July 17, 2025
Guilford Vol. XXVIII Iss. 29
July 17, 2025
Guilford Vol. XXVIII Iss. 29
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
At its July 10 meeting, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved contracts to address parking and space needs for multiple town departments at two properties in the downtown district.
The first property discussed was 52
Church Street, located adjacent to the Guilford Community Center. Long considered by town officials for redevelopment, the BOS approved a $48,500 contract with Silver Petrucelli for architectural design and consultation services to explore options for additional parking and storage for the Parks and Recreation Department.
“There’s demand that exceeds availability
for parking throughout the greater downtown, including at the community center, which is, on any given day, hosting many, many seniors,” said First Selectman Matt Hoey.
Town Engineer Janice Plaziak said the planning phase will begin later this month.
See BOS Advances Plans page 11
Janet CroninRumanoff
203.687.5271
jrumanoff@wpsir.com
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The Long Island Sound has a protector in ....................2
Six-year-old Maverick Holt uses a mini excavator to scoop colorful balls with help from his father, Jay Holt, during Construction Tyme at Bishop’s Orchards on July 12. The new summer event features kidsized construction equipment, a mega slide, bounce pads, a corn crib, pedal cars, and more.
Gaining Intensity
Week 12 of the Deep River Horseshoe League came with a lot of intensity for the competitors........12
A Travelogue
Liz Egan continues her series detailing her travels with Con Brio........21
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
For Killingworth resident Bill Lucey, protecting the waterways that shape and sustain the shoreline has never been a passive pursuit.
As the current soundkeeper with Save the Sound, Bill serves as a modern-day sentinel of Long Island Sound, continuing a centuries-old tradition of watching over vital bodies of water. His mission: to safeguard water quality, protect local ecosystems, and push for policies that keep the region’s natural resources healthy for generations to come.
“In the old days, there were salmon keepers in England and Scotland,” Bill explains. “They would monitor the spawning salmon. They were the ones who opened and closed harvest season and prevented dams from being built.” The work may look different now, but the spirit of stewardship remains the same.
Bill is also a council member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of over 300 members spanning continents—from Australia to Bhutan to Norway. Though their landscapes vary, their goals are aligned: to monitor pollution, defend public access, and hold policymak-
ers accountable. In Connecticut, that work means advocating for the Sound on every level—from federal environmental rollbacks to local conservation measures.
Bill has a long track record of working with lawmakers in Connecticut and in his former home state of Hawaii. Over the years, he’s helped draft bills to strengthen fisheries policies and improve natural resource management. With Save the Sound, he was instrumental in shaping Connecticut’s Sewage Right-to-Know law, which requires wastewater treatment plants to report sewage spills electronically within two hours—and mandates that the state publish the data in a publicly accessible format.
“We’re getting them to institute a push notification,” Bill adds. “So if there’s a spill and you’ve signed up, you’ll get an alert to
See Bill Lucey page 4
I rarely find kindness and efficiency in today’s so difficult world, but it would be nice if you would publish this note from an 81-year-old with a car that’s falling apart and which is valiantly attempting to outlast her! Or at least stay the course with her. Last week, Mark at Page Hardware in Guilford was so kind to me. He came out of the store to look at the problem, got down on his hands and knees in the horrendous heat, examined the dropped fender, and
fixed the problem — way beyond the call of duty. When I expressed my gratitude and delight, he said, “That’s what we’re here for; that’s what Page is here for”. I was stunned and thrilled. Page has always been helpful and polite, but this made me want to write to the editor. Thank you, Page, and thank you, Editor.
E
Continued from page 2
your cell phone or email.”
That kind of real-time data matters, especially for people who live near the Sound—or recreate in it.
Bill’s advocacy also extends beneath the surface. He’s helped lead a multi-agency effort to remove tens of thousands of derelict lobster pots from Long Island Sound—abandoned gear that poses hazards to marine life. The effort involved collaboration with the Maritime Aquarium and New York’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, with Bill and others designated as special agents on the project.
As a longtime fisherman, Bill understands what’s at stake when pollution disrupts fragile food chains. One of his current priorities is reducing the use of neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides often used in lawncare. When washed into local streams and rivers, they can devastate aquatic insect populations—the base of the food web for fish like trout.
“Trout populations in Connecticut have plummeted over the past 25 years,” Bill says. “We’ve lost about 75% of our wild trout. That’s a serious loss.”
And it doesn’t end with trout. Fewer
insects mean fewer forage fish, like river herring or smelt. That, in turn, means fewer predator fish such as striped bass and bluefish—the ones most recreational fishers prize.
“Toxins at the bottom of the food chain reduce numbers,” Bill explains. “And they can contaminate the fish we eat.”
The good news, he says, is that local residents can make a difference—starting right at home. Avoiding lawn fertilizers, building rain gardens, and choosing nontoxic paints are just a few of the steps homeowners can take. Bioswales and composting food waste are also ways to reduce runoff and pollution.
“These kinds of changes really add up,” Bill says. “It’s about reducing what we put into the environment and being mindful of how everything connects.”
For Bill, the shoreline’s resilience is both personal and practical. It’s what brought him here—and what drives him to protect it.
“From Fairfield County to the Rhode Island border, there’s this big green spot,” he says. “There’s forest, clean water, wildlife. It’s a healthier place. But we need to be careful not to push that envelope. We need to maintain it.”
NOTE: Call the town clerk at 203-453-8001 or visit the Guilford town website at www.guilfordct.gov to learn how to participate in the following meetings: : 7 p.m.
July17
Obituary
Joan Shrewsbury
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.
Joan DeGelleke Shrewsbury died at Evergreen Woods in Branford on June 21, 2025. At 95, she remained incredibly vibrant, enjoying conversations with friends and family and reflecting on the world at large or local to the very last. Joan was born in Rochester, New York, on Aug. 20, 1929, to Dr. Fred John and Lydia Case DeGelleke. She graduated from Brighton High School and Lasell Junior College (now Lasell University). Her Rochester roots, family members, and many friends remained in her heart throughout her life.
Joan married John Robert Sterrett Shrewsbury in 1954. At that time, Joan was working as a medical secretary in the neurosurgery group at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where it was suggested to John that he apply for a job in Guilford. After dropping him off for the interview and touring around town a bit, Joan told him, “You had better get that job, because I’m staying.” With John’s newly minted employment at Flexible Tubing, they began more than 63 years of living in their beloved Guilford. Shortly after their move, Joan was hired as an office administrator and later manager of the first Guilford pediatrics office until her retirement in 1992.
Throughout her time in Guilford, Joan volunteered for many organizations. She was a member of the Historic District Study Committee and the Historic Commission, the Red Cross Bloodmobile, the PTA at every level, and was on the Boards of Guilford ABC and the Guilford Foundation, where she remained an incorporator. She was a founding member of the Guilford Fund for Education. She served on the Guilford Library Board, the library’s Building Committee, and Fundraising Committee for the new library. She was also active with Interfaith housing, Meals on Wheels, the Women and Family Life Center, and Friends of the Library book sales. She was, for years, a voter checkin at the polls and helped start the Guil-
ford food bank. Joan received the Paul Harris award from the Rotary Club of Guilford in recognition of her lifetime service to the community, as well as the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Connecticut Library Association for her service to the Guilford Free Library. Joan was locally recognizable by her beautiful white hair. One of the original Cotton Tops, along with the two Connies (Mermann and Cosgrove). Her opinions were steadfast but aligned with intelligent and lovely reasoning. She had a snarky sense of humor and loved an engaged conversation. An avid reader, she was always up on current events and new authors. She considered nonsense a true waste of time. Joan was big-hearted and had a wonderful sparkle in her eye when a loved family member or friend entered the room. It was often that we or friends alike would be stuck in a memory lost. We would call and tap into her vast historical knowledge of particular events, the names of virtually anyone in Guilford, or a past family member with amazement and laughter. She was remarkable in this regard. John left us in 2017, and we like to think they are together now watching over the Guilford Green, library, beaches, and hiking trails.
Joan is survived by her son David and his wife Lee, of Boxford, Massachusetts; daughter Sarah Shrewsbury of Guilford; grandchildren, Nicholas, Wesley, Blair and fiancé Alfonso Santiago; Eliza Keogh and her wife Aubrie Smith; her sister Cynthia Cole of Lexington, Kentucky; her niece Elizabeth Cole Abbott; nephews, John R. Cole and Frederick Cole; and cousin, Carol Case Siracuse of Buffalo, New York.
If you so choose, memorial gifts to The Guilford Free Library, 67 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437; www.guilfordfreelibrary.org; The Stephen Looney Scholarship of The Guilford Foundation, PO Box 35, Guilford, CT 06437; www.guilfordfoundation.org; Interfaith Ministries 310 State Street #200, Guilford, CT 06437; www.givct.org/donate, or a Death with Dignity advocacy group would be appreciated.
A Celebration of Life reception will be held in the early fall. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Guilford See Obituaries page 8
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ESTATE OF Lidio A. Afonso (25-0193)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated July 3, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Nelson Afonso, c/o MICHAEL JAMES SWEENEY, SWEENEY LAW FIRM, 897 BOSTON POST RD., P.O. BOX 1370, MADISON, CT 06443
ESTATE OF Paula Lusardi (25-0211)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated July I, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Luigi Lusardi, 175 Tanner Marsh Road, Guilford, CT 06437 c/o Sharon H. Rosen, Law Offices of Joel D. Muhlbaum, LLC, 1100 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06905
ESTATE OF Michael H. Haggerty, Sr. (25-0192)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated July 3, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Nicole Malerba, Assistant Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Patricia A. Haggerty
c/o ROBERT ARTHUR HEINIMANN, LAW OFFICE OF ROBERT A. HEINIMANN, JR.LLC, 649 AMITY ROAD, BETHANY, PO BOX 185744, HAMDEN, CT 06518
At its regular meeting on July 9, 2025 the Guilford Inland Wetlands Commission took the following action:
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS: Michael Violette, Aquatic Pool & Spa (Agent), 19 Tamarack Lane, Guilford, Connecticut, Assessors Map 96, Lot 49, Regulated Activity, Construction of a 16’x24’ in-ground pool with 1,200 square foot patio within Guilford Inland Wetlands 100-foot upland jurisdiction of a wetland and/or watercourse.
RESOLVED: KE Braza Construction LLC, 3035 Long Hill Road, Guilford, Connecticut, Assessors Map 108, Lot 29, Boundary Clarification within Guilford Inland Wetlands 100-foot upland jurisdiction of a wetland and/ or watercourse.
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS: KE Braza Construction LLC, 3035 Long Hill Road, Guilford, Connecticut, Assessors Map 108, Lot 29, After the Fact Regulated Activity, Reconstruction of DEEP compliant dam infrastructure within Guilford Inland Wetlands 100-foot upland jurisdiction of a wetland and/or watercourse.
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS: Sarah & Philip Michaelson, LaFata & Son Inc. (Agent), 50 Ledge Hill Road, Guilford, Connecticut, Assessors Map 108, Lot 28, Regualted Activity, Existing pond to be cleaned of silt and general cleanup within Guilford Inland Wetlands 100-foot upland jurisdiction of a wetland and/or watercourse.
CEASE & DESIST: Robert & Michelle Inahuazo, 35 Hart Road, Guilford, Connecticut, Assessors Map 106, Lot 21A, Filling and grading, installation of a concrete patio and retaining wall within a wetland and/or the 100ft upland review area of an inland wetland or watercourse.
Jeff Parker, Chairman
After more than five decades of service to the town, Guilford Fire Chief Charles Herrschaft has announced his retirement, capping a 54-year career that began when the department was entirely volunteerbased.
Herrschaft joined the Guilford Fire Department in 1970 and was named chief in 1984. Over the course of his 40-year tenure in the role, he oversaw the transformation of the department into a modern, multi-discipline agency recognized regionally for its professional standards and technical capabilities.
When he took over as chief, the department included just eight full-time firefighters. Today, it employs 40 full-time staff and operates two fully staffed stations—one downtown and one in North Guilford.
Herrschaft also led the push for additional personnel, including a full-time assistant chief, a deputy fire marshal, an assistant fire marshal, and two administrative assistants.
In 2003, the department opened its headquarters at 390 Church Street, a project Herrschaft helped bring to fruition. Under his leadership, the department expanded into technical rescue operations, providing advanced services not only in Guilford but also to neighboring towns.
Throughout his time with the department, Herrschaft built strong working relationships with town officials, area fire departments, and the public, earning a reputation for integrity, professionalism,
The Guilford Fire Department extends heartfelt congratulations to Fire Chief Charles Herrschaft on his retirement after an extraordinary 54 years of dedicated service to the Town of Guilford.
and a commitment to public safety.
With his retirement, the department credits Herrschaft for laying the foundation for a fully staffed, well-trained team prepared to meet the evolving needs of the community.
Guilford Fire Department officials said his leadership and friendship will be missed and extended their thanks for his service.
The Guilford Free Library, 67 Park Street, is hosting its teen summer reading digital scavenger hunt. Participants entering grades 6 to 12 will be emailed a map with locations around town. They are invited to solve the clues online, attend library programs, and read to earn raffle tickets toward prizes at the summer reading finale party on Friday, Aug. 22. For more information or to register (required), drop by the library or call 203-453-8282.
ESTATE OF Helen C. Wallace (25-0194)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated July 3, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is: Maureen Corcoran c/o MARK R CONNELL, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 21 SOUTH WINDS DRIVE, ESSEX, CT 06426
Continued from page 5
Obituary
Pamela Wilson Guilford
Pamela Duffy "Pam" Wilson was born in New York, New York, on Jan. 23, 1944, to William Leslie Duffy and Edna (Torsiello) Duffy and died peacefully on July 3, 2025, in Guilford. Pam lived a life full of love and friendship. She is survived by her husband, Buck; children, LeeAnn Harris (Mitch) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; Amy Jensen (Tim) of Madison, Duffy Mudry (Eric) of Guilford, and Perry Wilson (Niamey) of Cheshire; grandchildren: Allie Harris, Will Harris (Therese), Georgia Jensen, Charlie Jensen, Jane Jensen, Pia Jensen, Vivian Mudry, Christopher Mudry, Maxwell Mudry, Elaia Wilson, Huxley Wilson and Ina Wilson; brother, Leslie Duffy of New York, New York; sister-in-law, Vivian Kiechel of Lincoln, Nebraska; and niece and nephews, Lee Kiechel Koles, Buck Kiechel and Alex Duffy.
she was going to marry. That prophecy was joyously fulfilled on Dec. 18, 1965. Pam attended Sacred Heart School in Greenwich and then went on to Rosemont College, where her penchant for pranks endeared her to her fellow students and earned the opprobrium of the nuns. Pam transferred to Manhattanville College to be closer to Buck at Yale and graduated in 1965. Pam and Buck raised four children who witnessed every day the love they shared for each other, and who aspire to develop relationships as supportive and loving as that of their parents. As a family, the Wilsons loved their summer road trips to Kiawah Island, impromptu pizza dinners, and admittedly excessive Thanksgiving feasts.
Pam grew up in Larchmont, New York. She contracted polio when she was four years old (prior to the availability of the Salk vaccine) and developed progressive paralysis, spending six months in the hospital. With grit, determination, care from multiple physicians and surgeons, and unconditional love from her parents, Pam learned to walk again. Her father encouraged her to swim for therapy, a sport that would become her lifelong passion. Undaunted by the challenges of her youth, she became a swimming champion and held numerous records at the Larchmont Yacht Club. Pam continued to swim throughout her life, winning her final gold at the YMCA National Master’s competition in 2014.
Pam’s legendary charisma was evident from a young age. She was a Kodak model whose image graced the walls of their large advertisement in Grand Central Station. Always a headturner, when the love-of-her-life, Buck, first saw her at Badger Day Camp, he fell off the trampoline he was bouncing on. Despite the inauspicious meet-cute, Pam took one look at Buck and told her mother that she had just met the man
Pam taught elementary school at St. Vincent DePaul in East Haven and St. Mary’s in Branford. Her students adored her, and she cherished their frequent letters indicating how her support, kindness, and interest in them made a real difference in their lives. Pam was an Eucharistic Minister at St. George’s Church in Guilford, and a member of Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club and New Haven Country Club. For many years, Pam was deeply involved with the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress and, together with her daughters, helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for people with Down syndrome.
Pam and Buck enjoyed their legions of great friends, traveling the world, doting on their grandchildren, and family celebrations. Pam loved reading, knitting, baking, swimming, shopping, and, of course, Chardonnay.
The family held a memorial service on July 20 at The Woodwinds in Branford. In honor of Pam’s vibrant spirit and love for bright colors, we invite everyone attending to wear cheerful attire. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation online to causes Pam loved: the SARAH Tuxis Foundation, supporting individuals with disabilities (checks can be made out to SARAH TuxisGavin and Friends and mailed to SARAH Tuxis, 45 Boston Street, Guilford, CT 06437); www.sarah-tuxis.org, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105; www.stjude.org. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
Tax credits originally made available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for investments in renewable energy have been eliminated following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). But the change is not expected to significantly impact the Town of Guilford, according to First Selectman Matt Hoey.
“We’ve made a commitment to going to hybrid vehicles because that’s a commitment towards the long-term health of our world,” said Hoey. “This doesn’t make it less of a priority here in Guilford.”
The town will continue its plans to improve energy efficiency through a $10 million investment in systems and structural upgrades to municipal buildings, as well as exploring solar power and other renewable options. Officials also plan to maintain partnerships with energy vendors and work with the Sustainable Guilford Task Force.
Hoey said that because municipalities like Guilford are tax-exempt, the IRA’s clean energy tax credits were never a
major benefit to the town government. However, the loss of those credits may complicate financing arrangements with vendors, such as equipment providers, that previously factored IRA incentives into municipal contracts.
“Tax credits on clean energy really don’t do Guilford much value,” said Hoey. “But the financing programs involving vendors who would have benefitted from the IRA are probably going to disappear from municipal possibility.”
While Guilford’s long-term sustainability goals remain in place, Hoey acknowledged that the rollback may have broader effects on residents and local businesses who were considering renewable energy options.
He noted that incentives for electric vehicle purchases were among the tax credits that expired under the OBBBA, which could dissuade some residents from making clean energy investments for personal or financial reasons.
For town departments, however, electric and hybrid vehicles will remain a priority, including for the police department.
The Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer took the following Action:
APPROVED Steve Shiner, located at 160 Briarwood Drive, Guilford, Connecticut, Map 90, Lot 9B, Regulated Activity, Removal of a 12’x12’ and 8’x8’ deck and replacement with a 16’xl6’ Deck within Guilford Inland Wetlands Commission 100-foot upland Jurisdiction review area of a wetland and or watercourse.
Dated at Guilford Connecticut this 1st day or July, 2025.
Jeff Parker, Chairman
Continued from page 8
Obituary Dianne Pentland Guilford
Dianne Pentland, 79, formerly of Guilford, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 25, 2025, after a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Bruce Pentland and mother to the late William Pentland. Dianne was born on Jan. 24, 1946, in Darien, daughter of the late Elizabeth Hills Patrick and William H. Patrick. She is predeceased by her brother, Russ Patrick, and his wife, Pam. Dianne is survived by her brother-in-law, Robert Pentland, and his wife, Susan, and her nephew, Jason, and his family.
Dianne and Bruce resided in Madison for many years before moving to Guilford. Dianne spent over a decade delivering Meals on Wheels to residents in the area. She was an avid animal lover and, over the years, had adopted several rescue collies. Dianne was a caring person and always had a smile and a kind word for those around her.
Friends are invited to a memorial service from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26, to be held at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. Burial services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to your local animal shelter. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
Friendly 3 ½-year-old Jasper had been living under someone’s shed for two weeks when Forgotten Felines was called to help him. As you can see, he is a very handsome gray and white boy with a cute pink nose. Always looking for attention and petting, he loves to cuddle and is affectionate with everyone he meets.
For an appointment to meet Jasper, apply online at www.forgottenfelinesct.org.
Forgotten Felines holds an open house every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 153 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook. No appointment is necessary.
Forgotten Felines is run entirely by dedicated volunteers with no paid staff. Volunteers are always needed to help care for the cats and keep the facility clean and organized. If you can donate your time, it will be both rewarding and much appreciated.
Call the volunteer line at 860-669-1347 or send an email to volunteerinfo@ forgottenfelinesct.org.
Continued from page 1
While specific design details are still under review, she noted that increasing parking capacity may involve partial demolition of the existing structure. Additional landscape architecture services are also being considered.
The extent of demolition and interior reuse is still “to be determined,” said Plaziak. “We are not anticipating it to be anything more than storage” for the Parks and Recreation Department, with no plans for public use.
However, any changes to the exterior will require coordination with the Historic District Commission (HDC), as the building is considered a “contributing structure” within Guilford’s historic downtown. Though early discussions included the possibility of full demolition, a working group with members from the HDC, BOS, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Engineering Department is now pursuing a more balanced plan.
That plan aims to retain a portion of the
existing structure while still meeting goals for parking and storage. “It’s a compromised solution which would satisfy most of our needs,” said Hoey, who expects a “satisfactory conclusion” in the next two to three months.
“We’ve kicked this can around for a long time,” Hoey told fellow board members. “It is my understanding that this committee’s recommendations will most likely—if not definitely—meet the expectations of the board.”
The second property discussed was the historic Major Jedediah Lathrop House at 55 Park Street, current home to the Guilford Board of Education. With the Board of Ed planning a move to the Guilford High School campus, the building presents “an opportunity to restore and modernize the facility to support current needs while honoring its historical significance,” according to the project’s executive summary.
Identified in a prior facilities management study as a candidate for expansion, the building is now being considered for
The North Guilford Cemetery Association is seeking members to assist in the operation and management of Guilford’s oldest cemetery. The North Guilford (“Old North”) Cemetery on the west side of Meeting House Hill dates back to the building of the first church in North Guilford in 1723, with the first burial reportedly occurring in 1727. As the oldest cemetery in Guilford, it was intended to serve the members of the North Guilford Congregational Church and later St. John’s Episcopal Church (1747). The Meeting House Hill Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes this cemetery and the surrounding 19th-century buildings. Maintenance and administration of this ancient burying place would be of interest to those curious about the early history of North Guilford. For more information or to volunteer, call Buster Scranton at 203-457-1304.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Notice is hereby given that the Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission held a virtual meeting on July 2, 2025, and at this meeting the following actions were taken:
Approved with conditions:
17 Benton’s Knoll (Map 8, Lot 24 17, PDD). Applicant/Agent: Dominick Serignese of Torrison Stone & Garden on behalf of Owner: John Franchi. Special permit for landscape improvements within Benton’s Knoll. Text amendment: Site Plan Approvals for Sign Applications. Applicant: Abby Hally, ZEO, on behalf of the Town of Guilford. Text amendment to clarify provisions for approval process for signs.
219 Tuttles Point Road (Map 16 Lot 123, Map 17 Lot 9, Map 17 Lot 10, Zones R-5 and R-6). Applicant/ Owner: Dave and Lisa Bencivengo. Special Permit to reconstruct and enlarge a pre-existing, non-conforming single-family residence per §8.2.E.
219 Tuttles Point Road (Map 16 Lot 123, Map 17 Lot 9, Map 17 Lot 10, Zones R-5 and R-6). Applicant/ Owner: Dave and Lisa Bencivengo. Site Plan and Coastal Site Plan review for single family residence.
1445 Boston Post Road (Map 52 Lot 10, Zone PRB-2). Applicant/Agent Jeremy Waycott of Arnco Sign Co Inc. on behalf of Owner: Bennett Realty. Site Plan review for one wall sign in a business district per §7.2.F.2.a and one free-standing sign in a business district per §7.2.F.2.b.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 17th of July 2025 – Sean Cosgrove, Chairman
several town functions, including office space for the Engineering Department and the town’s economic development coordinator, as well as freezer storage for the Guilford Food Bank and Social Services Department.
Upgrades will include improvements to HVAC, electrical, and IT systems, as well as cosmetic updates such as painting and carpet cleaning. A handicap-accessible ramp will be installed at the rear of the building to bring it into compliance with ADA standards.
The BOS approved a $24,280 contract for painting and a $3,385 contract for car-
pet cleaning. Additional costs will be determined as other contract approvals move forward. All funds will be drawn from the town’s building project reserves, according to Hoey.
The project will roll out in phases. Phase one, scheduled for this summer, includes cosmetic upgrades and preparations for department relocations. Phase two will focus on modernization and preservation of the building’s historical features.
“This phase will include an engineering needs assessment, design, and contractor oversight for various upgrades,” the executive summary states.
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF GUILFORD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86398062869?pwd=QuhSZbWYUPz9rBR2MwaVfI7q0HaAqt.1 Meeting ID: 863 9806 2869
NOTICE is hereby given that on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Guilford Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a Virtual Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom to hear the following application:
39 Church Street (Map 39 Lot 44, Zone R-1). Applicant/Owner: David Spalding. Application to vary side setback to 4.1 ft where 8 ft is required (§3.4.A.6.a), to vary rear setback to 4.1 ft where 15 ft is required (§3.4.A.7.a) and to vary building coverage to 17.8% where 15% is required (§3.4.A.9).
32 Waterside Drive (Map 8 Lot 47, Zone R-2). Applicant/Agent: Duo Dickinson Architect for Owners: Chris and Anne Duhaime. Application to vary front setback to 6.75 ft where 15 ft is required (§3.4.B.7.a).
Appeal of Enforcement Decision (Zoning Permit Sign-Off) for 43 Bay Street (Map 9 Lot 67, Zone R- 2) (Single-Family Residential Construction).
Appeal 1 by Genevieve Corbiere of 131 Spencer Avenue.
Appeal 2 by Daniel Chapple of Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP on behalf of Albert and Megan Lana of 26 Reeves Avenue.
A copy of this application is available for inspection in the Planning & Zoning office and on the town’s website www.guilfordct.gov. At this hearing, persons may attend by either phone or web connection and shall be heard. All written correspondence shall be submitted to hallya@guilfordct.gov. Dial 203-453-8039 for assistance.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 10th day of July 2025 - Steve Kops, Chairman
Notice is hereby given that the Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a VIRTUAL Public Hearing
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10 AM via the ZOOM platform by using the following link. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6396320192
Meeting ID: 639 632 0192
The following application will be heard:
262 Sachems Head Road (Map 15 Lot 4A, Zone R-5). Applicant/Agent: Jason Miconi of Porticoni Industries LLC on behalf of Owner: Taryn Keely-Doran (Board President) of Community Nursery School, Inc. Special Permit to expand a Child Care Center in a residential zone.
Copies of these applications are available for inspection in the Planning & Zoning office and on the town’s website. At this hearing, persons may attend via web connection and shall be heard. All written correspondence shall be submitted to planning.zoning@guilfordct.gov 24 hours prior to the meeting day. Documents are available at the Planning & Zoning office. Dial 203-453-8039 for assistance.
Dated at Guilford, Connecticut this 17th of July 2025 – Sean Cosgrove, Chairman
By Gabby Maljanian
To allow families to enjoy the July 4 weekend, the Deep River Horseshoe League played Week 11 on June 30 instead of July 3. It was sunny, hot, and humid. Some players put up beach umbrellas to provide shade from the blazing sun.
Bob Beckwith led the Pirates in a sweep of the Rockies. Scott Allen Jr. propelled the Angels to a 5-1 win over the Cubs. The Cardinals pulled into a tie for first place with a 4-2 win over the Red Sox.
For the first time in weeks, Skip Robinson’s Pirates would not have to overcome double-digit handicaps in their match against Damin Roberts’ Rockies. Of the six games, two were scratch, and the other four had handicap favoring the Rockies. Robinson matched the Rockies’ score in game one, so Anthony Conkling’s score gave them the win. In the first scratch games, Pirates’ Beckwith’s 32 points and his four in the last box gave them a fourpoint win. After a double-digit win in game three, Robinson and Conkling each outscored the Rockies. The Pirates completed the sweep, winning the last two games by seven points each. All the Pirates were in the top three scorers for the night: Robinson’s 118 points tied for third for “A” division, Beckwith’s 121 points was the top “B” score, and Conkling’s 99 points was the top “C” score. Conkling had a chance for the century mark but opened in the last box of the last game. The team missed being the first team with all players scoring over 100 points. The Pirates scored 338 points – the fifth time above 300 points. With the sweep, they moved into third place. Mark Goodale substituted for Cardinals’ Kris Toohey in the match against Bill Beckwith’s
wins. In game two, they overcame the handicap, and in game five, Beckwith’s season best 43-point game gave them their second win. The Cardinals used their handicap to win game one, as Beckwith and Goodale each scored 31 points, and Cardinals’ Tanner Steeves and Red Sox’s Gerry Hines each scored 15 points. After the Red Sox opened in ninth and 10th boxes of game three, the Cardinals took and held the lead for the win. Hines and Steeves matched scores again in game four, but Goodale’s four points in each of the last two boxes gave them a one-point win. Cardinals’ Gary Stevens’ four in the 10th box of the last game was enough to give the Cardinals the win. Beckwith’s 134-point series was the second leading “A” division score. Steeves’ season best 65-point series tied Hines. The Cardinals are now in a first-place tie.
Cody Layton’s Cubs were trying to forget the previous week’s loss and focused on moving up in the standings, and they were also hoping handicap would be their friend in their match against Tony Cutone’s Angels. Keith Toohey substituted for Angels’ Kyle Wilson. Cutone started game one with a double and ended with 34 points and the win. The Cubs’ lone win came in game two. Angels’ Allen Jr.’s season best game of 45 points, 14 ringers, and four doubles made easy work of game three. The Cubs battled in the next three games, losing by less than five points in each game. Allen’s season best 118point series was the second leading score for “B” division. His 45 points, 14 ringers, and six doubles are all ranked in the league’s season highs. Over the last two weeks, the Cubs have slipped from third to seventh place in the standings.
Jeremy Davis’s Dodgers were
riding high after the previous week’s sweep, as they faced John Hutra’s Marlins who have two of the top scorers in the “B” and “C” divisions – Dennis Allen and Mike Beckwith. After winning game one, the Dodgers only managed to score 10 points in the first five boxes of game two and were down by 16 points, from which they would not recover. This week, Dodgers’ Andy Turshen stepped up. His 27 points led to a win, and his ringer in the last box of the last game ensured another win. Starting in the sixth box of the game, Hutra had seven straight boxes with a ringer for the Marlins’ second win. The Dodgers moved up another spot in the standings, while the Marlins remain in eighth place. Court No. 5 is in the center of the field, and there is no escape from the sun. Frank Rausch’s Braves are the top scoring team, averaging almost 300 points per game. The average team score in
Week 11 was 266 points. However, neither the Braves nor their opponent, Joe Heery’s Rangers, would come close, as the teams played one of the lowest scoring matches of the evening. The Braves scored 253 points, and the Rangers scored 252 points. Rausch’s 31 points in game one equaled the Rangers’ points. Game two ended in a tie thanks to Heery’s ringer in the last box and the handicap. Rangers’ Hunter Beckwith’s 33 points gave them a double-digit win in game three, and Andy Konefal carried the Rangers to another win, as Rausch and Heery matched scores. Rausch and Peter Furmonavicius overcame the ninepoint handicap to win game five and tied the match at 2.5-2.5. Beckwith’s 34 points outscored the Braves to win the last game and match 3.5-2.5. Rausch’s 118point series tied for third highest for “A” division. Beckwith’s 106point series was the third highest for “B” division. The Braves are in a first-place tie with the Cardinals, while the Rangers are in fourth place.
Todd Nuhn’s Yankees faced Chip Goodrich’s Reds. Frank Jolly substituted for Yankees’ Matt Valentin. The teams split, alternating wins and losses. The Reds had three wins. Goodrich had back-to-doubles in the last two boxes, Dennis Goodrich’s season best 26- point game happened, and he also had a 25-point game. The Yankees had three wins, which included Jolly’s 34point game, Nuhn’s 31-point game, and Nuhn and Jolly combining for 54 points. Yankees’ Paul Stevens’ 80-point series was the second best in “C” division. The Yankees are currently in fifth place.
Mike Zanelli Sr.’s Giants split with Mark Goodale’s Mets.
See Pirates page 14
From as little and insignificant as a sprig of seaweed to semi-submerged wooden hull planking and sunken wrecks, fish will gravitate to them. Smaller fish will use them as protection, while larger predators will use them as ambush points and hunting grounds. When steaming to the offshore tuna grounds, it is not uncommon to come across mahi-mahi congregated under and around bits of debris or twigs. A quick stop to cast out something like a Windcheater can instantly hookup, resulting in a meal or at least a good fight on light gear.
One of a fisherman’s best friends is an
up-to-date navigation - or in greater detail - a bathymetric chart. In addition to directional aids and various coordinates and depths, other valuable data such as contours, sea bottom structures, reefs, shoals, unusual oddly formed bottoms, sunken ships, etc. are key indicators of fish gathering locations. Except for open water predation, where schools of finfish are balled up
in a feeding frenzy, identifying bottom structure is key to locating a potential fish catching bonanza.
What we are looking for are reduced depths within an area of greater depths, indicating a reef or hump. Some locations may be highlighted by contour lines. Shipwrecks might be indicated by name or marked by a wrecked hull and coordinates. Boulder fields most likely would be partially awash. Lighthouses were erected to ward off sailors due to a hazard. Those hazards often mark fish - especially during a moving tide.
Ice age recessional moraines or ridges of
glacial debris that were formed while a glacier ceased advancing or retreating, thereby remaining relatively stable, are what make up part of Long Island Sound’s reef structure. Terminal moraines, like the Hammonasset one, were formed as well and are relatively more prominent. The Ronkonkoma terminal moraine that runs across the Sound, for example, was deposited around 22,000 years ago and also contributed to outstanding fishing grounds. These structures that transverse the Sound’s coast often form rips when the
See The Value page 14
Continued from page 13
tide moves in and out. They too, serve as excellent fishing locations.
History aside, successful fishermen make note of structures and other oddities like these and plan their trips around the tides, currents, and moon phases, also taking weather and sea conditions into consideration.
Heat, humidity, and heavy air were replaced by a slow moving cold front that settled over the area. The stalled front led to unsettled conditions, bringing periods of downpours and thunderstorms. That front pushed farther south, opening a window of mixed sun, clouds, and foggy mornings, with higher daytime air temperatures reaching the high 80s and low 90s - before easing down to the mid-to-low 80s. Following a wicked week of damaging thunderbursts and angry seas, Long Island Sound water temperatures hovered around 70 degrees with occasional gusty winds, but relatively calm seas rising from one to two feet.
After a two-week black sea bass closure, Connecticut waters reopened on July 8 to a five fish, 16” minimum length per day. Although both Connecticut and New York waters are currently open, New York
requires a daily limit of three fish at 16.5”. Note that if a vessel’s catch is inspected, it is possession where one is stopped - not where you claim the fish were caught. Considering the numbers of sea bass caught, overall catch sizes could be better. From undersized to keepers, shorts have been outnumbering keepers with those meant for the table coming in under three pounds. No doubt there are some three to four-pound specimens, but they will normally be deep and hanging around reefs that usually would have had lobster pots strung about.
There have been some good runs of weakfish in the 20-24” range that were taking bucktails/squid and sea worms. Some hookups came from mid-Sound, while others have been in bays along entrances to tidal rivers. The bite lagged a bit but suddenly surged. Mixed in with small schools or loner weakies are bluefish that are favoring the top half of the water column. Blues have been on sandeels, silversides, and schools of juvenile bunker. They will attack diamond jigs, bucktails, and flashy spoons when fluttering down or being trolled. Chunking or chumming while anchored up-tide of a rip-line (near or offshore) can lead to typical pulling, jarring, and surface-breaking action that choppers are known to display. Cut up some chunks of mackerel that bluefish and striped bass are known to aggressively eat,
along with adult menhaden - if schools can be located.
Striped bass are plentiful, but they have been in, out, and up and down the water column with short periods of lockjaw due to the weather being inconsistently consistent. Barometric pressures resembled roller coaster graphs, as winds and seas disrupted the calmness of the Sound and forage has been unsteady in their presence. Nonetheless, stripers are being caught - although their behavior has varied. Steadier action can generally be found by nearshore shoals and reefs as well as mid-Sound reefs, where comfort zones can be more readily found.
Some drifters say fluke fishing is good. Most say shorts have been frustrating. The fact is that summer flounder sizes have been mixed with the greater portion of those hooked being short - below 19” or 17” in enhanced shore areas. Fish have been effectively caught from both shore and offshore sites, but there will be more rodbending before a meaningful doormat or mini is caught. Being close to the bottom, expect to meet up with dogfish, skate, and more sea robins than in the past weeks.
Native and holdover trout are surfacing more this past week. The heat is causing anglers to be more creative. However, on cooler overcast days and low light conditions, fishing has excelled. Personal bests are still being caught on conventional and
fly fishing gear. Water levels and flows continue to be a consideration when selecting portions of rivers to fish. Vegetation in ponds and lakes is spreading - tough on anglers but a blessing for fish. Largemouth bass, smallies, and pickerel find it bonus territory as ambush points. Black crappie, sunfish, small alewives, and shiners use it as a safe haven and source for nourishment. This habitat is an ecosystem all to its own, supporting a wide range of fish and other water life.
Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and International fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.
For all things fishy, including the latest gear, flies/fly fishing, rods/reels, clam/crabbing supplies, fishing trips, 2025 licenses/permits, and much more, swing by the shop located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison, or call 203-245-8665 for updated summer hours. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, and promoter of the Daiwa Tournament Program, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.
Tight Lines, Captain Morgan captainmorganusa@hotmail.com captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com X (formerly twitter) @captmorgan_usa
Continued from page 12
Games one and four were scratch games. Goodale closed game one with six ringers for the win. Zanelli Sr. tied his season best 47-point game to win game four. In two games, the Mets had five handicap points. Zanelli Sr.’s 39 points gave them the win, and Goodale’s season best 40point game gave the Mets the win. In two games, the Giants had seven handicap points. The Mets forced the Giants to use their handicap for a win, and Mets’ Mike Shashok and Leif Selander combined for 44 points to win the night’s final game.
Mike Zanelli Jr.’s Diamondbacks took on John
Durinick’s Orioles. Frank Durinick substituted for John, and Shashok subbed for Diamondbacks’ Ted Dubay. The Diamondbacks won the first two games and benefited from Zanelli Jr.’s 36 and 35-point games, and it looked as if the Orioles’ losing streak on odd number games would continue. However, the Orioles managed to win the next three games – the last one by two points thanks to their handicap, and the Diamondbacks won the last game. The teams split. The Orioles did not win or lose, so we wait until Week 12 to see if the streak of winning continues. Tigers’ Sheryl Serviss had three clean games, however, she did have six open boxes, all in the first game which the White Sox won. Serviss doubled her game one score
By Gabby Maljanian
Sports Editor
Give your child the ultimate basketball experience this summer at Madison Hoop Dreams (MHD) - Connecticut’s most popular basketball day camp for over 20 years. MHD’s program is for players entering grades 3 to 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at H-K Middle School in Killingworth. The camp includes expert coaching and terrific guest speakers. Players learn the fundamentals, team-
work, sportsmanship, and leadership skills that last a lifetime. With three weeks of camp remaining (the weeks of July 14, July 21, and July 28), MHD hopes that everyone can join them for at least one week. Please go to www.madisonhoop dreams.com for more information and to register. If you have any questions, please call or text Coach Bill Barker at 203-494-6905, or email him at wab6933@gmail.com.
and outscored Brady Miller’s White Sox in game two. Three players scored 16 points in game three, but it was Harvey Strausser’s 23 points that gave the Tigers the win. Tigers’ Ray Smith’s season best 30-point game gave them their third-straight win. Miller’s season best 38point game gave them a double-digit win, and in the last game, it was White Sox’s Howie Fisher’s 27-point game that earned the team a split. Smith and White Sox’s Brian Walsh each had a 79-point series, tied for the third highest “C” division scores.
For more information regarding the Deep River Horseshoe League, visit https//www.deepriverhorseshoes.com/ contacts.
July 17 to July 23
9:34 9:53
10:30 10:48
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!
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!
Reach homes in Guilford and attendees of the Guilford Fair when you advertise in the Guilford Fair Magazine! This gloss-covered guide will include entertainment schedules, food vendors, crafts/exhibitors, kids activities, a map & more!
This digest-style community guide is produced annually for the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. Advertising in this widely circulated guide offers your business a unique opportunity to connect with a highly engaged, communityfocused audience in Guilford, Branford, North Branford, and Northford.
To advertise, please contact Betsy Lemkin at b.lemkin@shorepublishing.com by Monday, July 28, 2025 The publication will be inserted in the Guilford Courier (circulation of 9,600) on September 4, 2025
By Liz Egan
After breakfast in our hotel, I departed along with the Con Brio Choral Society performance tour. We arrived just prior to lunch at Bahnhofplatz, a three-story mall and train station in the heart of Bern, Switzerland. There was a bit of a drizzle as I ate my lunch on a bench, fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the city’s transportation hub.
The streets of Bern are always filled with people. Bern is referred to as a federal city, the de facto capital of Switzerland. The official language is German, but the main spoken language is a local dialect, Swiss German. Founded in 1191, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to legend, the city of Bern got its name and symbol for the coat of arms from the bounty of a hunt. The Swiss German word for bear is Bären. The Bear Park was first created in 1549, and a family of three bears still lives there today. Bern offers free transportation—buses, trains, and trams—to everyone, visitors and residents alike. The Bernese people are incredibly friendly and full of life. We met our local guide for a walking tour of the city. Bern is renowned for its arcaded walkways, filled with specialty shops of every type. Bern’s 100 fountains date back to the Middle Ages, with drinkable water from underground streams, wells, and cisterns. Bern’s clock tower, the Zytglogge (time bell), is the city’s oldest monument and most recognizable symbol. Built in 1218, it was originally used as a guard tower. After it was destroyed by fire in
1405, it was rebuilt with the addition of an astronomical clock. There is always a crowd each hour to see the elaborate workings of its many moving characters.
The clock tower was also a notable stop on my bus route from our beautiful hotel, the Kursaal Berne, just over the Aare River, which surrounds the city.
The Bern Münster Cathedral of St. Vin-
cent is an impressive late-Gothic building and the most important church in Switzerland. An outstanding feature on its facade is the depiction of the Last Judgment. While most of the artifacts of the cathedral were destroyed during the Protestant Reformation, a few of the original pieces can still be seen at the Museum of History. In an adjacent plaza, the Bun-
deshaus, Switzerland’s Parliament Building, holds the seat of Switzerland’s democracy. A beautiful geyser-like fountain adorns the plaza.
Our walking tour ended at Einstein Haus. Albert Einstein lived in Bern from 1903 to 1905 with his wife, Mileva Mari•, and their son, Hans Einstein. In this tiny second-floor flat, Einstein developed his Theory of Relativity, which contributed substantially to the foundation of modern physics. The next day, I took a bus to Zentrum Paul Klee. With about 4,000 paintings by the famous painter Paul Klee, a major figure of the Bauhaus movement in art, the Paul Klee Center houses the largest collection of its kind. The museum, opened in 2005, is a wave-like structure and is a work of contemporary art, standing in stark contrast to the medieval buildings of Bern.
There is so much to see and do in Bern. At the end of the day, a few friends from the tour took the bus with me to see the bears. Afterwards, we walked to the Rose Garden, with a beautiful view of the river and the city beyond. Many Con Brio choristers and clappers went to Kornhauskeller, a restaurant highly recommended by our walking tour guide as well as the grammar school friend of one of the choristers. It is called Kornhauskeller based on its historic use as a grain trading location. The restaurant’s amazing history and spectacular space were only outdone by its delicious food—a worthwhile splurge while staying in Bern.
Wendy Mill, our member-tour
See Travel page 22
For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website, www.zip06.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Discerning the Truth with Marie Lu (Grades 9 to 12)
:
Concert Series at Jacobs Beach
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jacobs Beach, Seaside Ave., Guilford. Music by Bootleg Harmony. Sponsored by Guilford Parks and Recreation. For info, call 203-453-8068 or click on the link for the springsummer 2025 brochure at guilfordparkrec.com/newslist.php.
Branford Jazz on the Green 2025
Calendar for the Week of July 17, 2025
THURSDAY, JULY 17 THROUGH
SATURDAY, JULY 19
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish Festival
4 p.m. Online event. Book: . Hosted by the North Branford Libraries through a partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. For info or to register (required), visit libraryc.org/nbranfordlibraries.
Business After Hours
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. Features networking with local professionals, complimentary appetizers, and a view of the hotel’s summer concert series. Bring business cards. Sponsored by the Madison Chamber of Commerce. For info or to register (required), contact the Madison Chamber at 203-245–7394 or chamber@madisonct.com.
Magnets and Motion Legend
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. For children in grades 1 to 6. For info or to register (required), call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
: 6:30 p.m. Branford Town Green. Music by Jon Regen. Free. No dogs. No alcoholic beverages. Presented by the Town of Branford and the Branford Parks & Recreation Department. For info, visit branfordjazz.com.
Outdoor Summer Concert Series
: 7 to 8 p.m. Guilford
Free Library Patio, 67 Park St. Music by The Subliminals. Seats are available but may be limited. Bring your own chairs. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the meeting room. Free. For info or to register (required), call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
2025 Grassy Strip Music Series : Thursday and Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. St. Therese Church grounds, 555 Middletown Ave., North Haven. Features rides, food, entertainment, games, music, and more. For info, call 203-239-5378 or visit stelizabethofthetrinity.org.
: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. Music by Orleans. Free and open to the public. The show starts with the Pledge of Allegiance; music begins at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for sale on the lawn. Bring chairs and blankets. For info, visit madisonbeachhotelevents.com/hotel/hotel-happenings.
FRIDAY, JULY 18
AARP Smart Driver Course
: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Joyce C. Budrow Senior Center, 189 Pool Rd., North Haven. Features a refresher course specifically designed for drivers 50 years and up. The class is held on select dates each month. Cost: $20 for AARP members, $25 nonmembers. Payment is due on the day of the class by check made to AARP. Bring your driver’s license. For info or to register, call 203-239-5432.
Red Cross Blood Drive
: Noon to 5 p.m. St. Mary Church, 731 Main. St., Branford. For info or an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.
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coordinator, along with a few companions, took the opportunity to enjoy one of Bern’s many fondue restaurants. Wendy makes fondue at home all the time and shared her easy-to-follow recipe with me. Who can resist a pot of melted cheese? Zur Chäshütte, the cheese hut, boasts 150 different types of cheeses. Traditional fondue is made with Gruyère and Emmental, a type of Swiss cheese. I made a version using chicken stock in place of wine. While it was good, it lacked the body of the amazing fondue I had tried while in Switzerland.
While in Bern, the group took an excursion to Schloss Thun and Interlaken in the Bernese Alps. Thun Castle was first built as a fort in 1190, and its colorful history reflects the fiefdoms and changing rule of the passing centuries. In 1906 it was bought by the city and rehabilitated into a museum preserving the original Knights’ Hall, its unique Gothic construction, and
its fabled history as a prison. Our group took a cable car ride up the side of the mountain to Interlaken. While it was a very foggy day, we thoroughly enjoyed the view and our delicious lunch at the top. Earlier in the week, I had received word that my nephew Nathan’s girlfriend was collecting videos as a surprise for his 30th birthday. A Navy fighter pilot stationed in Japan, Nathan loves climbing, hiking, and everything outdoors. What better place to film my birthday wish? Singing “Happy Birthday” with the Alps in the background amused fellow visitors and delighted my family upon receipt.
Con Brio Choral Society performed at every site we ventured to. In addition, they gave an amazing free concert with a large local gospel choir at Französische Kirche (Church of St. Francis) to an enthusiastic audience. It is amazing how music transcends language and brings shared joy to all. While the evening concert was fabulous, I loved the way the group enchanted unsuspecting guests of the churches, cas-
tles, and tourist sites we visited. Auf Wiedersehen! Goodbye for now!
Wendy Mill’s family has been making and enjoying this fondue for as long as she can remember. It turns any gathering into a fun, communal experience. The only limit on what to dip is your imagination!
INGREDIENTS
½ lb Gruyère cheese
½ lb Swiss cheese
1 small clove garlic, grated (or 1/8 tsp minced dry garlic)
2 tsp cornstarch
1• cups dry white wine (preferably Sauterne)
For dipping:
Boiled baby potatoes (traditional in Swiss versions)
Hard salami, cut into bite-sized pieces
Apple slices
Pickles
Blanched broccoli or vegetables of your choice
Coarsely grate the cheeses into a medium bowl. Add garlic, cornstarch, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands. In a large saucepan, heat the wine over medium heat until bubbles just begin to rise—do not boil.
Add the cheese mixture by the handful, whisking constantly. Wait until each addition is fully melted before adding more. Continue mixing and cooking until smooth and creamy.
Transfer to a fondue pot or chafing dish to keep warm while serving.
Using fondue forks, dip your favorite bread cubes, vegetables, or meats into the cheese and enjoy, family-style!
The Old Lyme Arts District invites residents and visitors to two festive community events this July: the Midsummer Kickoff Concert on Friday, July 25, and the 38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on Saturday, July 26. Both family-friendly events highlight the town’s artistic spirit and historic charm, offering a weekend of art, music, and summer fun.
The Midsummer Kickoff Concert will take place Friday evening at the Florence Griswold Museum, located at 90 Lyme Street. Visitors can enjoy free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. to the museum’s exhibitions Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes and Cow Tales, as well as early access to the FloGris Shop’s Midsummer Super Sale. From 7 to 9 p.m., the lawn will come alive with music from The Mighty Soul Drivers, a Memphis-style soul band. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic or enjoy fare from local food vendors. The concert is free and open to the public. More information is available at FlorenceGriswold Museum.org.
Saturday’s Midsummer Festival kicks off at 8 a.m. with the Midsummer 5K Run/Walk, beginning at Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, 59 Lyme Street. Registration opens at 6:45 a.m. A Kid K fun run follows at 9 a.m. on the high school track. Details and registration can be found at lysb.org/5k.
Festivities continue throughout the day at venues across Lyme Street. At the Lyme Art Association (90 Lyme Street), guests can enjoy outdoor art activities, crafts, and community booths from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with refreshments available from Del’s Lemonade. Live music
includes The Wandering Fiddlers from 9 a.m. to noon, and Kipp Sturgeon from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Inside, the galleries will feature the 104th Elected Artists Exhibition, Red Hot Members Show, and the New Haven Paint & Clay Club Select Members Exhibit.
The Florence Griswold Museum (96 Lyme Street) will offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with access to both current exhibitions and the historic Griswold boardinghouse for artists, circa 1910. A food truck court will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the ever-popular Parading Paws Dog Show returns from 10 a.m. to noon. A 2 p.m. gallery tour, hands-on crafts, face painting, and fairy hair are available throughout the day. Café Flo will be open for seated riverside dining from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (reservations recommended).
The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (100 Lyme Street) will host a full day of science, crafts, and naturethemed activities for families. Highlights include the Kelsey Family Discovery Center and special appearances starting at 10 a.m. with the Michele Urban Music Show, an interactive concert for kids presented in partnership with the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library. Additional programs include rope-making demonstrations by the Connecticut River Museum, a live oyster and mussel touch tank from the Great Island Foundation, and presentations by the Old Lyme Land Trust, Open Space Commission, and Harbor Management Commission.
Classic car lovers can enjoy the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club Classic Car Show from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring antique, exotic, and hot rod vehicles. A $5 entrance fee allows guests to vote for their favorites, with trophies awarded after 1 p.m. The Lions Club will also offer hot-off-the-grill favorites for purchase. Visitors can
also view artist proofs and signed prints from the Peterson Collection in the Eleanor Robinson Center.
At the Old Lyme Inn (85 Lyme Street), fine art and crafts will be on display and for sale from the Fence Show Artists, Lyme Artisans Guild, and other local vendors between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts (84 Lyme Street) will offer a curated selection of art supplies and global gifts at De Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials & Curiosities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Chauncey-Stillman Gallery will feature the Annual Student and Faculty Exhibition from noon to 3 p.m.
The Midsummer Festival is generously supported by Connecticut’s Eastern Regional Tourism District, Pasta Vita, Essex Savings Bank/Essex Financial Services, the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, Bluewater Millwork & Construction, Mercer Advisors, the Nancy Mesham Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, and LymeLine.com.
For a full schedule, festival map, and updates, visit ExploreOldLyme.com. Bring your friends and family and make lasting memories this summer in Old Lyme.
The Old Lyme Arts District is a collaborative cultural community celebrating the town’s artistic heritage through exhibitions, events, and partnerships. Anchored by institutions such as the Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Cooley Gallery, Side Door Jazz Club, Nightingale’s Acoustic Café, Musical Masterworks, Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, the District offers yearround programming that inspires creativity and fosters community.
By Karen Isaacs
It’s fun, it’s tuneful, and it’s kid-friendly. What more can you want from a summer musical?
excellent Alanna Saunders) explains the opening scene and characters to the children. It’s a good way to get us into the story.
musical eras. They also played the wives of the brothers and other characters.
Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Add in that it’s a Tim Rice–Andrew Lloyd Webber collaboration, and has long been a favorite of audiences and theaters alike.
The production at Ivoryton Playhouse, running through Sunday, July 27, is good fun.
For those who missed that Sunday school class, the story is from Genesis. Joseph, the favored son, is sold into slavery by his brothers; he’s taken to Egypt, where his ability to interpret dreams leads him to become the Pharaoh’s righthand man. He saves Egypt from the plague, though his father and brothers are starving. But all ends well—his brothers beg for help, and he forgives them for their actions.
Joseph
reminiscent of a genre—from the Elvisimpersonating Pharaoh (“Song of the King”) to French cabaret (“Those Canaan Days”) and even a calypso-inspired number (“Benjamin Calypso”). Neither the music nor the lyrics are sophisticated, but they serve their purpose.
A narrator links the scenes together to tell the story; there is almost no dialogue.
On opening night, the sound design (by Dustin Pfaender) appeared to have some problems. Saunders, at times, was hard to hear from where I was sitting (toward the back), as were other characters. Sometimes the 10-piece ensemble, led by Dan Gibson, overpowered the singers. This was unfortunate and detracted from Saunders’ performance. The problem, I’m sure, has since been corrected.
Sean Spina’s costumes represent a variety of times and places, from berets for “Those Canaan Days” to cowboy hats for “One More Angel.” Joseph’s coat of many colors seems more muted than it usually is. The Ishmaelites who sell Joseph to Potiphar look like Cousin Itt from —or perhaps they were gray Smurfs. I’m sure the children had fun with the costumes.
Jesus Christ Superstar
is an early Webber-Rice musical, though its first London production came after their success with . In many ways, you’ll hear similarities in the storytelling and music between the two.
The songs are pastiche numbers, each
This is a big show—the cast must include the 11 sons, the narrator, three women who at times form a backup trio, plus others who can play multiple roles. At Ivoryton, that includes a children’s chorus. Director Todd L. Underwood uses the children as a way of introducing the show and, at times, acting as an audience for the action. Its effectiveness is intermittent.
The set by Cully Long helps establish this idea. The sides of the stage are museum-like exhibits that the children visit as the show starts. The narrator (an
Even Joseph, played by Kyle Dalsimer, had some of the same issues. Dalsimer captured both the confidence of Joseph (after all, he was the favorite) and his youth. His opening number, “Any Dream Will Do,” was excellent. Ryan Knowles was good as the Pharaoh, though some of the choreography exaggerated Elvis’s well-known bumps and grinds. Tony Melson plays Reuben, the oldest brother, and leads “One More Angel in Heaven,” a country-western number. William Pazdziora plays both the brother Naphtali and Potiphar, the rich Egyptian who purchases Joseph.
Kathryn Dooley, Sarah Warrick, and Stephanie Wasser formed a trio of backup singers whose stylings represent different
Underwood’s direction and choreography were mostly effective. At times, I wondered why, during the middle of a song, the spotlights on the singer would dim and then later come back on. In those moments, the character was bathed in blue light.
It is not this production’s fault that the ending of the show drags out. After the story ends happily, Webber and Rice have the cast reprise most of the songs. The audience is confused about how to respond—are these curtain calls or not? It robs the performers of their well-deserved applause.
This is a good show for children—it is entertaining and runs about two hours with intermission.
Tickets are available at IvorytonPlay house.org. The Addams Family
Continued from page 22
Summer Reading Event: Judy Pancoast Music and Storytime
: 4 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Free. For info or to register, call the library at 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
SummerWeen (Halloween) Party Cooking Class
: 6 to 8 p.m. The Carriage House at the Women and Family Life Center, 96 Fair St., Guilford. Students will make monster meatball sandwiches and spooky Halloween party cupcakes. Cost: $40, includes all ingredients and materials. Open to ages 6 and up. Students can come dressed in their favorite Halloween costume. Presented by Mary’s Culinary Classes. For info, contact 203-464-8447 or marysculinaryclassesllc@gmail.com, or visit marysculinaryclassesllc.com.
Friday Night Oldie Film
: 7 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Free. Light refreshments provided by the Friends of the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library. No registration needed. For info, including the movie title, call the library at 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
Opening Night for
: 7 p.m. Madison Lyric Stage, Deacon John Grave House grounds, 581 Boston Post Rd., Madison. The show runs through Sunday, Aug. 3. Other showtimes available. For info or tickets, call 203-215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.
FRIDAY, JULY 18 THROUGH
SUNDAY, JULY 20
68th Annual Guilford Art Center (GAC) Craft Expo
: Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Guilford Town Green. Features more than 170 modern makers in various media, including pottery, glass, leather, jewelry, clothing, fiber art, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, print making, and gourmet food and specialties. Includes live music, food trucks, a family art tent for young visitors, and a silent auction of exhibitor-donated work. Admission: $11 for adults, $9 for seniors (65 and over), and free for GAC members, active military, and children 16 and younger. Multiday pass is $15. Rain or shine. For info, visit guilfordartcenter.org/expo.
SATURDAY, JULY 19
Mary’s Culinary Parent and Me Class: Potato Head Pancakes
: 9 to 10 a.m. Carriage House at the Women and Family Life Center, 96 Fair St., Guilford. Cost: $30 a pair (additional $10 per child if one adult is bringing multiple children). Other adult caregiver apart from parent permitted. For info or to register (required), contact 203464-8447 or marysculinaryclassesllc@gmail.com, or visit the class schedule link at marysculinaryclassesllc.com.
Saturday Sleuths Book Club
: 10 to 11:30 a.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: by A.J. Finn. Snacks will be provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
Historic American Breads: Six Breads and the Stories They Tell
: 10 a.m. to noon. The Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd. Features a presentation, tasting, and handson workshop that allows participants to learn about people’s lives in the past. For info, visit dudleyfarm.com/events.
Open House and Summer Market
: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Allis-Bushnell House back lawn, 853 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Hosted by the Madison Historical Society (MHS). Features crafts, art, flowers, and more. Visitors can explore first floor of the museum and the maritime exhibit in the annex. Free admission. For info or to register, call 203-245-4567 or visit madisonhistory.org.
Experimental Collage Workshop
: Noon to 4 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Students will construct paper or mixed-media collage artworks by creating, cutting, and reassembling various colored and textured papers, photos, text, images, and printed ephemera. Cost: $50.40 for members, $56 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $20 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
2025 Summer Concert Series
MONDAY, JULY 21
Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health
: 6 to 8 p.m. Madison Town Green. Music by the Nightshift Band. Free. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic. No alcohol. Sponsored by Madison Beach and Recreation. For info, visit madisonct.org/710/Summer-Concerts. : 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Northford Park, 1827 Middletown Rd. For children ages 5 to 11. Participants join Gizmo, the therapy dog, for a reading of . Hosted by the North Branford Public Libraries. In the event of rain, the program will take place at the Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Photography for Artists
: 2 to 3 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features a no-bake treat. For ages 3 and up. Sponsored by the Friends of Blackstone Library. For info or to register (required), visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Party with a Snow Princess Geology of the Marsh
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meigs Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Features a marsh walk at different times of the day; a presentation and Q&A by Ralph Lewis about the Long Island Sound; a display of rocks, minerals, gems, and other items; and a presentation at 4 p.m. about plans to restore the shore at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Part of Salt Marsh Days series. Free admission. Open to families. No registration needed. For info, contact 203-245-8743 or rangermpnc@gmail.com, or visit MeigsPointNatureCenter.org.
New Creation Coffee House
: 7 p.m. Northford Community Church, 4 Old Post Rd. Features a coffee and praise/worship event with A Revival Sound. For info, call 203-484-0795 or visit northfordcommunity.church.
SATURDAY, JULY 19 AND
SUNDAY, JULY 20
Carousel for Charity Event
: 12:30 to 7 p.m. Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale, 1301 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Proceeds from the day's carousel rides benefit The Cove. For info, email jalene@covect.org.
SUNDAY, JULY 20
Around Every Corner of Connecticut
: 2 p.m. PardeeMorris House, 325 Lighthouse Rd., New Haven. Presented by Sarah Cody, travel reporter at WTNH and author of
Around Every Corner of Connecticut: 100 Towns to Explore Every Season
. Free admission. For info or to register (required), visit newhavenmuseum.org.
: 11 a.m. Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance (BACA), 1004 Main St. Features photographer Robert Thomas on the professional techniques for photographing artwork for juried show submissions. Part of a program of monthly workshops covering various aspects of professional art practice, including marketing strategies, pricing artwork, building collector relationships, and navigating gallery representation. To register (required), text Edith Reynolds at 203-232-4384. For info about BACA, visit branfordarts.org.
Musical Monday Geology Course
TUESDAY, JULY 22
Summer Reading Event: Story, Lab Event, and Craft
Gizmo’s Pawesome Pledge for Mental Health Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate
: 6 to 8 p.m. Behind the Branford Town Hall, 1019 Main St. Music by Nick Sproviero. Part of the Musical Mondays series through Aug. 25. Sponsored by the Branford Parks and Recreation. For info, visit branfordct.myrec.com/info/activities.
: 7 to 8 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Presented by the New Haven Mineral Club. Part of a weekly geology course through August. Features a presentation developed by John Renton, a professor from the University of West Virginia, and the Great Courses DVD series. Covers earth’s formation, plate tectonics, and more. No registration needed. For info, call 203-530-4554 or 203-484-0873. : 4 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Features a reading of with author Sara Levine, a dissection of real flowers to see the parts inside, and a paper flower craft for participants to take home. Free. For info or to register, call the library at 203488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
Wacky Wildlife: Sharks
: 5:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library Community Room, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For ages 6 to 11. Participants learn about sharks and make a shark puppet to take home. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
See page 27
Press Release from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum
• Yield Testing
• Well Chlorination
• Well Extensions
•
• Hot Water Heaters
• Plumbing Repairs
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum has announced the relocation of , a monumental sculpture by Connecticut artist Allyson Holtz, to the Pequot Avenue roundabout near General Dynamics.
Star and Sea
Star and Sea
Weighing eight tons and fabricated from Corten steel, had stood on the museum’s front lawn since 2008. Its move coincides with construction of the new Lyman Allyn Park, bringing the maritime-inspired piece closer to the water that inspired it.
Originally commissioned in 1981 by the Thames Valley Steel Company and the Carr family as a gift to the City of New London, the sculpture was built using HY80 steel, a material commonly used in submarine construction. It was first installed downtown near the Water Street Garage.
created to reflect the history and character of New London,” Holtz said. “Its original location overlooked the Thames River and Long Island Sound—pointing to the sea, submarines, sailing ships—the things I love most about the city and this region.”
Holtz, a founding member of Hygienic Art and former structural welder at Electric Boat, earned a master’s degree at Wesleyan University focused on the history of American submarine technology. Her connection to both art and maritime history runs deep.
For more information, visit lymanallyn.org or contact Rebecca Dawson at dawson@lymanallyn.org.
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is located at 625 Williams Street in New London and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
“ is a site-specific work I
Star and Sea
Continued from page 25
History Book Group
The Path to Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson
: 6 p.m. Madison Center for History and Culture at Lee’s Academy, 14 Meetinghouse Ln., Madison. Book: by Robert A. Caro. Hosted by the Madison Historical Society (MHS). Virtual participation by Zoom is an option. Copies of the book may be available at the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For new participants to join, email director@madisonhistory.org. For info, call MHS at 203-2454567 or visit madisonhistory.org.
Author Event: Jessa Maxwell in Conversation with Clémence Michallon
: 6:30 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: (Maxwell) and (Michallon). For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.
Music Under the Stars Concert Series
Financial Statements
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Southern Connecticut State University School of Business, 10 Wintergreen Ave., New Haven. Third in a four-session course called "Managing Money in Your Business: Financial Essentials." Hosted by the Connecticut Small Business Development Center. For info or to register (required), email Amanda Tronchin at aet11001@uconn.edu or visit ctsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events.
Shake, Rattle and Roll: Way Back Wednesdays
: 6 to 8 p.m. Branford Town Green. Features music from the 50s and 60s by DJ Dennis Nardella and a car show on Town Hall Drive. Runs through Wednesday, July 30. For info, visit branfordct.myrec.com/info/activities.
and the Branford Parks and Recreation Department. For info, visit branfordjazz.com.
IMAGES 2025: Virtual Juror Discussion
: 7 to 8 p.m.
Online event. Features the presentation of awards and discussion of the art selected for the 45th annual competition and exhibition for Connecticut photographers. Presented by jurors Robert Calafiore, Kristen Joy Emack, and Lauren Wendle. For info or to register (required), visit shorelinearts.org.
Outdoor Summer Concert Series
: 7 p.m. North Haven Town Green. Music by Timmy Maia. Sponsored by the North Haven Department of Recreation in partnership with the North Haven business community. Free admission. For weather updates, call the Recreation Center at 203-672-0541 after 5 p.m. For info, visit northhaven-ct.gov/government/town_departments and click on the Recreation link and Music Under the Stars.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
Pollinator Colors
: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. North Farms Park, 149 Branford Rd., North Branford. For ages 5 to 11. Presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Hosted by the North Branford Public Libraries. In the event of rain, the program will take place at the Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Shoreline Village Tea and Talk
: 2 p.m. Branford Green. Features a conversation with members of Shoreline Village CT (SVCT). In case of rain or extreme heat, the event takes place at G Cafe Bakery, 1008 Main St., Branford. For info or to register, contact 203-747-5939 or info@ShorelineVillageCT.org.
Illuminating Hope and Grace in the Face of Hardship with Rex Ogle (Grades 5 to 8)
: 4 p.m. Online event. Book: . Hosted by the North Branford Libraries through a partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. For info or to register (required), visit libraryc.org/nbranfordlibraries.
Author Event: Tony Renzoni
: 6 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book:
Dead of Summer: A Novel Our Last Resort Free Lunch Rock 'n' Roll Radio Connecticut: Magic Moments & Unforgettable Disc Jockeys
. For info or to register (required), call 203-2453959 or visit rjjulia.com.
Your Edible Landscape
: 6 to 7 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 758 Main St., Branford. Features an informational presentation on the edible fruits, nuts, flowers, and greens found in any backyard. Presented by The 3 Foragers. Sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Memorial Library. For info or to register (required), visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Bald Eagles
: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Presented by Ginny Apple, a master wildlife conservationist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. For info or to register (required), call 203-2457365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
Twilight Concert Series
: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Rd., New Haven. Music by Timmy Maia. Grounds open at 5:30 p.m., the concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by the New Haven Museum, which owns and operates the Pardee-Morris House. Rain date: Thursday, July 24. For info, visit newhavenmuseum.org/visit/pardee-morris-house.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
Red Cross Blood Drive
: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lutheran Church of Madison, 9 Britton Ln. For info or an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.
Summer Reading Event: Flower Crowns Workshop
:
4 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Free. For info or to register, call the library at 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
Food Explorers: Cannoli Croissant Bites
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. For ages 8 to 12. The recipe is nut-free but will contain dairy and gluten. For info or to register (required), call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Concert Series at Jacobs Beach
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jacobs Beach, Seaside Ave., Guilford. Music by The Lost Marbles. Sponsored by Guilford Parks and Recreation. For info, call 203-453-8068 or click on the link for the spring-summer 2025 brochure at guilfordparkrec.com/newslist.php.
Fireside Chats with Local Authors: Debbie Pausig
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features readings and discussions with a local author in front of the fireplace in the reading room.
: 7 to 8 p.m. Guilford Free Library Patio, 67 Park St. Music by Laura Clapp Trio. Seats are available but may be limited. Bring your own chairs. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the meeting room. Free. For info or to register (required), call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Stony Creek in the Age of Granite
: 7 to 8 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. A talk about how Stony Creek was transformed from a small village of farmers and fishermen to a town of immigrants who worked in the quarry and owned stores. Presented by Stony Creek resident and former First Selectman Unk DaRos. Free. Part of a series of events marking 25th anniversary of the publication of the book . For info, call the library at 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org/events.
Flesh and Stone: Stony Creek and the Age of Granite
2025 Grassy Strip Music Series
: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. Music by Shaboo AllStars. Free and open to the public. The show starts with the Pledge of Allegiance; music begins at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for sale on the lawn. Bring chairs and blankets. For info, visit madisonbeachhotelevents.com/hotel/hotel-happenings.
Farmers Market East Haven Farmers Market
: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 12. East Haven Town Green. For info, call 203-468-3204 or visit easthaven-ct.gov/farmers-market.
Farmers Market at the Guilford Fairgrounds
: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, through Oct. 30 (later, if weather permits). Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Ln. For info, email farmersmarket@guilfordfair.org or visit guilfordyouthandfamilyservices.org.
Madison Farmers Market
: 3 to 6 p.m. Fridays through Thanksgiving. Madison Green. For info, visit madisonctfarmersmarket.com.
The Dudley Farm Farmers Market
Books: and
An Affair Worth Remembering with Huntington's Disease The Freshman 15 16 of Grief
. For info, call 203488-1441 or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Branford Jazz on the Green 2025
: 6:30 p.m. Branford Town Green. Music by Steve Oliver. Free. No dogs. No alcoholic beverages. Presented by the Town of Branford
: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays through October. The Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. For info, visit dudleyfarm.com/farmers-market.
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.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
8 Highview Road, Madison
Staff Report
This is a one-of-a-kind home in a small, sought-after subdivision close to the heart of the charming town of Madison. This architecturally distinctive residence features soaring cathedral ceilings and skylights in the living room, vaulted ceilings in the dining room, and a striking shiplap ceiling in the expansive family room. Two wood-burning fireplaces create cozy focal points in both the living and family rooms.
The custom kitchen is a showstopper, featuring rare lacewood cabinetry sourced from South America, Australia, and Asia, beautifully complemented by granite countertops.
With five bedrooms, including a main-level primary suite, there’s room for everyone. The luxurious primary bath, inspired by a Thai spa, features an air-jetted tub, custom-tiled storage, and a Roman-style walk-in shower that evokes the feel of a boutique resort. Two more bedrooms (one with a built-in Murphy bed) complete the main level, while two additional bedrooms and a full bath await upstairs.
A finished basement offers a hobby or recreation space and includes a fourth full bathroom.
Step outside to a lush, landscaped oasis featuring multi-level decks, accent lighting, a fire pit patio, and a tranquil koi pond—ideal for unforgettable outdoor entertaining. The neighborhood adds even more appeal with a tennis/pickleball court, a picnic area, and a scenic pond perfect for small boats in the summer and ice skating in the winter.
This home is being offered for sale by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties for $1,098,000. For more information or a showing, contact Sheila Tinn-Murphy at 203-915-7530.
Leigh@TheWhitemanTeam.com
: Albert G Erda
RET and Albert G. Erda to Timothy Spratlin and Stephanie S. Torres, $500,000 on June 23 : Stephanie Young to Anna N. and Garret Pates, $400,000 on June 27
: Leslie and Rosemarie Windisch to Todd and Lindsey Hurst, $1,500,000 on June 27
: Pite Family Lp to 157 Goose Lane Guilford LLC, $1,600,000 on June 25
: Damian B. and Tracy H. Lynch to Yuejie Chi and Bin Gui, $1,010,000 on June 23 : Jan A. Berry to Kirk and Sheri H. Dubay, $320,000 on June 23
: Laurie W. Berry T and Jan A. Berry to Kirk and Sheri H. Dubay, $320,000 on June 23 : Erff Ft and Marybeth Johnson to Christopher Cordeiro, $230,000 on June 25 : Erff Survivors T and Marybeth Johnson to Christopher Cordeiro, $230,000 on June 25
: Robert W. and Kym Scott to Tmd-F LLC, $850,000 on June 27 : John P. Coyle to Big Dock Energy LLC, $20,000 on June 24 : Justin Centre to Caitlin A. Hayden, $380,000 on June 26
John A. and Lorett R. Ferraro to Maria and Michael A. Stemm, $325,000 on June 24
49 Damascus Road
: James D. and Michelle Mcadam to Nina M. Fattore and Byron A. Gardner, $710,000 on June 27
1 Grove Court Unit 1
: Nicole M.
Domorod to Barrett K. and Aranda Duan, $196,000 on June 25 : Alfred
6 Hemingway Street
Sagnella to Allen E. and Arlene A. Ciociola, $900,000 on June 26
Leetes Island Road
: Ahd Holdings
LLC to Virgil E. Roberson and Shannon A. White, $849,900 on June 24
144 North Main Street Unit 2
:
Paul Gorski to Renz Dev Westbrook
LLC, $160,000 on June 23
18 Orchard Avenue
: Todd J. and Nicholle Mckiernan to Matthew G. Welch and Jessica Fritz, $800,000 on June 26
13 Partridge Lane
: Stephen D
Pawlowicz T and Stephen D. Pawlowicz to Maria Salatto, $919,000 on June 23
40 Peddlars Drive Unit 40
: Peter C. Kessen to Mikayla Bruton, $269,879 on June 25
55 Peddlers Drive
: Oscar A. Marin to Zheng L. Lu, $328,000 on June 27
13-A Stonegate
: Robert J. and Donna T. Leonard to Makana Ellis, $375,000 on June 27
122 Village Lane Unit 122
: Elaine
Martinez to Tatiana M. Alvarado, $315,000 on June 26
173 Bradley Corners Road
2364 Durham Road
: Estate of Ligia
E. Blanchard and Joseph M. Blanchard to Robert W. Tomlinson and Allison T. Monaco, $450,000 on June 27
675 Durham Road
: Robert C Gerard
T and Robert C. Gerard to Ann and Scott Strid, $1,125,000 on June 26
Neck Road
: William A. Forsyth to Gideon and Molly Boomer, $972,000 on June 23
67 New Road
: Ricky Au to Joshua and Alana Allen, $550,000 on June 25
The Mews Condo Unit 3
: Thomas
E. and Julie P. Furey to Mary C Farrell RET and Mary C. Farrell, $1,750,000 on June 26
W Sussex Place Unit 2-2
: Peter C. and Kathleen L. Smith to Louise Dilungo, $26,000 on June 26
23-A Yankee Glen Road Unit 23
: Thomas B. Speer to Arthur J. Mahon and Rebecca Galarza, $349,000 on June 23
9 Grove Street
: Michael S. Landry to Michael Smigielski and Danielle Stpierre, $535,000 on June 26
Lantern Court Condo Unit 104
:
Lgdbgd LLC to Robert and Donna Leonard, $337,900 on June 23
30 Pleasant Valley Road
: Teresa A. Suganski to Wendy Bannerman and Matthew Moreau, $715,000 on June 23
Riverside Drive Unit 50-8
: Craig and Jana Roberts to Mel J. Swift, $36,000 on June 25
169-B Shore Road Unit 169B
:
Jacqueline L. Mickiewicz and Suzanne M. Barkyoumb to Aimee Avallone, $464,000 on June 24
16 Slocum Road
: Nicholas A. Gilliland and Abigail R. Dunlap to Robin A. and John F. Shepard, $335,000 on June 26
The Meadows Unit 1
: Donata M.
Tarzia to Gv Res Partners 4 LLC, $155,000 on June 23
$1,628,268 on June 26
5 Mansfield Grove Road Unit 242
: Laura Iaia and Lisa Chazan to Andrew and Gina Semmonella, $530,000 on June 26
5 Mansfield Grove Road Unit 342
:
Valid and Shahla Mohsenin to Laura F. and Charles J. Wortman, $657,500 on June 27
1447 North High Street
: Francine E. Zambias to Sandra Idrovo, $480,000 on June 23
159 Old Foxon Road
: James A. Esposito to Cpde East Haven LLC, $251,732 on June 26
48 Taylor Avenue
: Jason and Tara L. Noyes to Hernan Lopez, $425,000 on June 23
170 Branford Road
: Melinda M. Caffrey and John A. Durso to Anne and James P. Girolamo, $425,000 on June 24
14 Half Mile Road
: Christopher Wakefield to Bradley and Kathryn Vogel, $907,000 on June 13
175 Kings Highway
: Francesco J. Dicristina to Nathan and Paige Stauffer, $675,000 on June 9
39 Locke Drive
: Roseann MarsicoGyer and Maribeth M. Gesler to Jamyang Lhamo and Lobsang Cyatso, $400,000 on June 4
6 Pond View Circle Unit 6
: Maria Giannelli to Agatha Dalley, $436,000 on June 6
88 Quinnipiac Avenue
: Sampati LLC to 88 North Haven Realty LLC, $800,000 on June 13
6 Robin Court
: James N. and Tracy L. Wagner to Fanny A. Aguirre and Oscar R. Cedillo, $495,000 on June 6
43 Wayland Street
: Mark J. Lee to Daniel M. and Gina L. Altano, $530,000 on June 6
Anne N. Ayres to Kunesh T and Robert
: Jon A. Modica and Nicole Y. Dubois to Margaret L Woodruff Ft and Margaret L. Woodruff, $621,000 on June 25
81 Colonial Road
: Edward A. Baroncini to Kelly M. and Kelley Farris, $715,000 on June 23
60 Burgess Street
: Kevin Gagner and Planet Home Lending LLC to Planet Home Lending LLC, $242,895 on June 26
County Walk Lane Unit 12
1414 Essex Road
: Estate of Darylle S. Connelly and K A. Soboleski to Kirk Becker, $675,000 on June 25
1513 Essex Road
59 Copperfield Drive Cottage Road
: Timothy J. and Anne P. Smith to Kristen and Matthew Joyce, $1,220,000 on June 24
: Marine Ventures Iii LLC to D&m Flo Ventures LLC, $4,700,000 on June 24
1225 Durham Road
: Roland C. and Andrea M. Blakeslee to Eleanora L. Vinci, $637,500 on June 24
: North & C Gabrielli Irt and Patricia A. Gabrielli to Donna J. Pellegrino, $345,000 on June 27
102 Crest Avenue
: Rosemarie Nelson to Joseph Petrone and Dania Rodriguez, $270,000 on June 27
990 Foxon Road
: Country House Realty LLC to Cpde East Haven LLC,
: Donald J. Balint to Bruce and Rosalind Morin, $620,000 on June 23
‘Summer
Summer in New England
Susan Powell Fine Art presents , an exhibition of new landscape and still life paintings by over 25 award-winning artists, on view through August. The gallery is located at 679 Boston Post Road in Madison.
Birkenruth, and by Tom Hughes.
The annual exhibit brings together nationally recognized painters whose work captures the light, color, and character of New England’s landscapes and shorelines. All artwork is available for purchase.
Celebrating the warmth and beauty of the season, the show features coastal scenes, rural vistas, and luminous still lifes in oil and pastel. Highlights include by Alison Hill, by Jeanne Rosier Smith, by Kelly
The show continues through August. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment.
Sunset Gulls Wave Story Lemons
For more information, call 203-3180616 or visit susanpowellfineart.com.
Madison Lyric Stage presents Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed drama , running Friday, July 18 to Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Deacon John Grave House in Madison.
Amadeus Amadeus
Set to the music of Mozart, reimagines the bitter rivalry between 18th-century composers Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Told through the eyes of the aging Salieri, the play explores jealousy, genius, and divine injustice, as rumors swirl that he may have poisoned his brilliant but immature rival.
“With towering emotions and Mozart’s astonishing music, this play wrestles with faith, failure, and fate,” said Marc Deaton, artistic director of Madison Lyric Stage, who also directs the production. “Salieri does everything right to earn God’s favor, but must watch Mozart—infantile, profane, and indifferent to God—receive the greater gift.”
The production features John Johmann as Salieri, Nathaniel Baker as Mozart, Allison Waggener as Constanze, and Daniel Dykes as Emperor Joseph II.
Winner of five Tony Awards and adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, will be per- Amadeus
formed Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are $55 and available at madisonlyric stage.org.
The Deacon John Grave House is located at 581 Boston Post Road in Madison.
The 2025 season continues in September with Gian Carlo Menotti’s
The Medium
Madison Lyric Stage is a professional, non-Equity company supported by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Guilford Savings Bank, The Madison Foundation, the Madison Rotary Foundation, and the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
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.