New This Year – Two Maple Syrup Workshops @ Institute for American Indian Studies

Maple syrup is among the oldest natural food products produced in North America. Native Americans were the first to discover maple syrup and refine the process of how this magically sweet amber elixir is made. If you have ever wondered how sap is transformed into maple sugar then don't miss the new two-part, in-person outdoor Maple Sugar Workshops at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut on Saturday, February 20, and Saturday, February 27. This hands-on workshop is perfect for people that want to learn about the history of this sweet tradition as well as the ins and outs of making maple syrup. The two-part Maple Sugar Workshop is part of the Institute's Winter Survival Program taught by Susan Scherf, an Educator at the Institute. 

“The Sweet Taste of Success”

At the first workshop, “The Sweet Taste of Success” on Saturday, February 20, with one-hour time slots running from 11:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. for twenty people per session. Participants will learn the basics of modern maple syrup production. This workshop is designed for backyard hobby producers that want to start collecting sap for their own enjoyment. The first thing participants will learn is proper tree identification and how to prepare the tree for the tapping season. They will learn about tree health and why and when sap flows. The final lesson is to learn about the tapping process, what to look for, and what to avoid, and examples of the different methods of collecting and boiling sap. There will also be a discussion on the impact of climate change on maple syrup production. 

“The History of a Sweet Tradition”

The Second Maple Syrup Workshop, “The History of a Sweet Tradition” taking place on Saturday, February 27 also offers one-hour time slots for twenty people running from 11 a.m. to 4 pm. This workshop focuses on the fascinating history of maple syrup as it was produced and enjoyed through the centuries. The workshop begins with a demonstration of the traditional techniques including the collection of and boiling down of sap into maple syrup used by Native Americans living in the Eastern Woodlands. The demonstration will include different traditional technologies used for the collection and boiling process in order to gain an understanding of what methods were used and why. A highlight of the program involves the history of this sweet tradition as participants gather around the fire in the Indian village and listen to traditional Native American stories about maple syrup that have been handed down from generation to generation. 

To sign up for Maple Workshop #1, “The Sweet Taste of Success” and Maple Workshop #2, “The History of a Sweet Tradition” visit the museum website in order to reserve a space through Eventbrite or email the museum at events@iaismuseum.org. The workshop is booked in one-hour time slots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for twenty people. The price for each Maple Syrup Workshop is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $11 for children, and $5 for members. If you have questions, call the museum at 860-868-0518. All reservations must be made in advance, as space is limited. 

About 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 that 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 on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

A Winter Weekend in Norfolk Goes Virtual Starting February 20, 2021

The town of Norfolk, Connecticut is hard at work this winter organizing virtual events for the 2021 Winter WIN Weekend in Norfolk that is taking place this year beginning Saturday, February 20th. The residents, businesses, historic and natural attractions, and other organizations have pulled together, once again, this year to showcase Norfolk’s many treasures. 

Photo Credit Katherine Griswold

The only difference is that this year’s Winter WIN will take place online rather than at various locations throughout Norfolk. “We believe that our online WIN series of events show the resilience of the citizens of Norfolk. Our goal is to be a bright spot in people’s lives this winter,” said Sue Frisch one of the founders of the WIN event. Now in its sixth year, Winter WIN is one of the state’s premier winter events. 

The videos run the gamut from visiting a costume makers' studio, architectural tours, and learning about the winter night sky to a music lesson for the kids, visits to local farms, and even a Spanish cooking class that will help you warm up to winter. The Virtual Winter Weekend in Norfolk celebrates the music, art, and nature that this small village is known for, far and wide. Everyone is invited to view live stream and on-demand events free of charge from the comfort and warmth of their home. 

A special Virtual Winter Weekend in Norfolk website has been set up that lists video events by category making it easy to let your fingers do the walking to all the wonders that can be found in Norfolk's winter wonderland. The length of each video and a short description is also included on the website. For complete information visit https://weekendinnorfolk.org. The winter weekend videos are slated to go live on February 20th. In the meantime to help you pass the weary winter days, the videos from the 2020 Summer WIN are still available to watch on the website. 

About Weekend in Norfolk 

Now in its sixth year, the all-volunteer WIN Committee organizes two town-wide events annually: the Summer WIN and the Winter WIN. These two town-wide festivals are supported by Norfolk’s town officials, its Economic Development Commission, and a multitude of local organizations, institutions, and individuals.

Wine for Your Valentine @ Jones Family Farm

Jones Family Farm in Shelton is offering two of their wines for Valentine's Day at a discount. The Blush and Bubbles Special is a holiday delight with their lightly sweet, pretty pink First Blush and their refreshing Whimsical White sparkling wine.  

For a fun twist, combine the two wines to make your own Blush and Bubbles wine cocktail! You can customize the sweetness to your sweetheart's taste. This First Blush and Whimsical White combo will be at a 15% savings.

The Sweetheart Special is a special surprise and delight for your Valentine. Surprise that someone special with the Red Orchid and Strawberry Serenade gift set. The Red Orchid, a deep, ruby-red wine, that is perfect for sipping by the fireplace, and the very special, bubbly Strawberry Serenade is a perfect way to toast your love!  This gift set includes a bottle of each wine, four dark chocolate medallions, and two Jones winery glasses, at an approximate savings of 20%.

These specials are available this Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6 as well as next Friday and Saturday, February 12, and 13 at Jones Family Farm Wine Stand on 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road in Shelton from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. You can also order online at https://jonesfamilyfarmswinery.myncrsilver.com

Derby Historical Society Celebrates Black History Month by Highlighting Quash and Rosewell Freeman

Black history is everyone's history. We celebrate Black History Month by remembering accomplishments that helped shape our Nation by Black individuals and their contribution to our communities. Included in that narrative are the realities that history records, whether dark and shameful or worthy of celebrating - the events of the past influenced the path that led to today. 

This is an interpretation by The Hartford Black History Project of Black Governors

The Derby Historical Society is highlighting Quash and Roswell Freeman. Father and son, both men went on to become Derby’s first and third Black Governors, the latter serving three terms. This was an office that began in the northeast in 1755, and in Derby, 55-years later, that officer would be held by Quash. Indeed, Connecticut would need to come a long way before satisfying the duty to abolish slavery, which in Derby still existed until 1840, one-year after the Amistad Rebellion, eight-years prior to the State ending slavery as a whole, and 56-years after Connecticut passed gradual emancipation laws. The context and significance of the date here must be understood and these revolutionary individuals are thus remembered. 

What a powerful story it is to share - Quash who was born in Ghana, was captured and sold into slavery, traveled the Middle Passage, and received his freedom in Derby to then become Derby's first Black Governor. There is much discourse that we could have on the institutions that appointed them or the reasons behind the Governorship.

An anecdote that Orcutt (1880) shares about Quash describes that, "He [Quash Freeman] was a man of herculean strength, a giant six-footer, and it is said of him that he could take a bull by the horns and the nose and at once prostrate him to the ground. No one ever dared to molest or tried to make him afraid, and when he was approaching from a distance he awakened the sense of a coming thunder cloud... Physically speaking. Quash was probably the strongest and largest man that ever shared the gubernatorial honors of this commonwealth." At the time of the Rev. War/Pork Hollow incident, when Quash was still a slave, he was Isaac Smith Sr.'s personal bodyguard.

Below is a listing of CT’s Black Governors, courtesy of The Hartford Black History Project - you will notice that Jubal, Nelson, and Wilson Weston were Humphreysville Governors. Horace Weston, whose father was Nelson, was regarded as the world's best banjo player in the 1880s (Raechel Guest, 2018). 

Name	Location	Approximate date
Quash Freeman	Derby	1810
Tobias	Derby	1815
Roswell Freeman	Derby	1830-1835
Eben Tobias	Derby	1840-1845
Caesar	Durham	1800
Peter Freeman	Farmington	1780
William Lanson	New Haven	1825
Quash Piere	New Haven	1832
Thomas Johnson	New Haven	1833-1837
Boston Trowtrow	Norwich	1770
Sam Huntington	Norwich	1772-1800
Jubal Weston	Seymour	1825
Nelson Weston	Seymour	1850
Wilson Weston	Seymour	1855
London	Wethersfield	1760
Cuff	Woodbridge	1840

The Derby Historical Society is located on 37 Elm Street in Ansonia. It was founded in 1946 to serve the Naugatuck Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton. For more information visit their website.

Watch them Fly @ Salisbury's 95th Annual JumpFest February 12,13, and 14, 2021

This year marks the 95th anniversary of Salisbury Connecticut’s ski jumping tradition that officially began in 1927. It all started in 1926 when Salisbury resident, John Satre soared off the roof of his barn with skis on to show his neighbors a sport he learned in his native Norway. Town residents became fans of the sport and formed the Salisbury Winter Sports Association that winter. The first ski jump competition was held in January 1927 and has become one of New England’s signature winter events.

This year ski jumpers and lovers of winter sports will converge in Salisbury at this highly anticipated in person winter event, JumpFest, on February 12, 13, and 14, 2021. The ski jump complex is located at Satre Hill on Indian Cave Road in Salisbury. For updates and more information www.jumpfest.org. or info@jumpfest.org. Although this is an in-person event, the Salisbury Winter Sports Association has initiated several changes in order to comply with all COVID-19 regulations to keep spectators and athletes safe. This is an outdoor event in a wide-open area. Attendance each day will be limited to the first 400 tickets sold. This number reflects 25% of the facility’s capacity as required by Connecticut regulations. Additional spectators will be admitted as people leave the venue. Tickets will be available at the gate and are $15 for adults on Saturday and Sunday, on Friday night there is no admission charge. Kids under 12 are free all three days. In compliance with CDC and State mandates six-foot social distancing should be adhered to and masks must be worn at all times throughout the facility. For the Tri-State area and beyond, JumpFest offers a very special opportunity to watch these graceful athletes fly through the air --- up close! The anticipation of watching competitors travel up to 200 feet through the air at more than fifty miles an hour and, guessing who is the fastest -- and highest in real-time -- is an unforgettable experience. It is so much fun to be part of the excitement! The crowds' ring cowbells to cheer on their favorites and the jumpers take notice. The excitement reaches a crescendo when the slap of skis hits snow in a smooth landing with everyone hoping that this jump beats the Salisbury record, an impressive 231-foot jump. And, if you work up an appetite, no worries, there will be several food trucks on the grounds.

Festival Schedule There are only half a dozen ski jump facilities on the East Coast, with Satre Hill in Salisbury being the southernmost location. Some of the best athletes will be here competing in JumpFest, an event that has launched many Olympians including three of the four men that participated at Sochi. Friday, February 12, 2021 JumpFest kicks off on Friday, February 12 at 6 p.m. with practice jumps. Target Jumping under the lights begins at 7 p.m. Two large bonfires and warm food and beverages will be available for purchase from a variety of food trucks. The popular Human Dog Sled Race has been canceled this year because of the pandemic, and for this reason, there is no admission charge on Friday night. Saturday, February 13, 2021 On Saturday morning, February 13, things warm up with the strongest Junior Jumpers from Lake Placid, New York, and the Salisbury Winter Sports Association competing on 20 to 30 meter hills. The action kicks off at 9 a.m. with these youngsters showing off their strength, skill, and conditioning that makes them fly effortlessly through the air. Medals will be awarded on the hill. The real action of the day starts at 11 a.m. with warm-up jumps by the Development Team, composed of an elite group of jumpers from around the country. These competitors are the best of the best that have been in rigorous training at the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex, which was built for the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. The competition begins at 1 p.m. This event is thrilling to watch as these expert flyers go from 0 to 50 miles an hour in seconds and seem to defy gravity with runs up to 70 plus meters. Sunday, February 14, 2021 The highly anticipated Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships on Sunday, February 14th begin with practice jumps that run from 11 a.m. through noon. The long- awaited annual competition starts at 1 pm. At this event, there are often Olympic hopefuls competing. These expert jumpers seem fearless as they display the tremendous coordination, skill, balance, and strength that it takes to soar so far and so high in the air and to land smoothly. If you want to find some of the bravest athletes in sports just stand at the bottom of a ski jump and watch them soar through the sky. It is exhilarating. Even the most sedentary spectators will appreciate the extraordinary coordination and skill required to make a jump! After all, most jumpers tell you that it is the closest you get to flying…without the wings or a parachute.

ABOUT SALISBURY WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION In the winter of 1926, John Satre a resident of Salisbury jumped off the roof of his shed wearing skis to show his friends and neighbors a sport he learned in his native homeland of Norway. Town residents were so amazed as they watched Satre soar through the air that they decided to build a proper ski run that summer, and form the Salisbury Winter Sports Association. The Association hosted the first ski jump competition in January 1927. JumpFest has become a highly anticipated event in Connecticut and throughout much of the East Coast.

Mattatuck Museum Public Re-Opening and New Exhibits

After nearly two years and $9 million, the Mattatuck Museum located in Waterbury, Connecticut is proud to announce its re-opening on Sunday, February 28th, 2021 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Museum opens with four new exhibitions, an artist installation in the Plaza, reinstallation of the permanent collection, and a re-interpretation of the Orton P. Camp, Jr. History Exhibit. The renovation project has brought to life a reimagined space that continues to be a welcoming, inclusive, stimulating, and enriching community anchor. 

The “new” Mattatuck Museum includes an extensive 14,000 square foot renovation to the existing building and an addition of almost 7,000 square feet to expand educational programming, collections storage, and exhibitions. 

 In keeping with the idea of blending the historic and the modern, the new Museum plans to showcase a broad array of exhibitions and programs in the coming months, kicking off with the inaugural exhibitions opening on February 28th: 

· Free as Air and Water (on view through April 11): Guest curator Tajh Rust presents works by five emerging artists, all Yale MFA graduates, that remind us of the fluidity and buoyancy of these elements: Genesis Báez, Maria de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez, Naomi Lisiki, Allison Minto, and Anne Wu. While air and water are classic examples of simplicities we often take for granted, access to both is still a difficulty for many people. 

· Unleashed: The Art of Robert C. Jackson (on view through April 18): Full of wit and character Robert Jackson's paintings celebrate contemporary life while consistently drawing from his rich knowledge and love for art history. 

· Collecting Presidential History: Signatures and Ephemera: This exhibit represents a significant gift to the Mattatuck Museum of presidential signatures collected by Francis T. “Fay” Vincent Jr. augmented with ephemera from the collection of the Museum. Vincent, a Waterbury native and Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1989-1992, made this donation in honor of his parents. 

· The Future Starts Now: Recent Gifts to the Collection (on view through April 11): Our collection continues to grow in prominence with gifts of fine and decorative art, historical objects, and archives. We are extremely grateful to the generous donors of these recent additions of works that represent a diverse group of artists, Nazca textile fragments, 19th-century Tonalist paintings, political ephemera, and texts for our library. 

 · Cross Currents: A commissioned work by Connecticut artist Don Gummer has been permanently installed in front of the new Museum addition. Inspired by the beautiful and open Green and the intersection of the many roads surrounding it, Gummer has created a new monument to the life of Downtown Waterbury. 

These exhibitions are accompanied by a full roster of exciting and engaging programs for adults, families, and children including studio workshops, lectures, artist talks, and more. In response to COVID-19 and social distancing protocols, these programs are being offered both virtually and in-person. For more information on all of the Museum’s upcoming programs, events, and exhibitions visit the Museum’s website at mattmuseum.org or call (203) 753-0381. 

ABOUT THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM 

Located in the heart of downtown Waterbury’s architectural district, the Mattatuck Museum is a vibrant destination, known locally and regionally as a community-centered institution of American art and history. The collections at the Mattatuck Museum span the history of American art from the colonial era to the present day with special strengths in Naugatuck Valley history and Connecticut artists, as well as artists from around the world representing the diversity of our community. The Mattatuck Museum houses 15,000 objects in its varied collections and is also recognized for its collection of buttons, a group of 20,000 miniature works from around the world, donated by the Waterbury Companies in the 1970s.

Winter Weekend Walk @ Institute for American Indian Studies January 29

The ideal way to finish the month of January is to take a walk through the winter woods under the first full moon of January 2021 with the educators of the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut. The full moon walk will take place on Friday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Hikers will walk along beautifully wooded trails on the grounds of the Institute and experience the serenity of nature under the bright nighttime sky that Eastern Woodland Native Americans have experienced for centuries. 

Many Native American communities call the January full moon the Wolf Moon because wolves are heard more often at this time of year. Traditionally, it was believed that wolves howled because they were hungry this time of year. Researchers today believe that wolves howl in January to defend their territory and to locate members of their pack to go hunting. 

The January full moon has other names that emphasize the cold temperatures this time of year. The Cree living in the Lake Superior area and Canada call the January full moon the Cold Moon or the Frost Exploding Moon. The Algonquin, a community indigenous to Connecticut calls this moon the Freeze Up Moon, and the Dakota of Minnesota and Wisconsin call it the Hard Moon. 

A highlight of this easy walk will be to learn about the phenomena that people in the Eastern Woodlands have been experiencing for thousands of years. After this walk, you will look up at the full moon with a new appreciation of it and, new knowledge, that has been passed down through the centuries. The woodland walk ends at the newly restored and built 16th-century Algonkian village where a warm fire and hot chocolate will greet hikers. 

Space on this walk is limited and pre-registration is required. Please call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org to reserve a spot. The price for participation is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children. The cost for members of the Institute is $5. Remember to dress for the weather, to wear sturdy shoes, and bring along a flashlight. 

If you can't make it on the 29th, the Institute and its trails will be open all weekend from 11 am - 4 pm.

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 that 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.

Sunset Walk @ Woodcock Nature Center January 27, 2021

 There is nothing like exploring the winter landscape with an educator that knows the trees, birds, and animal tracks that can be found in the woods. On Wednesday, January 27 take a sunset walk with educator Sam Nunes from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Woodcock Nature Center located on Deer Run Road in Wilton.

Participants will watch the transition from day to night on the center's trails. Along the way, Sam will describe what you're seeing and what is happening as the sun goes below the horizon. All ages are welcome although this program is geared towards adults. Dogs are not welcome for this program as they may spook nocturnal wildlife. 

To register for this program, click here. A $25 donation is recommended for each family participating. If you have questions,  email snunes@woodcocknaturecenter.org.

In Search of Lost Frogs - Zoom with White Memorial Foundation January 30

On Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield has organized a Zoom presentation with Twan Leenders and Roger Tory Peterson from the Institute of Natural History. To register click here.

From a young age Twan Leenders has been fascinated by tropical rainforests and the exotic plants and animals that inhabit them. Growing up in a small town in The Netherlands, he devoured every relevant book his local library had to offer. While finishing up his degree in Biology and Animal Ecology at the University of Nijmegen in the early 1990s, Twan spent six months in the rainforest of Costa Rica to study coral snake mimicry and survey the herpetofauna of the rainforest canopy -  from that point on there was no turning back...

 

After living and working in various parts of Central America for more than a decade, Twan moved to the U.S. in 2000 where he worked as a researcher in the Division of Herpetology and Ichthyology of Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History. Since then, he has worked as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and returned to the trenches of conservation research and outreach while leading the Science and Conservation Office of the Connecticut Audubon Society. As Senior Director of Science and Conservation of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI), he now applies his experience to Western New York. However, Twan returns to Costa Rica and Panama regularly, with or without student researchers in tow, to band migratory birds on their wintering grounds and to study some of the planet's most endangered amphibian populations.

 

Based on the notion that all stewardship starts with education, Twan has always been keenly interested in sharing his experience and knowledge. He has authored four books and numerous magazine and journal articles on the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, including the very first field guide to amphibians and reptiles for that country in 2001. As an avid photographer and wildlife artist, his images adorn the pages of these books. However, Twan's photographs have also appeared in publications by the National Geographic Society, GEO, Dorling Kindersley's 'Eyewitness' publications, and numerous other magazines and books. His field guide illustrations are currently in use for educational purposes and displays at the Royal Ontario Museum, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, the California Academy of Sciences,  

and Smithsonian's 'BioMuseo' in Panama City, Panama.

 

In 2013, Twan joined the 'Meet your Neighbours' Global Biodiversity Project as a contributing photographer and administrator. Participants in this project use striking high-key photography to draw attention to the plants and animals living in their backyards - wherever on the planet these backyards may be. Combining his love for photography and his work at RTPI, Twan tries to follow in the footsteps of the Institute's namesake, Roger Tory Peterson, to provide the general public with the tools and knowledge to better understand - and hopefully better protect - the fascinating biodiversity that surrounds us.

 

Join Twan on a mid-winter virtual journey to tropical places and enjoy some of the fascinating creatures he encounters along the way.

 

 

Weekend Winter Walk @ Woodcock Nature Center on January 24

Take a walk with Cindy Olsen, on February 24 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the Woodcock Nature Center in Wilton. Olsen is an award-winning certified guide with the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership and a guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy  She is a meditation teacher at Pause To Be Present Meditation and certified with Mindful Schools. Additionally, Cindy is an environmental educator with Sheldrake Environmental Center. 

This walk on the beautiful trails of the center will be a refreshing end to the week. Hikers will participate in a mindful winter walk in the forests of Woodcock Nature Center. Winter is a beautiful time to embrace the natural world with our senses and invite in a slower pace of things to unwind and restore. We’ll gather safely and enjoy the winter sunset as a community. 

​Cindy will provide blankets, seat cushions, hot tea, and other warming comforts for your time with the trees. Extra layers of clothing are essential to staying comfortable as we’ll be moving slowly and spending some time sitting in stillness. 

To register for this walk click here.  The cost of this relaxing experience is $20 per person.

Valentine's Day Virtually in Danbury @ the Hat City Ball

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Look no further than the Hat City Ball on February 12, 2021, hosted by the Danbury Museum. This year, the ball is virtual! Not to worry, food is still playing a part... you can pick up a 3-course meal that you can pick up at the Amber Room and enjoy (in your favorite PJs or your favorite gown!) in the comfort of your home with your favorite person! Or treat yourself to a delicious pre-Valentine's Day Meal. It is easy to order your meal online using a drop-down menu. To purchase a ticket click here.

The biggest upside of this year's Virtual Hat City Ball is that for each ticket purchased, a meal will be donated to Danbury senior citizens--our storytellers and memory keepers--in cooperation with The New American Dream Foundation and the Amber Room Colonnade. 

These two groups have worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic to give added food security to our senior population. The Friends of the Danbury Museum are honoring The New American Dream Foundation and the Amber Room Colonnade with our annual award, The Hat City Award for Preservation Excellence, as a way of thanking them for the great work they have done. The goal is to provide all 600+ meals for the Saturday, February 13, delivery.

Winter Weekend Walk to a Lighthouse

 Winter is a wonderful time to get out in the fresh air and explore the beauty of the season. In Connecticut, we have 22 historic lighthouses, most are best viewed from the water like Sheffield Island Lighthouse. The Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse located in Bridgeport can be reached by taking a short walk about one mile long. A walk along the breakwater to the lighthouse gives hikers fabulous views of Long Island Sound. After traversing the breakwater hikers can take a sandy path to the 47-foot tall lighthouse and to the edge of this island. From the shore, if you look out into the Sound, you will also see Penfield Reef Lighthouse just offshore in the distance. The lighthouse is located on Fayerweather Island at the end of a breakwater off of Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

In the 18th century, the city became a shipping center and this lighthouse was built in 1808 on a tract of land purchased from David Fayerweather for $200. The keeper’s dwelling was originally a one-and-a-half-story home, having a kitchen, living room, and one bedroom, but over time, the residence would grow to eleven rooms. John Maltbie, the first keeper, died only five months after taking charge of the light. The lighthouse was destroyed in a storm in 1821. The lighthouse we see today was built in 1823.

Despite the short tenure of the first keeper, the position at Fayerweather Island rarely turned over, and the station only nine keepers in its 125 years of operation. John D. Davis was the last keeper of the lighthouse until it was officially decommissioned on March 3, 1933.

Although you can't get into the lighthouse today, visitors can walk around the lighthouse and imagine what it was like to live in a lighthouse and how exciting it was to help guide boats safely into the harbor. The lighthouse was relit in the year 2000 although it is not used for navigational purposes.

Sunday Fun Day Activities @ The Institute for American Indian Studies - Sunday, January 24, 2021

The Institute for American Indian Studies located in Washington Connecticut is keeping up a popular tradition in 2021 by offering a series of Native American-inspired craft workshops for kids and families every other Sunday in January and February. 

The workshops will be conducted in a safe socially distanced environment with a maximum of just six participants. The silver lining to offering such small workshops is that museum educators will not only be able to give participants more individualized attention, they will also be able to modify the workshop in accordance with the abilities of the participants. 

The second Sunday Fun Day craft workshop is taking place on Sunday, January 24 with one-hour time slots offered from 12 noon through 4 p.m. The focus of this workshop is on Native American beading. 

Beadwork is an art form that has been practiced for centuries throughout Native American communities. Native Americans decorated clothing, dwellings, horse gear, and utensils with materials found in nature such as shells, pieces of bone, stones, seeds, and even porcupine quills. After European contact, many Native Communities began incorporating multi-colored glass beads into their designs. Glass beads were highly valued by Native Americans because they were durable and came in a variety of colors. The beading workshop on January 24 will focus on beading basics and introductory techniques that will get participants started on their own colorful beading project. 

 Sunday Fun Day in-person workshops that will highlight a specific Native American craft or art form are planned to take place every other Sunday in February from noon to 4 p.m. Unlike previous years, in order to maintain the highest standards of safety, all workshops require pre-registration for one of the four one-hour time slots. There will be no walk-ins. The cost of participation is admission to the museum ($10 for adults, $8 for Seniors, and $6 for children) plus $10 for workshop materials. Members of the museum are free. Masks are required and hand sanitizer is always available. To make a reservation call the museum at 860-868-0518 or email them at events@iaismuseum.org to schedule a time slot. 

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 a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that 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 on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Weekend Walk...Ice House Trail @ White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield

In days gone by the only way to keep food cold was to build an ice house and haul ice harvested in frozen lakes into the house for safekeeping. The ice would be used throughout the spring and summer months to keep food and drinks cold. 

White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield is located on Bantam Lake, the largest natural lake in the state that also has a long history in ice harvesting. Ice was harvested by farmers for family use and by large crews for commercial use.

On the grounds of White Memorial Foundation, visitors can take the yellow-blazed lake trail to the ruins of the ice house on its' grounds. Access the Ice House Ruins Trail by taking the 1-mile Lake Trail loop, which begins in the Main Area of the property (near the Museum). For a PDF to print out of the Ice House Ruins Trail click here.

There are eight points of interest to see along this trail that includes sites where there was a conveyer that brought the ice from Bantam Lake and a canal where the ice blocks went through a planer that shaved the cakes into a uniform size. Look for the remains of the old railroad bed where the ice cakes were loaded onto railway cars and shipped as far as New Yirk City. When you see the ice house foundation, think of a building some 36 feet high and 110 feet wide. This foundation has a marker and is to the left of the trail. A path to the left of the trail leads to the remains of the elevator and pump house foundation as well as the end of the inland canal. Just in front of the trail is a large ice harvest field that once had 14 compartments that held more than 4,000 tons of ice each. On either side of the road were dorms where the workers slept and ate. Keep your eyes peeled for the railroad spur that led out to the mainline of the Shepaug Railroad.

Ice was normally harvested from late November through early March. This historic walk gives visitors an idea of the harsh work that went into cutting and hauling blocks of ice and makes us appreciate our refrigerators that much more!

Bradley International Airport Nominated as “Best Small Airport” in the U.S.

 The Connecticut Airport Authority is pleased to announce that Bradley International Airport has been nominated for a USA Today 2021 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award.

 

The USA Today expert panel selected Bradley International Airport as a contender for ‘Best Small Airport’ in the nation.

 

“We are thrilled to kick off the new year with this nomination,” said Kevin A. Dillon, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. “Even during these challenging times, Bradley International Airport continues to innovate and stand out in the airport industry. We invite our community to show pride for its home airport and bring this significant, national recognition to the region.”

 

On its website dedicated to voting, USA Today noted that Bradley International Airport “ranks as the second-busiest airport after Boston Logan, yet it remains a convenient option with on-site parking, lots of charging stations, free WiFi and proximity to both New York and Boston.”

 

The contest gives voters an opportunity to vote once per day for four weeks for the candidate of their choice at  https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-airport-2020/

 

To vote for Bradley International Airport, visit https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-airport-2020/bradley-international-airport-windsor-locks-connecticut/ or https://bradleyairport.com/votebdl/

 

Voting is active now and ends Monday, February 1^st. The winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, February 12th.

 

 

About Bradley International Airport (BDL)

BDL Cares about your safety. In response to COVID-19, the airport has implemented new precautions, and was one of first airports in the nation to open an in-terminal COVID-19 testing site. Recently, the airport’s efforts were recognized with a health accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) World.  Bradley International Airport is the second-largest airport in New England. The award-winning airport is operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority, and its operations are entirely self-funded.  The airport contributes nearly $3.6 billion to the regional economy. For more info, visit www.flybdl.org.

 

About The Connecticut Airport Authority

The CAA was established in 2011 to develop, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and the state’s five general aviation airports (Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham).  The CAA Board consists of 11 members with a broad spectrum of experience in aviation-related and other industries, as well as government.  The goal of the CAA is to make Connecticut’s airports more attractive to new airlines, bring in new routes, and support Connecticut’s overall economic development and growth strategy.