According to our StormTeam 8 Forecast, temperatures will be soaring back to around 90 degrees this weekend. Here’s a way to beat the heat this weekend… and, a way to possibly take advantage of it!

The C.H.A.I.N. Fund‘s signature “Breakfast and a Movie” event is this Saturday, June 30th beginning at 8:00am! The C.H.A.I.N. Fund raises money for cancer patients who have been physically and financially devastated by their disease. Everything from prescription co-pays to rent and mortgage payments falls under the C.H.A.I.N. umbrella. The Fund also provides educational and emotional support for patients, so they are well-armed to fight cancer from the beginning. Breakfast and a Movie is a great way to help the Fund grow, while growing your own social circle at the same time!

Bring your friends, and meet new ones, at one of three theaters in Connecticut on Saturday morning. A full breakfast will be provided, including sausage, eggs, grits, juice, coffee, and more! After filling your tray, you’ll head into the movie theater for the screening. This weekend, “Breakfast and a Movie” will feature the Tyler Perry hit, Madea’s Witness Protection! Participating movie theaters include (directions at link): Holiday Stadium 14 in Wallingford, Bowtie Cinemas Palace 17 in Hartford, and the Bowtie Cinemas SoNo Regent 8 in Norwalk. You can volunteer for the event or buy your tickets by clicking on this link.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo continues its 90 Days of Summer celebration through Labor Day weekend, in order to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Connecticut’s only Zoo! With all of their promotions, the theme is all about the 90s…

This Thursday, you might actually want the temperature to rise; Beardsley Zoo is offering free admission for one child per adult when the high temperature is above 90 degrees on a Thursday. Keep an eye on the forecast… just last Thursday, our temperature topped out above 90 degrees, so it’s bound to happen again! The Zoo is in Bridgeport; you can get directions at this link.

The annual Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire kicked off last weekend, and if you missed it then, you still have 2 more weekends of excitement to enjoy!

The Renaissance Faire has everything you would expect from an event like this, but so much more! You’ll see swordfights, magic shows, stage performances, and live demonstrations by craftsmen. You can listen to performances of Celtic music, hear silly songs by Jesters, and get a chance to purchase handmade goods that hearken back to age-old traditions. There’s always something exciting to see and do at the Faire!

There are performances geared to Faire-goers of all ages, like the kid-friendly performance of Granny Gruesome at the Emerald Glen. Beer, wine and mead are served at the Flyppin Bird Stage, which is for adults only! It’s all happening at Warsaw Park in Ansonia (directions here)! The Renaissance Faire is from 11:00am-6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, June 30th, July 1st, July 7th and July 8th.  On Saturdays, the fun continues at the Tournament Stage, where from 7:00-9:00pm, you’ll see incredible feats with fire!

The nighttime fire acts are included with your Saturday admission ticket! Prices range from $16 for adults to just $6 for children aged 5-9; there are special prices for seniors, veterans, disabled, and group rates, too. You can get tickets at the Faire-grounds, or ahead of time by using this link.

On Wednesday, the 15th Annual Car Cruise Night will finally take place on the Middletown Green! The Cruise had to be postponed to its rain date; it was originally supposed to be on the very soggy Wednesday of last week. Instead, we’ll have plenty of heat on the Green as you check out dozens of hot cars!

There are cars, trucks, and other vehicles from throughout the history of the automobile at the Car Cruise. WCNX Radio will be giving away beach balls, doing Cash Trivia, and hosting a hula-hoop contest (it’s only a $2 entry fee!) so, come down to the South Green to check it out! You can find directions at this link.

The Meriden Black Expo is now in its 23rd year, and it’s the only festival of its kind here in Connecticut.
The Expo kicks off with a parade through downtown Meriden at 11am, and it continues from Noon-8pm at City Park on Franklin Street (directions here).

Some of the highlights of the Expo include a talent showcase,  a mini-carnival with rides and games, and free storytime and books from the Book-Mobile.

This year, the Expo will focus on health concerns that are prominent in the African-American community, such as diabetes and heart disease. Midstate Hospital will be doing blood pressure checks and other screenings for free, and there will be informational booths with information on healthy lifestyle choices.
Bring your own blanket to enjoy the day… admission is free for this educational and fun event!

This Saturday, Connecticut is all about the kids.

The 4th Annual Southeastern Connecticut Youth Festival is on Saturday, June 23rd starting at 10am (rain date is June 24th). The Festival is not only a fun time for school-age kids, but it’s also a one-stop shop for information on keeping your child safe, healthy and active. You’ll find CHIP identification kits in case your child is ever missing, and other demonstrations and exhibits. There will be special appearances by the Connecticut Tigers and the one and only Smokey the Bear, too!

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Starting tomorrow, the forecast is calling for intense summer heat. And if you’re anything like me, the LAST thing you want to do on a hot day is cook in a hot kitchen! Well, this is  a perfect opportunity to have a satisfying dinner on a hot night, while also helping a good cause. The East Haddam Fire Department is holding a Tip a Firefighter fundraiser this Wednesday, June 20th, at Hilltop BBQ in Moodus (directions here). Volunteers from the EHFD will serve your food and drinks all evening. The tips they earn will go toward the regular expenses to keep this Middlesex County department up and running. This is only the 2nd “Tip a Firefighter” event that the EHFD has ever held, so make sure to go out and show your support!

On Saturday, June 23rd, Post 71 of the American Legion will remember the soldiers and casualties of the Vietnam War with a 50th Anniversary Dinner at John J. Sullivan’s in Ansonia (directions here). The dinner will feature a keynote address by Peter C. Lemon, who is a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Your $45 ticket includes dinner, cocktails, and a “Heroes” Toast. There will also be silent auction items, a POW/MIA Remembrance, and appearances by other local officials and dignitaries. RSVP by tomorrow, June 20th, to reserve your seat by emailing the Post Adjutant or by calling (203)933-7112.

Gateway Community College has been an affordable choice for higher education in New Haven for the past 20 years. Now, an exciting new chapter is beginning for Gateway, as the beautiful new building in downtown New Haven will open for the first time this Thursday, June 21st!

Gateway's new building in downtown New Haven

The new building, on Church St near the New Haven Green (directions here), is a state of the art facility with classrooms for Nursing, Math & Science, Humanities, and other programs. The 358,000 square foot facility also includes 22 computer labs, an art gallery,  an Early Learning center, and several features that will make this new place an asset to the students and the community it serves.

The College is very proud of the eco-friendly building design, and it’s even been certified with LEED Gold level status. Building designers achieved this in a variety of ways, such as using recycled materials in the construction and by including energy-efficient lighting throughout the structure. You can learn more about LEED certification at this site, and Gateway’s green efforts with this link.

Thursday’s building dedication ceremony will include a message from Dr. Dorsey Kendrick, the President of Gateway, along with live music, refreshments, and building tours. The festivities begin at 5pm. You can learn more at Gateway’s website!

I love stories like these… when people come together to support a beloved member of their community. The 2 events that follow are both taking place this Saturday, and coincidentally, both are fundraisers relating to rare diseases of the brain.

1. The Gilead Congregational Church in Hebron is hosting a fundraiser for a member of their congregation, Ed Tluck. Ed was recently diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer, but moreover, Ed is a great guy who is beloved by the congregation and the local community. That’s why they’re holding the Ed Tluck Roast on Saturday, June 16th, from 4:00-7pm! (more…)

Now that most of Connecticut’s kids are done with school for the year, or will be by next week, what to do next? Well, certainly a lot of high school seniors are getting ready for college, underclassmen might be honing their skills for the fall semester, and the younger kids are prepping for summer camp. Let’s kick off the summer with a few events going on this week, specifically for the school-age kids!

1. North Haven High School’s 8th Annual Spring Brawl is this Friday, June 15th! Kickoff is at 5pm. This game pits Maroon against White; the team is split in two, and playing each other in an intrasquad scrimmage to end the spring practice season.

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Even though summer isn’t officially here yet, you can head out and enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend at a whole bunch of great festivals throughout Connecticut! Here are a few happening this weekend:

1. The Annual International Arts and Ideas Festival begins this Saturday, June 16th in New Haven! The Arts and Ideas Festival is a huge, 15-day celebration of music, theater, and all things “art”. You’ll see unique performances by artists from all around the globe, along with workshops, historic tours, foodie experiences, mixology classes, and plenty of family-friendly activities. A couple attention-grabbers include ERTH’s Dinosaur Petting Zoo and the Asphalt Orchestra!

Asphalt Orchestra

ERTH's Dinosaur Petting Zoo

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This week I’m featuring a couple of fundraising events that raise money to find a cure for catastrophic, potentially life-threatening illnesses.

1.The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is best known for its Light the Night events, where people all across the country light candles and walk to raise money for a cure. But they have other events going on, to keep the spirit of hope going all year long. On Tuesday, June 12th, you can join the L&LS Connecticut Chapter at Peoples Bank in Cos Cob for a Wine & Cheese networking event from 6:00-8pm. You’ll learn more about the Light the Night Walk, and how you can get involved. Also, bring your spare change… every little bit adds up to a cure for blood cancers! If you can’t make it to the Wine & Cheese itself, bring your spare change to Peoples Bank anytime between June 12th-June 23rd to add to the pot. Directions to the bank are at this link.

LTN 2012, New Haven

LTN 2012, Fairfield County

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