As Fall Transitions To Winter In Conscious CT

It finally feels like late fall in Connecticut; no nice slow transition this year. There has been a lot of activity along with the warm, dry weather - many classes offered and a number of fairs and expos in the area. They begin to wind down with the arrival of November, there is one more expo on November 17, and as we approach the holidays our interests begin to shift. New ongoing classes are being replaced by single events on our calendar.

The Winter issue of The Door Opener is now at the printers and we will be loading listed events for our region into the calendar over the next week or so. The Winter issue also includes The Door Opener's 2008 Directory of CT Holistic Health Practitioners, which we will use to update those shown on our website. Pick up a copy of the magazine later this month and also check back at Conscious CT for frequent updates.

We are adding content to the Conscious CT website each month. In the paragraphs that follow we describe our fleshed out Environment section and new photo album. We also added a Healthy Eating section under Health & Healing that focuses on resources in the area for finding fresh food, such as Farmer's Markets and Community Supported Agriculture. More about this in the Spring.

Have a great Thanksgiving. I wonder if the Pilgrims understood the magical power of manifesting that comes with expressing our gratitude. And are you ready to try a tofu turkey this year?

» Go to Conscious CT

Expo producer
Sue Merker

Upcoming Community Events

The last fair of the year in our region is the Well-Being Expo that will be held in Enfield on Saturday, November 17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. There will be vendors, holistic practitioners, artists and readers with 35 tables and 21 workshops. Meet area vendors and practitioners and learn more about a variety of modalities.

One of the best ways to find a teacher or practitioner is to meet them or experience a short workshop. This is a wonderful opportunity to do that and see our community at its best. Look for The Door Opener and Conscious CT at Table #5.

Expo hours are from 9:30 to 4:30. The Crowne Plaza is located just off I-91, Exit 49 just north of Enfield. You can print a brochure with a list of all the exhibitors, workshops and times.

» Go to Fair Brochure

Also coming up is the Northeastern Connecticut Artists Open Studio weekends on November 24 and 25 and December 1 and 2. Although most of the studios are in Windham County much of Tolland County is also included. Its a delightful way to spend a late fall day visiting artist studios and having lunch in the Quiet Corner. See the Calendar for more information of visit their website.

» Go to Artist Open Studio

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Environmental Section Added To Conscious CT

This month we have fleshed out the Environment section of our website. The focus is on resources and information in our region of the state. It includes area news, a section on reuse and recycling with information on disposing of electronic equipment and hazardous waste, conservation tips, green businesses in the area, and land preservation organizations. The latter section also includes great places for hiking.

I suspect there is much more information we'll be including in this section. Many of you are more plugged into environmental issues than we are and I hope you will share it with the whole community. We would also like to know what is missing and would be helpful to you. If this website is to be a true community site we need your input.

» Go to Environment Section

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Adele Caruso, Rosanne Demanski and sons.

Photo Gallery

We have added an album of photos from September's Unity Church of Greater Hartford's Fair to our Photo Gallery. It was a beautiful day with a great turnout and we tried to capture the spirit in pictures.

We'll add albums of events as they occur and collections of other area activity during the year. Check back a week after the November 17 Well-Being Expo to review that event.

The gallery can be accessed from the Communication section of the website with new entries posted on the Home page.

» Go to Communication Section

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Ghost Hunters

It seems that every year around Halloween newspaper editors and television producers send their reporters out to find ghost stories. This year many of those interviewed were located in our region of the state. Must be a lot of activity in our cemeteries and abandoned houses. There were stories or items on:

Ghost Hunters Investigations of CT, which was founded by Enfield resident MATTHEW KONDRACKI.
Insight Paranormal Investigations of Stafford, which was co-founded by TONY DIANA and STEVE BEDNAR.
Spirit Talker Paranormal Investigations founded by ALICE ANDERSON and WENDY CARTY of Vernon.
REBECCA ANNE LOCICERO of Beyond - Holistic Way Center in Manchester.

See more information on each and links to the full stories on our News page.

» Go to News Stories

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ThistleGlass Crafts in Ellington.

Support Our Businesses At Christmas

As you do your holiday shopping please support the holistic businesses in our region. The holiday season can be the 'make it or break it' time for many small stores. As the 'big box' stores have moved into Manchester, Glastonbury and Enfield, and people do more Internet shopping, it has taken its toll on our small specialty stores and local businesses. Several closed just this year and fewer new ones are opening.

Why should you care? Small local shops are the place that you can physically touch into the holistic community. Shop owners have years of expertise in their specialty - be it herbs, gems and minerals, or Wicca and they are happy to share it and guide you. Many offer classes. They also have a good feel for other activity in the community. The products they carry tend to be unique, not what you will find at the mall and they make great gifts.

So please support our local businesses. If they are successful it will encourage others to open in our area adding a richness and flavor to our East of the River community.

» Go to Shopping
» Go to Green Businesses

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News Headlines

Each month there is a lot of activity in the community that you'll find covered on the News page of the Communication section. If you are a business please send us press releases and photos of your events.

Ghost Hunters Featured At Halloween
New Practitioner Openings
Windham Hospital Increases Integrative Activities
Holistic Fine Arts Center Opens In Coventry

» Go to News Stories

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