LIFE

Daniel Rodriguez, owner and chef of El Tapatio in Simsbury, began his restaurant career as a dishwasher in his family’s collection of restaurants, all named Puerto Vallarta. In 1999 the West Hartford location was the first of nine to open in Connecticut. Rodriguez worked his way up in all the restaurants except the newest one in Stamford. He spent 11 years in Southington and 7 in Avon. The rest are located in Newington, Middletown, Orange, Danbury and Fairfield. Just a yea

Eleven Simsbury artists will open their studios to the public on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the 17th Annual Simsbury Open Studios weekend. Visitors will have the opportunity to see local artists working in their studios, ask questions about their creative process, and purchase unique and original art.

In recent years, Simsbury Public Library has greatly expanded its outreach and now, thanks to the initiative of a local middle schooler, a Little Free Food Pantry is open at the facility.

Like many towns, Simsbury hosted a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, marking 250 years since the first public readings of the document. The document had been approved by Congress on July 4 of 1776. It is believed that most of those who signed it did so on Aug. 2 of that year.

The warm, sunny early evening of June 20 at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center proved to be the perfect setting for the fourth Annual Juneteenth Celebration. The free event and largest of its kind in the Farmington Valley was supported by four local towns that banded together, Avon, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury. The towns were represented by tents set up by their local libraries.

Local police departments once again participated in the Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch run this June. Now in its 40th year, the event involves three days when local officers along 10 different routes – or legs– run through their towns. Those legs ultimately converge for a final run to kick off the Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games.

Michelle Mullin and Lori Segar, the two founding owners of the Lucky Gut Collective in Simsbury, have been business partners in The Children’s Clubhouse daycare centers for almost 30 years. The long-time friends also share an interest in helping families to enjoy the benefits of healthy living. They have opened a multi-use, food-centered concept in the Fiddler’s Green building, where they offer a local artisan market, workshops and classes on healthy eating, and events for th

America’s birthday at 250 years is also referred to as its semiquincentennial and it has been celebrated across the country, all throughout the year. Valley towns have been busy with multiple activities, from readings of the Declaration, to historical lectures, to plays and reenactments, to grand festivals with fireworks or parades. They have commemorated this historic event in ways as unique as their towns.