From a press release provided by the Chester Public Library:
From our first emphatic “No!” as a toddler on through adulthood, our ability to assert the negative is closely linked to our sense of self and independence. Gain insight regarding how you relate to “No” yourself, to better support your child’s developing independence, or to more clearly understand your spouse’s, partner’s, or friend’s relationship with this negative assertion. Join us for a brief presentation and opportunity for conversation on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chester Library, 21 West Main Street in Chester.
About Seniel Lucien: Since receiving her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California, Dr. Lucien has pursued additional clinical and psychoanalytic training and has worked with children, adolescents, and adults. She has taught at the university level, as well. Dr. Lucien has offices in Chester and Glastonbury. For additional information visit her website www.SLucien.com.
Links:
Chester Public Library
Seniel Lucien
By: Charles Stannard
CHESTER–Voters will be asked to consider four funding appropriations at a March 16 town meeting, including the town’s contribution to a firehouse expansion project.
First Selectman Tom Marsh said the meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Chester Meeting House, would be asked to authorize an expenditure of $64,700 towards a planned expansion of the firehouse on High Street. Marsh said the Chester Hose Company is planning a one bay expansion of the firehouse that is expected to cost between $250,000 to $300,000.
Marsh said the hose company has received private donations to cover the remainder of the cost, including funds that were remaining in a bank account held by the former Chester Ambulance Association, which merged with the hose company several years ago. He said the volunteer firemen hope to complete the expansion project this year.
Voters will also be asked to authorize an expenditure of $70,050 for air handling system upgrades at Chester Elementary School, and $5,460 for removal of aquatic weeds in Cedar Lake. The weed removal at the lake is expected to be done in May.
Voters will also be asked to approve an expenditure of $150,000 to the town’s highway department for purchase of a new front-end loader. The new equipment would replace a 1993 model loader.
Marsh said funding for nearly all of the appriopriations is already included in the capital expenditure fund of the current town budget, except for $50,000 of the cost of the front-end loader. In a final resolution, voters will be asked to approve a transfer of $50,000 from the town’s undesignated fund balance to be directed toward the $150,00 expense for the loader.
By Charles Stannard
CHESTER— A 49-year-old local man has been arrested and charged with murder after a violent domestic incident Thursday night at a home on Bailey Road.
John Belanger is charged with killing his estranged wife, 51 year-old Bonnie McKay Belanger. State police said McKay-Belanger made a 911 call around 7:15 p.m. Thursday, telling dispatchers that her husband was breaking in to her house and that she a court protective order against him. The phone went dead. Troopers arriving minutes later at the home, located off Cedar Lake Road on the north side of Cedar Lake , found McKay-Belanger suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was later pronounced dead at Middlesex Hospital.
Police broadcast a description of Belanger’s vehicle. He was later stopped by police and arrested near Route 9 exit 2 in Old Saybrook. Police transported Belanger to the Shoreline Clinic in Essex. He was later taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries suffered in a suicide attempt.
Belanger remained at the hospital Friday under police guard and a $1 million bond. He is expected to be arraigned on the murder charge in Middlesex Superior Court next week.
Belanger had been arrested twice for domestic violence incidents involving McKay-Belanger in October and November, leading the court to issue a protective order. McKay-Belanger had filed for divorce late last year.
From a press release provided by Cary Hull:
Madam Butterfly by Carolina Marquez-Sterling will be included in the Chester artist’s exhibit at Chester Village opening March 12.
Carolina Marquez-Sterling’s work has been called “joyous,”, “vigorous,” and “provocative.” A humorous youthful boldness engulfs the viewer like a midday Caribbean sun. Her tropical scope transforms the world into a wondrous lush universe, populated by quirky characters.
Carolina finds her most passionate and powerful voice in color and Cubism, enabling her to express without convention. Her discerning use of distortion, hue and bold lines reflect her experiences while connecting to her viewers. Through her luminous, often humorous and playful paintings and assemblages, Carolina is able to define herself, hold onto her heritage and form a link to people. Her work and her ingenuity is the manifestation of two cultures colliding to create one language recognized universally.
Raised in New Hampshire, Carolina has strong New England roots while her heart and soul maintain a strong allegiance to her Cuban heritage. After receiving the proper credentials at Massachusetts School of Art in Boston, for graphic design, she went on to work for such notables as Condé Nast’s Vogue, H.P. Hood, and Lotus Development Corporation. Although successful as a graphic designer, on a more personal level she felt she was missing something by not following her heart. Her renunciation of the corporate world allowed her to burst into a newfound freedom of expression and experimentation in color, form and emotion. Drawing on her design savvy and vibrancy of color, her highly charged creations of custom assemblages are charming businesses and private collectors from North to South.
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Madam Butterfly by Carolina Marquez-Sterling will be included in the Chester artist’s exhibit at Chester Village opening March 12.
From a press release provided by Cary Hull:
Camp Hazen campers and instructors prepare for rowing classes in the 1920s. Not only did campers row on Cedar Lake but rowboats were available for rent at what is now the Town Beach. (Photo courtesy of Camp Hazen)
The Chester Historical Society will host a program, “Camp Days,” featuring those two camps — Camp Hazen and the former Burr Brook Day Camp — on Sunday, March 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Chester Meetinghouse. In addition to touching on the histories of each camp, Camp Hazen YMCA Executive Director Denise Learned and Burr Brook owners Howard and Barbara McKee will share their memories and experiences.
The program will revolve around the popular cracker barrel format that has been successful for so many Chester Historical Society programs. The Camp Days committee encourages community attendance and especially former campers and counselors to come and relive their camping experiences. Bring photos to share as well!
The program is open to the public at no charge. It will be fun for children as well as parents. Appropriately, camp fare refreshments (bug juice?) will be served at the conclusion of the program. For more information, see the Chester Historical Society’s website, www.ChesterHistoricalSociety.org.
Links:
Chester Historical Society
Chester First Selectman Tom Marsh is asking residents to participate in an online survey in preparation for upcoming budget deliberations for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The survey, which can be found at the link below, is anonymous. Only one submission per computer will be recorded.
Links:
Chester Budget Survey
From a press release provided by Cary Hull:
An ice carver participates in last year's Winter Carnivale in Chester. Photo by John Stack.
The annual ice carving competition will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the parking lot behind 4 Water Street with judging shortly after. Spectators may vote for their favorite sculpture to win the “People’s Choice Award.” The “Chilly Chili Cook Off” will be held at the Chester Hose Company Fire House, 6 High Street, from 11:00 am to 1:00 p.m.
All proceeds will be donated to the Chester Hose Company. Attendees can purchase tickets at the door for $5.00, which allows them to taste all the different chili recipes and vote for their favorite. And beginning at 2:00 p.m., festively decorated tractors will parade up and down Main Street in the annual Chester Tractor Parade. Iron Steed Awards will be awarded for the top three best decorated tractors.
All day, the stores, galleries, and restaurants through the center of Chester will have special sales and open house events. These will include free face painting, balloons and beads for children of all ages at Century 21 Heritage Company from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
sayWHAT?, the young classic rock and blues band with teenage locals Ian Meadows, Justus Doane, Dustin Meadows, and Ryan Newman, will perform from 12:30 to 1:30 at the Nilsson Studio & Gallery. Just coming off their second straight win at Valleypalooza’s Battle of the Bands, they are currently working on their album of original songs and have had a series of performances at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, SailFest, New London, B.O.M.B. Fest at Harkness, Chester’s EcoArts Festival, and The Webster Theatre, Hartford. They were recently selected to perform on CBS’s morning regional program, ‘Better Connecticut’ with Scott Haney.
The Hammered Edge Gallery – home of Carnivale masks and other masquerade wear – invites everyone to wear their Carnivale mask into the gallery to enter the drawing for a Fair Trade costume hat. The drawing will be at 3 p.m. and the winner must be present.
Food will be served up at galleries and restaurants, from a tasting of “Tutti Amici” olive oil at Ceramica to desserts at the Connecticut River Artisans and special food and drinks at Restaurant L&E and the French 75 Bar.
The galleries in town will be open for exhibit openings of original paintings, photographs of Chester artists as well as new work by New York artist Michelle DeMarco at eo art lab at 69 Main Street and photographs by Robert Wilkinson of Niantic at the Art Gallery at the Mill House at 5 West Main Street.
Free parking is available at the Maple Street and Water Street lots. For more information, check www.visit-chester.com or call Leif Nilsson at 860-526-2077.
Links:
Visit Chester
From a press release received from the Chester Library:
Come cozy in at the Chester Library for a mid winter’s eve tale, Wednesday, February 17, at 5:00 P.M.
Warm yourself as Revalyn weaves her storytelling magic around you. Experienced and well known for her fun and enchanting stories, Revalyn delights in sharing with children of all ages.
Be sure to bring your favorite slippers, blankie, Teddy, or friend to curl up with and be wrapped in the magic of a story.
There will be hot chocolate and special treats for all.
Register for this event by calling the library at 860 526-0018 or stopping in.
This video shot from a helicopter on Sunday for CTNewsJunkie.com, LocalOnlineNews.TV, and the Journal Inquirer shows the damaged Kleen Energy natural gas power plant in Middletown, Conn. after an explosion blew most of the sheet metal walls off one of the plant’s building. At least two people were killed and dozens more were injured in the blast that occurred with dozens of people inside or nearby the building.
CHESTER — Chester Sunday Market organizers will hold an open forum to discuss the upcoming summer season with Chester residents and town officials, on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Chester Meeting House.
The meeting is intended to provide residents, merchants and town officials with information on plans for the market, along with several slight changes in operation, and to solicit comments from townspeople.
During its first season last summer, the popular farmers’ market ran from June to October, on Sunday mornings and early afternoons, on Main Street. It drew a number of area farmers, food producers and musicians, along with hundreds of town residents and visitors, to the downtown area.
The Meeting House is at 4 Liberty Street in Chester. For more information, email chestersundaymarket@comcast.net.
