The Sound 03-27-25

March 27, 2025

Branford, North Branford & Northford

Doors Open at New Food Pantry of North Branford

By Pam Johnson

Sound Senior Staff Writer

With a snip of oversized shears, the ribbon was cut to open the welcoming doors to the new home of nonprofit Food Pantry of North Branford (FPNB) at the town’s former police station building. Officials are hailing the new location as a model for others in the state. The celebration on March 22 capped

months of planning and renovations led by FPNB president Rita Ney and vice president Christina Crotta and their team of volunteers (including, as many noted on March 22, the hands-on help of Ney’s husband, Phil). Renovations were also supported by the critical assistance of many donors. The new location was made possible through the collaboration of the Town of North Branford.

In September 2024, the Town Council approved a lease agreement allowing nonprofit FPNB the extraordinary opportunity to move from its former site, the basement of Northford’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, to the former police station at 260 Forest Road. Among many welcome changes,

.com

Vol. XXIX Iss. 13 is lighting up the stage at NBHS in

See Doors Open page 4

Keep it

Steady

Spring Fishing Time

Raj Shre lends his daughter, Manu, age 3, a steady hand as she takes her bicycle out for a ride on March 23, at Foote Memorial Park. Just three days after the first day of spring on March 20, the park had a steady stream of visitors enjoying the seasonal weather.

Ahoy! Check out Captain Morgan’s weekly fishing column.........................................14

Laughs in Spanish

Hartford Stage’s newest production is not as lighthearted as expected....................................25

PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ TheSound

Nathan Danner Pippin

From Percy Jackson to Pippin, Danner Lights Up NBHS Stage

By Pam Johnson

Sound Senior Staff Writer

With national, regional, and statewide recognition for his performance and musical talents, Nathan Danner is ready to help the North Branford High School (NBHS) Drama Club light up the stage in the title role of Pippin in the NBHS spring musical.

Pippin

Performances of in the North Branford Auditorium are set for Thursday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available now at nbhsdramaclub.ludus or at the door. Fans can also follow dramaclubnbhs on Instagram.

Fans of NBHS Drama Club productions may recognize Nathan from his star turn last year in the school’s 2024 spring musical. Nathan played Percy Jackson in the NBHS production of

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

The talented singer says he’s thrilled to have had the opportunity to experience two very differ-

Person of the Week

ent leading roles in two very different musical productions.

Percy Jackson

” is a newer musical, so not too many high schools have done it. The music is

NBHS Drama Club since his freshman year. When he’s auditioning for a musical, Nathan says he’s not aiming for a lead role.

”I try not to audition for a specific role. You just do your best performance and hope for the best. I was very lucky to get the lead last year. This year, I didn’t want to get my hopes up because I already had such a good experience last year,” he says.

Changing

All-Conference

A

April

Doors Open at New Food Pantry of North Branford

Continued from page 1

moving to the Forest Road location allows FPNB to provide fully handicapped-accessible use of the pantry for the first time.

The fully renovated first floor of the building has been transformed into community-oriented and operational spaces supporting FPNB’s mission of providing supplemental food once a week to those in need, free of charge. FPNB’s expansive, innovative client-choice shopping space offers grocery staples and household necessities filling its shelves and refrigerated spaces, together with thoughtful additions such as birthday kits and a special corner for pet food and products.

In their purple shirts, members of FPNB joined with Town of North Branford, the Shoreline Chamber (SC) of Commerce, and local and state elected officials to cut the ribbon and officially open the doors at 10 a.m. on March 22.

Mayor Rose Angeloni welcomed a big group of supporters to the grand opening of the FPNB in its new location and congratulated the FPNB board and volunteers.

BRANFORD

TOWN MEETINGS

NOTE: Call the town clerk at 203-315-0678 or visit the Branford town website at www.branford-ct.gov to learn how to participate in the following meetings:

Thursday, March 27

Monday, March 31

Tuesday, April 1

Wednesday, April 2

Board of Fire Commissioners Inland Wetlands Commission Board of Finance Budget Meeting Representative Town Meeting Administrative Services Committee Economic Development Commission Branford School Readiness Council Board of Selectmen Board of Education Committee Chairs James Blackstone Memorial Library Board of Trustees Parks and Open Space Authority Stony Creek Architectural Review Board

”We could not be more proud of what they have done to repurpose this town building. The facility is absolutely gorgeous. It is a place where our clients can come in and feel like they are grocery shopping while they are getting the supplies that they need,” said Angeloni. ”Rita and the team have been absolutely amazing in what they have done, and this could not have happened without Phil Ney, who dedicated five months of his life to this project.”

Angeloni said the mindfully planned use of the site elevates the concept of what a food pantry can provide for communities.

”This has really ramped up the idea of what a food pantry should look like and be, thanks to our amazing crew of volunteers that we have in this town,” said Angeloni.

State Representative Vincent Candelora (R, 86) echoed Angeloni’s sentiments. Candelora congratulated FPNB members for their hard work and thanked the Town for partnering in an effort that has elevated this important community service.

NOTE: Call the town clerk at 203-484-6015 or visit the North Branford town website at www.northbranfordct.gov to learn how to participate in the following

Obituaries

Obituary

Geraldine Laudano

North Branford

Geraldine T. Laudano, 94, of North Branford, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025. She was born on Aug. 23, 1930, in New Haven to the late Anthony and Jane Guarniere.

Known affectionately as “Gigi” by her family, Geraldine was a devoted matriarch who cherished every moment spent with her loved ones, particularly her grandchildren, whom she adored and cared for. She had a passion for dancing, music, and especially cooking during the holidays, which brought her immense joy. Geraldine was predeceased by her loving husband, Andrew S. Laudano Sr., and her beloved son, Andrew S.

Laudano Jr. She is survived by her three children, Carol (Joseph) Laudano Dynderski, Antoinette "Toni" (William) Laudano DeLizio, and Robert (Michelle) Laudano. Geraldine was also a proud grandmother to Joseph Dynderski, Ashley (Jesse) Schwartz, Andrew Dynderski, Jason (Tanya) Laudano, Anthony Laudano, Nicolas Delizio, Gerri (Woj) DeLizio Sitarek, Alex DeLizio, Danielle (Mitch) Laudano Comer, and Matthew Laudano. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, with another bundle of joy on the way.

Family and friends were invited to gather for a funeral service on March 20 at Keenan Funeral Home, 330 Notch Hill Road, North Branford, followed by a graveside service at All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven.

See OBITUARIES page 7

Shoreline Soul welcomes singers for an uplifting community choral gospel workshop. Led by professional singer Angela Clemmons, this five-week workshop will culminate in a concert on Sunday, June 8. All sessions are upbeat, engaging, and designed for singers of all levels. There is no sheet music—songs are taught by ear, and practice recordings will be provided. The five sessions take place from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. on Mondays, April 7, April 21, April 28, May 5, and May 19. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be on Sunday, June 8, at 3 p.m., with a preconcert rehearsal at 1:15 p.m. The workshop and concert will take place at the First Congregational Church, 122 Broad Street, Guilford. The workshop registration fee is $95, with an early registration of $85 (by Monday, March 31). Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged, but registration is only complete after payment has been received. Some scholarships are available. Although the workshop is primarily for adults, youth who are able to follow a lyric sheet are welcome to participate. For more information, contact 203-619-1415 or shorelinesoul@gmail.com.

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LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF BRANFORD

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

REPLACEMENT OF BRIDGE No. 014001

CHESTNUT STREET OVER BRANFORD SUPPLY PONDS

Presented by WMC Consulting Engineers and Town Engineer, John M. Hoefferle, PE TUESDAY, APRIL 1st, 2025 6:30 PM

Joe Trapasso Community House 46 Church Street, Branford, CT 06405

Residents, business owners, commuters and other interested individuals are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed project. If you are unable to attend the meeting, preliminary plans are posted at www.branford-ct.gov/node/1511 or you can contact Town Engineer John M. Hoefferle at 203-315-0606 or engineering@branford-ct.gov.

Singers Wanted for Shoreline Soul

West Main Street, Branford, CT 06405

5 Crescent Bluff Ave., Branford, CT 06405 rschluter@mutualmortgage.com

Doors Open at New Food Pantry of North Branford

Continued from page 4

”We finally have a handicapped-accessible building, which I know was something that was so important to all of you,” said Candelora.

Candelora also welcomed members of the Bergantino family in attendance. He recognized the late Michael Bergantino, a long-serving member of North Branford Rotary, as an early proponent of supporting the town’s food-insecure. After Bergantino passed in 2013, North Branford Rotary instituted what has become an annual tradition of making significant monetary donations to FPNB each year, said Candelora, a Rotary member.

Town Manager Michael Downes congratulated FPNB.

”This new facility represents an important collaboration between the Town and the vision that Rita and Christine and their team have brought forward to fight food insecurity. They’ve made not just a top-notch facility that I think is going to be the envy of any other food bank in the state, and probably is redefining the standard statewide for what one is and can be, but really captured the flavor of the town in an amazing way,” said Downes.

Among many local touches, a specially painted mural in the building captures the essence of North Branford’s agricultural heritage. Rita Ney said a significant new addition to FPNB includes its Learning Center, which she believes may be the first of its kind in the state for a facility of this type.

”We’ve designated a room where we can have different organizations and school kids come to learn about food insecurity, what does that mean, what does that look like, and what we can do to help,” said Ney.

She said the hope, especially for school children, is to help combat discrimination of the food insecure.

”They’ll have better knowledge to be able to help the other kids,” said Ney.

Another new space is Scarlett’s Corner, named for Ney’s rescue pup. Its pet food and products are provided to help other pets live their best lives as part of a family

Annual Swedish Meatball Dinner

facing food insecurity, Ney said. Ney said the members of FPNB were incredibly excited to be celebrating this milestone with the ribbon-cutting event.

”It’s wild for us to even think back how far we’ve come. When we started, a busy week for us was about 20 guests. Fast forward to current time, we’re serving over 70 guests a week in our facility,” said Ney. ”We couldn’t be here today without our dedicated board and volunteers. They were here morning, noon, and night. It’s been so fun to put what we all imagined into place,” she said.

Ney also thanked the Town of North Branford and the Town Council for supporting the vision of FPNB and the Connecticut Food Bank for advisory assistance.

On behalf of SC’s board of directors, SC president Dee Jacob congratulated FPNB and the Town. She said North Branford has been a proud SC member since 2017 and that creating a highly visible, accessible, and welcoming location for FPNB will help improve lives for families and individuals in the community.

Noting ”... we are all one little incident away from food insecurity,” Jacob praised North Branford’s ”...community effort of work towards making sure that everyone in the town is listened to, thought of, and also have their needs met. We are all one little incident away from food insecurity.”

FPNB operates on a fiscal year that begins March 1. In 2023, FPNB served 181 families and provided 64,539 meals during the fiscal year 2023, according to causeiq.com The establishment of FPNB was spearheaded by North Branford resident Lynn Riordan. FPBN officially began operating in 2015. The pantry dedicates 100% of food and monetary donations for client use. As a member of Connecticut Food Bank, FPNB can purchase food at a significantly reduced cost as well as receive items provided free of charge. FPNB also partners with Big Y and Ceccarelli Farm. There are no financial qualifications required to be a client, but annual registration is required. Learn more at foodpantrynb.org

Tabor Luther Church is hosting its annual Swedish meatball dinner on Saturday, March 29, with pickup from 4:30 to 6 p.m. or limited dine-in seating from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the church, 45 Tabor Drive, Branford. The cost is $20, which includes Swedish meatballs, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, limpa bread, and dessert. Packs of meatballs are also available for $10 for a pint (about 15 meatballs) or $20 for a quart (about 30 meatballs). Limited quantities will be available at the door. Preorders are encouraged. For more information or to place an order, contact the church office at 203-488-2541 or taborlutheranchurch@gmail.com.

OBITUARIES Continued from page 5

Obituary

Anna Nesi

North Branford

Anna Nesi of North Branford died on March 16, 2025, at Apple Rehab in Guilford. She was the wife of the late Frank S. Nesi. Born Oct. 9, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, Anna was the daughter of the late Frank and Maria Corvetti Esposito. She attended the City College of New York (CCNY) and was attending evening classes there when she met our dad, Frank.

Anna enjoyed her time working at Branford Savings Bank, where she worked as manager of the North Branford branch. She later retired from the bank in 1992 as the student loan administrator. Mom was a proud member of the Branford Savings Bank bowling team.

Our mother believed in giving back to the community. She was an active member of St. Augustine Parish in North Branford, where she taught catechism for over 40 years. She and Dad volunteered on the Social Action Committee at the church, where they happily served on the Church bazaar and picnic committee, various dance and dinner committees, and making baskets throughout the year for those in need.

In their later years, Mom and Dad were communicants of St. Therese Church in Branford. For several years, both our parents volunteered at the North Branford Potato and Corn Festival, and Mom could not tell you how many potatoes she scrubbed.

Always an avid reader (with mysteries being her favorite genre), Mom belonged to the book club at the Atwater Memorial Library and every year helped in preparing and working the

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF William C. Calabrese (22-00082)

Annual Atwater Memorial Library Book Fair.

One of her favorite vacation spots was Ogunquit, Maine, where she and dad loved walking along the Marginal Way and just taking in the beauty of the Maine coast. They also traveled together, along with cousins Eleanor and Mike McMahon, to tour Italy and Ireland.

Anna is survived by her loving children, Mary (Bob) Grande of Branford, Nicholas Nesi of Branford and Julie (Mark) Schwartz of Old Saybrook; her beloved grandchildren, Jonathan (Melissa) Grande, Jenna (Tyler Remmel) Grande, Jeffrey (Kelly Keating) Grande, Jordan (Kim Flores) Nesi-Flores, Becky (Daniel) Evangelakos, and Billy (Kristen) Schwartz; great-granddaughter Sloan and the newest addition expected in June. She leaves special friends Janey Patrick and Liz Juliano.

She is also survived by her sisters, Rita Parisi of Staten Island, New York, and Jeannie McSweeney of New Jersey, and her brother and sister-in-law, James and Eileen Nesi of Queens, New York. She was predeceased by her brother, Joseph Esposito. She leaves several nieces and a nephew.

Her funeral left the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, on March 19 for a Mass of Christian burial in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Therese Church, Branford. Burial followed in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Visiting hours were prior to the funeral.

Anna loved to read so her family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Road, North Branford, CT 06471. For directions and an online memorial, see www.wsclancy.com.

page 11

The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated March 6, 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.

Jennifer Jaconette, Assistant Clerk

The fiduciary is:

Edan F. Calabrese, 25 Grey Ledge Road, Branford, CT 06405

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF Jon Grossman (25-00067)

The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated March 10, 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.

Jennifer Jaconette, Assistant Clerk

The fiduciary is:

Perry Grossman, 42 Jamaica Road #2, Brookline, MA 02445 Linda Grossman c/o lNGI-MAI LOORAND, REID AND RIEGE PC, 234 CHURCH STREET, 9TH FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510

LEGAL NOTICE

Branford Public Schools Facilities Department

Request for Bids

On-Call Plumbing Services

The Branford Board of Education is soliciting bids for On-Call Plumbing Services for Branford Public Schools. Specifications may be obtained from the Central Office, Branford Board of Education, 185 Damascus Road, Branford, CT or on the BOE’s website at: www.branfordschools.org/departments/business-finance/soliciations-rfps

Sealed bids supplying the required specifications will be received at 185 Damascus Road, Central Office, Branford, CT until 11:00 a.m. on April 17, 2025, at which time they will be opened. No bids will be accepted after that date and time.

Branford Public Schools reserves the right to select or reject any and/or all bids containing alternate proposals, to waive any informality in proposals and to reject any and/or all bids or accept such bid as shall, in their judgment, be in the best interest of the Town of Branford and Branford Board of Education.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA FAMILY DIVISION CASE NO.:24-DR-2473

IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: DEJAN PETROVIC, Petitioner, and DOMINIQUE CATHERINE PEPE, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION OF PETITIONER’S PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE AND OTHER RELIEF

TO: DOMINIQUE CATHERINE PEPE 25 Autumn Ridge Road # I Branford, CT 06405

Physical Description: Age: 35; Race: Caucasian; Hair Color: Blonde; Height: 5’2”; Date of Birth: March 26, 1989

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Petitioner’s Petition For Dissolution Of Marriage And Other Relief has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on the DEJAN PETROVIC, to Brenda M. Miranda, Esquire, c/o Family First Legal Group, 2950 Immokalee Road, Suite 2, Naples, Florida 34110 on or before May 5, 2025 and file the original with the Clerk of this Court at 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102, Naples, Florida 34112, before service on Petitioner, DEJAN PETROVIC or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Notice of Current Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: March 18, 2025

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

By Jane Garrison Deputy Clerk

Branford High School Quarter 2 Honor Roll

Grade 12 High Honors

Kylie Acquarulo-Savastano, Tanvi Amin, Shay Barrett, Zachary Berner, Glorianna Buckley, Eliza Burgess, Joseph Carangui, Jake Coveyduck, Grace D’Addio, Peter DiStasio, Eloise Dornfeld, Skylar Dunn, Finnegan Earnshaw, Antonio Esperti, John Fichtenholtz, Peyton Gaudreau, Tatum May Giordano, Grace Grammatico, Charlotte Green, Morgan Hackley, Katherine Harmon, Spencer Herget, Sean Howard, Mostafa Kafal, Zachary Karge, Gabriel Lawrence, Akiel Lomotey, Emma Long, Michael Loomis, Jonah Lordan, Aurora Lyon, Sophia Maldonado, Sofia Manzo, Olivia May, Charlotte Mayne, Kasim Mehmedovic, Ella Ng, Nneoma Obi, Tyler Peterson, Anthony Piscitelli, Sailor Plourde, Zu Zu Pont Strong, Michael Radziunas, David Regan, Catalina Rondinone, Coleman Shanley, Emerson Shuff, Gavin Smiarowski, Ella Stone, Benjamin Vitale, Hur Zaidi

Grade 11 High Honors

Alasdair Adsit, Evren Akin, Chase Barone, Jack Bartels, Ishaan Bhawnani, Saahil Bhawnani, Sofia Bobko, James Bush, Miles Cerrito, Jason Chaucer, Morgan Cheslock, Tessa Choronzy, Trevor Cser, Nate Durante, Colin Fryer, Olivia Galli, Aliza Giordano, Dylan Hall, Emilia Jeffery, Tate Jones, Sarah Kwadade, Caitlyn Lentner, Jannys Lucero Uchupailla, Sara Malouki, Domenic Maturo, Grayson Mills, Kayla Nugent, Tehila Nwakalor, Ayla Omeragic, Hana Omeragic, Elise Panagrossi, Wynter Parsons, Jake Pombo, Chloe Pompano, Lillian Rank, Jacob Santone, Matthew Santone, Mathias Schalper, Noah Stewart, Abigail Talalas,

Jason Talalas, Sophia Tamsin, Jacob Tran, Dylan Weaver

Grade 10 High Honors

Kamari Allen, Beulah Anigekwu, Penelope Benson, Angelina Biehl, Ellie Brown, Adam Burger, Wyatt Cavallaro, Kaitlyn Cheslock, Lily Coppola, Alexandra DeLuca, Dhruvi Desai, Jorden Devlin, Aiden Dupre, Luna Elston, Stella Elston, Cormac Fichtenholtz, Nathan Frohlich, Luke Gagliardi, Xavier Geissler, Olivia Gwiazda, Elizabeth Harmon, Tide Hawley, Max Heltke, Finnegan Herget, Laurent Hernandez Salinas, Hayden Infantino, Jolie Irzyk, Rylan Jayanetti, Justin Lage, Rebecca Law, Lila Long, Benicio Lynk, Louis Manzo, Mason Marchitto, Nicholas Marciano, Emma McAdams, Aubree McNally, Mykenzie Medina, Gabriella Morocho, Destinie Nixon, Lilly Panuccio, Alexandria Patel, Halle Peterson, Makenzie Petrillo, Audrina Pham, Jessica Radziunas, Sophia Rasile, Lindsey Reid, Shaurya Shah, Saloni Shrestha, Jacob Shumway, Ethan Sierra, William Taranto, Leila Verzella, Nicole Wells, Bethany Williams

Grade 9 High Honors

Helen Abbott, Jessica Adhikari, Victoria Amarante, Carter Anderson, Lily Balisciano, Kevin Barbero, Patrick Blanchette, Addison Booth, Landon Brown, Lila Brown, Anson Chen, Kyle Chen, Silas Comen, Edward Copperthite, Silverio Curcio, Antonio D’Angelo, Luca Daddona, Alyssa DeLucia, Matteo DePonte, Emma Ducharme, Keaton Dunn, Tasia Emmons, Sophia Falcigno, Meadow Fornes, Zachary Forney, Guilianna Gambardella, Sawyer Gaudreau, Madalena Gomes, Adlee

LEGAL NOTICE

Branford Public Schools Facilities Department

Request for Bids

On-Call HVAC Services

The Branford Board of Education is soliciting bids for On-Call HVAC Services for Branford Public Schools. Specifications may be obtained from the Central Office, Branford Board of Education, 185 Damascus Road, Branford, CT or on the BOE’s website at: www.branfordschools.org/departments/business-finance/soliciations-rfps

Sealed bids supplying the required specifications will be received at 185 Damascus Road, Central Office, Branford, CT until 11:15 a.m. on April 17, 2025, at which time they will be opened. No bids will be accepted after that date and time.

Branford Public Schools reserves the right to select or reject any and/or all bids containing alternate proposals, to waive any informality in proposals and to reject any and/or all bids or accept such bid as shall, in their judgment, be in the best interest of the Town of Branford and Branford Board of Education.

Guandalini, Sofia Hafidi, Audrey Henkel, Caroline Hermes, Josclyn Humphries, Hailey Jamison, Savannah Johnson, Kaila Jones, Simon Karmacharya, Charlotte Kenney, Alexander Kezik, Chase Konesky, Madison Landino, Olivia Lawlor, Jocelyn LeBlanc, Owen Lentner, Nathan Lipp, Genevieve Longobardi, Lillian Lowe, Cameron MacLeod, Tania Majeed, Abbey Mangler, Brielle Markelon, Yanelis Martinez, Kamilah Matos Ortiz, Eli Mayer, Danielle Mayne, Lily McNeil, Ana Milne, Lucia Narcisco, Claire Newlan, Li Nguyen, Kyleigh Nugent, Benjamin O’Brien, Penelope Phouadara, Natalie Shamas, Hunter Stewart, Thomas Sturges, Isabella Sullivan, Isabelle Szefc, Talia Tamsin, Aidan Tracy, Emma Tran, Andrew Tupper, Sophia Villafuerte, Sofia Volpato, Mackenzie Wagner, Coen Widmeyer, Dailyn Zuniga-Cordova

Grade 12 Honors

Bennett Amaral, Paloma Bandyopadhyaya, Joshua Brauer, Julia Burton, Emily Cusack, Dante DiLegge, Kristine Do, Felix Elston, Anthony Esposito, Dominic Esposito, Lilly Geddes, Luke Grasso, Adaline Graver, Isabelle Graziano, Jasmine Ha, Bryce Infantino, Carson Jarvis, Brady Kelly, Lynn Kikosicki, Benito Kwadade, Ahmed Mohamed, Ryan Morales, Luksh Patel, Ana Peralta Sanchez, Sasha Perkins, Alexis Peterson, Justin Pham, Alesandra Ramos, Edward Roberts, Sophie Santos, Supremee Shrestha, Ernad Spreco, Julianna Swanson, Julian Vizcaino, Maxwell Voets, Dylan Warner, John Wells, Cheyenne Wilson

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF BRANFORD

Grade 11 Honors

Stella Andresen, Julianna Annunziata, Joey Arcangelo, Emilio Arce, Paige Baker, Giuliana Barros, Charles Budz, Iker Chiriboga, Stacia Comen, Jordan Contreras, Kimberly Cordero Reyes, Aziley Crespo-Morris, Joseph DiMassa, Kendall Fagan, Alexander Ferrara, Connor Fiengo, Ginger Fitzpatrick, Saige Fries, Giovanni Gambardella, Ava Gamberdella, Camila Gomez, Meena Groshart, Emelia Guandalini, Kiara Guevara-Cragwell, Julianne Henkel, Jake Hood, Siara Humphries, Maycol Juela, Bidushi Khadka, Jacob Kopczuk, Ella Lordan, John Mautte, Calista Michaud, Thomas Mioline, Chase Nixon, Samarvir Pamma, Aarav Patel, Marcos Roman, Summer Sabatino, Lea Sekerovic, Austyn Sparks, Kamryn Stackpole, Maliajah Taylor, Bidhee Thapa, Samantha Trudeau, Keagan Walsh, Hassan Zaidi, Maylin Zuniga

Grade 10 Honors

Tristan Allen, Braden Andrus, Keegan Antunes, Isabella Arnold, Jayden Atiencia, John Baklik, Ella Banks, Bohan Barrett, Dominic Bazan Moreira, Jayden Bonilla, Zayna Cella, Gavin Cerrito, Jesse Clark, William Dornfeld, Cayson Dunn, Hazem Elweheshy, Andrew Gohar, Teague Hearn, Justin Jumbo, Ayden Killian, Tanner LaMontagne, Aaliya Latif, Christopher Lawrence, Mikenna Leigh, Camryn Lyons, Andrew Mayne, Christopher McKittrick, Amanda Medina, Kaytlin Meneses Vallejo, Masen Mervine, William Miller, Yoviel Morales, Moises Morales-Orozco, Chinonyerem Obi,

See Branford page 13

The Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Branford, Connecticut hereby gives notice of Public Hearings to be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM by remote technology to consider the applications listed below. Information regarding how to participate in the Public Hearings will be provided on the Commission’s meeting Agenda that will be posted on the Town’s website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

1. Application #25-1.7 Special Exception for Grading (Sec. 6.8) within 100 feet of a wetland located at 38 Howard Avenue. Kim McCabe & Charles Watts-Applicants & Owners.

At said hearings all persons will have the right to be heard. Copies are on file in the Planning & Zoning Commissions office at the Planning & Zoning Department (1019 Main Street) Branford, CT 06405. Written communications may be sent to the above address or to: PlanningandZoning@branford-ct.gov.

BRANFORD PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

C. ANDRES, CHAIRPERSON

On March 18, North Branford resident Trish Mase (left) was honored for her years of service with the town's Planning and Zoning Commission, and received a plaque presented by Mayor Angeloni on behalf of the North Branford Town Council. Photo Courtesy Town of North Branford

North Branford Recognizes Mase for PZC Service

Press Release from the Town of North Branford

On March 18, North Branford Town Council presented Trish Mase with a plaque recognizing her years of service on the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC). Mase served as an alternate from Dec. 13, 2016, through Octo, 3, 2017, then as a regular member on the commission until her resignation on Jan, 10, 2025. The council thanks Mase for her volunteer service to the residents of the town.

The Northford Community Church, 4 Old Post Road, offers weekly church service on Sunday at 10 a.m. All are welcome. For more information, call 203-484-0795 or visit northfordcongregational.church.

A duplicate bridge game is held every Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the Joseph Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street, Branford. The game is for beginner to intermediate players. A partner is not necessary to play. For more information, contact Rick Seaburg at 203-915-5987 or tillerjock@gmail.com.

Do you enjoy repairing things? Do you have a specialty? If so, then come join the crew of “volunteer repairers” who offer their services to neighbors to repair items that are broken and will otherwise end up in the landfill. Repair Café-Branford is recruiting people with experience in the following categories: electrical appliances (including lamps), electronics, mechanical devices (such as clocks, toys, bicycles), jewelry, sewing, smaller wooden items, and tool sharpening. Repairers bring their own tools, and the owner of each item signs a liability waiver. The spring repair café is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Joseph Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street, Branford. The event is co-sponsored by Sustainable Guilford and Trinity Episcopal Church, 1109 Main Street, Branford. To join the Branford Repair Café crew, email repaircafebranford@gmail.com. For more information about Repair Café, visit repaircafe.org/en.

Town of North Branford

On March 18, North Branford's Town Council recognized personnel North Branford police and public works and North Branford and Branford fire for quick actions to save the life of a motorist in distress in February. Shown here, the personnel were also congratulated by Chief James Lovelace, Fire Chief Anthony Esposito, State Representative Vincent Candelora, and State Senator Paul Cicarella.

North Branford Recognizes Public Safety Personnel for Lifesaving

On March 18, the North Branford Town Council recognized police, fire and public works personnel who, through quick and decisive action, saved the life of a motorist in medical distress on Forest Road on Feb. 11.

Those recognized were North Branford Police Sgt. Brian Hannon, North Branford Fire Department members Lt. Ken Ash, Deputy Fire Chief Robert Colangelo, Lt. Kyle Conklin, Jared Cacopardo, and Connor Coyne, as well as Branford Fire Depart-

ment paramedic Eleftherios Gionteris, EMT Andrew Raffile, EMT Andrew Seward; together with North Branford Public Works Director Fran Merola.

These personnel were recognized by the Town Council, North Branford Police Chief James Lovelace, North Branford Fire Chief Anthony Esposito, State Representative Vincent Candelora and State Senator Paul Cicarella.

Congratulations to all who were recognized, and thank you for your continued outstanding service to the residents of North Branford.

Photo Courtesy Town of North Branford

Press Release from the Town of North Branford

OBITUARIES Continued from page 7

Obituary

Arthur H. Lombard

Branford

On March 13, 2025, Arthur H. Lombard, longtime dog lover, enthusiastic storyteller, and 62-year resident of Branford, passed away peacefully at the age of 93, surrounded by his family after a brief illness.

Husband of the late Denise B. Lombard, Art was born in New Haven Feb. 20, 1932, son of the late Danforth H. Lombard and Edna (Shaw) Lombard. He grew up in Guilford, married Denise in 1956, and they raised their family in Branford. He was the loving father of Howard Lombard of Saco, Maine, and Peter Lombard of Branford. He is also survived by grandchildren, Michael (Abbey) Lombard of Cumberland, Maine, Jacqueline (Jeremy) Zwick of Newnan, Georgia; Sarah (Aaron) Martin of Fairfield, Robert Lombard and Morgan Lombard of Branford; his great-grandchildren, Henry, George, Anne Marie, Rosalie, Arabella, and Casten. Brother of Janet S. Lombard, formerly of Guilford. Predeceased by his wife, Denise B. Lombard, and greatgrandson Landon Noah Martin of Fairfield.

Art attended Guilford High School, was a 1950 honors graduate of The Loomis School, and a 1954 honors graduate of Yale University. He was a diehard fan of the NY Yankees, NY Giants, Yale Bulldogs, and UConn Huskies women’s basketball.

Art began his business career in 1954 at the Southern New England Telephone Company. Five years later, Art joined the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company as an estate and financial planner. He was a frequent top producer during his 29-year career, achieved life membership in the President’s Club in 1975, and retired in 1988. During this same period, Art purchased the Knowles-Lombard Co., a fuel oil company that he sold in 1988.

Art was involved in school and community activities in Branford for over 40 years, including leadership positions

Join CDR for Dinner

on the PTA, Representative Town Meeting, and his local homeowners association, and coached Buddy League Baseball for 10 years. He was most proud of his bipartisan participation as a leader on the Branford Board of Education, first elected in 1973 and subsequently elected in 1994 and 2003, always putting the interests of students, teachers, and taxpayers ahead of politics. Art’s dedication and contributions earned him induction into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in 2007.

In addition to his beloved Yankees, Giants, Bulldogs, and Huskies, Art loved dogs since the age of nine, having raised more than a dozen dogs ranging from miniature Dachshunds to a St Bernard named Fritz. He was an avid golfer, tennis player, champion, and coach for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and he enjoyed the occasional road trip to Ocean City, New Jersey; Uncasville, Grafton, Vermont; Vegas; and California.

Art’s good humor, unconditional love, and captivating stories will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was especially grateful for his newfound friends and the wonderful staff at Harbor Chase, where he was affectionately known as the “Chairman.”

Friends are invited to a Memorial Service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. Burial will take place privately.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the “Landon Noah Martin Scholarship” in memory of Arthur H. Lombard, great-grandfather of forever one-year-old Landon. Donations can be mailed to HSSFF, PO Box 682, Fairfield, CT 06824, with the scholarship name in the memo line. Donations can also be made online at www.fairfieldscholarshipfoundation.org/donate with the scholarship name in the NOTES field. www.fairfieldscholarshipfoundation.org/donate.

To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com

From Percy Jackson to Pippin, Danner Lights Up NBHS Stage

Continued from page 2

to meet is, as a high school, approaching it in a way that’s appropriate for all audiences.”

Nathan says the cast of also hopes to draw in the audience during one of the show’s special moments, which encourages audience participation, during the song ”No Time at All.”

”We’re very excited to see how that’s going to work out for the show when we have our audiences there,” he says.

Overall, is a fast-moving, fun show that audiences will love, Nathan says.

”There’s all sorts of different settings that Pippin goes through, so many different stages of life. I feel it’s got a relatable, universal message - life is challenging, and it can be so hard to find out what you want to do. Pippin faces so many pressures through his family and the Leading Player and the band of players. I think it’s just important to know that you’re the one who controls your destiny. It’s a really good message that comes out of the show.”

In his own life, Nathan has already figured out the next steps on his path. After graduating with the NBHS Class of 2025, he will attend UConn in Storrs to study nursing.

”I like helping people and caring for people,” he says. ”Going into my junior year, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and then my school held a career fair, and I remember being so inspired by the nursing station. It was something I could see myself doing.”

During his four years at NBHS, Nathan has gathered a number of accolades for his

Tax Relief for Veterans and Elderly or Totally Disabled Homeowners

academic and musical talent. The NBHS Honor Society member and Student Council member was selected in 2023 to receive the National School Choral Award for NBHS.

”That was at the end of my sophomore year. Getting the chorus award was really cool to be recognized for something I put my time and passion into,” he says.

In 2024 and again in 2025, Nathan, a tenor, was selected via audition to be a Connecticut Music Educators’ Association Southern Region High School Festival performer. Additionally, NBHS has named Nathan as its Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Outstanding Arts Award high school recipient for 2025. The CAS Awards reception takes place in April.

Nathan’s very first award recognizing his vocal ability was at North Branford’s 2018 CAS Outstanding Artist Award for an elementary student. He said he’s loved to sing since childhood and has honed his talent as a North Branford Public Schools student.

”When the opportunity came to join chorus in second grade, I took it, and ever since then, I’ve been doing it,” he says. ”I did it all through middle school and in the select choir. When the pandemic came, that all kind of stopped. I started doing chorus again in high school, and when the opportunity came to do the Drama Club, I just decided to go for it,” he says.

Nathan says he feels it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

”It’s opened me up as a person in terms of being able to speak in front of people and have the confidence that I need to be myself.”

The Community Dining Room (CDR) hosts family nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at 30 Harrison Avenue, Branford. For more information, call 203488-9750 or visit www.communitydiningroom.org.

The Town of North Branford Assessor's Office announces that applications for the elderly homeowner, totally disabled homeowner, and additional veteran programs are available in the Assessor’s Office through Thursday, May 15. To qualify, applicants must be 65 by Dec. 31, 2024, or eligible in accordance with applicable federal regulations to receive permanent total disability benefits under the Social Security Administration. Income levels are as follows: For the state Program, $45,200 for a single person or $55,100 for a married couple and for the local Program, $51,000 if single or $61,000 if married. Applicants are required to bring their 2024 Federal Tax Return and 2024 Social Security Statement (1099). Applicants who do not file a return must provide proof of all forms of income, including, but not limited to, their 1099 statement, pension income, annuity income, and interest. No appointment is required. For more information, call the Assessor’s Office at 203-484-6013.

Pippin

Pippin

SHORELINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SHORELINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Serving the towns of Branford, Guilford, and North Branford 764 Boston Post Road, Branford • 203-488-5500 • shorelinechamberct.com

Serving the towns of Branford, Guilford, North Branford and Beyond… 2614 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT 06437 • 203-488-5500 • shorelinechamberct.com

The Shoreline Chamber is the trusted business association of the CT Shoreline. Our mission is to foster the visibility and economic success of our member and communities.

CHAMBER SIGNATURE EVENTS AND NEWS

Thank you to our community benefactor GSB and our partner benefactor Grey Ledge Advisors for hosting an incredible Net 90 on March 11! It was a fantastic evening filled with great conversations, valuable networking, and meaningful connections within our community, all accompanied by delicious food from our newest member Star Gourmet. Events like these remind us of the power of coming together to support and grow our local businesses. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the night such a success!

Welcome Mike Perez from Poo Squad of New Haven to the Shoreline Chamber. Poo Squad is the elite pooper scooper service in your area. They are excited to serve you and keep your yards clean! They are fully licensed and insured and prioritize your convenience and satisfaction. You can rely on them for pristine and properly sanitized yards with reliability, high visibility, and follow-up.

Welcome to the Branford community Aman Karki, owner of Yeti and Yak Supermarket! They are now serving the shoreline with Nepali, Indian, and Asian groceries and fresh produce! They are located at 220 East Main Street in Branford.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SHORELINE CHAMBER MEMBERS

Sweet Creations, LLC – Branford

Sweet Creations, LLC, est. 1999, is a gourmet candy and confection shop located on the shoreline. Specialties include Mrs. Palmer’s Popcorn, gourmet apples, sweet baskets, and much more! Located at 184 Maple Street in Branford, Currently, there are no regular walk-in hours as they are a custom preorder business, but they do post occasional walk-in hours on their social media sites. Follow Sweet Creations on Facebook and Instagram!

Get Ready for a Funfilled Chili Challenge for a Cause!

The Shoreline Chamber invites the community to a day of delicious chili, friendly competition, and community spirit at this year’s Chili Challenge, presented by the Town of Branford Economic Development! Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a variety of chili recipes from local chefs and businesses while casting their votes to determine the Best Chili winner.

Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance by Wednesday, April 2 and $15 on the day of the event. To secure tickets early, visit www.shorelinechamberct.com.

On the day of the event, you can purchase tickets at Houlihan Lawrence (978 Main Street) or Allusions Salon (1206 Main Street). These locations will also serve as official drop-off points for ballots, where attendees can cast their vote for the best chili of the competition.

This annual event promises to be a flavorful and festive occasion, bringing together local businesses, residents, and food lovers for a fun and delicious experience. Do not miss this chance to support the community, enjoy great food, and take part in the excitement!

For more details and ticket information, visit www.shorelinechamberct.com.

Yeti & Yak Supermarket – Branford

A new supermarket in Branford with authentic Nepali, Indian, and Asian groceries and unique Nepali boutique finds! Located at 220 East Main Street in Branford. Stop in for your fresh produce and specialty items!

The Shoreline Chamber welcomed Pi Circle Restaurant Consulting to our business community! It was fitting that the ribbon cutting occurred at 1:59pm on Pi Day! (Pi is 3.14159). Robert Marcarelli and Jared Schulefand from Pi Consulting help restaurants (and other businesses) grow their brand and profits. It is always exciting to see new businesses thrive in our community!

The Shoreline Chamber is proud to welcome Marisa Espinosa, owner of Nurtured Learners! Nurtured Learners specialize in individualized and meaningful instruction, meeting each student at their level in order to foster consistent growth and confidence in learning. Their mission is to create happy, successful learners by tailoring their approach to each student’s unique needs. They are located at 2257 Boston Post Road in Guilford.

Star Gourmet by Andrea Dante – Guilford

Chef Andrea Dante is a seasoned chef and shoreline native. She has over 20 years of experience in fine foods and catering. Classically trained at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, Andrea combines her culinary expertise with a passion for nutrition, as she is dedicated to creating menus which cater to all dietary needs. The team at Star Fish Market is thrilled to announce the new venture and partnership with Star Gourmet, as they expand further into the culinary world. Located at 33 Water Street in Guilford. Visit their market for your grab-and-go meals!

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Pi Circle Restaurant Consulting

Poo Squad

Yeti and Yak Supermarket

Nurtured Learners

Branford High School Quarter 2 Honor Roll

Continued from page 8

Nicholas Panuccio, Cooper Ranton, Lauren Reid, Caitlin Reilley, Marin Roussat, Braeden Ryan, Arav Sharma, Ilya Sidarenka, Devina Vaicunas, Jane Voets, Jack Wellins, Yousif Zaidi

Grade 9 Honors

Angel Apolo Puwainchir, Demi Boariu, Justin Bustillo, Erica Chiechi, Vincent Daniels, Alanah Duncan, Liam Fischer, Tracylyn Frederick, Noelle Gallagher, Addyson Genovese, Lilian Herrmann, Darryl Hooks, Spencer Johnson-Lanning, Laila Kezik, Miah Maharaj, Silas McCulloch, Lucas Miele, Caleigh Moran, Marshall Olsen, Matthew Polemeni, Kayla Rivera, Emily Salvestrini, Simrandeep Singh, Sarah Villafuerte, Lily Williams, Tori Zalewski

Registration is now open for classes at the Guilford Art Center (GAC), 411 Church Street. Classes are offered for participants of all ages. Registration can be done online, by phone, or in person at the GAC office, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration remains open throughout the semester. Full catalogs can be viewed or downloaded from guilfordartcenter.org. For more information or to register, call GAC at 203-453-5947, or visit guilfordartcenter.org.

The Branford High School class of 1975 is holding its 50th reunion on Saturday, June 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Nuzzo’s Farm, 736 East Main Street, Branford. For more information, email your contact information (name, address, and email) to branfordhsreunion1975@gmail.com.

Dear Reader,

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the readers of Shore Publishing’s newspapers for your past contributions to our Voluntary Pay efforts. Your generosity has made a significant difference, and we are truly thankful for every donation.

Local journalism is a vital pillar of our communities, serving as the voice that shares the stories of our friends and neighbors, celebrates our successes, and addresses our challenges. Small businesses depend on local newspapers to connect with customers and promote their services. When local journalism thrives, so does our community and economy.

As the last independently owned newspaper in Connecticut, our mission has always been to provide local news, share meaningful stories, and elevate the voices within our community. Each week, you can count on our reporters for the latest coverage, including:

• Person of the Week Profiles

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The North Branford High School class of 1975 is holding its 50th reunion on Friday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Amarante’s Sea Cliff, 62 Cove Street, New Haven. For more information, email your contact information (name, address, and email) to NoBranfordHSClassof1975@gmail.com.

• Real Estate Transactions

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While delivering news free of charge is our goal, it is costly. Unlike larger media outlets, we rely heavily on the support of readers like you. We are reaching out to ask for your continued support to keep Shore Publishing thriving and independent.

In 2015, we launched our Voluntary Pay program to help sustain our mission and enhance our resources for even better coverage. Due to the evolving media landscape and rising production costs, we now seek your voluntary contribution to help sustain our publication. Your donation will directly support printing and editorial work, continuing to maintain our editorial independence.

Thanks to your contributions, in 2024, we donated $40,150 worth of advertising space to several non-profit organizations, including Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries and the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. These donations allowed these vital organizations to promote fundraising events that support their initiatives.

We appreciate each of our donors and invite you to make a difference. If you value our weekly product, please consider contributing. We understand everyone’s financial situation is unique, and any gift—large or small—helps us continue delivering the local news that matters.

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GAC Spring Classes Open

BHS Class of 1975 50th Reunion

NBHS Class of 1975 50th Reunion

Sports

It’s Official - We’ve Turned the Corner

Spring is here! The equinox took place on March 20, and it matters because changes in our internal clocks had to adjust to our digitals and actual daylightnot too many windups any longer. If one fishes (and is determined to be productive), an angler still needs to be in-sync with feeding cycles. That means paying as much attention to sunrise and sunset is as important as it was prior to transitioning to Daylight Saving time.

Simply put, on the second Saturday in April, when Catch and Keep season for most trout waters begins, sunrise arrives at 6:15 a.m., and sunset is 7:28 p.m. Out on the Sound, low tide is around 5:20 a.m. at 0.4 feet, depending on location. By that time, our body systems will have fully recovered from the time change. Setting aside water temperature, forage, and the like, focus will then be solely on the sun and moon phases when it comes to the time of day.

Most trout caught during this period will still be caught around actual sunrise and sunset in keeping with feeding habits. Lake and pond species of all fish react in a similar manner when anglers fish during those optimum times. The Sound and tidal rivers will be lagging a little behind primarily due to water temperatures. When the switch is flipped, it will not be only one or two fish caught in either environment.

The first of the three marine fish to gain attention (striped bass, blackfish, and winter flounder) are schooling species. While striped bass will be foraging for herring and primarily coaxed by artificials, blackfish and winter flounder will be on the hunt for natural bottom baits and can be effectively drawn in by chumming. The limit on blackfish (tautog) for the month of April is two fish at 16,” and winter flounder season extends from April 1 through Dec. 31 with a limit of two fish at 12.”

On The Water

High pressure remained in control before it shifted east ahead of the next cold front. A coastal low developed along that front and impacted the area with unsettled weather conditions. High pressure then briefly built prior to a weak area of low pressure that moved through the region before another high pressure system returned. Gusty winds, at times to 35 knots, notched the compass, accompanied by rough seas to three to five/six feet before

CAPTAIN MORGAN’S

Fishing report

settling down to much calmer one to twofooters. Long Island Sound water temperatures remained in the low 40s while daytime temperatures reached from the high 40s to the low 50s after early mornings wrestled with the 30s and 40s. Sun mixed with clouds and more rain worked its way in, while some early morning foggy conditions prevailed.

Those overcast and foggy mornings offered inland anglers opportunities for some serious lake, pond, and river fishing. Conditions also improved along the shoreline and in a few tidal rivers. Testing the waters for a holdover striped bass or two might not be out of the question, since we are on the cusp of seeing the beginning of a river herring run. But for now, the sweet water is seeing most all of the action and producing good results to back it up.

Trout stocking is continuing in earnest, as more rainbows, browns, brookies, and tigers are being stocked throughout the state. Heavy rains will deter or temporarily postpone the normal stocking of rivers and streams that experience high levels and fast flows in hopes of avoiding fish being washed downstream. However, those interruptions will be limited to locations where dams and natural barriers have limited control over hydrological effects.

During the warm season, there is an opposite effect whereby a shortage of water will cause trout and other river fish to seek cooler oxygenated water. Here, anglers will find fish congregated in small stressful pools that keep trout, for example, pinned. With extremely limited options, here they stack up to the point where management decisions force closures, like in the Farmington River, until conditions improve. At least then, angler pressure is reduced, leaving a fish’s fate up to Mother Nature and predation. Of course, fishing has not been limited just to rivers and streams. The largemouth bass contingent has already been out testing the waters and catching fish. The same holds true for the smallie chasers, crappie crowd, toothy challengers, catfish baiters, and a slew of other fish, turning lakes, ponds, and some rivers into a much livelier

work the shoreline to see what’s up. Those include anxious striped bass enthusiasts who are looking to hook up with action from smaller fish, as well as the few looking to hook into a serious rod-bender that might be finding its way down a major tidal river. So far, we are still at a slot of 28-31”.

What will be the first recreational marine fish species you catch on Tuesday, April 1? Will it be a blackfish (tautog) or a winter flounder when both spring seasons open in 2025? Or will it be a holdover striped bass that jumps on a river herring imitation in a tidal river when conditions

on for a jarring bite to the uninitiated and good tussle, notwithstanding an excellent meal afterwards. These temperaturedriven bulldogs can be caught from shore, in and among the shoreline’s rock jetties and boulder fields, as well as in the nearby offshore reefs. From soft baits (like clams and worms that are ideal for this time of year) to crabs, they are best served using a simple hook rig or one of the custom tog jigs available at Captain Morgan’s in a variety of effective colors and sizes. Note: Email us pics of your catches to

See It’s Official page 17

Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Jonathan Dacunto of North Branford has been hooking up and releasing a variety of trout all pre-season on light gear, power bait, and artificial lures.

Branford’s McCall Races to Success With Shift to Track

By Jennifer McCulloch

Special to The Sound

Growing up, Nate McCall never would’ve thought that by the time he was going to college, he would have switched his athletic path. Nate was a serious baseball player throughout his youth and enjoyed playing alongside his friends.

When Nate was a freshman at Branford High School, he decided to join the indoor track team as a way to get in shape and work on his speed as an outfielder for baseball season. Little did he know that that decision would adjust his passion in sports, changing his athletic trajectory.

“I thought it would be a great way to stay in shape and get faster since, as an outfielder, I had to chase the ball down,” says Nate. “I began to enjoy running, which is strange enough, and soon I knew I was better at track than I was at baseball, so I made the big decisions to put my skills where they needed to be.”

Nate put away his mitt by his junior year and joined the outdoor track team. Having recently just completed his fourth indoor season and heading into his second outdoor season, Nate isn’t ready to hang up his spikes yet.

“I have been talking to the sprinting coach at Springfield College,” says Nate. “I’m not ready to give up the sport yet. I really enjoy it, the community, and everyone around it.”

When deciding to make the transition, Nate had a solid support system, as one of his best friends, Tyler Peterson, also

Sports Person Week of the

made the switch from baseball to track. Rich Biondi, who is the head coach of the indoor team, encouraged Nate to pursue his skills on the track, while Nate’s mom also showed her support.

“When Tyler made the move to outdoor track, it made me want to switch even more, and the coaches kept encouraging me to fully commit to track, and once I went with it, I was really pleased,” says Nate. “My head coach, Rich Biondi, has really inspired me and has always seen the best in me since freshman year. He’s pulled me aside to give me pep talks before races, makes sure I’m healthy and that I work hard, and he sets goals for me and expects me to reach those goals. My mom knew I was taking a risk switching to outdoor, but she always supported me and continues to in everything I do. She does everything she can to take care of me and my teammates. I couldn’t ask for a better mom.”

When it comes to improving on the track, Nate is quick to credit Biondi. Even though Nate wasn’t sure what to expect when he first went out for the sport, he recalls the coaches’ skill tests at the beginning of the season, where he found that he excelled in the sprinting events.

Nate excelled in the 400 in the

skills test, and his main events became the 300 meters, the 4x200, the 4x400, and the sprint medley relay. One of the highlights of his track career came during his inaugural season, when his 4x400 team earned AllSouthern Connecticut Conference (SCC) honors.

“It was surreal — I didn’t believe it at first, but as soon as my teammate crossed the line, I remember the feeling of me jumping in the air with so much excitement,” says Nate. “I definitely was not expecting that in my year competitively running, and it was a big accomplishment for me. That definitely gave me fuel to keep doing this sport with the people I love.”

Nate earned several personal records (PRs) throughout his career, but he had a setback this past season, as he needed an emergency appendectomy on Christmas Eve. The surgery sidelined Nate from competition for nearly a month, but he worked hard to get back on the track.

Despite the setback, Nate and the three relay teams he was a member of all made states. He and his 4x200 team of Peter DiStasio, Zach Berner, and Tyler Peterson had a solid showing but came up just .3 seconds shy of beating the school record.

“I was in really good shape before, so sitting out [from training] for two weeks didn’t affect me too much, and I started back with low impact stuff — even though my recovery was pretty quick, it wasn’t as quick as I’d wanted,” says Nate. “One of the goals we set for ourselves for the 4x200

was breaking the school record. It does feel great to have a really good time and be close, but we were let down because we didn’t break the record, but we did our best.”

One of the highlights of Nate’s indoor track career, though, had nothing to do with school records

or races. He and his fellow 4x200 teammates, who are also all his close friends, captained the squad for the winter season. The captainship was announced during the banquet of their junior year, and it was a role Nate had

See page 17

Photo courtesy of Nate McCall

Nate McCall recently finished his senior season as a strong leader and captain with the Branford boys' indoor track team.

Schedules

BRANFORD

Branford’s McCall Races to Success

Continued from page 16

worked hard for.

ball, Nate was drawn to the javelin as a junior and has worked closely with Peterson on his technique looking to improve.

Monday, March 31: vs. Masuk at 6:15 p.m. (scrimmage)

Boys’ Lacrosse Golf

Thursday, April 3: vs. North Haven at 3 p.m.

NORTH BRANFORD

Baseball

Friday, March 28: vs. Woodland at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Saturday, March 29: vs. East Haven at 1 p.m. (scrimmage)

Monday, March 31: vs. Daniel Hand at 3:45 p.m. (scrimmage)

Tuesday, April 1: vs. Wilbur Cross at 3:45 p.m. (scrimmage)

Boys’ Lacrosse

Friday, March 28: at Hamden at 5 p.m. (scrimmage)

Tuesday, April 1: vs. North Haven at 4:15 p.m. (scrimmage)

Thursday, April 3: vs. O’Brien Tech at 4 p.m.

Girls’ Lacrosse

Friday, March 28: vs. Hamden at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Monday, March 31: vs. Westhill at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Wednesday, April 2: vs. Ellington at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Thursday, March 27: vs. North Haven at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Tuesday, April 1: at Daniel Hand at 4 p.m. (scrimmage)

Madison Hoop Dreams

April Vacation Basketball Camp

By Gabby Maljanian

Sports Editor

Madison Hoop Dreams (MHD) is pleased to announce that it will hold an April vacation basketball camp from Tuesday, April 15 to Friday, April 18 at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School (451 Route 81 in Killingworth). If your son or daughter, in grades 3 to 8, loves basketball, this is a great opportunity for them to improve their skills and use them in daily competition. There are three leagues to create grade-appropriate competition, and the teams are balanced to keep the players excited. Last year, there were 69 campers that attended, and the capacity is 80. People are advised to register early to ensure they have a spot.

Camp is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day,

and the cost is $60 per day. However, the cost is $200 for the four-day week. If five or more players attend from one team, the cost is $175 each for the four days. If finances are too tight, please call or text Coach Bill Barker to request financial aid. Payment plans are also available. Please go to www.madisonhoop dreams.com for more information and to register. While on the site, check out the School of Basketball clinics offered in March, April, and May on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In addition, check out the six weeks of summer camp as well, and register for one or more weeks. If you have any questions, please call or text Barker at 203-494-6905, or email him at wab6933@gmail.com.

“I was really honored to work with the three other guys in leading the team and getting them ready before the meets and practices — we’re all friends, so it was really easy to have chemistry,” says Nate. “At the banquet, I was the last one to be called, so there was a little suspense, but it wasn’t a big surprise because that year I worked really hard to be a better athlete and show leadership.”

Biondi has not only seen Nate grow on the track, but as a leader, as well. He notes that the relays are where Nate shines and brings a competitive edge, as he anchors the relay teams.

“Nate is a very talented athlete, and he is versatile with the ability to qualify for states in running events, field events, and relays,” says Biondi. “Nate is well-liked by his teammates, and he is patient helping younger athletes on the team. Along with the other winter track captains, Nate was exemplary•in terms of leading by example and being vocal•at the appropriate times. Healthy and motivated, Nate is going to enjoy an outstanding spring season.”

Nate is already looking forward to the spring season, where he will compete in the 200, 400, and 4x400 relay, while also continuing the javelin. Coming from base-

“I made states in the 400 and 4x400 last year, and I’d love to do that again,” says Nate, who also played soccer as a sophomore. “I would also love to make SCCs in my running events and set a PR in the javelin.”

While Nate loves the competition of the outdoor season, what he enjoys even more is the camaraderie with his teammates, the team bus rides, cheering each other on, and running outside in the nice weather.

As his high school career comes to a close, Nate will be enjoying all of his final moments in a Hornets uniform before heading to college, where he plans to study physical therapy. While it will be sad to leave Branford behind, he hopes he has more competition ahead of him.

“When it was the last race for indoor, the 4x200, I didn’t know how to feel right afterwards — I was a little relieved it was over, but also sad it was my last indoor season, so I just thought about looking forward to outdoor and knowing it wasn’t my last race,” says Nate. “I’m definitely looking forward to continuing my track career at the college level, so even though it will be my last track race for high school, it won’t be over yet.”

North Branford Girls’ Basketball Names All-Conference Athletes

By Gabby Maljanian

Sports Editor

Girls’ Basketball

Emma Preiss was named to the AllShoreline Conference First Team for North Branford girls’ basketball. Skylar Gage was named to the Second Team, and Ella Chasanoff was an Honorable Mention.

It’s Official - We’ve Turned the Corner

Continued from page 14

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 (203-245-8665), with abbreviated winter hours, located at 21 Boston Post

Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter and Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, 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

Fun By The Numbers

How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Not as Lighthearted as Expected Laughs in Spanish

at Hartford Stage

By Karen Isaacs

Laughs in Spanish

, now at Hartford Stage through Sunday, March 30, should be lighthearted, perhaps even a romantic comedy.

However, the play by Alexis Sheer seems to aim for something very different. Although the program explains the author’s point, unfortunately, the play does not make it clear what that is.

The result is a 90-minute play that had me checking my watch after 30 minutes, wondering why it seemed to be dragging.

It just seems the play can’t decide if it wants to be realistic, a frantic farce, or a fantasy.

The play is set in an art gallery in Miami during the Basel Art Festival, a major cultural event. Mariana runs a small gallery and discovers that the paintings from the current exhibition have been stolen; later that day, she is hosting a reception with many affluent collectors attending.

She immediately blames her intern for failing to lock up the night before. The intern, Carolina

(played by Maria Victoria Martinez), emphatically denies it, but there is no sign of forced entry. Carolina’s boyfriend, Miami

there, supposedly investigating the case. After this setup, you might

scenes, many of which are totally improbable.

Sheer says the play is about code-switching, or how people adjust their behavior and language to fit into a particular group. We see this early in the play when Mariana, who is having an emotional, loud conversation in Spanish, suddenly switches to a very calm, polite English to answer the phone.

As the day goes on, we have a series of incongruous interchanges as we learn more about the characters: Juan and Carolina, Mariana and her actress mother, and Mariana and Jenny, her mother’s personal assistant and a former college friend. Estella, Mariana’s mother, a movie actress, suddenly appears, although they are estranged.

suppose that we will learn more about the theft and how Mariana salvages the evening. Instead, we have a series of

The play seems more about people’s innate self-centeredness and opportunism than codeswitching. Estella only shows up because she needs Mariana to be a character witness for her; Juan

See Laughs page 26

Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Maggie Bofill stars as Mariana in Laughs in Spanish

Maria Victoria Martinez portrays Carolina and Luis Vega stars as Juan in Hartford Stage's production of Laughs in Spanish

Special to Living

Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Maria Victoria Martinez portrays Carolina and Luis Vega stars as Juan in Hartford Stage's production of Laughs in Spanish

Olivia Hebert portrays Jenny in Laughs in Spanish

Maggie Bofill stars as Mariana in Laughs in Spanish

For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website, www.zip06.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

Earth on Fire: Wildfires Across Our Planet

: 10 a.m. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St. Presented by Riley Wahedra from the Yale Peabody Museum Speakers Bureau. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.

Afternoon Fusing Pick Your Project

: Noon to 2:30 p.m. RiverFire Glass Studio at SoMA, 500 Main St., Deep River. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and safety glasses are required. Bring an N95 facemask in case glass powder is involved in the class. No prior experience required. Cost: $64. Service fees apply. For info or to register, call 860864-5004 or visit riverfireglass.com.

Into the Future

: 5:30 p.m. The Morgan School, 71 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Attendees will learn how to plan for post-secondary options including four-year universities, two-year colleges, trade schools, and military. Includes informational tables, a panel discussion, and breakout sessions. For info, contact 860-664-6544 or ngrasso@clintonpublic.net

Night Under the Stars

: 6 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. Hosted by Madison A Better Chance (ABC). Cocktail hour 6 to 7 p.m. Features dinner, live and silent auction, raffle, live entertainment, and more. Tickets: $100, includes dinner and wine. Cash bar. Sponsorship levels available. For info or tickets, visit madisonabc.org/events.

: 6 to 6:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Decorate a file box with paper plates for wheels and bring it to the library for a “drivein” movie. Participants can sit in the “car” (or on the floor) in the children’s room for the film showing. Popcorn served. For info or to register (required), call 860-6632000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

: 6 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features performances, discussions, instruction, and more. Led by local guitarist and teacher Neal Fitzpatrick. For info or to register (required), call 203-4881441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

A European Vacation: Cheese Tasting and Pairings

:

6:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Presented by local cheese connoisseur Deana Simmons and sommelier Kathleen Smith. Participants will learn how cheese is made, how flavors and textures differ depending on geographical regions, and how to complement pairing flavors. Free and open to the public. To register (required), call the library at 860-767-1560. For info, visit youressexlibrary.org.

Author Event: Georgia Hunter in Conversation with Beatriz Williams

: 6:30 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . Cost: $5, includes admission for one and a $5 coupon toward purchase of a copy of the book at the event. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

Calendar for the Week of March 27, 2025

Author Event: Frank Santoro

Concert by Altan

Bluey One Good Thing: A Novel : 7 p.m. Deep River Historical Society, 245 Main St. Book: . Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. For info, visit deepriverhistoricalsociety.org.

Advanced Sea Glass Jewelry and Ocean Accessories

:

6:30 to 8 p.m. North Branford Intermediate School, 654 Foxon Rd. Cost: $35 plus a $10 materials fee. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.

: 7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27 THROUGH

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Pippin

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Navigating Common Orthopedic Injuries: Healthy Bones for a Healthy Life I Must Go Down to the Sea Again: The Story of a Deep River Mariner

: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. North Branford Auditorium, 654 Foxon Rd. Presented by the North Branford High School Drama Club. Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 for students and seniors. For info or tickets, visit nbhsdramaclub.ludus.com. : 11 a.m. Evergreen Woods, 88 Notch Hill Rd., North Branford. Presented by Erin Stockwell, an orthopedic trauma surgeon and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine; Philip Ratnasamy, a fourth-year medical student at Yale School of Medicine and MBA candidate at Yale School of Management; and Gwyneth Maloy, a medical student at Yale School of Medicine. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.

See page 28

Laughs in Spanish at Hartford Stage Not as Lighthearted as Expected

Continued from page 25

has acted out of a desire to promote Carolina’s career. Only Mariana does not appear to act on these impulses; she desires to succeed at her job at the gallery. It is always a problem when the audience needs to read the program notes – in this case, conversations with the author and the director – to get the intent of the play. It means they haven’t made it clear. Two years ago, Hartford Stage used super captions above the stage for their production of , which was Espejos: Clean

half in English and half in Spanish. This play could have used that as well. In the opening dialogue, Marianna is yelling at Carolina about the missing paintings; we certainly get the emotion, but not what she is saying. The cast tries to create three-dimensional characters; Stephanie Machado as Mariana and Maggie Bofill as Estella are the most successful, primarily because these are the most developed characters. Machado shows the conflicts within the character and the ways she resolves them. Bofill’s character also seems to change

during the play, though less than Mariana’s. Jenny (Olivia Hebert) is good in an underwritten role. It is harder to understand either Carolina or Juan, particularly the latter. His actions – even if motivated by love – seem so outrageous as to be unbelievable.

Bofill’s extended monologue in the second half of the play is a tour de force; unfortunately, I didn’t get parts because of her accent.

The scenic design for most of the play (by Brian Sidney Bembridge) is a bare white gallery wall with picture hooks

where the missing art should be and a desk that could easily tip over. Later, he creates a vividly colored mural and tiki bar.

Daniela Hart/Uptown Works created both the sound design and the original music — the Latin music blasts, as it should, during the final scene. I wanted to love , but I came away puzzled and disappointed. Tickets are available at Hartford Stage.org. Laughs in Spanish

“Drive-in” Movie Night:

An Evening of Guitar at the Blackstone

Too Many Tantrums Reduce the Impact of Yale Rep’s The Inspector

By Karen Isaacs

Special to Living

Too much of something isn’t always a good thing.

The Inspector

The current production of at Yale Rep through Saturday, March 29, proves that.

The Inspector General

The play is a new adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic satire, , by Yura Kordonsky, who also directs. Gogol wrote the play in 1836.

In the play, Gogol satirizes the corruption and lack of qualifications of the leaders of a small village in Russia and their reaction when an inspector from St. Petersburg is expected. He portrays them as stupid and lacking in any morals or common sense. In reality, it could apply to any country.

This production begins with actors wearing a variety of animal and inanimate object masks (a lampshade) frantically running around the stage, which is designed by Silin Chen to show two decaying buildings and rubble. Each of the creatures will become a character in the play. We then learn of the town’s corruption – the mayor uses the funds to build government buildings to finance his life; the health director and the doctor don’t treat the patients but let them live or die on their own; and the judge accepts bribes. Then the postmaster (a fine Annelise Lawson)

Review THEATER

reads to them a letter she has opened: an inspector from St. Petersburg is expected; he will be incognito. It sends the various officials – mayor, judge, school superintendent, health director, and others into a tizzy. Their ineptitude and corruption will be discovered.

Soon, the officials learn of a young man from St. Petersburg who is a government employee and is staying at a local inn – and not paying his bill – Ivan Khiestakov. They jump to the conclusion that he is this mysterious inspector – in reality, he is a clerk – and rush to appease him.

Khiestakov is the wayward son of a minor aristocrat who has cut off his funds. Like any spoiled two-year-old, he responds to his difficulties with temper tantrums – screaming, crying, and pounding the floor. It is funny the first time but less so each time it is repeated.

The mayor pays his bill at the inn and invites him to move to the mayor’s house. Soon the others are flattering him and giving him money. Ivan is not going to turn this down; he is out of

funds due to gambling and other frivolous expenditures and has definite delusions of grandeur. He sets up a production line to collect the “loans” that each is eager to hand over.

Soon, he is regaling them with stories of the famous people he knows and his accomplishments. Each boast is more ludicrous than the one before, culminating with his story of knowing the Tsar. The officials believe all of them.

Late in the second act, Khiestakov woos the mayor’s daughter in a tender scene, but in the next moment, he is wooing the mayor’s wife.

The play ends with the news that the real inspector will soon arrive.

The inspector lends itself to physical humor. In fact, Hollywood made a musical loosely based on the original play starring Danny Kaye, who was known for his physical comedy.

Yet, it can be too much. Director Kordonsky lets each bit go on too long without creating any type of climax. How many times do we need to have Khiestakov roll around and pound the floor in a tantrum? How long does each episode need to go on?

Rather than the laughs building, after the first or second tantrum, the laughs petered out. The audience was “over it.”

This production has little real emotion in it. Each character is more of a caricature, though the actors do a fine job. Whitney Andrews, as the director of public health, brings the right degree of officiousness to the role, but Annelise Lawson, as the postmaster, steals the show. The judge (Darius Sakul), the school superintendent (John Evans Reese), and the doctor (Grayson Richmond) are one-note characters.

Brandon E. Burton plays the mayor as a typical small-town official, full of bombast and pretense.

While Nomè SiDone adds a touch of rectitude as Osip, Khiestakov’s servant, you keep waiting

for him to be involved in some way. Mainly, he just stands there silently.

To drive home the point of the play, Kordonsky borrows a Brechtian moment and has the actors tell us that we are laughing at ourselves.

One of the highlights of the production is the sound design by Minjae Kim and the original music by Arseny Gusev.

The primary difficulty with this production is because each “bit” is drawn out to its utmost, the play runs over two and a half hours. A tighter production would have had more effect.

Tickets are available at YaleRep.org.

Photo by Joan Marcus

Photo by Joan Marcus

Samuel Douglas and Nome SiDone.

Samuel Douglas, Brandon E. Burton, Malik James, and Grayson Richmond.

Photo by Joan Marcus

John Evans Reese, Annelise Lawson, Samuel Douglas, Brandon E. Burton, and Grayson Richmond.

Continued from page 26

: 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meetinghouse Ln. Features a performance on the church’s 1929 Möller pipe organ by Joshua Ehlebracht, director of music at St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk. Sponsored in part by the New London County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Attendees listen in the sanctuary or on the Town Green as the music is broadcast through the church speakers. Second of five Fridays through April 18. Free and open to all. For info, call 203-245-2739, ext. 14, or visit fccmadison.org.

: 5 to 7 p.m. East Creek Landing, 390 S. Union St., Guilford. Menu includes fried cod, baked cod, clam chowder, shrimp salad, dessert, soda, water, and coffee. BYOB. Cost: $23 to $24. Side items available. Reservations not needed. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 3928. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels. For info, call 203-453-2801 or visit facebook.com/kofc3928.

Twist: A Novel

: 6 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . Cost: $28, includes admission for one and a copy of the book; $5, includes admission for one and a $5 coupon toward purchase of a copy of the book at the event. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) Training for Suicide Prevention

: 6 p.m. United Church of Chester, 29 W. Main St. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration and the Connecticut Children's Hospital. For info, contact 860-526-2697 or TeachQPR@connecticutchildrens.org.

Trivia Night: Spring into March Madness

: 6 to 8 p.m.

The Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook. Features a game of trivia, a raffle, silent auction, food, drinks and more. Tickets: $25. Proceeds benefit Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore tutoring program. For tickets, visit lvvs.org or facebook.com/LVVS2. For info, call 860-399-0280.

Friday Night Pottery Workshop (Session A)

: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Participants will hand-build and glaze a unique piece. Students come with an idea of the project, like a bowl, vase, platter, or garden art. Finished pieces will be available for pickup two to three weeks later. Tuition: $49.50 for members, $55 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $15 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.

Concert by River of Dreams: A Billy Joel Tribute Band

:

7 p.m. Andrews Memorial Town Hall Auditorium, 54 E. Main St., Clinton. Doors open 6 p.m. Cost: $35 suggested donation, general admission; $45 for limited VIP seats. Payment by Venmo, cash, check. For info or tickets, call Mary Ellen Ierardi at 860-395-8394.

Teen Open Mic:

7 to 9 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Café, 68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Admission: $5 donation at the door. For info, visit musicnowfoundation.org.

Hand's Got Talent

: 7 p.m. Daniel Hand High School, 286 Green Hill Rd., Madison. Presented by Daniel Hand High School Habitat for Humanity Club. Cost: $10 adults, $5 students. Tickets available at the door. Proceeds benefit Raise the Roof. For info, email contactus@raisetheroofct.org.

Comedy at the Edge

: 7:30 p.m. Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. Performed by a trio of comedians from Comedy Craft Beer. Also features Liz Glazer and Friends. For attendees 21 and older. Tickets: $25 per person. Cash bar available. For info, visit watersedgeresortandspa.com/events.

Opening Night for

Masters Walk

: 10 a.m. The Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Hosted by the Shoreline Greenway Trail. Led by Maria Trumpler, president of the Dudley Foundation. Features an exhibit of the Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum and a self-guided tour of the rest of the grounds. Donations welcome. Rain date: Sunday, March 30. For info, call or text 203-815-0947 or visit dudleyfarm.com/visit-sponsor.

Saturday Sleuths Book Club

: 10 to 11:30 a.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: by Agatha Christie. Snacks will be provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.

: 7:30 p.m. Drama Works Theatre Company, 323 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. The play runs through Sunday, April 6. Other showtimes available. For info, contact 860-876-2020 or info@dramaworkstheatre.org, or visit dramaworkstheatre.org.

Concert by 1 Wild Night (Tribute to Bon Jovi)

: 8 p.m.

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Live Music at Seaview Bistro: JC/DC Duo

: 9 p.m.

Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. For info, visit watersedgeresortandspa.com/events.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Urinetown

: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Guilford High School Auditorium, 605 New England Rd. Presented by the Guilford High School Theatre Arts (GHSTA). For info or tickets, visit ghstaps.org.

The Pirates of Penzance: A Musical Comedy

: 7 p.m. John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS), 1 Winthrop Rd., Deep River. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Presented by JWMS Drama. Tickets: $10. For info or tickets, call 860-526-9546.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Boating with Confidence: Handling Your Boat Under Way

: 9 to 11 a.m. Indian Neck Yacht Club, 87 Harding Ave., Branford. Hosted by New Haven Sail & Power Squadron (NHSPS). Cost: $10 per person. To register and pay online, visit zeffy.com/ticketing/boating-with-confidence. For info, contact Squadron Education Officer Peter DePascale at 203-671-2420 or bathworksinc@gmail.com. For info about New Haven Sail & Power Squadron, visit nhsps.org.

Summer Camp Open House Annapurna

: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, 100 Lyme St., Old Lyme. The weekly summer camps are nature-focused and run from Monday, June 16, to Friday, Aug. 15. Families interested in the summer camps are invited to the open house. For info or to register for the summer camp or the open house, ctaudubon.org/rtp-summer-camp.

Taking Care: Empowerment for Women Navigating Health Care

: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women & Family Life Center (W&FLC), 96 Fair St., Guilford. Presented by Maya Bartel, a family nurse practitioner. For women ages 18 and up. Services at the W&FLC are available at no charge to participants in Branford, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Durham, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. For info or to register, contact 203-458-6699 or info@womenandfamilylife.org, or visit womenandfamilylife.org.

Author Event: Bob Shea

Murder on the Orient Express Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend

: 10:30 a.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

Cupcake Decorating Workshop

: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Old Saybrook Recreation Center, 308 Main St. For grades 1 to 6. Led by The British Baker. Participants will leave with six cupcakes in a cupcake carrier. Supplies included. Cost: $50 for residents, $75 for nonresidents. For info or to register (required) visit the programs link at oldsaybrookct.myrec.com.

Frames in Film:

Dawn of impressionism: Paris 1874

: 1 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. Shown on The Kate’s big screen, in collaboration with the Florence Griswold Museum. Running time: 90 minutes. For info or tickets, call 860510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Live Funk Drumming Performance

: 1 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Presented by Gary Ribchinsky. Free and open to the public. To register (required), call the library at 860-767-1560. For info, visit youressexlibrary.org.

Spring Style Fundraiser

: 2 p.m. The RiverLane, 7 Main St., Essex. Features a STAUD trunk show and styling event with Clinton Kelly, a host on the TV show What Not to Wear and moderator on The Chew. Two ticket holders will be selected for a chance to be styled by Kelly. Tickets: $55. Proceeds benefit Dog Days Events, Inc. For info or tickets, visit theriverlane.com/blogs/events.

Five Fridays Lenten Concert Series

2025 Fish Fry Friday

Author Event: Colum McCann

History and Nature Walk at McKinney Natl. Wildlife Refuge

Ranger Shaun Roche leads an hourlong nature walk at the Salt Meadow Unit of the McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Westbrook on Saturday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. The walk is free, and participants will learn about both history and wildlife. Highlights include three unique historic buildings on the property, discuss why Eleanor Roosevelt and her close friends so enjoyed it here, and look for early spring wildlife along the trails - such as plants, marsh birds and mammals. This is a fairly easy walk, but the trails do include hills and uneven surfaces.

The hike leaves from 733 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook.

For more information, email shaun_roche@fws.gov or call 860-3992513.

Continued from page 28

: 2 to 3:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For adults. Participants will use die cuts, embossing folders, stamps, and ink-blending to make three spring/Easter cards. No experience required. All materials provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

: 2 to 4:45 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Free and open to all. Limited seating. Registration is suggested. For info, including the movie title, or to register, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

: 3 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Children will design and build their own DIY tabletop foosball game. The program combines crafting and play to allow participants to create a unique game they can take home and enjoy. Free and open to children ages 5 to 12. To register (required), call the library at 860767-1560. For info, visit youressexlibrary.org.

: 4:30 p.m. Tabor Lutheran Church, 45 Tabor Dr., Branford. Pickup from 4:30 to 6 p.m. or limited dine-in seating from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $20, includes Swedish meatballs, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, limpa bread, and dessert. Packs of meatballs are $10 for a pint (about 15 meatballs) or $20 for a quart (about 30 meatballs). Limited quantities at the door. Preorders encouraged. For info or to place an order, contact the church office at 203-488-2541 or taborlutheranchurch@gmail.com.

A Tribute to Bon Jovi

: 5 p.m. Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. Performed by Don Jovi. Tickets: $90, includes cocktail hour at 5 p.m., dinner show at 6 p.m., taxes, and gratuities. For info or tickets, visit watersedgeresortandspa.com/events.

: 7 to 9 p.m.

Nightingale’s Acoustic Cafe, 68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Tickets: $10. Service fees apply. Refreshments are available for purchase. For info or tickets, visit musicnowfoundation.org/events.

: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Meigs Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Led by the Astronomical Society of New Haven, the Shoreline Astronomical Society, and the Thames Amateur Astronomical Society. Registration not required. Sponsored by the Friends of Hammonasset. For info, visit meigspointnaturecenter.org.

: 8 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

: 9 p.m.

Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. For info, visit watersedgeresortandspa.com/events.

Daffodils in front of historic stone house at McKinney Natl. Wildlife Refuge, Westbrook.

Photo courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Creative Crafts with Jesse: Spring Cards

Saturday Cinema

Kids Create: Tabletop Foosball

Annual Swedish Meatball Dinner

Sweet Saturday Nights: Paddywhack

Family Astronomy Night

Concert by Roomful of Blues

Live Music at Seaview Bistro: Nick Fradiani, Sr.

from page 29

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Animal Tracking Hike

: 1 p.m. Jefferson Park Trail, Madison. Meet at the cul-de-sac on Jefferson Park Road. Led by local naturalist and teacher Erik Becker. Open to all ages. Hikers will look for signs of white-tailed deer, coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, red foxes, owls, bobcats, and more. Wear waterproof footwear. No dogs. For info, visit madisonlandtrust.org.

Young People’s Concert:

Peter and the Wolf

: 1 p.m.

Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven. Performed by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Features Perry So, music director. For info or tickets, call 203693-1486 or visit newhavensymphony.org.

Sunday Broadway Concert Series with John McDaniel and Norbert Leo Butz

: 2 p.m. The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Ticket subscriptions are available. Service fees apply. For info or tickets, contact the Legacy Theatre at 203-315-1901 or Info@LegacyTheatreCT.org, or visit legacytheatrect.org.

Concert by the Coast Guard Band Chamber Players

:

2 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. The event is free but tickets are required. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Faure's Requiem in Lenten Vespers Service

: 4 p.m.

Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church, 82 Shore Rd., Old Lyme. Features singers from the choirs of Saint Ann’s, the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, St. John’s, Niantic, and The Anglican Singers. Conducted by Saint Ann Music Director Hector Migliacci with Simon Holt on organ. For info, call 860-434-1621 or visit saintannsoldlyme.org.

Diseases and Insects Affecting New England Trees

:

4 p.m. Chester Meeting House, 4 Liberty St. Presented by Alex Amendola, forester at the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP). Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Co-hosted by the Chester Conservation Commission and Chester Land Trust. For info, email info@chesterlandtrust.org or visit chesterlandtrust.org.

Shakespeare’s Fools

: 4 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Features a one-women performance by Rebecca Salomonsson as William Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. Presented by GreenStage Guilford Live Arts. Cost: $10 general admission, free for children under 12. Tickets available online or at the door as space allows. For tickets, visit greenstageguilford.org For info, contact GreenStage at 203-654-9482 or office@greenstageguilford.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

bership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.

Sweet Spring Soirée Tea

: Noon to 2 p.m. Westbrook Inn Bed & Breakfast, 976 Boston Post Rd. Tea service features finger sandwiches, cookies, a warm scone with jam and crème fraîche, and more. Open to the public. Cost: $49.95 plus tax and gratuity. For info or to make a reservation (required), contact 860-399-4777 or info@westbrookinn.com, or visit westbrookinn.com/afternoon-tea.

Mary’s Culinary Class: Meatball “Cupcakes” and Sunny-Side-Up “Eggs” Cupcakes

: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Cost: $45 for residents, $55 for nonresidents. Hosted by Guilford Parks and Recreation. For children ages 5 to 12. For info or to register (required), contact 203-464-8447 or marysculinaryclassesllc@gmail.com, or visit the class schedule link at marysculinaryclassesllc.com.

Conversations with Historical Objects

: 6 to 7 p.m.

Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum at The Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Part of a series of discussions on objects from the Dudley Farm museum collections. Topic of discussion: a camera from 1900, among the first to be marketed to women. Free admission. For info or to register (required), visit dudleyfarm.com/events.

The Lincoln Assassination

: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Features a presentation by historian Mallory Howard. Part of the Shoreline Civil War Roundtable monthly meeting. Free and open to the public. For info, contact the group’s facilitator at 860-395-1124 or olivia.jean@sbcglobal.net, or visit facebook.com/shorelinecivilwarroundtable.

Poetry Discussion: Flights of Imagination

: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Features an exploration of poems by great poets, including W. H. Auden, William Carlos Williams, and Muriel Rukeyser. Led by Guilford Poet Laureate Mark McGuire-Schwartz. For info or to register (required), call the library at 203-4538282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

The ABCs of a Business Plan and SWOT Analysis

: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Via Zoom. Presented by Tanisha Baptiste, economic development specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Connecticut District Office. Covers the importance of a business plan and a SWOT analysis. Free. Sponsored by SCORE Southeastern Connecticut Chapter and Guilford Savings Bank. For info or to register, visit score.org/easternct.

Afternoon Fusing Pick Your Project

: 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Lenten Soup Supper

: 6 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 109 Main St., Centerbrook. Features a light supper and fellowship, followed by a Lenten message. Takes place Wednesdays through April 9. All are welcome. For info, call 860-767-0228 or visit tlccenterbrook.org.

Wednesday Write-in and Open Mic

: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Led by Old Saybrook Poet Laureate Sandra Yannone. Open to all regardless of writing experience. Bring a notebook or laptop or use the library supplies. Light snacks provided. For info or to register, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

How Connecticut Thumbed Its Nose at Prohibition

: 6 to 7 p.m. Killingworth Library, 31 Rte. 81. Presented by storyteller and podcaster Mike Allen. For info or to register (required), call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Wordsmith and Wonder: An Author Talk with Jodi Picoult

By Any Other Name: A Novel

: 7 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.

Concert by Special EFX All Stars

: 7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

Animal Behavior

: 10 a.m. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St. Presented by Will Rogers from the Yale Peabody Museum Speakers Bureau. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.

Music Together Demo Class

: Two sessions: 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Atwater Memorial Library Community Room, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For babies, toddlers, and big kids, along with their caregivers. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Opening Day for

Hank Williams: Lost Highway

: 2 p.m.

Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St. Runs through Sunday, April 27. Other showtimes available. For info, call 860767-7318 or visit ivorytonplayhouse.org.

Rethinking the Amistad Story

: 5:30 p.m. New Haven Museum (NHM), 114 Whitney Ave. Presented by Marcus Rediker, a professor of Atlantic history at the University of Pittsburgh. A reception takes place at 5:30 p.m., the program begins 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. For info or to register (required), call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org.

The Timeless Beauty of Stained Glass: How It's Done

: 10 a.m. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St. Presented by stained glass artist Valerie Gilson. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual mem-

RiverFire Glass Studio at SoMA, 500 Main St., Deep River. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and safety glasses are required. Bring an N95 facemask in case glass powder is involved in the class. No prior experience required. Cost: $64. Service fees apply. For info or to register, call 860864-5004 or visit riverfireglass.com.

Real estate

All You Want in a Home And More

Welcome to this magnificent lakeside retreat in Westbrook, convenient to everything.

This expanded cape has everything you could possibly want in a home, including two large primary suites on the main level.

Originally the builder’s home, this property showcases the attention to detail and high-end finishes given to every room. The property features large, open living areas; an indoor pool; and ample lightfilled rooms overlooking Lake Louise.

The gourmet kitchen and spacious living areas are perfect for entertaining. The two master bedrooms provide ultimate comfort and privacy. Ten spacious rooms—including five bedrooms and six baths—provide enough space for everyone. There’s also the quiet, secluded deck overlooking the lake which serves as the perfect Zen retreat. This luxurious home in an exclusive subdivision offers a stunning indoor lap pool with views of Lake Louise.

With a two-car attached garage and over 3,800 square feet of living space, this expanded cape-style home is perfect for those seeking a high-end lifestyle in a great location.

This home is being offered for sale by William Raveis Real Estate for $1,400,000. For more information or a showing, contact Rick Allen at 860-5754200.

builder's home, this property showcases the attention

to every room.

BRANFORD

NORTH BRANFORD

Cartagena to Tsering Dhundup, $235,000 on March 4

140 Thompson Street Unit 4H

:

191 Concord Drive

: Suzanne Risley to Daniel A. and Erin Nadelman, $750,000 on March 4

: Kathy Fairbanks to Amy E. Wilson, $420,000 on March 4

:

Estate of Kimberly A. Crumb and Marcy Goode to Amato and Noelia Bernardo, $340,000 on March 7

: Mordo LLC to 265 East Main LLC, $1,100,000 on March 3

: Estate of Walter A. Powell III and Brynn M. Powell to Gayle Van Dyke, $230,000 on March 5

:

Stephen E. Spence to Kathleen M. Collins, $392,500 on March 3

: Luciana Bonifacio to Daniel and Marisa M. Pomposello, $440,000 on March 5 :

Brittany Lizotte to Paul Crisci, $310,000 on March 5

: Jason P. Magnotti to Benjamin E. Paris, $217,500 on March 5

: Dominick P. Musso to Latasha Wright, $300,000 on March 5 : Silver

Linings Dev LLC to 45 South Main St Assoc LLC, $1,365,000 on March 3

: Estate of June Brunelle and Denise Amendola to James and Elayna S. Kotsaftis, $180,000 on March 5

: Denise Amendola to James and Elayna S. Kotsaftis, $180,000 on March 5

: Jean Myers to Donald P. and Maria E. Schilder, $407,000 on March 3

: Kelly A. Martens to Destiny Garcia, $485,000 on March 5 : Steven Beresner to Cecilia N. Boucher, $335,000 on March 5

: Leonard A. and Karen S. Kolstad to Tom R. Tyler and Doris A. Lambertz, $50,000 on March 3

229 Branford Road Unit 327

: Dominique Tineo to Lucas Guliuzza, $265,000 on March 3

59 Clear Lake Manor

: Iain M.

Lemaster to Linnea and Donald Hagstrom, $315,000 on March 6 : Estate of

45 Clear Lake Road

Barbara J. Madelung and Michael Madelung to Erik Golinowski, $445,000 on March 7

24 Cricket Lane

: Estate of Patricia Mann and Ethel F. Mann to Joseph M. and Michele Mone, $401,000 on March 3

140 Village Street

: Bcw Morgan LLC to 199 Riverside Road LLC, $365,000 on March 3

EAST HAVEN

106 Burr Street

: Justin Gargiulo to Manuel A. Turpo-Espinoza, $225,000 on March 4

130 Coe Avenue Unit 82

: Estate of Frank W. Eastwood and Clifford D. Eastwood to Eron Investments LLC, $60,000 on March 4

39 Iver Avenue

: Instant Prop Soln LLC to Jose L. and Brenda S. Enriquez, $265,000 on March 5

364 Main Street Unit 17

: Judith A.

Riccitelli to Play Action Prop LLC, $86,000 on March 5

3 Roma Street Unit B

: Christopher Conklin to Lorraine Lindberg, $105,000 on March 3

465 Silver Sands Road

: Enrico

Silvestri to Dominick P. Musso, $410,000 on March 3

Jean A. Knotts and Janet A. Stadolnik to Rhonda J. Prunier, $230,000 on March 4

GUILFORD

75 Carter Drive

: K Two LLC to Vincent Realty Hldg LLC, $700,000 on March 5

42 Granite Road Unit 42

: Mark

Donovan Irt and Michael Donovan to Mazen G. Bahri, $243,000 on March 3

93 Little Meadow Road

: Jeffrey A. Holway and Katherine Tsatsanis to Audra Etes and Michael R. Conrad, $460,000 on March 5

335 Mulberry Point Road

: Linda M. Kurlyo to Sharon N. Kawam, $335,000 on March 4

68 Norton Avenue

: Kia Cheleen to Kendra E. Richards, $435,000 on March 4

831 Nut Plains Road

: Vallerie A. and Gary Redman to Julie Gaughran and Stephen Etes, $450,000 on March 3 : George Henderson to Lauren E. Hill and James P. Heeren, $530,000 on March 4 : Estate of Ralph L. Abato and Ralph L. Abato to Pam Engingro, $550,000 on March 7 : Douglas M. Hoon and Carole P. Ravoire to Samantha L. Radocchia, $1,300,000 on March 3

332 Stepstone Hill Road

20 Village Victoria Unit 20

93 Water Street

40 Whispering Woods Road

:

Michael W. and Kathleen M. Pratt to Daniel B. Tucker, $651,700 on March 4 :

379 Whitfield Street Unit AN130

Anthony P. and Robin Gangemi to Narinesammy Ramsammy, $10,000 on March 5

MADISON

55-B

: Jim A. Nicoletti and Claudine L. Mauri to Vincent J. Kalish and Shannon Brasky, $1,125,000 on March 3

:

Francis X. Oneill to Diane M. Hart, $545,000 on March 3

: Craig D. and Valerie E. Zajac to Daniel M. Taylor, $380,000 on March 4

: Elizabeth L Hackbarth Ft and William C. Hackbarth to Douglas O. and Cynthia W. Bredbury, $715,000 on March 3 : Estate of Alwyn Thorpe and Frederick P. Leaf to Earl W. Tucker, $501,750 on March 5

NORTH HAVEN

51 Bradley Street

: Thomas E. and Mary B. Doyle to Megan Doyle, $280,000 on March 6 : Estate of John J. Sr Acampora and Vincenzo Gallo to Pacific Blue LLC, $458,000 on March 7

5 Great Meadow Drive

56 Maple Avenue

: Frank W. Siciliano and Deborah J. Berner-Sicilian to Jorge L. Jaramillo, $505,900 on March 3

OLD SAYBROOK

140 Thompson Street Unit 5F

: Christine Lesczczynski to Haydee Cartagena, $315,000 on March 5

140 Thompson Street Unit 1C

: Haydee Cartagena RET and Haydee

The North Madison Congregational Church (NMCC), the ”Church at the Circle” hosts its Occasional Coffee House on Friday, April 11.

The Occasional Coffee House is “The Coffee House we hold whenever we feel like it.” Singer-songwriter Sam Robbins performs on Friday, April 11, at 7 p.m.Robbins is a New England-based singer-songwriter known for his ”old soul” style, blending classic influences like James Taylor and Jackson Browne with a

modern, upbeat touch.

Heather Arcovitch and NMCC friend Milton Brasher-Cunningham cohost an evening of live music, local coffee, tea, homemade cookies, and community. Tickets are $20.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.northmadisoncc.org/ occasional-coffeehouse. North Madison Congregational Church is located at 1271 Durham Road, Madison.

Photo courtesy of the North Madison Congregational Church

Sam Robbins performs at the Occasional Coffee House on April 11.

Continued from page 30

:

5:30 to 7 p.m. Online event. Participants will learn how to listen to the needs of their customers, establish trust, make their pitch, and more. Presented by SCORE mentor Eric Munro. Free. Hosted by SCORE Eastern Connecticut. For info or to register, visit score.org/easternct.

: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. Presented by Matt Yanarella from My Production CT. All ingredients and supplies provided. Bring an apron. For info or to register (required), call 203-4840469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

: 6 p.m. Via Zoom. Presented by Erin O. Duques, a partner at the law firm of Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri. Hosted by Women & Family Life Center (W&FLC), 96 Fair St., Guilford. For info, contact 203458-6699 or info@womenandfamilylife.org, or visit womenandfamilylife.org.

: 6 to 7:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Led by Madison Poet Laurate Ed Lent. Sign-ups begin 5:45 p.m. The first 12 to sign up are guaranteed a spot. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.

What Matters to You: A Community Conversation

: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features an interactive discussion on challenging topics. Led by Branford resident and attorney Rachel Mirsky. For info or to register (required), call 203488-1441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

Fungi Frenzy: A Beginner's Guide to Outdoor Mushroom Growing

: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Connecticut’s Sweet Tooth: New London, the Sugar Trade, and Slavery in the West Indies

: 7 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Presented by Matt Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University. Co-sponsored by Witness to History: Slavery in Guilford. Free and open to all. For info or to register (required), call the library at 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Celebrating 42 Years of Visual Artists

Shoreline Arts Alliance is proud to present Future Choices 2025, its 42nd annual celebration of high school visual artists. This juried exhibition showcases the work of talented emerging artists from Shoreline Arts Alliance’s 24-town region—don’t miss the opportunity to see the work of some of Connecticut’s most promising artists.

This year’s show will be at the Flat Rock Gallery at 314 Flat Rock Place in Westbrook. It will also include an exhibit that fea-

Shoreline Sailing Club Meeting

: 7 p.m.

Clark Memorial Field, 210 Elm St., Old Saybrook. For active singles 35 and over. New members are welcome and sailing experience is not necessary. Cost: free for members and first-time guests, $10 for others. For info, visit shorelinesailingclub.com.

tures the work of art educators in SAA’s region. The gallery will be open Friday, March 28, through Thursday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 27. The hours are Wednesday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. An awards reception will be held for artists and their families and teachers on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, visit www.shorelinearts.org or contact office@shorelinearts.org or 203-421-6739.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

Concert by Donna the Bull : 11 a.m.

: 7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Rollwood Park, Stonehouse Lane, Guilford (opposite from the Henry Whitfield Stone House). Officiated by News 8 Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons. Includes local and state dignitaries and veteran organizations. The Blue Star Marker honors the all members of the U.S. armed forces. A reception will follow at the site. Hosted by the Guilford Garden Club. Free and open to the public. Rain or shine. For info, call Shelley Gullette at 203-314-1832.

Five Fridays Lenten Concert Series

Dedication of Blue Star Marker : 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meetinghouse Ln. Features a performance on the church’s 1929 Möller pipe organ by Walden Moore, former director of music at Trinity Church in New Haven. Sponsored in part by the New London County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Attendees listen in the sanctuary or on the Town Green as the music is broadcast through the church speakers. Third of five Fridays through April 18. Free and open to all. For info, call 203-245-2739, ext. 14, or visit fccmadison.org.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Fisher

Isabelle Weissberg from Coginchaug Regional High School at Future Choices 2024

Press Release from Shoreline Arts Alliance

Small Business Sales Techniques

Ravioli Cooking Class

Wills vs. Trusts: Estate Planning Workshop

Open Mic Night

Continued from page 35

: 6 to 10 p.m. Woodwinds, 29 Schoolground Rd., Branford. Feature retired EHFD Deputy Chief and current Connecticut Fire Academy Director of Training P.J. Norwood. Includes a sit-down dinner, open bar, and raffles. Tickets: $75 per person. For info or to purchase tickets, donate a raffle prize, or purchase an ad in the program book, email ehfdvolco1@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/ehfdvolco1.

: 6 to 10 p.m. Nuzzo’s Farm, 736 E. Main St., Branford. Features art from local artists, live and silent auctions, and more. Emcees: John "Cadillac" Saville. Hosted by the Community Dining Room. Tickets: $55. Proceeds benefit the Community Dining Room and its mission to provide meals and resources to those in need. For info or tickets, visit cdri.betterworld.org/events/art.

: 6:30 p.m. Totoket Valley Elementary School, 1388 Middletown Ave., Northford. Doors open 5:45 p.m. Games start 6:30 p.m. Admission: $12 per person, advance purchase or at the door. Hosted by the Northford-North Branford Women’s Club. Refreshments will be served. Advance payment via Venmo to NorthfordWomens-Club. Proceeds benefit charitable organizations in the local area. For info or tickets, email Elisa Orio at elissa.08@comcast.net.

: 7 p.m. The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. For info or tickets, contact the Legacy Theatre at 203-315-1901 or Info@LegacyTheatreCT.org, or visit legacytheatrect.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4 THROUGH

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

Urinetown

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Guilford High School Auditorium, 605 New England Rd. Presented by the Guilford High School Theatre Arts (GHSTA). For info or tickets, visit ghstaps.org. : 9 to 11:30 a.m. Joseph Trapasso Community House, 46 Church St., Branford. Features a free pancake breakfast at 9 a.m., music by Michele Urban and Robert Messore at 10 a.m., children's activities, free eye screening, photo booth, and more. Sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation, Branford School Readiness Council, Branford Early Learning Center, the Rotary Club, Lions Club, and the Branford Community Dining Room. For info, contact 203-980-4385 or branfordschoolreadiness@gmail.com.

First Saturday Walk

: 10 a.m. to noon. Timberland Preserve, Guilford. Meet at the parking area entrance on Route 80 near Maple Hill Road. Leashed dogs allowed. Hosted by the Shoreline Greenway Trail. Bring water. Wear good hiking shoes. For info, call or text 203-804-9257 or visit shorelinegreenwaytrail.org/events.

The Colorful Hat Circus and Variety Show

: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Part of the Legacy Theatre 2025 Family Series. Tickets: $25. Service fees apply. For info or tickets, contact the Legacy Theatre at 203-315-1901 or Info@LegacyTheatreCT.org, or visit legacytheatrect.org.

Visible Mending

: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Tuition: $37.80 for members, $42 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $30 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.

Documentary Screening:

War Dog

: 1 to 4 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 758 Main St., Branford. For info or to register (required), call 203-4881441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

Local Poets Fair

: 1 to 4 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library Rotunda, 758 Main St., Branford. Features poetry readings, book signings, music, and refreshments. In celebration of National Poetry Month. Registration not required. For info, call 203-488-1441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

Cats and Coffee

: 1 to 3 p.m. One World Roasters, 967 N. High St., East Haven. Features live feline behavior techniques by Sally Bahner, a feline behaviorist and care consultant. Admission: $20. Advance ticket purchase require. Proceeds benefit the Greater New Haven Cat Project. For info or tickets, visit gnhcp.org/cats&coffee.

Tonadas: A Journey to Spanish Roots

: 2 to 3:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 758 Main St., Branford. Features a performance by pianist Pablo Martinez. Presented by the Branford Musical Arts Society. Funded by the DARO Foundation. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-1441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

Art Exhibits

Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Gallery

: 1004

Guilford Art Center (GAC)

: 411 Church St.: For info, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.

Dear Mother

: Runs May 2 through June 1.

Guilford Art Center (GAC)

: 411 Church St.: For info, email galleryonect@gmail.com or visit galleryonect.com.

Artistic License by Gallery One Artists

: Runs through April 6.

Guilford Free Library

: 67 Park St.: For info, visit guilfordartleague.org.

Guilford Art League Member Show 2025

: Runs through March 30.

Susan Powell Fine Art

: 679 Boston Post Rd., Madison: For info, call 203-318-0616 or visit susanpowellfineart.com.

Spring into Art

: Runs through April 26.

Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library Keyes Gallery

:

The Missing Pictures: Photographs by Sean Kernan

146 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford: For info, call 203-4888702 or visit wwml.org/gallery. : Runs April 11 through May 26.

Yale University Art Gallery

: 1111 Chapel St., New Haven. For info, call 203-432-0600 or visit artgallery.yale.edu/visit/exhibitions.

David Goldblatt: No Ulterior Motive:

Runs through June 22

Music

Edward A. Norton VFW Post 7666:

104 Mill Rd., Guilford. No cover. For info, call 203-214-5874. Mondays: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Big Swing Band with Tuxedo Junction.

The Shore Line Trolley Museum:

17 River St., East Haven. Cost: $5 suggested donation. For info, call 203467-6927 or visit shorelinetrolley.org.

First Tuesday: 6 to 9 p.m. Bluegrass acoustic and traditional music.

The Wharf:

Main St.: For info, contact 203-433-4071 or baca06405@gmail.com, or visit branfordarts.org.

Branford Elementary School Art Show

: Runs April 23 through April 28.

Walsh Middle School Art Show

: Runs May 1 through May 10.

Branford High School Art Show

: Runs May 12 through May 27.

Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Fine Art Gallery

: 360 State St., New Haven: For info, contact 203433-4071 or baca06405@gmail.com, or visit branfordarts.org/events.

BACA West Winter 2025 Gallery Exhibition

: Runs through April 30.

Groups and Activities

A Journey Through America’s Past:

Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. For info, call 203-350-0014 or visit thewharfmadison.com. Fridays: 8 to 10 p.m. Acoustic Fridays. Various performers. 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. Free. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link. For info, contact 203-245-5695 or gillespiee@madisonct.org.

Acoustics Club:

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. On temporary break for winter. Resumes April 3. Bring your own acoustic instrument. No registration required. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Ask-A-Lawyer: A Free Legal Clinic:

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Second Tuesday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. No registration required. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

See page 37

East Haven Fire Service 125th Anniversary Gala

Third Annual Art Gala and Auction: Art from the Heart

Military Whist Card Party

Where is Everybody?

Branford Early Childhood Family Fun Day

Guilford

Continued from page 36

Banned Book Club:

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. First Tuesday. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. For info, call 203-488-1441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

10:30 a.m. First Sunday. Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. For grieving parents, grandparents, and siblings suffering the loss of children and family members. For info, call Vanessa Pentz at 203-645-7777.

Coastal Camera Club Meeting:

7 p.m. First and third Wednesdays. Via Zoom. To register (required), contact wfrprs@att.net. For info, visit coastalcameraclub.org.

Color and Conversation:

Guilford Job Network Meeting:

7 to 8:30 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Via Zoom. Includes guest speaker. All job seekers are welcome. For info or to register (required), call 203-457-0121 or email RussAllen2@aol.com.

Guitar Club:

Bereaved Parents USA and PS It Hurts Support Group: Bingo Bingo:

6 to 7:30 p.m. Last Monday. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Registration is not required. For info, call 203-4881441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

Craft of the Month:

6 to 7:30 p.m. First Tuesday. Creative Loft at the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

12:30 p.m. Mondays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Bring your own instruments. No registration required. For info, call 203245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Harrison House Museum Tours:

: 7 p.m. Mondays. East Creek Landing, 390 S. Union St., Guilford. Doors open 5 p.m. Light refreshments. Cost: $15. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 3928. For info, call 203-453-2801.

7 p.m. Tuesdays. St Therese Church, 555 Middletown Ave. North Haven. For info, visit stelizabethofthetrinity.org.

Blackstone Fiber Art Community:

6 to 8.m. Wednesdays. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. All experience levels in fiber art forms are welcome. Registration is not required, drop-ins welcome. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

Creative Craft Night

: 6 p.m. Tuesdays. Creative Loft at the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. No registration required. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group:

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Second Thursday. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. Free. For info or to register, call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Duplicate Bridge:

12:30 p.m. Fridays. Joseph Trapasso Community House, 46 Church St., Branford. For info, call 203-915-5987 or email tillerjock@gmail.com.

1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Harrison House Museum, Barn, and Gardens, 124 Main St., Branford. Open to the public. Free admission but donations are welcome. Runs through September or by appointment. For info, contact 203-488-4828 or info@branfordhistoricalsociety.org.

iPhone Photography Collaborative:

6:30 p.m. First Monday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. All levels are welcome. No registration required. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

La Leche Virtual Meetings:

7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays. Via Facebook. Sponsored by La Leche League of Connecticut. For info, visit facebook.com/groups/LLLofCTDiscussionForum.

10 a.m. Second Saturday. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Registration encouraged, but drop-ins welcome. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

Blackstone Library Tour: Book Club:

Noon to 2 p.m. Third Thursday. Atwater Memorial Library Community Room, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info, including book titles, or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Breastfeeding Support Meeting:

9:30 a.m. Second Wednesday. Grace and St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2927 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. Sponsored by the La Leche League of Hamden/North Haven. For info or to RSVP, email Anne.M@LLLCT.org or visit lllct.org/hamdennorthhaven.

Chair Yoga with Martha:

6:30 p.m. Fourth Tuesday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Christ Episcopal Church Choir Rehearsal:

7 to 9 p.m.

Thursdays. Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 11 Park St., Guilford. For info, email admin@christchurchguilford.org.

Christian Science Church Service and Sunday School:

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays. First Church of Christ, Scientist, 49 Park St., Guilford. Open to all. For info, call 203453-1975 or visit christianscienceCT.org/Guilford.

Christian Science Testimony Meeting:

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. First Church of Christ, Scientist, 49 Park St., Guilford. Open to all. For info, call 203-453-1975 or visit christianscienceCT.org/Guilford.

Ekphrastic Poetry Trust:

3 to 4:30 p.m. Second Tuesday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Participants create poetry from art. No registration required. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Exploring Our Grief Journey: A Grief Support Group:

6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Registration is not required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

F3 Shoreline Men’s Bootcamp Workout:

5:30 a.m. Fridays. Madison Town Campus, 8 Campus Dr. Free and open to all men. Held outdoors rain or shine. For info, email F3shoreline@gmail.com.

Family Support Group:

6 p.m. First Monday. Via Zoom. Offered by BHcare. A group for family members and caregivers who assist people through their journey of mental wellness. For info, call 203-800-7177 or visit BHcare.org.

Fiber Arts Club:

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Drop-ins welcome. Bring your own project. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Madison Movie Chat:

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. First and third Mondays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register (required), visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Maker Meet-up:

6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. No registration required. All ages welcome. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Master Gardener Clinic:

Noon. Mondays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. All specimens must be in sealed containers. No registration required. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Monday Night Mah-jongg:

6 to 8 p.m. Mondays. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. Some previous knowledge or experience is helpful, but beginners are welcome. Bring your own mah-jongg set. For info or to register, call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Movie Matinee:

1 to 3:30 p.m. Third Thursday. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. For info, including the movie title, call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

6 to 7:30 p.m. Last Wednesday bimonthly. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.

Forever Young: A Young Adult Book Club: Friday Movie Matinee:

2 to 4 p.m. Second and fourth Fridays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Registration recommended. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

NAMI Shoreline Family Support Group

: 7 p.m. Last Wednesday. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Facilitators trained by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer peer-led support to adults caring for a loved one ages 18 and over experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. For info, call 860-876-0236 or visit namishoreline.org.

See page 38

Continued from page 37

1:30 p.m. Mondays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. A needlepoint group led by Cynthia Barker. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-5627.

10 a.m. to noon. Wednesdays. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Noon to 12:30 p.m. Fridays. Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 11 Park St., Guilford. For info, email admin@christchurcguilford.org.

6 to 7:30 p.m. First Thursday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd. Led by Madison Poet Laurate Ed Lent. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.

: 1 to 3 p.m. First Saturday. Branford Community House, 46 Church St. Includes guest speakers and care partner sharing sessions. For info, email allysonk11@yahoo.com.

1 p.m. Second Thursday. Atwater Memorial Library community room, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Free. For info, including movie titles, or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

11 a.m. to noon. First and third Saturdays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Free. To register (required), visit blackstonelibrary.org. For info, email programs@blackstonelibrary.org.

10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays. United Methodist Church, 811 E. Main St., Branford. For info, contact the church at 203-488-0549 or umcbranford1966@gmail.com, or visit umcbranford.org.

Quilters Club:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. For info, call 203-3156020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Saturday Story Time:

10:30 to 11 a.m.

Second Saturday. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. Features children’s librarian Miss Mary with stories, music, and movement. All ages. Registration not required. For info, call 203-4840469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Scranton Writers’ Club:

6:30 p.m. First and third Tuesdays. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365, ext. 1019 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Shoreline Chess Club:

9 a.m. to noon.

Wednesdays. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St. All levels welcome. For info, call 203-675-7717.

Stamp and Coin Show:

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fourth Sunday. YMA Annex, 554 Woodward Ave., New Haven. Sponsored by the New Haven Philatelic Society. For info, visit nhps1914.com.

Tech Help Tuesday:

11 a.m. to noon.

Second and fourth Tuesdays. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Tech help in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. For info, call 203-488-1441 or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

Third Thursday Movie Matinee

: 10 a.m.

Third Thursday. James Blackstone Memorial Library Auditorium, 758 Main St., Branford. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-1441 or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

Time Out for Poetry:

12:30 to 2 p.m.

Third Friday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Bring copies of two published poems to share and read aloud. Open to all. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

TOPS Club CT 76 Guilford Meet:

6:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Support and encouragement for those who want to lose weight. For info, call 203-640-0787.

Woven Journeys on Display at Lyman Allyn

Tots and Tunes Story Time:

10:30 to 11 a.m. Fridays. Edward Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. For ages 18 months and up. Registration not required. For info, call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

See page 39

Lyman Allyn Art Museum announces the opening of Woven Journeys: Handweavers Guild of Connecticut 2025 Biennial Exhibit. The biennial show, last hosted by the Lyman Allyn in 2015, provides an opportunity for the Handweaver’s Guild of Connecticut to exhibit its collective creativity, sharing with the public the depth and expanse of this artistry. The exhibition is on view through April 20.

The Handweavers’ Guild of Connecticut was founded in 1948 to encourage handweavers, spinners, and other fiber artists from all levels of experience to exchange ideas and share knowledge, to inspire and educate, to stimulate creativity, and to challenge their abilities in fiber

art techniques. The entries in this juried show span the range of woven items, including innovative clothing, scarves, linens, rugs, wall hangings and home accessories.

Related programming includes a Handweaving Demonstration Day on Saturday, April 5, from noon to 4 p.m. Guild members will showcase various handweaving techniques, looms, yarns, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to try handweaving with different looms. This event is free and open to all ages. More information is available on lymanallyn.org.

For more information, visit www.lymanallyn.org

Photo courtesy of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Nimble Thimble: Needle Arts Group:

Noon Meditation Music:

Open Mic Night:

Parkinson's Disease Support Group Meeting

Pat’s Picks Movie Club:

Poetry Cafe:

Prayer Shawl Ministry:

Keyes Gallery Hosts The Missing Pictures

The Missing Pictures

The Keyes Gallery at Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library hosts , photographs by Sean Kernan, from April 11 through May 26. The photos feature Kernan’s family home.

The large house sits unoccupied at the edge of a snowy field in far upstate New York. It has been in the family for 150 years, and it has housed full lives, languid summer visits, and a party has been held there on the 4th of July every year since 1875 except for one (COVID). While no one has lived in it for the past 20 years, it is preserved, furnished, and cared for meticulously. Sean Kernan spent three years visiting the old house and filming and photographing in all seasons, and although he finished the project over a year ago, he still makes short visits to see if he missed something.

“I want viewers to feel as though they have come across this graceful and somewhat melancholy house, found the door open, and just wandered through the rooms, gathering a sense of all the life lived there… and perhaps hearing a door slam in a distant room,” Kernan said.

Kernan began his working life at the

Continued from page 38

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Third Tuesday (or Third Wednesday from January through March). Comomango Madison Mexican Kitchen and Cantina, 52 Wall St. In partnership with the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203245-7365, ext. 1019 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

11 a.m. Mondays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Guitar players also welcome. Bring your own instruments. No registration required. For info, call 203-245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

7 p.m. First and third Mondays. Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd., or via Zoom. For info, email Debbie Petrelle at dpetrelle2@gmail.com or visit valleyshore.toastmastersclubs.org.

11 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by Shoreline Village CT, 1204 Main St., #128 Branford. Cost: free for Shoreline Village members, $10 per month suggested donation for nonmembers. For info, call Maryann Bracken at mabfilkings@gmail.com.

10:15 a.m. Fridays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. For info or to register (required), call 860-669-2342 or email sarah@hchlibrary.org.

Long Wharf Theater, then morphed into a widely exhibited photographer, writer, and filmmaker. His photography has been exhibited and published in museums and galleries across the U.S. and in France, Mexico, Egypt, Greece, China, Italy, Switzerland, Iran, and Korea. He has produced and directed several award-winning documentaries: The Kampala Boxing Club, about boxing in Africa; Crow Stories, about the Crow Tribe of Montana; and A Mind of Winter, about cold. His film on the old house, The Visitor, will be screened at the Keyes Gallery at Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Road, Stony Creek, on Wednesday, April 16, at 7 p.m.

Kernan’s photographs of the home will be on display from Friday, April 11, through Saturday, May 26. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 13, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.wwml.org/gallery.

6:30 p.m. First and third Tuesdays. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-1441, ext. 318 or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Second Tuesday. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365, ext. 1019 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Writers Group: Yoga with Martha: Theater The Inspector:

Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St., New Haven. Runs through March 29. For info, call 203432-1234 or visit yalerep.org.

: Drama Works Theatre Company, 323 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Runs March 28 through April 6. For info, contact 860-876-2020 or info@dramaworkstheatre.org, or visit dramaworkstheatre.org.

Notes on Killing Seven Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Board Members:

Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St., New Haven. Runs April 25 through May 17. For info, call 203-432-1234 or visit yalerep.org.

Shrek The Musical

: Cabaret on Main Theater, 597 Main St., East Haven. Runs April 25 through May 11. For info, call 203-208-9592 or visit cabaret-on-main.com.

Ragtime: The Musical

Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main St., East Haddam. Runs April 25 through June 15. For info, call 860-873-8668 or visit goodspeed.org.

A Spoonful of Sherman: The Songbook of Your Childhood:

The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Runs May 1 through May 18. For info, call 203-3151901 or visit legacytheatrect.org.

A Memory of Truth?

: Madison Lyric Stage, Deacon John Grave House grounds, 581 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Runs May 9 through May 11. For info, call 203-215-6329 or visit madisonlyricstage.org.

: Guilford High School Auditorium, 605 New England Rd. Presented by the Guilford High School Theatre Arts (GHSTA). Runs March 28 through April 6. For info or tickets, visit ghstaps.org.

Urinetown Hank Williams: Lost Highway:

Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St. Runs April 3 through April 27. For info, call 860767-7318 or visit ivorytonplayhouse.org.

Unbecoming Tragedy: A Ritual Journey Toward Destiny: :

Long Wharf Theatre at Off Broadway Theater, 41 Broadway, New Haven. Runs May 15 through June 1. For info, call 203-693-1486 or visit longwharf.org.

To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.

Photo by Sean Kernan

Trivia Night:

Ukulele Club:

Valley Shore Toastmasters:

Virtual: Chair Yoga:

Virtual: Gentle Yoga Class for Adults:

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