Thursday, August 11th at 6:30
Registration begins July 15th

Join Sheryl Faye as she presents Amelia Earhart’s: Pioneer in Aviation

​Amelia Earhart’s fearless, adventuresome spirit leads to hair-raising rides down her homemade roller coaster, and she is enthralled with the wonders of the new “flying machines” during a family vacation to the Iowa State Fair. As she matures, she is fulfilled by her work as a nurse’s aide and begins to consider a career in medicine. This idea “flies out the window,” however, when she pays a pilot $1.00 to take her up for a short “hop” in his plane. From then on, the science of aviation becomes her passion as flying becomes her career. She follows her dreams with an indomitable spirit, and her story will inspire everyone to pursue their own budding interests, whatever they may be, and will also reinforce the importance of family, respect for others and individuality.

ZOOM PROGRAM!
​Thursday, August 4th at 6:30
Registration begins July 15th
Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin fans take note: Betsy Bray, an international authority on Beatrix Potter presents a lively look at the remarkable life of this acclaimed children's author/illustrator. Her 45-minute Zoom talk includes the various roles played by Beatrix Potter over 77 years of her life, as author illustrator of 23 children’s books to her later life as sheep farmer, land conservationist, entrepreneur and community activist.  Betsy has been a Member of The Beatrix Potter Society for 38 years and served as the first overseas Trustee in the London based Beatrix Potter Society.

Thursday, July 14th at 6:30
Registration begins July 1st

Innovation is often defined simply as a new idea, device or method of accomplishing something. To be remembered, a typical innovation has to have provided a better solution to an existing problem. Connecticut has been a national leader in innovation for centuries. When the federal government first began issuing patents in 1790, Connecticut was a national leader. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Connecticut led the country in the number of patents issued per capita averaging one patent per 1,000 people versus the typical state ratio of one per 3,000.
 
To be an innovation that helped to change the world, the invention must extend beyond delivering a better solution to an existing problem. These innovations often disrupt or radically alter how a problem is defined, perceived and solved. Some of these innovations were driven by a passion to accomplish a personal goal, or to create a significant financial reward or simply to provide a personal quest to create a profoundly different result.  All of these innovations proved critically important in their time and some remain with us as time marches forward.
 
Join John Cilio as he uncovers some of the background stories about several Connecticut innovations that changed the lives of people across the nation and beyond.