Bethel Daily Briefing: Monday, April 9, 2012

Today  is Monday  April 9, 2012 

TODAY'S WEATHER from the National Weather Forecast

 Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. 

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind between 6 and 11 mph. 

 Red Flag Warning in Effect. 

GARDEN HINTS from the Old Farmers Almanac.

 What are the best plants to grow to attract butterflies to my garden?

Candytufts, cosmos, nasturtiums, alyssum, zinnias, sunflowers, ageratum, marigolds, and heliotropes are a few.

QUOTE OF THE DAY from Brainy Quotes

 Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.

Steve Jobs

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Yesenia Evaristo tied the long-standing strikeout record with 19 strikeouts against Woodland High School this past Sarurday. Lia Maniscalco set the record back in 1993. Evaristo also went 3 for 3 with 2 triples. Alyssa Martinez knocked in two runs, preserving the girls win 3-1. The team is now 2-0, and will play again at home this Wednesday, April 11 against Oxford.

 Bethel Today, a local cable television show hosted by Robin Renner and sponsored by the Bethel Democratic Town Committee, will feature as its guest, Matthew S. Knickerbocker, First Selectman of the Town of Bethel.  Mr. Knickerbocker discusses and answers questions concerning the issues surrounding the status of the “Old Town Hall” and other items impacting the Town of Bethel.  The show will be broadcast on Tuesday, April 10 at 8:00 PM; and, on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM on Comcast Community Access, Channel 23. 

UNITED WATER will be doing annual flushing of the fire hydrants in our Bethel systems starting Tuesday April 10th through Friday April 13th.

We will be sending out a rapid alert to our Bethel customers to notify them of the hydrant flushing.  Please email or call me if you have any questions. Kenneth Skov Operations Support Manager, UNITED WATER CONNECTICUT - ken.skov@unitedwater.com Phone: 860-354-4118

Bethel Garden Club Meeting & Program Open to All

The Bethel Garden Club holds monthly meetings and programs, except for January, February, July, and August. The next meeting will be Friday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. in Meeting Room B of the Bethel Municipal Center. A special program follows at 11:00 a.m. entitled “Beatrix Farrand, Rediscovered.” Local garden writer and speaker Colleen Plimpton entertains and enlightens with a one-hour presentation of the life, times, and work of Farrand, the distinguished American landscape-gardener. The Bethel Garden Club cordially invites the general public to all meetings and programs. For more information, please call Club President Karen de Leon at 203-798-8156 or email

Please join us at Byrd's Books for Story Hour With Jessie as she reads, "Bertha and the Frog Choir",  Tuesday April 10th, 10:00 a.m., free, no registration required.  In the Upstairs Gallery at Molten Java.  For questions or information please call Alice Hutchinson at Byrd's Books, 213 Greenwood Ave., 2nd floor,  Bethel, CT 06801

Welcome! To the Northern Fairfield County, Blue Star Mothers, CT Chapter 4.  Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 7:00 pm,  , 59 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel, CT ,  $20.00

We are a chapter, based in Bethel, of ALL (mothers,  step-mothers & Mothers-in-laws) who currently have or have had Active Duty and Honorably Discharged Service men and Women. 

This is an open invitation to any mother who now has, or has had, children honorably serving in the military from within the Upper Fairfield County, CT or Putnam County, NY area to join a new, local chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America (BSMA).

The Northern Fairfield County Chapter of Blue Star Mothers meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Stony Hill Fire Department, 59 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, at 7:00 PM for socializing and support and 7:30 for a business meeting. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 PM. For more information,

 A World of Flavors (for kids 6 - 10 years old) Mondays, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 6 Classes run for 7 weeks (4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7 & 5/14) Note: There will NOT be class on Monday, 4/16.

 Back by popular demand! Emphasis will once again be on food from different nations. Chef Robin will introduce your children to dishes from Mexico, China, Italy, France and more. Kids will work in a professional kitchen preparing their own dinner (and extras to take home for the family to sample).

$25 each class $130 if you purchase 6 in advance

Cooking Together (for kids 3 - 5 years old... and parents too) Thursdays, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Classes run for 6 weeks (4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3 & 5/10)

Cooking is a great skill for children of any age. You’re never too young to have fun in the kitchen! In these classes Chef Robin will work with you and your children to create delicious meals. Emphasis will be on introducing kids to healthy, new foods. It’s amazing what they’ll taste when they prepare it themselves!  $20 each class. $110 if you purchase all 6 in advance.

5K War Memorial Tribute Run Early Registration Period, All day   , 1 School St, Bethel, CT

$15.00   Bethel’s Joseph W. Tarrant, Jr. American Legion Memorial Post 100 has finalized plans to host its inaugural 5K War Memorial Tribute Run in honor of our nations fallen war heroes.The event is scheduled to start at 8am, Saturday May 19th 2012 at the Bethel Municipal Center.

 Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Legion Scholarship Fund which aides veterans and children of veterans through individually awarded scholarships to offset the cost of higher education, books, supplies, and institutional fees. For more information,

WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY EVENTS

APR. 10 TIBETAN MEDICINE WORKSHOP: The Institute for Holistic Health Studies at WCSU in collaboration with Dr. Tashi Rabten, president of the Tibetan Medical Association, will present “Tibetan Medicine: The Spiritual Connection” at 7:30 p.m. in Warner Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The workshop will be free and the public is invited. For more information, call (845) 612-3231.

 APR. 10 CHAMBER SINGERS AND CONCERT CHOIR: The WCSU Chamber Singers and Concert Choir will perform at 8 p.m. in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The concert will be free and the public is invited. Donations to support the department of music will be accepted. For more information, call (203) 837-8350 or visit www.wcsu.edu/music/concerts.asp.

 APR. 11 WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: As part of the ongoing Wellness Wednesday program on campus, “Finding the Stress Coping Strategies that Work for You!” will be at noon in Room 202 of the Student Center on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. WCSU alumna Sue Carbone, owner of Cohesive Healing, will lead this session sponsored by the HPX department and the Institute for Holistic Health Studies. It will be free and open to the public. For more information, call (203) 837-3903.

 APR. 12 CHILD CARE CABARET: WCSU will present the Child Care Cabaret at 7 p.m. in the Westside Campus Center Ballroom on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. This fundraiser for the WCSU Child Care Center will bring performers from all corners of the campus together in an uplifting combination of music, dance and comedy. The public is invited; tickets will be $15. WCSU students with valid I.D. will be admitted for $5. For more information, call (203) 837-8266.

 APR. 12 COFFEEHOUSE: WCSU will present the Midtown Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The coffeehouse will include an all-night open mic. Admission will be free and the public is invited. Donations to sustain the Coffeehouse will be accepted. Call (203) 837-9700 or visit www.wcsu.edu/stuaffairs/Coffeehouse.aspfor more information.

 APR. 13 “UNITING AS ONE” EVENT: WCSU will host the “Uniting as One” event to serve the homeless population of Danbury from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bill Williams Gymnasium in Berkshire Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Multiple agencies will provide a wide array of free services, including lunch, to people without homes. For more information, send an email to williams280@connect.wcsu.edu.

SCHOLARSHIPS

 BETHEL VISITING NURSE ASSOC. SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

Applications for the Mary Edna Cargill Scholarship offered by the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association is available at www.bethelvna.org.  This scholarship is awarded to one or more Bethel residents enrolled in or accepted to a degree program in a health-related field.  Applications must be completed by May 1st, 2012  For more information,  

 The Bethel Public Library Board of Directors is offering a one-year $500

Scholarship to a high school senior who is a resident of the Town of Bethel, and who plans to attend an accredited degree-granting institution.

 Application forms are available in the Library, at the Guidance Office of area high schools, and online at www.bethellibrary.org. Applications must be accompanied by a 250- word essay, high school transcripts, two recommendations, and FAFSA report if needed. All materials must be submitted no later than 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 25, 2012 at the Bethel Public Library.

SCHOOL DATE REMINDERS

 April 10 – Conference Day – Early Dismissal – JS & BMS

April 11 – Conference Day – Early Dismissal – JS & BMS

April 12 – Conference Day – Early Dismissal – JS

April 12 – Professional Development Day – Early Dismissal – BMS & BHS

April 16-20 – Spring Recess

TODAY IN HISTORY from On This Day

1667 - In Paris, The first public art exhibition was held at the Palais-Royale. 

1682 - Robert La Salle claimed the lower Mississippi River and all lands that touch it for France. 

1838 - The National Galley opened in London. 

1865 - At Appomattox Court House, Virginia, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate Army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of Wilmer McClean's home. Grant allowed Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permitted soldiers to keep their horses and mules. Though there were still Confederate armies in the field, the war was officially over. The four years of fighting had killed 360,000 Union troops and 260,000 Confederate troops. 

1866 - The Civil Rights Bill passed over U.S. President Andrew Johnson's veto. 

1869 - The Hudson Bay Company ceded its territory to Canada. 

1870 - The American Anti-Slavery Society was dissolved. 

1912 - The first exhibition baseball game was held at Fenway Park in Boston. The game was between Red Sox and Harvard. 

1913 - The Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field opened. 

1928 - Mae West made her debut on Broadway in the production of "Diamond Lil." 

1942 - In the Battle of Bataan, American and Filipino forces were overwhelmed by the Japanese Army. 

1945 - National Football League officials decreed that it was mandatory for football players to wear socks in all league games. 

1953 - TV Guide was published for the first time. 

1959 - NASA announced the selection of America's first seven astronauts. 

1963 - Winston Churchill became the first honorary U.S. citizen. 

1965 - "TIME" magazine featured a cover with the entire "Peanuts" comic gang. 

1965 - The Houston Astrodome held its first baseball game. 

1967 - The first Boeing 737 was rolled out for use. 

1986 - It was announced that Patrick Duffy's character on the TV show Dallas would be returning after being killed off. 

1998 - The National Prisoner of War Museum opened in Andersonville, GA, at the site of an infamous Civil War camp. 

Have an announcement or an interesting bit of news?  Let us know!  Click here or email Christine Rose at RosepetL5@aol.com