This Week's Birthdays (3/10-3/16)

Birthday wishes this week go out to: Paige Maher, Brian Fritz (3/10); Elizabeth Fournier (3/11); J.T. Smith (3/12); Michael McBride (3/13); Anna Truckenbrodt, Betty Clegg (3/14); Laura Baker and Will Doyle (3/16).

Happy Birthday!!!

Project Grad's Surf & Turf Dinner

You are invited to attend Project Grad's Surf & Turf dinner fundraiser. March 27th @ 6pm @ Hale Ray High School. Enjoy prime rib, baked stuffed shrimp, seasoned green beans, salad, roll and dessert choice. There will also be live musical entertainment and a silent auction, all to benefit Project Graduation 2010. Please visit nhrhsprojectgrad.com for more information, or email projectgrad@mail.com. Tickets are just $25.00 and must be reserved by March 10th.

Hmmmm?????

Is anyone wondering why there hasn't been much on this blog lately? Well, probably not, but it's because no one sends me anything. This blog was created as an opportunity for people to free and easily share information with others that they might not find elsewhere; one place to look for things going on in town. I've reached out to coaches, musicians, businesses, but still nothing. Except, thankfully, for one coach, his team (and parents) and a few others who understand what this is about. I understand it hasn't been that long and there aren't "EAST HADDAM CHATTER" signs everywhere, but the ratio of aware and active is way worse than I thought it could be. Wondering what to do and am open to suggestions.

5th/6th Girls' Travel Wins Season Finale

The East Haddam travel girls basketball team won its final game of the regular season by the score of 28 - 13 against Mansfield this past weekend. Caralyn Cianciolo scored 9 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the way for E.H. Rachael Finch added 6 points & 7 rebounds respectfully. East Haddam played aggressive defense all game led by Armanhi Dixon who was all over the floor. Ryan Isenberg played well off the bench with some pesky defense of her own. The team will now prepare for there season ending March Madness tournament at Marlborough.

Submitted by coach

Earth Charter Community Event-James Howard Kunstler at Gelston House

The Earth Charter Community of the Lower Valley's annual summit event is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 4 to 8 PM at the Gelston House in East Haddam. This is a gala affair featuring a keynote address by James Howard Kunstler, delicious appetizers, a cash bar and a panel discussion about the Transition Town Initiative. It is a must-see event!

Tickets are only $25. We are encouraging everyone to buy two tickets to minimize our financial exposure on this project. Go to http://www.earthcharterct.org/ to buy tickets..and THANK YOU for your support!

James Howard Kunstler is the author of a number of books, including The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape; The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil; and World Made by Hand, a novel of America's post-oil future. He has appeared on The Colbert Report, and is a regular contributor to the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page, where he has written on environmental and economic issues.

He has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, RPI, the University of Virginia and many other colleges, and he has appeared before many professional organizations such as the AIA, the APA, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mr. Kunstler was born in New York City in 1948, where he spent most of his childhood. He graduated from the State University of New York, worked as a reporter and feature writer for a number of newspapers, and as a staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine. He lives in Saratoga Springs in upstate New York.


Doors open at 3:30 PM for complementary snacks. We'll feature the keynote address from 4 to 5:30, then hors d'oeuvres and a live panel discussion focusing on community level responses for creating a sustainable future.

Epoch Arts Acoustic Showcase

This Friday the Epoch Arts Center in East Hampton is having an Acoustic Showcase which will feature some local musical talent. The Arts Center is located at 27 Skinner St. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

If you are a fan of great music, you won't want to miss this show!

Ben will doing an awesome set list of originals and covers designed to satisfy and (hopefully) enlighten, and will be joined by the grooving conga of Garrett and the lush backing vocals of Ashlee.

Also playing is the amazingly talented duo comprised of Evan's passionate vocals and the the guitar mastery of Jacob.

This is going to be a very, very special show and if you don't go, you might wish you did!!!!!

This Week's Birthdays (2/17-2/23)

Birthday wishes this week go out to: Michael Camp (2/17); Nicole Schiavone, Jess Morris, Shauna Walton (2/18); Amanda Hall, Nadine Lisowicz (2/20); Karan Morin Conover (2/21); Michelle Cote (2/22) and Amelia Young (2/23).

Happy Birthday Everyone!!!!!

Internet Safety Training Class

The East Haddam Police/Resident Troopers in conjunction with East Haddam Youth and Family Services and the Local Prevention Council are hosting an Internet Safety Training Class on March 2, 2010 at 7 PM at the East Haddam High School. The training is being presented by Sgt. Smith of the CT State Police Computer Group and is an excellent opportunity to learn how to protect yourself and your children while using the Internet. The class will cover social websites such as Facebook and MySpace, cyber -bulling, sexting and online predators. This training is for people of all ages. Anyone that uses a computer on the Internet will benefit from this training. Non-East Haddam Residents are welcome. Questions can be directed to Toni Mccabe, Director of East Haddam Youth at Family Services at 860-873-3296 or toni.mccabe@prodigy.net.

First Church Of Christ: Butter Braid Sale

The First Church of Christ, Congregational in East Haddam is having their annual Butter Braid Fund-Raiser.

Butter Braids are light and flaky pastries with over 20 layers of pastry dough. They are easy to prepare and enjoy when you are ready for them.

They are selling Bavarian Creme with Chocolate icing, Apple, Blueberry Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Raspberry and Cream Cheese Butter Braids. Also for sale are the Classic Break cookie dough, which are frozen pre-portioned cookie dough that you simply break and bake for a delicious warm snack. Those flavors are Chocolate Chip, Macadamia Nut, Sugar, Oatmeal Raisin and Double Chocolate.

The sale is going on NOW until Sunday, February 28th. All orders will be in in time for Easter. They are a delicious addition to your Easter breakfast or they make a GREAT gift. Each item is $11.00. These are not for sale in ANY store. These can ONLY be bought during a fundraiser. So call and order yours now. All money raised for First Church will help to make the mortgage payment. Thank-you for your generous support! Just in time for Easter. Call 860-873-9084 extension 33.

Middle School Girls: Regular Season Ends On High Note

The Hale-Ray Middle School girls basketball team ended its season Tuesday with a victory over Old Saybrook 42-36. Stephanie Leonardo had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Little Noises. Emily Traceski added 8 points and 5 assists. Jess Dombroski pulled down 10 rebounds, while Jen Staples provided positive minutes. Hale-Ray ended its regular season with a record of 11 wins and 4 loses. The team will now get ready to play in a post season March Madness tournament hosted by Marlborough.

submitted by coach

Weekend Entertainment!

This weekend La Vita Gustosa features rock music from Smoke Bubbles on Friday night(2/12) and Christopher John on Saturday night (2/13). Sunday, Valentine's Day, The Gelston House is offering a special menu; call 860-873-1411 for details.

If you are headed out of town local band, The Basically Blues Band, will once again be featured at The New Orleans Restaurant on Rte. 1 in Westbrook. Join them for great food and great music!

Birthdays of the Week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

Jean Trotochaud (2/10), Josh Gamberale (2/10), Laura Carev (2/10), Ethan Owens (2/10), Diana Jacome Dutch (2/12), Frank Polivka (2/12), Scott Latronica (2/15), and Limmy Lecrenier (2/16)

Have a great week !!!!

Big Win For 5th/6th Travel Girls

The East Haddam 5th and 6th grade girls travel basketball team defeated Plainville this past weekend by a score of 22-15. After a slow start the girls picked up the defensive pressure led by Cailey Botteon, Rachel Finch, and Nicole Dombroski. Tess Bushmann dropped in 10 points with some nice outside shooting, while Nicole Dombroski added 7 points of her own.

submitted by coach

Machimoodus: "Place Of The Bad Noise"

Most people from town know that the name Moodus originated from the Indian word for the area, Machimoodus, because of the underground rumblings and earth tremors. It is also known that the local school's nickname the "Little Noises" is a translation of the same word. A lesser known fact, however, is that the local Indian tribes believed that these rumblings in the earth were the "voice" of the evil god Hobomoko, and the literal translation of machimoodus is "place of the bad noise". The Connecticut Indians depended on the local tribe to interpret the voices, and the local medicine-men would engage in pow-wows and calm the angry god with combinations of sacrifice and prayer.

Middle School Girls Back On Track

The Hale-Ray Middle School girls' hoops team bounced back from it's loss on Friday with a 34 - 26 win at Portland on Saturday night. Faith Cooley and Amanda Maurer played lock down defense against Portland's number one scorer, holding her to just 4 points. Emily Traceski scored 9 points while Stephanie Leonardo grabbed 15 rebounds for H.R. Annabelle Bass hit her first 3 pointer of the year to end a 6 point Portland run. Megan Morris sealed the game by hitting 4 free throws in the final minute of the game. Hale-Ray next plays Tuesday at Old Saybrook at 3:45 p.m.

submitted by coach

Middle School Girl's Winning Streak Comes To End

The Hale-Ray Middle School girls basketball team's five game winning stretch came to an end Friday. The Haddam-Killingworth Cougars defeated the Little Noises by a score of 58-38. Stephanie Leonardo had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. The team looked to bounce back right away on Saturday against Portland, another tough challenge for Hale-Ray.


Submitted by coach

East Haddam Chatter: The Beginning-Again

This post is a reprint of the first East Haddam Chatter Blog posted originally on Jan. 17th. It explains a little about how this blog works for those that missed it the first time.

Hi there and welcome to East Haddam Chatter, a blog created for residents and past residents to keep up with the happenings in the town they're from. Here's how it works. You have something to say about East Haddam, you send us an email about what you would like to post, we post it and make it available for others to view and comment on. That's it. You don't need a membership and you can be anonymous if you like. It's easy and the posts are available for everyone to see. Announcements such as anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, or retirements; events such as team tryouts or charity fund raisers, promotions for your business, political views, complaints, awards, whatever you want. We will even post your pictures and videos. You can see where local bands are playing or the latest Hale Ray sports scores; the date of a new business' grand opening or what time the spaghetti supper starts. Find out what the people you see everyday have to say about anything about East Haddam. Email your chatter to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com and come back on often to stay up on the latest.

Hale-Ray Middle School Girls Continue Their Winning Ways.

The Middle School girls basketball team played its final home game of the season Tuesday vs. the Wildcats from Lyme/Old Lyme. The Little Noises got off to a quick start and never looked back with a 42-20 victory. Hale-Ray played solid defense led by Faith Cooley, Emily Traceski, and Stephanie Leonardo. Jess Dombroski led all scorers with 15, while Amanda Maurer stepped it up on both ends of the floor with 7 rebounds to go along with 4 assists. Before the game Coach Riccio recognized all of the 8th graders at center court. They are: Faith Cooley, Amanda Maurer, Stephanie Leonardo, Melody Dirgo, Jess Dombroski, Annabelle Bass, Kathryn Kay, Shaina Albuqerque, Jen Staples, and team Manager Sylena Kraczkowsky. The girls next play at H.K. on Friday at 3:45p.m. and at Portland on Saturday @ 7.00pm.

Submitted by coach

Weekend Entertainment

This Friday night (2/12) La Vita Gustosa on Main St. will feature rock music by the Jim Shepley Band beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday (2/6) rock musician Tim Brennan will be at La Vita at 9 p.m. Also on Saturday 2 Doors Down in the Moodus center will have acoustic rock n' roll with "Paul". Super Bowl Sunday (2/7) 2 Doors Down will be hosting a Super Bowl Party with food and drink specials, a free halftime buffet, giveaways, and box pools. Also Sunday, the Moodus Sportsman Club will be having its annual Ice Fishing Derby, call 860-873-3381 for more info. on this event.

East Haddam Birthdays

Celebrating birthdays this week are Rebecca Lyons (2/3), Christine Swartz (2/6), Frank DeNino (2/6), and Denise Blanchard Dill (2/8). HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

The Long Emergency/J. H. Kunstler at Gelston House

The Long Emergency and What it Means for Your Community. Join James Howard Kunstler at a lively event on Saturday, March 6, 2010, from 4-8 PM at the Gelston House at 8 Main Street in East Haddam. Mr. Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency - Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century will discuss the implications of peak oil and the suburban predicament. He urges the reframing of expectations and the reorganization of our economic activities in the face of unfolding environmental and social calamities. The Long Emergency tells us what to expect after we pass the tipping point of global peak oil production and the end of the honeymoon of affordable energy, preparing us for economic, political, and social changes of an unimaginable scale... The book asks the important question, "what will happen when our current plagues of global warming, epidemic disease, and overpopulation collide to exacerbate the end of the oil age?" The event is sponsored by the Earth Charter Community of the Lower Valley (ECCoLoV). After the lecture there will be free hors d'oeurves and a cash bar, followed by a panel discussion about steps local governments and individuals can take to prepare for the future. Admission is $20 if tickets are purchased by February 14, or $25 at the door.

Tickets are available online at www.earthcharterct.org or mail a check payable to "ECCoLoV" to ECCoLoV, PO Box 32, Moodus, CT. 06469, include your phone# or email address for confirmation. Please call 860-873-8989 for more information.

Village Spa February Special

The Village Spa special for the month of February is a manicure and mini-facial for only $50. The spa is located at 25 Falls Rd. in Moodus. Call (860) 873-8156 or click on the link below for more details.

http://www.villagespact.vpweb.com/

Consumer Business Tip

The other day I went into a local food establishment to get lunch for myself and a co-worker. I ordered a cup of soup for myself and my co-worker wanted a soup and sandwich. I picked up the order and paid for it, then I asked for some spoons and crackers. The person behind the counter smiled and said "sorry, we're out of crackers". I just left, my lunch ruined. I know there is a cracker shortage right now, but I will still probably go elsewhere for my soup for a while, because I NEED crackers with my soup. So my consumer business tip is: If you serve soup, serve crackers, and if you run out, get some more.

Submitted by anonymous.

East Haddam Chatter Note- There is no cracker shortage that we are aware of.

East Haddam Tag Sale

There will be an indoor tag sale on Shore Rd.(off of Launching Area Rd.) this Saturday and Sunday (1/30 & 1/31) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Girls 5th/6th Travel Hoops Suffers Loss

The East Haddam girls 5th and 6th grade travel basketball team was defeated by Hebron this past weekend 36-17. Rachael Finch scored 8 points and Caralyn Cianciolo added 6 more in the loss. Tess Bushmann played well on the defensive end of the floor. East Haddam plays at Colchester this Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Submitted by coach

Middle School Girls Win 4th in a Row

The Hale Ray Middle School girls basketball team won again Tuesday to improve its record to 8-3 on the season. The Little Noises defeated North Branford at home 61 - 45. Stephanie Leonardo led all scorers with 18 points, while Jess Dombroski had a double, double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Megan Morris did a solid job at the point running the offense with her own double, double in points and assists with 10 each. The Little Noises play undefeated Elliot in Clinton on Thursday at 3:45.

Hale-Ray Middle School: Girls Hoops

The Hale-Ray Middle School girls basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with a 48 - 38 win over the Chargers of John Winthrop last Friday. Stephanie Leonardo, Emily Traceski and Jess Dombroski all scored in double figures for the Little Noises. Amanda Maurer provided a big spark in the absence of tri-captain Kathryn Kay who was out with an injury.



Submitted by Coach



Coaches, post your teams scores and summaries on East Haddam Chatter by sending an email to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com

Travel Hoops: 5th/6th Grade Girls

The East Haddam 5th & 6th grade girls travel basketball team defeated Marlborough in a low scoring contest, 13 - 12, at home on Jan 23rd. Caralyn Cianciolo led the way for E.H. with 7 points. Cailey Bottion and Nicole Dombroski played solid defense, while Armanhi Dixon led the team with double digit rebounds.

Submitted by Coach

If you would like to have your teams info.(scores, schedules, rosters, photos, etc.) posted on East Haddam Chatter send an email to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com

Congratulations Dan Maus!!!

East Haddam Chatter would like to congratulate Dan Maus, who was recently nominated as Humanitarian of East Haddam by the Community Lions Club for 50 years of volunteer service. THANK YOU DAN!!!



Do you know someone from town who deserves recognition, congratulations or acknowledgement? Send an email to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com and post it on "East Haddam Chatter" for the town to see.

Local Bands: Basically Blues Band

East Haddam based blues band, "The Basically Blues", is now the house band at Creative Cooking- The New Orleans Restaurant on Rte. 1 in Westbrook. Come join them for a little country, a little rock and roll, and a whole lot of blues. The food is terrific so bring your appetite and your dancing shoes, and enjoy a great night out. The band also plays at other venues and is available for private events, so check out their website http://www.basicallyblues.com/ today!!!

If you would like to promote your band on "East Haddam Chatter". All you have to do is send an email to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com and I will post your bio, gigs, photos and video!

Project Grad Hosting Raffle

Project Grad is holding a $5 raffle to benefit Hale Ray's class of 2010 all-night graduation party. First prize is a trip to Block Island. The drawing will be held February 4th. Visit www.nhrhsprojectgrad.com for more information.

Townwide Business Night

The Grange Hall on Town St. will be hosting another Townwide Business Night on January 29th from 6:30 pm- 9:00 pm. Join local business owners for this special networking opportunity. There will be wine tasting, and coffee and deserts will be served. Bring business cards for an East Haddam business to business table. This event is sponsored by the East Haddam Economic Development Commission, East Haddam First Selectman- Mark Walter, Payson Internet Solutions, Essex Printing and Hayden Wine & Spirits. This is a great opportunity to get some sound business tips and give your feedback. Call 860-873-1153 for questions.

"Foolzz for Bloozz" Live at Gelston House

The Foolzz for Bloozz, featuring local musicians Johnny Vibrato and Marty Witkowski with Brad Parliman, will be making a special one night appearance at the Gelston House on Saturday January 23rd. Come join them for a night of food, fun, beverages, dancing, and some rockin' blues beginning at 8 p.m.

East Haddam Chatter: The Beginning

Hi there and welcome to East Haddam Chatter, a blog created for residents and past residents to keep up with the happenings in the town they're from. Here's how it works. You have something to say about East Haddam, you send us an email about what you would like to post, we post it and make it available for others to view and comment on. That's it. You don't need a membership and you can be anonymous if you like. It's easy and the posts are available for everyone to see. Announcements such as anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, or retirements; events such as team tryouts or charity fund raisers, promotions for your business, political views, complaints, awards, whatever you want. We will even post your pictures and videos. You can see where local bands are playing or the latest Hale Ray sports scores; the date of a new business' grand opening or what time the spaghetti supper starts . Find out what the people you see everyday have to say about anything about East Haddam. Email your chatter to smalltownchatter@yahoo.com and log on often to stay up on the latest.