Author: Janet

Ralph Nader will be appearing at the newly renovated Scoville Memorial Library, located on 38 Main street in Salisbury Connecticut on Saturday, July 23, from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. to celebrate the library and a few other topics. Nader as always is an ardent activist and this time he is promoting a different cause locally, getting more people, especially youth, to read.

His philosophy is simple: “Readers Think and Thinkers Read” is the wisdom behind the inception of the Booming Winsted Book Festival on Saturday July 30 (9:00 am to 6:00 pm) and Sunday July 31 (10:00 am to 2:00 pm) at 414 Main Street, Rt. 44 in downtown Winsted, Connecticut. The Festival will present five prominent area authors each of whom will autograph their books, deliver a presentation and engage in a discussion with book-lovers in attendance.

At the Scoville Library Nader will be selling and signing “Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State.” He will donate all proceeds to the library. “This is the 50th anniversary year for my book, “Unsafe at Any Speed”, that led to improvements in the auto industry, and I thought a book festival in my home town would be a good way to celebrate the continual importance of books,” said Nader. Nader will speak informally about his new book and the upcoming book festival.

Festival authors include Pulitzer Prize winning American historian Eric Foner, who will sign his new book “Gateway to Freedom: Hidden History of the Underground Railroad,” and Patricia Klindienst, author of “The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture, and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans.”

After, take a ride to nearby Winsted to visit the American Museum of Tort Law, started by Nader and the only museum in the nation dedicated to American law. For more informaiton https://www.tortmuseum.org.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com.

Get inspired and celebrate the arts at the 2nd Annual Stamford Art Festival at Harbor Point, taking place on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine.

A juried event featuring more than 100 artists selected locally and from across the country, Canada and Israel,the Stamford Art Festival offers a selection of paintings, photography,drawings, prints, sculptures, mixed media, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, metal and glass pieces that are original works and available for collecting in every price range.

Held at the beautiful Harbor Point waterfront in Stamford, exhibitors will display their work on the gorgeous new boardwalk overlooking Stamford Harbor – an extraordinary backdrop for this visual feast.

Visitors will be able to browse and buy from a wide variety of artists. The Festival includes live musical performances on both days, as well as free arts activities and demonstrations for children and adults, plus a variety of food temptations ranging from gourmet food to homemade desserts. Sunday, July 31 features a Farmers Market to enjoy. And it all happens rain or shine, under tents.

Admission to the Stamford Art Festival is free. There is ample free parking. Harbor Point in Stamford is easy to reach via Connecticut Exit 7 on I-95 northbound and southbound. For more information, visit www.StamfordArtFestival.org

Get ready to meet Squirt, Sal, South and Tubbs — four African Black-Footed Penguins that are spending their summer at the Beardsley Zoo located on 1875 Noble Ave. in Bridgeport Connecticut. They will be on exhibit from May 7 through Sept. 30 — so make plans to stop by and see them. They are charming and fun to watch.

The Penguins will be in a temporary exhibit across from the Zoo’s Peacock Cafe. Their Education Department is planning Wild Adventure Animal Shows, Animal Bytes storytelling and scavenger hunts — all designed to help you learn, and care, about penguins.

These medium sized penguins, that weigh between two and three pounds are found along the African shore and considered to be endangered. Overfishing of their prey, oil spills and guanaco are just some of the reasons why this species of penguin is in decline.

One of their distinctions is a pink patch above their eyes that is actually a gland that helps them adapt to changing temperatures. The hotter the penguin gets, the pinker the gland turns. These penguins are also known for their unusual call that sounds like a donkey that is braying. Each individual penguin also has a black stripe with black spots on their chest and, much like fingerprints, no two are the same.

Check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldHills.FairfieldCounty.CT/

Photo courtesy of Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

The Westport Fine Arts Festival is held in lovely, historic downtown Westport, along the lovely Saugatuck River and has become a highlight on the calendars of thousands of art lovers and art collectors. This year the festival is being held on July 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.

Festival goers will delight in the hundreds of original juried works in Painting, Watercolor, Photography/Digital Art, Sculpture, Drawing (Pastel, Pencil, Ink), Printmaking, Mixed Media, Glass/ Ceramics, Jewelry, and Wood as well as the chance to chat with the artists. This event, now in its 43rd year has been voted as one of the top 100 events for the sale of fine arts by Artfairsourcebook.com.

Kids aren’t left out of the fun as organizers have set up the Westport Arts Children’s Zone where they are encouraged to make magical creations. Using their imagination, children will color, cut, build and more as they design works of art inspired by knights, heroes, princesses and magic using traditional and unique materials. The children’s area is located in Parker Harding Plaza and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.

The festival also boasts lots of great entertainment and the performers on Saturday include:Eric Michael Lichter, Shiny Lapel Trio, Neighborhood Jazz, Mill River Band, Ken Atkins and the Honky Tonk Kind, and Oh Casius. On Sunday, festival goers will be entertained by Gracie Day, Wide Old Moon, TTIKS, Chase Leonard & Jerome Goosman, Jekyll & Hyde and Chris McKay and the Tone Shifters.

Westport is serviced by the Metro North New Haven Line for daily schedules visit http://www.mta.info/mnr. If you are driving in, there is free parking throughout downtown Westport as well as on Gorham Island, Elm St., Jessup Road, Imperial Ave. Parking Lot and Main St and Post Road.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

South Farms located in Morris Connecticut just off Rte. 109 on 21 Higbie Road is presenting an exciting musical event on July 22 with doors opening at 7 p.m.

This iconic New England farm best known for its farmers market and event venue is supporting the debut album release of the Dallas based, multi-instrumentalist duo The Gibbonses. This dynamic duo is embarking on a month long summer tour up the East Coast and across the mid-west; and as the band’s only public appearance in CT, this is one show you’re not going to want to miss!

With a unique blend of Southern Soul, Americana, and Rhythm & Blues, Torrington native Brandon Gibbons (Charity) and his wife Jackie have been capturing the attention of music lovers across the Southwest. The band has shared the stage with The Black Lillies, Kimberly Dunn, Dalton Domino, Sam Riggs, and Prophets and Outlaws to name a few.

In a recent album spotlight, Texas Music Picker’s had this to say about their record, Among The Rubble; “This captivating record offers a tale of tragedy and finding resolve, leaving the listener engaged throughout the journey in between! Every song has something to say and we’re impressed by the maturity in this talented band’s debut record!”

Local legends of folk and bluegrass, Switch Factory, will start the show off. These guys are incredible! John Fitts, a writer for the Litchfield County Times, writes, “With a fun live show, impeccable chops and tight harmonies, the members of Switch Factory are in a great place musically.”

Along with this fantastic musical line up you will enjoy the beauty that is South Farms in Morris, CT. don’t miss indulging on some tasty dessert treats by AmandaBakes completing this “sweet” evening!

Pre-Sale Ticket for The Gibbonses Concert on July 22, 2016 are available at South Farms in Morris, CT. Tickets are $15 and they are on sale now online. Space is limited to 200 so get yours now! Please present ID and ticket email at door for admission. This event is being produced/sponsored by: The Gibbonses, The Desultory Theatre Club, DJ Zerp & Zerp Radio, South Farms, and Amanda G. Love with her company AmandaBakes

The center of New Milford located in the scenic Litchfield Hills is noted for its long traditional village green laid out in 1872. Here you will find monuments from past wars as well as a bandstand, first built in 1891 that is a symbol of New Milford’s sense of community.

You can also explore many exceptional galleries, boutiques, restaurants and antique shops that are clustered in the heart of this village. Many are located in beautifully restored 18th and 19th century homes and buildings. Town Hall, facing the Green, marks the home of one of New Milford’s most illustrious citizens, Roger Sherman, the only Connecticut man whose signature is on all key documents of the founding of this nation.
On July 29 and July 30, 2016 the New Milford Green becomes a hive of activity with the many activities and family fun offered up at the 49th Annual New Milford Village Fair Days.

Organized by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, this is the largest annual event in New Milford. Hundreds of vendors including local businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs exhibit their unique offerings. If you like crafts, you won’t be disappointed as many skillful crafters offer their wares.

Food is a big element of any Fair and New Milford’s food vendors won’t disappoint. There is even a dining tent and two days of entertainment that add to the festivities. Participants in this year’s food court include: New Milford Rotary Club, Water Witch Hose Co 2, The Cookhouse, CC’s Spiral Potatoes, Crab Cakes & Coconut Shrimp, Alfredo’s/Colosseo Restaurants, New Milford Lions Club, Thomas’s Ice Cream Truck, American Pie Company, Greek Isle and Primos Deli.

Exploring the south Green you will find a variety of businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs, while the north Green hosts master crafters. Food vendors can be found in the mid-section of the Green where fair goers will find everything from tasty snacks to a wonderful meal that can be enjoyed in the large sit-down dining area.

The Fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM on both days. Among the many highlights on the 29th are the tour of town hall at 2:30 p.m., a performance by Theatre Works from 1:30 p.m. – 2 :00 p.m., an historic walking tour of Main Street at 4 p.m., an Old Fashion Pie eating contest at 5 p.m., the Kid’s Fun Run at 6:00 PM and music by Hire & Hire from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

On Saturday, July 30th the Fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM. Highlights on the 30th include: the 49th Annual 8 Mile Road Race & 14th Annual Fair Days 5K at 8:30 am, a town hall tour at 2:30 p.m., the band The Blue Yodels from 3:15 PM – 4 PM, an historic tour of Main Street at 4 PM and the band Zenith from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For further information, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 860.354.6080 or visit http://www.newmilford-chamber.com for up to the minute information.