting catcher was the area’s best combination of hitter-receiver-thrower. Will team with O’Keefe as one of state’s best batteries next year.

Eddie Sierra, New London – Fine defensive catcher and clutch hitter, Sierra had to be included because of state playoff run.

Infield

Jesse Sutherland, Montville – Junior batted close to .500 and led area with 10 home runs. Sutherland continues Montville’s legacy of fantastic shortstops: the three Ternis and recently-drafted Anthony Giansanti (A’s, 49th round).

Alec Brown, Montville – Fine defensive third baseman, although overshadowed on that side of the diamond by Sutherland, was clutch hitter for ECC Tournament champ Indians.

Anthony Turgeon, Fitch – Perhaps the area’s best leadoff hitter, the Division I bound Turgeon (Central Connecticut) batted over .400 and played strong defense for Class LL state quarterfinals.

Kevin Castodio, Stonington – Class M All-Stater hit .400 as a junior. Without any protection in the lineup, he only hit .280 on team that averaged .190 and 2.5 runs a game. Still, the Division I bound (Quinnipiac) pitcher-first baseman hit walk-off homer to beat Canton and deserves to be included.

Outfield

Kevin Carlow, Fitch – Carlow could have made it as a pitcher, but the outfield had openings. Best scholastic players traditionally play infield, catch, or pitch. Left-handed stick batted .500 with extra base hit power, setting Fitch’s all-time hit record in process. On mound, he posted 6-1 record, losing only 1-0 to state finalist McMahon-Norwalk in Class LL state quarterfinals, and he finished with three shutouts and a no-hitter off Ledyard.

Colin O’Keefe, Waterford - Junior left-hander posted 8-1 record, losing only 1-0 to Fitch ace Kevin Carlow, and added a no-hitter and 17-strikeout effort in Class M tournament wins. O’Keefe played center field when he didn’t pitch and was one of Waterford’s top hitters.

Co-Players of Year

Carlow – Following in the recent footsteps of pitcher-sluggers Rob Bono (Waterford) and Matt Harvey (Fitch), Carlow was magnificent in any role. He batted .500 or better with loads of doubles. He was nearly untouched on the mound, compiling an undefeated record until losing 1-0 in the Class LL state quarterfinals. Hurled five shutouts, including a no-hitter.

Sutherland – The junior deserves high honors based on his offensive prowess, including 10 homers.

Coach of the Year

Mike Wheeler, New London - What does he do for an encore? In his first varsity head coaching stint, the former Fitch and New London Legion standout leads his team to a state championship, the school’s first since 1994. Though some may argue how much talent New London had—Babe Ruth and Little League all-star teams have fared well in all-star play in the last five years—the Whalers won just a little over half their games a year ago and are not far removed from a sub. 500 seasons. For Wheeler to take over just weeks before the season started after Jack Cochran stepped down, winning a state title ranks as one of this proud athletic city’s biggest accomplishments in years.

OPINION: Why I Joined the League of Women Voters

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:36:39 GMT

By Marilyn Mackay:

During the 20th century, the League of Women Voters represented one of the few organizations that allowed women to learn, expand their intellectual horizons, stretch their abilities, and meet like-minded women. It was not until the latter part of the century that the league allowed male members. A 1972 movement out of the Westport league helped to allow men to become members.

Because far fewer women worked until the 1960s, except during the World War II, the league offered homemakers the chance to learn and to affect the politics of their day. In the ’60s, when many single-issue women’s organizations began to flourish, the league lost young women because they were looking for immediate action on issues.

The league has a history of studying issues before taking action, which frustrated those emotionally charged to just “do something.” Today’s young people seem to be re-examining how to spend their free time, and we at the league hope they consider membership in our organization as a vehicle to understanding the world around them.

Discussion has begun at the board level of the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut to initiate chapters at the four colleges in southeastern Connecticut: University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Connecticut College, Mitchell College, and Three Rivers Community College. If you have a child or grandchild over 18 years old, a gift of membership in the league can be a life-changing experience.

For students and for people between jobs, try expanding your resume by volunteering your time and service to the league. It allows an opportunity to do almost anything within the parameters of the organization’s mission. State and national leagues offer classes in everything from moderating debates to lobbying your legislators.

League credits are highly valued by governments, private enterprise, and non-government organizations as an emblem of an individual’s interest, knowledge of events, and expertise in how to get things done in our fast, changing world.

Many members have gone on to serve in public office at the town, state, and federal levels. It is the best “prep” school around and costs only $55 a year.

As a member of the League of Women Voters dating back to 1961, I’ve never stopped learning. My membership began with the formation of a three-island league in the U.S. Virgin Islands and becoming its first president. It continued in New York’s Hamptons and now as membership chair for the southeastern Connecticut league.

When asked how I became organized and knowledgeable on so many topics, my reply is, “I never graduated from college, but I got my Ph.D. from the League of Women Voters.”

As an active member, I can try to do almost anything, including producing and directing a league public access television series. How did that happen? At a meeting I suggested it, and, bingo! I was in charge. What did I know? Nothing. But I sure learned fast, and now we offer classes and seminars for free.

Here are some other views from local league members when asked why they joined the group:

Claire Sauer of Lyme: Each time I’ve moved to a new area, starting as a newlywed, I’ve joined the local League of Women Voters. Membership familiarized me with governmental structure and issues in the state and locality, and introduced me to terrific women who provided great mental stimulation.

On Long Island, my chairmanship of the Suffolk County League led directly to becoming the chair of a County Charter Revision Commission. After voters adopted the commission’s recommendations, I decided to run for the county legislature. My reputation gained for work for the league and the Charter Commission led to an upset victory.

After moving to Connecticut, my service on the New York state league’s board of directors led to my chairing a local league and then serving on the state league’s board. Needing a new challenge after the death of my husband, I ran for the Connecticut House of Representatives. The district included five towns and I ran against an incumbent. My league work gained a reputation and, again, I achieved an upset victory. I’ve been a member of the organization for more than 50 years. League activity has had a significant influence on my life, which would have been very different had it not been for the League of Women Voters.

Eunice Waller of New London: Arriving in Connecticut in the early ’60s, there were many civic issues that needed change. I’ve been known as an activist since early childhood, being the youngest of three older sisters and a foster brother.

I joined a newly formed Black Federation of Democrats, only to learn it was not recognized as effective by the local Democratic Town Committee. As a life member of the National Education Association, I tried activity in the Connecticut Education Association.

It didn’t take long to learn that a political force was needed, so I joined the local League of Women Voters. They would surely tell me what I could not do before assuring me of how the league could be helpful to a local activist. The league was just what was needed. They were non-partisan, as the brochure reads. I’ve never regretted being a part of the league and still strongly believe all young able-bodied women should join and actively support the organization. Life for women in America is still in need of improvement, reform, and enhancement from years of non-involvement in our own welfare.

We can certainly help ourselves by more active involvement and financial support. I urge all women, young and old, to join the league. If you don’t like what’s happening, get involved. Do something!

Irene Weiss of Mystic: When I moved to southeastern Connecticut as a young mother, I wondered which group to join to get to know people in the community. The league was doing a study about the Groton school system and, having children, of course I was interested in their schools. As a member I got to participate in the study, which included attending board of education meetings, interviewing principals, and learning how Connecticut funds public education.

A side benefit was getting to know some terrific people. I value the in-depth knowledge that the league provides about all sorts of issues at the local, state, and national levels that are important to me. I especially like that the league does not take a stand on issues until it has looked at all sides. I am looking forward to learning more about the issue of whether to decriminalize marijuana, a study our southeastern Connecticut League will undertake this year.

For details on how to join the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, go to www.lwvct.org/lwvsect/join_us.htm; e-mail lwvsect@earthlink.net; or call 860-535-1192.

Marilyn Mackay of North Stonington heads membership for the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut.

Sacred Heart School Honor Roll

Interactive Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:35:44 GMT

Third marking period:

Grade 6

High Honors: Megan Bosetti, Briana Kleiner, Joseph Warmus, Martin Wolk

Honors: Michelle Chapman, Sofie Clark, Shannon Forrester, Celine Harris, Elizabeth Jennerwein, Francesca Matira, Elizabeth McCarthy

Grade 7

Honors: Bea Asuncion, Justin Bell, Brigid Horan, Xavier Mills, Andy Thomasco

RISEN Program Honors: Mark O’Friel

Grade 8

High Honors: Justin Cavitt, Julia Scott

Honors: Kaitlin Bosetti, Claire Bowdy, Victor Calle, Joseph Granatosky, Meredith Haluga, Dominic Jengo, Katherine McCarthy, Iesha Preston