Local briefs St. Paul’s to hold vacation Bible school

TORRINGTON » St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 837 Charles Street, Torrington will hold its Vacation Bible School Aug. 7-11, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., for children age 4 (by the end of December) through those entering grade 6.

Gathered under the theme of “Hero Central,” children will “discover their strength in God” through storytelling with Captain Shield and Flame, the Red Panda; crafts; games; singing; drama; and more.

“We depend upon heroes each day for safety in an emergency, for maintaining peace, and more but children will also learn that they can be a hero through simple acts of kindness,” church members said. “They will learn that God’s Heroes Have Heart, God’s Heroes Have Courage, God’s Heroes Have Wisdom, God’s Heroes Have Hope, and God’s Heroes Have Power.”

During the week children and their families will have opportunity to support a mission project. They will be collecting new underwear and socks as well as school supplies to benefit children in the Torrington Public Schools in need. Students will learn to “Do good. Seek peace and go after it.” (Psalm 34: 14b) The campers will also be supporting a project of the Torrington Fire Department, a group of heroes who keep people safe every day.

For further information call 860-482-3555 or for registration information visit the church’s website at www. stpaulstorrington.com

Jazz After Work concerts are free

NEW MILFORD » Jazz After Work, a series of free summer jazz concerts sponsored by Litchfield Jazz Festival, returns to Litchfield Jazz Camp in New Milford. The camp’s allstar faculty performs Monday through Thursday nights for the full four weeks of the camp’s run. Student camper concerts happen every Friday evening and the public is invited to these as well. Concerts are held at Canterbury School’s Maguire Auditorium, 101 Aspetuck Road, beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Heading up the faculty and starring weekly on concerts is camp Music Director Don Braden. A saxophonist and flutist, Braden is an internationally known performer and educator who has been a sideman with jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and others. Camp faculty performers this summer include this year’s Jazz Journalist Award Winner for baritone sax, Claire Daly, and saxophonists Jeff Lederer, Jimmy Greene, Kris Allen, Caroline Davis; trumpeters Jean Caze, Nick Roseboro, Claudio Roditi; and vocalist Nicole Zuraitis. Others include pianists Zaccai Curtis (Chamber Music America New Jazz Works, 2017), Carmen Staaf (Monk Institute), Orrin Evans; guitarists Dave Stryker, Paul Bollenback, and Doug Munro; drummers Matt Wilson, Steve Johns, George Schuller; bassists Luques Curtis, Mario Pavone, Avery Sharpe, and many more.

A full list of Jazz After Work concerts will be posted at www.litchfieldjazzcamp.org.

Litchfield Jazz Camp culminates in the 22nd Litchfield Jazz Festival, Aug. 5-6 at Goshen Fairgrounds. Featured artists include John Pizzarelli, Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pac Coalition, Ada Rovatti, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ken Peplowski, Joe Locke, and many more, and tributes to the music of Sinatra, Jobim, and Benny Goodman.

In keeping with its 2017 theme, Discovering Genius, the festival introduces vocalist Michael Mayo, another Monk winner, pianist Joe Alterman, and the 11-year-old pianist, a young man who has already appeared at Lincoln Center, the Blue Note, and the Harry Connick Jr. show, from Miami, Brandon Goldberg.

For information, visit litchfieldjazzfest.org or litchfieldjazzcamp.org, or call 860-361-6285.

Kent Night at Sharon Playhouse benefits library

KENT » The Kent Memorial Library, in conjunction with the Sharon Playhouse, will sponsor an ice cream social and musical theater experience with a production of The Music Man, a wonderful family musical that features a librarian.

Kent Night at the Sharon Playhouse will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Playhouse, 49 Amenia Road, Sharon. This special evening is for the Kent community and friends of the Kent Memorial Library. This family event will feature an Ice Cream Social prior to the performance at 6:45 p.m., which is included as part of the ticket price. Come mingle with your friends and neighbors before going to your seats at 7:45 p.m.

Tickets are available online and at the Library. Adults: $35, Children (under 18): $15. These tickets include the Ice Cream Social prior to the performance. Tickets are limited. To reserve your seats now, go to kentmemoriallibrary.org or go to the front desk at the Library. Tickets will be held at the Ice Cream Social at the Bok Gallery on the Playhouse grounds. For more information, contact Janet Rivkin at 917.797.0476.