It’s a beautiful evening to honor Branford’s volunteer extraordinaire, Eunice Lasala. Hometown Harmonies, which includes musical selections from local groups, begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Owenego. Everyone is invited. Branford is brimming with center-centric activities with StoryWalk on Main and the weekly jazz concert on the green. Read on… there’s much more ahead.
Friday, July 13
Hometown Harmonies
Eunice Lasala
The community is invited to gather at the Owenego Beach and Tennis Club, 40 Linden Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, for Hometown Harmonies, presented by the Branford Community Foundation. Guests can contribute a pay-what-you-can entry fee and begin their evening with selections for sale from food trucks as well as a cash bar on the seaside grounds of the Owenego.
Community heroine Eunice Lasala will be recognized for her extensive volunteer contributions to Branford.
Beginning at 7 p.m., with the assistance of BCF board member Colin Sheehan, the Owenego’s temporary big tent will host multiple live musical performances. Branford High School (BHS), Walsh Intermediate School (WIS), Tabor Arts Branford, and Shoreline Theatre Company (STC) will perform music from their productions. Broadway star Donnie Kehr as well as several talented Branford performance alumni, including award-winning Broadway producer Greg Nobile (BHS Class of 2011).
For more information, go to branfordcommunityfoundation.org/ and register through Eventbrite.
Saturday, July 14
Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market
The Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market meets from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, July 14, at 2351 Durham Road, Guilford.
Vendors will offer local and organic vegetables, meats, maple syrup, jams, baked breads, pastries and pies, honey, butter, goats milk soap, bees wax candles, alpaca yarn, natural body products, dog products, and a wide variety of exquisite hand-made crafts. The free Children’s Corner activity (10 to 11:30 a.m.) will include Native American Story-Telling with Barbara Kiesel and the Dudley Farm String Band will provide entertainment.
For more information, call 203 – 457-0770, visit www.dudleyfarm.com, or Facebook: Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market.
StoryWalk® On Main
Blackstone Library in conjunction with local merchants will host a community walk for all ages along Main Street on Saturday, July 14, at 2 p.m., as part of StoryWalk. Community members can take part any time through Friday, Aug. 17. Participants for the guided, community walk should meet in front of the library, 758 Main St.
Pages from an inspirational picture books – this year it’s “Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay” by Susan Hood and Sally Wern Comport – are displayed along a popular walking route to encourage conversation and reading as a family while promoting a healthy lifestyle. The book is a true story about a small town that transformed their community’s dire predicament by creating a touring orchestra with instruments built from recycled trash.
The library has enhanced the walk by including bonus challenges at the bottom of each page. Children in kindergarten and up can pick up a StoryWalk® game board at the library or participating merchants to complete the questions, activities and discussion starters. Those who complete every challenge on the game board will be entered in for a prize drawing at summer’s end. Completed maps must be dropped off to the Blackstone Library by Saturday, Aug. 18.
For more information, call 203 – 488-1441, extension 323, or email [email protected].
Opening reception
An opening reception will be held at Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 14, to celebrate the gallery’s artist volunteers.
Vietnam veteran and artist Tony Arnold and architect Jay Bright, whose flag painting series is a tribute to his veteran father, will be the visiting artists.
For more information, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected] and visit the gallery website at www.branfordartcenterct.com.
Thursday, July 19
Paula Atherton on the Green
Next up for the Branford Jazz Concert Series is Paula Atherton has performed for many jazz venues and sights including Discover Jazz Series in Detroit, Smooth Jazz Festival in Atlanta, Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Fest in California, Las Vegas Jazz Festival, Capital Jazz Fest and Low Country Jazz Festival with Jazz in Pink, Smooth Jazz at sunset in Michigan, Southern tier Jazz Festival in Elmira (opening for Rick Braun), the 3rd Annual Women’s Jazz Festival in Huntsville, Alabama, and the New Brunswick Jazz Festival in New Jersey. She released her fourth album, “Ear Candy,” in February 2015. The performance begins at 6:30 p.m.
This summer’s Branford Jazz on the Green includes 10 concerts; they run through Aug. 30, on the beautiful Branford green. Be there!
Friday, July 20, to Sunday, July 22
Member Art Show, Sale
The Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) and Orchard House Adult Care will hold their Member Art Show & Sale at 421 Shore Drive. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 20. Gallery hours continue noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22.
The show and sale will feature the artistic talents of BACA members working in various formats, including paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
The show is also a collaboration with Orchard House and its art therapy program, so the exhibit will also feature the work of Orchard House participants who have worked with Briah Luckey, MAAT, to create their own interpretive images. BACA member art will be available for sale directly with each artist.
The artwork shown by Orchard House members is the culmination of guided “heARTherapy” sessions, made possible by a grant from the Branford Community Foundation. The “heARTherapy” program enables Orchard House members, many of who live with memory loss, to use the process of painting to tell their stories through color and shape. Research shows that art therapy increases self-esteem, self-awareness and personal wellbeing by supporting the exploration of feelings. The nine-month guided program built a sense of confidence, a sense of mastery, and a sense of community among the participating Orchard House artists and produced an impressive body of work.
For more information, visit BACA on Facebook, email Frank Carrano, president, at [email protected] or call 203 – 488-6692
Saturday, July 21
BCC Food and Supply Drive
Branford Compassion Club Feline Rescue & Adoption Center will hold a food and supply drive on Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to prepare for kitten season.
Cans of Fancy Feast turkey kitten food and Yesterday’s News Cat litter are high on the wish list, along with canned pate and dry cat food, paper towels, kitchen trash bags, dish detergent, hand soap, HE laundry detergent, and Tidy Cats litter. For a more complete wish list visit www.branfordcompassionclub .org.
Branford Compassion Club Feline Rescue and Adoption Center, located at 2037 Foxon Road, is open to the public on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and visit the many cats and kittens up for adoption.
Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22
Call for Artists Branford Sidewalk Sale
Branford Art Center invites artists and artisans to display their art, crafts, and jewelry at the Branford Art Center Gallery, 1229 Main St, Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22, for the Annual Summer Branford Sidewalk Sale.
An 8‑foot space for both Saturday and Sunday can be rented for $50. Bring your own table or racks (and awning if you want). Call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected] and visit the gallery website www.branfordartcenterct.com.
Sunday, July 22
Digging Deeply into Colonial Herbs
Both the curious cook and the enduring herbalist will discover something of value during the “Herbs for Colonial and Modern Homes” lecture and herb swap slated for Sunday, July 22, at 2 p.m. at the Pardee-Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road, New Haven.
The free, hands-on program will be hosted by Rachel Heerema, a Pardee-Morris House neighbor and certified herbalist. Heerema is also the University of Connecticut Extension Service Master Gardener intern who researched, designed, and installed the small colonial herb garden at Pardee-Morris House in recent years.
Attendees will learn about growing, harvesting, and using the culinary, household, tea and medicinal herbs that early New Haveners enjoyed, and view and sample herbs from the Pardee-Morris House garden. They will also receive a color handout detailing how each herb in the garden was, and might still be, used. Largely an informal presentation, Heerema says she anticipates lots of discussion time focusing on the specific interests of those who attend.
For more information visit www.newhavenmuseum.org or facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203 – 562-4183.
Beginning Thursday, Aug. 2
Find the Branford Hornet
Forty Branford merchants are joining together to encourage residents to find the Branford High School Hornet and promote their businesses.
Participating merchants will display the BHS Hornet somewhere in their businesses and residents can win gift certificates and prizes by finding them.
The hunt starts Thursday, Aug. 2, during the Branford Sidewalk Sale and participants will have until Thursday, Sept. 20 to complete a list of 35 out of 40. The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, on the Branford green at the fourth annual Shoreline Harvest and Jazz Festival. (The winner must be present to win.)
To take part, register at Branfordartcenterct.com (cost $2 per entry to benefit Branford High School), then download the list of merchants, which will be posted July 30 and listed in local papers. Take a photograph with your phone of you or someone in your group with the BHS Hornet and post the photo to Instagram with the hashtag #branfordmerchants.
For more information or to register a business, email Yvonne Gordon-Moser at [email protected].
Saturday, Aug. 11
Woofstock on the Branford Green
The annual Woofstock on the Branford Green will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, from noon to 6 p.m. Woofstock is a day of fun, music, food, vendors, raffles and of course dogs. Dogs are available that day for adoption, too. There is a Woofstock Hippie Dog Costume contest, a Woofwalk in the morning, special guests, a children’s area and much more throughout the day. The event is hosted by the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter and Peiper Veterinary Clinic in Madison.
Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12
Shoreline Wine Festival
The 12th Annual Shoreline Wine Festival, taking place Saturday, Aug. 11 (noon to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, Aug. 12 noon to 6 p.m.), at Bishop’s Orchards Winery in Guilford.
The event will celebrate fine wines from Connecticut Wineries and Vineyards from all over the state, all offering their fine wines that range from grape wines to fruit wines. Pair this with some of the area’s finest foods, with the backdrop setting of a beautiful farm orchard and background sounds of tasteful music to put you in the mood.
There’s the opportunity to taste the wines from all of the wineries, enjoy a tour of the Bishop’s Orchards Winery, listen to numerous local wine experts, live music and entertainment, and a chance to visit with local vendors and artisans. Food offered at the event is an additional charge.
Advanced tickets are $30 for adults (plus 10 percent Connecticut Admissions Tax and online service fee). As of Aug. 4, the price will increase to $35 per person (plus tax & fee). Tickets are $10 for designated drivers.
For details and tickets, go to www.shorelinewinefestival.com.
Friday, Aug. 17
Environmental Day Camp
Branford Land Trust’s 23rd annual Environmental Day Camp for kids takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, at Killam’s Point Conference Center.
Children ages 5 to 9 will take part in hands-on activities, including touch tanks, woodland and Long Island Sound exploration, nature crafts, and more.
A full day’s agenda, map, and list of what to bring will be mailed upon receipt of registration and payment of $45; additional children, same family $35. Scholarships available. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Aug. 14.
For more information, call Martha Rice, 203 – 314-7128, or email [email protected], or go to www.branfordlandtrust.org.
Call for Artists/Artisans Branford Fall Art Festival
Branford Art Center invites all artists/artisans to participate in the 4th Annual Shoreline Harvest Art and Cool Jazz Festival that will take place under the Big Tent on the Branford Green on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Spaces are 10x10. Bring your own racks/tables or rent a table for $5. There will be food vendors. To participate in the festival, go to www.branfordartcenterct.com by June 31 for early registration, $50, or by Aug 31 at the regular fee of $70.
For further information or questions, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected].
Sunday, Aug. 18
Classic Car Show
The Branford Rotary Club’s fifth annual Classic Car Show will be held on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Van Wilgen’s Garden Center, Valley Road, The event benefits the club’s charitable events and organizations in honor and support of veterans, including the “Take-A-Vet Fishing” program and the annual
“Veterans Day Luncheon.”
This event Features more than150 Classic Cars with raffle prizes and trophies awarded. The family event will include fabulous cars and music; ood and beverages will be available.
For sponsorship or more info visit http://www.branfordrotary.org or email [email protected].
Throughout the Summer
Connecticut Wine Trail
The Connecticut Wine Trail (ctwine.com) is a unique collection of 26 vineyards and wineries statewide. Bishop Orchard’s Winery in Guilford and Chamard Vineyard in Clinton are two that are right in our backyard.
All members have tasting rooms where visitors can sample their portfolio of wines; reservations are not required except for special events. Connecticut is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing wine regions in the United States. Visit the CT Wine Trail’s Calendar for special pairings, live music, and wineries.
