Statewide volunteerism

Former state Rep. Deborah Heinrich is the new nonprofit liaison to the governor, a position created this year to advocate for nonprofit agencies. Gov. Dannel Malloy, in creating the new position, noted that he would look for sacrifice from everyone but would not cut the safety net of services provided by the nonprofit community.On Monday, March 14, the CPO Council of the Connecticut United Way went to Hartford to meet with Ms. Heinrich to talk about how she sees her new role and how the United Way can help be a part of the solution. She has four major goals she will hope to accomplish in her position: 1) to promote nonprofit networking and exchange; 2) to determine what the state government can do so that nonprofits can perform their work as effectively as possible; 3) to encourage best practices, including innovative collaborations among nonprofits; and 4) to create a relationship between state government and philanthropy.Lofty goals indeed!Heinrich requested the help of United Way to convene people in our communities to begin to discuss strategies for addressing the pressing needs, but to overcome the siloing of services — in other words, finding better ways agencies can work more collaboratively and efficiently so as to provide more services to the people of the region. At the meeting, we described our work in convening community leaders to address the community needs — health, education, homelessness, food, etc. United Ways are very good at bringing people together — businesses, nonprofits, community leaders — to work toward the goal of advancing the common good.u u uAs a result of the meeting, United Way representatives committed their time and energy to help Ms. Heinrich in her outreach efforts to communities across the state. To do this, we will be working with local communities on a needs assessment. We might consider forming advisory councils for each town in the Northwest Connecticut United Way territory to be sure we are addressing those needs once they are determined and to assure each resident of each town that they are being heard.United Way of Northwest Connecticut funds 24 agencies in the 16 towns and 25 communities in the Northwest Corner of the state — including Lake-ville and Salisbury. More than 58,000 of your local friends and neighbors are touched by the services of these agencies. With the exception of $8,900 annually, which goes to United Way Worldwide, all the money raised here stays here.National Volunteer Week is April 10 through 16 this year. Be sure to commemorate it.Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Stephanie Barksdale is executive director of the United Way of Northwest Connecticut. Email her at Stephanie.uw.nwct@snet.net.

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Club baseball at Fuessenich Park

Travel league baseball came to Torrington Thursday, June 26, when the Berkshire Bears Select Team played the Connecticut Moose 18U squad. The Moose won 6-4 in a back-and-forth game. Two players on the Bears play varsity ball at Housatonic Valley Regional High School: shortstop Anthony Foley and first baseman Wes Allyn. Foley went 1-for-3 at bat with an RBI in the game at Fuessenich Park.

 

  Anthony Foley, rising senior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, went 1-for-3 at bat for the Bears June 26.Photo by Riley Klein 

 
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

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Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit lakevillejournal.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

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