File Photo
Officer Rick Kenney awaits his turn.
Lots of Dunkin coming up as in Dunk-a-Cop for the Special Olympics and Dunk- a- Cop and perhaps others at Woofstock next weekend. Need exercise? Try a potato sack race or a scenic walk at Red Hill Woods or get back into the swing of things at the East Haven Rotary Club’s annual golf tournament in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!
Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7
Shakespeare on the Shoreline: The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Believed by some to be Shakespeare’s first play, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is a tale of love, friendship, fools and dogs. This week from August 4 to August 7, Shakespearience Productions will be hosting a performance of this classic comedy on the Guilford Green, beginning at 7:30 p.m. every night. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $20.
North Branford Potato and Corn Festival
Ready your eyes and ears and head on down to North Branford this weekend for the town’s 15th annual Potato and Corn Festival, hosted at Augur Farm at 290 Forest Road, Northford.
Hungry for competition? Feed your competitive spirit by entering a potato sack race, corn shucking contest, or tractor pull. Or, simply sit back and enjoy a car show, some live music, and a fireworks display, or browse through the booths of the event’s many food and craft vendors.
For more information, including festival hours and a full schedule of events, visit http://nbpotatofest.com/
Friday, August 5‑Saturday, August 6
Merchants Sidewalk Sale and Town-Wide Tag Sale in Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivorytown
This weekend, join the villages of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivorytown as they host their annual Merchants Sidewalk Sale (from the 5th to the 6th) and Town-Wide Tag Sale (which will take place only on the 6th). For more information, visit http://essexct.com/event/town-wide-sidewalk-tag-sale/
Saturday, August 6
Walk Red Hill Woods with the Branford Land Trust
Join the Branford Land Trust as they continue their summer series of scenic walks around Red Hill Woods. The trip will begin at 10 a.m. at the end of Red Hill Road, and will last about one hour. Walkers should expect moderate terrain, with some sloping trails and inclines.
First Saturday Walk with Shoreline Greenway Trail
The Shoreline Greenway Trail invites nature enthusiasts of all kinds to join them in their first Saturday walk of the month, which will begin at East Haven’s DC Moore Elementary School parking lot at 10 a.m. The 1.5 mile excursion will take hikers through a terrain filled with mountain laurel, tulip trees, osprey nests, and spectacular views of the Branford Preserve and Farm River. The outing will also be an opportunity for guests to learn about recent Recreational Trail Grant from the State of Connecticut to build a multi-use (bike and hiking) trail in Farm River State Park.
DC Moore parking lot is located at 82 Elliot St, East Haven.
For more information, visit http://shorelinegreenwaytrail.org/2016/07/august-first-saturday-walk-east-haven/ or call Barbara at 203 – 469-9127.
Dunk-a-Cop for Special Olympics
The Branford Police Department will host its annual Dunk-a-Cop (top photo) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Branford Green. Guests of all ages are invited to dunk their favorite (“or least favorite!”) Branford cop in the department’s annual fundraiser for Connecticut’s Special Olympics athletes. The family-friendly event will feature fun activities for kids of all ages, including face painting, games, raffles, popcorn, and more. Local vendors, including the 2016 winner of Connecticut’s Food Truck Fight, Shoreline Primes “Silver Bullet,” will be selling food.
Blues Jam
Head for the Branford Green Saturday night to hear the Tabor Blues Band. Music gets underway at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 9:30 p.m. For additional information call 617 – 777-3759.
Sunday, August 7
CD Release with Jeff Fuller & Friends
Jeff Fuller & Friends will be celebrating the release of their second CD, “Shoreline Blues,” from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Fornarelli’s Ristorante, 99 Orange Street, New Haven.
The band, featuring Darren Litzie on piano, Ben Bilello on drums, and Jeff Fuller himself on both upright and electric bass, will be performing music from their newest project: a ten-track album featuring originals in the bop, swing and Afro-Caribbean vein, and two unaccompanied solo bass pieces. For reservations, call the restaurant at 203 – 745-5677.
Wednesday, August 10
“Spices of the World” at the Blackstone library
I
f you’re looking for some variety to spice up your life, look no further than the Blackstone Library. From 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. next Wednesday, the library will be hosting a hands-on workshop on the “jewels of gourmet,” led by Colleen Bell. The workshop will cover a variety of information and skills, including how to tell the difference between herbs and spices, how to store spices, and how to pair your spices with each other and with dishes. Participants will be given the opportunity to taste their materials, and will even be challenged to a taste test to identify the “mystery spice.” Registration required. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spices-of-the-world-registration-24964022062
Thursday, August 11
Medical Coding at the Blackstone Library
Interested in a career in medical coding? Visit the Blackstone library next Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a free informational workshop with the Medical Coding Academy. To learn more about the workshop, contact Kelly Anastasio of Medical Coding Academy at 203 – 848-0496 or click here to visit the Medical Coding Academy website.
Saturday, August 13
Intro to 3‑D printing at the Blackstone Library
Join instructor Jim Davis for at the Blackstone Library from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a free introductory tutorial on 3D file creation. Using the free 3D modeling software 123Design, from the makers of AutoCAD, participants will learn all the skills necessary to create ready-to-print 3D files.
Space is limited – register today! To register, click here or call 203 – 488-1441 x 318. Open to all ages.
Tilde Cafe at the Blackstone Library
The oldest continuously running science cafe in Connecticut, Tilde Cafe meets in Branford, CT about once every 4 to 6 weeks to discuss topics ranging from physical sciences, to life sciences and social sciences. Its upcoming meeting will feature a discussion on “making modern vaccines to prevent the next pandemic: from flu to Zika,” led by Rachael Felberbaum, PhD.
The discussion is open to all curious minds, regardless of age or background in the discussion topic. To learn more about Tilde Cafe, visit their website at http://www.tildecafe.org/
Woofstock on the Branford Green
Branford is going to the dogs next weekend at the annual “Woofstock” festival, a day of peace and music hosted to benefit Branford’s Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m.
The annual event will feature not only live acts such as “Chewy and the Grateful Friends,” but also a Woof Walk for homeless pets, a Hippie Dog contest, a dunk tank, a raffle, a children’s area with a bouncy castle and obstacle course, and vendors selling plenty of food and goodies for you and your furry friends.
And you may paint a canvas under the tent at the Woofstock Festival. The Branford Art Center will be selling tickets for $10, which will enable the ticket holders to be set up with all supplies to paint a canvas. Ticket holders get to sign the larger-than-life sculptured dog. The paintings and dog will be featured at an opening reception from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, at Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St. After the opening, the dog sculpture with signatures will also be displayed at the Town Hall and the Blackstone Library. For more information, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected].
Admission to “Woofstock” is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person that will go towards animal rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing. For more information, or to register for the Woof Walk or the Hippie Dog contest, visit the event’s website at http://www.woofstockonthebranfordgreen.org/
Sunday, August 14
Paint Night to Support the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative
Help raise money for the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative’s 2016 – 2017 professional development series with a night of painting and socializing at the Branford Art Center Gallery and Art Workshop from 7 p..m. to 9 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the BECC’s Branford Early Care Provider Roundtables. The event is BYOB/wine and snacks. All other materials are included.
To register, contact Jennifer Kelly at [email protected] by Saturday, August 6. Payment for the tickets, which cost $40 per person, can be made by credit card by calling Yvonne at: 860 – 334-4642 or you may bring a check the night of the event after registering.
Wednesday, August 17
East Haven Rotary Golf Tournament
Get back in the swing of things with the East Haven Rotary Club at their annual benefit golf tournament, which will be hosted New Haven’s Alling Memorial Golf Club.
The tournament, recently renamed the Pasquale “Pat” Romano Memorial, Tournament in memory of Rotarian Romano who passed away in 2011, will begin with a continental breakfast at 8 a,m, before the first tee-off at 9 a.m.
The tournament’s $100 entry fee also includes 18 holes of golf (including cart) and a steak dinner at Anastasio’s Italian Steak House at 640 – 656 Silver Sands Road in East Haven, where participants are invited to go after the tournament. Nominal prizes will be awarded and a 50/50 raffle will be held.
To reserve a place in the tournament, or to purchase a Tee Sponsorship for $100, contact Frank Gentilesco, Jr. at 203 – 627-0602. Proceeds from the event will be put towards scholarships and other free events offered to the community.
Sally E. Bahner contributed reporting for this story.
###
