"About Boating Safely" courses are offered by two local Coast Guard auxiliaries. The class covers basic topics involved in safe operation of recreational boating and seamanship. It fulfills the requirements for obtaining a state boating license.
- In Stratford, Auxiliary 24-02 will present the course Oct. 3 at 1 Birdseye St.
Also, "Basic Coastal Navigation" class will be offered Oct. 11.
To register, call 924-5702.
- Coast Guard Auxiliary 24-3, Milford, offers the course at 8 a.m. Oct. 17. To register, visit http://a0142403.uscgaux.info or from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at 1 Helwig St. Cost is $60. For details, call 874-0200 or (860) 663-5505.

STRATFORD - A talk on black bears in Connecticut will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Stratford Library.

The talk, in conjunction with the state Department of Environmental Protection, is free and open to the public.
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Black Bear sightings in Connecticut and with the bear population increasing, it is important for the public to learn more about these animals and how to co-exist with them, library officials said in a prepared statement. Felicia Ortner, DEP Master Wildlife Conservationist, will be the guest speaker at the library program, which will include a slide presentation about the myths and facts surrounding bears, the statement said.

Handouts about bear awareness, fact sheets and bear kids pages will be distributed. A related three-panel lobby exhibit about the bears also will be on display at the library this month, library officials said.
For more information call (203) 385-4162 or visit: http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/.
Photo courtesy of the Stratford Library

It's the kind for kids

Children in first through third grades are invited to experience all the fun of "wacky science" from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Stratford Library, officials said.

At the Hands-on Science Kids workshop, students will learn about building principles and will be challenged to create structures that can support the weight of dog biscuits, officials said.

Hands-on Science Kids will continue at the library beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 and Nov. 19.
Workshop space is limited and registration is required.

To register or for moreinformation, call the Children’s Department at (203) 385.4165 or visit its Web site at http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/.

Shown in the photo: Julianne Carey, left, and Olivia Donnelly take part in Hands-on Science Kids, a new program to offered at the Stratford Library Children's Department.

Three flu clinics will take place at the Milford Senior Center, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5, Oct. 7 and Oct. 9, There will be no admittance to the clinic before 9 a.m.
To pre-register, contact the Center’s insurance specialists, Jackie Sconzo or Laura Daneault at
(203) 877-5131 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is recommended you have your insurance information available when you call.
Executive Director, Janice M. Jackson has announced this series of flu shots are the seasonal flu shots, not the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccines.