"VFW Salute to Connecticut Veterans"

Saluting Veterans from WWII through Iraqi Freedom
September 26 - 27 & 28, 2008
BRAINARD AIRPORT - HARTFORD, CT

On September 26 – 28, 2008, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will host "A Salute to all of Connecticut’s Veterans" to honor America’s military veterans from World War II through Iraqi Freedom. This event will educate the public about the sacrifices that American servicemen and women have made throughout history to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

Veterans from all conflicts since 1941 will be participating to make this event rewarding and memorable for participants and visitors of all ages. Displays featuring vehicles, aircraft and artifacts from each time period – World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom – will be coordinated into a cohesive timeline with aircraft demonstrations, vehicle and equipment displays and living history encampments.

World War II will be represented by a 101st Airborne Division Encampment complete with a C-47 Troop Transport, a P-51 Mustang with a complete, WWII fighter crew display and a F4U Corsair manned by re-enactors with the VF-11 Fighter Squadron. Additional vehicles such as an M4 Sherman Tank, Half Tracks Trucks and Jeeps will also fill out the WW II scenario.

A complete M.A.S.H. Unit (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) living history display, along with a vintage rescue helicopter, will be the focal point of the Korean War display. In addition, an AD-1 Skyraider, F4U-5N Corsair and Sikorsky H-19 helicopter and other vehicles will be on display.

As a special tribute to veterans of the Cold War, the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation’s C-54 Skymaster Transport Aircraft will be available for viewing. This unique aircraft, featuring a fascinating walk through exhibit, highlights the humanitarian efforts of the Berlin Airlift.

To honor the sacrifices made during the Viet Nam War, a Marine Corps H-34 Seahorse, Bell UH-I Huey helicopters and a Cessna O-2 Forward Air Controller aircraft will be on display.

To better help the public understand Desert Storm and the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom, there will be military aircraft and equipment from the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces at the event. Planned displays are an M-1 Abrams Tank, a Bradley Fighting vehicle, a HH-60 Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and an A-10 Warthog.

There will also be non- military displays to include the VFW sponsored NASCAR truck.

In order to help people understand the history behind the history, veterans from each era will be available to meet with the public so they can get a first-hand account of the experience of these veterans.

A ;Kids Info Scavenger Hunt is planned to encourage children to learn at the event. There will also be helicopter and C-47 rides available to those who would like to get a better understanding of what our brave veterans experienced while serving our country, musical entertainment and a skydiving team jumping in each day..

The VFW Veterans Salute will be an important event for the entire State of Connecticut and is expected to be one of the highlights of the year and any proceeds that the VFW receives from this three-day event will go directly to assisting needy veterans and their families in the State of Connecticut.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the general chairman, Ron (Rusko) Rusakiewicz at (860) 721-5941or e-mail generalchairman@veteranssalute.org.

You can check out the website at: 

http://www.veterans salute.org/

The 8th Annual Dragon Boat Races & Asian Festival will be present by Riverfront Recapture on Saturday, September 20 from 8 am to 6 pm.  This event will take place at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza which is located at 300 Columbus Boulevard in downtown Hartford.  This is a family friendly event that has both competitive Dragon Boat races and Asian entertainment, food, dragon and Chinese dancing, Japanese drumming, table tennis, martial arts demonstrations and more.  The festivities will begin with the ancient Chinese art of Dragon Dancing as dancers lead the paddlers to boats decorated with dragon heads and tails.  Starting at 8 am, teams of 20 will propel 40-foot dragon boats through the water during a friendly competition.  The entertainment then begins at 10 am.  There is no cost to attend this event.  For more information, please visit: www.riverfront.org.

2008 Convention Information - The 2008 TEACH convention brochure is now available for you to view. You will also be able to register!  Please click on the following link and register today: http://www.teachct.org/docs/2008ConventionBrochure.pdf

2008 Graduate Information: If your student would like to participate in the graduate recognition portion of the TEACH Convention on June 13, 2008, we would be pleased to include them! Please read the following information on our web site and then download and complete the graduate registration document:  http://www.teachct.org/2008grad.shtml

Thank you and God bless you!

TEACH

The new schedule for the spring Monday classes is up on Arts Alive's website.  All classes are held at the Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester, CT.  Here is the link to the Monday Classes webpage:

http://www.artsalivect.org/mondayhomeschoolclasses.html

From the website:

“Bodies Revealed is a groundbreaking exhibition that gives the public the unique opportunity to see first-hand the inner workings of our bodies through authentic, preserved human body specimens. In addition to providing a closer look at the skeletal, muscular, respiratory and other systems in the human body, the exhibition encourages healthy lifestyle choices. Bodies Revealed will enlighten, empower, fascinate and inspire. Visit the new exhibition located at Hartford 21, 241 Trumbull St., Hartford, CT. The exhibition opens December 22, 2007 and runs through March 23, 2008. The exhibition opens at 10:00 AM seven days a week and closes at 10:00 PM Daily.”

 http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/

I received this information from TEACH, a homeschool organization in CT, for more information about this organization, please visit www.teachct.org

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Greetings Homeschool friends --

Connecticut Homeschool Pride and Lobby Day, Wed., February 6th

1) A homeschool-friendly legislator, Representative O'Neill,  has reserved the corridor that runs between the Legislative Office Building and the State Capitol building for Wed., February 6th, 2008 for any homeschoolers who want to display examples of homeschooling projects, posters or other exhibits on what is being called "Connecticut Homeschool Pride and Lobby Day" 
 
February 6th is the first day of the new legislative session.  All legislators in both the House and Senate will be at their offices in the Legislative Office Building and will be using the corridor to get to the State Capitol building that day for opening ceremonies and for the first day of work this session. 

Parents and children who wish to do so may stay with their displays to greet legislators and answer any questions about their displays.  The building will be open at 8:00 a.m. and parents are requested to have the displays in place by 8:30 a.m.  The legislative session begins by 10:00 a.m. such that most legislators will be walking by this area first thing in the morning.   

You do not have to remain with your displays if you do not wish to do so.  There is a cafeteria in the Legislative Office Building for purchase of breakfast, lunch, or snacks.  

Everyone is encouraged to dress in their Sunday best and, as homeschooled children usually are, to be on their best behavior.  It is important to make the best impression possible to the legislators.  This is a unique opportunity to proudly display how successful homeschooling is and generally to get to know your legislators. Let's make the most of Representative O'Neill's gracious support and hospitality and encourage as many friends as possible to bring projects, posters, tables --- whatever will demonstrate to legislators that homeschooling is serving our children well!

2)  Families are encouraged throughout the day to visit their legislators in their offices, to introduce themselves to the legislators, and to ask their legislators if they are familiar with homeschooling or know any homeschoolers who are their constituents. Consider calling you legislator ahead of time and making an appointment for February 6th. If the legislators are not available at the time you visit, leave them a note that you stopped by and ask them to give you a phone call to schedule a future visit, in Hartford, in the local district, or in your home.  They usually are quite willing to sit down and chat with their constituents over coffee or tea, at which time you can discuss any aspect of homeschooling or other issues as you choose.

3)  On February 6, 2008, Rep. O'Neill's office will be arranging tours of the Capitol for any families who may wish to take the tour.  The tours will take place beginning at 1:00 p.m.  You can contact Rep. O'Neill's office ahead of time to schedule the tour.  Call 1-800-842-1423 and ask for his office.  His aide is Jake Bookwalter.

4)  As many families as possible are asked to visit their legislators and seek their support of the bill that Rep. O'Neill will propose this session which will compel public school officials to accept letters of withdrawal from parents and to immediately consider their children withdrawn from the public school system. The bill would codify the right all parents have had since the beginning of the school system: that they can withdraw their children at any time for any reason without any conditions being placed on them by the school system.  

More information about Rep. O'Neill's bill can be obtained at the following website:
  http://www.housegop.ct.gov/members/surveys/2007_homeschooling.asp

These classes are to provide enrichment as well as cooperative learning experiences to homeschool families.  They have partnered with Arts Alive! and the Lutz Children's Museum to offer a variety of classes.  The classes all take place on Mondays at the Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester, CT.  To get more information or to view their winter session schedule, please visit: http://www.artsalivect.org/mondayhomeschoolclasses.html

CHRISTMIVEST is back!  Ambassador Arts, LLC's holiday sensation returns with more tales of snow, fun, and present-peeking peril, while presenting the true reason for Christmas!  It's meaningful entertainment for the whole family.   Be swept away on a journey of holiday adventures by internationally acclaimed performers Daniel Cossette, Judy Buch, and George Sarris, through the unique art forms of mime, ventriloquism, and storytelling.   Relive classics like the Grinch! Attend the Nativity of the Christ! Plus all new stories, and an array of characters that will leave you laughing and refreshed.  All at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Rd.Manchester  December 15th, 1:30pm and 7pm And December 16th, 3pm For tickets call: 860-268-3744 Box office: $15, early bird $10, groups of five or more $7   It's Christmas with MIVEST!  (MIme, VEntriloquism, and STorytelling...)

Daniel Cossette
www.ambassadorarts.org

There is a new Christian homeschool support group that focuses on a relaxed approach to homeschooling in Connecticut.  They will be meeting in the northern section of Hartford County.  Part of their intro and vision for the group is:

We are a Christian group of relaxed homeschoolers in Connecticut. We homeschool using a variety of methods such as, but not limited to, Charlotte Mason, Moore Formula, Lifestyle of Learning, relaxed, lapbooking, notebooking, and many others. We are here to support one another, to learn from each other, and to grow as Christian homeschoolers. If you have a special needs child(ren), please know that you are most welcome to come and join us! Later in the year, we will be starting up some field trips, get togethers, family activities, and park days. Watch for more info. in the coming months! This information was taken from the group's Yahoogroup intro page.

For more information about this group, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CCTrelaxedhomeschoolers