Landscape architect will talk to Garden Club

Written by by Florence Vannoni Redding Garden Club
Friday, 10 February 2012 14:00

The Redding Garden Club has invited Nancy King, a licensed landscape architect, as guest speaker at its meeting on Monday, Feb.13, at the Redding Community Center.

Ms. King will present an instructive lecture and discussion about how creative gardeners can develop their property using professional techniques to manage problem landscapes. Topics will include practical methods to enhance ecosystems, including rain gardens to manage storm water. Another method is to incorporate a variety of native plants into the design.

Club’s seminar focuses on tree regulations

Written by by Flo Vannoni Garden Club
Friday, 10 February 2012 12:00

The first of three free seminars to be presented by the Redding Garden Club will be held Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2:30 p.m. at the Redding Community Center. Sean McNamara, the town's deputy tree warden and a licensed arborist, is the guest speaker.

Mr. McNamara will discuss current state and town regulations governing tree management and how the town, utility companies and residents are all part of the effort to preserve trees.

Debate team sends 15 to finals

Written by by Randall Smith / Debate Coach
Friday, 10 February 2012 08:00

It was easily the most complex topic that high school debaters have faced this year, the question of whether or not the United Nations should officially recognize a Palestinian state. But five Barlow veterans managed to navigate the delicate minefield of history, politics, economics, terrorism, religion, justice, international law, and diplomacy, taking six trophies and four of the top six varsity speaker slots at Stamford's Westhill High School Saturday, Feb. 4.

For the third time this year, a Barlow pair advanced to the final exhibition round to contend for the top varsity prize. Juniors Nicolò Marzaro and Brendan Coppinger faced off against a very organized pair from Stamford. Nicolò put Barlow back in the game with his strongest speeches to date. Among the points he made was the idea that U.N. involvement in the former Yugoslavia proved that a third party could ultimately create stability, even in a region torn asunder by centuries-old, violent disputes over borders and religion.

Nicolò's debating impressed several judges that day, and with 84 points and a 3-0 record, he earned the second-place varsity speaker award.

Buck Meehl’s documentary at Playhouse Friday

Written by Susan Wolf
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:00

The film Buck will be screened at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, Feb. 10, as a presentation of The Ridgefield Playhouse Film Society Documentary Film Series. Filmmakers Cindy Meehl of Redding and producer Julie Goldman will be on hand for a post-movie Q&A hosted by Ira Joe Fisher and Morton Dean.

John Read Middle School Students pen love letters as classic couples

Written by Kaitlin Bradshaw/ The Redding Pilot
Thursday, 09 February 2012 10:00

Seventh and eighth grade students in Mrs. Sheehan's class at John Read Middle wrote joke love letters in honor of Valentine's Day.

Students penned letters as different characters from literature, movies and television.

Nikki Zaia, a seventh grader, wrote a letter to Daisy Duck from Donald.

CAPT review sessions are set

Written by Susan Wolf
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:00

To help students prepare for the CAPT, the Joel Barlow High School Mathematics Department is offering math review sessions.

The Connecticut Academic Performance Task (CAPT) is a comprehensive, state-required assessment administered to all public high school sophomores in the spring. Students must pass all sections of the CAPT to be eligible to earn a diploma.

Astro-Photography is topic of talk at Farm

Written by Susan Wolf
Friday, 10 February 2012 10:00

New Pond Farm Education Center will offer "An Introduction to Astro-Photography" on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m.

If you are interested in how to take pictures of the night sky, galaxies and nebulae, Laird Calia will show you what is possible with regular cameras and tripods. Participants will learn how to take star trail images and wide shots of the night sky.

Sander Pool will give an overview of the use of telescopes and dedicated equipment for astro-photography, including a discussion about keeping a telescope and camera aimed at the same point in the sky for hours and computer post processing to increase detail and color.

Georgetown Saloon Kids open mic night sings success

Written by Kaitlin Bradshaw/ The Redding Pilot
Thursday, 09 February 2012 08:00

The Georgetown Saloon has been hosting open mic night for adults every Tuesday and Thursday evening, but it wasn't until 11-year-old Amber Schaper of Fairfield sat in with Mark Barden's band and sang Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys that Lory Ambrosini, manager of the Georgetown Saloon, decided to start a children's open mic night for performers under the age of 17.

"The kid sat down with her keyboard and started singing and everyone went quiet," said Ms. Ambrosini. "Now she'll bring in up to 70 kids to come in and jam. Some sound better than the adults."

Montessori school website gets new look

Written by Kaitlin Bradshaw/ The Redding Pilot
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 15:00

Rachel Ambrosio, director of the Montessori School of Redding, enlisted the help of web designer and parent Jennifer Carello to update the school website.

"My husband and I worked on designs with a light blue and yellow color scheme and presented it to Jennifer," said Mrs. Ambrosio. "We worked together, worked on the logo, pulled from different designs. Jennifer has a very good vision and she is detail oriented."

The website was up and running Jan. 16, she said.

New probate court works ‘pretty well’

Written by by Macklin Reid
Monday, 06 February 2012 06:00

"It's hard to believe it's been a year already," said Northern Fairfield County Probate Judge Joseph Egan. "It goes by fast."

The Northern Fairfield County Probate District combines what were formerly single-town probate courts of Ridgefield, Redding, Bethel and Newtown. Its creation was part of state-mandated cost-cutting consolidation of Connecticut probate districts.

Mr. Egan, Ridgefield's longtime probate judge, won a Republican primary and district election in November 2010. The court opened in January 2011.