The Guilford Engineering Department is planning to bring forward a proposal to renovate the property at 52 Church St., adjacent to the Guilford Community Center, to provide additional parking and storage for the neighboring facility.
The department will present its plans to
the Planning and Zoning Commission in September, said Town Engineer Janice Plaziak. A site plan provided by Plaziak to the shows a proposal to connect the Community Center with the property at 52 Church St. via a small connecting corridor that would lead drivers to a parking lot behind the building with 29 additional parking spaces. Portions of the building’s exterior would be removed and restored,
Guilford Courier
while the multiple rooms in what was formerly a private home would be converted into additional storage space for the Community Center.
Addressing plans for the 52 Church St. property has been on the town’s radar since 2018. According to Plaziak, “a sketch by the previous engineering department to turn the
See Historic Home page 7
Guilford fisherman John Genther sorts through his catch aboard the FJ after spending about 12 hours on the water on June 28. Genther typically fishes for fluke, flounder, sea bass and scup.
PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ TheCourier
Pamela Tatge: Finding Inspiration Along the Shoreline
By Alicia Gomez
Assistant Editor
Thirty-seven years after moving to the shoreline, Pamela Tatge still considers it home.
While serving as the artistic and executive director of Jacob’s Pillow, a dance center, school and performance venue in western Massachusetts that is listed as a National Historic Landmark District and home to the nation’s longest-running international dance festival, Tatge continues to draw inspiration from the Connecticut shoreline, where she raised her family and built a life rooted in creativity and the arts.
Pamela originally moved to Madison from New Haven with her husband for its strong public schools, which three of her four children attended, and quickly fell in love with the town’s community and waterside atmosphere. She still maintains Madison as her primary residence.
“We never thought we’d live in Madison as long as we have, but it’s because I fell in love,” she says.
Tatge says she never takes the shoreline town for granted. She loves
says nature helps her think creatively and stay grounded.
“When you are able to be in nature, you open yourself up to a more cre-
Every few years, technology takes a significant leap forward. The Doctors of Audiology and Hearing Aid Specialists at County Hearing and Balance use this new technology to help improve your hearing in ways never even imagined just a few years ago. Sound is crisp, clear, and more natural, providing a truly advanced listening experience.
Trust your hearing to the professionals at County Hearing and Balance. We are the area’s oldest, locally owned, full service Audiology Center. We provide a professional and thorough assessment of your hearing ability and provide several options if improvement is needed. If hearing aids are necessary, we work with several of the largest manufacturers to ensure that you are getting the right instrument for your hearing loss, at the right price. Plus we participate or process most insurance and discount plans, including Medicare, Medicare supplements, Anthem, United Health, Tricare, Aetna, Connecticare and AARP.
Call any of our convenient offices to schedule your appointment.
Photo by Danica Paulos
Though her work takes her across the arts world, Madison resident Pamela Tatge continues to draw inspiration from the shoreline community she has called home for nearly four decades.
Guilford Interfaith Volunteers would like to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful volunteers from Vox Church for their help on June 6, during their official Day of Service.
After learning about our mission, the Vox team reached out and immediately offered their support. Their willingness to serve, driven simply by a desire to spread compassion and kindness to organizations helping the community, was both inspiring and deeply appreciated.
Thanks to their hard work, our volunteers accomplished several important projects, including rebuilding our handicap-accessible ramp, painting our office space, and cleaning and refreshing our
Make Taxpayers a Priority
So, on the third try the big spenders got their way and the increased budget passed at referendum. It was clear that the vested interests came out in force to ensure this, parents who understandably want as much as possible spent on their children, and town and school employees who are looking to their next pay raise.
The losers, of course, the rest of us who will soon be writing even bigger checks twice each year.
It was impressive how many “vote yes” signs appeared at the last minute, all claiming that we faced cuts if the budget did not pass. This deception somehow claimed that a $5.41 million spending increase represented a cut?
Not to mention the additional $1.8 million borrowing not included in the budget, just pocket change!
Craft Expo Seeks Volunteers
Meals on Wheels delivery bags. These projects will have a lasting impact on our ability to serve others, and they would not have been possible without your generosity and dedication. We cannot thank you enough for believing in our work and for giving your time and talents so freely. Your service reflects the very best of what community is all about, and we are grateful to have partners like you helping us make a difference. We would also like to thank Nathan Morrison of the Sherwin-Williams store in Branford for the paint supplies. We truly appreciate the generous spirit.
Who would be surprised if bloat could be found in Guilford’s expenditures? For example, other writers have noted the teaching coaches now in place and the too many to mention other positions that our empire-building superintendent has added. Question, if our teachers are not already competent, why did we hire them?
As we keep hearing, Guilford is too expensive for many to live here. Just think if this rate of spending increase continues, where will we be a few years from now? Our leaders must seek a better balance that considers taxpayers a priority. Perhaps they could carry out a comprehensive spending audit before next year’s budget proposal. They have a full year until then, let’s get started!
David Roberts
Guilford
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.
Ceramics Residency Program Accepting Applications
The Guilford Art Center is accepting applications for its one-year Ceramics Residency Program, which runs from September 2026 through August 2027. Designed for emerging artists, the program offers studio space, free firings, a stipend, and opportunities to develop personal work in an educational studio environment. Residents also gain experience assisting students and learning studio operations and may have opportunities to exhibit, sell work, and teach. For more information, visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Christi Burton Guilford
Serenity Bishop Sports Editor Ext. 6141
Wesley Bunnell Chief of Photography
Betsy Lemkin The Sound Guilford Courier Ext. 6130
Cindy Breckheimer The Source Ext. 6140
Lori Gregan Valley Courier Ext. 6167
Alicia Gomez Assistant Editor
Laura Giannelli Chief Revenue Officer Ext. 4304
Laura Robida Managing Editor Ext. 6119
Alan C. Ellis Production Director
Lisa Martin Real Estate Advertising Ext. 6122
Eric O’Connell Staff Reporter
Rita Christopher Senior Correspondent
Kristen Lennon Circulation Advertising Assistant
Aaron Rubin Staff Reporter
Editorial Staff
Obituary
Jacquelyn Cost
Guilford
Known to most as Jackie, Jacquelyn Priscilla Scranton Cost passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, in the North Guilford home where she was raised. Jackie was born on Dec. 2, 1942, to the late Oliver L. Scranton and Ruby Linsley Scranton.
Jackie is survived by her sons, Tom and his wife, Shannon, and Adam and his wife, Michelle; her beloved grandchildren, Ethan, Austin, Mia, Garet, and Ellie; her sister, Beth Payne; and her brother, Oliver "Buster" Scranton. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Thomas Augustus Cost. Though they spent more than five decades building a life together, those who knew Jackie could see how profoundly she felt Tom's absence after his passing in 2021.
Jackie enjoyed traveling with Tom Sr. to visit friends and family, and she found happiness in life's simple pleasures. She loved gardening, baking, and following UConn women's basketball. Her passion for the game stemmed from her own athletic career, having played four years of varsity basketball at Guilford High School. She also performed in the marching band and played the cornet.
Contacting Guilford Courier
As your hometown paper, the Guilford Courier welcomes reader contributions and questions. If it’s important to you, we want to know about it. Here are the best ways to bring matters to our attention.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Guilford Courier encourages letters to the editor that offer a uniquely local perspective on local issues.
Writers may submit letters as often as every two weeks. Letters must include the writer’s full name, street address, and phone number for verification purposes. Letters submitted under pseudonyms, anonymously, or through third parties will be declined. Letters must be written by the submitter. No more than four signees are permitted per letter.
Letters must be 300 words or fewer and are subject to editing for clarity, style, and adherence to policy. Letter writers may be asked to supply sources to corroborate information presented as fact in letters.
Civility is required. Letters with personal attacks, unsubstantiated allegations, or inflammatory language will be declined.
For letters endorsing a political candidate, Shore Publishing will accept one endorsement per writer per candidate. Letters with negative content are not accepted for the two issues preceding elections to allow for candidate rebuttal.
A lifelong resident of North Guilford, Jackie was raised on her family's farm. Her upbringing on the farm shaped the qualities for which she was best known: a remarkable work ethic, steadfast determination, and practicality. Following her graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1964, Jackie began her career as a dietitian at the VA Hospital in West Haven. Her expertise and dedication to the profession ultimately led to Jackie authoring two books on dietetics.
In 1983, Jackie and Tom Sr. embarked on a new adventure when they purchased a small hardware store in Killingworth. While Tom Sr. often provided the vision, Jackie managed the day-to-day operations that transformed the business into the thriving community institution it is today. Customers came to know and respect her for her knowledge, fairness, and dedication. Much of the growth and success of Killingworth True Value can be attributed to her leadership and tireless work ethic. One of Jackie's most cherished rewards was watching her son, Tom Jr., join the family business and continue the legacy she and Tom Sr. had worked so hard to create.
North Guilford Congregational Church held a special place in Jackie's heart and served as the backdrop for many of life's most meaningful moments. It was there that she met Tom Sr. while his father, the Rev. Henry Cost, served as pastor. The church remained a constant throughout her life. There she married Tom Sr., raised Tom Jr. and Adam in faith, celebrated baptisms and confirmations, gathered with loved ones in times of joy and sorrow, and, in 2021, said goodbye to Tom Sr. Now, as her life comes full circle, Jackie will be laid to rest beside the husband she loved for 55 years. Though Jackie accomplished much throughout her life, nothing meant more to her than her family. She took great pride in the lives of her children and grandchildren and especially enjoyed attending their sporting events, concerts, and activities. One of her greatest joys was seeing the qualities she exemplified throughout her life reflected in the character and accomplishments of those she loved most.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Jackie's devoted caregiver, Faustina Sackey-Mensah, whose compassion, kindness, and dedication brought comfort and support during Jackie's final years.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, at North Guilford Congregational Church. A private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jackie's honor may be made to Charlie's Closet, 310 State St., Suite #200, Guilford, CT 06437, www.givct.org. Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Letters must be received and verbally confirmed by 5 p.m. Thursday, seven days prior to publication. Confirmation does not guarantee publication. Publication is subject to approval by the editor.
Letter writers who knowingly violate this policy three times will be banned from submitting future letters to the editor.
Letters may be submitted at www.zip06.com or email to shoreletters@shorepublishing.com.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CALENDAR To have your item considered for print, please email news@shorepublishing.com. Announcements and calendar items are printed as space allows. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday at noon, nine days before publication.
These are just a few ways to get involved in your newspaper. If you have an idea for a story, a question about news deadlines, or any other news-related inquiry, email news@shorepublishing.com or call the News Department at 203-245-1877, ext. 0.
OBITUARIES The Guilford Courier publishes paid obituary notices in print and at Zip06. com. Obituaries should be sent to obits@theday.com. The deadline for all obituaries is Wednesday at 4 p.m., eight days prior to publication date. Obituaries will also be posted as quickly as possible at Zip06.com.
ADVERTISING To speak with someone about newspaper and online advertising, contact the Sales Department at advertising@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877. All advertising is subject to the approval of Shore Publishing. Shore Publishing shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement at any time for any or no reason.
LEGAL NOTICES To place a legal notice, email legal@theday.com or call 860-701-4410.
CLASSIFIEDS To place an ad in the Classifieds section or in the Classifieds Service Directory, call 860-701-4200 and/or email classifiedads@theday.com.
CIRCULATION To speak with someone about receiving or canceling the paper, please call 203-245-1877, ext. 6 or email shorecirculation@shorepublishing.com.
Guilford Courier
200 State Street, New London, CT 06320 news@shorepublishing.com
203-245-1877
Fax 203-245-9773
SPONSORED CONTENT:
Find Obituaries Posted Daily Online
While our press schedule often does not allow us to publish death notices in time to announce memorial services, readers can find obituaries posted to the Guilford Courier website, www.zip06.com, five days a week as they arrive.
Stories and features denoted with the Shore Publishing “Sponsored” icon are sponsored by advertisers. Sponsored content is content created or commissioned by advertisers in collaboration with Shore Publishing’s marketing team. As with all advertising, sponsored content does not necessarily reflect the views of Shore Publishing. Shore Publishing will ensure the treatment and design of Advertising and Sponsored Content is clearly differentiated from its editorial content.
Budget Passes on Third Referendum
Staff Writer By Aaron Rubin
The Guilford municipal budget passed on its third referendum June 16 by a vote of 3,242 to 2,351, according to the Guilford Independent Party. Voter turnout was just under 35%.
According to a Town of Guilford news release, after voters rejected the budget in a second referendum in May, the Board of Finance unanimously approved an additional $700,000 in spending reductions to the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget — $525,000 from the Board of Education budget and $175,000 from the Board of Selectmen budget.
The revised budget totals $127,963,203 in townwide spending, including Guilford Public Schools. With voter approval, the town’s mill rate will be 28.40, representing a 2.73% tax increase.
First Selectman Matt Hoey told the Guilford Courier he was “thrilled” to see the budget pass following what he described as a difficult process.
“It’s been a difficult process, but one that reflects the will of the people,” Hoey said. “I’m pleased to see significantly increased turnout for the third referendum. It’s unfortunate that it takes multiple referen-
dums to get that many people energized and active, but nonetheless it did happen. We’re happy that there’ll be no further cuts into services, and we look forward to spending the money wisely and in the manner that we’ve described, and as our community has come to expect.”
The Guilford Public Schools budget also passed on the third referendum after two rounds of reductions totaling $1.5 million over the past two months. The cuts included reductions in special education, coaching and paraprofessional positions, and site improvement projects.
Guilford Courier
Despite the reductions, Superintendent Paul Freeman told the he was “enormously gratified” by the outcome and thanked residents for supporting both the school and town budgets during what he described as a particularly difficult budget season.
“I know that the school budget is a big ask every year. I know that this is an important investment that every taxpayer makes every year in our schools and in our children,” Freeman said. “I am glad to have a budget that allows us to move forward planning for a successful year next year.”
Master Woodland Manager Program Accepting Applications
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.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF Matthew J. Evans (26-0193)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated June 15, 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
fiduciary is:
Historic Home Eyed for Community Center Use
Continued from page 1
lot into a parking lot” was developed at the time to address parking, which was “one of the paramount reasons for acquiring the property next door to the community center.”
The Engineering Department received approval to proceed with its plans following a June 17 meeting with the Historic District Commission. The commission has an interest in the building at 52 Church St., said Chair Teresa Buchanan, because it sits within Guilford’s Historic District, which “features architecture spanning from the 17th to the 21st centuries, providing our town with a unique sense of place and charm.”
The building is a mid-century modernstyle home constructed during the Great Depression, adding to its historic significance and requiring the commission to carry out its mission to preserve Guilford’s “architectural diversity and to ensure that Guilford’s history remains visible through its built environment,” Buchanan said.
The chair elaborated on the building’s architectural significance, stating, “Its design reflects the shift toward a functional aesthetic, characterized by simple materials, large roof overhangs, and corner windows. As a more affordable housing solution of its time, it served as a precursor to much of the development north of the highway…As the only example of this architectural style in the Historic District, maintaining the integrity of the original house is vital to the Church Street streetscape.”
Following a period of collaboration between the Engineering Department and the commission, including the creation of a joint task force to find the best “solution for the future of the building,” the two groups ultimately settled on a plan that preserves the historic structure while meeting the
Community Center’s needs, Buchanan said.
Approval from the Historic District Commission to preserve the building through adaptive reuse has also saved the town money, according to Plaziak. The Engineering Department’s original plan for addressing the Community Center’s storage needs was to construct a new building.
“Instead,” she said, “this latest plan that was approved is to retain the existing historic building and renovate it to be utilized by the community center for storage as well.”
Some of the exterior renovations will include removing additions that had been made to several parts of the building over the years, with the goal of returning it to “what we believe was the original footprint,” Plaziak said. The southern portion of the building will be converted back to its original garage configuration for storage use by the Parks and Recreation Department.
The interior rooms of the former home, including its kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, will be converted into additional storage space for the Community Center.
The current estimate for the project is about $800,000, Plaziak said. That includes approximately $600,000 for building renovations, including demolition and restoration work, while the remaining $200,000 is the estimated cost of site improvements, including landscaping and drainage. The estimates were developed following a site evaluation by Silver Petrucelli Associates, one of the town’s “on-call architectural firms,” Plaziak said.
The project is currently listed as a capital project in the Engineering Department’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. Plaziak said it was placed there in the event funding is not secured during the current 2026 fiscal year.
Public Works Lands $182K in Equipment Savings
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
The Guilford Public Works Department has acquired several pieces of replacement equipment for town departments through the state’s surplus property program, saving the town an estimated $182,000.
Department head Dave Castro told the Guilford Courier the equipment was obtained through Connecticut’s State Surplus Program.
“When the state gets rid of equipment, office supplies, anything that they have of value, they post it internally to the state for a week, and then they post it to municipalities to claim,” Castro said.
One of the items Public Works acquired was a forklift for the Guilford Fire Department that would have cost about $32,000 if purchased new. Castro said the department’s previous forklift was very old and in need of replacement.
“[It] didn’t even fit downstairs in their building,” he said. “This new forklift we got them ... it fits below in their building.”
The three other pieces of equipment, valued at approximately $150,000, were acquired at no cost through the state pro-
gram for use by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Board of Education, the Building Department and Public Works. Castro said all are newer models than the equipment they replaced.
The Board of Education received a new lawn mower. Public Works received a new SUV, the Building Department received a pickup truck and the Parks and Recreation Department received a new SUV.
“The Building Department, they use their [pickup] to go from building to building and bring tools to do jobs. The Parks and Rec [department], they use [SUVs] to go to parks, set up for events. Ours is for getting parts, getting the mail, any deliveries we have to pick up. If we send a bunch of people for training, they’ll all hop in the vehicle.”
Castro said he regularly monitors the state’s surplus listings in hopes of finding additional equipment that can benefit town departments without requiring budget requests for new purchases.
“I watch this every night when it comes out to see what we can get, so we don’t have to actually go and buy,” he said.
Members of the public are invited to
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
State Project No. 0059-0170
Replacement of Bridge No. 04861 carrying Twin Bridge Road over Iron Stream in Guilford
The purpose of this meeting is to provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed improvements. A Q&A session will immediately follow the presentation.
This project will improve the safety of the crossing for all roadway users by designing a replacement structure. Right-of-way impacts are not anticipated.
Construction is expected to start spring 2029, depending on funding, right-of-way acquisitions, and permits. The estimated cost is $5 million, with 80% federal funds and 20% state funds.
The public can submit comments and questions during two-week public comment period following meeting. Direct comments and questions by Thursday, July 23, 2026, to DOT-FLBP@ct.gov, 860-594-2020, or Michelle Rame at Michelle.Rame@ct.gov or 860-594-3319.
ACCESSIBILITY
Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom. The recording will also be posted following the meeting in CTDOT’s public meeting playlist at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive
For audio only, call 877-853-5257 with Meeting ID 843 5766 2147. Project information can be mailed within one week by contacting Michelle Rame at Michelle.Rame@ct.gov or 860-594-3319.
Individuals with hearing/speech disabilities can dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Request language assistance from CTDOT’s Language Assistance at 860-594-2109 at least five business days before meeting.
Obituaries
Continued from page 5
Obituary
Sister Rose of St. Mary Beierl
Sister Rose of St. Mary Beierl, O.P. (née Keyna Ann Beierl), age 95, died peacefully in the infirmary of the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, surrounded by her devoted community. She was predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Ann Beierl; siblings, Gregory, Peter, and Maxine; and is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and grands.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., she entered the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary there in 1953, made first profession of vows in 1955, and final profession in 1958. She served the Buffalo community as prioress, sub-prioress, novice mistress, and infirmarian
Obituary Doris Nolan Guilford
Doris Lucinda Hanrahan Nolan, longtime resident of Guilford, died Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 49 years, William Fortner Nolan. She is survived by her five children and spouses:
Dorinda L. Nolan and husband, Thomas K. Lupold, of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Deborah A. Nolan and husband, David B. Glaser, of Berkeley, Calif.; Stephen M. Nolan and wife, Marie Z. Nolan, of Boston, Mass.; Mark W. Nolan and wife, Maria B. Nolan, of New Haven; and Daniel J. Nolan and wife, Heidi W. Nolan, of Guilford. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 18 greatgrandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Doris was born in Susquehanna, Pa.,
for almost 70 years. She also excelled at cooking, gardening, and sewing. Upon the closure of the Buffalo monastery, Sister transfiliated to the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in North Guilford. Sister Rose of St. Mary was known for her love of beauty and her ability to draw beauty out of everything and everyone she met. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful smile. Undaunted by age or illness, Sister Rose of St. Mary radiated happiness and a love for her vocation and was a joy to all she met.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on June 20 at the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. Calling hours were held on June 18 and June 19. Arrangements were in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
in 1930, the daughter of Lucinda Wies Hanrahan and John Francis Hanrahan. She graduated from Deposit High School and Eastman Dental School of Rochester, New York. She worked as a dental hygienist in public schools in New York and private practices in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Doris was a keen basketball fan and rooted for the UConn Huskies women's team. She loved camping, trying new recipes, and a good bowl of spaghetti. Doris had an infectious sense of humor and enjoyed spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed. Services were held privately. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grimes Center, Yale New Haven Hospital, Office of Development, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508-9979, at secure.givetoynhh.org. Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Rugby Is a Great Sport
Story by Carol Andrecs
Young Rugby and his two siblings showed up at a home during the winter months, desperate for food and shelter, and the compassionate homeowners called Forgotten Felines for help. Rugby is only 2 years old, full of love and affection, and a real player. He loves to show off his athletic skills when playing with toys but warms up quickly to cuddling and attention. Rugby’s black fur is sleek and shiny, making him even more handsome and photogenic. Could you welcome this sweet boy into your home? Come meet Rugby at our open house or apply to adopt him online at www.forgottenfelinesct.org.
Find Your Match at Forgotten Felines
: Forgotten Felines holds an open house every Saturday from 11 a.m.-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
Photo by Genevieve Ray
Porchfest Seeks Performers, Hosts, Volunteers
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.
District 20 of Connecticut (Area 11) of Alcoholics Anonymous has dozens of meetings throughout the week to help carry the message to people in recovery and those who may still be suffering from this disease. The meetings are held at various locations, as well as online. For more information and a list of meetings, email the public information officer at d20a11pi@gmail.com or visit https://d20a11.org.
Pamela Tatge: Finding Inspiration Along the Shoreline
Continued from page 2
museums,” she says. “I felt that collective experience of the performing arts.”
Pamela recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary as executive and artistic director. Her tenure has not been without challenges. She led Jacob’s Pillow through the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a virtual festival that reached audiences in 172 countries. Later that same year, the organization lost its Doris Duke Theatre to a fire.
Working alongside the organization’s board and supporters, Pamela helped lead the effort to rebuild. The result was a reimagined Doris Duke Theatre, which opened in 2025 and features expanded accessibility, updated technology and an
Agency on Aging Seeks Volunteers
adjacent Indigenous garden.
“We managed to envision a theater for dance into the future, raise $30 million, and open a new theater for dance,” she says.
The experiences tested her leadership, but they also reinforced the importance of teamwork, trust and staying committed to an organization’s mission.
Despite the challenges, Tatge remains motivated by the power of art and continues to advocate for artists and audiences.
“I believe in dance,” she says. “I believe in this art form to connect people.”
Even as she leads one of the nation’s premier dance institutions, Pamela remains rooted in the community she chose nearly 40 years ago.
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.
Obituaries
Continued from page 8
Obituary
Robert R. Rakauskas Guilford
It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Robert “Bob” R. Rakauskas May 29, 2026. Born Aug. 20, 1944, in Waterbury, Bob was the son of the late Adolf and Marion (Bogush) Rakauskas of Milford. He was the brother of the late Carolyn (Rakauskas) Minion (Lester) of Illinois.
Bob was the husband of Nancy Brown-Rakauskas. They resided
together in Guilford for the 38 years of their marriage. Bob referred to Nancy as the love of his life and that he was Mr. Lucky. Father to his daughter, Megan Wootton (Godfrey), of Florida; stepfather to his son, Adam Brown (Jennifer), of Branford; grandfather to Trevor Brown, Mikayla Brown, Catalina Brown, all of Branford, Parker Wootton, and Godfrey Wootton, both of Florida. He was the uncle to Carry Minion Taylor (Todd) of Florida. Bob grew up living next door to his grandfather's bakery on John Street, Waterbury (The Brooklyn Baking Co.). Directly across the street from his house was his school, Saint Joseph's School, K-8, and next to the school was their church, Saint Joseph Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church. Bob went to W.F. Kaynor Technical High School
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY STATE & DISTRICT OFFICES ONLY
Notice is hereby given that a Primary of the political party listed below will be held in Guilford on August 11, 2026 for nomination to each office indicated below.
Notice is also hereby given that the following are the names of the party-endorsed candidates, if any, for nomination to each office indicated, together with the street address of said candidate. The party endorsed candidates, if any, are indicated by an asterisk. Additionally, the following are the names of all other candidates who have filed their certificates of eligibility and consent to primary or have satisfied the primary petitioning requirements in conformity with the General Statutes as candidates for nomination to each office indicated, together with the street addresses of said candidates.
Dated at Hartford, Connecticut this 25th day of June, 2026. STEPHANIE THOMAS
SECRETARY OF THE STATE
The foregoing is a copy of the notice which I have received from the Office of the Secretary of the State, in accordance with Section 9-433 of the General Statutes. As provided the primary will begin with early voting on August 3, 2026 through August 9, 2026, and the primary of the referenced party for nomination to the state or district offices therein specified will be held on August 11, 2026. The hours of voting during early voting and at said primary and the location of the polls will be as follows:
EARLY VOTING – HOURS OF VOTING: LOCATION: GUILFORD TOWN HALL
August 3, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 31 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437
August 4, 2026 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
August 5, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
August 6, 2026 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
August 7, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
August 8, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
August 9, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
HOURS OF VOTING: 6:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES VOTING DISTRICT
Calvin Leete School, South Union St. 1
Abraham Baldwin School, Bullard Dr. 2
Guilford Fire Headquarters, 390 Church St. 3
Melissa Jones School, Ledge Hill Rd. 4
A.W. Cox School, Three Mile Course 5
Absentee Ballots will be counted at the following location: Guilford Town Hall, 31 Park St., Guilford, CT.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut, this 25th day of June, 2026.
Anna J. Dwyer, Town Clerk, CCTC Town of Guilford
(Class of 1962). For college, he attended the University of New Haven.
Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966. He served with the 52nd Combat Support Group as Sergeant E-4 Military Police. He received his honorable discharge in 1969.
On his return to the states, Bob entered the University of Connecticut, earning a degree in history and sealed his love of all sports at UConn. Shortly after his graduation from UConn, he joined the Connecticut State Police, graduating first in the 80th Training Troop. When asked if he got to pick where he would serve, he said not exactly, but I got a CT State Police ring and I got to pick the color of the old car they gave me. His last station as a sergeant was at the CT State Fire Marshal's Office in Meriden, working for and with Lt. Ralph Hazen. Bob learned so much from Ralph and truly thought he was a great mentor, person, and friend. After his retirement, he started to get bored. His next job was at the CT State Capitol as one of the many retired state troopers becoming security techs.
Bob had a dry sense of humor; one didn't always know if he was kidding or not. His straight-face humor came up in his work and in his family life. Bob played on the State Police Baseball Team. One evening after a game, he was driving home, and as he entered the interstate ramp, he saw it was bumper to bumper. He stopped to watch a car backing down the ramp. He would have understood why and didn't blame the guy, until the guy stopped his car, got out, started yelling
and swearing at him to get his car out of the way, then got back in his car and backed up inches from Bob's cruiser. Bob turned his blue flashers on, got out of his car, and walked up to the man's car. The man put his window down and said, you can arrest me you're not in uniform. Bob said this is a uniform. The guy answered it's not a State Police uniform. Bob turned around, and it clearly said State Police on his back. Bob then backed his car up and came home a different way. When asked what did the man do? Bob said I don't know, I didn't look.
With the family and friends, when he had enough visiting, Bob would say, I’m going to go feed the horses. This was all fine when they had horses, but after both horses passed on, he kept saying that same phrase just because he had enough visiting and went to bed. Now the family line to leave the party is, I have to go feed the horses, and none of them have horses.
Bob loved anything where he was exercising. He ran multiple marathons in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and Ireland. He was a ranked tennis amateur. As he got older, he became a long-distance bicycle rider. The burial will be private for family, and later there will be a Celebration of Life with invitations extended at that time. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the CSP Alumni Association Museum, CSPAAMEC, P.O. Box 1945, Meriden, CT 06450. Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
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. A fundraising car wash 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.
Austin LaFata Eagle Scout Project Fundraiser and Volunteer Opportunities
Guilford Girls Tennis Completes Historic Title Double
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
Guilford girls tennis team. The hungry, talented and determined group accomplished something no other team in program history had done before: winning both the Southern Connecticut Conference championship and the Class L state championship in the same season.
lar season with an impressive 18-1 record before earning their third consecutive Southern Connecticut Conference title with a 4-3 victory over third-seeded Lauralton Hall.
Cheshire, 4-3, in 2024 and Amity Regional, 4-3, last season. It also marked the Grizzlies’ fifth consecutive conference championship match appearance despite losses to Amity Regional in 2022 and 2023. However, the Grizzlies were not finished after the SCC Tournament. They quickly turned their attention to the state tournament, entering the postseason with a target on their backs. Guilford earned the top
finished runner-up in 2015, 2017 and 2024.
Coach Chris Marra said a dominant regular season followed by conference and state championships is always the goal, but it does not always work out that way. This season, everything came together.
“It’s always something you hope for, and
The Guilford singles lineup featured Zoe Tsoukanelis at first singles, Brielle Lucas at second singles, Iliana Buckhoff at third singles and Claire Cummin at fourth singles. The doubles lineup featured Kate Gasparini and Breann Shelton at first doubles and Juliette Kellner and Makenna Clark at second doubles.
Third doubles featured a rotation that included Violet Moroso, Vera Lim, Ryan Cohen, Grace Stemple, Jada Preble, Sam Torello, Maggie Apicella and Lily Scoggin. Zoe Tsoukanelis, Kate Gasparini and Breann Shelton were named First Team All-SCC, while Brielle Lucas, Makenna Clark and Juliette Kellner earned Second
The Guilford senior class included Clark, Gasparini, Kellner, Cummin and Shelton. Marra credited the seniors with helping lead the Grizzlies to their historic
“It just says a lot about the girls and their commitment to the team. We have five outstanding seniors on the team, and we have a couple of great underclassmen who are coming up,” Marra said. “We just have so many players who are anxious to play more and to prove themselves. It just shows the level of commitment the girls have and how every year we’re just trying to keep growing as a program.”
Photo courtesy of Kelly Clark
The Guilford girls tennis team celebrates after defeating East Lyme, 4-3, to win the CIAC Class L state championship, completing the first Southern Connecticut Conference/Class L title double in program history.
Rockies Cut the White Sox First Place Lead by Two with a 4-2 Win
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
The weather was ideal as four of the top five teams faced each other. Overall scoring dipped this week to a team average of 258 points, down from last week’s 262. The only division to improve its scoring was A Division, where players averaged 112 points, up from 108 last week. Additionally, only nine players recorded a season best in one of the league’s six statistical categories.
Headlines
the White Sox’s first-place lead with a 4-2 win; the Braves held onto second place with a 4-2 victory over the Giants; the Cards stopped the surging Cubs, 5-1; the Pirates came within a point of sweeping the Yankees with a 5 1/2-1/2 win; the Red Sox defeated the struggling Marlins, 5-1; and the Dodgers topped the Rangers, 5-1.
Over the past five weeks, Bob Cifaldi’s Cubs have been the league’s highest-scoring team, but they faced the Cards’ highscoring duo of Kris Toohey and Todd Nuhn. Cifaldi has climbed from last to sixth in scoring over the past four weeks, Toohey ranks second and Nuhn leads B Division. The match proved to be the highest-scoring of the night. Toohey’s double in the final box of game one, combined with the handicap, gave the Cards the win. Toohey and Nuhn combined for 75 points, the night’s high game, to win game two. After the Cubs dropped game three, Cifaldi’s 42 points carried them to victory in game four. Toohey outdueled Cifaldi, 46-41, to win game five, and the Cards again used the handicap to capture the finale. Cifaldi’s 142-point series and Toohey’s 137-point series ranked second and third in A Division, while Nuhn’s 111-point series led B Division. The Cards scored 282 points to the Cubs’ 281 as the Cubs slipped to fifth place.
Sue Pollard’s Rockies looked to top 300 points again as they faced Brady Miller’s first-place White Sox. Keith Toohey substituted for Anthony Malerba.
White Sox player Kyle Wilson posted a season-best 27 points in game one, and for the fourth time this season his ringer in the final
box delivered the victory. His 22 points in game three proved to be the difference as teammate Bob Beckwith edged Rockies player Warren Bellows, 29-28. Pollard’s
36 points led the Rockies to a double-digit win in game two before they captured the final three games. Every victory came down to the last box: Pollard
scored four points in game four; Bellows threw a double on his final toss in game five; and in the finale, Bellows’ ringer, coupled with the handicap, secured the
also recording the fewest open boxes (18), compared with the league average of 33. The combination of A and B Division players on the Dodgers and Rangers was expected to
See Rockies Cut page 13
Photo courtesy of Joseph Heery
Bill Beckwith is the A player for the Red Sox and the No.5 scorer in the league and has made the weeks top three scores three times this year.
Rockies Cut the White Sox First Place Lead by Two with
have both teams in playoff contention, but each has struggled. Jeremy Davis and Hunter Beckwith of the Dodgers have been battling to stay out of last place, while Peter Furmonavicius and John Durinick of the Rangers have hovered around .500. Furmonavicius’ four points in the final box of game one gave the Rangers their lone victory. Davis followed with nine consecutive ringers to win game two. Ralph Sampson helped spark the Dodgers to victories in three of the final four games. His personal-best 85-point series led C Division. Davis and Beckwith outscored Furmonavicius and Durinick, 195-185.
Bill Beckwith’s Red Sox are battling the Dodgers to stay out of last place. John Hutra’s Marlins have been on the same roller coaster as the Rangers.
The Red Sox won the first three games. Beckwith’s 37 points in game one led to a 20-point victory. With no handicap in game two, the Red Sox won by three points before using a seven-point handicap to claim game three by two. Beckwith and Hutra matched scores in game four, but Leif Selander’s points gave the Marlins their lone win. After taking game five, the Red Sox again relied on the handicap to win the finale. Despite the 5-1 victory, the Red Sox remained in last place.
Over the past four weeks, Mike Zanelli Jr.’s Orioles have gone 15-9. During the same span, Tony Cutone’s Angels are 1113 and were looking to close the gap.
The matchup between Zanelli and Cutone did not disappoint. Zanelli’s 34and 32-point games led to double-digit victories in the first two contests as he built a 66-55 advantage over Cutone. Games three and six between the B/C Division players were played without a handicap. Andy Turshen led the Orioles to their third double-digit win. Cutone responded with
31 and 34 points in two Angels victories, outscoring Zanelli 120-115 overall and moving into third place in the A Division standings. Ted Dubay’s 26 points in the finale secured the Orioles’ fourth win.
Once again, John Sciacca’s D’backs did not play in a match with a handicap greater than four points. Leaguewide, there were 26 games featuring handicaps larger than four points. Against Sheryl Serviss’ Tigers, the maximum handicap was three points.
“I prefer these low-handicap games,” Sciacca said.
Frank Durinick substituted for D’backs player Butch Carotenuto, while the matchup between Sciacca and Serviss was another one to watch. The D’backs won the first four games. After two contests, Sciacca held a 56-54 edge over Serviss. Durinick’s 28- and 30-point games without an open box proved key in games two and three, and Sciacca defeated Serviss, 25-20, in game four. Serviss answered with a 3529 win in game five, but Sciacca claimed the head-to-head matchup, 110-109. The Tigers won the final two games by double digits.
Mark Goodale’s Mets looked to take advantage of the handicap in four of six games against Chip Goodrich’s Reds. Bill Lamb substituted for Harvey Strausser.
The Reds used their six-point handicap to earn a tie in game one. Goodrich and Joe Heery combined for 60 points in a doubledigit win in game two, and Heery’s 26 points lifted the Reds in game three. Goodale’s 36 points led the Mets in game four. Goodrich and Heery each scored 26 points as the Mets were unable to capitalize on the handicap in game five. Deb Scully’s second 22-point game of the night led the Mets to a victory in the finale. Heery’s 109point series ranked second in B Division, while Scully finished third in C Division with a season-best 75-point series.
Masonry
RogeR
RogeR CRampton
CRampton
PLUMBING l HEATING l AIRCONDITIONING NEWINSTALLATIONSORREPAIRS
RogeR CRampton PLUMBING HEATING l AIRCONDITIONING NEWINSTALLATIONSORREPAIRS
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!
Answers
Here’s How It Works:
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Beyond the Ferry: Discovering Fishers Island
By Steve Fagin
While strolling on a grass-lined path along the western tip of Fishers Island the other day, fellow hikers and I savored views of a sparkling Atlantic Ocean, Race Rock Light, Great Gull and Little Gull islands, and Long Island’s Orient Point.
“Beautiful!” Steve Finton exclaimed. He joined Ben Gardner, Maggie Jones, Andy Lynn, Dorothy Piszczek and me on a loop of the Silver Eel-Race Point Coastal Trail, led by Pierce Rafferty, director of the island’s Henry L. Ferguson Museum.
The trail, which passes through Janet Harvey Sanctuary, not far from the New London ferry landing, also brings hikers next to cavernous gun emplacements once part of historic Fort H.G. Wright. This former military installation, built in 1890, was abandoned in 1949.
The coastal trail and nearby museum are located on the west side of the island, which is open to the public.
Using permits provided by Pierce to bypass a gatehouse at the border of Fishers’ eastern section, we also were able to hike on the Island Pond Trail and visit other attractions that normally are accessible only to residents and their guests.
“Unlike Block Island, which does everything it can to attract tourists, Fishers Island doesn’t want the outside pouring in,” Pierce said.
He noted that restricting visitors not
early-morning paddle in bright sunshine, light breezes and millpond-flat seas.
After we stashed our boats in West Harbor, Pierce, Maggie and Steve picked us up in two cars, and we drove to the Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary on the east side of Fishers, just past a golf driving range.
The Island Pond Trail, lined with ferns, bayberry, blueberry, azalea, sumac and other native plants, meanders through a peninsula that juts into a nearly half-acre body of water. As the trail guide notes, this pond had been fresh water before storm surge from the Hurricane of 1938 washed over a barrier beach and turned it brackish, allowing softshell clams and oysters to live there.
only ensures privacy for a population that swells from about 400 year-round residents to more than 2,000 in summer, it also protects Fishers Island’s exceptional nature preserves. The museum’s Land Trust manages some 400 acres of wildlife sanctuaries, amounting to about 15% of the island’s total land area.
Maggie, who helped arrange our visit, said the island features “incredible natural diversity.” She had been invited to
Fishers often when serving as executive director of Mystic’s Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Now the center’s director emeritus, Maggie recently spent time upgrading the island’s trail guide and helping improve informational signs that are posted throughout the sanctuaries. Maggie and Steve reached the island by ferry, while Dorothy, Ben, Andy and I kayaked about 3 miles from Noank’s Esker Point Beach. It was a glorious,
When our group reached the edge of the pond, we watched a boat head out with a crew from the Fishers Island Oyster Farm, a family-run business founded in 1981 by Sarah and Steve Malinowski. The oyster season has ended; from October through April or May, the company ships oysters to about 50 restaurants and seafood markets throughout the East Coast, including half a dozen in Mystic and Waterford. Locals now often refer to Island Pond as Oyster Pond.
The 8-acre wildlife sanctuary was donated to the Land Trust in memory of Elizabeth C. Matthiessen by her husband, Erard A. Matthiessen, and their son,
See Beyond the Ferry page 21
Photo by Steve Fagin
Photo by Steve Fagin
Like this strip of sand facing Connecticut on the north shore of Fishers Island, all beaches are open to the public within the mean high-water mark. Access from private land, though, can be restricted.
A boat carries a crew at Fishers Island Oyster Farm, a family-run business founded in 1981 by Sarah and Steve Malinowski.
Special to Living
Photo by Steve Fagin
Kayakers paddle out of Noank’s Palmer Cove on their way to a hiking excursion on Fishers Island.
Beyond the Ferry: Discovering Fishers Island
Continued from page 20
Peter Matthiessen, the late novelist, naturalist, and wilderness writer.
Peter Matthiessen, the only writer to have won a National Book Award in both nonfiction, for “The Snow Leopard,” in 1979, and fiction, for “Shadow Country,” in 2008, is among a long list of notables who have lived or summered on Fishers Island, including members of the duPont, Firestone, Rockefeller and Whitney families.
We drove past the Fishers Island Club, which boasts having one of the nation’s top 10 golf courses, and is known as “The Big Club,” to distinguish it from the Hay Harbor Club on the island’s west side.
Pierce arranged for us to have our lunches on the sprawling deck of one of Fishers Island’s most spectacular waterfront mansions. While we munched sandwiches and basked in the sun, Pierce, an author, historian and first-class raconteur, regaled us with tales of celebrities who have visited the island, including George Harrison and the entire Monty Python troupe.
Pierce had a brief career as a filmmaker — he; his brother, Kevin; and Jayne Loader directed “The Atomic Café,” a 1982 documentary about how the government sought to ease concerns about nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Although not shown widely in theaters, the movie became a cult classic, and in 2016 was chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.
After lunch, we drove to Isabella Beach, on Fishers’ south shore, where a handful of islanders stretched out in the sand and waded in gentle waves. From a steep bluff overlooking the beach, we were able to see Block Island, which lies about 20 miles southeast. If you were to continue sailing in that direction, you wouldn’t hit land for another 3,200 miles to Portugal.
From Isabella Beach, we drove back to the public section on the west side of the island, passing a well-kept neighborhood that includes subsidized housing provided by the Walsh Park Benevolent Corp. The nonprofit organization, formed in 1987, reports that about 60 residents take advantage of the program.
Pierce noted that the island was more heavily developed and tourist-friendly a century ago, when there were three grand hotels, a smaller hotel and a boarding house that together could accommodate 400 guests. Today, The Pequot functions as the island’s only restaurant, but no longer operates as a hotel. In keeping with a penchant for privacy, there are no
overnight accommodations for visitors anywhere on Fishers Island.
Pierce noted that the stock market crash of 1929 stalled an extensive development project that had been planned for the island, enabling a land-preservation movement to take root.
The museum, which details the island’s history, dating back to its discovery by Dutch fur trader Adriaen Block in 1614, also highlights an array of natural and geographic exhibits and offers a full schedule of speakers and community events, all at no charge. It welcomes visitors. More information, visit fergusonmuseum.org.
We enjoyed touring the museum and its handsome grounds before heading back to Connecticut in late afternoon. The wind had picked up, and there were a few whitecaps on our return paddle, but we made it to Esker Point in less than an hour. A great trip, we all agreed.
Photo by Steve Fagin
A walkway and gazebo connect to the Henry L. Ferguson Museum on Fishers Island.
Photo by Steve Fagin
Silver Eel-Race Point Coastal Trail overlooks the Atlantic Ocean along the west shore of Fishers Island.
For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Colonial Kids
: 10:30 a.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St. Presented by the Connecticut Museum. Features hands-on activities and reproduction objects exploring daily life for children in Colonial Connecticut, including clothing, school, chores, and toys. For children ages 4 to 9. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-5266039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.
Pick Your Project Glass Class
: 2 p.m. RiverFire Glass, 500 Main St., Deep River. Create a fused-glass project. No experience necessary. For info or to register, email RiverFireGlass@gmail.com or visit riverfireglass.com.
Patriotic Suncatchers
: 2:30 p.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St. Features a craft program using stickon gems to decorate patriotic-themed suncatchers. For children ages 4 and older. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-526-6039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.
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 203-488-8702.
Voices and Visions of the American Revolution
: 5:30
p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a screening reel based on The American Revolution, a documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, followed by a discussion. Free. Seating is limited. For info or to register (suggested), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
All-American Dessert Tween Cooking Class
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Participants will make apple crumbles with homemade whipped cream. For ages 10 to 14. Presented by Food Explorers. For info or to register (required), call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
: 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.
Shoreline Sailing Club Event
: 7 p.m. Old Elks Cottage, 142 Seaside Ave., Westbrook. For active singles 35 and older. Features information on sailing, boating, kayaking, hiking, and other club activities. Guests welcome. For info, visit shorelinesailingclub.com.
Willoughby Book Talk:
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
7 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Book: . Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-488-8702.
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Fourth of July Concert on the Green
: 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 $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.
Family Friendly Fourth of July
: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Features flag decorating, a parade around the big barn, a flag-raising ceremony, blacksmith demonstrations, farm animals, museums, live music, and the weekly farmers market. For info, visit dudleyfarm.com.
Calendar for the Week of July 2, 2026
Madison Independence Day Parade
: 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.
Fourth of July Celebration
: Noon to 3 p.m. Downtown Essex and the Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex. Features a scavenger hunt, museum exhibits, a children's activity, the annual Independence Day Boat Parade at 2 p.m., and ceremonial cannon fire. Evening festivities continue at The Griswold Inn, 36 Main St., where members of the Essex Sailing Masters of 1812 will welcome patrons and music will be featured in the Tap Room. In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Connecticut River Museum admission is discounted by $2.50. For info, call 860-767-8269 or visit ctrivermuseum.org.
Ringing of Bells by Town Green Churches
: 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.
Free Concert in the Garden: From Colonies to Independence: Songs of America's Transition
: 3 to
4:30 p.m. Hart House Heritage Gardens, 350 Main St., Old Saybrook. Features songs and stories about life in the American colonies and early republic, performed by Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Free. For info, visit saybrookhistory.org.
Guilford Celebrates 250 Ceremony and Concert
MONDAY, JULY 6
Experiencing America Book Club
More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
: 5 p.m. Guilford Town Green. Part of the America 250 Guilford celebration series. For info, contact tarutisj@guilfordct.gov. : 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
See page 23
Americana Cookout and Madison's Fireworks
Goodspeed, Ivoryton, Legacy and Yale Rep Among Local Theaters
Nominated for CT Critics Circle Awards
Inside notes and comments about Connecticut and New York professional theater
By Karen Isaacs
Columnist
CT Critics Awards
: The CT Critics Circle (I am a member) presented its awards for outstanding productions and performances during the 2025-26 season on Monday, June 22, at Hartford Stage. Goodspeed walked away with five awards: outstanding musical, director (Rob Ruggiero), choreography (Parker Esse and Baayork Lee), and featured actor (Diego Guevara) for , and outstanding actor (Ryan Mac) for
A Chorus Line All Shook Up
Aisle ON THE
Playhouse; outstanding featured actor in a play (Terrence Riggins) for at Long Wharf; and featured actress (Missy Dowse) for Fox on the Fairway at Music Theatre of Connecticut. The livestream of the ceremony is available at CtCritics.org.
July 26. The Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of how the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. While historically accurate, the show is “a lively, human, and often surprisingly funny look at the complicated people behind the founding of the United States.” For tickets, visit IvorytonPlayhouse.org.
Crazy for You
Crazy for You
: Tickets are selling so fast for Goodspeed’s summer production of that nine additional performances have been added: Thursday, July 9, at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 13, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 15, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. Contact Goodspeed.org for tickets.
Death of a Salesman Oedipus Fallen Angels
Death of a Salesman Rope
Waitress Dear Evan Hansen Circus Fire
All Is Calm
Rhinoceros
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
Hartford Stage received three awards — outstanding lighting for and outstanding costumes and direction (Melia Bensussen) for . ACT of CT also earned three awards: outstanding actress (Abigail Sparrow) and featured actress (Shaylen Harger) for , and outstanding projections for . The outstanding ensemble award went to at TheaterWorks Hartford; outstanding play to at Playhouse on Park; outstanding actor in a play (Reg Rogers) for at Yale Rep; outstanding actress in a play (Christina Acosta Robinson) for at Ivoryton
Continued from page 22
: Donna Lynn Hilton, longtime Goodspeed line producer and now artistic director, received the Tom Killen Award for outstanding contributions to Connecticut theater. She has overseen the development of new works, the establishment of a program to commission musicals, and the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove.
: The critics presented James Bundy, who is retiring as dean of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale and artistic director of Yale Rep, with a special award. Rebecka Jones and Noble Shropshire also received special awards. They have appeared in every production of Hartford Stage’s A Christmas Carol since its inaugural year.
Celebrating Our Birthday
: Ivoryton is celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday with a production of through Sunday,
1776
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.
Pop-In Storytime with Teachers
: 4 to 4:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features stories with a surprise guest teacher from Jerome Harrison School or Totoket Valley Elementary School. For info, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
MONDAY, JULY 6 THROUGH THURSDAY, JULY 9
Community Service Camp: Grades 7 to 12
: 9 a.m. to noon, Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services, 322 Main St., Old Saybrook. Program includes a food drive, assist-
Awaiting the Surprise
: ACT of CT in Ridgefield has announced its first two shows of its 2026-27 season and hinted that the final show (from May 20 to June 20) will be “one of the most epic and beloved musicals ever written.” (I have thoughts about what it may be.) The season will open with from Oct. 22 to Nov. 22, followed by from Feb. 4 to March 7. For more information about the shows and ticket packages, visit ACTofCT.org.
Thoughts on the Tony Awards
:
Some of my picks won — John Lithgow, Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Lesley Manville, and — while others lost. I have to admit I was surprised that won best musical; I wanted
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Avenue Q Ragtime Schmigadoon!
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New
ing local community partners, and meal preparation at the Estuary. $35 residents; $40 non-residents. Registration required. For info, visit osyfs.org.
MONDAY, JULY 6 THROUGH FRIDAY, JULY 10
Girls Enrichment Program
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 56 High St., Deep River. Presented by Tri-Town Youth Services. Program focused on friendships, leadership, and identity, with daily visits from guest speakers sharing their professions or special talents. For girls entering grades 5 through 8. For info or to register, visit ttysb.org.
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Junior Strings
: 9 to 10 a.m. Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook. Program for students entering grades 3 to 4 introducing string instruments and basic music skills. Fee is $40. Registration required. For info, visit osyfs.org.
to win, but thought would. Since I was not impressed by the production of , I would not have voted for director Joe Mantello nor Laurie Metcalf as featured actress. I thought the best revival of a play should have gone to the brilliant production of or the equally good production of . :
Multiple Nominations, No Tonys
Two shows that received a total of 17 nominations did not receive any Tony Awards. One was my favorite musical of the year, ; the other was . Also getting shut out despite multiple nominations were Joe Turner’s , , , , , and the play . Some of these are limited runs, while others may be closing.
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York The Rocky Horror Show Come and Gone Every Brilliant Thing Titanique Chess Cats: The Jellicle Ball The Balusters
What’s Playing in Connecticut
Sweeney Todd
Swingtime Canteen Crazy for You
: at Hartford Stage (a co-production with TheaterWorks) through July 5; at Sharon Playhouse through July 5; at Goodspeed through Aug. 16; and 1776 at Ivoryton through July 26. York The Lost Boys
Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident.
To check out her reviews for New York and Connecticut shows, visit 2ontheaisle.word press.com. She’s a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle, New York’s Outer Critics Circle, Connecticut Theatre Women’s Network, and the American Theatre Critics Association.
Pick Your Project Glass Class
: 2 p.m. RiverFire Glass, 500 Main St., Deep River. Create a fused-glass project. No experience necessary. For info or to register, email RiverFireGlass@gmail.com or visit riverfireglass.com.
How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are with Mark Wolynn
: 2 p.m. Virtual program hosted by Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features author Mark Wolynn discussing his book, , and the impact of inherited family trauma. For info or to register (required), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Virtual Author Talk with Mark Wolynn It Didn't Start with You It Didn’t Start With You The Official It Didn’t Start With You Workbook
: 2 p.m. Online. Book: and . 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.
See page 25
Gem of the Ocean
Tom Killen Award
Special Awards
Page Turners
Nymph bySofiaMontrone
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.
Sublimation byIsabelJ.Kim
Call Me by Your Name
This book is a great summer read! To put it simply, it’s like a sapphic , but it’s also so much more. Taking place in Italy, the novel follows Leo as she works at her grandmother’s hotel and comes of age. The story is interspersed with tales of Odysseus and the Trojan War to bolster its themes of family and relationships.
— Marisa, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
My love for this novel is difficult to put into words. Isabel J. Kim dabbles in a little bit of everything as she spins an elaborate tale of corporate espionage and (inter)interpersonal drama with four distinct characters... or are they two... or three? Find out in this alternate reality, where crossing a border might split you in two, and experience the horrifying ordeal of being known. And unknown. And known again.
— Josh, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
— Heather, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison Heather byCaitlinMullen
SomeoneElse'sHusband byKimberlyMcCreight
With generations of women circling the same small-town mystery, readers of all ages will find something to relate to in this thoughtful, well-developed story. Great for fans of Tara French and Paula Hawkins.
Hoping that her dark past is behind her, Frankie Callahan makes the lifealtering decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, having no idea that she will be the only woman joining a group of four longtime college friends—or that she will fall recklessly in love. Told from multiple points of view, this is a thriller that will keep you guessing!
— Marilyn, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Page Turners
Continued from page 24
EnchantedCreatures byNatalieLawrence
On the walls of caves, some 25,000 years ago, people not so different from us painted images of their world, including monstrous creatures that did not exist. It seems that enchanted creatures, from Grendel to Godzilla, are a part of being human. Natalie Lawrence makes an enchanting case that these creatures have a lot to tell us about ourselves. As she so eloquently says, “...we still enjoy seeing impossible things. We delight in feeling like the world might be filled with wonders and magic. It might be that we need other kinds of truth, beyond the scientific, to fully experience the world around us.”
— Andrew, Breakwater Books, Guilford
BratSummer byKatieVernon
Follow along as Weenie gives you great ideas for fun summer activities. This is a great summer read to inspire you and remind you to enjoy the season!
— Marisa, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
SocialAnimals byCamillePerri
Overbearing husband Silas is feeling insecure and hires a private investigator to dig into his wife June’s personal life. Enter Val and her new rescue dog, Cash, into the dog park that’s run like the PTA at a private school, where June and other snobbish, wealthy moms make a show of spoiling their dogs and outdoing one another. Val is quickly accepted alongside another dogless newcomer, Alex, whom June can’t help but take pity on. Will anyone see through the slobber, zoomies and muddy paws to wonder about the convenient arrival of these two new women? Could they share a shady history or nefarious intentions? And will there be enough money to renovate the dog park?
— Mel, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Continued from page 23
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 sixthgrade students. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Plant the Seed Learning Series: Pet Care 101
: 4 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a pet care workshop presented by the Connecticut Humane Society for children ages 8 to 12. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Wacky Wildlife: Killer Whales
: 5:30 to 6 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features information about killer whales and a related craft activity. For children ages 6 to 11. For info or to register (required), call 203-3156020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Medium: Patricia Griffin
: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Features a presentation by evidential medium Patricia Griffin. Free. For info or to register (suggested), call 860395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.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 860669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Chester Hose Co. Auxiliary Open Meeting
: 7 p.m. Chester Hose Company Firehouse, 6 High St. Learn about the Chester Hose Co. Auxiliary and opportunities to support local emergency personnel and community events. Membership is open to men and women interested in volunteering. For info, contact Charlene Janecek at 860-575-0063 or c.janecek@aol.com.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
Boys Group
: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services, 322 Main St., Old Saybrook. For boys entering grades 7 and 8. Includes off-site trips and activities. $60. Registration required. For info, email adam.stahr@oldsaybrookct.gov.
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.
Sea Chantey: Music of the Sea
: 5:30 p.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St. Presented by the Mystic Seaport Museum. Features sea chanteys, maritime music, and demonstrations of instruments used aboard ships, including the concertina, accordion, bones, and fiddle. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-526-6039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.
Calligraphy that Inspired a Nation: Learn to Write Like America's Founders
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Calligrapher Debby Reelitz will discuss the writing of the Declaration of Independence and lead participants in calligraphy activities using dip pens and ink. For info or to register (required), call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
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.
THURSDAY, JULY 9
Guilford Food Bank Outdoor Clean-Up
: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Guilford Food Bank, 45 Stone House Ln. Volunteers will assist with cleanup of the food bank's outdoor areas as part of United Way of Greater New Haven's Week of Action. For info, visit uwgnh.org.
Afternoon Fiction Book Club
Author Talk with Christopher Shaw Myers on Actor Robert Shaw
: 2 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features author Christopher Shaw Myers discussing his book, . For adults and teens. For info or to register (required), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Teen Crafternoon: Make Your Own Zine
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Holiday Craft Sale
: 1 p.m. 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.
My Dear Hamilton
Movie Matinee
Summer Movie Nite
: 3 to 4 p.m.
Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Participants will learn how to create a small self-published magazine. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
: 5:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a screening in the Buel Room. For movie information, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 274 Route 81. Features family movie screenings with popcorn. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Features stories of Sybil Ludington and two sisters who helped defend their New England town during the War of 1812. Sponsored by the Friends of Acton Library. Free. For info or to register (suggested), call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
Food Group: The Big Cheese
Robert Shaw: An Actor's Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond The Big Cheese
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Essex Green. Hosted by First Baptist Church in Essex. Features handcrafted holiday items and gifts for sale. For info, call 860-7678623.
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.
Vintage Treasures Antique and Classic Boat Show
: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex. Hosted by the Southern New England Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. Features antique and classic wooden and fiberglass boats, including mahogany runabouts from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, displayed both in the water and on land. Free admission. For info, call 860-767-8269.
Birds Are Dinosaurs!
: 10 to 11 a.m. Killingworth Library, 274 Route 81. Presented by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Features live bird ambassadors and hands-on activities exploring the connection between birds and dinosaurs. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
Blessing of the Fleet
: 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.
: 10:30 a.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St., Deep River. Features a mobile dinosaur fossil exhibit with specimens on display and an educator available to answer questions. Free. For info, call 860526-6039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.
Opening Reception for Jaws
The Wizard of Oz Painted Passage
: 3:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a story and snack-making program inspired by Jory John's . For children ages 4 to 12. Children ages 4 to 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Free. For info or to register (required), call 860-7671560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
: 4 to 8 p.m. Artevistica Gallery, 191 Middlesex Turnpike, Essex. Features paintings and sculpture by Essex artist Rick Silberberg. The exhibition runs through July. For info, call 860680-7528 or visit ricksilberberg.com.
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 semi-staged 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.
: 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.
The Music of Horace Silver with The Russ Becker & Stephen Roane Duo
: 2 to 3 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features a program on the history of Connecticut native, jazz composer, pianist, and band leader Horace Silver, presented by musicians Russ Becker and Stephen Roane. Sponsored by the John Loeb Lecture Fund. Free. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-1441 x 318 or visit events.blackstonelibrary.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.
A Night of Art, Harmony and Hope
: 6 to 10 p.m. St. George Church Hall, 33 Whitfield St. Benefit event supporting Dana-Farber 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.
Continued from page 25 See page 27
Exhibition Examines New Haven’s Fight for Freedom
New Haven’s Unfinished Revolutions
, a new exhibition examining the city’s role in movements that have shaped and challenged the meaning of freedom throughout American history, is now on view at the New Haven Museum.
The exhibition opened July 1 with a reception and lecture by State Historian Andy Horowitz as the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The exhibition explores moments when freedoms were expanded or restricted in New Haven, using historical artifacts, photographs, multimedia presentations, and interactive displays to examine the city’s place in the nation’s democratic journey.
Among the exhibition’s interactive features is Voices of the Unfinished Revolu-
Continued from page 26
tions, which presents first-person accounts recorded by actors from Collective Consciousness Theatre. The recordings draw from the experiences of soldiers and residents during the 1779 British raid on New Haven, petitions submitted by enslaved people citing their military service and natural rights, town records documenting the treatment of Loyalists, and other historical sources.
The exhibition begins with Native American sovereignty and self-governance before the founding of the United States and traces centuries of efforts to secure tribal sovereignty and land rights. It also explores labor history through oral histories of women union members active in the 1930s and educators involved in the 1975 teachers strike.
Original objects from the museum’s collection include George Henry Durrie’s painting of Judges Cave, where the regi-
SUNDAY, JULY 12
cides hid after signing the death warrant of England’s King Charles I; a Revolutionary War cannon and powder horn; a fragment of a uniform worn by an American soldier imprisoned after the 1779 British raid; the portable dressing case of British officer Adjutant William Campbell; and a Fugio cent, the first official circulating coin of the United States, minted in New Haven by Abel Buell.
Floor-to-ceiling photographs throughout the gallery highlight events including a 1916 suffrage gathering outside the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and the 1969 “Free Our Sisters and Ourselves” demonstration organized by the Black Panther Party of Connecticut and N.E. Women’s Liberation. Additional sections examine the impact of urban renewal on the Hill neighborhood and New Haven’s continuing efforts to achieve educational equity.
“Ultimately, New Haven’s Unfinished Revolutions asks visitors to reflect on their own role in the ongoing question of what the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness means today,” New Haven Museum Executive Director Margaret Anne Tockarshewsky said. “By situating New Haven as a microcosm of the nation’s democratic journey, the project encourages audiences to consider how the humanities — history, ethics, and civic dialogue — can help us understand not only the past but our responsibilities in the present.”
The New Haven Museum is located at 114 Whitney Avenue. For information or to register for the opening reception, call 203-562-4183 or visit newhaven museum.org.
Be On the Lookout: Native vs. Invasive Plants
: Noon to 1 p.m. Killingworth Library, 274 Route 81, Killingworth. Kaleb of Wilder Gardens discusses native and invasive plants and their effects on local ecosystems. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
Opening Reception for the 77th Annual Summer Juried Exhibition
: 3 to 5 p.m. Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 E. Main St., Clinton. Presented by the Clinton Art Society. Free and open to the public. Refreshments served. For info, email casclinton@gmail.com or visit clintonartsocietyct.org.
Outcasts & Innocents: The Musical World of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears
: 4 p.m. Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Madison
Lyric Stage presents a semi-staged celebration of the music of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Tickets: $40. For info or tickets, call 203-215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.
: 4 to
7 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Rd. Free beach party featuring live music by the Caribbean Vibes Steel Drum Band. Food and beverages available for purchase. For info or to register, visit eventvesta.com/events/149044/t/tickets. Jammin' by the Shore: Mid-Summer Beach Party
29
Photo by Joanna Steinberg
Photo by Joanna Steinberg
An immersive gallery explores New Haven's social and civil rights movements, including the 1969 "Free Our Sisters and Ourselves" demonstration organized by the Black Panther Party of Connecticut and N.E. Women's Liberation.
Artifacts from the New Haven Museum's collection anchor New Haven's Unfinished Revolutions, a new exhibition exploring the city's role in shaping the meaning of freedom throughout American history.
Press Release from the New Haven Museum
Isaac Toups’ Bacon Vinaigrette Dresses Up Grilled Vegetables
By Isaac Toups
Want to make your vegetables taste better and have your friends love you? Char the hell out of some on the grill and then toss them in a bacon vinaigrette, using this recipe from my cookbook “Chasing the Gator: Isaac Toups and the New Cajun Cooking.”
These are vegetables so unhealthy a Cajun might actually eat them.
You can do this dish year-round with whatever is in season: eggplant, zucchini, radishes, green beans, radicchio or others. If the vegetable is sliceable, slice it. If it’s broccoli or cauliflower, cut into quarter-size florets; if green beans, leave them whole.
Grilled Garden Vegetables With Bacon Vinaigrette
From the cookbook “Chasing the Gator,” by Isaac Toups and Jennifer V. Cole
Servings: 4
INGREDIENTS
8 slices thick-cut bacon
5 cloves garlic, peeled
3 anchovy fillets
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup canola oil
1 pound assorted vegetables, cut into ¼-inch slices
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the grill to high (about 500 F). Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Place the bacon slices on a rimmed baking sheet and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon and reserve the baking sheet with the rendered fat. Crumble the bacon and set aside. In a blender, combine the garlic, anchovies, and vinegar and put the lid on. Turn the blender on and slowly drizzle in the canola oil. This is never going to be a fully emulsified vinaigrette, so don’t fret if it looks like it’s breaking. Add the reserved bacon fat (about 1½ tablespoons, but if you have more from cooking your bacon, just toss it all in) and keep the blender buzzing for 5 seconds to combine all the ingredients. Keep warm. I like to put it in a metal container, like a mixing bowl, and keep it by the grill while I cook the vegetables. The vinaigrette doesn’t need to be hot, just not too cold because the bacon fat will congeal if you let it.
In a large bowl or on a rimmed baking sheet, toss the vegetables with the salt, pepper, pepper flakes, and olive oil. Place the vegetables on the hot grill in a single layer and cook on each side for about 2 minutes. They should char on the outside while keeping the crunch or snap of fresh crudités. They should be really crispy and charred, not all wimpy and overcooked; high heat is key here. Remove the vegetables from the grill and put in a nonreactive bowl.
Toss the grilled vegetables in the bacon vinaigrette. Top with the crumbled bacon. Serve.
Isaac Toups has four times been named a James Beard
Excerpted from “Chasing the Gator” by Isaac Toups Best Chef of the South semifinalist or finalist since opening Toups’ Meatery in New Orleans in 2012 with his wife, Amanda. He was named an Eater Young Gun of the South, Eater New Orleans’ Chef of the Year, and appears on “Top Chef.” He is a passionate advocate for the protection of America’s wetlands. Jennifer V. Cole spent nearly a decade at Southern Living magazine, where she served as deputy editor and wrote annual restaurant lists. Her writing appears in food and lifestyle publications. and Jennifer V. Cole. Copyright 2018 by Isaac Toups. Used with permission of Voracious, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company. New York, NY. All rights reserved.
Voracious via AP
Denny Culbert/Voracious via AP
by Isaac Toups and Jennifer V. Cole.
Chasing the Gator
Grilled garden vegetables with bacon vinaigrette.
Voracious Special to LIving
‘Walking Each Other Home’ Opens at Guilford Art Center
carry, and the relationships that influence their lives.
Guilford Art Center Gallery, 411 Church Street, will present
Walking Each Other Home: Exploring Where We Belong, and How We Find It
, an exhibition featuring work by 78 artists from Connecticut, the surrounding region, and beyond.
The exhibition, inspired by the Ram Dass quote, “We’re all just walking each other home,” will be on view from through Saturday, Aug. 1. A closing reception will be held Saturday, Aug. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
The exhibition invites artists to reflect on the many ways people experience and define home. Home can be a physical place — a house, a landscape, or a community — but it also can be something created through relationships, memories, care, and shared experiences. Through a variety of artistic perspectives, the exhibition explores how a sense of belonging is shaped by the places people inhabit, the histories they
“I’ve always been drawn to Ram Dass’ reflection that ‘we’re all just walking each other home,’” said Ashley Seneco, education coordinator at Guilford Art Center. “While the quote speaks to our shared journey through life and the inevitability of its ending, what resonates most with me is the idea that none of us makes the journey alone. We accompany one another at every degree of interaction, shaping each other’s sense of belonging along the way.
“I wanted this exhibition to leave room for every interpretation of home: as a place, an identity, or a relationship. My hope is that these works remind us that while every artist’s definition of home is unique, the desire to belong is something we all share.”
Gallery admission is free. Summer hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
For information, visit Guilford ArtCenter.org.
Continued from page 27
MONDAY, JULY 13
Learn How to Use iPhones and iPads
: 1 p.m. The Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook. Seminar presented by Raymond Rose covering security and passwords, iCloud, artificial intelligence, YouTube, the App Store, the Health app, Settings, and ways to reduce cable TV costs. Participants are encouraged to bring an iPhone or iPad. Free. Registration requested; walk-ins welcome. To register, contact 860-388-1611, ext. 211 or programs@yourestuary.org.
All About Sharks
: 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features shark biologist Stephanie Shannon discussing her work and leading shark-themed activities for rising second- through sixthgrade students. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
TUESDAY, JULY 14
Junior Strings
: 9 to 10 a.m. Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook. Program for students entering grades 3 to 4 introducing string instruments and basic music skills. Fee is $40. Registration required; For info, visit osyfs.org.
Unearth a Story
: 4 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features fossil-themed stories and activities presented by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for rising kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Sponsored by the Clinton Land Conservation Trust. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Open Mic Night
: 5:30 p.m. Henry on Main, 10 W. Main St., Clinton. Features poetry readings hosted by Clinton Poet Laureate Bethany Howard. Participants may read their own work or attend as audience members. For info, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Pick Your Project Glass Class
: 6 p.m. RiverFire Glass, 500 Main St., Deep River. Create a fused-glass project. No experience necessary. For info or to register, email RiverFireGlass@gmail.com or visit riverfireglass.com.
Tuesday Trivia
: 6 to 7 p.m. Killingworth Library, 274 Route 81. Teams compete in a Jeopardy-style trivia contest. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
Make-Your-Own-Sundae Event
: 6 to 8 p.m. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Ave., Northford. Features ice cream sundaes with a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings in celebration of the nation's 250th birthday. Cost: $5 per sundae. For info, call 203-710-7005.
Virtual Author Talk with Karin Slaughter
: 7 p.m.
Small Towns and Big Secrets with Karin Slaughter
We Are All Guilty Here The Secrets We Hide We Are All Guilty Here The Secrets We Hide
Online. Books: and . Features a discussion with author Karin Slaughter about her North Falls series. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org. : 7 p.m. Online. Author Karin Slaughter discusses her North Falls series, including and . Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.
Press Release from the Guilford Art Center
Photo courtesy of the Guilford Art Center
Rosemary Serfilippi's Morning Scone
Real Estate Transactions
BRANFORD
53 Brushy Plain Road Unit 6E
:
CLINTON
GUILFORD
: Rebecca Kieran to Joseph Zea and Margaret Staudter, $420,000 on June 8
27 Cherry Hill Road 219 Crosswoods Road
: Estate of Sherri L. Fiordelisi and Gail Wright to Scott Haverl, $260,000 on June 11
6 Hamre Lane Unit A
: Robert Cullen to Mitchell Hall, $181,250 on June 8 :
303 Plymouth Colony Unit 303
Donna J. Angelo to Leslie Dumke, $352,000 on June 8
Michele Manas to Alexandria S. Fenton, $255,000 on June 10 :
178 South Montowese Street
Rosa Iaderosa to Hes Property Group, $382,000 on June 8
CHESTER
: Joseph M.
Cohen to Edward Ricard and Kelsey Keeley, $225,000 on June 11
24 Lakeview Avenue
: Edith R. Hartleb to Cassandra and Richard Miles, $235,000 on June 8
81 Main Street
: Christine S. and Steiner A. Eberle to Christine O. and Lawrence J. Dyer, $618,000 on June 11 11 Kings Highway
: Martin & Sonja
Gibbs Real Estate Trust and Sonja B. Gibbs to Jeffrey C. Harding, $536,000 on June 11
: Philip F. Anderson to Flipside3 Investments LLC, $205,500 on June 10
Old Harbor Village Unit 84G
:
Christina Healey to Nancy J. Brault, $525,000 on June 8
49 River Road
: James Sopchak to Albert Perkins and Dianne Crawford, $450,000 on June 8
DEEP RIVER
319 Main Street Unit 504
: Krista Bouregy to Suzanne Howard, $240,000 on June 10
EAST HAVEN
63 Meadow Street
: Michael G. and Denise N. Meliti to Kathy M. Salisbury
and Linda Cummings, $176,500 on June 10
Pleasant Avenue
: Stuart K.
Horner to Anthony Goraeib, $370,000 on June 10
: Jafco Holdings Ii LLC to Jules & Suzanne Patry Real Estate Trust and Jules R. Patry, $1,275,000 on June 8
: Estate of Valerie L. Soden and Johanne N. Soden to Carl P. Jeppesen and Barrett C. Hollo, $555,000 on June 9
: Paris M. Keena to Heather South Hedberg Real Estate Trust and Heather S. Hedberg, $1,225,000 on June 9 : Michael Frederick and Ashley M. Meloy to Della P. and Christopher R. Anderson, $620,000 on June 9
: Cornerstonecs LLC to Mark R. and Casey Ottersen, $720,000 on June 11
Beach Unit C Roding, $750,000 on June 11
: Jules & Suzanne Patry Real Estate Trust and Jules R. Patry to Peter and Annette
421 Strong Street
: Giuseppe
Bonesse to Mpq Properties LLC, $700,000 on June 11
Real Estate Transactions
: James T Harris Real Estate Trust and Paul K. Sullivan to Jane P. and Frederick P. Andresen, $1,710,000 on June 11
: Stephanie Ayles to Sara Talisman and Judson Fifteen, $815,000 on June 10
: Marilyn Kirk to Benjamin J E. and Christine Gleason, $1,837,500 on June 9
: Summer Hill 132 LLC to Rendan and Amanda Sullivan, $2,324,000 on June 12
: Forevergreen Family Trust and Steven K. Lam to Brian Gismervik, $715,000 on June 8
NORTH BRANFORD
: Gabriel and Alisa M. Diglio to Wolfgang Keeney, $465,000 on June 11 7
: Nancy Seneco to Garred and Gina Grate, $540,000 on June 9
: Carol A. King to Anyssa Armstead, $555,000 on June 8
: Lori J. Mangiulli and Monique J. Forsey to Phillip Mingione and Rebecca Daitz, $460,000
on June 8
: John Winn and Carol Bacon to Hk Luxury Inc, $225,000 on June 11
: Guy J. and Carol A. Paradise to Fac Holdings LLC, $255,000 on June 12
: Estate of Ercole Casella and Nicola Casella to Hao Feng and Lu Zheng, $395,000 on June 11
: Lisa B. Palmucci to Matthew Stofko, $385,000 on June 9
26 Old Orchard Road
: Anne H. Sweeney to Kyle Bowrin and Katuska J. Imperial, $1,245,000 on June 12
: Mao Chin Liu to David Miu, $320,000 on June 5
: John C.
Odonoghue to Sabreena Saeed, $480,000 on June 4
: Yuet Ho Wu and Edward Wu to David and Laura Donle, $411,000 on June 9
: Anthony J. Golia to Nicholas Amodio, $489,000 on June 12
: Alex R. Hodges and Ting Yi to Mercy Kibe, $490,000 on June 4
: Eric M. and Carol Ann Zima to Lisa C Trager Real Estate Trust and Lisa C. Trager, $2,353,000 on June 12
‘Love Where You Live’
: Robin K.
Keating to William Totz and Karen Libeson, $365,000 on June 12
: John G.
Mccall to Mary and James Sauvageau, $655,000 on June 8
: Real estate transactions are published using publicly available records and are matters of public record. Listings are not removed in response to general privacy requests. Removal will only be considered in cases involving a documented and credible personal safety concern. Requests may be submitted to zip06@shorepublishing.com
Nestled on quiet Cul de sac in The Woodlands, this 4BR, 3.5 Bath home set on 1.84 acres offers perfect elegance & welcoming space throughout, with 4673 SF plus walk up attic, LL walk out & 3 bay garage. Enjoy Formal DR, Formal LR, delightful Kitchen open to Fam. Rm. w/FPL and adjacent to oversized Sunroom & Sitting room w/FPL overlooking inground pool, spa & private yard. Upstairs boasts a delightful Bonus Rm./Playroom with rear staircase to main floor. Perfect for fun and play all year long.
Copyright material of Banker and Tradesman / the Commercial Record and The Warren Group. For past transactions, visit zip06.com/ realestate.
