ORGANIZATIONS
LA GRUA CENTER
Founded in 2007, La Grua Center is a nonprofit cultural center offering a wide range of concerts, art exhibitions, and speakers in a welcoming, acoustically-distinctive space flooded with natural light and vaulted ceilings. The space is also a venue for classes, meetings, celebrations, and other community activities. Exhibitions are free and open to the public on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday afternoons from 1-4 p.m., excepting some holidays, or by appointment. La Grua Center is the public space in the Stonington Commons residential community, and free parking is provided to its visitors in the Stonington Commons lot.
32 Water Street #7, Stonington
(860) 535-2300
NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING (NESS)
New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) is an ocean adventure nonprofit that provides STEM-based education programs, on and off the water, for students from all walks of life. NESS uses sailing, marine science, powerboating, and adventure sports as teaching platforms. NESS operates year-round with families, schools, and organizations to provide high-quality programs that blend an innovative curriculum with exciting ocean adventure activities.
They also offer summer camp, after school and homeschool programs.
72 Water Street, Stonington
(860) 535-9362
Stonington 1649 - Economic Development Commission
The Stonington Economic Development Commission is a group of volunteers who encourage businesses and residential developers to invest in Stonington. The EDC focuses on key economic clusters that drive the Stonington economy which include Maritime, Agriculture and Fishing, Real Estate, Tourism, Manufacturing, and Elder Care.
STONINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER (COMO)
Helping neighbors become friends and helping friends work together, the COMO engages residents, businesses, and community groups in building a strong, vibrant community.
The COMO offers a unique and wide variety of art and athletic programming for all ages including pottery, technology classes and life skills. Their sports programs include tennis and paddle tennis, basketball, soccer, fencing and exercise classes. They offer pre-school and summer camps for the kiddos and host several major events throughout the year, such as the Stars Over Stonington Gala and the Stonington Village Fair.
28 Cutler Street, Stonington
(860) 535-2476
STONINGTON FREE LIBRARY
Over one hundred and thirty years after its founding, the mission of the Stonington Free Library remains the same — to enrich lives and build community by bringing information, ideas, and people together. The Library provides access to books, periodicals, DVDs, Nintendo Switch games and consoles, Chromebooks, WiFi hotspots, e-books, audiobooks, monthly book groups, technology help, homebound delivery services, printing, faxing, scanning, and a range of programming for adults and youth alike. All Stonington residents are eligible for a FREE library card. To get your library card or find out more information, visit the Library’s website, stop by, call, or email.
20 High Street, Stonington
(860) 535-0658
Stonington Garden Club
The Stonington Garden Club is a nonprofit, member-driven organization whose mission is to educate and encourage interest in the environment, conservation, community projects, and to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening. Club members are active and dynamic – they are artists, master, and novice gardeners, conservationists, photographers, community volunteers, business owners, teachers, and retirees. They all share an interest in educating themselves about gardens and helping one another.
The Stonington Garden Club endeavors to bring beauty to the community, while enriching it with educational projects. Take a drive through town and chances are you will see a dedicated member in the Children’s Garden at the COMO, which includes ten thriving vegetable beds and a butterfly garden. The Club also created and maintains the Stonington Lighthouse garden, thanks to Marguerite Moore, the Wayland’s Wharf Rain garden, and the Post Office garden.
If you are interested in joining, please visit their website for more information.
STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Stonington Historical Society is dedicated to illuminating the more than 350 years of history of the Town of Stonington, offering records of the lives and fortunes of colonial settlers, blockade runners, ship captains, whale hunters, patriots, explorers, artists, and writers.
The SHS manages and maintains three historic sites: The Lighthouse Museum where you can climb to the top of the light tower; The Nathaniel B. Palmer House, home of the Stonington seafarer credited with discovering Antarctica; and the Richard W. Woolworth Library, a growing archive of local records, manuscripts, and photographs.
40 Palmer Street, Stonington
(860) 535-8445
STONINGTON VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
The SVIA was formed in 1899 by a small group of caring residents wishing to maintain the Borough as "a nice place to live and work." Contributions by residents and non-residents alike allow the present day SVIA to maintain that tradition.
Not only do they host and run the weekly Stonington Village Farmers Market, but they maintain duBois Beach at Stonington Point and Mathews Park, and host the Christmas Stroll every year - kicking off with the decoration and lighting of the tree at the Stonington Free Library.
The SVIA continually supports special projects around the Borough such as the installation of Little Free Libraries, renovation of Cannon Square, maintenance of Wayland's Wharf and the restoration of the COMO Pond.
Centrally located in the small Stonington Borough business district is the former residence of poet James Merrill, now owned and maintained by the SVIA. Merrill's apartment, largely intact, is home to our ongoing "Writer-in-Residence Program" sponsored in his memory by the SVIA.
P.O. Box 18, Stonington
(860) 415-4510