Connecticut Trolley Museum Events
Spring is just around the corner, and the Connecticut Trolley Museum is gearing up for an exciting lineup of family-friendly activities. Visit ct-trolley.org or call 860-627-6540 for admission prices for events, and to register.
April Vacation Fun: April 15–17 and April 22–27. Make the most of April break with a week of hands-on activities and historic trolley experiences, including trolley rides, crafting station, dress-up stations, LEGO stations, visits to fire truck museum.
LEGO Workshop: Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. For young builders, the LEGO workshop is a can’t-miss event! Guided by a museum educator, participants will: build their own LEGO trolley ornament using a special pre-made kit to take home when completed. Geared toward ages 8–12.
Easter EGGspress Trolley: April 12 and 13, and April 18 and 19. Meet the Easter Bunny, hopping around for photos from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Kids can complete up to five creative craft activities and receive a special Easter egg with a surprise inside for each activity completed. Plus, historic trolley rides, Easter movie and exhibits and Fire Truck Museum access.
The Connecticut Trolley Museum is located at 58 North Road (Rte. 140) in East Windsor.
Vacation Bible School sign-up begins
Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable journey—a road trip adventure where the kids will explore faith, friendship and fun as they learn how God guides us every step of the way. Through exciting lessons, hands-on activities, music and games children will discover how to trust in God’s direction, no map required.
Simsbury United Methodist Church in conjunction with First Church of Christ, Simsbury, offers this special Vacation Bible School program from June 16 to 20, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Cost for kids entering Grades K to 5 is $199. Kids entering grades 6 to 12 can join as counselors.
Held at Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street. Please visit SUMct.org/VBS to register.
Way Back When: A Witness to History
The Farmington Valley CT Heritage Network is delighted to present a new four-part bus tour series kicking off this April—Way Back When: A Witness to History. With each part covering three towns in the Farmington Valley, the series offers an intimate glimpse, through first-hand accounts, of life in days gone by in the Farmington Valley.
Part one of the tour, taking place on Saturday, April 26, visits sites in Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Collinsville, each providing a fascinating peek, through interviews and diaries, into the lives of its residents in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Commentary on historic spots along the route will be offered in transit on the comfortable bus.
A furnished box lunch (choices available) will be served in Barkhamsted between stops. Admission is $50 per person and includes the bus tour, a goody bag for the bus, lunch, and a pre-tour lecture (see below) on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required for the bus. Email mzlotnick@cox.net or call 860-841-8344 by April 10 to reserve your spot, choose a payment option, and submit your lunch choice.
Mike Day, author on 19th-century education and curator of The Barkhamsted Historical Society’s One-Room Schoolhouse, will whet history buffs’ appetites with a pre-tour talk, The Life of a Typical Farmer in the 1880s, presented at the Canton Public Library/Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton, on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Drawing from the highly descriptive diaries kept by farmer George Weed, Day will explore the life, work and relationships of a typical local farmer of that period. The lecture is open to the public—admission is $5 per person for those not joining the April 26 bus tour, payable at the door.
Visit farmingtonvalleyctheritage.org for more information.
Submitted by Mary Zlotnick
Join fish and game club
The Simsbury Fish and Game Club is now accepting new members. This is a private club with access to a 2.5-acre reservoir. The pond is stocked and provides a quiet fishing sanctuary for both spin and fly fishing. The annual dues are $280 and the season opens on Saturday, April 12. The club also sponsors an annual kid’s fishing derby. Please contact club president Jim Gothers for details, 860-218-3760 or jimgothers@me.com
Weather forecast: 100 percent chance of learning
No matter what the weather, lifelong learning will keep you warm, dry and stimulated. Check out Presidents’ College Lifelong Learning at the University of Hartford. Choose from a menu of short (2 or 3 session) non-credit mini-courses and single lectures. Topics include the arts, history, current events, literature, science, engineering, and lots more.
No membership fee—pay only for what you take. Open to adults of all ages. Taught by professors and community experts. Coming in April:
Fewer Babies/Declining Birthrates: Boom…or Bust? Delve into what’s behind declining birth rates. We’ve gone from worries about overpopulation to a precipitous drop. Learn more about the political, social and economic implications of this global trend. Wednesdays, April 2 and 9, 10–11:30 a.m.
US. Pop Music: How Race and Place Shaped the Music You Love. Have you ever thought about how race and place have shaped the pop music you love? Delve into how the divergent geography, exceptional mixture of people and even performance locales have birthed dozens of pop music genres in the 20th century. Thursdays, April 3, 10 and 17, 3–4:30 p.m.
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Take your enjoyment of Shakespeare up a notch with a lecture on The Tempest. Director Robert Davis and composer Kathryn Swanson will discuss their collaboration on the original musical score and dramatic sound design. Then attend The Hartt School’s production of The Tempest. Lecture: Wednesday, April 16, 2–3:30 p.m. Performance: Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m.
Health and Harmony: Music’s Nourishing Effects. Can our response to music affect our physical health, brain function? This interactive class will cover global research on music’s influence on well-being, including insights from music psychology, neuroscience, and music therapy to discuss the ways music impacts cognition, mood and creativity. Wednesdays, April 30, May 7 and 13, 3:30–5 p.m.
To register, visit Hartford.edu/pc To be added to a mailing list, email pcollege@hartford.edu
Hartford Musical Club
The Musical Club of Hartford will offer the following program on Thursday, April 10, at 10 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford.
Giovanni Platti (1690-1763), Sonata Opus III No. 6 in G Major for Flute and Basso Continuo, performed by: Leo Snow, baroque flute; Laura Mazza-Dixon, viola da gamba; Anne Mayo, harpsichord.
François Couperin (1668-1733) Les Nations: Second Ordre, L’Espagnole, performed by: Deborah Robin, recorders; Leo Snow, baroque flute; Laura Mazza-Dixon, viola da gamba; Anne Mayo, harpsichord.
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), Trio for Flute, Bassoon and Piano, performed by: Cynthia Lang, flute; Fred Fenn, bassoon; Sarah Schiener-Redenz, piano.
Music of the Renaissance from Greenwoods Consort, with a program ranging from Thomas Morley to Billy Joel. Dressed in period costume, the group is made up of soprano Claudia Buick, alto Anne Fenn, tenor Payton Turpin and bass Ken Andresen.
Donations sought for church rummage sale
Avon Congregational Church is seeking items for its annual rummage sale. Donations for the sale may be dropped off at the church, 6 West Main St., on the following days: Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.); Monday to Thursday, April 7 to 10, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Donations also accepted on these evenings: Monday to Wednesday, April 7 to 9, 5 to 7 p.m.). Please note: A volunteer will advise what items we can take when dropped off. All items must clean and in working order and be dropped off during the times listed when a volunteer is on duty.
Seeking dishware, art, silver, antiques, folk art, jewelry and ladies’ accessories, collectibles, toys and games, gardening items, tools, holiday items, sporting goods, fine table linens and decorative housewares. We’ll also collect finer general housewares, lamps and small working appliances. Questions? Contact the office at 860-678-0488.
Mark your calendars for the 42nd Rummage Sale on Friday, April 11, 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tag and Bake Sale
The Copper Hill United Methodist Church will host a Tag and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 27 Copper Hill Road in East Granby. There will be lots of treasures to look through, as well as great baked goodies to choose from! For more information, call Susan at 860-668-1031.
Memory Walk benefits grieving families
On Sunday, May 4, Mary’s Place, A Center for Grieving Children and Families will host its 12th Annual Memory Walk, starting at 9:30 a.m. at Northwest Park, 145 Lang Road in Windsor.
Walk with us in memory of your loved one. This moving fundraiser connects families, friends and the community to support programs at Mary’s Place. Honor the memory of a loved one and help make a difference in the lives of grieving children and families by joining us for this special event. Register at marysplacect.org/memory-walk