Community Calendar

ASAP!’s 20th Annual Celebration of Young Writers empowers students to share their love of writing with the world. Public, private and homeschooled students from across Connecticut are invited to submit for a chance to be recognized for their outstanding work, and read their piece in front of a live audience. The Celebration of Young Writers stage is a place where student voices are amplified, and their passion for writing can be shared with the world. 2024 top selected works will be presented to the public and shared through ASAP!’s website. Submissions to the Celebration of Young Writers are free.

Celebration of Young Writers was inspired by ASAP!’s objective to foster children’s creativity and imagination in the literary arts. It was established with the help of Ellen and Frank McCourt, Ann and Denis Leary, and Susanna Salk.

SUBMISSIONS

February 1 – April 1, 2025

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Winsted Restaurant Week is your opportunity to try as many restaurants as your schedule allows for one incredibly low fixed price. Ever wonder about that restaurant you’ve heard about or driven by all those times? Winsted Restaurant Week 2025 is your chance to give it a try at a reduced cost.

Click here to learn more!

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Sifted showcases Sarah Short’s masterful use of vintage materials in mixed-media collage. With a deep appreciation for the aged beauty of old book covers, forgotten ephemera, and letterpress typography, Short repurposes discarded materials into captivating compositions. Her work invites viewers to look closer, engaging with the layered textures and fragmented narratives that emerge from the remnants of the past.

“I want what was once beautiful to be beautiful again,” says Short. “My works urge you to lean in, see the small details, and remember your past.”

About the Artist

Sarah Z. Short is a mixed-media collage artist from the woods of Rhode Island. With a background as an English teacher, she has a deep connection to books—not just as literature, but as a tactile and visual medium. She prints with vintage wooden type on pages salvaged from discarded books, then transforms these prints into abstract collages, emphasizing shape, white space, and layered textures.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries, licensed as prints, and featured in both print and digital publications. In addition to her studio practice, Short teaches workshops online and in person, sharing her passion for collage and letterpress printing with others.

Children and parents learn to play, sing, create and laugh together while romping to music, exploring our indoor play land, and meeting new friends. This program helps children develop sensory awareness and build motor skills. If needed, siblings are welcome to attend, but for safety reasons, they are not permitted on any of the equipment.

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Ages 1y-2y 9:15-10:00 AM

Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15-11:00 AM

Artist/author and college professor Steven Parlato brings his collage series, “They Are Not Disposable” to the Woodbury Public Library. The series, which depicts sixteen Black Americans whose lives were stolen due to racial violence is part tribute and part call to action.

The Middlebury artist's work has graced theater posters and book covers, and he’s exhibited throughout CT and in NJ, PA, and OH. An award-winning poet and college professor, Parlato is the author of two young adult novels, The Namesake (winner of the 2011 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in YA Fiction) and The Precious Dreadful. Both explore grief, loss, and hope. On stage, he’s played roles ranging from the Scarecrow to Macbeth. Parlato offers writing workshops at libraries throughout CT. Follow him on FB at Steven Parlato Author and IG: @stevenparlato. 

Something GIANT is coming to the Gunn Memorial Library! The Junior Library invites all members of our community to join us for Story Mode, a creative storytelling adventure leading up to the start of Summer Reading in June! 

In collaboration with the GIANT Room, a New York City-based innovation hub for kids, the Junior Library will provide four Remix activities Stations. These stations will allow you, your friends, and your family to draw and invent unique characters, settings, and plot twists and see them transformed into published trading cards, games, and comic strips.

Every Remix Station is a self-directed activity, so you can complete it on your own time with or without the help of a librarian. The Junior Library also offers “Creation Hours” every week, during which you can use supplies from the Makerspace to bring your vision to life. Be sure to check the library’s website for the complete schedule!

Each month focuses on a different part of your story:

- March 8-29, dream up your character. Complete a character sheet with a drawing of an avatar and its traits, including powers, power rating, voice, favorites, items, weaknesses, strengths, birthday, habitat, physical features, awards, and more. The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card for you!

- April 5-26, build your own city and create a place for the story to happen. Engineer a building and decide its materials and unique features. The GIANT Room will remix this creation into another printed trading card featuring their building sketch, an AI-generated 3D render of it and its features.

- May 3-24, create challenges for your character. Help create a deck of “Would You Rather” questions by submitting a question that help you reflect on your emotions, make you smile with a rhyme, spark a debate, or give you the giggles! The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card.

- June 7-28, tell a story about your character. Write and illustrate a comic strip using a pre-made template, and the GIANT Room will remix it into a printed poster. 

- Saturday, June 21, from 10-12 pm kick off summer reading and level up your character’s story as you visit several activity stations at this community event with the GIANT Room.

This is a great opportunity to express your creativity, collaborate with your community, and see your ideas come to life! 

This program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library.

The Morris Public Library offers Story and Music Time for participants ages 9 mo. - 5 y.o every Tuesday at 10 am.

Please call to ask if a spot is available: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft!

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

Litchfield’s three newest restaurants, La Catrina in Bantam, the Lost Fox Inn, and The Courtroom restaurant at The Abner Hotel are all participating, and Arethusa a mano, the coffee/breakfast/lunch/dessert spot in the Arethusa Farm family, is joining restaurant week for the first time.

That brings the total of participating venues to 21, and they range from coffeehouses, bakeries, and diners to cafés and award-winning fine dining restaurants.

See the RW page for menus, links, and phone numbers.

Each of the 21 participating venues will offer a special three-course prix fixe menu at $25, $35 or $50, with some spots serving daytime special packages, others serving a special restaurant week lunch, and still others presenting both lunch and dinner menus.

Litchfield Distillery is also participating in Litchfield Restaurant Week, donating bottles of its award-winning spirits to restaurants that will create special Litchfield Restaurant Week cocktails.

VisitLitchfieldCT.com is the official source of news and updates about Litchfield Restaurant Week, which is sponsored by the Town of Litchfield’s Economic Development Commission, the Lost Fox Inn, and other area businesses.

The EDC encourages restaurant week guests to tag @VisitLitchfieldCT when posting on Facebook and Instagram, as well as tagging Instagram posts #litchfieldrestaurantweek.

Call ahead to book your reservations for lunch and dinner. You won’t want to miss out on these delicious three-course special menus!

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

NEW! Baby Time 

Tuesdays at 10:30am

Perfect for 0-12 months, but fun for everyone! 

Meet us in the Children’s Room for Baby Time! This calm, cozy program is designed for pre-walkers who aren’t quite ready for the high energy of Rhyme Time. We will focus on nursery rhymes, lullabies, and bonding with your baby. 

Music and Rhyme for Children from Birth to 3s! A program for babies and their caretakers that incorporates music, rhythm, stories, and nursery rhymes to spur language development, body awareness, pre-reading skills, self-confidence, and cooperation. Gathering at 10:15, the program begins at 10:30.

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

Gordon Parks: Homeward to the Prairie I Come

Opening Celebration January 19

January 19, 2025 – March 30, 2025Homeward to the Prairie I Come showcases the work of Gordon Parks (1912-2006), a pioneering photographer, poet, filmmaker, musician, and composer. After becoming LIFE Magazine’s first Black staff photographer in 1948, Parks captured diverse images of life in the 20th century. Paired with his lesser-known works of poetry, this exhibition positions Parks within the history of art and provides a catalogue of his wide-ranging interests beyond documentary photography.

Community members are invited to stop by the library between 11 am and noon each Tuesday for a cup of coffee and a chat with their neighbors.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Join us as we welcome Shannon Blanton to our newest gallery show.

From New Milford, CT as an established artist with a focus on natural flora and fauna. Her oil and watercolor works are multimedia using nature as her pallet.

Recently voted one of the top visual artists in Litchfield Magazine

Her paintings can be viewed for the month of March.

View her paintings here: https://www.studioshannonblanton.com/

Located at 12 Main Street, New Milford, CT.

Call with any questions (860) 354-4318.

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

The Gunn Museum and Makerspace present a series of craft workshops inspired by artifacts from the Museum’s collections. 

March’s workshop is all about scrapbooks! Explore some examples from the Museum’s collections and learn more about best practices for preserving and digitizing scrapbooks and photo albums you have at home. Then use the Makerspace’s photo printers and craft supplies to create a scrapbook page of your own!

Ages 18+

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/crafting-history-scrapbooks/

All participants must have a signed GML Makerspace waiver on file. Please arrive a few minutes early to complete this paperwork if this is your first Makerspace program.

Join us for a spring floral workshop for seniors!

Tuesday 3/25 at 2 pm! See flyer for details!

Call or text 860-483-0018 to reserve your spot!

UCC Congregational Church Parish House

8 Bolton Hill Road

Cornwall, CT 06753

It’s cold outside, come stay cozy at the library with books while listening to stories about snow, winter animals, and spring flowers!    

Space is limited, please register on our website at

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/kindergarten-first-grade-story-craft-4/

Celebrate the downfall of Sauron, the fall of Barad-dûr, and the magical realm of Middle Earth on Tolkien Reading Day! We will channel our inner hobbits with some "second breakfast" selections at afternoon tea, including the famous "lembas" bread, as we re-create Middle Earth or imagine new worlds with our map-making workshop. Bring a favorite "Hobbit" or Lord of the Rings passage, dress as your favorite character -- however you want to celebrate this literary legend. This program is open to all ages and levels of Middle-Earth fans. 

Join local historical costuming enthusiast Abigail Yanaway to...

• Ask questions about 18th century sewing Access resources related to 18th century sewing
• Get help with your own 18th century projects
• Meet other people interested in historical sewing
• Join other historical sewing enthusiasts to work on projects together

Children will explore with paint, oil pastels, clay and other medium to create their own masterpieces. They will complete and take home a different art project each week!

Requirements:

Clothes that you don't mind getting paint on!

Coordinator:

Roberta Baker

Join us for a spring floral workshop on 3/25 at 6pm!

Come meet the woman who volunteer with the Woman’s Club of Greater. New Milford. Enjoy some hot cocoa and snacks and find out how you can help our community through the many projects we do. “We are Girl Scouts” for grownups!

The Popular Book Club will meet at the Morris Public Library on Tuesday, March 25 to discuss "Educated" by Tara Westover.

EDUCATED is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes with the severing of the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, from her singular experience Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes, and the will to change it.

E-book is available via Libby app.

New registrations and book requests: 860-567-7440 or https://morrispubliclibrary.net/library-calendar-event.../

The Gunn Memorial Library is pleased to present "For the Love of Animals," a stunning new exhibition by artist Caryn King. It will be displayed in the Stairwell Gallery from February 1st to March 29th, 2025. This collection of captivating animal paintings reflects King's deep affection for the art of painting and the animal world.

Caryn King, a narrative painter, began her artistic journey with clay and spent 14 years as a sculptor. Along the way, she earned a BFA in Illustration, worked as a toy designer, and taught art. After transitioning back to painting, King found her authentic artistic voice and hasn’t looked back. “I used to say I would paint one day - if only I could figure out what to put on a blank canvas. Once I discovered that vision, I haven’t stopped painting since,” she shares.

Inspired by her love for animals, the exhibition features a series of animal portraits that highlight each creature's beauty, texture, and soul. The emphasis on texture, which traces back to her early years as a clay artist, gives the paintings a dynamic and expressive quality that avoids sentimentality while capturing the peaceful essence of the animals. The collection offers a serene reflection on the animals'

grace and spirit, inviting viewers to experience a sense of tranquility often elusive in our fast-paced world.

Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at the junction of Route 47 opposite the Green in Washington, CT. Library hours may be found at gunnlibrary.org.

For more information, call (860)868-7586 or email adoerwald@gunnlibrary.org.

ASAP!’s 20th Annual Celebration of Young Writers empowers students to share their love of writing with the world. Public, private and homeschooled students from across Connecticut are invited to submit for a chance to be recognized for their outstanding work, and read their piece in front of a live audience. The Celebration of Young Writers stage is a place where student voices are amplified, and their passion for writing can be shared with the world. 2024 top selected works will be presented to the public and shared through ASAP!’s website. Submissions to the Celebration of Young Writers are free.

Celebration of Young Writers was inspired by ASAP!’s objective to foster children’s creativity and imagination in the literary arts. It was established with the help of Ellen and Frank McCourt, Ann and Denis Leary, and Susanna Salk.

SUBMISSIONS

February 1 – April 1, 2025

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Winsted Restaurant Week is your opportunity to try as many restaurants as your schedule allows for one incredibly low fixed price. Ever wonder about that restaurant you’ve heard about or driven by all those times? Winsted Restaurant Week 2025 is your chance to give it a try at a reduced cost.

Click here to learn more!

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Sifted showcases Sarah Short’s masterful use of vintage materials in mixed-media collage. With a deep appreciation for the aged beauty of old book covers, forgotten ephemera, and letterpress typography, Short repurposes discarded materials into captivating compositions. Her work invites viewers to look closer, engaging with the layered textures and fragmented narratives that emerge from the remnants of the past.

“I want what was once beautiful to be beautiful again,” says Short. “My works urge you to lean in, see the small details, and remember your past.”

About the Artist

Sarah Z. Short is a mixed-media collage artist from the woods of Rhode Island. With a background as an English teacher, she has a deep connection to books—not just as literature, but as a tactile and visual medium. She prints with vintage wooden type on pages salvaged from discarded books, then transforms these prints into abstract collages, emphasizing shape, white space, and layered textures.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries, licensed as prints, and featured in both print and digital publications. In addition to her studio practice, Short teaches workshops online and in person, sharing her passion for collage and letterpress printing with others.

Children and parents learn to play, sing, create and laugh together while romping to music, exploring our indoor play land, and meeting new friends. This program helps children develop sensory awareness and build motor skills. If needed, siblings are welcome to attend, but for safety reasons, they are not permitted on any of the equipment.

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Ages 1y-2y 9:15-10:00 AM

Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15-11:00 AM

Artist/author and college professor Steven Parlato brings his collage series, “They Are Not Disposable” to the Woodbury Public Library. The series, which depicts sixteen Black Americans whose lives were stolen due to racial violence is part tribute and part call to action.

The Middlebury artist's work has graced theater posters and book covers, and he’s exhibited throughout CT and in NJ, PA, and OH. An award-winning poet and college professor, Parlato is the author of two young adult novels, The Namesake (winner of the 2011 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in YA Fiction) and The Precious Dreadful. Both explore grief, loss, and hope. On stage, he’s played roles ranging from the Scarecrow to Macbeth. Parlato offers writing workshops at libraries throughout CT. Follow him on FB at Steven Parlato Author and IG: @stevenparlato. 

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

Litchfield’s three newest restaurants, La Catrina in Bantam, the Lost Fox Inn, and The Courtroom restaurant at The Abner Hotel are all participating, and Arethusa a mano, the coffee/breakfast/lunch/dessert spot in the Arethusa Farm family, is joining restaurant week for the first time.

That brings the total of participating venues to 21, and they range from coffeehouses, bakeries, and diners to cafés and award-winning fine dining restaurants.

See the RW page for menus, links, and phone numbers.

Each of the 21 participating venues will offer a special three-course prix fixe menu at $25, $35 or $50, with some spots serving daytime special packages, others serving a special restaurant week lunch, and still others presenting both lunch and dinner menus.

Litchfield Distillery is also participating in Litchfield Restaurant Week, donating bottles of its award-winning spirits to restaurants that will create special Litchfield Restaurant Week cocktails.

VisitLitchfieldCT.com is the official source of news and updates about Litchfield Restaurant Week, which is sponsored by the Town of Litchfield’s Economic Development Commission, the Lost Fox Inn, and other area businesses.

The EDC encourages restaurant week guests to tag @VisitLitchfieldCT when posting on Facebook and Instagram, as well as tagging Instagram posts #litchfieldrestaurantweek.

Call ahead to book your reservations for lunch and dinner. You won’t want to miss out on these delicious three-course special menus!

Rhyme Time & Playgroup at OWL

Wednesdays in March at 10:30 AM

Perfect for up to 36 months, but fun for everyone!

Lots of rhymes, a sprinkling of songs, and one or two shared board books round out this library program that is perfect for little ones who need to get those wiggles out. Stay to PLAY! After the rhymes, stay for some unstructured play time with other kiddos.

Music and Rhyme for Children from Birth to 3s! A program for babies and their caretakers that incorporates music, rhythm, stories, and nursery rhymes to spur language development, body awareness, pre-reading skills, self-confidence, and cooperation. Gathering at 10:15, the program begins at 10:30.

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

Gordon Parks: Homeward to the Prairie I Come

Opening Celebration January 19

January 19, 2025 – March 30, 2025Homeward to the Prairie I Come showcases the work of Gordon Parks (1912-2006), a pioneering photographer, poet, filmmaker, musician, and composer. After becoming LIFE Magazine’s first Black staff photographer in 1948, Parks captured diverse images of life in the 20th century. Paired with his lesser-known works of poetry, this exhibition positions Parks within the history of art and provides a catalogue of his wide-ranging interests beyond documentary photography.

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Join is at the New Britain Museum of American Art for their new tour and studio program inspired by their special exhibition Modern Masters: Women of Abstract Expressionism.

The program pairs a docent-led tour of the galleries with a hands-on art studio. First, spend an hour with an NBMAA Docent learning about the lives of American women artists from the 19th century through the present. This tour will feature works from the permanent collection and the special exhibition Modern Women: Visionary Artists. Your second hour will be spent exploring hands-on art making in the light-filled NBMAA art studios. Try your hand at the “soak stain” technique pioneered by artist Helen Frankenthaler as you create a beautiful work on unprimed canvas. Designed for all levels—from total beginners to experienced artists.

* Cost includes a light cafe lunch prior to the tour. Please call LCC staff at 860-567-8302 to confirm menu choice.

* Pre-registration and Prepayment required / seats limited

Join us as we welcome Shannon Blanton to our newest gallery show.

From New Milford, CT as an established artist with a focus on natural flora and fauna. Her oil and watercolor works are multimedia using nature as her pallet.

Recently voted one of the top visual artists in Litchfield Magazine

Her paintings can be viewed for the month of March.

View her paintings here: https://www.studioshannonblanton.com/

Located at 12 Main Street, New Milford, CT.

Call with any questions (860) 354-4318.

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

Want to get involved? Join our Teen Advisory Board Meeting to discuss this month’s book club book and suggest program ideas! This month’s book is Eventown, by Corey Ann Haydu. Grades 5 and up are welcome to join. We will be meeting in the Junior Room. Please call or email (kmljuniorroom@biblio.org) the Junior Room for more information, or register online.

Find inspiration among like-minded local artists.

Bring your choice of paints (water mixable oils, watercolors, or acrylics), brushes, and canvas or paper. Paint in community.

All levels of ability welcome, but please note, no instruction will be given.

Yarn Bomb Drop-in Sessions are taking place at Five Points Arts Center throughout the winter and spring - free and open to the public of all ages, skills and techniques welcome!

MORE INFO HERE

Wednesdays (weekly):

2 - 4 PM

Jan 8 - May 28

Saturdays:

2 -4 PM

January 11 & 25

February 8 &22

March 8 & 22

April 12 & 26

May 10

$5 Per Person, Waterbury public school, magnet school, and charter school students get in FREE, Kids Adventure Passholders get in FREE.

Hang out with friends, try a relaxing craft, get creative with graphic design, or chill on a beanbag! All teens grades 6-12, ages 12+ are welcome, with supplies and snacks provided.

To pre-register please call (203) 753-0381, extension 130

Register Here

 Support provided by United Way of Greater Waterbury and Elisha Leavenworth Foundation. .

At long last, the trip of a lifetime has arrived—REFLECTIONS OF ITALY!

Join us as we travel to the beautiful country of ITALY in the Spring of 2026. A visit to experience the culture, architecture and cuisine of Italy seems to be on everyone’s Bucket List. We’re thrilled to offer you the opportunity to check it off of your List!

Reflections of Italy is the perfect tour, covering ALL of the most popular destinations in the country: Rome, Florence and Venice and OH so much more! It is a superb itinerary if you've never been to Italy or even for our more seasoned travelers. No one can get enough of Italy!

Morris Community Activities (Morris Beach and Recreation / Morris Senior Center) have partnered with AAA Northeast / Collette Tours to bring you this once is a lifetime experience. You will enjoy 10 days / 9 nights in Italy.

Some of the highlights of your experience include, but are not limited to: ROME, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Assisi, Perugia, Cortona, FLORENCE, Chianti Winery and Cooking Class, VENICE, Murano Island, Lake Como and so much more!

We’ll be staying overnight in Rome, Perugia, Florence, Venice and Como.

Your tour includes 12 meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners. The pasta! Oh the pasta!!

This adventure includes your round trip air fare from a New York City airport along with ALL of your transfers including transportation to and from the airport from the Morris Town Hall. It also includes hotel accommodations, 12 meals along with activity / museum entry fees, a tour guide that remains with the group for the entire trip and more! Some gratuities are not included.

Looking for more information? Join us for our NO obligation / commitment travel presentation!

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 / 6:00 pm

Morris Senior Center / 109-21 East Street, Morris

Travel dates are April 15 - April 24, 2026. Cost per person, double occupancy—$5,299. Single / triple rates are available upon request.

Would you like a copy of our color brochure? We'd be happy to send you one! Simply email us at Activities@townofmorrisct.com.

Ready to book? Reach out to us at Activities@townofmorrisct.com or directly to our travel partner, Karen Basilone of AAA Northeast at kbasilone@aaanortheast.com.

OR click the link below to register directly on our customized website for this adventure!

https://gateway.memberchoicevacations.com/link/1299317

Limited seating available - don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to travel with those from your own Community!

REFLECTIONS OF ITALY - TRAVEL PRESENTATION

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

6:00 pm

Morris Senior Center / 109-21 East Street, Morris

Every Wednesday from 6PM-7PM we host a FREE, casual, supportive, Poetry Group.

We will mostly be running short timed prompts (no homework) with a peer review component. Get ready to write!

Come meet the woman who volunteer with the Woman’s Club of Greater. New Milford. Enjoy some hot cocoa and snacks and find out how you can help our community through the many projects we do. “We are Girl Scouts” for grownups!

CALLING ALL SINGERS AND SONGWRITERS! 

Saddle up and come to town with your original music to share with lovers and listeners. 

Acoustic acts are encouraged, but all instruments and genres are welcome. 

If you have any questions about gear, reach out to John ( 860-560-3688 ) 

Kick back and feel welcome to bring or order in grub from around town.

Support small business while supporting small artists in “nobody’s cafe!”

No cover - free event. 

No drugs or drinking please. Thank ya!

ASAP!’s 20th Annual Celebration of Young Writers empowers students to share their love of writing with the world. Public, private and homeschooled students from across Connecticut are invited to submit for a chance to be recognized for their outstanding work, and read their piece in front of a live audience. The Celebration of Young Writers stage is a place where student voices are amplified, and their passion for writing can be shared with the world. 2024 top selected works will be presented to the public and shared through ASAP!’s website. Submissions to the Celebration of Young Writers are free.

Celebration of Young Writers was inspired by ASAP!’s objective to foster children’s creativity and imagination in the literary arts. It was established with the help of Ellen and Frank McCourt, Ann and Denis Leary, and Susanna Salk.

SUBMISSIONS

February 1 – April 1, 2025

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Winsted Restaurant Week is your opportunity to try as many restaurants as your schedule allows for one incredibly low fixed price. Ever wonder about that restaurant you’ve heard about or driven by all those times? Winsted Restaurant Week 2025 is your chance to give it a try at a reduced cost.

Click here to learn more!

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Sifted showcases Sarah Short’s masterful use of vintage materials in mixed-media collage. With a deep appreciation for the aged beauty of old book covers, forgotten ephemera, and letterpress typography, Short repurposes discarded materials into captivating compositions. Her work invites viewers to look closer, engaging with the layered textures and fragmented narratives that emerge from the remnants of the past.

“I want what was once beautiful to be beautiful again,” says Short. “My works urge you to lean in, see the small details, and remember your past.”

About the Artist

Sarah Z. Short is a mixed-media collage artist from the woods of Rhode Island. With a background as an English teacher, she has a deep connection to books—not just as literature, but as a tactile and visual medium. She prints with vintage wooden type on pages salvaged from discarded books, then transforms these prints into abstract collages, emphasizing shape, white space, and layered textures.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries, licensed as prints, and featured in both print and digital publications. In addition to her studio practice, Short teaches workshops online and in person, sharing her passion for collage and letterpress printing with others.

Ages 2 1/2 - 5 years old

This very popular preschool arts and crafts program uses every imaginable medium to stir the creative impulse in your child. Parents and children will have fun finger painting, gluing and creating together! Each week your child will bring home several themed-based projects. Children should wear an old shirt or art smock. 

Parents, please bring a bag or box to transport projects home. 

Instructor: Michele Gasiewski

Session 1 9:30am-10:15am

Session 2 10:30am-11:15am

Artist/author and college professor Steven Parlato brings his collage series, “They Are Not Disposable” to the Woodbury Public Library. The series, which depicts sixteen Black Americans whose lives were stolen due to racial violence is part tribute and part call to action.

The Middlebury artist's work has graced theater posters and book covers, and he’s exhibited throughout CT and in NJ, PA, and OH. An award-winning poet and college professor, Parlato is the author of two young adult novels, The Namesake (winner of the 2011 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in YA Fiction) and The Precious Dreadful. Both explore grief, loss, and hope. On stage, he’s played roles ranging from the Scarecrow to Macbeth. Parlato offers writing workshops at libraries throughout CT. Follow him on FB at Steven Parlato Author and IG: @stevenparlato. 

Something GIANT is coming to the Gunn Memorial Library! The Junior Library invites all members of our community to join us for Story Mode, a creative storytelling adventure leading up to the start of Summer Reading in June! 

In collaboration with the GIANT Room, a New York City-based innovation hub for kids, the Junior Library will provide four Remix activities Stations. These stations will allow you, your friends, and your family to draw and invent unique characters, settings, and plot twists and see them transformed into published trading cards, games, and comic strips.

Every Remix Station is a self-directed activity, so you can complete it on your own time with or without the help of a librarian. The Junior Library also offers “Creation Hours” every week, during which you can use supplies from the Makerspace to bring your vision to life. Be sure to check the library’s website for the complete schedule!

Each month focuses on a different part of your story:

- March 8-29, dream up your character. Complete a character sheet with a drawing of an avatar and its traits, including powers, power rating, voice, favorites, items, weaknesses, strengths, birthday, habitat, physical features, awards, and more. The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card for you!

- April 5-26, build your own city and create a place for the story to happen. Engineer a building and decide its materials and unique features. The GIANT Room will remix this creation into another printed trading card featuring their building sketch, an AI-generated 3D render of it and its features.

- May 3-24, create challenges for your character. Help create a deck of “Would You Rather” questions by submitting a question that help you reflect on your emotions, make you smile with a rhyme, spark a debate, or give you the giggles! The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card.

- June 7-28, tell a story about your character. Write and illustrate a comic strip using a pre-made template, and the GIANT Room will remix it into a printed poster. 

- Saturday, June 21, from 10-12 pm kick off summer reading and level up your character’s story as you visit several activity stations at this community event with the GIANT Room.

This is a great opportunity to express your creativity, collaborate with your community, and see your ideas come to life! 

This program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library.

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

Litchfield’s three newest restaurants, La Catrina in Bantam, the Lost Fox Inn, and The Courtroom restaurant at The Abner Hotel are all participating, and Arethusa a mano, the coffee/breakfast/lunch/dessert spot in the Arethusa Farm family, is joining restaurant week for the first time.

That brings the total of participating venues to 21, and they range from coffeehouses, bakeries, and diners to cafés and award-winning fine dining restaurants.

See the RW page for menus, links, and phone numbers.

Each of the 21 participating venues will offer a special three-course prix fixe menu at $25, $35 or $50, with some spots serving daytime special packages, others serving a special restaurant week lunch, and still others presenting both lunch and dinner menus.

Litchfield Distillery is also participating in Litchfield Restaurant Week, donating bottles of its award-winning spirits to restaurants that will create special Litchfield Restaurant Week cocktails.

VisitLitchfieldCT.com is the official source of news and updates about Litchfield Restaurant Week, which is sponsored by the Town of Litchfield’s Economic Development Commission, the Lost Fox Inn, and other area businesses.

The EDC encourages restaurant week guests to tag @VisitLitchfieldCT when posting on Facebook and Instagram, as well as tagging Instagram posts #litchfieldrestaurantweek.

Call ahead to book your reservations for lunch and dinner. You won’t want to miss out on these delicious three-course special menus!

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

Preschool Storytime at OWL: Thursdays in March at 10:30 AM

Perfect for 3 - 5 year olds, but fun for everyone!

Join Mrs. Tricia for a classic library storytime - books, songs, bubbles, and more! Come for early literary skills, social connections, and fun! We will focus on one special picture book author each week.

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

Gordon Parks: Homeward to the Prairie I Come

Opening Celebration January 19

January 19, 2025 – March 30, 2025Homeward to the Prairie I Come showcases the work of Gordon Parks (1912-2006), a pioneering photographer, poet, filmmaker, musician, and composer. After becoming LIFE Magazine’s first Black staff photographer in 1948, Parks captured diverse images of life in the 20th century. Paired with his lesser-known works of poetry, this exhibition positions Parks within the history of art and provides a catalogue of his wide-ranging interests beyond documentary photography.

 A Community History of Falls Village in Stories, Pictures and Objects. Join writer and Falls Village resident Mark Gozonsky for a six month learning by publishing workshop centered around telling Falls Village stories. Beginning in January participants will meet at the library once a month to share ideas and work on their stories in community. The group will meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 11 am. The workshop will culminate in June with a book and a community celebration and reading. This workshop is open to all ages. 

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Join us as we welcome Shannon Blanton to our newest gallery show.

From New Milford, CT as an established artist with a focus on natural flora and fauna. Her oil and watercolor works are multimedia using nature as her pallet.

Recently voted one of the top visual artists in Litchfield Magazine

Her paintings can be viewed for the month of March.

View her paintings here: https://www.studioshannonblanton.com/

Located at 12 Main Street, New Milford, CT.

Call with any questions (860) 354-4318.

LCC Staff & patrons will divide into teams and race to put together their 100 piece jigsaw puzzle. At the end of the hour, the team with the least pieces leftover wins bragging rights and a special award for each member...and Pizza for all!

* Limited spots! Pre-registration & Pre-payment required.

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

Gallery Show, COLOR & FORM, held at the Five Points Annex. View Elizabeth Wolff's work in her adventures through a variety of media (watercolors, linocut printing, fabric, and olive oil tins) alongside her father, Guy Wolff (a horticultural potter and ceramicist) and the rare opportunity to see the work of her grandfather, Robert Jay Wolff who was an American Bauhaus Abstract Expressionist and Head of the Arts at Brooklyn College. Gallery open to all, with a possible opportunity to see the Artist at work. Gallery open 12-5:00pm Tuesday - Sunday, or by appointment.

This program will be hosted by guests from the community who will share their interests and love of books with children.

Space is limited, please register on our website at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/second-third-grade-story-craft/

The Fine Arts Connection of Thomaston’s Creative Writing Group will meet on Thursday, March 27th from 5-6 pm, in Meeting Room 1 of the Thomaston Town Hall, 158 Main St. The meeting is free and open to all ages. Please bring a writing sample, any format, and a laptop/tablet, or just your pad and pencil! The group works together to support each other’s writing, whether it be journaling, poetry, short stories, or writing a novel. All levels are welcome! Call/text Vinni at 860-921-7856 for more information, or visit the FACT website: www.thomastonfinearts.com.

Award-winning songwriter John John Brown has set out to educate and entertain with his imaginative new project “New York Photosongs.” At the heart of this exploration are seven original folk songs that tell the amazing true stories behind some of New York State’s most iconic and obscure photographs. Armed with his guitar, inspiring 4x5 foot photographs, and 15 years as an educator, John John Brown shines a light on some of the most interesting New Yorkers who’ve walked before us. In a world that often moves too fast, Brown reminds us that there is still something powerful in a great story, something mysterious in an old photograph, and something meaningful in American folk music.

The Gunn Memorial Library is excited to feature The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, a gripping historical mystery that brings to life the real-life story of Martha Ballard, a fearless midwife and healer in 18th-century Maine.

Set in 1789, the novel follows Martha as she is called to examine a man found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River. Months earlier, she had documented an alleged rape involving two of the town’s most powerful men—one of whom is now dead. When a local physician dismisses her findings, Martha embarks on her investigation, determined to uncover the truth despite the dangers that lurk in her close-knit, judgmental community. As whispers grow and loyalties are tested, her diary—her life’s work—becomes central to the scandal, forcing her to make choices that could change everything.

With rich historical detail, The Frozen River is a compelling blend of mystery, justice, and resilience. Ariel Lawhon masterfully introduces readers to a remarkable woman who defied societal expectations at a time when women’s voices were often silenced. This novel promises to spark meaningful discussion about truth, power, and history's unsung heroines.

Join us as we uncover the secrets of The Frozen River and explore Martha Ballard’s extraordinary story.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/gml-thursday-book-club-the-frozen-river-by-ariel-lawhon/

Thursdays, March 20 & 27 | 6:00–8:00 PM | $75

Discover the beauty of watercolor painting in this beginner-friendly class with artist Liz Rosiello! Whether you’re new to the medium or looking to refine your skills, this two-session workshop will guide you through essential watercolor techniques, color mixing, and composition in a fun and supportive environment.

Join us at Gallery 25, located in the charming Historic Train Station in downtown New Milford, CT, for a creative and engaging experience.

Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today!

Got a Ukelele? All levels and Ages welcome every 4th Thursday of the month!

* Feel free to drop in. No pre-registration required. Check website for updates.

Free, Donations Welcome

How it Works:

-Sing-a-long & play 3 songs together, facilitated by John Concilio

-Open Mic

-Decide as a group what 3 songs you’ll play together at the next meetup.

Join us at the Library to watch Intouchables.

After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.

Bring your own snacks and drinks!