Ladies Literary Luncheon Booked Solid

Ladies Literary Luncheon 
Booked Solid:

Full turnout at Patterson Club to meet author Kelly Corrigan

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 5/27)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

5/26/11

Fairfield, CT – Book enthusiasts, library fans and busy women just needing a little break were all on hand for an exclusive engagement with a best-selling author.

The 2^nd Annual Ladies Literary Luncheon, hosted by Friends of the Fairfield Public Library (FFPL), was held early Thursday afternoon at the Patterson Club, 1118 Cross Highway. The highlight of the event was Kelly Corrigan, author of “Lift” and “The Middle Place”, who was on hand to sign books and address the gathering. The event also featured a cocktail reception, sit-down lunch, raffle drawing for gift baskets and Nanci Lewis from Sweet Rexie’s offering free chocolate samples. The presentation was sold out, attended by 240 local women.

Khorshed Randeria, FFPL President, said the luncheon idea was something the group had seen other organizations do successfully and thought would be a good incorporation into its fundraising activities. “Last year, we hosted Mireille Guiliano, author of ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat’, and it was very popular,” she said. “When we advertised this year, we sold out at least a month in advance.”

In addition to aforementioned activities, organizers presented a video, “Bringing the Community Together: Our Fairfield Library System”, providing a system overview, and offered attendees the opportunity to buy a book plate. The way the plate worked is that an attendee could purchase a copy of one of Corrigan’s books, for a minimum $25 donation, a personalized dedication would be affixed inside the book jacket and the book would be donated to the library.

“More than just a fundraiser, the idea of the event is to bring people together in a beautiful setting to celebrate authors, reading, libraries and friendship,” said Town Librarian Karen Ronald. “Our attendees are community supporters and aligned with the library.”

Attendee Kyle Ann McCarthy, huddling with a few pals, was a Corrigan fan and said her work had personal relevance. “I love Kelly’s book ‘The Middle Place’ and its subject matter about a young mother who gets cancer,” she said. “Her father also gets cancer, and he’s her idol. It’s a funny, warm, tearjerker. It has real significance to me as a Relay for Life team member.”

Attendee Jen Gardner said the event was great on a couple of levels. “We want to support the Fairfield Public Library – they have amazing programs – and it’s a great Ladies Day Out.”

Lois Caron also wanted to support the library and was attending on the urging of fellow International Book Reading Group members. “I look forward to learning more about Kelly Corrigan, with whose work I’m not familiar.”

As for the author, who flew in for the event, she was impressed with area landscapes and glad to support a good cause. “I live in California and am used to postage stamp-sized yards. Coming up along the Merritt, I loved seeing all the green, the great lawns and the long driveways.”  

Whiz Kid: Natalie Steele

Whiz Kid: Natalie Steele

National PTA Reflections 

Award of Excellence winner

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 5/27)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

5/24/11

Fairfield, CT – To her mother’s recollection, the slender, energetic 8-year-old had been writing as long she could form letters, and was always singing. She put those passions together to compose music and recently received national recognition for her efforts.

When she’s not playing the piano, Natalie Steele, a North Stratfield Elementary School second grader, is writing and singing songs. “I’m writing two songs right now,” she said, in a recent sit-down along with mom Tina. “One is called ‘Gentle Hand and a Friend’; the other is ‘I Can Fly.’ I get a tune in my head and then start thinking of words. I write all my songs down now in a composition book. I used to write them on scraps of paper until my mom got me the book to help keep me organized.”

Natalie figures she has written ten full songs, though says, “I’ve got lots more in my head. Some become poems.”

Back in November, there was a call for entries through the school’s PTA for submissions to the Reflections Program, which is a National PTA-sponsored opportunity for students to express themselves and receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. The theme for the 2010-11 school year was “Together We Can.”

“Natalie had participated in the Reflections Program each year since kindergarten, first in visual arts then in literature,” said Tina. “She didn’t get recognized for her work but decided to keep trying. So this past January, she entered again, in the musical composition category.”

Natalie entered a song titled “Together Is Where We Need to Be.” About its subject matter, Natalie said, “The beginning related to problems like crime, cancer, starvation and pollution – things that made me sad. The second part was about things that people can do together to make the world better.”

Over 50 kids from the school submitted work and Natalie’s piece was selected among others to be forwarded to the Connecticut State PTA. “She won first place at the state level in her age group and in the music composition category,” said Tina. “Then the state submitted her piece to the National PTA and she was subsequently one of six students in all of Connecticut honored at the national level. Of those six, she was the only one at the primary level (pre-school through second grade). She was also only one of three students across the country to win the National PTA’s Award of Excellence in Music Composition at the primary level.”

Natalie’s feat was quite the achievement given that there were over 500,000 entries nationally from ages pre-school to 12^th grade.

Tina recalled the moment the family was notified. “We received a phone call from our PTA President Karen Lynch, who told us the news and that Natalie will be receiving a $200 cash award, silver-plated Reflections Medallion and a certificate and letter signed by the National PTA president,” she said. “She’s also going to be recognized in the annual PTA Reflections online gallery.”

“I started crying,” said Tina, in reaction to the news. “The chances were so slim for her to win. I was overwhelmed and so proud.”

As for Natalie, “I screamed at the top of my lungs and jumped around and couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I said to my mom that night, when I was going to bed, ‘I’m so proud of me.’”

Natalie said she would probably continue writing songs, singing them and entering the Reflections contest. “What if I won next time?” she wondered aloud. “That would be cool!”

“Together Is Where We Need To Be” by Natalie Steele

Crimes and cancer, people starving, pollution, oil spills, lots of suffering, and war.

But, together, is where we need to be.

And when we are, that’s where the love will be.

We can work together every day and in our own special ways,

and when we do,

we’ll bring peace to our earth.

I could help someone learn to read.

She could help a girl tie her shoes.

He could donate money, food and clothes.

We could all help each other,

and when we do,

we’ll bring peace to our earth.

Together, is where we need to be.

And when we are, that’s where the love will be.

We can work together every day and in our own special ways,

and when we do,

we’ll bring peace to our earth.