Tag: Ct News

Rooted in Remedy: Colonial Herbal Wisdom Comes Alive at The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden

In Colonial America, families didn’t have modern pharmacies around the corner. Instead, they turned to what grew nearby. Knowledge of these remedies was practical, personal, and often passed down through generations. This September, The Glebe House & Gertrude Jekyll Garden, in Woodbury, invites curious minds, plant lovers, and history enthusiasts to explore herbal medicine in Colonial America in a two-part series led by Dr. Eugene Zampieron, known as Dr. Z.

With more than 25 years of experience as a licensed naturopathic physician, medical botanist, registered professional herbalist, professor, author, lecturer, radio personality, and Caribbean ethnobotanist, Dr. Z brings deep expertise and a lively teaching style to this one-of-a-kind program.

The series begins on Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m. with an engaging online presentation that introduces the foundations of colonial herbal medicine. Dr. Z will guide participants through the plants and practices that shaped early American healing traditions, highlighting the cultural and scientific roots of herbal care. This session sets a strong foundation for the garden and hands-on experience that follows.

The learning continues in person on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11 a.m. with a fascinating hands-on workshop that brings colonial herbal traditions to life. The day begins with a guided garden tour designed to help participants identify medicinal and edible plants. Along the way, Dr. Z will share insights into the folklore, chemistry, and traditional uses of the herbs growing at Woodbury’s historic Glebe House, which dates to the 1740s.

Then comes the fun part: making your own remedies. Using herbs gathered from the garden, foraged from the wild, and purchased locally, attendees will get hands-on experience crafting two traditional preparations: a healing salve and a choice between a classic Colonial-style cough remedy or an immune-supporting tonic. Best of all, each participant will leave with finished handmade medicines plus the knowledge and confidence to recreate them at home.

This is more than a workshop—it’s a chance to reconnect with a living tradition. Whether you’re interested in herbal medicine, history, gardening, or natural wellness, this program offers a thoughtful and practical experience rooted in place and heritage. It’s a reminder that the connection between people, plants, and wellness has deep roots—and that some of the best lessons from the past are still worth carrying forward.

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Registration Details

Program fee: $65 per person

Includes: both sessions, equipment use, and all supplies

Pre-registration required at https://www.glebehousemuseum.org/single-post/herbal-medicines-of-colonial-america-webinar-workshop

For additional information, email office@glebehousemuseum.org or call 203-263-2855.

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Norwalk Oyster Festival Announces 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

The Norwalk Oyster Festival taking place September 11–13, 2026, at Veterans Park in Norwalk, has announced a special 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, September 11, at 6 p.m.


“As we come together on this very 25-year milestone, the Norwalk Seaport Association would like to honor the 14 victims from Norwalk lost on that day,” said Rick McQuaid, President of the Norwalk Seaport Association.

The ceremony will feature remarks from McQuaid; a Presentation of Colors by the Norwalk Police Honor Guard; the National Anthem performed by Jonathan Peters; the Pledge of Allegiance led by former Mayor Harry Rilling, who served as Norwalk’s Police Chief during 9/11; and an Invocation by Reverend Artie Kassimis of the Word Alive Bible Church. Additional tributes will include the reading of the names of Norwalk’s 14 victims followed by the ringing of a bell, musical reflections, a Benediction by Reverend Artie Kassimis, and the retirement of the colors by the Norwalk Police Color Guard.

“We invite ticket holders to stand together in remembrance of those we lost and in gratitude for the first responders, service members, families, and neighbors forever impacted by that day,” McQuaid said.

Hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association and presented by Mohegan Sun Online Casino, the Norwalk Oyster Festival is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the ongoing preservation and restoration of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

Festival admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 5–12, with all entertainment included with the price of a ticket. Children age 12 and under receive free admission on Sunday with a paying adult. Discounted ride wristbands are available for $35 on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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This year’s entertainment includes Lita Ford at 8 p.m. Friday, Parmalee at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and JUMP: The American Van Halen Experience at 4 p.m. Sunday. Festivalgoers can also enjoy family entertainment including the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack and the Ready Go Dogs Shows, along with an international food court, the New England Crafts Village, and the Mohegan Sun Online Casino VIP Lounge.

At its heart, the Norwalk Oyster Festival is more than an end-of-summer tradition—it is a celebration supporting education, preservation, and the region’s maritime legacy. For tickets and more information https://www.seaport.org/norwalkoysterfestival_entertainment

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Great Mountain Forest Partners with Northwest Conservation District and UConn 4-H to bring Ethan Tapper’s “How to Love a Forest” to Norfolk

On Friday, August 14 at 4:30 p.m., Great Mountain Forest, UConn 4-H, and Northwest Conservation District will host “How to Love a Forest,” a timely and thought-provoking conversation at Norfolk United Church of Christ. This presentation features Ethan Tapper—an internationally recognized forester, best-selling author, and digital storyteller—whose work has challenged long-held assumptions about conservation and land management. Tapper is the author of How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World, which has earned wide acclaim since its publication in September 2024, including the 2025 New England Book Award for nonfiction.

This program offers the public a rare opportunity to hear from a leading voice in contemporary forestry and to engage with one of the most important questions facing conservation today: How to balance preservation and management? Participants will learn that at the center of Tapper’s approach is a clear but often uncomfortable idea: caring for a forest does not always mean leaving it untouched.

Tapper’s talk will draw from “Bear Island,” the Vermont forest he has worked to restore. Once burdened by invasive plants, exotic pests, overabundant deer, and the long shadow of poor logging practices, the land had reached a critical point. Tapper chose to intervene with management actions that may sound counterintuitive at first—bringing in loggers, using chemicals where necessary, and intentionally disrupting parts of the forest to support its long-term recovery. The result is a powerful case study in modern stewardship.

For anyone interested in forests, ecology, or the future of environmental stewardship, this is a program not to be missed. To register for this free program, visit https://greatmountainforest.org/events

This event is sponsored by Doolittle Lake Company, Haystack Book Festival, Society of American Foresters, and the Norfolk United Church of Christ Congregational (UCC).

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A Special Treat at this Year’s Weekend In Norfolk for Gardeners, August 2, 2026

This year, Weekend in Norfolk is taking place from July 31 – August 2 and a highlight are Norfolk’s Gardens. There is something unmistakably magical about the summer gardens in Norfolk. At this summer’s WIN, on Sunday, August 2, 2026, one of the standout experiences is the rare opportunity to step inside four exceptional private gardens alongside a thoughtfully cultivated community garden. Each space offers its own personality, rhythm, and story—inviting visitors to slow down and truly see what makes a garden come alive. Private gardens have a special kind of quiet magic. Every path, planting choice, and tucked-away corner reflects the care and personality of the person who created it, making these spaces feel less like landscapes and more like deeply personal worlds.

At Feeding Body and Soul on 84 Maple Avenue, that idea comes to life beautifully: “Our garden’s focus is to feed us, our chickens, our bees—and our souls.” The garden is shaped by organic practices and a natural, thoughtful rhythm—from removing invasive species to working with challenging terrain and letting beauty emerge in its own time. Behind the house, a skillfully built kitchen garden rises from sloped, stone-filled ground, with raised beds lined with gravel, cold frames along a retaining wall, espaliered apple and pear trees, and space for bees, chickens, and future gatherings. Out front, the mood softens into a naturalized meadow, where native plants sway in shades of green and white, brightened by bursts of seasonal color.

At Connections (76 Maple Avenue), the garden does something rare: it stretches beyond a single property, seamlessly linking two neighboring landscapes through a network of peaceful woodland paths. As you wander along meandering, wood-chipped trails edged with salvaged sapling trunks, the journey gently guides you downhill through the woods. Along the way, the transition feels natural and unforced—paths glide through a shallow depression before opening into mature plantings that surround the house and lawn. The result is a landscape that feels truly connected in every sense. More than simply beautiful, these neighboring gardens are a quiet testament to the idea that outdoor spaces can unite people just as powerfully as they shape the land.

At 290 Bruey Road, professionally designed gardens create a beautiful story of transformation. What were once two separate properties have been thoughtfully brought together through woodland pathways, layered plantings, and carefully shaped garden spaces. Visitors move through a sweeping transition from structured lawn and mature shrubs into a more shaded woodland setting, where winding paths, curated shade gardens, and restored areas invite moments of discovery along the way.

The second property, now serving as the primary residence, continues to evolve as a living landscape. With expanded plantings and newly diversified vegetable beds, the garden remains a work in progress—one that keeps growing, changing, and revealing new layers of design over time.

Our next stop, Formal Borders, is at 152 Litchfield Road and features a lovely Arts and Crafts–style home and garden dating back to 1908. With care and thoughtful interpretation, the current owners have brought new energy to the original design by Marian Coffin, restoring the garden’s historic charm while giving it a fresh sense of life.

Highlights include a refined formal parterre stretching south from the house, along with a striking double border on the west side, recreated using guidance from an original working plan. One of the garden’s most delightful features is a graceful half-moon of dwarf and semi-dwarf evergreens. What began as a chance collection of gifted plants has grown into a lush natural screen, now enclosing an extra perennial bed and adding depth and intimacy to the space. Altogether, Formal Borders offers a serene blend of history, beauty, and thoughtful evolution.

The final stop, the Community Garden at 128 Greenwoods Road East, on the grounds of Botelle Elementary School, offers something just as meaningful as it is beautiful: a true sense of shared purpose. Sponsored by the town’s Recreation Committee, this welcoming space brings together neighbors, families, and young gardeners in a collaborative effort that blossoms throughout the season.
In the height of summer, visitors can see children from the Summer Gardening Club caring for their own beds, along with a vibrant mix of vegetables like pumpkins, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, kale, and more. Some plots are even dedicated to supporting the local Food Pantry, helping the garden make a difference in the wider community.

Guests will enjoy hands-on learning through composting demonstrations led by resident expert Doug Semmes, and the first 25 visitors will receive a complimentary herb seedling to take home. Looking ahead, the garden’s impact will continue to grow this fall through programming designed to engage local fifth- and sixth-graders in ongoing stewardship.

Whether you’re drawn by inspiration, tranquility, or the sheer visual beauty of a summer garden in full bloom, this experience offers more than a simple tour. It offers a way of seeing—one that stays with you long after the season fades. Because truly, there is something special about gardening. And in Norfolk, at the height of summer, you can feel it in every leaf, every blossom, and every carefully tended path. For more information about Weekend in Norfolk https://weekendinnorfolk.org/

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Norwalk Seaport Association to Christen Captain M.C. Schlegel Vessel To Honor of Maritime Leader

The Norwalk Seaport Association will host a special maritime christening ceremony celebrating the legacy of longtime member Mark Schlegel with the official naming of the Captain M.C. Schlegel vessel. The ceremony will take place at the Seaport dock at 90 Water Street in Norwalk.

“This event honors Mark Schlegel’s enduring contributions to the organization and to Norwalk’s maritime heritage,” said Rick McQuaid, President of the Norwalk Seaport Association.“ As passionate preservationist, Schlegel played a pivotal role in the restoration of the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse, helping transform it into the vibrant cultural and educational destination it is today.”

Beyond preservation, Schlegel’s impact extended directly onto the water. He oversaw the design and construction of the Seaport’s ferry vessel, ensuring generations of visitors could experience unforgettable journeys to Sheffield Island.

As fleet manager, he trained captains and lighthouse staff with patience, kindness, and a deep commitment to excellence, setting a lasting standard for the organization.

Schlegel was also widely known for his deep knowledge of Sheffield Island Lighthouse history, captivating passengers with stories that brought the past vividly to life.

The christening ceremony will be officiated by Pastor Artie and is expected to bring together community members, supporters, and maritime enthusiasts to celebrate Schlegel’s legacy and the future of the Seaport’s fleet.

The Norwalk Seaport Association, a nonprofit dedicated to providing cultural, environmental, and historical experiences on the Long Island Sound, continues to connect the community to its rich maritime heritage through lighthouse tours, cruises, and educational programming.

For more information about the Norwalk Seaport Association and upcoming events, visit event tickets and information at seaport.org

About the Seaport Association
The Seaport Association in Norwalk was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

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Docktails & Oysters A Seaside Celebration of Flavor & Tradition Hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association June 20, 2026

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 20, 2026, and prepare for an unforgettable evening on the water. From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Norwalk Seaport Association, in partnership with fourth-generation oyster farmers Norm Bloom and Son, invites you to its signature summer celebration — Docktails and Oysters. Set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of the historic Norm Bloom and Son dock in Norwalk, this one-of-a-kind event blends fresh-from-the-Sound oysters, live music, local flavors, and maritime tradition into a celebration like no other.

Beyond the food and festivities, Docktails & Oysters supports a meaningful cause. Every ticket purchased benefits the Norwalk Seaport Association’s educational programming and the ongoing restoration and maintenance of Sheffield Island Lighthouse. “For guests who have sailed to the lighthouse aboard one of the Association’s popular cruises, this Sheffield Island–inspired gathering offers another way to connect with the organization’s mission in a relaxed and festive setting,” said Rick McQuaid, President of the Seaport Association.

This event is also a celebration of Norwalk’s deep-rooted oyster-farming heritage. The renowned Copps Island Oysters cultivated by Norm Bloom and Son are nurtured under the dock, and then planted in the sandy bottom of Long Island Sound. The time-honored farming techniques used today have been practiced for centuries. The result? Oysters prized worldwide for their sweet, briny flavor and plump, tender meat.

If you’ve never tasted oysters literally fresh off the boat, this is your moment. Watch skilled shuckers expertly open each oyster before your eyes — setting them on trays with fresh lemons and a variety of delicious sauces. It’s culinary theater at its finest! Not an oyster lover? No problem. The evening will also feature a delicious spread of stationed appetizers catered by Seaside Sliders, along with craft beer and wine to complement the coastal cuisine.

With Long Island Sound as your backdrop and live music filling the early summer air, Docktails & Oysters blends fun, flavor, and philanthropy. It’s a chance to reconnect with friends, meet new faces, and celebrate the working waterfront that defines Norwalk’s character. Attendance is limited to just 200 guests, and the event sells out each year. Tickets are available online at https://www.seaport.org/docktailsandoysters2026.

For those looking to toast summer while supporting a cherished Connecticut landmark, Docktails & Oysters promises an evening that is as meaningful as it is memorable.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

JanetLeave a comment