Eat for good health

WOODBRIDGE - The Woodbridge Town Library is teaming up with The Cancer Project to present a series of nutrition and cooking classes for cancer prevention and survival.
Each class includes information about how certain foods and nutrients work to promote or discourage cancer growth, along with cooking demonstrations of simple and healthy recipes that can be recreated easily at home.
Food for Life Nutrition & Cooking Classes are designed by physicians, nutrition experts, and registered dieticians at The Cancer Project, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C.

The schedule of classes is:

April 8th, 6:30pm – Planning Healthy Meals
This class will explain and demonstrate how to best plan and prepare well-balanced meals from the "New Four Food Groups" which include healthy whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruit.

April 22nd, 6:30pm – Antioxidants & Phytochemicals
This class will explore foods that are rich in protective compounds such as beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C, and zinc. It is important to be generous with a variety of vegetables and fruits as you plan your menu. Based on scientific research, vegetarians have approximately double the natural killer cell activity (natural killer cells engulf and destroy cancer cells) compared to nonvegetarians. Look forward to enjoying a colorful and scrumptious immune-boosting, cancer-fighting meal.

May 6th @ 6:30pm – Immune-Boosting Foods
This class will explore foods that are rich in immune-boosting nutrients such as beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C, and zinc. Studies have demonstrated the ability of diets rich in vegetables and fruits to boost immunity and to reduce the likelihood that cancer will develop in the first place. Based on scientific research, vegetarians have approximately double the natural killer cell activity (natural killer cells engulf and destroy cancer cells) compared to nonvegetarians.

May 20th, 6:30pm – Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Healthy weight control is essential for warding off a variety of chronic diseases, and studies have shown that slimmer people are even less likely to develop cancer. In addition, trimming excess weight may also improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed. This class will discuss and demonstrate filling fiber- and nutrient-rich dishes that will help you maintain a healthy weight.

All classes are free and open to the public. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, or for more information, call 389-3433 or email pvalsecchi@ci.woodbridge.ct.us.

What's your carbon footprint?

NEW HAVEN — Well-known environmentalist and author Bill McKibben will give a talk about climate change on April 3 at Yale Divinity School.
"Climate change is coming to a sharp head this year — both physically, as indicators of our peril mount faster than expected — and politically, as the world’s leaders will convene in Copenhagen in December to reach a new agreement on carbon," McKibben said in a statement.
"I will describe the issue and the growing campaign among people, especially young people, around the world to steer those talks in the direction that the science demands."
McKibben is the author of "The End of Nature" and "Deep Economy," which advocates a locally based economy, including food and energy generation. In 2007, he inspired college students to organize 1,400 global-warming demonstrations in all 50 states.
Yale’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, the Joseph Slikfa Center for Jewish Life at Yale and Yale Divinity School are sponsoring the lecture, which will be held at Marquand Chapel, 409 Prospect St., at noon April 3. The lecture and parking are free.

Neighbors and SeeClickFix help stop alleged drug dealing

NEW HAVEN — Police arrested two men on drug charges after interrupting an alleged heroin deal on Eld Street in the East Rock neighborhood Monday.
Members of a Block Watch and the local alderman alerted police to the suspicious activity last week, which was happening near Worthington Hooker Middle School, and members of the narcotics unit made the arrests in a sting Monday.
"I was impressed and surprised at how quickly they got on it," said a Block Watch member who sent out an e-mail last week, alerting residents to the behavior after noticing a pattern where two cars would park on Eld Street near Hooker in the middle of the afternoon, make a quick transaction and drive off. She alerted police and her alderman, and posted the problem on www.seeclickfix.com, a Web site where residents can report anything from pot holes to drug deals.
"My window overlooks the whole scene. I saw the same thing," said Alderman Roland Lemar, who described the bust as an illustration of how good communication between neighbors and police can generate positive results.
Detectives set up surveillance and, at 2:31 p.m., at the corner of Orange and Eld streets, arrested the alleged dealer, Nelson Garcia 30, of 154 Canal St. and the alleged buyer, Joseph Mazzucco, 35, of 60 Rock Road, North Haven.
Police seized 10 packets of heroin from Mazzucco, police said, and charged him with possession of narcotics, possession within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and failure to obey a traffic signal. Detectives seized $1,060 from Garcia, as well as a 2010 Toyota Camry, and charged him with sale of narcotics, police said.

A homerun for Yale New Haven Hospital

NEW HAVEN — An organization founded by a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins has pledged $500,000 to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital to help enhance its Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program.
Strike 3 Foundation was established in 2008 by Craig Breslow, a Trumbull native and Major League baseball player and Minnesota Twins pitcher whose sister is a survivor of childhood cancer, the hospital said. Breslow launched the foundation to heighten awareness, mobilize support and raise money for childhood cancer research.

In photo:
Joe Lizza, third from left, COO, Strike 3 Foundation, presents a check for $500,000, representing the total of the Foundation’s five year commitment to the YNHCH Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program to (l-r) Dr. Michael Apkon, YNHCH vice president and executive director; Dr. Gary Kupfer, chief of pediatric hematology and oncology; Marna P. Borgstrom, YNHH President and CEO, Dr. Margaret Hostetter, physician-in-Chief, YNHCH; Dr. Peter Herbert, YNHH Chief of Staff; and pediatric surgeon Dr. Robert Touloukian.

"Bone marrow transplantation is an area that has transformed the treatment of cancers and diseases that were incurable in the past," said Joe Lizza, COO of Strike 3 Foundation, in a prepared statement. "It is important to our organization to support a program that will help improve the lives of children battling cancer. Working with Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital to expand its Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program is a perfect fit for our mission."
Strike 3’s funding also will support the addition of specialized medical staff, data management to improve outcomes and ongoing staff training.
Dr. Gary Kupfer, chief of pediatric hematology and oncology at the Children’s Hospital, said the enhanced program "will provide exceptional care and support to approximately 40 children and their families each year who would otherwise have to travel out-of-state for treatment."
YNHH CEO and President Marna Borgstrom, said the hospital is "delighted" to be the recipient of the Strike 3 pledge.
"This generous funding will allow us to further enhance our program of life-saving therapies for childhood cancer, immune deficiencies and genetic disorders and improve outcomes for our youngest patients," she said.

All Our Kin spring fling

Event will help to raise money for organization that supports community child care efforts

NEW HAVEN — All Our Kin will hold its spring event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 7 at Bentara, 76 Orange St.
The event will include special guest Paul Tough, a writer and editor for the New York Times Magazine, who writes about poverty, education and the achievement gap. He is also the author of "Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America."
Refreshments begin at 5:30 p.m., with guest speakers at 6:30 p.m. and reception at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and $25 for students.
All Our Kin, Inc., is a nationally-recognized, New Haven-based nonprofit organization that trains, supports, and sustains community child care providers to ensure children and families have the foundation they need to succeed in school and life. It equips parents, relatives, and informal caregivers with skills and resources to move out of poverty and open child care businesses in their communities; builds the capacity, quality, and viability of existing child care businesses, through individualized mentorship and support; and furnishes working parents with resources to find and keep high-quality child care. All Our Kin reaches more than 250 parents and educators each year, who in turn serve over 1,200 children in the community.
For tickets, e-mail janna@allourkin.org. Or, send a check to All Our Kin, PO Box 8477, New Haven, 06530.
For more on All Our Kin, visit www.allourkin.org.

All that jazz

NEW HAVEN - A documentary about New Haven’s jazz heritage will be screened at 5:30 p.m. April 28 the New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.

"Unsung Heroes: The Music of Jazz in New Haven" focuses on the decades after WWII, when Connecticut musicians such as Willie Ruff, Horace Silver, John "Count" Steadwell, Eddie and Bobby Buster, Ed Cercone, Dickie Meyers, and many others played in big bands and small ensembles at New Haven clubs like Lillian's Paradise, The Playback, the Musician's Club, the Democratic Club, the Golden Gate and the legendary Monterey, organizers said.
New Haven was an important stop on the performance circuit, offering local musicians the chance to play with Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Illinois Jacquet and others. Unsung Heroes spotlights the great local legends whose musical legacy lives on throughout the city today.
Quinnipiac University Professor Rebecca Abbott, shown, an independent film producer, director and editor, collaborated with W. Frank Mitchell to create Unsung Heroes, which premiered on Connecticut Public Television in 2001.
Abbott and Mitchell will be on hand for discussion following the screening.
This all-ages program is presented in cooperation with the Public Humanities Initiative of Yale’s American Studies Program. There is no charge, and free parking is available. Register by clicking here or call 946-7431.

Tax help - it's not too late

NEW HAVEN — New Life Corporation and the Coalition for Working Families offer free tax preparation to low-moderate income individuals/families thru the Volunteer Individual Tax Assistance Program. Working individual/family households that earn less than $42,000 yearly are assisted in accessing federal income credits while filing their income tax returns at no cost to them.
With a month remaining in the tax filing season, the agencies have served more than 2,000 working residents and have returned over $5.1 million back to filers in Federal and Earned Income Tax Credits.
New Life Corporation runs Five Volunteer Individual Tax Assistance sites: Columbus House, 592 Ella Grasso Boulevard; Centro San Jose, 290 Grand Ave; ‘r kids Family Center, 45 Dixwell Ave.; United Shoreline Federal Credit Union, 107 Whitney Ave., all in New Haven, and West Haven Community House, 227 Elm St., West Haven.
For more information, including days and times, call (203) 777-1319.

Orange man receives National Guard meritorious service award

HARTFORD — An Orange man who served in Iraq and now is clerk of the Legislature’s Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will receive National Guard Association of Connecticut’s Meritorious Service Award Saturday.
Paul Tarbox, a lifelong resident of Orange, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom II with the 118th Medical Batallion as a communications sergeant from February 2004 to February 2005. He served in the Connecticut National Guard for 10 years from January 1999 to January 2009, leaving with the rank of sergeant, and was awarded medals and decorations for campaigns, service and merit, a prepared statement says.
Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs co-chairmen Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, and Rep. Ted Graziani, D-Ellington, commended Tarbox for receiving the award.

"Paul is dedicated to his work and is a committed and active member of our veterans’ community," Maynard said. "I’m so pleased that the National Guard Association has decided to recognize his tremendous efforts and all the work that does on behalf of our military personnel and families. I’m very proud of his accomplishments and I know that, in the future, Paul will continue to be a strong voice for Connecticut’s veterans."
"I am humbled and honored by this award," Tarbox said in the statement. "It’s a privilege to serve the men and women of the Connecticut National Guard and all of Connecticut’s 300,000 veterans everyday, and I promise to remain committed to doing everything that I can to support legislation that benefits our veterans."
Tarbox, who has served as an Orange town constable, is a member of several veterans’ groups, including the American Legion, the VFW and the Association of the United States Army.

"I can’t think of a more deserving person than Paul Tarbox," said Graziani. "Whatever his task, he always gives 110 percent. Paul as a strong sense of dedication for all veterans, and his service on the committee is like a partnership between the legislature and those currently serving and those who have served in our Armed Forces."

Once again, the largest loser was the winner

JCC Largest Loser Trainers Mindy Welker, at left, and Marc Plano, right, congratulate Ryan Tutolo, who won the 8-week Largest Loser competition at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven. Tutolo of Seymour, won a 1 year JCC membership after losing a total of 45.4 lbs, 23.3 percent of his total body weight. He initially had hoped to lose 30 lbs.

"A lot can happen in 8 weeks…. I still walk by mirrors and have to do a double-take to make sure I’m the guy staring back at me. I am forever grateful to the JCC for putting on such a great program that has made a difference in my life," Tutolo said in a prepared statement.
Following the basic concept of the ABC’s reality TV show, "Biggest Loser," the JCC’s Largest Loser contest has three teams of 10 participants each, competing against each other to lose the highest percentage of weight. Top JCC trainers and instructors lead teams in workout sessions, using all areas of the JCC fitness department. There were three special fitness competitions on alternating Sundays, four nutrition counseling group workshops with JCC Registered Dietitian, Maura Harrigan, to promote healthy and safe weight loss, and weekly weigh-ins.
To find out how you can become part of the next Largest Loser competition call (203) 387-2522 ex. 265.

You know this doctor

NEW HAVEN — Hill Health Center has appointed a 10-year veteran of the center as its new director of pediatrics.
Dr. Meredith H. Williams will succeed Dr. Robert Windom, who held the position for more than 15 years. Williams, a graduate of Brown University Medical School, did her residency in pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she also was a postdoctoral clinic fellow in neonatology.
Center pediatricians see more than 5,000 children a year from clinics in New Haven, West Haven and Ansonia. The center also provides pediatric services in five school-based health centers. HHC pediatricians serve as medical advisors to the cities of New Haven and West Haven.

Neighborhood community meeting slated

NEW HAVEN — Board of Aldermen President Pro Tempore Alderman Sergio Rodriguez, D-26, will hold a neighborhood community meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, at Davis Street School, 35 Davis St. Neighbors are welcome and encouraged to attend to share ideas and concerns and discuss issues of importance to the neighborhood, organizers said. Coffee will be available. For more information, call Rodriguez at (203) 387-3888 or e-mail ward26@newhavenct.net.

A roast for a cause

NEW HAVEN — Columbus House’s annual fundraiser will honor Yale-New Haven Hospital chief of staff at 5:30 p.m. April 2 at Hopkins School, on Forest Road.
The event, dubbed "Toast and Roast Dr. Peter Herbert," will honor Dr. Peter N. Herbert, a resident of Branford for more than 15 years, and chief of staff at Yale-New Haven Hospital and senior vice president for medical affairs at Yale New Haven Health System since 1999. He previously was chief of medicine at the Hospital of Saint Raphael.
Event sponsors include Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, NewAlliance Bank and Yale University. Tickets for the dinner are $125. For tickets or corporate sponsorships, which include tables for eight, call (203) 401-4400, ex. 106 or visit www.columbushouse.org.

Get on the peace train

But make your reservation soon

NEW HAVEN — United for Peace and Justice and CT Opposes the War are organizing a "peace train" trip to anti-war rallies that will be held in New York city on April 4.
The train will leave New Haven at 8:55 a.m. and return from Grand Central Station at 5:07 p.m., organizers said. Reservations for adults are $25, or $12 for youths 18 and younger. The deadline for mailed payments is March 27. Checks can be sent to Greater New Haven Peace Council, PO Box 3105, New Haven, 06515-0205. Deadline for online payment is April 1, at www.stepfour.com/peacetrain.
For more information, e-mail grnhpeacecouncil@gmail.com. Limited scholarships are available.

Kendrick is "Exemplary Leader"

NEW HAVEN — Gateway Community College President Dorsey L. Kendrick has received the 2009 Exemplary Leader Award from the Chair Academy.
Kendrick, described as "an unabashedly confident chief executive who is unafraid to think differently," has led Gateway Community College to become the second largest of the 12 Connecticut Community Colleges and the tenth largest institution of higher learning in the state, the college said in a statement. The college also has seen a 90 percent increase in credit enrollment over the last eight years, adding programs in healthcare, sustainability and entrepreneurship to meet the region’s demand for a qualified workers in those fields, the statement said. Largely due to "her tireless advocacy," the college will break ground on a new 380,000 square foot campus in downtown New Haven this fall, the statement said.
Chair Academy is an international organization with a mission is the "design and promotion of world-class training programs and services to advance academic and administrative leadership for post-secondary institutions" and to provide training to organizational leaders.

There's a lot going on, in and around the Elm City

NEW HAVEN — A leading scholar on the issue of the emotional legacies of slavery and racism will hold summit meetings with youth, educators and community leaders in the New Haven area on March 22 and 23.
Joy DeGruy will lead "Black Student Achievement: Yes We Can," a discussion on how confronting the myth of black inferiority can lead to improved outcomes for black youth, organizers said. The summit meetings are being spearheaded by the Community Healing Network, New Haven Chapter of Girlfriends, Inc., the Yale University African American Affinity Group, and Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church. Co-sponsors include the New Haven Public Schools, Yale’s Office of New Haven & State Affairs, University Libraries, William Graustein, St. Luke’s Church and Dr. Deborah Desir.
Against a backdrop of shootings and shooting deaths among black teens in the New Haven and the academic achievement gap, a growing body of evidence suggests the myth of black inferiority is at the root of these and many other challenges facing the black community, summit organizers said. DeGruy, author of "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing," has lectured worldwide on the steps black people can take to heal from the continuing legacies of slavery, organizers said.
"Dr. DeGruy is coming back by popular demand," Diane Turner, co-leader of the Summit Organizing Committee, said in a statement. "Her presentation during Community Healing Days last October was a real eye-opener, and I wanted to make sure that more people, especially young people, have the opportunity to hear her message so that we can develop a community-wide response."
The with youth meeting, "Understanding Our History, Understanding Ourselves," will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. March 22 at Hill Regional Career High School, 140 Legion Ave. The meeting with educators and community leaders, "Understanding Black History, Understanding the Young People We Serve," will be held 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 23 in the Lecture Hall, Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, 177 College St.


NEW HAVEN — Mayor John DeStefano Jr. will hold three community budget meetings in coming weeks and urges all city residents to attend. The sessions are intended to offer residents a chance to learn what goes in to developing the budget and express their thoughts on city budget priorities, the city said in a statement.
Sessions will be held, all at 6:30 p.m.: Wednesday, March 25 at St. Bernadette’s Church, 385 Townsend Ave.; April 1, at Edgewood School, 737 Edgewood Ave., and April 29, at Wexler/Grant School, 55 Foote St.


State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Sen. Toni Harp, both D-New Haven, have announced the creation of a Senate Democrats’ Web page designed to help people access state and federal unemployment services.The address for the "Connecticut Senate Democrats’ Resources for Jobseekers" Web page is: http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Jobs. It includes contact information on unemployment benefits, job banks and employment assistance sites, free tax preparation, and unemployment insurance.

Get smarter

And have some fun

WOODBRIDGE — The spring 2009 session of the Amity Adult & Continuing Education Program is underway, but it’s not too late to register for one or more of the upcoming classes, program officials said.
There are still many offerings to choose from on a wide variety of topics, from angels to job and organizational skills, and pet and health issues. For more information, or to register for a class, call 397-4811 ex. 8. The view the list of courses offered, visit www.amityregion5.org.


WOODBRIDGE — A Spring Fling event will be held for pre-school-age children and their families at 2 p.m. March 22 at Ezra Academy, 75 Rimmon Road.
The event will feature springtime and Jewish crafts, stories, music and movement, and make-your-own sundaes.
Spring Fling is co-sponsored by the Ezra Academy and The PJ Library, a program of the Department of Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. The PJ Library provides age-appropriate books on Jewish themes to preschool children. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and a donor sponsor the Grinspoon Foundation program.
For more information on Spring Fling, call call Ezra Admissions Director Marni Smith Katz at (203) 389-5500 ex. 17. For more information about The PJ Library, call Library Coordinator Risa Walter, at (203) 387-2424 ex. 385.

Local author to speak on PTSD

WEST HAVEN — The West Shore Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America will sponsor a lecture and book signing from 6 to 9 p.m. March 18 at their headquarters at 37 Orlando St. Milford author and veteran Elliott Storm, who is kicking off his spring tour will visit as will several guests who will speak on the topic of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Storm wrote the novel "These Scars Are Sacred" to help the public understand the causes and effects of PTSD and to help in the healing process.
Radio talk show host Jim Buchanan of WICC radio has called the novel "The right book for the right time." Storm, who has lectured nationwide on the topic of PTSD, has served as the judge advocate for the American Legion District 2.
Radio talk show personality John Labarca, shown at left in photo with Storm, will act as host for the event.
For more information about the book and lectures, visit www.thesescarsaresacred.com or Amazon.com.

State Troubadour to make music at library

The public is invited to an all-ages performance by Connecticut’s State Troubador, Lara Herscovitch, from 6 to 7 p.m. April 21 at The New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism appointed Herscovitch as State Troubadour for 2009-10. Herscovitch is a singer-songwriter whose original music blends acoustic/folk withpop, jazz, blues and Latin styles. Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange rates Lara’s latest CD, Juror Number 13, “among the best folk releases of the year.” Find out more at http://www.laraherscovitch.com/.

In addition to her work as a professional musician, Herscovitch is active in public policy and social work. She has worked in the U.S., Latin America and Asia on behalf of disadvantaged individuals, and her deep appreciation for and understanding of the importance of cultural diversity and global issues is threaded into her music.

There is no charge for the all-ages musical presentation, and free parking is available. Seating is limited, so make your reservations now at http://www.troubador.eventbrite.com/ or call 946-8835. (April 19-25 is Restaurant Week in New Haven. Make an evening of it by combining this event with a prix fixe dinner afterward at one of New Haven’s fine restaurants! Details: http://www.infonewhaven.com/)

Purim in New Haven

Yeshiva of New Haven had a Megilla reading Monday evening. These are the happy photos of the event, including those at the Purim Party afterwards.

Climate and cities

A new video by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies contains information about how cities, in particular Shenzhen, China, "are not only affected by climate, they shape it," according to the school. The video features Karen Seto, associate professor in the urban environment at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
To watch the video, visit the multimedia section of the F&ES home page at http://environment.yale.edu.


Editor's note: Elm City Express is pleased to share with its readers a wide variety of contributed material. This information was provided graciously by a spokesman for the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Purim fun

ORANGE — Chabad of Orange/Woodbridge will hold a Magical Purim & Delightful Purim Feast beginning at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, at the Chabad at 261 Derby Ave.
The event will include music, a multimedia Megillah presentation, a Purim masquerade, entertainment by Magician Michael the Magnificent, dinner and fun for the family. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children. For information or a reservation, call (203) 795-7095.

Photo courtesy of Ginamarie Entertainment, LLC 800-737- 0797

Lincoln Bassett School students are the stars

NEW HAVEN — Lincoln Bassett School has won the city-wide Book Bowl competition for this first time, earning a perfect score in the final round.
A large banner congratulating winners now hangs in the school’s foyer.
Lincoln Bassett had made it to the finals a few times, but had never won the competition until last month. February Book Bowl is a competition involving all New Haven schools. Every student in Book Bowl must read 10 books. After reading the books, they have to study details, settings, characteristics, etc., of each book.

They get together as a team and discuss the books with their coaches. The students must be dedicated, and enthusiastic about being in Book Bowl.
Book Bowl also teaches children about teamwork and being able to work together. If one student doesn’t know an answer, perhaps another student will know it.
Once the competition gets going, teams compete for bronze, silver and gold medals. The four gold medal teams then compete for the trophy and title of Book Bowl champion for the year. This year, the four gold medalists were Troup Magnet, Worthington Hooker, Conte West Hills, and Lincoln Bassett. The final round was between Worthington Hooker and Lincoln Bassett. Lincoln Bassett took the title and the trophy with a perfect score.
Students on the Lincoln Bassett team are: T’Rome Telford, captain; DeMarte Daily, co-captain; Latamara Moye, Nichelle Hobby, and Corrilisha Telford. There were two alternates on the team — Soukeyna M’baye, and Zazsheen Perry. The team was coached by Louise Nelson, library media specialist, and Paula Perreault, sixth-grade teacher.

Getting a book published

NEW HAVEN - Writers and readers are invited to a panel discussion about the process of getting a book published from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 13 at the New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.

Panelists include moderator Jessica Bram, author, NPR commentator, owner of Westport Writers Workshop; Lucy Hedrick, nonfiction author and writing coach; Prill Boyle, author of Defying Gravity: a Celebration of Late-Blooming Women; N.A. Nelson, YA novelist; and Denise Marcil, literary agent.
The discussion will explore what’s hot right now in the industry, how to prepare a nonfiction book proposal, finding and working with an agent, and how to succeed in writing contests.
There is no charge for this seminar, and free parking is available. Registration is required at http://www.pubpanel.eventbrite.com/ or call the library at (203) 946-8835.

In the photo: l to r, Prill Boyle, Jessica Bram, N.A. Nelson, Lucy Hedrick, and Denise Marcil

Something to talk about

With great debaters on both sides of this event, everyone should have something to share

NEW HAVEN — The State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will act as host for a debate between the Yale University and Howard University debate teams at 7 p.m. March 28 at Yale’s Woolsey Hall, 500 College St.
The event, dubbed The Great Debate, is part of the NAACP’s centennial anniversary celebration. "This is a great way to recognize the work and accomplishments of the NAACP," NAACP State Conference President Scot X. Esdaile said in a statement. "We’re honored to bring these two amazing teams together for such an historical event."
The Yale Debate Association is the most successful college debate team in the country, the statement said. The YDA has won the American Parliamentary Debate Association’s Team of the Year Award four times in the past 10 seasons, it said.
The Howard University Debate Team is one of the oldest intercollegiate activities on the university’s campus, the statement said. The team has placed second in the United Nations Week Debates, and has collaborated with Georgetown University’s Debate Team.
Tickets to the Great Debate are $10; VIP tickets, which include a special reception, are $50. For ticket information, call (800) 228-6622 or visit www.shubert.com.