Patrick Shelley’s tree is lit for the holidays

WINSTED — Patrick Shelley’s Christmas tree is decorated and welcomes visitors to see it at 111 West Road in Winchester.

When Patrick “PJ” Shelley and his wife, Lois, moved to Winchester Center in 1995, he had a number of trees in his front and back yard.

One 30-foot fir tree stood at the edge of the front lawn near the road. The tree is more than 60 feet tall now. Once it got bigger, he didn’t decorate it anymore, but when Lois died in 2013, he put the lights back on. It’s since become a tradition in the neighborhood.

DEEP holding ice fishing workshop

LITCHFIELD — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Fisheries Division is holding its annual family ice fishing workshop, Jan. 29 for the seventh consecutive year at White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield.

Families and individuals ages nine and up are welcome to attend the event, which is part of the DEEP’s Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education program. The class is taught by certified volunteer instructors, and all fishing tackle and course materials are provided free of charge.

To learn more, go to www.ct.gov/dep and type in “CARE”. Particpants should bring their own lunch.

The event begins with classroom instruction, which is mandatory, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the A.B. Ceder Room at White Memorial Conservation Center, followed by ice fishing from 12:30-3 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online www.whitememorialcc.org. The program is limited to 30 people and masks are required while indoors.

Explore the ‘Mountains of Venezuela’

LITCHFIELD — The Lost World Mountains of Venezuela with Stewart McPherson will be presented at 2 p.m. Jan. 8 on Zoom with the White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield.

Participants will hear the story of exploration, wildlife, landscape and amazing spectacles these lost worlds possess. British naturalist Stewart McPherson has explored 25 of the planet’s 100 plateaus. for this program, he’ll focus on the Guiana Highlands: Suriname, Guyana, French Guyana and Venezuela. The area also covers the north of Brazil, east Columbia — Venezuela is the most significant. The costs is $10 for guests, free to members. Register at www.whitememorialcc.org. A link to the presentation will accompany your receipt.

McPherson is the author of 20 volumes published by his own company and concerned with natural history, largely focusing on carnivorous plants. He has co-discovered a number of species (including the much publicized Nepenthes attenboroughii) and has formally described around 35 carnivorous plant taxa.

He is a member of the IUCN SSC Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group. He documented each species in full detail in its natural habitat, taking seven years with many expeditions in the tropics of Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. Over time, he has transitioned into TV presenter and natural history writer.

Stewart founded "Ark of Life" arkoflife.net/ to conserve species on the brink of extinction, especially carnivorous plant groups. Learn more at www.redfernnaturalhistory.com/

Quit smoking in the new year

TORRINGTON — Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is offering its popular “Freedom from Smoking” cessation program on Zoom, as part of its ongoing efforts to help smokers kick the habit and live smoke free.

The free virtual program features interactive discussion and skill sessions led by trained, certified American Cancer Society facilitators who understand the motivations and rationalizations of smoking, and use a positive behavior change approach that teaches people how to become permanent non-smokers.

The program will be offered on Wednesdays, from 4- 5:30 p.m. starting Jan. 5 for seven weeks. Participants attend a total of eight Zoom classes with “Quit Day” scheduled mid-way through the program on Monday, Jan. 19. “In this step-by step program, participants will receive the personal attention they need to help them quit smoking and transition to a healthier, smoke free lifestyle through education, relaxation techniques, and methods of preventing weight gain.” said Sandy Markus, Registered Respiratory Therapist and long-time smoking program facilitator.

As a special incentive, the $75 program fee will be waived for all participants. Call 860-496-6538 to register or receive more information.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet millions of Americans still smoke. For more information about smoking and its dangers, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org.

Game designer contest now open

WASHINGTON, Conn.— Submissions are now being accepted for ASAP!’s second annual Celebration of Young Game Designers.

The Celebration of Young Game Designers provides a new platform for learning, creative problem solving, and connection with other young gamers. Students in grades 3-12 are invited to submit their ideas for a video game to be judged by a panel of professionals in the field. The top selected will be invited to participate in a game jam weekend, providing a unique chance to collaborate with a professional team and learn about the many skills and creative processes needed in the creation of a real video game. The theme for this year’s Celebration of Young Game Designers is “Nature.”

Students will be asked to consider all aspects of their design from the setting, story and characters to the user experience and even an elevator pitch. The submission deadline is Feb. 1, with top selections announced on Feb. 15. For more information and full guidelines, visit asapct.org

ASAP! is an arts-infused education organization whose hands-on programming fosters awareness of how the arts, humanity and learning are interconnected. To learn more about ASAP! go to asapct.org.