The Chaplin Democratic Town Committee will meet on Monday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the Chaplin Library, 130 Chaplin St. Officers will be elected and delegates chosen to the State Conventions to be held in May. All registered Democrats and other interested citizens may attend. You do not need to be a member of the DTC to be elected a delegate to the Conventions. Refreshments will be served.
There are five Conventions and Chaplin is allotted two, up from one, delegates to each. They are: the State Convention which selects the Party's candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, and Attorney General; U.S. Congress; State Senate; State House of Representatives; Judge of Probate.

There will be changes to some of these offices and a big change in the cast of characters with both Senator Chris Dodd and Governor Jody Rell stepping down from their posts. There are numerous official and unofficial candidates for all of the State offices.

Chaplin will also have a new State Representative as our and Mansfield's present State Rep. Denise Merrill is running for Secretary of the State.

Another big change will be in the Judge of Probate position. For many years Chaplin and Eastford shared a Judge of Probate, who in recent years has been Michael Ellsworth from Eastford. The State has now created new and bigger probate districts with Chaplin now part of a district that includes Colchester, Hampton, Lebanon, Scotland, and Windham.

Please join us on March 29 and find out more about what's happening in Chaplin and around the State. Informed and involved citizens are vital to good government at every level.

Transitions - From ideas to finished art
When: Sunday, February 28 through Saturday, March 27, Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Where: The Artists' Cooperative Gallery, 7 Canal Street, Westerly, RI, 401-596-2221
Featured artist: Fiber artist Catherine Smith of Chaplin.

St Patrick's Day at the Senior Center
When: Wednesday, March 17, 10am - 1pm
Where: Senior Center, 132 Chaplin Street
The day begins with Bingo at 10; at 11:30 story teller Pat Boyd will entertain; at noon, a lunch of corned beef and cabbage will be served. $5 for lunch. 860 455-1327.

Music by Electric Trains
When: Friday, March 19, Shows at 6 and 7pm
Where: Fred's Brickhouse Cafe, 1681 West Main Street, Willimantic, 860-423-2615.

Blood Drive
When: Monday, March 29, 10am - 3:30pm
Where: Parish Hill High School
The PHHS Honor Society is competing to received $10,000 of scholarship money which will be based on the number of donors. Click here to make an appointment.

Chaplin Democratic Town Committee
When: Monday, March 29, 7pm
Where: Chaplin Library, 130 Chaplin Street
Election of officers and delegates to State Conventions (see article on main page). Special guests: Greg Haddad, candidate for State Representative from the 54th Assembly District of Chaplin and Mansfield and John McGrath of Windham, candidate for Judge of Probate. Refreshments will be served. All Chaplin Democrats welcome. 860-455-0066.

Children's storyteller Bill Harley
When: Wednesday, March 31, 6:30pm
Where: Chaplin Elementary School Open to the public, free of charge.

Forum for Democratic candidates for Secretary of the State and Attorney General
When: Wednesday, March 31, 7-9pm
Where: The Sayles School, 25 Scotland Road (Rt. 97), Sprague, CT.
Sponsored by the Quiet Corner Democrats and the Sprague Democratic Town Committee. Free of charge. Dessert reception follows. 860-457-8521.

Public Information Session, Chaplin Plan of Conservation and Development
When: Monday, April 5, 7pm
Where: Chaplin Library, 130 Chaplin Street
The Planning and Zoning Commission is mandated by the State to update every 10 years the town's Plan of Conservation and Development. All citizens are urged to attend to hear about the Plan and to make their views known.

Chaplin Library Book Sale
When: Saturday, April 10, 9am - 2pm
Where: Chaplin Library, 130 Chaplin Street
Books of all kinds, DVDs, CDs.and games. Donations are welcome up until the day of the sale. No textbooks or magazines. 860-455-9424 during Library hours.

Public Information Session, Chaplin Plan of Conservation and Development
When: April 19, 7pm
Where: Senior Center, 132 Chaplin Street
Details are the same as on April 5.

Public Hearing, Chaplin Plan of Conservation and Development
When: Thursday, May 27, 7pm
Where: Chaplin Town Hall, Route 198
This will be the final chance for public input into the town's new Plan of Conservation and Development.