Lectures and Presentations

Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Rd (Route 202) in Litchfield sponsors PEONY HEAVEN with David and Kasha Furman of Cricket Hill Garden on Friday, November 30 at 2 p.m. Kasha and David are passionate gardeners and world-renowned experts on tree peonies, particularly the glorious Mudan of China. Plants from the Peony Heaven Garden are part of the permanent collection at the New York Botanical Garden. Free and open to the public; refreshments will be served. For more info call 860-567-8302.

Bushnell Sage Library, 48 Main St. (Route 7) in Sheffield presents LESLIE WHEELER reading from and signing her first work of fiction, "Murder at Plimoth Plantation" on Saturday, December 1 at 10 a.m. A Mayflower descendant, Leslie Wheeler has written extensively on American history. For more info call 413-229-7004.

Orion House, 123A Sharon-Goshen Tpke. in West Cornwall hosts VERDI: COMPOSER AND PATRIOT, a series of three talks by Jeffrey M. Engel devoted to the operas of Verdi, which were written during Italy’s struggle for independence. The final talk in the series will be given on Saturday, December 1 at 4 p.m. For more info call 860-672-6222.

Litchfield Hills Audubon Society meets on Monday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Litchfield Grange Hall, Route 202 in Litchfield. Following the meeting, Mr. Gordon Leory, a biologist and researcher who has worked for the White Memorial Foundation since 1956, will present a program about CHICKADEES AND BIRD BANDING. He will discuss his data collection, population trends, and general chickadee behavior that he has observed over the years. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m.; the public is invited. For more info call 860-482-0819.

Simon's Rock College in Great Barrington presents author NANCY BONVILLAIN on Wednesday, December 5 at 7 p.m. in Blodgett House. Ms. Bonvillain will discuss her recent book, "Native Nations: Cultures and Histories of Native North America," a continent-wide survey of aboriginal Indian cultures and the historical processes affecting them since 1500. The book discusses current Native politics and economic conditions and emphasizes issues of concern in Native communities. It is Bonvillain's 15th book on the subject of Native Americans. Free and open to the public; for more info call 413-528-7233.

Northwestern CT Community College, Park Place East in Winsted sponsors the Northwestern Literary Club on Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m. in Founders Hall, Room 202. Guest speaker will be author BLANCH LORD of Farmington. Ms. Lord will discuss how she came to write her first published book, "Cloud of Chaos, Planet of Light." This science-fiction novel tells the story of a planet in another solar system where people similar to humans are 1,000 years in advance of our civilization in medicine, education and government. Blanche, who has also written two regular fiction novels, is a good person to talk with about the rigors, the pitfalls and the fun of being a writer. Free and open to the public; for more info call 860-738-6446.

Harwinton Public Library, 80 Bentley Dr. in Harwinton hosts its BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP on Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. The group will discuss "Growing Up" by Russell Baker; for more info call 860-485-9113.