PresRelease

UConn alum Wally Lamb autographed and read from his new, fourth novel, Wishin’ and Hopin’: A Christmas Story last Tuesday evening at the UConn Coop.  His first two novels, She’s Come Undone (Simon & Schuster/Pocket, 1992) and I Know This Much Is True (HarperCollins/ReganBooks, 1998), were # 1 New York Times bestsellers and New York Times Notable Books of the Year.  He’s taught creative writing in the past at UConn and also facilitates a writing workshop at Connecticut’s York Correctional Institute, a maximum-security prison for women. Wally’s been a Connecticut Department of Corrections volunteer since 1999.
Here’s a 1951 photo of Wally (front and center) on the book jacket of Wishin’ and Hopin’:

There’s a quote of his circulating on the internet: “As my early drawings warned me, where humans go, lions and tidal waves follow.”

UConn’s preeminent faculty rock band, “Off Yer Rockers,” warmed up the Coop the night before.  The first photo shows the backs or the tops of the heads of musicians/professors Davita Silfen Glasberg (Sociology): Vocals; Harry Frank (Chemistry): Vocals and Bass Guitar; Eric Jordan (Mechanical Engineering): Drums; David Miller (Psychology): Vocals and Rhythm Guitar; Ernie Zirakzadeh (Political Science): Lead Guitar. Special guest: Robert Birge (Chemistry): keyboards. In the second photo, bassman Harry Frank, drummer Eric Jordan, and tambourinist/vocalist Davita Silfen Glasberg rock it out. Professor Greg Anderson and his wife Mona were mesmerized:

Both events were fundraisers for the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic. Along with gift wrap donations, the Coop raised $1500. You should keep your eye on the Coop’s web page and Facebook page: there’s a lot going on over there.

Clifford and Jonathan

On Saturday evening I stopped by the reception at the Dodd Center for the 2009 Connecticut Children’s Book Fair.  The Fair filled the Rome Ballroom Saturday and Sunday with presentations and book signings by well known authors and illustrators, storytelling, crafts, holiday shopping, two breakfasts with Clifford the Big Red Dog, and presentation of the 2009 Raab Associates Prizes for Illustration and Writing.

The Connecticut Children’s Book Fair brings together prominent children’s authors and illustrators and the general public in an annual event designed to foster the enjoyment of children’s literature. Each year it’s open to the public without an entrance fee. Children, parents, grandparents, book collectors, and interested members of the public attend to meet the writers and artists, hear readings and storytellings, and meet some characters from their favorite books.

At the reception I met Katelyn Fox, 2009 Raab Prize in Illustration Winner and John Allie, 2009 Raab Prize in Writing Winner.  The Raab Associates Prizes are intended to promote the field of children’s book writing and illustration. The illustration competition was created in 1999 by Susan Salzman Raab, founder and co-owner of Raab Associates, a children’s book marketing agency based in Chappaqua, New York. Ms. Raab, who is also a 1980 UConn alumna with a degree in English, especially wants to encourage and support people who have interests in the arts and the world of publishing. The competition is held annually and the prize is awarded to students enrolled in the University of Connecticut’s School of Fine Arts’ illustration courses or in the English Department’s creative writing courses offered during the fall semester. In 2009, Susan Raab established the Raab Associates Prize for Writing in conjunction with faculty in the English Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Brinley Franklin; children’s author Lois Lowry; children’s author PW Catanese; me; Lisa Catanese.

The Connecticut Children’s Book Fair is a project of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center and the UConn Co-op. Proceeds from sales at the event are used for the growth of the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection in the Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

The Book Fair is a great program that reaches out to our younger readers while supporting writers and artists who produce children’s literature.  Thanks to Jean Nelson at the Dodd Center for the photos.

I visited the Husky Box at Rentschler on Saturday during the UConn/North Carolina game and found a very energetic group of students who are involved in the Residence Hall Association and some Resident Assistants, along with former RA Stephen Wakeen (Class of 1979), Suzanne Goode (Class of 1979), Tim Kelly (Pres of NYC Alum Chapter), Caroline Bass (Class of 2004), among others.  They were disturbing the suite next to them, so I felt obliged to give them some parental caution about excessive noise.

The rumor that Tim Kelly (and his friend Rob Armenta, Class of 2007) sailed from New York harbor, up the Connecticut River for the game are unfounded.
Rob and Tim, sailing
The rumor that Kevin Filchak (gray shirt on the right) ate seven hot dogs (with sauerkraut) is also unfounded.  Believable, but unfounded.

Yesterday the Department of Athletics announced its new Husky Honor program, designed to heighten fans’ participation at sporting events while at the same time promoting good sportsmanship and behavior in the stands and going to and from the game.  The NCAA and universities across the country are stepping up efforts to improve fans’ experiences at collegiate sporting events.  Husky Honor is a joint venture of the Division of Athletics, the President’s Office, the Division of Student Affairs, the Alumni Association, Undergraduate Student Government, the Office of Environmental Policy and the Division of Public and Environmental Safety, which includes the UConn Police Department. The management teams of Rentschler Field and the XL Center are also key participants in this initiative.

“Husky Honor” will reinforce the ideals of good sportsmanship, positive behavior and maintaining a safe environment at games. Fans’ Guides will be distributed to all football and basketball season ticket holders; recorded messages from coaches and student-athletes will be aired at Husky athletic events; and information is posted on the official Division of Athletics website – UConnHuskies.com

The core of “Husky Honor” falls under three major categories – Pride, Responsibility and Respect. The mission of the program is that “The University of Connecticut is committed to honoring collegiate athletic competition by demonstrating pride, responsibility and respect. The UConn community, fans, alumni, students, coaches and student-athletes promote these core values as proud Huskies and first class competitors.”

The intent of Husky Honor is to be educational and promote good sportsmanship and fan behavior at all UConn athletic events.  UConn instituted a confidential fan hotline and texting system at football games at Rentschler Field last year and also at men’s and women’s basketball games at Gampel Pavilion and the XL Center. This system was designed for fans to anonymously report any behavior that impairs or otherwise interrupts the enjoyment of a UConn contest and will continue to be in place this year. These reports result in immediate response from facility management staff.

The phone number at Rentschler Field is 860-610-4884 while texts can be sent to 860-861-8100. The phone number at the XL Center is 860-241-2220 while the texts can be sent to 860-402-7644. At Gampel Pavilion, voice and texts can be sent to 860-543-1961.

“Husky Honor” encourages:

Pride -
Wear Your Blue and White,
Take your seat at Rentschler Field early and stay until the end of the game,
Have fun and cheer loudly for your Huskies;

Responsibility -
Refrain from the use of profanity,
Dispose of trash, recycle and keep Rentschler Field clean,
Socialize Responsibly;

Respect -
Respect all coaches, student-athletes and game officials,
Respect yourself and your fellow fans, whether they are cheering for UConn or not,
Respect the University of Connecticut.

And Husky Honor embraces all of our UConn sporting events venues, not just Rentschler and Gampel.  Morrone Stadium, Sherman Family Sports Complex, Frietas Ice Forum, Christian Field, wherever the Huskies are competing.  Let’s support our teams this weekend, with the class and quality that they show us on the field.  Go Huskies!

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I was in New York for meetings, which also allowed Virginia and me to join Lisa Lewis, our Alumni Association Executive Director, and members of our UConn NYC Alumni Chapter for a sunset cruise in New York harbor aboard “The Shearwater.”  I was glad to have this chance to get together with one of our most dynamic alumni groups.  It was well attended – we filled the deck – with lots of UConn enthusiasm and pride.  Alum Tim Kelly, President of the NYC chapter, organized this event, with the help of Caroline Bass and several others.  We soon got our sea legs and enjoyed great views of the financial district skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Jersey City, Governor’s Island, and lots of harbor traffic.  I’ve got a lot of pictures of the event and would like to share several of them here.  Huskies in the Harbor!

Boarding the ship: Lisa Lewis on the gangplank. That’s the World Financial Center in the background.

What a view!

Me, Caroline Bass, and Lady Liberty.

Of course, we had to do the “holding up the statue” thing.

Tim Kelly, Don Coombs, Rob Amenta

Paul Goldberg (UConn Foundation), Hamid Adib, Gail Hodes (with the aura), President Hogan (Liberty on my shoulder) and David Ushery

Paul Goldberg, Don Coombs, Lisa Troyer_

George Rzepecki, Rob Amenta, Erica Kasperkowiak and me

Lisa Lewis, Don Coombs, Tim Kelly

Hamid Adib, Faye Mamaghani, and me

Sailing makes me hungry

George Rzepecki, Maria Bello, Josh Koladis, Caroline Bass, Paul Marcley
Sunset on a perfect evening.