Published: Sunday, April 24, 2005; Last Updated: Sunday, April 24, 2005 3:00 AM EDT

By JOSH MROZINSKI

They used sticks made of fiberglass and bamboo, a bridle assembly, rubber tubing and a pre-cut sail in the "Fighter Kite" workshop, which was held in conjunction with One Book, One Middletown sponsored by the Middletown Rotary Club. It is one of many events that continue through early May as part of the community-wide read of "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.

The fictional book looks at relationships between people in the turbulent political climate of Afghanistan. All of the activities, meant for all ages, focus on a part of the country’s culture.

People throughout the city, including the one at Saturday’s workshop, are invited to participate in the kite flying demonstration on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Vinal Technical High School fields. May 7 is the rain date.

And although not all kites will fly well, people enjoyed making them on Saturday. It was a chance for them to be creative and do afun family activity.

"Some people express themselves through the kite," said George Richardson, a Dominican Republic native who helped Bill Kenney, a Higganum resident, conduct the workshop.

He said making them is a way to get rid of stress and have fun. He started to make kites eight years ago in the Dominican Republic...Read More