The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Basic Italian I, a 13-session beginner class, will be held on Thursdays, May 8 to July 31, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class will cover pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture. The required text is Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way by Marcel Danesi, Barron's Publisher, any edition, available online at abebooks.com and other retailers. 

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

 A Community History of Falls Village in Stories, Pictures and Objects. Join writer and Falls Village resident Mark Gozonsky for a six month learning by publishing workshop centered around telling Falls Village stories. Beginning in January participants will meet at the library once a month to share ideas and work on their stories in community. The group will meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 11 am. The workshop will culminate in June with a book and a community celebration and reading. This workshop is open to all ages. 

This workshop will guide you through the process of making an acrylic painting from start to finish. Learn how to build the background and capture your subject by employing techniques to create well-balanced, colorful compositions.

Instructor: Mark Buku

Thursdays, June 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2025

12:30 - 4:30 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $216 / Non-Members: $240

MORE INFO & REGISTER

For the first year, we will be hosting a summer market located at Franklin Plaza on the same nights as our Summer Concert Series. Each Thursday between June and August, check out vendors of all different varieties from meats, veggies, maple syrup, handcrafted goods, and more! Check out our full vendor list soon! Inquire above if you would like to be a vendor!

Check out some of our confirmed vendors:

• Misfit Farms
• Sunset Meadow Vineyards
• Dancing Ferns Houseplants
• Oracle Mushroom Co
• Hathor Hill Farm
• Bloom Where Planted
• Bantam Bread
• Laura Rubino Crafts
• Forever Connected LLC
• and more!

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!

Learn the history of honey harvest, the history of purposeful beekeeping, hives of past and present, the composition of honey and why honey crystallized. What makes honey so dark or so light? How many varietals of honey are there? Why does honey crystallize? Why doesn't honey need to be pasteurized? Learn the answers to these questions and much more during this engaging talk and taste five varietals of honey from The Humble Bee Honey Company!

Come check out the Torrington Recreations 2025 Summer Concert Series at Coe Park! Over the course of 14 weeks, every Thursday, starting June 5th and running through September 4th, we will be hosting 14 different bands who will perform a range of different genres. Concerts will be held on the outside portico at the Coe Memorial Park (101 Litchfield Road) from 6pm-8pm. Bring your blankets, chairs, food and drinks to enjoy our concerts in the park!

The Rich Badowski Band was formed in 2009. Rich Badowski, Harmonica/Entertainer is a two time participant in the International Blues Band Challenge in Memphis, TN back in 2013 and 2018. The band covers a wide range of musical styles including blues, rock, country, R&B, jazz and much more.

The tarot provides a rich landscape of symbolic imagery that reflects the hero’s journey. The mirror of the tarot is an inspiring tool for both creative writing & journaling.

In this workshop, Kathleen Kryspin, local English teacher for over 29 years, will instruct you to use tarot cards to inspire both creative writing & reflective journal practice.

Whether you are interested in storytelling or self divination, this workshop will provide you with writing tools from the tarot!

Join the Gunn Library Book Club on Thursday evening for a rewarding discussion on celebrated author Niall Williams's beautiful book, The Time of the Child.

Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean he has always been set apart from the town. His eldest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father's shadow, and remains there, having missed one chance at love – and passed up another offer of marriage from an unsuitable man.

But in the Advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy's lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the winter passes, father and daughter's lives, the understanding of their family, and their role in their community are changed forever.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/gml-thursday-book-club-the-time-of-the-child-by-niall-williams/

On Thursday, June 26th, at 6:30, 2nd Home is thrilled to have the Pat Marafiote Trio, featuring Theresa Wright and Steve Clarke, back at 2nd Home. This will be particularly special as Theresa’s new album was released this week. Pat and Steve are both on the album, and it sounds great! Theresa will bring copies to the show which will be available for sale.

Pat's background includes several genres of music as a professional keyboard artist. His musical resume spans decades, including multiple tours with jazz, blues, R&B, and rock acts, including some of the best-known artists of our generation. Bassist Steve Clarke has performed with the two- time Grammy nominated jazz flautist Sherry Winston, Marion Meadows, TomBrown, Victor Fields, and R&B innovators The Coasters, The Drifters, Mary Wells, Sam & Dave, and Ben E. King. Theresa Wright is a wonderful singer with a sweet soulful voice. Look for her CDs, including her new one, and find out for yourself, or be here for their performance.

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Our Google Street View is online, and it looks amazing:

https://goo.gl/maps/eC7A4ZDEjenNqzpb6

https://goo.gl/maps/NWGK4NRyk6MNfmWZ6

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Conversational Italian, 13-sessions, is not a beginner class. It will be held on Fridays, April 25 to August 1, 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., with no class on May 30 or July 4. It is designed for those with a knowledge of basic Italian grammar and good vocabulary.  The required text is Conversational Italian: In 20 Lessons (Cortina Method) by Michael Cagno,  available online at abebooks.com.  

Gallery 25 Presents: Heatwaves & Hues – A Summer Art Show

Heatwaves & Hues, running from Friday, May 2 – Sunday, August 17. This vibrant exhibition will showcase works bursting with color and inspired by the warmth and energy of summer.

Plan a Fun Weekend in New Milford!

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering a variety of activities for visitors. Enjoy well-reviewed restaurants, pubs, and unique shops, take in a film at our charming Art Deco movie theater, or catch a live performance at the innovative TheatreWorks playhouse. Stroll through our beautiful historic New England Green, a perfect spot to relax and soak in the town’s charm.

Experience Gallery 25

Gallery 25 is an artist-run gallery featuring 25 members working across all genres. Along with our exciting exhibitions, we invite you to take part in our workshops, live demonstrations, artist discussions, and photography walks!

We welcome you to explore, create, and be inspired!