By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
The Guilford Charter Revision Commission has spent its first meetings of the year discussing possible changes to legal language governing town meetings, budget referendums and local elections, according to commission Chairman Brendan Sharkey. The 11-member commission has held four
Members of the Guilford High School boys lacrosse team celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating Fairfield Ludlowe, 9-2, to capture the CIAC Class L state title June 14 at Rafferty Stadium on the campus of Fairfield University.
By Pam Young
Correspondent
For Kayla Farnham, music has always been about more than performance.
Whether she is writing songs, teaching students, or performing for audiences across Connecticut, she views music as a way to connect people, tell stories, and build community.
“I grew up surrounded by music,” Kayla says.
Born in Torrington and raised primarily in Pomfret, Kayla was introduced to music at an early age. Her parents performed together as a folk music duo, and she began playing piano when she was 3½ years old.
“There were always musical instruments in the house and records playing,” she says.
Her musical interests eventually expanded beyond classical piano. While studying music in high school, Kayla began exploring songwriting and performance, encouraged by a chorus teacher who recognized her talent for creating original work.
“She heard me playing an original song one day and asked me to share it in a class performance,” Kayla says.
That experience helped spark a career that developed gradually through open mic nights, local performances, and opportunities to perform her own music.
Kayla studied at Furman University in South Carolina and Hampshire College in Massachusetts before completing a degree in human services and mental health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Alongside her studies, she continued performing and building a reputation as a singer-songwriter.
“I was working professionally full time by the time I was 21 years old and have been com-
pletely independent,” she says.
Today, Kayla performs throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, presenting original music, private events, weddings, and a Carole King tribute show. Her work blends contemporary folk influences with themes of resilience, growth, and the shared experiences that connect people.
“My inspiration for my music comes from my curiosity about the human experience and how it pertains to growth and resiliency,” she says. “I love to step into different character roles and explore the challenges they overcome and how they change.”
One of the most notable chapters of her career came when she was selected to serve as Connecticut State Troubadour, a position dedicated to celebrating Connecticut culture, history, and music through community engagement.
“I first found out about it from previous Troubadours,” Kayla says.
See Kayla Farnham page 4
Cheers to the voters of Guilford who, on the third try, finally passed the town education budget on June 16. Regretfully, it took three tries, the reduction of the budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the loss of several teaching and coaching positions for us to get there.
At the town meeting on June 9 for public discussion about the school budget, it was disappointing to see how much apparent misinformation about school resources and costs was put forward by those wanting the budget cut even further.
We all have a stake in the well-being of our schools for the health of our future, our community and our property values. Cutting our education budget borders on self-sabotage because the more cuts, the higher the risk of causing a drop in local property values and market demand for Guilford homes.
A key factor buyers consider when looking at homes is the quality of the
public schools. Research shows that in towns with highly rated schools, homes sell for more, demand is higher, homes sell faster and have stronger resale value. Especially for families with school-age children, a major group buying homes on the shoreline, how well schools perform, student-to-teacher ratios and school support staff resources are critical factors affecting where families choose to live.
I do not have children in Guilford schools, but I worry how the reduced education budget, which eliminated eight full-time teaching positions, two full-time coaches and other positions, will impact the quality and performance of our schools, the attraction of our community to young families and the value of our homes.
This most recent vote was a sobering reminder that we do better when our votes are informed by facts, not fiction.
Janice
Ross Guilford
Continued from page 2
As part of the selection process, she wrote a song about Connecticut, drawing on her experiences growing up in the state and her appreciation for its natural beauty and communities.
“I wrote a song for the State of Connecticut about growing up in Connecticut, my experience here, everything I love about the state,” she says.
The role allowed her to travel throughout Connecticut, performing at schools, community centers, historical societies, and other public venues. She says the experience was particularly meaningful as communities emerged from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everyone was shaken up at the time,” Kayla says. “I tended to have a focus on music as a source of community, healing, and growth.”
She says the experience reinforced her belief that music can bring people together across backgrounds and experiences.
“I felt like I had the opportunity to con-
nect with a diverse population, which was really lovely,” she says.
Most recently, Kayla performed at the Henry Whitfield Museum in Guilford as part of the community’s Make Music Day celebration on June 21. The annual international event encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to share and experience music in public spaces.
“Music is a powerful force in so many different ways,” Kayla says. “It’s a way we can connect to each other and remember our universal humanity, tap into the joy of celebration, and find healing and selfexpression.”
When she is not performing, Kayla teaches voice, songwriting, piano, and Celtic harp. She also operates a pet-sitting business and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, running, and spending time outdoors.
Whether she is teaching, performing, or writing new material, Kayla says the goal remains the same.
“Music is a meaningful part of life,” she says. “I want to make it accessible to anyone wanting to participate in it.”
Obituary Thomas Stewart Madison
He didn’t think he would make it to his 30th birthday. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1953 at the age of 11, Thomas D. Stewart, M.D., died on April 23, 2026, at the age of 84, having lived a full and active life.
Tom was born on Jan. 2, 1942, to Lynn and Irene Boman Stewart of Columbus, Ind. Tom’s hometown remained close to his heart. A proud Hoosier, he avidly followed Indiana legend, Larry Bird, of the Boston Celtics. At age 15, Tom won the Indiana State Junior Tennis championship. Tennis remained a central part of his life for many years. He played tennis for DePauw University, where he graduated as the salutatorian in 1963.
Tom moved to California to attend Stanford University School of Medicine, graduating in 1968. He then moved to Boston for a four-year residency at Mass General Hospital, serving his last year as Chief Resident. Tom’s first job was at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, Mass., treating paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans returning from Vietnam and veterans living with PTSD. Tom later joined Beth Israel Hospital in Boston as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University.
In 1990, he moved to Madison, to chair the Department of Psychiatry at St. Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven. Tom was appointed Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, and Fellow of Branford College of Yale University. The greatest joy of his career was mentoring students and medical residents, many of whom stayed in contact over the years. He
served as President of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society and was named Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Tom lectured on psychiatric care and treatment throughout the United States and Asia. Tom was deeply dedicated to his family throughout his life. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jeanne LedouxStewart; his son, Branner Stewart, and son-in-law, Samuel McElreath; daughter, Marni Bartlett, and son-inlaw, Nigel Bartlett; daughter, Lynne Levin, and son-in-law, Ben Levin; three awesome grandchildren, Paul Bartlett, Katie Bartlett, and Theo Fenley; sisterin-law, Julie Nolan; nieces and nephews: Jen Nolan, Katie Nolan, Scott Sheehan, Murphy Sheehan, Beth Chan, and Rachel Stewart; his former wife, Carroll Stewart; and Mo Kuka, caregiver of seven years and a blessing to the family. Tom was predeceased by his older brother, Robert N. Stewart, mayor of Columbus, IN, from 1984 to 1996; and sister-in-law, Barbara Westermeier Stewart.
Tom’s family shared a private ceremony, and burial at sea is planned. Messages are welcomed at Tom’s memorial page, at www.mykeeper.com. Memorial donations in Tom’s name are suggested for the following: Diabetes Research at the Mayo Clinic, for which Tom was grateful for advances in diabetes care that enabled his long and productive life, give.mayoclinic.org; Forgotten Felines Animal Shelter, Clinton, CT, where Tom and Jeanne adopted Gus, the rescue kitty who curled up with Tom every day in his final years, www.forgottenfelinesct.org/donate; The Landmark Columbus Foundation, Tom’s hometown where seven generations of his family lived, landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org.
See Obituaries page 8
Applications are open for Guilford Porchfest 2026, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on porches throughout downtown Guilford. Guilford residents and workers may apply to perform by Aug. 15. Residents and business owners within a 10-minute walk of the Guilford Green, south of Route 1, may apply to host performances. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For details and applications, email guilfordporchfest@gmail.com or visit guilfordporchfest.com.
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By Officer Scott Gingras
Guilford Police Department
Picture this: You’re sitting at home when you get a notification on your phone and see that someone sent you a direct message on Instagram. You’re not friends with this person, and you don’t recognize them, but from their profile, they appear to be about your age. Maybe you even find them attractive. The message says, “Hey, I just found your profile and I think you’re cute :)”
Thinking that this is someone your age (who also just happens to look very attractive), you respond. The conversation progresses, and you begin to feel comfortable with this person. At some point, they tell you they really like you and ask you to send them a sexually explicit photo or video of yourself. They promise they’ll send one back if you send one first. Because they seem to be really into you, you send the photo. Now, instead of sending a photo back, the person demands that you pay them $500 on Cash App; otherwise, they’re going to send that naked photo of you to everyone you know. All of your Instagram followers. Your friends. Family members. Everyone is going to see it. Because you don’t want this photo of you being shared with everyone you know, you reluctantly send the money.
What I just described is a case of sextortion. It’s when a scammer creates a fake profile on social media or pretends to be someone they’re not, usually an attractive peer or romantic interest, and targets a victim online. The scammer will usually send flirty messages to the victim to gain their trust and may even send (fake) photos of themselves. The scammer will then ask the victim to send a sexual photo or
video of themselves. Sometimes the scammer promises to send one back, and other times they will send a fake sexual photo of themselves first. Once the victim sends that compromising photo or video, the scammer will use it to blackmail the victim for money.
Here in Guilford, we’ve unfortunately had multiple community members fall victim to this scam, from teenagers to older adults. So, how can you protect yourself? Here’s what we recommend:
Do not accept random friend requests or chat invitations from people you don’t know online.
Be suspicious if the person turns the conversation inappropriate right away or asks you to send photos or videos of yourself.
Do not send photos or videos of yourself to people you don’t know online, especially sexually inappropriate ones.
And if you do find yourself a victim of sextortion, do not send any money. Sending money to the scammer does not ensure they won’t still share the photos or videos, and they will often just keep demanding more money. Instead, contact police immediately. Screenshot or save all messages with the scammer, as well as profiles, usernames and payment request information.
For more information on common scams, visit the Guilford Police Department on Facebook or Instagram (@guilfordpd_ct).
Austin LaFata, senior patrol leader of Troop 472, is seeking volunteers and donations for his Eagle Scout project to create a safe and welcoming outdoor picnic area with picnic benches and a rock wall at the North Guilford Firehouse on Route 77. The space will benefit Troop 472, its Cub Scout pack, LEGO League participants, and the community. Fundraising car washes will be held at Palumbo’s on Sunday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Eagle Scout project workday will take place Saturday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the North Guilford Firehouse. Volunteer hours may be used as community service hours for Guilford High School students. LaFata is seeking volunteers and donations to help cover the cost of picnic tables and project materials. Any remaining funds after the project's completion will benefit future Troop 472 Eagle Scout projects. Volunteers are asked to include the time block they are available in the comments when signing up. For more information, text 475-301-7703, email austinlafata2009@gmail.com, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AFA62DA64-63764100-austin, or donate at https://gofund.me/0c6c8b784.
The AMERICA 250 celebration ceremony on Guilford Green, July 5, 5:00 p.m., will recognize descendants of patriots who were involved in the American Revolutionary War effort. All such patriot descendants, regardless of their ancestor’s residence, are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by June 30th to tarutisj@guilfordct.gov
Obituaries Continued from page 5
Thomas P. Betts of Guilford, formerly of Branford, died on June 3, 2026, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was the husband of Guillermo Ruiz. Tom was born in New Haven on Nov. 9, 1950, a son of the late Howard and Margaret McKeon
He received his bachelor’s degree from UConn and his master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University. He was a world lan-
guage teacher at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge and the president of the American Association of French Teachers for many years prior to retiring.
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his brother, William Betts.
Friends were invited to a visitation on June 16 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, and attended his Mass of Christian Burial on June 17 in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Burial followed in St. Agnes Cemetery.
Christine Fletcher Ingraham died peacefully on June 1, 2026, in New Haven. Her husband, Gregory Spiggle, and daughter, Jia Spiggle, were by her side. Christine had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage the prior week.
This death has been very difficult for her family, friends, clients, and people who have loved and known her over the years. Its abruptness was shocking for
Christine lived a full and accomplished life. Born in Colorado Springs, Colo., she grew up with two sisters and a brother. Her parents were architects. Christine attended Fountain Valley High School and graduated from the University of Kansas and Cranbrook Art Institute with enormous talent as an artist. She worked as a designer at the Field Museum of Chicago for 10 years and met her husband, Greg, there. Together, they moved to Connecticut where they worked and raised their beautiful daughter.
Christine served as head of digital marketing in the early 1980s for Netkey (now NCR Corporation) and, in 1989, she and Greg decided to start their own design business, known as Fletcher Cameron Kitchens. As a small business
dedicated to building modern kitchens and interior spaces, Christine and Greg focused on bringing design excellence and unparalleled craftsmanship to their work. Every detail was attended to. The award-winning business has become known for its precision of design, knowing “what is behind the wall,” with projects spanning from Colorado to New York, with many located in Martha’s Vineyard.
Christine brightened every room with humor, fun, and energy. If you didn’t know her, she would welcome you with a warm smile. She loved to host gatherings and was a creative and natural chef. Christine brought her keen eye to their modern home in Guilford, where she and Greg renovated their home and grounds to include a vernal pond, beautiful gardens, and art everywhere. No one loves the grounds more than Greg and Christine’s two Australian cattle dogs, Roo and Joe, who are now also mourning Christine’s absence. Donations in Christine’s honor may be made to the ASPCA.
In addition to Greg, Jia, and Jia’s partner, Joelle, left behind are Christine's adoring sisters, Anna Grady and Catherine Ingraham, as well as many, many friends, clients, people who worked for her, or knew her from earlier times. With oceans of tears and sadness, we must now let her rest in peace. She was 72. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
See Obituaries page 13
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated May 29, 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:
Mary Scanlon c/o THOMAS EDWARD FARVER, FARVER & HEFFERNAN, LLC, 2858 OLD DIXWELL AVE, HAMDEN, CT 06518
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated June 4, 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:
Julianne Ceruti, 805 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06042
GUILFORD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Notice is hereby given that the Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a VIRTUAL SPECIAL MEETING
Tim Furgueson, Michael LaRiviere, Kevin Nolan, Bill Tait, and James Sullivan have all been selected for the list, which honors top-performing wealth management and financial planning advisors in each state.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Tim Furgueson has been included on this prestigious list, the fourth year for both Michael LaRiviere and Kevin Nolan, and the third year of recognition for both Bill Tait and James Sullivan.
“We are incredibly proud of our financial advisors that have been recognized by Forbes, an achievement that reflects not only their individual expertise, but their unwavering commitment to clients and the families they serve every day. Our advisors play a critical role in helping their clients navigate complex decisions with clarity and confidence no matter the market and economic environment,” said Charles R. Cumello Jr., President & CEO of Essex Financial.
Monday, June 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. via the Microsoft TEAMS platform by using the following link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/266434558951700?p=Bfrg86ZKwOxmooazh8 Meeting ID: 266 434 558 951 700 Passcode: pq2Fc6Tq
Dial in by phone: +1 469-208-1374 Phone conference ID: 130 480 048#
The following Deliberations will be heard: Deliberations on DRAFT Plan of Conservation and Development
Copies of the materials are available for inspection in the Planning & Zoning office and on the Town’s website. At this meeting, persons may attend via web connection. Call 203-453-8039 for assistance.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 18th of June, 2026 – Roger Joyce, Chairman
All persons liable to pay real estate, personal property, or motor vehicle taxes in the Town of Guilford on the October 1, 2025 grand list are hereby notified that the Tax Collector has received the warrant to levy and collect taxes.
Taxes are due July 1, 2026 and the last day to pay taxes without penalty is August 3, 2026. If payment is not received on or before August 3, 2026 the installment becomes delinquent and is subject to interest at the rate of 18% per annum, 1 ½ % per month or any fraction of a month, from due date. A minimum of $2.00 interest will be charged for each delinquent tax bill and installment.
Payments will be received in the Tax Office, Guilford Town Hall, 31 Park Street. Please note that we do not accept credit/debit cards when making payments at the Tax Office.
Please visit our website at guilfordct.gov to make payments online. The link can be found on the Tax Collector page, scroll down to View or Pay your tax bill. If paying with a credit/debit card convenience fees will apply as follows: all credit/debit cards- 2.99%, electronic check-$1.99
Payments can also be mailed to: Tax Collector, 31 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437. Make sure you enclose your payment coupon when paying by mail. Please call the Tax Office with any questions at 203-453-8014.
Deborah A. Milano Tax Collector, CCMC
Story by Carol Andrecs
Beautiful Hope has been waiting for her forever home for many years. She was rescued as a very pregnant stray and gave birth shortly thereafter. Her kittens were adopted several years ago, and she has been patiently waiting for her own loving home. Hope is quiet and a little shy but warms up nicely when she is petted. She will blossom in a quiet home without dogs or young children. Adopting one cat may not change the world, but for Hope, her world will change forever. Come meet Hope at our open house or apply to adopt her online at www.forgottenfelinesct.org.
: 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 desperate 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 860-669-1347 or send an email to volunteerinfo@forgottenfelinesct.org.
Volunteers are needed to offer local seniors and/or veterans companionship through the Agency on Aging’s RSVP Volunteer Program. Volunteers should be at least 55 years of age and willing to visit a senior and/or veteran in their home for one hour a week. For more information, call Cherie Strucaly at 203-752-3059. Agency on Aging Seeks Volunteers
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated June 11, 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:
Guillermo Ruiz, 12742 Glowing Peak Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
ESTATE OF Ann J. Bradley (26-0162)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated June 4, 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:
Wayne C. Bradley, 280 Spencer Avenue, E. Greenwich, RI 02818
The Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) is accepting applications for its 2026-27 Master Woodland Manager program through Wednesday, July 15. The yearlong educational program combines online learning and field instruction to help woodland owners and land managers make informed decisions about forest stewardship. Participants learn about forest ecology, wildlife habitat, forest health, climate change, and woodland management practices. The program is open to private woodland owners, municipal land stewards, nonprofit volunteers, educators, and others interested in caring for forested land. The 2026-27 program begins in late August. For more information, application details, or upcoming information sessions, visit ctwoodlands.org.
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. 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.
The Connecticut Renter’s Rebate Program offers a one-time payment for eligible seniors and disabled residents who paid rent and utilities in Connecticut during 2025 and currently live in the state. Eligible applicants may qualify for a rebate ranging from $50 to $900. To qualify, applicants must have been age 65 or older in 2025 or be a totally disabled Connecticut renter age 18 or older. Income limits are less than $46,300 for a single person or less than $56,500 for a married couple. Applications are available through Guilford Social Services. For more information or to schedule an appointment to apply, contact Guilford Social Services at 203-453-8009 or griederd@guilfordct.gov.
Notice is hereby given that the Guilford Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a VIRTUAL Public Hearing Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 6 P.M. via the Microsoft TEAMS platform by using the following link. https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/219041111761079?p=Fcu2ixeTSaAFEfCNts
Meeting ID: 219 041 111 761 079
Passcode: VN3Ga6Wm
Dial in by phone: +1 469-208-1374
Phone conference ID: 768 999 522#
The following applications will be heard:
Text Amendment: Residential Exterior Lighting. Applicant: Anne Hartjen, Town Planner, on behalf of the Town of Guilford. Text amendment to add standards specific to single-family residences.
Text Amendment: Animal Rescue. Applicant: Anne Hartjen, Town Planner, on behalf of the Town of Guilford. Text amendment to add a definition and standards for animal rescue facilities.
635 Nut Plains Road (Map 86 Lot 33, Zone R-5). Applicant/Agent/Owner: Chad Greenlee. Special Permit for construction of an ADU in excess of area requirements and within the front yard per §3.9.A.1.e and §3.9.A.2.
385 Long Hill Road (Map 79 Lot 9C, Zones I and R-5). Applicant/Agent: Attorney Timothy J. Lee on behalf of Owner: Seidman Guilford Realty LLC. Special Permit for change of use to office, warehouse (distribution with bulk sales) and adult education (school use) per §4.3.
5 Meriden Street (Map 17 Lot 46, Zone R-2). Applicant/Agent: Gregg Fedus of Fedus Engineering LLC on Behalf of Owners: Jacqueline & George Rissotto. Special Permit to allow up to 25% building coverage per §3.4.B Table Note 2.
Copies of these applications are available for inspection in the Planning & Zoning office and on the Town’s website. At this hearing, persons may attend via web connection and shall be heard. All written correspondence shall be submitted to BridgesJ@guilfordct.gov 24 hours prior to the meeting day. Documents are available at the Planning & Zoning office. Dial 203-453-8039 for assistance.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 18th of June, 2026 – Roger Joyce, Chairman
Continued
and whether certain provisions should be amended. Potential changes could affect town meetings, budget adoption and the local election process.
One issue under consideration is “Whether to amend Chapter 3 of the Town Charter (Board of Selectmen) to provide that votes cast for an unsuccessful candidate for First Selectman shall not be counted as votes for such candidate as a Selectman member of the Board,” according to the agenda for the commission’s most recent meeting.
If ultimately adopted, the change would prevent a losing candidate for first selectman from automatically gaining a seat on the board by receiving more votes than most candidates running directly for the Board of Selectmen.
Sharkey said the current process can be “unfair” to incumbent selectmen and other candidates because they are effectively running in a different race.
“You’re nominating candidates for the rest of the positions on the selectboard, but one of those that you’re nominating is automatically going to get bumped off because, typically, the candidate running for First Selectman who loses will garner the most votes in most cases, and then that bumps everybody else on the Board of Selectmen.”
He added, “In the way we choose the first selectman, we should recognize that is the CEO of the town. If you’re running for that position, that’s what you’re running for,” said Sharkey.
The proposal would also follow a trend in Connecticut, where some municipalities have moved away from the traditional selectmen form of government in favor of mayor-council systems.
However, Sharkey said the proposed amendment would not alter Guilford’s form of government. Instead, it would reinforce the role of first selectman as a “full-time job that requires a full-time commitment” and someone who is “responsible, analogous to a mayor, for the ongoing day-to-day operations of the town.”
The commission has also discussed the role of the Annual Budget Meeting and language in the charter concerning proposed budget reductions.
One section currently states:
“Any proposed appropriation may, however, be reduced by the meeting to a sum less than that recommended by the Board of Finance - provided that at least 300 eli-
gible voters are in attendance and voting upon a motion to reduce, and at least 200 vote in favor of said motion.”
Under that language, budget reductions can be approved at the Annual Budget Meeting if attendance and voting thresholds are met.
Sharkey said the provision allows a relatively small group of residents to alter a budget that has already gone through months of public meetings and review.
“This means that after weeks and months of public meetings and discussions by all of the, you know, town departments … a very, very small number of Guilford residents could take over that meeting and cut and slash, you know, to whatever degree they choose, and it’s subject to a vote,” he said.
Instead, Sharkey said the commission’s current consensus is that the Annual Budget Meeting should remain but serve only an informational purpose.
“It’ll be a presentation by the Board of Finance to the public as a whole, where anyone can offer comments on what the Board of Finance ultimately came up with, which is really a continuation of their own deliberations. But it’s one final opportunity to present the budget to the public. And then separately there is a referendum,” he said.
While gathering 300 voters to support budget reductions is an “unlikely scenario,” Sharkey acknowledged that “it is possible.”
The commission has also discussed what happens if voters reject a proposed budget and a referendum process extends beyond July 1, the start of the fiscal year.
According to Sharkey, one of the most substantive and timely issues under discussion is how Guilford should proceed if a budget has not been adopted by the start of the new fiscal year.
“I think the consensus was that there will continue to be a referendum until a budget is passed, but if it runs past that deadline, that it will basically refer back to the state statute for guidance as to what happens,” Sharkey said.
“There are some towns that create their own scenario — you adopt last year’s budget and add 2% and you call that the [new] budget. We’re not inclined to do that. I think our inclination is instead to just simply go back to what is required by state statute in terms of issuing a tax bill if a referendum has not passed by that time, but otherwise, you continue to have referenda until one finally passes.”
Obituary
Frederick Holbrook III
Guilford
June 12, 2026, Frederick "Fred" H. Holbrook III, 84, longtime resident of Guilford, passed away at Hamden Nursing Center. He was the husband of Linda (Noyes) Holbrook. Fred was born in New Haven on Jan. 29, 1942, son of the late Frederick H. Holbrook Jr. and Esther (Silleck) Holbrook. He was the father of Kara Kelly and her husband, Mark, of Ocala, Fla., and Kraig Dahlberg of Ala. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Ethan Kelly and Nicholas Dahlberg. He was predeceased by his sister, Elaine Holbrook.
Fred honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He is a graduate of Salisbury High School. Before retirement, he had worked as a manager for MTM. In his spare time, Fred enjoyed boating with his family.
Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Animal Haven, 89 Mill Road, North Haven, CT 06473; theanimalhavenct.org.
Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Doris Alexander Fonicello, 92, of Westerly, R.I., formerly of Guilford, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. Born on July 19, 1933, in New Haven, Doris was the daughter of the late William Wesley and Ruth (Bartlett) Alexander. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and high school sweetheart, Raymond “Chick” Fonicello; and by her sisters, Nancy Mansfield and Ruth Nettleton. She is survived by her son, Peter Fonicello of Hamden; her daughters, Katherine Fonicello of Guilford, and Christine Fonicello (Mark) of Westerly; and her cherished grandchildren: Alexandra, Mitchell, and Lucas Fish, and Julie Wright.
There, she served as chair of the counting committee, held the role of deacon, and supported the church community in numerous meaningful ways. She also volunteered at Columbus House, helping to serve meals and providing homebaked desserts.
Friendships were important to Doris. She maintained close relationships with friends she had known since childhood, including the original members of a social club called the “Knittin Kittens.”
She was also an enthusiastic sports fan who faithfully followed the New York Mets and both the men’s and women’s UConn basketball teams.
In 2022, Doris moved to The Elms in Westerly, where she embraced a fulfilling new chapter of life. She enjoyed forming new friendships, participating in activities, and embracing a new community.
Doris grew up in Guilford and graduated from Guilford High School. She devoted her life to her family and took great pride in creating a warm and welcoming home. She treasured holiday celebrations, Sunday family dinners, summers spent by her pool, and the everyday moments that brought laughter. A wonderful cook and baker, Doris was known for everything from homemade lasagna to her signature sour cream coffee cake.
A dedicated volunteer throughout her life, Doris contributed her time and talents to the American Red Cross and was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church in Guilford.
Doris will be remembered for her compassionate nature, generous spirit, and genuine warmth. She was deeply grateful for the life she lived and for the many people who enriched it. Her love, wisdom, and steadfast dedication to her family and friends will remain a lasting legacy in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of memorial contributions, and in typical Doris fashion, do somebody a good deed, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count.
The family extends its sincere gratitude to the staff of The Carriage House at The Elms for the exceptional care, compassion, and kindness they provided to Doris.
Funeral services will be held privately for the family.
For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com.
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Guilford Courier
Thursday, June 25, 2026
By Serenity J. Bishop
Softball in Guilford has been steadily growing over the last several years. While many programs focus first on building success at the varsity level before working down to the middle school and youth ranks, Guilford has found success at all three levels.
Last season, Guilford Little League softball represented the New England Region and advanced to the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina. This spring, the Guilford High School softball team finished the regular season 12-8 and advanced to the second round of the Class M State Tournament in the first year of the Russell Scovin era.
At Adams Middle School, meanwhile, success has become the standard.
The Adams softball team completed its fourth consecutive undefeated season this
year, finishing 10-0.
The team also finished undefeated at 11-0 in 2023 and 13-0 in both 2024 and 2025.
Adams coach Ed Hobson said the sustained success is a testament not only to the talent of the players, but also to the environment created around the program.
Hobson said the focus is on teaching fundamentals while instilling hard work, discipline and dedication.
“We try to teach them strong fundamentals. We don’t hold back from any of the discipline, any of the things that they need to know, and any that a high school team wouldn’t otherwise do,” Hobson said.
“That has to do with our strategy. Whether it’s defensive strategy or whether it’s offensive strategy, we try to work them during practice. We don’t take any days off, and as good as these girls were, we didn’t rest for a minute. We really worked hard with
them to try to make them better, and I think our record speaks for itself.”
Hobson added that the team also benefited from a large group of talented players. In a roster of 17 players, he said, everyone had the opportunity to contribute to the team’s success.
The team consisted of Reagan Klein, Abby Volpe, Addison Hollingsworth, Adelina Pradith, Blake Bizzario, Daisy Reynolds, Evie Motamedinia, Kali Reinhold, Leah Michalowski, Madison Coyle, Maeve Eagleson, Maeve McGowan, Michaela Mascari, Olivia Mahon, Peyton Beeney, Shannon Winters, Skylar Brittian and manager Faith Spellinger.
“Our pitching was tremendously strong, and so was our hitting and so was our defense,” Hobson said. “We just were blessed this year with tremendously talented players, most of them coming off their Little League World Series New
England championship. We fit them right into our system.”
Guilford’s Andrea Klein, who has had two daughters come through the program, said she is incredibly proud of the team and the players’ families. She said the older players helped build confidence among the younger teammates, while parents played a critical role in supporting the program’s continued growth.
“They’ve been extremely supportive of each other. As eighth graders, they’ve been very supportive of the seventh graders coming in, and every year you could see how the eighth graders bring up those seventh graders and really give them the confidence and the excitement to want to play,” Klein said. “It is just a huge reflection again of what I think Guilford Little League and these families and these coaches have done to really build such a foundation for softball in Guilford.”
By Serenity J, Bishop
Sports Editor
With temperatures in the 90s and a chance of scattered showers, the weather was a major concern at the start of play. There were a few claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, but radar indicated the storm would pass by. Halfway through game one, the skies darkened, the wind picked up, and a few sprinkles quickly turned into heavy rain. Players searched for cover in their cars or under the hatchbacks of their SUVs. The rain stopped after 10 minutes, the sun returned, and play resumed.
Headlines: Three teams scored more than 300 points this week. The Rockies set a new season high with 328 points in a 51/2 to 1/2 win over the Cards; the firstplace White Sox scored 302 points in their 5-1/2 to 1/2 win over the Red Sox; and the Cubs scored 304 points in a 4-2 win over the Angels. Despite the rain, the team average score was 262 points, the same as last week.
For the second time in three weeks, Anthony Malerba led the Rockies to a new season high in points. He set personal bests for a series with 124 points, 33 ringers and four doubles, and for a game with 41 points, 12 ringers and three doubles. He was the leading C Division scorer and now leads the division in all six statistical categories.
The Rockies won the first four games. Kris Toohey’s Cards had a chance to win game five, but it ended in a tie thanks to Sue Pollard’s ringer in the final box. Pollard finished the night with a season-best 115-point series. The Rockies won the final game by 20 points as both Pollard and Malerba recorded clean games. The Cards’ scoring duo of Toohey and Todd Nuhn edged the Rockies duo of Pollard and Malerba, 249-239. Nuhn’s 120-point series was the second-leading B Division score. With Paul Noel subbing for White Sox star Bob Beckwith, the annual brother-inlaw matchup against Bill Beckwith will have to wait until next year.
The White Sox won game one. Game two was decided in the final box. The Red Sox led by four points. Beckwith and Noel each scored four points in the 12th box, but Brady Miller’s single point gave the White Sox a tie. Noel single-handedly won game three, and Miller followed by winning game four. Noel and Miller combined for 67 points to win game five. Noel and Kyle Wilson both tossed clean games in the finale.
Paul Noel’s season-best 129-point series was the top B Division score. Filling in for Bob Beckwith, he outscored Bill Beckwith,
129-114. The White Sox now lead the standings by 5-1/2 games. The White Sox and Braves are both averaging 281 points
Cubs’ Bob Cifaldi versus Angels’ Tony Cutone was the best individual matchup of
The Cubs won the first two games. Cifaldi edged Cutone, 36-35, in game one, while first-year player Peter Lessard’s 19 points helped secure the victory. In game two, it was Cifaldi 37, Cutone 33. The Angels used their six-point handicap to win game three by two points and game six by five points. In game four, Cifaldi again got the better of Cutone, 32-27. With the score tied entering the final box of game five, Cifaldi’s double gave the Cubs a two-point win. Cifaldi’s 134-point series was the second-leading A Division score, while Lessard’s 77-point series was the third-highest C Division score.
Damon Roberts subbed for Yankees’ Dennis Allen. The matchup with Mark Goodale’s Mets was the only match in which all six games were decided by double digits. In the lowest-scoring game of the match, Joe Machado’s 21 points were enough for a Yankees victory.
The Mets won the next four games. In the final game of the night, Yankees’ Vinny Jonynas sparked New York’s second win with a clean game.
Jeremy Davis’s Dodgers were looking to take advantage of the Tigers, who were without leading scorer Sheryl Serviss. Tanner Steeves, playing in his first match of the season, served as her substitute.
The Tigers dashed the Dodgers’ hopes by using their handicap to win game one. Anthony Conkling matched Davis’s 28 points in game two, and he and Steeves both tossed doubles in the final box for the win. The Dodgers won the next two games. Frank Durinick, subbing for Hunter Beckwith, teamed with Ralph Sampson for a seven-point win in game three, and Davis’s 42 points carried the Dodgers in game
The Tigers used their handicap to win game five, and Conkling’s 29 points led them to their fourth win. Conkling’s season-best 109-point series was the thirdleading B Division score.
For the third consecutive week, John Sciacca’s D’backs were involved in a match in which the largest handicap was one point. The handicap favored Mike Zanelli Jr.’s Orioles in four games, while the other
The head-to-head matchup between Sciacca and Zanelli Jr. helped determine the outcome. In game one, Sciacca edged
See Rockies page 22
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Continued from page 21
Zanelli, 29-27, while John O’Brien’s 17 points gave the D’backs the win. Zanelli’s double in the final box of game two earned the Orioles the victory and a one-point lead over Sciacca, 56-55.
Ted Dubay’s season-best 90-point series proved key as the Orioles won the next three games. In their individual matchup, Sciacca won game four, and the two tied in the finale. For the night, Sciacca outscored Zanelli, 111-108. The D’backs won the final game, but the Orioles claimed the match, 4-2.
For the season, the D’backs remain the only team that has yet to play a game in which the handicap exceeded four points.
John Hutra’s Marlins used their handicap to win game one as Giants standout Adam Fortier’s scoring struggles continued from last week. Mike Zanelli Sr. and Matt Valentin combined for 64 points in the Giants’ double-digit victories in games two and four.
Fortier’s ringer in the final box of game three earned the Giants a tie. Trailing by three points entering the final box of game five, the Giants outscored the Marlins, 6-1, for a two-point win. Zanelli Sr.’s 133-point series was the third-highest A Division score.
Mike Shashok closed the night with his best game of the season in a Marlins victory. His 93-point series was a season best. The Giants won the match, 3-1/2 to 2-1/2, and moved into fourth place.
After winning 11 of their last 12 games over the previous two weeks, Frank Rausch’s Braves entered the night riding
high. Playing on Court 9 only added to their enthusiasm.
Chip Goodrich’s Reds were looking to take advantage of nine-point handicaps in four of the six games. The Reds did not need the handicap to win game one. Rausch’s 48 points carried the Braves in game two. The Reds used the handicap to win games four and five. In game five, Rausch scored 44 points while Reds’ Joe Heery added 17, helping the Reds secure their third victory with the handicap.
Mike Beckwith, Rausch’s scoring partner, led the Braves to wins in games three and six. Rausch’s 151-point series was the highest score of the night, and he became the first player this season to surpass 1,000 points. Gary Haney added a seasonhigh 45-point series for the Braves.
Games one and four were the only contests with a five-point handicap, both favoring Peter Furmonavicius’s Rangers. The other four games featured a maximum handicap of two points, favoring Skip Robinson’s Pirates.
Even with the lead in game one, the Rangers needed the handicap for a twopoint victory. John Durinick’s 30 points gave the Rangers their second win. The Pirates responded by winning the next two games, scoring 47 points in each.
Gary Stevens and Brian Walsh teamed for a four-point win in game three, while Robinson and Stevens overcame the handicap for a one-point victory in game four. The teams split the final two games. Stevens’ 81-point series was the secondleading C Division score. In the closestscoring match of the evening, the Pirates edged the Rangers, 269-267.
The Guilford Art Center seeks volunteers for Craft Expo, its annual outdoor arts festival on the historic Guilford Green, Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19. Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks during the event and receive free admission, opportunities to meet artists from across the country, and a behind-the-scenes experience. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Sweeney Todd
Shows the Value of Theater Collaboration; This Production Soars
By Karen Isaacs
With its intricate harmonies and its story of revenge and madness, it is easy to see why is considered Sondheim’s masterpiece. It’s also understandable why the show has been performed in opera houses as well as small, intimate venues throughout the world.
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd
is the first co-production of Hartford’s two major theaters: TheaterWorks Hartford and Hartford Stage. The two combined resources for this demanding work. It uses the expansive space at Hartford Stage while calling on the talents of the artistic director and awardwinning director Rob Ruggiero of TheaterWorks to stage the musical. The production team includes veterans of both Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks productions as well as some new people.
The result is a production that rivals any I have seen before, including the recent Broadway revival with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford.
It is must-see theater. It runs through Sunday, July 5. This production could be considered a chamber version. The cast is just nine actors, most of whom perform not only multiple roles but also serve as the ensemble. This is not unusual; a Broadway production directed by John Doyle had the cast members play instruments as well.
sweet “Pretty Women” to the soliloquylike “Epiphany,” with ease. It’s an interesting sidebar that though Sweeney is the title character, he has only one solo; most of his music is duets, trios or ensemble numbers.
several numbers.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
The story is based on a 19th-century Penny Dreadful story about a man who renamed himself Sweeney Todd. Sondheim’s , which used a 1970 play by Christopher Bond as inspiration, fleshes out the story. Sweeney was falsely imprisoned and sent to Australia because Judge Turpin fancied Sweeney’s attractive wife. Years later, Sweeney escapes and returns to London with the sole purpose of exacting revenge.
Unfortunately, his single-mindedness morphs into both an obsession and madness, and by the end of the musical he has destroyed almost everything he has loved.
Ruggiero did an outstanding job casting the show. Matt Faucher, both a Connecticut native and familiar to audiences here, plays Sweeney as haunted by the past and so single-minded in his goal that he is blind to all around him. He handles the challenging score, which ranges from the
Jackie Burns as Mrs. Lovett needs to combine flirtatiousness, maternal instincts, and cold-hearted practicality while also being responsible for much of the humor in the piece. Burns does it superbly and shines in everything from “The Worst Pies in London” to the comic “A Little Priest” to “Not While I’m Around.” Musically, she does the heavy lifting in the score.
I have always felt that the role of Johanna, played by Lauren Maria Medina, is the most difficult in the show; it is hard to understand her character. But Medina does well, displaying a lovely soprano voice in “Green Finch and Linnet Bird.”
Both Willem Butler as Anthony, the sailor who helps Sweeney and then falls in love with Johanna, and Cole Thompson as Tobias, who leads to the unraveling of Sweeney, are fine. Each shines vocally in their numbers — Butler with “Johanna” and Thompson with “Not While I’m Around.” One could argue that Judge Turpin, played by Edward Watts, could be more venal, but he too shines vocally in
Scenic Designer Luke Cantarella has created a multifaceted set creating two playing levels: the stage itself and then a second level for Sweeney’s shop, the judge’s home and other locations. No revolving sets are needed; it’s a straightforward but functional setting for the scene of London. While Cantarella has worked a great deal at TheaterWorks, John Lasiter, responsible for the remarkable lighting design, has worked at both venues, though more at TheaterWorks. Fabian Fidel Aguilar has created costumes that contrast the poverty of Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett with the wealth of Judge Turpin and Johanna. Beth Lake’s sound design balances the voices, the offstage 10-piece orchestra and the effects.
Music Director Wiley DeWeese, new to both theaters, has done a great job working with the singers. It is a difficult vocal score, yet the lyrics are understandable and the voices blend in the multiple duets, trios, and quartets. How the singers manage not to ruin their voices is a secret I would like to learn.
It’s easy to forget that though the show has shocking elements, it also features some of Sondheim’s most beautiful songs. For tickets, visit HartfordStage.org.
By John Ruddy
Editor’s note:
“Remembering the Revolution” is a series that will appear throughout 2026 to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. * * *
It made sense that the movement to create an American navy began in Rhode Island. Even before the Revolution, the colony felt the wrath of the British fleet, which had worked to suppress mercantile smuggling operations in Narragansett Bay.
On Aug. 26, 1775, the Rhode Island legislature forwarded a proposal to the Continental Congress to establish a seagoing service. By then, the British navy was harassing shoreline towns, including Stonington, in an effort to supply troops under siege in Boston.
Two months later, Congress created a naval committee, which chose Esek Hopkins, a Rhode Island sea captain, to command the new service. Hopkins’ brother was on the committee.
There wasn’t time to build American warships, so merchant vessels were converted and put into the fight. As a result, the navy’s first expedition, a few months later, would have a distinctly New London flavor.
Hopkins initially had a squadron of four vessels: Alfred, Columbus, Andrea Doria and Cabot. They had to be crewed, and one place he turned for men was New London, where maritime trade with the West Indies was well established.
In early 1776, about 80 New London sailors were recruited for the Continental Navy. They included several officers: — Peter Richards became a midshipman on the Cabot. He would later be captured at sea and spend time in a British prison before digging his way to freedom.
— Charles Bulkeley was made a midshipman on the Alfred. He was later captured with his friend Richards, and they escaped together. Afterward, and again in the War of 1812, he was a privateer captain.
— Elisha Hinman, a lieu-
tenant on the Cabot, was later captain of the Alfred and forced to surrender. After the war he commanded the Argus, one of 10 revenue cutters considered the forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard.
— Dudley Saltonstall got the best assignment of all. A former merchant captain, he most recently commanded New London’s only harbor defense, an old fort on the Parade. Like Hopkins, he had a relative on the naval committee, his brother-in-law Silas Deane, and would command the Alfred, Hopkins’ flagship. He later led an expedition to Maine that resulted in the Navy’s most costly defeat until Pearl Harbor.
On Jan. 13, 1776, a sloop sailed from New London with the recruits, who joined Hopkins in Pennsylvania.
Hopkins, whose squadron had grown to eight vessels, was ordered to sail for Chesapeake Bay, where the loyalist Virginia governor was trying to regain control by enticing slaves to join the British in exchange for freedom.
Fearing he would be outgunned, Hopkins made his own plan, believing the wording of his orders gave him leeway to “follow such courses as your best judgment shall suggest.” He set out for an undefended British base in the Bahamas, where on March 3, the Americans seized gunpowder, cannons and supplies on the island of New Providence.
Two weeks later, the fleet headed north, and off Long Island, took several prizes. Then, on April 6, they engaged the 26gun frigate HMS Glasgow in a nighttime action off Block Island that was the first sea battle in U.S. naval history.
Bulkeley was said to have distinguished himself “for the cool intrepidity with which he stood at his gun.” Richards was recommended for promotion.
But the three-hour engagement was a failure as the Glasgow escaped despite being outnumbered. Hopkins would have to answer for that as well as the expedition’s change of plan.
Two days after the battle, Hopkins’ fleet anchored in New London.
* * *
Working along the road from Norwich to the shore, John Raymond, a veteran of military activity in Boston, saw a party of four riding south and recognized one of them immediately.
“I knew him at a distance, by the stately way he sat upon his horse, and his grand, magnificent air,” Raymond recalled to historian Frances Manwaring Caulkins.
As Raymond and his companions waved their hats and cheered, George Washington “bowed his head and without slacking his pace, gave them in passing, a silent but courteous salute,” Caulkins wrote.
The besieged British had evacuated Boston, and Washington was moving his troops to New York, the enemy’s likely next target. A few regiments at a time, they marched from Boston to New London, then boarded transports.
“We got to Norwich on Monday, … and on Tuesday we marched to this town,” Joseph Hodgkins, a soldier from Ipswich, Mass., wrote his wife from New London. “We expect to embark for New York tomorrow if we have a wind, and when we get there I hope we shall have some rest, for I am a good deal tired of marching.”
In a letter to John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, Washington explained the logistics, which originally had his troops sailing from Norwich.
“This I have done with a view, not only of greatly expediting their arrival, as it will save several days marching, but also that they may be fresh and fit for intrenching and throwing up works of defence as soon as they get there.”
On April 9, Washington arrived in New London, a day after Hopkins. The army and navy commanders conferred aboard the Alfred about the Bahamas expedition.
At that moment, the colonies’ entire navy was at New London as their entire army passed through.
The guns, powder and stores seized in the Bahamas were landed in town, much of it from a
sloop commanded by Hinman. There were also 70 prisoners, including the governor and lieutenant governor of New Providence, and 200 ill and wounded sailors, many of whom had smallpox.
All of this was left in the care of Nathaniel Shaw, who as Connecticut’s naval agent was responsible for customs, prizes, supplies and colonial property. He worked from his stone house on Bank Street, now the Shaw Mansion.
Shaw had his hands full on April 9, as he also hosted Washington for the night. The commander in chief departed by land the next day.
From New London, Hopkins wrote a report of his expedition to Hancock, detailing what was seized and explaining that damage to his flagship had allowed the Glasgow to escape.
“I did not think it proper to follow as it would have brought on an action with the whole of their Fleet,” he wrote.
Hancock sent congratulations, but Hopkins’ failure to capture the Glasgow and to sail for Chesapeake Bay as ordered began to turn official opinion against him.
“From this time a dark cloud began to gather over the head of Hopkins which was destined to … obscure a reputation hitherto unblemished,” wrote Edward Field, his biographer.
Hopkins was eventually cen-
sured by the Continental Congress and, after further misfortunes, dismissed from the Navy. Saltonstall was also investigated but cleared.
By late April 1776, Hopkins’ squadron had departed New London, as had the last of Washington’s troops. War left the region, though the threat of its return lingered until it came back with a vengeance five years later.
When Benedict Arnold invaded in 1781, all four New London officers from the first naval expedition figured in the drama. Three had become privateer captains.
Charles Bulkeley’s privateer was docked at New London for repairs, and he took part in the fight, capturing a British soldier on Manwaring Hill.
Peter Richards arrived from a privateering expedition in time to help defend Fort Griswold, where he was killed.
Elisha Hinman, in charge of a naval gunboat, was away that day, but legend says his wife, Abigail, nearly shot Arnold dead while New London burned.
Dudley Saltonstall, in the privateer Minerva, had just captured the Hannah, one of the most valuable prizes of the war. Its loss irked the British and may have played a part in the decision to attack New London, causing the region’s darkest day.
j.ruddy@theday.com
For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Young Picassos with Carol
: 10:15 to 11 a.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features painting techniques for rising fourth- through seventh-grade students. For info or to register (required), call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Wildlife Conservation in America
: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo presents a program on native wildlife and conservation. For children entering grades 1-6. Registration required. For info, call 203-3156020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Tween and Teen Pizza Scene
: 1 to 3 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features patriotic tie-dye activities, pizza, video games, and additional activities. For grades 5 to 12. For info or to register (required), call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Colonial Kids
: 4 to 5:15 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features hands-on activities exploring the daily lives of children in colonial Connecticut. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Registration required. For info, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Worst Movies Ever Made:
Manos: The Hands of Fate
6 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features a screening of as part of a summer film series. Bring a chair or blanket. For info, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Black History in Connecticut
Manos: The Hands of Fate
: 6 to 7 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Presented by the Connecticut Museum of Culture & History. Features artifacts and stories related to the Black experience in Connecticut. Registration required. For info, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Stony Creek Forum: Alfred Dreyfus, Jewish Identity and Antisemitism: Past and Present
: 7 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Features a lecture by Maurice Samuels of Yale University. For info or to register, call 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Friday Movie Matinee
: 2 to 4 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Screening of a movie in honor of the start of Summer Reading. Popcorn and soda provided. Registration preferred. For info, including the movie title, visit scrantonlibrary.org/events.
Cool-ology: Ben Franklin
: 3 to 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features America 250-themed STEAM activities with Claudia Esposito. For rising first- through fifth-grade students. For info or to register (required), call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Rising Strawberry Moon Festival
: 1 to 7:30 p.m. Surf Club, 87 Surf Club Rd., Madison. Hosted by the Town of Madison as part of the Madison 200 celebration. Features live music, food trucks, nonprofit organizations, merchants, a Strawberry Cake Bake-Off, awards, games, and a performance by the North Congregational Church drumming group welcoming the rising Strawberry Moon. Rain date June 28. Free and open to the public. For info, visit madisonct.org.
Guilford Rotary LobsterFest
: Gates open 3:30 p.m.; food service and music begin at 4 p.m. Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Ln., Guilford. Features lobster dinners, live music by Take Three, and activities to benefit local charities. Proceeds support Guilford community organizations. For info or tickets, visit guilfordrotaryclubct.com.
Barry & Bette: The Music of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow
: 7 p.m. Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Madison Lyric Stage opens its Summer Festival with a tribute concert featuring songs made famous by Barry Manilow and Bette Midler, including Mandy, Copacabana, Wind Beneath My Wings, and The Rose. Tickets: $40. For info or tickets, call 203215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Annie JR.
: Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon. Guilford High School Performing Arts Center, 605 New England Rd. Presented by the Guilford Youth & Family Services Family Theatre Program. Student production of the musical featuring classic songs and characters. Appropriate for all ages. Runtime approximately 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. Tickets: $15 general admission. For info or tickets, call 203-453-8047 or visit guilfordyouthandfamilyservices.org.
Annie
Calendar for the Week of June 25, 2026
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Stamp, Coin, and Collectibles Show
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. YMA Annex, 554 Woodward Ave., New Haven. Sponsored by the New Haven Philatelic Society. For info, visit nhps1914.com.
Barry & Bette: The Music of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow
: 4 p.m. Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Madison Lyric Stage’s Summer Festival tribute concert celebrating the music of Barry Manilow and Bette Midler. Tickets: $40. For info or tickets, call 203-215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.
Coastal Chic Fashion Show
: 4:30 p.m. Pine Orchard Country Club, 2 Club Parkway, Branford. Presented by the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance (BACA). Features coastal-inspired fashions and children’s styles. Cost: $75. Proceeds benefit BACA cultural and educational programming. For info or tickets, visit branfordarts.org.
MONDAY, JUNE 29
Monday Funday for Teens: Mario Party
: 3 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features Nintendo Switch Mario Party games. For teens ages 12 to 18. For info or to register (required), call 860-6692342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Art with Kristin
: 4 to 5:15 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features painting instruction with artist and educator Kristin Cafferty. Theme: crab and seashore scene. For grades 2 to 6. For info or to register (required), call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Tea and Talk
: 2 p.m. Lillian’s Landing Pergola, across the parking lot behind Pa’s Place, 514 Whitfield St., Guilford. Open to seniors. Features relaxed conversation in a shaded outdoor setting. Hosted by Shoreline Village. In case of rain, the event will be held at Pa’s Place. For info, contact 203-747-5939 or info@ShorelineVillageCT.org.
Plant the Seed Learning Series: Sewing Workshop
:
2 to 5 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Youth ages 10 to 18 are invited to learn sewing machine basics with Andrea of Glimmering Girl Studio and create a small quilted "mug rug." Supplies and sewing machines provided. Adult helpers are welcome and recommended for children under 12. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
See page 28
ByMaggieO'Farrell
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.
A soaring historical novel set in Ireland before and after the Great Hunger, explores separation and reunion, tragedy and recovery, colonization and rebellion.
As Amy Bloom writes, “This deep, dense, heartrending novel is the best of Maggie O’Farrell … All I need as a reader is in .” Land Land
— Roxanne,
R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison Land
ByAnnabelMonaghan
The ultimate summer romance! It’s funny, genuinely emotional and filled with so much heart. The heroine, Dolly, is incredibly relatable and impossible not to root for. I can’t imagine anyone reading this book and not getting completely swept up in the romance, characters and the dreamy seaside town of Whitfield. — Tijae,
R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
TheJellyfishProblem ByTessaYang
The Jellyfish Problem — Julie, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison Remarkably Bright Creatures
reminded me of . At its heart,
it’s a tale of loss and grief, hope and friendship. Add the unique twist of a magical jellyfish (named Clementine!) plus an eclectic cast of characters, and you have a book I couldn’t put down!
Sepetys
From a world of gangsters and thieves emerges a story of found family, emancipation and a celebration of naïve curiosity. The glorious 1920s in Detroit have all the grit and grift necessary for another outstanding novel from Sepetys. — Jamie,
R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
More than 175 artists and makers from Connecticut, New England, and across the United States will gather on the Guilford Green for the 69th annual Guilford Craft Expo, Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19.
Presented by Guilford Art Center, the outdoor juried show features handcrafted work in jewelry, ceramics, fiber arts, glass,
woodwork, painting, photography, specialty foods, and other media.
Additional activities will include food trucks, live music, a silent auction, artist demonstrations, and a family art tent.
“We’re thrilled to showcase the exceptional talent of both regional and national artists and makers,” Guilford Art Center
Executive Director Maureen Belden said in a statement. “Craft Expo not only cele-
brates creativity and craftsmanship, but also supports working artists by connecting them directly with the public.”
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 19.
Admission is $11 for adults and $9 for seniors age 65 and older. Guilford Art Center members, children 16 and younger, and active military personnel are admitted
free. Multi-day tickets are $15.
The expo will be held on the Guilford Green, with the main entrance at 33 Whitfield St. The event will be held rain or shine. Free parking and shuttle service will be available from the commuter lots at Adams Middle School and the Guilford train station.
For information and a list of participating artists, visit GuilfordArtCenter.org.
Continued from page 25
Benjamin Franklin's Charged Up STEM Birthday Bash
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Independence Day Stories and Craft
: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Presented by Cool-ology. Features hands-on activities exploring Benjamin Franklin's inventions and experiments, including the glass armonica and electricity, and a kite-building activity inspired by Franklin's famous design. Recommended for ages 6 to 12. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com. : 10:30 to 11 a.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features stories and a fireworks-themed painting activity celebrating America's 250th birthday. Recommended for ages 2 to 8. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Imagination Station
: 3:15 to 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features open-ended arts and crafts activities for rising kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Teen Crafternoon: Make Your Own Stickers
: 3 to 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Participants will create stickers using parchment paper, packing tape, and other materials. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Unearth a Fossil
: 4:30 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Features a fossil workshop for children presented by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Part of the Unearth a Story summer reading program. For info or to register, call 203-4888702.
Americana Cookout and Madison's Fireworks
: 6 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Rd. Community cookout on the hotel lawn and beach overlooking Madison's Independence Day fireworks celebration. Features summertime favorites, a beach bar, and live music from
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled to begin during the 9 p.m. hour. Free admission; food and beverages available for purchase. Rain date: July 10. For info, contact 203-245-1404 or Marketing@DHGHotels.com, or visit eventvesta.com.
Willoughby Book Talk:
We Can Know by Ian McEwan
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Fourth of July Concert on the Green
7 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Book: . Registration required. For info or to register, call 203488-8702. :
6 p.m. Madison Green, 8 Meeting House Lane. Celebrates Independence Day, America’s 250th anniversary, and Madison’s 200th anniversary. Features a performance by the Lancraft Fife & Drum Corps at 6 p.m., followed by the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra at 7 p.m. under the direction of Maestro Philip Ventre, presenting “Echoes of Our Past in Spirit and Song.” Free. Reserved seating in front of the stage is available for sponsors. Bring chairs and a picnic dinner. Rain date: Sunday, July 5 at the same time. For info or sponsorship opportunities, visit madisonculturalarts.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 4
48th Annual Four on the Fourth Road Race
: 9 a.m. Chester village. Presented by the Chester Rotary Club. USATF-sanctioned road race through the village of Chester. Timing by Super Race Systems. Team and individual awards will be presented. Fees: $35 for adults through May 31; $40 through July 4; $15 for children under 16. Proceeds benefit local charities and nonprofit organizations. For info or to register, visit runsignup.com (search “Chester Rotary Four on the Fourth”) or chesterrotary.org.
Madison Independence Day Parade What
:
10 a.m. Begins at the Stop & Shop parking lot and proceeds through downtown Madison to the Surf Club. Hosted by the Madison Exchange Club. Celebrates Madison’s bicentennial and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Town of Madison will serve as grand marshal. For info, visit madisonexchange.org.
Free Garden Concert Planned in Old Saybrook
As part of Old Saybrook’s America 250 celebration, the Old Saybrook Historical Society will present a free concert, “From Colonies to Independence: Songs of America’s Transition,” on Sunday, July 5, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Hart House Heritage Gardens, 350 Main St.
Indermuehle will present songs and stories about life in the 13 colonies and the early years of the republic in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
See page 29
Performers Rick Spencer and Dawn
The concert will feature period music intended to provide cultural insight into America’s colonial history. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. For information, contact the Old Saybrook Historical Society at 860-395-1635 or contact@saybrookhistory.org or visit saybrookhistory.org.
Press
Guilford Yacht Club will open its doors to area residents for a Bluebird Cafe-style evening of live music on Wednesday, July 8, featuring three acclaimed New England singer-songwriters performing on the club’s Great Lawn overlooking Long Island Sound.
The free Songwriters in the Round event, organized by Joe Briganti and Bill Rowen, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. The evening will feature Eddie Seville, Marc Douglas Berardo, and Frank Critelli.
Inspired by the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the intimate performance format places songwriters together “in the round,” sharing original songs, the stories behind them, humor, and interaction with the audience. Rather than a traditional concert, performers take turns presenting songs and discussing the experiences and inspirations behind their work.
Seville is a New England-based singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his roots-rock and alt-country sound. As the creative force behind the band Steel Rodeo, he has toured extensively while also developing a solo career.
Berardo is known for his storytelling approach to songwriting and melodic folkrock style. His songs and live performances have earned recognition throughout the folk and Americana music communities.
Critelli blends folk, rock, and Americana
Continued from page 28
Ringing of Bells by Town Green Churches
influences with an engaging stage presence and has built a following throughout New England through his original music and live performances.
“This event is about more than just music — it’s about connection,” Rowen said. “Our artists share not only their songs, but their stories, humor, and love of performing.”
The first 100 guests will be seated in a circle near the performers, with chairs provided. Additional lawn seating will be
: 2 p.m. Guilford Town Green. Part of the America 250 Guilford celebration series. For info, contact tarutisj@guilfordct.gov.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
A Day in the Revolution at Pardee-Morris House
: Noon to 4 p.m. Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Rd., New Haven. Features Revolutionary War reenactments by the 54th Regiment of Foot with musket drills, fife-anddrum music, colonial crafts, and games. Free. For info or weather updates, visit newhavenmuseum.org.
Guilford Celebrates 250 Ceremony and Concert
:
5 p.m. Guilford Town Green. Part of the America 250 Guilford celebration series. For info, contact tarutisj@guilfordct.gov.
MONDAY, JULY 6
Experiencing America Book Club
More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
: 3 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Book: by Gardiner Harris. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
No
available for guests who bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.
The event is intended for adults age 21 and older and is BYOB.
In the event of inclement weather, the performance will move indoors to the yacht club ballroom.
Guilford Yacht Club is located at 379 Whitfield St. The event is open to residents of Guilford, Madison, Branford, North Branford, and Killingworth, as well as their guests.
Monday Funday for Teens: Make Your Own Slime
: 3 to
4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Participants will make slime with optional decorative additions. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Virtual Author Talk with Mark Wolynn
: 2 p.m. Online. Book: and
It Didn’t Start With You The Official It Didn’t Start With You Workbook
. Features a discussion with author Mark Wolynn on inherited family trauma and its effects across generations. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
S.T.E.A.M. Lab
: 3:15 to 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities for rising first- through sixth-grade students. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Trivia Night
: 6:30 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features an evening of trivia. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
For information, call 203-453-0070, visit gyc.com, or visit the Guilford Yacht Club Facebook page.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
East River Loop Trail Walk
: 9:30 a.m. Meet at the parking lot at 45 Sullivan Dr., Guilford. Features an easy onehour walk through open fields, forested areas, and rolling terrain led by a volunteer from the Guilford Land Trust. Hosted by Shoreline Village CT. Rain cancels in the event of a torrential downpour. For info, visit ShorelineVillageCT.org.
Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams
: 5:30 p.m. Virtual program hosted by Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features an illustrated lecture by textile expert Lynne Bassett on clothing and identity in early America. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Songwriters in the Round
: 6 to 8 p.m. Guilford Yacht Club, 379 Whitfield St. Features performances by Eddie Seville, Marc Douglas Berardo, and Frank Critelli. Free for residents of Guilford, Madison, Branford, North Branford, and Killingworth and their guests. For adults 21 and older. BYOB. Rain location: Guilford Yacht Club ballroom. For info, contact 203-738-9124 or billrowen@gmail.com.
See page 30
A Night of Art, Harmony and Hope
: 6 to
THURSDAY, JULY 9
Afternoon Fiction Book Club
: 1 p.m.
My Dear Hamilton
Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Book: by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Teen Crafternoon: Make Your Own Zine
: 3 to 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Participants will learn how to create a small selfpublished magazine. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Opening Night for
The Wizard of Oz
7 p.m. The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Rd., Branford. The show runs through Sunday, Aug. 2. Other showtimes available. For info, call 203-315-1901 or visit legacytheatrect.org.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
Outcasts & Innocents: The Musical World of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears
:
7 p.m. Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Madison Lyric Stage presents a semistaged celebration of composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears featuring excerpts from Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, The Turn of the Screw, War Requiem, and other works. Tickets: $40. For info or tickets, call 203-215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Perennial Plant Sale:
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. United Methodist Church, 811 E. Main St., Branford. Features perennial plants including daylilies, hydrangeas, yarrow, Shasta daisies, hostas, stokesia, and other varieties. For info, call 203-488-0549.
Blessing of the Fleet
: 11 a.m. Stony Creek Beach, Thimble Island Road, Branford. Features a parade of watercraft receiving a blessing from local clergy and live music by the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps. Sponsored by Stony Creek Congregational Church, Thimble Island Sailing Club, and The Stony Creek Association. For info, contact 203-488-7827 or office@stonycreekchurchct.org.
Fireworks and Concert
: 6 p.m. Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Ln. Part of the America 250 Guilford celebration series. For info, contact tarutisj@guilfordct.gov.
10 p.m. St. George Church Hall, 33 Whitfield St. Benefit event supporting DanaFarber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund in memory of Sarah Elizabeth Montgomery. Features artwork by local artists, live painting demonstrations, a live auction, music by Take 3 Trio, wine and beer, and appetizers and desserts by Cilantro’s. Proceeds benefit BPDCN cancer research led by Dr. Andrew Lane. Tickets: $75. For info or tickets, contact 203-641-3590 or jomontgomeryemail@gmail.com, or visit charity.pledgeit.org/c/qccpub9403.
Farmers Markets
Dudley Farm Farmers' Market
: 9:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31. Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Features fresh produce, prepared foods, baked goods, handmade crafts, live music, children’s activities, and seasonal events. For info, email marketmanager@dudleyfarmfoundation.com or visit dudleyfarm.com.
Farmers Market at the Guilford Fairgrounds
: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through October, weather permitting. Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Ln. Features locally grown produce, baked goods, artisan breads, meats, seafood, fresh pasta, eggs, specialty foods, and Connecticutmade crafts. Rain or shine. For info, email farmersmarket@guilfordfair.org
Stony Creek Farmers’ Market
: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1. Bayview Park, Thimble Island Rd., Stony Creek. Features a weekly market with local produce, baked goods, seafood, meats, crafts, live music, and family activities. For info, call 203-988-9335 or email shreichert@gmail.com, or visit scfarmersmarket.org.
Theater
The Wizard of Oz
: The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Rd., Branford. Runs July 9 through Aug. 2. For info, call 203315-1901 or visit legacytheatrect.org.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum will present from Saturday, June 27 through Oct. 6, featuring sculptures, drawings, paintings, and collages by the Norwich-based artist.
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.
The exhibition examines the influence of the Golden Ratio throughout McCalebb’s work. The mathematical proportion, long associated with natural growth, harmony, and visual balance, has served as a foundation for the artist’s practice for decades.
McCalebb’s large-scale sculptures and other works have been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally, including in Germany, Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, China, and the United Arab Emirates. His work is represented in museum collections and private holdings around the world.
For the past several years, McCalebb has lived and worked in Norwich, where he operates Dada Post USA, a studio and gallery space. Before returning to the Howard McCalebb: The Golden Mean
United States, he spent more than a decade in Berlin, Germany, where he founded and directed Dada Post, an artist residency and exhibition space.
Originally from San Jose, California, McCalebb earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in sculpture from California State University at Hayward. During his career, he has taught at numerous colleges and universities, including Cornell University, Rutgers University, Hunter College, Amherst College, and Parsons School of Design. An opening reception will be held Friday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free for museum members and $10 for nonmembers.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum is located at 625 Williams St., New London. For information, call 860-443-2545 or visit lymanallyn.org.
: Cindy Brewster and Nelson E. Aceto to Kelly Davis, $415,000 on June 5
: Josephine Konopka to Cedric Jeffries and Ellen Raymond, $525,250 on June 2
: Suriel LLC to
149 Durham Road 149-27 Durham Road LLC, $65,000 on June 1
27-A Durham Road
: Suriel LLC to 149-27 Durham Road LLC, $65,000 on June 1
27-B Durham Road
: Suriel LLC to 149-27 Durham Road LLC, $65,000 on June 1
: Lauren B. and Thomas Tolla to Eric I. Elliott, $693,000 on June 2
: Richard D. Carleton and Beryl Meiner to Gregg Robbins and Rhonda Young, $500,000 on June 1
38 Crescent Bluff Avenue
: Harold
D. and Sheryl L. Sessa to Benjamin J. and Patricia J. Resio, $1,047,500 on June 5
8 Cynthia Court
: Monika Lopez and Richard Robinson to Deneen Mackey, $562,000 on June 4
25 Harbor Street
: Robert and Rebecca Ayars to Robert K. and Linda Kwochka, $1,375,000 on June 5
: Kristen A. Sanchez to Lori Mangiulli, $355,000 24 Aceto Street 45 Brookwood Drive 26 Bryan Road
3 Lakeview Drive Unit 3 on June 4
2 Lakeview Terrace
: Nichalas Perry to Ashley M. Truini and Zachary F. Taylor, $500,000 on June 3
60 Maple Street Unit 17
: Andrew J. Cooney to Nancy Cusano, $360,000 on June 2
: Lynn C Sanchez T and Lynn C. Sanchez to John L. Mccauley and Caitlin Hanley, $925,000 on June 1 :
Guilford Yacht Club #Cn1146
Craig Helmrich to Jessica Paskiewicz and Joshua Haight, $29,000 on June 4
507 Little Meadow Road
: Mateo Masonry LLC to Desiree and Michael C. Bates, $674,500 on June 4
1944 Moose Hill Road
Casagrande to Brendan D. and Melissa J. Labanara, $500,000 on June 5
54 Murray Lane
: OConnellFt and Edward B. OConnell to Jonathan and Amy Faitsch, $325,000 on June 5
144 East Main Street Unit 5
: Brian V. Clark to John and Miroslawa Demianczyk, $210,000 on June 4
: Carlos A. and Pamela E. Binkley to Kelly Akehurst and Kurt Breckheimer, $850,000 on June 2
: Coastal Quarter Prop LLC to Nicholas A. Leo, $610,000 on June 4
Middle
: Bruce Katz
T and Bruce Katz to Bonita F. and Edward A. Bruciati, $1,825,000 on June 2
: James W. and Dona Berry to Sherry A. Mucik and Nicholas Boynton, $10,000 on June 4
: 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@shore publishing.com
: Alvaro J. Correa and Andrea Noguera to Michael and
79 Acorn Road Chelsea Kaplan, $645,000 on June 1
46-A Beach Avenue
: Estate of Sylvia Buck and Jean C. Jones to Cathleen and Cosmo Morabito, $800,000 on June 3
: And Management LLC to Trevor and Tabitha Hayden, $705,000 on June 1
SHOOK ® Research, LLC – April 2026 – Data as of 6/30/25. The 2026 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors rankings was developed in coordination with SHOOK research. This award is based on an algorithm of qualitative criterion for advisors who have a minimum of seven years of experience. This algorithm is qualitatively based, through due diligence reviews and quantitative data, factoring revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience, and the encompassment of standards of preferred best practices. Portfolio performance is not considered as a part of the criteria. SHOOK ® Research, LLC – February 2026 – Data as of 6/30/25. America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: experience in the industry (at least 1 year at current firm), acceptable compliance records, assets under management, best practices, an online survey and a recommendation from their firm. Over 11,800 nominations were received for this award. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receive compensation in exchange for its Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State placements or rankings, which are determined independently. SHOOK ® Research, LLC – August 2025 – America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors 2025 Best-In-State ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a minimum of 4 years experience in the industry (at least 1 year at current firm), acceptable compliance records, assets under management, best practices, and a recommendation from their firm. Source: SHOOK ® Research, LLC – October 2025 – Data as of 12/31/24. America’s Top Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Firms ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm of qualitative criteria including: a measure of best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, and quantitative criteria such as revenue trends and assets under management. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receive compensation in exchange for its placement or rankings and recognition. However, the Advisor does pay a fee for the usage of the award ribbons in various allowed media and advertisements. Principle Wealth Partners is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Principle Wealth Partners and SHOOK Research, LLC are not affiliated. Barron’s “Top 100 1,500 Financial Advisors,” March, 2026. Barron’s “Top 1,500 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria provided by survey of more than 100 questions and verified through regulatory data, which provide a ranking framework. Additional criteria reviewed include experience, acceptable compliance records, formal succession plans, high client retention, advanced degrees and industry designations, the size and shape of their teams, and philanthropic work. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors,” September, 2025. Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria provided by a 100+ question survey and verified through regulatory data, which provide a ranking framework. Advisors must pass a prequalification process that aims to determine experience and sophistication before verification of data with regulatory databases before an internal rankings formula is applied. Neither Principle Wealth Partners nor its Financial Advisors