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Heads up – Click it or Ticket police enforcement begins Monday, Nov 14

November 13, 2011 Areawide, Local News No Comments

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click It or Ticket mobilization is credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed usage rate of 85 percent in 2010.

Law enforcement across the country will be out in force for the 2011 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization from Nov. 14 to 27, 2011.

During this mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts, both day and night.

You also may find yourself with a ticket for any of the usual infractions, whether it’s exceeding the speed limit or driving with a broken tail light, so be aware. Police may choose to pull drivers over at random, as well.

Seat belt use reportedly saves thousands of lives each year. In 2009 alone, seat belts saved 12,713 lives nationwide.

The Highway Safety Office of the CT Department of Transportation provides funding to assist local agencies in this effort.

Remember this Nov. 14 to 27, it’s Click It or get a Ticket. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You’ll save the cost of a ticket and may even save a life.

Posted Nov. 13, 2011

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Check out the new and the leading edge at the Connecticut International Auto Show this weekend

November 12, 2011 Areawide, Arts & Entertainment, Business, Local News No Comments

A Toyota FJ Cruiser was among the impressive variety of vehicles on display at the 2010 Connecticut International Car Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

State automotive leaders are celebrating a re-energized industry this weekend at the Connecticut International Auto Show, set for Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

The show features some of the newest models of hybrid, luxury, family and specialty vehicles.

While cars are not for sale at the show, one of the benefits of attending is that consumers can view and compare different brands of cars in one place.

New car sales in the state are revving up again, with figures inching toward pre-recession levels.

Prior to the 2008 economic crash, Connecticut’s annual automobile sales averaged $9 billion a year, but that figure plummeted to $6.3 billion in 2008. Total sales now are back up to $8 billion and climbing.

New dealerships also have opened to replace the ones forced to close during the height of the recession.

One of the educational displays at the 2010 Connecticut International Car Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

Between 2008 and 2009, 30 percent of the state’s new car dealers went out of business.

The newest dealers are helping fuel the economy with jobs and money; revenue from automobile sales accounts for 14 percent of sales tax collected annually in Connecticut, on top of the payroll and property taxes paid by the state’s car dealers. according to Jim Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association.

The association represents more than 250 new car dealerships in the state that employ more than 12,000 people.

Fleming also noted that dealer interest in this weekend’s show was so high that floor space sold out for the first time in three years.

Consumer confidence has rebounded since the depths of the recession, noted Barbara Putney, vice president of the Paragon Group, the show’s producer. “People no longer are feeling like if they buy a GM car, they might go out of business,” she said.

The shortage of newer used cars on the market also is prompting many people to consider buying new, she added.

The return of credit also is boosting sales, according to Fleming.

Two or three years ago, dealers were unable to get credit to finance their inventory and consumers struggled to get loans.

While Connecticut consumers are particularly environmentally-conscious and many are drawn to hybrids, large cars such as sport utility vehicles (SUVS) remain popular, Fleming said.

Overall, consumers are showing particular interest in hybrid cars and those that boast high gas mileage, Putney said.

One of the hybrid vehicles at the 2010 Connecticut International Auto Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

“Virtually every brand has a hybrid car in its line. People want to know how the car lines are making engines perform better so they use less fuel. It has to do with the cost of gas, the idea of helping the environment and getting away from the dependence on foreign oil. For nearly 100 years, the car technology barely changed. Now there are different ways of looking at things,” Putney said.

Other attractions at this year’s Connecticut International Auto Show include an appearance by Sean Casey and the Tornado Intercept Vehicle from the Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” program, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Comic Bot, the eight-foot-tall robot from “America’s Got Talent” is scheduled to perform Saturday at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Some vintage cars from the 1900s, 1920s and 1930s also will be on display, courtesy of the Klingberg Foundation.

Car show hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 6 are free.

This story brought to you by the Independent Media Network, http://imnct.com

Posted Nov. 12, 2011, as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

CT Atty Gen asks cable companies to reduce bills due to Storm Alfred

November 11, 2011 Areawide, Business, Local News No Comments

"I encourage you to ensure that all your Connecticut customers, whose services were interrupted by this storm, are given full, pro-rata credit for the time they were unable to access your services, without the need for individual requests." CT Atty Gen George Jepsen

Connecticut Atty General George Jepsen is asking all providers of telecommunications, cable and satellite television and Internet services in Connecticut to waive charges for the period Connecticut customers were without service following the Oct. 29 Storm Alfred.

At its peak, the snowstorm knocked out power to about 831,000 CL&P customer, some of them for more than 9 days. Even in cases where power was restored, many cable providers were off air or did not provide all services immediately.

Attorney Gen. Jepsen announced in a press release that he sent letters Thursday (Nov. 10) to executives of 15 companies, asking them to consider his request and to respond in writing with their decision.

“The early winter storm on October 29-30 has created unprecedented hardships – physical, emotional, and financial – for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut citizens,” Atty Gen. Jepsen writes. “It is a matter of fundamental fairness that residents not have to pay for services that were unavailable for lack of electricity or other storm-related reasons.”

“I encourage you to ensure that all your Connecticut customers, whose services were interrupted by this storm, are given full, pro-rata credit for the time they were unable to access your services, without the need for individual requests,” he writes.

The letter was a response to questions and complaints by Connecticut consumers across the state, he said, about being charged for services they were unable to use for an extended period because they had no electricity or their service was interrupted even after power was restored to their home.

On another storm-related issue, the Attorney General also wrote to the Propane Gas Association of New England this week, raising antitrust concerns about correspondence the association sent to its members that discouraged them from filling tanks from competitors, despite Executive Order 15, which authorized them to do so.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued the Executive Order on Nov. 3 in response to emergency conditions in the state and the potential inability of propane gas customers to have their tanks refilled by the same company that owns the tank. The order remains in effect for 30 days, unless revoked sooner.

“This Office has concerns that your communication may have been designed to encourage or facilitate a group boycott or concerted refusal to deal among horizontal competitors in violation of the Connecticut Antitrust Act,” Atty Gen. Jepsen wrote to the Association office in Epsom, N.H. He asked association officials to distribute his letter to its membership.

Posted Nov. 11, 2011

Do you know about these projects that benefit our troops and veterans?

November 11, 2011 Areawide, Local News No Comments

The Troopons® program sends coupons - including expired coupons - overseas and to U.S. military bases where they help troops and their families stretch their food dollars.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, earlier today, I shared a number of web sites on the HTNP News Facebook page for projects that support our troops and honor our veterans. I decided to compile a few of them in one place and post them on our town news sites for those of you who don’t use Facebook, and to make it easier to find them in our news archives, if you would like to share this information with others. - Brenda Sullivan, HTNP.com Editor

About Troopons®

The Support Our Troops® Troopons® program enhances the well-being of overseas and domestic military families by sending them food and non-food manufacturer coupons to make their hard-earned dollars go farther.

Troopons® are a great way to get value out of coupons you don’t use and it’s an easy way to make a difference in the lives of others.

And did you know, many military bases allow the use of coupons up to six months past their expiration date?

Troopons is operated for SupportOurTroops.Org by its Patriotic Partner® CouponCabin.com. As of Nov. 8, 2011 CouponCabin.com has generously stepped up to handle the processing and shipping of coupons, both active and expired, to military families on bases overseas and across the U.S.

About Goodyear Support Our Troops

The Goodyear Support Our Troops initiative is an 11-week awareness and fundraising effort (Sept 17 – Dec 3, 2011) that includes donating tires to help military families, a special Goodyear tire rebate that will be offered for the duration of the program, and a marketing campaign to raise awareness and trigger consumer involvement.

Goodyear is providing a chance for NASCAR fans to show support through bidding on the authentic, race-used Goodyear Support Our Troops NASCAR and NHRA tires from the September 18, 2011 NASCAR Geico 400 and O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA National Top Fuel and Funny Car races – autographed by the drivers who used them – as well as great experiences and items donated by many NASCAR and NHRA teams and other sponsors.

Goodyear is providing a chance for NASCAR fans to show support through bidding on the authentic, race-used Goodyear Support Our Troops NASCAR and NHRA tires from the September 18, 2011 NASCAR Geico 400 and O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA National Top Fuel and Funny Car races – autographed by the drivers who used them – as well as great experiences and items donated by many NASCAR and NHRA teams and other sponsors.

And by visiting http://www.goodyear.com/supportourtroops you can be part of the Goodyear Bootcamp Challenge, a first of its kind competition between NASCAR and NHRA drivers in a battle to see who really is the fastest off the track.

The Challenge will pit drivers from both, such as Joey Logano and Tony Schumacher, in a series of physical events that use Goodyear Racing Eagles during a test of strength, speed and agility.

Drivers not participating in the actual competition will join in through a series of videos that will be posted throughout the program on Goodyear’s web site.

All funds raised will be donated to Support Our Troops, a nonprofit nationwide organization that bolsters the morale and well-being of America’s troops and their families.

The funds raised through the Goodyear effort will benefit the organization’s highly effective programs, which deliver more than $10 million per year in care packs and requested items to the front lines, positive support at home, kids’ camp assistance and more.

About the Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center – part of the Library of Congress – collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

The Project collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following wars:

World War I (1914-1920)

World War II (1939-1946)

Korean War (1950-1955)

Vietnam War (1961-1975)

Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)

Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)

The VHP relies on volunteers, both individuals and organizations, throughout the nation to contribute veterans’ stories to VHP. This could be a great Eagle Scout or High School Senior project.

In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories.

The VHP relies on volunteers, both individuals and organizations, throughout the nation to contribute veterans’ stories. This could be a great Eagle Scout or High School Senior project.

In addition to audio- and video-recorded interviews, The VHP accepts memoirs, collections of original photographs and letters, diaries, maps and other historical documents from World War I through current conflicts.

The VHP Field Kit contains all the tips, guidelines, and tools you need to conduct an interview of a veteran. Memoir Guidelines are also on this page. To download the project’s brochure in PDF format, click here http://www.loc.gov/vets/pdf/brochure-august2008.pdf

UConn’s Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial & Roll of Honor

Honoring the memory of all of UConn’s fallen, the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial was dedicated at the 2008 Veteran’s Day observance at the university.

Funded through support from the UConn Alumni Association, the memorial is a 10-foot by 5-foot brick wall with a cutout in which hangs an enlarged version of the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery and stands on a granite base. The Memorial is adjacent to the Wilbur Cross Building on the university’s Storrs campus.

Honoring the memory of all of UConn's fallen, the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial was dedicated during the 2008 Veteran's Day observance at the university.

The Roll of Honor was prepared in conjunction with the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial. Betsy Pittman, UConn archivist and interim director of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, coordinated research to identify and verify the names of those UConn alumni who died of wounds or injuries sustained while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

The supporting Website includes a form for submitting names which may be missing from the Roll of Honor.

Also, donations to support ongoing maintenance of the memorial and the research effort may be made to The Veterans Memorial Fund c/o UConn Foundation, 2390 Alumni Drive, Storrs, CT 06269-3206.

Posted Nov. 11, 2011

This is only a test – Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System on Nov 9

November 8, 2011 Areawide, Local News No Comments

FEMA and other federal agencies will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 2 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 9 2011.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring that the American public can receive critical information during a major emergency.

Over the past year, the agencies have worked with the broadcast community, cable operators and programmers, and other communications service providers that participate in the Emergency Alert System to help inform all members of the public about this test but there are concerns that some might mistake the test for the real thing. Here’s why.

The code that will be used to transmit the signal is not compatible with some cable systems and so, it’s possible the phrase, “This is just a test” will not appear on those screens. (See videos for more complete explanation.)

Video – Administrator Fugate and FEMA’s Neil McDevitt explain the test (includes interpretation in American Sign Language)

Video – FEMA’s Dawn Hart provides key information about the EAS test in Spanish

(Note: If you have trouble viewing these videos, try viewing on the FEMA page at http://www.fema.gov/eastest/index.shtm)

What you need to know about the test

It will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time.

It will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is a test.”

When the test is over (approximately 3 minutes), regular programming will resume.

FEMA and the FCC ask that everyone to spread the word to neighbors, co-workers, friends and family – including posting a message on your social media site.

For additional questions, visit the FEMA FAQ’s page and the FCC EAS Test page.

On Nov. 9, don’t stress, it’s only a test.

Posted Nov. 8, 2011

Related link: Neighborhood Watch Alerts http://www.neighborhoodwatchalerts.com/help/eastest/#howcan

Outages continue with 41,000 residents in the dark tonight

November 7, 2011 Areawide, Business, Local News No Comments

CL&P President Jeff Butler also said that given the short interval between Storm Irene and Storm Alfred, there wasn’t time to complete the review of procedures in response to the August storm and implement them when hit by a snowstorm in October.

As of 6 p.m., which is when CL&P President Jeff Butler briefed reporters from the state’s Emergency Operations Center at O’Neill Armory, there were approximately 41,000 customers still without power, now nine days after Storm Alfred made its unwelcome visit to the Northeast.

Dozens of schools will still be closed tomorrow, Election Day, and some polling places had to be relocated. That’s just a couple of examples of the toll prolonged outages are having on the state.

Butler attempted to address the situation by explaining that compared to Tropical Storm Irene, which hit the East Coast less than two months ago, the freak snowstorm on Oct. 29 has created vastly more damage.

At its peak, there were approximately 831,000 customers of CL&P, UI and NU without electricity. Storm Irene knocked out power to 671,000 customers at its peak, Butler said.

Responding to questions about poor communication with some cities and towns, Butler said CL&P is currently trying to coordinate a workforce that is 10 times the size of normal operations.

He added that he welcomes the independent review to be conduced by Witt Associates, a firm brought in by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, that is headed by James Lee Witt, former FEMA Director under President Bill Clinton.

Butler stood his ground in saying that while there were communication and coordination problems that will need to be addressed as storm response activities are examined, “there were many things we did right.”

He added that he is proud of all the workers, the “thousands of people who left their homes, across the United States and from Canada, to restore power.”

CL&P President Jeff Butler faces severe criticism for nine-day power outages resulting from October Storm Alfred that hit the Northeast on Oct. 29, 2011.

As the review process gets underway, “I think they (findings) will show in many areas we have strengths and in many areas there is room for improvement,” Butler said.

Butler also said that given the short interval between Storm Irene and Storm Alfred, there wasn’t time to complete the review of procedures in response to the August storm and implement them when hit by a snowstorm in October.

At a press conference held at 5 p.m., Gov. Malloy called the prolonged outages “unacceptable” and said that CL&P had not only failed its own standards, but likely falls far short of industry standards.

Asked about that comment, Butler said that he prefers to wait until both internal and independent reviews are complete “before we pass judgment.”

Butler also stuck to the revised deadline for restoring power to all of the state, which is midnight on Wednesday but noted that there may still be some scattered outages that won’t be addressed unless the customer calls CL&P to alert them to the problem.

One reporter stated that he was told by a woman whose neighbors had electricity that she couldn’t get through on the CL&P service line to report her outage and so, had to drive to her town hall to report her outage.

Butler said he would investigate that report and again stated that this kind of issue will be among many that will be examined during the review process.

Posted Nov. 7, 2011

Related link: Former FEMA director hired by Gov. Malloy to review response to power outages http://windham.htnp.com/2011/11/04/former-fema-director-hired-by-gov-malloy-to-review-response-to-power-outages/

Despite major progress CL-P falls short of self-imposed deadline

November 6, 2011 Areawide, Business, Local News No Comments

CANDLES - group of candles - black and white

Some CL&P customers will have been without power for nine days once power is restored to all of the utility's customers.

CL&P President Jeff Butler, looking haggard and tense at this evening’s press conference, confirmed what Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had announced earlier in the day – that the company was not going to meet its self-imposed deadline to restore power to 99 percent of customers in all 149 Connecticut cities and towns.

As of 6 p.m., 88,000 customers were still without electricity. Immediately following October snowstorm Albert, there were approximately 831,000 utility customers (CL&P, UI and Northeast Utilities) without power.

Butler said the current 88,000 customers awaiting electricity includes 6,800 outages that are not storm-related, but the result of other issues that normally occur.

“We continue to push… but we have not met our expectations or those of all of you,” Butler said, and apologized to the customers still in the dark and without heat.

Earlier in the press conference Gov. Malloy said about 2,001 residents spent last night in shelters across the state.

Malloy also noted that 496 members of the National Guard and 60 State Department of Transportation crews were out helping CL&P today (Nov. 6).

As of today, about 96 percent of customers had power turned back on, Butler said. By 8 a.m. on Monday, that figure should be up to 97 percent, by midnight it should be 99 percent, and finally by midnight on Tuesday, everyone should be back online, Butler said. But that means 9 days of hardship for many people and businesses.

More crews have been brought on board to help with the remaining work. There were 2,482 working today, which is up 170 crews from yesterday, Butler said.

About 16 towns were only about 60 percent restored as of this evening, including towns in Tolland County – Somers, Stafford, Union, Tolland and Willington.

Asked by a reporter why CL&P didn’t focus its restoration efforts on the hardest hit areas, Butler defended his plan saying that sending the majority of crews to one part of the state would leave other cities and towns without power that much longer.

Another reporter asked if it is true that some crews were “standing around” waiting for instructions today. Butler responded that crews sometimes had to stop work for safety reasons as lines were powered up or switching operations were underway.

He also noted that some homes where power had been restored found themselves without electricity again because as lines were reactivated, in some case, it triggered other problems in the system.

Butler also asked customers who notice power has been restored around their home but they are still without electricity to call CL&P customer service to alert them to the outage.

As of the 6 p.m. press conference, Butler said, CL&P’s online map and outage/restoration list was up to date. As this evening’s data is input, outage numbers will drop significantly, he said.

Gov. Malloy had announced this morning that he didn’t expect CL&P to meet its goal because he wanted to alert municipal officials and customers still without power that they might need to find shelter tonight, and to help towns make decisions about schools and other services.

“The closer we got to CL&P’s self-identified goal of 99 percent restoration in each city and town by midnight tonight, the more skeptical I became of their ability to meet that goal,” Gov. Malloy said in a prepared statement.

“I’m releasing this information because towns and cities need to make preparations based on the reality of the situation – not what CL&P hopes to have happen – and residents need to make individual decisions about what to do over the next few days.”

Posted Nov. 6, 2011

This weekend – breakfasts, dinners, sales, more

November 5, 2011 Areawide, Arts & Entertainment, Local News No Comments

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

CAN AND BOTTLE DRIVE — STORRS
E.O. Smith High School, 1235 Storrs Road, Storrs, will host its Safe Grad Can and Bottle Drive from 9 a.m. to noon.

TAG AND COOKIE SALE — COVENTRY
Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road, Coventry, will host a tag and cookie sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Benefit FCCLA Community Service Projects. Info: (860) 742-7346, ext. 136.

HOLIDAY FAIR — COVENTRY
St. Mary Church, Route 31, Coventry, will host a holiday fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: (860) 742-0681.

VENDOR/CRAFTER SHOWCASE — WHS
WHS Project Graduation is sponsoring a vendor/crafter showcase in the Windham High School cafeteria, 355 High St., Willimantic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: $1 donation to WHS Project Graduation.

HOLIDAY FAIR AND CRAFT SHOW
Columbia Congregational Church, 325 Route 87, Columbia, will host a holiday fair and craft show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Info: (860) 228-9306 or ccchurch@snet.net.

UCONN BEEF SALE
The University of Connecticut will host a beef sale from 10 a.m. to noon, Livestock Unit, Horsebarn Hill Road, UConn, Storrs Campus. Info: Mary.Cole@uconn.edu or (860) 486-2035. The beef calf election presentation and the judging contest will be postponed until next year.

LETTERBOXING WORKSHOP — LEBANON
The Lebanon Historical Society Museum, 856 Trumbull Highway, will host a letterboxing workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open to adults and supervised children. $1 suggested donation to cover cost of materials. Info: (860) 642-6579.

FLEA MARKET — WILLIMANTIC
The Hub of Salvation Flea Market, 120 Union St., Willimantic, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. A 10-foot by 10-foot space is available for a $25 donation. Info: Melanie Rivera and Angel Jusino at (860) 617-6706.

HAM AND BEAN DINNER — LEBANON
Lebanon Fire Safety Complex, Goshen Hill Road, Lebanon, will host a ham and bean dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $8 adults, $5, 10 and under. Proceeds to benefit Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Lebanon’s food cupboard.

LASAGNA DINNER — HAMPTON
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 40 Cedar Swamp Road, Hampton, will host a fundraiser lasagna dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. $8 adults, $6 children 4-10 years old, $25 family of four or more. .

UCONN VOICES OF FREEDOM
The University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, will host the Voices of Freedom at 6 p.m. General admission $7, Students with ID and children are free. Gospel choir will perform with the Rev. Lisa Clayton its director. Contact: (860) 486.2969 or sfa.uconn.edu.

WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER — COVENTRY
Opportunity Works Connecticut Inc., of Willington is having a wine tasting fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cassidy Hill Vineyard, Coventry. Cost is $25 advanced/$30 at the door for tasting and logo glass and $40 advanced/$45 at the door for tasting, glass and bottle of wine. All proceeds will benefit organization programs. Info: www.owct.org or call (860) 477-0900.

WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER — WILLIMANTIC
A wine tasting fundraiser is slated at the Willimantic Elks Lodge upstairs hall, Pleasant Street, Willimantic, from 7 to 10 p.m. Benefits St. Mary-St Joseph School athletic program. Cost is $20 at door or school office. Not handicap accessible. Info: (860) 423-8479.

QUIET CORNER CONTRA DANCE
The next Quiet Corner Contra Dance will be held at the Storrs Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Road, Storrs. Free lessons at 7:30 p.m., with dance beginning at 8 p.m. (all dances are taught). Bring soft-soled shoes and water to drink.

LITTLE RIVER MUSIC SERIES, HAMPTON
The Gnomes, will be performing at the Hampton Community Center, Main Street, Hampton, at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. $10. Info: (860) 455-2056.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6

PANCAKE BREAKFAST
The Willimantic Lions Club is hosting its fall breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Elks Club, Pleasant Street, Willimantic. Adults $6, seniors $5, kids under 12, $4. There will be vision screenings available. Patrons are reminded to bring used eyeglasses for worldwide re-use.

VFW SUNDAY BREAKFAST – WILLIMANTIC
VFW Post 1724, Main Street, Willimantic, will hold its Sunday breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Proceeds to benefit homeless veterans.

VFW SUNDAY BREAKFAST – CANTERBURY
The Canterbury VFW, Route 169 ( North Canterbury Road), Canterbury, is hosting its Sunday breakfast from 8 to 11 a. m.

HIBERNATION FESTIVAL — OAK GROVE
Oak Grove Montessori School will host its annual Hibernation Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 132 Pleasant Valley Road, Mansfield Center. Info: (860) 456-1031.

EASTERN’S CLASSIC BRASS
Eastern Connecticut State University’s Performing Arts Department will present a Classic Brass concert with Oystein Baadsvik, international tuba virtuoso, at 2 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium, located on the corner of Windham and Valley streets. The public is invited. Free admission. Info. Lana Raymond (860) 465-5325 or raymondla@easternct.edu.

APOLLO’S FIRE JAROUSSKY TO LIGHT UP JORGENSEN
Apollo’s Fire and Jaroussky will light up Jorgensen’s stage with Handel and Vivaldi Fireworks, a program of arias and concertos, at 2 p.m. Eric Rice, a specialist in music composed before 1750 and associate professor of music history at the University of Connecticut, will give the Concert Talk at 1:15 p.m. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is located at 2132 Hillside Road on the UConn campus in Storrs. $40, $37 and $33, with some discounts. Tickets/info. (860) 486-4226, or order online at: jorgensen.uconn.edu.

UCONN CHORAL CONCERT
University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, will host a choral concert at 3 p.m. General admission $7, students with ID and children are free. Featuring concert choir and the newly formed Chamber Singers, a select, mixed choral chamber ensemble. Choirs will perform works by Mendelssohn, Bach, Herzogenberg and Lauridsen Michele Holt, director. Contact: (860) 486-2969 or sfa.uconn.edu.

CHILDREN OF THE CIVIL WAR
The Windham Textile and History Museum, 411 Main St., Willimantic, will host a program by local historian Meg Gallente-DeAngelis entitled, “Children of the Civil War” at 4 p.m. Cost is $10/ person. Info: (860) 456-2178 or www.millmuseum.org.

OPEN AUDITIONS — ‘THE BOYS NEXT DOOR’

Windham Theatre Guild will host open auditions for ‘The Boys Next Door’ at the Burton Leavitt Theatre, 779 Main St., Willimantic, at 7:30 p.m. Needed are six to seven men, age 20s to 50s; two women age 30s to 40s. Info: Barry at Barry.schreier@uconn.edu.

UCONN SAXOPHONE QUARTET
University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, will host a saxophone quartet at 7:30 p.m. Free event. Greg Case, director. Contact: Call (860) 486-2969 or sfa.uconn.edu.

VENDORS WANTED — CHURCH FAIR
The First Congregational Church of Coventry, 1171 Main St., Coventry, is looking for crafters for their church fair, which will be held Nov. 18-19. Info: (860) 742-5689 or First.congregatnl@snet.net.

Posted 11-5-2011

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