Winter is settling in and the focus is on indoor activities. Lots going on at the Blackstone, plus various other opportunities for expanding your horizons. Looking ahead, it’s not too soon to make reservations for the annual Eagle Watch along the Connecticut River – take some time to view these magnificent birds and enjoy lunch afterwards.
Thursday, Jan. 5
First-Time Homeowners’ Workshop
A workshop for first-time homeowners will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., sponsored by the Pat Wright HUD Counseling and Development Agency.
For more information, call 203 – 433-4743 or 203 – 871-7252.
Jazz Pianist Shares Autobiography
Jazz pianist Don Trenner will share his stories and answer questions on the Evergreen Woods stage (Evergreen Woods Community Building, Auditorium, 88 Notch Hill Road, North Branford) on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Trenner has his roots in New Haven, but his talent and career have taken him all over the world. Working alongside big names such as Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Jose Feliciano, George Burns, and more, Trenner has lived the ins and outs of the music industry and shares it all in his honest and intimate autobiography. Autographed copies of his book will be available for purchase.
Saturday, Jan. 7
Shoreline Train Show
The Annual Shoreline Train Show will be held Saturday, Jan. 7 (snow date Jan. 14), at the United Methodist Church of Branford from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be many vendors and live operating layouts along with a Thomas hands-on room. The donation for adults is $6, seniors (60-plus) $5, with children under 12 free. The church is wheelchair accessible.
For more information, call the church at 203 – 488-0549, or Roger Laurie Gagné, 203 – 466-6175. Email: [email protected].
Blackstone Library Tour: An Insider’s Look
Take a tour of the James Blackstone Memorial Library on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. to learn historical tidbits, and get an insider’s peek into the day in the life of a Blackstone library employee. If you have new neighbors, invite them to take a tour. Tours offered the first Saturday of each month.
Fresh Start: Enhance Your Life with Tea
Phil Parda of Savvy Tea will discuss the pleasures and benefits of tea on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St. The “Fresh Start” tea program is all about taking steps to make the New Year a healthier and more enjoyable one by enhancing your life with tea. It’s a great program for those new to tea, but also for those that have been drinking tea for years, and want to know more and go further into the benefits this amazing plant can offer their lives.
To RSVP, visit www.blackstonelibrary.org or call 203 – 488-1441, ext. 318.
Sunday, Jan. 8
Talk on global warming
The Branford Forum will host a talk titled, “Global Warming: Some Facts, Some Fallacies,” by Henry E. Auer, PhD., at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Blackstone Library Auditorium, 785 Main St.
Auer will discuss the science of greenhouse warming and assess the extent to which humanity is responsible for it. He will also examine some counter-examples raised by those who do not accept the reality of warming or of humans’ contribution to it. Suggested reading includes: “Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Climate Change and Energy in the 21st Century;” “Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity” by James Hansen, a pioneer climate scientist who began warning about warming decades ago; and “Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming.”
Tuesday, Jan. 10
The ABCs of Behavior: A Science-Based Workshop for Parents
The ABCs of Behavior, a monthly science-based workshop for parents will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 10, begins at 6:30 p.m., at the Branford Firehouse, 45 N. Main St. Parents will learn the fundamentals of behavior management, building structures, changing and developing better relationships between them and their children.
Resident experts from The Behavioral Consultation Group and Yale Parenting Center will share behavior strategies that have been proven to work for parents. There will be a slide presentation and time to practice each of the strategies with discussion period.
The monthly series is free and open to the public. RSVP to [email protected]
Thursday, Jan. 12
Scanlon Office Hours
State Rep. Sean Scanlon (D‑98th District) will hold office hours on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library Meeting Room, 146 Thimble Island Road. Scanlon represents Guilford and two sections of Branford, Stony Creek and Pine Orchard.
Scanlon, who was elected to his second term in November, has authored legislation limiting prescriptions for opioid use and ensuring that emergency responders are equipped with naxolone, a life-saving overdose reversal drug.
Scanlon can be reached at [email protected].
Sunday, Jan. 15
Solo Show by Bob Dietz
The paintings of Branford resident Bob Dietz will be on exhibit at Friends & Company, 11 Boston Post Road, in Madison during January and February.
An opening reception will take place Sunday, Jan. 15, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. where you can meet the artist and enjoy wine and appetizers.
Monday, Jan. 16
Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast
The 18th annual Martin Luther King Breakfast will be Monday, Jan. 16, at 8:30 a.m. at St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road. The speaker for the breakfast is James Barber, Southern Connecticut State University Director of Community Engagement. Barber has been with the university for more than 40 years in various capacities and has served as a mentor to many young people. The Branford High School Music Makers will perform at the event.
Tickets for the breakfast, available at the door on the morning of the event, are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Funds raised from ticket sales will benefit the Community Dining Room and fuel assistance for the elderly. This breakfast is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Eunice Lasala at 203 – 488-6063.
Saturday, Jan. 21
The Road Ahead: Stories of the Forever War
Matt Gallagher, co-editor of Fire and Forget and author of Young Blood joins Branford native Adrian Bonenberger, author of The Afghan Post for a panel discussion about the new veteran fiction anthology The Road Ahead at Blackstone Library, 758 Main St. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Writers and editors Brian Castner and Teresa Fazio complete the panel.
The Road Ahead is a diverse collection of fictional works written by 24 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflecting the evolving nature of what has become American’s “Forever War.”
To RSVP, visit www.blackstonelibrary.org or call 203 – 488-1441, ext. 318.
Saturday, Feb. 4
28th Annual Eagle Watches on the Connecticut River
Audubon Shop owner Jerry Connolly will again lead the popular land-based excursions to view Bald Eagles along the Connecticut River, beginning Saturday, Feb. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additional trips are planned for Feb. 11, 18, 25, and March 4.
Bald Eagles make their way down the Connecticut River from Canada every winter in search of ice-free fishing. Participants will observe these majestic birds from a variety of locations along the river. Ticket prices are $25, which includes a soup & sandwich luncheon at Otter Cove Restaurant in Old Saybrook following the field trip.
Reservations must be made in advance by calling 203 – 245-9056. Carpool from the shop at 907 Boston Post Road in Madison at 7:45 a.m. or meet at first stop (Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam) at 8:30 a.m.
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