Halloween Havoc in New Haven

NEW HAVEN - Enclave is excited to present the first ever cash prize skate contest, dubbed "Halloween Havoc in New Haven," from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 30 at Edgewood Skatepark, 379 Whalley Ave.
Cash prizes and gift cards will be given to the top three skaters, organizers said.
"Going along with the Halloween theme," a prize of a $100 gift card will be rewarded to the best trick holder donning a mask at the end of the contest, organizers said.
A DJ, free food, drinks and dozens of free skateboards, wheels, clothing, and accessories, and local vendors, will accompany the afternoon, as "Connecticut’s best skaters battle it out for the first place title and the hefty cash prize," organizers said in a statemnt.


For more information and pre-registration vist: http://enclavenewhaven.com/havoc.html

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What would Vince McMahon say?

Vince McMahon sure knows how to emphasize his point.
On Thursday, he said his World Wrestling Entertainment would hand out clothing and merchandise to celebrate a federal judge’s ruling that voters wearing WWE gear can’t be turned away from the polls.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon is former CEO of the WWE and Vince’s wife.
(Last week, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz was reported to suggest that WWE clothing would be considered campaign material, though she later said that people would be told to cover up only if they had the name or photo of a candidate on their clothing.)
Today, Vince sent some samples to reporters who have covered the campaign between Linda McMahon and Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal: a T-shirt, two caps, a headband and wristbands.
The letter in the box said: "Enclosed please find the exact assorted merchandise sent to Susan Bysiewicz’s office should she decide to wear WWE merchandise to the polls on Tuesday.
"Sincerely, Vince McMahon"
Just in time for Halloween.
— Ed Stannard
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Peter Yarrow to perform at Conn. Hospice Halloween party

BRANFORD — The Connecticut Hospice is holding a Halloween Children’s Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday on the grounds of its shoreline campus, 100 Double Beach Road.
Peter Yarrow, of the legendary folk singers “Peter Paul & Mary,” will perform. Yarrow is a longtime board member of The Connecticut Hospice, organizers said in a statement.
There will hayrides and games for children, and trick-or-treating. Costumes are encouraged, the statement said.
Read more about Yarrow here and here
“The Halloween concert event is an opportunity to provide some fun for patients young and old, children related to patients, and members of the community,” the statement said.
To learn more about The Connecticut Hospice, visit www.hospice.com.

Hallelujah: parts of Handel’s "Messiah" to be performed in New Haven

NEW HAVEN — The New Haven Oratorio Choir & Orchestra, which is collaborating with the American Baroque Orchestra this season, will perform the "Anunciation" and the "Hallelujah" from Handel’s "Messiah," at 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at Trinity Baptist Church, 630 State St., New Haven.

In keeping with NHOCO’s mission to recapture composers’ original intent in historical works, the musicians will use period instruments and scores that have restored original material, organizers said.

The program also includes sacred music of the Russian baroque era. Admission is pay-as-you-can ($20 adults, $10 students, suggested). For more information, visit www.newhavenoratorio.org

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A new face at the Hospital of St. Raphael

NEW HAVEN - The Saint Raphael Healthcare System has appointed Joseph Bisson to the post of vice president of Business Development, according to a statement.

"In his new role, Bisson will work with physicians and others to develop key product lines and identify programs and services to implement or expand," the statement said.

He also will form partnerships with Saint Raphael’s medical staff and other providers.

Bisson, a resident of Chester, previously served as vice president of Business Development at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, the statement said.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology/English from Colby College in Waterville, Maine; an M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut, and an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration from the University of Hartford, the statement said.

Bridges at Toko-Ri at the New Haven Public Library

NEW HAVEN - The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) will screen at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 3 at the New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.

The classic film stars William Holden, Grace Kelly, Frederic March and Mickey Rooney. It is based on a novel by James Michener about a naval aviator assigned to bomb a group of heavily defended bridges during the Korean War," library officials said in a statement.

"The story was based on actual missions flown against bridges at Majon-ni and Changnim-Ni, North Korea, in the winter of 1951–1952, when Michener was a correspondent aboard the aircraft carriers Essex and Valley Forge."

There is no charge for the event, and free parking is available. Call the library at 203-946-8835 for more information.

Auditions for New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s new Contemporary Youth Orchestra

NEW HAVEN — Auditions will be held Sunday and Nov. 14 for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s new Contemporary Youth Orchestra.
Selected high school candidates will be asked to prepare two contrasting repertoire selections that display their skill level, perform selected scales and sight read.
There will be weekly Sunday rehearsals from 2-5 p.m. in New Haven from January-May 2011; an inaugural concert will be held March 20. A $350 participation fee is required, and a limited number of scholarships are available.
NHSO Music Director William Boughton, the NHSO musicians and other guest artists will serve as mentors.
The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 1. Visit www.newhavensymphony.org and click on the Education tab for registration. For more information, call 203-865-0831, ext. 13.

Remarkable Creatures at the Peabody

And it's not necessarily the dinosaur fossils

NEW HAVEN - The Yale Peabody Museum will hold a talk on "Remarkable Creatures" with author Tracy Chevalier at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 4.

Chevalier is a master of historical fiction, museum officials said in a statement.

"Her colossal breakthrough bestseller, "Girl with a Pearl Earring," was made into an Oscar-nominated feature film, followed by three more critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers," the statement said.

Her latest book, 'Remarkable Creatures,' re-imagines the life of 19th century British fossil hunter and paleontologist Mary Anning and her unlikely relationship with Elizabeth Philpot, an intellectual, independent member of London’s upper middle class who also collected and studied fossils, the statement said.

At the age of 12, Mary Anning found the first complete ichthyosaur specimen, and her later findings include the first two plesiosaur skeletons, the statement said.

Chevalier "will share what she has learned about Mary Anning’s life, her discoveries and the social conditions of the time while researching Remarkable Creatures," the statement said.

A book signing will follow the talk.

The program is part of "Nature's Narrators: The 2010–2011 John H. Ostrom Program Series, the statement said.

Photo of Tracy Chevalier by Sven Arnstein

Scarier than ghosts and goblins?

The Halloween Celebration at Dinosaur State Park

Not really.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum will hold a Halloween celebration, actually fit for the entire family, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill.

The day will feature a wide variety of programs for families, the DEP said in a statement.
Activities will include:

At 1 p.m. “Jeepers Creepers!” – Riverside Reptiles will present a 45-minute program featuring snakes, spiders and other creatures. Space is limited to 100 visitors. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the show.
At 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. - Meet the park’s animals.
At 11:30 a.m. Track Talk – Learn about the dinosaur tracks found at the park.
From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Arts & Crafts station will be open.
Three different films will be shown throughout the day.
Participants are invited to come in costume and have their face painted, the statement said.
Treats (non-edible) will be available for everyone, the statement said.
"Visitors can view 600 early Jurassic dinosaur footprints under the dome along with museum exhibits. The park has a Discovery room that features a small live animal collection, coloring and book-mark making stations, puzzles, puppets and fossil and mineral collections that visitors can touch and examine," the statement said.

The park also has a bookshop that has a wide variety of unique items for sale. There are 2 ½ miles of outdoor hiking trails.

The museum will be open for regular operating hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All special programs are included with admission. The admission fee to enter the museum is $6 for adults (age 13 and up) and $2 for youth (ages 6-12). Children under 6 are admitted free.

For more information, call the park at (860) 529-5816 or visit www.ct.gov/dep/dinosaurstatepark

The park is located on 400 West Street in Rocky Hill one miles east of exit 23 off Interstate 91. Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum is a private, not-for-profit group, dedicated to promoting education about paleontology and Connecticut geology, the statement said. For more information contact Meg Enkler at (860) 529-5816.

Gateway Community College to hold job fairs

GCC students and alumni welcome to attend

NEW HAVEN — Gateway Community College will hold student job fairs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, and Thursday, Oct. 28, in the cafeteria of its Long Wharf campus at 60 Sargent Drive.
The fairs are open to GCC students and alumni.
Participants are encouraged to bring their resumes with them.
Participating employers will accept applications and may conduct interviews on-site for full- and part-time openings, as well as internships.
Employers who are scheduled to attend the events include: Verizon Wireless, Frito-Lay, IKEA, Universal Life/ING, Guilford Savings Bank, Wal-Mart and others.
The events are being held by GCC’s Career Services Office.
For more information, contact Michael V Buccilli, MSW, director of career services at GCC, at 203-285-2144 or mbuccilli@gwcc.commnet.edu.

Pearl Cleage's book next up for Elm Street Book Group

NEW HAVEN - The Elm Street Book Group will discuss Pearl Cleage's "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day" at 6 p.m. Nov. 17.

In the book, "After more than a decade of deluxe living, Ava has come home, her fabulous career and power plans smashed to bits on one dark truth... she has tested positive for HIV," library officials said in a statement.

"Ava decides to return to her hometown to spend a quiet summer with her widowed sister, Joyce, before moving on to finish her life in San Francisco, the most HIV-friendly place she can imagine. But what she thinks is the end is only the beginning—there's just too much going on in her hometown to ignore," the statement said.

Read more here.

The Elm Street Book Group meets every third Wednesday at New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.

New readers are always welcome, and Blue State Coffee provides complimentary coffee for those who register to attend: http://www.esbgnov17.eventbrite.com/ or call the library at 203-946-8835.

Editor's note: The information in this post was wholly provided by the New Haven Public Library

Miss Connecticut Talent Jamboree coming up

Are you talented? Have you dreamed of being on stage?
The Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization has several opportunities for you in the coming weeks.
On Nov. 7, people from ages 6 to 100 can participate in the Miss Connecticut Talent Jamboree. It will be held at 2 p.m. at Derynoski Elementary School, 240 Main St., Southington.
Talent of any kind, from singing and dancing to magicians to comedians are invited to participate. The entry fee for solo performers is $40, while duets and trios pay $30 per person to enter. The entry fee for small groups of up to eight people is $15 per person. Large groups of up to 17 people pay $12 per person. Oct. 25 is the deadline to register for the talent jamboree. To register call event Chair Luis Pabon at 860-889-5174 or email luispabon-edmcspi@snet.net.
And at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Derynoski, young women between the ages of 17 and 24 may participate in the Apple Valley Scholarship Pageant, a local pageant sponsored by the Miss Connecticut Board of Directors. Contestants compete in a private interview before the pageant begins. The onstage competitions are talent, swimsuit and evening gown. To register, email Anndem56@aol.com. The public is invited to watch the pageant. Tickets, at $15, will be available at the door.
On Nov. 13 at North Haven Middle School, girls between 2 and 12 are invited to participate in the Rising Star pageant, a fundraiser for the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Foundation. There are princess, petite, junior and pre-teen divisions. Competitions include an on-stage introduction, an interview, sportswear, casual wear and formal wear and community service, depending on the age of the competitor. To register, email ctrisingstar@yahoo.com.
You can also get some of your Christmas shopping done and meet Miss Connecticut Brittany Decker at the same time when you attend a Pandora party from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 at Libero Jewelers, 32C Middletown Ave., North Haven. The Liberos will donate 15 percent of all jewelry sales and 10 percent of all scrap gold that is redeemed that night to the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Corporation. They pay the highest prices for scrap gold in the industry, according to Thomas Prete, executive director of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Corporation. Refreshments will be served.
For questions about any Miss Connecticut program call 860-889-5174.
The Miss Connecticut Scholarship program is a non-profit organization that raises college scholarships and promotes personal growth and development for girls and young women. It is an official affiliate of the Miss America Organization.

"Hope for the Holidays" for those who are grieving

BRANFORD - The Connecticut Hospice offers "Hope for the Holidays" for those who are grieving. Groups are being offered at the following locations: Branford - Ct. Hospice, Inc., 100 Double Beach Road, from 3-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2; 6-7:30 p.m., on Dec. 7; and 10:30-noon, on Dec. 21.
Wallingford - 110 Barnes Road, from 5:30-7 p.m. on Nov. 16.
Sessions are free, and pre-registration is required. To register or for more information call 203-315-7544.

There's Magic in the Air in New Haven

And Halloween is just around the corner

NEW HAVEN — Magicians will honor the spirit of the season, and the memory of Harry Houdini who died Oct. 31, 1926, by offering performances the week before Halloween. Programs are presented by members of International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 59.
- Wizard Jim, 8 p.m. Saturday, The Graduate Club, 55 Elm St, New Haven.
The Graduate Club salutes Magic Week in New Haven with a holiday meal and entertainment geared to the entire family. Wizard Jim, a Renaissance magician, will perform. Members can contact the club at 203-624-1129 for reservations. http://wizardjim.com.
- The Magic of Jeff Horton, 4 p.m. Monday, Mitchell Library, 37 Harrison St. Free.
Horton will present a show that features family-friendly comedy magic, audience participation, and the appearance of a live dove and rabbit. http://www.jeffhorton.com
- Cyril the Sorcerer, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Alphabet Garden Bookstore, 1097 Main St., Cheshire. Free.
May will provide spooky stories and Halloween magic. www.thealphabetgarden.com
- Wizard Jim, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Stetson Library, 200 Dixwell Ave. in the Dixwell Plaza
Stetson Library celebrates Family Night with Wizard Jim, a Renaissance magician. Contact the library for reservations. http://wizardjim.com
- Magic Moments with Bryan Lizotte, 3:30 Thursday, Fair Haven Library, 182 Grand Ave. Free.
Lizotte is a professional magician, performing more than 20 years. He does shows for children, adults, corporations and restaurants. He is the local magician for the Thomas the Tank Engine "Day Out with Thomas" events and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey team. He also does strolling close-up magic and balloon sculpturing. www.bryanlizotte.com
- Cyril the Sorcerer, 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Temple Street. Free.
Cyril will visit diners, providing magic at their tables.
http://www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com/
- Magic Dan & Snowball, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St. Free.
Magic Dan has been performing children’s magic in New England for more than 50 years. His 45-minute show includes a live white rabbit, Snowball, and many magical effects using silks, cards, ropes, with audience participation.
- The Great Sirico!, 2 p.m. Saturday, Wilson branch Library, 303 Washington Ave. Free.
The Great Sirico’s magic show will have doves, a rabbit, and, yes, even fish. At the end of the show every child will receive small Halloween treat, and balloon animal. thegreatsirico.org
- Keith Zalinger’s Extra-Sensory Performance, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Elks Lodge 1939, 158 S. Montowese St., Branford. $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Zalinger’s mind reading and paranormal entertainment is oriented toward adults and older than children 12, includes a cash bar.
http://tinyurl.com/espmagic or www.esp-magic.com, neuromancer9k@gmail.com.
- Cyril the Sorcerer & Natalie, noon Sunday, Farmers Market, Edgewood Park, Whalley and West Rock avenues. Free
Cyril and Natalie will attempt the great metamorphosis escape made famous by Houdini. www.cityseed.org
For details, go to www.magicnewhaven.com or call 203-627-2973.

Woodbridge Library to hold program on long term care

WOODBRIDGE - The Woodbridge Library will hold a program entitled "Long Term Care: For When You May Not Be Able to Take Care of Yourself" at 7 p.m. Nov. 1.

Expenses for long-term care are perhaps the biggest expense many retirees will incur, organizers said in a statement.

Are you and your family prepared for the future?

Join the library for the informative session, presented by Richard D. Crane and Kristin Scianna, Financial Service Representatives with Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife.

There will be time at the end of the session for questions from the audience.
This program is free and open to the public.

Registration is requested.

To register or for more information: call 203.389.3433, or send an email to pvalsecchi@ci.woodbridge.ct.us.

Elisha Cooper to give annual Purves lecture

WOODBRIDGE - The public is invited to attend the Friends of the Woodbridge Library Annual Purves Lecture with featured speaker author and illustrator Elisha Cooper at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Meeting Room of the Woodbridge Library.

A native of Woodbridge, Cooper is the author of "many critically-acclaimed children's books, including "Building," "A Day at Yale," "Dance!," "Magic Thinks Big," "Beach," and "Farm," according a statement from the library.

Dance! was a New York Times Ten Best Illustrated winner in 2001, the statement said.

Beach was a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal best illustrated book of the year in 2006. He also has written a memoir "Crawling: A Father's First Year," and the nonfiction work "ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool: A Year in an American High School."

Cooper attended both the Foote School and Hopkins School in New Haven, and graduated from Yale University, the statement said.

He lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters.

The event is free and open to the public and all are welcome.

The Purves Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Woodbridge Library; the series was created by the family of Marjorie Purves, a past Friends member, to memorialize her and to perpetuate "her love of books, love of great literature and most importantly, to share this love with the Woodbridge community," the statement said.

Flu shots for veterans

WEST HAVEN — VA Connecticut Healthcare System is offering walk-in flu shot clinics at 950 Campbell Ave.
Clinics will be held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays Nov. 1-12 in the main lobby of Building 2 (revolving door). On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the clinic will operate 8 a.m. to noon.
Veterans should bring a copy of their VA identification card.
Saturday clinics are scheduled for from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 30 and Nov. 13 in Firm 1, Building 2 on the first floor.
For more information, call Mary Jane Rubino at 860-594-6311.

Shown in the photo: Patricia Kawolski of New Haven gets a flu shot from LPN Mary Reynolds of the VNA of South Central Connecticut as the VNA held a flu clinic at John C. Daniels School of International Communication. That clinic was not for veterans, Photo by Peter Casolino

Pub crawl to benefit St. Pat's parade

NEW HAVEN — The annual pub crawl to benefit the 2011 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins with registration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Christy’s on Orange, 260 Orange St.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of registration. With the purchase of a ticket, participants will be entitled to: entrance at no cover charges at participating pubs that include: Christy’s on Orange, Anna Liffey’s, The Anchor, Kelly’s Bar, Richters, Stella Blues, Wicked Wolf and Old School, organizers said in a statement. Ticket purcahse also includes a 2010 “St. Patrick’s Day Parade Pub Crawl” T-shirt; 2010 Pub Crawl bracelet; drink and food specials. Advance tickets available at all participating establishments. Complimentary soda and water at all stops. As always, participants are encouraged to be responsible, organizers said in the statement.

Walk for peace in West Haven

WEST HAVEN - An 'IWagePeace Walk' and event will be held beginning at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at 300 Captain Thomas Boulevard.
Organizer Bruce Barrett said "the IWagePeace Walk is public show of unity among Christians, Muslims, and Jews."
"This is a preemptive peace action to dispel fear and publicly declare that all faith traditions are welcome in these United States," Barrett said.
“This is...a public declaration that is vitally important during a time when fear misguides our citizens toward mistrust, hatred, and harm. It is our roll as spiritual leaders to show ourselves publicly, so that others, less sure of themselves, will not lose their way, will not succumb to fear, hatred, and harm, but will be drawn to goodness through our very public and common action together.”
The event will include live music from the Afro-Semitic Experience, a world jazz fusion of North African and Middle Eastern sounds and participants will walk the West Haven boardwalk, learn about peace making, listen to music, and get to know each other, Barrett said.
Barrett said the public is invited to join members of more than 20 houses of worship. These include: Church of the Holy Spirit, Congregation Shalom Rodfe Zedek,
Congregation Mishkan Israel, Congregation Sinai, Council of American Islamic Relations, ENOUGH, First Congregational Church of Guilford, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Islamic Association of Greater Hartford,Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Jews for Justice and Peace, Masjid Al-Islam
Monroe Congregational Church, Muslim Coalition of Connecticut New Haven Islamic Center, North Haven Congregational Church, Our Lady of Victory Church, Shalom UCC Silver Lake Conference Center, St. John Vianney’s Church
Trinity Episcopal Church of Southport, Trinity Lutheran Church of Milford
Woodmont UCC, First Congregational Church, Guilford.
Particiants should gather at 3 p.m. for the walk to begin at St. John Vianney Church, 300 Captain Thomas Boulevard. The walk will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with music until 6 p.m.

For more information visit: www.IWagePeace.Org

Stratford dentists hold food drive

Stratford dentists Dr. Mark Samuels and Dr. Joseph Jarmon recently held a food drive to help replenish the food pantry of local community center at Sterling House.
"Since its opening, Sterling House has been a mecca for young and old alike, and provides social, educational and recreational activities which assist them in their positive and healthy development," according to a statement.
In this hard economic climate, both Samuels and Jarmon believe that giving back to the community is more important than ever before, the statement said.
For Samuels, shown in photo, and Jarmon, the food drive to help feed those less fortunate "was a great way to give back to the community and help those in need. Many lined up to donate canned goods and other dry food items," the statement said.
With the help of their employees, patients and neighbors, Samuels and Jarmon were able to deliver more than $400 in non-perishable food items to the Sterling House food pantry.
"People helping people have been one of the prominent strengths of our country. During these hard economic times, the spirit of giving and helping is needed more than ever," the statement said.
Details of Samuel’s other community events be found at http://www.dentiststratfordct.com/
For more information:Lighthouse Dental Care, 88 Ryders Lane, Stratford, 06614 or 203-378-1566

Editor's note: the information in this post was wholly contributed.

Natural resources talk covers military conflict

NEW HAVEN — Three original members of a joint U.S. military-civilian natural resources counterinsurgency cell in Afghanistan will discuss “Conflict and Natural Resources: Integrated Civilian-Military Perspectives and Approaches.”
The program will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in Bowers Auditorium at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
Discussion will focus on how natural resources drive, or contribute to, conflict in specific locales; how the United States and its coalition partners can best use civilian and military assets to mitigate conflict; and case studies related to both eastern Afghanistan and Liberia, according to a statement.
Panelists are Harry Bader, a F&ES doctoral candidate who works for the U.S. Agency for International Development; Dante Paradiso, a Yale College graduate who just finished a tour as the senior civilian representative with Brigade Combat Team Task Force Bastogne; and Col. Randy George, former commander of the Army’s Task Force Mountain Warrior and now a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
The natural resources counterinsurgency cell, better known as the Afghan tree army, was modeled after the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps and was launched in May after a five-week training program for a core group of 13 local forest supervisors, mostly graduates of Nangarhar University in Jalalabad. Rather than using Hellfire missiles, the tree army aims to defeat insurgents with homemade Pulaski axes and Biltmore sticks, the tools of conventional forestry roughly a century ago.
Despite American support, the tree army is entirely an Afghan operation. The 13 supervisors are now passing on their knowledge to 50 newly hired foremen, who will recruit 250 workers this fall in mountain villages around Nangarhar province. If the Afghan tree army succeeds during the initial rollout, then Zorghun Afghanistan (Green Afghanistan, as it is known locally) could go nationwide. The goal is to have tree armies in four northeastern provinces. The basic tactic is to recruit the same young men of military age who would otherwise be most heavily recruited by insurgents to provide forest and range management in watersheds.

Editor's note: All of the information contained in this post was released by Yale University

Brooksvale Fall Festival coming up

HAMDEN — The 11th annual Brooksvale Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park, 524 Brooksvale Ave. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 17.
Activities include a climbing wall, compass course, nature crafts, games, pumpkin decorating, guided trail hikes, hayrides and pony rides from 1 to 3 p.m. Exhibitors include the Hamden High School Reptile Club and the New Haven Mineral Club.
Admission and parking are free, but there will be food for sale and some activities will charge a small fee.
The event is sponsored by the Hamden Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Brooksvale Park. For information call 203-287-2669 or visit www.brooksvale.org.

Climb “A Mountain called Meru”

Or, just maybe get the inspiration to begin another adventure of your own

NEW HAVEN — The North Face, a supplier of outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, will bring alpinist, photographer and The North Face Athlete Team member Jimmy Chin to New Haven on Oct. 18 as part of the 2010 New Stop Exploring Series.
The live, nationwide 29-city tour "invites adventure fans from across the country to share in the incredible tales of seven top professionals from The North Face Global Athlete Team," North Face said in a statement.
The tour this year "boasts its most thrilling lineup yet, with more athletes and more tour stops," the statement said.
Jimmy Chin, who started his career as a climber and grew into an award-winning, highly-published adventure photographer, will share the story of how he returned to his climbing roots on an expedition that took him deep into the Indian Himalaya, the statement said.
In “A Mountain called Meru,” presented by The North Face and Trailblazer, Chin will talk about how teamwork and trust helped him and his fellow climbers survive the hardest climb of their careers – an 18-day ascent of the 22,000-foot Mount Meru – racked by storm and cold, the statement said.
"One of the most versatile and sought after expedition photographers in the industry, Jimmy spends most of the year climbing, skiing, exploring and photographing expeditions in remote corners of the planet. In the past decade, Jimmy has filmed and photographed some of the best adventurers, climbers and skiers in the world, documenting everything from first ascents of unclimbed towers in the Karakoram, to ski descents of the highest peaks in the Himalayas," the statement said.
Attendees will get to hear the story first-hand at Chin’s presentation, which will take place at The Yale Law School Levinson Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 18.
It will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. VIP reception in benefit of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the statement said.
Tickets for the event are available for free on a first come, first served basis. Guaranteed seats are available starting at $8 here and at www.thenorthface.com/speakerseries.
VIP Reception tickets, which include preferred seating, a meet & greet with Chin, beer, wine and light food, are available for $20.
Following the presentation, there will be an interactive question-and-answer session and a book/poster signing.
The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series, sponsored by GORE-TEX®, Outside Magazine and PrimaLoft®, runs Sept. 28 through Dec. 3. For more information about additional tour dates and athlete appearances, visit www.thenorthface.com/speakerseries.

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. It is headquartered in San Leandro, Calif.

Alzheimer’s Association to give caregiver's series

NORTH HAVEN — The Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter is offering a free Family Caregiver Series for caregivers of people with any type of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The four part series will take place at the Joyce C. Budrow Senior Center, 189 Pool Road.
Refreshments will be served.
The classes will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on four Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 13.
Topics will include:
October 13 - Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Types of Dementia, Treatment/Research, and Alzheimer’s Association Programs and Services
October 20 – Communication Techniques, Behavioral Challenges/Strategies, and Safety
November 3 – Family Dynamics, Keeping the Caregiver Healthy, and Community Resources
November 10 – Legal and Financial Issues
To register, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 203-230-1777, ext. 14 (Hamden office).
Pre-registration is requested.

Life in Venezuela to be subject of talk

NEW HAVEN — Professor Steve Ellner, a Connecticut native, will discuss the present political, economic, and social situation in Venezuela at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the People’s Center at 39 Howe St.
A professor at the Universidad de Oriente in Caracas for more than 30 years and a prolific author, he will explore the political status of Chavez, whether the Bolivarian Revolution is democratic, and Chavez’s purported anti-Americanism, organizers said in a statement.
Also, he will discuss Venezuela’s recent election and its implications, whether the lives of the poor/middle class are getting better or worse, and how Venezuela is helping Latin America, the statement said.
The talk is sponsored by the Greater New Haven Peace Council, and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, call Henry at (203)389-9547, or e-mail grnhpeacecouncil@gmail.com

Safe boating course slated

The New Haven Power Squadron will conduct a state-approved public boating course beginning at 6 :30 p.m. Oct. 18t.

Classes will be held at East Haven High School, 35 Wheelbarrow Lane.

The five session course will satisfy the state requirements for a Safe Boating Certificate and will qualify boat owners for insurance premium discounts. The area of study will include basic safety, seamanship, piloting, and Long Island Sound charting.

Personal watercraft certification is included and family discounts are available. Coastal endorsements and advanced classes are also offered. To register call 203-239-0336.

International Association of New Haven seeking grant application

NEW HAVEN — The International Association of New Haven has applications for 2011 grants.
Information sessions for the 2011 IANH grants will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Yale Office of International Students and Scholars, 421 Temple St.; and at 1 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Yale Office of International Students and Scholars, 421 Temple St.
For an application, go to http://www.ianewhaven.org/html/awards.html.

The International Association of New Haven seeks applications from organizations whose programs advance international, intercultural and global understanding. IANH invites proposals from organizations in Greater New Haven for innovative projects that: support the international community of Greater New Haven; encourage community programs that foster cultural understanding; promote global education in the community

Celebration of nature in New Haven

The New Haven Land Trust recently celebrated key players in the preservation of the Long Wharf Nature Preserve.

Representatives from sponsoring organization IKEA attended, trust officials said in a statement. IKEA has planted 1.5 million trees across the country and will be distributing 500 free seedlings locally on Oct. 16 and encouraging people to plant trees throughout the community, the statement said.

“Tonight,” Land Trust Executive Director Chris Randall said in the statement, “we celebrate the people and accomplishments related to Long Wharf. I want to be sure that we also remember that this preserve is just one shining example of what dedicated volunteers can accomplish.”

Randall is shown in the top photo with Carolyn Humphreys.

Also at the event were representatives from Sunlight Solar, construction materials supplier Suzio York Hill, United Way of Greater New Haven, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University and the Land Trust’s partner in the preservation of the Long Wharf Preserve, and The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, the statement said.

“The Long Wharf Nature Preserve is a seaside habitat and a haven for native species of birds, butterflies and other insects,” Land Trust President J.R. Logan said in the statement. “It is also a recreational and educational asset for the community. In this way Long Warf Nature Preserve demonstrates both humanities impact and nature's resilience.”

As we know it today, the Long Wharf area is a man made creation, dating back to the 1949 dredging of New Haven Harbor and the creation of new land for I-95, Logan said, according to the statement.
When New Haven was first settled, the harbor's water touched the southern corner of New Haven Green, and the harbor was so large and shallow that a wharf had to built a half-mile out to water deep enough for navigation – hence the name “Long Wharf,” Logan said.

"To this damaged landscape nature slowly returned. A tidal wetland and dune area formed over period of 50 years since the highway was constructed. The upland evolved into a grassland and a small woodland dominated by cottonwood trees. Over many years this transformation was assisted by the joint work of the volunteers of the New Haven Land Trust and the Garden Club of New Haven," the statement said.

"With such diversity in such a small area, is an ideal place for teaching about habitats, the effects of physical conditions on plant life, the adaptations of different organisms to different habitats, and the fidelity of certain organisms to their habitats. The Preserve offers the opportunity for New Havener's to observe and learn about nature. Activities such as bird watching, walking/jogging, photography and relaxing are always encouraged."

The celebration recognized two "champions of the preserve in particular:" David Reher, shown in bottom photo, who served on the Land Trust board of directors for many years and later became a committed preserve manager; and Kris Sainsbury, a long-standing board member and a member of the Land Trust’s Preservation Committee, who channeled her love of City Point and her effectiveness as a community organizer to raise the profile of the Long Wharf Nature Preserve, the statement said.

In center photo, Sainsbury (l) receives her award from Land Trust Treasurer Kate Norton

“Kris developed an influential cadre of individuals and organizations who become key advocates for the Preserve,” Logan said, also in the statement.

“She relentlessly advocated in the interest of the preserve to the Department of Transportation when there were concerns about the impact of the I-95 construction. Kris has spent many hours toiling to create the new long-range strategy for Long Wharf and other preserves,” he said.

Board treasurer and Development Committee Chairowman Kate Norton presented the New Haven Land Trust's Environmental Business Award to Sunlight Solar. The award was accepted by Carolyn Humphreys. (top photo)

SEED conference for New Haven Entrepreneurs is Saturday

NEW HAVEN – Elmseed Enterprise Fund will hold its third Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) Conference on Oct. 9.
"In the midst of the most severe recession since the Great Depression and as New Haven makes a bid for Google Fiber, this year the theme for the annual conference is 'Social Media, Marketing, and Low Cost Solutions to Small Business Problems,'” organizers said in a statement.
The SEED Conference will give particular focus to low cost, modern technology driven marketing opportunities for New Haven business-owners.

The conference will feature a keynote speaker and seven business skills oriented workshops run by local business professionals, the statement said.
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to attend four workshops. Additionally, each workshop will be offered in Spanish, reflecting the diverse nature of Elmseed’s clients and the greater New Haven business community, the statement said.
Last year’s attendees found the speaker panels particularly noteworthy, the statement said.
For the afternoon, the conference will offer a Resource Fair, where attendees will have valuable opportunities to network with local community organizations and business professionals, the statement said.
In keeping with this year’s conference theme, the SEED Conference will feature several speakers with expertise and experience consulting in those areas. This year’s keynote speaker, Tom Ficklin, founder of Ficklin Media Group, LLC will address the crucial marketing aspect of running a small business, the statement said.
Having worked for both Empower New Haven and as a public relations consultant, Ficklin has a wealth of knowledge about marketing, media and community relations; he is ideally poised to provide advice to New Haven entrepreneurs looking to utilize both traditional methods and new technology to solidify and publicize their image, the statement said.
Among other speakers is Kim Geronimo, a finance expert from Accion USA, one of the country’s most successful non-profits and two speakers from SCORE, including Rose Bednarz, the statement said.
All conference attendees will have the opportunity to attend a workshop entitled “Tweets, Posts, and Pages: Effective Social Media Marketing” with Ed Aroyan of Aroyan Consulting, LLC., the statement said.

According to Conference Director Ben Daus-Haberle, at this year’s conference Elmseed hopes to show attendees how to make and increase sales even in a depressed economy, the statement said.

“We’re focused on the future of New Haven entrepreneurship,” he said, also in the statement, “and we’re thrilled to have a group of speakers who all understand and promote that vision.”

The daylong event will take place at Linsley-Chittenden Hall on the campus of Yale University. Prospective attendees can register by phone (203-903-2108), on the web at www.elmseed.org, or at the conference itself.

The Elmseed Enterprise Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) microcredit organization that provides small, low-interest loans and technical assistance to people looking to start or expand small businesses in the New Haven area, the statement said.