Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Invites the Public to Join Citizen Scientist FrogWatch USA

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo invites residents to become Citizen-Scientist volunteers and participate in a “FrogWatch” census in area wetlands. In a collaboration between the Zoo, The Maritime Aquarium, and Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, volunteers will make regular visits to wetlands in their neighborhoods and keep a frog log to record the frog and toad calls they hear. Working with experts, volunteers will learn about local frog species, then visit wetlands once or twice a week for about 15 minutes each night this spring and summer.

The watch begins a half hour after sunset, making the watch ideal for families with older children. Observations are reported to a national online database to contribute to amphibian conservation efforts. FrogWatch coordinators at each facility keep up to date on data results for participants. This year, training will be presented online for the first session, and the second session will be offered either in person at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo or online. During this training, participants will learn about Citizen Science, the important role amphibians play in the ecosystem, and how to identify ten species of frogs heard in Connecticut. After the training, participants will be sent a virtual assessment to complete to become a certified FrogWatch Volunteer.

As of 2023, the Peabody Beardsley Maritime Chapter leads the nation in frog call acoustic observations. The chapter was responsible for 1,122 observations out of the 6,982 observations made nationwide, equaling 16.07% of collected data. “FrogWatch USA is a fantastic educational program that demonstrates how everyone can play a part in protecting wildlife,” explained Jim Knox, education curator at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Volunteers do not need any prior experience or knowledge about frogs. Only one training session is required, each from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Choose from A virtual training session on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024: 7-8:30 P.M. or a hybrid training session, either in-person at the Zoo or online on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 7-8:30 P.M. For more information and to register: www.beardsleyzoo.org/frog-watch

Why Frogs? Frogs and toads play a vital role, serving as both prey and predator, in wetland ecosystems and are considered indicators of environmental health. Many previously abundant frog and toad populations have experienced dramatic population declines both in the United States and around the world. Scientists must understand the scope, geographic scale, and cause of these declines. The data collected by FrogWatch USA volunteers is used to help inform conservation and management efforts.

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Hot Chocolate Festival @ White Silo Farm

There is no better way to warm up to winter than sipping on Hot Chocolate at White Silo Farm in Sherman. On Saturday, February 3, and Sunday, February 4 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. White Silo Farm is celebrating its third hot chocolate and s’mores festival!

Guests will have the chance to taste four types of hot chocolate – white, milk, dark, and Mexican. It is fun to top off your cups with homemade marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and other fixings. They have also added homemade S’mores to eat with your hot chocolate(s). Bring your friends and enjoy a WARM afternoon in their winery, it is an ideal way to spend a cold winter day. Special food items to pair with your hot chocolate will be available to purchase To add to the fun, there will be live music on both days from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Saturday Al Rivoli will perform and on Sunday Don Lowe will be at the farm to entertain guests.

The price is $25 per person. It includes one glass of wine or nonalcoholic beverage to sip with your hot chocolate(s). They have scheduled two sessions each day, the first from 12 noon – 2 p.m. and the second from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Advance tickets are required and limited. We hope that you can join us. For tickets click here.

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Skiers Soar Through the Air Feb. 2-4 @ Salisbury’s Jumpfest

This year if you are looking for a new winter sport to fall in love with ski jumping may be the exact option for you! One of the best places to see this highly respected sport on the East Coast is at Salisbury’s Jumpfest on Friday, February 2nd Saturday, February 3rd, and Sunday, February 4th. The thrill of this event is that there are often Olympic hopefuls competing. And, even if there is no snow where you live, Satre Hill is always glistening in all its Alpine beauty, with white powdery snow thanks to the Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s (SWSA) state-of-the-art snow guns.

Let’s face it, some of us can’t ski, let alone fly through the sky with the hope of landing with elegance. Watching ski jumpers, many of whom just might be future Olympians is an unforgettably thrilling experience. One thing that keeps this sport exciting is that the margins are so fine and unpredictable that there is always a wide variety of winners and performances. Once you realize how difficult and technical this sport is it becomes even more interesting and inspiring to watch, live. “Salisbury’s Jumpfest is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Willie Hallihan, SWSA Director. “It’s a winter event that you won’t want to miss. The hint of frost in the air, the sound of ringing cowbells, and the crowds cheering on their favorite as the skis slap the landing hill make this event one of a kind.”

Jumpfest offers three days of heart-pounding excitement and competitions to watch. The tower stands 70 feet atop Satre Hill and jumpers perch on their bar 350 feet above the ground. As the go flag is dropped they speed their way down the 300-foot run, picking up speed along the way. Imagine watching as jumpers soar up to 200 feet through the air at speeds of 50 miles an hour! There are only six ski jumping venues on the East Coast and Salisbury is one of the oldest and most respected because of past hopefuls that competed in the Olympics.

Friday’s events kick off when the gate opens at 6 p.m. The highlights of the night begin with Target Jumping at 7 p.m. The popular Human Dog Sled Race follows the Target Jumps where teams of six compete in this madcap event for a variety of prizes. There are only half a dozen places or so in the country that host this type of event and most of them are pretty far from Connecticut making this a spectacle of fun something not to be missed! To enter, email info@jumpfest, attention Brian. The fee to enter is a modest $25 per team that includes free entrance to Jumpfest! Proceeds benefit SWSA’s Junior Ski Programs.

On Saturday, February 3, the small hill opens at 8 a.m. for practice jumps. The Junior Competition on the 20-meter and 30-meter hills starts at 9:30 a.m. and is followed by the Salisbury Invitational Ski Jump on the 65-meter hill at 1 p.m. The day ends with the Snowball Fundraiser at the Lakeville Town Grove with music by the Steve Dunn Band.

On Sunday, February 4 the 65 meter hill opens at 11 a.m. The Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships, the big event of the weekend begins at 1 p.m. The crowd murmurs as they watch these expert athletes sit on a bar at the top of the hill waiting for the signal to go. You can almost feel the focus. Jumpers lead with their helmet; throw their hands back, and crouch low into a tuck with a flat back for aerodynamics. Balance and flexibility are the order of the day. The most critical part of the jump is the take-off which lifts the jumper’s body for flight. Most folks can’t believe how quickly time flies when watching this sport, a mere 20 seconds or so from the top of the hills to the bottom! The winners of the Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships will make up the Eastern Division of the Junior National Team and will be named after this competition awards ceremony concludes.

To add to the festivities there are food trucks, craft beer, hot toddies, and bonfires to enjoy against the backdrop of skiers flying through the air! And, if you work up an appetite, no worries, the Cook Shack offers a range of burgers, dogs, hot chocolate, and more, and the Low N Slow Food Truck serves BBQ, authentic poutine, mac n’ cheese, and many other selections on three days. There will also be a wine tent, a hot toddy tent, and the Great Falls Brewing Company’s beer tent.

Tickets will be available at the gate and are $15 for adults on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Kids 12 and under are free all three days. The cost of the Snowball is $20 and includes a cash bar, music, raffles, and pizza at 10 p.m. The ski jump complex is located at Satre Hill on Indian Cave Road in Salisbury. Before setting out check www.jumpfest.org for updates, scheduled changes, or more information or email the Association at info@jumpfest.org.

ABOUT SALISBURY WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association is to acquaint the public with Nordic ski-jumping, cross –country and Alpine skiing, and to teach the skills necessary for their enjoyment. One way of fulfilling this mission is to host the annual Jumpfest Competition on Satre Hill to sustain and ski jumping in Salisbury, Connecticut, and the Eastern United States.

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Warm Up to Winter – with Virtual Programs @ Institute for American Indian Studies

Whatever the weather is like outdoors, learning something new indoors can be the perfect way to spend a cold winter afternoon. With that in mind, the Institute for American Indian Studies has developed a new Saturday series of virtual programs that are intriguing and ideal for those seeking indoor diversions this winter.

This presentation is the third in the Institute’s Annual Native American-Archaeology Roundtable series. This ongoing series seeks to explore ecological ties, past and present, through the sharing of new technologies, new findings, and new analysis that helps bring Indigenous communities into greater focus.

On Saturday, January 27 at 2 p.m. the topic will focus on “Lessons in Food Sovereignty from White Tailed Deer and Wampum in 17th century New England.” Participants will join Elic M. Weitzel, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology from the University of Connecticut along with the Institute’s Staff for this virtual presentation. Weitzel specializes in human ecology and anthropology and will discuss how recent analysis of deer and quahog remains from archaeological sites in Southern New England suggest that European colonialism and capitalism put unprecedented pressure on these species even though fewer people lived in this region at the time. The discussion will highlight that overexploitation wasn’t a demographic problem and that pre-colonial Indigenous methods of gathering the bounty of the land appear to have been more sustainable. According to Mr. Weitzel, these results corroborate traditional and Indigenous ecological knowledge asserting that food sovereignty can permit long-term sustainable resource use, a concept that is very important around the world today.

To participate in this program and to receive the Zoom link please register online at https://www.iaismuseum.org or call 860-868-0518 or email events@isismuseum.org. The price of participation is free for members of IAIS and LHAC members and $10 for non-members.

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our website for dates and times of further talks in this series in the coming months.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

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Litchfield Restaurant Week returns for a second delicious year March 22-29.

More than 20 restaurants participated in the first restaurant week last year, including many that recently scooped up statewide awards from Connecticut Magazine and the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

This year’s Restaurant Week will again feature a three-course prix fixe menu at either $25, $35, or $45 price points – which means the destinations for those dining out will range from bakery-cafes and delis to pizza places, gourmet shops, and fine dining establishments.

And food isn’t the only draw for those with discerning palates. Last year, Litchfield Distillery donated a bottle of its spirits to each participating restaurant that featured a cocktail or food item incorporating those award-winning spirits.

Visit Litchfield CT is the official source of news and updates about Litchfield Restaurant Week, which is sponsored by the Town of Litchfield CT Economic Development Commission.

An official Restaurant Week page featuring each participating restaurant’s menus will be published on the Visit Litchfield CT website in March.

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The CT Wine Trail announces the return of the 2024 Winter Wine Trail Passport Program Wine enthusiasts who get their passports stamped at all 13 participating wineries become eligible to win prizes valued at more than $5,000

One of the most popular and highly anticipated annual events along The Connecticut Wine Trail is the Winter Passport Program – a wonderful opportunity for wine enthusiasts and novices alike to explore the breathtaking countryside, visit member farm vineyards, taste delicious local wines, and win fabulous prizes – valued at over $5,000!

From January 6th through March 30th, visitors can pick up a free passport at any of the 13 participating wineries and start on a quest to visit each one. Those who get their passports stamped at all 13 wineries before March 30th become eligible to win fantastic prizes, like hotel stays, spa facials, rounds of golf, fabulous restaurant and gift cards, and of course, wonderful wine. Stamped passports must be submitted to one of the participating vineyards by the deadline date to be eligible (photocopied passports or pages will be disqualified). Winners will be chosen by random drawing on April 19th and will be notified by email or phone.

https://ctwine.com/events/winter-wine-trail

“Beat the winter blues by sipping some wonderful reds, whites, and rosés,” says Margaret Ruggerio of The CT Wine Trail and co-owner of Paradise Hills Vineyard in Wallingford. “Friends and family will enjoy a fun, unique, and delicious social experience as they tour our scenic vineyards, expand their palates, and learn about the history of winemaking as they sample award-winning varieties made right here in Connecticut!”

This year’s 13 participating vineyards embrace winter with a delightful fusion of wine culture and special events, punctuated with live music, artisanal food pairings, craft nights, paint & sip workshops, and more, providing visitors an excellent day or weekend adventure, centered around Connecticut-made wine.

Aquila’s Nest Vineyards, 56 Pole Bridge Road, Sandy Hook. This is an experience-focused, climate-neutral certified vineyard, and event venue beautifully situated on 40 estate acres. Inspired by mythological tales of powerful women and a love of astronomy, this vineyard offers nine heavenly wines seasonally. They offer a fine selection of reds, rose, whites, and zesty Sangria by the pitcher.

Bishop’s Orchards, 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford. Located in a barn dating to 1928, visitors will experience a superb assortment of award-winning fruit wines and hard ciders made from produce grown here. Bishop’s Orchard also offers a unique wine selection that includes a mix of semi-dry and semi-sweet varieties that are similar to white and blush wines.

Gouveia Vineyards, 1339 Whirlwind Hill Road, Wallingford. Joe Gouveia, originally from Portugal, had a dream to bring the winemaking traditions of his home country to Connecticut…and he has! Built of stone and old timbers, this rustic wine-tasting room has a spectacular hilltop location where the views seem to go on forever. A highlight here is to experience a taste of Portugal while sipping on reds and white wines made from 17 varietals that are picked by hand.

Hawk Ridge Winery, 26 Plungis Road, Watertown. Located on 58 bucolic acres of farmland this winery grows eight varietals of grapevines that are used in eleven of their twenty-plus wines including an evocative selection of dry or sweet, red, white, or rose wines. In addition to wine, they offer a large menu of food and appetizers that pair perfectly with their wine, completing this relaxing experience.

Hopkins Vineyard, 25 Hopkins Road, New Preston. This vineyard offers vistas of the blue waters of Lake Waramaug, from its hilltop site. A family farm since 1787, the first Hopkins vines were planted in 1979, and the nineteenth-century barn was converted to a state-of-the-art winery. Wine tastings are offered and favorites can be ordered by the glass or by the bottle, along with cheeses and pates, at The Hayloft, a wine bar with a stunning lake view. This vineyard has won many awards and accolades over the years and is a Nationally designated Bi-Centennial Farm.

Jonathan Edwards Winery, 74 Chester Main Road, North Stonington. The highlight of this vineyard is to sample their portfolio of wines, which includes four Estate varietals from their favorite growers in California without having to make the trip out west. Estate Connecticut wine is also handcrafted here. This unique experience allows guests to sample the East and West Coasts’ distinctive climate. To accompany the wine in their cozy tasting room cheese and charcuterie that is locally sourced are also available.

Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard, 113 Pendleton Hill Road, North Stonington. New for 2024 on the CT Winter Wine Trail this vineyard marries form and function in a space that offers a perfect contemporary canvas for those looking to create events of distinction. Steel beams, polished concrete, stone, and the iconic archway are all a nod to our sister vineyard, Saltwater Farm. But Kingdom of the Hawk has its personality – a bit of drama amid a breathtaking landscape that honors the agricultural heritage of North Stonington, CT.

Paradise Hills Vineyards, 15 Windswept Hill Road, Wallingford. Unwind in a sunny Tuscan-styled tasting room with its hand-crafted copper bar, decorative chandelier, mahogany tables, and wood-burning fireplace. This cozy tasting room provides the perfect setting to enjoy wine while overlooking the vineyard. Paradise wines have been awarded 85+ points from several renowned wine competitions making sipping a true pleasure while dining on a charcuterie platter.

Priam Vineyards, 11 Shailor Hill Road, Colchester. This vineyard has won numerous International wine competition medals for its wines that are produced in the style of Northern France and Germany. It has been voted the best vineyard in Connecticut for five years. Fifteen handcrafted wines are produced throughout the year in this magical setting with its breathtaking views of the Connecticut countryside. As environmentalists, they practice sustainable agriculture and are vegan-certified.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard, 108 Wade Road, Pomfret. This vineyard has won over 450 medals in International tastings and offers reds, whites and rose in a setting of great natural beauty. It is such a treat to sip on a refreshing chardonnay or a robust cabernet while gazing out over 100 plus acres with vistas that stretch to Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Stonington Vineyards, 523 Taugwonk Road, Stonington. This is one of the first farm wineries established in Connecticut and a founding member of the Connecticut Wine Trail. They are best known for their barrel-fermented Chardonnay and their proprietary blends, Seaport White and Triad Rose. Their European-style table wines have won many awards.

Sunset Meadow Vineyards, 599 Old Middle Street, Goshen. This family-owned and operated nationally and internationally award-winning vineyard is located on over 40 acres of sloping fields overlooking the picturesque sunsets and scenery of the Western Connecticut Highlands. In addition to winning many national and international medals for their wines, Sunset Meadow has been named one of the best 101 Wineries in America by the Daily Meal. In addition to tasting by the glass or bottle, they offer specialty chocolate and wine pairing as well as a variety of cheeses from local artisans.

Taylor Brooke Winery, 818 Route 171, Woodstock. This family-owned vineyard has 17 acres of wine production and has recently opened a brewery on 27 acres that is adjacent to the winery offering guests a double experience. Sparkling, dry whites, semi-sweet whites, red, still rose, and dessert wines abound here. For a change of pace, try the Spirit of Woodstock brandy that is aged like bourbon.

About the Connecticut Wine Trail
The Connecticut Wine Trail is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing wine regions in the United States. Made up of 23 participating wineries and vineyards throughout the state of Connecticut, the CT Wine Trail offers a tremendous variety of wine styles and stunning scenery – enjoyable in every season. https://ctwine.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTWineTrail/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctwinetrail21/

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