Brandywine to host ‘Ladies Night Out’

LITCHFIELD — Brandywine Living at Litchfield will be hosting their 6th Annual Ladies Night Out Charity Shopping Event on Thursday, Nov. 15, 5-7 p.m. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Connecticut Affiliate.

Participants will have the opportunity to win door prizes, sip signature beverages, and enjoy delicious chef-prepared hors d'oeuvres as they shop with a variety of artisans and local vendors, selling fine jewelry, beauty products, wellness items, artisan-made gifts, home decor, and food will be available for purchase to kick off the 2018 holiday shopping season.

Admission is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending should RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 14 to Amber or Nanette at 860-567-9500 or achapman@brandycare.com.

Chorale to perform in Torrington

TORRINGTON — The Connecticut Yankee Chorale invites you to join them for their annual Holiday Concert “Christmas Time in the City.”

The Chorale will be presenting this concert on Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at Center Congregational Church, 155 Main St., Torrington. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $5 for children 12 and under.

To purchase tickets or request more information, please contact Mary Rolfe at 860-482-5743 or via e-mail at marygeorgerolfe@aol.com.

The Connecticut Yankee Chorale is in its 34th year of operation and is under the direction of Dr. William Atwood and accompanied by Laurie Hall. The choir will be presenting holiday carols of the season with a small reception to follow.

Goshen Festival Singers to perform

GOSHEN — The Goshen Festival Singers, based in Litchfield County, is made up of singers from Litchfield, Goshen, Bethlehem, Harwinton, New Milford, Torrington, Warren and Watertown. They are best known for their performances at the Goshen Congregational Church’s Annual Feast and Song, where they delighted audiences with their music for several years.

This year’s Dec. 15 performance will benefit the Warren Congregational church organ restoration fund. The antique pipe organ in the church is in need of some long overdue repairs and renovations. This dinner concert is one of many fund raising activities that will be held in order to raise money for the necessary work on the instrument. Phase one of the organ restoration project, which is to replace/correct/update the blower and wind system is currently underway under the direction of S.L. Huntington Co. in Stonington.

This year’s gala is being presented by the Warren Congregational Church’s Music committee, along with our cooperate sponsor, Litchfield Distillery. The dinner concert will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Warren Congregational Church parish hall, on 4 Sackett Hill Rd. in Warren. The event will include a four-course, gourmet dinner and a performance by the Goshen Festival Singers singing a variety of holiday tunes. The group will be directed and accompanied by Cindy Iffland on piano. Also accompanying the choir is New Milford musician Diane Taylor, performing on the flute. Tickets are $2. Seating is limited and reservations are required; call the Warren Congregational Church office at 860 8687106.

Flanders holding ‘Scenes of Fall’ photo contest

WOODBURY — Flanders Nature Center is holding a photography contest Nov. 10, with prizes for the best submissions based on composition, image quality, originality and the story the image tells.

This “scenes of fall” photo contest is an invitation to capture the spirit of the autumn season in all of its color with images that might include foliage, or fall activities or events. The photos do not need to be taken on a Flanders’ property but instead can be taken anywhere that provides the photographer inspiration. Entries must be in digital formats of 6MB or less in size. All submitted images are judged by Flanders staff and experienced photography associates

The cost for one submission is $5, 2/$7, 3/ $10, 4/$13 and 5/$15. All proceeds to benefit Flanders programming.

Entry blanks as well as details on the contest can be found on their website at www.flandersnaturecenter.org or call Flanders at 203-263-3711; ext. 10.

Operation Overflow needs volunteers, donations

Operation Overflow is looking for volunteers, especially women, to sleep overnight, from 8:45 p.m. to 6 a.m., in a Torrington church basement “so that no one has to sleep outside in the winter,” according to a press release. The new season begins Nov. 23.

Since 2003, Operation Overflow has served homeless adults during the winter months, providing a warm and safe overnight shelter. Partnering with other community organizations, the shelter volunteers guide those in need to more permanent services.

When FISH, the local shelter, is full, Operation Overflow provides shelter in one of three local churches: Trinity Episcopal Church, Northwest Hills Community Church, and First United Methodist Church. Volunteers do not need to belong to a church to help.

Operation Overflow is an organization run strictly by volunteers, relying only on monetary gifts and in-kind donations from community members, organizations and churches.

Monetary donations, for cots, bedding, coffee, snacks, socks, underwear and toiletries are also needed. For more details, contact Conrad Sienkiewicz at conradsank@gmail.com.

Choir invites singers, musicians to join

TORRINGTON —The Crossroads Ecumenical Choir and Orchestra sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Torrington will present the cantata “The Glory of Christmas” by Lloyd Larson and also selections by Handel and Mozart. Under the direction of Ken Beyer, the concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church.

Interested singers and instrumentalists are invited to participate. Rehearsals for singers began Sept. 30, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary and will continue weekly on Sundays at the same time.

Instrumentalists will join in the rehearsals at a little later date. First Congregational is located at 835 Riverside Ave., Torrington. Interested singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to contact Ken or Betsy Beyer at tele: 860-496-1289 or at beyermusic@snet.net.