Volunteers recently repaired 90-year-old Bethel resident Julia Herring’s home.
Jeremy Zitofsky, the manager of Lowes in Danbury, teamed of up with Don Bashak, a local contractor for the latest “LOWES HEROES” project.
Herring’s house desperately needed repairing of a rotting french door. Lowes provided all of the materials and a few employees, Bruce Pelaccio, Matt Trachten and Mike Curley, to assist Bashak’s team, which included Jose Geovanny and Carlos Javier.
Herring received a new sliding glass door.
Brookfield
Democrats launch Valentine’s Day-themed fundraiser
The Brookfield Democratic Town Committee announced the launch of the first fundraiser in support of its 2021 municipal election campaign. The fundraiser is called, “For the Love of Brookfield.”
The committee has partnered with local business, Emalyn Sweets, formerly of Brookfield and now located in Newtown, to sell chocolate lollipops for Valentine’s Day.
The lollipops will be available for $2 each with a minimum purchase of five. The fundraiser will run from Feb. 1 through Feb. 10. The lollipops are available for order online. Contactless delivery of the chocolates will be provided. Visit www.brookfielddemocrats.org to learn more.
Brookfield
Democrats launch virtual book club
The Brookfield Democratic Town Committee will hold a monthly virtual book club called, “Reading With Intention,” starting Monday, Feb. 1. Community members of all ages are invited to join.
The first selection for the book club is titled, “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor,” by Layla F. Saad.
The committee has donated five copies of the book to the Brookfield Public Library which were purchased from the local independent bookstore, Byrd’s Books.
Shannon Riley, a member of the committee, will moderate the book club.
Kent
Author to lecture on birds
A presentation on cerulean warbler will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Feb. 11.
Marvelwood School, the Kent Land Trust and the University of Connecticut Natural Resources Conservation Academy are hosting the presentation with Katie Fallon, author of “Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird.”
Fallon will describe the plight of the cerulean warbler, a tiny migratory songbird, and its struggle to survive in ever-shrinking bands of suitable habitat. This program will also touch upon local, regional and global conservation efforts to help protect this vulnerable species.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit www.marvelwood.org/warbler.
Region
Emergency preparedness workshops to be held
Three organizations are hosting a series of emergency preparedness workshops in the Danbury area this February.
The Red Cross, WeCAHR and Independence Northwest will present the programs.
Workshops and dates are as follows:
Prepare with Pedro (Kindergarten through grade): 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 9, 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17, and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
The Pillowcase Project (third through sixth grade): 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 10, 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18, and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25.
Be Red Cross Ready (general preparedness): 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 11, 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 20, and 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 27.
All workshops are accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, please provide at least 48 hours notice if an interpreter is needed.
For sign-up links, visit: www.redcross.org/CTprepare. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/884471142122906
Region
Housatonic Habitat selected for Stop & Shop Community Bag Program in February
Housatonic Habitat for Humanity has been selected as the non-profit of the month by Stop & Shop at 25 State Route 39 in New Fairfield.
For each Community Bag purchased by customers during February, Housatonic Habitat for Humanity will receive a $1 donation. Customers who purchase Stop & Shop Community Bags at other Stop & Shop may also direct their donations to Housatonic Habitat for Humanity by scanning the ticket on the bag and selecting Housatonic Habitat as their charity of choice.
Housatonic Habitat for Humanity focuses on making a meaningful difference in the lives of qualified working families by promoting financial stability and self-sufficiency through ownership of affordable homes. For more information, visit www.housatonichabitat.org
Region
‘Take Your Child to the Library Day’ returns
Children and their families will be able to celebrate libraries with a number of free events and activities this Saturday as part of the ninth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day.
Here are some of the events planned in the Danbury area:
Burnham Library in Bridgewater
“Pete the Cat’s Groovy Get Together” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Children can wear their pajamas, have a cereal bar, search for Pete and friends in a family scavenger hunt and listen to a reading of “Pete the Cat: Loves His White Shoes.” Register by emailing [email protected] or call 860-354-6937.
Brookfield Library
“Doughnuts with Dads Storytime” will be at 9:30 a.m. Any significant male figures is invited to bring their children to the library’s community room to enjoy donuts and stories. Hold Onto Your Hats, an interactive musical program, will be held at 2 p.m. Both events are free and open to ages 3 and up. No registration required.
Danbury Public Library
“Wondrous Wonder, Marvelous Marvel: A Storytelling Adventure” with Rona Leventhal will be at 11:30 a.m.
Kent Memorial Library
Story hour will be at 10:30 a.m. and include snacks, an activity and stickers. It’s open to all ages.
New Fairfield Library
The library’s weekly drop-in craft will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Milford Public Library
Movin’ and Groovin’ Nutrition will be held at 10:30 a.m. It’s a family program led by Jill Paterson, a certified fitness instructor and registered dietitian, who specializes in childhood nutrition. Call or visit the library to register.
C.H. Booth Library, Newtown
Children ages 3 and up are invited to visit the library’s makers’ corner to build with Strawbees and LEGOs, make buttons and play games.
Ridgefield Library
A storytime will be held at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Read to the Dog program at 11 a.m. Children’s book author and musician Ryan SanAngelo will host a program at 2 p.m. where he will read from his book “Eddie Spaghetti” and play his guitar. No registration required.
Gunn Memorial Library, Washington
The library is inviting the community to celebrate their love for libraries with Valentines crafts, games and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Linda Morse at 860-868-2310 or [email protected] for more information.
Ridgefield
Registration opens for summer mission trip
Teens and adults are asked to register to volunteer for a summer service trip in the Appalachia region.
Jesse Lee Appalachia Service Project hopes to take volunteers down to Appalachia from June 26 to July 4 for a week of home repair.
The coronavirus pandemic may alter or prohibit the trip, but the organization is still registering and training volunteers.
Online monthly training sessions will begin soon to plan for the summer trip and to review the ASP guiding principles of safety, stewardship and sensitivity. If a decision is made this spring that the COVID risk is too great for traveling to Appalachia, the organization may pivot to doing work locally.
This summer, the national ASP organization has added a number of COVID safety protocols, including: limiting the number of volunteers who can stay at its “centers;” requiring that masks be worn unless volunteers are eating, sleeping or showering; and prioritizing exterior home repairs, like roof and siding replacements.
Home base for the organization is Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 207 Main St. Learn more and register for this year’s work at www.jesseleeasp.org.
Washington
Lecturer to present on early days of art association
The Gunn Historical Museum will hold the second, virtual presentation in its artist lecture series at 6:30 pm. Feb. 22.
Sarah Griswold, former curator at the museum, will lead the event, called ““A Mid-Century Artist’s Haven and The Early Days of the Washington Art Association.”
Washington Art Association, founded in 1952 by Margaret Train Samsanoff and a small group of local artists and patrons, has fostered the town’s legacy for support of artists. The lecture will take a close look at these individuals including the highly talented artists William Talbot, Esther Peck, Alice Snow, and Feodor Rimsky.
The Washington Art Association co-hosts the lecture series.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for this free virtual program. Visit the Museum’s registration page to sign up: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/gunn-museum/museum-registration-page/
For more information visit www.gunnmuseum.org or contact the museum at 860-868-7756 or [email protected].
Washington
Nonprofit launches in-person, outdoor program
The nonprofit ASAP! will return to in-person programming with “Look, Build, Play!,” a natural building workshop in which participants will develop their ideas in virtual sessions, then bring them to life outdoors at Macricostas Preserve.
Led by artists Jenna Robb and Jason Killinger, the program aims to promote outdoor exploration and connection with nature. Over the winter, participants will forage in their own backyards and nearby parks to collect nature objects as components to a small sculpture built in their virtual sessions. In May, the group will assemble at Steep Rock Association’s Macricostas Preserve for a weekend of outdoor play and building.
Steep Rock’s Conservation and Program Coordinator Rory Larson will join to talk about Macricostas Preserve, and facilitate the connection of the participants’ work into one large natural playpath to be enjoyed by all.
To learn more, visit asapct.org.