Catherine Zeiner, Executive Director, Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut
Since 1989, October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a national campaign of awareness and support building. Special events and activities throughout Southeastern CT will mourn the victims who died as a result of Domestic Violence, celebrate those who survived, and engage the community to help end the violence. CT chose the theme of Teen Dating Violence as its focus for 2009.
With this in mind, the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut is looking forward to releasing the results of our recent Teen Dating Violence Survey. The survey was conducted through the many schools we work with throughout New London County. With national statistics a cause for alarm, we wanted to know how our region compared with state and national numbers. The results will be of interest to all parents of teens and concerned citizens. Watch the local media for more information.
We will then put on our party hats for our Carnival FUN-raiser weekend. On Saturday, October 3rd, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, will play host to a carnival-themed gala event featuring fun and games, prizes, gourmet food, silent auction and more. The next day, Sunday, October 4th, the same site will be converted to welcome the community for a day of healthy family fun at our seaside family carnival. Both days will feature carnival games and rides, including a ferris wheel, flying swings and a super slide.
Throughout the month, both the Otis Library, Norwich, and the New London Public Library will display The Clothesline Project. The Clothesline Project gives voice to victims of domestic violence through a display of shirts created by those affected by violence, decorated to express their emotions and experiences.
Many of our supporters will be hosting their own events this month. These include: Oktoberfest at Beechwood Rehabilitation, New London, on October 22; Inspiration II, a performance of dance and music at Waterford High School sponsored by the Natalie Anderson Children’s Fund on October 24, and Coldwell Banker Cares’ Bowl-a-ween Bash in Essex on October 27. In addition, there will be statewide Walk in Our Footsteps events, displaying children’s shoes as a visual reminder of the hundreds of children served last year in CT’s 18 domestic violence shelters.
For more information on any of the above activities or to learn more about the services, volunteer opportunities, and other efforts of the Women’s Center to address domestic violence and sexual assault and to create a violent-free society, visit www.womenscenterofsect.org, call 860.447.0366 x203, or e-mail epalzere-rae@womenscenterofsect.org.
Sincerely, Catherine Zeiner
Executive Director
Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut
Looking for fun and excitement? We have it all at the Pavilion Restaurant located in the town of Ashaway. Our food is delicious at affordable prices. Our menu has something for everyone, including appetizers, sandwiches, big salads, fresh seafood, pasta specialties, baby back ribs and the best burgers in town. The Pavilion offers a great sports bar to unwind and enjoy the football season with two 52” flat screen HD TV’s and the PFL discounts. There is always fun at the Pavilion.
Fridays: 5pm Cruise Night through October 9th
Saturdays: Live acoustic music starting at 7pm
Breakfast starting at 8am every Saturday and Sunday
Our chef takes great pride in making all homemade dishes and sauces like our fresh marinara, tomato and vodka sauces. Our specialty oil is served with complimentary ciabatta bread daily. After dinner, enjoy a homemade tiramisu or caramel Flan with a cordial. We will be introducing new entrees for the upcoming fall season.
Don’t forget about our all grass driving range and the challenging 18-hole mini golf – both reasonably priced.
Gift certificates are available for the holiday season, and our banquet facility is great for holiday parties.
The view is priceless, the dishes are flavorful, and the golf is always fun.
Soda’s first novel, “The Wizard of Odd,” is peopled by many unforgettable characters and a plot that immediately captures the reader’s imagination.
by Roger Zotti
His penname is Soda and he writes because, he said, “I’d explode and/or go crazy if I didn’t. I have tons of ideas and I want to get them down and bring them to life and not waste them.” He added, “I want my readers to get into my creations. I hope that people will enjoy my work and be inspired by it.”
Two authors who inspire Soda are R.L. Stine and Ray Bradbury. A big fan of R.L.’s “Goosebump” series, Soda pointed out “his knack for the spooky and fun is great.” As for Ray, Soda considers him “a poetic writer. ‘The Halloween Tree’ is one of my all-time favorite reads.” You’ll see their influence in Soda’s first full length novel, “The Wizard of Odd.” (Llumina Press)
Illustrated by Andrea Farr, “The Wizard of Odd” is book for all ages and involves a boy – his name is Donovan Bale – who survives a plane crash that apparently kills everyone else aboard. When Donovan awakens he finds himself in a strange land called Baziel (or Cloud City). “He’s surrounded by pink and blue people who feel his arrival is fate and he can help them in their battle against the dark side of their world that has started to reawaken,” said Soda, who’s also a musician.
Near the end of “The Wizard of Odd” Donovan explains to his parents, “…the plane crashed…and I wound up in the clouds with all these interesting people.” Some of them are the courageous Ateel and the equally courageous Lika; “a strange man known only as the Wizard of Odd” who’s held captive and must be freed; brave unicorns and some not-so-nice flying pigs; an evil witch who at one point cries out, “…my soul belongs to the demons,” and Donovan’s loyal stuffed rabbit, Toby, who comes to life in Baziel. And let’s not overlook the perilous, haunted forest through which Donovan and his friends journey to rescue the wizard. It “wasn’t evil,” Soda tells us, “but what inhabited it was” – and you’ll see it takes on a life of its own and becomes a crucial character in the narrative.
In part, the book is the story of young Donovan’s growth from someone who says early on, “I don’t know how much I can help… I have never fought before. I could hardly hurt a fly,” to someone who, as Soda writes, “…helped win a huge battle that saved a city he never knew existed.” Indeed the young man has grown. “The Wizard of Odd” is aglow with many memorable characters and an impossible-to-put-down storyline, along with plenty of excitement and suspense. Like all the best fantasy writers, Soda transports you to another world which you soon come to believe in.
For more information about the book and its author, visit www.myspace.com/thewizardofoddbook. And yes, Soda has a prequel planned: “It’ll be a spooky series of short stories and something on more of an adult level.”
This fall’s pet books are robust and entertaining, and even well-known authors from the other end of the bookshelf are chiming in.
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a book, “Don’t Dump the Dog” by Randy Grim, that offered advice on dealing with common but annoying behaviors from dogs. Frustrated owners may also want to check out “High-Energy Dogs: A Practical Guide to Living With Energetic and Driven Canines,” by Tracy Libby (TFH Publications). Dogs like Australian shepherds, Jack Russell terriers and Basenjis can be a real handful, especially for the inexperienced owner, and it’s all too easy to become frustrated with a spirited puppy. This colorful guide discusses characteristics of several high-energy, intelligent breeds and walks owners through methods of understanding and training such dogs.
“Homer’s Odyssey,” by Gwen Cooper (Delacorte Press), is an account of life with the “blind wonder cat,” as Cooper describes the kitten she adopted at a Miami veterinarian’s office. Expectations aren’t high for Homer, who lost his eyes at just three weeks of age, but the kitten grows into an independent daredevil. It’s a charming story, and a nice weekend read.
Finally, novelist Dean Koontz has taken his first step into nonfiction and pet writing with his memoir, “A Big Little Life” (Hyperion). Koontz recounts the joys of life with Trixie, a retired service dog with Canine Companions for Independence and the first dog he had ever owned. “A Big Little Life” is a big little diversion from his intense works of fiction, and a welcome new voice to pet memoirs. Pick up his and all this month’s releases at your local bookstore or online.
In the previous column (Part 2), I discussed the positive emotions of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, and humility. Part 1 reviewed the negative emotions of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, superiority, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego.
This column will finish with the remaining positive emotions of kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
It’s normal to experience conflicting emotions. Understanding the consequences of giving in to them will motivate you to select a positive path. Here are the rest of the positive emotions.
Being benevolent and treating people with kindness has many benefits. Those you interact with feel good. You feel good. And you create a positive energy that attracts good things.
Anyone can be kind when they are happy. However, when you feel bad, it’s difficult to be kind. But this is when you need to be the most thoughtful, as it will help you feel better. Not everyone will appreciate your kindness, but it doesn’t matter, enough people will.
You won’t feel like being kind to anyone who treats you poorly. That’s OK. You are better off spending little or no time with them rather than being mean. You don’t want to allow others to pull you down to their low level of behavior.
Show empathy and compassion rather than feeling sorry for someone else’s situation. Empathy is an understanding of what another person is experiencing. If you want to and it’s appropriate, be compassionate by offering to help.
Too many people view the world as everyone for themselves. In reality, generous people are much happier and more successful than their self-focused counterparts. The principle at work is that you can get anything in life you want by helping enough others get what they want.
Being generous does not mean self-sacrifice. You can take care of your own well being while showing generosity to others. If you haven’t already done so, try being more charitable. I’m sure you will be pleased with the results.
Truthfulness is far more potent than deception. Trickery may have the illusion of being a shortcut to success. There may even be short-term gains. Ultimately, a life of lies invariably leads to unhappiness and despair.
There are limitless options for honest attainment of success. There is no secret, all you have to do is be of service to others or solve problems. Effort is part of life.
Have faith in yourself and your abilities. Have faith that when you are a good person and do good things, you will attract positive things. Have faith that you can overcome obstacles and solve problems.
You have the power to decide the outcome of the battle within you. You can’t lose by always choosing positive emotions and actions.
