BRIDGEPORT -- A day in the life of a Civil War soldier will be the subject of an event April 4 in the Housatonic Community College Courtyard, according to a release..

"Civil War re-enactor Jay Hull, representing the 27th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, will demonstrate  the daily routine, clothing, equipment, and weapons of soldiers in the nation's biggest single crisis," the release said..

Arranged by HCC History professor David Koch, the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The rain date is April 5.

To learn more, visit the college's website at: www.hcc.commnet.edu.

HCC is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. Free parking is available in the Housatonic garage.

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

MILFORD – When it comes to helping the community, the Joseph A. Foran High School Interact Club is first in line to assist. Their work continues this Friday night as the group prepares to host their ‘Empty Bowls’ event, which incorporates the talents of students and staff at the school while raising funds for two very important causes.

For $10 per person, patrons will receive a Soup dinner, beverage, dessert and a ceramic bowl to take home, made by Foran High art students! 100% of the proceeds from this event will be split between the Beth El Center and the Milford Food Bank.

The event will take place in the Foran High Cafeteria on Friday, March 30th, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Please join us to help out our local support agencies – and have fun!

“We would love to have as many people as possible attend our event and help support these two very worthy support centers for our community,” commented Jenny Taing, student and co-president of the Interact Club at Foran.

Background information for Interact Club(Taken from Rotary International)

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.

Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community.

Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of:

* Developing leadership skills and personal integrity
* Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others
* Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work
* Advancing international understanding and goodwill

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.

Editor's Note: All of the information in this release was submitted by the Milford Board of Education

Calling all readers! The New Haven Register is switching to the new timeline on our Facebook page and we’d like you to be a part of our design.
Send us your photos that best represent the Greater New Haven area and Milford with a short description about yourself and what you like about it, and we’ll post them all to an album our Facebook page. The photo with the most ‘likes’ gets featured as our cover photo for April!
We also will offer prizes - gift cards to local restaurants - for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place vote getters.
To enter, e-mail the photo and description to ctansey@nhregister.com with ‘cover photo’ in the subject line or share it with us on Facebook or Twitter. (Also indicate it is for the timeline)
One entry per reader, please, and no promotional photos of businesses or services. Thank you.
Photo is a reader contributed one - from @ffjewelry on Twitter.

Learn about changes in driving issues

DERBY — The Public Library has scheduled an AARP Driver Safety Class from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 10. 
The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members.
Cars have changed and so have traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads to travel, organizers said in a statement.
"This refresher course is designed for drivers 50 and over to brush up on their driving skills. No written tests, no road tests, and no information will be given to the Department of Motor Vehicles," the statement said.  "Participants will learn how to drive more defensively and may save up to 10 percent on their present auto liability insurance," the statement said.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Participants may bring a bag lunch. Coffee and dessert will be provided. For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St. or call 203 736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

MILFORD--The Student Council of Orchard Hills School has been busy collecting diapers this month. These diapers will be distributed to local Milford families in need as part of the Women with United Vision’s Healthy Baby Diaper Drive.

Women with United Vision (WUV), a women’s leadership initiative of the United Way of Milford, plans to collect 10,000 diapers during the month of March. “Many struggling families cannot afford sufficient quantities of diapers,” says Darcy Ellis, co-chair of WUV, “and since daycare facilities require parents to supply their own diapers, lack of diapers becomes an obstacle for working parents. Diapers cannot be purchased with food stamps or through the WIC federal program and can cost families an average of $100 per month.”

Melissa Wunder, chairperson of WUV’s Healthy Baby Diaper Drive and PTA Council Vice President, has been working to get Milford area schools involved. “We are thrilled with the level of participation. Schools like Orchard Hills have truly embraced this project.”

Consisting of 25 fifth graders, the Student Council of Orchard Hills School is pleased with their efforts so far. Says Claudia Ross, a Student Council officer, “We put up posters all around the school and made announcements over the loud speaker.” Lia Burrows, another Student Council officer, adds, “We are happy the diapers are going to people who can’t afford them.”

In addition to the Milford schools, several local businesses have also agreed to serve as collection points and to encourage their employees and customers to contribute. Diapers can be dropped off at the following locations: ShopRite of Milford, Super Stop and Shop on East Town Road, Woodruff Family YMCA, GE Federal Credit Union, Ikon Office Solutions, Turner Construction, Sand Castle Learning Center, and Trixie Salon. For more information or to become involved in the Healthy Baby Diaper Drive contact the United Way of Milford at (203) 874-6791.

ORANGE--Every 9 minutes someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s will affect 1 in every 100 people over age 60. There are 6 million people living with Parkinson’s. Current treatments mask the symptoms. There is no cure.

The public is invited to Pancakes for Parkinson’s, a fund-raising supper at Chip’s Family Restaurant, 321 Boston Post Road, Orange, from 5-9 p.m., Tuesday, April 24. Price is $10 each. There will also be a raffle. Proceeds will benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help find a cure for the millions suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

Chip’s is donating all the food for the mouth-watering meal, which includes three pancakes, bacon or sausage, two eggs, and coffee or tea. The Milford Bank, the Rotary Club of Milford, ShopRite of Milford, and the McInnis Companies are major sponsors of the event.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month nationwide. Proceeds from Pancakes for Parkinson’s will be matched dollar for dollar, thanks to a $50 million challenge grant from Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google, and his wife Ann Wojcicki, a co-founder of 23 and Me, a personal genetics company.

Pancakes for Parkinson’s host is Team Fox member Jody Culmone, a Woodbridge resident and Milford Rotarian who was diagnosed with PD in 2004.

“April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month nationwide,” Culmone said. “We are so grateful for the support we have been receiving from ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships. The matching dollars from the challenge grant will certainly take us beyond original expectations in our local fundraising to help find a cure for Parkinson’s.”

Business card ads at $35 and corporate sponsorships up to $1,000 are being sold. For their support of Team Fox, supporters will receive tickets and recognition in an ad book. Donations are tax deductible.

Meal tickets may be pre-ordered or purchased at the door. Checks for tickets, sponsorship, and donations should be made out to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a non-profit organization, and sent to Team Fox/Jody Culmone, 65 Peck Hill Road, Woodbridge, CT 06525. For more information, please call 203-387-4182 or email jvculmone@optonline.net.

FAIRFIELD - Clothing designer, Jennifer Butler will present her Spring 2012 collection for women, men and girls on April 10 at the Delamar Hotel, 275 Old Post Road, Southport. 

 Cocktails and hors d-oeuvres from Artisan restaurant will be served from 7 to 8 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m., according to a statement.

“We are so lucky and appreciative to have such a talented and generous Friend of the Fairfield Public Library in Jennifer," Town Librarian Karen Ronald said in the statement. "She has allowed us to upgrade the library experience with new technology and services for teens and other patrons. Thank you Jennifer from the bottom of our hearts."

Butler again "will generously donate all proceeds to benefit the Fairfield Public Library," the statement said.

"See Jennifer’s Spring 2012 collection unveiled in the Delamar’s new Folly room.  A full runway show featuring slick rainwear, stunning suits, knockout dresses for day and evening, drop dead evening gowns, beautiful bridal and bats mitzvah, groovy girl get ups, and the coolest menswear in town," the statement said.  Jewelry for the show is provided by Jennifer Brown, make-up by Leslie Atiles of Distinct Artistry and Hair by Fringe 125, the statement said.

Reserve tickets by calling Jennifer Butler, 203-256-5768 or visit her store at 1326 Post Road.  

 Tickets are $60. Follow the Fairfield Public Library on Twitter and Facebook or visit the library online www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org. 

Bizarre Milford police arrest of a man who had a clerk check his lottery tickets, and when the guy didn't win he bechttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifame enraged and was arrested for breach of peace.

FAIRFIELD – The last call for IMAGES 2012 photographic entries is midnight on March 31, according to a statement by staff at the Fairfield Museum and History Center

The exhibition, which officially May 4  and ends July 22, will “celebrate the exceptional work of some 60 talented, serious amateur, professional and student photographers from New York, Connecticut., Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” the statement said

For  information and to submit entires online, visit www.fairfieldhistory.org.  All entries are due by midnight March 31 and winning photographs will be exhibited at the Museum, the statement said..  The cost for professional/serious amateurs is $10 per image; and students is $5 per image, the statement said. 

Fees are payable through PayPal with online entry. There is a limit of 10 works per entrant.  Categories include Landscape, Portrait, Nature, Abstract, and Architecture

“A distinguished group of judges will review all submissions, select photographs for exhibition and designate works for awards,” the statement said.  “One photographer from the Professional/Serious Amateur category and one from the Student category will be selected as a Grand Prize Winner. Among the awards are a 10-day exhibition at the renowned Southport Galleries in Southport…and professional portfolio review.”

Also from the statement: About Fairfield Museum and History Center

“Fairfield Museum and History Center is a community cultural and education center established in 2007 by the Fairfield Historical Society. The 13,000 square-foot museum presents engaging exhibition galleries, special collections, a genealogy library, a family education center, an 80-seat theater overlooking Fairfield's Town Green and a delightful museum shop.  The Fairfield Museum and History Center believes in the power of history to inspire the imagination, stimulate thought and transform society.  Located at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield, CT, the Museum is open seven days a week.  Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. Members of the Museum and children age 5 and under are free of charge.  For current program and exhibition information, visit www.fairfieldhs.org and for group tour reservations and information, please call 203-259-1598.”

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. It is largely unedited here.