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Bethel Church Joins Forces With Sandy Hook Nonprofit For 'Christmas Carol' Bethel Church Joins Forces With Sandy Hook Nonprofit For 'Christmas Carol'
Bethel Church Joins Forces With Sandy Hook Nonprofit For 'Christmas Carol' BETHEL, Conn. — A presentation of “A Christmas Carol" at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel includes some special cast members from neighboring Newtown.   For the first time ever, Walnut Hill joined forces with NewArts, a nonprofit organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook School, to produce a holiday show. “The initial mission of NewArts is its desire to serve the kids in the community. That’s what initially attracted us to them,” said Tim Huber, Pastor of Worship and the Arts at Walnut Hill. “As a community church, this has given us a chance to connect even mor…

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by Sandra Diamond Fox
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Enchanted Garden Puts A Ridgefield Spin On Tale Of 'The Nutcracker' Enchanted Garden Puts A Ridgefield Spin On Tale Of 'The Nutcracker'
Enchanted Garden Puts A Ridgefield Spin On Tale Of 'The Nutcracker' RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — The Enchanted Garden School of Dance will present its 14th annual holiday program "Nuts About the Nutcracker" on Saturday at Ridgefield High School.The cast features 150 dancers, ages 5 through 18, who will perform to contemporary orchestrations. The show was conceived and choreographed by Jean Cobelli, Enchanted Garden’s dance director. The program is a big twist on the original tale but meant to be family-friendly, said Cobelli. "I am a native Ridgefielder; therefore, I created a storyline that takes place in the town of Ridgefield," she said. Tic…

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by Ken Davis
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Stratford's Fright Haven Puts A Scary Spin On Christmas Stratford's Fright Haven Puts A Scary Spin On Christmas
Stratford's Fright Haven Puts A Scary Spin On Christmas STRATFORD, Conn. – In a scary spin on Christmas, this holiday season Santa knows when you’ve been screaming, he knows when you’re afraid. "A Frightmare Before Christmas" is offering a creepy new twist on the holiday at Fright Haven in Stratford. The business put itself on the map this fall by offering the largest indoor Halloween Haunted House across the state. The "Frightmare" event is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, and features several new experiences and attractions in the haunted house, which will be decked out for the holiday season. The scar…

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by James O'Rourke
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Bridgeport Diocesan Youth 'Arise And Shine' For Holiday Concert Bridgeport Diocesan Youth 'Arise And Shine' For Holiday Concert
Bridgeport Diocesan Youth 'Arise And Shine' For Holiday Concert BRIDGEPORT, Conn. --The  Diocesan Youth Choir will perform its annual Christmas Concert, "Arise and Shine," on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport. Under the direction of Mary Bozzuti Higgins of Wilton, the 75-member choir will present a joyous program of Christmas songs and chants from different ages and cultures. The choir will reprise some of last year’s favorites such as the “Arise and Shine, ”“Dark is the Silent Night,” and “Siyahamba,” as well as introduce some new Christmas music. This year, the choir will be accompanied by noted area musician…

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by Ken Davis
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Voices Of September 11th Aims To Raise Awareness About Health Concerns Voices Of September 11th Aims To Raise Awareness About Health Concerns
Voices Of September 11th Aims To Raise Awareness About Health Concerns NEW CANAAN, CONN. -- A New Canaan organization will be holding a “watch party” to raise awareness about the benefits and medical treatment available to first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. Comedian Jon Stewart will be hosting a Facebook Live event from the 9/11 Museum in New York City at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. It is intended to encourage those who may qualify to apply for benefits. According to the New Canaan group, Voices of September 11th, there are still thousands of people – including many Fairfield and Westchester residents -- who might qualify for benefits, but who ha…

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by Carol Reif
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Maritime Aquarium's Winter Cruises Spot Seals, Birds Out On The Sound Maritime Aquarium's Winter Cruises Spot Seals, Birds Out On The Sound
Maritime Aquarium's Winter Cruises Spot Seals, Birds Out On The Sound NORWALK, Conn. – It's never too cold to hit Long Island Sound for the chance to see some of the seals and waterfowl that spend their winter just off our shores during Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises with The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. These invigorating 2½-hour outings take place aboard the aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound, the country’s only research vessel with hybrid-electric propulsion. Outings are planned through March 26, with dates and departure times varying by low tide. (For the full schedule, go to www.maritimeaquarium.org.) Tickets can be purchased in advance — even as …

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by Daily Voice
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Santa Trades Polar Express For Polar Plunge At Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium Santa Trades Polar Express For Polar Plunge At Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium
Santa Trades Polar Express For Polar Plunge At Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium NORWALK, Conn. — Santa Claus may be acclimated to the icy climate of his home at the North Pole. But at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, he swims with the fishes — and the sharks.  Six times a week, Santa joins the show at the “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit as a deep-sea diver — taking the plunge into the aquarium’s 110,000-gallon shark tank. “Santa is coming,” were the excited words of about 40 children who, along with their parents, gathered in the dim room by the tank recently.  As part of the exhibit — which is led by the aquarium's volunteer shark divers — Santa dives in and greets…

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by Sandra Diamond Fox
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Ridgefield Woman Plans Dance Show For Westchester Children's Hospital Ridgefield Woman Plans Dance Show For Westchester Children's Hospital
Ridgefield Woman Plans Dance Show For Westchester Children's Hospital PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. -- Artistry Dance Project has already raised tens of thousands for Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla and the best is yet to come. The studio, at 141 Tompkins Avenue in Pleasantville, is putting together three holiday shows Saturday to raise money for Blythedale. The shows will feature 31 company members ranging from 5 to 17.  Artistry has already raised $15,000 for Blythedale through donations and selling tickets. The event will also feature a DJ, 50-50 ticket raffle, silent and live auctions. "We're really hoping people come out Saturday and we get a lot …

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by Sam Barron
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Free Danbury Community Orchestra Concert Offers Wide Range Of Styles Free Danbury Community Orchestra Concert Offers Wide Range Of Styles
Free Danbury Community Orchestra Concert Offers Wide Range Of Styles DANBURY, Conn. -- The Danbury Community Orchestra will open its season with a free concert at 3 p.m. Dec 4 at the Western Connecticut State University's Visual and Performing Arts Center. The free concert will feature music from French romanticism to modern theatrical, including the overture from "West Side Story," Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera’s "Estancia: Ballet Suite, " Ralph Vaughan Williams’ "Symphony No. 5 in D Major" and Camille Saint Saëns’ "Violin Concerto in B minor" featuring Lori Abbott. In addition to being the violin soloist for t…

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by Daily Voice
Events
Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Ridgefield's 'Living Nativity' Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Ridgefield's 'Living Nativity'
Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Ridgefield's 'Living Nativity' RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Watch the Christmas story unfold before your eyes through a "Living Nativity," presented by the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 2, during Ridgefield's Holiday Stroll.All are invited to the 7 p.m. performance. As in past years, Jesse Lee is partnering with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church to present the Living Nativity on the front steps of St. Stephen's, at 351 Main St., to be convenient to revelers in town for the Holiday Stroll event. "This presentation of the birth of Christ will bring meaning to the season, with angelic choirs,…

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by Rachel Martin
Events
Ridgefield Discovery Center Invites Star-Gazers To West Redding Ridgefield Discovery Center Invites Star-Gazers To West Redding
Ridgefield Discovery Center Invites Star-Gazers To West Redding WEST REDDING, CONN. -- The Andromeda galaxy is one of the topics in a public-viewing event of the night sky on Dec. 3 at the New Pond Farm Observatory. Co-sponsored by the New Pond Farm and Ridgefield Discover Center, the event is open to all who want to get a closer look at stars, the moon and other wonders of the universe. It starts with an optional 6 p.m. mini-lesson for participants followed by 6:30 p.m. viewing at Astronomy Hill at New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Road, West Redding. The cost is $6 per person, or $4 for members of the of New Pond Farm or the Discovery Center. The lesson is …

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by Amy Maciaszek
Events
View Masterpieces From Local Artists At Redding's Champagne Gala View Masterpieces From Local Artists At Redding's Champagne Gala
View Masterpieces From Local Artists At Redding's Champagne Gala REDDING, Conn. -- The community is invited to preview art and sip champagne at the Mark Twain Library in Redding. The Art Show Champagne Preview Gala takes place 7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at the library and is considered one of Redding's most celebrated fundraisers, organizers said. General ticket pricing is $75 for individuals and $55 for seniors.  The theme of this year's juried show is art deco. The show is headed by Rochelle Williston and Angela Matsuoka and juried by artist Claudia Seymour. Seymour decided which pieces to feature this year. A widely collected artist, she has juried mu…

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by Cindy Capitani