Avery Doninger Clearing Rubble And Reporting From Haiti

This school is immensely important to these children because it not only provides a safe place to learn and play, but for most of them it is where they get the only meal they will eat that day.

From 10/2008 to 7/2009 this blog kept my family and friends updated on my adventures and service work in AmeriCorps NCCC.After my first year (of hopefully three years) at Eastern Connecticut State University I am now using this blog to document my experience in Leogane, Haiti. I will be leaving June 15th, 2010 for six weeks to volunteer with Hands On Disaster Response to do earthquake disaster relief work.

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Still Waiting To Hear From U.S. 2nd Circuit On Free Speech Case

Avery Doninger: Standing Up For All Of Us

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‘Chinatown meets Fletch in contemporary Rhode Island’

Novel by DeSilva,
Former
Hartford Courant
writing coach,
Gets boost from Publishers Weekly



Publishers Weekly has included “Rogue Island” in its "First Fiction" feature, naming it one of the ten best debut novels of 2010. The list is drawn from both genre and literary fiction.

Rogue Island
Bruce DeSilva, 64
(Forge Books, Oct.)

Born: Taunton, Mass.; lives in Howell, N.J.
Favorite authors: Raymond Chandler, Howard Frank Mosher, Elmore Leonard, Daniel Woodrell, James Ellroy
Career arc: From investigative reporter and senior wire service editor to writing coach to novelist

Plot: Liam Mulligan, a hard-nosed newspaper reporter in Providence, R.I., trying hard to survive in the dying newspaper business, relentlessly combs his friends and enemies in both the underbelly and power structure of Rhode Island as he investigates a string of crimes that ring of conspiracy.
Author's toughest challenge: "Providence is an irresistible stew of depravity and decency, braggadocio and self-loathing, clannishness and community, corruption and integrity. I labored to convey the city's personality—to make it not just the setting but something akin to a character in the novel."
Publisher's pitch: Says editor Eric Raab, "Chinatown meets Fletch in contemporary Rhode Island. A stunning new voice that has been compared to Dennis Lehane and Robert Parker." Noted mystery editor Otto Penzler adds, "When it comes to fresh noir-on-wry, readers could not ask for more."
Opening lines: "A plow had buried the hydrant under five feet of snow, and it took the crew of Engine Company No. 6 nearly fifteen minutes to find it and dig it out. The first fireman up the ladder to the second-floor bedroom window laid a hand on the aluminum siding and singed his palm through his glove."

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Bessy, Gaby Shatter Bird Record @ Sunken Garden

Pinsky, Collins
Left
In The Dust

2008 OFFICIAL BIRD FAN SCORECARD:
Billy Collins, 13
Robert Pinsky, 11

Collins V. Pinsky In Bird Fan Quest

Cool Justice Editor's Note: Maybe it was the Latin jazz. Or was it that fierce Cuban poet? Could it have been Gaby 'She Be Stinging' Calvocoressi's stealth speed bag training around the corner from the cocktail party and the resulting whoosh of air affecting currents all the way up to Bradley Field?
In any case, Sunken Garden naturalist Diane Tucker reports more than 20 types of birds flocked to the Sunken Garden for poetry by Bessy Reyna and Gaby on Wednesday. Those national poet laureate dudes will have to do better next time ... "Gaby and Bessy definitely kicked their asses," a source close to the resident naturalist said.

Bird Report, Sunken Garden Poetry Festival,
Bessy & Gaby, June 23, 2010

By Diane Tucker
Estate Naturalist

I had a nice time last night at Hill-Stead Museum’s Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. How could you not? It was a perfect summer evening. Latin flavored jazz filled the air while picnics were shared, wine poured, blankets fluffed out over the lush grass. The Sunken Garden itself was in all its June glory, the Summer House providing the backdrop for the music and for the reading of poems. Now and then a little cry of happy recognition flared up as friends found one another in the gloaming.

Our Beatrix Farrand-designed sunken garden played host to two fine poets, Gabrielle Calvocoressi and Bessie Reyna. What a treat it was. And as the sunset turned into night, birds flew to roost and night time things began to take over. I was happy to see several chimney swifts, as I did last year. And the wager still stands that they have nests in church steeples here in Farmington. Other than raising young, the swifts live the entirety of their lives on the wing, and it may be that they dip their wings at us bi-weekly while we admire our nationally-known poets. One lone bat skittered across the sky, looking uncoordinated, but being actually anything but.

The full list of the attendees were as follows:


Red-Tailed Hawk


European Starling
American Robin
Catbird
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Chimney Swift
Song Sparrow
American Crow
Downy Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush


Brown-Headed Cowbird


Tree Swallow
Blue Jay
Eastern Phoebe
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Coopers Hawk
Hermit Thrush
Red-Eyed Vireo
Cardinal


Grackle

Great Blue Heron

ALSO:

Shetland Sheep
1 Dragonfly
1 bat
Field Crickets
Fireflies
Tree Toads

Other than the hundreds of people, there were 24 species of bird, 3 species of insect, 1 amphibian, 1 bat, a small flock of literary critic Shetland Sheep, a slightly more than three-quarter moon and Saturn glowing in the early summer sky. And poetry. There was lots of that. Define it how you like.

See you on the trails ...

Diane Tucker


SAVE THE DATES for other Festival performances:



• July 7: Jean Valentine; Sunken Garden Poetry Prize Winners Ginny L. Connors &Kate Lebo / Broadway, pop &jazz standards by CONCORA On the Town!

• July 21: Terrance Hayes; Connecticut Poetry Circuit Winners / Jazz by Nat Reeves Ensemble

• August 4: Taylor Mali; Fresh Voices / Caribbean rhythms & jazz by Ed Fast with Conga Bop

GATES open at 4:30 pm.
PERFORMANCE begins at 6:30 pm.
SPECIAL 2-for-1 admission & self-guided tours until 6:30 pm.
FOOD Participants may bring their own or purchase on site from Truffles Bakery, Farmington (www.trufflesbakery.com). Picnicking is allowed in the garden, on the West Lawn and in other areas.

ADMISSION to the Festival is free.
PARKING on-site is $10 per vehicle.
SEATING Bring a blanket or lawn chair
ACCESSIBILITY Designated parking and wheelchair accessiblity to Sunken Garden and first floor of Pope Riddle House.

All performances will be at Hill-Stead Museum, rain or shine. For all Festival information, browse the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival web page or call 860.677.4787.

Gaby's Upcoming Bout @ Sunken Garden

Watch Out For The Birds

Melanie Lieberman, CT Young Writers Champion, @ Sunken Garden 09

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Video On Demand: CT Young Writers 13th Annual Celebration

Video Via CT-N

LCT: Young Writers Recognized

Thursday, June 17, 2010
By Jack Coraggio

Litchfield County Times

HARTFORD—What a gala occasion the 13th Connecticut Young Writers Competition, conducted early this month in the aristocratic-chic Hartford Club, turned out to be.

Aspiring teenage writers—16 in all, two from each county in the state—closed in on the capital city, each one hoping the event—featuring live music from both a Latin and a big band ensemble, speeches of encouragement from a previous winner and one New York detective turned career writer and a dinner fit for a wedding—would conclude with their names called.

Alas, it was not the Litchfield County students that came away with the big prize. Sheldon Gaskell, 16, of Suffield, won for his story “Kineo,” while Grace Beggins, 17, of Guilford, took home the poetry prize for her poem, “Cloud Gazing.”

Still, this creation of Litchfield County investigative journalist, private investigator, boxing aficionado and more, Andy Thibault, with the assistance of the Connecticut State University System, the Young Writers Competition rewarded all 16 chosen teens.

The prize distribution equaled $10,000. Of that amount, $8,000 was split between the county champions, half of whom made it on prose, the other half with their poetry. The remainder was divided between Mr. Gaskell and Ms. Beggins.

In Litchfield County, 18-year-old Carter Brown of Litchfield High School earned the poetry slot for “Icari.” And 16-year-old Claire Burch of New Milford High School got the prose position for her piece “The Neighborhood.”

But with keynote speaker and Litchfield-native Lauren Hefferon, the 2003 prose champion, the Northwest Corner did get some representation.

“I wasn’t scared of writing, I don’t think I learned yet it was possible to be scared of writing,” said Ms. Hefferon, who just recently graduated from Yale University.

She said it’s an art the teens should forever indulge in, a solid grasp of thought and language will assist them in future relationships, romantic and professional, maybe even help them win arguments.

“The feeling for those of you who are shopaholics—you just have to spend the money in your pocket,” she said, “If you’re a writer you have to tell the story in your head.”

updated YOUNG WRITERS PHOTO ARRAY from 13th annual celebration june 3 hartford club

Young Writers State & County Champions Honored @ Hartford Club

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*updated YOUNG WRITERS PHOTO ARRAY from 13th annual celebration june 3 hartford club

Updated
Thursday,
June 17, 2010


PHOTOS BY BOB THIESFIELD
FOR THE CT YOUNG WRITERS TRUST

CDs of entire event available
Via
H. Robert Thiesfield
79A Carillon Drive
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860-841-3333
thiesfield@sbcglobal.net

Video Via CT-N

Young Writers State & County Champions Honored @ Hartford Club

MORE PHOTOS
2 b posted periodically


Hartford Club Ballroom Scene


Jen Allen Big Band Vocalists L-R Laura McCabe, DominiQue, Shannon Gunnip, Josh Evans on trumpet, Kris Allen on alto sax.


Another Ballroom View


Litchfield County Poetry Champion Carter Brown with parents David Hall and Tammy Knox.


CSU System Vice Chancellor Louise Feroe, ECSU Academic VP Rhona Free, Cindy Cormier of The Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and Hartford Courant sportswriter Paul Doyle [behind Cormier]. Cormier, Free and Doyle served as judges for the young writers competition.


Young Writers Trust board member and judge Susanne Davis with Atty. Rebecca Paolino of Waterbury's Moynahan & Minella.


Middlesex County Prose Champion Chelsea Melanson with parents Paul and Kathleen Melanson.


Checking out CT Young Writers history.


Young Writers Trust board members and judges Cindy Cormier of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and Vince Valvo of The Warren Group.


State Poetry Champion Grace Beggins with parents Tom Beggins and Anne Hartford.


Tolland County Prose Champion Kyle Kneeland with [standing] teacher Victoria Nordlund and family including father Gus Kneeland.


Rainy Faye of Bridgeport shows off her Fairfield County bookseller award. Watch for announcements of upcoming author events at Rainy Faye's including Ray Charles Jr., Bob Leuci, Diane Smith and Chandra Prasad.


Hartford County Poetry Champion Morgan Finn with parents Martin and Christina Finn.


Ginger James with judge and sponsor Denning Powell.


No escape for Andy Thibault of the Young Writers Trust, grilled by sponsor Amy Berard and board member Carol 'not related to him' Thibeault.


Litchfield County Prose Champion Claire Burch with family including parents Michael and Deborah Burch.


Jen Allen Big Band Dinner Music


Middlesex County Poetry Champion Olivia DelGiudice with parents Toby DelGiudice and RJ Dempser-DelGiudice.


State Prose Champion Sheldon Gaskell with aunt Sharon Alvarides and parents Deborah and Patrick Gaskell.


Middlesex County Prose Champion Chelsea Melanson with Hartford County Poetry Champion Morgan Finn @ Workshop.


Fairfield County Prose Champion Zeena Advani with parents Hira Advani and Madhulika Priya Advani.


Cosmic Jibaros band leader Rick Reyes, foreground.


Gloria Creamer of Montville High School, center, the New London County Prose Champion, with teacher Ted Richmond and mother, Terry Creamer.


Olivia DelGiudice of Old Saybrook High School, the Middlesex County Poetry Champion, with Kyle Kneeland of Rockville High School, the Tolland County Prose Champion and friend of the Young Writers Trust Julian Thiesfield @ Workshop.


Bookseller Rainy Faye, aka Dr. Georgia Day, retired administrator at Fairfield University with judges Terese Karmel and Pam Lewis and Fairfield County Poetry Champion Zeena Advani and parents. Karmel is the author Hoop Tales, a chronicle of the UConn womens basketball team; Lewis is the author of thrillers including `Perfect Family' and `Speak Softly: She Can Hear.'


Gerald Morris of Bridgeport's Rainy Faye Bookstore with Atty. Rebecca Paolino of Waterbury's Moynahan & Minella.


Dr. Paul Berard, Sponsor, with Bob Leuci.


State Poetry Champion Grace Beggins of The Williams School and her mother, Anne Hartford, check out the program.


Julia Albano of Danbury High School, the Fairfield County Poetry Champion, State Prose Champion Sheldon Gaskell of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Carter Brown of Litchfield High School, the Litchfield County Poetry Champion.


Zeena Advani of Westhill High School, Stamford, the Fairfield County Prose Champion, with Bob Leuci @ Workshop.


Claire Burch of New Milford High School, the Litchfield County Prose Champion, and Grace Beggins of the Williams School in New London, the State Poetry Champion, @ Writers Workshop.


Keynote Speaker Bob Leuci, retired NYPD Detective, Novelist and URI Prof, co-workshop leader.


Keynote Speaker Lauren Hefferon, the 2003 State Prose Champion, Yale 2010, Teacher For America 2010, co-workshop leader.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Video Segments CT YOUNG WRITERS

* new foto- Ace Poet Austin West w Diane Smith, Louise Feroe

-- SHELDON GASKELL with Connecticut State University System Vice Chancellor Louise Feroe and Diane Smith


GRACE BEGGINS with Feroe, Smith


CROWD APPROVES -- Happy attendees in foreground include judges Kate Rushin and Susanne Davis and teacher Barbara Greenbaum, Windham County Prose Champion Anna Nassiff and family. Behind them are State Prose Champion Sheldon Gaskell and family.

Young Writers State & County Champions Honored @ Hartford Club

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER BOB LEUCI


KEYNOTE SPEAKER LAUREN HEFFERON


Writers Workshop


Diane Smith Opens The Program Following Greeting
By Hartford Club General Manager James Fisher


COSMIC JIBAROS
-- photo via Cosmic Jibaros


Jen Allen Big Band Vocalists Before The Show:
Shannon Gunnip, Laura McCabe, DominiQue
-- Photo by Meg Rivers