Gardening author to discuss new book

FALLS VILLAGE — The David M. Hunt Library will host a free Zoom event with gardening author Page Dickey at 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

Dickey’s new book, “Uprooted” documents her move to Falls Village and the establishment of a new garden. Attendees can register at HuntLibrary.org, on the library’s Facebook page, or by calling the library at 860-824-7424. Signed copies of Ms. Dickey’s book are available at the library.

Dickey is a garden designer and author of multiple books, including Gardens in the Spirit of Place, Inside Out, and Embroidered Ground. She lectures around the country about plants and garden design, and has written articles for House and Garden, Architectural Digest, Horticulture, Fine Gardening, and Garden Design. Her former garden, Duck Hill, has been featured in the New York Times, Elle Décor, and Vogue. She now lives and gardens in Falls Village, Connecticut, on 17 acres with a view of the Berkshire hills.

Salvation Army welcomes new leaders

The Salvation Army is pleased to welcome its new Divisional Leaders, Majors Debra and Steven Ashcraft to the Southern New England Division, serving Connecticut and Rhode Island. Major Debra Ashcraft will be the new Divisional Commander and Major Steven Ashcraft will be the Divisional Secretary for Ministry Development.

The Ashcrafts most recently served as the Area Coordinators for the Salvation Army in Central Ohio, Major Debra as the Area Coordinator for Human Resources and Development and Major Steven as the Area Coordinator for Operations.

Prior to coming to Central Ohio, the Ashcrafts served as the Central Kentucky Area Coordinators. Additionally, the Ashcrafts count it a privilege to have served together as corps officers in Lexington, KY, Lowell, MA, East Northport, NY, Freeport, NY, and Port Jervis, NY.

Steven Ashcraft served in Old Orchard Beach, ME, Nashua, NH and Portsmouth, NH. These appointments provided Majors Ashcraft with the opportunity to oversee the construction of three facilities, the operation of two thrift stores, and a number of social service ministries including various feeding programs, an emergency shelter, direct housing programs for homeless veterans and families, learning centers for preschool and grades 1-12, anti-human trafficking programs and emergency disaster services. The Ashcrafts have two daughters, Jessica and Megan.

For more information, visit ctri.SalvationArmy.org SalvationArmyUSA.org.

‘The Pandemic Pantry’ focuses on cheese

LITCHFIELD — The next installment of The Pandemic Pantry at the White Memorial Conservation Center, led by Gerri Griswold, is “What a Friend We Have in Cheeses.”

The production of cheese predates recorded history, beginning well over 7,000 years ago. Humans likely developed cheese and other dairy foods by accident, as a result of storing and transporting milk in bladders made of ruminants' stomachs, as their inherent supply of rennet would encourage curdling. There is no conclusive evidence indicating where cheese-making originated, possibly Europe, or Central Asia, the Middle East, or the Sahara. Today there are some estimated 1800 types of cheese worldwide.

The Pandemic Pantry celebrates several varieties of cheese with Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Brie Baked in Puff Pastry, A Potato Torte filled with Ham and Gruyere, Cheese Fondue, and Lemony CheesecakeThe program begins at noon on Zoom and Facebook Live. To register, go to https:// us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rDiXoGbtRzu-IgId5ke7yw

Backyard bird count is Feb. 11

LITCHFIELD — Become a Backyard Bird Counter, with Education Director Carrie Szwed, White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield, on Feb. 11.

Every President’s Day Weekend, the Great Backyard Bird Count is coordinated by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The National Audubon Society, among others. To participate, attend a brief, family-friendly lesson on how to identify some common birds that visit yards and feeders during winter with Szwed. Then learn how to officially record your observations on the eBird website.

After the class, participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, or submit your birding observations to eBird all year long. The program begins at 2 p.m. on Zoom and Facebook Live. Pre-register if using Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_IPPKXf2IT XeomgJH7gMdiQ

Bar foundation holding essay contest

The Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows program is holding its 21st annual Quintin Johnstone Statewide High School Essay Contest. The contest is open to high school students at all public and private schools statewide and invites students to prepare an essay on a timely topic in the law that is relevant to students. The Fellows award the contest winner and two runners-up cash prizes of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

This year’s topic, “Imitation or Intimidation,” asks students to consider whether similar art projects, with very different messages, involve the allowable use of imitation or if the message in one is a form of intimidation in violation of school district policy. Submissions are evaluated by panels that include state and federal judges, law school professors and practicing attorneys. Further information on the Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows Quintin Johnstone Essay Contest can be found on the Foundation’s website, www.ctbarfdn.org. The deadline for entries is Feb. 22, 2021.

The Essay Contest Award Ceremony is usually held at the Connecticut Supreme Court. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, special video tributes to the 2019-20 winners were recorded by Supreme Court Senior Justice Christine Vertefeuille, 2019-20 James W. Cooper Fellows Chair, Daniel A. Schwartz, of the law firm Shipman and Goodwin, and CBF Executive Director Natalie S. Wagner. The videos are available on the Connecticut Bar Foundation’s website at www.ctbarfdn.org/