Stars, Stripes & Summerfest Fun: A Week Full of Community Connections

Summer is in full swing, and this week is packed with opportunities to connect, create, stay active, and celebrate our community. We hope you'll join us for one (or several!) of these great events.

🧘 Tuesday, July 21 – Tea & Live Stream Yoga

10:15 a.m.

Start your morning with movement, relaxation, and good company. Join us for our weekly Tea & Live Stream Yoga with Lindsey Kerani. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just getting started, everyone is welcome. Stay afterward for tea and conversation.

📚 Wednesday, July 22 – Book Club

6:30 p.m.

Love to read? Join our friendly monthly Book Club for an evening of lively discussion and fellowship. New members are always welcome!

🦊 Thursday, July 23, 1:00 PM to 4 PM – Clay Animal Plaques

Learn hand-building techniques while creating a unique clay animal plaque. Discover different ways of working with clay as you sculpt an animal in its own creative setting.

🏃 Friday, July 24 – 5K Packet Pickup & Pre-Race Dinner

5:30 p.m.

Racers, walkers and Summerfest volunteers are invited to join us for our Stars, Stripes & Strides 5K Packet Pickup and Pre-Race Dinner at Newark Valley Community Connection, 32 South Main Street, Newark Valley. It's a great chance to meet fellow participants, pick up your race materials, and enjoy a meal before race day.

🇺🇸 Saturday, July 25 – Summerfest Stars, Stripes & Strides 5K

Race begins at 8:30 a.m.

Our annual Stars, Stripes & Strides 5K kicks off at Trout Ponds Park and finishes at the former Newark Valley School bus garage.

After crossing the finish line, stick around to enjoy everything Summerfest has to offer:

• 🎉 The 10:00 a.m. parade

• 🛍️ Vendors on the Village Green and Water Street

• Touch a Truck at the NBT lot

• 🚗 The popular car show at the Depot

• 🎶 Live music later in the day at the Ray Shaver Depot

Come for the race and stay for a full day of hometown fun!

🎨 Summer Art Workshop Series Information

Whether you're an experienced artist or just looking to try something new, our Summer Art Workshop Series offers something for everyone! Each workshop features a unique project while introducing participants to different artistic techniques in a fun, supportive environment.

Youth (Ages 8+) through Adults

🦊 July 23 – Clay Animal Plaques Learn hand-building techniques while creating a unique clay animal plaque. Discover different ways of working with clay as you sculpt an animal in its own creative setting.

🌳 July 29 – Lush Landscapes Explore the art of landscape painting while learning techniques for mixing, blending, and layering paint to create beautiful natural scenes.

🐴 August 6 – Fabulous Horses Horse lovers won't want to miss this class! Learn how to draw horses and add creative embellishments to make your artwork uniquely your own.

🎨 August 11 (12:30–1:45 p.m.) – Easy Printmaking Designed especially for children ages 5 and up, this fun workshop introduces young artists to the basics of printmaking through an easy, hands-on project they'll be proud to take home.

Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Reserve your spot by emailing newarkvalleycc@gmail.com.

Community Resource Coming August 5

Beginning Wednesday, August 5, representatives from Tioga County Rural Ministry will be at Newark Valley Community Connection on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

They'll be available to:

• Connect residents with local resources and referrals

• Share information about Tioga County Rural Ministry programs and services

• Answer questions about financial assistance and other available support

Stop in and learn about the many resources available to our community.

Volunteer Spotlight: Sue Hills

At Newark Valley Community Connection, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do, and this week we're proud to recognize Sue Hills, one of our dedicated board members and our NVCC secretary/ treasurer.

Sue has spent a lifetime serving others. A librarian in one capacity or another throughout her career, she worked for nearly 30 years at Cornell Law Library before beginning a very active retirement filled with volunteering.

She generously shares her time with the food pantry, TOPS, and, of course, Newark Valley Community Connection—where her enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and willingness to help make every project better. Whether she's organizing, welcoming guests, lending a hand at events, or helping behind the scenes, Sue's dedication is contagious.

Outside of volunteering, Sue enjoys treasure hunting at yard sales, working out at the gym three times a week, attending yoga twice a week, spending time with her beloved cat, Cassie, and staying close with her nieces and nephews. Having lived in Germany and several states while her husband served in the Army, she brings a wealth of experiences and a deep appreciation for community wherever she goes.

Thank you, Sue, for your generosity, your energy, and your commitment to making Newark Valley a more connected place. We are truly grateful to have you as part of the NVCC family!

We look forward to seeing everyone this week. Together, we're building connections that make Newark Valley an even better place to live. And, there's never been a better time to get involved with Newark Valley Community Connection. Whether you're stretching during yoga, discovering a new hobby through one of our art workshops, joining the Book Club, participating in the Stars, Stripes & Strides 5K, visiting the vendors or Historical Society Car Show, or volunteering at Summerfest, every event helps strengthen the connections that make our community special. We hope to see you this week! 🇺🇸🏃🎨📚