‘Unwind’ to benefit Warren library

WARREN — The Warren Public Library invites you to Unwind — a benefit event of wine, cheese, and chocolate pairings on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hopkins Vineyard in Warren.

This fundraiser will feature Arethusa Farm cheeses and Thorncrest Farm & Milk House chocolates paired with select Hopkins Vineyard wines. A collection of themed gift baskets will be up for silent auction and delicious hors d’oeuvres will be served. Live acoustic music by Steven Christofer of Ridgefield will round out the evening.

Presale tickets $20/person are available at the Warren Library. Tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event $25 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Warren Public Library. For information, visit warrenctlibrary.org or call the library at 860-868-2195.

‘Blue and Gold at the White’ art show

LAKEVILLE — The Blue and Gold at The White, the Housatonic Valley Regional High School art exhibit and sale, opens on Friday and runs through May 20, at 4 p.m. The artists’ reception is May 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. with refreshments provided by Deano’s Pizza in Lakeville.

“The Blue and Gold is an opportunity to showcase art created by students many of whom have never had the opportunity to exhibit their work outside of the High School,” said Tino Galluzzo, director of The White Gallery, in a statement. “We never know what they’ve created until we see the work about a week before the opening. The art never fails to excite us. The work is simple, pure, filled with energy and a tribute to their Art Teachers, Warren Prindle and Laura Victore. It’s a privilege to curate this exhibit and we highly recommend visiting us to see it... an opportunity to enjoy and purchase.”

Eighty-percent of the proceeds from the sale of the student’s artwork goes directly back to the student artists whose work sells at the opening and the balance goes to the school’s art program. This year’s show covers a broad spectrum of mediums including acrylics; watercolors, graphite, pen and ink, charcoal drawings, mixed media collage, digital designs, black and white and color photography, animation, and sculptures in many mediums.

The Blue & Gold is hosted by The White Gallery and sponsored by Deano’s Pizza; John Borden, Sotheby’s International Realty; The Sharon Woman’s Club and The Hills magazine.

Hours are Friday, May 18, 4-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The White Gallery is located at 342 Main St., Lakeville. For information, visit www.thewhitegalleryart.com or call 860-435-1029. Follow at Facebook/White Gallery.

Civitan Club, Scouts to honor veterans

TORRINGTON — Civitan Club and Boy Scouts of Torrington are planning a tribute to fallen veterans at Coe Park on Saturday at 10 am. The ceremony will include presentation of colors, Pledge of Allegiance, invocation by Steve Darr, of First Congregational Church. The eynote address will be provided by Paul Bentley, a veteran, Eagle Scout, author and lifelong Torrington resident. The public, current military, veterans and their family are welcomed to attend.

Immediately following the ceremony, Boy Scouts and leaders will team up with Civitan Club members to visit Hillside and New St. Francis cemeteries where new U.S. flags will be placed on graves of our fallen local veterans. Flags are tagged with a small label which designates installation by Civitan Club and the mailing address for donations.

The teams will complete flag placements on a total of 10 area cemeteries prior to Memorial Day. Hillside, New and Old St. Francis, St. Peter’s and Center cemeteries and a few smaller ones are among those visited.

This is the second year the Boy Scouts and Civitan Club are collaborating in this special tribute. Last year, the groups placed more than 3,200 flags in local cemeteries. The flag placement project has evolved into more of a community movement, drawing interest from local historians and financial support from the community. This initiative is central to Scouting’s mission of promoting “Duty to God and Country” as well as carrying the Civitan tradition of honoring fallen veterans.

Civitan club purchases flags with money raised from various fundraisers held throughout the year and from donations to their “Flag Fund” from veterans and their families and the community.

The club reports they are at the half-way point in flag purchases. Donations can be sent to Civitan Club, Flag Fund, P.O. Box 32, Torrington CT 06790.

Torrington sets Memorial Day parade theme, registration

TORRINGTON — The Torrington Veterans Support Committee is planning this year’s Torrington Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. The parade will be conducted, rain or shine, on May 28, and will step off promptly at 9:30 a.m.

The theme of this year’s parade is: “We All Stand Together.”

The committee reminds all area organizations, teams, troops, packs, businesses, and individuals interested in participation in the parade and/or ceremony they must agree to follow the General Regulations and register with the parade marshal prior to May 20.

The U.S. flag will be the only national colors to be carried in the parade. Post department and organizational colors are permissible. The throwing of candy or other items by any parade participant is strictly prohibited, unless the participating unit is marching.

Banners of a political nature are barred. The distance between units will be 50 feet, and this distance must be maintained by all units throughout the parade.

Every unit participating must appoint a unit leader, who must report to the division marshal before the start of the parade.

Trophies will be awarded in Coe Park after the parade and before the start of the Memorial Day Ceremony. Please be sure at least one representative of your group is present for the start of the ceremony.

Any veteran who wants to participate in the parade, but feels that they cannot walk the route, are welcomed, and encouraged, to ride with other veterans on an open trailer. Please notify the parade marshal at 860-782-1392.

To participate, groups must receive a verification number from the parade marshal. Call 860-7821392; email vetactcom@yahoo.com with ‘2018 Parade’ and your organization’s name in the subject line; or write to T.V.S.C., Attn: Parade Registration, 140 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790.