Connecticut’s Old State House Switching to Summer Hours: Museum will be open to the public Tuesday - Saturday after the July Fourth Holiday

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For Immediate Release
June 29, 2017
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

 

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford will be switching to its Summer Hours starting Wednesday, July 5. Following the July Fourth holiday, the Old State House will be open to the public Tuesday – Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4 p.m. The building will be closed on Sundays and Mondays and remain on its Summer Schedule until the Columbus Day holiday in October. The building will also be closed on Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

Information on Connecticut’s Old State House hours, admission prices, upcoming events, Tuesday & Friday Farmers Market, tours and directions to the building can be found at the museum’s website, www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop etc., located in the nearby State House Square, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and hours visit www.ctoldstatehouse.org and follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor Visits Washington, D.C. to Raise Awareness for the Humane Treatment of Animals

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Washington, D.C./Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) Jessica Brocksom of Milford visited Washington, D.C. this past week to discuss her platform Helping Animals, Those Without a Voice as she met with elected officials and national organizations that focus on protecting animals.

CKG Jessica’s tour of the nation’s capital included meetings with both of Connecticut’s U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal & Christopher Murphy, Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and staff from both The Humane Society of the United States & the Humane Society Legislative Fund. During her constructive meetings she discussed animal protection legislation and the goals she set for herself during her one-year term as Connecticut’s Kid Governor. These goals include learning about and supporting tougher animal protection laws, promoting collection drives for local pounds and shelters, and creating an educational presentation to be shown in schools across Connecticut.

Photos and videos from CKG Jessica’s trip to Washington, D.C. can be found on the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Facebook and Twitter pages. Brocksom, formerly a fifth grader in Mrs. Donna Stuart’s class at JFK School in Milford, ran as a candidate promoting the humane treatment of animals during the annual CKG Statewide Election in November 2016 and garnered enough votes from her peers to be elected as the 2017 Connecticut’s Kid Governor.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) is a national award-winning statewide civics program created by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN). CKG is sponsored by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Connecticut State Department of Education. The free program teaches fifth graders across the state about government, elections, and the importance of civics engagement through a real-life election that’s timed to coincide with Election Day in November. Winner of a 2017 Medallion Award from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and a 2016 Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), the Connecticut’s Kid Governor program inspires students to be lifelong agents of change, active participants in our government, and registered voters when they turn 18. For more information on CKG - both the program and the student - follow Connecticut’s Kid Governor on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or visit the program’s website at CT.KidGovernor.org.

Connecticut Students Take a Stand in History on the National Stage: Results from 2017 National History Day Contest at University of Maryland

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For Immediate Release
June 19, 2017
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

College Park, MD – Taking a stand for women’s rights, saving the environment and the end of communism were among the topics Connecticut students researched and presented at the prestigious 2017 National History Day® Contest at the University of Maryland this past week. This year’s theme Taking A Stand In History inspired high school and middle school historians to write papers, produce documentaries and stage performances that included titles such as Game of Phones: How Lorena Weeks Stood Up to AT&T for Job Equality, John Muir: A Voice for the Wild and Tearing Down the Berlin Wall: Taking a Stand to Break the Iron Curtain.

Claire Faulkner

Topics ranged from hyper local to international and, for some, the history was personal. Claire Faulkner, a resident of Coventry and student at the Journalism & Media Academy Magnet School in Hartford, focused her documentary on a distant relative that stood up to the Nazis. Her project Helmuth James von Moltke: A Leader of Resistance to Hitler and the Nazi Party won her both the Special Prize in World War II History and the Outstanding Connecticut Senior Entry Award at the 2017 National History Day®  Contest.

Samantha Renzulli, a student at The Unquowa School in Fairfield, won the Outstanding Connecticut Junior Entry Award at the national contest with her individual performance One Child’s Stand: The Children’s March to Victory 1963. Renzulli’s project won first place at the Connecticut History Day Contest in April.

Samantha Renzulli

All 68 members of the Connecticut Delegation won awards at the 2017 Connecticut History Day (CHD) State Contest this past April. They competed against nearly 3.000 students from across the country.

The five day contest was kicked off by renowned historian and filmmaker Ken Burns - a longtime fan of the National History Day Contest. Throughout the week participants presented their work to teams of judges, met with Connecticut’s U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and interacted with fellow student historians from around the country and overseas.

"Connecticut History Day workshops, resources and coaching have helped students create high quality projects based on sound research”, said Sally Whipple, Executive Director of Connecticut’s Old State House.  “Students develop critical thinking, writing and research skills, along with increased confidence, curiosity and the ability to ask and find answers to compelling questions. The Connecticut Public Affairs Network staff at the Old State House strives to do this every day through all of its programming. It’s great to see student work that we’ve helped nurture receive the highest National History Day honors."

Over five thousand middle and high school students participate in Connecticut History Day, one of 57 affiliate programs of National History Day.  Connecticut History Day is led by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN), with support from the Connecticut League of History Organizations, ConnecticutHistory.org, and Connecticut Explored Magazine. CHD is also supported by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Connecticut State Department of Education. To learn more about Connecticut History Day, visit the program’s website at www.historydayct.org and follow the program on Facebook & Twitter.

 

Connecticut History Day students at the 2017 National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland and Washington, D.C.

 

NASS Medallion Award Presented to Connecticut’s Kid Governor Program

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For Immediate Release
June 15, 2017
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Hartford, CT – On Wednesday, June 14 the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award was presented to the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN) for its Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) program. The NASS Medallion Award, which was presented by Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, recognizes outstanding service and dedication to furthering the mission of the National Association of Secretaries of State within the states. It was created to honor individuals, groups and organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of NASS in elections, civic education, service to state government and commitment to giving.

CPAN President & CEO Paul Giguere, V.P. of Administration & Communications William Bevacqua, Connecticut’s Old State House Executive Director Sally Whipple, and Head of Education & Connecticut’s Kid Governor Brian Cofrancesco accepted the award during a ceremony in Secretary Merrill’s office at the State Capitol.

“On behalf of the Connecticut Public Affairs Network, I would like to thank Secretary Merrill and the NASS for this incredible award honoring the Connecticut’s Kid Governor program,” stated CPAN President & CEO Paul Giguere. “Since 1997, our mission at CPAN has been to educate residents - both young and old - on the importance of civic engagement. The response to CKG from teachers, parents, students and now the NASS has been nothing short of amazing over the program’s short two year run. We very much look forward to continuing to educate the fifth graders of Connecticut on state government and elections as CKG heads into an exciting third year and another statewide election this fall.”

Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) is a national award-winning statewide civics program created by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN). CKG is sponsored by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Connecticut State Department of Education. The free program teaches fifth graders across the state about government, elections, and the importance of civics engagement through a real-life election that’s timed to coincide with Election Day in November. Winner of a 2016 Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), the Connecticut’s Kid Governor program inspires students to be lifelong agents of change, active participants in our government, and registered voters when they turn 18. For more information on CKG - both the program and the student - follow Connecticut’s Kid Governor on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or visit the program’s website at CT.KidGovernor.org.

The Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN) is a non-profit company based in Hartford, Connecticut that is committed to strengthening civic engagement in the Constitution State by providing comprehensive and unbiased educational programming and outreach on state government, civics and citizenship since 1997. CPAN manages the Connecticut Network (CT-N), a 24-hour media service providing C-SPAN-style, gavel-to-gavel coverage of state government and Connecticut’s Old State House’s (Downtown Hartford, CT) educational and community programming.

Connecticut's Old State House to Remember Fmr. Executive Director Bill Faude: Conversations at Noon Tuesday, June 27 at Noon

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For Immediate Release
Contact Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Hartford, CT - On Tuesday, June 27 Connecticut’s Old State House’s next installment of
Conversations at Noon will reflect on the work and legacy of historian, preservationist, author and one of Hartford’s most devoted, visionary and engaging champions – the late Wilson (Bill) H. Faude.

 

Known for his creative and enthusiastic promotion of Hartford’s history, Mr. Faude oversaw the restoration of two iconic Hartford landmarks - the Mark Twain House and Connecticut’s Old State House. He also authored numerous books relating to Connecticut history, including The Hidden History of Connecticut and The Renaissance of Mark Twain’s House.

The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will lead a conversation about Faude’s work, impact on our capital city’s landscape, and the enormous passion and civic pride he felt for Hartford, its historic gems and its stories. Smith will be joined by Architectural Historian Jared Edwards, who worked on restoration projects with Mr. Faude, Historian Bill Hosley, and Columnist Tom Condon.

This program is free to attend thanks to the support of Connecticut Humanities.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop etc., located in the nearby State House Square, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and hours visit www.ctoldstatehouse.org and follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  

2017 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Jessica Brocksom to Promote “Heat Kills” Program: Thursday, June 8 at 4:15 p.m. at John F. Kennedy School in Milford

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Milford – On Thursday, June 8 at 4:15 p.m. 2017 Connecticut’s Kid Governor^SM (CKG) Jessica Brocksom will join State Representatives Pam Staneski (R-119), Charlie Ferraro (R-117) & Kim Rose (D-118), Milford Mayor Ben Blake, Milford Animal Control Officer Scott Ellingson, and Milford City Clerk Joanne Rohrig at her school, JFK School in Milford, to kick off a city-wide “Heat Kills” awareness program.

“Heat Kills” is designed to remind people about the dangers of leaving dogs and other domestic animals in cars during the warmer months. Promoting this program falls in line with CKG Brocksom’s platform Helping Animals, Those Without a Voice – a platform that she has been promoting throughout the state since her inauguration as CKG in January. Last November Brocksom was elected as the 2017 Connecticut’s Kid Governor by the state’s fifth graders after running a successful campaign promoting the humane treatment of animals.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) is a national award-winning statewide civics program created by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN). CKG is sponsored by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Connecticut State Department of Education. The free program teaches fifth graders across the state about government, elections, and the importance of civics engagement through a real-life election that’s timed to coincide with Election Day in November. Winner of a 2016 Leadership in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), the Connecticut’s Kid Governor program inspires students to be lifelong agents of change, active participants in our government, and registered voters when they turn 18. For more information on CKG - both the program and the student - follow Connecticut’s Kid Governor on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or visit the program’s website at CT.KidGovernor.org.

2017 Old State House Farmers Market Opens June 13 - Concerts Series Dates Announced

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Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT – The Farmers Market at Connecticut’s Old State House, the oldest of its kind in the state, will open for the season on Tuesday, June 13 and will remain open every Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. through October (with the exception of Tuesday, July 4). Located in the heart of historic downtown Hartford, the Old State House Farmers Market invites participation from local farmers who are able to provide high-quality Connecticut-grown products and artisans of original, handcrafted and self-manufactured quality goods made in Connecticut.

Summer Concert Series Dates Announced:

The Old State House Farmers Market will continue with its popular Summer Fun at the Farmers Market concert series this season. All concerts begin at noon, take place outside of the Old State House on its Main Street courtyard and are free to the public to enjoy. The artists and dates are as follows:
 
·         The Jolly Beggars – Friday, June 23*
·         Locomotive Shipwreck – Friday, June 30*

·         Goza – Friday, July 14*

·         Mass-Conn Fusion – Friday, July 21^

·         Nu Haven Kapelye – Friday, July 28*

·         Judy Handler & Mark Levesque – Friday, August 4*

·         Dixieland Stomp – Friday, August 11^

·         Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble – Friday, August 25^

·         Balkun Brothers – Friday, September 8*

·         The Sweetest Key – Friday, September 15^

·         Band of Steady Habits – Friday, September 22*

 ^Supported in part by the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign

*Supported by the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The museum is currently operating on its Regular Schedule: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Old State House Shop, located near the Food Court in State House Square, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby follow Connecticut's Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the museum's website at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.