Cruise the Sound for Seals and More....

February brings annual visitors from the north into Long Island Sound, and you can chance to see them during "Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises" offered this winter by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The Aquarium's 2018 season of "Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises" will run on many weekends through March 31, 2018.

These invigorating 2½-hour outings seek out some of the harbor seals and gray seals that migrate down into Long Island Sound from northern waters – such as off Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine – which serve as their summer breeding and pupping areas. During the Aquarium cruises, seals often can be seen near the Norwalk islands resting on rocks and shoals exposed at low tide. Aquarium educators will point out these federally protected marine mammals and talk about their natural histories.

These cruises also give birders unique "on-the-water" access to see and photograph visiting winter waterfowl, such as buffleheads, mergansers, Brant geese and long-tailed ducks.

"Although we've been displaying seals for nearly 30 years now – and explaining to guests that seals are out there in the Sound during the winter – it's still a revelation for participants to actually see them during our cruises," said Dave Sigworth, the Aquarium's associate director of communications. "It is these exciting first-hand experiences that really emphasize that Long Island Sound is an important habitat to protect."

Danbury's Chili Winter Warm Up Feb. 18

The Danbury Westerners have figured out a clever way to warm up to winter by sponsoring the highly anticipated annual Chili 5K Run that is being held on February 18 @ 10 a.m.at the Danbury Sports Dome.

Runners will be treated with refreshments in the Dome following the race including a hot bowl of chili. Age group awards will be presented in seven different categories and winter ski caps will be provided to the first 250 registrants.  Entry fee is $25 thru February 15, 2018 - $30 after and Race Day. Race day registration is between 8:30-9:45am at Danbury Sports Dome

There will also be two free Kids Runs inside the Dome starting at 9:15AM. Children ages 5-8 will run one lap, and children ages 9-12 will complete two laps. There is no entry fee, and all registered children will receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last).

For additional information and registration for the Big Chili 5k, please visit www.hitekrecing.com or call (203) 241-4655. For registration for the Kids Run, please visit http://www.hitekracing.com/bigchili5k/

About Danbury Westerners

The Danbury Westerners compete in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the premiere summer league for college athletes to play competitive, wooden-bat baseball in the New England region. The mission of the Danbury Westerners is to provide summer professional development baseball entertainment in the Greater Danbury CT and NY area to enhance social and economic development and add value to the quality of summer living and vacationing throughout the region. Funded in part by Major League Baseball, in 2017 the Danbury Westerners will be celebrating 23 years in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. To date 20 former Danbury Westerners have made the Major Leagues, and over 50 former Westerners were playing professional baseball in 2016

Winter Wonderland Children's Ball at Stepping Stones on Feb. 10

Calling all little princes and princesses! Stepping Stones is rolling out the red carpet as the museum transforms into a snow-kissed wonderland for its sixth annual Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball on Saturday, February 10 from 4:00 – 8:30 pm.

Children are invited to dress up in their party best for a memorable evening of fun and entertainment. Moms and Dads, sons and daughters will be treated like the princes and princesses that they are as they enjoy a magical wintry celebration featuring dancing and full access to all the exhibits in the museum. Families will enjoy posing for the paparazzi as they arrive, learning ballroom moves from the experts and making wonderful winter crafts.

Be sure you bring your camera.  Photo opportunities abound as we celebrate the magic and wonder of the season amidst a whimsical winter backdrop of a lighted courtyard, a play-sized igloo, a life-sized snow globe, spectacular winter murals, snowflake-adorned galleries and a myriad of snow people.  Bring your appetite as well.  The Stepping Stones Cafe will be open for purchases of their healthy fare.

Bubbleology - The Secret World of Bubbles" is a mesmerizing performance for audiences of all ages. Be dazzled by a bubbly Eiffel Tower or a dancing snow-white snow-man, while learning about the art and science of soap bubbles. Bubble artist Keith Michael Johnson uses bubbles—large and small—to explain liquids, solids and gasses, geometry, tension and pressure. He has appeared on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic TV. Performance times are: 5:00 pm, 6:00 and 7:00 pm.

Get your tickets early as this event traditionally sells out. Early bird tickets for Members are $8/person, Non-members $13/person. After Friday, February 2^nd, tickets for Members are $10/person, Non-members $15/person. Register online at www.steppingstonesmuseum.org, call 203 899 0606, ext. 264, or visit the Welcome Desk. Reservations are required. 

About Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Conn., is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501(c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Located on five acres in Mathews Park, the LEED Gold certified museum encompasses five hands-on galleries, state-of-the-art Multimedia Gallery, Family and Teacher Resource Center, cafe and retail store. Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, exit 14N or 15S off I-95 in Norwalk. Museum hours are Monday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children. Children under 1 are free. To learn more, call 203 899 0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Flanders Offering Handmade Collaged Valentine Card Workshop

Led by professional artist Dita Carley, Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is hosting a workshop on handmade collaged valentines. The class is being held on Saturday,  February 3 at 10AM.

Carley has given workshops in collage at Guilford and Brookfield Craft Centers and has exhibited her work nationally with a number of pieces becoming part of private collections. She will be bringing examples of valentines she has created.

Appropriate for adults and kids at least 8 years old accompanied by an adult, at the workshop participants will make handmade collaged valentines for their sweethearts. Collage materials and cards will be provided but bringing your own wrapping paper, photos, magazine pages or any type of collage material to customize your valentines is encouraged.

The workshop will be held at the Flanders Studio on the corner of Flanders and Church Hill Road in Woodbury. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members with an additional supply fee of $5 per person.

Those interested may register online at www.flandersnaturecenter.org or call 203-263-3711, ext. 10, for more information.

                                               About Flanders

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust acquires, preserves and manages land; and uses the land to promote understanding and appreciation of nature, art and the environment. Founded by artist, farmer and environmentalist Natalie Van Vleck, Flanders provides a variety of environmental education programs year-round, designed to bring a deeper understanding of art, nature and farming to children, youth and adults in the Woodbury region and throughout Connecticut.

            

Colonial Bartering: From Wampum to Wheat Workshop for Kids

The Wilton Historical Society is hosting a workshop for kids on colonial bartering on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. 

This fun and educational program that shows that like today,  for a variety of reasons, money was almost always in short supply during the early Colonial period, which forced the colonists to barter. Wampum was introduced to New England in 1627 by Dutch settlers in New York who traded with Native Americans. Wampum was made of sea shells, primarily quahog shells, and proved successful in trading between indigenous peoples and colonists.  In 1637, wampum was made legal tender - accepted as payment for taxes - in Massachusetts.  

At this Colonial Bartering Workshop for Kids at the Wilton Historical Society on Saturday, February 3 from 11:00 – 12:30, Museum Educator Lola Chen will be discussing how bartering and trading works, and the kinds of items that were exchanged, such as wampum for wheat.  The kids have workshop project – making wampum beads from  recycled paper, and will help make their own snack.

Suggested for ages 6 – 12. Wilton Historical Society Members $10 per child, maximum $25 per family; Non-members $15 per child, maximum $35 per family.  Please register: info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257. 

Did You Know?

According to PBS’s website Nova, “The earliest known use of wampum, which are strings of beads made from clam shells, was by North American Indians in 1535. Most likely, this monetary medium existed well before this date. The Indian word "wampum" means white, which was the color of the beads.”

THRILLS AWAIT AT SALISBURY JUMPFEST IN CONNECTICUT’S LITCHFIELD HILLS

Oohs and ahs and gasps of disbelief are guaranteed when the best young ski jumpers in the Northeast compete, sailing through the air in the 92nd Annual Eastern National Ski Jumping Championships Sunday, February 11.

The event takes place at Satre Hill in Salisbury, a classic New England village in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills. The masters of this challenging sport will show the amazing coordination and grace needed to fly some 200 feet in the air with a happy landing, a feat that always brings admiring cheers from the crowd. The jumpers you watch at Satre Hill are Junior National hopefuls, and some will go on to represent the US in the Olympics!

The championships are the highlight of a gala three-day Jumpfest, which features night time target jumping, human dog sled racing, ice carving, a chili cook off, a pancake breakfast, a bourbon tasting and a Snow Ball dance in addition to ski jumping contests. 

Friday, Feb. 9 
The fun begins on Friday, Feb. 9 with target jumping under the lights beginning at 7 p.m. with jumpers flying under the lights, unfettered by judges points- their only goal is to land on a bulls eye target for big prizes- and big fun! When the target jumping ends, the real zaniness ensues with the Human Dog Sled Races. These are teams of six slightly crazy folks, five pulling and one riding on a sled of the group's own design. They careen around a .3 mile course, and, well, accidents do happen. Crazy fun to watch! Friday Night Lights admission is $15.

Saturday, Feb. 10

The fun continues on Saturday, February 10 with the Salisbury Invitational Ski Jumping Competition when jumpers compete for prestigious SWSA trophies! The fun warms up with practice from 11 a.m. to noon; withe the competition beginning at 1 p.m. Spectators on Saturday can also watch Junior 20 and 30 meter jumping at 9 a.m.

Saturday events also include an ice carving demonstration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the White Hart Green featuring two nationally recognized carvers and the Snow Ball Dace at the Lakeville Firehouse Annex from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission for the Salisbury Invitational Ski Jumping Competition is $15 and admission to the Snow Ball Dance is $15.

Sunday, Feb. 11
The Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships takes place on Sunday, February 11. This is the big one. Jumpers vie not only for trophies but also a spot on the Junior National Team!  Practice and warm ups for this event is held from 11 a.m. to noon with the competition beginning at 1 p.m. Admission for this event is $15. 

If you have never seen ski jumping live, you have never truly witnessed the sport. Standing amidst the ringing cowbells, with crowds cheering on their favorites, hearing skis slapping against the landing hill as these brave jumpers soar up to 200 feet through the air at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, is something you will never forget.  Even if the winter looks brown outside your window, it's white over at Satre Hill thanks to state-of-the-art snow guns.

For happy viewing, fans are advised to dress warmly in lots of layers and to bring a cowbell, the traditional way to cheer on the jumpers.  Hot food and beverages are available to help watchers keep warm. Limited bleacher seating is provided or guests can bring their own lawn chairs.

Proceeds help fund the all-volunteer, non-profit Salisbury Winter Sports Association, host of the annual event. SWSA provides cross-country and jumping equipment and training for area children. For a full schedule and complete information, see www.jumpfest.org.

For more area information on what to see and do in the Litchfield Hills and to sign up for a monthly newsletter visit www.litchfieldhills.com

The Mysterious Blue Moon @ Institute for American Indian Studies

​A "Blue Moon" is a fairly infrequent phenomenon involving the appearance of an additional full moon within one month and the next one is on January 31.  To celebrate the blue moon the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington is hosting a blue moon hike on the 31st @ 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.  Native Americans followed the cycles of the moon and every month the full moon had a different name. 

The Algonquin tribes  called January the full wolf moon because when this full moon appeared wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. Traditionally, the January Moon is also known as the Old Moon.  The hike concludes at the replicated Algonkian village for  hot cocoa around the campfire.

Native Americans drew constellations, created a mythology around the stars and built structures in alignment with the sky long before Europeans arrived on American shores.
Like other groups, they tracked the motions of the Sun to help them decide when to plant crops, move their camps, or stage sacred rituals.

Their stories contained explanations of the constellations they saw as patterns of bright stars, meteor showers, the Northern Lights, and saw in what we call the Milky Way a pathway to the afterlife.

Some tribes built great circles of stones to help them predict the changing seasons, or ceremonial sites and mounds of earth in alignment with the Sun and stars and to reflect the patterns they saw in the heavens.

Participants on this hike through the Native American Village and surrounding woodland trails will learn about the beliefs and folklore of the Eastern Woodland Indians that made Connecticut their home.

For information about additional programs visit the website​ and facebook page​.

The "reel" story about P.T. Barnum - Fact vs Fiction!

On Sunday, January 28th, 2:00 PM at The Barnum Museum  Executive Director, Kathleen Maher will host a fun-filled talk; Fiction vs Fact! The Real story behind the Reel story! 

Have you seen the 20th Century film The Greatest Showman yet?  If you haven’t, go and enjoy!  If you have already seen it, we are sure you have a lot of questions about the accuracy of P.T. Barnum’s life and times.  Kathy has the answers and will share numerous bits and pieces of history that will set the record straight.

All in the spirit of fun, Kathy’s talk will illuminate guests with an engaging journey through many key elements of the movie.  From the depiction of Barnum’s childhood to his final bow with the Greatest Show On Earth, the talk will expand the screenplay and reveal even more fantastic storys of struggles and triumphs!

Consider this a Spoiler Alert. As portrayed in the movie, Barnum had a hard childhood.  Kathy is happy to say he (Barnum) “actually had a very pleasant childhood growing up in Bethel, CT. and recounts many happy moment of his youth in his autobiography. And as many folks in Connecticut know, there is no ‘beach’ in Bethel! So there are all kinds of liberties taken with the screenplay. 

Many, many plots are an entanglement of truths and moments throughout his life.  The hour and forty-five minute movie is really about 50 years of his long and busy life!…And his daughters don’t age.”

Come see Tom Thumb’s actual Napoleon costume, Jenny Lind’s piano and a gold medal presented to P.T. Barnum for his dedication to the Temperance movement…that’s right…Barnum was one of the leading champions of liquor reform and legislation!

If you are curious about P.T. Barnum, excited about the movie, or just want to learn more about how the Museum was involved, come and enjoy a fun afternoon that will surely have you leaving with a new and refreshed perspective.  You’ll never look at Hollywood the same way!  Bring your own questions!  It will be fun to have your thoughts be a part of the conversation.

No Registration Required; $5.00 Suggested Donation