Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, December 18th: Free basketball clinic at Flood Middle School from 9:30 to 11:30am. For more information, please contact Brandon Sherrod at bsherrod35@gmail.com. The Stratford Recreation Department would like to acknowledge Brandon Sherrod for his dedication to improving the lives of Stratford youths. Brandon is a graduate of Stratford High School and a star basketball player at Yale University. Brandon has been hosting free basketball clinics in Town since October, which are sponsored by Stratford Recreation and Stratford PAL. The game of basketball is a platform Brandon uses to empower youth and their parents on the importance of hard work, community, togetherness and giving back. To date, Brandon has served more than 100 families in the Stratford area.

Sunday: Stratford Sister Cities concert at Library at 2 p.m. in the Stratford Library Lovell Room. Don’t forget to bring a nonperishable donation for Sterling House Community Center Food Bank.

Sunday: The Shakespeare Market weekend! Get yourself down to the market from 10 a.m. til 2 p.m. this weekend. Santa and Company will be making a visit from 11 a.m. til 1 p.m. as well as an amazing team of vendors for you! Santa and Shopping!!!

Sunday: Menorah lighting in celebration of Hanukkah, begins at sundown on Sunday, December 18th, Rabbi Joseph Stock of the Mishkan Israel Day Camp will be on-hand to light an oversized menorah, which, in his own words, will “shine a light on all humanity.” The event will take place entirely outdoors. Light refreshments and hot cocoa will be available after the ceremonial menorah lighting, while Hebrew music fills the Town Hall green.

Wednesday at 3 p.m.: Last Advent Concert by First Church of Stratford featuring Dr. Joe Utterback.

   

Friday, December 23rd: Christmas Caroling on the Green at 6 p.m. at the Paradise Green gazebo. Sponsored by Be Our Guest Community Ministries

 

Stratford Toy Initiative: Stratford Non-Profits Step Up for Tots (and older)
Stratford Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 998, will be collecting new unwrapped toys at each fire station, to support the Toys for Tots program. Donations are accepted at the locations listed below through December 21st:
Fire Headquarters (rear entrance): 2750 Main Street
Huntington Road Station #2: 1415 Huntington Road
Lordship Station #3: 21 Prospect Drive

Sterling House Community Christmas: donate toys, adopt a family, gift cards always welcome!

Stratford Recreation Department running a Winter Clubhouse over school break. Crafts, Games, Good Times!

Are you a Military Veteran? or have a loved one who served our country during the holidays? Did your family save any letters or memorabilia? The Stratford Veterans Museum would like to display Christmas cards, letters, pictures and any communications between a veteran and family or friends during the Christmas season. We would like to create a display in our Museum during the month of December. All materials will be returned to you. Contact Bob Mastroni bmaastroni@gmail.com

Stratford YMCA and Bridgeport Islanders toiletry drive. All fans who donate are entered to win a Bridgeport Islanders puck and 4 tickets to a Bridgeport Islanders game of their choice.

Make A Difference!
Be a Citizen Reporter for the Stratford Crier
We are a volunteer group, providing fact-based nonpartisan reporting,
and we want YOUR help in keeping our community informed.

We need Citizen Reporters to cover:
• Town Government0
• Education
• Environment and Climate Resilience
Please join us! Reach out to Barbara@stratfordcrier.com

The Stratford Crier was saddened this week where we were notified week that Jennifer H. Mattei, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biology, Sacred Heart University, died on Friday, December 9th.

Dr. Mattei was recognized worldwide for her conservation efforts. She founded and was the Director of Project Litmus, a Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group, in Stratford.

The Town of Stratford is indebted to Dr. Mattei for giving us our “living shoreline” through the use and placement of reef balls.

Dr. Mattei was an esteemed member of The International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission, Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group.

To learn more about Dr. Mattei’s contribution to our Town the following Stratford Crier articles were published by us.
https://stratfordcrier.com/stratfords-living-shoreline/
https://stratfordcrier.com/stratford-volunteers-hit-the-beach/

Sister Cities Sing

Sunday, December 18th at Stratford Library

Benefit for Sterling House Community Center Food Pantry

Internationally Acclaimed Sister Cities Chorus will be preforming at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 18th in the Lovell Room at the Stratford Library.

Founded by Hugh Catalano and conducted by Wooster Middle School music teacher, Lynn McGilvary, the chorus debuted locally in the spring of 1992.  The group traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK, and to Stratford, Ontario in the summer of 1993.  From 1996 until 2012, Dr.  Joe Utterback, Minister of Music at the First Congregational Church, was the chorus’ director.  The baton was then passed to Jeffrey Leinen, Director of Choirs and Theatre Arts at Stratford Board of Education, who currently holds the position.

The volunteer chorus will be singing holiday classics.

Admission is Free! Donations of a non-perishable food good or cash will be accepted for Sterling House.

Lessons in Chemistry

Books Over Coffee
November 30th

By Bonnie Garmus

The Stratford Library announced that its Books Over Coffee program has returned to a live, in-person format in the Lovell Room while also continuing on Zoom through December 2022.  The monthly book discussion program has been a popular staple at the library for over 40 years.   It is free and open to the public.

A fun, feminist charmer, Bonnie Garmus’s novel Lessons in Chemistry follows singular single mother Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in a man’s world—1960s America—as she becomes an unlikely cooking-show host and the role model her daughter deserves.

Copies of all books are currently available for loan at the library’s Circulation Desk.  The titles are also available for loan on Kindle and Nook eReaders.  Zoom links for each book discussion are found on the website.

Scheduled for November and December is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (November 30) and Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang (December 28).

For further information, call 203.385.4162 or visit the Stratford Library at 2203 Main Street in Stratford, Connecticut. Timely information is also available on the library’s website at: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, the Paradise Green Farmer’s Market Back Better Than Ever!! Connecticut Grown and Made.

Thursday: “Tired of Arguing with Your Teen? Change is Possible” come hear Lianne Dixon on Thursday, September 29th from 7-8 p.m. at the Stratford Library. The talks are free and open to the public. Parent Coach and Windsor resident Lianne Dixon will conduct a public presentation for parents who are tired of arguing with their teens. Discover high-impact strategies that create less room for arguing and more room for connection. Explore the benefit of using visualization to help create the relationship you want. Learn mindful practices that are critical in setting the scene for more peaceful communication and joyful connection. Register for free Zoom link: https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/9178317
Safe Sitters Classes by Sterling House Community Center begins on October 8th. Register now.

Notice: The Stratford Library Board of Trustees have announced their new slate of officers. They include: Maria Ferrera, President, Robyn Proto, Vice President, Donald Putrimas, Treasurer, Joel Pleban, Assistant Treasurer, and Janice Cupee, Secretary. All are Stratford residents and will serve through June 2024.

Make A Difference!
Be a Citizen Reporter for the Stratford Crier
We are a volunteer group, providing fact-based nonpartisan reporting,
and we want YOUR help in keeping our community informed.

We need Citizen Reporters to cover:
• Town Government
• Education
• Environment and Climate Resilience
Please join us! Reach out to Barbara@stratfordcrier.com

 

The Cupboards are Bare!

Sterling House Community Center

We are asking for Food donations to our pantry! Here is a list of the most helpful foods- however, all foods are encouraged!

 

Raise a Glass for Scholarships!

ShakesBeer Festival

Saturday, August 27th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
American Shakespeare Theatre
Patron Saint of Festival the Stratford Oldtimers Athletic Association

The ShakesBeer Festival is back! Celebrating our 5th year and triumphant return with amazingly crafted beers and the fantastic humans that create them. Located on the grounds of the historic American Shakespeare Theater overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound. Featuring 50+ craft breweries, live music, local food trucks & vendors and games & activities with a fun vibe.

We proudly support the attending brewers by purchasing all of their beer for the festival. Unlike many beer festivals, there are no booth fees for brewers. The Stratford Oldtimers Athletic Association actually pays the brewers for their product on top of donating a portion of every ticket sold towards athletic scholarships for Stratford students.
You must be 21+ years of age or older to attend. Sorry, no babies or children are permitted. No dogs allowed.

This event is rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, the event may be delayed as event officials consult public safety officers. If there is more than a short delay, if conditions persist, or the forecast calls for extreme weather, we reserve the right to alter or cancel the event. We do not schedule “rain dates”. Any decision to cancel an event is done as an absolute last resort and is made collectively with local risk management, police, fire & rescue, and medical personnel as appropriate. In such situations, there will be NO REFUNDS as registrants accept any such risk of their entry free when purchasing tickets. Please check the website, our Facebook page, and your email before the festival for any changes or cancellations.

What Does My Ticket Include? There are only 1000 tickets available and are $49 online or $59 at the door. Get your ticket today!!! General Admission tickets include entry to the beer festival, beer samples, live music and a commemorative tasting glass.
Tickets are available now at: https://events.beerfests.com/e/shakesbeer-fest
Parking: Limited parking is available directly on-site and the surrounding lots on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transportation: We ask that you please prepare accordingly and enjoy the beer fest safely by designating a driver, using ride-shares, or calling a taxi in advance.

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Protocols:
This event is held outdoors. We will adhere to the current State of CT’s COVID safety guidelines and protocols. For more information, please see the latest guidance at ct.gov/coronavirus on vaccinations, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

Thank You!!
Our policies are in place for the health and safety of our attendees, staff, and vendors and will continue to be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. Thank you for being so cooperative as we look to get back our beer fest safely.
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Attending Breweries
The ShakesBeer Fest is proud purchase all beer directly from the breweries in order to support the craft brew industry. Cheers!
• 3 Floyds
• Abomination Brewing Company
• Athletic Brewing Company
• Back East Brewing Company
• Bad Sons Brewery
• Barley Head Brewing
• Berlinetta Brewing
• Brewport
• Brooklyn Brewing Company
• Captain Lawerence Brewing Company
• Clocktown Brewing Company
• Collective Arts
• Cottrell Brewing
• Counterweight Brewing
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Equilibrium Brewery
• Fat Orange Cat Brewing Company
• Fiddlehead Brewing Company
• Firefly Hollow Brewing
• Frost Beer Works
Hog River Brewing
• Hops on the Hill
• Jacks Abby Craft Lagers
• Lasting Brass Brewing Company
• Lawsons Finest Liquids
• Magic Hat Brewing Company
• Marlowe Artisinal Ales
• Merican Mule
• Mycrene Ale Company
• Narragansett Brewing
• New England Brewing Company
• No Worries Brewing Company
• Nod Hill Brewery
• OEC Brewing
• Ommegang Brewery
• Other Half Brewing Company
• Powder Hollow Brewing
• Rogue Ales
• Sam Adams
• Shebeen Brewing Company
• Skygazer Brewing Company
• Spacecat Brewing Company
• Stone Brewing
• Thimble Island Brewing Company
• Tox Brewing Company
• Troegs Brewing Company
• Two Roads Brewing Company
• Velvet Libitations
• Victory Brewing Company
• Whalers Brewing Company
• Witchdoctor Brewing Company

Attending Food Trucks & Vendors

• Jonz N BBQ
• JTM Cupcakes
• Liberty Rock
• Micalizzi’s Italian Ice
• Snappy Dog
• Zack’s Frozen Yogurt

Live Music

• Jon Hollywood
• Symphonic

Clean Energy for Connecticut

State Representative Joe Gresko, (D)
121st Connecticut House District

Dear Neighbor,

Prior to the start of the 2022 legislative session, I made it a priority as House Chair of the Environment Committee and member of the Energy Committee to support policies and bills that would help cut our carbon footprint, increase our reliance on clean energy sources, and protect the health of Connecticut residents.

I’m happy to report that two of these bills – S.B.10 and S.B.176 – have officially been signed into law!

S.B.176, An Act Concerning Clean Energy Tariff Programs (which I was proud to co-sponsor) looks to increase commercial reliance on rooftop solar energy by modifying existing energy caps involving shared clean energy facilities and expanding the Non-Residential Energy Solutions (NRES) and the Shared Cleaner Energy Facilities (SCEF) programs.

S.B.10, An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation requires Connecticut to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions produced by the state’s electric grid by January 1, 2040. After the transportation sector, our electric grid (essentially, how energy is supplied and consumed) is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the state. This law seeks to change that by setting giving utility companies and suppliers the necessary push to find cleaner, zero-carbon ways to provide consumers with energy.

While more remains to be done, these new laws represent significant steps forward for Connecticut in increasing our reliance on clean energy sources and protecting our environment for ourselves and for future generations.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me at the Capitol at 800-842-8267 or email me at Joseph.Gresko@cga.ct.gov.

Letter from Igor Sikorsky Jr.

Women’s History Month – Joan Joyce

March 1st – Thursday, March 31st

“When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.” Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

Source: Wikipedia; Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame

Women’s History Month Theme 2022

The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. The 2022 theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” This theme is “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.”

About Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress  authorized and requested President Ronald Reagan proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.”

In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

Stratford Scores a Hall of Famer

Joan Joyce is the softball coach at Florida Atlantic University, following a record-setting career as a softball player for the Stratford Raybestos Brakettes and the Chapman College Orange Lionettes. She also has set records on the LPGA Tour as a golfer and on the USA women’s national basketball team, and was a player and coach for the Connecticut Clippers volleyball team.

An extraordinary athlete, Joyce has lead multiple teams to national and international championships. She played competitive basketball and volleyball and qualified for the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in 1977.

However, her fame was local to Stratford, as softball was the sport in which she made her biggest mark, and Joyce is considered one of the best softball players ever to play the game. Joyce joined the Raybestos Brakettes, an amateur softball team, at the age of 14. Three years later she began pitching, marking the first of 18 consecutive years in which she was selected as an Amateur Softball Association All-American.

She notably struck out Ted Williams at an over-crowded Municipal Stadium in Waterbury in 1961. She would do the same to Hank Aaron in a 1978 exhibition game.

In addition to playing, throughout her career she has been a champion of women in sports, coaching various sports at many universities and co-founding the International Softball Association for women to compete on a professional level.

Joyce attended Chapman College in Orange County, Calif., where she lead the Orange Lionettes to a 1965 softball title. Again proving her astonishing athletic ability, she competed in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, averaging 25 points a game, and was named an All-American in 1961, 1964 and 1965. In one notable 1965 game, she set an AAU basketball record by scoring 67 points.

Joyce moved back to Connecticut in 1967 and rejoined the Raybestos Brakettes, leading the team both as a pitcher and a hitter. Her pitching record while playing for the team was 753 wins and 42 losses, including 150 no-hitters, 33 perfect games, and a .09 ERA.

Her pitches were extremely fast at over 70 miles per hour. She pitched 150 no-hitters and 50 perfect games, with a lifetime earned run average of 0.09. In her record-setting 42-win season, she pitched 38 shutouts. Her 1974 Brakettes team was the first American team to win the world championship

At the plate her highest single-season batting average was .406 in 1973. Between 1960 and 1973, Joyce led the team with the highest batting average. She was the National Tournament Batting Champion in 1971, with an average of .467. 1974 brought a world title for the Brakettes when Joan set many records including most strikeouts (76). Less than a month after winning the world title, she pitched 45 scoreless innings in the national championship, leading the Brakettes to their fourth consecutive national title.

Joyce was the first woman to become a recipient of the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance’s Gold Key Award and the first woman ever to be invited to the awards banquet.

In 1977, Joyce qualified for the LGPA tour, finishing in sixth place both in 1981 and 1984. She holds the world record for the lowest number of putts in a single round of golf, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for lowest number of putts (17) in a single round (both men and women), set at the 1982.

Joyce began her coaching career in 1973 and has coached softball, volleyball, basketball and golf. Since 1994, she has been the head coach of Florida Atlantic University’s women’s softball team, leading the Owls to 10 conference championships and seven NCAA tournaments.

She has received numerous coach-of-the-year awards and has been inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame, the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame and The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Joyce was also inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, and the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Wikipedia summed up her impressive record:

  • Most consecutive all-star team selections (18)
  • Eight-time MVP in the National Tournament (1961, 1963, 1968, 1971 (co-MVP), 1973, 1974, and 1975)
  • Most victories in a season (42) (in 1974)
  • Two no-hit, no-run games in National Tournament (four times)
  • Shutouts in a season (38 in 1974)
  • Most innings pitched in a game (29 in 1968 against Perkasie)
  • Career doubles (153)
  • Doubles in a season (22 in 1968)
  • Career triples (67)
  • Brakettes team batting champion (1960, 1962, 1967–69, 1973)
  • Highest batting average (.467 in 1971)

“I’m not an advocate of women’s lib per se, I don’t go out preaching it … I’ve done the things I wanted to do … and I didn’t let anyone stop me … One thing, though—when I grew up my biggest idol was Mickey Mantle. Now kids can also look to the women who play.”

-Joan Joyce