CALENDAR

Sunday, Dec. 9

ROTARY FOOD DRIVE: The Rotary Club of Litchfield-Morris will be holding its annual holiday food drive on the weekend of Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at the Litchfield Stop & Shop in the Village Green Plaza, Route 202. All donations will go to food banks and other organizations that support those in need in the towns of Bethlehem, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, Plymouth, Thomaston and Torrington. All donations of non-perishable food, gift cards and cash are accepted.

BOOK CLUB: The Scoville Memorial Library’s SML Book Club will meet Dec. 9, 2 p.m. in the Oak Room, Main Floor. The discussion is on “Less” by Andrew Sean Geer. Details at scovillelibrary.org.

IAIS HOLIDAY FAIR: The Institute of American Indian Studies will hold a Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market, Dec. 8-9, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Shoppers will find Native American art, crafts, and cultures. Just some of the treasures to be found here are decorative gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artwork, flutes, and much more.

CHORALE CONCERT: The Connecticut Yankee Chorale will perform their annual holiday concert Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at the Center Congregational Church at 155 Main Street. Tickets at the door, $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $5 for children age 12 and under, or reserve by calling Mary Rolfe at 860482-5743. The choir will perform holiday carols and a small reception will follow.

CHRISTMAS READING: On Sunday, at 3 p.m., Doug Schlicher of Woodbury returns for a Christmas reading at the Hodge Library, Roxbury. “The Shepherd” by Frederick Forsyth is a charming novella set in post-World War II England. Free; intermission with refreshments.

ARTISAN MARKETPLACE: Decked out in festive style, the historic Van Vleck House at Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury, is the setting for the annual “Artisan Marketplace” opening to the public Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with a wide variety of quality arts and crafts, food, ornaments, artwork, baskets, soaps and decor. Market continues Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m-4 p.m. until Dec. 16.

MORRIS TREE LIGHTING: Morris Tree Lighting Celebration will be held Dec. 9, 5 p.m. on the town green. Help Santa Claus light the tree, followed by caroling, hot chocolate, treats, crafts for the kids and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Morris Reading Room. Free.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Dec. 9, Community Room at the Morris Senior Center. Tickets $7 per person. Pre-registration required, email Morrissrctr@optonline.net or call 860-5677437

POEMS OF MARY OLIVER: American Voices: The Poems of Mary Oliver, with Jim Kelleher, will be held Dec. 9, 1 p.m. at the Oliver Wolcott Library 160 South St., Litchfield. The New York Times recently acknowledged Oliver as “far and away, this country’s best-selling poet.”Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-5678030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Adult Events.

WATERBURY CHORALE: The Waterbury Chorale and the Waterbury Chorale Festival Orchestra will present a holiday concert Dec. 9, 4 p.m. at St. John’s On The Green in Waterbury. Tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) are available online at waterburychorale.org, from chorale members, at Murphy’s Pharmacy in Litchfield, or by calling 860-945-6890.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of nonperishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20 percent discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

Monday, Dec. 10

BINGO: St. Maron’s Church, 613 Main St., Torrington, holds bingo games every Monday and Friday. Doors open at 4 p.m. Early bingo beings at 6 p.m., with progressive jackpots and food for sale. YAPPY HOUR FUNDRAISER: Monday, December 10, 2018 there is going to be a Yappy Hour fundraiser for Athena, a 2-year-old black Lab i nneed of surgeries whose owner cannot pay, will be held Dec. 10, 4-7 p.m. at Hanq's Restaurant, 131 Water Street, Torrington. Hanq's will be donating a portion of sales that night. The public is welcome. Raffles, items for sale.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of nonperishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20 percent discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

Tuesday, Dec. 11

LIGHTING CONTEST: Torrington’s annual Outdoor Holiday Decorating Contest will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11, sponsored by the Torrington Parks & Recreation Department in conjunction with Torrington Lions Club. Displays should be lit from 6-9 p.m. Categories are Commercial Christmas Display and Residential: Decorated Doorway, Nativity, or Christmas Display. Entry deadline was Dec. 7. For questions regarding the Decorating Contest, contact the Torrington Parks and Recreation Department at 860- 489-2274.

UFO EVIDENCE: Attorney Dyke Spears Evaluates the UFO Evidence, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. at the Beekely Memorial Library, New Hartford. As a spokesman and field investigator for the Connecticut Chapter of the Mutual UFO Network, Attorney Dyke Spear is highly qualified to give an insightful analysis of the UFO phenomenon.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of nonperishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20 percent discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

Wednesday, Dec. 12

HOLIDAY CRAFT NIGHT: Holiday Craft Night at the Harwinton Library, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m. Roll wax candles and decorate a holiday cupcake. Ages 3 - 12. Register by calling 860-485-9113

AARP DRIVING COURSE: AARP Safe Drivers Course, the first and largest classroom refresher for motorists age 50 and older, will be held Dec. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center, Route 202, Litchfield. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for guests. Pre-registration is required; visit www.thecommunitycenter.org or call 860-567-8302.

HALF DAY SCIENCE CLUB: A Half-Day Science Club: Upcycled Egg Drop with How Cool is That? For Grades K-6, Dec. 12, 1:30 p.m. at the Oliver Wolcott Library, 160 South St., Litchfield. Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Children’s Events.

COOKBOOK CLUB COOKIE SWAP: The Cookbook Club: Holiday Cookie Swap Party, will be held Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m. at the Oliver Wolcott Library, 160 South St., Litchfield. Bring a batch of your holiday favorite cookies or brownies; sample our delicious treats, then swap and package some to take home. Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-5678030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Adult Events.

BINGO: Sons of Italy, Center Street, Torrington, hosts bingo games on Wednesdays, 4-9:30 p.m. with dinner at 5 and calling at 6. For information, call the lodge at 860-489-1226.

BINGO: St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church holds weekly bingo games at St. Anthony School, Oak Street, Winsted, on Wednesdays. Doors open at 5 p.m. with refreshments and snacks for sale. Games begin at 6:35 p.m. Progressive jackpots. For information call the church at 860379-3369.

MYSTERY ANIMALS: Mystery Animal Meet & Greet, for families, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield. Get up close and personal with one of our animal ambassadors: Corny the Corn Snake, Shakespeare the Barred Owl, Sally the Salamander, or some other mystery creature. Members free, guests, cost of museum admission.

HOLIDAY LUCHEON: A holiday luncheon with holiday music and a bake sale will be held Dec. 12, noon, at the Winsted Senior Center, 80 Holabird Ave. Enjoy a special lunch of Chicken Cordon Bleu, roasted potatoes, butternut squash, snowflake roll and cheesecake with cherry topping. Sherrie Zicardi will sing popular and traditional holiday favorites. Cost is $5 for members and $6 for non-members. There will also be a holiday raffle drawing. For information and reservations call the center at 860379-4252.

FOOD DRIVE: Until Dec. 20, Morsel Munk, 118 Main St., Winsted, is hosting a food drive taking donations of nonperishable food items for Winsted's Open Door Soup Kitchen. As a thank you for a donation of a bag of items, residents will receive a 20% discount that day. The discount excludes YETI, and applies to regularly priced, in-stock items. The store is offering free gift wrapping, free hot cocoa and coffee.

Thursday, Dec. 13

SQUADRON MEETING: A meeting of the Northwest Hills Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the United States Air Force will meet Thursday, 7-9 p.m. at the Torrington Armory South Main Street. For information, call Cmdr. Tim Ceritello at 860-620-3670 or email timceritello@gmail.com.

CHESS CLUB: The Litchfield County Chess Club meets Thursdays at the Torrington Library, 12 Daycoeton Place, Torrington, from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursdays. The informal club has held several meetings. Membership is free — just show up and play. Adults, teens and older children with an adult are welcome. There are plenty of boards and pieces, or bring your own. For information, call Alan at 850-430-9317.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: Duplicate Bridge at the Sullivan Senior Center, East Albert Street, Torrington, Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For information, call John Townsend at 860-567-0671. Leave a message, he will return your call. Bringing a partner is encouraged but not required. Games are now free of charge.

JOB FAIR: Torrington Library and Express Employment of Torrington and Bristol will host a Job Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. at the library. For details, go to torringtonlibraryorg.

GIFT WRAPPING: the Torrington Library Teen Advisory Board will help you by wrapping your gifts for only $1 per gift, Dec. 13, 4-7 p.m. in the Teen Room. Cookies and holiday music while you wait. Proceeds will be used for teen programs. For details go to torringtonlibrary.org.