Norwich

Tommy Toy Fund Run Dec. 5

Interactive Desk — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:29:39 GMT

The 2008 Tommy Toy Fund Run is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5 in downtown Norwich. The event will start at Billy Wilson’s Ageing Still on Broadway at 7 p.m.

Runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages are invited to participate in this community event that supports the Norwich Bulletin’s Tommy Toy Fund. All participants should bring one unwrapped toy as a donation to the Tommy Toy Fund.

This event is sponsored by Billy Wilson’s Ageing Still and the Mohegan Striders Running Club and has been a tradition in downtown Norwich for more than 25 years. All participants are encouraged to run in seasonal costumes to help bring about a festive Christmas atmosphere. Christmas carols and jingling bells will dominate the air.

The runners will be led by Santa and his reindeer on a course that starts on Broadway in front of Billy Wilson’s. The course will go into Courthouse Square and go left on Main Street and take another left onto Franklin Street. The runners will continue up Franklin Street onto McKinley Avenue and go left onto Perkins Avenue. At the end of Perkins Avenue the course goes left onto Broadway and bears right onto Union Street and that will bring the runners back to Billy Wilson’s where the run ends.

The Norwich Police Department will provide a lead vehicle and a trailing vehicle to provide for the safety of the runners. Post-run activities include a great raffle at Billy Wilson’s, including prizes donated from many local businesses. The Wauregan Café will be open to accept toy donations from the younger participants prior to the race and provide hot chocolate and coffee when the race concludes.

All runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages are encouraged to join the Mohegan Striders in this great seasonal event where the spirit of giving and the joy of knowing you are helping to make the Christmas season a happy one for many area children are the rewards.

A Gift for Haiti

Interactive Desk — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:13:09 GMT

After a fund-raiser featuring golf and dinner, Andy Montanaro (right), the proprietor of Cherrystones restaurant in Old Lyme, hands a $5,500 check for Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich to its executive director, Emily Smack. The diocese’s vicar of ministry, Fr. Joseph Whittel (left), joins Mrs. Smack in accepting the donation. More than 70 golfers participated in the Oct. 11 fund-raiser, which began at Cedar Ridge Golf Course in East Lyme and continued at Cherrystones. Along with dinner, an auction of goods ranging from golf clubs to gift certificates from Bowerbird and Coffee’s Country Market was open to all golfers and their guests. Haitian Ministries, a non-profit, has operated almost 25 years. Based in Uncasville, it has a mission house in Port-au-Prince and supports two orphanages, a meal program for children, two medical clinics and medical missions, reforestation projects, and a scholarship program with 150 students. (For more information on the agency, please call: 860-848-2237 ext. 206, or email: info@haitianministries.org. Also see: www.haitianministries.org)

Be a Part of the Rich History of Norwich: Time Capsule Project

Interactive Desk — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:07:47 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

Be a Part of the Rich History of Norwich: Time Capsule Project

(By Dianne Brown, History Subcommittee co-Project Manager, and Secretary, Norwich Historical Society)

2009 marks the Semiseptcentennial (350^th Anniversary) of Norwich, Connecticut. There will be a multitude of events occurring in June and the first part of July to celebrate this occasion (visit http://www.norwichct350.com for more information). One of the activities with which the Norwich Semiseptcentennial History Subcommittee would like to commemorate the occasion is the creation of a time capsule that represents the years 2008/2009. This time capsule will be filled with written accounts and objects that represent what is like to live in Norwich today. The time capsule will be sealed, stored in an aboveground location and opened during the 400^th anniversary celebration in the year 2059. There will be an installation event next June where the time capsule will be dedicated and sealed for its 50 years to come. The 350^th History Subcommittee needs your help to fill the time capsule! First of all, we are looking for a variety of responses from people of all ages, young and old alike. Second, we are looking for proposed objects as well as written accounts of what it is like living in today’s world. All proposals and submissions need to be in good taste in order to be considered. Following are the guidelines for submissions: Written accounts are of greatest interest. These should be presented as either physical letters or e-mail messages that describe what it’s like to live in 2008/2009. Topics may include but are not limited to politics, environmental issues, education, jobs, holiday celebrations, family life, leisure activities, travel, technology and popular TV shows/movies. All submissions that are in good taste will be included in the time capsule. Paper-related objects can include food labels, grocery-market fliers with current prices (e.g. cost per pound of lobster/porterhouse), newspaper articles reflecting important current events, notable magazines or trendy recipes for food or cocktails. These items don’t need a proposal and can be submitted as is. Physical objects considered for the time capsule should be preceded by a written proposal that includes a description of the item with an explanation of how the item is used today (examples include a Blue Tooth headset, low-rise jeans, a pair of Skechers, an iPod or an up-to-date cell phone). Do not include CDs, DVDs, or anything that would require audio/visual interpretation, as we may not be able to “read” today’s items 50 years from now. Also, no perishable items can be accepted. If an item is suggested, you should be prepared to donate that item to the time capsule. Submit object-proposals or written accounts to diannebrown@diannebrown.com or mail to Dianne Brown, 130 Union Street, Norwich, CT 06360. We would like to include your Name, Address and Age with your document/object, but feel free to make your submission anonymous.

Nominations now being accepted for the Carol Croteau Humanitarian Award

Interactive Desk — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:53:01 GMT

On February 6, 2009, Bethsaida Community, Inc. will hold its second Biannual Gala. The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Carol Croteau Humanitarian Award to an outstanding citizen in our community.

Carol's story has inspired many and her legacy of helping women in need is recognized through this honor. Carol Croteau realized homeless women needed help after her own difficult experience. She worked with friends and family and eventually they formed Bethsaida Community Inc.

Through Carol's vision, hard work and determination, Bethsaida has become "a hope, a home, a family" to hundreds of women for over 20 years.

Nomination forms are available at http://www.bethsaidact.org/Events.htm or can be requested by calling 860-886-7511 x 201.

All nominations are due by November 14, 2008 at 3 pm. Tickets for the event are $75 if purchased before 12/31/08 and $80 if purchased in 2009. Tickets may be purchased on the Bethsaida website www.BethsaidaCT.org or by mailing a check to Bethsaida Community, Inc. PO Box 913, Norwich CT 06360.

The Gala will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Holiday Inn in Norwich CT. Sponsorship opportunities are available and listed on the Bethsaida website. For more information, contact Linda DaLomba - Development Director at 860-886-7511 x 202

Leffingwell House Museum Fall Festival Winners announcement

Interactive Desk — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:36:21 GMT

With gratitude to two teams of extraordinary judges, The Society of the Founders of Norwich, CT and the Leffingwell House Museum are proud to congratulate the winners of the 2008 Fall Festival Contests. The Scarecrow Contest Adult category was won by “Uncle Bob” by Georgette and Karen Jordan. In the Scarecrow Contest children’s category – 1^st place was awarded to “Selena” by Hazel Banning. 2^nd place to “Shelly Peaking” by Adrianna Stockwell. 3^rd place to “Sally” by Shayla Pontes Good Sport was awarded for “Melissa” by Aleesa Pontes and Honorable mention for “John” by Anthony Banning. After much deliberation the judges awarded First Prize in the Apple Pie Contest 2008 to Ann Cannon for her “Traditional Apple Pie” and second place to Tessa Eichelberger for her “Apple Cinnamon Pie”. First Prize in the Pumpkin Pie Contest was a traditional pie entry by Ann Cannon and second prize was awarded to Genevieve Calcasola for her entry with an innovative crunchy crust. The Society of the Founders of Norwich, CT was organized October 10, 1901 as a genealogical society but in 1959 galvanized into action to save the circa 1675 Leffingwell Inn from demolition to make room for a highway.

Through years of meticulous dedication to restoration, the Leffingwell Inn is fully restored with authentic examples of colonial heritage, artifacts and furnishings dating from the 1600's through the 1800's. Tours, demonstrations and special exhibits are available on Saturdays from Noon - 4 p.m. May through October and by appointment. Donations are gratefully accepted. Membership to the Society is open to the public. Please visit our website www.leffingwellhousemuseum.org for further information.

Foreign Film Festival at Otis Library

Interactive Desk — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:57:43 GMT

Award-winning foreign films will be part of the first ever Norwich Foreign Film Festival, to be held at the Otis Library, 261 Main Street, in Norwich.

Through an innovative subscription DVD service called Film Movement, film fans may go to their local library to see the latest releases from film festivals all over the world. All films will be screened in their original language, with English subtitles.

Join fellow movie lovers the first Sunday of each month, running from October 2008 until April 2009, at 2:00 p.m. in the Otis Library Community Room.

October’s film is Mother of Mine, the winner of 3 Finnish Oscars and the winner of the Golden Pyramid at the Cairo International Film Festival. Directed by Klaus Haro, It is the story of a small boy in war-torn 1943 Finland, whose mother makes a painful decision to send her only child to safety in neutral Sweden.

For more information on this film, and future films in this series, please visit the Otis Library website, www.otislibrarynorwich.org. Attendance is free, but donations will be accepted. Films are unrated and are not recommended for children under the age of 17.

Slater Museum Announces New Permanent Exhibition

Interactive Desk — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:21:49 GMT

A new permanent exhibition is set to open October 3, 2008 in the Slater Museum’s Gualtieri Gallery. The gallery, located between the Cast Gallery and the Converse Art Gallery on the main floor of the museum, is named for Joe Gualtieri, long-time (1963-2000) Slater Museum director. Though not directly linked to the city’s Semiseptcentennial, the exhibition, entitled Crocker’s Norwich: The Long Nineteenth Century, ties together art and industry in Norwich during what might have been its most successful era.

The concept of the “Long 19^th Century,” as defined by British Marxist Eric Hobsbawm, refers to the period between the years 1789 and 1914 during which the French Revolution established a non-monarchical republic in Europe. The period ends with the start of World War I and its events had such a strong influence on world history and culture that they defined the era. The rise of the industrial over the agrarian is evident in Norwich’s ascendance during the era and is evident in the art and image of the city.

Artists represented in the exhibition include John Denison Crocker (1822-1907) a Salem native who worked extensively in Norwich and its environs, residing here most of his life. His local landscapes and portraits of the city’s leading citizens are truly worth thousands of words in any discussion about Norwich’s history and what life was like during the Long Nineteenth century. Crocker painted the farmland, rivers and mills of the nine miles square from vantage points in some cases now obscured by highways and recent development.

Like Crocker, Alexander Hamilton Emmons (1816-1884), a Norwich native whose work is also represented in the show, recorded the city’s luminaries. Commissioned by the founders of one of Norwich’s most prominent 19^th century businesses to paint portraits of “worthy” citizens for the city’s new library, Emmons worked frantically to finish the job for the opening.

The work of Ozias Dodge (1868-1925), a Vermont Native who came to Norwich as the Norwich Art School’s (of NFA) director (1897-1910) is extensively represented. Dodge and his wife Hannah made themselves an integral part of the city’s cultural life. He became an inventor and entrepreneur and despite physical weaknesses, his work outside of art helped Norwich immeasurably during WWI.

Also represented are Daniel Wadsworth Coit (1787-1876), Henry V. Edmond (?) and Chauncey Bradley Ives(1810-1894), Henry Dexter (1806-1876), John Trumbull (1756-1843) and Shepard Alonzo Mount (1804-1868).

The story of the lives outside of art of those represented in the exhibition are as fascinating as the images they created. The images represent a Norwich both idyllic and beloved by generations of natives, scholars and visitors.

The Slater Memorial Museum and Converse Art Gallery are part of the Norwich Free Academy, 108 Crescent Street, Norwich 06360. Housed in an exemplary Romanesque Revival building (1886), the museum features full scale plaster casts of Egyptian, Archaic, Greek, Roman and Renaissance sculpture; 17th – 20th c. Americana, fine and decorative Art, Native American artifacts; Asian, African, Oceanic, Egyptian, and European art and ethnographic material. Fine and decorative art representing 350 years of Norwich history. Open year round. Tues – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sat/Sun 1 – 4:00 p.m. Please call 860-887-2506 for directions and general information.

Learning Express at Otis Library

Interactive Desk — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:10:04 GMT

Overcoming test-taking anxiety, raising test scores, and improving skills is possible with just the click of a mouse at the Otis Library.

Beginning Sept. 15, visit Otis Library at 261 Main Street in Norwich, log on to a computer, and enjoy free, unlimited access to interactive skill-building courses in math, reading and writing as well as a broad range of practice tests based on official exams such as the ACT, SAT, GED, ASVAB, Firefighter, Police Officer, Paramedic, EMT Basic, U.S. Citizenship, Postal Worker, Cosmetology, Real Estate Agent & Broker Exams.

This valuable service is also available 24/7 from any Internet-enabled computer in your library and even from your home. Just go to www.LearningExpressLibrary.com or www.otislibrarynorwich.org and click on the resources link.

You must have a current Otis Library card to access Learning Express. For more information, please call 889-2365, Ext. 109.

KELLY MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR ROLL

Interactive Desk — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:10:08 GMT

THIRD TRIMESTER

6TH GRADE

HIGH HONORS

Margaret Babb, Susan Babb, Meaghan Benoit, Amanda Choi, Allison Cilley, Nicole Cormier, Nicholas Crooks, Riddhi Dave, Jonah Geligoff, Patricia Georges, Jason Hill,

Lauren Hodkinson, Rosario Huamani Carpio, Francis Lee, Schyler Lemaire, Adrianna Lowe, Katelyn Mazurkiewicz, Lindsey McElroy, Izaak Miller, Cassandra Moyer,

William Murray, Ehi Ojieyan, Motyat Olatunmbi, Taylor Renfree, Rachal Rubelmann,

Marcus Smith, Morgan Smith, Ulrica Sun, Alexandra Tio, Peter Tramontozzi

HONORS

Zhane Adams, Nicole Allard, Nicole Almonte Mateo, Kendrick Amy, Atianna Arder,

Abigail Banks, Daniel Bilda, Emily Black, Leeann Black, Nicholas Brown, Cassidy Bundy, Tyriece Burke, Eric Calhoun, Jasmin Campos-Sanchez, Rigo Contreras-Carrillo,

Ragine Crandall, Elijah Crawford, Schneidie Delmas, Kailyn Dimalanta, Shenider Dufort, Jordan Evrett, Jonathan Eyberse, Taibah Fisher, Jeffrey Fitch, Kyle Gervais,

Nicole Gibson-Lindholm, Devin Gleason, Hallie Hamby, Jessie Hill, Rachel Hodges,

Phillip Hyman, Jessica Hynds, Jennifer Jules, Bridget Kaiser, Ramsha Khan, Tyler Marsico, Margaret McDonough, Cindy Mezidor, Alexander Miller, Ryan Mocek, Rhyess

Nash, Kelsey O’Connell, Marcus Outlow, Sabrina Palmer, William Platz, Angelica Rayment, Brianda Rice, Angela Rineer, Kimberly Rosas, Jean St. Simon, Julie Wang,

Chandra White, Alexander Whitmore, Jasiel Williams

7TH GRADE

HIGH HONORS

Monique Beauregard, Alexander Blais, Jeremy Brine, Daniel Britos, Nicholas Cardelle,

Jaron Cotton, Heather Courey, Colton Day, Nikia Ellies, Angela Flores-Alcalde, Shannon

Fowler, Dale Galloway-Haggett, Adrianna Gillis, Pamela Hine, Alyssa Hunter, Jordan Kaiser, Donovan Kelleher, Duoma Kunga, Zoe Longendyke, Steven Makowicki,

David Masse, Brianna McClafferty, Abigail McConnell, Joseph Mitchell, Kayla Moran,

Justin Moran, Emily Overturf, Jake Paulman, Monica Rivera-Gregory, Amber Royster,

Sorna Sarker, Katherine Shea, Kendall Simmons, Ronny Tavares, Angeliz Vargas Casillas, Raagan Wicken, Mackenzie Williams

HONORS

Paige Allen, Derrick Baez, Allyson Bastien, Haley Blanchard, Kourtney Brown, Angellica Cassin-Brown, John Crooks, Michelle D’Auria, Stephanie Debailleul, Tyler Demerchant, Marilyn Flanders, Alexyss Fuller, Jubilee Garay, Jamie Gartley, Kimberly

Godin, Anthony Gomes, James Gromko-Adams, Rachel Ham, Jacob Hensch,

Charles Ingham, Kayla Jessing, Christopher Johnson, Laura Ketcher, Julian Laureano,

Donna Le, Patrick Lewis, Micaela Loubier, Brenna Miner, Paulette Oquendo, Megan Overturf, Samantha Plante, Melanie Poore, Tiana Powell, Tian Qiu, Arlete Rodrigues,

Ruth Rodriguez, Victoria Rodriguez, Jordan Rogers, Madison Sauer, Rachel Signorino,

Bailey Smith, Bethany Stone, Layla Webster, Jacob Wiencek, Curtis Wilson, Kiante Wilson

8TH GRADE

HIGH HONORS

Alena Austin, Richard Bertocki, Johnny Blanchard, Briahna Browne, Kiara Caraballo-Torres, Olivia Carignan, Joseph Ciriello, Connor Curland, Amber Dugan, Jared Ensling,

Aaron Evrett, Lindsay Fisher, Bessie Fong, Emma Fontaine, Devon Giannelli, Danielle

Giroux, Devan Golas, Tonay Gooday-Ervin, Gislene Gouveia, Charlotte Herz, Kathryn Hill, Bethany Hull, Jillian Johnson, Kayla Johnson, Schuyler LaParle, Matthew Lynch,

Sarah Mackin, Christopher Madore, Arienna Manzi, Dylan Markey, Hannah Mattos,

Paige McElroy, Hannah McNomee, Zachary Morse, Michaela Murray, Alexandra Pacifico, Amanda Pons, Briana Ramirez, Emma Sanchi, Lloyd Schramm, Rebecca Smolenski, Victoria Smolenski, Allison Sullivan, Nicholas Tague, Breanna Winstead,

Devon York

HONORS

Ivy Armstrong, Drake Baton, Shannon Bowers, Shataya Brisbane, Dylan Brown,

Cormac Buchman, Jordan Cagle, David Cedrone, Alexandra Chapman, Alyssa Coffey,

Daniel Conner, Devon Connolly, Jessica Cote-Michaud, Ce’Nedra Darragh, Katelyn

Davis, Judex Delmas, Kyle Doak, Jasmine Dougherty, Chelsea Freyer, Melissa Godere,

Elizabeth Gonzalez, Nicholas Hamby, Victoria Hatos, Daniel Hensch, Amy Ketcher,

Rachel Lord, Landy Louisthelmy, Jessica Mendes, Billie-Jean Messier, Hunter Molcan,

Evan Morse, Cody Murphy, Brooke Nelson, Nickole Pease, Karissa Pellegrini, Bryauna

Phillips, Nicholas Provau, Nicole Reinan, Brian Reyes, Stefi Rosas-Moran, Clay Sands,

Emily Scarpa, Gavin Schriever, Samantha Sullivan, Jessica Sutton, Joe Thomason,

Nicole Ton, Jackson Tonnesen, Rigoberto Valadez, Ana Vargas, Jessica Vargas,

Charmaine Velez, Chad Vincent, Taylor Vlaun, Andrew Weiler, Kaitlin Whitmore,

Devin Willie, Mathew Ying

Norwich Tech Honor Roll

Interactive Desk — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:17:21 GMT

Norwich Technical High School

590 New London Turnpike

Norwich, CT. 06360

Phone: (860) 889-8453 ext. 2109

Fax: (860) 859-3514

3rd Marking Period Ending 6/20/08

HIGH HONORS:

Freshmen: Brianna Broskey, Matthew Corey, Zachariah Frank, Caitlin Haselman, Parker Heckathorn, Henry Hoffacker, Kyle Izbicki, Michelle Mather, Hector Mendoza, Brian Rude, Robert Tardif, Maxx Vaccarella, Brian Werth, William Wooldridge, Joshua Ziemski

Sophomores: Matthew DeGennaro, Tyler Fleming, Jennifer Grillo, Richard Hauzeur, Nathan Kogut, Nicholas Marien, Angelica Martinez, Carissa Morgan, Kelly O’Hara, Jasmine Ramirez, Alyssa Reyes, Shawn Stula, Cathleen White

Juniors: Tyler Coleman, Joshua MacLellan, Shea-Lauren Ryan, Gregory Whipple, Jeremy Zagorski

Seniors: Phillipp Aube, Joseph Bissonnette, Joseph Couture, Dylan Lavallee, William Maruzo, James Maynard, Daniel Rico, Timothy Ryan, Philip Salva, Jessica Sawchyn, Adam Sawyer, Meagen St. Jean, Benjamin Stratton

HONORS:

Freshmen: Noah Andruskiewicz, Jerry Baez, Vera Barnes, Paige Bohli, Heather Burlingham, Charlette-Anne Chenette, Kyle Clifton, Kistie Cramer, Randolph Cruz-Montoya, Emily Dixon, Michael Edwards, Brian Floran, Thomas Greene, Kevin Hadley, Angela Hary, Sean Hess, Celia Hodge, Victoria Kozlowski, Desiree Lassu, Benjamin Mager, Dakota Main, Alex Mendez, Megan Milefski, Chantel Montgomery, Brian Petersen, Elaina Post, Diamonds Potter, Jackie Salter, Anthony Salvagna, Merton Savage, Ian Sharpe, Daiwan Snow, Louise Sylvain, Kenneth Wildes, Bryan Wynn

Sophomores: Robert Becker, Kyle Boulay, Kayleigh Ecklid, Corey Egan, Amanda Gadway, Kiesha Garnetto, Patrick McKeon, Kenneth Messier, Ashley Miller, Tyler Molcan, Zachariah Nagel, Matthew Peeples, David Quinones, Michael Rios, Tyler Ritchotte, Allison Salva, Joshua Santerre, Kayla Sprouse, Vernon Tracey

Juniors: Ashley Blood, Joshua Clark, Samantha Goodling, Samantha Sajkowicz

Seniors: Bruce Canova, Richard Chapman, Stephen Coffey, Chase Corcoran, Jared Dux, Cody Eifler, Kenneth Florence, Jeffrey Freitas, Chad Fritz, Joe-Allyn Gilman, Jonathan Graves, Joshua Joubert, Saravuth Kim, Matthew Laroux, Adam Lester, Robert Maerkle, Christopher Moyer, Kyle Quattropani, Daniel Robinson, Ryan Robtoy, Michael Stellenwerf, Jordan Tobey, Joel Valdez, Kenneth Whittaker, Scott Zawacki