This Month's Sunday Readings Reflect on the River

Every week, visitors to "Sunday Readings By The River" enjoy the virtues of the Farmington River. This month, they’ll also be talking about them.

The readings, which incorporate art, poetry and open mic, are hosted by the Farmington River Literary Arts Center at Millrace Books in Farmington, perched in an old grist mill above the water.

Each month’s activities relate to a theme and this month the theme is the Farmington River.

“Because we’re right here overlooking the river, we have a special feeling for helping preserve the river and helping people to enjoy it,” said Jan Owens, Millrace Books owner and the arts center’s executive director. “Once a year we have a month celebrating the river. We did it last year, but this year we’re doing more on individual enjoyment of the river.”

Each reading begins with a presenter – an expert or an artist – sharing on the theme, followed by a question-and-answer period. Refreshments are served and then participants are invited to share their work related to the month’s theme during an open mic period. Those who are willing to step up to the mic are “guests,” Owens said, and not subject to the $10 admission fee.

“I want to encourage people to share their writings or be inspired to start writing,” she said.

The work need not be finished yet.

“It can be a work in progress that they want to share.”

March presenters include two fishermen and two members of the Farmington River Watershed Association:

• March 6, Bill Case, President of the Farmington Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited, will present “Flyfishing the Farmington River from a Fisherman’s Viewpoint.” Open mic to follow.
• March 13, Eileen Fielding, executive director of the Farmington River Watershed Association, will share plans that involve the Grist Mill Dam.
• March 20, Keith Wilbert, from the Farmington Valley Anglers Association, will speak to the “Joy of Fishing the Farmington River.”
• March 27, Sarah Hincks, FRWA director, will present “The Importance of the Wild and Scenic Designation for the river.”

Photographer Deborah Kilday’s views of the Farmington River will also be hanging in the Foyer Gallery to provide a visual aspect to the month’s theme.

Admission to the readings is $10; open mic participants get in free. For more information visit the website www.frlac.org or call 860-677-9662.