With the financial support of many area residents, the Friends Of Lake Pocotopaug has raised over $100,000 in the grpoup's five years of existence for projects to improve the water quality of Lake Pocotopaug. To honor this cooperation, the Friends will host a free Spaghetti Dinner on March 29 at the Moose Club on South Main St in Marlborough. This event is open to all. The dinner, which includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and soft drinks will be served at 5pm and 6:30pm. A cash bar is also available. At the dinner, the Friends organization will unveil details for it's 2008 fund-raising events. This year's events include a Poker Run, the Old Home Day "Steamed Shrimp Shack", the 4th annual boat pageant and a raffle of a "smart fortwo" car. All proceeds will be used to ... 02/25/2008

Rick's Sugar Shack in East Hampton, CT will hold it's third Maple Sugaring Open House Saturday,March 1, from 9am to 4pm at 69 Collie Brook Rd, East Hampton. Rick Walker, owner and operator of the sugar house, has been in operation nine years, but has been sugaring in East Hampton for the past 16 years. During the open house, Rick will show visitors how to tap into the Maple tree, gather sap and then demonstrate the multifaceted process of boiling the sap down into maple syrup. Samples of fresh maple syrup will be available along with maple fudge, maple mustard and maple bread. Complimentary coffee and juice will be served. Maple syrup will also be available for purchase. Rick's Sugar Shack is located on the unpaved part of Collie Brook Rd, which is accessible from South Main St and Tart... 02/25/2008

The East Hampton Athletic Hall Of Faem's Poker Rally for 2008 will be held Sat May 31 at 2pm. This years event will include new "rally stops" with new interactive events. The Rally is the Hall Of Fame' (HOF) major fundraiser, designed to fuel it's annual scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded to select graduating seniors who reside in our community and have excelled athletically and personally. Also, this is the first year the HOF will award the newly created Harold Reilly and Jane Cerri Memorial Scholarships. Poker Rally participants and their guests will be directed to five locations in and around East Hampton, gathering their five sealed poker cards along the way. No poker experience is necessary. Every destination will include an activity. All legal modes of transportation ar... 02/25/2008

The town of East Hampton, CT is looking for volunteers to serve on various boards, commissions and agencies. The following boards and commissions  currently have openings for volunteers: Building Code Board of Appeals, Inlands Wetlands Watercourses Agency, CT river Assembly, Middle Haddam Historic District Commission, Conservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Housing Authority, Redevelopment Agency, Housing Code Board of Appeals and Water Pollution Control Authority. Applications are available in the Town Manager;s office at 20 east High Street, or on the Town website at www.easthamptonct.org. 02/19/2008

Entry-level bag-piping courses are now forming at Epoch Arts, 27 Skinner Street, East Hampton, CT. There will be 2 courses: one for ages 9-17 and another one for adults. The courses are $150. Each class runs Thursdays, from 5-6pm (for the 9-17 year olds) and 7-8pm (for the adult class), starting March 20. There is a limit of 15 students. Classes cost $10 each. For registration forms or for more information, email kbarber91@sbcglobal.net or call 860-798-1548. 02/19/2008

The Friends of the East Hampton Public Library are seeking volunteers to work in their bookstore on Mondays from 9am to noon or any part of that time. In addition to hardback and soft cover books, the Friends' Bookshop has video tapes, DVD movies and zigzag puzzles available. The bookstore is located at 105 Main St, East Hampton, CT in the Library annex. For more information, call Lucy Blair at 267-2314. 02/19/2008

A Clothing, Linens and Book Sale will be held from 9am-2pm, Sat Feb 23 at the Congregational Church of East Hampton, 59 main St, East Hampton, CT. Donated items are appreciated. Saleable items include clothing, linens (bedspreads, curtains and sheets), books, CD's and DVD's. items may also be brought to the church during normal business hours. For more information, call 267-4959. 02/19/2008

The East Hampton Veterans Memorial Committee will hold another setback tournament Saturday, March 1, at 7pm, at the VFW Post on North Maple St. Also, the group would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to assist the committee. It presently meets once a month, on the second Thursday, at 10am, at the American Legion Post, Main St, East Hampton, CT. 02/19/2008

Paper crafting enthusiasts can gather for an evening of scrap-booking and rubber stamping tonight Feb 15 from 7-11ppm at the East Hampton Congregational Church, 59 Main Street, east Hampton, CT. Registration fees ($10 at the door, $7.50 with pre-registration and $6 each with a group of 3 or more) benefit the EHCC's Seeds of Hope mission trip. The evening includes crafting space, snacks and beverages, great company, access to the tool table including die cut system and decorative punches and personalized consultant services. 02/19/2008

Christ Episcopal Church in Middle Haddam has begun its Lenten fund drive to raise money to buy vitamins for the children at Saint Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Only the very ill children receive a daily multivitamin. Sunday School children from the parish were given plastic jugs in order to collect spare change. Checks may also be written to Christ Church Missions (designated for Lenten Vitamin Drive). The deadline for the collected coins, bills and checks is March 30, the Sunday after Easter. The money will then  be sent to the Friends of Saint Vincent's School, a ministry of Saint James Church, West Hartford. 02/19/2008

Veteran's Of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5095, located at North Maple St, East Hampton, CT, is hosting a public breakfast, Sunday Feb 10 from 8-11am. Breakfast consists of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, home fires, toast, coffee, juice and fruit. The cost is $6 per person and all are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the post at 267-8837 after 3pm Monday through Friday or after noon on Saturday and Sunday. 02/11/2008

The East Hampton Belltown Garden Club will meet Monday Feb 25 at 7pm in the community room at East Hampton Public Library, 105 Main St, East Hampton, CT. This meeting will feature Richard Harper, Technical Director of American Distilling, speaking on "Witch Hazel-Past, Present and Future". Harper has over 32 years experience in the health and beauty care industry. Among other committees and organizational memberships, he is a member of the U.S. Homeopathic Association. Refreshments will be served this month by host and hostess Peggy Becker and Richard Michaud. Horticultural theme for the meeting  will be "Winter Houseplants" and the Horticultural Committee will judge these. Anyone with unusual houseplants can bring them in as a "show and tell". 02/11/2008

Parents and guardians of the incoming 9th grade class are invited to attend parent orientation at East Hampton High School, 20 North Maple St, East Hampton, CT on Tues Feb 12 at 7pm. This evening is an opportunity to learn about East Hampton High School and meet some of the teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. The evening will consist of  presentations by the chairs of each of the the five core academic areas and information to help your child in the course selection process. 02/11/2008

The Belltown Knights of Columbus will hold its Friday Night Fish Fries during Lent, starting Feb 8. The Fish Fries will start at 4:30 pm and run until 8pm each Friday at the Saint Patrick's Parish Center at the corner of High and Maple Streets, East Hampton, CT. 02/11/2008

The Goff House, 2 Barton Hill, East Hampton, CT, is offering another 6 week session of Children's Happy Notes for children aged 6 months to 4 years beginning Friday Feb 29 from 9:15 to 10am. This children's music program is taught by Kathye Flanagan. The 6 week session is designed for children to play, create, learn  and have some fun with music. Space is limited. For more information, call Kathye Flanagan at 267-7472 or 338-4029, or email kathyeflngn@yahoo.com 02/11/2008

Late registration for the 2008 East Hampton Little League baseball, softball and Babe Ruth leagues will be held Sat Feb 16 from 10am to noon in the C. W. Currie Field House at Seamster Park, located next to Memorial School, East Hampton, CT. If a player is new to East Hampton Little League, bring a copy of the child's birth certificate to the registration. Little League late registration fees are $55 and $45 for each additional family member. Babe Ruth fees are $110. East Hampton Little League is an all volunteer program and relies solely on money raised through registration fees, fund-raisers and donations. If you would like to volunteer your time, or for more information about East Hampton Little League, email Kyle Muncy at KMuncyEHLL@hotmail.com. 02/11/2008

Due t a recent resignation, the Board of Education is seeking applications from residents, who are registered voters, and are interested in filling the vacancy on the board. If interested, submit a letter explaining why you wish to serve to the Board Offices at 94 Main St, East Hampton, CT 06424, ATTN: Board Chairman Michael Vasquenza. 02/11/2008

The Chatham Historical Society will have it's next monthly Open House Sunday, Feb 3 from 2-4pm. Both the museum and 1840 one room school house on Bevin Blvd,East Hampton, CT, will be open to the public. Ann Rita Clark will be the society' s speaker at the meeting Tuesday, Feb 4 at 7:30pm at the museum. She will be talking about the Wall family farm. The public is welcome to attend. 02/06/2008

As a new fund-raiser and social opportunity, the East Hampton High School Sports Boosters will host a Setback Tournament on Saturday, Feb 9 at the Saint Pius Center at Saint Patirck's Church, 47 West High Street, East Hampton, CT. Tickets are availaibale for a $20 donation and prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, along with the "bottom loser" of the evening. The event will start at 6:30pm with registration, social hour and refresher demonstrations. The actual tournament will start at 7:30. The Master of Ceremonies for this event will be Jim Herrington. This is planned as a BYOB event, with non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks to be provided by the Boosters. For tickets, call Cynthia Abraham at 267-8846, Joanne Barmasse at 267-6741, Lisa Aarrestad at 267-6498 or... 02/06/2008

Epoch Arts has announced it's second annual film spin challenge classes. Film making classes begin Feb 9 and are geared around creating films for the festival. Students will make their own short films by putting their own spin on given ideas. The films will be shown in the Epoch Arts Spring Film Festival on April 19. The classes are offered on Saturdays in two groups: 5th-8th grade from 4-5:30pm and 9th-12th grade from 11:30 am-1pm. Classes run for nine weeks, an hour and a half long, and cost is $125. Epoch Arts is open to all students regardless of financial status. Epoch Arts also offers a Tuition Waiver Program. For more information, call 365-0337 or visit www.epocharts.org. 02/06/2008