Stuart Little, the childrens' play based on the classic story by E.B. White, adapted by Jason Robinette and directed by NYC director Melissa Rain Anderson runs for 10 performances Feburary 27th through March 7th at Playhouse on Park. Don't miss this charming 60 minute play about the boy who was born a mouse. Join Stuart in his adventures involving simple household items, a toy boat race and a trip in a tiny car to find his feathered friend.  Prices range from $10 - $18 and can be purchased by calling 860-523-5900 ext 10 or visit the website at www.playhouseonpark.org.   Playhouse on Park is an intimate 163 seat three-quarter thrust theatre located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford.   Call for details about group rates and morning performances for school groups.

This Community Conversation will provide a forum by invitation only for all people who live and/or work in West Hartford to share their experience of living or working in our richly diverse community and how to meet the needs of all our residents.

The forum will be held on onday, March 1, 2010 at Conard High School, 110 Beechwood Road, West Hartford, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Snow Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010). For more information, contact Mary_Stone@whps.org, or Amy_Yarbrough@whps.org

March 1 at 10 AM – 3 PM: St. Joseph College, McGovern Hall, West Hartford. Make an appointment today by logging onto www.redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-redcross.  Do a good thing!

Saint Joseph College is proud to commemorate Women’s History Month with a diverse selection of lectures, films, discussions, and more during March. If you would like additional information on any of the events listed below, contact Catherine Hoyser, Ph.D., professor of English and director of Women’s Studies, at 860.231.5294 or choyser@sjc.edu.

Monday,  March 1 - Women’s History Month at Saint Joseph College - Venus Priests and Superwomen (2007): A film that examines the banning of Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues, at Providence College and explores this incident in the context of a larger framework of women struggling to obtain equality. Join us for a screening of the film and a discussion with documentary director Deborah Monuteaux, co-writer Alexia Kosmider, and Frances Ford – a former Providence College student director of The Vagina Monologues. The event will take place on Monday, March 1 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in The Bruyette Athenaeum’s Second Floor Reception Room. Admission is free of charge, refreshments will be served and the local community is invited to attend. Sponsored by Saint Joseph College’s Honors Program, Queenes Companye, the Women’s Studies Program, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Hebrew Health Hospice will be hosting an Adult Bereavement Group at Hebrew Health Care at their 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford campus. The support group will meet every Tuesday from February 16th to March 23rd from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Adult Day Center.  Free of charge. Facilitated by Lia Fulmer MA, MEd. Pre-registration Required. Please contact Lia Fulmer for more information at 860.523.3888.

West Hartford Citizens for Peace and Justice-sponsored Movie Night features Burning the Future: Coal in America, with moderated discussion after on Tuesday, March 2, 2010; at 7 pm at St. James Episcopal Church, 1019 Farmington Ave, W. Hartford. Free to the public; light refreshments available; donations accepted.

BACKGROUND about award-winning FILM:                                 

“Burning the Future: Coal in America examines the explosive conflict between the coal industry and residents of West Virginia. Confronted by emerging “clean coal” energy policies, local activists watch the world turn a blind eye to the devastation caused by coal's extraction. Faced with toxic ground water and the obliteration of 1.4 million acres of mountains, our heroes launch a valiant fight to arouse the nation's help in protecting their mountains, saving their families, and preserving their way of life.”

“Coal plays an enormous role in the daily life and functioning of the United States, and with it comes some serious problems. This film and accompanying guide, updated periodically on the website, provide information about coal, its effects on health and the environment, global warming, ways people can take action in their daily lives, and a section specifically designed for those opposing a problematic mining operation or a coal plant where they live.

For more info:  www.burningthefuture.org  Contact: JoAnne Bauer, 860-233-7852 or Flo Woodiel, 860-232-8993

Women’s History Month at Saint Joseph College - Presentation and Discussion by Ram Mahalingam - “Culture, Gender and Globalization at the Intersections of Class and Caste:” Ram Mahalingam, Ph.D., associate professor, department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, will be featured at this event which will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Crystal Room, Mercy Hall. Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office of the President.

Jewish Family Services offering FREE Money Coach to help with acute financial issues related to current employment problems. Wednesdays 9-3 and Thurs mornings, by appointment.  Call 860-236-1927. Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Ave. Suite A, West Hartford, CT 06117     

Preschool children and their parents are invited to enroll in a free series of programs designed exclusively for ages 2, 3 and 4 years old. The series will run on three consecutive Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Programs include:

FEB. 24: Story and Craft Time in the Library

MARCH 3: Tumbling Class in the Gymnastics Studio 

MARCH 10: Music in the Music and Movement Studio

Classes will be small and registration is required. To enroll your child call Sue Golden at 860-236-1661 or e-mail sgolden@renbrook.org

Renbrook welcomes students of every race, religion, ethnic and national origin. Renbrook is a member of the Food Allergy Network.

The Bishops Corner library offers free, one-on-one career counseling appointments every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call 561-8212 for more information. The library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford.

Saint Joseph College is proud to commemorate Women’s History Month with a diverse selection of lectures, films, discussions, and more during March. If you would like additional information on any of the events listed below, contact Catherine Hoyser, Ph.D., professor of English and director of Women’s Studies, at 860.231.5294 or choyser@sjc.edu. Wednesday, March 3 - Women’s History Month at Saint Joseph College - Presentation and Discussion by Hon. Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Family Promotion: This event will take place on Wednesday, March 3 from 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. in the Crystal Room, Mercy Hall. Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office of International Studies and Programs, and the Women’s Studies Program.

NEW! Practice English, every Tuesday afternoon, 1:00–3:00 p.m.  You're invited to join us at the Bishops Corner Branch Library for an hour of casual conversation. Improve your English skills while making new friends in this relaxed and welcoming environment! Call 561-8212 for more information or just drop in on Tuesday afternoon. The library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford.

Drop by the Bishops Corner branch library on Wednesday afternoons and enjoy the company of friends as we share this terrific craft. Everyone is welcome—all ages and all skill levels. Instruction on a simple project will be provided. Beginners please bring a skein of bulky yarn; needles will be available. No registration necessary. For more information, please call 561-8213. We are currently looking for adult knitters who might want to volunteer to help teach this craft. The Bishops Corner library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford

Whether a beginner or experienced in yoga, Yoga Just for Women, a new class at the Mandell JCC, may be just what women need to relax, renew and rejuvenate. Designed to appeal to all comfort levels and modesty preferences, Yoga Just for Women is held every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. until December 16. The class is free for Mandell JCC members and open to non-JCC members at $10 per class. For more information, contact Sara Billings, 860-231-6331, sbillings@mandelljcc.org. The Mandell JCC is located on the Zachs Campus at 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117.

Hartt students will perform the award winning musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Thursday, March 4, Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 7, at 3:00 PM, Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, at 7:30 PM in Millard Auditorium, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. 

Enhance your children’s educational experiences with one or more of our classroom programs or Science Dome planetarium presentations.  Tour our hands-on exhibits and network with other homeschool parents.  Our workshops and planetarium shows are appropriate for children from five to thirteen years old. Pre-registration is required.  Please call 860.231.2830 x44 or e-mail events@thechildrensmuseumct.org. To view the program schedule and receive pricing information, visit www.TheChildrensMuseumCT.org.

The Hartt School’s Theatre Division presents the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" on Thursday, March 4, Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, March 7, at 3:00 PM. Performances are in Millard Auditorium on the University of Hartford’s West Hartford campus. Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. For tickets and information, call the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587, or buy tickets online at www.hartford.edu/hartt.

The Rogow Distinguished Visiting Lecturers Program presents Kelly Corrigan on Thursday March 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at the University of Hartford's Lincoln Theatre, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford. This event is free. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 860-768-4228 or 800-274-8587.

A writer, author, and mother of two young girls, Corrigan recently penned The Middle Place – what she defines as “that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap.” At thirty-six, she had a marriage that worked, a couple of funny, active kids, a weekly newspaper column, and all the while felt as though she remained comfortably wedged between her adult duties and her parents’ care. A natural storyteller, Corrigan captures the beat of ordinary life and the everyday moments that bind families together. The Middle Place held a 24-week spot on The New York Times bestseller list.

Join coaches Lynne and Janice as they discuss the benefits of becoming a member of Team Training New England. This unique program prepares women to complete their first or fifth triathlon. Join us as we discuss the benefits of training with a group, tricks of the trade, and help to motivate you to reach your goals in 2010!

• Location: Fleet Feet in West Hartford Center (1003 Farmington Ave - next to SK Lavery)


• Contact:  Fleet Feet @ 860-233-8077


• Cost: Free


• Registration Required? No but for more details on this event, call the store at 860-233-8077

Time for Tots is a special program designed for kids aged 2-5 and their parent or caregiver. Time for Tots offers museum teacher-led activities that use Noah Webster’s historic house, the museum, and our new hands-on discovery space to learn about music, art, and stories!  The Spring Session runs March 3 - April 21, 2010 on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 AM. Each week will feature a new nursery rhyme, accompanied by a related craft, story and playtime! Pricing: 8-week series is $64 / members and $80 / non-member.  Ask about our sibling discount! To sign up or for more information, call 860-521-5362 x14 or email education@noahwebsterhouse.org

West Hartford Garden Club Meeting on March 4, 2010 features Jane Gottier talk on "Bulbs – Planting for Additional Color." Learn about bulb selection, design and planting methods for a successful garden display. The meeting is held at 12:00 Noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford. Call 860-561-0724 for more information. Guest donation $5.00. Light lunch included.

Every Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Bishops Corner Location of the West Hartford Senior Center
15 Starkel Road (adjacent to the Library)
Click for directions.

Hebrew Health Care is offering a scarf exercise program which borrows from the dance-movement therapy discipline. Gentle exercise is blended with proper breathing in a multi-sensory experience to improve sense of well being. The beautiful colors of the scarves and the graceful movements stimulate the brain, and enable participants to tap into creative energy for stress relief.  This group will be offered on Thursdays starting on February 18th from 2:15 to 3:15 pm. Please RSVP to Dementia Care Services at 860.920.1810.

Gluten Free items never tasted so good. Whether you are looking to have gluten-free items for your diet or you just want to taste them, this is the night and the place to be. There be vendors from several different companies as well representatives from the Gluten Free Friends – a Celiac support group available to talk to you. The representatives are:
* Dee Gilbert, a watchdog who finds out what's new in the world of gluten free
* Dr. Todd Gladstone, a pediatrician who is gluten free and understands the scientific end of how gluten affects people with Celiac disease
* Kathy Dawson, an enthusiastic member of Gluten Free Friends
The Gluten Free Tasting is FREE and will be held on Thursday, March 4th from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Whole Foods Market, 50 Raymond Rd, West Hartford.

Rotary District 7890 will have a booth at the Home Builders Association Home and Remodeling Show at the Hartford Convention Center on March 5, 6 and 7. West Hartford Rotarians will be collecting donations for the Haiti Relief effort, specifically for ShelterBox and medical supplies. Show attendees will be able to go inside a Shelter Box tent and see the type of equipment being sent to Haiti as well look at the various medical modules that are being shipped to Haiti twice weekly to aid in the long recovery process.

Held in the Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street. Contact Amy at 561-7511 for more information.

Newington Children’s Theatre Company presents its 2010 Touring Company production of The Secret Garden on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Elmwood Community Center. Choose either an 11:00AM or 2:00PM seating. Tickets are $8.00 per person. Groups are welcome! The performance is approximately ninety minutes with an intermission. Young children must be able to sit through the performance. Consider having your birthday party with us and let the performance be the entertainment. You may also rent a room for cake and gift opening before or after the 11:00 AM performance or before the 2:00 PM performance. Guest with room rentals will be accommodated with reserved seating. For tickets or more information call or visit:Elmwood Community Center 1106 New Britain Avenue West Hartford, 860-561-8160.

Held in the Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street. Contact Amy at 561-7511 for more information.

Kingswood-Oxford School is set to welcome high school students from about 20 schools in the Northeast for the Connecticut FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship Tournament for Robotics Saturday, March 6, starting at 10 a.m. The competition will take place in Hewett Gymnasium, while teams will have workspaces set up in Soby Gymnasium.  The regional tournament – which will feature teams working on this year’s FTC challenge called Hot Shot! – is free and open to the public.  Each match of the challenge is made up of two distinct types of play – operator-controlled and autonomous. Hot Shot! features alliances of two teams playing side-by-side on the playing field, with teams competing to score the most points by shooting 9-inch plastic balls into goals. Brenda Semmelrock, one of K-O’s robotics coaches, said that while the entire event is open to the public, the best time to catch the action is in the afternoon, starting at about 1 p.m. "That’s when teams are choosing their alliances and the competition is down to the wire," she said.

The overall winner of Saturday’s competition qualifies for the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Event to be held in Atlanta, Ga., in mid-April. Kingswood-Oxford School is located at 170 Kingswood Road. Parking is available in the school's lot on Trout Brook Drive. For more information, call 860-233-9631, ext. 2815 or e-mail adams.s@k-o.org.

Young children and their families are cordially invited to share stories, songs, and blessings on Saturday mornings at Congregation Beth Israel.  “Tot Shabbat” is offered on the first Saturday of every month. The next one will be held on Saturday, March 6 at 10:30 a.m. in the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Community Learning Center, Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.  The program will also include plenty of play time!  The entire family is welcome. Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue with an award-winning Religious School and a strong offering of activities geared for families with young children.  For more information visit www.cbict.org or contact Beth Israel at bethisrael@cbict.org or 233-8215 x230.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY CHILD WITH AUTISM WHEN I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO CARE FOR HIM/HER? If you are very concerned about the future, please come to a planning meeting of the parent/grandparent run nonprofit (501(c)3 pending) All Seasons Academy autism campus on Saturday, March 6th at 2:00 at the HARC offices (third floor) located at 900 Asylum Avenue in Hartford.  Help us create the ideal place where our future adult children with autism can learn and grow in a safe, respectful, productive environment.  Come learn about plans for the All Seasons Academy autism campus and what you can do to turn this dream into a reality. For more information and to RSVP for the meeting contact autismcampus@gmail.com or call Karen Lepak at (860) 646-8489 or Darlene Borre at (860) 263-8313.  If not now, when? If not us, who?  We must make it happen.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, The Gettysburg College Choir, the premier ensemble of Gettysburg College and the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College, will be performing a concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, on Saturday, March 6th at 7:30pm. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Natter, the choir will sing a variety of music ranging from Renaissance madrigals to works from contemporary composers. This will be the first performance of their yearly spring tour. Other tours have brought the ensemble to Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Brazil, and all over the eastern United States. Please join us for this wonderful event! Admission is free.

A wine and cheese event for Jewish singles, ages 35-55, will be held at Congregation Beth Israel on Saturday, March 6, 8 -10 p.m. The evening will include a live jazz quartet.  This event is open to the entire Greater Hartford Jewish Singles Community.  The cost is $10/person. Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.  For more information contact 860-233-8215 x224 or cgoldberg@cbict.org, or visit the website, www.cbict.org.

Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra: Melody & Introspection will be held on  Saturday, March 6th 2010 at 8pm at Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford. CitySingers of Hartford join the FVSO to sing the Vespers of the Solemn Confessor by Mozart. The program opens with the hauntingly beautiful melody of Rachmaninov’s "Vocalise" and Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony fills the second half. Tickets: adults $15, seniors $12, students $7, and children under 12 are free. For more information call 800-975-FVSO (3876) or visit the website at www.fvso.org

Women’s History Month at Saint Joseph College and International Women’s Day Celebration – A Reading by Poet and Activist Bessy Reyna: This event will take place on Monday, March 8 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Crystal Room, Mercy Hall. Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Sponsored by the Foreign Languages Department, Department of Latino Practice, International Studies and Programs, Office of Diversity Initiatives, the Women’s Studies Program, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hebrew Health Hospice will be hosting an Adult Bereavement Group at Hebrew Health Care at their 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford campus. The support group will meet every Tuesday from February 16th to March 23rd from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Adult Day Center.  Free of charge. Facilitated by Lia Fulmer MA, MEd. Pre-registration Required. Please contact Lia Fulmer for more information at 860.523.3888.

Join Mark as he cooks up a three-course meal that is vegan, low-cal and alive on Tuesday, March 9th, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Whole Foods Market, 50 Raymond Road. Mark will be featuring a soup, an entrée and dessert with samples for register participants. Mark is the co-owner of It’s Only Natural, an award winning vegetarian restaurant in Middletown. This will be a fun, informative and delicious event. Registration is required so please reserve your seat by calling 860-523-8500 or stop by customer service.

West Hartford Special Education PTA will hold a Sibling Support Group meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. This group meets the first Tuesday of every month, except in July and August.

The support group will incorporate some of the material included in the book "Living with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs", by Donald Meyer and Patricia Vadasy. The group will focus on the intensity of emotions that a brother or sister experience when they have a sibling with special needs. They will explore positive feelings, help kids ask the hard questions they might have been uncomfortable asking, normalize fears, and encourage participants to share unique concerns and needs. This group is open to siblings ages 9 to 13.

Please contact Janice Rothstein at Jewish Family Services at (860) 236-1927, if you are interested in having your child attend or if you have any questions.

The West Hartford Art League presents ArtBeat 2010 at the Clubhouse on Buene Vista Road, from March 10 to March 28, 2010.

The Contemporary Players Ensemble presents “Three C’s: Music Between the Lines in the 1940’s” on Wednesday, March 10, in Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.  This concert features works by three of the greatest contemporary American composers: Aaron Copland, John Cage, and Elliot Carter.  The centerpieces of this concert will be the 13-musician version of Appalachian Spring and the score to the 1940’s John Cage ballet The Seasons.  Also on the concert is the Elliott Carter Cello Sonata, which is considered among the most difficult in the repertoire.  

Jewish Family Services offering FREE Money Coach to help with acute financial issues related to current employment problems. Wednesdays 9-3 and Thurs mornings, by appointment.  Call 860-236-1927. Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Ave. Suite A, West Hartford, CT 06117     

Preschool children and their parents are invited to enroll in a free series of programs designed exclusively for ages 2, 3 and 4 years old. The series will run on three consecutive Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Programs include:

FEB. 24: Story and Craft Time in the Library

MARCH 3: Tumbling Class in the Gymnastics Studio 

MARCH 10: Music in the Music and Movement Studio

Classes will be small and registration is required. To enroll your child call Sue Golden at 860-236-1661 or e-mail sgolden@renbrook.org

Renbrook welcomes students of every race, religion, ethnic and national origin. Renbrook is a member of the Food Allergy Network.

Join Rita Neal, Clinical Nutritionist with CT Children’s Medical Center as she creates new healthy items with kids in mind on Wednesday, March 10, at 10 AM to 11 AM at Whole Foods Market, 50 Raymond Road.  This is a great class for all parents or anyone who takes care of children.  Toddlers are welcome. It is a great way to test out these natural, whole food snacks, treats and dishes.  The class is FREE, but registration is required.  Please reserve your seat by calling 860-523-8500 and ask for Customer Service. 

The Bishops Corner library offers free, one-on-one career counseling appointments every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call 561-8212 for more information. The library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford.

NEW! Practice English, every Tuesday afternoon, 1:00–3:00 p.m.  You're invited to join us at the Bishops Corner Branch Library for an hour of casual conversation. Improve your English skills while making new friends in this relaxed and welcoming environment! Call 561-8212 for more information or just drop in on Tuesday afternoon. The library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford.

Drop by the Bishops Corner branch library on Wednesday afternoons and enjoy the company of friends as we share this terrific craft. Everyone is welcome—all ages and all skill levels. Instruction on a simple project will be provided. Beginners please bring a skein of bulky yarn; needles will be available. No registration necessary. For more information, please call 561-8213. We are currently looking for adult knitters who might want to volunteer to help teach this craft. The Bishops Corner library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford

Whether a beginner or experienced in yoga, Yoga Just for Women, a new class at the Mandell JCC, may be just what women need to relax, renew and rejuvenate. Designed to appeal to all comfort levels and modesty preferences, Yoga Just for Women is held every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. until December 16. The class is free for Mandell JCC members and open to non-JCC members at $10 per class. For more information, contact Sara Billings, 860-231-6331, sbillings@mandelljcc.org. The Mandell JCC is located on the Zachs Campus at 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117.

Have you ever wondered how your home or workplace reflects you - and affects you as well? Many people are surprised to learn that the spaces they occupy actually block rather than support what they desire. Feng Shui (Fung Schway) originated in China 3,000 years ago as a way to create a more supportive and balanced living environment. Come and learn how to make positive changes in  your inner self and outer spaces through the principles  of Feng Shui. Bring a basic floor plan and we'll work out your own Feng Shui overview with specific recommendations as time permits.

Day and Dates: Wednesday, March 10, 17        
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Conard High School - Room 172
Teacher: Lin Huntting Congdon
Price: Resident rate - $29
Please call the Continuing Education Office at 860 561-6900 for more information or to register.

The Contemporary Players Ensemble, led by Glen Adsit, will perform on Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30 PM in Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The concert is free and open to the public.  For information, call the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.  This concert features the music of two American Icons: Aaron Copland and John Adams.  The centerpieces of the concert will be the 13-musician version of Appalachian Spring and Adam’s Grand Pianola Music for two grand pianos and ensemble.

The Contemporary Players Ensemble is a mixed ensemble of advanced players whose repertoire includes music of established 20th and 21st century as well as emerging 21st century composers.  The ensemble has appeared in several of the nation’s major cities, has been heard on Connecticut Public Radio and WNYC-FM, and recorded for Opus One and CRI.

Full Force Dance Theatre, The Hartt School’s professional dance company in-residence, performs on Thursday, March 11, Friday, March 12, at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, March 13, at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, in the Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Theater, Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford.

Hartt students will perform the award winning musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Thursday, March 4, Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 7, at 3:00 PM, Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, at 7:30 PM in Millard Auditorium, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. 

Time for Tots is a special program designed for kids aged 2-5 and their parent or caregiver. Time for Tots offers museum teacher-led activities that use Noah Webster’s historic house, the museum, and our new hands-on discovery space to learn about music, art, and stories!  The Spring Session runs March 3 - April 21, 2010 on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 AM. Each week will feature a new nursery rhyme, accompanied by a related craft, story and playtime! Pricing: 8-week series is $64 / members and $80 / non-member.  Ask about our sibling discount! To sign up or for more information, call 860-521-5362 x14 or email education@noahwebsterhouse.org

Every Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Bishops Corner Location of the West Hartford Senior Center
15 Starkel Road (adjacent to the Library)
Click for directions.

Hebrew Health Care is offering a scarf exercise program which borrows from the dance-movement therapy discipline. Gentle exercise is blended with proper breathing in a multi-sensory experience to improve sense of well being. The beautiful colors of the scarves and the graceful movements stimulate the brain, and enable participants to tap into creative energy for stress relief.  This group will be offered on Thursdays starting on February 18th from 2:15 to 3:15 pm. Please RSVP to Dementia Care Services at 860.920.1810.

Eleta Jones, associate director of the Center for Professional Development at the University of Hartford, will share the networking and relationship building skills that benefit anyone looking for a job. There will also be time to practice conducting informational networking. To register, call the University’s Center for Professional Development at 860.768.5619. The workshop will be held in the Konover Campus Center, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford. Participants can sign in from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Presentations take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Hearty tavern food, rollicking tunes, tavern games, and delicious beverages make for a great night out! This winter, the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society will offer four of our popular Tavern Nights. Tavern Nights are evenings of hearty tavern fare, drink, lively music, and tavern games. Tavern Nights will be offered on the evenings of Friday & Saturday, March 12 & 13. Sittings are offered at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. each night (6 & 8 p.m. on Friday) and reservations are required. Tickets for each night are $30 per person for the general public and $25 for museum members. The price includes dinner, two complimentary drinks, live music, and tavern games. A valid ID is required for alcoholic drinks. Vegetarian options must be requested at the time reservations are made. Call (860) 521-5362, extension 10, for reservations or further information.

Held in the Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street. Contact Amy at 561-7511 for more information.

Congregation Beth Israel will host a speakers panel with Harry Markopolos, the whistle blower for the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, Barbara Ley Toffler, who worked for Arthur Andersen and chronicled the company’s downfall, and Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, Senior Rabbi. Moderator will be Justice Richard Palmer, Connecticut Supreme Court. Cost is $30 for panel reception before the event (at 11 a.m.); $35 for lunch, presentation, and book signing (starts at 12 noon); $60 for both events. Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.  Contact adulted@cbict.org or 860-233-8215x427 for more information, or visit www.cbict.org.

Filmmaker Karen Silverstein will screen her documentary, Gefilte Fish, at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, on Friday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. The recipes of making gefilte fish are explained by women of three different generations, with varying degrees of technology and tradition.  After the film, Karen will lead a discussion on the film and the importance of family and heritage in Passover traditions. (Note: There is a different film with the same title, Gefilte Fish, directed by Shelly Kling-Yosef, which will be shown on opening night at the Hartford Jewish Film Festival on Saturday, March 13.)  Also during the evening, there will also be a staffed informational table on Passover “how-tos” for anyone new to the traditions of Passover or learning how to create new traditions. Recipes, a sample Seder plate, and ideas and activities to keep young ones engaged will be included!  For more information, visit www.cbict.org, or contact bethisrael@cbict.org.

Construct and race a bobsled to the finish. Design a device to corral a run-away critter. Only you can build them. Stretch your inventing muscles as you embark on an evening of engineering challenges. Pre-registration is requested.  Please call 860.231.2830 x44 or e-mail events@thechildrensmuseumct.org.  $8/person for Nature Center/TCM Members, $9/person for non-members

Top 40 Music and All Your Favorite Hits!
Playing All Your Requests!
Light Show!

The Hartt Wind Ensemble performs on Friday, March 12, at 7:30 PM, in Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.  This concert features an incredible work by a new and powerful voice in composition, Steven Bryant.  Written for wind ensemble, Ecstatic Waters also calls for a complete complement of electronics, including acoustic sounds that are processed in real time through a computer and electronic sounds generated by the computer. 

Held in the Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street. Contact Amy at 561-7511 for more information.

The parade starts on Capitol Avenue to Main Street to Asylum Street and ends at the Memorial Arch at Bushnell Park.

Toast Wines By Taste offers an in-store wine tasting led by Helen Rubino-Turco of the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools on Saturday, March 13th from 1 pm to 5 pm.  A portion of the proceeds from wine sales that afternoon will support the Foundation for West Hartford Public School's upcoming gala, West Hartford's Cookin', to be held a week later on Saturday, March 20th. 

Toast Wines By Taste, located at 984 Farmington Avenue (next to The Elbow Room), simplifies wine selection by organizing a wide variety of fine wines in easy-to-find taste categories.  Toast Wines supports the efforts of the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools, whose mission is to fund innovative programs from pre-k through high school to enhance the excellence of West Hartford's public schools.  For more information on the wine tasting, please contact Toast Wines at 860-236-3515.

Capital Classics Theatre Company, in partnership with The Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College, will present professional staged readings of two new plays by Connecticut women writers: The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Podium Making the Apology by Laura Sheehan and Code Red or The Last Day at Dick High by Jeanne Zaino. Audience members are invited to contribute to the development of the plays by offering feedback during a post-reading discussion.
 
The Women Writers Series will take place on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in The Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College. The readings are free and open to the public. A wine and cheese reception will take place during intermission.  For more information, contact Capital Classics at www.capitalclassics.org <http://www.capitalclassics.org>  or 860.218.0300.

Staged readings of brand new plays on Saturday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in The Bruyette Athenaeum’s Hoffman Auditorium. Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Join an ensemble of professional actors as they read two new plays by Connecticut women writers: “The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Podium Making the Apology,” by Laura Sheehan and “Code Red or The Last Day at Dick High,” by Jeanne Zaino. A moderated discussion, led by Robert Smith, Ph.D., director of SJC’s Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities, will follow the reading of each script. Light refreshments will be served. 

Taize service, a contemplative, reflective service of prayer, song and silence, will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2010, 6:30 pm in the Chancel of the Meeting House of the First Church of Christ Congregational, 12 South Main Street, West Hartford Center.  Taize Worship is an ecumenical, contemporary, contemplative worship service with song, silence, scripture and prayer.  Taize is an ecumenical Christian Community that was formed at the end of World War II in Taize, France.  The purpose of this community was to promote peace and justice through common worship.  The influence of the Taize Community has now spread all over the world. All are welcome.  For more information call 233-9605.  www.whfirstchurch.org

St. Thomas the Apostle, a fully accredited, Catholic elementary school for children age three through grade 5, will host an Open House on Sunday, March 14th from 11:30 a.m. through 1:00 p.m.  The school offers a strong, child-centered curriculum, diverse student body and a deep commitment to community service that sets it apart from other schools.  “Come tour our building, meet our fantastic teachers and discover the difference of a St. Thomas the Apostle education,” said Coordinator of Admissions Diane Klingman. 

Applications for September 2010 are being accepted for pre-kindergarten 3 through grade 5.  The school is located at 25 Dover Road, off Farmington Avenue just east of West Hartford Center. For more information, or to register for the Open House, visit the school’s website, http://www.stthomasapostlewh.org -- or contact Ms. Klingman, dklingman@stthomasapostlewh.org.

Elmwood Senior Center will present Celtic Fest featuring the popular performer John Banker in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on March 14. The event runs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and will include Irish songs, jigs, sing-a-longs and a special performance by the Shamrock School of Irish Dance.  Of course, there will be a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage.  Call 860-561-8180 for ticket information.

Spiritual Dynamics of Jewish Prayer: “Hour of Power “Sunday March 14 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.
at The Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford. Join Hazzan Sanford Cohn and Rabbi David Small for an hour of learning on the how-to’s why’s and wherefores of Jewish prayer. This session will cover Movement in prayer, bowing and steps; and The Friday night Shabbat Service with a special emphasis on Kabbalat Shabbat, welcoming the Sabbath. The session will teach content of prayers, structure of the service, explanation and demonstration of tunes and musical modes, and discussion of our inner experience of seeking and  encountering  the Divine Presence in Tefilah. The session is free of charge and open to the community. For more information contact Director of Education Judith T. Fox, 860-233-2774, judyefox@emanuelsynagogue.org

The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College hosts the Eighth Annual Keefe-Bruyette Symposium on March 15: “Investigation and Inquiry in Math and Science for Young Children.” The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College will host its eighth annual Keefe-Bruyette Symposium on Early Learning in Math and Science on Monday, March 15, 2010. Focused on “Investigation and Inquiry of Math and Science for Young Children,” the day-long symposium draws early childhood educators from throughout the state who participate in workshops led by their peers. The Keefe-Bruyette Symposium on Early Learning is made possible by the generous support of Gene F. Bruyette H’04, P’81, Kathleen Barry Bruyette ’49, H’04, P’81, the late Harry Keefe and his wife, Anita Keefe, long-time education philanthropists. In addition, Saint Joseph College is pleased to announce that Farmington Bank will sponsor scholarships totaling $1,500 to fund the participation of 20 employees from the Brighter Futures Family Centers to attend the March 15 symposium.

A free tool for computer users, Google’s new Chrome Browser, will be explained at a free open-to-the-public meeting along with Hulu, a free website that enables you to watch past TV programs on your computer. The date is Monday March 15 at 7 pm in the community auditorium of the First Baptist Church, 90 North Main Street, West Hartford. Admission is free. No RSVP is needed.

Paul Silversmith of West Hartford, Treasurer of the BPMUG computer society, will demonstrate Google Chrome as a competing replacement for Firefox and Internet Explorer.BPMUG’s President, Jim Smith pf Amston, will introduce Hulu, which is supported by commercials with additional funding from NBC, FOX and ABC among others. This event is part of an ongoing series of free public informational meetings, held on the 3rd Monday of each month except August by the public service computer help society BPMUG (Business & Professional Microcomputer Users Group www.bpmug.org), a regional Not-For-Profit society of computer experts and lay persons who offer help to every audience and to each other.

The Saint Thomas the Apostle education committee is presenting a three-part program for Lent during March based on portions of the Gospel according to St. Mark on Tuesday March 16, Monday March 22, and Tuesday March 30 from 7 pm to 8pm. Each session will be held in the parish center located in the Church basement. We are located at 872 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.  There is ample parking and an elevator located near the parking lot entrance for those who need or prefer one. There is no charge and everyone is welcome! We will use one of the oldest forms of prayer in the Church known as “lectio divina,” which involves listening to a reading from sacred scripture and then carefully listening to what God may be telling you through that scripture.  People will have the opportunity to share their thoughts with others. This program will be a wonderful opportunity to open our minds and hearts to God’s loving presence in our lives and to our relationship with God. Please come to one or more of the sessions and bring a friend or relative. It is a great way to prepare for Easter!

The office of Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) will be holding District Office Hours at the West Hartford Town Hall on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, in Room 312.  A representative from Congressman Larson’s office will be available during this time to meet with constituents who have questions or concerns related to federal government programs and agencies. Please contact Congressman Larson’s office at (860) 278-8888 if you have any questions.

Hebrew Health Hospice will be hosting an Adult Bereavement Group at Hebrew Health Care at their 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford campus. The support group will meet every Tuesday from February 16th to March 23rd from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Adult Day Center.  Free of charge. Facilitated by Lia Fulmer MA, MEd. Pre-registration Required. Please contact Lia Fulmer for more information at 860.523.3888.

The Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools (FACS) is once again hosting the Archbishop’s Saint Patrick’s Day Breakfast at the Connecticut Convention Center on Wednesday, March 17, 2010  at 7:30 am.  This is a very special year as we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Breakfast! The proceeds raised from the breakfast will help provide financial assistance to the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford.  For more information call Shirley Ziolkowski at (860) 761-7499.

Jewish Family Services offering FREE Money Coach to help with acute financial issues related to current employment problems. Wednesdays 9-3 and Thurs mornings, by appointment.  Call 860-236-1927. Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Ave. Suite A, West Hartford, CT 06117     

The Bishops Corner library offers free, one-on-one career counseling appointments every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call 561-8212 for more information. The library is located at 15 Starkel Road, West Hartford.