Become a Master Gardener with UConn

TORRINGTON — Residents are invited to register now for the 2020 UConn Extension Master Gardener Program. Classes will be held in Vernon, New Haven, Norwich, Torrington and Stamford. The deadline for applications is Oct. 18.

UConn Extension Master Gardeners have an interest in plants, gardening, people and the environment. Specifically, they are willing to share their knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with their communities, providing researchbased information to homeowners, students, gardening communities and others. They receive horticultural training from UConn, and then share that knowledge with the public through community volunteering and educational outreach efforts. UConn Master Gardeners help with community and museum gardens, school gardens, backyard projects, houseplant questions and more.

"The Master Gardener Program opened my eyes to the wonderful world of horticulture, gardening, and the fragile ecosystem we share with animals and insects,” said Pat Sabosik of Hamden, who completed the program in 2017, in a written statement.

The program is presented in a hybrid class format with three to four hours of online work before each of the 16 weekly classes, followed by a halfday classroom session. Classes run from 9 AM to 1 PM. New this year is a weekend session which will be held in Vernon on Saturdays.

Classes begin the week of Jan. 6, 2020. Subject matter includes basic botany, plant pathology, soils, entomology and lectures on other aspects of gardening, plant groups, and pest management. Lectures and reading are combined with handson classroom experience. After the classroom portion, students complete 60 hours of outreach experience during the summer.

The cost is $450, and includes all needed course materials. Partial scholarships may be available, based on demonstrated financial need.

For information, call the UConn Extension Master Gardener office at 8604099053 or visit the UConn Extension Master Gardener website at: www.mastergardener.uconn.edu , where both the online and paper application can be found.

Source to Sea cleanup needs volunteers

Registration is now open for the Connecticut River Conservancy’s (CRC), Source to Sea Cleanup. This annual event, now in its 23rd year, has grown into one of the largest river cleanups in the country. CRC invites volunteers to continue the tradition of getting dirty for cleaner rivers, Sept, 2728.

There are three ways for volunteers to get involved in the Source to Sea Cleanup this year: report a trash site in need of cleaning, find a cleanup group nearby to join, or organize and register a local cleanup group. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ctriver.org/ cleanup.

“The Source to Sea Cleanup strengthens community while cleaning up our rivers and streams. It’s an opportunity for you to make a difference,” says CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk, in a written statement. “When people help clean their rivers, they make lasting connections with each other and with their rivers.”

The annual Source to Sea Cleanup is a twoday river cleanup coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410mile Connecticut River basin (NH, VT, MA, CT). Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails and more.

“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” says Stacey Lennard, CRC Cleanup Coordinator, in the statement. “Their hard work and dedication makes a real difference for our rivers.”

In 2018, more than 2,800 volunteers hauled over 46 tons of trash from river banks and waterways across our four river states. Volunteers remove everything from recyclable bottles and cans, fishing equipment and food waste to tires, televisions, and refrigerators. To date, volunteers have removed more than 1,100 tons of trash from the state’s rivers.

If a group wants to get involved but needs a cleanup site, for information, or to report a trash site in need of cleaning, contact CRC’s Cleanup Coordinator Stacey Lennard at cleanup@ctriver.org. Learn more about the event at www.ctriver.org/ cleanup.

Celebration of Young Photographers entries welcome

WASHINGTON — Each year ASAP! invites students in grades 612 to submit photographs for a chance to participate in a large scale public exhibition. This year’s theme is “Current Mood,” and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 1.

A panel of judges made up of professional artists/photographers will be jurying the show. Selected photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at Bryan Memorial Town Hall and for the first time ever, the photos will then debut at the Judy Black Gallery in Washington Depot for extended viewing. The top selected photos will also be awarded the 2019 Dylan’s Wings Photography Award. More details about the process, prizes, and opportunities will be announced in the fall.

Go to https://asapct.org for all submission guidelines.

Simsbury FlyIn is Sept. 22

SIMSBURY — The Simsbury FlyIn is the largest event of its kind in the northeastern U.S. It features 750 display airplanes and cars, 150 business exhibitors, advertisers and sponsors, and many fun activities for the entire family.

Special attractions include 25 great food trucks, offering a wide choice of great things to eat. Free seminars; live music; aerial demonstrations; judging and trophies for cars and airplanes; helicopter and AT6 World War 2 training plane rides; gyrocopter, Powered Parachute and formation flight demos; radio control model aerobatics; banner tow pickup demonstration; new aircraft and car dealers; many local craftspersons; much more. Full details and contact info can be found at www.simsburyflyin.com.

THS class reunion set

Torrington High School class of 1964 will celebrate its 55th reunion Oct. 26 at Fairview Farm Country Club, Harwinton starting at 5:30 p.m.

Those interested in attending or to share information with other classmates ( emails or addresses of those we could not contact ) are asked to go to http://ths64reunion.wix.com/ thsclassof64