Portland...  On the Move |
Issue 72 ~ News from your Town Hall ~ January 2000
There's  Always Something New at the Portland Library
Planning a Trip in 2000? Was one of your New Year’s resolutions that you would travel more in 2000? You might enjoy looking at these websites during your planning stage! So, send us a postcard! Bon Voyage from the staff of the Portland Library. Fodor’s Travel Online http://www.fodors.com The planning Center provides specific links to help plan your trip. A forum section gives advice and ideas from other travelers and the Resource Center provides smart tips and helpful hints. The farefinder section partners with Preview Travel to provide information on airfares. There is even a Create Your Own Miniguide section that helps the consumer come up with a trip itinerary. GORP (Great Outdoor Recreation Pages) http://www.gorpcom "Gorp.com is one of the best sites for everything outdoors, with guides to national and state parks, international wonders, and adventure travel. It’s also loaded with advice on activities like canoeing, skiing, and even hawk watching." Lonely Planet Online http://www.lonelyplanet.com "Lonely Planet Online remains a staple for the intrepid traveler." Not only does it give information, its Postcard section is written by travelers and there is a chat room too. Microsoft Expedia Travel Services http:///www.expedia.com "Expedia, which requires free registration for some features, shows how the web can be completely current. ‘Travel Agent’ provides information about flights, hotels, and rental cars. The site also offers discussion forums, news of special discounts, and useful information on weather and currency conversion." Rough Guides http://www.roughguides.com "The Rough Guide site covers 10,000 destinations from their 100-plus guidebooks. The site is low-frills, like the books, and geared toward the budget traveler." |
No phone registrations will be accepted February 17. Phone registrations begin Friday, February 18. Story Time is offered to two-, three-, and four-year-old children. The 8 week program begins the week of March 6. Two-year-olds and their parents have a choice of two groups: Monday evening at 6:30 or Tuesday morning at 10:30. Parents must accompany their children. Siblings may not attend. Three-year-olds may join either the Tuesday evening group at 6:30 or Wednesday morning group at 10:30. The program for four-year-olds is Thursday at 10:30 AM. Portland residents have preferred registration. Out-of-town families may begin to register Thursday, February 24.
The classes have now been to the library three times, and have learned about library manners and library skills, such as knowing the difference between fiction and non-fiction books. On their December visit, they heard an exciting story called Ice Horse, and talked about ice harvesting in the old days. Some of the children even knew what an ice box was! The visits will continue into 2000; their last trip will be in May, when we will have a special program for the children. The workshop will be held Tuesday afternoons, February 1 through March 7, from 3:45 to 5 PM. The February 22 date is optional due to winter break week. The students will have a variety of exercises and assignments including essays, letters, light poetry, and tongue twisters. All writing will be done in the class. No supplies are necessary. Space is limited. Students may register beginning Tuesday, January 18. Registration may be in person of by phone For more information, call the Portland Library at 342-6770. 
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Not just a new year! Not just a new century! But a whole new Millennium!!! I remember wondering about this event as a child: "I’ll be, what? Forty-eight years old! Will I really live that long? Wh ere will I being living? What will I be like?" Thinking of the future back then was almost scary. Almost, because nothing seemed at all predictable. I suspected, though, that the distant future would probably not be so dissimilar. People are people. We live one day at a time. Not much choice in that. Now the question is somewhat more immediate: what will it mean to suddenly wake up to a New Millennium? The world will be pretty much the same as before. No flying cars. No interstellar space travel. No miracle cure for cancer. No end of the world as we knew it. We still go to work five days a week, wondering if our HMO’s will help us when we need them. Saddam Hussein is still in power. Same loud-mouthed pundits savagely picking on their favorite politicians, and then wondering why so many young people are violent. Not much to celebrate, huh? The truth is, it’s up to us to make the New Millennium special. New Year is supposed to be a time for personal introspection, and the making of resolutions (we rarely keep). A New Century calls us to examine life on a broader scale, where we have been as a people, where we presently are, and where progress is taking us. The New Millennium should certainly include all of the above, but on a deeper level, and grander scale. Who are we? Is there any rhyme or reason that things are the way they are? What of evolution? How do we fit into the natural development of the planet? If Adam and Eve popped in for a visit, would they congratulate us for a job well done? Or start pointing fingers? (Of course we would defend ourselves by blaming them for the apple thing, anyway.) I view the New Millennium as a wake up call. Perhaps the last one we get, before it’s too late. I’m not predicting a cataclysm or planetary disaster. I’m talking about our moral awareness of the way we live. It might still be possible to turn things around. "It’s not so bad," you might say. You’re right. But that’s the problem! If things were really bad, if each of us were suffering, we would set about to change things. As it is, we enjoy comforts even our parents never imagined. We are so comfortable, we’ve become apathetic. All we care about is our own personal convenience. We teach our children to be just the same. (If you don’t think so, try using the Internet while they’re around.) | The New Millennium asks us to grow beyond our addiction to convenience. It tells us to be more thoughtful in our care for human beings. It is a terrible mistake to focus our concentration on technology at the expense of human nature. The funny thing about evolution is something called adaptation. We evolve according to our environment. Let’s consider for a moment the environment we are creating: More and more we sit before electrical view screens, whether it’s television or computer. We sit and stare. Video games thrill us with unreality. Newscasters show us how to be rude. Sitcoms portray how to act artificially. What of relationships? The high divorce rate? The latest phenomenon of mass shootings by children? Pollution has not ended with government regulations. The natural environment is still being devastated by human greed. Population growth continues unabated, and further strains our natural resources. We still have wars in various parts of the world. Attempted genocides. Stock-piling of chemical and biological weapons. Politics? After the last few years, I feel no reason to point out the short comings of national politics. Describing it as a circus would be an insult to clowns and the dog-faced boy. How could so much good coincide with so much bad? Is this the environment we want humanity to adapt to? Our legacy to the future? So we ask ourselves: what can the New Millennium really do for us today? After all the fuss and parties are over, if it makes us think beyond the next sitcom or computer game, then it has done its job admirably well. Perhaps humility is the answer. If we could only realize that we don’t have all the answers, that our greed centered philosophy might not be the best we should hope for. A better world is really there for the taking, if only we try. If we could view ourselves from a higher perspective, we would learn that humility really is the most appropriate response for all our achievements. There is more to life than circuits, transformers and the latest software. The New Millennium can be an opportunity for renewal, if we choose to make it one. If we don’t, our next opportunity will be a thousand years from now. A long time to wait. That being said, I wish you all a significant and Happy New Year!  |
Youth Services
By Bill Forman
Special thanks to the PYS staff & volunteers who helped PYS through another successful year. They are: Mary Pont, Sarah Richards, Ellen, Jim, & Melissa Williams, Jan Janowski, Virginia Willmore, Anna, Erica & Mitchell Foreman, Christopher Napolitano, Bernie Heizman, Nicole Brown, Nancy Dube, Kate Castelli, Jill & David Koeller, Mike Revicki, Tracy Wooley, Gordon Barker, and the entire 60 member Teenage Youth Commission, under the direction of two Portland High School seniors, Lauren Jeffers and Stephanie Heizman. Also, special thanks to our volunteer Advisory Board Membership that is directed by State of Connecticut grant to PYS: Anna Foreman, Joe Piatti, Cynthia Cordova, Cherie Chapman, Bonnie DeCarli, Sylvia Turner, Carol Gilbert, Lorraine Noone, Carolyn Boutin, Richard Murphy, Bernie Heizman, Joslyn Wakefield, Virginia Willmore, Jan Jankowski, Ellen Williams, Tracy Wooley, Lauren Jeffers, Stephanie Heizman, Nicole Houlihan, Don Snyder, Josh Wells, Alicia Hunter, Joselyn Wakefield, and Lillie Mae Fitzpatrick. From all of us to all of you, please have a safe and happy New Year. We look forward to serving the Town of Portland during the year 2000, under the political leadership of Ed Kalinowski and the Board of Selectman (all of whom provided extra town funds for PYS). PYS January 2000 Programs, Activities & Meetings Time for Tots (Mondays/9:30 - 11:30 AM. Program for parents & Pre-Schoolers) with Mary Pont & Sarah Richards. Playground Plus Before/After School Program (K-Middle School students, Monday - Friday. 7:30 AM to 6 PM), with Erica Foreman, Jan Jankowski, Nancy Dube, Sylvia Turner, Anna & Bill Foreman.. Teenage Youth Commission Meetings (for high school age teens, announced Mondays 6:30 to 7:30 PM) TYC sponsors dances for 6th to 8th graders (date to be announced) with Lauren Jeffers, Stephanie Heizman, Jan Jankowski and Anna & Bill Foreman. Chatham Court Activities Day (Tuesdays/3:00 PM - 5:00 PM) with Mary Pont & Sandy Darna. Chatham Court Thursday Bingo & Social Night (including occasional trips, 6 PM) with Bill Foreman & Brianna DeKorte. |
Girls’ Teen Group (joint PYS/Mdsx. Hosp. Mondays, 4:00 - 5:30PM) with Cynthia Cordova, Coordinator (Family Advocacy/Middlesex Hospital). After School Job Bank with Bill Foreman. Advisory Board Meeting (January 31st, from 7PM to 8PM) with Anna Foreman, Chairperson. Crisis Intervention/Prevention: Counseling & Resource Center (late afternoons & evenings on Mon., Tues. & Thurs./appointment only) w/Laurie Rhines & Chris Napolitano.Juvenile Diversion Board (for confidential hearings for Police & Juvenile Court referrals), with Robin Smith, Richard Murphy, Joe Piatti, Bonnie DeCarli, Lorraine Noone, and Anna & Bill Foreman. Joint PYS/School Programs (to be announced), with John Sieller, Carol Gilbert, Mary Pont, Ann Marie Candela & Bill Foreman. Out-of-School Suspension Plan (for youngsters referred by schools and/or parents) with tutor or school representative, & Bill Foreman. Home visitations with Anna & Bill Foreman, Jan Jankowski & representative from CASSP. Provisions for Community Service Work Hours for Youth (as ordered by court or JDB) with Bill Foreman. For more information, call: 342-6758.
The 1st Selectman's Office, along with the Planning Department, Building Department, Environmental Health Department, Finance Office and Public Works will stay open on Tuesday evenings until 7 PM. They will close on Fridays at noon. Other offices at the Town Hall will remain open at their usual time.
A Nursery Rhyme Explained Pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes, We all fall down! This popular nursery rhyme sounds pretty though its origins are anything but. It dates back to the 14th century when the Bubonic Plague swept through Europe, killing millions. "Ring around the roses" referred to the first sign of the disease, round red rashes around the neck and body called roseola. As the disease progressed, a strong bodily stench emerged, which people tried to combat by filling their pockets with flower petals, thus the "pocket ful of posies." "Ashes to ashes" signified the burning of the corpses. And the last line signifies falling down to die. |
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Parks & Recreation 
by Sandy Darna Happy Notes Registration is being accepted for a new 5-week session of Happy Notes. The 5-week program will begin on Wednesday, January 12th, 11:15 a.m. - noon at the Portland Library. This program is for toddlers – 5 yr. old. The program gives the children and parents an opportunity to sing, dance and move. The cost of the program is $30. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Happy Hands A 4-week session of Happy Hands will begin on January 14th – 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. at the Portland Library. Happy Hands is designed to let children 2 – 5 years old create and play through painting and drawing. Children will have an opportunity to use different art mediums to create special projects. Each session is different with new and creative classes planned. The program is a 4-week program. The cost of the program is $25. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Kreative Kids (new day) Kreative Kids is an 8-week after school program for ages 7 – 12. The program is designed to give individuals an opportunity to use different art mediums and create special projects. You don’t need any art experience to join. Some of the classes will include things like drawing, painting, watercolor, acrylics and sculpting. Classes will meet from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. beginning on Saturday, January 15th at the Parks and Recreation Office. There will be no classes during school vacations. Cost of the class is $50, which includes all supplies. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Instructor is Mary Moise. Cartooning I & II for Kids (New Day) Classes begin in January. Do you love to draw cartoons this class for you? Registration continues for a new 6-week session of Cartooning, with Cartoonist "Wild" Bill Taylor. Cartooning I will cover basic cartooning as well as faces, action in stick figures and figures, perspective, animals, objects and backgrounds. Cartooning II will be a continuation of cartooning I and cover more advanced techniques. The 6-week class will meet on Monday’s from 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. at the Portland Library. Dates will be announced as soon as the class is full. The cost will be $60. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own pads. Hablo Espanol! This Spanish foreign language program is for children K – 5th grade. This 8-week program is an introductory program for children to get a head start on his/her second language. Inlingua School of Language will provide qualified teaching staff and have your child speaking Spanish by the end of the first session. The program focuses on speaking and recognition through song, movement, music, visual aids and games. The class will begin on Wednesday, January 5, 2000 at Valley View School. The schedule for this program will be Wednesday’s – K-2 - 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., 3rd – 5th 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. and K-2 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. The cost of the 8-week program is $40, which includes materials. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Inlingua School of Languages is a full service language and intercultural center from West Hartford. Je Parle Francais! This French foreign language program is for children K – 5th grade. This 8-week program is an introductory program for children to get a head start on his/her second language. Inlingua School of Language will provide qualified teaching staff and have your child speaking Spanish by the end of the first session. The program focuses on speaking and recognition through song, movement, music, visual aids and games. The class will begin on Wednesday, January 5, 2000 at Valley View School. The schedule for this program will be Wednesday’s – K-2 - 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., 3rd – 5th 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. and K-2 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. The cost of the 8-week program is $40, which includes materials. New ! Kindermusik Kindermusik, a renowned international music program incorporating the latest findings in childhood development will make is debut offering in Portland through the Parks and Recreation Department this winter. Barbara Arafeh, B.M.U.S., M.A., Licensed Kindermusik educator with over 20 years of experience will teach on Tuesday nights to accommodate the needs of working parents. Our Time, a program for 11/2 – 3 yrs. will meet from 4:15 – 5:00 p.m., Growing for 3 – 5 years will meet from 6:20 – 7:05 p.m. and Young Child for children 5 – 7 yrs. old will meet from 5:10 – 6:10 p.m. The program will be held at the Parks and Recreation Office at 265 Main Street. The maximum enrollment is 10 – 12 children depending on the class. Classes will begin on January 4th – May 2,2000. Resident’s millennium buster price is $110 per semester for each program (a semester is 16 weeks). Non-residents: Our Time - $154, Growing - $163 and Young Child $179. Prices include home materials. Parks and Recreation now has "Performing Arts Programs" Creative Expressions Performing Arts Programs will provide this 7-week program is a workshop for children Kindergarten - 1st Grade. The workshop will focus on developing each child's creativity and self-assurance while building strong skills in-group interaction. Activities will include imaginative play, win-win games, theater games creative movement and pantomime. Its purpose is to provide fun learning experiences. The Performing Arts Program Staff will staff this program. There is still space available in the 4 - 4:45 p.m.session. The program will meet at the Parks and Recreation Office. The cost is $70. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Acting Workshops (Grades 2 – 8) Space is still available for the Performing Arts Programs 7-week program for grades 2nd - 8th. The workshop will focus on theater skills, concentration exercises, improvisational games, sense memory basic mime, basic speech and much more. Its purpose is to provide fun learning experiences. Performing Arts professional staff is dedicated to creating a very comfortable, fun and safe environment to cultivate and affirm each individual's unique creativity. The Performing Arts Program Staff will staff this program. Dates will be announced when registration is full. Times will be as follows: Grades 2 – 3; 5 - 6:00 p.m., Grades 4 – 6; 6:15 - 7:15, Grades 6 – 8; 7:30 - 8:30. The cost is $70. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Little Scientist (ages 3 - 5) This 8-week program is for children 3 - 5 year olds. Children have a hands on approach to science. It's fun as well as educational. New topics will be taught during this session. Little Scientist will provide an instructor. This session will begin on Thursday, January 13th – March 9th from 4 - 4:45 p.m. The program will be held at the Parks and Recreation Office at 265 Main St.. The cost of the program is $84. There is a maximum 8 students. |
Little Scientist (ages 6 - 9) This 8-week program is for children 6 - 9 year olds. Children have a hands on approach to science. It's fun as well as educational. New topics will be taught during this session. Little Scientist will provide an instructor. This session will begin on Thursday, January 13th - March 9th from 5 - 5:45 p.m. The program will be held at the Parks and Recreation Office at 265 Main St.. The cost of the program is $84. There is a maximum 12 students. Kick-boxing. Back by popular demand. Kickboxing is one of the newest forms of fitness. The class consists of 45 minutes of cardio-kickboxing moves utilizing the upper and lower body and 15 minutes of ab work. This is also a great self-defense class. Participants should bring a mat for floor work. A certified instructor will teach class. The 8-week session will begin on Wednesday, January 12th, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Classes will be held at Gildersleeve School all-purpose room. Class space is limited and advanced registration is required. The cost is $20 Portland Residents and $25 Non-residents. Body Sculpting This 8-week program is for children 3 - 5 year olds. Children have a hands on approach to science. It's fun as well as educational. New topics will be taught during this session. Little Scientist will provide an instructor. This session will begin on Thursday, January 13th – March 9th from 4 - 4:45 p.m. The program will be held at the Parks and Recreation Office at 265 Main St.. The cost of the program is $84. There is a maximum 8 students. Little Scientist (ages 6 - 9) This 8-week program is for children 6 - 9 year olds. Children have a hands on approach to science. It's fun as well as educational. New topics will be taught during this session. Little Scientist will provide an instructor. This session will begin on Thursday, January 13th - March 9th from 5 - 5:45 p.m. The program will be held at the Parks and Recreation Office at 265 Main St.. The cost of the program is $84. There is a maximum 12 students. Kick-boxing. Back by popular demand. Kickboxing is one of the newest forms of fitness. The class consists of 45 minutes of cardio-kickboxing moves utilizing the upper and lower body and 15 minutes of ab work. This is also a great self-defense class. Participants should bring a mat for floor work. A certified instructor will teach class. The 8-week session will begin on Wednesday, January 12th, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Classes will be held at Gildersleeve School all-purpose room. Class space is limited and advanced registration is required. The cost is $20 Portland Residents and $25 Non-residents. Body Sculpting Body Sculpting is a new fitness program being offered this fall. Participants will work on toning. The 1 hour class is designed to concentrate on all of the major muscles groups; arms, abdominal and legs. Participants should bring a mat for floor work and 2 - 5 lb. weights for upper bodywork. A certified instructor will teach class. The 8-week session will begin on Monday, January 10th, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Classes will be held at Gildersleeve School all-purpose room. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. The cost is $20 Portland Residents and $25 Non-residents. Aerobics Winter session. This 1-hour class consists of warm up stretching, low impact aerobics and cool down exercises. Participants should bring a mat for floor work and wear comfortable clothing. The instructor will be Ronna Kuzminski. The 8-week session will meet on Tues, Wed and Thurs. beginning January 11th - March 9th, 7 - 8 p.m. There will be no classes during school vacations. The class will be held at Valley View School in the all-purpose room. Registration will be taken during the 1st week of class. The cost of the program is $15 for Portland residents and $20 for non-residents. Parks and Recreation Trips – Dates Only! Additional Information will be available soon. Cost will be publicized soon.
To register or inquire about any of the programs listed please contact Sandy Darna at the Portland Parks and Recreation Department at 342-6757.
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you diet." Lewis Henry "Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. Albert Schweitzr "You grow up the day you have the first real laugh – at yourself." Ethel Barrymore "Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin "When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you." African proverbn |
Words of Wisdom|
National Soup Month! On chilly winter days, enjoy a delicious, nutritious – and warming – bowl of potato soup made from this simple recipe: 6 medium-sized red potatoes 1 quart of milk 1 small onion, grated 1 tablespoon of kosher or sea salt 2 tablespoons of butter Peel and dice four of the potatoes; place them in a large stock pot and add enough water to barely cover them. Add salt and cook on high heat. When the spuds are soft, mash them down or put them through a blender; do not drain off the water. Add milk, onion and butter and simmer till hot (do not boil). Leave the skin on the remaining two potatoes, dice them, and transfer them to a small pot. Add enough water to barely cover them and cook until soft. Add to the soup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Charlie |
Education Giving Week: A Holiday Tradition Sharing is what Giving Week at Gildersleeve is all about! And when four hundred students respond to a request to help others, it is amazing to see how much can be collected! This year, our Giving Week ran from December 13 to 17, with a variety of activities and collections taking place. A Pitching Penney Wishing Well, locted in our foyer, was visited every day by dozens of students, and resulted in hundreds of dollars collected to help the Portland VNA purchase toys and gifts for families in need. Thousands of coupons were collected and given to the Red Cross for distribution to local convalescent home residents. A Canned Food Drive will help fill the shelves of the Portland Food Bank, and thanks to our students Holiday Card Making in our Art classes, hundreds of nursing home and hospital residents will have their holiday brightened. Our Dollar Donation Day led to hundreds of dollars which can be used to buy clothes and gifts for some of our own students. Our final gift of giving was simple and "free." We asked our staff to search out and read stories to all of our classes throughout the week – stories with themes about the power of unselfish acts and how they can change the world for the better. This sharing continues to be the best gift we can give each other every year. |
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