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COMMISSION ON CULTURE & TOURISM’S CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM
Deadline to Submit Application is December 21st, 2007
The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) Challenge Grant Program assists non-profit culture and tourism entities in their efforts to promote attractions and events. CCT Challenge Grant funds are available to arts, history, film, heritage and tourism entities. The new grant program creates a partnership between CCT and its constituents, supports product development and extends CCT’s strategic marketing efforts.
The proposed projects considered for funding must have a definable impact on the culture and tourism industry and encourage innovation and job development. The following types of projects will receive greater consideration: new or unique projects, projects that encourage culture and tourism visitation to a region rather than a single community, projects that expand existing cultural and tourism marketing efforts, and projects that ensure extended stays. Any proposed project must support or further CCT’s Statewide Strategic Marketing Plan, which can be viewed here: http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2128&q=302590&CCTNAV_GID=1686.
Challenge Grant Program deadline is December 21, 2007. Grants will be awarded in February 2008 for activities that take place between April 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009. The minimum grant fund that can be requested is $7,500 and the maximum is $30,000. A matching formula of 1-1 is required. State or Federal funds cannot be used as a match. The program seeks to raise dollars by creating partnerships with private sector industry. Applicants must have a non-profit status. If there are partners in the project, the lead applicant must have non-profit status while other partners can be either non-profits and/or for profits. To download applications log onto www.cultureandtourism.org and click on “Challenge Grant Program Applications” under “HOT TOPICS”.
CONNECTICUT & GREATER NEW HAVEN HOST DNE’S 13TH ANNUAL TOURISM SUMMIT & INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE
Early Bird Registration Deadline is January 15th
April 14-16, 2008 Discover New England's 13th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace will be held at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale in New Haven.
This is a great opportunity to meet and do business with over 40 international tour operators from the UK, Germany, France, and Ireland, as well as receptive operators from the United States. Operators will be at this event to expand their New England product. The Summit is also a great forum for discussing industry trends with New England hospitality colleagues.
Register for the 13th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace by using DNE’s new online registration system; http://www.discovernewengland.org/summit.html. Please note: This is the only way to register for the event, DNE not be mailing out paper registrations as done in the past.
CELEBRATIONS GALLERY & SHOPPES TO BE FEATURED ON BETTER CONNECTICUT
Last week, Celebrations Gallery had a special visit from Scot Haney, WFSB Weatherman and Co-host of the new "Better Connecticut" show! The gallery will be featured on an upcoming episode of “Better Connecticut”! Stay tuned for more date and time!
Celebrations Gallery & Shoppes, located on Route 169 in Pomfret, offers an ever-changing collection of original pieces from local and regional artists and designers. Featuring original art, reproductions, & specialty items with artistic style with just a touch of whimsical flair - all within ten rooms on two floors. Log onto www.celebrationsshoppes.com for more information and to learn about the gallery’s latest events and promotions.
JOHN O’BRIEN RECEIVES CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
John A. O’Brien, President of Foxwoods Resort Casino (pictured here on the left), and Charles W. Shivery, Chairman, President and CEO of Northeast Utilities (right) were both recipients of the 20th Annual Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award at a dinner held in their honor at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented annually by the Connecticut Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America, to recognize the outstanding contributions made by deserving community leaders who exemplify the ideals of Scouting in their daily lives, and add to the quality of life of others.
Photo Credit: Connecticut Rivers Council
THE LAST GREEN VALLEY’S 10 IDEAS FOR LAST-MINUTE GREEN GIFTS
There are only a few shopping days left before Christmas and for procrastinators, easy last-minute suggestions might just help them find the perfect gift for those on their shopping lists. So here are some unorthodox, creative and environmentally friendly ideas that will make perfect gifts:
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Give a basket of light bulbs! Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts, so your gift will save the recipient lots of cash in the years to come!
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Give a gift certificate to a local orchard for fruit or cider; or make a gift of locally produced wines, honey or maple syrup. Be sure to include the name and address of the grower.
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A gift of a bird feeder and/or birdseed is a great way to liven up someone’s backyard or windowsill for the winter. Add a field guide to native birds for identification!
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Books on organic gardening or sustainable living make great gifts. So do subscriptions to “green” publications, like Sustainable Times, Organic Gardening, Edible Nutmeg and e-Magazine (all available on-line for last minute shoppers).
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A very thoughtful gift is a battery charger and corresponding rechargeable batteries, especially for a household with lots of battery-operated toys!
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Go to your local nursery or greenhouse for a gift certificate that can be used for native landscaping plants or interesting houseplants to liven up the winter.
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Make and deliver dinner to a busy family! Mom will love it!
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Give a gift of your time: volunteer in honor of a friend to keep a roadway or trail clean, mentor a student, or help out in a local soup kitchen.
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Give a gift of your skills, great and small. Everyone is so grateful for help with small household repairs, baking, driving, babysitting, cleaning or snow shoveling.
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Give a gift to a “green” organization to honor a friend or relative.
THE LAST GREEN VALLEY’S 10 WAYS TO WRAP GREEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The Last Green Valley has made it easier to wrap a gift and reduce your carbon footprint during the holiday season with these creative and inexpensive suggestions for “green” gift-wrapping this year:
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Purchase recycled gift-wrap. You can identify it by the triangular “recycled” logo.
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Reuse gift paper that was carefully unwrapped and saved. Larger sheets often have flat and unblemished surfaces in the center that can work for smaller packages. An iron set on the lowest temperature can make paper wrap look new. Of course, gift bags are very easy to reuse.
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Make your own paper. This is a great project for kids. A roll of brown paper or brown bags can be decorated with paintings, drawings, stamping or glue and glitter.
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Use a basket. It’s a great way to present a gift and the recipient can reuse it. Just don’t use the plastic liners and wrap that often accompany basket containers.
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Recycle holiday cards you received last year into gift tags. With a few creative cuts, you can partially cut out illustrations and make three-dimensional tags that will make a great impression.
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Place your gifts in a reusable shopping bag that the recipient can use over and over. (Reusable shopping bags made from recycled material are available from The Last Green Valley, 6 for $10, call 860-963-7226 for more info.)
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Let the gift be the wrapping! Gardening supplies can be presented in a watering can or bucket, for example.
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Be creative. Hide a gift card in a plate of holiday cookies!
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Use natural ribbons like raffia, or tie together a cluster of pinecones and greens instead of using synthetic bows.
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Dispose of wrappings after the big day in a responsible way. Most paper wraps can be recycled with paper and cardboard.
IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN MYSTIC COUNTRY
We’ve complied a list of holiday events for you to enjoy! For a complete list of events log onto www.mysticcountry.com.
Kenny Rogers Christmas Show, December 21
Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour, one of the longest running Christmas tours in the country, is coming to Uncasville for a performance on Friday, December 21st at 8:00 pm in the Mohegan Sun Arena. America's Got Talent Television Star Julienne Irwin and Grammy Award Winner Linda Davis will round out this holiday spectacular.
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville
Hours: 8:00 pm
For More Info: 888-226-7711, www.mohegansun.com
"Just in Time!" Artisan Show & Sale, December 22
If you're still searching for the perfect gift and can't stand the crazy mall scene, Sawmill Pottery is scenic Woodstock offers a holiday shopping escape - "JUST IN TIME!" This is a one-day artisan show and sale featuring works from eight local artists that will make meaningful, memorable and beautiful gifts. Pieces include wood sculpture and boxes, wooden kitchenware, fused glass, lampwork glass beads, silver jewelry, eclectic floral photography, handmade bags and accessories.
Location: Sawmill Pottery, 306 Route 169, Woodstock
Hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
For More Info: 860-963-7807, www.sawmillpottery.com
Winter Solstice Celebration,
December 26-30
Join the four-day celebration of winter solstice with age-old stories and activities for the whole family. Try "Lighting up the Darkness" by contributing to the Museum's Winter Solstice Mural, or join in the "ice fishing" contest. Listen to wintry tales Thursday through Saturday at 1 pm as Native storytellers spin their yarns. On Wednesday at 1 pm the puppet theater play "Pushing up the Sky," explains how in the early days of creation the sky was too close to the Earth and needed a boost.
Location: Mashantucket Pequot Museum, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket
Hours: Events start at 1:00 pm
For More Info: 800-411-9671, www.pequotmuseum.org
Betwixt-the-Holidays, December 27
Defying Gravity: The Lofty Art of the Airborne Jugglers - Celebrate the days between Christmas and New Years with your family during this dazzling and dizzying juggling show! Back by popular demand, this high-energy pair of jugglers will astound, delight, and amaze with their gravity-defying antics. Reservations required: 860-434-5542, ext. 111 or email matt@flogris.org.
Location: Florence Griswold Museum, Marshfield House, 96 Lyme St, Old Lyme
Hours: 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
For More Info: 860-434-5542 x111, www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org
Holiday Tea Room at Marshfield House, through December 28
The Florence Griswold Museum is hosting Christmastime teas, in the Marshfield House, overlooking the Lieutenant River. This year's special feature is a new signature tea exclusively blended for the Museum by Sundial Gardens of Higganum. Assortment of tea sandwiches and other goodies provided by Savory of Old Saybrook.
Location: Florence Griswold Museum, Marshfield House, 96 Lyme St, Old Lyme
Hours: Reservations Required. Wednesdays - Fridays, two seatings daily: 2-3 pm & 3:30-4:30 pm
For More Info: 860-434-5542 x111, www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org
Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport,
December 1-2, 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-28
Who could have imagined a wrecked ship on Block Island, many years ago, would resonate through the little coastal community of Mystic 1876? It is Christmas Eve of the Centennial year and the town is abuzz. Talk of a 'treasure' heard over the years, never amounted to much more. During Lantern Light Tours all the citizens will meet at Greenmanville church to see, once and for all, if there really is a treasure.
Each performance is approximately 70 minutes long. Not recommended for children under four. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for Friday and Saturday evening performances, call 860-572-5331. If you have difficulty walking or require the use of a wheelchair, please notify the ticketing agent when making your reservation so that proper accommodations may be made for you.
Location: Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic
Hours: Tours start at 5:00 pm and depart every 15 minutes
For More Info: 860-572-5331, www.mysticseaport.org
Holiday Magic at Mystic Seaport, December 26 – January 1
Visit Mystic Seaport and experience Holiday Magic! Take a special Sea Family Tour onboard the Charles W. Morgan at 11:00 am. Hear stories of sailors, captains and their families that were at sea during the holidays and discover how they observed the special days. From 12-1 pm, visit the Magic Workshop on the third floor of the Stillman Building. Learn a magic trick to share with your friends and family. Magician Bob Olsen performs a historic magic show at the Greenmanville Church. Show times are 1 pm and 3 pm daily. From 2:15-3:30 pm, visit the Origami Workshop in the Inspiration Station and make origami figures with hidden New Year's wishes. And stop by the Children's Museum all week to make a special craft.
Location: Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic
Hours: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
For More Info: 860-572-5331, www.mysticseaport.org
Florence Griswold’s “The Magic of Christmas”, through January 6
Celebrate the Season with Miss Florence's Artist Tree, a collection of lavish fantasy trees inspired by gardens old and new, the decorated Griswold House, a special installation of glass sculptures by Mundy Hepburn, and more!
Location: Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St, Old Lyme
Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
For More Info: 860-434-5542, www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org
Holiday Tea at Bee & Thistle Inn, through January 17
The Bee & Thistle Inn will be having Holiday Teas, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. November 28, 2007 - January 17, 2008. Please phone the inn for more details and to make a reservation.
Location: Bee and Thistle Inn, Lyme St, Old Lyme
Hours: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
For More Info: 860-434-1667, www.beeandthistleinn.com
Holiday School Vacation Fun at Mystic Aquarium
Visit the Aquarium for “Sea Creatures and Shipwrecks” and discover some fascinating facts about our National Marine Sanctuaries, the creatures that live in them, and the shipwrecks that lie deep in their waters. They’ll be lots of fun activities for the family to take part in. Try a scavenger hunt, measure your height and compare that to a whale’s, and discover a sunken ship from the Civil War! The new “Exploring Your National Marine Sanctuaries” exhibit focuses on America’s underwater national parks, home to all sorts of interesting creatures and sunken treasures.
Location: Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic
Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
For More Info: 860-572-5955, www.mysticaquarium.org
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