News

News of interest to us East of the River. Where available links are provided to source publications for full story.

Integrative Physician Opening Office In Coventry

DR. ARLEEN SERGIS, DO, Board certified in family medicine, is opening an office in Coventry this fall. Dr. Sergis is an Osteopathic Physician who offers an integrated approach to wellness and well-being. She is committed to the art of preventive medicine helping patients take charge of their own health and change unhealthy habits. A native of Norwalk, she comes to our area from a practice in upstate New York.

While osteopathic physicians receive the same medical education and training as MDs, and practice alongside MDs in hospitals and clinics, only osteopathic physicians are trained in manipulation. They use manipulative techniques in concert with traditional medical treatments to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Manipulative techniques include moving muscles and joints with stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance.

Dr. Sergis is on the staff of Windham Hospital, which is the leader in our area in welcoming integrative ideas. She is currently located at Coventry Corners with Coventry Internal Medicine and this fall will move to a new office at 1776 Boston Post Road (Route 44) (see map) in Coventry. Either office can be reached at (860) 742-6347.

» Go to full story.
» More on Windham Hospital.

Sacred Rivers Yoga Moving In Glastonbury

Sacred Rivers Yoga is moving from its current Glastonbury location in the Griswold Mall to a new site just a short distance north of its current location (see map). Owner PAULA SCOPINO announced that the studio will reopen on Wednesday, September 3 and all the services presently offered will continue. There are a number of medical professionals in the new building and nearby who she looks forward to working with. The new location is at 2934 Main Street. Check the studio's website for the fall class schedule. The studio can be reached at (860) 657-9545.

Ceremonies For Life's Passages

Wickham Park Building Sensory Garden

Work began on construction of the new Sensory Garden at Wickham Park in Manchester in June. The garden will give those with physical,mental or sensory limitations the best possible natural environment through the use of raised garden beds, fountains, assistive technology, and unique art. The plan calls for six stations (yes, they include the sixth sense) connected by walkways and arches in which all of the senses are encompassed and will occupy a half-acre, the largest of its kind in New England. They hope to complete work on the garden this year.

» More information and map of layout.

Woodfaeries Opens New Center In Vernon

Woodfaeries Holistic Center opens in the Lafayette Square section of Vernon in early June. DEB and WAYNE VEILLEUX's new center is located at 30 Hyde Ave. (Rt. 30), Suite #105, not far from Exit 67 off I-84. They are moving from Spirit Matters and expanding in their own space. Deb is a psychic medium, Reconnective Healer™, Reiki Master and teaches a variety of metaphysical classes. A variety of classes and groups will take place there. See their website for details. They can be reached at (860) 875-9386. The entrance is through the back of the building.

Robin Clare presents the award

Bob Leo Receives Award

BOB LEO received an award at the April Celebrating Our Holistic Community event in East Hartford for his contributions to the community in networking and communication. Bob attends many events helping to raise awareness of opportunities and activities. He also provides email notification of events for practitioners to his list..

Bob lives in Manchester. If you would like to be added to his list he can be contacted at bobleo@juno.com.

ECHN Adding Healing Touch

The Volunteer Services Department at Eastern Connecticut Health Network is training volunteers to provide comfort to patients through its new program "Healing Hands, Touching Hearts." Volunteers will be trained to use light systematic touch and guided imagery by Reiki Masters DENISE CHICOINE and DONNA CAMERON. An informational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Manchester Memorial Hospital. The actual training will take place on Monday, June 16 and on Tuesday, June 17 at Rockville General Hospital. If interested in participating in this unique volunteer opportunity, please call BARBARA CHAMBERLAND, Volunteer Manager, at (860) 647-6841, by May 9.

» Go to full story.

Nature's Grocer Opens In Vernon

Sue Spector

Except for Glastonbury, the natural food markets are all located outside our region. Now a new store, Nature's Grocer, has opened in Vernon on Route 30 near the Tolland town line, providing another option for food shopping. Opening in March they specialize in organics and natural foods as well as supplements, vitamins and environmentally friendly personal and household care products. They also serve fresh baked goods and daily lunch items from a wheat free, gluten free kitchen.

Nature's Grocer was established by BOB and SUE SPECTOR upon their respective retirements from careers in Hospital Administration and Teaching. Long-time foodies and Tolland county residents, they were looking to create a natural foods option for shoppers east of the river. A few years ago Sue was diagnosed with Celiac disease and as a result needed to completely rethink food choices and approaches to dining out as it quickly became clear that the opportunities for baked goods outside the home were virtually non-existent. Bob, a bake-a-holic, immediately began his quest to create appetizing baked goods that non-celiacs could appreciate as well.

They are located on Route 30 in Vernon near the Tolland line (Lafayette Square) in a plaza (not the one with Cafe Lafayette - across the street) at 81 East Street not far off Exit 67 of I-84. (860) 870-0020.

Sweet Pea Expands and Relocates

Sweet Pea Natural Pet Foods has expanded. They have doubled in size and moved next door to 869 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor, next to Rockville Bank. They are one of the area's largest natural and holistic pet stores and can be reached at (860) 648-2005. (Rockville Reminder)

Passings: R. Michele Poulin Clyde

Graphologist and numerologist R. MICHELE POULIN CLYDE, 81, of Manchester passed on March 17. Although not active publicly in recent years, Michele was one of the few handwriting readers in the area and read at many events.

» Go to Journal Inquirer obituary.

Whole Foods Opens in Glastonbury

Whole Foods opened March 12 in Glastonbury at the Fox Run Mall. They are going green and will be the first supermarket to generate most of its power on-site with a fuel cell from UTC Power, a United Technologies company. The fuel cell will generate 50 percent of the store's electricity and heat and nearly 100 percent of its hot water. This allows Whole Foods Market to reduce its burden on the power grid and its impact on the environment. The store's fuel cell is eligible for an On site Renewable Energy grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, which promotes, develops and invests in clean energy sources for sustainable energy for the benefit of Connecticut rate payers. (Hartford Business Journal)

Paws And Listen At Ravenwood

DEBORAH RAVENWOOD of Ravenwood Holistic Wellness Center in Manchester has added a new program for animal communication, Paws and Listen, to the offerings of the center. Animals have emotions too and this is a wellness program dedicated to enriching communication with our animal kin. In addition to communication and listening, energy healing and Bach Flower Remedies are offered to heal your pets. See Ravenwood's Practitioner Listing for contact information.

Unity Church's Pastor Retiring

Rev. Shea

The REV. RAYMOND SHEA, senior minister at the Unity Church of Greater Hartford in South Windsor, is retiring and with his wife SUSAN is moving to Tennessee, where they can care for Susan's father. They served the Hartford church for twelve years, including the transition from West Hartford to the new building in South Windsor. Susan was involved in many projects for the church including the very successful holistic health fairs.

A transition team will provide an interim minister while a search is conducted for a permanent minister.

» Rev. Raymond & Susan Shea bios.

Magic Intent Moves To Rockville

J.J. Lancey & Mom

Magic Intent, a new age boutique, moved from Coventry to Rockville, with the Grand Opening scheduled for Saturday, February 9. The shop, owned by J.J. LANCEY, carries a variety of gifts including candles, oils, Feng Shui corrections, jewelry and cards. It is located at 46 Union Street, next to the library and across from the hospital. They can be reached at (860) 871-0000.

Passings: Lori Woodhouse

Lori Woodhouse

Life coach and workshop leader LORI WOODHOUSE, 45, of Suffield passed suddenly on December 17. Lori was the owner of Mindful Living Life Coaching and a member of Unity Church of Greater Hartford and led workshops there on stress reduction and Mindfulness Meditation. She was a dedicated practitioner and helped many in the community.

A memorial celebration of Lori's life was held at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Suffield. In lieu of flowers, Lori's family requests contributions to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Development Office, PO Box 309, Stockbridge, MA, 01262, or to the organization of your choice.

» Go to The Hartford Courant obituary.

New Practitioner Openings

The Crawfords

BOB and DONNA CRAWFORD have opened Peaceful Spirit Enterprises at the Center For Progressive Therapies, 192 Hartford Turnpike in Manchester. They offer a variety of services designed to nurture your inner self, including Reiki treatments, life coaching, spiritual counseling, and self-development classes. Donna is an Usui Reiki Advanced Practitioner and Bob is a life coach, self-development workshop facilitator, and an inspirational/motivational speaker.

SANDY CLOUTIER recently launched her practice, Pathway to Wellness at 435 Buckland Road in South Windsor. Sandy is a trained holistic health counselor, wellness coach and personal trainer. She offers programs designed to make lasting changes in lifestyle and dietary habits and is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Sandy can be reached at (860) 559-6250.

» Go to full Journal Inquirer story.

Ghost Hunters Featured At Halloween

Each year the media - newspaper, radio and television - looks for someone associated with ghosts or witches to feature just before Halloween. This year they found a lot of people and groups working in our region of the state who work with spirits.

Ghost Hunters Investigations of CT was founded by Enfield resident MATTHEW KONDRACKI, 25. Using digital cameras, microphones, digital voice recorders, thermometers and electromagnetic field detectors the group visits haunted places such as cemeteries, homes, and abandoned buildings. He has a collection of photographs showing light orbs. Kondracki's interest in ghosts comes from a psychic aunt who convinced him he had a gift which he believes is that ghosts are drawn to his presence.

» Go to full Journal Inquirer story.

Insight Paranormal Investigations was co-founded by TONY DIANA and STEVE BEDNAR and is located in Stafford. The six member team has begun investigating ghosts around town using photography, voice recorders, thermometers and electromagnetic field detectors. They want to help people living with unexplained phenomena and to gather scientific evidence documenting the existence of ghosts.

» Go to full Journal Inquirer story.

Spirit Talker Paranormal Investigations LLC is a new business based in Vernon that specializes in investigations of hauntings. Services offered include spirit crossings, property clearing, smudging and medium services. Whereas the previous investigator businesses primarily used equipment, Spirit Talker primarily uses mediums. The principals in the business are ALICE ANDERSON, a shamanic medium, and WENDY CARTY, the chief investigator. Alice can be reached at (860) 684-4735 and Wendy at (860) 871-1424.

» Go to CPTV Interview.

Windham Hospital Increases Integrative Activities

Windham Hospital, near Willimantic, is one of the few hospitals in the state with Family Centered Care, Integrative Health Services and now a Community Health Resource Center. The resource center provides a comfortable space for families to gather, talk and research health information both online and in print. Located nearby are two new rooms for massage, Reiki and other integrative health treatments providing a dedicated place for practitioners to see clients. Acupuncture treatments from DEBORAH PACIK were added recently as a new modality, and a monthly education series, 'For the Health of It', is offered to provide information and open dialogue about various integrative health topics, such as Healing Touch. The hospital has also installed a new Stairwell to Health with photographs by local photographers, inspirational sayings and music.