News Briefs

Animal Welfare League's Tag Sale is Back

Animal Welfare League of New London County will hold its Have-a-Heart tag sale inside Boilermakers Lodge 614 at 33 Sacred Heart Drive in Groton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 and 14. Anyone who wants to get in before the Saturday crowd can be an early bird with a donation of $5. This special preview sale is by appointment only by calling (860) 445-0280 and leave a message on the answering machine. Money raised will be spent on animals in need in New London County.

The University of Connecticut's Department of Marine Sciences will continue its Coastal Perspectives Lecture Series on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The series takes place annually at UConn's Avery Point campus during the spring semester and is free and open to the public.

Lectures will be on alternate Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in Room 103 of the Marine Sciences Building; the final event, a symposium, will take place in Branford House. Coffee and light refreshments will be served starting at 7 p.m.

The series is sponsored by UConn's Coastal Studies program and Connecticut Sea Grant.

The program scheduled for Tuesday "Scientists and Sailors: Submarine NR-1's Scientific Contributions," by Cmdr. John McGrath, officer in charge of Submarine NR-1.

The series will continue on March 2, 16, and 30, and April 13.

A "Lyme Disease Day of Awareness" will be held at Mystic Independent Theater on Saturday, Feb. 20. Doors open at noon for this free event, but tickets must be obtained in advance.

The program will feature a prominent science journalist and author among speakers, along with the showing of the 2009 documentary and self-described expose about the disease, "Under Our Skin."

As part of the event, representatives of the eastern Connecticut chapter of the Lyme Disease Association, an all-volunteer national nonprofit dedicated to Lyme disease education, prevention, raising monies for research, and patient support, will provide information, support, and literature. A question-and-answer session will follow the documentary.

Tickets may be requested by e-mailing info@mysticindietheater.com. Mystic Independent Theater is at 107 Wilcox Road, Stonington, and can be reached at (860) 536-9524.

The Submarine Force Museum is "launching" four giant paper submarines, sponsored by real subs home-ported in Groton, and wants kids to join the crew. Stop by between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Feb. 13 to 21, except on Tuesdays when the museum is closed, and add a drawing of your face to the crew of the sub of your choice. You'll receive a plank-owner certificate acknowledging you as a member of your sub's first crew and you can enter a raffle to win the actual paper sub.

The Submarine Force Museum is at One Crystal Lake Road in Groton. The event is free and open to everyone. For more information, call (860) 694-4863 or visit www.submarinemuseum.org.

Three members of the Connecticut College community were honored with the college's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Awards during a celebration of King's life Jan. 29.

This year's recipients are William Wuyke, adjunct professor of physical education, director of the fitness center, and head coach of strength and conditioning; the Rev. Claudia Highbaugh, dean of religious and spiritual life; and senior Jason Cordova. All three were selected for upholding the legacy of King's work with their demonstrated commitment to social justice and service to underrepresented groups on campus and in the New London community.

Wuyke, a resident of East Lyme and native of Venezuela, was recognized for his leadership and commitment to community service. In addition to supporting the college's multicultural initiatives on campus, Wuyke actively engages faculty, staff, and students in fitness and wellness programs and volunteers in a local soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Wuyke also works extensively with children from the New London community through the college's popular Kids, Books, Athletics mentorship program.

A New London resident, Highbaugh is well known on campus and in the community as an activist for her involvement with organizations that focus on the welfare of children and young adults. Highbaugh was also recognized for carrying on King's legacy through her scholarship, which focuses on issues of justice, inclusion and hospitality.

Cordova, a senior from Chino, Calif., is a student fellow for the college's Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity. He has worked to educate his peers about diversity issues, developing course curriculum, completing class lectures, organizing guest presentations, and planning special events. Cordova is also actively involved with the college's Office of Volunteers for Community Service and has served as a teacher and counselor with the Camp Rotary program. This past summer, Cordova was selected to serve as a team leader for the Bright Prospect Scholar Support Program, an organization that helps low-income students from California realize their dreams of attending college.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is accepting nominations for the 60th annual Citizen of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to honor an individual for their outstanding contributions to the civic and business community.

Service can be during the previous year, in recent years, or over a lifetime. While the nominee does not need to be a native of eastern Connecticut, he or she must be a resident now or at the time during which the distinguished service was performed.

For a nomination form and award criteria, visit www.chamberect.com. Nominations may be e-mailed to Heather Leonard, director of programs and events, at hleonard@chamberect.com or faxed to the Chamber at (860) 701-9902. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15.

For more information, visit www.chamberect.com or call 701-9113.