Kent library offers Safe Sitter course; Goshen library forms ‘Great Decisions’ group; Hunt Library art show submissions sought; students can apply for scholarships; Connecticut Pops recruiting musicians; Falls Village theater group holding fundraiser

KENT — The Kent Memorial Library will offer a Certified Safe Sitter® Training Program for young adults grades 6 and up, Jan. 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Library is the only site in Northwest Connecticut to offer this training by Certified Safe Sitter® Trainers.

Becoming a Safe Sitter® means gaining confidence and learning how to handle situations that may happen on the job. Upon completing this training, the new certified babysitter will know how, why and where injuries happen so they can be prevented; how to get help if it is needed; how to keep safe when babysitting; how a child’s age affects how to care for them; how to prevent problem behavior; how to rescue a choking infant or child; and how to handle babysitting as a business.

The cost of the program is $20 which includes the Safe Sitter® Manual. Call the Library to register at 860-927-3761, email at kmlinfo@biblio.org or stop in to sign up. The program is limited to 12 participants. Snacks will be served. Bring lunch.

“Great Decisions” group forming at library

GOSHEN — The Goshen Public Library is hosting the Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions Series this year from January through April on alternate Mondays starting Jan. 22 at 4 p.m.

This year’s topics include: The waning of Pax Americana?; Russia’s foreign policy; China and America: the new geopolitical equation; Media and foreign policy; Turkey: a partner in crisis; U.S. global engagement and the military; South Africa’s fragile democracy; and Global health: progress and challenges.

This year we are also considering having a second group if there are interested participants who cannot make it to Mondays at 4 p.m., and those who are interested are asked to call and leave your name regarding a second group time.

Course books are published by the Foreign Policy Association. The library will ask for a donation of $20 to help defray the cost of the program. Each session will include a short video clip by subject specialists (produced by FPA) and group discussion time based on the articles that participants read prior to class. This is an excellent time to learn about current events and meet new people.

The Goshen Public Library has been serving the residents of Goshen and the surrounding communities since 1902. The library can be found at 42 North St., Goshen. Call to register for the class and to reserve a book at 860-491-3234. The complete list of class dates will be available at our website: www.goshenpublib.org.

Submissions sought for library art show

FALLS VILLAGE — The David M. Hunt Library Art Wall in Falls Village, invites artists to participate in the spring 2018 exhibit, KITES: Flights of Fancy.

Inclusive of professional and talented non-professional artists, the exhibit will be entirely focused on kites, whether actual or conceptual, in any media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography or mixed media. This show focuses on the kite as an artistic vehicle and encourages us to expand our thinking and reconsider the humble kite as an artistic expression...they don’t have to be “flyable”.

The intent to participate is due Feb. 2. For more information, contact garthpkobal@gmail.com or call 860-824-7572.

High-res jpg images including draft drawings, if available, are requested by Friday, February 23. Work needs to be delivered by Friday, April 6. An opening reception will take place on Saturday, April 21 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Students can apply for scholarships

The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation is awarding scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year. Scholarship applications are now available for the more than $150,000 available to area students. Scholarship guidelines, requirements and applications are available on the Community Foundation website.

Scholarship applications for the 2018-19 academic year must be submitted by April 1, 2018. The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves Litchfield County with a collection of more than 270 funds from local donors. These funds support nonprofit organizations and provide scholarships to area students throughout the Northwest Corner.

Most scholarships are awarded to residents of the Foundation’s 20-town service area. The Foundation serves the towns of Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Canaan/Falls Village, Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winsted/Winchester. For a complete list of scholarships, visit northwestcf.org/scholarships.

Established in 1969, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 250 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to more than $94 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled more than $3 million.

Connecticut Pops recruiting for fall 2018 Membership

WATERBURY- The Connecticut Pops Concert Band in residence at Naugatuck Valley Community College, under the direction of Allan Dabkowski, is recruiting for fall membership. Open to musicians of intermediate to advanced playing ability from the greater Waterbury and Danbury areas, CT Pops performs one concert each December and two in May.

The band rehearses every Tuesday evening from 7:15-9:30 PM in the Mainstage auditorium of NVCC, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury. Informal auditions will be held during the first two rehearsal dates January 23, and 30. Interested players are invited to play with the band for two rehearsals in order to see if it is a good fit before committing to membership.

At this time there are openings for those who play percussion, trombone, tuba, French horn, oboe, varitone/euphonium, and baritone saxophone. For more information, please call the band manager, Patricia Reinhardt, at 203-426-6148 or see the band website. www.ctpopsband.org

Falls Village Children’s Theater fundraiser

FALLS VILLAGE — Honey Talk Dinner and a Dance, an evening of food and entertainment featuring Honey Talk, a four-piece band from Boston with local talent Steven Bunce as their bass player/singer/songwriter, will be held to benefit the Falls Village Children’s Theater on Friday, Feb. 2 at the Center on Main, 103 Main St., Falls Village. When Pigs Fly and SOUSWRIGHT will provide the food for this occasion. Tickets $30, reserve at www.fvct.org or call 860-294-1430 for a ticket.

Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or visiting owlibrary.org and clicking on Events/Adult Events