Danbury Library to host UFO Conference and other things to do

Bethel

Shred documents safely at SoundView event 

SoundView Financial Credit Union is encouraging the community to safely dispose of their personal documents at its annual Shred Day event on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will be held at the Western CT branch of SoundView Financial Credit union at 2 Stony Hill Road in Bethel.  
 
Document shredding is one of many important steps in preventing identity theft, SoundView said. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the following timeline is recommended for safely destroying sensitive documents:
• Paid credit card and utility bills — destroy immediately.
• Sales receipts — destroy immediately.
• Bank statements, pay stubs, and medical bills — destroy after one year.
• Tax records — destroy after seven years.

Community members can bring up to four boxes of personal documents to be shredded. While the event is free, the credit union is encouraging all attendees to bring perishable food items or cash for a donation to be given to Hillside Food Outreach, 4B Eagle Road, Danbury. 

Membership at SoundView Financial Credit Union or Western CT is not required. For more information, visit www.soundviewfcu.org.

Danbury 

NAACP to honors community members at ‘Freedom Fund’ banquet 

The Danbury branch of the NAACP will honor awardees at its 2023 Freedom Fund Awards Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 19, at Anthony’s Lake Club. 

This year’s theme “Thriving Together” focuses on the organization’s commitment to ensure that every voice is heard whether the issue is health care, criminal justice, climate change, immigration reform, education or national security. The objective continues to be to honor individuals who have worked to improve the quality of life for residents and who have demonstrated a commitment to community service and bettering the lives of persons of color.

The committee is honored to have Dr. Edward James, M.D. as its honorary chairperson. Dr. James, an accomplished neonatal clinician, has dedicated over 40 years to the healthcare industry, having extensive NICU leadership experience.  

This year’s awardees include the Rev. Annette Bush, Humanitarian; Cedric Rice, Outstanding Leadership; Samuel Hyman, Lifetime Achievement, Dennis Perkins, Jr., Community Service, the Bill S. Curtis Harambee Center, Organizational Leadership.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. The Greater Danbury NACCP has an established history of advocating for civil rights, sponsoring community based educational programs and raising awareness of injustices in the community. Some of those traditional endeavors from the recent past include supporting equal access to education in the local community, advocating for quality health care and developing community programs that increase knowledge of history as well as cultural heritage. 

Tickets are $85  and can be paid for at the door (advance reservation required). To reserve your ticket, please send an email to NaacpDanburyBranch@gmail.com or call (475) 777-1962. Reception is at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m.

Danbury

DAWS to host annual fundraising gala 

The Danbury Animal Welfare Society will be hold its biggest fundraising event of the year, Making a Difference Gala, starting at 6 p.m. on 
Oct. 21 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. 

To celebrate its 49th year, the organization aims to raise $185,000 for the thousands of animals it cares for each year and celebrate its newly renovated shelter, opening soon.

The renovation would not have been possible without Gala honoree, Tary Tarlton of Kenosia Development. Rich Minor of 98Q will host the event, which includes a live and silent auction, music by The Bill’s Toupee Band and dancing.

Individual tickets are available for $195 and $1,750 per litter of 10. Sponsorship opportunities are available as well. 

Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our community and beyond since 1974. 

Danbury

Annual UFO Conference to be held at library 

Danbury Library will present its annual UFO Conference Sunday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 29 virtually and in person. 

This event promises to take attendees on a journey beyond the stars, exploring the mysteries of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial life. 

The event brings together experts and enthusiasts to foster a deeper understanding of the mysteries that lie beyond our planet through hands-on workshops and exclusive Q&A sessions. Take a historical plunge into the rich tapestry of Connecticut sightings spanning a century, deep dive into Congressional hearings, and more.

All events and activities are free and open to the public. Visit danburylibrary.org/category/ufo-conference-2023 for a full list of events and more
information. Follow us @danburylibrary for updates and event highlights.

Danbury

Anniversary concert to benefit local foundation 

The Music Learning Center celebrates 30 years of excellence in music education for students in the Danbury area with a full concert and celebration on Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Danbury Music Centre — Marion Anderson Recital Hall.

Performances will be by teaching staff members with extensive experience as soloists, in chamber ensembles and combos.  The 60–90-minute program will feature a piano duet, a jazz quartet, original music for voice and piano, classical guitar, and more. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Caroline Previdi Foundation, which honor the memory and giving spirit of a first grader killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy. 

Tickets to the Music Learning Center’s 30th Anniversary Celebration: Our Faculty and Friends Concert may be purchased at https://musiclearningcenter_org.eventbrite.com/. The concert is sponsored by Southridge technology, LLC. 

New Milford

Rotary Club to hold document shredding day 

The New Milford Rotary Club is holding a Community Document Shredding Day on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Pettibone Community Center, 2 Pickett District Road.

No appointment is necessary, and there is no limit to the number of boxes brought to be shredded.  Open to residents and businesses from all towns. The shredding is done while you watch; all shredded material will then be recycled.  

The cost is $10 per standard copy paper-type box. All profit will be donated by the New Milford Rotary Club to fund scholarships, environmental and other local projects. For more information, or if you have a large number of boxes, call 860-866-7141, email shredfest@nmrotary.org or visit www.nmrotary.org.

Newtown

BBQ dinner to benefit mission trips

On Saturday, Oct. 21, Newtown Congregational Church will again host its popular Mississippi BBQ and Shrimp Boil dinner to benefit Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss. Doors open at 5:30 to 8 p.m. for indoor dining, with popular take-out meals available at 6 p.m. by prepaid arrangement.

The meal features Larry’s famous BBQ chicken and a “low-country boil” with shrimp, sausage, and potatoes, plus salad, roll, and dessert. Choice of beverage is also included for dine-in guests. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. A limited number of prepaid take-out orders can be picked up at 6 p.m. All dinners may be ordered at https://rebrand.ly/back-bay-2023, or 734-645-6909 or 203-426-9024. 

The church is planning no less than two trips to support the Back Bay Mission needs in 2024. First, a college level trip Jan. 7-13, 2024, and then the adult trip Feb. 18-24. Each trip will provide essential experience for the workers, including not only house renovation work, but also a chance to serve in three of the Mission’s ministries, learn about the work done on the Coast, explore how you can do similar work in your community, and grow in both faith and fellowship.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining a trip, contact 203-482-8447. Read more about this United Church of Christ outreach to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives via https://thebackbaymission.org/. Donations to a worthy cause are welcome. 

Newtown

Record Sale to benefit Edmond Town Hall

The Friends of Edmond Town Hall has teamed up with promoter Record Riots to host a Record Sale on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. (Early Birds 8 a.m.) until 5 p.m. in the Edmond Town Hall gym, 45 Main St. 

Record Riots will present 40+ vendors with over 15,000 LP’s, CD’s and 45’s. Watson House Brewery, The Grumpy Dumpling and Kash & Liv Coffee Creations will also be onsite to nourish attendees while they mingle with fellow music enthusiasts. 

Tickets are $5, Early Birds $10, purchased at the door. Free parking. Portions of the event will support Friends of Edmond Town Hall, whose mission is to bringing arts and humanities programming and events to the community at large while maintaining the historic Edmond Town Hall.

For Record Riots see www.recordshowmania.com. 

For more information or how to join, donate, volunteer or sponsor Friends of Edmond Town Hall go to  www.FriendsofETH.org or email info@friendsofETH@gmail.com. 

Ridgefield

Author to speak at library 

Author Gavin Watson will speak at the main program room of the Ridgefield Library from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17. 

Watson explores the principles of Conscious Capitalism based on two decades of research in the fields of positive psychology, organizational psychology, and evolutionary biology

After joining his family’s food manufacturing business as a maintenance mechanic, Watson moved up through engineering and eventually became vice president of operations and company chair of Watson Inc. He focused on employee engagement through a self-organizing self-directed team approach. Passionate about saving our planet’s ecosystem at work and at home, Watson mentored and encouraged teams to run energy audits and implement improvements that reduced electrical consumption by 25 percent while also growing the business at the same time. He is now chair of the Connecticut Chapter of Conscious Capitalism and is a boat builder and sailor.

He is the author of “Altruistic Business, Why Conscious Businesses Outperform the Competition.”

Register at https://ridgefieldlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/person-altruistic-business-gavin-watson