Community Calendar

Explore the colorful and resonant work of artist Dana Bol. Using materiality and color, Bol creates emotional tableaux.

The Gunn Junior Library partners with Literacy Volunteers on the Green (LVG) to present a series of fun and interactive bilingual storytimes in English and Spanish this July!

Held every Thursday in July, these sessions will feature engaging stories, a literacy-focused book, and hands-on craft activities that inspire creativity and learning. Children and families are invited to join us for this celebration of language, culture, and community connection.

Based in New Milford, LVG provides free English language and literacy tutoring to adult learners across northwestern Connecticut. With a mission rooted in empowerment through education, trained volunteer tutors meet weekly with students to help build essential communication skills for work, home, and civic life. As part of their Family Literacy initiative, LVG uses bilingual children’s books and storytelling to support language learning and help families honor their native languages and cultural heritage.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore stories, language, and creativity together!

To learn more about LVG, visit www.lvg-ct.org.

Registration Required.

Outside of the World

Peggy Mercury is pleased to announce the opening of its next show “Outside of the World” recent painting by Deen Modino.

With inspirations ranging from 60s sci-fi movies and Looney Tunes scene-scapes to Holiday Inn muted carpets and pop art flower bedspreads, Modino’s paintings are like stills in a moving diorama. At once familiar and unfamiliar, these works buzz with an underlying tension of drama and even revolt.

Email hithere@peggymercury.com or DM us on IG @itspeggymercury for more information.

For more information about Deen Modino:

deenmodinopaintings.com

@deenmodino

Peggy Mercury

9 Maple Street

Unit 2

Kent, CT 06757

The Goshen Garden Club will have their monthly meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Mary Orlando's Barn.

This will be the 4th Annual Member Plant Exchange. Members are requested to be present for the Business meeting that will begin at 11:30a.m.

Plant Exchange to follow.

Bring your lunch, listen to stories, and enjoy a fun craft! All are welcome, this program is intended for preschool-aged children. This event will be offered in person in the Junior Room of the Library.

Registration is appreciated but not required.

Designed to hone your artmaking, expand your creative problem-solving skills and build a strong portfolio, this fully funded program offers comprehensive workshops in Ceramics, Printmaking, Alternative Photography, and Painting & Drawing. Each workshop meets one afternoon per week for six weeks. Attendees can register for any individual or all four workshops.

Instructors: Jill Van Slooten, Caleb Portfolio, Kimberly Jo & Christine Mitchell

Mondays - Thursdays, July 7 through August 14, 2025

1:00 - 4:30 PM

Ages: 13 - 17

Members & Non-Members: FREE

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Opening Friday, June 13 6-8 PM

Artist Talk Friday June 27 6:30pm

Torrington Savings Bank Gallery: Endless Voyage, Jan Beekman

Torrington Downtown Partners Gallery: Still Weather, James Baker

West Gallery: Biennial Exhibition, Launchpad Artists

This month’s selection is The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester. 

Join us!

Meeting is held in the Jamie Gagarin Community Room.

Book to be discussed:

Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

This book exposes the toll taken on the people and environment in the Congo by cobalt mining. Cobalt is an essential component to every lithium-ion rechargeable battery made today, the batteries that power our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and electric vehicles. Roughly 75% of the world’s supply of cobalt is mined in the Congo.

This book club is open to all! Books are available to borrow at the library.

Multigenerational event for artists, amateurs, and beginners to paint while listening to live music. Event guided by Vincent Inconiglios and Music Mountain Artistic Director Oskar Espina Ruiz. Materials provided. Rain or Shine. Indoors.

TICKETS: Adults $20; Student / Teacher / Veteran $10; Under 19 y.o. Free (don't forget to sign up for tickets so that we may provide enough materials for everyone. Thank you!)

We’re bringing the dig to the library! Experience paleontology for yourself at our mini fossil dig with REAL fossils to find and identify.

The meeting is held in the Jamie Gagarin Community Room.

Book to be discussed:

The Substitution Order by Martin Clark

A high-flying attorney hits rock bottom. Short on cash, he lands a job at SUBstitution, the world's saddest sandwich shop. He's determined to set his life right again, but the troubles keep coming. And when a mysterious stranger wanders into the shop armed with a threatening "invitation," he will need his legal savvy to use the law's tricks and avoid hidden trapdoors. 

Book clubs are open to all! Books are available to borrow at the library.

For the first year, we will be hosting a summer market located at COE PARK on the same nights as our Summer Concert Series. Each Thursday between June and August, check out vendors of all different varieties from meats, veggies, maple syrup, handcrafted goods, and more! Check out our full vendor list soon! Inquire above if you would like to be a vendor!

Get ready to go big! The New Hartford Artisans Guild is thrilled to announce our upcoming Big

Works Art Show, celebrating artwork that makes a bold statement. This is your chance to showcase

your largest, most impactful pieces—the only requirement is that one dimension must be at least

24 inches. Whether it’s towering canvases, sweeping landscapes, or grand sculptural forms, we

want to fill the gallery with work that commands attention. Don’t miss this opportunity to take up

space and let your creativity shine on a larger scale!

Important Dates:

June 10th, 2025: Submissions begin on our website www.nhagct.art

July 10, 2025: Deadline

July 11, 2025: Notification via EMAIL

July 17-19, 2025: Receiving of accepted works, 10a.m., 5 p.m

August 7th- Sept. 20th, 2025: Duration of exhibition

August 9th 2025: Reception and Awards Ceremony, 5-8p.m. at New Hartford Artisans

Guild

Sept. 20th, 2025: Close of exhibition

Sept. 25th & 27th 2025: Pick-up of displayed works, 5-7th at New Hartford Artisans Guild

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

July 10, 5:30-7:00 pm

Calling all adventurers! Gather your friends and visit the Makerspace to level up your D&D campaigns with personalized wooden dice trays. You’ll learn how to use some CNC magic to design and create a completely customized accessory for your games- you pick the shape of the tray and the number of slots for dice, and add a personal touch with engraving! *This workshop will focus on the design part of the process. Trays will be cut on the CNC after the workshop and may be picked up from the library at a later date.

* Grades 6-12.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/teen-ddiy-make-your-own-dice-tray-grades-6-12/

Come check out the Torrington Recreations 2025 Summer Concert Series at Coe Park! Over the course of 14 weeks, every Thursday, starting June 5th and running through September 4th, we will be hosting 14 different bands who will perform a range of different genres. Concerts will be held on the outside portico at the Coe Memorial Park (101 Litchfield Road) from 6pm-8pm. Bring your blankets, chairs, food and drinks to enjoy our concerts in the park!

Wild & Company emerged from the creative synergy of lead singer and guitarist John Torres and bassist lan Tait, two seasoned musicians bound by their love of rootsy indie rock and an enduring friendship. Flanked by a full band , Wild & Company treats audiences to captivating originals as well as some of their favorite covers, including music from Paul Simon, The Allman Brothers, and more.

Summer ART Club with Liz Rosiello

Thursday Evenings • 6–8 PM • $65 per session

For Adults & Young Adults (ages 14+)

All skill levels welcome!

Join artist and instructor Liz Rosiello for a summer of creativity, skill-building, and artistic exploration! Each session of this laid-back, small-group Summer Art Club focuses on a different essential art skills—from drawing fundamentals to watercolor journaling to mastering color and value. Classes take place at Gallery 25 and we will draw inspiration from downtown New Milford, making the town itself part of your inspiration!

June: Drawing Fundamentals

Thursdays, 6/19 & 6/26 | 6–8 PM

Sharpen your drawing skills as we explore composition, perspective, and technique. We’ll be sketching the charming architecture of downtown New Milford as we learn! Sign up for Liz's June session: https://square.link/u/kXuz29Hg

July: Art Journal & Sketchbook

Thursdays, 7/10 & 7/17 | 6–8 PM

Create vibrant entries in your art journal using watercolor while learning new landscape techniques. We’ll draw inspiration from the nearby Riverwalk and Train Station views—a perfect outdoor sketching session! Sign up for Liz's July Session: https://square.link/u/E2ThVyBq

August: Learn Color & Value

Thursdays, 8/7 & 8/14 | 6–8 PM

Session 1 dives into color theory and how to apply it meaningfully in your art. In Session 2, we’ll focus on value—the true backbone of great painting. Learn how to make your work pop and why value is everything! Sign up for Liz's August Session: https://square.link/u/Ea9y3Kvk

Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your practice, Summer Art Club offers a welcoming, fun space to grow your skills with guidance from a passionate teacher.

Spots are limited—sign up early to save yours! Use the links to sign up for your sessions! Sign up for all three sessions or choose the sessions that fit your schedule!

Gallery 25 in the Historic Train Station

11 Railroad Street

New Milford, CT

Discover the magic of backyard mushroom growing! Join our master gardener, Mark, in this eye-opening workshop where you'll learn the ins and outs of cultivating three easy-to-grow mushroom varieties: Shiitakes, Oysters, and Wine Caps. Not only will you learn about the life cycle and needs of these fungi, but you'll also discover the benefits of using straw or wood chips as a growing media and how to utilize every part of a tree for mushroom cultivation.

The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to host the book launch of “Lost Love” by Orenaug Mountain Publishing, its most recent poetry collection, on Thursday, July 10th at 6 pm.

Local contributors to the collection, including Sam Gluck, Ed Dzitko, Martin Giroux, Sandy Carlson and others will read from the collection. There will be refreshments and books will be available for purchase.

 ABOUT THE BOOK

The poets from around the world who contributed their work to “Lost Love” reflect on what it means to love, to remember, to say good-bye, and to long for one more word or moment with a loved one. 

The collection was edited by Orenaug Mountain Publishing managing partner Sandy Lee Carlson, who says the collection was inspired by the story “of a friend who lost a son without having the opportunity to say good-bye.  I began to think of all those last encounters with others that didn’t seem final until they were—and then they became momentous, living in the heart as abiding love that wanders alone.”

Martin Giroux, a contributor from Bethlehem, Connecticut, says he welcomed the opportunity to contribute a poem about his son: “This collection of poetry is a powerful and lovely testimony to the most universal of human journeys, that of loss. I feel privileged to be considered among such talent.”

 ABOUT ORENAUG MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING

Orenaug Mountain Publishing (orenaugmountainpublishing.com) seeks to be a beacon for poetic expression by creating a platform for poets to share their work with the world. We publish high-quality work that challenges, inspires, and connects readers through language.

 This event is free and open to the public.  If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve signed copies of “Lost Love” by calling The Hickory Stick Bookshop at (860) 868 0525, or shop our website 24/7 at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.  

The students of CT State Naugatuck Valley will be bringing the magic of Broadway with them as they share songs and scenes from various beloved musicals. Under the direction of Professor Gil Harel, this summer theater troupe has performed all over the northeast, at venues in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. With a classic cabaret performance, their dynamic and well-rehearsed acts have been a hit with audiences of all listening backgrounds.

Tours cover the following:

• History of the 159 year-old Library and its founders, many of which are significant Torrington figures;
• Highlighting historic, architectural features of the current Library building on Litchfield Street;
• Exploring the new library building and collection;
• Viewing the library's historical artifacts, including items from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, John Brown Memorabilia and letters, The Holley Gun Collection, The Coe Glass Collection, The Deborah Goldwaithe International Doll Collection, and much more.

Thursday, July 10th, at 6:30, 2nd Home is thrilled to welcome back the Jim Schribert / Bill Kimball Jazz Guitar Duo. The Duo performs a wide variety of traditional and contemporary jazz, as well as smooth jazz instrumentals. Jim and Bill have brought their many years of musical experience together to form this unique jazz guitar duo.

Jim Schribert is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music, studying both jazz and pop guitar styles and music theory. Over the years, he’s performed and recorded a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, rock and funk. Jim has performed as the orchestra guitarist in local dinner theater productions, including, Grease, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Godspell, as well as the orchestra guitarist for actor and impressionist Frank Gorshin, known as the Riddler from the Batman TV series. For the last 30 years, Jim has been the guitarist for the Hartford based R&B dance band Locomotion, which has performed at numerous events including: Traveler’s Insurance Company Ball, Black-Tie Fund Raiser Galas for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation, Hartford Jaycees, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and the Mohegan Sun Casino's Federal Tribe Recognition Gala.

Bill Kimball has recorded professionally with the DeSesa Quintet as a tribute to Tony William’s music. He has played in various bands such as The Good Times, Sophistafunk, Freeway and Frank & Friends / Aetna Jazz Band, performing pop, disco, country, rock / blues and classic and contemporary jazz. His corporate band performed for many large charitable events in the Hartford and NYC areas. Bill also performed the guitar chart for the shows: West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Seussical the Musical in local theater productions. Bill also has been volunteering musically for more than 30 years, most recently being the original leader of the WIND contemporary worship team at First Church in Wethersfield, where he’s led or participated in a group of instrumentalists and vocalists for over 15 years. During this time, he was the band rehearsal leader for the international Christian artist Robin Mark for three years in a row.

For reservations call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Join us at the Library for French Film Night and watch Tanguy. Feel free to bring snacks and beverages of your choice!

Tanguy is 28 years old and still living with his parents. They think it’s time he moves out. He doesn’t, so they hatch a plan...

Bring your picnic baskets and lawn chairs and join us for one, two or all of these fun family events!! 

These are all free events! No Registration is Required! Feel free to join us for some foot tapping and swinging Summer entertainment!

CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Gallery 25 proudly presents EXPOSURES 2025 Open Juried Photography Show!

Now accepting submissions!

Drop off Images to Gallery 25: Sunday, August 17 (11am-3pm)

Photography Show Runs from August 21-Sept 7

Opening Reception is Saturday, August 23 from 2-4pm

Whether you're a seasoned pro or an emerging talent behind the lens, this is your chance to showcase your vision and compete for cash prizes—including a $350 First Place Award!

We’re looking for original, striking, and creative photography in all styles and subjects.

Hosted at Gallery 25 in the Historic Train Station, New Milford

Submit your work online at Gallery25CT.com by Thursday, August 14

All levels welcome

Please Note: While we celebrate artistic expression, we ask that displayed artwork be suitable for viewing by all ages. Please review the prospectus for eligibility prior to submission.

Aspire. Inspire. Get Exposed.

Submit your work today and be part of one of the region’s most exciting annual photography exhibitions!

Gallery 25 in the Historic Train Station

11 Railroad Street

New Milford, CT

Gallery25CT.com

Global artists have sent in their wildest images, film, music and poems for Personaland's online art show

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 68 countries in 32 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles.  https://www.personaland.com

Call for Artists: August Light 2025 at the Kent Art Association

Presented by Sherman Artists

Sherman Artists invites you to be part of August Light 2025, a juried art show celebrating brilliance, beauty, and inspiration. This vibrant exhibit will be held in Kent, CT, and is open to both 2D and 3D original artworks created by the submitting artist.

Submission Details:

🎨 Submit up to four (4) high-quality digital images of your artwork at ShermanArtists.org or use the QR code.

📅 Deadline: Midnight on Monday, July 11, 2025.

📩 Notification of acceptance and contracts will be sent by July 18, 2025.

💸 Submission is free, but please review the full submission rules for entry fee details and prospectus.

Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your work in one of Litchfield County's most picturesque towns, where art and nature meet in perfect harmony.

The Merwinsville Hotel is excited to be continuing the Glass Orb Scavenger Hunt thanks to a generous donation from the New Milford Commission on the Arts.

There are 24 area historic sites and organizations that are participating with the Hotel. Each site is hiding four numbered and dated one-of-a-kind glass orbs (three clear and one colored) either inside or outside on their property. Participants can search for and keep any glass orb that they find, but please limit one orb per person/family so everyone has a chance! Be sure to register your orb on the Merwinsville Hotel website where you can also upload a photo. Share your find on social media and don't forget to tag the organization where you found it!

The blown glass orbs that are numbered, dated for 2025, and stamped with “MHR 50”. In addition to the clear glass orbs, there are 25 colored orbs for 2025. Reminder: Because each organization's hours vary, be sure to check their websites before you head out on your hunt.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS BY TOWN:

Bantam:

Bantam Cinema

Brookfield:

Brookfield Craft Center

Danbury:

Danbury Museum & Historical Society; Danbury Railway Museum

Gaylordsville - Celebrating its 300th Anniversary!

Browns Forge; Little Red Schoolhouse; Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, Inc.; The Washington Oak Park (DAR Roger Sherman Chapter)

Kent:

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association; Eric Sloane Museum; Kent Historical Society

Litchfield:

Litchfield Historical Society

New Fairfield:

New Fairfield Historical Society (at the Little Red Schoolhouse); Preserve New Fairfield

New Milford:

Gallery 25 & Creative Arts Studio; Harrybrooke Park; Merryall Center for the Arts; New Milford Historical Society; Pratt Nature Center; The Silo @ Hunt Hill Farm Trust; TheatreWorks; Village Center for the Arts

Sherman:

Sherman Historical Society

Washington:

Gunn Historical Museum

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Support our food, beverage and retail businesses. Get your Taste of Burlington card stamped at at least 12 of the following businesses between June 21, 2025 and September 1, 2025 for a chance to win gift certificates.

The B. Hive www.thebhiveburlington.com

Burlington Spirit Shoppe www.burlingtonspirit.com

Charming Thai Restaurant www.charming-thai.com

China Garden (860) 675-6666

Daily Mart (860) 675-7243

Delta Pizza www.delta-pizza.com

Enclave Grille www.enclavegrille.com

Greenhouse Tavern www.greenhousecafeandtavern.com

Happy Hippie Homestead www.facebook.com/people/Happy-Hippie-Homestead/61564351782316/

Hogan's Cider Mill www.hoganscidermill.com

I Know A Guy Deli www.iknowaguyfoodsllc.com

Kyle's Doghouse (860) 729-6146

Lamothe's Sugar House www.lamothesugarhouse.com

Larson's Garden Center www.larsonsgardencenter.com

Little Axe Market www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569260639474#

Little Laurel's Cookie Co. www.littlelaurels.com

The Nevermind Shop www.nevermindshop.com

Sabrina's Restaurant & successor www.sabrinasrestaurantct.com

The Swimming Pool Store www.theswimmingpoolstore.com

Tonn's Marketplace www.tonnsmarketplace.com

Thank you to our sponsors: Torrington Savings Bank, M&T Bank and the Burlington CT Police Union

Submissions now open! ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Photographers invites students in grades 6-12 to submit their photographs for a chance to participate in a juried art exhibition. A panel of professional photographers selects 60 photos for a public exhibition, recognizing the top four photographers for their outstanding and thoughtful work based on the yearly theme.

Submissions: now - September 26, 2025

Theme: Transformation

Exhibition: Hartford Art School's Silpe Gallery. Sunday, November 2, 2025, 2:00-3:30 pm

Submissions and guidelines: visit asapct.org

School’s OUT! Summer Camp @ the Mattatuck Museum

Join in on summer fun at the Mattatuck Museum through our School’s OUT! Summer Adventures Camp. This year we are hosting 6 weeks of summer camp — with new themes and experiences each week. During these week-long camps children will be immersed in the Museum’s galleries while learning about history and developing their art skills with unique materials and techniques.

Camp hours – 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM; FREE Before and After Care from 8 AM – 9 AM and 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM.

Support provided by American Savings Foundation and Post University.

Summer camp payment and registrations are being accepted on a rolling basis, however, the refund policy (no refunds after May 21) remains in effect, even if registering or paying past that date. The registration form MUST be completed prior to the first day the child will be participating in camp.

WEEKS:

June 30-July 3: Marvelous Me!

July 7-11: Mini MIXMASTER

July 14-18: Georgia’s Garden

July 21-25: Melodic Masterpieces

July 28-August 1: Capes and Canvases: A Superhero Spectacular

August 4-8: Theater Arts Camp with Grumbling Gryphons

Scholarships Available through United Way’s Greater Waterbury Campership Fund.

Campers with a Kids Adventure Pass will receive 50% discount on weekly rate.

Robotics And Beyond is offering the following camps for grades K-6:

• LEGO Makers for grades K-4 (half-day am)
• STEM Explorers for grades K-2 (half-day pm)
• Bundled topics for grades 3-6 in Robotics and Mechanics, Coding, and Design (full-day)

Financial assistance available. Register at https://www.roboticsandbeyond.org/summer-stem-camp/.

Where teens build artistic skills and lasting friendships

Ages: 13+

Two sessions—choose one or both:

• TAS 1: June 23 – 27

• TAS 2: July 7 – 11

Time: 9am–3:30pm

Teaching Artist: Shana Bazelmans

Fee: $350 per session

At Teen Art Studio, teens step into their power as creators. They’ll choose their own art projects and mediums and—with their dedicated teaching artist’s guidance—create independently and collaboratively. Photographs, print, cloth, and a vast array of other mediums will be offered. 

Teens will have the opportunity to:

• Master techniques in sculpture, illustration, mixed media, painting, fashion design, and more.
• Develop their unique artistic voice through personalized projects.
• Build a portfolio for future artistic endeavors.
• Form meaningful connections with fellow young artists.
• Gain confidence through creative problem solving.
• Learn from an experienced teaching artist who nurtures individual talent.

Perfect for both beginners and experienced young artists, this program provides all the tools, guidance, and inspiration teens needs to thrive creatively.

This is a small group program. Space is limited.

Registration is now open for Teen Art Studio.

Register: https://americanmuralproject1.regfox.com/teen-art-studio

AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.

Scholarships available. Learn more.

Explore more Summer @AMP programs.

You don't have to wait for summer! 

Check out AMP's monthly Teen Art Studio during the academic year. 

Real-life carpentry and woodworking

Three sessions: 

• ODB Basic: Structure: June 23–June 27 *WAITLIST ONLY
• ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture: June 30–July 3
• ODB Advanced: July 7–July 11

Dream it and build it! In this small-group outdoor program, tweens and teens will design, plan, and build lasting wood structures and sculptures. Working together, under the guidance of an experienced woodworker-artisan duo, participants gain practical skills—and confidence—using hand tools to create projects. Past projects include an outdoor stage, A-frame, pergola, planter boxes, and a treehouse. 

In these five fun-filled days, kids will:

• Gain basic carpentry skills—measuring, cutting, fitting, and more.
• Use their own set of hand tools—and take pride in their proper care and safe use.
• Try out building techniques using modern, dimensional lumber.
• Learn to source natural materials from the environment.
• Develop spatial design aptitudes.
• Work as a team. 
• Discover the sheer joy of real-life woodworking and building.

Space is limited. This is a small-group outdoor program that maintains a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio to provide hands-on direction. Early registration is recommended.

Session 1 - ODB Basic: Structure

Learn the building techniques artists use. Create wood sculptures and armatures, craft musical instruments, and more.

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27

Times: 9am–3pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and Justin Truskauskas

Fee: $395

No experience is necessary for ODB Basic: Structure, but…

A keen interest in carpentry and the outdoors is a prerequisite. Participants will need to work together to complete their project successfully. 

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

Session 2 - ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture

Gain practical furniture-making skills while participating in the RiseUp for Art Able TableTM initiative. Participants will:

• Design and build a structure for AMP’s campus.
• Build wheelchair/stroller-accessible picnic tables to enhance the community. 
• Explore accessibility in public furniture design, ensuring that everyone “has a place at the table.”
• Contribute to tangible, community-serving projects.
• Learn how public art transforms spaces and fosters inclusion, and more.

No experience is necessary for ODB Basic: Sculpture, but…

A keen interest in carpentry and the outdoors is a prerequisite. Participants will need to work together to complete their project successfully. 

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, June 30 – Thursday, July 3 (no session on July 4)

Times: 9am–4pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and David Polon

Partnerships: RiseUp for Art

Fee: $395

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

Session 3 - ODB Advanced

Participants will apply the skills they’ve gained and learn new ones, designing and building with more autonomy. Through AMP’s partnership with the RiseUp for Art Able TableTM initiative, participants will:

Design and build a structure for AMP’s campus.Build wheelchair/stroller-accessible picnic tables to enhance the community. 

Explore accessibility in public furniture design, ensuring that everyone “has a place at the table.”

Contribute to tangible, community-serving projects.

Learn how public art transforms spaces and fosters inclusion, and more.

To register for ODB ADVANCED, you MUST meet one of these requirements:

Successful completion of one of the Outdoor Design & Build BASIC sessions OR

Successful completion of ODB in a previous year OR

Passing a basic carpentry skills assessment (Request an assessment when you register.)

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11

Times: 9am–3pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and David Polon

Partnerships: RiseUp for Art

Fee: $395

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to present a joint art exhibition, “Abstract Meditations,” featuring the works of Leonard Kady and Heather Neilson. This show is on view beginning Friday, July 4.

An opening reception will be held at the park on Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. An artist talk will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 4 pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Leonard Kady is an artist and architect whose photography emerged from a personal reckoning with time and isolation during the pandemic. Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist whose work explores the interplay of nature, the passage of time, and a sense of place.

This exhibition offers visitors a moment to pause, observe, and reconnect—with nature, with self, and with the enduring rhythms that shape us all.

BIG BOOK SALE – 2 Days Only! July 11-12, 2025 (9am-4pm)

Venue: The ATTIC Marketplace Parking Lot – 411 Danbury Road (Rte 7 North), New Milford, CT.

Organized by Phil, Alli & Family (“The Book Revivalist”)

Please read below so you can understand who we are and why you should come to this book sale. You won't be disappointed, we promise! (Also read below to find out how you can get FREE books and coupons!)

The Book Revivalist’s Low-Cost Big Book Sale is a local family-run project that gets ALL the books directly FROM THE COMMUNITY through our free community service called CommunityBookPickup.com (proud partners of the Give My Books Network nationwide).

We have some of the most popular titles in print, as well as a wide range of very eclectic books that change EVERY sale. The books are valuable to booklovers and readers in general, to collectors and resellers (Amazon, eBay, Bookstores, Dealers, Etc.) with EXTREMELY reasonable prices. This is a sale that is worth coming to! Again, we promise!

Here are 3 ways to get FREE books from us during our BIG BOOK SALE:

1. Show us your Teacher ID or proof of Homeschooling and get one additional book free with your purchase.

2. Teachers and Homeschoolers also get 10% off every purchase.

3. Join our email list at https://bit.ly/BookRevivalistEmailList to get a “$5 off orders of $30 or more” coupon. (Coupon is sent during the week of the sale. Just so you’re not wondering where it’s at when you sign up … it’ll be coming).

Thank you SO MUCH for reading our little letter to you:

Please, come to the sale.

Please, like, share and tell others about it.

Please, have a wonderful day today!

- Phil, Alli & the Fam -

NOW ON TO ALL THE SALE DETAILS! …

Where: The ATTIC Marketplace Parking Lot – 411 Danbury Road (Rte 7 North), New Milford, CT.

Dates: July 11-12, 2025 - 9am-4pm

Free Admission

Cash and Credit Accepted!

Browse 10,000 books: Hardcover, paperback, fiction, non-fiction, young adult & children, and some foreign language. There will also be CDs, DVDs, Video Games, VHS & Vinyl Records.

OUR SIMPLE PRICING:

All Adult Books (Fiction/Non-Fiction): $3

YA/Juvenile/Comix & Graphic Novels: $2

Children’s Story Books & Board Books: $1

Single CD’S and DVD’s: $3

CD / DVD seasons and box sets: $5

Audio cassette and VHS Tapes: $1

Video Games (Xbox, Wii, Game Cube, Etc.): $5

Vinyl Records: $2

Plan NOW to join us. Click “Going / Interested” on this event page to register for a Facebook reminder.

Thank you for reading. And see you at the sale!

Phil, Alli & the Fam

Conversational Italian, 13-sessions, is not a beginner class. It will be held on Fridays, April 25 to August 1, 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., with no class on May 30 or July 4. It is designed for those with a knowledge of basic Italian grammar and good vocabulary.  The required text is Conversational Italian: In 20 Lessons (Cortina Method) by Michael Cagno,  available online at abebooks.com.  

This summer, Grumbling Gryphons returns to Rumsey Hall School to hold a five day theater arts camp for children ages 6-14 years old. Directed by Leslie Elias - Artistic Director with a staff of professional actors, musicians, puppeteers, and visual artists, children will engage in drama, art, music and storytelling. Campers will have fun learning and exploring musical and theatrical improvisation, make puppets, masks and act together in a final production at the end of the week. They will play parts such as Royalty, acrobats, jesters, ceremonial dancers and become part of a gigantic dragon in an original production of St George and The Dragon: A Medieval Fantasy & Celebration. The play, written and directed by Leslie Elias, with costumes by Ellen Moon will be performed by campers and counselors with live music by Brian Bender on keyboard and trombone. Natalie Resto will teach art and actor Daniel Saed will assist in acting and directing.

 The performance of St George & The Dragon: A Medieval Fantasy & Celebration will be open to the public and performed In the Maxwell A. Sarofim '05 Performing Arts Center at the upper campus on Friday, July 11th at 1 pm.

 For more information contact Leslie Elias-artistic director at grumblinggryphons@gmail.com

 To register go to wwww.grumblinggryphons.org

Waldo's Back in Washington Depot This July!

Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and two hundred and fifty independent bookstores across the country for some hide-and-seek fun to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses.

Where’s Waldo?   In Washington Depot, of course!  Beginning on Tuesday 1st July, the iconic children’s book character in the red-and-white-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 19 local businesses throughout the community .  Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses and the Shop Local movement.

Anyone who wishes to join in the fun can pick up a “Find Waldo in Washington Depot” passport from any of the participating stores.  When you spot Waldo collect a store stamp or signature.  And to make things a little more challenging, Waldo’s magnifying glass will also be hiding in The Hickory Stick Bookshop.

Great prizes for participants who get 16 or more stamps in their passport. Completed passports should be handed in to the Hickory Stick Bookshop by no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday July 31st.

We will be having a celebration party from 3-4 pm on Saturday August 2nd. Check our website for further details!

There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for all of July.  

For more information about hunting for Waldo in Washington Depot, call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525 or visit our website at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.  

“Level Up at Your Library” Summer Reading Program for all ages, Morris Public Library, June 24 -August 20, 2025.

We are excited to offer a fun and engaging Summer Reading Program “Level Up at Your Library,” June 24 – August 20, 2025.

Each reading level has their own “Level Up at Your Library” Activity Card to participate in the program. Youngsters (PreK and under) will enjoy reading with their families and engage in fun activities. Students (Grades K-Grade 5) will count the number of their new reading adventures by writing them down in their cards. Teens (Grades 6-12) and adults will explore new and special book selections, which they can easily find at their Library.

Submit your completed cards (could be more than one!) to enter for a chance to win a Level Up at Your Library Prize.

Find weekly coloring projects for children and adults throughout the program – complete yours and share it for our library display!

No registration is required – obtain your card at the kickoff, at the library or download it from the website https://morrispubliclibrary.net (all levels!).

STEVE PARLATO BIO

Middlebury artist Steven Parlato’s work has graced theater posters and book covers, and he’s exhibited his collage series, They Are Not Disposable, throughout CT and in NJ, PA, and OH. An award-winning poet and college professor emeritus, 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. His poetry has appeared in Freshwater, MARGIE, Borderlands, Peregrine, CT River Review, and other journals. On stage, he’s played roles ranging from the Scarecrow to Macbeth. Parlato offers writing workshops at venues throughout CT and creates artwork on commission. Follow him on FB at Steven Parlato Author and IG: @stevenparlato.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

They Are Not Disposable should not need to exist. However, the persistent plague of systemic racism in America (and beyond) makes this artwork necessary. With the collage series complete, the sixteen initials within the works unite to make the declaration, “BLACK LIVES MATTER.” It is absurd this statement should need to be made; tragic it should still be met with resistance. 

Since this is the reality of our world, I ask that you meet threats to justice with your own resistance, in whatever creative form you choose. The only wrong way to approach racism, and all other forms of evil, is to remain silent. As I reflect on the creation of these images, I’m daunted by the work to be done—and overwhelmed by the fact that there are a near-infinite number of potential subjects, countless lives stolen by the evil of white supremacy. 

My hope is that this work leaves an impression, reminding viewers of the intrinsic humanity of each subject, and that of each individual we encounter. If my portraits of the stolen have touched you, I encourage you to learn more about these sixteen people, to keep their memories alive as I’ve attempted to do. And together, let’s confront the issues of inequity and racial violence that continue to claim innocent lives.

on display at the Souterrain Gallery through July :

“Frank Rosen a nontraditional woodworker who also uses wood for painting and sculpture. His work moves in different directions: geometric to flowing, flat to textural, colorful to subdued. Surprise and humor are also media in which he dabbles.”   

more info at www.souterraingallery.net

open Th-Su 11-5

Dates:  June 14 – July 27, 2025

Reception: Saturday June 14, 4 – 6 PM, public invited

Gallery hours: Thursday – Saturday 11:00 – 5:30, Sunday 12:00 – 4:00 and by appointment

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is honored to present a solo exhibition of new paintings by Janna Watson. Watson is a conceptual painter based in Toronto, Canada. Poems Without Words is Watson’s fourth solo exhibition with the gallery who has included Watson in eight other exhibitions and placed her work in numerous private collections. The gallery has represented the artist since 2017.

Through her practice, Watson works to reframe spirituality into objects that reflect fluidity, agility, and joy. She communicates this through a queering of the painterly process, into one that is diversely applied, gestural, and multi-oriented. Janna intentionally forgoes the use of borders on her paintings to create a sense of the infinite, and the inherent vulnerability of a spirituality that is not contained by a canon.

Janna Watson’s compositions and color choices are both careful and spontaneous, each gesture evoking an unstated emotional response. The paintings are generous passages of vivid color with swooping buttery paint strokes, and calligraphic marks floating on fields of saturated color. They are not spare, but they have an implied economy of language, each gesture gathered towards the others with an unseen gravitational force coalescing into a graceful equilibrium.

Part of the exhilaration I acquire from painting is being able to see shifts within myself manifested into a physical reality. The most truthful form of expression I have found in my life thus far has been the abstract language of painting.  – Janna Watson, 2025

Janna Watson’s work is widely exhibited internationally including in Canada, the United States and Taiwan. Watson’s paintings can be found in significant collections including Google, Air Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, Toronto, CIBC, Toronto, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Toronto, HBC Global Art Collection, New York, to name a few. Watson earned a BFA in Drawing and Painting from Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto.

Please contact Lani Ming Holloway, Associate Director, Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquires or to arrange a preview of the exhibition.

Explore the colorful and resonant work of artist Dana Bol. Using materiality and color, Bol creates emotional tableaux.

Outside of the World

Peggy Mercury is pleased to announce the opening of its next show “Outside of the World” recent painting by Deen Modino.

With inspirations ranging from 60s sci-fi movies and Looney Tunes scene-scapes to Holiday Inn muted carpets and pop art flower bedspreads, Modino’s paintings are like stills in a moving diorama. At once familiar and unfamiliar, these works buzz with an underlying tension of drama and even revolt.

Email hithere@peggymercury.com or DM us on IG @itspeggymercury for more information.

For more information about Deen Modino:

deenmodinopaintings.com

@deenmodino

Peggy Mercury

9 Maple Street

Unit 2

Kent, CT 06757

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Join us for a relaxing break to meet others and socialize through a board or card game.

This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Khurshed Bhumgara Fund.

Come see a lively and fantastical performance of ST George and The Dragon: A Medieval Fantasy & Celebration. The play is written and directed by Leslie Elias, with costumes by Ellen Moon. The play will feature theater campers , and adult Grumbling Gryphons actors in an interactive show with live music by Brian Bender on keyboards and trombone. If you are interested in acting & helping out by participating in the 12 person Dragon Puppet, kindly email: Leslie Elias-Artistic Director in advance to join the merry makers and puppeteers!

Refreshments will be served after the show!

Opening Friday, June 13 6-8 PM

Artist Talk Friday June 27 6:30pm

Torrington Savings Bank Gallery: Endless Voyage, Jan Beekman

Torrington Downtown Partners Gallery: Still Weather, James Baker

West Gallery: Biennial Exhibition, Launchpad Artists

LARP @ Your Library! Fridays at 1pm 

Registration Required.

LARP /lärp/ noun

• a type of interactive role-playing game in which the participants portray characters through physical action, often in costume and with props.

Play LARP with us! 

7/11 Character Creation: Make an original hero to play LARP and discover your own personal legend.

7/18 DIY Projects: Build your own LARP gear and learn to think creatively and make solutions.

7/25 Playing your Character: Time to celebrate all your hard work and apply the skills you have learned!

Book signing, reading, and reception in the Museum on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Hike to the Little Pond Boardwalk with Kate Kyres: Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Author Kate Kyres’ life has been shaped “by countless walks that I have taken on the Boardwalk at Little Pond.” Kate has photographed her daughter at the majestic Crack Willow. This willow plays an important role in Kyres’ beautiful, whimsical book, “Wren the Weeping Willow Fairy.”

Come to the Nature Museum on Friday evening, July 11, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm for a reading, signing, and reception celebrating Kate’s delightful book!

On Saturday morning, July 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., Join Kate for an interpretive stroll along The Little Pond Boardwalk to Wren’s Willow. Meet at the main entrance to the Little Pond Boardwalk at 121 Whites Woods Road. Please pre-register: www.whitememorialcc.org FREE… Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Our Summer Concert Series continues!

The Tradesmen is a high energy 4-piece group performing a wide variety of classics & favorites.

The Morris Town Green is located at the intersection of Routes 61 and 109. Convenient parking either at the Morris Town Hall or at James Morris School.

Grab your lawn chair and blanket, pack a picnic dinner and join us for some LIVE music!

Friday, July 11

6:00 pm

Morris Town Green

FREE!

(In case of inclement weather, please visit this Facebook page and our website (www.morrisct.gov) for updates.)

A Friends of the Thomaston Public Library Fundraiser! This is an adult only 21+ event. Tickets include ONE alcoholic beverage, soft drinks, appetizers, and entry to visit all the furry and scaly friends! We will have many animals for you to pet, hold, and take pictures with. Cash bar available. 

All money raised will go to support programming at the library. Tickets can be purchased at the library. Tickets are $30 if bought in advanced, and $35 at the door. 

The David M. Hunt Library and the Falls Village Recreation Committee are excited to offer a summer concert series on the lawn of the David M. Hunt Library. On July 11th at 6 pm the library will host Jonny Grusauskas. Jonny is a founder of the Music Cellar in Millerton, NY, a space dedicated to music education. He performs solo and as part of the band lespecial. Pack a picnic, bring chairs or a blanket, and join us on the library lawn for music this summer! These events are free and open to the public. 

Welcome to the Litchfield Live Sessions featuring Belle of the Fall! Join us at the Litchfield Music Center for an evening of captivating music and soulful performances. Belle of the Fall is sure to enchant you with their beautiful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. Don't miss out on this special event where you can experience the magic of live music up close in an intimate setting. Grab your friends and come enjoy a night of music that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. See you there!

Friday, July 11th, at 7:00 PM, 2nd Home will have Brian DuFord and 2nd Home's own Sean P. McGlynn. Brian will be playing a great renaissance and classical music set from 7:00 - 8:00, and then Sean will join him from 8:00 - 10:00 for two hours of 60's - 90's classic rock.

For reservations call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

https://goo.gl/maps/eC7A4ZDEjenNqzpb6

https://goo.gl/maps/NWGK4NRyk6MNfmWZ6

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Paint and sip located above Toothpick on Water Street in Torrington!

BYOB! Painting new types of still life's every week.

All materials included in price

RSVP online

🚀 Fasten your seatbelts—this ride is unforgettable! 🎡

Six teenagers board the Cyclone roller coaster, expecting thrills—but what happens when fate takes a sharp turn? In a split second, their world changes, and they find themselves in a limbo where a mysterious mechanical fortune teller offers them one last chance to tell their stories.

Darkly hilarious, unexpectedly heartfelt, and bursting with electrifying musical numbers, Ride the Cyclone takes you on a theatrical journey unlike any other. Packed with wit, wonder, and wisdom, this show explores fate, identity, and the meaning of a life well-lived.

Don’t miss this wild, whimsical, and wickedly entertaining musical—it’s a ride you won’t forget!

A drink in hand, good friends at your side, and some good belly laughs — it’s the perfect recipe for Comedy Night at Spring Hill Vineyards!

Join us Friday, July 11 for a hilarious evening of stand-up comedy during wine tasting hours! While the show is open to all our guests, reserved seating inside the barn is available for those who want to secure a front-row experience. Lawn seating will be open and first come, first served — so come early, grab a glass, and settle in for the fun.

Enjoy performances from Dave Reilly, along with AJ from 99 Rock WPLR and Cory James, who will have you laughing from start to finish with their unique, interactive style. Comedic content can be subjective — and that’s what makes it unforgettable!

We’ll be pouring your favorite wines and serving up charcuterie boards and savory artisan pizzas from Eagle Eye.

Reserve your seats early — barn spots go fast!

Join us for “Celestial Sounds” with music for harp, flute, and strings.

To mark the 150th birthday year of the great French composer Maurice Ravel we

present our own unique interpretations of his music. At the crossroads between

Impressionism and modernism, Ravel created kaleidoscopic soundscapes drawing inspiration from mythological realms, faraway lands, and his own prodigious imagination.

Program Includes:

• Haydn; Divertissement No. 1, 􀃸ute, violin and cello

• Debussy; Trio for 􀃸ute, viola and harp

• Ravel; Habanera, for cello and harp

. • Ravel; Sonatine arr., 􀃸ute, cello and harp

Performers: Susan Rotholz (􀃸ute), Michael Roth (violin and viola), Eliot Bailen (cello), Stacey Shames (harp).

Harpist Stacey Shames is recognized as one of the world’s foremost harpists. Her busy performing schedule includes appearances at major international festivals and collaborations with celebrated musicians including Renee Fleming, Andrea Bocelli, James Galway, Andreas Scholl, Placido Domingo, Joshua Bell, and Gil Shaham in numerous recordings, concerts and television appearances.

Tickets $30. Children ages 16 and under free

ACCLAIMED MAGICIAN BELINDA SINCLAIR PERFORMS HER THEATRICAL MAGIC WITH CAPTIVATING SLEIGHT OF HAND, FUSING ALLEGORY WITH HISTORICAL STORIES ABOUT MAGIC IN THE HANDS OF WOMEN, AND HOW THEY CONVINCED US ALL THAT MAGIC WAS REAL AND THAT OUR POTENTIAL IS GREATER THAN WE THINK IT IS

CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Gallery 25 proudly presents EXPOSURES 2025 Open Juried Photography Show!

Now accepting submissions!

Drop off Images to Gallery 25: Sunday, August 17 (11am-3pm)

Photography Show Runs from August 21-Sept 7

Opening Reception is Saturday, August 23 from 2-4pm

Whether you're a seasoned pro or an emerging talent behind the lens, this is your chance to showcase your vision and compete for cash prizes—including a $350 First Place Award!

We’re looking for original, striking, and creative photography in all styles and subjects.

Hosted at Gallery 25 in the Historic Train Station, New Milford

Submit your work online at Gallery25CT.com by Thursday, August 14

All levels welcome

Please Note: While we celebrate artistic expression, we ask that displayed artwork be suitable for viewing by all ages. Please review the prospectus for eligibility prior to submission.

Aspire. Inspire. Get Exposed.

Submit your work today and be part of one of the region’s most exciting annual photography exhibitions!

Gallery 25 in the Historic Train Station

11 Railroad Street

New Milford, CT

Gallery25CT.com

Global artists have sent in their wildest images, film, music and poems for Personaland's online art show

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 68 countries in 32 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles.  https://www.personaland.com

The Merwinsville Hotel is excited to be continuing the Glass Orb Scavenger Hunt thanks to a generous donation from the New Milford Commission on the Arts.

There are 24 area historic sites and organizations that are participating with the Hotel. Each site is hiding four numbered and dated one-of-a-kind glass orbs (three clear and one colored) either inside or outside on their property. Participants can search for and keep any glass orb that they find, but please limit one orb per person/family so everyone has a chance! Be sure to register your orb on the Merwinsville Hotel website where you can also upload a photo. Share your find on social media and don't forget to tag the organization where you found it!

The blown glass orbs that are numbered, dated for 2025, and stamped with “MHR 50”. In addition to the clear glass orbs, there are 25 colored orbs for 2025. Reminder: Because each organization's hours vary, be sure to check their websites before you head out on your hunt.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS BY TOWN:

Bantam:

Bantam Cinema

Brookfield:

Brookfield Craft Center

Danbury:

Danbury Museum & Historical Society; Danbury Railway Museum

Gaylordsville - Celebrating its 300th Anniversary!

Browns Forge; Little Red Schoolhouse; Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, Inc.; The Washington Oak Park (DAR Roger Sherman Chapter)

Kent:

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association; Eric Sloane Museum; Kent Historical Society

Litchfield:

Litchfield Historical Society

New Fairfield:

New Fairfield Historical Society (at the Little Red Schoolhouse); Preserve New Fairfield

New Milford:

Gallery 25 & Creative Arts Studio; Harrybrooke Park; Merryall Center for the Arts; New Milford Historical Society; Pratt Nature Center; The Silo @ Hunt Hill Farm Trust; TheatreWorks; Village Center for the Arts

Sherman:

Sherman Historical Society

Washington:

Gunn Historical Museum

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Support our food, beverage and retail businesses. Get your Taste of Burlington card stamped at at least 12 of the following businesses between June 21, 2025 and September 1, 2025 for a chance to win gift certificates.

The B. Hive www.thebhiveburlington.com

Burlington Spirit Shoppe www.burlingtonspirit.com

Charming Thai Restaurant www.charming-thai.com

China Garden (860) 675-6666

Daily Mart (860) 675-7243

Delta Pizza www.delta-pizza.com

Enclave Grille www.enclavegrille.com

Greenhouse Tavern www.greenhousecafeandtavern.com

Happy Hippie Homestead www.facebook.com/people/Happy-Hippie-Homestead/61564351782316/

Hogan's Cider Mill www.hoganscidermill.com

I Know A Guy Deli www.iknowaguyfoodsllc.com

Kyle's Doghouse (860) 729-6146

Lamothe's Sugar House www.lamothesugarhouse.com

Larson's Garden Center www.larsonsgardencenter.com

Little Axe Market www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569260639474#

Little Laurel's Cookie Co. www.littlelaurels.com

The Nevermind Shop www.nevermindshop.com

Sabrina's Restaurant & successor www.sabrinasrestaurantct.com

The Swimming Pool Store www.theswimmingpoolstore.com

Tonn's Marketplace www.tonnsmarketplace.com

Thank you to our sponsors: Torrington Savings Bank, M&T Bank and the Burlington CT Police Union

Submissions now open! ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Photographers invites students in grades 6-12 to submit their photographs for a chance to participate in a juried art exhibition. A panel of professional photographers selects 60 photos for a public exhibition, recognizing the top four photographers for their outstanding and thoughtful work based on the yearly theme.

Submissions: now - September 26, 2025

Theme: Transformation

Exhibition: Hartford Art School's Silpe Gallery. Sunday, November 2, 2025, 2:00-3:30 pm

Submissions and guidelines: visit asapct.org

Our Volunteer Guides will lead this easy to moderate 2-to-3-mile hike at Deer Pond Farm. Enjoy birdsong, summer blooms, and good company on this casual hike.  

Register at https://www.ctaudubon.org/2025/05/registration-deer-pond-farm-2nd-saturday-hike/ 

This program meets at 57 Wakeman Hill Rd., Sherman, CT 06784 

FREE 

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to present a joint art exhibition, “Abstract Meditations,” featuring the works of Leonard Kady and Heather Neilson. This show is on view beginning Friday, July 4.

An opening reception will be held at the park on Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. An artist talk will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 4 pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Leonard Kady is an artist and architect whose photography emerged from a personal reckoning with time and isolation during the pandemic. Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist whose work explores the interplay of nature, the passage of time, and a sense of place.

This exhibition offers visitors a moment to pause, observe, and reconnect—with nature, with self, and with the enduring rhythms that shape us all.

The Friends of David M. Hunt Library will host their annual Giant Tag Sale at the Center on Main on Saturday July 12 and on Sunday July 13, the day of the Falls Village Car & Motorcycle Show.  Quality items may be donated and dropped off at the Center on Main at 103 Main Street in Falls Village on Thursday July 10 and Friday, July 11 from noon to 5PM. Items that cannot be accepted include clothing, books, and electronics, almost anything else in good condition is welcome. Contact the library at 860-824-7424 for more information and with questions.

Our Volunteer Guides will lead this easy to moderate 2-to-3-mile hike at Deer Pond Farm. Enjoy birdsong, summer blooms, and good company on this casual hike.  

PLEASE NOTE: This program meets at 57 Wakeman Hlll Rd, Sherman CT

Please register here

FREE

BIG BOOK SALE – 2 Days Only! July 11-12, 2025 (9am-4pm)

Venue: The ATTIC Marketplace Parking Lot – 411 Danbury Road (Rte 7 North), New Milford, CT.

Organized by Phil, Alli & Family (“The Book Revivalist”)

Please read below so you can understand who we are and why you should come to this book sale. You won't be disappointed, we promise! (Also read below to find out how you can get FREE books and coupons!)

The Book Revivalist’s Low-Cost Big Book Sale is a local family-run project that gets ALL the books directly FROM THE COMMUNITY through our free community service called CommunityBookPickup.com (proud partners of the Give My Books Network nationwide).

We have some of the most popular titles in print, as well as a wide range of very eclectic books that change EVERY sale. The books are valuable to booklovers and readers in general, to collectors and resellers (Amazon, eBay, Bookstores, Dealers, Etc.) with EXTREMELY reasonable prices. This is a sale that is worth coming to! Again, we promise!

Here are 3 ways to get FREE books from us during our BIG BOOK SALE:

1. Show us your Teacher ID or proof of Homeschooling and get one additional book free with your purchase.

2. Teachers and Homeschoolers also get 10% off every purchase.

3. Join our email list at https://bit.ly/BookRevivalistEmailList to get a “$5 off orders of $30 or more” coupon. (Coupon is sent during the week of the sale. Just so you’re not wondering where it’s at when you sign up … it’ll be coming).

Thank you SO MUCH for reading our little letter to you:

Please, come to the sale.

Please, like, share and tell others about it.

Please, have a wonderful day today!

- Phil, Alli & the Fam -

NOW ON TO ALL THE SALE DETAILS! …

Where: The ATTIC Marketplace Parking Lot – 411 Danbury Road (Rte 7 North), New Milford, CT.

Dates: July 11-12, 2025 - 9am-4pm

Free Admission

Cash and Credit Accepted!

Browse 10,000 books: Hardcover, paperback, fiction, non-fiction, young adult & children, and some foreign language. There will also be CDs, DVDs, Video Games, VHS & Vinyl Records.

OUR SIMPLE PRICING:

All Adult Books (Fiction/Non-Fiction): $3

YA/Juvenile/Comix & Graphic Novels: $2

Children’s Story Books & Board Books: $1

Single CD’S and DVD’s: $3

CD / DVD seasons and box sets: $5

Audio cassette and VHS Tapes: $1

Video Games (Xbox, Wii, Game Cube, Etc.): $5

Vinyl Records: $2

Plan NOW to join us. Click “Going / Interested” on this event page to register for a Facebook reminder.

Thank you for reading. And see you at the sale!

Phil, Alli & the Fam

What odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) inhabit Washington, and what does their presence or absence mean for local and regional conservation? Steep Rock Association (SRA) aims to answer these questions and we need your help. Join our team of "dragon hunters" for an educational and scientific day of sampling odonates in SRA preserves. We'll start by overviewing odonate ecology, transition into capture technique training, and then begin the hunt for as many different species of dragonflies and damselflies at a given survey site.

Location: Macricostas Preserve, 124 Christian St., New Preston. Forecasted inclement weather will advance the survey to Sunday, July 13.

Presented by Sandy Carlson

Whoever we are and wherever we come from, we are children of the Earth and inheritors of her creative, healing energy. By being ourselves and being in nature, we can realize deeper levels of creativity. While enjoying the natural beauty surrounding Wisdom House, we'll consider some nature poetry and then explore the creative process for ourselves as we write and share our poems.

Lunch is included.

Waldo's Back in Washington Depot This July!

Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and two hundred and fifty independent bookstores across the country for some hide-and-seek fun to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses.

Where’s Waldo?   In Washington Depot, of course!  Beginning on Tuesday 1st July, the iconic children’s book character in the red-and-white-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 19 local businesses throughout the community .  Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses and the Shop Local movement.

Anyone who wishes to join in the fun can pick up a “Find Waldo in Washington Depot” passport from any of the participating stores.  When you spot Waldo collect a store stamp or signature.  And to make things a little more challenging, Waldo’s magnifying glass will also be hiding in The Hickory Stick Bookshop.

Great prizes for participants who get 16 or more stamps in their passport. Completed passports should be handed in to the Hickory Stick Bookshop by no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday July 31st.

We will be having a celebration party from 3-4 pm on Saturday August 2nd. Check our website for further details!

There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for all of July.  

For more information about hunting for Waldo in Washington Depot, call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525 or visit our website at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.  

“Level Up at Your Library” Summer Reading Program for all ages, Morris Public Library, June 24 -August 20, 2025.

We are excited to offer a fun and engaging Summer Reading Program “Level Up at Your Library,” June 24 – August 20, 2025.

Each reading level has their own “Level Up at Your Library” Activity Card to participate in the program. Youngsters (PreK and under) will enjoy reading with their families and engage in fun activities. Students (Grades K-Grade 5) will count the number of their new reading adventures by writing them down in their cards. Teens (Grades 6-12) and adults will explore new and special book selections, which they can easily find at their Library.

Submit your completed cards (could be more than one!) to enter for a chance to win a Level Up at Your Library Prize.

Find weekly coloring projects for children and adults throughout the program – complete yours and share it for our library display!

No registration is required – obtain your card at the kickoff, at the library or download it from the website https://morrispubliclibrary.net (all levels!).

Custom make your own wearable art in this workshop designed to accommodate all levels of experience. Learn the process of shaping, foiling and soldering stained glass to create your own unique bracelet, pendant or earrings.

Instructor: Sarah Segovia

Saturday, July 12, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Members: $77 / Non-Members: $85

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Hone your observational skills and create a landscape painting outside on the grounds of the Five Points Arts Center. Open to all levels of experience, learn to capture natural light as it moves throughout the day. Explore color, value, and paint application techniques to enhance your composition and incorporate personal expression.

Instructor: Mike Berlinski

Saturday July 12, 2025

10 AM - 4 PM

Members: $108 / Non-Members: $120

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Please join us Saturday July 12. 10 am - 1pm on the Wish House Lawn to meet Author Gregory Galloway and get a signed and personally dedicated copy of his fresh of the press book ALL WE TRUST .

About the Book

From a true modern master of noir fiction comes a twisty new tale about two small town crooks who get in over their heads . . .

Peck and Al have a good thing going. The two brothers own a bar and a hardware store and make a comfortable living. They also launder money for a criminal organization. Everything is perfectly fine until Peck begins to suspect that his brother is going to betray him to the local District Attorney. Things get even more complicated between them when Al’s hard drive with millions of dollars in Crypto goes missing – Peck was the only other person with access.

What starts out as a family squabble turns into an international battle between competing crime organizations, moving from small town New England to San Francisco to Mexico. Along the way the brothers encounter betrayal, double-dealing, kidnapping, and ultimately, revenge.

books available for pre order and purchase from the Wish House

more info at www.wishhouse.com

The Litchfield Farmers Market is one of the few year-round markets in the Connecticut. The weekly Saturday market offers fresh seasonal produce, fruit, berries, herbs, sustainably sourced fish; artisanal cheeses, breads and baked goods, local honey, maple syrup and gifts - all raised, grown or crafted by 15+ local vendors. 

The market occasionally hosts live music and supports non-profits from throughout the Litchfield area.

INDOOR MARKET - November through mid-June (intermittent Saturdays through the winter months -- check the website for dates.) Open Saturdays 10am - 1pm at the Litchfield Community Center located at 421 Litchfield Road, Litchfield, CT.

OUTDOOR MARKET - mid- June through October located at Center School, Litchfield.

Come in and cool down with a dye project that is easy, fun, and has the element of surprise! Ice Dyeing is a technique in which fabric dye and ice combine to create beautiful "abstract" patterns on fabric. 

Each participant will bring their own natural fiber items to dye: 100% cotton or silk are the most successful. We will be using permanent procion dyes. Recommended are t shirts or other small items (socks, shorts, baby onesies, scarves) and also home goods such as napkins, table runners, tea towels or pillow covers. Small amounts of yardage are also acceptable (1 yard maximum). 

Come wearing "messy" clothes and bring rubber gloves. You will set up your own dye vat, which will need to sit overnight and then be retrieved on Sunday. 

Preregistration is required for this project. Contact Anne at tisse.wovens@gmail.com ahead of time should you have any questions about what to bring.

STEVE PARLATO BIO

Middlebury artist Steven Parlato’s work has graced theater posters and book covers, and he’s exhibited his collage series, They Are Not Disposable, throughout CT and in NJ, PA, and OH. An award-winning poet and college professor emeritus, 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. His poetry has appeared in Freshwater, MARGIE, Borderlands, Peregrine, CT River Review, and other journals. On stage, he’s played roles ranging from the Scarecrow to Macbeth. Parlato offers writing workshops at venues throughout CT and creates artwork on commission. Follow him on FB at Steven Parlato Author and IG: @stevenparlato.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

They Are Not Disposable should not need to exist. However, the persistent plague of systemic racism in America (and beyond) makes this artwork necessary. With the collage series complete, the sixteen initials within the works unite to make the declaration, “BLACK LIVES MATTER.” It is absurd this statement should need to be made; tragic it should still be met with resistance. 

Since this is the reality of our world, I ask that you meet threats to justice with your own resistance, in whatever creative form you choose. The only wrong way to approach racism, and all other forms of evil, is to remain silent. As I reflect on the creation of these images, I’m daunted by the work to be done—and overwhelmed by the fact that there are a near-infinite number of potential subjects, countless lives stolen by the evil of white supremacy. 

My hope is that this work leaves an impression, reminding viewers of the intrinsic humanity of each subject, and that of each individual we encounter. If my portraits of the stolen have touched you, I encourage you to learn more about these sixteen people, to keep their memories alive as I’ve attempted to do. And together, let’s confront the issues of inequity and racial violence that continue to claim innocent lives.

The David M. Hunt Library is pleased to announce COLLAGE REDUX!, a vibrant exhibition showcasing the innovative work of artist Ingrid Freidenbergs. The show will run throughout the month of July, with a special artist reception on Saturday, July 12, from 5 to 7 PM and an artist’s talk on Thursday July 24 at 5:30PM.

Freidenbergs’ exhibition is packed with both collages and box constructions that run riot with the intricate layering of found images and objects, textures, and colors – red is prominent in the artist’s visual language. Her approach transforms disparate elements into compelling therapeutic visual storytelling.