May 14, 2026
Branford, North Branford & Northford
Vol. XXX Iss. 20
Smith Library Closed for $1.3M HVAC Project
By Laura Robida
Managing Editor
The Edward Smith Library in Northford is closed for approximately two to three months as the town undertakes a major HVAC replacement project expected to cost more than $1.3 million.
Library officials said the building closed
May 4 and is expected to reopen in early August following installation of a new heating and cooling system after the existing system failed.
According to March 11 Library Board minutes, library officials reported that the Edward Smith Library HVAC system had “completely failed,” prompting the use of temporary environmental controls inside the
building while replacement plans moved forward. The minutes also referenced concerns about humidity and possible impacts to library materials during the closure period.
On March 17, the Town Council approved awarding the Edward Smith Library HVAC Replacement project to Air Temp Mechanical
See Smith Library Closed page 12
Honoring a Legacy
Branford Director of Parks, Recreation & Senior Services Dale Izzo presents Parks & Recreation Program Supervisor Victor Amatori Jr. with a sign renaming the annual Kids Fishing Derby at Chet’s Pond in his honor during a ceremony May 9. Izzo also announces Amatori’s retirement after 36 years with Branford Parks & Recreation.
Amatori revived the derby several years ago and called it his favorite event.
Playing for More Branford boys lacrosse kept their hot streak alive with annual awareness game...........................................20
PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ TheSound
Postcards from Afar
Travel along with writer Susan Cornell as she discovers Italy.......23
Ginny Baltay: Bringing Science Beyond the Classroom
By Pam Young
Correspondent
For Ginny Baltay, science education was never meant to stay inside four classroom walls.
“I knew that discovery, a hands-on approach, and seeing the real thing would be crucial,” Ginny says.
Over a career that stretched from middle school science classrooms to environmental education programs along the Connecticut shoreline, Ginny built her teaching philosophy around direct experience — getting students outdoors, asking questions, collecting data, and interacting with the natural world firsthand.
Now retired after decades in education, Ginny continues that work through environmental and citizen science programs that have introduced generations of students to places and experiences many had never encountered before.
“Students from New Haven who have never been on a boat or an island go out and find crabs under rocks,” she says. “It’s a monumental thing for children and for me to see that.”
Person of the Week
Born in New York and educated in both science and English, Ginny studied at the University at Albany before becoming a certified science teacher. She later earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Massachusetts before eventually settling in Connecticut with her family when her husband accepted a teaching position at Yale University.
Ginny spent much of her career teaching science at Walsh Intermediate School in Branford, where she became increasingly interested in how students learn science most effectively.
“In the early 2000s, I began to watch how kids learn science,” she says. “Educators realized it wasn’t
became involved with the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and helped organize a volunteer friends group connected to Outer Island off the Connecticut coast.
What began as an environmental interest soon evolved into a largescale educational program.
“At the time, I had an open-minded principal and posed that I wanted to take the students to explore,” she says.
In 2002, Ginny began bringing students to Outer Island to study invasive Asian shore crabs along the eastern coastline. Students participated in hands-on fieldwork that included capturing, measuring, and documenting the species while also collecting environmental data.
“We needed tools, scales, and other instruments to measure pH standards for science,” Ginny says. “This program grew quickly in the state of Connecticut.”
Over time, the program expanded far beyond crab counts.
Today, school groups visiting Outer Island participate in studies involving
See Ginny Baltay page 10
Photo courtesy of Ginny Balthay
Ginny Baltay has spent years helping students explore science through field studies, environmental programs, and citizen science projects.
Branford, North Branford, & Northford’s Hometown Newspaper
Founded in 1997
Published by Shore Publishing, LLC ©2026 All Rights Reserved ISSN www.zip06.com • 203-245-1877
Shore Publishing Journalists Earn Honors in CT SPJ Contest
By Laura Robida
Managing Editor
Shore Publishing journalists earned honors in the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2025 Excellence in Journalism Contest, which recognizes outstanding work produced by news organizations across the state over the past year.
Chief of Photography Wes Bunnell led the recognition for Shore Publishing, earning six awards, including four first-place honors, one second place, and one third place. His photo essay, “Building Hope: A Habitat home in Madison,” received first place recognition.
In the Sports Photo category, Bunnell’s images “New England Bound,” “Championship Shower,” and “Thunderbirds celebrate state championship victory” placed first, second, and third,
respectively. His photograph “Snow day flight” earned first place in the Feature Photo category, while “Parade queen receives a kiss during St. Patrick’s Day Parade” took first place in the News Photo category.
Reporter Eric O’Connell also was honored, receiving two third-place awards for his work in the . His story “Clinton man faces new charges in missing girl case” placed in the Courts/Crime Reporting category, and “Forensic audit uncovers serious misconduct at WAA” was recognized in the Government Reporting category.
Harbor News
The annual contest highlights work that is “important, compelling, entertaining and compassionate,” according to the Connecticut SPJ, and supports the organization’s efforts to provide scholarships and fund journalism initiatives statewide.
ESHD Mobile Clinic to Visit Area Communities
The East Shore Health District Mobile Health Clinic will continue making stops throughout the area in May, offering free overdose prevention, sexual health and hygiene supplies, along with referrals and resources related to substance use disorder, mental health and medical concerns.
According to the health district, supplies available through the clinic include Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, as well as sexual health and hygiene products. Staff also provide confidential referrals and support services.
Upcoming clinic stops include East
Haven Stop & Shop plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. May 15; 10 School St. in Madison from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 18; a North Branford location from 1 to 3 p.m. May 22, with the location still to be announced; and Circle Lanes parking lot in East Haven from 1 to 3 p.m. May 27.
The East Shore Health District said schedule changes or updates will be posted on the agency’s events calendar and social media pages.
Residents unable to attend in person may also request overdose prevention supplies through the East Shore Health District website.
East Shore Health District serves Branford, East Haven and North Branford.
Tax Relief for Veterans and Elderly or Totally Disabled Homeowners
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 Friday, May 15. To qualify, applicants must be 65 by Dec. 31, 2025, or be considered totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. Income levels are as follows: for the state program, $46,300 for a single person or $56,500 for a married couple and for the local program, $60,000 if single or $70,000 if married. Applicants are required to bring their 2025 Federal Tax Return and 2025 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, contact the Assessor’s Office at 203-484-6013 or ac@northbranfordct.gov.
Press Release from the East Shore District Health Department
Serenity Bishop Sports Editor Ext. 6141
Wesley Bunnell Chief of Photography
Betsy Lemkin The Sound Guilford Courier Ext. 6130
Cindy Breckheimer The Source Ext. 6140
Lori Gregan Valley Courier Ext. 6167
Alicia Gomez Assistant Editor
Laura Giannelli Chief Revenue Officer Ext. 4304
Laura Robida Managing Editor Ext. 6119
Alan C. Ellis Production Director
Lisa Martin Real Estate Advertising Ext. 6122
Eric O’Connell Staff Reporter
Rita Christopher Senior Correspondent
Kristen Lennon Circulation Advertising Assistant
Aaron Rubin Staff Reporter
Editorial Staff
Five NBHS Seniors Earn Rotary Honors
The award honors one student in each of five categories: social studies, mathematics, science, English and citizenship.
Honorees include Taylor Cantore for social studies, TJ Connelly for mathematics, Meghan Tang for science, Alexa Esposito for English and Bree Aiken for citizenship.
According to North Branford Public Schools, the students were selected for their academic achievement, leadership and community involvement.
Cantore was recognized for work
ment in STEM courses including A.P. Biology and Honors Physics. Esposito was honored for analytical work and a focus on social justice in English courses, while Aiken was recognized for involvement in school clubs, activities and the performing arts, as well as mentorship of fellow students.
School officials said the students reflect the values of academic excellence and service within the North Branford school community.
NBLCT Plans Beech Street Opening
Staff Report
The North Branford Land Conservation Trust will hold the grand opening of its Beech Street Demonstration Forest on Saturday, June 6, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The event, which is also part of Connecticut Trails Day, will begin at the trust’s new timber-framed kiosk and include a brief meeting, ribbon cutting and forestry talk, according to the organization.
Participants will also be invited to take part in an easy walk along newly created
trails at the property. Organizers said the walk will include a scavenger hunt.
Light refreshments will be served.
A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, June 7.
The North Branford Land Conservation Trust said its mission is to acquire and maintain open space while promoting the conservation and enjoyment of land and natural resources within the town.
Additional information is available at the organization’s website, nbland trust.org, and on its Facebook page.
Contacting The Sound
As your hometown paper, The Sound welcomes reader contributions and questions. If it’s important to you, we want to know about it. Here are the best ways to bring matters to our attention.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Sound encourages letters to the editor that offer a uniquely local perspective on local issues.
Writers may submit letters as often as every two weeks. Letters must include the writer’s full name, street address, and phone number for verification purposes. Letters submitted under pseudonyms, anonymously, or through third parties will be declined. Letters must be written by the submitter. No more than four signees are permitted per letter.
Letters must be 300 words or fewer and are subject to editing for clarity, style, and adherence to policy. Letter writers may be asked to supply sources to corroborate information presented as fact in letters.
Civility is required. Letters with personal attacks, unsubstantiated allegations, or inflammatory language will be declined.
For letters endorsing a political candidate, Shore Publishing will accept one endorsement per writer per candidate. Letters with negative content are not accepted for the two issues preceding elections to allow for candidate rebuttal.
Letters must be received and verbally confirmed by 5 p.m. Thursday, seven days prior to publication. Confirmation does not guarantee publication. Publication is subject to approval by the editor.
Letter writers who knowingly violate this policy three times will be banned from submitting future letters to the editor.
Letters may be submitted at www.zip06.com or email to shoreletters@shorepublishing.com.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CALENDAR To have your item considered for print, please email news@shorepublishing.com. Announcements and calendar items are printed as space allows. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday at noon, nine days before publication.
These are just a few ways to get involved in your newspaper. If you have an idea for a story, a question about news deadlines, or any other news-related inquiry, email news@shorepublishing.com or call the News Department at 203-245-1877, ext. 0.
OBITUARIES The Sound publishes paid obituary notices in print and at Zip06.com. Obituaries should be sent to obits@theday.com. The deadline for all obituaries is Wednesday at 4 p.m., eight days prior to publication date. Obituaries will also be posted as quickly as possible at Zip06.com.
ADVERTISING To speak with someone about newspaper and online advertising, contact the Sales Department at advertising@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877. All advertising is subject to the approval of Shore Publishing. Shore Publishing shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement at any time for any or no reason.
LEGAL NOTICES To place a legal notice, email legal@theday.com or call 860-701-4410.
CLASSIFIEDS To place an ad in the Classifieds section or in the Classifieds Service Directory, call 860-701-4200 and/or email classifiedads@theday.com.
CIRCULATION To speak with someone about receiving or canceling the paper, please call 203-245-1877, ext. 6 or email shorecirculation@shorepublishing.com.
The Sound
200 State Street, New London, CT 06320 news@shorepublishing.com
203-245-1877
Fax 203-245-9773
SPONSORED CONTENT:
Find Obituaries
Posted Daily Online
While our press schedule often does not allow us to publish death notices in time to announce memorial services, readers can find obituaries posted to the The Sound website, www.zip06. com, five days a week as they arrive.
Stories and features denoted with the Shore Publishing “Sponsored” icon are sponsored by advertisers. Sponsored content is content created or commissioned by advertisers in collaboration with Shore Publishing’s marketing team. As with all advertising, sponsored content does not necessarily reflect the views of Shore Publishing. Shore Publishing will ensure the treatment and design of Advertising and Sponsored Content is clearly differentiated from its editorial content.
Photo courtesy of North Branford Public Schools
Press Release from North Branford Public Schools
BHS Quarter 3 Honor Roll
Grade 12 High Honors
Alasdair Adsit, Evren Akin, Quinn Andresen, Julianna Annunziata, Joey Arcangelo, Emilio Arce, Chase Barone, Giuliana Barros, Jack Bartels, Ishaan Bhawnani, Saahil Bhawnani, Charles Budz, Dante Bunnell, Joseph Calandro, Miles Cerrito, Stacia Comen, Gabriella DeLucia, Juliette Delvaulx, Joseph DiMassa, Caden Dombrowski, Nate Durante, Yoav Ebert, Kendall Fagan, Alexander Ferrara, Saige Fries, Colin Fryer, Olivia Galli, Aliza Giordano, Kiara Guevara-Cragwell, Dylan Hall, Jake Hood, Siara Humphries, Emilia Jeffery, Tate Jones, Bidushi Khadka, Jacob Kopczuk, Sarah Kwadade, Alex LeBlanc, Hunter Ljunggren, Ella Lordan, Logan Ly, Sara Malouki, Domenic Maturo, John Mautte, Calista Michaud, Thomas Mioline, Adrianna Morocho, Samantha Naranjo Portilla, Kayla Nugent, Favour Nwagboli, Tehila Nwakalor, Cole O’Connor, Gianluca Olexy, Ayla Omeragic, Hana Omeragic, Angelica Pagan Amon, Elise Panagrossi, Wynter Parsons, Aarav Patel, Madison Polce, Jake Pombo, Chloe Pompano, Lillian Rank, Leighton Resendes, Haley Robison, Jacob Santone, Matthew Santone, Mathias Schalper, Lea Sekerovic, Angeles Sislema, Abigail Talalas, Noah Stewart, Jason Talalas, Sophia Tamsin, Bidhee Thapa, Jacob Tran, Liam Watson, Francesco Zweeres
Grade 11 High Honors
Andrew Amendola, Keegan Antunes, Penelope Benson, Angelina Biehl, Adam Burger, Gavin Cerrito, Alexandra DeLuca, Dhruvi Desai, Jorden Devlin, William Dornfeld, Cayson Dunn, Luna Elston, Cormac Fichtenholtz, Brenna Fox, Nathan Frohlich, Luke Gagliardi, Olivia Gwiazda, Elizabeth Harmon, Max Heltke, Finnegan Herget, Rylan Jayanetti, Rebecca Law, Lila Long, Benicio Lynk, Louis Manzo, Nicholas Marciano, Amanda Medina, Gabriella Morocho, Chinonyerem Obi, Nicholas Panuccio, Lilly Panuccio, Layla Perrelli, Halle Peterson, Makenzie Petrillo, Audrina Pham, Jessica Radziunas, Cooper Ranton, Lauren Reid, Lindsey Reid, Arav Sharma, Eileen Trelles, Nicole Wells, Yousif Zaidi
Grade 10 High Honors
Helen Abbott, Carter Anderson, Lily Balisciano, Kevin Barbero, Demi Boariu, Silverio Curcio, Antonio D’Angelo, Luca Daddona, Alyssa DeLucia, Matteo DePonte, Emma Ducharme, Alanah Duncan, Keaton Dunn, Daniel Ebert,
Tasia Emmons, Sophia Falcigno, Zoe Fenn, Sammy Festa, Liam Fischer, Meadow Fornes, Zachary Forney, Tracylyn Frederick, Lucy Fryer, Madalena Gomes, Adlee Guandalini, Clifford Hench, Audrey Henkel, Caroline Hermes, Lilian Herrmann, Darryl Hooks, Hailey Jamison, Savannah Johnson, Simon Karmacharya, Chase Konesky, Madison Landino, Olivia Lawlor, Jocelyn LeBlanc, Owen Lentner, Nathan Lipp, Cameron MacLeod, Tania Majeed, Rylee Marshall, Yanelis Martinez, Kamilah Matos Ortiz, Eli Mayer, Danielle Mayne, Silas McCulloch, James Memmott, Luciana Mena, Ana Milne, Lucia Narcisco, Claire Newlan, Kyleigh Nugent, Benjamin O’Brien, Kendall Pastore, Brady Pechkis, Penelope Phouadara, Rebecca Pistone, Kayla Rivera, Jordan Ross, Benjamin Saffo, Emily Salvestrini, Natalie Shamas, Asees Singh, Nolan Smestad, Hunter Stewart, James Sturges, Talia Tamsin, Aidan Tracy, Emma Tran, Andrew Tupper, Sofia Volpato, Mackenzie Wagner, Tori Zalewski, Dailyn Zuniga-Cordova
Grade 9 High Honors
Aoife Adsit, Sufia Ali, Evan Rachel Bah, Addison Banks, Vesa Bejleri, Ariana Best, Abigail Brown, Angelina Brown, Celia Burke, Brenda Calle Guartazaca, Jordan Curtis, Raffael Dacampo, Theodor Dalton, Alexander Darmofal, Madison Deko, Marco DePonte, Kurt Durante, Christmine Ekebuisi, Evangeline Ellis, Elisa Ferrigno, Alexandra Fichtenholtz, Mason Garea, Ava Glick, Angelina Kennedy, Areen Khawaja, Braedon Limone, Peyton McKenna, Clara Ann McNeill, Aaryan Medhat, Lucy Mitchell, Mariam Mohamed, Duncan Montag, Arianna Morrotti, Jackson Nichols, Luis Pagan Amon, Julianna Pantani, Neha Patel, Ved Patel, Phoebi Phouadara, Eve Reilley, Samantha Rey, Lucia Romero, Brynn Rosenberg, Madeleine Roussat, Mathilde Roussat, Grace Salter, Joseph Schettino, Zara Serrano, Angel Shrestha, Domenica Sislema, Connor Stroka, Evan Talmadge, Cassandra Tamsin, Savanna Traca, Hayley Williams, Hayley Williams, Cherish Wright, Noemi Wullaert, Isabella Zdunek
Grade 12 Honors
Paige Baker, Ryan Bastian, Sofia Bobko, Ryan Booth, Salvatore Brancati, James Bush, Jason Chaucer, Iker Chiriboga, Kimberly Cordero Reyes, Camille Dalton, Nathan Devlin, Jalynn Edwards, Jaliyah Ennes, Lillian Gagliardi,
See BHS page 7
BHS Quarter 3 Honor Roll
Continued from page 6
Connor Gilfeather, Camila Gomez, Meena Groshart, Emelia Guandalini, Maycol Juela, Josephine Kliucius, Lilah LeBlanc, Jenna Medina, Michael Milici, Grayson Mills, Erin Murphy, Michael Perricone, Fathima Ramzeen, Summer Sabatino, Juan Salter, Abigail Smith, Zander Solano, Austyn Sparks, Kamryn Stackpole, Ryan Teneyck, Shriya Thapa, Luke Torre, Ryan Tripp, Benedict Unabia, Mathias Verdesoto, Keagan Walsh, Dylan Weaver, Michael Whittaker, Moiyan Williams, Maylin Zuniga
Tristan Allen, Kamari Allen, Braden Andrus, Beulah Anigekwu, Isabella Arnold, John Baklik, Bohan Barrett, Michael Barretta, Veronika Blyzniuk, Jayden Bonilla, Joseph Burgh, Wyatt Cavallaro, Jesse Clark, Lily Coppola, Lila Cosgrove, Alexander Cretella, Patrick DeLucia, Aiden Dupre, Stella Elston, Anthony Esposito, Andrew Gohar, Laurent Hernandez Salinas, Hayden Infantino, Jolie Irzyk, Sarit Juela-Garcia, Christopher Lawrence, John Lopez, Emma McAdams, Mykenzie Medina, Masen Mervine, Calleigh Miller, William Miller, Yoviel Morales, Moises MoralesOrozco, Destinie Nixon, Chinonyerem Obi, Taniya Payne, Jace Porrello, Caitlin Reilley, Kaylee Rodriguez, Emmarose Romano, Marin Roussat, Braeden Ryan, Shaurya Shah, Robert Sharkey, Jacob Shumway, Ilya Sidarenka, Ethan Sierra, Jhaniya Smalls, William Taranto, Landon Thomas, Devina Vaicunas, Leila Verzella, Jane Voets, Madyson Welch
Grade 10 Honors
Jessica Adhikari, Lamis Al Masri, Mia Albarracin-Rojas, Angel Apolo Puwainchir, Addison Booth, Olivia Boudah, Landon Brown, Lila Brown, Levi Burton, Justin Bustillo, Alexander Carmona, Amada Chamba Jaya, Kyle Chen, Erica Chiechi, Silas Comen, Edward Copperthite, Vincent Daniels, Christopher DiStasio, Guilianna Gambardella, Addyson Genovese, Vincent Gustavson, Jalien Hargett, Nasir Hassani, Josclyn Humphries, Cristopher Jara Aguirre, Spencer Johnson-Lanning, Kaila Jones, Matthew Kazzi, Charlotte Kenney, Alexander Kezik, Laila Kezik, Genevieve Longobardi, Lillian Lowe, Lily McNeil, Ellie Meyran, Destin Miller, Cameron Moon, Caleigh Moran, Maruf Nirab, Marshall Olsen, Marilyn Ortigosa-Liaz, Mohamad Radieh, Liam Shedarowich, Tyler Snider, Mark Spinato, Thomas Sturges, Isabelle Szefc, Tyler Vanacore, Landon Watkins, Coen Widmeyer, Lily Williams, Mia Wullaert
Grade 9 Honors
Xavier Armoogam, Blake Barnikow, Connor Brogan, Carlene Burke, Gavin Cheslock, Carissa Conti, Emely Coronel Portilla, Marcello Curcio, James D’Addio, Muath Elomami, Aiden Faulkner, Sophia Frazier, Elise Frederick, Liam Gallagher, Hanna Haynes, Heather Jennings, Gianna Malafronte, Alexandra MartinezAlfaro, Chloe McAdams, Aubree Novaco, Remigus Paradis, Mckenna Piano, Caleb Plourde, Lorenzo Russo, Lucio Sanchez, Edward Soto Cordova, Ayden Sparks, Peyton Swanson, Tessa Vallen, Jaydin Vargas, Caroline Wieland
Donations Sought for GNHCP Tag Sale Fundraiser
The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. (GNHCP) is seeking donations of gently used items for its annual tag sale fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Donations are accepted at the GNHCP Center, 1874 Middletown Ave., Northford. Items may include household goods, collectibles, jewelry, garden furniture, toys, and more. Contributions will support GNHCP’s mission to help cats in need throughout Greater New Haven. Proceeds benefit GNHCP’s rescue, care, and community programs. For more information, contact 203-782-2287 or gnhcp1@gnhcp.org.
Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces IMAGES 2026 Call for Entries
Shoreline Arts Alliance is accepting submissions for IMAGES 2026, Connecticut’s oldest statewide photography competition. The jury-curated exhibition will be held Aug. 8–30 at Kehler Liddell Gallery, 873 Whalley Avenue, New Haven. Connecticut photographers of all skill levels are invited to submit digital entries through the Shoreline Arts Alliance website by Thursday, June 11, at noon. Submission guidelines and fees are available online. Founded in 1980, Shoreline Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization that supports professional arts development through mentorship, networking, education, and community engagement. For more information, call 203421-6739, email office@shorelinearts.org, or visit shorelinearts.org.
Grade 11 Honors
Congratulations to the Beacon Awards Class of 2026
Each year as nominations open for the annual Beacon Awards, we are reminded just how many extraordinary people call our shoreline towns home. The stories shared through your nominations speak to the compassion, generosity, and dedication that continue to define our communities. Time and again, we read words such as selfless, caring, passionate, and dependable — qualities that describe neighbors who quietly make a lasting impact on the lives of others. The 2026 nominees once again embodied that spirit in remarkable
Since its founding in 2013, the Beacon Awards have aimed to shine a shorelinewide spotlight on individuals who give so much of themselves to strengthen the communities where we live, work, and
raise our families. Over the past 13 years, the program has honored nearly 200 outstanding individuals whose kindness and commitment have helped make our towns stronger, safer, and more connected. Choosing this year’s honorees from another deserving group of nominees was no easy task.
Now entering its 14th year, the Beacon Awards continue to celebrate those who represent the very best of the shoreline. Past winners have stepped forward in countless ways to support neighbors, organizations, schools, families, and local causes. This year’s recipients proudly carry on that tradition of service and generosity.
We are proud to introduce the 2026 Beacon Award winners: Meghan Abate, Virginia Baltay, Catherine Cook, Jean Cotter, Lee Cotter, Colleen Cummings, Laura Downes, Nancy Gray, Tristan Kiekel, Jennifer McNabola, Kyle Miller,
Nancy Morin, Judy Morelli, and Joseph Secki.
These 14 honorees will be celebrated at the Beacon Awards gala on Wednesday, June 24, at WoodWinds in Branford. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 14, at www.beaconawardsct.com/tickets. We hope you will join us for an evening dedicated to celebrating the generosity and commitment of these remarkable individuals from across the shoreline. We also extend our sincere thanks to everyone who submitted nominations this year. Your stories continue to highlight the kindness and compassion that make our shoreline communities so special. Thank you as well to our sponsors, past winners, and nominees for your continued support of the Beacon Awards program. This celebration would not be possible without you. Congratulations to the Beacon Awards Class of 2026!
The Perfect Fit With Nike
Story by Carol Andrecs
Nike, along with two other cats, seemed to appear out of nowhere at a couple’s house, desperate for food and shelter. These cat lovers wanted nothing more than to help them and contacted Forgotten Felines for assistance. Nike’s sleek black fur, with white wisps on his chest, complements his super-sweet personality. Only 2 years old, he is very chill and gets along well with other cats. Could you be the lucky person to guarantee that he will never again be hungry and scared outside? To adopt this perfect fit, stop by during Forgotten Felines’ open house events or apply online at www.forgottenfelinesct.org.
Find Your Match at Forgotten Felines
: Forgotten Felines holds an open house every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 153 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook. No appointment is necessary. Forgotten Felines is run entirely by dedicated volunteers with no paid staff. We are always in desperate need of volunteers to help care for the cats and keep our facility clean and organized. If you can donate your time, it will be very rewarding and
much appreciated. Call the volunteer line at 860-669-1347 or send an email to volunteerinfo@forgottenfelinesct.org.
What Awaits You at Our Open House
Step inside and experience the energy of our community for yourself. Stroll through beautiful spaces, meet the people who make this place so special, and get a taste of the extraordinary lifestyle our residents enjoy every day. With exceptional amenities, lively entertainment, and a welcoming atmosphere, you’ll see how life here truly lets you Elevate Your Everyday.
Ginny Baltay: Bringing Science Beyond the Classroom
bird adaptation, climate change, water quality, and coastal ecosystems. Students use binoculars to observe nesting patterns and collect scientific data tied to broader environmental studies.
“Soon, we will have 17 school groups coming over the course of six weeks,” Ginny says.
The island itself also evolved during those years. Ginny says an aging summer cottage on the property was eventually transformed into an educational center with the help of volunteers, architects, and foundation support.
“There was an old house/cottage with a bedroom and living room area,” she says. “My son told me I should do something about the condition of the house.”
The result was a rebuilt facility featuring a science lab and visitor center that continues to support student programming today.
Ginny says the work reflects her longtime belief in citizen science — the idea that ordinary people can meaningfully contribute to scientific research through observation and data collection.
“Citizen scientists collect osprey nest building and breeding data and report information to Audubon Society,” she says.
She has also encouraged students and volunteers to participate in projects involving water-quality monitoring, invasive species tracking, and environmental observation programs connected to NASA and online science platforms.
Even in retirement, Ginny continues finding ways to connect science, history, and community involvement.
She is currently participating in Guilford’s America 250 efforts through a project focused on historic trees in town.
“We are going to be witnesses to old trees that may have been alive 200 years ago,” she says. “It will be a hands-on involved approach looking at history and something ecological.”
This year, Ginny also was recognized as one of the recipients of the 2026 Beacon Awards, an honor she says came as a surprise.
“I am very touched by the nomination because I have never been someone to mouth off about what I do for extra activities,” she says.
“Over the years, students who have gone on and moved back to the area say to me that they have majored in environmental science and gone on to work for park services, environmental wildlife, or boat companies,” she says.
For Ginny, those moments reinforce the value of getting students out into the environment itself — away from textbooks and into direct discovery.
“Sometimes you’re out of touch with reality when things are changing,” she says. “I think it is important to get out in nature to feel the environment.”
After years spent helping students explore islands, coastlines, forests, and waterways, Ginny says that connection to the natural world remains as important as ever.
“We’re lucky on Outer Island to be able to affect kids and continue to make it so wonderful,” she says. “It makes me and the other volunteers feel we did a good thing.”
Still, Ginny says the greatest reward has always been seeing students carry those experiences forward long after leaving her classroom.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF Stephanie E. Kelly, AKA Stephanie Kelly (26-00153)
The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated April 28, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Taylor Carafeno, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Terry T. Terzakis c/o PAT DEMAIO, LAW OFFICE OF PAT DEMAIO, JR., LLC, 110 WHITNEY AVENUE, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF Henry L. Platt (26-00131)
The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated April 24, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Taylor Carafeno, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Jeffrey B. Platt c/o SHAWN L O SULLIVAN, DA VIS OSULLIVAN & PRIEST, LLC, 59 ELM STREET, SUITE 540, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF BRANFORD
The Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Branford, Connecticut hereby gives notice of Public Hearings to be held on Thursday May 21, 2026 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 PZ #26-13 Zoning Map Amendment –Change 7&9 Indian Neck Ave. from R3 to Mixed Use District. True North Capital LLC(Owner & Applicant of 7 Indian Neck Ave.) 9 Indian Neck Marine LLC- (Owner & Applicant of 9 Indian Neck Ave.).
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
OF
The Branford Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom technology to conduct Public Hearings on the following applications. Information regarding how to participate in the Public Hearings will be provided on the meeting Agenda that will be posted on the Town’s website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Old Business:
ZBA 26-6 2389 Dixwell Property Management LLC, c/o Leigh Small -(Applicant & Owner) 31 Pawson Road (E11-000-002-00008 R3)Var. Sec. 3.4.A to allow a square lot of 99.2 feet where 100 feet is required for a lot split.
New Business:
ZBA 26-8 Jennifer Katz- (Applicant & Owner)3 Waverly Park Road ( F10-000-016-00016 R2)Var. Sec. 3.4.A –Side yard of 8.8 feet where 10 feet is required (southern side) and side yard of 8.1 feet where 10 feet is required (northern side). And front yard of 8 feet where 15 feet is required for a new single-family home.Also seeking relief under Section 8.1.D.6 to permit the expansion of an existing nonconforming structure into a different nonconforming location.
ZBA 26-9 Brenda Kirtopoulos-(Applicant) Robin Tolla (Owner)22 River Road (D10-000-007-00002 R3)Va r. Sec. 3.4.A Side yard setback of 6 feet 6 inches where 10 feet is required (southern side yard only) for a home addition. Also seeking relief under Section 8.1.D.6 to permit the expansion of an existing nonconforming structure into a different nonconforming location.
Jim Sette - Chairman
Smith Library Closed for $1.3M HVAC Project
Continued from page 1
Services Inc. for an amount not to exceed $1,308,340, including a 10% contingency. The approved contract includes a base bid of $1,189,400.
Bid documents issued earlier this year describe the project as including removal and replacement of the building’s variable refrigerant flow systems, perimeter electric heating systems, exhaust fans, controls, and related electrical, structural, patching, and painting work.
The project is also supported through a $1 million Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant awarded by the state. During the March 17 Town Council meeting, town officials said North Branford had received the full STEAP award for the project, with the town responsible for additional project costs beyond the grant funding.
During the same meeting, council members discussed equipment lead times connected to the project, noting that some materials may take eight to 10 weeks to arrive and could affect the construction schedule.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Dan
Library services and programming previously offered at Smith Library have temporarily relocated to Atwater Memorial Library, located at 1720 Foxon Road. Patrons may continue requesting materials and placing holds, although Atwater is currently serving as the sole pickup location during construction.
Materials may also be returned to Atwater or to any public library in Connecticut.
Atwater Memorial Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beginning June 20, Saturday hours will shift to 9 a.m. to noon, according to library officials.
Library Board minutes also note that Smith Library previously experienced approximately three weeks of closure earlier this year because of construction and heating issues.
Project and library status updates are expected to be posted at nbranford libraries.org and facebook.com/NBPublic Libraries.
Bell Taylor, Jr. (26-00136)
The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated April 29, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Jennifer Jaconette, Assistant Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Cody Taylor, 710 High Street Ext., Thomaston, CT 06787
Castle Rock Tax District and Owners Association Annual Meeting Notice:
The Annual Meeting of the Castle Rock Tax District and Owners Association will be held on Thursday May 28, 2026 at 6:30 P.M. in the Castle Rock Club House, Branford, CT. At this meeting the voters will elect the district’s directors, adopt the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 annual budget, and discuss other business as stated in the meeting agenda.
Donna Aiello, President
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF Willie J. Nelson (26-00125)
The Hon. Charles E. Tiernan, III, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Branford - North Branford Probate Court, by decree dated April 21, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Jennifer Jaconette, Assistant Clerk
The fiduciary is:
William R. Nelson c/o PATRICK STERLING WHITE, DOYON AND WHITELAW GROUP, 555 LONG WHARF DRIVE, 1 ST FLOOR, NEW HAVEN, CT 06511
Fun By The Numbers
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!
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!
Branford Boys Lacrosse Stays Hot in Awareness Game
By Serenity J. Bishop
Lax No One Fights Alone.” The day has meant a lot to May, the players and the community in an attempt to support all those who suffer from the disease.
Holding the event itself is a significant way to honor those who struggle with the disease, but for Branford, an even sweeter moment is winning the game in the cause’s honor, and that’s exactly what the Hornets did.
The Branford Hornets won 10-4 to improve to 9-3 on the season. Thursday’s performance extended the Hornets’ winning streak to four games, as Branford has been playing well all around.
Branford has outscored its opponents 47-10 during the four-game stretch against West Haven, Holy Cross, Morgan and Foran. May said the team is coming out fast and playing together as a unit.
“I like how we are starting strong and staying that
games and reached the first round of the playoffs.
Now, with four games left in the regular season, Branford has matched its win total from a year ago with nine victories and has a chance to surpass it. The Hornets also have a chance to qualify for the conference tournament, something they have not done since 2019.
The Hornets have already qualified for the state tournament for the second consecutive year.
“This is the 23rd out of 27 years of the program that we’ve made the playoffs, so it’s been pretty successful,” May said. “They held the course. They’ve been coachable the whole time, and it was them along with the coaches just saying it’s only a matter of time, just be patient, and all good things come to those who wait.”
As for advancing to the conference tournament, the Hornets will have their hands full over the next couple of
up tremendously, and our defense really has only been allowing about five goals a game, which is the best we’ve done in around a decade.”
If there’s one area of focus for the Hornets to clean up, it will be ground balls. Branford has struggled lately fielding ground balls, which is one of the most important aspects in a battle for possession.
“We still need to work heavily on ground balls,” he said. “We’re playing well, and the kids are enjoying themselves, and the coaches are really working hard. My assistants are watching tons of film and really doing everything they can, taking away from family time to watch film and get guys in the right spots on game day.”
Branford will face Jonathan Law on May 14 on the road at 4:30 p.m. before returning home to face North Branford in the season finale May 16 at 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Jim May
Branford Hornets wear purple shirts that reads “Hornets Lax No
One Fights Alone” in support of cancer awareness.
Sports Editor
Deep River Horseshoe League Opens 71st Season
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
If you drove by Deep River’s Marvin Field on the afternoon of April 30, you would have seen a bevy of people preparing the pits for the start of the Deep River Horseshoe League’s 71st season. Additionally, members renewed acquaintances, met their new teammates and started to get in some practice to get used to the sand.
Members gathered around as Rev. Caronna of the First Congregational Church gave the traditional blessing of the league membership and the “Blessing of the Pits,” with special emphasis on the Yankees team. Players scurried to get started, knowing there was a threat of rain and, with the gray, cloudy day, darkness would definitely impact some games.
Prior to the start of the season, a list of players is established. New teams are developed using their previous year’s average, and for new players, their qualification average. Players are moved within the A, B and C divisions so the team averages are all within one point, plus or minus.
The new A Division players include Dennis Allen, Peter Furmonavicius and Bob Cifaldi, who returns from the disabled list, as well as new player Sue Pollard of Higganum. The league also qualified two new players in Peter Lessard of Westbrook and Ralph Sampson of Deep River, who will fill vacancies for players now on the injured reserve list. The division is fortunate to also have 15 substitutes available this year.
Rev. Dr. Cheryl Caronna of First Congregational Church offers the traditional blessing of league membership and the “Blessing of the Pits” to open the Deep River Horseshoe League’s 71st season.
The Dodgers’ Jeremy Davis was the leading scorer for the A Division, leading in five of the six statistical categories. He was joined by the Cards’ Kris Toohey and the Braves’ Frank Rausch. The White Sox’s Bob Beckwith was the B Division leading scorer and led in five of the six statistical categories. He was joined by the Cards’
Schedules BRANFORD
Saturday, May 16: at Stonington at 11 a.m. Monday, May 18: vs. Shelton at 4 p.m.
Friday, May 15: at Sacred Heart Academy at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19: at Portland at 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 16: vs. Suffield at 10 a.m.
Monday, May 18: at Waterford at 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 21: vs. Glastonbury at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16: vs. North Branford at 4 p.m.
Boys Golf
Wednesday, May 20: at Daniel Hand at 2:30 p.m.
Todd Nuhn and the Giants’ Matt Valentin. Gary Stevens was the scoring leader for the C Division.
Chip Goodrich’s Reds are alone in first place with a 5-1 win over Sheryl Serviss’ Tigers. The Reds were the only team with
NORTH BRANFORD
Friday, May 15: at North Haven at 6 p.m.
Monday, May 18: at Daniel Hand at 4 p.m.
a substitute in Mike Didomizio and, in recent memory, the first team to be in first place having only one double. Six teams are tied for second place with a 4-2 record,
See Deep River Horseshoe page 22
Saturday, May 16: at Branford at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19: vs. Valley Regional at 6 p.m.
Friday, May 15: at Daniel Hand at 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, May 16: vs. Guilford at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 19: at Guilford at 3:45 p.m.
Boys Tennis Girls Tennis
Saturday, May 16: vs. Stonington at 11 a.m.
Monday, May 18: at Haddam Killingworth at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20: at Haddam Killingworth at 4 p.m.
Friday, May 15: at Lyme-Old Lyme at 4 p.m.
Monday, May 18: at NFA at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19: vs. Amity at 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 16: at North Haven at 6 p.m.
Monday, May 18: at Valley Regional at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20: at Sheehan at 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15: vs. Westbrook at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 18: vs. Valley Regional at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 18: vs. Morgan at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19: vs. Haddam Killingworth at 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 21: at Coginchaug/Maloney at 2:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
Girls Tennis
Boys Golf
Photo courtesy of Joseph Heery
Deep River Horseshoe League Opens 71st Season
and four teams ended the night at 3-3, tied for eighth place.
In game one, the Reds held the lead until the Tigers tied in the 11th box and were outscored again in the last box, 3-1, but the handicap gave the Reds the win. The Reds reeled off wins in the next two games, and game four was a repeat of game one. The Reds held the lead until the Tigers took a four-point lead into the last box. The Reds outscored the Tigers 7-4, and again the handicap gave the Reds the win.
With the lead bouncing back and forth in game five, the Reds took a two-point lead into the 10th box and maintained it to the end, but the handicap favored the Tigers for their lone win. The Reds won 5-1 and are alone in first place. The Tigers’ Dennis Goodrich’s 74-point series was the third highest for the C Division.
Last season’s top two scorers, Cards’ Kris Toohey and Braves’ Frank Rausch, last met in the tournament championship in September 2025, with Rausch winning. As they faced off on opening day, both players opened in their first box of the game.
The match was a draw. Head-to-head,
they each won two games, and the stat line was equally close, with Toohey finishing with 128 points, 35 ringers and six doubles to Rausch’s 126 points, 36 ringers and eight doubles. The key to this match was Cards’ Todd Nuhn. His 114-point series was the second-leading B Division score.
Game five was the best of the match. The Cards held a nine-point lead going into the last two boxes. The Braves outscored the Cards 19-13 and used the handicap for a one-point win. Despite the drizzle, the teams finished the game in the dark. The Cards won 4-2.
Game one was not the start Dennis Allen wanted — no ringers — and it was not the ending Bill Beckwith wanted, with an open in the last box. In game one, the Yankees’ Joe Machado had two doubles, his first since the 2024 season, and the game ended with a tied scratch score. The Yankees used their handicap for the win. Allen and Vinny Jonynas, the two longesttenured league members, combined for 65 points for an easy game two win. Beckwith’s nine ringers carried the Red Sox to a win in game four. The Red Sox grabbed a one-point lead in the 10th box of game six and held on for a two-point win. The Yankees finished in the dark with a 4-2 win.
In his return, Cubs’ Bob Cifaldi started
his day with a double, and his rookie teammate Peter Lessard also had an ominous start — no open boxes — however, the Rangers won game one. The Rangers built an 11-point lead after six boxes in game two.
In the second half of the game, the Cubs outscored the Rangers, but the team managed to score only one point in eight of the 12 boxes as the Rangers hung on for the win. Lessard’s double in the last box gave the Cubs the win in game three. Game four saw Hines and Furmonavicius of the Rangers both score 23 points, and Lessard and Cifaldi of the Cubs both score 16 points. The Rangers won and also cruised to their fourth win in game five. The Rangers won 4-2.
The highest-scoring match of the evening came from Dodgers’ Davis, who had a personal-best series of 134 points, 41 ringers and eight doubles, as did Giants’ Matt Valentin. His 107-point series was a personal best. The Giants reeled off three straight wins before the Dodgers could catch their breath.
handicap in game six to end the night with a 4-2 win. Rockies’ Anthony Malerba’s 79point series was the second-leading C scorer.
The White Sox’s Bob Beckwith was the top B scorer with a 123-point series, and the Angels’ Tony Cutone was the secondleading scorer for the A Division with a 129-point series. The Angels cruised to an easy win in game one behind Cutone’s 42point game. Beckwith’s 32 points in game two and 37 points in game three were enough for two White Sox wins. In game five, Miller Beckwith combined for 55 points with Cutone and Turner’s 52 points for their third win, and they closed out the match with a one-point win thanks to Kyle Wilson’s ringer in the last box of game six. The White Sox won 4-2.
Davis responded in the next two games with 80 points, 25 ringers and five doubles, leading to wins by nine and seven points, respectively. Game five featured Davis versus Mike Zanelli Sr. After nine boxes, they were tied at 31 points each. Davis outscored Zanelli Sr. 14-9. Davis’ game stats concluded with 45 points, 14 ringers and three doubles to Zanelli Sr.’s 40 points, 11 ringers and one double. The Dodgers’ scratch score of 66 points was the league’s highest for the night. The Dodgers fell apart in game six, losing by 30 points. The Giants were the top-scoring team with 284 points. The Giants won 4-2.
Marlins’ John Hutra is usually a slow starter, but in his first two games, he tossed 33 and 32 points to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead. In the first B/C match, the Pirates took the lead in the third box and managed to hold on to win. Pirates’ Robinson’s 34 points in game four knotted the match at 2-2. Hutra had his third game with more than 30 points, and Mike Shashok had his best game with 28 points for the Marlins’ third win. The final game was controlled by the Pirates’ Gary Stevens with his unique no-step delivery. He finished the game with 29 points, and his 83-point series earned him the top C Division scorer.
Mets’ Goodale versus Diamondbacks’ Sciacca is always close.
Pollard got her Rockies off to a great start by winning game one by 10 points. In game two, the Rockies had a 12-point lead going into the eighth box, but Mike Zanelli Jr. and Ted Dubay closed the gap, tying the score, but the handicap gave the Rockies the win. Dubay led the Orioles to a win in game three, and Mike Zanelli Jr.’s 37 points carried them to their second win in game four. The Rockies won game five by two points thanks to the handicap, and they overcame a six-point
In their head-to-head matchup, Sciacca scored 118 points, 27 ringers and four doubles. Goodale had 115 points, 25 ringers and two doubles. They each won two games. Mets’ Deb Scully tossed a double in the 11th box, and her two points in the last box tied the score, with the handicap giving the Mets the win.
In game two, it was Sciacca’s four points in the last box that tied the score, and the handicap favored the Diamondbacks. The next two games were easy wins for the Mets. Game five was a replay of games one and two. Sciacca and Butch Carotenuto each tossed a two-pointer in the last box for a tie, and the handicap gave the Diamondbacks the win.
Discovering Northern Italy Aboard a Luxury Barge
Postcards from Afar: First in a Three-part Travel Series
on Hotel Barge Travel
By Susan Cornell
There are countless reasons why I consider a European Waterways cruise among my top travel experiences. Each weeklong journey features outstanding service, delicious cuisine, excellent local wines, and thoughtfully selected excursions — all enjoyed within an intimate, small-group atmosphere. There’s truly so much to appreciate!
My husband and I traveled aboard European Waterways’ La Bella Vita, one of the company’s 18 luxury hotel barges designed for small groups of six to 20 passengers cruising canals and rivers in nine European countries. La Bella Vita is its only vessel operating in Italy and cruises the waterways of the Veneto region and Po Valley in northern Italy. In her prior life, she was a sand barge that cruised the same river.
We cruised one way on the Po River from Venice to Mantua, exploring both main attractions and hidden gems en route. The Po River is Italy’s longest river, flowing about 405 miles eastward across northern Italy from the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic Sea.
Travel/pre-cruise — Friday-Saturday (Venerdì-Sabato)
We flew in a day before the cruise for a couple of reasons. First, peace of mind — it’s a good idea to have a few extra hours rather than risk missing the boat because of a flight delay. Second, you can’t complain about having time to explore Venice! We flew SWISS from Boston to Zurich to Venice, with a total flying time of about nine hours. Flying above the Swiss Alps exceeded my expectations. Upon arrival, the temperature in sunny Venice was 70 degrees. That’s the way to start a holiday!
We traveled by bus from the airport to the Venice Mestre Hotel Bologna, which we booked primarily because it was the meeting place for our group the following day. ATVO express bus: 15 minutes, 12 euros. The hotel is conveniently located across the street from the Venice Mestre train station, making popping back into Venice via train quick, simple, and inexpensive (11 minutes, 1.50 euros).
Venice, even in late April, is still lively to crowded. It is said that tourists outnumber residents by 392-to-1. The ratio is even greater in other places, but Venice gets far more media attention for overtourism. I’m not a fan of crowds or cities, but it really wasn’t crazy. I don’t believe there’s a stat about Aperol Spritz consumption, but a large percentage of hands were holding vibrant orange bubbly beverages.
We spent our time wandering the less-traveled roads and alleys, taking photos, and watching visitors. Lunch consisted of gelato: Nutella, tiramisu, pistachio, and lemon. No judging — it’s vacation. We returned to the hotel for a quick nap due to the overnight flight and then headed to dinner.
Special to Living
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Boats and gondolas navigate one of Venice’s many canals on a sunny spring afternoon.
Colorful buildings and arched bridges line a quiet Venetian canal.
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Flying above the snow-covered Swiss Alps on the journey from Boston to Venice.
Glassblowers on Murano Island continue one of Venice’s most famous artistic traditions.
For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
Trip: An Insider’s Tour of the Blackstone Library, Branford
: James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Participants provide their own transportation. Features a tour led by Katy McNicol, library director. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $10. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
Drop-In Tech Help
: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features oneon-one technology assistance. Bring a device for assistance. Sessions limited to 30 minutes. First come, first served. No registration required. For info, call 203-3156020.
Support Group for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregivers
: 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Facilitated by Karen LaBanca. Features support and discussion for caregivers in a shared group setting. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Senior Series 6: Home Maintenance 101 for Seniors: Protecting Your Home and Your Equity
: 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The Orchard House, 421 Shore Dr., Branford. Cost: $10. Sixth in a six-part educational series designed for older adults and the adult children who support them. Each session offers practical guidance on topics related to aging in place, downsizing, home care, and senior living options. Participants can attend any or all sessions; there is no obligation to attend the full series. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.
The Science of Apizza: A Talk with Scott Weiner
: 6 p.m. New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven. Features a talk and discussion with Scott Weiner on the history and science of pizza, presented in conjunction with the exhibition Pronounced Ah-Beetz. Includes a conversation with filmmaker Gorman Bechard and a Q&A session. Free with museum admission. For info or to register (required), call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org.
Jenny Lind’s America
: 6 to 7 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Musical performance by Zoe Vandermeer. Free. Registration required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Is It Safe for Kids to Experiment with Cannabis: Weeding Out Fact from Fiction
: 7 to 7:45 p.m. Via Zoom. Features a presentation by Alicia Farrell, Ph.D., on youth cannabis use and prevention. Free. For info or to register, visit aliciafarrellphd.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 14 THROUGH
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Scranton Library Friends Used Book Sale
: Thursday, 4:30 to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd. Features used books in a variety of genres, including children’s and young adult titles. Thursday preview event open with donations accepted at the door. Hosted by the Friends of the Scranton Library. For info, email scrantonlibraryfriends9@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, MAY 15
The Future Impact of Artificial Intelligence, Part One
:
10 a.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Presented by educator Harvey Heyman. This event is a repeat presentation of one held Nov. 21, 2025, for those who could not attend. 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.
East Shore Health District Mobile Health Clinic
: 1 to
3 p.m. Stop & Shop plaza, 370 Hemingway Ave., East Haven. Offers free overdose prevention supplies including Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, as well as sexual health and hygiene supplies. Provides confidential referrals for substance use, mental health, and medical concerns. For info, call 203-481-4233 or visit esdhd.org/events.
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Spring Craft Fair
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Mary’s Parish Center, 731 Main St., Branford. Features a craft fair with indoor and outdoor vendors. Sponsored by the St. John Bosco Women’s Group. For info, email sjbcraftandtag06405@gmail.com.
Tag Sale Fundraiser
: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Greater New Haven Cat Project Center, 1874 Middletown Ave., Northford. Features a tag sale with household items, col-
Calendar for the Week of May 14, 2026
lectibles, toys, and more to benefit The Greater New Haven Cat Project. For info, contact 203-782-2287 or gnhcp1@gnhcp.org.
Annual Spring Plants, Flowers and Seedlings Sale
: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Blackstone Library front lawn, corner of Main Street and Laurel Street, Branford. Features perennials, herbs, native plants, vegetable and flower seedlings, and more. Rain date May 17, noon to 4 p.m. For info, visit branfordgardenclub.org.
Patriotic Clothespin Wreath Craft
: 10 a.m. to noon. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features a hands-on workshop with artist Liz Egan to create an American flag-themed wreath. All materials provided. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
Ask a Medicare Specialist
: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Drop-in assistance with Medicare questions. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Guilford Pride 2026
: Noon to 4 p.m. Guilford Green, 79 Whitfield St., Guilford. Features the fourth annual community Pride event. Rain date Sunday, May 17. For info, visit guilfordpride.org.
Open Dance Party
SUNDAY, MAY 17
Storytime with Violinist Gregory Tompkins
: 7 to 10 p.m. Time to Dance Ballroom Dance Studio, 45 N.E. Industrial Rd., Branford. Features ballroom dancing, a group lesson led by Karen Pfrommer from 7 to 7:30 p.m., music, and light refreshments. Cost: $20. For info, contact 203-710-2805 or info@timetodanceballroom.com. : 2 p.m.
Pine Orchard Chapel, 25 Chapel Dr., Branford. Features a musical reading of by David McPhail and an introduction to the violin presented by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Registration required. For info or to register, visit pineorchardchapel.com.
MONDAY, MAY 18 Mole Music
Color and Conversation
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Adult coloring group. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
See page 27
Discovering Northern Italy Aboard a Luxury Barge
Continued from page 23
I had read that the way to dine with locals when traveling in a touristy destination is often not to go to most restaurants because they are filled with tourists, not locals. Instead, eat at McDonald’s or something similar. So, our first night in Italy, we walked right across the street to find the differences between American and Italian McDonald’s. I loved the spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano croquettes and Perugina McFlurry. Plus, we were about to board a gourmet cruise with extremely high-end dining.
It took only a matter of minutes before we were fast asleep in the hotel, recharging for our first day aboard European Waterways’ La Bella Vita.
Day 1 — Sunday (Domenica)
Sunday started out sunny and 71 degrees. Since our group was not meeting until 2 p.m., we headed back to Venice for more exploring via vaporetto, a Venetian public waterbus. My only request to my husband was that this be a stress-free morning — no hustling at the last second since we had almost made it to the ship. Another com-
ment I recall making was that every Venetian seems to be employed in either tourism or law enforcement.
We purchased two boat tickets, scanned them, and boarded the vaporetto. Soon thereafter, a police officer checked our tickets. One would validate, but the other did not. No questions asked — immediate 50-euro ticket. We pleaded as best we could with a non-English-speaking officer. I apologized profusely, but clearly there was no overlap between law enforcement and tourism with this guy! He took my passport information, and now my souvenir is a ticket to appeal.
We drowned our sorrows in cappuccino and cannoli and headed back to the hotel, where we met our guide, Claudia, and the rest of the passengers. Surprisingly, there were only seven others, a group of friends from Louisiana. The ship accommodates 20, and typically the crowd is not all American. The prior trip was 100% U.K.! With a crew of 10, nine passengers makes a pretty good ratio. We were transferred by minibus to the ship and welcomed with Prosecco by Captain Rudy and the crew.
There was a short cruise along the Giudecca Canal past some of Venice’s famous monuments to our mooring outside the Naval Museum. We were able to hop right off and walk either one direction through more tourist-filled
streets or, in the other direction, to lovely parks full of locals, laughter, kids, and dogs along the water. This was a great surprise because when I thought of Venice, I really only thought of tourism, architecture, and gondolas. This was more like a small Central Park full of locals and made the city seem more livable.
We returned to the ship for our first gourmet meal. The menu read: Baccalà mantecato (whipped salt cod); duck breast, celeriac purée, carrot, snow peas; pear tart. “La Bella Vita” was no understatement.
The next installment of the Postcards from Afar series will cover what we actually did on our seven-day adventure.
Susan Cornell, owner of Moppet Magic Publishing and Public Relations, is an independently contracted photographer, marketing and public relations consultant, and writer specializing in business, boating, home and garden, and, of course, travel. She handles public relations for several art galleries and is the author of the children’s book Essex Ed’s Groundhog Day Parade. In her free time, she hikes, kayaks, serves on the advisory board for the Connecticut Sea Music Festival, and is a steward for the Essex Land Trust. Susan has two grown children and lives in Essex with her husband and rescue puggle.
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell
Photo by Bob and Susan Cornell Historic buildings rise directly from the canals in one of Venice’s quieter neighborhoods.
Visitors gather beneath the Campanile, the iconic bell tower in Venice’s Piazza San Marco.
A gondolier guides passengers through a narrow Venice canal.
From Diner Conversations to a Theater Company
Two shoreline students are taking theater into their own hands
By Pam Young
Correspondent
When Theo Zucconi and Kenny Pelphrey started talking about theater over late-night meals at Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, the conversations kept circling back to the same idea: why was it so hard for young artists to stage the kinds of plays they actually wanted to produce?
Now, those conversations have turned into a nonprofit theater company of their own.
The two shoreline natives recently founded Twin Pines Theatre Company, a Guilford-based 501(c)(3) organization focused on producing unconventional and student-driven theater while creating opportunities for emerging artists in Connecticut.
“We wanted to create arts, theater, and plays that people want to put on,” Zucconi says.
Zucconi, a Madison native and sophomore musical theater student at Emerson College in Boston, met Pelphrey through community theater productions on the shoreline when they were both about 12 years old. Pelphrey, who grew up in Guilford, is now a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Both spent years working in youth theater programs before heading off to college. But even as they continued studying theater, they found themselves drawn back to a recurring frustration: many smaller or more experimental productions simply were not getting staged locally.
“We saw a lot of plays that had been written by other students who did not have the ability to get them off the ground,” Zucconi says. “Theater is expensive.”
The company’s origin traces back to the summer after high school graduation, when the pair decided to independently produce Edward Albee’s , a dark, dialogue-heavy two-person play they knew would be a difficult sell for many community theaters.
The Zoo Story
“It is not really a crowd pleaser,” Zucconi says. “But it is certainly brilliant work.”
Without institutional backing, the two scraped together money for performance rights, costumes, and set materials before reaching out to theaters in the area. Madison Lyric Stage, where Zucconi had previously worked, agreed to let them use its space.
The production exceeded their expectations.
“It went really well and we were both happy with it,” Zucconi says.
That experience became the foundation for Twin Pines Theatre Company, which has since staged additional productions and is now preparing for its next show, Kenneth Lonergan’s
This Is Our Youth
The company’s approach is intentionally different from more commercial theater organizations, focusing on smaller-scale productions that take creative risks and give younger artists room to experiment.
“All the productions are wonderful plays,” Zucconi says. “They are darker, uncomfortable, sometimes thought-provoking, and difficult to grapple with.”
The company also aims to provide opportunities for other young theater makers struggling to find space or funding for their own work.
“This season, we plan to put on productions and ideas that are pitched to us from people who want to create plays but are lacking the space to put them on,” Zucconi says.
That collaborative philosophy extends beyond the stage itself. Twin Pines also donates a portion of its profits toward forest conservation efforts in Connecticut, a decision tied to both the founders’ environmental concerns and their connection to the shoreline landscape.
“So much of being able to live in this area is being around the forests and wooded areas,” Zucconi says. “They really
cultivate the community we have found here.”
coni says the process is exactly what he and Pelphrey hoped to create when they
waste during productions by reducing the use of paper materials in rehearsals and production work.
This Is Our Youth
This spring, Twin Pines will stage , a coming-of-age drama set in New York City in 1981. The play follows three young people navigating friendship, identity, and uncertainty during a period of transition.
For Zucconi, the themes resonate strongly with the company’s current moment.
“It is about youth trying to find their way through life and figuring out where they will go in very transitional periods of life,” he says.
The production features a cast and creative team made up largely of college students, many of whom are balancing rehearsals with academic schedules and travel between Connecticut and their campuses.
Despite those logistical challenges, Zuc-
“I’m looking most forward to being connected in the theater community in Connecticut and working with different actors, designers, and technical directors,” he says.
Long term, the pair hope Twin Pines grows into a lasting creative space for young artists across the shoreline region—even while they continue their own studies away at school.
Their goal, Zucconi says, is not simply to put on shows, but to create a community where artists feel supported taking creative risks.
“We want Twin Pines to be a place where theater makers can explore their craft and do their work,” he says.
This Is Our Youth
Twin Pines Theatre Company will present on Friday, May 16, Saturday, May 17, and Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 24, at 2 and 7 p.m. For more information, visit the company’s Instagram page, @twinpinestc.
Photo courtesy of Twin Pines Theatre Company
Theo Zucconi, right, and Kenny Pelphrey founded Twin Pines Theatre Company, a shoreline-based nonprofit focused on producing independent and student-driven theater.
Photo courtesy of Twin Pines Theatre Company
Twin Pines Theatre Company will present Kenneth Lonergan’s Saturday, May 16, through Sunday, May 24, as part of the company’s summer season.
This Is Our Youth
Tony Award Nominations Announced, While Bridgeport Theater Is Shutting Down
Inside notes and comments about Connecticut and New York professional theater
By Karen Isaacs
Columnist
Sad News
A Chorus Line
Aisle ON THE
The performance on Sunday, May 24, is reserved for patrons with sensory sensitivities. Information about that performance is available at boxoffice@ActOfCT.org. Tickets for other performances are available at ActOfCT.org.
Returning to New Haven
for a man, with nine; he was also nominated for . More on the awards in my next column.
Becky Sharp
Unsettling
: Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theatre is closing its doors after 50 years in June, when the current show, , closes. It is sad news for Bridgeport and theatergoers, especially children. DCT offered original shows designed for younger children; it was the first theater that I took my grandchildren — and now my great-grandchildren — to. Unfortunately, the theater’s building was sold by the City of Bridgeport to a private developer, and costs became prohibitive. While the theater was no longer an Equity house, at one time it was. Kelli O’Hara was one of the many Broadway performers to appear there; she played in a production of after understudying the role on Broadway.
Casting Set for
Jekyll & Hyde
Sweeney Todd
: The big theater event in June is Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford’s co-production of
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
. It is directed by Rob Ruggiero, TheaterWorks’ artistic director, and performed at Hartford Stage. It runs from Friday, June 5, through Sunday, July 5. Matt Faucher will play Sweeney, and Jackie Burns will appear as Mrs. Lovett.
Continued from page 24
Monday Night Mah-Jongg
Beautiful Wicked Hair Rock of Ages
Faucher, a Connecticut native, has performed often on Connecticut stages and received numerous award nominations. He also appeared on Broadway in . Burns has appeared as Elphaba in on Broadway, as well as in and . Tickets are available at either HartfordStage.org or TW Hartford.org. The open-captioned performance is Sunday, June 21, and the audiodescribed performance is Saturday, June 27.
Intimate Portrait of Jazz Great
: Bil-
lie Holiday — or at least Christina Acosta Robinson playing her — is at Ivoryton Playhouse through Sunday, May 31. It’s set in a small Philadelphia nightclub in 1959; it’s one of Holiday’s last performances. As she reflects on her life and loves, you’ll hear her most iconic songs. For tickets, visit IvorytonPlayhouse.org.
Tony-Winning Musical
Dear Evan Hansen
: ACT-CT in Ridgefield will close its fifth season with , which tells the story of a teen with severe social anxiety who fabricates a friendship with a deceased fellow student. It runs through Sunday, June 21. Many performances are already sold out.
: 6 to 8 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Open play for those interested in Mah-Jongg; participants should bring their own set. For info or to register, call 203-3156020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
TUESDAY, MAY 19
Implications of AI for the Job Market, the Stock Market, and Education
: 10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Presented by Ray Lombra, professor emeritus of economics at Penn State University. Sponsored by the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL). Open to SSILL members (with an annual membership of $35). Cost: $3. For info or to join SSILL, call 203-453-8086 or visit ssill.org.
: The new dean of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale and artistic director of Yale Rep is Evan Yionoulis, who served on the Drama School faculty and directed numerous plays at Yale Rep. She will take over for James Bundy, who is retiring at the end of June. She is currently the dean and director of the Drama Division at The Juilliard School.
Tony Award Nominations
The Lost Boys Schmigadoon!
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York Ragtime Cats: The Jellicle Ball
The Rocky Horror Show Death of a Salesman Oedipus Joe Turner’s Come and Gone The Balusters Fallen Angels Liberation
Becky Sharp
: Two latearriving musicals received the most Tony nominations this year: and each received 12 nominations, including best musical, book, score, scenic design, costumes, lighting, sound, direction, choreography, and acting nominations. Other top nomination-getters were the musicals (8), (11), (9), and Richard O’Brien’s (9). In the play category, Arthur Miller’s got nine nominations, followed by (7), August Wilson’s , , , and , with five each. Actress Jane Squibb became the oldest nominee in an acting category, at 95, for her role in . Danny Burstein now has the most nominations
A Presidential Garden Talk with the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants
: 10 a.m. Virtual. Talk on native plants, historic ornamentals, and heirloom varieties. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, visit youressexlibrary.org or call 860-767-1560.
Sachems Head Association Zoning Board Special Meeting
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
Branford Lions Club 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration
: 6 p.m. Guilford Community Center, Alexander Lounge, 32 Church St., Guilford. Features review and discussion of proposed revisions to the Sachems Head Association zoning regulations. Open to the public. For info, visit sachemsheadassociation.org. : 6 to 10 p.m. The Woodwinds, 29 School Ground Rd., Branford. themed dinner dance celebrating 75 years of community service by the Branford Lions Club. Awards presentation, dinner and dancing. Cost: $75 per person. For tickets, call Lori Dziuba at 203-4946753 or visit lionsbfdct.org.
: is an unsettling play that raises questions about separating the artist from their work. The English import, starring John Lithgow in a stunning performance, is about famed author Roald Dahl and his strong antisemitic beliefs. The events portrayed are fictional, but the show is based on an incident in 1983. An incendiary book review about the Israel-Lebanon conflict leads to the true finale — Dahl’s vehemently antisemitic rant to a newspaper reporter. For my full review, visit TwoOnTheAisle.word press.com. Go see this limited run for the stunning performances.
Currently Playing in Connecticut Giant
Circus Fire
Jesus Christ Superstar
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
Nunsense
Dear Evan Hansen
: at TheaterWorks Hartford through Sunday, May 31; at Goodspeed Musicals through June 7; at Ivoryton Playhouse through May 31; at Legacy Theatre through May 17; and at ACTCT in Ridgefield through June 21.
Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident.
To check out her reviews for New York and Connecticut shows, visit 2ontheaisle.word press.com. She’s a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle, New York’s Outer Critics Circle, Connecticut Theatre Women’s Network, and the American Theatre Critics Association.
Exploring Energy Healing with Jeremy Hauben
THURSDAY, MAY 21
Swing for a Cause with Fournier Legal Services
Great Gatsby :
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Clarity Wellness Center, 50 York St., Guilford. Part of the Clarity and Connection: Community Wellness Lecture Series. Features an introduction to energy healing and a personal account of its use in addressing chronic illness, followed by Question and Answer. RSVP required. For info or to register, text 203915-7654. : 6 to 9 p.m. American Legion, 43 Bradley Rd., Madison. Fundraiser supporting the Fournier Legal Services Foundation, which provides financial assistance for youth program registrations. Cost: $50; donations accepted. For info, email flsfoundationct@gmail.com.
See page 29
Tells the Story Through Multiple Voices Circus Fire
By Karen Isaacs
About Connecticut’s Biggest Disaster
, the world premiere production by TheaterWorks Hartford, is a stunning example of documentary drama. Written by Connecticut playwright Jacques Lamarre, focuses on the horrendous July 6, 1944, fire at the Ringling Bros. circus, which was appearing in Hartford. Estimates say that 7,000 people or more, mostly women and children, were attending the weekday matinee. The main tent caught fire; more than 160 people were killed, many of them children, while an estimated 700-plus were burned and injured. Some suffered burns, while others were trampled in the hysteria to exit or were injured jumping from the bleachers. An investigation revealed negligence on the part of Ringling Bros., as well as failures by city personnel. The result was changes in safety regulations that applied nationwide.
The play was conceived by Lamarre, TheaterWorks Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, and director Jared Mazzocchi.
Lamarre has interwoven the stories of both real and fictional characters into a moving and, at times, devastating story.
Too often, as you are listening, you realize how it all might have been prevented. Perhaps shortages caused by World War II were a factor: The circus was short on staff, and the fire extinguishers were old. Some of it was negligence: The site had not been inspected by the city fire department. But one fact is indisputable: For years, the tents had been waterproofed using a mixture of paraffin wax and gasoline. Fireproofing was not done, and those two ingredients are highly flammable. At the time the fire broke out, at least two of the side exits from the tent were blocked by the chutes used to bring the animals in and out.
How the fire started was never identified — was it a carelessly
flicked cigarette, or could it have been arson?
Lamarre begins the story with a 2026 family trying to locate the memorial to the fire in the North End of Hartford. A local resident helps them and starts the story of the events. We move to the ringmaster in the big tent starting the show. Interspersed are scenes of ordinary people getting ready to go to the circus: A woman tries to persuade her husband to take the day off from work; another is taking a neighbor’s child. Also integrated into the story are scenes of a fire investigator questioning circus personnel about the events of the day. Were the water buckets under the stands filled? Who was supposed to distribute fire extinguishers? This is how we learn of the negligence.
We also hear from a nurse at one of the Hartford-area hospitals and a woman who worked in the temporary morgue. And we see the stunned people frantically looking for their loved ones.
A 12-person cast, all Connecticut residents, plays multiple characters. Each has special moments. One that stood out for me was Mike Boland as the famous clown Emmett Kelly. In a quiet monologue after the event, he tells how he and other performers first heard the warning — the band playing “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” a signal of an emergency — and ran to help, including getting people to safety.
The play is filled with small,
Lighting and multimedia effects recreate the terrifying spread of flames beneath the
intense moments — the two delivery drivers (Marco Verna and Eric Orsini) from the SageAllen department store who ferry bodies to the morgue; the circus performer (Rebecka Jones) who tells us how they were vilified afterward, yet how they all rushed to help; the anguished father (Dan Whelton) searching for his family; the woman coming to the morgue to see if her sister and her niece and nephews are there. These moments will break your heart.
Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. leads us through both the circus — as the ringmaster — and the stories,
as the fire commissioner interviewing victims, their families, Ringling Bros. executives, and circus workers. is staged expertly by Jared Mazzocchi, who both directed and created the multimedia, at the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard in downtown Hartford. It was an ideal location; the open space permitted a circus-like atmosphere — a center ring and portable seating around it. The seats looked like bleachers, but were more comfortable. Mazzocchi also made use of the balcony that surrounded and looked down on the stage. Various characters — radio hosts,
aerialists, and others — played scenes there. Projections show visuals of the animals.
Rob Denton created a terrific lighting design; when the fire starts and then spreads, the lights slowly, then explosively, show the spread until the entire space is bathed in deep red.
The production has been extended through May 31 because of audience demand. This is a moving and emotional work — you will be angry, sad, and horrified learning more about this piece of Connecticut history.
Tickets are available at TWHartford.org.
Circus Fire
Circus Fire
Circus Fire
Special to Living
Photo by Curtis Brown
Godfrey L. Simmons Jr., left, and Mike Boland portray officials and executives grappling with the aftermath of the disaster.
Photo by Curtis Brown
Photo by Curtis Brown
Mike Boland portrays famed clown Emmett Kelly in the world premiere of Circus Fire
Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. guides the audience through the story as the circus ringmaster.
Photo by Curtis Brown
Photo by Curtis Brown
Photo by Curtis Brown
Janelle Anne Robinson portrays a woman working in the temporary morgue after the Hartford circus fire.
Stuart Rider appears as the bandleader, whose music becomes a warning signal during the tragedy.
circus tent.
EHS Presents ‘Untold Side’ of the Revolution With Women of '76
Women of ’76
As part of its America 250 programming, the Essex Historical Society will present , a solo theatrical performance, on Sunday, May 24, at the Centerbrook Meeting House.
The 4 p.m. performance invites audiences to experience the American Revolution through the perspectives of women who lived through the era. Award-winning performer Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions portrays five historical figures whose lives intersected with the nation’s founding.
Among the women featured are Baroness Frederika von Riedesel, a German diarist who documented the chaos of war; Prudence Wright, a Massachusetts patriot who organized a female militia to capture Tory spies; Nancy Hart, a Georgia frontierswoman known for confronting British soldiers in her home; Mary Katharine Goddard, the printer who published the first Declaration of Independence to include the signers’ names; and Mary Gould Almy, a loyalist diarist who chronicled the siege of Newport.
Parisi, founder of Waterfall Productions, has spent more than 20 years bringing historical narratives to life through theatrical performance. A member of SAGAFTRA, her work has been featured at both the Boston International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
Continued from page 27
FRIDAY, MAY 22
Willoughby Movie and Book Talk:
The historic Centerbrook Meeting House will host the Essex Historical Society’s presentation of Women of ’76 on May 24.
the Essex Historical Society
“This program is designed to bring lesser-known stories of America’s past to the forefront,” said Kate Savage, outreach coordinator for the Essex Historical Society. “By exploring the lives of women on both sides of the fight for independence, we reveal a deeper, more complex portrait of our nation’s founding.”
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free, though registration is required. The Centerbrook Meet-
ing House is located in Essex. Parking is available across the street behind the Essex Dental Group offices at 62 Main St., Centerbrook.
The program is supported in part by The Alison & Stephen Brinkmann Fund at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.
For more information or to register, visit Essex Historical Society.
SUNDAY, MAY 24
Stamp, Coin, and Collectibles Show
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 23
TUESDAY, MAY 26
The Hero’s Journey: From Navajo Sandpainting Ceremonies to Tibetan Thangkas
Civic Saturday: How to Use the CT General Assembly Website Hamnet
: 5 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Features a film screening at 5 p.m. followed by a discussion at 7 p.m. based on Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. For info or to register, call 203-4888702. : 10 a.m. to noon. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Presentation on navigating state government resources. Free. For info, call 203488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
YMA Annex, 554 Woodward Ave., New Haven. Sponsored by the New Haven Philatelic Society. For info, visit nhps1914.com.
Memorial Day Weekend Summer Kick-Off Lawn Party
: 4 to 7 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Rd., Madison. Season-opening lawn party featuring live music by Caribbean Vibes Steel Drum Band. Food and beverages available for purchase; complimentary valet parking. Rain location inside The Wharf Restaurant. Free. For info, contact 203-245-1404 or email Marketing@DHGHotels.com, or visit madisonbeachhotelevents.com/events/ memorial-day-summer-kick-off-lawn-party.
: 10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Presented by Michele Schofield. Includes samples of the speaker’s Navajo sand paintings and collection of Thangkas. 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.
To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.
Press Release from the Essex Historical Society
Photo courtesy of the Essex Historical Society
Photo courtesy of
Photo courtesy of the Essex Historical Society Performer Rita Parisi brings Revolutionary-era women to life in the solo theatrical production Women of ’76. Photo courtesy of the Essex Historical Society
Goodspeed Goes Rock With a Fine Jesus Christ Superstar
By Karen Isaacs
The historic Goodspeed Opera House is rocking with the theater’s opening production of the 2026 season. It’s venturing into the rock opera genre with its production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s , which runs through Sunday, June 7.
played the role before, including as a stand-in for John Legend during rehearsals for the live television production. His experience shows not only in the vocals, but also in the interpretation of the role. His Jesus is gentle, determined, but also scared.
Superstar
If you can’t guess from the title, it’s a retelling of the Holy Week story leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. Like Webber and Rice’s
Joseph Joseph
, it is an early work by the pair and features not just rock, but a pastiche of song genres. The show, like , began as a concept album in 1970 ( was 1968). It opened on Broadway in 1971.
As expected, this is a very good production of the show. Justin Matthew Sargent, the lead, has Jesus Christ Superstar Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
One warning: If you are buying tickets for the show, avoid the first two or three rows in the orchestra. Why? The stage is covered with fine sand — think of a Caribbean beach — in the first act. It’s several inches deep, and the actors dance on it, pick it up, and let it dribble from their hands. Those in the first few rows may find that they too feel like they are at a beach on a windy day. I’m not sure how all that sand plays into the vision of director Tatiana Pandiani, though I can think of multiple interpretations. It just seems she made extra work for the stage-
hands, who sweep it during intermission and then obviously put it all back for the next performance. has an enormous number of fans. That’s demonstrated by the many community theater and local theater productions, as well as multiple revivals and tours. The night I saw the show, many devoted fans of the musical were in the audience, and you could see them silently clapping along or bobbing their heads; some even mouthed the lyrics.
Sargent is backed up by strong performances, especially from Austin Lesch as Judas and Stephanie Zaharis as Mary Magdalene. Lesch conjures a true rock-star voice, but also imbues the character with emotional depth. He is jealous, angry, and overwhelmed with remorse and guilt.
Zaharis’ Mary is sweet; she has
the best-known song from the show, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Some may feel that, in this staging, the sexual tension between her and Jesus is overdone. Another standout is Deven Kolluri as the conflicted Pontius Pilate. He delivers a strong and nuanced performance.
been relocated from the pit at the front of the stage to an offstage location. A shoutout to sound designer Jay Hilton; he stays true to the show’s rock style, but also keeps the sound from deafening the audience or obscuring the lyrics.
Joseph
I’ve always felt that “King Herod’s Song” — a sort of Las Vegas number — is out of place in this show. It seems left over from . Yet Nicolette Antonia Shin delivers a strong, over-thetop performance.
As usual, Goodspeed has done an excellent job with casting and production values. Pandiani and choreographer Amy Campbell emphasize the ’70s roots of the show; music director Adam Souza has shaken up the orchestra, adding typical ’70s instruments. For this show, and perhaps because of the sand, the band has
Elements of this production puzzled me. Campbell’s choreography, which draws heavily from modern dance traditions, did not always seem meaningful. In this production, dance plays a larger role, but I was often unsure what was being conveyed. The costumes — which varied from period costumes to modern streetwear — also seemed more confused than meaningful.
Fans of the show will definitely enjoy the production; those who simply like it will also find much to like.
Tickets are available at Goodspeed.org.
Photo by Meredith Longo
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Photo by Meredith Longo
Stephanie Zaharis performs the show’s signature ballad as Mary Magdalene.
Justin Matthew Sargent leads the cast in the rock opera classic.
Austin Lesch brings emotional intensity to the role of Judas.
Special to Living
Real Estate Transactions
BRANFORD
EAST HAVEN
397 Moose Hill Road
: Phoebe J.
Leith to Jeffrey M. and Kelly D. Ott, $1,105,000 on April 24
NORTH BRANFORD
524 North Road
: Daniel Sorger to Tara M. White, $635,000 on April 24
: Diane J.
Weed to Terraceence C. Boyle and Rebecca Boudreau, $515,000 on April
: Malcolm Bush and Tracey Rice to Mohamed Shnan, $118,000 on April 23
: Sabrina G. Denard to Kimberly J. Keeshan, $235,000 on April 21
: Medina-McCracken T and Victor C. Medina-Mateo to Jasmine A. Coleman, $200,000 on April 20
: William J. and Katie L. Ryan to Jordan S. and Corey R. Schultz, $450,000 on April 23
: Allison K. and Kimberly L. Ross to 10 Prospect Hill LLC, $1,200,000 on April 20
Hazen
: Ryan W. Lavoie to Grace Demacedo, $220,000 on April 24
: Salafia Builders LLC to Deborah A. Najman, $651,250 on April 20 39 Briarwood Lane Unit A
7 Alpine Drive
: Estate of Wayne Vaporis and Cindy-Lee Vaporis to William J. Mele, $300,000 on April 20
106 Burr Street
: Myke Miller
Residence LLC to Mark and Julie Ourdani, $415,000 on April 20
20 Colonial Heights Road
: Robert J. and Josephine A. Oliano to Kimberly I. Nardini, $550,000 on April 24
12 Glenmoor Drive
: Anita Potrto to Ashley Walker and Ricardo Araujo, $425,000 on April 22
364 Main Street Unit 6
: Vivian
Gamberdella to Abdelmoumen B. Ali and Ahmed Frikel, $120,000 on April 23
611 Maine Street Unit 611
:
Cascade Funding Mtg T Hb7 to Shadai Properties LLC, $250,000 on April 22 :
75 Redwood Drive Unit 407
Robert Vessichio to James Geltman and Carolyn S. Pastore, $205,000 on April 23 :
337 Thompson Street Unit 337
Brenden and Gina Gerbino to Julie
Guckin and William Rapanault, $411,150 on April 21
GUILFORD
: Jeffery and Margrit Flynn to Robert L Hibson Jr LLC, $95,000 on April 24
246 East Main Street 27 Grove Way
: Ian L. Smith to Lisa A. Baroni and James M. McGuire, $1,600,000 on April 20
: Tanya W. and Stephen J. Truax to Gregory S.
49 Uncas Road Peterson, $650,000 on April 20
24 Echo Point Road
: Gggt LLC to Matthew and Lynne Murphy, $434,000 on April 20
77 Pinebrook Circle 24 :
104 Wauwinet Trail Unit 104
Carlos East R. Bayouth to Omar M. Hotak, $285,000 on April 22
379 Whitfield Street
KILLINGWORTH
: Jon D. Pardi to Lela Stokes and Matt Voss, $26,250 on April 20 :
579 State Highway Unit 148
Girardi Alfred J Sr Est and Alfred J=Girardi=Jr=Ex to Daniel Mayo and Alexandra Perry, $565,000 on April 21
MADISON
76 Bartlett Drive
: Anthony N. and Juliet E. Goraieb to Michael J. Leavey and Caitlin G. Buckley, $780,000 on April 21
98 Bartlett Drive
: Midway
Management LLC to Ronald J. and Janet Dziema, $740,000 on April 22
908 Boston Post Road Unit 908
:
Mary East Emerson Real Estate Trust and Mary E. Emerson to Nicholas J. and Nancy J. Robert, $1,250,000 on April 22
: Daniel J
77 East Wharf Road Sullivan Real Estate Trust and Mary C. Farrell to James A. and Emily Warner, $2,500,000 on April 21
: Estate of Rose M. Amato and Dennis Amato to Frank Contento, $495,000 on April 20
Road
: Mark A. Rogers to Amanda Parr, $83,000 on April 21
Evergreen Road
: Pal Property Partners LLC to Christopher M. Doheny and Jacqueline Lucibello, $490,000 on April 20
Foxon Road Unit 5D
: Robert R. and Belinda Noebel to Nicholas Mcfarlane and Kimberly Reid, $250,000 on April 20
NORTH HAVEN
: Estate of Elaine Butler and William F. Butler to Anthony and Charlene Fasula, $440,000 on April 24
: Matthew and Clare Larrivee to Layne Justin and Meghan Manginelli, $555,000 on April 24
Silver Hill
LLC and Broadway Real Estate LLC to Silver Hill Capital LLC, $1,508,888 on April 22 : Real estate transactions are published using publicly available records and are matters of public record. Listings are not removed in response to general privacy requests. Removal will only be considered in cases involving a documented and credible personal safety concern. Requests may be submitted to zip06@shore publishing.com
SEEKING SPONSORS FOR OUR 2026 EVENT
Every year, Shore Publishing/Zip06.com recognizes 15 volunteers in the communities we serve who help fulfill the Shoreline’s promise as a place of opportunity, wellbeing, and safety for all. The honorees will be celebrated at a special event at Woodwinds on June 24th surrounded by their peers and fellow community leaders.
Sponsorship packages provide excellent advertising opportunities - but most importantly, align your brand or business with the mission of The Beacon Awards.
For additional information about opportunities, contact your Sales Representative or Elle Rahilly (e.rahilly@theday.com) to learn more.
Presented by:
