Winsted’s Main Street festival is Saturday

WINSTED — Friends of Main Street’s 2017 Fall Festival on Main Street in downtown Winsted is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual event features artists and crafters, specialty vendors, local businesses and organizations, fabulous fair food, live music and games.

This year’s stage lineup features bluegrass sensations The Zolla Boys, DJ Barbara Lombardo, along with demonstrations including ECAD service dogs, and more. Vendors and exhibitors this year include Little Red Barn Brewers, Kranky’s Dawgs, BBQ By Chris, Florals & Crafts, Just Because Jewelry, Mad River Market, and Main Street merchants will be participating as well, offering antiques and collectables, pottery, natural products, and much more. A bounce house will be open for the delight of the littlest festival goers. Many community organizations will be joining the festival, too. This year’s festival is organized by Friends of Main Street with the sponsorship of Northwest Community Bank.

Part of this year’s festival is the third annual Winchester Antique Classic Boat, Motor & Fishing Show, organized by the Winchester Economic Development Commission and Friends of Main Street, the return of the Elks Lodge #844’s Car Show, and an Open Air Art event sponsored by Winsted Trails. An extra special part of this festival is the display of art and essays by Winchester schoolchildren, who have been asked to envision Winsted 50 years in the future. Winning entries will be included in a time capsule being interred on the grounds of the Winchester Historical Society on Oct. 14.

During this event the north side of Main Street (Route 44) in downtown Winsted is closed off, with all traffic diverted to the two lanes on the south side of the road. Admission is free.

HORSE to hold care clinic

WASHINGTON —The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (HORSE of Connecticut), will hold their annual Basic Horse Care Clinic on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

If you are thinking about getting a horse, or are a new horse owner, this horse care clinic is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of horse care. You will be working “hands-on” with horses while learning about proper handling and grooming, taking a horses tempera-ture, worming, hoof and dental care, and diet requirements. A veterinarian will be here examining Zeus, a new rescue. There will also be a discussion on fencing and proper shelter. The cost for the clinic is $10.

In addition to the clinic, you can also have a tour of the farm and meet the many horses, including the Bureau of Land Management Mustangs: 20-year-old Amara and 17-year-old Sassafras. Both mares were rescued from a kill pen out west and travelled 1,700 miles to get to the farm. Amara was quite underweight, but looks fabulous now. Both girls love attention and carrots.

The tack shop will also be open for those looking for saddles, blankets and other equipment.

HORSE of Connecticut is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses. HORSE is located at 43 Wilbur Road, Washington. For more information, email horsectinfo@gmail.com, visit www.horseofct.org or call 860-868-1960.

Mary Lund is library’s featured artist

HARWINTON — "Creating From What We Already Have — and Becoming a Happy Retiree" — an exhibit of current artwork by Harwinton artist Mary Lund. Following several careers including engineering, psychiatric nursing, and teaching, Lund ventured into the world of retirement. With the luxury of thinking about activities she enjoyed, rather than being responsible for a specific goal on a specific day, she focused on one question: What will excite me as I wake to the next morning? The answer was to take up a paintbrush again after 50 years, starting with a family mural project. She says of this exhibit, her first: "This is my story of growth from closed to open, from fear to freedom, from worry to fun." The exhibit will be shown through Oct. 28, and can be seen during regular library hours. For more information, call the Harwinton Library at 860485-9113.

Prevention council to host inspirational speaker

LITCHFIELD — Litchfield Prevention Council will host inspirational speaker and former WCW and WWE wrestling champion Marc Mero on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., in the auditorium at Litchfield Intermediate School. Marc has presented at more than 2,000 schools throughout the country, empowering students to make positive choices. In this 60-minute production, Marc captivates students and their families in an engaging and entertaining manner as he shares his personal story of tragedy and triumph and where his positive and negative choices took him.

Students are inspired to treat themselves and others with respect, dream big, achieve goals, and cherish relationships. Issues such as bullying, peer pressure, substance abuse and suicide prevention are presented in a way that touches students at a heart level. This event is free and is intended for families. Learn more at www.ThinkPOZ.org