Summer concert series at New Haven's Pardee-Morris House

NEW HAVEN  - The New Haven Museum will begin its second annual Twilight Concert Series with a performance by “Reelin’ Away’ on June 19 on the lawn at the

Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road.

The museum “welcomes concertgoers of all ages to enjoy folk, swing and mandolin music during the summer,” and all concerts in the series begin at 7 p.m., according to a release.

On concert night, the Pardee-Morris House will be open to visitors and guided tours  will be available, the release said. Refreshments from Chestnut Fine Foods or wood-fired pizzas from Frank Andrews Mobile Kitchen will be available for purchase, the release said. Visitors can bring blankets and chairs and enjoy a picnic on the lawn.

More about the concerts (also from the release):

June 19: Reelin’ Away. (Rain Date: June 20) Reelin’ Away’s repertoire consists of lively Appalachian-style dance tunes and songs in three-part harmony with the occasional gospel hymn or traditional Irish reel. The trio features Jim Sirch on banjo, flute and bodhran, Willow Ann Sirch on fiddle and David Heiser on guitar, jaw harp and djembe.

July 3: The Survivors Swing Band. (Rain Date:July 10) As a 7-piece professional jazz band based in Connecticut, The Survivors Swing Band plays the classic melodies from a bygone era. The Survivors render music from the 1920s through 1940s with a tilt towards improvisation, giving each pass at a tune a new flavor while still keeping true to the original melodies.

July 24: Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet. (Rain Date: July 25) Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet was founded at the turn of the 20th century to apply the quartetto classico version of the mandolin quartet to a new repertoire. The current, and founding, members are: Ellen Cohn, mandolin; Colin Healy, mandola; Betsy Rome, mandolin; and Gary Wikfors, mandocello.

August 14: SOUND Proof. (Rain Date: August 16) SOUND Proof is New Haven’s premier vocal ensemble, with singers from all over Connecticut who range in age from 13 to 21. The ensemble performs all concerts for charity. Led by founding director, Carol Taubl, the group performs music of all genres.

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Annual Italian Festa coming up in New Haven

NEW HAVEN  The St. Andrew the Apostle Society is beginning to prepare for its Annual Italian Festa in honor of St. Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Amalfi, Italy, the society said in a release.

“This is the only Italian festival held in historic Wooster Square,” the release said.

“Continuing in our Amalfi heritage and tradition the Society will kick off  its 113^h Italian Festa Celebration with a Kick-Off Dinner to be held” May 5, the release said..

“This event will be followed by the Blessing of the Fleet to be on Sunday, June 9, 2013 in New Haven Harbor, ending with the grand finale, the Italian Feast which begins on Thursday, June 27^TH and runs through Sunday, June 30^th, 2013.”\

The Feast is held at the club grounds located in Historic Wooster Square, 515 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut.

The kick off will be held on May 5 at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.  Ticket price is $45 (includes Open Bar). Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will begin at noon.  At 1 p.m. a full course dinner of Surf & Turf will be served followed by delicious desserts and coffee.  Vegetarian and children’s dinner at request.

For more visit  www.ssaanewhaven.com

Sign blessing at New Haven's St. Aedan-St. Brendan Catholic School

NEW HAVEN - St. Aedan-St. Brendan Catholic School in Westville on Wednesday "celebrated the installation of a new sign that was donated by the Knights of Columbus," the school said in a release.

"Since St.Aedan and St. Brendan schools merged into one building on McKinley Ave. in 2009, Principal Michael Votto said there was a need to identify the school with a new sign," the release said.

"Grand Knight John Winchell offered the services of the Knights who coincidentally houses the Council One headquarters in the basement of the school.  Father Thomas Shepard, pastor of the St. Aedan and St. Brendan parishes, gave history of the Knights in New Haven and blessed the new sign as teachers, students, and other Knights looked on.:

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Osprey mom and dad back in Milford with help from United Illuminating Co.

The United Illuminating Co. said in a release that a lightning strike last year on a "temporarily placed insulating sleeves" around wires in Milford killed two fledgling ospreys but the adult birds survived.

The good news:  Carol Dunn, a volunteer osprey monitor for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, an "egg was laid in April and the approximate month-long incubation period is nearing its end. The nest located on the new UI perch is expected to hatch results early June."

"Osprey birds are common in the Northeast and often look for nesting areas at high peaks. Just a year ago, UI worked with (the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)  and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a temporary solution to protect these particular birds during their mating season," by placing the sleeves on the wires, the statement said. 

 "Unfortunately, during a storm, a lightning strike destroyed the nest, fatally wounding the two fledglings and leaving the residents in the immediate area without power." 

"Since ospreys are typically wed to the same nesting site and return year after year, UI took action by installing a new nesting platform in the vicinity of the former nest to protect the returning mates and to help prevent another incident."

“Because of the osprey’s natural instinct to return to their original nesting location, UI felt it was important to take steps to safely accommodate both the birds’ needs and address the public’s safety.  We are pleased that with assistance from CT DEEP this effort resulted in a success story for all,” said Shawn Crosbie, UIL environmental analyst, also in the statement. “The adults came back sometime in April, nested on the UI platform and now from what we can see there is at least one egg in the nest.”

UI, "works to find solutions and strategies that will minimize danger to the public and to wildlife alike," the statement said

                                                                           

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ACLU releases new guide to privacy rights

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut released a new guide that "explains privacy rights in Connecticut and identifies the gaps and gray areas where those rights are endangered," the organization said in a release.

This is the publication (it can be printed or downloaded from here):

 

ACLU Guide Privacy-rights by Helen Bennett

New Haven coliseum site redevelopment: Community Presentation is Thursday

'LiveWorkLearnPlay',  New Haven's preferred developer for the former Coliseum Site, will hold a community meeting at Hill Central School on June 6, according to a release.
"Input and feedback" on the initial vision and concept is sought, the release said.

Read more here:

Coliseum Site Redevelopment Community Meeting Invitation by Helen Bennett

LWLP Coliseum Redevelopment Proposal Summary by Helen Bennett