Author: Janet

In recognition of Black History Month, the Torrington Historical Society presents Venture Smith’s Narrative: The Earliest Known Entirely African- American Work of Literature, a lecture by Chandler Saint, president of the Beecher House Center for the Study of equal rights. The program will take place on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Torrington Historical Society, Carriage House Gallery on 192 Main St-Rear in Torrington and the Admission is free.

Venture Smith, circa 1728-1805, was sold into bondage as a boy in Africa. He worked as a slave in America for a quarter-century. Over time he saved money from side jobs and from selling vegetables that he grew.

He eventually earned enough to purchase his freedom. During his remaining years, Venture transformed himself into a highly respected American citizen. In 1798, Smith dictated his life story and it was published in New London CT as The Life and Adventures of Venture, A Native of Africa.
During the last decade, Chandler Saint and a team of researchers have uncovered many details of Venture’s life through painstaking research.

The results of that research were first published in 2009 under the title: Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith written by Chandler Saint and George Krimsky. Since 2009, Saint and Krimsky have continued their research and discovered many more “interesting and curious passages” from the life of Venture Smith, which will be included in a soon to be published second edition of their work.

For this program, Chandler Saint will give an overview of the life of Venture Smith with particular emphasis on newly discovered aspects of Venture’s story. Historian Robert P. Forbes has written that this new volume, is an indispensable work for anyone interested in the African-American story…it is likely to emerge as the definitive reference tool about a life in bondage and the triumph of overcoming it.”

The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport Connecticut has new guests this winter. The rare and beautiful Amur leopards are now on exhibit. The pair of Amur leopards we received from the Copenhagen Zoo are now on exhibit. The male can be seen quite often perched on the rock in front of the exhibit. Both are beautiful cats. They hope to receive a breeding recommendation for this endangered species. To make room for this pair, they sent their female Amur leopard, Sofiya, to the Maryland Zoo.

The new year is bringing new animals to the Zoo. While many of them still need to go through their quarantine procedures or wait for their new exhibits to be completed, this year you will enjoy seeing a male Amur tiger from the Indianapolis Zoo, a male Pygmy marmoset from Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and a female from Brevard Zoo, a male and female red wolf pair from the Wolf Center, three male vicuna from the Berlin Zoo,and a male and a female giant anteater from Dreher Park Zoo. Beardsley Zoo has also recently received two yellow-spotted turtles, a purple gallinule, three black-bellied whistling ducks and three giant river turtles.

As part of these moves, many made as part of accredited breeding programs for endangered and threatened species, the Zoo removed a male Amur tiger, two male and three female river otters, one male common marmoset, one male pygmy marmoset, and two male and three female red wolves.

This may seem like a lot, but they tend to relocate animals during cooler months when they will be most comfortable, so a lot of movement happens at once.

For more information about the Beardsley Zoo visit http://beardsleyzoo.org and for area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Ridgefield Theater located on 109 Danbury Road in Ridgefield has planned a series of exciting shows in February sure to chase away the winter blues.

On Valentine’s Day weekend, Living Colour will perform on Feb. 13 at 8 pm. Living Colour took home their first of several Grammy Awards, as “Cult” won Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1989 ceremony. During the 1980s, rock had become completely segregated and predictable, the opposite of the late ’60s/early ’70s, when such musically and ethnically varied artists as Jimi Hendrix, Sly & the Family Stone, and Santana ruled the Earth. But bands such as New York’s Living Colour helped break down the doors by the end of the ’80s, leading to a much more open-minded musical landscape that would eventually pave the way for future bands.

Chris Botti takes the stage on Feb. 14 for a Valentine’s Day Gala that will include raffle prizes such as jewelry courtesy of Addessi Jewelers, Driver for an evening with dinner and Playhouse concert tickets courtesy of BMW of Ridgefield and a year of beauty courtesy of Adam Broderick Salon & Spa. Chris Botti, earned so many superlatives in his career, it may be best to put it simply: the cat can play. Trumpeter Chris Botti brings his superb musicianship, his killer band and his on-stage generosity to The Playhouse stage for one night of can’t-miss musical thrills.

In 2013, Botti won the Grammy Award in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category. He was also nominated in 2008 for his album Italia, and received three nominations in 2010 for the live album Chris Botti In Boston. Four of his albums have reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard jazz albums chart.Moving effortlessly from jazz to pop and in between – Chris Botti may spend more than 300 days on the road every year, but every concert is special!

For kids, there will be a performance on Feb. 21 at 11 am and 2 pm of The Little Engine that Could. Based on the classic book by Watty Piper. Little Blue Engine dreams of someday leaving the train yard to pull the big cars on the main line track. But can she convince Big Silver that she is worthy of being a main line engine? Back to reprise its sold-out premiere season, ArtsPower’s dynamic, song-filled adventure portrays Watty Piper’s timeless tale about hard work, determination, and the meaning of true friendship.

Comedy rounds out the month with a performance on Feb. 28 at 8 pm by Paula Poundstone. Over the span of her remarkable career, Paula Poundstone has amassed a list of awards and accolades that stretch the length of a great big tall guy’s arm. Poundstone is recognized as one of Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time and has won an American Comedy Award for Best Female Standup Comic. In 2010, Poundstone was one of a select group voted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. As a member of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, she is now heard in 5 million homes across the country as she matches wits with some of the country’s leading pundits.
For ticket information: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org

There is a new big cat exhibit at the Beardsley Zoo this winter. Petya, an 8 year old Amur Tiger recently joined the Zoo from the Indianapolis Zoo. Amur tigers are an endangered species, and we participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Program for these animals. Petya joins Naka, the Beardsley Zoo’s 9-year-old female Amur tiger. It is refreshing and fun to watch Petya play in the snow.

On February 14 in honor of Valentine’s Day, the Beardsley Zoo is offering a 15% discount on admission to everyone that is wearing red, a sweet deal indeed.

The annual Asian New Year Festival is taking place at the Zoo at 12 noon on February 21. Come and celebrate the Year of the Sheep and check out the Zoo’s goats while you are visiting! There will be special stories, crafts, a children’s parade and many more fun activities. The snow date is Feb. 28.

For more information about the Beardsley Zoo located on 1875 Noble Ave in Bridgeport, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org. For area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.