Quinnipiac University faculty members win New England Emmy Award for Irish Hunger documentary

 Quinnipiac University faculty members Liam O’Brien and Rebecca Abbott with their New England Emmy Award for the documentary, “Ireland's Great Hunger and the Irish Diaspora.”

HAMDEN  – Quinnipiac University faculty members Rebecca Abbott, Liam O’Brien and Christine Kinealy won a New England Emmy Award for the documentary, "Ireland's Great Hunger and the Irish Diaspora," according to a release.

“It’s a huge honor to have this sort of recognition for our work,” Abbott, a Hamden resident who co-produced the documentary, said, also in the release. “Since the process of making this documentary took several years, it’s really gratifying and rewarding to know that our efforts are valued in this way.

Abbott also noted: “We’re also especially pleased and encouraged because this award may help us share more widely the complex history of Ireland’s Great Famine.”
 

“Although Ireland’s Great Hunger took place in the past, it can teach us many important, universal lessons, and give us all greater understanding to help with similar crises happening around the world today.”
 

"Abbott, who filmed and edited the documentary, and co-producer O'Brien, of Higganum, are both professors in the Department of Film, Television and Media Arts at Quinnipiac." the release said.
 

“This was a major undertaking, especially in regard to the substantive volume of historical, archival and graphics research required, the need to hear the voices and thoughts of our brilliant group of international researchers led by Christine Kinealy, and the very large number of diverse shooting locations in Ireland, Canada, the United States and Australia undertaken by Rebecca Abbott,” O’Brien said, in the release. “It was a distinct honor to serve as co-producer of this fine film and the stories it tells.”
 

Watch the video:

Ireland's Great Hunger and the Irish Diaspora, narrated by Gabriel Byrne from Rebecca Abbott on Vimeo.

"The 50-minute documentary, narrated by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, explores not just the potato crop failure that led to mass starvation, death and emigration from 1845 to 1852, but the historical, social and political circumstances that made what is misleadingly called the Great "Famine" almost inevitable."

 

'The documentary is a powerful testament to the determination of our Irish ancestors to survive, despite the odds,” said Kinealy, a Hamden resident and founding director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute, in the release. “Rebecca's sensitive filming of locations in Ireland, and others in Australia and Canada, interspersed with interviews with descendants of the survivors and commentary from leading historians, provides an accessible, yet poignant insight into the long legacy of the Great Hunger.  I was honored to play a part in its creation.”
 

"In addition to Kinealy, the documentary features several leading scholars of Irish history, including: Declan Kiberd, University College Dublin and Notre Dame University; Ciaran O'Murchadha, author of "The Great Famine: Ireland's Agony 1845-1852"; Mike Murphy, University College Cork; and Richard Reid, historian, National Museum of Australia."
 

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

Connecticut pirates at New Haven's Pardee-Morris House

Renwick Griswold. Credit: Jason Ulm

NEW HAVEN - Connecticut has seen its share of pirates and privateers over the years and the New Haven Museum informs us that "according to Renwick Griswold, rumors still circulate of treasure buried by Captain Kidd near the Connecticut River."

 

Now, Griswold, a "descendant of woman wooed with the aid of a large diamond stolen from one of Captain Kidd’s stashes, and author of 'Connecticut Pirates and Privateers: Treachery and Treasure in the Constitution State,' will bring tales of mariners, 'ooncussers' and mutiny to the Pardee-Morris House" at 2 p.m. July 9, according to a release

 

The Pardee-Morris House is at 325 Lighthouse road.

 

"The author of several books relating to the Connecticut River, Griswold is also an associate professor of sociology at the University of Hartford, with a signature class is the sociology of the Connecticut River. He is commodore of the Connecticut River Drifting Society, and has been a short order cook, yacht deliverer, commercial fisherman, truck driver, construction worker, dock pounder, and non-profit executive," the release said.

 

During his presentation Griswold will discuss historically famous pirates with Connecticut connections—ranging from Blackbeard to Captain Kidd—and explain the role of privateers in United States history. Privateers were essentially government-sanctioned pirates, mariners given license to plunder the fleets of whatever country one’s kingdom was warring with at the moment.

 

Further, the museum noted its thanks to the Knights of Columbus, Rodrigo Council #44, East Shore Management Team, and Morris Cove neighbors, including the DeCola Family, Frank Pinto and Rosemary Spring, for supporting the 2017 summer season, the release said..

 

For a list of summer events at the Pardee-Morris House, visit: http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/pardee-morris-house/. For New Haven Museum’s event calendar: http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/events-calendar/ Sign up for e-blasts at info@newhavenmuseum.org, or call the Museum at 203-562-4183. 

 

 

 

 

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

New Haven Symphony Orchestra will present five free performances at libraries

A student trying out a violin at a NHSO Instrument Discovery Zone

NEW HAVEN - The New Haven Symphony Orchestra  will present five free performances of "Creating Musical Readers" at branches of the New Haven Free Public Library from June 26 to  28, according to a release.

 

"Literacy and music combine when NHSO violist Xinyi Xu brings the musical story of Mole Music to life as she reads to students and her viola becomes part of the story. Children will be enchanted and inspired by the story of Mole, who learns about the magic of music when he plays violin. This program is geared towards children ages four through ten. Each event is free and will also feature a string instrument discovery zone," the release said.

 

Listings:

 

Creating Musical Readers

Monday June 26, 2017
10:30am - New Haven Free Public Library: Ives Main Library (133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT)

Program: Join New Haven Symphony Orchestra musicians for an instrument discovery zone and a performance of Mole Music.

Creating Musical Readers

Monday June 26, 2017 
2:00pm - New Haven Free Public Library: Fair Haven Branch (182 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT)

Program: Join New Haven Symphony Orchestra musicians for an instrument discovery zone and a performance of Mole Music.

 

Creating Musical Readers

Tuesday June 27, 2017

3:00pm - New Haven Free Public Library: Mitchell Branch (37 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT)

Program: Join New Haven Symphony Orchestra musicians for an instrument discovery zone and a performance of Mole Music.

 

Creating Musical Readers

Wednesday June 28, 2017
10:30am - New Haven Free Public Library: Wilson Branch (303 Washington Avenue, New Haven, CT)

Program: Join New Haven Symphony Orchestra musicians for an instrument discovery zone and a performance of Mole Music.

 

Creating Musical Readers

Wednesday June 28, 2017
3:00pm - New Haven Free Public Library: Stetson Branch (200 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT)

Program: Join New Haven Symphony Orchestra musicians for an instrument discovery zone and a performance of Mole Music.

 

Tickets: This event is free. No tickets are required.

 

NHSO Words & Music literacy programs are made possible by a grant from the NewAlliance Foundation.

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

James Monroe (yes that James Monroe) to visit New Haven again

According to the New Haven Museum, James Monroe "will return to New Haven 200 years after his original visit—not in human or spectral form, but in a special, travelling exhibit: 'In the Spirit of the People: James Monroe's 1817 Tour of the Northern States.'”

 

Further, "Never one to fall behind in fashion, Monroe will be tweeting about his experience once he arrives in the Elm City. Though he is new to Twitter, his messages are expected to be relatively erudite," according to a release.

 

The commemorative exhibit will open at the New Haven Museum on June 3, and run through June 24, 2017, the release said.

 

Monroe’s tweets are available:at https://twitter.com/PresMonroe.

 

Monroe, fifth president of the U.S. visited New Haven June 20-22, 1817, visiting the large Eli Whitney arms manufacturing facility, the release noted.

 

“'In the Spirit of the People' is made up of 10 full-color vinyl banners containing images, quotations, and captions to present a history of (Monroe's) northern tour and convey a sense of the exuberance it generated," the release said.  "The first three banners introduce viewers to James Monroe and offer an overall summary of the tour.  The next six banners focus on specific locations that Monroe visited, with one banner dedicated to each.  The final banner offers interactive educational links as well as credits for the exhibit's sponsorship and preparation.

 

"The exhibit is a joint project of The James Monroe Museum and The Papers of James Monroe, both of which are administered by the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia."
 

The New Haven Museum is at 114 Whitney Ave. For more information visit Facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.
 

Editor's note: All information and the photos in this post were contributed by the New haven Museum. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

5 tips for hurricane preparedness in Connecticut

 

Register file photo

In a news release, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state emergency management officials reminded Connecticut residents that the first day of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1, and it runs through Nov. 20.

 

 

Further, the release noted: "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atlantic hurricane season forecast for 2017 is predicting an above average season with 11 to 17 named storms, 5 to 9  hurricanes, and 1 to 4 major hurricanes.

 

“One single hurricane or tropical storm can have a lasting impact,” Malloy said in the release.  “We urge all residents to take three simple preparedness steps: get a kit, make a plan, and stay informed.  These three steps will help to ready everyone for any weather emergency you may encounter.”

 

Connecticut residents can also download the state’s emergency preparedness app for smart phone and tablet devices, the release said.  The app is available free and can be downloaded in the Apple iTunes store and the Google Play store by searching “CT Prepares,” according to the release.

 

 

The release provided this list of preparedness tips for Connecticut residents:

 

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit

 

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both; flashlight and extra batteries; first aid kit; a whistle to signal for help
• Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation; wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; a manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps; cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
• Medicine or any special need items, including diapers for infants; Food and litter requirements for any pets

 

 

Also in the release: 

 

Family Emergency Plan

 

• Identify an out-of- town contact.  It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone.  If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know.  Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging.  Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through, and it uses less battery life.  Plan ahead and pre-set a family group text conversation in your phones.
• Subscribe to alert services.  Go to www.ct.gov/ctalert to register for emergency alerts.

 

Protecting Your Possessions

 

• It is important to review your insurance policies yearly and especially prior to the start of hurricane season.
• Review your policy with an agent, or contact the Connecticut Insurance Department to understand what is covered and what your coverage limits are to ensure you are receiving adequate protection.
• Keep your policies and insurance contact information in a safe place.
• Make an inventory of your possessions should your property be damaged and you have to make a claim.

 

 

 

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.