BLT Photo
Yes, Thanksgiving is arriving and the signs of Christmas are evident. Do take some time and enjoy these fall moments – the colors are still vibrant – before the Christmas crush. Put on your walking shoes and join the Branford Land Trust for its annual pre-Thanksgiving walk in the woods. In this season of giving, there are plenty of good causes to support – the Community Dining Room, the Counseling Center, Branford Compassion Club, Feed Branford Kids, Toys for Tots, the Ben Callahan Memorial Fund, and more. Pick your favorite and lend your support. Got a cool event? Email [email protected] by Wednesday noon.
And don’t forget to give a “Give A Cop The Bird” this weekend. Then, take a deep breath and prepare for the next round of holiday activities.
Friday, Nov. 17
Read to a Dog
Children’s Health Council photo
The Building Literacy Skills with Pet Partners program takes place at Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. Since research shows that children reading aloud to dogs reduces stress and creates a slight gain in reading ability, the library has paired up with Pet Partners to provide therapy dog read-aloud sessions.
The program runs for an hour once a month where participants will sign up for 15 minutes blocks to read aloud to a dog of their choice with a book provided by the library or from home. All participating dogs have been vetted through the Pet Partners program; which means they have passed all of their therapy dog training, are up to date on their vaccines, and have experience working with a range of people and ages.
This program is for kindergarten through fourth grade and registration is required. To RSVP call 203 – 488-1441, extension 323.
Sports Hall of Fame Dinner
The 30th Annual Branford Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner honoring 2017 inductees takes place at Woodwinds Restaurant (29 Schoolground Road) on Friday Nov. 17. Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m.
The following will be inducted: Gary “Jeep” Ciarleglio, George T. Dummar Jr., Melissa McGow Klauder, Kevin McDonough, Sally Murphy-Noel, Savas Synodi, Ryan Thompson, Richard Tott, and Michael R. Tracy. The 1990 – 1991 Branford High School Girls Field Hockey State Championship Teams will also be honored.
Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased through Andrea Steady at the Branford Recreation Department, 40 Kirkham St., and by calling the Recreation Department office at 203 – 315-2355 for additional information. Tickets can only be purchased in advance as they will NOT be sold the night of the event at the doors.
Saturday, Nov. 18
“Give a Cop the Bird”
Police Chief Kevin Halloran is challenging residents to “Give A Cop The Bird” this Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is in its third year, is held in cooperation with Branford Big Y, 1075 West Main St. and benefits Branford’s Food Pantry and Community Dining Room.
Branford Police Officers and Big Y staff will be in front of the store collecting turkeys and non-perishable food trying to fill the department’s van. Last year officers and Big Y employees collected over 160 turkeys and hundreds of pounds of canned goods from shoppers for the holiday season.
Just Desserts — A New Musical
In support of the Legacy Theatre, a reading of a new musical fresh off the press in New York City and a meal by Chef Silvio take place at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18, at The Woodwinds, Schoolground Road. Five strangers will put their hearts, reputations, and baking skills on the line to become the creme de la creme of bakers at a county fair.
Just Desserts features a score by composer Brad Ross and lyrics by Barbara Campbell. Tickets are $75 each and include the meal and performance. VIP “Dessert First” tickets are $1,000 and include a table of 10.
For tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/just-desserts-tickets-38239759149?aff=eac2.
Book Signing for ‘Evidence of Flossing’
Writer/artist Jen Payne, author of “Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind,” will sign copies of her book at Rock Garden, 17 Main St., on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The book was recently featured on the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and Bored Panda websites. See the Evidence, meet the author, and support local business during this November book signing event, which is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
For more information and to purchase copies of the book, visit www.3chairspublishing.com.
Sunday, Nov. 19
Pre-Thanksgiving BLT Walk in the Woods
Join the Branford Land Trust (see top photo) at 1 p.m.for this traditional pre-Thanksgiving walk at Van Wie Woods led by Matt Radulski and Bill Horne. The full walk is approximately two miles long and of moderate difficulty with two or three short steep stretches. Walkers also have the option of a shorter (one mile) walk. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and refreshing fall weather with friends and family.
We’ll 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 or at the pull-off by the pond.
For all BLT walks, please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. Bring water. Walking sticks welcome. The walk is appropriate for kids as young as six or seven. Parents of younger children should use their discretion and be prepared to carry them for parts of the route.
The Branford Land Trust is a non-profit organization, celebrating 50 years of protecting Branford’s open space and natural resources. This annual event is free and open to the public. For more information email info @ branfordlandtrust.org.
Annual Loeb Lecture: Protecting Plum Island
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The annual Loeb Lecture will be a presentation on Plum Island by Chris Cryder, special projects coordinator for Save the Sound. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the lecture takes place at the Blackstone Library, 758 Main St., on Sunday, Nov. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. Cryder is the outreach coordinator for the Preserve Plum Island Coalition.
Included will be a 10-minute film produced for PBS, “Conservation of a Precious Island,” starring Sam Waterston and a virtual tour of Plum Island with the latest efforts to protect it.
Plum Island, located in eastern Long Island Sound, is home to the nation’s foreign animal disease center, as well as several endangered species and unique habitats. But, the island is to be sold by the federal government to the highest bidder. Many organizations would rather see the amazing island conserved and are fighting to save it.
To register, call 203 – 488-1441.
Through Tuesday, Nov. 21
Avian Art of Michael DiGiorgio
An exhibit of Avian art, featuring nationally recognized artist Michael DiGiorgio takes place in the Keyes Gallery at Willoughby Wallace Library through Nov. 21. DiGiorgio’s work has appeared in a variety of nature books and journals, including the latest& Peterson Field Guide to Birds, Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil, and Bird Watcher’s Digest.
Thursday, Nov. 23
Branford Rotary-YMCA 5K
The Branford Rotary-YMCA 5K takes place Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, at Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road. Registration pack pic-up begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. with the Kids Fun Run and the 5K starts at 9:10. Early packet pickup is Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Trailblazer/Denali, 1004 Main St.
The first 850 entrants receive Tech Tees; cotton tees for remaining participants. All Kids Run entrants receive cotton t‑shirts.
Food will be collected for the Branford Food Pantry. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off during early packet pick-up at Trailblazer/Denali or on race morning at Walsh Intermediate School.
Details at www.jbsports.com/?page_id=308.
Friday, Nov. 24
Gift Drive to Benefit Counseling Center
Bruce Pantani’s Christmas Caddy will be in Branford during the holidays to collect toys, cash, and gift card donations to be delivered to the Branford Counseling Center.
The schedule is as follows: Branford Walmart from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26, and on the Branford Green in front of town hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Pantani, who died in 2008, was known in the community for his generosity for more than 40 years.
Saturday, Dec. 2
Fill the Forester
The Greater New Haven Cat Project’s Fill the Forester for Ferals takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Premier Subaru, 150 North Main St. Donna Velardi, animal communicator and certified animal massage therapist, will be on hand to give five-minute readings. For more information, email [email protected].
Ben Callahan Elf Party
This year’s Elf Party will be hosted by the Ben Callahan Memorial Foundation on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Walsh Intermediate School 185 Damascus Road.
All proceeds will go directly to providing a full Christmas experience complete with dinner, a Christmas tree, and personalized gifts to families in need across New Haven County.
The Elf Party is open to children ages 8 to 14. One T‑shirt per child is included with registration. Prizes will be awarded for the best Elf costumes. Activities include video game stations, inflatable wrecking ball pit, ornament and cookie decorating, movies, popcorn, DJ and more.
Admission is $50/child, $90/family of 2. $135/family of three or more. When registering use the name/info of the parent/guardian only, not each child. Register at bencallahan.org/elfparty17.
Swinging Nutcracker
“Side by Side: The Nutcracker Swings!” featuring the Yale Concert Band and Yale Jazz Ensemble with Thomas C. Duffy, music director, takes place Saturday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. at Woolsey Hall, 500 College St.
In this performance, the Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, as arranged for concert band by Mayhew L. Lake, will be performed alongside the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn setting for jazz band. Celebrate the holiday season with this study in interpretation, in two classic arrangements of The Nutcracker Suite. Leroy Anderson’s traditional favorite, Sleigh Ride, also will be performed.
Admission is free and no tickets are required, but donations will be collected to support IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services). Call 203 – 432-4111 for more information.
25th Annual Holiday Open House at 188 North Main St.
Support Feed Branford Kids, a local non-profit helping to feed kids from families in need, through the 25th Annual Holiday Open House, now hosted by Cynthia’s Flower Shop, the Martha Link Walsh Gallery, and Luckey Redo. The event takes places on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features handmade gifts for the holidays,
On Saturday at 1 p.m., Cynthia’s Flower Shop is hosting a Hanging Succulent Terrarium Workshop. Attendees will plant succulents inside a glass terrarium and select a holiday ribbon for hanging. The cost for the workshop is $15; call to register, 203 – 481-3115.
The Holiday Open House is free and open to the public with refreshments provided by Take the Cake (Guilford) and special surprises all weekend! For more information, contact: Martha Link Walsh, marthalinkwalsh.com, (203) 481‑3505.
Traditional Christmas Fair
The traditional Christmas Fair at First Baptist Church of Branford, 975 Main St., will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, offering everything in the spirit of the season.
All proceeds go to the Dominican Republic Joe Hartman School Mission Project and Feed Branford Kids. Shoppers will find a large selection of gifts, tag sale, breakfast sandwiches from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and lunch available after 11:30 a.m. There will be holiday music by pianist Michael Cretella and Santa will visit with children and be available for pictures.
Call the church office at 203 – 488-9777 for additional information.
Saturday, Dec. 9
Holiday Cookie Walk
Branford Compassion Club hosts its annual holiday cookie walk 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at its Feline Rescue & Adoption Center, 2037 Foxon Road.
Homemade cookies can be purchased for $4 a dozen, and there will also be a selection of charming homemade cat-motif pillowcases and “mug rugs” with designs ranging from the sophisticat to the whimsical. All proceeds from the sale benefit the shelter’s homeless felines.
Refreshments, including eggnog and samples of homemade cookies, will be served. Cash donations will be accepted. For more information visit www.branfordcompassionclub.org.
Sunday, Dec. 10
ACA Enrollment Event
Connecticut Shoreline Indivisible will sponsor the only Affordable Care Act enrollment fair on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. at the Branford Community Dining Room, 30 Harrison Ave.
Brokers will be available at no cost to help choose the best plan for you and your family and to sign up for Affordable Health Care
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/127738651270758/
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