Submitted by the East Haddam Land Trust Small curiosities have always had a hold on Faith Kalisz. The 18-year-old, who was awarded this year’s $2,000 scholarship from East Haddam Land Trust, will begin her freshman year in September at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. She plans to major in environmental science and hopes to work one day with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, maybe as an analyst. She thinks her focus will be on the protection a

Submitted by Mike Toomey The July 4 Moodus Reservoir Preservation Group’s third annual boat parade had a patriotic theme with boats ranging in size from a repurposed sand box to ski boats to full-sized pontoon boats, all with flags aplenty. Judging was headed by Melisssa Ziobron, currently running to fill Ireine Haines position as our Representative in the Connecticut House. The winners receiving gift certificates were: First Prize, $100: Ira and Carol MacCollum with a pontoo

Alison Guinness, a.k.a. Major General Joseph Spencer at the East Haddam Historical Society Museum. By David DeLucia The East Haddam Historical Society Museum is planning a series of summer presentations on local historical figures. On June 28, speaker Alison Guinness expertly recreated the long life of Joseph Spencer (1714-1789) to an appreciative audience. Guinness, who wrote her master's thesis on the Moodus Noises, portrayed herself as Spencer and was both convincing and i

The modern acoustic band On The Trail opens the 2026 Music on the River Concert Series July 13. Submitted by the Parks and Recreation and Music on the River Committee The parks and recreation department and the Music on the River committee warmly invite you to our 19th annual Music on the River Concert Series. Featuring evenings filled with the incredible sounds of award-winning artists, MOTR is one of East Haddam’s most cherished traditions. These FREE concerts take place on

Students Isabella Laban, Jayden Posas, and Connor Kittelmann pose with their senior projects during the Hale-Ray Senior Expo. By Anthony Stone Nathan Hale-Ray High School recently welcomed families, staff, and community members to its annual Senior Capstone Expo where seniors proudly presented the culmination of months of research, job exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning. The event highlighted the wide variety of interests and future career paths being explored by

Sarah Evans was awarded the $7,500 East Haddam Scholarship by Patti Stricker. Nathan Hale-Ray High School has officially released the complete list of recipients for its 2026 scholarship and senior awards. The annual honors celebrate the exceptional academic achievements, artistic talents, athletic excellence, and civic leadership of this year's graduating class. School administration and faculty extend their deepest gratitude to the local civic organizations, legacy foundati

Submitted by Kirstin Stewart, Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supplies Store Manager For 40 years, Shagbark Lumber & Farm Supplies has been more than just a local business. Since serving its first customer in 1986, Shagbark has been a place where relationships are built, neighbors can gather, and community has always come first. What started out as Uncle Bud’s small dairy farm turned farm supply business by Fred Hunt and his sister Joanna Hunt, has now grown into a cornerstone of Eas

Ribbon cutting from left to right: Mike Robidoux, East Haddam economic development commissioner, Bob Casner, Chairman of East Haddam economic development commission, Gretchen Teran, I-Park board of director, Ralph Crispino, Jr. I-Park board president and co-founder, Tamara Dimitri, Connecticut Office of the Arts. Photo by Frank DiNardi. Submitted by I-Park The nearly completed “Comfort Station” was unveiled during the Friends & Supporters Gathering and ribbon cutting ceremony

Under the solemn serenade of Taps played by bugler Aaron Bochman (U.S. Marine Corps veteran), First Selectman Todd Gelston cast a wreath into the Connecticut River in memory of those who died at sea, and the rifle team of the American Legion Post 156, led by Jaron Sweet Post 156 Commander, performed the three-volley salute. (Photo by Noreen Blaschik.) Submitted by Susan R. Waide East Haddam residents and friends gathered on a rainy Memorial Day even though the parade was canc

Submitted by I-Park I-Park, an international, multi-disciplinary artists’ colony set within a 450-acre nature preserve in East Haddam, will be participating in Connecticut Trails Day on June 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 428 Hopyard Rd. This will mark I-Park’s first Open Trails Day of our 25th anniversary season, featuring live music, a guided hike, crafting and a garden educational session. This is a free, family‑friendly event. Walk-in registration will be allowed, but

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Local Volunteers Kick Off Annual East Haddam Winter Clean-Up Effort Dozens of residents gathered Saturday morning to take part in East Haddam’s annual winter clean-up initiative, a volunteer-led effort focused on public spaces, trails, and roadside areas throughout town. Organizers described the event as both a practical cleanup and a chance to reconnect after the quieter winter months. Volunteers of all ages participated, reinforcing the town’s strong sense of civic pride an