Battle of Groton Heights ceremony today

The Friends of Fort Griswold Battlefield will hold a candlelight ceremony commemorating the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton. The ceremony will be held inside the fort at 6 p.m.

The Friends will place 88 luminaries on the Fort grounds each representing a casualty from the Battle of Groton Heights. As the name of the slain defender is read, a candle is extinguished. The Connecticut Line CT SAR Color Guard will lay a wreath on the spot where Col. Ledyard was killed, and fire a three-volley musket salute.

In case of rain, the event will be canceled. If you are a descendant, or would like to read the name of a defender, be at the fort by 5:45 to get your assignment. This will be the 28th Commemoration and Memorial Wreath Laying since the 19th century custom was revived by the Friends of Fort Griswold in 1995.

For more information contact info@fortgriswold.org.

Griswold High dedicates new turf field Friday

Griswold Public Schools will host an opening ceremony and field dedication for the new Community Multi-Purpose Turf Field at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. The complex is located behind Griswold High School at 267 Slater Ave.

The event is open to the public before the first home Griswold High School football game of the season; tickets are $5 per person (cash only).

A fireworks display will follow the game. The ceremony and game will be live-streamed on Griswold Sports Network’s YouTube channel.

Waterford Public Library highlights in September

Herbal Medicine: a Fire Cider workshop will be held for adults 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Waterford Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road. Register at 860-444-5805

Also, from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, join an online genealogy workshop for adults; registration required.

And on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. come in for A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month for all ages. No registration required for this free event.

Scarecrow festival in Preston returns

The Preston City Congregational Church Scarecrow Festival is back from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 23.

More than 65 crafters and vendors will be on hand, and there will be a silent auction, antique cars, fresh baked goods, and food. For kids, there will be a bounce house, dunk tank and petting zoo, as well as games and crafts.

For more information go to https://www.prestoncitycongregational.org and click on Scarecrow Festival. You can also call the church at 860-887-4647 or email pcccscarecrowfest2023@gmail.com

Shred day Sept. 9

Chelsea Groton Bank will be in the East Lyme Community Center parking lot for Shred Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 9. Community members are invited to bring confidential documents for secure and safe shredding services, to protect confidential information and avoid identity theft. Bring up to three file-sized boxes of documents to any of the events and bank representatives will ensure everything is destroyed. Once shredded, the paper will be recycled.

East Lyme library September events

The Andy Sherwood Jazz Duo will perform 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at East Lyme Public Library. Registration required at www.eastlymepubliclibrary.org/events.

Also on tap will be Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, as well as Baby Sign and Sing Wednesdays from 10:30-11 a.m. starting Sept. 13.

On Sept. 27, check out Flip Books by visiting the East Lyme Public Library Storybook Trail along the perimeter of Samuel M. Peretz Park. Walk around the trail and read a story along the way. The featured book for the autumn is “Wombats are Pretty Weird” by local author Abi Cushman.

Otis Library September event

Drop-In Grandparent’s Day Craft is one of the children’s events next month at Otis Library in Norwich. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 9. Drop in and make a flowercraft, complete with a special message. No registration required. For ages 2 & up, (860) 889-2365.

Shred day Sept. 9 in Norwich

Otis Library will host a shred event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 9. The Infoshred truck will be parked by The Bulletin’s office at 10 Railroad Place in Norwich (behind Otis Library), to securely shred all documents.

Liberty Bank is sponsoring this free service. There is a limit of two file-sized boxes per vehicle to be securely destroyed. Participants should remain in their vehicles, pop their trunk and wait for the Infoshred representative to remove the items and place them into the shred bin. Boxes and/or bags will be returned to participants. Otis Library staff will be on hand to accept donations to the library in the form of cash or checks.

Ghost stories from around New England

Courtney McInvale Reardon, author of “Haunted Mystic” and owner of Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours, will recount tales of ghosts, legends, and lore around New England at Mystic & Noank Library from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14.

To register, call 860-536-7721.

Avalonia sponsors photo contest

The Avalonia Land Conservancy is sponsoring a photo contest to capture the beauty of its many stunning preserves in southeast Connecticut.

Photographers can enter photos through Sept. 30 from any of its preserves in three categories: wildlife, wildflowers, and landscapes, two photos maximum in each category.

Prizes will be awarded to the top entries in each category and will include nature-related books, gift certificates, and Avalonia-themed merchandise. Photos should be submitted online at www.avalonia.org/photo-contest/. You can also share your entry on Instagram, using #2023AvaloniaPhotoContest and tag @avalonialandconservancy.

For additional information, visit www.avalonia.org.

Writing an intergenerational memoir

Janet Hulstrand, author of “A Long Way from Iowa: From the Heartland to the Heart of France,” will appear at Mystic & Noank Library at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, to tell about how she came to write the story of three generations of women in her family with a passion for reading and writing — a passion that was largely unfulfilled for her mother and grandmother.

Following a conversation with moderator Ery Caswell about writing an intergenerational memoir meant to instruct aspiring memoirists, Janet will take questions from the audience. Registration is required to attend this program in the Library's Spicer Reading Room. Call during operating hours at 860-536-7721.

Fall short story writing registration

Registration for the Town of Groton Parks & Recreation fall series of short story writing classes is now taking place, open to adults throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. Classes meet 4-6 p.m. on Mondays or 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Groton Community Center, 61 Fort Hill Road, Groton, next door to Town Hall. Classes are taught by local novelist Nicholas Checker. Classes start Sept. 11 and 13. Call 860-536-5680 for registration info, and 860-444-8711 for course details.

To get information into the Community Bulletin Board, email times@theday.com.