Fund Setup for Middletown families

A fund is has been set up to aid the families of the five people killed in Sunday's power plant explosion in Middletown.

A statement from the office of Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said a fund will be set up at MiddConn Federal Credit Union.

Donations can be made to:

Families of Kleen Energy Tragedy
c/o MiddConn Federal Credit Union
213 Court Street
Middletown, CT 06457

Donations can be sent directly to the credit union or through the mayor's office.

As reported by WTNH News. www.wtnh.com

MLK Community Day at the Wadsworth Atheneum

Picture Your Dreams   Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Day at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art   Join the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Amistad Center for Art & Culture in celebration of Martin Luther King Day, on Monday, January 18, with free admission from 10 am until 5 pm.  Spend the day participating in family-friendly art activities, watching live performances, or simply enjoying a free day at the museum. The day's theme, "Picture Your Dreams," is reminiscent of Dr. King's famous 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech and prompts visitors to reexamine their own dreams. Activities focused on dreams include a hands-on quilt activity with artist Donald Boudreaux, drawing with artist Jeremiah Patterson, postcard collages with artist Stanwyck Cromwell, and the distribution of dream journals.  More family fun will be available with a Storybook Time. Docent-led tours of the exhibition Digging Deeper and Winslow Homer's The Nooning will provide visitors with an in depth exploration of these fascinating works. Visitors can also enjoy a live performance by Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) Community Gospel Choir and the Voices of Glory from the Sanctuary of Faith & Glory, or listen to The Amistad Center for Art and Culture's Teen Advisory Group's "Dream Playlist" in Morgan Great Hall. In association with the Community Health Services' Community Threads initiative, the Wadsworth will also show the film The Quilts of Gee's Bend at 3:00 pm. This 28-minute documentary takes place in the Gee's Bend quilt makers' homes and is told through the women's voices. This music-filled film takes viewers inside the art and fascinating living history of a uniquely American community art form. Boxed lunches will be available in the museum café, and a complementary snack will be offered later in the afternoon. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is located at 600 Main St. in Hartford , Connecticut .  The Museum is open Wednesdays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org for more information.

Governor Rell Urges Support of Red Cross Relief Efforts in Haiti

Governor M. Jodi Rell has issued the following statement regarding the earthquake in Haiti:    "The loss of human life and scope of the damage is staggering. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and their families here in Connecticut and across U.S.  I urge anyone who wants to help to contact the American Red Cross to support its relief efforts."   For more information: http://www.redcross.org/

Driving Safely in Winter Weather

As snow, sleet and below-freezing temperatures continue into this week, the Old Saybrook Fire Department (OSFD) reminds all motorists to be prepared as they travel local roads and highways.   One of the best ways to be ready as temperatures go below freezing is to ensure that your car is winterized and in top operating condition.  Keep the gas tank full and check the windshield wiper blades (top off windshield washer fluid), tires and all lights to make sure they are in working order. Clean snow & ice from all car windows, hood and roof before starting to drive, (state law).  A snow brush, ice scraper and gloves are a wise investment.   Visibility is not only a good safety idea but also state law. Clean snow from headlamps, brake and taillights (remember to use your headlights with wipers, again state law)   Travel on main routes.  The most traveled roadways are usually cleared and sanded first.  A short-cut down a back road might not save any time if the road hasn't been plowed.  Also, if help is required, main roads are usually the best patrolled. Always assume road conditions are worse than they are and allow additional travel time.  Drive cautiously and courteously. Motorists should always check the latest local forecasts (at home, tune to your local TV News and Weather Channel, and in the car to radio stations that provide regular weather bulletins and reports on road conditions before starting a journey). During a snow, sleet or freezing rain event, reducing speed and expanding distances between vehicles is an absolute necessity for safe driving. Most important, slow down and keep a much greater distance from the vehicle in front of you.   Always carry a fully-charged cell phone to use in case of an emergency.  A cell phone is a vital component of any winter safety kit, along with a warm blanket, extra clothes, shovel, flares and first aid kit.  Also, non-perishable food such as canned nuts, dried fruit and hard candy and a box of tissues should be kept on hand.  Drivers and their passengers should dress for outdoor conditions in layers.   "We strongly recommend that motorists stay prepared as they take to the highways this winter.  As the temperatures stay below freezing, it is more important than ever that all drivers plan for every trip they make – whether a 10-minute drive to the mall or a 60-mile drive to visit a relative," says Max Sabrin, Fire Policeman / OSFD.   If you should become stranded in your vehicle in winter weather, stay with your vehicle and do not try to walk to safety.  Call 911 from your cell phone for help.  Run the motor for about 10 minutes each hour for heat.  Open a window slightly for fresh air and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.    From Old Saybrook Fire Department.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for continuing to visit ThisIsCT.net Have a safe and prosperous 2010!   All the best, Linzi