The Big Y supermarket in Bethel has selected the Happily Furever After Rescue animal rescue organization as its benefiting nonprofit organization for the supermarket’s Community Bag Program for the month of February.
The grocery store is located at 83 Stony Hill Road.
Bethel
Women’s Club deliver gifts to veterans
“Santa’s Elves” from the Bethel Women’s Club, General Federation of Women’s Clubs, recently delivered gifts from the club’s month long and annual “Support our Veterans” Community Drive
The gifts were brought to the loading dock of the Rocky Hill Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill.
Gifts from the event were also brought to the Home for Heroes, and Vet House in Danbury.
Danbury
WestConn wins theater awards
Western Connecticut State University production faculty and student performers have won several BroadwayWorld 2021 Connecticut Awards.
They won for shows that they performed at theVisual and Performing Arts Center during the 2020 academic school year.
WCSU Department of Theatre Arts productions in 2020 were live-streamed to the public due to the pandemic. Two productions received several awards from BroadwayWorld:
Best Direction of a Stream (Non-Professional): Tim Howard – “The Radium Girls: A Jaw-Dropping New Musical”
Best Editing of a Stream (Non-Professional): R.J. Romeo – “The Radium Girls: A Jaw-Dropping New Musical”
Best Performer in a Streaming Musical (Non-Professional): Alexis Reda, “The Radium Girls: A Jaw-Dropping New Musical.” Reda, now a senior musical theateer major from Trumbull, impressed two of the show’s writers so much that they invited her to perform one of her character’s songs at their concert “D’ARCHANGELIS AND HORNEFF (AND FRIENDS!)” at The Green Room 42 in New York City.
Best Performer in a Streaming Play (Non-Professional): Chrystal Campbell in “Dognap on Dekalb.” Campbell, of Weston, graduated WCSU in spring 2021 and has since signed with the talent agency of CLA Partners in New York and California.
Best Streaming Musical (Non-Professional): “The Radium Girls: A Jaw-Dropping New Musical”
Most Anticipated Upcoming Production of a Play (Non-Professional): “Noises Off”
Visit wcsu.edu/theatrearts/events/ for more information about upcoming productions at the school.
Danbury
Special WestConn exhibit opening to the public
Western Connecticut State University is having a special art exhibit titled: “WCSU exhibits ‘Unsettled Nostalgia,” from acclaimed artist Mohamad Hafez,” from Thursday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, March 6.
There will also be an artist reception and a cultural event. Hafez is an architect.
Fafez has an art studio in New Haven.
The events will be open and free to the public.
The reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, at the gallery of the WestConn Visual and Performing Arts Center.
A cultural event, called “Exploring the sights sounds and tastes of the Middle East with artist Mohamad Hafez and guests,” will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall at the center.
The center is located at the 43 Lake Ave. extension in Danbury.
The cultural event is for the Western Connecticut State University Department of Art’s art residency, and “The Home Project at WCSU,” recently completed collaborative art installation.
Tickets are required.
Reservations must be made in advance at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com. There is limited ticket availability because of COVID-19.
The installation is made possible through a $13,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Admission to both the reception and the exhibit are free.
Reservations to attend the reception are encouraged.
The reservations can be made at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.
Face masks and social distancing protocol will be required for both the exhibit, and the reception.
The hours for the gallery are from noon until 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, as well as from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
New Milford
New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame postpones banquet
The New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame has postponed its 2022 banquet from Saturday, Oct. 15, until probably October 2023, according to information from the group.
The group needed to make the decision early.
An announcement about the group’s classes inductees is also delayed. It hopes to announce them the next time that it selects inductees.
The specific date will be at a time when it would be safe for all people to attend the event without concern about COVID-19.
The group has also delayed choosing its next class of inductees for the event and will announce honorees at a later date.
Visit the Athletic Hall of Fame website at nmhsahof.org for updates, and more details.
The Green Wave is the mascot for New Milford High School.
New Milford
Art gallery, creative arts studio plans two new art shows
The Gallery 25 and Creative Arts Studio is opening a new art show titled “Anticipation” on Friday. The show will run through Saturday, March 26.
The art show is by members of the gallery.
The members’ display their interpretation of winter days, waiting for spring, and dreaming of summer.
There is also a “Between Fantasy and Reality,” Featured Artist Judith Secco art show beginning Friday through Sunday, Feb. 27.
An opening reception for both of the art shows will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Visit gallery25ct.com for more information.
The gallery, and creative arts studio is open from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m., on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The art venue is located at 11 Railroad St. in New Milford.
It is made possible by the New Milford Commission on the Arts.
Also visit gallery25ct.com, or email [email protected] for more information.
Newtown
Nonprofit promotes hope, healing, connection
The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement is having its eighth annual Choose Love Awareness Month during February.
The nonprofit generally holds the month to promote hope, healing, and connection by living a Choose Love lifestyle through fun and educational actions items.
The month will culminate with a virtual Choose Love Summit in partnership with the Shift Network.
The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a commitment to reach students, educators, and individuals, and to provide them with the simple and profound formula for choosing love.
The movement honors 6-year-old Sandy Hook tragedy victim Jesse Lewis, whose action saved the lives of nine classmates during the Sandy Hook tragedy.
He left behind a “Nurturing Healing Love,” message on a household chalkboard.
The message became the inspiration for his mother Scarlett, to found the movement.
The month is celebrated every year to encourage all people from students, educators, families, and communities, to learn, and share the Choose Love message.
The movement provides no cost, and next generation, character social educational development programs.
Each week in February will focus on a pillar of the Choose Love Formula: Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action = Choosing Love.
A go-to guide for fun and educational action items about how to Choose Love is outlined in 10 Ways to Choose Love.
Schools and individuals will be rewarded for participating throughout the month.Participants will be rewarded with a ticket that will be redeemable for a raffle for each of the 10 Ways that they complete.
Raffle prizes will be awarded, including an iPad, and a Choose Love Store gift card.
Poems based on the formula will be accepted throughout the month. The collection of poems will be bound and published for purchase.
All proceeds will benefit the movement.
Visit chooselovemovement.org for more information.
The organization is located in Newtown.
Regional
Libraries celebrate 11th Take Your Child to the Library Day
Several local libraries are participating in the 11th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day on Saturday.
Brookfield, Burnham in Bridgewater, Mark Twain, in Redding, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield libraries are celebrating the day.
Burnham Library will offer raffles, drop-in crafts and other activities.
Brookfield Library is hosting a winter Olympics program from 1 to 3 p.m. Activities include outdoor obstacle course, Olympics activity packet and reading challenge, plus a book giveaway. If there is too much snow for our obstacle course, participates will make snowmen on the library lawn.
All day long, Danbury Library will offer Make & Take Crafts on the junior floor, a Lunar New Year Celebration, and Family Fun Kits to take home.
Families with children all ages are invited to join Ridgefield Library for an Elephant and Piggie Party. There will be drop-in activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a story time at 11 am with a special appearance by Piggie and Elephant.
Contact New Fairfield Free Library and the Mark Twain Library for information about their events.
Visit ctlibrarians.org/page/Take for more information.
Regional
Dentistry to host ‘Teeth for Tots’ event
Dr. Mariya Malin from the Wilton Smiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is hosting a “Teeth for Tots” event between 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Malin will serve as many children ages 5 to 12 as possible. She will also provide people, with free teeth cleanings, and exams.
The happening is for people who may not have access to dental care.
All appointments will be on a first come, first serve basis, and by appointment only.
Additional information is available from Dr. Malin.
The event is also with the Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach.
Ridgefield
Assisted living facility honors employee
The Ridgefield Station, a new assisted living and compass memory support and senior community, recently honored Maria Macencala with the community’s Associate of the Year award.
A pizza party for staff happened. Several residents attended the event to congratulate the honorees for their achievement. She was recognized on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Macencala also received flowers, and a gift card.
Macencala is a Ridgefield Station employee who works in the community’s housekeeping department.
Macencla is a mentor to others in the department and assists with training new associates, according to Ridgefield Station.
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/WestConn-wins-theater-wards-other-Danbury-area-16814666.php