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Community News For The Farmington Valley Edition

Harry Potter Activities

SIMSBURY -- The Storyteller’s Cottage will host magical Harry Potter activities. Visit https://www.storytellerscottage.com/book-online for more information or to purchase tickets.

Wizard Academy: Sept. 27 to Oct. 25, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Cost: $125 for five weeks, plus $25 for a magic kit to take home. Illusionist David Reed-Brown, from McBride’s Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, will show students how to mystify and amaze their friends and families with a mix of close-up and stand-up magic using cards, ropes, scarves, sponges, and wands.

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Magical Pencraft: Starts Sept. 29, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost: $20 per meeting. On the last Sunday of each month, students will write fan-fiction about their favorite Harry Potter characters, write spells in verse, write Harry’s college entrance essay, and write about friends they would meet if they attended Hogwarts.

Dumbledore’s Army: Starts Oct. 13, at 1 and 3 p.m. Cost: $20 per meeting. On the second Sunday of each month, students will take two classes and practice Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The Storyteller's Cottage is located at 750 Hopmeadow St. Parking for The Storyteller's Cottage is free, and is available on the street in front of the building, and in the Fiddler's Green parking lot on Wilcox Street, behind the house. For more information, visit www.StorytellersCottage.com or call 860-877-6099.

Simsbury Fly-In, Car Show, Food Truck Festival

SIMSBURY -- The 33rd annual Simsbury Fly-In, car show and food truck festival will take place on Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Simsbury Airport, 94 Wolcott Road.

The festival features 750 display airplanes and cars, 150 business exhibitors, advertisers and sponsors, 25 food trucks, free seminars, live music, aerial demonstrations, judging and trophies for cars and airplanes, helicopter and AT-6 World War 2 training plane rides, gyrocopter, Powered Parachute and formation flight demos, radio control model aerobatics, banner tow pickup demonstrations, new aircraft and car dealers, local craftspersons and more. Visit www.simsburyflyin.com for more information.

Acoustic Rock Duo Cahill Performs

SIMSBURY -- The acoustic rock duo Cahill will perform at Westminster School on Friday, Sept. 27, as part of the school’s Friday Nights at Westminster series of concerts and readings held during the academic year.

This Boston songwriting duo of Scott O’Brien and Robert Antonelli has released six studio albums and a live compilation in a span of 15 years. The group’s latest effort, “At Orleans,” showcases 12 tunes recorded live in their most authentic album to date and captures what a Cahill show has come to embody: all acoustic and intricate vocal harmonies.

The performance by Cahill at Westminster School is free and open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. in the Gund Reading Room of the school’s Armour Academic Center. The school is located at 995 Hopmeadow St. Parking will be available in the parking lot adjacent to Armour Academic Center.

Simsbury Library Events

SIMSBURY -- The Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., is hosting the following programs. Call 860-658-7663, ext. 2112, or visit http://www.simsburylibrary.info for more information.

SafeTALK, Suicide Alertness for Everyone: Saturday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. SafeTALK provides suicide alertness training to recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources to help them in choosing to live. Open to anyone age 15 and above who wants to make a difference. Presented by Tom Steen. Sponsored by the CT chapter of the American Foundations for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Author Visit: Andrea Penrose & Book Launch: Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. Connecticut author Andrea Penrose will discuss the release of Murder at Kensington Palace, the third installment in her bestselling Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mystery series. Books will be available to purchase and sign.

Wednesday Night is Business Night: Business Author Eric Judge will speak on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. Judge, author of Out of Town Landlord: Lessons Learned During the Great Recession, invites you to learn successful techniques in managing rental property from afar.

Armchair Traveler Series, The Iberian Peninsula with Lou Norton: Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Presenter Norton will present take attendees on a photographic tour of Portugal and Spain from the comfort of the program room.

FSPL Coffeehouse Series: Peter Biedermann: Friday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Peter Biedermann will return to Simsbury Public Library to open the Friends' of the Simsbury Public Library's Coffeehouse series. Biedermann is a solo instrumental guitarist based in Green Valley, Ariz., that has been composing and performing for over 40 years. Doors open at 7 p.m. Space is limited, sign up online.

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Autumn Literary Crafting Studio

SIMSBURY -- On Thursday, Oct. 3, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Storyteller’s Cottage will host an Autumn Literary Crafting Studio. The cost is $15 and includes book pages and crafting supplies. Guests should bring their own journals. Visit https://www.storytellerscottage.com/book-online/autumn-literary-crafting-studio to reserve tickets.

Guests can choose to compose and decorate an inspirational spread in their personal art journals, or they can try another craft project using discarded antique encyclopedia pages. Whatever they decide to construct, they can enjoy the company and light conversation over herbal tea and cookies in the Jane Austen Salon.

The Storyteller's Cottage is located at 750 Hopmeadow St. Parking for The Storyteller's Cottage is free, and is available on the street in front of the building, and in the Fiddler's Green parking lot on Wilcox Street, behind the house). For more information, visit www.StorytellersCottage.com or call 860-877-6099.

Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Exhibit

Granby – The Salmon Brook Historical Society, 208 Salmon Brook St., will hold the Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 21. Set-up is at 7:30 a.m. with the show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weather permitting. Admission and parking are free.

Summer House Tours

Granby – Located at 208 Salmon Brook St., the Salmon Brook Historical Society’s Summer Open House Tours will continue every Sunday through Sept. 29. The hours are 2 to 4 p.m.

The “Stitch in Time” exhibit located in the Preservation Barn will be dismantled after Sept. 22. In addition to the treadle sewing machine, two additional interactive displays will be present. There are three stereoscopes and views for visitors to use. For a penny, try the scale and get your weight and fortune.

The handmade reproduction of the circa-1830s eight-pointed star quilt will continue to be on display through Sept. 22. The tour includes the Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn, c. 1914, with many displays depicting Granby life in the 19th and early 20th century. A favorite stop is the one room Cooley School House, c. 1870, which was relocated to the Society’s campus in 1980. The Weed-Enders House, c.1790, houses a Victorian Parlor and the museum store, where you can find old maps, Granby history books, vintage cards and more. An interior hallway leads to the Abijah Rowe House, c.1732. This two story home is complete with a kitchen, dining room, parlor, office on the ground floor and bedrooms on the upper level. Visit www.salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com for more information.

Teen Poetry Contest

SMSBURY -- As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Farmington Valley Chorale has commissioned a new musical composition by Ellen Gilson Voth. The composer plans to use lyrics incorporating an original poem by a local teen with poetry of Connecticut’s past Poet Laureate, Rennie McQuilken.

The Chorale invites poetry lovers between ages 12 and 19 to submit an original poem, in any style, for this competition. Suggested themes and contest rules are posted on the Chorale website at farmingtonvalleychorale.org. Prizes include Amazon gift cards and tickets to the premiere performance in Simsbury on May 9, 2020. Submissions by email to info@farmingtonvalleychorale.org must be received no later than Oct. 1, 2019.

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Ukulele Club, Writing Group

FARMINGTON -- The Farmington Libraries are starting an all-ages ukulele club and an adult writing group. The Farmington Libraries Ukulele Club will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 10 to 11 a.m. in the first floor community room of the Main Library, 6 Monteith Drive. Learn a new song together and share your knowledge with each other in a fun, relaxed environment. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Ages 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The writing group will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in Board Room 1 on the second floor of the Main Library, 6 Monteith Drive. Join to meet other writers, review each other’s’ writing and get prompts to spark your creativity. All you need to have is a passion for writing and a willingness to give and take friendly feedback.

For the full schedule and details, visit www.farmingtonlibraries.org, contact Leah Farrell at lfarrell@farmingtonlibraries.org or call 860-673-6791. These events are free and open to the public.

Garmany Music Series

FARMINGTON -- The Farmington Libraries will host the musical duo BluesGrass for a live performance on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Main Library, 6 Monteith Drive.

The acoustic duo BluesGrass features two experienced musicians, Jon Swift (bass) and Mark White (guitar/harp), who have been steeped for many years in American roots music, including blues, old-time, folk music, and bluegrass, especially its “bluesy” side and its mountain modal sounds.

This event is free and open to the public. Register at www.farmingtonlibraries.org or call 860-673-6791. This performance is made possible by Richard P. Garmany through a grant awarded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. If you require special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Primary Colors Gallery Show

FARMINGTON -- From now through Oct. 31, the Farmington Main Library will host a gallery show with the theme “Primary Colors.” A reception with the artists present will take place on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Main Library at 6 Monteith Drive. This event is free and open to the public.

The artists featured in the show are Fernanda Clariana, Deb Herrick Clen, Patricia DiCosimo, Rick Fitzsimons, Paul Osgood, Sarah Prentis, Walter Schuppe, Clare Smith, and Krystyna Warzynska.

The items in the collection are for sale and will be on display in the Main Library's Community Room, where the exhibit can be viewed during the library's operating hours. Because there are programs scheduled in the Community Room throughout the month, contact the library in advance to check on the room's availability. Visit 860-673-6791, ext. 5212, for more information.

Afternoon Tea With An Author

FARMINGTON -- This fall, the Farmington Libraries will begin hosting a monthly afternoon tea with local authors. Each month will feature casual conversation with a different author. All events will take place at the Barney Library, 71 Main St.

Join a local author for tea, cookies, and conversation. Learn about the writing and publishing process or learn something new, all in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. The fall schedule is as follows.

Charles McNair: Fiction, Vietnam War. Thursday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. Charles McNair, M.D. is a Vietnam War veteran and the author of “Soldiers of a Foreign War,” a novel which tells the story of the combatants, civilians and mindless policies which drove them all through a futile war.

Sharon Farber: Non-Fiction: Spirituality. Thursday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. Spend your Halloween in the spirit world with Sharon Farber, author of “Choosing to Be a Medium.” She will discuss mediumship, explain how it’s a skill that can be learned, discuss her book, and answer questions.

Geoffrey Craig: Fiction, Poetry, & Drama. Thursday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. Geoffrey Craig is a published and award-winning author of fiction, poetry and drama.

These events are free and open to the public. Register at www.farmingtonlibraries.org or call 860-673-6791.

Collinsville’s Spooktacular Road Race

COLLINSVILLE -- The third annual Canton Dollars for Scholars Collinsville Trick or Trot 5K Road Race will return on Saturday, Oct. 26. All proceeds from the run benefit the Canton Dollars for Scholars general scholarship fund which provides scholarships to Canton’s graduating high school seniors.

This is the primary fundraiser event for the program. The budget for the race is kept very low to allow maximum benefit to the students receiving scholarships.

Sponsorships are available. There are various levels of sponsorship available, starting at $50 to receive mention on social media and the website. At higher levels, they will include your name or logo on T-shirts, on mile markers, etc.

Contact Laurie McKenna at Canton@DollarsforScholars.org for a sponsorship brochure and application. To appear on the T-shirt, please act quickly.

Awards go to the top male and female finishers, as well as the best costumes. There are treats at the turnaround for all participants. Registration is $30 and includes a T-shirt for the first 150 participants to register. Day-of registration will be $40. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Collinsville/CollinsvilleTrickorTrot for more information or to register.

Touch-A-Truck

FARMINGTON -- The Shops at Farmington Valley’s second annual Truckyard Touch-a-Truck will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will feature an assortment of construction and emergency response vehicles for children to explore. Truckyard Touch-a-Truck is held in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and will benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The event will be paired with The Shops “You CAN Sit With Us” initiative, a property-wide effort designed to spread a message of kindness and inclusivity.

Truckyard Touch-a-Truck encourages children to climb aboard and explore each of the vehicles on property, including emergency response vehicles from the Town of Canton, construction vehicles, police cars and garbage trucks. Families will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with the personalities behind these vehicles, including first responders, police officers and construction workers.

Truckyard Touch-a-Truck is inspired in part by Morgan Platt, resident of Avon and childhood cancer survivor. Morgan is an Avon High School student and tireless advocate for raising awareness for the importance of funding pediatric cancer research. Morgan was diagnosed in 2011 with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer. To date, she has raised over $25,000 to help fight childhood cancer.

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The event is free and open to the public with a suggested $2 donation to benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is the only hospital in Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the care of children. Connecticut Children's Medical Center provides comprehensive, world-class health care in more than 30 pediatric specialties and subspecialties.

Furthering this feel good day, The Shops’ “You CAN Sit With Us” activation will plant special pins, stickers and seating around property that underline a message of inclusivity and encourage children to make new friends, share with old friends and appreciate community togetherness.

Truckyard Touch-a-Truck will offer pumpkin painting, courtesy of Winterberry Landscaping of Southington, Connecticut, while the Truffles of Farmington food truck will offer a selection of lunch and snack items for purchase. Ben and Jerry’s, a longtime tenant of The Shops, will also donate a portion of proceeds from its ice cream tent sales to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

The event will be located in the parking lot behind Barnes and Noble. Visit www.theshopsatfarmingtonvalley.com for more information.

Golf Ball Fundraising Drive

AREA -- Max Cares Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, is teeing off a golf ball drive in conjunction with the 18th annual Max Golf Classic. This one day golf tournament has long been the foundation’s single largest fundraiser and the paper golf ball drive allows non-golfers and golfers alike to help Max Cares expand their philanthropic giving to area nonprofits.

Running now through Monday, Sept. 23, interested individuals can purchase a paper golf ball for $10 or more at any Max Restaurant Group locations in Connecticut or online at maxcaresfoundation.org. Participating restaurants include Max Downtown (Hartford), Trumbull Kitchen (Hartford), Max Oyster Bar (West Hartford), Max Burger (West Hartford), Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar (West Hartford), Max Fish (Glastonbury), and Max a Mia (Avon).

If purchasing in-restaurant, guests can choose to add their golf ball to their meal check or can buy one without a meal. Purchasers can add their name to the paper golf ball, which will be hung in the restaurant.

Max Cares Foundation, Inc. was established in 2015 as a non-profit organization with a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) designation. The foundation's goal is to further the vision of its founder in assisting individuals from all walks of life and to improve the communities through charitable giving. Max Cares Foundation hosts a range of charitable initiatives, including Roasts for the Holiday, the Max Golf Classic, and an annual scholarship program for students in the fields of hospitality and culinary arts, and makes grants to select non-profits. Vsit maxcaresfoundation.org for more information.

CT Daylily Society Meets

AVON -- On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Connecticut Daylily Society welcomes Eric Simpson of Blue Ridge Daylilies, Western North Carolina's largest selection of premium quality daylilies. Simpson’s hybridizing focus involves northern hardy plants with outstanding plant habits and colorful appeal. Primarily, he strives for round-ruffled, eyed and edged, and blue-eyed and patterned daylilies, with a recent interest in unusual forms. Visit www.blueridgedaylilies.com for more information on Simpson.

The Connecticut Daylily Society’s social hour with a potluck lunch begins at noon, followed by a brief business meeting and Simpson’s presentation at 1 p.m. There will be daylily door prizes, and attendance is free of charge. CDS invites anyone with a passion for plants.

The Avon Senior Center is located at 635 West Avon Road, at the junction of Sycamore and Scoville Roads, at the Sycamore Hills Recreation Center. Visit https://ctdaylilyclub.com for more information on the society.

Suicide Alertness For Everyone

SIMSBURY -- ‘SafeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone’ will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St. Call 860-658-7663, ext. 2112, or visit http://www.simsburylibrary.info for more information.

SafeTALK provides suicide alertness training to recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources to help them in choosing to live. The program is open to anyone age 15 and above who wants to make a difference. Presented by Tom Steen. Sponsored by the CT chapter of the American Foundations for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Book Sale

WEST GRANBY -- The 37th annual Friends of Granby Public Library book sale will take place at Granby Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Road, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.

An entry fee of $5 gives Friday evening shoppers the first peek and best selection of the sale. On Saturday, prices are as marked. On Sunday, there are no set prices. Reasonable donations are accepted for however many items you would like to stock up on.

Besides hardcover and softcover books, there are coffee table, vintage, first editions, and autographed books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, games, learning toys, and other book-related items for purchase. Visit https://www.granby-ct.gov/granby-public-library-system/friends-granby-public-library for more information.

Grief Recovery Life Discovery

FARMINGTON -- On Monday, Sept. 23, the Farmington Libraries will host a discussion about healing from grief. The program will be held at 7 p.m. at the Farmington Main Library, 6 Monteith Drive.

Jackie Banasiewicz is a CT Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist with advanced training through the Grief Recovery Institute®. With the lived experience of losing a sibling, parents and future hopes, dreams, and expectations from other loss events, she is well-versed in the concept of unresolved GRIEF (Guilt, Regret, Isolation, Emptiness, Fatigue). She has worked in community home-based, college campuses, mental health agency, hospice, hospital, corporate, and private practice settings throughout her career and aspires to Engage and Inspire people to Engage and Inspire themselves as she leads them through a process to help them recover from what might sometimes feel like the unrecoverable events so that GRIEF can evolve into (Growth, Relief, Insight, Energy, Freedom).

This event is free and open to the public. Please register. Visit www.farmingtonlibraries.org or call 860-673-6791 for more information.

Autumn Member Exhibition

CANTON -- The Canton Artists’ Guild at Gallery on the Green presents “Autumn Member Exhibition,”” plus solo shows by Lynne Anstett and by Carol Chaput and Rachel Miller. The shows run from now through Sept. 28.

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Lynne Anstett’s solo photography exhibit is entitled, “Iconic Architecture and the Surrounding Landscape....Through My Lens.” Anstett captures the magnificence and beautiful natural setting of historically important structures, ranging from the Keystone Arch Bridge in Massachusetts to the Eiffel Tower.

Also on view is “Ebb and Flow,” an exhibit of work by Carol Chaput and Rachel Miller. Chaput has images of the natural world which she created using oil, acrylic, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, silverpoint, metal leaf, and powdered earth pigments. Other pieces are from a series of assemblages created with found, inherited, and collected objects.

Throughout her career as a sculptor, Miller has worked in a variety of different mediums. In the last several years, she has focused on the art of paper making and has perfected techniques that allow her to wall mount her delicate flower sculptures. Recently she has explored wire sculpture and has incorporated it into her work.

The Gallery is located at 5 Canton Green Road. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible. Call 860-693-4102 or visit www.galleryonthegreen.org for more information.

The Stranger Inside

AVON -- Lisa Unger, bestselling author, will visit the Avon Library, 281 Country Club Road, on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. She will be promoting her new release, “The Stranger Inside.” Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 17 novels. The event is free and no registration is required. Books will be for sale at the event.

Granby Library Programs

GRANBY -- Granby Public Library, 15 North Granby Road, and F. H. Cossitt Branch Library, 388 North Granby Road, feature a variety of free programs this September. For more information and to register for any program, go to www.granby-ct.gov/library or call 860-844-5275.

Take Care Of Yourself Series

AVON -- The Avon Library and Avon Senior continue the ‘Take Care Of Yourself,’ program with a free event at the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road. Visit www.avonctlibrary.info for more information.

Creating A Positive Body Image: Thursday, Sept. 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Address: Avon Free Public Library, 291 Country Club Road. This workshop is designed to offer a safe environment to learn about self-image. Here we will talk about why we become self-conscious and how it affects our day to day lives. By hearing each other’s stories, we will learn simple coping skills to build positive body image. Michelle Gage is the founder of Hella Wellness Group. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in New York City. She has over 15 years empowering people in meeting goals in their lives in workshop settings and individual sessions, while continuing to support mind, body, and spirit wellness.

She has attended many workshops around metaphysical and trans-personal modalities. She is trained in several popular therapy modalities including Motivational Interviewing (empower change), Behavioral Activation, and Problem-Solving Therapy. These modalities have informed her work as a Wellness Consultant as her philosophy is working holistically with the person being in the driver’s seat for their wellness.

Granby Library Programs

GRANBY -- Granby Public Library, 15 North Granby Road, is hosting the following events. Granby Public Library and Granby Land Trust invite you to embark on an inland waterway journey along the Connecticut River.

Are you curious about different ways to practice healthy fitness for body and mind? Learn about it in the quiet, pre-opening hours at Granby Public Library. Friday Fitness Sampler kicked off on Sept. 6 and runs weekly through Sept. 27, from 9 to 10 a.m. Each week features a chance to sample a different modality with a certified instructor. Enjoy yoga, meditation, qi gong, and learn about nutrition for sustainable wellness. Registration required. Free.

Granby’s F. H. Cossitt Branch Library, 388 North Granby Road, hosts fiction writers the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Find inspiration in the historic building while honing writing skills. Meet other writers on Sept. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to www.granby-ct.gov/library or call 860-844-5275.

Veterans Invited To Simsbury Fly-In

SIMSBURY -- On behalf of Metacomet VFW Post 1926 Simsbury, Commander John Fox welcomes veterans to visit with members of their Post at their booth in vendor row at the 2019 Simsbury Fly-In and Car Show at Simsbury Airport, 94 Wolcott Road, on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to Fox, this gives them an opportunity to meet with veterans, in a friendly setting, and talk about community activities and the benefits of membership in the VFW. He went on to say that the national theme of the VFW is “No One Does More for Veterans and their families than the Veterans of Foreign Wars. From local grassroots ideas to national influence, the VFW works every day to make a difference.” For the Simsbury Post, that means that all their work is for the service of the veteran and the current military.

Membership in the Simsbury VFW Post includes invitation to their monthly social gatherings, receiving the highly informative national monthly VFW Magazine, and introduction to the State VFW Service Officer for those who need assistance with benefits.

In addition, members are invited to participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade, Veterans Day activities at many local schools and at Eno Memorial Hall on Nov. 11, and the annual Buddy Poppy Drive outside Fitzgerald’s Food Store and Stop & Shop Supermarket every November.

The Simsbury Post is in its 54th year and stands ready to help any veteran in need regardless of membership in the VFW. They fundraise during the year for many local and state veteran causes, which provides an opportunity to meet the men and women who have fought for our freedom.

There are three basic criteria required to be eligible to join the VFW: The veteran must have served overseas during a conflict, must have an Honorable Discharge or be a current Member of the Military and must be a U.S. Citizen. There are also criteria for veterans who served in Korea for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days anytime since June 30, 1949. Or, if the veteran has received one of several badges indicating various other service makes them eligible to join. Visit www.vfw1926.org for more information.

Health Screening Dates

AVON -- Free blood sugar testing and blood pressure screening dates at the Avon Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, a community service of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association, will take place on the following Thursdays from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m.

Screenings are free and all are welcome. Registration is not necessary, just drop-in. For more information, contact Tina Panik at 860-673-9712, ext. 235.

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Upcoming Blood Sugar Testing and Blood Pressure Screening Dates: Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, Dec. 5, and Dec. 19.

Continuing Education Courses

FARMINGTON-UNIONVILLE -- Farmington Continuing Education has opened registration for fall youth and adult enrichment courses. Adult offerings include mosaics, Microsoft Word, social media, cheese making, food tours with Prudence Sloane, yoga, financial, languages, bridge, line dancing, mind & body, trips and more.

Youth offerings include drivers ed, SAT preparation, Lego, theatre, breakdancing, robotics, coding, rock climbing, sewing, babysitting, food explorers and more. View the complete catalog of courses and register online at www.fpsct.org/fce, visit 1 Depot Place or call 860-404-0290.

Adult Basic Education classes for high school completion (GED, CDP, NEDP), Citizenship and ESL start on Sept. 9. These classes are for residents of Farmington, Unionville, Burlington, Harwinton, Canton, Collinsville and Avon. Bring proof of residency and photo ID to registration.

In the evening, childcare is available for children ages four years and older and toilet trained. Prior registration for in-person is required. Daytime registration: Sept. 19, 24 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) 9:30 a.m. at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive.

Evening registration: Sept. 23, 25 (Mondays and Wednesdays) 5 p.m. at Farmington High School, Room 905.

Salmon Brook Historical Society Events

GRANBY -- Salmon Brook Historical Society, 208 Salmon Brook St., is hosting the following events. Visit www.salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com for more information.

Open house tours are on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. through September. The Small/Antique Engine Show will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Don Rethke at 860-549-6687 or flushbewithyou@yahoo.com if you have an engine to show.

The fall flea market will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For vendor info, contact Dave at 860-653-3965. Donations will be accepted beginning Sept. 17 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Valley Seniors’ Bowling League

SIMSBURY -- The Valley Seniors’ Bowling League invites all bowlers, ages 55 and older, to join the league. They are looking for new team members and substitutes. The league bowls at Blue Fox in Simsbury on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. The games began Sept. 10 and the league runs for 32 weeks.mAll levels of ability are welcome. Contact Suzanne at 860-658-5748 for more information.

First LGBT Inclusive VNA In CT

SIMSBURY -- The McLean Home Care and Hospice staff has recently completed training through the Getting it Right program and has been deemed certified as an LGBT inclusive organization, making them the first Medicare-certified Home Health Agency in the State of Connecticut.

“It is our mission to serve all of our clients in the most respectful way possible. The valuable training we received as part of the Getting it Right program will further our entire staff’s proactive approach to inclusive and dignified care,” said Peggy Coburn, MPH, Administrator McLean Home Care & Hospice. For more information on McLean Home Care or Hospice services, call 860-658-3954.

The Getting it Right program works with aging service providers such as home care and facility-based providers to create welcoming and intentionally inclusive services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) clients and families. They provide an integrated set of resources to Getting it Right (GIR) providers, which includes training and other best practice resources. GIR begins with the premise that intentional inclusion means proactive practices that go beyond current standards and policies of non-discrimination

Getting it Right: Creating an LGBT Inclusive Organization, is a program of Connecticut Community Care supported with funding from the John H. and Ethel G. Noble Charitable Trust.

McLean Home Care & Hospice is a nonprofit Medicare-certified home health and hospice agency dedicated to providing high quality, effective and efficient multidisciplinary services to home health, palliative and hospice patients in Avon, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, Granby, Farmington, Simsbury, West Hartford and Windsor.

This orientation training for the 64 Home Care & Hospice employees was just the starting point for McLean. They are deeply committed to ongoing staff education on issues of importance to the LGBT community, as part of their longtime commitment of providing person-centered care to each and every patient they treat.

Gamblers Anonymous

AREA -- Gamblers Anonymous is available to anyone who has a gambling problem. The organization can be reached at 855-222-5542.

1820s Schoolhouse Needs Renovation Help

AVON -- The Avon Historical Society is seeking corporate donations in exchange for tax credits, to renovate their 1823 one-room schoolhouse for use as a museum once again.

The Avon Historical Society, in partnership with the Town of Avon, owner of Schoolhouse No. 3 located at 8 East Main St., has submitted a Neighborhood Assistance Act application to the CT Department of Revenue Services seeking Energy Efficient Improvement funding in the amount of $91,000 from the private sector in exchange for tax credits.

In 1981, the Avon Historical Society signed a lease agreement with the Town of Avon which resulted in the relocation, one year later, of an 1823 one-room schoolhouse from Country Club Road to its current location at 8 East Main Street. The building is the oldest structure owned by the Town of Avon and is listed on the State Register of Historic Places.

The Society opened it as “The Living Museum” in 1985, welcoming visitors on Sunday afternoons until it was closed in 2012. “The decision to close the Living Museum was timely,” said Historical Society President, Terri Wilson, “because the exhibit installed inside needed to be updated and the Museum’s collection had grown beyond its limited storage capacity.”

In 2018, the Society’s Board of Trustees decided to return it to a fully functioning museum, with climate controlled archival storage, proper security system and other upgrades, in time for its 200th anniversary in 2023. The Town of Avon and the Avon Historical Society have created a multi-year capital improvement plan for this one room schoolhouse, including both exterior projects that will seal the envelope of the building to make the structure more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable, and interior projects that will encourage the preservation of critical historic artifacts that define Avon’s character.

The Town has budgeted some funds in its Capital Improvement Budget and the Society has committed similar matching funds, but it is not enough to do everything needed. Funds obtained from the Neighborhood Assistance Act will enough to do everything needed. Funds obtained from the Neighborhood Assistance Act will allow the Historical Society to complete the much needed energy efficiency improvements to the structure including the installation of new energy efficient windows, new siding, new roof, new doors, a chimney cap, as well as renovations to the restroom, and an LED lighting upgrade.

The Neighborhood Assistance Act permits businesses that donate to these sorts of projects to apply for a tax credit matching their donation. Funding can come from one business or several. To make a donation, interested businesses should submit a complete NAA-2 form (available at https://portal.ct.gov/DRS/Credit-Programs/Neighborhood-Assistance/Neighborhood-Assistance-Act-Tax-Credit-Program) and submit the NAA-2 form to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services either via email or USPS to the addresses indicated at the top of the form. NAA-2 forms may be submitted on or after Sept. 15, 2019, but no later than Oct. 1, 2019.

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Contact the Historical Society at 860-678-7621 to ask questions, to obtain the NAA-2 form, or to schedule an appointment to tour the schoolhouse. Visit www.avonhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Families Anonymous

BLOOMFIELD -- A fellowship of people whose lives have been affected by the use of drugs or alcohol of a relative or friend meet every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Wintonbury Ave. For more information, call 860-922-4548.

Suburban Park: Unionville’s Hidden Gem

UNIONVILLE -- The Unionville Museum, 15 School St., is opening its new exhibit, “A Stroll Through Suburban Park – Unionville’s Hidden Gem,” featuring a unique slice of Unionville history.

The exhibit will be open at the museum from now through Oct. 27 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Suburban Park was a 27-acre amusement park created by the Suburban Trolley Company that operated in Unionville from 1895 to 1905, drawing hundreds of visitors from Farmington, West Hartford and Hartford. This exhibit is the culmination of an Eagle Scout project led by Timothy Germano, a Farmington High School student.

Continuing Ed Offers Trips

FARMINGTON -- Farmington Continuing Ed is offering the following trips. Visit http://www.fpsct.org/schools/farmington-continuing-education or call 860-404-0290 to register. Call 860-414-1024 for more information.

Trips are as follows: Oct. 19, 9-11 Museum; Nov. 2, Madame Butterfly, Met Opera, NYC; Nov. 11, Lower East Side Tenement Museum, NYC; Dec. 3, Radio City Holiday Show; and Dec. 7, NYC Day on your own.

Free Business Mentoring

FARMINGTON -- The Farmington Branch of SCORE offers free, individualized business mentoring sessions with business executive volunteers every first and third Wednesday at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The one hour sessions are by appointment. To schedule an appointment, visit www.greaterhartford.score.org or call the Farmington Library at 860-673-6791, ext 204.

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