Sessions Woods is calling all runners!

If you enjoy walking and running on beautiful nature trails then join the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) for the 4th. Annual Run for the Woods on Saturday, September 19 at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area located on Rte. 69 about three miles south of Rte. 4 in Burlington Connecticut.

courtesy Miranda Linsky

CFPA advocates for people that love the outdoors  with the support of the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have organized a 10K Trail Race that begins at 8:30 a.m., a 5K Trail Race at 9 a.m. and a 5K walk at 9:00 a.m. at Sessons Woods. 

Participants will walk or jog on beautifully maintained trails and will pass by wetlands, meadows, and a beaver pond.  Lucky participants may even catch a glimpse of a pileated woodpecker, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse or a majestic broad-winged hawk.

Registration fees are $25 for the 5K run or walk, and $35 for the 10k run. Registration increases by $5 on the day of the race. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race. If you can’t join in the events, and love the outdoors, you might consider making a general donation to CFPA or dedicating it to one of the runners or walkers. All donations go to the protection of Connecticut forests and trails. For more information, registration, and pledging guidelines visit http://www.ctwoodlands.org/runforthewoods2014

courtesy William Breck

This year CFPA’s Run for the Woods has joined the Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series. The races, which are run primarily on the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails (BBHT), are organized and directed by a variety of running enthusiasts and clubs across the state. The Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) is grateful for their cooperation and support in making this series possible. The goals of the series are to promote and create greater awareness of trail running on the BBHT System, attract more runners to Connecticut trail running races, strengthen the running community, raise awareness for CFPA’s trail maintenance efforts and enhance the experience for the runners who already support our races through series points and recognition. To learn more about the Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series, please visit http://www.ctwoodlands.org/run-for-the-woods

About Sessions Woods

The biggest threat facing CT’s wildlife is the loss of habitat.  Since more than 90% of land in CT is privately owned, the Wildlife Division established the Sessions Woods Management Area to begin to meet the needs of the State’s wildlife.

Sessions Woods is more than a tract of natural land set aside for wildlife, it also introduces visitors to wildlife and natural resources management through a variety of educational programs, demonstration sites, displays and self-guided hiking trails.

When you walk the trails here, you experience more than just the benefits of a healthy hike in the fresh outdoor air. Along the sides of the Beaver Pond Trail, Forest Meadow Trail and in the Backyard Habitat Demonstration Area you will find demonstrations of wildlife and habitat management practices.

About CFPA

The CFPA is Connecticut’s first nonprofit conservation organization that was established back in 1895 and is best known for maintaining the 825-mile Blue Blaze hiking system.  Their mission is to protect forests, parks, walking trails, and open spaces for future generations by connecting people to the land. CFPA directly involves individuals and families, educators, community leaders, and volunteers to enhance and defend Connecticut's rich natural heritage. CFPA is a private, non-profit organization that relies on members and supporters to carry out its mission.

CFPA envisions Connecticut as a place of scenic beauty whose cities, suburbs, and villages are linked by a network of parks, forests, and trails easily accessible for all people to challenge the body and refresh the spirit. They picture a state where clean water, timber, farm fresh foods, and other products of the land make a significant contribution to our economic and cultural well being.

Open Farm Day at Sunny Valley Preserve

On September 19 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. celebrate Connecticut's farming and conservation heritage and share in a wonderful sense of community at the 23rd annual Open Farm Day at The Nature Conservancy's Sunny Valley Preserve. Best of all admission is free.

Take a hay ride, pet farm animals, play a game and enjoy a selection of delectable goodies at Sunny Valley Preserve, located on 8 Sunny Valley Lane in New Milford.  Sunny Valley  encompasses more than 1,850-acres that straddles the Housatonic River in New Milford and Bridgewater. 

Visitors can check out wool-spinning or maple-syrup making and  dissect an owl pellet with "How Cool is That?!" Don't forget to stop by the petting zoo to meet some gentle farm animals; then plan to visit  Bruno, an African Spur-Thighed Tortoise and his friends from The Pratt Nature Center.  Make sure to stop by our farm stand, and purchase some fresh produce to take home.

In addition to demonstrations, fair goers are invited to wander through many informational displays, inspect the antique and new farm equipment, pet the animals, enjoy a tractor ride, and sample some of the delectable goodies, which in the past have included pumpkin soup, fresh veggie burritos, along with hot dogs and fresh baked cookies prepared and served by the New Milford Youth Agency.

Sunny Valley Preserve was founded in 1970, when George D. Pratt Jr. donated multiple parcels of agricultural and natural lands to The Nature Conservancy. One condition of Pratt's gift is that the farms be kept in agriculture as long as possible. Today, about 650 acres of the preserve are in active agriculture. The farms, leased by independent farmers, are privately-operated businesses. Farmers at the preserve grow diverse crops and sell most products locally, providing locally-grown food and enhancing the local economy. Open Farm Day is rain or shine. More information is available at www.nature.org/sunnyvalley or by calling the preserve at (860) 355-3716.

For more area event information www.litchfieldhills.com

10th annual Watertown House Tour

The 10th Annual Watertown House Tour will take place on Saturday, September 26 from 11am to 3pm, rain or shine. Six fabulous properties will be featured in this year's tour including: The Academy and Woodward Chapel at 25 and 39 The Green, The Coachman’s House at 57 Academy Hill Road, The Buzzee House at 31 Woodbury Road, Summit Farm at 1180 Guernseytown Road, and The Griswold House at 61 Warren Way. The Watertown Historical Society Museum and the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street will also be open for viewing.

The Watertown House Tour is a benefit for the Watertown Historical Society and Museum in Watertown, CT. The Watertown Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Watertown and Oakville's history through the Museum.

Advance house tour tickets are $25 per person, and will be $30 the day of the tour. Tickets for this self-guided house tour and are non-refundable & can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to: Watertown House Tour, 22 DeForest Street, Watertown, CT 06795.  Checks should be made payable to the "Watertown Historical Society". Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card or Paypal at: www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org

Tickets and maps will be mailed to those that make advance purchases. Advance orders must be received no later than Friday, September 18. Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the Museum.

House Tour tickets are available to purchase at the following retail locations: LaBonne's Market in Watertown, Chubba's in Watertown, the Health Complex, The Watertown Library, Hosking's Nursery, Depot Square Farm Shoppe, and Jimmy's of Watertown. House Tour tickets will also be for sale at the Watertown Farmers Market on Sept. 12 and the Watertown Fall Festival on Sept. 19.

On the day of the tour tickets will be available at all of the businesses, all of the houses, and at the Museum, which will be tour headquarters. Call the Museum at 860-274-1050 or view www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Don't miss the 38th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival

Don't miss the 38th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival that promises to be the biggest and bester ever!

Fun for families and friends from nine to ninety, the 38th annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival will be held this year from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13. This year's entertainment highlights include music from nationally known-bands on all three days including John Cafferty of Creed and the Beaver Brown Band on Friday and JDennis De Young: The Music of STYX on Saturday at 9 p.m., and Smash Mouth on Sunday.  Festival goers will enjoy a wide variety of rides, cooking competitions, arts and crafts and a diverse assortment of attractions and entertainment that promise unforgettable fun.

A festival favorite  will feature the action packed Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show that will feature world champion lumberjacks demonstrating their log rolling, axe throwing, chopping, sawing, tree climbing and dragster chainsaw skills. This show will take place on all three days: Friday at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. There is also a 65 - ft Gondola Ferris wheel, the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show, and more.

The New England Fishing Village with demonstrations, samples and displays as well as the International Food Court offering a diverse selection of dining choices add to the fun. 

For the Kids

The festival’s Kids Cove will wow children of all ages. The Kids' Cove includes games, rides and entertainment. 

Sunday is Family Day with special family and children's packages for entrance, rides and meals. The perk of family day on Sunday is that one child under 12 gets in free with each adult paid admission and for a mere $15 can ride all the amusement rides free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To round out the family fun there will be live shows for kids on the festival's main stage.

For the Whole Family

The festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts.  A multitude of fine artists and crafters display whimsical as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets and ages.  For on the water fun, head to the festival docks to tour historic vessels and to cruise the scenic and historic Norwalk Harbor.

For the Foodies

Food demonstrations and competitions, including the always-popular chowder and chili cook-offs will take place throughout the festival. A highlight of the Festival is the wide variety of great food from around the world that is available at the International Food Court. This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise vital funds for their charitable causes.   At the Oyster Pavilion, learn about Norwalk's oystering history while watching slurping and shucking contests. The celebrity Slurpoff will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. in front of Oyster Pavilion.

The event is held at Veteran's Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children 5-12 year's old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Sunday is Family Day with special pricing on that day only -- 1 child (age 5-12) free with each paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at www.seaport.org.  Free Parking and Free Shuttle Bus service is provided from four (4) local parking lots, just follow the signs to Oyster Festival Parking.

Save on Metro-North Railroad/Norwalk Oyster Festival Tickets

Festivalgoers can save on admission and rail fare when they purchase the Metro-North Railroad/Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival discount package. Packages are available at all ticket offices and ticket machines (except South Norwalk Station).  On sale starting July 15.  Package price from GCT/Harlem-125th Street: Adults, $27; Seniors, persons with disabilities and individuals receiving Medicare, $21; Children 12, $22; Children 5-11, $5; Children under 5, free. - See more at: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_oyster_fest.htm

Packages also run from other stations.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk's maritime environment and heritage. The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival. In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.

Celebrate Easton - The Burning of the Morehouse Farm - Revolutionary War Reenactment Weekend

The Historical Society of Easton and Easton’s Parks and Recreation Department,have teamed up to co-sponsor, a two day of living history event on  Saturday September 19^th and Sunday September 20^th.   There will be more than 125 re-enactors from the 5^th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment encamps on the fields of  the Samuel Staples Elementary School and the action planned for this event will make it an unforgettable experience for you and your family.  

On July 18, 1782, Lt. Ebenezer Morehouse was taken prisoner by a British raiding party of approximately 60 men who landed at Compo Beach, Westport from their schooner. The raiding party was bent on plundering and destruction.  Also captured were Benjamin Allen, William Allen, Abraham Elwood, Thomas Phillips and Nathaniel Johnson. Morehouse so irritated his captors that the British marched to his farm and burned it.

Members of the 5^th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment portraying Patriot and British Military Regiments will set up camp, perform drills, skirmish and recreate the burning of Morehouse Farm. Children can drill with the regimental soldiers and watch as they fire their weapons. Besides military drills and a cavalry demonstration, attendees may be amazed at a surgical demonstration highlighting the treatments and remedies available to the army surgeon on the colonial battlefields.

 Visitors will be able to explore exhibits of uniforms, clothing and fashions of the day. A highlight is  the early evening candlelit tour of the camp site and watching a cannon pyrotechnic demonstration. Through interaction with the reenactors, visitors will learn about life at camp and on the home front from soldiers, surgeons, cooks, spies, and other colonial re-enactors. A complete schedule of events can be found at www.historicalsocietyofeastonct.org.

The 5^th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment is made up of local individuals who enjoy learning and teaching about early American history. Members include men, women, and children from the surrounding areas who are dedicated to the creation of a living history experience for their community. By including women and children in the regiment, a broader representation of colonial life beyond the military is brought to each event.

This Regiment was created in 1974 and is based on the original 5^th Connecticut regiment which served during the Revolutionary War. The original 5^th Connecticut was mustered in May 1775 as one of the six regiments formed by Connecticut in response to the events at Lexington and Concord, MA. It was made up of officers and men from Fairfield County. Easton (which was then part of Fairfield) would have sent soldiers to this regiment. Due to illness and casualties, the regiment only lasted one year. It was re-formed in early 1777 under the direction of Colonel Philip Burr Bradley. As the regiment was being mustered, the British launched the raid on Danbury and Colonel Bradley responded with roughly 50 untrained troops. The 5^th Connecticut played a vital role in the defense of Ridgefield and two of its soldiers, Private Bradley Dean and Sergeant Clement Lloyd, were killed. The connection to local history makes this event a truly spectacular opportunity for the Historical Society of Easton.

The event will take place on Saturday September 19 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday September 20 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 515 Morehouse Road, Easton, CT.

The event will take place rain or shine. Food vendors will be on-site. Admission:  For both days: $20 per Adult, $15 per Child, Children under 8 will be admitted for free. For one day: $15 per Adult, $10 per Child. There will be a $5 parking fee. A discount is available on tickets purchased prior to September 5^th through the follow link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1996120.

To learn more about the 5th Connecticut, please visit their website: www.5cr.org. For more information please contact the Historical Society of Easton at 203-292-3533, by email: hseastonct@gmail.com or visit our website: www.historicalsocietyofeastonct.org.

19th Annual Constitution State Feis Returns To Quassy

The 19th Annual Constitution State Feis (Irish dance competition), presented by the Horgan Academy of Irish Dance of Naugatuck, Conn., will take place Sept. 5 & 6 at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark, 2132 Middlebury Road here.
It marks the ninth consecutive year Quassy has hosted the event.

The competition will kick off at 8:30 a.m. both days at the Carousel Theatre stage with the Saturday, Sept. 5, schedule to include championships. All non-championships (beginners through prize-winners) will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Perpetual trophies, 1st place sashes, and medal rounds will be presented in the preliminary and open championships, and all traditional and contemporary set competitions.

Spectators are welcome both days with only a $7 parking fee charged at Quassy Amusement Park. Guests watching the Feis are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating. There are fees for the rides, waterpark, food and other attractions.
Hundreds of competitors from throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada take part in the two-day event.

About Quassy
Quassy Amusement & Waterpark is in its 107th year of operation and features FRANTIC, a new spectacular family thrill ride. The park is also home to the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster. There are more than two-dozen rides and attractions, restaurant, redemption arcade, games, beach and live entertainment.

Labor Day weekend will also feature the final 50-Cent Fabulous Friday of the season. Rides, hot dogs and small Pepsis are 50 cents each after 5 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 4. Also, the last $40 Saturday evening carload special of the year takes place on Sept. 5. After 5 p.m. up to 10 persons safely seatbelted in a car receive evening wristbands for only $40, parking included.

Labor Day Campership Event

Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day, will also feature a $40 carload special to benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund. The rides and Splash Away Bay waterpark operated 11 .m. to 6 p.m. Up to 10 persons safely seatbelted in a car receive all-day wristbands for only $40, parking included.

The park will operate weekends after Labor Day through Oct. 11. For more information visit www.quassy.com or call 203-758-2913.

Hollister House Garden Study Weekend September 12 – 13

The Hollister House garden was one of only one of 50 to be included in the Garden Conservancy’s new book, “Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration – 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy. It was built over the past thirty-six years by the esteemed antiquarian dealer George Schoellkopf as an American version of an English manner, accommodating the Connecticut climate and soil, our New England landscape and history, and adding the special exuberance of lush English flower gardens. It’s a spectacular collection of distinct outdoor rooms— each with its own unique personality.

On September 12,  is The Living Garden: Nature and Design at the Heritage Hotel. This symposium is part of Geroge’s commitment to bring to Western Connecticut garden experts who can help garden enthusiasts, professionals, or  those who just want a more beautiful home garden. It is a rare opportunity. Breakfast and lunch are provided. There will be a cocktail reception for networking, asking questions, and to buy plants ahead of the public sale the next day, and a book signing for the Conservancy’s book. Local Connecticut resident and garden author Page Dickey is the editor. 

The Moderator for this event is New York Botanical Garden’s Todd Forrest, who  is responsible for all aspects of horticulture activities and programs across the Botanical Garden’s 250-acre site, Todd was instrumental in the planning, construction, and planting of NYBG's 11-acre Azalea Garden and the new Native Plant Garden. He also advises on seasonal events, exhibitions, and stunning horticultural displays.

A highlight of the weekend are the three highly knowledgeable speakers, Rick Darke, Sheila Brady and Bill Noble.   Rick Darke is an author, photographer, lecturer, and biodiversity consultant and is considered to be a leading voice in the call for the home garden to be built around the constructs of biodiversity and sustainable beauty. His projects include parks, scenic byways, transportation corridors, corporate and collegiate campuses, conservation developments, post-industrial brownfields, botanic gardens, and residential landscapes.

Sheila Brady, from Oehme, van Sweden & Associates advocates for ecologically responsible design. She is a registered landscape architect and has been elected to the Council of Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Recent projects include designing the Native Plant Garden and the Azalea Garden at the New York Botanical Garden and the National World War II and Martin Luther King memorials in Washington, DC.

Bill Noble, garden designer and preservation professional is the director of preservation for the Garden Conservancy, Bill worked to restore dozens of gardens across the U.S. His own garden in Vermont is included in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archive of American Gardens and he lectures widely on garden history, design, and preservation.

A midday break will give garden professionals and enthusiasts an opportunity to meet and share ideas over lunch and to shop. Hickory Stick Bookshop will be at the Saturday symposium selling garden-related gifts and books and noted botanical illustrator Bobbi Angell will be selling her drawings.

After the symposium, participants are invited to a cocktail reception at Hollister House Garden in the nearby town of Washington, with early access to the Rare and Unusual Plant Sale that will be open to the public the following morning. Admission to the reception is included in admission to the symposium, but admission to the cocktail party and plant sale preview is also available separately.

Registrationsfor Saturday
Registration for the symposium and cocktail party, including early buying at the sale of Rare and Unusual Plants, is $180 per person for registrations for members of Hollister House Garden and the Garden Conservancy. 

On Sunday, September 13 the weekend continues with the public portion of the plant sale at Hollister House Garden and the opening of exceptional Litchfield County gardens as part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program. 

Specialty vendors for the Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants will include:

Avant Gardens, North Dartmouth, MA
- Uncommon yet undemanding plants for New England garden
Broken Arrow Nursery, Hamden, CT
- Rare, unusual, and garden-worthy plants
Cricket Hill Gardens, Thomaston, CT
- Rare and unusual peonies as well as perennial landscape edibles
Falls Village Flower Farm, Falls Village, CT
- Outstanding perennial plants for the Tri-State region
Opus, Little Compton, RI
- Unusual perennials—under-cultivated but garden-worthy

Admission to the Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants at Hollister House Garden is $10, including Open Days admission to the garden.

September Fun @ Stepping Stones Museum for Children

The Stepping Stones Museum for Children, located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, has planned an exciting September for kids and families.  September is "explore the Southwest" month at the museum and kids are invited to join the staff as they travel to the Southwest part of the United States and celebrate the history of this region, including the wonder of the Grand Canyon!

On September 5, there is an Around the World  creative session that begins at 2 p.m.  The topic is the Grand Canyon and kids will investigate the natural process that carves rocks into canyons using water and sand. Participants will take home their own canyon creation made with different layers of sand. There is limited space – tickets available at 1:30 pm. For children ages 2 and older.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Ernie Sites takes center stage with  music and the Western Frontier.  In full Western clothing, Ernie Sites combines traditional and original western singing, songwriting, yodeling, cowboy poetry, storytelling and trick-roping demonstrations! This program begins at 2 p.m.

September 13 and September 26 are extra special days because Grandparents enjoy free admission to the museum All day!  On September 13 the Around the World Show beginning at 2 p.m. features The Tale of Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind. Kids will enjoy listening to this American Tall Tale and making their own doll using pipe cleaners. Limited space – tickets available at 1:30 pm. For children ages 5 and older. And, on September 26, the special feature is a Grand Display of Past and Present: “Typewriter meets IPhone® 6”!  This will also mark the grand opening of the newest exhibit experience: Broken? Fix it!

Rounding out the month, on September 26, there is a Family Concert featuring TESS, a Mixed Ensemble at 3:00 pm. Families will enjoy listening to a mixed ensemble concert featuring children ages 4 – 12 from the Talent Education Suzuki School (TESS). They will perform classical selections for violin, piano, cello and guitar. Afterwards, visitors can play child-sized instruments!

2015 Torrington House Tour

The Torrington House Tour, scheduled for September 12, 2015, will feature six Historic homes ranging in age from 1850 to 1956.

The homes that will be open to the public on September 12, 2015 are as follows:

The George B. Goodwin House is a Colonial Revival Built ca. 1908. This Colonial Revival farmhouse replaced a much older farmhouse that was once known as the Waterman Farm. The house has a hip roof, dormers and a first floor wrap around porch. Inside the house retains many original features and has been attractively decorated and furnished as a bed and breakfast inn.

The Doolittle House / Excelsior Dairy Ca. is a 1850 Greek Revival house. Historically known as the Doolittle Farm, this mid-nineteenth century farmhouse was likely built by Nathan B. Phelps around 1850. The house was constructed in the Greek Revival Style with its gable end facing the street. The current owners have restored the 1850 house, preserving the original moldings and wide floor boards. Contemporary additions utilize original architectural detailing while providing for modern conveniences and the entire home is tastefully furnished and decorated.

The Cavagnero House built in 1956 is a Mid-Century Modern house. This home with its distinctive modern style, highlighted by shed roofs, stands out in a neighborhood of more traditional ranch houses. The design is based on a home in Spokane Washington and this house was hand built by the first owner, Chet Cavignero and his cousin. The interior is largely original and features a period kitchen, bathroom and living room. The present owners have decorated the entire house with historic furnishings from the 1950s.

Major William E. Besse House ca. 1890 Victorian, Stick Style This home was built by Albert P. Hine around 1890 and was acquired by William E. Besse in 1903. The stick style is characterized by a steeply pitched front gable and exterior decorative banding. William E. Besse was superintendent of the Brass Mill and lived here until 1954. The home is a well preserved example of this unusual type. Once utilized as an office, the current owner's have restored the interior of the home to its turn of the century appearance while adding a modern kitchen at the rear. The home is decorated it with many period furnishings and fixtures.

The Bronson House is an 1860 Italianate style house.  This home was built by Luther Bronson around 1860 as a residence for him and his wife Flora. The house is a fine, well-preserved example of an early Italiate structure in Torrington. Since 2002 it has been  restored  and many made major improvements were made to the kitchen. The house is beautifully decorated and furnished.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a 1889 Victorian Gothic structure. This church was completed and dedicated on June 5, 1889. It was used by the Seventh Day Adventists until they built a new church in 1969. The old church was sold and has been home to a number of artists over the last 45 years. Today the main floor of the church serves as a performance studio for pianist, Timothy Alexandre Wallace. The building retains much of its original exterior decorative detail and the interior furnished is an interesting and eclectic blend of overstuffed chairs, tapestries and a grand piano.

Tickets for the historic house tour are $30 each and may be purchased in person at the Chamber of Commerce or at the Torrington Historical Society. On line ticket sales are available through the Torrington House Tour website: www.torringtonhousetour.org.

A House Tour Preview Party featuring a tour of several homes followed by a reception with music and refreshments will be held on Friday evening September 11th from 5 to 9 pm. Tickets for the preview party are $75 and include one ticket to the complete tour on Saturday.

Litchfield Historical Society presents House of Worth: Dressing Litchfield

The Litchfield Historical Society's upcoming exhibition House of Worth: Dressing Litchfield will highlight the Society's collection of original 1916 and 1918 house of Worth watercolor on paper fashion sketches.

Sent through postal mail to Litchfield seasonal resident Julia Chester Wells, these sketches allowed Worth's client to peruse and purchase garments from the fashion house without undertaking travel to Paris during a time of world war.

Join the Litchfield Historical Society in exploring the house of Worth, Litchfield's trendsetters, and the changing face of fashion during the 1910s. This temporary exhibition will make available to the public a selection of the original sketches, as well as period garments from the Society's collection.

The opening reception is August 28 at 6 p.m. The Litchfield Historical Society is located on 7 South St. in Litchfield, for more information www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Litchfield's Fashion Night Out August 27

Litchfield is known for its quintessential village green, it’s wonderful restaurants, lively art scene and unique shops. To celebrate the end of the summer season, Litchfield merchants on the green will be staying open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 27 for the popular Fashion Night Out that will entertain visitors and residents alike.

West Street will be transformed into an “Open-Air Runway” featuring the latest ladies and men’s fashions for the upcoming season. Music for the event will be provided by the No Stress Band. Dress your best and strike a pose for the cameras.

This is a family fun summer event and a beautiful time of year for a stroll along West Street, while listening to some of the area’s talented musicians, while shopping at your favorite family-owned retailers.

For more information https://www.facebook.com/LitchfieldsNightOut

For more area event information www.litchfieldhills.com

Back to the Future in Kent, Connecticut!

The Kent Historical Society, the Hills Film Festival, and the Kent Memorial Library are co-sponsoring an outdoor showing of the movie "Back to the Future II," Saturday, August 29 at 8:30 p.m. on the Kent Town Hall rear lawn. This is free admission thanks to generous sponsors.

This is an anniversary year for the show. The movie, starring Michael J. Fox, was originally set in 1985 and jumped to the future of 2015. As this is the final weekend before children in Region 1 head back to school, the organizations are hoping that everyone will celebrate the end of summer with this event. The Kent Historical Society's exhibition theme this year is "Camps of Kent; Memories of Summer. "

This movie is a perfect activity that is reminiscent of a camp event and the sponsors hope it will lay down new memories of summer for all of the visitors and residents of Kent.

The Kent Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent's artistic and cultural heritage. For more information, visit www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or call 860-927-4587.

The Kent Memorial Library's mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by providing materials, programs, and services to encourage reading, learning and imagination. The Kent Memorial Library is located at 32 North Main Street, Kent, Connecticut. Visit www.kentmemoriallibrary.org or call 860-927-3761 for more information.

For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Woven In Time: Kashmir Shawls at the New Canaan Historical Society

A new exhibit of Kashmir shawls is opening at the New Canaan Historical Society's Costumes Museum. The shawls shown reflect the preferences of Americans during the Victorian Period. Included in the exhibit are shawls from the 1st quarter of the 19th century through the end of the century. All shawls and costumes are from the Society's collection.

Deborah Bede, curator of the collection, has described the shawls and presented a history of the weaving process in preparing for this exhibit. Since the opening of the museum in 1968, the Society has acquired a large Kashmir shawl collection, gifted by New Canaan residents. The shawls date from the early to late 1800s, a transitional period in New Canaan and the United States. The country was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution when manufacturing replaced agriculture as the primary economic source.

Just before the Historical Society was founded in 1889, the Town joined the Industrial Revolution with its booming shoe manufacturing industry, bringing with it greater wealth to the community.

It was also the era when the summer residents arrived, with them came the fashions of New York. They built homes, employed local residents and patronized local stores. The shawls shown would have been worn or decorated the homes of many summer residents, topping pianos, covering beds, and draped over furniture. Models display how the shawls would have been worn during this time.

All items shown are generous donations of members present and past. Exhibit hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday - Friday and 9:30am-12:00pm Saturday. The New Canaan Historical Society is located on 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. For more information 203-966-1776 or http://www.nchistory.org.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com