June

Dog license renewals due

You are invited to a special fundraising event on Sunday, June 1 at 3:00 PM that combines the Park Road Playhouse’s production of "Proposals" by Neil Simon with the tasty flavors of the world presented by the restaurants found on Park Road, West Hartford, and Park Street, Hartford.

Wine tasting and silent auction items are also featured. Auction items include a Villa in Portugal, Yankees tickets, Patriot tickets, and much more.  After the show, attendees have an opportunity to meet the cast members. 

The new Park-to-Park Pass will be distributed to those who attend the performance. The Pass entitles the bearer to discounts at participating businesses and restaurants in the Park Road-Park Street business district.

The June 1st event benefits Park-to-Park, an entity created by the members of the Parkville Business Association and the Park Road Association to promote Park Road and Park Street to visitors as a “seamless street” that offers diverse cultures in dining, entertainment and shopping.

The $40 ticket includes the play, food sampling, wine tasting and Park-to-Park Pass. To obtain tickets contact, Renée McCue at 561-7521 or renee@westhartford.org or purchase tickets on line at http://www.parktopark.org

On Sunday, June 1, 2008 the Greater Hartford Jewish community will host a big bash six decades in the making in honor of Israel’s sixtieth birthday, highlighted by a day-long festival in West Hartford. Hartford Celebrates Israel@60 begins with a Walk for Israel and will feature a concert by Israel’s Piano Man, Rami Kleinstein, plus non-stop entertainment, Israeli culture and food, films and family fun at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Admission and parking are free and the event is open to the public, rain or shine.

The June 1 festivities will kick off with a Walk for Israel from Emanuel Synagogue on Mohegan Drive at 8:30 am, proceeding to the Mandell JCC where live entertainment, family activities and crafts, games, art, Café 60 kosher food court, exhibits, speakers, films and The Shuk market will follow from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission, attractions, parking and shuttle buses are free. Tickets for the 3 pm Rami Kleinstein Live Concert are $18 General Admission (includes free babysitting), $10 for students/ teens, $60 for Sixty Star Patrons and are on sale now at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT, 06117. Tickets may be purchased in person, by phone 860-231-6316, email dlondon@mandelljcc.org or fax, 860-233-0802. Patron tickets include reserved concert seating, a keepsake Enviro-bag tote bag designed by Israeli artist Neta Levi and patron listing.

Monday, June 2

Town Plan & Zoning Meeting, 7:00pm

Tuesday, June 3

Gazebo Concert Series at Elmwood Community Center

Election Forums at the Mandell JCC, First Tuesday of the Month at 7:30 PM
Are you tired of listening to the “talking heads” on TV?  Want to voice your own opinion and ask questions about the upcoming election?  Join Bobby Newman, local political pundit and expert in public relations and the media, as he moderates monthly discussions about democracy, elect-ability vs. leadership and if we are really ready for change as a result of this year’s election. 

Upcoming forum dates: July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4 at 7:30 pm. FREE. Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, http://www.mandelljcc.org Drop in or RSVP to Elana MacGilpin at 231-6327 or emacgilpin@mandelljcc.org.

The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce will honor three outstanding citizens at the Twentieth Annual Noah Webster Awards Ceremony.  This year’s ceremony will take place during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting Luncheon to be held on Wednesday, June 4th from 12:00 to 1:45 PM at Gray Conference Center at the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.  Citizen’s Bank is the event’s presenting sponsor.

Ronit Shoham is being honored for her tireless contribution of time and energy to countless charitable and civic programs in the West Hartford community.  The outstanding high school student recipient is Rachel Piaker, a Hall High School senior whose passion for neonatal development and medicine is demonstrated both in and out of the classroom.  In addition to the Noah Webster Awards, Kevin Keenan, general manager, and the team at Westfarms will be recognized as the “Chamber Volunteer of the Year.”

For reservations or to learn more about the Twentieth Annual Noah Webster Awards/West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Luncheon, contact the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce by calling (860)521-2300 or by emailing info@WHChamber.com.  Information and reservation forms can also be obtained online at www.WHChamber.com.  Reservations are $30 per person and must be confirmed along with payment no later than end of business on Friday, May 30th.

Wednesday, June 4

Commission on Persons with Disabilities, 7:00pm

Thursday, June 5

Volunteer Luncheon at Elmwood Senior Center

Saturday, June 7

"Tour of the Rose Garden and House Tour" at the Sarah Whitman Homestead on June 7, 2008, 12:00 - 3:00 pm (last tour starts at 2:30 PM). The Homestead is located at 1237 New Britain Ave., (corner of New Britain Ave. and South Main St.). Parking is behind the Homestead. Call 523-5887 or visit www.sarahwhitmanhooker.com. Fee: Adults: $15, Child under 13: $7.

Sarah Whitman Hooker Homestead is a documented 18th century Connecticut River Valley Mansion House located in West Hartford’s Elmwood, CT. The Homestead contains a collection of period wallpapers, curtains and other textiles, furniture, porcelain, glass, kitchen iron, and other articles of daily living from the colonial to early republic eras. The Homestead was preserved to the lowest layer of the fabric of the structure and the tour offers useful insights about the construction of the house. The Rose Garden was planted entirely with specimens of roses available in America before 1830, some dating from the Middle Ages.

West Hartford Garden Club's GARDEN TOUR, Saturday, June 7, 2008,  10 am - 4 pm (Rain or Shine) Visit six special, private gardens in West Hartford on Saturday, June 7th.  From petite spaces to grand vistas, this tour promises a most delightful day outdoors.  Enjoy the artistry of each garden and take home ideas to inspire your own landscape.  This much-anticipated tour includes a member-grown plant sale and refreshments.

Pre-order tickets are available after April 10th until May 16th at an advance price of $15.00. Group rates are available.  Ticket prices after May 16th are $20.00.  Make check to West Hartford Garden Club and mail to Mrs. Virginia Fairbrother, 25 Visgrove Lane, West Hartford, CT 06117.  Deadline for mail order is May 16, 2008.