Light atmosphere belies Juneteenth’s message

Ryanne O'Connor, 17, front,of Gales Ferry, performs with her Norwich dance troupe, Dance Express, during Family Day at Mohegan Park in Norwich Sunday, September 20, 2009. Family Day in Norwich blends fun, information Children learn about ambulances, high-tech police -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By DEBORAH STRASZHEIM Norwich Bulletin Posted Sep 20, 2009 Norwich, Conn. — Paramedic Jennifer Wheeler sat in the back of an American Ambulance with four children and asked if they had any questions. “My mom was in an ambulance once,” volunteered Dylan Dionne, 6, of Norwich. “Having my sister.” Sunday was Family Day at Mohegan Park, and hundreds of parents and their children milled through the park, navigating their way through the crowd with balloon hats, swords and at least one balloon octopus. The event offered free entertainment, food and demonstrations by groups such as American Ambulance, who explained how that gigantic bed fits into the back of the ambulance. The seventh annual event was sponsored by Children First Norwich, the City of Norwich, Norwich Youth & Family Services, Dime Bank and Norwich Public Utilities. Lawson and Lawrence Langlois, 8 and 9, of Norwich, checked out the inside of the city police department’s cyber office on wheels. The truck had a camera in the back that looked out over the crowd, then displayed the image on a television screen inside. “It’s really cool,” the boys said. Makala Burage, 9, Morgan Intravia, 8, and Theresse Weigand-Watkinson, 9, performed a hip-hop number with Dance Express, then stopped at the “decorate your own cookie” booth and ate cookies. “It must take a long time to do this,” Theresse said, of setting up the event. “I think it’s awesome, just being able to hang out here every year.” Shirley Dionne said she has brought her twins, Dylan and Virginia, both 6, for the last couple of years. That was her in the ambulance, by the way. Her twins were born prematurely, so they took her from Lawrence & Memorial Hospital to Yale, she said. Dylan wouldn’t remember, but he’s heard the stories. The kids enjoyed the day at Mohegan Park, she said. “They’ve been in just about every vehicle,” she said. “(Virginia) got signed up for Girl Scouts and they played with the drums. They’ve just had a really good time.”

Makala Burage, 9, front, and Amber Bennard, 7, back left, both of Norwich, perform with their Norwich dance troupe, Dance Express, during World Youth Celebration at the Salvation Army in downtown Norwich Friday, May 1, 2009. Rain Can’t Put Damper on Norwich Festival World Youth Celebration Brings Energy to Salvation Army By JAMES MOSHER Norwich Bulletin Posted May 01, 2009 @ 11:52 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich, Conn. — Norwich’s annual World Youth Celebration was held indoors for the first time Friday, but singing, dancing and other arts were as spirited as ever. “These kids are great,” said Debbie Kievits, the event’s organizer and coordinator of Bully-Busters. “Just give them a chance and a place to perform and they will.” Because of rain, this year’s festival, the fourth annual, was held downstairs in the Salvation Army building on Main Street. Just yards away the YMCA of Southeastern Connecticut sat in darkness. Some of the performers were affected by Thursday’s closing of the 123-year-old YMCA. “They were practicing at the Y and the American Legion and now both are closed,” Sandy Smith of Norwich said of a Cape Verdean dance group called the Estrellas. Her daughters, Shayona, 15, and Niasja, 13, dance with the group. “They’re running out of places to dance,” Smith said. Aaron Hughes, who gave a Tai Chi demonstration with student Zach Barrows, said he’d been teaching at the Y. The relaxation of Tai Chi helps overcome disappointments, he said. “For thousands of years, Tai Chi has taught self-control,” he said. “The purity of the philosophy comes to you through the movements.” The pair brandished swords in the latter part of their exercise. In contrast to Western-style fencing where combatants move away at intervals, Tai Chi swordsmanship is distinguished by its perpetual closeness. “You can feel the energy of your opponent through the sword,” said Barrows, a senior at Norwich Free Academy and founder of its martial arts club. One could almost feel energy in the Salvation Army walls during the evening’s copious song and dance routines. Adrian Gardner, 18, of Norwich, who is known by his stage name “Soulo,” got at least two dozen youngsters moving to his original lyrics that blended hip hop, rhythm and blues and rap. “I love looking into people’s eyes when I sing to them,” said Gardner, who’s been writing songs since he was 14. “That’s the best part.” Poetry and speech-making were also part of the program. Amaryllis Rodriguez addressed the perils of teen pregnancy in her Miss Rose of New England community service speech. Another beauty queen, Miss New London County Ashley Memdrino, tap-danced to the well-known pop song “Bleeding Love.” Reflecting on the event’s opening routines by Dance Express as well as her own that converted early quiet into smiling festiveness, Memdrino said “Dance always brings out people’s spirits.”

Amber Bennard, 7, left, and Theresse Weigand-Watkinson, 9, right, both of Norwich, perform with their Norwich dance troupe, Dance Express, during Juneteenth Day at the Howard T. Brown Park in downtown Norwich Saturday, June 13, 2009.