New Milford woman turns 100, other community highlights

Tribute paid to veterans

Immaculate High School recently celebrated the Veterans Day by hosting a reflective tribute in its Bobby Plumb Gymnasium on Thursday.

To prepare, Immaculate High School students researched the history of the day, created a wall of honor of family members who served in the armed forces, and created a hill of honor with U.S. flags on the front lawn of the school.

The tribute included patriotic songs presented by the Immaculate High School band and choir with reflective prayers offered by the school’s chaplain, Deacon Jeff Font.

Honored guests included: Thomas J. Saadi, lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and commissioner of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, Col. Tom Mertens, U.S. Army retired., Sgt. Michael Kearns, U.S. Army retired, and decorated First Lt. Zach Long, who is also U.S. Army retired. Saadi was the keynote speaker.

Funds were raised through its sale of the American flags. Saadi was also presented with a $1,160 check to support programs and services that are provided by the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

International Education Week to be celebrated

Western Connecticut State University is celebrating International Education Week with events for the members the public.

Several programs will be open to the public and held this Monday through Friday.

The public can participate in virtual discussions with Western Connecticut State University Department of World Languages Professor of Spanish Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova. The discussions will be about foreign-themed movies. Participants are asked to view the following movies in advance.

– “Pain and Glory,” “Talk to Her,” “About My Mother” and “Volver” – virtual discussion about the Spanish films’ director, “The World of Pedro Alodovar,” will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday at https://wcsu.webex.com/meet/bakhtiarovag.

– “Babette’s Feast,” Ratatouille,” Tortilla Soup” and “Tampopo” – virtual discussion takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at https://wcsu.webex.com/meet/bakhtiarovag.

– “Surrealism Beyond Borders,” the introduction of the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-gyzGqsWio – virtual discussion “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Surrealism: Surrealism Beyond Borders” at 7 p.m. on Thursday at https://wcsu.webex.com/meet/bakhtiarovag.

Additionally, public events include virtual discussions pertaining to foreign-themed movies that are presented as part of the Latino and Iberian Film Festival at Yale University. The theme for the 2021 Festival is Unidos y Fluidos — Unity in Diversity. To participate, go to https://liffy.yale.edu/liffy-2021.

Western Connecticut State University hosts International Education Week to help students expand their knowledge about the world, experience different cultures and to promote diversity.

As part of this effort, the university hosts events for students including information sessions about opportunities of international involvement, and study abroad, including: Fulbright, and Boren scholarships.

Other offerings during the week include Chinese Calligraphy and culture, the history of the Tango dance, access to the International Student Association, and international cuisine, which is being served during food services on both campuses.

Resident turns 100

Candlewood Valley Health and Rehabilitation resident Hazel Alberta Case recently celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

She celebrated with her family and favorite foods at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation facility at 30 Park Lane East in New Milford.

Case and her sister, Sally Hultine, are two surviving siblings of four. Her birthday was the first time the sisters had seen each other since the COVID-19 lockdown.

‘Deck the Halls’ art exhibition to open

Gallery 25 members are displaying a new member art and holiday show, “Deck the Halls.”

The show begins Friday and runs through Dec. 31 with new paintings, photographs, jewelry, glass, pottery, weaving, woodturning, holiday cards and ornaments. The artwork ranges from contemporary to traditional, including local scenes.

The opening reception will be from 4 to 6 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Gallery 25 member, and instructor Roberta Ahuja is teaching a “Make a Christmas Tree Workshop” on Thursday. Participants have been asked to contact Ahuja at 203-290-9939 by Monday to sign up. The cost of the workshop with all the materials needed is $40. The age requirement for the class is 10 and over. There is a maximum of eight participants.

Various other programs are planned for the holidays. For more information, visit www.gallery25ct.com or email Gallery25newmilfordct @gmail.com.

Financial credit union provider of online financial literacy resources

The SoundView Financial Credit Union has provided remote financial literacy learning resources to four local schools in Fairfield County.

Thanks to the sponsorship, over 1,200 students and teachers at Danbury High School, Bethel High School, Brookfield High School, and the Discovery Interdistrict Magnet School in Bridgeport now have free access to the Banzai online financial literacy program and the content library of articles, calculators, and personalized coaches.

The resources are available to the students at home and in the classroom.

Children who are signed up for Banzai receive their own accounts and work through assignments that are based on real life.

Banzai content builds a foundation of practical knowledge and gives students the tools to create a sound financial future. While students learn, teachers can easily monitor and grade their progress remotely.

After finishing the Banzai program, students will know how to track where their money is, what it is for, recognize financial trade-offs, build a budget and more.

The Banzai resources are available at soundview.teachbanzai.com.

Bethel-based SoundView Financial Credit Union serves Fairfield and Litchfield counties.

‘No Sew Blankets’ made by Woman’s Club members

The members of the Woman’s Club of Danbury/New Fairfield recently gathered at Hatter’s Park in Danbury to make “No Sew Blankets.”

Each member purchases enough material to make at least one blanket.

Thirty blankets were made and delivered to the Regional Hospice health care professionals organization.

The ongoing project began in 2014, and members have made and donated 500 blankets that Regional Hospice has distributed to its clients.

The members of the Woman’s Club made blankets that were donated to the Ability Beyond nonprofit organization in 2020.

The blankets were monogrammed and personalized for clients in group homes that Regional Hospice operates by the agency.

Five year birthday celebrated by Ms President US program

The Ms President US girls’ civic leadership program in Ridgefield recently celebrated its fifth birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and is also recognizing the milestone with a monthlong celebration.

Included in the celebration will be a birthday celebration fundraiser at 850 Wood Fired Pizza and its sister restaurant Baja Cocina from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday.

Ten percent of all proceeds from take-out and dine-in purchases will benefit Ms President US.

Participants will be able to meet Ms President US mentors and participants. Participants will also be able to add their names to the Ms President US Camp Cody raffle.

Ms President US Ridgefield participants will also have a “Happy Birthday Ms President US cake” at a Connecticut state Leaders Session on Friday. Teen mentors in the program will also hold an Instagram Live video stream on the social media platform.

There will also be a Ms President US table in front of the Books on the Common in Ridgefield at 404 Main St. in the town, during the Ridgefield Holiday Stoll on Saturday, Dec. 4. Participants will be able to stop by the table at the Ridgefield Holiday Stroll to meet the Ms President US mentors, hear from MS President US winners, and pick up a celebratory cupcake or two.

United Church of Christ sponsoring ‘Home of the Brave’ event

United Church of Christ, UCC, of Southbury, and the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society, MUUS, are co-sponsoring a community event to show the documentary, “Home of the Brave: When Southbury Said No to the Nazis,” at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The screening is open to the Southbury community. Reservations are required.

Appropriate COVID-19 restrictions will be in place.

The documentary was first shown in Southbury in 2012 to bring to light the events in the winter season of 1937, when the town confronted the German American Bund, which was a neo-Nazi organization, that was moving forward on building its largest training camp on land that was purchased in the Kettletown area of Southbury.

Ed Edelson was one of the team members who helped put the documentary together in 2012. He is also a member of the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society.

The Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society and the United Church of Christ began sharing space at the United Church of Christ in September.

B’nai Israel’s Rabbi Eric Polokoff was a star of the documentary and will participate in the event to give his perspective about the importance of the documentary.

A companion documentary that is titled: “Honoring the Brave,” will also be shown.

Visit the website for the overall event of both of the documentaries at uccsouthbury.org/home-of-the-brave for more information.

Visit the sign-up genius link at signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4fada82aaaf58-home to make a reservation. Seating will be limited. People are thus asked to sign up early for the happening.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks.

Doors will open at 3 p.m. to allow for appropriate screening. Refreshments will be served in the social hall afterward.