Spring has sprung, and Project Green Sweep sweeps back through town

Stratford’s annual town-wide spring cleanup program, Project Green Sweep, is coming up this weekend, on Saturday, May 1st. A kick-off rally with free t-shirts and water bottles starts at 9 a.m. on the Town Hall Green. Mayor John Harkins, the Stratford Beautification Committee and the Stratford Conservation Commission are sponsoring the all-volunteer project. Stratford will be one of 17,000 communities participating nationally in the Great American Cleanup. Approximately 200 volunteers have participated annually in Project Green Sweep. Along with the River Clean-Up, a joint effort including Milford and Shelton to clean up the Housatonic River shoreline, the groups involved collected over 37 tons of litter and bulk wastes last year from parks, schools, community areas, and other public areas of our fair city. Besides the fun and satisfaction of working on a community event, participants will receive excellent swag: complimentary T-shirts with the Project Green Sweep logo, bottles of water and light refreshments at a rally scheduled for 9:00 am on the Town Hall Green. All are asked to bring tools. However, gloves, bags, and trash posts will be distributed to those who are unable to provide their own. To volunteer in the spring cleanup, interested persons should contact Town Planner David Killeen at 203-385-4017 or by email at dkilleen@townofstratford.com.

Little-known movie gems on the screen

A film buff's pick of great films you never heard of-- April 26-29, 2010 in Stratford The Stratford Library, 2203 Main Street in Stratford will present its fourth annual film festival of little-seen movies, “Great Movies You Missed”, beginning Monday, April 26 through Thursday, April 29, 2010. The series is free and open to the public. “Great Movies You Missed” will highlight five critically acclaimed films that – for whatever reason – did not reach a wide audience during their general release. One of this year’s films is a recent Oscar nominee while another is a rarely shown comedy from 1980. The library series will feature guest film critics Joe Meyers from the Connecticut Post and Tom Holehan of Elm City Newspapers for commentary prior to the screenings. The complete schedule for “Great Movies You Missed” is: April 26: “Goodbye Solo” (2009): When Senegalese taxi driver Solo picks up William, an elderly patron in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the older man hires him for another trip in two weeks. But as they continue to talk, an unusual friendship grows and Solo soon realizes that William plans to kill himself on his next trip. “One of the year’s 10 best films!” – New York Times. Shown at noon. Rated R, 91 minutes. April 27: “Every Little Step” (2009): An up-close look at the behind-the-scenes drama of producing the 2006 Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line”. This fascinating documentary draws parallels between the interactions of the aspiring actors and the events of the play while also revealing never-before-seen footage of the original classic and its creators. Shown at noon. Rated PG-13, 93 minutes. April 28: “A Serious Man” (2009): Larry Gopnik (Golden Globe nominee Michael Stuhlbarg) hits a severe “rough patch” as he journeys through an eventful mid-life crisis. Oscar winning directors Joel & Ethan (“Fargo”, “No Country for Old Men”) Cohen’s 1960s set dark Jewish-culture send-up was a surprise Academy Award nominee this year for “Best Picture”. Shown at noon. Rated R, 106 minutes. April 29: “One False Move” (1991): Edge-of-your-seat thriller about two drug dealers and their female cohort who commit a string of bloody murders in Los Angeles and then flee to hide out in a small town in Arkansas. Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton star in this riveting drama. Shown at noon. Rated R, 105 minutes. April 29: “Just Tell Me What You Want” (1980): Bitchy upper-class comedy about an obnoxious tycoon (Alan King) who drives his long-time mistress (Ali MacGraw, surprisingly effective) into the arms of a younger man and then does everything he can to get her back. Little-seen comic gem will be introduced by Connecticut Post arts critic Joe Meyers. Shown at 7 pm. Rated R, 112 minutes. All movies will be shown uncut and in widescreen format. The film festival, recommended for adult audiences, will be held in the library’s Lovell Room. For further information, call the Stratford Library’s Public Relations and Programming Office at 203.385.4162.

One book One Stratford -- reaching Stratford and beyond

Stratford Library's recent "One Book, One Stratford" event brought an impressive number of people to the library for the first time, drawn by their interest in author Jennifer Baszile's memoir. Prof. Baszile's book is a candid look at growing up during the 1970s-- a transitional time in American race relations-- when school integration was the law of the land but informal barriers to social integration were still prevalent. Many people told us they appreciated these discussions as a chance to share their own stories and learn from the experiences of others. One of our library staff members, Ann Stockman, recently had the opportunity to tell Prof. Camille Cooper of Yale University's Comer School Development Program about the success of the "One book" program. The two women met at a public program on improving public schools, which Ann attended as part of her involvement with Stratford's C.A.R.E. group. After viewing pictures and receiving email about our program with author Jennifer Baszile, Prof. Cooper has expressed interest in being kept informed about about future happenings at the library.

Spotlight on: C.A.R.E. Ann is an active member of the Stratford group, Stratford Citizens Addressing Racial Equality. C.A.R.E. volunteers work to open communication among residents of all ages, socio-economic groups, races and ethnicities in non-confrontational ways to break down stereotypes, build trust and find ways to work together. For more information on how Stratford C.A.R.E., or to become a member, please contact Stratford Community Services at 203.385.4095 or send an e-mail to communityservices@townofstratford.com.

Broadway at the Stratford Library

Are you excited about the Tony nominations coming out in May? Do you use your time in the shower to belt out "Cabaret"? Could you have been a toe-tapping, high-stepping Broadway babe in a previous life? Then we have a few suggestions for you. First of all, take a trip down to the library on Thursday or Friday to see the terrific collection of Broadway books and DVDs that we have.

Piano scores for Broadway favorites? We got 'em. DVDs capturing terrific stage performances of classics like Oklahoma, Rent, and Fosse? Yes, yes, yes. Come on in and indulge your Broadway fantasies with a little help from the library.

And as a second act... Please join us this Saturday, April 24, at our annual fundraiser for the library's book collection, Broadway Comes to Stratford. It's like a festive cocktail party with performances by Broadway vocalists and musicians. It's always fun, always sparkly, and it supports our library. (So, for example, we could add even more Broadway treasures to our music and DVD collection!)

If you'd like be a guest at this annual event to benefit the library, call Heather at 203.385.4166. Tickets start at $75. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

The library will be closed to the public this weekend so we can set up and host this special event. Our hours this week are Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 8 pm, Friday 10 am - 5 pm, and then reopening as usual on Monday morning at 10 am.

Music, magic and applause raise funds for the Library

The Stratford Library Board of Trustees presents its annual major fundraiser for the library on Saturday, April 24 beginning at 6:30 pm. The seventh annual “Broadway Comes to Stratford” is a gala evening of musical vignettes, exciting hors d’ouevres, open cocktail buffet, and delectable desserts. For just one evening each year, the library is transformed into a multi-stage cabaret. Throughout the evening, party-goers visit three different "sets" that have risen up like magic in the normally quiet rooms of the library, where they enjoy the talents of Broadway-trained vocalists and musicians. The grand finale in the Main Lobby sends everyone home with a smile and a song. This year's event features top-notch entertainment including Broadway soprano Mara Bonde, accompanied by Allen Bonde. The Connecticut Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Sayard Stone, features violin soloist Bernice Stochek Friedson. Pianist David Childs performs during intermission breaks. The evening also features a silent auction of a variety of prize packages. All proceeds benefit the library’s book collection. Tickets for the event are available in three separate categories: Supporting Cast ($75), Orchestra ($100) and Producer ($150). Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Seating is limited and reservations are required by calling the library at 203.385.4166. Attire is semi-formal.

Actor/singer/dancer Kirby Ward performs in the Main Lobby at 2009's "Broadway comes to Stratford." Yes, that is a piano in front of the Check-out Desk!

Earth Day turns 40 this year

Who would you guess was the original founder of Earth Day?

	Rachel Carson, the pioneering author of Silent Spring.
	Jacques Cousteau, the world-famous explorer, photographer, and ecologist.
	Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.

The answer is Senator Nelson. In the mid-1960s, Senator Nelson observed that more and more Americans were expressing concern about the health of our rivers, oceans and wildlife, and yet politicians didn't seem to be getting the message. In 1969 he conceived the idea of a single day of teach-ins and gatherings, a "nationwide, grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment." That was the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970.

Forty years later, every schoolchild reminds his parents to recycle, and you can buy organic foods (and the canvas reusable bag to put them in) at Wal-mart. How will we celebrate Earth Day in another 40 years? Will our progress towards a more sustainable lifestyle speed up, or slow down?

At the library we have books and films on all aspects of environmental questions. Here are just a few you might find interesting:

• In A World Without Ice, geophysicist Henry Pollack paints a compelling portrait of the delicate geological balance between ice and climate, and why its rapid disappearance portends serious consequences in our not-so-distant future.
• Bjorn Lomborg argues in his book, Cool it - The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide To Global Warming that many of the expensive actions now being considered to stop global warming are based on emotional rather than strictly scientific assumptions, and may very well have little impact on the world's temperature for hundreds of years.
• In Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy, Gwyneth Cravens makes the case that nuclear energy should be reconsidered by environmentalists as a source of sustainable energy for a cleaner, greeener world.

Spotlight on: The Beardsley Zoo. Beardsley Zoo in nearby Bridgeport will be the site of a Party for the Planet on the weekend of April 17th-18th -- a two-day Earth Day celebration, from 10 am - 3 pm each day. "The Party for the Planet is about encouraging local, organic, earth-friendly choices as a way of promoting better health for our planet and ourselves," said Gregg Dancho, Zoo director. An educational "Citizen Science Corner" will show families how to get involved with caring for our environment, and environmentally-friendly products and services will be on display. Live music and the special displays are included in the regular zoo admission.