The Chester Board of Selectmen is proposing a 4% increase in expenditures in its budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, as presented at a budget hearing April 28. Total proposed expenditures are $19,311,304 in annual spending. While the
mill rate will remain at 27.08 mills, the budget increase represents a 2.6% rise in property taxes. With an approved budget, Chester taxpayers would pay about $201 more in taxes next year.
The two largest budget drivers—whose increased costs account for 92% of the overall increase—are spending increases for Chester Elementary School and town employee pay-
roll. The cost of medical insurance has increased by $39,000, continuing a trend seen in other towns.
Chester has numerous capital projects planned over the next five years, most in infrastructure, education, and public safety. For the coming fiscal year, the town has
See Chester Budget page 4
Float on By
Onlookers crowd a Main Street bridge as hundreds of rubber ducks float down Pattaconk Brook during the 12th annual ConnDucky Derby in Chester on May 2. Organized by the Rotary Club of Chester and the Merchants of Chester, the spring fundraiser supports local scholarships, town projects and civic programs.
the right time................................12
PhotobyWesleyBunnell/ ValleyCourier
Kim Reilly Stafford: The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring
By Rita Christopher
Courier Senior Correspondent
So you think you know what garden club ladies are: wide-brimmed hats, flowered dresses, women a cartoonist once characterized as “the Begonia Mafia.”
Now meet Kim Reilly Stafford. She greeted a visitor in bib overalls, a Tshirt, and a baseball cap. “The Essex Garden Club is working gardeners,” she explains, standing in her garage filled with plants, pots, and gardening equipment, most of it destined for the Essex Garden Club’s annual May Market on May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kim is one of the garden club members chairing the annual event in the park on Essex Main Street. The other co-chairs are Ann Tillman and Sally McGovern.
With Mother’s Day coming right after the May Market, the garden bazaar features bouquets and cut flowers among its wide range of offerings. There are also potted plants, tomato plants, indoor tropical plants, and plants dug from members’ own
Person of the Week
gardens. “Those plants are healthy and already acclimated to this climate,” Kim says.
In addition, there are booths of gifts, artist-made crafts, antiques, and the famous garlic salt, the recipe for which remains a well-guarded garden club secret. “I love the garlic salt,” Kim says. “I use it on everything but cereal.”
The proceeds from the sale fund both college scholarships and camperships. Students from Essex whose studies focus on environmental issues, either as undergraduates or graduate students, are eligible for stipends. Last year, the garden club gave $26,000 in scholarships, divided among 10 students.
Camperships go to approximately 40 youngsters a year to help defray
the costs of Camp Hazen, the Incarnation Center, or Essex Parks and Recreation. The Kitchings Family Foundation and Essex Savings Bank also contribute to the campership fund.
The May Market, with its emphasis on children and on school, is important to Kim because she spent the majority of her career in education. “I want to help kids, and I am happy to raise money for them,” she says.
Kim started as a specialized reading and math instructor in her native Florida and went on to be a districtwide coach working with teachers in areas of ongoing professional development.
Her husband, Randy, originally from Long Island, was a school psychologist. When they retired, Randy was eager to come back to the Northeast. “We were ready for a change,” Kim recalls.
They house-sat for friends in Rhode Island as they looked for a
See Kim page 10
At County Hearing and Balance, we have been caring for your hearing health for over 50 years. We offer advanced hearing devices that are clearly different. Our Doctors of Audiology are not limited to one specific brand. They can choose the right product for you, from the best manufacturers.
We participate with most insurances. Call ahead to determine your benefit.
Call one of our convenient offices to schedule your appointment.
VRHS Trades Award Fund Accepting Applications
The Valley Regional High School (VRHS) Trades Award Fund at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County (CFMC) is accepting applications for its annual trades award through the VRHS School Counseling Office. Two awards of $2,000 each will be presented on VRHS Awards Night in the spring. Established by members of the VRHS Class of 1982 to encourage careers in the trades, the award is open to VRHS seniors pursuing employment in the trades and/or entrepreneurship. Applicants must be in good academic standing and demonstrate a commitment to positive community involvement and service to others. Students may obtain applications and additional information through the VRHS School Counseling Office. The VRHS Trades Award is an educational award fund of CFMC. For more information about the fund or to support it, call 860-347-0025 or visit MiddlesexCountyCF.org.
Photo by Rita Christopher/Valley Courier
Kim Reilly Stafford prepares for the Essex Garden Club’s May Market, which supports scholarships and camperships for area youth.
Letters Editor to the
A Wake Up Call
The controversy surrounding the proposed demolition of 40 Prospect Street should be a wake-up call for all Essex residents. The house at 40 Prospect Street, built in 1835, was the home of Captain Alvah Post. The Posts were part of the early shipbuilding industry in Essex, a cornerstone of our history that has helped make Essex a “mustsee” destination for mariners and lovers of New England history and architecture. Essex was called “the perfect small town” by in 2021.
Yankee Magazine
The historic character of Essex is critical to its continued economic vitality and to the quality of life prized by residents. All these traditions are threatened by the fact that Essex has no zoning regulations that support historic preservation.
The town should be in a position to prevent this sort of historic destruction. If allowed to proceed, this will be the second early nineteenth-century home to be demolished in less than a year. As
Essex becomes more attractive to developers and the very wealthy, this threat can only increase.
The Essex Planning and Zoning Commission has released a draft plan that provides well-reasoned recommendations for historic preservation principles and activities moving forward. We urge all residents to read the Essex Plan of Conservation and Development 20262036 and to attend the public hearing on the draft plan scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Town Hall. We hope to see many of you there.
We hope that the owner, with deep community roots, will change their plans and become a local hero in the process. In the meantime, we need to take action now before it is too late to save the rest of our most irreplaceable asset—our historic homes.
Deirdre Brennan Keith Michael Fiels Essex
Chester Budget Proposes 4% Spending Increase
Continued from page 1
$750,000 in capital projects it is pursuing.
According to Board of Finance Chair John Chillock, the town reached the $750,000 total by “transferring approximately $352,000 over that we have from surplus to help fund the budget this year.”
Chillock said the “big thing” this year is a $160,000 ambulance replacement for the Chester Hose Company, which he said is “long overdue” and “about time” for the vehicles to be replaced.
In the next fiscal year starting July 1, the Town of Chester will move forward under its new budget with several costsaving, education, and development goals. These efforts mirror successes seen in several departments that have provided services while saving taxpayer money. Securing grants and other cost-saving measures will remain a priority, while the Economic Development Commission will continue seeking opportunities to grow Chester’s commercial sector.
The town’s education leaders will also work with the Region 4 School District to evaluate the current regional school struc-
ture. This is particularly relevant as the district’s schools—John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School—have seen a sharp decline in enrollment over the past eight years and are nearing 50% capacity levels, according to Chillock. Four joint committees, incorporating Board of Education members from the tri-town area, are evaluating the district for potential changes to better meet student needs in a manner appropriate to its current makeup.
Regarding Chester Elementary School, Region 4 Superintendent Brian White presented the school’s proposed budget of $6,262,001 in expenditures for next year. This marks a 2.97%, or $180,433, increase over the previous education budget. White said increases are mainly driven by rising staff wages and benefits, the acquisition of new student technology and learning tools, and “new initiatives” that “include a new website and new electronic student enrollment platform,” according to his presentation slides.
The referendum on the budget will take place Tuesday, May 12.
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Alan C. Ellis Production Director
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Eric O’Connell Staff Reporter
Rita Christopher Senior Correspondent
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Obituaries
Obituary Margo Viggiano
Chester
It is with heartbreaking sadness that the family of Margo Viggiano announces her sudden and untimely passing on March 31, 2026. Born on April 13, 1944, to Dale and Ethel King, of North Haven, Margo’s life was defined by her vibrant spirit, her dedication to her craft, and an enduring love for her family.
Growing up, Margo found her greatest joy by the water. Whether she was crabbing or simply enjoying the shoreline, the coast was her sanctuary. Her playful nature was evident early on — from insisting on an Easter basket until she was 18 to her legendary love for Halloween. One year, she famously dressed up as an entire boat, a testament to the creativity and humor that she carried throughout her life.
Margo leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 60 years, David Viggiano. The two were looking forward to celebrating their 61st anniversary this coming May 23. She is also survived by her daughter, Jeanne Viggiano; her son, Adam Viggiano, and his wife, Kelly; and her son, John, and his wife, Anne. Her heart belonged completely to her two grandsons, Tanner Carlson and Luca Rodrigues. Margo never missed a basketball or baseball game and cherished the time spent teaching them to fish and crab, passing down the joys of her own childhood. Luca will deeply miss the adventures they shared, the lunches, dinners, and fairs, and the sight of his grandma using a stepstool to climb in and out of Jeanne’s Jeep. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Bailey, who continues to look for her momma.
In her professional life, Margo was a pillar of the Chester community. In 1967, her father built Margo’s Beauty
YMCA Offers Child Care
Center for her. Though she was initially nervous about opening her own shop, her father recognized her immense talent. That instinct proved correct; Margo possessed a rare passion for hairdressing, often telling her daughter, Jeanne, who worked alongside her for 20 years, that she never woke up a day in her life without looking forward to work. For decades, she maintained a waiting list that rivaled any high-end city salon, yet she took immense pride in her “city salon in the country,” which many clients affectionately compared to the atmosphere of “Steel Magnolias.” Margo often said she hoped to be working until she was 100; while she didn’t quite make it, she worked with joy right up until the day before her surgery on March 25, 2026.
Outside the salon, Margo was a gifted gardener and an expert mushroom hunter. She maintained 16 beautiful gardens at her home in Vermont, showcasing a natural talent for garden architecture and design. Her love for “mushrooming” was a skill taught by her father; she spent countless hours in the woods and was famously protective of her secret spots. Her harvest often found its way into her famous holiday stuffing.
Margo was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Donna Kershaw, and husband, Tom; and her brother-in-law, John Alberino. She is survived by her brother, Dale King Jr., and his wife, Pat; her sisters, Kathy King and Susan Alberino; and nieces and nephews (Kim, Pam, Johnny aka Geo, Hank, and Jason); as well as her loyal clients who became like family over the last 60 years.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on June 13, at Saint Pio Parish (formerly Saint John’s) in Old Saybrook. A reception will follow at the Middlesex Yacht Club in Chester. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the remarkable life of a woman who was truly one-of-akind.
See Obituaries page 10
The Valley Shore YMCA School Age program offers before- and after-school childcare. Organized games and outside/gym times are planned, including homework time, arts and crafts, snacks, and special activities. Children may attend one to five days, with drop-in options available. Registration is required. For more information, call 860-399-9622, ext. 118 or visit vsymca.org.
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River Museum Opens Exhibit on First Wartime Submarine
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
The Connecticut River Museum is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States with an exhibit centered on the Turtle, the world’s first submarine built for warfare and invented in Connecticut. The exhibit will be on display through July 12.
The Turtle was invented by David Bushnell in modern-day Old Saybrook, with support from New Haven-based inventor Isaac Doolittle and some of the Founding Fathers. Although the Turtle’s mission—to attach a bomb to a British warship in New York Harbor—was unsuccessful, its legacy includes the development of submarines as viable vessels in armed conflict, as well as other inventions that emerged from its design. It also marks a significant moment in Connecticut’s history of submarine development.
The Turtle was used during the Revolutionary War in 1776, at a time when the concept of a submarine was known but seemed far out of reach, according to museum director Elizabeth Kaeser.
“The idea of submarines had been around for a while. They were like the stuff of science fiction of the 18th century,” Kaeser said. “People were imagining them; no one had really done it. And so when [Bushnell] decided to make this, he was really starting from scratch. It’s so inge-
nious. It’s so miraculous that any of it worked.”
Visitors to the exhibit will encounter a replica of the historic submarine and can sit inside to experience its tight space and mechanisms. They will also learn about the demanding operation of the Turtle, which was piloted by Ezra Lee of Lyme. Surrounding the replica are tablet devices that guide visitors through the submarine’s mechanics. Educational displays along the walls trace the history of submarine development in Connecticut, from the engineers and operators of the Turtle to its connections with the Founding Fathers and its lasting legacy in the state.
The museum’s focus on this significant American achievement—described as the result of “grit, determination, and ingenuity”—is intentional. Kaeser said the museum “planned this exhibit in part because this is America’s 250th birthday” and wanted to highlight stories “that are particularly relevant to the Connecticut River.” The story of the Turtle is among the most relevant for the museum to present.
“This is our ode to Connecticut, to America 250, and the many, many people who work behind the scenes, largely in secret, to deliver this incredible innovative invention to the Patriot cause,” Kaeser said.
To learn more about the exhibit, visit ctrivermuseum.org.
Calls for Artists: Essex Summer Arts Festival
Artists and craftspeople are invited to participate in the Essex Summer Arts Festival, scheduled for June 20 through June 21 on the Essex Green in Essex. The outdoor event features fine art and crafts displayed in the historic walkable town overlooking the Connecticut River. Essex is a popular tourist destination known for its restaurants, coffee shops, and marina, and the festival typically attracts strong visitor traffic. Space is limited and early reservations are encouraged. For more information or to reserve a spot, email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org.
Essex Historical Society Seeks Pratt House Volunteers
The Essex Historical Society (EHS) is seeking volunteers to serve as guides and hosts for the summer season at the Pratt House, 19 West Ave., Essex. Volunteers will lead small group tours of the historic home or greet visitors, assist with exhibits, and help operate the gift shop. Training will be provided. The Pratt House will be open Saturdays and Sundays from June through September, with additional special events planned as part of the America 250 celebration. All new and returning volunteers are asked to attend a kickoff training session on Saturday, May 16, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, visit essexhistory.org or email membership@essexhistory.org.
TOWN OF CHESTER PROPOSED BUDGET 2026-2027
Proposed Revenue 2026 - 2027
Selectmen Divided Over Emergency Management Conflict
By Aaron Rubin
Staff Writer
The Deep River Board of Selectmen is divided over whether one of its members serving as the town’s emergency management director creates a conflict of interest. While First Selectwoman Carol Jones views the situation as a conflict, the occupant of both positions, Third Selectwoman Cynthia Torres, does not see an issue.
The matter arose at the selectmen’s special meeting April 21 and was listed on the agenda as a “Discussion of vacancies of Emergency Management Director/Assistant.” Jones told Torres that “it doesn’t look good to the public” that she serves as both emergency management director and a member of the Board of Selectmen. Jones said she is concerned Torres, who has an extensive background in public safety, may have too much influence on emergency-related matters before the board. However, Jones said
Torres’ role on the town’s executive board would not prevent her from supporting emergency management led by another individual.
“If there’s an emergency, you can serve as the selectman, and then you could be guiding whoever our emergency management director is,” Jones told Torres.
“Your talents and skillset would still be helping in the emergency, but we have another person on board. If we as selectmen need to be somewhere else, we can grab you as a select person.”
Jones also cited concerns about a perceived lack of communication regarding emergency management “because of your position on the Board of Selectmen,” she told Torres.
“What I’ve been advised by other selectmen locally was that it’s not a good mix to have you wearing two hats,” Jones said. When asked by a resident attending the meeting which selectmen she had consulted, Jones declined to respond.
Torres disagreed, saying her service in both roles would not create a conflict or lessen her commitment to the community. She cited other Connecticut towns, including Prospect and Eastford, where top elected officials also serve in emergency management roles, and said a similar arrangement could work in Deep River.
“My intentions have always been to serve the town of Deep River in that position, if possible,” Torres told Jones. “My intentions have always been to serve as emergency manager, if possible.”
In an emergency, Torres said holding both roles “works hand in hand” as a “really great model for Incident Command,” allowing someone in an elected position to communicate directly about unfolding events.
Addressing concerns about communication, Torres told Jones, “Unless you tell me otherwise, the quality of the informa-
Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces IMAGES 2026 Call for Entries
tion that I provide has been better than what you’ve seen in the past.”
Torres also suggested her potential removal from the emergency management role may be politically motivated. A registered Republican, Torres said she “can’t interpret it as anything else” than Jones, a Democrat, seeking her removal for partisan reasons.
“I could be wrong,” Torres added.
Valley Courier
Additionally, Torres told the that Jones had expressed to her in a meeting prior to Torres becoming a selectman that the First Selectwoman was “getting a lot of pressure from the Democrats, that she had appointed two Republicans to the emergency management position, but she knew that it was the right thing to do, because we were the most qualified.”
On the question of a potential conflict, Torres told Jones, “I will never put politics before public safety, and I don’t think that you
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 203-421-6739, email office@shorelinearts.org, or visit shorelinearts.org.
Volunteers Needed to Tutor Valley Shore Residents in English
Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore (LVVS) is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Tutor Training Workshop to prepare volunteers to teach English to adult residents from around the world. No experience is required. The 12-hour training runs over eight sessions. Participants may attend morning sessions from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in person at the Westbrook Library or evening sessions from 7 to 8:30 p.m., offered in a hybrid format with Zoom. Sessions are scheduled for May 7, 12, and 14. An online self-facilitated option is also available. A $40 donation is requested for materials. For more information, contact Joanne Argersinger at 860-399-0280 or jargersinger@lvvs.org, or visit www.lvvs.org.
would either. I’m not implying [anything]. I just think that if you were to find somebody that was more qualified, more dedicated, then please, let’s have a conversation. But if it’s because we’re not meeting, that’s not insurmountable in any way. That’s not a reason to take somebody that has the best interests of the town and the safety of the people out of office.”
Torres also expressed concern that removing her from the emergency management role would create another vacancy at Town Hall, where several positions are already unfilled. This concern is heightened by the planned departure of the department’s assistant director this summer, which would further reduce staffing for the service.
“We are down to about 30 volunteers on different commissions and boards in our town,” Torres said. “It’s dangerous to remove somebody from [emergency management]. It creates an incredible amount of risk for the town.”
Essex Historical Society Seeks Artists for ‘Art on the Lawn’
Essex Historical Society seeks sculptors for its 2026 Art on the Pratt House Lawn exhibition at 19 West Ave., Essex. Four artists will be selected to display up to three outdoor sculptures for two-month periods: June 1 through July 31; Aug. 1 through Sept. 30; and Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. (The April 1 through May 31 session is filled.) Participation is free. Works must be suitable for outdoor display and approved by the selection committee. Artists are responsible for installation and removal. Submit images to Kate Savage at membership@essexhistory.org. For more information, call 860-767-0681 or visit essexhistory.org.
Little Learners at the Library
Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, continues its series of Little Learners story times with stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts around a designated theme. Children and their caregivers can enjoy story time on Fridays at 10 a.m., with the theme of A Trip to the Doctor on May 8. The program is best for children ages 2 to 5 to learn early literacy concepts of colors, shapes, opposites, the alphabet, and more. Little Learners story times take place at the library, 33 West Avenue. For more information or to register, contact the library at 860767-1560, staff.essexlib@gmail.com, or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Photo by Tracye Mueller
Cricket Is the Ticket
Story by Carol Andrecs
As soon as Forgotten Felines became aware of a sweet cat with a serious tail injury that needed to be rescued, we acted quickly. Although Cricket’s tail needed to be amputated, it has not changed her sweet and loving personality. This 2-yearold gray-and-white girl could not be happier or more grateful that she was rescued and treated. Cricket is the ultimate ticket who is just waiting for her forever home. Could you be the lucky person to adopt her? For an appointment to meet this precious girl, stop by during our open house events or apply online at www.forgotten felinesct.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 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 860669-1347 or send an email to volunteer info@forgottenfelinesct.org.
ATTENTION DEEP RIVER REPUBLICANS
Notice is hereby given that a caucus of enrolled Republican electors of the Town of Deep River will be held on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, Deep River, Connecticut, for the purpose of endorsing a Republican candidate for the office of Registrar of Voters and to transact such other business as may properly come before said caucus. ATTEST
Jerry Richard
DR RTC Vice Chair
& Stakeholder Engagement Services
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHESTER, DEEP RIVER, ESSEX, REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #4, AND THE SUPERVISION DISTRICT, Deep River, Connecticut are requesting proposals from qualified Educational Consulting firms for Facilitation of District Visioning and Stakeholder Engagement Services to formulate a PreK-12 educational vision for the future of The District. A full Request for Proposal is available at www.reg4.k12.ct.us or by emailing bwhite@reg4.k12.ct.us. Proposals will be accepted until 2:30 pm on May 27, 2026.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ESSEX ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Essex Zoning Board of Appeals will hold the following public hearing on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by in person meeting at Town Hall (see agenda on Town’s website www.essexct.gov for further details), at 6:30 p.m. to hear the following application:
Application No. 26-7 on behalf of Peter and Sarah Tibbetts, 3 Clark Lane Essex, CT, Assessor’s Map 17 Lot 25, VR District, requesting variances of Sections 40C, 40D, 40I.1, and 60B for an addition and side entrance within the side yard setback by two feet, leaving 23 feet where 25 feet is required.
Copies of the application are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office and Land Use Department at Essex Town Hall and can be viewed on the Town’s webpage.
Carey Duques, Land Use Official
TOWN OF CHESTER NOTICE OF TOWN MEETING
7:00 PM MAY 12, 2026
Chester Meeting House 4 Liberty Street, Chester, CT 06412 IN PERSON ONLY
The electors of the TOWN OF CHESTER, CT and all other citizens qualified to vote in town meetings of the TOWN OF CHESTER are hereby notified and warned that a Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 7pm, to consider and act upon the following:
1. To select the method of payment and due date of installments of property taxes in keeping with CT General Statutes 12-143 as follows:
a. Real estate taxes due in two halves, first half due July 1, 2026, and the second half due January 1, 2027
b. All motor vehicle bills due in one payment on July 1, 2026
c. All motor vehicle supplement bills due in one payment on January 1, 2027
d. Minimum interest charge of $2.00
e. Negate all bills under $5.00
2. To adopt a budget for the Town of Chester for fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 an amount totaling $19,211,304 as recommended by the Board of Finance.
3. To adopt a five year Capital Budget, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
4. To appropriate the sum of $224,530 from the unassigned general fund balance to Capital Non-Recurring line item # 10-05-621000-150, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
5. To authorize the following Capital transfer, as recommended by the Board of Finance:
From 20-00-01-0000-007 Board of Selectmen – Assigned
From 20-00-42-0000-237
6. To authorize the expenditure of $44,780 from the Capital Fund – Town Hall Computer Replacement line item # 20-00-010000-092, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
7. To authorize the expenditure of $4,000 from the Capital Fund – Public Works Highway Equipment line item # 20-00-30-0000030, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
8. To authorize the expenditure of $352,640 from the Capital Fund – Road/Sidewalk/Bridge/Dam Repairs line item # 20-00-31-0000-446, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
9. To authorize the expenditure of $40,000 from the Capital Fund – Parks and Recreation Commission line item # 20-000-310000-453, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
10. To authorize the expenditure of $110,000 from the Capital Fund – Tree Removal line item # 20-00-31-0000-456, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
11. To authorize the expenditure of $10,000 from the Capital Fund – Cemetery Association line item # 20-00-31-0000-462, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
12. To authorize the expenditure of $80,000 from the Capital Fund – Town Buildings – Repairs/Code Compliance line item # 20-00-36-0000-065, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
13. To authorize the expenditure of $284,473 from the Capital Fund- Ambulance Replacement line item # 20-00-42-0000-060, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
14. To authorize the expenditure of $60,000 from the Capital Fund – Fire – Equipment Replacement line item # 20-00-42-0000235, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
15. To authorize the expenditure of $21,000 from the Capital Fund – Police – Cruiser Replacement line item # 20-00-45-0000070, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
16. To authorize the expenditure of $25,000 from the Capital Fund – Chester Elementary School – Building Rehab & Enhancement line item # 20-00-90-0000-064, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
Kim Reilly Stafford: The Flowers
That Bloom in the Spring
Continued from page 2
place of their own. A lucky error helped them buy a house in Essex. Initially, the for-sale sign had been placed on the wrong unoccupied residence. They saw their house the first day the sign had been moved to the correct location. “It was the whole jackpot,” Kim says.
Bliss turned to crisis. In August 2021, six months after moving in, the house went up in flames. The cause, Kim says, was never pinpointed, but it appeared to start as an electrical fire, possibly from battery-operated equipment in the garage.
“The roof burned, they cut it; there was smoke everywhere,” Kim recalls. She herself was in the bathtub when the flames started and ran out in a robe.
“It was amazing the firemen put it out,” Kim says, giving a nod to Essex Fire Marshal John Planas and the entire department.
It was not how she and Randy had planned to meet all the neighbors, but even people she did not know pitched in to
help. “They were terrific,” she says. Neighbors brought food and even clothes, as most of the things left in the house were damaged by smoke.
Kim and Randy rented a house for a year, rebuilt their home, and now are resettled.
Their driveway is now a graphic demonstration of one of their new passions: there is a series of squares, a random design to a recent visitor, but for those who play the game, it was obvious—a pickleball court. A portable net rests on the side of the driveway. “You really get addicted,” Randy volunteers. “We’ve made many friends in the pickleball community.”
Other enthusiasms include the Essex Library and the Valley Shore YMCA, where Kim does yoga classes and also swims laps. She has done one triathlon in Rhode Island and has not ruled out doing another. She and Randy are also hikers, often on the trails of the Essex Land Trust.
The upcoming May Market is a family affair for Kim and Randy. He too has a crucial job: traffic manager, ensuring not only that people can drive up to load cars with large purchases, but that they move on to give others the same opportunity.
The May Market is not the only event coming up for the Essex Garden Club. To celebrate the group’s 75th anniversary this year, the club is hosting a hidden gardens tour in Centerbrook and Ivoryton on June 13.
“We just keep on keeping on,” is how Kim describes the three-quarters of a century of the garden club’s existence.
9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Essex Main Street Hidden Garden Tour
June 13
For information, visit www.essexgardenclub.org.
The Friends of the Essex Library will hold a book sale during the month of May in the foyer of the Essex Library, 33 West Ave., Essex. The May sale will feature children’s, young adult, and self-help titles. Unless otherwise noted, hardcover books are priced at $3 each or two for $5, and paperbacks are $2 each. For more information, visit the Friends tab at youressexlibrary.org.
Continued from page 5
Obituary Gail Moorhouse Chester
Funeral arrangements have been completed for Gail Miller Moorhouse, 84, of Chester, who passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026. She was the wife of Jonathan H. Moorhouse, of Chester, and beloved mother of Jill Cassells, of Deep River, and Jonathan A. Moorhouse, of Chester.
Public visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday,
June 27, at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St., in Centerbrook. Inurnment services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 29, at the Columbarium in the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley or, for those who wish to honor her love of animals, consider a donation to a local animal shelter or rescue organization. To share a memory of Gail or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.
Donald Edward Schweitzer, 73, originally of Winthrop, passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2026, at his home in Tryon, N.C. Donnie was born on June 13, 1952, to Edward and Ruth (Kuraitis) Schweitzer.
Donnie attended Valley Regional High School in Deep River, where he was an avid cross-country runner and basketball player, and graduated in 1970, at the top of his class. He attended Clark University for several years as a chemistry major before falling in love with the art of building. He opened up and maintained his own carpentry business for more than 50 years.
Later in life, Donnie spent several years working as a hospice volunteer at Middlesex Hospice in Middletown, before moving to warmer weather in North Carolina. Providing care, compassion, and support to persons at the end of life was near and dear to his heart. In his later years, he could be found in his workshop continuing to fulfill his love of designing and creating by building custom and unique wood pie-
ces. Donnie was a devout Christian. He also had a passion for the Southwest, and a long-term love/hate relationship with the New York Giants.
Donnie would say that his greatest accomplishment in life was being a proud father to his three children, whom he leaves behind: Ethan Schweitzer, of Brentwood, N.H.; Kate Bailey and her husband, Peter, of Derby, Vt.; and Sarah Schweitzer and her fiancé, Steven Patrick, of Mill Spring, N.C. He also absolutely adored his five grandchildren. Ethan Jr., Paisley, Chase, Bella, and Mason were a highlight of his life. He was always inquiring as to what they were doing and sharing in their accomplishments. In addition to his children and grandchildren, he leaves behind his beloved dog, Lucy, as well as many close friends.
A memorial service will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Winthrop Baptist Church, 444 Winthrop Road, Deep River. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation/JDRF), VRHS Trades Award, or a charity of your choice. An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com. McFarland Funeral Home and Crematory, Tryon, N.C.
Obituary Donald Schweitzer Tryon, NC
Garden Club May Market
Obituaries
Continued from page 10
Obituary
Patricia Swadosh
Chester
Patricia “Pat” Mary Swadosh died peacefully on April 23, 2026, at Middlesex Hospital’s hospice unit with her daughter by her side.
Born on April 20, 1939, in the Hanover section of Nanticoke, Pa., to Eva (Stemniski) and Michael Francis Lehman, Pat grew up on her grandmother’s farm, where she worked before and after school and served as English translator for her Ukrainian-born grandmother and other older members of the predominantly Slavic community. She demonstrated an early aptitude for bossing people around when she was promoted to section manager of the local Woolworth’s while still in high school. Pat loved New England without reservation. She moved to Connecticut as a young woman and never left. While visiting a childhood friend from Nanticoke, she noticed a “help wanted” sign at the upscale Peck and Peck women’s clothing store in Hartford. She transformed from tourist to enthusiastic Hartford resident in an instant, working her way up to Hartford Peck and Peck store manager and West Hartford assistant manager, making lifelong friends along the way.
She married Hartford native Sid “Sonny” Swadosh and had two children in her late 30s. In 1978, the family left their South End apartment for Chester, which they found by accident when Sid missed an exit on Route 9. Pat learned to drive in her 40s with her young daughters in the car, a harrowing experience for all. She was a regular presence on the streets of downtown Chester as she “walked around the block” almost every day until illness prevented her from continuing this ritual. She was also an avid swimmer, traveling to the Middletown YMCA up to three times weekly to swim laps and socialize with her sauna pals. After her daughters were old enough to fend for themselves after school, Pat rejoined the workforce, eventually finding meaningful employment as a social rehabilitation coordinator for Gateway Counseling, now Gilead Community Services. There, she made devoted friends and became an advocate for people living with chronic mental illness. She transitioned out of her working life as a weekend receptionist at Chester Village West.
Inspired by her mother’s civic-minded
The Valley Shore Community Television airs the show, Arts and Entertainment with Deborah Gilbert, every Tuesday at 6 p.m. on Channel 19 and 1070 and on Frontier TV channel 6089. Started in July 2020, the weekly half-hour program highlights the arts, entertainment and culture such as featuring artists of all genres, theaters, organizations and museums. The program is taped at the Valley Shore Community Television studio, 1587 Boston Post Road, Westbrook. For more information, call 203-912-2319 or visit vsctv.com.
Essex Historical Society Seeks Items for ‘America 250’ Exhibit
The Essex Historical Society (EHS) is seeking objects, photographs, and personal stories for its upcoming summer exhibit, 1776–2026: Essex Celebrates America, to be held at the Pratt House, 19 West Ave., Essex. The exhibit, which will be on view Saturdays and Sundays from June through September, will explore how the community marked the nation’s Centennial in 1876 and Bicentennial in 1976. EHS invites residents to contribute memorabilia such as commemorative items, photographs of local events, printed materials, and personal recollections tied to those celebrations. Items are requested as temporary loans through September and will be professionally documented and returned at the end of the season. Proceeds benefit EHS programming and public history initiatives. For more information, contact 860-767-0681 or mejosefiak@essexhistory.org.
example, Pat sought volunteer opportunities throughout the shoreline community. She volunteered in the Chester Elementary School library, served as religious school fundraising chairperson for Congregation Beth Shalom, con-tributed countless hours to Chester Public Library book sales, and had a Meals on Wheels delivery route through the Estuary Council. She also volunteered for many years as an usher and pinch-hitter box office manager at the Ivoryton Playhouse. She served as superintendent of canned goods for the Chester Fair. She helped care for Sid’s family, whom she loved unreservedly.
Her friends and family remember her as a vivacious, adventurous, curious, and assertive woman, “a dynamo.” She was a true balaboosta who loved to plan a dinner party but was equally at home running a retail operation or serving as a SEIU shop steward.
Worsening dementia made it difficult for Pat to safely remain in her beloved Victorian farmhouse, and she moved to the Village at South Farms in Middletown in 2021. The Swadosh family is grateful to the South Farms staff who granted Pat maximum independence
while also ensuring her safety. Pat was predeceased by her parents; her husband; and her brother Michael Theodore Lehman. She is survived by her brother John Lehman, of Benton, Pa.; her daughter Jenny Swadosh, of Branford; her daughter Jessica Swadosh, and her family, of Kerhonkson, N.Y.; her beloved nephew Robert Swadosh, and his family, of Springfield, N.J.; and her dear friend Marcia Siegel, of Carlsbad, Calif.
There will be no funeral, and the family is not sitting shiva. Pat donated her body as an anatomical gift to Yale University’s School of Medicine for the training of future physicians. One aspect of her eventual demise that filled her with glee was the opportunity for her daughters to declare, “Our mother went to Yale.” A July memorial picnic is planned at Haddam Meadows State Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory should be made to the Chester Land Trust at P.O. Box 82, Chester, CT 06412; through the Chester Land Trust website, ChesterLandTrust.org; or to a refugee resettlement agency such as HIAS or IRIS.
The Chester Library, 21 West Main Street, reminds residents that it has resources available 24/7 to meet the needs of library cardholders. The Chester Library catalog allows cardholders to place holds on items at the library. The Bibliomation catalog expands this service so cardholders can also avail of items from other libraries in the shared catalog and pick them up in Chester. The Ebsco Learning Express Job & Career Library makes available tutorials, e-books, test preparations, and résumé templates for job seekers and career builders. Hoopla, an all-in-one media service, gives cardholders the ability to browse, download, or stream more than 700,000 titles in audiobooks, eBooks, comics/graphic novels, full music albums, movies, and TV. Brainfuse HelpNow gives users live tutor access for homework help, skills building, and test preparation. Overdrive is available for downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, and e-magazines. The library’s hotspot is an easy-to-use device that allows users to connect their tablet, laptop, or other mobile device to the Internet. Finally, SimplyE is a new app that gives cardholders the ability to browse, borrow, and read more than 25,000 free e-books. The Chester Library is open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on how to obtain a library card, contact the library at 860-526-0018 or library@chesterct.org.
A Talk Show on Arts and Entertainment
Chester Library Services
Valley Courier
Valley Courier
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Chemistry Comes Together at the Right Time for Valley
By Serenity J. Bishop
Sports Editor
Athletic, phenomenal, competitive, strong leader, and competitive are all qualities that Valley Regional softball coach Olivia Whitehead described sophomore Juliana Spencer as. The standout infielder has been crucial to the Warriors’ success this season.
Over the last four games, the young Valley Regional crew, made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, has inched closer to qualifying for the postseason. The Warriors have gone 3-1 in that span, defeating Coginchaug, East Hampton, and Morgan.
The team only fell to Somers in a tough 2-1 loss in that span, which has brought its season record to 7-5 so far. Spencer said what’s helping the team the most right now is that it is gelling together at the right time.
“I think what’s really working for us right now is how connected we are as a team,” Spencer said. “Everyone is doing their job, whether it’s at the plate, in the field, or in the dugout. We’re communicating better, staying positive, and playing for each other, which has made a big difference in close games.”
Spencer added that advancing to the state tournament would be a major accomplishment for the team.
“Qualifying for the state tour-
the season, but it previously defeated Cromwell and Westbrook/Old Saybrook co-op.
Spencer said when it comes to her personal performance this season, she feels that she has played well, especially on the defensive end. Offensively, Spencer has been one of the team’s top scorers.
“Overall, I feel like I’ve been solid for the team. Fielding has always been my strongest area and where I’m most confident, and that’s also where my leadership really shows,” Spencer said. “At the plate, I’m starting to get back into my rhythm. Getting on base is what I focus on, and I do everything I can to find a way to touch home and help the team score.”
As the Warriors continue to grow together as a team and work toward their goal of making the postseason, the team will be aiming to stay focused and locked in. Spencer said they are taking things one game at a time.
nament would mean a lot to me and the team,” she said. “It’s something we’ve worked toward all season, and it would be really rewarding to see that hard work pay off. It would also be a great opportunity to compete at a higher level together.”
Schedules
Friday, May 8: vs. Cromwell at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9: at Tolland at noon
With eight games remaining in the regular season, obtaining the eighth win sooner rather than later would allow the Warriors the chance to improve their seeding in the postseason.
Valley Regional will face Haddam-Killingworth, North Bran-
ford, Cromwell, Westbrook/Old Saybrook co-op, Portland, Middletown, Woodstock Academy, and Somers to conclude the regular season.
The team has previously lost to Haddam-Killingworth, North Branford, and Somers earlier in
“Our focus is staying locked in, taking it one game at a time, and not getting ahead of ourselves,” she said. “We want to keep improving, limit mistakes, and finish the season strong as a team. We’re also facing some of our toughest opponents again, and we really want to be able to take those wins against teams like North Branford and HK.”
Boys Lacrosse
Tuesday, May 12: at Cromwell at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 14: vs. Old Saybrook at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13: vs. Wolcott Tech at 4 p.m.
Friday, May 8: vs. Cromwell at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 11: vs. Westbrook/Old Saybrook at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12: at Portland at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 14: at Middletown at 6 p.m. Baseball Softball
Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, May 12: vs. Cromwell at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14: at Old Saybrook at 6:30 p.m.
Girls Tennis
Friday, May 8: vs. Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 11: vs. Old Saybrook at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13: at Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Friday, May 8: at Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 11: at Old Saybrook/Portland at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13: vs. Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Boys Tennis Boys Golf
Tuesday, May 12: vs. Lyme-Old Lyme at 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 14: vs. Cromwell at 3 p.m.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier
Juliana Spencer prepares to toss the ball to the pitcher after fielding a throw to second base.
Some students excel in the classroom, and others excel on the field, but Valley Regional and Westbrook baseball standout Kyle Leandri has excelled at both. Leandri has recently accomplished something that most high school baseball players don’t have the chance to do. The Westbrook standout earned his 100th career hit on a single against Hale Ray. However, even more impressive, Leandri was also recognized on May 3 by the CIAC and was given the Scholar-Athlete award. The award goes to the top male and female athletes with the top GPA in the school.
Both achievements showcase the true definition of a studentathlete.
“It was just a great experience for me, honestly. It just shows the hard work throughout the four years is paying off,” Leandri said. “It’s just another sign that if I keep putting the work in, the results are going to come up for me.”
As far as the 100th career hit, Leandri knew that he was close to the milestone after his junior season, when he was named AllState and All-Conference. At the beginning of his senior season, he was in the 80s for hits, but when the career achievement actually came, he was so focused on the game that it didn’t register for him.
Leandri helped lead the Valley Regional co-op to a 9-1 victory over Hale Ray that day, and then, after the game, his coaches told him the news.
“It was just a great moment. It honestly came as a surprise to me because I didn’t think I’d get there so quickly this season,” Leandri said. “But when he told me, it was just a great moment, especially after coming off a win in that game, too.”
To make the accomplishment clear, Valley Regional and Westbrook coach Patrick Sirois said obtaining 100 career hits is not easy. He said it showcases a long period of consistency, growth, and immense talent.
“Most people don’t start until their junior or senior year, and they’re probably happy to get maybe 15 hits on the year. That would be maybe between 25 and 35 hits for their career, but in reference to Kyle, he came into high school good enough to start right away,” Sirois said. “Based on his work ethic when he was younger, he put himself in a position from a young age to achieve an accomplishment.”
Leandri is hitting all the time during the season and during the offseason. In fact, this year he is currently hitting around .459. Sirois said the 100th career hit is a culmination of all the work that he continues to put in. He also said that Leandri is the perfect example to the rest of the team.
“He’s a straight lead-by-example guy. He is always doing the right thing and practicing the right way, full speed, 100 percent all the time. From a leadership standpoint, he’s doing a very good job of showing younger kids the expectations and what it means to be a part of the program,” Sirois said. “He’s a phenomenal defensive shortstop, first off, and he makes plays that most high school shortstops don’t make.”
Sirois believes it’s his range, arm ability, and baseball IQ that separate him from the rest.
“He always throws the ball to the right spot. He always knows the situation, and with his bat, he’s just a rare talent,” he said. “He has also settled into that closing role. He’s our closer now. He’s the guy we’re going to when the pitcher runs out of gas. He’s not a pitcher by trade, but he stepped up and took that role on for us this year. He’s a five-tool player.”
On the academic side, Leandri is just as proud of his ScholarAthlete award as his 100th career hit. His grades and baseball tal-
ent are two reasons why he will be headed to the University of New Haven next season to play Division I baseball for the Chargers.
Leandri will study business management at New Haven.
“Being nominated for this award is just a really great thing for me to hear because I pride myself on academics just as much as I do athletics,” Leandri said.
“So to be able to get this award really shows that my academics are paying off, too.”
The Valley Regional and Westbrook co-op baseball team is currently 10-3 and has already
punched its ticket to the state tournament. Going forward, the Warriors will be focused on improving their postseason seeding while fine-tuning the details.
Leandri and the Warriors will return to the field Friday, May 8, at home against Cromwell at 6:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Leandri
Kyle Leandri collects his 100th career hit during a 9-1 win over Hale Ray.
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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!
Last Week’s Answers Here’s How It Works:
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
at Legacy Theatre Provides Lots of Laughs and Gentle Satire Nunsense
Review THEATER
No one will mistake the lighthearted as great theater. But when well done — and this production at Legacy Theatre is — it can be an enjoyable and funny evening in the theater.
When playwright Dan Goggin wrote the original in 1985, he hit a gold mine. Not only was the show a success, but it led to a franchise of shows featuring the same five characters. There was , , and others.
Nunsense 2: The Second Coming Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical
None lived up to the original. The original ran more than 3,600 performances off-Broadway, has been translated into more than 20 languages, and was made into a TV movie.
It makes gentle fun of nuns — in this case, the order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. They’re holding a fundraiser to raise money to bury four of their sisters. I won’t explain why they need the money or how the four sisters died; that’s part of the humor.
What you have is a series of songs, scenes that are more like skits, and jokes, many of which were old when the show was new. A few sly references to more recent events have been added. Plus, there’s a bare-bones plot. The music and lyrics are serviceable and pleasant. You won’t leave the theater remembering any of them.
What you will remember is the fine cast.
Nunsense
The success of any production of depends upon the director and the cast. In this case, Legacy Theatre has hit it out of the park. We have the stereotypical characters: the stern Mother Superior (Jenifer Smith as Sister Mary Regina), Sister Mary
Hubert (Keisha T. Fraser), the head of the novices who is yearning to replace the Mother Superior. Then there’s the young novice (Melissa Goldberg), the easily confused Sister Mary Amnesia, and the tough girl from Brooklyn, Sister Robert Anne (a fine Sarah Viera).
The coup in the casting was getting Semina De Laurentis to play Sister Mary Amnesia. She created the role in the original production and appeared in the two films. She mines every bit of
humor, as well as creating an endearing character. She also displays a wide vocal range. De Laurentis recently retired as artistic director of Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre, which she founded.
The cast works together like a well-oiled machine, playing off each other with humor. It seems that any play about nuns needs to have some audience participation. In , no one gets dragged up on stage, and the humor is gentle.
Nunsense
Some glitches occurred when I saw the play; it was only the third performance: a slight mic problem and the band (unseen but at the rear of the stage) occasionally overpowering the singers. I’m sure those have been fixed. The timing will also pick up as the cast settles into their roles.
The show runs more than two hours. A faster pace or some judicious cuts would improve it; it seemed to drag toward the end.
Jill Brunelle is both music director and conductor. James
Gray, as director and choreographer, created a delightful tap dance for the nuns; he makes effective use of the stage and the access to the audience without overdoing it. He was assisted by Robert Mintz as associate director and choreographer. runs through Sunday, May 17; many performances are already sold out. Tickets are available at LegacyTheatre CT.org. Nunsense
Nunsense Nunsense
Special to Living
By Karen Isaacs
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Jennifer Smith stars in at Legacy Theatre. Nunsense Semina De Laurentis, Melissa Goldberg, and Sarah Viera perform in Nunsense
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Photo by Diane Sobolewski Semina De Laurentis reprises her role as Sister Mary Amnesia.
From left, Semina De Laurentis, Keisha T. Fraser, Jennifer Smith, Sarah Viera, and Melissa Goldberg appear in at Legacy Theatre. Nunsense
This Production of Tries Too Hard Native Gardens
By Karen Isaacs
Special to Living
The production of , now at Hartford Stage through Sunday, May 10, is the third production of the play that I’ve seen in the last three years.
I left the first two (at Ivoryton and Westport Country Playhouse) having thoroughly enjoyed the play and the productions. This time, my reaction was different.
I’m still trying to figure out why. Does the play have flaws that I hadn’t recognized? Is it that the directorial concept of this production was off? Perhaps part of the issue is the change in the political climate in the last two years.
The idea of the play sounds both promising and fun: a young couple buys a fixer-upper home in an established, uppermiddle-class Washington, D.C., neighborhood. Immediately, there is a conflict between the wife (Tania) and Frank, the husband of the older couple who have lived there for decades. The conflict is about their gardens. Frank has worked tirelessly to create what we might call an English garden; it is manicured, pruned, fertilized, and sprayed. Frank is determined to win the neighborhood contest. Tania, on the other hand, already envisions taking their rundown backyard and planting it with native plants that attract bees, birds, and mosquitoes. She is horrified at the thought of using insect sprays or pesticides.
Playwright Karen Zacarías and director
Review THEATER
Nicole A. Watson try to expand this conflict into much more, stretching it well beyond its natural limits. In this production, the play focuses on ethnicity.
Frank and Virginia, the long-term residents, are what might be called WASPs — white professionals, with Frank tracing his roots back generations. Tania and Pablo are Hispanic. She is a doctoral student in anthropology who grew up in New Mexico.
But Zacarías adds a twist. Virginia is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Poland. Pablo grew up in Chile as a member of a powerful family accustomed to servants and limousines. He was disowned and disinherited when he married Tania and is now working for a prestigious and powerful D.C. law firm and striving to make partner.
But more than differences in gardening philosophies threaten to bring all four to violence: while preparing to replace their old fence, Pablo discovers that their yard includes 2 feet of Frank’s yard, including some of his flower beds. What begins civilly soon escalates.
It becomes preachy and polemical. Each couple ups the temperature. What had been a pleasant, casual relationship soon
is hostile. Virginia — and Frank in particular — seem to have a knack for saying insensitive things to which Tania is very sensitive. Today, they would be called microaggressions. Each side stakes out a position and will not budge.
It goes so far that Tania calls Frank’s plants “colonialists.”
The result is that while the audience is laughing, the humor seems nastier and more uncomfortable.
Was this what Zacarías and Watson wanted?
Zacarías has created strong female characters: both Tania and Virginia have succeeded while facing barriers due to their sex. Virginia is an engineer working in the defense industry.
The scenic design by Lawrence E. Moten III exaggerates the run-down condition of Tania and Pablo’s new home. Yet, while a sagging fence starts the conflict, his fence does not sag even one inch. Was this intentional, or was I the only one who noticed?
The four main cast members are very good at portraying the hardening positions of their characters, even if at times these seem unrealistic. Greg Wood’s Frank is obsessed with his garden and winning, while also unaware of his insensitivity; he truly does not understand why Tania is so upset with him. Wood keeps him from becoming a total stereotype of the privileged, condescending white male. As Virginia, Judith Lightfoot Clarke walks a tightrope between portraying the character’s steely determination — developed as
she had to fight for recognition and success in a male-dominated field — and a recognition of her similarities with Tania. Alina Collins Maldonado as Tania and Bradley Tejeda as Pablo try to keep the characters from becoming overly emotional stereotypes. In their cases, neither the playwright nor the director helps them. can be entertaining theater. As sometimes happens, playwrights and directors try to cram too many issues and too much meaning into a work.
Tickets are available at Hartford Stage.org. Native Gardens
Native Gardens
Photo by Charles Erickson
Photo by Charles Erickson
From left, Greg Wood, Alina Collins Maldonado, Bradley Tejeda, and Judith Lightfoot Clarke in Native Gardens
Judith Lightfoot Clarke, left, and Alina Collins Maldonado in Native Gardens
Photo by Charles Erickson
Greg Wood appears in at Hartford Stage. Native Gardens
For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 7
The Chocolate Factory of Life: Cellular Machines and Transporters
: 10 a.m. Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. Presented by Sue Moon, Deepanshi, and Nghia Le of Yale Science in the News. 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.
Blackstone Game Group
: 5 to 7:30 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Casual game group for adults. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Kids Book Discussion on Handling Emotions
: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features a discussion of the graphic novel by David DeGrand led by Stephanie Schillat of the East Shore Health District. Free copies of the book available in advance. For ages 7 to 11. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.
I Am Not Okay
Evening Tech Support and Exploration
: 6 p.m. Acton
Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Technology help sessions. Free. No registration required. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
National Day of Prayer
: 6 p.m. Branford Green, 1011 Main St. Features prayers for government, the church, education, family, business and the workplace, the military, and arts, entertainment, and media. Free and open to the public. For info, contact Marion Lovig at 203-6757056.
On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love with Marjan Kamali
The Lion Women of Tehran
: 7 p.m. Virtual. Author talk discussing . Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
Friends of the Guilford Free Library Spring Book Sale
:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford. Features a sale of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. Proceeds benefit library programs and services. For info, call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Tots and Tunes
: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Features songs, stories, and movement for children ages 18 months and older and their siblings. Parent or guardian must attend. No registration required. For info, call 203-315-6020.
Drop-In Tech Help
: 1 to 4 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.
History Happy Hour: The 93rd Anniversary of Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History and Legacy & Camp Hadley
: 6 p.m. Allis-Bushnell House Museum, 853 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Features a presentation by author and historian Marty Podskoch. Hosted by the Madison Historical Society. Suggested donation: $15 general admission, $10 for Madison Historical Society members. Advance registration requested. For info or tickets, contact 203-245-4567 or office@madisonhistory.org, or visit madisonhistory.org.
Military Whist Card Party
: Doors open at 6 p.m.; games begin at 6:45 p.m. St. Monica Church Hall, 1321 Middletown Ave., Northford. Card games, raffles, and light refreshments. Cost: $12. Advance tickets required. For info or tickets, call 203-239-5378.
Calendar for the Week of May 7, 2026
Killingworth Evergreen Garden Club Plant Sale
: 6:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Talk on local history during the American Revolution presented by the Essex Historical Society. Free. Registration suggested. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Revolution Close to Home: Five Lives in Early Potapaug during America’s Turning Point Roses and Rosé
: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Rd., Madison. Event featuring rosé tastings and floral arrangements. For info or tickets, visit eventvesta.com/events/143152/tickets.
Killingworth Town-Wide Tag Sale:
8 a.m. Locations throughout Killingworth, with a central site at the Courtyard, 176 Rte. 81. Hosted by the Killingworth Women’s Organization. Features tag sales across town, plus a “Snag-A-Bag” sale and Juniorettes thrift shop fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the KWO Scholarship Fund and other charitable efforts. For info or to register, email tagsale@kwoct.org or visit kwoct.org.
Killingworth Historical Society Annual Tag and Bake Sale
: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parmelee Farm, 465 Route 81, Killingworth. Features vintage collectibles, small furniture, fabric and craft items, books, toys, and baked goods. Proceeds benefit educational programs and preservation efforts. For info or to donate items, call 860395-9955.
Leete’s Island Garden Club Plant Sale
: 9 a.m. to noon. Southwest corner of the Guilford Green, 79 Whitfield St. Features member-grown annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and hanging plants. Proceeds benefit civic projects and educational programs. Rain date: Sunday, May 10. For info, call 203-453-0780.
Goodness Grows Plant Sale
: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. North Madison Congregational Church, 1271 Durham Rd., Madison. Annual plant sale featuring member-grown perennials, annuals, herbs, hanging baskets, garden goods, and gardening demonstrations. Live music and baked goods available. Rain or shine. For info, contact 203-421-3241 or office@northmadisoncc.org, or visit northmadisoncc.org/goodnessgrows.
Friends of the Guilford Free Library Spring Book Sale
: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford. Features a sale of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. Proceeds benefit library programs and services. For info, call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Caregiver Support Group
: 10 to 11 a.m. Women and Family Life Center, Carriage House, 96 Fair St., Guilford. Ongoing support group for family and informal caregivers. Cost: Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 203-458-6699 or email programs@womenandfamilylife.org.
Blackstone Library Tour
SATURDAY, MAY 9 : 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parmelee Farm, 465 Route 81, Killingworth. Annual plant sale featuring locally grown perennials, hanging baskets, houseplants, and planters for Mother’s Day. Rain or shine. Proceeds benefit the club’s scholarship fund and town gardens. For info, call 203-988-1528.
: 10 to 11 a.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Guided tour of the library. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
Saturday Sleuths Book Club
he Key Lime Crime
: 10 to 11:30 a.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: T by Lucy Burdette. Snacks will be provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-2457365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.
See page 23
Chester Historical Society Sponsors House Tour
By Rita Christopher
Senior Correspondent
Here’s the question: What is more interesting, the house or its occupant? Nikki Sahagen’s centerchimney Colonial, well over 100 years old, is one of the highlights of the Chester Historical Society’s upcoming house tour on May 9. Her career is equally fascinating.
The walking tour, at visitors’ own pace, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes seven houses spanning 300 years of Chester history. Tickets are available at the Chester Meeting House May 8 from 3 to 6 p.m., or the day of the tour, May 9, at the Meeting House starting at 9 a.m.
Many of the owners, Sahagen among them, will be on hand at their properties to answer questions about the history, architecture, and renovations of their homes.
theater productions.
Snow White Rumpelstiltskin
“ , , you name it. I sang, I danced,” she says. “By the time I was 11, I knew how to do stage makeup.”
Early in her acting career, she began appearing in local dinner theaters where, between performances, the actors also waited tables. She was in a production where she played five different female roles. In one, she was required to spill a bottle of wine on a table.
Life imitating art, she also spilled a bottle of wine on diners. The man she splattered was a critic sent to review the production. Despite the accident, he gave her a rave.
“When that was over, I was completely burnt out,” she says. Sahagen says what makes her most proud, however, was not her onstage performances but her work assisting choreographer and coach Dan Siretta on the film version of
Children of a Lesser God
The plot revolves around a romance between a deaf woman and a hearing teacher at a school for the hearing impaired. Siretta was somewhat stymied teaching the unhearing children to sing and dance. Sahagen knew a bit of sign language from interacting with the hearing-impaired brother of a friend. She was able to help put the scenes together.
“It was the most rewarding thing I ever did in theater,” she says.
Sahagen and Siretta married after the film and bought the house in Chester.
42nd Street
Sahagen has lived in her Chester house since 1989, having discovered Chester as a result of appearing in Goodspeed’s 1983 production of the long-running Broadway hit musical . She also appeared in the original cast of the 1980 Broadway production. She both understudied the lead and played the role herself.
Sahagen’s career started in her native California. Her father, an engineer, loved to dance and taught her the Charleston at 5. “I loved Shirley Temple and wanted to do all the things she could do,” she recalls.
By her early teens, she was appearing as the lead in children’s
Continued from page 22
When her then-fiancé did not want her acting, Sahagen taught dance at a local studio. Two of her students, twins, wanted her to go to a local tryout for a new Broadway production.
The twins were not only persuasive; they were also the children of dance and choreography greats Marge and Gower Champion.
Nikki went to an audition. She was subsequently called and told to get herself on a plane to New York.
“I threw my tap shoes in a suitcase and went,” she says.
42nd Street
Irma La Douce Lady Be Good Lady Be Good
Her career lasted; the fiancé did not. After , Sahagen appeared on Broadway and toured in a number of shows, among them and . For , she was on stage for the entire show except for 10 minutes.
Madison Art Society: Framing Watercolors Without Glass
: 10 a.m. to noon. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Demonstration by Paul Loescher. Free and open to the public. For info, email Marianne@RTDTECH.com or visit madisonartsocietyct.org.
Animal Welfare Day
: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All the King’s Horses Equine Rescue, 628 Forest Rd., Northford. Community event featuring local animal welfare organizations including All the King’s Horses Equine Rescue, Branford Compassion Club, Water N Webs, and The Greater New Haven Cat Project. Features vendors, educational materials, and animals. For info, contact 203-815-4013 or allthekingshorsesequinerescue@gmail.com.
“I dreamt of a house like this. It was magical, New England magical, just like you would see in the movies,” Sahagen says.
For some five years, Sahagen ran a dress shop in Chester but closed it to raise her now-grown children.
Sahagen says she and Siretta remain a close family unit despite the fact that they are divorced.
At home, she tap dances in the kitchen when making coffee in the morning and sings all day. If she were to act again, she would like to be in a drama — and this time with a difference: no singing, no dancing.
For more information, visit chesterhistoricalsociety.org.
Historic Homes Walking Tour
before settling in Chester.
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chester. Self-guided walking tour of seven historically significant private homes hosted by the Chester Historical Society. Ticket holders will receive tour details and locations after purchase. Cost: $40 early bird; $35 for Chester Historical Society members; $50 day of tour. For info or tickets, visit chesterhistoricalsociety.org.
Down the Lane Farm Season Opening Event
: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Down the Lane Farm, 18 Reservoir Rd., Killingworth. Features honey products, handcrafted gifts, tastings and sales of artisan sourdough breads from BROTworkshop, and informal educational sessions on beekeeping and sourdough bread making. For info, call 203619-3976 or visit downthelanefarm.com.
Piece by Piece: A Community Puzzling Group
: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main
St., Branford. Casual puzzle group; materials provided. Free. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
DIY Mug Workshop
: 1 p.m. Chester Public Library, 21 W. Main St. Participants will design a mug using infusible ink markers. Materials provided. Free and open to all. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chester Public Library. For info or to register (required), contact 860-526-0018 or chesterkidlib@gmail.com.
Patriotic Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
: 1 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Puzzle competition for all ages. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
See page 24
Photo by Rita Christopher/Shore Publishing
Nikki Sahagen, whose home is featured on the Chester Historical Society’s May 9 house tour, enjoyed a Broadway and touring career
‘Aw, Shucks!’ Explores History and Future of Connecticut Oysters
Connecticut oysters are so prized they were designated the state shellfish in 1989. Historians note, however, that this was not always the case.
The New Haven Museum will kick off the summer season at the Pardee-Morris House with a program exploring one of the region’s oldest heritage foods — and how it is helping preserve the coastline — during “Aw, Shucks! The Extraordinary History & Outlook for CT Oysters,” on Sunday, June 7, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
The NH250 program features two presentations. At 12:30 p.m., Tim Macklin will discuss the critical role oysters play in the ecosystem and how the nonprofit he cofounded, Collective Oyster Recycling and Restoration (CORR), is working to preserve the coastline for future generations.
At 2 p.m., Brett Palfreyman, associate professor of American history at Wagner College, will present “Bringing Oysters Back to the Northeast,” tracing how oysters — once a dietary staple — were declared unsafe to eat in the early 1900s after years of overharvesting and increasing pollution.
Macklin’s presentation, “Shell Recycling & Oyster Habitat Restoration,” will offer insight into shell recycling, habitat restoration, and the environmental benefits oysters bring to Long Island Sound.
“They improve water quality, promote biodiversity, stabilize shorelines, and support both commercial and recreational shellfishing communities,” Macklin says.
Continued from page 23
Photography 101: Composition
Despite their importance, oyster shells are in short supply, and many are discarded rather than recycled.
“My partner and I were surprised that shell recycling was not being implemented in Connecticut,” Macklin says. “Following a successful pilot program in Fairfield, we expanded the initiative statewide in 2023
: 2 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Workshop on light, white balance, and composition. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Burning of the Ships Parade and Celebration
: 2 p.m.
Begins at Essex Town Hall, 29 West Ave. and proceeds down Main Street to the Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., Essex. Commemorates the attack on Essex during the War of 1812. Features performances by fife and drum corps from Connecticut and Massachusetts and a demonstration by the U.S. Navy Silver Dolphins. Hosted by the Sailing Masters of 1812. Free and open to the public. For info, call Bob at 860-304-1858.
Songs We All Know
: 3 p.m. Clinton Town Hall, 54 East Main St., Clinton. Spring concert by the Shoreline Chorale featuring guest artist Dylan Armstrong. For info or tickets, visit shorelinechorale.org.
and developed CORR.”
The nonprofit now collaborates with 21 municipalities, 51 restaurants and seafood businesses, and seven oyster festivals, and has recycled nearly 964,000 pounds of shell to date, helping provide habitat for millions of oysters.
Palfreyman notes that New York Har-
Friends of the Farm River and Estuary Riverside Dance
: 7 to 10 p.m. Italian American Social Club, 40 Hamre Ln., Branford. Features music, dancing, refreshments, games, and a cash bar to benefit Friends of the Farm River and Estuary. Cost: $25; free for children under 15. For info or tickets, visit friendsoffarmriver.org.
SATURDAY, MAY 9 AND SUNDAY, MAY 10
Mother’s Day Weekend Bird Walks
: 9 a.m. Stony Creek Trolley Trail, meet at the far end of West Point Road across from Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd., Stony Creek. Led by local birder Chris Woerner. Features guided walks to identify migrating and resident birds by sight and sound along the trail and the Branford Land Trust’s Vedder property. Bring water and binoculars, if available. No dogs. Hosted by the Branford Land Trust. Free and open to the public. For info, call 203-483-5263 or email info@branfordlandtrust.org
Mother’s Day Weekend: Scenic Trolley Rides and Craft Activity
: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven. Features scenic trolley
bor was once the greatest oyster habitat on the planet, with oystering a booming industry providing food and jobs. The same was true in New Haven.
By the early 1900s, however, pollution and overharvesting led officials to declare New York Harbor oysters unsafe to eat in 1927. In Connecticut, population growth, industrialization, marine traffic, and overfishing contributed to declining oyster beds after 1920, with production dropping sharply after 1950.
In the past decade, organizations have worked to restore oyster populations. Palfreyman points to efforts such as the Billion Oyster Project, which aims to seed one billion oysters by 2050.
Oysters play a key environmental role as filter feeders — each can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day — and as ecosystem builders, creating reefs that provide habitat for marine life. They also help protect shorelines from storm surges and erosion.
Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics and stay for the afternoon. Free tours of the historic house will be available from noon to 4 p.m. Weather updates will be posted on the museum’s social media.
The New Haven Museum thanks community partner WSHU 91.1 FM for supporting the 2026 summer season.
The Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road, dates to about 1780 and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. For more information or to register, visit newhavenmuseum.org.
rides along the Farm River. On Saturday, children can create a handmade Mother’s Day craft. Mothers and grandmothers receive free admission. General admission for other guests. For info, call 203-467-6927 or visit shorelinetrolley.org.
SUNDAY, MAY 10
Mother’s Day Grand Buffet
: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd., Madison. Features a Mother’s Day brunch buffet. For info or reservations, visit madisonbeachhotelevents.com/events/mothers-daybrunch.
Paper Making Workshop
: 2 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd.., Branford. Features a paper-making workshop using recycled materials led by visiting artist Bella Bartner. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Free and open to all ages. For info or to register, call 203-488-8702.
See page 25
Press Release from New Haven Museum
Photo courtesy of New Haven Museum Smith Brothers Oysters, Oyster Point, New Haven Museum Collection
Local Impresario Previews New Opera
About Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Press Release from Shoreline Opera Club
A pre-performance lecture about the Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of will be presented by Alan Mann, artistic director of the Opera Theater of Connecticut, on Tuesday, May 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library. The opera will be broadcast live from the Met on Saturday, May 30. The event is co-sponsored by the Shoreline Opera Club and Shoreline Village Connecticut. Registration for the prebroadcast talk is available at guilfordfreelibrary.org/events.
American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzosoprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by bari- tone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. The vibrant new production is inspired by Frida and Diego’s paintings.
Alan Mann is artistic director of Opera Theater of Connecticut, the state’s oldest opera company, now in its 41st season. His work in professional theater and opera has taken him from New York’s Lincoln Center to London’s West End, the Edinburgh Festival, the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival, the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and Broadway. His
Continued from page 24
Tango and Jazz Concert
directing assignments span traditional opera, contemporary opera, comic opera, musical theater, and classic and modern theater.
Mann is also a frequent guest speaker, known for his “Opera Talks,” a series of informal, informative presentations on operas and composers. He has served as master of ceremonies for numerous concerts, sharing anecdotes and insights into the “human” side of opera.
Drop-In Tech Help
He frequently serves as a judge for competitions, including the Jenny Lind National Competition for Sopranos, the Connecticut Opera Guild’s National Vocal Competition, the San Antonio Opera Competition, and Opera Theater of Connecticut’s Vocal Competition, as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition.
Shoreline Village Connecticut is a nonprofit, member-led community of active,
resourceful, and forward-thinking people dedicated to helping one another age in place. As part of the Village movement, its mission is to redefine how and where people age by providing services and activities that empower seniors to remain in the homes and neighborhoods they love. More information is available at shorelinevillagect.org.
The Shoreline Opera Club builds community among opera enthusiasts. Members enjoy opportunities to enter lotteries for free tickets to the Met’s Live in HD broadcasts, participate in post-performance discussions, attend expert-led talks, and receive curated resources about upcoming operas. For more information, email ShorelineOperaClub@gmail.com.
: 2 to 3 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Performance by The Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet. Free. Registration required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.
MONDAY, MAY 11
Book Discussion
: 10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Book:
The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood By Helene Cooper : 4 to 7 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.
. Facilitated by educator Pamela Asmus. 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.
Branford Land Trust Annual Meeting
: 5:30 p.m. Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Features the election of incoming directors followed by “Access to the Outdoors: Disability, Grit, and Belonging in Nature,” a presentation by Justin Brownell. Refreshments and fellowship follow the presentation. Free and open to the public. Assistive listening devices and ASL interpretation available. For info, contact 203-483-5263 or info@branfordlandtrust.org.
Pasta for Pups
: 6 to 9 p.m. The Lodge Restaurant, 640 Silver Sands Rd., East Haven. Features a fundraiser for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter with a buffet of pizza, pasta, and salad, raffles, and surprises. Hosted by Apizza Abate. Cost: $45. Cash bar available. For info, visit eventbrite.com and search "Pasta for Pups".
Social Justice Book Discussion
: 6:30 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Hybrid discussion program. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
El
Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Photo courtesy of Opera Theater of Connecticut Alan Mann, artistic director of Opera Theater of Connecticut, will present a pre-performance lecture May 26 at the Guilford Free Library.
Photo by Zenith Richards/Metropolitan Opera Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are the subjects of , broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera on May 30.
El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Continued from page 25
TUESDAY, MAY 12
Inside the World of Hummingbirds
:
10 a.m. Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Presented by Joe Attwater, conservation and education coordinator for the Connecticut Audubon Society’s RTP Estuary Center in Old Lyme. 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.
: 12:30 p.m. Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St., Guilford. Features a presentation by Shaun Roche, visitor services manager of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, on salt marsh ecology and the history of haymaking in local marshes. Hosted by Leete’s Island Garden Club. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, contact 203-453-0780 or kayclaiborn@comcast.net.
: 3:30 p.m.
Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Program for ages 12 to 18. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
: 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., Clinton. Art program focused on painting a coastal scene. For grades 2 to 6. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
: 5 to 5:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 188 Route 81. Bingo program with prizes for ages 3 and up. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
: 5 to 6 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Children in grades 3 through 5 can read to Libby, a trained therapy dog. Participants may bring a book or select one from the library. Registration required. For info or to register, email cveenema@nbranfordlibraries.org.
: 5:30 p.m. Henry on Main, 10 W. Main St., Clinton. Poetry reading event with the Clinton Poet Laureate. Free. For info, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Chamber on Tap: Speed Networking and Business Matchmaking
: 5:30 to 8
p.m. Myrcene Ale Co., 39 Ragged Rock Rd., Old Saybrook. Networking event connecting local businesses through matched introductions. Cost: $25 members; $35 nonmembers. Registration required by May 5. For info or to register, visit oldsaybrookchamber.com.
The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes During New England’s Revolution
: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Sponsored by the Friends of Acton Public Library. Historical presentation. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-3953184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
Pajama Storytime
: 6 to 6:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 188 Route 81, Killingworth. Storytime for families; wear pajamas and bring a stuffed animal. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Bus Trip: Tour of the Living Village at the Yale Divinity School
: 9:30 a.m. Meet at St. George Church parking lot, 33 Whitfield St., Guilford. Features a walking tour of the Living Village residential complex. Suggested reading: Laudato si by Pope Francis. Led by Greg Sterling, dean of the Yale Divinity School. 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 203-4538086 or visit ssill.org.
Make Your Own Pine Cone Bird Feeder
:
4 to 5 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Rd.., Branford. Features a drop-in workshop to make bird feeders using pine cones, seeds, sunflower butter, and wooden ornaments. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Free and open to all ages. No registration required. For info, call 203-488-8702.
Louie Listens: Read to a Therapy Dog
:
5:15 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Children and families can sign up for a 15minute session to read to a therapy dog. Free. Registration required. For info, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
Creative Fun For Kids at Gillette Castle this Month
At the visitor center of Gillette Castle on Saturday, May 16, inventors and artists of all ages can try their hand at designing innovative doors like those inside the famous castle.
Local author Kimberly Kenna will host a creative workshop inspired by William Gillette and the new middle-grade novel Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances. Attendees are invited to help reimagine the castle’s famous 47 doors. Children will be guided to design and build secret cardboard doors that blend into a wall and open with latches, levers, and sliders.
“We are excited to host an event for young folk,” says Lynn Wilkinson, president of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. “William Gillette was full of whimsy, and we think that kids of all ages will enjoy the creative challenge of making these doors.”
This free event for 25 children will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and pre-registration is required at gillettecastlefriends.org. Parents are welcome to stay and join in the fun. Books signed by the author will be available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.
Kimberly Kenna and her children’s books have received recognition from the Nautilus Book Award, the Eric Hoffer Award, the Foreword INDIES Award, and the Green Earth Book Award. A former fifth grade teacher, she enjoys bringing her books to life through workshops and activities that spark creativity in young readers.
Though the mansion itself is closed to the public, the park at 67 River Road in East Haddam remains open, and visitors may stroll the grounds during regular hours (8 a.m. until sunset daily, yearround). The castle opens for the season on Saturday, May 23. During the open season, visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance through the state park reservation system.
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Kenna’s frequent visits to Gillette Castle State Park inspired the setting of her latest novel, Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances. In the book, 13-year-old Lola spends the summer with her agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his ramshackle mansion on the Connecticut River. While grieving the loss of her twin, she becomes obsessed with finishing a project she believes will magically keep her out of Bad Girls Boarding School. But mishaps in a Zen garden, a glitchy projector that produces holographic messages from her late aunt, a beached houseboat, and a displaced wolf upend everything and force her to rethink her mission. A warm and heartfelt story of inner strength, Lola Gillette is available wherever books are sold.
The park is nestled between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme. Many of its trails follow a former railroad bed created for a narrow-gauge track installed by William Gillette, the late Connecticut stage actor who built his unique fieldstone home more than a century ago. Trail maps and videos of the estate are available on the Friends website.
The mission of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park is to preserve and promote the legacy of William Gillette and support the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in conserving park grounds and restoring the castle. Memberships help finance park and structural improvements while preserving the estate and Gillette’s legacy. For more information, visit gillette castlefriends.org.
Press Release from Friends of Gillette Castle State Park
Photo courtesy of Friends of Gillette Castle Local author Kimberly Kenna will host a creative workshop inspired by William Gillette on Saturday, May 16, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Registration is required. Visit gillettecastlefriends.org for details.
The History of Salt Haymaking in New England Marshes
YA Library Advisory Board
Art with Kristin Spring BINGO
Read to a Therapy Dog
Open Mic Night
Oddfellows Teen Repertory Company Premieres
Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Press Release from Oddfellows Playhouse
Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company will present the world premiere of Thursday, May 14, through Saturday, May 16, and Friday, May 22, through Saturday, May 23 at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington St. Performances are at 7 p.m. May 14, 15, 16, 22, and 23, with a 2 p.m. matinee May 23. A “pay what you can” preview will be held May 14 at 7 p.m. is an original comedy written and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Dic Wheeler. The high-energy production blends theater, circus, and Commedia dell’Arte. Beginning in Melilli, Sicily, in 1626, three performers are swept into a time-travel adventure led by a dead philosophercomedian, Mel Chomsky, journeying from Melilli to Mattabesset, ancient Greece, the American Revolution, and beyond. The play explores the ongoing tension between democracy and authoritarianism.
Mel
Wheeler, who will leave the Playhouse in June, says the production reflects both his artistic influences and current events. “I wanted my final show at Oddfellows to celebrate my life-long love of physical comedy, Commedia, and circus, but also be a commentary about the current state of the world,” Wheeler says. “The play combines the broad comedy of Mel Brooks with the worldview of Noam Chomsky, throwing in a dollop of . The cast includes familiar characters like Socrates, George Washington, Marie Antoinette,
Doctor Who
Continued from page 26
and Pope Leo X, plus many others throughout time and space, but at the heart are three archetypes of Commedia — the miser Pantalone, the hungry
servant Arlecchino, and his love and protector Colombina — all led by their tour guide Mel Chomsky.”
The production features a cast of 17 per-
Evening Tech Support and Exploration
:
6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Music and storytelling program. Free. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
Author Talk
: 2 p.m. Virtual. Discussion of Brain Fitness Blueprint. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.
Seize the Beat: The Evolution of American Music:
6 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave., Essex. Lecture by Brian Q. Torff on the history of American music. Free. Registration suggested. For info or to register, visit youressexlibrary.org or call 860-767-1560.
: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Technology help sessions. Free. No registration required. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.
Drive-In Movie
: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Killingworth Library, 188 Route 81, Killingworth. Children decorate cardboard “cars” and watch a story-based film. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.
John A. Holbrook Awards Dinner
: 6 to 9 p.m. Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. Awards presented to Devin Carney, Tina Dattilo, and the Westbrook Fire Department; keynote speakers Erin Stewart and Ryan Fazio. For info or tickets, email Kholbrook1981@yahoo.com or visit westbrookctrepublicans.com.
Tom Callinan: Revolutionary Storyteller and Songster
: 7 p.m. Deep River Historical Society Carriage House,
formers ages 14-21. It includes original music by Eric Kuhn, scenic design by Dan Schmidt, costume design by Elizabeth Saylor, sound design by Joseph Getter, choreography by Marcella Trowbridge, fight choreography by Meg Buckner Furtick, lighting design by Aaron Westcott, and properties design by Pam Lang. Jasmine Peck is technical director, Kayla Bucholz is stage manager, and assistant directors are Maegan Fuller and Lochlan Reeder. The lobby display is researched and designed by Sasha Nelson.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children and students. “Big Hearted Oddfellow” tickets are available for $30.
The production contains strong language and absurd situations.
Tickets are available at events. ticketleap.com/tickets/ oddfellowsplayhouse/mel-chomsky-s-history-of-the-world. For more information, call 860-347-6143, email info@odd fellows.org, or visit oddfellows.org.
The Teen Repertory Company’s 2026 production is supported in part by a Semiquincentennial Arts Engagement Grant from the City of Middletown Arts and Culture Office and production support from ARTFARM. Additional support for the 2025-26 season is provided by the Tinty Foundation, the Cornelia T. Bailey Charitable Trust, the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, and the George and Grace Long Foundation, along with contributions from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Fund for Greater Hartford, and other public and private supporters.
245 Main St., Deep River. Performance of music and stories based on Connecticut history. Presented in collaboration with the Deep River Historical Society and Deep River Public Library. Free. No registration required. For info, call 860-526-6039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.
FRIDAY, MAY 15
Junior Chefs: Monkey Tails
: 4 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Cooking program for children ages 5 to 12 featuring chocolate-dipped banana treats with assorted toppings. Registration required; space is limited. For info, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.
To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.
Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Chomsky’s History of the World
Photo by John Ward
Two performers from Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company appear in costume for , running May 14-16 and May 22-23 in Middletown. Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Acoustic Artist Storyteller: Crows in the Meadow
Virtual
with Patrick Porter and Ruchika Sikri
Horoscopes Crossword
For the week of May 7 - May 13
ARIES • Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, a professional door you thought was locked is actually just heavy. Push a little harder. Your honesty is exactly what a stalled project needs to move forward.
TAURUS • Apr 21/May 21
Financial clarity is coming your way, Taurus. You might discover a subscription you don’t need or a better way to save for that big-ticket item. Your future self will thank you.
GEMINI • May 22/Jun 21
Your words have extra weight this week, Gemini. Use them to bridge a gap between friends or to draft that important email. A sibling or close neighbor has some surprising news for you.
CANCER • Jun 22/Jul 22
Don’t ignore your dreams right now, Cancer. Your subconscious is trying to solve a puzzle while you sleep. Keep a notepad by the bed; a “Eureka!” moment arrives soon.
LEO • Jul 23/Aug 23
You’re the glue holding your team together this week, Leo. While you’re busy leading, don’t forget to delegate. You’ll find that people are more than willing to help if you seek assistance.
VIRGO • Aug 24/Sept 22
A change in your daily routine brings a massive boost to your mood, Virgo. Try a morning workout or a different lunch spot. Breaking the cycle opens the door for a fresh perspective.
MAY 7
Breckin Meyer, Actor (52)
MAY 8
Enrique Iglesias, Singer (51)
MAY 9
John Corbett, Actor (65)
MAY 10
Kenan Thomspon, Comic (48)
LIBRA • Sept 23/Oct 23
Romance is leaning toward the intellectual this week, Libra. A deep conversation about your values or goals will bring you closer to a partner or a new interest.
SCORPIO • Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, whether it’s your home life or a long-term project, pay attention to the small details and you will prevent a headache later. A family member offers some sage advice.
SAGITTARIUS • Nov 23/Dec 21
Your curiosity is your best asset this week, Sagittarius. Take a deep dive into a topic that usually bores you–you’ll find a hidden connection that benefits your career.
CAPRICORN • Dec 22/Jan 20
Patience is your mantra, Capricorn. You’re waiting for an answer, and while the silence is frustrating, the result will be worth it. Use the downtime to refine your current strategy.
AQUARIUS • Jan 21/Feb 18
You are a magnet for eccentric people this week, Aquarius. Embrace the weirdness. A chance encounter with someone outside your usual circle sparks a very profitable idea.
PISCES • Feb 19/Mar 20
Quiet reflection is more productive than busy work right now, Pisces. Slip away for some solitude. You’ll soon have the clarity you need to make a big decision about your living situation.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
MAY 11
Sabrina Carpenter, Singer (27)
MAY 12
Emilio Estevez, Actor (64)
MAY 13
Robert Pattinson, Actor (40)
CLUES ACROSS
1. Large dung beetle
7. Gambling game __-lo
10. Further along
12. Type of tobacco
13. Looked for
14. Silk fabric
15. Computer method to solve equations
16. As fast as can be done (abbr.)
17. Tear
18. Brews
19. “Famous” cookie baker
21. Women’s Army Corps
22. Front parts of an animal
27. It’s causing quite a stir
28. Beloved March holiday
33. 12th letter of the Greek alphabet
34. More impudent
36. Indicates center
37. Young woman (French)
38. A cause of distress
39. Santa’s helper
40. Hillside
41. Many wombs
44. Is afraid of
45. Popular baked goods ingredient
48. Popular computers
49. Conceiving of
50. Google certification (abbr.)
51. Sturdy
CLUES DOWN
1. Peruse quickly
2. Automobiles
3. Razorbill genus
4. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
5. Consumed
6. A place to sleep
7. Small seeds
8. Legendary law man Wyatt
9. Female sheep
10. Indigenous peoples of eastern Siberia
11. A place ships dock
12. Reciprocal of sine
14. Discomfort
17. British Air Aces
18. Exit sleep
20. Solar energetic particle
23. Plagues characterized by starvation
24. Short musical composition
25. Trauma center
26. Habitual twitching
29. A place where checks are exchanged (abbr.)
30. Decameter
31. Hinged surface in a wing
32. Shouting
35. Sports official
36. Volcanic craters
38. Supportive device
40. It’s part of a rosary
41. Two-toed sloth
42. Body art
43. Let out
44. Foreign medical graduate
45. Nonprofit journalism organization (abbr.)
46. Couples say it
47. Bird’s beak
Word Search
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, and diagonally throughout the puzzle.
This book had me hooked from the first page! Elsie “Mad Mabel” Fitzpatrick is a curmudgeonly, often hilarious, outspoken 81-year-old with a dark past that she has concealed for more than 60 years. When an extremely nosy but wellmeaning young neighbor tries to befriend her, Mabel finds the past catching up with her. Highly recommended!
— Marilyn, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Every other week, we invite local booksellers to submit suggestions for the best books on shelves now—it’s all part of our mission to keep our readers informed, up-to-date, and entertained. View previous Page Turners at www.zip06.com/pageturners.
Serafina is a fabulous character full of personality! I fell in love with her right away. In this debut story, she is not excited to be forced to take swimming lessons, but the reason she finally jumps in will melt your heart.
— Heather, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Yesteryear byCaroClaireBurke
This book is wild and unhinged in all the best ways. With a narrator you love to hate and a plot full of twists, it combines dark humor, suspense and cultural commentary as it delves into themes of motherhood, ambition, faith and the curated perfection of social media. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read that is sure to spark plenty of interesting conversations.
— Tijae, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
AnatomyofanAlibi byAshleyElston
This novel drew me in with its elaborate scheming and kept me hooked as the chapters slowly unraveled more mysteries. Camille and Aubrey form an uneasy and unwanted alliance to snoop on Camille’s husband, but it all falls apart when he’s found murdered the morning after. Swap between the before, during and after of the alibi as the women struggle to cover their own tracks and keep their alibis solid.
— Josh, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison
Real Estate Transactions
WESTBROOK
18 Happy Acres Road
: Sean Nolan to First Class Prop LLC, $261,000 on April 13
272 Westbrook Road
: Daniel W. and Isabel J. Acampora to Papoosha Re Investors LLC, $600,000 on April 13
CLINTON DEEP RIVER ESSEX
Ronald L. Hughes to Victoria D. Vermeer, $580,000 on April 17
Shane Bonanno
Shane Bonanno
860.227.7353
860.227.7353
Shane.Bonanno@raveis.com
Shane.Bonanno@raveis.com
328 Hammock Road
Peter Bonanno
860.227.9798 Peter.Bonanno@raveis.com
860.227.9798
Peter.Bonanno@raveis.com
: Amelia and Theodore Dupre to Katelyn E. and Thomas F. Connolly, $380,000 on April 14
: Real estate transactions are
Note published using publicly available records and are matters of public record. Listings are not removed in response to general privacy requests. Removal will only be considered in cases involving a documented and credible personal safety concern. Requests may be submitted to zip06@shorepublishing.com
Copyright material of Banker and Tradesman / the Commercial Record and The Warren Group. For past transactions, visit zip06.com/realestate.
96 Ayers Point Road Old Saybrook
$1,179,900
#1 Coldwell Banker Agent in Middlesex County
With nearly $300 million in sales volume and helping almost 1000 happy buyers and sellers over 20 years on the shoreline, Joel’s experience is invaluable. Let him help you achieve your real estate goals. Contact Joel Lucas Today!
Meet local businesses that make our community bloom!
Deep River Roasters
At 159 Main the scent of fresh roasted beans fills the air, brewed to perfection daily! Locally baked goodies are available to go with your cup of brew. Don’t forget to grab a pound of Sunshine Morning, XYZ, Dark Fin, to go!
Celebrations
At 161 Main Street, for over 40 years Linda & her family have been providing customers with great gift ideas, women’s & children’s clothing & accessories, unique cards, toys, books, & more! With its signature free gift wrap, Celebrations is truly a treasure in Deep River!
The Perfect Pup LLC
At 500 Main is a positive reinforcement training facility that focuses on transforming your relationship with your dog to one of trust and respect. We go beyond dog training to create a connection!
The Pet’s Choice
This local pet supply store at 155 Main is known for its grooming service & wide selection of highquality pet foods, toys, & accessories, as well as its experienced staff’s knowledge in the pet world. This local hub in the community center is a must stop for any pet owner.
Windows by Wetmore
Don’t let torn or dusty screens keep your windows shut. Windows By Wetmore offers expert window and screen repair plus much more. Get fresh air back in your home. 860-326-1509 www.windowsbywetmorellc.com
El Bracero Mexican Grill
At 160 Main, it is all about a little spice & simple fresh ingredients that create amazing traditional Mexican dishes, learned from their ancestors, this young couple are heating things up. Now expanding shortly creating a new dining experience in Downtown!
Deep River Hardware
Step back in time at 2 Elm, this old-fashioned family-owned hardware store is filled with all the essential, as well as expert service & advice. Need a key? Lumber? Just that one nail? The selection of items is endless.
Calamari’s Tavern
At 112 Main everyone knows your name & those of your father & grandfather. This icon tavern has been run by the Calamari family since 1933, where you will find a cold beer, grilled hotdog & maybe a pickle egg. Known for great conversations, always a bit of history & discussions of a great book. If you haven’t been, go meet some new friends, maybe play a game of cards.
Deep River Ice
The lights are on at 169 Main for the season, known for their Italian Ice from Micalizzi’s & an amazing rotation ice-cream flavors. Schedule their Ice cream truck now for summer events! Deep River Ice is the cornerstone to the community that marks summer, friends & smiles with their friendly welcoming atmosphere.
Landing & Main
Under new ownership & management, Landing & Main at 77 Main is entering a new chapter. Come meet our new team, that is focused on making it Deep River’s everyday spot for Lunch & Dinner. Come check out the new menu, happy hour specials & affordable options like custom pasta dishes starting at $15. The restaurant has been part of the community for years & our goal is to bring that spirit back.
