Connecticut Connections to the Lusitania: Part 2

Ten Nutmeggers — one of whom saved 40 lives — survived the torpedoing of the ship in May 1915.

  As was the case with the Titanic, the "what ifs" associated with the sinking of the Lusitania are haunting. Perhaps the biggest question centers around the transfer of passengers in New York from the SS Cameronia to the Lusitania. The transfer of people and baggage delayed the Lusitania's departure from New York by more than two hours. Had the big ship departed on time it is quite likely that it would not have crossed paths with German U-Boat U-20, thus averting disaster. Instead, the transfer not only added to the casualty list, but it also guaranteed the ship's ill-fated rendezvous with U-20 — an encounter that cost the lives of three Connecticut residents, as detailed in last week's column. This week we'll take a look at some of the …

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Epoch Arts' Annual Dinner Show Is Friday

Tickets to the 11th annual dinner show are $10 each

Calling All Crafters!

Your skills are needed in an upcoming craft fair

Green Party Senate Hopeful Collects Signatures at Essex Muster

Melissa Schlag of Haddam joined government officials in getting to know residents of the 33rd district on Saturday.

  The 45th Annual Sailing Masters of 1812 Burning of the Ships Ancient Fife & Drum Parade in Essex not only drew hundreds of spectators, but also a host of local and state politicians. Melissa Schlag, the Green Party challenger to Democrat Eileen Daily for Connecticut State Senate District 33, was collecting signatures on a petition from residents of the district. Schlag is the former executive director of Citizens for Protection of Public Lands (CPPL) and was instrumental in opposing the controversial Haddam Land Swap.  As a third-party candidate, Schlag will need to get 8,000 signatures. The 33rd district includes the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland…

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Wendy Vincent

11:36 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Thanks, Sharon, for clarifying!   more ›

Ridgefield Remembers Author Maurice Sendak

Friends and neighbors remember the author and his quirky sense of humor.

  “But the wild things cried, 'Oh please don’t go - we’ll eat you up - we love you so!' And Max said, 'No!' The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye.” Ridgefield’s Maurice Sendak was a man whose poetry and drawings inspired millions and touched childhoods worldwide, but whose small-town life was marked with deep personal friendships and a love for his community. Sendak, the children’s author who wrote and illustrated “Where The Wild Things Are,” among many other influential, genre-breaking works, had a way of writing stories that played with the fears and trials of growing up, heartfelt …

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Auditions For Sherlock Holmes Play Begin Saturday

Actors will audition on a first-come basis; no need to register ahead of time

   Calling all actors--especially those that have mastered the English accent! The East Haddam Stage Company will begin auditions Saturday, May 12 for this summer's live action Sherlock Holmes radio play at Gillette Castle State Park. According to the EH Stage Company, Saturday's auditions will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the park's outdoor stage. They will continue on Friday, May 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. Auditions will be held on a first-come basis, so don't worry about registering. The audition flyer says to bring a picture and a resume, and to be ready to perform a "short, memorized, dramatic monologue in an English accent," in addition to reading the script. Volunteers, ushers and others are needed for the six-week run of the show, which …

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Don't Miss It: CT Open House Day Is June 9

Get up close and personal with Connecticut

  Connecticut Open House Day, which falls on Saturday, June 9 this year, is a day to explore the state we all call home. Hop in the car, grab your bicycle or lace up those sneakers--you'll definitely want to be on the move. Destinations all over the state will open their doors, some offering discounted or free admission, or special activities and exhibits, to Nutmeggers ready to take on their state. CTVisit.com has all the details on this state-sponsored event, including a list of town-by-town participants. According to CTVisit.com, the following nearby places are participating: But be sure to check back, as more will be added as the date approaches!

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Connecticut Poetry Society Now Accepting Submissions

Enter your poems for a chance to win the 2012 Connecticut Poetry Award

  If you're a good poet, then you probably know it--and you should submit your work to win the 2012 Connecticut Poetry Award! The Connecticut Poetry Society has announced that they will accept submissions through May 31 for the 2012 contest. According to their website, poets can submit up to three unpublished pieces. They can be in any form, but they cannot exceed 80 lines. They ask that you submit two copies of each poem--one with full contact information and another without. Send your poetry to Connecticut Poetry Award, CPS, PO Box 270554, West Hartford, CT 06127 with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for results and a check for $15 made out to the Connecticut Poetry Society. Winning poets will have their work printed in the Connecticut…

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Video: African Penguin Chick Takes Its First Swim

Blue Pink took a plunge into the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit Tuesday.

  An African penguin chick took its first swim Tuesday at the Mystic Aquarium. Blue Pink hatched on Jan. 28, 2012 and at 94 days old is ready to start getting use to the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit and the Mystic Aquarium’s penguin colony. “While penguin chicks tend to float very well, they must learn to dive and navigate using their wings and feet,” the Mystic Aquarium said in a press release. “Once the chick has honed its swimming skills, it will slowly be introduced to the aquarium’s 27 other penguins and establish its place within the colony.”   Why not follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook?

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Earth Day's Profound Impact on Connecticut's Environment

The Nutmeg State has been spearheading environmental initiatives since 1970, and the positive effects on the landscape are obvious.

  When New London High School seniors Betty Flanagan and Debbie Shea wandered out onto the Washington Mall on April 22, 1970, during their April vacation break, little did they realize that they were part of the single largest nationwide demonstration for a cause in the history of the United States. Flanagan and Shea were two of more than 20 million Americans who demonstrated that day in various parts of the United States on behalf of the environment. In fact, in October 1993, the American Heritage Magazine stated, "On April 22, 1970, Earth Day was held ... one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy." There can be no question that the driving force behind Earth Day was Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Its roots …

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