Former First Selectman Unk DaRos at the Stony Creek Quarry
Many opportunities this week to commune with and learn about nature – bird walks, duck talk, tick talk. A heads up for those with kids of all ages: There’s a preschool fair, registration for summer camp, and a deadline for the Rotary scholarship. Lots going on next week in the Creek, too. And finally, several cool events for music lovers and animal lovers are also on the docket. Got a cool event? Email [email protected] by Wednesday noon.
Branford Preschool Fair for Families
The third annual Preschool Fair will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Church Parish Hall. It’s an opportunity to compare the different school, their learning styles, and availability. Activities and giveaways will be included and the entire family is invited. No registration is required. The event was created in Partnership with the Branford Early Childhood Cooperative, the Blackstone Library, and Willoughby Wallace Library.
Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7
Spring Bird Walks
Chris Woerner leads Branford Land Trust’s annual bird walks along the Trolley Trail and into the Vedder property on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Come to one or both.
Meet in Stony Creek at the far end of West Point Road at the ball field across from the Willoughby Wallace Library. Expect moderate terrain, with sloping trails and inclines, and rocky underfooting. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. Event is rain or shine. For details, call 203 – 483-5263.
Wednesday, May 10
Menunkatuck Audubon: All About Ducks
Menunkatuck Audubon Society will present a talk by Ben Sonnenberg, director of Environmental Education at Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St.
LRWC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of waterfowl and wetlands through research, education, and conservation action. Located in Litchfield, the Conservancy is home to more than 500 birds representing over 80 different species. Primarily a breeding facility for rare and endangered species, the Conservancy raises hundreds of birds a year. During the talk, there will be the chance to meet some of LRWC’s Avian Ambassadors and get a glimpse of the diversity and natural history of the world of waterfowl. Along the way, LRWC’s current research projects, species survival programs, and some of the most potent threats to waterfowl will be discussed, including habitat destruction and climate change.
A Montana native, Sonnenberg has a background in field research studying Red Crossbill vocalizations in Washington State as well as sea duck aviculture in Alaska. He designs and presents education programs for preschoolers to college students to adults. As the Assistant Aviculturist, he also helps manage and perform daily bird care for the LRWC flock.
Saturday, May 13
Stony Creek Brewery Shred Event
Stony Creek Brewery will hold a Shred Event to benefit Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Brewery’s parking lot at 5 Indian Neck Ave. A $5 donation is requested for each box of paper; 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Closer to Free Charity for the Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.
Open to the public, the Shred Event is an opportunity to securely destroy confidential documents and records, protecting them from identity theft.
The Shred Event service will accept papers, photographs, blue prints, and a variety of other documents.
After the event guests are welcome to visit the Stony Creek Brewery, which will open at 10 a.m. Guests can enjoy a selection of 16 Stony Creek beers as well as a variety of wines and soda at their waterfront grounds.
For more information on Stony Creek Brewery visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StonyCreekBeer or visit the Stony Creek Brewery website at www.stonycreekbeer.com.
Stony Creek Quarry Tour
Visitors to the Stony Creek Quarry in Branford on Saturday, May 13 will view the past, present, and future of this famous site. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and will be limited to 100 people.
Proceeds go to the Guilford Keeping Society and the Stony Creek Museum, which are organizing the tour in collaboration with the quarry.
Unk DaRos and Carl Balestracci, both quarry historians and descendants of quarrymen, will share stories of the quarry’s history, the lives and work of the quarrymen and the dangers they faced on a daily basis. There will be new stories from Carl Balestracci, who has just completed a book on the neighboring Beattie Quarry, which provided the stone for the base of the Statue of Liberty. His book, John Beattie and His Quarrymen: Building America Stone by Stone, will be available for sale at the quarry. All proceeds from the book will be shared by the Guilford Keeping Society and The Stony Creek Museum.
Tickets are $15, available at Page Hardware, Breakwater Books, and the Greene Gallery in Guilford, as well as the quarry itself and Taken for Granite in Stony Creek. Because of the rough terrain, children 10 and under will not be admitted. On arriving at the quarry, visitors will be asked to sign a liability waiver. Organizers suggest that those who might have trouble standing for an hour might like to bring a folding chair.
Parking will be available inside the quarry gates. Directions to the quarry from the Guilford Green: Route 146 for 4.2 miles, right on Quarry Road (in Branford) to the end. Directions from Stony Creek: Route 146 for .6 miles, left on Quarry Road. For more Information go to guilfordkeepingsociety.com or call 203 – 453-2263.
Monday, May 15
Tick Talk: Let’s Talk Ticks
The East Shore District Health Department and the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library present environmentally friendly ways to avoid getting ticks on yourself, your pets and in your yard. The talk will take place on Monday, May 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Willoughby Wallace Library, 146 Thimble Island Road.
Information will be presented on removing ticks, preventing ticks in your yard, preventing mosquito bites, planning for travel, Lyme Disease, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, and more.
Friday, May 19
Branford Compassion Club Celebrates 20 Years
The Branford Compassion Club feline rescue and adoption organization celebrates its 20th anniversary Friday, May 19, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with Swing Cats Cocktail Party, a Swing era-themed benefit, at Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club, 2 Club Parkway.
Attendees will be transported back to a ’40s nightclub and get “in the mood” with the spirited dancing music of the aptly named The Survivors Swing Band, inspired by its lively 95-year-old sax player Jules Bashkin.
As BCC has survived and grown from a small group of volunteers working out of their homes to an 80-plus-member organization of volunteers with its own Feline Rescue & Adoption Center at 2037 Foxon Road, North Branford, The Survivors carry on their mission of keeping alive the music of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and other musical giants of the 1930s and ’40s.
There will be dancing, silent auction, hors d’oeuvres stations, surprises, and a lot of appreciation to those who have supported the privately funded BCC for two decades. ’40s attire is encouraged, but not required. Tickets are $75 a person, available through brownpapertickets.com or by emailing [email protected].
This is one of only two major annual fundraisers, which help defray the daunting task of keeping BCC’s shelter open and vibrant. The other is Animal Awareness Day, Oct. 1 on the Branford Green.
BCC’s Feline Rescue & Adoption Center, 2037 Foxon Road, North Branford, is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more event info, call Donna Doherty (203 – 481-3595) or Peg Johnson (203 – 444-0653). To donate or volunteer, visit http://www.branfordcompassionclub.org or call 203 – 483-6369.
Saturday, May 20
Tom Lewis at Branford Folk Music Society
The Branford Folk Music Society will present Tom Lewis, one of North America’s foremost exponents of contemporary sea songs, on Saturday, May 20, at 8 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 1009 Main St.
His repertoire – from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring background – recruits his audience for a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous. Long a Branford Folk audience favorite, this will be Tom’s sixth appearance at the coffeehouse.
His musical career began in 1960 when he was posted to a naval station in Scotland and began frequenting local folk clubs. He retired from the Her Majesty’s Royal Navy in 1983.
Born in Northern Ireland, Tom’s Celtic heritage is obvious in his clear, strong voice, evoking quiet sorrow for a fisherman lost to the sea just as honestly as it powers out a shanty “to be heard above the gales.” Because of his naval background, he brings a rare authenticity to the realm of nautical song.
Admission is $25 for non-members, $20 for members, $5 for children 12 and under.
Sunday, May 21
“Evergreen Woofs” Dog Parade
The ninth annual Evergreen Woofs Dog Parade will take place Sunday, May 21, at 10 a.m., at Evergreen Woods Community Building parking lot and lawn, 88 Notch Hill Road, North Branford.
The event is a fundraiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind of Southern Connecticut, whose territory stretches from Wallingford to Deep River to New Haven. Dogs of all walks of life – and their owners – are welcome. Registration is $5 per pooch, with a unique award given to each entrant. Hot dogs and lemonade will be sold as well.
For more information, call Briana Benn-Mirandi at 203 – 483-3224 or email [email protected].
Beatlemania at the Blackstone
Relive the music, the memories and the magic of John, Paul, George and Ringo on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m., at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St.
Dressed in replica costumes with the exact instrumentation, The Hofners will play note-for-note renditions of The Beatles’ most beloved classics. The Hofners are a Beatles tribute band comprised of various singers and musicians who have performed in Beatle groups over the years. Relive the music, the memories and the magic of John, Paul, George and Ringo with note-for-note renditions of The Beatles’ most beloved classics from the ‘60s.
The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Rotary Dollars For Branford Scholars: Deadline May 22
The Rotary Club of Branford offers its annual scholarship to Branford high school seniors who are pursuing advanced education in the fall 2017. The award of $3,000 will be given to the applicant who provides outstanding evidence in academic achievement, community service, Rotary values, and financial need.
The application has three components to be fulfilled. First is a student-written essay focusing on Rotary principles. Then supportive documentation as specified in the application requirements such as high school transcript and teachers’ references. Finally, is an interview with a panel of Rotarians.
The applicant may be a pending graduate of any accredited Connecticut high school. This scholarship is for undergraduate study at a two or four-year college or technical school. Branford residency is required.
Applications for the Rotary scholarship are available at [email protected] and the Branford High School guidance office as well as the James Blackstone Memorial Library and Willoughby Wallace Library. Completed application packets must be received by May 22. For more information, call Tony Terry at 203 – 481-6424.
Summer Playground Camp
Registration is open for Branford Recreation Department’s Summer Playground Camp for ages 5 – 12, which begins July 3. The camp will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 3 to Aug. 11 (no camp on July 4).
Cost for the basic camp program is $400 for six weeks. A Before Care Program costs an additional $125 and an After Care Program (from 3 to 5 p.m.) is an additional $175 per camper. Site choices for the 2017 Summer Camp include Hammer Field, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Stony Creek Playground, and Foote Park. Field trips are included in the basic camp fee with the exception of Lake Compounce Day (July 25), which is an additional $50. There are limited spots on the trip to Lake Compounce. Children must be enrolled in Summer Camp to register for this trip.
For further information or to register, the office at 203 – 488-8304 or to enroll online go to www.branfordrecreation.org.
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