Connecticut
Meet RJ Julia Booksellers, a local bookstore housed in a 105-year-old Connecticut building
Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.
Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.
This week we have RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut!
RJ Julia Booksellers opened 30 years ago as an independent bookstore with a mission to be a place where words matter, where writer meets reader and where the ambiance and book selection creates an opportunity for discovery.
The store hosts more that 300 events each year and has won several major awards, including Publishers Weekly Bookseller of the Year, Lucile Pannell award for bookselling excellence, Connecticut Magazine Best Bookstore, Connecticut Retailers Award for Community Commitment, the Advocate’s Best Bookstore and the New Haven Business Small Business Award.
The building was built in 1919, and has been home to several businesses. When RJ Julia founder Roxanne J. Coady bought the building in 1989, it was carefully restored. Today, the beautiful historic building is filled with restored or replicated features, like the tin tile ceiling, as well as tributes to the businesses that lived there before RJ Julia.
Marketing Manager Elizabeth Bartek revealed her favorite section. “The entire second floor is dedicated to young readers,” she said. “Including ‘A Room of One’s Own,’ featuring a wide variety of young adult novels!”
Bartek says indie bookstores are a vital part of creating and sustaining community and connection.
“At our indie bookstore, we have built an enduring community. We’ve watched children become parents, celebrated as long-time customers became grandparents, and watched families grow and change, experiencing both joy and sadness. Together, by shopping locally and supporting independently-owned businesses, we can preserve that sense of place and connection.
“The continued enthusiasm and loyalty from our customers allows us to be proud passionate members of our community — to continue employing local townspeople, paying taxes in our community, and donating to local nonprofits.”
RJ Julia has an event scheduled nearly every day of the week! Fans of Erik Larson can find him in store on May 23, where he’ll be discussing his latest title “The Demon of Unrest.” If a story time is more your style, Amy Guglielmo will read her new Lucille Ball biography, “Lucy!”, and lead a craft session on June 1.
You can find the details for these events and more on RJ Julia’s events calendar!
Check out these books recommended by the RJ Julia staff:
“The Mysteries” by Bill Watterson
“The Museum of Ordinary People” by Mike Gayle
Connecticut
Early morning forecast for July 15
Connecticut
Connecticut Sun hold off Portland Fire on Camp Day at Mohegan Sun Arena
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) — Aaliyah Edwards came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Portland Fire, 90-87, during Camp Day on Tuesday morning at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Thousands of kids were in attendance to watch the Sun hold on to a fourth-quarter lead as the Fire attempted to rally. Connecticut led by 10 at halftime and saw its lead cut to one in the final period.
Brittney Griner added 20 points for the Sun, who ended their three-game homestand with a victory. Olivia Nelson-Ododa went 8-for-8 from the foul line en route to 16 points and Leila Lacan chipped in 14.
Carla Leite led the Fire with 18 points.
The Sun visit Phoenix on Friday for the first of two games with the Mercury.
Connecticut
Why Connecticut’s flag is blue and what its symbols stand for
Florida’s tallest flag pole raises new Stars and Stripes on Independence Day
Florida’s tallest free-standing American flagpole now stands 250 feet tall at Bernice Braden Park in Cape Coral
You might have seen Connecticut’s state flag in government buildings and schools and wondered what the meaning was behind its design.
Adopted by the General Assembly in 1897, the Flag of Connecticut features a navy blue background with a white shield. Three grapevines with purple grapes are on the shield and oak leaves and acorns can be found on the shield’s edge.
Below the shield is a banner which features the phrase “Qui Transtulit Sustinet” written in Latin. According to ConnecticutHistory.org, that phrase translates to “He who transplanted still sustains,” which honors the colonists who moved to the state from England.
Per Encyclopedia Britannica, the three grapevines have two competing interpretations: they represent either the three oldest settlements in the state (Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor) or the three colonies that merged to form Connecticut (Connecticut Colony, Saybrook Colony and New Haven Colony).
Why is the Connecticut flag blue?
According to ConnecticutHistory.org, the blue comes from Connecticut’s Civil War military flags. During the Civil War, Connecticut regiments had flags featuring blue backgrounds. ConnecticutHistory.org reports that when the legislature adopted an official flag in 1897, they kept the color that military tradition had already established.
Origins of Connecticut’s state flag
Per ConnecticutHistory.org, Connecticut did not have an official state flag until 1897. The site reports that in 1895, the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Groton pushed for an official flag to display in their new meeting room.
Governor Owen Vincent Coffin introduced a bill on May 29, 1895, which ConnecticutHistory.org says caused the legislature to subsequently form a committee. After several designs were submitted, the Connecticut General Assembly adopted the flag in 1897.
Connecticut’s coat of arms, which includes the shield, grapevines and banner featured on the state flag, was not formally standardized until 1931, according to USASymbol.com. The website also says color standards for the flag came in 1956, when the Secretary of the State’s office developed uniform specifications.
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