"The World Is Covered in a Mist-Like Cloud of Fungal Spores": Popcorn by The Colonel #45

Believing that marauding feral mutant boars, possibly from space, may signal the End Times, shy people are finding the nerve to go up to their crushes for the first time and, if not actually speak to them, make hand gestures of the “give me money now” sort.

South Carolina Broadcasters To Make Two Appearances

From Bill Revill
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Tuesday evening at 6:30, live in the WESU studios on "Acoustic Blender," the South Carolina Broadcasters will be stopping by during their Northeast tour (they'll be back in town Saturday night at the Buttonwood Tree!) If you don't know their sound, the Broadcasters harken back to a sound of the bygone days of old time traditional country music. Their tight harmonies are reminiscent of the great family bands from the early days of radio when musicians would sing into a single microphone.

“We just sound like we sound,” says David Sheppard. “And what they sound like”, says Virginia State Folklorist, Jon Lohman, “is an arresting trio of fine musicians, playing the music they love the only way they know how, resulting in a sound that melds a seasoned artistry with playful exuberance....There is a sense of immediacy to The Broadcaster’s sound, which can bring old chestnuts to new life, while providing new originals with the patina and soul of the well-worn hills that inspire them.”

Tune in this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and hear them as stop by and visit us at "Acoustic Blender" on WESU, 88.1 FM and streaming live at www.wesufm.org. And tune in every Tuesday evening at 6:30 for the best in eclectic roots on "Acoustic Blender!"

Unhealthy Air Forecast for Middletown on Tuesday, May 21

Visit DEEP's Air Quality Forecast website for more information.

http://www.ct.gov/deep//cwp/view.asp?a=2222&q=320646&deepNav_GID=1619

Former Managing Editor Of Middletown Press Dies

The Middletown Press has a loving tribute to Ann DeMatteo, who had a long career in local journalism, most recently as the managing editor of the Press. DeMatteo died of cancer on Sunday, she was 55 years old.

Rosa DeLauro released the following statement, "Ann was a remarkable woman who we have lost much too soon. Ann demonstrated a unique courage as she shared her own battle with cancer with her many readers, making her columns a beloved feature. She informed, inspired and encouraged many of us to become more involved with our communities. Ann touched the lives of many and she will be deeply missed by all of those fortunate enough to have known her."

Police To Target Seatbelt Scofflaws This Week

From the Middletown Police Department
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As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, city Police are urging everyone to buckle up. Beginning May 20, 2013 law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Primo Diu Sebastiano

Tour of 5 Historic Middletown Dams

This morning, in a walk organized by the Jonah Center forEarth and Art, about 30 brave, sure-footed souls visited a series of historic Middletown dams, guided by Professor Elise Springer of Wesleyan University.  The tour included the large Russell Mill Dam (pictured here, near the Hartford Courant Building on East Main Street) and Middletown’s first dam (also pictured, just upstream from where Pameacha Creek crosses Mill Street), built by Thomas Miller to power a grist mill in the 1650s.

Many of those who took part in the tour commented on how hidden from view the local waterways are, and how visiting them reconnects us with Middletown’s geography and history.

To receive information about future walks and other programs of the Jonah Center, visit http://www.thejonahcenter.org/mailform.php and send us a message.

St. Mary's Strawberry Festival June 11

Terry Dykas, Hilda Forneris, and Marj Dudek,
at last year's festival

 

The St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish Ladies Guild is sponsoring a strawberry festival on Tues. June 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parish hall, 79 South Main St. 

Strawberry shortcake featuring native CT strawberries with real whipped cream will be served in two sizes – large and small – along with coffee and juice. Orders will be available for eat-in or take-out. Walk-ins are welcome.

The price is $4.50 for a small, and $5.50 for a large.

To place an advance order to eat-in or take-out please call Agnes at (860) 347-7638 or Jean at (860) 346-0049. To place an order on June 11 (the day of the festival,) please call the parish hall at (860) 347-1224 anytime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Proceeds from the strawberry festival help to fund the Ladies Guild’s good work projects throughout the year.

Three Exciting Concerts, Poetry and Free Classes This Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree

Poetry, yoga, Qigong, free meals and empowerment workshops are not the only thing going on at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center this weekend. Three amazing, exciting groups are lined up at their usual under-priced door fee of only $10. Read more about these classes and the Free Poets Collective presentation on Saturday here: Buttonwood's Upcoming events

Tonight (May 17)
Pesky J. Nixon   - 8 pm -  read more about this "Bombastic yet brilliant" group here:  PJN website



Joe Fonda performs on May 18th with two of Italy’s greatest jazz musicians: Carlo Morena on Piano and Michele Salgarello on Drums. This trio plays hard swing jazz with a pinch of European romanticism. Also at 8 pm.  reserve your seat here - more info

SUNDAY, May 19th  at 7 pm - KLEZWOODS   -  We'll make some room for dancing for this lively band. In the Hartford Courant: Owen McNally's article

Joe Kessler (Violin)

Sam Dechenne (Trumpet)

Daniel Linden (Trombone)

Jim Gray (Tuba)

Michael McLaughlin (Accordion)

Tev Stevig (Guitar)

Brian O’Neill (Percussion)

Grant Smith (Drumset)

Klezwoods is an amalgam of strings, horns and percussion that melds the spirit of traditional klezmer and Balkan music with modern grooves, improvisation and original repertoire.  Every player comes from a different background, which creates the band’s unique sound and style.  They originally got their start some years back when local Cambridge, MA haunt, Atwoods Tavern, wanted music for a “Klezmer Christmas” event.  Since that fateful day, Klezwoods has played The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Helsinki Klezmer Festival in Finland, and tours regularly all over the Northeast playing festivals and concerts!

visit Klezwoods' site here

All performances, classes and workshops take place at The Buttonwood Tree in the former Arriwani Hotel, 605 Main Street, Middletown. www.buttonwood.org  860-347-4957

Amanda Palmer Returns to Wesleyan to Benefit Financial Aid

Palmer performs "Ukele Anthem." (photo:Bill Flood)

Wes grad, and world-renowned singer, songwriter and performer, Amanda Palmer will return to Wesleyan for a concert to benefit financial aid at the university.

This is the second time in a year that Palmer has returned. The first was a surprisingly intimate appearance on Foss Hill for the Humanity Festival in April.

This appearance, billed as a "Concert and Conversation" will take place Friday May 24, 9 PM,  at the Crowell Concert Hall during Wesleyan's Reunion and Commencement Weekend.  More info here.  Tickets are now on sale.

Palmer, who rocketed to international acclaim with her band, the Dresden Dolls, is no stranger to fundraising.  In a Kickstarter campaign for her last album (which has since become controversial), Palmer raised $1.2 million.

STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Forty-eight students who have illustrated academic excellence, leadership, fellowship, and service were inducted into the Beta Gamma Xi Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Middlesex Community College.  MxCC President Dr. Anna Wasescha and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Steven Minkler participated in the formal induction of these students during a ceremony at Middlesex Community College held on May 9.  Students were chosen for their academic achievement and success as leaders in service and fellowship on the MxCC campus.

As members of the chapter, students organize and participate in campus-wide events such as distributing food baskets and gifts to area families, registering voters, assisting at blood drives, and serving as ushers and greeters at formal functions on campus.  This year, chapter members collected food and books that were distributed to Amazing Grace Food Pantry and local children’s organizations.  Members also develop fundraising events each year for the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship program. 

“These extraordinary students came here to Middlesex Community College for a short while in what will be their long lives,” said Dr. Anna Wasescha, MxCC president.  “And while they were here, they shined.  I salute their curiosity, their persistence, and their courage.  The best part of the Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony, for me, is knowing that these students are going to go out into the world and change it for the better.  We congratulate all new Phi Theta Kappa inductees and wish them every success.”

The ceremony was organized and conducted by chapter advisors, Dr. Lin Lin MxCC instructor of information systems and computer programming; Patty Raymond, professor of business administration and marketing, and chair of MxCC’s Business Division; and Jennifer Jacek, MxCC mathematics instructor. Lisa Gangone, president of MxCC’s Beta Gamma Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and George Eames IV, chairman of the Board of Directors of the MxCC Foundation, made remarks during the induction event.

“Since MxCC chartered its chapter of this international honor society in 1996, we have been inspired by the dedication and motivation of our student members,” Raymond said. “We appreciate the tremendous support the chapter receives from the College, the MxCC Foundation, and the overall MxCC community.  This is an important organization that will affect these students positively during their college years and far beyond.”

Inductees were (listed here with hometowns):

Jessica Accardi, Guilford

Flavia Bird, Meriden

Paul Blanchet, Guilford

Peter Blanchet, Guilford

Clifton Brann, Groton

Michael Brown, Middletown

Zackary Capitao, Middletown

Amy Carpenter, Wallingford

Mariah Chadukiewicz, Cromwell

William Cormier, Moodus

Karen Cortese, Wallingford

Colin Cunningham, Madison

Canddy D'Amico, Westbrook

Michael Damone, Northford

Eileen Daniels, Middletown

Christopher Dearstyne, Avon

Annamaria DiCesare, Wallingford

Nicole Doody, Madison

Matthew Doolittle, Middletown

Joseph Foster, Meriden

Jason Goetz, Middletown

Lindsay Grote, Deep River

Amanda Guerrette, Wallingford

Hollie Kinney, Meriden

Dorota Klukowski, Newington

Melissa Kowaleski, Middletown

Gordon Lewis, Cheshire

Theresa Malone, Higganum

Marion Martin, Deep River

Mara Matteucci, Colchester

Amber McBurney, Meriden

Amy Mettica, Meriden

Elizabeth Milner, Chester

Craig Molter, Middletown

Mariel Nowack, Middletown

Florian Orleanu, Cromwell

Linda Remillard, Wallingford

Allison Rodman, Higganum

Alicia Sbona, Cromwell

Devki Sheth, Meriden

Sandra Soby, Higganum

Elizabeth Spash, Middletown

Adam Stiles, Middletown

Benjamin Sumner, Higganum

Keith Tang, Wallingford

Carolann Tate, Portland

Elizabeth Wagner, Groton

Jennifer White, Higganum

Paulina Wiaderski, Meriden

Donna Zambrano, Cheshire

Founded in 1966, Middlesex Community College (www.mxcc.edu) is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. In all it does, Middlesex Community College strives to be the college of its community. By providing high quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, the college enhances the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. MxCC, recently named a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education, offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, and online. 

Sitar-Tabla concert 4pm Sat May 18 at CVHTS

The Raga Club of Connecticut 

presents

Anupama Bhagwat, sitar

and

Nitin Mitta, tabla

in a recital of Hindustani classical music of North India

4pm, Saturday, May 18

Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society (new auditorium behind the main building)

11 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT 06457 (across from MxCC)

Admission: free for Raga members, for music faculty and for all students;

Non-members suggested donation $25/person. 

video of Anupama Bhagwat

video of Nitin Mitta

more info about The Raga Club of Connecticut