Cathy Doocy Landscapes at the Library

A lifelong resident of the Connecticut River valley, Cathy Doocy has been exhibiting contemporary landscapes for over 20 years. Inspired by the fields and hills of New England, Doocy has brought together works for this exhibit, “Stops Along the Way,” that explore the picture-making process.The opening reception, hosted by the Library Associates, is on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Art’s Night Out at the Hub

On Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is sponsoring “Arts Night Out!” at the Hub. This event is a casual networking social for artists of all kinds, as well as artisans, business owners and art lovers,  See ad on page XX for more details.

Presentation at the Colebrook Historical Society

On Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., the Colebrook Historical Society is hosting a presentation by Stewart Pollens. Trained as an instrument maker, Pollens worked as the conservator of musical instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1998, he was invited by the Ashmolean Museum to examine the “Messiah” violin, which for over 150 years had been heralded as a perfect example of Stradivari’s work. Careful study led Pollens to doubt this attribution. The talk will be at the Seymour Inn, at the intersection of Routes 183 and 182A. Refreshments will be on hand, and all are welcome. For more information, contact Carol Lord at carol.9508@yahoo.com, or 860-738-8244.

Greenwoods Puppet Festival at the Library

Don’t miss an autumnal weekend full of theatrics, creativity and magic. On Sept. 13 to 15, award-winning puppeteers will present a variety of puppet shows for children and adults. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Please call the Norfolk Library at 860-542-5075 to reserve or register online. For a full schedule, see the article on p. xxx. 

Calling All Adventurers

Experience the thrill of the high ropes course at Silver Lake on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to join the Church of Christ Norfolk at Silver Lake, in Sharon, Conn., for an afternoon of climbing. We have room for 20 people to participate as climbers, and we also need volunteers to drive and help out on the ground. To sign up, please contact Amy at office@cofcuss.org or 860-542-5721. There is a $15 fee per person; families bringing four or more members can contact the office for additional discounts.

Battell Arts Scholarships

Calling all young artists from Norfolk and Colebrook . . . don’t miss this opportunity! Battell Arts Foundation is again offering scholarships for individual lessons, workshops and seminars, summer programs and performances. Applicants must be residents of Colebrook or Norfolk and be in 4th through 12th grades. Deadline is Monday, Sept. 16. For more information and scholarship applications, contact Tom Hodgkin at hodgkin.tom@gmail.com or phone 860-542-1222.

Seminar on Homer’s “Odyssey”

In this seminar with Kim Maxwell, the epic poem “The Odyssey”will be examined as a narrative that has shaped Western literature. The seminar will be held on three successive Mondays, Sept. 16, 23 and 30, from 5 to 6:45 p.m. at the Norfolk Library.

Land Trust Trail Race

The Norfolk Land Trust will host its 5K and 10K trail races on Sunday, Sept. 22, with the start at Barbour Woods Trailhead, 75 Lovers Lane. The 10K race starts at noon, the 5K at 12:15. Registration is $35 in advance, $40 on the day of the race. There will be a post-race awards party at Infinity Hall Bistro. For more information, contact Kate Johnson at katebjohnson@mac.com or call 860-307-2693.

Heritage Hike at Great Mountain Forest 

As part of the 18th annual Housatonic Heritage Walks in Berkshire and Litchfield counties, Great Mountain Forest will conduct an informational hike in the American chestnut orchard on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1:30 p.m. For more information and directions, go to greatmountainforest.org. To register, call 860-824-7454. No rain date.

Talk on Preventing Lyme Disease

What if we could develop and test a safe, effective and affordable means of preventing tick-borne disease at the scale of whole neighborhoods? Dr. Joshua Ginsberg, president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, will talk about The Tick Project, an $8.8 million, five-year study that aims to do just that. The program, hosted by the Norfolk Land Trust and open to all, will be held at the Hub on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. Afterward, attendees are invited to Green Drinks at Infinity Hall Bistro. Green Drinks is Litchfield County’s monthly happy hour for environmentalists, providing opportunities to make connections and exchange news about conservation initiatives, local farming, land use and more.

Author Anne K. Howard at the Hub

On Monday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., an extended edition of Mondays at the Hub presents “Conversations with a Serial Killer,” with author Anne K. Howard. For more information and to register, go to www.norfolkfoundation.net/hub-events. 

Saving the Steeple on the Green

Save the date: On Sunday, October 6, at 4 p.m., there will be an informational slide show at Battell Chapel about the problems with the steeple of the Church of Christ Congregational. This landmark is in danger, and fundraising efforts to save the steeple will begin soon. Wine, tea and cheese will be provided. For more information, call 860-542-5721.