File Photo
It’s Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer. Time to clean off the deck furniture, fire up the grill, and plant some veggies. But do take some time to enjoy some of Branford’s treasures, the Stony Creek Museum and the Memorial Day Parade. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, around 620,000 American veterans from World War II are estimated to still be alive as of 2016. World War II veteran, 96-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bill Brody, who served in the Army Corp of Engineers, will give the address.
Sunday, May 28
Stony Creek Museum 2017 Opening
File Photo
The Stony Creek Museum kicks off its 2017 Season on Sunday, May 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. with its annual Ice Cream Social, along with a Touch a Truck from the Stony Creek Firehouse, the Walsh Intermediate School Dance Team, and a singing of the National Anthem.
This year’s feature exhibit, the End of the Line Stony Creek Trolleys in collaboration with the Shoreline Trolley Museum, features a depiction of the Stony Creek Village in 1920, in a model hand carved by Unk DaRos, Branford’s former first selectman.
The Stony Creek Museum features a public exhibition of manuscripts, pictures, objects, artifacts, memorabilia, and items that reflect the history of Stony Creek and the Thimble Islands. Other attractions shown in the exhibits include the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, historic firefighting equipment, and a video on the puppets from the Weil family Sicilian puppet collection. A century-old Apothecary Store complete with original drugs is also displayed.
The Stony Creek Museum is open Memorial Day to Columbus Day, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. In addition, groups can be accommodated by appointment year round by calling 1 – 203-488‑4014. For more information, call 203 – 488-4014 or go to www.stonycreekmuseum.org.
Monday, May 29
Branford’s Memorial Day Parade
File Photo
The annual Branford Memorial Day Parade will wind through downtown on Monday, May 29. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and the parade will step off at 10:30 a.m.
File Photo
World War II veteran Bill Brody will lead the parade. The program will include an Invocation, playing of the National Anthem and greetings by First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. Musical selections will be played by units participating in the parade.
Two students from Walsh Intermediate School will read their winning essays entitled, “What Memorial Day Means to Me,” and the ceremonies will close with Taps and a Firing Squad and the Benediction.
Members of the American Legion Post 83 and VFW Post #12106 will lead the parade, along with a “Take a Vet Fishing” float. Town Officials and dignitaries will also march as well as a number of scouting units and youth groups. Other participants include Branford Elks Lodge 1939, Branford Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, the Columbus Day Parade Committee of Greater New Haven, and the Branford Garden Club. Various bands and fife and drum corps will also participate.
In case of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and ceremonies will be moved to the Branford High School gymnasium at 10 a.m. Check the Town of Branford website under Department of Parks and Recreation for notice of cancellation.
Stony Creek Memorial Day Parade
File Photo
The annual Stony Creek Memorial Day parade begins before the town event when townsfolk gather at the Veteran’s Memorial Triangle at 8:00 a.m. After a ceremony, the parade marches through the village to the Stony Creek ceremony for a memorial service. The parade includes the villagers, the honor guard and veterans from Branford, a contingent of Stony Creek veterans, clergy, scouts, Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, and Stony Creek Fire Co. Rescue #5. Children are reminded to bring flowers to place on the veterans graves. This Memorial Day observance is never canceled due to the weather.
Wednesday, May 31
Books ‘n’ Brews
“Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness,” by Susannah Calahan, and “The Lola Quartet,” by Emily St. John Mandel will be discussed at Books ‘n’ Brews, Blackstone Library’s off-site book club. The meeting is held at Thimble Island Brewery, 16 Business Park Drive, Wednesday, May 31, from 6 to 7 p.m.
New members are welcome. Copies of the books can be borrowed from the library, or purchased on your own. Feel free to bring your own snacks. Thimble Islands offers a selection of craft beers (must be 21+ to drink alcoholic beverages), wine, soda, and water. No purchase necessary to take part in the book club.
To register, call 203 – 488-1441.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
###
