Norwalk Oyster Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the Norwalk Seaport Association (NSA) is canceling the 43^rd annual Norwalk Oyster Festival, previously scheduled for September 11-13, 2020.  Prioritizing the health and safety of everyone involved, the decision comes after careful deliberation between the NSA Board of Trustees, and Festival Exhibitors.

“We are disappointed that we’re unable to hold this highly anticipated event,” said NSA President Mike Reilly.  “But, based on the information we have today, we know it’s the right decision to make.” With that said, Reilly continued, “The Norwalk Oyster Festival raises more than $100,000 that contributes to the maintenance and restoration of the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse and to support our educational programs. Without this festival taking place in 2020, we will be facing a challenging year. We are hoping for the continued support of all the friends of the Seaport and the Norwalk Oyster Festival to help us continue with our mission.”

“From Seaport leadership and regional partners like the long time event sponsor, First County Bank, to the artists, performers, vendors, and volunteers who work so tirelessly to stage the Norwalk Oyster Festival each year,” Mike continued, “We thank everyone for standing with us in making this difficult call. We are counting the days to restaging the festival and celebrating our maritime heritage together again in 2021.”

 The NSA team is exploring options to coordinate an online experience or a smaller event to showcase this historic, beloved event – one of the most popular in Connecticut and the Northeast. In the interim, we urge everyone to follow federal, state, and local COVID-19 mitigation advice.

To keep updated on our planned activities, please follow our Facebook Page,
email us at info@seaport.org or visit us at www.seaport.org

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo to Reopen June 1, 2020

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo will reopen June 1, 2020. They are implementing a new online ticketing system to welcome everyone back safely and efficiently. The Zoo will be splitting the day into two sessions allowing for up to 500 guests per session.

They will open the Zoo at 9am and will close at noon for cleaning. We will then re-open at 1pm and close at 4pm.  They will also be requiring all guests to wear a mask. And the more creative the better!

They have created a one-way loop around the Zoo so guests can explore while social distancing. All buildings will be closed to the public; however, guests will be able to pre-order food online from the café and pick it up from our take-out window. Also, the gift shop will be open for online purchases which will be made available for pick up at gift shop kiosk.  

 

Ticket prices will be reduced from $16 to $15 for an adult and from $13 to $10 for a child and a senior and as always children under 3 are free.  They will not be able to accept coupons or allow for any partner discount at this time. We also will not be able to rent wheelchairs or strollers.

 

As they welcome visitors back under these new circumstances, they will appreciate your patience as they look to be able to provide you the best Zoo experience in the safest manner possible.

 

Please continue to check their website www.beardsleyzoo.org and their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. 

Three Ways to Display Your Travel Memories

Do you love collecting objects throughout your trip and, then returning home wonder what on earth to do with all the things you have accumulated? We have all faced that dilemma at one time or another. Rather than tossing these precious items out or stashing them in a box that just adds to the clutter why not organize them creatively? The stay at home order is a good time to do this and we have three creative ways for you to showcase your keepsakes.

Vacation Memory Jar
If you have scooped up powder white or black sand from an exotic beach or the desert, collected shells from far away islands, or collected lava rocks and other interesting natural treasures, why not store them in a mason jar or artfully shaped vase. Before filling your mason jar with your treasures you can laminate a photo of the destination and attach it to the inside of the jar.  After the photo is firmly attached, fill your vacation memory jar with layers of sand, shells, rocks, flowers, and other items from your trip.  A vacation memory jar can be placed on a shelf or in a bookcase as a decorative and meaningful memento.

ShadowBoxes
We like the idea of a shadowbox because the space is so flexible. There are so many places to purchase shadowboxes online and if you are handy they are pretty easy to make. Include those items that caught your eye along the way, add your impression of the destination on the back of a postcard, and jot down a poem or song lyrics that remind you of your trip.  It is important to have a smattering of three dimensional and flat objects to make the shadowbox interesting.  Don't forget to have colorful pens, markers, and glitter on hand, often they add to the final product. 

Most shadowboxes are deep enough to arrange a variety of your favorite trip memorabilia from bulky items to slimmer paper keepsakes like currency, maps, plastic room keys, tickets, photos, brochures, and menus that you have saved. It is fun to organize these items in a colorful and meaningful collage. Shadowboxes look great hung on a wall or placed on a shelf.  The shadowbox by Frame YI and Love-Kankei are highly recommended on Amazon.

Scrapbooking 
A time tested tried and true way to document your travels is by scrapbooking. There is something nostalgic about preserving memories this way. The most common scrapbook size is 12x12 that fits four to six photos per page. Make sure you have some plastic page protectors if you are using a three-ring binder, a sharpie for writing bold titles, and a pen for more detailed captions. Some of the pages should have a plastic pocket where you can include your bulkier finds and trinkets. 

It is always important to consider the layout for each page. Think about how you want to organize them...by day or by attraction. Play around with the placement before you attach the images and other items. After you are happy with your layout it is time to layer and add extra elements especially if you have left space between the photos to write down certain memories or add postcards and ticket stubs.

Whatever method you choose to save your travel memories we hope that these ideas have inspired you, not only to look back on the good times you have had but to all the journeys that await you with Tours of Distinction based in Connecticut.

Summer Camp @ Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford

Registration is still open for the Bartlett's 2020 Summer Immersion Experiences! Due to COVID-19, camp groups will be limited in number this summer. Please consider signing up soon! We will be following all cleaning and check-in protocols mandated by the State of CT Office of Early Childhood.

Bartlett camp programs offer immersion into the natural world through the exploration of the Arboretum's 93 acres of forest and gardens. Programming is hands-on, and incorporates STEAM concepts (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) in age-appropriate contexts. In addition to week-specific programming, each camp segment allows time for games and relaxation appropriate to the age level. Our aim is to make nature inviting and engagement fun. Please note that due to the state's COVID reopening timelines, Week 1 has been canceled.

The camp is open to students entering Kindergarten-entering 5th Grade. Membership discounts are available - consider joining as a family member for $75/year to save to take advantage of our best camp prices and additional discounts on other Bartlett programs and events!  Join here!
Visit our website to learn more about each weekly camp experience and to sign up!

Hiking @ Great Mountain Forest -One of CT's Oldest Forests

The Great Mountain Forest (GMF) encompasses more than 6,000 acres of contiguous forestland in the towns of Norfolk and Canaan, Connecticut. GMF is owned and managed by The Great Mountain Forest Corporation, a not-for-profit 501 © 3 private operating foundation. They strive to promote the working forest as a renewable resource, a habitat for wildlife, and an outdoor classroom for education. They have a network of trails and roads open to the public, daily during daylight hours.

Photo Credit GMF

As a working forest, scientists carry out tomographic scans on trees, specifically the American beech, sugar maple, and yellow birch to measure the rate of decay. An Experiment Station has also been set up that surveys invasive insects and evaluates their impact. A Chestnut orchard has been established and has established a backcross breeding program in order to breed an American Chestnut that is highly resistant to the chestnut blight and is native to Connecticut. Being a unique old-growth coniferous forest, one of the few in the state, birds are also monitored for productivity and survivorship. The University of Connecticut has also set up a program to monitor bears and moose.

Photo Credit GMF

The forest trails at Great Mountain Forest are currently open to the public during daylight hours. They ask that hikers follow the CDC guidelines by keeping at least six feet of distance between people on the trails. For a map of the trails and roads, please click here. The forest supports an abundance of diverse wildlife from resident whitetail deer to moose, black bears, and turkeys, waterfowl, and many birds. All visitors must sign in and out at one of the visitor registers by the gated trails located on Windrow Road in Norfolk and on Canaan Mountain Road in Cannan. Pedestrian use is limited to main woods roads and designated trails. Bicycle use is limited specially designated bicycle trails. Leashed dogs are permitted on trails but horses are strictly prohibited.

Summer Internship offered @ Institute for American Indian Studies for Washington CT Residents

​Are you a Washington resident in college or graduating high school student who wants to support a local non-profit while building your resume and getting paid for it?

You can gain a variety of work experience this summer helping on projects at The Institute for American Indian Studies​, thanks to the generous financial support of the Washington Scholarship Foundation.

The selected student can earn $2,000 working 20 hours/week while gaining real-world work experience in areas such as sustainable gardening and archaeological digs, as well as educational events, marketing, and research.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Washington high school or college student to gain a deeper understanding of environmental issues, the historical facets of Native peoples and culture, and the operations of non-profit and museum-related organizations.

The Trustees and Staff at The Institute for American Indian Studies want to thank the Washington Scholarship Foundation for funding this intern opportunity to help local students learn more about our organization’s mission.

For further information or to apply for this internship, contact Chris Combs, Executive Director, at the Institute for American Indian Studies:

Institute for American Indian Studies

Website:  https://www.iaismuseum.org

Email:   ccombs@iaismuseum.org

Phone:  860-868-0518

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® ANNOUNCES ONLINE STREAMING

GFour Productions, whose collective shows have won 56 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards^®, announced that their international hit show MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® is now temporarily available for online streaming starting today through. The Palace Theater in Waterbury is proud to be a marketing partner for the stream. Twenty-five percent of all net ticket sales will go to the venue which has been dark since mid- March.

In addition, G4 Productions is very generously donating ten percent of all sales to The Actors Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals and has continued this aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Since March 18, 2020, The Fund has distributed $7,528,663 million in assistance to 6,382 people for basic living expenses such as essential medications, to help prevent evictions, cover health insurance, and to pay for food or utilities.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® is now available for streaming and can be purchased by clicking here  https://bit.ly/PT-MTM.

GFour Productions CEO Seth Greenleaf said, “In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as producers, we wanted to bring the joy and relief of theatre to our audiences, in whatever way we could. With the help of Actors’ Equity Association and the original cast and crew of our Breast Cancer Survivor Tour, we’re able to make this available to audiences for a limited time. We hope to bring some much-needed cheer and humor to a challenging situation. As for the men quarantined with their menopausal spouses, we recommend viewing it as an educational survival tool.”

“Now more than ever, GFour feels the need to help support our performing arts community and the ongoing work of The Actors Fund. Over the past 19 years, we have raised over $1 million for various women’s charities, and this is a time for us all to pitch in where we can,” Greenleaf added.

Frank Tavera, Palace Theater CEO knows the value of this show has presented it in the past. “ Since people can’t come to the theater right now, we thought we’d bring the theater to them. We chose to offer this show’s funny and uplifting message to the public in this unique way at this time when we all need some lighter moments”.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® continues to empower women across the globe, keeping hot flashes “HOT” through 19 years of production, playing to more than 17 million fans worldwide. The cast of the MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL online stream features TERI ADAMS (Iowa Housewife), JUDY BLUE (Soap Star), LINDA BOSTON (Professional Woman) and MEGAN CAVANAGH (Earth Mother). The performance was originally filmed in Aurora, IL as the launch of the “Survivor Tour” in 2015 in partnership with Susan G. Komen® Foundation. All actresses are breast cancer survivors or co-survivors.

ABOUT THE CAST

TERI ADAMS (Iowa Housewife) has been with MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® since 2006, where she first played the Iowa Housewife at The American Heartland Theatre in Kansas City. Regional credits include BLUES IN THE NIGHT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (American Heartland Theatre), LEND ME A TENOR, BABY, 25^THANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Great Plains Theatre), RUTHLESS!, DIRTY BLONDE, and the World premiere of Gregg Coffin’s RIGHT NEXT TO ME (Unicorn Theatre). She is a two-time featured soloist at The Kennedy Center and has appeared on NBC’s THE TODAY SHOW as a cast member of MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®. Teri is a longtime member of the Actors’ Equity Association. 

JUDY BLUE (Soap Star) is delighted to be a part of the MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® family since 2004.  Her credits include productions at theatres across the country including Steppenwolf Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Dallas Theater Center, Theatre Three, Arkansas Repertory, Drury Lane, B Street, and many others.  Some roles have included (Margaret) RICHARD III, (Baker’s Wife) INTO THE WOODS, (Edith Piaf) PIAF, (Eva Peron) EVITA, and (Desiree) A Little Night Music.  Recent television and film credits include CHICAGO MED, CHICAGO PD, BREAKFAST WITH JOE, THE ONION, and HOLLYWOOD JEROME.  Judy is also a theatre director and can be found on Audible narrating lots of Audiobook Mysteries! A long-time member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, she is a founding member of The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, Artistic Associate of Chicago Dramatists, and company member of T.H.E.M. and Syzygy Theatre of L.A.

LINDA BOSTON (Professional Woman) has decades of performing, literary, and teaching arts experience. Her collaborations include Tyler Perry, Mary Wilson (Supremes), Whitney Houston, Pearl Cleage, Michael Eric Dyson, Dick Gregory, Jesse Jackson, Tavis Smiley, and more. She was a requested opening vocalist for Detroit's 2006 Mayoral Inauguration, President William Clinton, several Detroit Branch NAACP events, NBC’s THE TODAY SHOW as a cast member of MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®, and a host of weddings and home-goings. Requested return for the one-woman show MOMS MABLEY: THE NAKED TRUTH remains ongoing for decades. Linda is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1987 and a SAG-AFTRA member since 1988.

MEGAN CAVANAGH (Earth Mother) is most recognized as Marla Hooch, from the Penny Marshall movie A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Other film credits: Mel Brooks’ ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS (Broomhilde) and DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT (Essie). She starred with Tim Allen in FOR RICHER OR POORER (Levinia Yoder), and voiced Judy Neutron in The Academy Award Nominated Animated Feature JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS. TV credits include: Recurring character Trudy (who married Al) on HOME IMPROVEMENT. She was a series regular (Chris) on BOB wIth Bob Newhart and Betty White. She guest starred on DRUNK HISTORY, FRIENDS, WILL & GRACE, JUST SHOOT ME, ER, and many others. She has performed in MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®since 2004. Noted Regional Credits include: BLITHE SPIRIT (Madame Arcati), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Pseudolus), JUBILEE (Queen/Butch), HIGH SPIRITS (Madam Arcati). Megan is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1987, and a SAG-AFTRA member since 1988.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Set in a department store, four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing similarities among one another, the cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain, and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.”

Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® was created as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. 

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® is now in its 19th year and 14th as the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history performed nightly at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Seen by more than 17 million, it has played every state in the continental U.S. and more than 500 cities worldwide and has been translated into nine languages. For more information, visit www.MenopauseTheMusical.com.

About GFour Productions

GFOUR PRODUCTIONS are proud producers of some of the world’s most highly awarded shows, from regional theatre to Broadway and the West End, including recent productions: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG on Broadway and U.S. tour, winner of London’s Olivier Award for Best Comedy; THE INHERITANCE, winner of four Olivier Awards recent nominee of six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play; TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL on Broadway; SIX THE MUSICAL currently in the West End, on tour in the U.K. and posted to open on Broadway; the Tony Award®-nominated production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF currently touring the U.S.; AMERICAN BUFFALO posted to open on Broadway starring Sam Rockwell, Laurence Fishburne and Darren Criss; AMERICAN SON starring Kerry Washington, which was recently adapted for television and released on Netflix; AN EVENING WITH WHITNEY: THE WHITNEY HOUSTON HOLOGRAM TOUR in partnership with BASE Entertainment and the Estate of Whitney Houston; and the West End premiere of David Mamet’s BITTER WHEAT, starring John Malkovich. Other highlights include winning the 2013 Tony Award® for their production of Edward Albee’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; co-financing the 5-time Tony Award®, 5-time Drama Desk Award, and 7-time Olivier Award winner for Best Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL; and producing 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Their combined shows have been nominated for 121 Tony Awards^®, winning 44 and 110 Drama Desk Awards, winning 56. Their smash hit MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL^®, now in its 19th year including 14 years as the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history, can be seen nightly at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip as well as on tour around the U.S. and is touring in Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, New Zealand and Slovenia in 2020. Seen by more than 17 million fans, it has played every state in the continental U.S. and more than 500 cities in 17 countries worldwide, and has been translated into nine languages. Their newest play, MIDDLETOWN® by Dan Clancy, opened in February 2020 in Marietta and Chicago after a successful premiere last year, and will continue its U.S. tour later this year. For more information, visit GFourProductions.com.

About The Actors Fund

THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services.

About Actors’ Equity Association

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.

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About the Palace Theater

The Palace's primary purpose is to revitalize the Greater Waterbury community through the presentation of the performing arts and educational initiatives in collaboration with area cultural and educational institutions. Its mission is to preserve and operate the historic Palace Theater as a performing arts center and community gathering place that provides a focal point of cultural activity and educational outreach for diverse audiences.

For more information, visit: www.palacetheaterct.org.

Look for a Mother's Day Gift? How about Cricket Hill Garden's Peonies

Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston on 670 Walnut Hill Road is expecting to be in full peony bloom soon. Founded in 1989 by Kasha and David Furman with a focus on Chinese Tree Peonies they were one of the first nurseries in the United States to sell true-to-name varieties of these rare and beautiful plants. Like all of nature's creations, peony blossoms come in a variety of shapes with interesting names from Lotus that is a semi-double bloom to hundred proliferate that is a double bloom and thousand petals crown just to name a few types of blooms.

This year Cricket Hill Garden is open for curbside pick-up on Tuesdays - Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To choose your plant, be sure to browse their selection of potted peonies and potted fruit trees and berry bushes before you arrive. It is easy to place your order online and to pick the plants up. The plants will be in the pickup area with your last name and order number clearly marked.

If you are in the market for a Mother's Day gift, Cricket Hill Garden will be happy to ship the peonies of your choice with the added bonus of 15% off to commemorate Mother's Day. Peonies available for shipping include the magnificent imperial reign, rose scattered with gold, multi colored butterfly, capital red, Hubei blue, cinnamon pink, ancient red, paeonia anomala and paeonia japonica.

Out for a walk in Sherman @ Deer Pond

Deer Pond Farm located in Sherman Connecticut is a gift to the Connecticut Audubon Society from the late Kathy and Walter Wriston. The Connecticut Audubon Society received a generous bequest in 2017, from the estate of Kathryn D. Wriston, of 835 acres of rugged hardwood forest, meadows, and wetlands straddling the state border of Sherman, Connecticut, and Pawling, New York.

Called Deer Pond Farm by the Wristons, the property includes a network of 20 miles of trails. All trails are accessible from the visitor parking lot at 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT. The sanctuary is now open year-round, seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. Parking and access to all trails is at 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman.

Deer Pond Farm sits in the highlands along the Connecticut-New York border. About 620 of its 835 acres are upland forest; 125 acres are forested wetlands, and 59 acres is a meadow. About 100 species of birds have been reported on or near the property during the breeding season, including forest birds such as Broad-winged Hawk and Scarlet Tanager, marsh birds such as Virginia Rail, and birds such as American Woodcock, Eastern Towhee, and Chestnut-sided Warbler, which nest in young forests or shrubby areas.

Mammals include bobcat, several bat species, fisher, and long-tailed weasel, beaver and black bear. As many as 11 species of snake possibly live on the property. Numerous reptiles and amphibians breed in its 11 vernal pools. The Deer Pond Farm list includes spotted salamanders, slimy salamanders, dusky salamanders, and wood frogs.

Trail maps can be downloaded online for the Eastern Trail, and the Western Trail. CT Audubon Society trails remain open at this time. We ask that guests practice social distancing, enjoy the trails with members of your household, and if parking is busy, please consider choosing another site. Deer Pond Farm has 835 acres with several miles of wide trails – most around 10’ wide.

Inside with the Institute for American Indian Studies

There are many inspirational stories about how different museums, companies, and individuals are coping with the social distancing restrictions brought about as a result of COVID19. The Institute for American Indian Studies https://www.iaismuseum.org has a few stories of its own and launched a series called “Inside with IAIS” in March that will continue in April and May.

Back by popular demand and social distancing restrictions, the IAIS is continuing its video series “Inside with IAIS". The educational staff at the Institute has pivoted from on-grounds educational programs to internet-based, distance learning programs that are entertaining and educational for the whole family. These programs will take place in April on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2 p.m. on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/IAISMuseum

On Wednesday, April 22, at 2 pm join Susan and Darlene for a look at two-eyed seeing and gardening. You will be amazed at what you can learn from plants. The highlight of this program is a look at Traditional Ecological Knowledge about plants and the lessons it can teach for our gardens today.

On Friday, April, 24, education coordinator and storyteller, Darlene Kascak, STN, will share another story at 2 pm from the rabbit bag.

To round out the month of April, on Wednesday, April 29 at 2 pm join Assistant Director and Lead Curator Paul Wegner for an explanation of how archaeologists use ceramics to uncover hidden histories of the past.

Today, also marks the beginning of Give Local that runs April 21 - 22. Your contribution to the Institute for American Indian Studies will help them teach important history. As an added bonus, this year we're also including a museum membership when you donate at the $50, $75 or $100+ level. Support your local Native American museum and enjoy all the benefits of membership! You'll have until 7pm tomorrow (April 22nd) to donate! Click here and Give Local today.

Merwinsville Gives Back in Upcoming Give Local Event

​Several times a year Give Local, a 36-hour community event that encourages donors to lend support to their favorite nonprofit organizations takes place. Hosted by the Connecticut Community Foundation and sponsored by Ion Bank for eight years, hundreds of non-profit organizations benefit. 

The goal of this event is to unite nonprofits with businesses, donors, and organizations to give back to their community. Since 2013, when this program started, Give Local, has raised more than $7.2 million dollars for the vital work of local nonprofit organizations. Every dollar given is stretched with bonus funds. Nonprofits also have the opportunity to win prizes.

This year, The Merwinsville Hotel​ in the charming village of Gaylordsville along with the New Milford River Trail Association is donating their Give Local pledges to participating organizations that are helping the most vulnerable in the area. They are suggesting that rather than making a donation to the Merwinsville Hotel, a historic gem, that people make a donation to Camella's Cupboard​, the Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT​ or Loaves and Fishes Hospitality House​. The Give Local event runs from April 21 through April 22 and ends at 7 pm. To donate click here​.

About the Merwinsville Hotel

The Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, located along the Housatonic Railroad in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, was a meal and rest stop which opened for business in 1843. The Merwinsville Hotel Restoration is a non-profit, living museum that continues the ongoing care, restoration and preservation of the Hotel to educate, inspire, challenge, and invigorate both present and future generations, and to raise awareness within the local community of the Hotel's contribution to the collective local history by promoting cultural events.​

Mattatuck Museum is collecting and documenting how COVID-19 has affected local community

The Mattatuck Museum is collecting and documenting how COVID-19 has affected our local community. By preserving local responses and the impact on Waterbury and surrounding residents, the Mattatuck Museum will be helping future researchers understand the local impact of these trying times.

To complement newspaper articles, local government press releases, and other traditional archival material that we will be collecting, the Mattatuck Museum is also looking to document people’s everyday lives and how COVID-19 has affected them.

What does your life look like now? How are you protecting yourself/your family? What kinds of activities are you doing to pass the time? How are you celebrating birthdays/holidays? What do you think people should remember about this time? 

Your voice and your experience matter to us. Please consider contributing to their collection! To Participate click here

What the Mattatuck Museum is looking for:
- Written narratives about your and/or your family’s experiences during COVID-19.
- Photographs of you and/or your family during isolation
- Photographs of artwork about COVID-19, or artwork created during COVID-19.
- Short videos can also be included.

What they aren’t collecting:
Please don’t include specific and personal medical information. Medical information is protected and private.

If you have a physical object that you would like to donate to the museum that either represents your experiences with COVID-19, or is an object you've used to protect yourself, please email Collections Manager, Wayne Eldred at wayne@mattmuseum.org. (Please include image(s) and description of the objects(s) in email correspondence.) 

Weir Farm National Historic Site Modifies Operations

Weir Farm National Historic Site is announcing additional modifications to operations in response to guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective April 10, 2020, Weir Farm National Historic Site will be closed to all park visitors until further notice, including park grounds and parking areas. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website at www.nps.gov/wefa and social media channels.

The NPS encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Weir Farm National Historic Site including:

• Online galleries of artwork created by America's most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and other Weir Farm Artists
• Image galleries, including Collections, Historic Photos and Modern Photos
• Information on some of the significant people in Weir Farm history, including the three generations of artists who called Weir Farm home
• A virtual story map tour of Weir's time studying and creating art in Europe
• The 13-minute park film, Legacy of a Landscape
• Videos created by students, including this 2 minute introduction to the park created by youth interns, and this documentary feature about Weir Farm National Historic Site, created by Joelle Schrock as her final Capstone project in the Masters of Communication program at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.

LIME ROCK PARK ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT OF SEASON OPENER DUE TO COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

In lieu of the latest government and health official statements concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and after consultation with each circuit, SRO Motorsport America today announces the postponement of its races scheduled in May, including the Touring Car Festival at Lime Rock Park.

The TC America and Pirelli GT4 America races as part of the Touring Car Festival were originally scheduled for May 8-9 and will be rescheduled to a future date later in 2020. SRO Motorsports America officials plan on announcing the new date for the Touring Car Festival in the coming weeks.

The Lime Rock Park staff continues to place a priority on the health and safety of our staff, fans, spectators and competitors. We hope that you and your family remain safe and well during this COVID-19 crisis.

Please sign up to receive the latest news and information from Lime Rock Park by visiting www.limerock.com/jointhefanclub. Updated announcements will also be made on www.limerock.com and on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/limerockpark. For additional questions, Lime Rock staff can be reached by emailing info@limerock.com or by calling (860) 435-5000 (Mon.-Fri. 9:00am - 5:00pm).

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Finds Ways to Lift Spirits throughout the Coronavirus Crisis

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoos gates are closed to the public, staff members continue to care for the Zoo’s animals, carefully following CDC and State of Connecticut safety guidelines. The Zoo has more than 300 animals on grounds, many of them endangered species. The animal care staff must feed, clean, offer training and provide enrichment each day to a diverse group of animals, from tigers and alligators to monkeys and owls, along with dozens more. 

On Friday, April 3, the Zoo is launching a new interactive opportunity for children and families. “Do You Have a Zoo at Your House?” asks children to draw pictures and write letters for their favorite Zoo animals or take photos of how they’ve created a zoo of their own at home, using plush animals, blocks, Legos or costumes. The Zoo’s website (www.beardsleyzoo.org) will include a page where the children’s art, letters, and photos will be posted for all to enjoy, as well as featured on the Zoo’s social media accounts. 

The Education staff has pivoted from on-grounds education programming to internet-based, Distance Learning initiatives for students of all ages. Zoo educators have filmed a variety of Next Generation Science Standards-compliant videos, making them available on the Zoo website, via social media, to broadcasting partners, and as resources for the state’s outreach to teachers. The Zoo offers Facebook Live sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 p.m., with a different focus each day: Science-based learning from the Education staff, a Zookeeper Chat, or a visit with Zoo Director Gregg Dancho and an animal of his choice. 

Staff members are rising to the need of their friends and co-workers. One of the Farmyard’s Animal Care Specialists sewed colorful masks to help protect her colleagues. The Zoo’s Education Curator, in addition to overseeing on-grounds STREAM videos, is filming backyard wildlife for schoolchildren. The Peacock Café’s chef has locked the doors to the restaurant but is serving staff free meals through a side window.  Photographer volunteers have turned photos taken earlier into coloring sheets for kids, available on the Zoo website.

As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, the Zoo relies on ticket sales, school visits, memberships, education program fees, donations and meeting and rental revenue to operate. Being closed is resulting in a significant impact on the operating budget. Any size donation to our emergency operating fund will assist in the care of our animals and team members. Donations can be sent to: https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/emergency-fund.html

About Connecticut’s Beardsley ZooLet your curiosity run wild! Connecticut's only zoo, celebrating its 98^th year, features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Guests won't want to miss our Amur tigers and leopards, maned wolf family, Brazilian ocelot, Mexican and Red wolves, and Golden lion tamarins. Other highlights include our new Spider Monkey Habitat, Natt Family Red Panda Habitat, South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, and the Pampas Plain with Giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful, indoor carousel. For more information, and updates on the Zoo’s closed status, visit beardsleyzoo.org.