Natural Obstacles

Wren stood at the back of the line, the very end of the line, as she always did, twirling the string of her pink hoodie around her finger. Ms. Ryan’s words boomed back at her from the entrance to the wooded path. “Children are disconnected from nature,” she told Ms. Lee, Aaron’s aide, as she swiped at her tablet. “Students thrive with twenty minutes of daily free play in nature. This is part of my new initiative.” She shoved the tablet toward Ms. Lee, allowing her a brief look.

Love Your Mayhem

I’m on a quest. I long to be a peaceful, loving mama, filled with patience and humor and quick to expel all things that make my soul feel sticky and gross. I want to be a peacemaker in the world. I want to be a peacemaker in my world. Is it possible? Am I simply a hopeful, idealistic sap who thinks we can all live happily together in the chaos of daily life, when the outside world is indifferent and often cruel? Can our home be a safe haven always? And can I accomplish this by loving the heck ou

December 2021 Online Exclusive: Numina

Numina moved through the night air, a shadow weaving up to the edge of the forest. She emerged from the shelter of the pines into the wind, where the granite rock reached out, a jagged edge above the sea. She crossed the rocks, lithe over the fresh snow, her blue robes trailing, whipping in the wind as she approached the Nara Stone. Her hand brushed the edge in reverence as she passed. At the looming cliff she paused, strong against the gusts that caught in her hair, lifting it from her face, le

Floating into the Moment - SUP Yoga Comes to Candlewood Lake

Have you ever imagined yourself assuming the downward dog pose while balancing on a paddleboard on Candlewood Lake on a busy afternoon? No? Me neither. Yet, yoga on the lake is exactly what my teen daughter and I did last weekend, with the help of Aaron Warren, SUP Yoga Instructor and founder of Manipura Power Yoga in Brookfield. In case you haven't seen it in action, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is an off-shoot of surfing. The board is larger and a paddle is used ride surf, or cruise over fl

Brookfield Cuts Loose on National Dance Day

In celebration of National Dance Day,  instructors from local dance and fitness studios brought high energy and fun to the bandstand at the Brookfield Municipal Center, with free mini-workshops in various styles of dance. On Saturday morning,  dance enthusiasts of all ages gathered to learn fast-paced Zumba moves, have a taste of Irish Step Dance, shake their hips in Belly Dance Fusion and finish off with high energy, intense Hip Hop moves.  The youngest dancers wiggled and bounced to "Under th

How To Organize Your Financial Records

Most of us save way too much paperwork, which becomes a burden to manage. It is not necessary to save each and every ATM receipt or cable bill. How often have you need them for reference? Make a habit of going through all of the mail everyday and getting rid of anything you don't need. Constantly stay on top of the flow of paper into the house, through your office, or stacked on your desk. Once you have established a working system, it will take only a few minutes each day to keep it in order.

Manipura Yoga Kicks Cancer’s Asana

Brookfield's Manipura Power Yoga hosted Kick Cancer's Asana last week to raise awareness and funding for Renal Cell Carcinoma research. They were part of a national event which included cities such as Los Angeles, Denver, Washington DC, and Portland. "My intention for this event was to bring people together at a place that is important to me, for a cause that should be important to us all," said Deidre Americo, a Manipura yoga teacher. "Manipura is a special place to me, and a special place tha

How to Find Exactly What You Need at an Estate Sale

Do Your Research – What items do you find interesting? What do you need for your home? Research these items. Get to know what to look for, such as markings on valuable vases. You can do this research online, or invest in books about collectibles, antiques or vintage toys. If you know the value of particular items before you head out to shop, you have a better chance of finding a treasure that will be overlooked by other buyers. Know the Neighborhood – Learn a little about the area where the est

Technology Teacher Gets Up Close At NASA

Check in with Mr. B on his blog and twitter feed for real-time updates on today's launch. Bringing learning to life is a priority for Whisconier Middle School (WMS) technology education teacher Geoff Bergen.  He strives to inspire his students daily in a non-traditional hands–on learning environment. Now, it's his turn to learn and explore, through a NASA Endeavor Fellowship. Bergen takes off this week for Florida. As a guest of NASA, he'll watch the launch of STS-131 from the Banana Creek vie

6 Tips for Navigating your First Year of Homeschooling

After much consideration, you’ve made the decision to homeschool. Maybe you’ve found an approach that you love, or a curriculum that looks just right for you and your little student. Now what? Are you ready to jump in? Are you worried about what this year could bring? Here are six tips to keep in mind as you begin your first year as a homeschooling parent: What would help you in your first year of homeschooling? Have a homeschool question you need answered? Ask us in the comments or contact us

Life Learning at the NY Botanical Garden

She was determined not to learn, but resistance was futile. All three girls ran through the Adventure Garden exploring the exhibits. They navigated the living maze. They climbed through the rock garden to reach the top. They learned about the parts of a flower by taking it apart and putting it back together again. They understood how pollination worked by playing with bird and bee puppets and matching them to the types of flowers they pollinate. Then they continued on to pretend to be giant bi

Parenting, Writing and Loving with Chronic Pain

This past Sunday morning I awoke with a clear mind. My head only hurt a little and I started thinking. More than two years ago I began writing a book. And then I stopped. I was missing direction. But on this clear morning, I had it. The ideas were flowing and I could finally see the big picture of what the book would be about, specifically, how I could structure it, what, exactly it would cover. I would even laugh out loud from time to time thinking about it. I could feel how funny it would be.

School Resource Officers Cut From Municipal Budget

During the March 20, 2014 meeting, the First Selectman and the Board of Finance voted to eliminate funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) from the Municipal Budget by moving the expense to the Board of Education Budget. "Essentially the SROs were cut out of the town budget," said Victor Katz, Board of Education member. According to Katz, neither the BOE nor the Chief of Police was consulted prior to the decision. "It was decided upon by the First Selectman, approved by the Board of Finance

7 Colleges for Homeschooled, Unschooled and Self-Directed Learners

I began researching colleges last year, when my daughter began her Freshman year of homeschooling high school. Does that sound a bit early? I feel that the more I know about college requirements for homeschooled students, the more effectively I can prepare my daughter for the admissions process. I think as a homeschool parent, it’s essential to know all the options available. It’s important to do some of the research yourself, and not simply rely on someone saying “oh, they don’t need to take th

Eat Your Way To Better Health

The Cancer Project's nutrition education program Food for Life comes to Brookfield this month offering a life changing program to cancer patients and anyone who wishes to improve their health naturally through their diet. Presented by Jane Sirignano of The Cancer Project and hosted by Summit Neurological Rehabilitation, The Food for Life program translates scientific findings into practical, useable steps that can be implemented in  your life. "Certain diets seem to have a major effect, helpin

Family Beach Guide to Newport, RI

All beaches are not created equal. If you’re looking for a safe, family friendly beach with nearby food and activities,  Newport has plenty of choices. Match your family’s preferences to a specific beach or explore each one for a diverse vacation. Easton Beach, also known as First Beach, is often the only beach tourists find when they head out of town and down Memorial Blvd. Kids are easily entertained all day here, with waves to play in, a carousel, snack bar and large sandy playground. Save t

Neighbors Team Up To Clean Up Lake Lillinonah

Teams set out from the Bridgewater Boat Launch on Saturday morning, armed with gloves and garbage bags. More than 100 volunteers pitched in, ultimately filling two 20-yard waste containers with garbage pulled from the shallow waters and shoreline of Lake Lillinonah. Utilizing six pontoon boats, lake lovers of all ages towed in trash and debris from different areas of the lake. Several teams also set out on the shoreline on foot to collect debris. Brookfield resident and volunteer Barbara Petri
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