LITCHFIELD COUNTY — Regional School District 6, West Hartford, Litchfield, and other schools have been working with NextGen SmartyPants, based in Canton, to bring engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education to kids of all ages, according to an email from the company.

LITCHFIELD — On a sunny and seasonal Fall day the Litchfield County CBD Co., a newly opened business, held a second event on their property at 383 Torrington Road in Litchfield. Owner George Manzone and Jackie McNamara hosted an outdoor craft show to benefit the Smilow Cancer Center in Torrington.

THOMASTON — The First Congregational Church of Thomaston was built in 1837, in what was then named Plymouth Hollow. The church still has the original bell in the bell tower and the steeple clock. Additionally, what it will have, hopefully before Christmas, is a brand-new steeple.

The food bank provides food for close to 900 clients, mostly families, more than doubling the number of people they fed before the pandemic hit.

“They do a bunch of different programs for us,” said Region 6 and Litchfield Superintendent of Schools Chris Leone.

The pandemic continues, but DiCara said she’s not as worried as she was in March. “We are forever grateful,” she said. “I feel that way, every day.”

GOSHEN — A handcrafted barn motif little free library was donated to a Torrington fundraiser for Valerie Manor nursing home a year ago and ended up filled with books in front of the Shell gas station in Goshen. Janice Connor, formerly of Goshen and now living in Litchfield, is the steward fo…

NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT — Denise Butwill of Litchfield volunteered with her church’s food pantry until they were forced to close due to Covid-19 concerns. She then approached Deirdre Houlihan DiCara, executive director of FISH (Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwest Connecticut), a long-t…

BETHLEHEM — On a recent Friday morning, Carolyn Happy from Bethlehem and Cathy Wheeler of Morris, both members of Christ Episcopal Church Stewardship Committee, were preparing 11 colorful bags of fresh produce, as they have done since late June. The church members stepped up when the school …

Dogs are allowed in Torrington’s parks, as long as they are on a leash. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. At a dog park, pets are allowed to run free.

MORRIS — The Big Book Share and Tag Sale on Saturday, July 25 benefited the Big City Little Free Library Project and featured music by Terri Lachance of Cheshire and vendors including artists Gretchen Getsinger from Torrington and Kenna Might from Morris. A Barefoot Books Display by Marsha M…

BETHLEHEM/WOODBURY — The tale of the Kuss family’s farm is a love story that will live on in perpetuity.

MORRIS — Little Free Library at StoneHill will host the Big Book Share and Tag Sale, rain or shine under the tent, on Saturday July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 118 West Street, (Route 109) in Morris.

CORNWALL BRIDGE — Wishes really do come true, thanks to the Connecticut chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills and builds confidence in invention, innovation and entrepreneurship for life.

WASHINGTON — Despite the limitations of the world pandemic, the Glenholme School hosted its 16th commencement exercise recently, one of the few on-campus graduations in the nation, according to an email from the school. Seventeen graduates and their families were blessed with a beautiful sum…

LITCHFIELD — Litchfield Park and Recreation held its first Father of the Year Contest, and the winners have been announced. Frank Van Ormer won the Father of Young Children award, and Steve Malo won the Father of Older Children award.

WATERTOWN — There is a lot to preserve in the Litchfield Hills.

WASHINGTON — ASAP!’s 15th annual Celebration of Young Writers invited students from public and private schools as well as home-schooled children to submit poetry and prose.

BARKHAMSTED — The Barkhamsted Lions Club is offering local U.S. veterans a special opportunity to serve their community.

LITCHFIELD — Car shows have become hugely popular with car aficionados and classic car owners, having 50 shows to choose from on weekends from late April to mid-October. The Litchfield Lions Club will present their fourth annual “Biggest Little Car Show” on Saturday, June 20 with a rain date…

The greenway project’s next step is to link the trail from North Shore Road to the center of Bantam.

CANAAN — At a time when nursing home residents and staff are extremely concerned about the COVID-19 virus crisis, residents at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center are thinking about those less fortunate than themselves.

Celebrated as the co-founder of the Torrington School of Ballet and a longtime volunteer for the Nutmeg Ballet, Marjorie Dante was a guiding force at both institutions for 47 years, retiring in 2017 at age 97. Those who know her say she did almost everything — taking attendance, fitting dance shoes, keeping the books, ordering supplies, keeping the studio clean and more.

TORRINGTON – Susan B. Anthony Project’s 3rd annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser will be a virtual event this year, running from May 11-31.

GOSHEN — Started in Newtown over 15 years ago by four soccer players with a passion for growing the game and insuring opportunities, Futbol Friends International has made a significant difference for children worldwide, raising over $20,000 to purchase soccer equipment, and organizing opport…

TORRINGTON — Five Points Gallery is asking residents and businesses to display red hearts and words of encouragement in their windows or on their lawns or porches as a sign of support for medical care workers, emergency service workers and others who have remained on the job throughout the c…

THOMASTON — Melanie Dobos opened her little shop, Stitch on Main, in Thomaston just five months ago, after working many years as a seamstress. While she was planning how to create elaborate wedding gowns and doing alterations for prom dresses, the coronavirus pulled her into a very different path.

NEW HARTFORD — Social distancing is one of the mandates of the coronavirus pandemic — stay six feet apart at all times; no physical contact. In public places, the rules may be a little easier to follow, but people living in an adult community might feel a little claustrophobic by now. They a…

NORTHFIELD — Brenda Delaney of Northfield decided that since she couldn’t be with her grandchildren in person for the Easter holiday, she would don a realistic Easter Bunny costume and visit them from a distance.

HARWINTON — Sean Hunt, a veteran, and his wife Holly Hunt, a young couple that is very family-oriented, were faced with the reality that large gatherings are counter intuitive in the era of COVID-19.

MORRIS — In the worst of times, the best in people rises to the challenge of helping others. As business owners, Diana and Robert McIntosh of Morris understand all too well how important it is to “keep things going” during these tough times. Diana said, “It was getting harder, so I was looki…

We are very fortunate to have so many Little Free Libraries in our neighborhoods. They are at our schools, churches, parks, stores and restaurants. Now, more than ever, we need more ideas on how we can share books.

LITCHFIELD HILLS — Dylan Mello recently joined the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut as the Northwest Region Missionary. His territory encompasses a vast area with Canaan and Litchfield at the top of the map, Waterbury in the middle, and Brookfield and Southbury at the bottom. At that time, h…

Runners were ready to brave the cold for the 36th annual Polar Bear Run on Sunday, Feb. 23.

CORNWALL — Mohawk Mountain held the 10thAnnual Firefighter Race Sunday, welcoming teams from Morris to South Kensington.

TORRINGTON — Kitty Quarters, the feline-only rescue center, staged a successful fundraiser named “Clear the Closets,” on Leap Day in front of its building.

HARTFORD — The 39th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show was held Feb. 20-23 at the CT Convention Center in Hartford. The show is one of the largest and most prestigious flower shows in all of New England with over 300 booths overflowing with fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds…

LITCHFIELD — A first-time state-wide basketball shooting contest for boys and girls ages 9 to 15, Hot Shots, was held at the Wamogo Regional High School gym on Feb. 23, pulling an estimated field of 30 participants. Sponsored by Connecticut Recreation and Park Association, the event was host…

HARWINTON — Nancy Shanley Lyons was recently selected as the 2020 recipient of the Harwinton Outstanding Citizen Award, which will be presented for the 46th time at a banquet in her honor at Fairview Farm Golf Course April 17.

A big part of the telethon is the live music and dancing, presented by numerous school groups and dance schools.

LITCHFIELD — Two Friendly Hands Food Bank members, still mourning the death of longtime Director Maureen Hubert, were happy to attend a “Burns Night” event when invited by Richard McDonnell P.D.D., the Junior Warden of St. Paul’s Lodge #11 in Litchfield.

LITCHFIELD — On Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. in St. Michael’s Community House, church members will show the film “Traces of the Trade.”

The DEEP’s First Day hike on Jan. 1 drew 40 people to Burr Pond State Park.