Coffee Hour Readings at Gunn Memorial Museum

Join us at the Washington Senior Center for a series of coffee hour readings from the archives of the Gunn Historical Museum, on the first Monday of the month starting at 10:00am. Staff from the Gunn Museum will be reading research papers from the museum’s archives, sharing photos and stories and reminiscing about Washington’s history. 

The April 5th reading will be an interesting paper called Abner Mitchell by Mary Gunn Brinsmade in 1921. Abner Mitchell was a Washington resident drafted into the Civil War in August of 1863 with family tragedy mounting. Despite town pleas to send a substitute, he left "Baby Mary" in the hands of relatives and answered the call of duty, entering into Company B of the 6th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers. Abner met his fate at the battle of Deep Run, Virginia, in 1864. Come learn about the heroic yet tragic story of Abner Mitchell and his family during this special presentation.

This event is free and open to the public. The Washington Senior Center is located at 6 Bryan Hall Plaza in the center of Washington Depot. Call the museum at 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnlibrary.org for more information. 

Environmentally Safe Poison Ivy Removal

Cindy Campbell has made a successful business of doing a job most people don’t like to touch—removing poison ivy from farmland and family gardens. After successfully eradicating the three-leafed pest for family and friends, she decided to offer her expertise to the public. 

Campbell has found that the only way to remove poison ivy in an environmentally friendly manner is to remove the entire root system by hand. This traditional method has worked well for New England farmers for centuries, although it’s not a job for the inexperienced. The results are good too—better in fact than killing the plant with toxic pesticides.

Contrary to what you might think, Campbell is not one of those rare individuals who are blessed with a natural immunity to the plant, which can cause a severe systemic dermatitis on contact. But she is persistent, and she has learned how to effectively protect herself. 

She got involved with poison ivy control after her husband contracted a particularly severe case, which required medical treatment. Under the tutelage of a knowledgeable Yankee farmer, she learned about technique, and the weather conditions and seasonal changes that make for the most productive weeding. She is able to identify poison ivy in the dormant season when there are no leaves, so she can nip the problem in the bud, before the growing season begins!

With her own garden poison-ivy free for several years now, Campbell has the time to offer her services to the public.

The Gloved Hand

Environmentally Responsible Poison Ivy Control

Cindy Campbell

203 • 734-7171

Lecture on Heart Health

Healthy Heart!
2/16 Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm - Woodbury Library
Dr. Gazsi will speak at length on the many ways to assess your risk for heart disease as well as how to strengthen your heart and blood vessels.  He will also discuss “Good and Bad” Cholesterol and what it all means, your alternatives to medications and the risks of using medication. All questions will be answered after the lecture. The class is free but you must register. 
Register For This Class

Adult Education Classes at Nonnewaug High School

Nonnewaug High School supports a wonderful adult education program and the brochure just came out.
Most charge a nominal registration fee.
The courses include:

Welding for Beginners

Hands-On Cheesemaking 

Forest and Open Space Conservation and Management

Proper Pruning of the Home Garden: Tools, Techniques and Timing

Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease in Horses

Vermicomposting

Fly Fishing  (5 week series of classes)

Equine Nutrition and Digestion

Beef Carcass Cutting

Gardening for Birds and Butterflies

So You Want to Make Soap?

Canine Behavior I: Common Myths and Misconceptions by Humans

Basic Floral Design

Basic Landscape Design and Plant Selection

Home Lawn Turfgrass Installation, Care, Maintenance and Problem Solving, Part 1

Utilizing Native Plants in the Landscape

Sausage Processing

Musculoskeletal System in the Horse

Needle Felting With Wool

Maple Sugaring Basics

Circulation and Respiration in the Horse

An Introduction to Raising Poultry

Home Lawn Turfgrass Installation, Care, Maintenance and Problem Solving, Part 2

Canine Behavior II: How to Condition Your Dog for a Trip to the Vet

Make Your Own Pork Crown Roast

Orchid Basics

Meat Quality

My plants have all died!  It must be my soil!

Senior Pet Health and Care

Saddle Fitting

Design a Rain Garden for your Backyard

In Clinic Hematology and Chemistry

Perennials for the Sun and Shade

Beekeeping Basics (two session course, 4/1 and 4/8)

The Science of Container Gardening

Orchid Basics 

Centered Riding On the Ground

Spring “Buff-Up” of Residential Landscapes

Create a Dish Garden Using Succulents

Rose Care

Hands-On Cheese making 

Organics 101: The Real Dirt 

Relocating Trees and Shrubs Using the Drum-Lacing Technique (securing/wrapping in burlap)

The Best Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and Vines for Residential Landscapes

Equine Nutrition 101
http://www.woodburyffa.org/adult_education_courses.htm

Woodbury Turkeys

Woodbury Mile Marker

CHOCOLATE UNDERGROUND • Benefit for Bent of the River Audubon

     http://www.newmorn.com/general/09_Chocolate.php
New Morning of Woodbury invites you to a benefit for community-based programs at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River. Chef Carol of New Morning’s Provender will transport you to Belize and the shade forests of Central America with an intriguing menu infused with dark chocolate from appetizers to fish, roasted meat and crazy delicious truffles. 
February 6, 2010 at 6:30 PM.
Heritage Hotel • 522 Heritage Road • Southbury CT.
Tickets: $65

Flanders Nature Center • Woodbury Connecticut

     http://www.flandersnaturecenter.org/

Music and Poetry Workshop with Julie Cook at Woodbury Senior Center

      Julie Cook will facilitate a six-week Music and Poetry workshop at the Woodbury Senior Center on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. from February 9 through March 16. Designed for lovers of music and poetry, the program will explore ways in which these two arts enhance one another.
     Participants will read and compare a variety of poetic styles. They will then have an opportunity to document the beauty in their own lives by writing original poems. These poems will be transformed into song lyrics, and will be read and accompanied by easy-to-play musical instruments.  No prior experience with either poetry or music is required, only a sense of adventure. Participants may bring their own instruments if they wish.
      Each week there will be a different focus:
•  The rhythm connection
•  The healing practice of toning
•  Using words with music, including poetry
•  Expressing emotion through music
•  Creating music together
•  Listening to music for specific purposes.
      Julie Cook studied piano at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford and has taught for 26 years at her studios in Newtown and Woodbury, Connecticut. She facilitates workshops for musicians and non-musicians for the purpose of health and self-expression. She is a certified facilitator for Music for People, an organization that promotes an improvisational approach to music. Julie has published poems, short stories and articles, and written a novel, Beneath the Music, the story of a frustrated prodigy who finally finds his authentic music.
     The Music and Poetry workshop is open to area residents. There is a small fee, and enrollment is limited. Those wishing to register or to obtain more information are asked to call the Woodbury Senior Center at 203-263-2828.

Russian Folkwear Exhibition in Washington Depot

     From January 21 - March 6 in the Display Case of the Gunn Memorial Library there will be an exhibit of traditional Russian winter footwear called Valenki (with the emphasis on the "val"). An opening reception which is free and open to the public will be held on Saturday, February 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
     Valenki are traditional Russian winter footwear. Made of sheep's wool, these warm felt boots have been worn by generations of Russians. For centuries they shod the feet of peasants and tsars. Valenki literally means, "made by felting." Valenki are not water-resistant, therefore they are often worn with a strip of leather on their sole or rubber galoshes to protect the felt. Galoshes also protect the valenki's soles from wear and tear.
     Washington resident Stephanie Fenwick, curator of the exhibit, has travelled extensively in Russia and brought back many pairs from her visits.
     Russian Valenki date back to the 18th century when the first pair was produced. It is supposed that the prototype of Valenki were the felt boots of Asian nomads, which they had been wearing for more than 1,500 years. Mass production of Valenki started in the end of the 19th century when factories were opened. Before that Valenki were too expensive and only well-off people could afford to possess a pair of them.
     Valenki are said to have healing effects, through their warmth and natural material. The Russian Tsar Peter the Great wore them to get over hangovers and urged his subjects to do the same.

Colonial Music and Dance in Woodbury Area

     Patricia Campbell is a dance leader, teacher and consultant with a love of calling for barn dances, schools, libraries, historical societies, and community groups. With a background in modern dance, Patricia spent many years dancing a variety of styles, from ballroom to international folk to contra, and on to colonial. Her repertoire includes Colonial Dance, Singing Games, New England Contra, Square and Folk Dances. Patricia performed at the NOMAD (NOrtheast Music, Art and Dance) Festival and served for many years on its program committee.

     She has appeared as Dance Mistress at a number of Colonial Balls for re-enactors, as well as programs for historical societies and libraries. She led an Early American Dance series as well as a Family Barn Dance series, and works with school groups for Maypole, Morris and Sword dancing.
     Musical accompaniment for many programs is provided by the musicians of The Reel Thing. Playing fiddle, flute, guitar and keyboard, their repertoire of period and contemporary music includes:
• Colonial/18th Century
• French Canadian
• Celtic and Appalachian
   Jigs & Reels
• International Music
• English Country Dance
www.CountryDanceCaller.com 

Woodbury Park and Recreation Programs

http://activenet7.active.com/woodburyparkandrec/?redir=1
For the latest activities listings at Woodbury Park and Recreation.
Winter updates are posted here.