Touch-A-Truck includes bicycle skills rodeo

TORRINGTON — The city’s upcoming “Touch a Truck” will offer participants an opportunity to connect with a variety of different modes of transportation. This annual event will be held Saturday, June 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., outdoors in the lots surrounding the Lowe’s Home Improvement, 420 Winsted Road, Torrington. The event will be held rain or shine.

Fire trucks, ambulances, loaders, garbage trucks, police cars and construction vehicles are just some of the dozens of vehicles that will be on display. There will also be food trucks at the event with food, drinks and ice cream available for sale. Mascots from the Hartford Yard Goats and the New Britain Bees will also be dropping by to visit with the kids. This is a free event, open the public.

New for 2018 is a bike rodeo, a bicycle skills event which is fun, engaging, and builds confidence. Bicyclists practice and develop skills that will help them to become better bicyclists and learn how to avoid crashes. During the 45 minute rodeo, certified cycling instructors teach riders how to properly fit a helmet, lead the bicyclists through the ABC Quick Bike Check, and conduct basic riding and handling skills with the riders. The course is perfect for kids 5-80 years old. Riders will receive a certificate of completion. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and all participants will need to provide their own bike and helmet. Advanced registration is recommended, but walk ups are welcome. Insurance waivers can be filled out ahead of time for your convenience. The Bike Rodeo will be organized and administered by NW Pedlars and League of American Bicyclist.

Sponsors of the event are Lowe’s Home Improvement, Torrington Parks and Recreation, and Torrington Lions Club.

Any business or organization that would like to register transportation vehicle or equipment to participate in the event, contact Brett Simmons at Torrington Parks and Recreation at 860-489-2274.

Bird enthusiasts invited to Kent program

KENT — The Kent Memorial Library and the Kent Land Trust will present two programs for bird enthusiasts aged 13 and up regarding birds in Kent on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10. (participation in Saturday’s workshop is not required for participation in Sunday’s program.)

On Saturday, June 9 at 1:30 p.m. at Kent Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Blvd., Kent. Laurie Doss, a science teacher at Marvelwood School will discuss Warblers in Kent: A Closer Look. She teach participants how to identify warbler species common to Kent by sight & sound, give an introduction to various bird apps/ recording software to make identifying birds by sight and/or song easier, and give a brief discussion on how to enhance habitat for birds.

The following day, Sunday, June 10 from 7-8:30 a.m., the Kent Land Trust and Laurie Doss for Birds & Bagels invites guests to apply their knowledge from Saturday’s Warbler Workshop to identify birds in the field near the entry to Skiff Mountain South Preserve. Bagels and yogurt will be served by the Kiosk to the preserve. During breakfast, participants will identify by sight and/or sound. Extra binoculars will be available for participants who do not bring their own. Mist nets located on Kent Land Trust and Marvelwood School property will also be set up to band birds and collect physiological evidence of breeding. Participants will help collect data for the Connecticut Bird Atlas Project and listen for warblers common to early successional areas such as the Common Yellowthroat, Chestnutsided Warbler and Yellow Warbler. At the end of the program there will be an opportunity to see the breeding colony of Purple Martins at Marvelwood School. Those interested in hiking after the program may venture out on their own to hike one of the four trails traversing Skiff Mountain South Preserve. It is best if participants wear long pants and socks to help protect against tick exposure. The use of insect repellent is also highly encouraged and will be available at the workshop.

The programs are free and open to public. Donations always accepted. Please register for one or both of the programs. For more information or to register call the Library at 860-9273761, email kmlinfo@biblio.org; stop by the Library, or visit the Library’s online calendar at kentmemoriallibrary.org for Saturday and/or Sunday. The House of Books will be at Saturday’s program to provide nature and bird guides and related books.

The Kent Memorial Library’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by providing materials, programs, and services to encourage reading, learning and imagination. The Library is located at 32 North Main Street, Kent, Connecticut. Visit kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information.

Painting club to meet June 8

NEW HARTFORD — Shades of Northwest Hills Decorative Painting Club will meet on Friday, June 8th at 6:30pm at the South End Firehouse on Antolini Road in New Hartford. May Phillips, well know watercolorist, will be presenting a multimedia technique using rice paper, watercolors, acrylics and wax. May’s original design will be painted on an 8 x 8 inch deep canvas that can hang or stand. Painters need to bring the usual painting supplies. The club will furnish the paints, rice paper, wax and canvas.

May Phillips’ love of painting is expressed in her work. The freshness of color is revealed in her watercolors, acrylics, and pastel paintings. She is equally proficient in pen and ink drawings. Jack Flynn, Timothy Clark, Carlton Plummer, Al Stine and other well-known artists have influenced her style. She attended and presented at numerous workshops and for many years has taught watercolor painting.

A photo of the project and additional information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Shades-of-NorthwestHills/328349210522724 . Interested painters can contact Mary at 860-482-7416.