A Day Of Mindfulness To Celebrate The Earth

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Oct 24, 2008 12:00 am

SOUTHBURY â âTouch the Earth in Mindfulness with joy and compassion. The Earth will heal you and you will heal the Earth.â

These words of Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, an 82-year old Vietnamese Buddhist monk whose teachings are well regarded throughout the world, have a special relevance at this time of concern for our environment and our world. Climate changes, economic meltdown, individual greed at the expense of the majority, political polarization, an unfinished warâ¦ these are at the forefront of our everyday lives and they touch our personal well-being and the health of the planet.

Obviously, there is a great deal of healing that needs to be done. Through mindfulness â the practice of living in the present â peace and healing are possible in oneâs self and in the world, according to Nhat Hanh.

Anyone interested in joining in the healing process is welcome to attend âA Day of Mindfulness to Celebrate the Earthâ on Saturday, November 1, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River.

The day-long program will incorporate a variety of activities focused on getting in touch with the Earth. It will be a day of introspection, appreciation, learning, quiet meditation and sharing, and will include: Qi Gong, a sitting meditation, a CD Dharma talk by Thich Nhat Nanh, an outdoor walking meditation on the beautiful Audubon Center grounds, Dharma sharing, total relaxation, and a session on drawing Mandalas facilitated by local artist Dorie Petrochko.

Participants do not need to be experienced in meditation or familiar with Buddhist teachings. All faiths are welcome.

Participants should bring their own brown bag vegetarian lunch and a mug for tea (the tea will be provided). Although chairs will be provided, you may be more comfortable sitting or meditating on your own mat, cushion or blanket. Â Dress appropriately for the weather as part of the program will be outdoors.

Registration or more information is available by contacting Judith E. Stevens via email (JudithEStevens@charter.net) or phone (264-7807). Those registering will be asked to provide their name, email address, phone number, and the number of people who will be attending with them..

A $15 fee per person will be collected at the door. Participants are asked to arrive by 9:30 am to complete registration as the program will begin promptly at 10.

The Audubon Center at Bent of the River is located at 185 East Flat Hill Road in South Britain, off Route 172 (turn onto East Flat Hill Road, between South Britain General Store and the congregational church). The Audubon Center is the first left on East Flat Hill Road.

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The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

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The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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A Day Of Mindfulness To Celebrate The Earth

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