Library is closed today, Friday, Dec. 31, reopening Monday. Peace and prosperity in the New Year!

And remember that Monday begins our week-long amnesty on fines for all materials.  Start 2011 with a clean slate!

Nonprofit Forum Runs January-April

Executive directors, managers, funders, board members, and other nonprofit leaders are invited to participate in another free Nonprofit Forum, which as a group will be discussing some of the following challenges: 
* how to lead courageously in the face of change
* leading multi-generational workforces
* using innovation as a pathway to organizational sustainability
* building an organization that embraces change, learning and growth

See full program highlights and pre-register here. Location: William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, 2319 Whitney Ave., 2nd Fl., Hamden

CT Commission on Culture & Tourism announces new Directory of Teaching and Performing Artists

Beginning next summer two directories will be merged into the Directory of Performing and Teaching Artists, a resource of high-quality Connecticut performing and teaching artists who have been juried for excellence in their art forms and readiness and capacity to work in schools and community settings. The Directory will serve as a catalogue from which presenters must choose when applying to CCT for fee support grants (for performances, master classes, workshops, residencies, etc). Read more.
Artists note: Application/Reapplication Deadline is Feb. 28, 2011

Community Foundation Grants Available to New Haven Civic Groups

Projects Should Demonstrate Leadership; Benefit New Haven Neighborhoods. Application deadline is February 11, 2011. Find out more

Library is closed for snow today,Dec. 27

International Festival of Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program for high school juniors and seniors

Designed to provide exposure to careers in the arts,  the program combines instruction in critical writing, nonprofit management and various performing arts disciplines, with opportunities for job shadowing and hands-on work experience around Festival events. Details here.

Library Amnesty Week Jan. 3-8!

Bring in your overdue items to any branch of the New Haven Public Library the first week in the New Year and enjoy a waiver of fines! 

Starting Jan. 10, fines will increase for the first time in more than a decade to 20 cents per item per day.

If You Can Read, You Can Help

Literacy Volunteers has many openings now for new tutors in New Haven and the Wallingford/Meriden areas. Tutor training starts in January--see the schedule.

Toy Drive for Newhallville children

Lt. Rebecca Sweeney and the New Haven Police Department will once again sponsor a Holiday Toy Drive for the children of Newhallville. Toys will be distributed at the Literacy Resource Center, 4 Science Park, on December 22. If you have new unwrapped toys to donate, please drop them off at the Literacy Center or email rsweeney@newhavenct.net

Neighborhood Music School is looking for new Director of Development

The Director of Development will be responsible for the design and execution of all fundraising programs for the School, including individual and major gifts; foundation, corporate sponsorships and grant programs; government support; planned giving; and endowment programs. The Director works closely with senior staff, board and committee members, oversees a full agenda of events and activities, and will play a critical role in Centennial anniversary outreach and celebrations.   Full position description. 

Christian Community Action Parent Leadership Training Institute starts Jan. 24

The PLTI enables parents to become leading advocates for children. This initiative is sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundaion, Christian Community Action, and Hospital of St. Raphael. Classes will be held on Tuesday nights at the Hospital of St. Raphael beginning January 24. Training is free with family dinner.

Parents are offered three phases of training: a retreat on Jan. 22 to develop cohesion and define mission; a 10-week course on parent leadership; a 10-week study of politics, policy and media with a Community Project to practice new skills within a community framework.

Details: 203-777-6072 VM# 27 or meaton@ccahelping.org

THE HONEY DEWDROPS coming to New Haven Library January 19

Sierra Club says go to Public Library for "sustainable" reading

At Sierra Club Green Home, we preach “reduce, reuse, and recycle” and library books can be read by dozens of people over their lifetime. And once they are finally too dog-eared and beaten up to grace library shelves, they can be easily recycled since they are generally all paper (even the leather on deluxe bound editions can be recycled). Read more

Apply by Jan. 31 for Arte scholarship!

Arte Inc. develops and promotes Latino art and culture, establishing partnerships with community agencies and groups to improve the quality of life of residents through artistic and cultural development. Arte commissions artists, organizes programs, events, shows and exhibits. Arte also provides an annual scholarship to Latinos. Click here for information about this opportunity.

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PechaKucha New Haven Jan. 26

Send your fantastic passionate 20x20 topic to PKN-NewHaven.Org. Then go to the party. PKN-NewHaven.Org--and for more about PechaKucha go to http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.  (But I still couldn't find out how it's pronounced.)

Christopher Martin's Christmas Run is Sunday

On Sunday, Dec. 12, 10 AM until noon there will be temporary detours and street closures in downtown New Haven during the annual Christopher Martins Christmas Run for Children.


Temporary bus stops during this event:

--Buses that normally stop at Church & Chapel (east and westbound) by Footlocker or at Chapel & State will serve the stop at Temple at Center Green;

--Buses that normally serve Church & Chapel headed north by Sovereign Bank will stop at Church & Center.

Yale Recycling offers office supplies to nonprofits

Yale Recycling has a wide variety of office supplies and other surplus items available for free to departments, charities and other members of the Yale and nonprofit communities. For details contact cyril.may@yale.edu or 203-432-6852.

New web tool helps you find out how your purchases line up with your politics

Checking Influence is a downloadable browser that analyzes your online credit card or bank account statement and presents you with a summary of the lobbying activities and campaign contributions of companies you do business with. Read more

Permanent Closure of Route 34 West On-Ramp Jan. 2

In support of construction of the new I-95 N to Route 34 Westbound 'flyover' bridge (between Exits 45 and the interchange of I-95/I-91/Route 34 in New Haven), the CT DOT will close the Route 34 westbound on-ramp from Brewery St in the area of the Post Office and IKEA on January 2, 2011.
Read more here.