Litchfield Cross Country Challenge 38th Annual 5K and 2K
The Litchfield Cross Country Challenge 38th Annual 5K and 2K will be held Saturday, October 2, 2021 at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT.
The 5K and Kids 2K races are sponsored by the Litchfield Parks and Recreation and hosted by the Litchfield Track Club.
The entry fee is $15 if pre-registered by Sept. 29th ($20 day of the race).
To register online go to: https://litchfieldct.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29915#activities
The race day schedule is as follows:
8:00 am Registration
9:00 am 2K Kid’s Race begins (for kids 18 and under)
9:30 am 5K begins
Awards after.
Pumpkins for overall winners and homemade honey for five age group winners.
Any proceeds from the race will benefit Litchfield Parks and Recreation.
For more information call (860) 567-7569.
Walk in the Woods For Parkinson’s
The Walk in the Woods For Parkinson’s will be held Sunday, September 19, 2021 at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT.
The event is organized by, and for the benefit of the Torrington Area Parkinson’s Support Group.
Walk time: Noon – 3:00 pm.
Prize for top fundraising team as of Sept. 18th.
Free T shirt for those registered by Sept. 1st.
Register at torringtonparkinsonssupportgroup.com.
The Walk in the Woods for Parkinson’s raises funds to support Parkinson’s research, to increase awareness of PD, which affects 6.3 million people around the world, and to provide support for local people who struggle daily with Parkinson’s disease. 1 in 100 people over the age of 60 will be affected by Parkinson’s disease. We hope to educate the public about PD and help those affected by it. Our fundraiser supports the MJFox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, with additional funds going to help area citizens with PD. We hope to increase our contributions for research and expand our support of TAPSG members and families affected by Parkinson’s disease.
For more information call (860) 201-7913.
LITCHFIELD FIRST DAY HIKES
LITCHFIELD FIRST DAY HIKES will be held, of course, on January 1, 2021 as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes. Litchfield alone will have 10 hikes. Find their details below. Some hikes are guided, some self-guided, all are free.
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) State Parks and its partners are sponsoring free, guided hikes in many state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks’ First Day Hikes initiative taking place in all 50 states.
VISTAS
Apple Hill Trail – White Memorial Conservation Center
https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
Prospect Mountain Preserve Trails – Litchfield Land Trust https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
SERENITY
Songbird Trail Tour & the Orintas Family Wildlife Viewing Blind – Friends of Topsmead https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/
Janet Blauvelt, a Friend of Topsmead State Forest, will lead a leisurely tour along the Songbird Trail and the Wildlife Viewing building. Janet established and helps maintains birdhouses at Topsmead. Volunteers will be at the parking lot at 10:00 if any assistance is desired.
Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary – Litchfield Hills Audubon https://lhasct.org/www.lhasct.org/Boyd_Woods.html Marie Kennedy will be there at 9:00 am for those who would like a guide.
Medicine Rock Trail – The Litchfield Land Trust
https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
Vineyard/River Trail Loop – White Memorial Conservation Center https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
LOCAL HISTORY
Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary – https://lhasct.org/www.lhasct.org/Boyd_Woods.html Marie Kennedy will be there at 9:00 am for those who would like a guide.
Ice House Ruins Trail – White Memorial Conservation Center https://whitememorialcc.org/trails/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
Shepaug Crossing Trail – Litchfield Land Trust
https://www.litchfieldlandtrust.org/ (Access to trail maps and trail descriptions). Self-guided hike.
Topsmead State Forest Estate Grounds – Friends of Topsmead https://www.friendsoftopsmead.org/ Friends will be at the parking lot at 10:00 with assistance and more information.
To find more hiking opportunities in the Tri-State are follow the links below.
New York State Parks https://parks.ny.gov/events/first-day-hikes.aspx
Massachusetts State Parks https://www.mass.gov/guides/visiting-massachusetts-state-parks-guide
Connecticut State Parks https://www.stateparks.com/connecticut_parks_and_recreation_destinations.html
Making Strides of Litchfield County
The Making Strides of Litchfield County walk against breast cancer will be held Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT.
Nationally, over 1.4 million people will participate in Making Strides events this year, and more than $60 million will be raised. The Litchfield County Making Strides will be one of hundreds taking place around the country.
The event is free, but participants are asked to fundraise as individuals or teams.
Raise a minimum of $25 by Sept. 5th and earn your choice of a cape, fanny pack or retro specs.
To learn how to become a fundraiser or join a team visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=strides_msabc
The walk is non-competitive and from 3 to 5 miles long.
The walk day schedule is as follows:
10:30 am Registration
11:15 am Opening Ceremonies
Noon Walk begins
Entertainment , food trucks after the walk.
Proceeds from the event will be used “to fund innovative research, provide free information and support programs to patients and caregivers and to help reduce breast cancer risks or find it early”.
To learn how to register, form a team or fundraise for the event call Graham Kobs at (203) 379-4884 or email litchfieldctstrides@cancer.org .
Thank you to these generous sponsors:
National Presenting Sponsor
Avon
Local Sponsors
Hartford HealthCare
NBC Connecticut 30
O & G Industries
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
With half of October gone, the bright colors of autumn are on full display- reds, oranges, yellows and… pink ?
Yes, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when the whole country seems to turn pink in support.
And, with many companies with brands you know well supporting the fight against breast cancer, it’s confusing to know how much is being donated and to whom.
Consider these national and world wide brands and their pink programs:
Ralph Lauren – gives 25% of the proceeds from its Pink Pony line of T shirts, (but 100% of the purchase price of the “Live Love” T shirt) to Pink Pony Fund which supports an international network of charities.
IT Cosmetics – for each item of a select cosmetic line sold, IT donates one to Look Good Feel Better which helps women with appearance-related issues.
Olay – gives 100% of proceeds for each sale of pink Olay Regenerist Whip to Bright Pink, an awareness charity for breast and ovarian cancers.
Macy’s – gives a portion of sales from The Pink Shop line to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Gap – donates 10% of select bras sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, up to a maximum of $100,000.
Ford Motor Co. – gives 100% of net proceeds from the sale of its scarves and other accessory items to support transportation needs of breast cancer sufferers.
And on and on – so many cause-marketing programs with varying charities and donation percentages.
Confused? Me too!
So if you are looking for a way to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a most meaningful way, here is an idea.
Make a pledge to someone who is taking part in the Making Strides of Litchfield County Walk Against Breast Cancer. It’s happening at White Memorial Conservation Center this Sunday, October 20th (find details below).
Walk members have been collecting donations from folks like you to give directly to the American Cancer Society and its fight against breast cancer.
Or better yet – join the Walk yourself – bring a donation, take a stroll, for the very best of causes.
271,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
41,760 women will die of breast cancer in the US this year.
1 in 8 women are affected by breast cancer in their lifetime.
Litchfield Cross Country Challenge 37th Annual 5K and 2K
The Litchfield Cross Country Challenge 37th Annual 5K and 2K will be held Saturday, October 5, 2019 at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT.
The 5K and Kids 2K races are sponsored by the Litchfield Parks and Recreation and hosted by the Litchfield Track Club.
The entry fee is $15 for the 5K, $10 for the 2K if pre-registered by Sept. 30th ($20 and $15 respectively day of the race).
The first 50 registrants will receive ice scraper gloves (very cool).
To get a registration form visit go here: https://www.townoflitchfield.org/sites/litchfieldct/files/uploads/xc_challenge_reg_2019.pdf
Make checks payable and mail to:
Litchfield Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 12
Bantam, CT 06750
The race day schedule is as follows:
8:00 am Registration
9:00 am 2K Kid’s Race begins (for kids 18 and under)
9:30 am 5K begins
Awards after.
Pumpkins for overall winners and homemade honey for five age group winners.
Any proceeds from the race will benefit Litchfield Parks and Recreation.
For more information call (860) 567-7569.
Alzheimer’s
We all have causes dear to us. We support charities that touch our hearts for the good works they do – for making the world a better place.
Sometimes we support causes that fight afflictions, like cancer, that have taken our loved ones.
For me, the Alzheimer’s Association is such a cause. Alzheimer’s disease wiped out my father’s side of my family as well as friends and friends of friends.
I hope for a cure so others escape that fate. And, because of forgetful moments, I hope for myself.
Many share my particular brand of pain and hope, and some are moved to action.
One such action is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this Sunday, September 8th at the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield. It is one of 600 Walks held in the coming weeks around the Nation.
Folks will solicit pledges from friends, family and neighbors and then walk the two – mile course through the beautiful White Memorial grounds. Over 325 people have signed up so far.
If Alzheimer’s has touched your life, consider walking this Sunday in Litchfield or on the Walkway Over the Hudson on September 29th.
And if you can’t walk, perhaps make a pledge to someone who is.
One in three seniors will die of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
There are 5.8 million Alzheimer’s sufferers in the U.S., growing by one every 65 seconds.
There are16 million Alzheimer’s caregivers.
Learn more about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Litchfield and Dutchess at sportingAcause.com.
Age Before Beauty 13th Annual Cross Country 5K
The Age Before Beauty 13th Annual Cross Country 5K will be held Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at the White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield, CT.
The race is a USATF/CT Grand Prix event.
Please park at Sawmill Field- there will be no roadside parking allowed.
The cross country course may be rocky and muddy with exposed roots.
The entry fee is $16 per person if received on or before Nov 4th. It is $20 thereafter. To pre-register go to greystoneracing.net for a printable entry form, and mail with check to:
Greystone Electronics
119 Harmony Hill Road
Harwinton, CT 06791
The race day schedule is as follows:
Arrive early enough to register.
9:00 am Race begins
Awards after race.
Timing is by Greystone Racing.
Awards will go to the top three male and female overall finishers as well as the top male and female finisher in each of six age categories.
Some of the proceeds from the race will go to USA Track & Field CT to help fund their programs.
For more information visit greystoneracing.net.
5K Monster Dash
The 5K Monster Dash will be held Saturday, November 3, 2018 at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 White Hall Road, Litchfield, CT 06759.
This race, which is presented by Center Subaru, replaces the Zombie Chase Challenge. It is the fourth and final race of the Northwest CT YMCA Grand Prix Race Series. Runners are encouraged to wear costumes and can choose among a 5K Run, a 2 – Mile Walk and the 1 Mile Kids Run.
The 5K Monster Dash no longer has the “flag football” feature – it is a straight 5K run.
Children 12 and under have the choice of running the adult course accompanied by an adult or taking the 1 mile option.
To register visit nwcty.org/trailrun and click on “Register” bar.
Entry Fees:
5K runners $20; after Oct. 23rd $25; Race Day $30.
Walking 2 Mile $20; after Oct. 23rd $25; Race Day $30.
Runners 1Mile $10 (for runners 12 years old and under).
Free T shirts for adults if registered by Oct. 23rd.
Race day Schedule:
8:00 – 8:55 am Packet pickup and race day registration
9:00 am Race and Walk begin
Refreshments and awards after races.
Prizes awarded to overall winners, male and female, as well as top finishers in age groups. There is also a prize for best costume.
Proceeds from the race will benefit YMCA charitable services to help deserving individuals and families with membership and program fees.
The 5K Monster Dash is the final event in the Grand Prix series benefiting the NWCT YMCA. The other races were the WYLD Obstacle Run in June; the Canaan Railroad Days Run in July and the 5K Highland Hustle in October. Please go to the Running/Walking Calendar to learn more about these races.
For more information visit nwcty.org/trailrun.