Alice Fitzpatrick, president, Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut

With its latest distribution of $238,000 in scholarships to area students, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut will surpass $2.5 million in scholarships awarded since it began 26 years ago. Alice Fitzpatrick, president, said that 163 students from all 11 towns in SE CT will enter or return to college this fall, thanks to the new round of scholarships.

For more information about the Community Foundation, please call 860.442.3572 or visit www.cfsect.org.

Bookmark to:

The Mystic Garden Club and Mystic River Historical Society’s House and Garden Tour included 13 properties such as this house built in 1852.

The Mystic Garden Club and the Mystic River Historical Society are pleased to announce that over 1,200 visitors attended their House and Garden Tour in June.  The Tour netted $25,000 which will be divided equally between the two organizations.

The Mystic Garden Club will use the funds to continue to purchase, plant and maintain the seasonal flower boxes  and other projects hat help make downtown Mystic more beautiful.

The Mystic River Historical Society will add the funds to their endowment which assists in maintaining Portersville Academy and the William A. Downes Archive Building, as well as, in purchasing archival supplies used for maintaining their collection of photographs, letters and other artifacts.

Over 100 volunteers helped plan the event and were educators of the 13 properties on the tour, sold tickets, drove jitneys, served refreshments and sold items at the Boutique.

Special thanks to the property owners and sponsors. Committee members include: Cam Bertsche, Gail Ettinger, Joyce Everett, Tim Evers, Sally Halsey, Dorrie Hanna, Cynthia Mason, Linda McArthur, Barbara Tacy and Barbara Washburn.

Bookmark to:

Susan Frechette, Deputy Commissioner Department of Environmental Protection

During the late summer, it is easy to forget there are many opportunities to enjoy CT’s wonderful outdoors.  Summer camps end,  and as the first day of school approaches many families are busy shopping for new school clothes and accessories.  For some, it’s one of the last chance to steal away on vacation before fall arrives.  The sun sets earlier, and the temperature can be hot and humid during the day,  yet chilly at night.
In spite of  busy schedules, the waning days of summer can be one of the best times to visit a CT state park with your family. There are plenty of opportunities for kids of all ages to enjoy the last warm days relaxing or have a memorable adventure at one of the many state parks near you.

On Thursday, August 27 from 10 am to 2 pm, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research vessel, “Bold” will be docking at Fort Trumbull State Park, New London.  The “Bold” is a converted U.S. Navy 224-foot surveillance ship that is designed to help the EPA monitor and assess the health of our coastal and ocean waters.  Visitors will have the chance to explore this fascinating vessel and learn more about how the research activities help protect CT’s renowned Long Island Sound.

If you can’t make it to the “Bold,” there are a number of other chances to experience CT’s outdoors this summer:

• Fort Trumbull will host the US Coast Guard Band on September 6. Tours of the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle begin at 1:00 pm and the concert begins at 3:00 pm admission free.

• Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, will host Family Day on September 13 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, a day of fun activities.

• Haddam Meadows State Park, Haddam, hosts an Antique Tractor and Engine Show on September 19 and 20.

• Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, offers many interesting and educational programs about dinosaurs and the world they lived in.

Visit our website www.nochildleftinside.org to learn about these and other late summer and fall programs.

CT is home to 139 state parks and forests; chances are that one is located 15 minutes from where you live. These parks offer a number of attractions, from swimming and boating, to camping, biking and hiking. All showcase different aspects of CT’s splendid landscape.  Some prominent parks in southeastern CT include scenic Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold, historic Nehantic State Forest, Lyme, and mountainous Pachaug State Forest, which spans the towns of Voluntown, North Stonington, Griswold, and Sterling. At Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, visitors can explore the actor William H. Gillette’s former residence, a fantastic creation of local stone overlooking the CT River.

As this summer winds down, set aside a little time to explore our great state’s magnificent outdoors.  CT state parks are full of wonderful natural resources, historic sites, and cultural attractions. Spend a memorable day with your family in one of them before the summer passes us by.

Sincerely,
Susan Frechette
Deputy Commissioner
Management of Parks and Natural Resources
Department of Environmental Protection

Bookmark to:

(l-r) Beryl Fishbone, Volunteer Program Manager, Leffingwell House Museum, receives the blankets for the “Blanket Norwich With Love” collection from Norwich Alderman Bob Zarnetske.

Norwich Alderman Bob Zarnetske, delivered the first blankets to the Leffingwell House Museum “Blanket Norwich With Love” collection that began on Saturday, August 1, and continues every Saturday through August from noon to 4 pm.  The museum is located at 348 Washington Street, Norwich.

The goal of the museum is to collect 350 new and gently used, clean blankets, quilts, and sleeping bags for distribution to the shelters of Norwich.  The number 350 is in honor of the 350th anniversary of the founding of the City being celebrated this year.

Supplying blankets to those in need is a tradition in Norwich with beginning in 1775. Women gathered in Norwich to make 500 blankets for Revolutionary War troops.

Fall and winter will soon be here. No one should be cold. Check your closets for old blankets or organize a blanket collection through your church, school, or business.  Any help is appreciated.

For more information visit www.leffingwellhousemuseum.org or leave a message at  860.887.9000.

Bookmark to:

Come to Panda Buffet to enjoy dozens of savory Chinese and International dishes. Panda Buffet offers you their sumptuous buffet daily which includes over 100 different fresh dishes to choose from, including appetizers, soups, salads, crab legs, mussels, seafood, chicken, beef, spareribs, dumplings, lo mien, fruit, ice cream and much more. And all you can eat for under $7 for lunch and $11 for dinner!

If your mouth isn’t watering now, it will when you step inside Panda Buffet. Take a break and enjoy the biggest buffet in town!

Panda Buffet is in the New London Mall, conveniently located just off of exit 83 on I-95.

Panda Buffet is open daily from 11:00am until 10:00pm on Sunday-Thursday and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday. Lunch is served from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Dinner is from 3:00pm until close and an all day Sunday Buffet. You can also get take out with the “Buffet to Go.”

Panda Buffet
New London Mall
351 N. Frontage Rd
860.447.3366
Fax: 860.447.9039

Bookmark to: