L-R: Jeff Fuller on bass, Dr. Joe Cardinale on guitar, Gene Bertoncini on guitar.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by this election season? You’re not alone. On Tuesday, we’ll have some closure. In the meantime, escape from the political fray by listening to some jazz at Ayuthai on Sunday night. It’s sure to soothe the troubled soul!
Saturday, Nov. 5
Showdown 2016
The Branford Police Department will host Showdown 2016 on from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Shoreline Athletics, 57 East Industrial Road.
Showdown 2016, a Law Enforcement Torch Run® event, is a competition consisting of four workouts with prizes awarded to the top teams. T‑shirts and lunch will be provided to participants. All proceeds will be donated to Special Olympics Connecticut to support its year-round sports, health and fitness programs for athletes of all abilities. The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Connecticut is one of the movement’s largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicles
Register teams at www.classy.org/showdown2016. To learn more, visit www.soct.org, email [email protected] or call 203 – 230-1201.
Showdown 2016 is a Law Enforcement Torch Run® event to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut.
Sunday, Nov. 6
Branford’s Veterans Day Parade
The town’s Veterans Day activities will begin at 9 a.m. with a ceremony at Center Cemetery, then move to all cemeteries in town. The Naval Ceremony will take place at the Montowese Street bridge at 12:30 p.m. Participants will then meet at the Cenotaph on the town green (behind Town Hall) at 1 p.m. with an address by American Legion Post 83 Commander Richard Dunn. A decorated marine, Dunn is also the parade’s grand marshal.
The parade will follow along South Main Street, to Main Street to North Harbor Street to Bradley Street, back to Main Street. It will continue east to the reviewing stand, and end at Montowese Street.
Marching units will include the Second Company Governor’s Footguard, Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, the US Marine Corps Color Guard, Branford High School Band, Branford Town Band, St. Mary School Fife and Drum Corps, local veterans’ organizations, scout troops., civic and service organizations, state and local officials, and emergency and antique vehicles.
Jazz at Ayuthai
Jazz bassist Jeff Fuller will be at Ayuthai, Boston Post Road, Guilford, from 6 to 8 p.m. with guitarist Dr. Joe Cardinale, Matt DeChamplain on piano, and Ben Bilello on drums. (See top photo)
Fuller has played with jazz masters from all styles and eras including artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan, and Clark Terry. Always expanding his compositional repertoire and vocabulary, Fuller has received commissions from both the New Haven and the Hartford Symphony Orchestras and has twice received project grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. His first CD of all original jazz music, The Call From Within, was released in 2015, and his latest release — Sambeleza Live! — came out in June 2015.
Here’s a video of a performance at Ayuthai with Dr. Joe Cardinale.
Tuesday, Nov. 8
Election Day:Vote!
This contentious political election is finally coming to an end. Now is the time to cast your ballot. Here’s where to vote: District 1 – Community House, 46 Church St.; District 2 – St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road; District 3 – 421 Orchard House Adult Day Center; District 4 – Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St.; District 5 – Indian Neck School, 12 Melrose Ave.; District 6 – Mary T. Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plains Road; and District 7 – Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road. Click here for a street list that will connect you to your election district.
Saturday, Nov. 12
Sephardic Music at Branford Folk Music Society
The Branford Folk Music Society will present a concert of the music of the Sephardic Jews featuring the Elias Ladino Ensemble on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 8 to 11 p.m., in the auditorium of the First Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main St., on the Branford Green.
Since 1976, the Elias Ladino Ensemble has performed the songs of the Sephardic Jews in venues all over the world. Many of the songs to be performed date back to ancient Spain while others reveal melodies and rhythms of the Balkan and Middle Eastern communities where Sephardic groups lived in exile.
The Elias Ladino Ensemble — Daniel Elias, musical director and clarinet; Maurice Sedacca, guitar and oud, and Casey Bond on doumbek — is one of the very few Sephardic groups whose vocalists are native speakers of Ladino.
Admission for the concert will be $25 for the general public, $20 for BFMS members, and $5 for children age 12 and under. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 203 – 488-7715 or access the society’s Web page at www.branfordfolk.org.
Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13.
Shoreline Arts Trail 2016 Open Studios Weekend:
The Shoreline Arts Trail’s 15th annual Open Studios Weekend takes place at 34 studios, featuring 41 artists, in Branford, Guilford, and Madison next weekend.
This juried event gathers some of the finest, award-winning artists on the shoreline whose work must reflect mastery of methods and materials, originality of concept, and be handmade by the artist in his/her studio. On display will be one-of-a-kind, quality-made items in a wide range of media including jewelry, sculpture, fiber, paint, glass, pottery, metal, and textiles. Visitors will have a chance to talk one-on-one with artists and explore their studios as they explore 50 miles of scenic shoreline.
In addition to the two-day Open Studios Weekend, several preview events are scheduled this fall including group shows at Friends and Company Restaurant (Madison) from Nov. 1 to Dec. 11, with a reception on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and Wall Street Gallery (also in Madison) from through Nov. 29, with a reception on Friday, Nov. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m.
For the latest information on these preview events, visit www.shorelineartstrail.com, which includes an interactive map, downloadable print map, and Family Activity Brochure, as well as a blog and Facebook page with profiles on individual artists and special events.
Tuesday, Nov. 15
The Purple Heart Battalion: The Story of the Japanese American Nisei and Their Fight for Citizenship
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Col. (ret.) Richard Young, Connecticut Army National Guard will review the battle history of the 442nd, Presidential Order 9066 establishing relocation camps for Americans of Japanese Ancestry, and subsequent Supreme Court ruling at the Blackstone Library, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was all Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans), who distinguished themselves in fierce combat in Italy, France, and the South Pacific in World War II. The 442nd earned its name, “Purple Heart Battalion,” because the majority of the soldiers were wounded in combat (9,486 of 14,000 Soldiers). The unit was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations; 21 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. The 442nd is the most highly decorated unit (for its size) in the history of the United States Army.
Information will be provided about visiting Manzanar, a National Park Service Historical Site dedicated to the memory of the Japanese Americans internees.
Refreshments will be served. Registration required. To register, go to http://www.blackstone.lioninc.org/events/the-purple-heart-battalion-the-story-of-the-japanese-american-nisei-and-their-fight-for-citizenship/.
Sunday, Nov. 20
Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Walk
Join the Branford Land Trust on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. for its annual pre-Thanksgiving walk at Van Wie Woods. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors friends and family.
Participants should meet at the trailhead at 87 Red Hill Road. Directions: From Exit 56 on I‑95, go south on Leetes Island Rd. for 0.1 mile, and turn left (east) onto Red Hill Rd. Proceed to #87, which is on the right, and park on the right side of the road.
For all BLT walks, please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please visit: www.branfordlandtrust.org.
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