The Connellan Prize, open to students at the four Connecticut state universities (CSUS), is named for the former poet laureate of Connecticut, who was also the CSUS poet-in-residence. The John Holmes Award, given by the New England Poetry Club, the o
The Connellan Prize, open to students at the four Connecticut state universities (CSUS), is named for the former poet laureate of Connecticut, who was also the CSUS poet-in-residence. The John Holmes Award, given by the New England Poetry Club, the oldest poetry club in the country, is presented for a single outstanding poem by an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a New England college. Mr Keylock has been working toward an MA in creative writing at Southern, but was accepted into the universityâs new MFA program in creative writing, which starts in the fall, so he will continue his work in that program. He earned his undergraduate degree at Southern, as well as an MS in English with teacher certification. Mr Keylock also co-coaches, with poetry slam champion Elizabeth Thomas, Connecticutâs youth poetry slam team.
I want to be sure and offer congratulations, too, to Raymond Xu, who won honors for his musical skill at the Selected Student Competition of Connecticut State Music Teachers Association ceremony held on May 2. Raymond takes piano from Newtown resident Alina Henriques. A little bird (Okay. It was his mom.) whispered to me that this was the second year in a row the musically talented middle schooler won the competition. Next stop, Carnegie Hall?
Newtown Junior Womenâs Club Beautiful Baby Contest organizer Lois Barber wants to remind parents that not only will the winning baby get his/her photo in The Newtown Bee, be featured in the Labor Day Parade, and win a gift basket, but that the $10 entry fee supports Newtown Relay For Life and Homes For Our Troops, an organization providing custom homes for service men and women who have lost multiple limbs. Final votes for the Beautiful Baby Contest will be tallied and the winner announced at the June 13 Newtown Relay For Life event at Fairfield Hills. For more information on entering your beautiful baby, and to support these great causes, contact Lois at 270-8017.
There are other beautiful babies around town, too. âAnimals are setting up territories and building nests,â I overheard someone say this week. Nests? I like a warm nesting spot on the windowsill ⦠but back to what I have heard: a lot of the wildlife is raising its young, and baby birds, turtle eggs, fawns, and fox dens could be just outside your window, at the corner of a parking lot alongside a stream, under a porch, or in the tall grass beside the shed. Leave the nests and young alone!
The babies have not been abandoned. Any good mother knows where her babies are. She might be off hunting for food, or simply keeping enough distance to prevent drawing predatorsâ attention to her brood. From the Department of Environmental Protection, I learned that does feed their fawn several times a day, but only for a few minutes. Birds that first leave the nest may do a lot of hopping before they learn to fly. No feathers on the nestling? He might have fallen from his nest, or the entire nest may have fallen. Relocate the nest in a nearby tree or shrub and bolster it with a small basket if necessary.
Leave the baby alone unless youâre certain the mother has not reappeared after a day or two, or if the animal is injured. But donât touch; I know I would scratch or bite if you tried to touch a sore spot on me. Contact the DEP wildlife division at 860-424-3011, or their emergency dispatch center at 860-424-3333, if you have any questions at all about baby animals that appear to be abandoned.
Donât chicken out! The 35th Annual Parks & Rec Rooster Run is coming up Saturday June 6 at 8:30 am at Reed Intermediate School. All proceeds from the $18 registration fee ($20 day of the race; $15 for students) will benefit the Newtown Scholarship Association. Look for registration forms at Parks & Rec office, Church Hill Physical Therapy, Bagel Delight, and New Balance in Bethel, or go online to newtown-ct.gov/public_documents/NewtownCT_Park/index. If you win, youâll certainly have something to crow about.
I donât have much more to crow about this week, but I promise to come up with something new if you promise next week toâ¦. Read me again.