Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • B3

B3 COMM NITY 12 THE HARTFORD COURANT SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2017 lot adjacent to Armour Academic Center. Community Contributor Darlene Skeels East Hartford Scouts Plan Donation Drive Boy Scout Troop 61 of East Hartford is holding a Donation Drive fundraiser on April 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in the parking lot of the South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes East Hartford. Keep your items out of landfills while helping the Scouts raise money for summer camp and also earn merit badges. Items that help raise money include clothing, shoes, accessories, bedding, linens, bath items, toys, household items and books. Community Contributor kmanotis CONNECTICUT ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER THIS 1827 PAINTING, "Eli Whitney Gun Factory" by William Giles Munson shows the armory the inventor built in Hamden.

Today, the building is the home of the Eli Whitney Museum. Exploring Hamden's Whitneyville The Whitneyville neighborhood of Hamden is the next subject for "Exploring Connecticut's Towns," which looks at natural and cultural history from a local perspective. The program, sponsored by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center at UConn, takes place April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Hamden. Directions to the location will be sent to registered participants.

In 1640, below the cliffs of East Rock in what was the Colonial Colony of New Haven, William Fowler built a grist mill. The mill burned in 1662, was rebuilt, and remained in use as a mill until inventor Eli Whitney bought it in 1798 for his armory, manufacturing rifles for the U.S. military. Whitney combined interchangeable parts, division of labor, machine tools, and modern accounting techniques in a way no one had done up to that time. The building is now the Eli Whitney Museum in the heart of Hamden's whitneyville neighborhood.

Today, the neighborhood is home to a Canton Crossword Puzzle Tournament The Canton Public Library's 13 annual Crossword Puzzle Tournament takes place April 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the community center in the library building, 40 Dyer Ave. Check-in begins at noon and ends promptly at 1 p.m. The tournament entrants will test their skill on unpublished New York Times daily puzzles, and prizes and trophies will be awarded in various categories. The sign-up deadline is 8 p.m. on April 24.

Participation will be limited to 40 puzzlers. Observers are welcome at this free event, but silence is required during the tournament. For information and preregistration, call: 860-693-5800 or go to www.cantonpubliclibrary.org. Community Contributor betsy.cantonpubliclibrary wide variety of historic sites that tell the story of America's colonial, industrial, and natural history. The fee for the program is $20, $15 for museum membersdonors.

Advance registration is required. This program is for adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For further information visit www.cac.uconn.edumnhcurrentcalendar. html or call 860.486.4460.

Community Contributor d.c.colberg Imagine Main Street's Young Artists The first Imagine Main Street festival of the year is scheduled for May 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., in the five-block area of downtown Manchester. This year, the focus is on young musicians, artists, creators and activities. "While there will be plenty for adults to see and do, we wanted to showcase many of the young people in our community who have amazing talents and imagination," said Joyce Hodgson, program director for Imagine Main Street Musicians will include the Youth Band from The Salvation Army, Abby Auden singing original works, Sarra Cardile and Derekah providing a musical duo, and the kids from C.A.S.T. Young artists and crafters from Manchester High and Cheney Tech will be on site, along with a book table featuring the Department of Neighbors and Families' Young Writers and Illustrators Program, and a craft activity table led by artist Prathima Bhargav. There will be a martial arts demonstration and a ballroom dancing show, as well as artists, crafters and vendors, Anne Cubberly's puppets and more.

Information can be found in a variety of downtown locations. Community Contributor jfhodgsonl954 Avon Road Race Set For May 21 The 13th annual Avon Road Race will take place May 2L It is one of the Pine Grove Elementary School PTO's Wintonbury Flea Market, Bake Sale The Wintonbury Historical Society's annual Flea Market and Bake Sale will be held on April 29, from 8 am. to 3 p.m., on the grounds of the Old School House History Center at Park Avenue and School St. in Bloomfield. Rain date is the following Saturday, May 6.

Fresh baked goods for purchase in the Old School House, and tours will be offered. Twenty spaces are available for vendors for a $25 non-refundable fee with application. For applicationdetails call: 860-242-2953. Community Contributor wow000003 The community news stories and photos on this page were submitted by Courant readers. You can find more of them on our digital platforms, which reach millions of users every month, at courant.comcommunity, where you'll also find an easy-to-use process to upload news and information about your community.

Braunstein Reading At Westminster Author Sarah Braunstein will give a reading at Westminster School on April 28 as part of the school's Friday Nights in Gund series. Student readers will include seniors Yilun Zheng, Fred Seo, Morgan Peirce and Isaiah Preyer. Braunstein is the author of "The Sweet Relief of Missing Children," which was a finalist for the 2011 Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize from the Center for Fiction and the winner of the 2012 Maine Literary Award. In 2010, she was named one of "5 Under 35" fiction writers by the National Book Foundation. The reading is free and will begin at 7 p.m.

in the Gund Reading Room of the school's Armour Academic Center. The school is at 995 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury. Refreshments will be served after the presentation and ample parking will be available in the parking largest fundraisers. The 5K course begins at Pine Grove Elementary, 151 Scoville Road, and winds through the Farmington Valley Greenway in Avon.

Registration begins at 7:30 am. and the race begins at 8:30 am. The Kids' Fun Run will begin at 9:30 am. and will feature a 1-mile and VVmile run. Awards will be given out to the top three overall male and female runners, and the top boys and girls will be recognized in age groups 7 and under, 8-9, and 10-12.

Pre-register for $25 until May 7 at www.avonroadrace.com, or register the day of the race for $30. The Kids' Fun Run is $15. Parking is available at Thompson Brook School on Thompson Road in Avon (adjacent to Pine Grove School). For information, contact Leslie Cunningham at avonroadracepgspto.com. Community Contributor memphisdln Spectacular Spring Savings 35OFF our Signature Series window treatments Windham Falls Estates Independent Retirement Living Groton, CT windhamfallsestates.com 201 7 HARVEST MANAGEMENT SUB LLC, HOLIDAY AL MANAGEMENT SUB LLC, HOLIDAY AL NIC MANAGEMENT LLC Hometown Heroes Making A Difference Every Day 2lat1fori) Courant The Courant is honoring unsung heroes in our midst who make a difference every day.

These people rarely grab the spotlight but change lives for the better with their hard work, compassion and insight. Blinds Shades Draperies and more! Residential and Commercial Ellen Su Philip Cacciola Shonya Harrison Steve Daniels Avis Hull Barbara Close Please help us find our 2017 Hometown Heroes. Visit courant.comhometownheroes to nominate or email heroescourant.com..