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Abby Harris Memorial Hockey Jamboree set for Dec. 6

By Ted Glanzer 

Staff Writer 


Abby Harris

Before she died a day prior to her 20th birthday, Simsbury resident Abby Harris encouraged people to live a beautiful life.


Harris died Dec. 29, 2022, from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.


But her parents, Lourdes and George Harris, have continued Abby’s memory and her legacy through the Abby Harris Memorial Hockey Jamboree, which takes place Friday, Dec. 6.

It’s the second year of the jamboree, which will feature two Simsbury High girls hockey games at 5:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.


Abby’s parents have also set up a scholarship in her honor, which has raised more than $50,000 so far and has four recipients. This year’s jamboree will not serve as a fundraiser for the scholarship like last year, Lourdes Harris said.


Lourdes said it’s been, at times, a challenging two years since Abby died. Lourdes only recently was able to cancel Abby’s cellphone plan, as it was one way to remain connected to her daughter, who was playing hockey at Manhattanville College before her diagnosis.

“My daughter started skating when she was 4 years old,” Lourdes said. “She came home one day from school, learned to skate for free. … And that was it for her. She just loved skating.”


Abby, who was just 4-10, played wing and center for the MiniLights, the younger team of the Northern Lights, and high school teams in Simsbury.


“She was small but fierce,” Lourdes said.


That was true not just on the ice, but off it. 


Lourdes said she stood up for her friends and was quick with a compliment or a word of encouragement.


In carrying her memory forward, members of her family – including Lourdes and George – got a tattoo of living a beautiful life with her handwriting.


George has preferred to remain in the background, supporting Lourdes in her effort to keep Abby’s memory alive. 


Last year, he wrote of several exchanges he had with parents of children who participated in the first jamboree:


“The father of the young woman who received the first scholarship from Abby’s fund was excited to update me about his daughter, currently in Ireland as part of her studies. He emphasized how meaningful it was for her to be the first recipient, and how Abby’s message of, ‘Live a Beautiful Life – Stripes and All,’ has continued to inspire her.”


“The father of one of Abby’s younger teammates at SHS spoke of the impact Abby made on his daughter. The first day she walked into the locker room as a freshman, Abby immediately welcomed her, and she went home that day and told her dad that she had been nervous but met a really nice girl. This was a real hockey dad (not a faux hockey dad like me); his father had been a tough old guy who had covered the hockey beat for the Boston Globe. But he teared up as he told me the story of Abby’s impact on his daughter.”


“And a father of a current SHS freshman introduced himself by saying, ‘my daughter is number 3, she just scored a goal!’ then shared how Abby’s U-19 team had been on the ice helping his daughter’s team when she was only 10. He and his daughter remembered Abby and her kindness from that day.”

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Valley Happenings

Winter Schminter. Beat the Winter

Doldrums with Lifelong Learning.

Stay cognitively engaged with a course or lecture at Presidents’ College, the adult Lifelong Learning Program at the University of Hartford. Taught by professors and community experts, the program’s 1.5-hour lectures and short 2-3 session non-credit courses include topics like the arts, history, current events, literature, science, and engineering. There’s no membership fee, and students pay a modest amount for only those courses they wish to take.

During the Winter/Spring Semester, you can Indulge your love of travel with a course on Art & Music Along the Silk Road or European Literary Excursions. Delve into Why Poetry Matters with Connecticut’s Poet Laureate, or into the Effects of Declining Birth Rates. Explore the Art & Science of Color or Artificial Intelligence & the Future in Media. Take a look at How Race and Place Influenced Pop Music or Immigration Stories in Film. These are just a few of the offerings. Go to hartford.edu/pc. for details. Email pcollege@hartford.edu to be added to the mailing list. Registration opens Jan. 8.

 

Simsbury Public Library programs

SIMSBURY –  Here are a variety of upcoming programs to enjoy at the Simsbury Public Library! Unless noted otherwise, these events are free and open to all. Please register by calling 860-658-7663 ext. 2 or visiting the library online at www.simsburylibrary.info.

• Warm up and enjoy The Lost Forests of New England by Ray Asselin with Susan Masino on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. (snow date Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m). The film follows the evolution of New England forests from the first Europeans to present day and the explorers and scientists who have rediscovered some real treasures. Sponsored by the Simsbury Land Trust.

• Have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. as he chats about The Magic of Found Family and his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on the newest in the series, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. This is a virtual program and registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

• Do you love to cook and try new recipes? Come join the Cookbook Club on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. and explore new cuisines each month, share techniques, and expand our culinary skills. This month we will be exploring East African cuisine. Please see the event page for more information.

• Come play against fellow chess enthusiasts at the Adult Chess Club on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. All skills are welcome and chess sets, as well clocks, will be available. Note this is not a class to learn how to play chess. Please register as space is limited.

• Join us on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. as we chat with the New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Montell about her newest book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality as she turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases. This is a virtual program and registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

• Join Andrea McKay from YDF Center for an Introduction to Belly Dance Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Belly Dance is an expressive, energizing and empowering form of movement that will burn calories and tone your body. All ages, shapes, and sizes are welcome and no prior dance experience is required.

• An armchair journey to the birds and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands with photographer Bert Sirkin on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. In partnership with the Simsbury Senior Center.

• You’re writing a book (or thinking about it), but what happens next? Connect with Seth Fishman, Vice President and Literary Agent at The Gernert Company on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. and gain an inside look into working with an agent and the beginning stages of the publishing process. This 90-minute presentation includes 30 minutes of Q&A. This is a virtual program and registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

• Protecting our brains and nature are important for long-term well being. On Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m., in addition to practical information on brain health, experts will discuss Why We Need Nature and how history, science, and fiscal responsibility can work together to inform public policies. Cosponsored by The Gardeners of Simsbury and The Simsbury Land Trust.

• Are you interested in learning how to access more ebooks and audiobooks through Libby? Come on down Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. for Libby 101 and feel free to bring your device (phone or tablet) with you.

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At the Farmington Libraries

 • Remember When...Conversation Group –Call up your friends and join us at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive on Mondays, Jan. 13 and 27 at 10 a.m. for our new conversation group. Do you remember when you could get together and talk about the good old days? Or how about talking about the things you remember about Farmington and Unionville? Register to let us know you’re attending at www.farmingtonlibraries.org

• Garmany Music Series: Randy and Millie Calistri-Yeh – Enjoy an afternoon of music on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive. Featuring Broadway tunes, classical music, international folk dances, and classic rock songs, along with fascinating stories behind the music. Find out more at www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

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