Free radon test kits available in area towns

BRANFORD — January is National Radon Action Month. The East Shore District Health Department is offering free radon air test kits to residents of Branford, East Haven and North Branford during the month of January.

Free radon test kits will be available on a “first come, first serve” basis. The department is only open to the public by appointment. To receive a kit, call 203-481-4233.

The kits are provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health Radon Program. Supplies are limited. One kit per household is allowed.

According to a statement, the CDC estimates that more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. can be attributed to radon. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a radioactive gas that can be found all over the U.S. It can seep into any type of building: brick or frame, new or old, basement or basement, crawl space or slab on grade. Southern Connecticut is one of the high-radon areas of the U.S. designated by the EPA.

Many people ignore the warnings about radon gas. Perhaps because radon has no color, taste, or odor people don’t think about it. Testing is the only way to know if a home or well water has elevated radon levels. Radon levels tend to increase inside the home during the colder season when homes are closed. Equipment is available for homes that may need to reduce elevated radon levels at fairly reasonable cost.

The East Shore District Health Department is located at 688 East Main St. Branford and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 203-4814233 for information.

Frederick Lee Lectures explore racism, social injustice, slavery

MADISON — The Madison Historical Society’s 14th annual Frederick Lee Lectures will explore the topics of enslavement, racism, and social injustice. The three-part series will offer inspiring accounts of people at the heart of an institution that created the foundations still underpinning American racial discrimination.

Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University, returns to the Lee Lectures at 4 p.m. Jan. 10 to open the series. His lecture, “Onions and Sugar,” explores the connection between Connecticut farms, the shipping trade, and the West Indies--the collection of islands between Florida and South America. Warshauer will explain how Connecticut came to rely on the West Indian markets while turning a blind eye to our state’s role in supporting the Atlantic slave trade.

Dennis Culliton, a retired middle school teacher and passionate historian, continues the conversation Feb. 14 with his presentation, “The Witness Stones Project: Finding Slavery in Madison and Guilford.” As co-founder and executive director of the Witness Stones Project, Culliton works with local groups to unearth the untold histories of the towns’ enslaved peoples. His presentation celebrates the lives and contributions of Theophilus, Lettuce, and Pompey, three enslaved people held captive in East Guilford by the Hodgkin, Todd, and Chittenden families.

On March 14, Connecticut state representative and professor Pat Wilson Pheanious concludes the series with her lecture, “Connecting the Past to our Present.” Research completed by the Witness Stones Project revealed that her ancestors were enslaved in the Caribbean and brought to Guilford. She will explore her family’s long history in America, tracing her roots to patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War. Pheanious’s presentation will reveal the ways that her family thrived in the face of insurmountable challenges and became dedicated public servants with a deep commitment to serving the nation.

Lectures will be held at 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in January, February, and March. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and for the safety of all, the lectures will be presented on Zoom this year. Registration is required to receive the link for each presentation. These events are typically offered at a suggested donation of $5. Make a donation at www.madisonhistory.org

Grant applications available

EAST HAMPTON — The East Hampton Arts & Culture Commission welcomes grant applications from East Hampton organizations and individuals with programs and/or projects that enrich the lives of East Hampton residents through the arts. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2021 to arts@easthamptonct.org

Eligibility: One of two $ 500 grants are available to be awarded to individuals or organizations residing in East Hampton, Connecticut. The commission reserves the right to award a grant to an individual or organization it determines will have the most potential impact of arts and/or culture on the town. Incomplete forms will be denied; applicants can resubmit.

Criteria for awarding grants: The artistic and organizational quality of the organization and/or project and its likelihood of continuing viability or success. The organization’s or project’s accessibility and service to the East Hampton community. Grant recipients must credit the East Hampton Arts and Culture Commission on all press releases, posters, print advertising and programs.

Evaluation: An interview may be requested of the candidate prior to awarding the grant. An update of your progress will be required six months post- award date and a final report will be required one year post award date.

Applications are available at www.artsforeasthamptonct.org and can be submitted to arts@easthamptonct.org or to the Town Manger's office at the Town Hall. Check out last year's grant winners on our web site at www.artsforeasthamptonct.org