Pay-As-You-Throw Model Continues Success, Says Town
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
The pay-as-you-throw model has proven to be a successful program for waste reduction at the Guilford-Madison Transfer Station, according to an eight-month review of the program by the Guilford Engineering Department
The timeline of the review is between November 2024 and June 2025. Previously, transfer station users paid $9 per 100 pounds of trash as part of a weight-based system for dumping of household trash. The review found that with the transition from a weightbased system to a per-bag system using town-designated blue bags, the capture rate of food scraps rose from around 20% by a rate
of 45% in June 2025. Simultaneously, the transfer station saw a 40% decrease in municipal solid waste (MSW) and singlestream recycling (SSR) increased within the same timeframe by 13%.
Particular points in the eight-month review show a higher rate of food scraps
See Pay-As-You-Throw page 11
Harvest
Fest Fun
Rose Crisci of Blue Moon Raptors shows a great horned owl to the audience and answers questions during the Bauer Park Harvest Festival held on Oct. 18. The event featured live music, hay and pony rides, scarecrow building, a hay maze, farm animals, and hands-on exhibits highlighting local environmental and Madison's agricultural heritage. The free festival, in its 22nd year, was hosted by the Madison Beach and Recreation Department and the Bauer Park Advisory Committee.
has gained a successful reputation as a maple syrup maker at Parmelee Farm...............2
Always on Top
The H-K boys’ and girls’ cross country teams won Shorelines last week, and the Shoreline Co-op girls’ swimming and diving team improved to 5-0...........................................20
Tim Gannon
PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ TheSource
Walz Meig Walz Newcomb Karen Amlong Lee
Tim Gannon Is Parmelee Farm’s Sugarmaker
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
Parmelee Farm in Killingworth is the location for many events and activities, including weddings, concerts, and hiking with dogs. It is also where one of the property’s most well–known faces, Tim Gannon, can be found, especially in the sugar house where the production and education of local maple syrup takes place. For Tim, the making of syrup was another way to contribute to Parmelee’s community and education efforts.
“I had done some maple syrup making with some friends here in Killingworth at their operations,” he says. “I said, ‘Well, this is something we could do here at the farm as part of our educational opportunity.”
The construction of the sugar house partly resulted from a community effort, as hundreds of Killingworth residents purchased maple leaf-shaped blocks posted around the interior of the building. Tim was delighted to see the town-wide support to construct the sugar house,
Person of the Week
from town residents, the Killingworth Library, Town Hall, and the Lion’s Club.
Tim says the “easy way” to remember the peak of syrup production is “from Valentine’s Day to St. Patrick’s Day.”
Regular visits to the sugar house bring people who are curious about the process of producing one of the most well known food items in New England. They are shown how sap is boiled and run through a wood-fired evaporator, and then drawn off for the final step on kettles.
“We have about 225 taps that we put in,” says Tim. “It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. We did 33 gallons of syrup last year.”
Ultimately, the maple syrup is bottled and ready for purchase. All funds
from purchases - which run out pretty quickly when they are on salego towards improvements at Parmelee Farm. From beginning to end, maple syrup production at the farm is an intimate experience and homey process.
“Our motto is, ‘Life is too short for fake maple syrup,’” says Tim.
Tim, who has lived in Killingworth since 1978, is also an educator on the topic of maple syrup production, particularly for visiting Killingworth second graders who learn about how syrup was made in Colonial America. Before teaching about maple syrup, Tim taught industrial arts at Haddam-Killingworth High School. He was also a 43-year member of the Lion’s Club and a founder of the Killingworth division of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.
Parmelee Farm was purchased by Killingworth in 2000, but the first use of the property under town ownership was a community garden that opened in 2007. That same year, Tim began his volunteership, with the
See Tim Gannon page 10
GRACIOUS, SPACIOUS & GREAT. Sited one house from Long Island Sound on a quiet cul de sac, 64 Webster Point is a three level, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 4000+sf classic colonial with high ceilinged (10 feet on the first floor), light filled rooms and beautiful hardwood floors throughout the house. There is deeded beach access to a low tide beach with sandy Pent Rd beach nearby. Excellent views, move in ready, parking for 8 cars. $2,295,000 64websterpointroad.com
Photo Credited to Aaron Rubin
Killingworth resident Tim Gannon has volunteered at Parmelee Farm for 18 years and oversees its sugar house.
I’ve known Seth Klaskin for years. I can say with confidence that he’s exactly the person we want as our next Probate Judge. He’s smart, grounded, and has spent his life putting his legal skills to work for others. We need someone who is fair, empathetic, patient, and has integrity. That’s Seth. He listens, he cares, and he’ll serve our community with the same thoughtfulness he’s shown throughout his career.
I first met Seth through our synagogue, where we were studying ethics together as part of a men’s group. It was clear that he brings a deep moral compass and thoughtfulness to everything he does.
As a psychologist, I’ve heard stories from people during the hardest moments in life — when a loved one has died or when a parent faces the painful task of arranging a conservatorship for an adult child. In those times, the compassion and steadiness of a probate judge can make all the difference.
Seth is a lawyer who’s done the hard work — from drafting parts of Connecticut’s 2017 LLC Act to advising the Attorney General’s office on complex legal matters. After nearly a decade in public service, he moved into business law, negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts and managing legal risk nationwide. That administrative experience, including his leadership in the Business Services Division at the Office of the Secretary of the State, will serve him well. A probate judge not only makes compassionate legal decisions but also manages a functioning office that serves the public effectively.
For over 22 years, Seth has served Madison on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Board of Education (Chair for four years), and leading efforts to bring Social Emotional Learning into every school.
Mark Aron Madison
Political Letters Season is Over; No More Meeting Schedules
Shore Publishing has decided to cut off the publication of political letters in the newspaper as of this edition, as it is now our policy not to run letters the week before an election. All letters received and verified by Thursday, Oct. 30, will be published, instead, on our Zip06 page, along with the letters placed in the paper. Letters that come in after noon next Thursday will not be run on any of our platforms.
As we notified readers last edition, we have been forced to limit the number of letters in this edition due to space issues. The few letters we held out at random will be published at our online portal Zip06. We are sorry about any concerns this might cause, but there is no intention to exclude any one candidate or party. We are trying to be as inclusive as possible, but the sheer number of letters this year has overwhelmed our staff. We have published hundreds of letters in the past few months from people representing nearly every candidate in all of our towns.
Due to limitations on staffing and space, we are currently working on a new letters policy for the next election cycle. Any ideas
or comments on how we can better serve you, our readers, can be sent to Lee Howard, Interim Managing Editor, at l.howard@theday.com. A notification of the new policy will be published in these papers and online in the coming few weeks.
We have tried, over this election cycle as in the past, to publish as many of your letters as possible, not to mention stories on all of the major races in your towns. We hope you have benefited by knowing more about candidates for office as a result of these efforts, and we plan to continue serving your need for local political, news, cultural and sports coverage in the months and years ahead.
In addition, we have now dropped the weekly schedule of town meetings. We could never be all-inclusive anyway, and the times of meetings often changed after we went to print. Your best bet for the latest town meeting times and locations is to check your hometown’s website. We will, of course, continue to cover important town meetings.
Christian Maldonado Valley Courier
Betsy Lemkin The Sound Guilford Courier Ext. 6130
Lori Gregan Valley Courier Ext. 6167
Maria Caulfield Living Editor
Alicia Gomez Specialty Publications 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 Harbor News
Gabrielle Maljanian Sports Editor
Rita Christopher Senior Correspondent
Kristen Lennon Circulation Advertising Assistant
Aaron Rubin The Source Guilford Courier
Wesley Bunnell Chief of Photography
Editorial Staff
Named to
FORBES 2025 TOP RIA FIRMS LIST
SHOOK Research announced that Essex Financial has been selected as one of the Top Registered Investment Advisory Firms in the United States for 2025 by Forbes.
“We are honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of the nation’s top Registered Investment Advisory firms for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is especially meaningful to us because it reflects the very core of our mission: providing trusted, personalized wealth management and financial planning advice to our clients. Achievements like this are only possible thanks to the dedication of our financial advisors and the support of our entire team, who work tirelessly each day with one goal in mind— helping our clients achieve their financial and life goals with confidence. While we are deeply honored by this recognition, what matters most is the trust our clients place in us. We do not take that responsibility lightly, and the entire Essex Financial team works each day to continue earning it. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of service, integrity, and care that our clients deserve,” stated Chuck Cumello, President & CEO of Essex Financial.
Proven Experience, Personal Touch
Since 2003, Essex Financial has been helping individuals, families, and businesses across Connecticut and beyond achieve their financial and life goals. Today, we manage and advise on more than $4 billion in assets under management and administration for over 2,700 households and businesses. Our reputation is built on providing smart, personalized solutions that adapt as your life and priorities change.
As a subsidiary of Essex Bank, we combine the strength and stability of a trusted financial institution with the flexibility and personalized service of an independent advisory firm. Our mission is simple—help you feel confident, supported, and excited about your financial future.
Blanking the Opponent
The Hand boys’ soccer team earned two shutout victories last week ........................... 20
Tog Fishing Season
Ahoy! Check out Captain Morgan’s weekly fishing column 21
New Youth Classes
Alpha Therapy & Training is offering new youth classes at its facility, including a girls fitness
A Legendary Visitor Broadway and film star Hugh Jackman was in town for the Legacy Theater’s production of “Noises Off” 25
Arts and Events Upcoming events across the shoreline should prove to bring lots of fun to the community 24
A Vibrant Community Yale Rep’s production of “Spunk” had an all-star cast .........................27
2024.
“For our seniors to have the night that they did on Senior Night, and get to run into the corner flag to celebrate a goal together as teammates and friends, under the lights at Strong Field, it was a really special night. That is what the Daniel Hand Boys Soccer Program is all about, nights like tonight.” - Mike Shirley 20
Contacting The Source
As your hometown paper, The Source 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 TheSourceencourages 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 Source 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 Source 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 Source 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.
Obituaries
Obituary John Delemarre
Madison
John Tyler Delemarre, 82, of Madison, passed away at home on Oct. 4, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
John was predeceased by his parents, Alfred A. and Ruth Tyler Delemarre; and son Nathanial Patrick Delemarre. He is survived by his wife of neary 60 years, Elizabeth Delemarre; his daughter Renée Delemarre; grandchildren, Cara and Callie Delemarre; daughter-in-law Colleen Delemarre; brother Robert Delemarre; sisters, Jean Iverson and Marie Ho; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and several dear friends and neighbors.
Bureau of Prisons for 22 years, John served for decades in the U. S. Army in several countries including Germany, Haiti, and Bosnia. He retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
John had many life-long interests including the ocean (especially the Long Island Sound and Faulkner’s Island), birds, history, reading, and music (traditional Irish, classical, and folk). He was known for his fondness for grilling meat (kielbasa and bratwurst in particular), making turkey soup after holiday meals, and giving CDs of esoteric musical works to many friends, relatives, and acquaintances. After retirement, John remained involved with a variety of local organizations and causes. Supporting present and former members of the armed services and their families was particularly important to John.
Mr. Delemarre was born and grew up in Meriden, on Sept. 9, 1943. He attended Maloney High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17, and subsequently earned his GED. John graduated from Central Connecticut State Teachers College and Duquesne University School of Law. John and his family lived in Meriden, Germany, Pittsburgh, Penn., Lewisburg, Penn., and Gloucester, Mass., before moving to Madison.
In addition to working for the Federal
Letters Continued from page 4
Trusted Choice for Probate Judge
I’m proud to support Tom Virgulto for Judge of Probate for the Guilford–Madison district. I’ve known Tom for nearly 25 years. In that time, I’ve seen a man who consistently gives of himself to this community — quietly, humbly, and without ever seeking the spotlight.
Tom has coached youth sports, helped his children create the Tiger Tracks program for children with special needs, and served as President of the Madison A Better Chance House, where he still volunteers as Vice President. His law firm regularly sponsors local events like the Hammonasset Turkey Trot. Simply put, few people I know have dedicated more of their time and energy to the people of Madison and Guilford.
Family and friends are invited to a graveside service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the CT State Veteran Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans (https://help.dav.org/). Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.
As an attorney myself, I understand how important it is to have a Probate Judge who truly knows this area of the law. Probate matters — guardianships, conservatorships, estates — touch families at some of their most difficult moments. Experience matters. Tom has represented residents of our two towns in Probate Court for more than 20 years. He brings not only deep legal knowledge, but also the compassion, temperament, and fairness that this sensitive role demands. When you or your family turn to the Probate Court, you’ll want someone who understands both the law and the people he serves.
Tom Noniewicz
Madison
Apply Now To Be Eligible for Essex Bank’s 2026 Community Investment Program
Applications being accepted from October 12 through November 15, 2025.
• Applications must be completed and submitted each year to be eligible for the upcoming ballot.
• Applications are available online at www.essex.bank.
For more information, visit any branch or call Essex Bank at 860-767-4414.
It is again time for Essex Bank’s Annual Ballot Initiative through our Community Investment Program. Since 1996, the Bank has donated up to 10% of our aftertax net income to non-profits and community development projects operating exclusively within the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Guilford, Killingworth, Essex, Lyme, Madison, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.
If you wish to include your non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization or would like one you support to be considered for the customer voted funds, be sure to have them apply by November 15, 2025.
Take this unique opportunity to tell everyone about the great work you are doing in your community and encourage your supporters to get out and vote in February.
Offices: Essex, 35 Plains Road, 860-767-2573
Essex, 9 Main Street, 860-767-8238
Chester, 203 Middlesex Avenue, 860-526-0000
Madison, 99 Durham Road, 203-318-8611
Old Lyme, 101 Halls Road, 860-434-1646
Old Saybrook, 155 Main Street, 860-388-3543
Toll-Free 877-377-3922 • www.essex.bank
Why I’m Running for School Board
Our schools are the heart of our community, and our children deserve a safe, balanced, and high-quality education. I’m running for the school board because parents, grandparents, and taxpayers deserve a stronger voice in the decisions that shape our schools and our future. Every child should learn in an environment that is safe, free from drugs, bullying, and harmful influences. We must protect both the physical and emotional well-being of our students. At the same time, we need to ensure that classrooms remain places of learning, not political or ideological indoctrination. Education should focus on academic excellence, teaching students how to
think, not what to think.
I also believe in responsible spending. Every dollar should go toward supporting teachers, improving classrooms, and strengthening safety. There is no place for bureaucracy or unnecessary programs in the Madison Public School System.
This election is about protecting what matters most: our children, our community, and our future. I’m committed to serving with integrity, transparency, and common sense to ensure that our schools remain a foundation for learning, safety, and opportunity for all.
Lisa Deane Madison
Dr. Tony Paolitto is a proven advocate for Madison’s students, teachers, and families. With a lifelong dedication to education and child development, Tony brings unmatched expertise and compassion to our Board of Education. He holds a B.S. in Special Education, an M.A. in School Counseling, and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Connecticut. His career spans decades of service as a school psychologist in Connecticut and Massachusetts public schools and as a professor at Tufts, James Madison, and George Mason Universities. Dr. Paolitto has trained future school psychologists and established programs supporting children with learning differences, ADHD, giftedness, autism, behavioral
As Madison’s State Representative, a proud graduate of our public schools, and someone who’s worked in education for over fifteen years, I know how essential strong educational leadership is to the future of our community. That’s why I’m supporting Jessica Wilen for the Madison Board of Education.
Jessica brings a rare combination of expertise and empathy to this work. As a licensed therapist, leadership coach, and assistant professor at the Yale Child Study Center, she’s spent her career helping young people, educators, and institutions grow stronger together. She knows how to listen, how to lead, and how to keep students at the center of every conversation.
Her priorities are exactly what our community needs: ensuring parents
challenges, depression, anxiety, and school reintegration following serious illness.
A past president of the Trainers of School Psychologists and recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony has also consulted with schools and boards of education nationwide. As a current Madison Board member, he applies his broad experience with fairness, integrity, and a student-centered approach.
Dr. Paolitto understands how schools operate and how they can best serve students, parents, and teachers. His wisdom and dedication make him an invaluable voice on the Board.
John Rasimas
Madison
have a real voice in shaping district decisions; strengthening advising and mentoring so every student has a trusted adult connection; and developing thoughtful, responsible policies for how technology is used in classrooms. These ideas aren’t about politics; they’re about people. They’re about building the kind of schools that support every child’s potential and honor every family’s hopes.
What stands out most about Jessica is her steadiness — her ability to bring people together, to listen even when it’s hard, and to move conversations toward progress. She’ll serve with both skill and heart, and that’s exactly what this moment calls for.
John-Michael Parker Madison
Proven Advocate in Madison Schools
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Patricia A. Comiskey (25-0285)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated October 9, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Eugene Barry Comiskey, 103 New Haven Avenue, Milford, CT 06460
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Ernst F. Corr (25-0271)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated October 9, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Johanna D. Corr c/o RONALD CRAIG OSACH, PO BOX 5066, NEW HAVEN, CT 06525
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Patricia C. Porter (25-0288)
The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated October 9, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
Nicole Malerba, Assistant Clerk
The fiduciary is:
Christopher W. Porter, 31 River Road, Clinton, CT 06413
Notice is hereby given that the Board will hold a public hearing(s) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 beginning at 7:00 p.m. This is a virtual-only meeting and attendees may join via Zoom webinar through either the webinar link or call-in information below.
25-06. 61 Oak Avenue; Map: 13, Lot: 57, Zone: R-4; Owner/Applicant: Paul and Linda DiTommaso; Variance request to Section 3.6a to allow 23.9’ front yard setback for dormers where 30’ is required and Section 12.6 to expand a nonconforming structure. Application includes a Coastal Site Plan.
Copies of these applications are available for inspection in the Land Use Office. Further details on how to participate in the webinar are posted on the Town of Madison website, www.madisonct.org. All written correspondence can be submitted to the Land Use Department via email to landuse@madisonct.org. Dial 203-245-5631 for assistance.
Dated this 14th day of October 2025
Richard Gilbert, Chair
Town Recognized For Sustainability Efforts
Staff Writer By Aaron Rubin
The Town of Madison has been awarded a silver-grade certification from Sustainable CT for the first time, having demonstrated a strong commitment to “implementing resiliency and sustainability” in the form of regulations and townsponsored education, said Town Planner Erin Mannix.
Much of that commitment is focused on new programs and regulations that are more environmentally conscious, such as the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles and encouraging residents to use public transportation systems such as the popular River Valley Transit bus line. These and other efforts culminated in a recognition that is a “great resource to support communities in Connecticut and help us achieve more resiliency and equity for all of our residents,” said Mannix.
Sustainable CT also recognized a local focus on economic development from a stronger business inventory to the commitment to providing affordable housing in Madison. A focus on the health and inclusivity of the community is another major factor.
Mannix said one of the takeaways from the town’s inaugural silver certification is to maintain where the town’s current strengths are within Sustainable CT’s point-based system and examine “the sections where we’re most needing some improvement.” Some of that may come down to how achievements are logged as evidence of Madison’s building of sustainable and education-related practices.
“You have to continuously look at this and try to make sure that you’re staying current in each section,” said Mannix.
First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons told The Source she is “delighted” about Madison’s first silver certification. She called it a “distinction” that “reflects our deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being through thoughtful policies and investments.” Lyons expressed gratitude to the “collective efforts” of town staff, volunteers, and boards and commissions that culminated in the certification.
“Moving forward, this certification will serve as a reminder for us to keep working towards a healthier, more resilient future for all our residents,” she said.
“We put in a new playground at the Surf Club and worked with volunteers who donated installed accessibility mats so that folks and children with different mobility needs could access the playground. That’s a newer project that we got points for,” Mannix said. “We did receive points for work through senior services and youth and family, for mental health and for reporting numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness and working with them and providing resources with those who are most in need in our community.”
Tim Gannon Is Parmelee Farm’s Sugarmaker
Continued from page 2
garden being his “first exposure to the farm,” he says, and another way to form friendships. The following year, he helped form a steering committee with the goal “to develop the best use of the property,” and was the chair of the committee for 14 years.
Over time, he and the committee made efforts according to a “master plan” that eventually turned the property into the place it is today. The gardening shed was cleared of its overgrown vines, trees were knocked down to make space for the 14 acres upon which events are held, and the pavilion was renovated from a turkey barn into a spot for weddings.
Tim says Parmelee provides “great value” for the town and visitors from other communities, especially to make up for the lack of town green space in Killingworth.
“We envision this as becoming the main gathering place for town events and community events. That’s what it has become,” he says. “We’ve been very pleased. It
doesn’t happen without the work of a lot of volunteer hours. It’s a great place for a lot of the community organizations, volunteer groups and nonprofits, and it’s a good spot for a lot of gatherings.”
The next event happening at Parmelee is the family-oriented Pumpkin Carving Party on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. It’s one of Tim’s personal favorite events at the farm and sees hundreds of pumpkins turned into Jack O’Laterns illuminated by Christmas lights, which are then lined up during the nighttime from the day of the event until Halloween. The event will also involve a hayride, doughnuts and cider, and the local Girl Scouts will be hosting a dog parade.
“It’s a fun event. I enjoy it the most because you get to see a lot of the young families that have come to town, as well as some of the grandparents.”
More information on Parmelee Farm can be found at https://parmeleefarm.org/. Its Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/ parmeleefarmkillingworth/.
Pay-As-You-Throw Model Continues Success, Says Town
capture than others based on several factors. A spike of around 40% was observed around the 2024 holiday season, which Plaziak said “makes sense.” The spike is most likely attributable to many at the end of the year needing to dispose of a lot of food waste, and taking an interest in the newly established program. The spike in can be explained by the increase of the Guilford population observed in the summer, as many residents with seasonal homes in town use the transfer station to dispose of their waste rather than using a private hauler.
The department was also able to report numbers for July 2025, which found a collection of 18,000 pounds of food scraps collected separately at the transfer station.
“That’s nine tons of food scraps collected in one month, which was amazing,” said Town Engineer Janice Plaziak.
Looking at the effort holistically, the department calculated the amount of materials diverted from eventual incineration - an environmentally harmful process to burn waste - increased by 17% by the end of the eight-month review. Overall, the Engineering Department found that between a decrease in MSW and increases in SSR and food capture “demonstrate behavior change and source reduction.”
The behavioral changes referred to are transfer station users being more cognizant of the amount of the waste they generate and the opportunity to reduce the amount they spend on dumping. Plaziak has received anecdotal accounts from transfer station users about the benefits of the program.
“I’ve received commentary back that a lot of people find they’re saving money instead of paying the minimum $9 fee,” she said. “They’re finding that they could get away with one or two bags of trash instead of paying $9.”
She’s also heard from residents who still wish to participate in the program but are unsure where to purchase the blue bags. Blue bags for food scraps are available for purchase at Big Y, Walgreens, and CVS Pharmacy in Guilford, as well as Stop and Shop in Madison. The largest bags can fit 33-gallons of household waste and cost $3.
The town engineer remains committed to informing users of the transfer station about the PAYT model, having placed a sign by the bin designated for food scraps collection as a way of “encouraging people and letting them know how much their efforts to food scraps are really making a difference.”
Other municipal departments Guilford have become involved in ensuring the PAYT program is running correctly. The Guilford Police Department posted an instructional video on their Instagram page on the dumping process and the costs associated with food scrap disposal. The video was published following “an increase in calls to the Guilford-Madison Transfer Station for people driving off without paying the dumping fee.”
The police department said it is “important” that household waste like food scraps be placed in blue bags - for which the required dumping fee is included in their cost - and that they be used accordingly to avoid infractions. Other dumping processes must not be circumvented either to avoid paying required fees.
“Intentionally leaving the Transfer Station without ‘weighing out’ and paying the dumping fee or without using the designated blue bags can constitute theft of services,” Plaziak said.
Plaziak said the town may look into a local ordinance to fine people who dump without paying.
But, with the overall successful results of the PAYT model thus far, “I don’t see the unit based pricing program changing in the near term,” said Plaziak.
Word Search
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, and diagonally throughout the puzzle.
FRIGHT NIGHT WORD SEARCH
BATS BLACK CAT CANDY COBWEB COSTUME GHOST GHOUL HAUNTED
JACK-OÕ-LANTERN MONSTER MOON
OCTOBER PUMPKIN SCARY SKELETON SPIDER SPOOKY
TRICK OR TREAT VAMPIRE
WEREWOLF WITCH ZOMBIE
Word Scramble
Word Scramble solution for October 16, 2025: EARDRUM
Word Search solution for October 16, 2025
Boilers,
Boilers, WaterHeaters, Wellpumps, Well Tanks, Waterfiltration,Faucets, Leakingpipes,Gaspiping 860-434-2200
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!
Girls’ Swimming and Diving Extends Win Streak to 5-0, Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Win Shorelines
By Gabby Maljanian
Sports Editor
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
The Shoreline Co-Op girls’ swimming and diving team defeated Suffield 90-72 on Oct. 7 to extend its winning record to 5-0 for the season. High school swimmers from Haddam-Killingworth, Valley Regional, Lyme-Old Lyme, and Old Saybrook combined to take first and third in the opening 200-yard medley relay and held the lead for the remainder of the meet.
Prior to Suffield, the team won dual meets against Ledyard (10068), Waterford (113-67), Rocky Hill (90-72), and Middletown (9472).
“It was a whole new world last year with four high schools coming together as one co-op team. There were challenges with transportation and differing school schedules, but the girls blended beautifully as a swim family,” said Head Coach Alison Karam. “This year we added 12
new swimmers to our roster, which brings our team to 27 swimmers and divers, our largest ever. It’s exciting to watch them get stronger, faster, and improve their technique.”
Seven team members have already automatically qualified for this year’s state championships: Gianna Dabkowski (junior, H-K), Olive Forristall (junior, HK), Maggie Miller (senior, H-K), Claire Johnson (sophomore, Valley), Phoebe Spallone (sophomore, Valley), Sofia Yumbla (freshman, Valley), and diver Bethany Erkkila (senior, Valley).
Swimmers and divers competing for Shoreline Co-Op this season are: (Seniors) Rose Dimmock, captain (Lyme-Old Lyme), Sasha Dziebel, captain (Old Saybrook), Erkkila, captain (Valley),
Aemelia Kostek (Valley), Miller, captain (H-K); (Juniors) Zi Abbott (H-K), Dabkowski (H-K), Olive Forristall (H-K), Sophia Langer (H-K), Elsa Shatraw (H-K); (Sophomores) Aria Cummings (H-K), Maddie Cummins (LymeOld Lyme), Kinsley Grenier (Lyme-Old Lyme), Johnson (Valley), Phoebe Gerl (Valley), Spallone (Valley), Eliza Sturges (H-K), Lauren Thebeau (H-K); (Freshmen) Angie Bari (LymeOld Lyme), Sophia Cole (H-K), Hazel Forristall (H-K), Jane Gaines (H-K), Liv Osinski (LymeOld Lyme), Divena Rai (Old Saybrook), Norah Reeps (H-K), Livy Roberts (H-K), and Yumbla (Valley).
Top 3 finishes for Shoreline against Suffield included the 200 medley relay team of Spallone, Olive Forristall, Johnson, and Dabkowski in first place, and Shatraw, Cummings, Dimmock, and Sturges in third. Miller placed second in the 200 freestyle, and in the 200 individual medley (IM), Johnson took first, Yumbla
Boys’ Soccer Earns Two Shutouts
By Gabby Maljanian
Sports Editor
The Hand boys’ soccer team traveled to West Haven on Oct. 13 and took a 0-0 tie.
On Oct. 15, the team hit the road to Notre Dame-West Haven and earned a 1-0 win against the defending Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) champions. Senior goalkeeper Cal Davies and senior center back Fin McConville led the Tigers defense to a shutout of one of the top scoring offenses in the state, while junior midfielder Wes Long scored from a direct free kick to lead the Tigers to a marquee victory for the boys’ soccer program.
“It is a really proud day for the coaching staff and everyone involved in our program when we win a game against one of the best teams in the state,” said Head Coach Mike Shirley. “Our boys played with
incredible determination and focus and not only showed the conference but showed themselves what they are capable of. The coaching staff has known all season these are the types of performances the team can put in, and it makes for an awesome night when they put a performance in like that against a team of Notre Dame’s quality and prestige.”
The Tigers then hosted Cheshire on Oct. 17 and won 1-0 on Senior Night to move to a 8-4-3 record on the year. Senior Captain Harrison Hodge scored in the fourth minute of the match to put the Tigers on
took second, and Hazel Forristall took third. In the 50 freestyle, Dabkowski placed second, and Reeps placed third. Johnson claimed first place in the 100 butterfly, and Reeps took third. Yumbla placed first in the 500
top, and they never looked back. Seniors Sam Duffy, McConville, Harrison Hodge, Braydon Shields, Davies, Elliot Arroyo, Zach Porte, David Jacoby, Amir Rana, and Danny Shenouda were all honored for their contributions to the program before kickoff, and they all started in the match.
“For our seniors to have the night that they did on Senior Night, and get to run into the corner flag to celebrate a goal together as teammates and friends, under the lights at Strong Field, it was a really special night. That is what the Daniel Hand Boys Soccer Program is all about, nights like tonight,” said Shirley. “We call this program The Brotherhood, and it was live and in action tonight. I could not have been happier for them as a group because of the dedication that they have shown and because of what a great group of young men that they are.”
freestyle. The 200 freestyle relay team of Johnson, Reeps, Miller, and Dabkowski took first place, and in third place was Thebeau, Grenier, Sturges, and Yumbla.
See page 22
Boys’ Soccer
Photo courtesy of Daniel Hand Boys Soccer Harrison Hodge scored the lone goal in Hand boys' soccer's 1-0 win vs. Cheshire last week.
Photo courtesy of Robin Thebeau
The Shoreline Co-Op girls' swimming and diving team won its first five dual meets of the 2025 season.
Valley Courier
Togs are Tough Only to a Point
Fall blackfish season has opened in a big way. First, the transition closure from summer to fall served to build anticipation. Second, the weather conditions served up an October Nor-easter, generating high winds and angry seas. When toggers either attempted to do battle with inclement weather conditions or bought time until conditions eased, they had to deal with short fish. Unfortunately, that meant an elevated number of releases.
It is estimated that the discard mortality rate for blackfish (tautog) caught and released in the recreational fishery is 2.5%. A 2020 estimate from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) indicated that this rate resulted in over 600,000 dead discards along the East Coast. While this is the official rate used for fishery management, the actual mortality rate can vary depending on numerous factors.
A tautog’s survival after being released depends on several conditions. One is barotrauma. Togs are susceptible to swim bladder expansion, particularly when they are brought up from deeper water. This can force organs out of the vent, and if the tissue is ruptured, it can lead to a dead short discard. In Long Island Sound, most togs are not caught in deep enough water where the threat of barotrauma is a major concern. However, if caught in deep water and quickly brought to the surface, death can result if the swim bladder is not properly vented.
Fishing in optimal conditions can go a long way in reducing hook-and-release-mortality. One study showed that 42 degrees to 52 degree-water temperatures reduced that rate, as did specific salinity levels - including fishing in depths between 40 and 70 feet. Fishers cannot always fish in optimal conditions. Nevertheless, when dealing with many shorts, they can keep an eye on water temperature and depth, taking into consideration the speed by which fish are reeled in, as well as their subsequent release. On the other hand, extreme conditionssuch as increased summertime water temperatures - can increase mortality by raising a
CAPTAIN MORGAN’S
Fishing report
fish’s stress levels.
Anyone who has ever fished for blackfish knows how tough they are and their inherent ability to slow down their metabolism to a semi-hibernative state. The length of time a fish is out of water, how it is handled, and whether it was deeply or shallowly hooked can impact its survival. Injuries from handling, such as body wounds and spinal damage, can increase infection risk and mortality. Releasing a fish quickly is important, as fighting and being out of the water are stressful events that deplete its energy and oxygen.
Additionally, a deeply hooked or gill-hooked fish has a significantly higher chance of dying than one hooked in the mouth. Especially in the case of tautog, being aware of the slightest tap goes a long way in correctly hooking it and ultimately being successful in releasing a fish that is below the minimum size of 16”. Short togs are short-lived if not handled properly!
On The Water
Low pressure off DelMarVa meandered before tracking north. Low pressure off the North Carolina coast became the primary low that tracked well east of our region. Another low over eastern Canada brought a cold front prior to high pressure building from the west, as low pressure meandered over the open Atlantic. The high finally settled over the area while a warm front passed well to the north, then passed east. Much needed rain soaked the area, along with high winds that made for a damp, raw, and cold stretch of days, along with low inland flooding and many toppled trees. Pre-dawn air temperatures dropped to the mid-30s, as daytime ones struggled to get out of the 40s. During this period of nor’easter unrest, Long Island Sound experienced northeast winds over 45 knots, troubled seas to nine feet, and water temperatures to as low as 62 degrees. In the aftermath, temperatures grappled with getting back into
the 60s, as evenings coasted to the 50s before dropping to the 40s. With the weekend looking up, the trailer army was back in force, togging away while shore anglers wanting to hook a blackfish feeding by a wall, jetty, or nearby rock pile loaded up with bait. Wind and seas settled down enough to put together a few tides of fishing. The story was pretty much the same. Tap, tap - short after short. But then, something tugged harder, and finally, one topping 16” followed by another. For many, more shorts followed, but others had a better catch and effort ratio. The showing was much better than the beginning of opening day. Judging the day by the number of crabs left over vs. how long it took to limit out, for the most part greenies got a long workout, while fillet-able togs zipped by in a flash.
Adult menhaden remained scarce, while schools of peanut bunker popped up from time to time among schools of rainbaits. The run of large blues to 15 pounds and above that played around Guilford for over a week last season has not materialized yet. Instead, harbor blues in the eight to 10-pound range are the ones taking lures and cut baitseven a few flies. Striped bass, on the other hand, have been active in lower parts of key tidal rivers eagerly jumping on chunk baits. Hard and soft lures, live eels, and natural baits have been taken. If timing was right, chunked natural baits have out-produced almost anything else that was thrown - especially in the lower rivers and near shore. Anything like scup, spot, shad, and the like became magnets for over-the-slot striped bass. Diamond jigs, bucktails, and tubed spoons are goto’s, and, in calmer water, small poppers. Try a squid strip when drifting or trolling, and the odds will be in your favor to pick up a weakfish. A little nod to the fish gods may put you in touch with some local hardtails, but putting on some nautical miles would most likely put one on a blitzing school.
For October, bottom fishing is holding its own. Good porgy have been caught in deep water but eased off closer to shore. Black
Looking for Rich Kosa of Guilford? Here you would have found him scouting for the upcoming Outer Banks Red Drum Tournament, as he hooked into these 44”/45” impressive red drum caught on cut bait, 20” line, and conventional 12’ rod.
sea bass still have fishers on them in-between their togging, and most local shark species - especially dogfish - which have a prolonged migration trigger are still around, along with skate and stingrays. Not much in the way of sea robins, but triggerfish are being caught!
Flipping from the briny to the sweet water creates a whole different environment for the angler. Casting for recently stocked trout has been paying off. Stocking got a double dose since water levels rose. Atlantic salmon rivers saw more broodstock, and the lakes and ponds not only saw an increase in trout catches but also generated great large/smallmouth, toothy critter, and panfish action. More anglers caught channel cats as well as bowfin that are quite aggressive fighters in the fall and fairly decent to eat, particularly when fried - knowing anglers say. Colorful back country is calling!
Note: Email us pics of your
catches to share with our USA and International fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.
For all things fishy, including the latest gear, flies/fly fishing, rods/reels, clam/crabbing supplies, fishing trips, 2025 licenses/permits, and much more, swing by the shop located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison, or call 203-245-8665 for updated fall hours. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, and promoter of the Daiwa Tournament Program, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.
Tight Lines, Captain Morgan captainmorganusa @hotmail.com captainmorganfish.blogspot.com X (formerly twitter) @captmorgan_usa
Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan
Schedules
HAND
Saturday, Oct. 25: SCC Tournament Semifinals
Tuesday, Oct. 28: SCC Tournament Finals at Amity at 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27: at SCC Swimming Championship Trials at Cheshire Community Pool at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 29: at SCC Championship Meet at SCSU at 5 p.m.
Girls’ Volleyball
Friday, Oct. 24: at SCC Tournament Quarterfinals
Alpha Therapy & Training Offering New Youth Classes
By Gabby Maljanian
Sports Editor
as well as the teen fitness class from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: vs. Shelton at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: SCC Tournament Semifinals
Monday, Oct. 27: SCC Tournament Finals at West Haven at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27: at SCC Tournament Semifinals
Wednesday, Oct. 29: at SCC Tournament Finals at West Haven at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: SCC Tournament Semifinals
Monday, Oct. 27: SCC Tournament Finals at West Haven at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: at SCC Diving Championships at Sheehan at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Shoreline Conference Finals at Old Saybrook at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: at Class M State Championships at Wickham Park
Girls’ Cross Country Boys’ Cross Country
Saturday, Oct. 25: at Class MM State Championships at Wickham Park
Alpha Therapy & Training is offering new youth classes, including a girls fitness class, a preseason hockey training class, a 4 & 5-year-old fitness class, and a teen fitness class. The girls fitness class (ages 10 to 13) will take place on Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pre-season hockey training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Wednesdays include the 4 & 5-yearold fitness class from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In the 4 & 5-year-old kid fitness classes, the kids will play games, do creative activities and age-appropriate exercises, and have fun while socializing. It is a fun, engaging space for kids to move, build coordination, and develop lifelong healthy habits. The preseason hockey training includes mites (8U) from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and squirts (10U) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It is $20 per class to participate.
Girls’ Swimming and Diving Extends Win Streak to 5-0, Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Win Shorelines
Continued from page 20
Spallone won the 100 backstroke, and Shatraw placed third in that event. Olive Forristall won the 100 breaststroke, and Thebeau placed third. The 400 freestyle relay team of Yumbla, Reeps, Spallone, and Miller placed second.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Shoreline Conference Semifinals Tuesday, Oct. 28: Shoreline Conference Finals at Old Saybrook at 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: at Windsor Locks Co-op at 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: vs. Coginchaug/East Hampton/Hale Ray at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct.30: at Cromwell-Portland at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: at Class SS State Championships at Wickham Park
Cross Country
The H-K girls’ cross country team won its fifth consecutive Shoreline Conference Championship and its ninth title in the last 11 years, as the Cougars scored 31 points to easily outdistance runner-up Cromwell, who placed second with 70 points, and the rest of the Shoreline schools. The girls were led by sophomore Charlotte Behnke who placed second in the race in a time of 18:50 over the 3.1 mile course to earn First Team All-Shoreline for the third year in a row. Senior Julia Downing was close behind placing third overall in the race in a time of 19:10. Next was Grace Mitchell in fifth (19:22) to earn First Team All-Conference for the fourth consecutive year. Next for H-K was senior Delaney Aronson in 10th (20:21) who also earned First Team All-Conference accolades by finishing in the top 10 in the race. She was followed by junior Emi Schweitzer in 11th (20:26) and senior Amelia Riggs in 15th (20:36), both of whom earned Second Team All-Conference honors.
The boys’ Varsity squad won the Shoreline Conference team title, which was its 10th championship in the past 12 years, as the Cougars scored 35 points for the vic-
tory. The boys ran an incredible team race, as their top five runners were only separated by 25 seconds. The first to cross the line for the Cougars was junior Evan Berardino who placed third in the race with a time of 16:24 for the 5,000 meter course. Following closely behind was a trio of H-K seniors led by Alex Fredericksen in fifth (16:36), Cash Smigel in eighth (16:43), and Anthony Fredericksen in ninth (16:47), followed by junior Wyatt Voegtli in 10th (16:49) to round out the team scoring. All of them earned First Team All-Conference honors. Next to finish for H-K was senior Dan McCourt in 11th (17:18) and sophomore Trey Downing in 13th (17:21) - both of whom earned Second Team All-Shoreline honors.
In the Junior Varsity (JV) race, the H-K boys’ team dominated the team competition, as the Cougars scored a mere 16 points to win the team title. They were led by a 1-2-3 finish of sophomore Fischer Norton in first place (17:07), junior Paul Birkmeyer in second (17:36), and senior AJ Livingston in third (18:40).
The lone H-K girl in the JV race also had her best race of the season, as sophomore Celia Huebner placed second in the race in a personal record (PR) time of 25:07.
The H-K girls’ soccer team hosted Seymour on Oct. 16 and fell 2-1. Payton Kaplowitz scored the lone goal for the Cougars, and Payton Rich recorded an assist. Jordan Belanger had six saves in net. Girls’ Soccer
Field Hockey Football
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Soccer
Halloween Memories
By Liz Egan
Special to Living
As the gentle sprinkle of falling leaves becomes a steady rain, I think back to my memories of Halloween. Colorful mums, pumpkins, and the aroma of the crisp air ignite my thoughts as I reflect on many warm memories of Halloween. I can almost smell the hot apple cider.
Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, has roots that trace back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that during Samhain, the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the Earth. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these spirits.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III established Nov. 1 as All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. The evening before this day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween. This transition blended pagan customs with Christian practices, leading to the modern celebration.
Halloween has transformed into a community-oriented holiday, especially in the United States. By the mid-20th century, it became a commercialized event featuring costumes, decorations, and candy. Today, it includes activities like haunted houses, costume parties, and various spooky-themed events. Halloween’s history reflects a blend of ancient pagan rituals and Christian traditions, evolving into the festive celebration we know today. Its customs continue to adapt, making it a unique cultural event celebrated worldwide.
leaves into pieces of clothing to create scarecrows.
Carving pumpkins at the kitchen table was another exciting event as we each imagined a scary or humorous face to carve.
In my large family we collected costumes and props in a box in the attic. The day we took the costumes down from the attic was filled with enthusiastic jubilation. Using the costume hand-medowns and additional accessories we would find at a local thrift shop, we would create characters that were uniquely our own.
My large family had three distinct groups—the oldest, the middle, and the youngest. As members of the youngest team, my three younger siblings and I would trick or treat together. After our annual picture, we would start in the older neighborhood across the street. Our home was flanked by houses that were close enough together to manage a sizable number of visits in the course of the afternoon and early evening. Up one street and down another, we were careful not to miss a single house. While those years were in an era where it was more common that woman were at home, even if no one answered we were not disappointed, because we were having fun and there were many more houses in the hours ahead.
Liz with her siblings at Halloween
Joy. I would trade them for Good and Plenty and Now and Laters. We gathered all the fruit and put it in the kitchen for my family to share. We would carefully hide our candy for the inevitable days ahead when my older siblings would come searching for a treat. During my early 30s, I lived in Hartford and was managing director of Company One Theater. The Wadsworth Atheneum, where we were established as the theater-in-residence, would host an annual “Come As You Art” party. As an artist I could not resist.
Halloween: Origins and Traditions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, iso.mit.edu
( ) When I grew up, Halloween was a much-anticipated celebration. For us children, Halloween was not limited to trick or treating. There were many fun activities to participate in. Generally, a few weeks prior, we would rake leaves in the yard and stuff the
By 6 p.m., we knew to come home for dinner. Knowing our bellies were filling with candy, my mother would prepare a simple meal of chicken noodle soup and open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches to warm us and prepare us for Round 2 of trick or treating. After dinner we dashed out to the newer houses behind our home. The streets were teeming with children like us, some joined by their parents. In a little over two hours, we were able to cover an area over four blocks deep and four blocks wide. The pillowcases we used as bags were now heavyladen.
Now bathed and in pajamas after coming home, we were free to sort and trade our candy booty. Full-size bars, minis, favorites, fruit, and those pieces we didn’t like. In my case, I disliked coconut bars like Mounds and Almond
Thinking outside the common bowler hat with apple that composes a Rene Magritte costume, I looked at one of my favorite abstract expressionist artists, Willem de Kooning. His painting became the subject of one of the costumes I created in the three years I attended. Learning to make simple paper mâché as a child, I created and painted an enormous mask from a balloon and newspaper adding cardboard cuffs to my wrists. The many layers of colorful tuile wrapped around my torso simulated the highly gestural quality of his brushwork.
Woman and Bicycle
As a teacher at Westbrook Middle School, I had a Tuesday
Art Club which hosted a pumpkin carving party that was a highly anticipated event. As many as 50 students would participate in any given year. Many parents volunteered so that we maintained a safe environment. My husband and I would subsidize the event so that all students could participate and have their own pumpkin. My husband Paul,
an engineer, created safe miniature carving tools from coping saw blades and PVC tubing. Parents and I would carve the opening in the top of each pumpkin and students would gut the contents and draw and carve the face.
As each finished, we would See Halloween page 24
Photo courtesy of Liz Egan
Photo courtesy of Liz Egan
Paul Egan's family of scarecrows on bicycles was a delightful addition to the neighborhood.
For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website, www.zip06.com.
THURSDAY, OCT. 23
Walking Tour of Historical Madison Green
: 10 a.m. Madison Green. Meet at the Madison Chamber of Commerce, 12 School St. Hosted by the Shoreline Village CT (SVCT). Rain date: Tuesday, Oct. 28. For info or to register, contact 203-747-5939 or info@ShorelineVillageCT.org.
Health Insurance Decoded
: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Covers a brief primer on terminology, the tricks insurance companies like most to pull, and ways avoid paying charges that are easily avoidable. For info or to register, call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
Shoreline Opera Club
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd, Madison. Features a discussion of the recent Met Live in HD broadcast of . Free and open to all. For info, email ShorelineOperaClub@gmail.com.
Author Event: Lev AC Rosen
: 6:30 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.
FRIDAY, OCT. 24
Library of Things Toy Library Launch La Sonnambula Mirage City
: 11 a.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Features the unveiling of more than 50 new toys and games in the Library of Things Toy Library sponsored by the Traveling Toys and the Madison Racquet and Swim Club. For info, contact 860-669-2342 or coralie@hchlibrary.org.
Halloween Memories
Continued from page 23
bring the pumpkins for a temporary display in the library. Ballots were created and the entire school voted on the best, scariest, and funniest pumpkin. The event was later expanded to a schoolwide event as each of my students participated by drawing a jack-o’-lantern. These were put up in a lobby display and became part of the voting process.
SATURDAY, OCT. 25
Trail Run
: 8 to 10 a.m. Westwoods, Guilford. Meet at the Sam Hill Road trailhead. Features a five-mile run at a social pace through Westwoods, following the Orange Trail north and heading back on the White Trail. New trail runners are encouraged. No one will be left behind. Hosted by the Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT). Led by GLCT Directors Bernadette Bober and Jodie Lang. For info, text 203-508-2064.
Saturday Fall Migration Bird Walk
: 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison. Meet at 7:50 a.m. at The Audubon Shop parking lot, 907 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Carpool to the park at 8 a.m. Cost: $6 per person in cash, due upon arrival. Preregistration is not required. Beginners welcome. Binoculars are necessary and can be rented for $4. For info or to rent a pair of binoculars, call The Audubon Shop at 203-245-9056 or visit theaudubonshop.com/events.
Guilford Seniors Annual Holiday Craft Fair
: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Features gently used pocketbooks, jewelry, puzzles, holiday and everyday decorations, sewn items, pet toys and garments, knitted and crocheted sweaters, hats, a bake sale, an auction, and more. Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit programs for the Guilford seniors. For info, call 203-453-8068.
Watercolors En Plein Air: Chaffinch Island Park
:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Class will work outdoors at Chaffinch Island Park weather permitting, but indoors if needed. Cost: $37.80 for members, $42 for nonmembers. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
I have fond memories of those days and the evenings Paul and I spent counting the many ballots so they could be announced during the next morning’s school news program. Carving pumpkins was an annual activity that Paul and I both enjoyed, and we frequently invited relatives and friends to participate with us.
In the first year of Clinton’s scarecrow contest, Paul, also known as “The Bike Guy,” created a family of scarecrows on
Calendar for the Week of October 23, 2025
Fifth Annual Disc Golf Tournament
: 11 a.m. Bittner Park, 1346-1450 Durham Rd., Guilford. Cost: $40, includes one disc, a score card, and snacks. All levels welcome. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels. Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 26. For info or to register (required), call 203-4538359.
Secret Life of Owls
: 11 a.m. to noon. Yellow Munger Barn, The Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Features a great horned owl, an Eastern screech owl, a barred owl, and a red-shouldered hawk. Presented by Rose Crisci of Blue Moon Raptors, a place that rescues birds of prey and offers educational programs on the role they play in maintaining the balance of nature. For info, visit dudleyfarm.com/events.
St. Marys High School New Haven Class of 1975 50th Reunion
: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Woodwinds, 29 Schoolground Rd., Branford. For info, contact Laura Ruoppolo Spignesi at lauraspignesi@yahoo.com.
Halloween Mixed Media Mask Workshop
: Noon to 4 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. For children ages 8 and up. Using paper pulp masks as a base, students will add paper and mixed-media collage materials to create a custom mask to wear for Halloween or hang on display. Parents are welcome to attend but must register individually. Cost: $54 for members, $60 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $20 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Annual Bailey’s Dog Park Howl-een Parade and Costume Contest
: 3 to 5 p.m. Bailey’s Dog Park, 141 Glenwood Rd., Clinton. Parade at 3:30 p.m. Includes prizes, raffles, and more. For info, email FOBDPct@gmail.com or visit Baileysdogpark.com.
See page 25
bicycles in front of our home. Paul, a frequent visitor of the local Goodwill store, purchased clothing in all sizes. Similar to my days as a child making scarecrows, he stuffed the legs, shirt, and hoodies, with leaves. He added a halved milk jug drawn with a face into the hoodie. Paul tied the gloves and sneakers filled with leaves to the bikes. The effect was wonderful. Although the contest was limited to businesses in town, his display was a delightful
addition to our neighborhood. The fun events and activities of the past are the special memories I will always cherish. Today, I have young children as neighbors. I hope to have the opportunity to make a scarecrow or carve a pumpkin with them and continue to make memories for them and for me.
After all, aren’t the memories we create together what the best of life is all about?
Broadway and Film Star Hugh Jackman Visits The Legacy Theatre
The Legacy Theatre, finishing its mainstage season with a sellout run of the comedy , had a very special guest in the audience at the afternoon performance on Oct. 1.
Noises Off
Hugh Jackman, one of the most accomplished actors in recent times (accolades include Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Golden Globe Awards, as well as multiple Academy Award nominations), was in town to see his friend James Roday Rodriguez star in The Legacy Theatre’s production of the zany three-act show.
Roday Rodriguez said, “Very cool for this Great Showman to support regional theatre on the Connecticut shoreline—cast and crew were stoked to touch his arms and use this boost to finish the 22-show run.”
From New York With Love
The Boy From Oz
Legacy Managing Director Jeff Zeitlin commented, “It’s rather daunting to have a star of Hugh’s caliber join us. He was gracious and kind in his comments about both the show and our jewel box theatre. We were thrilled to have him join us. He’s welcome back anytime!”
The Legacy Theatre is conveniently located just four minutes off I-95, Exit 56, at 128 Thimble Islands Road in the Stony Creek Village of Branford, steps from the Long Island Sound.
The Legacy Theatre, a fully accessible professional theatre company and training center, is a cultural hub along the Connecticut shoreline, uniting audiences through timeless classics and fresh contemporary theatre. Legacy is dedicated to being a dynamic incubator of emerging new works, nurturing the next generation of visionary theatre-makers, and inspiring a lifelong love for the arts in audiences of all ages. The theatre, fully renovated prior to its opening in 2021, is housed in the former Stony Creek Puppet Theatre, a building with a century of rich history that includes performances by Orson Welles, and in 2024, a musical directed by Julie Andrews.
The Music Man
Jackman just wrapped a 24-show run, , at New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall. He won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for . More recently, he was nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as Professor Harold Hill in the 2022 revival of .
Continued from page 24
: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. For children ages 4 and up. Cost: $27 for members, $30 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $15 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
: 5:30 to 9 p.m. I-Park, 428 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam. Cost starts $125 per person. For tickets, visit i-park.org. For info, contact 860-873-2468 or events@i-park.org.
SUNDAY, OCT. 26
: 9 a.m. Vista Innovations, 107 Bradley Rd., Madison. Features a three-mile walk through downtown Madison and along the shoreline. Check-in at 9 a.m. Walk kicks off 10 a.m., led by Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps. Proceeds benefit the Edward Gallant Financial Aid Fund, which provides need-based assistance to help underwrite essential services for members of Vista’s Engage Program. For info, visit the Walk for Vista link at vistalifeinnovations.org.
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Wood frames and a collection of glass pieces, beads, and ephemera will be provided. Bring your favorite odds and ends to personalize your art project. Cost: $75.60 for members, $84 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $55 is payable with the tuition. For info or to register, call 203-453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
Stone Setting with Silver Metal Clay: Finishing and Firing
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Students learn which stones can be fired in the kiln and how to flush-set stones to fire in metal clay. Cost: $166.50 for members, $185 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $130 is payable with the tuition and a small tool kit can be rented for $3. For info or to register, call 203-4535947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org.
A Literary Launch: Two Genres, Two Kates
: 11:30 a.m.
MONDAY, OCT. 27
Observations of an Ordinary Life
North Madison Congregational Church Friendship Hall, 1271 Durham Rd. Features poetry readings by Madison editor and poet Kate Davis from her book, , and a reading by Guilford writer and poet Kate Summerlin from her memoir, . Includes refreshments. For info, visit northmadisoncc.org.
1875 Steinway's 150th Celebration Concert
: 4 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meetinghouse Ln. Features Duo Fuerza, composed of pianists James D’León and Alwen Yeung. Part of the Music at the Meetinghouse concert series. Tickets: $20, at the door. For info, contact Nathan Bayreuther at 203-245-2739, ext. 14, or nbayreuther@fccmadison.org.
The VIDA Quartet Meditations from the Center of the Stream
: 4 p.m. The Morgan School, 71 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Part of the George Flynn Classical Concerts Series. Free, but tickets must be ordered online. For info or tickets, visit georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com.
Exploring Apple’s New Operating System for iPhones
: 3 to 4:45 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register, call 203-2457365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Group
: 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook. Features special interest topics and guest speakers. Facilitated by the Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services clinical staff. No residency requirements. No registration required. For info, contact 860-510-5042 or heather.mcneil@oldsaybrookct.gov.
Octoberfest
The Strange Adventures of an Accidental Theatre Kid: A Musical Adventure
: 7 p.m. Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Features a performance at 7 p.m. of Sarah Kronenberg’s cabaret, ; a reception at 8 p.m. with light refreshments, a 50/50 raffle, and more. Hosted by Brief Cameo Productions. Tickets: $30. For info or tickets, visit briefcameoproductions.com.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28
Agroforestry with Florencia Montagnini:
5 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Co-sponsored by Guilford Free Library and Shoreline Village CT. For info or to register (required), call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Press Release from the Legacy Theatre
Photo courtesy of The Legacy Theatre
Actor Hugh Jackman chats with "Noises Off" cast member Mariah Sage.
Halloween Magic Art
2025 Illuminations Masquerade Benefit
Walk for Vista 2025
Glass Mosaic Window
Second Annual Charity Golf Tournament Raises over $36,000
Press Release from Branford Community Foundation
On Monday, Sept. 29, over 100 people gathered at the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club in Branford for the second annual charity golf tournament supporting the Branford Community Foundation (BCF). With a sold-out tournament, practically perfect weather, and a stunning course on which to play, the fundraiser was an all-around success, raising over $36,000 for the foundation.
“We are beyond grateful for the incredible turnout at our second annual charity golf tournament,” said BCF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. “I want to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who played in the tournament, joined us for dinner, was a sponsor or prize donor, or donated during the event. Every dollar raised ensures that we can continue to provide for the educational, cultural, health, social, and civic needs of our community.”
The day kicked off with registration, putting practice, and driving at the range, before participants enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club staff. The tournament officially began with a shotgun start, followed by an afternoon of friendly competition. A lively buffet dinner, awards, and the pulling of the prize drawing winners rounded out the evening as golfers and attendees listened to remarks from Petra, BCF co-founder David Etzel, and Thimble Island Private Wealth Managing Director Logan J. Reed and Vice President Matthew C. Fleming. Thimble Island Private Wealth served as the presenting sponsor of the event. Other featured sponsors included dinner sponsors Cherry Hill Glass and Karp & Langerman, P.C., lunch sponsors Betty Ann Donegan, The Etzel Family, and Ascend Bank, and long hole drive sponsor Knightsbridge Supply Company Inc. BCF plans for the tournament to continue annually, and looks forward to sharing the date of the 2026 tournament soon.
For more information on upcoming grants, sponsorships, and community events, or to make a contribution to the Branford Community Foundation, email Marketing@ BranfordCommunityFoundation.org.
Continued from page 25
: 10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Presented by MaryEllen Mateleska, senior director for education and conservation at the Mystic Aquarium. 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.
Drive-in Movie Night
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Decorate a file box with paper plates for wheels and bring it to the library for a “drive-in” movie. Participants can sit in the “car” (or on the floor) in the children’s room for the film showing. Popcorn served. For info, including the movie title, or to register (required), call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
Understanding Medicare
: 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Morgan School, 71 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Covers Medicare parts A, B, C, and D; expected costs for specific services; prescription drug coverage; and enrollment how-tos. Cost: $10. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For
in Branford.
info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
Civil Liberties and the Supreme Court
: 10 a.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Presented by Andy Schatz, retired lawyer, former president of the ACLU of Connecticut, and member of the national ACLU board and executive committee. 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.
What's Up with the U.S. Constitution?
: 6 p.m. Memorial Town Hall, 8 Meeting House Ln., Madison. Presented by Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, state senator and teacher of constitutional law and related courses at Quinnipiac University. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the East Shore. For info, email eastshoreleague@yahoo.com.
Author Event: Mona Awad in Conversation with Maeve Cunningham
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 AND THURSDAY, OCT. 30
Creative Crafts with Jesse: Paper Quilled Fall Tree We Love You, Bunny: A Novel
: 6:30 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com. : Wednesday, 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 3:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Adult participants will learn to paper quill to make a fall tree on a card base. No experience required. All materials provided. For info or to register (required), call 203245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.
To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.
Photo courtesy of Branford Community Foundation
The second annual charity golf tournament supporting the Branford Community Foundation (BCF) was held at the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club
Sharks in Long Island Sound
Yale Rep’s Production of Introduces Us to a Vibrant Community Spunk
Review THEATER
By Karen Isaacs
Special to Living
Spunk
by Zora Neale Hurston, getting a very belated world premiere full production at the Yale Rep, was written in 1935, but was not found until 1997 in the Library of Congress. The musical play is based on a short story of the same title that Hurston wrote and published in 1925. (Ironically, in the 1980s, director George C. Wolfe adapted the short story and two others into a play, by Zora Neale Hurston that had a production off-Broadway in 1991.)
Spunk: Three Tales
The lively Yale Rep production runs through Saturday, Oct. 25.
Zora Neale Hurston wrote short stories, novels, and plays. But she was also an ethnographic researcher, folklorist, and cultural anthropologist who published academic articles and taught at several universities. She was a major figure of the Harlem Renaissance—that period between the wars when music, art, dance, and literature flourished in Harlem—but whose works were forgotten for many years.
Spunk
uses a combination of Hurston’s skills to tell the story of Spunk and the residents of a Black-incorporated town in central Florida in 1935. She uses her playwrighting and academic skills to focus on the people and the music of the town. The play is teeming with songs, most of which are folk songs, though the Yale production includes a few new songs and others with new lyrics. But these were the songs that Hurston discovered in her research.
Though Hurston was talented, her work was criticized by other Black writers for its use of
dialects, which were considered demeaning and stereotypical. In addition, her conservative politics—she felt that the New Deal social programs created depen-
dency and criticized the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. the Board of Education in the 1950s as unnecessary—were not appreciated. This play is not heavy on plot.
The story is relatively simple. Spunk, a handsome and charismatic young man, arrives in the town with his guitar, and soon all the locals are smitten with him.
The men admire his skill in handling the most dangerous saw at the local mill; the women are attracted to his good looks and charm. But Spunk has eyes only for Evalina; unfortunately, she is married to Jim, whose father, Hodge Bishop, practices the black arts. When Jim comes after Spunk with a knife, Spunk shoots him. Hodge then announces he has “put his mark” on Spunk.
All this occurs in the first half of the play. It is so jam-packed with music and action that you might wonder where it will go in the second half. And that is one of the difficulties Hurston faced and did not conquer. The second half gets bogged down.
While the original story had an unhappy ending, in her musical
version, Hurston made it a happy ending.
Director Tamilla Woodard and choreographer nicHi douglas have done all they could to hide the problems with the show. It is best if you just sit back and enjoy the songs, the dancing, and the fine performances.
Hurston included in the play the activities the residents used to build community—the card game Pitch, croquet, and the toe party, in which men select their partners for the evening by viewing only their toes.
The play opens with a gang of men singing as they shovel and pick ax the hard soil. While it isn’t clear if this is just a work gang or a prison chain gang, it is through the song and their talk that we start hearing about Spunk.
We then move to the town, which has gathered to party, play, and gossip; everyone knows everyone and their business. Spunk is the center of attention, with several women vying for him—Ruby, in particular. The scene is filled with songs and dancing.
As the story moves along, that is the feature—everyone is always present and ready to comment.
Yale has assembled a fine cast—from J. Quinton Johnson as Spunk and Kimber Elayne Sprawl as Evalina, to Kimberly Marable as Ruby and Jennifer Bayardelle as Mrs. Watson. The cast gives these somewhat generic characters individuality.
Hurston wrote the language that she heard during her research, so the characters speak in a vernacular that some may find difficult to understand. But even if you don’t understand every word, the story still comes through clearly.
Hurston’s work is worth discovering, and offers a picture of people who, despite the restrictions and prejudices that surrounded them in white society, built a vibrant community.
For more information or tickets, visit YaleRep.org. Spunk
Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus
The cast of Yale Rep production of "Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston
Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus "Spunk" runs through Saturday, Oct. 25.
Real Estate Transactions
BRANFORD
Harriett
Mahoney of Branford to Jennifer J Wright RET and Jennifer J. Wright, $620,000 on 10/02/2025
Markham Lt and Edward D. Markham of Branford to Franklin and Yifang Chen, $637,000 on 10/01/2025
Brian and Kara Phillips of Branford to Bruce Shillinglaw, $476,000 on 10/03/2025
Brian and Kara Phillips of Branford to Bruce Shillinglaw, $476,000 on 10/03/2025
David R. Carlson of Branford to J D & Debra G Nardini RET and Joseph D. Nardini, $575,000 on 10/01/2025
Dube Judith M Est and Michelle L. Austin of Branford to Brandon M. Whalen and Megan Goetsch, $320,000 on 10/01/2025
Nina Rapuano of Branford to Irtaza and Alle Z. Zaidi, $550,000 on 10/03/2025
Little Pumpkin Patch LLC of Branford to Wayland LLC, $2,750,000 on 10/01/2025
Athanasios and Chris A. Psillas of Clinton to David and Jodi Kryzanski, $792,000 on 10/01/2025
Gordon S. Murdoch of Clinton to Joseph and Lori Modenese, $485,000 on 10/01/2025
Jonathan Ohr of Deep River to Clare and Robert Dube, $245,000 on 09/30/2025
Roderick and Omayra Toppin of East Haven to Dishawn and Lillian Bell, $390,000 on 10/02/2025
Charles Schmidt and Primary Res Mortgage Inc of East Haven to Gzz Ss Us LLC, $258,250 on 09/30/2025
Matthew R. Wohlstrom of East Haven to Candace Ford, $360,000 on 09/29/2025
EAST HAVEN
Thomas F. and Francis M. Nerkowski of East Haven to Advance Hvac LLC, $126,200 on 09/30/2025
Pellegrino Alice M Est and Thomas C. Pellegrino of East Haven to Steven R. and Violette Prinz, $389,900 on 10/02/2025
John Mackay of East Haven to Richard Schiliro and Daria Kania, $155,000 on 10/01/2025
Mohamed Ali of East Haven to Nicholas M. Forren, $155,000 on 09/30/2025
Anne Persico of East Haven to Lucy Lano and Anthony Savo, $360,050 on 09/29/2025
ESSEX
Anthony and Catherine L. Gazikas of Essex to William H. and Susan A. Fenn, $821,000 on 10/02/2025
Sandra M. Harreys of Essex to Nicholas Zamsky, $475,000 on 10/02/2025
GUILFORD
LET’S CONNECT!
Janet Peckinpaugh, Realtor® 696 Boston Post Road Madison, CT 06443 c. 860.985.3659 jpeckinpaugh@wpsir.com janetpeckinpaugh.com
Shannon A. White and Virgil Roberson of Guilford to Jon and Marguerite Romeo, $625,000 on 10/03/2025
Nichols Evelya B Est and Jennifer N. Wilson of Clinton to Renee and Arthur Allen, $349,000 on 10/01/2025
J J & P A Binkowski Jret and Joseph J. Binkowski of Clinton to John and Kathryn S. Christolini, $675,000 on 10/01/2025
Jill S. Kuo of Clinton to Adam Greene, $490,000 on 10/02/2025
Hans Loricco of East Haven to Michael G. and Denise N. Meliti, $190,000 on 09/29/2025
Ricci
Robert Est and Melissa Ricci of East Haven to Jorge G. and Nilsa J. Burgos, $350,000 on 10/03/2025
Joseph P. Guarino of East Haven to Amy Guarino, $300,000 on 10/02/2025
Stephen C. and Christine M. Szufnarowski of Guilford to Allan and Tomoko Tarantino, $720,920 on 09/30/2025
Decesare
Patricia S Est and Christine Piscitelli of Guilford to Brian J. and Megan E. Lee, $600,000 on 10/02/2025
Real Estate Transactions
Deborah C. Spalding of Guilford to Paul P. and Robin L. Ehrlich, $1,012,500 on 10/01/2025
Philip L. Ross of Guilford to Hilary E Weissberg T and Joseph B. Weissberg, $745,000 on 10/02/2025
F Vigliotti Const Co LLC of Guilford to Brian D. and Sarah C. Ward, $814,536 on 09/30/2025
John P. Corwin and Diana L. Insolio of Guilford to Philip A. Madonna, $590,000 on 10/03/2025
Frederick E. and Kerry M. Rosa of Guilford to Mark A. Benevento and Sarah K. Gutman, $631,050 on 10/01/2025
Valana Stevens RET and Michael C. Stevens of Guilford to Stephen R. Ramsey and Suzy C. Page, $385,000 on 10/02/2025
KILLINGWORTH
Thomas J. Lockwood of Killingworth to Frasher and Cassandra Lulaj, $3,000,000 on 10/01/2025
Olivia B. Drake of Killingworth to Samuel Barber, $480,000 on 09/29/2025
MADISON
Peter and Amy
Almo of Madison to Carmen and Grace Balzano, $1,525,000 on 10/02/2025
John L. Parks and Kimberly A. Stasiak of Madison to Peter J. Tuohy and Ellen M. Gessler, $941,000 on 10/02/2025
Robert C
Miller T and Laura Miller of Madison to Cynthia K. Rinaldi, $470,000 on 10/01/2025
Mary Junno and Joshua Casey of Madison to Eugene and Gloria Mauro, $700,000 on 09/29/2025
Devonshire Ln:
Scarlett A. and John Atkins of Madison to Megan and Cormac Roberts, $801,000 on 10/02/2025
Jason S. and Kristin M. Brown of Madison to Emin and Sejla Emini, $565,000 on 09/29/2025
Christopher S. Becker of Madison to Joseph and Melinda Helfrich, $1,045,000 on 09/29/2025
Judith A. Lindquist of Madison to Nico J. and Kaitlin J. Capone, $703,500 on 09/30/2025
Katherine
Gould of Madison to Marybeth Cataldo, $415,000 on 09/29/2025
NORTH BRANFORD
Gary Cuomo of North Branford to Eastern Postal Rlty Hldg, $800,000 on 10/03/2025
North Branford Town Of of North Branford to 127 Old Post LLC, $10,000 on 10/02/2025
OLD SAYBROOK
Marden Richard D Est and Robert K. Blanchard of Old Saybrook to Amanda Merritt, $550,000 on 10/01/2025
Bryan Neurath of Old Saybrook to Kevin and Katelyn Dobrindt, $620,000 on 09/30/2025
Green Nancy G Est and Leigh A. Newman of Old Saybrook to Brigid M. Featherstone, $650,000 on 10/01/2025
Dr:
Lucille P. Scelfo of North Branford to 81 Berncliff Drive LLC, $400,000 on 10/01/2025
Anniemac Private
Equity C of North Branford to Heather Meachen, $369,000 on 10/03/2025
Mark J. and Kimberly Maulucci of Westbrook to Jeannie Russell T and Jeannie Russell, $860,000 on 09/30/2025 Salty Marsh LLC of
to Nikki and Adam Gray, $872,000 on 10/01/2025
131 Burr Hill Road, Killingworth
SOLD • $3,000,000
The Iconic ‘Castle’ - Represented Buyers & Sellers
8 Jacob Lane, Killingworth
SOLD • $1,185,000 A Sophisticated Colonial - Represented Buyers & Sellers
8 Gaylea Drive, Branford
FOR SALE • $2,695,000
Turnkey luxury in the heart of Pine Orchard’s coveted Juniper Point Association. This fully renovated designer residence is a private sanctuary offering a lifestyle where community and architectural sophistication converge. 8gayleadrive.com
Every transaction tells a story - these reflect not only the market’s strength but also the importance of navigating luxury real estate with care, strategy and integrity. Contact me today to discuss the current real estate market and discover your home’s value.
Melanie Scull
real estate advisor
c: 323.314.0888
mscull@williampitt.com | melaniescull.williampitt.com Madison Brokerage 696 Boston Post Road
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT MELANIE Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
