A drink in hand, good friends at your side, and some good belly laughs — it’s the perfect recipe for Comedy Night at Spring Hill Vineyards!

Join us Friday, July 11 for a hilarious evening of stand-up comedy during wine tasting hours! While the show is open to all our guests, reserved seating inside the barn is available for those who want to secure a front-row experience. Lawn seating will be open and first come, first served — so come early, grab a glass, and settle in for the fun.

Enjoy performances from Dave Reilly, along with AJ from 99 Rock WPLR and Cory James, who will have you laughing from start to finish with their unique, interactive style. Comedic content can be subjective — and that’s what makes it unforgettable!

We’ll be pouring your favorite wines and serving up charcuterie boards and savory artisan pizzas from Eagle Eye.

Reserve your seats early — barn spots go fast!

What odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) inhabit Washington, and what does their presence or absence mean for local and regional conservation? Steep Rock Association (SRA) aims to answer these questions and we need your help. Join our team of "dragon hunters" for an educational and scientific day of sampling odonates in SRA preserves. We'll start by overviewing odonate ecology, transition into capture technique training, and then begin the hunt for as many different species of dragonflies and damselflies at a given survey site.

Location: Macricostas Preserve, 124 Christian St., New Preston. Forecasted inclement weather will advance the survey to Sunday, July 13.

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to present a joint art exhibition, “Abstract Meditations,” featuring the works of Leonard Kady and Heather Neilson. This show is on view beginning Friday, July 4.

An opening reception will be held at the park on Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. An artist talk will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 4 pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Leonard Kady is an artist and architect whose photography emerged from a personal reckoning with time and isolation during the pandemic. Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist whose work explores the interplay of nature, the passage of time, and a sense of place.

This exhibition offers visitors a moment to pause, observe, and reconnect—with nature, with self, and with the enduring rhythms that shape us all.

Dear Friends,

A celebration that happens only once every 100 years! We are thrilled to invite you to a truly special evening presented by Washington Friends of Music, in collaboration with Spring Hill Vineyards and Pilobolus:

Steep Rock Centennial Benefit Concert

Sunday, July 13 | 6:00–8:00 PM

Spring Hill Arts Gathering, 292 Bee Brook Rd, New Preston, CT

Set against the stunning backdrop of Spring Hill Arts Gathering, this unforgettable benefit concert features chamber music masterpieces by Mozart, Weber, and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony—arranged for string sextet.

We are especially grateful to Pilobolus for joining us in this performance with their breathtaking choreography. The opportunity to experience Pilobolus dancing to Beethoven’s “Pastoral” will be nothing short of extraordinary—and a true gift to our community.

We are deeply honored to support our beloved Steep Rock Association, whose century-long commitment to conservation continues to protect and celebrate the natural beauty of Washington. Your attendance directly benefits their mission.

Featuring Internationally Acclaimed Musicians:

• Julian Rhee, violin – Silver Medalist, Indianapolis International Violin Competition; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program
• Claire Bourg, violin – Juilliard artist praised for her expressive style and chamber collaborations
• Maurycy Banaszek, viola – Founding member, East Coast Chamber Orchestra; Marlboro, Seattle, and Aldeburgh festivals
• Rebecca Benjamin, viola – Kneisel Hall faculty; Doctoral candidate at Rice University
• Christine Lamprea, cello – Sphinx and Schadt Competition winner; dynamic soloist and chamber musician
• Robin Park, cello – Prizewinning Yale cellist with a passion for thoughtful, diverse interpretations
• Sooyun Kim, flute – ARD Prizewinner; celebrated international soloist and Lincoln Center artist
• Vadim Lando, clarinet – Founder, Oyster Bay Music Festival; lauded for his virtuosity and vibrant performances

Join us for an evening of music, movement, and meaning—all in celebration of our environment, our community, and the incredible work of Steep Rock Association.

Click here to purchase tickets

With gratitude,

The Washington Friends of Music Board

Bringing world-class classical music to Washington, CT

Ellen Forman, President

Washington Friends of Music

www.washingtonct4music.org

Gunn Memorial Library invites young readers to join a new program designed to build confidence and a lifelong love of reading. Aligned with the library’s Level-Up summer reading theme, the Read Aloud Book Club will run from the week after July 4 through the first week of August 2025, and is specially tailored for children entering Kindergarten and 1st Grade.

The program features a rich blend of read-aloud sessions and fun crafts, all designed to make reading both enjoyable and educational. The books selected span multiple genres to encourage engagement, imagination, and conversation.

This week’s book is Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon

A little boy’s grandfathers, one in America and one in Japan, teach him about baseball and its rich, varying cultural traditions.

Registration Required.

Fulfill your summer reading goals and enjoy literary adventures with Gunn Junior Library’s Summer Reading Book Club, held every Monday afternoon in July!

Led by Ms. Ashley, this program is designed for rising 4th and 5th graders and will meet from 3:15 to 4:15 PM, July 7–28. Readers will explore Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr. A laugh-out-loud story about a boy who takes a fortune cookie’s advice a little too seriously, leading to silly yet meaningful adventures. A 2024 Nutmeg nominee, this book offers the perfect blend of humor and heart, exploring themes of choice, friendship, and what truly matters.

Each session features a discussion and creative activities inspired by surprise weekly “mystery envelopes.” Let’s make summer reading a whole lot of fun.

Registration Required.

Books will be available for pickup in the Jr. Library starting Monday, June 23.

Submissions now open! ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Photographers invites students in grades 6-12 to submit their photographs for a chance to participate in a juried art exhibition. A panel of professional photographers selects 60 photos for a public exhibition, recognizing the top four photographers for their outstanding and thoughtful work based on the yearly theme.

Submissions: now - September 26, 2025

Theme: Transformation

Exhibition: Hartford Art School's Silpe Gallery. Sunday, November 2, 2025, 2:00-3:30 pm

Submissions and guidelines: visit asapct.org

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to present a joint art exhibition, “Abstract Meditations,” featuring the works of Leonard Kady and Heather Neilson. This show is on view beginning Friday, July 4.

An opening reception will be held at the park on Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. An artist talk will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 4 pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Leonard Kady is an artist and architect whose photography emerged from a personal reckoning with time and isolation during the pandemic. Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist whose work explores the interplay of nature, the passage of time, and a sense of place.

This exhibition offers visitors a moment to pause, observe, and reconnect—with nature, with self, and with the enduring rhythms that shape us all.

Submissions now open! ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Photographers invites students in grades 6-12 to submit their photographs for a chance to participate in a juried art exhibition. A panel of professional photographers selects 60 photos for a public exhibition, recognizing the top four photographers for their outstanding and thoughtful work based on the yearly theme.

Submissions: now - September 26, 2025

Theme: Transformation

Exhibition: Hartford Art School's Silpe Gallery. Sunday, November 2, 2025, 2:00-3:30 pm

Submissions and guidelines: visit asapct.org

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to present a joint art exhibition, “Abstract Meditations,” featuring the works of Leonard Kady and Heather Neilson. This show is on view beginning Friday, July 4.

An opening reception will be held at the park on Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. An artist talk will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 4 pm. These events are free and open to the public.

Leonard Kady is an artist and architect whose photography emerged from a personal reckoning with time and isolation during the pandemic. Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist whose work explores the interplay of nature, the passage of time, and a sense of place.

This exhibition offers visitors a moment to pause, observe, and reconnect—with nature, with self, and with the enduring rhythms that shape us all.

Explore the colorful and resonant work of artist Dana Bol. Using materiality and color, Bol creates emotional tableaux.

Join the Gunn Memorial Library (in July, the meeting will take place at the Washington Senior Center) as we continue to explore contemporary American poets. For the next two months, Mark Scarbrough will focus on collections from Tracy K. Smith, and Dianne Seuss, each author in a separate session. He will examine how these poets transform personal experiences through their craft.

* Copies will be available for checkout at the circulation desk

About Mark Scarbrough:

A former academic, Mark Scarbrough, left the seminary to pursue his doctoral work in nineteenth-century American literature at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has presented papers on medieval literature at the International Medieval Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and American literature at MLA and regional MLA conferences. He wrote screenplays for various production companies and developed much of the original food content in the early 1990s for a small internet startup called America Online. Mark Scarbrough is the co-author of thirty-five titles and has a thriving cookbook career. In 2020, Mark published his memoir, “Bookmarked: How The Great Works Of Western Civilization F*cked Up My Life,” which Will Schwalbe described as “equal parts charm, wit, and withering self-reflection.” Having left the classroom, Mark now finds himself immersed in literature, leading grant-sponsored book groups and six- to eight-week literary seminars throughout Litchfield County, Connecticut, and Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Registration is required

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/contemporary-poets-with-mark-scarbrough-3/

The Gunn Junior Library partners with Literacy Volunteers on the Green (LVG) to present a series of fun and interactive bilingual storytimes in English and Spanish this July!

Held every Thursday in July, these sessions will feature engaging stories, a literacy-focused book, and hands-on craft activities that inspire creativity and learning. Children and families are invited to join us for this celebration of language, culture, and community connection.

Based in New Milford, LVG provides free English language and literacy tutoring to adult learners across northwestern Connecticut. With a mission rooted in empowerment through education, trained volunteer tutors meet weekly with students to help build essential communication skills for work, home, and civic life. As part of their Family Literacy initiative, LVG uses bilingual children’s books and storytelling to support language learning and help families honor their native languages and cultural heritage.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore stories, language, and creativity together!

To learn more about LVG, visit www.lvg-ct.org.

Registration Required.

Game On: UNO Night for Adults at Gunn Memorial Library!

Join us at Gunn Memorial Library for an evening of strategy, laughs, and a little friendly competition at our UNO Game Night for Adults!

This beloved card game is easy to learn and guaranteed to bring on some excitement. Whether you're a longtime UNO fan or trying it for the first time, it’s the perfect way to mix, mingle, and enjoy a relaxed evening with fellow community members, accompanied by a glass of Pinot.

Grab a friend or come solo—either way, you’ll leave with great memories and maybe even bragging rights.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/uno-pinot-game-night-at-the-gunn/

Submissions now open! ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Photographers invites students in grades 6-12 to submit their photographs for a chance to participate in a juried art exhibition. A panel of professional photographers selects 60 photos for a public exhibition, recognizing the top four photographers for their outstanding and thoughtful work based on the yearly theme.

Submissions: now - September 26, 2025

Theme: Transformation

Exhibition: Hartford Art School's Silpe Gallery. Sunday, November 2, 2025, 2:00-3:30 pm

Submissions and guidelines: visit asapct.org