Friday, May 21, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 21
Grant to support One Book, One Community project Levi E. Coe Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities, an American Library Association initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities.
“We are so delighted to be chosen for this amazing grant opportunity,” Levi E. Coe Library Director Jess Lobner said. “This grant will allow our community to get to know each other better and help us build a happier and healthier Middlefield for our families.”
The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library As part of the grant, Levi Coe staff facilitate a One Book, One Commu- will take an online course in how to nity project. lead conversations, a skill vital to li-
brary work. Staff will then host a One Book, One Community conversation with residents using the title, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The library will utilize the grant funds to purchase copies of the book for interested parties and to publicize the event, which will be held in October. With reading and discussing Caste, the objective would be to broaden
The state’s most recent two-week COVID-19 report, issued May 13, showed just eight positive cases in Durham and none in Middlefield. In the previous report, Durham had seven positive cases and Middlefield had four.
By Frank LoGiudice
As of May 17, the total of laboratory-confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 345,720. One hundred sixty-eight patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. There had been 8,198 COVID-19associated deaths in the state.
“E Chiamamulu Paisanu! Primu Diu E Sammastianu!” This Italian phrase should be heard once again on the streets of Middlefield, Middletown and beyond for the centennial anniversary of Saint Sebastian's Church in Middletown. The celebration is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17-19, a delay of several months due to COVID.
See Festival, A6
Through the One Book, One Community initiative, the library hopes to participate in a town-wide effort to shift attitudes and deconstruct embedded racism. See Grant, A5
Local COVID cases continue to dwindle
Church festival plans epic return
Dr. Gene Nocera, one of three chairmen for the Saint Sebastian's Feast, stated, “We expect there will not be any more surges (of COVID-19). We are optimistic. It is a historic event, and very rare, because of the centennial anniversary."
the understanding of how individual attitudes of prejudice and bigotry are baked into the operations of cultural institutions.
Restrictions lifted Gov. Lamont announced in April that as long as COVID cases continued to trend downward and vaccinations increased, all remaining business restrictions would be lifted as of Wednesday. Businesses are now be able to choose their own hours and mask requirements. Last week, Lamont said the state would not be requiring people to prove whether they have been vaccinated, leaving it up to the businesses. See COVID, A5
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In this 2017 photo, the “Nuri” begin their processional with the Saint Sebastian statue around downtown Middletown. Photo by Frank LoGiudice
Hope to see you at the stadium R241403
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