Community news for the Vernon edition

Horizon Wings presents Owl Prowl

ASHFORD – Owl Prowl will take place Saturday, Oct. 14, at Horizon Wings, 9 Sand Hill Road. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., an owl program will feature Horizon Wings Owls. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., an owl prowl will take place. This is a walk through the Nipmuck Trail behind the facility, off of Iron mine Lane.

Guests must be over 8 years old to participate in this walk. Bring a flashlight, no headlamps are allowed for this walk. Complimentary food and beverages will be served.

Admission is a donation of $10 for adults and $7 for children. Children under four attend for free. All funds collected will be used to care for the birds. For more information, contact
HWbusinessevent@gmail.com or visit www.horizonwings.org.

Craft fair taking place at Unionville senior center

UNIONVILLE – The Tunxis Seniors Citizens Association will present their second annual craft fair on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave.

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Nowashe Village

SOUTH WINDSOR – National Award winning Nowashe Village will be hosting many family-friendly activities in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clan Mother Shoran Piper (Golden Hill Paugussett) will start the day off with an opening blessing. James Beard Award-winning Indigenous Chef Sherry Pocknett, of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, will be presenting on traditional Native foods and providing samples to guests. Chef Pocknett will also have a pop-up tent offering Indigenous foods and beverages for purchase.

South American Indigenous musicians, Sin Fronteras, will perform using traditional instruments, such as the flute and charango. Visitors can learn about the CT River in South Windsor and its vital role in Indigenous life with Jack Albano of Metacomet Canoe & Kayak. Indigenous educators will discuss Abenaki, Taino, and Peruvian cultures with objects and artifacts for visitors to explore. Many of our educators will also have Indigenous wares including wampum jewelry, available for purchase.

Nowashe Village is located at 787 Main St., directly behind the Wood Memorial Library & Museum. Suggested donation is $5 per child, $10 for adults and $25 per family. Visit www.Nowashe.org for more details and to register for the canoe trips.

“Screenagers” to be shown in South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR – “Screenagers – Under The Influence,” presented by S. W. Youth & Family Services, in collaboration with S.W. Public Schools, the S.W. Police Department and the Connecticut Governor’s Prevention Partnership, will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Timothy Edwards M.S. Auditorium, 100 Arnold Way. The movie will be shown and a discussion will take place afterwards.

The film debunks myths and shows strategies parents & schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, & create healthy home environments. “Screenagers – Under The Influence” focuses on practical solutions for keeping teens safe in a changing world. Admission is free.

Healing sound bath program taking place in Manchester

MANCHESTER – Priscilla Gales, a Reiki master and certified singing bowls practitioner, will present a healing sound bath with crystal bowls on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon St. West.

A $15 donation is requested at the door; no one will be turned away. Visit www.uuse.org for details or call 860-646-5151.

Travel-themed book club to meet in Manchester

MANCHESTER – Manchester Public Library will have the next meeting of its travel themed book group, the Wanderlust Book Club, on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Whiton Branch Library on 100 North Main St.

In this book group, participants will travel vicariously through reading a variety of atmospheric books that will transport readers to locations around the world…and perhaps beyond. Titles will be primarily fiction, with an occasional non-fiction or memoir selection. Meetings will be held once a month on Thursday evenings. The next book, set in Chile, is “The House of the Spirits” by Isabel Allende.

Copies of each month’s book are available at both library buildings. This is a free book discussion program and no registration is required. For more information, contact Valerie Kerr at 860-643-2471 or visit manchesterct.gov/library.

History walk taking place in Charter Oak Park

MANCHESTER – A free history walk on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m., will start at the pavilion near the music garden in Charter Oak Park, 50 Charter Oak St. The Rotary Club is sponsoring its annual bicycle-ride event. This walk will visit the park, where there were woolen, cotton and paper mills in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visit the East Coast Greenway, and other features of this area of Manchester. The event is rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. Visit www.manchesterhistory.org for more information.

Hillstown Grange hosting pancake breakfast

EAST HARTFORD – Hillstown Grange is holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 7. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the breakfast takes place until 11 a.m.

The menu features pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea and juice, for $6 general admission and $3 for children under 14. This month’s special pancake is salted caramel apple, along with regular and chocolate chip pancakes.

The upstairs library and game room will be open during this event. Books. puzzles and games are free or by donation to the building fund. Hillstown Grange is located at 617 Hills St. For more information, contact Frank at 860-690-2945 or email hillstowngrange@aol.com.

Artist Bernie Duffy to showcase work at Arts of Tolland

TOLLAND – Arts of Tolland, 22 Tolland Green, presents local artist Bernie Duffy during the month of October. A reception will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the public is welcomed. His work is described as Impressionistic and Expressionistic.

Gallery hours during the month are Wednesday, 3 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 860-871-7405 or email artsoftolland73@gmail.com

Medicare & Social Security Educational Seminar taking place in Ellington

ELLINGTON – On Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at Hall Memorial Library, Understanding the Basics of Medicare & Social Security will take place. This is strictly an educational seminar, and no individual health plans will be discussed.

Learn how to navigate the Medicare maze and the differences between Original Medicare, Supplement plans, and Medicare Advantage with local licensed advisor Heidi M. Laureano. As a bonus, Registered Social Security Analyst Rene Ocasio will speak on areas of Social Security that you may not be aware of. This is free and open to the public.

To register, call 860-756-6784 or email heidi@sunstonect.com. For accommodation of persons with special needs at the meeting, call 860-756-6784. The library is located at 93 Main St.

Find a forever friend at Ellington pet adoption event

ELLINGTON – Superior Energy of Vernon, in partnership with the Connecticut Humane Society, will present their 2023 annual pet adoption event, a day filled with fun, love, and the chance to change a pet’s life forever.

The event is Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ellington Agway, 74 West Road. Meet the Rescues: Get to know adorable cats, dogs, and other animals from the CT Humane Society looking to find loving forever homes.

Enjoy reduced adoption fees for all adopted pets, with funds donated by Superior Energy. Food and refreshments from DiFiore Ravioli Shop will be available for purchase.

Admission to the Pet Adoption Event is free and all are welcome to attend. Donations to support the participating shelters and rescue organizations are greatly appreciated. Visit PropaneCT.com/events or contact 860-875-6221 or info@PropaneCT.com for more info.

Hall Library hosting program on dogs, black cat craft

ELLINGTON – Hall Memorial Library, 93 Main St., is hosting the following events. Living a Full Life with a Reactive Dog will take place Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Having a reactive dog can be incredibly overwhelming. Learn about the cause of reactivity, how to change our expectations as pet guardians, and how to use positive-reinforcement training to improve your dogs and your relationship. Pre-register at https://library.ellington-ct.gov/for this program.

Adult Quilting: Black Cat Wall Hanging will take place Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 5:30 p.m. All materials are provided. There is a $10 per person non-refundable materials fee that must be paid within seven days of your registration to hold your spot. Pre-register for this program at https://library.ellington-ct.gov/.

Evergreen Family Theatre’s New Sprouts program offers theater, literature, more for children

VERNON – Evergreen Family Theatre’s new Sprouts program opens with “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” adapted by Dwayne Hartford from the book by Kate DiCamillo, on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. on the upper parking lot of the Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St. Seating and fun starts an hour before the show. Bring blankets, chairs, maybe even a picnic, and join in the fun.

Evergreen Family Theatre, The Rockville Public Library, and Arts Center East are joining together to bring this new event to Connecticut. Everyone is welcome to join. The library will feature author DiCamillo and provide light refreshments during the event. Arts Center East is bringing in local artists to lead in the creation of crafts immediately before the performance. Children will walk away with their very own painted ceramic rabbit.

Edward Tulane is a porcelain toy rabbit. For his owner, Abilene, he is a beloved toy, but the rabbit is vain and only interested in himself. In an accident, Edward is cast to sea. This is where his real journey begins as he is welcomed into the lives of his many new owners. Through this heartwarming journey, Edward learns about love, loss, kindness and compassion. Just like us he needs to experience these emotions to truly be alive.

The show is directed by Heather Spiegel, stage managed by Jim Ryan and stars Marie Altenor, Barbara Gallow, Jonathan Gonzalez, and Patryk Mathieu.

Tickets for “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” are free, thanks to the generous support of the Vernon Greater Together Community Fund and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-miraculous-journey-of-edward-tulane-tickets-712574949857?aff=oddtdtcreator for tickets. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the performances.

Volunteers needed for river bioassessment

VERNON – Join the treasure hunt for Connecticut’s healthiest streams. The Vernon Conservation Commission is looking for local residents to assist with the annual Riffle Bioassessment by Volunteers (RBV). Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the picnic pavilion on Bread and Milk Road.

Following an introductory orientation, teams of participants will visit brooks in Vernon’s Tankerhoosen River watershed, with the goal of documenting the animals living in those waters.

The annual Riffle Bioassessment, sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), is a “citizen science project,” giving volunteers the opportunity to gather critical data and learn about scientific principles. Participants will search for insects, worms, and other small animals that live in riffles along the brooks that feed the Tankerhoosen River. Riffles are rocky sections of fast-moving water, usually only 10 to 20 feet long. The variety and numbers of animals found will indicate the relative cleanliness and health of the river system.

These bioassessments increase CT DEEP’s knowledge of which areas in the state are clean and which are stressed. The observations serve as a baseline for scientists to identify where problems may exist, develop corresponding resource management programs, and evaluate trends in water and habitat quality over time.
While some of the animals collected will be sent to CT DEEP for further analysis, most will be identified by sight with the help of a field guide identifying physical and behavioral characteristics of the different species, and then released to their home waters.

Residents interested in taking part in next month’s survey should register with project coordinator Tom Ouellette at 860-965-6180. No experience is necessary, but participants must be 18 years old. Volunteers should wear boots or other footwear suitable for wading in shallow water, and may bring waterproof gloves. Bring a water bottle, snack and cell phone. The survey should conclude by 1 p.m.