West Hartford CT Community Notes


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Cultural coaches sought for Duffy students

West Hartford - Duffy Elementary School students are seeking cultural coaches to assist in content creation for a cultural language website.
The 5th grade students are part of a project called “The Global World Within Our Borders” and are researching the top seven languages (beyond English) spoken within West Hartford.
More than 24 percent of residents speak a language other than English in their West Hartford homes, according to teacher Clare Taylor.  The new website will feature cultural research reports, customs, traditions, conversational phrases and etiquette.
West Hartford resident coaches are sought for the following languages; Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Nepalese, Portuguese, Russian, and Urdu.
Please contact Clare_Taylor@whps.org for more.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Northwest Catholic competes at major jazz festival

Boston, MA – The largest high school jazz competition in the U.S. – Berklee College of Music’s 46th High School Jazz Festival – will host more than 200 bands and vocal ensembles featuring 3,000 students from 13 states competing for $175,000 in scholarships to Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program. Participants will also enjoy clinics and concerts by Snarky Puppy, whose funk-influenced r&b chops earned them the 2014 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance, and by Cloud Ludum Ensemble, which presents an interactive music program allowing audiences to hone their compositional techniques.

In addition to witnessing performances by the top high school jazz bands in the country, audiences will have the chance to experience top Berklee students performing in a salsa ensemble, a Tower of Power ensemble, a P-Funk ensemble, and other ensembles in addition to a performance by the college’s a cappella group, Pitch Slapped.

Students will also be honored for outstanding achievements in jazz composition. Matt Wong is this year’s winner of the annual Herb Pomeroy Jazz Composition/Arranging Contest and will hear his composition “Prima Luce” performed by the Berklee Rainbow Band, Berklee’s longest-running ensemble and one of the world’s oldest collegiate big bands. Wong, a San Francisco School of the Arts student, will receive a full scholarship to the Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Dizziness clinic celebrates 5th anniversary

Hartford- Dr. Marc Eisen, Director of Hearing & Balance Center at Hartford Hospital and one of Connecticut’s most prominent neurotologist, will give a presentation on the effects of dizziness and vertigo, and how this condition may affect a person’s quality of life and safety with mobility. Dr. Marc Eisen is a regular speaker and media commentator on the subject of hearing loss, treatment of dizziness and balance disorders. 

This informational session is opened to the public and offered to individuals of all ages experiencing dizziness, vertigo or general difficulties with balance. Balance and vestibular screenings will be offered before seminar.
 
Dizziness is an uncomfortable feeling of motion when there is no actual movement. The feeling of motion is commonly described as spinning or whirling, but it also may include sensations of falling or tilting.

“Feeling unsteady or dizzy can be caused by many factors such as poor circulation, inner ear disease, medication usage, injury, infection, allergies, and/or neurological disease,” said Dr. Eisen. “Dizziness is treatable, but it is important for your doctor to help you determine the cause so that the correct treatment is implemented.”


Dr. Marc Eisen, who is board-certified in neurotology and fellowship trained at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in neurotology, leads the Hearing & Balance Center at Hartford Hospital, working alongside a team of highly trained audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and vestibular therapists to provide care to patients suffering from hearing impairment and balance disorders. The Hearing and Balance Center has access to all of the resources of Hartford Hospital, Connecticut Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates, and Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Network. 

“The goal of the presentation is to enlighten the audience and introduce our team of specialists and locations where patients can go and get proper diagnosis,” added Dr. Eisen.

The presentation on dizziness and vertigo will take place on Thursday, March 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The dizziness clinic is located at 65 Memorial Rd, Suite 425 in West Hartford (Blue Back Square).

For more information on the program, or to register for the presentation, call 860.545.1888.

KO's middle school mock trial team advances


West Hartford – The Mock Trial team from Kingswood Oxford’s Middle School won both sides of its argument in a regional competition on Feb. 6, making it one of only four out of 13 schools to advance to the semifinals.
Comprising 21 students from grades 6, 7 and 8, the Mock Trial team is coached by KO English teachers Nancy Horowitz and Lynne Levine, assisted by Attorney Ryan Costantini, who works full time at United Technologies.
More than 200 students competed in the regional event, which was sponsored by Civics First and held at KO.
"Everyone (on KO's team) was spectacular and rose to the challenge," said Mrs. Horowitz. "Kudos especially to Phoebe Taylor '18, who was sick the whole day but still did an amazing job as a lawyer, and to Kian Issari '18, who did an outstanding job as a witness."
The semifinal round will be held on Feb. 25 in Madison.
Kingswood Oxford, located steps from Blue Back Square, nurtures clear, confident communicators; resourceful problem-solvers; and innovative leaders. There is still some room in some grades for September 2014 enrollment; for information or to set up an interview, contact the Admissions Office at admissions@k-o.org.
Photo: Kingswood Oxford’s Middle School Mock Trial team is made up of 21 students from grades 6, 7 and 8, who are coached by KO English teachers Nancy Horowitz, Lynne Levine, and Attorney Ryan Costantini, who works for United Technologies. Photo by Elizabeth Taylor.

HHC Chinese community outreach project

Hebrew Health Care's Amina Weiland (陳勉蘭), Coordinator of Dementia Care Services, has been the driving force behind Hebrew Health Care's Chinese Community Outreach Initiatives.

Amina is working with the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (APAAC) on their "I Speak" project. She was also invited to join the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The Committee has been working on Family and Provider Need Questionnaires. She translated the questionnaires and other related materials into Chinese for members in the community.

Hebrew Health Care, partnering with Elmwood Senior Center, offers a Chinese Family Caregiver Support Group, which is affiliated with the Alzheimer's Association, CT Chapter. This was the first support group of its kind created in the State of Connecticut.

Along with the Elmwood Senior Center, CHOICES counseling is offered. CHOICES counseling is a program that provides information and assistance necessary for those in the Chinese community to understand their rights, receive benefits they are entitled to, and to make informed choices about health insurance concerns.

In March, Amina will present "Steps to Developing Successful Cross-Cultural Outreach for Chinese-Americans" at Aging in America, the 2014 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging.

For more information on Hebrew Health Care's Chinese Community Outreach Initiatives, contact Amina Weiland at (860)920-1810 or aweiland@hebrewhealthcare.org or visit www.agingcareacademy.org. ​

HHC seniors enjoy museum visit


West Hartford - Members of Hebrew Health Care’s Adult Day Services explored warmer climates as they viewed Hawaiian art and artifacts at the New Britain Museum of American Art.

The museum visitors, all artists from the Fresh Canvas: Alzheimer’s Arts Program toured the exhibits with their art therapy consultant and staff of the Hebrew Health Care Adult Day Center. The museum generously provided a free tour, and three docents took turns explaining the history, background, and elements of artwork from the 17th to the 20th century. After the tour, Mary Alice Landry, the Fresh Canvas consultant, led a lively discussion on and provided a positive opportunity for the participants to creatively express themselves.

The goal of Fresh Canvas is to allow participants to use the creative process involved in artistic expression to resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, to reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness. “It amazes me,” said Charmaine Emond, recreation therapist at the Hebrew Health Care ADC, “that despite their significant memory deficits, the artwork they do often becomes the muse for our creative writing groups several days later.”


“When I’m with that group, I don’t think of my losses or symptoms; I’m just me,” said F.R., a member of the group. Since attending the Day Center at Hebrew Health Care, F.R. has blossomed and surpassed all expectations for engaging in life at this stage of his dementia. “I don’t know how they get him involved,” said his wife, “But when he’s there, he’s amazing – at home, he often just sleeps.”

Fresh Canvas has been funded since 2005 by the Bella and Max Shulman Family Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. For more information on the Adult Day Center at Hebrew Health Care, call Maureen at 860-523-3857. For information about dementia specific programs at Hebrew Health Care, or supportive services, visit www.hebrewhealthcare.org.


Cooking dinner through the storm




Elmwood Community Church members Will Cook and Cindy Gauthier prepared Shepherd's Pie on Saturday to be served at Hartford's South Park Inn homeless shelter on Sunday. The church's Board of Missions prepares and serves 6 dinners for the shelter each year, including a hot meal, sandwiches, drinks and desserts.

Charter Oaks students compete at LEGO Expo


As an International Baccalaureate World School, Charter Oak International Academy works to develop challenging programs that encourage students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners.

A team of Charter Oak students recently participated in the Junior FIRST LEGO League Regional Expo held at Farmington High School on Saturday, January 25. Teams are composed of up to 6 students, ages 6-9. Charter Oak was represented by first graders Azul Montiel and Benjamin Kirschner; second graders Karolina Suarez Aldarondo and David Rodriguez; and third graders Andrew Paridy and Tyler Ngai. Coaches for the “Crazy for LEGOs Crew” were parent/Pratt & Whitney engineer Monica Mohtasham and Anna Ybarra, a member of the Conard High School robotics team.

Friday, February 7, 2014

91 Kingswood Oxford students make honor role

WEST HARTFORD – Ninety-one West Hartford residents earned a spot on the first-semester honor roll at Kingswood Oxford School. 

To make the honor roll, a student must have a B+ average with no grade lower than a C.

The West Hartford residents earning honor roll recognition are Cole Adams, Benjamin Akerele, Ananya Alleyne, Grace Amell, Maitland Bailey, Lauren Barnes, Molly Baron, John Barry, Hannah Bash, Maxwell Bash, Sasha Bash, James Bayer, Julia Bayer, Alexandra Brown, Christopher Carangelo, Haley Carangelo, Elizabeth Charette, Tucker Charette, Benjamin Coady. Elana Colangelo, Olivia Cowherd, Jane Dunbar, Hayley Eicher, Corinne Florian, Katherine Gianni, Sarah Gianni, Zachary Goldman, Joan Grano-Burzymowska, Matthew Gutermann, Amara Haider, Michael Hains, Talitha Holcombe, Colt Jarvis, Eryk Jones, Molly Jones, Jessica Joyce, Milo Kashey, Caroline Kaufman, Isabel Kaufman, Olivia Krieble

Monday, February 3, 2014

Residents honored by Saint Francis Hospital

HARTFORD- West Hartford residents Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell are the recipients of the Saint Francis Care Spirit Award, a recognition of service that exemplifies the hospital’s mission and core values.
Over the past three decades, the commitment of the Mandells to Saint Francis and the community has been awe-inspiring.  Their philanthropic pursuits – to name a few – include support for: Babson College, the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, the Hartford Arts Council, the Mandell Jewish Community Center, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Connecticut Science Center. 
In 2008, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, a Saint Francis provider, opened the doors to a new, comprehensive medical center specializing in programs, services, and groundbreaking research dedicated solely to the care of patients with multiple sclerosis. The Center would not have been possible without this couple’s very generous $1 million founding gift.  It now bears the Mandell name: The Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research.
Prior to the creation of the Center, this type of specialized and comprehensive service for MS patients was not provided in the Greater Hartford region, and treatment was rarely available nationwide.  To date 1,517 MS patients have benefited from this couple’s vision.
Family, community, education, philanthropy – these are the core values of this couple which they have instilled in their family and our community, for the benefit of generations to come.
The Spirit Award given to the Mandells features a representation of the chambered nautilus shell, considered a symbol of perfection and harmony since the time of the ancient Greeks. Living in its outermost chamber, the nautilus moves from old to new as it grows, repeating the intricate, strengthening symmetry of its shell.

TD Bank names West Hartford store manager

WEST HARTFORD: TD Bank has promoted Jayme P. DeMers to assistant vice president, store manager of the store located at 143 South Main St. in West Hartford. DeMers is responsible for new business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the store serving customers throughout the area.

DeMers has 10 years of banking experience. She joined TD Bank in 2004 as a Teller and later served as a Head Teller before her most recent position as Assistant Store Manager in Manchester, Conn. DeMers is a member of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce.

A Manchester resident, DeMers has completed studies at the Connecticut School of Finance & Management (CSFM). She is originally from Winsted, Conn., where she graduated from The Gilbert School in 2003.

TD Bank focuses on delivering legendary customer service by providing seven-day branch banking with extended hours, Penny Arcade coin-counting machines, hassle-free products, free online banking and bill pay at www.tdbank.com, and treats for kids and dogs. Customers also have access to a network of 2,700 ATMs
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