Community news for the Vernon edition
Cornerstone invites high school students to Prom Boutique
ROCKVILLE-VERNON – Cornerstone invites high school students in the area to their 8th annual Prom Boutique event, where students can try on and take home free prom gowns, tuxes and accessories. The Prom Boutique is open on Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday, April 7, from 3 to 7 p.m.; Friday, April 14, from 3 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Friday, April 28, from 3 to 7 p.m.
The boutique is located at 1C Prospect St. Students are encouraged to register online at www.cornerstone-cares.org/events.
The free Prom Boutique will feature gently used and new evening gowns and tuxedos along with shoes, evening bags, jewelry, and makeup. This event is open to all high school students.
There will also be minor alterations available on site for free.
Arts Center East issues call to artist for still life exhibit
VERNON – Arts Center East, 709 Hartford Turnpike, is hosting the following events. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Visit https://artscentereast.org/ or call 860-871-8222 for more information.
The Student Art Showcase will run through March 25 and is free and open to the public. The exhibit showcases the work of young artists from the Vernon public schools.
The ACE Artist Members Exhibit runs from now through April 1. Each year, ACE dedicated one exhibit to active artist members. This exhibit showcases their varied talents and artistic achievements. Visitors are welcome to vote for their favorite pieces. The winners will be awarded prizes at the close of the exhibit.
The call for artists deadline for “Still Lifes” is March 25. Visit www.artscentereast.org/still-lifes so submit artwork online. The call is open to artists 18 years and older working in acrylic, pastels, oil, watercolor, charcoal, and colored pencil. Subjects can vary from traditional still life or memento mori composition (flowers, fruit, timepieces, etc.) to more contemporary or surreal compositions. Exhibit dates are April 22 through May 13.
Spring gardens the topic of Vernon Garden Club meeting
VERNON – On Monday, March 20, the Vernon Garden Club members will host horticulturalist Kevin Wilcox, who will present a program entitled, “Preparing for Spring.” Topics will include pruning and the signs to look for in the garden.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Vernon, 695 Hartford Turnpike. A business meeting will follow. Guests are welcome. For more details, call 860-926-4332.
Friends of the South Windsor Library hosting Booked for Lunch
SOUTH WINDSOR – The Friends of the South Windsor Library will sponsor Booked for Lunch on Tuesday, March 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the Friends room of the library, 1550 Sullivan Ave.
The book featured is Riverman: An American Odyssey, by New York Magazine writer Ben McGrath who writes of traveler Dick Conant’s adventurous canoe ride from Canada to Florida.
The book reviewer will be Steve Grant, who covered politics and the environment for the Hartford Courant for 29 years. Bring lunch and the Friends will provide homemade desserts and a beverage.
Hollywood Walk taking place with Manchester town historian
MANCHESTER – The public is invited to a free history walk on Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m., starting at the parking lot at 283 East Center St., at the intersection of Lenox and East Center Streets. Explore Hollywood, a suburban development envisioned by E.J. Holl (1874-1967), a remarkable man in Manchester’s history. He moved here from his native England in 1903 and became a land tycoon and developer, with a thriving business in real estate, investments, insurance, and mortgages.
One of E.J.Holl’s slogans was “He cuts the Earth to suit your taste,” and he did cut up many housing developments in town. Walk along Porter Street to the development’s curving streets, which were laid out in 1925.
Those who bought the house-lots could choose a house-style, sometimes from pattern books, and choose their own builders. In the days before zoning and subdivision regulations, homeowners were assured they would live in a refined area, without factories, stores, and farming nearby. The walk will take about 90 minutes. Rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. This is one of the 23 bicentennial walks in 2023, celebrating Manchester’s 200th birthday.
Illustrated booklets with details about the 23 walks are available at town libraries and Town Hall. Visit http://www.manchesterhistory.org/Booklet23WalksWeb.pdf for the online version of the booklet.
Manchester Women’s Club to meet in March
MANCHESTER – The Manchester Women’s Club will meet on March 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St. The club will collect non-perishable food items for MCC students’ Cougar Pantry and empty prescription bottles for reuse through a charity.
The club does a wide variety of volunteer activities to help others in the community, such as Little Free Libraries for children, projects for Vets and MACC, as well as social activities to get to know each other. Visit
www.manchesterwomensclub.org for more information.
Manchester Antique and Collectible show celebrates 60th year
MANCHESTER – The 60th annual Manchester Antique and Collectible show will be held at Second Congregational Church, 385 North Main St., on March 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come and browse a wide variety of wares from over 30 regional dealers. Admission is $5. Lunch will be available to take out or eat in the cafe, including homemade corn chowder, grinders, baked potatoes, breakfast sandwiches and desserts. For more info, contact the church office at 860-649-2863.
Cellist, pianist to perform at Emanuel Lutheran Church
MANCHESTER – Cellist Sergey Antonov and pianist Ilya Kazantsev will perform at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St., on Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Both were child prodigies who began their musical training at the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. Now as residents of the U.S., they travel the world and perform in the world’s greatest concert halls.
Antonov, a “cello superstar,” began playing the cello at the age of five. In 2007, he won the Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition followed by numerous top prizes throughout the world. Pianist Ilya Kazantsev, who has collaborated with Antonov since 2014, began his studies when he was nine. A recitalist and a soloist with orchestras in Russia, Canada, Europe, and the United States, his awards include top prizes at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Competition, the International Chopin Competition and the World Piano Competition.
This free program is part of the tenth season of concerts presented by the Friends of Music at Emanuel, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to presenting chamber concerts, featuring highly talented musicians. Donations at the door will be used to fund future concerts. Visit friendsofmusicatemanuel.org for more information.
Bolton Congregational Church hosting corned beef dinner
BOLTON – A corned beef dinner at Bolton Congregational Church, 228 Bolton Center Road, will take place Saturday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost to attend is $16 per meal.
Dinner includes corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, Irish soda bread, and carrot cake Dine-in and take-out are available.
To reserve a dinner or ticket, visit https://www.boltonucc.org or contact the church at office@boltonucc.org or 860-649-7077.
‘Made in Bangladesh’ screening taking place at Community Cultural Center
EAST HARTFORD – The East Hartford Commission on Culture & Fine Arts presents the third film Made in Bangladesh, in their 15th series of foreign films on Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the Community Cultural Center, 50 Chapman Place. Admission is free. The East Hartford Summer Youth Festival will be selling concessions, including popcorn.
March is Women’s History Month, and this film is about and by women. It does seem like it should also be historical – in the past – but it takes place in the current day (“a modern-day Norma Rae”). Shimu, 23, works in a clothing factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Faced with difficult conditions at work, which include safety issues, long hours and delayed pay, she decides to start a union with her co-workers.
Despite threats from the management and the disapproval of her husband, Shimu is determined to go on. Together the women must fight and find a way. The film runs one hour and 35 minutes and is not rated; it does contain explicit language. The final film in the series will be The Last Tree (UK & Nigeria) on April 15.
