Many have been lamenting the lack of sunshine and warm weather, but take heart, the heat will be here soon enough – most likely in time for Branford Festival weekend, June 16 to 18 (details to follow). In the meantime, take part in Connecticut Trails Day with a hike sponsored by the Branford Land Trust, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Shutterbugs will enjoy the Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance exhibit and arts lovers should check out New Haven’s Festival of Arts and Ideas, which kicks off this weekend.
Friday, June 2
Photography At The Academy
More than 20 Branford photographers will take part in the 2017 exhibition at the Academy on the Branford Green, which is expected to be the largest show of photography sponsored by Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance.
The exhibit opens with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2, and continues from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4. For more information, email BACA06405@gmail.com.
Saturday, June 3
Hike the Stony Creek Quarry Preserve
As part of Connecticut Trails Day, Branford Land Trust will hold a free hike through the Stony Creek Quarry Preserve, Red Hill Road, on Saturday, June 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bill Horne will lead the hike.
Walk the trails of the Stony Creek Quarry and Red Hill Woods Preserves in the heart of nearly 1000 acres of preserved land. Points of interest along the 3.5‑mile hike include a Native American rock shelter and evidence of historic quarrying. This hike has some short steep places and will be challenging for young children.
For all BLT walks, please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome.
For details and directions visit the Branford Land Trust website, www.branfordlandtrust.org.
Beginning Saturday, June 3
International Festival of Arts and Ideas
New Haven’s International Festival of Arts and Ideas takes place throughout the city from Saturday, June 3 though Saturday, June 24. It’s an extravaganza of performing arts, lectures, and conversations that takes over theaters and open spaces in New Haven.Included are award-winning circus, dance, music, theater, and performances too unique to categorize. Festival artists are Grammy winners, Tony winners, MacArthur Genius Fellows, Oscar winners, and Bessie winners. Also featured are free open-air concerts on the New Haven Green and lectures and conversation that focus on contemporary themes in the humanities and social sciences.For tickets and more information, go to http://www.artidea.org.
Sunday, June 4
Nature Explorer: Flora Walk At Vedder Preserve
The Branford Land Trust will sponsor a free Flora Walk at Vedder Preserve, West Point Road, at 2 p.m., led by Lauren Brown, to identify native plants and flowers.
The guided walk begins in Stony Creek at the west end of West Point Road, across from the Stony Creek Library. For all BLT walks, please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome.
For more information, call 203 – 415-1571.
New Haven Die In: On the New Haven Green
As part of a nationwide Die-In for healthcare, citizens in cities and towns across the country, will come together to dramatize the real potential impact of Republican health care policy. Locally, an event will take place on the New Haven Green from 3 to 4 p.m.
Across the nation, people will symbolically “die,” holding tombstones that forecast real causes of death under the proposed Republican approach to healthcare.
Monday, June 5
Branford Rotary Golf Tourney
The Branford Rotary Club’s sixth annual Spring Golf Classic takes place on Monday, June 5, at the Clinton Country Club, 128 Old Post Road, Clinton.
The schedule for the tourney is as follows: 10 a.m. – registration, driving range and putting green open; 11 a.m. – lunch; noon – shotgun start (scramble); 5 p.m. – cocktail hour (open bar); 6 p.m. – dinner, raffle, and auction.
Prizes to be awarded include Longest Drive, Men and Women Closest to the Pin, Gross Score for first, second, and last place, and hole-in-one.
Registration is $175 per golfer. Appropriate attire is required. Spikeless shoes are required, and jeans are prohibited. Spectators are welcome. Dinner is available for non-golfers at $25. Sponsorships are encouraged and will be posted throughout the Clinton Country Club golf course. Spectators are welcome.
The Branford Rotary tournament is a fundraiser for designated charities. Proceeds will benefit the Branford Counseling Center Basic Needs Program, Feed Branford Kids, local veterans’ groups, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Soundview YMCA Annual Campaign, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and Y‑NHH Male Breast Cancer Van Wilgen Fund.
For further details call Ed Vescovi, 203 – 415-9191, Doug Shaw, 203 – 494-8510 or go to www.branfordrotary.org. Call Hap Storer for sponsor information and payment at 11 Grove Ave., Branford 06405.
Thursday, June 8
Library Trivia Night
The Friends of the Blackstone Library’s Trivia Night fundraiser takes place Thursday, June 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pompeo’s Restaurant, 485 West Main St.
The Trivia Night consists of five rounds of questions in various categories designed to make you think, invite you to eat and drink, and enjoy a night out with friends and family. Rounds are 10 questions each, and the highest-scoring team wins. Prizes will be awarded. Play as an individual or form a team with friends. Food and beverages are available at reduced prices on site.
Admission is $15. Tickets will be sold at the door at 6:45 p.m. or in advance at the information desk at the Blackstone Library on Main Street. Visit
https://www.facebook.com/JBMLfriends/ or call 203 – 503-1829 for further information.
Saturday, June 10
Horseshoe Crabs at Killam’s Point
Martha Rice will lead an exploration of Horseshoe Crabs at Killam’s Point, 19 Killam’s Point Road. Participants can help measure and tag some of these fascinating creatures. The event is sponsored by Branford Land Trust and the First Congregational Church.
For all BLT walks, please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome.
For more information, call 203 – 747-4184.
Uncover Branford
Get up, get out and uncover Branford on Saturday, June 10, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St. Uncover Branford brings neighbors together to share their favorite Branford places and stories. Then, plan a group outing to a special spot. They’ll go out into the community to explore and uncover new places, make new friends, have lots of fun, and discover the hidden gems of Branford.
They’ll document their adventures with photos and a short write-up of own personal favorites, which will be turned into a community exhibit at the Uncover Branford Open House and Reception at the end of the summer.
This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.
Registration required. To register, call 203 – 488-1441, extension 318.
Sunday, June 11
Antiques Road Show
Branford’s own version of Antiques Roadshow hosted by Branford Antiques and Home Design, 824 East Main St. Sunday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guy Ferraro and Hans Strilbyckij will provide verbal appraisals of antiques for $5 and written appraisals for $35; 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.
Tuesdays In June
Stop by the Stony Creek Brewery Tuesday nights in June and help support the Branford Land Trust. Have a beer, meet some BLT volunteers, and enjoy the evening knowing that $1 from every pint sold will be donated to the Branford Land Trust.
Friday to Sunday, June 16 to18
The Branford Festival
This year’s 33nd edition of the Branford Festival will kick off on Friday, June 16, 2017 and continue through Sunday, June 18. Plenty of music throughout the weekend, food vendors, craft and community expo on Saturday (be sure to visit the Branford Eagle’s booth), souvenirs, talent contest, baking contest, kids’ activities, Father of the Year contest and Father’s Day Road Race on Sunday … and did we say food vendors?
Saturday, June 24
Rabies Vaccination Clinic on the Branford Green
File Photo
The Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter and Branford Veterinarian Hospital will host a rabies vaccination clinic on the Branford Green on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Vaccinations are free for the first 25 people in line; the cost is $10 per animal thereafter. Nail clippings are $5 and microchipping is $20. All dogs must be on a leash and cats must be secured in a carrier. The clinic is open to anyone from any town.
Looking Ahead
Animal Camp
Register now for Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter’s Animal Camp. Sessions will take place June 19 to June 23, June 26 to June 30, July 17 to July 21, July 24 to July 28, Aug. 14 to Aug. 18, and Aug. 21 to Aug. 25.
The camp is a fun, educational, hands-on camp that allows children to interact and learn about all kinds of animals. The focus is to promote respect for all living creatures, including each other. Included will be games such as animal tracking, nature art, and water games.
For more information or registration forms, go to branfordanimalshelter.org, call Laura at 203 – 315-4125, or Dawn at 203 – 393-8628.
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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