Author: Janet

Each year, White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center located in Litchfield celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of that time of year known as Indian Summer by organizing an annual event known as the Family Nature Day. This year, this popular event is taking place on September 26 and promises to be full of family fun with a plethora of events that will please young and old alike.

Brain Bradley, from Skyhunters in Flight will be at this event with his beautiful hawks and falcons. Creature Teachers will be offering “The Nature of My Backyard” that features a cavalcade of animals native to the Litchfield Hills like Woodchuck, Gray Fox, and even a Fisher!
Fair goers will learn about our imperiled allies as Gerri Griswold aka “The Bat Lady” teaches you about bats. Riverside Reptiles’ with the highly regarded Brian Kleinman will bring many of his friends along for you to meet… including the North American Porcupine!
There will be music by Robert Messore and the Switch Factory that will make your heart soar. The day is filled with live animals, guided nature walks, information booths, and even horse drawn wagon rides. If you are a shopper, you won’t be disappointed as you browse through the many unique items offered at the artisans market.

A highlight is the silent auction and the bake sale — that is always a crowd pleaser. There are lots of nature crafts for the kiddies too! This year’s first prize in the raffle is a trip for two to Iceland with Gerri Griswold in January courtesy of Krummi Travel LLC.

There is so much family fun on September 26 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., admission is $6.00. Members of White Memorial Foundation and children under 12 are FREE!

The Torrington House Tour, scheduled for September 12, 2015, will feature six Historic homes ranging in age from 1850 to 1956.

The homes that will be open to the public on September 12, 2015 are as follows:

The George B. Goodwin House is a Colonial Revival Built ca. 1908. This Colonial Revival farmhouse replaced a much older farmhouse that was once known as the Waterman Farm. The house has a hip roof, dormers and a first floor wrap around porch. Inside the house retains many original features and has been attractively decorated and furnished as a bed and breakfast inn.

The Doolittle House / Excelsior Dairy Ca. is a 1850 Greek Revival house. Historically known as the Doolittle Farm, this mid-nineteenth century farmhouse was likely built by Nathan B. Phelps around 1850. The house was constructed in the Greek Revival Style with its gable end facing the street. The current owners have restored the 1850 house, preserving the original moldings and wide floor boards. Contemporary additions utilize original architectural detailing while providing for modern conveniences and the entire home is tastefully furnished and decorated.

The Cavagnero House built in 1956 is a Mid-Century Modern house. This home with its distinctive modern style, highlighted by shed roofs, stands out in a neighborhood of more traditional ranch houses. The design is based on a home in Spokane Washington and this house was hand built by the first owner, Chet Cavignero and his cousin. The interior is largely original and features a period kitchen, bathroom and living room. The present owners have decorated the entire house with historic furnishings from the 1950s.

Major William E. Besse House ca. 1890 Victorian, Stick Style This home was built by Albert P. Hine around 1890 and was acquired by William E. Besse in 1903. The stick style is characterized by a steeply pitched front gable and exterior decorative banding. William E. Besse was superintendent of the Brass Mill and lived here until 1954. The home is a well preserved example of this unusual type. Once utilized as an office, the current owner’s have restored the interior of the home to its turn of the century appearance while adding a modern kitchen at the rear. The home is decorated it with many period furnishings and fixtures.

The Bronson House is an 1860 Italianate style house. This home was built by Luther Bronson around 1860 as a residence for him and his wife Flora. The house is a fine, well-preserved example of an early Italiate structure in Torrington. Since 2002 it has been restored and many made major improvements were made to the kitchen. The house is beautifully decorated and furnished.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a 1889 Victorian Gothic structure. This church was completed and dedicated on June 5, 1889. It was used by the Seventh Day Adventists until they built a new church in 1969. The old church was sold and has been home to a number of artists over the last 45 years. Today the main floor of the church serves as a performance studio for pianist, Timothy Alexandre Wallace. The building retains much of its original exterior decorative detail and the interior furnished is an interesting and eclectic blend of overstuffed chairs, tapestries and a grand piano.

Tickets for the historic house tour are $30 each and may be purchased in person at the Chamber of Commerce or at the Torrington Historical Society. On line ticket sales are available through the Torrington House Tour website: www.torringtonhousetour.org.

A House Tour Preview Party featuring a tour of several homes followed by a reception with music and refreshments will be held on Friday evening September 11th from 5 to 9 pm. Tickets for the preview party are $75 and include one ticket to the complete tour on Saturday.

The 19th Annual Constitution State Feis (Irish dance competition), presented by the Horgan Academy of Irish Dance of Naugatuck, Conn., will take place Sept. 5 & 6 at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, 2132 Middlebury Road here.

It marks the ninth consecutive year Quassy has hosted the event. The competition will kick off at 8:30 a.m. both days at the Carousel Theatre stage with the Saturday, Sept. 5, schedule to include championships. All non-championships (beginners through prize-winners) will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6. Perpetual trophies, 1st place sashes, and medal rounds will be presented in the preliminary and open championships, and all traditional and contemporary set competitions.

Spectators are welcome both days with only a $7 parking fee charged at Quassy Amusement Park. Guests watching the Feis are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating. There are fees for the rides, waterpark, food and other attractions.
Hundreds of competitors from throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada take part in the two-day event.
About Quassy

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark is in its 107th year of operation and features FRANTIC, a new spectacular family thrill ride. The park is also home to the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster. There are more than two-dozen rides and attractions, restaurant, redemption arcade, games, beach and live entertainment.

Labor Day weekend will also feature the final 50-Cent Fabulous Friday of the season. Rides, hot dogs and small Pepsis are 50 cents each after 5 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 4. Also, the last $40 Saturday evening carload special of the year takes place on Sept. 5. After 5 p.m. up to 10 persons safely seatbelted in a car receive evening wristbands for only $40, parking included.
Labor Day Campership Event

Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day, will also feature a $40 carload special to benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund. The rides and Splash Away Bay waterpark operated 11 .m. to 6 p.m. Up to 10 persons safely seatbelted in a car receive all-day wristbands for only $40, parking included.

The park will operate weekends after Labor Day through Oct. 11. For more information visit www.quassy.com or call 203-758-2913.

Don’t miss the 38th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival that promises to be the biggest and bester ever!
Fun for families and friends from nine to ninety, the 38th annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival will be held this year from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13. This year’s entertainment highlights include music from nationally known-bands on all three days including John Cafferty of Creed and the Beaver Brown Band on Friday and JDennis De Young: The Music of STYX on Saturday at 9 p.m., and Smash Mouth on Sunday. Festival goers will enjoy a wide variety of rides, cooking competitions, arts and crafts and a diverse assortment of attractions and entertainment that promise unforgettable fun.

A festival favorite will feature the action packed Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show that will feature world champion lumberjacks demonstrating their log rolling, axe throwing, chopping, sawing, tree climbing and dragster chainsaw skills. This show will take place on all three days: Friday at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

There is also a 65 – ft Gondola Ferris wheel, the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show, and more.
The New England Fishing Village with demonstrations, samples and displays as well as the International Food Court offering a diverse selection of dining choices add to the fun.

For the Kids

The Kids’ Cove includes games, rides and entertainment.

Sunday is Family Day with special family and children’s packages for entrance, rides and meals. The perk of family day on Sunday is that one child under 12 gets in free with each adult paid admission and for a mere $15 can ride all the amusement rides free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To round out the family fun there will be live shows for kids on the festival’s main stage.
For the Whole Family

The festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts. A multitude of fine artists and crafters display whimsical as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets and ages. For on the water fun, head to the festival docks to tour historic vessels and to cruise the scenic and historic Norwalk Harbor.

For the Foodies

Food demonstrations and competitions, including the always-popular chowder and chili cook-offs will take place throughout the festival. A highlight of the Festival is the wide variety of great food from around the world that is available at the International Food Court. This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise vital funds for their charitable causes. At the Oyster Pavilion, learn about Norwalk’s oystering history while watching slurping and shucking contests. The celebrity Slurpoff will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. in front of Oyster Pavilion.

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children 5-12 year’s old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Sunday is Family Day with special pricing on that day only — 1 child (age 5-12) free with each paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.seaport.org. Free Parking and Free Shuttle Bus service is provided from four (4) local parking lots, just follow the signs to Oyster Festival Parking.

Save on Metro-North Railroad/Norwalk Oyster Festival Tickets
Festivalgoers can save on admission and rail fare when they purchase the Metro-North Railroad/Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival discount package. Packages are available at all ticket offices and ticket machines (except South Norwalk Station). On sale starting July 15. Package price from GCT/Harlem-125th Street: Adults, $27; Seniors, persons with disabilities and individuals receiving Medicare, $21; Children 12, $22; Children 5-11, $5; Children under 5, free. – See more at: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_oyster_fest.htm
Packages also run from other stations.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association
The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage. The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival. In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.

Theodore Nierenberg (1923–2009) was a prominent industrial designer and photographer. An engineer by training, Nierenberg – along with his wife, Martha — founded Dansk International Designs in 1954, a business best known for tableware and house-wares of a distinctive Scandinavian Modern style. The company was started in the couple’s garage in Great Neck, NY, after a trip to Europe during which they became interested in the work of foreign industrial designers. Dansk went on to operate for many years afterward from its headquarters in Mount Kisco, NY. After directing the company for more than thirty years, the Nierenbergs sold it in 1985, allowing Ted to concentrate on his many hobbies, which included most notably gardening, photography and traveling.

Having studied with many well-known photographers including Magnum photojournalist Ernst Haas, Nierenberg became an accomplished photographer. Over the years, he amassed a vast body of work, focusing mainly on two subjects: his garden estate and portraits of indigenous peoples taken during his extensive travels around the world.

A book of photographs by Mr. Nierenberg — The Beckoning Path –was published in 1993, and documented Mr. Nierenberg’s woodland garden, widely considered to be among the finest gardens in the Westchester/Fairfield area. Theodore Nierenberg: Photographs from His World Travels opens August 1 and runs through November 29.

The Bruce Museum is a museum of art and science and is located at One Museum Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm; closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students up to 22 years, $6 for seniors and free for members and children less than five years. Individual admission is free on Tuesday. Free on-site parking is available and the Museum is accessible to individuals with disabilities. For additional information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376 or visit the website at https://brucemuseum.org/. For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com