Arts organizations in city receive grants

MIDDLETOWN — Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, House chair of the Legislature’s Banking Committee, praised a recent announcement of state grants approved for Middletown organizations for the arts.

“I’m thrilled that this funding is coming to these great Middletown-area arts organizations,” Lesser said.

The Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund program awards funds to Connecticut arts organizations that have raised more than $15,000 in contributions from non-governmental sources for two consecutive fiscal years. Local recipients include Artists for World Peace, $27,458; Middletown Chorale, Greater, $1,330; North End Arts Rising/Buttonwood Tree, $500; and Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, $1,960.

The fund is managed by the Office of the State Treasurer, and the interest earned on the fund’s principal is distributed annually to eligible arts organizations through the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Bank announces loan pre-approvals

MIDDLETOWN — Liberty Bank recently launched a preapproval special for individuals interested in purchasing homes in Connecticut.

Customers with pre-approval applications that go under contract on or before May 31, 2018 will be eligible to receive a $200 closing cost credit toward their Liberty Bank mortgage. Credit applies to first mortgages only; Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) loans are not eligible. Meetings with Liberty Bank’s mortgage professionals may be set up at any one of its 55 branches. Loan Originators use their expertise of the Connecticut market to help customers quickly find the right loan with a competitive rate. They also underwrite the borrowers in advance to eliminate any hold up in the approval process and provide personal attention that gets customers to their closing dates with confidence.

For more information go to https://www.liberty-bank.com/ personal/home-lending/ mortgages.

East Hampton Art Association to meet

EAST HAMPTON — The next meeting of the East Hampton Art Association will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East Hampton Community Center, 105 Main St.

The guest artist for the evening is Sandra Wakeen of Somers, who will present a still-life demo in oils.

Wakeen is a painter and teacher whose work has been exhibited in national art organizations and collected by art enthusiasts worldwide. She was recognized as the Connecticut Artist of the Year in 2012 by the Hartford Arts Council. Her formal training began at Paier School of Art, where she won the prestigious Ken Davies Award. She pursued her fine-art studies in France and Italy. She has had a prolific portrait career that continues today along with her still-life and landscape painting.

Wakeen’s work resides in the permanent collections of the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Florence Griswold Museum and the Fast Museum in Fiesole, Italy. She was also included in the Academic Artists 60th Anniversary Exhibition at the Springfield Art Museum, and is a founding member of the Wethersfield Academy for the Arts.

Wakeen will also be teaching an oil still life painting workshop April 5 to 6 for the East Hampton Art Association. There are two openings left; call Elizabeth Sennett at 860-267-9061 for further details. The public is welcome at all East Hampton Art Association programs; admission is $5 for guests.

Business breakfast scheduled Thursday

MIDDLETOWN — Middlesex Community College’s Business Partner Breakfast will be held Thursday at Middlesex Community College in Chapman Hall, Room 808. Check in starts at 7:45 a.m., with the program at 8:45 a.m. Visit http://mxcc.edu/bpt/ or contact Diane Bordonaro at 860343-5716 or dbordonaro@mxcc.edu for more information.

Guests will have an opportunity to meet trainers and learn about their experience and areas of expertise. A panel of instructors will present the types of training they offer and discuss options for training on site or in classrooms outfitted with the latest technology. Following the breakfast, the college will offer a free class on “The Power of Social Media.”

Cromwell continues storm cleanup

CROMWELL — The Department of Public Works is picking up brush and tree limbs for residents. Pick-up began March 19, starting at the Connecticut River and continuing westward through town until each street in Cromwell has been passed once. Storm debris is to be stacked or bundled in 4-foot lengths and placed at the edge of the resident’s property with the end of branches facing the curb. Branches and limbs are not to exceed 8 inches in diameter.

In addition to curbside pickup, residents may bring storm debris at no charge to the Cromwell Transfer Station on County Line Road during normal operating hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No contractors. The Transfer Station will be open from 8 a.m. to noon to accept brush from residents on Wednesdays, March 27 and April 3, and Friday, April 6.

The Transfer Station will not be open on Friday in observance of Good Friday.

Good Friday Cross Walk set in Moodus

MOODUS — The Annual Good Friday Cross Walk will be held on Friday. Members of local churches carry a cross through town, symbolizing Jesus’ walk.

The walk starts at St. Bridget’s Church, 75 Moodus-Leesville Road in Moodus and will include seven stops at each location. Walkers will hear the “7 Last Words” during the five-mile journey. Residents are welcome to walk the 5 miles, with frequent rest stops, or drive ahead.

All ages are welcome. The walk will end at St. Stephen's Church at 31 Main St., East Haddam. For information, call Kathy at 860-873-1830.