Nature smiles . . .

The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens

Enjoy the Bartlett Hikes and Trails. Explore the 91-acres with ten easy-to-hike trails and boardwalk paths. Take the time to discover the trees, gardens, wildflower meadows, wetlands, woodlands and a variety of wildlife in their native habitats. Hug a tree, listen to the birds, smell the flowers and rejoice with the coming spring.

They offer the community year-round educational programs for all ages, an extensive horticultural library, an herbarium with specimens dating back to the 1800's, a summer plant clinic, and seasonal events and family festivals.

www.bartlettarboretum.org

Route 137 off High Ridge Rd.

151 Brookdale Road

Stamford, Connecticut (USA)

Telephone: (203) 322-6971

Open to the public every day of the year

8:30am to sunset

$6.00 admission charge for adults

Admission is free to members and children under the age of 12

Wednesdays are FREE

Comic strip trivia smiles . . .

Here is some comic strip trivia: Today is the birthday of Rudolph Dirks (February 26, 1877 – April 20, 1968). He was one of the earliest and most noted comic strip creator/artists. 

Rudolph Dirks is best known for the creation of the comic strip The Katzenjammer Kids which made its debut on December 12, 1897.

The Katzenjammer Kids
1901

"It was Rudolph Dirk's "Katzenjammer Kids", which appeared on December 12, 1897 in the Journal American. Previously, cartoon panels had no in-panel dialogue, but in the Katzenjammer Kids dialogue was directly applied within a "word balloon" indicating the speaker. Also, until then no strip had ever consisted of more than the one panel format of the editorial or political cartoon. The Katzenjammers combined both the aspect of internal dialogue and panelized continuity, and in the process designed and solidified the form of the modern visual narrative strip." - Quote source (1)

The Katzenjammer Kids is the oldest comic strip still in syndication. It is distributed by King Features Syndicate.

Image source (1)

Free tax centers . . .

Here is a Smiler for you . . .

Free Tax Centers

Here is a list of FREE Volunteer Tax Assistance programs in our distribution area for low-income filers (anyone with an income less than $42,000) and seniors.  

Yes, Uncle Sam cares :)

. . . and so do we . . .

BRIDGEPORT:

ACORN - Bridgeport
2310 Main St 2Nd Flr
Bridgeport, CT 06606
Telephone: (203) 333-2676
January 20 - April 15, 2009
MONDAY 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
TUESDAY 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
THURSDAY 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
FRIDAY 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 2:OO PM
by appointment

Bridgeport Public Library
NE 3455 Madison Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06606
Telephone: (203) 576-8113
February 4 - April 15, 2009
WEDNESDAY 5:10 PM - 7:30 PM
CLOSED 3/11/2009 & 4/8/2009
PAPER ONLY
by appointment

Burroughs Community Center
2470 Fairfield Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06605
Telephone: (203) 334-0293
January 12 - April 13, 2009
SUNDAY 10 AM - 12 PM
CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY
MONDAY 6 PM - 9 PM

Career Resources Bridgeport
350 Fairfield Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Telephone: (203) 333-5129
February 2 - April 15, 2009
WEDNESDAY 4:30 PM - 730 PM
THURSDAY 4:30 PM - 730 PM
FRIDAY 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
by appointment

Casey Family Services Bridgeport
789 Reservoir Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06606
Telephone: (203) 372-5133
January 14 - April 15, 2009
WEDNESDAY 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
by appointment

City Of Bridgeport
Social Service
752 East Main St
Bridgeport, CT 06608
Telephone: (203) 576-7458
February 2 - April 15, 2009
MONDAY 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
by appointment

FSW
475 Clinton Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605
Telephone: (203) 368-5579
February 3 - April 15, 2009
TUESDAY 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
THURSDAY 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
by appointment

Neighborhood House Vita
52 George Pipkin'S
Bridgeport, CT 06608
Telephone: (203) 345-2067
January 26 - April 15, 2009
MONDAY 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
by appointment

Ralphola Taylor YMCA
790 Central Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06607
Telephone: (203) 576-7449
February 3 - April 14, 2009
TUESDAY 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
THURSDAY 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
by appointment

FAIRFIELD:

Fairfield Public Library VITA
1080 Old Post Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824
February 3 - April 14, 2009
TUESDAY 2 PM - 5 PM
PAPER ONLY

GREENWICH:

Greenwich Library
101 West Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
February 7 - April 13, 2009
MONDAY 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
SATURDAY 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Greenwich Town Hall
101 Field Point Rd.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Telephone: (203) 622-7700
by appointment

NEW CANAAN:

New Canaan Library
151 Main Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
Telephone: (203) 594-5003
February 3 - April 11, 2009
TUESDAY 12 PM - 4 PM
SATURDAY 9 AM - 3 PM
E-FILE
by appointment

NORWALK:

NEON VITA
98 South Main St
Norwalk, CT 06854
Telephone: (203) 899-2435
February 5 - April 14, 2009
TUESDAY 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
THURSDAY 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
by appointment

The Norwalk Community College
West Campus room W202.
Norwalk, CT
February 7 through April 11
SATURDAY
12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
No appointment is necessary

STAMFORD:

CTE
34 Woodland Ave.
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (203) 352-4846
TUESDAY 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
THURSDAY 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
by appointment

Yerwood Center VITA
90 Fairfield Ave.
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (203) 352-2790
SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
by appointment

Saint Luke's LifeWorks
141 Franklin St.
Stamford, CT 06901
Telephone: (203) 388-0129
THURSDAY and SATURDAY mornings

Harry Bennett Library branch
115 Vine Road
Stamford, CT 06905
Telephone: (203) 351-8298
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY
no appointment necessary

Union Memorial Church
58 Church St.
Stamford, CT
Telephone: (203) 324-6715
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TUESDAY
no appointment necessary

Stamford Senior Center
888 Washington Blvd.
Stamford, CT 06901
Telephone: (203) 977-5151
by appointment

WESTPORT:

Westport Senior Center
21 Imperial Ave.
Westport, CT 06880
Telephone: (203) 341-5099
by appointment

BOT News Flash: Barnum Museum

from

Executive Director/Curator: Kathleen Maher

The Barnum Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut USA

Artfun: 

Freedom Dancing

A school break 

children’s program 

announced for February 19

On Thursday, February 19 at 1:00 p.m. The Barnum Museum will host a special children’s program based on the exhibit, Freedom Dancing featuring works by Bridgeport artist and poet Shanna Melton. Her exhibit is on display through Sunday, March 29 and is a moving and delightful presentation in celebration of Black History Month and Woman’s History Month.

Children will examine some of the works of art featured in Melton’s exhibit that show cultural diversity and the spirituality of her heritage, plus they will have fun participating in the interactive exhibit/sculpture, The Game. Then the children will create a work of art representative of themselves. Please RSVP for this drop off program by e-mailing Jaime Knoedler at jknoedler@barnum-museum.org or calling her at 203-331-1104 ext. 106.

Shanna Melton is a visual artist, poet and community organizer. She has performed in poetry venues from New York to Boston. Her first poem was published when she was thirteen and she has continued to pursue her artistic dreams ever since. Because she is a poet, Ms. Melton began displaying her artwork exclusively at poetry venues and the idea of having a professional art career did not become a reality until 2001. She then went on to curate and show her work in a number of art exhibitions. Melton’s imagery reflects an intimate response to the African diaspora. Borrowing the title Freedom Dancing from one of the pieces in the show, this exhibit explores the cultural spirituality present in Melton’s work. For more information on the artist visit www.poeticsoularts.com

The Barnum Museum has three floors of absolutely fascinating exhibits that illustrate the extraordinary life of Phineas Taylor Barnum. P.T. Barnum, one-term mayor of Bridgeport and four-term member of the Connecticut General Assembly, was born July 5, 1810 in Bethel and died April 7, 1891 in Bridgeport. The original museum building, owned by the City of Bridgeport, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is handicap accessible.

What: Artfun: Freedom Dancing – A program for children

When: Thursday, February 19 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. 

See above for R.S.V.P. details

Where: The Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 

Cost: The event is free with General Admission 

Adults: $7

Seniors and college students: $5 

Children 4 - 17: $4 

Under 4: Free

Regular Barnum Museum Hours: 

Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Noon - 4:30 p.m. 

For more information call:

 203-331-1104 ext. 106 

or visit

  www.barnum-museum.org

Photo source (1)

Smiles from Myrna's . . .

Here are some smiles from one of our favorite clients, Myrna's Bistro.

Myrna Yanni & Pierre Lahoud want you to know that despite the difficult economy they are here for you. So please don’t be strangers, come in for a meal and visit them. We hope to see you there!


www.myrnas.com
866 East Main Street, Route 1, Stamford, CT.
Phone 203-325-8736 | Fax 203-325-8412
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 9:00 pm; Closed on Sunday


www.myrnasgreenwich.com
28 West Putnam, Route 1, Greenwich, CT.
At the top of Greenwich Avenue
Phone 203-869-2007 | Fax # 203-869-2213
Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11:00 am - 10:00 pm ;
Sunday 12 - 9:00 pm
Myrna's February Newsletter

Another Best of Times smile . . .

Say Hello to our client, Christine Drake, owner of A Step In Time. Be sure to visit her shop to see her collection of antique dolls, doll accessories and needlepoint supplies. Needlepoint can be fun and good for your health.  Lessons and gift certificates are available. She is conveniently located at 263 Riverside Avenue in Westport, Connecticut about a mile off Exit 17 of the I-95.

February is National Embroidery Month (note:  there is a difference between needlepoint and embroidery).

Join in the fun

The Fairfield County Chapter 

of the 

Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. 

presents 

"Stitch in Public Day"

Sunday February 8th, 2009 

1pm-5pm

Great Hall 

Wesport Library 

Westport, Connecticut 

(USA)

Guild members will be working on various unique stitches, techniques and projects. Stop by the library and enjoy this phase of National Embroidery Month . . . just another reason to smile.