Mansfield's summer 'Books on Buses' program

The second year of “Books on Buses” is about to begin!

From Tuesday, July 6  through Aug. 17, meet the bus at a stop close to your house, bring your Mansfield Public Library card and borrow books from the bus.

If you do not currently have a card, you can fill out an application right on the spot. Cards are free to residents. Some restrictions may apply. Call the Mansfield Library with questions (860-423-2501).

Each patron with a card may check out up to 4 books.

The bus mainly carries books of interest to young and older children and teens. A small selection of books for adults is included.

Books are checked out for 8 days and may be returned to the bus or the public library.

The routes are roughly by elementary school districts.

We visit the Southeast area on Tuesdays, the Vinton area on Wednesdays and the Goodwin area on Thursdays.

A list of bus stops and times went home in each school’s summer reading packages.

Meet us on the bus and borrow some great books.

Route and Stop Information:

For Southeast Elementary School District

Look for the bus on Tuesdays at these locations.

Stop # 1: 8:06 am – 8:21 am Phillips Road (at the end of cul-de-sac)

Stop # 2: 8:27 am — 8:42 am Olson Drive (near the fork in the road)

Stop # 3: 8:50 am — 9:05 am Boulder Lane

Stop # 4: 9:09 am — 9:24 am Brookside Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 5: 9:33 am – 9:48 am Jackson Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 6: 9:52 am – 10:00 am Kaya Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 7: 10:01 am – 10:08am Mansfield Hollow Road Ext

Stop # 8: 10:16 am — 10:31 am Riverview Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 9: 10:35 am – 10:50 am Foster Drive (across from the Rental Office)

Stop # 10: 10:56 am – 11:11 am Circle Drive (at the fork on the right side)

Stop #11: 11:13 am – 11:28 am Michelle Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop #12: 11:32 am – 11:47 am Conantville Road (at the entrance to Eastbrook Heights condos)

Stop #13: 12:00 pm – 12:20 pm Southeast School & Summer School

For Annie Vinton Elementary School District

Look for the bus on Wednesdays at these locations.

Stop # 1: 7:59 am – 8:04 am Monticello Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 2: 8:07 am — 8:17 am Max Felix Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 3: 8:20 am — 8:30 am Field Stone Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 4: 8:35 am — 8:45 am Blake Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 5: 8:48 am – 8:58 am White Oak Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 6: 9:00 am – 9:10 am Beacon Hills Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 7: 9:15 am – 9:25 am Chatham Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 8: 9:30 am — 9:40 am Sheffield Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 9: 9:43 am – 9:53 am Quail Run (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop #10: 10:09 am – 10:19 am Stone Ridge Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop #11: 10:22 am – 10:32 am Oak Circle (near the intersection of Woods Road Ext)

Stop #12: 10:37 am – 10:47 am Thornbush Road (near the intersection of Thornbush Ext)

Stop #13: 10:55 am – 11:15 am Liberty Drive (at the bus stop sign)

Stop #14: 11:20 am – 11:30 am Saw Mill Brook Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop #15: 11:33 am – 11:43 am Beech Mountain Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

For the Dorothy Goodwin Elementary School District.

Look for the bus on Thursdays at these locations.

Stop # 1: 7:48 am – 7:58 am Homestead Drive (at the end of cul-de-sac)

Stop # 2: 8:00 am — 8:15 am Intersection of Anton Road and Baxter Road

(at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 3: 8:18 am — 8:28 am Renwood Apartments (stop on Dartmouth Road just before intersection with Cornell Road)

Stop # 4: 8:31 am — 8:41 am Bone Mill Road at CSA (stop at the end )

Stop # 5: 8:50 am – 9:00 am Silver Falls Road (at the end of the cul- de-sac)

Stop # 6: 9:10 am – 9:25 am Zygmunt Drive in Holinko Estates (at the intersection with Hunting Lodge Road)

Stop # 7: 9:30 am – 9:40 am Northwood Apartments (at the Bus Stop)

Stop # 8: 9:45 am — 9:55 am Little Lane (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop # 9: 10:05 am — 10:15 am School House Road (at the end of the cul-de-sac)

Stop #10: 10:20 am – 10:30 am Ridge Road (near the Lynwood Road intersection)

Stop #11: 10:35 am – 10:55 am Mansfield Middle School

Stop #12: 11:02 am — 11:17 am Mansfield Community Center

Stop #13: 11:22 am – 11:27 am Willowbrook Road (near intersection of Oak Hill)

Stop #14: 11:32 am – 11:42 am Lorraine Drive (at the central cul-de-sac)

Stop #15: 11:52 am – 12:07 pm Thomas Drive cul-de-sac

Stop #16: 12:15 pm – 12:25 pm Mansfield Discovery Depot

Stop #17: 12:28 pm – 12:38 pm Willow House Day Care

Posted July 4, 2010

Mansfield native has a front-row seat for the World Cup

While some area residents have caught World Cup fever in local bars — or even shout “goal” in the comfort of their own homes — one local native is watching all the action in person.

Former Mansfield resident and current ESPN television producer Chris Alexopoulos is seeing every penalty kick and red flag during his coverage of the 19th international soccer tournament.

For sports fans already aware of FIFA fever, Alexopoulos’ view of the competition could not be topped, he said.

His favorite moment so far? Watching the nerve-standing-on-end match between America and England, though that probably paled in comparison to USA-Algeria, in which the U.S. won 1-0 to advance to the knockout round.

But June 12, Alexopoulos was just another sports fan holding his breath during that match between the U.S. and the country’s across-the-pond rivals.

“I got goose bumps when the national anthem was played,” he said via an e-mail from South Africa during his month-long coverage of the soccer event. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when England’s goalkeeper let Clint Dempsey’s shot go into the goal.”

For those who are not aware of what happened, America’s Dempsey shot a goal the British goalkeeper initially blocked, but the ball still rolled into England’s goal.

The game ended in a draw.

Before he was traipsing all over the world to cover soccer events and bring the action back home, Alexopoulos was just another Mansfield child playing soccer with his friends and getting grass stains on his soccer socks.

According to Alexopoulos, Mansfield did not have football when he was growing up and, like many of his childhood friends, he grew up on the soccer field.

“That, and going to University of Connecticut soccer games in the 1980s, was a huge influence in my love for the game,” he said.

Alexopoulos said he played on recreation soccer teams throughout his youth and played for the Panthers when he attended E.O. Smith High School in Storrs/Mansfield.

Despite his genuine love of the game, Alexopoulos said he should stick to reporting the sport instead of playing the game.

“We had so many great players in the 1980s,” he said. “But I definitely wasn’t one of them.”

Since beginning his tenure with ESPN in 1995, Alexopoulos has worked on every World Cup since 1998 and the tournament in France.

However, this year was Alexopoulos’ first time attending games. “It’s such a great event, and I’m very excited to be there,” he said.

Despite his joy from watching the matches live, Alexopoulos said his main interest is conveying the action to American fans and watching as North America develops a growing love for his favorite sport.

“The World Cup is a great event to watch particularly if you have a country to really root for,” he said. “Everyone can back the Americans, but if you are also Italian or Honduran or Cameroonian or whatever, it becomes even more exciting.”

According to Alexopoulos, the series is not about the final score or who wins the game, it’s about the moments that comprise each match.

“Every touch of the ball is important and every match matters,” he said.

Posted July 4, 2010

It doesn't pay much, but…

HTNP.com, the umbrella company under which East Hampton Today and a half dozen other editions is published, is offering summer internships.

These are open to high school students, college students, recent college grads and others who would like to update their writing skills, particularly for the world of online publishing… the direction that much of news reporting is taking these days.

These are unpaid internships, but they are short-term and flexible in terms of the number of hours involved and the kinds of assignments you take on. I am also willing to work with your school if you are looking for credit for your work.

This is a way for rusty writers looking to get back into journalism to refresh their skills, as well.

My goal is to establish an internship in each of our towns, so that the writing originates in – and is of interest to – the people living in the intern’s own town.

While no previous experience is required, I will ask for a sample of something you’ve written so that I can determine you have a grasp of the basics.

You also must have a digital camera, a computer and access to the Internet (preferably a high-speed connection), transportation and the availability to attend one evening town meeting per week and to attend one community event each weekend of your internship.

I also will ask for at least one recommendation from someone who can vouch for your reliability, self-motivation and history of follow-through.

What you will receive in exchange is mentorship from someone who has been in the newspaper/public relations world for more than 30 years – a testimony to my flexibility and survival instincts!

HTNP.com launched during a very difficult time in our country’s economy and yet, we have managed to keep our heads above water – we’re still going through growing pains, but we’re definitely in the right place at the right time.

You will learn about:

• writing for online versus print,
• working comfortably under tight deadlines,
• recognizing what constitutes a good news/feature photo,
• how to post stories online,
• how to edit photos…

… and you will acquire other related skills that, I hope, will help you find the job of your choice.

Given that it is now July, I am anticipating the internship will be approximately six weeks in duration, but this is open to discussion.

If you or someone you know is interested, please send me an email at mansfieldeditor@htnp.com with HTNP.COM INTERSHIP and MANSFIELD in the subject line, and please include a phone number and the best time to reach you. Please also tell me why you are interested in an internship and something about your summer schedule.

- Brenda Sullivan, HTNP.com Editor

Posted July 4, 2010