Town officials found $225,000 in cuts to the proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget, reducing it to a newly proposed $128,663,203 in annual expenditures from Guilford Town Hall.
The $225,000 includes a $10,000 reduction
in capital funds that were intended for computer system upgrades at Guilford Free Library. The reduced budget will also lower the proposed tax increase. Accounting for the reductions, the new mill rate would be 28.6, translating to a 3.44% tax increase. The initial proposal called for a 4.08% increase.
The total amount of cuts across the townwide budget by the Board of Finance, includ-
ing Guilford Public Schools, is $750,000. Most of the cuts, specifically $525,000, were found in education, but what exactly those cuts will be is still to be determined by the Board of Education. Superintendent Paul Freeman told the Guilford Courier that the board will “need to meet to identify where to
See Officials Cut Budget page 9
Joe Marlin races to finish his tacos to win a semifinal heat as fellow competitors Anya Pryzmont, left, and Justin Johnson trail during a taco eating contest at the New England Taco Festival at the Guilford Fairgrounds on May 2. The annual two-day event featured food, music and entertainment.
is guiding students
PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ TheCourier
Dorothy Tolchin: Guiding Students to World Finals
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
In just its inaugural year, the Madison Arts Barn’s Odyssey of Mind team has made it to the World Finals of the youth problem-solving program. Their appearance in the tournament, which will take place at Iowa State University, is thanks to one of its coaches, Dorothy Tolchin.
Tolchin, a palliative care physician who lives in Guilford, led the first iteration of the local Odyssey of the Mind team to victory alongside her co-coach Elisabeth George, both of whom are “incredibly proud of our team for their hard work and achievements this year,” she says.
The members of the team consist of young minds from Madison and Guilford and are Owen Chester, Sam Cislo, Linden George, Amelia Kelly, Olivia Morris, Dylan Volpe, and Zach Tolchin.
“We are excited for the kids to now have the privilege of taking a special trip to Iowa for the World Finals, too,” adds Dorothy. “The multi-day event provides the very special opportunity for the team to forge new memories
Person of the Week
together and to meet and build connections with kids from all over the world.”
To make the team’s “megaachievement” of a victory even more notable, says Dorothy, “this is the first time many of them have met each other, and the first time that they’ve worked together as a team.”
She attributes their success to the camaraderie and kindness found among them all, stemming from a shared curiosity and interest in problem-solving.
“They set their own ground rules for respectful behavior, and they honor those the entire time,” she says. “They themselves made sure that every child was included in every decision that was made. No one ever felt left out, and they really cared for each other.”
Dorothy’s decision to coach the Arts Barn’s team stems from her own personal experience with the Odyssey of the Mind program. She participated on her high school’s team in Albany, New York, remembering it as a “really formative” and “unique and special opportunity to embrace my own love for problem-solving and creativity and teamwork.”
She continues, “I’ve had in my mind since then that I would love to one day be a coach, love to get my own kids involved in Odyssey of the Mind.”
As mentioned above, Dorothy’s son was a member of the Arts Barn’s team, whose formation and activity through the recreation space was her idea. She has observed firsthand the positive environment the space provides for youth from Madison and other towns, making it a “natural fit” to host the team’s training, she says.
Additionally, “I really love working with kids,” Dorothy says. “It has been deeply meaningful to me to see this group of kids come together, build the
See Dorothy Tolchin page 12
Photo courtesy of Dorothy Tolchin
Dorothy Tolchin is one of the co-coaches of the Madison Arts Barn's Odyssey of the Mind team
Yoga Workshop
The Guil ford D. A .Y. Coalition invites you to join our for teens and parents
Yoga Workshop
The Guil ford D. A .Y. Coalition invites you to join our for teens and parents
for teens and parents
Workshop
Tuesday, May 19
ford D. A .Y. Coalition invites you to join our for teens and parents
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday,
Tuesday, May 19
5:00-6:00 pm
5:00-6:00 pm
5:00-6:00
5:00-6:00 pm
Guilford
Guilford Youth and Family
Guilford Youth and Family
Guilford Youth and Family
36 Graves Avenue (Parking behind Tow
36 Graves Avenue (Parking behind Town Hall) Rain Location: Community Center, Menunkatuck Room
36 Graves Avenue (Parking behind Town Hall)
Rain Location: Community Center, Menunkatuck Room
36 Graves Avenue (Parking behind Tow Rain Location: Community Center, Menunkatu
The Guil ford D. A .Y. Coalition invites you to join our for teens and parents
Rain Location: Community Center, Menunkat
Yoga Workshop
REGISTER HERE:
REGISTER HERE:
a Workshop
(Click “Search Program” then select
REGISTER HERE:
Tuesday, May 19
(Click “Search Program” then select “Yoga Workshop”)
ay, May 19
5:00-6:00 pm
Guilford Youth and Family
https://veoci com/v/p/form/ kuzhwxwnag3z?c=265821
https://veoci com/v/p/form/ kuzhwxwnag3z?c=265821
6:00 pm d Youth and Family s Avenue (Parking behind Town Hall) on: Community Center, Menunkatuck Room
d D. A .Y. Coalition invites you to join our for teens and parents ps://veoci.com/v/p/form/ zhwxwnag3z?c=265821
I feel incredibly lucky to live in Guilford. It’s easy to take for granted just how special this town is, but we shouldn’t.
Guilford is one of the rare places where you can live day to day without getting in your car, or with just one drive into downtown. From historic homes and tree-lined streets to the Green, the library, local cafés, the beach, and even groceries and Target, so much of what we need is within walking distance. In the summer, the Green fills with events and families, and the whole town feels connected in a way that is increasingly hard to find.
Places like this are not easy to create anymore. Under today’s zoning and land-use policy, a walkable, historic
New England town like Guilford would be nearly impossible to replicate. That makes what we already have not just charming, but irreplaceable. We should be investing in it. That means prioritizing walkability and maintaining the infrastructure that supports it. It also means recognizing and strengthening community assets like Adams Middle School, where students can experience a level of independence that feels increasingly rare: walking to the library, the Green, or a café as part of everyday life. People are drawn to Guilford for a reason. Let’s make thoughtful investments to preserve and enhance it for the next generation.
Blaize Levitan Guilford
The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. (GNHCP) is seeking donations of gently used items for its annual tag sale fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Donations are accepted at the GNHCP Center, 1874 Middletown Ave., Northford. Items may include household goods, collectibles, jewelry, garden furniture, toys, and more. Contributions will support GNHCP’s mission to help cats in need throughout Greater New Haven. Proceeds benefit GNHCP’s rescue, care, and community programs. For more information, contact 203-782-2287 or gnhcp1@gnhcp.org.
Shoreline Arts Alliance is accepting submissions for IMAGES 2026, Connecticut’s oldest statewide photography competition. The jury-curated exhibition will be held Aug. 8–30 at Kehler Liddell Gallery, 873 Whalley Avenue, New Haven. Connecticut photographers of all skill levels are invited to submit digital entries through the Shoreline Arts Alliance website by Thursday, June 11, at noon. Submission guidelines and fees are available online. Founded in 1980, Shoreline Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization that supports professional arts development through mentorship, networking, education, and community engagement. For more information, call 203421-6739, email office@shorelinearts.org, or visit shorelinearts.org.
Guilford Art Center is accepting submissions through Sunday, May 31, for Walking Each Other Home: Exploring Where We Belong, and How We Find It, a juried exhibition scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, through Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. Inspired by the Ram Dass quote, “We’re all just walking each other home,” the exhibition invites artists to explore themes of home, belonging, connection, and shared experience. Artists may submit up to two works in any medium and are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly or literally. Submissions should be emailed to aseneco@guilfordartcenter.org by May 31. For more information, contact Guilford Art Center at 203-453-5947 or aseneco@guilfordartcenter.org, or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Donations Sought for GNHCP Tag Sale Fundraiser
Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces IMAGES 2026 Call for Entries
Guilford Art Center Seeks Artists for Summer Exhibition
to the
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Obituaries
Obituary Stephen Gilligan III
Guilford
On April 27, 2026, Stephen Vincent Gilligan III, of Guilford, beloved husband of Melissa Banack Gilligan, loving father to Stephen Vincent Gilligan IV and Chandler Allyse Gilligan, passed suddenly, following a brief illness.
Stephen “Steve” was born in Lynn, Mass., to the late Stephen Vincent Gilligan Jr. and Ann Buckley Gilligan, of Scituate, Mass. He is survived by his sister, Hilary Gilligan Bullard (Paul Robert), of Irving, Texas; Matthew Buckley Gilligan (Kim), of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Michael Buckley Gilligan (Anne), of Scituate, Mass.; David Buckley Gilligan, of Scituate, Mass.; parents-in-law, Carol Ginalski Banack and Joseph Edward Banack, of Durham; and brother-in-law Christopher Banack, of Durham. Steve is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and his extended family, Steve and Lisa Dalberth, of Sturbridge, Mass.; Debra Swift; Suzanne Swift; other family members; and close friends.
Steve was the General Manager of Porsche-Audi of Wallingford for more than 23 years. Steve loved and respected the Valenti family, whom he considered an extension of his family. Steve cherished many years “in the business.” He was mentored at a young age by the late Burt Hoffman, and over the years he reminisced to his staff about his morning training sessions with Mr. Hoffman. Steve had a talent
for creating a “factory-build” and knew exactly what each of his long-time customers wanted in their next vehicle. He took great honor in spending hours building cars with customers and truly enjoyed making others happy. Steve took time to develop long-term relationships with his colleagues, customers, and other car enthusiasts, including members of the CT Valley Porsche Club. He was an avid supporter of the United Way (JLS Sports), Best Buddies, as well as many other charitable organizations, which he and his staff proudly supported. Steve grew up playing tennis at the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and ice hockey on the cranberry bog, and later continued playing with several teams in mens hockey league. He was a long-time season ticket holder of the New England Patriots and loved watching the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics. Steve often joked of having “visiting” rights to his golf clubs and one day joining the “seniors” on the PGA Tour. Steve’s legacy will carry on thru his family, his friends, and his customers, and all of the beautiful cars that he will forever watch over.
Friends were invited to calling hours on May 1 at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 2 at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford. Burial will be held privately. In honor of Steve, memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford, 35 Pleasant St., STE 1E, Meriden, CT 06450; www.unitedwaymw.org. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Center Opens Registration for Summer Adult Art Classes
Registration is open for Guilford Art Center’s Summer 2026 Adult Art Program, featuring classes and workshops for adults of all skill levels. The program includes courses in ceramics, painting, blacksmithing, drawing, fiber arts, leatherworking, metalsmithing, glass, collage, weaving, and more. Classes are taught by professional artists and instructors and are designed for both beginners and experienced artists. Classes begin the first week of July and include daytime and evening options. Workshops will be offered throughout the summer. Financial aid is available to students who need assistance with tuition costs. Applications for financial aid are due June 12. Early registration is encouraged because class sizes are limited. For more information or to register, call Guilford Art Center at 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Contacting Guilford Courier
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Guilford Courier encourages letters to the editor that offer a uniquely local perspective on local issues.
Writers may submit letters as often as every two weeks. Letters must include the writer’s full name, street address, and phone number for verification purposes. Letters submitted under pseudonyms, anonymously, or through third parties will be declined. Letters must be written by the submitter. No more than four signees are permitted per letter.
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Guilford Art
uilford D.A.Y.
i i u to the
The Guilford D.A.Y. Coalition invites you to the Featuring
D.A.Y. WEEK BEACH BONFIRE
BEACH BONFIRE
Draft POCD Released for Public Comment
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
After 15 months of townwide data collection, public outreach, and cross-referencing multiple past development and transportation studies, the Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission has issued an initial draft of its Plan of Conservation and Development for the next 10 years.
At a special meeting April 23 presenting the document, Vice Chair Roger Joyce said the commission is “nearing the conclusion of this draft,” which is now open to a 65day comment period. Guilford residents can provide input via email or through a comment section. The draft POCD can be found at www.guilfordct.gov.
According to the draft, public outreach efforts such as workshops and surveys, along with other factors that were part of a “thorough review of the results of the planning process,” culminate in a vision for Guilford organized into five themes: “live; grow; connect; conserve; and sustain.” The document states that “this condensed
theme-based structure steps away from the previous eight-goal structure” and aims to “more concisely organize the strategies desired by the community.”
Under the five themes are multiple goals outlining methods of expanding development, opportunity, and protection in Guilford, including providing more affordable housing, maintaining recreational and ecological assets, growing the town’s business sector, and fostering a “social connected community,” according to the document. These goals are divided into short-, medium-, and long-term efforts the town will pursue over the next decade.
Short-term goals for the next three years focus largely on executing “longenvisioned studies” and advancing development initiatives in housing, transportation, and infrastructure. Examples include undertaking improvements around the Green, as recommended in the Guilford Green Transportation Study, to improve multimodal traffic flow, as well as completing a townwide study of parcels suitable for affordable housing and identi-
fying strategies to encourage future development on those sites.
Midterm goals center on several planning projects, including master plans for Guilford’s recreation trails and the Town Marina. These efforts aim to improve connectivity between nearby assets and advance projects that “have already proceeded through some level of planning and design,” according to the document.
Long-term goals include significant wastewater facility projects focused on incorporating new technologies to strengthen existing systems. The commission notes these efforts “require significant lead time for planning, design, and financing.”
Additional input from the community and town leaders is expected to further shape the POCD. Some feedback was shared at the April 23 meeting and relayed by planning consultant David Murphy. Comments on the draft came from town departments and officials, community volunteers, and business leaders.
One key takeaway, Murphy said, is that
the final document “should not specifically promote development of agricultural land.” This follows concerns raised by the town’s Agriculture Commission and Kevin Bishop of Bishop’s Orchards. Murphy said that feedback will have a positive impact on the plan moving forward.
“Sometimes it takes an outside voice to notice where that [concern] could be coming from, because we’re so deep in the weekends that we don’t always see it,” Murphy said. “We did take that to heart and we made some edits.”
Commission member Larry Rizzolo also emphasized the importance of early public input and improving communication moving forward.
“The commission is willing to take some of this on, because, again, [commentators] feel a lot of us didn’t know what was going on,” Rizzolo said. “These are all things I think we should consider because we can do a better job… I think part of this POCD was that the town should get better communications through developing its website.”
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Officials Cut Budget After Failed Referendum
Continued from page 1
reduce the budget to absorb that cut,” and that he is “working on a list of recommendations that I will present to the board when they meet.”
A common theme in the revised budget is cuts across multiple departments in education, training, and travel. Departments such as the Town Assessor, Engineering, and Fire are seeing these reductions, which may mean delaying some training for a year or not needing to “include as many people going to a conference” relevant to their work, Hoey said.
The Communications Department is seeing a revised cut of $10,000. This is tied to the town’s shift in communications technology from its legacy phone system to a voice-over-IP platform, a move that “we’ve been able to determine that we’ll save more than we originally projected,” according to First Selectman Matt Hoey. Employee benefits are being reduced by more than $21,000, “which are mostly as a result of us making changes to the new staff positions that we’re bringing on board,” Hoey said. The town recently decided to hire two new full-time positions—a mechanic for Public Works and a permit technician shared by the Health and Planning and Zoning departments—as well as a part-time custodian in the Facilities Maintenance Department. However, the full-time positions will begin work on Jan. 1, meaning their employee benefits, such as medical insurance and FICA payroll, will be reduced for half of the next fiscal year.
Other town departments were able to find cuts that were either negligible or involve responsibilities that can be shared with other departments. While the Engineering Department was able to find a $1,000 cut in road striping and signs,
“that’s a shared kind of expense” that can be accommodated by Public Works, Hoey said.
The Public Works Department cut $30,000 from its summer road maintenance budget, but the work is still expected to be funded using non-budget funds. Hoey said the town will fund this specific item with interest that has accumulated over the past 25 years from the town’s dormant Dedicated Road Fund.
“We still have funds in there,” he said. “Those funds were collected from developers when they built a new development and it impacted the roadways, requiring new roads to be cut in. That money was originally designed to be used for road improvements in the area where those developments were built—sort of a fee for future impacts to the roads as a result of more traffic. We’re utilizing some interest that has been accruing to that account over the past 25 years to supplement the $30,000.”
Hoey said he is “fully behind” the revised budget, which includes cuts he views as an “appropriate reaction” to the initial proposal that taxpayers rejected at a referendum last month.
“I would not have gone as far as the Board of Finance did, but I was pleased that the Board of Finance was able to come to a consensus, and it is recommended to the public by the Board of Finance in a unanimous fashion. I’m fully behind the budget at this point, and I’m sure the Board of Education will be as well.”
Hoey added that some of the cuts from next year’s budget are “pushing off the inevitable” items that will need to be funded in future budget seasons, “but this is apparently not the year to do it.”
The second budget referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.
Rx Disposal Box
The Guilford Police Department, in cooperation with the It’s Worth It initiative and the Connection, Inc., have installed a pharmaceutical collection drop box in the lobby of the Guilford Police Department, 400 Church Street. Area residents can dispose of unused and unneeded medications at any time. For more information, call the Guilford Police Department at 203-453-8061.
Tax Exemptions
The Assessor’s Office for the Town of Guilford offers property tax exemptions for veterans, including disabled veterans; active-duty military personnel; disabled or blind taxpayers; specially equipped or modified vehicles for transporting an incapacitated individual; farm machinery and farm buildings; and farm, forest, and open space land. For more information, including deadlines, call 203-453-8010 or visit ci.guilford.ct.us/departments/assessor.
At County Hearing and Balance, we have been caring for your hearing health for over 50 years. We offer advanced hearing devices that are clearly different. Our Doctors of Audiology are not limited to one specific brand. They can choose the right product for you, from the best manufacturers.
We participate with most insurances. Call ahead to determine your benefit.
Demonstration
Richard Lynch
Marisa Bellair
Steven Errante
Cricket Is the Ticket
Story by Carol Andrecs
As soon as Forgotten Felines became aware of a sweet cat with a serious tail injury that needed to be rescued, we acted quickly. Although Cricket’s tail needed to be amputated, it has not changed her sweet and loving personality. This 2-yearold gray-and-white girl could not be happier or more grateful that she was rescued and treated. Cricket is the ultimate ticket who is just waiting for her forever home. Could you be the lucky person to adopt her? For an appointment to meet this precious girl, stop by during our open house events or apply online at www.forgotten felinesct.org.
Find Your Match at Forgotten Felines: Forgotten Felines holds an open house every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 153 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook. No appointment is necessary. Forgotten Felines is run entirely by dedicated volunteers with no paid staff. We are always in need of volunteers to help care for the cats and keep our facility clean and organized. If you can donate your time, it will be very rewarding and much appreciated. Call the volunteer line at 860669-1347 or send an email to volunteer info@forgottenfelinesct.org.
Safe Search for Those Who Need to Feel Safe
Women & Family Life Center (W&FLC) offers Safe Search, a program that allows participants and walk-ins who need a safe place to use a phone or access the internet. Individuals have access to a computer, the internet, phone, printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine. Safe Search is a time and place where individuals can call counselors and/or lawyers, research jobs, and revise and print a resume. WFLC also offers a secure location to keep documents for future use. For more information, contact 203458-6699 or info@womenandfamilylife.org, or visit womenandfamilylife.org.
Volunteers Needed to Tutor Valley Shore Residents in English
Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore (LVVS) is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Tutor Training Workshop to prepare volunteers to teach English to adult residents from around the world. No experience is required. The 12-hour training runs over eight sessions. Participants may attend morning sessions from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in person at the Westbrook Library or evening sessions from 7 to 8:30 p.m., offered in a hybrid format with Zoom. Sessions are scheduled for May 7, 12, and 14. An online selffacilitated option is also available. A $40 donation is requested for materials. For more information, contact Joanne Argersinger at 860-399-0280 or jargersinger@lvvs.org, or visit www.lvvs.org.
Photo by Tracye Mueller
PUBLIC NOTICE
2026 Sachems Head Association - Zoning Board Special Meeting NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Public notice is hereby given that the Sachems Head Association Zoning Board on will hold a Special Meeting on:
Date: Tuesday, May 19th
Time: 6pm
Location: Guilford Community Center, 32 Church Street - Alexander Lounge
Purpose of the Special Meeting:
The purpose of this Special Meeting is to review, discuss, and take action on proposed revisions to the Zoning Regulations of Sachems Head Association.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Joseph
Samajean (26-0112)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated April 23, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Jeri L. Perkins
c/o JEFFREY THOMAS BEATTY. LAW OFFICES OF JEFFREY T. BEA TTY, LLC, 20 WATER STREET, GUILFORD, CT 06437
TOWN OF GUILFORD ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026
8:30 A.M. – GUILFORD TOWN HALL
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Town Meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meetings of the Town of Guilford, Connecticut will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. at the Guilford Town Hall, 31 Park Street and Via Teams:
1. To receive a report of the Marina Commission relative to the work of the Commission
2. To receive the Annual Report of the Guilford Planning & Zoning Commission
3. To receive the Annual Report of the Town Pension Fund
4. To receive a report of the Shellfish Commission relative to the work of the Commission
5. To receive a report of the Guilford Lakes Golf Course Commission relative to the work of the Commission
6. To receive the Annual Report of the Economic Development Commission of its activities and of its recommendations for improving such economic conditions and development.
7. To receive the Annual Report of the Harbor Management Commission
8. To receive the Annual Report of the Land Acquisition Commission
9. To receive the Annual Report of the Agricultural Commission.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 30th day of April, 2026.
Matthew T. Hoey III
Charles L. Havrda
Louis Federici
Susan Renner
Sandra Ruoff
BOARD OF SELECTMEN TOWN OF GUILFORD
I hereby certify that on the 7th day of May, 2026, I posted the warning upon the signpost of the Town of Guilford, and on the 7th day of May, 2026 caused the same to be published in the Guilford Courier, a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Guilford.
Matthew T. Hoey III
First Selectman
Dorothy Tolchin: Guiding Students to World Finals
Continued from page 2
friendships they have, and it is an extra special opportunity for me that my son is part of this group and gets to experience that kind of community and camaraderie.”
As a coach, Dorothy’s role is to be supportive of the young team, whose energy and curiosity are the driving force of the activity and eventual achievement. She and her co-coach do “mentor the kids in collaborative teamwork skills” so they can figure out among themselves the materials they need to solve the problem they are given.
They also prepare practice problems for them to solve, reflect on the results, and figure out what could be done differently. All of this culminates in solving a “spontaneous problem-solving” task, says Dorothy, and a “long-term problem, where the students devise a solution to a very specific and detailed prompt.”
In the case of the Arts Barn team, the teammates got into the spirit of the recreation space’s theatre program and decided to create a skit for which they constructed
three columns of boxes, each of which depicted a different set backdrop. “During their performance, when the scene changed, they rotated their boxes so that the backdrop was totally different, so they were able to use just those boxes to actually create four different sets,” says Dorothy. “We are making arrangements to ship those very large pieces across the country to Iowa.”
It helped that the team consists of teammates who come from different interest areas, such as theater and engineering, all of which came together to pull off something greater than the sum of its parts.
Dorothy said watching the team’s young minds collectively engaged and able to collaborate successfully for their eventual achievement can be inspiring for adults in their own areas of problem-solving.
“I was so inspired by the way these kids work together. We practiced every week, and every week I thought to myself, ‘If adults could collaborate and solve problems and be as thoughtful as these kids are, our world would be in a much better place.’”
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Edward L. Sullivan (26-0128)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated April 21, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Nicole Malerba, Assistant Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Ann D. Sullivan, 460 Great Hill Road, Guilford, CT 06437
NOTICE OF PERMIT APPLICATION
Town: Guilford, Connecticut.
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Guilford, Connecticut (the “applicant”), 31 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437 will submit to the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection an application under Connecticut General Statutes Section(s): 22a-32 (TIDAL WETLANDS); 22a-361 (STRUCTURES, DREDGING AND FILL), and Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1341.
Specifically, the applicant proposes replacing the existing 40’ bridge at Clapboard Hill Road over the East River (760’ east of East River Road Road) with a 60’ Prestressed Concrete Beam Bridge with a cast-in-place or precast wing walls. The existing bridge will be demolished and removed from the site. All work in the channel will be top-dressed with natural streambed material. All vegetation will be left undisturbed to the maximum extent possible, and where necessary it is to be removed, and will be replaced. Clapboard Hill Road will not be closed during construction. The proposed activity will potentially affect: the East River and its adjacent tidal wetlands.
Interested persons may obtain copies of the application from Cardinal Engineering Associates, Inc., 180 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450. Contact: Gary Giroux, P.E. (203) 238-1969.
The application is available for inspection at the Department of Environmental Protection, Inland Water Resources Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127, telephone 860-424-3019, from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday.
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Fun By The Numbers
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!
Last Week’s Answers Here’s How It Works:
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Guilford Girls, Boys Track Sweep Competition
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
The Guilford girls and boys outdoor track teams have faced tough competition over the last couple of meets. The Grizzlies competed in a tri-meet against East Haven and Career Magnet, then in the Org Jake Spartan Invitational at Amity High School.
The Guilford Grizzlies were strong in each meet, sweeping the competition. Here is a recap of some of the top performers:
On April 28, the Guilford boys competed against East Haven and Career Magnet in a tri-meet at Guilford High School. Guilford defeated Career Magnet 112-11 and East Haven 85-54. East Haven defeated Career Magnet 120-13.
Some of the top performances included Xavier Chieffo winning the 200 meters in 23.24 and the 400 meters in 52.92. Ryan Babak won the 100 meters in 11.59 and placed fourth in the 200 meters in 23.6. Wesley Tandler won the discus with a throw of 131 feet and placed second in the shot put with a throw of 40-1.
Gabriel Grassi won the 800 meters in 2:03.46, and Caleb Hansen won the 3,200 meters in 10:27.57, which qualifies him for the Class MM championships. Luca Esposito-Langlais won the javelin with a throw of 140-6, which qualifies him for the Class MM championships. Dario Hernandez won the long jump with 19-1.5, which qualifies him for the state championship.
Josh Daniels won the high jump at 5-6, and Lewis Thoreen won the 1,600 meters in 5:22.4. The Guilford 4x400 relay team of Tyler Mezrich, Xavier Chieffo, Ferris Austin and Gabriel Grassi won in 3:35.83. The Guilford 4x800 team of David Zhang, Lewis Thoreen, Jordan Espinosa and Ferris Austin won in 8:55.63.
The Guilford 4x100 team of Ryan Babak, Andrew Hally, Gabriel Grassi and Xavier Chieffo
Conor O’Donnell placed second in the 1,600 meters in 5:23.7 and third in the 3,200 meters in 11:50.74. Tyler Mezrich placed second in the 400 meters in 53.43, Jordan Espinosa placed second in the 3,200 meters in 10:56.87 and Jack Thomasson placed second in the triple jump with 34-11.
Aaron Kowalonek placed second in the high jump at 5-4. Luke Cashman placed third in the 400 meters in 55.03, David Zhang placed third in the 800 meters in 2:13.77, Miles Avelin placed third in the triple jump with 33-4.75, Philip Macini placed fourth in the 400 meters in 55.79 and Vincent Perricone Jr. placed fourth in the triple jump with 33-2.
Everett Barden placed fourth in the 800 meters in 2:17.68, Julien Parent placed fourth in the 1,600 meters in 5:41.8, Andrew
3,200 meters in 13:18.13.
After the tri-meet, Guilford went on to win the Org Jake Spartan Invitational at Amity High School.
“This is an incredible achievement for the Grizzlies,” Guilford coach Liam Norton said. “This meet is highly competitive and was attended by 25 schools. The Grizzlies narrowly beat out Hamden for first place, 62.5 to Hamden’s 61.”
Some notable finishes included Jordan Espinosa winning the 3,200 meters in 10:22.15, Wesley Tandler placing third in the discus with 129-7 and ninth in the shot put with 38-6.
The Guilford 4x400 team of Luke Cashman, Gabriel Grassi, Tyler Mezrich and Xavier Chieffo placed second with a season-best time of 3:34.38. The Guilford
sixth in the 1,600 meters in 4:44.67. Lewis Thoreen placed fourth in the 3,200 meters in 10:41.42 and fourth in the 1,600 meters in 4:42.44. Tyler Mezrich placed fourth in the 800 meters in 2:00.99, Luca Esposito-Langlais placed fifth in the javelin with 137-3 and Gabriel Grassi placed eighth in the 400 meters in 52.22.
The Guilford girls track team also swept a tri-meet against Career Magnet and East Haven, defeating Career 124-15 and East Haven 92-54 to move to 5-1 on the season. The top performer was senior Annalise Hastings, who won the discus with a throw of 88-11.
Elsewhere in the throws, senior Sophia Albe took second in the javelin with 74-6. In the shot put, sophomore Kaylin Diglio placed second with 27-5, and
Hastings placed third with 25-7. Diglio also won both hurdle races, taking the 100 hurdles in a per-
She then competed in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 47.65, followed by junior Tali Silva in 52.71. Junior Olivia Jackson won the 1,600 meters in 5:32.41, followed by junior Indy Pelliccio in 5:57 and freshman Ella Joormann in 6:05.
Sophomore Abbie White won the 3,200 meters in a personalbest 12:28.72, followed by sophomore Juliana Piscitelli in 13:10 and junior Sienna Brackney in 13:32. Guilford swept the 800, with freshman Anna Gunderson winning in 2:33.65, followed by sophomore Clara Calvert in 2:42.87 and Joormann in 2:49.39. Junior Madelaine Aguilar took second in the 400 meters in 62.45, followed by sophomore Ashyln Meehan in 64.06. Meehan was second in the 200 meters in 27.67, with Diglio third in 27.85.
See Guilford page 21
Photo courtesy of Liam Norton
Members of the Guilford boys track team after winning the Org Jake Spartan Invitational at Amity High School.
Guilford Girls Lacrosse Knocks Off Cheshire in OT
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
The spring sports season is nearing its regular-season midpoint, and while most teams are gearing up to make their push to the playoffs and earn their eighth win to secure a spot in the state tournament, most programs are also facing their toughest competition of the year.
The first half of the season is often set up for teams to gain their footing and gel together as they work on their chemistry, but right around the midpoint, teams like Guilford girls lacrosse have no days off.
Whether it’s a tough game against Fairfield Warde one day or a rivalry battle with Daniel Hand the following week, every night is a test for the Grizzlies. However, Guilford has stayed true to form, even battling a strong Cheshire program to an overtime victory.
On April 27, Guilford hosted Cheshire and came away with a 9-8 overtime win to earn its sixth win of the season.
Guilford got out to a fast start by taking an early 4-1 first-quarter lead. The Grizzlies ultimately stretched their lead to 7-3 by halftime, but Cheshire did not give up. The third quarter was a battle and resulted in just one goal for Cheshire, leading to a 7-4 score at the end of the third.
During the fourth quarter, both teams competed back and forth, with saves from both goalies and yellow cards for each team. Cheshire eventually tied the game at 7-7 with about four minutes left, but despite the second-half struggles, Guilford answered to make it 8-7 with 3:30 remaining.
Cheshire got the ball back and tied the game with just over a minute left in regulation. Both goalies made saves in the final minute, and Cheshire had a chance to win it with 30 seconds left but couldn’t get a shot off.
In overtime, both teams possessed the ball, only to turn it over. Junior defender Allie Michna caused a turnover and cleared the ball to midfield. After a Guilford timeout, the team moved the ball
around, and Maddie Welch buried the game-winner, faking high and shooting under the stick of Cheshire’s Georgiana Sheehan on the doorstep.
Guilford’s scoring leaders included junior attacker Maddie Welch, who finished with the game-winning goal and two assists, and freshman middie Sinead Davenport, who had two goals and 13 draw
control wins. Davenport currently sits at nearly 70 draw controls through eight games.
Junior middie Lilly Peck and sophomore attacker Elodie Tyre finished with two goals each, while sophomore attacker [name missing?] added one goal and one assist. Senior middie Ciara Davenport finished with one goal and five draw controls.
Guilford Girls, Boys Track Sweep Competition
Continued from page 20
The 4x800 relay team of Calvert, Piscitelli, Brackney and Jackson won in 10:34.59. The 4x400 relay team of Aguilar, Jackson, freshman Eva Danilowicz and Meehan also won in 4:26.66. Sophomore Claire Herring won the high jump at 4-8, with Calvert placing third at 4-4. Freshman Shari Silva placed third in the long jump with 13-8, and freshman Paulina Scalici placed second in the triple jump with 29-0.5.
On May 2, the girls team also competed at the Org Jake Spartan Invitational at Amity High School. The top performers were Kaylin Diglio, who won the pole vault at 110 and placed second in the 300 hurdles in a season-best 46.89, and Olivia Jackson, who won the 1,600 meters in 5:23.48.
Indy Pelliccio placed second in 12:36.45. Madelaine Aguilar placed fifth in the 800 meters in 2:26.43, and Anna Gunderson placed seventh in 2:30.80. Tali Silva placed seventh in the 300 hurdles in a personal-best
Guilford senior goalie Addie Oakes finished with three saves.
For Cheshire, senior attacker Tema Caplan scored three goals, senior middie Madeleine Tessier had two goals, and senior attacker Lauren Kilpatrick added one goal, along with sophomore middie Caroline Bardo and freshman middie Hailey Teal. Sheehan had nearly 10 saves.
51.88. Both relay teams earned third place. The 4x800 team of Reese Joshi, Clara Calvert, Juliana Piscitelli and Olivia Jackson ran 10:41.85. The 4x400 team of Aguilar, Ashlyn Meehan, Gunderson and Diglio ran a season-best 4:11.29. Sophia Albe placed seventh in the javelin with 75-7. In the high jump, Meehan tied for fifth at 4-6, with Herring tied for eighth at 4-6.
Guilford finished fourth out of 19 scoring teams with 61.5 points.
Photo courtesy of Douglas Grimes
Guilford girls' lacrosse defeats Cheshire 9-8 in overtime.
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at Legacy Theatre Provides Lots of Laughs and Gentle Satire Nunsense
Review THEATER
By
No one will mistake the lighthearted as great theater. But when well done — and this production at Legacy Theatre is — it can be an enjoyable and funny evening in the theater.
Nunsense
When playwright Dan Goggin wrote the original in 1985, he hit a gold mine. Not only was the show a success, but it led to a franchise of shows featuring the same five characters. There was , , and others.
Nunsense 2: The Second Coming Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical
None lived up to the original. The original ran more than 3,600 performances off-Broadway, has been translated into more than 20 languages, and was made into a TV movie.
It makes gentle fun of nuns — in this case, the order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. They’re holding a fundraiser to raise money to bury four of their sisters. I won’t explain why they need the money or how the four sisters died; that’s part of the humor.
What you have is a series of songs, scenes that are more like skits, and jokes, many of which were old when the show was new. A few sly references to more recent events have been added. Plus, there’s a bare-bones plot. The music and lyrics are serviceable and pleasant. You won’t leave the theater remembering any of them.
What you will remember is the fine cast.
Nunsense
The success of any production of depends upon the director and the cast. In this case, Legacy Theatre has hit it out of the park. We have the stereotypical characters: the stern Mother Superior (Jenifer Smith as Sister Mary Regina), Sister Mary
Hubert (Keisha T. Fraser), the head of the novices who is yearning to replace the Mother Superior. Then there’s the young novice (Melissa Goldberg), the easily confused Sister Mary Amnesia, and the tough girl from Brooklyn, Sister Robert Anne (a fine Sarah Viera).
The coup in the casting was getting Semina De Laurentis to play Sister Mary Amnesia. She created the role in the original production and appeared in the two films. She mines every bit of
humor, as well as creating an endearing character. She also displays a wide vocal range. De Laurentis recently retired as artistic director of Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre, which she founded.
The cast works together like a well-oiled machine, playing off each other with humor. It seems that any play about nuns needs to have some audience participation. In , no one gets dragged up on stage, and the humor is gentle.
Nunsense
Some glitches occurred when I saw the play; it was only the third performance: a slight mic problem and the band (unseen but at the rear of the stage) occasionally overpowering the singers. I’m sure those have been fixed. The timing will also pick up as the cast settles into their roles.
The show runs more than two hours. A faster pace or some judicious cuts would improve it; it seemed to drag toward the end.
Jill Brunelle is both music director and conductor. James
Gray, as director and choreographer, created a delightful tap dance for the nuns; he makes effective use of the stage and the access to the audience without overdoing it. He was assisted by Robert Mintz as associate director and choreographer. runs through Sunday, May 17; many performances are already sold out. Tickets are available at LegacyTheatre CT.org. Nunsense
Nunsense
Special to Living
Karen Isaacs
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Jennifer Smith stars in at Legacy Theatre. Nunsense
Semina De Laurentis, Melissa Goldberg, and Sarah Viera perform in Nunsense
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Semina De Laurentis reprises her role as Sister Mary Amnesia.
From left, Semina De Laurentis, Keisha T. Fraser, Jennifer Smith, Sarah Viera, and Melissa Goldberg appear in at Legacy Theatre. Nunsense
For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 7
The Chocolate Factory of Life: Cellular Machines and Transporters
: 10 a.m. Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. Presented by Sue Moon, Deepanshi, and Nghia Le of Yale Science in the News. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
Blackstone Game Group
: 5 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Casual game group for adults. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Kids Book Discussion on Handling Emotions
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features a discussion of the graphic novel by David DeGrand led by Stephanie Schillat of the East Shore Health District. Free copies of the book available in advance. For ages 7 to 11. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
I Am Not Okay
Evening Tech Support and Exploration
: 6 p.m. Acton
Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Technology help sessions. Free. No registration required. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
National Day of Prayer
: 6 p.m. Branford Green, 1011 Main St. Features prayers for government, the church, education, family, business and the workplace, the military, and arts, entertainment, and media. Free and open to the public. For info, contact Marion Lovig at 203-6757056.
On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love with Marjan Kamali
The Lion Women of Tehran
FRIDAY, MAY 8
Calendar for the Week of May 7, 2026
Killingworth Evergreen Garden Club Plant Sale
: 6:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Talk on local history during the American Revolution presented by the Essex Historical Society. Free. Registration suggested. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Revolution Close to Home: Five Lives in Early Potapaug during America’s Turning Point Roses and Rosé
: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Rd., Madison. Event featuring rosé tastings and floral arrangements. For info or tickets, visit eventvesta.com/events/143152/tickets.
Friends of the Guilford Free Library Spring Book Sale
: 7 p.m. Virtual. Author talk discussing . Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org. : 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford. Features a sale of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. Proceeds benefit library programs and services. For info, call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Tots and Tunes
: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features songs, stories, and movement for children ages 18 months and older and their siblings. Parent or guardian must attend. No registration required. For info, call 203-315-6020.
Drop-In Tech Help
: 1 to 4 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features oneon-one technology assistance. Bring a device for assistance. Sessions limited to 30 minutes. First come, first served. No registration required. For info, call 203-3156020.
History Happy Hour: The 93rd Anniversary of Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History and Legacy & Camp Hadley
: 6 p.m. Allis-Bushnell House Museum, 853 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Features a presentation by author and historian Marty Podskoch. Hosted by the Madison Historical Society. Suggested donation: $15 general admission, $10 for Madison Historical Society members. Advance registration requested. For info or tickets, contact 203-245-4567 or office@madisonhistory.org, or visit madisonhistory.org.
Military Whist Card Party
: Doors open at 6 p.m.; games begin at 6:45 p.m. St. Monica Church Hall, 1321 Middletown Ave., Northford. Card games, raffles, and light refreshments. Cost: $12. Advance tickets required. For info or tickets, call 203-239-5378.
Killingworth Historical Society Annual Tag and Bake Sale
: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parmelee Farm, 465 Route 81, Killingworth. Features vintage collectibles, small furniture, fabric and craft items, books, toys, and baked goods. Proceeds benefit educational programs and preservation efforts. For info or to donate items, call 860395-9955.
Leete’s Island Garden Club Plant Sale
: 9 a.m. to noon. Southwest corner of the Guilford Green, 79 Whitfield St. Features member-grown annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and hanging plants. Proceeds benefit civic projects and educational programs. Rain date: Sunday, May 10. For info, call 203-453-0780.
Goodness Grows Plant Sale
: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. North Madison Congregational Church, 1271 Durham Rd., Madison. Annual plant sale featuring member-grown perennials, annuals, herbs, hanging baskets, garden goods, and gardening demonstrations. Live music and baked goods available. Rain or shine. For info, contact 203-421-3241 or office@northmadisoncc.org, or visit northmadisoncc.org/goodnessgrows.
Friends of the Guilford Free Library Spring Book Sale
: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford. Features a sale of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. Proceeds benefit library programs and services. For info, call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Caregiver Support Group
: 10 to 11 a.m. Women and Family Life Center, Carriage House, 96 Fair St., Guilford. Ongoing support group for family and informal caregivers. Cost: Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-458-6699 or email programs@womenandfamilylife.org.
Blackstone Library Tour
SATURDAY, MAY 9 : 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parmelee Farm, 465 Route 81, Killingworth. Annual plant sale featuring locally grown perennials, hanging baskets, houseplants, and planters for Mother’s Day. Rain or shine. Proceeds benefit the club’s scholarship fund and town gardens. For info, call 203-988-1528.
Killingworth Town-Wide Tag Sale:
8 a.m. Locations throughout Killingworth, with a central site at the Courtyard, 176 Rte. 81. Hosted by the Killingworth Women’s Organization. Features tag sales across town, plus a “Snag-A-Bag” sale and Juniorettes thrift shop fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the KWO Scholarship Fund and other charitable efforts. For info or to register, email tagsale@kwoct.org or visit kwoct.org.
: 10 to 11 a.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Guided tour of the library. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Saturday Sleuths Book Club
he Key Lime Crime
: 10 to 11:30 a.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: T by Lucy Burdette. Snacks will be provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-2457365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
See page 26
This Production of Tries Too Hard Native Gardens
By Karen Isaacs
Special to Living
The production of , now at Hartford Stage through Sunday, May 10, is the third production of the play that I’ve seen in the last three years.
I left the first two (at Ivoryton and Westport Country Playhouse) having thoroughly enjoyed the play and the productions. This time, my reaction was different.
I’m still trying to figure out why. Does the play have flaws that I hadn’t recognized? Is it that the directorial concept of this production was off? Perhaps part of the issue is the change in the political climate in the last two years.
The idea of the play sounds both promising and fun: a young couple buys a fixer-upper home in an established, uppermiddle-class Washington, D.C., neighborhood. Immediately, there is a conflict between the wife (Tania) and Frank, the husband of the older couple who have lived there for decades. The conflict is about their gardens. Frank has worked tirelessly to create what we might call an English garden; it is manicured, pruned, fertilized, and sprayed. Frank is determined to win the neighborhood contest. Tania, on the other hand, already envisions taking their rundown backyard and planting it with native plants that attract bees, birds, and mosquitoes. She is horrified at the thought of using insect sprays or pesticides.
Playwright Karen Zacarías and director
Review THEATER
Nicole A. Watson try to expand this conflict into much more, stretching it well beyond its natural limits. In this production, the play focuses on ethnicity.
Frank and Virginia, the long-term residents, are what might be called WASPs — white professionals, with Frank tracing his roots back generations. Tania and Pablo are Hispanic. She is a doctoral student in anthropology who grew up in New Mexico.
But Zacarías adds a twist. Virginia is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Poland. Pablo grew up in Chile as a member of a powerful family accustomed to servants and limousines. He was disowned and disinherited when he married Tania and is now working for a prestigious and powerful D.C. law firm and striving to make partner.
But more than differences in gardening philosophies threaten to bring all four to violence: while preparing to replace their old fence, Pablo discovers that their yard includes 2 feet of Frank’s yard, including some of his flower beds. What begins civilly soon escalates.
It becomes preachy and polemical. Each couple ups the temperature. What had been a pleasant, casual relationship soon
is hostile. Virginia — and Frank in particular — seem to have a knack for saying insensitive things to which Tania is very sensitive. Today, they would be called microaggressions. Each side stakes out a position and will not budge.
It goes so far that Tania calls Frank’s plants “colonialists.”
The result is that while the audience is laughing, the humor seems nastier and more uncomfortable.
Was this what Zacarías and Watson wanted?
Zacarías has created strong female characters: both Tania and Virginia have succeeded while facing barriers due to their sex. Virginia is an engineer working in the defense industry.
The scenic design by Lawrence E. Moten III exaggerates the run-down condition of Tania and Pablo’s new home. Yet, while a sagging fence starts the conflict, his fence does not sag even one inch. Was this intentional, or was I the only one who noticed?
The four main cast members are very good at portraying the hardening positions of their characters, even if at times these seem unrealistic. Greg Wood’s Frank is obsessed with his garden and winning, while also unaware of his insensitivity; he truly does not understand why Tania is so upset with him. Wood keeps him from becoming a total stereotype of the privileged, condescending white male. As Virginia, Judith Lightfoot Clarke walks a tightrope between portraying the character’s steely determination — developed as
she had to fight for recognition and success in a male-dominated field — and a recognition of her similarities with Tania. Alina Collins Maldonado as Tania and Bradley Tejeda as Pablo try to keep the characters from becoming overly emotional stereotypes. In their cases, neither the playwright nor the director helps them. can be entertaining theater. As sometimes happens, playwrights and directors try to cram too many issues and too much meaning into a work.
Tickets are available at Hartford Stage.org. Native Gardens
Native Gardens
Photo by Charles Erickson
Photo by Charles Erickson
From left, Greg Wood, Alina Collins Maldonado, Bradley Tejeda, and Judith Lightfoot Clarke in Native Gardens
Judith Lightfoot Clarke, left, and Alina Collins Maldonado in Native Gardens
Photo by Charles Erickson
Greg Wood appears in at Hartford Stage. Native Gardens
‘Aw, Shucks!’ Explores History and Future of Connecticut Oysters
Connecticut oysters are so prized they were designated the state shellfish in 1989. Historians note, however, that this was not always the case.
The New Haven Museum will kick off the summer season at the Pardee-Morris House with a program exploring one of the region’s oldest heritage foods — and how it is helping preserve the coastline — during “Aw, Shucks! The Extraordinary History & Outlook for CT Oysters,” on Sunday, June 7, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
The NH250 program features two presentations. At 12:30 p.m., Tim Macklin will discuss the critical role oysters play in the ecosystem and how the nonprofit he cofounded, Collective Oyster Recycling and Restoration (CORR), is working to preserve the coastline for future generations.
At 2 p.m., Brett Palfreyman, associate professor of American history at Wagner College, will present “Bringing Oysters Back to the Northeast,” tracing how oysters — once a dietary staple — were declared unsafe to eat in the early 1900s after years of overharvesting and increasing pollution.
Macklin’s presentation, “Shell Recycling & Oyster Habitat Restoration,” will offer insight into shell recycling, habitat restoration, and the environmental benefits oysters bring to Long Island Sound.
“They improve water quality, promote biodiversity, stabilize shorelines, and support both commercial and recreational shellfishing communities,” Macklin says.
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Despite their importance, oyster shells are in short supply, and many are discarded rather than recycled.
“My partner and I were surprised that shell recycling was not being implemented in Connecticut,” Macklin says. “Following a successful pilot program in Fairfield, we expanded the initiative statewide in 2023
: 10 a.m. to noon. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Demonstration by Paul Loescher. Free and open to the public. For info, email Marianne@RTDTECH.com or visit madisonartsocietyct.org.
: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All the King’s Horses Equine Rescue, 628 Forest Rd., Northford. Community event featuring local animal welfare organizations including All the King’s Horses Equine Rescue, Branford Compassion Club, Water N Webs, and The Greater New Haven Cat Project. Features vendors, educational materials, and animals. For info, contact 203-815-4013 or allthekingshorsesequinerescue@gmail.com.
Homes Walking Tour
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chester. Self-guided walking tour of seven historically significant private homes hosted by the Chester Historical Society. Ticket holders will receive tour details and locations after purchase. Cost: $40 early bird; $35 for Chester Historical Society members; $50 day of tour. For info or tickets, visit chesterhistoricalsociety.org.
and developed CORR.”
The nonprofit now collaborates with 21 municipalities, 51 restaurants and seafood businesses, and seven oyster festivals, and has recycled nearly 964,000 pounds of shell to date, helping provide habitat for millions of oysters.
Palfreyman notes that New York Har-
: 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Down the Lane Farm, 18 Reservoir Rd., Killingworth. Features honey products, handcrafted gifts, tastings and sales of artisan sourdough breads from BROTworkshop, and informal educational sessions on beekeeping and sourdough bread making. For info, call 203619-3976 or visit downthelanefarm.com.
: 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Casual puzzle group; materials provided. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
: 1 p.m. Chester Public Library, 21 W. Main St. Participants will design a mug using infusible ink markers. Materials provided. Free and open to all. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chester Public Library. For info or to register (required), contact 860-526-0018 or chesterkidlib@gmail.com.
Patriotic Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
: 1 p.m. Acton
Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Puzzle competition for all ages. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
bor was once the greatest oyster habitat on the planet, with oystering a booming industry providing food and jobs. The same was true in New Haven.
By the early 1900s, however, pollution and overharvesting led officials to declare New York Harbor oysters unsafe to eat in 1927. In Connecticut, population growth, industrialization, marine traffic, and overfishing contributed to declining oyster beds after 1920, with production dropping sharply after 1950.
In the past decade, organizations have worked to restore oyster populations. Palfreyman points to efforts such as the Billion Oyster Project, which aims to seed one billion oysters by 2050.
Oysters play a key environmental role as filter feeders — each can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day — and as ecosystem builders, creating reefs that provide habitat for marine life. They also help protect shorelines from storm surges and erosion.
Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics and stay for the afternoon. Free tours of the historic house will be available from noon to 4 p.m. Weather updates will be posted on the museum’s social media.
The New Haven Museum thanks community partner WSHU 91.1 FM for supporting the 2026 summer season.
The Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road, dates to about 1780 and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. For more information or to register, visit newhavenmuseum.org.
Photography 101: Composition
: 2 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Workshop on light, white balance, and composition. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Burning of the Ships Parade and Celebration
: 2 p.m.
Begins at Essex Town Hall, 29 West Ave. and proceeds down Main Street to the Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex. Commemorates the attack on Essex during the War of 1812. Features performances by fife and drum corps from Connecticut and Massachusetts and a demonstration by the U.S. Navy Silver Dolphins. Hosted by the Sailing Masters of 1812. Free and open to the public. For info, call Bob at 860-304-1858.
Songs We All Know
: 3 p.m. Clinton Town Hall, 54 East Main St., Clinton. Spring concert by the Shoreline Chorale featuring guest artist Dylan Armstrong. For info or tickets, visit shorelinechorale.org.
See page 27
Press Release from New Haven Museum
Photo courtesy of New Haven Museum Smith Brothers Oysters, Oyster Point, New Haven Museum Collection
Madison Art Society: Framing Watercolors Without Glass
Animal Welfare Day
Historic
Down the Lane Farm Season Opening Event
Piece by Piece: A Community Puzzling Group
DIY Mug Workshop
Local Impresario Previews New Opera
About Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Press Release from Shoreline Opera Club
A pre-performance lecture about the Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of will be presented by Alan Mann, artistic director of the Opera Theater of Connecticut, on Tuesday, May 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library. The opera will be broadcast live from the Met on Saturday, May 30. The event is co-sponsored by the Shoreline Opera Club and Shoreline Village Connecticut. Registration for the prebroadcast talk is available at guilfordfreelibrary.org/events.
American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzosoprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by bari- tone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. The vibrant new production is inspired by Frida and Diego’s paintings.
Alan Mann is artistic director of Opera Theater of Connecticut, the state’s oldest opera company, now in its 41st season. His work in professional theater and opera has taken him from New York’s Lincoln Center to London’s West End, the Edinburgh Festival, the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival, the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and Broadway. His
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directing assignments span traditional opera, contemporary opera, comic opera, musical theater, and classic and modern theater.
Mann is also a frequent guest speaker, known for his “Opera Talks,” a series of informal, informative presentations on operas and composers. He has served as master of ceremonies for numerous concerts, sharing anecdotes and insights into the “human” side of opera.
Friends of the Farm River and Estuary Riverside Dance
SATURDAY, MAY 9 AND
SUNDAY, MAY 10
Mother’s Day Weekend Bird Walks
: 7 to 10 p.m. Italian American Social Club, 40 Hamre Ln., Branford. Features music, dancing, refreshments, games, and a cash bar to benefit Friends of the Farm River and Estuary. Cost: $25; free for children under 15. For info or tickets, visit friendsoffarmriver.org. : 9 a.m. Stony Creek Trolley Trail, meet at the far end of West Point Road across from Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd., Stony Creek. Led by local birder Chris Woerner. Features guided walks to identify migrating and resident birds by sight and sound along the trail and
He frequently serves as a judge for competitions, including the Jenny Lind National Competition for Sopranos, the Connecticut Opera Guild’s National Vocal Competition, the San Antonio Opera Competition, and Opera Theater of Connecticut’s Vocal Competition, as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition.
Shoreline Village Connecticut is a nonprofit, member-led community of active,
the Branford Land Trust’s Vedder property. Bring water and binoculars, if available. No dogs. Hosted by the Branford Land Trust. Free and open to the public. For info, call 203-483-5263 or email info@branfordlandtrust.org
Mother’s Day Weekend: Scenic Trolley Rides and Craft Activity
: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven. Features scenic trolley rides along the Farm River. On Saturday, children can create a handmade Mother’s Day craft. Mothers and grandmothers receive free admission. General admission for other guests. For info, call 203-467-6927 or visit shorelinetrolley.org.
SUNDAY, MAY 10
Mother’s Day Grand Buffet
: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd., Madison. Features a
resourceful, and forward-thinking people dedicated to helping one another age in place. As part of the Village movement, its mission is to redefine how and where people age by providing services and activities that empower seniors to remain in the homes and neighborhoods they love. More information is available at shorelinevillagect.org.
The Shoreline Opera Club builds community among opera enthusiasts. Members enjoy opportunities to enter lotteries for free tickets to the Met’s Live in HD broadcasts, participate in post-performance discussions, attend expert-led talks, and receive curated resources about upcoming operas. For more information, email ShorelineOperaClub@gmail.com.
Mother’s Day brunch buffet. For info or reservations, visit madisonbeachhotelevents.com/events/mothers-daybrunch.
Paper Making Workshop
: 2 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd.., Branford. Features a paper-making workshop using recycled materials led by visiting artist Bella Bartner. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Free and open to all ages. For info or to register, call 203-488-8702.
Tango and Jazz Concert
: 2 to 3 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Performance by The Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet. Free. Registration required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
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El
Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Photo courtesy of Opera Theater of Connecticut Alan Mann, artistic director of Opera Theater of Connecticut, will present a pre-performance lecture May 26 at the Guilford Free Library.
Photo by Zenith Richards/Metropolitan Opera Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are the subjects of , broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera on May 30.
El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Continued from page 27
MONDAY, MAY 11
Book Discussion
: 10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Book:
The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood By Helene Cooper
. Facilitated by educator Pamela Asmus. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
Drop-In Tech Help
: 4 to 7 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features one-on-one technology assistance. Bring a device for assistance. Sessions limited to 30 minutes. First come, first served. No registration required. For info, call 203-315-6020.
Branford Land Trust Annual Meeting
:
5:30 p.m. Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features the election of incoming directors followed by “Access to the Outdoors: Disability, Grit, and Belonging in Nature,” a presentation by Justin Brownell. Refreshments and fellowship follow the presentation. Free and open to the public. Assistive listening devices and ASL interpretation available. For info, contact 203-483-5263 or info@branfordlandtrust.org.
Pasta for Pups
Roche, visitor services manager of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, on salt marsh ecology and the history of haymaking in local marshes. Hosted by Leete’s Island Garden Club. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, contact 203-453-0780 or kayclaiborn@comcast.net.
Read to a Therapy Dog
: 5 to 6 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Children in grades 3 through 5 can read to Libby, a trained therapy dog. Participants may bring a book or select one from the library. Registration required. For info or to register, email cveenema@nbranfordlibraries.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Bus Trip: Tour of the Living Village at the Yale Divinity School
: 9:30 a.m. Meet at St. George Church parking lot, 33 Whitfield St., Guilford. Features a walking tour of the Living Village residential complex. Suggested reading: Laudato si by Pope Francis. Led by Greg Sterling, dean of the Yale Divinity School. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $10. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-4538086 or visit ssill.org.
Make Your Own Pine Cone Bird Feeder
:
Creative Fun For Kids at Gillette Castle this Month
At the visitor center of Gillette Castle on Saturday, May 16, inventors and artists of all ages can try their hand at designing innovative doors like those inside the famous castle.
Local author Kimberly Kenna will host a creative workshop inspired by William Gillette and the new middle-grade novel Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances. Attendees are invited to help reimagine the castle’s famous 47 doors. Children will be guided to design and build secret cardboard doors that blend into a wall and open with latches, levers, and sliders.
“We are excited to host an event for young folk,” says Lynn Wilkinson, president of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. “William Gillette was full of whimsy, and we think that kids of all ages will enjoy the creative challenge of making these doors.”
TUESDAY, MAY 12
Inside the World of Hummingbirds
: 6 to 9 p.m. The Lodge Restaurant, 640 Silver Sands Rd., East Haven. Features a fundraiser for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter with a buffet of pizza, pasta, and salad, raffles, and surprises. Hosted by Apizza Abate. Cost: $45. Cash bar available. For info, visit eventbrite.com and search "Pasta for Pups". :
10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Presented by Joe Attwater, conservation and education coordinator for the Connecticut Audubon Society’s RTP Estuary Center in Old Lyme. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
The History of Salt Haymaking in New England Marshes
: 12:30 p.m. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Features a presentation by Shaun
4 to 5 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd.., Branford. Features a drop-in workshop to make bird feeders using pine cones, seeds, sunflower butter, and wooden ornaments. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Free and open to all ages. No registration required. For info, call 203-488-8702.
Create Your Own 250th Keepsake
:
6 p.m. Pine Orchard Chapel, 25 Chapel Drive, Branford. Features a workshop led by Courtney Rosenberg to create framed and embellished needle-felt hearts. Registration required. For info or to register, visit pineorchardchapel.com.
History to Legend to Myth: Remembering the Revolution in Connecticut
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Presentation by Richard Franklin Donohue. Free. Registration required. For info, call 203488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
This free event for 25 children will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and pre-registration is required at gillettecastlefriends.org. Parents are welcome to stay and join in the fun. Books signed by the author will be available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.
Kimberly Kenna and her children’s books have received recognition from the Nautilus Book Award, the Eric Hoffer Award, the Foreword INDIES Award, and the Green Earth Book Award. A former fifth grade teacher, she enjoys bringing her books to life through workshops and activities that spark creativity in young readers.
Though the mansion itself is closed to the public, the park at 67 River Road in East Haddam remains open, and visitors may stroll the grounds during regular hours (8 a.m. until sunset daily, yearround). The castle opens for the season on Saturday, May 23. During the open season, visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance through the state park reservation system.
See page 29
Kenna’s frequent visits to Gillette Castle State Park inspired the setting of her latest novel, Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances. In the book, 13-year-old Lola spends the summer with her agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his ramshackle mansion on the Connecticut River. While grieving the loss of her twin, she becomes obsessed with finishing a project she believes will magically keep her out of Bad Girls Boarding School. But mishaps in a Zen garden, a glitchy projector that produces holographic messages from her late aunt, a beached houseboat, and a displaced wolf upend everything and force her to rethink her mission. A warm and heartfelt story of inner strength, Lola Gillette is available wherever books are sold.
The park is nestled between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme. Many of its trails follow a former railroad bed created for a narrow-gauge track installed by William Gillette, the late Connecticut stage actor who built his unique fieldstone home more than a century ago. Trail maps and videos of the estate are available on the Friends website.
The mission of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park is to preserve and promote the legacy of William Gillette and support the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in conserving park grounds and restoring the castle. Memberships help finance park and structural improvements while preserving the estate and Gillette’s legacy. For more information, visit gillette castlefriends.org.
Press Release from Friends of Gillette Castle State Park
Photo courtesy of Friends of Gillette Castle Local author Kimberly Kenna will host a creative workshop inspired by William Gillette on Saturday, May 16, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Registration is required. Visit gillettecastlefriends.org for details.
Oddfellows Teen Repertory Company Premieres
Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Press Release from Oddfellows Playhouse
Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company will present the world premiere of Thursday, May 14, through Saturday, May 16, and Friday, May 22, through Saturday, May 23 at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington St. Performances are at 7 p.m. May 14, 15, 16, 22, and 23, with a 2 p.m. matinee May 23. A “pay what you can” preview will be held May 14 at 7 p.m. is an original comedy written and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Dic Wheeler. The high-energy production blends theater, circus, and Commedia dell’Arte. Beginning in Melilli, Sicily, in 1626, three performers are swept into a time-travel adventure led by a dead philosophercomedian, Mel Chomsky, journeying from Melilli to Mattabesset, ancient Greece, the American Revolution, and beyond. The play explores the ongoing tension between democracy and authoritarianism.
Mel
Wheeler, who will leave the Playhouse in June, says the production reflects both his artistic influences and current events. “I wanted my final show at Oddfellows to celebrate my life-long love of physical comedy, Commedia, and circus, but also be a commentary about the current state of the world,” Wheeler says. “The play combines the broad comedy of Mel Brooks with the worldview of Noam Chomsky, throwing in a dollop of . The cast includes familiar characters like Socrates, George Washington, Marie Antoinette,
Doctor Who
Continued from page 28
and Pope Leo X, plus many others throughout time and space, but at the heart are three archetypes of Commedia — the miser Pantalone, the hungry
Drop-In Tech Help
servant Arlecchino, and his love and protector Colombina — all led by their tour guide Mel Chomsky.”
The production features a cast of 17 per-
formers ages 14-21. It includes original music by Eric Kuhn, scenic design by Dan Schmidt, costume design by Elizabeth Saylor, sound design by Joseph Getter, choreography by Marcella Trowbridge, fight choreography by Meg Buckner Furtick, lighting design by Aaron Westcott, and properties design by Pam Lang. Jasmine Peck is technical director, Kayla Bucholz is stage manager, and assistant directors are Maegan Fuller and Lochlan Reeder. The lobby display is researched and designed by Sasha Nelson.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children and students. “Big Hearted Oddfellow” tickets are available for $30.
The production contains strong language and absurd situations.
Tickets are available at events. ticketleap.com/tickets/ oddfellowsplayhouse/mel-chomsky-s-history-of-the-world. For more information, call 860-347-6143, email info@odd fellows.org, or visit oddfellows.org.
The Teen Repertory Company’s 2026 production is supported in part by a Semiquincentennial Arts Engagement Grant from the City of Middletown Arts and Culture Office and production support from ARTFARM. Additional support for the 2025-26 season is provided by the Tinty Foundation, the Cornelia T. Bailey Charitable Trust, the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, and the George and Grace Long Foundation, along with contributions from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Fund for Greater Hartford, and other public and private supporters.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
Trip: An Insider’s Tour of the Blackstone Library, Branford
: 6 to 8 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Participants will decorate two garden rocks to take home. Supplies provided. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com. : James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Participants provide their own transportation. Features a tour led by Katy McNicol, library director. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $10. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features oneon-one technology assistance. Bring a device for assistance. Sessions limited to 30 minutes. First come, first served. No registration required. For info, call 203-3156020.
Support Group for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregivers
: 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Facilitated by Karen LaBanca. Features support and discussion for caregivers in a shared group setting. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Senior Series 6: Home Maintenance 101 for Seniors: Protecting Your Home and Your Equity
: 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The Orchard House, 421 Shore Dr., Branford. Cost: $10. Sixth in a six-part educational series designed for older adults and the adult children who support them. Each session offers practical guidance on topics related
to aging in place, downsizing, home care, and senior living options. Participants can attend any or all sessions; there is no obligation to attend the full series. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.
Jenny Lind’s America
: 6 to 7 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Musical performance by Zoe Vandermeer. Free. Registration required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.
Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Chomsky’s History of the World
Photo by John Ward
Two performers from Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company appear in costume for , running May 14-16 and May 22-23 in Middletown. Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Patriotic Garden Rock Painting
Page Turners
MadMabel bySallyHepworth
This book had me hooked from the first page! Elsie “Mad Mabel” Fitzpatrick is a curmudgeonly, often hilarious, outspoken 81-year-old with a dark past that she has concealed for more than 60 years. When an extremely nosy but wellmeaning young neighbor tries to befriend her, Mabel finds the past catching up with her. Highly recommended!
— Marilyn, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Every other week, we invite local booksellers to submit suggestions for the best books on shelves now—it’s all part of our mission to keep our readers informed, up-to-date, and entertained. View previous Page Turners at www.zip06.com/pageturners.
Serafina is a fabulous character full of personality! I fell in love with her right away. In this debut story, she is not excited to be forced to take swimming lessons, but the reason she finally jumps in will melt your heart.
— Heather, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Yesteryear byCaroClaireBurke
This book is wild and unhinged in all the best ways. With a narrator you love to hate and a plot full of twists, it combines dark humor, suspense and cultural commentary as it delves into themes of motherhood, ambition, faith and the curated perfection of social media. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read that is sure to spark plenty of interesting conversations.
— Tijae, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
AnatomyofanAlibi byAshleyElston
This novel drew me in with its elaborate scheming and kept me hooked as the chapters slowly unraveled more mysteries. Camille and Aubrey form an uneasy and unwanted alliance to snoop on Camille’s husband, but it all falls apart when he’s found murdered the morning after. Swap between the before, during and after of the alibi as the women struggle to cover their own tracks and keep their alibis solid.
— Josh, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Real Estate Transactions
BRANFORD
860.876.7340
: Venturee
LLC to 540 East Main LLC, $300,000 on April 16 : Charlene Moschette to Karen Fahey, $291,500 on April 14
: Cmmm Holdings
LLC to Chaching Co, $850,000 on April 13
: Karen Fahey to Andrea Doyle, $335,000 on April 14
: Peter M. Tassmer to First Class Prop LLC, $244,000 on April 13
: John T. Wolfenden to Amy Fracasso, $905,000 on April 14
6 Montgomery Parkway
: John T. Wolfenden to Amy Fracasso, $905,000 on April 14
30 Pepperwood Lane
: Roland and Melissa Guglielmi to Annette Charlevois, $733,169 on April 15
49 Rose Street Unit 204
: Colton
Kinney to Connie I. Bates, $270,000 on April 17 : Ann C Billings Real Estate Trust and
121 Watch Hill Road Unit
Ann C. Billings to Melinda J. Mann, $335,100 on April 13
18 Happy Acres Road
: Sean Nolan to First Class Prop LLC, $261,000 on
April 13
: Daniel W. and Isabel J. Acampora to Papoosha Re Investors LLC, $600,000 on April 13 DEEP RIVER
272 Westbrook Road
EAST HAVEN
23 Birch Lane Unit H
: Jason Cusack to Jagdeep Sekhon, $144,900 on
April 16
124 Estelle Road
: Ralph V. Streeto to Carolyn C. Montgomery, $315,600 on April 14
8 Hill Street
: Lori A. Aiello to Brian Onze, $520,000 on April 16
: Wendy W. and Ronald L. Hughes to Victoria D. Vermeer, $580,000 on April 17 ESSEX
3 Donald Road
GUILFORD
258 Nut Plains Road
: Kelly Ward and Irving Minott to Dante and Jordan Parisi, $605,000 on April 14
17 Wauwinet Court Unit 17
: Karen
L. Obenauf and Quonnipaug Hls Condo Section to Akach Dev Group LLC, $128,000 on April 14
KILLINGWORTH
214 Green Hill Road
: Warren K.
Johnsen and Rachel A. Berwick to Patricia Ann and Ericka Norberg, $899,000 on April 15
Heffernan and Holly M. Robins to Cori Ramos and Jorge R. Gonzalez, $760,000 on April 13
25 Williamsburg Circle
: Stephanie L. and Paul Double to Victoria G.
Schaefer and Angelo V. Pietri, $900,000 on April 15
NORTH BRANFORD
22 Carlen Drive
: Estate of Ronald Pizzano Sr. and Whitehead & Munson
Conservat to Juliana Carchia and Anthony Fassett, $301,000 on April 13
20 Edward Road
NORTH HAVEN
45 Bradley Street
: Donald R Bachmann Irt and Laurie Buick to Kevin McCoy and Autumn Penna, $410,000 on April 9
42 Butler Road
: Butler Road LLC to Rga LLC, $220,000 on April 10
6 Carriage Drive
: Richard L. and Cora T. Perrone to William A. and Beth Ann Gambardella, $603,500 on April 10
16 Fieldstone Court Unit 16
: Carmela Marino to Deborah S. and
Mark B. Camner, $469,000 on April 10
216 Quinnipiac Avenue
: Bartlett Ft and Christopher Bartlett to Dominic Adonna, $157,500 on April 15
1793 Ridge Road
: Deborah Miller to Alexis Wheeler, $410,000 on April 14
26 Susan Lane to David John Liptak and Sydney Rossi, $415,000 on April 15
: Jonathan M. Sandor
: Fort Path Farm Hldg LLC to 12 Forest Hills LLC, $68,000 on April 16
: Real estate transactions are published using publicly available records and are matters of public record. Listings are not removed in response to general privacy requests. Removal will only be considered in cases involving a documented and credible personal safety concern. Requests may be submitted to zip06@shorepublishing.com
11 Tamarack Lane Gaboury, $715,666 on April 16
: F Vigliotti
Const Co LLC to Sylvain and Martha
7 Village Circle Unit 7
: State Street
Dev LLC to Paul and Susan Poniatowski, $836,475 on April 17
: Margaret Carlson to Mirella L. Cole, $437,500 on April 16
Copyright material of Banker and Tradesman / the Commercial Record and The Warren Group.
For past transactions, visit zip06.com/ realestate.
SEEKING SPONSORS FOR OUR 2026 EVENT
Every year, Shore Publishing/Zip06.com recognizes 15 volunteers in the communities we serve who help fulfill the Shoreline’s promise as a place of opportunity, wellbeing, and safety for all. The honorees will be celebrated at a special event at Woodwinds on June 24th surrounded by their peers and fellow community leaders.
Sponsorship packages provide excellent advertising opportunities - but most importantly, align your brand or business with the mission of The Beacon Awards.
For additional information about opportunities, contact your Sales Representative or Elle Rahilly (e.rahilly@theday.com) to learn more.
