Publication: In Your Northwest Corner
The Pipers' Gathering Brings Musicians Together, Keeps Pipers Piping
The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc., held at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center House in Litchfield welcomes more than 300 people annually who come to enjoy the melodious and diverse music found in the British Isles and Europe.
Presented over a three-day weekend, the event draws novice and highly skilled musicians alike, who participate in group instruction and lectures focusing on Irish pipes, Scottish smallpipes, Northumbrian smallpipes and Border pipes, the penny-whistle, Irish flute, fiddle and guitar, all led by skilled musicians from Canada, Ireland, Scotland and the United States.
"The Pipers' Gathering is one of the few places to go in North America if you want to try out and order one of these musical instruments," said Genevieve Pluhowski of The Pipers' Gathering.
“The concerts are extraordinary events bringing together great musicians from the US, Scotland, England, and Ireland who are rarely, if ever, heard
in one venue.”
The 2018 conference and concerts were made possible by a grant from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund, a fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation.
On Saturday and Sunday Pipers' Gathering instructors treated attendees and welcomed visitors far and wide to world-class concerts showcasing a wide range of alternative bagpipe instruments.
Elementary Students Bask in the Magic of The Nutcracker
Just before holiday break, nearly 1,500 students from Torrington elementary schools were treated to a performance of The Nutcracker by The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory.
"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to watch The Nutcracker! My favorite part was when the cool mice came out! I want to go again next year!" — Torrington elementary student
Through a grant from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, a fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation to Torrington Public Schools, students from Vogel-Wetmore School, Forbes School, and Southwest School were treated to a condensed performance of The Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre, along with dialog about the story, and a discussion of theater etiquette.
“Students benefit in the classroom from this enriched life experience and are able to reflect and draw upon content for writing and reading assignments,” said Donna Labbe of Torrington Public Schools.
Community Greenway Brings the Outdoors to All
Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway is one step closer to providing a safe, serene, nonmotorized route for walkers, runners, bikers, strollers and wheelchair users to travel at their own pace from the center of Litchfield to Bantam.
After completing Phases One and Two of the Greenway—a route that stretches from South Lake Street in Litchfield, through the White Memorial Conservation Center ending at Bissel Road, Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway was awarded a grant from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund, a fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation.
The grant supports the completion of the final piece of Phase 3, a stretch of the Greenway that provides travelers with a safe route to Bantam Lake.
"Locals and visitors of varying physical abilities are welcome to enjoy the greenway, which follows the historic Shepaug Railroad bed, said Clifford A. Cooper, president of Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway.
Covenant to Care for Children Keeps Families Together
Covenant to Care for Children (CCC) provides basic and essential goods to neglected, abused and/or impoverished children throughout Connecticut—many right here in our Northwest Corner.
Through its Adopt A Social Worker service, Covenant to Care matches social workers with organizations that provide basic goods, such as clean, safe beds, weather-appropriate clothing, and crisis food staples to Connecticut children living in poverty.
“Child abuse/neglect is both an economic and social need CCC is addressing every time we fill a request," said Julie Cushman of Covenant to Care for Children.
“Together we can provide hope and affect change.”
Covenant to Care for Children was recently awarded a grant from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund and the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, funds of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, to provide for the immediate needs of 12 children living in Northwest Connecticut without the most basic items—beds, infant car seats, clothing and food supplies needed to stabilize their homes, provide a more nurturing environment, and relieve the emotional and economic stress in their homes that increases the risk of abuse and neglect.
