What’s happening in Summer 2019 Washington, CT Shakespeare is Coming to the Message from the Litchfield Hills this Summer Selectmen’s Office By Karen Silk and Kathryn Kehoe The weather is finally breaking after a long, cool and wet spring. The first project this In 2018, the Friends of Shakes- year was new drainage for the Town Hall, perience in the Litchfield Hills the 1930’s clay tiles had plugged up and came together to assess the inter- collapsed over the years causing water to est NW Connecticut commu- backup into the Town Hall basement. After nities might have in a summer an exploratory dig to find the pipes and program of Shakespeare in having no plans on where the old pipes the Park. Through a series of went, it was decided to run all the drains local friend raisers including into a stubbed off pipe that was run across short original performances by the plaza during its renovation and tie in Shakesperience Artistic Director to the subterranean water filtration system Emily Mattina, the response to the expanded has a servant who is also an identical twin. They installed with that project. This has been program was immediate and enthusiastic. Com- all converge on the same town where their completed before the Town Hall sidewalk munity members have since rallied to the call for father has also arrived, condemned to death but replacement project that will be performed financial support. The result: the Bard is coming determined to find his long-lost family before his in late June and July. The Highway De- to Litchfield County the summer of 2019! tragic end. Emily Mattina, Founder and Artistic partment is looking ahead to another busy Director of Shakesperience, brilliantly explores summer of road maintenance and recon- The Northwest Hills, a community already nurture versus nature as she directs this wild struction. Watch the weekly email postings home to the visual, musical, and cultural arts, has confusion to its neat and happy conclusion. from the Selectmen’s office for chip sealing opened its arms to a summer with Shakespeare. and paving schedules. Sponsored by The Friends of Shakesperience in Emily and her husband Jeffrey Lapham, found- the Litchfield Hills, Shakesperience Productions, ed Shakesperience Productions, Inc. twenty Once again Washington has many events Inc. is bringing a professional company featuring years ago to educate and inspire students, fam- scheduled for the summer months and Equity actors to Washington for a mid-summer ilies, and whole communities through the arts. there are many ways to keep track of them. engagement with the Bard. Shakesperience is a Shepaug Regional High School has long been Start with the Town website at washing- nonprofit educational and professional theater familiar with the in-school programs offered tonct.org which has a detailed calendar of company located in Waterbury. by Shakesperience, including a special program Board and Commission Meetings and an offered this past year to introduce students to archive of their minutes. There are links at Shakespeare in the Litchfield Hills will engage The Comedy of Errors. the bottom of the page to general Town the community over a three-week period and information. Two more links in the middle culminate in five FREE outdoor performances Shakespeare in the Litchfield Hills is sponsored of the page will connect you to an events of The Comedy of Errors at Riverwalk Pavilion in part by Connecticut Community Founda- calendar or our explorewashingtonct web- in Washington Depot, Wednesday, August 7 tion, Valley Spirit and Wellness, Washington site, a more comprehensive attractions and through Sunday, August 11 at 7:30pm. During Supply Company, The Litchfield Distillery, events page. the three weeks of the festival, area residents Devine Hair Company, Connecticut Office will be welcome to participate in set construc- of Arts, Byrde & the b, The Owl, Washington We’re once again including inserts in your tion, community discussions, actor instructed Cleaners, the Town of Washington, Litchfield tax bill requesting contact information, classes for young people, post-performance talk Bancorp, DK Schulman Design, County Wine name, address, and email address. If you’re backs with the company, and much more. Area and Spirits, and Friends of Shakesperience in not currently receiving our weekly an- residents are generously opening their homes the Litchfield Hills. Daily, additional businesses nouncements, please return it with your tax to cast and crew. The Friends of Shakesperi- are joining the effort to support the festival. payment. Washington is working to grow ence plan to make this an annual festival in the Individual donations are welcome at our email list to provide information on Litchfield Hills. www.shakesperienceproductions.org/sum- Town events, reminders of Town Meetings, Complemented by original music and a youth mer Interested in hosting a member of the company, and general information about goings on chorus, The Comedy of Errors is performed on volunteering for backstage crew or ushering? in Town. Your information will NOT be a set inspired by a town square built around a Contact Jeffrey Lapham, jlapham@ shared and our current Alert Now reverse glockenspiel. Identical twin boys are separated shakesperienceproductions.org or 911 phone system will continue to be used from their father for twenty-five years. Each 203-754-2531. for emergency messages. Spotlight on Business: Washington Parks & Rec Kicking off the summer season, join us for a FREE concert featuring The Hopkins Vineyard Raging Gracefully at the River Walk Pavilion on July 4 at 2:00pm. Bring By Dan Sherr a picnic basket to complete the experience. Feel like grilling? This year we will be offering an open grill. It’ll be on and hot so bring your favorite They started early, Hilary Hopkins as a youngster and her grillable and cook it up! father Bill, making wine…dandelion wine, that is. Then in 1979, Bill Hopkins and Sherman Haight (Haight-Brown Before you head to the Pavilion, put on your running shoes and come Vineyard, Litchfield, CT) set the standard for commercial down to Steep Rock for the annual Major Stephen Reich 5K Freedom vineyards in Connecticut, convincing the legislature to not Run. Same day registration begins at 8:30am with the run/walk beginning only permit them to make wine but distribute it for sale as at 9:00am. There will be two water stations. well. However, it took until 1993 to convince the legislature to permit the Vineyards to sell wine by the glass. The beach and boat ramp are now on summer hours through Labor Day. The beach is open 10:00am – 5:00pm seven days a week and the boat ramp is open from 6:00am – sunset, Friday-Monday and 10:00am – 5:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday. There’s still time to register for some of our later summer camps. Don’t wait any longer. Get those registration forms in. Stay tuned for more info on upcoming activities and events and be sure to follow @Washington- ParksandRec on Facebook. News From the Washington Environmental Council Hopkins Vineyard, overlooking Lake Waramaug, is an We did it!!! Washington became the first town in Litchfield County to economic cornerstone of the town of Warren, drawing large ban single-use disposable plastic check-out bags. WEC’s hard work paid crowds with their frequent wine tastings and social events. off because of the incredible support from the Washington Business For many, it’s a seasonal destination. Interestingly, this is not Association, the Board of Selectmen, the Washington Sustainability new. Committee and, of course, the community!! The history of the Vineyard’s location clearly indicates Na- The ordinance goes into effect on November 1, 2019 allowing residents tive Americans occupied the soft hilly countryside above the and businesses time to adjust to a plastic-free check-out experience. lake 14,000 years ago. It’s a recognized location for Native WEC is ready to help consumers and merchants reduce their plastic American archeological excavations with many of the finds dependency by offering bag alternatives, educating shoppers, selling in major museums. reusable items and, most importantly, encouraging a lifestyle of BYO (Bring Your Own) reusable bags, straws, cups, plates, etc. In 1787, Elijah Hopkins returning from the Revolutionary War, purchased the land. Seven generations have seen the Additionally, WEC is providing a “Reduce Your Plastic Footprint” Hopkins family lead a continuing evolution of farming in handout at events like the Community Block Party, the Farmer’s Market Connecticut. As a wine-maker for the last 40 years, they and Conversations on the Green. The handout is free and informative. have been instrumental in creating the Connecticut wine And since WEC believes strongly in setting an example, we recently business, establishing the state wine trail and advancing offered a free glass of Prosecco to anyone (over 21) who brought their Connecticut wine brands nationally. reusable cup to last month’s First Friday/Block Party. This was a huge success because lots of FUN and thought provoking conversations about With her very early wine-making experience, Hilary joined our reducing our plastic dependency were happening at the same time. the family business in 1996. In 2005, she took over as CEO and in 2016, with her husband George Criollo (a/k/a, If you have concerns or questions about the plastic bag ban, please don’t Stonewalls by George), purchased Hopkins Vineyard from hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected]. Also, look for her parents, making it one of the oldest continuously family WEC’s table at the Farmer’s Market and most First Fridays. owned farms in the state. The passion and commitment of the Hopkins’ to the land is clear – 232 years in Warren with Do you have a question about the WEDC? Want to submit a proven record of aligning to the changing demands of the Connecticut and national farming and brewing marketplace.