Community news for the Vernon edition
Union School Association Scholarship Foundation presents Strides for Scholars 5K Run/Walk
UNION – The Union School Association Scholarship Foundation will hold its annual Strides for Scholars 5K Run/Walk to benefit the scholarship fund. The event will be held on April 23 and registration/packet pick-up will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Union Elementary School, 18 Kinney Hollow Road, with an 9 a.m. race start in Bigelow Hollow State Park, 298 Bigelow Hollow Rd (Rt. 171).
Cost for adults is $25. T-Shirt prizes are free for the first 100 registered. Awards will be given for male and female winners according to various age groups. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Union/StridesForScholars for more information and to pre-register.
Meatloaf luncheon taking place at Stafford Springs Congregational Church
STAFFORD – The Stafford Springs Congregational Church, located at 3 Main St., will host its annual meatloaf luncheon on April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., for take-out only. Reservations are strongly recommended.
For $12, the menu will feature meatloaf, red potatoes, gravy, Italian green beans, carrots, bread & butter and apple pie. Proceeds benefit the local missions of the church. Call the church at 860-684-4194 for more information or to purchase advanced tickets.
Veteran’s coffee hour taking place in South Windsor
SOUTH WINDSOR – Veteran’s coffee hour at the South Windsor Community Center, 150 Nevers Road, will take place the 3rd Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. The next meeting is April 20. Coffee and Gerry’s donuts will be available.
Hang out with other veterans, meet new friends and connect with old. For more info, call Ken Lewis at 860-416-5276.
American Legion Post to meet in South Windsor
SOUTH WINDSOR – The Abe E. Miller American Legion Post 133 South Windsor meets on the third Tuesday of every month at the South Windsor Community Center, 150 Nevers Road, Room 205-207, at 7 p.m. The next Post meeting will be April 18.
All veterans are welcome. Please bring a non perishable food item to be donated to the South Windsor Food Bank. Contact Ken Lewis for more information at 860-416-5276.
Booked for Lunch, cookbook club, more taking place at South Windsor Library
SOUTH WINDSOR – The Friends of the South Windsor Library will hold a Booked for Lunch on Thursday, April 13, at 12:30 p.m., upstairs in the Friends room of the library, 1550 Sullivan Ave. Author Deborah Goodrich Royce will introduce her new book, Reef Road. The book is set in Palm Beach and blends aspects of true crime and literary thriller, in a plot that twists today’s news with a longstanding cold case. Bring your lunch and the Friends of the library will provide desserts and beverages.
The South Windsor Library will hold a potluck dinner, upstairs in the Friends room, focusing on homemade food from the past, on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. Bring your favorite old time recipe that will serve 4 to 6 people. Cookbooks from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, will be available to borrow if you don’t already have your own. The name on the old time recipe and the recipe itself should accompany your dish.
Those people whose names begin with A-H may make a side dish. Those people whose names begin with I-Q may make an entree. Those people whose names begin with R-Z may make a dessert. Call 860-644-1541 to register as space is limited.
Don’t miss the lower library display cases as they are full of historic kitchen and dining items from various collectors and brought to you by in the South Windsor Library and the South Windsor Historical Society,
Cookin’ the Books, a newly formed library club that reviews cookbooks, will meet on April 18 at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Bubby’s Brunch by Ron Silver and copies are available at the library.
The Friends Book Sale continues to offer like-new used books, both hard and soft cover at bargain prices. Books, DVDs, music CDs, puzzles and audio books are for sale. Book sale hours are Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tuesdays, 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The South Windsor Public Library and the Poets Laureate of South Windsor, Manchester and Vernon invite all to an afternoon celebrating the spoken word on Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m. The reception event will be honoring National Poetry Month, and South Windsor Poetry Day, and will feature the newly published book written by members of the community. The book is titled, Coming Out of Covid: A Celebration of Poetry, Prose and Community. Contributors to the book and the Poets Laureate for several Connecticut communities will read their works. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Music by Sandro Ladu, violinist. Light refreshments will be served.
Evergreen Crossings presents spring craft show
SOUTH WINDSOR – On Sunday April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Evergreen Crossings Retirement Community at 900 Hemlock Ave. will hold its annual spring craft show. The show will feature local craftsmen selling items from jewelry to pottery, handmade soaps, wooden wares, fused glass, fabric and knitted items, handmade greeting cards and more. Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact 860-730-2605.
Play Dough Party, crafts, origami taking place at Manchester Library
MANCHESTER – Manchester Public Library, 586 Main St., is hosting the following programs. Visit manchesterct.gov/library or call 860-645-0577 for more information.
Play Dough Party will take place Monday, April 17, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main St. The library will provide the dough and the tools.
Kids’ Crafternoon will take place Monday, April 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Mary Cheney Library. Stop by the library and make crafts. While supplies last.
Origami Storigami with Motoko will take place Tuesday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. at the Whiton Branch Library, 100 North Main St. Parents’ Choice Award winner Motoko regales families (ages five and up) with folktales from her native Japan, combined with hands-on origami activities. Motoko’s step-by-step instructions make the ancient Japanese art fun and accessible. Children will learn focus, imagination, and precision while creating pieces of art. Call 860-643-6892 for more info.
Sport Stacking (Gr. K-5) will take place Tuesday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Mary Cheney Library. Professional sport stacker Glenn Costello will teach the basics of the sport to children in kindergarten through 5th grade. Registration is required. Call 860-645-0577 for more info or to register.
Chat with a Meteorologist will take place Wednesday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at the Whiton Branch Library. Welcome children’s author and News 8 Meteorologist Ashley Baylor to MPL. Baylor will talk about the weather, being a meteorologist, and her new book “Storms and Snow, Skis and Sox!: New England’s Weather Truly Rocks!” All ages. Call 860-643-6892 for more info.
Pete the Cat and the Music Room will take place Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Mary Cheney Library. Do a “Cool Cat Chant,” stomp your feet, and boogie on down to a funky beat. Use your groovy imagination and get ready for a treat in this out-of-sight music adventure with Michele Urban and her snazzy friend Pete. Call 860-645-0577 for more info.
R.E.A.D. to a Dog with Andy, Grant & Tori will take place April 12, 19, and 26; May 3 & 10, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. at Mary Cheney Library. Stop by to practice reading skills with Andy, Grant, or Tori. These furry friends are registered therapy dogs and reading education assistance dogs; they are very experienced with children and great listeners. For preschool age to grade 4. Call 860-645-0577 for more info.
Late Spring Storytime Session – This session will run from April 24 to May 20 and includes a variety of storytime offerings for children. Call 860-645-0577 for more info.
Manchester Women’s Club to meet in April
MANCHESTER – The Manchester Women’s Club meets the 3rd Monday of the month, on April 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St., next door to the Town Hall. Park in the town hall lot, go in the church ‘Office’ door, then toward your right and downstairs. Signs will be posted.
The Manchester High School Chorus will perform. Those who would like to are invited to stay after the meeting to work on crafting May Baskets for a local nursing home, possibly until 9 a.m.
Non-perishable food items for MCC students’ Cougar Pantry and empty prescription bottles for reuse through a charity will be collected. Visit www.manchesterwomensclub.org for more information.
Earth Day Work Party seeking volunteers
MANCHESTER – Volunteers are needed for a clean-up party on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, starting at 39 Lodge Drive. Pick up litter at the Cheney rail trail and Center Springs Park. The event is a collaboration of the Manchester Land Conservation Trust, Town of Manchester Sustainability Commission, the Youth Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Manchester High School Environmental Club.
Supplies will be provided, including gloves, trash bags, etc. Come when you can, you are not required to stay the whole time. Dress for the weather, as the event will be held rain or shine. Bring what you’ll need, such as a water bottle, sunscreen, sweatshirt. Pizza will be provided at the end of the event to volunteers. Visit www.manchesterlandtrust.org for more information.
Vernon Garden Club presents “Raptors Among Us,” plant sale
VERNON – The Vernon Garden Club’s program title for April is “Raptors Among Us.” The presenter is Horizon Wings and will be held on April 17. Horizon Wings cares for raptors that cannot be released back into the wild due to their injuries or length of captivity. Four or five raptors, including an eagle, will visit the club that night. Children are encouraged to attend.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Vernon, 695 Hartford Turnpike. Refreshments and a business meeting will follow. Guests are welcome. For more information, call 860-926-4332.
The Vernon Garden Club’s 2023 plant sale at the Vernon Center Middle School parking lot, 777 Hartford Turnpike, will be on Saturday, May 13, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
In case of pouring rain, the sale will be held the following Saturday, May 20, same time and place. Perennials for sun and shade, bulbs, herbs, and unusual plants from members’ own gardens will be available, along with a gardener’s white elephant table.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund the club’s scholarship award at Rockville High School and the Junior Gardener’s Program and to help maintain the club’s two community gardens in Vernon and Rockville. For more information, call 860-926-4332.
