Sir Ken Robinson:The Learning Revolution Ted Talk

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com
Talent is diverse! A new 10 minute video focusing on the need for organic, personalized education not linear and standardized like we have now. It's the Fast Food model of education vs the customized personal one! LIke horticulture, create good conditions and let it go. Thanks to the art room for bringing pb's attention to this video.

Olmstead movie Thursday 4/28/11 in Newport

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/REMINDER---Olmsted-Documentary---Fundraiser-Tomorrow-.html?soid=1102236898489&aid=cX7IcpB_aCA

"I have all my life been considering distant effects and sacrificing immediate success and applause to that of the future." - Frederick Law Olmsted

Project Aces May 4th at 10am at Guiteras

If you feel the ground shake slightly on May 4TH do not get nervous. It’s just millions of children all over the world exercising simultaneously.

Project ACES (all children exercising simultaneously) takes place worldwide at 10:00 am on Wednesday May 4th.

In Bristol RI, over 700 students, parents and friends will gather with a DJ on the front lawn of Guiteras School on Bristol Harbor to celebrate the importance of children’s fitness.
Eight to 18 year old kids spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media including TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies. When kids aren’t moving, when they’re not active, they’re less likely to grow up healthy. Being sedentary is a significant factor in our country’s building epidemic of childhood obesity.
The Centers of Disease Control strongly recommend that communities take charge and turn these unhealthy trends around. First Lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” initiative “…dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.”
We all have a role to play in reducing childhood obesity and the resulting health problems that may follow: Heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, Asthma, Sleep apnea and/or social discrimination. Parents, elected officials, schools, the media, health care professionals, community groups, and the private sector can lead by example and bring attention to the importance of our children’s health and fitness by joining us on May 4th.
So grab your sneakers and join us on May 4th (rain date May 5th). Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children!
For more information contact coordinator: Susan Donovan at 253 7837 or sdonovan@fctvplus.net

Save Bristol Harbor Scholarships Available

It's Time to apply for the Save Bristol Harbor Scholarship

Save Bristol Harbor will provide a $1000 college scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is pursuing a degree in the Environmental Sciences.

The applicant must be a resident of either Bristol or Warren RI who has been accepted to an accredited two or four year institution as a full time student earning a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts or Associates degree in the Environmental Sciences or a related field.

Eligible students must submit a completed application form no later than May 15th along with the required items. For an application, go to your high school guidance office or download an application off the Save Bristol Harbor Website at www.savebristolharbor.com

Raising Backyard Chickens

Below is a link to a short audio clip from WCAI on Cape Cod on raising backyard chickens. It sounds pretty easy and fun. This young Mom is doing it with six hens (who are cold weather hardy), no rooster and a small home made chicken coop. Not sure if having hens is legal yet in (parts of) Bristol...? If you know, please leave a comment.
http://www.wgbh.org/wcai/programDetail.cfm?

Silver Creek Shoreline Clean Up Saturday, May 7, 9am - noon

SILVER CREEK SHORELINE CLEANUP – SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2011 (9:00AM to NOON)
SAVE BRISTOL HARBOR , in conjunction with the Town of Bristol and the Bristol DPW’s “Keep Bristol Clean” annual cleanup program, is conducting its Fifth Annual Silver Creek Cleanup on Saturday, May 7th. Volunteers interested in assisting with this cleanup should assemble at Thomas Park (directly across Hope Street/Route 114from Sip-n-Dip donut shop) at 9:00AM sharp. Following a safety briefing, the volunteers will fan out along the north and south sides of Silver Creek, retrieving whatever trash they encounter along the way. Trash bags, gloves, sunscreen, and bug spray will be provided, as will light refreshments. Volunteers should wear clothing and footwear appropriate for the marshy environment. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, and closed-toe shoes/boots are recommended. If interested, please contact Stan Dimock at sdimock@savebay.org.
In the event of rain or questionable weather on May 7th, please contact Stan Dimock at 837-5838.

Community String Project Summer Ensemble Classes

• The Community String Project Summer Ensembles are open to students entering Grade 6 through Adults. The eight-week program will run on Thursday evenings, beginning June 16 through August 4 at the First Congregational Church on High Street in Bristol. The cost for the program is $80.00. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch pay the subsidized cost of $20.00 which includes the cost of the instrument for the session.

The String Ensemble will rehearse from 5:30-7:30pm. This group is comprised of musicians who have played violin, viola, cello or bass. The String Ensemble will perform two concerts during the summer. The Summer String Ensemble will be under the direction of Christine Harrington.

The Beginner class will be offered on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00pm Please check the website cspri.org for a list of music stores renting string instruments. . The CSP offers instruments rentals at a reduced rate for students in Grades 3-12 who live in Bristol and Warren.

The Yearling class which also meets on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 pm is for musicians who need more rigorous instruction than beginners, but not quite ready to perform with the String Ensemble. This class will comprise of musicians who have recently started to play, or who haven’t played for a long time and need a refresher course.

To register, download the registration form from www.cspri.org and mail it with a check payable to CSP, Box 513, Bristol, RI 02809. For further information, contact Robert Arsenault, President Community String Project at 254-5980 x 3165 or rjta15@gmail.com or info@cspri.org

• The Community String Project announces new Summer String Ensemble Director, Christine Harrington

Christine Harrington is a cellist and orchestra director in the Cranston, RI public schools. Christine is a past president of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and of the Rhode Island String Teachers Association, which is the state affiliate of the American String Teachers Association. She is a founding member of the former International Association of Jazz Educators String Caucus whose primary focus was to promote improvising strings. Christine has presented many workshops on new music for improvising strings throughout the country. Christine is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music, and Wesleyan University. She has studied jazz improvisation with renowned jazz musician, Hal Crook. Christine Harrington has performed symphonic and chamber music, as well as Celtic and contemporary jazz. She performed regularly with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony for 20 years and is the cellist on Grammy nominated jazz piano and cello CD, “Sandbox” with the pianist and composer Joe Parillo and the “Celtic Fiddle Fest-Rendesvous” with Johnny Cunningham and Kevin Burke. Christine is the cellist with the Rhode Island based Gypsy ensemble, The Bohemian Quartet, which recently released its CD, “Beyond Tradition”.

Herreshoff Sailing School

http://www.herreshoff.org/programs/sailing_school.html
This just in from Richard Feeny - Herreshoff Sailing Master and Director of Sailing Education there. Sounds like they have really stepped up their sailing program. Why not give it a try! It's a lot cheaper than owning a boat!

"This summer we have five Herreshoff 12-1/2s ready for sailing school, and the 21-foot fish boat Bluefish. For outreach, charters, special trips, and races, we have the S-class Lady Luck, and Kestrel. Our staff has enrolled in spring training courses to prepare to teach you and your children. We have a new course this year, for families. On Mondays and Wednesdays we will teach parents and children as young as five years old. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we offer Adult Sailing Class, which we are selling by the week, month, or season. We are also offering private lessons.
Richard Feeny
Sailing Master and Education Program Director
Herreshoff Marine Museum
(401) 253-5000 or (401) 424-1086 mobile
Education@Herreshoff.org"

Click on image once to enlarge.

Herreshoff 40th anniversary GALA is June 4

Tickets are $250. pp. Black tie is optional.
Click on image once to enlarge.

Bristol Animal Shelter Meeting with Betty Brito April 19 at 3 pm at Library

3/12/11

A Letter From Our President: Capital Campaign to Begin!
Hello friends,

As things begin to show progress, the Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter is reaching out to the public for support in meeting the needs of our mission statement. The companion animals that come into our trust depend on all of us to care for and meet their needs. The first step in addressing our commitment to the new Bristol Animal Care and Adoption Center during this part of construction phase, will began to take form on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 3:00 pm at the Rogers Free Library. We are so privileged to have Betty Brito step forward to provide us with a solid foundation and guidance as we begin our capital fundraising campaign. It is truly imperative that our board members, supporters and the Bristol citizens take full advantage of the knowledge Ms. Brito has in this type of endeavor, and attend this most important meeting. At this point the success or failure of the Friends mission statement rests with each one of us. We cannot do it alone. For myself, I cannot fail. I will be there. Please respond with your commitment to attend. If you are able to attend this meeting, in order to ensure sufficient seating, we are asking that you please send us an email at the following address: friendsofbristolanimalshelter@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Dyanne Gibree, President

RWU Film Festival April 14 - 17

Schedule here:
http://www.film-festival.org/RovingEye11.SCHED.php

http://tinyurl.com/3ewzt99

Eternal Return by Saul Steinberg

Marine Biology event at RWU April 14

Click image once to enlarge.

Saturday April 16 Goose Egg Oiling

Thanks to Walter Burke, Bristol's Parks and Recreation Director for initiating this. Oiling the geese eggs kills the embryo and prevents the eggs from hatching. The Mama goose continues to incubate and nothing happens. Mr. Burke is also experimenting with a product called "Flight Away" that is sprayed on athletic fields. It is primarily concentrated grape juice and the geese do not like it. This has been done at Guiteras Field with some success. Click on image once to enlarge.

Warren Historic Preservation Workshop April 13

Arnold Robinson, AICP and Assistant Professor at RWU and his team of Historic Preservations students invite you to this very important Warren RI preservation workshop. It comes with a free Pizza dinner starting at 6 pm at KMS. Click on image once to enlarge.

Saturday help needed at Mount Hope Farm

This just in from John Paul Smith at Mount Hope Farm. He is looking for help on Saturdays. If you cannot help, perhaps you know of someone who can. Many thanks in advance.

"Saturdays are particularly busy at the Farm and I'm generally there on my own. In addition to scheduled appointments (ususally 7 or 8, on the hour) people often arrive unannounced looking for information on the Inn, holding an event, or taking a tour.

Volunteers are welcome to be as involved as they wish. The most important concern is to have someone to greet people if I am off on the property. The volunteer time can include showing people around the house, talking about the Farm and Bristol, offering tea and cookies, etc. There's also light office work and answering the telephone. But volunteers are also very welcome to read a book and have a cup of coffee. We just need to have a "human continuum" in the House!"

This is also something that could be split by two volunteers into perhaps, two three-hour shifts.

Please contact John Paul for further details.
John Paul Smith
Director of Marketing
Mount Hope Farm
401.254-1745 x103
jpsmith@mounthopefarm.com

Master Gardener Composting Workshop April 23

This sounds really good! http://tinyurl.com/6y4dwmkhttp://tinyurl.com/6y4dwmk

Saturday May 14 Save the Bay Landscaping Workshop

Save the Bay 4th Annual Green Landscaping Workshop on Saturday May 14 from 9 to noon. URI Master Gardeners and Master Composter (Sejal) people will be on hand plus the Worm Ladies of Charleston and the Rain Barrel people. This is a good one stop location to pick up gardening supplies that are not easily found elsewhere.http://www.savebay.org/Page.aspx?pid=1337

Congratulations Joe and Betty

Joe and Betty Brito are selected as Grand Marshals for the 2011 Bristol RI Fourth of July Parade. This is a kin to being elected President of the United States in this neck of the woods and a very well deserved honor. I even received a phone call announcing the news at 11:30 pm last night!
(Relevant to Bristol's current eating at the bar issue - it is interesting to note that it was reported that Joe was eating alone at the bar of a Thames Street Bristol restaurant when he first met Betty who was eating with a friend at the same restaurant! Maybe allowing eating at bars should be something that the Bristol Town Council should re-examine for 2011.)

How interesting are Y O U?

The Butterfly Effect: Science speaks: Stop talking about yourself.

East Bay Sailing Foundation Sailing School

This is a fun summer thing to do for yourself. Jim Dollins does a terrific job of organizing. Last year there were about 40 adults who participated. Please Click image once to enlarge.

BBQ Fundraiser at Yacht Club for EBSF

If you are interested in sailing (or even if you're not) please join the East Bay Sailing Foundation (EBSF) to hear amazing sailing stories from world renown experts that happen to be from Bristol! Fundraiser to buy new sails and boom vangs for the Mercury fleet. I can attest that NEW sails are extremely in need. The current ones are more like patched stretched out bed sheets in a permanent luff. Click on image once to enlarge. Hope to see you there! Sunday May 15 at 4 pm.

Osprey are back!

Saw my first osprey for 2011 this morning at the Coggeshall Farm platform nest! YAY! They eat fish exclusively and nest near salt water marshes where the water is not too deep and fish are plentiful. They are migratory and spend winters in South America - often in central Brazil near the Amazon.