Share the Goodness: Community Events

At New Morning Market, not only can you discover new foods, flavors and products, but also a whole community of goodness.

 

Check out upcoming local events below:

 

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Save the Date, ASAP! Celebrates 25 Years | ASAP! | Thomas S. Perakos Arts & Community Center | Saturday, June 1st 2024 6:30-10:30PM

Please join us for a special event celebrating 25 years of enriching lives through the arts. More information to come at asapct.org.

Summer Photography Intensive Grades 11 & 12 | ASAP! | Hartford Art School | June 20th – July 3rd, 2024

In this immersive summer program at Hartford Art School (HAS), students learn how to use analogue technology in black and white photography, and develop a method for integrating this special process into their photographic work. A HAS photography professor guides students in understanding 35mm cameras, film exposure, processing and printing, lab equipment, and materials. In addition, artist lectures and guest artists introduce students to the larger photographic world. Daily lunch breaks offer opportunities to step outside or visit HAS’s art galleries. The program culminates in a mini exhibition of student work in a professional gallery setting. Transportation to and from HAS is provided daily from Woodbury and Waterbury, CT. Lunch provided daily. Special thanks to Project Concept Development Advisor Jessica Rose.
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Community Rooting Conversations with Farmer Ellie | Green Village Initiative Every Wednesday at 6:30PM on ZOOM 

Learn how you can help GVI secure its farmland on Reservoir Avenue to grow food, knowledge, leadership and community!  Join here

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GirlTrek | Neighborhood Housing Services Waterbury Every Saturday 10am
Take a walk. Join a movement. Beyond walking, GirlTrek’s active members support local and national policy to increase physical activity through walking, improve access to safe places to walk, protect and reclaim green spaces, and improve the walkability and built environments of 50 high-need communities across the United States. More details here.

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Madness @ the Park | Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens | Saturday April 6th

As the NCAA Basketball Tournament whittles from a field of 64 hopefuls to The Final Four teams, The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens invites the community to join the fun and festivities at a free, family-friendly watch party on Saturday, April 6. 

Back by popular demand after their recent appearance at the Football Watch Party is the Meraki Food Truck, which will be on site to satisfy game day cravings with a special menu available for purchase. 

Join your family, friends and neighbors for an afternoon of fun as you cheer on your favorite team to victory!

At the time of posting, the game times have not yet been set. Check our website and social media accounts (@judyblackpark on Facebook and Instagram) for a watch party start time once the game times have been set!

Theatre Production: God of Carnage | Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens | Saturday April 13th 6PM 

Join us at The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens in Washington Depot, CT as we host a theatre production, “God of Carnage,” directed by Dorothy Lyman on Saturday, April 13 at 6 pm. 🍿

Originally written in French by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, God of Carnage is a play that was first published in 2008. It is about two sets of parents; the 11-year-old son of one couple has hurt the son of the other couple with a stick at a public park. The parents meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. 👫🏻👫🏻

This play has been praised for believable character development, realistic dialogue and insightful satire. 🎭

This event is free and open to the public. Donations to the park are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there! 🙌🏼

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Woman’s Club of Woodbury April 1st Meeting | Orenaug Firehouse | Monday, April 1st 12:30PM

“The Radium Dial Painters: Their Fatal Brush with Death” The April public meeting of the Woman’s Club of Woodbury will take place on Monday, April 1, at 12:30 pm at the Emergency Services Building, Orenaug Firehouse, 25
Quassak Road in Woodbury. Colleen Nicastro, director of Interpretation for theAmerican Clock & Watch Museum, will be our speaker. No charge for admission, butreservations are necessary. Please call 203-263-3623 to reserve a space. 

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Paintings by Joseph Kristof | Woodbury Public Library | March 1 – 30th, 2024

Paintings by Joseph I. Kristof of Woodbury will be on display in the Woodbury Public Library’s Gallery Space March 1 – 30, with a reception for the artist scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2:00 – 4:00 PM.            

Joseph Kristof’s passion for painting started at a young age stemming from his early exposure to the Old Master Paintings in museums worldwide. Mainly a self-taught artist, Joseph studied the different styles of painters from the Renaissance to 19th century to the Impressionists and the American landscape painters.  He attributes his style to his experience studying those artists.  Joseph works in pastel, watercolor , pencil and pen and ink.  His work will be on display during regular, open hours.  Please visit the Library’s website www.woodburylibraryct.org call 203-263-3502 for more information.

Friendly Forest: Encaustic Art by Lola Baltzell | Woodbury Public Library | April 1 – 30th

Friendly Forest: Encaustic Art by Lola Baltzell will be on display in the Woodbury Public Library’s Gallery Space April 1- 30, 2024 with a reception for the artist scheduled on April 6, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Lola Baltzell grew up in rural northwest Iowa, and when she was very young, her mother would invite her to explore the woods behind their farmhouse. She called it the “friendly forest”.  Love of the woods has been an enduring aspect of Ms. Baltzell’s life. These days she is fortunate to share a house in Bethlehem that abuts hundreds of acres of forests, woods and streams and enjoys with her dogs and anyone else who cares to go for a hike.

Ms. Baltzell works in different mediums, but the work shown in the Library’s Gallery Space is encaustic. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is a form of painting that involves a heated wax medium to which colored pigments have been added. The molten mix is applied to a firm surface, usually prepared wood. Encaustic medium is a mixture of beeswax and damar resin. The color comes from dried powdered pigments or oil paints. Once the surface has cooled, you can carve, add collage and continue to add opaque or transparent layers. It is an extremely responsive and creative medium.

Dr. Maria Souza Hogan Talk | Woodbury Public Library | Saturday, April 13th at 2PM

Dr. Maria Souza Hogan, a world language teacher at Litchfield High School and the author of her recently published memoir Samba of Survival: My Light Within, will discuss her book and the lifelong effects of emigrating from Brazil on Saturday, April 13, at 2 PM at the Woodbury Public Library. Bernardo de Castro of Woodbury, who also hails from Brazil and works as a public school science teacher, will join her in this conversation about their heritage, their journeys to the US, and their experiences of their native and adopted cultures over time.  

Through their stories, Hogan and de Castro will shed a deeply human, sometimes humorous, and always empathetic light on the odyssey so many people of all ages undertake when they leave their homelands to start a new life in this country.  Hear their stories and join the conversation about a topic that makes the headlines and touches all our lives every day.   

Woodbury Poet Laureate Sandy Carlson will facilitate the conversation, and attendees will be invited to ask questions and share their thoughts.  Copies of Samba of Survival will be available for purchase for $20, payable with cash or check.  Register for this program on the Library’s website www.woodburylibraryct.org or call 203-263-3502 for more information.

“Nothing Really Bad Will Happen” Author Talk | Woodbury Public Library | Wednesday, April 3rd 6:30PM

As the dark clouds of Hitler’s regime descend upon Austria in 1938, Sigmund Lichtenthal, an Austrian hat-maker, loses everything dear to him. He begins a lifelong odyssey to reclaim his former legacy, facing formidable challenges, including the heart-wrenching internment of his son in concentration camps. Despite it all, Sigmund maintains an unwavering belief that nothing really bad will happen. The effects of this family tragedy linger on, casting a profound shadow on the entire family, including Sigmund’s granddaughter, Doris.

Seven decades later, the baton is passed to Sigmund’s great-granddaughter, Deborah. Driven by a deep sense of familial duty, and armed with revelations from preserved letters and historical documents, she undertakes a profound journey to complete Sigmund’s mission. As she confronts the haunting echoes of the past and unearths buried truths, readers are left to ponder: Will she be successful in completing his lifelong quest?  Join local author Deborah S. Holman for a book talk rich in family history at the Woodbury Public Library on Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 PM.

“Nothing Really Bad Will Happen” skillfully weaves together the threads of history, loss, and family relationships, transporting readers through time to witness the indomitable resilience of the human spirit across generations. With meticulous attention to actual records and intimate family letters, this captivating tale explores the interplay between self-worth and the resilience of the human spirit. Through the lives of Sigmund, his son, and their descendants, readers are invited to reflect on their own sense of value. This poignant narrative serves as a testament to the transformative power of recognizing one’s intrinsic worth and the enduring legacy it leaves behind. 

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The Southbury Public Library Youth Services

is pleased to announce events for December 2023 for children and teens. We are offering a variety of programs this month. All programs are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. For more information and to register online please visit our website: www.southburylibrary.org/events/

Global Art Project: A Photography Exhibition | Southbury Public Library 

The Southbury Public Library and Region 15 Schools would like to invite the community to join us for the Global Art Project: A Photography Exhibition. The exhibition’s purpose, obtained through The Besharat Arts Foundation’s “Art in Schools” project, is to bring to Southbury Public Library works of art to inspire empathy and understanding, encourage global connectedness, and inspire young people to see common humanity in a richly diverse world. Elementary students in Region 15 have been interacting with and enjoying photographs from this project since Spring 2022.

On opening night, Region 15 students will have the opportunity to lead by example in guiding visitors to appreciate, make meaning of, and dialogue about these works as docents. Light refreshments will be served.

The works will be on display in the Youth Services Department through March 30th.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library and Region 15 Schools.

More information about this event can be found here: https://www.southburylibrary.org/event/global-art-project-photography-exhibition-region-15-36741

Please visit the Southbury Public Library website at www.southburylibrary.org/events for program details and registration information. Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SouthburyLibraryYouthServices/

Susan Grisell Exhibit | Southbury Public Library | April 2nd-29th

The Gloria Cachion Gallery at the Southbury Public Library will showcase the art of Susan Grisell from Tuesday, April 2, 2024 through Monday, April 29, 2024. Susan Grisell has been painting professionally for the last 50 years, primarily in oils. She studied with her Gaylordsville neighbor, the late Bernard Lennon, after graduating from high school and finding that colleges were not teaching a representational approach to art.

Teen Spring 2024 Book Bingo | Southbury Public Library | Friday, March 1st – May 31st 

The Southbury Public Library invites interested teens in Grades 6-12 to join us for a Spring Book Bingo running from Friday, March 1 through Friday, May 31, 2024.

To participate, pick up a Book Bingo Card from the library’s second floor Teen Department or use Beanstack (the library’s reading program software, found at southburylibrary.beanstack.com) to fill out your Bingo Card virtually. Book bingo is like regular bingo, but instead of numbers and letters, each square has a type of book on it (such as “mystery” or “the favorite book of a friend or relative”). Every bingo made (a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line) counts as one entry for a $50 Visa Gift Card Raffle Prize. Readers who fill out their entire Bingo Card will get a Southbury Library Teen Department travel mug filled with candy. All Spring 2024 Teen Book Bingo entries are due by Friday, May 31, 2024: Beanstack entries are due by 11:59pm on May 31 and paper entries are due to the library by 5:30pm on May 31.

Book Bingo Rules:

  • Open to residents of any town in Grades 6-12.

  • Book titles may only be used once per Bingo Card; each entry has to be a different title.

  • Books must be read during the March 1 to May 31 period.

  • One bingo (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) counts as one entry for a $50 Visa Gift Card.

  • If you complete all 24 categories, get a Southbury Library Teen Department mug filled with candy.

  • All Spring 2024 Teen Book Bingo entries are due by Friday, May 31, 2024. Beanstack entries are due by 11:59pm that day and paper entries are due to the library by 5:30pm.

  • The winner will be drawn from all eligible Beanstack and paper entries and will be notified at the contact information provided.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, free, and open to residents of any town in Grades 6-12. 

Program link:  https://www.southburylibrary.org/bookbingo 

From Stage to Screen: The Broadway Musical Goes to Hollywood | Southbury Public Library | Thursday, April 11th 2-3:30PM

Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 2-3:30pm on Zoom and streamed to the Kingsley Room, join us for a virtual program and learn more about Broadway shows that have been made into movies.

For nearly a century, Hollywood has been captivated by the allure of the Broadway musical. Join us as we explore the colorful history of the Broadway-to-movie musical, and trace its development.

Brian Rose is a professor emeritus at Fordham University. He’s written several books on television history and cultural programming, and conducted more than a hundred Q&A’s with leading directors, actors, and writers for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Directors Guild of America. Register here.

The Founding Mothers | Southbury Public Library | Thursday, March 28th 2-3:30PM

Historian Valerie Gugala has been studying Abraham and Mary Lincoln for as long as she can remember.  Her interest in the Lincolns led her to an interest in the Presidents, First Ladies, and their families. She and her husband have traveled to many Presidential Libraries across the country, and they aim to visit all of them in the next few years. Over the last 25 years, Valerie has spoken at libraries, schools, churches, senior groups, and park districts throughout the country. She loves to share her knowledge of and enthusiasm for our country’s history with audiences. Register here.

From Stage to Screen: The BRoadway Musical Goes to Hollywood | Southbury Public Library | Thursday, April 11th 2-3:30PM

For nearly a century, Hollywood has been captivated by the allure of the Broadway musical. Join us as we explore the colorful history of the Broadway-to-movie musical, and trace its development.

Brian Rose is a professor emeritus at Fordham University. He’s written several books on television history and cultural programming, and conducted more than a hundred Q&A’s with leading directors, actors, and writers for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Directors Guild of America.

Like all Southbury Public Library programs, this program is free to attend and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Library.  Registration is required. Zoom invitation links will be sent via email on the day of the program. Please visit the link below for more information and to register.

Claude Monet: Impressions from Nature  | Southbury Public Library | Friday, April 26th 2-3:30PM

Claude Monet was the founder of French Impressionism, a revolutionary style that involves working outside and rapidly executing sketchy paintings to capture momentary effects of light and shadow. Monet returned to familiar outdoor subjects throughout his career, culminating with his beloved series on the water lilies in his garden in Giverny. Join us as we explore the artist’s life, career and many of his most beloved works.

Jane Oneail is an independent scholar and holds a Master’s in Art History from Boston University and a Master’s in Art in Education from Harvard University. Jane is a New Hampshire native and has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator.

Like all Southbury Public Library programs, this program is free to attend and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Library.  Registration is required. Zoom invitation links will be sent via email on the day of the program. Please visit the link below for more information and to register.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: More than Sherlock | Southbury Public Library | Friday, April 12th 2-3:30PM

April 12, 2024 from 2-3:30pm on Zoom and streamed to the Kingsley Room, join us for a virtual program and learn more about Arthur Conan Doyle. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may be most famous for the character of Sherlock Holmes. He was also a writer of fantasy and science fiction as well as a physician.  Join us and explore the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Led by Dr. Bill Thierfelder, a retired college professor who taught a variety of Arts and Humanities courses for 32 years at several New York universities and colleges, including St. John’s University and Dowling College. He holds a Ph.D. in English, with minors in theater, art history and music history. Register here.

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Fresh Start Hiking Club | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 2nd

Hop out of bed and head to White Memorial for our latest hiking series! Join Gerri Griswold on the first Tuesday of each month for one hour hike! It’s the perfect way to engage with old and new friends…and of course…Nature! With over 40 miles of trails from which to choose, you never know where Gerri will take you! 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. FREE…but you must pre-register online: www.whitememorialcc.org  Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Nature’s Nursery Spring 2024 Ages 3-6 | Southbury Public Library | 4:00PM

Join us on the first Thursday of each month from April – June for an engaging program designed just for your young nature lovers. Every session will last 45 minutes – 1 hour and include a story, an encounter with a live animal, and an activity or craft. Some of our activities might be outside, so dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. Advanced registration is required. To register, visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857. Space is limited. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. We require that one parent/caretaker stay for the duration of the program, but our room cannot accommodate more than one adult per child. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $9/child per session or $24/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $36/whole series

Lowdown on Low Impact Development: Practical Steps to Improve Water Quality at Home | White Memorial Conservation Center | Thursday, April 4th 7PM

Heavy rains and impermeable surfaces can lead to significant stormwater run-off on our residential, agricultural and commercial properties. Join Cynthia Rabinowitz from the Northwest Conservation District for a presentation that illustrates the issues with stormwater runoff, and what can be done to manage it. Various solutions will be discussed, such as rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, and permeable parking areas. Cynthia will show pictures of several solution-based projects that NCWD has worked on, including a large project recently completed in Bethel. She will also highlight the brand new CT Stormwater Management Manual, which outlines and strengthens the requirements for low-impact development projects.

Cynthia Rabinowitz, NWCD Executive Director, has over 44 years of experience as a professional soil and wetland scientist and environmental horticulturist/landscape designer. Cynthia obtained a Permaculture Design Certification in 2008 and incorporates the principles and practices of Permaculture into her conservation work. She has also taught in the graduate programs at the University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University, and has served on the board of conservation and professional organizations in Connecticut.

This FREE program is being offered both in-person and on Zoom. 7:00 p.m. ,Meet in A. B. Ceder Room at White Memorial for in-person. For ZOOM participants, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86993946768

CT DEEP CARE Family Fresh Water Fishing Class | White Memorial Conservation Center | Saturday, April 6th 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Fisheries Division sponsors this terrific free program. Families and individuals age nine and up are welcome to attend this unique event which is part of the DEEP’s CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) program. The class is taught by certified volunteer instructors and it’s FUN!!! All fishing tackle and course materials are provided ABSOLUTELY FREE! To learn more, log onto the CT DEEP’s website: www.ct.gov/dep and type in “CARE”.  BRING LUNCH! Classroom: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M., Fishing at Point Folly: 12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M., You MUST participate in the classroom in order to fish. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. Pre-registration is required. Call 860-567-0857. FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Interview with our Barred Owls | White Memorial Conservation Center | Saturday, April 6th 3PM
Come see and learn about Shakespeare and Ophelia, our resident Barred Owls. Do owls have personalities? Can an owl talk to you? Can you have an owl as a pet? Find out the answers to these questions and any others you want to ask. Family-friendly event. 3:00m p.m. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room.. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited! Please visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857 to register. Members: FREE , Non-Members: $5.00.

 

Museum Children Free Week | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 6th-12th

In Memory of Author and Conservationist David K. Leff from his Many Friends. Free admission to children under the age of 12 when accompanied by an adult.

 

Magnificent Solar Eclipse Party | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 8th

The Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the White Memorial Conservation Center are partnering to celebrate the 93% total eclipse that will pass through Litchfield on Monday, April 8!

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the Sun’s, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs only in a narrow path across Earth’s surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of miles wide. Although not in the path of totality, Litchfield will experience 93% totality!

There will be an Open House in the Museum from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (the Museum will be closed from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. for our staff to enjoy the event.) There will be nature walks and a workshop to make your own pinhole camera for viewing. More surprises are in store as the event develops. Bring a colander from home! We’ll show you how it can be used to view the eclipse! Bring a picnic! It’s fun for the whole family!

Don’t forget to purchase your Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses well in advance! They are available in the gift shop or can be purchased online. FOR YOUR SAFETY…PLEASE DO NOT VIEW ANY PART OF THE ECLIPSE WITH THE NAKED EYE!

Happy Hour Hiking Club with Gerri Griswold | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 11th 

Step into spring with a monthly resolution to keep your body moving! Skip that Happy Hour cocktail and calorie-laden appetizer, and take a walk with Gerri! It may be rainy…but you can do it! Each one-hour walk will cover a different trail on the property. At the end of each hike, you’ll receive a recipe for a healthful, tasty, easy recipe to help keep you on track. Dress for the weather. 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Meet in the Museum. Please pre-register online: www.whitememorialcc.org FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

 

Nevermore: Remembering the Passenger Pigeaon with Gerri Griswold | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 13th

Once the most abundant species of bird on our planet, in less than a century all Passenger Pigeons were gone. Learn the story about a bird whose numbers blackened the skies in feathery ribbons that stretched for miles, inhaled crops, and whose sound was so deafening, one could not hear or be heard. From billions to none. How did it happen? Why are they gone? Could they ever return? 2:00 p.m. A. B. Ceder Room and ZOOM. Members: FREE  Non-Members: $10.00,  Pre-registration is required. Register online: www.whitememorialcc.org  Zoom participants will receive a link to the program upon registration.

 

“Sense-sational” Spring Break Camp | White Memorial Conservation Center | Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th

Grades 1-3: 9:30am – 12:30pm | Grades 4-6: 1:30 – 4:30pm
Which CT animal has the best sense of hearing? Who can see better: a human or a hawk? Why do owls not mind eating smelly skunks? All of these questions about the senses will be answered and more during our “Sense”sational Spring Break Camp. Spend your vacation exploring the wild and wonderful natural world at White Memorial. Meet live animals up close, make some awesome crafts, tromp around the woods, and play fun games, all while learning about the amazing senses of our native critters. A snack will be served between adventures. Bring a water bottle and dress for the weather. Parents/Guardians are welcome to stay, but it is not necessary. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. Advanced registration is required. Space is limited! You can sign up by day or for the whole week. Please visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857 to register. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $25/child per session or $90/child for the week. Non-members: $40/child per session or $150/child for the week

STAR PARTY | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 19th

Members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society organize this astronomy program. Weather permitting; there will be star gazing after the program. 8:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars. FREE… Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Edible Plant Walk with Anthony Dobos ~ The Forest Wolf | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 20th

Andy Dobos will help you learn some common easily identifiable edible wild plants and how to responsibly harvest and prepare them. Walk through field forest and wetland edge as Andy identifies gathers and gives tips for preparation.

Dobos has special permission to pick plants on WMF property. All the plants we cover will be species one could find in their back yard or old farmland or woodlot so no excuses for not making future use of what you will learn! Bring a notebook camera and dress for the weather LIMITED TO 15! Meet in the Museum. 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Members: $15.00 Non-members: $25.00 Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online: www.whitememorialcc.org

The Demise and Resurrection of the American Chestnut with Jack Swatt | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 20th

More than a century ago, nearly 4 billion American chestnut trees were growing in the eastern U.S. They were among the largest, tallest, and fastest-growing trees. The wood was rot-resistant, straight-grained, and suitable for furniture, fencing, and building. The nuts fed billions of birds and animals. It was almost a perfect tree, that is, until a blight fungus killed it more than a century ago. The chestnut blight has been called the greatest ecological disaster to strike the world’s forests in all of history. The American chestnut tree survived all adversaries for 40 million years, then disappeared within 40. Jack Swatt, President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation provides an overview of the history, value, blight impact, and revival of this iconic tree in this 15-minute video. Learn more about how you can help restore this valuable member of our diverse planetary community. https://tacf.org/  10:00 a.m., A. B. Ceder Room and ZOOM.  FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses. Please pre-register online: www.whitememorialcc.org 

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ACJ7vWLvRo-57G6jqRYJbA

About Our Speaker:  Jack Swatt has been a member of The American Chestnut Foundation since 1993.  He received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UConn in 1983, an M.S. in Chemistry from CCSU in 1992 and graduated from the Albany Medical College Physician Assistant Program in 1996. He is currently retired but was previously employed by The Hospital of Central Connecticut as a Physician Assistant in Hospitalist Medicine.  He is also an active volunteer for the CT DEEP (monitoring wintering eagles and Whip-poor-wills), Audubon CT, CT Audubon, NH Audubon, the Loon Preservation Committee, and the Society to Protect New Hampshire Forests (aka the Forest Society). He is also a life member of the Wolcott Fire Dept. Co. #2 and the New Haven Bird Club.

 

Bat Hike | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 20th

Join Gerri Griswold for a late afternoon stroll along the Lake Trail to our bat houses near Litchfield Town Beach! Last year, close to 300 precious Little Brown Bats were counted exiting these structures that were installed by Research Director, James Fischer in 2018. Along the way you’ll be learning about the many types of habitats that attract a wide variety of rare species of bats to White Memorial. 4:00 p.m., Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. Members: 5:00  Non-Members: $10.00 Pre-registration is required. Register online: www.whitememorialcc.org

Bats Count! Evening Bat Count at Green Barn | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 20th

BATS COUNT! Evening Bat Count at the Green Barn

BATS COUNT! Launches into it second year! https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Bats-Count  Our Big Brown Bat colony is returning for the summer. In mid-June, Mother bats will give birth to their pups. Tonight, you can become citizen scientists and help Gerri Griswold count the first emergence of bats from our Green Barn. 7:00 pm, Meet in front of the A. B. Ceder Room. FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Museum Children Free Week | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 20th-26th & April 27th – May 3rd

In Memory of Louise W. Willson. Free admission to children under the age of 12 when accompanied by an adult.

 

GIVE LOCAL | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 24th & 25th

Hosted by the Connecticut Community Foundation, Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills is a 36-hour online community giving event that encourages donors to lend their support to the nonprofit organizations that work every day to make our community stronger.

Every dollar donated to the Conservation Center from 7 a.m. on April 24 to 7 p.m. on April 25 will support three very important components of our Mission!

ANIMAL CARE:

EVERYONE loves animals! White Memorial is home to a variety of Animal Ambassadors that delight audiences near and far throughout the year. From Rocky and Grandma the Eastern Box Turtles to Sal the Yellow-spotted Salamander, Tippy the American Toad….to Tacoma the Red-tailed Hawk, Dottie the Spotted Turtle, Peaches the Honduran Milk Snake, and Gordon the Eastern Garter Snake, Jacob our sssssssssuper ssssssssexy Eastern Rat Snake, and of course our beautiful Barred Owls, Shakespeare and Ophelia….all of these beautiful animals need care. Our annual budget to feed these hard-working herps, amphibians, and birds of prey..including occasional veterinary care, exceeds $7000.00! Your Give Local Donations with help defray this cost and be very much appreciated!

FINANCIAL AID FOR AREA FAMILIES:

The recession has hit everyone hard! Although White Memorial prides itself on offering affordable children’s programs, some families need  a little extra help. Your Give donation will be allocated to a special Financial Aid fund for families most in need. No child should be separated from an extraordinary experience in Nature because of a few dollars. We would appreciate a donation in any amount to add to this fund. The Annual Museum Sleep-In costs $120, Summer Camp: $240.00, After-School Adventures: $48.00, “Sense”-Sational Spring Break Camp: $120.00. Many families would appreciate your help!

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING:

The third component is financial support for our virtual programming. When Covid- 19 closed our doors in March 2020, we wondered how in the world could the Conservation Center remain relevant? It didn’t take long for us to embrace ZOOM and FACEBOOK Live technology and through it, we were able to bring the world to White Memorial and White Memorial to the world! We traveled to Malaysia, India, France, Iceland, and Chile to learn about how those countries were handling the Pandemic ~ “Postcards from a Pandemic Planet.” We went to the Orkney Islands to meet with archaeologist Nick Card in charge of one of the greatest Neolithic excavations ever discovered…to Egypt with Dr. Sofia Aziz to study mummies, to Ohio to learn about spiders from our nation’s expert, Dr. Rick Bradley, to Denmark to meet Tollund Man with Ole Neilson, Director of the Silkeborg Museum…to the Adirondacks to swim with otters and meet an albino porcupine face to face with WMCC Alumni, Nicole Baker at The Wild Center! We globe-trotted to some of the greatest places to meet with experts in their fields. The programs were offered free to our members but with only a small fee to non-members. Of course these marvelous programs came with a price tag… $3000 a year.  We are reaching out to you to help defray the cost of  of the vibrant virtual programs that grace our calendar each month! We are grateful for any donation. So far his year we have ventured to Iceland to study the Arctic Fox with biologist Ester Rutt Unsteinnsdottir, rambled the wildest places of the United Kingdom with Ruth Chamberlain to learn about rare and endangered breeds of wild ponies and horses, and prepared ourselves for the amazing April 8 Solar Eclipse with Tom Alena!   Do you have a person, place, or topic you’d like to visit virtually? Let us know!

The Conservation Center is extremely grateful for your enthusiastic support! Thank you!

Watch our website www.whitememorialcc.org or read your Habitattler for more details on how you can donate or visit our personal Give Local page https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/white-memorial-conservation-center

 

31st Annual Museum Sleep-In | White Memorial Conservation Center | Friday April 26th-Saturday, April 27th
Join us for a real-life “Night at the Museum” experience! We’ll have a slumber party amongst the exhibits in the Museum. Plus, we’ll embark on a night hike, gather around the campfire, make special crafts, explore Ongley Pond, and so much more. In the morning, you’ll be treated to breakfast and a special program featuring live animals. Parents, this is a drop-off program, but plenty of adult chaperones from the WMCC Education and Activities Committee will be there. Meet in the Museum. Advanced registration is required. Registration begins on April 1 and must be received by April 19. Space is limited to 25 kids. Visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857 to register. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Event will occur rain or shine. This event is conducted by the WMCC Education and Activities Committee. Members: $60/child, Non-Members: $120/child

Early Spring Migrants Bird Walk with Fran Zygmont | White Memorial Conservation Center | April 27th

In Memory of Louise W. Willson. Free admission to children under the age of 12 when accompanied by an adult.

Join Birder Extraordinaire and Conservation Center favorite, Fran Zygmont on a walk that can reveal some of our earliest spring arrivals! Keep eyes and ears open for Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebe, Oven Bird, Kildeer and more! Spring wildflowers will be popping up with the possibility of Wild Geranium, Trillium, and Trout Lily! 9:00 a.m., Meet in the Museum, FREE…donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Centers programming expenses. LIMITED TO 20! Please pre-register: www.whitememorialcc.org

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