East Haddam Fire Department Engineer Rob Kolek stands outside the sign at Company 1. Submitted by the East Haddam Fire Department If you’ve driven past the East Haddam Fire Department in the last 10 months and found yourself laughing, smiling, or snapping a photo of the sign out front, you’re not alone. The witty, timely, and often hilarious messages are the work of EHFD Engineer Rob Kolek. What started as a fun way to engage the community has grown into something people now

Austin Lesch and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo by Diane Sobolewski By Peter Marteka Before finding my seat at The Goodspeed, I found myself recollecting all I knew about Jesus Christ Superstar. It wasn’t much – the chorus from the main title song sometimes pops in my head over the years and I’ve always loved the Helen Reddy version of the ballad “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” After the show? I felt like I had participated in a religious awakening disguised as a m

Submitted by the East Haddam Land Trust A deep passion for birds and other native life of East Haddam has led to a gift of preservation that should protect and enrich our town’s natural spaces far into the future. The recent bequest of a small, privately accessed bird sanctuary — along with a generous monetary donation to care for this property and existing public preserves in town — will allow East Haddam Land Trust to uphold its highest tenet: to safeguard

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Kimberly Kenna Submitted by Friends of Gillette Castle State Park At the visitor center of Gillette Castle on May 16, inventors and artists of all ages can try their hand at designing innovative doors like those inside the famous Castle. Local author Kimberly Kenna will be hosting a creative workshop inspired by William Gillette and the new middle-grade novel “Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances.” Attendees are invited to help re-imagine the castle’s famous 47 door

EHFD Drill In Action Submitted by EMS Captain Melanie Kolek Captain Nathan Botting and Engineer Spencer Laddy-Locks led the East Haddam Fire Department in its monthly drill for April, surprising personnel with an unannounced scenario. Captain Botting organized a mock two-car motor vehicle accident involving fire and two trapped patients. Personnel were instructed to report to the fire house without prior knowledge of the drill details. The simulated call was dispatched via ra

Jen and Kaylee Lowy and their dog Aria from Crafting For The Win at last year's event. Submitted by Lauren Pszczolkowski, Economic Development Coordinator After launching the East Haddam Heritage Markets last year, I’m excited to bring it back for a second season — with a few changes based on what we learned along the way. The markets will kick off in May and run on the last Wednesday of each month from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the East Haddam Grange at 488 Town St. The goal is s

By Peter Marteka In an effort to “strengthen mobility, accessibility, and recreation” and showcase “key public and cultural destinations,” the town is hoping to construct a 2.2-mile off-street, shared-use trail along Town Street/Route 82. The proposed project corridor would begin at the intersection of Town Street and Maple Avenue run south along Town Street to the Rose Farm Homestead Preserve and Hemlock Valley Brook. The plan would address infrastructure gaps identified in

David Alexandre Winter is an acclaimed performer here and in Europe. By Nancy Thompson The Gold and Platinum records mounted on the walls of David Alexandre Winter’s recording studio at his home in Moodus tell the story of his international fame as a singer-songwriter with millions of records sold throughout Europe. They do not, however, tell of good fortune and bad, family lost and found and perseverance in the face of adversity that is the story of his life. Winter - then k

Submitted by VFW Post 3336 Emmett Lyman III receives his quilt. (Photo by Noreen Favreau) On March 17, the Quilts of Valor Foundation returned to town to honor six veterans of VFW Post 3336 with beautifully crafted quilts of comfort, a gesture imbued with deep appreciation for their service. The QOVF embodies a powerful motto: “to cover service members and veterans touched by war, with comfort and healing.” Each quilt is meticulously designed for a specific individual, reflec

It's Springtime in East Haddam Submitted by Sustainability Team and Evelyn Morgen, Director East Haddam Library System Earth Day - April 22 - is a yearly reminder for us to celebrate this wonderful planet we have the privilege to inhabit from all the billions of planets in the universe, with our hospital sun and water that engender life. As a rural community, we in East Haddam are closer than some in our ability to appreciate this wonder of the bounty of our earth as we come

Submitted by EHFD EMS Captain Melanie Kolek On April 4, the East Haddam Fire Department, East Haddam Fire Department Auxiliary and East Haddam Economic Development Commission welcomed more than 200 families from across the community to its annual Easter Egg Hunt, held this year at Goodspeed Airport. On a gorgeous morning, and with the help of dedicated department members and volunteers, more than 10,000 colorful eggs were gathered up across the airfield grounds. Children of

Firefighter Vadj Parkus presented with 50 years of Service award. Submitted by EHFD EMS Captain Melanie Kolek The East Haddam Fire Department gathered for its annual awards night dinner to recognize the dedication, professionalism, and service of its members. The evening highlighted milestones in years of service, acts of heroism, and outstanding contributions to the department and community. Service Awards Members were honored for reaching significant service milestones: Fiv

Actor Taku Hirai embodies Yukitaka Osaki, the right-hand man of William Gillette. Submitted by the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park In the 1900s, a striking castle perched above the Connecticut River was the retirement home of one of American theater’s early giants William Gillette. On the lush riverfront just below the castle was the home of Yukitaka Osaki, the right-hand man and trusted companion to the theatrical icon. This month, the poignant true story of Yukitaka O

River Valley Provisions Chili Champions Submitted by VFW Post 3336 On March 21, the East Haddam/Moodus VFW Post 3336 hosted their second annual Chili Cook-off and raised $2,654 for their Veteran Relief Fund. This fund provides emergency and short-term support for local veterans and active-duty service members (including their families) and spouses of deceased veterans in need (such as food, fuel, lodging). River Valley Provisions from Tylerville returned and defended their ti

Senior guard scores 1,000 career point in final game By Nicole Gamberale, Nathan Hale Ray High School Mia Pisciotti, a senior at Nathan Hale-Ray High School, has made history for the school as her name is added to the 1,000-point club. Pisciotti scored 1,001 points in just a short two and half years of playing time for the Noises girls basketball team. The 5’ 8” guard had an incredible basketball season, being named first team all-conference. Twenty-four years have come and g

By State Rep. Irene Haines After careful consideration and thoughtful discussions with my family, I have made the decision that I will not seek re-election as State Representative for Connecticut’s 34 th District when my current term concludes. Serving the residents of the 34 th District - East Haddam, East Hampton, and Salem, and previously Colchester prior to redistricting, has been one of the greatest honors of my life. When I first decided to run for office, it was root

Submitted by East Haddam schools Agriculture students who earned their “Fear Free Pet Sitter” certification. Payton Balducci, Future Farmers of America president with Faith Kalisz, Future Farmers of America secretary. The scent of fresh flowers and a sense of pride filled the room at a recent board of education meeting as the Nathan Hale-Ray High School agriscience program took center stage. The evening served as a vibrant celebration of student achievement and a bold new vis

With the cutting of the ribbon, The Moody Home Story takes flight - by David DeLicia The inauguration of the Moody Home Store on 2 Norwich Rd. in East Haddam is the culmination of Jasmine Carnell's efforts to open a back-to-basics home store with the theme "zero waste." The ribbon cutting soft opening took place on March 5 with the official opening occurring two days later.

Residents gathered at the East Haddam Community Center this week for a winter wellness workshop focused on maintaining physical and mental well-being during the colder months. The session included light movement, stress-management techniques, and guided discussion, drawing participants of all ages. Organizers described the turnout as encouraging and said similar programs are being planned for early spring. Community leaders praised the event as another example of East Haddam’