TALK ON NATIVE POLLINATORS PLANNED AT CONN COLLEGE

New London — The Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones, an organization that promotes native plants and natural landscapes, will host a talk titled “Creating and Managing Habitat for Native Pollinators” at 11 a.m. Oct. 8 at Connecticut College.

Gary Casabona, a wildlife biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Rhode Island, will give the talk, which will take place at New London Hall, Room 101, on the Conn College campus. He will talk about how gardeners can provide habitat for important native pollinator insects. Admission is free.

For more information, visit arboretum.conncoll.edu. a live auction, music by The Cartells and a short talk by Dr. Bennett.

In her research, she focuses on the molecular genetics of inherited retinal dystrophies and works to develop approaches for treatment of these diseases and reversal of sensory loss. She was one of the first investigators to use viral vectors to deliver transgenes to specific cells in the retina, according to a news release from Sophia Sees Hope. She also led the first team to demonstrate preclinical proof-of-principle of ocular gene therapy.

Lisa Carberg of A/Z Construction and Michael O’Farrell of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital are the hosts for the Dinner in the Dark. The cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

During the Dinner in the Dark, guest will come to understand the organization’s mission through a unique culinary experience. Money raised from the event will go toward research into rare retinal disease. In its first two years, Dinner in the Dark raised more than $130,000. Although the event is sold out, the organization has opened a waiting list. Additional seats will be released at www.sofiaseeshope.org as they become available.