Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge to hold beekeeping presentation

WOODBRIDGE - Come meet the new state bee inspector Paula Wolf at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Massaro Community Farm. She'll be at our first bee workshop of the season!

At this first class we'll go over how to handle your new package or nucleus of bees. All classes in person and hands on in our bee yard (weather permitting) where we'll go over all aspects of beekeeping.

Offered by Ted Jones of Jones Apiaries (Farmington), Ted leads you through all steps of beekeeping from spring through fall. Whether you're a newbie or a veteran, all levels and ages welcome.

First class begins at 9:30 a.m. All other classes will begin at 9 a.m. Wear long pants and close-toed shoes (even when it's warm). We have veils and gloves for you to borrow. 

Suggested donation of $10/pp supports ongoing education at Massaro Farm.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Learn about beekeeping with The Bee Lady at Derby Public Library program

Catherine Wolko 

Beekeeping & Honey: The Sweet History of Honey (with a Honey Tasting)

DERBY - Derby Public Library will host an engaging and delicious program at 6 p.m. Aug. 2 with Catherine Wolko (The Bee Lady).

She is a second-generation beekeeper and owner of The Humble Bee Honey Company and The Hive @ The Pin, a Honey House and Farm Store in Watertown.

Why do we love honey so much? What makes honey so dark or so light? How many varieties of honey are there? Why does honey crystalize? Why doesn’t honey need to be pasteurized?

Learn the answers to these and many more questions during this fun, informative talk. All attendees will also get to taste (5) varietals of delicious honey from The Humble Bee Honey Company! Everyone who attends will receive recipes, seed catalogs, and a free sample copy of The American Bee Journal.

There will also be a drawing and giveaway for audience members!

The Library is at 313 Elizabeth St.

Don't forget to register at https://bit.ly/3Q8Y1dk.

This is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge to host beekeeping workshops

Beekeeping is back at Massaro! Offering multiple classes March-September. See below for class description.

These workshops are focused on hobbyists, backyard beekeepers and those considering beekeeping; all levels welcome. 

Suggested donation is $10 per person at the door.

At 10 a.m. March 25 - Package and Nuc installation; if temps allow we will perform a hive inspection.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Derby Neck Library to host program on Zoom about beekeeping

DERBY - Join us [at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Derby Neck Library] on Zoom for an informative presentation with Catherine Wolko, owner of Humble Bee Honey Company and second-generation beekeeper. 

Learn how honeybees came to Connecticut, the story behind the Langstroth Hive and more!

This is a Zoom program. 

To register, call 203-734-1492 or email headlibrarian@biblio.org.

This is shared from a Derby Neck Library event page on Facebook.

Ansonia Nature Center offers variety of April activities

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has slated fun and educational April activities.

FITNESS AWARENESS JOG – Mondays, begins April 2, 5:30 p.m.

Calling all runners who want something out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156-acre nature preserve on our two miles of trails while you burn off the weekend’s extra calories. 
We kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a stretch, then gently jog our trails for an hour. All experience levels are welcome, so bring a friend or two! This FREE program is the best way to start off your week. Please register, wear appropriate footwear.

SELF-DEFENSE FOR WOMEN – April 3, 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Learn life-saving techniques and how to take control of a potentially dangerous situation using practical, effective tactics. Today, self-defense is more important than ever. Refuse to be a victim! 
This workshop at the Nature Center is a must for women of all ages, so sign up today! Presented by the Assembly of the Martial Arts Academy. FEE: $20 (cash or check payable to AMAA, due by March 27). 
For more information call Adam Rylski at 203-671-6903, Theresa at 203-506-3816, or the Nature Center.

BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS – April 8, 2 p.m.

This class is an introduction to the fascinating hobby of beekeeping. 
Join Ranger Dawn to learn about beekeeping tools and equipment, how to begin a starter hive, and how to identify honey bees and what they are doing. 
Our observation hive at the Nature Center is a great place to see this incredible system. For ages 14 and up. FEE: $6 per person. Please pre-register.

SPRING TERM JUNIOR RANGERS – Thursdays, April 12–June 7, 3:30–5 p.m.

Calling all children 11-14 years old who love nature! Has your child wanted to work with animals, garden, help maintain our trails, and help with special events? 
This is the opportunity to help the Nature Center during our eight-week after school program. Parental permission is required. Registration began in March.  
Class size is limited; this class fills up fast!  FREE.

NATURE AND PLAY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS – Sundays, April 15, May 13, June 10, 2:30 p.m. 
Do you have a child aged 8–12 with autism and other developmental delays? Would you like to join a group playtime that meets once a month? Gently led by Ranger Amie, we will explore ways to introduce your child to playing indoors and outdoors at the Nature Center. Activities include meeting animal friends, taking a walk or easy hike, and nature crafts. Playtime begins at 2:30 pm and ends at 4:30 pm (or however long your child would like to stay). Please arrive on time. We will meet inside at the small classroom; children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the class. FREE. Pre-registration required; group limited to 10 children with adult. Session 1 activity: Animal Tracking. 

SPRING NATURE DAYS – April 16–20, 9:30 am–2:30 pm

For children ages 6-11 who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be educational and also a chance to explore our 156 acres. 
We will visit habitats such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Great time for amphibian searches too! TUITION: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $175 all others.

SPRING CLEANUP – April 21, 10 a.m.-noon

Bring your garden and trail tools! Scouts, youth groups, and students, this is a great community service opportunity. Help beautify our park and get ready for spring and summer. We’ll supply gloves and garbage bags. At 12:30 pm join participants of this citywide cleanup day at Pavilion 1 for lunch and refreshments. 

SUNDAY GUIDED HIKE: Vernal Pools – April 22, 1 p.m.

Learn about local amphibians on this hike to our vernal pools. Help our ranger lift rocks and logs to find these fascinating creatures that secretly inhabit our woodland and wetlands. FREE; please pre-register.

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, April 24–June 19, 3:30–5 p.m.

We’ll lead fun, family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; you will get water and/or soil on your clothing. FREE.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION – April 28, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Every day is Earth Day at the Nature Center! We invite you to honor Mother Earth with our Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center co-hosting this annual event. 
Enjoy hikes, live animals, environmental exhibitors, music and more! Join in interactive activities with Nature Center staff using our new Education Station trail. Food and snacks available from local vendors. 
No park admission fee. All ages welcome; bring family and friends to celebrate Spring! 

*** ONGOING WEEKLY PROGRAMS ***  

Pet Loss Grief Support Group – By appointment

Losing a beloved animal can be tragic and a very emotional time for humans. There are numerous resources to turn to for the loss of a human loved one; however, there are limited options for when we lose an animal. 
Susan Wilson has created this FREE support group for those who have lost an animal or have one in the process of moving on. Please call Susan at 1-802-379-4449 to set up an appointment. 

Creature Features – Saturdays, noon  

Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages

Sunday Guided Hikes – 1 p.m.

Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.

Fiber Arts Group – Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work—knitting, felting, crocheting.

Please call 203-736-1053 to register for all events.


This is a press release from the Nature Center.

Massaro Farm in Woodbridge slates activities in May

WOODBRIDGE - Massaro Community Farm, 41 Ford Road, has announced a list of activities during the month of May.

May 6 - 9 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. Beekeeping Workshop: Inspecting the Hive. 
Join us for the third installment of backyard beekeeping led by expert instructors of CT Beekeeper's Association. Only canceled in the event of steady rain. Suggested donation $10/pp. No advance registration necessary.

May 20 - 8 a.m. Spring Migration Bird Walk around the farm with Katie Blake, the Bird Friendly Communities Manager at Audubon CT. Bring binoculars or borrow one of ours. No advance registration necessary. 

May 20 - 9 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. Beekeeping Workshop: Spring Hive Maintenance. Join us for the fourth installment of backyard beekeeping led by expert instructors of CT Beekeeper's Association. Only canceled in the event of steady rain. 
Suggested donation $10/pp. No advance registration necessary.

May 21 - noon-5 p.m. Celebrate Spring! Plant Sale and Maypole festival. Organic vegetable seedlings, flowers, and perennials for sale. Medicinal Herb workshop; Organic lawn care workshop; Maypole dance. Spine checks and chair massages - Thrive Chiropractic. 
Cooking demo. Live music with The Jolly Beggars. Farm Belly Food Truck. Lots to see and do! 

Registration open for Summer Camp at Massaro Farm! Aug. 7-11 and 14-18. Half day farm-based camp program for children ages 6-9 years old. $150/child per week includes snack and crafts. 

More information can be found at www.MassaroFarm.org or by calling the farm office: 203-736-8618. 


This is a press release from Massaro Community Farm.

Learn beekeeping, take a hike, learn karate at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA -The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center has announced April activities for all ages - from karate and yoga to organic gardening and beekeeping.

KARATE CLUB – Tuesdays, five-week sessions beginning March 28, May 2, June 7, 5–5:45 p.m. (Karate Kids); 5:45–6:15 p.m. (Little Dragons)

This dynamic and energetic after-school program at the Nature Center has classes for children 6-12 years old (Karate Kids), and 3-5 years old (Little Dragons). 

Students will engage in various martial arts techniques and activities while learning important skills such as discipline, focus, self-control, and confidence. They will have the opportunity to earn higher-ranking belts as their participation continues. 

TUITION per five-week session: $45 for Karate Kids, $40 for Little Dragons (cash or check payable to AMAA), which includes a Karate Club T-shirt and white belt. 
For more information call Chief Instructor Adam Rylski at 203-671-6903 or 203-931-1979, or the Ansonia Nature Center at 203-736-1053.

YOGA FOR A HEALTHY MIND AND BODY – Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Our seasoned Hatha Yoga instructor and practitioner, Pam Mellitz, will lead us into a healthier lifestyle through stretching, breath control and gentle exercise. The full 1.5 hour classes require a mat or thick towel; dress for easy movement. Class is limited to 12 students. $7 per class. Please call Pam to register at 203-888-4124.

BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS – April 2, 2 p.m.

Have you ever thought about being a beekeeper? Ranger Dawn will teach you about beekeeping tools and equipment, how to begin a starter hive, and how to identify honeybees and what they are doing. Our observation hive at the Nature Center is a great place to see this incredible system. FREE.

MONDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUN – Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

This is a call to all of the runners who want something that is out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156 acre network of trails, while you burn off the weekend's extra calories. We guarantee that this FREE program is the best way to start off your week.  Please register and wear appropriate footwear.

SPRING TERM JUNIOR RANGERS – Thursdays, April 6–June 1, 3:30–5 p.m.

Calling all kids 11 to 14 years old who love nature! Has your child wanted to work with animals, garden, help maintain our trails, and help with special events? This is the opportunity to help the Nature Center in our 8-week after school program. Parental permission is required. Class size is limited; this class fills up fast! FREE.

SPRING CLEANUP – April 8, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Bring your garden and trail tools! Scouts, youth groups, and students, this is a great community service opportunity. Help beautify our park and get ready for spring and summer. We’ll supply the gloves.

ANSONIA COMMUNITY ORGANIC GARDENERS – April 9, 10 a.m.

Have you always wanted to grow your vegetables but don’t have enough property or sun in your yard for a garden? No worries; the Nature Center has plenty of fertile spots in full sun just for you. Sign up for your own garden plot with ACOG President Pat Evans. We will meet at the visitor center and walk to the organic gardens.

SPRING NATURE DAYS – April 10–12, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

For children from 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will not only be educational but also a chance to explore our 156 acres. We will visit a variety of habitats such as the park’s wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Great time of the year for amphibian searches too! 
TUITION: $90 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $105 all others. (While you’re here for Spring Break, why not register for Summer Nature Days?)

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – Tuesdays, April 11, May 9, June 13, 2 and 6 p.m.

Losing a beloved animal can be tragic and a very emotional time for humans. Grief support and grief counseling will benefit the human left behind. FREE, but donations are accepted. Please contact Susan Wilson, 802-379-4449, for arrangements to meet at the Nature Center.

NATURE EXPLORERS – Wednesdays, April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 10 a.m.

Join Wendy for our preschool/toddler program. This 4-week session is for children ages 2–5 years old with an adult. These outdoor classes will be fun exploring and learning through play. We will learn about nature and science through activities such as hiking, exploring, singing, games, reading, and making crafts. Every class is outside!!!! TUITION: $40 per 4-week session (cash or check payable to Ansonia Nature Center).

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, April 18–June 27, 3:30–5 pm

ANC will lead fun, family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; keep in mind you will get water and/or soil on your clothing. FREE, with the potential to take home fresh local produce!

FULL PINK MOON HIKE – April 22, 7 p.m.

This full moon heralded the appearance of the moss pink, or wild phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon. Enjoy the sounds of spring with our Nature Center guides as we lead you around our wetlands to spot some spring amphibians by the light of the moon. For all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult).  FEE: $1.00. 

SUNDAY GUIDED HIKE: Vernal Pools – April 23, 1 p.m.

Learn about our local amphibians during our Sunday hike to the Nature Center’s vernal pools. These fascinating creatures secretly inhabit our woodland and wetlands. Help our ranger lift rocks and logs to find these slippery creatures beneath.  FREE.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION – April 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

We invite everyone to join us to honor Mother Earth. At this annual event enjoy plantings, hikes, live animals, environmental exhibitors and a special guest. This year storyteller Leslie Elias will create masks for $5 with families and then perform the Iroquois creation myth. This story is of sky people and water animals and how the earth came to rest on Grandmother Turtle’s back. You can also hear an Audubon biologist present the 2016 Bird Habitat Assessment findings for the Nature Center property (see more information in the calendar entry below). Food and snacks available from local vendors and the Nature Center bake sale. No park admission fee. All ages welcome.

AUDUBON BIRD HABITAT ASSESSMENT – April 29, 11:15 a.m.

Audubon Connecticut’s Forest Bird Initiative focuses its conservation efforts on priority species, giving us an opportunity to keep these species common before they become threatened or endangered. Properties like the Nature Center can be critical parts of large forested landscapes that provide high-quality habitat for breeding birds. Come to hear recommendations for protecting and improving habitat at the Nature Center by Corrie O’Keefe, Audubon biologist. She will present the park’s 2016 Bird Habitat Assessment findings. This is a great program for volunteers and Scouts looking for conservation projects.  



This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. 

Meet local author, learn about beekeeping, watch movie at Derby Neck Library

DERBY - The Derby Neck Library, 307 Hawthorne Ave., will host Dinner and a Movie for ages 18 and older at 5:30 p.m. March 2.  
This month’s feature film shown on blu-ray and a large screen is “Arrival,” starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.  
Free movie refreshments will be served, including a pizza dinner at intermission.  

Beekeeping talk 

At 2 p.m. March 11 the Library presents a Beekeeping Talk by the Bee Lady, Catherine Wolko. All the facts you need to know about the history of honeybees in the U.S. and how to go about beekeeping yourself.  
Free raffles, and free magazines to all attending. 

Meet the Author

On March 14 at 6:30 p.m. the Library hosts Steve Reilly in a Meet the Author program.  

A Seymour resident and high school baseball coach, Reilly will discuss his new non-fiction book, “The Lord of the Infield Flies,” which highlights his coaching career beginning at age 20. This is a free program.  

For details on any program call the library, 203-734-1492.


This is a press release from Patricia Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.

Learn beekeeping, astronomy, more at Ansonia Nature Center

BACK TO BASICS: Beekeeping 101 - 2 p.m. Saturday
Learn the basics to start your own hive. Take a close-up look at the queen, workers, and drones with bee keeper Dawn Sotir.
See it all first-hand inside the Nature Center’s observation hive. Free; please register.

HEALTHY LIVING SERIES – 2 p.m. Sunday

Join us for the last of our three-part healthy living series. We’ll learn about growing healthy food from Jeff Rubelmann, healthy homesteader and certified permaculturist. 

We will focus on the interactions in soil, creating and building rich healthy soil, pH, soil fertilizers, compost teas, 18-day compost method, and worm farms.

This class is just in time to apply some of these techniques and knowledge to your 2015 garden season. Free; please register.

SPRING EQUINOX DRUMMING WITH CHE CARTAFALSA - 2 p.m. March 21
Che Cartafalsa is a musician, instrument maker, and educator whose work has ranged from concert halls and orchestras to rock bands and West African street weddings. As a member of Toubabou and the White-Eyed Lizard Band, he has played throughout the Northeast. 

Che passes on to his students what he has learned from African percussion masters, emphasizing instrumental technique, listening skills and multi-layered rhythms in percussion. Authentic instruments will be used to help us learn traditional African rhythms. Free; please register.

WINTER ASTRONOMY - 7 p.m. March 28
Did you ever wonder how a star is born? Come to learn on a great night with “Bobcat” Carruthers and members of the New Haven Astronomical Society.
Find out about the life and death of stars and the different types of stars in our universe. Venture outside (weather permitting) to view not only the stars but also Jupiter and its moons. Free; please register.

To register for any programs or for more information call 203-736-1053.


This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.