Essex Land Trust publishes new trail guide

ESSEX — The Essex Land Trust has published its new Essex Land Trust Preserves and Trail Guide for open space locations in Essex. The first trail guide was created in 2008. Since then, the land trust has added 173 acres to its holdings by expanding the size of existing preserves and acquiring four new preserves. The Essex Land Trust now owns 650 acres and is involved in managing an additional 250 acres of town open space properties. This 2019 version has a number of features and improvements.

All maps have been created from scratch using GPS to improve both the precision and the quality of the maps and include trails, significant stone walls, access points and points of interest. The Town of Essex Open Space map has been updated to provide an overview to all properties located in the villages of Centerbrook, Essex and Ivoryton. The individual descriptions have been revised and updated to ensure more current information about each preserve. New pictures specific to the preserves have been incorporated.

All current and new Essex Land Trust members receive a free copy. The Trail Guide is also available for sale at the following outlets: The Griswold Inn Goods & Curiosities Shop, The Connecticut River Museum, Essex Hardware and Wild Bird Unlimited in Old Saybrook. The recommended price is $15. Copies can also be ordered from the Land Trust by sending an email to info@essexlandtrust.org.

Women Build Week helps Habitat for Humanity

MIDDLETOWN — Habitat for Humanity International, Lowe’s and approximately 6,000 women volunteers will unite in more than 235 communities in the United States, India and Canada for International Women Build Week from March 1-8 to highlight the global need for safe and affordable housing.

A prelude to International Women’s Day, the global event aims to build and repair nearly 540 homes while raising awareness of housing issues facing women and their families. Habitat and Lowe’s are providing the tools for women to empower and educate themselves on skills used when repairing and restoring homes. By using the hashtag #BuildHer to share inspirational stories, experiences and ways to positively impact communities, Habitat and Lowe’s are uniting women for a central goal of encouraging and building each other up.

Middlesex Habitat for Humanity is building two homes in 2020, in Westbrook and Middlefield. During the International Women Build Week they will be constructing sheds for both homes, inside a warehouse. The building will be held from 8:30 a.m-3:30 p.m. March 6-7, at 50 Walnut St., Middletown. Volunteers from the community and Lowe’s will be onsite building the sheds. To learn more, go to www.habitatmiddlesex.org

‘Party with a Purpose’ celebrates women’s work

MIDDLETOWN — In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County will hold a “Party With A Purpose,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 10 at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.

The event features a special screening of Connecticut Public Television’s documentary “Women’s

Work: Stories Behind the Movement.” The short film highlights the stories of local Connecticut women who share a common desire to be part of a collective effort — serving as leaders, trailblazers, artists, educators, advocates and entrepreneurs.

A conversation with a panel of women featured in the film and other local trailblazers will follow. The panel will be moderated by Mary Boone of Boone Associates and includes Heather Dawson, executive producer of “Women’s Work”; Amanda Webster, Fire Chief Ellen Murray, Niasia Williams, engineer with Pratt & Whitney; and Mihae Lee, musician and artistic director of the Essex Winter Series.

Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the screening and panel discussion from 67:30 p.m. Hosted by the Sari A. Rosenbaum Fund for Women & Girls at CFMC, the event is sponsored by the following (to date), Pratt & Whitney, Essence Center for Beauty & Wellness, A. R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists, Sally Ann D’Aquila, and Nancy Bell.

Admission is $10 per person. Seats can be reserved online at MiddlesexCountyCF.org or by calling 860-347-0025.

Red Cross schedules blood drives

The American Red Cross urges the public to join its lifesaving mission by giving blood or platelets this March in celebration of Red Cross Month. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urgently needed to help ensure blood is available for patients this spring.

Every day, thousands of patients depend on blood donations to help save their lives. For an appointment, go to redcross.org or call 800-GIVEBLOOD.

Essex: March 3, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bell Power Essex, 34 Plains Road

Middletown: March 2, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Middletown Elks Lodge, 44 Maynard St

Westbrook: March 9, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Westbrook High School/ Community, 156 McVeagh Road.

Free vaping workshop follows member breakfast

MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will offer a free vaping workshop, “The Vaping Epidemic, The Truth and Consequences” after the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce’s Member Breakfast Meeting featuring UConn Head Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma.

The vaping workshop, presented by the City of Middletown, the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC), and the Chamber, will be held at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 100 Capital Blvd, Rocky Hill, 9:15-11 a.m.

Barbara Walsh from the State Department of Public Health will open the presentation with general information on the effects of vaping. Dr. Michael Kalinowski from Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Coalition will then speak on the negative health effects of vaping in the work place. Erica Skoutas from Hartford HealthCare Rushford Center will present vaping devices and other paraphernalia. Her presentation will increase the awareness of what e-cigarette and vaping devices look like, and potential ways to hide this addiction. Erica will also share smoking cessation resources that are available for those looking to quit.