Noteworthy Music & Tutoring students to peform in Collinsville; Torrington church presents cantata concert; Eco Travel cruises begin in April; Girl Scouts need volunteers; coalition to meet; Roxbury library presents Winter Solstice reading

TORRINGTON — Noteworthy Music & Tutoring, located at 733 East Main Street in Torrington, will be holding a Winter Music Recital tonight at LaSalle Market, 104 Main Street in Collinsville from 6:30pm-8:30 p.m. It will feature individual and duet performances by Noteworthy Music students, as well as a special performance by the Noteworthy Music instructors.

Performing in front of an audience is an integral part of a quality musical education, and Noteworthy offers students opportunities to do so throughout the year. Located on East Main Street in Torrington, next to Fancy Nails, Noteworthy has provided music lessons for all ages and skill levels, teaching students how to play a variety of instruments since 2014.

For more information about Noteworthy Music & Tutoring, go to http://www.noteworthymusicllc.com or call 860-201-5488.

Church to host Christmas Cantata concert

TORRINGTON — The Cantata, “Let The Whole World Sing” by Joel Raney along with excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented by the Ecumenical Crossroads Choir and Orchestra under the direction of Ken Beyer on Sunday at 3 p.m. There will also be a Carol Sing led by the Crossroads Worship Band. This concert will be held at First Congregational Church, 835 Riverside Ave., Torrington, which sponsors the program.

A free will offering will be taken for local missions. A reception will follow the performance. For further information call 860-482-4705 or 860-496-1289 or E-mail: beyermusic@snet.net.

EcoTravel cruises begin in April

ESSEX — Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel will again offer boat cruises beginning April 28, to search for Bald Eagle, Osprey, and other bird species migrating and nesting along the Connecticut River. Bald Eagle can be found along the lower river, a habitat that hosts a transient winter population as well as nesting residents. Naturalists are on board the vessel to share information about the Connecticut River, the birdlife, and natural history. The vessel has a heated cabin, restrooms, and three decks for optimal viewing. Tours are approximately 2.5 hours in length and depart at 10am and 2pm. Cruises depart from Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, Connecticut. Appropriate for children eight years old and over. Food and drink available on board. Enjoy the beauty of the Connecticut River in spring! Fee: $40 for members and nonmembers. Reserve Now! Call us at 860-767-0660.

To make a reservation online, go to the EcoTravel link at www.ctaudubon.org For Gift Certificates and phone reservations, call 860-767-0660. Spaces fill up quickly.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut seek volunteers

Girl Scouts of Connecticut is looking for volunteers across the state to help girls and young women in Connecticut shine. Volunteers can help prepare girls in Connecticut for a lifetime of leadership and be the mentor she needs to succeed.

Did you know that there are hundreds of girls in Connecticut who want to be Girl Scouts, but can’t due to a shortage of volunteers? As a volunteer, you’ll introduce girls to new experiences that show them they’re capable of more than they ever imagined. You get to choose what capacity and how much you want to volunteer. Do you want to be a co-leader in a troop or help at a program or event? The choice is yours, and Girl Scouts of Connecticut will help you every step of the way.

As a Girl Scout volunteer, you’ll be a girl’s cheerleader, guide, and mentor, helping her develop essential life skills and confidence that will last a lifetime. Imagine the excitement, the impact, the memories made—those are the moments you’ll share at Girl Scouts.

Embark on an extraordinary journey of leadership. Learn more at www.gsofct.org/volunteer.

Health Council & Manufacturers’ Coalition to meet

TORRINGTON — The Chamber’s Health Council and Manufacturers’ Coalition, peer groups for individuals who work in and with the health care and manufacturing fields, will meet on Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. at the Chamber office, 333 Kennedy Drive, Torrington. Victor Incerti of CMHA and Maria Coutant-Skinner of McCall Center for Behavioral Health brought an important issue to our attention which will be the focus of the meeting:

As health care providers committed to providing high quality, compassionate care in a rural area, we often struggle with recruiting and retaining competent young professionals. Working collaboratively with other health care providers may afford all of us opportunities to market the northwest corner to this demographic. As an area that has been adept at working across traditional organizational boundaries, we are eager to explore this creative endeavor together. To attend, RSVP at nwctchamberofcommerce.org/calendar or call the Chamber at 860-482-6586.

Winter Solstice Reading set in Roxbury

Actor Doug Schlicher returns to Roxbury with a Winter Solstice/Christmas reading from the children’s classic “Wind in the Willows”, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. To match the coziness of the tale, the reading this year will be held at the Hodge Library & Museum, where a fire will be blazing in the inglenook and refreshments will be served. All are invited to enjoy this reading, which offers delights for every age.

The chapter “Dulce Domum” tells of Rat and Mole heeding the call of Home and returning to Mole’s cozy little den named “Mole End”, where they find food and drink and share the celebrations of the season with a group of field mice carollers. The story describes the particular charms of English cottage life and the coziness of early winter, even as it relates these things from the perspective of small, wild animals.

Douglas Schlicher is known locally for his beloved annual reading at the Hurd House, in Woodbury, of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, now in its 27th year. Formerly a professional actor, Mr. Schlicher has performed onstage with the New York Shakespeare Festival, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, and has performed at Lincoln Center, Off-Broadway, and at the Public Theater in New York as well as in Central Park. In addition to his stage work, he has appeared in over 400 television and radio commercials and voice-over narrations. Locally he has lent his talent to the Gunn Memorial Museum in Washington where he has narrated exhibit-related videos.

The mission of the Minor Memorial Library is to enrich the lives of the Roxbury community by providing free access to ideas and information through diverse services, experiences, and programs of educational, historical, and cultural value. We aim to offer a safe, secure, and inviting atmosphere with current and well-organized collections in a welcoming, professional manner. The library is handicapped-accessible. Call the library at 860-350-2181 or visit the website at www.minormemoriallibrary.org for information and directions.